《The Byoukidere Is Her Sweetie》 Chapter 1 - Chapter 1: 001: First Encounter, He is Sickly, She is a Monster (Revised) Chapter 1: 001: First Encounter, He is Sickly, She is a Monster (Revised) Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation October, the golden autumn season, the Silver Pine in the neighborhood left the ground littered with dry branches. The autumn atmosphere was desolate, only the scattered Red Leaf Photinia added a bit of vibrant red. Two old ladies walked one after the other, carrying shopping bags, heading towards the buildings in the neighborhood. Laughing and chatting along the way, when they turned into the path through the greenery, the old lady with the small curly hair in the front suddenly remembered something, ¡°Let¡¯s go from the back.¡± Her companion was puzzled, ¡°Why?¡± The curly-haired old lady pulled her back to retrace their steps, talking about the neighborhood gossip, ¡°I heard there¡¯s a weirdo living in Building Seventeen.¡± ¡°What kind of weirdo?¡± The old lady spoke loudly, ¡°A young girl, always wrapping herself up tightly, only showing her eyes. Last time Old Wang said he saw her eyes were red and glowing. It scared him to death.¡± ¡°No way, who would dare live in that building then?¡± The old lady glanced back, feeling a chill on her back, she hurriedly pulled her coat tighter, ¡°Indeed, no one lives there. Besides that young girl, there¡¯s no one else.¡± ¡°Such an odd thing? Did the girl rent the whole building herself? Surely not bought it?¡± ¡°Who knows.¡± The voices faded away, the sunset was about to fall. Shadows stretched long on the pebbled path. At the end of the path, Building Seventeen stood tall, seventeen floors high touching the clouds, bathed in the glow of the evening light spreading gold. The delivery guy carried a bag, walking briskly; he looked up a few times to confirm the numbers on the building before taking out his phone to make a call, ¡°Hello.¡± ¡°Hello.¡± A young girl¡¯s voice, clear and gentle, with a hint of laziness and carelessness, slightly cold in tone. What a nice voice, thought the delivery guy. ¡°Delivery.¡± The guy spoke politely, ¡°I¡¯m at the bottom of Building Seventeen, which floor do you live on?¡± ¡°Please wait, I¡¯ll come down to get it.¡± There were muffled sounds on the other end of the phone, then the sound of a door closing. The delivery guy was about to say he could deliver it upstairs when the door at the stairway of Building Seventeen suddenly opened. The guy looked up and saw a hand. Long and slender fingers, pale like porcelain, with neat and clean nails. Above that, was a face, excessively pale skin like it hadn¡¯t seen sunlight for years, giving a hint of sickness, a high yet delicate nose, and thin lips pressed together, looking cold and aloof when not smiling. The first look, just seemed excessively beautiful. The second look, one would be drawn into those phoenix eyes, long and slender, slightly upward-tilted at the corners, pupils colored with the darkest ink, three parts depth, three parts coldness, and the remaining, an ancient coldness, like stars in the summer desert, dazzling and hard to look away from, yet making one afraid to look longer. So young, how could there be such desolation, how could her eyes be filled with the weariness and emptiness that comes after years of hardship. The guy was stunned, staring at that face. Click. The door opened wider, the girl stepped out with one leg, slender and long, revealing a pale ankle under the nine-part black pencil pants. She wore a black-and-white over-the-knee long shirt, with a gray hoodie inside. The hoodie was casually draped over her head, revealing her collarbone, with strands of short hair sticking out from the hood, slightly messy. She wore no warm colors, except for a pair of pink bunny plush slippers. ¡°Yunji Noodle Restaurant?¡± she asked, her voice still as clear and slightly cool as on the phone. The delivery guy came back to his senses, hurriedly handing over the bag, ¡°Your delivery.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± She took it, then retracted her leg, and turned to close the door. Her hand was so cold. The guy realized later, the place her finger pads brushed still carried a bit of residual chill. He scratched his head, walked away, then couldn¡¯t help but look back after a few steps. The sky was dark now, and the once dim window was lit up, the light from the sensor lamps broke through the window. From the first to the seventh floor, the lights almost simultaneously lit up. A gust of wind blew, giving the delivery guy goosebumps, he quickly turned and left. Bang! The door slammed shut, the two pink bunny slippers were kicked off at the entrance. She pulled off her hoodie, carrying the food container inside. Her name was Zhou Xufang, living alone. In Building Seventeen, only she lived there, not rented, the entire building belonged to her. Because she was different from others, she could only live alone. She lived on the seventh floor, two units connected into one, over two hundred square meters of space, looking very cold and deserted at a glance. To the left of the entrance was the cloakroom, with many types of clothes, but mostly black at a glance. To the right of the entrance was the bathroom, also separated by glass, one-way visible, only a corner of the ultra-large bathtub visible through the door crack. Walking further in, three steps up the stairs, to the right was the bed, all black bed sheets, lacking any lively color, the floor at the end of the bed scattered with a few pieces of clothing. To the left were four computers, one side a black lacquered wooden dressing table, a lazy sofa in the middle, a glass coffee table, with a projector in one corner of the table. Next to it, a delicate glass box filled with colorful cotton candy. The white walls and black floor, the entire two hundred square meter area, except for the pink bunny slippers at the entrance, there were no warm colors, devoid of any human presence and smoke. She put the delivery down, stood barefoot on the black plush carpet, picked a pink cotton candy from the glass box and put it in her mouth, just bit open the disposable chopsticks packaging, the computers on the table activated. On the screen, a bright yellow SpongeBob popped up, filling the entire screen. Code name Shuangjiang, real name unknown, age unknown, identity background and address all unknown. She was Zhou Xufang¡¯s partner. Zhou Xufang never heard her voice nor saw her appearance, only knew she was a young girl. ¡°Are you awake?¡± Three words popped up at the bottom of the screen, in bold red SimSun font. Zhou Xufang unwrapped the delivery bag, ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Got a new job.¡± ¡°I¡¯m on vacation.¡± Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t look up, her hair just past her ears, bangs slightly covering her eyes; she ate her noodles quietly, with excellent manners, eating slowly and deliberately. ¡°This one is easy.¡± After a moment, words scrolled on the screen again, ¡°It¡¯s a female client, wants us to nab someone. She said it¡¯s her sweetheart, wants to play the beauty saving the hero.¡± Shuangjiang added, ¡°The commission fee is five hundred thousand.¡± Zhou Xufang¡¯s chopsticks paused, her long eyelashes drooped, making her profile look much softer with her head bowed. After a while, SpongeBob on the screen jumped twice, Shuangjiang asked, ¡°Take it?¡± She ate a mouthful of noodles, ¡°Take it.¡± As long as it didn¡¯t harm the heavens or set fires, anything that made money, they would take. The next day happened to be the fifteenth, the moon was very round, surrounded by stars, casting a soft glow over the whole city. As the night lamps lit up, the city was bustling and lively. In a finely decorated club, ancient paintings adorned the walls, carvings of hollow flowers, and along the way, Corinthian Roman columns displayed various flowers, a faint floral scent lingered in the corridor. The flowers were meant to match the occasion, but alas, they came at the wrong time. The club lounge manager hurriedly ran, instructing the waiters, ¡°Quick, put away all the roses.¡± The head waiter came over, puzzled, ¡°Manager, why suddenly take away all the flowers?¡± The manager was anxious, tugging at his tie, using a handkerchief to wipe the sweat on his neck, ¡°An important guest is coming, who can¡¯t stand the smell of roses.¡± An important guest? In a high-end club, all the visitors were VIPs. The head waiter was unsure who it was, asking the manager, ¡°Who?¡± The manager squatted down, picking up a fallen rose petal, ¡°The Jiang Family¡¯s important guest.¡± Now, the head waiter understood. In the Imperial City¡¯s Jiang Family, there was only one who could be called an important guest, the youngest son of the Jiang family, famous far and wide. Speaking of that beauty¡­ The manager urged, ¡°Hurry up, the person is almost here, be quick and don¡¯t leave a single rose behind.¡± About ten minutes later, the manager received a call, quickly bringing a few deputy managers to greet at the elevator entrance. Ding¡ª The elevator door opened, the person was not visible, but the coughing was heard first, one bout after another, slightly suppressed. When the elevator door fully opened, the tall figure was backlit by the glass lamps in the corridor. The person leaned against the left wall of the elevator, wearing a black long coat that reached past the knees. Underfoot was a pair of custom leather shoes, inside a white shirt and casual pants, the collar unbuttoned, revealing a long neck. Because of the cough, even the Adam¡¯s apple was flushed pink, gently moving. He lowered his head, still coughing, his long hand pressed at his collarbone. Because of the severe coughing, even his fingertips were slightly red. The manager stepped aside to greet him respectfully, ¡°Mr. Jiang.¡± In the Jiang family, only this one person was addressed as Mr. Jiang, the rest naturally had to have their names appended to it, showing the difference in status. The man in the elevator finally raised his head. His hair was cut casually, highlighting his smooth contours, his bone structure extremely beautiful. His skin was pale, and just after coughing, his lips, pressed lightly together, carried a touch of red, with a thin layer of redness on his cheeks ¡ª three parts sickly, three parts delicate, three parts charming, and a touch of lazy carelessness. Moreover, he had a pair of standard peach blossom eyes, slightly pink around the edges, shaped like peach blossoms, with moisture, the corners slightly upturned, the black and white of his pupils not clearly defined, giving a seemingly drunken haze. Such a look, every frown and smile was exquisitely beautiful, making one¡¯s heart beat faster. This was the Jiang family¡¯s youngest son, Jiang Zhi, the most beautiful person in the Imperial City, breathless after three steps, coughing after five steps, truly a delicate and precious sick beauty. This charming person, stunning yet without any hint of femininity, with his peach blossom eyes, every glance, every move, a lazy indifference infused with inherent nobility and distance, noble and aloof bred within an aristocratic family. The manager, a man in his forties, was stunned despite having seen this beauty before, took a while to find his voice, ¡°I-I¡¯ll lead you there.¡± The manager stammered nervously, treating this lord with both respect and fear, knowing well enough that this ancestor had a bad temper, upsetting him would surely lead to trouble. Jiang Zhi responded softly with a ¡°mm,¡± his eyelids lifting slightly. His languid demeanor seemed as if he hadn¡¯t fully woken up. His legs were long and slender, but he walked very slowly. ¡°Cough, cough, cough.¡± He slightly bent his back, covering his mouth and nose as he coughed lightly. His brows furrowed gently, and the hair on his forehead was a bit disheveled, adding a touch of illness to his appearance. Ahead, the manager leading the way slowed his pace repeatedly. For such a short distance, he ended up breaking out in a cold sweat for no apparent reason. Opening the door to the private room, the first thing that caught his eye was a sharp-looking face with sword-like eyebrows and starry eyes. The manager respectfully greeted, ¡°Mr. Xue.¡± Xue Baoyi, the second son of the Xue Family. His mother gave him a tough-guy face but ironically named him Baoyi, a name for ladies because of a dream she had during pregnancy, hoping for a daughter. Instead, she had a son. Currently, Xue Baoyi was sitting at the gambling table. In the dimly lit room, his blue-purple hair was the most eye-catching feature. He had a rugged face and was smoking a cigarette as he called out, ¡°Brother Zhi is here.¡± Jiang Zhi¡¯s grandmother was a lady from a prestigious family, and their household retained some old-fashioned customs. Boys were called ¡°ge¡¯er¡± and girls ¡°jie¡¯er.¡± The young gentlemen friends liked to tease him by calling him ¡°Brother Zhi.¡± Xue Baoyi and Jiang Zhi were childhood friends, as their families had business ties and had known each other since they were toddlers. This gathering was organized by Xue Baoyi. Although the elite circle in Imperial City wasn¡¯t large, it still had clear hierarchies. Jiang Zhi was at the top of this elite group. If it were not for Xue Baoyi and tonight¡¯s birthday boy being close friends, they wouldn¡¯t have been able to invite this little ancestor. The group of spoiled rich kids in the room greeted him eagerly, with tones indicating a wish to ingratiate themselves with him. Jiang Zhi lazily lifted his eyelids, ¡°Put out those cigarettes, this place is all smoky.¡± Xue Baoyi chuckled, ¡°Alright, alright, as you say.¡± Nudging the others, they all put out their cigarettes. He then threw a card onto the table, ¡°How about a few rounds?¡± The smell of tobacco hadn¡¯t completely dissipated from the room. Jiang Zhi coughed a couple of times, found a clean spot, and nestled there listlessly, ¡°Didn¡¯t you lose enough last time?¡± Xue Baoyi drew a card and laughed nonchalantly, ¡°I¡¯m hoping to win back my losses this time.¡± Jiang Zhi ignored him, lounging lazily with his eyes half-closed, looking listless and sickly. His peach blossom eyes appeared to be in a state between waking and sleeping, giving an impression that he was always on the brink of dozing off. Xue Baoyi knew his temperament and didn¡¯t bother him, instead, he asked a waiter to bring him a glass of milk. However, there were always those who didn¡¯t understand. For instance, the young master from the Deng Family brought a woman along. Not only that, but she wasn¡¯t behaving demurely either. As soon as she entered, her eyes were glued to Jiang Zhi, the provocative movements of her chest drawing attention. Jiang Zhi held a high-stemmed glass, sipping milk slowly. The woman took a bottle of red wine over and sat on the sofa opposite him, smiling coquettishly, ¡°Shall I pour you a glass, Mr. Jiang?¡± He didn¡¯t even lift his eyelids, replying sleepily, ¡°Weak constitution, can¡¯t drink alcohol.¡± It was well-known that the youngest of the Jiang Family in Imperial City had a frail body; outsiders only knew him as someone constantly battling illness, unaware of his devastating beauty. Such a sickly beauty, even though the woman¡¯s advances were rejected, she didn¡¯t get angry. She put down the wine and picked up some darts, ¡°Mr. Jiang, would you like to try? I heard from Mr. Deng that you¡¯re the best at darts around here.¡± Jiang Zhi lazily lowered his eyelids, ¡°Weak constitution, can¡¯t lift my hand.¡± After saying that, he covered his mouth and coughed twice. His lips were red and teeth white, with a slight blush on his cheeks. A beauty like a painting, lying there, with a slight frown really tugged at people¡¯s heartstrings. This delicate person¡­ The woman quickly approached, wanting to help him catch his breath, but her tender hand was blocked by the high-stemmed glass filled with milk. The person nestled on the sofa suddenly raised his eyes, the lazy look vanished, replaced by a gaze like cold stars, ¡°I¡¯m allergic to roses.¡± The woman¡¯s hand froze in mid-air. She had applied rose-scented perfume that day. His disgust was evident, even throwing away the wine glass, ¡°Stay away from me.¡± The woman, embarrassed, retracted her hand and backed off. Xue Baoyi left the card table, giving young Master Deng a look. Only then did the young master recall and hurriedly led the woman out, ashamed of himself for forgetting that Mr. Xue had instructed not to bring women. Xue Baoyi knew Jiang Zhi had some cleanliness compulsions. He switched glasses and poured him another glass of milk, fawning as he approached him, since this little ancestor didn¡¯t generally drink alcohol but loved milk. Jiang Zhi looked at him coldly with his peach blossom eyes, ¡°Get away, you smell like a woman.¡± ¡°¡­..¡± He had been with a woman that afternoon but had taken a bath before showing up. This little ancestor¡¯s eyes were stunningly beautiful, but even a slight narrowing made them coldly menacing, like a shower of peach blossom ice rain falling from above. Xue Baoyi knew he was angry and dared not bother him any further. They couldn¡¯t help it; Jiang Zhi was too beautiful and always looked sickly like a devastatingly attractive trouble in ancient times. All his childhood friends, being passionately normal men, found it hard to resist such a beautiful face. Knowing well that Jiang Zhi wasn¡¯t a weak and delicate person, they still couldn¡¯t help but want to coddle and pamper him. All their childhood friends knew there were two things this little ancestor hated most: roses and women. Because of this, when organizing the gathering, Xue Baoyi specifically reminded everyone not to bring women. Xue Baoyi fawned and apologized. Jiang Zhi got up from the sofa, ¡°I¡¯m leaving.¡± ¡°So soon?¡± Xue Baoyi tried to hold onto his sleeve to stop him, ¡°The birthday boy hasn¡¯t arrived yet.¡± He shook off his sleeve, making his beautiful face cold, ¡°Weak constitution, can¡¯t stay up late.¡± Xue Baoyi: ¡°¡­.¡± Damn it, was eight o¡¯clock already considered late? Jiang Zhi left directly, without even a glance at the group of anxiously watching spoiled rich kids. Walking and coughing, he kept his head down, suppressing his cough, his cheeks showing a faint sickly blush. Xue Baoyi felt a pang in his heart, letting him go, thinking that a frail beauty needed to be pampered exceptionally. He couldn¡¯t help marveling, ¡°This little ancestor, who knows which boy will have him in the future.¡± Oh, by the way, Jiang Zhi came out as gay at his eighteenth birthday celebration, declaring in front of a group of beautiful debutantes that he only liked men. Since then, the hottest topic in Imperial City¡¯s elite circle was whether Jiang Zhi was a ¡°top¡± or a ¡°bottom.¡± With such a beautiful face, many thought he looked like a ¡°bottom,¡± but his overbearing temperament suggested otherwise. Strangely enough, men in Imperial City wanted him, and so did women. He was indeed a troublemaker! Xue Baoyi had booked the top floor of the club for the night. The corridor outside the private room was completely empty. The soundproofing was excellent, making it so quiet that only footsteps and occasional coughing could be heard. The lights flickered suddenly. Jiang Zhi stopped in his tracks, his shadow stretching long on the ground. He slowly turned around, just in time to see a dark shadow hurtling towards him. It was so fast that he couldn¡¯t make out what it was, just that a black figure was engulfing him completely. He stepped back but had only moved his foot when a sharp pain hit the back of his neck, and he was knocked unconscious. The black figure leaped and clung to the wall. Clang. A surveillance camera fell to the ground with a crash. The black figure descended, and somebody emerged from the high-speed wind it created. The person was tall and slender, dressed all in black. They wore a hoodie over a baseball cap, with short hair reaching the collarbone, and a black mask covering most of their face, revealing only a pair of eyes. Almond-shaped eyes with long eye-tails and deep-set pupils, resembling the stars in winter or the deep sea ¨C cold and mysterious. Their legs were long and slim, indicating it was likely a girl. She walked over and with a gloved hand, lifted the person on the ground, carrying them on her shoulder. With a stride, she vanished down the corridor almost instantly. The moon hung alone high in the sky, the entire city shrouded in neon lights and moonlight, glittering and hazy. The sea breeze blew in, bringing a faint salty tinge, mingled with the desolate chill of an autumn night. The sound of waves crashing against the rocks nearby filled the ears, and the splashes wetted the hem of the person lying by the rock. His long eyelashes trembled, and he slowly opened his eyes, revealing a pair of peach blossom eyes. The moonlight was reflected in them along with a blurry silhouette. It was a slender and tall figure. Jiang Zhi suddenly raised his hand, grabbing a piece of fabric. His fingers brushed against cool skin. ¡°Who are you?¡± His voice was hoarse, shattered by the sea breeze. The blurry figure turned, ¡°Professional errand runner.¡± It was a young girl¡¯s voice, distorted somewhat by the wind, yet clear and pure, but cold and indifferent. The moonlight was dim, the damp sea air veiled his vision with a layer of mist. Try as he might, he couldn¡¯t make out her features. The black mask merged with the night. She pulled her hand free, leapt, and dove into the sea. Jiang Zhi stood there, stunned. This woman has a death wish¡­ The next dawn, as the sun peeked over the horizon, the sky was tinged with a corner of red light. The fisherman had just hauled in his nets and, with a basket on his back, was picking up the fish and shrimp washed ashore by the sea. Crouched down, he was collecting them along the shore when he suddenly froze, spotting a wet hand gripping a rock in the distance. Then, a head emerged from the water. It was a person! The fisherman hurried over, intending to lend a hand. But the person suddenly stood up and lifted their head. Short black hair, white face, red eyes¡­ The fisherman¡¯s legs went weak, and he fell to the ground, crying out, ¡°Ghost, it¡¯s a ghost!¡± The figure approached. The fisherman fainted from fright. The first ray of morning sunlight fell on the person¡¯s face. Their almond-shaped eyes were both beautiful and desolate, glowing red. With cold pale lips, they softly murmured, ¡°I¡¯m not a ghost.¡± She looked down, seeing the wound on her palm cut by the rocks, healing at a speed visible to the naked eye. She wasn¡¯t a ghost. She was a monster. Chapter 2 - Chapter 2: 002: Being targeted by Brother Zhi Chapter 2: 002: Being targeted by Brother Zhi Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation The Fifth Renmin Hospital spanned a thousand square meters, located in the busiest and most prosperous area of the Imperial City. It was one of the medical facilities under the Jiang Family¡¯s business empire. The hospital had six buildings, each six stories high, and was only open to members of the Jiang Family. Knock, knock, knock. The sound of knocking came slowly, three times, with a cautious undertone. Mr. Jiang. Inside the hospital room, a man¡¯s voice, sounding frail and irritable, said, ¡°Get out.¡± The man knocking outside was Ah Wan, Jiang Zhi¡¯s bodyguard and assistant, about thirty years old. He had a guileless appearance, dark skin, and muscular build, but both his intelligence and emotional quotients were not particularly high. It was precisely because Ah Wan was not clever enough that his employer had suffered from the cold wind by the seaside last night before being found. Luckily, they had gotten to him before the real perpetrators who had kidnapped him, or else the consequences¡­ were unthinkable. ¡°Oh.¡± Ah Wan retreated silently, not daring to provoke his employer any further. Due to the exposure to the cold wind, the pampered and sickly one inside was now ill, coughing intermittently. The young master¡¯s temper was not good, especially when he was unwell, and no one dared to provoke him. Of course, except for the Xue Family¡¯s Second Young Master. ¡°Brother Zhi~¡± The voice of Xue Baoyi came first before the man himself appeared, his tone casual. The hospital room door was pushed open with a bang, and a cup was immediately thrown at Xue Baoyi¡¯s feet. Jiang Zhi was clearly upset. There is a saying that goes, ¡°A frown brings two dimples of sorrow, fragrance silk entwines a body of frailty, tears glimmer, and there are soft breaths.¡± Xue Baoyi felt these words perfectly described Jiang Zhi. He wiped his head; the head of blue-purple dyed hair from before was now shaved clean, in a neat and tidy buzz cut, making his features look more defined and imposing, with a mischievous grin on his face. ¡°Wow, such a temper.¡± The very temperamental Young Master Jiang was wearing a hospital gown. The plainly styled gown was loosely draped over him, and his skin was extremely fair, lips pale, appearing weak and delicate. He was clearly angry, coughing heavily with his mouth covered. Cough, cough, cough¡­ With every cough from Jiang Zhi, the rims of his alluring eyes turned red, giving off a weak charm. His appearance really tugged at Mr. Xue¡¯s heartstrings. ¡°Okay, okay, don¡¯t be angry,¡± Xue Baoyi coaxed him gently, his joking tone disciplined, ¡°Your delicate body, if hurt by anger, wouldn¡¯t that break my little young master¡¯s heart?¡± The Xue Family¡¯s Second Young Master in the capital had no other vice except his fondness for beautiful people. Jiang Zhi¡¯s face, he truly found bewitching. He even admired himself for growing up with such a beauty and still remaining straight. What a feat of iron will. He immediately stepped forward, raising his hand to comfort the beauty. Jiang Zhi pushed him away disdainfully, his alluring eyes cold. ¡°Did you find out?¡± Xue Baoyi grinned, pulling a chair to sit. ¡°I haven¡¯t slept all night.¡± Dare to kidnap his brother, did they think the Young Master Xue was dead? Jiang Zhi was too lazy to banter with him. ¡°Who?¡± ¡°The fourth of the Ming Family. I heard it was an attempt at ¡®hero saves the beauty,¡¯ so they kidnapped you.¡± Xue Baoyi laughed nastily. ¡°That face of yours, really always making trouble.¡± Although the Ming Family didn¡¯t have the same background as the Four Great Families, they were still a prominent family in the Imperial City. The fourth miss of the Ming Family was curvy but not too bright, unable to control her eyes, and had been eyeing Jiang Zhi for a long time. Xue Baoyi played with a cigarette and lighter in his hand but didn¡¯t light it. ¡°This has nothing to do with the Ming Family, it¡¯s just that fourth fool of theirs wanting to punch above her weight.¡± He raised an eyebrow, asking Jiang Mei Ren, ¡°What do you want to do?¡± Jiang Zhi, feeling sick, nestled deeper, his face paler, suppressing his cough. His pink-hued eyes seemed intoxicated yet icy cool. ¡°Throw her into Canghai.¡± Canghai was on the outskirts of the Imperial City, and Jiang Zhi had been taken there last night. Xue Baoyi was just about to say he was a law-abiding citizen when the door was pushed open. ¡°This is a society governed by law, don¡¯t do anything rash.¡± A pair of long legs stepped in first, followed by a face that appeared both charming and roguish. Deep-set eyes, high nose bridge, and thin lips, a mix of elegance and cold disdain. He was Qiao Family¡¯s son, Qiao Nanchu. Among the Four Great Families of the Imperial City, apart from the reclusive Lu Family, the Jiang, Xue, and Qiao Families had always been close, with the younger generation from the three families often mingling. Jiang Zhi lazily added, ¡°Just don¡¯t kill her.¡± Xue Baoyi understood his meaning. A bit of pain, huh? This he was good at. Laughing, he agreed, ¡°Got it, my dear ancestor!¡± ¡°What happened?¡± Qiao Nanchu asked, leaning against a cabinet. Jiang Zhi coughed, a faint blush spreading on his cheeks. Qiao Nanchu poured a cup of warm water and handed it to him. ¡°I checked the club¡¯s surveillance. Only a glimpse of a shadow was captured before the footage malfunctioned.¡± He smirked, a bit of playful mischief in his eyes. ¡°Do you remember anything about the person who took you?¡± Jiang Zhi leaned against the pillow, looking fatigued, his beautiful eyes drooping. ¡°Couldn¡¯t see clearly.¡± After thinking for a while, ¡°About 1.7 meters tall, quite thin, very strong.¡± Cough, cough, cough¡­ He took a few sips of water before speaking again, ¡°Nice eyes.¡± The person wore a hat and mask, in the humid sea breeze. At that time, everything was foggy; he only vaguely saw an outline, not the voice, just remembered that it was nice but very cold. Qiao Nanchu, arms crossed, finger brushing his lips. ¡°A bit short.¡± 1.7 meters, wondering where the strength to carry him so far came from. ¡°It¡¯s a woman,¡± Jiang Zhi said. The tone held an inexplicable mix of irritation, partial unwillingness, and dissatisfaction. The most cherished young master of the Jiang Family had been brought up with utmost care and pampering, never subjected to such hardships, let alone by a woman. Usually, Brother Zhi¡¯s least favorite was women. Xue Baoyi laughed disrespectfully. ¡°A woman, huh?¡± Teasing, he said, ¡°Yet you praised her eyes. What, no longer dislike them now?¡± Jiang Zhi was openly gay, something he¡¯d personally admitted. Over the years, he indeed had zero interest in women and not much interest in men either, except for a certain ¡®white moonlight¡¯ of his heart. Jiang Zhi was unwilling to entertain Xue Baoyi, his brows furrowed with anger. His naturally noble and cool eyes losing their usual allure, simply cold. ¡°She said she was a professional errand runner.¡± Qiao Nanchu casually tapped on the cabinet. ¡°I know who it is.¡± Jiang Zhi raised his eyes to look at him. ¡°I¡¯ve been on her trail for half a year, codename Z.¡± Qiao Nanchu put down the empty cup he took from Jiang Zhi, rubbing it thoughtfully. ¡°Gender, female; age, unknown; address, unknown; nationality, unknown; top-notch skills.¡± Professional errand running, as a job title, had only recently gained popularity. As long as you paid well, the errand runner could get anything done for you. Whether they would commit crimes was still unclear. ¡°Interpol has been tailing her for a long time but never caught a glimpse. She only arrived in the Imperial City a year ago, with few missions taken, all at high prices and so far, a zero-failure rate.¡± Qiao Nanchu was a cop, having worked several years in the Criminal Intelligence Department. This case had piqued his interest. Xue Baoyi was a businessman, uninterested in such troublesome matters. Seeing a colorful candy box on the bedside table, encrusted with tiny diamonds, one could tell whose it was at a glance. The delicately ornate box, he took it directly. Jiang Zhi tapped the table slowly. ¡°Don¡¯t touch.¡± Seeing how he cherished it! Xue Baoyi snorted. ¡°You, a grown man, eating cotton candy, so girly.¡± Jiang Zhi picked a pink one, tossing it in his mouth, giving him only a cold look. Truth be told, the Jiang Family¡¯s Brother Zhi had a lot of quirks, a bad temper, disliked roses, women, didn¡¯t drink, couldn¡¯t stand the smell of smoke, and acted like everyone should treat him as a deity. His temper might be aggressively dominant, but his preferences were quite the opposite. He loved cotton candy, though he didn¡¯t eat it often. It was always kept bedside, in his office, and in his resting room, stored in the most exquisite boxes, not to be touched by anyone. Outside Yuquan Bay, there was a 24-hour convenience store. At this hour, the sky was draped in a layer of kumquat-colored twilight, the sunset sinking, and the store was nearly empty. At first glance, at the farthest shelf, someone squatted, wearing a black hoodie with the hood up, her ankles revealing smooth, pale skin due to her nine-point pencil pants being slightly rolled up. ¡°Pink packaging, with a bunny drawn on it.¡± The squatting person turned to ask the girl next to her, ¡°Is there no more of that cotton candy?¡± Her phoenix eyes and boat-shaped lips were both cold and distant. She seemed disinclined to smile, lips tight. Her skin was as white as a sheet, translucent even, the last rays of sunset casting a glow on her lashes, lighting up her pupils like stars in a winter desert¡ªbright, yet lonely; a sense of desolation and barrenness. She was Zhou Xufang, coming to the store every three or four days to buy that pink-packaged cotton candy. Chapter 3 - Chapter 3: 003: Sir, would you like a screen protector? Chapter 3: 003: Sir, would you like a screen protector? Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation Her name was Zhou Xufang. Every three to four days, she would come to the store to buy a pack of cotton candy with pink packaging. The girl behind the counter shook her head and handed over a note: ¡°It¡¯s sold out.¡± Zhou Xufang stood in front of the shelf for a while, picked up a few bags of similar cotton candy, and always kept her head down. Her face under the hat was small, overly quiet. The girl scanned the codes and wrote on the paper: ¡°Thirty-six yuan.¡± Zhou Xufang handed over a red banknote. The sleeves of her sweatshirt were very long, covering her hands, with only her slender, cold white fingers¡ªneatly trimmed nails¡ªvisible. The girl accepted the money and gave the change. ¡°Thanks,¡± Zhou Xufang muttered, stuffing the change into the transparent bag that held the cotton candy. She subconsciously pulled her hat down and left with her head lowered. Behind her, the girl chased after her, opening her palm and gesturing with her other hand. Zhou Xufang turned back, looked at the girl. The wariness in her eyes took a moment to fade. She extended her hand, and the girl placed the soft candy into her palm. ¡°Thanks.¡± After speaking, Zhou Xufang entered her community. She kept holding the candy until she reached home. Only then did she unwrap the candy and put it in her mouth. She squinted her eyes and changed into the pair of pink fluffy bunny slippers. So soft and sweet. Zhou Xufang had excellent eyesight. From twenty meters away, she could see the notebook on the cashier¡¯s counter with a name written on it. Her name was Wen Baiyang, the supermarket¡¯s cashier. She couldn¡¯t speak and was deaf-mute. She knew sign language and lip-reading, always carrying paper and a pen. Her face was round, like a bun, with big, dark eyes, and her cheeks had two persistent red patches. She was a little silly, not conventionally pretty, but her features were delicate, and she looked very well-behaved. ¡°Beep¡ªbeep¡ªbeep¡ª¡± The computer suddenly emitted a sharp sound. Zhou Xufang had just opened the packaging of the cotton candy, looked up at the screen. First, a skull appeared, then SpongeBob emerged. Finally, a line of text rolled out at the bottom of the screen: ¡°That man is investigating you.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± Zhou Xufang continued to unpack the cotton candy. The text on the screen was in red, very conspicuous: ¡°I¡¯ve hacked the surveillance.¡± Zhou Xufang said, ¡°Thanks.¡± The newly bought cotton candy was also colorful. She opened one bag after another, poured them into the glass box beside the computer desk. After filling it up, she tried one. A bit hard, not sweet enough. Hmm, not as tasty as the one with the pink packaging. She tasted one only, then closed the box. On the computer screen, Shuangjiang sent over a smiley face emoji, followed by three words: ¡°You¡¯re welcome.¡± Shuangjiang was the partner ¡®Sir¡¯ had found for her, they had been working together for almost a year. She didn¡¯t know much about her. Shuangjiang never showed her face or spoke, mostly typing. Sometimes, she used special voice synthesis software or voice recording to text conversion. Zhou Xufang thought Shuangjiang should be a very skilled hacker. All she knew was that Shuangjiang was a girl. ¡°I¡¯ve looked into him, sent the information to you.¡± Shuangjiang typed, and a new email popped up at the bottom of the screen. ¡°Okay.¡± Zhou Xufang opened the email. Inside was the man¡¯s information. It seemed he had his eyes on her because she had kidnapped him. His name was Jiang Zhi, the youngest of the Jiang Family, one of the top four families in the Imperial City. He had many tags but Zhou Xufang only focused on the photo. He was very handsome. ¡°I need to go to work,¡± Zhou Xufang said. Shuangjiang asked her, ¡°Are you short on money?¡± The commission from the client was split seventy-thirty between Zhou Xufang and her, a substantial sum. ¡°Not short,¡± Zhou Xufang said, ¡°But I need more money.¡± As the sky darkened, turning from orange to indigo, she got up and went to the garage. Inside were two motorcycles, a sedan, an off-road vehicle, and a small pedal tricycle. The tricycle had a rain cover, inside there was a small stool, a folding portable table, and a square wooden box. She pedaled the tricycle out of the community. By seven o¡¯clock, under the Ba Yi Bridge, the vendors had set up their stalls all along the way, selling food, toys, and like Zhou Xufang, phone protectors. She picked an empty spot, moved down the wooden box, then spread out the phone cases and screen films inside. Beside her, the stall owner selling roasted sweet potatoes greeted Zhou Xufang warmly, ¡°You¡¯re here.¡± Zhou Xufang nodded. She came half an hour earlier than usual, got a better spot. However, her business was bad today, very bad. Half an hour had passed, only one customer came, looked at the phone cases for a bit, then left without buying anything. The weather was stuffy, like it was going to rain. Not far from the riverbank, there was a square that was usually lively at this time of day, but today it had few people. A distant child, separated from their parents, was crying. Because of the bad weather, many people were packing up and leaving. No one paid attention to the crying child who looked pitiful. Zhou Xufang walked over, ¡°Don¡¯t cry.¡± She wasn¡¯t good at comforting children. The child, four or five years old, teary-eyed, hiccuped, ¡°My hat,¡± he sniffled, ¡°the wind blew it into the river.¡± Zhou Xufang looked at the river. There was wind under the bridge, the hat had been blown to the other side, where a few elderly anglers were fishing. She stared for a long time, took off her shoes, and stepped into the water. The wind blew in gusts, the water surface sparkled, and the moon hid behind the clouds. Only the street lights reflected in a patchy pattern on the water. ¡°Old Qian, it¡¯s going to rain. Let¡¯s call it a day,¡± said one of the elderly anglers wearing a fisherman¡¯s hat. Nearby, his companion said, ¡°All right.¡± He stood up, reeled in his fishing line, and called out to his mates, ¡°Let¡¯s go drink!¡± ¡°Okay.¡± The old man in the fisherman¡¯s hat just stood up when a head emerged from the water, startling him. He stammered, ¡°Are-are-are you a person or a ghost?¡± The streetlight wasn¡¯t bright enough to see clearly, just the head, with only the forehead visible, not the eyes. The head in the water didn¡¯t answer. After exchanging bewildered glances, the elderly men dashed off without taking their fishing rods¡­ scared to death! The wet head finally emerged from the water entirely. The twilight made her pupils appear especially bright, blood-red. Her eyes turned red after being in the water for a long time or when she got angry. That¡¯s why she didn¡¯t like getting angry. She put on the pair of sunglasses she carried in her hoodie pocket, went ashore, and returned the hat to the boy. He stopped crying, sniffed, and asked, ¡°Sister, are you a mermaid?¡± Zhou Xufang shook her head. She didn¡¯t know which species she belonged to either. She couldn¡¯t understand fish but could sleep with them underwater. The woman on the opposite square anxiously called out, ¡°Ningning.¡± The boy put on the wet hat, smiled at Zhou Xufang, then ran towards the woman, not watching the road and darting straight into the lane. From the right, a bright red sports car came, screeching to a halt. ¡°Screech¡ª¡± The car stopped. The boy was already petrified and was scooped up by Zhou Xufang. Reflexively, she lifted her head. Seeing no one around, she breathed a sigh of relief. ¡°Sister,¡± the boy stammered, still frightened, ¡°you run so fast. Are you a Powerpuff Girl?¡± Zhou Xufang said no, put him down. His mother rushed over, expressing her gratitude. The driver of the car also got out, checked the road, then looked at Zhou Xufang: ¡°You,¡± his starry eyes surveyed her up and down, ¡°a scammer?¡± Zhou Xufang raised her head, still wearing sunglasses. She pushed them up, ¡°Sir, need a screen protector?¡± Her voice was cool, flat-toned, ¡°Twenty yuan each.¡± ¡°¡­¡± The man was a handsome young guy with a buzz cut, dressed in a red motorcycle jacket paired with blue pants. So flamboyantly dressed, who else could he be but Xue Baoyi. Xue Baoyi stared at the girl who wore sunglasses at night and was soaked wet. After a long look, he decisively refused, ¡°No!¡± He nearly got a heart attack. Zhou Xufang wrung out the water from her sleeves, returned to her stall, and put on a long shirt. Xue Baoyi stared for a moment before returning to his car, complaining to the person in the back seat, ¡°That girl popped out of nowhere, freaked me out.¡± The person in the back half-opened his eyes, lazily, ¡°Xue Baoyi.¡± Xue Baoyi felt a shiver down his spine, ¡°Wh-wh-what is it?¡± When Jiang called him by his full name, he panicked. The man stated concisely, ¡°Get out.¡± Chapter 4 - Chapter 4: 004: Play around with a director Chapter 4: 004: Play around with a director Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation ¡°` That ancestor said, concisely: ¡°Get lost.¡± Xue Baoyi glanced in the rearview mirror. Jiang Zhi had just been discharged from the hospital; his complexion still wasn¡¯t good. He looked sickly, with a touch of red on his pretty little face, possibly from a fever, which made him look all the more pitiful. In this fragile state, how could he drive? At this moment, Xue Baoyi even felt like reciting ¡°Dengtuzi¡¯s Love of Beauty¡±: The son of the East House, adding one inch would be too long, reducing one inch would be too short¡­ with a radiant smile, he bewitched Yang City and enchanted Xia Cai. Cough cough cough, back to the main point. As Mr. Xue, he always showed mercy to delicate beauties, so he stubbornly refused: ¡°Won¡¯t get lost.¡± An unidentified object was hurled at him. With quick reflexes, he caught it and saw that it was Jiang Zhi¡¯s mobile phone. ¡°Hey, how did the screen break?¡± Jiang Zhi curled up in the back seat, a blanket covering his legs. His hands rested on top, with nails turning a sickly pale white. ¡°I threw it.¡± His peach blossom eyes slightly lifted, then drooped again as if he was too tired, caught between sleep and wakefulness. ¡°It happened just when you braked.¡± He felt guilty for causing Jiang Mei Ren¡¯s phone to fall. Xue Baoyi touched the screen, then played some in-car music for the young master. ¡°The screen isn¡¯t broken, only the protector. Hold on; I¡¯ll get a new one for you.¡± Then, Xue Baoyi got out of the car and went to a small vendor stall for screen protectors. Zhou Xufang looked up. Xue Baoyi asked: ¡°Do you have a protector for this phone model?¡± She glanced at the phone model. ¡°Yes.¡± She found three different types from her box. Xue Baoyi carefully picked one. ¡°Give me the shiniest one.¡± Mr. Xue liked bling-bling things. Zhou Xufang adjusted the lamp for better light and lowered her head to apply the screen protector. Xue Baoyi watched her. Hmm, not bad-looking. It¡¯s tough for a pretty girl to make it on her own. He said: ¡°Give me a pink phone case too.¡± Quickly, Zhou Xufang applied the screen protector and fitted the pink case. ¡°That¡¯ll be fifty.¡± Xue Baoyi paid and returned to the car. Jiang Mei Ren was resting with his eyes closed, breathing slightly rapid, his cheeks tinged with an unhealthy flush. His eyes seemed to fill with a vague mist, exuding a careless charm. Ah, this damned, untamed beauty. Steel-hearted Xue Baoyi dared not gaze at that face again. He muttered: ¡°That girl is quite pretty, though odd, wearing sunglasses at night.¡± The beauty in the back seat lifted his eyelids. Xue Baoyi immediately offered the phone like a treasure, shaking it. ¡°Got you a phone case, this flashy pink one suits you.¡± The flashy pink case had a large-headed rabbit drawn on it. Jiang Zhi took the phone, caressing the screen with elegant fingers, then casually removed the phone case and tossed it at Xue Baoyi¡¯s head. ¡°If your eyes don¡¯t work, donate them.¡± The phone case hit Xue Baoyi, making him see stars: ¡°¡­¡± Damn, this little beauty is quite fiery. The little beauty¡¯s phone rang. ¡°Hello.¡± The beauty spoke icily. On the other side was a woman: ¡°Director Jiang.¡± Jiang Zhi furrowed his brows, seemingly about to cough but suppressing it. Veins vaguely showed on his neck, his lips reddened a few degrees. Weakly, he asked, ¡°Who?¡± The woman replied: ¡°It¡¯s me.¡± Sounded quite important. Jiang Zhi had no patience, his tone lazy and lacking strength: ¡°Who?¡± The woman then identified herself: ¡°I¡¯m Yang Xu.¡± Yang Xu¡­ Xue Baoyi vaguely remembered her as a newly rising popular star recently. Jiang Zhi furrowed his brows as if pondering for a moment. ¡°The one who was late on set yesterday?¡± Clearly, this popular star had a low presence with the director. ¡°Sorry, Director Jiang, yesterday it was me who¡ª¡± Jiang Zhi covered his mouth and coughed. Due to his irritation, his ear tips reddened a bit. His body felt uncomfortable, and his temper worsened, interrupting before she finished: ¡°You¡¯ve already been replaced. No need to explain further.¡± Then, Jiang Zhi hung up the phone. Xue Baoyi had heard enough to understand most of it. ¡°The film¡¯s already halfway shot, and you¡¯re changing actors now?¡± If he remembered correctly, that popular star had quite a few scenes. The person in the back seat was tired and rubbed his temples. ¡°She broke my rules.¡± At eighteen, Jiang Zhi directed a film, initially as a casual endeavor, but it became an instant hit. As Jiang Zhi put it, since he was idle anyway, he might as well play around, ultimately earning himself the title of genius director. He kept a low profile, the media didn¡¯t dare to write indiscriminately, and outsiders knew little. But insiders were well aware¡ªJiang Zhi had many rules. In his film crew, no matter how big a star you were, you had to obey. If not, you were kicked out immediately. ¡°Fine, you¡¯re the boss.¡± Xue Baoyi turned the steering wheel, taking the young master back to the Jiang Family¡¯s residence. The rain fell patteringly, with few pedestrians. Vendors by the riverside had all packed up and left. It took forty minutes by tricycle from the Ba Yi Bridge to Yuquan Bay. Zhou Xufang wore a black raincoat, her hoodie inside almost dry. She took off the dripping raincoat, put on her hoodie cap, and wearing sunglasses, walked into the supermarket outside the neighborhood. She picked a can of cat food and a bottle of water, heading to the cashier to pay. Wen Baiyang wrote: ¡°29.9.¡± She handed over the money, habitually lowered her cap, and walked out of the supermarket. At the entrance, she stopped, pointing at a job advertisement on the glass: ¡°Are you still hiring?¡± Wen Baiyang nodded, writing down a number: ¡°We need temporary workers, paid by the hour. Here¡¯s the boss¡¯s phone number.¡± Zhou Xufang took it: ¡°Thank you.¡± Wen Baiyang read her lips and gestured: You¡¯re welcome. Zhou Xufang walked to the tricycle, putting her raincoat on. The large black hood covered half of her face. With her head lowered, she bumped into someone passing by, causing her can of cat food to fall. She looked up. It was the curly-haired old lady from building sixteen. They exchanged a glance before the old lady averted her eyes immediately: ¡°Sorry.¡± Zhou Xufang shook her head without speaking, bending down to pick up the fallen cat food. At that moment, the curly-haired old lady reached out as well, their hands touching briefly. The old lady pulled back swiftly, shuddering, then hurriedly dragged her companion into the neighborhood supermarket. The rain thickened, the sound of raindrops tapping away on her raincoat. In the small supermarket behind her, the curly-haired old lady was buying salt, speaking softly. ¡°` Chapter 5 - Chapter 5: 005: My Sweetheart Darling (Part 2) Chapter 5: 005: My Sweetheart Darling (Part 2) Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation The curly-haired old lady was buying salt, speaking in a very low voice. ¡°Is it her? That little girl from Building Seventeen.¡± ¡°It¡¯s her.¡± ¡°She seems normal, not as scary as Old Wang said.¡± ¡°I just touched her hand.¡± ¡°What about her hand?¡± ¡°It was like ice, really scary.¡± Zhou Xufang touched her own hand, it was indeed quite cold, her body temperature was much lower than normal. If the curly-haired old lady¡¯s voice was a bit lower, it would have been better. Her hearing was excellent, probably about twenty times more acute than normal people. The curly-haired old lady lived next door, loved playing mahjong, and last night at midnight, the old lady got a winning hand and excitedly shouted. Even through her noise-canceling headphones, Zhou Xufang was awakened. She parked her tricycle in the garage, didn¡¯t take the elevator, and went to the stairwell on the first floor. She glanced outside, no one was there, and meowed. A gray cat timidly emerged from behind the discarded furniture under the stairs, looking at her: ¡°Meow.¡± It was a gray cat. Zhou Xufang opened a can of cat food and poured some water into a bowl beside the old furniture. The gray cat softly meowed twice and ate happily. She stroked the cat¡¯s head, and it remained still and obedient. ¡°Could I be a cat demon?¡± She muttered to herself, and the gray cat responded with a meow. She pursed her lips, a bit disappointed: ¡°But I can¡¯t understand what you¡¯re saying.¡± ¡°Meow~¡± She then mimicked: ¡°Meow.¡± The gray cat meowed again: ¡°Meow.¡± It seemed unlikely, although she was like a cat, able to jump very high. But she wasn¡¯t a cat demon, nor a fish demon. After squatting for a while, she got up and headed upstairs as the kitten finished eating. The moon was out, and the streetlights glowed with a cold white hue, illuminating all the motion-sensor lights from the first to the seventh floor of Building Seventeen in seconds. Beep. A WeChat message arrived. Zhou Xufang opened it. Apart from ¡®WeChat Pay,¡¯ ¡®WeChat Team,¡¯ and several public accounts, there was only one dialog box named Head of Group. Head of Group: Jianna Film City announcement: ¡°Wilderness¡± production, shooting tomorrow on the 10th, needs 10 male and 12 female extras (20-35 years old), males over 170 cm, females over 160 cm, pay is 150 yuan (finishing by 3 pm). Meet at Film City C1 subway exit at 8 am. Head of Group: WeChat registration, first come, first served! Zhou Xufang registered and then opened the food delivery app to order a meal. The Jiang Family¡¯s residence was located in a suburban villa area, an independent courtyard, with a four-story antique-style building. It was imposing in appearance and was the home of Old Lady Jiang. Usually, the Jiang Family members were busy, occupied with politics and business, and were seldom there. Old Lady Jiang had set a rule that on the 1st and 15th of each month, regardless of whether they were busy, they must gather. Old Lady Jiang had five children, and with the extended family, there were more than a dozen grandchildren, all present except for the youngest, Jiang Zhi, who had not yet shown up. It was only he who dared to be late to Old Lady Jiang¡¯s gatherings. ¡°Grandma.¡± The girl sitting beside Old Lady Jiang was from the fourth branch of the family. Her parents had died early, and she was raised by Old Lady Jiang. Her mother was the fourth daughter, the most beloved by Old Lady Jiang. She took her mother¡¯s surname and recognized Old Lady Jiang as her grandmother. Old Lady Jiang named her Fuxi. Jiang Fuxi said to Old Lady Jiang: ¡°It¡¯s already eight o¡¯clock, your stomach isn¡¯t well, drink some soup to settle it.¡± She had a classical appearance, with a gentle and kind nature. Old Lady Jiang always adored her, her stern face softened a bit, and she said: ¡°Wait for Brother Zhi.¡± Jiang Fuxi agreed. During the meal, the daughter-in-law of the second branch started a conversation: ¡°Mother, have you heard about the Ming Family?¡± Old Lady Jiang¡¯s second son, Jiang Weili, was in politics. He married the third daughter of the Luo patriarch, Luo Changfang, and they had a daughter, Jiang Fuli. Old Lady Jiang was seventy-three years old. Her ancestors were officials in the capital, and the family heritage had been passed down. A lady from a prominent family, even at her age, her hair was meticulously groomed, and she wore a dark purple cheongsam, exuding sharpness and refinement. ¡°Which matter?¡± Luo Changfang, frowning, said: ¡°The fourth girl from the Ming Family, Brother Zhi threw her into the sea. She drank a lot of water and is still in the hospital.¡± This was a complaint. The third branch was gone, leaving only Jiang Zhi, who was deeply cherished by Old Lady Jiang. The other branches were naturally envious. Old Lady Jiang drank her tea, her expression unchanged, neither happy nor angry: ¡°I¡¯ve heard.¡± Throwing the girl into the sea was somewhat lacking in the grace and manners of a nobleman. Luo Changfang¡¯s face showed displeasure: ¡°Brother Zhi went too far. It¡¯s one thing for the younger generation to play around, but to get serious¡ª¡± Old Lady Jiang interrupted: ¡°Play around?¡± She put down her tea-cup lid and looked up, her eyes sharp. ¡°Is Brother Zhi¡¯s health something that Ming Family¡¯s fourth girl can afford to play around with?¡± Luo Changfang: ¡°¡­¡± What could she say? The old lady spoiled her little grandson excessively. No one else dared to complain further, and the two tables of people quietly waited without a sound. ¡°Lin,¡± Old Lady Jiang instructed, ¡°the project with the Ming Family, put it on hold for now.¡± Lin was the eldest grandson of the Jiang Family, the only son of Old Lady Jiang¡¯s eldest son. The legitimate grandchildren of the Jiang Family were few, aside from Jiang Zhi, Jiang Xiaolin was the most esteemed. He nodded, obeying Old Lady Jiang¡¯s command. Just then, the old butler Jiang Chuan came in: ¡°Old Lady, the young master has arrived.¡± Before anyone entered, coughing was heard. The youngest had finally arrived. Old Lady Jiang¡¯s face lit up with a smile as she instructed the girl beside her: ¡°Fuxi, go inside and get Brother Zhi a coat.¡± Jiang Fuxi got up and went inside to get the coat. Jiang Zhi¡¯s health was poor, and the nights in late autumn were chilly. They were afraid he would catch a cold. Old Lady Jiang asked the butler: ¡°Is Brother Zhi¡¯s soup ready?¡± Jiang Chuan replied: ¡°It¡¯s kept warm in the kitchen.¡± The young master was discharged from the hospital today. The nourishing soup had been simmering since noon. In the Jiang Family, only he received such treatment. Old Lady Jiang smiled: ¡°Bring it quickly.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Grandma.¡± At the door, Jiang Zhi walked in slowly, breathing lightly, occasionally unable to suppress a cough. Old Lady Jiang immediately stood up with her cane: ¡°Brother Zhi, come sit by Grandma.¡± Two tables of Jiang Family members, all stood up now. No matter how displeased, they had to pamper this delicate young master. The youngest son of the Jiang Family, he was the apple of the old lady¡¯s eye, her precious treasure, pampered beyond measure. Jiang Zhi was thus made into a little ancestor. The next day, it was gray. Little Ancestor Jiang caused trouble on the set again, throwing the script in his hand, and said in a light tone, ¡°Stop.¡± Chapter 6 - Chapter 6: 006: The femme fatale is Jiang Zhi Chapter 6: 006: The femme fatale is Jiang Zhi Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation The moon rose fair, and so did the fair lady. These verses from the Book of Songs were used to describe women, but Assistant Director Zhao felt that Director Jiang could live up to these eight words. Compared to him, the female lead of the movie seemed to lose her color. Beautiful she was, but her temper was truly great. Assistant Director Zhao approached gingerly, ¡°Director, what happened?¡± Jiang Zhi was nestled on a recliner padded with thick blankets. His long legs were crossed. The temperature had dropped these past few days, and he felt even more listless, weak and sickly. He said, ¡°Remove the makeup.¡± He was referring to the female lead, Yu Ran. Yu Ran was a popular A-list actress. Jiang Zhi¡¯s movie had a national theme, requiring all actors to appear on screen without makeup, but she just couldn¡¯t let go. Being scolded by the director in public, Yu Ran stood there awkwardly. Her agent quickly stepped in to smooth things over, ¡°It¡¯s just a little foundation, Director, could you¡ª¡± Jiang Zhi lifted his gaze, ¡°What do you think?¡± His eyes were peach blossom eyes, naturally beautiful, but when slightly narrowed, they emitted a dangerous aura. ¡°Hurry up and remove Ranran¡¯s makeup.¡± The makeup artist quickly went over to remove Yu Ran¡¯s makeup upon hearing the agent¡¯s words. Today was slightly overcast, with some wind. Late autumn was passing, and there was a slight chill in the air. ¡°Cough, cough, cough¡­¡± The beauty on the recliner coughed until her face turned red, looking pitiful. Ah Wan quickly handed over the warm milk and covered the frail employer with a blanket, then announced softly, ¡°Mr. Jiang, Yang Xu¡¯s agent has an appointment with you.¡± Yang Xu was the up-and-coming starlet who had been replaced for being late. The milk was in a can with pure black packaging. Jiang Zhi held the can between his two pale fingers and took a slow sip, ¡°No time.¡± Next to him, Assistant Director Zhao timidly asked, ¡°Then what about Yang Xu¡¯s scenes?¡± Yang Xu had the second female lead role in this movie, with many scenes¡ªand primarily because of her wide following! To be honest, Assistant Director Zhao was reluctant to replace her, but¡­ he didn¡¯t dare. Director Jiang, half-closing his eyes, held that can of milk, tapping it with his fingers rhythmically. After a moment of silence, he lifted his eyelids, revealing his eyes like blooming peach blossoms. He raised his hand and pointed to a spot, ¡°You, come here.¡± Everyone looked in the direction he pointed. Across from the set, about twenty extras were gathered. The confused-looking girl on the outside of the group stepped forward, eyes wide in disbelief, pointing at herself, ¡°Me?¡± That girl looked young, not very tall. Her appearance was unclear, as her face was covered in artificial blood, wearing the uniform costume of an extra actor. It was evident that she was a bystander in the scene, where citizens were suffering under enemy bombardment. She was just a villager who had been given a close-up. The extra called out by the famous director stood there, dumbfounded. ¡°Yes.¡± The director asked her in a tone that sounded half-awake, ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± The extra scratched her head, still in a daze, ¡°My name is Fang Lixiang.¡± ¡°How long have you been acting?¡± Perhaps the extra realized what was going on, her eyes brightened with excitement, ¡°I¡¯ve been an extra for four years.¡± ¡°Can you play Yang Xu¡¯s role?¡± Oh, a pie fell from the sky! The girl felt her blood boiling, her big round eyes curved into a crescent, sparkling brightly. She said, ¡°I can!¡± Patting her chest confidently, she added, ¡°Director, I can even bring the dead to life with my acting!¡± Saying this, she suddenly fell to the ground, quivering a bit, her limbs went limp, her eyes rolled back, and her hand stretched out, slowly, slowly falling down¡ªperforming a death scene on the spot. Everyone: ¡°¡­¡± Actually, she really did lay out a layered death scene. Jiang Zhi shifted his position on the recliner, ¡°It¡¯s her.¡± Assistant Director Zhao was dumbfounded, so hasty? Just like that, Fang Lixiang had her sudden rise to fame, so thrilling, it felt like her life had reached its peak! She hopped around, wanting to jump up and touch the sun, ¡°Xu Fang, Xu Fang!¡± Zhou Xufang stood among the extras, ¡°Hmm.¡± They had known each other for three months, one as an extra, the other an extra¡¯s extra. They often met on set, though they weren¡¯t very close. It was just last month that Zhou Xufang was owed wages, Fang Lixiang stood up for her, though the outcome wasn¡¯t perfect, they formed a bond. Fang Lixiang hopped in front of her with a grin, revealing two small dimples, ¡°Pinch me.¡± Zhou Xufang poked her arm lightly. Feeling no pain, Fang Lixiang pinched the soft flesh of her own thigh hard, twisting it fiercely, and then grinned through the pain, ¡°Not a dream.¡± She burst with excitement, ¡°Xu Fang, I¡¯ve really become a Weaver girl, my ancestors are watching over me!¡± Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t react. Fang ¡°Weaver¡± Lixiang waved a hand in front of her eyes, ¡°What¡¯re you looking at?¡± Following Zhou Xufang¡¯s gaze, ¡°You¡¯re looking at Director Jiang?¡± Zhou Xufang nodded, ¡°He¡¯s really good-looking.¡± Fang Lixiang stared for a few moments, clicking her tongue¡­ Not just good-looking, devastatingly beautiful! Director Jiang¡¯s looks, if put in ancient times, would be the allure that brought disaster to the nation. There it was, the alluring beauty lying down weakly, causing people to ¡°fight for the beauty.¡± ¡°Ming Saiying, what the hell are you doing!¡± Usually known in the entertainment circle as a goddess-like figure, Yu Ran now was flushed with rage. The person she was arguing with was also in the circle, the fourth of the Ming Family, a lead of the neighboring production. ¡°Going crazy?¡± Ming Saiying, coming from a reputable family in Imperial City, was never short of money and always domineering in the industry. Who could match her pettiness, ¡°At least better than you being a slut.¡± Yu Ran was infuriated, ¡°You¡ª¡± Ming Saiying folded her arms, still in costume from her historical drama, lifting her chin and exuding the aura of a harem queen, ¡°Who knows who went knocking on the director¡¯s door late at night in a skimpy dress.¡± This incident was well-known in the circle. Just a few days into Jiang Zhi¡¯s movie shoot, the lead actress Yu Ran had gone knocking on his door in a skimpy dress under the pretext of discussing the script. Of course, no ¡°script¡± was discussed, and she ended up being escorted to the station by the police for public indecency. Having her scandal exposed, Yu Ran was so angry she directly grabbed Ming Saiying¡¯s hair. Both their agents hurried to separate them, in the midst of pushing and shoving, someone tripped over a standing camera. Fang Lixiang, who had been enjoying the spectacle, noticed the camera falling, wide-eyed, ¡°Xu Fang, get out of the way!¡± Zhou Xufang had been staring at Jiang Zhi¡¯s face, while Jiang Zhi sat on the director¡¯s recliner¡ªdrinking milk. The words on the milk can were in English. Zhou Xufang¡¯s vision was too good, she could see clearly from a few hundred meters away. No wonder her client wanted her to kidnap him, he was really good-looking, even better looking than her glass jar for holding cotton candy. ¡°Xu Fang!¡± Fang Lixiang tried to pull her but was too late. ¡°Bang!¡± The camera hit Zhou Xufang, knocking her right off her feet. Her hand hit the camera stand, slicing a long gash. Chapter 7 - Chapter 7: 007: Broke him Chapter 7: 007: Broke him Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation The camera crashed onto Zhou Xufang, causing her to fall backward. Her hand slammed into the camera stand, ripping a long gash. Immediately, she used her hand to cover the wound, and blood seeped through her fingers. When the accident happened, it was break time. Jiang Zhi had already finished drinking a can of milk. He was quite far away and couldn¡¯t hear the commotion, feeling lethargic as he rested with his eyes closed. Vice Director Zhao came over, hesitated for a moment, but then stepped forward to call out: ¡°Director Jiang.¡± Jiang Zhi lifted his eyelids slightly. The sun had just emerged from behind the clouds, not harsh but still somewhat glaring. He raised his hand to block the light. Ah Wan immediately stood by, using his strong body to shield his employer from the sun. Vice Director Zhao said, ¡°Fourth Miss Ming and Yu Ran are having an argument.¡± Everyone in the circle knew that Fourth Miss Ming had taken a fancy to Director Jiang¡¯s looks, and Yu Ran had a bit of a playboy reputation. These two were rivals in love. However¡ª Jiang Zhi showed little interest: ¡°Did it escalate to a fight?¡± ¡°No, not really,¡± Vice Director Zhao replied honestly. ¡°Just a background actor got pushed and got slightly injured.¡± But anyway, it was a case of the beautiful man causing trouble. Jiang Zhi, possibly tired, massaged his brows with some irritation, appearing somewhat impatient: ¡°Send the person to the hospital.¡± Vice Director Zhao nodded and then asked for further instructions: ¡°What about Fourth Miss Ming and Yu Ran?¡± Those two flowers were not ordinary ones; they were popular figures in the industry. Especially Fourth Miss Ming, who was quite a domineering flower. If not handled well, Weibo could even crash. ¡°Page eight, clause nine of the contract.¡± Director Jiang was strictly business-like. Page eight, clause nine of the contract¡ªon the filming set, in the case of non-force majeure delays, Party B must pay ten times the compensation for delay. Vice Director Zhao understood. ¡°Too noisy.¡± Ah Wan glanced at his employer, who was lying on his side with visible displeasure between his brows. His lips were a very light red, pressed into a straight line. Honestly, the expression was quite harsh, but his employer was good-looking, making even such an expression rather pleasing to the eye. Knowing that his brain wasn¡¯t as useful as his fists, Ah Wan stepped forward and asked: ¡°Should I chase them out?¡± The employer didn¡¯t respond, covered his mouth and coughed twice, got up, and headed to the lounge. He walked slowly, pausing every three steps to catch his breath, slightly hunched due to discomfort. From behind, the exposed part of his neck was strikingly pale. What did this mean? Should he chase them out or not? Ah Wan thought for a moment and decided to take a bathroom break first. Because the female lead had a clash with the female lead of the neighboring crew, filming was paused. Fang Lixiang had already removed her makeup; her bare, youthful face was radiant. Having been promoted to a ¡°Weaver,¡± the makeup artist sister specifically asked her to change clothes in an independent dressing room. After changing, she couldn¡¯t find Zhou Xufang and didn¡¯t know where the stage manager had taken her. Fang Lixiang grabbed a background actress and asked: ¡°Have you seen Xu Fang?¡± The background actress asked in return: ¡°Who¡¯s Xu Fang?¡± Zhou Xufang wasn¡¯t fast to warm up to people, had a cold demeanor, and mild social anxiety. Apart from Fang Lixiang, she basically didn¡¯t talk to anyone. Even though she had known Zhou Xufang for several months, Fang Lixiang didn¡¯t have her phone number. Zhou rarely brought her phone out and hardly used WeChat, like a caveman. Fang Lixiang described Zhou ¡°the Caveman¡± to the background actress: ¡°Hair this long, very fair skin, pretty, often wears a hat, with a somewhat disheveled vibe.¡± The background actress was confused. Fine, Zhou Xufang¡¯s presence in the crew was almost zero. Fang Lixiang clarified: ¡°The one who just got injured.¡± ¡°Oh, she went to the lounge to bandage her wound.¡± The crew had only four lounges: one for the male lead, one for the female lead, one common room, and one exclusive for the director. The stage manager, seeing Zhou Xufang injured and refusing to go to the hospital, placed her in the lounge and specifically instructed her to use the common lounge. At this time, the lounges were mostly occupied, with only one empty. In the corridor, occasional coughs echoed. ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± A woman¡¯s tone was cheerful, her steps eager. Ahead, Jiang Zhi turned around slowly, seeing the visitor: ¡°When did you get discharged?¡± Yesterday, Xue Baoyi had thrown this woman into the sea for him. She was still in the hospital last night and now bouncing back so quickly. Ming Saiying wasn¡¯t angry at all, smiling as she replied: ¡°Today.¡± To be fair, Ming Saiying wasn¡¯t bad in many aspects. The Ming family was a well-known building materials business in the Imperial City. She was a late-born child, very much doted upon at home, with striking looks: a curvaceous figure, almond eyes, and cherry lips. Although she lacked acting skills, she thrived in the entertainment circle. But¡ª Her brain wasn¡¯t the best, quite stubborn. Jiang Zhi glanced at her and said: ¡°You didn¡¯t drink enough seawater.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Ming Saiying, actually a fiery personality, lost her temper around Jiang Zhi. Dressed in a palace empress costume, she obediently apologized: ¡°I acted impulsively in that incident; I apologize.¡± She promised, ¡°In the future, I¡¯ll be straightforward and honest in pursuing you, no more tricks.¡± Why did she like Jiang Zhi? The reason was simple; he was very good-looking. Everyone loves beauty, so ever since she saw Jiang Zhi at a party two years ago, she couldn¡¯t stop thinking about his looks. Jiang Zhi, facing her, maintained his perennial indifferent face: ¡°I don¡¯t like women.¡± He stated it matter-of-factly. He came out as gay at eighteen. Everyone in the circle knew he was genuinely gay. Heard he even couldn¡¯t get aroused while watching straight porn. Ming Saiying pondered for a moment: ¡°Then should I change my gender?¡± Jiang Zhi¡¯s beautifully elaborate peach blossom eyes instantly turned icy cold. Whether out of exasperation at her shamelessness, he turned away, coughing severely. ¡°Cough, cough, cough, cough¡­¡± His complexion was pale; his cheeks flushed large patches of red as he coughed, even his eye rims tinged with a blush, eyes misty. Tut, tut, tut¡­ So beautifully unreasonable. Ming Saixing quickly rushed forward, wanting to help him ease his breathing. Jiang Zhi stepped back, lifted his eyes, past Ming Saixing, and angrily shouted: ¡°Where have you been?¡± His gaze, cold as drizzling ice rain, struck with chilly precision. The tardy Ah Wan shivered: ¡°I went to the bathroom.¡± He was having diarrhea today. Jiang Zhi¡¯s patience had worn out: ¡°Get her out of here.¡± He ordered, cupping his mouth as he coughed, his neck turning red. Ming Saiying felt heartbroken, quickly retreating: ¡°Don¡¯t get angry, I¡¯ll leave on my own, leave on my own.¡± She said, walking away reluctantly, looking back repeatedly. Ah Wan thought for a moment and followed her. Jiang Zhi, after catching his breath, pushed open the lounge door. By this time, it was already dark outside. The lounge was dim and barely visible. He groped for the light switch and, as he pressed it, a face suddenly appeared in his view without warning. ¡°Click.¡± The wind slammed the door shut. Jiang Zhi¡¯s pupils slightly constricted: ¡°Who are you?¡± These eyes¡­ He had seen them before. Excessively beautiful, yet cold, clear and bright, filled with world-weariness and despair, somehow shimmering. The owner of the eyes didn¡¯t answer his question. His gaze swept over her, landing on her bloodstained arm. Unexpectedly, a bloody hand covered his eyes. He froze, as a girl¡¯s voice, as faint as smoke, whispered in his ear. She said: ¡°Don¡¯t look.¡± Her hand was healing, visibly strange to the naked eye. She hid from others and ducked into the lounge. Skin-to-skin contact; he had just been coughing, his temperature still warm. Her hand, however, was cold as ice, covered in blood, the faint smell of blood wafting into his breaths. Logically, he should have found it filthy, but he forgot to react. It took him a while to speak, but before he could make a sound, that smoky, ethereal voice whispered again. ¡°Don¡¯t call out. I won¡¯t hurt you.¡± Her blood-stained palm still covered his eyes, with only a sliver of light seeping through the fingers, casting a blood-colored hue, faintly tinged red. Such a strong smell of blood. Jiang Zhi took a step back and, almost simultaneously, grabbed her wrist, just about to push away when her elbow pinned him to the wall. He couldn¡¯t catch his breath. ¡°Cough, cough, cough, cough¡­¡± Coughing as if his lungs would come out. Zhou Xufang heard his severe cough and immediately loosened her grip. One hand covered his eyes, while the other pressed on his shoulder. The wound on her arm had long scabbed over, but blood stained his body and face. She could see he was ill, her strength barely light, but she became even gentler: ¡°I¡¯ll leave when I finish bandaging. Don¡¯t call out, don¡¯t look, okay?¡± Maybe he coughed too hard, feeling hot, he licked his lips, his Adam¡¯s apple bobbing slightly: ¡°No.¡± She frowned. ¡°Snap.¡± She turned off the light and almost simultaneously let go. Jiang Zhi stood leaning against the wall, his senses filled with unfamiliar, irritating scents. With no light, he sought those eyes in the darkness: ¡°What are you doing¡ª¡± Before he finished talking, his jaw was grasped. In his daze, someone approached, the cool scent of mint mixed with blood overwhelming him. ¡°Don¡¯t talk. If I use force, it will hurt a lot.¡± She was much stronger than a normal person. Just a gentle squeeze would cause him pain, possibly even break him. Zhou Xufang thought she had to be careful, avoid making him cry out. Jiang Zhi¡¯s Adam¡¯s apple rolled again. No other person, male or female, had ever been this close. The sheer intensity of her aura made him extremely uncomfortable; his jaw was still gripped, the icy touch penetrating his skin, the contrasts of cold and hot sending shivers through him. He could even hear himself swallow: ¡°Move, move away a bit.¡± Damn, I¡¯m stuttering. The other party stayed silent for a moment: ¡°Okay.¡± She stepped back a little and thought for a moment before releasing his jaw. From her pocket, she fished out a bandage given by the stage manager, biting one end with her teeth and wrapping it single-handedly around her nearly healed wound. The heavy breathing was Jiang Zhi¡¯s. He quietly regained his composure for a long time, discretely groping for the light switch. Just as he was about to press it, Zhou Xufang heard the sound and immediately grasped his hand. Then came a subtle crack from bone. Jiang Zhi gasped, his handsome face flushing white with pain. She paused: ¡°It seems dislocated.¡± She honestly didn¡¯t use much force, but being thirty times stronger than an ordinary person, she had injured him. Chapter 8 - Chapter 8: 008: Beauty, would you like me to give you a chicken? Chapter 8: 008: Beauty, would you like me to give you a chicken? Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation She really didn¡¯t use much force, but her strength was more than thirty times that of an average person, and now it turned out, she broke him. ¡°Does it hurt?¡± She let go. Maybe because this person was too good-looking, she forgot to stay on guard for a moment. Jiang Zhi¡¯s wrist stiffened, he didn¡¯t move: ¡°What do you think?¡± Three words, squeezed out through his teeth. It should hurt a lot, after all, she was so strong. She wrapped up her arm, then turned on the light, stepped back, trying to keep as far away from the victim as possible: ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± Jiang Zhi laughed in anger: ¡°If ¡®sorry¡¯ worked, what do we need the police for.¡± ¡°¡­¡± He made a good point, Zhou Xufang did not argue. Then¡ª Jiang Zhi called the police. Zhou Xufang went to the police station in a police car, while Jiang Zhi went to the hospital to treat his injury. His hand was dislocated, but fortunately, there were no tears. After repositioning, it wasn¡¯t a big deal, except he had OCD and couldn¡¯t stand the smell of blood. Against medical advice, he insisted on taking a bath, and soaked for half an hour. At nine-thirty in the evening, Jiang Zhi arrived at the police station. Zhou Xufang had already been ¡®arrested¡¯ for two hours. Because it was related to Jiang Zhi, Qiao Nanchu specially made a trip to the criminal investigation team. ¡°So, you want to sue her? For the charge of intentional injury?¡± Jiang Zhi curled up in a chair, his fingers playing with the bandage around his injury, his handsome face was expressionless: ¡°The process of suing is too troublesome.¡± Qiao Nanchu pulled up a chair and sat down, raising the corner of his eye slightly: ¡°Then what do you want to do?¡± He moved his wrist: ¡°Lock her up for a few days.¡± ¡°And then?¡± Then¡ª Jiang Zhi was thinking when Ah Wan spoke: ¡°Mr. Jiang.¡± He lifted an eyelid. Ah Wan¡¯s large frame blocked a lot of light, his expression very honest: ¡°She is the extra who got injured on the set today.¡± Honest advice is hard to take, but Ah Wan felt it had to be said. After pondering for a moment, Ah Wan continued: ¡°It was actually because of you that she got hurt.¡± If that girl ended up in jail, he¡¯d lose all faith in justice. Although the employer had money and power, he couldn¡¯t just run roughshod over everyone. The rich and powerful, lawless employer suddenly asked: ¡°Where were you when my hand was dislocated?¡± ¡°¡­¡± After driving out the fourth young master of the Ming family, he went to the¡­ restroom, really had a bit of diarrhea today, shouldn¡¯t have eaten lobster for lunch. A cold chill washed over him! Ah Wan shrank his neck: ¡°I was using the toilet.¡± Jiang Zhi got straight to the point: ¡°Get out.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± When self-preservation was at stake, justice wasn¡¯t all that important. Ah Wan decisively left the meeting room at the police station just as the Second Young Master Xue arrived at the door. ¡°I¡¯ve seen that girl before, under Ba Yi Bridge.¡± Xue Baoyi came in and drank the untouched glass of water in front of Jiang Zhi. Jiang Zhi looked up at him. ¡°The screen protector on your phone was put on by her.¡± Xue Baoyi smiled mischievously, ¡°Brother Zhi, be compassionate when possible.¡± Qiao Nanchu glanced at Jiang Zhi¡¯s screen protector and kicked Xue Baoyi¡¯s chair: ¡°What¡¯s it to you?¡± Xue Baoyi had a point, speaking righteously: ¡°That girl is quite pitiful, young and has to apply screen protectors and be an extra, obviously not an easy life. Besides, it¡¯s all because of Brother Zhi¡¯s romantic entanglement.¡± What a show of philanthropy! If it weren¡¯t for a pretty girl, Xue Baoyi would definitely help to ruin her. Qiao Nanchu couldn¡¯t be bothered with the pretentious do-gooder, he asked Jiang Zhi: ¡°What do you want? You say.¡± Jiang Zhi seemed low in spirits, he lowered his eyelids, his brows furrowed and relaxed alternately, rarely so undecided, after a long while, he finally responded. ¡°Let her go.¡± After saying this, he coughed lightly, his originally sleepy eyes were slightly flushed due to frustration. It was already late autumn, he disliked the cold, his lazily hanging fingers at his side were pale. Qiao Nanchu leaned back in his chair, arms crossed, with a smile: ¡°For the first time.¡± He signaled to Xue Baoyi, ¡°He¡¯s feeling tender.¡± Jiang Zhi snorted: ¡°Tender my ass!¡± In the large office outside, Zhou Xufang was handling civil dispute mediation procedures. ¡°Just sign here and you can leave.¡± The round-faced officer said. She signed her name, and just in time, Jiang Zhi came out of the meeting room, his gaze didn¡¯t stop, his expression indifferent and detached. Zhou Xufang thought for a moment, and still stepped forward, raised her head, and tried to drop her guard: ¡°Thank you.¡± This person was not only good-looking but also kind-hearted. She was really grateful to him. Her thanks were sincere, Jiang Zhi glanced at her eyes, frowning fiercely, and turned to leave. Seeing this person just made him so angry, burning with an inexplicable fire that he couldn¡¯t quite put out. He wasn¡¯t some kind of saint, why did he let her go? Heaven knows what kind of hex he was under. Walking behind, Ah Wan stopped, stared at Zhou Xufang for several moments. ¡°We¡¯ve met.¡± Ah Wan felt a connection with this girl, ¡°At the south bank of Canghai.¡± That night, when the employer was abducted to Canghai, he saw this girl while looking for him. Zhou Xufang lowered her head, habitually keeping her distance, pulling up the hood of her sweatshirt, avoiding eye contact, her gaze wary: ¡°I was there applying screen protectors.¡± The client said to do no harm, just to rescue a damsel in distress, she wasn¡¯t at ease, stayed there for an hour, making sure the person was safe before leaving. ¡°Oh.¡± Ah Wan didn¡¯t doubt her, just thought this girl seemed a bit antisocial and cautious. Outside the police station, coughing sounds were carried in by the night wind. Ah Wan sighed: such a delicate employer. ¡°Why aren¡¯t you coming to drive!¡± The employer was losing his temper outside, never knew where all that anger came from. Ah Wan thought perhaps it was all that youthful vigor. Even though he was so delicate, he still had eight-pack abs. Those eight-pack abs, Ah Wan accidentally saw them, the employer had ordered him not to talk about it. Ah Wan found it hard to understand, thinking the employer was weird every day. He looked so frail and skinny, yet he had abs, while Ah Wan did two hours of exercise daily to get his own eight-pack. Hey, so unfair. ¡°Oh.¡± Ah Wan hurried out to drive the employer. Zhou Xufang got home, it was already past ten. She took a shower, put on a black loungewear hoodie, moved her computer to the bed, and contacted her partner Shuangjiang. The screen was full of SpongeBob, Shuangjiang typed: ¡°Any tasks?¡± ¡°No.¡± She got up and held the cotton candy box in her hand, pinching one and eating it in small bites, ¡°I accidentally hurt someone, want to make it up, what can I offer?¡± After a few seconds, text rolled out on the screen: ¡°Where¡¯s the injury?¡± ¡°His hand was dislocated.¡± This matter was her fault. She should apologize and compensate. She had no friends, only two ¡®colleagues,¡¯ Shuangjiang and Fang Lixiang. She didn¡¯t have Fang Lixiang¡¯s contact information, so she could only ask Shuangjiang. Shuangjiang quickly gave a suggestion: ¡°Send a local chicken, it¡¯s nutritious.¡± Send a chicken. Zhou Xufang had no experience in giving gifts, since she had memory, she had been alone, no one taught her social etiquette. She pursed her lips and rarely showed a troubled expression: ¡°I don¡¯t know if he likes to eat chicken.¡± ¡°Then do you know what he likes?¡± She tossed a marshmallow into her mouth, sickeningly sweet, she thought for a moment: ¡°He likes drinking milk, a lot, drank three cans in one afternoon.¡± Just like she liked marshmallows. Shuangjiang then said: ¡°Then you send a chicken and a box of milk.¡± Zhou Xufang thought that would work. Chapter 9 - Chapter 9: 009: The beauty is too delicate, cant afford to keep her! Chapter 9: 009: The beauty is too delicate, can¡¯t afford to keep her! Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation ¡°Then just send a chicken and a box of milk.¡± Zhou Xufang thought that could work. The milk Jiang Zhi drank was an imported brand. Zhou Xufang ordered two boxes online, which would take a week to arrive. The cotton candy she liked was also out of stock online. She put on a big black coat with a hood and went to the supermarket in the neighborhood. At this hour, only Wen Baiyang was in the supermarket. She asked Wen Baiyang, ¡°Is the cotton candy with the pink packaging still unavailable?¡± Wen Baiyang wrote, ¡°Out of stock.¡± Her handwriting was neat and pretty. ¡°Seems like it¡¯s discontinued.¡± No wonder it couldn¡¯t be found online either. Zhou Xufang furrowed her brows and picked another brand of cotton candy, feeling a bit disappointed. When paying, she said, ¡°I¡¯ll also be working part-time here from now on, Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from eleven at night till one in the morning.¡± The pay for a professional errand runner was high, but tasks were not frequent. She had a lot of free time and could take on many part-time jobs. Wen Baiyang grinned, showing a few white teeth. Her face had a perpetual redness from the high altitude, making her look honest and simple. After giving the change, she rummaged in her canvas bag for a while, then handed Zhou Xufang an egg. Zhou Xufang still wore her hat, revealing only a small part of her face. ¡°Is this for me?¡± Wen Baiyang nodded and wrote on a piece of paper, ¡°It¡¯s a farm egg.¡± Such a kind person. Zhou Xufang was somewhat afraid of strangers and had a strong sense of caution due to a lack of social interaction. Wen Baiyang was the only one who made her feel relaxed. She liked her, especially the two rosy spots on her cheeks. ¡°Thank you.¡± She took the egg without touching Wen Baiyang¡¯s hand. ¡°Do you know where I can buy farm chickens?¡± Wen Baiyang nodded. Zhou Xufang added her on WeChat. Besides the group chats from the crew, Wen Baiyang was the first contact she added. For a whole week, Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t get any group performance jobs. After October, a cold wave hit. On Monday, the group leader finally sent a message needing twenty extras. Zhou Xufang signed up, packed the chicken and milk she bought into a black travel bag, and set off to the set early in the morning. The meeting time from the group leader was nine in the morning. She arrived at the film city at seven because she didn¡¯t know when Jiang Zhi would arrive, so she waited by the entrance. Around eight-thirty, a flashy sports car drove into the film city. Ah Wan drove slowly, sluggishly. In the rearview mirror, his employer was sitting in the back seat, dozing off. Maybe he hadn¡¯t slept enough. He looked difficult to approach. At the back of the seat was a pretty and delicate glass box containing cotton candy. Jiang Zhi took a piece, threw it into his mouth, and before he could chew, he furrowed his brows hard and immediately spat it out, wrapping it in a handkerchief. Already in a bad mood from waking up, his face now looked worse. ¡°Changed the brand?¡± Ah Wan replied, ¡°The previous brand sold out.¡± ¡°Switch it back.¡± His tone was completely unreasonable and domineering. Ah Wan pouted. Because he was big, he looked awkward and slightly comical sitting in the sports car¡¯s driver seat. ¡°I asked at many places, but it¡¯s no longer available.¡± Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t even lift his eyelids. ¡°Switch it back.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Heartless and unreasonable. Ah Wan sighed. ¡°Sure.¡± Making a living was not easy. He glanced out the car window, ¡°Mr. Jiang.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± Jiang Zhi, still not fully awake, his spirits were low. ¡°That person applying the film¡­¡± Ah Wan didn¡¯t know their name. Jiang Zhi lifted his heavy eyelids, drowsy, and saw a person squatting by the streetlamp, dressed all in black with a large travel bag on their back, a hat pulled down low, revealing only a mop of black hair. Always dressed like a thief! Jiang Zhi straightened up, changing his posture. ¡°Stop by the curb.¡± Ah Wan stopped the car. Jiang Zhi rolled down the window. Ah Wan pressed the horn. Zhou Xufang raised her head, habitually tugging her hat down, looking a bit blank, her face emotionless and her eyes empty. She stood up, glanced around, saw no one, then walked over and stood a meter away from the car window. ¡°Is your hand better?¡± Her voice was cool, without any fluctuation. What an odd person. Jiang Zhi made a sound of acknowledgement. She looked around again, then took off her backpack. ¡°This is for you.¡± She took a step forward and handed it over. ¡°An apology.¡± Jiang Zhi¡¯s gaze fixed on her, meeting her eyes directly. Those eyes, black and white, were filled with cold indifference, yet excessively clear and pure. No wonder they seemed familiar. They were so much like the boy who perished in the fire. He was lost in thought for a long time before shifting his gaze to her black backpack. Then, he looked at her hand. Her sleeves were long, covering most of her hand, with a section exposed that was so white it shone under the sun. No wonder, she always bundled herself up like this, avoiding the sun, as pale as a ghost. Ah Wan, in the driver¡¯s seat, coughed as a reminder to his employer. Staring at a girl¡¯s hand for too long wasn¡¯t appropriate. Only after Jiang Zhi withdrew his gaze did Ah Wan seek his employer¡¯s approval through eye contact. Then, unexpectedly, his employer nodded. Ah Wan got out of the car and took the backpack, finding it quite heavy. After giving the gift, Zhou Xufang turned without saying another word and left. Ah Wan placed the backpack on the adjacent seat. ¡°Mr. Jiang, do you want to check inside?¡± Other than a few coughs, there was no response. Ah Wan glanced through the rearview mirror; his employer yawned, lazily lying back down, with a few tufts of unkempt hair sticking up. When the car pulled into the parking space, Ah Wan heard the guy in the back say, ¡°Open it.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Ah Wan parked the car, picked up his backpack, and placed it on his lap. He unzipped it¡ª ¡°Cluck!¡± Ah Wan was dumbfounded. On his lap, a pair of eyes stared back at him. The creature stretched its neck and screeched at him, ¡°Cluck, cluck, cluck, cluck, cluck¡­¡± The strong smell of chicken droppings assaulted his nose. Ah Wan froze for a moment. ¡°It¡¯s¡­ a chicken.¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± Qiao Nanchu had asked him before why he would ever show mercy to someone who had crossed him. After all, he wasn¡¯t known for his benevolence. He thought it was probably because this person was incredibly peculiar, so peculiar that everything would unfold in the most outlandish ways. For example, the existence of this chicken and the ensuing chaos it would cause. At nine o¡¯clock, the actors had already changed into their costumes and finished their makeup, just waiting for the big director to start filming. Fang Lixiang, as the newly popular Weaver, received special attention from the costume department. Her costume was custom-made. Despite her cute appearance, she had great versatility. Wearing a cheongsam and holding a feather fan used by dancers, she walked with such flair that she exuded infinite charm. The big director indeed had a sharp eye and picked the right person. Fang Lixiang twirled in her new costume in front of Zhou Xufang, showing off her dimples, ¡°Does it look good?¡± Zhou Xufang, dressed in coarse cloth, replied, ¡°Mm.¡± ¡°Xu Fang, do you use Weibo?¡± She shook her head. ¡°Did you bring your phone?¡± She patted her pants pocket, ¡°I did today.¡± Fang Lixiang took out her phone, ¡°Add me.¡± She wore an expression as if she would never forget a friend in need, exuding boundless heroism, ¡°In the future, if anyone withholds your wages again, let me know. Wulala Clan¡¯s Li Xiang will back you up!¡± She was now the famous Weaver actress. Zhou Xufang lacked social skills and friends, appearing lonely like someone abandoned by the world. The Weaver had to protect her! Zhou Xufang nodded, keeping her head down and saying little. After they became friends, Wulala Clan¡¯s Li Xiang, squatting in her cheongsam, opened Weibo and was stunned: ¡°Oh my god!¡± Wulala Clan Li Xiang slapped her thigh, ¡°Big companies sure are powerful; they bought me so many zombie followers.¡± After becoming the second female lead in ¡°Wilderness,¡± many management companies sought to sign Fang Lixiang. Being a girl with ambitions, she signed with the leading company in the film industry, Baoguang, without hesitation. Speaking of Baoguang, what people loved talking about most was its president, Xue Baoyi. ¡°Our president and Director Jiang are childhood friends.¡± Fang Lixiang, being a gossip expert, had gathered all sorts of inside information in her four years of taking small roles. Zhou Xufang¡¯s desolate gaze brightened a little. Noticing her rare interest, Fang Lixiang continued, ¡°Have you heard of Xiao Xue, the second young master of the Xue Family in Imperial City?¡± Zhou Xufang shook her head. Fang Lixiang explained, ¡°Get on Weibo, and you¡¯ll see him every few days.¡± Zhou Xufang, not being an avid internet user, asked, ¡°Is he also an artist?¡± ¡°No.¡± The costume assistant offered chicken feet to them. Fang Lixiang unceremoniously took one and started chewing, ¡°His bedmates are all artists.¡± Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t fully understand but felt it must be impressive. Fang Lixiang took another bite of the chicken foot and lamented, ¡°Ah, he must be the doom of so many girls.¡± Righteous as she was, she ferociously bit off the chicken foot, ¡°He¡¯ll get his due someday!¡± Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t respond, looking up at something intently. Following her gaze, Fang Lixiang noticed the director had finally arrived, ¡°Are you watching Director Jiang again?¡± Sitting in an inconspicuous corner, her expression was very calm, ¡°He¡¯s good-looking.¡± She liked looking at beautiful things, such as her cotton candy box. Regarding Director Jiang¡¯s looks, Fang Lixiang approved. Among the entire entertainment circle, no one could outshine him in beauty, except¡ª ¡°Director Jiang is like a star in the sky, nice to look at but unreachable.¡± Fang Lixiang threw away the chicken foot and wiped her hands, ¡°Just lying there, Jiang Mei Ren turned countless young masters gay, but none could pluck that flower of his. Besides, he¡¯s delicately fragile, with a family-run research institute just to take care of his health. It¡¯s expensive; ordinary folks like us can¡¯t afford it.¡± Zhou Xufang thought, she had a lot of money, but she needed it to buy Moon Bay, not to support a beauty. ¡°And, Director Jiang is gay.¡± Fang Lixiang covered her mouth, whispering to Zhou Xufang, ¡°There¡¯s a rumor in the circle that he and Xiao Xue, the second young master, are an item.¡± Zhou Xufang still didn¡¯t fully understand but felt it must be significant. Ten minutes later, Assistant Director Zhao picked up a megaphone to announce, ¡°We¡¯re about to start shooting, prepare in ten minutes.¡± The chatting extras dispersed. Assistant Director Zhao made a round checking the preparations. Everything was ready except there was a chicken in the corner. He asked the stagehand, Xiao Li, ¡°Why is there a chicken here? Who put it here?¡± Xiao Li said, ¡°I didn¡¯t notice. It should be from the props department.¡± Assistant Director Zhao looked around, ¡°See that extra with the carrying pole?¡± He instructed Xiao Li, ¡°Put the chicken in his pole.¡± Xiao Li grabbed the chicken and put it in the extra¡¯s pole, not realizing the string tied to the chicken¡¯s feet had come loose. Then, during the explosion scene, with a boom¡ª the chicken flew everywhere. ¡°Cluck, cluck, cluck, cluck, cluck¡­¡± It was a big rooster, around two to three pounds, flapping wildly around the set. Assistant Director Zhao broke into a sweat: ¡°Director Jiang, this¡ª¡± Jiang Zhi threw the script aside and leaned back on the lounge chair covered with a thick blanket, ¡°Did the props team leave their brains at home today?¡± He coughed, his eyes slightly red. Despite his sickly appearance, his gaze was cold. Assistant Director Zhao didn¡¯t dare to make a sound as the pressure made it hard for him to breathe. Jiang Zhi licked his cough-reddened lips, ¡°Where did the chicken come from?¡± Suddenly, Ah Wan replied, ¡°It¡¯s yours.¡± ¡°¡­¡± In the wind, amid his coughing, he suppressed his irritation, ¡°Why are you still standing there?¡± Ah Wan rolled up his sleeves and joined the chicken-catching effort. Chapter 10 - Chapter 10: 010: The girl who applies the screen protector truly loves you! Chapter 10: 010: The girl who applies the screen protector truly loves you! Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation Ah Wan rolled up her sleeves and joined the chicken-catching fray. Vice Director Zhao didn¡¯t dare to take it lightly, either. He picked up a loudspeaker to direct the chicken catching, ¡°Catch that motley rooster!¡± ¡°You stand by machine one.¡± ¡°You, machine two.¡± ¡°Surround it!¡± ¡°Quick, grab it!¡± At the Vice Director¡¯s command, several male assistants and Ah Wan swarmed up, cornering the chicken within the encirclement. Ah Wan seized the opportunity and quickly used his grapple, and in the blink of an eye, the chicken soared into the air, ¡°Cluck cluck cluck cluck¡­¡± After a flurry, the chicken headed straight toward a direction, and Ah Wan focused her gaze. Damn! Vice Director Zhao slapped his forehead in dismay. The motley rooster landed on the shoulder of the bedridden lead director, and instantly, the entire place fell deathly silent. Then, only a plop was heard as a blob of chicken poop teetered, about to fall. Jiang Zhi was utterly dumbfounded, his face ghastly pale. The silence was profound, one could hear a pin drop. Ah Wan held her breath, not daring to breathe, and tiptoed carefully forward, ¡°Mr. Jiang.¡± She whispered as if speaking in hush tones, wary not to disturb the chicken and that impending blob of chicken poop. Jiang Zhi lay there, his body stiff, ¡°Quick, get it away.¡± His voice trembled. Ah Wan was afraid he might pass out from not catching his breath, knowing full well how the young master was delicate and particularly obsessed with cleanliness. ¡°Don¡¯t move,¡± Ah Wan instructed seriously, ¡°Absolutely don¡¯t move, the chicken poop will fall.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Jiang Zhi¡¯s pale face turned dark, ¡°What the hell do you want me to do then?¡± He was so angry that his handsome face contorted. Ah Wan didn¡¯t quite know what to do, hesitated for a long while, then took a small step forward, reached out her hand, but before touching, suddenly¡ª A chicken feather landed on Vice Director Zhao¡¯s face, causing his nose to itch. ¡°Achoo!¡± Almost simultaneously, the motley rooster¡¯s wings flapped, and it leapt into the air. ¡°Cluck, cluck, cluck!¡± Amidst the fluttering chicken feathers, a black object hurled directly onto Jiang Zhi¡¯s gray sweater, freezing him entirely, he instinctively closed his eyes. ¡°Cluck!¡± A gust of wind suddenly passed by, whisking up the chicken feathers. No one noticed where the person in a hemp garment came from, her face and head all covered, seen pressing down towards the director. The blob of chicken poop then landed on her hemp garment. ¡°Hmm!¡± Jiang Zhi grunted under the pressure, suddenly opened his eyes, and met a pair of bright eyes¡ªlike an endless night sky, dark and seamless. Zhou Xufang. As Xue Baoyi mentioned, this girl was named Zhou Xufang¡ª a strange name, a strange person, strangely laying on top of him, stirring a weird turmoil in his mind. He had never been physically close to the opposite sex before, yet this person repeatedly broke his norms, even touching him, leaving him completely perplexed. Bewilderingly, he swallowed, his adam¡¯s apple scorching hot, his entire face flushing, ¡°You, you¡­ cough cough cough¡­¡± His breath choked in his throat, causing his eyes to turn red. Zhou Xufang lay there, blinking her eyes. He yelled at her, ¡°Get off me!¡± Oh. She climbed off him, since Jiang Zhi had taken off his coat while filming the explosion scene, his gray sweater tangled with her hemp costume revealing a stretch of fair waist, her fingers unintentionally brushing across. So smooth. Zhou Xufang looked at that stretch of waist, unfortunately, she missed seeing it as the owner almost aggressively pulled the sweater down to cover his waist, then flipped a blanket over firmly covering himself. After completing these actions in one go, he sat up, covered his mouth, and coughed desperately. Coughing his heart out! How delicate, Zhou Xufang thought, then asked, ¡°Are you alright?¡± Her face was wrapped, revealing only a pair of phoenix eyes. Those eyes, seemingly clear and cool, made Jiang Zhi¡¯s heart warm. He suppressed the itch in his throat, heaving deeply, ¡°You, stay away from me!¡± He stammered again. Jiang Zhi clenched his fists, annoyed and feeling feverish all over. She then took five steps back. At that moment, Ah Wan stepped forward and asked, ¡°Mr. Jiang, how are you?¡± Your face is so red, even your ears and collarbone are red, something¡¯s not right. Jiang Zhi propped himself up with one hand on the lounge chair, a thin layer of sweat on his forehead, breathless as he spoke weakly, ¡°What do you think?¡± Ah Wan thought that her employer was indeed delicate and highly strung, so she considerately said, ¡°It seems like you¡¯ve been crushed. Do you want me to call Dr. Xue over?¡± Jiang Zhi licked his teeth, then violently pulled on his jacket and put it on, ¡°Get the fuck away from me!¡± He looked up, glaring at the person whose face was covered, ¡°Everyone, get out!¡± Fang Lixiang hurried over, pulling Zhou Xufang away, and even Vice Director Zhao didn¡¯t dare to say a word, signaling everyone to retreat with his eyes. However, Ah Wan didn¡¯t dare to really leave and followed up. ¡°I think I¡¯ve caused trouble again,¡± Zhou Xufang said, glancing at the still flapping, ragged rooster, her brows tight. Fang Lixiang comforted her, ¡°It¡¯s not your fault. It was all the chicken¡¯s fault.¡± She drooped her eyelids, ¡°I was the one who gifted that chicken.¡± Fang Lixiang: ¡°¡­¡± How come the more he looked at Zhou Xufang, the more adorably awkward she seemed? There was a bathroom in the director¡¯s office. It took Jiang Zhi more than half an hour to come out of the shower, the water temperature was set high, and his skin, already pale, turned a bright red. Ah Wan stood at the door, ¡°Mr. Jiang.¡± ¡°Come in.¡± Ah Wan hesitated as she entered, head down, quietly placing down the clothes, planning to leave quickly. ¡°Lin Wanwan.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Could he stop using that name! He had a man¡¯s dignity, and Ah Wan reluctantly looked up, ¡°Your orders?¡± Jiang Zhi, clad in a soft white bathrobe, the neckline loose, his hair still damp, water trickling along his facial contours into the collar, ¡°Go butcher that chicken.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Ah Wan stole a glance at her employer¡¯s neckline, what heavenly collarbones! A big man and yet so finely sculpted. Roughness suited him better anyway. Jiang Zhi rubbed his hair with a towel, ¡°Aren¡¯t you leaving yet?¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Ah Wan reached the door but couldn¡¯t help turning back, ¡°Mr. Jiang, I¡¯ve noticed something.¡± ¡°Speak.¡± Ah Wan then said, ¡°I think that sticker has fallen for your beauty.¡± ¡°Where did you see that?¡± Jiang Zhi, pulling at his bathrobe, sniffed it, feeling as if there was still a smell, wiped his neck repeatedly with a towel, the skin reddening from the friction. Ah Wan¡¯s reason was, ¡°She blocked the chicken poop for you.¡± That¡¯s got to be true love! Jiang Zhi paused in his movements, lifting his eyelids, ¡°Don¡¯t mention that word again.¡± Now chickens couldn¡¯t even be mentioned. Ah Wan wisely changed her wording, ¡°She blocked the poop for you.¡± Just as he finished speaking, a milk can hit him, leaving him dazed. ¡°¡­¡± Working is hard. Ah Wan rubbed his head and left quietly, catching a glimpse of the table from the corner of his eye¡ªHuh? Didn¡¯t he dislike that box of milk for smelling like chicken poop? Why was it opened? The mind of an employer, a needle in the sea! At eight o¡¯clock in the evening, orchestra music rose in Fusheng Inn. The Imperial City had numerous dens of pleasure, mostly lavish, unlike the elegant Fusheng Inn. Plum, Orchid, Chrysanthemum, Bamboo¡ªthe wall paintings were exquisitely done, in front of them, a man and woman dressed flamboyantly. The woman, soft as if boneless, leaned against the wall, smiling enchantingly, ¡°Young Master.¡± The man, with a slight smile, a hint of displeasure, ¡°Mr. will do, what Young Master?¡± In the Imperial City, there¡¯s more than one Mr. Xue, but in the regular clientele of Fusheng Inn, there was only one Mr. Xue from Xue Family. Xue Baoyi¡¯s father was the second oldest at home, thus a Mr. Xue, and Xue Baoyi, being the second grandchild, could only be Young Master, though Xue Baoyi disliked this ambiguous title, insisting people call him Mr. The woman tactfully changed her title, ¡°Mr., would you like to have a drink with me?¡± ¡°Did you wear perfume?¡± Xue Baoyi pulled his hand back, stepping back, ¡°Then keep your distance, someone here dislikes the smell of women¡¯s perfume.¡± Chapter 11 - Chapter 11: 011: Jiang Mei Rens Strange Illness Chapter 11: 011: Jiang Mei Ren¡¯s Strange Illness Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation ¡°Then stay away from me, there¡¯s someone inside who doesn¡¯t like the smell of women¡¯s perfume.¡± That person was like an ancestor, needed to be pampered, and had poor health. What else could be done but spoil him? The woman was sensible and stepped back, obedient and seductive, ¡°Mr., can I play the role in the Tangren script?¡± This woman was a newcomer that Baoguang had just signed last month. Xue Baoyi tilted his chin and smiled, ¡°You haven¡¯t even served me yet, and you¡¯re already thinking about resources?¡± The woman pouted, ¡°You¡¯re so annoying, I¡¯m not thinking about that.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be in a hurry.¡± Xue Baoyi pulled out a business card from his pocket and slipped it into the woman¡¯s low neckline. His actions were frivolous, but his eyes were keen, ¡°Wait for my call.¡± Before he could withdraw his hand, someone behind him coughed, seemingly a bit reproachful, and then cleared their throat a few more times. Xue Baoyi pulled his hand back and turned his head, annoyed, ¡°What?¡± The lights in the corridor of Fusheng Inn were dim, with gray-green lampshades casting a soft glow. In the shadowy light, a tall figure stood, wearing a cream-colored coat over a peach-colored sweater. The effeminate outfit was somewhat redeemed by the baby-faced look, quite like Fu Fen He Lang. ¡®Fu Fen He Lang¡¯ approached, glaring at Xue Baoyi with clear, harmless doe eyes, ¡°Aren¡¯t you ashamed of yourself!¡± Xue Baoyi grinned mischievously, ¡°What¡¯s there to be ashamed about? Do you think everyone is as innocent as you?¡± The innocent ¡®Fu Fen He Lang¡¯ quickly looked away from the woman¡¯s low neckline, his face turning bright red. Despite his gentle appearance, his scolding held little intimidation, ¡°Get inside, stop embarrassing yourself out here.¡± After speaking, ¡®Fu Fen He Lang¡¯ turned and left. The woman laughed and asked, ¡°Mr., who is he?¡± Xue Baoyi adjusted his coat, ¡°My uncle, Third Young Master of the Xue Family.¡± Oh, the late-born son of Old Master Xue. As Xue Baoyi was about to step into the room, a chicken claw scratched at him. ¡°Damn,¡± he immediately kicked, ¡°Why is there a chicken here?!¡± ¡°Cluck, cluck, cluck!¡± The chicken, kicked into the corner, clucked noisily. Ah Wan went over and stepped on the string tied to the chicken to keep it from flapping around, saying, ¡°The chicken belongs to Mr. Jiang. He brought it home to slaughter and cook for his employer¡¯s health.¡± Xue Baoyi took a tissue, wiped his shoe, and jokingly said, ¡°Brother Zhi, you¡¯ve switched from making movies to raising chickens?¡± The room was furnished in an antique style. Jiang Zhi lounged on a chaise, too lazy to respond. Ah Wan answered for him, ¡°It was a gift from someone else.¡± Xue Baoyi wiped his hands again, crumpled the tissue into a ball, and threw it into the trash, ¡°People still give chickens as gifts these days?¡± He pulled a rattan chair and sat down, resting his long legs on the coffee table, ¡°Who was it? A man or a woman?¡± Ah Wan was about to reply. Jiang Zhi lazily gave him a glance, ¡°You, and that chicken, get out.¡± Fine, Ah Wan carried the chicken and left. ¡°Where is Nanchu?¡± Jiang Zhi asked. It was just past late autumn, and he was already wearing a thick sweater, looking increasingly unwell and lethargic. Xue Baoyi poured himself a drink, ¡°He¡¯s clashing with his dad again, will be late.¡± This gathering was organized by him to welcome his third uncle. ¡°I¡¯m cold.¡± Jiang Zhi nudged Xue Baoyi¡¯s leg with his foot. His body was delicate, susceptible to cold, and couldn¡¯t stand the heating. It wasn¡¯t even winter yet, and he was already complaining about the cold. Xue Baoyi laughed, ¡°You¡¯re really like my ancestor!¡± He set his glass down and went out to get a blanket for Jiang Zhi. There was no helping it¡ªbeing an aesthetician at heart, he was fascinated by beauty, and among a group of men, he spoiled Jiang Zhi the most. Once everyone left, Jiang Zhi asked the person sitting quietly beside him, ¡°Where¡¯s the medicine?¡± The third young master of the Xue Family, Xue Bingxue. A man with a baby face, full of collagen, lips redder than a girl¡¯s, eyelashes longer than a girl¡¯s, and eyes bigger than a girl¡¯s. Unlike Jiang Zhi¡¯s delicateness, he was soft. Ridiculous, right? According to Xue Baoyi: My third uncle is a naive beauty, twenty-eight years old and still as innocent as a maiden, kind as a saint, probably even has an M-physique; otherwise, why would he at his age harbor unrequited feelings for someone who once stripped him and pinched his privates? Xue Bingxue took a pill bottle from his coat pocket and tossed it to Jiang Zhi, ¡°One a week, no more.¡± Jiang Zhi replied with a hum, unscrewed the cap, poured out a pill, swallowed it with warm water, then pocketed the bottle and rolled up his sleeve to place his arm on the table. Xue Bingxue, a doctor specializing in hematology, was apprenticed to an old Chinese medicine practitioner. He sat closer and took Jiang Zhi¡¯s pulse. Congenital deficiency, weak heart and lungs. This was Jiang Zhi¡¯s diagnosis at five years old, being born prematurely at less than seven months, his health was naturally poor. With good care, it wasn¡¯t life-threatening, but despite being coddled at the Jiang Family like a treasure, his condition didn¡¯t improve. Eventually, chronic organ failure, heart weakness, and increasing frailty set in. Especially in winter, he often needed bed rest and even had a tendency to cough up blood. The strange thing was, despite being riddled with ailments, no doctor could pinpoint his exact illness. If it weren¡¯t for that boy¡¯s accidental intervention, he might have died already. There was a rumor in the Jiang Family that the young master wouldn¡¯t live past twenty-five. This year, he turned twenty-four. ¡°It¡¯s not worth it for them.¡± Xue Bingxue said. The medicine was bitter, so Jiang Zhi washed the taste away with a small sip of liquor. He didn¡¯t like alcohol, frowning as his stomach felt uneasy. He said, ¡°I know.¡± Xue Bingxue, gentle in nature, dared not persuade him, only said, ¡°This medicine can¡¯t be taken too much.¡± ¡°Mm.¡± He added, ¡°Too much can cause infertility.¡± Jiang Zhi looked up at his face, cuter and cleaner than a girl¡¯s, and laughed, ¡°Do you think,¡± he drawled lazily, ¡°I would have children with anyone?¡± Fearing to upset him, Xue Bingxue muttered softly, ¡°Maybe someone could turn you straight.¡± Jiang Zhi snorted, ¡°Nonsense.¡± Xue Bingxue fell silent. After Jiang Zhi set the glass down and lay back, feeling drowsy possibly from the medicine¡¯s effect, he said, ¡°Don¡¯t let my nephew find out, he¡¯s straightforward and can¡¯t keep secrets. My illness mustn¡¯t be known to him.¡± Xue Baoyi wasn¡¯t foolish, just couldn¡¯t keep his mouth shut. Xue Bingxue sat upright, ¡°I understand.¡± Just as the matter was finished, Xue Baoyi returned with a blanket, ¡°Brother Zhi, I got you a pastel pink.¡± Jiang Zhi glanced at the beige-pink sweater on Xue Bingxue and coldly muttered at Xue Baoyi, ¡°Idiot.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Xue Baoyi rolled his eyes. Ah, Brother Zhi tormented him countless times, but he treated him like a first love. Fusheng Inn used to be a large courtyard with eight main entrances and exits. With some modern renovations and additions, it was divided into an outer and inner wing. The outer wing catered to ordinary guests, while the inner wing, with its four small courtyards named Plum, Orchid, Bamboo, and Chrysanthemum, was exclusive to the elite of the Imperial City. This Fusheng Inn belonged to the Luo Family, wealthy merchants of the Imperial City. Though rich, they lacked deep foundations and weren¡¯t counted among the Four Great Families. Zhou Xufang looked up at the plaque above the door, surprised to find such a place in the Imperial City. She walked in with her bag, but was stopped just past the front hall. A woman in a short cheongsam, with a delicate face and gentle smile, said, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, this area is for VIPs only.¡± It had begun to rain outside. Zhou Xufang wore a black raincoat, black rain boots, and a delivery cap. She masked herself, wrapped tightly. She took out her phone from her pocket and made a call, ¡°Your delivery is here.¡± She usually worked as a delivery driver for a seafood porridge shop in her free time. The Boss Lady was kind; Zhou Xufang had been a regular customer who once received the wrong porridge, containing eggs, which made her ill. The Boss Lady had kindly let her rest for the night, and since then, Zhou Xufang helped with deliveries when she could. A woman¡¯s voice answered, ¡°Room 304, please bring it in.¡± Zhou Xufang replied, ¡°I can¡¯t get in.¡± A man then took over the call, ¡°Give the phone to the person blocking you.¡± Zhou Xufang handed her phone to the woman blocking her, careful to avoid physical contact. After listening, the woman returned the phone, ¡°You may go in now.¡± Zhou Xufang carefully took her phone back, then proceeded to the inner courtyard. Upon entering, she found four forks in the path, with paintings of Plum, Orchid, Bamboo, and Chrysanthemum hanging nearby. She sent a text asking the customer which courtyard but received no reply. Forced to check each one, she began her search. Chapter 12 - Chapter 12: 012: The Luo Familys Adopted Son Chapter 12: 012: The Luo Family¡¯s Adopted Son Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation She first went to room 304 of Fusheng Inn. After all, it was a place of pleasure. Her hearing was very good; the music, singing, and dancing were especially noisy, aside from the drunken laughter and the giggles, there were also the cries and struggles of men and women. ¡°Listen early, and you wouldn¡¯t have to suffer so much.¡± The man¡¯s tone was frivolous. ¡°I¡¯m going to sue you all, I¡¯m going to sue you all!¡± The woman was hysterical. The men, however, were all laughing. One was arrogant: ¡°Go ahead, go sue.¡± One mocked: ¡°I¡¯d like to see how this bitch remains chaste.¡± ¡°Get away!¡± ¡°All of you get away! Don¡¯t touch me! Don¡¯t touch me!¡± The woman cried bitterly, desperate, resentful, unwilling, and reluctant. Oh, she was being forced. The mask was soaked with rain. Zhou Xufang took off the mask, threw it into the trash can, wiped her face with the back of her hand, then walked to the door of 304, grasping the doorknob, and gave it a gentle twist. ¡°Click!¡± The door opened. Inside, it was smoky and smelled of alcohol. The woman¡¯s clothes were disheveled, pressed to the ground by two men, while another man straddled her. He was middle-aged, slightly obese, and wore frameless glasses. His belt was loose, and his pants were stained with white filth. His business was interrupted, and he glared with rage: ¡°Who let you open the door?¡± Zhou Xufang kicked the door all the way open: ¡°Delivery.¡± Occasional passersby strolled the corridor, so the man had to climb off the woman, grabbed a coat to cover the mess on his pants, his face extremely sullen: ¡°We didn¡¯t order any food, get lost.¡± The woman on the ground took this chance to get up, someone grabbed her, she frantically pushed them away, biting, and took the opportunity to run. The man panicked: ¡°Quick! Go catch her.¡± Zhou Xufang at the door was knocked aside. The woman, covered in wounds, stumbled and ran slowly, two people chasing after her. Passersby only glanced at her a few more times, leaving their sights behind, but not their footsteps. Why would they turn a blind eye? Had they seen it so often? Zhou Xufang couldn¡¯t understand. She turned sideways, avoiding the surveillance, plucking a button from her clothes, pinched it between her thumb and index finger, and flicked it gently. One of the chasing men cried out, his calf went numb, dragging the man in front down. By this time, the woman had already run out of Fusheng Inn. Zhou Xufang put on the hood of her raincoat and continued her delivery. Behind her, the man was swearing. ¡°Didn¡¯t I tell you to lock the door?¡± ¡°I did lock it.¡± A click sound, the entire lock fell off. ¡°Why is the lock broken?¡± ¡°The woman took it off?¡± ¡°Damn, what nonsense are you saying? How could she have the strength to twist the lock off?¡± ¡°Then why did it break?¡± ¡°Enough.¡± The man was impatient, ¡°Go inform Manager Chen.¡± Half a moment later, Manager Chen received the news. Manager Chen of Fusheng Inn, in her forties, was a slightly plump yet still charming woman, dressed in a light purple cheongsam, her every step was graceful. ¡°Secretary Han.¡± ¡°Manager Chen.¡± The speaker was dressed in a suit, looking refined. Manager Chen approached and asked: ¡°Is Younger Luo inside?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Among the Luo Family of merchants in the Imperial City, there was only one person called Younger Luo. Manager Chen pushed the door open and entered. The room was dimly lit. A woman lay sideways on a wooden chair, smoking, with thin lips and single eyelids, a rather indifferent appearance. A cigarette was held between her fingers, through the white haze, a faint smile hung at the corner of her mouth. Luo Family¡¯s eldest granddaughter, Luo Qinghe. Besides the old master, the entire Luo Family had her holding the most power. Her brows and eyes were sharp with the shrewdness and toughness of a seasoned business person. With flaming red lips, she exhaled a thin stream of smoke: ¡°Has the contract been signed?¡± Manager Chen stepped forward, ¡°Signed.¡± ¡°And that newcomer? Is she obedient?¡± ¡°Not very obedient.¡± Manager Chen laughed. ¡°Said she wanted to sue us.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± She flicked the ash, dragging her tone, ¡°Handle it according to the old rules.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± Finishing the cigarette, Luo Qinghe stood up, straightened her professional suit, drained the glass of whiskey, and stepped out of the room in high heels. She opened the door, seeing a familiar face. ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± The other side glanced sideways, looked at her, and ignored her. Luo Qinghe folded her arms, leaning against the door frame, smiling: ¡°Why don¡¯t you respond?¡± Her features were plain, but once she smiled, her aura emerged, full of arrogance. Jiang Zhi did not respond. Xue Baoyi stopped his steps, teasing: ¡°Miss Luo really doesn¡¯t know her place. If our Brother Zhi doesn¡¯t respond, it means he doesn¡¯t want to. Asking like this is just slapping your own face, isn¡¯t it?¡± This was indeed hurtful. Luo Qinghe wasn¡¯t angry, her eyes unabashedly lingering on Jiang Zhi: ¡°Young Master is being protective.¡± Xue Baoyi lazily lifted a foot, blocking Luo Qinghe¡¯s sight: ¡°What do you think?¡± She smirked, half-joking, her eyes brimming with confidence and dominance: ¡°Rumors are indeed true. Your harem of three thousand is a sham. Jiang Zhi is your true heart.¡± She dared to say this. Xue Baoyi¡¯s face flushed with anger: ¡°You¡ª¡± Ahead, Jiang Zhi urged: ¡°What are you wasting words with her for.¡± He slowed his pace, his eartips dyed red, and his suppressed coughs intermittent. Xue Bingxue soothed him. Xue Baoyi snorted, rolling his eyes, and followed Jiang Zhi. A left turn into a long corridor. Xue Baoyi asked Jiang Zhi: ¡°Did you have some old grudge with the Luo Family before? Why do you hate them so much?¡± Anyway, in his memory, Jiang Zhi never gave the Luo Family a good face. ¡°You talk too much.¡± Jiang Zhi walked faster, ¡°Don¡¯t follow me, I¡¯ll return by myself.¡± After saying that, he left the Xue uncle and nephew behind and walked away alone. Ah Wan followed with a chicken in her arms. Xue Baoyi scratched his head: ¡°Why did he get angry?¡± Xue Bingxue¡¯s hair was soft, cut short, and under the light, the shadows between the hair were fine and scattered, looking very gentle and harmless: ¡°Did you forget?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Xue Baoyi was puzzled. Xue Bingxue checked the surroundings, finding no one, then said: ¡°Jiang Zhi¡¯s first love was the adopted child of the Luo Family.¡± Xue Baoyi knew a bit of this story too. He just couldn¡¯t understand: ¡°It¡¯s been so many years, why still remember? They only met a few times. Besides, the adopted child of the Luo Family wasn¡¯t great, couldn¡¯t even speak.¡± It was heard that he had intelligence issues as well. It was also strange. The Luo Family did not have a male heir in this generation. Adoption was appropriate, but why adopt a child who was both mute and had mental issues? But oddly enough, it was that mute and mentally challenged child that Jiang Zhi remembered for so many years. Xue Bingxue, with a serious baby face, said: ¡°Don¡¯t ever say that in front of Jiang Zhi.¡± He wouldn¡¯t dare. The Luo Family¡¯s adopted child was rarely mentioned among the brothers. ¡°Who would say that, am I stupid?¡± Xue Baoyi didn¡¯t want to mention this anymore, sighing: ¡°Ah, what is love in this world?¡± Sighing, he dialed a phone number, ¡°Come to Fusheng Inn, Mr. is lonely.¡± On the other end, a woman coyly responded. Xue Bingxue was stunned by this bold move: ¡°You¡ª¡± He was furious, unable to curse, staring at Xue Baoyi for a while, forcing out four words, ¡°Shameless!¡± The shameless Xue Baoyi hooked his arm around his uncle¡¯s neck: ¡°Uncle, let your nephew enlighten you.¡± Xue Bingxue, with a stern baby face, pushed away that scoundrel, and directly called: ¡°Second brother, manage your son. He is messing around with men and women, what kind of behavior is this!¡± The indiscriminate Xue Baoyi: ¡°¡­¡± This innocent fool! Chapter 13 - Chapter 13: 013: Xu Fang wants Brother Zhis WeChat (First Update) Chapter 13: 013: Xu Fang wants Brother Zhi¡¯s WeChat (First Update) Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation ¡°` Bamboo Garden, Room 403. Zhou Xufang knocked on the door. The person who answered was a young man, wearing suit pants and a shirt, with two buttons undone at the collar, and a tie loosely hanging around his neck. His appearance was fierce, his attire was quite formal, but his hair was dyed in an unconventional color. Zhou Xufang handed over the porridge. ¡°Your delivery.¡± He didn¡¯t take it, his gaze swept over Xufang¡¯s face, and he smiled like a little rascal, ¡°Miss, give me your WeChat.¡± Scoundrel. Zhou Xufang remained expressionless, ¡°I don¡¯t use WeChat.¡± The man poked the delivery bag with one finger, smiling roguishly, ¡°No WeChat? Then I¡¯ll give you a bad review.¡± Zhou Xufang put down the stuff and walked away. Hey, she¡¯s quite wild. The man closed the door and carried the bag back to his seat. There were quite a few men and women in the room, someone teased, ¡°Mr. Ming, you don¡¯t even let the delivery girl go?¡± The man called Mr. Ming tore off his tie, ¡°A pretty girl, not flirting is a waste of resources.¡± The guy next to him laughed at him, ¡°Keep that up, watch out for your sister¡¯s scolding!¡± Mr. Ming bristled, ¡°Don¡¯t mention that tomboy Ming Saiying.¡± ¡°Haha, scared, huh?¡± ¡°Get lost!¡± ¡°¡­¡± The room was filled with people, merry and lively. Jiang Zhi rubbed his temples, the noise from this place made his head hurt. ¡°Mr. Jiang,¡± Ah Wan was thrilled, ¡°look!¡± The person who shielded you from the chicken poop! Fussing so much, what¡¯s that about? Jiang Zhi had seen it already, but he pretended not to. The commotion drew the peculiar person¡¯s attention, and he had to ask, ¡°How many jobs do you work?¡± The person still had that blank, cold expression, ¡°Do you have WeChat?¡± Completely unrelated, what was that all about? Jiang Zhi looked at her, increasingly finding her odd. ¡°Yes.¡± It was Ah Wan who answered on his behalf. He really liked this screen protector girl, hoping she could ¡°straighten out¡± his employer. The employer¡¯s chronic imbalance made his temper too volatile. His unsolicited help earned him a cold glance from the employer. He hugged the chicken and backed off. ¡°Can you give me your WeChat?¡± She actually wanted the address. That chicken made a mess, and she wanted to bring another box of milk as an apology. ¡°Didn¡¯t you say you don¡¯t use WeChat?¡± Her eyes, like autumn water, half-opened, half-shuttered, exuded a casual three-part laziness, three-part delicate faintness. It seemed her conversation with that rogue had been overheard. Zhou Xufang honestly responded, ¡°I said I don¡¯t use it because I didn¡¯t want to give it.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t use WeChat either.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Zhou Xufang thought, he was still mad because of that cock that defecated everywhere. She glanced at the chicken in Ah Wan¡¯s hands, pulled down her yellow delivery cap, and walked away with her head lowered. Ah Wan felt that the screen protector girl¡¯s figure looked very dejected, couldn¡¯t help but speak for her, ¡°Mr. Jiang, I think she¡¯s a good person.¡± Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t say anything, standing at a fork in the road, watching that person in the black raincoat. Ah Wan was very sure, ¡°And, I think she likes you.¡± She came to ask for WeChat after all! Jiang Zhi turned and walked another path, he wasn¡¯t in high spirits, his steps were slow and labored. He asked a completely unrelated question, ¡°What¡¯s your IQ?¡± Why suddenly ask this sad question? Ah Wan answered truthfully, ¡°Just under a hundred.¡± Really, just a little short. Jiang Zhi showed an ¡®I knew it¡¯ expression, ¡°Talk less in the future.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± It felt like he was being looked down upon. Ah Wan had worked for Jiang Zhi for several years, if it weren¡¯t for his worrying IQ, he wouldn¡¯t be doing all sorts of chores for him. It was two years ago, Ah Wan¡¯s mother had uremia, needed a kidney transplant. At that time, Ah Wan was a nameless boxer, couldn¡¯t afford his mother¡¯s surgery. He thought it over for three nights and decided to rob someone. After making the decision, Ah Wan lurked at Fusheng Inn for a week, finally chose a target¡ªa rich, frail young master. The process went smoothly, he successfully robbed a very expensive-looking watch, but it was his first time committing a crime, inexperienced, he rode his motorcycle into the police station¡­ The rich, frail young master bore him no grudge. Not only did he not press charges, but he also bailed him out, paid for his mother¡¯s expensive medical bills. At first, he thought he¡¯d met a savior like Guanyin, until that thirty-year long¡ªand a servitude contract! That young master was Jiang Zhi. ¡°Sigh!¡± Ah Wan sighed. The chicken in his arms clucked. Jiang Zhi glanced at the chicken. The chicken immediately stretched its neck and clucked. It was a sturdy cock, had been causing trouble all day but still full of energy. But its fate wasn¡¯t good, Ah Wan said, ¡°I¡¯ll slaughter it when I get home,¡± then added, ¡°I¡¯ll make chicken soup for you tomorrow.¡± There was wind outside, almost winter, the nights were turning chilly. Jiang Zhi¡¯s throat was uncomfortable, he coughed and bent over, looking listless, ¡°I don¡¯t want to drink.¡± If he didn¡¯t want it¡­ Ah Wan asked, ¡°Then what about this chicken?¡± He seemingly replied absent-mindedly, ¡°Keep it.¡± Ah Wan doubted his ears, ¡°Why keep it?¡± A cock can¡¯t be a pet. Why keep it? Jiang Zhi pondered, if it were his own usual self, he would have buried this cock alive while it was still breathing. It¡¯s not that he was moved by pity, he had no such thing. So why keep it? He didn¡¯t know. Just as Xue Baoyi said, his capriciousness had reached a maddening degree. He was curious about the chicken¡¯s owner, so he kept it first. When he got upset, he¡¯d kill it. Dragging his slow steps and drawling tone, he casually gave a reason¡ª ¡°To lay eggs.¡± Was the wind too strong? Did he hear it wrong? Ah Wan scratched his ear, and couldn¡¯t hold it in. He was an honest person, had to speak up, ¡°Mr. Jiang.¡± Jiang Zhi acknowledged with a hum. Well-cared-for rich boys¡¯ ignorance wasn¡¯t surprising, but he still had to inform, ¡°This is a cock. Cocks don¡¯t lay eggs.¡± The cock: ¡°Cluck!¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± This one¡¯s IQ definitely wasn¡¯t just a bit short of a hundred. ¡°Mr. Jiang, where should I take you?¡± ¡°Home.¡± Old Lady Jiang was once a noble lady from a prominent family. Many old customs were retained in Jiang¡¯s house, such as the lanterns lit outside the courtyard at night, which gave a classical charm from afar. The poodle kept by the Old Madam barked in the yard. The Second Madam of the Luo Family stepped out of the hall and asked the housekeeper in the yard, ¡°Who¡¯s back?¡± The housekeeper replied, ¡°Second Madam, it¡¯s the young master.¡± The Second Madam, Luo Changfang, was from the merchant family Luo, and Luo Qinghe addressed her as Third Aunt. Luo Changfang adjusted the shawl around her, ¡°Is it Brother Zhi?¡± ¡°` Chapter 15 - Chapter 15: 015: Jiang Zhi is the most beautiful in the world! Chapter 15: 015: Jiang Zhi is the most beautiful in the world! Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation She opened another can of milk. She didn¡¯t used to drink much milk, but when she bought it for Jiang Zhi, she ordered an extra case and magically found that the milk was really tasty. This was the third can. In one morning, Zhou Xufang drank three cans of imported milk. Probably because of Ah Wan¡¯s comment that ¡°the girl pasting the film likes your looks,¡± Jiang Zhi gave that person a few glances. Then he retracted his gaze and changed his lying position: ¡°Call the vice director over.¡± Ah Wan went to fetch Vice Director Zhao. Vice Director Zhao was a bit panicky when called upon: ¡°Director Jiang, what can I do for you?¡± Jiang Zhi, seemingly absent-minded, was playing with a can of milk aimlessly. With no preamble, he said two words: ¡°Extras.¡± ¡°Uh?¡± Vice Director Zhao couldn¡¯t quite grasp what was meant, ¡°What, what¡¯s wrong with the extras?¡± Was it that they acted poorly, or¡ª ¡°How much per day?¡± Uh¡­ Director Jiang actually started caring about the livelihood of the extras. Vice Director Zhao answered truthfully, ¡°About a hundred to two hundred, maybe a bit higher for special roles.¡± Two hundred. The three cans of milk she drank cost nearly a few hundreds. Jiang Zhi found it bewildering; even if she pasted more films and delivered more food, it wouldn¡¯t be enough for her to drink this much milk. Perhaps all the money she earned from part-time jobs was spent on buying milk? Strange, why was he curious about an extra¡¯s livelihood? He toyed with the milk can in his hand. Maybe he really was too idle these days: ¡°The extras today performed well.¡± What did that mean? Vice Director Zhao scratched his head: ¡°So¡­what do you think¡­should be done?¡± Director Jiang lifted his eyelids. Vice Director Zhao suggested, ¡°Doubling their pay?¡± The director said nothing, just looked at Vice Director Zhao. He was sweating, hurriedly changed his tune: ¡°Twice as much?¡± Pop. The director pulled the tab, opened the milk, and took a sip. Vice Director Zhao wiped his forehead, stammering, ¡°Fi-five times?¡± No response. The person just got up, put on his coat, and started walking off. He seemed unwell, eyes drooping, pulling his coat tighter as he walked, looking frail. What¡¯s going on? Vice Director Zhao was puzzled. After he walked away, the mercurial Jiang Meiren said, ¡°Do as you see fit.¡± ¡°?¡± Vice Director Zhao wiped his sweat, filled with questions. Ah Wan checked the time; it was one o¡¯clock, time for the boss¡¯s lunch break. He followed along. ¡°How¡¯s that chicken lately?¡± Jiang Zhi asked suddenly. Ah Wan replied, ¡°Quite well, it gained two ounces.¡± Then there was nothing but intermittent coughing along the way, suppressed, making one¡¯s chest feel tight. He seemed really unwell, Zhou Xufang thought. ¡°Xufang.¡± Fang Lixiang waved a hand in front of her: ¡°Xufang.¡± Zhou Xufang was still looking into the distance. Fang Lixiang jumped into her line of sight: ¡°Hey, come back to earth!¡± She turned her head: ¡°Hm?¡± The curiosity in her eyes was still there, unlike her usual calm demeanor, showing a hint of liveliness. Fang Lixiang pulled a girl to her: ¡°This is my assistant.¡± She signed with Baoguang, and got some attention, managed by Lin Shang, a top agent of Baoguang. But Lin Shang had other top-tier and mid-tier artists, so he couldn¡¯t give her his full attention. This time, he sent her a dedicated assistant. The girl looked very young, short hair, clean and neat. ¡°Hi, I¡¯m Jiang Wei¡¯er.¡± She smiled sweetly, giving a first impression of being very obedient. Zhou Xufang wasn¡¯t used to making eye contact, instinctively looked down, and said her own name: ¡°Zhou Xufang.¡± Jiang Wei¡¯er smiled at her, a dimple appeared on her left cheek, shallow but visible when she showed her teeth. She also had the surname Jiang, she was also good-looking, Zhou Xufang thought. ¡°Xufang, do you have any more milk? Let me have a sip to calm my nerves.¡± Fang Lixiang clutched her chest, eyes shifting rapidly, ¡°I¡¯m about to do a scene with my idol, my heartbeat¡¯s racing.¡± Jiang Wei¡¯er¡¯s eyes widened slightly, looking even more spirited: ¡°Your idol is Xiao Linsu?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Fang Lixiang seized any chance to praise her idol, pulled out her phone, found a photo of her idol, and began gushing, ¡°Isn¡¯t he handsome? I could admire this face for a hundred years!¡± The male lead of this film was Xiao Linsu, but Zhou Xufang hadn¡¯t seen him much during her few times as an extra, so she took an extra look at Fang Lixiang¡¯s phone. Then she said, ¡°He¡¯s not as good-looking as Jiang Zhi.¡± She glanced at the photo again, ¡°Jiang Zhi¡¯s eyes are better-looking.¡± Three-second pause, ¡°His mouth is too.¡± Everything about him was better. Fang Lixiang gave a death glare. Jiang Wei¡¯er also gave a death glare. Zhou Xufang said no more, handed the opened milk to Fang Lixiang. Ding, Jiang Wei¡¯er¡¯s phone received a message. She glanced at it, then stood up: ¡°I¡¯m going to the restroom.¡± The restroom was connected to the lounge, separated by a corridor. Just as Jiang Wei¡¯er reached the turn, her wrist was grabbed, and she was pulled into a corner. ¡°Wei¡¯er.¡± A man¡¯s voice, low and pleasant. Xiao Linsu, originally a singer, had a naturally good voice. Jiang Wei¡¯er nervously looked around, pulled the man aside, tried to free her hand but it was held tighter: ¡°Let go, we¡¯ll be seen.¡± Xiao Linsu didn¡¯t let go, instead he wrapped an arm around her waist: ¡°If we¡¯re seen, let¡¯s go public.¡± Usually gentle and refined, he rarely threw tantrums like this, but going public was impossible. If her identity was revealed with the Jiang family background, and Jiang Zhi being her nephew, no matter how hard Xiao Linsu worked, people would accuse him of using connections. ¡°You signed with Baoguang?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Xiao Linsu hugged her, chin resting on her shoulder, lightly rubbing, somewhat unhappy: ¡°Why not come to me?¡± He had a mixed heritage, distinct features, a blend of oriental delicacy and western sharpness, especially gentle in nature. He had been a top-tier star for years. ¡°Anywhere is the same,¡± Jiang Wei¡¯er let him hold her, smiling softly, ¡°It¡¯s good to avoid suspicion too.¡± His voice was rich and low, ¡°Wei¡¯er, when I win Best Actor, let¡¯s go public.¡± She smiled, gentle and warm: ¡°Okay.¡± Just then, someone called for Linsu. Jiang Wei¡¯er released her hold and pushed him: ¡°Off you go.¡± He kissed her on the cheek. When he had gone far, Jiang Wei¡¯er came out, raising her head to see two familiar faces. One was Xue Baoyi, the tone in his voice extremely annoyed: ¡°Ugh, ugh,¡± his tone very annoyed, ¡°So clingy, Jiang Zhi¡¯s aunt, aren¡¯t you bright-eyed?¡± Jiang Wei¡¯er ignored him and walked away. ¡°Wei, Wei¡¯er.¡± Xue Bingxue called her anxiously, face flushed red. Jiang Wei¡¯er turned her head: ¡°Hm?¡± She wore a white long dress, light makeup, and had bangs, looking very much like the quintessential girl-next-door, extremely well-behaved. She never used to wear dresses, never used to wear makeup, Xue Bingxue frowned, speaking softly, ¡°If anyone in the circle bullies you, tell, tell me.¡± The sentence was spoken awkwardly. Damn, they¡¯d grown up together wearing the same trousers, yet he was nervous. Xue Baoyi couldn¡¯t bear to look, snorted, ¡°The Fifth Miss of the Jiang family, Jiang Zhi¡¯s Fifth Aunt, who would dare to bully her?¡± His gaze roamed over Jiang Wei¡¯er, that white dress was glaring, anger boiling, he sarcastically remarked, ¡°Jiang Wei¡¯er, aren¡¯t you being pathetic? For a man, pulling out the thorns, from a wildflower to a delicate blossom?¡± She even wore a dress. Before, this girl could kick a two-hundred-pound man. It¡¯s just that the one named Xiao liked delicate types, so this fierce flower pulled out all her thorns, wore a lady¡¯s dress, and mingled in the entertainment industry as an assistant. The more Xue Baoyi thought, the angrier he got: ¡°Where¡¯s your fierceness from before when you could take down three people?¡± Jiang Wei¡¯er couldn¡¯t stand it anymore, went forward, and kicked him: ¡°Get lost! If you meddle in my business again, I¡¯ll beat you to death!¡± After kicking him, she ruffled her short hair and walked off. Xue Baoyi, clutching his leg, grimaced in pain. Damn it! He was furious, steam practically coming out of him: ¡°Just arrogant in front of us, acting like a declawed kitten with Xiao Linsu, you¡¯re hopeless!¡± Xue Bingxue looked pained: ¡°Don¡¯t say that about Wei¡¯er.¡± Xue Baoyi was angry at his uselessness: ¡°You still defend her!¡± He wanted to poke his silly, sweet uncle¡¯s head, ¡°How did our Xue family produce such a coward? Crushing on her for over ten years, and let someone else steal her, isn¡¯t that embarrassing?¡± Xue Bingxue was even more sorrowful, head hanging, self-loathing: ¡°Wei¡¯er doesn¡¯t like me.¡± What could he do? Look at this, so pitiful! Xue Baoyi wished he could kick him: ¡°Couldn¡¯t you use some force?!¡± Xue Bingxue turned bright red, afraid Jiang Wei¡¯er, who hadn¡¯t gone far, would hear and dragged Xue Baoyi to the side, glaring: ¡°Y-you pervert!¡± Xue Baoyi: ¡°¡­¡± This kind of silly sweet, deserved to be snatched! Xue Bingxue was the Xue family¡¯s only child late in life, Jiang Wei¡¯er was the Jiang family¡¯s only daughter late in life, their birthdays were a day apart, personalities one dominant and one submissive, an uncle and a great-aunt, a perfect match by all accounts, except Xue Bingxue, from fourteen to twenty-eight, had secretly loved her for over fourteen years, never daring to hold her hand. So angry. Xue Baoyi, in a fit of rebellion, kicked his uncle and ran off. Outside the director¡¯s lounge. Ah Wan stuck to the door and softly called: ¡°Mr. Jiang.¡± The person inside was half-asleep, voice hoarse, with bubbles: ¡°Sleeping, don¡¯t bother me.¡± If it had been anyone else, Ah Wan wouldn¡¯t have dared to disturb this notoriously cranky person, but he said, ¡°Miss Zhou, the one pasting the film, is here.¡± Chapter 16 - Chapter 16: 016: Do you have a crush on me? Chapter 16: 016: Do you have a crush on me? Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation If it were someone else, Ah Wan definitely wouldn¡¯t disturb this person who is extremely grumpy upon waking up. He said, ¡°Miss Zhou, who installs the screen protector, is here.¡± It was quiet inside for quite a while. The person who had just woken up, rarely seen to be a bit slow to react, sounded drowsy and surprisingly harmless. He said, ¡°The door¡¯s not locked.¡± When Zhou Xufang came in, Jiang Zhi had just put on his coat. When he raised his hand, she happened to see a hint of skin under his black sweater, but it was quickly covered by the sweater. Jiang Zhi glanced at Ah Wan, ¡°Get out, close the door.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Ah Wan went out, closed the door, and stationed himself at the door of the lounge, pressing his ear against the door, then holding his breath and concentrating. ¡°What do you want from me?¡± Jiang Zhi sat down, holding a cup of hot water to warm his hands. Having just been woken up, there were still two red marks pressed into his face. This person must be a restless sleeper, Zhou Xufang thought. She put down her black backpack on the ground, ¡°A gift for you, a peace offering.¡± The chicken had pooped on him, and she felt really bad about it. Jiang Zhi¡¯s gaze moved from her face to the bag, ¡°More chickens?¡± He couldn¡¯t hide the disdain in his eyes. ¡°No, it¡¯s milk.¡± She paused, then added, ¡°Two crates.¡± When she spoke, she was always expressionless, but her tone was always so earnest, giving off a feeling of being both dull and cold. This brand was very expensive. How long would she have to install screen protectors to afford two crates of milk? Strange person. Jiang Zhi put down the cup, stood up from the sofa, and walked to within a meter of her, looking into her eyes. These eyes were beautiful, but looking too deeply into them made one¡¯s heart race. ¡°Zhou Xufang,¡± he called her name for the first time like this. Zhou Xufang looked up, her eyes fixed as she thought that not only was he handsome, but his voice was also pleasant to hear. Jiang Zhi took another step forward, his expression unclear, his eyes deep and unreadable, pitch black. He asked, ¡°Am I good-looking?¡± Zhou Xufang¡¯s expression froze for a moment. He asked casually, ¡°I asked you, am I good-looking or not?¡± Why did he ask when he already knew the answer? He was the most handsome person she had ever seen, just as good-looking as her cotton candy box. She wasn¡¯t blind, her eyesight was so good, how could she not see it? She nodded, ¡°Mm, good-looking.¡± Jiang Zhi¡¯s mouth curved slightly. Sure enough, his damned good looks. Ah Wan, that intellectually deficient guy, was right this time. This person was indeed attracted to his looks, which is why she made a series of peculiar moves to get his attention. Nothing unusual about it, he had seen it countless times. He tilted his chin up, in a good mood, and his tone was quite friendly as he said, ¡°Don¡¯t fall in love with me. I¡¯m not interested in women.¡± This person, though strange, was quite interesting. If only she was a guy¡ª ¡°Fine, I won¡¯t fall in love with you.¡± Jiang Zhi was choked by her earnest response; a breath got stuck, his face flushed red, and his lungs hurt. He covered his mouth and started coughing violently, ¡°Cough cough cough cough cough cough cough¡­¡± Why was she different from those who pursued him? Shouldn¡¯t she continue to chase him tirelessly after he rejects her? ¡°Cough cough cough cough¡­¡± The more he coughed, the more his lungs hurt! Zhou Xufang stood there calmly, with no special expression on her face, and asked, ¡°Are you okay?¡± Jiang Zhi grabbed the cup by his side and, disregarding the heat, took a big gulp, smoothing his breath. His face was still hot as he looked at her coldly, ¡°Why are you being stubborn? I won¡¯t do anything to you.¡± Zhou Xufang¡¯s expression shifted from being dumb to confused. She wasn¡¯t being stubborn. The cotton candy box, no matter how pretty it was, she would only look at it more; it wouldn¡¯t change anything. It was the same with Jiang Zhi. She liked his appearance but didn¡¯t covet it. She also liked the new chandelier at the porridge shop, and each time she delivered takeout, she would glance at it a few times, but she wouldn¡¯t steal it home. Jiang Zhi was irritated by her expression. He turned his back to her and started undoing his buttons, ¡°You go out. I¡¯m going back to sleep.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Zhou Xufang just left. Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± Was her IQ the same as Lin Wanwan¡¯s?! He had only napped for a while. After getting back into bed, he couldn¡¯t fall asleep, his whole body felt uncomfortable. His pride was shattered, and his sense of competitiveness and desire to conquer were aroused like never before. How could he sleep? In the afternoon, there were three scenes to shoot. One actress was not in good condition and kept causing NGs. The director was clearly very angry and had a bad temper, directly throwing down the script. ¡°No need to shoot! Adjust your state. If you¡¯re still like this tomorrow, don¡¯t come.¡± The actress apologized profusely with a pale face. Zhou Xufang asked Fang Lixiang, ¡°Who is she?¡± ¡°You mean Cheng Feiran?¡± Fang Lixiang was playing Chicken, taking a moment to glance, ¡°An artist from Tianxing. Not very famous, seems to be a newcomer¡­ Damn, this noob, can¡¯t they play?!¡± When the game ended, Fang Lixiang, inevitably lost, cursed angrily. She encountered an idiot who was not only terrible but also always pretended. In the final duel¡­ that noob actually blew her, his teammate, up. So frustrating! Fang Lixiang took a deep breath and asked Zhou Xufang, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± She shook her head. Her hearing was too good, and she forgot to bring her noise-canceling earphones today. She just overheard the girl¡¯s phone conversation. ¡°I won¡¯t let you guys off!¡± ¡°I¡¯ll expose all those dirty tricks.¡± ¡°What am I afraid of? At worst, we¡¯ll both lose.¡± Cheng Feiran. Zhou Xufang had seen her at Fusheng Inn where she was bullied by several men. Because Cheng Feiran had too many NGs, the scene originally scheduled to end by five was shot until seven. Zhou Xufang¡¯s part as an extra was the last one to be filmed. By the time she returned to Yuquan Bay, it was almost eight o¡¯clock. She ordered takeout and sat on the sofa eating cotton candy after removing her shoes. Shuangjiang came online to find her, ¡°There¡¯s a new client.¡± She got up to go to the fridge, not deliberately avoiding the computer¡¯s camera. From the sofa to the fridge, with her speed, it took less than two seconds. Opening the fridge door, she took out a can of milk, ¡°What does the client want me to do?¡± She didn¡¯t cook and didn¡¯t have a fridge before. But recently, she had taken a liking to the brand of milk that Jiang Zhi drank, so she bought a fridge, and she discovered it tasted better chilled. ¡°The client stored something at Zhu Feng Building and wants us to retrieve it and deliver it to the TV station in seven days, to be received by Zhou Qing.¡± Shuangjiang typed on the computer screen, ¡°The commission is two million.¡± Two million, not bad. Zhou Xufang leaned against the fridge, drinking the milk very seriously, ¡°What about the client?¡± ¡°I investigated, nothing special, named Cheng Feiran.¡± Cheng Feiran¡­ Her again. ¡°Do you want to take it?¡± Shuangjiang asked her. She finished the last gulp of milk, crushed the can, and threw it into the trash can with a flick of her wrist, ¡°Take it.¡± On the weekend, Xue Baoyi called out a few friends, saying he had something important to discuss. The big thing was¡ªplaying Chicken with him. This guy had recently gotten addicted to the game and was terrible at it. Qiao Nanchu entered the private room while making a call. ¡°That informant is a bit odd.¡± He talked while tugging off his tie, ¡°Already hired a lawyer, then suddenly withdrew the case.¡± ¡°Check again.¡± He reclined on the sofa, his long legs perched on the coffee table, holding an unlit cigarette, ¡°No need to report it yet, find out the details first.¡± After finishing this talk, he moved to another case. Ten minutes into the call, Xue Baoyi threw a lighter at him, ¡°That¡¯s enough, it¡¯s the weekend, stop talking about work. Get online and help me crush this idiot.¡± Qiao Nanchu hung up and laughed, ¡°How old are you? So childish.¡± Twenty-five, and he still got heated playing games. Xue Baoyi wasn¡¯t convinced, ¡°Damn, that guy called me a noob, should I put up with it?¡± No way he could endure it, he urged harshly, ¡°Hurry, get on the game and help me thrash him!¡± Qiao Nanchu snorted, starting the game. Xue Baoyi handed an account to Xue Bingxue and then looked at Jiang Zhi, ¡°Brother Zhi, just need you now.¡± He curled up on the sofa, unmoving, ¡°Tired, don¡¯t want to play.¡± Xue Baoyi went to drag him. He turned away, ¡°Don¡¯t bother me, I¡¯m sleeping!¡± ¡°¡­¡± Damn, he¡¯s just so delicate! Yet this delicate person, lying there doing nothing, occasionally coughing softly, occasionally licking his lips with his red-tipped tongue¡­ as glorious as a peach blossom, such beauty. This fairy! Xue Baoyi kicked the person beside him, ¡°Uncle, call Jiang Zhi¡¯s fifth aunt. She¡¯s great at gaming, let her take over.¡± Xue Bingxue was reluctant, sounding like a little wife, ¡°Don¡¯t bother Wei¡¯er, she posted on her timeline that she¡¯s very busy.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Damn, all a bunch of trolls! Xue Baoyi licked his lips, resigned, and opened PUBG. He had made a pact with the guy who called him a noob to battle at ten o¡¯clock. Whoever didn¡¯t show up was a wimp! Ten minutes later¡­ ¡°Nanchu, hurry, hurry! He¡¯s attacking me!¡± ¡°Uncle, give me a hand.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Help! Come save me!¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯m going to loot the body!¡± ¡°There¡¯s an ambush! Damn, Nanchu, Uncle, where are you?¡± Qiao Nanchu: ¡°¡­¡± Xue Bingxue: ¡°¡­¡± Xue Baoyi was still screaming, ¡°Nanchu, Nanchu¡ª¡± Qiao Nanchu kicked him, ¡°Can you shut up? You¡¯re giving me a headache.¡± Just after scolding, his game character fell backward and was killed. ¡°¡­¡± Qiao Nanchu choked on his own rage, glaring at Xue Baoyi, ¡°Why the hell did you blow me up?¡± Xue Baoyi was sweating nervously, ¡°My hand slipped.¡± Damn it! Qiao Nanchu threw his phone aside and, grabbing a pillow, pressed Xue Baoyi down on the sofa and started beating him. Just then, Ah Wan pushed the door open and came in. ¡°Mr. Jiang,¡± he walked forward, ¡°You¡¯re in the headlines.¡± Qiao Nanchu and Xue Baoyi stopped messing around and looked over. Jiang Zhi still had his eyes closed, sleeping, giving no reaction. Xue Baoyi asked, ¡°What¡¯s it about this time?¡± After all, Jiang Zhi was a big director with such a face, it was common for him to hit the trending headlines. Ah Wan thought for a moment, ¡°It¡¯s kind of a gossip piece.¡± Xue Baoyi got interested, ¡°Oh, Brother Zhi got into a scandal? With whom? Which big star?¡± ¡°With the screen protector girl,¡± Ah Wan said, ¡°Miss Zhou.¡± Jiang Zhi slowly opened his eyes. Chapter 17 - Chapter 17: 017: Did Jiang Mei Ren get slapped in the face today? Chapter 17: 017: Did Jiang Mei Ren get slapped in the face today? Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation ¡°` Jiang Zhi slowly opened his eyes. Ah Wan continued, ¡°Miss Zhou was photographed entering your lounge. The internet is abuzz about your relationship.¡± Those photos were not very clear, but those sharp-eyed could recognize Jiang Zhi. Xue Baoyi asked, ¡°Which media company is behind this?¡± So inconsiderate. Ah Wan replied, ¡°The Lu family.¡± No wonder. Most media companies wouldn¡¯t dare provoke the Jiang family¡¯s young master but the Lu family is different. Both are among the Four Great Families, and the Lu family isn¡¯t far behind the Jiang family. The two families have always been at odds. In this Imperial City, only the Lu family dared to annoy Jiang Zhi. Qiao Nanchu glanced at Jiang Zhi, unsure of what he was pondering, with his delicate eyebrows slightly furrowed. Qiao Nanchu tossed him the tablet: ¡°Those paparazzi act fast. They¡¯ve already found the protagonist.¡± On the screen was an enlarged face, which was Zhou Xufang. Jiang Zhi took a quick glance. A group of reporters surrounded Zhou Xufang at the entrance of the film city. She wore a baseball cap, shielding her face with her hand, eyes full of wariness. ¡°Who are you?¡± Her tone was exceptionally cold, almost chilling. ¡°We are reporters from Huayu Daily.¡± She continued covering her face, with tightly knitted brows indicating her vigilance and hostility, ¡°Why are you following me?¡± A reporter said, ¡°We aren¡¯t following you.¡± She repeated, ¡°Why are you following me?¡± ¡°We want to interview you. What¡¯s your relationship with Director Jiang?¡± She remained silent for a long time before realizing who Director Jiang was. She pushed away the camera: ¡°I¡¯m not very familiar with him.¡± The reporter persisted, ¡°Then why did you come from his¨C¡± She pulled down her hat further, covering her face, only showing a pair of sharp eyes: ¡°Don¡¯t follow me anymore.¡± The reporter tried to approach again. She snatched the camera and smashed it, walking away swiftly, leaving everyone stunned. The video ended there. Jiang Zhi¡¯s peach blossom eyes were half-open, making it hard to discern their color. He seemed angry. After all, the rumors were false. Ah Wan asked for instructions: ¡°Mr. Jiang, should we issue a statement to clarify the rumor?¡± He tossed the tablet onto the coffee table, his expression indifferent and slightly annoyed: ¡°Clarify what?¡± He sat up from the sofa, supporting his chin, his gaze shifting slightly, ¡°The girl said it herself, not familiar.¡± What nonsense about being attracted to his looks. He licked his lips, his throat slightly itchy: ¡°I want chicken soup tomorrow.¡± Ah Wan was stunned, ¡°Huh?¡± How did he suddenly bring up chicken soup? Jiang Zhi¡¯s long lashes lifted, casting a shadow under the light: ¡°That chicken, slaughter it.¡± Not familiar? Why didn¡¯t she say that when she gave him the chicken? ¡°Oh.¡± Ah Wan understood, the employer was angry at Miss Zhou for her remarks, so he was taking it out on an innocent rooster. Jiang Zhi sat up again, flipping the tablet on the coffee table, his eyes misty, joy and anger hidden within: ¡°Slaughter it today.¡± Not familiar? Why didn¡¯t she say that when she complimented his looks? Only serves to annoy people! Ah Wan: ¡°¡­¡± He didn¡¯t know what to say, ¡°Alright.¡± Jiang Zhi lay back on the sofa, closing his eyes, resembling a delicate beauty from ancient times, lazy and sickly. But soon, he started coughing, and the cough grew more severe, reddening his face. Xue Baoyi, having known him for over twenty years, couldn¡¯t fail to see the suppressed anger in him. Quickly, he soothed him, giving a playful smile, ¡°Something¡¯s off, Brother Zhi. Your reaction seems a bit overboard.¡± Rare to see, this reaction, Xue Baoyi gave a mischievous smile, ¡°What, did you fancy that girl?¡± Jiang Zhi slightly furrowed his brows. He detested women. All these years, he never doubted his sexual orientation, but Zhou Xufang was that peculiar existence, so peculiar that she evoked a curiosity towards the opposite sex, even a desire to win, that he had never felt in over twenty years. This realization made him incredibly irritated, extremely irritated. He thought, could it be because her eyes resembled that boy¡¯s, making his heart so unsettled¡­ the more he thought, the more annoyed he became. Jiang Zhi lifted his eyes, ¡°I prefer men.¡± After saying that, he looked at Xue Baoyi, exuding a mildly intoxicated charm without having drunk any alcohol. There it was again, those captivating peach blossom eyes! ¡°Don¡¯t look at me like that.¡± Xue Baoyi leaned back, ¡°I¡¯m straight.¡± Don¡¯t even think about turning him; he has a will of steel, he¡¯d never yield! Jiang Zhi narrowed his eyes: ¡°I¡¯m not desperate.¡± Xue Baoyi: ¡°¡­¡± If it weren¡¯t for the fact that he¡¯s a beauty, he¡¯d have punched him long ago. This interruption completely killed Jiang Zhi¡¯s mood. He grabbed his coat and got up to leave. Just as he exited the private room, he stopped again. Ah Wan quickly stepped forward, unsure of what the capricious employer would do next. ¡°Don¡¯t slaughter it.¡± He said. ¡°Huh?¡± Ah Wan really couldn¡¯t keep up with his employer¡¯s mercurial thoughts. ¡°That chicken.¡± With that, he quickened his pace, and his coughing grew louder. The employer was so fickle. Ah Wan followed, ¡°So, should I keep raising it?¡± It was just a chicken; what exactly was he fussing about? Jiang Zhi lowered his eyes, furrowing his brows, what was wrong with him? Why did that person ignite a fire in his heart, burning with an increasing sense of dissatisfaction? The elevator doors opened. He paused for a moment, stepped inside, leaned against the side, eyelashes drooping, shadowed by the light, concealing his emotions. Listening closely, there was a hint of annoyance in his voice: ¡°Let it starve for a few meals first.¡± ¡°¡­¡± How infuriating. Jiang Zhi¡¯s scandal stayed on the trending list for two days, then the buzz was overtaken by a shocking news story in the entertainment industry¡ªa famous actress attempted suicide, leaving a note exposing a major entertainment company¡¯s sex scandal. Tianxing Entertainment was also a top-tier entertainment company in the country and a bitter rival of Xue Baoyi¡¯s Baoguang. Hearing the news, Xue Baoyi was gleeful: ¡°Looks like Tianxing is in for a rough time this time.¡± At the dining table, it was just a few old friends, speaking without any reservations. Qiao Nanchu followed up, ¡°Not necessarily.¡± He had some involvement with the Criminal Investigation Team¡¯s affairs, ¡°The victim had gone to the police just days before to file a case but withdrew it soon after. Someone must have intervened.¡± How could a minor celebrity possibly stand up to a major company? Being stonewalled at every turn without any recourse was the harsh reality. Xue Baoyi poured a small glass of red wine, swirling it: ¡°These bastards, driving someone to suicide.¡± The entertainment circle was like this, using human lives to force out some morality, no one cares unless somebody dies. Just then, Xue Baoyi¡¯s secretary came in, handed him a tablet, explained a few things, and left. There had been new developments in the matter. ¡°Tianxing has moved quickly. Their PR strategy to shift the blame is already out.¡± Xue Baoyi handed the tablet to Jiang Zhi. Cheng Feiran¡¯s suicide attempt had failed. Tianxing Entertainment immediately shifted all the blame back, claiming a certain actress fabricated the story for publicity and announced they would pursue the matter to the end. Jiang Zhi asked for a bowl of soup, sipping leisurely: ¡°Who¡¯s managing Tianxing?¡± ¡°The Luo family is the largest shareholder, so it should be Luo Qinghe managing it.¡± Qiao Nanchu leaned lazily against the back of the chair, ¡°You want to get involved too?¡± He neither confirmed nor denied, ¡°Lack substantial evidence.¡± He only drank half the soup before getting tired of it, ¡°Ah Wan, go check on the actress who attempted suicide at the hospital.¡± ¡°Got it.¡± Since she had no work during the day, Zhou Xufang was at home sleeping, from morning until dusk. Not having eaten all day, she got hungry, went to the fridge to find something to eat, and had just finished a can of milk when Shuangjiang found her. ¡°Xu Fang, Cheng Feiran is in trouble.¡± On the computer screen, a webpage automatically opened, showing the entire Cheng Feiran incident. Zhou Xufang finished watching, tossed the milk can into the trash: ¡°Did they save her?¡± Online information about Cheng Feiran was scarce, summarizing her situation in eight words: ¡°Attempted suicide with unclear intent.¡± She was probably at the end of her rope with no support. Though she didn¡¯t die, public opinion wasn¡¯t on her side. With the webpages filling the screen, Shuangjiang couldn¡¯t type conveniently and used special speech synthesis software to send a synthesized voice over: ¡°She is out of danger but still in the hospital.¡± Zhou Xufang sat in front of the computer, took out her phone, and ordered takeout, ¡°Today is the seventh day.¡± The client had said to hand over the items after seven days, ¡°Send me the recipient¡¯s detailed information.¡± After some rustling noises, a few A4 papers dropped from the printer connected to the computer. Zhou Xufang picked them up. The synthesized voice sounded very mechanical, reading aloud: ¡°Zhou Qingrang, male, News Broadcast host, 37 years old.¡± This person was Cheng Feiran¡¯s last lifeline. Zhou Xufang looked at the information on the paper, flipping through page by page: ¡°Is he reliable?¡± Shuangjiang didn¡¯t answer, instead asked, ¡°Xu Fang, are you planning something?¡± Aside from matters within the scope of their commission, they never interfered with other related matters. She had a feeling that Zhou Xufang would make an exception this time. ¡°Cheng Feiran didn¡¯t lie. Those people are bad.¡± Zhou Xufang only fought, never cursed, but she had to curse this time, ¡°They¡¯re beasts!¡± Beasts¡­ Shuangjiang let her be: ¡°Okay, I understand. I¡¯ll help you.¡± She added, ¡°I¡¯ve already sent all the information on Zhou Qingrang to you. He should be reliable. He has a grudge against the Luo family behind Tianxing Entertainment. He will definitely make Cheng Feiran¡¯s evidence public.¡± The commission Cheng Feiran gave them was a video of forced sexual entertainment, substantial evidence of the incident. She probably knew she would have no way to seek justice and anticipated that Tianxing Entertainment would not let her go, so she transferred the evidence in advance. Zhou Xufang looked at the photo on the A4 paper: ¡°He looks very young.¡± At thirty-seven, nearing the age of not being easily swayed by desires, perhaps because of his pale complexion, he looked extremely young, with handsome and elegant features, but his eyes were indifferent, lacking in warmth. ¡°Zhou Qingrang had been in a coma for fifteen years. He was hospitalized at fourteen due to a car accident, losing one leg and nearly disabling the other. Doctors diagnosed him as a vegetative state, and he woke up at twenty-nine.¡± The synthesized voice sighed, ¡°What karma did the Luo family bring upon themselves?¡± Should have been a graceful young man, but he was crippled. Fifteen years, from youth to adulthood, the best years of a boy were all buried in the hospital. Zhou Xufang touched the brows and eyes on the photo: ¡°He also has the surname Zhou.¡± Yes, also a Zhou. Zhou Qingrang, a name that sounded elegant and pure. Chapter 18 - Chapter 18: 018: Professional Errand Runner—Zhou Xufang Chapter 18: 018: Professional Errand Runner¡ªZhou Xufang Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation Monday, a light drizzle fell continuously, mixed with mist in the winter wind, damp and bone-chilling. The cold spell had lasted for several days; winter was approaching. 7:30, the news broadcast ended. At eight, Tang Ying packed up her things and knocked on the door of the adjacent lounge. ¡°Come in,¡± came the response. Perhaps due to her profession, her first attention was always on voices. In the entire TV station, his voice was the best. Tang Ying pushed open the door but did not enter recklessly, remaining at the doorway: ¡°Senior Brother, I¡¯ll take you home.¡± Her senior brother, Zhou Qingrang, was the only person at the TV station who had taken less than three years to sit in the news broadcast host¡¯s seat. He had already changed out of his suit and into a heavy coat, sitting upright in a wheelchair: ¡°No need.¡± Outside, lights illuminated every household, yet he always seemed devoid of any earthly essence. He was born with a graceful and elegant appearance, reminiscent of figures in old paintings; not rendered with vibrant strokes, but with the delicate and restrained touch of ink wash, drawn with exquisite details. He was not young anymore; there were faint fine lines at the corners of his eyes. He didn¡¯t like to smile or talk, always keeping to himself. His temper was good, very gentle, but beyond work, he was not familiar with anyone. His legs were not in good condition; his left leg was amputated, and he had a prosthetic fitted three years ago. His right leg had undergone surgery, with the steel nails yet to be removed, so he rarely stood up. Though he used a wheelchair, he never troubled anyone. On his wheelchair, there was a pair of crutches that he rarely used. Tang Ying had seen him using them; he bent over, struggling with the crutches, taking very slow, deliberate steps. ¡°Let me take you home,¡± she insisted, sweeping her hair behind her ear, ¡°It¡¯s raining outside, the roads are slippery.¡± He just shook his head, saying nothing more. One must endure countless hardships to reach such inner peace. Tang Ying stood at the doorway for a long while before leaving. She next saw him at the entrance of the TV station. His wheelchair was at the top of the steps, and the security guard approached to offer help. He declined, picked up the crutches on his wheelchair, and with effort, stood up, using just one crutch and lifting the wheelchair with the other hand, descending the steps one by one. Due to the exertion, the veins on the back of his hand stood out visibly. The street lamps cast a diffuse light on the wet ground, blurring the edges of shadows; there was mist and water everywhere. His residence was not far from the TV station. After placing the wheelchair down, he sat and slowly began to push himself home. The distance was short, but there was an uphill section on the way home. The rain made the road slippery, and halfway up the slope, the wheelchair slid backwards. A hand stopped the sliding wheelchair from behind. Zhou Qingrang turned around. Against the light, he couldn¡¯t see the person¡¯s face, only that she was dressed in black. ¡°Thank you,¡± he said. She helped him push the wheelchair to the top of the slope: ¡°No need to thank me.¡± She was a young girl. He thanked her again, gripped the rear wheel, and moved away. It was him. Zhou Xufang stood in place for a long time before wearing her wireless headset: ¡°Cut off the surveillance at Haitang Bay for me.¡± In the headset, an artificial voice, mechanical, and efficient, asked: ¡°What are you going to do?¡± She evaded the question: ¡°His leg is in bad shape.¡± From several meters away, she followed Zhou Qingrang, putting on a jacket, hat, and mask she took out from her backpack as she walked. ¡°If his leg is in bad shape, I have to help him to the end.¡± Shuangjiang didn¡¯t ask more questions: ¡°I understand.¡± In less than half a minute, Shuangjiang¡¯s synthesized voice came through her headset again: ¡°Haitang Bay is only eight hundred meters from the TV station, with four cameras along the way. I have sent interference; you have five minutes.¡± ¡°Got it.¡± She pressed down the brim of her hat and leaped onto the rooftop. Because the road was slippery, what usually took ten minutes took Zhou Qingrang twenty. The night watchman, Lao Ji, was smoking outside the community. When he saw someone approaching, he put out his cigarette, ¡°Mr. Zhou is back.¡± Zhou Qingrang nodded. Lao Ji, in his sixties, had just graduated from the pharmaceutical factory in the first half of the year: ¡°There is a package for you in the security office; it requires your personal signature.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°Let me push you there.¡± He did not refuse: ¡°Sorry to trouble you.¡± ¡°Not at all.¡± Zhou Xufang stood on the opposite side of the road, watching the wheelchair enter the community. ¡°Xu Fang, there¡¯s a situation.¡± Zhou Xufang glanced at the height of the community fence. In the headset, Shuangjiang said: ¡°Thirty meters north of the main gate of Haitang Bay, there are two groups of people. One group is Tianxing¡¯s men, the identity of the other group is currently unknown. Every elevator entrance and emergency exit in building nine is being watched.¡± Zhou Qingrang lived in building nine. They had just delivered something to him, and now people were already looking for him. ¡°What now?¡± Shuangjiang asked for Zhou Xufang¡¯s input. She gauged the height, took a step back, bent down, and leaped over the fence: ¡°No choice left,¡± she straightened up, wiped the rainwater from her hands, and took out a pair of black gloves from her coat pocket, ¡°just have to fight.¡± At the entrance of building nine. A man walked out from behind the door: ¡°Younger Luo, Zhou Qingrang has gone upstairs.¡± The shadow on the ground was robust. The man wore a black suit, and had a square face with deep eye sockets. In the headset, a woman¡¯s voice said, ¡°Don¡¯t alert the enemy, first confirm if the item is with him.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± Suddenly, a shadow flashed past the man¡¯s eyes, making him immediately turn around, ¡°Who goes there?!¡± There was no one behind him, nor any sound. The voice-activated lights on this floor had been tampered with, providing only faint light from the basement floor. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°It¡¯s noth¡ª¡± Before the man could finish his sentence, his neck was grabbed. He looked up sharply, his pupils contracting: ¡°You, you, are¡ª¡± The person wore a mask, with a face no bigger than the man¡¯s palm, and at her feet were a pair of small-sized canvas shoes. It was a woman. When did she get in front of him? The man tried to open his mouth, but the hand on his neck tightened. She ripped off his wireless headset and said into it, ¡°No matter who you are, stop troubling Zhou Qingrang.¡± Having said this, she smashed the headset to the ground, stepping on it to crush it, then raised her head and released her grip. The man stumbled backwards a couple of steps, rubbing his neck, ¡°Who are you?¡± Who? On her black jacket, at the position of the arm, there was an embroidered letter¡ªZ. The man was dumbfounded: ¡°You, are¡ª¡± She took a step back, leapt up, her left foot touching the wall, and her right leg struck the man¡¯s neck sideways. She lowered her foot slightly, and he collapsed to the ground. His eyes rolled back as he passed out. Zhou Xufang straightened her hat and went up to the second floor. Several cars were parked by the roadside opposite Haitang Bay. At the front was a black Bentley, with the window half-open. The man in the passenger seat was on the phone. He sounded respectful: ¡°Younger Luo.¡± Old Mr. Luo had not been well for years. His eldest son was incompetent, his second son deceased. The Luo family was currently managed by his eldest granddaughter, Luo Qinghe, whom the company employees all referred to as Younger Luo. ¡°Secretary Han.¡± ¡°Yes, ma¡¯am.¡± ¡°If we can¡¯t obtain the item, do you know what to do next?¡± Han Feng, Luo Qinghe¡¯s secretary, had been with her for three years and understood her thoughts clearly: ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t make another mistake, the consequences will be severe.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± Luo Qinghe hung up the phone. Han Feng put on his headset and called out a few times. Receiving no response for some time, he got out of the car, seeing someone running out from the underground parking lot, looking panicked. It was one of the men he had sent. Han Feng walked over: ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± The man was drenched in sweat, looking around in a daze, and stammered, trembling: ¡°That¡­ that woman¡­ in the blink of an eye, she went upstairs¡­ like, like a female ghost.¡± Female ghost? Han Feng sneered, kicking the man¡¯s shin: ¡°Idiot, so many of you couldn¡¯t deal with a cripple.¡± He turned and instructed those in a few other cars, ¡°You all go in, use any means necessary, but get the item.¡± No sooner had he finished speaking than someone walked out from behind the streetlight. ¡°What item?¡± Han Feng looked up, hesitating for a moment: ¡°Mr. Qiao.¡± The Qiao family¡¯s young master, Qiao Nanchu. The rain had lessened. He didn¡¯t use an umbrella, leaning against the streetlight, his hair covered in a layer of mist. His eyebrows and eyes were sharp: ¡°You recognize me.¡± Mr. Qiao¡¯s grandfather¡¯s favorite grandson. Who in the Imperial City didn¡¯t recognize him? ¡°If you recognize me, you should know what I do, right?¡± Speaking this to himself, he didn¡¯t wait for an answer. He took out his phone and dialed a number, ¡°Mr. Cheng, some people here look very suspicious. Could you come over?¡± The Qiao family employed a large number of police officers. Han Feng remained calm: ¡°What does Mr. Qiao mean by this?¡± ¡°My childhood friend, Jiang Zhi, heard of him?¡± He pointed to a car not far away, ¡°He just had a twelve-million-yuan watch stolen and is catching the thief.¡± Chapter 19 - Chapter 19: 019: He smelled the milky scent on her. Chapter 19: 019: He smelled the milky scent on her. Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation ¡°He just had a watch worth twelve million stolen, and he¡¯s catching the thief now.¡± Han Feng had a cold face and a temper, ¡°We didn¡¯t steal it.¡± Qiao Nanchu pulled out a cigarette and lit it, ¡°Who knows.¡± About ten minutes later, Mr. Cheng from the Criminal Investigation Team arrived and detained Han Feng and his group. Qiao Nanchu wasn¡¯t part of the Criminal Investigation Team, so he just watched from the side, smoked two cigarettes, and was in a good mood when he said to Mr. Cheng, ¡°I suspect they hid the stolen goods in the car.¡± Mr. Cheng¡¯s direct superior was Qiao Nanchu¡¯s cousin-in-law. To be honest, Mr. Cheng still didn¡¯t understand what this young master was up to, but he had to give him face, ¡°Tow the car away too.¡± Just like that, both the people and the car were taken to the station. Additionally, Mr. Cheng left a team at the scene to continue the search. Qiao Nanchu stubbed out his cigarette, crossed the street, and knocked on Jiang Zhi¡¯s car window. ¡°Hand over the stolen goods.¡± Jiang Zhi took off the watch from his wrist and threw it to him. Qiao Nanchu weighed it in his hand, playing with it, ¡°The Luo Family wouldn¡¯t get involved personally. It¡¯s Han Feng who¡¯s covering for them. Mr. Cheng¡¯s team is already checking inside the community. If Han Feng has the goods, the police can find them. If not, then it¡¯s still with Zhou Qingrang.¡± Anyway, as long as it didn¡¯t fall into the hands of the Luo Family, the goal was accomplished. Jiang Zhi disliked the Luo Family and just wanted to stir up some trouble for them, which was why he came to cause some chaos. Qiao Nanchu looked at Jiang Zhi, ¡°Aren¡¯t you going back?¡± He answered irrelevantly, ¡°Zhou Qingrang¡¯s legs don¡¯t work?¡± ¡°Almost, he had one amputated, and the other one¡¯s almost useless too.¡± He either had to use a wheelchair or crutches. His legs were practically useless. Jiang Zhi got out of the car. ¡°What else do you want to do?¡± ¡°That sickly guy can¡¯t beat the Luo Family.¡± If the evidence from the Cheng Feiran incident was still in Zhou Qingrang¡¯s hands and hadn¡¯t been made public yet, the Luo Family wouldn¡¯t miss out on trying to snatch it. Qiao Nanchu found it funny, ¡°Aren¡¯t you a sickly guy too?¡± Jiang Zhi took a woolen black coat from the car and draped it over himself, ¡°Mm, I¡¯m going in to visit a fellow patient.¡± Qiao Nanchu, ¡°¡­¡± Visit my ass! Luo Qinghe had just found out about Zhou Qingrang from Cheng Feiran, and Jiang Zhi followed right after, clearly wanting to mess with the Luo Family and make things difficult for her. The evidence in Zhou Qingrang¡¯s hands couldn¡¯t fall back into the hands of the Luo Family, right? Qiao Nanchu was going to follow, but the Intelligence Department called him with a major case, so he answered the call outside first. The elevator was sealed, with police officers guarding all exits. Ah Wan walked in front, and the voice-activated lights were broken, making it so dark the path was barely visible. Upon reaching the first floor, he discovered someone fainted on the ground and immediately took a defensive stance, ¡°Boss, don¡¯t go up, something¡¯s wrong.¡± It was someone sent by the Luo Family. Who knocked him out? Zhou Qingrang, like his employer, was also a sickly person. Oh, by the way, Ah Wan recently started calling him boss. Because his IQ wasn¡¯t high, his employer showed him extreme disdain. He felt he needed to reinvent himself to showcase his extraordinary abilities to his employer. Jiang Zhi glanced at the person on the ground. Eager to prove himself, Ah Wan immediately stepped forward and said bravely, ¡°Boss, stay behind. I¡¯ll clear the way for you.¡± He wanted to see who else besides the sworn enemies of the Luo Family! Just as Ah Wan finished speaking, a shadow flashed behind him. He turned his head immediately, but it was too late, as a foot swung towards him and struck his waist directly. With a thud, Ah Wan fell flat on the ground. ¡°¡­¡± His supposed invincibility¡­ Damn! He supported himself to get up, but his waist hurt too much, and with another thud, he fell again. ¡°¡­¡± Which path are they from, with such strength? Ah Wan, who never had a temper, was also angry now, ¡°Who the hell are you? Sneaking attacks like a coward!¡± This coward! This voice¡­ Zhou Xufang was stunned. Suddenly, a beam of light shone over. Jiang Zhi held his phone, moving the light beam to scan her face, arms, and the letters on her jacket. ¡°It¡¯s you again.¡± He laughed. Enemies meet on a narrow path. Zhou Xufang raised her hand to block the light from the phone. Taking advantage of her distraction, Ah Wan suddenly jumped up and swung a punch at her. She almost instinctively countered by twisting Ah Wan¡¯s wrist, causing a cracking sound, making him yelp in pain. She immediately let go. Ah Wan took the opportunity to punch her shoulder. Fang Lixiang had mentioned that Ah Wan was once a boxing athlete, having won a national youth boxing championship in his early years. If he hadn¡¯t strayed into robbery, he might have been a world champion by now. He was very strong, and Zhou Xufang was forced to take several steps back after being punched. What should she do? Should she fight him? Zhou Xufang frowned. ¡°Ah Wan.¡± Jiang Zhi shone the phone light at him. Ah Wan got the message and withdrew. ¡°The police are outside,¡± Jiang Zhi walked forward, shining the phone¡¯s flashlight right in her face, ¡°Take off your mask, and I¡¯ll let them release you.¡± She stayed silent. He approached and reached out to remove it. ¡°Boss¡ª¡± She grabbed him and pinned him against the wall. With a crash, the phone fell to the ground, and the blingbling screen protector Xue Baoyi had bought shattered. ¡°Cough cough cough¡­¡± His breathing became heavy instantly, his lips turned pale, and his face flushed. Ah Wan shouted, ¡°Scum, let go of my boss!¡± Jiang Zhi, ¡°¡­¡± Zhou Xufang, ¡°¡­¡± That shout of ¡®scum¡¯ did a fantastic job of diverting attention, and Ah Wan took this chance to punch at the ¡®scum¡¯s¡¯ neck, pulling his knockout move, just like always¨C The ¡®scum¡¯ didn¡¯t even turn his head, kicking sideways so fast it was a blur, hitting Ah Wan squarely in the waist and abdomen, the force making his internal organs shake. Can¡¯t you kick somewhere else?! Ah Wan felt his waist go numb and fell backward. This ¡®scum¡¯ was a martial arts master¡­ he tilted his head and passed out completely. Did she kick too hard? She only used one-tenth of her strength, Zhou Xufang frowned even more. ¡°Trying to kidnap me again?¡± Jiang Zhi was staring at her. The light was dim, but his gaze seemed to light a fire, glowing intensely. Afraid he would see through her, she covered his eyes with her palm, pressing her elbow against his shoulder, lowering her voice, ¡°I¡¯ll be gentle.¡± I¡¯ll be gentle¡ªone of the scum¡¯s iconic lines. Jiang Zhi, ¡°¡­ If you touch me one more time, I¡¯ll¡ª¡± She raised her hand, chopping at his neck. His body went limp and he passed out, sliding down. Zhou Xufang instinctively hugged his waist, supporting him against the wall, muttering, ¡°I¡¯m not a scum.¡± She felt a bit sad, being misunderstood. She put him down, squatted for a while, then stood up, turned around, and started upstairs. She came back again, took off Ah Wan¡¯s coat, and put it on Jiang Zhi. His body was weak, he couldn¡¯t catch a cold. She squatted there, looked at him for a moment, heard footsteps downstairs, then left, heading straight to the rooftop. The police sirens blared downstairs, and she jumped to the opposite building. Ten minutes later, the door to apartment 904 of building nine was knocked on. ¡°Knock, knock.¡± Someone inside opened the door, ¡°May I help you?¡± Mr. Cheng flashed his police badge, ¡°We are the police.¡± Zhou Qingrang leaned on crutches, leaning against the wall with some difficulty, ¡°Is something the matter?¡± ¡°This complex has seen both thieves and robbers. Mr. Zhou, have you noticed anything unusual?¡± It was Young Master Qiao who gave the heads-up; Zhou Qingrang needed to be watched closely, not even a fly could escape. Zhou Qingrang said no. He looked normal, apparently unaware of all the troubles outside. ¡°Our officers will be stationed outside tonight. If you notice anything, just call us.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± Mr. Cheng said ¡®sorry for the disturbance¡¯ and turned to make arrangements. Zhou Qingrang closed the door, pushed his wheelchair to the bedroom, took the USB drive from the computer, and held it in his palm. Who sent this thing? Who was helping him? Nearly midnight, Xue Baoyi was having a blast at a night club when Qiao Nanchu called him to the hospital, saying Jiang Zhi had fainted again. ¡°Brother Zhi.¡± ¡°Brother Zhi.¡± Jiang Zhi¡¯s eyelashes fluttered and he opened his eyes. Xue Baoyi sat by the bed, peeling a banana, ¡°Finally awake.¡± He grinned, ¡°You delicate beauty, going to the hospital every other day, almost killing me with worry, scared you¡¯d kick the bucket.¡± Jiang Zhi propped himself up to sit. Xue Baoyi quickly supported him. ¡°How¡¯s Zhou Qingrang?¡± Xue Baoyi heard about it from Qiao Nanchu, ¡°Nothing happened. Nanchu has the Criminal Investigation Team guarding him. Don¡¯t worry, they won¡¯t get what he has.¡± Hearing Jiang Zhi still coughing, he threw the banana away and helped him breathe easier, ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you? That professional errand runner is like your nemesis, sending you to the hospital again.¡± Jiang Zhi kept a cold face, saying nothing. Qiao Nanchu came over, followed by Ah Wan, wrapped in bandages around his waist and looking like he was breathing more than living, such a big guy, almost six feet three, two hundred pounds, so frail. ¡°Awake?¡± Jiang Zhi leaned against the bed weakly, in bad shape. Qiao Nanchu asked, ¡°Did you find anything new this time? What¡¯s special about that Z?¡± The second confrontation, and they still didn¡¯t get much, and couldn¡¯t trace it back. Jiang Zhi thought deeply for a while, looking weary with dark circles under his eyes, ¡°The light was too dim to see clearly, and the voice was disguised, but,¡± ¡°But what?¡± He thought for a moment, ¡°She has a scent.¡± Qiao Nanchu thought he heard wrong, ¡°What scent?¡± Jiang Zhi was sure, ¡°Milk.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Someone the police had been chasing for years without a clue, a professional fighter who could take down over a dozen trained individuals¡­ had a milk scent? Jiang Zhi coughed, caught his breath, ¡°It smells just like the milk I drink.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Qiao Nanchu had nothing to say. Chapter 20 - Chapter 20: 020: Zhou Xufang also has weaknesses Chapter 20: 020: Zhou Xufang also has weaknesses Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation Ah Wan spoke up at this moment, ¡°Mr. Qiao.¡± He sniffled, having caught a bit of a cold from being out in the cold. ¡°What did you find out, Ah Wan?¡± Ah Wan looked at his employer cautiously and said, ¡°That Z seems to have taken a liking to my boss.¡± He might even be a scum. The latter part, he thought it better to say in private. Qiao Nanchu glanced at Jiang Zhi and laughed, ¡°How so?¡± Speaking of this matter, Ah Wan was a bit angry, ¡°She actually stripped my clothes off and put them on my boss.¡± This errand runner turns out to be a looks-obsessed dog, utterly contemptible! Just then, his employer¡¯s cold gaze shot over. Due to being sick, a hidden anger colored his cheeks peachy. ¡°Get out.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Ah Wan left the ward, full of worries. At midnight, the clouds dispersed, and a sliver of the moon appeared, faintly visible. Zhou Xufang returned to Yuquan Bay, changed clothes, and after applying medication, grabbed two cans of milk from the fridge. On the computer screen, SpongeBob¡¯s avatar from Shuangjiang was flashing. ¡°Is the injury on your shoulder serious?¡± Zhou Xufang pressed her shoulder and moved it a bit, ¡°It¡¯s already healed.¡± Not on a mission, Shuangjiang didn¡¯t use voice software but typed instead, ¡°You should still apply some medicine.¡± ¡°I did.¡± She pulled the tab on the milk can, ¡°Used two bottles of medicinal wine.¡± Her healing ability was more than eighty times faster than the average person, ordinary medicine didn¡¯t work for her; where others might take one pill for a cold, she¡¯d need half a bowl. ¡°Ah Fang,¡± after a long pause, text rolled out on the computer, ¡°do you have any weaknesses?¡± She took a sip of milk, ¡°Yes.¡± Shuangjiang didn¡¯t ask what they were, sending several warning icons instead, ¡°Don¡¯t tell me, don¡¯t tell anyone. No one should know.¡± ¡°Got it.¡± Her self-healing ability was too exceptional, with her unique constitution, if the medical community found out, peace would never be hers again¡­ The milk was tasty, but one can was too little; she opened another. ¡°I placed a micro-monitor with Zhou Qingrang, and the police are there. Tianxing Entertainment probably won¡¯t dare to go again. We shouldn¡¯t intervene for now; I fear it¡¯s not safe.¡± Shuangjiang reminded her, ¡°The Criminal Intelligence Department has their eyes on you.¡± Zhou Xufang nodded, drinking milk and eating cotton candy. She was in a good mood, legs swinging, pink bunny slippers on her feet shaking under the table. Shuangjiang suddenly remembered something, ¡°Who was that person you encountered at the scene?¡± ¡°He is Jiang Zhi.¡± Jiang Zhi? Shuangjiang had some impression of him and knew Zhou Xufang had seen him again after tying him up, ¡°Are you well acquainted with him?¡± Zhou Xufang put down the cotton candy box, finding this brand too sweet compared to the one she used to like. She said, ¡°Not very familiar.¡± Then finished another can of milk, ¡°But he¡¯s very good-looking.¡± Shuangjiang sent a screen full of smiley faces, ¡°Ah Fang, if you ever have someone special, will you take them to Moon Bay to live with you?¡± Someone special? The island had nothing; someone special would be hard to take care of. So Zhou Xufang decided, ¡°I¡¯ll just take a dog.¡± Moon Bay was a deserted island abroad, reputed to be the closest place to the moon, surrounded by the sea. Zhou Xufang planned to save enough money to buy it and live there alone. It had land and water, quite suitable for her as she could live on both land and water. The city was too unsafe for her unique constitution. She could keep a dog on the island, maybe chickens and ducks. Keeping people might be difficult. ¡°Someone is tracking my IP; I¡¯m logging off,¡± said Shuangjiang. ¡°Okay.¡± At the Criminal Intelligence Department, the lights were still on. It was already late, and a few technicians were still at work because of the Tianxing Entertainment case. ¡°Captain Qiao,¡± Yu Fang nudged his glasses up his nose, ¡°found the address.¡± Qiao Nanchu walked to his computer, ¡°Where?¡± ¡°Jiangfeng Mansion, seven buildings, unit 208.¡± Qiao Nanchu smiled, drew a cigarette from the pack on the desk, pulled up a chair, sat down, lit it, and took a puff. Under the light, his disheveled hair looked somewhat despondent, ¡°Jiangfeng Mansion, seven buildings, unit 208.¡± He licked his lips, ¡°That¡¯s my place.¡± Technician Yu Fang: ¡°¡­¡± Fooled by Shuangjiang again! Nearing one in the morning, Qiao Nanchu finally returned to Jiangfeng Mansion. The gate guard who had been dozing in the security room woke up at the sound of a car and helped open the gate, ¡°Mr. Qiao, just now getting back?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± He got out of the police car, said a few words to his colleague inside, holding a cigarette between his fingers, waved, and entered the villa area. ¡°Oh, by the way.¡± The guard suddenly remembered something, ¡°The girl who came to see you last week came by again this morning.¡± Qiao Nanchu stubbed out his cigarette, ¡°Did she leave any message?¡± ¡°No, just left a box of eggs.¡± The guard went back to the security room and brought out the box of eggs, ¡°Said they were free-range eggs from home.¡± There was also an envelope stuck on the box. Qiao Nanchu took the envelope off, inside was a piece of old-timey stationery. He unfolded it; there were only three lines, written in neat, elegant handwriting. ¡°Dear Mr. Qiao, Hoping you are in good health and everything goes well. Respectfully, younger generation.¡± Respectfully? Qiao Nanchu gritted his teeth, smiling. ¡°Mr. Qiao, is she your girlfriend?¡± The security guard had worked at Jiangfeng Mansion for years and had never seen Mr. Qiao bring a woman home. Mr. Qiao looked handsome and drove expensive cars. Many single women in the mansion had an interest in him, but he never talked to them, so they thought he must have someone. ¡°Not a girlfriend.¡± Qiao Nanchu tossed the letter back into the box of eggs, ¡°A student I¡¯m sponsoring.¡± The next day. Early in the morning, Ah Wan arrived at the ward with soup. The employer had just woken up. Apparently, he didn¡¯t sleep well; his face wasn¡¯t looking good, and he seemed sluggish. Ah Wan put down the thermos and saw the phone on the table. ¡°Boss, the screen protector on your phone is cracked.¡± Ah Wan, with a bit of a cold, thinking the employer¡¯s health wasn¡¯t good, wore a mask to avoid spreading germs, ¡°Shall I replace it for you?¡± ¡°Leave it be.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Ah Wan¡¯s back ached too, injured last night, and the pain was unbearable this morning. He pulled up a chair and opened the thermos lid. Jiang Zhi wrinkled his nose at the smell, ¡°Chicken soup?¡± ¡°Yes, yes.¡± Truly, he wasn¡¯t fishing for compliments, ¡°My mom knew you were hospitalized, so she got up early to make it with lots of medicinal herbs. It¡¯s very nourishing, not greasy at all. I had some this morning.¡± He only had a little; his mom wouldn¡¯t let him drink much of it. Ever since Jiang Zhi paid for his mother¡¯s kidney transplant two years ago, she treated Jiang Zhi like a real son, saving all the best foods for him. Knowing Jiang Zhi was hospitalized, his mom scolded him for half an hour last night, calling him useless for not being able to protect Jiang Zhi. She even called him a big, dumb brute. He suspected he might have been adopted. ¡°You guys killed that chicken?¡± Jiang Zhi¡¯s sleepy eyes lost their murkiness, gaining a touch of sharpness. Ah Wan explained, ¡°No, my mom bought an old hen.¡± Jiang Zhi responded with a hum, lifted his delicate hand, very genteel, ¡°Serve me a bowl, just the broth, no meat, not even a bit.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± In the evening, Jiang Zhi was discharged. Ah Wan came to pick him up. Maybe because of the previous night¡¯s events, Jiang Zhi hadn¡¯t been very friendly to him, a trace of displeasure on his face, changing like smoke, flaring up unpredictably¡ªsometimes bright, sometimes dark. The car pulled up under Ba Yi Bridge. The person in the backseat, who had been resting with his eyes closed, opened them, ¡°Find a place to park.¡± Ah Wan parked the car, the motion making his back ache, ¡°You need something, I¡¯ll get it for you.¡± ¡°Wait in the car.¡± Leaving the words behind, Jiang Zhi got out. At this time, under Ba Yi Bridge, stalls were set up with all sorts of things for sale. The opposite park was blaring dance music, making his head throb. Jiang Zhi walked and frowned, paused, suddenly realizing why he came here. Rubbing the crack on his phone screen with his thumb, he remembered he was only here to get the screen protector replaced. He walked to a stall, ¡°Where is Zhou Xufang¡¯s stall?¡± The spot where Zhou Xufang usually set up was occupied by a man in his forties, eating fried noodles, who looked up. Two slightly curved brows, a pair of eyes full of complex emotions¡­ Damn! A man who looked stunningly beautiful. The man looked twice, ¡°Who¡¯s Zhou Xufang?¡± There were many passersby under the bridge, jostling, with many snack stalls along the way, the air filled with mixed smells. Jiang Zhi took out a handkerchief, covering his nose and mouth, coughed twice, walked to a less crowded area, ¡°The woman in black, always wearing a hat, who sells screen protectors here.¡± The man noticed his fine clothes and polite speech, ¡°The people setting up stalls here change daily; I don¡¯t know who you mean.¡± With the black silk handkerchief against his face, Jiang Zhi¡¯s skin looked very white. Clearly unaccustomed to the noise and mess, his cheeks were rosy, his breath slightly uneven, ¡°The woman, always in black, wearing a hat.¡± The man took a bite of his noodles, ¡°Oh, I know who you mean. She¡¯s not here today.¡± ¡°Why isn¡¯t she here?¡± ¡°How would I know, we¡¯re rivals, not friends.¡± Looking at this man, clearly someone important, the man asked, ¡°Why are you looking for her?¡± At this moment, a small child bumped into Jiang Zhi. He immediately frowned, showing disgust. The child got scared and ran off. He looked displeased, ¡°I need a screen protector.¡± The man eagerly put down his noodles, ¡°I do screen protectors too, any kind!¡± Believing the other man to be rich, and assuming rich people never had small change, with a favorite phrase of ¡°keep the change.¡± Opportunity knocking! Smiling broadly, ¡°Do you want a screen protector? Free phone case with it.¡± No response. More persuasively, ¡°She charges twenty, I only charge fifteen.¡± Seeing the man turning to leave, the man slapped his thigh, ¡°Ten! Ten for a protector! Final offer!¡± ¡°No.¡± Damn! Instantly the man¡¯s demeanor changed, ¡°You¡¯re crazy!¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± Chapter 21 - Chapter 21: 021: Ah Fangs background (Luo Family relationships, see postscript) Chapter 21: 021: Ah Fang¡¯s background (Luo Family relationships, see postscript) Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation Zhou Xufang did not set up her stall selling screen protectors today; she went to the TV station to deliver food. There were fifteen minutes left before the live broadcast began, and the backstage crew was ready. Tang Ying had finished her makeup and sent her assistant away. ¡°Brother, do you really have to do this?¡± Zhou Qingrang was reading a news script. ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°The station head¡ª¡± He put down the script. His fingers, white and slender, slowly buttoned up his suit one by one. ¡°You just cooperate with me. I¡¯ll handle the rest.¡± She had never seen him so stubborn. Tang Ying said no more. The assistant, Xiao Xing, came and knocked on the door. ¡°Mr. Zhou, there¡¯s a Miss Luo here to see you.¡± Before joining the TV station, Zhou Qingrang had been a teacher in the broadcasting department for half a year. Most people at the station called him Mr. Zhou. Tang Ying glanced at the time. ¡°There are still fifteen minutes until the live broadcast.¡± ¡°You go prepare first.¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.?? Zhou Qingrang pushed his wheelchair out of the break room. The person who had come was the Luo family¡¯s eldest granddaughter, Luo Qinghe. ¡°Long time no see.¡± She put down her teacup, stood up from the sofa, and called out, ¡°Uncle.¡± Uncle? The assistant at the door was stunned. Mr. Zhou and the Luo family were relatives? Click. Zhou Qingrang closed the door, looked up, his eyes cold and clear. ¡°You used to call me a beggar.¡± Luo Qinghe¡¯s smile remained unchanged as she stood up and exhibited perfect junior etiquette. ¡°I was young then, and spoke silly words. I hope Uncle can forgive me.¡± ¡°You¡¯re much like your father.¡± Zhou Qingrang placed his hands on the wheelchair armrests, tightening his grip. ¡°Just as hypocritical.¡± The smile on Luo Qinghe¡¯s face faded. ¡°Zhou Qingrang,¡± she sat down, the slant of her monolid eyes slightly raised, ¡°I respect you, but why are you refusing a toast only to drink a forfeit?¡± Zhou Qingrang ignored her, raising his hand to check the time. ¡°Ten more minutes until seven.¡± Seven o¡¯clock, the news broadcast. His stance was clear¡ªhe wasn¡¯t swayed by either hard or soft tactics. Luo Qinghe smiled, pulling out a lighter. With her red lips and white teeth biting a cigarette, she lit it unhurriedly. ¡°If I were you, I would know when to stop. Fighting against a rock with an egg is foolish.¡± Zhou Qingrang lowered his head, arranging the thin blanket on his knees. His crippled legs were stiff and numb. Throughout, he remained calm and composed. ¡°If it were just fighting against a rock with an egg, you wouldn¡¯t be here today.¡± Luo Qinghe was not surprised as she arrogantly tipped her chin up. ¡°Are you going to fight our Luo family to the end?¡± He neither confirmed nor denied it. Luo Qinghe stubbed out her barely smoked ladies¡¯ cigarette in the ashtray. ¡°Fine. Let me see how capable Zhou Qingrang really is.¡± She stood up, her gaze sweeping over his legs as she passed by him. Zhou Qingrang looked up, his eyes meeting hers. ¡°Do you know why your Luo family will die out?¡± Her expression changed instantly. Mr. Luo had two sons and one daughter. The second son had died early, leaving behind only a daughter. The eldest son, Luo Changde, was promiscuous and had numerous illegitimate daughters, but not a single son. He spoke each word forcefully, clearly. ¡°Because your Luo family has done too many things worse than beasts and must face retribution.¡± Mr. Luo had a younger sister, named Zhi Ning, who married out while she was young. Twenty-four years ago, Luo Zhining and her husband died in an accident, leaving behind a son and a daughter. The girl was called Qing Meng, and the boy was called Qing Rang. Both were under eighteen at the time. The next year, the siblings sought refuge with the Luo family in Imperial City. The Luo family welcomed them. At that time, the sister, Zhou Qingmeng, was under sixteen, and the brother, Zhou Qingrang, was just fourteen. Less than a year later, Zhou Qingmeng died of an unknown illness, with rumors claiming she had an illicit affair and gave birth to a child. In the same year, Zhou Qingrang lost his legs in a car accident and was hospitalized for many years. As for whether Zhou Qingmeng¡¯s child really existed and where they were¡­ it was a forbidden topic in the Luo family, never to be mentioned. ¡°Secretary Han.¡± Luo Qinghe sauntered down the corridor. ¡°Is everything ready?¡± On the phone, Han Feng replied, ¡°Everything¡¯s ready.¡± ¡°Proceed.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± Luo Qinghe hung up and, rounding the corner, bumped into someone at the other end of the corridor. She held her shoulder, stumbled a few steps back, and looked up to see a pair of black eyes. The other person was also looking at her. Those eyes, though unfamiliar, felt vaguely familiar. Luo Qinghe looked a couple times more before recovering her composure and walking away. Zhou Xufang was still standing there in a daze. Her ears suddenly rang, and jumbled sounds burst forth uncontrollably. It was a childish voice. ¡°Get lost! You made my place dirty.¡± ¡°My mom said your mom is a fox spirit, and you¡¯re a fool born of a fox spirit.¡± ¡°Little mute, get lost.¡± ¡°You¡¯re not allowed to eat my family¡¯s food!¡± ¡°Stinky beggar! Both you and your uncle are stinky beggars!¡± ¡°They said you¡¯re an idiot.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t play with him, he¡¯s an idiot.¡± ¡°. . .¡± Whose voice was that? Zhou Xufang staggered backward, her head splitting with pain. A hand supported her arm. ¡°Careful.¡± Her body stiffened and she turned her head slowly to see a pair of clear eyes. ¡°It¡¯s you.¡± It was him, the person she¡¯d met once before. She said, ¡°Thank you.¡± Zhou Qingrang rarely smiled, but his lips relaxed slightly, and the coldness in his eyes softened. ¡°No need.¡± At quarter past seven, Tianxing Entertainment issued an apology, claiming that it had investigated and found its high-level executives had abused their power to force company artists into sexual transactions, with audio recordings as evidence. All involved executives were publicly named and dismissed. Furthermore, Tianxing Entertainment would take full responsibility for all affected artists, cooperating wholeheartedly with the police investigation without evasion. At 7:30, the news anchor, Zhou Qingrang, publicly revealed evidence of Tianxing Entertainment¡¯s illegal sexual hospitality. Back-to-back, the timings were too precise. Whether it was a coincidence or something more, opinions varied. Some said Tianxing¡¯s move was to dump blame on the executives, allowing the Luo family behind the scenes to escape. Others claimed Tianxing¡¯s response and handling were exemplary for the entertainment industry. Exemplary? Bullshit! Xue Baoyi tossed his phone onto the desk. ¡°That Luo Qinghe is really something. She can shift blame and still come out looking good. No wonder my grandpa says she inherited Mr. Luo¡¯s cunning, full of devious tricks.¡± Opposite him, Jiang Zhi was hogging his office¡¯s leather sofa, insisting on having a clean blanket laid out before lying down, looking like a beautiful drunk, enticing everyone. Originally, they were there to discuss a new movie. This guy, complaining that the sofa was dirty, wouldn¡¯t lie down until a new blanket was brought. They were talking about the Luo family¡¯s affairs when the pretty boy interrupted him, ¡°There¡¯s a smell of smoke, open the window.¡± Xue Baoyi had smoked a cigarette before Jiang Zhi came, and thought his sense of smell was ridiculous. He opened the window. ¡°Don¡¯t complain about the cold now.¡± After opening the window, Xue Baoyi sat back down. Jiang Zhi kicked his leg again. ¡°Get me another blanket.¡± ¡°. . .¡± Damn it! Not even his ancestors bossed him around like this. Fine. Considering he¡¯s beautiful, fragile, and once saved him as a child¡­ Xue Baoyi got another blanket and threw it over Jiang Zhi. ¡°You don¡¯t seem surprised at all by this Tianxing mess. Did you expect it?¡± Jiang Zhi, feeling cold, pulled the blanket tight. ¡°The Luo family won¡¯t fall so easily.¡± True. In Imperial City, the Luo family was among the wealthiest. But that didn¡¯t stop Xue Baoyi from gloating. ¡°Even if they survive this, they¡¯ll shed a layer of skin.¡± In just a few hours, Luo family shares had plummeted, and Tianxing was even worse off. All its artists were caught in the scandal, and Xue Baoyi felt it was time to poach some talent from Tianxing, making the Luo family bleed a little more. ¡°What do you think happened between Zhou Qingrang and the Luo family? To be so fearless and confront them head-on. Once the Luo family smooths things over, Zhou Qingrang¡¯s good days are numbered.¡± Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t respond. Xue Baoyi knocked on the table. ¡°Talking to you. Why ignore me?¡± Jiang Zhi looked up, ¡°Come here.¡± What? Xue Baoyi felt uneasy under his gaze. ¡°What?¡± Jiang Zhi shifted his position, lying sideways with his chin propped up, his eyelashes fluttering. ¡°Come here.¡± Damn! This was seduction! His charming peach blossom eyes were both seductive and innocent. This was definitely a fairy spirit. Xue Baoyi remained steadfast. ¡°Jiang Zhi, I¡¯m really straight. Don¡¯t ruin me. I need to carry on the family line.¡± Jiang Zhi lazily reclined, but the movement made him gasp, his breath quickening. ¡°Ruin your sister! Get over here!¡± Tsk, not so cute now that he¡¯s swearing. Xue Baoyi hesitated but moved over reluctantly. Jiang Zhi pulled his right hand out from under the blanket, bringing it to Xue Baoyi¡¯s face. ¡°Smell.¡± What the hell! Xue Baoyi was horrified. ¡°You¡¯re so perverted.¡± Damn it, idiot! Jiang Zhi was uncomfortable, holding back his temper. ¡°Will you smell?¡± Fine. For the sake of his beauty. Xue Baoyi leaned in and sniffed. ¡°Does it smell like milk?¡± He sniffed again. ¡°Yes.¡± Jiang Zhi put his hand back under the blanket. ¡°Remember this smell. The person Z also has it.¡± ¡°Why should I remember?¡± Jiang Zhi also had this milky scent, which effectively meant memorizing Jiang Zhi¡¯s body smell. The idea made Xue Baoyi shudder with disgust. ¡°This brand of milk is unavailable domestically due to its price and origin, limiting its clientele and channels. Investigate and find that person.¡± So, it was about finding someone? Xue Baoyi was unhappy. ¡°You¡¯re asking me to find a needle in a haystack.¡± ¡°Will you do it?¡± Xue Baoyi spread his hands on the sofa, exuding authority. ¡°Brother Zhi, you¡¯re getting too arrogant.¡± Jiang Zhi ignored him, wrapping himself in the blanket and continuing to sleep. Chapter 22 - Chapter 22: 022: Extra Zhou Xufang went to deliver food today Chapter 22: 022: Extra Zhou Xufang went to deliver food today Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation Early winter, the sun was not strong, and even at noon, it was still somewhat chilly. The Luo Mansion faced the sun, and in the old master¡¯s study, the sunlight just happened to filter through the window sill. Luo Qinghe pushed the door open and came in. ¡°Grandfather.¡± The old master, Luo Huaiyu, had built his fortune from scratch, initially involved in the building materials industry. In recent years, he had delved into real estate. This old man in his seventies had a full head of white hair but was still vigorous. ¡°Is everything handled?¡± Luo Huaiyu referred to the matter concerning Tianxing. ¡°Yes, the people at Tianxing have been taken care of, and it won¡¯t involve our Luo Family.¡± The Luo Family¡¯s eldest son, Luo Changde, was fatuous and lustful, uninterested in business. After Luo Huaiyu stepped down, the Luo Family had been managed by his eldest granddaughter, Luo Qinghe, who hadn¡¯t made any mistakes over the past few years. This incident, however, was quite a big deal. Luo Huaiyu held a pen in his hand, proficient in calligraphy. The last stroke fell on the paper as he looked up, his gaze sharp: ¡°Don¡¯t leave any hidden dangers. Use some means if necessary.¡± Luo Qinghe nodded in agreement. ¡°This matter must not happen again.¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í??.§ã¦Ï ¡°Understood.¡± Exiting the study, Luo Qinghe did not linger and left immediately. ¡°Qinghe,¡± a woman came out of the kitchen, calling her gently, ¡°lunch is ready. Would you like to eat before you go?¡± This woman, named Xu Yunci, was the wife of Luo Huaiyu¡¯s second son, Luo Chang¡¯an, and had been widowed for over ten years. She had a daughter named Luo Yinghe. Xu Yunci, at forty-eight, maintained herself well, with a slender and graceful figure, looking like a delicate vine. ¡°I¡¯m not eating.¡± Her attitude was clearly indifferent, even disgusted. At the door, Luo Qinghe stopped and turned back: ¡°Second Aunt, don¡¯t let me see what¡¯s on your neck again.¡± Xu Yunci¡¯s face turned pale instantly, and she subconsciously covered her neck with her hand. Luo Qinghe sneered and turned to leave. A widowed woman, who rarely went outside, yet had love bites glaringly on her neck. Secretary Han Feng¡¯s car was parked outside the mansion. Seeing Luo Qinghe come out, he got out from the driver¡¯s seat and opened the rear door. Luo Qinghe got in. Han Feng handed over a document: ¡°Younger Luo, this is the information on that professional errand runner.¡± Luo Qinghe crossed her legs and flipped through a few pages: ¡°A woman?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± She flipped through the pages one by one, with a meaningful smile: ¡°Not bad.¡± She closed the document. ¡°I like playing with people like this.¡± A professional errand runner, huh? She would like to see if they could turn the sky upside down. The early winter sky was unpredictable. It rained in the evening, with fine, dense raindrops making the air damp. This rain lasted for several days. Tianxing¡¯s scandal had been trending for a week before the storm gradually subsided. ¡°Can¡¯t we catch anyone from the Luo Family?¡± Zhou Xufang took a sip of her drink, its sweetness making her squint, and then she continued gnawing on ribs. Shuangjiang typed quickly: ¡°Tianxing¡¯s upper management has taken the blame, and without other evidence, the police can¡¯t move against the Luo Family. Besides, offending the Luo Family would make life difficult.¡± Finishing a piece of sweet and sour rib, Shuangjiang sent another message. ¡°Zhou Qing has been suspended and demoted to a night show host at the radio station.¡± Zhou Xufang bit down hard, shattering the entire rib. How strong was her bite force? She didn¡¯t remember, but she could easily bite a Luo Family member to death. She spit out the rib pieces and cursed the surname Luo: ¡°Scum.¡± Shuangjiang followed up with a curse, then continued talking about serious matters: ¡°Ah Fang, I¡¯m afraid the next one Luo Qinghe will target is you.¡± Luo Qinghe was extremely vindictive; anyone who crossed her wouldn¡¯t have a peaceful day. Zhou Xufang wasn¡¯t afraid at all. ¡°If she comes to provoke me, I¡¯ll beat her.¡± After speaking, she finished the last piece of rib, wiped her hands: ¡°Time to go to work.¡± Then she turned off the computer, went to the dressing room to change clothes, put on a black fisherman¡¯s hat, carried a skull-patterned bag, and headed to the small supermarket outside the community to work. Wen Baiyang was still working part-time in the store. At this hour, there weren¡¯t many customers. She was leaning on the cash register, drawing, with a laptop next to her. Zhou Xufang walked over. Her shadow blocked the light, casting a shadow over the cash register. Wen Baiyang looked up, smiled at Zhou Xufang, and wrote: ¡°There are still fifteen minutes until eleven.¡± She wrote another sentence, ¡°You can sit for a while.¡± It wasn¡¯t time for her shift yet, so Zhou Xufang found a small stool to sit next to Wen Baiyang. Wen Baiyang put her laptop into her backpack and took out a pack of candy, asking Zhou Xufang: ¡°Want some candy?¡± Zhou Xufang liked sweets. ¡°Yes.¡± She reached out. Wen Baiyang picked a rainbow candy in pink wrapping and placed it in her hand. She unwrapped it and bit it with a crunch. Wen Baiyang placed all the candy on the cash register and pushed it towards Zhou Xufang, writing on a piece of paper: ¡°Want yogurt?¡± Her handwriting was beautiful, neat, and elegant, just like her. Zhou Xufang nodded: ¡°Yes.¡± Wen Baiyang took out a box of yogurt from her bag, inserted a straw, and handed it to Zhou Xufang. She then rummaged through her bag: ¡°I also have jelly.¡± She poured all the jelly on the table. Zhou Xufang had worked part-time at the supermarket several times and had become somewhat familiar with Wen Baiyang. She had brought Wen Baiyang milk last time, and this time Wen Baiyang had brought all her snacks. Zhou Xufang thought Wen Baiyang was like a little fairy. She picked a pink jelly and ate it in small bites: ¡°Are you still studying?¡± ¡°Yes, I¡¯m a freshman at the Imperial Special Education College.¡± Wen Baiyang wrote another sentence on the paper, ¡°I¡¯m in the computer science department.¡± After writing, she looked up to read Zhou Xufang¡¯s lips. Zhou Xufang gave her a thumbs-up: ¡°You¡¯re amazing.¡± Shuangjiang was also in the computer science department, and she thought that anyone in that department was impressive. Wen Baiyang blushed at the compliment, smiling shyly, and wrote slowly on the paper: ¡°Do you eat eggs? My grandmother has many chickens, so we have a lot of free-range eggs.¡± After writing, she turned around and rummaged through another bag for the eggs. Zhou Xufang tugged at her sleeve: ¡°I can¡¯t eat eggs.¡± She said, ¡°The ones you gave me last time, I haven¡¯t eaten them either.¡± Eating eggs made her drunk, and when she was drunk, she did wrong things. She remembered the first time she ate eggs, got drunk, and then climbed up a tree to sing ¡°My Motherland.¡± She refused to come down when others asked her, jumped to another tree, and sang ¡°A Child Without a Mother is Like a Weed.¡± After singing all the songs she knew, she uprooted all the trees and carried them home¡­ Wen Baiyang was very surprised, probably never having heard of someone who couldn¡¯t eat eggs, her eyes wide, cheeks flushed with a cute, innocent look: ¡°Can you eat chicken?¡± Zhou Xufang said: ¡°Chicken is fine.¡± ¡°Then I¡¯ll bring you hand-pulled chicken next time.¡± Wen Baiyang wrote on the paper, ¡°I can also make marinated chicken feet.¡± Zhou Xufang gave her a thumbs-up again: ¡°You¡¯re amazing.¡± Really, she couldn¡¯t cook anything, didn¡¯t have a kitchen at home, and had to rely on takeout every day. So she thought Wen Baiyang was great. She raised both thumbs, ¡°Really, really amazing.¡± Wen Baiyang smiled, her eyes crinkling into crescent moons, her cheeks even redder. Zhou Xufang thought Wen Baiyang was particularly beautiful. The next day, after several days of rain, the sky finally cleared. With the sky clear, Ah Wan thought, his employer was still in a very bad mood, but why? Why was his employer in such a bad mood? He didn¡¯t know. The employer had only taken two bites of his lunch before tossing his chopsticks aside. He asked, ¡°Does it not suit your taste?¡± Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t say anything, dipping a handkerchief in warm water, carefully wiping his hands, one finger at a time. His fair fingers turned red from the wiping. Ah Wan thought he was too particular about cleanliness, overly fastidious. He continued to ask, ¡°How about a can of milk?¡± Jiang Zhi tossed the handkerchief aside after wiping his hands: ¡°Go get the vice director.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Ah Wan went to get Vice Director Zhao. Vice Director Zhao had been in the middle of his meal and hadn¡¯t even wiped his mouth, which was glistening with oil. He quickly wiped it clean and went in: ¡°Director Jiang, you called for me?¡± The room was heated, and the window was open. Jiang Zhi¡¯s cheeks were a sickly red, whether from the cold wind or the warmth, he seemed indifferent as he asked casually: ¡°Did they replace the extras today?¡± Vice Director Zhao didn¡¯t understand: ¡°No, it¡¯s the same group as last time.¡± Jiang Zhi reclined on the lounge chair: ¡°Get out.¡± Vice Director Zhao: ¡°¡­¡± So, why did the director call him in the first place? Ah Wan followed him out and hinted: ¡°Wasn¡¯t Zhou Xufang supposed to come today?¡± Vice Director Zhao didn¡¯t have a clue: ¡°Zhou Xufang, who¡¯s that?¡± Ah Wan didn¡¯t say more, unsure of his employer¡¯s thoughts. Vice Director Zhao lost his appetite, going around to ask: ¡°Does anyone know who Zhou Xufang is?¡± Newly minted Weaver Fang Lixiang answered loudly: ¡°Vice Director, I know, I know. Zhou Xufang is a particularly excellent extra, really, very excellent. She can bring the dead back to life with her acting!¡± Vice Director Zhao: ¡°¡­¡± Urala Clan¡¯s Lixiang really stood out. Her friend, extra Zhou Xufang, must also be outstanding and excellent. Vice Director Zhao called the head of the extras: ¡°Get Zhou Xufang to come act.¡± And he added: ¡°You can raise her salary.¡± And emphasized: ¡°As long as she comes, I¡¯ll give her more scenes!¡± Maybe she was the next Weaver. Five minutes later, Vice Director Zhao received a reply from the head of the extras: ¡°Extra Zhou Xufang is unavailable today.¡± Vice Director Zhao asked: ¡°What¡¯s she doing?¡± How could she not act, wasting away her talent! The head said: ¡°She¡¯s delivering takeout.¡± Vice Director Zhao: ¡°¡­¡± She even had a side job, this was not an excellent extra! Vice Director Zhao grabbed an assistant: ¡°Go to the director¡¯s rest area and inform them that Zhou Xufang is delivering takeout today, can¡¯t come to act.¡± The assistant relayed the message to Ah Wan. Ah Wan then told his employer: ¡°Boss, Miss Zhou is delivering takeout today.¡± Jiang Zhi pulled the blanket on the lounge chair up to cover the collarbone peeking from his shirt, with a couple of coughs: ¡°When did I ask her?¡± Ah Wan: ¡°¡­¡± Employer Jiang: ¡°Go warm up some milk for me. It should be 28 degrees, not a degree higher.¡± Ah Wan: ¡°¡­¡± He had to go home and tell his mom, who treated Jiang Zhi like her own son, that her ¡®own son¡¯ Jiang Zhi was really insufferable. Chapter 23 - Chapter 23: 023: Your delivery has arrived, please give a good review Chapter 23: 023: Your delivery has arrived, please give a good review Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation ¡°Brother Zhi.¡± The door was pushed open. Short hair and a white dress, it was Jiang Wei¡¯er: ¡°Why are you bullying Ah Wan again?¡± Ah Wan felt that in the entire Jiang family, the only rational ones were Old Lady Jiang and Jiang Wei¡¯er. ¡°Fifth Miss.¡± Ah Wan greatly admired Jiang Wei¡¯er because she had tough fists; she used to practice Taekwondo. Two years ago, she met Xiao Linsu and stopped, which was a pity¡­ Sigh, he went out and ordered takeout for his employer who had barely eaten anything. Jiang Zhi lay on his side and didn¡¯t get up: ¡°What are you here for?¡± ¡°Call me aunt, don¡¯t be so informal.¡± Jiang Wei¡¯er lifted her dress, sat down, and placed a foot on the coffee table, shaking her white canvas shoes with a rather bold posture. ¡°Xiao Linsu.¡± Jiang Zhi called out indifferently. As soon as Jiang Wei¡¯er heard it, she thought he was really coming and immediately retracted her foot, bringing her legs together and placing her hands neatly on her knees, sitting up straight like a proper lady, then looked toward the door. There was no sign of Xiao Linsu. Jiang Wei¡¯er pursed her lips, raised her eyebrows, and looked at Jiang Zhi with a smile: ¡°Feeling itchy for a beating?¡± He glanced at her white dress, got up from the lounge chair, wearing only a low-cut sweater, his collarbone faintly visible from the disheveled neckline. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã¦Ï Such fine bones and skin. Jiang Wei¡¯er¡¯s impression of her late third brother and third sister-in-law had become blurry. She didn¡¯t know what kind of looks they had to produce such a stunning appearance as Jiang Zhi. He asked her: ¡°Aren¡¯t you tired?¡± The white dress was something Xiao Linsu liked, the light makeup and soft smile with bright eyes were also what Xiao Linsu liked. The real Jiang Wei¡¯er should be the one in leather jackets and shorts, smoking and fighting, clubbing and DJing, laughing and drinking heartily. Now, as she restrained herself like this, there was none of that uninhibited spirit left. Jiang Wei¡¯er didn¡¯t change her sitting posture, still sitting properly like a lady: ¡°What do you know, this is called being madly in love.¡± She spoke righteously, ¡°When you have your own little ancestor someday, you¡¯ll understand that for love, you can even become a grandson.¡± Jiang Zhi used his finger to hook the collar and pull it up, covering the collarbone. The gray sweater just set off his fair skin. He hummed lightly: ¡°Stop talking nonsense.¡± A grandson? Only a real grandson would become a grandson. Jiang Wei¡¯er didn¡¯t argue with him: ¡°The movie you¡¯re collaborating on with Bao Yi, is it aiming for a big award?¡± He got up, took a pill, and swallowed it with water. Drinking quickly made his throat itch, he suppressed a cough: ¡°Say what you mean.¡± ¡°Is Linsu suitable for that role?¡± Two years ago, Xiao Linsu was still lukewarm in the industry. It was one of Jiang Zhi¡¯s films that made him shine. Xiao Linsu probably still didn¡¯t know that if Jiang Wei¡¯er hadn¡¯t intervened, he would never have gotten that role. Jiang Zhi put the cup down: ¡°Not suitable.¡± Jiang Wei¡¯er didn¡¯t say anything else: ¡°Got it, I¡¯m going to work now.¡± The fifth Miss of the Jiang family, with all the wealth she could have, chose to work as an assistant for someone else. ¡°Isn¡¯t it better to be someone else¡¯s ancestor?¡± Jiang Zhi, indifferent to the matter, said: ¡°Why insist on being someone¡¯s grandson?¡± Xue Bingxue treated her like an ancestor, but she chose to be Xiao Linsu¡¯s grandson instead. Such a great ambition. Jiang Wei¡¯er smoothed out her white dress: ¡°Stop mocking me, you¡¯d better be careful or you¡¯ll become a grandson one day.¡± Jiang Zhi took a sip of water, his Adam¡¯s apple rolled: ¡°I¡¯m the ancestor.¡± ¡°Just wait and see.¡± Jiang Wei¡¯er smiled and left. At this moment, Ah Wan came in: ¡°Boss, I ordered takeout for you,¡± he particularly added, ¡°Miss Zhou delivered it.¡± Ah Wan felt that Miss Zhou and his employer were meant to be, even ordering takeout could lead to an encounter. Ah, love. ¡°Come in.¡± His voice was a bit hoarse, and his coughing had worsened. It was winter, and his health seemed to have deteriorated. When Zhou Xufang came in carrying the takeout, Jiang Zhi was getting dressed, his fair neck completely covered, wrapped tightly. She had heard from Fang Lixiang that Jiang Zhi was born with weak health, his heart and lungs were in poor condition, and he had chronic organ failure, which was incurable. How pitiful. She recognized Ah Wan¡¯s order, knowing it was for Jiang Zhi, she had specially added a few mantis shrimps for him. Jiang Zhi noticed she was wearing a takeout delivery outfit, with a yellow helmet on her head, and her small face was red from the wind outside. ¡°Are you delivering takeout because you think being an extra doesn¡¯t pay well?¡± His brows were unfriendly, in a bad mood, and not feeling well. Zhou Xufang shook her head and answered honestly: ¡°The owner of the congee shop is someone I know. I only help out when it¡¯s very busy during the weekends.¡± She placed the takeout on the table: ¡°Eat while it¡¯s hot.¡± There were many shrimps inside. Jiang Zhi stood, separated from her by a sofa: ¡°How much do you get for a takeout order?¡± Indeed, he was curious about her. He should have hated women but was incredibly curious about her, a curiosity that drove him mad, made him restless and uncomfortable, even a bit at a loss. Zhou Xufang replied: ¡°It depends on the distance, this order is seven yuan.¡± Her expression was blank and cool, but she was serious, ¡°A good review makes it eight yuan.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Jiang Zhi felt a throbbing pain in his head. Eight yuan, how many orders would she have to deliver to buy a can of imported milk? Zhou Xufang habitually pressed down on the hat on her head, hiding her face: ¡°I¡¯ll go deliver more takeout then.¡± She turned to leave. Jiang Zhi stopped her: ¡°How are you getting there?¡± Zhou Xufang turned back, her hat was a size too big, covering her head, making her face look small and her eyes large, her gaze always cold, solitary yet pure. She answered him: ¡°I drive.¡± Delivering takeout and she could afford a car? At this moment¡ª Assistant Director Zhao yelled through a megaphone outside, the entire set could hear him: ¡°Whose tricycle is this? You can¡¯t park here!¡± Zhou Xufang reacted in a second and ran out: ¡°Mine, mine!¡± It was the first time seeing her being so lively, not lifeless, finally like a girl of her age. Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± His head started to hurt again, his lungs too, and his throat felt sore from the coughing. Ah Wan quickly went to get water, not forgetting to speak well of Zhou Xufang: ¡°Miss Zhou works so hard. Boss, let¡¯s give her a good review.¡± He genuinely admired this hardworking girl, despite her poverty. Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t say anything, opened the takeout, looked at it for a long while, and then started eating. Seeing no objections, Ah Wan picked up his phone to give a good review and then discovered something amazing: ¡°Wow, there¡¯s an option to tip the rider.¡± Thinking that Miss Zhou had it tough, only earning eight yuan, he suggested, ¡°Boss, let¡¯s tip Miss Zhou.¡± Jiang Zhi held the spoon, his slender fingers gripping the handle. His skin was fair, with a hint of thinness, and faint blue veins showed on the back of his hand: ¡°If you want to tip, then tip, why tell me.¡± Ah Wan went ahead to tip. He didn¡¯t order takeout often and wasn¡¯t familiar with the app, so he fumbled with it for a while and then discovered: ¡°The most I can tip is only fifty yuan.¡± Although his salary wasn¡¯t very high, he wanted to tip a thousand yuan. Never mind, he would tip more next time. After tipping, Ah Wan was a bit excited: ¡°This also has the rider¡¯s phone number, I can add Miss Zhou on WeChat.¡± Clank. The spoon hit the bowl, Jiang Zhi looked up: ¡°Why add her on WeChat?¡± His face was stunning, but those peach blossom eyes always looked like they were hiding something sinister, a true young master from an aristocratic family, his aura was indeed strong. Ah Wan felt uneasy under his gaze, this big guy, six feet three and weighing two hundred pounds, weakly said: ¡°We¡¯re friends, after all.¡± Jiang Zhi threw the spoon and coughed lightly, took a napkin to wipe the corner of his mouth: ¡°I never noticed before how self-deluded you are.¡± ¡°¡­¡± This person was really annoying! Ah Wan insisted on adding her on WeChat. ¡°Give me the phone number.¡± Out of nowhere, Jiang Zhi said. Ah Wan¡¯s brain took a second to catch up: ¡°What phone number?¡± Jiang Zhi squinted his eyes, those peach blossom eyes void of any softness, deep like ink. ¡°Oh.¡± Ah Wan gave his employer the number for Zhou Xufang, the extra who applied screen protectors and delivered takeout on the side. Chapter 24 - Chapter 24: 024: Come on, lets create Chapter 24: 024: Come on, let¡¯s create Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation Ah Wan reported the number of Zhou Xufang, the extra who also worked part-time doing food deliveries, to the employer. In the evening, Xue Baoyi called Jiang Zhi out to Fusheng Inn¡¯s Mei Garden, and promised to end by half-past eight, ensuring it wouldn¡¯t delay his sleep time. Jiang Zhi went but lay there, ignoring everyone. Xue Baoyi was playing dice, getting high, and shouted at Jiang Zhi, ¡°Brother Zhi, stop playing with your phone and come join us.¡± Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t respond, the light in his eyes seemed faint, occasionally glancing at the phone on the table. Ah Wan stood behind, naturally knowing what the employer was up to, ¡°Boss, Miss Zhou still hasn¡¯t agreed.¡± He felt a bit proud, ¡°She accepted my friend request.¡± Jiang Zhi frowned. The employer was unhappy, so Ah Wan advised, ¡°What name did you use? Did you use your real name?¡± He suddenly felt very clever, as if his brain had become more developed, and got carried away, ¡°Boss, you have to use your real name, or Miss Zhou won¡¯t know who you are and will think you¡¯re a scammer.¡± Jiang Zhi lifted an eyelid; just then, the laser light in the private room fell into his eyes, with a cold, multicolored glare, ¡°Why the fuck do you talk so much?¡± Ah Wan: ¡°¡­¡± Fine, he wouldn¡¯t speak. The employer had been swearing more frequently lately. Jiang Zhi opened a can of milk, poured it into a goblet, took a few sips, lost interest, and tossed it onto the table. He grabbed his phone from the sofa, changed his name, sent another message, and waited more than ten minutes with no response. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.?? Damn it, what stupid thing was he doing? ¡°Whang.¡± He threw the phone onto the table. ¡°Jiang Zhi,¡± Ming Saiying, dressed beautifully with a bright smile, danced over, ¡°Why is your phone screen cracked?¡± He undid a button at his collar, ¡°What¡¯s it to you?¡± ¡°¡­¡± He was in a bad mood today. Ming Saiying sat a bit further away, alright, a beauty should have some temper. She was originally celebrating in the room next door; knowing Jiang Zhi was here, she insisted on coming over. If Jiang Wei hadn¡¯t owed her a favor due to Xiao Linsu, he would probably have thrown her out. After all, she had just kidnapped Jiang Zhi not long ago. She didn¡¯t dare bother him, just quietly¡­ quietly watched the beauty. Xue Baoyi finished playing dice, had a little drink, felt exhilarated, and switched it up, ¡°Come on, come on, let¡¯s have a round of Truth or Dare.¡± Qiao Nanchu threw an orange peel at him, ¡°Xue Baoyi, how low-class can you be?¡± Xue Baoyi got defensive, ¡°So what if it¡¯s low-class, as long as it¡¯s fun.¡± He loved rough games like this, took off his suit jacket, stood up, and called out, ¡°Brother Zhi, come on, stop acting like a girl.¡± Jiang Zhi took his eyes off the phone screen, coughed lightly with a weak breath, but his eyes had a hint of aggression, ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll start.¡± Rarely, the sickly beauty was interested. Xue Baoyi rolled up his sleeves, ¡°Fine.¡± Today, he had to pry something out of Jiang Zhi¡­ Result¡ª In the first round, the beer bottle spun in Jiang Zhi¡¯s hand and landed on Xue Baoyi. Fuck! Damn accurate! Xue Baoyi even suspected he practiced, ¡°Brother Zhi, you¡¯re playing me on purpose.¡± Jiang Zhi sat alone on the opposite sofa, legs lazily stretched out, a blanket on his legs. His coat was open, and due to the poor airflow in the room, his eyes were flushed, giving a slightly drunken, powerless look. ¡°Just figuring it out now?¡± He fiddled with the empty bottle, ¡°Choose.¡± That damn, unplaceable dominance! Xue Baoyi felt a bit cowardly, ¡°Dare then.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Jiang Zhi took a wet wipe, cleaned his hands, ¡°Go streaking outside.¡± The first round was already this eye-searing¡­ Xue Baoyi¡¯s face fell, ¡°Ancestor, please don¡¯t.¡± He was, after all, the boss of an entertainment company, a semi-public figure; did he not want his reputation anymore? Jiang Mei Ren licked his lips, letting it slide. ¡°I¡¯ll permit you to keep your underwear.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Don¡¯t play games with Jiang Zhi, he was ruthless. Xue Baoyi, face ashen, undressed, walked out, holding his head the whole time, almost got thrown out by the Fusheng Inn staff as an exhibitionist. ¡°I want to quit.¡± Xue Bingxue was well-behaved, not playing this sort of outrageous game. Xue Baoyi, putting his pants back on, face red, ¡°No way!¡± He pulled Xue Bingxue beside him, ¡°I streaked; no one is getting out of this!¡± Xue Bingxue glanced secretly at Jiang Wei, touching his earlobe. The next spin landed on Ming Saiying. Xue Baoyi¡¯s expression turned sly, ¡°Choose, Ming Lao.¡± Ming Saiying didn¡¯t have the guts to streak, ¡°Truth.¡± Lame. If she had chosen dare, he would have made her either take Jiang Zhi down or strip a piece of his clothing to vent his frustration. ¡°If our Brother Zhi was impotent, would you still like him?¡± Xue Baoyi glanced at Jiang Zhi, the look filled with malicious intentions. Impotent, huh¡­ Whether he was or not, he was close to being infertile. Qiao Nanchu, aware of how sensitive this question was, kicked Xue Baoyi to remind him, ¡°Xue Baoyi, don¡¯t overdo it.¡± Xue Baoyi¡¯s shirt wasn¡¯t buttoned, ¡°I don¡¯t care, I¡¯ll go all out.¡± He wasn¡¯t afraid of trouble, ¡°Ming Lao, answer quickly.¡± Ming Saiying pretended to be shy, ¡°Even if he¡¯s impotent, I still like him.¡± Jiang Zhi licked his teeth. The next round, Ming Saiying spun to Jiang Wei. Jiang Wei put down her wine glass, raised her skirt, placing a foot on the table, ¡°Ask away.¡± ¡°Did you and Xiao Linsu do it?¡± She didn¡¯t even blink, ¡°No, my old lady has old-fashioned ideas; if that layer breaks, I have to marry immediately.¡± People: ¡°¡­¡± That was Jiang Family¡¯s rule indeed, but only she dared to say it. Xue Baoyi glanced at his uncle who was secretly smiling. This fool! Jiang Wei finished, flexed her fingers, twisted the bottle cap energetically. Not too much, exactly three and a half spins, landed on Jiang Zhi. This game, Jiang Zhi could play, and Jiang Wei could too, spinning it to whoever they wanted. Before Jiang Zhi could choose, she asked, ¡°Are you on top or bottom? If not done before, what about in dreams, top or bottom?¡± Jiang Zhi¡¯s brows furrowed slightly, the blanket slid down his legs; he picked it up and covered himself again. Xue Baoyi howled and disrupted the scene, as he had been curious for years. Jiang Zhi only said he was gay, but for so many years, no boyfriend was in sight. Was he top or bottom remained a mystery. Jiang Zhi¡¯s temperament was dominant, but his body was quite fragile. Too thrilling! Xue Baoyi couldn¡¯t wait any longer, urging, ¡°Quick, answer!¡± He didn¡¯t believe Jiang Zhi hadn¡¯t even dreamed. Jiang Zhi¡¯s face had little color, his skin pale with an unhealthy cold white, contrasting red lips, whether from coughing or biting them, ¡°Did I say I chose truth?¡± No answer. Jiang Wei blew her bangs playfully, ¡°I know the answer, bottom.¡± She crossed her long legs, arrogantly, ¡°Playing with your aunt, you¡¯re still too young.¡± If he was on top, he would¡¯ve answered. Jiang Zhi tore off his tie, revealing his throat and collarbone, white with a hint of red, ¡°Jiang Wei.¡± Three words, spoken lightly, but with a menacing tone. Indeed, that was Jiang Zhi¡¯s taboo. Xue Baoyi understood, recognizing that in those colored dreams, Jiang Zhi indeed played the bottom role. Jiang Wei knew when to stop, ¡°Alright, you passed, your turn.¡± Jiang Zhi unbuttoned another button on his shirt, sat up, his fingers touched the bottle cap, nails clean and bright. He flicked it lightly and slowly. Half a circle. The bottle pointed at Jiang Wei. ¡°You¡¯re retaliating.¡± Jiang Zhi replied nonchalantly, ¡°Yes.¡± Jiang Wei gritted her teeth, rolling up her sleeves, ¡°I choose dare.¡± Damn. Xue Baoyi gave a thumbs up, ¡°I admire Fifth Aunt¡¯s courage, bring it on!¡± Jiang Zhi rubbed his thumb against his lips, smiled. That smile, a hint of makeup beauty, raised his slender fingers, pointed at Xue Bingxue, ¡°Kiss him forcefully, one minute, not a second less.¡± Xue Bingxue: ¡°¡­¡± He instinctively¡­ swallowed. Chapter 25 - Chapter 25: 025: Jiang Zhi finally added Xu Fang on WeChat Chapter 25: 025: Jiang Zhi finally added Xu Fang on WeChat Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation ¡°Brother Zhi,¡± Jiang Wei¡¯er changed her sitting position, her face no longer the carefree expression she had earlier as she smoothed out her dress, ¡°Let¡¯s switch, anything else will do. This is inappropriate. Your aunt has a boyfriend.¡± Her tone was somewhat conciliatory. ¡°No.¡± Jiang Zhi, at his core, was a thoroughly bad person. He taunted, ¡°Can¡¯t handle it, can you?¡± Jiang Wei¡¯er had a fatal weakness: she couldn¡¯t be provoked. Once provoked, she¡¯d explode. She poured a glass of wine, drank it all in one go, set the glass down¡ª ¡°Don¡¯t bully Wei¡¯er anymore.¡± Xue Bingxue covered her mouth, her doe-like eyes fluttered as she tried to look at Jiang Wei¡¯er, but then timidly dodged away, her ears turning red as she said, ¡°Wei¡¯er¡¯s boyfriend will be upset with her.¡± If Wei¡¯er¡¯s boyfriend got upset, Wei¡¯er would be unhappy. If Wei¡¯er was unhappy, he would be sad. So, Xue Bingxue pressed her mouth shut firmly. Xue Baoyi: ¡°¡­¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï What use was having a teammate like a god? They also had a teammate who was as useless as a pig. Even a stubborn bronze couldn¡¯t be carried to victory by a king. Thud. The empty wine bottle was knocked over by Jiang Zhi, spinning halfway. The air stilled. Xue Bingxue was still sneaking glances at Jiang Wei¡¯er, afraid she¡¯d be upset. If Jiang Zhi got upset¡­ let him be upset, as long as Wei¡¯er wasn¡¯t. This silly yet sweet girl! Xue Baoyi couldn¡¯t bear to watch anymore, stomped on him in exasperation, and cursed in a pinched voice, ¡°Brother Zhi is helping you, you coward!¡± Xue Bingxue was again afraid Jiang Wei¡¯er would hear, so he glared at Xue Baoyi. Xue Baoyi: ¡°¡­¡± This pig! ¡°Not playing anymore, this is boring.¡± Jiang Zhi picked up his phone and walked off. Ah Wan went to grab a coat, hurried to follow, and as they looked from behind, they saw Jiang Zhi lowering his head, revealing a stretch of pale, smooth nape that begged to be touched. His profile was coated in a cold, white light reflected by his phone. He was looking at his phone again. Ah Wan couldn¡¯t help it: ¡°Has Miss Zhou not accepted the request yet?¡± ¡°Cough, cough, cough¡­¡± Jiang Zhi coughed so hard his face turned red; he couldn¡¯t even stand straight, leaning against the wall and clutching his chest. He turned back angrily: ¡°None of your damn business.¡± Ah Wan: ¡°¡­¡± He shrank his neck, ¡°Please calm down, don¡¯t faint.¡± ¡°Cough, cough, cough¡­¡± He was coughing so hard it felt like his lungs were coming out, his eyes were rimmed with red, and his gaze shimmered, beautiful as peach blossoms. This appearance of falling ill¡­ made Xue Baoyi¡¯s heart ache to see. Xue Bingxue hurried over to press on Jiang Zhi¡¯s acupoints to stop the cough. Ah Wan stood rooted to the spot, flustered and at a loss, terrified his employer would die young and leave behind a tragic beauty¡­ Ah Wan wished he could cut his stomach open on the spot! Right! Now! To! Die! ¡°What¡¯s up with Jiang Zhi tonight?¡± Qiao Nanchu, who had a flirtatious look, smiled roguishly, ¡°Something¡¯s not right.¡± Because Ah Wan had made a mistake and was sent home. It was the Fifth Miss who took the employer home. He thought he had gone too far, his brain was dull, and he didn¡¯t know what to say or what not to say. He wanted to make up for it by recalling how the employer liked the shrimp porridge at noon, so he quietly ordered another porridge for his employer. At eight-thirty. Jiang Zhi had just finished his bath when the phone in the security office rang. ¡°Mr. Jiang.¡± He placed a hand on his stomach, his face ghostly pale, becoming whiter than his bathrobe, which emphasized his exposed neck: ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°Did you order takeout? There¡¯s a delivery here saying it¡¯s your porridge.¡± He spoke breathlessly in a low, hoarse voice, ¡°I didn¡¯t.¡± With that, he hung up the phone. Just then, Ah Wan¡¯s WeChat message came in: ¡°Boss, I know I did wrong. I got you some night snack, it¡¯s the porridge you had at noon. I specially noted to add more shrimp. Lastly, wishing you good health and a long life.¡± Jiang Zhi glanced at the message, threw the phone to the side, went to the bathroom to get a towel, and dried his hair, pausing mid-action, then went back to pick up the phone. Damn, he was really sick¡­ He put on his coat, over the bathrobe, and coughed heavily as he ran out, irritably calling the security room. ¡°It¡¯s my takeout.¡± ¡°No need, I¡¯ll go down and get it myself.¡± Three minutes later¡­ Outside the villa district, the delivery boy smiled and handed over the porridge: ¡°Seven Villas Room 203, right? Here¡¯s your takeout.¡± Through the iron fence, Jiang Zhi, who wore a coat over his bathrobe, eyed him coldly. The delivery boy was utterly confused. His gaze subconsciously fell on the dripping wet neck, the Adam¡¯s apple, and finally on that exquisitely beautiful face carved out of marble, sculpted with no traces of the mundane world. His voice trembled: ¡°You¡­your takeout, could you give a good review?¡± A pale, slender, and well-defined hand took the bag: ¡°Depends on my mood.¡± ¡°¡­¡± The wind blew, chilling to the bone. The delivery boy stood dazed in the wind, watching that slightly hunched back from the coughing, and despite wearing so many layers, how did he still look like his bone structure was beautiful? The rumored beauty bones? Bam¡ª The door slammed shut, and Jiang Zhi, with a gloomy face, threw the takeout into the trash. ¡°Cough, cough, cough¡­¡± He felt intense pain in his body, had taken an extra pill during the day, and a metallic taste rose in his throat. With winter coming, his body was also in a terrible mess. Moving slowly, he held onto a chair, sat down at the dining table, and poured himself a cup of warm water. ¡°Ding.¡± The phone suddenly pinged. The cup fell back onto the table, and he hesitated momentarily, then picked up the phone. Zhou Xufang¡¯s three words hit his sight, the avatar a black smudge like the night, and there was a line in the chat: I accepted your friend request. Now we can start chatting. And then¡­ No movement. Jiang Zhi stared at the phone in a daze for a while, gulped down the cup of warm water, feeling a bit better in his belly. Just a short trip outside made him sweat coldly all over. He threw the phone aside, went to the bathroom to take another bath, returned, and saw only that one message on WeChat. Water dripped from his hair onto the carpet as he stood there, staring at the phone. Zhou Xufang. Muttering the name, he frowned, resigned, and picked up the phone. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you go deliver takeout?¡± After waiting for over ten seconds. Zhou Xufang replied: ¡°I got off work.¡± She wasn¡¯t typing quickly either, waiting a few more seconds, ¡°Is there something you need?¡± Was there something he needed? How would he know, he thought about it all day and couldn¡¯t figure out why. Why would a genuinely gay man suddenly become endlessly curious about a woman, possibly because of prolonged abstinence? Then again, how long had it been since he¡¯d had those kinds of dreams? He replied with two words: ¡°Nothing.¡± Zhou Xufang sent a period. ¡°What do you mean by sending a period?¡± The ¡®typing¡¯ indicator showed for a long time, before a moderately long text appeared: ¡°I have OCD. It has to be me who ends the conversation. If there¡¯s nothing to say, I¡¯ll send a punctuation mark.¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± This person, why always cause problems for him. His finger pad turned slightly red as he tapped the screen: ¡°No words to chat?¡± It took a while again. Zhou Xufang replied: ¡°No.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t argue.¡± ¡°.¡± No words meant she¡¯d send punctuation marks. Still, she had to be the one to end the conversation. Jiang Zhi threw the phone aside, couldn¡¯t stop himself, grabbed a box of cough medicine, took two pills, tilted his head back to swallow them, then poured half a cup of warm water to drink, licked his lips, and his Adam¡¯s apple rolled¡ªit was really damn bitter. The box of marshmallows was on the dining table. He threw one into his mouth and picked up his phone. ¡°Zhou Xufang.¡± ¡°Mm.¡± ¡°Zhou Xufang.¡± ¡°.¡± ¡°If you don¡¯t have words to say, don¡¯t send anything.¡± ¡°.¡± ¡°Alright, go to sleep.¡± ¡°.¡± ¡°You really have OCD?¡± ¡°Mm.¡± ¡°What kind of ailment!¡± ¡°.¡± This OCD! But, it was somewhat interesting. If he wanted to keep chatting, she couldn¡¯t sleep and would have to send periods all night. Jiang Zhi threw the phone aside, yanked the bathrobe¡¯s collar, his hair not yet dry, droplets slid down his temple to his neck, making him itch, he wiped the water with his fingertip, pulled back the covers, lied down, and then started coughing. That night¡¯s sleep quality was horrendous. Chapter 26 - Chapter 26: 026: Hidden Beauty Chapter 26: 026: Hidden Beauty Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation This night¡¯s sleep quality was terrible to the extreme. Winter had already passed, and it was getting colder. Jiang Zhi¡¯s spirits were getting worse, and he was tired for long periods of the day, always lacking energy. At Fusheng Inn¡¯s Bamboo Garden, tea had been changed pot after pot, and the deputy general manager of Huayu was already impatient from waiting. ¡°Why hasn¡¯t Director Jiang come yet?¡± The secretary behind him stepped forward, ¡°Director Jiang¡¯s assistant called, saying Director Jiang caught a cold last night and was feeling unwell, so he¡¯ll be late.¡± Huayu, apart from Xue¡¯s Baoguang and Luo Family¡¯s Tianxing, was the largest entertainment company domestically. This deputy general manager was the current chairman Jin Lei¡¯s brother, Jin Song. At thirty-five years old, Jin Song had good looks, and his name was well-known in the circle for two reasons: his formidable methods and his notorious womanizing. After waiting for half an hour, Jin Song was naturally very unhappy, ¡°This Jiang Zhi, what a big shot.¡± Beside him sat a woman, an extremely beautiful woman. ¡°President Jin,¡± she poured him a cup of tea and said softly, ¡°Don¡¯t rush, have a cup of tea first.¡± The woman was called Su Chan, an artist of Huayu. She was from a minority ethnic group, with features giving her three or four parts of exotic beauty yet still possessing soft grace. She was rare even in the star-filled entertainment circle. She started as a martial arts stunt double and had only been in the industry for four years, but she was the youngest film queen of Huayu. Jin Song slightly gathered himself as his phone rang. He got up and took the call outside. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ??¦Í??.§ã¦Ï ¡°Have all the people I selected signed the contracts?¡± The person on the other end replied, ¡°Tang Yinyin and Fang Zhi were signed by Baoguang.¡± These two were artists under Tianxing. After Tianxing¡¯s scandal broke out, their stock prices plummeted, and many of their artists terminated their contracts. Tianxing¡¯s decline would continue for a while. Artists who had enough strength could establish their studios, but those without sufficient standing had to find new owners. Baoguang and Huayu were the best choices, so the competition for talents between them was fierce. Here, we must mention Baoguang¡¯s owner, Xue Baoyi, a truly overbearing person. Coming from a prestigious family in the Imperial City, he had connections and received many advantages. Jin Song got angry just thinking about it, ¡°That idiot Xue Baoyi, sooner or later I¡¯ll crush¡ª¡± ¡°Cough, cough, cough, cough, cough¡­¡± Suddenly, a low cough interrupted him. Jin Song¡¯s words stopped abruptly, and he glanced back before ending the call, ¡°I¡¯ll talk more when I get back.¡± Hanging up, Jin Song changed his expression, smiling as he greeted, ¡°Director Jiang is here, let¡¯s talk inside.¡± He made a welcoming gesture, his gaze fixed on Jiang Zhi¡¯s face, never moving away. Jiang Zhi entered the private room, took off his coat, and handed it to Ah Wan, who then stepped aside, keeping a wary eye on Jin Song. He felt that Jin Song¡¯s gaze on his employer was somewhat inappropriate. ¡°Su Chan, pour Director Jiang a cup of tea,¡± Jin Song pulled out a chair and sat next to Jiang Zhi. Su Chan stood up, her slender fingers holding the tea cup delicately while she walked gracefully, her movements seductive. However, before the tea was poured, with a soft click, Jiang Zhi placed the lid on his cup. He coughed softly, his skin pale but lips red, and said, ¡°My throat hurts from coughing, I won¡¯t drink tea.¡± Su Chan¡¯s hand holding the teapot stiffened slightly before she smiled and sat back down as if nothing had happened. Jin Song took out the contract. ¡°The contract is ready. I have no issues on my side,¡± he pushed the thick contract towards Jiang Zhi, ¡°Director Jiang, see if there¡¯s anything you need to add.¡± This meeting was for signing a contract. For Jiang Zhi¡¯s new movie, Su Chan was chosen as the leading actress, primarily because of her fame and her skill. Both sides were not particularly concerned about the pay because this movie was a big production aimed at winning awards. They had reached an agreement in no time, only a contract remained. Initially, they thought today would be a mere formality, but¡ª Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t even open the contract, pushing it back untouched. Jin Song¡¯s smile faded, ¡°What do you mean by this?¡± Jiang Zhi calmly lifted his eyelids, seemingly smiling yet not, his profound eyes filled with ambiguous meaning as he asked, ¡°Don¡¯t you know my relationship with Xue Baoyi?¡± Heh, he had overheard the earlier conversation. Jin Song leaned back in his chair, eyes scanning Jiang Zhi¡¯s face with a smile hovering on his lips, a mix of challenge and a deeper implication, ¡°What relationship?¡± Dressed impeccably in suits, reeking of hypocrisy. In the circle, many used these eight words to describe Huayu¡¯s deputy general manager. ¡°What do you think?¡± In a lazy tone, Jiang Zhi threw the question back. What relationship? Rumors in the circle had it that Xue Baoyi and Jiang Zhi had a romantic involvement. Indeed, with Jiang Zhi¡¯s looks¡­ Jin Song took out a cigarette from his pack, offering one to Jiang Zhi, ¡°Director Jiang, for your movie, I doubt you can find anyone more suitable than Su Chan. You should think carefully.¡± Jiang Zhi remained seated, ¡°I don¡¯t smoke.¡± He then lifted his hand, and Ah Wan immediately handed over a business card and a pen. Jiang Zhi took them, wrote a string of numbers on the back of the card, ¡°For compensation matters, please contact my lawyer.¡± He pushed the card to Jin Song, put down the pen, wiped his hands with a handkerchief, and turned to leave. Ah Wan put away the pen and followed. Occasional coughing sounds arose, and Jin Song glanced at the door, seeing Jiang Zhi slightly hunched, exposing a small patch of skin paler than a woman¡¯s. A delicate beauty weakened by illness. The youngest of the Jiang Family in the Imperial City, just as rumored, short of breath every few steps, frequent coughs, unrivaled beauty, surpassed even adorned flowers. ¡°President Jin,¡± Su Chan called softly. Jin Song withdrew his gaze, ¡°This Jiang Zhi,¡± tapping the lighter on the table gently, tick-tack, tick-tack¡­ the sound unhurried and rhythmic, then he paused the motion and stopped speaking, ¡°No wonder even those princely lads are enchanted by him.¡± A man even more beautiful than women. Jiang Zhi had just walked out of the Bamboo Garden when he ran into Xue Baoyi, that flashy butterfly. His buzz cut had just started to grow out and he had dyed it gray again, making him look like a little old man. It was only his ruggedly handsome face that could pull it off. Xue Baoyi had come to have fun. When he saw Jiang Zhi, he was delighted: ¡°Brother Zhi, Brother Zhi!¡± Jiang Zhi glanced at him: ¡°Idiot.¡± Xue Baoyi, whose enthusiasm had been doused with cold water, clutched his heart: ¡°¡­¡± His heart hurt. ¡°What did I do to deserve this?¡± Jiang Zhi couldn¡¯t be bothered with him. Ah Wan looked at Xue Baoyi and thought the employer wasn¡¯t all that bad. Sure, he had a bad temper, was moody, sharp-tongued, picky, neurotic, and haughty¡­ but he was very protective. See, he could call Xue Baoyi an idiot, but he wouldn¡¯t let Jin Song do the same. Hmm, that must be a good quality. Ah Wan also reasoned that even though the employer cursed at him every day, if one day he got into a fight and couldn¡¯t win, the employer would drag his sickly body over to help him. The car was parked outside Fusheng Inn, but they hadn¡¯t left yet when Qiao Nanchu called. Jiang Zhi answered: ¡°Hmm?¡± ¡°Where are you?¡± Jiang Zhi said: ¡°Out discussing business.¡± ¡°Did you finish?¡± ¡°It fell through.¡± Jiang Zhi popped a marshmallow into his mouth. That idiot, Xue Baoyi! Qiao Nanchu asked him: ¡°Interested in the professional errand runner business?¡± Jiang Zhi stayed silent, fiddling with the marshmallow box, opening and closing it, making occasional clicking sounds. After a moment, he put down the glass box: ¡°I¡¯ll come over.¡± He hung up the phone and instructed Ah Wan, ¡°Go get Xue Baoyi.¡± Jiangfeng Mansion. It was nine in the morning, and the sun was just beginning to peek out from the clouds. Despite the cold of late winter, the seasonal begonias in the mansion had already bloomed. ¡°Back again?¡± The security guard uncle was leaning out the window, greeting the girl outside. The girl nodded. Her cheeks were reddened from the wind, making her look even more flushed. The security guard uncle saw she had a large canvas bag on her back and asked with a smile, ¡°Bringing food for Mr. Qiao again?¡± She nodded again, smiling, and took the canvas bag off to hand it over. The security guard uncle took it: ¡°Mr. Qiao is at home today. Aren¡¯t you going up?¡± She shook her head and took out a pen and paper from her coat, writing, ¡°No, please give it to him for me.¡± She then took a small lunchbox from the canvas bag, reached over the window, and placed it on the table. ¡°This is for you, homemade braised chicken feet and shredded chicken. Try some.¡± ¡°I get some too?¡± The security guard uncle¡¯s face wrinkled with a smile. ¡°Thank you. I don¡¯t know your name yet.¡± She turned to a new piece of paper and wrote her name carefully. ¡°Wen Baiyang.¡± She was called Wen Baiyang, like the white poplar tree. Both Jiang Zhi and Xue Baoyi owned property at Jiangfeng Mansion, though they rarely stayed there. When they did come over, they usually stayed at Qiao Nanchu¡¯s place. The security guard recognized the two of them. ¡°Mr. Jiang and Mr. Xue are here,¡± he said, opening the gate for them. ¡°Going to Mr. Qiao¡¯s place?¡± Xue Baoyi responded affirmatively. Mr. Jiang seemed unapproachable, but Mr. Xue had a good temper. The security guard seized the opportunity and handed over the package left by the girl earlier. ¡°This is for Mr. Qiao, brought by a girl just now. It¡¯s food. Could you take it up for me?¡± Xue Baoyi reached out from the passenger seat, ¡°I¡¯ll take it.¡± The security guard handed it over. Inside the car, Xue Baoyi sniffed. Damn! It smelled delicious! Three minutes later, even before they arrived, Qiao Nanchu heard Xue Baoyi¡¯s shout. ¡°Open the door!¡± Qiao Nanchu opened the door. Xue Baoyi burst in noisily: ¡°Qiao Nanchu, you¡¯re hiding a mistress behind my back!¡± ¡°As if!¡± Qiao Nanchu glanced at Xue Baoyi¡¯s shoes on the carpet and kicked at him, ¡°Damn it, change your shoes.¡± Xue Baoyi juggled his shoes off and waved the package at Qiao Nanchu¡¯s face, looking overly excited for no reason: ¡°Look, there¡¯s evidence. Don¡¯t try to deny it.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± Qiao Nanchu barely glanced and walked off to fetch Jiang Zhi a pair of clean disposable slippers. ¡°A girl brought it, see?¡± Xue Baoyi waggled his eyebrows, grinning mischievously, ¡°Don¡¯t deny it. Spill the beans. When did you start keeping a mistress?¡± The old man at home always used Qiao Nanchu as a model for teaching him to keep himself clean. Pfft, what a joke! Qiao Nanchu looked at him as if he was an idiot: ¡°You think I¡¯m like you.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Damn it, he got praised by elders all the time, and for what? Xue Baoyi took out the cartoonishly cute pink lunchbox from the canvas bag: ¡°Then what is this?¡± Still denying it! Qiao Nanchu took one look and snatched the lunchbox, ignoring Xue Baoyi¡¯s protests, and put it straight in the fridge: ¡°She¡¯s my stepsister. I supported her for a few years. She¡¯s still young, don¡¯t make fun of her.¡± Damn! Xue Baoyi remembered: ¡°You mean that girl you brought back from Da Mai Mountain five years ago?¡± Chapter 27 - Chapter 27: 027: Jiang Zhi is very bad Chapter 27: 027: Jiang Zhi is very bad Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation Xue Baoyi remembered, ¡°The one you brought back from Da Mai Mountain five years ago?¡± Qiao Nanchu responded with a hum. Xue Baoyi fell silent. That girl was somewhat special, she was mute and deaf. Qiao Nanchu¡¯s stepmother was a ruthless woman; she abandoned the girl to marry into the Qiao Family. The girl was different from ordinary people; she was born with disabilities due to being the product of close relatives. In the backward and feudal place like Da Mai Mountain, five years ago, the people there wanted to drown the girl. It was rumored that it wasn¡¯t the first time they had ¡®punished¡¯ her. Qiao Nanchu brought the girl to the Imperial City. At the time, Xue Baoyi had asked him why he brought that burden along. How did he reply back then? ¡°Maybe I¡¯m just kind-hearted.¡± Kind-hearted, my ass! Xue Baoyi thought for a while, ¡°Nanchu, seriously, are you raising a wife or a daughter?¡± None of them were saints, helping a little girl for no reason? He didn¡¯t believe there weren¡¯t ulterior motives. Qiao Nanchu didn¡¯t joke around with him, ¡°Mind your own business. If you keep talking, I¡¯ll throw you out.¡± He glanced at Jiang Zhi, who was curled up on the sofa. ¡°Cold?¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.?¦Ï ¡°Yes.¡± So damn delicate. Qiao Nanchu went to get him a blanket and got down to business, ¡°There was a home invasion robbery last week, and this week, there was another theft.¡± Jiang Zhi sat up, wrapped himself in the blanket, and lay back down. ¡°What does it have to do with her?¡± Xue Baoyi leaned in to listen. Qiao Nanchu spread the documents from the file on the table, pointing at the photos. ¡°Traces were left at the scene, and her hat was found there.¡± The hat had embroidery, the letter Z. Jiang Zhi had seen that letter on the sleeve of that professional errand runner. ¡°It¡¯s not her.¡± Jiang Zhi spoke with certainty. Qiao Nanchu smiled faintly, glancing at him. ¡°Indeed, it¡¯s not her. Our Criminal Investigation Team and the Intelligence Division have been chasing this for so long without finding a single clue. With her professional skills, how could she leave traces at the scene?¡± He tapped the photo with his finger intermittently. ¡°Either it¡¯s a setup, someone is trying to trouble her, or they¡¯re trying to lure her out.¡± ¡°Who did she offend?¡± Xue Baoyi crossed his arms, tapping his foot, looking quite serious. ¡°There are many.¡± Qiao Nanchu casually listed a few. ¡°Her peers, her clients, her clients¡¯ rivals.¡± If she were just an ordinary errand runner, it would be fine. But that Z, her capabilities were too strong. Even if she didn¡¯t take on murder or arson requests, she would still be involved in many morally ambiguous areas. Naturally, many were watching her. ¡°Brother Zhi,¡± Xue Baoyi teased, ¡°why are you so interested in this errand runner?¡± Jiang Zhi lazily lowered his eyelids, nonchalantly replying, ¡°She knocked me out twice, I need to know who she is.¡± ¡°Love-hate relationship, huh?¡± Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t entertain his nonsense, ¡°Did you find out about the milk?¡± ¡°Do I ever screw up what you ask me to do?¡± Xue Baoyi put on an inviting look, ¡°Just had someone send it to your email.¡± His face displayed a ¡®Mr. is impressive¡¯ expression. Mr. really was impressive! Ah Wan still admired Second Young Master Xue a lot, then used his phone to log into the employer¡¯s email and pulled out the information to hand over. It was just one page. Jiang Zhi glanced at it and his gaze froze. ¡°Boss!¡± Ah Wan exclaimed, hunched over, peeking, ¡°I see Miss Zhou¡¯s name, right below yours!¡± What a divine coincidence! He always said these two were meant to be. Miss Zhou even bought the milk to give to the employer, sending a total of three boxes. For a poor girl like Miss Zhou who worked multiple jobs to barely make ends meet, to give such expensive milk, she must really like the employer¡­ huh? ¡°Miss Zhou bought over thirty boxes!¡± Ah Wan was shocked! Jiang Zhi raised his eyes, giving a cold glance. Ah Wan stepped back and silently wondered, did Miss Zhou spend all her savings on milk? ¡°I¡¯ve investigated everyone inside. The ones circled in red are all likely to be that errand runner. Also, I checked Zhou Xufang¡¯s background, it¡¯s as clean as a whistle, nothing special. She has very little in terms of assets, the house she¡¯s living in is still registered under someone else¡¯s name. But, it could be hidden deeply.¡± Xue Baoyi paused, feeling the need to mention, ¡°She lives alone, an orphan.¡± Jiang Zhi¡¯s lowered eyelashes fluttered momentarily, lost in thought, then closed again. Xue Baoyi noticed, this Zhou Xufang seemed a bit special to Jiang Zhi. Exactly how special? Without Jiang Zhi saying, no one could guess. His thoughts were always hard to gauge. This matter could wait. Qiao Nanchu kicked Xue Baoyi¡¯s pant leg, ¡°Baoyi, go downstairs and get my package. I have something to discuss with Jiang Zhi.¡± Although Xue Baoyi was unhappy, he moved his feet, ¡°You all just keep ordering me around. What a pain you all are!¡± Ah Wan was still immersed in the sadness that Miss Zhou was an orphan. Only when his employer called him did he come back to his senses. ¡°You go help.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Once everyone was sent away, Qiao Nanchu spoke, ¡°That medical project has been secured. However, JC has gained a lot of fame this time, the Jiang Family and the Lu Family have noticed something. They will probably start investigating JC¡¯s background soon.¡± It was a project supported from above. Many people wanted a piece of the pie, but JC swallowed it all without a word. From then on, in the Imperial City business world, who would dare underestimate this black horse that suddenly appeared? Jiang Zhi appeared indifferent, ¡°If you can¡¯t cover it up, then show your face.¡± Qiao Nanchu couldn¡¯t figure out his game plan, ¡°You have enough capital now, when do you plan to settle accounts with the Jiang Family?¡± He had been preparing for years; it was time to stretch his muscles. Jiang Zhi covered his mouth and coughed twice. He seemed uninterested but his eyes turned somewhat gloomy, ¡°Depends on my mood.¡± Jiang Zhi was a very strange person. More than ten years ago, they all lived in the compound. At that time, there was him, Xue Baoyi, Xue Bingxue¡ªthey were the ¡®little gang¡¯ in the compound. Jiang Zhi was a sickly child; he didn¡¯t even leave the Jiang Mansion, let alone make friends. Later, during their middle school years, Xue Baoyi became rebellious, hanging out with people outside and causing trouble. He ended up in a fight with a group of young people from society. The three of them got cornered in a secluded alley and took quite a beating. One fearless young man even pulled out a knife. Just as the knife was about to pierce Xue Baoyi¡¯s stomach, Jiang Zhi, frail and sickly, walked out from the alley entrance with a baseball bat in his hand. Though he seemed weak, he somehow found the strength to break the ribs of the small gang leader. After the fight, Jiang Zhi fell unconscious for three days. After that incident, Xue Baoyi regarded Jiang Zhi as his lifesaver, almost treating him like a deity. Qiao Nanchu chuckled, still unable to understand him, ¡°To what extent? Just a lesson, or bringing them down completely?¡± ¡°Nanchu.¡± He didn¡¯t even lift his eyelids and said nonchalantly, ¡°Do you think I¡¯m that kind-hearted?¡± Qiao Nanchu was speechless. Jiang Zhi once had a cat. He loved that cat dearly, even built a golden house for it. Later, the cat died mysteriously. Following that, certain people in the Jiang Family also mysteriously lost half their lives. How ruthless Jiang Zhi could be, Qiao Nanchu couldn¡¯t fathom even after knowing him for over twenty years. He remembered something Jiang Zhi said when he buried the cat. ¡°Killing is bad,¡± the sixteen-year-old boy knelt under the evergreen tree at the Jiang Mansion, digging the ground with his bare hands, dirtying his clean, thin hands. He then placed the cat¡¯s body neatly in the soil, ¡°If you¡¯re dead, you won¡¯t feel pain anymore.¡± Whenever Qiao Nanchu thought of Jiang Zhi at that time, chills would run down his spine. In the small supermarket at Yuquan Bay, Wen Baiyang was packing up, getting ready to hand over to Zhou Xufang. ¡°Take this home to eat.¡± Wen Baiyang handed Zhou Xufang a cloth bag containing two large lunch boxes, ¡°I made a lot, keep the leftovers in the fridge.¡± They contained shredded chicken and marinated chicken feet. Wen Baiyang had mentioned last time that she would make some for her. ¡°Okay.¡± Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t smile much, and her upward-curving lips appeared somewhat stiff, but she was happy. She moved over a carton of milk placed on the ground. ¡°For you,¡± she said, ¡°this tastes really good.¡± Wen Baiyang made a gesture with her hand, and Zhou Xufang, who had learned the simplest sign language, understood that she was saying thank you. Then Wen Baiyang rode her second-hand bicycle home with the milk, and Zhou Xufang thought, next time she would give Wen Baiyang a new bicycle. Although she wanted to give a sports car, Wen Baiyang couldn¡¯t hear, so she couldn¡¯t drive a car. At one in the morning, Zhou Xufang finished work and went home with the shredded chicken and marinated chicken feet. As soon as she got home, her computer started up automatically, and SpongeBob Squarpants patterns filled the screen. ¡°Ah Fang.¡± Zhou Xufang put the shredded chicken and marinated chicken feet in the fridge. Shuangjiang used red fonts, indicating urgency, ¡°Someone is committing crimes in your name.¡± Zhou Xufang sat at the computer desk, which was piled high with milk cartons. She had bought more than thirty boxes, creating a wall of milk. Looking at the milk made her happy. She thought that next time she would build a wall entirely of marshmallows and sit on it to eat. She leaned forward and reached out to grab a can of milk, ¡°Is it something serious?¡± ¡°Theft, robbery.¡± Zhou Xufang frowned, her face cold. She never stole or robbed. She tore open two packets of marshmallows and poured them into a glass box to eat. She hooked her finger into the milk pull tab, pulled it off, then crushed it. Shuangjiang typed quickly, lines of red text rolling out, ¡°Recently we haven¡¯t taken any big orders, the only people we¡¯ve offended are Jiang Zhi and Luo Qing, but it could also be our peers. Many people have been trying to learn to be a professional errand runner recently.¡± Zhou Xufang closed the marshmallow box, ¡°It¡¯s not Jiang Zhi.¡± ¡°Why?¡± She frowned, thinking for a long time for a reason, ¡°He¡¯s very good-looking.¡± The SpongeBob on the computer screen lay still for half a minute before Shuangjiang typed back, ¡°Ah Fang, good-looking people aren¡¯t necessarily kind-hearted.¡± Zhou Xufang had met very few people and knew little about human nature, but she still believed Jiang Zhi was a good person with a beautiful heart. So she argued, ¡°He even gave me a good review.¡± ¡°What kind of review?¡± ¡°For a food delivery.¡± Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t know that the good review¡ªthe one with hundreds of words praising the rider¡ªwas written by Ah Wan. ¡°Ah Fang,¡± the text on the computer screen changed from red to white, ¡°There¡¯s a new client.¡± Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t ask for specifics, she refused directly, ¡°No more jobs, things aren¡¯t peaceful right now. We are on vacation.¡± Shuangjiang hesitated for a moment. ¡°It¡¯s related to Jiang Zhi.¡± Hearing this, Zhou Xufang¡¯s mind went blank for a moment. She crushed the milk can in her hand. Chapter 28 - Chapter 28: 028: Xu Fang to be a body double? Chapter 28: 028: Xu Fang to be a body double? Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation Zhou Xu heard this and was momentarily stunned, crushing the milk can in her hand. ¡°Someone wants to kidnap him again.¡± Zhou Xu was silent for a while, then her face returned to its usual cold expression: ¡°What do they want with him?¡± ¡°The client didn¡¯t say. They only mentioned the time and place, and offered a very high price,¡± Shuangjiang sent over a figure. Seven zeros, ten million. This was an astronomical amount in the industry. Who could it be, willing to spend so much money to kidnap Jiang Zhi? Zhou Xu put the milk down, losing her appetite: ¡°Find out why they want to kidnap him?¡± She had rules for taking tasks. The purpose must be stated and it must not be illegal or unethical. If the client lied, she would breach the contract. Five minutes later, Shuangjiang replied. ¡°The client refused to state the purpose, but they raised the offer, now it¡¯s twenty million.¡± Willing to offer twenty million, they must be determined. The reflection of Zhou Xu¡¯s face on the dark computer screen showed her frowning tighter: ¡°Can we trace the client?¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.?¦Ï ¡°Proxy IP, can¡¯t trace it.¡± Even Shuangjiang couldn¡¯t trace it, this wasn¡¯t a simple person. Offering such a high price without stating the purpose, there must be a problem. Was it for Jiang Zhi¡¯s beauty¡­ Zhou Xu fell into deep thought. ¡°Shall we take it?¡± Zhou Xu, twisting the strap on her hoodie, hesitated and tied a knot: ¡°Take it.¡± If she didn¡¯t take it, someone else would. In the end, he would be kidnapped by someone else. Zhou Xu couldn¡¯t bear the thought of Jiang Zhi being kidnapped by someone else. Beautiful things should be well-protected, like her cotton candy box, which still looked new after being used for a long time. She also wanted Jiang Zhi to always look as new as ever, forever beautiful. But if she broke the contract or failed the mission, she would have to compensate double the commission amount, which would be forty million¡­ Zhou Xu felt a bit disheartened: ¡°It looks like I¡¯ll have to postpone buying Moon Bay.¡± Beautiful people indeed cost a lot of money. No, she had to work harder to earn money. She opened her phone and sent a WeChat message to the group leader: ¡°Do you have any roles that pay more?¡± Lao Wei, the group leader, replied to her three minutes later. ¡°Can you play any role?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°How about being a double?¡± ¡°That¡¯s fine.¡± Zhou Xu had seen others doing stunt doubles. It seemed simple to her; she just needed to control her strength so as not to hurt anyone, considering how strong she was. ¡°Send your weight, height, and measurements, along with a full-body photo,¡± Lao Wei thought she was an experienced group actor and should understand the industry slang, so he didn¡¯t elaborate. ¡°You might not get the role though, I¡¯ll give it a try.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Zhou Xu sent over the information and photo. Half an hour later, just as she was dozing off, Lao Wei replied: ¡°Yu Ran is very satisfied. You can come tomorrow to be her double for a scene, eight thousand yuan per shot.¡± Eight thousand. So much money. Being a stunt double was quite lucrative. Zhou Xu had never earned so much before, she was very happy: ¡°I¡¯ll come tomorrow.¡± ¡°When you arrive, go directly to the costume group and find Anna.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Lao Wei sent an emoji. Zhou Xu replied with a period. Lao Wei sent another emoji. Zhou Xu responded with another period. ¡°Alright, stop it, go to sleep now.¡± ¡°.¡± This girl! She always ended conversations with a period. The next day, Zhou Xu put on a military coat, wore a hat, wrapped herself well from head to toe, and went to the film city early. Apart from the staff, the actors hadn¡¯t arrived yet, and neither had Lixiang. She went straight to the costume group. Anna was already there, staring at her for quite a while: ¡°Are you the double Lao Wei found?¡± Zhou Xu nodded. Anna looked her up and down; she was wearing too many clothes, wrapped too tightly, making it hard to see her figure, so she asked: ¡°Have you done this before?¡± Zhou Xu said: ¡°No.¡± She hadn¡¯t been a double and feared she might hurt someone by not controlling her strength well. Anna could only see half of her face exposed outside the hat, which was quite calm. She offered routine comfort: ¡°The assistant director will clear the set, and someone will guide you through the actions. You don¡¯t need to be too nervous.¡± Zhou Xu remained expressionless, she wasn¡¯t nervous at all¡­ Having never been a double, Zhou Xu didn¡¯t know there was something called a body double. As the sun rose and the sky brightened, the mornings of severe winter didn¡¯t have harsh sunlight, and outside, it was foggy. Jiang Zhi had woken up too early and hadn¡¯t slept enough, making his temper not so good. As he sat in the chair resting, he opened his half-sleepy eyes, which were like the twilight of winter, with deep shadows, looking cold and gloomy. ¡°Still not starting?¡± His morning grumpiness hadn¡¯t dissipated, and there was anger in his words. Assistant Director Zhao was terrified of him and answered with a slight tremble: ¡°The actors are not ready yet.¡± Jiang Zhi raised his wrist to look at his watch: ¡°Eight forty-seven.¡± He looked up at Assistant Director Zhao, ¡°Making the whole crew wait for one person. Is this her first day? Doesn¡¯t she know my rules?¡± It was a cold winter day, and sweat immediately broke out on Assistant Director Zhao¡¯s forehead. The female lead Yu Ran¡¯s manager, Xu Lu, hurried over to apologize and explain: ¡°Sorry, Director Jiang, the stunt double isn¡¯t ready yet, we¡¯ve already urged her.¡± ¡°Stunt double?¡± Jiang Zhi looked at his own hand; his fingertips were reddened from the cold, and the weather was irritating him. He threw the script away and put his hands under the blanket to warm them, lifting his eyelids nonchalantly: ¡°When did I agree to use a stunt double?¡± In the winter, he looked lazy and weak, and his complexion was very pale. But this sickly appearance terrified people, and Xu Lu¡¯s heart pounded, making her swallow her pride and plead for her artist: ¡°Yu Ran is a new actress, her foundation isn¡¯t strong yet, and most of her fans are male. After several discussions at the studio, it was decided to use a double.¡± This film was a national drama, a spy war story, and the female lead was an intelligence agent. There was a bed scene that required exposure from the nape to the lower back. The scope wasn¡¯t large, but it did require undressing. ¡°What you¡¯re saying,¡± Jiang Zhi¡¯s speech was slow, occasionally accompanied by two coughs, sounding weak. He dragged his words, finishing the sentence, ¡°Does it have anything to do with my film?¡± He gave no face at all. ¡°Yu Ran, she,¡± Xu Lu panicked and made up a story, ¡°She has a scar on her back, it wouldn¡¯t look good on camera.¡± Female actors couldn¡¯t easily reveal their bodies, especially since Yu Ran had a pure image. Because of this, she brazenly went against his orders once. Jiang Zhi shook the milk can in his hand without speaking. Xu Lu quickly seized the opportunity and continued to persuade: ¡°The stunt double I¡¯ve found is in great shape, she will definitely give a better effect. Director Jiang, how about trying a take with her first?¡± Assistant Director Zhao also tried to smooth things over: ¡°Why don¡¯t we meet the stunt double first? Take a look at her back and then¡ª¡± Before he could finish. ¡°Boss!¡± ¡°Boss!¡± The six-foot-two hulking figure of Ah Wan stumbled over, out of breath. ¡°Miss Zhou, she,¡± Ah Wan gasped, ¡°She,¡± He choked on a breath of cold air and couldn¡¯t speak. Jiang Zhi glanced coldly, displeased: ¡°Straighten your tongue.¡± Ah Wan took a deep breath and exhaled: ¡°Miss Zhou wants to be the body double!¡± Body double¡­ Jiang Zhi squinted, sat up from the lounge chair, and his gaze shifted lightly, revealing a touch of sky blue: ¡°Who is the stunt double you found?¡± How would they know! Assistant Director Zhao hurriedly called out: ¡°Lao Wei.¡± His voice urgent, ¡°Lao Wei!¡± Lao Wei was one of the top group leaders at the film city, with a multitude of stunt doubles, background extras, and actors under his wing. He had been a long-time collaborator. Lao Wei ran onto the set: ¡°What is it, Assistant Director?¡± ¡°What¡¯s the name of the stunt double you found?¡± ¡°Her name is Zhou Xu,¡± Lao Wei scratched his head, ¡°Why? Is there a problem?¡± It¡¯s that Zhou girl again. Assistant Director Zhao wiped his sweat nervously, not daring to speak further, watching for Jiang Zhi¡¯s reaction only to see his eyes, previously sparkling like rippling water, darken. The atmosphere suddenly became oppressive. Lao Wei, seeing the director for the first time and unaware of his temper, couldn¡¯t help but say something nice: ¡°Director, Zhou Xu is very good. Although she hasn¡¯t been a double before, she has been an extra for a long time and is very experienced. Also, several team leads, including me, have seen her photos, her figure and¡ª¡± Bang. The milk can fell from Jiang Zhi¡¯s hand, rolling on the ground. Instantly, no one dared to breathe heavily. ¡°Break for twenty minutes.¡± Jiang Zhi left that statement, stood up, and his gaze lazily fell on the late-arriving Yu Ran: ¡°Can¡¯t shoot the back scene?¡± She bit her lip and remained silent. Jiang Zhi restrained his gaze, his slender fingers slowly buttoning up his coat one by one, speaking nonchalantly: ¡°If she can¡¯t shoot, find someone who can.¡± Xu Lu panicked: ¡°Director Jiang¡ª¡± Yu Ran pulled at her: ¡°I can do it.¡± Her face turned pale as she spoke each word, ¡°I can film it.¡± If she dared to say no, Jiang Zhi would replace her. On that gloomy day, the sound of coughing was carried away by the wind. ¡°Where is she?¡± Ah Wan was stunned. Jiang Zhi stopped in his tracks, turned back, his gaze darkening slightly, wrapped in an imperceptible anger: ¡°Zhou Xu, where is she?¡± Chapter 29 - Chapter 29: 029: Oh no, its the feeling of a heart attack Chapter 29: 029: Oh no, it¡¯s the feeling of a heart attack Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation Jiang Zhi stopped in his tracks, turned his head, and his eyes darkened with a trace of barely detectable anger. ¡°Zhou Xufang, where is she?¡± Ah Wan felt a cold wave rushing towards her and quickly shrank her neck. ¡°In the changing room.¡± At the moment, there was no one in the changing room. ¡°Xu Fang!¡± ¡°Xu Fang!¡± Fang Lixiang rushed in, but saw no one; only the curtain was drawn. Without thinking, she yanked open the curtain. ¡°Xu¡ª¡± The voice was stuck in her throat as she stared at Zhou Xufang¡¯s exposed shoulder, her eyes nearly popping out. So white¡­ That was her first reaction. The second reaction was shock. There was a scar under Zhou Xufang¡¯s shoulder, about the size of a thumb, and a black string hung around her neck, tied to a polished metal round piece. She covered it with her clothes. ¡°I¡¯m changing.¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í?¦Ï.?¦Ï Then, she pulled the curtain closed with one hand. Fang Lixiang stood there, still shocked, only slowly calming down after a long while. ¡°Xu Fang, that necklace on your neck¡ª¡± The curtain was pulled open. Zhou Xufang came out, wrapped tightly as usual. Fang Lixiang, wearing heavy makeup and a costume, asked Zhou Xufang casually, ¡°That necklace is very special, where did you buy it?¡± She buttoned up her military coat, put on her hat, and zipped up to the top, covering her neck. ¡°I didn¡¯t buy it.¡± ¡°Was it given to you by someone else?¡± She looked up, stared directly at Fang Lixiang. ¡°Why do you keep asking about my necklace?¡± As she spoke, her pupils turned the darkest of black. Fang Lixiang had never seen Zhou Xufang with such a cold gaze. Fang Lixiang looked away first. ¡°Because your necklace is very beautiful.¡± ¡°My family left it to me.¡± Zhou Xufang lowered her head, hiding the wariness in her eyes, and said, ¡°You are sweating.¡± Fang Lixiang hastily wiped her forehead. ¡°It¡¯s a bit hot.¡± She fanned her face with her hand, again in a carefree manner, ¡°I almost forgot the main thing, Xu Fang, do you want to be a body double?¡± ¡°I won¡¯t be.¡± Zhou Xufang had just found out that the crew wanted her as a body double, so she told Anna she¡¯d pay to back out, then changed out of her costume. ¡°That¡¯s good.¡± Fang Lixiang let out a sigh of relief and, like a mother, admonished her, ¡°I¡¯m telling you, don¡¯t ever be a body double. It¡¯s bad for your reputation. When I become famous, I¡¯ll take you to make your debut.¡± Zhou Xufang was about to say she didn¡¯t need a debut. Someone called her from outside, ¡°Zhou Xufang.¡± The voice was low, like it was suppressing anger, along with a cough. It was Jiang Zhi. Zhou Xufang tilted her head to look over. ¡°Hmm?¡± Jiang Zhi did not enter the women¡¯s changing room, using a commanding tone. ¡°Come out for a moment.¡± Oh. Zhou Xufang adjusted the hat on her military coat and went out. ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± Jiang Zhi stood against the wall. Perhaps he had rushed over too quickly, causing his face to be slightly flushed, and his eyes were rimmed with a blush. ¡°Are you in desperate need of money?¡± He spoke, still panting a little. Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t know what he meant and answered truthfully, ¡°Not very desperate.¡± It was just that she had lost a few million and now couldn¡¯t afford Moon Bay. He stared at her for quite a while. ¡°Turn around.¡± Still a commanding tone. Why turn around? Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t move. Exposing one¡¯s back to someone else was dangerous. He suppressed the itch in his throat and held back his cough. ¡°I just want to take a look.¡± His tone softened a bit. Zhou Xufang felt he looked weak, like he would faint if he couldn¡¯t catch his breath, much like a fragile lady in those TV shows. After thinking for a while, she turned around, showing her back to him. She believed Jiang Zhi was a good person and wouldn¡¯t harm her. She couldn¡¯t see his face anymore, but she could hear his breathing, which had grown heavier. Jiang Zhi reached out, his fingertips reddening, moving closer to her back under the military coat. Zhou Xufang suddenly turned her head. ¡°You¡ª¡± He had just said one word when she grabbed his wrist, her eyes full of wariness. ¡°Why are you touching my back?¡± What had a girl in her early twenties been through to be so guarded? This was the first time Jiang Zhi saw in her eyes a vast emptiness, like cold, dark magnetism that could draw one in. His complexion turned pale. ¡°Let go.¡± She didn¡¯t release her grip, still staring at him. His throat surged with a breath. ¡°Cough, cough, cough, cough¡­¡± His eyes turned red, and he squeezed out words from his chest painfully, ¡°Zhou Xufang¡­ it hurts.¡± The last word had no strength at all. So delicate, like hitting a pillow with a punch, all the force was rebounded back, like a cat¡¯s paw, soft. Zhou Xufang froze, still holding his hand, forgetting to move. Jiang Zhi was already unwell; her grip was strong, and he struggled twice but couldn¡¯t break free, his body teetering, becoming furious out of shame. ¡°Damn it, you hurt me!¡± Hurt me! Hurt! Me! Zhou Xufang suddenly let go, seeing a red mark instantly appear on Jiang Zhi¡¯s fair wrist. His hands were beautifully pale, standing out sharply. She apologized immediately, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, did I hurt you?¡± This tone of self-blame, this guilt¡­ Ah Wan, who had just caught up, thought she had stumbled upon a female bully harassing a good young man. Ah Wan squinted over, seeing her employer¡¯s flushed face, hurried breaths, teary eyes, and rubbing his wrist. ¡°How can a woman have such strength?¡± It was her fault for being too strong. Zhou Xufang felt even more guilty. ¡°I¡¯ll be gentler next time.¡± Next time? Gentler? The more she spoke, the more she sounded like a rogue. Jiang Zhi coughed in frustration. Zhou Xufang reached out, wanting to pat his back, but awkwardly didn¡¯t know how to do it properly. Her hand stiffly stayed there for a long time and then silently retracted. ¡°You still haven¡¯t said why you were touching my back.¡± Jiang Zhi rested a while, finally stopping the cough, the fine veins on his neck visible, ears tinged red, panting, looking like he had been seriously bullied. He was very angry, his tone particularly bad. ¡°Script reading.¡± Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t understand. ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to be the body double for the lead female role in my movie?¡± His peach blossom eyes, rimmed with red, scanned her up and down. ¡°Forget it, you¡¯re not qualified.¡± The words were harsh, his temper was terrible. Maybe good-looking people had some temper; like noble daughters spoiled in big houses. Oh, right, Jiang Zhi was also the pampered young master of the Jiang Family. He must have been spoiled. Zhou Xufang: ¡°Oh.¡± Oh? That¡¯s it? Jiang Zhi felt a blockage in his chest. ¡°In the future¡ª¡± He didn¡¯t finish his sentence. Zhou Xufang waited a long time without hearing the rest, looking up from under the military coat hat. ¡°What?¡± What¡¯s with this outfit?! Jiang Zhi felt somewhat frustrated, not knowing why he was angry, just feeling inexplicably displeased. He forcefully tore open the coat¡¯s buttons, exhaling deeply. ¡°Don¡¯t ever be a body double again. If you need money, come to me for auditions.¡± A simple sentence, said with so much frustration. Yet Zhou Xufang knew, Jiang Zhi just had a bit of a bad temper, but he was a good person. She honestly, coldly, woodenly said, ¡°You¡¯re a really nice person.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Jiang Zhi almost choked on his breath, his throat burning. Nice person? To hell with being a nice person, he was very ill! Seeing him coughing severely, Zhou Xufang, conflicted, reached out and gently patted his back, careful not to hurt him, patting very lightly. Jiang Zhi was taken aback, turning his head. Her fingertips brushed against his face, icy cold against his burning skin, the extremes colliding, a fine needle poking at the heart, numbing and itching, with a slight tinge of pain. Jiang Zhi almost staggered away, his face and ears instantly flushed red, his voice hoarse. ¡°Your¡ªyour hands are so cold.¡± Oh, her body temperature was lower than normal. Zhou Xufang withdrew her hand, her expression unchanging, unlike Jiang Zhi¡¯s embarrassment. ¡°I¡¯m cold.¡± His Adam¡¯s apple bobbed, suddenly at a loss for words, feeling thirsty and breathless. ¡°I also have something to say to you.¡± He averted his eyes, responding only with a hum. She said, ¡°You must be careful in the future, do not go out alone, especially not at night.¡± Someone had offered two million to assault him. He turned to look at her. ¡°What do you mean?¡± She glanced around, took a step closer, stood on tiptoe, and whispered in his ear: ¡°You need to hide, or someone will covet your beauty.¡± That year, the mute boy from the Luo Family had also told him, standing on tiptoe by his ear, ¡°You must hide, they will make you drink poison, they are all bad people.¡± Oh, so he wasn¡¯t mute. That year, that boy died in a fire, never again warning him to hide because someone wanted to harm him. Jiang Zhi stared blankly at Zhou Xufang. Her eyes, looking at him solemnly, were exactly the same as that boy¡¯s, which was why, why she made his heart helpless and lost. Chapter 30 - Chapter 30: 030: Jiang Zhi got a disease called Zhou Xufang Chapter 30: 030: Jiang Zhi got a disease called Zhou Xufang Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation Zhou Xufang couldn¡¯t tell why he was in a daze. She had finished saying what she needed to say, ¡°Then I¡¯m leaving.¡± He still didn¡¯t speak. Zhou Xufang left. For a long while, Jiang Zhi stood motionless until Ah Wan called out to him. ¡°Boss.¡± ¡°Boss.¡± His boss didn¡¯t respond. Ah Wan waved a hand in front of him, trying to bring him back to reality, ¡°Boss.¡± Jiang Zhi finally came to his senses, still looking confused. The more Ah Wan looked at him, the more worried he became, ¡°Your face is so red.¡± His gaze was blank, and he mechanically raised a hand to his heart. Then he stumbled and leaned heavily against the wall, breathing deeply. This reaction scared Ah Wan. ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Boss? Are you not feeling well?¡± The boss leaned against the wall, coughing and breathing heavily. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.?0 Ah Wan was frantic, ¡°Oh no, your ears are also red. Are you having an episode?¡± He quickly dialed the phone, ¡°Hello, Dr. Xue? My boss isn¡¯t feeling well.¡± Xue Bingxue asked for symptoms over the phone. Ah Wan hurriedly described them in detail. ¡°Coughing badly.¡± ¡°No blood in his sputum.¡± ¡°Should be a bit feverish, his face is very red, everywhere is red.¡± ¡°He seems to be out of breath.¡± Ah Wan started to sweat, ¡°It looks like symptoms of a myocardial infarction.¡± Last year, around this same time, as winter set in, the employer started coughing up blood. Ah Wan dreaded that his employer might have a short life. Though he had a bad temper, Ah Wan didn¡¯t want him to die. Ah Wan almost cried, ¡°He isn¡¯t walking well either¡­ seems like he might pass out¡­¡± My poor employer¡­ only twenty-four years old¡­ Please, heavens, have mercy¡­ Jiang Zhi stumbled back to the lounge, took a couple of tranquilizers, but they had no effect. His heartbeat was irregular, and he gasped for air, lying on the chair, taking large breaths. Ah Wan, with reddened eyes, stayed close by. ¡°Boss.¡± Jiang Zhi had no interest in responding to him. Ah Wan wanted to cry, pinching his thigh to hold back the tears, ¡°How do you feel? Do you want some hot water?¡± Without an answer, he quickly fetched a cup of hot water, presenting it with both hands, ¡°Dr. Xue will be here soon; please hold on.¡± The heat on Jiang Zhi¡¯s face hadn¡¯t subsided. His lips were redder than usual, adding an unusual touch of allure to his sickly look. He seemed very upset, roughly pulling off the blanket from the recliner and throwing it at Ah Wan. ¡°Send this to Zhou Xufang.¡± Ah Wan looked dumbfounded, ¡°Huh?¡± Jiang Zhi impatiently said, ¡°She¡¯s cold, take it to her.¡± Her hands were like ice blocks, she¡¯d freeze to death. Even at such a time, he was worried about someone else being cold. Ah Wan held the blanket in one hand, offering the hot water again, ¡°Aren¡¯t you cold?¡± Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t take it; his peach blossom eyes seemed to hold water, his expression blurred. He said, ¡°I¡¯m hot.¡± Hot? Ah Wan saw his red face and ears, growing even more worried, ¡°Do you have a fever?¡± Jiang Zhi took a deep breath, ¡°Hurry up and go.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Ah Wan ran off to deliver the blanket. Inside, only Jiang Zhi remained, lying on the chair, his eyes staring blankly. He raised a hand, pressing the back of it to his forehead. Damn, he was really burning up; his whole body was on fire! Xue Bingxue arrived twenty minutes later. ¡°Give me your hand.¡± Jiang Zhi lowered his eyes, lost in thought. Xue Bingxue called him, ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± No response. ¡°Jiang Zhi!¡± He lifted his eyes, ¡°Hmm?¡± Xue Bingxue looked at his face; it wasn¡¯t as bad as Ah Wan had described. His face was pale, but his eyes held a soft tenderness, still in decent condition. ¡°Give me your hand, for a pulse check.¡± Jiang Zhi extended his hand to the chair¡¯s armrest. Xue Bingxue was trained in traditional Chinese medicine, particularly skilled at pulse diagnosis. He felt Jiang Zhi¡¯s pulse several times, ¡°How many of the pills I gave you did you take this week?¡± Jiang Zhi seemed to be distracted, ¡°One.¡± That medicine harmed the lungs: taking it would cause coughing and even spitting blood. He absolutely couldn¡¯t take too much. Infertility was minor; it could be life-threatening. Of course, Xue Bingxue didn¡¯t know the full story, assuming it was just a medication issue. He advised Jiang Zhi, ¡°Your pulse is erratic. Stop the medication for now and try other treatments. Avoid going back to the Jiang Family these days. I¡¯ll prescribe something else to ease your condition.¡± That drug was still in the experimental phase, who knew what other side effects it might have besides infertility. Not sure if Jiang Zhi paid attention, he frowned the whole time, lost in thought. ¡°Can I ask you something?¡± He sat up from the chair. Xue Bingxue was writing a prescription, ¡°Go ahead.¡± ¡°Can sexual orientation change?¡± Xue Bingxue suddenly looked up. Jiang Zhi repeated, ¡°Can sexual orientation change?¡± His frown deepened. Was it because she resembled someone who had passed? Or because she was uniquely quirky? Or was he just curious about the opposite sex? Or¡­ was it simply because of this heart that beat chaotically? He couldn¡¯t be sure; all he knew was, she was different. Xue Bingxue, perhaps shocked by the question, had a puzzled look on his delicate face, his mouth slightly open. After a while, he responded, ¡°I don¡¯t know about you, but for me, no.¡± He was a bit shy but still firm, ¡°I will always only like Wei¡¯er.¡± Here he went again with Jiang Wei¡¯er! Pathetic! Jiang Zhi¡¯s already chaotic thoughts were further stirred by Xue Bingxue, making him annoyed as he scolded, ¡°If you like her, go after her.¡± In his view, anything he wanted, he had to get, by any means necessary. Xue Bingxue was different, though. Being the cherished child born late to elderly parents, he was a naive and pampered sweetie, ¡°She has a boyfriend; if I go after her, I¡¯d be the third wheel.¡± Jiang Zhi was dismissive, ¡°So what?¡± His tone was arrogant, his gaze challenging. That¡¯s just how Jiang Zhi was. He did whatever he wanted, didn¡¯t care about right or wrong; his sense of right and wrong was his own, unchangeable by anyone. An absolute egotist. Xue Bingxue didn¡¯t argue, his face sad. Jiang Zhi couldn¡¯t bear his pathetic look and coldly said with his beautiful eyes, ¡°If it were someone I liked,¡± he licked his lips, ¡°I¡¯d even get her to divorce if she were married.¡± He was determined to have her. Make¡­ make them divorce?! ¡°!¡± Naive Xue Bingxue was stunned, his worldview shattered! Suddenly, a voice cut in, ¡°What are you talking about?¡± The door was pushed open forcefully, and Jiang Wei¡¯er walked in, lifting her dress, giving Jiang Zhi a glare, ¡°Watch your language.¡± Xue Bingxue immediately stood up, his face turning beet red, swallowing a big gulp of saliva, ¡°Wei, Wei¡¯er.¡± Jiang Wei¡¯er saw his red ears, ¡°Did Brother Zhi bully you again?¡± His head shook vigorously, ¡°No!¡± Jiang Wei¡¯er didn¡¯t believe it, giving him a glance before looking at Jiang Zhi. Compared to his aggressive wolf-like eyes, Xue Bingxue was like a harmless little rabbit. She earnestly advised Xue Bingxue, ¡°Spend less time with those guys in the future; they¡¯ll only corrupt you.¡± Xue Baoyi was carefree; Qiao Nanchu was also sly and wicked¡ªnot one of them was honest! Xue Bingxue was extremely obedient, nodding like a pecking chick, ¡°Mm-hmm ~¡± Whatever Wei¡¯er said was right! He¡¯d listen to whatever Wei¡¯er said! Jiang Wei¡¯er saw his bright eyes like a harmless little animal and felt an urge to pet him. Among the group of young masters from back then, he was the most obedient. But too obedient, easy to deceive. While thinking, she received a call. Seeing the caller ID, she turned away to answer. ¡°Are you here?¡± Her voice was gentle and sweet. It was Xiao Linsu¡¯s call. She spoke to him like this, softly like a little white flower, ¡°Wait for me in the car.¡± Hanging up, her tone changed to domineering, ¡°I have something to do, leaving now. Brother Zhi, stop bullying Xue Bingxue.¡± Jiang Zhi responded with an indifferent look. Waving goodbye, Jiang Wei¡¯er left. Xue Bingxue reluctantly followed to the door, his eyes filled with sorrow. Jiang Zhi rubbed his brow, wanting to punch the wimp, and called out, ¡°Ah Wan.¡± Ah Wan stepped forward. Jiang Zhi frowned again, ¡°Arrange an appointment with a psychologist.¡± He needed to understand his feelings for Zhou Xufang. Was it because she resembled someone from the past? It didn¡¯t seem like it. Ah Wan found the boss extra weird today and asked, ¡°Why do you need a psychologist?¡± Was it because he was so ill that he broke down mentally? Jiang Zhi looked up, his eyes coldly sweeping over. Ah Wan quickly shut his mouth, promising not to ask more. Chapter 31 - Chapter 31: 031: Brother Zhi Longing for Spring (Part 1) Chapter 31: 031: Brother Zhi Longing for Spring (Part 1) Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation There was only one parking lot in the film city, nearly a kilometer away from Jiang Zhi¡¯s filming location. Jiang Wei¡¯er walked there, being particularly careful along the way. After ensuring no one was following her, she got into a car. As soon as she sat down, she was pulled over by a hand. Xiao Linsu didn¡¯t even wear a mask, smiling as he looked at her. Jiang Wei¡¯er, worried about paparazzi, backed away a little: ¡°Don¡¯t you have a schedule?¡± He refused, pulling her into his arms: ¡°I missed you.¡± His voice was hoarse beyond belief; he must¡¯ve been utterly exhausted. Just as Jiang Wei¡¯er wanted to ask why he came back so suddenly, he hugged her tightly, leaving her somewhat bewildered. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Xiao Linsu rested his chin on her shoulder: ¡°Wei¡¯er.¡± ¡°Mm.¡± He didn¡¯t say anything more, just kissed her. Worried that they were outside, Jiang Wei¡¯er pushed him away: ¡°We might get photographed.¡± ¡°Let them,¡± he moved closer and gently kissed the corner of her lips. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ??¦Í??.§ã¦Ï Jiang Wei¡¯er¡¯s heart softened, letting him be. As she lowered her head, she saw a small patch of exposed skin on his wrist: ¡°What¡¯s wrong with your hand?¡± He lowered his hand: ¡°It¡¯s nothing, just got hurt while filming.¡± She was still worried and tried to pull up his sleeve. ¡°Don¡¯t look.¡± Xiao Linsu held her hand. ¡°Let me see.¡± Jiang Wei¡¯er undid his cufflinks and rolled up his sleeve, her brows furrowing instantly, ¡°You¡¯re lying. This wasn¡¯t from filming, these are cigarette burns.¡± His arm had two cigarette burn scars. Xiao Linsu laughed: ¡°You found out.¡± He loved to laugh, and when he did, his eyes brightened, now looking at her a bit pleadingly as he confessed, ¡°I just secretly smoked one.¡± He had always been good-tempered and gentle. Jiang Wei¡¯er couldn¡¯t bring herself to get angry with him, feeling merely heartbroken looking at the burns on his arm: ¡°It was so hard for you to quit.¡± He laughed and pecked her on the cheek: ¡°I won¡¯t dare again, I promise.¡± He used to smoke heavily, and it was Jiang Wei¡¯er who made him quit. Fifty meters away, Fang Lixiang was crouching, leaning against a parking lot pillar, bent at a ninety-degree angle, eavesdropping with focused concentration. Suddenly, someone patted her on the back. ¡°Lixiang.¡± She turned around quickly, pressing a finger to her lips: ¡°Shh.¡± Seeing how mysteriously she was acting, Zhou Xufang spoke in a low voice: ¡°What are you doing?¡± Fang Lixiang¡¯s face showed a mixture of excitement and sadness. Speaking in a high-pitched voice, she said: ¡°My assistant is having an affair with my idol!¡± After saying this, she strained her ears to listen again, her little face scrunched up tightly. ¡°Ugh, I can¡¯t hear anything!¡± So frustrating. Zhou Xufang had excellent hearing, able to catch even the slightest sound within a hundred meters if she wanted. She then faithfully recited the following dialogue. ¡°Baby, kiss me again.¡± with no expression. ¡°You can kiss, but don¡¯t say anything.¡± again with no expression. ¡°Mm, won¡¯t say anything.¡± still with no expression. ¡°Annoying.¡± still expressionless. Reciting the little love words, Zhou Xufang did so mechanically, her tone as if reciting a text. Fang Lixiang didn¡¯t react for a moment: ¡°What are you doing?¡± Zhou Xufang¡¯s expression was both serious and calm: ¡°Didn¡¯t you want to hear? I heard their affair talk, so I¡¯m telling you.¡± Fang Lixiang: ¡°¡­¡± This is a gem right here. Fang Lixiang thought Zhou Xufang was both cold and cute and well-behaved. Eavesdropping wasn¡¯t a task that would set the innocent Zhou Xufang on the wrong path. So, they left together. ¡°Xu Fang, are you short of money recently?¡± Zhou Xufang kept a bit of a distance from her, seemingly not liking others getting too close. Her face was also hidden within the hood of her military coat. She said: ¡°I have something very expensive to buy.¡± Knowing that Zhou Xufang had mild social difficulties, Fang Lixiang kept a distance walking behind her: ¡°Then I¡¯ll introduce you to a part-time job.¡± She said: ¡°I don¡¯t do nudity.¡± ¡°Not nudity, my cousin is opening a salon and recently looking for hair models.¡± Fang Lixiang felt that Zhou Xufang carried a mysterious sense of abstinence, looking particularly cool and handsome. However, with just a frown, she¡¯d have an advanced melancholic look, decadent yet chic. Anyway, she looked good no matter what, but Fang had never seen her smile and wondered how she looked when she did. ¡°What do I have to do?¡± Fang Lixiang responded generously: ¡°You don¡¯t have to do anything, just let him do your hair, and you can ask for any price!¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Because the nudity job didn¡¯t work out, Zhou Xufang went home earlier, and then went to Ba Yi Bridge early to set up her screen protector stall. The whole afternoon, the atmosphere on set was a bit off, though it was hard to pinpoint why. Anyway, the female lead Yu Ran got scolded to tears by Jiang Zhi, who said her acting was crap. Seven in the evening. Ah Wan had reserved a spot for Jiang Zhi at Hulun Tea House, arranging a meeting with a renowned psychologist in the Imperial City. ¡°Doctor Qiu is already waiting inside for you.¡± It started raining in the evening, and winter rain was chillingly cold. Jiang Zhi wore a mask: ¡°You don¡¯t need to follow.¡± He left Ah Wan behind, opened the car door, and walked into the rain with a black umbrella. Through the misty rain, Ah Wan saw him walking with his head down, coughing all the way. Alas, the employer was not just physically sick, but also mentally sick lately as well. Hulun Tea House had private seating areas ensuring good privacy. Jiang Zhi opened the door; someone was already waiting inside. The middle-aged man in a suit and tie stood up immediately upon seeing him, somewhat nervously calling out: ¡°Mr. Jiang.¡± Jiang Zhi took off his mask and his coat, the temperature difference quickly reddening his pale face: ¡°Sit down.¡± His voice lacked strength. Just like the rumors, he really was a sickly person. Doctor Qiu raised his head for a quick glance and immediately lowered it again. That face, rumored to be, indeed, as delicate and beautiful as a pear blossom. Jiang Zhi sat down, wiping the rainwater from his fingertips with a cloth: ¡°I¡¯m consulting you on something, and I hope none of the Jiang Family knows about it.¡± Doctor Qiu¡¯s heart beat faster, sincerely afraid: ¡°I understand.¡± Jiang Zhi casually poured himself a cup of tea, moistening his lips: ¡°Don¡¯t be nervous. It¡¯s nothing serious, just a few questions.¡± ¡°Please, go ahead.¡± He remained silent for a moment, seemingly not knowing how to start, his brows furrowed for quite a while: ¡°I have a friend.¡± After a three-second pause, he emphasized, ¡°This is about my friend.¡± Doctor Qiu, now embarrassed but forgetting his nervousness: ¡°¡­¡± The little tyrant of the Jiang Family was also using the ¡°friend¡± line? As if afraid he wouldn¡¯t believe him, Jiang Zhi further explained very nonchalantly: ¡°You know Xue Baoyi, the second son of the Xue Family, this concerns him.¡± Knowing everything yet pretending otherwise, Doctor Qiu put on a serious expression: ¡°Mm, understood, it¡¯s about the Second Young Master Xue.¡± Mr. Jiang, whatever you say goes. Jiang Zhi took a sip of tea, savoring it elegantly: ¡°He is gay, but he recently suspects he has been turned straight.¡± He took another sip, now a bit absent-minded, ¡°I want to know if a homosexual can be turned straight.¡± So, Mr. Jiang has been turned straight? Big news! Doctor Qiu, nervous yet excited, said: ¡°It¡¯s possible, sexual orientation is greatly influenced by one¡¯s environment.¡± As soon as he finished, Jiang Zhi furrowed his sharp eyebrows. ¡°He¡¯s only suspicious; how can he be sure?¡± Jiang Zhi put down the cup, his Adam¡¯s apple moving as he sat up straighter. From his micro-expressions, it was clear he was anxious. Doctor Qiu, also growing anxious, asked: ¡°Can you tell me more about how your¡­ your friend, the Second Young Master Xue, is different now?¡± Jiang Zhi, his eyes as pretty as peach blossoms in March, seemed lost in thought for a long time. ¡°He keeps thinking about that woman, but he feels restless when he sees her.¡± Frowning, he picked up the cup again, this time taking a big gulp, licking his lips as if still thirsty, ¡°Not seeing her makes him feel even worse.¡± Chapter 32 - Chapter 32: 032: You Must Lust After My Beauty (Chapter 2) Chapter 32: 032: You Must Lust After My Beauty (Chapter 2) Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation ¡°Can¡¯t see her, feel even worse.¡± This symptom¡­ ¡°How about physical contact? Do you reject it?¡± Doctor Qiu asked. This time, Jiang Zhi answered quickly, ¡°No.¡± ¡°Is it just her you don¡¯t reject, or all the opposite sex?¡± A bewildered expression appeared in his peach blossom eyes, ¡°Not sure.¡± As if anyone else dared to pinch him and touch him like she did. After this line of questioning, Doctor Qiu¡¯s curiosity was piqued. He wondered which extraordinary woman had managed to straighten the Imperial City¡¯s most beautiful man. He spoke too quickly, ¡°Do you¡ª¡± His words were sharply interrupted, ¡°I said, this is Xue Baoyi¡¯s problem, not mine.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Was he angry? Sensing the tension, Doctor Qiu quickly rephrased his question, ¡°Is Second Young Master Xue curious about that woman?¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï??0.§ã? Jiang Zhi shot him a cold glance, seemingly warning him not to make another mistake in his words. His posture became even more relaxed. He responded with a casual ¡°Mm,¡± admitting it, and then, topping it off, he added, ¡°Very curious.¡± Doctor Qiu felt this psychological consultation increasingly resembled an emotional consultation, so he boldly asked the crux of the matter, ¡°Is your heart moved?¡± He emphasized, ¡°I mean Second Young Master.¡± Jiang Zhi became lost in thought for a moment. Heart moved? When he was a teenager, he was fond of a boy. At that time, they were both kids. Before he could confirm if it was deep love, the boy was gone. Heart moved? He couldn¡¯t quite grasp it. He only knew he had missed him all these years and couldn¡¯t let go. He turned his face away and awkwardly lifted a teacup to hide, ¡°What does it count as?¡± ¡°Your heartbeat speeds up, your body heats up, like,¡± Doctor Qiu considered that the other party was a frail person and used a relatively apt description, ¡°like myocardial infarction.¡± Bang. Jiang Zhi set the cup down with a changed expression. Myocardial infarction, my ass! Where did they find this idiot psychologist? ¡°Let¡¯s end it here today.¡± He grabbed his coat and stood up. Rising too quickly, he coughed a few times in haste. It was unclear which sentence had upset the little tough guy. Doctor Qiu had to steel himself, handing over a business card, ¡°Th-this is my card. If Mr. Jiang has any more questions, you can contact me anytime.¡± Jiang Zhi deliberated with a downcast gaze. After a moment, he took the card. He pushed open the door and walked out of the private room. Someone was smoking in the hallway, and the smell irritated him. He crumpled the business card in his hand, walked to the corner, hesitated a moment, then threw the card in the trash. Turning around, he bumped into Zhou Xufang, who was wearing a black coat. ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± Two words, cold and unremarkable. Yet, it struck him harder than any other reaction anyone had ever given him, like a heavy hammer, abruptly and fiercely hitting his heart. Then, like that damn psychologist described, his heartbeat accelerated, and his body heated up. He instinctively swallowed, ¡°W-what are you doing here?¡± Her eyes carried a hint of affection, a gaze enveloped in a smoky veil of peach blossom. Zhou Xufang¡¯s expression was peculiar, one she didn¡¯t understand, so she chose not to look at him, ¡°I¡¯m here to deliver food.¡± His eyes reddened at the corners, the water glistening in his peach blossom eyes, which kept staring at her, his breath somewhat rapid. Zhou Xufang felt uncomfortable under his gaze, took a step back, and looked up at him, ¡°Your face is very red, are you feeling unwell?¡± Yes, unwell. Seeing her, his heart felt unwell. Before Jiang Zhi could speak, a drunk man staggered along, leaning against the corner, tripped, and fell towards Jiang Zhi. Zhou Xufang immediately grabbed him by the hand, gave a forceful tug, and threw the drunk far, far away against a wall, leaving him gasping with a red face. Holding back a cough, Jiang Zhi looked stunned, staring at his own hand that Zhou Xufang had grabbed. The back of his fair hand, now marked by two vivid red finger marks. The drunk had already staggered far away. Zhou Xufang realized her earlier action was inappropriate, ¡°Did I hurt you again?¡± She pursed her lips, feeling regretful, ¡°Sorry, I used too much force.¡± Jiang Zhi remained silent, only feeling the spot she touched was burning hot, even a bit numb. This woman, always pinching and touching him without warning. Zhou Xufang waited a long time for Jiang Zhi to speak, but he didn¡¯t. Her desolate eyes showed a rare confusion. She pulled at her hat, ¡°Then I¡¯ll go deliver the food now.¡± Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t speak. ¡°Goodbye.¡± Without a word, she truly left. She calmly intruded into his sight, then left indifferently. And he, like an idiot, stood there dazed, his mind wandering. Damn it. Jiang Zhi kicked over the trash can and then grabbed his short hair, feeling dissatisfied and unhappy, yet resignedly picked up the business card. Ah Wan felt the employer was in a daze the whole way. Zhou Xufang delivered six orders of food and returned home by nearly eleven o¡¯clock. She just opened the fridge and took out two cans of milk when Shuangjiang started her computer. ¡°Ah Fang, the client has confirmed the mission time.¡± Holding a can of milk, she bit open the tab with her teeth, ¡°When?¡± ¡°Tomorrow night at nine, deliver the person to Jiajing Garden, building seven, unit 101.¡± Zhou Xufang sat drinking two cans of milk. After eating some cotton candy, she kicked off her pink bunny slippers under the bed and lay on the black bed sheets for a while. Forty million. Jiang Zhi and forty million¡­ Jiang Zhi was so beautiful; she might as well give up the forty million. She got up to grab her phone and texted Jiang Zhi on WeChat. ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± He replied quickly, stingily, just with one word. ¡°Mm.¡± Zhou Xufang typed slowly, ¡°Can you not go out tomorrow night?¡± Over there, the beauty, awakened in the middle of the night, listlessly got up from bed, only those burning peach blossom eyes were hot and completely sleepless. ¡°Reason.¡± Reason, huh. She couldn¡¯t say someone was planning to kidnap him. Zhou Xufang thought for a moment, expressing it differently, ¡°You¡¯re too good-looking, and it¡¯s dangerous to go out.¡± She was telling the truth, ¡°There are a lot of perverts outside.¡± A few seconds later. ¡°How is my safety any of your business?¡± Zhou Xufang had a piece of cotton candy in her mouth. The sweetness melted and made her smile slightly as she slowly and methodically typed. ¡°It isn¡¯t.¡± She sent another message, sincerely, ¡°But you¡¯re a good person, and I don¡¯t want others to harm you.¡± Staring at his phone, Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± Good person my ass! He threw his phone aside, knocking over the cup on the table. Hot water spilled onto his clothes, but not caring about it, he grabbed the phone first. Woken up in the middle of the night, logically, he should have been furious. Instead, he was nervous, sweaty-palmed, and eager. Unable to restrain himself, he poked the dark profile picture again and sent two messages. ¡°Zhou Xufang.¡± ¡°Mm.¡± ¡°Are you also admiring my beauty?¡± Chapter 33 - Chapter 33: 033: Hands look good, want to touch (first update) Chapter 33: 033: Hands look good, want to touch (first update) Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation ¡°Are you also attracted to my beauty?¡± He shouldn¡¯t have asked, it was too abrupt. Without sorting himself out first, he impulsively pushed forward, which was indeed improper. But if he didn¡¯t ask, he felt uneasy. Within seconds, Zhou Xufang replied; four continuous beeps. She sent four messages, and as he clicked on her avatar, his palms began to sweat. Zhou Xufang: ¡°I am not.¡± Zhou Xufang: ¡°Really, I¡¯m not.¡± Zhou Xufang: ¡°You have to believe me.¡± Zhou Xufang: ¡°I am not attracted!¡± Four consecutive messages, each more urgent and sincere than the last, even using exclamation marks. She was just short of swearing to heaven to show her sincerity. Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± Great, after asking, he felt even more uneasy. This Zhou Xufang! Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï??¦Ï.§ã¦Ï Jiang Zhi threw his phone aside again, forcibly pulled two tissues, and impatiently wiped the stains on his pants. If he dealt with her again, he was a dog. Zhou Xufang hadn¡¯t received a reply from Jiang Zhi for a long time and thought he wouldn¡¯t respond anymore. Just as she was about to get up to rinse¡ª Ding. Another message came, eight minutes after the last one. ¡°The crew needs a hand double, are you in? Only hand shots.¡± Hand double? Zhou Xufang pondered. Jiang Zhi sent another message: ¡°The pay is twenty thousand.¡± She quickly replied: ¡°I¡¯m in.¡± Twenty thousand, she could buy a wall of cotton candy, how happy. ¡°Then come over at eight tomorrow morning.¡± The corners of her mouth curved slightly, an inadvertent smile, and the indifference in her eyes faded, replaced by vibrant brilliance. She replied: ¡°Okay.¡± So happy, she was going to eat a few cotton candies. WeChat was still ringing. Zhou Xufang couldn¡¯t find her slippers, didn¡¯t know where she¡¯d kicked them, went barefoot to get her phone, and stuffed three candies into her mouth, squinting from the sweetness. ¡°Zhou Xufang.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± Jiang Zhi said nothing else, just continued sending her name. ¡°Zhou Xufang.¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± ¡°Zhou Xufang.¡± She had nothing to say: ¡°.¡± Then WeChat went quiet, but only for a while before Jiang Zhi called her again. ¡°Zhou Xufang.¡± Zhou Xufang put the pretty cotton candy box away. Lately, she thought Jiang Zhi was even prettier than that box. Since he was so pretty, she wouldn¡¯t mind his annoyance. She liked everything pretty and pleasant, especially these days when she was a bit more wicked, wanting to steal all the beautiful things. She even wanted to take the pretty lamp from the congee shop home, to look at day and night. If she didn¡¯t go to Moon Bay, she might even steal Jiang Zhi and place him by her bedside, so she would see him as soon as she opened her eyes. Forget about Moon Bay, she couldn¡¯t steal Jiang Zhi; he was fragile, and Moon Bay was cold. He would freeze to death. Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t continue daydreaming and replied to Jiang Zhi: ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± ¡°Nothing.¡± ¡°But you kept calling me.¡± Jiang Zhi typed especially fast. Each message only took a few seconds: ¡°Just wanted to see how severe your OCD is.¡± Zhou Xufang, with nothing to say: ¡°.¡± ¡°Zhou Xufang.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± ¡°Zhou Xufang.¡± ¡°My OCD is really severe; stop messaging, I¡¯m going to sleep.¡± ¡°Sleep then.¡± ¡°.¡± Zhou Xufang went to bed barefoot. Just as she put her phone down, WeChat rang again. ¡°Zhou Xufang.¡± She pursed her lips, reached for her phone: ¡°I¡¯m sleeping.¡± ¡°You sleep, I¡¯ll text.¡± ¡°.¡± ¡°Zhou Xufang.¡± Her cheeks puffed up. For the first time, she found this person so annoying, wanting to pinch him until he cried. She lay there, too tired to move, shut her eyes and tried to fall asleep. No, she had to get up and reply. She got up, irritably tugged at her hair, reached for her phone, and replied with a period. ¡°Zhou Xufang.¡± She yawned, so sleepy: ¡°.¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡°Zhou Xufang.¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡°Last time, don¡¯t reply, go to sleep.¡± She put down her phone and lay down. No, she had to reply¡­ She got up again, reached for her phone, and wiped away the physiological tears that welled up from tiredness, replying: ¡°.¡± Then, finally, it was quiet. Zhou Xufang crawled into her pitch-black blanket, wrapping herself up like a silkworm cocoon. Before falling asleep, she pondered, what if Jiang Zhi keeps doing this to her in the future¡­ Should she block him? No, he had a bad temper and would get mad. If he got mad, she might lose her role as an extra. Then should she steal him, so he couldn¡¯t use his phone at night? No, that would expose her. Jiang Zhi might call the cops and capture her, thinking she was a scum who kidnapped him for lust. Maybe just steal his phone at night and return it during the day¡­ Thinking this, Zhou Xufang fell asleep. She rarely dreamed but had a dream about Jiang Zhi. He was tied to the pretty lamp in the congee shop, crying and calling her a scum and a villain for kidnapping both him and the lamp¡­ Zhou Xufang woke up in fright, saw the time, and realized she had only slept for half an hour. She turned over and continued to sleep. On the other side, Jiang Zhi stared at the period on his phone screen, smiled a bit, then his face darkened, his eyes turning cold instantly. Damn, what was he doing? Was he a dog? He grabbed a blanket and lay on the sofa. It was already the latter half of the night, yet he wasn¡¯t sleepy at all. The light was glaring, so he raised his hand to block the light above his head and naturally saw the two red marks on the back of his hand. That girl had quite the grip; the marks hadn¡¯t faded yet. That hand¡­ that hand was quite pretty, very white¡­ Jiang Zhi suddenly sat up, irritably sighed, and fished for his phone to dial a number. Vice Director Zhao received a call from the privileged director in the middle of the night, instantly waking up: ¡°Director Jiang?¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± Vice Director Zhao checked the time on his phone. Crap, it was two in the morning. ¡°It¡¯s so late. Do you need something?¡± When did this master start staying up late? Doesn¡¯t he usually sleep by eight? Jiang Zhi¡¯s voice was hoarse from lack of sleep, but he was mentally alert: ¡°I found a hand double, prepare for it. Tomorrow you personally guide her on set.¡± ¡°A hand double?¡± Saying that so late at night? Vice Director Zhao wondered if he was dreaming. ¡°For whom?¡± Jiang Zhi gritted his teeth, his voice low and hoarse: ¡°Who do you think?¡± The tone, unexpectedly seductive, making Vice Director Zhao think of a sexy, lazy cat in heat, even though the cat¡¯s claws were too sharp, making one uneasy. ¡°Yu Ran¡ª she needs a hand double?¡± Before Vice Director Zhao could finish asking, Jiang Zhi lazily replied, ¡°Her hands are prettier, why not a double?¡± Vice Director Zhao: ¡°¡­¡± Where did this sense of pride come from? He wondered if the director had a condition from staying up late. Next day, on set. Ah Wan felt something was off when his employer stared at the same spot for over ten minutes. ¡°Boss.¡± No reaction. Ah Wan raised his voice: ¡°Boss?¡± Still no reaction. Ah Wan walked in front of him: ¡°What are you looking at?¡± His gaze was like a monk seeing meat. Jiang Zhi¡¯s sharp brows furrowed, his eyes instantly turning from warm blossoms to icy flowers: ¡°You¡¯re in my way.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Ah Wan silently moved aside and secretly followed his employer¡¯s line of sight. Oh, it was Miss Zhou, who was applying film. Jiang Zhi stared at Zhou Xufang¡¯s hands, looking again and again, thinking they were increasingly beautiful. Wanting to touch. Really wanting to. He was watching intently when a figure in a cheongsam blocked his view. It was Fang Lixiang, in her costume, twisting her way to Zhou Xufang, smiling like a flower: ¡°Xu Fang, are you cold?¡± The sun was out today, it was about four to five degrees. Zhou Xufang shook her head. She couldn¡¯t really feel the cold or heat, just had a low body temperature and told people she was afraid of the cold, so she could bundle up more. But Fang Lixiang thought she was cold and draped her own down jacket over her. Then she asked, ¡°Xu Fang, are you hungry?¡± Zhou Xufang had just had breakfast, eaten three crates of soup dumplings, and drank two cans of milk, so she shook her head: ¡°I¡¯m not hungry.¡± Fang Lixiang, as if not hearing, shoved two big bags of snacks in Zhou Xufang¡¯s hands: ¡°I bought you some tasty snacks, eat them when you¡¯re hungry.¡± Today, Urala¡¯s Lixiang was particularly enthusiastic. Zhou Xufang took them: ¡°Thank you.¡± Courtesy dictates reciprocity; next time, she had to buy Fang Lixiang two bags. Having taken care of Zhou Xufang¡¯s food and warmth, Fang Lixiang asked again, ¡°Thirsty?¡± Before Zhou Xufang could answer. Fang Lixiang brought over a box of AD calcium milk: ¡°I bought you some milk. The brand you usually drink is imported; I haven¡¯t gotten it yet. Drink this for now; it¡¯s also very tasty.¡± Zhou Xufang hadn¡¯t tried this one before. She put the two bags of snacks down and blankly took the milk, feeling a bit unaccustomed to Fang Lixiang¡¯s enthusiasm. ¡°Xu Fang, if anyone bullies you on set, you must tell me, okay?¡± She looked righteous and brave, ¡°Urala¡¯s Lixiang has your back.¡± Just as she finished her heroic words, Vice Director Zhao roared. ¡°Fang Lixiang, get over here and start working!¡± Chapter 34 - Chapter 34: 034: Touched (Second Update) Chapter 34: 034: Touched (Second Update) Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation ¡°Fang Lixiang, come here and start working!¡± Fang Lixiang turned around in shock, ¡°Isn¡¯t my scene scheduled for ten?¡± It¡¯s only eight now! Vice Director Zhao rolled his eyes at her, ¡°Who told you to wander around aimlessly? Director Jiang is very dissatisfied with you.¡± Director Jiang specifically called him over to manage this flitting busybody. Fang Lixiang, feeling wronged for no reason, was of course upset, ¡°I¡¯m just wandering, how does that bother him?¡± Vice Director Zhao dragged her over, sneakily glanced at Zhou Xufang, and mumbled, ¡°How would I know?¡± This Zhou Xufang¡­ It¡¯s hard to say. Then, Ah Wan noticed that his employer¡¯s furrowed brow relaxed, and he continued to stare intently at the girl¡¯s hand, a suspicious smile forming at the corner of his mouth. When Ah Wan had previously robbed Jiang Zhi of his ridiculously expensive watch and spent a night in a cell, he thought his employer¡¯s current expression was exactly like that of the voyeur he had seen back then. Zhou Xufang was scheduled to have her hand double¡¯s scenes after Fang Lixiang, and it passed in just one take. Vice Director Zhao gave her twenty thousand yuan in cash, a thick wad, and Zhou Xufang was obviously in a very good mood. She treated a few extras around her to a can of milk each. Jiang Zhi thought, why doesn¡¯t she laugh? When she laughs, it must be beautiful. At lunchtime, Fang Lixiang wandered in front of Zhou Xufang again, carrying two large bags of takeout, as enthusiastic as a honeybee collecting nectar. ¡°The set meal isn¡¯t tasty. I ordered this specially, for you.¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã0 After handing it to Zhou Xufang, Fang Lixiang ran off. Zhou Xufang scratched her head, lost in thought. Over there, Fang Lixiang¡¯s assistant, Jiang Wei¡¯er, also thought her enthusiasm was over the top, ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you?¡± She could see that when Fang Lixiang looked at Zhou Xufang, there was guilt in her eyes. Fang Lixiang grinned, unclear if it was genuine or not, and casually made up an excuse, ¡°I owed her in a past life. In this life, Zhou Xufang is the heart, the liver, and the precious sweetie of the Fang family.¡± Jiang Wei¡¯er: ¡°¡­¡± Something¡¯s not right. Fang Lixiang didn¡¯t mention it again. She opened a game and started arguing with someone in the game. ¡°Why do I always run into these noobs?¡± She cursed the noob thoroughly, but then the noob wanted to add her as a game friend. ¡°Why do you want to add me as a friend?¡± After thinking about it, Fang Lixiang clicked accept, ¡°Damn it, you can¡¯t beat me in the game, and you have the nerve to come and curse me. Today I¡¯ll show you why the flowers are so red!¡± After cursing, she started typing away. Jiang Zhi barely ate a few bites of lunch before putting down his chopsticks. Considerate Ah Wan asked, ¡°Boss, is it not to your taste? Shall I order something else?¡± He stared at his hand, absentmindedly saying, ¡°Call Zhou Xufang over.¡± Ah Wan¡¯s curiosity got the better of him, ¡°What do you need her for?¡± Jiang Zhi threw his phone on the table. ¡°To apply a screen protector.¡± His phone¡¯s screen protector had been cracked for a while. Ah Wan had suggested replacing it several times, but Jiang Zhi hadn¡¯t mentioned going to get it fixed. Now, he was refusing to eat lunch and insisting on fixing it. What was up with him? Who indulged him in this! ¡°Miss Zhou definitely wouldn¡¯t carry a screen protector to the set. If you need it done now, I¡¯ll go outside to get you one¡ª¡± Jiang Zhi interrupted, ¡°Lin Wanwan.¡± He called her name with a dragged-out tone that carried a hint of dangerous menace. Ah Wan¡¯s sense of justice always bowed to tyranny, ¡°Oh, I¡¯ll go get her right away.¡± In less than five minutes, Ah Wan brought Zhou Xufang into Jiang Zhi¡¯s private lounge. ¡°You wanted to see me?¡± She was wearing Fang Lixiang¡¯s white down jacket, making her skin look even fairer. She wore a hat, revealing only a palm-sized face. She looked better in black. Jiang Zhi looked over her and said to Ah Wan, ¡°Get out.¡± Ah Wan left silently, closing the door behind him, then pressed his ear against the door. A lonely man and woman, dry wood and a fierce fire¡­ If he didn¡¯t eavesdrop, he would be a fool. Zhou Xufang stood five meters away from Jiang Zhi, not advancing any further. Jiang Zhi sat, the warm weather giving him a healthy complexion, though there were dark circles under his eyes, indicating poor sleep, ¡°My phone¡¯s screen protector is cracked.¡± He pointed to the phone on the table. Zhou Xufang glanced at it, unsure of his intent. She just said, ¡°Oh.¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± He started to feel breathless, he never kept his composure when she was around. He stood up, moved closer to her, though not too close, and in an almost commanding tone said, ¡°Apply it for me.¡± It was definitely a commanding tone, but upon close listening, there was a hint of awkwardness. Zhou Xufang finally understood the purpose of his call, realizing he wanted to support her business. What a nice person, ¡°I can¡¯t do it here. All my stuff is at home.¡± Jiang Zhi¡¯s eyelashes fluttered like falling butterfly wings, ¡°Take out your phone.¡± Not knowing his intention, Zhou Xufang still obediently took out her phone. The butterfly wings seemed to lift, revealing Jiang Zhi¡¯s pair of enchanting yet not effeminate peach blossom eyes, ¡°Same model as mine.¡± So? So, he said, ¡°Take your screen protector off and put it on mine.¡± Zhou Xufang: ¡°¡­¡± Fang Lixiang was strange today, but Jiang Zhi was even stranger. Zhou Xufang had an exceptionally high IQ but didn¡¯t really understand these complex and contradictory human emotions, ¡°Are you seriously ill today?¡± Besides this reason, she couldn¡¯t think of another. After all, Jiang Zhi was a terminally ill, fragile person. Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t deny it. He was seriously ill. Otherwise, why had he been incessantly wanting to look at her hand and touch her hand since last night? And Jiang Zhi would do anything he felt like, even to the extent of tearing the sky apart. ¡°Name your price.¡± This girl loved money. Zhou Xufang considered for a very short time. If it were someone else, she wouldn¡¯t bother, but it was Jiang Zhi. He looked so good and was so frail. Zhou Xufang agreed, ¡°One screen protector is twenty yuan, but this one is old. I¡¯ll charge you ten yuan.¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± At this moment, he wasn¡¯t thinking clearly, his mind muddled. Even if she had asked for a billion, he would have given it. But she only asked for ten yuan. Without further delay, Zhou Xufang squatted by the coffee table, took out a wet wipe to clean the phone screen, then peeled off her own phone¡¯s protector and applied it to Jiang Zhi¡¯s phone, although it was old and didn¡¯t stick well. Her movements were very skilled, and Jiang Zhi stared at her hands. ¡°It¡¯s done.¡± She turned around and met Jiang Zhi¡¯s gaze. He had a pair of beautiful peach blossom eyes, with long eyelashes, more attractive than many girls. Zhou Xufang rarely made eye contact with people, afraid they would see through her. She always hid her gaze, and it seemed she had only looked at Jiang Zhi like this. His eyes grew brighter, like a falling starry river. ¡°I don¡¯t have any small change,¡± he said. Zhou Xufang stood up, walked over, and handed him the phone, ¡°No problem, give it to me next time.¡± Her hand was very white, with a sickly pallor from lack of sunlight. Jiang Zhi looked at her hand and, against all reason, reached out and covered it. He touched her hand. Chapter 35 - Chapter 35: 035: Devil Jiang Zhi Online (Update 1) Chapter 35: 035: Devil Jiang Zhi Online (Update 1) Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation Ãþµ½ÁË,ËýµÄÊÖ. Miss Zhou¡¯s eyelashes fluttered once, and she stood there dumbfounded, letting the cellphone in her palm slide away. ¡°Bang.¡± The phone hit the edge of the glass coffee table, and the screen cracked instantly. Her expression and movements froze. Her speed and agility far exceeded that of normal people by dozens of times. For her, dropping the phone was a significant accident. ¡°Zhou Xufang.¡± She looked up, still a bit dazed: ¡°Huh?¡± Jiang Zhi, who was much taller than her, was looking down at her: ¡°The phone screen broke again.¡± His voice was tense, his forehead was sweaty, and a thin pink flush slowly appeared around his eyes as he stared at her intensely. No wonder people on set said that Jiang Zhi¡¯s eyes could captivate souls. Zhou Xufang herself noticed that her reactions seemed to slow down significantly at this moment, and her expression became more wooden and dull. She just remembered to say: ¡°It seems the screen is broken.¡± She even forgot about the burning hot hand still covering the back of her hand. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ??¦Í??.§ã¦Ï A hint of satisfaction curved Jiang Zhi¡¯s lips: ¡°So, how will you compensate me?¡± Obviously, her stunned reaction amused him. ¡°You touched it first¡ª¡± Mid-sentence, Zhou Xufang looked down and realized that his palm was still stuck on the back of her hand. One cold, one hot, an extreme contrast. Reflexively, she pulled her hand back with force, then grabbed Jiang Zhi¡¯s wrist and twisted it hard, as she did countless times out of self-preservation instinct. Outside, Ah Wan heard a scream. Without a second thought, he kicked the door open and saw his employer clutching his hand, glaring at Zhou Xufang with his captivating, watery eyes. Blushing like a naive young boy unfamiliar with love and romance, he said: ¡°Dropping my phone can be forgiven, but hurting my hand cannot be overlooked.¡± Ah Wan: ¡°¡­¡± The scene of a well-behaved young man and a female bully forced Ah Wan to withdraw his foot and, unable to help himself, sneak a glance at ¡®the female bully.¡¯ ¡®The female bully¡¯ frowned, showing a guilty and regretful expression, not knowing how to handle the situation. After a while, she still extended her hand: ¡°Since I hurt your hand, you can pinch mine too.¡± Ah Wan understood. Miss Zhou had hurt the employer again. Now, Ah Wan was sure that their employer was the submissive type in past relationships, even to the bone. So, even now when he¡¯s not in such relationships, his nature is hard to change. And Miss Zhou was the definite dominant one. Miss ¡°Outright Dominant¡± Zhou even sincerely said: ¡°I don¡¯t fear pain; you can pinch harder.¡± After all, since she made him feel so much pain, she had to repay. In Ah Wan¡¯s opinion, Miss Zhou was a steel-hearted straight woman meeting a scheming submissive, and he was very excited to watch the show. Although his brain wasn¡¯t very developed, he had seen enough Korean romance dramas to understand a bit. The frown on Jiang Zhi¡¯s face softened, and his misty peach blossom eyes cleared up, suddenly brightened: ¡°You said it.¡± He stepped forward, ¡°This time, don¡¯t dodge.¡± She didn¡¯t dodge. He held her hand. For a long time, she didn¡¯t dodge. It turned out that a normal human¡¯s body temperature was so warm, unlike her, cold all over like a monster. His hand was so big it could wrap around her entire hand, transferring warmth to her bit by bit. In the end, she withdrew her hand and, without a word, walked out of the lounge. ¡°Boss.¡± ¡°Boss.¡± Jiang Zhi was in a daze. Ah Wan hesitated for a while, unable to resist his curiosity: ¡°Do you,¡± he covered his mouth and whispered, ¡°do you like Miss Zhou?¡± No wonder he had been acting strangely lately. It was because of love. Jiang Zhi withdrew his gaze from the door, with the lingering heat of excitement in his eyes, still showing that captivating red hue: ¡°What did you see just now?¡± Ah Wan weakly told the truth: ¡°I saw you touch her hand.¡± Not just a touch, a stroke! Surprisingly, Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t get angry. Instead, he stared at his hand, continuing to be lost in thought. Oh, he wasn¡¯t dreaming; he must have lost his mind. After a moment. ¡°Go out, close the door.¡± Ah Wan sneaked a look at his despondent employer: ¡°Oh.¡± Jiang Zhi sat quietly for a while, then picked up the phone with the cracked screen and dialed a number. He didn¡¯t know why he did it, but he saved the damned psychologist¡¯s number from the last time. ¡°Mr. Jiang.¡± On the phone, Doctor Qiu¡¯s voice trembled as if he had been greatly frightened. Jiang Zhi lay back on the sofa, stretched his legs on the coffee table, and spoke in a lazy, weak tone, as if talking to himself: ¡°Now, I think about her not only in my thoughts; I also want to touch her.¡± Doctor Qiu, who hadn¡¯t understood the situation: ¡°¡­¡± Is this series not pretending to be friends anymore? Jiang Zhi put the phone on speaker and threw it onto the sofa, lying on the sofa with his arms outstretched, looking up at the ceiling light: ¡°I just touched her hand.¡± With an unhurried, spine-chilling tone. The more Doctor Qiu listened, the more terrified he felt: ¡°¡­¡± Jiang Zhi narrowed his eyes, his peach blossom eyes elongated into the shape of a half-crescent moon. His gaze, unfocused, emitted a contradictory excitement and eagerness like a hound ready to hunt prey. ¡°That¡¯s not enough. Now, I want to touch her face.¡± Doctor Qiu gulped a mouthful of saliva out of fear: ¡°¡­¡± ¡°I wonder what else I¡¯ll want to touch after her face?¡± Doctor Qiu shivered, trembling all over: ¡°¡­¡± What¡¯s with this overwhelming demonic aura? After describing, Jiang Zhi ended his illogical and spontaneous comments with a sickly tone: ¡°Do you think I¡¯m sick?¡± Chapter 36 - Chapter 36: 036: Three Beastly Deeds of the Jiang Family (Part 2) Chapter 36: 036: Three Beastly Deeds of the Jiang Family (Part 2) Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation ¡°Do you think I¡¯m sick?¡± Sure! Doctor Qiu suggested sincerely, trembling, ¡°Mr. Jiang, when you have time, would you like to come to the consultation room for a checkup?¡± There was no response from the other end. Doctor Qiu, perhaps scared out of his wits, asked an especially stupid question, ¡°Wasn¡¯t it Second Young Master Xue who touched it?¡± It was agreed to be Second Young Master Xue¡¯s matter. The call was decisively cut off. ¡°Beep beep beep beep beep beep¡­¡± Doctor Qiu: ¡°¡­¡± From the force of the phone being slammed down, it could be judged how agitated the patient was. Jiang Zhi had insomnia during his nap. When he closed his eyes, all he could see was Zhou Xufang¡¯s hand, Zhou Xufang¡¯s face, Zhou Xufang¡¯s back¡­ The initial plan was to start shooting at 1 PM. However, the director, who was always punctual, hadn¡¯t shown up even by 2:30 PM. At this time, Vice Director Zhao received a call from the director¡¯s assistant, Lin Wanwan. ¡°Brother Wan.¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.?? Despite Ah Wan having such a sissy name like Lin Wanwan, due to his criminal physique, people in society called him Brother Wan. In private, Ah Wan was still very imposing. After all, he was nine feet tall and nearly 200 pounds: ¡°Cut out the part with Zhou Xufang¡¯s hand double from the final cut.¡± Vice Director Zhao asked, ¡°Is Director Jiang unsatisfied? Should I call the stand-in for a reshoot?¡± He remembered Director Jiang being quite satisfied while shooting, otherwise, why would he have been staring at the stand-in¡¯s hand all the time? Ah Wan didn¡¯t reveal much, ¡°No need, just edit that part out and send it to my boss.¡± Vice Director Zhao didn¡¯t understand, nor did he dare ask further, ¡°What about the afternoon¡¯s shoot then?¡± ¡°Delay it for two hours.¡± ¡°Is Director Jiang unwell?¡± The weather wasn¡¯t even that cold today. Ah Wan lied solemnly, ¡°Yes, he had a myocardial infarction.¡± Vice Director Zhao: ¡°¡­¡± Rich young masters sure have a lot of issues. One hour later, Jiang Family¡¯s family doctor arrived to check on Jiang Zhi. The Old Lady Jiang, hearing Jiang Zhi¡¯s voice was off, immediately sent someone over. ¡°Boss, Dr. Qin is here.¡± Jiang Zhi responded. Ah Wan brought him in, closed the door, and stood by. The man was very young, ¡°Mr. Jiang.¡± His tone was respectful but not subservient. He was the Jiang family¡¯s family doctor, named Qin Shiyu, in his early thirties, but his medical skills were extraordinary. Old Lady Jiang sent him to check Jiang Zhi¡¯s pulse regularly. Today, Qin Shiyu wasn¡¯t wearing a white coat but a suit, exuding a scholarly aura of warmth and refinement. He managed himself with grace. Jiang Zhi invited him to sit, ¡°I heard you were just promoted to director last week, Dr. Qin.¡± Qin Shiyu¡¯s great-grandfather was a doctor from Old Lady Jiang¡¯s family, considered a family servant in the old days, before coming to the Jiang family with Old Lady Jiang. For generations, they served at Jiang family hospitals. Qin Shiyu was the most talented among his generation, with exceptional demeanor and capability. He replied humbly, ¡°It¡¯s all because of the eldest son¡¯s support, Shiyu feels undeserved.¡± The Jiang family was a century-old family with deep roots, speaking in an extremely refined manner. The Fifth Hospital was currently managed by Jiang Xiaolin, the eldest grandson of the Jiang family, with Qin Shiyu working under him for many years, mastering the bureaucratic double-speak. Jiang Zhi despised it the most. One by one, all pretending to be gentlemen. ¡°Qin Shiyu,¡± he called him by his full name. Qin Shiyu opened his medical kit to take out the pulse pillow, ¡°Mr. Jiang, what do you need?¡± Jiang Zhi lazily stretched out his hand, letting him take his pulse, and joked casually, ¡°If one day Jiang Xiaolin and Jiang Fuli were hit by a car and you had to perform surgery, who would you save first, Jiang Xiaolin or Jiang Fuli?¡± Jiang Xiaolin from the first house and Jiang Fuli from the second house, one the eldest grandson and the other the eldest granddaughter, both with real power and openly at odds. Qin Shiyu¡¯s smile remained unchanged, his eyes calm as if indifferent to contention, ¡°That hypothesis doesn¡¯t exist.¡± Jiang Zhi looked at him leisurely, ¡°Oh? Why does it not exist?¡± ¡°Which car would be so oblivious to simultaneously hit two of the Jiang family¡¯s esteemed masters?¡± Masters? When did Qin Shiyu start considering himself a servant? His intricate mind was hard to fathom. Jiang Zhi smiled with a hint of cynicism, ¡°You never know.¡± Maybe one day, if he got upset, he¡¯d kill them all. With so few people left in the Jiang family, they were all beasts anyway. ¡°If it truly came to that, I¡¯d naturally follow Old Madam¡¯s orders,¡± Qin Shiyu replied without revealing any hint of intention. Qin Shiyu was either deeply hidden or sharply observant. Jiang Zhi leaned back on the sofa, his gaze wandering. Qin Shiyu finished taking his pulse, ¡°Have you been coughing badly recently, Mr. Jiang?¡± Jiang Zhi took a wet wipe, slowly wiping his wrist, ¡°Yes, it¡¯s winter.¡± Every winter, he couldn¡¯t stand the cold and coughed severely. It had been the same for years. ¡°I¡¯ll prescribe some cough medicine first. After the full examination results are out, I¡¯ll discuss a conservative treatment plan with Dr. Shao and Dr. Chen,¡± Qin Shiyu said. Jiang Zhi responded indifferently, ¡°Do you think I¡¯ll make it past next winter with this body of mine?¡± Qin Shiyu, looking composed, replied evenly, ¡°The lab has been working on new medications for you. There¡¯s some progress. Mr. Jiang, you needn¡¯t be too pessimistic.¡± Jiang Zhi sneered, ¡°They said I wouldn¡¯t live past twenty-five. That was what your father said.¡± Initially, Qin Shiyu¡¯s father, Qin Yin, was Jiang Zhi¡¯s primary doctor. A few years ago, after Qin Yin passed away, Qin Shiyu took over treating this chronically ill patient. Old Lady Jiang didn¡¯t trust outsiders and selected the most talented Qin Shiyu. ¡°In my father¡¯s time, medical techniques were not as advanced as they are now,¡± Qin Shiyu explained. ¡°Advanced medicine?¡± Jiang Zhi laughed with blatant mockery, ¡°So advanced that my congenital deficiencies have been treated for over twenty years.¡± Not only that, but the condition only worsened, with no diagnosis found. Qin Shiyu remained unaffected, prescribing medication and stating that the medicine would be delivered to the Jiang family. Old Lady Jiang was cautious; Jiang Zhi¡¯s medications always needed approval from the Jiang family before being sent over. After he left, ¡°Ah Wan,¡± Jiang Zhi lay there, looking listless, ¡°Who do you think Qin Shiyu works for?¡± The Jiang family¡¯s complex structure was beyond Ah Wan¡¯s simple mind, he shook his head, ¡°He doesn¡¯t seem to interact much privately with Jiang Xiaolin or Jiang Fuli.¡± Qin Shiyu¡¯s image in the Jiang family was of someone without ambition, content and without conflicts, trusted by Old Madam Jiang. Jiang Zhi looked at Ah Wan, ¡°With your IQ, would you even notice if he did?¡± Ah Wan: ¡°¡­¡± He decided to express his defiance through silence. Chapter 37 - Chapter 37: 037: He just listened to Zhou Xufang (first update) Chapter 37: 037: He just listened to Zhou Xufang (first update) Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation He decided to express his defiance through silence. Jiang Zhi glanced at him with an expression of disdain, then lay back and closed his eyes, ignoring him. The phone with the broken screen rang. It was Xue Baoyi calling. Jiang Zhi was too lazy to move, so he raised his hand slightly. Ah Wan understood and went to answer the call, putting it on speaker. ¡°Brother Zhi, the Lu Family is hosting a business banquet at seven tonight. Are you coming?¡± With a weak voice, Jiang Zhi replied, ¡°Not going.¡± Xue Baoyi, who enjoyed a wild time, coaxed him over the phone, ¡°Lu Sheng, that little girl, is bound to stir up trouble. Aren¡¯t you coming to check it out?¡± Among the Four Great Families, the Lu Family and the Jiang Family had always been at odds. The elders of both families had some unknown grudge against each other, and they had been openly and secretly competing for decades without any respite. The eldest son of the Lu Family had a sleeping disorder and was rarely awake during the day. Currently, the management was under the second daughter, Lu Sheng. At just over twenty, Lu Sheng was quite impressive, a domineering female CEO, not an average person. Jiang Zhi still showed no interest, ¡°I¡¯m not going out today.¡± Xue Baoyi snorted, ¡°What, are you cultivating moral character?¡± The banquet at the Lu Family, surely someone from the Jiang Mansion would attend. Jiang Zhi was overly leisurely and relaxed for someone from such a wealthy family. Xue Baoyi was quite anxious for him. Although the Old Madam of the Jiang Family doted on Jiang Zhi the most, Jiang Zhi¡¯s health was a disappointment. He didn¡¯t have much real power, all of it being held by the first and second branches of the family. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?¦Ï Jiang Zhi remained indifferent and lazy, ¡°It¡¯s unsafe to go out at night. I¡¯m a short-lived ghost, I need to treasure my life.¡± ¡°What kind of nonsense are you talking about?¡± Jiang Zhi turned over without any sleepiness, sat up, and stared at his own hand absentmindedly, ¡°Looking this good, I¡¯ll get kidnapped if I go out.¡± Zhou Xufang had told him not to go out tonight. Xue Baoyi: ¡°¡­¡± By dusk, the filming ended. Ah Wan happened to return from an errand, putting a new phone in front of his employer, ¡°The phone has been replaced.¡± Also, ¡°The screen protector has been applied as well.¡± So dutiful! ¡°Ah Wan.¡± ¡°Yes, boss.¡± Jiang Zhi fiddled with the new phone, rubbing the screen absentmindedly, ¡°You¡¯re not very bright, don¡¯t try to be clever.¡± Ah Wan: ¡°¡­¡± The screen protector was applied for free by the phone store! Was it his fault?! Jiang Zhi tore off the screen protector, tossed it into the trash, took his coat, and stood up. Ah Wan followed, ¡°Should I drive you back?¡± Jiang Zhi walked out, a faint smile appearing on his lips, barely noticeable, making his sickly look slightly better and his features even more striking. Like a fairy. The Jiang Fairy said, ¡°No rush, it¡¯s still early.¡± Early? The sun had already set outside. Ah Wan took out the car keys and asked, ¡°Where to then?¡± ¡°Ba Yi Bridge.¡± Tsk tsk tsk, no wonder his eyes were brimming with flirtation. Ah Wan was clever this time, ¡°Going to find Miss Zhou to apply a screen protector?¡± Ah Wan thought, the employer was quite clingy. Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t respond, just asked lightly, ¡°How¡¯s that chicken Zhou Xufang gave me?¡± Ah Wan wasn¡¯t trying to take credit, just inexplicably proud, happily reporting to his employer, ¡°Good teeth, good stomach, good body, everything¡¯s delicious.¡± Jiang Zhi hummed in acknowledgment, the curve of his lips lifting slightly again. Ah Wan thought, that chicken had really good luck, just because it was a token of affection, its status was elevated from a dish to a beloved pet. Before six, Zhou Xufang had already set up a stall under Ba Yi Bridge. It was Friday, her business was good; she applied eight screen protectors in half an hour. Across the bridge, many people were dancing in the square, the music was loud and lively. Next to Zhou Xufang, an auntie was selling stinky tofu. She didn¡¯t have many customers and was bored, so she struck up a conversation with Zhou Xufang. ¡°Xiao Zhou, why are you here so early today?¡± Zhou Xufang, with her head lowered, replied in a soft and cool voice, ¡°The shoot ended early.¡± The auntie had been here for half a year, knowing Zhou Xufang wasn¡¯t talkative but polite and hardworking. She had a good impression of her and suddenly had the idea of matchmaking her with her single son. ¡°You are really hardworking, unlike my good-for-nothing son, who just plays games all day.¡± She laughed, a bit of pride showing on her face, ¡°That rascal is unambitious but has a decent face.¡± Zhou Xufang wasn¡¯t good at socializing, so she just listened without commenting. ¡°How old are you, Xiao Zhou?¡± She didn¡¯t remember her birthday. The person who saved her had told her the year she was born. She answered, ¡°I¡¯m twenty-two.¡± At twenty-two, setting up a stall, the aunt guessed she hadn¡¯t had much education, ¡°My son is two years older than you, he¡¯s twenty-four. Been out of college for two years and still doesn¡¯t find a job, hasn¡¯t dated anyone, just fiddles with starting a business all day.¡± The conversation flowed naturally, ¡°What about you, Xiao Zhou, do you have a boyfriend?¡± Though this girl lacked education, she had good looks and a nice temperament. The more the aunt looked, the more she liked her. Zhou Xufang frowned slightly, ¡°No.¡± Perfect! The aunt smiled so much that her wrinkles showed, ¡°Auntie sees you alone every day without friends. Why not give me your WeChat, I¡¯ll have my son add you. It¡¯s good for young people to have things to talk about and make friends.¡± Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t want to give her contact information to strangers and was at a loss how to refuse when a voice answered for her. ¡°She doesn¡¯t use WeChat.¡± The voice was pleasant. She knew it was Jiang Zhi, looking up, her frown relaxed. The aunt obviously wasn¡¯t happy with this unexpected interference, glaring over at the source of the voice, ¡°And who are you?¡± This guy was excessively handsome! Jiang Zhi tossed his phone in front of Zhou Xufang, raising an eyebrow, ¡°Here to get a screen protector.¡± Just another customer needing a screen protector. The aunt didn¡¯t bother further, as another customer came over for stinky tofu. She handed Zhou Xufang a piece of paper, ¡°Xiao Zhou, write your WeChat for me. Auntie¡¯s old, can¡¯t remember it without writing.¡± Zhou Xufang hesitated briefly, then returned the paper, ¡°I don¡¯t use WeChat.¡± ¡°¡­¡± The aunt sulked, throwing several white-eyed glances at Jiang Zhi, who was smiling provocatively, cursing internally, ¡°What¡¯s so great about being handsome?¡± ¡°Hi, hello.¡± It was the young woman buying stinky tofu, shyly looking at Jiang Zhi, ¡°Can I have your WeChat?¡± Jiang Zhi¡¯s smile faded, his peach blossom eyes cold, ¡°No.¡± The aunt: ¡°¡­¡± This world where looks mattered was infuriating. The aunt¡¯s hands shook, accidentally dropping two pieces of stinky tofu back into the oil, angrily asking the young woman if she wanted it spicy. The young woman left ten yuan, not taking the tofu, running away red-faced and embarrassed. The aunt: ¡°¡­¡± Amid the bustling crowd, Jiang Zhi frowned and moved closer to Zhou Xufang, found a spot, and squatted down. Wearing high-end tailored clothes that clashed with the market vibe, he didn¡¯t care, staring at her face, ¡°Do people often hit on you here at the stall?¡± Chapter 38 - Chapter 38: 038: Want to Touch Her Face (Second Update) Chapter 38: 038: Want to Touch Her Face (Second Update) Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation ¡°You set up a stall here. Do people often strike up a conversation with you?¡± Zhou Xufang picked up the phone he had placed on the small table, ¡°Which kind of screen protector do you want?¡± ¡°The most expensive one.¡± The expensive one should earn her a bit more. Zhou Xufang took out a tempered glass from the bag behind her and opened the package, ¡°No one strikes up a conversation.¡± She focused on her work, ¡°Many people are afraid of me.¡± She kept her head down, and his eyes became more unrestrained, gazing at her, ¡°Why are they afraid of you?¡± She spoke casually, ¡°They say I look like a ghost.¡± She wore black again today, with a fisherman¡¯s hat, wrapped tightly from head to toe, only a small portion of her pale, translucent face visible, always expressionless, with thin lips pressed together, looking cold and strange. Jiang Zhi glanced at her, not knowing who he was dissatisfied with, but he was very dissatisfied. His charming eyes grew more hostile, ¡°Who says you look like a ghost?¡± How could a ghost be this pretty? Zhou Xufang raised her head and shone a small desk lamp on her face, ¡°Don¡¯t I look like a ghost?¡± Under the black fisherman¡¯s hat, her palm-sized face was lit pale white by the flashlight. Mm, he saw clearly now. There was a faint mole at the end of her eyebrow, hidden in her messy hair, small and pretty. Her eyelashes were long, dense, and curled up like a soft fan, also very pretty. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?¦Ï He stared for a long time, making Zhou Xufang uncomfortable, and she lowered her head again. The sky was completely dark now, and the light from the small desk lamp was weak. Due to the angle, it cast patches of light and shadow on her face. Jiang Zhi squatted, slightly tilting his head, watching her under the light, ¡°Aren¡¯t you strong? If someone says that, just beat them up.¡± Zhou Xufang lowered her eyelids, seriously applying the screen protector, ¡°If I beat them up, I have to pay for damages.¡± ¡°Do you love money that much?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± She wiped the phone screen with a clean cloth, ¡°It¡¯s done, sixty yuan.¡± The most expensive was only sixty yuan. Jiang Zhi took out a hundred-yuan note from his wallet, placed it beside her hand, wanting to touch her hand but resisted, ¡°Keep the change.¡± Zhou Xufang stored away the money, thanked him earnestly, then took her bag and rummaged through it. Dissatisfied, Jiang Zhi tugged at her fisherman¡¯s hat, tilting it before letting go, ¡°I said, keep the change.¡± Wearing the crooked hat, her expression became a bit dumbfounded. After a moment of daze, she pulled out a can of milk from her bag and pushed it, along with the phone with the new protector, towards Jiang Zhi, ¡°This is for you.¡± So cute. He wanted to touch her face. Jiang Zhi reached out again, but she moved back, blinking. He didn¡¯t retract his hand, ¡°Your hat is crooked, don¡¯t move.¡± She really didn¡¯t move. So obedient. He wanted to touch her face even more now. His fingertips trembled slightly, brushing past her face as he straightened her tilted fisherman¡¯s hat. The back of his hand touched her hair, it felt itchy, and he withdrew awkwardly, turning his head away, his ears turning red, ¡°I, I am leaving.¡± Under the hat, Zhou Xufang looked up at him, ¡°Goodbye.¡± Her expression remained unchanged. Jiang Zhi¡¯s face flushed, his chest felt tight. He squeezed the milk can hard and turned to leave. ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± He immediately turned back. Her face, lit by the desk lamp, looked softer, ¡°Don¡¯t go out tonight.¡± The furrowed brows of a second ago smoothed out. He lightly hummed, an uncontrollable warmth filling his eyes. A new customer approached for a screen protector. Zhou Xufang said another goodbye and paid no more attention to Jiang Zhi. Left standing in the middle of the road, Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± He turned and walked away! For the first time, he felt this way. His heart was like being on a rollercoaster, up and down, never at peace for a moment. After finishing applying a screen protector, Zhou Xufang saw Jiang Zhi already far away. She frowned, sat for a while, and took out her phone to send an email to Shuangjiang. Shuangjiang usually used email more. Soon, a call from an unfamiliar number came in. Zhou Xufang answered, and a synthetic mechanical voice spoke, ¡°Ah Fang, what do you want to do?¡± She looked at the distant road; Jiang Zhi¡¯s car was no longer visible, ¡°I¡¯m worried.¡± ¡°Worried about Jiang Zhi?¡± ¡°Yes, if the client made two sets of plans, if I don¡¯t rob him, someone else will.¡± Shuangjiang always let her have her way, ¡°How can I help you?¡± Zhou Xufang turned off the small desk lamp and packed up the stall, ¡°There are many surveillance cameras near where Jiang Zhi lives, I can¡¯t get in.¡± ¡°Give me twenty minutes.¡± Driving from Ba Yi Bridge to Jiang Zhi¡¯s residence at Qingshan Mansion took more than forty minutes. When Jiang Zhi arrived home, it was nearly eight o¡¯clock. He opened the door and was about to turn on the light when a hand pulled him inside. Bang¡ª The door was slammed shut. Almost simultaneously, he was pushed against the wall. A woman¡¯s deliberately low voice sounded in his ear, ¡°Don¡¯t move.¡± He didn¡¯t move, not even his eyelids, maintaining a calm demeanor. His tone remained lazily drawn out, showing no panic, ¡°It¡¯s you again.¡± It was her again, the professional errand runner. She remained silent, one hand gripping his waist, the other pressing against his shoulder. The room¡¯s lights were off, the moonlight from outside casting a blurry outline. He could only vaguely see the faint blue reflection from her glasses. ¡°Who sent you to rob me this time?¡± She deliberately lowered her voice further, ¡°I¡¯m not robbing you, don¡¯t move, and don¡¯t make a sound. I¡¯ll leave at dawn.¡± Being so close, he smelled the milky scent on her again. Click. The door suddenly made a sound, followed by Ah Wan¡¯s voice, ¡°Boss, you left your script in my car¡ª¡± The light from the door¡¯s crack fell on the glow in Zhou Xufang¡¯s eyes behind the lens. Ah Wan¡¯s voice abruptly stopped. After a few seconds of hesitation, he kicked the door open, ¡°You scum!¡± ¡°¡­¡± Her lips under the mask twitched slightly. Zhou Xufang firmly corrected, ¡°I¡¯m not a scum.¡± Ah Wan took a step back, assumed a defensive posture, and shouted, ¡°Scum, let go of my boss!¡± She definitely wasn¡¯t a scum! She got a bit angry and coldly reminded, ¡°Behind you.¡± Ah Wan didn¡¯t listen, aggressively glaring at the ¡®scum,¡¯ shouting fiercely, ¡°Stop talking nonsense, let go of my boss!¡± Wearing a mask, hat, and glasses, Zhou Xufang leisurely said the last two words, ¡°Someone¡¯s there.¡± The lights suddenly turned on. Ah Wan turned around, and a club was swung at him. He dodged, and the stick missed his head, hitting his shoulder instead. At this moment, seven or eight burly men rushed in, each holding a club, and engaged in a brawl with Ah Wan. Chapter 39 - Chapter 39: 039: Jiang Zhi becomes suspicious of Z (Part 1) Chapter 39: 039: Jiang Zhi becomes suspicious of Z (Part 1) Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation At this moment, seven or eight tall and burly men rushed in, each holding a bat, and started fighting with Ah Wan. Ah Wan was very skilled, but he was outnumbered. Zhou Xufang released her hand from Jiang Zhi¡¯s shoulder, ¡°Stay here and don¡¯t move.¡± She lowered the brim of her hat, turned around, and kicked away the bat that was swinging towards Ah Wan¡¯s back, ¡°Who sent you?¡± The leader, wearing a mask, raised his hand to signal his men to stop, ¡°Are you Z?¡± ¡°I am.¡± The man scrutinized her, ¡°Mr. sent us to assist you.¡± Indeed, preparations were made for both outcomes. Zhou Xufang adjusted her special-material glasses, facing the man, ¡°I don¡¯t need it.¡± ¡°We won¡¯t interfere with your task, just deliver the person to the designated place and we¡¯ll leave. We won¡¯t hinder you.¡± Her voice was extremely low, and the coldness in her eyes behind the blue lenses suggested restrained anger, her whole being exuding an aura of hostility, ¡°I don¡¯t like others meddling in the jobs I take.¡± This was her rule, to act alone, never to accept collaboration. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?¦Ï The man seemed to have anticipated this, saying no more, ¡°We also get paid to do our job, no offense.¡± At his command, his men surrounded Zhou Xufang, swinging iron rods and stun batons at her in a disorganized manner. She had no weapon, engaging them with her bare hands. Ah Wan felt dizzy¡ªthe aggressive attacks seemed to turn into soft blows upon reaching the errand runner. She moved quickly, dodging effortlessly, without even attacking, just defending. Ah Wan watched in astonishment for a while, then turned to ask Jiang Zhi, who was also watching, ¡°Boss, aren¡¯t they on the same side? Why are they fighting?¡± ¡°Shut your mouth.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Jiang Zhi supported himself up, dragging his sickly steps towards the fighting crowd. Ah Wan shouted for him to stay back. A man holding a stun baton turned towards Jiang Zhi upon hearing the shout, swinging his baton. Ah Wan leapt forward to kick, only to see Jiang Zhi weakly raising a hand, gently pinching the man¡¯s wrist. The stun baton clattered to the ground, and the man groaned in pain, rolling his eyes. Ah Wan was dumbfounded, where did the feeble patient go? ¡°Boss, have you been trained?¡± Such strength couldn¡¯t come without training, and that precise move to catch the baton, an ordinary person couldn¡¯t do it. Jiang Zhi pulled out a handkerchief from his coat to wipe his hands, ¡°No.¡± As he said this, he kicked down a man over six feet tall, then stepped on him unhurriedly, grinding his toe, and casually tossed the handkerchief, flexing his wrists, ¡°Who did you hire, so useless.¡± He coughed lightly, the misty water in his peach blossom eyes hiding all the fierce light. Ah Wan, ¡°!¡± He thought, after discovering the boss¡¯s six-pack abs, he now found another secret, lost in his thoughts¡ª ¡°Clang.¡± The blue and white porcelain tea cup on the coffee table was knocked and shattered by a staggering man. Jiang Zhi glanced over, frowning. That set of cups had cost him five million at auction, a centuries-old antique, what a pity. At this moment, the man who was kicked onto the coffee table lost his balance, falling backward and stabbing his back on the broken porcelain pieces. He turned pale from the pain, cursed lowly, pulled out a dagger from his coat, and ferociously lunged at Jiang Zhi. Ah Wan screamed, ¡°Boss, be careful!¡± Jiang Zhi! Zhou Xufang forced back two assailants and swiftly stepped in front of Jiang Zhi, reaching out to intercept the dagger, her arm was seized. She turned back. Jiang Zhi stared at her, his gaze burning. As the dagger approached, he yanked her arm, spinning around and kicking the man in the abdomen, causing him to cry out and fall, the dagger clattering to the ground. ¡°Who exactly are you?¡± These eyes¡­ Jiang Zhi stared into the eyes behind her glasses for just a second, reaching to remove her mask. Almost simultaneously, the man on the ground quickly picked up the dagger, slashing at Jiang Zhi¡¯s outstretched hand. There was no time to think; Zhou Xufang pushed Jiang Zhi away, the dagger grazed her right arm, blood instantly soaking her sleeve. Without blinking, she kicked the man down. Jiang Zhi stumbled back from the push. Ah Wan rushed to support him, sweating profusely, ¡°Boss, are you okay?¡± He didn¡¯t move, his gaze fixed on Zhou Xufang surrounded by the seven or eight men. She pressed her bleeding arm with one hand, kicked up the broken porcelain pieces, hitting the chandelier, plunging the room into darkness, no one could see her eyes turning red. It had been a long time since she got angry, whenever she got angry, her pupils turned red, as red as blood. In the dim light, the men holding bats groped closer. She leapt, wrapping her foot around a man¡¯s neck, slamming him hard, causing him to faint on the spot. Such speed! Giving no time to react, she jumped and side-kicked, punching out with three-tenths of her strength, causing two more to scream and drop. ¡°Leave now, or I won¡¯t show mercy.¡± She glanced at them, her eyes cold and filled with killing intent. There were always rumors in the industry about errand runner Z¡ªthat she was incredibly strong, as fast as lightning, and the tales were even more exaggerated, saying she could do anything from water to sky. The men looked at each other knowingly but eventually withdrew, knowing they couldn¡¯t win even with their numbers. After the men were gone, Zhou Xufang closed the door and turned around. Ah Wan immediately blocked Jiang Zhi, trying to look fierce, ¡°Don¡¯t come over, I¡¯ve called the police.¡± This ¡®scum¡¯ had formidable fighting skills, if he got violent, his employer¡¯s chastity wouldn¡¯t stand a chance. She did not advance, standing by the door, devoid of the earlier killing intent. Her expression was calm, the room dark, her mask, and hat concealing her, even her eyes behind the lenses were blurred. Her voice was low, hoarse, ¡°Do nothing, sit there and do not move, I will leave when the police arrive.¡± What did that mean? Not here to assault? Ah Wan¡¯s mind was muddled, completely confused, side-eyeing the employer, who was calm, eyes fixed on the errand runner. ¡°Who hired you?¡± She remained silent. Jiang Zhi asked again, ¡°What is your purpose?¡± In the dark, his gaze seeking out hers, intensely locking onto her, ¡°Why not capture me?¡± She said nothing, pressing her wound, quietly standing by the door. Jiang Zhi could smell the faint scent of blood. He pondered for a long time, then kicked the medical kit under the coffee table towards her. Chapter 40 - Chapter 40: 040: Behind the scenes emerges (second update) Chapter 40: 040: Behind the scenes emerges (second update) Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation Jiang Zhi smelled the scent of blood, faintly. He pondered for a long time and kicked the medical kit under the coffee table over. Zhou Xufang¡¯s regeneration and self-healing speed was eighty-four times that of a normal human. This was the data measured in the laboratory seven or eight years ago; she wasn¡¯t sure what it was now. However, the dagger wound had already scabbed over. It should only take a short time before the scab fell off, and then the skin would be restored as before. At most a day, and even the scar would disappear completely. She glanced at the medical kit on the ground but did not move. At this moment, the police siren sounded outside. The police should have arrived, and the blood-red in her pupils had almost faded. ¡°Be careful these days.¡± Leaving a sentence, she opened the door and quickly disappeared from Jiang Zhi¡¯s sight. After confirming that she had left, Ah Wan got up and went to the door to check. In the blink of an eye, there was no trace of her. A rabbit? Running so fast! ¡°Boss,¡± Ah Wan scratched his head, ¡°why do I feel that Z wasn¡¯t here to assault, but to help us?¡± Jiang Zhi lowered his eyes in silence, not knowing what he was thinking about, dazed and lost in thought. Ah Wan pondered, ¡°And her voice, why does it sound familiar?¡± Yes, it was familiar. Despite being deliberately suppressed, one could still hear a bit of her original tone, and her eyes, her body temperature, even the force when she pressed against him¡­ Jiang Zhi licked his dry lips, and waves surged in his eyes. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.§ã0 A few minutes later, Qiao Nanchu and Mr. Cheng from the Criminal Investigation Team came up with people. Qiao Nanchu carefully examined the interior and asked Jiang Zhi, ¡°Are you hurt?¡± He shook his head, still seemingly lost in thought. ¡°Do you know who did it?¡± Distracted, not knowing what he was thinking, he replied perfunctorily, ¡°Many people want to mess with me. Can¡¯t guess.¡± People from the Jiang Family, enemies of the Jiang Family, openly and secretly, there were many who couldn¡¯t tolerate this young master of the Jiang Family. Qiao Nanchu thought for a moment, ¡°Move to my place for the next few days.¡± ¡°The old lady at home just called, asking me to return to the old house.¡± His gaze swept to the few dried blood drops on the floor, the light in his eyes flickered, sometimes dim, sometimes bright. ¡°That works too. Under the old lady¡¯s nose, those people will at least restrain themselves somewhat.¡± The phone rang, Qiao Nanchu answered it, listened to the other side for a few minutes, and then hung up, ¡°Just now, half an hour ago, the Criminal Investigation Team received a report that Z committed another crime in the suburbs.¡± This was the fourth case this month. As before, the scene had the mark of the professional errand runner Z. Jiang Zhi¡¯s drooping eyelids lifted, ¡°It wasn¡¯t her; half an hour ago, she was with me.¡± In those words, there seemed to be a hint of protection. Qiao Nanchu sat on the sofa, leisurely looking at Jiang Zhi, ¡°How can you be sure the one with you was the real one?¡± Jiang Zhi was restless, the waves in his peach blossom eyes still chaotic. He casually replied, ¡°She smelled of milk.¡± Qiao Nanchu smiled without saying anything. It was past nine, and outside the floor-to-ceiling windows of the Huayu Building, the lights were dim and scattered. There was a knock on the door outside. ¡°President Jin.¡± ¡°Come in.¡± The secretary pushed the door open and came in. Jin Song, with his shirt unbuttoned, sat in the boss¡¯s chair, leisurely swirling a glass of red wine, ¡°Where¡¯s the person, did you bring them?¡± The secretary shook his head. Jin Song put down the glass, leaned back with his hands open, a faint and somewhat grim smile at the corner of his mouth, ¡°I paid twenty million, and this is how you handle things?¡± The secretary explained, ¡°I¡¯ve already contacted the runners.¡± Jin Song shook his leg, silent and contemplative. The secretary stepped forward and reported another matter, ¡°There¡¯s one more thing, it¡¯s a bit strange.¡± Jin Song raised his eyes, indicating for him to continue. ¡°Besides the errand runners we hired, there¡¯s another group.¡± Jin Song thought for a moment and sneered, ¡°They even made a backup plan.¡± Sitting in the boss¡¯s chair, he turned half a circle, stood up, and dialed a number. Jin Song got straight to the point, ¡°Mr. Jiang, did you hire another group of people because you don¡¯t trust me?¡± The person on the other end of the line gave a brief explanation, not wanting to say more. At this moment, there was a knock on the door, and someone pushed it open, ¡°President Jin.¡± Jin Song looked at the man at the door, then returned to the person on the phone, ¡°Rest assured, once the funds are in place, my mouth will be sealed tight.¡± The other side hung up first. Jin Song smirked mockingly, threw the phone on the table, and looked up at the man at the door, ¡°Linsu, come here.¡± The vice president of Huayu, known for his preference for male lovers, wasn¡¯t a secret in the circle. Zhou Xufang returned to Yuquan Bay, and it was almost ten. ¡°You¡¯re hurt?¡± The computer camera was connected to Shuangjiang. As soon as Zhou Xufang walked in, Shuangjiang saw the blood on her arm. Zhou Xufang took off the black hooded jacket and threw it directly into the metal trash can, ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡± Shuangjiang knew some of her healing abilities. From the camera, the scabbed wound seemed to be no major issue. ¡°The client just contacted me, asking where the person they wanted is.¡± Zhou Xufang took off her hat and mask, threw them together with the jacket, poured some alcohol in, and tossed in a match. The flames instantly reflected in her eyes, flickering lights. She spoke coldly, ¡°Tell him the task failed. Compensation is possible, but there needs to be an explanation. My rule is, once I take a task, no one else can interfere.¡± Shuangjiang understood her intent, ¡°I¡¯ll handle it.¡± Zhou Xufang closed the lid of the metal trash can, and the air was filled with the smell of burning, ¡°Shuangjiang, do me a favor.¡± ¡°What do you need?¡± She threw a marshmallow into her mouth, rolled up her sleeves, and used a wet wipe to clean the dried blood on her arm. Her voice was as cold as her gaze, ¡°I need to know who wants to harm Jiang Zhi.¡± Chapter 41 - Chapter 41: 041: Zhou Xufang teaches Luo Qinghe a lesson Chapter 41: 041: Zhou Xufang teaches Luo Qinghe a lesson Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation ¡°I need to know, exactly who is after Jiang Zhi.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll investigate for you,¡± Shuangjiang typed back. ¡°And there¡¯s something else, someone else has impersonated you and caused trouble again.¡± It wasn¡¯t the first time someone had committed a crime under her guise. Zhou Xufang couldn¡¯t help but get angry, her pupils tinted a faint blood-red. She lowered her head, her eyelashes casting downwards, ¡°Did you find out who it was?¡± ¡°Yes, I found out.¡± Shuangjiang explained, ¡°It¡¯s that Luo surname, the theft and robbery a few days ago were also her doing, setting people up. She¡¯s been holding a grudge since Zhou Qingrang offended her last time, deliberately making trouble for us.¡± Luo Qinghe. Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t like this malicious woman, ¡°I¡¯m going to see her.¡± Shuangjiang was worried and advised her, ¡°Ah Fang, it¡¯s a trap to lure you out, don¡¯t go. I¡¯m afraid for your safety, people like Luo Qinghe are despicable and hold grudges.¡± ¡°I must go.¡± Zhou Xufang threw the blood-stained wet cloth into the trash can, ¡°She holds grudges, and I hold grudges too.¡± Besides, if she didn¡¯t seek revenge, she wouldn¡¯t be able to sleep. The crescent moon was like a hook, its glow hazy, shrouding the night sky in a layer of fine gauze. The thirty-six-story skyscraper towered into the clouds, and at the top floor was the office of Younger Luo of the Luo Family. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï??0.§ã¦Ï Secretary Han Feng knocked on the door and went in, ¡°Younger Luo.¡± Luo Qinghe sat in the boss¡¯s chair, holding a cigarette between her fingers, smoke slowly drifting from her fiery red lips, ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°There¡¯s some trouble from Zhou Qingrang¡¯s side.¡± Her nail-pinching fingers were neatly manicured; she tapped the cigarette butt and looked down at the falling ashes, ¡°You can¡¯t handle a cripple?¡± Han Feng¡¯s neck glistened with a thin sweat, he replied cautiously, ¡°I¡¯ve taken care of the radio station, and we could have driven him out, but today someone from the Lu Family got involved.¡± After the sex entertainment incident, Zhou Qingrang was demoted to the nighttime radio station. He still had good relations with the higher-ups in Central Television, and as long as he stayed in the hosting world, his return from the radio station was only a matter of time. Of course, Luo Qinghe was not satisfied with this outcome; she wanted a permanent solution, preferably to keep Zhou Qingrang off the broadcasting desk forever. She snuffed out the cigarette, ¡°Which person from the Lu Family got involved?¡± Among the Four Great Families, the Jiang Family was the most formidable, followed by the Lu Family. Han Feng replied, ¡°It¡¯s Second Miss Lu, Lu Sheng.¡± Lu Sheng, another formidable character. The Lu Family¡¯s eldest son¡¯s narcolepsy was recurrent and unresolved, he didn¡¯t manage the family affairs much, and with few heirs, the vast family fortune was managed by Lu Sheng. This Lu Sheng, steeped in years of business, was not a good Samaritan with a heart of compassion. Luo Qinghe pondered, ¡°How did that crippled Zhou Qingrang get involved with Lu Sheng?¡± Han Feng reported in detail, ¡°Second Miss Lu is a sound fetishist; her subordinates say she¡¯s recently become enamored with Zhou Qingrang¡¯s voice.¡± He paused for a moment, then added, ¡°Zhou Qingrang probably won¡¯t stay in the radio station for long. If Lu Sheng speaks up, even the TV station director would have to give some face to the Lu Family, but perhaps it¡¯s just a novelty, something to dabble in for a while.¡± Luo Qinghe sneered, this Lu Sheng was still just a young girl after all, and Zhou Qingrang was handsome and ethereal. However, he was disabled, and how much protection could he receive, there would always be a time when he would be discarded. ¡°Keep an eye on it for now.¡± Han Feng agreed and was just turning around when the lights in the office suddenly went out. Luo Qinghe¡¯s expression changed abruptly, ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Han Feng took out his phone for light, ¡°I¡¯ll go check¡ª¡± Click. The door opened, and Han Feng¡¯s words ceased abruptly as the bright light shining through the door gap dazzled his eyes. He reached out to block the light, about to speak, when a gust of wind swept over his collar, and then he felt a numbness at his neck and fell to the ground. Bang. The door closed again. Luo Qinghe stood up in a rush, ¡°Who¡¯s there?¡± In the dimness, only a sliver of moonlight made the figure indistinct; in the enclosed space, a sudden cold voice asked, ¡°Don¡¯t you know who I am?¡± The professional errand runner, Z. Luo Qinghe¡¯s complexion changed drastically, knocking over the ashtray on the desk in a fluster, ¡°How did you get in here?¡± The building was full of people, not to mention the more than twenty bodyguards she had hired herself; how had this person arrived in front of her without a sound? In the darkness, a pair of pupils shone cold and bright, and the deliberately suppressed voice was deep and hoarse, ¡°I¡¯ll tell you now how I got in.¡± At the end of her words, she moved instantaneously, the breeze she created whisking the A4 papers on the table into a whirlwind, and in the blink of an eye, Zhou Xufang, dressed in black, stood before Luo Qinghe. Luo Qinghe was dumbfounded, ¡°You¡ª¡± Before she could finish speaking, her neck was pinched by two fingers, then her entire body was hoisted up. Zhou Xufang spoke slowly, word by word, calmly saying, ¡°With just a light flick of my fingers, I could snap your neck.¡± Luo Qinghe struggled kicking, her cheeks flushed red from lack of oxygen, ¡°You, you¡ª¡± With her throat seized, she couldn¡¯t utter a word, pupils dilated, seeing a pair of eyes gradually turning red. The owner of those eyes was holding her neck with just two fingers, effortlessly lifting her high. ¡°Do you see my eyes? They turn red when I get angry,¡± she said, her voice flat, yet spine-chilling, ¡°Stop provoking me and don¡¯t try to investigate me. It would be very easy for me to kill you.¡± Luo Qinghe opened her mouth gasping for air, the veins in her neck bulging, her flailing legs growing weaker, the oxygen in her chest depleting, her head throbbing, consciousness starting to scatter, fear magnifying endlessly. Even from such a close distance, she couldn¡¯t clearly see the person¡¯s outline. ¡°Do you understand?¡± she asked lightly, her mask concealing her face, exposing only a pair of eyes colder than the night sky of winter. Luo Qinghe squeezed out word by word with difficulty, ¡°Under, stood.¡± Zhou Xufang was satisfied, released her grip, letting Luo Qinghe crash heavily onto the ground. ¡°Oh,¡± she remembered something else, ¡°And Zhou Qingrang, stop bullying him. Otherwise, next time I will snap your neck.¡± After leaving those words behind, she adjusted her cap and turned to leave unhurriedly. ¡°You,¡± Luo Qinghe sat on the ground, breathing heavily, her pale face covered in cold sweat, gaze locked onto the masked face, voice taut, ¡°are you human or a ghost?¡± Such speed, strength, and her eyes, were not of ordinary humans. The person at the door just glanced back before, in the blink of an eye, disappearing. Luo Qinghe¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief. Moments later, the security guard hurried upstairs, and upon seeing the situation on the rooftop, was instantly filled with dread. ¡°Younger Luo.¡± As the security approached to help her, Luo Qinghe grabbed an ashtray and hurled it, causing the guard¡¯s head to bleed profusely. Still filled with rage, she demanded loudly, ¡°How did she get up here?¡± The guard¡¯s head was bleeding badly, his face covered in blood, too scared to move in the frigid sweat, ¡°No camera caught her, she must have come from the rooftop¡ª¡± ¡°The rooftop?¡± Luo Qinghe¡¯s eyes were bloodshot as she shouted, ¡°Are you trying to tell me she grew wings and flew to the rooftop?¡± ¡°Not, not yet clear.¡± Infuriated, she exclaimed, ¡°You bunch of useless trash!¡± The guard lowered his head, too afraid to answer back. ¡°That errand runner,¡± she clenched her hand, nails digging into her palm, ¡°find out.¡± Whether she¡¯s a person or a ghost, she made me suffer, and I will make her pay back a thousand times. The next day, the temperature dropped sharply, the outside world freezing, likely to snow¡ªit was the kind of weather Jiang Zhi disliked the most. He slumped in the car seat, listless. Ah Wan drove slowly, meandering along the road. While waiting for a traffic light, he couldn¡¯t help but glance at his employer¡¯s complexion in the rearview mirror. The face was so pale ¨C he didn¡¯t look well, even though just last night, he had kicked over a large man. Ah Wan couldn¡¯t figure it out, so he stopped thinking about it, ¡°Boss, did you not sleep well last night?¡± Those drooping eyelids looked almost unable to stay open. Jiang Zhi was half-asleep, his eyelids didn¡¯t flicker. Ah Wan speculated again, ¡°Are you thinking about that scum?¡± Considering his pride, being played with by that wretch surely hurt his self-esteem, he comforted, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, one day Mr. Qiao will catch that womanly scum who teased you, and then you can do whatever you want with her.¡± Although his impression of the womanly scum wasn¡¯t bad, as he didn¡¯t think she was a bad person, he still couldn¡¯t forgive her lecherous intentions! Suddenly, in the rearview mirror, Jiang Zhi¡¯s eyes snapped open, frost gathering within, ¡°She¡¯s not scum.¡± Ah Wan was startled, ¡°Huh?¡± Isn¡¯t she? If she¡¯s not scum, why would she grope and pinch the employer, she must be! Jiang Zhi couldn¡¯t be bothered to respond to Ah Wan, his sleepiness gone, head aching slightly. He had not slept all night, his mind hazy, holding a can of milk, in a dazed state of mind. Ah Wan also noticed the can of milk, quite surprised, ¡°Oh, you still haven¡¯t drunk that milk.¡± Ah Wan laughed like a foolish, two-hundred-pounder, ¡°Boss, can¡¯t you bear to finish the milk Miss Zhou gave you?¡± It was just yesterday when she gave it to you during the screen pasting. Why did he recognize that can of milk? Because the boss was afraid of mixing it up, he bit a tooth mark on the can. Ah Wan thought the boss had already finished it. To think he still kept it, after the token chicken, there¡¯s now token milk. Jiang Zhi frowned displeasedly, ¡°Drive your car.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Chapter 42 - Chapter 42: 042: First Phone Call (Part 1) Chapter 42: 042: First Phone Call (Part 1) Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation ¡°Drive your car.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Ah Wan obediently shut her mouth, silent as a chicken. Jiang Zhi¡¯s phone rang. He didn¡¯t bother holding the phone, pressing the speaker button, ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± It was Qiao Nanchu, ¡°A guy just came to the police station to surrender, saying he impersonated Z.¡± Jiang Zhi felt a bit more awake, ¡°He confessed to everything?¡± ¡°Yeah, the forensic department did an in-person evidence collection. He did commit those robberies and thefts.¡± He tapped his finger on the milk can in his hand, ¡°Who ordered him?¡± Committing a big frame-up and then turning oneself in, there had to be something fishy. This perpetrator was just a pawn, someone hired to take the fall while the mastermind remained hidden. Qiao Nanchu and Jiang Zhi thought alike, ¡°He refused to say, claimed he did it for money, and was afraid the police would trace it back to him, so he used the name of the professional errand runner Z. But I looked into his background, he used to work for the Luo Family.¡± Qiao Nanchu pondered, ¡°It should be because of Zhou Qingrang¡¯s matter, Luo Qinghe holds a grudge against Z.¡± Jiang Zhi pondered for a moment, ¡°Why did she stop then?¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï That part was indeed suspicious. Luo Qinghe was vindictive and sinister, once she bit someone, she wouldn¡¯t let go easily, truly inherited from Mr. Luo, that old fox. Qiao Nanchu was in a good mood, chuckled, and said mischievously, ¡°Who knows, maybe she suffered a loss at Z¡¯s hands.¡± He dragged his tone suggestively, ¡°This Z is quite something.¡± At that moment, Jiang Zhi stayed silent. Qiao Nanchu teased him playfully, ¡°You¡¯ve dealt with her so many times, and besides the milk scent, you found nothing else?¡± Following that¡ª ¡°Beep beep beep beep beep beep¡­¡± Jiang Zhi hung up the phone. Qiao Nanchu rubbed his chin, chuckled quietly, something didn¡¯t seem right. At the film set, Jiang Zhi called Vice Director Zhao over, looked around, and asked, ¡°Where¡¯s Zhou Xufang?¡± First thing he did was ask about Miss Zhou. Vice Director Zhao couldn¡¯t help speculating, replying, ¡°She¡¯s not on set.¡± Jiang Zhi frowned, his peach blossom eyes filled with a smoky look, beautiful yet aggressive. ¡°Call her here.¡± It was a commanding tone. Vice Director Zhao felt a bit troubled, hesitated before speaking, ¡°But there¡¯s no scene with extras today¡­¡± Jiang Zhi squinted his eyes, his proud demeanor imposing, ¡°Can¡¯t you add one?¡± This Miss Zhou had an unusual relationship with the director. Vice Director Zhao was quick-witted, ¡°I¡¯ll add one right away.¡± Then, he took out his phone, about to contact the extras coordinator. Jiang Zhi stopped him, ¡°Forget it.¡± Vice Director Zhao was perplexed, ¡°Huh?¡± Why cancel now? So unpredictable. There, the director lounged on a recliner, resting with his eyes closed for a minute. He changed his posture several times, frowning, then relaxing, hesitating repeatedly, before finally taking out his phone, rubbing the keys for a long time before dialing. ¡°Hello.¡± The voice was perpetually cold. Jiang Zhi cleared his throat seriously, ¡°It¡¯s me.¡± This was Jiang Zhi¡¯s first time calling her, the number memorized from a takeout receipt, familiar by heart but never dialed before. Unaccountably, he felt a bit flustered. Zhou Xufang¡¯s tone was unwaveringly cold, ¡°Who is this?¡± ¡°¡­¡± She didn¡¯t save his number! She couldn¡¯t recognize his voice! Jiang Zhi gave a forceful cough, clearing his throat hoarse from a sleepless night, ¡°It¡¯s Jiang Zhi.¡± His tone was sharp, seventy percent angry, thirty percent reluctant. Upon hearing it was Jiang Zhi, Zhou Xufang remained silent for a few seconds, then greeted him, ¡°Hello, Jiang Zhi.¡± Chapter 43 - Chapter 43: 043: Hug Hug! (Part 2) Chapter 43: 043: Hug Hug! (Part 2) Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation ¡°Hello, Jiang Zhi.¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± The formality made him want to hit someone. ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± Zhou Xufang asked him. Her voice had softened a lot, no longer as cold and indifferent as when she first answered the phone. Jiang Zhi felt better and softened his voice as well, ¡°There¡¯s an impromptu scene that needs extras.¡± She didn¡¯t even consider it, ¡°I¡¯m busy right now.¡± She rejected him! She actually rejected him! Jiang Zhi sat up from the recliner, the blanket on his legs slipping to the floor due to his abrupt movement. He coughed a few times, his cheeks flushed with a sickly red. This annoyed and anxious look made him even more beautiful, like a noble young master from an aristocratic family. But his eyes held a sharp coldness, ¡°Where are you?¡± Zhou Xufang answered truthfully, ¡°I¡¯m on Changdu Road.¡± She added, ¡°Doing a part-time job.¡± Busy making money again, he couldn¡¯t even see her shadow. Jiang Zhi scratched the can of milk he had been holding, ¡°Twenty thousand, will you come?¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í??.§ã¦Ï Money wasn¡¯t an issue for him. As expected, Zhou Xufang was particularly interested in making money, ¡°Can I come in two hours?¡± Her voice was light, and it was clear she was delighted. She was much more passionate about money than she was about him. Jiang Zhi scratched the can of milk forcefully, ¡°Come quickly!¡± His tone was fierce. Zhou Xufang replied, ¡°Okay.¡± Then Jiang Zhi hung up the phone. Zhou Xufang stared at the number for a few seconds, then saved it, started typing the name Jiang Zhi, but deleted it and changed it to ¡°The Most Beautiful Person in the World.¡± At that moment, the salon owner came over. In his thirties, he dressed stylishly and had his hair dyed Granny Smith green. He was Fang Lixiang¡¯s cousin, named Cheng Xin, and was also the chief stylist of the salon. Zhou Xufang glanced at the potion Cheng Xin was holding, hesitant, ¡°Can I not use this color?¡± Cheng Xin called her baby naturally and said with a smile, ¡°This color suits you best. Trust me, after dyeing it, you¡¯ll look absolutely stunning.¡± Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t really trust him, but since he offered a high price of five thousand¡­ for the money¡­ She said, ¡°Alright.¡± Two hours later, Zhou Xufang arrived at the set. Because it was windy, she wore a mask and a hat, only revealing a pair of pitch-black eyes¡ªlike a lone wolf in the desert. Fang Lixiang stared at her for over ten seconds, a look of shock in her eyes. ¡°Lixiang,¡± Zhou Xufang called her. Fang Lixiang jumped back, dramatically hugging herself, ¡°Who are you?¡± Zhou Xufang removed her mask and then her hat, ¡°It¡¯s me.¡± It was the same somewhat wooden and extremely cold face, just with a head of fluffy, casually curled hair¡­ Fang Lixiang couldn¡¯t resist touching it, ¡°Did my cousin dye this for you?¡± Zhou Xufang, uncomfortable, pressed down on the fluffy hair on her head, ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°What¡¯s this color called?¡± ¡°Matte blue.¡± It was a cold, glamorous matte blue with a bit of Granny Smith gray, cut to ear length with some mid-curls at the ends, very casual, slightly messy, both cool and playful. Both decadent and beautiful. It was indeed Zhou Xufang. Fang Lixiang swallowed and couldn¡¯t dare to look anymore, scared she might bend. She called her cousin, ¡°Cousin, I also want to dye matte blue. I want the same hairstyle as Xu Fang.¡± On the other end, Cheng Xin bluntly knocked her down, ¡°Do you think everyone can pull it off? I¡¯ll dye yours green next time.¡± Fang Lixiang: ¡°¡­¡± Why did she still keep this cousin around? Break ties, it is. ¡°Zhou Xufang.¡± Someone called softly, gasping slightly, accompanied by a cough. It was Jiang Zhi. No one knew when he had arrived or how long he had been standing in the crowd. When Zhou Xufang turned to look at him, he was looking at her too. She answered with a word. He glanced at her hair, ¡°Come with me.¡± Zhou Xufang followed Jiang Zhi to the lounge. He sent Ah Wan away, shut the door, and with the demeanor cultivated by generations of nobility, asked, ¡°Why did you dye your hair?¡± Zhou Xufang kept a safe distance from him, ¡°I¡¯m working as a hair model at the salon.¡± He stared at her hair for a long moment, then at her eyes, ¡°Zhou Xufang.¡± She had a wooden expression, ¡°Yes.¡± He took a few steps closer to her, his gaze like a net, tightly wrapping around her, ¡°Can I hold you?¡± She thought for a long time and shook her head. No, she had secrets that needed to be tightly kept, so she always kept her distance from others, always hid in obscure places, always avoided eye contact, not letting anyone see her face. Jiang Zhi was already an exception. She seriously refused, ¡°No.¡± Jiang Zhi seemed to have anticipated this. He calmly took another step towards her, ¡°Since you don¡¯t agree, I can only use force.¡± He reached out and pulled her into his arms. Chapter 44 - Chapter 44: 044: Brother Zhi Who Loves the House and Its Crow (Part 1) Chapter 44: 044: Brother Zhi Who Loves the House and Its Crow (Part 1) Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation ¡°Since you don¡¯t agree, I¡¯ll have to use force.¡± He reached out and pulled her into his arms. Zhou Xu Fang reflexively raised her hand. ¡°Cough, cough, cough¡­¡± His chin rested on her shoulder, and all his coughing sounded in her ear. ¡°I¡¯m not in good health, go easy on me.¡± Her hand stiffened in midair and didn¡¯t come down. He looked pitiable, like the stray gray cat abandoned outside her building; it softened her heart. She barely dared to use any strength, just poking him with one finger. ¡°Let go.¡± She pushed very, very lightly. Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t let go. He held her waist tightly and, knowing her strength, used all his might to keep her in his embrace. ¡°Don¡¯t move, just for a while.¡± It felt a bit warm. Zhou Xu Fang¡¯s body temperature was low; she hadn¡¯t felt so hot and flustered in years; her skin was heating up. She was very uncomfortable and pushed Jiang Zhi away forcefully with two fingers. She really only used twenty percent of her strength. Jiang Zhi staggered backward, nearly bumping into the coffee table. His chest tightened, followed by a fit of coughing. ¡°Cough, cough, cough¡­¡± He coughed so hard his eyes turned a bit red. He glared at her with his watery eyes. ¡°You didn¡¯t go easy!¡± He was extremely annoyed, blood rushing to his face, making it blush red. His moist eyes resembled those of a fierce but harmless cub, evoking pity from anyone who saw him. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?¦Ï Like a cat. Zhou Xu Fang thought Jiang Zhi was just like a high-bred cat, elegant and lazy when calm, so beautiful one would want to give him all the cat food in the world. But once angry, he became dangerous, using hidden claws to slowly and unexpectedly scratch people, hitting their vulnerable spots. Zhou Xu Fang averted her eyes and didn¡¯t look at him. ¡°I was already being gentle.¡± If she had used her full strength, he would be broken by now. Jiang Zhi finally calmed down a bit, wheezing with his hand on his chest, frowning. ¡°When can you wash that hair dye out?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll wash it out tonight when I get back.¡± She used a temporary dye that would wash out after two washes. Jiang Zhi glanced thoughtfully at her arm. Compared to undressing her to check for wounds, holding her was easier. He decided to hold her again tomorrow. The hug earlier had been too short; he didn¡¯t smell the scent of milk, only the harsh smell of hair dye. Should he hug her again? His gaze turned a bit scorching. Zhou Xu Fang took a large step back, saw his face turn cold instantly, and feared he¡¯d get angry. She moved forward a little bit. ¡°Anything else?¡± She was acting as if to guard against a thief! Jiang Zhi ground his teeth. His naturally charming peach blossom eyes now radiated fierceness, like a beast about to prey. He didn¡¯t speak, so Zhou Xu Fang waited a while before saying, ¡°I¡¯m leaving, then.¡± After speaking, she tucked herself into her coat, stepping lightly as she turned. ¡°Zhou Xu Fang.¡± She turned back. Her misty blue short hair was a bit fluffy, and under her bangs, her eyes were particularly dark, like the clearest water in a deep winter well. Zhou Xu Fang¡¯s eyes were just the way he liked them the most, he didn¡¯t even know why he stopped her, so he casually asked, ¡°Where did you get your hair done?¡± ¡°Want to dye yours too?¡± Zhou Xu Fang gave him the exact address. ¡°At No. 43 Changdu Road, at Fang Lixiang¡¯s cousin¡¯s place.¡± She thought for a moment. ¡°The salon is called Fairy Descending.¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± ¡°It would look even better on you,¡± she said very sincerely before leaving. Jiang Zhi sprawled onto the sofa, massaging his temples. This girl seemed to genuinely think he was good-looking, and didn¡¯t show any yearning for his beauty. The way she looked at him was the same as she looked at that multi-million-yuan vase in the prop room. Bang¡ª He kicked the trash can over. He must have been crazy, actually considering dyeing his hair. The can of milk she gave him was still hidden under the sofa pillow, pressing against his neck uncomfortably. He fished it out and played with it in his hand, touching the teeth marks on the can. What was the name of that shop again¡­ Fairy Descending. Chapter 45 - Chapter 45: 045: Rounding up is a date (part 2) Chapter 45: 045: Rounding up is a date (part 2) Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation Zhou Xufang returned home at almost eight o¡¯clock. It was a bit late, so she didn¡¯t go out to set up a stall to apply screen protectors. ¡°You dyed your hair,¡± Shuangjiang noticed as soon as she walked in the door. ¡°Mm.¡± ¡°It looks good.¡± Zhou Xufang awkwardly ran her fingers through her hair, ¡°I¡¯ll wash it out later.¡± Her profession was special, and she couldn¡¯t have any noticeable features when going on a task. If Jiang Zhi dyed his hair, it would definitely be beautiful, even more beautiful than the diamonds on a cotton candy box. At the bottom of the computer screen, a line of words scrolled by, ¡°We don¡¯t have to pay for that commission; they breached the contract first.¡± ¡°Did you find out who they were?¡± Zhou Xufang wiggled her pink bunny slippers, her mind wandering off to another place. If Jiang Zhi dyed his hair, it would definitely be especially beautiful¡­ Shuangjiang saw she was distracted and spoke with a synthetic voice instead of typing, ¡°I found out. The client¡¯s name is Jin Song. I sent his data to your email.¡± Zhou Xufang opened her email on another computer. ¡°The group that intervened in our task last night are also professional errand runners, quite famous in the industry. Their leader is a man named Brother Qin. They operate in a company model, with excellent logistics and confidentiality. I can¡¯t get their client information for now. I still don¡¯t know if their client is also this Jin guy.¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í?¦Ï.§ã¦Ï That errand runner company was called FOR. Founded less than six months ago, it quickly became famous in the industry. Unlike Zhou Xufang, FOR took on any commission as long as they were paid. Zhou Xufang had competed with them for business a few times and had some understanding. She asked Shuangjiang, ¡°Does this Jin Song have a grudge against Jiang Zhi?¡± ¡°They were supposed to collaborate on a movie, but it fell through for some unknown reason.¡± The synthetic voice stopped abruptly, and a line of bold capital letters rolled across the screen, ¡°Additionally, Jin Song likes men, especially good-looking men.¡± No wonder. Jiang Zhi was a handsome man, an extremely handsome man. Thinking of Jiang Zhi left Zhou Xufang feeling a bit deflated, ¡°Jiang Zhi already suspects me.¡± She didn¡¯t want to move. In the past, if she exposed herself, she would choose to run far away, but Jiang Zhi was so beautiful. If she moved away, she would never see his face again. The more she thought about it, the more she felt discouraged, her head drooping like a listless quail. Shuangjiang asked, ¡°Did you expose anything?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Zhou Xufang said. ¡°Jiang Zhi is very smart.¡± She had deliberately disguised her voice, didn¡¯t dare look him in the eye, yet he still found out. She continued to droop her head, her fog-blue dyed hair limp, looking like a defeated quail. Shuangjiang comforted her, ¡°Ah Fang, you¡¯re smart too.¡± Just too low in emotional intelligence. Zhou Xufang¡¯s eyelids drooped in contemplation, thinking about how to make Jiang Zhi stop suspecting her¡­ Ding. A WeChat message came in. She glanced at it. It was the boss lady of the porridge shop, asking if she could help deliver orders. The shop was too busy. It was gloomy outside; a heavy rain was coming. In this weather, traffic congestion would significantly lower the delivery efficiency of the couriers. Zhou Xufang replied to the boss lady, ¡°Okay.¡± After replying, she thought for a moment, then found Jiang Zhi¡¯s WeChat and sent him a smiley face. ¡°.¡± Jiang Zhi mimicked her and sent a period. She typed letter by letter, ¡°Are you hungry?¡± The other side showed ¡°typing,¡± showed for a long time, but Jiang Zhi¡¯s message didn¡¯t come through. Hm, she must have asked something too weird. Zhou Xufang organized her words and asked again, ¡°I¡¯m about to deliver food; are you hungry?¡± She put her phone on the table, using both hands to find the letters and type faster. She sent another message. ¡°You hired me as an extra. I should thank you.¡± After explaining, she asked again, ¡°Are you hungry?¡± This time, Jiang Zhi replied immediately, ¡°Hungry.¡± The corners of Zhou Xufang¡¯s mouth lifted slightly, not used to smiling, a bit stiff, but her eyes were full of joy, ¡°Then I¡¯ll buy you some porridge.¡± Was she asking him out? On the other end, Jiang Zhi¡¯s palms were sweaty, a bit slippery, nearly dropping his phone. He grabbed a jacket and stood up, ¡°Where are you? I¡¯ll come over.¡± ¡°It¡¯s raining heavily outside. I ordered delivery and will bring it to you.¡± She added, ¡°I asked Ah Wan for your address.¡± His steps paused. Delivery¡­ Couldn¡¯t she invite him to a place with better ambiance? Oh, she had no money¡­ Alright, delivery it is. He walked to the entryway, squatting down to change his shoes, ¡°No need to bring it over. I¡¯ll go to the porridge shop to find you.¡± ¡°It¡¯s cold outside, and your health isn¡¯t good; don¡¯t go out.¡± Quite obedient. Jiang Zhi took off his shoes, unable to suppress the smile at the corner of his mouth, ¡°Okay.¡± Zhou Xufang: ¡°.¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡°Hurry up.¡± Zhou Xufang: ¡°.¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡°I¡¯m hungry.¡± Zhou Xufang: ¡°.¡± Chapter 46 - Chapter 46: 046: Can I shower at your place? (Chapter 1) Chapter 46: 046: Can I shower at your place? (Chapter 1) Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation A thunderclap echoed through the night. After a loud thunderclap, torrential rain came pouring down. Zhou Xufang hid the porridge she was carrying inside her coat and ran across the street, tugging at her hat. The sudden downpour urged pedestrians to scatter. The night was chilly and the rain wrapped everything in a misty haze. Through the thick veil of water vapor, Zhou Xufang saw a black umbrella. A figure stood under it, backlit, under a tree. The rain splashed up, wetting his white sneakers. Looking up, she saw a pair of beige casual pants, then a pair of long, slender hands holding the umbrella, the fingers delicate and very pale, save for the neatly trimmed nails which glowed with a hue of pink. Zhou Xufang recognized those hands. She ran a little faster: ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± The umbrella lifted slightly and she saw his face. The normally curved line of his lips straightened when he saw her, ¡°It¡¯s pouring rain, you don¡¯t know to use an umbrella?¡± Beneath the umbrella, the beautiful man looked at her with anger in his eyes, his brows furrowed. His rain-soaked eyes stared at her. Jiang Zhi even looked good when he was angry. Zhou Xufang wiped the rain from her face, ¡°It wasn¡¯t raining when I left.¡± Wearing a stern expression, he stepped out from under the tree, seemingly wanting to grab her arm but hesitating. Instead, he reached up and grabbed the drawstring of her hoodie, pulling her under the umbrella, ¡°You¡¯re completely soaked.¡± He pushed the umbrella slightly toward her, ¡°Are you cold?¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.?0 Zhou Xufang looked down at Jiang Zhi¡¯s sneakers, now mud-stained. Fang Lixiang had said Jiang Zhi came from a wealthy family, he was delicate and insisted on formality. She stepped onto the clean flagstones nearby, replying, ¡°Cold.¡± Jiang Zhi followed her, moving from the muddy grass to the clean flagstones. His umbrella was large, but the little girl standing under it was far off to the side, trying to make herself small. She was soaked, her wet eyes avoiding his gaze. Whether it was from washing or the rain, the dye in her hair from earlier that day had faded, and her wet hair clung to her head like a quail caught in the rain. ¡°Take it.¡± He shoved the umbrella into her hand, bent over to match her height, and took off his coat, draping it over her shoulders. The series of actions was swift and not particularly gentle, even somewhat clumsy. His expression was hardly friendly, resembling some pampered and delicate creature that needed constant comforting. Zhou Xufang stood there holding the umbrella, since she was significantly shorter, she had to stand on tiptoe to hold it over his head, shielding him from the wind and rain. Her other hand held the porridge hidden in her coat. She was cold all over, except for the warmth in her left chest where the porridge was. She looked up, raindrops falling from her eyelashes. She said, ¡°I¡¯m still very cold.¡± For once, she was so obedient and gentle. Jiang Zhi hesitated, wondering if he should warm her hands. But she asked him, ¡°Can I use your place to take a shower?¡± Her voice was low and cautious, her face upturned, eyes like black gemstones full of hope, looking at him with anticipation. Jiang Zhi was momentarily taken aback by her gaze, swallowing a huge gulp of cold air, which chilled him down to his throat. ¡°Cough cough cough cough cough¡­¡± Damn it. He bent over, coughing so hard that his peach blossom eyes were filled with bloodshot lines. Zhou Xufang, seeing him this weak, hurried to take off the coat to return it to him. The movement caused the umbrella to tilt, letting a large amount of rain pour onto her head. His hands, now wet and red from the cold, steadied the umbrella, pulling her and the coat closer, ¡°Wear it properly.¡± Take a shower? Who taught her this, she must have picked up some bad habits, what if she dared to be this reckless with someone else¡­ Jiang Zhi choked with anger, coughed a couple of times, still feeling unwell, but slowly tilted the umbrella more toward her. The rain quickly soaked his sweater, which was black, making his face look especially pale. Zhou Xufang worried that he might faint from the wind, so she stopped dawdling, ¡°If not, I¡¯ll leave.¡± She took the porridge from her coat and hung it on the umbrella handle, ¡°Eat the porridge while it¡¯s hot.¡± After reminding him, she moved to step out from under the umbrella. Jiang Zhi grabbed her hood, not letting her leave, ¡°I didn¡¯t say you couldn¡¯t.¡± He pulled her back under the umbrella, ¡°Move closer, you¡¯re getting soaked.¡± His tone indicated a bit of anger. Chapter 47 - Chapter 47: 047: You Wear Mine (Second Update) Chapter 47: 047: You Wear Mine (Second Update) Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation The tone was a bit angry. Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t know why he was upset. She stood still obediently and poked the umbrella towards him with a finger: ¡°I¡¯m already wet, it doesn¡¯t matter. You¡¯re delicate, you can¡¯t get wet.¡± Jiang Zhi snorted and stubbornly tilted the umbrella towards her. Under the streetlight, Zhou Xufang looked at him. The rain battered down, leaving his hair flat, without his usual defiant air, he looked more youthful. She felt he looked even more fragile and threw his wool coat over his head before running into the rain, leaving the umbrella with him. She didn¡¯t go far, just a short distance ahead. Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± From the gate of the villa area to Jiang Zhi¡¯s house was just a few steps, but the rain was heavy. Zhou Xufang was drenched. She wore black canvas shoes today. With the heavy rain, the soles of her shoes were all muddy. She stared at the doormat at the entrance for a long time but didn¡¯t follow Jiang Zhi inside. ¡°Why not come in?¡± Jiang Zhi squatted, looking for shoes. Zhou Xufang stood at the door: ¡°I¡¯m all wet. I¡¯ll dirty your carpet.¡± The carpet in his house looked very expensive. He rummaged through the cabinet at the entrance for a long time and found a pair of small-sized men¡¯s slippers. Squatting in front of her, he put the shoes by her feet: ¡°No girls¡¯ shoes, you wear these.¡± Then he urged, ¡°Come in quickly, let the carpet get dirty, otherwise why have it.¡± Zhou Xufang thought that made sense. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.§ã¦Ï She changed into the slippers and walked on the carpet. This wasn¡¯t her first time at Jiang Zhi¡¯s house. The last time it was dark and windy, so she didn¡¯t see much, just the light purple glass chandelier she had broken. Today, it had been replaced with a new one. Tall and crystal-like, it resembled a wind chime and was very beautiful. Zhou Xufang thought it was more delicate than the chandelier she had been eyeing at the porridge shop. She couldn¡¯t help but look at it several times before asking Jiang Zhi: ¡°Where¡¯s the bathroom?¡± She was drenched, chilled. She was fine, not afraid of the cold, but Jiang Zhi was delicate and couldn¡¯t absorb the dampness from her. However, in the cold weather, he seemed a bit feverish and tugged at his sweater collar. ¡°The bathroom is on your left.¡± He was half wet but didn¡¯t care, roughly wiping his hair, ¡°I¡¯ll get you some clothes.¡± ¡°You change first, then get me clothes.¡± He was so delicate, unlike her, who was strong enough to kill a bull with her bare hands. Jiang Zhi poured a cup of hot water and stuffed it into her hands before heading to the closet. Zhou Xufang held the water quietly in the living room, not moving an inch. There was a small puddle of water where she stood. Taking a sip of the hot water, she couldn¡¯t help but look up at the chandelier again. So beautiful. She really wanted to steal it and bring it home¡­ ¡°I don¡¯t have girls¡¯ clothes here.¡± Jiang Zhi quickly returned, still in his wet clothes. Just now his face was just red, but now his neck and ears were also red. He clutched two pieces of loungewear, both white, and handed them to Zhou Xufang, ¡°You wear mine.¡± His neck got even redder. It was unclear whether he had a fever. Zhou Xufang quickly took them: ¡°I¡¯m going to take a shower. You should change clothes quickly.¡± He turned his head aside, looking elsewhere, and muttered, ¡°Mm.¡± Zhou Xufang walked towards the bathroom with the clothes, turned back halfway, and couldn¡¯t help saying: ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± He immediately turned his head toward her: ¡°Mm?¡± ¡°Where did you buy your chandelier? I want to buy one just like it.¡± He glanced at the ceiling. How much was this chandelier again? Oh, about two million. Without batting an eye, he calmly said: ¡°There¡¯s none left. This was the last one.¡± Zhou Xufang showed a disappointed look. She really liked pretty things and wanted to secretly stow them away and bring them to Moon Bay someday, but unfortunately, this chandelier was unavailable. She dropped her head and headed to the bathroom. Jiang Zhi called her back. She turned around: ¡°What do you want?¡± His eyes still had a circle of redness, unlike his usual noble and distant demeanor when dealing with others. His eyes were very warm and bright, reflecting fragmented pieces of chandelier light. He said: ¡°I¡¯ll have someone dismantle this one for you to take.¡± This chandelier, if she bought it, would require her to deliver takeout for decades. Hearing this, Zhou Xufang immediately lit up. Her eyes grew rounder: ¡°Then what should I give you?¡± She said, ¡°There should be an exchange of gifts.¡± She never took things for free. Should she give him a car? Boys seem to like cars. A watch would work too. She could give him a diamond-studded watch, a particularly beautiful one. But Jiang Zhi said: ¡°Native chicken eggs will do.¡± ¡°Mm?¡± ¡°I like eating eggs. Just give native chicken eggs.¡± These are cheap. Chapter 48 - Chapter 48: 048: Jiang Zhi Hides Xu Fang in a Gilded Cage (Part 1) Chapter 48: 048: Jiang Zhi Hides Xu Fang in a Gilded Cage (Part 1) Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation ¡°I like eating eggs, so you can give me organic eggs.¡± That¡¯s cheap. Zhou Xufang agreed, ¡°Okay.¡± Then she could just give him a truckload of eggs, or send them for a year. She looked up at the chandelier above her head again, feeling very satisfied, wanting to hum the theme song of her favorite TV show. But this was Jiang Zhi¡¯s house, so she held back and said to Jiang Zhi, ¡°You should go change your clothes and then drink your porridge; otherwise, it will get cold.¡± ¡°Mm.¡± He raised the corner of his mouth, and then flattened it again, urging with a stern face, ¡°Are you going to dawdle until dawn?¡± Not cold?! She hurried to the bathroom. Jiang Zhi went to the dressing room and put on a pullover sweatshirt he rarely wore. The porridge was warm. He drank a few sips; it was too fresh, with too much shrimp meat. He got up to pour a glass of cold water and drank half of it in one gulp. He also turned off the heating, but it was still hot, his mouth dry and parched. Maybe the cold wind caused it; his head was vaguely aching too. He thought he needed to find a reliable psychologist to examine his brain. Otherwise, how could giving away a lamp not be enough? He even wanted to throw her a bank card when he saw her eyes glued to that lamp, letting her buy ten or so just to play with. Was he sick? Leading her into the house without reason was one thing, but wanting to pack up all his belongings for her to take away was another. Could it be that this girl really turned him straight? Becoming like that silly, sweet Xue Bingxue who craved for Jiang Wei¡¯er to carve out her heart. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?0 Jiang Zhi unconsciously pressed his chest. If Zhou Xufang asked for his heart, would he dig it out? Damn it! He was sick, thinking about such issues. He gulped down the remaining half glass of cold water and felt somewhat less hot. He poured another glass of water and tapped his fingers on the dining table in thought before dialing Jiang Wei¡¯er¡¯s number. ¡°At this hour, why aren¡¯t you asleep yet?¡± It was noisy on Jiang Wei¡¯er¡¯s end, not sure which high-spirited venue she was at. Jiang Zhi stated his purpose directly, ¡°Get me a set of clothes over here.¡± After a brief pause, he added, ¡°For a girl.¡± Jiang Wei¡¯er took several seconds to react, realizing the situation, ¡°Brother Zhi, something¡¯s up, huh.¡± Her words were full of teasing. Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t bother with nonsense, ¡°Don¡¯t ask too much.¡± Fine, Jiang Wei¡¯er wouldn¡¯t ask, ¡°At least tell me the size.¡± ¡°170, slender.¡± He answered so quickly that it caught Jiang Wei¡¯er off guard, ¡°Where should I send the clothes?¡± ¡°My house.¡± Who could it be that managed to capture Jiang Zhi¡¯s interest, bending his years of resistance and already gaining house entry so quickly. Jiang Wei¡¯er was extremely curious, teasing obliquely, ¡°I thought you were impotent. Not bad, Brother Zhi, finally coming to life.¡± Jiang Zhi abruptly hung up and downed a glass of cold water. Damn, it was hot. On her end, Jiang Wei¡¯er listened to the busy tone on the phone and laughed silently. Without further delay, she grabbed her coat and stood up, ¡°You guys play, I¡¯m leaving.¡± Xue Baoyi, sitting beside a ¡®graceful¡¯ figure, was playing cards with a group of familiar wealthy young men, blowing smoke rings, ¡°Isn¡¯t Xiao Linsu filming in another province? It¡¯s early, why are you leaving?¡± Jiang Wei¡¯er went straight over and stubbed out his cigarette, ¡°Brother Zhi has a situation; I need to go there.¡± Xue Baoyi¡¯s hand trembled from the cigarette ash burning him, making him play a good card mistakenly, ¡°What situation?¡± She was succinct, ¡°Hidden Beauty.¡± Hidden Beauty? Jiang Zhi?! Xue Baoyi instantly lost interest in the card game, ¡°Damn, take me along.¡± He pushed away the ¡®graceful¡¯ figure beside him, ¡°You go back by yourself, Mr. has to catch a cheater.¡± Zhou Xufang took a quick shower, just ten minutes, and the sound of water stopped in the bathroom. ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± She called from inside. Jiang Zhi spilled two drops of the water from his cup, unconsciously licking his lips, ¡°What is it?¡± Zhou Xufang said, ¡°The clothes fell to the floor and got wet.¡± Her tone was very calm, without a hint of ulterior motive, but in Jiang Zhi¡¯s ears, it was like a claw, scratching and itching his heart. He swallowed a big gulp of cold water, his Adam¡¯s apple rolling, ¡°Wait a minute.¡± This girl was probably here just to torment him. He pulled at the collar of his sweatshirt, exhaled deeply, got up, and went to the cloakroom for two more pieces of clothing. He then sidled to the bathroom door and knocked. The door opened a crack, and a tender, white hand reached out. She called him, ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± Clearly having never seen the sun, her skin was excessively white, showing no guard against him, audaciously exposing half her shoulder. Look away, Jiang Family¡¯s upbringing had always been strict, but at that moment, he forgot all about being a gentleman, his eyes traveling up from her fingertips, then stopping. Her hand hovered in midair for a long time, and she didn¡¯t get the clothes. ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± She called again. Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t respond. She waved her hand, ¡°Give me the clothes.¡± He was still staring at her outstretched hand, even subconsciously leaning his body forward, scrutinizing her arm. Porcelain white, translucent, with not a single scar. Just one day, how could there be no wounds? It wasn¡¯t her? The voice, eyes, body shape, even the strength were so alike. Then how to explain this? Coincidence? He furrowed his brows, standing in the doorway for a long time, completely puzzled. ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± Chapter 49 - Chapter 49: 049: Will you drink my milk or not (second update) Chapter 49: 049: Will you drink my milk or not (second update) Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± Zhou Xufang called him for the third time from inside. Unlike before, her tone had a hint of urgency, and her hand movements became larger, with her collarbone faintly showing. Jiang Zhi snapped back to attention and massaged his temples. It was good that it wasn¡¯t her. He didn¡¯t want her walking on the edge of a knife, living a life stained with blood. He placed the clothes in her hand and grew irritated. ¡°Do you act like this at other people¡¯s houses too?¡± Zhou Xufang took the clothes, pulled her hand back, and closed the door. ¡°I¡¯ve never been to anyone else¡¯s house.¡± Not once. Jiang Zhi¡¯s furrowed brows relaxed at her words. In the steam-filled bathroom, Zhou Xufang reached out to wipe the fog off the mirror. Her reflection became clear, and she looked down at her arm, rubbing it gently with her fingers. Her self-healing seemed to be faster than before. Outside the bathroom, Jiang Zhi¡¯s coughing could be heard occasionally. He had caught a chill. Was his illness getting worse? Lost in thought, her phone rang with an email from Shuangjiang. ¡°Is it done?¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?0 Zhou Xufang looked at Jiang Zhi¡¯s clothes and drifted off for a moment before replying, ¡°I don¡¯t have any wounds on my hands. He should be free of suspicion by now.¡± Luckily, it had rained heavily, giving her an excuse to come to Jiang Zhi¡¯s house. She didn¡¯t really like manipulating people and even more so didn¡¯t want to manipulate Jiang Zhi. But she had no choice. She couldn¡¯t expose her identity; at least not before going to Moon Bay. She had to remain unnoticed. ¡°Ah Fang, do you really have to live on Moon Bay?¡± Shuangjiang asked for the first time, with a hint of reluctance. ¡°Yes.¡± Zhou Xufang¡¯s response was absolute. She had to go. She wasn¡¯t suited for living in a community; she had to live alone. Shuangjiang¡¯s reply came after a long time. ¡°Can¡¯t you not go? You¡¯ll be very lonely on the island by yourself.¡± Can¡¯t you not go? Three years ago, Zhou Xufang had asked herself the same question until her then-neighbor found out about her. She didn¡¯t even have time to explain, and that neighbor, who usually shared half of everything they cooked with her, fainted. After that, she moved away, bought a building to live in alone, and never wanted neighbors again. She never asked herself whether she should go to Moon Bay anymore. ¡°I¡¯m scared,¡± Zhou Xufang said. Shuangjiang asked what she was afraid of. ¡°Afraid that one day, someone will discover my secret and burn me to death.¡± The year she escaped from the lab to Da Mai Mountain, by chance, she saved a couple. At first, they treated her well, but later, they saw her eyes, saw her running, saw her rapidly healing wounds, and then they called her a demon. Many people said the same, and they threw rocks, sticks, and shovels at her and tried to burn her. She was very afraid, afraid of those people, afraid of this cannibalistic world. Jiang Zhi brought her a sweatshirt and a pair of sweatpants. The clothes were too big for her, the pants rolled up three times, highly ill-fitting. From the moment she stepped out, Jiang Zhi had been examining her. Lying on the sofa, his face was pale and sickly, his expression lethargic, but his eyes were lively, like stars in a painting, nonchalantly attracting attention. Feeling uneasy, she pulled the hood of the sweatshirt over her head to hide her face. Jiang Zhi, however, walked over and pulled her hood off. His lips were very red, making his pale complexion stand out even more. ¡°Zhou Xufang.¡± ¡°Mm.¡± He took off the dry towel hanging around her neck and placed it on her head, then awkwardly turned away. ¡°Dry your hair.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± She covered her head with the towel and rubbed her hair in all directions. After washing it twice, the misty blue color had faded significantly. Jiang Zhi glanced at her multiple times before looking away, the tips of his ears slightly red. He looked somewhere else and asked, ¡°Do you want milk?¡± She poked her head out of the towel. ¡°Yes.¡± He got two cans of milk and went to the kitchen to heat it. She followed behind, shaking the overly long sleeves. ¡°I can drink it cold.¡± Jiang Zhi had already poured the canned milk into a cup and put it in the microwave. ¡°It¡¯s too cold, don¡¯t drink it cold.¡± She felt even more guilty, feeling she was too bad. Jiang Zhi treated her so kindly, yet she still tricked him. However, when she glanced at the microwave, then looked up at Jiang Zhi, she said, ¡°You didn¡¯t press the heat button.¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± Press the button? How was he supposed to know? This house¡¯s interior was designed by Xue Baoyi, and it was Xue Baoyi who had unnecessarily added the kitchen appliances. Since moving in, he¡¯d never been in the kitchen. Where was the heat button? Jiang Zhi stared at the microwave, frowning as he studied it. A finger reached over¡ª Ding! Zhou Xufang pressed the heat button. ¡°There, it¡¯s done.¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± Xue Baoyi, that idiot, what kind of junk did he buy? He coughed twice. ¡°Can you cook?¡± ¡°No,¡± Zhou Xufang habitually hid her head under the hoodie, revealing only her eyes with a serious expression. ¡°But I can use a microwave. I learned when I worked part-time at a porridge shop.¡± Chapter 50 - Chapter 50: 050: Bring a ton of sugar (first update) Chapter 50: 050: Bring a ton of sugar (first update) Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation ¡°But I know how to use a microwave. I learned while helping at the porridge shop.¡± Jiang Zhi, who didn¡¯t know how to use a microwave, responded with, ¡°¡­¡± ¡°I can teach you.¡± Zhou Xu Fang¡¯s expression was extremely serious. ¡°¡­¡± Jiang Zhi had no interest in learning how to use a microwave. He lazily said, ¡°Hmm, go ahead and teach.¡± Then, Zhou Xu Fang explained the microwave¡¯s button steps and various common heating times to Jiang Zhi in detail. At the end, she turned to him and asked, ¡°Did you learn it?¡± Her eyelashes were very curled. The light shone down from above, casting shadows. When she blinked, the shadows fluttered with her eyelashes, and Jiang Zhi suddenly felt an impulse to reach out and touch them. ¡°Did you learn it?¡± she patiently asked again. Learn what? He had been too focused on looking at her. Who knows what she had said? Jiang Zhi shifted his gaze away. ¡°Yes.¡± Just then, the milk finished heating. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï??¦Ï.§ã¦Ï Zhou Xu Fang washed two cups and poured the heated milk into them, one for herself and one for Jiang Zhi. ¡°I¡¯ll help you carry it over.¡± Then she used her sweatshirt sleeves to wrap around her hands, holding the two cups of milk as she skillfully walked to the living room. Jiang Zhi followed behind her. She was wearing his sweatshirt, the same style as the one he wore himself. It truly looked pleasing. Zhou Xu Fang turned to see the faint smile on his lips. He didn¡¯t smile often. Normally, he always looked half-asleep, lazy and indifferent, exuding an aloof elegance that was somewhat detached from the human world. He looked better when he smiled. Zhou Xu Fang thought of a saying, ¡°Beauty can be captivating to the point of causing trouble.¡± She thought, if Jiang Zhi had been born in the old times, he would definitely have been taken to the palace to serve, a beauty that brings disaster. Such looks wouldn¡¯t be fit for an ordinary family. Jiang Zhi pressed his lips together, and the smile disappeared from his eyes, returning to his usual handsome and defiant look. Zhou Xu Fang chose the seat at the farthest edge of the sofa, sipping milk in small sips. Jiang Zhi sat across from her without speaking. She couldn¡¯t openly admire his rare good looks, so she shifted her gaze and attention elsewhere. Then she noticed something surprising: ¡°You also have cotton candy at home?¡± On the third shelf of the built-in wall cabinet across from them, there was a small square glass box filled with colorful cotton candy. She rarely showed such a large emotional reaction. Jiang Zhi glanced at her eyebrows and softly responded, ¡°Mm.¡± ¡°I also like to eat cotton candy.¡± All her joy and excitement were written on her face. The bleak loneliness in her eyes was replaced with brightness. How much did she like that box of cotton candy? Jiang Zhi walked to the wooden cabinet, took down the box of cotton candy, and placed it on the coffee table. ¡°Have some.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± Her eyes turned into crescent moons, taking the box in her hands and touching the inlaid rhinestones on top. ¡°Your cotton candy box is prettier than mine.¡± She also wanted to buy one, but Jiang Zhi¡¯s was too exquisite. It must have been custom-made. Never mind. She had already taken his chandelier; she couldn¡¯t possibly covet his cotton candy box as well. So, she didn¡¯t ask him where it was custom-made, just quietly sat on the sofa and ate the candy. Jiang Zhi silently watched her. That year at the Luo Family¡¯s, the emaciated boy had also sat like this, by the small pond, swinging his legs, smiling as he stuffed cotton candy into his mouth one by one. Like her, he also picked the pink ones first. ¡°Have you never eaten it before?¡± Jiang Zhi had been at a rebellious age then. The boy nodded. He was so thin he was out of form, his face dirty, chewing the candy with his cheeks puffed out, a plump orange cat lying at his feet, stretching lazily and rubbing against his darkened hand. ¡°Then wait here for me tomorrow. I¡¯ll bring you cotton candy.¡± The boy gave him a small smile, and the cat meowed a couple of times too. But the next day, he didn¡¯t see the boy. A huge fire had burned the Luo Family¡¯s flower shed to ashes. Others told him the adopted son¡¯s ashes were in that pile of debris. ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± Zhou Xu Fang called out, looking up with three pieces of candy in her mouth, her cheeks slightly puffed out. ¡°This candy seems to have been discontinued. Where did you buy it?¡± It was her favorite brand. She hadn¡¯t had it in a long time. Jiang Zhi¡¯s thoughts were pulled back by her excited voice. ¡°I bought their factory.¡± Zhou Xu Fang hesitated for a while, then asked him, ¡°Can you give me some?¡± she sincerely requested, ¡°I can pay.¡± It was clear she really liked this candy. After all, she was still just a young girl who liked sweet and pretty things. ¡°You can come to my place to buy it in the future.¡± Jiang Zhi considered himself not someone who liked to share. In his understanding, what he liked, he must have all to himself. No one else was allowed to covet it. She was different, breaking his rules time and time again. She looked genuinely happy, with candy in her mouth and sweetness in her eyes, sincerely praising him, ¡°You are really a good person.¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± A good person? To buy that cotton candy factory, he had bankrupted its owner. The doorbell suddenly rang, and Jiang Zhi got up to open the door. Xue Baoyi stood at the door, wearing a flamboyant red coat, smiling charmingly, his manner exaggerated and dramatic, ¡°Brother Zhi¡«¡± Chapter 51 - Chapter 51: 051: Should I take it? Free shipping (second update) Chapter 51: 051: Should I take it? Free shipping (second update) Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation ¡°` ¡°Brother Zhi~¡± Jiang Zhi directly cast his gaze past him, ¡°Where are the clothes?¡± Wei¡¯er used one finger to hook the handle of the shopping bag and shook it, ¡°Here.¡± Jiang Zhi took the bag, then turned around and slammed the door shut without the slightest pause. The two people outside the door, ¡°¡­¡± Inside the room, Zhou Xufang had already finished eating a whole box of marshmallows, ¡°Who came?¡± Jiang Zhi said, ¡°The one delivering the clothes.¡± She glanced at the bag with the clothes, reluctantly touching the marshmallow box, then stood up, ¡°It¡¯s late, I should go home.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll take you.¡± His ears blushed with a thin layer of red again. Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t even consider it before refusing, ¡°No need, it¡¯s very cold outside, you¡¯ll catch a cold if you go out.¡± ¡°I said I¡¯ll take you.¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ??¦Í??.§ã¦Ï His tone hardened, becoming almost unreasonable. His face pale, his eyes slightly reddened, a frail air exuding from his very bones, reducing much of his aggression. Zhou Xufang still considered his health and put down the marshmallow box, ¡°I¡¯ll go back myself.¡± So disobedient! Jiang Zhi¡¯s eyes were dark and murky, his lips pressed into a stiff line, staring at her as he heavily tossed the bag of clothes onto the sofa next to her. ¡°Change clothes before you leave,¡± his tone was indeed unpleasant. Had she made him angry? Zhou Xufang hesitated for a moment, then took the clothes to the bathroom to change. Wei¡¯er had chosen warm-colored girly clothes, a white knitted dress paired with a pink coat. Pink was Zhou Xufang¡¯s favorite color. She touched the sleeves, thinking if she ever stopped being a professional errand runner, she would buy a house full of pink clothes. ¡°Do you like it?¡± Jiang Zhi asked with a bemused smile. The inexplicable anger in his heart dissipated upon seeing her satisfied little gestures. Such emotional ups and downs were truly unlike him. Zhou Xufang touched the collar again and honestly nodded, ¡°Yes, I like pink.¡± She liked milk, she liked marshmallows, and she liked pink. Clearly a little girl at heart, though she always seemed so aloof and mature. Since she liked it¡­ He fetched a large bag of marshmallows from the cupboard, picked out all the pink-packaged ones, filled a bag, and placed it by Zhou Xufang¡¯s feet, ¡°Take this with you to eat. When you finish it, ask me for more.¡± A small smile curved at the corner of his mouth. ¡°Okay.¡± Zhou Xufang was very happy and immediately transferred ten thousand yuan to him on her phone. Jiang Zhi, ¡°¡­¡± She didn¡¯t find it easy to make money either, hadn¡¯t she learned to be more frugal? He didn¡¯t accept her transferred money, sat down on the sofa, crossed his arms, and avoided looking at her, ¡°Take the umbrella.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Zhou Xufang lifted the bag of marshmallows, walked to the entrance, and waved her hand, ¡°Goodbye, Jiang Zhi.¡± Jiang Zhi sat there motionless. Click. As soon as the door opened, Jiang Zhi stood up and followed her to the entrance. Outside, Zhou Xufang just stepped out and saw Wei¡¯er, she was quite surprised. Wei¡¯er was Fang Lixiang¡¯s assistant and had met Zhou Xufang several times. She had a good impression of Zhou Xufang and greeted her with a smile, ¡°I am Jiang Zhi¡¯s aunt.¡± Wei¡¯er¡¯s identity was not disclosed within the circle, and Zhou Xufang wasn¡¯t very curious. She just nodded back without asking anything. Xue Baoyi, standing by, was a lively character, carelessly casual, ¡°Do you remember me?¡± Zhou Xufang wasn¡¯t very good at socializing and just wanted to hide her face in a hat. Unfortunately, the pink coat didn¡¯t have a hood, so she lowered her head, avoiding Xue Baoyi¡¯s gaze. ¡°I¡¯ve put a screen protector on your phone,¡± she said. She had also seen Xue Baoyi¡¯s photos on Weibo, with a certain female celebrity. Fang Lixiang had said he was a scumbag. Xue ¡°Scumbag¡± Baoyi was very familiar, grinning roguishly, ¡°Hello, I¡¯m Jiang Zhi¡¯s childhood friend¡ª¡± ¡°What are you two doing blocking the door?¡± Interrupted, Xue Baoyi, ¡°¡­¡± Jiang Zhi stood leaning against the entrance cabinet, the black hoodie highlighting his pallor, a cold glare in his eyes, ¡°If you¡¯re not coming in, then get lost.¡± Xue Baoyi rolled his eyes. He wasn¡¯t stupid; he could tell Jiang Zhi¡¯s protective stance. ¡°It¡¯s not raining outside, you should head back early,¡± his gaze bypassed Xue Baoyi and landed on Zhou Xufang outside the door. His tone wasn¡¯t exactly gentle, but it was light, speaking slowly. Zhou Xufang agreed, carrying the marshmallows and wet clothes as she left. Xue Baoyi watched her go, then turned back inside, ¡°Brother Zhi, you¡ª¡± ¡°Who told you to step on my carpet? Get off, it¡¯s filthy.¡± Jiang Zhi¡¯s tone was laced with disdain. Dragging his weak body, he fetched two disposable shoe covers and a dry towel. Despite his sickly face, there was a fierce expression, ¡°Wipe off the water before coming in.¡± Xue Baoyi, ¡°¡­¡± There were water stains on the carpet, clearly already stepped on by someone; it didn¡¯t take much to figure out who. Such blatant favoritism brought a pang of hurt. Xue Baoyi felt a chill in his heart, gazing longingly at Jiang Zhi, ¡°Brother Zhi, don¡¯t you remember? Your Baoyi brother from the lakeside of Daming Lake.¡± Jiang Zhi gave him a glance, ¡°Idiot.¡± Xue Baoyi, full of dramatic flair but unable to continue, ¡°¡­¡± Such a brother, it¡¯s time to cut ties. Chapter 52 - Chapter 52: 052: Oh, its unrequited love (First Update) Chapter 52: 052: Oh, it¡¯s unrequited love (First Update) Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation ¡°Brother Zhi,¡± Wei¡¯er didn¡¯t join in the banter and asked, ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Jiang Zhi¡¯s rain-soaked hair hadn¡¯t dried yet, and he was listless at the moment, lying on the sofa with his peach blossom eyes looking all wilted. ¡°What do you mean, what¡¯s going on?¡± Wei¡¯er asked meaningfully, ¡°Zhou Xufang, of course.¡± Jiang Zhi turned his back, ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡± He ignored everyone else, reached for his phone, and dialed Ah Wan, ¡°Have a few people come over tomorrow and take down the chandelier in the living room.¡± Ah Wan was quite surprised. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with the light? Are you not satisfied with it?¡± Jiang Zhi frowned unhappily, ¡°Stop asking so many questions, just take it down if I tell you to.¡± Ah Wan, ¡°Oh.¡± The call hadn¡¯t ended yet when there was an abrupt sound. Jiang Zhi lazily glanced over and then suddenly sat up, ¡°Where did you get that can of milk from?¡± Xue Baoyi had the milk can ring hooked on his pinky finger, ¡°From the sofa.¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?¦Ï Jiang Zhi sat up, ¡°Xue Baoyi.¡± Xue Baoyi¡¯s eyelid twitched, ¡°Hmm?¡± Calling out his full name! Usually, whenever this ancestor called out someone¡¯s full name, it meant no good. Xue Baoyi was startled and was just about to take a sip of milk to calm his nerves when Jiang Zhi kicked over. His breathing was heavy, and his eyes were red with rage. ¡°You damn well better not drink that!¡± Xue Baoyi, ¡°¡­¡± While he was still in a daze, Jiang Zhi had already snatched the milk away, his peach blossom eyes filled with ferocity, mixed with an extremely complex range of emotions, including regret and anger. Xue Baoyi was bewildered by him, unsure of how he had provoked this little beauty. No worries, Mr. was generous and wealthy, ¡°It¡¯s just a can of milk, next time, Mr. will buy you a truckload, no, a houseful!¡± Mr. had money and knew how to care for people. Jiang Zhi, unable to bear it any longer, was so infuriated that his anger surged, causing him to cough heavily with a pale face. ¡°Get, him, out, of, here.¡± He enunciated each word clearly, directing them at Wei¡¯er. Xue Baoyi was heartbroken by his coldness and shouted in pain, ¡°Am I really worth less than a can of milk?!¡± He turned and strode off to show his resolve, ¡°Brother Zhi, I¡¯m cutting ties with you!¡± ¡°Bang!¡± Jiang Zhi slammed the door shut. Xue Baoyi, ¡°¡­¡± Wei¡¯er glanced at Xue Baoyi like he was an idiot and left. Inside, Jiang Zhi leaned against the door, coughing for a long time. The phone was still on speaker, and Ah Wan had heard everything clearly. When the coughing finally stopped, he hesitantly asked, ¡°Boss, did Mr. open the can with the teeth marks on it?¡± ¡°Beep¡­ beep¡­ beep¡­¡± Jiang Zhi had hung up. Ah Wan suddenly understood everything. In the cold winter, Jiang Zhi had been caught in the rain earlier, inhaling some of the chill, which now made him dizzy and groggy. His lungs ached from coughing so much. He got up to find some medicine, swallowed them with warm water, and feeling too weak to move, he lay back down on the sofa, panting, his head aching fiercely. He lay there feebly, looking at the milk can with the opened ring that Xue Baoyi had taken, then got up and dialed a number. In the silent night, past nine, Doctor Qiu¡¯s voice trembled, ¡°Mr. Jiang?¡± Jiang Zhi¡¯s lazy voice echoed through the phone, colder because of the late hour, ¡°I let her come over to my house.¡± Doctor Qiu, ¡°Uh¡­¡± Jiang Zhi continued to speak slowly, one sentence at a time. ¡°I let her use my bathroom, my shower gel.¡± He paused, sighing as if baffled, elongating his tone, ¡°And my clothes too.¡± Doctor Qiu, ¡°Uh¡­¡± Jiang Zhi held the opened milk can, examining it closely, muttering as if to himself, ¡°I even gave her a two-million-dollar chandelier.¡± He then held the empty glass candy jar, rubbing it in his hand. ¡°Nobody can touch my candy, but she can.¡± ¡°Cough, cough, cough¡­¡± The coughing came in waves, his eyes slightly red, looking sickly and fragile, ¡°I even thought about giving her the factory.¡± ¡°I want to send her back.¡± ¡°She refuses.¡± His tone suddenly grew heavier, ¡°She actually refuses!¡± That familiar, overwhelming devilish aura. Doctor Qiu, ¡°Uh¡­,¡± his heart trembling! After a moment of silence, Jiang Zhi changed his tone, weak and lazy, yet still imposing like a young master, ¡°Tell me, what kind of illness do I have?¡± To be honest, Doctor Qiu had been practicing for years, having seen countless psychological perversions, but patients like this, seemingly normal yet actually abnormal, were rare. ¡°In my opinion¡­¡± In his opinion, ¡°Mr. Jiang, could it be that you¡¯re unrequitedly in love with that young¡ª¡± He was cut off by a sinister laugh. ¡°Unrequited love?¡± Jiang Zhi licked his red lips, his eyes narrowing into sharp crescents, ¡°I, being a homo, you say I¡¯m unrequitedly in love?¡± A deep-rooted self-assurance from being a homo. People like him, according to psychological theories, once they believe in something or someone, they become extremely obsessive in both thought and behavior. Since direct confrontation was futile, Doctor Qiu could only guide him gradually, ¡°Regarding your sexual orientation, I feel¡­ it might have returned to normal.¡± He cautiously suggested, ¡°If you¡¯re still unsure, you could try it out.¡± Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t respond, merely touched the teeth marks on the milk can, then tipped it back to drink. The icy liquid hit his stomach, causing it to cramp painfully. Then, the adviser began to devise a plan. Chapter 53 - Chapter 53: 053: Come on, lets create (second update) Chapter 53: 053: Come on, let¡¯s create (second update) Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation Afterwards, the adviser began to offer schemes. At ten o¡¯clock at night, Jiang Zhi still hadn¡¯t slept. He gave Qiao Nanchu a call, then left. Before leaving, he casually threw the empty milk can with teeth marks into the¡­ safe box. Xue Baoyi was still angry at Jiang Zhi for his ruthlessness. When Jiang Zhi entered the private room, he snorted, turned his head, and banged his wine glass loudly. The private room had been cleared out, leaving only a few of their friends. Xue Bingxue sat on the side drinking juice, while Qiao Nanchu, sitting beside him, immediately poured himself the strongest liquor. ¡°What¡¯s your deal? Still awake this late?¡± Jiang Zhi lifted his eyes. Ah Wan, who was with him, quickly drew two wet wipes and wiped down all the edges and corners of the sofa, finally laying a clean blanket on it. Only then did Jiang Zhi sit down, speaking slowly and indifferently, ¡°Get me a few men.¡± Qiao Nanchu thought he had misheard: ¡°What did you say?¡± He repeated expressionlessly, ¡°Call a few men over.¡± Xue Baoyi sprang up like a carp, ¡°Brother Zhi, are you running a fever?¡± Jiang Zhi, sick and frail, nestled in, breathing slowly, his eyes half-closed, a delicate charm lingering in his features. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í?¦Ï.§ã¦Ï Xue Baoyi thought to himself, ¡°It¡¯s over, with this kind of looks playing with men, how many decent married men will he bend?¡± No way, he needed to stay away! Qiao Nanchu remained much calmer, putting down his glass, smiling roguishly as he eyed Jiang Zhi, ¡°Do you want experienced ones or clean ones?¡± Jiang Zhi nonchalantly remarked, ¡°As long as they have nice eyes.¡± Qiao Nanchu understood now, made a call, and gave succinct instructions. Was he serious?! Xue Baoyi felt a bit exasperated, ¡°Brother Zhi, are you really not sick?¡± Jiang Zhi had been bent for many years, having seen all types of ¡°tops¡± and ¡°bottoms¡± without ever messing around. How did he suddenly change? Could it be after playing with Zhou Xufang, he now felt the truth that male-on-male was true love and male-female was just for procreation? At this moment, Xue Baoyi¡¯s mood reflected that of a worried old mother. He reached out to touch Jiang Zhi¡¯s forehead, only to have his hand slapped away, ¡°Don¡¯t touch me.¡± Was he guarding his purity? Was this the male version of ¡°men shouldn¡¯t touch men¡±? Steel-straight Xue Baoyi shivered, obediently sitting far away. He thought today¡¯s Brother Zhi was too strange, but after reconsideration, he figured, ¡°Well, it¡¯s fine. Later, you can find a few who are good at serving people and have a taste first.¡± In this room, the only one with proper principles was Xue Bingxue. ¡°You guys don¡¯t do this, this is, this is,¡± Xue Bingxue¡¯s face reddened, ¡°this is prostitution.¡± Xue Baoyi grabbed a blanket and tossed it, directly covering Xue Bingxue¡¯s head, ¡°You little chick, don¡¯t look around!¡± Xue Bingxue: ¡°¡­¡± He wasn¡¯t looking! Just then, the door was pushed open from outside, and more than ten boys filed in, entering in a line. Qiao Nanchu raised his chin, signaling Jiang Zhi, ¡°Everyone¡¯s here, pick.¡± He teased, ¡°If you like several, you can take them all at once.¡± These rich young masters had seen all types of play. In this Fusheng Inn, as long as you could afford it, there was nothing you couldn¡¯t get. The young master of the Jiang Family wanted to play, so those brought in were top-notch goods. Looks were just the surface; their aura and character mattered too, not just physical appearance. A dozen youths came in, each having their own unique appeal. Jiang Zhi glanced casually, pointed to a cold-faced handsome guy, ¡°You,¡± then to a delicate and graceful one, ¡°and you, come here.¡± Qiao Nanchu crossed his arms, smilingly watching the scene unfold. ¡°Mr. Jiang.¡± The delicate and graceful boy called out timidly, truly fitting the description of clean, especially those eyes, like a deer¡¯s, moist and innocent. Jiang Zhi half-leaned on the sofa, lazily not moving, and ordered, ¡°Come over and pour me a drink.¡± Chapter 54 - Chapter 54: 054: Jiang Zhi Caught in the Act (Part 1) Chapter 54: 054: Jiang Zhi Caught in the Act (Part 1) Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation ¡°Come here and pour me a drink.¡± The boy stepped forward sluggishly, his eyes misty with tears. He sneaked a glance at Jiang Zhi, hesitated a few times before sitting down, not daring to sit too close. He cautiously poured a glass of wine and handed it over. There was a faint scent of men¡¯s cologne, not too strong. However, Jiang Zhi still found it pungent. Holding back his nausea, he accepted the glass and downed it in one gulp. He then looked up at the other person: ¡°Don¡¯t you know how to serve people?¡± The cold-faced, handsome man exuded an air of elegance. He moved forward and sat down, his hand casually resting on Jiang Zhi¡¯s thigh. ¡°How about this?¡± The man looked at Jiang Zhi, his hand moving up along Jiang Zhi¡¯s thigh. His sharp brows and star-like eyes were impeccably handsome. ¡°What about this, Mr. Jiang?¡± This seductive demeanor wasn¡¯t effeminate at all. Clearly, he had been trained. Jiang Zhi said nothing. The man¡¯s hand continued upwards, along the inner thigh¡ª ¡°That¡¯s enough.¡± Jiang Zhi stood up: ¡°Get out.¡± He clutched his abdomen, a thin sheen of sweat on his forehead, the blood vessels on his neck faintly visible. He was at his limit. ¡°All of you, get out!¡± ¡°Not satisfied?¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?¦Ï Looking at Jiang Zhi, pale-faced and red-eyed, Qiao Nanchu found it immensely amusing and teased: ¡°Shall I get you another batch?¡± Jiang Zhi kept a stern face, downed a glass of iced whiskey, and then left the private room. Ah Wan hurriedly followed. Xue Baoyi chased to the door to see Jiang Zhi clutching his abdomen and coughing, fleeing in a panic. He really didn¡¯t understand: ¡°What¡¯s wrong with Brother Zhi?¡± Xue Bingxue, who had been silent, said: ¡°Jiang Zhi suspects he¡¯s been straightened out.¡± Xue Baoyi gave an ¡®oh,¡¯ suddenly understanding. Ten minutes later, Jiang Zhi returned, paler than before, looking completely drained of energy. Xue Baoyi sat down next to him: ¡°Where did you go?¡± Jiang Zhi said nothing. Ah Wan answered for him: ¡°The boss went to throw up.¡± Xue Baoyi: ¡°¡­¡± Is this a fake gay? Jiang Zhi leaned against the sofa, lifelessly drooping his eyelids: ¡°Get me a few more women.¡± More? Ah Wan worried his boss¡¯s fragile body couldn¡¯t handle it. Xue Baoyi actively went to arrange it, bustling around like an old madam: ¡°Manager You, get a few women over here, all different types.¡± Xue Bingxue cursed him for being shameless! Qiao Nanchu threw a blanket onto Jiang Zhi: ¡°Still feeling unwell?¡± Jiang Zhi coughed, his eyes watery: ¡°Mmm.¡± His throat itched, and he couldn¡¯t suppress his coughing. He reached out for a glass of wine. Qiao Nanchu snatched it away: ¡°Stop messing around.¡± He replaced it with a clean glass and poured some milk for him. ¡°Don¡¯t drink anymore.¡± By this time, the women had already entered. Xue Baoyi made them stand in a line, heads held high. Before long, the room was filled with the scent of perfume. Jiang Zhi clutched his abdomen. The milk he had just drunk churned violently in his stomach. Too tired to move, he glanced over the group. Among the eight young girls, there were both slender and voluptuous ones, some with delicate features, and some with refined temperaments. There were shy and timid ones, and of course, there were bold and proactive ones. If they could latch onto the little master of the Imperial City Jiang Family, they would have endless wealth and glory. The lady in the red dress thought of this and elegantly approached, her soft, bone-like body sidling up: ¡°Mr. Jiang.¡± The scent of roses mixed with cosmetic powder instantly overwhelmed him¡­ Jiang Zhi¡¯s face changed immediately. Using just one finger, wrapped in his sleeve, he poked the woman¡¯s shoulder and forcefully pushed her away. His peach blossom eyes filled with disdain, suddenly turning fierce. ¡°Ah Wan.¡± Ah Wan rushed over. The woman was shoved to one end of the sofa, while Jiang Zhi sat at the other end, taking off his coat with a dark expression. ¡°Get them out.¡± He weakly but authoritatively commanded, ¡°All of them!¡± He¡¯s not going to faint, is he? Ah Wan didn¡¯t dare delay. He swept the women out, their coughing really scaring him. He feared the boss might cough his lungs out and kept checking back several times. Jiang Zhi leaned on the sofa, panting heavily, his eyes filled with bloodshot veins, sweat beading on his forehead. Oh right, the boss couldn¡¯t stand the smell of rose perfume. Realizing this, Ah Wan grew even more disgusted with the red-dressed woman, thinking her a brazen slut. He roughly pushed her out and was about to close the door when he was startled, quickly clearing his throat and coughing: ¡°Boss, Miss Zhou is here¡ª¡± Too late, Xue Baoyi, that loudmouth, was still shouting: ¡°Brother Zhi, don¡¯t be discouraged. If these aren¡¯t satisfactory, I¡¯ll get another top girl for you.¡± Chapter 55 - Chapter 55: 055: Zhou Xufang gets jealous? (Charges are based on word count) Chapter 55: 055: Zhou Xufang gets jealous? (Charges are based on word count) Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation ¡°Brother Zhi, don¡¯t be discouraged. If you¡¯re not satisfied with these few, I¡¯ll get you another top girl.¡± What Ah Wan really wanted to say was¡ª Boss, Miss Zhou is here. Hurry up and get Mr. to take his women somewhere else to play. This meticulous and loyal act of framing Jiang Zhi ended in failure. Ah Wan smiled awkwardly but politely, ¡°Miss Zhou, what a coincidence.¡± The next second, the coughing abruptly stopped. Ah Wan didn¡¯t even know how his employer got to him. It was as if a gust of wind had blown in. ¡°Y-You, what are you doing here?¡± Jiang Zhi did not know where to look, where to place his hands, and his stammering made him look even more guilty, like a husband caught cheating by his wife. Jiang Zhi just stood at the door in that flustered state, sweating despite the freezing cold. Zhou Xu Fang, on the other hand, had changed from the pink outfit she wore two hours ago into a black one, with her perennial cold face partially hidden under a hat. ¡°I¡¯m going to deliver food now, goodbye.¡± After saying goodbye, she walked away quietly with two bags of pork liver and vegetable porridge, her head down, only sneaking a glance at the eight scantily clad women. Jiang Zhi was stunned for a few seconds before he chased after her. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã0 ¡°Zhou Xufang.¡± She turned around, ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± Jiang Zhi loosened the collar of his sweater a bit, revealing his fair skin and slightly reddened Adam¡¯s apple. ¡°It¡¯s not what you think.¡± Zhou Xufang: ¡°Oh.¡± That was it? Was that it? Jiang Zhi felt as if his heart had been stuffed with a wad of cotton, both blocked and itchy. ¡°Then I¡¯ll get back to work.¡± She turned to leave, but just as Jiang Zhi was about to call her back, she turned around by herself, looking very hesitant and conflicted, her brows furrowed. She looked at him and said earnestly, ¡°Jiang Zhi, you must take care of your health.¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± Damn it, he wasn¡¯t visiting prostitutes! After delivering the food, Zhou Xufang left Fusheng Inn. At the entrance, she saw two women and a man. Despite the cold weather, the women wore very little, hanging onto the man and refusing to let him leave. The man said mischievously, ¡°You can¡¯t bear to be apart? Then come with me.¡± Then the man hugged one woman on his left and the other on his right and got into a sports car. Before he drove off, the phone rang. ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± ¡°Where are you? Why aren¡¯t you back yet?¡± ¡°Working overtime.¡± ¡°What time will you be back? Xiao Bao has a slight fever.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll come home when I¡¯m done.¡± Then the man hung up and drove away. Scoundrel! Scumbag! Zhou Xufang parked her scooter on the side, picked up a stone from the ground, aimed it at the rear tire of the sports car, and kicked it. ¡°Bang!¡± The tire burst. The man cursed loudly. Zhou Xufang snorted inwardly, then put on the yellow helmet designated for delivery people. She pushed her scooter for a few steps before stopping at the sight of a trash bin. She paused, stared at it for a moment, placed her scooter down, walked over, and kicked the trash bin. It was supposed to be a light kick just for fun, but she was too strong. With a loud bang, the trash bin toppled. Why did she have to kick the trash bin? How annoying! Zhou Xufang tugged her hair in frustration, squatted down, and started picking up the trash that had spilled out, one piece at a time¡­ Suddenly, a pair of leather shoes stopped in front of the pile of trash. The shadow covered her. ¡°What are you doing?¡± Zhou Xufang looked up and saw Jiang Zhi. The neon lights behind him created a glow, like specks of light falling in his eyes, resembling the million lights of a city. She looked up at him and said, ¡°I¡¯m picking up trash.¡± Honestly, she didn¡¯t even know what she was doing or saying. It was all a mess. So she added, ¡°You can sell a bottle for a dime.¡± Coincidentally, she was holding a plastic water bottle. Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± She squatted there, donning a yellow helmet, looking like a lively mushroom. Jiang Zhi took a couple of steps forward into the light of the neon signs. ¡°Don¡¯t pick it up, it¡¯s dirty.¡± He bent down, grabbed the hood of her sweatshirt, and pulled her to the side. After letting go, he turned back and said, ¡°Ah Wan, you pick it up.¡± Ah Wan: ¡°¡­¡± All these years, it was honestly his first time picking up trash. Ah Wan felt an indescribable feeling. ¡°Don¡¯t you have something to say to me?¡± Jiang Zhi, wearing just a sweater, stood in the post-rain breeze. His face tightened from the night¡¯s chill, eyes locked on hers. Zhou Xufang was silent for a moment. She thought it was inappropriate to say anything but couldn¡¯t help herself: ¡°Jiang Zhi, don¡¯t fool around with those women.¡± ¡°Why?¡± She answered seriously, ¡°If you solicit prostitutes, you won¡¯t be a good citizen.¡± Jiang ¡°Good Citizen¡± Zhi, thinking she was attracted to him and had a possessive desire: ¡°¡­¡± A ¡°good citizen,¡± my ass! This clueless, unromantic woman! Jiang Zhi couldn¡¯t decide whether he was more angry at her or at himself. With a stern face and a rough voice, he said, ¡°I wasn¡¯t soliciting!¡± Chapter 56 - Chapter 56: 056: Jiang Zhi really fell in love. Chapter 56: 056: Jiang Zhi really fell in love. Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation ¡°I didn¡¯t sleep with them.¡± The helmet was too large, and it slipped to one side when she moved. She straightened it, ¡°Really?¡± She had been a bit angry just now; her eyes even turned red for a moment. She thought it was very wrong to hire prostitutes and didn¡¯t want Jiang Zhi to stray down the wrong path. In case he actually headed down the wrong path, she wanted to help him find his way back. ¡°Why would I lie to you?¡± Jiang Zhi emphasized particularly, ¡°I didn¡¯t even touch them.¡± He spoke firmly, and there was a hint of anger in his tone. Could she have misunderstood him? Zhou Xufang furrowed her brows, deep in thought. ¡°You don¡¯t believe me?¡± He stared at her, a cluster of peach blossoms blooming in his eyes, alluring and captivating. Zhou Xufang thought deeply again. Hearing is believing; she thought she shouldn¡¯t doubt Jiang Zhi¡¯s character. After so much time together, aside from his sexual orientation, she thought he was a perfect person who was eager to help others and save those in distress. Thinking about it, Jiang Zhi looked like this; he didn¡¯t need to hire prostitutes. On the contrary, more people probably wanted to hire him. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã? The more she thought about it, the more Zhou Xufang confirmed that she had misunderstood Jiang Zhi. This time, she didn¡¯t hesitate even a bit, ¡°I believe you.¡± The corners of Jiang Zhi¡¯s mouth lifted instantly. ¡°I knew you were a person of high moral character.¡± Jiang Zhi, the person of high moral character, ¡°¡­¡± Since he hadn¡¯t hired prostitutes, Zhou Xufang breathed a sigh of relief and didn¡¯t linger any longer, ¡°Then I¡¯m off to work.¡± She pushed her little electric bike, ready to return to the porridge shop. Jiang Zhi grabbed the tail of the electric bike. She turned her head. He didn¡¯t look at her eyes, instead, he stared at her yellow helmet, ¡°Don¡¯t go. It¡¯s so late, it¡¯s not safe for a girl like you.¡± See? He was a person of high moral character. Zhou Xufang felt a bit guilty; she had actually suspected him of hiring prostitutes just now. ¡°It¡¯s alright, I¡¯m quite strong.¡± She could kick a sports car¡¯s tire until it burst with one foot, and punch a bull to death with one fist. If it was unsafe, it would be unsafe for others, not her. Jiang Zhi was still holding onto the tail of the electric bike, not letting go. He was dressed lightly, and his fingers had already turned red from the cold. His nose was also a bit red as he inhaled, the cold air making him cough a few times. ¡°It¡¯s very cold, don¡¯t go. If you are short of money,¡± he turned his head away, exposing his red ears to her view, ¡°if you are short of money, I can give you some.¡± Because he had been in the cold wind for a long time, his voice had a bit of nasal sound. Zhou Xufang felt very touched when she heard this; her heart softened almost to the point of melting, ¡°You are a good person, how could I take advantage of you? Your money doesn¡¯t grow on trees either.¡± Jiang Zhi, ¡°¡­¡± Handing out continues good person cards made him want to hit someone. ¡°I have to go, it¡¯s very cold outside, you should hurry back.¡± Zhou Xufang effortlessly lifted the entire electric bike and, with a flick, flung Jiang Zhi¡¯s hand off it. She sat down on it, ¡°Oh, right, Ah Wan, can I have the bottles you picked up?¡± She wanted to give them to the granny picking up trash outside the porridge shop. The retired athlete Ah Wan, who was stunned by the strength of a girl in her twenties, ¡°¡­Sure.¡± Miss Zhou was really impoverished. In the future, he must frequent her screen protector business more often. ¡°Thank you.¡± Zhou Xufang placed the plastic bottles on the electric bike and waved at Jiang Zhi before riding off. Jiang Zhi stood where he was, watching the electric bike disappear into the bustling street. Ah Wan had just collected the trash and, afraid of being disliked by his germophobic employer, didn¡¯t dare get too close, ¡°Boss, let¡¯s go back?¡± He ignored him. Only when the distant neon lights changed from red to blue and finally to purple, reflected in his eyes, did he lower his eyelids, turn around, slightly bend his back, and cough gently. For some reason, Ah Wan thought this employer of his, who was trapped in unrequited love, seemed a little¡­ pitiful. After Jiang Zhi returned to the private room, he felt hot and had a slight fever. How could he not have a fever? It was minus two degrees outside. Xue Bingxue scolded him for his foolishness, saying that messing around with his fragile body was reckless. After scolding, she instructed Ah Wan to get some fever-reducing medicine. Qiao Nanchu asked Jiang Zhi, ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you?¡± He had no strength to make a fuss now, lying weakly, mumbling with his eyes closed, ¡°I don¡¯t like men.¡± After a while, he added, ¡°I don¡¯t like women either.¡± So? He resigned himself, ¡°But I kind of like her.¡± Liking her meant, most directly, that he had desire for her, a very strong possessiveness, unlike his fondness for certain objects which he could grab or snatch without any reservations. She was different. He did not dare to act rashly with her. ¡°Who is she?¡± Qiao Nanchu asked. Xue Baoyi answered for him, ¡°The one just now, Zhou Xufang, putting screen protectors down under Ba Yi Bridge.¡± Qiao Nanchu had heard the name Zhou Xufang more than once. The last time was yesterday when Jiang Zhi refused to eat, and insisted on having Ah Wan order takeout, specifying that Zhou Xufang should deliver it. ¡°Kind of like?¡± Qiao Nanchu laughed and exposed him, ¡°More than just kind of, Jiang Zhi, you¡¯re overreacting.¡± At minus two degrees, he still dragged his sick self out. If it was just a bit of fondness, he would be at home sleeping at this time. Jiang Zhi¡¯s eyelashes trembled twice, neither admitting nor denying it. Yes, he overreacted. For example ¨C ¡°Xue Baoyi.¡± Jiang Zhi suddenly raised his eyelids. Xue Baoyi¡¯s heart trembled, ¡°Don¡¯t call me that, you scare me.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t your company planning an end-of-year event?¡± This indifferent tone¡­ Xue Baoyi felt a chill, ¡°Just say it, master.¡± ¡°Employee benefits should be phone cases.¡± He was still weak and listless, speaking casually, ¡°Remember to buy them from under Ba Yi Bridge.¡± Xue Baoyi, ¡°¡­¡± Damn it, why not just say Zhou Xufang! The matter of hiring a top performer was now being settled in the fall. What could Xue Baoyi say? He could only nod, ¡°Alright, will a hundred for each person be enough?¡± Jiang Zhi weakly murmured an affirmative. Ah Wan, who had just come back with the medicine, heard this and admired his employer even more. Even when sick, he didn¡¯t forget to bring business to Miss Zhou who puts on screen protectors. It was all because of love! That night, Jiang Zhi lay in bed at two in the morning and only fell asleep at four, then he had a dream. In the dream, Zhou Xufang was like a fairy, softly calling his name constantly. ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± He couldn¡¯t bear it, ¡°Stop calling.¡± ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± She kept calling endlessly. When he looked up, he saw her sitting in a tree, smiling like a flower, wearing a very short white dress, her bright white legs swinging. She asked him, ¡°Do you like me?¡± He didn¡¯t answer. So she extended her arms and leaped from the tree. Without thinking, he reached out to catch her¡­ ¡°Do you like me?¡± She wrapped her tender white arms around his neck, hugging lightly, clinging to him, ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± She wrapped around him like a cloud. He didn¡¯t know where they were, but somewhere outside, under a tree, with stars filling the sky above and her triumphant, happy face below. She raised her body, laying her face against his neck, whispering softly, ¡°Oh, so you like me.¡± He didn¡¯t deny it, so she became bold. Chapter 57 - Chapter 57: 057: The person in Jiang Zhis dream~ Chapter 57: 057: The person in Jiang Zhi¡¯s dream~ Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation She held down his shoulder, ¡°Don¡¯t move.¡± He truly didn¡¯t move. Outside the window, thunder boomed. Jiang Zhi suddenly sat up, waking from a dream. It wasn¡¯t raining outside, just the sound of thunder. The light of dawn was enveloped by thick clouds, making the sky a dull gray. Ten minutes later, rain began to patter down. Jiang Zhi, sleepless, sat up listening to the raindrops hitting the window sill, his thoughts lingering in turmoil. The winter rain lasted for three days. Even Xue Baoyi could see that Jiang Zhi looked very unwell. Halfway through the Xue Family¡¯s birthday banquet, he was nowhere to be seen. After searching around, they found him in the lounge, trying to catch up on sleep. But he wasn¡¯t really asleep, just lying there listlessly. ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± ¡°Mm.¡± He looked extremely lethargic. Xue Baoyi, concerned, called Xue Bingxue over, ¡°Uncle, come have a look at him.¡± He looked as if he were on his deathbed. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï Xue Bingxue went over to feel Jiang Zhi¡¯s pulse. ¡°His pulse is very irregular, his body is extremely weak.¡± Xue Bingxue asked him, ¡°What have you been doing these past few days?¡± Jiang Zhi propped himself up to sit, ¡°Nothing much.¡± His tone was very ordinary, as if narrating a matter of course, ¡°Just liked someone, liked them so much I got sick.¡± The Xue uncle and nephew were speechless: ¡°¡­¡± They all knew that Jiang Zhi had feelings for a woman, they just didn¡¯t expect him to be so consumed by it. Xue Baoyi still found it hard to believe, ¡°Really turned straight?¡± ¡°Mm.¡± ¡°Really like her that much?¡± Jiang Zhi struggled for a second, then admitted, ¡°¡­Mm.¡± Tsk. It¡¯s real! To be honest, Xue Baoyi felt a bit sour. After all, their group of brothers had coddled Jiang Zhi, this little beauty, in the palm of their hand for so many years, and within just a few days, he was taken away by someone else¡¯s ¡°pig.¡± He had mixed feelings. Nonetheless, it wasn¡¯t easy for Jiang Zhi, the perennial iron tree, to finally bloom. As his brother, he couldn¡¯t cut short his peach blossom fortune. He had to support him, ¡°Don¡¯t be a chicken. What¡¯s the big deal? Just liking a girl.¡± He had to offer some strategies, ¡°Brother Zhi, don¡¯t overthink it. If you like her, go after her. If you don¡¯t know how, I¡¯ll teach you.¡± After all, he, Second Young Master Xue, had a reputation as a playboy. Xue Baoyi got increasingly excited as he spoke, ¡°Do you want me to teach you some¡ª¡± Jiang Zhi stood up and left. ¡°Where are you going?¡± He went to No. 43 Changdu Road, a beauty salon named Fairy Descending. ¡°You are¡­..¡± The shop owner and chief stylist Cheng Xin hesitated to recognize him, ¡°Director Jiang?¡± Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t often appear in public, but his face was unforgettable. Cheng Xin suspected his eyes were playing tricks, wondering why such a great figure would visit his modest salon. ¡°Shh.¡± Ah Wan gave him a sign to keep it low-key. It was really him! Cheng Xin, overwhelmed with favor, quickly ushered him in, ¡°Director Jiang, are you here for¡­ a haircut?¡± ¡°Mm.¡± He seemed absent-minded, his gaze fixed on a poster at the door. Cheng Xin couldn¡¯t quite understand why the big shot had humbled himself to come here, so he cautiously asked, ¡°What kind of hairstyle would you like, Director Jiang?¡± Jiang Zhi drew back his gaze, ¡°The same as Zhou Xufang¡¯s.¡± Cheng Xin was bewildered, ¡°Ah?¡± ¡°That poster at the door.¡± Jiang Zhi pointed. ¡°Dye my hair the same color as hers.¡± The great director appeared to be in a good mood. Although his face was sickly pale with dark circles under his eyes, his brows and eyes sparkled with energy, his lips were rosy and skin fair, genuinely a beautiful appearance. Cheng Xin couldn¡¯t help but appreciate the beauty for a moment longer, ¡°You want it dyed matte blue?¡± Jiang Zhi glanced at a chair. Ah Wan quickly placed a clean handkerchief on it. Jiang Zhi sat down, ¡°Mm.¡± Matte blue was a trending hair color in the salon, but it was usually favored by young, rebellious men. Cheng Xin thought it wasn¡¯t quite suitable for Jiang Zhi¡¯s status, so he objectively suggested, ¡°Director Jiang, maybe you should reconsider. This color might¡ª¡± Jiang Zhi, expression unchanged, interrupted, ¡°I¡¯m in a hurry, dye it quickly.¡± A great director, wanting to dye his hair the matte blue that playboys loved, it was really a bit¡­ Four hours later. Cheng Xin was genuinely amazed by his own work, ¡°Amazing!¡± My goodness, this looked too good! Dye it! Dye it! Jiang Zhi, who had been resting with his eyes closed the whole time, finally opened them, looking somewhat fatigued, a bit drowsy with a touch of laziness. Hoarsely, he asked, ¡°Looks good?¡± Cheng Xin nodded vigorously. Honestly, after Zhou Xufang, Jiang Zhi once again redefined his perception of matte blue. Plenty of men came to the salon for matte blue, and although it always looked good, it generally carried some air of roguishness. But with Jiang Zhi, his fine features and good bone structure, the dull grayish blue complemented his captivating eyes, making him look both seductive and reserved. The aristocratic aura was there, with a hint of enchantment, yet not a trace of vulgarity. At this hour, there was no one else in the salon. Cheng Xin flattered without restraint, ¡°Director Jiang, you¡¯ll be the most dazzling figure in this area when you walk out!¡± Beside him, Ah Wan, who deeply valued honor, took pride and quickly added, ¡°Of course, our boss¡¯s face is invincible even across the entire Imperial City.¡± Though his temper was bad, his face was undeniably enduring. ¡°Since it looks good,¡± Jiang Zhi stood up, walked to the mirror, and adjusted the hair at his forehead, ¡°can I be a model for your salon?¡± The misty blue tint in his alluring peach blossom eyes made anyone he looked at feel an uncanny stir. Cheng Xin was momentarily stunned, ¡°Ah?¡± ¡°The poster at the door, give it to me, you can name the price.¡± Jiang Zhi said, ¡°You can also use my photo as a model one.¡± Chapter 58 - Chapter 58: 058: Wife, quickly praise me, praise me! Chapter 58: 058: Wife, quickly praise me, praise me! Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation It was almost 2 PM when Xu Fang finally woke up. The blackout curtains didn¡¯t let any light through, making the room dark. A tender, white hand reached out from under the dark bedding, grabbed a phone off the bedside table, checked the time, then put the phone down again. She buried her head in the pillow for a long while before sitting up. Her hair was a mess, and her eyes were blank. ¡°Are you getting up?¡± The mechanical synthesized voice echoed in the large room. ¡°Hmm.¡± Just awake, Xu Fang¡¯s voice was heavily nasal. A tuft of hair stuck up at the top of her head, and she hadn¡¯t fully opened her eyes yet, squinting at the SpongeBob on her computer screen. Shuangjiang asked her, ¡°What time did you get back last night?¡± She hadn¡¯t had enough sleep. She yawned and sniffled, sounding a bit kiddish. ¡°After four.¡± She had taken a late-night gig the night before and got home very late. ¡°Someone¡¯s at the door downstairs.¡± The computer alarm sounded at the same time. Xu Fang had installed a camera at the downstairs door. Whenever someone approached, the alarm and monitoring system would trigger automatically. ¡°It¡¯s the noodles I ordered.¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ??¦Í??.§ã¦Ï She ruffled her hair, went to the dressing room to change, and went downstairs to get her lunch. She had ordered noodles again. ¡°Ah Fang.¡± She was busy rating the delivery. ¡°Hmm?¡± Seeing that she was busy, Shuangjiang didn¡¯t type and used the synthesized voice. ¡°I¡¯ve informed Jiang Zhi about Jin Song hiring us, but he hasn¡¯t taken any action. I guess he might have found out who wanted to kidnap him on his own.¡± Xu Fang looked up. ¡°Will Jin Song still try to harm him?¡± Jiang Zhi had already temporarily moved back to the Jiang Family mansion yesterday. There were servants guarding outside at night. She didn¡¯t dare get too close. ¡°Don¡¯t worry too much. Many people in the Jiang Family want to harm him, but he¡¯s managed to survive until now, which shows he¡¯s not simple,¡± Shuangjiang said. ¡°Ah Fang, Jiang Zhi is much more hidden than you think.¡± Xu Fang knew that Jiang Zhi was a very smart person. Otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t have suspected her identity so quickly, but¡ª ¡°He¡¯s not a bad person.¡± Shuangjiang, however, said, ¡°He¡¯s just not bad to you.¡± Jiang Zhi was a deeply hidden person with too many secrets. That sickly appearance was probably just a facade. Xu Fang didn¡¯t argue with Shuangjiang and simply asserted, ¡°He treats me very well. That lamp,¡± she pointed to show Shuangjiang, ¡°He gave it to me.¡± The lamp had just been installed yesterday. The entire room had a dark and cold tone, and suddenly there was this luxurious and exquisite lamp. Though it looked nice, it seemed a bit out of place. But Xu Fang liked it. Sometimes she would jump up and touch the crystal pendant on the chandelier. Oh, Xu Fang remembered something. She put down her chopsticks and opened WeChat to send a message to Wen Baiyang. ¡°Bai Yang.¡± Wen Baiyang replied with a smiley face. Xu Fang was a slow typist, poking out one character at a time. ¡°Will the eggs I ordered arrive today?¡± Wen Baiyang¡¯s hometown was in Da Mai Mountain. Her grandmother raised a lot of free-range chickens, and many villagers made a living that way too. The last time Xu Fang sent Jiang Zhi a chicken, it was also bought by Wen Baiyang. This time, she had ordered a truckload of eggs from her. Wen Baiyang replied, ¡°Yes, the truck will arrive in the Imperial City at three o¡¯clock. Do we need to change the delivery address?¡± ¡°No need to change,¡± Xu Fang typed, ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°You¡¯re welcome.¡± ¡°.¡± She put down her phone and looked up; the computer screen was dark. Shuangjiang had gone offline at some point. She had to go to Jiang Zhi¡¯s set to be an extra at three o¡¯clock, just enough time. Fang Lixiang was also on the set. She was a Weaver Girl and had a lot of scenes. As soon as she saw Xu Fang, she happily fluttered over like a butterfly. ¡°Xu Fang~¡± Xu Fang felt a bit uncomfortable with her enthusiasm. Fang Lixiang, like showing off a treasure, brought a cup of milk tea to her. ¡°I bought you milk tea.¡± Xu Fang liked sweets, especially AD calcium milk and various milk teas. She accepted it and took a sip. ¡°Thank you.¡± She fumbled in her backpack and pulled out four eggs. ¡°Want some free-range eggs?¡± The eggs were stuffed into her bag by Wen Baiyang on the way here for her colleagues. Fang Lixiang was on a diet recently and didn¡¯t want her agent to see, so she quickly hid the eggs in her coat and nibbled on them inside: ¡°You¡¯re not eating?¡± Not wanting to say she gets drunk from eating eggs, Xu Fang lied, ¡°I¡¯m allergic to eggs.¡± There are people allergic to eggs? Fang Lixiang felt she might be illiterate, so ignorant. She stuffed half an egg into her mouth: ¡°Then don¡¯t eat the free meals on set from now on, I¡¯ll bring you food.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Xu Fang thought about giving Fang Lixiang extra money later. ¡°Xu Fang, I have to tell you, I might be in for some luck.¡± Fang Lixiang swallowed the egg, took a sip of milk tea, and chatted with Xu Fang squatting in the corner. ¡°Director Jiang had some fallout with Vice President Jin of Huayu and replaced Su Chan. I heard from Wei¡¯er that they will be selecting a new female lead from Baoguang¡¯s artists, and I¡¯m on the shortlist as Urala Li Xiang?!¡± Urala Li Xiang was dumbfounded herself. Jiang Zhi was known in the industry for being unconventional in casting. As long as the image fit and the acting skills were solid, he didn¡¯t care if the actor was new, old, popular, or forgotten. The sun was out today, and Xu Fang wore a fisherman¡¯s hat, making her face look especially small. She sincerely praised Fang Lixiang, ¡°Your acting is very good.¡± Fang Lixiang smiled broadly. Of course, her acting was good. She was a natural performer. ¡°Xu Fang, when I make it big, I¡¯ll help you debut.¡± Fang Lixiang thought, if she got rich, she wouldn¡¯t forget her friends. She must bring them along to prosperity. But Xu Fang shook her head. ¡°I don¡¯t like being in front of the camera. I¡¯m fine being an extra.¡± Extras didn¡¯t have many close-up shots, so she didn¡¯t have to worry about being remembered. True, Xu Fang was too introverted and had some social anxiety. Fang Lixiang thought for a moment, ¡°Then I¡¯ll have the crew heads give you some favoritism.¡± Xu Fang nodded, biting the straw. ¡°Whoa!¡± Fang Lixiang suddenly fixed her gaze. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Fang Lixiang stammered, ¡°Th-th-th-that¡­ that¡¯s Director Jiang?¡± Her eyes widened, ¡°Why did he dye his hair?!¡± Xu Fang was stunned and forgot to respond. Fang Lixiang spat out a mouthful of milk tea, and the pearls slid out. ¡°Wow, matte blue.¡± She glanced at Xu Fang¡¯s medium-short hair under the hat. ¡°Xu Fang, it¡¯s the same as yours.¡± Jiang Zhi had just arrived, and the set suddenly went quiet. Many eyes were on him¡­ and his hair. Xu Fang was also staring. She couldn¡¯t help touching her own hair. ¡°Mine is temporary, it¡¯s already washed out.¡± She whispered, ¡°Jiang Zhi¡¯s looks nice.¡± Even better than hers. Fang Lixiang rubbed her chin: Nice, but not very dignified. Jiang Zhi was already good-looking, and now with matte blue hair, he looked even more like a little demon. That little demon was pacing back and forth five meters away. Fang Lixiang scratched her head. ¡°What¡¯s he doing?¡± She couldn¡¯t understand, ¡°Why is he walking around like this?¡± Showing off his new hairstyle? Xu Fang finished her milk tea, threw it in the trash, and walked over. ¡°You dyed your hair.¡± There were many people around, so she didn¡¯t dare to get too close. Jiang Zhi moved to the side a little. ¡°Hmm.¡± Xu Fang followed, speaking honestly, ¡°It looks good.¡± Matte blue made him look a bit lazy and rascally, less soft, and more aggressive. But it looked good. Jiang Zhi¡¯s lips curved slightly, and he subconsciously moved his head a bit closer to her. ¡°Anything else?¡± He looked like¡­ the gray cat downstairs wanting to be petted. Xu Fang thought, should she praise him some more? Just then, Yu Ran¡¯s fan representative came over to visit the set. Though she was far away, Xu Fang had good hearing and picked up every word. The fan representative was screaming: ¡°Yu Ran, I love you so much, can you give me an autograph?¡± Does this count as praise? Xu Fang thought, then imitated: ¡°Your hair looks beautiful, can you give me an autograph?¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± The fan representative was stomping her feet excitedly. ¡°I really love you, I¡¯ve watched all your movies.¡± ¡°I¡¯m definitely going to support your new movie.¡± ¡°You¡¯re so beautiful.¡± ¡°Sign here, sign here!¡± ¡°Can I take a photo with you?¡± ¡°Oh my god, thank you, goddess!¡± Xu Fang also heard Yu Ran¡¯s laughter, sounding very happy. She thought, maybe normal people liked this kind of admiration. She mimicked that fan¡¯s actions, stomping her foot, then stomping again. ¡°Can I take a photo with you?¡± She gave a thumbs up, seriously emphasizing, ¡°Your hairstyle is really pretty.¡± After she finished, she remembered another line. ¡°I¡¯ve watched everything you¡¯ve made. I will definitely support your new movie.¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± The worst thing is when the air suddenly gets quiet¡­ Chapter 59 - Chapter 59: 059: Do you want me? Chapter 59: 059: Do you want me? Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation Over there, a fan representative got a photo with their idol and let out a groundhog-like scream. Jiang Zhi only glanced at it and understood. She was learning on the spot. As annoyed as he was, he couldn¡¯t bring himself to say anything to her. Jiang Zhi turned around: ¡°Come with me.¡± Zhou Xufang pulled her hat down and followed with her head lowered. Once they walked away, the people on the set dared to gossip secretly. Producer: ¡°Who is that girl?¡± Crew: ¡°No idea.¡± She was wrapped up too tightly to be seen clearly. Producer was puzzled: ¡°Isn¡¯t Director Jiang gay? How come he¡¯s so close to a girl?¡± Crew speculated: ¡°Could she be a close friend?¡± Producer: ¡°¡­¡± Like hell, a close friend! Assistant Director: ¡°My son is going through his rebellious phase, dyed his hair blue yesterday.¡± That little blue hair was full of attitude, looked like a little rascal. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ??¦Í??.§ã¦Ï Crew: ¡°You mean Director Jiang is in his rebellious phase?¡± Assistant Director was confused: ¡°Director Jiang is already twenty-four.¡± Crew guessed: ¡°A late rebellion?¡± Assistant Director slapped him: ¡°Watch out, Director Jiang will hear you and have your head!¡± Crew rubbed his head. We don¡¯t know what¡¯s going on, and we don¡¯t dare to ask. Outside the director¡¯s lounge, Ah Wan stood firm like a pine tree, leaning against the door and concentrating on¡­ eavesdropping. ¡°Are you afraid of me?¡± ¡°No.¡± Jiang Zhi sat while Zhou Xufang stood, more than five meters apart. He suppressed the wild thoughts in his mind and didn¡¯t pull her over. ¡°Then why are you standing so far?¡± He pointed to the sofa opposite him, ¡°Sit here.¡± Zhou Xufang hesitated for a moment, then sat down. He went to get her two cans of milk and a box of marshmallows, placing them in front of her. Zhou Xufang said, ¡°Thank you.¡± Then she held the box, putting one piece after another into her mouth. Like a food-stashing hamster. Last night she appeared in his dream, looking just like this. But in the dream, she was even more obedient, sitting on his lap eating candy, hugging him when asked, kissing him when asked, making him want to pile the world¡¯s candy in front of her. The more Jiang Zhi thought about it, the itchier his heart became: ¡°Have you finished the candy I gave you?¡± Zhou Xufang opened a can of milk, gave one to Jiang Zhi, then opened another for herself: ¡°No.¡± ¡°Call me when you finish them.¡± She said okay. So well-behaved. The smile on Jiang Zhi¡¯s lips never faded, his eyes shimmering, filled with springtime brightness. His tired look from lack of sleep vanished when he saw her, making him look vibrant and radiant. ¡°Don¡¯t go to the hair salon as a model anymore. Too much hair dye is bad,¡± Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t bother hiding his concern, ¡°If you need money, I can give you a role.¡± He didn¡¯t like her photos being posted everywhere, nor did he like her working odd jobs. But giving her money outright, she would surely refuse. Letting her act was also good. At least, he could keep an eye on her anytime. Zhou Xufang took his concern at face value and agreed: ¡°Okay.¡± So good. Someone this good, should be easy to win over, right? ¡°You,¡± Before he could finish, his body started heating up, feeling restless. He inadvertently messed up the blanket on the sofa. Zhou Xufang, with a few candies in her cheeks, looked at him blankly: ¡°Hm?¡± ¡°Ahem.¡± He faked a cough, his eyes drifting from her face to her marshmallow-holding fingers, asking awkwardly, ¡°Do you think I look good?¡± Coy and cautious. Xue Baoyi often said, with a face like his, attracting people was effortless. Sure enough¡ª Despite feeling shy, she nodded. She was always honest. Jiang Zhi¡¯s eyebrows instantly filled with springtime brightness. His eyes were scorching, like a hungry wolf tasting the first bite of meat, all his desires triggered. He even swallowed once, his gaze tightly fixed on her, full of overwhelming affection, he asked, ¡°Then, do you,¡± his Adam¡¯s apple moved slightly, ¡°want me?¡± His eyes reflected a faint blue shadow, intentionally softened to become charming and seductive, coaxing her. As long as she said she wanted, he would give. But¡­ Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t even think about it: ¡°No.¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± The bright flowers in his eyes shattered to pieces instantly. He just wanted to curse, what use was seduction, Xue Baoyi was unreliable, all nonsense! His happiness got dashed, Jiang Zhi looked at her angrily: ¡°Didn¡¯t you say I look good!¡± Zhou Xufang was a bit befuddled by his rapidly changing emotions, showing confusion in her eyes: ¡°Can¡¯t I say it?¡± But everyone thought he looked good, couldn¡¯t she praise him? All his romantic thoughts were doused by a bucket of cold water: ¡°¡­¡± She didn¡¯t desire his looks at all, had no understanding of romance or love¡­ Jiang Zhi frowned, realizing he had been too hasty. Be patient, take it slow. Using the law of the jungle, he didn¡¯t dare. He feared all his lifetime patience would be spent on her. Jiang Zhi took a deep breath, drank half a can of milk in one go, hid his anxious feelings, looked away and coughed a few times, appearing a bit weak: ¡°Are we friends?¡± He knew, Zhou Xufang responded to softness, not hardness. She hesitated, then nodded. ¡°Then invite me to dinner tomorrow night.¡± Afraid she might refuse, Jiang Zhi specifically pointed out, ¡°I gave you that chandelier.¡± This time she agreed quickly: ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll treat you.¡± Jiang Zhi finally smiled. Just then, her phone beeped. After checking it, she asked Jiang Zhi: ¡°Are you free now?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± He would be free even if he wasn¡¯t. ¡°I have something to give you.¡± Then she led Jiang Zhi outside the film set. As soon as they went out, Jiang Zhi heard someone calling his name with a loudspeaker. ¡°Jiang Zhi!¡± ¡°Jiang Zhi!¡± Such clamor in public made Jiang Zhi very displeased. He threw a glance at Ah Wan. Ah Wan immediately got the hint and planned to see who was shouting his employer¡¯s name in broad daylight. ¡°Jiang Zhi!¡± ¡°Who¡¯s Jiang Zhi?¡± Ah Wan looked closely only to see a large truck parked across from the subway entrance. The truck driver was leaning out of the window, shouting with a big red loudspeaker. Ah Wan was about to check it out¡ª Zhou Xufang raised her hand, waving left and right: ¡°Here.¡± Across the street, the truck driver spoke through the loudspeaker: ¡°Are you Jiang Zhi?¡± Zhou Xufang nodded under her fisherman¡¯s hat, with Jiang Zhi following behind her, completely bewildered. The truck driver got out of the truck, wearing just a T-shirt with a cotton vest over it in the winter. Holding a slip in his hand, he walked over, looked Jiang Zhi up and down, and finally fixed his eyes on Jiang Zhi¡¯s hair, saying: ¡°Your eggs are here. A total of 3,496, please sign for them.¡± The truck driver had a thick accent. Jiang Zhi, thinking he misheard, asked Zhou Xufang: ¡°What¡¯s this about?¡± ¡°Your favorite farm eggs.¡± Jiang Zhi looked at the two-meter-tall green truck, 3,496¡­ eggs? He was far from thrilled! He had picked the cheapest option, and she instead sent him a truckload. Without hesitation, he asked the driver: ¡°Can we return them?¡± He had lived over two decades, done many extravagant things, but now he felt heartache over her spending this much. The truck driver looked at him like he was a scoundrel, thinking this blue-haired guy must be a young punk, relying on good looks given by parents, doing useless things. He decisively gave him a white-eye: ¡°The money¡¯s paid, no returns!¡± Social punk Jiang ¡°Blue Hair¡± Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you like it?¡± Zhou Xufang showed confusion again. She remembered Jiang Zhi said he liked farm eggs, not understanding why he was unhappy when she sent so many of his favorites. Jiang Zhi explained: ¡°I can¡¯t eat that many.¡± Not disliking was good. Zhou Xufang took the delivery slip, signed it, then told Jiang Zhi: ¡°There is rice bran and sawdust under the truck. You can bury the eggs in them, they¡¯ll last a long time in winter. If you can¡¯t finish them, you can share with friends and family.¡± Once again, Jiang Zhi looked at the truckload of eggs, feeling conflicted. Satisfied, but also pained by the money she spent: ¡°How much did you spend?¡± ¡°Not much.¡± She suddenly remembered something exciting, ¡°Mr. Xue Baoyi ordered many phone cases from me yesterday. The profit of one case is eight bucks, I made quite a bit.¡± She kept a straight face, seriously said: ¡°I am not short on money.¡± Jiang Zhi was speechless, once again constrained by emotions. Chapter 60 - Chapter 60: 060: They have a relationship where they fight in bed. Chapter 60: 060: They have a relationship where they fight in bed. Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation Jiang Zhi once again was left speechless with tears welling up. Ah Wan had a different take. She felt that Miss Zhou, who applied the phone screen protector, was someone who hid her accomplishments and fame, viewing money as dirt, not greedy nor opportunistic. Unlike those gaudy and insatiable women outside, Miss Zhou was different. She was a lady of high moral standards, content with selling a phone case, considering herself rich with just a few hundred thousand yuan¡ªan altitude of spirit not everyone could reach. Moreover, Miss Zhou was truly good to her employer. She bought a whole cart of eggs for him. What kind of divine love was this, as she marveled¡ª ¡°Lin Wanwan.¡± Could you please stop calling Lin! Wan! Wan! Reluctantly, Ah Wan stepped forward: ¡°What is it?!¡± Damn it, he definitely needed to change his name! ¡°Take the eggs to Chang¡¯an Mansion and find some knowledgeable people to help.¡± Jiang Zhi specially instructed, ¡°Don¡¯t break them.¡± These rural chicken eggs worth a few bucks each were heading to a mansion worth tens of millions. Suddenly, Ah Wan felt very melancholic, without even enough savings for a wife: ¡°Oh.¡± The truck driver, seeing the large order of eggs, agreed to deliver them on-site right away. Zhou Xufang thanked him and told Jiang Zhi: ¡°Then I¡¯ll go in now.¡± ¡°Together.¡± Ah Wan thought his employer¡¯s action of following behind was like a small, obedient wife. But¡­ Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ??¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t wait for Jiang Zhi at all. Seeing many pedestrians, afraid of being seen, she hurried ahead and disappeared in a flash. Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± He wanted to catch her and give her a good thrashing! Ah Wan covered his mouth, hiding aside and snickering. Seeing his employer at a disadvantage made him very happy. So, he cheerfully patted the eggs on the truck: ¡°Boss, you can¡¯t eat all these rural eggs yourself. Can I take a few home to eat?¡± Jiang Zhi cast a cold glance at him, exuding his noble aura: ¡°Three thousand four hundred ninety-six, miss one, it¡¯ll come out of your salary.¡± Ah Wan: ¡°¡­¡± So annoying! Ah Wan thought his employer, this scoundrel, was unworthy of someone as excellent, remarkable, and of high moral standards as Miss Zhou. At four in the afternoon, Xue Baoyi came to the film set. ¡°Wow! Your hair is quite avant-garde.¡± Xue Baoyi touched his own equally avant-garde gray-haired old-man short hair, wondering if he should also go for blue. Jiang Zhi ignored him; his mind was full of that little girl. He already felt uneasy after not seeing her for a while. Xue Baoyi looked and asked: ¡°Not bad, where¡¯d you get it dyed?¡± This little rascal¡¯s hair color really set off Jiang Zhi¡¯s ten-level pale complexion, making it look desolate, transforming his once noble air into a charm. He now looked like a little demon, even more attractive. That little demon was quite cold: ¡°With your face, dyeing this color, you going to collect debts?¡± Xue Baoyi: ¡°¡­¡± This tormenting little demon. Forget it, Mr. would be magnanimous and not stoop to the level of this little beauty. He threw down the file folder he brought: ¡°The things you asked for.¡± He took off his suit and lay down on Jiang Zhi¡¯s customized couch. Jiang Zhi tore open the folder and casually flipped through a couple of pages. From the corner of his eye, he gave Xue Baoyi a quick glance full of naked disdain and warning. This finicky cleanliness freak. Xue Baoyi laughed and cursed, getting up from the couch and obediently sitting back on the sofa: ¡°Tang Heng¡¯s financing project was a mess created by Jin Song. I looked into his account and also checked Tang Heng¡¯s finances¡ªthere were many issues. I¡¯m guessing Jin Song wants to hollow out Tang Heng behind Jin Lei¡¯s back.¡± He looked at Jiang Zhi, ¡°How do you want to settle this?¡± Jin Song dared to hire people to plunder; he had to take the consequences. Jiang Zhi¡¯s fingers gently rubbed over the paper, smiling as if talking to himself: ¡°From the same root, why the rush to fry each other.¡± Xue Baoyi only felt a chill. Brother Zhi was up to something. ¡°You want the brothers to tear each other apart?¡± Jin Song was an illegitimate child, and Jin Lei had been good to him. Brothers turning into ungrateful wolves¡ªthis drama just got more intense. Jiang Zhi asked back coldly: ¡°What else?¡± He leaned weakly against the sofa, breathing lightly, ¡°A sickly man like me needs to recuperate¡ªI¡¯m not capable of scheming.¡± Xue Baoyi was amused, saying that? When he had done more than enough scheming already! Who¡¯d believe that nonsense! Still, Xue Baoyi said: ¡°Good for you not to dirty your hands, preventing the Jiang Family from targeting you again.¡± Better to quietly be a sickly man, ideally waiting for the Jiang Family to tear each other apart before closing the net. Jiang Zhi showed no interest and didn¡¯t respond. Xue Baoyi suddenly remembered something: ¡°I heard from Nanchu that the professional errand runner gave you a heads-up, sent you an email specifically to warn you about Jin Song.¡± He laughed mischievously, ¡°What¡¯s going on Tian Zhi, have you struck up feelings with that errand runner? She¡¯s even protecting you now.¡± Jiang Zhi, treasuring his words like gold: ¡°Mind your own business.¡± Xue Baoyi, loving gossip, had to tease him: ¡°I reckon, your peach blossom luck is about to overflow. One after another.¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡°Get lost.¡± See, so like a heartless, unreasonable little demon. Xue Baoyi insisted on not leaving, instead sitting beside him, mimicking a woman¡¯s mannerisms, acting theatrical: ¡°Zhi Ge, you don¡¯t talk to me like that in bed.¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± wanted to kick him to death. At this moment, there was a thud as something heavy hit the door. Jiang Zhi¡¯s expression turned instantly grim: ¡°Who?¡± ¡°It¡¯s me¡­¡± After a weak voice, a trembling little hand pushed open the door, revealing a cute little face with two dimples. It was Fang Lixiang, the only son of the Fang family¡¯s fourth generation. ¡°The screenwriter revised the script and asked me to bring it for you to look at.¡± Sneaky like a timid yet curious mouse poking its head. This girl Xue Baoyi had seen in photos¡ªhis company¡¯s new signee, an actress with some natural talent. Little did he know she had paparazzi potential too. ¡°Put it there.¡± Jiang Zhi pointed to the cabinet near the door. Fang Lixiang put the script down, stealing a few more glances, scratching her nose, hunched her shoulders: ¡°Then I won¡¯t disturb you.¡± After saying that, she silently turned around. At the door, she couldn¡¯t help but turn back and sincerely assured, ¡°Director Jiang, President Xue, I will definitely keep your secret.¡± She wouldn¡¯t tell anyone that Director Jiang and President Xue had a fighting-in-bed relationship. Having said that, she successfully exited, making space for ¡®lovers.¡¯ As she walked out, she saw Zhou Xufang squatting in the corner. The urge to leak the news exploded within her. ¡°Xu Fang! Xu Fang!¡± Zhou Xufang lifted her head: ¡°Hmm?¡± Fang Lixiang sprinted over, plopping down beside her, looking excited, actions sneaky, voice vibrating: ¡°Let me tell you, Director Jiang and our boss are having an affair in the lounge.¡± An affair. That word made Zhou Xufang take a whole five seconds to process: ¡°Jiang Zhi and Mr. Xue Baoyi?¡± Fang Lixiang vigorously nodded: ¡°I heard it with my own ears. Don¡¯t tell anyone.¡± She leaned closer, secretly whispered in Zhou Xufang¡¯s ear, ¡°They have a relationship on the bed.¡± Ow, ow! Fang Lixiang¡¯s fujoshi heart was about to explode, imagining two little figures fighting¡ªone with mist-blue hair, the other with gray-white hair¡­ Oh, nosebleed was imminent. Fang Lixiang felt her nose: ¡°I just wonder if they¡¯re friends or just playing around.¡± Saying this, she felt these two gays definitely had a deep connection. Beside her, Zhou Xufang squatted silently, the milk can in her hand tilted unknowingly, spilling milk all over the ground. Crunch! The milk can was crushed by her grip. Fang Lixiang asked what was up. She drank up all the milk in the can, then stomped on it, crushing it, and tossed it into the trash bag: ¡°Time for shooting. I¡¯ll go change.¡± Where was the trash bin? She suddenly felt like kicking something. Oh, there were plenty of trash bins near the parking lot. Walking in the parking lot, Zhou Xufang suddenly paused, then moved behind a pillar. About a hundred meters away, she could hear voices clearly. ¡°You¡¯re meeting Jiang Wei¡¯er?¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± The later voice was familiar to Zhou Xufang¡ªit was Jiang Wei¡¯er¡¯s boyfriend. A woman got off the nanny van, wearing a neatly pressed professional suit, her long hair, reaching her waist, was chestnut-colored, curled into big waves, around thirtyish, not striking in appearance but neat in demeanor. ¡°The set is crowded with nosy people. It¡¯s best you don¡¯t meet privately.¡± Xiao Linsu, wearing a mask with his baseball cap pressed low: ¡°Stay out of my business with her.¡± Unlike his usual gentle demeanor, his eyes were cold, his black coat making him look gloomy and brooding. ¡°I¡¯m your manager; I need to manage your affairs.¡± ¡°Lin Shuang, you¡¯ve forgotten your duties.¡± ¡°Linsu.¡± Xiao Linsu ignored her, just as he was about to step away, the woman anxiously grabbed his suit sleeve, her voice choked with sobs: ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± He stayed silent, shaking off her hand. Zhou Xufang squatted behind the pillar, thinking Xiao Linsu and Jiang Wei¡¯er also had an affair in this parking lot last time. She didn¡¯t understand why people liked having affairs. The woman named Lin Shuang stood there for a while before getting back into the car and leaving. Zhou Xufang stood up and walked to the entrance, giving a trash bin a kick and knocking it over. The next second, she squatted down and diligently picked up the garbage. Chapter 61 - Chapter 61: 061: This pair is full of passion, huh Chapter 61: 061: This pair is full of passion, huh Back on the film set, the sole heir of the fourth generation, Fang Lixiang, was quite shocked by the ¡°affair¡± scandal. So, during her break, she squatted in a corner to play a game to calm her nerves. And the result? Calming her nerves, my ass¡ªshe was about to explode with rage. ¡°Hide behind me.¡± ¡°Move your ass!¡± ¡°Holy crap, can¡¯t you throw your grenades more accurately? You almost blew me up.¡± ¡°Why do I always bump into such noobs day after day?¡± Yes, the champion Chicken King player that she was, she once again encountered teammates who were so bronze they couldn¡¯t be carried. That would have been fine, except noobs love to throw grenades, especially at her. Several close calls nearly ended her. ¡°Ancestor, can you please hide? I get chills down my spine just from you following me,¡± she muttered, fearing a clumsy teammate might accidentally send her to heaven. As she was gripped with fear¡ª ¡°Fang Lixiang.¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ??¦Í?¦Ï.§ã¦Ï Wearing headphones, Fang Lixiang couldn¡¯t hear clearly. It took her a while to turn around, then she made a foolish face: ¡°B-, Boss?¡± There stood her ultimate boss¡ªBoss Xue! It was horrifying. She shivered, lost her balance, and landed on her butt. Her hand trembled, she didn¡¯t aim her M249 properly, and the enemy blew her head off with a shot. On the game screen, ¡®I¡¯m Your Ancestor¡¯ lay dead. Game over! Boss Xue glanced at her phone screen and, rather than getting angry, chuckled: ¡°The company didn¡¯t invest in you to play games.¡± To Fang Lixiang, that laugh felt like the chill of death. She hastily removed her headphones and scrambled to her feet with agile limbs, showing her utmost loyalty: ¡°I¡¯ll uninstall the game right now.¡± Because if she failed to appease the big boss, she could kiss her career goodbye. The big boss let out a barely perceptible snort through her nose. Fang Lixiang shivered uncontrollably, thinking, surely the big boss isn¡¯t contemplating eradicating a witness, right? Good Lord, she¡¯s a sole heir! Seriously, how scared could she look? Boss Xue saw she was scared out of her wits and decided not to frighten her further, adopting the demeanor she usually displayed as a big CEO: ¡°Act well and cut down on the gaming.¡± The nodding, groveling, meek person replied: ¡°Yes¡ª¡± Boss Xue glanced over with her noble eyes and then shifted her esteemed footing. Fang Lixiang transformed into a lackey, bowing deeply: ¡°Farewell, Boss.¡± She had just managed a three-step send-off¡ª Boss Xue turned back: ¡°And another thing,¡± her tone suddenly turned fierce, ¡°curse less at the noobs!¡± Fang Xiaodi: ¡°?!¡± Why was the boss mad? She hadn¡¯t called her a noob. After watching the boss leave, Fang Lixiang decided to play another round to calm her nerves and soothe her frightened little heart. Uninstall the game? Hah, she¡¯d never uninstall it in her lifetime. Boss Xue¡¯s secretary, Xiao Zhuang, was a little plump, at five-foot-three and weighing 170 pounds, he waddled like a rolling ball. His only saving grace was his good skin, plump with collagen, resembling an inflated boiled egg¡ªquite distinctive, really. Xiao Zhuang had just received a call from the company president¡¯s office, instructing him to notify the boss of a meeting. The boss started a game as soon as he got into his car, and off he went without saying where. ¡°Mr. Xue.¡± Boss Xue wasn¡¯t having any of it. Xiao Zhuang poked his round, cheerful head from the front seat to the back: ¡°Mr. Xue.¡± Boss Xue was getting annoyed: ¡°I¡¯m playing a game; don¡¯t bother me.¡± Damn it, hardly ten minutes since he told her to focus on acting and there she was caught in PUBG. Xiao Zhuang didn¡¯t dare to push further and secretly took out his phone to play Miracle Nuan Nuan. The car was parked in the quiet basement garage. Boss Xue didn¡¯t have his headphones plugged in, so the game¡¯s sounds were crystal clear, including the cursing of teammates. ¡°Not you again, you noob! I must be cursed with bad luck!¡± Boss Xue was so mad he turned purple: ¡°¡­¡± I¡¯m Your Ancestor. That name¡­ he remembered it well, even adding it as a game friend for the sole purpose of arguments. Undoubtedly, in that round, Fang Lixiang once again perished at the hands of her nemesis. How she kept getting blasted away by the same stunning ¡°Handsome¡± in PUBG was truly a cursed fate. That evening, two pieces of news sent shockwaves through the entertainment world. The first was about the genius director, Jiang Wei¡¯er, acting as a special model for an eighteenth-tier hair salon. The hairstyle she sported gained popularity as soon as it was introduced. The second was the scandal involving Huayu¡¯s vice president Jin Song, who maintained inappropriate relationships with several artists under the label. At seven in the evening, the Fairy Descending salon was swamped with people. The owner and chief hairstylist Cheng Xin was as busy as a dog, still hadn¡¯t managed to eat dinner, and the customers kept coming non-stop¡ªnot all for hairdo¡¯s but for photos too. The poster by the door was rushed and printed without any retouching, but it¡¯s all good because Jiang Wei¡¯er¡¯s face was resilient to any bad shot¡ªjust stick her face on anything and it becomes a money magnet. Thanks to the blessing of the Wealth God, Fairy Descending made it onto the Hot Search list again. ¡°What color should we dye?¡± ¡°The Jiang Wei¡¯er style?¡± ¡°Xiao Chuan, do we still have the misty blue dye?¡± ¡°No more.¡± ¡°Can¡¯t change to a different color?¡± ¡°No need to change, just go to the front desk and queue up for an appointment.¡± This is the celebrity effect. At 8 o¡¯clock in the evening, Fusheng Inn was a dazzle of paper and gold. Behind the screen, geishas were playing the pipa, the food on the table was barely touched, and wine cups were filled one after another. The door pushed open, and the arrival was hurried. Jin Song raised his hand, and the serving woman pouring the drink put down the cup, exiting the room along with the music-playing geishas. ¡°President Jin.¡± Jin Song took a sip of baijiu, slightly tipsy, ¡°What did he say?¡± The secretary stepped forward and said, ¡°The Chairman said you don¡¯t need to go to Huayu for now, and Tang Heng¡¯s financing project is also on hold.¡± Jin Song swirled the drink in his cup and laughed, ¡°What a clever scheme to kill with a borrowed knife.¡± The secretary was silent as if chilled to the bone. Clang¡ª A table of banquet was flipped over entirely, and Jin Song stood up, walking to the old wooden sofa, ¡°Is your contract almost up?¡± Someone else was in the room. He replied, ¡°Twenty-three days left.¡± ¡°Want to get that video back?¡± It was then that the person on the sofa looked up. Jin Song leaned over, placing his hand on his shoulder, ¡°Help me with one last thing, and once it¡¯s done, I¡¯ll destroy all that stuff.¡± Xiao Linsu started his career as a singer and had been with Huayu for ten years, from eighteen to twenty-eight years old. ¡°What do you want me to do?¡± The hand resting on his shoulder slowly moved from his neck to his chest, teasing subtly. ¡°No rush, we¡¯ll talk it through slowly.¡± Click. The metallic sound of a belt buckle was piercing, and Jin Song laughed as he pulled out the long, slender belt from his waist. When Xiao Linsu came out again, it was an hour later, limping slowly. Lin Shuang had just arrived and was stunned for a moment before running up to him. ¡°Linsu¡ª¡± She hadn¡¯t touched him when she was pushed away, ¡°Get lost.¡± He was wearing a mask, clothes unscathed, but he couldn¡¯t straighten up, bent at the waist. Lin Shuang¡¯s eyes were already red, ¡°Can you get your wounds treated first?¡± He looked up, sweat rolling down, ¡°I told you to get lost.¡± Lin Shuang¡¯s outstretched hand froze, ultimately not daring to support him. The phone rang. Xiao Linsu leaned against the wall, staring at the screen for a long time before answering. ¡°Wei¡¯er.¡± His voice was very low, with a faint echo in the empty hallway. ¡°I¡¯ll be back the day after tomorrow.¡± The harsh winter had arrived, ice pellets fell in the evening, a prelude to heavy snow. The wind blew the leaves, howling in the cold outside, too cold¡ªJiang Wei¡¯er stood under a tree, wrapped in a thick down jacket, talking on the phone for a long time. An old voice called her ¡®Fifth Miss.¡¯ ¡°Old Madam is calling for you inside.¡± The messenger was Gui Family, who had served by Old Lady Jiang¡¯s side before she was married. After becoming a widow, Gui Family stayed with Old Lady Jiang in the Jiang Mansion. ¡°I¡¯ll call you back later,¡± Jiang Wei¡¯er ended the call, heading inside, ¡°Has Brother Zhi arrived yet?¡± Gui Family followed with an umbrella, replying from behind, ¡°Not yet. The icy pellets on the road made it slippery and inconvenient; he¡¯ll be late.¡± Jiang Wei¡¯er entered the house. Old Madam sat in the place of honor facing south, the eldest son of the big room sat facing east, the second son of the second room sat facing west, and then the grandsons were seated facing north in order. The cadets and those born out of the main line stood. The Jiang Family was always strict with their ranking of seniority. Jiang Xiaolin and Jiang Fuli each called out ¡®Fifth Aunt,¡¯ standing obediently, waiting for Jiang Wei¡¯er to take her seat. She was the most informal one, pulling up a chair directly next to Jiang Weikai, the eldest son of the Jiang family. Old Madam said nothing, and naturally, no one else dared to speak. ¡°Auntie,¡± It was Jiang Fuxi from the fourth branch; she brought over tea, ¡°I wasn¡¯t sure if your tastes had changed, so Sister Xi took the liberty to brew some Huangshan Maofeng for you.¡± Of all the Jiang family, the one most skilled at observing others¡¯ moods was Sister Xi from the fourth branch. Taking her mother¡¯s surname, she had lived cautiously and prudently within the Jiang family for a long time, always acting carefully and steadily. Jiang Wei¡¯er accepted the teacup; it was just the right temperature and didn¡¯t burn the hand, ¡°Thank you for the tea, Sister Xi.¡± Jiang Fuxi smiled and returned to stand beside Old Madam. Chapter 62 - Chapter 62: 062: The Jiang Familys Secret, Jiang Zhis Illness Chapter 62: 062: The Jiang Family¡¯s Secret, Jiang Zhi¡¯s Illness ¡°Last time I saw you was Mid-Autumn Festival last year,¡± Jiang Weikai said with a stern face, ¡°Fifth, what have you been so busy with that you can¡¯t even find time to come back?¡± Jiang Wei¡¯er answered casually, ¡°Not busy with much, just messing around.¡± ¡°Still at the Taekwondo Hall?¡± At this moment, Jiang Weili across the table joined in, seemingly joking, ¡°Big brother, you might not know, but Wei¡¯er has switched careers.¡± Wei Li, who often dealt with political affairs, was a smiling tiger, and his wife, Luo Changfang, a businesswoman from the Luo Family, was diplomatic. The couple had only one daughter, Jiang Fuli, whom they raised to be intelligent and efficient. ¡°Have you returned to the company?¡± Jiang Weikai, who was usually busy, didn¡¯t inquire much about the family matters. He thought that as Fifth was of age, it was time for her to return to the family business. Jiang Wei¡¯er, sipping tea, said evasively, ¡°With my sister-in-law at the company, it¡¯s better I don¡¯t get in the way.¡± Luo Changfang laughed off her nonsense and steered the conversation back, ¡°The entertainment industry is murky. It¡¯s okay for Brother Zhi since he¡¯s a boy, but Wei¡¯er, you need to be cautious.¡± Jiang Wei¡¯er put down her teacup. This couple from the second branch¡­ ¡°You entered the entertainment industry?¡± Jiang Weikai finally realized she had switched to an entirely different line of work. Lazily sitting, she responded, ¡°Just assisting someone, not really an insider, just playing around.¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?¦Ï ¡°You are a girl after all¡ª¡± She cut off her elder brother, quickly pleading, ¡°Big brother, I rarely come back, please don¡¯t nag me anymore.¡± Jiang Weikai¡¯s face stiffened, and he dropped the subject. Outside, the old butler, Jiang Chuan came in to announce, ¡°Old Madam, the young master has arrived.¡± Hearing this, Old Lady Jiang got up with the aid of her walking stick and instructed the maidservant beside her, ¡°Ah Gui, go fetch two hand-warming stoves.¡± ¡°Yes, Old Madam.¡± The courtyard door was open, letting bursts of winter wind in, and at this moment, the servants outside cried, ¡°Young Master!¡± Jiang Fuxi stepped forward, received the guests, took over their wind-chilled coats, and handed out a towel, ¡°Xiao Rong, go to Brother Zhi¡¯s room and fetch some clean clothes.¡± Xiao Rong acknowledged. Jiang Zhi, wiping his hands with the towel, walked slowly inside. The room had its door wide open, a brazier burning inside. The Jiang family, quite conservative in their ways, knew he was susceptible to cold; during winter, Old Lady Jiang would always have a brazier lit and several hand-warming stoves ready for him. Old Madam had passed her septuagenarian years, her hair white and hairdo meticulous, making her look spirited, though her mobility was hindered, needing a walking stick to move around. ¡°Brother Zhi, what happened to your hair?¡± As soon as Jiang Zhi entered, Old Madam¡¯s gaze fixed onto him. Jiang Zhi, taking the coat handed to him by a servant and putting it on, replied, ¡°I dyed it.¡± ¡°Just normal, why dye it such an indecent color?¡± Old Madam stared at his blue hair, hardly befitting a nobleman, too plebeian. Jiang Zhi disagreed, ¡°What¡¯s indecent about it?¡± Old Madam scolded him fondly, ¡°Nonsense.¡± He chose a spot nearest the brazier to sit and still felt cold, he drew his clothes tighter, took the tea offered by a servant but before he could drink, a coughing fit came over him. As he coughed, some tea spilled from his cup. ¡°Why such severe coughing?¡± Old Lady Jiang asked, ¡°Your medicine, did you take it on time?¡± His voice hoarse from coughing, ¡°I did.¡± ¡°What does Shiyu say?¡± Covering his mouth with a towel, his eyes tinged red, ¡°The medicine isn¡¯t really working anymore, judging by the time,¡± he said nonchalantly, ¡°my end is probably near.¡± Old Madam scolded, ¡°What nonsense are you talking!¡± She walked over to her grandson leaning on her walking stick, instructed a servant, ¡°No need to set the meal, take Brother Zhi¡¯s soup and medicinal dishes to his room.¡± ¡°Yes, Old Madam.¡± ¡°Fuxi, come help Brother Zhi.¡± Jiang Fuxi stepped forward to assist, but Jiang Zhi dodged, laboriously dragging his steps toward the stairs, his cough still audible from afar. Jiang Fuxi paused briefly, then followed upstairs. Jiang Zhi¡¯s bedroom was on the second floor, the room with the best light. Due to his frail health and aversion to cold, the floor was covered with warm jade. Old Madam doted on him, moving all sorts of fine objects into his room, including the most paintings and vases. Jiang Zhi, refusing assistance, laid down by himself. His pale, delicate face struggled for breath, not to mention how frail he looked. Old Madam sitting by the bed asked, ¡°Feeling any better?¡± He responded weakly, ¡°Yeah.¡± After his response, he started coughing again. Old Madam, both angry and distressed, helped smooth his breathing, chiding him, ¡°Don¡¯t scare this old lady by pretending to be so weak; you¡¯re not going to die.¡± Jiang Zhi replied weakly, ¡°Qin Shiyu said all my internal organs are ruined.¡± ¡°Even if they are completely ruined, I can still keep you breathing with medicine,¡± his grandma retorted. He grunted, breathing heavily, lacking the energy to speak. Seeing him like this, Old Lady Jiang spared him further lecturing, ¡°Fuxi, go to the kitchen and hurry them up. Why hasn¡¯t Brother Zhi¡¯s soup been served yet?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll go right now.¡± After Jiang Fuxi left, she closed the door behind her. With everyone else gone, Old Lady Jiang spoke to Jiang Zhi, ¡°Xiaolin and Fuli have lately been increasingly unrestrained.¡± ¡°Uh-huh, I¡¯ve heard,¡± he responded listlessly, his pale-blue hair limp over his brows, casting scattered shadows in his eyes, which carried a hint of lazy despondence. ¡°You¡¯ll just let them mess with the family business? You don¡¯t plan to come back and take control?¡± He slouched bonelessly, ¡°It¡¯s cold, I can¡¯t manage.¡± ¡°You just trouble this old bag of bones then,¡± the Old Madam scolded, no longer indulging his recklessness, ¡°When spring comes, I¡¯ll transfer your father¡¯s portion to you. Grandma is old; one foot is already in the coffin. The road ahead, Brother Zhi, you must walk on your own.¡± The Old Master Jiang had left a will when he passed away, dividing the family estate into six parts¡ªone for each of his five children and his wife. However, it was not equally divided, nor did he appoint a head of the family, creating restlessness among them all. Only the youngest, Jiang Zhi was sick, and had become a hands-off manager. He still had no proper concern, ¡°Both my feet are in the coffin, yet I can¡¯t die. You, on the other hand, still have life left.¡± Old Madam chuckled and scolded him for being a rascal. ¡°You may let other matters slide, but for those involving the Lu Family, you must handle them personally.¡± Speaking of the Lu Family sparked a hint of interest in Jiang Zhi, ¡°Did the Lu Family secure that piece of land?¡± ¡°They did, and thanks to your maneuver, they paid extra, which really annoyed them,¡± Old Lady Jiang said with a laugh, her eyes revealing undeniable pleasure and satisfaction. Among the Four Great Families, the Jiang and Lu Families were like fire and water, famously at odds with each other in the Imperial City. They had been covertly and overtly fighting for over a decade, yet why and for whom they fought remained a mystery. Even Jiang Zhi was kept in the dark. ¡°Grandma, give me some straight answers today,¡± he looked up at the Old Lady, ¡°What exactly is the grudge between you and the Lu Family?¡± This required personal involvement indeed. Truly curious. He joked in a casual tone, ¡°I¡¯ve heard that you once had a special relationship with the deceased Old Sir Lu.¡± Such words, only he dared to utter. Old Lady Jiang glared at him, ¡°Once you take over the Jiang Family, Grandma will tell you everything.¡± He harrumphed, dropping the conversation. ¡°Is the trouble with the Jin brothers your doing?¡± ¡°Mm.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it from now on,¡± Old Madam stood up leaning on her cane, ¡°Those who bully the Jiang Family really think this old woman is dead.¡± Outside, dark clouds obscured the moon. The Lu Family ancestors had started with the jade business, possessing wealth comparable to the Jiang Family. They had ventured into the pharmaceutical industry starting from Old Sir Lu¡¯s generation. The Lu Family tower was located in the most prosperous area in Imperial City, the tallest building in the city, offering a panoramic view of the city¡¯s neon lights from the top floor. ¡°Miss Second.¡± A young girl sat in the boss chair, squinting and napping, not bothering to open her eyes, she asked, ¡°Did you find out?¡± ¡°The one competing with us was indeed the Young Master of the Jiang Family,¡± said the secretary approaching her, impeccably dressed, his hair neatly combed. ¡°Somehow he got wind that we must obtain that plot of land, so he deliberately doubled the auction price.¡± The girl opened her eyes. Her eyes were long and sharp, her face small, her arched eyebrows spirited, her appearance exquisite, her demeanor striking. Despite her youthful appearance, barely in her early twenties, her single eyelids and lustrous black pupils exuded an assertive presence. Yet a slight upward curve at the corners of her lips added a touch of girl-next-door charm and cleanliness. She rubbed her brow, annoyed, ¡°This Jiang Zhi is really bothersome.¡± She muttered, then lowered her head to check her watch, ¡°It¡¯s nine o¡¯clock.¡± The secretary was momentarily puzzled by her half-statement. ¡°His radio show is starting.¡± She then pushed aside the project files worth hundreds of millions on her table and turned on the radio on her tablet. ¡°I really like a passage by Wang Xiaobo¡ªI give you my entire soul, along with its quirks, moods, light and darkness, and a thousand and eight hundred flaws. It¡¯s truly annoying, with only one redeemable quality¡ªits love for you.¡± The male voice on the radio was warm and deep, intoxicating like wine, like the wind in April, like a cello softly playing by the ear. ¡°Good evening, I¡¯m Zhou Qingrang.¡± The secretary, oblivious to the allure of the voice, was puzzled. Miss Second had recently become a fan of a radio host named Zhou, what was the term for it? Oh, a voice fetish. Chapter 63 - Chapter 63: 063: Jiang Zhi just became a father like that Chapter 63: 063: Jiang Zhi just became a father like that ¡°` The dead of night was cold and silent, with the winter wind biting fiercely. ¡°Old Madam, Old Madam!¡± Outside, Gui Family¡¯s lady called out in a frantic tone. Old Lady Jiang got dressed and rose to her feet, ¡°What¡¯s all this noise in the middle of the night?¡± ¡°Old Madam, the young master is coughing up blood.¡± Outside the room, the first snowfall of winter began to flutter down with white, grey-white snowflakes. It had been eagerly anticipated for days and had finally arrived. ¡°What¡¯s going on out there?¡± The servants outside replied, ¡°They say the young master¡¯s chronic illness has flared up, and he has coughed up quite a bit of blood.¡± Afterward, Luo Changfang called for Fuli. Jiang Fuli got up, put on a coat, and went to open the door. Luo Changfang ordered the servants to stand guard at the door, entered the room, sat down, and poured a cup of tea, ¡°I had someone check Brother Zhi¡¯s medical records, and there are some issues with his internal organs.¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï???.§ã? Every year was the same, come winter, the sole scion of the third room would be hanging between life and death, with not a single one of his organs in good health, yet somehow he kept grasping at life. ¡°Not long ago, Dr. Hong from the clinic mentioned some drugs that, if taken for a long period, could lead to cardiopulmonary failure.¡± The lamp on the wall was old, and its dim light fell on Jiang Fuli¡¯s face. She shared a resemblance with Luo Changfang, about three or four points worth¡ªplump lips, deep-set eyes, and a facial structure that was sharp and distinct. When combined, however, they possessed an androgynous charm. In the Jiang Family, the most business-savvy was the first house¡¯s Jiang Xiaolin, but when it came to thoroughness and shrewdness, Jiang Fuli was by no means inferior. ¡°Do you suspect something about Brother Zhi¡¯s illness?¡± She did suspect something, ¡°That fox of his has become too cunning for his own good, I have to be wary.¡± If he wasn¡¯t cunning, he would already be a ghost. ¡°Have you had it tested?¡± She hummed in affirmation but did not elaborate, turning instead to instruct the servants outside, ¡°Go take a look and see if it¡¯s true or false.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± At three in the morning, Jiang Zhi was taken to the hospital, Qin Shiyu left at three thirty, and Xue Bingxue arrived on his heels. He took one look at the blood-stained tissues in the trash can and knew what was happening, ¡°How many pills have you taken?¡± ¡°Three.¡± Xue Bingxue immediately stiffened his face, which looked no older than eighteen, ¡°Have you no regard for your life?¡± The medicine was still in the developmental phase, with severe side effects. One pill was enough to sap his strength for a week, but he wasn¡¯t afraid to die, taking three at once. He said nonchalantly, ¡°I cough up blood every winter, it won¡¯t kill me.¡± But it would damage the liver and lungs! And could cause infertility! Xue Bingxue wanted to scold him but wasn¡¯t good at it and couldn¡¯t win against him, so he glared instead, ¡°Has someone in the Jiang Family grown suspicious?¡± He hummed in response, having vomited blood earlier, his face now as white as paper, ¡°Without Jiang Family¡¯s support, Jin Song wouldn¡¯t dare tamper with things over my head.¡± The attempted seduction was just a front; there were two groups that night. The first was to divert attention; the second was there to test his mettle. So, he coughed up blood to put those people ¡®at ease.¡¯ ¡°Brother Zhi,¡± Xue Bingxue said with a seriousness that made him seem like a little old man, ¡°Do you really like that girl with the facial mask?¡± Jiang Zhi choked. ¡°` Why are you suddenly asking this?! ¡°If you really like her and want to spend the rest of your life with her, don¡¯t recklessly take medicine anymore,¡± Xue Bingxue said, ¡°Brother Zhi, you need to start cherishing your life.¡± Among this group, Xue Bingxue was the oldest, despite having the face of an eighteen-year-old and being cowardly in front of the girl he had secretly adored for over a decade. But his thoughts were always the most comprehensive and mature¡ªhis principles so upright that even in this dark world, he could find a large patch of pure land. Jiang Zhi was different. He had no principles, no bottom line, was harsh on others, and even harsher on himself. He didn¡¯t value life, didn¡¯t fear death¡ªgetting involved for fun when interested, and resorting to taking medicine when bored. He cared neither for himself nor for others¡ªa person who was both righteous and wicked, acting on a whim. He once said something that Xue Bingxue always remembered. ¡°Dead is dead, killed is killed.¡± The former referred to Jiang Zhi himself, while the latter referred to all the people he didn¡¯t care about. But this time, Xue Bingxue¡¯s words had stunned him. He needed to start cherishing his life¡­ He had to stop treating life as a game, stop playing with it for applause. He started fearing death because of Zhou Xufang. After a long while, he said to Xue Bingxue, ¡°Don¡¯t prescribe me any more medicine from now on.¡± Snow had fallen all night, and by morning, the world was enveloped in a clean, white layer. The snow in the Imperial City always fell fast and hard, with the wind turning it into an apocalyptic spectacle. At noon, Ah Wan had finished eating and came over, shook off the snow on his body, and waited at the doorway until the cold dampness had dissipated before entering the ward. Jiang Zhi lay there, looking out the window. Ah Wan thought he might be pondering life. ¡°Boss, would you like a bowl of hearty soup?¡± He set the soup he brought on the cabinet and highly recommended it, ¡°My mom has been simmering it all morning.¡± It wasn¡¯t an exaggeration¡ªhis mother¡¯s soup-making skills could rival those of a five-star chef, and it was all thanks to Jiang Zhi. Ever since the kidney transplant, his mother had treated Jiang Zhi like her own son, and she would worry more than anyone else whenever Jiang Zhi was hospitalized, thinking of all ways to nourish his body, hence mastering the art of soup-making. His mother, Ms. Song, might have forgotten that although it was Jiang Zhi who paid for that kidney, her own son had signed a thirty-year indenture. Ah Wan had grown used to it and was no longer sad. He filled a large bowl with soup and brought it over. Jiang Zhi maintained his position, not moving an inch. ¡°Go and arrange my discharge.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not advisable. With your current condition, you can¡¯t be reckless. It¡¯s snowing heavily outside, and it¡¯s cold. It¡¯s better if you stay in the hospital.¡± Don¡¯t go out and risk dying young from the cold. ¡°When I tell you to go, you go.¡± His look was as cold as the early winter¡¯s snow outside. Ah Wan shivered from his frostiness, shrank his neck, and moved back. ¡°I daren¡¯t. Old Lady Jiang said this morning when she left, to make sure I keep an eye on you.¡± Look at him, his employer¡¯s face pale with just a touch of red¡ªthe spitting image of someone on their deathbed. He dared not let him go out. After giving it some thought, Ah Wan asked, ¡°Do you want to be discharged because of Miss Zhou?¡± His employer was shameless enough to use his illness as an excuse, insisting that poor Miss Zhou, who was struggling to make ends meet, invite him to a meal. Jiang Zhi remained silent and just used his enchanting peach blossom eyes to casually shoot out cold air. Ah Wan moved back further. ¡°How about you tell Miss Zhou that you¡¯re ill and can¡¯t make it?¡± ¡°That won¡¯t do.¡± His tone was uncompromising, leaving no room for negotiation. Ah Wan racked his brains. ¡°Boss, Miss Zhou is such a nice person. If she knew you were hospitalized, she would surely come to see you. Nowadays, girls can¡¯t stand the ¡®beauty trap¡¯ or ¡®suffering act¡¯.¡± Hmm, comrade Lin Wanwan is a collector of Korean drama tropes. Although not the sharpest, she understands much more than most when it comes to matters of men and women. Jiang Zhi was silent for a moment. Ah Wan continued to persuade. ¡°The weather isn¡¯t good today, and since the restaurant hasn¡¯t been booked yet, it¡¯s the perfect opportunity to arrange another time with Miss Zhou. If Miss Zhou comes to visit you at the hospital, you¡¯ll have another chance to see her.¡± Indeed¡ª After a moment of consideration, Jiang Zhi took out his phone and sent a WeChat message to Zhou Xufang. ¡°I¡¯m sick.¡± Then three minutes went by, ten minutes passed, twenty minutes elapsed¡­ And she still hadn¡¯t replied! Miss Zhou, smacked in the face: ¡°¡­¡± Jiang Zhi threw his phone onto the table, his eyes seemed to melt with the heavy snow outside: ¡°Didn¡¯t you say she would come to the hospital to see me?¡± Ah Wan scratched his head, trying to appear as sincere and innocent as possible: ¡°Maybe she¡¯s busy and didn¡¯t see the WeChat message. Why don¡¯t you call her?¡± Jiang Zhi kicked the blanket off his feet, turned over to lie down, and sulked as if he were holding a grudge against someone. Ah Wan: ¡°¡­¡± The mood swings of a boy in unrequited love, indeed so fickle and childish. Let¡¯s see how long you can keep it up! Less than thirty seconds later¡ª ¡°Cough cough cough cough cough¡­¡± He coughed and wheezed, propped up his sickly body to sit up, drank a few sips of soup, then listlessly reached for the water cup on the cabinet, took a sip, and casually grabbed his phone. Ah Wan: ¡°¡­¡± Ah, men. Pretending to know nothing, Ah Wan sneakily glanced at his boss¡¯s phone. He had saved her name as a Zhou Xufang, at the very top of the contact list. The phone rang for a while before it was picked up. ¡°Hello.¡± Over the phone, the wind was louder than her voice; she must have been outside. Jiang Zhi coughed, cleared his throat: ¡°It¡¯s me.¡± ¡°I know it¡¯s you.¡± Hmm, obedient enough. Jiang Zhi leaned against the pillows, his bones felt as soft as a delicate patient who needed tender care. He asked her, a bit annoyed: ¡°Why aren¡¯t you checking WeChat?¡± Zhou Xufang said: ¡°I¡¯m distributing flyers.¡± ¡°¡­¡± How many jobs is she working! She doesn¡¯t even rest in such heavy snow. He coughed a few times: ¡°I¡¯m hospitalized.¡± His voice sounded weak, his tone quite pampered, as if saying: I¡¯m sick! How dare you not comply with my wishes? Upon hearing this, Zhou Xufang immediately asked: ¡°Are you sick? Is it serious?¡± ¡°Cough cough cough cough cough¡­¡± He replied weakly, ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s serious.¡± Zhou Xufang decided on the spot: ¡°Then I¡¯ll come see you after I¡¯m done handing out flyers.¡± Why wait until after handing out flyers?! Jiang Zhi couldn¡¯t wait: ¡°You¡ª¡± Now! Come! See! Me! But she didn¡¯t wait for him to finish speaking, hastily interrupted: ¡°The foreman is here, I have to hang up.¡± Then there was a series of beeping sounds. Jiang Zhi, who just spat blood last night and felt like doing so again: ¡°¡­¡± This feeling, it was like being kicked in the chest by a grass mud horse; pain was secondary, the main thing was¡ªit hurt his pride. Crash! Jiang Zhi threw his phone hard onto the cabinet. ¡°Lin Wanwan.¡± Ah Wan¡¯s scalp tingled with fear, but luckily, his phone rang just in time: ¡°My mom is video calling.¡± He turned his back to answer the video call from Ms. Song, ¡°Mom!¡± You truly are a Guanyin saving the suffering! On the phone screen, there was Ms. Song¡¯s face, round as if drawn with a compass, with a head full of fashionable instant noodle curls, and a girl¡¯s hair clip despite being close to sixty. ¡°Did you give Jiang Zhi the soup?¡± Ms. Song asked about Jiang Zhi as soon as she spoke. Ah Wan nodded and shook his head, his eyes carrying the grievance of a son: ¡°I did.¡± Although Ms. Song had a girly heart, she had quite a fierce temper: ¡°What are you shaking at? Move aside, don¡¯t block my camera.¡± This is one¡¯s own mother, one¡¯s own mother! Ah Wan silently moved his head out of the camera¡¯s view, letting Jiang Zhi appear on screen. The lioness¡¯s face from a second ago transformed to that of a blooming flower: ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± Ah, Ms. Song was a face-con, switching male idols every three days, but Jiang Zhi had been favored for two years. Jiang Zhi called her auntie. ¡°Are you feeling better?¡± Ms. Song¡¯s eyes looked as though they could squeeze out water with their tenderness. Jiang Zhi, not too close but polite and patient: ¡°Much better.¡± ¡°I put some warming and supplementing herbs in the soup I stewed for you; you should drink more.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± That¡¯s when, in the video, a rooster crowed. Then Ms. Song¡¯s round face moved away from the screen, revealing a chicken¡¯s head. Ms. Song holding the chicken: ¡°Shuangxi, come and bow to your daddy.¡± Jiang Zhi, who suddenly became a daddy: ¡°¡­¡± He barely recognized that chicken; it had plumped up more than a size since Zhou Xufang had given it to him, now dressed in a pink skirt, wearing a red bow tie, and a green head flower, looking like a festive and comical mascot. Ah Wan explained on the side: ¡°My mom named your pet chicken Shuangxi, and made a bunch of little skirts for it.¡± No matter how many times he stated that it was a rooster, it still couldn¡¯t stop Ms. Song¡¯s overflowing maternal love and dressing habits. The Shuangxi in the video was excited, fluttering its wings and clucking. Ms. Song said Shuangxi was bowing to daddy. Jiang Zhi, possibly infertile and now a rooster¡¯s daddy: ¡°¡­¡± Daddy? His heart felt as if it was being scratched by chicken claws, it was painful and irritating, and oddly enough, it itched. After hanging up the video call, the pressure in the sickroom remained low. Ah Wan felt it too, almost unable to breathe; perhaps it was time to go to the restroom. And as Ah Wan took his fourth trip to the toilet, Shuangxi¡¯s ¡®mommy,¡¯ Zhou Xufang, finally arrived. Chapter 64 - Chapter 64: 064: Cant Help But Confess Chapter 64: 064: Can¡¯t Help But Confess While Ah Wan was making her fourth trip to the bathroom, Shuangxi¡¯s ¡°mom¡± Zhou Xufang finally arrived. She wore a fluffy hat and her black down jacket wrapped her from head to toe. ¡°Are you feeling better?¡± As soon as Jiang Zhi heard the voice, he turned around immediately, the corner of his mouth curved for a second before he suppressed it, and he looked at the door instead of her: ¡°No.¡± She was still carrying big and small packages. Ah Wan took the initiative to take the items: ¡°Miss Zhou, what are these?¡± ¡°Health supplements.¡± Ah Wan counted them, a total of eight boxes: ¡°Are they all for my boss?¡± Yes, he asked knowingly on purpose. Zhou Xufang touched the pompom on her wool hat and nodded. Jiang Zhi sat up from the hospital bed. He was particular, disliking the hospital¡¯s sick clothes for being unclean, and wore pajamas instead. His misty blue short hair was tousled and a strand stood up on his forehead. In this state, he had no aggressiveness at all. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ??¦Í?¦Ï.§ã¦Ï ¡°Do you have too much money? Why buy all these things?¡± Listening closely, one could hear a hint of smugness and pleasure in the scolding tone. Zhou Xufang said, ¡°To replenish your body.¡± Just like that¡­ his anger was soothed, the pique he wagered was gone, and the spring scenery burst crazily from his eyes again: ¡°How much do you earn a day from handing out flyers?¡± She answered precisely: ¡°Usually 150 yuan, but with the snow today, it¡¯s 300 yuan.¡± She had only a few flyers left when he called her, so that¡¯s why she waited to finish distributing them before coming. ¡°And how much did you spend on these things?¡± ¡°Eight thousand four hundred and thirty-seven.¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± He wanted to shove his card at her, to save worrying about her spending recklessly without money. ¡°Just come by yourself next time, don¡¯t buy anything else.¡± Zhou Xufang: ¡°Okay.¡± She thought, she couldn¡¯t really come empty-handed, it would be impolite not to bring anything for a visit. ¡°Why are you standing so far away? Come sit closer.¡± Zhou Xufang was too shy to sit on his hospital bed, so she moved a chair over, placing it not too far away from him. ¡°Are you hot?¡± The room had the heater on. She was bundled up tight in her hat and down jacket, her cheeks showing a layer of red, though it was uncertain if it was from the heat or the wind outside. Zhou Xufang shook her head: ¡°Not hot.¡± Jiang Zhi turned the temperature down by two degrees anyway and put on his coat: ¡°Do you want soup? Ah Wan¡¯s mother made it, it tastes very good.¡± ¡°I do.¡± He served her a big bowl, scooping all the precious medicinal ingredients and meat into it for her. Zhou Xufang said thank you, holding the bowl as she consumed the soup and meat. She couldn¡¯t help herself and asked, ¡°Didn¡¯t Mr. Xue come to keep you company?¡± Was Jiang Zhi dating Mr. Xue? These past few days, she had been contemplating this question, while working, even while sleeping, to the extent that it disturbed her sleep. Jiang Zhi stared at her frowning little face: ¡°Are you talking about Xue Baoyi or Xue Bingxue?¡± ¡°Mr. Xue Baoyi.¡± He shifted his position, leaning against the pillow sideways: ¡°Why would I want him to accompany me?¡± Her frown deepened, the look on her face confused and troubled, and after a long while she murmured softly, ¡°Isn¡¯t he your boyfriend?¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± He was so choked up that a rush of blood surged to his face, turning his otherwise pale complexion a bit rosy: ¡°Who told you he¡¯s my boyfriend?¡± Zhou Xufang said nothing then, she definitely couldn¡¯t betray Fang Lixiang. He gasped for air, propping himself up to sit straight: ¡°Zhou Xufang.¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± The expression on her face was simply¡­ a mess, looking bewildered, stupid, cute, and perplexed. He had been annoyed with her lack of understanding, but as he watched her face, he felt an urge to poke and touch it. In the end, he was neither angry nor willing to scold her, his voice softened by several degrees: ¡°Did someone tell you that I am gay?¡± She nodded. Jiang Zhi was silent for a moment, then his tone became suddenly serious: ¡°I¡¯m not, currently.¡± Currently? Zhou Xufang looked up at him with a completely baffled expression. He grew impatient and blurted out: ¡°I don¡¯t like anyone else, I¡ª¡± Suddenly, there was a knock at the door. ¡°Knock! Knock! Knock!¡± The words Jiang Zhi was about to say were all stifled in his throat, leaving him so frustrated he felt like hitting someone, his temper flaring up: ¡°What is it!¡± ¡°Mr. Jiang,¡± the head nurse was cowed by his shouting, ¡°It¡¯s, it¡¯s time. We need to draw some blood.¡± Jiang Zhi glanced at Zhou Xufang; she still had the same expression as before. Irritably, he ran his fingers through his hair, ¡°Come in.¡± The head nurse pushed the door open and entered; the atmosphere was tense, and she dared not breathe too heavily. Mr. Jiang¡¯s temper was well-known among the hospital¡¯s doctors and nurses; he wasn¡¯t the type to make things difficult for people on purpose, but whenever he looked coldly with those beautiful eyes of his, it felt like a barrage of ice shards pounding down¡ªit didn¡¯t kill you, but it pierced your heart. At this moment, the patriarch was wearing a stern face. ¡°Left hand or right hand?¡± With trembling hands, the head nurse placed the medical tray down, ¡°Right hand.¡± Jiang Zhi lay back and stretched out his arm, rolling up his sleeve. His veins were thin, but his skin was so pale it made them clearly visible. As the needle pierced his skin, he watched Zhou Xufang, who was watching his hand. Her expression was grave, ¡°Does it hurt?¡± He had been a ¡°sick seedling¡± for more than twenty years and was used to all sorts of pain, numb to it all, but this was the first time someone had asked him if it hurt. The question made his heart itch. ¡°It hurts,¡± he looked at her, ¡°Blow on it, and it won¡¯t hurt anymore.¡± Zhou Xufang, as if realizing something, turned her head, ¡°Nurse sister, could you blow on it for him?¡± The head nurse: ¡°¡­¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± Is this an ice sculpture? Completely unresponsive! Of course, the head nurse didn¡¯t dare blow on Jiang Zhi. She quickly drew two tubes of blood and scampered off. Zhou Xufang only sat for about twenty minutes before she left. Before going, she made plans with Jiang Zhi to eat together again the next evening. She seemed to be in a good mood, unusually greeting the patients she met at the door and even helped a female patient on her way to the restroom carry her IV drip. Jiang Zhi wasn¡¯t gay and wasn¡¯t friends with Mr. Xue Baoyi. She had to hurry and tell Fang Lixiang not to continue the misunderstanding. After Zhou Xufang left, Ah Wan approached the bedside. ¡°Boss,¡± he couldn¡¯t hold back, ¡°were you trying to confess just now?¡± Jiang Zhi neither admitted nor denied, fixated on the door, his mind elsewhere. Ah Wan considered for a moment, ¡°I think it¡¯s inappropriate.¡± Jiang Zhi¡¯s eyelids twitched, and his gaze turned to him. Although his employer was fussy and had a bad temper, Ah Wan had professional ethics; he was about to offer his unsolicited advice. ¡°I heard that actress called Lixiang say that Miss Zhou¡¯s IQ is over 130, which is very high, probably exchanged for EQ.¡± Lin Wanwan, with an IQ below 100, at this moment felt an inexplicable confidence. ¡°Plus, you see, Miss Zhou is completely clueless about you. If you confess hurriedly, you might scare her off.¡± Jiang Zhi pondered. Lifting his eyelids, he asked somewhat unnaturally, ¡°So, what do I do?¡± Ah Wan¡¯s face had an air of profound wisdom, ¡°Boss, you need to boil the frog in warm water, gradually and slowly infiltrate, until she gets used to your countless kindnesses, and then she can¡¯t leave you anymore.¡± He felt like he could be a relationship expert¡ªhe was particularly confident, ¡°I watched an idol drama a few days ago, and that¡¯s how the male lead got the girl.¡± Although he wasn¡¯t very sharp and his brain was quite simple, Lin Wanwan had been watching Korean dramas with Ms. Song since she was ten years old; she didn¡¯t get the nickname ¡®harvester¡¯ for nothing. When it came to matters of men and women, Jiang Zhi was a mere fledgling. ¡°Cough cough,¡± Jiang Zhi cleared his throat in a feigned manner and casually asked, ¡°What¡¯s that drama called?¡± ¡°The Overbearing CEO Falls in Love with Me.¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± He must be really desperate to believe the nonsense from Lin Wanwan. Contemplating for three seconds¡ª ¡°Send it to me.¡± The next day, the snow continued, covering the path as before. Jiang Zhi and Zhou Xufang had agreed to meet at the porridge shop, the one where Zhou Xufang worked. Jiang Zhi had chosen the place, and why didn¡¯t he choose somewhere more upscale, with more style? Because he wanted to save her money. Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t allow Jiang Zhi to come and pick her up; they scheduled to meet at 6:30 PM at the entrance of the porridge shop. Ah Wan thought his employer had issues; he had him drive over at 4 PM, didn¡¯t go inside the shop, just waiting in the freezing snow. The car parked across from the porridge shop, Jiang Zhi looked at his watch and asked Ah Wan, ¡°What time is it?¡± He suspected his watch was broken. ¡°Boss, it¡¯s only 5 PM.¡± Ah Wan couldn¡¯t help but comment, ¡°You¡¯re here too early.¡± Jiang Zhi flicked his eyelashes. Ah Wan immediately shut up, turned his head to look at the swirling snowflakes, the world draped in a silver veil, visibility obscured. Suddenly, he spotted a familiar figure and exclaimed, ¡°Ah! Miss Zhou is delivering orders!¡± At the entrance of the porridge shop, Zhou Xufang had just come out, wearing an eye-catching, delivery staff-exclusive, yellow helmet. Without even an umbrella, Jiang Zhi got out of the car, called out to Zhou Xufang, and then, amidst the falling snow, he stood across the street, waving his hand at her. She turned back and saw him, saw the snow on his shoulders, saw the matte black buttons on his coat, saw his smile¡ªfaint, but pleasant, like a youth hurriedly returning home. Then, from behind him on the road, a sedan crossed the zebra crossing and suddenly accelerated. The bag in Zhou Xufang¡¯s hand dropped. ¡°Jiang Zhi!¡± Chapter 65 - Chapter 65: 065: Xu Fangs vest has fallen off Chapter 65: 065: Xu Fang¡¯s vest has fallen off ¡°Jiang Zhi!¡± Ah Wan cried out ¡°Watch out!¡± Jiang Zhi instinctively turned around, just as a fast-moving car crashed into his field of vision, getting closer and closer¡­ ¡°Boss!¡± He only managed to move one step before his waist was seized, and then his whole body fell backward, rolling twice amidst the dizzying world, as the falling snow mingled with the reflection of a yellow helmet in his eyes. The wind howled in his ears as the black sedan nearly brushed his back, quickly disappearing from view. After that, he let the owner of the yellow helmet press down on him, let her crash wildly through his thoughts. ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± Zhou Xufang called his name twice. But he showed no sign of hearing, his gaze fixated on her. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you?¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.§ã? Zhou Xufang¡¯s hat was askew, snow clung to the tip of her eyebrow. Ice chips hung from her eyelashes, trembling violently, as she frantically wrinkled her little face, ¡°Why aren¡¯t you speaking? Are you hurt somewhere?¡± She was still kneeling, a complete mess. Jiang Zhi sat on the snow, equally disheveled, covered in snow. ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± He didn¡¯t respond but extended a hand, reaching out to her. His long, slender fingers were slightly curved, covering half of her face, leaving only a pair of eyes to lock with his. Zhou Xufang suddenly pulled back. Jiang Zhi caught her hand, ¡°Is it you?¡± ¡°What?¡± After asking, she looked down, avoiding his gaze as her hat drooped, concealing half of her already small face. Jiang Zhi did not speak again, pulling at her hand and, with a tug, embraced her. Without thinking, Zhou Xufang raised her hand¡ª ¡°Xu Fang,¡± he bowed his head, his voice a low murmur next to her ear, ¡°don¡¯t hit, I¡¯m still sick.¡± Xu Fang. He called her Xu Fang. In the freezing cold, the bone-chilling wind carried only the warmth of his breath by her ear, ¡°Count to ten, and I¡¯ll let go.¡± His chin rested on her shoulder. She smelled of milk, just like that professional errand runner. One, two, three¡­ Zhou Xufang lowered her hand, silently counting. Jiang Zhi was still sitting on the snowy ground, the piercing cold seeping through the thick layers of clothing, his hands holding her, trembling faintly, ¡°In such a short time, how did you get to my side?¡± She wasn¡¯t used to being this close, her whole body stiff, ¡°I ran here.¡± ¡°In just three seconds?¡± ¡°I run fast.¡± She paused, ¡°You were also close to me.¡± Jiang Zhi coughed by her ear, his breath growing heavier, ¡°But you were clearly across the street.¡± ¡°The snow was heavy; you saw wrong.¡± ¡°Zhou Xufang¡ª¡± His words were cut off, ¡°The count is over.¡± Then, she pushed him away, stepping back to straighten her hat, ¡°Even from across the street, it would take a minute to run; you saw wrong.¡± Having said that, she assumed her usual indifferent expression. Jiang Zhi steadied himself on the lamppost and stood up, brushing off the snow from his body, then lifted his head, his eyes blazing as he looked at her. For the first time, Zhou Xufang felt as though all her pretenses had been stripped away, leaving nowhere to hide. ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± She lowered her head, and the oversized yellow helmet slipped, covering her forehead. Her voice was muffled as she muttered, ¡°My hand hurts.¡± Shuangjiang had said, girls should know how to show vulnerability. Sure enough, Jiang Zhi was thrown into complete chaos, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± he asked, visibly flustered, ¡°Where does it hurt? Did you fall?¡± Zhou Xufang gently shook her arm, purposely swaying it close to him, ¡°I bumped it just now.¡± ¡°That was a feigned injury strategy.¡± Zhou Xufang used it for the first time. ¡°Let¡¯s go to the hospital.¡± Jiang Zhi reached out his hand, intending to pull hers, but fearing he might hurt her, he instead pulled her hood and called back, ¡°Lin Wanwan, why don¡¯t you go start the car!¡± Ah Wan: ¡°¡­¡± The dinner, again, did not happen. Jiang Zhi took Zhou Xufang to the hospital for X-rays, assuring himself that her bones were not injured, and only after all of this did he feel at ease. By the time they were done, it was already past nine. In reality, her arm didn¡¯t hurt at all, but Jiang Zhi insisted that the doctor wrap it with a bandage and repeatedly glared at the doctor, demanding assurance that not a single hair on her head was harmed before he was willing to leave the orthopedic department with her. Zhou Xufang felt even guiltier because of this. She was still carrying the helmet of the delivery person, hanging her head with a particularly listless look, ¡°It¡¯s late. I should go back.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll take you.¡± Zhou Xufang refused: ¡°It¡¯s cold outside, don¡¯t escort me.¡± Jiang Zhi was reluctant, looking at her ¡®pitiable¡¯ state, he couldn¡¯t bear to refuse, ¡°Then, I¡¯ll walk you to the door.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Ah Wan behind them: ¡°¡­¡± What to do, he felt that the boss was acting weak. Jiang Zhi took Zhou Xufang to the door, a five-minute walk that, because he was ¡®gasping every three steps and coughing every five steps, frail and breathless, tenderly gasping¡¯, took a full fifteen minutes. Once outside the hospital entrance, Zhou Xufang would not let him escort her any further. The heavy snow had just ceased, and everything outside was covered in a vast white expanse. Zhou Xufang stood at the bottom of the steps and after saying goodbye to Jiang Zhi, she earnestly warned him, ¡°The car that hit you had its plate covered by snow. Be careful, this was no accident.¡± Jiang Zhi stood higher up, bending over to listen to her, ¡°I know.¡± ¡°Then I¡¯m leaving.¡± Then she turned around. ¡°Xu Fang,¡± he grasped her hand that was not wrapped in bandages. She cocked her head to look at him, ¡°Hm?¡± Her hand was still as cold as ice, but it was different from before; she no longer instinctively pushed him away. Of course, she still guarded herself tightly, not revealing a single drop. ¡°You can say anything to me,¡± he said. Zhou Xufang looked at him, her gaze vacant. Jiang Zhi stepped down the stairs, ¡°Do you understand what I mean?¡± She shook her head. Jiang Zhi reached out his hand to cover her head, touching the helmet on her head. ¡°You¡¯re different from others. You can do anything to me,¡± including taking his candy, hitting his people, or even, pressing down on his body. All these were permissible; he thought about it, and it seemed there wasn¡¯t anything he couldn¡¯t tolerate her doing, including hiding or deceiving. Zhou Xufang, being unaccustomed to physical contact, stepped back, her cheeks flushed red by the cold wind. She blinked and said, ¡°My hair is messy.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Was her hair the point! ¡°If it¡¯s messy, let it be,¡± he ruffled her hair on her forehead forcefully and then pulled the hood of his jacket over her helmet, ¡°Go back now, and call me when you get there.¡± Zhou Xufang was silent for a while, ¡°Goodbye, Jiang Zhi.¡± Then, she walked away. Jiang Zhi stood at the hospital entrance for a long time, waiting until she was far away, and he could not bear it anymore, bending over and coughing violently. Ah Wan stepped forward, ¡°Boss, it¡¯s windy outside, let¡¯s go in.¡± Jiang Zhi did not move, his gaze fixed on the trail of footprints on the ground, ¡°Did you check the surveillance?¡± ¡°I did, but the snow was too heavy in the evening, and the camera malfunctioned.¡± He retracted his gaze, his eyes covered in a deep dusky haze, dark and hard to read, ¡°Did you see where she was standing at the beginning?¡± Ah Wan nodded. Then he shook his head, confused and troubled, ¡°But it doesn¡¯t make sense.¡± The speed of a normal person couldn¡¯t be that fast. Ah Wan couldn¡¯t figure it out, ¡°Boss, are we seeing things?¡± Jiang Zhi remained silent. Chapter 66 - Chapter 66: 066: Jiang Zhi Tests the Professional Errand Runner Chapter 66: 066: Jiang Zhi Tests the Professional Errand Runner Jiang Zhi said nothing. Ah Wan chattered on and on, ¡°Do you think Miss Zhou could be a fairy that descended from Heaven? Once she passes her ordeal, she¡¯ll ascend back to Heaven.¡± What an imagination! Ah Wan even admired his own creativity; he could debut as a scriptwriter. In the dead of night, the only sounds in the corridor were coughs and the boss¡¯s cold, disdainful voice, ¡°What kind of messy TV show have you been watching again?¡± What do you mean messy! Ah Wan straightened up, ¡°I¡¯ve been following ¡®Three Lives and Thirty Miles of Chrysanthemums¡¯ recently.¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± Speaking of Three Lives and Thirty Miles of Chrysanthemums, Ah Wan¡¯s mental fan fiction simply couldn¡¯t stop. ¡°If Miss Zhou really is here for an ordeal, then it must be a romantic one,¡± Ah Wan, who didn¡¯t know why he was so excited, was indeed very excited, ¡°Boss, you¡¯re Miss Zhou¡¯s destined tribulation.¡± If there really was a Heaven, he would build a nuclear bomb to blast it to pieces, and then get a spaceship to snatch Zhou Xufang over, whether she¡¯s human or a fairy, he would claim her. Jiang Zhi put a stop to this idiotic idea, turning around, ¡°Are you an idiot?¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?0 Ah Wan: ¡°¡­¡± You are! Your whole family is! Ah Wan decided that once he got back, he would have Shuangxi call him ¡®Grandpa¡¯ and call Jiang Zhi ¡®Chicken Dad¡¯. Back in the ward, the nurse came to administer an injection, which inevitably led to a gentle admonition about how Mr. Jiang¡¯s health was weak and how he shouldn¡¯t go out into the cold. Jiang Zhi, annoyed by the noise, told the nurse to shut up. ¡°Go check on Jin Song.¡± Ah Wan was still immersed in the fantasy of Shuangxi calling him grandpa and Jiang Zhi dad, and his brain didn¡¯t switch gears right away, responding after a long pause, ¡°Isn¡¯t he one of the Jiang Family?¡± ¡°The Jiang Family isn¡¯t that stupid.¡± Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t explain and just listlessly lay down. Ah Wan didn¡¯t understand, but he also didn¡¯t dare to ask. After Zhou Xufang got home, it was almost ten, and she hadn¡¯t changed her clothes when she turned on her computer. ¡°Shuangjiang.¡± Shuangjiang immediately typed back, ¡°I¡¯m here.¡± ¡°Did the surveillance catch me?¡± Jiang Zhi, with his meticulous mind, would surely check. Zhou Xufang had contacted Shuangjiang by phone from the hospital during the filming, hoping to mend the situation, but she wasn¡¯t sure if it was too late. ¡°Caught you.¡± Shuangjiang quickly added another line, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I blocked the video for you.¡± Zhou Xufang finally breathed a sigh of relief, ¡°Thanks.¡± She stood up and took a can of cold milk from the fridge, ¡°What about the car?¡± ¡°It was also caught on camera, but the snow was too heavy, you couldn¡¯t see clearly, and the person driving was wearing a mask, couldn¡¯t make out if it was a man or a woman.¡± Zhou Xufang returned to the computer, ¡°What about the car model?¡± ¡°I checked that too, a standard model BMW, nothing special.¡± The license plate was also covered, meaning there wasn¡¯t any usable evidence. Zhou Xufang looked down, pondering. Shuangjiang asked her, ¡°Are you going to get involved in Jiang Zhi¡¯s situation?¡± She didn¡¯t hesitate, ¡°I will.¡± She wouldn¡¯t let anyone harm Jiang Zhi. No one could. However, Shuangjiang was concerned, ¡°But Jiang Zhi has become suspicious of you, and he¡¯s cunning. I¡¯m afraid he might figure something out.¡± The wounds, the speed, her unusualness had already aroused Jiang Zhi¡¯s attention. Zhou Xufang stayed silent. She was very afraid of people discovering her secret, scared of being seen as a monster, most of all afraid that Jiang Zhi would look at her with disgust, stop being her friend, stop talking to her, stop giving her candy, stop giving her lanterns. ¡°Ah Fang, if you don¡¯t want to be exposed, you should keep your distance.¡± Crack¡ª Zhou Xufang accidentally crushed the can in her hand, milk spilling everywhere, she pursed her lips in annoyance, ¡°I know.¡± A look of loss appeared on her face. It was the first time Shuangjiang had seen such a vivid expression on her. ¡°Help me look up something else.¡± Zhou Xufang wiped her hands clean, ¡°A square-shaped Peace Talisman charm, made from yellow satin, with a ¡®Book¡¯ character embroidered on the bottom left corner with blue thread.¡± The person driving the car that hit someone was dressed entirely in black, the hat pulled down low, gloves and mask firmly in place, no distinguishing features at all. Zhou Xufang, with her good eyesight, remembered the charm on the car, about the size of half a palm. She pulled out paper and pen to try to draw the Peace Talisman, but after several attempts, it ended up twisted and didn¡¯t look right at all. She really had no talent for drawing. Her cell phone, left to the side, rang. She picked it up and saw a WeChat message from Jiang Zhi. ¡°Are you home yet?¡± She replied, ¡°Home.¡± ¡°Send me a photo,¡± Jiang Zhi sent another message, ¡°to confirm your safety.¡± Zhou Xufang stood up and snapped a picture of her front door for him. Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± He didn¡¯t want to see her house¡¯s door! ¡°Take a picture of yourself.¡± Oh. Zhou Xufang sent him a half-face selfie. In the photo, her gaze seemed absent and her expression was perplexed, as if she was searching for the camera lens but couldn¡¯t quite find it. Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± This girl probably had never taken a selfie before, possibly didn¡¯t use a smartphone often. He had noticed the last time they video-chatted that she couldn¡¯t find the camera lens. So smart, yet so adorably clueless. Jiang Zhi stopped typing and sent a voice message instead, ¡°Did you finish the cotton candy?¡± His voice sounded a bit hoarse. Zhou Xufang rarely used voice messages and wasn¡¯t very good at it, still slowly typing, ¡°Almost finished.¡± ¡°You come to the set tomorrow, I¡¯ll bring some for you.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± She immediately transferred ten thousand yuan to Jiang Zhi. Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t accept it. ¡°Do you have a lot of money?¡± Zhou Xufang thought for a moment, ¡°It¡¯s alright.¡± She couldn¡¯t tell the truth; Jiang Zhi was too astute. He then asked, ¡°How did you earn it?¡± She replied, ¡°By working.¡± ¡°What kind of work?¡± His tone was casual, sounding like small talk. Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t hesitate for long and began to list them one by one. ¡°Applying screen protectors.¡± ¡°Delivering takeout.¡± ¡°Being an extra in films.¡± ¡°Modeling.¡± ¡°Distributing flyers.¡± ¡°Driving for hire.¡± ¡°Moving bricks.¡± ¡°¡­¡± She listed a dozen more types of jobs. Just not a professional errand runner. Wait¡ª Jiang Zhi¡¯s tone even escalated, ¡°You actually move bricks?¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± she said, ¡°it pays well.¡± Mainly because she was strong, able to move three times the amount a man could. At that moment, Jiang Zhi envisioned a frail figure, wearing a red safety helmet among a bunch of stinky men, clad in ill-fitting clothes, wearing gloves with many holes, feet in liberation shoes, stooping dust-covered and pitifully moving bricks¡­ He couldn¡¯t bear to think about it; it was heart-wrenching! He almost shouted, ¡°No more moving bricks in the future!¡± Why not? Moving bricks was easy and profitable, Zhou Xufang couldn¡¯t understand, but she agreed anyway, ¡°Oh.¡± Such a good girl. If only she stayed this obedient. Jiang Zhi said, ¡°Xu Fang.¡± Zhou Xufang said nothing. ¡°Go to sleep, it¡¯s late.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± ¡°Goodnight.¡± ¡°Goodnight.¡± Finally, Jiang Zhi sent an emoticon he had saved from Xue Baoyi, ¡°As long as you¡¯re obedient, I¡¯ll buy you a ¡®gai¡¯.¡± Zhou Xufang replied with a period. Then the chat did not continue. Jiang Zhi had wanted to talk more, but when he thought about Zhou Xufang having to do so many jobs and even moving bricks, he didn¡¯t want to delay her sleep. He stared at that period. The chat background was her picture, obtained from the hair salon owner. She rarely took photos; her expression was blank, her eyes empty, her face displaying the original expression pack¡ª¡±Who am I, where am I, what am I going to do?!¡± The room was dark, and Ah Wan came in to see a beam of mobile phone light illuminating his boss¡¯s enchantingly beautiful face in the middle of the night, like a glamorous female ghost. He didn¡¯t know when his boss had developed the habit of staying up late. Ah Wan friendly reminded him, ¡°Boss, aren¡¯t you going to sleep? It¡¯s past ten.¡± He was still staring at his phone, ¡°How did the investigation go?¡± ¡°Miss Zhou doesn¡¯t appear to have any properties registered in her name, nor is the house registered under her account.¡± Her bank savings were also pity-inducingly meager. Jiang Zhi was silent, his finger lingering on the WeChat page, caressing Zhou Xufang¡¯s pitch-black profile picture. If she really was a professional errand runner, it was normal not to find anything. But how could he explain the injury on her arm the other time? And how could he explain her running across the street to him in just three seconds today? He was utterly clueless. Ah Wan felt it was time to express his thoughts, ¡°Boss, do you suspect Miss Zhou is that scum who abducted you?¡± His tone was certain, ¡°You must be mistaken, Miss Zhou is such a high-principled and righteous person, how could she be a scum?¡± Jiang Zhi looked up, the light of the phone casting a cold white glow on his face, ¡°Stop calling her ¡®scum.''¡± Hah! Protective much! Hmph! Ah Wan didn¡¯t want to argue. Jiang Zhi put down his phone and went back to lying on the hospital bed, ¡°Pass a message to the old lady.¡± ¡°What message?¡± ¡°Just say,¡± his tone had a hint of mischief, ¡°just say there¡¯s always someone sinister trying to kill me.¡± And then? Was he expecting the old lady to help take down the sinister people? Ah Wan was about to ask for clarification. Jiang Zhi continued instructing, ¡°Then add another line.¡± ¡°What line?¡± His tone was languid, probably from the fatigue and sickness, soft and gentle, ¡°Mention that you¡¯re no match in strength or combat, and also tell the old lady that there¡¯s a formidable professional errand runner in Imperial City recently, highly skilled, powerful in execution, a bodyguard a hundred times stronger than you.¡± Ah Wan, who was no match in strength or combat, said, ¡°¡­¡± He really wanted to curse. Hold it in, just hold it in. Couldn¡¯t hold back anymore! Damn it! Chapter 67 - Chapter 67: 067: The Wife-Protecting Maniac is now online Chapter 67: 067: The Wife-Protecting Maniac is now online The next day, the heavy snow had paused, leaving the ground blanketed in white. Zhou Xufang had a shoot at nine, but she left the house just after seven, wearing a huge down jacket and a cotton hat that covered her ears and chin, leaving only her nose and eyes exposed. The ground was covered with thick snow, making a crunching sound as she walked on it. She jumped up and down in her snow boots, once, and then again. ¡°Miss Zhou.¡± Someone called out to her from behind. Zhou Xufang stood still, not jumping anymore. ¡°Miss Zhou.¡± She turned around and saw a round-faced, round-bellied old man: ¡°Are you calling me?¡± The old man chuckled with glee. ¡°Yes, yes.¡± He had his hands tucked into his sleeves, probably to ward off the cold, hunching and looking chubby, very cute and kind, ¡°I¡¯m the new security guard around here. If you run into any trouble, Miss Zhou, just come and find me, okay?¡± The previous security guard had been scared off by her bloodshot eyes. ¡°Okay.¡± Zhou Xufang kept her head down, avoiding eye contact, ¡°Thank you.¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã? The old man looked at her with affectionate eyes, waving his hand, his eyes smiling so hard they became thin slits, ¡°Well, you head to work. Be careful on the road.¡± Zhou Xufang went on her way, head buried. After walking four or five meters¡ª She turned back, ¡°Uncle, what¡¯s your surname?¡± After just a short time outside, the old man¡¯s nose had turned red from the cold. It was slightly comical but cute. He blew into his hands and said, ¡°My surname is Fang.¡± Oh, another Fang. Zhou Xufang thought all Fangs were good people: ¡°Goodbye.¡± She bid the old man a polite farewell, then continued trudging through the snow to the set. Uncle Fang watched Zhou Xufang leave with a fond look, then rubbed his hands together and ran back to the security room, tucking a hand warmer into his pocket and pulling out his phone to make a call. ¡°Hello, my girl.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve seen her, I¡¯ve seen her.¡± ¡°She sure is pretty.¡± ¡°Oh, my memory, I forgot to give her the AD calcium milk.¡± When Zhou Xufang arrived at the film city, it was not yet half-past eight. She was early, and there weren¡¯t many people on set. ¡°Xu Fang, Xu Fang.¡± From a distance, she saw Fang Lixiang waving at her with a soup dumpling that he had taken a bite of in his hand. Zhou Xufang kept her hands in the sleeves of her down jacket, swinging left and right, acknowledging him. Ahead, the path was narrow, and an actress from another crew came walking toward them, exuding a strong presence with several assistants following her. Her dress was gorgeous, with a long train spreading over the ground. As they got closer, Zhou Xufang moved aside into the corner, not wanting to step on the beautiful dress. Hiss! The actress¡¯s dress nevertheless got torn with a large rip. Zhou Xufang glanced at it, then kept her head down and walked on. ¡°Hey.¡± Hey? Was she calling her? Zhou Xufang turned around. The actress had delicately done makeup, especially her eyeliner, attractively accentuated, but she had a stern look on her face: ¡°Are you blind?¡± Big eyes, small mouth, high nose bridge, sharp chin, a beautiful face. Zhou Xufang felt like she had seen this person before. Oh, she remembered now¡ªlast time when her computer had a virus, a pop-up with a scantily clad girl winking appeared, resembling this actress. Of course, Zhou Xufang, who rarely surfed the internet, didn¡¯t know about the phrase ¡°plastic surgery internet celebrity face.¡± Zhou Xufang, not comfortable under scrutiny, adjusted her cotton hat, ¡°I didn¡¯t step on it.¡± But the other woman wouldn¡¯t listen or believe her, lifting her sharp chin, ¡°If it wasn¡¯t you who stepped on it, did it tear itself?¡± Yet she really hadn¡¯t stepped on it. Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t want to argue and turned to leave. The actress suddenly raised her voice, ¡°Did I say you could leave?¡± Zhou Xufang frowned, a bit annoyed. Behind her, the actress¡¯s assistant stepped forward and called out, ¡°Sister Ying.¡± ¡°Which film crew does this woman belong to?¡± she asked, pointing at Zhou Xufang. The assistant replied, ¡°I¡¯ve never seen her before.¡± ¡°Get her out of here.¡± The ancient street from the Republic era was rented out by the ¡°Wilderness¡± film crew. At this time, there were hardly any people around and no onlookers to worry about, so the actress¡¯s assistant unhesitatingly moved forward to drag Zhou Xufang away. Suddenly¡ª A soup dumpling came flying, hitting the female assistant smack in the forehead, the soup splashing everywhere. Then came a carefree shout, ¡°Do you own this movie town?¡± Fang Lixiang arrived, her mouth still stuffed with a soup dumpling. First, she glanced at the actress. Damn, a member of the Luo Family! Don¡¯t panic! Fang Lixiang instantly calmed down, then pulled a mask out of her cotton jacket pocket, put it on Zhou Xufang, and whispered instructions to her, ¡°Xu Fang, cover your face quickly. If she asks who you are, don¡¯t you dare tell.¡± She couldn¡¯t afford to get pegged by the Luo Family! ¡°And who might you be?¡± Such arrogance, if not from a Miss Luo, then who? The Luo Family had many daughters in this generation, but only two from respectable backgrounds, Luo Qinghe and Luo Yinghe. Both were born with a silver spoon, but their temperaments were worlds apart. Luo Qinghe managed the household affairs, known for her shrewd intelligence, while Luo Yinghe entered the entertainment industry, notorious for her arrogant and domineering behavior. Fang Lixiang naturally recognized this face, altered to look like a snake spirit, but was she the type to bow to evil forces? Of course not! ¡°I am who I am, my name and surname remain unchanged,¡± Fang Lixiang declared confidently, ¡°I am Ullala Li Xiang!¡± Ullala Li Xiang had previously been an extra, and although she¡¯d recently risen to the rank of Weaver, her movie hadn¡¯t been released yet, and she was not famous. Luo Ying evidently didn¡¯t recognize her from Adam. ¡°So you want to stand up for her, huh?¡± Luo Ying crossed her arms, provoking, ¡°Fine, then you can pay for this dress.¡± This dress¡­ It looked really expensive. Fang Lixiang turned to look at Zhou Xufang. To avoid revealing Zhou Xufang¡¯s identity, she didn¡¯t call her by name but instead used a makeshift codename, ¡°Huifanala Shifang, did you step on it?¡± Huifanala Shifang shook her head. Fang Lixiang figured out the situation¡ªit was a sham, someone looking for a pretext. She was a bit of an idealist, quick to step in when she saw injustice. Rolling up her sleeves and stomping her feet, she spoke with a strong Beijing accent, ¡°I¡¯ll pay for your grandpa.¡± Luo Ying¡¯s face immediately changed color. The actress¡¯s assistant, emboldened by her status, stepped forward to teach her a lesson, ¡°You¡ª¡± Fang Lixiang gave a deceptive smile, ¡°Let me tell you, I¡¯ve got a fierce temper, so you¡¯d better not try to boss me around.¡± But the female assistant insisted on pointing at her forehead, ¡°Our Sister Ying says she has to pay, what¡¯s it to you!¡± This is a civilized society. One should be civilized. Never mind. Fang Lixiang grinned, displaying a thuggish smile, ¡°Told you I have a hot temper.¡± Then she grabbed the assistant by the hair, ¡°Pay for your grandma¡¯s pay!¡± Rewinding five minutes earlier. Ah Wan rushed into the lounge, hurried and frenetic. ¡°Boss!¡± ¡°Boss!¡± Leaning against the wall, Ah Wan gasped like a dog. Jiang Zhi, half-asleep, rubbed her eyes, ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± ¡°There¡¯s a commotion outside.¡± Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t sleep well last night and woke up in an extraordinarily foul mood, her tone particularly irritable, ¡°Why come to me? Can¡¯t you call the police?¡± Ah Wan scratched his head, ¡°But it seems like Miss Zhou is leading it.¡± Just as he finished¡ª Jiang Zhi suddenly stood up so quickly she coughed for a while, ¡°With whom?¡± ¡°The second young mistress of the Luo Family.¡± That Luo Family was famously difficult to deal with. Chapter 68 - Chapter 68: 068: Domineering Mr. Jiang Spoils His Wife (Part 1) Chapter 68: 068: Domineering Mr. Jiang Spoils His Wife (Part 1) The Luo family is notorious for their obstinacy. Of course, our Ullala Li Xiang didn¡¯t just eat plain vegetables either. Ah Wan was dumbfounded when she saw that frail-looking girl clutching a handful of hair, her ruthless character betrayed by her few words, ¡°Compensate your grandma for compensation!¡± Having spat out the threat, she was ready to start a fight! Suddenly, there was a snap. It was the sound of a milk carton¡¯s ring pull. Fang Lixiang, with her sharp ears, froze midway through pulling hair. Stiff-necked, she turned around, ¡°Dir, Director.¡± There were rules on the film set; troublemakers were to get lost. Caught in the act against the rules, Fang Lixiang felt guilty, gasping and trembling, ¡°That¡­ it¡¯s, it¡¯s a misunderstanding.¡± Everyone looked over in unison to see the director holding the milk carton between two slender fingers, not pouring it into his mouth but playfully swinging it back and forth. His tall figure was draped in a long black coat that reached his ankles. Standing there, he seemed like a perfect edited picture from a magazine with added filters, with the vast white snow as his backdrop. Out of the picture he stepped, lips red and teeth white, with a demeanor that was so arresting. Seven parts bewitching, three parts delicate. Add to that the leisurely grace cultivated by his wealthy upbringing; truly undetachable from one¡¯s gaze. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï??¦Ï.?¦Ï He spoke with a lazy drawl, ¡°First, catch your breath for me.¡± His gaze had fallen on the face under the earmuff hat, his iridescent pupils reflecting the small face. Fang Lixiang, seeing the director wasn¡¯t angry and assuming he wasn¡¯t there to find fault, suddenly felt emboldened, straightened her back, and calmed her tumultuous heart and rash breaths. Jiang Zhi was the epitome of calm, ¡°Tell me, what happened?¡± Luo Yinghe glanced at Jiang Zhi just once and immediately felt intimidated. Her eyes darted about, void of the brash confidence from moments before. On the contrary, Fang Lixiang now had someone defending her, and she was righteous indignation personified as she pointed at Luo Yinghe and started to wail, ¡°Her dress got ruined, and she insists that it was stepped on by our Huifanala Shifang. She demands compensation, and we refuse to pay, she wouldn¡¯t let us leave. I could tolerate the verbal humiliation, but then,¡± she blinked, and tears started streaming down, ¡°she wanted to hit us¡­ wuuuu wuuuu¡­¡± Everyone: ¡°¡­¡± Indeed, the Weaver¡¯s acting skills were impeccable. Jiang Zhi took a sip of milk and casually tossed the carton in a parabola into the bin three meters away, then raised his eyebrows to look at Luo Yinghe, ¡°Is that so?¡± Luo Yinghe had met Jiang Zhi before, recognized him from when they were young. During her girlhood yearnings, like her older cousin, she harbored a crush on this handsome young man until that year when the Luo family mansion burned down. The lowly foster son died in that fire. At that time, Jiang Zhi was only sixteen, dragging a body weakened by chronic illness to the Luo family¡¯s doorstep and set fire to it. No one dared to stop him, and they watched as the young man with fiery red eyes smashed the ancestral plaques of the Luo family into dust. Since then, Jiang Zhi and the Luo family were at odds. Luo Yinghe couldn¡¯t muster any romantic feelings toward him any longer; fear was all that was left. She knew very well that if Jiang Zhi got tough, he wouldn¡¯t hesitate to do anything. She stuttered in response to Jiang Zhi, ¡°It, it was her who stepped on it.¡± He walked forward with a saunter, casual in his demeanor, ¡°They are both from my crew. It¡¯s just a dress, I will compensate.¡± ¡°It wasn¡¯t me who stepped on it,¡± Zhou Xufang who had been silent the whole time repeated, ¡°It wasn¡¯t me who stepped on it.¡± Jiang Zhi walked up to her, blocking the line of sight of the people behind him, and patted her hat, ¡°No worries, our film set isn¡¯t short of money.¡± His voice was very light. Zhou Xufang was mollified by him and didn¡¯t speak up again. Jiang Zhi turned back around, ¡°Name your price.¡± Luo Yinghe didn¡¯t dare to take Jiang Zhi¡¯s money; she lowered her tone and posture by several degrees, ¡°Never mind, no need for compensation.¡± Never mind? On his turf, after bullying his people, it could be settled just like that? Jiang Zhi covered his mouth, coughing lightly twice, ¡°You said the compensation was needed, and now you are the one saying it¡¯s not? Is my film crew without its own authority?¡± Luo Yinghe lost color. Lifting his eyes, reddened by the cough, he still carried a feeble look, but his ink-black pupils were like flames glistening, killing without being seen. ¡°Name your price,¡± he commanded. Luo Yinghe was truly panicked, ¡°Eight hundred thousand.¡± ¡°Zhao Zhong, give her the money,¡± Jiang Zhi instructed. Finished, Vice Director Zhao grandly wrote a check for eight hundred thousand yuan on the spot and handed it to Luo Yinghe¡¯s assistant. Luo Yinghe¡¯s face turned pale, without lingering any longer, she lifted her skirt and left. ¡°Wait a second.¡± Her steps halted, her spine chilled. From behind, a slow, steady voice came through, ¡°Money¡¯s paid now, does this dress belong to me?¡± Luo Yinghe was horrified, ¡°Jiang Zhi¡ª¡± He flicked his misty blue short hair, ¡°Take it off.¡± In front of everyone, he ruthlessly embarrassed her. Luo Yinghe¡¯s face went from white to red, the ultimate in humiliation. She clenched her teeth and said, ¡°I will have someone send it over in a moment.¡± Jiang Zhi remained unphased, his peach blossom eyes radiated the chill of three thousand feet of snow, ¡°No, take it off for me right now.¡± This was the first time Zhou Xufang heard Jiang Zhi speak to someone in such a way. He rarely referred to himself as ¡°Crown Prince,¡± and though he had a bad temper, he was taught noble etiquette by the Jiang family; he rarely lost his grace. But still, he was a scion of a prominent family, and when that authority was wielded, who would dare to defy it? No one dared to step forward to persuade him. Even Fang Lixiang, audacious as she was in society, held her breath, thinking to herself, the Crown Prince was indeed the Crown Prince; no ordinary person could rival his presence despite his frail health. The several assistants with Luo Yinghe didn¡¯t dare to make a sound. Jiang Zhi was running out of patience, ¡°Aren¡¯t you taking it off yet? Should I find someone to help?¡± ¡°I, I,¡± Luo Ying stammered, already sweating profusely, her hands gripping the dress; she had to swallow her humiliation and admit, ¡°I was wrong. Please show mercy and let this one go.¡± What use was her unwillingness? The Luo family might be rich and powerful, but next to the Jiang family, they were insignificant. Today, she had to submit whether she liked it or not. Jiang Zhi stood with crossed arms in front of Zhou Xufang, ¡°Where did you go wrong?¡± ¡°The dress, the dress was torn by the stones on the ground,¡± she was just in a bad mood and wanted to vent her frustration on someone, not expecting them to be from Jiang Zhi¡¯s crew. ¡°Now that you know what you did wrong, leave the money. And,¡± he stepped aside, grabbing Zhou Xufang¡¯s hat, pulling her forward, ¡°bow deeply at ninety degrees and apologize sincerely to her.¡± Chapter 69 - Chapter 69: 069: Xu Fang is intrigued Chapter 69: 069: Xu Fang is intrigued ¡°Bow 90 degrees again and apologize to her sincerely.¡± Damn you, Jiang Zhi! Luo Yinghe¡¯s palms were clenched so tight they almost bled. Step by step, very slowly, she approached Zhou Xufang, bent down, and bit her lip, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, it was my fault.¡± Zhou Xufang was totally confused the entire time, not knowing what to say, and turned her head to look at Jiang Zhi. This was the first time someone had stood up for her. She didn¡¯t know what to do. Jiang Zhi curled the corners of his mouth, grabbed her hat, and hid her behind him, his gaze sweeping over the crowd, ¡°Taking photos is fine, but if you dare to leak them to the media,¡± He didn¡¯t finish the threat¡ªeveryone could weigh the consequences themselves. In the end, he waved his hand, gasping for air. The previous aura was gone, replaced by a listless air, ¡°Alright, disperse now.¡± Luo Yinghe was helped away by two assistants, and the crowd wiped their cold sweat and scattered like birds and beasts. ¡°Xu Fang,¡± Jiang Zhi turned back, ¡°Come with me.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï Zhou Xufang obediently followed him. Fang Lixiang was left behind, contemplating life. ¡°I feel,¡± Fang Lixiang stroked her chin, ¡°Director Jiang seems to have taken a fancy to our Fang.¡± Otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t be so protective of her. Next to her, Vice Director Zhao chimed in, ¡°Impossible, Director Jiang is gay.¡± Fang Lixiang immediately retorted righteously, ¡°Even gay people need to continue their family line, right?¡± She was really worried that Zhou Xufang would be tricked by a gay man to ensure the continuation of the Jiang family line. Zhou Xufang was led by Jiang Zhi to the resting room to ensure the continuation of the line¡­ Ugh, to be questioned alone. Jiang Zhi closed the door and fetched a can of milk for Zhou Xufang, asking her, ¡°Did you suffer any loss?¡± ¡°No,¡± she said, ¡°Thank you.¡± She knew Jiang Zhi had just been trying to stand up for her, which was why he was so tough on Luo Yinghe. Jiang Zhi really was a great guy. He opened the can of milk before handing it to her, ¡°In the future, if you encounter a similar situation, don¡¯t just bear it. If you can win, fight; if you can¡¯t, come find me.¡± Zhou Xufang took a sip of milk, ¡°If I break something, I¡¯ll have to compensate.¡± She was strong, and once she started, it was hard to stop and would surely end up paying a lot in medical bills. But Jiang Zhi said, ¡°Why be afraid, the crew will reimburse you.¡± Go ahead and fight! Even if she was a professional errand runner and injured someone badly, he could take care of it for her. Zhou Xufang was moved, her usually cold gaze turned warm. She nodded vigorously, ¡°Okay.¡± Jiang Zhi was really nice! Not realizing he had been handed a kindness card, Jiang Zhi was soothed by her obedience and brought a box of cotton candy from the cupboard, placing it on the coffee table, ¡°Take this home to eat.¡± In Zhou Xufang¡¯s memory, no one had ever been this nice to her. She felt warmth in her eyes, an odd feeling, and she rubbed them with her hand. Suddenly, she felt an intense desire to be good to Jiang Zhi, to really take care of him, but Jiang Zhi came from a wealthy background, he had everything, and she didn¡¯t know what she could offer him. After some thought, she asked, ¡°Have you finished the eggs I gave you?¡± ¡°Not yet.¡± He hadn¡¯t eaten any of them; they were all stored in the wine cellar of his villa, waiting for a while before he would donate the egg whites and keep the shells. Zhou Xufang said, ¡°Then let me know when you¡¯ve finished them, and I¡¯ll buy more for you.¡± If only Jiang Zhi were a bit poorer, then she could buy him a house, a car, a diamond watch. But Jiang Zhi was easy to please, a few eggs were enough to make his cheeks blush with joy, and he nodded hastily in agreement. Then Zhou Xufang stopped talking, planning the amount of eggs to bring next time. After sitting a while, she finished a can of milk, ¡°Then I¡¯ll be going.¡± She bent over to pick up the box of cotton candy. Jiang Zhi suddenly covered his mouth and coughed, ¡°Cough cough cough cough¡­¡± Zhou Xufang paused, then sat back down, ¡°Do you always cough so severely in the winter?¡± He slumped on the sofa, looking wilted and weak, ¡°Mhm.¡± ¡°Can¡¯t it be cured?¡± she asked, Fang Lixiang had told her that the Jiang family was in the pharmaceutical business. He lay there with a misty fog in his eyes from the coughing, his skin pale, lips red, and his eyes brimming with a fragile charm laced with a hint of seductiveness. He said, ¡°Can¡¯t be cured at the moment.¡± Zhou Xufang grew anxious, ¡°Then what should we do?¡± What should they do indeed? Jiang Zhi weakly convinced her, ¡°Just pat me on the back, that will make it better.¡± Pat on the back? She was afraid she would pat him to his last breath. She hesitated. ¡°Cough cough cough cough¡­¡± Jiang Zhi coughed more violently, looking at her with watery eyes, appearing utterly helpless. Zhou Xufang¡¯s heart immediately turned soft, and she set the box of cotton candy down, moved closer, stiffly placed her hand on Jiang Zhi¡¯s chest, and then didn¡¯t move for several seconds. Then she lifted her hand and gently lowered it, patting him slowly and softly¡­ She almost held her breath, fearing that she might use too much force and hurt him. Her actions and expression were so earnest they bordered on reverence. Jiang Zhi looked up and could see her face, so close, her presence enveloping him, invading without restraint. ¡°Your face is so red,¡± Zhou Xufang stared at his face, leaning in closer, ¡°Do you have a fever?¡± He gasped for breath, his hand sweaty, his fingers involuntarily curling up, ¡°You¡ªyou feel it.¡± Zhou Xufang had strong defenses. But for some reason, Jiang Zhi had become the exception. She had no guard up against him, the coldness and desolation in her eyes gone, leaving only Jiang Zhi¡¯s reflection. As if compelled, she laid her hand on Jiang Zhi¡¯s forehead. She didn¡¯t immediately remove her hand, noting, ¡°It¡¯s very hot.¡± Could he be running a fever? Should she call a doctor? As she was thinking, Jiang Zhi suddenly looked up. Before she could withdraw her hand, his lips were pressed to her palm. Boom! A firework exploded in her head. Dazed for three seconds, she abruptly retreated but tripped over the leg of the sofa and staggered, landing on the floor with a thump. Chapter 70 - Chapter 70: 070: A Kiss-Induced Sickness Chapter 70: 070: A Kiss-Induced Sickness She jerked back, but her foot got caught on the sofa leg, and she stumbled before landing flat on her rear on the floor. Then¡ª With her cheeks sporting two patches of ¡°highland red,¡± her mouth slightly open and her gaze vacant, her kissed hand remained motionless, held aloft as if frozen. Adorable overload! Wanting to kiss her again. Jiang Zhi licked his lips and dragged the beast raging within him back into its cage, but he couldn¡¯t quite contain the timid spring hues dancing in his eyes. ¡°Ahem¡­¡± He feigned a cough, his eyes brimming with peach blossom allure, like well-mixed watercolor too stunning to contain, unable to suppress the smile tugging at his lips. He rose and crouched down beside Zhou Xufang. With both hands reaching out, he picked her up like a child, bundled her up, placed her on the couch, then crouched before her to gaze up at her face. She, on the other hand, was like a statue, not even blinking. Jiang Zhi¡¯s tiger teeth showed as he laughed, his ears reddening, yet his gaze was unflinching, intensely staring at her, ¡°Why so careless, did you hurt yourself?¡± Her expression remained dazed, the kissed hand still stiff, but upon closer inspection, her five fingers slightly curled. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.?? Jiang Zhi, worrying her hand might cramp, pressed it down and poked her cheek with a finger, ¡°Gone silly?¡± She gazed foolishly at him, her face growing redder and redder¡­ Click. The door was suddenly pushed open, followed by the heavily accented Beijing dialect. ¡°Brother Zhi~¡± This offbeat person could be none other than Second Young Master Xue. This startling interruption snapped Zhou Xufang out of it; she leapt up, her knee accidentally striking Jiang Zhi and sending him flying. Thud. Jiang Zhi landed on the carpet, his hand knocking over a box on the coffee table, showering him with marshmallows. Zhou Xufang crouched, grabbed a couple of packets, and bolted. Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± Now it was his turn to be dumbfounded. ¡°Tsk tsk tsk.¡± Xue Baoyi glanced at the swiftly departing girl, ¡°Brother Zhi, what mischievous act were you attempting that scared the poor lady so?¡± He casually picked up a bag of marshmallows, about to open it¡ª Jiang Zhi snatched it back, still sitting on the carpet, and despite coughing, he started collecting the marshmallows back into the box. ¡°Ah Wan.¡± Ah Wan, hearing his call, entered. He steadied himself on the coffee table, ¡°Take this box of candies to Zhou Xufang.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Xue Baoyi¡¯s eyes nearly rolled back in exasperation, really wanting to hit someone, but seeing Jiang Zhi coughing, with his peach blossom eyes and tender pale face, his inherent compassion couldn¡¯t help but swell. That¡¯s him, can¡¯t stand to see a beauty suffer. Well, he forgave him. Xue Baoyi sat down, a leg casually draped over the other, giving some advice to Jiang Mei Ren, the little virgin, ¡°Your girl is clearly naive; don¡¯t be too aggressive, or you¡¯ll scare her off.¡± See, she¡¯s run off. Jiang Zhi lay down, blowing a tuft of hair from his forehead. Just now, he hadn¡¯t held back. He was a bit restless. ¡°What are you doing here?¡± Xue Baoyi got serious, ¡°Got a role for you in your new movie,¡± he pulled up the information on his phone, showing it to Jiang Zhi, ¡°These three are pretty good, take your pick.¡± The first two were Baoguang staples, one a film queen, the other a top actress, but the last one was a newcomer. Jiang Zhi swiped to the last page. Xue Baoyi took a glance, ¡°Don¡¯t you want to think it over?¡± He was a bit troubled, why he had chosen her, ¡°This girl is a bit wild, hard to handle.¡± Especially when playing video games¡ªoutrageously fierce, her insults unmatched, not repeating a single one in half an hour. But, to be fair, the girl had acting talent, an unpolished gem. Jiang Zhi indolently withdrew his hand, ¡°Her.¡± This girl, her earlier hair pulling was just perfect, promising. The promising Lixiang was now eating soup dumplings, stuffing one after another, face shiny with oil. Beside her, Zhou Xufang clutched two packets of pink marshmallows, her head down, still as a rock. Fang Lixiang finished the last dumpling, ¡°Xu Fang.¡± The ¡®rock¡¯ didn¡¯t budge. Fang Lixiang called out again, ¡°Xu Fang.¡± The ¡®rock¡¯ lifted her head, ¡°Huh?¡± Fang Lixiang noticed something was off, ¡°Why are you so distracted, did Director Jiang do something to you?¡± She immediately shook her head and clenched her right hand, placing it behind her back, ¡°No!¡± What¡¯s the matter? Why does it sound like she¡¯s hiding something? Fang Lixiang stared at her, ¡°Why is your face so red?¡± She didn¡¯t know. It was a bit hot. She took off her earmuff hat, still clutching it in her right hand behind her back, and fanned her face with her left hand. ¡°Xu Fang, let me tell you,¡± Fang Lixiang spoke to her in a motherly tone, ¡°you need to be very cautious around Director Jiang.¡± Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t understand, ¡°Why should I be cautious?¡± Fang Lixiang looked around and then leaned in close to Zhou Xufang, whispering, ¡°Isn¡¯t he gay? He¡¯s already twenty-four this year, his family will definitely start pressing him to marry and have kids. A family like the Jiang Family won¡¯t let Jiang Zhi marry a man, so,¡± she said with certainty, ¡°he¡¯ll definitely find a woman to continue his lineage.¡± Zhou Xufang¡¯s fanning paused, then she realized. Oh, so Jiang Zhi wants her to help him continue his lineage. The right hand Jiang Zhi had kissed made her sweat. She wiped it on her body, then said, ¡°I won¡¯t help him continue his lineage.¡± She was a monster herself, how could she bring another little monster into the world. Fang Lixiang was reassured: ¡°You¡¯re really awesome, Fang!¡± Zhou Xufang was still caught up in the matter of continuing lineage, her expression complex. ¡°Oh, there¡¯s something else that¡¯s very important.¡± Fang Lixiang beckoned Zhou Xufang closer. ¡°That Luo Yinghe, you must stay away from her.¡± Fang Lixiang spoke very earnestly, ¡°That evil woman holds grudges, I¡¯m afraid she¡¯ll cause you trouble.¡± Luo Yinghe¡¯s notorious and domineering reputation was known throughout the circle. Zhou Xufang covered her scorching face with her cool hands, trying to cool down: ¡°I understand.¡± But Fang Lixiang still wore a deeply concerned expression. Uncharacteristically serious, she advised Zhou Xufang, ¡°It¡¯s not just Luo Yinghe. Stay away from anyone with the surname Luo.¡± Zhou Xufang asked why. Fang Lixiang¡¯s eyes drifted away: ¡°I heard,¡± she whispered to Zhou Xufang, ¡°people from the Luo Family, they¡¯re all beasts.¡± If they weren¡¯t beasts, why would they even spare a child. ¡°Oh.¡± Zhou Xufang nodded, slightly distracted. Only then did Fang Lixiang notice the sweat on her head, ¡°Why is your face still so red?¡± Zhou Xufang looked blank. ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± She tugged at her collar, ¡°I¡¯m so hot.¡± Fang Lixiang examined her closely and saw that not only her face, but also her ears, neck, and even the skin on her wrists were red. Fang Lixiang hurriedly touched her head. One touch, and it was clear something was seriously wrong! ¡°Vice Director, Fang has a high fever!¡± Vice Director Zhao asked who? Fang Lixiang quickly pulled Zhou Xufang over and asked if there was a doctor with them. Vice Director Zhao saw that it was Zhou Xufang¡ªthe crowd actor that Director Jiang was most concerned about. He quickly had his assistant bring over a thermometer. They took her temperature and were shocked. It was 104 degrees! There was no doctor with the film crew. Fang Lixiang was so anxious she could have jumped, ¡°Fang, hang in there, I¡¯ll call an ambulance right now!¡± Zhou Xufang¡¯s face was as red as blood, but expressionless: ¡°No need.¡± Then, she picked up her backpack, ¡°I¡¯ll just go buy some medicine.¡± She would avoid the hospital if possible, fearing the doctors might find something abnormal. Zhou Xufang took some time off and was about to leave, but Fang Lixiang insisted on going with her. Zhou Xufang just¡­ just ran, ran very fast. Because she was going to buy medicine. She was feeling some discomfort in her heart, scared to go to the hospital and not wanting to risk it, she bought lots of fever medicine and secretly hid to take a dose. But it was useless. Her normal body temperature was only around 68 degrees, and this was the first time it had spiked to 104 degrees. There was a scene today, just in extras there were more than five hundred people. Vice Director Zhao had worked hard to arrange the extras¡¯ positions. Just as the clapperboard sounded¡ª Jiang Zhi called a halt. Vice Director Zhao asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± His gaze moved across the crowd, circling once, and he frowned: ¡°Where¡¯s Zhou Xufang?¡± ¡°¡­¡± Vice Director Zhao was curious, not knowing how the great director could tell from five hundred extras that one was missing: ¡°She¡¯s taken sick leave.¡± Jiang Zhi heard this, stood up from his chair too quickly, even knocking over a nearby thermos: ¡°What¡¯s wrong with her? Is it serious? Where is she now?¡± His peach blossom eyes suddenly flared, the intense glow inside made them hard to look directly at. Vice Director Zhao shuddered: ¡°She, she has a high fever.¡± The rest he didn¡¯t know. Chapter 71 - Chapter 71: 071: Come on, feel it (first update) Chapter 71: 071: Come on, feel it (first update) Vice Director Zhao shivered, ¡°She, she has a high fever.¡± The rest was unknown. Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t ask further, ¡°Filming stops for today.¡± As the big snow approached, the air seemed even colder. Vice Director Zhao hunched his neck, ¡°Bu-but¡ª¡± Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t wait for him to finish speaking, he turned and walked away, ¡°Ah Wan, go start the car.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Everyone was left there, as the director just left, from the producer coordinator to the lead actors, not one dared to stop Jiang Zhi. Vice Director Zhao scratched his head, sighing. Another loss of several million, so annoying! Fifteen minutes later, Ah Wan had the car on the driveway, driving faster than ever before. Jiang Zhi, sitting in the back seat, kept dialing numbers in silence, his handsome face as cold as the long-accumulated snow outside, because he couldn¡¯t get through. Ah Wan felt the atmosphere was somewhat suffocating and thought he should say something to ease the tension. What should he say? Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï???.?¦Ï Of course, he¡¯d talk about the employer¡¯s favorite. ¡°Miss Zhou gave the address to the crew group chat, but it was fake,¡± Ah Wan said casually, as if making small talk. Jiang Zhi kept dialing, not giving any response. Ah Wan cleared his throat, less awkwardly continuing the conversation he started himself, ¡°But no worries, last time we investigated Miss Zhou¡¯s address.¡± Getting carried away, Ah Wan exclaimed, ¡°Miss Zhou is so poor, she¡¯s renting a house! Plus, there¡¯s no one else in that building, the landlord immigrated abroad, and Miss Zhou lives there all quiet by herself.¡± Ah Wan found the landlord quite a character, owning a building and renting out just one apartment. Of course, what Ah Wan didn¡¯t know was that the ¡®landlord¡¯ was fake, and the whole building belonged to Zhou Xufang. Ah Wan was still immersed in pity for the ¡®film-covered¡¯ Miss Zhou, so poor, and couldn¡¯t help feeling heartache, ¡°Boss, I think Miss Zhou is in such poverty, won¡¯t you gift her an apartment?¡± After such ¡®heartfelt¡¯ words, Jiang Zhi finally lifted his eyelids. ¡°Can you shut your mouth?¡± An embarrassed Ah Wan: ¡°¡­¡± Alright, he shut up. Jiang Zhi kept calling Zhou Xu¡¯s phone, over and over, but she wouldn¡¯t answer. He was so anxious he felt like hitting someone. At this point, Zhou Xu was at home trying to sleep but seemed to be suffering from insomnia; she just couldn¡¯t sleep. She got up and measured her temperature with a special material thermometer, 28 degrees. She sighed in relief, crawled out of bed, ordered some takeout, and turned on her computer. ¡°You there?¡± SpongeBob popped up on the screen. Shuangjiang typed back, ¡°Here.¡± Zhou Xu asked her, ¡°Any clue about that car hanging ornament?¡± The computer had voice-to-text software installed, Zhou Xu didn¡¯t have to type, her hands freed, she started to unwrap and eat the two packs of cotton candy she¡¯d picked up from Jiang Zhi. Maybe it was the fever, but she was very hungry and thirsty. She grabbed two cans of milk. Shuangjiang seemed more accustomed to typing, ¡°It¡¯s a Peace Talisman from Lingdu Temple in Imperial City. Many people go there to pray; there¡¯s a registration list, but it¡¯s too long to investigate.¡± ¡°Send me the list.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Suddenly, SpongeBob on the computer screen changed to Zhou Xu¡¯s face, Shuangjiang asked, ¡°Ah Fang, are you sweating?¡± Zhou Xu found the camera on her computer, looked closely, and sure enough, her forehead hair was soaked. She nodded yes and grabbed a couple of tissues to wipe the sweat. ¡°It¡¯s my first time seeing you sweat so much.¡± After all, her body temperature was so low, and it was freezing outside. ¡°I fell ill today.¡± Zhou Xu touched her face, not so hot anymore, but she was still thirsty, so she took another sip of milk, ¡°It¡¯s also my first time having a fever.¡± Shuangjiang was aware of her physical condition and was worried, ¡°Did you take any medicine?¡± ¡°I did.¡± But Zhou Xu wasn¡¯t sure if it was the medicine that worked or if she had recovered on her own. She had a strong recuperative ability, very strong. ¡°You¡¯re not afraid of the cold, how did you suddenly fall ill?¡± Zhou Xu thought about what she did that day, then shook her head blankly, ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± Was there anything else she shouldn¡¯t be exposed to besides Penicillin? She couldn¡¯t figure it out. Shuangjiang was concerned for her, ¡°Do you want to check into a private hospital?¡± Zhou Xu just sat there, suddenly unresponsive. ¡°Ah Fang.¡± She still didn¡¯t move, her gaze fixed somewhere. Shuangjiang stopped typing and switched to synthetic voice, calling her, ¡°Ah Fang, what¡¯s wrong?¡± Zhou Xu¡¯s eyelashes trembled. She moved and said, ¡°I heard Jiang Zhi¡¯s voice.¡± She froze again, listening intently, ¡°He¡¯s coughing.¡± She could tell it was Jiang Zhi by the coughing sounds? ¡°How could Jiang Zhi be here, you must have heard wrong¡ª¡± But in front of the computer, Zhou Xu¡¯s figure was no longer there; in a teleportation, she was gone. Shuangjiang was a bit worried, feeling like Zhou Xu¡¯s soul had been hooked away. At the front of Building Seventeen in Yuquan Bay, Ah Wan was sticking to a door at the staircase entrance, straining his ears, but no, he heard nothing. Ah Wan was puzzled, muttering, ¡°This is the building, right? Why is the door locked?¡± Jiang Zhi left in such a hurry, thinly dressed, the wind was strong, ruffling his blue, foggy short hair into a mess. He coughed while pushing Ah Wan away from the door with his foot. ¡°Cough cough cough¡­ move away.¡± Ah Wan moved to the side. Jiang Zhi raised his hand to knock on the door¡ª Click. The door suddenly opened on its own, and then Jiang Zhi saw the face he¡¯d been longing for. Zhou Xu wore a hoodie covered by a down coat reaching her ankles, with the Zipper undone. She didn¡¯t wear a hat, her hair just long enough to reach her shoulders, messy and fluffy from sleep, her face very pale but her eyes very dark. She was looking at Jiang Zhi with eyes bright like stars in the desert. ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± Jiang Zhi was still stunned. She leaned against the door frame, looking up at him, ¡°Why are you here?¡± Jiang Zhi¡¯s gaze rested on the pink rabbit-eared slippers beneath her feet for a few seconds, then back to her. Without explaining why he was there, he reached out and placed his hand on her forehead. Zhou Xu was taken aback. Jiang Zhi switched from the palm to the back of his hand, again touching her forehead, ¡°Why are you so cold?¡± Wasn¡¯t it a fever? Chapter 72 - Chapter 72: 072: First Kiss, Here Goes (Second Update) Chapter 72: 072: First Kiss, Here Goes (Second Update) ¡°Why is it so cold?¡± Shouldn¡¯t you have a fever? Zhou Xufang blinked her eyes, blinked again, and staggered backward. She buried her head, staring at the rabbit head on her shoe, ¡°My fever has already subsided.¡± Outside, the heavy snow fluttered down, the hexagonal snowflakes landing on his hair, ¡°Have you been to the hospital?¡± Zhou Xufang shook her head, ¡°I¡¯ve taken medicine.¡± The wind was strong, blowing against his tender neck, quickly turning it red. He looked away, coughed twice, leaned on the door to catch his breath, and said, ¡°I¡¯ll take you to the hospital.¡± Zhou Xufang refused to go. Jiang Zhi furrowed his brows in anger, calling her by her full name, ¡°Zhou Xufang,¡± he wanted to scold her for not taking care of herself, but he still couldn¡¯t bear to be harsh on her. The words lightened on his lips, and after much strain, he managed to choke out two awkward words, ¡°Be good.¡± Be good. It was the first time Zhou Xufang heard such pleasant words, like the curly-haired old lady next door cooing at her newborn grandson, incredibly gentle, incredibly loving. She exhaled a breath of warm air, feeling as if her recently lowered body temperature was making a comeback, a bit warm. She gathered her hair scattered around her neck and pulled it back, saying, ¡°I don¡¯t need to go to the hospital. I¡¯m very healthy, completely recovered.¡± Disobedient again. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã¦Ï Unable to scold or beat her, Jiang Zhi found himself at a loss, ¡°Fine, we won¡¯t go to the hospital.¡± Then he¡¯d have to stay by her side. He brushed the snow off his shoulder, coughed a few times, ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to invite me in?¡± Zhou Xufang blocked the doorway and didn¡¯t move aside, her nails subconsciously scratching the door, too hard, leaving behind marks. She frowned in thought, then showed a troubled expression, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, my home can¡¯t entertain guests.¡± He was rejected. He! Was! Actually! Rejected! Jiang Zhi licked his lips, silent for a long time, then grabbed her wrist, ¡°Then come with me.¡± She refused him again, ¡°I can¡¯t.¡± And then, she remained immovable. Jiang Zhi exerted force, damn it¡­ he couldn¡¯t budge her! He was about to explode with anger! Still gripping her wrist, refusing to let go, pulling with all his might. Zhou Xufang gently withdrew her hand, really, it was gentle. Jiang Zhi stumbled from her pull, his shoulder banging against the door. Zhou Xufang immediately apologized, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, did I hurt you?¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± He turned his head away, not wanting to say a word, or he¡¯d end up being a fool. He seemed mad. Zhou Xufang felt very guilty. ¡°Ah Wan, could you please excuse us.¡± She looked at Jiang Zhi, ¡°I have something to tell you.¡± Jiang Zhi glanced at Ah Wan, and dismissed him, ¡°Go wait in the car. Don¡¯t come out unless I call you.¡± Ah Wan: ¡°¡­¡± He found his employer obnoxious, as annoying as the petted and arrogant Shuangxi rooster at home. Recently, Shuangxi had been Ms. Song¡¯s favorite, becoming too good for rice and eating only meat. Zhou Xufang led Jiang Zhi to the community square, at the far end there were two swings. She walked over and brushed the snow off one swing with her sleeve. She said to Jiang Zhi, ¡°You sit here.¡± Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t sit, walked over, directly lifted her up, and placed her on the swing, then blushed and crouched in front of her, ¡°I¡¯ll just squat here.¡± He was only mad at her for a few dozen seconds. He couldn¡¯t stay mad anymore. She had only slipped on a pair of slippers to come down, and he, worried that she would be cold, took the scarf from around his neck and wrapped it around her ankles. Zhou Xufang sat on the swing, swinging back and forth, her thoughts seemingly adrift. This wasn¡¯t the first time Jiang Zhi had held her. She had taken a long time to snap back to reality, and she didn¡¯t know what was wrong with her. All her usual defenses, her instinctive reflex to guard herself, had disappeared in Jiang Zhi¡¯s presence. She would never have allowed herself to be this close to someone else, let alone let someone touch her body. Jiang Zhi was different, he wasn¡¯t like anyone else. ¡°At the film studio,¡± without much thought, she blurted out, ¡°when you kissed my hand, did you do it on purpose?¡± Jiang Zhi squatted beside her swing, looking up at her. ¡°I did it on purpose.¡± ¡°Then why did you kiss me?¡± She had no parents or relatives, and not many friends. Before becoming a professional errand runner, she barely left the house, staying in a dark space cut off from the outside world. No one had taught her how to interact with boys or how to conduct herself in society. However, she had watched television and seen all of Jiang Zhi¡¯s movies. She knew that boys shouldn¡¯t casually kiss girls, not even on the hand. Jiang Zhi, holding onto the swing¡¯s rope, gently rocked it, his peach blossom eyes reflecting her swinging shadow: ¡°You¡¯re asking why I kissed you?¡± He swallowed nervously. ¡°Is it because,¡± Zhou Xufang planted her feet to stop the swing, and looked firmly at Jiang Zhi, ¡°is it because you want me to bear you a child?¡± ¡°¡­¡± Jiang Zhi was taken aback. He had only thought of convincing her to come over, and she was already thinking about having children. His mind involuntarily raced with the thought¡ªhaving children, if with her, wouldn¡¯t be so bad¡­ Zhou Xufang interrupted Jiang Zhi¡¯s whimsical thoughts: ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Jiang Zhi, I can¡¯t continue your family line. If your family truly doesn¡¯t approve of you marrying a boy, you should¡ªjust¡ª¡± Jiang Zhi¡¯s rising smile quickly fell: ¡°I should do what?¡± She wanted to say, you should find someone else to continue the family line. But for some reason, she couldn¡¯t bring herself to say it. However, it seemed Jiang Zhi understood; this girl with an IQ of over 130 was incredibly obtuse, so slow to catch on that he couldn¡¯t afford to take it step by step any longer. All this taking it slow like a boiling frog was nonsense; he couldn¡¯t wait any longer. He grabbed the rope of the swing and gave a strong pull, dragging her right in front of him. His ears flushed red with a mix of shyness and boldness, like a fairy just descended into the mortal world, naively flirting: ¡°You think I kissed you just to find a woman to continue the Jiang family¡¯s bloodline?¡± Wasn¡¯t it? Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t really understand men¡¯s thoughts. The shadows in Jiang Zhi¡¯s gaze sunk and floated: ¡°Zhou Xufang.¡± Zhou Xufang stayed still, feeling like he might be angry. ¡°I¡¯ve told you already, I¡¯m not gay anymore.¡± He looked up, snowflakes on his eyelashes, the world clad in silver, but a hint of pink bloomed at the corners of his eyes, his beautiful pupils reflecting her image. Her beauty was paired with the gentle breeze, a face as lovely as peach blossoms. Jiang Zhi was the most handsome person Zhou Xufang had ever seen. As he gazed at her intently, her mind turned to mush, muddled, and she struggled to keep up, hardly knowing what she was saying: ¡°If you¡¯re not gay, then why do you want me to continue your bloodline?¡± Jiang Zhi inhaled a gust of cold air, which made him cough so hard he nearly spat out blood, and blurted out without thinking: ¡°Who said I want you to continue my bloodline, I¡¯m infertile! Continue what goddamn bloodline!¡± Zhou Xufang, frozen like an ice sculpture: ¡°¡­¡± Jiang Zhi, unable to continue the family line due to infertility: ¡°¡­¡± He was stunned; what had he just said? The air became dreadfully still¡­ After a long pause, Zhou Xufang stuttered out: ¡°You, you, you¡¯re infertile.¡± She fiddled with her fingers, ¡°Sorry, I didn¡¯t mean to poke at your wound, I¡ª¡± Her left hand was grabbed. Jiang Zhi pulled hard, leaned in close, and sealed her incessantly babbling mouth with his. Chapter 73 - Chapter 73: 073: Kissed, hugged, touched, now you should take responsibility. Chapter 73: 073: Kissed, hugged, touched, now you should take responsibility. Jiang Zhi gave a hard tug and immediately moved in to seal her incessantly babbling mouth. Then¡ª She became like an ice sculpture. He stood there dumbstruck. For a whole half-minute, they just stared into each other¡¯s eyes, mouth to mouth, her face and neck flushing red, his face and neck also turning red. Then¡ª There was no then. To put it in Second Young Master Xue¡¯s words, what, were you expecting a chick who¡¯s never even seen an ¡°action movie¡± to turn into a wolf? Besides, this chick had been oppressed in her dreams for so many years. The snow fell heavier and heavier, and in the icy, snowy world, Jiang Zhi¡¯s palms were sweaty, his beautiful peach blossom eyes misty with moisture, blurring all images except for her clear shadow. Her eyelashes trembled incessantly, and her face grew redder and redder. Jiang Zhi had directed quite a few passionate scenes before, the kind where clothes come off, and there¡¯s biting and rolling, but he had never taken much interest in such pure kiss scenes. As a result¡ªhe had no experience. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?¦Ï So, he held Zhou Xufang¡¯s head still, not letting her move, and then on her lips¡ªhe rubbed, and¡ªchafed. Her eyelashes shook even more fiercely, hands pulling on the swing¡¯s rope, pulling harder and harder. Just as Jiang Zhi thought about making another move, with a snap, the swing broke. Zhou Xufang was on top, Jiang Zhi below, and she fell onto him, both of them tumbling into the snow. He instinctively wrapped his arms around her waist, getting a chest full of impact. The wind blew the snow, fluffy white flakes fluttering from her face onto his. She lay stiff and motionless, her face taut, giving him the illusion of holding an ice sculpture. Her fists clenched tight; she was actually holding her breath. Jiang Zhi propped himself up with one hand, poking her face with the other: ¡°Breathe.¡± Oh, breathe. Zhou Xu drew in a deep breath. Jiang Zhi laid himself directly onto the snowy ground, then without struggling, without resisting, let her lie on top of him. The curve of his mouth grew larger and larger until he burst out laughing, his eyes blossoming with thousands upon thousands of peach blossom trees, each flower representing the charming allure of spring. But it was different for Zhou Xu. She sat with a dazed face, taking a long time to figure out her bearings, then she tried to climb off him, but her limbs had no strength at all, and her whole body flopped over, rolling into a snowbank beside them. Jiang Zhi turned over, propped his chin up, and smiled as he watched her. Zhou Xufang felt he was particularly like those fairies in TV dramas that exclusively suck the lifeblood of humans; she scooted back and shrank away, glaring at him: ¡°You, you, you, you¡ª¡± She kept saying ¡°you¡± for a long time but couldn¡¯t utter a complete sentence. Jiang Zhi got up from the ground, squatted down, and moved closer to her: ¡°Want to ask me why I kissed you?¡± Zhou Xufang, using both hands and feet, got up and squatted down, nodding vigorously. The sky was a white expanse, the earth was a white expanse, him and her, drenched by the snow, became white expanses as well, squatting face to face¡ªstill looking like two tender mushrooms. Jiang Mushroom tilted his head, asking Zhou Mushroom: ¡°Have you seen a romance movie?¡± Zhou Mushroom nodded. Jiang Mushroom moved a step closer to her, brushed the snowflakes off her pink bunny slippers with his hand, and looked up: ¡°Do you know what a kiss means?¡± Zhou Mushroom, a little slow, nodded at first but then shook her head, staring blankly at Jiang Mushroom. Then, Jiang Mushroom held Zhou Mushroom¡¯s face with both hands. ¡°It means,¡± His eyes shone like the stars, the bright, clear light reflecting her face. Jiang Zhi said, ¡°Zhou Xufang, I like you.¡± Seven words, resonating profoundly. His hands were icy cold. And her face was burning hot. The clash of cold and heat left her dizzy. Zhou Xufang, I like you¡­ I like you¡­ The wind howled, but she couldn¡¯t hear it anymore, with only Jiang Zhi¡¯s voice in her ears. It was as if her ears were ringing; his words kept reverberating, burrowing in and out. No one had ever expressed liking her before, leading her to believe that no one in this world would ever like her. Then Jiang Zhi said he liked her. She couldn¡¯t help but wonder if there would be someone who would grieve for her should she one day be burned at the stake, or if she were taken to a laboratory to have her organs and blood all taken away¡ªwould there be someone who would miss her then? ¡°Do you understand what I mean?¡± Amid the howling wind, Jiang Zhi¡¯s voice gently, softly twined into her ears. His face flushed, he suppressed all his shyness and spoke earnestly, ¡°Zhou Xufang, I like you. It¡¯s not about sexual orientation or carrying on the family line; it¡¯s just me, Jiang Zhi, liking you, Zhou Xufang.¡± Would you cry if I were burned to death? Suddenly, she wanted to ask him this question, but she didn¡¯t; her body was hot, her throat was dry, she couldn¡¯t make a sound, squatting there motionless. She remained silent, so Jiang Zhi reached out to touch her cheek, red as an apple, and she flinched back. ¡°Don¡¯t move.¡± Jiang Zhi¡¯s hand was still touching her face, and she didn¡¯t move again. He smiled, cocking his head and bringing his handsome face close to her eyes, looking just like that fairy from the television, beginning to seductively charm her. ¡°May I have another kiss, please?¡± Yes, please. She was bewitched and almost spoke out loud. Jiang Zhi wasn¡¯t actually seeking consent; right after asking, he didn¡¯t wait for an answer¡ªhe leaned in, lightly pressed his lips to hers, and even more outrageous, he stuck out his tongue and licked her. That lick¡ª Zhou Xufang was startled once again and, with her eyes wide, immediately pushed him away. Really, it was just a gentle lick¡ª Jiang Zhi fell backward, collapsing into a large mound of snow. Jiang Zhi, who hadn¡¯t yet had his fill of kisses: ¡°¡­¡± He was so unwilling, so angry, so aggrieved: ¡°Zhou Xufang, did you hit me again?!¡± The expression on Zhou Xufang¡¯s flushed face stiffened: ¡°I, I, I¡­ I didn¡¯t.¡± Her tongue was tied! Surely, it was his lick that caused the problem! Zhou Xufang suddenly panicked! Jiang Zhi still sat in the snow, not getting up, accusing her of turning on him after a kiss: ¡°Don¡¯t you feel sorry for me?!¡± He turned his head and began to cough violently. In the swirling snow, the red lips and white teeth of his delicate and beautiful face stood out more than ever, unable to sit up because of the coughing, half-laying in the white expanse, his body facing the wind, tempting and alluring. Zhou Xufang suddenly felt she had gone too far; how could she push Jiang Zhi, who was so fragile, so beautiful, so delicate? She hurried over in her slippers, a worried expression on her face: ¡°Are you okay? Did you get hurt?¡± Jiang Zhi turned his head, humming: ¡°I¡¯m hurt, I can¡¯t get up.¡± Then he extended his delicate hand towards her¡ªthe once wild lion turned into a weak, helpless lamb in an instant, ¡°Help me up.¡± Zhou Xufang¡¯s mind was blank, unable to think. She wiped the sweat from the palm of her hand and reached out to pull him up. But as soon as she extended her hand, Jiang Zhi grabbed it, yanked her towards him, and pulled her into his arms, both tumbling into the snowy heap. Before she could push him away, he feigned weakness and coughed twice: ¡°Don¡¯t push, answer two questions for me first.¡± Zhou Xufang curled into a tiny ball, placing her hands behind her. She truly didn¡¯t want to hurt him inadvertently. Jiang Zhi flipped over, supporting himself on his hands on either side of her waist: ¡°Zhou Xufang, what do you think of me?¡± His presence and his breath bore down on her. Zhou Xufang felt extremely hot, her breathing uneven, panting in short gasps, her face sweaty, and she replied honestly, ¡°You¡¯re very nice.¡± Very nice, indeed. ¡°I¡¯m this nice¡ªdo you want me?¡± He leaned in closer, a thin blush spreading over his ears, ¡°Just nod, and from now on, Jiang Zhi will be yours.¡± His voice was light and soft, the lilt at the end like a hook, ensnaring her spirit. He coaxed her gently. Asking, ¡°Do you want me?¡± Chapter 74 - Chapter 74: 074: If you take me, then you can control me Chapter 74: 074: If you take me, then you can control me Asked, ¡°Do you want me?¡± Do you? The climate at Moon Bay was damp and cold. It took a whole day by boat to reach the nearest land. In the winter, the water would freeze, and there might even be herds of animals migrating over. Most importantly, there was no doctor on the deserted island. If Jiang Zhi were to settle down there with her¡­ She looked serious as she thought for a long while. Her brows relaxed and then furrowed intermittently. After more than ten seconds, her eyes filled with sorrow as she shook her head. She! Shook! Her! Head! She! Didn¡¯t! Want! Him! Jiang Zhi was so angry he wanted to pin her down in the snow and have his way with her. He took a deep breath of the cold air, ¡°Fine.¡± With one hand braced on the outside of her arm, he leaned his body toward her, ¡°Since you don¡¯t want me, I¡¯ve got no choice but to cling to you. Wherever you go, I¡¯ll follow.¡± Anyway, he had set his sights on her. Whether by stealing, robbing, or using any means of trickery and deceit, he had to have her. But no sooner had he finished speaking his unreasonable words¡ª Zhou Xufang crawled out from his squeaky embrace, swiftly propping herself up with her hands, then she was suddenly far from him. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?¦Ï With a flushed yet expressionless face, she said in a very formal tone, ¡°My takeout has arrived, I need to go get my takeout.¡± After that, she turned and ran. ¡°¡­¡± Ran? She actually ran! Jiang Zhi sat on the ground, beginning to question his life. Was he even less important than takeout?! Click. Shuangjiang looked over at the sound. The door opened and Zhou Xufang entered, her head hanging low, despondent, like a rooster that had lost a fight, with bleakness in her eyes and no trace of spirit. Shuangjiang let out a series of beeps. She walked by as if she heard nothing, her soul seemingly adrift, slowly ambling until suddenly, her footsteps halted. The room had been fitted with special soundproofing materials during renovations, so actually, it was quite hard to hear outside noises. But strangely, she could still hear Jiang Zhi talking with Ah Wan. ¡°Boss, why are you sitting in the snow?¡± Ah Wan¡¯s voice was a bit muffled. Jiang Zhi sounded displeased as he snapped at him, ¡°Who told you to get out of the car!¡± Ah Wan responded with a wronged tone, ¡°I saw it was snowing and specially came over to bring you an umbrella.¡± Then, surprised, he asked, ¡°Where¡¯s Miss Zhou? Why did she leave you here alone?¡± Jiang Zhi sounded like he was in a bad temper, ¡°Quick, come help me up.¡± ¡°Ah?¡± Ah Wan seemed puzzled. Jiang Zhi panted and yelled, ¡°I told you to come help me, damn it, cough cough cough¡­ my legs are frozen stiff.¡± Legs frozen stiff? Zhou Xufang¡¯s brow furrowed deeply. Shuangjiang asked her with a synthetic voice, ¡°What¡¯s taking so long?¡± She sat down in front of the computer, her head lowered as she fiddled with the seat cushion, replying, ¡°Oh.¡± Downstairs, the wind howled. ¡°Boss, shall we go back?¡± Whether it was the prolonged exposure to the wind or not, Jiang Zhi¡¯s voice had a nasal sound, ¡°Not going back.¡± Ah Wan then asked, ¡°If we¡¯re not going back, then what are we doing here?¡± In this heavy snow, someone could freeze to death. ¡°Chasing after a girlfriend, haven¡¯t you seen it before?¡± The second half of the sentence was said with some irritation, unclear at whom. ¡°¡­¡± Ah Wan stayed silent for quite a while, before speaking with a motherly tone, ¡°The snow is getting heavier, I¡¯m worried you can¡¯t withstand it.¡± ¡°Cough cough cough¡­ cough cough cough¡­¡± Jiang Zhi coughed for a long time, managing to choke out a single word: ¡°Scram.¡± As if the cold wind had struck his chest, he coughed violently. Could he faint? Zhou Xufang was worried. Shuangjiang asked her, ¡°Has Jiang Zhi left?¡± She placed the takeout she was holding down, replying, ¡°Oh.¡± ¡°What did he say to you?¡± There was something haunting about her. Yet again, she responded, ¡°Oh.¡± Shuangjiang laughed. She had come back, but her soul had not. ¡°Your face is very red.¡± Zhou Xufang grunted in acknowledgement, took off her down jacket and threw it aside, then tugged at the sweatshirt underneath, muttering, ¡°I feel so hot.¡± After speaking, she touched her lip, then bent a corner of her eye with every touch. Shuangjiang asked, ¡°Are you feverish again?¡± She pressed her cool palm against her face for a while, but it was still hot, so she stood up to get a thermometer and measured her temperature. Forty-one degrees. She had fallen sick again. Her body seemed to have gone haywire, one moment as cold as ice and the next blazing like fire. She felt no discomfort, only a heat that made her restless, with a desire to leap and bounce around, to jump into the sky and split the air. Then, with a fierce leap, the ceiling light clanged loudly. Shuangjiang: ¡°¡­¡± She felt that Zhou Xufang was behaving too oddly. ¡°Is there any medicine left at home?¡± Zhou Xufang looked up for a while and fortunately, the lamp Jiang Zhi had given her was not damaged. She was sweating and thirsty, gulping down two cans of milk in one go. She said, ¡°None left.¡± She had consumed all the fever medicine. Moreover, aside from feeling hot, she didn¡¯t seem to feel unwell anywhere else, but¡­ It was so hot. She couldn¡¯t stay put any longer, ¡°I¡¯m going out for a bit.¡± Shuangjiang asked her, ¡°To buy medicine?¡± No. She dressed and donned a black, fluffy hat, saying, ¡°Jiang Zhi¡¯s scarf is still on the floor, I forgot to pick it up.¡± Shuangjiang: ¡°¡­¡± Then, Zhou Xufang vanished from the room in an instant. Shuangjiang felt that during her fever, her speed seemed even faster¡­ At the entrance to building seven, Jiang Zhi was still standing there, with Ah Wan carefully holding an umbrella behind him. ¡°Boss, you¡­¡± Ah Wan paused, trying to hold back, but he couldn¡¯t. He spoke up again, ¡°You¡­¡± And once more, ¡°You¡­¡± Repeatedly starting and stopping, he hadn¡¯t dared to speak his mind. Such indecisiveness was annoying. Jiang Zhi turned and gave him a cold glance, ¡°Is your tongue twisted, or can¡¯t you keep your mouth shut?¡± Ah Wan straightened his tongue to speak, ¡°Did Miss Zhou reject you?¡± Just one sentence. Successfully turned the blossoms in Jiang Zhi¡¯s eyes into ice, freezing to three feet deep, and the light shooting from within was bone-chilling. He said, ¡°Give me the umbrella.¡± Ah Wan shuddered, ¡°Oh.¡± He quickly handed over the umbrella. Jiang Zhi held the umbrella in one hand and brushed snow off his shoulder with the other. His misty blue hair was weighed down until it drooped, his eyes held moist vapor, misting into fog, making his entire appearance seem a lot more obedient and harmless, but¡ª His body was full of hostility, ¡°Move out from under the umbrella.¡± Because he wasn¡¯t allowed to share the umbrella, Ah Wan¡¯s heart suddenly grew cold, ¡°Oh¡­¡± He hugged himself tightly, bracing against the wind and snow, hunched over and shuffled to one side, enduring the torment of the cold. It was so excessive, so heartless, so capricious¡­ As Ah Wan was mentally greeting his employer, the sound of a door came from the stairwell entrance. Oh, the bane to the employer¡¯s existence had arrived. Look at the boss, as his eyes went from winter to spring in an instant, ¡°Why have you come down again?¡± He knew she couldn¡¯t bear to leave him. Zhou Xufang, with a face flushed red, expression serious, ¡°Scarf.¡± Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t understand, ¡°Hmm?¡± She said, ¡°I forgot to pick up the scarf.¡± So, she didn¡¯t come for him? The fingers of the hand clutching the umbrella turned white from gripping so tightly, and the spring in his eyes vanished completely, ¡°So, you don¡¯t bother picking up a living person like me, but you come down to pick up a scarf?¡± His face was red with embarrassment and annoyance, like a newlywed bride. Zhou Xufang hung her head in silence. Not obedient at all! Jiang Zhi was so angered by her that it pained him, and he called out to Ah Wan. ¡°Ah?¡± Jiang Zhi commanded, ¡°You go pick it up.¡± Hmph! You only take it out on me! Dare to do that with Miss Zhou! Using soft tactics on the weak but fearing the wife! After Ah Wan finished grumbling internally, he clutched his shivering self, ¡°Oh.¡± The scarf was picked up. He didn¡¯t look like he would faint either. Zhou Xufang then said, ¡°I¡¯ll go back up.¡± Just as she turned around, Jiang Zhi grabbed her hat, ¡°Won¡¯t you take me with you?¡± He couldn¡¯t be at peace with her going back alone. And also, he wanted to go to her place! Zhou Xufang stopped for a moment and pulled her hat back down, wearing it askew, ¡°You should go home, it¡¯s very cold.¡± She was worried he might fall sick. He was too fragile. Jiang Zhi, still holding the umbrella, continued to stand at the door entrance. The wind was strong, swirling snowflakes chaotically, many of them landing on him. His lips were a delicate shade of pink, which made his face look even paler. He did not insist on entering, remaining quiet and still. He began to cough again, ¡°Not going back, want to see you some more.¡± Zhou Xufang turned around, ¡°Jiang Zhi¡ª¡± He interrupted her, ¡°Didn¡¯t you want to be rid of me? You can only tell me what to do if you accept me.¡± Chapter 75 - Chapter 75: 075: Oh, its mutual affection. Chapter 75: 075: Oh, it¡¯s mutual affection. ¡°You don¡¯t want me, do you? You can only tell me what to do if you take me.¡± Zhou Xufang then fell silent. Jiang Zhi was upset by her again. After a while, she lowered her head and said, ¡°Sorry.¡± Ten seconds had passed, and Jiang Zhi was still angry. He said to her irritably, ¡°Who asked for your apology?¡± The next second he bent down to look at her face and immediately forgot about being angry. ¡°Why is your face still so red? Are you still running a fever?¡± He reached out, wanting to touch her head. She covered her head with her hands and jumped backwards. She was treating him like a thief! ¡°Did you take your medicine?¡± His tone was still annoyed, but he couldn¡¯t bring himself to speak harshly anymore. Zhou Xufang dishonestly nodded, ¡°Yes.¡± Her fever was severe, not only her face, but even her forehead was red. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï???.§ã0 Jiang Zhi was overtaken with worry and insisted, ¡°Forget about me, go and lie down.¡± Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t move, ¡°You go back first.¡± Still trying to send him away even when she was sick like this. What to do? What could he do, he had to put up with it for the girl he had fallen for. ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll go back.¡± He still wasn¡¯t at ease, he peered through the door at her for a long time, inelegantly reminding her like an old woman, ¡°Get some good sleep, and if the medicine doesn¡¯t work, you must go to the hospital.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± He emphasized specially, ¡°You must call me.¡± Zhou Xufang hesitated for a moment, then obediently nodded, ¡°Okay.¡± ¡°Then I¡¯m leaving.¡± And he really left. Jiang Zhi walked slowly, clutching his umbrella at a tortoise¡¯s pace. Zhou Xufang called out to him, ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± He stood in the snow, immediately turning to look at her. The white expanse of snow blurred his vision, the black umbrella was thick with snow, and beneath it, the man¡¯s beautiful eyes were fixed on her; everything else faded to the background, he only gazed at her. Never had anyone shown her such concern, such reluctance to leave. Zhou Xufang lowered her head, her eyes growing warm; she said softly, ¡°Be careful on the road.¡± Jiang Zhi waved to her, ¡°Go back.¡± She closed the door and didn¡¯t go upstairs, standing behind the door, listening to his footsteps growing further and further away. Ah Wan had parked the car on the roadside outside the residential complex, he shook off the snow from his body and gently opened the car door for his frail employer. Jiang Zhi got into the back seat. Ah Wan, covered in snow, didn¡¯t dare bring the cold into the car and used a towel to dry himself off before getting in. ¡°Boss, should we go back to the old house or the apartment?¡± If we stay parked here any longer, we might get a ticket. Jiang Zhi was distracted, he was physically back, but his gaze and soul were still outside: ¡°Just find a parking spot and stay put.¡± ¡°You¡¯re not going back?¡± Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t say a word, fixating on the direction of Zhou Xufang¡¯s home from the car window. Ah Wan felt that his employer¡¯s unrequited love had come on a bit strong, with his mind full of Miss Zhou who was keen on applying cling film, he was on the verge of losing himself. The snow showed no sign of stopping, falling incessantly. Ah Wan was sitting in the driver¡¯s seat until he felt his discs might protrude; finally, Zhou Xufang¡¯s call came through. The phone had only rung once when Jiang Zhi answered, ¡°Has your fever gone down?¡± ¡°It has.¡± Her voice sounded a bit hoarse, weak and breathless. Jiang Zhi still didn¡¯t feel at ease, ¡°Video call me, I want to see whether your face is still red or not.¡± Zhou Xufang then hung up the phone and started a video call. The first thing she said was, ¡°Go home.¡± He was extremely upset, ¡°Always rushing me off.¡± The girl on the other end of the phone still could not find the camera lens as usual, looking blank and confused about where to stare, she brought the phone very close so that her face filled the screen. Her face was not red anymore, it looked sweaty, and her eyes were moist. Jiang Zhi felt a pang of heartache as he watched, unable to bear not listening to her anymore, ¡°Alright, stop rushing me. I¡¯ll go back once we hang up.¡± What he meant was to keep on video calling because he hadn¡¯t had his fill of watching her yet. And then¡ª Zhou Xufang disconnected the video call. Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± ¡°¡± ¡°` He really was her ancestor! He was so angry that he dragged out her WeChat and sent over a ferocious voice message. ¡°Zhou Xufang!¡± Zhou Xufang replied with a ¡°.¡± Her tone was still soft, and he called out to her with his back turned to Ah Wan¡¯s gaze, ¡°Zhou Xufang.¡± ¡°.¡± The more Jiang Zhi looked at it, the more he found those periods annoying. He was also a coward; he could never stay angry with her for more than a few seconds. He continued to send her voice messages, instructing her warmly and gently in a tone he despised himself: ¡°Stop ordering takeout, I¡¯ll have someone deliver dinner to you tonight.¡± Zhou Xufang replied quickly: ¡°No need.¡± Jiang Zhi put the phone to his mouth, his fierce tone full of indulgence: ¡°I insist on sending it, and if you don¡¯t eat it, just throw it away!¡± Zhou Xufang: ¡°.¡± Ah Wan: ¡°¡­¡± Deaf, are you? Unperturbed, Jiang Zhi continued to instruct his little ancestor: ¡°Rest well these few days, don¡¯t go out to work.¡± Zhou Xuzong replied, ¡°Okay.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll buy you some tonics later.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have to come over,¡± Zhou Xufang sent in a voice message, ¡°It¡¯s very cold.¡± Jiang Zhi listened to it twice, the corners of his mouth curving higher and higher: ¡°I won¡¯t come, I¡¯ll have someone else deliver it.¡± She replied with a period. At that moment, Jiang Zhi lifted his head and glared at the back of Ah Wan¡¯s head, finding it exceedingly irritating. He stopped sending voice messages and began to type. ¡°Zhou Xufang.¡± ¡°Uh.¡± He smiled and typed four words to her: ¡°I like you.¡± And he changed his nickname to ¡®My Little Ancestor.¡¯ Zhou Xufang: ¡°.¡± ¡°I really like you.¡± He was crazy, just wanted her to hear it. He had never been like this before, his heart floating, swirling around her, helpless to do anything but worship her. Zhou Xufang: ¡°.¡± Jiang Zhi was annoyed by the series of periods: ¡°If you send another period, I¡¯ll take it as you have feelings for me too.¡± Zhou Xufang: ¡°¡­¡± Jiang Zhi couldn¡¯t continue. Damn ellipsis! After she sent the last ellipsis, Zhou Xufang stared at her phone for a long time, making sure that Jiang Zhi wouldn¡¯t reply again, before she put down the phone. Shuangjiang had been online the whole time, witnessing all of Zhou Xufang¡¯s expressions ¨C her worry, her joy, complex and vivid, brimming with life. ¡°Did Jiang Zhi confess to you?¡± Zhou Xufang stared intently at her phone for a long time before she finally nodded. ¡°Ah Fang, do you know what liking someone means?¡± Shuangjiang added, ¡°It¡¯s not the same as liking chandeliers or cotton candy.¡± Ever since she could remember, Zhou Xufang had been alone; no one had ever taught her these things. She nodded as if she understood, then shook her head. ¡°Let me give you an example, if your favorite lamp broke, what would you do?¡± She thought for a moment and said seriously: ¡°Bury it.¡± Shuangjiang: ¡°¡­¡± Then she asked, ¡°What if Jiang Zhi was gone?¡± Her brow furrowed: ¡°Why would he be gone?¡± ¡°If he were to be killed by someone¡ª¡± She didn¡¯t even let her finish, her expression turned fierce immediately: ¡°I wouldn¡¯t let anyone hurt him.¡± She looked up, her pupils reddening slightly beneath her thick lashes, ¡°Whoever dares to harm him, I¡¯ll break their arms and legs.¡± When Zhou Xufang was angry, her eyes would turn red. It was just a hypothetical situation, and she was already angry. Perhaps she didn¡¯t even know herself how much she treasured that boy. Shuangjiang rarely saw her with red eyes, and although she never tried to hide it: ¡°Do you understand now? Jiang Zhi is different from the chandelier.¡± Zhou Xufang seemed to realize afterward and nodded. She said: ¡°He¡¯s different from chandeliers, chandeliers can be buried at Moon Bay, but he can¡¯t.¡± She couldn¡¯t bear it. Jiang Zhi was so wonderful, she hoped he¡¯d be in the best place, with the best people, living the best life, instead of following her, boring and lifeless, adrift on a desolate, uninhabited island. And moreover¡ª She suddenly felt very despondent: ¡°If Jiang Zhi knew I was a freak, he wouldn¡¯t like me anymore.¡± ¡°` Chapter 76 - Chapter 76: 076: I am willing to let her ride on my head~ Chapter 76: 076: I am willing to let her ride on my head~ Xue Baoyi was restless, always needing to be on the move or he¡¯d feel uneasy all over. In the evening, he called everyone out, insisting on playing mahjong. Jiang Zhi was disinterested. Qiao Nanchu arrived fashionably late. Upon entering, he snuffed out his cigarette and immediately noticed Jiang Zhi slumped on the sofa. He teased, ¡°What¡¯s up with you? Looking all listless.¡± Xue Baoyi, whilst shaking the dice and amusing himself, chimed in, ¡°Isn¡¯t it obvious? He got the cold shoulder from Zhou Xufang.¡± Jiang Zhi shot him a glare. Xue Baoyi quickly got the hint and zipped his lips with a hand gesture: ¡°I¡¯m not saying anything more, nothing more.¡± Lifeless. Unable to really get into the card game, Xue Baoyi then called Xue Bingxue over to play video games. Ah Wan came in from outside, hung up his coat, and listened to Mr. exclaiming in anguish as he got killed in the game. Calmly, he walked over to where Jiang Zhi was lying on the sofa. ¡°Boss, Jin Song has found some clues.¡± In the game, Xue Baoyi momentarily looked up as Ah Wan spoke: ¡°Was it really Jin Song who hired someone to hit him?¡± Ah Wan didn¡¯t answer but leaned in and whispered something to Jiang Zhi. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.§ã0 Jiang Zhi sat up straight on the sofa and lazily crossed his legs, calling out, ¡°Bingxue.¡± Xue Bingxue, who was gaming, looked up. Jiang Zhi said, ¡°Go wait outside for ten minutes.¡± Xue Bingxue¡¯s face showed confusion: ¡°Why?¡± Just then, Xue Baoyi yelped again. He hadn¡¯t managed to grab a weapon upon landing and got instantly shot in the head, swearing in a Beijing accent out of frustration. Jiang Zhi kicked Xue Baoyi¡¯s shin with the back of his foot. That quieted Xue Baoyi. Jiang Zhi glanced at Xue Bingxue and slowly said, ¡°We¡¯re about to discuss something vile, don¡¯t wanna scare you.¡± Xue Bingxue looked at the three ¡®animals¡¯ in the room, decided not to ask further, and left. Xue Baoyi shook his head, puzzled by who had raised such a tactful and honest nephew, rendering his own big nephew embarrassed to look directly at him. Once he was alone, Jiang Zhi asked Ah Wan, ¡°What¡¯s Jiang Wei¡¯er¡¯s involvement?¡± Xue Baoyi was about to operate his 98k when his fingers paused. Bang! He was headshot again. After tossing his phone aside, Xue Baoyi looked up. Ah Wan replied, ¡°It¡¯s not related to Fifth Miss; it¡¯s Fifth Miss¡¯s boyfriend.¡± Qiao Nanchu poured a drink and sat next to Jiang Zhi, ¡°So, the one who hit Brother Zhi that day was Xiao Linsu?¡± Ah Wan said, ¡°We haven¡¯t found evidence of that yet.¡± ¡°What did you find out then?¡± Ah Wan rubbed his buzz cut, ¡°Xiao Linsu and Jin Song have an unusual relationship.¡± Xue Baoyi leaned in, ¡°How unusual?¡± Ah Wan had a shocked expression as if his whole worldview had been shattered: ¡°Xiao Linsu spent the night at Jin Song¡¯s place!¡± Xue Baoyi laughed, ¡°Wow, they¡¯re playing big.¡± No wonder Jiang Zhi sent his uncle away, otherwise if his uncle found out about Xiao Linsu¡¯s disloyalty to Jiang Wei¡¯er, he might abandon his long-held beliefs of twenty-eight years and go on a rampage. But they couldn¡¯t tip their hand yet; they needed solid evidence. ¡°Ah Wan.¡± ¡°Boss, go ahead.¡± Jiang Zhi poured a small glass of red wine and took a delicate sip, ¡°Send Jin Song¡¯s investigation files to Old Lady Jiang.¡± Ah Wan nodded, ¡°Oh.¡± Qiao Nanchu intercepted Jiang Zhi¡¯s glass and replaced it with a glass of milk, ¡°Do you have something on Jin Song?¡± He sighed weakly, holding his chest and coughing slightly, his complexion pale and breath short, ¡°Can¡¯t a sick man protect himself?¡± Qiao Nanchu cursed jokingly and downed Jiang Zhi¡¯s wine. Xue Baoyi grabbed a handful of his freshly styled hair. Something wasn¡¯t right. If Jiang Zhi had leverage, why involve Old Lady Jiang? Couldn¡¯t he just take action directly? Whether it was grandson or grandmother, wouldn¡¯t the impact be the same? Just as Xue Baoyi was about to ask for clarification, Xue Bingxue came back on his own. ¡°Brother Zhi,¡± Xue Bingxue stood at the door. ¡°I saw your family¡¯s Miss Zhou sticking films.¡± The joke about sticking films was getting old. Jiang Zhi stood up at the mention, ¡°Where?¡± ¡°She¡¯s outside handing out flyers.¡± Qiao Nanchu chuckled, ¡°Is this girl a model worker or something?¡± Without another word, Jiang Zhi left his friends to find his industrious girl. By then, the night had completely fallen; the street was brilliantly lit with neon lights. Due to the heavy snow, there were few pedestrians who, reluctant to take out their hands in the bitter cold, refused the flyers being handed to them. Zhou Xufang was about to move to a more crowded area when someone called her name fiercely from behind. ¡°Zhou Xufang!¡± Oh, it was the world¡¯s most beautiful beauty, Jiang Zhi. Zhou Xufang turned around, her previously expressionless face now softened. She thought to herself: How wonderful, I¡¯ve met him again today. Jiang Zhi stormed out of Fusheng Inn, without even bothering to use an umbrella, and began scolding, ¡°Didn¡¯t I tell you not to come out and work?¡± How can you be so disobedient! Zhou Xufang was clad in a black raincoat, with a large hood covering her entire head, and she also wore a mask, only revealing a pair of dark eyes. Her feet were shod in black rain boots. In the dead of night, she looked like¡­ like a female ghost. No wonder pedestrians not only refused her flyers but also avoided her by a wide margin. However, Zhou Xufang was sincere in her work, never lazy, willing to endure hardship. On this cold winter night, she was the only one willing to work, so the hotpot restaurant¡¯s owner, out of desperation, had offered her a ¡®high price¡¯ to come and help. The Zhou Xufang, who had been recruited for a ¡®high price,¡¯ was holding a stack of flyers for the hotpot restaurant. She told Jiang Zhi, ¡°I¡¯m already better.¡± To prove her recovery, she bounced in place twice, ¡°Really, I am completely healed.¡± Not long after Jiang Zhi left, her fever had subsided. Moreover, she hadn¡¯t actually felt unwell; even when she had a fever, she felt only warmth and no other discomfort, instead feeling an abundance of energy. Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t believe her. He lifted the hood of her raincoat to see if her forehead was still red. Zhou Xufang cooperatively lifted her head and obediently took off her mask, saying, ¡°See, the fever has gone down.¡± Her lips were rosy, parting and closing as she spoke. Made him want to kiss her. Ahem, ahem, ahem¡­ Jiang Zhi coughed a few times. His Adam¡¯s apple, tinged with a blush, bobbed as he swallowed. He pulled her raincoat¡¯s hood back over her head and turned his head away, saying petulantly, ¡°You¡¯re not allowed to get sick again.¡± Zhou Xufang was troubled, ¡°But I¡¯ve already promised Boss Zhang.¡± A person ought to keep their word, plus the hotpot restaurant¡¯s Boss Zhang was very kind and often looked out for her at work. Today, with the heavy snow being perfect hotpot weather, Boss Zhang couldn¡¯t find anyone else to distribute flyers and had specially asked her. She couldn¡¯t break her word. Jiang Zhi snatched the flyers from her hand, ¡°I¡¯ll distribute them for you. You go inside.¡± Zhou Xufang stood stunned, not moving. Jiang Zhi urged, ¡°Go inside quick.¡± Then to the onlookers at the doorway who had come to enjoy the show, he bellowed, ¡°What are you few still standing around for? Come and help me!¡± Xue Bingxue: ¡°¡­¡± Qiao Nanchu: ¡°¡­¡± Xue Baoyi: ¡°¡­¡± The three young masters, who knew little of the hardships of the common folk, internally resisted, but seeing Jiang Zhi, who had never touched cold water since childhood, distributing flyers in the snow, how could they, as his brothers, not help? The three young masters could only step into the snow to distribute flyers together with Jiang Family¡¯s young master. Ah Wan, standing behind helping her frail employer hold an umbrella, inwardly sighed, it really was a world that judged by appearances. Their master, with a face that looked like someone owed him a billion, had yet to have a single flyer refused. Xue Baoyi, unaccustomed to such hardships, soon had hands red from the cold. He couldn¡¯t help but say, ¡°Brother Zhi, this is a bit much.¡± Jiang Zhi was unfeeling, ¡°Speak human.¡± Xue Baoyi sincerely said, ¡°A woman shouldn¡¯t be spoiled too much, or she¡¯ll climb onto your head.¡± Like his two uncles, who because they doted on women too much, couldn¡¯t tell apart home from outside, resulting in constant turmoil in the family. Concubines, heavily pregnant, would run to the wife to make trouble, outrageously audacious. Honestly, it wasn¡¯t unusual for men from wealthy families to mess around, but like his two uncles, ruining their reputations was just idiotic, all brought about by spoiling women, otherwise why would each one daringly have secret affairs? But Jiang Zhi was utterly unconcerned, ¡°If I want her to climb, what about it.¡± He looked towards the entrance of Fusheng Inn, where the girl in the raincoat stood quietly, obediently watching him. Forget climbing on him, as long as Zhou Xufang was willing, he was up for anything. Xue Baoyi: ¡°¡­¡± What about it? Done for. After distributing the flyers, Jiang Zhi escorted Zhou Xufang home. Xue Baoyi, no longer in the mood for fun, watched as his good buddy fell headfirst into love. Feeling somewhat gloomy, he pulled out his phone to start a game of game, perhaps spurred by Jiang Zhi¡¯s actions, he uncharacteristically invited his arch-nemesis¡ªI¡¯m Your Ancestor. Moreover, he sent a private message: ¡°It¡¯s time you experienced my true skills.¡± On the other end, Fang Lixiang, playing the game while squatting in the restroom, curled the corners of her mouth, sneering. She accepted the invitation and readied to see how this noob would make a fool of himself. Not five minutes into the game¡ª The headset was filled with a cacophony of yells: ¡°Ah, ah, ah, don¡¯t hit me!¡± Truth be told, Xue Baoyi was usually a domineering CEO type, certainly a refined young master with an imposing aura, but once he entered the battleground¡­ He couldn¡¯t control himself: ¡°Quick, come here, they¡¯re hitting me!¡± ¡°Teammate! Teammate! Where are you? Teammate!!!¡± ¡°They¡¯re coming, help me! Quick, help me up!¡± Fang Lixiang¡¯s eardrums hurt from the shouting inside her headset. This noob¡¯s voice sounded somewhat like her boss? ¡°Teammate! Teammate, come quick!¡± ¡°Help me, help me get up aaaah!¡± Fang Lixiang picked her ears and drove over, ¡°Damn it, stop yelling, I¡¯m here.¡± Then, she got out of the vehicle, just as she was helping the person up, a fire started behind her. Fang Lixiang exploded in irritation, ¡°What the hell, why did you throw a Molotov?!¡± Xue Baoyi stammered, scared, ¡°To¡­ to kill the enemy.¡± Fang Lixiang was on the verge of a breakdown, ¡°To kill your grandma, you threw it at me, I¡¯m going to be burned alive by you!¡± In the game, I¡¯m Your Ancestor had already been killed. The game hadn¡¯t even lasted five minutes, she hadn¡¯t killed a single person yet, had picked up several guns, but hadn¡¯t managed to fire a single bullet before being burned to death by a teammate¡­ Fang Lixiang roared, ¡°It¡¯s all your fault!¡± The other party was unrepentant, ¡°Who told you to be behind me.¡± Damn, he even found an excuse. Fang Lixiang was furious to the point of nearly dropping dead on the spot: ¡°Wasn¡¯t it you who freaking told me to come help you?¡± She couldn¡¯t hold back any longer, really couldn¡¯t hold back, ¡°You noob! And you have the nerve to go by ¡®A lifetime of handsome,¡¯ I think you should be ¡®A lifetime of noob¡¯!¡± Xue¡¤Noob¡¤Baoyi: ¡°¡­¡± She despised those players who cursed their teammates for being noobs after dying. Chapter 77 - Chapter 77: 077: Brother Zhi is so bad~ Chapter 77: 077: Brother Zhi is so bad~ The next day, a financial news story hit the top of Weibo¡¯s trending search. Vice President Jin Song of Huayu was urgently arrested on suspicion of tax evasion and bribery. His brother, Jin Lei, claimed to be unaware and would fully cooperate with the police investigation. Snow continued for two days, and the sun only appeared on the third day. At nine in the morning, the police station had a visitor. Tap, tap, tap, tap¡­ Jin Song, sitting in the interrogation room, could hear the sound of a walking stick hitting the ground before he saw the person. The visitor was an elderly person with graying hair. She was assisted by someone, holding a walking cane, wearing an emerald and translucent bracelet, her makeup and hair meticulously perfect. ¡°Are you Jin Song?¡± At ten, Qiao Nanchu visited Qingshan Mansion. Jiang Zhi had just woken up, still appearing sleepy. Qiao Nanchu teased him a bit before getting down to business, ¡°Jin Song has been released.¡± Jiang Zhi grunted, his spirit was down, his face showing no surprise, still appearing half-asleep. ¡°Expected that?¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï??0.§ã? He did not commit to an answer, grabbed a pullover sweater to put on, and ruffled his tousled hair, ¡°Old Mrs. Jiang still has a sharp edge.¡± Qiao Nanchu also inquired with the Criminal Investigation Team. It definitely was Old Lady Jiang¡¯s doing, and he grew curious, ¡°You handed Jin Song¡¯s leverage to Old Mrs. Jiang? Weren¡¯t you aiming to take down Jin Song?¡± It had only been forty-eight hours, and the man was already out. This was not like Jiang Zhi¡¯s style. ¡°Yeah, to finish him off.¡± Jiang Zhi, sitting on the couch, slowly sipping warm milk, leisurely responded with this. ¡°Why was he released then?¡± Qiao Nanchu, today in a police uniform, his tie undone and slouching against the couch, his righteous expression unable to hide a mischievous smile, asked cheekily, ¡°What is your Old Lady Jiang up to? Sending someone in and then pulling him back out¡ªwhat¡¯s the meaning of all this?¡± Jiang Zhi put down his cup, tossing a marshmallow into his mouth, ¡°Who said it was Old Mrs. Jiang who sent him in?¡± Qiao Nanchu raised an eyebrow. ¡°I gave the stuff to Old Mrs. Jiang, she just handed it to Jin Lei,¡± holding a glass candy jar without leaving his hand, Jiang Zhi idly fiddled with it, ¡°We, the Jiang Family, don¡¯t like to dirty our own hands.¡± Qiao Nanchu unfastened a button of his police uniform, leaned back, and lounged into the sofa, ¡°Old Mrs. Jiang even used Jin Lei¡¯s hand to put the man inside, then why release him?¡± ¡°My Fifth Aunt was insulted; how could Old Mrs. Jiang just sit by?¡± If his guess was right, Old Mrs. Jiang would have demanded some compensation before pulling the strings to get him out. Such cunning. Qiao Nanchu laughed, ¡°Your Old Lady Jiang uses others to do her killing. What about you?¡± He looked at Jiang Zhi, eager, ¡°You¡¯re not just playing around with this whole act, right?¡± Indeed, Old Mrs. Jiang was an old fox. And Jiang Zhi? A cunning fox with even deeper tricks. He still appeared unconcerned and lazy. ¡°I just said it.¡± What did he just say? ¡°Finish off Jin Song?¡± Jiang Zhi, slightly drowsy, lay there with his peach blossom eyes drooping, a faint red at the corners not very noticeable, more charming than a lady but always with a hint of severe allure, didn¡¯t confirm but instead posed Qiao Nanchu a question, ¡°What would you do if someone put you in jail and then you got out?¡± ¡°Seek revenge.¡± He smiled, as delightful as peach blossoms, ¡°I just love watching the brothers turn against one another and bite each other like dogs.¡± No wonder he sent the stuff to Old Lady Jiang and stayed out of it directly. This man plays with people¡¯s hearts and to be honest, Qiao Nanchu has never seen anyone more sinister than Jiang Zhi. ¡°You Jiang Family folks really don¡¯t like to get your own hands dirty.¡± Old Mrs. Jiang is one, and Jiang Zhi is certainly no less. He still languidly lay there, absently saying, ¡°Send a message to Bao Yi. Huayu is about to implode internally. Tell him not to sit idle but to start closing the net.¡± Jin Lei and Jin Song, the brothers turned on each other, a classic case of the fisherman benefiting from the snipe and clam¡¯s fight. Jiang Zhi, oh Jiang Zhi, ruthlessly cunning. Qiao Nanchu laughed and cursed him as shameless. Jiang Zhi hummed, unapologetically, grabbed his phone and dialed a number. ¡°Vice Director Zhao.¡± As soon as Vice Director Zhao picked up the call from this big shot, his voice trembled, ¡°Director Jiang, what can I do for you?¡± Seemingly casual, Jiang Zhi asked, ¡°No extras in the scenes this afternoon?¡± Vice Director Zhao honestly reported, ¡°No, the afternoon is all main character scenes.¡± He didn¡¯t know what he had done to upset the big shot, as the voice came unfriendly, ¡°Why not add some?¡± A scene where the main characters confess their love¡ªhow do you add extras to that, tell me, how do you add them? Stick in a third wheel?! Vice Director Zhao was helpless, ¡°It really wouldn¡¯t be appropriate¡ª¡± Before he could finish, the call was hung up. ¡°¡­¡± Really! Vice Director Zhao was even starting to doubt his life choices, wondering if Director Jiang wasn¡¯t really shooting a grand national espionage film but rather the rise of extras. At eleven, Zhou Xufang received a message from the group leader, asking if she would take an extra¡¯s role in a scene where the main characters kiss. She would just need to express surprise and then walk by without showing her face, just one shot, and she could name her price. Name her price¡­ It must be Jiang Zhi trying to look out for her. Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t immediately reply to the group leader. She sat in front of the computer, her expression a bit bleak. Shuangjiang was originally discussing with her the property issue of this building, fearing Jiang Zhi might find something out; they might have to make another move. Zhou Xufang¡¯s crestfallen mood came abruptly. ¡°Why so gloomy?¡± Zhou Xufang let her head sag, unhappy, ¡°I can¡¯t do the extra work.¡± Shuangjiang didn¡¯t understand what she meant and sent a string of question marks. She said, ¡°I¡¯m supposed to go to Moon Bay and can¡¯t bring Jiang Zhi along. I should keep my distance from him.¡± As she spoke, she became even more despondent, her face showing an utterly defeated expression, ¡°It¡¯s all over TV, stringing someone along when you can¡¯t be together is just trashy.¡± Shuangjiang: ¡°¡­¡± Zhou Xufang even knew the term ¡°trashy.¡± ¡°But I really want to act,¡± Zhou Xufang sighed, ¡°they pay a lot.¡± Shuangjiang immediately typed a line: ¡°Ah Fang, be honest, it¡¯s not about the money, you just want to see Jiang Zhi.¡± Zhou Xufang¡¯s face blushed instantly, she lowered her head, silent, her ears also turning red, then she put her hands on the keyboard and manually replied: ¡°.¡± Shuangjiang: ¡°¡­¡± This girl really likes Jiang Zhi a lot. She had a feeling Moon Bay wasn¡¯t going to happen. ¡°Ah Fang,¡± Shuangjiang¡¯s font suddenly turned red, ¡°there¡¯s a new hiring mission.¡± Zhou Xufang was still listless: ¡°Oh.¡± ¡°It involves protecting someone.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Shuangjiang used a large bold font: ¡°The beneficiary, Jiang Zhi.¡± Zhou Xufang paused for a moment, her eyes widened, ¡°Who¡¯s hiring?¡± ¡°It¡¯s Jiang Zhi¡¯s grandmother.¡± Shuangjiang added, ¡°The hiring period is one month, with a commission of twenty million.¡± She asked Zhou Xufang, ¡°Will you take it?¡± Zhou Xufang frowned, then relaxed, and tightened again, battling internally for a long time, finally, she said, ¡°I¡¯ll take it.¡± ¡°Not keeping your distance from Jiang Zhi anymore?¡± Shuangjiang teased her playfully. She turned her head away in embarrassment, speaking earnestly and softly, ¡°I need to make money, or I won¡¯t be able to afford Moon Bay.¡± Shuangjiang chuckled. Zhou Xufang ah, you¡¯ve learned to lie. The dispirited Zhou Xufang was suddenly spirited again; she replied to the group leader with a ¡®go¡¯, then got up to change clothes in the dressing room, carrying two packs of cotton candy Jiang Zhi had given her to eat on the way. ¡°I¡¯m off to work,¡± she told Shuangjiang, ¡°Goodbye.¡± Chapter 78 - Chapter 78: 078: Wear Pink on a Date (First Update) Chapter 78: 078: Wear Pink on a Date (First Update) ¡°I¡¯m off to work,¡± she told Shuangjiang, ¡°goodbye.¡± Then she headed out to work as usual, wearing her face mask and hat securely and wrapped in a black down jacket from head to foot. The only difference today was that she wore a pink hoodie under her down jacket. As soon as she stepped downstairs, someone called out to her. ¡°Xu Fang.¡± The voice sounded very familiar. It was the new security guard, an old man who was very enthusiastic. He hadn¡¯t been around long but had already become friendly with everyone in the community, including Zhou Xufang, whose reputation had always been rather poor in the community. Every time she passed by, he greeted her. Everyone in the community called him Mr. Fang. Zhou Xufang politely greeted him back, ¡°Hello, uncle.¡± Mr. Fang always looked at her with affection, ¡°Are you going on a date?¡± It was the first time he had seen her wear pink; she looked as pretty as his own daughter. Hearing this, Zhou Xufang immediately shook her head seriously, ¡°No, it¡¯s not a date.¡± Her face flushed as she explained seriously, ¡°I¡¯m going to work.¡± Oh, she¡¯s shy. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï???.§ã? Mr. Fang, as someone who had been through it all, didn¡¯t spell it out. He took out a row of AD calcium milk bottles warmed from his greatcoat and handed them to Zhou Xufang, ¡°Take this, drink it on the way.¡± Zhou Xufang was surprisingly flattered and hesitated for a while before accepting them, hurriedly saying, ¡°Thank you.¡± Mr. Fang chuckled in an aunty-like manner and waved her off, ¡°Go on, take care on the road.¡± She said ¡®goodbye¡¯ and then walked out of the community with a row of AD calcium milk. When she passed the community supermarket, she gave two bottles to Wen Baiyang. When she arrived at the film set, it was just one o¡¯clock in the afternoon, still early. Zhou Xufang had good eyesight and good hearing; from afar, she saw the noisy perimeter of the set, and at the corner, a man crouched, wearing just a white shirt on such a cold day, his back straight as a rod. In the corner, a mixed-breed puppy shivered, very small and extremely skinny, its fur tangled into clumps. Its front leg was still bleeding. The man¡¯s hands were clean and pale, pressing on the puppy¡¯s wound, soft-spokenly he asked it, ¡°Were you beaten by someone again?¡± Perhaps it was in pain, the puppy whimpered a few times. He dirtied his hand but didn¡¯t mind, taking off the handkerchief from his shirt pocket, gently wrapped it around the puppy¡¯s injured leg. His movements were gentle and slow. This stray dog was very obedient, neither moving nor barking, allowing him to bandage it. After he had bandaged the wound, the man used his blood-stained palm to caress the dirty head of the puppy, advising it, ¡°Don¡¯t go stealing food anymore, come to me if you¡¯re hungry.¡± Zhou Xufang had seen this dog once before, not knowing where this stray came from. It occasionally ran to the set but often provoked the set¡¯s crew who would then chase it while yelling. Zhou Xufang continued towards the set when the man turned around, his gaze colliding with hers. He was Jiang Zhi¡¯s aunt¡¯s boyfriend, Zhou Xufang recognized him. She was wearing a mask and a hat, and he clearly didn¡¯t recognize her, greeting her with a gentle and polite smile, ¡°Are you here for an autograph?¡± He thought she was a fan. In fact, Zhou Xufang had seen Xiao Linsu several times on the set, though she was always crouching in inconspicuous corners, unnoticed by Xiao Linsu. In her impression, Linsu was a gentle and kind person to everyone. Seeing her not speaking, Xiao Linsu asked her, ¡°Do you have any paper?¡± Zhou Xufang shook her head. He thought for a very short moment, then took out a cigarette box, which had only one cigarette left. He took out the cigarette, placed it in his mouth, then pulled out a pen from his shirt pocket, signed his name on the cigarette box, and handed it to Zhou Xufang with a smile. Since he had touched the dog¡¯s wound, there was blood on his palm, which stained both the pen and the cigarette box. Zhou Xufang was about to explain that she wasn¡¯t a fan when someone behind her called out. ¡°Xu Fang!¡± It was Fang Lixiang, hanging around the entrance of the set urging her, ¡°Hurry up, I bought soup dumplings.¡± Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t explain, took the cigarette box, thanked him, and entered the set, where Fang Lixiang was chattering nonstop. Zhou Xufang couldn¡¯t help but look back, seeing Xiao Linsu returning to the spot. He squatted down, smoked for a while, then put out his cigarette. He looked at the dog, gently asking, ¡°Does it hurt a lot?¡± The puppy softly whined at him. He reached out his hand to its head, gently rubbing with a natural and practiced motion, as if he had done this thousands of times. He asked the dog, that clearly didn¡¯t understand human speech, ¡°Do you want to come with me?¡± It barked once in response. He smiled, tossed the cigarette butt, picked up the dog¡ªits injured leg bled onto him. Zhou Xufang recognized the shirt; Xiao Linsu was the male lead in ¡°Wilderness¡± and that shirt was his costume. She thought, perhaps the dog had come to the set looking for him; others might yell at it, but it still came. ¡°Xu Fang.¡± Fang Lixiang waved her hand in front of Zhou Xufang. Zhou Xufang diverted her gaze, asking her, ¡°Lixiang, do you know Xiao Linsu well?¡± Fang Lixiang glanced toward the crowd, saw the manager was not around, quickly stuffed the soup dumplings hidden in her coat into her mouth, and mumbled unclearly, ¡°Can¡¯t say I know him well, but I really liked him when he first started out.¡± Speaking of her idol, she seemed melancholic, ¡°He was only eighteen then, a very warm person.¡± ¡°And now?¡± Zhou Xufang felt he wasn¡¯t a bad person, although she had seen him pulling and tugging with his manager in the parking lot. Fang Lixiang thought for a moment, ¡°Quite melancholic.¡± Asked Zhou Xufang, ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± Zhou Xufang shook her head. She just felt that him squatting there, with the abandoned, yelled-at stray dog, was very similar. They didn¡¯t mention Xiao Linsu anymore. Fang Lixiang was surprised to find something, ¡°You¡¯re actually wearing pink today.¡± Although Zhou Xufang was young, she dressed and behaved like someone cut off from the world, an old cadre; her clothes were always black. Fang Lixiang found it a bit subtle, ¡°This is the first time I¡¯ve seen you wear pink.¡± Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t speak, silently zipped up her down jacket, covering the pink hoodie inside. Then, someone suddenly called her. ¡°Zhou Xufang.¡± Chapter 79 - Chapter 79: 079: Shocking! He actually treated her like a beast (second update Chapter 79: 079: Shocking! He actually treated her like a beast (second update ¡°Zhou Xufang.¡± Fang Lixiang looked up to see a beautiful face, and then sneakily winked at Zhou Xufang, ¡°Director Jiang is calling you.¡± Zhou Xufang uttered an ¡°oh¡± before silently pulling down the zipper of her down jacket, revealing the pink sweatshirt inside. Only then did she turn around, a bit too quickly, causing the motion to yank on her pocket. The cigarette case that Xiao Linsu had signed for her fell out and rolled right to Jiang Zhi¡¯s feet. Jiang Zhi¡¯s smile tightened slightly, ¡°You smoke?¡± Who led her astray! Zhou Xufang immediately shook her head, ¡°It¡¯s not mine.¡± Jiang Zhi picked up the cigarette case, flipped it over for a look. The bloodstains Zhou Xufang¡¯s pocket had rubbed off, and the pen ink was a bit smudged, but it was still recognizable. ¡°Xiao Linsu?¡± Xiao Linsu¡¯s handwriting was very nice, the signature done neatly. That¡¯s what Zhou Xufang was thinking in her head. Jiang Zhi¡¯s tone suddenly turned fierce, ¡°Come with me!¡± Why is he angry? ¡°Oh.¡± Zhou Xufang followed. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï???.?¦Ï Jiang Zhi led her into his private rest room and then, turning back with an indifferent expression, commanded Ah Wan, ¡°Stand guard outside.¡± Ah Wan felt like this was a secret affair. He was a diligent and good assistant, ¡°Yes, boss.¡± Bang! The door was slammed shut by Jiang Zhi, who then turned to face Zhou Xufang, pinching the autographed cigarette case between two fingers, with a look of disgust and anger on his face. He questioned Zhou Xufang, ¡°Is this cigarette case Xiao Linsu¡¯s?¡± She actually kept another man¡¯s cigarette case in her pocket! She has never kept him in her pocket! Zhou Xufang nodded. And she doesn¡¯t even explain! Jiang Zhi never thought he had a bad temper before, but now he felt truly irritable, and really wanted to scold her, but was afraid of scaring her. He forced himself to ask in a gentle voice while his face turned red, ¡°Why did he give you the cigarette case?¡± Zhou Xufang answered straightforwardly, ¡°He mistook me for his fan and signed it for me.¡± A fan? Shameless man! Jiang Zhi was still a bit angry at her and continued to question her awkwardly, ¡°Then why didn¡¯t you throw it away?¡± Zhou Xufang replied, ¡°It would be impolite to throw it away.¡± Impolite? Hah! Jiang Zhi pinched the case with two fingers, squashed it, and then casually threw it into the trash can. With a stern face, he instructed her, ¡°Stay away from that Xiao guy from now on.¡± No, that¡¯s still not enough. He changed his phrasing, emphasizing, ¡°From now on, whenever you see a man, you need to stay away.¡± She was so adorable and her EQ was so low, it was too easy for someone to deceive her. Must! Watch! Her! Closely! Zhou Xufang really did have a low EQ and didn¡¯t understand, ¡°Why?¡± Jiang Zhi gave her a reason without changing his expression, ¡°All men are beasts.¡± She disagreed, ¡°Not all.¡± She looked at Jiang Zhi with a very serious gaze, stating firmly and earnestly, ¡°You¡¯re not.¡± Jiang Zhi was charmed by her, yet still insisted stubbornly, ¡°I am, too.¡± ¡°` This phrase, however, did not scare her. He really was a beast, eager to snatch her back to his den. Zhou Xufang remained adamant, completely unaware that Jiang Zhi¡¯s gaze had turned aggressive, nor did she understand the heated, explicit scrutiny, sticking to her guns and saying, ¡°You are a good person.¡± A good person, huh. Jiang Zhi chuckled, then leaned forward, seeking her lips to close in. Her eyelashes fluttered, she quickly retreated, covering her mouth. What are you dodging for? Not cute at all! Jiang Zhi did not back down, still bent at the waist, speaking close enough for his breath to deliberately fall on her neck, his voice deliberately suppressed, low and rough. Like temptation. He asked her, ¡°Have you ever seen that kind of film?¡± the corners of his eyes flushed with a shy peach blossom hue. A fiery red climbed over Zhou Xufang¡¯s face, she stiffened without moving, her eyelashes trembling with nervousness, but she did not dodge, obediently and cleverly looking up at Jiang Zhi, her right hand still covering her mouth, her voice muffled, she asked him, ¡°Which kind?¡± Jiang Zhi narrowed his eyes slightly, the corners dragging out, the elegance of a noble¡¯s son thrown cleanly away, seductively beckoning her. ¡°The kind without clothes.¡± His breath fell entirely on her neck, the small patch of skin visible underneath the pink sweatshirt reddening at a rate visible to the naked eye. Zhou Xufang was not very good at lying, she hesitated for a while, then nodded. She had seen all of Director Jiang¡¯s movies, which included the kind he mentioned, not particularly explicit, but still undressed, Director Jiang had a firm grasp on it, not vulgar, but teasing enough to make one itch, she watched with her eyes covered. Suddenly, He moved in even closer, his peach blossom eyes intently fixated on her fluttering lashes, his voice like a captivating hook, he said, ¡°I¡¯ve even done such things to you in my dreams.¡± His Adam¡¯s apple bobbed, his ears turning red. She understood. Jiang Zhi slightly tilted his head, his lips almost imperceptibly brushing past her ear, ¡°Do you still think I¡¯m a good person?¡± She thought about it, then nodded again. Even though he suspected her to be a professional errand runner, he had never harbored any ill intentions towards her, he had given her the greatest kindness and tolerance, in her eyes, he truly was a very good person. Jiang Zhi laughed, a hearty laugh. She stepped back a little, wanting to ask why he laughed. Director Jiang spoke first, ¡°I¡¯m not a good person.¡± Having said that, he leaned his body toward her, placing his lips on the back of her hand, licking it like a cat¡¯s tongue. ¡°!¡± Zhou Xufang fled in a panic, before escaping, she did not forget to leave a bottle of AD calcium milk she had warmed with her hand on the table. Jiang Zhi drank the AD calcium milk while pondering adviser Xue Baoyi¡¯s words. ¡°With that kind of face, don¡¯t waste it man, go for the seduction, allure, strip!!!!¡± Should he strip next time? Jiang Zhi sank into thought and after a while, he got up to pour a glass of cold water, gulping it down his throat, licking his lips, still hot¡­ Without a doubt, Zhou Xufang had a fever again, but not sure if her body had produced antibodies, it only lasted a short while before subsiding. The extras¡¯ scenes were shot smoothly, getting it in one take, just that Xiao Linsu¡¯s costume got dirty, and the assistant director had a couple of words to say. After the shooting ended, Jiang Zhi disregarded the gazes of others, under the public¡¯s eye, he approached Zhou Xufang. He said, ¡°Your pink sweatshirt looks very nice.¡± Zhou Xufang had just finished acting as an extra, not wearing a mask or hat, disliking being the center of attention like this, unconsciously pressing her head lower and lower, quietly responding to Jiang Zhi, ¡°Thank you.¡± Actually, she was not wearing that pink sweatshirt now, but an old-fashioned costume. Jiang Zhi complimented again how beautiful it was, and then asked her, ¡°Is there a version for men?¡± ¡°` Chapter 80 - Chapter 80: 080: Got her in the bag! Chapter 80: 080: Got her in the bag! Jiang Zhi complimented her again for being very beautiful and then asked her, ¡°Do they have men¡¯s styles?¡± She said she didn¡¯t know. He asked, ¡°Where did you buy it?¡± She honestly replied, ¡°Online.¡± ¡°Send me the link.¡± She immediately nodded, ¡°Oh.¡± She secretly thought, Jiang Zhi wearing pink must be the best-looking in the world. Then Jiang Zhi left the set. Then all sorts of gossip started on the set. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°Did Director Jiang take a fancy to that extra?¡± ¡°I thought he was gay?¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï???.§ã0 ¡°Who knows, he could be bisexual.¡± ¡°She¡¯s so lucky.¡± ¡°Lucky? Haven¡¯t you heard, Director Jiang has erectile dysfunction.¡± ¡°Really?!¡± ¡°Of course, it¡¯s true. With Director Jiang¡¯s frail body, he might have the desire but not the strength. It¡¯s been spread around the circle that Director Jiang isn¡¯t physically able to perform, and can only be on the bottom.¡± ¡°With that face of his, turns out he¡¯s a¡­ tsk tsk, such a waste.¡± ¡°Who cares if he can get it up or not, being noticed by Director Jiang is already a stroke of luck; at least she can make her debut. Just a little promotion and she could be famous.¡± ¡°What does she look like? I¡¯ve never really seen her face.¡± ¡°Me neither, she¡¯s always keeping her head down, dressed all in dark clothes, like a female ghost.¡± Female ghost Zhou Xufang: ¡°¡­¡± Her hearing was too good, really, she could hear everything. It didn¡¯t matter that they compared her to a female ghost, but how could they talk about Jiang Zhi! She was a bit angry, and lowered her head even more, afraid her red eyes would frighten them to death. In small groups, they were all quietly discussing when Vice Director Zhao came out and spoke, ¡°It¡¯s fine to talk about it here, but once you step outside, keep your mouths shut.¡± Even the Assistant Director spoke up¡­ Such a warning convinced the onlookers even more that there was no smoke without fire, and so they all cast curious, probing, and respectful glances at Zhou Xufang. Only Fang Lixiang was full of worry. ¡°Fang ah.¡± ¡°Hm?¡± Zhou Xufang kept her head down, hiding her face. Fang Lixiang tugged at her clothes and pulled her aside, whispering, ¡°Did Jiang Zhi get his hands on you?¡± Get his hands on¡­ Such a crude phrase. Zhou Xufang murmured, ¡°Don¡¯t say ¡®get his hands on.''¡± Little hooligans are the ones who do that, not Jiang Zhi. Jiang Zhi is a good person. Is ¡®get his hands on¡¯ the focus? It¡¯s getting his hands on her that¡¯s the focus! Fang Lixiang was truly shocked, ¡°You didn¡¯t even deny it!¡± She put on a look of utter hopelessness, ¡°It¡¯s over, our Fang has been seduced by that outsider little demon.¡± Zhou Xufang immediately corrected her, ¡°Jiang Zhi is not a little demon.¡± Fang Lixiang: ¡°¡­¡± It¡¯s over, she¡¯s been completely bewitched by the little demon, completely taken! Let¡¯s not dwell on this; there¡¯s an even more important question, ¡°Tell me, is he really gay or not?¡± Zhou Xufang looked around and whispered softly, ¡°He¡¯s not.¡± He liked her. Fang Lixiang looked at Zhou Xufang, wondering why it felt like her act of blushing and hiding her face in her collar was a bit too much like the saying ¡®there¡¯s no silver here¡¯. Something strange was going on. Fang Lixiang continued probing, ¡°Have you confirmed whether or not he¡¯s gay?¡± Zhou Xufang looked confused, not quite understanding. Fang Lixiang beckoned her over, leaning in to ask outright, suggestive, ¡°Can ¡®he¡¯ get it up with women?¡± ¡°¡­¡± Lixiang is so¡­ lewd. Zhou Xufang took out a face mask, put it on, and went to the side to blush in hiding. Fang Lixiang stroked her chin, deep in thought, wondering how such purity could be deceived by the big bad wolves on the outside. There were two more scenes in the afternoon, both involving the male and female leads. Director Jiang made some last-minute changes that once again required the participation of the crowd actor Zhou Xufang. There was a half-hour break in the middle of the day. Jiang Wei¡¯er went to return something she got from a sponsor and didn¡¯t come to the set until almost two o¡¯clock. Ever since Fang Lixiang found out about her and Xiao Linsu¡¯s relationship, she had been helping her cover things up. From a distance, she could hear the quarreling coming from Xiao Linsu¡¯s resting room. ¡°Why do you care about my private life?¡± Xiao Linsu was usually even-tempered and rarely got angry like this. ¡°I just want to help¡ª¡± ¡°Lin Shuang!¡± He warned her coldly, ¡°Don¡¯t meddle in my affairs.¡± As Jiang Wei¡¯er approached, the argument inside had already settled down. Lin Shuang ran out with tearful eyes, and when she saw Jiang Wei¡¯er, she twitched her sleeve subconsciously and looked away, ¡°You¡¯re here.¡± ¡°Pfft.¡± Jiang Wei¡¯er¡¯s gaze swept over her arm. She naturally placed her hands behind her back, ¡°Linsu is inside.¡± She smiled, ¡°I¡¯ve asked the assistant to keep an eye out for you guys outside.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± She said no thanks were needed and turned to leave. Jiang Wei returned his gaze and slightly furrowed his brows. As an agent for over a decade, Lin Shuang was used to being strong-willed and proud, but she seemed a bit too careful when it came to Xiao Linsu. The injuries on her arm looked like they were from cigarette burns. Jiang Wei¡¯er withdrew her attention and lifted her skirt to enter Xiao Linsu¡¯s dressing room. Inside, the smell of smoke was heavy. He was sneaking a smoke again. Seeing her enter, he panicked and tried to hide the cigarette behind his back, standing there awkwardly. Jiang Wei¡¯er chuckled, ¡°I already saw it, what¡¯s the point in hiding it?¡± He then crushed the cigarette and went to embrace her, not sure how many he had smoked, his voice slightly hoarse, ¡°Why are you here?¡± ¡°I came to see you.¡± He held her, motion careful and gentle, ¡°Have you eaten?¡± Jiang Wei¡¯er nestled in his embrace and looked up, ¡°Not yet.¡± He immediately put on a stern face, ¡°You just had a stomachache last month, why are you being careless?¡± After scolding her, he turned to rummage through his things to find her something to eat, ¡°There¡¯s only chocolate. Eat this to hold you over, I¡¯ll order you a meal.¡± He unwrapped the chocolate and fed it to her. She took a bite, ¡°Linsu, has Lin Shuang got a boyfriend?¡± He lowered his head, ¡°Not sure, why do you ask about her?¡± ¡°Just curious, she¡¯s not young anymore.¡± She ate a few bites of chocolate fed to her, and it was so sweet it made her feel sick, ¡°No more, it¡¯s too sweet.¡± Xiao Linsu coaxed her, ¡°A little bit more.¡± She shook her head. He ate the leftover chocolate and made a call to his assistant, ¡°Help me order a meal. No spicy, no garlic, make it light.¡± In the end, he gave a special instruction, ¡°No shrimp.¡± Her stomach was not good. She didn¡¯t eat spicy. She was allergic to shrimp. Yet she always took it for granted, and he had to remember. After the shoot, the sun was almost setting. Zhou Xufang packed her bag to go home, and Fang Lixiang hopped over, bursting with enthusiasm. ¡°Xufang, I have great news for you!¡± Zhou Xufang slung on her backpack and turned around, listening seriously. ¡°Director Jiang¡¯s new film, I got selected!¡± Fang Lixiang excitedly spun around on the spot, howling, ¡°I¡¯m the female lead!¡± Zhou Xufang raised both thumbs, praising soberly, ¡°You¡¯re amazing.¡± ¡°¡­¡± That sudden onset of veteran cadre vibes. Why can¡¯t this girl be like her peers, all jumpy and lively? ¡°Xufang.¡± At the door, Jiang Zhi called her. Zhou Xufang tilted her head back, ¡°Hmm?¡± Jiang Zhi had her hands in her pockets, leaning on the door frame, looking like she was waiting for someone, ¡°I¡¯ll take you home.¡± Zhou Xufang thought for three seconds. ¡°Okay.¡± She turned back to Fang Lixiang, ¡°Lixiang, goodbye.¡± After speaking, she hopped a few times, moving to Jiang Zhi¡¯s side, and after hopping as if realizing something amiss, she shrank back into her large down jacket and proceeded modestly. Fang Lixiang rubbed her eyes, wondering if she was seeing things. She just saw Zhou Xufang, that old cadre, jumping and bouncing around. Jiang Zhi had no intention of sneaking around, and quite openly led her into his flashy sports car. Ah Wan drove, playing the ¡®mute¡¯ perfectly, not disrupting his employer¡¯s flirting, and very considerately drove super slow, advancing at a snail¡¯s pace. See, what an understanding person he was! Zhou Xufang, since getting into the car, had not spoken a word, sitting very upright, with eyes straight ahead, her posture like a student paying careful attention in class. Unlike Jiang Zhi, looking boneless, half-leaning, half-reclining, with his long legs restlessly placed wherever. ¡°Why aren¡¯t you speaking?¡± Jiang Zhi looked at her. Since getting into the car, he only had eyes for her. Zhou Xufang turned to him, blinking. What should she say? With her fingers twisting around each other, her palms started to sweat. This look of someone waiting for a dressing down from the principal made Jiang Zhi itch to tease her, but he refrained, afraid to scare her away. He shifted his position, still lounging in his seat, but now nudging closer to her. The red in his eyes, coupled with his pale skin, gave him an almost sickly but delicate charm, always looking heartbreakingly appealing. He asked her, ¡°Do you live alone?¡± Zhou Xufang replied, ¡°Yeah.¡± Seemingly casually fixating on her, he asked again, ¡°What about your family?¡± Without thinking, she said, ¡°I don¡¯t have a family.¡± How did she grow up if she didn¡¯t have a family? Jiang Zhi had originally planned to probe a bit of her background with a couple of questions, but he couldn¡¯t continue, finding it too heart-wrenching to hear. Chapter 81 - Chapter 79: 079: Shocking! He actually treated her like a beast (second update Chapter 79: 079: Shocking! He actually treated her like a beast (second update ¡°Zhou Xufang.¡± Fang Lixiang looked up to see a beautiful face, and then sneakily winked at Zhou Xufang, ¡°Director Jiang is calling you.¡± Zhou Xufang uttered an ¡°oh¡± before silently pulling down the zipper of her down jacket, revealing the pink sweatshirt inside. Only then did she turn around, a bit too quickly, causing the motion to yank on her pocket. The cigarette case that Xiao Linsu had signed for her fell out and rolled right to Jiang Zhi¡¯s feet. Jiang Zhi¡¯s smile tightened slightly, ¡°You smoke?¡± Who led her astray! Zhou Xufang immediately shook her head, ¡°It¡¯s not mine.¡± Jiang Zhi picked up the cigarette case, flipped it over for a look. The bloodstains Zhou Xufang¡¯s pocket had rubbed off, and the pen ink was a bit smudged, but it was still recognizable. ¡°Xiao Linsu?¡± Xiao Linsu¡¯s handwriting was very nice, the signature done neatly. That¡¯s what Zhou Xufang was thinking in her head. Jiang Zhi¡¯s tone suddenly turned fierce, ¡°Come with me!¡± Why is he angry? ¡°Oh.¡± Zhou Xufang followed. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï Jiang Zhi led her into his private rest room and then, turning back with an indifferent expression, commanded Ah Wan, ¡°Stand guard outside.¡± Ah Wan felt like this was a secret affair. He was a diligent and good assistant, ¡°Yes, boss.¡± Bang! The door was slammed shut by Jiang Zhi, who then turned to face Zhou Xufang, pinching the autographed cigarette case between two fingers, with a look of disgust and anger on his face. He questioned Zhou Xufang, ¡°Is this cigarette case Xiao Linsu¡¯s?¡± She actually kept another man¡¯s cigarette case in her pocket! She has never kept him in her pocket! Zhou Xufang nodded. And she doesn¡¯t even explain! Jiang Zhi never thought he had a bad temper before, but now he felt truly irritable, and really wanted to scold her, but was afraid of scaring her. He forced himself to ask in a gentle voice while his face turned red, ¡°Why did he give you the cigarette case?¡± Zhou Xufang answered straightforwardly, ¡°He mistook me for his fan and signed it for me.¡± A fan? Shameless man! Jiang Zhi was still a bit angry at her and continued to question her awkwardly, ¡°Then why didn¡¯t you throw it away?¡± Zhou Xufang replied, ¡°It would be impolite to throw it away.¡± Impolite? Hah! Jiang Zhi pinched the case with two fingers, squashed it, and then casually threw it into the trash can. With a stern face, he instructed her, ¡°Stay away from that Xiao guy from now on.¡± No, that¡¯s still not enough. He changed his phrasing, emphasizing, ¡°From now on, whenever you see a man, you need to stay away.¡± She was so adorable and her EQ was so low, it was too easy for someone to deceive her. Must! Watch! Her! Closely! Zhou Xufang really did have a low EQ and didn¡¯t understand, ¡°Why?¡± Jiang Zhi gave her a reason without changing his expression, ¡°All men are beasts.¡± She disagreed, ¡°Not all.¡± She looked at Jiang Zhi with a very serious gaze, stating firmly and earnestly, ¡°You¡¯re not.¡± Jiang Zhi was charmed by her, yet still insisted stubbornly, ¡°I am, too.¡± ¡°` This phrase, however, did not scare her. He really was a beast, eager to snatch her back to his den. Zhou Xufang remained adamant, completely unaware that Jiang Zhi¡¯s gaze had turned aggressive, nor did she understand the heated, explicit scrutiny, sticking to her guns and saying, ¡°You are a good person.¡± A good person, huh. Jiang Zhi chuckled, then leaned forward, seeking her lips to close in. Her eyelashes fluttered, she quickly retreated, covering her mouth. What are you dodging for? Not cute at all! Jiang Zhi did not back down, still bent at the waist, speaking close enough for his breath to deliberately fall on her neck, his voice deliberately suppressed, low and rough. Like temptation. He asked her, ¡°Have you ever seen that kind of film?¡± the corners of his eyes flushed with a shy peach blossom hue. A fiery red climbed over Zhou Xufang¡¯s face, she stiffened without moving, her eyelashes trembling with nervousness, but she did not dodge, obediently and cleverly looking up at Jiang Zhi, her right hand still covering her mouth, her voice muffled, she asked him, ¡°Which kind?¡± Jiang Zhi narrowed his eyes slightly, the corners dragging out, the elegance of a noble¡¯s son thrown cleanly away, seductively beckoning her. ¡°The kind without clothes.¡± His breath fell entirely on her neck, the small patch of skin visible underneath the pink sweatshirt reddening at a rate visible to the naked eye. Zhou Xufang was not very good at lying, she hesitated for a while, then nodded. She had seen all of Director Jiang¡¯s movies, which included the kind he mentioned, not particularly explicit, but still undressed, Director Jiang had a firm grasp on it, not vulgar, but teasing enough to make one itch, she watched with her eyes covered. Suddenly, He moved in even closer, his peach blossom eyes intently fixated on her fluttering lashes, his voice like a captivating hook, he said, ¡°I¡¯ve even done such things to you in my dreams.¡± His Adam¡¯s apple bobbed, his ears turning red. She understood. Jiang Zhi slightly tilted his head, his lips almost imperceptibly brushing past her ear, ¡°Do you still think I¡¯m a good person?¡± She thought about it, then nodded again. Even though he suspected her to be a professional errand runner, he had never harbored any ill intentions towards her, he had given her the greatest kindness and tolerance, in her eyes, he truly was a very good person. Jiang Zhi laughed, a hearty laugh. She stepped back a little, wanting to ask why he laughed. Director Jiang spoke first, ¡°I¡¯m not a good person.¡± Having said that, he leaned his body toward her, placing his lips on the back of her hand, licking it like a cat¡¯s tongue. ¡°!¡± Zhou Xufang fled in a panic, before escaping, she did not forget to leave a bottle of AD calcium milk she had warmed with her hand on the table. Jiang Zhi drank the AD calcium milk while pondering adviser Xue Baoyi¡¯s words. ¡°With that kind of face, don¡¯t waste it man, go for the seduction, allure, strip!!!!¡± Should he strip next time? Jiang Zhi sank into thought and after a while, he got up to pour a glass of cold water, gulping it down his throat, licking his lips, still hot¡­ Without a doubt, Zhou Xufang had a fever again, but not sure if her body had produced antibodies, it only lasted a short while before subsiding. The extras¡¯ scenes were shot smoothly, getting it in one take, just that Xiao Linsu¡¯s costume got dirty, and the assistant director had a couple of words to say. After the shooting ended, Jiang Zhi disregarded the gazes of others, under the public¡¯s eye, he approached Zhou Xufang. He said, ¡°Your pink sweatshirt looks very nice.¡± Zhou Xufang had just finished acting as an extra, not wearing a mask or hat, disliking being the center of attention like this, unconsciously pressing her head lower and lower, quietly responding to Jiang Zhi, ¡°Thank you.¡± Actually, she was not wearing that pink sweatshirt now, but an old-fashioned costume. Jiang Zhi complimented again how beautiful it was, and then asked her, ¡°Is there a version for men?¡± ¡°` Chapter 82 - Chapter 82: 082: The Jealousy Routine of the Husband-Protecting Maniac (Second Update) Chapter 82: 082: The Jealousy Routine of the Husband-Protecting Maniac (Second Update) On the way back, the employer instructed, ¡°Slow down a bit.¡± Ah Wan once again slowed the sports car to a snail¡¯s pace, and for the sixth time turned his head to look at the employer in the back, ¡°Boss, what are you looking at?¡± Jiang Zhi couldn¡¯t be bothered to answer him, her gaze fixed outside the car window. Ah Wan guessed, ¡°Are you looking for that Z?¡± Jiang Zhi finished scanning the bustling roads and then looked up high. Ah Wan felt his employer was going crazy; anyhow, he didn¡¯t believe that scum was the kind-hearted and morally upright Miss Zhou. He couldn¡¯t help but mutter, ¡°She¡¯s not a three-headed, six-armed creature, nor can she scale walls and roofs.¡± Those people must¡¯ve been exaggerating; they¡¯d all had nine years of compulsory education, and he didn¡¯t think that Z had any supernatural abilities. Night fell quickly in winter, neon lights flickered everywhere, and the lights of a thousand homes shimmered in dwindling twilight, with the towering Imperial Buildings rising into the clouds, linking the far horizon. Tonight, there were no stars, the thick clouds obscuring the moonlight. So Zhou Xufang weaved between high-rises, jumping from one to another, not blinking as she went, dashing through the pitch-black night like an agile cheetah. Only¡­ Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã¦Ï Suddenly, the sky began to drop ice pellets, paining her face as they fell. Approaching the traffic light intersection, Jiang Zhi suddenly said, ¡°Let¡¯s find a warm place to rest, wait for the ice pellets to stop before we go back.¡± The dim-witted tall man in front was a bit slow on the uptake, ¡°Huh?¡± Jiang Zhi rolled down the window, caught some ice pellets in her hand, and said, ¡°Park the car, I¡¯m tired.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Ah Wan found a high-end tea house. The place was a bit secluded, but he had been there several times. It was where the elite of the Imperial City went; he had driven his employer there many times and knew the way well. Perhaps it was the abruptness of the ice pellets, but the tea house was overcrowded; private rooms were all taken, so Ah Wan chose a secluded spot outside. But even that couldn¡¯t block his employer¡¯s widespread allure. ¡°Jiang Zhi?¡± It was the fourth daughter of the Ming family, dressed in an attention-grabbing fiery red dress, looking like a perfectly ripe chili pepper. Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t even lift an eyelid. Ming Saiying was bold and proactive, especially towards Jiang Zhi, tirelessly teasing, ¡°Where did you get this hair done?¡± The foggy blue dye favored by the little rascals, looking both bewitching and beautiful on Jiang Zhi, made her seem like a lovable little demon. The little Jiang demon ignored her. Not discouraged, Ming Saiying smiled dazzlingly, ¡°Why so stingy? Are you afraid I¡¯ll copy your style?¡± The little Jiang demon still treated her as if she were thin air. The young man beside Ming Saiying couldn¡¯t stand it any longer, tugged at Ming Saiying, annoyed yet not daring to lose his temper, and hurried her in a pinched voice, ¡°Let¡¯s go, sis.¡± The young man had a scrappy foil perm, and looked fierce like a dashing little hooligan. He was Ming Saiying¡¯s younger brother, the sixth child of the Ming family, Ming Yanghua, known in the Imperial City as Young Master Hua. However, Young Master Ming despised such unwarrior-like nicknames, only allowing people to call him Mr. Ming, although, privately, everyone quietly called him Xiao Hua. Ming Saiying shrugged him off, ¡°Wait over there.¡± Ming Yanghua snorted and walked away, unable to bear seeing his tomboy sister unable to move whenever she saw Jiang Zhi. ¡°Jiang Zhi,¡± said Ming Saiying, who was stuck in place, her eyes smiling brightly, ¡°let¡¯s share a table.¡± Jiang Zhi finally deigned to speak, ¡°No.¡± She looked good. Her voice sounded good, too. Ming Saiying was itching inside, ¡°I¡¯ll just sit down; I¡¯ll leave right after drinking.¡± She was in pursuit of a beauty, and having finally encountered her, she couldn¡¯t just walk away. Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t even bother to talk back, showed impatience on her face, and called out to Ah Wan, making a shooing gesture. Getting the hint, Ah Wan was about to step forward to drag her off when Ming Saiying suddenly moved back, accidentally bumping into a tea-serving waiter. Losing her balance, she lurched toward Jiang Zhi. Solidly, she ended up sprawled across Jiang Zhi¡¯s legs. A beautiful face on Jiang Zhi quickly turned cold, her body stiffening with disgust. ¡°Ming Saiying,¡± his voice was muddled, biting off his words, and his beautiful eyes were already showing a frightening look. Curiously enough¡ª Ming Saiying thought his angry demeanor was full of attack, both forbidden and desirous, which left her stunned for a moment. ¡°Huh?¡± He was yanking at the corner of his coat on his thigh, fiercely tearing it away. ¡°Get off.¡± Jiang Zhi hated women and roses the most in his life. Of course, Ming Saiying knew that. She scrambled up in a hurry, blushing for the first time with a thick-skinned innocence, ¡°I really didn¡¯t mean to.¡± Jiang Zhi looked up at her with anger in his eyes, his gaze intense. She¡¯s angered him! Ming Saiying touched her nose. ¡°Your body is delicate; don¡¯t be angry.¡± It would hurt her if she got upset, ¡°I¡¯ll roll away myself.¡± And with that, she cleverly rolled away. Outside the tea pavilion, a pair of eyes stared fixedly through the glass. Touched¡­ That woman¡¯s hand had touched Jiang Zhi¡¯s leg, and she wanted to twist that hand off. Really wanted to. Zhou Xufang was fixated on the woman¡¯s hand in a daze when suddenly someone bumped into his shoulder, causing his glasses to drop to the ground. ¡°Sorry about that. Did I hit you?¡± The tone of the apology was a bit frivolous. Zhou Xufang looked up. ¡°You you you you¡­¡± The man was so frightened that his hair stood on end, stuttering for a long time. His face, pampered and delicate, quivered as he asked, ¡°Are you a human or a ghost?¡± The figure in black was dressed head-to-toe, with only a pair of crimson eyes exposed. Lowering her voice, her gaze chilling, she replied, ¡°A ghost.¡± Ming Yanghua rolled her eyes back and fainted, lying sprawled on the ground. Now, Zhou Xufang was petrified as well. If Jiang Zhi saw her looking like this, would he be the same? Would he be scared of her, disgusted by her? Ice pellets hit her face, and it hurt. Her eyes grew redder, but she put on her glasses, squatted down, picked up the person, and tossed them into a large trash can by the roadside. Then she heard the woman in the red dress inside the tea pavilion yelling anxiously and irately. Zhou Xufang felt the ice pellets were not as painful anymore. In the corridor of the tea pavilion, wind chimes tinkled in the breeze, mixed with the sound of a wheelchair rolling across the floor. The threshold was just too high; the wheelchair couldn¡¯t pass. The man in the wheelchair leaned on a crutch to stand, while the person behind him grew impatient, ¡°Excuse me.¡± He turned his head. It was a handsome face with a slight flicker in his eyes. What a small world for enemies to meet. Luo Qinghe stood behind with folded arms, a sly smile playing on his lips, ¡°You¡¯re blocking my way.¡± Without a word, he moved aside, relying on just one crutch to support his prosthetic leg, limping to the side. Just a few steps made sweat bead on his forehead. Luo Qinghe stepped over the threshold, took a few steps, then turned back with a nonchalant smile. ¡°Still have the leisure to come here for tea, it seems Uncle Zhou you¡¯re quite comfortable at the radio station.¡± Zhou Qingrang said nothing, looking down as he pulled the wheelchair to one side, his eyes cold and clear. Luo Qinghe nodded towards his coat, ¡°Since your leg is crippled, better behave.¡± With that, she walked away in her high heels, with leisurely steps, the hem of her coat under her dress fluttering, conjuring lotuses with every step. That was until someone blocked her path around the corner. She looked up, the smile gone, ¡°Second Miss Lu, what brings you here?¡± The other was young, commanding without anger, ¡°Luo Qinghe,¡± she paused slightly, her gaze becoming more piercing, ¡°Do you know whose turf this is?¡± The second child of the Lu Family, Lu Sheng. She was just over twenty, with a dashing and exquisite appearance, but her aura, few weren¡¯t intimidated by her. Chapter 84 - Chapter 84: 084: Her Past Identity and Nostalgic Hits Chapter 84: 084: Her Past Identity and Nostalgic Hits ¡°Then shut your mouth for me.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Ah Wan felt a bit wronged, but he didn¡¯t dare to resist. If he did, he¡¯d only be suppressed even more by his employer. In order to survive, he had no choice but to swallow his pride. Ah, the sorrow of the common folk. At this time, it was the rush hour for getting off work. Passersby couldn¡¯t help but give the flashy car a second glance, and then looked at Ah Wan, who stood at one meter ninety and weighed two hundred pounds. Their meaningful, secretive smiles made Ah Wan feel like he was on the verge of a breakdown. Fortunately, the wait was only a short while. Ah Wan was like he had seen his own mother: ¡°Miss Zhou has come down!¡± I saw it. Jiang Zhi got out of the car and walked up to meet her. Zhou Xufang wasn¡¯t wearing a mask today. She donned a black lamb¡¯s wool coat over a pink sweatshirt, her hair pulled back and tied with a black hairband into a bun¡ªapparently done with a bit of inexperience, slightly messy. The band had a tiny, tiny pink diamond that was only noticeable upon closer inspection. Ah, she truly liked pink. Jiang Zhi unbuttoned one button of his coat, not minding the cold, and left it open. He pointed to the matching sweatshirt inside his coat, ¡°What a coincidence, we¡¯ve matched our outfits.¡± Ah Wan: ¡°¡­¡± How shameless! Never have I seen such brazen shamelessness! The schemes of the romantic world are seen as a kind of charm. However, Zhou Xufang wasn¡¯t quite so good at playing along, she simply blurted out, ¡°You look really good,¡± then ducked her head and climbed into the car. She only sat on a small portion of the seat, leaving plenty of space for Jiang Zhi. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã0 The flattered Jiang Zhi irritably tugged on the drawstring of his sweatshirt and sat down next to Zhou Xufang, then methodically took off his coat. Only after he glanced at the pink on Zhou Xufang did his mood begin to lighten. As soon as she got in the car, she didn¡¯t give him a glance. She looked at the stickers on the car window, then at the plushies on the seat cushion. Finally, her gaze firmly landed on the pink crystal pendant on the seat. Her eyes curved up in delight, ¡°Everything inside the car is pink.¡± Waiting for the praise, Jiang Zhi lifted his chin thirty degrees, ¡°Hmm.¡± She earnestly complimented, ¡°It¡¯s very beautiful.¡± In Jiang Zhi¡¯s eyes, a brilliant and pink peach blossom bloomed, ¡°Hmm.¡± She then put up her thumb and continued to sincerely flatter, ¡°Especially, especially beautiful. You have great taste!¡± Such a sweet demeanor. Jiang Zhi grinned, showing a small canine tooth, ¡°I¡¯ll give it to you.¡± As long as she wanted it, he could buy a dozen cars like this for her. It was also what Xue Baoyi said¡ªlike her, give her cars, give her houses. But Zhou Xufang flatly declined without hesitation, ¡°No need, I can buy my own.¡± Jiang Zhi, who very much wanted to give cars and houses, was silent¡­ She wasn¡¯t following the script. She played with the pink pendant on the seat for a while, then her gaze shifted to the glass candy box behind her. She asked politely, ¡°May I have some of this cotton candy?¡± So, what she loved most was still sweets. Jiang Zhi placed the glass box into her hands, and the doting in his eyes turned into ripples of spring water, ¡°You like sweets that much?¡± She nodded. He smiled and gave her another box too. His girl sure didn¡¯t follow the ordinary path. She didn¡¯t want a car; a box of sweets was enough to satisfy her. Watching her demurely eating the candy, he suddenly thought, in the future, if he stopped directing, he could switch to candy making, build her a house of sugar, and let her nibble wherever she went. Outside the car window, the setting sun had fallen, and neon lights lit up together with the homes of thousands, glowing in the fading evening. Unluckily, just as they arrived, there was a young man in the porridge shop proposing. In tears, with snot and all, he clutched a bunch of huge roses, the ground also scattered with petals. Zhou Xufang couldn¡¯t help but observe a few more times. ¡°Do you like it?¡± She turned her head, ¡°What?¡± Jiang Zhi was walking behind her, overshadowing her silhouette, ¡°Roses.¡± That adviser of Xue Baoyi even said, women all like flowers. If she liked them, he could give them too. But Zhou Xufang said, ¡°I don¡¯t like them.¡± Her brow furrowed slightly, and she pursed her lips, ¡°I don¡¯t like roses.¡± Jiang Zhi leaned in closer, bending over to talk to her, his voice as gently unaware, ¡°Why?¡± That damn adviser¡¯s words were all bullshit. Her gaze blanked out for a moment, and a hint of coolness seeped through her dark pupils. She lowered her head, her voice softened, ¡°The thorns of roses are very painful.¡± Jiang Zhi suddenly stopped in his tracks. Ah Wan immediately sensed something off from behind, ¡°Boss, are you okay?¡± Zhou Xufang became anxious upon hearing that, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Jiang Zhi stared at her silently, his eyes a thousand clusters of light turning into fireworks, the numerous roses casting red shadows on the ground. Ah Wan explained on the side, ¡°The boss is allergic to roses.¡± Without hesitation, Zhou Xufang grabbed Jiang Zhi¡¯s hand, ¡°Let¡¯s go somewhere else.¡± Her hand was really cold. Jiang Zhi naturally took hold of her and brought her to his side, ¡°No need to change, I am not allergic. Like you, I just hate roses.¡± The flower he hated most was the rose, almost to an intolerable extent. Word got around, and it became known that he was allergic; he was too lazy to correct it ¨C he simply did not want to see those thorny things. That year, he was not yet sixteen and was a spirited young man. The Luo Family¡¯s Second Madam loved flowers, and as it happened, the first time he visited the Luo Family was during the rose blooming season. From a distance, he could hear the curses of a young girl in the greenhouse. ¡°Does it hurt?¡± ¡°Why aren¡¯t you shouting? Why don¡¯t you shout?¡± The ground was covered with roses, and all that could be seen was a trembling figure in the bushes and the girl¡¯s provocative and arrogant smile. ¡°Oh, I forgot, you¡¯re a mute.¡± The girl leaned over with her arms crossed and looked down at the person on the ground with undisguised hatred in her eyes, ¡°What¡¯s the point of you being alive? You can¡¯t speak, you don¡¯t feel pain, and you don¡¯t even know when to eat when you¡¯re hungry.¡± She threw the wilted rose in her hand and broke off two more branches to twirl between her fingers, ¡°If I were you, I¡¯d have killed myself.¡± She laughed for a while. ¡°People like you, a retardation, are a waste of food from my Luo Family.¡± ¡°Ah, there¡¯s blood.¡± ¡°Does it still not hurt?¡± ¡°Indeed, you¡¯re a little monster, born to be punished.¡± The teenage girl, lively and captivating, held two thorny roses and repeatedly whipped the thin and sallow young man lying on the ground. He did not cry out or shout, only convulsing continuously as rose petals scattered all over him, as red as blood. Couldn¡ät speak? ¡°Who is he?¡± The Jiang Family¡¯s accompanying steward replied, ¡°Young Master, that is the Luo Family¡¯s eldest lady.¡± Jiang Zhi looked towards the greenhouse, ¡°I wasn¡¯t asking about her.¡± He pointed to the ground, ¡°Who is that child?¡± That child was actually not young anymore, merely always undernourished and small compared to others his age. The steward glanced briefly and replied, ¡°He is a foster child of the Luo Family. Mr. Luo never gave him a name, everyone just calls him Luo San.¡± The steward diverted his gaze, ¡°Young Master, I¡¯ll take you to the living room.¡± After all, it was another family¡¯s domestic affair, and it wasn¡¯t appropriate for him to intercede. Nevertheless, Jiang Zhi ignored the steward and headed towards the greenhouse, his steps slightly hurried, feeling unwell and coughing severely. He called out, ¡°Hey.¡± The girl turned her head and seeing his sickly but graceful appearance, she knew who he was and smiled sweetly, ¡°You must be Jiang Zhi.¡± The Luo Family¡¯s eldest lady, Luo Qinghe. That was the first time Jiang Zhi saw her, his gaze lingered only for a moment before shifting to the ground, ¡°Come here.¡± He pointed to the thin and gangly child, ¡°Come and show me the way.¡± The girl dropped the rose and wiped her hands with a delicate handkerchief, ¡°I¡¯ll show you the way.¡± ¡°I want him to lead.¡± Jiang Zhi did not even glance at the girl, only staring at the child curled up on the ground, ¡°Can you hear me? Come here.¡± Jiang Zhi only knew that he couldn¡¯t speak; he did not know if he could hear. He moved; he could hear. Still shivering, he slowly shuffled forward, draped in clothes too big for him, torn by the roses¡¯ thorns, blood streaking his attire. He hunched in front of Jiang Zhi. ¡°Can¡¯t you speak?¡± He nodded. ¡°Don¡¯t feel pain either?¡± He nodded again. ¡°Come to the front, show me the way.¡± He wiped the blood from his face caused by the thorns and limped to the front of Jiang Zhi, continuously shaking the whole way. He really couldn¡¯t feel pain? Jiang Zhi wondered about this all the way. Later, Jiang Zhi heard that the Luo Family¡¯s foster child was an idiot; they said he had a chromosomal disorder, didn¡¯t feel pain, didn¡¯t feel hunger, and couldn¡¯t speak. Thus, when others hit him, he never dodged, never cried out, and never begged for mercy. A fourteen-year-old boy, both thin and short. The Luo Family grew a garden full of flowers; those beasts preferred to whip him with flowers, especially thorny roses. At that time, Jiang Zhi was already a young man, much taller than that boy. ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± Zhou Xufang called out to him twice. Jiang Zhi came back to his senses from the memories, ¡°Hmm?¡± Chapter 85 - Chapter 85: 085: Sweet Pink Bubbles Chapter 85: 085: Sweet Pink Bubbles Jiang Zhi had just snapped back from his reverie, ¡°Hmm?¡± Zhou Xufang glanced at the hand he was holding and hesitated but didn¡¯t pull away, ¡°Are you feeling unwell?¡± He shook his head without letting go of her hand and led her into the private room with slow steps, not watching the road but turning his head back to look at her, ¡°If one day you want flowers, I¡¯ll buy them for you, but can I not buy roses?¡± She said, ¡°I don¡¯t like flowers.¡± Jiang Zhi felt once again that everything Xue Baoyi had said was bullshit. The reserved room was on the second floor, nicely decorated and near a window, where with just a glance up one could see the neon lights at the street corner. However, Jiang Zhi liked cleanliness and had Ah Wan wipe down the table and chairs before he would sit. Zhou Xufang pushed the menu towards him. He pushed it back to her, ¡°You order for me.¡± Ah Wan, standing silently to the side, felt that there was something off about her employer¡¯s persona. ¡°Do you have any food dislikes?¡± Jiang Zhi said he didn¡¯t have any, ¡°Order what you like.¡± Ah Wan rolled her eyes, wondering how many finicky, annoying habits this stubborn ancestor of hers had¨Che wouldn¡¯t eat onions, ginger, or garlic, couldn¡¯t handle fish with bones, wouldn¡¯t eat shrimp that weren¡¯t peeled, porridge couldn¡¯t be too thin or too thick, rice couldn¡¯t be too soft or too hard, couldn¡¯t tolerate even a bit of fat on meat, and would throw a fit if lean meat was even slightly tough¡­ Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ??¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï No food dislikes? Ha! Zhou Xufang ordered the signature seafood porridge for Jiang Zhi just like hers but requested hers without egg and added a dozen or so dim sums and all of the signature dishes from the restaurant. Jiang Zhi frowned deeply at the abundance. ¡°Don¡¯t order so much.¡± Thinking about her earning money through hard labor, he couldn¡¯t bear the extra expense and took a pen, crossing out over half of what she had ordered. Zhou Xufang reached for the pen again, ¡°I¡¯m afraid it won¡¯t be enough for you.¡± Jiang Zhi closed the menu decisively and handed it back to the waiter behind him, ¡°I don¡¯t eat much.¡± He took off his coat and casually slid his chair closer to hers, claiming coolly, ¡°I¡¯m easy to feed.¡± Ah Wan felt like scoffing again. Easy to feed? Shameless, not knowing who was so picky that he drove several chefs away. And there was something even more shameless¡ª ¡°Are you hot?¡± Zhou Xufang nodded. With utmost naturalness, he responded, ¡°Then take off your coat.¡± The heater was on in the room and indeed it was a bit warm, so Zhou Xufang took off her coat. Jiang Zhi glanced at the pink sweatshirt she was wearing, and the more he looked, the more pleasing it was to his eye. With an artistic flair, he was completely at ease, ¡°Why didn¡¯t you come to the set yesterday?¡± ¡°I went to clean some windows.¡± Jiang Zhi¡¯s eyebrows tightened abruptly, ¡°Clean what windows?¡± Zhou Xufang pointed to the high-rise buildings outside the window in a typical, serious tone, ¡°The ones like that.¡± The skyscrapers outside soared into the clouds, towering over a hundred meters high. Jiang Zhi took one look at it and his expression darkened before he fell silent, just watching her. After a long while, she realized that he seemed to be angry. ¡°Why aren¡¯t you talking?¡± She didn¡¯t know what had suddenly annoyed him. When he wasn¡¯t smiling, with his eyebrows tightly knit, his eyes were filled with severity, ¡°Don¡¯t you know how dangerous working at heights is?¡± Oh, he was worried about her. Patiently, she explained, ¡°It¡¯s okay, I have a professional qualification certificate.¡± She even got a certificate¡­ He fell silent again. Unable to scold her, he could only sulk. Seeing that he wasn¡¯t talking, Zhou Xufang also remained silent, poured herself a cup of sweet tea, and sipped it slowly. She could still drink her tea! Jiang Zhi grew even more annoyed, ¡°Zhou Xufang!¡± His expression was fierce, but because he wore a pink outfit today and his hair was a matte warm color, with an unhealthy pallor over his face making him look delirately gentle, he didn¡¯t seem so imposing. Instead, he looked like a tiny kitten that was angry and trying to be ferocious but had yet to grow claws. Even when he bared his teeth and waved his paws, he had no real power. Zhou Xufang was not afraid of him at all and even agreed with him. Jiang Zhi felt like she had scratched the tip of his heart. It was painful and itchy, and he grabbed a handful of his own hair, frustrated and angry, and complained to her, ¡°If I don¡¯t talk to you, can¡¯t you initiate conversation with me?¡± His expression was still fierce, but his tone had softened. Coquetry, Jiang Zhi found, was quite addictive, because she ate it up, and he increasingly took it up with ease. Zhou Xufang was both confused and stunned. ¡°What should I talk about then?¡± ¡°Say that you¡¯ll never work outside again.¡± That wouldn¡¯t work; she wanted to buy Moon Bay. Afraid that Jiang Zhi would get angry, she muttered softly, ¡°I still need to work.¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± When obedient, you could make his heart itch. When disobedient, you could make his hair stand on end. Such a pain! Jiang Zhi took a deep breath, unable to outstubborn her, and could only compromise, ¡°Then can you not do anything dangerous? No window washing, no brick-moving.¡± Zhou Xufang thought for a moment, then agreed. No brick-moving¡ªshe could work with concrete pumps. No window washing¡ªshe could scrub toilets. Jiang Zhi was naturally still worried, pondered for a moment, ¡°Would you want to become a celebrity?¡± Zhou Xufang shook her head without thinking. Compared to letting her work outside, Jiang Zhi would rather bring her into his own circle, ¡°The entertainment industry is exceedingly profitable, why not join? It¡¯s just about making money, and if you want, I can make you earn until your hands ache.¡± She honestly discussed the matter, ¡°I¡¯m not good at acting, singing, or dancing.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t need to be, my support is enough.¡± That¡¯s how peculiar the entertainment circle was¡ªthere were countless ways to be famous, not necessarily through talent. Zhou Xufang still shook her head, unexplained. She was not like most people, too much exposure made her feel a severe sense of crisis; she was only suited for solitude, preferably somewhere isolated like Moon Bay. Jiang Zhi poured himself a cup of tea and gulped it down to cool his temper. He wasn¡¯t angry with her, but with himself because he couldn¡¯t handle her. At that moment, his phone rang. It was Xue Baoyi. ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± His tone was as explosive as if he had swallowed a ton of dynamite. Xue Baoyi still teasingly ridiculed him from the other end, ¡°Why so angry? Did Zhou Xufang upset you?¡± Jiang Zhi couldn¡¯t be bothered to discuss it, ¡°Hanging up.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t,¡± he hastily got to the point, ¡°there¡¯s a bit of a tricky situation at Huayu, Jin Lei has made some secondary preparations, it seems you can¡¯t swallow it all at once.¡± Jin Lei and Jin Song, the two brothers fighting like dogs, and plenty of others wanted a piece of it too. Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t reply to Xue Baoyi, pressed the phone against his ear, and instructed Zhou Xufang, ¡°Don¡¯t move, wait for me here.¡± ¡°Mm.¡± He grabbed his coat, stood up, and left to take the call. Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t know what it was about, but could Ah Wan not know? It was about discussing thuggish schemes, sneaking in where they¡¯re not wanted¡ªthat¡¯s why he was deliberately avoiding the high-principled and morally righteous Miss Zhou. In the lobby of the porridge shop, a child was crying. The crying annoyed Jiang Zhi, and he pulled a face mask out of his pocket, put it on, and walked outside. Hearing the sob, the waiter set down his tray and went over to comfort the child. ¡°What¡¯s wrong, little buddy?¡± Just then, Jiang Zhi pushed open the door. The night breeze slipped in, knocking a note off the tray. The child was still sobbing intermittently, unable to find his mother. The waiter took him to the information desk, made sure everything was handed off at the front, then returned to continue his service, noticing the note had flipped over. Assuming a passing guest had accidentally touched the tray, he didn¡¯t pay much attention, directly taking it into a private room. ¡°Your seafood porridge.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± Zhou Xufang asked the waiter, ¡°Which bowl doesn¡¯t have egg in it?¡± ¡°The one on the left.¡± Zhou Xufang thanked him and moved that bowl in front of herself. More than ten minutes passed before Jiang Zhi returned to the room, finding Zhou Xufang motionless, lying with her head on the table. Chapter 86 - Chapter 86: 086: Ah Fang is drunk, Jiang Zhis welfare Chapter 86: 086: Ah Fang is drunk, Jiang Zhi¡¯s welfare Jiang Zhi returned to the box more than ten minutes later and found Zhou Xufang sprawled motionless on the table. ¡°Xu Fang.¡± No response. Jiang Zhi bent over and called her, ¡°Xu Fang.¡± She still lay motionless. Jiang Zhi called Ah Wan over, ¡°What¡¯s wrong with her?¡± Ah Wan scratched his head, equally puzzled, ¡°I don¡¯t know either.¡± He was considerate and had intentionally gone to the next room to eat to avoid being a third wheel. Jiang Zhi pulled up a chair and sat next to Zhou Xufang, leaned down close to her ear, and softly called, ¡°Xu Fang.¡± She looked up, staring blankly ahead, ¡°Hmm?¡± He moved his face into her line of sight, observed her bleary appearance, and couldn¡¯t resist patting her head, ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Are you sleepy?¡± Her head wobbled, and her eyes welled up with tears, ¡°Stop shaking; it¡¯s making my eyes blur.¡± He wasn¡¯t shaking though. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.§ã? Jiang Zhi leaned in closer with his nose, sniffed, and asked, ¡°Have you been drinking?¡± She suddenly giggled, continuing to sway her head. Ah Wan muttered, ¡°There was no alcohol ordered.¡± Jiang Zhi leaned in closer and sniffed again but still couldn¡¯t smell any alcohol, ¡°Xu Fang, you¡ª¡± Before he could finish, two ice-cold hands cupped his face. She turned her head to look at him, her eyes wet and lashes fluttering, with a vague yet intense gaze, she asked him, ¡°Are you Jiang Zhi?¡± Her eyes were hazy, and her voice soft and limp, like she had pulled all her prickles out, turning into a soft bundle, tickling your heart. Jiang Zhi¡¯s heart melted. He smiled and patted her face, ¡°Yes, I¡¯m Jiang Zhi.¡± She blankly processed this for a moment, then lifted her hand and gently patted his face, the action extremely light. After patting, her hand hung around his neck; she leaned in and nuzzled his shoulder, adorably helpless, ¡°Can you carry me home? I want to sleep.¡± Her cool face rested against his neck, moving haphazardly. Jiang Zhi felt a ticklish itch, his fingers curling, he steadied her restless self. ¡°Aren¡¯t you eating anything?¡± She shook her head, her cheeks flushed and eyes moist. So adorable. And she didn¡¯t throw a drunken tantrum. Jiang Zhi grabbed her coat, helped her into it, then squatted in front of her, ¡°Climb on, I¡¯ll carry you.¡± She pursed her lips, giggled, and clambered onto his back. At this moment, she was utterly defenseless against him, tilting her head to whisper by his ear, ¡°Can I bite you?¡± Jiang Zhi turned around, ¡°Lin Wanwan, please leave.¡± Lin Wanwan: ¡°!¡± Boss, please be a decent human being! Ah Wan, too nervous to intervene, anxiously looked back three times as he exited. Once the door closed, Jiang Zhi set her down on a chair and knelt before her. The old lady at home often advised that a gentleman should know what to do and what not to do; The young master of the Jiang Family should epitomize morality, demeanour, and integrity. He had never agreed with this doctrine of gentlemanliness, favoring tactics of supporting those who align with him and opposing those who don¡¯t. Usually, he would play the role, acting like a graceful gentleman from a painting. But not today, not in front of her. He steadied her and freed one hand to tug down the collar of her sweatshirt, ¡°Lightly, do you understand?¡± It took a long time before they emerged. Ah Wan hurried over, checking on the employer with the unconscious person on his back, ¡°Boss, is Miss Zhou alright?¡± Jiang Zhi ignored him and continued walking with her on his back. Ah Wan, frantic, couldn¡¯t keep his words to himself, ¡°And you¡¯re okay?¡± He didn¡¯t dare to ask outright if he had behaved decently, instead offering, ¡°Let me carry her; you¡¯re not in good shape yourself.¡± The ¡®not in good shape¡¯ Jiang Zhi looked back with a cold glare, ¡°Go pay the bill.¡± His aggressiveness was palpable, like a wolf guarding its food. Ah Wan reflexively shuddered, ¡°Oh.¡± Truly a beast! Fortunately, this meal ultimately didn¡¯t cost Miss Zhou¡¯s ¡®hard-earned money.¡¯ At the ground floor, Jiang Zhi put a facemask on Zhou Xufang as the Boss Lady approached, ¡°Heading out?¡± Zhou Xufang had been helping in the shop with deliveries, and they had become somewhat acquainted, so the Boss Lady casually asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong with Xu Fang?¡± ¡°She¡¯s drunk.¡± ¡°Last time was the same, got drunk without drinking anything.¡± Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t want to elaborate and headed for the exit. The person on his back suddenly stirred. Jiang Zhi stopped to ask what was wrong. She slurred unclearly, ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± She looked up, pointing to the ceiling, ¡°I want to jump up there.¡± Jiang Zhi looked up, momentarily dazzled by the chandelier¡¯s bright light. By his ear, the girl quietly said, ¡°I¡¯ll tell you a secret, I can jump really high.¡± Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t rush out but turned to listen closely, ¡°Why do you want to jump up there?¡± Her face flushed as she gazed upward, her eyes catching the light, shimmering mesmerizingly. She said, ¡°I want to take that chandelier home.¡± Her head wobbling, she mused dreamily, ¡°It¡¯s so beautiful; I want to hide it away.¡± She seemed to really like beautiful things. Jiang Zhi looked up at the porcelain-carved lamp on the ceiling, ¡°You want that lamp?¡± She nodded vigorously, ¡°Mm-hmm.¡± Jiang Zhi, still carrying her, returned to the cashier counter and asked the Boss Lady, ¡°Could you sell me that chandelier?¡± The Boss Lady hesitated, ¡°This¡­¡± Jiang Zhi cut to the chase, ¡°Name your price.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± The Boss Lady quickly agreed. Zhou Xufang cuddled against Jiang Zhi¡¯s neck, giggling foolishly¡ªit really was a foolish giggle. She rarely laughed, and when she did, her expression was somewhat stiff, resembling an innocent child unversed in worldly matters. Jiang Zhi, shielded by the facemask, kissed her cheek and carried her out of the porridge shop. Ah Wan was left behind. After the shop closed, he would need to contact someone to remove the lamp, but he was truly worried about Miss Zhou, unconscious and in the clutches of his beastly employer. Chapter 87 - Chapter 87: 087: Show affection all the way to the police station Chapter 87: 087: Show affection all the way to the police station Jiang Zhi¡¯s car was parked across the street, and there was a bit of distance to cover. Zhou Xufang was light, and although he walked slowly, she wasn¡¯t very calm, constantly moving and continuously calling his name while on his back. ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± ¡°Mmm.¡± ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± ¡°Mmm.¡± Incessantly, she tilted her head and called into his ear, never tiring of it, ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± Jiang Zhi stopped walking, ¡°Why do you keep calling me?¡± She didn¡¯t speak but buried her head in his neck, rubbing against it. After a while, she muttered in a muffled voice, ¡°When I leave, will you miss me?¡± Carrying her on his back and standing under the streetlight, their shadows intertwined tightly. He glanced at them and couldn¡¯t help but smile, ¡°Where are you going?¡± She didn¡¯t answer but kept pressing, ¡°Will you?¡± Her hands clung to his neck, her legs kicking gently, urging him to respond, ¡°Will you or won¡¯t you?¡± He adjusted her slightly, securing her position, ¡°I will.¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í??.§ã¦Ï Where could she go anyway? Wherever she went, he would follow. Zhou Xufang was delighted to hear that, swinging her legs and saying, ¡°Then I¡¯ll swim back to see you.¡± Her drunken ramblings were gentle and incessant, her breath warm against Jiang Zhi¡¯s ear, reddening a patch of skin there. Under the light, his eyes began to redden too; his breathing became unsteady, and he felt overwhelmingly flush. ¡°Why would you swim back?¡± She said, ¡°Because I¡¯m in the water.¡± She was truly drunk, uttering complete nonsense. ¡°Do you still feel uncomfortable?¡± ¡°Mmm.¡± She found the mask uncomfortable, so she yanked it off, crumpled it into a ball, and stuffed it into Jiang Zhi¡¯s shirt collar. Then, holding his neck, she buried her face in his clothes, whimpering about her discomfort. His heart was nearly melted by her. Jiang Zhi caressed her head with his cheek, ¡°Then let¡¯s not talk, sleep for a bit.¡± She sniffled, her voice a bit babyish, ¡°I won¡¯t sleep, I¡¯ll sing for you instead.¡± She tightened her grip around his neck, swinging her slender legs, and began to sing in a crooked, wobbling tune, ¡°Lanterns in the first month, kites in the second, in the third month watch for pretty girls from a boat, in the fourth month traffic wears bamboo hats, the fifth month under the sun the fleas¡­¡± This nursery rhyme was an interlude in a movie Jiang Zhi had worked on. She was completely off-key as she sang, yet for some reason, it pained him to listen¡ªnot knowing exactly what he felt pity for, just feeling the girl on his back had perhaps suffered a lot. He suddenly felt bewildered, ¡°Fang Bao.¡± ¡°Mmm.¡± She responded. No one had called her that before, nor had Jiang Zhi called anyone else in such a way. He stopped, standing amidst the neon lights, and asked her, ¡°Do you like me?¡± She didn¡¯t make a sound, uncertain whether she was asleep. Jiang Zhi turned his head and nuzzled her face with his chin, persistently asking, ¡°Do you like me?¡± She murmured, dreamily confessing her liking. Then, Jiang Zhi gratuitously made a comparison. ¡°Do you like me, or do you like the lamp at the congee shop?¡± Zhou Xufang, groggy with sleep, caught only the last word, ¡°Lamp¡­¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± He was being ridiculous earlier, it didn¡¯t count. He asked again formally, ¡°Answer again, do you like the lamp at the congee shop or Jiang Zhi?¡± He emphasized the last two words particularly. ¡°Jiang Zhi¡­¡± Jiang Zhi then smiled, ¡°Good baby.¡± He soothed her to sleep and happily hummed a few lines of the tune she had just sung. But Zhou Xufang only slept briefly and hadn¡¯t even reached the street across when the sudden lighting of a lamp on a street tree startled her from her slumber. The winter solstice was nearing, and little strings of lights were hung on the street-side trees, flickering lively and festive at night. Zhou Xufang was startled awake by the lights, straightening her back alertly and excitedly tugging at the hood of Jiang Zhi¡¯s sweatshirt, ¡°Jiang Zhi, look, the lights are on!¡± She really did like lights, all kinds of shiny lights. ¡°I see them.¡± She was thrilled, her eyes curving into crescent moons, her chin resting on top of Jiang Zhi¡¯s head, mussing up his hair, contentedly and cheerfully saying, ¡°The lights are beautiful, and the trees are too.¡± On the ground, Jiang Zhi¡¯s shadow¡¯s hair started to bristle a bit. Worried she might fall, he lifted his hand to support her, ¡°Lie down nicely, don¡¯t move.¡± Her interest in the little strings of lights on the tree was intense, and while staring at them, she let go of his hat and cupped his face, asking, ¡°Do you like them?¡± Seeing her joy, Jiang Zhi¡¯s heart softened beyond recognition, ¡°I like them.¡± ¡°Then I¡¯ll steal them and give them to you.¡± After she spoke, she kicked her legs and leaped high into the air. Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± Was this girl a monkey? He hadn¡¯t clearly seen how she had jumped down when she had already darted to the base of the tree. ¡°There¡¯s electricity, don¡¯t¡ª¡± Too late, before he could finish his sentence, the ground shook a couple of times, and the camphor tree was uprooted by her. Then, bang, bang, bang, bang¡ª An entire street¡¯s little string lights all short-circuited simultaneously. ¡°Jiang Zhi, Jiang Zhi!¡± The girl who had pulled out the tree joyfully carried the nearly ten-meter-tall tree, sprinting over to Jiang Zhi with agile steps, seeming as though she were carrying a bundle of cotton, effortlessly flipping the tree upright with one hand, and presented it to Jiang Zhi, ¡°Here, for you.¡± Jiang Zhi was dumbfounded. ¡°Who?!¡± ¡°Who is damaging public property?¡± A traffic police officer, holding an electric baton, chased from the guardhouse across the street. Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± He paused for just five seconds, then quickly reacted, ¡°Good baby, quickly throw away the tree.¡± Zhou Xufang was dazed for a few seconds, then obediently tossed the tree, emitting a loud Duang sound. Jiang Zhi pulled out a mask, quickly put it on her, and brushed off the dirt clinging to her body, and with a kick, he tried to shove away the tree. However, his kick didn¡¯t move the tree an inch. By this time, the traffic police officer had caught up, roughly in his forties or fifties, short and chubby, he had run a short distance and was panting heavily, brandishing his electric baton aggressively, and demanded, ¡°Was it you two damaging public property?¡± Jiang Zhi shielded Zhou Xufang behind him, denying without a change in expression, ¡°It wasn¡¯t us.¡± Still not admitting it? He had clearly seen them from across the street! The police officer immediately called for a patrol officer, ¡°Officer Liu, there are two drunkards here damaging public property.¡± Fake drunk Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± Real drunk Zhou Xufang: ¡°¡­¡± Fifteen minutes later, a patrolling officer took the two to the police station. The duty officer, Officer Zhao, yawned, ¡°Names.¡± The man across him looked outstanding, dressed fine, not much like a criminal, quite the demeanor of a noble young master, except for a head of dyed blue hair, likely a trendy young man with taste. ¡®Trendy young man¡¯ responded, ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± That name sounds familiar. Officer Zhao glanced again, mmm, this excessively handsome face also looked a bit familiar, but he couldn¡¯t recall where he had seen it. Officer Zhao continued with the paperwork, glancing at the young girl sleeping in the ¡®trendy young man¡¯s arms, ¡°And her, name.¡± ¡°My girlfriend had too much to drink, she can¡¯t do the paperwork,¡± the person in his arms stirred, and Jiang Zhi gently soothed her, ¡°Good, sleep for a while.¡± Sleep? What kind of place did he think a police station was! Officer Zhao¡¯s voice rose a bit, using his absolute authority, ¡°ID number.¡± Jiang Zhi recited a series of numbers. Officer Zhao checked the identification details, beginning the interrogation, ¡°Why were you damaging public property?¡± Jiang Zhi took off his jacket, draped it over Zhou Xufang, tugged her mask, covering her completely from head to toe, and never once raised his head, ¡°We didn¡¯t damage public property.¡± Look at that! This trendy young man still dared to defy the officers! Officer Zhao directly pulled up the surveillance footage, his voice fierce, ¡°The cameras caught everything, and you still want to argue?¡± Finally, the ¡®blue-haired trendy young man¡¯ looked up, casually pushed back his hair from his forehead, the matte, misty blue making his complexion appear fair, seven parts aristocratic mixed with three parts laziness in his enticing peach blossom eyes, a hint of untamed wildness flickering within them. ¡°How heavy is that tree?¡± Officer Zhao was taken aback by the question, ¡°Uh¡­ around two hundred kilograms?¡± ¡°You think,¡± his voice disturbed the person in his arms, and he softly soothed her with a couple of whispers before continuing, ¡°how much strength it would take to uproot that tree with its roots intact?¡± Chapter 88 - Chapter 88: 088: Take home overnight~ Chapter 88: 088: Take home overnight~ ¡°How much strength would it take to uproot that tree completely?¡± Officer Zhao thought for a moment and chuckled, ¡°Are you playing with me?¡± How could a normal person possibly uproot a nearly ten-meter-tall tree! ¡°Officer, it¡¯s you who¡¯s playing with us.¡± Jiang Zhi slung the girl in his arms, with one hand on her back, lightly patting it now and then, ¡°My girlfriend is just a tiny girl under hundred pounds, fragile as can be, where would she get the strength to damage a tree over ten meters tall?¡± Officer Zhao thought about it¡­ that did seem reasonable. However, Officer Zhao wasn¡¯t easy to fool either, ¡°Then how did the surveillance capture her pulling at the tree?¡± Jiang Zhi turned the computer at a different angle, pointed at the screen without any sign of nervousness in the police station, calm and collected, he said, ¡°At that time, the wind was blowing, bending the tree. My girlfriend kindly went over to support it, but the wind was so strong that it blew the tree onto her shoulder. You don¡¯t even give my girlfriend a good citizen award, yet you falsely accuse her of damaging public property.¡± He dragged out his words lazily, ¡°Officer, where¡¯s the logic in that?¡± ¡°¡­¡± Officer Zhao was at a loss for words, looking at this ¡®blue-haired young society member¡¯, feeling a wicked vibe rushing towards him, and yet there was a composed grandeur about him. Truly remarkable. It seemed he wasn¡¯t just an ordinary member; he was big brother level. Officer Zhao calmed himself down, tidied up his thoughts, ¡°Can tonight¡¯s wind pull a tree up by its roots?¡± Jiang Zhi shifted his legs, changing the girl¡¯s sleeping position in his arms, ¡°Then do you think my girlfriend could?¡± This, this, this¡­ Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï??0.§ã? Officer Zhao was speechless. The man remained casual, unhurried, ¡°Any more questions?¡± That lazy tone, somehow mixed with a decisive authority. Officer Zhao¡¯s voice somehow weakened, ¡°¡­ no, not for now.¡± Just then, the sound of a door opening was heard, a gust of wind came through the door, Officer Zhao looked up, surprised, ¡°Captain Qiao, why are you here?¡± The head of the Criminal Intelligence Department had arrived. This Captain Qiao from the Criminal Intelligence Department was a legendary figure, rising to the top at a young age. Regardless of whether or not he had family connections, he certainly had the capability. Soon after taking office, he had shaped up the department impressively, and most importantly, Captain Qiao had single-handedly increased the number of female applicants at the police academy. In this era of valuing appearances, it was helpless, the Criminal Investigation Team recently got two new female interns who were all drawn by this ¡®police grass¡¯. Qiao Nanchu was handsome, but frankly speaking, he had a bit of a frivolous air, lacking the compelling righteousness of public servants. His eyes always carried a faint trace of heartlessness and a mischievous bad boy charm. With a cigarette in his mouth, he smiled with a mix of roguishness and indifference, ¡°I came to get someone.¡± He raised a hand and pointed, with a nod, ¡°These two are my friends.¡± Officer Zhao remembered then. Captain Qiao had a childhood friend who was into film making, he had made the headlines alright, no wonder he looked familiar. It turned out this ¡®blue-haired young society member¡¯ was actually quite the young master. After completing the procedures, Qiao Nanchu led people out of the police station. He glanced at the girl in Jiang Zhi¡¯s arms, ¡°What happened?¡± Jiang Zhi, careful not to let the girl fall, gently supported her waist, coaxing her not to move, coaxed, then looked up at his brother, his eyes were not so tender and loving anymore, ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it.¡± Qiao Nanchu couldn¡¯t stand seeing him like this, ineffectually ensnared, scolded him jokingly, asking, ¡°Is she drunk?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°Well done, Brother Zhi, quite the progress.¡± Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t respond, focused on comforting the girl in his arms; it seemed she was mumbling about discomfort, he patted and soothed her more, his winter coat now on the girl as he broke out in a thin sweat. Qiao Nanchu chuckled, having never seen Jiang Zhi so tenderly compromising his assertiveness; he lit another cigarette, zipping up his police uniform all the way. ¡°Why did you even end up at the police station? If you were photographed, you¡¯d be in trouble.¡± Although directors weren¡¯t as high-profile as artists, they were still somewhat public figures. He took a few puffs of his cigarette, exhaling smoke rings with practiced ease, ¡°Do you want to go public?¡± Jiang Zhi shook his head, ¡°Not now, the Jiang Family is keeping a tight watch.¡± He wasn¡¯t afraid of trouble, just of annoying her, ¡°Help me get in touch with your uncle and let him know, they can photograph me, but Xu Fang cannot show her face.¡± Qiao Nanchu¡¯s uncle worked in media and journalism, so blocking a piece of news wasn¡¯t difficult. ¡°Your family?¡± Qiao Nanchu, with a cigarette between his lips, slowly exhaled a dense cloud of smoke, taunting, ¡°Have you got it secured already? Still ¡®your family¡¯?¡± The girl in Jiang Zhi¡¯s arms coughed twice from the smell of smoke. He gave a look of displeasure, ¡°Put out the cigarette.¡± Such a protective guy! Qiao Nanchu chuckled and swore, then stubbed out the cigarette, ¡°Take it easy.¡± He pulled a set of car keys from his police uniform pocket and threw them to Jiang Zhi, ¡°I¡¯ve got matters to attend to at the station, I¡¯m heading out first.¡± ¡°Thanks.¡± Qiao Nanchu waved his hand and left first. Jiang Zhi lifted her into the car, buckled her seatbelt. She slept restlessly, tossing a bit, pouting her lips, and mumbling something in her sleep, unclear, murmuring indistinctly. Jiang Zhi leaned in, observing her intently for a long while, then poked her cheek, ¡°Zhou Xufang.¡± She murmured a response but didn¡¯t wake up. Through the mask, Jiang Zhi rubbed his chin against her face, ¡°What else are you still hiding from me?¡± Startled, she fluttered her eyelashes, opened her eyes, and met Jiang Zhi¡¯s gaze unguarded, her eyes clear, reflecting only his outline. She cooed softly to him, ¡°Jiang Zhi, I¡¯m thirsty.¡± Jiang Zhi smiled and ruffled her hair, ¡°I¡¯ll get you something to drink.¡± It was fine with him, whether she spoke or not, he didn¡¯t mind anymore, as long as it was her. Clouds covered the moon, the night was pitch black, not a star in sight. Zhou Xufang¡¯s place was too far, Jiang Zhi took her back to his apartment. She woke up on the way but was still drunk, humming and chirping, singing some unknown tune. Click¡ª Jiang Zhi opened the door, supporting her into the house. She clumsily moved in his arms, afraid to fall, she held onto his clothes obediently, her eyes bleary as she asked him, ¡°Where is this?¡± Jiang Zhi shut the door, ¡°My place.¡± She hummed in acknowledgment, then nestled against his shoulder, quiet again like a restless animal, clinging tightly to him, behaving herself. Jiang Zhi fetched slippers from the shoe cabinet and placed them under her feet, ¡°Lift your feet.¡± She didn¡¯t move. Jiang Zhi had to lift her onto a cabinet in the entryway, bent down to change her shoes, her legs swinging, hitting his hands several times. He coaxed her not to move several times before he successfully changed her shoes and then carried her down from the cabinet, pinching her face, ¡°You really are a handful.¡± She grinned and echoed, ¡°A handful.¡± Jiang Zhi laughed. She too laughed, pulling on his hand unwilling to move, wanting him to carry her. Jiang Zhi was just about to squat down when she stopped moving and squatted beside him, staring at him with longing eyes, ¡°Jiang Zhi, I¡¯m thirsty again.¡± Chapter 89 - Chapter 89: 089: Tossed and turned all night~ Chapter 89: 089: Tossed and turned all night~ ¡°Jiang Zhi, I¡¯m thirsty again.¡± She licked her lips, squatting and curled into a ball. Jiang Zhi chuckled and squatted down to talk to her, ¡°Do you want water or milk?¡± ¡°Milk.¡± Jiang Zhi stood up. She followed suit, trailing him to the kitchen wherever he went. He had just taken out two cans of milk when she said, ¡°I want it cold.¡± ¡°No,¡± Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t give in to her, opened a can, poured it into a cup, and handed it to her, ¡°It¡¯s too cold outside to drink it cold.¡± Zhou Xufang, unhappy, pinched the cup without opening her mouth, scratched the rim twice, and then¡ª ¡°Clang!¡± She crushed the cup, splashing milk all over the floor. ¡°¡­¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã? Was the girl a strongwoman? ¡°Why did you use so much strength!¡± He had just finished speaking when her head drooped, she glanced at him, and muttered, ¡°Jiang Zhi scolded me.¡± ¡°Jiang Zhi scolded me.¡± ¡°Jiang Zhi scolded me.¡± She repeated it three times in a row! Then, she showed an injured expression, as though the sky had fallen. Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± Are all the girls who¡¯ve been drinking so charming? Not daring to speak to her loudly anymore, Jiang Zhi touched her head, his technique¡­ well, was much like petting a cat. He spoke softly and gently this time, ¡°I¡¯m not scolding you, I¡¯m worried you¡¯ll get hurt.¡± Zhou Xufang paused for three seconds: ¡°Oh.¡± She was easy to console and immediately snapped out of her sadness, standing unsteadily, swaying. ¡°Let me see your hand.¡± She held out both hands. Fortunately, she was not cut by glass, just a hand covered with milk. Jiang Zhi took some paper towels to clean her up, then led her out of the kitchen, placed a chair for her to sit on. He went back to the kitchen for more milk. Zhou Xufang followed him. ¡°Sit here and wait.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± She sat back down, shaking her head and swaying. Jiang Zhi warmed up two cans of milk in the kitchen, this time not letting her hold the cup herself. He fed her, and she sipped daintily. Jiang Zhi couldn¡¯t take his eyes off her: ¡°Is it good?¡± She licked her lips, her eyes forming two narrow curves, nodded her head, and said it was delicious. She didn¡¯t look at all like her usual stiff and serious self; her eyes were misty, like a lonely star shrouded in moisture, the desolation and solitude gone, only leaving an irresistible gentleness. She was just a sheep in wolf¡¯s clothing, with sharp claws, behind the mask, actually not aggressive at all. She licked her lips again. Her tongue tip was red¡­ Jiang Zhi¡¯s gaze grew warmer: ¡°Let me taste it?¡± She agreed, pushing the cup in his hand toward his lips. He took her hand away, set down the cup, leaned over, his hand bracing against the back of the chair, the other lifting her chin, and bent down to kiss her. Her eyes widened in surprise, her already flushed face turned thoroughly red. Jiang Zhi wasn¡¯t much better off, with his ears tinged red; the sickly pallor on his face now looked more beautiful with a flush of emotion, his hand on her waist slightly sweaty. He sucked gently, nipping at her. The light fell on the left side, casting shadows in Jiang Zhi¡¯s open collar, on his neck where the skin showed carelessly, marked by three or four hickeys. Zhou Xufang had ¡°bitten¡± those in the private room. Jiang Zhi thought he could bite back, opened his mouth, but just as his tongue touched her lips, she pushed him away, mischievously. ¡°Hot¡­¡± She said it was hot. Only then did Jiang Zhi realize how hot her skin felt to the touch, and all his romantic imaginations vanished. He stepped back a few paces and reached out to touch her face. ¡°Why is it so hot?¡± She kept saying it was very hot, not just her face, all the exposed skin was red. ¡°Do you feel uncomfortable anywhere?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not uncomfortable.¡± Jiang Zhi was a bit flustered and touched her forehead with his face, but still felt it was abnormally hot. He then carried her to the master bedroom, removed her shoes and jacket, and wrapped her with the blanket. She complained of the heat and tried to kick it off; as soon as her foot lifted, Jiang Zhi pressed it down, ¡°Be good, lie still, don¡¯t kick the blanket.¡± She didn¡¯t kick anymore and laid there like a log, perfectly still except for her eyelids, not moving an inch. Jiang Zhi rummaged through drawers and cabinets for quite a while before he found the medicine box. When he returned to the master bedroom with the thermometer, her eyelids had already closed, and she was sleeping in a daze. ¡°Xu Fang.¡± She hummed in response. Jiang Zhi sat by the bed, warming his hand before reaching under the blanket, ¡°Lift your arm for me.¡± She obediently lifted her arm. Jiang Zhi placed the thermometer under her armpit, waited a few minutes before taking it out. Just these few actions had him fumbling nervously, sweating profusely. 42 degrees, it was a high fever. He threw the thermometer aside and bent over to pick her up. Zhou Xufang turned over, refusing to be carried, ¡°Leave me alone, I want to sleep.¡± ¡°You can sleep later, we need to go to the hospital first.¡± Hospital? ¡°I don¡¯t want to go!¡± She turned to her side and pushed with her hand. Jiang Zhi, completely unprepared, was pushed off the bed, landing with a solid thud. At twelve o¡¯clock, Xue Bingxue was awakened by the ringing of his cellphone. Irritated by the disruption of his sleep in the middle of the night, even with his good temper, he was annoyed. It took him some time before reaching out of the covers to find his phone on the bedside table, without even opening his eyes. ¡°Hello?¡± ¡°Fever.¡± Concise and to the point, just two words, it was Jiang Zhi¡¯s voice. Xue Bingxue scratched his head and slowly climbed out from under the covers, glanced at the time on his phone, voice sleepy, ¡°Didn¡¯t you stop taking your medicine?¡± Jiang Zhi¡¯s voice was urgent, ¡°It¡¯s not me.¡± Oh, Xue Bingxue understood now, ¡°Is it Zhou Xufang who has a fever?¡± ¡°What should I do?¡± Just from the tone, it was clear how frantic Jiang Zhi was. This guy had been in and out of the ICU countless times over the past dozen years without ever panicking, yet Zhou Xufang¡¯s fever had him completely disoriented. Xue Bingxue rubbed his eyes, very sleepy, ¡°What do you mean what to do, take her to the hospital.¡± ¡°She doesn¡¯t want to go to the hospital.¡± ¡°Do you have any fever reducers at home?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Start by giving her the medicine.¡± Xue Bingxue yawned and wiped away the drowsiness, instructing Jiang Zhi on how to cool her down physically over the phone. On the other end, Jiang Zhi hung up the phone and went to give Zhou Xufang the medicine. She was sleeping heavily and refused to open her mouth, so he had to crush the pill and mix it with water to feed her. As soon as she tasted it, Zhou Xufang wrinkled her small face, ¡°Bitter.¡± She must really detest the bitterness, her eyebrows deeply furrowed. The sleepiness faded half way, but after Jiang Zhi softly coaxed her twice, she opened her mouth and drank the medicine. After feeding her the medicine, Jiang Zhi gave her a pink cotton candy, ¡°Still bitter?¡± ¡°Still bitter.¡± He fed her another candy, then got up to fetch some alcohol and water. He needed to use diluted alcohol for a body rub¡­ This was what Xue Bingxue had said. Jiang Zhi took off his sweater, feeling a bit hot. By the time he prepared the alcohol and returned to the room, Zhou Xufang had already crawled under the covers, sleeping soundly. She slept neatly, like a perfectly straight ¡®log of wood¡¯. Jiang Zhi placed the towel and basin on the bedside table, ¡°Xu Fang.¡± She didn¡¯t wake up. Good, at that moment, his desire was flaring, and he couldn¡¯t bear to see those eyes of hers that could captivate his soul. He pulled the blanket down a bit, watched her for a while before leaning down next to her ear, whispering, ¡°Someday in the future, I¡¯ll put you in a wedding dress.¡± Undressing a girl meant he had to cloak her in a wedding gown. He kissed her forehead, his hand slipping under the blanket, reaching for her waist¡­ So cold. It stayed for just a short time before he pulled his hand back out, placing it on her forehead. ¡°¡­¡± There wasn¡¯t a hint of fever to her, she was like a piece of ice. The next day dawned with a faint clear sky. Chapter 90 - Chapter 90: 090: Lets date Chapter 90: 090: Let¡¯s date The next day, the sky was slightly clear. The weak warmth of the early winter sun filtered through the window cracks, scattering dancing patches of light all around, making the person on the bed squint in the sunshine, frown and flutter her eyelashes before finally opening her eyes. The chandelier on the ceiling was really pretty. Zhou Xufang rubbed her eyes, still groggy from sleep, and stared at the chandelier for a long time. Blinking, she then suddenly sat up. This wasn¡¯t home¡­ Her first reaction was to clench her fists and guard her chest, then she looked around warily¡ª All the guard in her eyes fell away when she saw Jiang Zhi, lying beside her bed. He was still asleep, his hair messy and sticking out on all sides, his thin clothes shifted to one side revealing a hint of his collarbone, gleaming under the sun¡¯s rays, porcelain white. His sleeping posture wasn¡¯t great, and his legs were too long, stretched out carelessly. The patches of light from the window just happened to land on his face, his skin fair and lips red. With his eyes closed and silent, he resembled a painting of a beautiful person. Normally, his peach blossom eyes, not prone to flirtation, were hidden under his soft, obedient eyelashes, casting a few shadows. He seemed not at all like a young master but more like a gentle youth. She, as if possessed, reached out her hand to touch him. Jiang Zhi suddenly opened his eyes, and she froze in her movement. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï??0.§ã¦Ï There wasn¡¯t a trace of sleepiness in his eyes, only a joyful and triumphant smile, ¡°What are you doing?¡± propping himself up on the bed, he leaned toward her with the clear light of his peach blossom eyes, ¡°Do you want to touch me?¡± Zhou Xufang moved back, ¡°No!¡± She said it particularly loudly. Bluffing, really bluffing. Not teasing her anymore, Jiang Zhi stood up, not caring about his messy hair, touched her face, then her forehead, ¡°You don¡¯t have a fever anymore.¡± After he moved back and sat down, Zhou Xufang, who had been holding her breath, finally breathed quietly. ¡°Do you remember much about yesterday?¡± Yesterday¡¯s events¡­ Events and scenes rapidly flooded into Zhou Xufang¡¯s mind. It was annoying, her memory was very good, she didn¡¯t know how many times better than normal people. Feeling somewhat guilty, she hung her head, her hair as messy as Jiang Zhi¡¯s, and confessed in a small voice, ¡°I uprooted a tree.¡± Jiang Zhi leaned back in his chair, crossed his right leg over his left, hummed, waiting for her to continue. Zhou Xufang continued confessing honestly, ¡°We also went to the police station.¡± Jiang Zhi hummed, ¡°What else?¡± Her head buried even lower, her voice fainter, ¡°¡­ I don¡¯t remember.¡± But she remembered biting him, for a long time. She sneakily glanced at Jiang Zhi¡¯s neck, full of bite marks¡­ She frustratingly tugged at her clothes, her face flushed and scratching her palm, wondering if Jiang Zhi would think she was a lecherous demoness¡­ ¡°Do you remember you kissed me?¡± Her voice broke, ¡°I didn¡¯t, it was you¡ª¡± Jiang Zhi laughed, ¡°You remember, huh.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Suddenly, she thought Jiang Zhi was a little bit bad, just a little. He looked into her eyes, his gaze intense, ¡°So, should you explain how you managed to uproot a tree weighing several hundred pounds?¡± Why? Actually, to be precise, she didn¡¯t know why either. Her memory stopped at that human genetic laboratory where she had lots of blood drawn, took many pills, and underwent many radiation experiments, and after all that, she became this way. Before that, she couldn¡¯t remember anything but knew that many people called her a Monster, others called her a legend in genetic medicine. She didn¡¯t look into Jiang Zhi¡¯s eyes anymore, ¡°I¡¯m strong.¡± Jiang Zhi¡¯s tone was casual, not like an accusation, more like making conversation, ¡°What about the alcohol? Who gave you the drink?¡± ¡°I bought it myself.¡± Her ears turned red. This girl was probably not good at lying, her panic and guilt were written all over her face. Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t expose her, ¡°You had a fever last night.¡± Within less than five minutes, it dropped from over forty degrees to the twenties, which was very abnormal. Zhou Xufang hung her head and fiddled with her fingers, unsure how to explain. She had been having frequent fevers lately, which hadn¡¯t happened before, and she still hadn¡¯t figured out why. ¡°Zhou Xufang.¡± She immediately sat up straight. Still unwilling to say anything, Jiang Zhi felt a sense of powerlessness as if he could be abandoned at any moment. He leaned forward, resting his elbows on the edge of the bed, ¡°What is our relationship?¡± She blankly asked back, ¡°What relationship?¡± Jiang Zhi tugged at his collar, revealing his collarbone and shoulder, ¡°Who bit this?¡± The bite marks were red with a hint of purple, very noticeable against his fair skin. She felt like crushing her own teeth, ¡°¡­It was me.¡± He accused her righteously, ¡°You also touched me.¡± His tone was forceful, but his eyes gleamed with pleasure as he emphasized the location and duration, ¡°In the private room, for a long time.¡± Zhou Xufang was speechless, ¡°¡­¡± It was he who had put her hand inside his clothes, she only touched his abs¡­ ¡°You kissed and you touched, aren¡¯t you responsible?¡± So, his goal was, ¡°Let¡¯s date.¡± It didn¡¯t matter if she wasn¡¯t upfront, first he had to win her over. She suddenly fell silent. Jiang Zhi still didn¡¯t know that her eyes could turn red, her self-healing ability was more than eighty times that of humans, she was an amphibian, her bite force comparable to that of a wild beast. Jiang Zhi still didn¡¯t know that she had scared many people into fainting, many wanted her dead, so she wanted to buy an island and live hidden in the water. Jiang Zhi also didn¡¯t know she really, really liked him, wanting to take him to Moon Bay, wanting to give him her favorite lamp, favorite cotton candy, and milk. Lixiang said, Jiang Zhi was cold-sensitive and water-fearing, and needed medication to cope every winter. Jiang Zhi had three good childhood friends, a grandmother who loved him dearly, and a Genetic Laboratory specifically for treating his chronic conditions. ¡°Not good.¡± She said it wasn¡¯t good. He became annoyed, his eyes reddening, coughing out of anger, ¡°Zhou Xufang¡­cough, cough, cough¡­you¡¯re rejecting me again!¡± Her eyes teary, she looked down, unable to look at him anymore, her throat rough, no longer speaking. Jiang Zhi really was irritated by her, coughing until his face looked awful, ¡°You¡¯re so stubborn, I should have dealt with you yesterday!¡± After speaking, he stormed out of the room without another word. Zhou Xufang sat there, her eyes becoming warm. Later, there was a loud clanging outside the door, she got up, opened it, and saw the towel and toothbrush Jiang Zhi had left at the door. Her coat had been dirtied by milk the night before, and there was a men¡¯s hoodie on a cabinet by the door, in her favorite pink color. Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t know many people, she could count them on her fingers, she didn¡¯t know how many people were in the world, but she was sure, Jiang Zhi was the best to her in this world. After freshening up, she came out to find Jiang Zhi sitting on the lazy chair on the balcony, his back to her, not turning around to look at her. ¡°I¡¯m going home now.¡± Jiang Zhi hummed, refusing to talk to her. She said, ¡°Goodbye.¡± After standing for a while, she walked towards the entrance, not yet reaching the doorstep when Jiang Zhi called her back, ¡°Come back.¡± So she walked back. Jiang Zhi still didn¡¯t look at her, just showed her the back of his head, ¡°Take the breakfast from the table, throw it away if you don¡¯t eat it!¡± His tone was still angry. But Zhou Xufang knew, he couldn¡¯t bear to let her starve. She took the breakfast with her, leaving Jiang Zhi¡¯s house, finished it at the doorstep, and walked out of the compound with red eyes. Chapter 91 - Chapter 91: 091: Xu Fang: I dumped Jiang Zhi! Chapter 91: 091: Xu Fang: I dumped Jiang Zhi! At nine o¡¯clock, Zhou Xufang returned home, did nothing, and just sat still for an hour. The computer was on, and messages from Shuangjiang kept coming one after another. ¡°I have managed your properties and funds, Jiang Zhi won¡¯t find out.¡± ¡°I did an estimate, and you¡¯re still short by about one billion.¡± ¡°I tried to check the Peace Talisman hangings from Lingdu Temple, I¡¯ve sent you the new list.¡± Zhou Xufang had no reaction; though her eyes were on the computer, her mind was elsewhere. ¡°Xu Fang.¡± Shuangjiang made a clicking sound. She was still zoning out. Shuangjiang clicked again in a series, ¡°Xu Fang.¡± She finally looked up, her gaze empty, speaking to herself, ¡°Jiang Zhi is mad at me.¡± ¡°Jiang Zhi is ignoring me.¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ??¦Í??.§ã¦Ï ¡°Jiang Zhi isn¡¯t talking to me.¡± She said it three times, each more panicky and remorseful than the last; she even ripped the cushion and bit her lip until it bled. Shuangjiang sent a question mark. ¡°I sent Jiang Zhi so many periods, and he hasn¡¯t responded to me,¡± Zhou Xufang spoke more and more sorrowfully, her shoulders slumped, devoid of any spirit, looking like the sky was falling, ¡°he doesn¡¯t want to bother with me.¡± She felt terrible. Shuangjiang didn¡¯t know how to console her, and after seeing her sit a while longer, she couldn¡¯t sit still anymore. ¡°Where are you going?¡± She stood up from the chair, her expression desolate, ¡°I¡¯m going on a mission.¡± Even if Jiang Zhi was ignoring her, she would still protect him. The computer screen suddenly switched to a surveillance feed. Shuangjiang sent a message, ¡°Someone¡¯s at the door.¡± Only then did Zhou Xufang gather a trace of spirit to listen to the noises downstairs; after making sure of the footsteps, she put on a coat that wrapped her from head to foot and went downstairs. With her hood on, she opened the door and only poked her head out, ¡°Who¡¯s it?¡± Her voice was a bit cold and listless. At the door stood three men, all in the uniforms of a logistics company, with the two at the back carrying a box, and the man at the front asking, ¡°Are you Miss Zhou Xufang?¡± ¡°I am.¡± Her face was small, half-hidden in her clothing. The delivery man couldn¡¯t make out her face and found her chill, piercing eyes a bit disconcerting, he handed over the delivery slip, ¡°Your chandelier, please sign here.¡± She looked up upon hearing that. Only then did the delivery guy see her face clearly, a pretty girl with an aura of keeping others at a distance. She took the slip, signed, and handed it back, ¡°Thank you.¡± Her hands were pale and delicate, clearly not often exposed to sunlight. The delivery guy, without any ill intentions, took a second look and asked, ¡°Do you need us to carry it upstairs for you?¡± It¡¯s very heavy; how could a delicate girl like you lift it? Her response was cold and blunt, ¡°No need.¡± She reached out from behind the door, took the box with one hand, and effortlessly lifted it, not even fluttering an eyelash. ¡°!¡± The delivery guy was shocked, ¡°Do you need help installing it?¡± She shook her head and said thank you. She had once worked part-time as an electrician and could install it herself; she carried the box into the building, said thanks again, and closed the door. The delivery guy was stunned again and couldn¡¯t help asking his colleague, ¡°How heavy is that box?¡± ¡°Over a hundred pounds.¡± ¡°I watched that girl lift it like it was a head of cabbage.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Zhou Xufang carried the ¡®cabbage¡¯ into the house with one hand, opened the box to take a look, and felt even more disheartened. She squatted down beside the box, her head hanging down, once again muttering to herself. ¡°Jiang Zhi bought me a lamp.¡± ¡°Jiang Zhi carried me last night.¡± ¡°Jiang Zhi is too good to me.¡± ¡°He¡¯s so good to me, and I still made him angry.¡± She was so regretful. ¡°I¡¯m so awful.¡± So despondent. ¡°I am trashy!¡± So annoyed! Zhou Xufang felt exceedingly terrible, her world seemed grayed out; without being with him, how could she so recklessly get close to Jiang Zhi, and even more recklessly accept his kindness. She was angry with herself, ¡°I am a major trashy woman!¡± Shuangjiang: ¡°¡­¡± Seeing Zhou Xufang self-criticize in such a way, Shuangjiang suggested, ¡°Why not try to smooth things over with him?¡± Smooth things over? Zhou Xufang was lost in confusion. By four o¡¯clock in the afternoon, the top trending headline was ¡°Famous Director Jiang Visits Police Station with a Beautiful Woman at Night¡±, whereas the second and third headlines were about a celebrity couple¡¯s wedding. The wedding was held on a cruise ship and almost half of the entertainment industry was invited, including the infamous Director Jiang. The wedding was not open to the media, maintaining a high level of secrecy. Journalist friends could only lie in wait outside the yacht on the red carpet, snagging whoever came by and digging up whatever they could. Media friends found that Director Jiang¡¯s mood was extremely bad today, incredibly explosive! ¡°Director Jiang, could you answer a question? Last night at the police station¡ª¡± He didn¡¯t let them finish, his eyes turning cold, ¡°None of your business!¡± ¡°And the lady who was with you¡ª¡± Again, not letting them finish, Director Jiang straightforwardly pushed away the camera, his sickly yet beautiful face showing no trace of amiability, all but distant and indifferent, ¡°Which media are you from?¡± Media friends: ¡°!¡± You¡¯re the boss, I won¡¯t dare to ask anymore, no more daring to ask¡­ Jiang Wei¡¯er also came today, not as the Fifth Miss of the Jiang Family, but as a new assistant to the Weaver, who was known for her wild nature and had vanished as soon as she got on the cruise, not knowing where she had gone off to roam. Taking advantage of the absence of others on the deck, Jiang Wei¡¯er called out ¡°Brother Zhi¡±, ¡°Why are you so angry?¡± Since boarding, he had been sulking, his face wearing an ¡®stay away from me¡¯ expression and he didn¡¯t seem in good spirit, covering his mouth and nose with a handkerchief and coughing intermittently. ¡°This cough of yours doesn¡¯t seem to get any better.¡± ¡°It won¡¯t get better.¡± His lips were slightly pale, and it was unclear who he was irritated at; his temper flared, partly despairing, ¡°Next year I¡¯ll be twenty-five, should start preparing for my coffin.¡± It was rumored that the young master of the Jiang Family wouldn¡¯t live past twenty-five. Jiang Wei¡¯er just laughed, throwing his words right back at him, ¡°No need for a coffin, misfortune lingers for a thousand years.¡± She stopped joking and then mentioned something serious, ¡°Just now, the old lady called me.¡± Jiang Zhi was not very interested. She continued, ¡°She asked me if you were in love.¡± With all the fuss on Weibo, naturally, the old lady had also heard the rumors and had even started probing her. Then, Jiang Zhi finally turned to look at her. ¡°I said yes,¡± she joked pretentiously, ¡°I said our little ancestor of the Jiang Family is out there acting like someone else¡¯s grandson.¡± No sooner had she finished than his face clouded over, fury shooting from his peach blossom eyes, as if it could materialize, sharp enough to draw blood if it could. Zhou Xufang was truly dear to his heart, not to be spoken of lightly. Jiang Wei¡¯er chuckled, ¡°I was joking.¡± Strangely enough, ¡°What, can¡¯t I say that?¡± ¡°Fifth Aunt.¡± He suddenly addressed her so solemnly. Jiang Wei¡¯er was taken aback, ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Such a grave tone.¡± It was unusual. Jiang Zhi, rarely this somber and focused, ¡°Don¡¯t mention anything about Zhou Xufang to any of the Jiang Family members.¡± Knowing his seriousness, only a few people were in the know. His tone was almost pleading as he lowered his own stance. Although Jiang Wei¡¯er had never confronted him directly before, his typical indifferent and detached demeanor as a result of being raised in a prominent family like the Jiangs made him appear as though he had stepped right out of an ancient painting, devoid of vitality, rarely showing such heartfelt concern. She asked, ¡°Does that include your grandmother?¡± Jiang Zhi replied, ¡°Including her.¡± This pair of grandfather and grandson, one insinuating indirectly, the other secretly diverting, both had their own schemes. ¡°Understood.¡± Jiang Wei¡¯er lifted her skirt and headed towards the cruise ship¡¯s guest rooms, leaving a remark as she walked away, ¡°Brother Zhi, you¡¯re still a Jiang after all.¡± Just as she left, the Xue Family uncle and nephew arrived. Xue Baoyi happened to hear Jiang Wei¡¯er¡¯s last remark, sensing a palpable tension, ¡°What¡¯s up with you two, your expressions so serious?¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing,¡± Jiang Zhi did not wish to elaborate. Xue Bingxue¡¯s eyes reluctantly moved away from the direction Jiang Wei¡¯er had left, glaring at Jiang Zhi, ¡°Jiang Zhi, did you bully Wei¡¯er again?¡± Jiang Zhi gave no definite response, eyeing his protective demeanor, ¡°If she felt wronged, would you stand up for her?¡± Without a second thought, Xue Bingxue replied, ¡°Of course.¡± Fine. Jiang Zhi casually threw out, ¡°Xue Bingxue, your Jiang Wei¡¯er has been cuckolded.¡± Xue Bingxue¡¯s youthful, collagen-rich face tightened, ¡°What did you say?¡± He did not continue, ¡°Just wait, the old lady will come looking for you.¡± After that, he left with a drag in his steps. Xue Bingxue stood stunned for a moment then chased after Jiang Wei¡¯er. Xue Baoyi was utterly confused, unable to grasp the situation. Glancing from side to side, he followed Jiang Zhi, ¡°Brother Zhi, what are you implying? Didn¡¯t you not want my uncle involved in this mess?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want to, but he¡¯s already involved.¡± Xue Baoyi didn¡¯t understand, ¡°What do you mean?¡± Jiang Zhi gave him a sidelong glance, ¡°Do you know what my grandmother is best at?¡± What? What?! Xue Baoyi was about to explode, ¡°Can¡¯t you speak plainly?¡± Dammit, he felt like his intelligence wasn¡¯t sufficient. Chapter 92 - Chapter 92: 092: Brother Zhi Excels in Fun Games Chapter 92: 092: Brother Zhi Excels in Fun Games Jiang Zhi walked slowly, coughing occasionally, ¡°She loves to kill with a borrowed knife.¡± Xue Baoyi knew this too, but¡ª ¡°What does this have to do with my uncle?¡± ¡°The internal strife in the Jin Family was stirred up by our Old Lady Jiang. No matter who wins in the end, Old Lady Jiang can¡¯t live peacefully. Behind Huayu and Tang Heng, there is the entire Jin Family. Your Baoguang alone can¡¯t swallow them all. At this time, it¡¯s best to have someone take care of everything at once, to eliminate Old Lady Jiang¡¯s worries.¡± Killing with a borrowed knife, once and for all. Old Lady Jiang had sat in a high position for so many years, her skills were no mere few. Jiang Zhi was different. He liked to manipulate hearts; he would just look around leisurely and occasionally take action. Then all the trends would blow according to his whims. Old and young psychopaths. Xue Baoyi couldn¡¯t figure out the old psychopath¡¯s plan. She asked the young psychopath, ¡°Why is it my uncle?¡± ¡°It¡¯s related to my Fifth Aunt, the best one to use is Bingxue.¡± Xue Baoyi was straightforward, always fighting openly. Facing Jiang Zhi, this manipulative young psychopath, her intelligence felt challenged, her mind almost exploded, ¡°My uncle is just a traditional Chinese medicine doctor.¡± Jiang Zhi glanced at him, ¡°Do you know why your Xue family¡¯s heritage wasn¡¯t passed down to you?¡± Xue Baoyi pondered, wasn¡¯t it because he was too reckless? Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã0 ¡°Because your grandfather wanted to keep it for Bingxue.¡± Xue Baoyi couldn¡¯t believe it, ¡°He is just a simple, naive sweetie.¡± Jiang Zhi looked at him as if looking at someone intellectually challenged, ¡°You¡¯re even more simple and na?ve than him.¡± It was a miracle how a family¡¯s son had grown up so straightforward and simple-minded. Xue Baoyi was speechless. ¡°Your Xue Family isn¡¯t much simpler than my Jiang Family; how could your family¡¯s darling youngest son not be cunning?¡± Xue Bingxue just dislikes using schemes, he has morals like his mom, too upright. But if he really starts scheming, he¡¯s not inferior to anyone. Xue Baoyi was speechless. At that moment, Xue Baoyi felt the world was so complicated! ¡°Brother Zhi, how do you know everything?¡± In the matter of Jin Song, Jiang Zhi had hardly taken any action, just played with intelligence. However, he guessed almost every move of his Old Madam. With an air of nonchalance, he replied, ¡°Because I have brains.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Was he saying he didn¡¯t have brains? Honestly, Xue Baoyi wasn¡¯t worried about his uncle since Jiang Zhi had anticipated everything. The outcome must also be within his expectations. Despite being twisted, hypocritical, sinister, and shameless¡­ besides beauty, Jiang Zhi had one more quality, he was very protective. Xue Baoyi started to probe, ¡°Then let me ask your brains, can my uncle win over your aunt?¡± ¡°If he can be a bit more hypocritical and shameless,¡± Jiang Zhi picked a table by the side, pulled out a piece of paper to wipe the table and chair, and sat down, ¡°he can.¡± What did that mean? Xue Baoyi once again felt his intelligence in crisis, sinking into deep thought. His uncle, that man, was still too honest. The honest Xue Bingxue was beating someone at that moment. Time rewound five minutes. ¡°Wei¡¯er.¡± He had followed Jiang Wei¡¯er all the way to the aft deck before he called out to her. Jiang Wei¡¯er turned around, ¡°What is it?¡± He was at a loss for words again. The wind swayed her white skirt, ¡°Why aren¡¯t you speaking?¡± He thought she looked better in black, ¡°Xiao¡ª¡± His words were interrupted. ¡°Wei¡¯er, Wei¡¯er!¡± Fang Lixiang was waving vigorously at the top deck, like a brothel¡¯s Madam, ¡°Come, come~¡± The wind was strong on the cruise ship, Jiang Wei¡¯er¡¯s skirt exposing her ankles, she wasn¡¯t afraid of the cold in such weather. Xue Bingxue took off his coat for her, ¡°You go ahead, I¡¯ll wait here.¡± She didn¡¯t take it, claimed she wasn¡¯t cold, waved at him, and left first. Not long after her departure, two people, a man and a woman, came out from the viewing room in the distance. The woman handed over something, the man took a long while to accept. ¡°Don¡¯t wait for someone else to tell her¡­ also no turning back¡­¡± The sound was intermittent, distorted by the sea wind, and soon it was unclear. Xue Bingxue took a few steps closer. It was Xiao Linsu and his agent Lin Shuang. As they got closer, Lin Shuang¡¯s voice became clearer, ¡°Jin Song that beast still kept a backup, I¡¯m afraid the thing has already ended up in the Jiang Family¡¯s hands, Linsu, we can¡¯t delay any longer, you¡ª¡± ¡°Does the cigarette burn hurt?¡± He didn¡¯t know if he was listening, his gaze fell on her hand, he raised his hand, pulled up the sleeve of her suit, the burn on her arm had already scabbed over, looking somewhat fierce. The wind was too strong, making Lin Shuang¡¯s eyes red, she shook her head, ¡°It doesn¡¯t hurt.¡± Xiao Linsu loosened his hand, his voice low and soft, almost inaudible, he muttered to himself, ¡°How could it not hurt.¡± Cigarette burns are the most painful, more painful than a whip. ¡°Xiao Linsu!¡± It was Xue Bingxue. His eyes were red with anger, he charged over, and kicked Xiao Linsu in the chest, Xiao Linsu took the blow solidly, stumbling and falling. Xue Bingxue didn¡¯t wait for him to get up, he pinned him down with his knee on his stomach, choking him like an enraged beast, ¡°You dare deceive her, you dare deceive her!¡± He swung his fist and smashed it down into his stomach. Lin Shuang was stunned for a moment, then came to her senses, ¡°Mr. Xue, please speak calmly, don¡¯t resort to violence.¡± ¡°Get lost!¡± Xue Bingxue¡¯s eyes were full of blood. No one had seen him angry before, they thought such a gentle and obedient person would never strike someone, this was the only time, he lost his reason, using all his brute strength, punching Xiao Linsu in the body, in the face. ¡°You beast!¡± He couldn¡¯t curse well, the few phrases he knew were all taught by Xue Baoyi, but he was very angry, wanted to use the most venomous words to curse him, use the greatest strength to punish him, ¡°Are you even human, Wei¡¯er never wore skirts before, not even once!¡± Lin Shuang couldn¡¯t hold him back, he fiercely kept hitting. Xiao Linsu lay there, motionless. ¡°Fight back, damn it!¡± Xiao Linsu wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, his gaze empty, as if smiling, unsure what he was smiling at. Xue Bingxue¡¯s hands were covered in blood, he tore off his tie, ¡°If you won¡¯t fight back, fine, then I¡¯ll beat you to death!¡± He pressed down on Xiao Linsu, raising his fist to smash. ¡°Xue Bingxue!¡± It was Wei¡¯er¡¯s voice. He froze in his movement, looking back slowly and blankly. Jiang Wei¡¯er¡¯s gaze was intensely hot, she walked closer, grabbed his hand, her voice mixed with the sea wind, carrying a coolness, ¡°Stop this, Xue Bingxue.¡± As soon as he saw her, Xue Bingxue¡¯s expression became chaotic, the color draining from his face bit by bit, ¡°I¡¯m not causing trouble.¡± She was looking at Xiao Linsu, all the sorrow, all the reluctance written across her face. Xue Bingxue always knew, she really liked someone else, he always knew. ¡°I¡¯m not causing trouble!¡± his eyes slightly reddened, this was the first time, he yelled at Jiang Wei¡¯er, ¡°I just can¡¯t stand to see him bully you.¡± She was unaware, slightly stunned, ¡°We¡¯ll talk about it later.¡± She squatted down to help Xiao Linsu, ¡°Are you alright?¡± Xiao Linsu shook his head, bracing himself to stand up. ¡°Go to the guest room first.¡± She supported him, turning to leave. Xue Bingxue called out from behind, ¡°I have something to say to you.¡± His voice trembled low, ¡°Wei¡¯er, don¡¯t go with him.¡± He was showing weakness, pleading with her. Jiang Wei¡¯er had known him for over twenty years, how could she not understand him, he wouldn¡¯t hit someone for no reason, but, matters of the heart, it wasn¡¯t appropriate for him to intervene. ¡°Lixiang, bring your boss over.¡± Fang Lixiang, still holding the selfie stick, was a bit confused, ¡°¡­Oh.¡± Oh, this Mr. Xue is his uncle¡¯s boss. Jiang Wei¡¯er tried to remain calm, turning back to look at Xue Bingxue, ¡°Your hand is swollen, go get it treated first.¡± Both of them needed some quiet, couldn¡¯t stay together, she also needed to sort things out. After leaving those words, Jiang Wei¡¯er helped Xiao Linsu leave. Xue Bingxue stood in place, his eyes filled with loss and panic. Dark clouds covered the moon, the night wind was cold. Chapter 93 - Chapter 93: 093: Nostalgia Kill - About First Love Chapter 93: 093: Nostalgia Kill ¨C About First Love The silence was pervasive, only the wind could be heard. Suddenly, a phone rang; it was Old Lady Jiang calling. ¡°Bingxue.¡± ¡°Speak, Auntie.¡± He walked to the side to answer the call. Fang Lixiang stood there stunned for a moment, then took out his phone, found the boss¡¯s number, and dialed. Knock, knock, knock. Jiang Wei¡¯er opened the door; the server was standing at the doorstep, handing over a medical kit, ¡°Here¡¯s the spare medicine you asked for.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°You¡¯re welcome.¡± Jiang Wei¡¯er closed the door and carried the medical kit to the bedside, ¡°Don¡¯t you have anything to say to me?¡± Since entering the room, there had been no explanation, only silence. ¡°Linsu¡ª¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã¦Ï He looked up at her, his eyes bloodshot. The medical kit in her hand fell to the floor, and she suddenly panicked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you?¡± Jiang Wei¡¯er had only seen Xiao Linsu cry on TV before; this was the first time she had seen his eyes redden in front of her. She couldn¡¯t bear seeing him like this, and her eyes reddened too, ¡°Don¡¯t cry, I won¡¯t ask anymore, I won¡¯t ask.¡± ¡°Wei¡¯er.¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± He reached out his hand, wanting to touch her face, but his hands were bloody and dirty, so he bowed his head and kissed her eyes instead, ¡°Don¡¯t you like wearing white dresses?¡± As he bowed his head, his tears fell onto her face. ¡°If you like it, then I like it.¡± She grabbed his hand, pressing it against her face, not minding the dirt or the semi-dry bloodstains that smeared her face, ¡°Before we were together, I watched many of your interviews. You said you liked girls who wear white dresses, ones who smile tenderly.¡± Back then, before they were together, she had tried every which way to become everything he liked¡ªshe started growing her hair long, wearing dresses, and sitting and walking properly. ¡°Do you know why?¡± She shook her head. His voice choked and hoarse, ¡°Because of you.¡± There was no such thing as an ideal type; it had always been her. ¡°Xue Bingxue said you never used to wear dresses, but that¡¯s not true; you did.¡± He didn¡¯t know she disliked dresses, but the first time he saw her, she was wearing a white dress. After that, the woman in his dreams, all his preferences, it was all her. Back then, he was just eighteen, and in his most disheveled state when he met her. ¡°Sorry, did you fall anywhere?¡± It was he who had stumbled and bumped into her. He didn¡¯t stand steady and fell to the ground. She went over to help him, but he shouted at her, ¡°Don¡¯t touch me!¡± Back then, Jiang Wei¡¯er was also only eighteen and was frightened by the guarded look in his eyes. He got up on his own and stumbled out. That place was the entrance of a hotel; that day was Jiang Wei¡¯er¡¯s coming of age celebration. Even the hotel lobby had exaggeratedly hoisted a banner wishing her a happy birthday. The banner was made by Xue Baoyi, who always tended to overdo things¡ªonly fifteen but with a wildly non-mainstream hairstyle, acting as if he owned the world. ¡°What kind of insolent kid is this, treating our cousin like that?¡± Xue Baoyi, still a young boy, had the look of a little ruffian, and gestured with his chin toward Jiang Wei¡¯er, ¡°Look, your dress is dirty now.¡± She touched the stained spot. ¡°It¡¯s blood.¡± The one who spoke was a young boy next to Xue Baoyi, still looking very youthful yet undeniably handsome, but his frail body looked sickly and exceedingly thin. That was the fourteen-year-old Jiang Zhi. ¡°When will my uncle get here, Wei¡¯er has finally gambled and worn a dress for once. We have to let him see how awkwardly she walks in it.¡± ¡°Get lost.¡± Xue Baoyi snorted. He was still apprehensive around Jiang Wei¡¯er; she had always been keen on kicking people since they were kids. ¡°You guys go ahead and wait for me inside,¡± the birthday boy suddenly changed direction, heading out. ¡°Where are you going?¡± She waved her hand behind her and ran across the street. Across the street, there was a park, turn left from the park for five hundred meters, and there was a pharmacy. She ran there, and ran back, panting and sweating profusely. ¡°Hey!¡± She called out. The boy sitting by the fountain looked up, always wearing a mask, only his beautiful eyes visible, indeed the person who had bumped into her in the hotel. It was the eighteen-year-old Xiao Linsu. In the middle of summer, he was dressed in long clothes, his exposed skin was minimal, but even that tiny bit was covered in injuries¡ªcuts and burns, most had scabbed over, only his left wrist was still bleeding. His eyes were very red, he had been crying. ¡°Why are you crying?¡± He remained silent. She shook the bag of medicine in front of him, ¡°Here, for you.¡± But he didn¡¯t take it, turned his back, and ignored her. The eighteen-year-old girl was at an age marked by sharpness, born lucky, and had yet to encounter anyone who gave her such attitude, she laughed, ¡°You dirtied my dress, and still have such a temper?¡± Still silent. After a long time, he turned back to look at her dress, its white hem stained with blood from when he had bumped into her. The wound on his wrist, as if inflicted by a sharp knife, continued to bleed profusely. It looked terribly painful; she sighed, took out a bottle of hydrogen peroxide from her bag, and was about to disinfect his wound by pulling his hand toward her when he reacted strongly and jerked away, retreating backwards. ¡°I am very dirty.¡± His voice still carried the clarity of youth, but it was as if his throat was torn, both dry and hoarse. His shoulders shook as he mutely repeated, ¡°I am very dirty.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll wash it off, and then you won¡¯t be dirty anymore,¡± she said, grabbing his hand and pouring the diluted hydrogen peroxide on it. He flinched. ¡°Does it hurt?¡± He avoided her probing gaze and remained silent. Dipping some ointment, she applied it to his wound, and then awkwardly wrapped it with a bandage. ¡°If it hurts, you can cry.¡± She saw the sadness and despair in his eyes. Perhaps it was the gentleness in the girl¡¯s voice that quietly breached his defenses; he bowed his head, and tears hit the ground before he hugged his knees and sobbed loudly¡­ The sun was bright, a slight breeze in the air, and through his tear-blurred vision, all he could see was the swaying of the girl¡¯s dress. She placed her baseball cap on his head, pressing it down until it almost covered half of his face. ¡°Now, no one can see you.¡± He cried for a long time, eventually quieting down, while she remained sitting silently beside him on a stone, waiting until he stopped crying and looked up before she stood, her face now sunburned. Though tears blurred his vision, he still saw her clearly¡ªshort hair to her ears, delicate and beautiful. She said, ¡°Then I¡¯m leaving.¡± ¡°Wei¡¯er! Jiang Wei¡¯er!¡± In the distance, the boys called for her. She turned and replied, ¡°Don¡¯t rush, I¡¯m coming.¡± Then she threw the medicine to him, ¡°Apply this one three times a day, and this one, once a day.¡± ¡°Wei¡¯er!¡± ¡°Coming, coming.¡± She ran into the crowd, her white dress fluttering long in his vision. Jiang Wei¡¯er. Her name was Jiang Wei¡¯er. That day was Jiang Wei¡¯er¡¯s eighteenth birthday. She lost a bet and wore a white dress she would never normally wear. Xue Bingxue missed her coming of age ceremony and didn¡¯t see the awkward way she walked in the dress. That day, Xiao Linsu was first selling himself for a hundred thousand yuan at Jin Song¡¯s, pitifully tarnished, when she appeared. Their next meeting was six years later. He was an actor, she a Taekwondo Hall coach, his martial arts instructor. She didn¡¯t recognize him, she didn¡¯t even remember a boy who had wept in front of her six years ago. ¡°Did you recognize me back at the Taekwondo Hall?¡± Xiao Linsu nodded. How could he not recognize her? He knew her at first glance, then¡­ step by step, it all went wrong. He placed the USB drive he had held for a long time into her hand. ¡°What is this?¡± ¡°It¡¯s evidence.¡± It was the evidence of his insatiable mistakes. He didn¡¯t know how long he had held the metal USB drive; it was warm and covered in sweat. Jiang Wei¡¯er¡¯s heart raced, panic stricken: ¡°Did Xue Bingxue get violent with you because of this too?¡± He said yes, ¡°Xue Bingxue did nothing wrong, it was my fault.¡± ¡°You¡ª¡± Suddenly, an alarm sounded. Soon after, Jiang Wei¡¯er¡¯s phone rang too. She swallowed her words and answered the call first. It was Xue Baoyi: ¡°Wei¡¯er, Jiang Zhi is in trouble.¡± Time rewound fifteen minutes. The wedding march had just begun, and Xue Baoyi received a call from an unknown number. The caller¡¯s voice trembled: ¡°Boss.¡± Xue Baoyi did not recognize the timid voice at first: ¡°Who is this?¡± The timid one said: ¡°Boss, it¡¯s me.¡± Damn it, Xue Baoyi was out of patience: ¡°Who are you?¡± The dry voice on the other end of the phone said: ¡°I¡¯m the new Weaver, Fang Lixiang. Don¡¯t you remember me, boss?¡± Xue Baoyi put down her drink and laughed: ¡°I remember, vividly.¡± The guy who loved cursing in games. Right now, the guy who loved to curse in games was very respectful on the phone: ¡°Boss, your uncle got into a fight. Oh, don¡¯t worry, it was just your uncle beating up someone else. Then he injured his own hand. Are you free to come over and pick up the patient? He seems very unstable, and we¡¯re at the stern. He might do something foolish¡­¡± She paused. ¡°Boss, are you listening?¡± Xue Baoyi tapped on the table: ¡°Listening.¡± Fang Lixiang then asked, ¡°So, will you come over?¡± Emperor Xue: ¡°Hmm.¡± Fang the Palace Maid: ¡°Then I will wait respectfully over here.¡± Drama queen! Chapter 94 - Chapter 94: 094: The Husband-Protecting Maniac Zhou Xufang Goes Online Again Chapter 94: 094: The Husband-Protecting Maniac Zhou Xufang Goes Online Again Drama queen! Xue Baoyi hung up the phone and got up from her seat, ¡°My uncle ended up hurting himself while beating someone up, I¡¯m off to pick him up.¡± Jiang Zhi held a glass of wine in her hand, just toying with it without drinking. Xue Baoyi had barely budged before someone had set their sights on her seat. ¡°Jiang Zhi, Jiang Zhi!¡± Ming Saiying swished her skirt and plonked herself down. And honestly, this Ming Lao¡¯s stamina was quite commendable. Even Xue Baoyi admired her spirit of ¡°Though Jiang Zhi tortures me a thousand times over, I still regard Jiang Zhi with the freshness of a first love.¡± The girl wasn¡¯t bad, actually¡ªshe had curves in all the right places, but she was a bit single-minded. Ming Saiying, with curves and single-mindedness, had no sense of the awareness expected of a female artist and stared at Jiang Zhi like a crazed fan. Jiang Zhi stood up and left. Xue Baoyi asked, ¡°Where are you going?¡± ¡°To see the stars.¡± Ming Saiying looked up, ¡°¡­¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.?0 But tonight the clouds obscured the moon, and not a single star was visible. The wedding was set up on the top deck of the cruise ship, while the lower three decks were reserved for guest rooms. Currently, the wedding ceremony was underway, so the guest room floors were empty except for some staff to guide guests at the entrances. In the second-floor corridor, a man and a woman were struggling. ¡°Let go.¡± The woman wore a black gown that trailed on the floor, her long hair tied in a high ponytail¡ªsleek yet feminine. But on the verge of anger, she glared with an intensity that made her difficult to approach. The man, however, remained unfazed, one hand gripping the woman¡¯s wrist and the other pressing on her shoulder, effectively trapping her between his hands. He smirked, ¡°I refuse to let go.¡± Dressed in a suit and shoes, he had a handsome and resolute appearance, though a hint of dominance in his eyes made it hard for anyone to look him in the eye. Angered by his illogical response, the woman snapped, ¡°Jiang Xiaolin!¡± The man was none other than the eldest grandson of the main branch of the Jiang family¡ªJiang Xiaolin. The usually composed and steady Jiang Xiaolin was uncharacteristically rascally and shameless. Lifting his leg, he pressed his knee against the woman¡¯s, his laugh was actually quite rakish, ¡°You¡¯re calling me rather sweetly, come on, call me again.¡± The headstrong woman, flushed with anger, retorted, ¡°Are you fucking sick or what!¡± ¡°I am sick.¡± He leaned in close to her ear, ¡°That year, you were the one who reported me to the school, claiming I was a pervert who specialized in stealing women¡¯s underwear.¡± ¡°¡­¡± The beautiful woman rolled her eyes indelicately, ¡°That was years ago, and you¡¯re dredging up old grievances.¡± At that moment, a cough interrupted their standoff. Jiang Xiaolin turned to look and upon seeing who it was, he let go and leisurely straightened his suit, his gaze changing to one without a trace of his earlier ¡®sleazy rou¨¦¡¯ behavior, the act of loosening his cuff button was elegant and haughty, ¡°I thought you wouldn¡¯t come in such cold weather.¡± Jiang Xiaolin, four or five years older than Jiang Zhi, was a cousin who rarely interacted with her. When not at the old house, he couldn¡¯t even be bothered to be courteous. Jiang Zhi almost impersonally ¡°Hmm¡¯d¡± in response and walked past them both. The woman¡¯s gaze followed him. Jiang Xiaolin pinched her chin and turned her face towards him, ¡°If you can¡¯t bear to part with him, why not chase after him?¡± The woman pushed his hand away, ¡°That¡¯s exactly what I intend to do.¡± Finishing her declaration, she turned and walked away. Jiang Xiaolin grabbed hold of her. Without a word, she struck out with her claws. Instantly, three scratch marks appeared on the back of his hand, ¡°Tang Xiang!¡± The woman turned with a charming smile, ¡°It sounds quite nice when you call me, come on, call me again.¡± Jiang Xiaolin: ¡°¡­¡± Who is Tang Xiang? Aside from that iron-fisted Miss Luo of the Luo Family, the most well-known person was this thunderously efficient female butler. Despite her young age, she was the old patriarch¡¯s most dependable aide. In the Luo Family, even the legitimate masters would have to lower their heads a bit in Tang Xiang¡¯s presence. Speaking of the history between Tang Xiang and Jiang Xiaolin, one would have to go back seven or eight years. They were classmates, one ranked first and the other second in their grade, each finding the other intolerable. By the way, Tang Xiang was number one, while Jiang Xiaolin was perpetually second. There was only one time he scored higher than her, but due to behavioural issues, he was docked five points for moral character, once again reverting to second-best. And regarding the deductions of moral character points, it was apparently because Tang Xiang¡¯s undergarments were found in Jiang Xiaolin¡¯s backpack¡­ Let¡¯s talk about Jiang Zhi. He had just descended the stairs when someone called out to him. ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± It was Luo Qinghe. Jiang Zhi ignored her as if he had heard nothing and continued walking without turning back. With arms crossed, Luo Qinghe leaned casually against the doorframe: ¡°You seem to really dislike me.¡± She watched the person in front of her leisurely, ¡°Because of Luo San?¡± Jiang Zhi halted, then turned around. ¡°Knowing that I dislike you, how come you don¡¯t know to stay away from me?¡± Luo Qinghe wasn¡¯t upset; she brushed the long hair beside her ear, her appearance might not have been stunning, but her bone structure was exceptionally delicate, especially her elegant collarbones. She said with a half-serious, half-joking tone: ¡°Luo San has been dead for so many years now, yet he still holds a place at the top of your heart.¡± In his youth, Jiang Zhi often mingled with the Luo Family. The Luo daughters were numerous, with Luo Qinghe and Luo Yinghe, the pair of legitimate cousin sisters, leading them; the illegitimate ones were countless. Whatever shape or form you could imagine, they had; but the young Jiang Zhi only played with the Little Mute, disregarding everyone else. ¡°You don¡¯t need to know whether he is still in my heart,¡± Jiang Zhi spoke in an even tempo, ¡°You just need to remember firmly that your Luo Family is still an eyesore to me.¡± Having said that, he turned and left swiftly. Luo Qinghe¡¯s smile faded slowly. ¡°Young Mr. Luo.¡± It was the secretary Han Feng, who had just come down from upstairs. She withdrew her gaze: ¡°Where is Luo Changde?¡± Han Feng leaned in, whispering a few words. Upon hearing this, Luo Qinghe¡¯s expression darkened dramatically: ¡°That worthless piece of trash.¡± After cursing, she turned and headed toward the stairwell, but she had barely taken a step when her knee went numb, and she fell to her knees without any warning. ¡°Young Mr. Luo!¡± She fell hard, and Luo Qinghe couldn¡¯t get up for a while; below her left knee was a fiery sting, and she was unable to move for a moment. Less than an inch from where her knee hit the ground, there was a spoon with a severely bent handle. She picked up the spoon, enduring the pain, and stood up with the support of the wall. Seeing this, Han Feng approached the corner of the corridor. ¡°Come out!¡± After he yelled, there was silence. ¡°Who?¡± asked Luo Qinghe. Han Feng shook his head; there was no one around the corner, only a puddle of water on the ground. Hmph! Bad woman! I¡¯ll hit you with a spoon again next time! Zhou Xufang cursed the bad woman several times in her heart before stopping, crouching at the staircase near the stern of the boat, twisting the water from her sleeve and frowning in thought. Who was Luo San? Jiang Zhi¡¯s good friend? She was so deep in thought that she didn¡¯t notice the footsteps behind her. ¡°Who¡¯s there?!¡± It was a waiter from the cruise, still holding a bottle of red wine. Zhou Xufang turned around; she didn¡¯t have an invitation, and had to swim over from the sea, recently climbing up from the water, her eyes still red; not the pretty red of cosmetic contacts, but the color of blood. She knew it was terrifying. ¡°Crash!¡± The red wine shattered, the waitress¡¯ legs gave out, and she sat on the floor: ¡°Demon, demon¡­¡± In the blink of an eye, the red-eyed ¡®demon¡¯ was in front of her, and she opened her mouth to scream. Zhou Xufang covered her mouth: ¡°Don¡¯t scream.¡± The demon¡¯s hand was so cold¡­ That waitress was scared out of her wits, trembling as she said: ¡°I, I won¡¯t¡­ won¡¯t scream.¡± Good, if she doesn¡¯t scream, I won¡¯t have to hit her. Zhou Xufang pointed to the nearest cabin: ¡°Go inside and take off your clothes for me.¡± Chapter 95 - Chapter 95: 095: Xu Fang plays the hero to save the beauty Chapter 95: 095: Xu Fang plays the hero to save the beauty Knock, knock, knock. The sound of knocking thrice, yet no response came from within. Luo Qinghe stood at the doorway, ¡°It¡¯s me.¡± After she spoke, someone inside finally responded, though notably impatient, ¡°What is it?¡± The door opened, and Luo Changde stood disheveled, his neck and chest covered with scratches from a woman¡¯s nails. Luo Qinghe¡¯s expression instantly turned cold. She entered with her secretary and slammed the door forcefully, ¡°You still ask me what it is, Luo Changde? Look at the mess you¡¯ve made.¡± Luo Changde, just over fifty, had swollen eyes that made him look older. Due to his physical disability, he had become even more unrestrained in his antics over the years. He sneered, ¡°It¡¯s just a woman.¡± Just a woman? Hmph, just a woman who had left him childless and without descendants. Luo Qinghe scanned the room; a pen lay on the floor, its tip bloody. The woman on the bed lay motionless, her legs spread, still bleeding from down below. More than twenty years ago, Luo Changde had been rendered impotent, and ever since, he had taken pleasure in doing this to others. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.?¦Ï ¡°You really can¡¯t teach an old dog new tricks.¡± Contempt and disdain filled her eyes, unhidden. Luo Changde could not stand her domineering attitude. His murky eyes narrowed, ¡°Who taught you to be so disrespectful to your elders?¡± Despite having led a frivolous life in recent years, the once head of the Luo Family, Luo Changde, still retained a ruthless streak. Luo Qinghe chuckled coldly, ¡°My mom¡¯s dead. Who do you think taught me?¡± ¡°You¡ª¡± She was utterly repulsed, not wanting to hear another word, ¡°I don¡¯t care what you do outside, but within my sight and the influence of the Luo Family, you¡¯d better restrain yourself. The Luo Family is under my command now.¡± Luo Changde laughed scornfully, not showing whether he took her words to heart. He took a piece of paper from the bedside, wrapped the pen with it to wipe it clean, and tossed it into the trash can. His back was slightly hunched, his hair peppered with gray, and his lean figure bent forward as he tucked his shirt into his belt, ¡°Clean this place up¡­ and take care of this woman.¡± The swearing-in of the newcomers concluded, and fireworks lit up the sky from the top deck of the cruise ship. In the sky, myriad trees blossomed brightly, illuminating the night like daylight. Zhou Xufang, wearing a waiter¡¯s uniform, her large face mask covering half her face, adjusted the special glasses on the bridge of her nose. ¡°Is there surveillance here?¡± Shuangjiang replied, ¡°The wedding guests are either public figures or business magnates, requiring high confidentiality. There¡¯s no surveillance in the guest rooms on the first and second floors.¡± Zhou Xufang asked directly, ¡°Where is Jiang Zhi?¡± ¡°He¡¯s not in the surveillance area.¡± Which meant, he was on either the first or second floor. Zhou Xufang was on the second floor and began searching room by room. Just as she reached the end of the hallway, a blood-soaked woman suddenly tumbled out from around the corner. Her gown was tattered. She curled up on the ground barely clothed, her blood flowing down her legs and onto the floor. ¡°Save, save,¡± she extended her hand towards Zhou Xufang, her nails caked with blood, ¡°Save¡­ me¡­¡± Bang! Bang! Bang! The fireworks exploded in the sky, dazzlingly bright in the starless winter night, disrupting the noisy revelry of the guests aboard with their booming echoes. Jiang Zhi felt irritable as he walked toward the stern of the ship. Over the phone, Qiao Nanchu¡¯s voice sounded somewhat weary, ¡°I¡¯ve visited the arsonist.¡± ¡°Will he change his statement?¡± ¡°He¡¯s still sticking to his story, no matter how much pressure is applied.¡± Jiang Zhi stood at the stern, sea spray flying high, the cool mist dampening his legs. The wind tousled his dusky blue hair, and he casually raked a hand through it, ¡°If we can¡¯t pry his mouth open, we¡¯ll start with the people around him.¡± Qiao Nanchu speculated, ¡°Maybe he is the murderer?¡± The sea breeze was strong, the waves gently rocked the ship, and footstep sounds were drowned out by the ongoing fireworks. Leaning against the railing, Jiang Zhi surveyed the sea of fireworks and the endless ocean, ¡°Two people died in the Luo Mansion fire back then, and no death sentence was handed down. Does that make sense?¡± Qiao Nanchu remained silent about the Luo Mansion fire, instead questioning Jiang Zhi, ¡°You really want to get involved in this?¡± His reply was nonchalant, ¡°Yeah.¡± There was the sound of a lighter from the phone; Qiao Nanchu lit a cigarette, ¡°Are you still concerned about that child from the Luo Family?¡± Jiang Zhi¡¯s tone suddenly became serious, ¡°I already have Zhou Xufang. Don¡¯t bring this up again.¡± Qiao Nanchu chuckled, ¡°Then why?¡± ¡°I can¡¯t stand the Luo Family.¡± At that moment, A hand slowly extended from behind. The roar of fireworks was deafening by his ears, drowning out all other sounds. Having just thought of his beloved, Jiang Zhi¡¯s mind was restless. He wondered what kind of reaction Zhou Xufang would have if she knew about that Luo Family¡¯s young man. If only he could make her jealous¡­ Lost in thought, he grew absentminded: ¡°That case¡ª¡± A forceful push came from behind¡ª At that moment, with his mind full of Zhou Xufang, Jiang Zhi forgot to be cautious. His body flipped over the railing and plunged straight into the sea. Clang! His phone landed on the deck, followed by the sound of water splashing. ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± ¡°Jiang Zhi!¡± Qiao Nanchu shouted loudly from the phone. That hand was large and strong, with a few scratch marks on the back and wearing a watch. It picked up the phone and forcefully cast it into the depths of the sea. At this time, Zhou Xufang had just carried a woman to the staff changing room when an emergency alert from Shuangjiang came through his earpiece. ¡°Xu Fang!¡± Zhou Xufang acknowledged with a sound and opened the cupboard, placing the woman inside. ¡°Jiang Zhi¡¯s phone suddenly got cut off.¡± Her movements froze briefly, her eyelashes fluttering. After a moment of being stunned, she quickly snatched a coat and tossed it to the woman: ¡°This place is safe. Wait until the ship stops before calling for help.¡± After giving instructions, she vanished in the blink of an eye, with only the door clanging shut behind. The woman covered her mouth, shutting the cupboard door as she trembled. The carpet in front of the guest room door was flipped up, like a gust of wind had swept by. Under the light, a complete silhouette was uncatchable, only a fleeting shadow, belonging to the running Zhou Xufang. ¡°Shuangjiang, help me check possible places Jiang Zhi could be.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Ten seconds later. Shuangjiang spoke, ¡°The first-floor stern or the second-floor observation area.¡± Zhou Xufang¡¯s speed and leaping power were thirty-three times that of a normal human, getting from the second floor to the first-floor stern in a mere instant. Without concern of being noticed, she kicked open the stairwell door. The force caused the entire vessel to sway slightly. The deck was deserted. Zhou Xufang was already sweating, ¡°He¡¯s not here.¡± She had a very bad feeling. After searching the area and finding no abnormalities, she was about to leave when Shuangjiang sent another alert: ¡°Criminal Intelligence Department has breached the cruise¡¯s top-level surveillance. Qiao Nanchu has sent a distress signal.¡± Shuangjiang paused, ¡°Xu Fang, something might have happened to Jiang Zhi.¡± As long as the person was onboard, Xue Baoyi must be able to rescue them immediately, unless¡­ Zhou Xufang turned and headed towards the ship¡¯s stern, and before removing her earpiece, she only said one thing, ¡°Keep an eye on the ship for me.¡± ¡°Xu Fang¡ª¡± The connection was lost. Zhou Xufang tossed aside her earpiece and leaped, diving into the sea. That year, it was also winter, dreadfully cold, the swimming pool at the Luo Mansion had a thin layer of ice. Suddenly, the ice broke and splashed, and someone was floundering in the pool. The servants in the greenhouse hurried over at the noise, crowding near the pool to watch the commotion. ¡°What¡¯s happened here?¡± ¡°Look, someone¡¯s fallen in.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t that Luo San?¡± ¡°Yes, it is.¡± ¡°He offended the second Miss and got punished to clean the pool.¡± ¡°Fool¡¯s a fool, doesn¡¯t even know to drain the water first.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Whether discussing or silent, no one got into the pool to rescue. This was because the haughty second Miss Luo said, until the pool was cleaned, no one was allowed up. Then, there was another splash. Someone had entered the water. When they were pulled up, they realized it was Young Master Jiang, a visitor to the Luo Family. For some reason, the distinguished young master, who couldn¡¯t swim, had jumped into the water. With the day being cold and the pool water icy, the frail Young Master Jiang, with his weak constitution, swallowed a lot of water. The frigid water filled his lungs; because of this, Young Master Jiang fell seriously ill, nearly losing his life. It was after this incident that Young Master Jiang developed a fear of water. Qiao Nanchu once asked him, ¡°Why jump in if you can¡¯t swim?¡± He said, ¡°If I didn¡¯t go into the water, nobody else would have come to rescue.¡± Later, whenever Young Master Jiang visited the Luo Family, that silly Luo San would hide behind the house, stealthily watching him. If caught, he would hurriedly give him the little stars he had folded for a long time. That fool couldn¡¯t speak, but he would smile dimly at Jiang Zhi, secretly burying his ¡®treasures¡¯ under the tree in the greenhouse. When Jiang Zhi arrived, he would dig them out; all for Jiang Zhi, candies, beautiful stones, paper-folded little stars, and even tightly wrapped white-steamed buns. Back then, that silly boy of the Luo Family thought steamed buns were the best thing in the world. The sea breeze was relentless, causing ear pain, while fireworks continued to explode, casting a mottled reflection on the sea¡¯s surface. In the flickering light, a slender figure emerged from the water. She emerged, carrying a person on her back from the glittering water. Chapter 96 - Chapter 96: 096: Jiang Zhi: Zhou Xufang, is it you? Chapter 96: 096: Jiang Zhi: Zhou Xufang, is it you? She carried a person on her back, emerging from the shimmering water, her eyes wet and red as blood. The winter night was cold, and the rocks were chilling to the bone. She placed him on a dry patch of grass, laying him flat, and knelt beside him. ¡°Jiang Zhi!¡± ¡°Jiang Zhi!¡± No matter how she called, he wouldn¡¯t wake up. She took off her mask, her eyes red, and kept pressing on his chest, constantly performing CPR. ¡°Jiang Zhi!¡± ¡°Wake up, Jiang Zhi!¡± Zhou Xufang had never been so scared. If Jiang Zhi were gone, if Jiang Zhi were gone¡­ Her hands shook, her whole body trembled, and she didn¡¯t even have the strength to give him mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. When she bowed her head, tears fell, mixing with the seawater, running from her face to the corner of his mouth, both salty and bitter. ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï??0.§ã? Her voice choked in the wind, ¡°Don¡¯t you die¡­¡± Then¡ª Jiang Zhi spat out a mouthful of water onto her face. ¡°Cough, cough, cough¡­ cough¡­¡± His body curled up, coughing continuously. Zhou Xufang¡¯s tense nerves suddenly relaxed, and she collapsed onto the ground, gasping for breath. He was alive, he was alive¡­ ¡°Zhou Xufang,¡± The next second, cold hands grabbed her wrist. ¡°Is it you?¡± He could only see half of her face in the blurry night. Zhou Xufang violently turned around. ¡°Cough, cough, cough¡­¡± He struggled as she pulled away, and he fell back heavily onto the ground. It took a long while before he propped himself up and reached for her still dripping sleeve. ¡°Turn around, let me have a look at you.¡± His voice, raspy from swallowing seawater, broke as he spoke. Zhou Xufang, standing with her back to him, deliberately suppressed her voice, ¡°I¡¯m just an errand runner, taking people¡¯s money to solve their problems.¡± After saying this, she put on her mask, lowered her eyelashes to cover her reddened eyes, and turned to walk away. The sea breeze was painfully sharp, the wind whistled past her ears, and he kept coughing behind her. Zhou Xufang wiped her eyes, which were scorchingly hot. At this hour, there were only a few people on the beach, all appearing cold and desolate. She had thought there would be many reporters, but it turned out they had been cleared away, an utter waste of his new sunglasses. Why wear sunglasses at night? What an act! Ming Yanghua took off his pretentious accessory, no longer posing, kicking the stones by the seaside as he walked, with his friends calling out on the phone. ¡°Ming Xiaohua, where are you, why aren¡¯t you here yet?¡± His friends liked to tease his name, his ancestors! How could Sixth Master Ming put up with that? He immediately showed his displeasure, ¡°Your mother, if you call me Xiao Hua again, I¡¯ll hammer you to death!¡± His friends chuckled mischievously, not taking anything seriously, ¡°Alright, alright, Young Master Ming, just come on over, we¡¯re all waiting for you.¡± There was nothing serious going on. His friends were all wealthy idlers with money to burn, spending their days not doing anything constructive, just enjoying singing KTV, flirting, and playing mahjong with him. Ming Yanghua ran his fingers through his tin-foil-permed hair, ¡°I¡¯m not coming.¡± His friends were displeased, ¡°Why not?¡± Ming Yanghua made up an excuse, ¡°Ying Xianxian from Tingyu Building has invited me over to enjoy some music.¡± In reality, his tomboy sister insisted he come pick someone up. If he didn¡¯t, his sister could have their dad cut off his card, and his dad, being utterly devoted to his daughter, would definitely comply. His bold friends dared to expose him, ¡°Ying Xianxian is at our place, got dragged by your sister to work again, huh?¡± Ming Yanghua hated it when people said he was weak or scared of his sister, how could he tolerate this? ¡°Put your damn¡ª¡± ¡°That thing said, ¡®Someone fell into the water, call an ambulance.''¡± Wearing a mask, her face not visible, cars sped by on the roadside, their headlights flickering momentarily over that ¡®thing¡¯¡ªbarely qualifying as a person¡ªuntil Ming Yanghua saw her eyes. ¡°You, you, you, you¡­ you are that, that, that thing from Tingyu Building¡­¡± That female ghost with red eyes who had thrown him into the trash! Zhou Xufang was out of patience and commanded, ¡°Hurry and call an ambulance.¡± Ming Yanghua¡¯s face had turned pale, his body shaking uncontrollably: ¡°You, you, you, you¡ª¡± He screamed as if his life depended on it, ¡°Ahhhh! A ghost!¡± Ming Yanghua was afraid of ghosts, had been since he was young. His limited-edition versatile tool was lost; he was just about to ¡®escape for his life¡¯ when that ¡®female ghost¡¯ suddenly leaped in front of him¡ªreally, just like that! This ¡®female ghost¡¯ could even drift¡­ His eyes rolled back, and he fainted, his cellphone dropping to the ground while his mischievous friends still called out for ¡®Xiao Hua.¡¯ Zhou Xufang picked up his phone and dialed for emergency services. In the man¡¯s contacts, there was also a number she recognized¡ªit was Xue Baoyi¡¯s. Within ten minutes, Xue Baoyi found Jiang Zhi by the seaside. The ambulance arrived quickly; because a young master of the Jiang family had had an accident, the cruise wedding was hastily concluded. At ten o¡¯clock, doctors lined up in two rows at the entrance of the hospital. At quarter past ten, the two rows of doctors moved to the emergency room. At half-past ten, in the empty hallway, the sound of a cane hitting the floor grew closer and closer, tap, tap, tap¡­ it was chilling to hear. Vice Dean Sun hurriedly advanced, ¡°Old Madam, how come you are here?¡± The arriving figure, leaning on a cane, dressed in a button-embroidered overcoat, hair meticulously combed, was none other than Old Madam Jiang from the Xu Jiu Ru family. Old Madam¡¯s expression was cold, her presence commanding without anger: ¡°My grandson is in the hospital; how could I not be here?¡± She supported by others, walked to the emergency room door, glanced around at everyone, and asked, ¡°How is Brother Zhi?¡± Vice Dean Sun replied, trembling, ¡°Still, still in emergency treatment.¡± She then asked, ¡°Which doctor is in charge?¡± ¡°Dr. Xue.¡± Ah, Xue Bingxue. Accompanying her was the newly appointed Dean of the Fifth Hospital, Qin Shiyu. He stood beside Old Madam Jiang, slightly lowering his head, yet neither servile nor overbearing, he asked, ¡°Old Madam, do you need me to go in and check?¡± Jiang Zhi¡¯s chronic illness had always been treated by him; he knew the situation better than anyone. Old Madam Jiang dismissed the offer: ¡°No need, let¡¯s wait for Bingxue to come out.¡± Qin Shiyu agreed and said nothing more. The emergency room was silent, only the sound of the heart monitor audible. The person on the bed, having just undergone emergency treatment, moved his fingers. ¡°Awake?¡± He awoke quite quickly. Jiang Zhi stared at the ceiling, distracted for a moment, then reached up to remove his oxygen mask. Xue Bingxue said, ¡°You can¡¯t remove that yet.¡± Ignoring her, he took it off anyway, his handsome face unnaturally pale, his body weak, his dull blue hair limp; he began to cough as soon as he opened his mouth: ¡°Cough, cough¡­ Zhou¡­ cough, cough¡­¡± Opening his eyes, he asked for Zhou Xufang. Xue Bingxue pressed the oxygen mask back on him: ¡°Don¡¯t speak yet.¡± With a stern expression on her doll-like face, she spoke with a maturity beyond her years, ¡°You¡¯ve only recently stopped your medication, your body hasn¡¯t recovered, and you¡¯ve ingested a lot of water this time, which isn¡¯t good.¡± The most critical issue was his lungs. Jiang Zhi¡¯s body had been ill for too long, all his organs were damaged; he needed careful nursing, having only recently stopped the medication that caused his condition, his body hadn¡¯t recovered yet, and this incident was a major setback. ¡°If you still want to keep this life, then you better stay in bed these next few days.¡± Xue Bingxue sternly lectured, ¡°Qin Shiyu is also here; I¡¯ll administer your medication in a bit, but you¡¯ll stay in the ICU for now.¡± Qin Shiyu couldn¡¯t be fully trusted, and it was unclear whose side he was on; precautions were necessary. Jiang Zhi opened his mouth, his voice hoarse as if smoke-damaged: ¡°Help me.¡± Xue Bingxue didn¡¯t quite catch that, leaning closer: ¡°What?¡± He said, ¡°I want to be discharged.¡± Xue Bingxue thought he was being reckless: ¡°Jiang Zhi, don¡¯t act rashly.¡± This wasn¡¯t up for discussion. Jiang Zhi pushed himself upright, pulling out his IV: ¡°Don¡¯t let the old lady know; get me out of here, I¡¯ll come back soon.¡± ¡°Planning to see Zhou Xufang?¡± ¡°Mm.¡± Chapter 97 - Chapter 97: 097: Jiang Zhi: Ah Fang, please coax me (first update) Chapter 97: 097: Jiang Zhi: Ah Fang, please coax me (first update) At 10:40 p.m., Xue Bingxue came out of the emergency room. Old Lady Jiang, supported by others, rose to her feet, ¡°Bingxue, how is Brother Zhi doing?¡± Xue Bingxue pulled down her mask, ¡°Seawater has caused aspiratory pneumonia; we need to proceed with anti-inflammatory and antiviral treatments.¡± ¡°Is there a risk to his life?¡± Xue Bingxue¡¯s expression grew grave, ¡°His cardio-pulmonary condition isn¡¯t very good; we still need to observe him.¡± Hearing this, Old Lady Jiang staggered. The Gui Family hastily spoke soothing words, urging the Old Madam not to upset herself too much. ¡°Don¡¯t worry too much. Once Brother Zhi¡¯s condition stabilizes, I¡¯ll inform you,¡± hesitated Xue Bingxue, ¡°regarding the perpetrator¡­¡± He stopped there, not continuing further. When Old Lady Jiang heard the words ¡°perpetrator,¡± her expression turned cold, ¡°Ah Gui, call Fuxi over to attend to Brother Zhi.¡± Gui complied, ¡°Yes, Old Madam.¡± Old Lady Jiang lifted her gaze and looked over her shoulder, ¡°Lin.¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã¦Ï Jiang Xiaolin stepped forward and asked what was the matter. ¡°I heard from the servants below that Fuli also went to the wedding today,¡± the Old Lady seemed to be hinting at something. Jiang Xiaolin replied, ¡°She did go.¡± Aside from Jiang Zhi, those invited from the Jiang Family included the eldest of the first house, Jiang Xiaolin, the second house¡¯s Jiang Fuli, and the Fifth Miss, Jiang Wei¡¯er. Even the subordinates from the Jiang Group had all come to the hospital, yet Jiang Fuli was nowhere to be seen. Old Lady Jiang was visibly angry, ¡°Brother Zhi was pushed into the sea, and she, as his cousin, didn¡¯t even show her face?¡± Jiang Xiaolin, hand on his suit, looked closely, several scratch marks visible on the back of his hand. His expression unchanged, his reply was composed, ¡°She might have had business with the company and left the seat midway. She called just now, saying she would come over later.¡± Clearly annoyed, Old Madam tapped her cane, ¡°Tell her there¡¯s no need to come!¡± Jiang Xiaolin acknowledged he understood. Old Madam then turned to look at Jiang Wei¡¯er, completely ignoring the person beside her, ¡°Wei¡¯er, come with me to the police station.¡± Jiang Wei¡¯er subconsciously looked back. Standing behind her was Xiao Linsu. He hadn¡¯t asked a single question about her relationship with the Jiang Family; he just followed her, accompanying her through all the hustle and bustle. This was probably the first time Old Lady Jiang had met him in person. Her demeanor was indifferent, distant, and there was a hint of condescension, ¡°We won¡¯t trouble Mr. Xiao with our Jiang Family affairs.¡± Jiang Wei¡¯er was about to defend him. But Xiao Linsu held her back, shaking his head. Jiang Wei¡¯er then refrained from arguing with her mother, feeling somewhat nervous, and instructed him, ¡°Wait for my call.¡± He replied, ¡°Okay.¡± At eleven o¡¯clock at night, there were footsteps outside the ward. The Gui Family hurried forward to greet the visitor, asking, ¡°Is it Sister Xi?¡± The newcomer lowered her hood, with well-proportioned features, she looked dignified and stately, ¡°It¡¯s me.¡± Her voice was gentle and soft, pleasing to the ear, ¡°Is Brother Zhi awake?¡± Jiang Fuxi was only older than Jiang Zhi by some months; they rarely called each other cousins. The Gui Family answered, ¡°Not yet.¡± Stepping forward to take the embroidered cloak from Jiang Fuxi, she conveyed the instructions from the Old Madam one by one, ¡°The Old Madam and Fifth Miss have gone to the police station; Lin has returned to the old house. Before leaving, the Old Madam said that the Young Master doesn¡¯t like strangers and asked Sister Xi to take good care of him.¡± ¡°I understand.¡± Then, the two of them walked together to the intensive care ward. Xue Bingxue just happened to be at the door. Jiang Fuxi approached, ¡°Dr. Xue.¡± Xue Bingxue was not particularly close to Jiang Fuxi; she had been brought up by Old Lady Jiang¡¯s side since childhood and rarely left home. Xue Bingxue nodded; they had little to say to each other. Jiang Fuxi always spoke kindly, inquiring, ¡°May I go in to see Brother Zhi?¡± Xue Bingxue shook her head, her doctor¡¯s white coat making her young-looking face appear more somber, ¡°It¡¯s not visiting hours right now. There¡¯s a family waiting room outside; I¡¯ll let you know once Brother Zhi is past the observation period.¡± Jiang Fuxi thanked her and gazed toward the door for a while before leaving. Once she was far enough away, Xue Bingxue put on her mask and entered the ward. ¡°How are you feeling?¡± The person on the bed moved, ¡°I don¡¯t feel very comfortable.¡± The figure turned over, looking worried, ¡°Third Young Master, what kind of medicine is this? Can it be administered even without any illness? Won¡¯t there be any side effects? I feel like half of my body is all cold.¡± This person was Lin Wanwan. Her employer had slipped away, and she had been brought in to fill in, impersonating someone else was one thing, but this was a bit too realistic; her chest felt numb, could she be electrocuted by the monitor? And also this IV drip¡­ Dr. Xue comforted the ¡®patient¡¯, ¡°It¡¯s just glucose; it¡¯s not harmful to the body.¡± Ah Wan suddenly felt the cold on one side dissipate, ¡°Oh, glucose.¡± But what about the heart monitor? Could that electrocute her? Ah Wan remained filled with worry. Meanwhile, Jiang Zhi, who had slipped away from the hospital, was already on the expressway. For the fourth time, he urged, ¡°Drive faster, cough cough cough cough cough¡­¡± ¡°It felt as if his lungs were on fire. Wrapped in a coat, he curled up on the back seat, coughing more and more violently. Xue Baoyi glanced at him through the rearview mirror. His beautiful face was now as pale as a ghost¡¯s, the rims of his eyes reddened, his expression listless, like a wilted flower, bereft of its vibrant beauty, leaving only delicate frailty. It was heart-wrenchingly pitiful! ¡°We¡¯re already going very fast,¡± Xue Baoyi, seeing his condition, couldn¡¯t help but tease him, ¡°If you keep this up, you¡¯re going to lose that half a life you have left.¡± Really, after all these years, I¡¯ve never seen him act so recklessly. Can a woman be more important than one¡¯s own life? Xue Baoyi couldn¡¯t understand, feeling that Jiang Zhi was going overboard, ¡°Brother Zhi, I mean, do you really have to be this way? If you want to see her, just give her a call. If she doesn¡¯t come, I¡¯ll tie her up and bring her to you. Is it really necessary for you to personally drag yourself over in this state?¡± This will only spoil her, and then she¡¯ll be even more out of control. Jiang Zhi, pinching his forehead, had fingers devoid of color, pale and translucent, truly bereft of strength, weakly said, ¡°My head hurts a lot, stop nagging me.¡± Xue Baoyi hummed, ¡°Alright, I won¡¯t talk anymore. After all, it¡¯s not me who¡¯s being tormented by a woman.¡± Jiang Zhi urged him to drive faster once again. A forty-minute journey was completed in less than half an hour. The on-duty security guard, seeing the luxury car, asked a few questions before letting them through. Xue Baoyi parked the car aside and unbuckled his seatbelt, ¡°I¡¯ll go call her down for you.¡± Jiang Zhi pushed the car door open directly, ¡°No need, I¡¯ll go myself.¡± He adjusted the coat around him and walked into the night. The cold wind of a winter night was bone-chilling; within moments, his pale face flushed with a hint of rosy color. The cold was biting, the night devoid of pedestrians, and the dim streetlights cast splotchy shadows off the branch tips of a cedar tree, scattering points of light. Jiang Zhi hadn¡¯t reached Building 17 when the door on the ground floor opened abruptly without warning. Zhou Xufang, wearing a black hoodie with a cotton coat thrown over it, holding a bag of something, stood at the door, staring blankly at Jiang Zhi. He was looking at her too. Behind him was a sliver of moonlight, peering through dispersing clouds, pale white, mingling with the lamplight, blending into a beautiful color, yet not as fetching as him, not by a fraction. Zhou Xufang watched him for a long while before she turned her head away and stammered, ¡°I came down to take out the trash.¡± Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t expose her lie, standing still, the wind blowing his hair and the hem of his clothes, leaving only his weak and hoarse voice in the profound silence. ¡°Zhou Xufang, I don¡¯t have the energy, come here to me.¡± She agreed, setting the trash bag down, and took steps toward him, stopping a meter away from him. Jiang Zhi moved a step forward, extended his hand, and pulled her into his embrace. Not far away, the overhead street light cast a pair of entwined shadows on the ground¡ªhe was much taller than her, and with his arms wide open, he could easily hide her completely in his embrace. He tilted his head slightly, and his chin grazed the soft hair on top of her head, ¡°Do you have any discomfort?¡± Without moving, Zhou Xufang replied, ¡°No.¡± She informed him, ¡°I¡¯m in good health.¡± That¡¯s good. Jiang Zhi rubbed his face against her head, exhaling a long breath of relief. Zhou Xufang tilted her head just a bit, ¡°What about you?¡± ¡°I won¡¯t die.¡± He couldn¡¯t afford to die, not now that he had her. He had to live a bit longer. She was still worried about him, looking up to stare at his face, feeling as if he had gotten thinner, ¡°It¡¯s very windy outside¡ª¡± she began to urge him to go back to the hospital. Jiang Zhi knew too well, cutting her off, holding her without letting go, ¡°Don¡¯t rush me, it wasn¡¯t easy for me to come here.¡± ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± He bent down, burying his face in her shoulder, ¡°Let¡¯s hug a bit longer.¡± How bold she was, to leap into the deep sea. He had drunk too much water and couldn¡¯t remember details, only that she kept calling for him, and seemed to be crying. ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± Zhou Xufang craned her neck to look at him, noticing his eyes were red. She became anxious immediately, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Jiang Zhi let go of her, hastily wiped his eyes, and made up a quick excuse, ¡°The wind is too strong, it¡¯s making my eyes hurt.¡± She believed him and tiptoed to cover his eyes with her hands, shielding him from the wind. She was a smart girl, yet sometimes so naive. Jiang Zhi caught her hand, bringing it to his lips. She instantly pulled back, her expression timid and shy, stepping back a couple of paces, her cheeks reddening, too shy to look at him, she asked softly, ¡°Are we reconciled?¡± She remembered him being angry before. Jiang Zhi, hands in his pockets, found her obedience quite pleasing yet still managed to suppress the smile curving on his lips, ¡°No,¡± he argued illogically, ¡°I don¡¯t make friends with women. If you don¡¯t become my girlfriend, we can¡¯t reconcile.¡± Zhou Xufang¡¯s eyebrows furrowed, her face quickly showing signs of disappointment and sadness. Jiang Zhi smiled, ¡°Unless,¡± She immediately looked up. He began cajoling, ¡°If you coax me, if you coax me, then I¡¯ll be friends with you.¡± So she had to coax him to be friends. ¡°¡± Shuangjiang also said she needed to coax him. But how? She had never coaxed anyone before. Her eyebrows were furrowed for a long while before she finally said, ¡°I have a gift for you.¡± The gift was at home. ¡°Can you wait here for me, okay?¡± Jiang Zhi said okay. She hurried back, and when she reached the staircase, she looked back: ¡°Do you want to wait here? There¡¯s no wind.¡± He had just fallen into the water not long ago; his body must be very weak and couldn¡¯t be chilled by the cold wind again. Jiang Zhi, of course, would have wished for nothing better: ¡°I can.¡± Not able to enter her room, but at least he made it into her apartment staircase. Zhou Xufang ran up and quickly came down again. The gift she brought Jiang Zhi was a bit¡­ special. ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± She handed it over to Jiang Zhi with both hands: ¡°Slippers.¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± This one from his family really didn¡¯t follow the beaten path. ¡°Why give me slippers?¡± And they were pink and tender at that¡ªnot only were they pink and tender, but there was also a huge rabbit head on the slippers. Zhou Xufang obviously cherished these slippers, tenderly smoothing down the fur on the rabbit: ¡°I bought a pair too; the pink color is very pretty and they¡¯re especially warm.¡± She felt that when something was good, she wanted to give it all to Jiang Zhi. Jiang Zhi glanced at the girlish rabbit heads on the slippers and resisted inside: ¡°These are women¡¯s.¡± ¡°No, I asked the customer service, and they said size 42 and 43 are for men.¡± Would a man wear such effeminate shoes? Nevermind. After all, it was his little girl¡¯s kind intention, how could he not go along with it? He was rather pleased to accept the gift: ¡°Have you bought these for anyone else?¡± These slippers were hard to buy; they had to be reserved. She had wanted to buy them for Jiang Zhi for a long time, and it took quite a while before they arrived. She shook her head: ¡°No.¡± She had only bought slippers for him. That¡¯s more like it. Jiang Zhi touched the rabbit head¡¯s fur and found it more and more pleasing to the eye. Then suddenly¡ª ¡°Meow!¡± A cat¡¯s meow in the middle of the night sounded a bit eerie. Jiang Zhi turned his head and saw a grey cat emerge from the old furniture in the stairwell: ¡°Where did this cat come from?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a stray cat.¡± That grey cat lashed out at Jiang Zhi a few times with its claws, then it went to Zhou Xufang¡¯s feet and rubbed against her pant leg obediently. Really unlucky¡ªthis cat was dressed all in pink, and the pink dress even featured a large rabbit head. And just so happed it looked exactly the same as the one on Jiang Zhi¡¯s slippers, definitely from the same series at the same store! ¡°Did you buy this stupid cat¡¯s dress too?¡± Yes, stupid cat. Zhou Xufang nodded honestly. Jiang Zhi¡¯s face changed instantly: ¡°Didn¡¯t you say you didn¡¯t buy it for anyone else?¡± He was a little fierce, not very powerful, just like the grey cat usually acted when guarding its food. Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t know what he was angry about and didn¡¯t dare to ask, only whispered in defense: ¡°It¡¯s a cat, not a person.¡± Jiang Zhi was still unsatisfied and pointed to the pink dress on the cat: ¡°How much did its dress cost?¡± Zhou Xufang had a good memory: ¡°Three hundred and forty-eight.¡± Jiang Zhi then lifted his slippers to her: ¡°And mine?¡± Zhou Xufang was honest and straightforward: ¡°One, hundred and ninety.¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± Fine, he was less worthy than a cat. Damn, wanted to kill that stupid cat. ¡°Meow~¡± The cat that was baring its teeth just a moment ago was now shivering and hiding behind Zhou Xufang. The ironclad straight girl Zhou Xufang couldn¡¯t grasp what was in Jiang Zhi¡¯s jealously sensitive young heart: ¡°Are we good now?¡± Jiang Zhi leaned languidly against the wall, appearing quite frail and delicate, huffy as he spoke with a tone that was anything but pleasant: ¡°No.¡± His eyelids drooped as he glowered darkly at the stupid cat, ¡°I¡¯m not that easy to coax.¡± Oh, not yet appeased. Zhou Xufang immediately asked: ¡°What else do you want?¡± She would give it all to him! Jiang Zhi turned away, coughing delicately with a flush on his skin and eyes misty: ¡°Cough, cough¡­ I want you to take me back.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Zhou Xufang went directly to get the vehicle from the garage. Jiang Zhi, looking at the vehicle and holding his slippers, was stunned for a few seconds: ¡°What kind of vehicle is this?¡± ¡°An electric tricycle.¡± Her SUV and sedan had been sent for maintenance, and they were a bit expensive¡ªshe didn¡¯t dare to drive them in front of Jiang Zhi. Only motorcycles, electric scooters, and bicycles remained in the garage. This one had a rain cover, and Jiang Zhi couldn¡¯t be exposed to wind, so she brought out the electric tricycle she usually used for her market stall. Jiang Zhi stood in the draft, his blue hair blown into a wild disarray, his expression a bit¡­ hard to describe: ¡°Where should I sit?¡± Zhou Xufang opened the rain canopy in the back: ¡°You sit in the back under the canopy, I¡¯ve laid out a blanket, it¡¯s very warm.¡± Captivated by the sight of the adorable bunny design on the blanket, Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± It was his first time riding in such a posh vehicle as he had grown up. On the way back, Xue Baoyi was driving while talking on the phone to her uncle. Xue Bingxue was urging on the other end, ¡°I¡¯m coming, I¡¯m coming.¡± ¡°Come out to meet me when I get to the hospital.¡± Xue Bingxue instructed her to drive directly to the hospital¡¯s parking lot. So Xue Baoyi just said, ¡°Oh, Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t ride in my car.¡± Whose car did he ride in? Xue Baoyi drove the sports car at a snail¡¯s pace, closely following the tricycle in front: ¡°It¡¯s Zhou Xufang¡¯s vehicle.¡± ¡°It¡¯s an electric tricycle, and Jiang Zhi is sitting in the yellow canopy in the back.¡± ¡°He¡¯s also wearing a yellow helmet for food delivery.¡± It¡¯s not that I don¡¯t want to be a good bro and laugh at him; I just can¡¯t help it: ¡°Seeing him wrapped in a blanket and sitting in the back, I fucking want to donate to him.¡± ¡°He¡¯s even holding a pair of women¡¯s pink slippers.¡± ¡°The fussiness scared the hell out of me.¡± ¡°He was afraid of making his woman angry and kept glaring at me; I was about to get sick from holding back my laughter!¡± ¡°HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA¡­ Jiang Zhi is ridiculously stupid!¡± Fifty minutes later, Zhou Xufang, carrying the ¡®ridiculously stupid¡¯ Jiang Zhi, arrived at the hospital. She parked the car in a concealed spot and then got out to open the canopy in the back: ¡°Jiang Zhi, we¡¯re here.¡± ¡°Mhm.¡± Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t move, waiting for her to assist him. Zhou Xufang reached out her hand. He obediently leaned on her, coughing lightly and gasping as he got off the car. Zhou Xufang felt he was uncomfortable due to the illness and helped him with extra care, afraid that using too much force might hurt him: ¡°Do you want me to take you inside?¡± ¡°No need.¡± He didn¡¯t want the Jiang Family to see her. Zhou Xufang gave an ¡°oh¡±: ¡°Then I¡¯ll be going.¡± Jiang Zhi hadn¡¯t let go yet, his hand resting on her shoulder, not putting all his weight on her, but leaning his entire body towards her, he looked down, making eye contact. ¡°Zhou Xufang.¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± He touched the yellow delivery helmet on her head, tucking a stray lock of her hair behind her ear: ¡°Come to the hospital to see me tomorrow.¡± Zhou Xufang agreed: ¡°Okay.¡± After a moment of silence, her tone suddenly became solemn, and she looked at him intently, ¡°Jiang Zhi, you need to stay healthy and not get sick.¡± He bent down to tighten her helmet a bit more: ¡°Okay, I promise you.¡± After giving his instructions, Zhou Xufang was about to say goodbye. Jiang Zhi asked her: ¡°Did you get your driver¡¯s license?¡± ¡°I did.¡± ¡°How¡¯s your driving?¡± Zhou Xufang was very honest: ¡°It¡¯s great.¡± Jiang Zhi glanced back: ¡°Xue Baoyi, let her drive your car.¡± Xue Baoyi climbed out of the flashy sports car: ¡°Then what should I drive?¡± Jiang Zhi pointed to Zhou Xufang¡¯s electric tricycle: ¡°Drive this.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Xue Baoyi struggled desperately: ¡°Can I refuse?¡± Jiang Zhi took off the ¡®ridiculously stupid¡¯ yellow helmet from his head and threw it to him: ¡°Nope.¡± Xue Baoyi: ¡°¡­¡± In the end, Xue Baoyi¡¯s beloved sports car was still given to Jiang Zhi¡¯s darling. Everyone had walked away, yet Jiang Zhi was still standing in the draft, basking in the night as he watched his girl. Xue Baoyi urged: ¡°Okay, she¡¯s out of sight now, let¡¯s go in.¡± ¡°Cough cough cough cough cough¡­¡± Jiang Zhi couldn¡¯t hold back anymore, his body swayed, crouching to the ground, coughing out a mouthful of blood. Xue Baoyi, seeing the pool of blood on the ground, panicked. ¡°Third uncle!¡± ¡°Third uncle, come quickly!¡± Chapter 98 - Chapter 98: 098: Apply a heating pad to him, and warm up the sickbed as well. Chapter 98: 098: Apply a heating pad to him, and warm up the sickbed as well. The neon lights outside the car window were rapidly receding. Zhou Xufang put on her headset, ¡°Shuangjiang.¡± Shuangjiang knew what she was going to ask and immediately replied, ¡°I¡¯ve copied out the guest data and surveillance video footage from the cruise ship, but there are no cameras turned on the first and second floors, so there¡¯s not much information available.¡± Zhou Xufang drove with one hand, the wind blowing her hair into disarray, so she simply put on her hat, ¡°Has the Jiang family filed a case?¡± ¡°Yes, Jiang Zhi¡¯s grandmother came forward.¡± After pondering for a moment, she asked, ¡°Is it possible to start from the police side?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll try.¡± After thanking him, Zhou Xufang turned the steering wheel and headed back. In the hospital room, Xue Bingxue had just finished administering emergency treatment to Jiang Zhi. Xue Baoyi was pacing back and forth anxiously, ¡°How is it going?¡± Xue Bingxue, with a stethoscope, listened intently for a while, then removed it, ¡°There¡¯s fluid in the lungs, he needs to undergo thoracentesis.¡± Jiang Zhi¡¯s lung condition was quite bad, and with the drowning, the presence of fluid was also expected. If it weren¡¯t for his eagerness to meet Zhou Xufang, he should have received thoracentesis earlier. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï???.§ã¦Ï Impressive endurance, dragging such a sick body to see his beloved. Jiang Zhi, with half-closed eyes, said, ¡°You do it.¡± ¡°My specialty is traditional Chinese medicine.¡± He lay weakly on his hospital bed, the pair of slippers that Zhou Xufang sent placed beside the pillow. He had no strength, not even wanting to move a finger, ¡°I don¡¯t trust anyone else.¡± Xue Bingxue, although specializing in traditional Chinese medicine, had surgical skills no less than any surgeon¡¯s. ¡°Take off your clothes, I¡¯ll start with acupuncture.¡± Jiang Zhi stripped off his jacket and directly lifted his hospital gown. Xue Baoyi stared unblinkingly, then let out a sound of admiration, ¡°Brother Zhi, you¡¯re so white¡­¡± followed by another exclamation, ¡°Holy shit, you actually have abs!¡± Those few abs¡­ Holy shit! He was even feeling the desire. Jiang Zhi gave him a glance, yanked the blanket, and covered himself, ¡°Get out.¡± Yo, suddenly shy. Xue Baoyi hummed and didn¡¯t leave, ¡°We¡¯re all grown men, what¡¯s the big deal?¡± Jiang Zhi¡¯s eyelids flickered, his brilliant peach blossom eyes coupled with this sickly look were quite enticing, but the words he spoke contrasted starkly, ¡°How few grown men have I turned?¡± Grown man Xue Baoyi: ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Baoyi,¡± Xue Bingxue spoke up, ¡°you go out, don¡¯t hinder me.¡± One should listen to one¡¯s elders, so Xue Baoyi hummed and left. Xue Bingxue put on gloves, took the needles, and lifted Jiang Zhi¡¯s shirt, his needling was quick and light, ¡°What happened to you?¡± Jiang Zhi rested his arm under his neck, playing with the pair of slippers Zhou Xufang sent him, ¡°What happened to what?¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t you have training? How come you were pushed into the sea?¡± His lack of vigilance didn¡¯t seem like Jiang Zhi¡¯s style. He casually provided a reason, ¡°I was careless, thinking about Zhou Xufang at that moment.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Xue Bingxue didn¡¯t know what to say to him anymore; Zhou Xufang¡¯s influence on him was too great. Jiang Zhi changed the topic, ¡°Has my family¡¯s old lady talked to you?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Without asking, Jiang Zhi could guess what the old lady had told him ¡®Jiang Wei¡¯er,¡¯ those three words, were the best bargaining chip, ¡°Most of the Jiang family are self-serving, don¡¯t be too noble yourself.¡± The old lady would play tricks, and so would Jiang Zhi. But Xue Bingxue, he disliked kicking someone when they were down. He even asked a particularly naive and sweet question, with an earnest expression, ¡°If you do something bad and your conscience is uneasy, what do you do?¡± Jiang Zhi laughed, ¡°Conscience?¡± This kid was still too honest. He touched the rabbit head on the pink slippers, ¡°That thing, I don¡¯t have it.¡± Xue Bingxue: ¡°¡­¡± In the early morning, there was the sound of a car horn outside the Jiang Mansion, and the servant on night duty put on a coat, got up, and went to open the door. It was the car from the second branch of the family. ¡°Miss Fuli has returned.¡± Jiang Fuli got out of the car, gave a few instructions to the driver, and then entered the house, heading towards the small building. She took off her outer garment and handed it to the servant, ¡°Stay outside.¡± The servants responded. On the south side of the main building of Jiang Mansion, a covered walkway had been built, lined on one side by a pavilion and an attic for scenic views. Her mother hadn¡¯t retired to bed yet; she was waiting for her in the pavilion. She walked over and took a seat, ¡°Did you have someone check it out?¡± Luo Changfang poured her a cup of tea and said, ¡°We did.¡± After pouring the tea, she added, ¡°Jiang Zhi¡¯s frail body certainly doesn¡¯t seem faked, this fall into the water must have cost him half his life.¡± Jiang Fuli took a sip from her teacup, ¡°To still not die after all that, he¡¯s really quite tenacious.¡± Luo Changfang¡¯s action of pouring tea paused for a moment. She looked around, saw no one, and asked in a low voice, ¡°Fuli, did you do it?¡± Jiang Fuli smiled and pushed aside the tea leaves with the lid, ¡°Mother, you can¡¯t speculate wildly; I have an alibi.¡± The next day, due to the low temperature, the drizzling rain had frozen into ice pellets, hinting at an impending snowfall. At nine in the morning, Jiang Zhi was transferred to a common ward. He only awoke at ten. Coincidentally, Jiang Fuxi was bringing in water, she pushed the door open, her voice soft and gentle, ¡°Is there anywhere else you feel uncomfortable?¡± Jiang Zhi sat up, his eyes clear of any sleepiness, ¡°Why are you here?¡± She set down the basin, ¡°Grandma asked me to come and look after you.¡± She took a clean towel, dampened it with water, wrung it out, and approached the bedside, bending slightly forward to wipe Jiang Zhi¡¯s hands. He avoided her, leaving her gesture incomplete, his expression cold and indifferent, ¡°Leave, let my assistant come in.¡± In the Jiang family generation, only four children were born, none of them close. Even Jiang Zhi and Jiang Fuxi, both reared under Grandma Jiang¡¯s knee, had a rather thin private relationship. Jiang Zhi avoided interaction with others, and Jiang Fuxi seldom left the women¡¯s quarters. The two hadn¡¯t developed any feuds, nor did they share any profound sibling affection. She set down the towel, took the clothes hanging on the rack without any annoyance, her temper still pleasant, her voice still gentle and soft, ¡°I¡¯ll wait outside, call me if you need anything.¡± Jiang Zhi ordered her directly, ¡°Go back to Jiang Mansion, you¡¯re not needed here to look after me.¡± ¡°But grandma¡ª¡± ¡°I will talk to Grandma.¡± She nodded her head, put on her coat¡ªcustom-made just like Grandma Jiang; she too loved embroidery, loved cheongsams, cherished calligraphy, paintings, and books. She always carried an air of fresh ink elegance. ¡°Then I¡¯ll be leaving, take good care of your health.¡± On her way out, she happened to run into Xue Baoyi and Qiao Nanchu at the door, greeted them with a nod, and then left the ward. Once she was far away, Xue Baoyi turned to look back, stroked his chin, ¡°My mother would love someone like Jiang Fuxi.¡± The delicate and virtuous daughters from big households were the type of daughters-in-law that matriarchs from wealthy families adored. Qiao Nanchu teased him, ¡°What, you still have feelings for her?¡± Xue Baoyi immediately changed his tune, scowling, ¡°Don¡¯t bring up such stale news.¡± Jiang Fuxi was Xue Baoyi¡¯s first love. Back then, Xue Baoyi was only a teenager, a brash youth who made waves throughout the estate. At that time, he was buddies with Jiang Zhi and often visited the Jiang family. It was the age of romantic yearnings, and through many visits, he took a fancy to Jiang Fuxi. There was no particular reason; at that age, any girl who a boy spends time with can start to seem appealing. Then, Xue Baoyi chose a perfect moonlit night to courageously confess his feelings, accompanied by a group of childhood friends, spouting nearly ten thousand words of adolescent bravado essentially saying ¡®become my wife, and I¡¯ll look after you.¡¯ The result¡ª The graceful young girl simply replied with, ¡°Are you done? I haven¡¯t finished embroidering my flower.¡± The teenage Xue Baoyi was utterly dumbfounded at the time. Qiao Nanchu didn¡¯t quite remember what happened after, only that Xue Baoyi dragged them all to a bar to drown his sorrows, and then he took a fancy to a bartending sister¡­ In short, this was a rough patch in Xue Baoyi¡¯s youthful indiscretions. ¡°However, she is pretty; she could debut as a star,¡± Xue Baoyi commented objectively, as befits his status as an entertainment industry CEO. Qiao Nanchu entered the ward, pulled up a chair, and sat down, ¡°Didn¡¯t your mom tell you? The prettier a woman is, the more poisonous.¡± Xue Baoyi didn¡¯t deny it. ¡°This Jiang Fuxi,¡± Qiao Nanchu stretched out his legs, hitting the bedpost with his foot, ¡°Jiang Zhi, don¡¯t you think there¡¯s something odd about her?¡± Jiang Zhi said nothing. Xue Baoyi leaned against the cabinet, ¡°What¡¯s odd about her?¡± Qiao Nanchu fiddled with his lighter, ¡°Can¡¯t quite put my finger on it.¡± Without bringing up Jiang Fuxi again, he spoke of more serious matters, ¡°Your grandma has already filed a case; Mr. Cheng will come over soon to take your statement.¡± Jiang Zhi propped himself up with a pillow, not looking too well, ¡°Can we restrict their travel?¡± ¡°Who do you mean?¡± ¡°Everyone on that cruise ship.¡± Qiao Nanchu caressed the roller of his lighter, ¡°That¡¯s difficult, the guests invited last night are all influential, without sufficient evidence, it¡¯s tough to handle.¡± Jiang Zhi abruptly said, ¡°I saw the murderer¡¯s hand.¡± Qiao Nanchu stopped fiddling with the lighter, ¡°Could you recognize it?¡± ¡°Too little time, just an impression.¡± After thinking, Jiang Zhi said, ¡°Left hand, men¡¯s watch, three scratch marks on the back of the hand.¡± Scratch marks¡­ With just this one feature, the range of suspects could be narrowed. Qiao Nanchu stood up and made a phone call to the Criminal Investigation Team, ¡°Scratch marks on the back of the hand, start screening immediately.¡± After giving a few more instructions, Qiao Nanchu had just hung up when someone knocked on the door. Xue Baoyi asked who it was, and went to open the door with her hands in her pockets. The person outside replied, ¡°It¡¯s me.¡± The young girl was carrying two large bags, and introduced herself formulaically, ¡°I¡¯m Zhou Xufang.¡± Jiang Zhi perked up. Xue Baoyi turned back to Jiang Zhi and playfully winked. Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t look at him; his gaze was fixed on the girl, eyes brimming with spring charm, but his voice was cold as frost, ¡°Everyone out.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Talk about favoritism. Xue Baoyi clicked his tongue, ¡°A faithless scoundrel when a beauty is near.¡± Turning back, he greeted Zhou Xufang with a roguish charm, ¡°Hello, Miss Zhou.¡± Miss Zhou was a bit unaccustomed to such enthusiasm and avoided his gaze, ¡°Hello, Mr. Xue.¡± She was just about to greet another ¡®Mr. Qiao¡¯ when Jiang Zhi urged her, ¡°Xu Fang, close the door.¡± Zhou Xufang said, ¡°Oh.¡± Snap! The door closed, and Xue Baoyi and Qiao Nanchu were almost left out in the cold, the nerve of these two! Zhou Xufang took a few small steps forward, looking at Jiang Zhi with concern, ¡°Are you feeling better?¡± Jiang Zhi lay there, appearing fragile as if boneless, panting weakly, the embodiment of sickness, ¡°I can¡¯t hear clearly, come closer to talk.¡± His act was like a big bad wolf trying to coax a little white rabbit. Zhou Xufang was particularly gullible; she believed everything Jiang Zhi said, really thinking he couldn¡¯t hear well, so she strode over to him and asked again with concern, ¡°Are you feeling better?¡± He wanted to trick her into worrying about him a little. But he wouldn¡¯t let her be too frightened or anxious. Jiang Zhi suppressed the urge to cough, ¡°It¡¯s nothing, I¡¯ll be better in a few days.¡± He patted the edge of the bed, ¡°Come, sit here.¡± Perhaps because he was ill, she was more obedient than usual and sat on the very edge of the bed, barely touching it. Jiang Zhi took the large bag from her hands, ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± ¡°Nutritional supplements I bought for you.¡± More nutritional supplements. Expensive. Jiang Zhi placed the bag on the cabinet, unable to resist nagging her, ¡°I have more than enough supplements, don¡¯t buy any more in the future.¡± Zhou Xufang listened to him, ¡°Okay.¡± Then she¡¯d buy something else. She took down her backpack and said, ¡°I have another gift for you.¡± He had said yesterday that he hadn¡¯t been properly cheered up yet and needed more comforting. Another gift? She rummaged in her backpack and pulled out a pretty pink gift box, straightened the ribbon on top to make it neat, and then presented it to Jiang Zhi. Jiang Zhi looked at the square box, ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± Zhou Xufang opened the box, ¡°A heat pack.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Isn¡¯t that something women use? After giving slippers, now a heat pack¡ªa girl¡¯s gift? Was she raising him as her confidante? ¡°The snow will come again soon, and it will be very cold. If you stick this on your body, you won¡¯t be cold.¡± Jiang Zhi was in poor health and afraid of the cold. The heat pack was recommended by Lixiang, and she thought it was very suitable for Jiang Zhi, so she bought a lot. She gave him a small box to try. If it worked well, she would bring all the stock from home for him. However, Jiang Zhi¡¯s expression seemed a bit complicated. She felt a little anxious and unconsciously scratched the box with her fingernail, ¡°Don¡¯t you like it?¡± Seeing her about to frown, Jiang Zhi quickly snatched the box away and even took out a heat pack, caressing it as if it was priceless, ¡°Who said I didn¡¯t like it?¡± Love me, love my dog. Who could blame him for liking her? When Zhou Xufang heard him say that, she finally smiled shyly, ¡°As long as you like it.¡± Then she asked Jiang Zhi, ¡°But do you know how to use it?¡± He hadn¡¯t even seen the thing before. Jiang Zhi pinched a piece in his hands, ¡°You teach me.¡± ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll help you put one on,¡± Zhou Xufang said as she took one out and pressed it under the blanket, careful not to touch Jiang Zhi. She occupied just a little space, ¡°You have to warm it up first, otherwise it will be very cold to start.¡± ¡°Then you warm it up.¡± Jiang Zhi took his cotton candy tin and picked out a piece to feed her. She opened her mouth and ate it. ¡°Want more?¡± ¡°Mhm.¡± He fed her another piece. And fed her, kept feeding, kept on feeding¡­ Until her mouth was stuffed with candy, cheeks bulging, she said, ¡°It¡¯s warmed up now.¡± So adorable. The cutest in the world! Jiang Zhi set down the cotton candy tin, leaned back, with an ¡®I won¡¯t resist whatever you do to me¡¯ expression, even a bit anticipatory, ¡°So, where do you put it?¡± Zhou Xufang was an honest child, ¡°Where are you cold?¡± She would put it wherever he was cold. Jiang Zhi pulled away the blanket, lifted the hem of his jacket, ¡°Here.¡± She stared at the hospital gown underneath¡­ Jiang Zhi was in an exceptionally good mood, his eyes gleamed with springtime joviality, ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to help me put it on?¡± ¡°Oh.¡± She peeled off the backing paper and, using two fingers, tugged at Jiang Zhi¡¯s hospital gown, covering a small stretch of his exposed pale waist. She compared it a couple of times before sticking it squarely on his abdomen. Zhou Xufang felt a bit hot; she dared not look around aimlessly, her eyes and hands kept proper, focusing on the checks of Jiang Zhi¡¯s hospital gown. It seemed as if she could see a flower¡­ She kept her head down. From Jiang Zhi¡¯s angle, all he could see was the top of her head and her two restlessly placed little fingers, cocked as if afraid of touching him. Her fingers were trembling. Jiang Zhi laughed, ¡°Your hand is shaking.¡± She wouldn¡¯t admit it, ¡°It¡¯s not!¡± He laughed even more joyously, ¡°It is.¡± She felt so annoyed and argued weakly, ¡°¡­No,¡± then ignored him, burying herself in putting the heat pack on him. Pinching it with four fingers, she smoothed it bit by bit; after securing it with a few pokes, she quickly moved back, ¡°Done.¡± Jiang Zhi touched the square thing on his belly. It was actually quite warm. He was about to tease his little girl further when¡ª ¡°Grandma Jiang!¡± It was Xue Baoyi outside the ward. His voice was loud, drawn out, ¡°How come you¡¯re here?¡± ¡°Here to see my Brother Zhi.¡± The sound of a walking stick against the floor grew nearer, mixed with the voices of Jiang Xiaolin and Jiang Fuli. Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t have time to think more and lifted the blanket, ¡°Xufang, get in.¡± Zhou Xufang was a bit bewildered, ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°Hide under the blanket.¡± She didn¡¯t understand, ¡°Why would I hide?¡± Jiang Zhi stroked her head gently, reassuringly whispered, ¡°Because there are bad people.¡± She didn¡¯t ask any more questions, climbed up, and crawled under the blanket. But she dared not touch him, desperately inching towards the edge. Jiang Zhi watched the lump under the blanket with amusement. He patted her back through the blanket, coaxing her, ¡°Don¡¯t be so distant, Fang Bao, stay close to me.¡± He called her Fang Bao again. Zhou Xufang hid under the blanket, chuckled secretly, and bit by bit moved closer to him. Chapter 99 - Chapter 99: 099: Nurse Ah Fang, patient Jiang Zhi Chapter 99: 099: Nurse Ah Fang, patient Jiang Zhi At that moment, the door to the hospital room swung open. Jiang Zhi bent his legs, propping up the blanket, and casually grabbed a pillow to press to one side, ¡°Why have you come?¡± Old Lady Jiang, leaning on her cane, entered, ¡°If I don¡¯t come and check on this ancestor of mine, how could I possibly sleep?¡± Not only were Jiang Xiaolin and Jiang Fuli there, but someone from the second branch of the Luo Family had also come. She waited on Old Lady Jiang¡¯s side, taking her coat and pulling up a chair for the older woman to sit down. ¡°Feeling any better?¡± Jiang Zhi, listlessly, hummed in response, shifting his position slightly, his hand resting on the pillow beside him. Seeing him in such a sickly state, Old Lady Jiang felt truly heartbroken and, with gentle words, urged him, ¡°Don¡¯t go filming these next few days. Rest well in the hospital.¡± Jiang Zhi agreed. Old Lady Jiang continued her inquiry, ¡°Has anyone from the police station been over?¡± ¡°Nanchu has.¡± She was preoccupied with this matter and immediately asked, ¡°Then, were there any new clues?¡± Jiang Zhi, lethargically squinting, stayed silent. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï???.§ã¦Ï Old Lady Jiang was sharp-minded and definitely understood his thoughts. Turning her head, she ordered, ¡°All of you, go out and wait.¡± Luo Changfang, unlike Jiang Xiaolin and Jiang Fuli, who were composed and self-assured, had an expression that seemed unable to hide her unease. However, she dared not speak out, taking the two younger ones with her and leaving the hospital room. After they had all left and the door was closed, Old Lady Jiang then asked Jiang Zhi, ¡°Does it have anything to do with those two?¡± ¡°Those two¡± referred to the first and second branches of the family. Jiang Zhi switched the leg he was bending, with no semblance of a sleeping posture, the blanket becoming uneven. He said, ¡°The killer had scratch marks on the back of their hand.¡± The little girl under the covers was breathing hotly, making him feel warm. ¡°Are you talking about Lin?¡± Jiang Xiaolin hadn¡¯t particularly concealed the injuries on his hands. Old Lady Jiang had seen them the night before. When she asked what had happened, he didn¡¯t tell her. But it turned out the culprit who¡¯d pushed Jiang Zhi into the sea also had scratches. How could it be such a coincidence? ¡°It¡¯s hard to say,¡± Jiang Zhi stretched his hand for a cup, took a sip of lukewarm water to moisten his throat, ¡°If he wanted to kill me, he didn¡¯t need to dirty his own hands.¡± ¡°Perhaps he anticipated you¡¯d think just that and deliberately did the opposite.¡± That possibility couldn¡¯t be ruled out. ¡°That Fuli girl too, she never leaves early or late, but just when you were in trouble, she wasn¡¯t on the boat.¡± Old Lady Jiang huffed, her expression showing displeasure, ¡°Every single one of them is nothing but trouble.¡± The Jiang Family was not as splendid as rumors suggested. With each branch of the family having its own issues, falling apart was just a matter of time ¡ª it was all waiting for this old lady to pass away. Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t want to talk further, stating his position, ¡°Leave this matter alone. If the investigation does lead back to our own Jiang Family, it would bring you trouble as well.¡± Old Lady Jiang was unconvinced, her grip on her cane tightening, her tone just as firm, ¡°What trouble? If the police can handle it, let them. If not, whoever dared hurt you, I¡¯ll retaliate in kind. Other matters we can solve behind closed doors, but this murderous behavior cannot go unchecked.¡± They were of the same family tree; unless absolutely necessary, she wouldn¡¯t take extreme measures. ¡°Ms. Xu,¡± Only Jiang Zhi dared to tease the Old Madam like that, ¡°what¡¯s all this about retaliation? Didn¡¯t you always teach me to speak elegantly?¡± This was all because the incident had riled her up! Old Lady Jiang was both exasperated and amused by him, ¡°You¡¯ve learned quite the thuggish ways from the outside world yourself.¡± Deciding to stop joking around, she put on a serious face, ¡°Let¡¯s not talk about that. Tell me about that errand runner you employed. Where was he when you had your accident?¡± A small shape beneath the blanket shifted slightly. Jiang Zhi adjusted his position, his hand naturally sliding under the blanket, finding a head, and gave it a rub, ¡°It has nothing to do with her.¡± His family¡¯s thin one, cowering in a ball under the blanket, was hardly noticeable. He would need to watch her eat from now on. ¡°How can you say it has nothing to do with him? After taking a commission of twenty million, you¡¯d let someone take advantage of this. What¡¯s the use of hiring him?¡± Old Lady Jiang was naturally dissatisfied with the errand runner, having paid a high price yet not receiving the expected service. ¡°She dived into the sea to save me.¡± His tone was still assertive, as if no one could say otherwise. Knowing Jiang Zhi¡¯s temperament well, how could Old Lady Jiang not understand? When had he ever defended someone like this? His protectiveness was truly baffling. ¡°Why are you making excuses for him?¡± He felt the cold little hand of the girl under the blanket, her fingers docile, allowing him to rub and poke them, toying with them made him feel much better. He said, ¡°Let¡¯s stick to the facts.¡± ¡°And your hulking assistant, why didn¡¯t he stay with you?¡± Up until now, Old Lady Jiang had not remembered Lin Wanwan¡¯s name; she always referred to her as ¡°hulking.¡± Speaking of the hulking assistant made Jiang Zhi lose interest, ¡°He gets seasick.¡± ¡°¡­¡± What kind of people were these? Jiang Zhi urged, ¡°When will you go back?¡± This guy, really rushing people off. ¡°Am I, an old woman, being too naggy?¡± Jiang Zhi¡¯s eyelids drooped, ¡°I¡¯m tired and want to sleep.¡± Old Lady Jiang scolded the little ancestor with a smile and got up, ¡°I¡¯ll keep an eye on Lin and Fuli. Don¡¯t be careless yourself. I¡¯ll send some more skilled people over to watch over you tonight.¡± He hummed a response, listless and weak. Old Lady Jiang left after giving a few more instructions. When the door closed, and there was silence in the room, the bundle under the pillow stirred a bit before extending a finger to poke Jiang Zhi¡¯s arm. ¡°Don¡¯t move.¡± Jiang Zhi tossed the pillow aside, ¡°You¡¯re making me itch.¡± Hearing him speak at last, Zhou Xufang dared to squeak, ¡°Is he gone?¡± ¡°He¡¯s gone.¡± ¡°Then I¡¯m coming out.¡± ¡°Come on out.¡± The lump under the blankets slowly shifted backwards, and the head gradually emerged. Just as her head peeked out, a handsome face leaned in. ¡°Jiang¡ª¡± Jiang Zhi planted a kiss directly on her blushing little face. Zhou Xufang: ¡°!¡± Her ears turned red in an instant. She froze for three seconds, then suddenly sprang backward¡ª With a creak, the bed collapsed. Jiang Zhi, who had just wanted to steal a quick kiss and was now half on the ground, half dangling from the hospital bed: ¡°¡­¡± At that moment, there were voices outside the room. ¡°Hold it steady, don¡¯t spill the soup.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± ¡°Jiang Zhi he¡ª¡± The door wasn¡¯t locked, and opened with a twist. Ah Wan and Ms. Song, who¡¯d just pushed the door open: ¡°¡­¡± And Ms. Song¡¯s pet chicken, Shuangxi: ¡°Cluck cluck!¡± What an awkward time to walk in! Bang, bang, bang¡ªthe IV stand shook violently. Zhou Xufang, quick to react, jumped up and stabilized the IV bag with her hands and feet. She looked at Jiang Zhi with concern: ¡°Did you hurt yourself?¡± The puncture site was a bit painful. Jiang Zhi coughed once and said with an unchanged expression, ¡°No.¡± Zhou Xufang felt guilty and proactively approached to support Jiang Zhi, bearing an extremely red face, admitting her mistake, ¡°I shouldn¡¯t have jumped around. This bed,¡± her voice grew fainter, ¡°¡­ it¡¯s not sturdy.¡± She really didn¡¯t use much force; if she had, the bed would¡¯ve been dust by now. So annoying, her strength was so great. She would definitely be extra, extra careful in the future to protect Jiang Zhi and never bump into him again. ¡°Mmh, it¡¯s not your fault.¡± Jiang Zhi glanced at the ultra-luxurious wooden VIP hospital bed that had broken in half without changing his expression, absolving his girlfriend¡¯s responsibility, ¡°It¡¯s all the bed¡¯s fault.¡± Zhou Xufang hung her head in chagrin. The mother and son at the door exchanged glances, both exhibiting the calmness that comes with experience. Ah Wan: ¡°Boss, do you need us to step outside for a moment?¡± How considerate of him. Jiang Zhi showed no embarrassment or guilt of being ¡®caught in the act,¡¯ dressed in checkered hospital pants, embodying the nonchalance of a peerless young master. ¡°Go get me another bed,¡± he added, ¡°Something sturdier.¡± Ah Wan thought to himself: Were they fighting on the bed? Of course, switching beds wouldn¡¯t happen immediately. First, Ah Wan helped his employer switch rooms. And when filling out the bed-change form, under the reason, Ah Wan decisively wrote¡ªintense activity. Oh, his damned clever wit. This was Ms. Song¡¯s first encounter with Zhou Xufang, her curious gaze sizing up the young woman for a long time. With rosy lips and white teeth, the more she looked, the more she liked what she saw. ¡°You must be Miss Zhou.¡± Ms. Song had a round face and could be described as¡­ very robust, with permed trendy hair and a hair clip suited for a young girl attached to her curls. Ah Wan¡¯s build, it turned out, was similar to his mother¡¯s. Zhou Xufang stood as upright as if she were facing an interviewer: ¡°Yes, that¡¯s me.¡± Ms. Song¡¯s wide face broke into a smile, eyes squinting into slits: ¡°I¡¯m Wanwan¡¯s mom.¡± Zhou Xufang was a little shy around strangers, hardly lifting her head, bowing politely: ¡°Nice to meet you, Auntie.¡± Aw, she was like a primary school student. So well-behaved, so sensible. Ms. Song observed her ¡®future daughter-in-law¡¯ with increasing satisfaction and straightened the feathers on the big rooster in her arms: ¡°Shuangxi, say hello.¡± Shuangxi, wearing a pink hand-knitted sweater-dress: ¡°Cluck!¡± Zhou Xufang: ¡°¡­¡± Ms. Song was enthusiastic and comfortably familiar: ¡°I heard from Wanwan that Shuangxi was a gift from you to Jiang Zhi.¡± Zhou Xufang looked at the rooster dressed in a pink dress, somewhat befuddled. Jiang Zhi saw her standing there like a block of wood and pulled her to sit down: ¡°It¡¯s that free-range chicken you gave.¡± Oh, it was that chicken that had pooped on Jiang Zhi. Zhou Xufang stared at the rooster more closely: ¡°It seems to have put on weight.¡± It had gotten much rounder, and the chicken legs were also plumper¡ªeating it would probably be very nourishing¡­ Ms. Song gently stroked Shuangxi: ¡°With both you and Jiang Zhi so busy, and since I have nothing much to do at home, I thought I¡¯d take care of it for you. If you want to take care of it yourselves later on, just take it back. After a while, it¡¯ll get familiar with you.¡± As Ah Wan listened, something seemed off. It sounded like his mother was talking about raising a grandson. The conversation about Shuangxi came to an end. Ms. Song started talking business, ¡°Have they caught the guy who pushed you yet?¡± ¡°Not yet.¡± Jiang Zhi played with Zhou Xufang¡¯s hand, pulling it towards him; she pulled it back, and he pulled it back again, seemingly enjoying the game. ¡°That damn bastard!¡± Ms. Song had a temper and was furious, ¡°Wanwan, you move in with Jiang Zhi tomorrow and sleep on the floor. From now on, you can¡¯t let him be alone.¡± Ah Wan really didn¡¯t like her mom calling her Wanwan. He refused, with the reason, ¡°He has germaphobia.¡± Ms. Song¡¯s tone was as spicy and choking as if she had eaten a pound of chili peppers, ¡°You have the nerve to say that, even Shuangxi bathes more often than you.¡± ¡°I¡ª¡± ¡°What about you! If you hadn¡¯t gotten seasick, would Jiang Zhi have been pushed into the sea?¡± Ah Wan: ¡°¡­¡± Alright, blame him for everything, for getting seasick, for not liking to bathe, for even being born! ¡°It¡¯s not convenient for him to stay with me,¡± Jiang Zhi casually mentioned. Ms. Song immediately revealed a girlish smile, ¡°Not convenient, huh? Fine, then he won¡¯t stay. From now on, make Wanwan go earlier and come back later.¡± Ah Wan: ¡°¡­¡± This wasn¡¯t his mom, this was Jiang Zhi¡¯s mom. From today onwards, he was an orphan. ¡°Wanwan, quickly pour out some soup for Jiang Zhi to drink.¡± Ah Wan stubbornly held on for three seconds: ¡°¡­Oh.¡± Forget it, it¡¯s his own fault for not being good-looking. Ah Wan poured a bowl of soup, which Ms. Song first handed to Jiang Zhi, then Ah Wan poured another bowl, which Ms. Song gave to Zhou Xufang: ¡°Xiao Fang, you have some too.¡± Xiao Fang took the soup: ¡°¡­¡± Xiao Fang was still not used to this new nickname. Ms. Song drank the third bowl herself. Then the thermos was empty, and Ah Wan¡¯s heart also cooled. Ms. Song still smiled like a blooming spring flower, ¡°You two as well, young and energetic as you are, can¡¯t overdo it. You should wait until your health is better before¡ª¡± Ms. Song coughed twice, pretending, too embarrassed to continue. The ¡®young and vigorous¡¯ Jiang Zhi looked a bit embarrassed, and the ¡®young and vigorous¡¯ Zhou Xufang was so clueless, she didn¡¯t understand the implications of the colorful words spoken. Ms. Song was talkative and sat in the ward for more than ten minutes discussing everything from Ah Wan wetting the bed at seven years old to fainting from nervousness at a boxing match when he was seventeen. Ah Wan felt utterly dispirited throughout. After Ms. Song and her son left, Zhou Xufang said to Jiang Zhi, ¡°Wanwan¡¯s mom is very nice.¡± ¡°Wanwan?¡± It was grating, very grating; Jiang Zhi wasn¡¯t too pleased, and tugging at Zhou Xufang¡¯s clothes, he pulled her close, ¡°Lin Wanwan has a nickname.¡± Zhou Xufang: ¡°Ah?¡± Jiang Zhi casually made one up: ¡°It¡¯s Lin Dazhuang.¡± Zhou Xufang believed it utterly and corrected herself: ¡°Oh, Lin Dazhuang¡¯s mom is very nice.¡± So well-behaved. Jiang Zhi couldn¡¯t help but pat her head, ¡°Yeah, she is nice.¡± He then explained in detail, ¡°Lin Dazhuang¡¯s mom used to have uraemia, and I paid for her surgery.¡± As for the fact that Lin Wanwan had signed a thirty-year indentured servitude contract for that, there was no need to mention. Moved by what she heard, Zhou Xufang said, ¡°You¡¯re really a good person.¡± Jiang ¡¤ Philanthropist ¡¤ Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± Zhou Xufang checked the time, it was getting late: ¡°I should go back now.¡± Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t want her to leave: ¡°Go back for what?¡± She put on her backpack, ¡°I have to go to work.¡± Jiang Zhi took her backpack, tugging her along, coaxing and almost deceiving, ¡°Don¡¯t go, can you work for me here?¡± ¡°What would I do?¡± Anything would work. He coughed, breathing weakly and looking pitiful, ¡°Be my nurse, I have no one to care for me.¡± She seriously considered it for a moment, ¡°Okay.¡± She agreed too quickly, and Jiang Zhi hadn¡¯t expected it, ¡°You agree?¡± She was afraid someone else would harm him again, ¡°Mhm.¡± He smiled, his small tiger teeth hardly noticeable, and he lay back on the hospital bed, extending his delicate and pale hand toward her, ¡°Then start by wiping my hands.¡± Of course, Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t really let Zhou Xufang serve him; instead, as the patient, he spoiled her with delicious treats. He found that Zhou Xufang seemed to like snacks, especially sweets, and there were so many things she had never tried before, as if she had no childhood. Thus, Jiang Zhi sent Ah Wan to buy a bunch of snacks for Zhou Xufang to taste to her heart¡¯s content. In the afternoon, Qiao Nanchu came by and from a distance saw Jiang Zhi, the usually ill-tempered little ancestor, holding a jelly in one hand and a lollipop in the other, offering them to Zhou Xufang, saying she couldn¡¯t eat too much since dinner was soon, and could only have one. ¡°Which one do you like?¡± Jiang Zhi¡¯s tone¡­ Qiao Nanchu felt it was exactly like how his cousin would coddle his daughter. Zhou Xufang chose the jelly: ¡°This one.¡± She hadn¡¯t tried it before and found the jelly incredibly tasty; this was the last one left. Jiang Zhi tore open the packaging for her: ¡°Lin Dazhuang, go buy some more jelly.¡± Lin Dazhuang: ¡°¡­¡± In this world, the person he hated the most was Jiang Zhi, and the second one was Ms. Song. Ah Wan turned his head with a grudge and noticed Qiao Nanchu, who was rarely in his crisp police uniform: ¡°You seem quite comfortable in this place.¡± Jiang Zhi ignored his joke and stuffed a few gummies into Zhou Xufang¡¯s hand: ¡°How about you and Lin Dazhuang go buy some jelly together? Pick the flavors you like.¡± He wanted to send her away. Zhou Xufang agreed. When everyone had left, Jiang Zhi then asked Qiao Nanchu, ¡°Have you canvassed?¡± Qiao Nanchu pulled up a chair to sit down and unwrapped a candy, popping it in his mouth: ¡°This case is a bit troublesome.¡± ¡°How so?¡± ¡°Unfortunately, we¡¯ve already caught three with scratch marks on the back of their hands, not to mention another with a burn.¡± Jiang Zhi wasn¡¯t surprised: ¡°Who are they?¡± Qiao Nanchu showed him photos on his phone: ¡°What¡¯s even more coincidental is that they all have some grudge against you or less.¡± The four suspects were either associated with the Jiang Family or the Luo Family. Jiang Zhi¡¯s guess wasn¡¯t too far off: ¡°Do any of them have alibis?¡± Qiao Nanchu went through them one by one: ¡°Huang Peidong said he was in a second-floor cabin on the cruise ship, talking on the phone with Jiang Fuli. We¡¯ve checked the call logs; the timing adds up, but it doesn¡¯t rule out him committing the crime while on the phone.¡± Huang Peidong was familiar to both him and Jiang Zhi, as Jiang Fuli¡¯s right-hand man. ¡°And the scratches? How and when did they happen?¡± ¡°They happened this morning, from his mistress,¡± Qiao Nanchu crumpled the candy wrapper into a ball and tossed it into the trash. ¡°She was interrogated as well, no issues for now.¡± Jiang Zhi pondered for a moment. Qiao Nanchu continued, ¡°Han Feng and Luo Changde were together on the second floor; no surveillance backs them up, they¡¯re each other¡¯s alibis. Moreover, Luo Changde burned his hand last night at home, and because the burn is quite severe, it can¡¯t be confirmed whether there were any scratches before it.¡± Huang Peidong was suspect number one, Han Feng, and Luo Changde were two and three. Whether it was the Jiang Family or the Luo Family, they were all Jiang Zhi¡¯s sworn enemies and all had motives for murder. Jiang Zhi, leaning on his hand, with his jacket sleeve slipping down to reveal a small square of white, asked, ¡°Who scratched Han Feng¡¯s hand?¡± ¡°He said it was Luo Qinghe, for incompetence. The forensic examiner did a live collection of evidence; the results are not out yet.¡± Han Feng was Luo Qinghe¡¯s secretary; with everyone on the same boat, the possibility of colluding testimonies was quite high. ¡°Only Jiang Xiaolin has no proof at all; he says he was in his room alone. As for the scratches on his hand,¡± that guy was quite arrogant, ¡°he said it was a private issue and declined to comment.¡± Aside from Jiang Xiaolin, the other three, regardless of the truth, had alibis and stories to tell; on the surface, Jiang Xiaolin seemed to be the most suspicious. Qiao Nanchu speculated: ¡°All these suspects might have issues.¡± ¡°Then keep an eye on each of them.¡± Jiang Zhi took out a notepad from the cabinet and handed it to Qiao Nanchu, ¡°I¡¯ve drawn a quick sketch; start by checking this men¡¯s wristwatch.¡± Qiao Nanchu glanced at it and laughed: ¡°Brother Zhi, your drawing skills¡­¡± Are beyond words. Jiang Zhi gave him a cold look. He stopped teasing and closed the notebook: ¡°What¡¯s that thing you¡¯ve got on your hand?¡± Jiang Zhi casually pushed up his sleeve, his eyes brimming with pride: ¡°A heat patch, Zhou Xufang put it on for me.¡± He had a total of four patches, all applied by Zhou Xufang. He was even bragging about it now. Qiao Nanchu teased with a laugh: ¡°Virtuous indeed!¡± In the evening. Jiang Zhi received a call from the old mansion, saying Jiang Wei¡¯er and the Old Madam were having a dispute. When he arrived at the Old House, he saw Xiao Linsu outside the door. It was dark by that time; he stood beneath the large lantern at the entrance of the Jiang Family, his back straight, his shadow on the ground solitary and desolate. Jiang Zhi got out of the car and paused when passing by him. It was cold at night, and Xiao Linsu was wrapped in a coat, coughing lightly: ¡°Go back, you can¡¯t enter the doors of our Jiang Family.¡± He stood immobile, his eyes devoid of light and spirit, muttering, ¡°Wei¡¯er is crying inside.¡± Jiang Zhi looked at him: ¡°And?¡± Standing in the light, he looked distantly, weak yet resolute: ¡°I cannot leave.¡± Then keep standing. Jiang Zhi entered the house and from afar saw a courtyard full of people. A screen had been set up on the outdoor lawn, projecting images. It was somewhat dark and unclear, a hazy grey, but the screams were clear. ¡°Scream!¡± ¡°Does it hurt?¡± ¡°If you don¡¯t scream, I¡¯ll beat you to death!¡± As Jiang Zhi drew closer, he recognized the projection on the screen. Jin Song, having grown tired from using a belt, had switched to a cigarette end, pressing an entire handful onto Xiao Linsu¡¯s bare back. He was undressed, lying there like a corpse, neither crying out in pain nor begging for mercy. Both the masters and servants of the Jiang Family were there, all silent. Old Lady Jiang¡¯s face was ashen as she stood beside the screen, while Jiang Wei¡¯er knelt in front of her, wailing loudly: ¡°Please, Mother, stop it¡­¡± Chapter 100 - Chapter 100: 100: Jiang Zhi: Going to give my wife an umbrella~ Chapter 100: 100: Jiang Zhi: Going to give my wife an umbrella~ ¡°I beg you, Mother, please don¡¯t let it play¡­¡± Old Lady Jiang looked down at her. ¡°Have you seen clearly?¡± She knelt on the ground, tears blurring her vision, clutching her palms without answering. ¡°I¡¯m asking you,¡± Old Lady Jiang raised her voice and asked again with a heavy tone, ¡°Have you seen clearly?¡± She dared not hesitate any longer and nodded vigorously: ¡°I¡¯ve seen it, I¡¯ve seen it¡­ Mother,¡± she crept forward on her knees, grasping the edge of the Old Lady¡¯s robes, ¡°please don¡¯t let it play, don¡¯t let it play¡­¡± She was pleading, crying soundlessly. ¡°Wei¡¯er,¡± the Old Lady bent down, her wrinkled hand touching her face, wiping away the tears, her voice finally softening a bit, ¡°Don¡¯t blame your mother for being heartless. If you don¡¯t wake up painfully now, you will suffer for a long time in the future.¡± She choked up, blurting out, ¡°It¡¯s my fault, I shouldn¡¯t have¡ª¡± With that, Old Lady Jiang¡¯s face turned to ice, she hadn¡¯t even finished listening before she became angry: ¡°You¡¯re still defending him.¡± On the screen, Jin Song was holding a knife, carving letters into Xiao Linsu¡¯s back. He laughed as he cursed him for being lowly. Then, with each stroke a trail of blood was written, the character for ¡®lowly¡¯ was carved onto Xiao Linsu¡¯s back; the sheets stained with splotches of blood, his gaze empty, he lay there numb, motionless. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã¦Ï Devoid of dignity. Jiang Wei¡¯er could no longer bear to watch, not even a glance, her heart was in too much pain, the knife seemed to carve into her own flesh, blood spilling violently. ¡°Mother, I have never asked you for anything, just this one time, just this one time,¡± she knelt, bowing deeply, ¡°Mother, Wei¡¯er is begging you.¡± She had seen this video before; she¡¯d only managed to watch less than ten seconds before turning it off. The segment she saw was not of the present Xiao Linsu, but of him at eighteen, when he would still struggle, still cry. She hadn¡¯t watch it to the end, not knowing when he had started to become numb and stopped resisting altogether. Old Lady Jiang moved forward with the support of a cane, lifting her shoulders, urging her to rise: ¡°Stop kneeling. Such a trifle is not worth the Fifth Miss of the Jiang Family bending her back for him.¡± Jiang Wei¡¯er lifted her head, tears in her eyes, a solitary defiance swirling within, she wiped her face, placing all her chips on the table: ¡°Don¡¯t force me.¡± Old Lady Jiang, infuriated, laughed: ¡°You still won¡¯t repent?¡± Repentance? Jiang Wei¡¯er raised her hand, pointing towards the screen, her voice trembling, each word choked but resolute: ¡°Then tell me, what have I done wrong? What has he done wrong? Can¡¯t you see it? His eyes are pleading for help.¡± But nobody was saving him. No wonder, she always felt that his eyes held frost, an enduring gloom that couldn¡¯t be swept away. There were so many people standing in the courtyard, yet no one turned off the projector. They just watched indifferently, spectating the play, as the person in the video was humiliated and trampled on without dignity. But nobody was saving him. Everyone was silent, only Old Lady Jiang¡¯s powerful voice resounded, accusatory and aggressive: ¡°You¡¯re not wrong, and perhaps he has his own difficulties, not wrong either. But you know that if you continue to be with him, for the next three, five, or even ten, twenty years, you won¡¯t be able to let go of this incident. Knowing that I, as a mother, will absolutely not allow my daughter to spend half her life paying for someone else¡¯s mistake, yet you still stubbornly pursue this course; that is where you are wrong!¡± Jiang Wei¡¯er glared back with red eyes: ¡°That is my business.¡± ¡°You¡ª¡± The Old Lady¡¯s hand was already raised, on the verge of a harsh slap, but she was interrupted: ¡°Grandmother.¡± Coughs approached from a distance; it was Jiang Zhi. The rain had not yet started, but the air was heavy with moisture. Someone held an umbrella over him as he made his gradual approach, the servants stepping aside to make way for him. Old Lady Jiang swept her eyes over the crowd and spoke sharply: ¡°Who is so blind as to have called the Young Master here?¡± Jiang Zhi moved with a labored breath every three steps, a cough every five, stumbling forward. At this moment, the old butler, Jiang Chuan, spoke up: ¡°It was my meddling, please, Old Lady, calm your anger and don¡¯t let it spoil the harmony.¡± Jiang Chuan was an old member of the Jiang Family. He served by the Old Master¡¯s side when he was still alive, and Old Lady Jiang usually showed him some respect. While she was on the verge of unleashing her wrath, Jiang Zhi spoke: ¡°That¡¯s enough.¡± He stepped forward and promptly turned off the projector. Only he dared to turn it off, and only he would do it without anyone daring to stop him. ¡°You¡¯ve given enough lessons; you can state your purpose directly now.¡± Such an attitude, as if watching theater. He said it with ease and relaxation. Old Lady Jiang glared at him: ¡°Don¡¯t interfere in this matter.¡± She turned and instructed, ¡°Ah Gui, take the Young Master back to the hospital.¡± Before Gui Family could speak, Jiang Zhi pulled over a chair and sat down, crossing his legs casually: ¡°I¡¯d like to see who dares to chase me away,¡± he said, coughing twice, looking sick and listless. ¡°Who dares to stop her? What if she faints?¡± After all, the Gui Family did not dare to stop her. This ancestor¡¯s temper was also spoiled by Old Lady Jiang, no one could handle her, ¡°Fuxi, go add a coat to Brother Zhi.¡± Jiang Fuxi nodded, stood up, and went inside to get clothes. Jiang Wei¡¯er was still kneeling, her legs numb and without sensation. Old Madam remained unyielding, her hair meticulously done, ¡°There¡¯s nothing to discuss. I¡¯m giving you one day to break it off with him completely.¡± Jiang Wei¡¯er looked up, meeting her gaze, ¡°What if I don¡¯t?¡± In the entire Jiang Family, besides Jiang Zhi, it was Jiang Wei¡¯er who was the most rebellious, stubborn just like Old Lady Jiang in her younger days, the more she was pushed, the more resistant she became. Old Lady Jiang couldn¡¯t be bothered to say more, stating directly, ¡°Then this video won¡¯t just be shown in our Jiang Family.¡± Jiang Wei¡¯er scoffed coldly, her eyes blazing, ¡°Mother, did you drive Wei Ning to death the same way?¡± Jiang Weining was the Jiang Family¡¯s fourth child, Fuxi¡¯s mother. With that statement, Jiang Fuxi, who had gone to get the clothes, paused for a moment. She did not turn around, continuing into the room. Then, a loud slap followed. Old Madam had used all her strength, her hand trembling, her voice shaking with rage, ¡°Get out of the Jiang Family right now. Come back when you¡¯ve cleared your head. If you remain confused, then there¡¯s no need to return!¡± Jiang Wei¡¯er did not hesitate, she stood up, her steps faltering. Turning around, she dragged her feet, her legs heavy as if filled with lead, one step at a time, she left the Jiang Family¡¯s territory. On the cobblestone path, Xue Bingxue approached from the other side. He called out to her, ¡°Wei¡¯er.¡± Jiang Wei¡¯er didn¡¯t respond, brushing past him. He grabbed her, ¡°Wei¡¯er,¡± clutching her wrist, he exerted a little force. He looked at her swollen eyes, not knowing if she had run there, in the cold winter night, he was sweating, ¡°Don¡¯t go with him.¡± It was like a plea. Jiang Wei¡¯er pushed his hand away, her voice raw and hoarse from crying, ¡°Bingxue, he¡¯s still outside waiting for me.¡± She still intended to leave. Xue Bingxue handed her the umbrella he was holding, ¡°It¡¯s going to rain, don¡¯t get wet.¡± She said thank you, took the umbrella, and turned to exit the Jiang Mansion¡¯s gate. The sky was overcast, with clouds obscuring the moon, a heavy rain was impending. The wind blew at the old-fashioned lanterns in front of the Jiang Mansion¡¯s gate, swaying them to and fro, the shadows on the ground doing the same. Xiao Linsu stood under the lamp, watching her. She crossed the threshold, her eyes red as she looked up at him, ¡°Have you been waiting long?¡± Xiao Linsu shook his head, stepped forward, and bent down to embrace her. His voice made ethereal by the wind, ¡°Wei¡¯er, would you please go back? Speak nicely with your mother, don¡¯t anger her, and don¡¯t speak up for me¡ª¡± She said, ¡°No.¡± The hands Xiao Linsu had wrapped around her back tightened slightly. He bowed his head, but she couldn¡¯t see his reddened eyes. He knew, her mother had slapped her, her face was swollen. Before, she would always talk to him about her mother, saying she was a traditional and strict person who lacked empathy. But out of the five children, her mother loved her the most. Jiang Wei¡¯er rested her face on his shoulder, ¡°It¡¯s going to pour soon, won¡¯t you take me away?¡± Xiao Linsu said okay, wiping away her tears, ¡°Then no more crying.¡± He led her into the night; their shadows clung to each other, elongated by the light of the lanterns. Raindrops began to fall softly, the air damp and foggy. A car sped away, Zhou Xufang wearing a hat and mask crouched on a nearby villa rooftop, watching that car for a long while before flipping the switch on her headset. ¡°Shuangjiang.¡± ¡°Here.¡± Zhou Xufang looked in the direction the car had headed, lying prone, ¡°Among those registered for the peace charm at Lingdu Temple, is Jiang Wei¡¯er included?¡± After half a minute, Shuangjiang replied, ¡°There¡¯s no Jiang Wei¡¯er, but there is another Ms. Jiang registered, called Jiang Wu.¡± Jiang Family¡¯s fifth son, Jiang Wei¡¯er. ¡°That makes sense,¡± Jiang Zhi¡¯s voice was quiet as he regarded the yellow satin peace charm with the character ¡®Shu¡¯ embroidered in teal thread, identical to the one hanging in Xiao Linsu¡¯s car. The window on the second floor was left open, allowing the wind to blow in and causing the curtains to flutter all around. Jiang Zhi was nestled on a couch heavily blanketed with layers of warmth, toying with a calligraphy scroll Old Lady Jiang had recently given him, his attention elsewhere as he pondered. Xue Bingxue hadn¡¯t touched her tea and was also lost in thought, until after a long moment, she voiced, ¡°Wei¡¯er has left.¡± Jiang Zhi responded absently, ¡°Isn¡¯t that what you expected?¡± He had expected it; Wei¡¯er was stubborn and deeply loyal; her feelings for Xiao Linsu ran deep, and the video wasn¡¯t enough to break them apart. Xue Bingxue was disheartened, ¡°I just didn¡¯t expect her not to ask a single question before taking his side.¡± She had seen the video, but Wei¡¯er would rather investigate on her own than confront Xiao Linsu; she didn¡¯t doubt or despise him. She must really like Xiao Linsu. Out of the Jiang Family, she was the most stubborn, never begging anyone for anything, never kneeling to anyone, even as a child when Old Lady Jiang opposed her Taekwondo practice and had her beaten as punishment, she didn¡¯t shed a tear. Today, she had done everything she had never done before for Xiao Linsu, casting aside her pride. ¡°Bingxue,¡± Jiang Zhi put down the scroll and suddenly asked, ¡°Do you really want her?¡± Xue Bingxue didn¡¯t hesitate, ¡°Yes.¡± Jiang Zhi¡¯s health hadn¡¯t recovered yet, his skin pale and almost translucent with a hint of illness, appearing slightly drawn as he spoke lazily, ¡°Then you¡¯ll have to be a bit more shameless and despicable.¡± Xue Bingxue was momentarily speechless. It wasn¡¯t that he lacked plans, but he feared making the wrong move might disgust her, might make her hate him. In this world, the person most wishing for her to live well was himself; he wanted nothing more than for her to be content and safe. From outside the door came a voice, ¡°Third Young Master.¡± It was Ah Gui from Old Madam¡¯s side, who had knocked and come in to relay a message, ¡°Old Madam asks for you to come over.¡± Xue Bingxue knew what Old Lady Jiang was scheming. He had barely stepped out when Jiang Zhi said slowly from behind, ¡°Last time, a car tried to hit me. I did some investigating and found out a few things.¡± Then came a loud rumble from outside. Sudden thunder, accompanied by the sound of rain, startled Zhou Xufang, who was crouched on the roof of the villa. Then large raindrops began to fall, hitting her face with stinging pain. Imperial City sure loved its rain! She wiped the rainwater off her head and retreated under the shelter of the roof¡¯s eaves, hugging herself tightly into a ball. The rain grew heavier, and Jiang Zhi, with an umbrella held high and another in hand, hurriedly left the Jiang Mansion, and Ah Wan, who had been waiting in the car, quickly ran to him with an umbrella held diligently over both their heads. ¡°Boss, it¡¯s pouring! Where are you going?¡± Ah Wan called. Jiang Zhi moved swiftly, the rain pelting down, and soon his hair was wet, ¡°Don¡¯t follow me.¡± Ah Wan jogged behind him, a large man wielding a tiny umbrella, half-soaked to the bone and chilling to the core, yet he remained professional, ¡°How can I do that? If you catch a cold, your body won¡¯t hold up.¡± If he allowed his boss to get sick, Ms. Song would sever ties with him. Ahead, Jiang Zhi stopped and looked around. The Jiang Family¡¯s old mansion was located in an isolated area, surrounded only by a few villas with yards, all belonging to the high-powered elites of the Imperial City. Ah Wan had no clue what his employer was looking for and asked, ¡°What are you looking at?¡± Jiang Zhi ignored him, picked an obvious spot, opened the umbrella he held, and placed it on the ground. Ah Wan was confused, ¡°Why are you leaving an umbrella here?¡± Under a black umbrella, a fair and finely chiseled handsome face peeked out. It seemed as though he wasn¡¯t part of the mundane world, further obscured by the misting rain, appearing like a figure stepped out from a painting. His tone, however, was not as gentle, ¡°I simply don¡¯t wish to drench this patch of land. Is that a problem?¡± This capricious behavior was just like menopausal Ms. Song! Indeed, they were truly mother and son! Ah Wan replied, ¡°Sure!¡± You¡¯re the boss! Whatever you say goes! After Jiang Zhi looked back a few more times, he returned to the mansion. Only after he was far enough away did Zhou Xufang, who had been hiding on the roof of a nearby villa, leap down, pick up the umbrella, and sneakily hop back up, a jump of more than ten meters, flying through the air! Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t stay the night at the old mansion. Despite Old Madam¡¯s efforts to keep him, he insisted on going back to the hospital. Old Madam had no choice but to have someone take him back to the hospital. Arriving at the hospital nearly twenty minutes after him, Zhou Xufang tiptoed into the ward. ¡°Where have you been?¡± Jiang Zhi sat on the hospital bed, his gaze fixed on her. Zhou Xufang picked up the bag in her hand, glanced at the IV stand, then down at the pink bunny slippers she had brought for Jiang Zhi: ¡°I went to buy jelly.¡± As soon as she lied, her eyes began to dart around. Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t expose her lie but just beckoned her over. Zhou Xufang, feeling guilty, was especially obedient and immediately ran to him. He touched the back of her hand with his: ¡°Your hand is so cold, aren¡¯t you cold?¡± Zhou Xufang shook her head: ¡°I¡¯m not afraid of the cold.¡± Her perception of temperature was not very sensitive; she wasn¡¯t afraid of the cold or the heat. Jiang Zhi, not caring whether she was cold or not, insisted on holding her hand to warm it. She had intended to pull away, but considering her strength often inadvertently hurt him, she didn¡¯t dare to move again. Jiang Zhi brought a cup from the cupboard to her lips: ¡°Drink this.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°Medicine for preventing a cold.¡± She had been caught in the rain, and he was worried she¡¯d get sick. He had prepared several cups, all kept warm waiting for her return. ¡°Oh.¡± Zhou Xufang obediently drank it all. ¡°Zhou Xufang.¡± When Jiang Zhi called her full name, it was usually for something serious. Zhou Xufang answered formally: ¡°Yes!¡± ¡°If one day, someone forbids you to be with me, what would you do?¡± He thought of Jiang Wei¡¯er and felt she was ultimately too easy to manipulate. If Old Lady Jiang interfered with his relationship with Zhou Xufang, he would turn the Jiang Family upside down for her. Zhou Xufang blushed slightly, shyly looked away, and corrected him in a soft voice: ¡°We¡¯re good friends.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Damn good friends! Who would want to be just friends with her¡ªhe didn¡¯t know how many times she had overpowered him in his dreams! Alright then, he altered his question: ¡°If one day, someone forbids you to be my good friend, what would you do?¡± Zhou Xufang thought for a moment, then answered seriously: ¡°I would beat them up.¡± She used the word ¡°beat up.¡± For someone who was always kind to others, this was a rather aggressive thing to say. Though it was a bit rash, nonetheless¡ª Jiang Zhi grabbed her hand and placed it on his head, guiding her hand to tousle his hair: ¡°That¡¯s my good girl.¡± Zhou Xufang was puzzled by his action¡ªwas he asking her to rub his head? Oh, she understood. She rubs Jiang Zhi¡¯s hair as if she were petting that gray cat. Jiang Zhi was clearly delighted, his eyes sparkling brightly like stars. ¡°Lin Wanwan.¡± Suddenly, Jiang Zhi called out. Zhou Xufang also turned to look at the closed door; Lin Wanwan¡¯s fingernails had accidentally scratched it a few times, and she had heard it. Jiang Zhi said indifferently: ¡°If you keep eavesdropping by the door, I¡¯ll pull off your ears.¡± Ah Wan, who was eavesdropping at the door: ¡°!¡± He quickly stood at attention, chest out, eyes staring straight ahead. Jiang Zhi instructed: ¡°Have someone move a bed over here.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Ah Wan didn¡¯t dare to eavesdrop any longer and went off to move the bed obediently. Zhou Xufang, as Jiang Zhi¡¯s ¡®nurse,¡¯ was meant to stay overnight. Normally, she wasn¡¯t fussy and could squat anywhere for the night: ¡°You don¡¯t need to go to all that trouble, I can sleep on the couch.¡± ¡°No need to move a bed then, you can sleep with me.¡± Chapter 101 - Chapter 101: 101: Jiang Zhi gets jealous; even superpowers have a nemesis. Chapter 101: 101: Jiang Zhi gets jealous; even superpowers have a nemesis. ¡°Not moving the bed works too, you can sleep with me,¡± he said with a pair of peach blossom eyes that seemed inebriated yet lucid. Hmm, he was seducing her. Zhou Xufang stood straight: ¡°I¡¯m going to help Ah Wan move the bed.¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± Such a pure-hearted girl she was, that little lady of his. Zhou Xufang left the ward to help Ah Wan move the bed, and of course, Ah Wan was very pleased, thinking that Miss Zhou, who patched things up, was a considerate, kindhearted, and friendly person. Unable to help herself, Ah Wan confided in her: ¡°Miss Zhou.¡± Zhou Xufang: ¡°Hmm?¡± Ah Wan didn¡¯t really have any colleagues, spending all day with her employer and without friends, so finally having met someone she could talk to heart-to-heart, she wanted to share her grievances: ¡°Don¡¯t you think my boss has a bad temper?¡± Zhou Xufang, walking along the wall with her head down: ¡°Jiang Zhi has a very good temper.¡± Ah Wan, having accumulated a belly full of complaints, felt relieved to vent: ¡°He¡¯s also very picky.¡± Zhou Xufang: ¡°No, he¡¯s very nice.¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?¦Ï Ah Wan felt that Miss Zhou, who was good at mending things, was still too naive and unaware of the wickedness of people¡¯s hearts, and so, Ah Wan felt it necessary to enlighten her a bit: ¡°Then you don¡¯t know, he¡¯s very cunning. Not only does he do misdeeds but also instigates the Third Young Master¡ª¡± Zhou Xufang looked up: ¡°Mr. Lin.¡± Ah Wan was dumbfounded by this alienating ¡®Mr. Lin.¡¯ The little lady who had stopped now looked extremely serious, and moreover, she was seething with rage, and even she, who never had eye contact with strangers, was glaring at someone: ¡°If you keep slandering Jiang Zhi like that, I won¡¯t be polite to you anymore.¡± Mr. Lin: ¡°¡­¡± Was Miss Zhou under some kind of spell cast by her employer? Ah Wan stubbornly whispered, ¡°I¡¯m not slandering¡­¡± Zhou Xufang was already very angry, walking on alone, not wanting to bother with him anymore! It was late at night, and the hospital was quiet. Around the corner, someone was on the phone, clear as day across the hallway. The person was wearing a checkerboard hospital uniform, one hand holding a phone and the other pushing an IV stand, hair permed with foil, likely neglected due to the hospital stay, and turned a bit frizzy. Who else could it be but Ming Yanghua, terrified into hospitalization by a female ghost. At this moment, Sixth Young Master Ming was on the phone, cursing someone: ¡°Your mother¡¯s talking nonsense!¡± Here¡¯s what happened. The news about his hospitalization from being scared fainted had been leaked by some mischievous friends, and his other friends had been mocking him for being a coward. In order to prove he wasn¡¯t a coward, he recounted last night¡¯s seaside supernatural encounter to them in detail. His friends didn¡¯t believe it. Damn it! Ming Yanghua was getting agitated: ¡°How many times do I have to tell you, it was a female ghost, a female ghost!¡± His friends still didn¡¯t believe him, saying he was making it up. ¡°I saw it with my own eyes, how could it be false? She was a red-eyed female water ghost.¡± His friends asked what the female ghost looked like. Was she a beautiful seductive ghost? What did she look like? Ming Yanghua recalled: ¡°Just a black mass, only eyes, no face.¡± Speaking of which, he arrived at the corner. As he turned around, he saw a black mass, fortunately with a face, a beautiful and cold one, radiating an upscale world-weariness. It was the type he liked. Breaking his phone, he grabbed a handful of hair, and with a few swipes, fashioned a heart-shaped fringe. With only one hand available to push the IV stand, he had to tuck the other into his pocket¡ªoh, the hospital uniform didn¡¯t have pockets, so he pretended to tuck his hand in anyway. Regardless, the gesture was cool, not like a little ruffian, but like the leader of the ruffians. In his ruffian-leader swagger, he said: ¡°Girl, how about giving me your WeChat?¡± This was the second time. The previous time was at Bamboo Garden in Fusheng Inn, where she was delivering food, and this young rogue had also asked for her WeChat. Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t want to deal with this kind of little ruffian and bypassed him. Ming Yanghua, a veteran of flirting and thick-facedness, dropped his head and caught up: ¡°You look familiar to me, must be fate. How about we add each other on WeChat?¡± Familiar? They had seen each other several times already. Clearly, the little ruffian didn¡¯t remember her. Zhou Xufang¡¯s face was coldly indifferent, ¡°I don¡¯t use WeChat.¡± And¡ª She turned back, ¡°I am a female ghost.¡± She covered her face with one hand, revealing only her eyes, ¡°Just a dark mass, eyes without a face.¡± ¡°¡­¡± This girl, quite spicy. And truth be told, she was dressed in black too, those little eyes quite intimidating. Ming Yanghua found her more and more appealing, ¡°That pretty little ghost, how about giving me your number?¡± Zhou Xufang, dead serious, made up, ¡°We don¡¯t use phones in the underworld.¡± Old hand at love, Ming Yanghua: ¡°¡­¡± This was his Waterloo in the history of flirting, unacceptable, he had to redeem himself¡ªbut then, from behind him, an unexpected voice: ¡°Ming Xiaohua.¡± Ming Lao hated it when people called him Xiaohua. ¡°If you call me Xiaohua again I¡ª¡± He turned around, saw who it was, and the insults got stuck in his throat, his bravado draining away like a little ruffian¡¯s boss coming face to face with the top dog, ¡°Jiang Zhi¡­ Brother.¡± He hesitated for a few seconds, but added a ¡®Brother¡¯ in the end. The Jiang Family and the Ming Family had a lukewarm relationship. Imperial City was full of gents, but there were distinct social strata. There was Mr. This, Third Young Master That¡ªeveryone had such titles, but Jiang Zhi belonged to nobility among the ranks. He was also wearing the hospital¡¯s patient attire, draped in a knee-length black coat. He was delicately handsome with a frail appearance, walking leisurely, with enticing, alluring peach blossom eyes. Yet, within that seemingly intoxicated haze, there was a wildness that captivated the soul. Key point, his face was excessively beautiful. Getting closer, Jiang Zhi raised his hand, pointing to the ¡®little female ghost¡¯, ¡°Do you know who she is?¡± Ming Yanghua didn¡¯t interact much with Jiang Zhi normally. But for some inexplicable reason, he felt uneasy, remaining expressionless as he shook his head. Only to see Jiang Zhi approach the ¡®little female ghost¡¯, chin lifted while looking at him, ¡°She¡¯s the girl I¡¯m pursuing.¡± Ming Yanghua: ¡°¡­¡± That boastful, proud, and warning tone. He doubted his hearing, ¡°You¡¯re not, aren¡¯t you¡ª¡± Jiang Zhi slowly filled in, ¡°Gay?¡± Ming Yanghua truly had little to do with Jiang Zhi, but he had a sister at home who was crazy about Jiang Zhi¡¯s good looks. Thanks to her, he had learned quite a lot about him. For instance, he had come out at the age of eighteen. And, he had an intense aversion to women. Jiang Zhi smiled charmingly, soul-snatching, ¡°How incredible she is to have straightened me out.¡± Ming Yanghua: ¡°¡­¡± His sister always said she couldn¡¯t get Jiang Zhi solely because fate was cruel in making her a woman. Now it seemed, that was all just hot air! Here was this little female ghost who had roped him in. No, she didn¡¯t even need to do anything¡ªjust look at the way Jiang Zhi gazed at her, that sort of liking, as if anyone else giving her an extra glance would turn him into a wolf cub with off-the-charts aggression, dying to take a bite out of you. ¡°Still want her WeChat?¡± Ming Yanghua: ¡°No need any longer.¡± Jiang Zhi took a step forward, tall as he was, he stood protectively, shielding his girl thoroughly: ¡°And the phone number?¡± Ming Yanghua shook his head vigorously. Satisfied at last, Jiang Zhi then turned around, reaching into the air with a slender, graceful hand, ¡°Fang Bao, support me.¡± Fang Bao¡­ Ah Wan felt a pang of jealousy. Zhou Xufang: ¡°Oh.¡± She steadied Jiang Zhi¡¯s hand. Jiang Zhi naturally let the hand resting on her back rest on her shoulder instead, without really pressing his weight on her. He was just very close to her, tossing the Ming Yanghua behind him, and he walked away with his girl. ¡°Do you have your mask with you?¡± Zhou Xufang pulled out a black mask from her pocket: ¡°I have it.¡± He took the mask and put it on her, ¡°From now on, wear a mask when you go out,¡± he said in all seriousness, with a perfectly valid reason, ¡°The lousy weather in the Imperial City is too cold.¡± So she won¡¯t attract attention! Ah Wan: ¡°¡­¡± Blame the weather again. Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t think too much of it: ¡°Okay.¡± Jiang Zhi looked back, and, as expected, that stinking brat from the Ming Family was still watching. He shot him a cold glance, executing him with his gaze, then pulled his girl¡¯s hood over her head. ¡°You should wear your hood too.¡± Zhou Xufang again agreed. Jiang Zhi reevaluated, no, this was too cute. ¡°Actually, let¡¯s not wear the hood.¡± Wearing a hood made her look too cute, not wearing it made her too pretty. Her head was extraordinarily beautiful, and Jiang Zhi felt more and more insecure the more he thought about it. He instructed sternly, ¡°Unless you really need to go out, try to stay indoors.¡± This time Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t immediately agree, hesitating, ¡°But I have to work.¡± ¡°Then you wear that helmet that only shows your eyes when you go out,¡± Jiang Zhi came up with another reason, ¡°The damn weather in the Imperial City always likes to drop ice pellets.¡± Ah Wan: ¡°¡­¡± And the weather is blamed yet again. Zhou Xufang remembered the previous times her face was pelted with ice, and thought Jiang Zhi made a lot of sense, wholeheartedly agreeing, ¡°You are so right!¡± So gullible, she need to be closely watched. Jiang Zhi pressed his chest, coughed a few times: ¡°The place where I was stabbed hurts a bit, help me back to my room.¡± Upon hearing that he was uncomfortable, Zhou Xufang supported his hand to her shoulder and turned towards Mr. Lin, ¡°Mr. Lin, you move the bed yourself, I¡¯ll help Jiang Zhi back first.¡± Ah Wan: ¡°¡­¡± Annoyed, still calling him Mr. Lin. Look! Just look! How could he falsely accuse Jiang Zhi, who was not treacherous and despicable? Jealously begrudging, yet speaking righteously and blaming the Imperial City¡¯s weather! While cursing in her mind, Ah Wan went to move the bed. Zhou Xufang supported Jiang Zhi towards the VIP ward, wanting to walk quickly but afraid of jostling him, feeling anxious. ¡°Does it hurt a lot?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± He coughed, his cheeks flushed, looking weak and delicate. Zhou Xufang was worried he would faint on their way: ¡°Let me carry you.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Appreciation was enough, a big guy like him couldn¡¯t let the girl he liked carry him. Jiang Zhi: ¡°No.¡± Zhou Xufang: ¡°I¡¯m strong.¡± ¡°Still no,¡± he let go of her hand and took hers instead, ¡°No matter how strong you are, you¡¯re still a girl.¡± Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t understand. She could lift up to a thousand pounds. Not knowing who raised this girl or how, she was alert to everything and had heavy defenses. There was a solitary chill in her eyes as if she had endured much suffering. Yet she was so pure she seemed like a blank slate. If she was willing to let you see her eyes, a single glance would reveal it all. Jiang Zhi stopped and looked at her, telling her, ¡°It¡¯s okay to be a little spoiled when someone cherishes you.¡± Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t quite understand Jiang Zhi¡¯s words. ¡°Don¡¯t understand?¡± She nodded. No one had ever taught her how to be a person, let alone how to be a girl. However, someone had taught her how to maximize the energy within her body. Jiang Zhi bent down and patiently and tenderly taught her, saying, ¡°You¡¯re loved by someone, someone couldn¡¯t bear to lose you, so you need to care for yourself a bit more, don¡¯t just think about others.¡± Zhou Xufang was stunned. This was the first time she¡¯d heard such sweet words in her life. In her simple and monotonous memories, no one had ever told her that she was cherished by someone. Her eyes were about to turn red. Seeing her moved almost to tears, Jiang Zhi wanted to kiss her, and the atmosphere was just right when suddenly¡ª There was a commotion in the ward ahead. ¡°Everyone get out!¡± It was a duck-like voice, probably a teenager still going through puberty. The teenager was violently irritable, and the ward was banging loudly, ¡°I¡¯m about to die, what¡¯s the point of treatment! Get out, all of you, I don¡¯t want to see you!¡± A woman¡¯s voice was urgently concerned, with a sobbing tone, ¡°Yeye¡ª¡± ¡°Get out!¡± As he roared, the teenager in the tumor ward pushed away a nurse, grabbed a bottle of liquid and threw it with force. With a crash, the shards scattered everywhere. Zhou Xufang¡¯s first reaction was to turn around, raise her hand, and firmly shield Jiang Zhi. The shards of the bottle grazed her face, causing a sting, like being pricked by a needle. She immediately covered her face. Just then, Vice President Sun appeared with a group of doctors on a ward round and witnessed the scene. Vice President Sun¡¯s heart almost leaped out, ¡°Mr. Jiang, Mr. Jiang.¡± This Fifth Renmin Hospital, the Jiang family were the biggest shareholders, and Jiang Zhi was the most untouchable little ancestor. Sure enough, the little ancestor was angry. Jiang Zhi¡¯s voice became extremely cold, with restrained fury smoldering in his eyes, ¡°If he doesn¡¯t want treatment, let him pack his things and get out of the hospital immediately.¡± Vice President Sun didn¡¯t dare make a sound, reading Jiang Zhi¡¯s mood. Just a moment ago, the little ancestor who was furious now had a softened gaze, as he carefully bent down to examine the young girl¡¯s face in front of him, reaching to take her hand away from her face. She pressed on her face, refusing to let go, ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± Her wounds healed too quickly to be seen by others. ¡°Let me see.¡± She shook her head, ¡°The glass didn¡¯t hit me.¡± Jiang Zhi gently touched the space between her middle and ring fingers with one finger, his eyes brimming with concern that he couldn¡¯t conceal, ¡°You¡¯re bleeding.¡± Hearing this, Zhou Xufang touched it and indeed, blood was still flowing. She turned around, ¡°Was the bottle filled with penicillin?¡± The nurse in the room was surprised, ¡°How did you know?¡± Because penicillin was her nemesis, even a little bit could greatly reduce her self-healing ability, even to less than an ordinary person. She said, ¡°I recognize this type of bottle; it¡¯s used for penicillin.¡± Back in the laboratory, those ¡®experts¡¯ in white coats enjoyed injecting her with it and then watching the speed of her bleeding to calculate the fatalness of penicillin to her. She let go of her hand and checked the blood between her fingers. There wasn¡¯t much blood; the wound must have been very small. She said to Jiang Zhi, ¡°It¡¯s a minor cut, it doesn¡¯t matter.¡± Her pale skin made the small spread of blood on her right cheek stand out even more glaringly. Jiang Zhi frowned, wanting to wipe it off but afraid of hurting her. He had never felt this way before; the sting from the shard felt as if it had embedded in his body, an indescribable dull pain. He was done for. He was bewitched by her. He pulled her to his side, casting a glance at the teenager, who was now panicked and at a loss under the oppressive atmosphere, ¡°Still have the strength to throw a tantrum here, you¡¯re not dying, see. If you really want to die, the window is open, jump yourself. Otherwise, shut your mouth. If you continue to make a fuss, I¡¯ll throw you out myself.¡± The teenager and his mother didn¡¯t dare to make a sound anymore. Jiang Zhi took Zhou Xufang away, leaving a sentence behind, ¡°Have the surgeon come over.¡± Chapter 102 - Chapter 102: 102: Ah Fangs Thirty-Six Strategies to Coax Jiang Zhi Chapter 102: 102: Ah Fang¡¯s Thirty-Six Strategies to Coax Jiang Zhi Vice President Sun called for the chief surgeon, Doctor Wu. Being the leading surgeon for over thirty years, he had never treated such a minor wound, and he was quite frustrated. However, he dared not complain, since his salary was paid by the Jiang Family. He didn¡¯t even ask the nurse to come, but personally cleaned and dressed the patient¡¯s wound. ¡°Is it serious?¡± Jiang Zhi¡¯s eyes were fixed on Zhou Xufang¡¯s face. Doctor Wu, feeling nervous under his gaze, replied with a shaky hand, ¡°It¡¯s just a superficial injury.¡± Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t lie back on the hospital bed. Instead, he moved a chair next to Zhou Xufang, himself still receiving IV fluids. Ignoring the needle on the back of his hand, he patted the young girl¡¯s back, though it was unclear what he was trying to comfort. He asked again, ¡°Will it leave a scar?¡± ¡°¡­¡± Did Young Master Jiang have some misunderstanding about superficial injuries? Trying to maintain his patience, Doctor Wu explained, ¡°It won¡¯t leave a scar; it¡¯s just a very tiny cut.¡± After disinfecting, applying medication, and covering it with gauze, it took just three minutes. ¡°There, done.¡± Jiang Zhi diverted some of his intense gaze from the girl¡¯s face to glance at Doctor Wu, ¡°That¡¯s it?¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í??.?¦Ï Otherwise? ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to prescribe any medicine?¡± Jiang Zhi¡¯s look was sharp, showing his dissatisfaction. Doctor Wu felt a chill down his spine and fumbled, ¡°No need for medicine. It¡¯s really just a very, very tiny wound¡­¡± Jiang Zhi ignored him, ¡°Vice President Sun, bring me another doctor.¡± The chief surgeon: ¡°¡­¡± Vice President Sun: ¡°¡­¡± Unsure of what to say, he glanced at the injured young girl. The girl was easygoing. She said, ¡°No need, by the time the doctor arrives, the wound would have healed by itself.¡± That made perfect sense. Doctor Wu and Vice President Sun nodded, in agreement. Only then did Jiang Zhi speak, ¡°You all may leave now.¡± ¡°If you need anything, just call me.¡± Vice President Sun hurried away with his chief surgeon. ¡°You, too, get out.¡± Ah Wan: ¡°Oh.¡± Ah Wan also left, closing the door of the ward behind her. After thinking for three seconds, she still pressed her ear against the door. The hospital wasn¡¯t very soundproof, and she heard Miss Zhou¡¯s voice. ¡°Are you angry?¡± Zhou Xufang felt he was angry; his expression was very stern. Jiang Zhi got up from the chair, pushing his IV stand, and went to the bed where he lay down, ¡°Who asked you to take that for me?¡± His tone was like a reprimand. Yes, he was really angry. But Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t understand why he was angry, ¡°We are good friends,¡± she said earnestly and with conviction, ¡°For a friend, sparing no effort is what you do.¡± That line, she had learned it from one of Jiang Zhi¡¯s movies. Zhou Xufang felt it was spot-on, truly worthy of something filmed by Jiang Zhi. Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± He was even angrier now! The kind that couldn¡¯t be easily appeased. Zhou Xufang¡¯s emotional intelligence seemed irredeemably low; he didn¡¯t want to talk to her anymore. ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± Jiang Zhi did not respond. Zhou Xufang got a bit anxious and stepped forward quickly, ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± She called his name softly, trying to appease him. She wasn¡¯t good at appeasing either, like coaxing a child, holding snacks in front of him with both hands, ¡°Would you like some jelly?¡± No. ¡°How about cotton candy?¡± No! Jiang Zhi just looked at her. The message was clear; he wanted to be coaxed. Zhou Xufang tilted her head, unsure of what to do. Just then, ice pellets began to fall outside, tapping against the window. She put down the snacks, ¡°Are you cold, Jiang Zhi?¡± She fetched a heating pad, crouched and leaned over the hospital bed like a black mushroom, ¡°If you¡¯re cold, I¡¯ll place this heating pad on you.¡± How could she be so adorable. She was unaware, speaking seriously, and looking sincerely solemn. Jiang Zhi¡¯s heart almost melted at her kindergarten-level coaxing tactics, and he couldn¡¯t bring himself to scold her anymore. This unspoiled young girl, this girl who instinctively used her back to shield others from harm, needed to be slowly taught to care more about herself. Fortunately, he was crafty enough, and his family, too kind at heart. He turned his back to her, lifting the blankets, exposing his back to her, ¡°Place it on my lower back.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± With one heating pad, she had managed to soothe Jiang Zhi. Zhou Xufang believed Jiang Zhi to be the most good-tempered person in the world, Mr. Lin Dazhuang even falsely accused Jiang Zhi of being bad-tempered, which was a bit too much. At the door, Lin Dazhuang: ¡°¡­¡± Boom! Late into the night, thunder suddenly roared. Xiao Linsu had just placed Jiang Wei¡¯er on the bed when she suddenly woke up, her eyes still swollen from crying for so long. She whispered hoarsely, calling out to him, ¡°Linsu.¡± Xiao Linsu tucked her into the covers and responded, ¡°Hmm.¡± ¡°I just had a dream.¡± ¡°What did you dream about?¡± Her eyes were gritty and uncomfortable as she rubbed them, ¡°I dreamed about the first time I met you.¡± That day was her birthday. Xiao Linsu took her hand away, wetted a towel, and gently wiped her eyes. His voice was calm and gentle, ¡°That day was also my sister¡¯s birthday.¡± This was the first time Xiao Linsu spoke of his sister. All the light in his eyes seemed to meld together, casting gentle, fragmented shadows, ¡°She was fifteen years younger than me, looked like our mother, a very beautiful and well-behaved child, loved by the nurses and doctors at the hospital.¡± He mentioned the hospital. His sister was ill. Jiang Wei¡¯er sat up, ¡°Where is she now?¡± Xiao Linsu never talked about his family, and whenever she asked, he would only say he had no family. He didn¡¯t mention it, and she was afraid to probe his wounds, so she didn¡¯t ask. He put down the towel, soaked it in hot water, and wrung it out to wipe her hands. His tone was unexpectedly calm as he said, ¡°My sister, she passed away.¡± Jiang Wei¡¯er was stunned. ¡°Our second meeting, that day was the day of her funeral.¡± His sister died before she even turned eleven. His parents weren¡¯t around, and he had to conduct the funeral alone with no friends or relatives. He had a few drinks before going to work. He thought that would be his last piece, that he would leave the industry after finishing it, but then she appeared, full of light, bursting into his life. Jiang Wei¡¯er remembered that day, meeting him at the Taekwondo Hall. She thought then how contradictory a person he was, outwardly kind and gentle to everyone, yet his eyes held such deep sadness, as if he had given up hope on the world. It turned out, that day was his sister¡¯s funeral. ¡°Is it because¡­¡± She couldn¡¯t finish her question. Xiao Linsu nodded, knowing what she was about to ask. ¡°My sister had a heart condition, she needed to be hospitalized.¡± He chuckled self-mockingly, ¡°She was unlucky to have a useless brother like me. I couldn¡¯t save her.¡± There was a long pause. Bowing his head, he said, ¡°The money from Jin Song was for saving her life.¡± He talked on and on, his words flowing gently and flat, as if he was talking about someone else¡¯s life. At that time, he had just come of age, his parents both met with hazards¡ª one died, one injured¡ª and he spent all the family savings. His mother was actually saved, but his critically ill sister needed care, and their mother herself removed the respirator. After his parents¡¯ death, all the relatives turned their backs on him. Still young, the most valuable thing he possessed was his youthful body. Jin Song was cunning, signing a contract with him. The money and resources provided could only save lives, not afford him any opportunities to thrive. He was tethered like this for eight years. He set the now cold towel aside, pulling her hand into the covers, ¡°My sister did not wait for a suitable heart transplant and passed away. I wanted to break the contract after that.¡± Then she appeared. Ten years enslaved, the first eight for his sister, the last two for his own selfish desires. ¡°Jin Song has a video, I was afraid you¡¯d find out,¡± he held her hand tightly, showing great force, ¡°I was being selfish.¡± Her eyes reddened again, and even though he spoke so calmly, she knew the kind of life he had led during those long ten years. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell me?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t dare.¡± ¡°Why didn¡¯t you dare?¡± He was silent for a long time: ¡°I was afraid you¡¯d find me disgusting.¡± She suddenly fell silent. ¡°Wei¡¯er.¡± She reached out, starting to unbutton his shirt. Xiao Linsu held her hand back, ¡°Wei¡¯er.¡± ¡°I want to see.¡± He shook his head, ¡°The wounds are healed.¡± She did not let go, continuing to tug at his buttons, ¡°Let me see.¡± ¡°No need to see,¡± his voice turned hoarse, almost pleading, ¡°Wei¡¯er, I am very dirty.¡± All his self-loathing was evident in his eyes, clearly showing helplessness and hatred. Undeterred, Jiang Wei¡¯er with red eyes shouted at him, ¡°I want to see, I have to see.¡± He hesitated for a moment. ¡°Alright.¡± He loosened his grip, allowing her to unbutton his shirt. Below the collarbone, there were many marks; some had healed, some still bore scars, some were burns from cigarette butts, others from whippings. No wonder, in their two years together, he never touched her. ¡°What caused this?¡± The scar was on his chest, about five centimeters long, and Jiang Wei¡¯er¡¯s fingers gently caressed it. Xiao Linsu thought for a while, ¡°It¡¯s been too long, I don¡¯t remember.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t remember¡­¡± Such an understatement forced tears from her eyes. She leaned in, her lips touching the scar, ¡°Not dirty.¡± Looking up into Xiao Linsu¡¯s eyes, Jiang Wei¡¯er said, ¡°You are not dirty at all.¡± Each word, felt deeply and sincerely. He embraced her, finally showing vulnerability, ¡°Wei¡¯er, I am scared¡­¡± The next day, it rained violently. Imperial City¡¯s winters are always like this, chilling to the bone. This year, the snow and rain were more aggressive than before, seemingly endless. Four o¡¯clock in the afternoon. Jin Song had just finished a TV interview when his secretary came over and said, ¡°Vice President, Chairman Jin has gone to meet the Xue Family.¡± His brother, really wanting to kill him. Walking and tidying his suit cuffs, Jin Song asked, ¡°Which member of the Xue Family?¡± The secretary replied, ¡°Mr. Xue.¡± That traditional Chinese medicine practitioner from the Xue Family? There had previously been no contact between the Jin and Xue families, and amid the internal strife within Jin Family, it was unlikely that Jin Lei was doing something unnecessary. He wondered what he was plotting. ¡°Look into that Mr. Xue.¡± From the adjacent studio, two people emerged. ¡°Wei¡¯er,¡± it was Fang Lixiang, who had just finished recording a variety show and hadn¡¯t removed his makeup yet, ¡°I¡¯m done here. You look unwell; you should head back and rest.¡± Jiang Wei¡¯er replied, ¡°No need.¡± Looking up, she saw Jin Song approaching. Jiang Wei¡¯er and Jin Song had met a few times at some upper-class gatherings. Jin Song, impeccably dressed, approached and said warmly, ¡°Long time no see, Miss Jiang.¡± Jiang Wei¡¯er met his gaze coldly. His eyes were suggestive, they held each other¡¯s gaze for a moment, then brushed past each other. ¡°Forgot to ask,¡± he suddenly stopped and sneered, ¡°How¡¯s Linsu¡¯s taste? Even though I¡¯ve worn him out, but¡ª¡± Jiang Wei¡¯er couldn¡¯t stand it any longer and lost her temper. She picked up a fire extinguisher from the ground and smashed it hard on his head. Fang Lixiang was stunned, unable to hold him back in time. Blood burst forth from the injury. This was the real Jiang Wei¡¯er, wild and ostentatious. It was just past five o¡¯clock, and it had already grown dark outside. The lights of thousands of homes and neon lights filled the streets; looking out from a high vantage point, the world was ablaze with the lights of human life. Jiang Zhi looked out of the window, his mind wandering somewhere. Possibly due to the cold weather, his lung condition wasn¡¯t going to improve in a day or two; he had been coughing severely these last few days and had just coughed up some blood. His complexion was as pale as paper. Xue Bingxue was performing acupuncture on him, ¡°Your aunt came by yesterday.¡± She had come to check on his illness. Distracted, Jiang Zhi replied, ¡°Hmm.¡± He asked Ah Wan, ¡°What time is it?¡± Ah Wan checked the time and answered, ¡°Five forty-three.¡± He had been asking for the time repeatedly since three in the afternoon. Oh, at three o¡¯clock, Miss Zhou who applied the medical patches had left, saying she would return at six after freshening up at home. Once Miss Zhou left, his spirit seemed to leave as well. Ah Wan felt this symptom was a bit over the top; he thought it might be an illness. He had watched a Korean drama where the male lead was so in love with the female lead that he fell ill, acting like a madman. He locked the female lead up, insisting on being with her day and night. Ah Wan thought his employer might also be exhibiting symptoms of this illness. Xue Bingxue was still discussing serious matters, with a stern expression, ¡°Qin Shiyu has also looked over your medical records.¡± Still distracted, Jiang Zhi responded, ¡°Hmm.¡± ¡°It should be fine; the hospital staff are all your people.¡± Jiang Zhi hummed in response. Completely absent-minded. Xue Bingxue lifted his shirt, put on gloves, and pressed on his chest, ¡°Does it hurt?¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡°No.¡± ¡°That¡¯s good.¡± After listening with a stethoscope for a while, Xue Bingxue said, ¡°You should be able to be discharged in a few days.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s stay for now.¡± He didn¡¯t want to be discharged yet; getting discharged meant his young lady might not come to report every day so obediently. Jiang Zhi looked at Ah Wan again, ¡°What time is it?¡± Unable to bear it! Ah Wan was getting annoyed, ¡°You just asked!¡± Jiang Zhi kept a straight face, his eyes icy as they settled with frost, ¡°What time is it?¡± Ah Wan, succumbing to the tyranny of his employer, replied, ¡°Five forty-five.¡± Jiang Zhi¡¯s mood soured as he stared at the pair of pink rabbit slippers on the floor. Why hasn¡¯t she arrived yet! He didn¡¯t know when he had developed this irritating habit, but whenever he couldn¡¯t see her, he felt uneasy and panicky. He couldn¡¯t wait any longer and dialed her number, but¡ª She! Didn¡¯t! Pick up! ¡°Miss Zhou isn¡¯t picking up?¡± Ah Wan saw the frost accumulating on his handsome face and suggested, ¡°Maybe she¡¯s busy and can¡¯t answer the phone. You should try sending a WeChat message.¡± Jiang Zhi tossed his phone aside, grabbed a handful of azure blue hair, tore off a heat patch, and threw it into the trash, ¡°Why should I send one?¡± His tone grew increasingly harsh, ¡°Can¡¯t I live without her?¡± Ah Wan: ¡°¡­¡± Did he say anything? Besides, isn¡¯t that the case? Jiang Zhi scoffed and tore off another heat patch, which Zhou Xufang had applied for him, and threw them all into the trash can. Then, ten seconds later¡ª He picked up his phone and sent a WeChat message to Zhou Xufang, blasting five audio messages. ¡°Zhou Xufang.¡± A bit fierce. ¡°It¡¯s almost six!¡± Very fierce! ¡°You said you¡¯d be back by six.¡± His tone softened. ¡°Where are you?¡± His tone became gentle. ¡°Where?¡± Finally, he sounded plaintive. Ah Wan: ¡°¡­¡± He was certain, their employer was just as insane as the male lead in those Korean dramas! Jiang Zhi had sent five voice messages in a row and waited for over ten seconds without a response. Initially annoyed with Zhou Xufang, he couldn¡¯t afford to be annoyed anymore; he started to worry about her. He sent another one, ¡°Why haven¡¯t you returned to the hospital?¡± After waiting about four or five seconds, there was still no response. His tone became urgent, ¡°Reply to me.¡± At last, Zhou Xufang responded, ¡°I¡¯m outside.¡± Jiang Zhi asked, ¡°What are you doing outside?¡± He asked again, ¡°Are you working again?¡± Zhou Xufang typed, slowly, showing ¡®typing¡­¡¯ for a long time, before she finally sent the simple two words: ¡°Something urgent.¡± So simple that Jiang Zhi felt she was brushing him off. Jiang Zhi: ¡°What urgent matter?¡± Zhou Xufang: ¡°.¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡°Zhou Xufang.¡± Zhou Xufang: ¡°.¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡­ He couldn¡¯t continue the conversation! She was being so disobedient; he wanted to drag her back here and bite her! With a bang, he threw his phone on the table, tore off all the warming patches Zhou Xufang had applied to him, and got up from the sickbed, ¡°I need to go out.¡± Xue Bingxue removed her gloves and scoffed at him, ¡°You just said you were going to stay a few more days.¡± ¡°I¡¯m going to catch someone.¡± Jiang Zhi had just removed the IV needle when his phone, which was on the cabinet, rang. Thinking it was Zhou Xufang, his eyes brightened as he picked it up immediately. Upon seeing the caller, his face darkened again. ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± The caller spoke for a while. Jiang Zhi asked, ¡°What¡¯s Old Madam¡¯s stance on this?¡± The call was from the Jiang Mansion. ¡°Keep an eye on it,¡± Jiang Zhi hung up and told Xue Bingxue, ¡°My aunt is in the police station.¡± Xue Bingxue became anxious at once, ¡°What happened to Wei¡¯er?¡± ¡°She hit Jin Song, and that beast is now suing her,¡± Jiang Zhi took the coat Ah Wan handed to him, ¡°And the Old Madam has spoken; no one is allowed to bail her out.¡± Old Lady Jiang was waiting, waiting for Linsu to lower his pride. In the evening, the rain had stopped. Outside the police station, under the streetlight, shadows elongated. The air was heavy with moisture from the recent rain, foggy and the light passing through it hazy, reminiscent of a misty Jiangnan landscape. ¡°How will you agree to drop the charges?¡± Under the light, Linsu¡¯s eyes were covered with frost. Jin Song¡¯s head was wrapped in a bandage, he smiled at Linsu, looking decent but his gaze was a mix of light taunting and deep malignance, ¡°You really like her, huh?¡± ¡°It¡¯s none of your business.¡± Jin Song¡¯s smile grew wider, slight wrinkles crinkling at the corners of his eyes, ¡°Didn¡¯t you say that you just liked her identity as the Jiang Family¡¯s fifth son?¡± Linsu remained silent, his gaze icy cold. Jin Song then lost his smile, pulled out a cigar from his pocket, and lit it, ¡°You¡¯ve followed me for so many years, there¡¯s no sentiment but there¡¯s face. Listen to me, save yourself, the Old Madam Jiang is too formidable; you¡¯re no match for her.¡± ¡°Are you targeting the Jiang Family?¡± He had sent someone to jail, not just to vent anger but also with ulterior motives. Jin Song didn¡¯t deny it, nor did he try to conceal the contempt and disdain in his gaze: ¡°You see, this is the difference between you and Jiang Wei¡¯er. Let¡¯s not even talk about the Imperial City¡¯s Jiang Family; you don¡¯t even have the capital to negotiate with me.¡± Linsu glared with eyes full of fury. The eighteen-year-old youth, whose wings had already hardened, Jin Song flicked off some cigar ash, ¡°Linsu, remember, if one does not seek his own interest, he courts his own destruction.¡± Snuffing out his cigar, Jin Song left. Linsu stood under the streetlight for a long time before taking out his phone: ¡°Old Madam Jiang, it¡¯s me, Linsu.¡± Jin Song¡¯s secretary was waiting on the opposite side of the road, the car parked by the curb. Seeing someone approach, he got out of the car. ¡°Vice President,¡± the secretary opened the car door for him, ¡°Heading back to the company?¡± Jin Song got in the car: ¡°Help me set up a meeting with Mr. Xue.¡± The secretary had started the car and just responded when suddenly, a shadow lurched onto the road, startling him, and he immediately slammed on the brakes. The car jerked to a halt, Jin Song lurching forward. ¡°What kind of driving is this?¡± ¡°Vice President, there¡¯s someone.¡± Following that¡ª The sound of metal scraping on the ground grew closer and louder. As night fell and all else was silent, this sound was especially chilling. Jin Song looked out the car window and saw a vague outline of a person dressed all in black, the hat almost completely covering the face, leaving only two eyes shining. He couldn¡¯t tell if it was a man or a woman, but they were dragging an iron rod, emerging from the darkness. Jin Song¡¯s nerves were on edge, his voice trembling involuntarily, ¡°Who are you?¡± ¡°Come down.¡± The voice was crisp and cold¡ªfemale. ¡°You¡ª¡± She interrupted, ¡°I am Black Impermanence,¡± her voice chillingly emotionless, ¡°I¡¯ve come for your life.¡± Chapter 103 - Chapter 103: 103: Ah Fangs vest dropped again! Chapter 103: 103: Ah Fang¡¯s vest dropped again! She interrupted, ¡°I am Black Impermanence.¡± Her voice was cold and emotionless, ¡°I¡¯m here to take your life.¡± As she finished speaking, she raised the iron rod in her hand, her eyes unblinking, and smashed down fiercely. ¡°Bang!¡± With a loud crash, the car¡¯s windows shattered into pieces, fragments flying everywhere. Several cuts were made on Jin Song¡¯s right cheek, and he was already scared out of his wits, his body unconsciously shrinking back as he stammered, ¡°You, don¡¯t come closer.¡± This person was unknown and very dangerous. Indeed, this dangerous individual was Zhou Xufang, and his strike was effective. Scared now. Good to know fear. She planted the iron rod on the ground and tapped it twice, ¡°Come out.¡± Wearing a cap and an oversized hood over it, her mask was so large that only her eyes were visible. She looked up at the moon obscured by dark clouds, then squatted down and lifted the car. Letting go, with a ¡®Duang¡¯ sound, it shocked the two people inside the car into stupidity, and their courage was shattered. Finally, with an expressionless face, she solemnly recited a phrase, ¡°King Yan commands you to die at midnight.¡± Zhou Xufang had been watching a ghost-hunting TV show recently. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï??¦Ï.§ã¦Ï She had a good memory and remembered many lines. It was a deep, silent night, not a soul on the street, surrounded by eerie silence, only the cold wind rustling the leaves. Jin Song felt a tingling on his scalp and shouted twice. ¡°Secretary Pang!¡± ¡°Secretary Pang!¡± Secretary Pang was in the driver¡¯s seat and had turned pale with fright. This ¡®Black-clothed Man¡¯ could¡­ really lift a car with bare hands, it was too eerie! Jin Song commanded, ¡°Get down.¡± In the dead of winter, Secretary Pang sweat profusely, ¡°Vice President¡­¡± He moved to the furthest corner of the back seat and shouted, ¡°Get down!¡± After a long mental preparation, Secretary Pang tremblingly opened the door and kept his distance, ¡°The police station is not far from here, don¡¯t, don¡¯t mess around.¡± She wasn¡¯t going to mess around. She said, ¡°Your time is not up yet.¡± She waved her hand dismissively at the secretary, her voice cold and echoing, ¡°Go.¡± Sweat as big as beans rolled down Secretary Pang¡¯s face. He plucked up his courage, walked forward, bit his lip and reached for the iron rod, ¡°Who sent you?¡± Her eyes were pitch black, her whole body covered so as not to expose an inch of skin. Her voice was stiff, ghostly, ¡°King Yan.¡± ¡°¡­¡± How could there possibly be ghosts in this world! Secretary Pang moved forward silently, taking a small step and stealthily reaching out to grab the iron rod with determination in one swift motion. Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t resist and let him take it. Seeing him raise the iron rod, she stood still, tilted her head and asked, ¡°Are you going to hit Lord Black Impermanence?¡± ¡°¡­¡± Secretary Pang¡¯s eyes nearly popped out as he stared at ¡®Lord Black Impermanence¡¯ without hesitation, mustering up his courage, he raised the rod and fiercely smashed down. He used all his strength. Zhou Xufang raised her hand with a light and effortless motion, easily catching the rod. Her voice was also light but stern and rigid, her eyes steady, ¡°This belongs to the underworld, touching it will shorten your life.¡± Secretary Pang was struck dumb by her gaze. The next second, reflexively, the hand holding the iron rod let go. Well, people are still afraid of ghosts. ¡®Black Impermanence¡¯ Zhou Xufang picked up the iron rod without effort, raising and lowering it. ¡°Bang!¡± One end of the rod hit the roof of the car, immediately denting it. Secretary Pang heard the noise and shuddered, about to shrink back when his nape was grabbed. Turning around, he was dumbfounded. ¡®Lord Black Impermanence¡¯ was merely using two fingers to pinch the collar at his nape, effortlessly lifting him up, swaying left and right. Inside the car, Jin Song was already dumbfounded. Secretary Pang¡¯s legs went weak, unable to pedal at all, hanging like a sheet of paper, being carried around. He stuttered, ¡°What¡­ what are you going to do?¡± Zhou Xufang recalled another line from the ghost-hunting TV show and recited it with a deep monotone voice, ¡°How dare you disrespect Lord Black Impermanence.¡± After saying that, she shook him even harder. The strength of normal humans couldn¡¯t possibly be this great¡­ Secretary Pang was both scared and dizzy, nearly vomiting, as his whole body was covered in sweat, shaking with chattering teeth, trembling as he begged for mercy. ¡°Sir, spare my life.¡± ¡°Lord Black Impermanence, spare my life¡­¡± ¡®Lord Black Impermanence¡¯ maintained one expression from beginning to end, that of having no expression, her eyes perhaps the only things moving. She said, ¡°All right.¡± Then she let go. Secretary Pang fell to the ground. ¡®Lord Black Impermanence¡¯ wiped her fingers on herself a couple of times, seeming a bit disgusted, then tapped her iron rod on the ground twice, looking down at the man coldly, ominously saying, ¡°When your destined lifespan is over, I will come to claim your life. You may go.¡± Secretary Pang shakily got up, stumbled a few steps, and then ran off. ¡®Lord Black Impermanence¡¯ quietly curled the corners of her lips. However¡ª As soon as the man, whose ¡®life was not yet over¡¯, ran off, he began to shout loudly, ¡°Someone help! Save me!¡± ¡°Someone!¡± ¡°Quick, someone!¡± Luckily, there weren¡¯t many people on this road at night. Zhou Xufang was a bit angry, grabbing the rod, turning around, and in a flash, she was in front of the man. ¡°Don¡¯t shout.¡± Secretary Pang was completely stunned; this ¡®ghost¡¯ had floated over¡­ His eyes rolled back, and he fainted from fright. Truly faint-hearted. Fearing the passing cars might run him over, Zhou Xufang crouched down, dragged him to the side, then walked back carrying her iron rod. Jin Song took this opportunity to dial the emergency number. His hands trembled continuously, unsure of what he was pressing: ¡°Hello, is this the police station?¡± his speech was unclear from fright, ¡°Someone, someone is trying to kill me, I am at, at¡ª¡± The silhouette in the dark distance had already reached him in the blink of an eye. Jin Song was stupefied. Zhou Xufang tapped the car window with her iron rod: ¡°Hang up the phone, come out.¡± Jin Song¡¯s hand shook and the phone fell: ¡°Don¡¯t, don¡¯t,¡± his hand trembling as though he had Parkinson¡¯s, he pushed open the car door, ¡°don¡¯t kill me.¡± This woman was too bizarre, with such speed and strength, definitely not a normal human. ¡®Non-human¡¯ Zhou Xufang, holding the rod, her pitch-black eyes unmoving said, ¡°It depends on your performance.¡± Jin Song¡¯s legs went weak, leaning on the car, he wiped the sweat from his forehead: ¡°I¡¯ll give you whatever amount you want.¡± She was unmoved, utterly indifferent: ¡°We ghost messengers do not accept bribes.¡± A rod prodded against Jin Song¡¯s lungs, ¡°King Yan asks what wrongful acts you have committed in the past three months?¡± Jin Song toppled over, sitting on the ground, dumbfounded for a long time: ¡°None.¡± Still stubborn. ¡°Lying and withholding information will also be punished.¡± Zhou Xufang leaned forward, the ink in her eyes gradually fading, replaced by a smear of blood-red, slowly emerging, getting darker and deeper. Approaching the color of blood. With her crimson eyes, she stared at the man on the ground: ¡°Don¡¯t you believe I am a ghost messenger?¡± Jin Song opened his mouth, utterly terrified and unable to make a sound. She suddenly reached out, grabbed his neck, leapt onto the rooftop, he hadn¡¯t even reacted when she was holding him, took another leap, jumping between buildings as if on flat ground. Jin Song was completely petrified, his body like a dead corpse, not moving at all, his eyes not even blinking, the wind whooshing by his ears, his pupils reflecting the quickly receding tall buildings, his body swung around, elevated and dropped¡­ This journey was walking through the gates of hell. Finally, Zhou Xufang stopped on the rooftop of a tall building, still holding him, standing at the edge of the skyscraper, her hand stretched outward, his feet dangling in the air, looking down twenty meters below, the vehicles appeared tiny. ¡°Just let me release my grip,¡± Zhou Xufang loosened three fingers, holding with just two, ¡°and you will smash into a mess of flesh.¡± Jin Song snapped out of his trance: ¡°No! Don¡¯t!¡± He stiffened his body, the bandage on his head had long come undone, the blood-stained cloth still wrapped around his neck, his face as if doused with a bucket of water, all sweat, his shirt collar constricting his neck, his face deathly pale, the wound on his head oozing blood, blurring his sight, he didn¡¯t dare to move, fearing she would let go and he¡¯d certainly die beyond recognition from such a height. Zhou Xufang asked, ¡°Confess, or not?¡± Jin Song didn¡¯t dare to hesitate for a second: ¡°I¡¯ll confess!¡± his voice hoarse as he shouted, ¡°I confess!¡± She then carried the man to another location and let go. Jin Song was thrown onto the rooftop, his bones turned soft with fear, and he sat on the ground like a dehydrated fish, gasping for breath, taking a long time to recover. ¡°Spill it fast.¡± Jiang Zhi was still waiting for her at the hospital, and Zhou Xufang had no patience left. Jin Song instinctively shrank back and began tremblingly, ¡°The month before last, I injured someone, whipped them harshly with a belt.¡± Zhou Xufang stared at him coldly, ¡°What else?¡± Jin Song dared not prevaricate, his eyes already bloodshot, and he wiped the blood off his forehead with a shaking hand, ¡°I kidnapped the Jiang Family¡¯s youngest son.¡± Her tone suddenly rose, ¡°Why did you kidnap him?¡± Jin Song choked on his words. She suddenly leaned in close, her blood-red eyes staring him down, repeated, ¡°Why did you kidnap him?¡± Jin Song¡¯s shoulders shivered with fear, hitting the wall of the rooftop, ¡°He replaced the female lead in the movie, causing me a great loss.¡± He swallowed hard, his voice trembling terribly, ¡°I wanted to toy with him, and the Jiang Family wanted me to test him, see if he was faking his illness.¡± The Jiang Family¡­ Zhou Xufang immediately asked, ¡°Which member of the Jiang Family?¡± ¡°Jiang Fuli.¡± I wonder if Jiang Zhi knows? He¡¯s so clever, he must have found out too, so why didn¡¯t he beat up that wicked woman? Could he beat her up? She wanted to beat her up. Zhou Xufang thought for a while, many things she couldn¡¯t understand, glanced at Jin Song with red eyes, ¡°What else?¡± Jin Song, terrified, dared not hide anything, ¡°Last month, I had someone hit him with a car.¡± He shivered as he explained, ¡°But it was unsuccessful.¡± Hearing this, Zhou Xufang¡¯s eyes turned completely cold, as Shuangjiang¡¯s investigation was indeed correct. ¡°Who drove the car?¡± Jin Song¡¯s lips turned purple, cold sweat rolled into the cuts on his face from the car glass, numbing the pain, ¡°Xiao Linsu.¡± It all matched up. Zhou Xufang said, ¡°Continue.¡± ¡°Last week, I had someone kidnap Cheng Lianzhou¡¯s wife and child, forcing him to give me his shares.¡± Cheng Lianzhou was an old shareholder of Jin Family. Jin Song was frozen by the cold wind, unable to move at all, only instinctively shrank back, ¡°The day before yesterday, I manipulated a sixteen-year-old boy into signing with me,¡± he paused, ¡°to serve me in the future.¡± This beast! Zhou Xufang cursed him inwardly, ¡°Anything else?¡± ¡°No, no more.¡± ¡°Really nothing else?¡± Jin Song nodded desperately, ¡°Nothing!¡± Zhou Xufang was finally satisfied, reached into her pocket, turned off the recorder, leaned over, and reached out. Jin Song hastily backed away, ¡°Don¡¯t kill me!¡± Humph, beast! Zhou Xufang picked him up with one hand, walked to the edge of the rooftop, and leaped down. ¡°Ah ah ah ah ah¡ª¡± The scream, like ghosts wailing and wolves howling. After landing, Zhou Xufang threw the man to the ground, wiped her hands on her pants, and said, ¡°King Yan has ordered me to spare you for now. If you commit evil again, I will come for your life.¡± Jin Song was petrified with fear, lying motionless on the ground, his crotch soaked. Zhou Xufang kicked him with the tip of her shoe, her tone serious and stern, ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to thank Lord Black Impermanence?¡± She had played a bit player for over a year, and she thought her acting was quite average. But, she felt she was very suited to play a female ghost. Jin Song buried his head, hands clenched at his sides, ¡°Thank¡­ Lord Black Impermanence.¡± How could there be real ghosts in the world. Only those who play tricks and deceive. He clenched his teeth, still shaking, terrified, angry, and outraged. ¡°You object?¡± Zhou Xufang kicked his car, it seems not to use much force, yet the hood caved in. Jin Song trembled even more violently; his legs were too weak to stand, so he crawled backward. Zhou Xufang stepped on his sleeve, leaned over with eyes as red as if they were melting fresh blood inside, and pointed a finger at the back of Jin Song¡¯s head, ¡°In the future, will you dare to do evil again?¡± Jin Song stuttered nervously, ¡°No, I dare not.¡± ¡°Remember what you said today.¡± After she spoke, she raised her hand and knocked him out. Then, clapping her hands and picking up her iron rod, Shuangjiang could only temporarily control the surveillance; it wasn¡¯t suitable for her to stay long. She was about to leave when she heard the sound of a car door opening. Someone was there! Zhou Xufang pulled her hat down. The voice came from behind, ¡°Lord Black Impermanence.¡± That voice¡­ She only needed to hear it once to know who it was. He was five meters away, his words slow and deliberate, ¡°Jiang Family¡¯s youngest son, Jiang Zhi.¡± He walked forward leisurely, ¡°Can you check for me how much longer I have to live?¡± He heard everything! His car was parked five meters away, the night wind was loud and interfering with her hearing; she couldn¡¯t hear the car sound from the rooftop. When had he come? How long had he been here? What had he heard? The more Zhou Xufang thought, the more annoyed she became; she didn¡¯t turn around but hid behind the car. Oh, she nonchalantly replied in a disguised voice, like a ghost, ¡°You have a long life ahead, you¡¯ll live to a ripe old age.¡± Jiang Zhi chuckled softly, his steps halting. Zhou Xufang stood behind the car, afraid he saw her ¡®misdeeds.¡¯ She crouched down, secretly grabbed Jin Song¡¯s leg, and dragged him to the back. Jiang Zhi just stood still, watching her ¡®actions.¡¯ ¡°Did you see?¡± Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t know how much he had seen. Wrapped in a coat, Jiang Zhi coughed in the wind-blown mess of his hair. Under the light, the dim, foggy blue showed a hint of tenderness apart from its flamboyance, ¡°What?¡± Zhou Xufang pushed the car, and it moved. Her strength was truly extraordinary. Jiang Zhi said, ¡°I saw.¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you scared?¡± The part where she jumped onto the rooftop and scurried around like a monkey, he probably didn¡¯t see; she could at least be sure that he came after she had reached the rooftop; otherwise, with her hearing, it was impossible not to hear. So, Jiang Zhi only saw her using brute force. No, there was also her crude violence, posing and feigning, and beating people. Zhou Xufang was so annoyed; she should have been more ladylike, like the queen in the TV dramas who spoke with a pinched voice and twisted her fingers¡­ The wind carried Jiang Zhi¡¯s voice over, ¡°Afraid of what? Afraid that Lord Black Impermanence will come for my life?¡± Zhou Xufang: ¡°¡­¡± He laughed, his eyes twinkling with stars and lamp light, from a distance, a beautiful figure in the painting, the wind fluttering his coattails, every scene was beautifully exquisite. ¡°So, I¡¯ve done so many terrible things, why haven¡¯t you come for me yet?¡± He drawled with a smile before calling out again, ¡°Lord Black Impermanence.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡®Lord Black Impermanence¡¯ was a bit dazed, a bit stunned, a bit numb, a bit overwhelmed. Suddenly, Jiang Zhi tentatively called her, ¡°Zhou Xufang?¡± ¡®Lord Black Impermanence¡¯ pinched a deep and muffled voice, ¡°I am not Zhou Xufang.¡± Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t argue and switched, ¡°Fine, Lord Black Impermanence,¡± his tone slightly heavy and resounding, ¡°turn around.¡± Silence followed, only the sound of the wind. After a long time, she finally turned around. ¡°You only saw the surface.¡± Her eyes had lost their red tint, from a distance, through the light she looked at his ink-smeared eyes, ¡°But I am a hundred times, a thousand times more dangerous than what you saw.¡± She was clad entirely in black, enveloped tightly. She glanced at Jiang Zhi once and dared not meet his gaze again; without waiting for him to come closer, she placed the recording pen on the car, ¡°I took your grandmother¡¯s employment fee, this is all I should do.¡± Having said that, she turned and ran into the night. Jiang Zhi watched the direction in which her figure disappeared, kicked a stone on the ground, ¡°Why hide? I¡¯m not going to eat you.¡± Chapter 104 - Chapter 104: 104: Jiang Zhi elopes with Fang Bao to get married and have children. Chapter 104: 104: Jiang Zhi elopes with Fang Bao to get married and have children. The moon was still hidden behind the dark clouds, gusts of cold wind chilling to the bone. The burly figure hidden in the driver¡¯s seat poked his head out now, looking cautiously around. ¡°Boss.¡± Jiang Zhi continued to stare off into the distance, ignoring him. Ah Wan felt a bit spooked, hugging herself tightly while clutching the steering wheel and extending her head a bit further to ask her employer, ¡°Do you believe in ghosts?¡± Jiang Zhi, standing in the wind, coughed, ¡°I don¡¯t.¡± Ah Wan felt even colder, hugging herself tighter, ¡°I didn¡¯t either.¡± She glanced at Jin Song¡¯s car in the rearview mirror, ¡°Just at that moment, I started to believe.¡± Jiang Zhi couldn¡¯t be bothered to engage in this nonsense with him. Ah Wan¡¯s spooky story was becoming more convincing as he spoke; pinching two fingers together, he mimed a flying motion and added a sound effect, ¡°Whoosh¡ª¡± He dragged the ¡®whoosh¡¯ out especially long, ¡°with that sound, a person just appeared, as if falling from the sky¡ªI didn¡¯t even see clearly where she drilled out from with a person in tow.¡± He got himself worked up, finding it unbelievable. He speculated, ¡°Could she have emerged from the ground?¡± He grew more certain, ¡°Boss, she might really be Lord Black Impermanence.¡± Jiang Zhi coldly threw two words at him, ¡°Idiot.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã0 You¡¯re the idiot! ¡°Boss,¡± He really shouldn¡¯t speak when the employer is in a bad mood, but he couldn¡¯t help it, ¡°Is Lord Black Impermanence truly that errand runner?¡± The employer treated him as an idiot, not answering any of his questions. It didn¡¯t matter. He could deduce it himself using his sharp wits, ¡°Then she definitely isn¡¯t Miss Zhou, who does the film application. Miss Zhou isn¡¯t that violent; Miss Zhou is gentle, kind, pure, adorable, and of noble character¡ª¡± Jiang Zhi got into the back seat and slammed the car door shut, ¡°Shut up and drive.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Ah Wan closed his mouth for all of about fifteen seconds. ¡°Eh, where did Third Young Master go?¡± Third Young Master left too quickly, missing that terrifying scene, otherwise, Ah Wan could ask if he believed in ghosts, ¡°Did he go to the police station already? That was fast indeed, truly a man swift as the wind¡ª¡± ¡°Annoying.¡± ¡°¡­ then I¡¯ll stop talking.¡± Outside the police station, the lights were on, and a person stood straight, smoking a cigarette. Xue Bingxue walked over from the distant streetlight. ¡°Mr. Xiao.¡± Xiao Linsu turned around, saw him approaching, and then put out his cigarette. The air was thick with the scent of tobacco; nearby, a trash can was filled with many cigarette butts. Xue Bingxue glanced at it, then withdrew his gaze, ¡°Wei¡¯er¡¯s mother is still on the way, shall we talk in the meantime?¡± Xiao Linsu tossed his extinguished cigarette into the trash can, ¡°Talk about what?¡± Xue Bingxue cut to the chase, ¡°About Wei¡¯er.¡± Twenty minutes later, Old Lady Jiang also made her way to the police station. Jiang Wei¡¯er wasn¡¯t released; she was detained. It was clear that Old Lady Jiang meant that troubles were brewing; she wanted Wei¡¯er to stay inside as a cautionary measure, to also calm down and reflect. Jiang Zhi made a trip to the Xue Family and by the time he got back to the hospital, it was already nine o¡¯clock. He could see from a distance that there was a dark figure squatting at the hospital entrance, head drooping while playing with the pebbles on the ground. It was Lord Black Impermanence. Jiang Zhi got out of the car and walked over, standing and looking down at the figure, ¡°What are you squatting here for?¡± She forced a not-very-natural smile, ¡°Waiting for you.¡± Nice words to say. This girl wasn¡¯t good at flattering, yet sometimes her dull and dazed words hit right in the heart. Jiang Zhi squatted down, took her hand, and pulled her up. She was docile at that moment, not withdrawing her hand but letting him lead her away instead. She asked, ¡°Aren¡¯t we going back to the ward?¡± Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t answer her, ¡°Lin Wanwan, no need to follow any longer.¡± Ah Wan, who was closely trailing behind, ¡°¡­ Oh.¡± He always felt his employer was about to do something bad with Miss Zhou; it was a pity, really. Now out of earshot, he couldn¡¯t constantly remind or urge his employer. All he could do was pray to the heavens, hoping his employer would be decent. Jiang Zhi led her away to the park behind the hospital, and because it was night, there was no one else in the park, only the sound of the wind rustling through the leaves. The nighttime temperature was very low, a thin layer of ice had formed over the pond, and the light from the streetlamps fell upon it, casting a halo. ¡°Why come here?¡± Jiang Zhi placed his hands on her shoulders, making her sit on a wooden chair, ¡°I have something to tell you.¡± Zhou Xufang looked up at him, ¡°Jiang Zhi¡ª¡± Jiang Zhi suddenly bent down, calling out her name, ¡°You know, I really like you.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Zhou Xufang was baffled by this sudden confession; she had thought he was going to interrogate her. ¡°As for how much,¡± he furrowed his beautiful brows, pondering for a moment, ¡°I even doubt if I¡¯m sick, a bit inseparable from you.¡± It was probably more than just a bit. Jiang Zhi sat down next to her, took her hand, and played with it in his, sounding quite casual, as if he was resigned to his fate, ¡°If nothing unexpected happens, we will get married in the future, and you will become my wife.¡± Married¡­ Wife¡­ Zhou Xufang¡¯s eyelashes fluttered in shock. He continued in the same undisturbed tone, speaking slowly, ¡°There won¡¯t be any accidents. If you¡¯re willing, it¡¯ll all come naturally. If you¡¯re not, I¡¯ll be persistent.¡± ¡°We won¡¯t have kids for now, I¡¯m sterile, but if you want, I can get treated, and we can have as many as you like; I can afford to support them.¡± A blush started to creep onto Zhou Xufang¡¯s face. ¡°It¡¯s fine if you¡¯re afraid of people, I can move out with you. Anywhere is fine, those people from the Jiang family, you can see them if you want or I can hide you from them.¡± He also said, ¡°You like money, I can give it all to you, however much you want I can earn for you.¡± His tone was neither light nor heavy, as if he was talking about the most ordinary things. But to Zhou Xufang¡¯s ears, it sounded like a storm surge. He leaned against the back of the chair, spreading one hand behind her, entwining a little tuft of her hair around his finger, ¡°I will live for a long time, I can¡¯t give you a guarantee now, but don¡¯t worry, misfortunes endure for a thousand years, someone as bad as me will surely outlive you.¡± Her eyes stung, and she sniffled. By her ear, Jiang Zhi¡¯s voice was especially tender, devoid of his usual arrogance, ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter that you¡¯re different from others, I¡¯m not a good person either, I¡¯ve done so many bad things, I¡¯ve grown bold. You can¡¯t scare me.¡± ¡°Zhou Xufang,¡± She tilted her head, looking at him seriously, Jiang Zhi reached out, cupping her head, stroking it gently, ¡°Think about it carefully. This Jiang Zhi, do you want him or not?¡± After asking, he didn¡¯t wait for her answer. He simply laid down all his words, tearing open his thoughts and attitude and laying them bare before her. ¡°If you don¡¯t want me,¡± he pressed harder, ruffling her hair into a mess before letting go, ¡°I¡¯ll have to resort to tricks on you.¡± Force and might, he could play that game too. But with her, he preferred to persuade and to coax. He had never liked someone this much, nor had he ever said such cheesy things. He was resigned to falling for her. He was getting impatient, afraid ¡®Lord Black Impermanence¡¯ would run away again. ¡°I am a bit anxious now; I can¡¯t take it slow.¡± His face was also very red, even his neck blushed with a touch of spring, his beautiful eyes brimming with emotion, yet he pushed forward recklessly. ¡°We can¡¯t be just good friends, we have to be lovers.¡± He lowered his head, and kissed her trembling eyelid, ¡°Because I like you too much.¡± Zhou Xufang¡¯s face turned into a bright red Fuji apple. After Jiang Zhi finished speaking, he stood up, tilting her drooping head back up, ¡°I won¡¯t give you much time to think. If you agree to be with me, come kiss me. I won¡¯t wait too long. If you don¡¯t come, I¡¯ll come to get you.¡± He poked her face with his finger, ¡°Do you understand?¡± Zhou Xufang nodded slowly. His home¡¯s slow one probably needed some time to react. Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t press her further, lifting her up and dusting off the snowflakes that had just settled on her shoulder. ¡°It¡¯s snowing.¡± Tiny snowflakes, blown by the wind, drifted down. ¡°Oh.¡± Zhou Xufang was still burning up, her mind full of Jiang Zhi¡¯s words, echoing over and over, bombarding her until she felt her head was about to explode with fireworks. Jiang Zhi put the hood of her sweatshirt on her head, tightening it so the wind wouldn¡¯t blow inside her collar, ¡°Are you cold?¡± ¡°Not cold.¡± She was so hot. She felt as if her blood was boiling. Jiang Zhi was very pleased with the tumultuous look in her eyes, smiling with a lifted corner of his mouth, ¡°I¡¯m cold.¡± After saying that, he extended his hand, ¡°Hold it, warm me up.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Still in a whirlwind of emotions, Zhou Xufang dumbly wrapped her hands around Jiang Zhi¡¯s hand, holding his with her two little hands in an extremely awkward and stiff ¡¯embrace¡¯. Ah Wan saw that and became more convinced of her own thought, Miss Zhou¡¯s employer must not be a human. Returning to the sickroom, Zhou Xufang dared not look at Jiang Zhi anymore, a single glance would make her eyes moist and her ears turn red, like¡­ like she had taken a stimulant. Moreover, her footsteps seemed a bit floaty, giving Jiang Zhi the illusion that she might leap into the sky at any moment and stand shoulder to shoulder with the moon. Seeing her dazed, Jiang Zhi helped her take off her coat and hang it on the coat rack, ¡°Why is your face still so red?¡± Zhou Xufang covered her face, ¡°I might have a fever.¡± And the symptoms were quite severe. She really wanted to jump up and down, to roll around and splash in the sea, for some reason, she was so excited, so boiling, so full of hot blood, so restless¡­ Jiang Zhi asked her to sit down, touched her forehead, and sure enough, she had a high fever again. ¡°Lin Wanwan, go call the doctor over.¡± Ah Wan: ¡°Oh.¡± Afraid that she would catch cold, Jiang Zhi turned up the air conditioning a few degrees and put her coat back on her, ¡°Why do you always get fevers?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± She pushed the clothes away, ¡°Don¡¯t wear it, so hot.¡± ¡°Just bear with it for a moment, you¡¯ll catch cold without it.¡± Jiang Zhi insisted on dressing her and zipped up all the way, ¡°Did it happen like this before?¡± Zhou Xufang shook her head. Her health used to be very good, and she hardly ever got sick, Jiang Zhi asked again, ¡°When did it start then?¡± She pondered for a moment. Oh, it started from the first time he kissed the palm of her hand. She was too embarrassed to say it and lowered her head to secretly exhale a big breath, as if it didn¡¯t feel so hot anymore, then she exhaled another big breath, with her tongue out like she was breathing, like a¡­ dog. ¡°Do you often get fevers when I¡¯m not here?¡± Zhou Xufang felt a bit dizzy and blurted out, ¡°No, it only happens when you¡¯re here.¡± After saying that she felt it wasn¡¯t quite right, she explained, ¡°I¡¯m not blaming you.¡± Jiang Zhi did not press further, looking at the little girl¡¯s rosy cheeks, he seemed to be thinking about something. ¡°Boss, the doctor is here.¡± Ah Wan brought in a male doctor in his thirties. Although Jiang Zhi was not pleased, he didn¡¯t say anything, ¡°Have a look at her.¡± The male doctor took a thermometer and asked Zhou Xufang to put it inside her clothes. Zhou Xufang hesitated and did not move, ¡°Can we not take my temperature?¡± Her temperature was not the same as normal people, afraid that it might frighten someone. ¡°Ah?¡± Without taking the temperature, how to proceed? The male doctor thought for a moment, reached out to touch the patient¡¯s forehead to make a rough estimate, but his hand hadn¡¯t even reached halfway¡ª ¡°Where are you touching?¡± This voice was eerie and weird, chilling. The male doctor shuddered, withdrew his hand, and stuttered, ¡°T-t-take the temperature.¡± In front of him, touching his person, was he considered dead? Jiang Zhi glared coldly, stood up, and blocked Zhou Xufang firmly behind him, completely disregarding the demeanor and pride of a family scion, ferociously protective like a mother wolf guarding her cubs, ¡°Back off, stay away from her.¡± Doctor: ¡°¡­¡± Ah Wan: ¡°¡­¡± Crazy! ¡®Crazy¡¯ Jiang Zhi even put Zhou Xufang¡¯s hat on, not willing to let anyone catch a glimpse of her, he squatted down and touched her forehead. Hmm? He touched her forehead again, ¡°You don¡¯t seem to have a fever anymore.¡± He looked back, ¡°Both of you, get out.¡± Doctor: ¡°¡­¡± Ah Wan: ¡°¡­¡± Crazy! Ah Wan led the doctor out again, slamming the door shut with great force, then apologetically smiled at the doctor, pointed to the sickroom, pointed to his own head, and shook his head. The doctor instantly understood, giving him a sympathetic look. In the end¡ª The doctor left, and Ah Wan pressed her ear against the door. Jiang Zhi crouched in front of Zhou Xufang, carefully examining her face. He reached out a finger and poked a dimple into her cheek: ¡°What is this body made of?¡± Her face wasn¡¯t very fleshy, but it was soft, creating a small dimple with every poke, turning a bunch of them bright red. Zhou Xufang felt embarrassed and dodged backward, replying, ¡°Blood and flesh.¡± After pausing, she added seriously, ¡°And bones too.¡± Jiang Zhi laughed, ¡°I want to try it.¡± ¡°Try what?¡± He leaned in and pecked her on the left cheek. She froze. Then he pecked the right cheek as well. Her face flushed red, followed by her ears, her neck¡­ even the back of her hands turned red. Her whole body heated up; the temperature that just went down surged back. She was about to stick out her tongue and pant like a dog when a refreshingly cool hand covered her head. ¡°I guessed right, your temperature isn¡¯t rising because of a fever, it¡¯s because of my kisses.¡± ¡°¡­¡± At two in the morning, after Jiang Zhi fell asleep. Zhou Xufang tiptoed stealthily out of the sickroom, went outside, found a spot without people or surveillance, and then began to jump up and down. She wanted to bounce off to the moon and roll around. Occasionally at night, passersby would witness this. Suddenly, a child exclaimed: ¡°Mom, Mom, there¡¯s an alien!¡± The young woman smiled and asked, ¡°Where?¡± The child looked up at the sky: ¡°It jumped to the moon.¡± In the sky, a blob of darkness flitted from east to west and then from west back to east¡­ After numerous repetitions, it plunged into a pond¡­ The next day, light snow fell. With Winter Solstice approaching, the cold air nipped sharply. An attendant at Fusheng Inn led the way ahead: ¡°Third Young Master, this way please.¡± Xue Bingxue entered a private room in Bamboo Garden. Inside, Jin Song had been waiting, and seeing his guest arrive, stood up: ¡°Would Third Young Master like tea or wine?¡± He still had bandages wrapped around his head and several cuts on his face. Xue Bingxue took a seat: ¡°Tea,¡± scrutinizing the time. Thanks to his naturally babyish face, his age wasn¡¯t apparent, and even with a stern expression, he seemed harmless, ¡°I have patients waiting, so I can only spare ten minutes.¡± Jin Song personally poured him a cup of tea; his eyes were surrounded by dark circles, and he looked haggard: ¡°Then I¡¯ll get straight to the point.¡± He approached the topic directly, ¡°I heard that Third Young Master and Fifth Miss of the Jiang Family share a childhood friendship.¡± Xue Bingxue, aware of why he was invited today, simply said, ¡°Speak your terms.¡± Jin Song set down the teapot: ¡°The Xue Family has an investment case that I am very interested in.¡± This investment case had been specially authorized to Xue Bingxue by Old Sir Xue; it was a high-investment, key project. The old man showed his partiality by intentionally handing the lucrative opportunity to his beloved youngest son, aiming to empower him to gain influence and authority. Not only Jin Song but also his older brother Jin Lei was very interested in this project and had already contacted Xue Bingxue in private. ¡°I wonder if Third Young Master is interested in cooperation?¡± Xue Bingxue picked up his teacup, took a sip, and stated, ¡°Get her out as soon as possible.¡± Jin Song raised his cup, ¡°Pleasure doing business.¡± Jiang Wei¡¯er was released that afternoon. Jin Song withdrew his lawsuit, and in less than half an hour, rumors began to circulate that the new product development of the Xue Family would cooperate with Tang Heng. As everyone knew, the Jiang and Xue families were old friends. Third Young Master Xue¡¯s decision was most likely also the intent of Old Lady Jiang, hence rumors started to spread in the circles that the vendetta between Old Lady Jiang and the Jin brothers had thawed. When Jiang Wei¡¯er arrived at the old mansion, Old Lady Jiang had just awoken from her nap and was being assisted by servants in washing up. Charcoal burned in the room, crackling softly. Old Lady Jiang took a mouthful of warm water to rinse her mouth, spitting it into a porcelain cup, and glanced over: ¡°You¡¯ve come.¡± Jiang Wei¡¯er had just returned from the police station, looking disheveled. ¡°Having spent a day inside, have you sobered up yet?¡± Old Lady Jiang inquired. Her eyes were bloodshot, her complexion pale, and she looked unwell: ¡°Apart from breaking up, I¡¯ll do whatever you want.¡± You¡¯re still muddled,¡± Old Lady Jiang washed her hands and dried them, ¡°If that¡¯s the case, there¡¯s nothing more to say. From now on, you don¡¯t need to enter the Jiang¡¯s doors ever again. I¡¯ll give you the video of Xiao Linsu. As a token of motherly affection, let this be my final gesture of dignity for you.¡± Jiang Wei¡¯er immediately knelt down, eyes reddening, ¡°Mother¡ª¡± ¡°No need to call me mother anymore. I¡¯m not worthy to be a mother to someone who resents the matchmaker. From today onwards, you and the Jiang Family have no relationship.¡± After a moment¡¯s pause, Old Lady Jiang said in a stern voice, ¡°Ah Gui, show the guest out.¡± Chapter 105 - Chapter 105: 105: Fang Bao protects her husband, abusing Jiang Fuli Chapter 105: 105: Fang Bao protects her husband, abusing Jiang Fuli Boom! After the flash of lightning and the roar of thunder, the downpour began. ¡°Old Madam,¡± Gui Family looked at the deluge outside, ¡°Fifth Miss is still kneeling out there.¡± Old Lady Jiang was lying on her side on the couch, pinching the bridge of her nose, ¡°Let her kneel. Without a taste of hardship, she will never come to her senses.¡± Gui Family was not at ease and glanced outside several times, ¡°Mr. Xiao has also arrived.¡± After a moment¡¯s thought, she still stepped forward to persuade, ¡°Old Madam, why not let them¡ª¡± Her words were cut off. ¡°Don¡¯t plead for that girl.¡± Old Lady Jiang fell silent for a while, then heaved a long sigh, ¡°That child is not bad, it¡¯s just a pity, her lot in life is poor, and she will not have peace for the rest of her days.¡± Jiang Wei¡¯er had been kneeling for five hours, the cold seeping into her bones, her body couldn¡¯t take it, and she fainted. When she woke up again, she was in the hospital. There was no one in the hospital room, it was very quiet. Outside, it had already grown dark and the lights were off, leaving the room dim and shadowy. She lay with her eyes open, took a while to recover, then sat up and called out, ¡°Linsu.¡± ¡°Linsu.¡± No one answered her. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í?¦Ï.?¦Ï She put on a piece of clothing, got out of bed, and walked towards the door pushing her IV stand. The room was dark, with only the light from the corridor filtering in. As she got closer, she could hear people talking in the corridor outside; the sound was indistinct and hard to make out. Taking a few more steps towards the door, she finally recognized the voice as Lin Shuang¡¯s. ¡°Did you get the video?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°That¡¯s good.¡± Lin Shuang asked, ¡°When are you going to break up with her?¡± After that, there was a long silence. Xiao Linsu¡¯s originally weak voice laced with a few strands of rage, ¡°It¡¯s none of your business.¡± ¡°Weren¡¯t we in agreement? Once you get the video, you¡¯d break it off cleanly with her. Linsu, have you grown attached to her?¡± Jiang Wei¡¯er had known Lin Shuang for two years. Lin Shuang was decisive and firm in her actions, always swift like the wind in everything she did, indifferent towards everyone. Jiang Wei¡¯er had never heard her speak with such a tone, vulnerable, pleading, and filled with anguish. She even choked up, ¡°You can¡¯t bear to lay a finger on her, yet you didn¡¯t hesitate to burn me with cigarette butts.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t compare yourself to her.¡± Xiao Linsu was a singer by origin, naturally blessed with a gentle voice. However, the words he spoke were invisibly hurtful. ¡°That¡¯s true, what am I compared to her? She is the Fifth Miss of the Jiang Family, a lady favored by the heavens. Without the conveniences provided by her Jiang Family, we would never have been able to flourish under Jin Song¡¯s watchful eye.¡± Lin Shuang said with a bitter laugh, ¡°You knew she was from the Jiang Family from the start, from the beginning, I never measured up to her in your heart.¡± ¡°Enough.¡± He lowered his voice, tossing the words at her face one by one, ¡°Wasn¡¯t this all your own choice? Have I ever coerced you?¡± Lin Shuang found herself at a loss for words. Click¡ª The door was pushed open, and Xiao Linsu turned his head to see Jiang Wei¡¯er standing at the entrance of the hospital room. She stood leaning against the door, unsteady, ¡°What are you talking about? I don¡¯t understand.¡± Xiao Linsu¡¯s first reaction was to avert his gaze, and then he reached out to pull her towards him. ¡°Wei¡¯er.¡± Jiang Wei¡¯er stepped back, knocking over the IV stand. The needle was torn from her flesh, and droplets of blood beaded on the back of her hand. She paid it no mind, staring at Xiao Linsu, ¡°You knew who I was from the start, you approached me just to get rid of Jin Song.¡± She paused, a lump in her throat, ¡°Is that what you meant by your conversation just now?¡± He remained silent. Jiang Wei¡¯er staggered a few steps, barely able to stand, her body trembling, her voice quivering, ¡°Fine, you don¡¯t have to answer that. Just answer me one question, the burn on Lin Shuang¡¯s hand, who did it?¡± She had seen the burn scars from cigarette butts on Lin Shuang¡¯s arm. He was still silent. Jiang Wei¡¯er¡¯s eyes were bloodshot as she yelled, ¡°Xiao Linsu!¡± It was at that moment that footsteps approached. Four men, the leader in his thirties with a respectable appearance, came over from the other end of the hallway, ¡°Are you Xiao Linsu?¡± ¡°I am.¡± The man pulled out a badge from his pocket, ¡°I¡¯m Lin Qian from the Criminal Investigation Squad. You¡¯re suspected of being involved in an intentional murder case, and we¡¯re arresting you on an emergency basis. You have the right to remain silent, but anything you say can and will be used in a court of law. Please come with us.¡± As one wave subsided, another arose. The calamity arrived without warning. Jiang Wei¡¯er even doubted that she was hearing things. ¡°Attempted murder,¡± she looked at Xiao Linsu and asked, ¡°who is the victim?¡± Xiao Linsu remained silent the whole time. Lin Qian said, ¡°He hit someone with a car, the victim was the Jiang Family¡¯s youngest son, Jiang Zhi.¡± He added, ¡°It¡¯s an attempted murder, which constitutes a crime.¡± Attempted murder¡­ Jiang Zhi¡­ Jiang Wei¡¯er felt as if all her strength had been drained, and she collapsed backward. ¡°Wei¡¯er!¡± It was Xiao Linsu, calling out her name with a voice hoarse from exertion. Jiang Wei¡¯er had slept for an entire day and had a very long dream. In the dream were Xiao Linsu at eighteen, Xiao Linsu at twenty-eight, her mother, Jin Song in the video wielding a whip, and also Xue Bingxue holding her hand, begging her not to leave. ¡°Wei¡¯er.¡± ¡°Wei¡¯er.¡± Someone was calling her. Jiang Wei¡¯er opened her eyes to blinding lights; she squinted and looked at the person by the bed. ¡°Bingxue.¡± She had had a fever all night, and her voice was completely hoarse. Xue Bingxue got up from the chair and squatted in front of her. ¡°Hm?¡± He had watched over her all night and had barely closed his eyes; his eyes were red with blood vessels. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± He didn¡¯t hear her clearly and leaned in closer, ¡°What?¡± She looked at the ceiling and murmured to herself, ¡°Where did I go wrong¡­¡± Where did she go wrong? Why had things turned out so absurdly? ¡°You did nothing wrong,¡± Xue Bingxue said in her ear, ¡°you¡¯ve done nothing wrong at all.¡± She had simply fallen for someone with all her heart. ¡°I¡¯ll sleep a little more¡­¡± She closed her eyes again, drifting in and out of consciousness. Outside the room, the rain continued to fall. In the evening, Old Madam Jiang had come by and stood outside the hospital room without entering; after a while, she walked away. Jiang Wei¡¯er drifted in and out of consciousness for several days. The high fever would not subside, and she was mostly delirious, having lost a lot of weight. During these days, a lot of things had happened. Mr. Xue and Jin Song had fallen out, with Mr. Xue withdrawing his investment from Tang Heng. Jin Family¡¯s stock price plummeted, and using this as justification, Jin Lei forcefully stripped Jin Song of all his voting rights in the board of directors. The next day, Jin Song was involved in criminal cases and was urgently arrested by the police. When the police came to arrest him, Jin Family¡¯s corporate penthouse was holding a shareholders¡¯ meeting. Jin Song, having been stripped of his powers, had no right to participate. He was causing a scene outside the conference room, and when the doors opened, he realized that Xue Bingxue was also inside, sitting in the top seat, with Jin Lei next to him. Jin Song had an epiphany. He had unwittingly led a wolf into his house. ¡°Xue Bingxue, are you playing me?¡± Xue Bingxue didn¡¯t look like a businessman at all, dressed in a suit, elegant like a gentleman without any aggression: ¡°Yes,¡± he said, ¡°Jiang Zhi is my childhood friend, and Jiang Wei¡¯er is the girl I like. You targeted both of them, so I played you.¡± Everyone said that Mr. Xue was an upright gentleman. Turns out, even upright gentlemen can resort to unscrupulous tactics. Jin Song cursed loudly and lunged forward, wishing he could tear Xue Bingxue apart to vent his anger. The two officers who were restraining him pulled him back, pressing down hard: ¡°Keep it up, and we¡¯ll charge you with assaulting a police officer.¡± He was dragged away, still struggling and cursing for a long time before finally quieting down. The internal strife within Jin Family could now be considered concluded. Jin Song was suspected of several criminal offenses and, once imprisoned, it would not be so easy for him to get out. From then on, Jin Family¡¯s Tang Heng would be dominated by Jin Lei alone. Jin Lei was naturally pleased with the outcome, his mood blooming with joy. He turned around and bowed to Xue Bingxue, ¡°Thank you, Mr. Xue, for your assistance.¡± Xue Bingxue had the face of a child, his expression harmless: ¡°I did not assist you. From now on, our Xue Family will be taking control of Jin Family.¡± Jin Lei was shocked! This too was a wolf that devoured people without spitting out the bones! In the afternoon, Qiao Nanchu came to the hospital; he looked at Jiang Zhi and saw that his complexion was not bad. ¡°Why haven¡¯t you been discharged yet?¡± Jiang Zhi covered his mouth and coughed twice, convincingly, ¡°Seriously ill.¡± Qiao Nanchu threw a fruit peel at him, ¡°Stop faking.¡± He tossed half a tangerine into his mouth and got to the point, ¡°I¡¯ve already given the recording to Mr. Cheng.¡± ¡°Uh-huh.¡± ¡°With the recording and witness testimony, you should be looking at a sentence of maybe ten or twenty years.¡± Qiao Nanchu asked him, ¡°How did you get that recording?¡± Jiang Zhi lay on one arm, looking the picture of sickness, too weak to even move, and said breathily, ¡°Picked it up on the street.¡± This guy couldn¡¯t lie to save his life. Qiao Nanchu didn¡¯t press him for details, peeled another tangerine, stretched out his legs, moved his neck around, and casually said, ¡°Who¡¯s got the clout to make a beast like Jin Song come clean?¡± Jiang Zhi continued the banter, ¡°Could be a Fairy.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Qiao Nanchu choked, laughed, and cursed him for being insane. His phone rang. Qiao Nanchu threw the tangerine peel on the table and picked up. He listened for just over a minute, then hung up, ¡°Someone provided an alibi for Jiang Xiaolin, clearing him from suspicion for the time being.¡± Jiang Zhi lifted his eyelids, ¡°Who?¡± ¡°The Luo Family, Tang Xiang.¡± The chair was too small for comfort, so Qiao Nanchu stood up, kicked the chair away, ¡°Four suspects, all now have alibis. We¡¯ll have to start by investigating who gave false testimony.¡± In the end, whoever pushed Jiang Zhi to the brink wasn¡¯t from the Jiang Family, it was someone from the Luo Family. ¡°What about that watch?¡± Qiao Nanchu rubbed his chin, chuckled, ¡°With your drawing skills, looking for clues is like finding a needle in a haystack.¡± Jiang Zhi directly pelted him with a fruit peel, telling him to get lost. Qiao Nanchu laughed and left with a cigarette in his mouth. At the end of the hospital corridor, someone stood against the light making a call; the light from the window was blocked, casting a slender shadow on the floor. ¡°Tang Xiang?¡± ¡°Check her out for me.¡± She turned around; it was Jiang Fuli. Jiang Fuli¡¯s features were sharp, with deep-set eyes and a high nose bridge, lacking the gentleness and grace of an Eastern woman, yet altogether, she exuded a bold and stunning beauty. She spoke in a low voice, instructing the person on the phone as she walked, ¡°Be careful with Jiang Xiaolin. If he could scratch your hand, he could also land you with an attempted murder charge.¡± The person she was talking to was the prime suspect in pushing Jiang Zhi into danger, Huang Peidong. After a few more instructions, Jiang Fuli hung up the phone and barely took a turn around the corner when someone crashed right into her. With a loud thud. Her phone clattered to the ground; she lost her balance and stumbled backward, slamming hard against the wall, causing half her shoulder to throb with pain. The other person said, ¡°Sorry.¡± Cold and dry, the word lacked any sincerity. It was a young girl dressed in black, head down, avoiding eye contact. Jiang Fuli straightened her business suit a bit, ¡°With so much space, did you do that on purpose?¡± The young girl looked up, expressionless, ¡°No.¡± Jiang Fuli sized her up, ¡°Have we met before?¡± Still with no change in facial expression, ¡°No.¡± ¡°Since we haven¡¯t, why did you bump into me?¡± ¡°Unintentional.¡± Jiang Fuli laughed, revealing a sharpness in her eyes, ¡°Do I look that easy to fool?¡± The girl who¡¯d been allowing her eyelids to droop finally revealed her full eyes: phoenix-shaped, slender and upturned at the corners, cold and detached, ¡°Then are you going to sue me?¡± Not a hint of regret or politeness, full of aggression. Such hostility. Jiang Fuli was puzzled, wondering when she had offended this person. ¡°If you¡¯re not suing, then I¡¯m leaving.¡± She turned her head to go. Jiang Fuli, arms crossed, stood still, ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± She turned back, unfazed, ¡°I¡¯m called Black Impermanence.¡± ¡°` ¡°¡­¡± After Jiang Fuli had walked away, ¡®Black Impermanence¡¯ tiptoed back and chased after her. Reaching the stairwell, she picked up a pebble from a potted plant and peeked over the edge, aiming carefully. After taking aim, she threw the pebble. ¡°Ah!¡± The scream of Jiang Fuli echoed from the stairwell. ¡®Black Impermanence¡¯ finally revealed a satisfied and joyous smile. Humph, it¡¯s this bad woman who bullied Jiang Zhi. After several days of overcast weather, it finally cleared up in the afternoon. Tang Xiang finished giving her statement and signed it, then left the police station. Jiang Xiaolin hadn¡¯t left yet, standing at the entrance with one hand in his pocket and straightening his tie with the other, sporting a pair of rimless glasses today. His features were well-defined, and he had a handsome appearance. Dressed to the nines and looking every bit the part! ¡°Shall I take you?¡± Mature and composed? Apparently, outsiders have a misunderstanding about the eldest grandson of the main branch of the Jiang Family. Tang Xiang thought he was nothing but a wolf in sheep¡¯s clothing. She bypassed him: ¡°I drove here.¡± Jiang Xiaolin leisurely followed her, ¡°That¡¯s perfect, I didn¡¯t drive. You can give me a lift.¡± ¡°¡­¡± He was just like he had been in their school days, going out of his way to annoy her. Turning her head, Tang Xiang said with an indifferent face, ¡°Mr. Jiang, are we that familiar?¡± Jiang Xiaolin calmly adjusted the glasses on the bridge of his nose: ¡°If we¡¯re not familiar, then why did you rush to testify for me?¡± Eager? Damn you! Tang Xiang didn¡¯t want to get into a squabble with him. She took her car keys and strode ahead: ¡°One thing doesn¡¯t relate to the other. I just did what a good citizen should do.¡± She opened the car door, got in, and was about to close it¡ª Jiang Xiaolin raised his hand and held it open: ¡°A good citizen would give me a ride home, right?¡± ¡°¡­¡± Tang Xiang wished she could smash the car keys into his face. Jiang Xiaolin got into the car, and Tang Xiang sat in the driver¡¯s seat and drove in silence. ¡°Why not talk?¡± She kept her eyes on the road: ¡°I have nothing to say to you.¡± Jiang Xiaolin leaned on the car window, looking over at her. The elegance of a young noble was tossed aside. His mature, composed demeanor was gone to the dogs. He spoke disgracefully: ¡°Then let¡¯s talk about your underwear.¡± Tang Xiang turned her head: ¡°Jiang Xiaolin!¡± He acknowledged her with a hum and suddenly changed his demeanor, appearing more respectful: ¡°It wasn¡¯t me who took them.¡± She was at her wit¡¯s end: ¡°Can we not bring this up anymore?¡± That was from their sophomore year. While she was in the bathhouse, someone stole her underwear. Wrapped in a towel, she chased after the thief, only to find Jiang Xiaolin outside the bathhouse with her missing underwear hanging off his backpack. She had directly reported him to the academic affairs office. Because of that incident, Jiang Xiaolin had five points deducted from his conduct score and also got the nickname ¡°lecher¡±. Since then, he had begun to target her. He said, ¡°We can¡¯t turn the page.¡± ¡°Fine.¡± She decided to have it out with him, ¡°If you¡¯re not a lecher, what were you doing outside the women¡¯s bathhouse in the middle of the night?¡± He casually replied: ¡°I was passing by.¡± Passing by? Ha. ¡°Don¡¯t believe me?¡± Suddenly, Jiang Xiaolin moved closer to her, his face devoid of a smile, his presence dominating, ¡°If I were a lecher, would you still be able to sit here arguing with me?¡± Hiss¡ª The car stopped. Tang Xiang yelled at him: ¡°Get out!¡± ¡°` Chapter 106 - Chapter 106: 106: Infighting at Jiang Family, Exclusive Favoritism Towards Jiang Zhi Chapter 106: 106: Infighting at Jiang Family, Exclusive Favoritism Towards Jiang Zhi Tang Xiang yelled at him, ¡°Get out!¡± Jiang Xiaolin wasn¡¯t annoyed, he got out of the car and stood idly, looking at the person inside. She furrowed her brows, her hand resting on the steering wheel. The car didn¡¯t move for a long while, her gaze occasionally swept over the rearview mirror. ¡°Aren¡¯t you leaving? Can¡¯t bear to part with me?¡± He leaned over, coming close to the car window, casually watching her. ¡°Huang Peidong,¡± Tang Xiang turned her head to ask, ¡°is he the murderer?¡± Like Jiang Xiaolin, Huang Peidong had scratch marks on his hand and was also a suspect; furthermore, Huang Peidong was under Jiang Fuli¡¯s command and had sufficient motive to commit the crime. Jiang Xiaolin folded his arms and stood up straight, ¡°That, you¡¯ll have to ask the police.¡± Fine. Tang Xiang immediately closed the car window, but before it was fully shut, a hand stopped it, ¡°He isn¡¯t.¡± In other words, Jiang Zhi being pushed into the sea had nothing to do with Jiang Fuli. Tang Xiang pondered for a moment, then understood and looked at the person outside the window, ¡°Then the scratches on his hand, you did that, right?¡± Jiang Xiaolin neither confirmed nor denied, released his hand, and smiled meaningfully, ¡°You believe what a sex maniac says?¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã? ¡°¡­¡± She rolled up the car window abruptly and stepped on the accelerator, driving away. She has no patience, after all these years, still the same bad temper! Jiang Xiaolin watched the departing car tail lights and smiled. Moments later. A Bentley parked by the roadside. A middle-aged man got out of the car and walked around to the back seat to open the door. Jiang Xiaolin got into the car, saying, ¡°Back to the old mansion.¡± About an hour later, Jiang Xiaolin arrived at the Jiang family home. The whole family was there, except for Jiang Wei¡¯er who was still in the hospital. Even a few rarely seen in-laws had come, and he was the last to arrive. A servant went ahead to announce, ¡°Old Madam, Lin has arrived.¡± The room fell silent. Jiang Xiaolin entered the room, strolling leisurely, ¡°Sorry, I¡¯m a bit late.¡± Old Madam Jiang sat directly ahead and set down her cup to ask him, ¡°Have you had lunch?¡± Jiang Xiaolin shook his head, ¡°It¡¯s okay.¡± ¡°How can you not eat?¡± the Old Lady instructed, ¡°Ah Gui, ask the kitchen to warm some soup for Lin.¡± Ah Gui agreed and went to the kitchen. At that moment, Jiang Zhi coughed twice. He was at the place closest to the charcoal fire, on Old Madam Jiang¡¯s left hand side. In the Jiang Family, with its many rules, everyone was either sitting or standing, each with heads held high, except for him, half-sitting, half-lying in a rocking chair padded with a thick layer of quilts. His occasional coughs caused the chair to rock as well. Truly pampered. Old Madam Jiang doted on him, fearful that he might catch cold, and called a servant over, ¡°Add some more charcoal.¡± She then hurried the butler, ¡°Why hasn¡¯t the hand warmer been sent over yet?¡± ¡°It¡¯s here, it¡¯s here.¡± Outside the door, Ah Gui carried in some soup and also brought a delicate little hand warmer. That hand warmer was an antique. Old Madam Jiang didn¡¯t hesitate to use it; she covered it with a layer of velvet fabric to warm Jiang Zhi¡¯s hands. With the Winter Solstice approaching, the weather was getting colder. Jiang Zhi held the hand warmer, avoiding people, his continuous coughs making his voice sound somewhat raspy, ¡°Go to my room and fetch me a blanket.¡± Ah Wan was just about to go. Fuxi came over to refill Jiang Zhi¡¯s tea, ¡°I¡¯ll go.¡± In the entire Jiang Family, Miss Fuxi was the best-natured, unpretentious, always gentle and soft-spoken to everyone. Ah Wan thought she was a good person, but for some reason, the master always treated her coldly. ¡°No need.¡± Jiang Zhi glanced back, ¡°Lin Wanwan, you go.¡± Ah Wan: ¡°Oh.¡± After a few exchanges of pleasantries among the people in the room, Old Madam Jiang got to the point. ¡°I called you all here today because there are two matters.¡± The old lady was spirited as she spoke forcefully, ¡°A few days ago, Brother Zhi was pushed into the sea and injured. He¡¯s still in the hospital.¡± The old lady had always kept this in mind and was now ready to settle the account. ¡°I am an old woman and cannot manage business affairs anymore. I can turn a blind eye to the usual squabbles,¡± she continued at a measured pace, ¡°but using such filthy tactics against Brother Zhi¡¯s life, we must get to the bottom of this.¡± The five branches of the Jiang Family were traditionally discordant, competing against each other in business. Old Madam Jiang usually let them fend for themselves, each holding shares and beyond her control, but they couldn¡¯t cross the line¡ªand Jiang Zhi was that line. This was well known among the Jiang Family. ¡°Mother, you are right.¡± The speaker was Jiang Xiaolin¡¯s father, the eldest son of the Jiang Family, Jiang Weikai, who was in politics and rarely involved in family affairs, ¡°Such lowly acts cannot be condoned.¡± Jiang Wei Li hurriedly agreed as well. The two brothers¡ªone never frivolous, the other always smiling¡ªtheir temperaments were nothing alike, representing two extremes. Old Madam Jiang cast a glance at the two brothers, ¡°Among the four suspects, one is from the first house, one from the second house,¡± she paused, ¡°do you have anything to say?¡± Jiang Weikai looked at Jiang Xiaolin, who was sipping his soup silently. The second house spoke first; it was Luo Changfang, Jiang Weili¡¯s wife, who started, smiling without agitation, ¡°Mother, I don¡¯t quite agree with what you said. First of all, whether Huang Peidong is the murderer of Brother Zhi or not, even if he is, what does that have to do with our second house?¡± Luo Changfang from the second house was the third daughter of the Luo Family, as shrewd as her father. Old Madam Jiang was not in a hurry, she spread her hands and argued, ¡°Huang Peidong was promoted to his current position by Fuli, and it was Fuli who provided his alibi. Being a simple-minded old woman, I can only guess this, his close aides, after all, are your second house¡¯s hands.¡± Luo Changfang¡¯s smile faded; just as she was about to defend herself, she was stopped by her daughter, Jiang Fuli. Luo Changfang then withheld her words, allowing Jiang Fuli to speak. ¡°Grandma,¡± she poured a cup of tea, moistening her throat, ¡°then do you think I am foolish?¡± ¡°You,¡± Old Madam Jiang laughed, ¡°are smart.¡± Her mother¡¯s shrewdness and her father¡¯s adaptability, she had learned them all thoroughly. Jiang Fuli spoke calmly and composedly, ¡°That¡¯s it, if I really wanted to harm our Jiang Family people, I wouldn¡¯t be foolish enough to use my own close aides.¡± She set down the cup, her eyes shifting slightly, a touch of sorrow appearing, ¡°Brother Zhi is my direct cousin, his health isn¡¯t good, thinking about how he might¡­¡± Perhaps not live past twenty-five. Where would she need to dirty her hands? She calmed her emotions before continuing, ¡°Thinking like this, the heart of one who is a sister aches as if cut by knives. How could I be so cruel, and besides, such fratricidal behavior would simply disgust you, wouldn¡¯t it, Grandma? Even if I¡¯m muddled, I wouldn¡¯t be foolish to that extent.¡± With just a few words, she absolved herself cleanly. Truly, she had a clever mouth, very articulate. Old Madam Jiang turned her head and asked the eldest grandchild of the main house, ¡°Lin, do you have anything to say?¡± Scratches were also on the back of his hand; he couldn¡¯t shake off the suspicion. Yet, he replied, ¡°No.¡± Setting down his spoon, his expression was calm, showing no signs of panic, ¡°I just came back from the police station, Grandma, you can just inquire with the Criminal Investigation Team. I won¡¯t repeat it, to avoid delaying your rest.¡± One was eloquent, and the other was reticent, each had their own way. Old Madam Jiang picked up her teacup, flicked some tea leaves off her face, and took a sip, ¡°You each stick to your own story, both making sense. I¡¯m old, and my mind is slow, I can¡¯t distinguish the truth from the lies in your words. In that case, let¡¯s wait for the police investigation. Before the murderer is caught, apart from Brother Zhi, you all will stay at the old mansion. If you need to go out for anything, you also have to report it to me. Any objections?¡± Jiang Weikai said, ¡°Mother, your decision stands.¡± Old Madam Jiang set down her cup, ¡°Well, I¡¯ve said my piece, it¡¯s best if the investigation shows it has nothing to do with you, otherwise,¡± she paused briefly, her voice deepening, ¡°I¡¯ll personally clean house.¡± Everyone fell silent. Only Jiang Zhi was coughing, as if uninvolved, not saying a word, just languishing sickly. ¡°I have one more thing.¡± Old Madam Jiang called the butler forward, ¡°Jiang Chuan, play the recording for everyone.¡± The recording wasn¡¯t the original file; it was played on a mobile phone, which included some background noise, but it was still clear. It was Jin Song¡¯s voice. ¡°I abducted the young master of the Jiang Family.¡± His voice sounded trembling, as if he had been frightened. Aside from Jin Song, there was also a girl¡¯s voice, deliberately disguised, sounding very low. ¡°Why did you abduct him?¡± Jin Song did not immediately answer; the girl asked again, ¡°Why did you abduct him?¡± ¡°He changed the female lead of the movie, causing me a huge loss,¡± Jin Song faltered, ¡°Also, I wanted to play with him, and moreover, the Jiang family wanted me to test him to see if he was feigning illness.¡± ¡°Which member of the Jiang family?¡± ¡°Jiang Fuli.¡± ¡°Anything else?¡± ¡°Last month, I had someone ram into him,¡± he explained shakingly, ¡°but it wasn¡¯t successful.¡± ¡°Who drove the car to hit him?¡± ¡°Xiao Linsu.¡± The recording stopped there. The few sentences were very clear in meaning. Old Madam Jiang¡¯s gaze sharpened, ¡°Fuli, do you have any explanation?¡± Without waiting for her to speak, she continued, ¡°I had someone check your interactions with Jin Song, and it indeed happened.¡± It was clear; no need for her to make excuses. Old Madam¡¯s voice deepened, her expression cooling, ¡°Our Jiang Family and the Jin Family have always been on bad terms; I never knew you had contact with Jin Song behind the scenes.¡± Jiang Fuli remained unruffled, not a hint of guilt visible, calmly explaining, ¡°Yes, there were some dealings in the past, business matters, nothing personal.¡± Old Madam snorted, ¡°No personal relations, and yet you asked him to test Brother Zhi?¡± She didn¡¯t even pause to think, quickly responding, logically and coherently, ¡°I was worried about Brother Zhi¡¯s illness, so I asked him to pay more attention, not expecting him to have ill intentions. If I knew he would use such methods, how could I agree?¡± She lifted her head, her eyes meeting the old madam¡¯s without wavering, open and honest, ¡°Moreover, I was afraid it might hurt Brother Zhi, so I specifically sent an additional group of people to watch over him.¡± She spoke succinctly, everything making sense, every statement in its place, without a single flaw. She always remained calm, ¡°Grandma, if you don¡¯t believe me, you can send someone to check. The errand company I hired operates legitimately.¡± Old Lady Jiang was momentarily at a loss for words. She had made secondary preparations, guessing that she couldn¡¯t trust Jin Song and had thus hired someone else. Now, it had become her excuse for exoneration; she had seemingly managed everything perfectly, seamlessly. ¡°I don¡¯t care whether the people you hired are legitimate or not, just give me a reason¡ªwhy on earth are you testing Brother Zhi? He has been sick for over a decade; how could you think he¡¯s faking it?¡± Old Lady Jiang was annoyed, somewhat aggressive, ¡°Besides, even if he were faking it, what are you scheming?¡± Jiang Fuli looked aggrieved, ¡°Grandma, why would you think that?¡± She glanced at Jiang Zhi and said, ¡°Brother Zhi is well, of course I want him to take over my responsibilities. In the fifth branch of the Jiang Family, uncle owns the most shares, and naturally, Brother Zhi should take over that part. My abilities are limited; I genuinely hope Brother Zhi gets well soon to help me share the burden at the company.¡± Silver-tongued indeed, silver-tongued. Old Lady Jiang sighed, ¡°You could even talk a dead person back to life; what more could I say.¡± She probably wouldn¡¯t find anything; her granddaughter was always meticulous in her actions. She smiled, jokingly, ¡°Grandma, your insight is clear.¡± The Jiang Family, oh, just too many clever people. A mess. Old Lady Jiang pinched the bridge of her nose, had a servant add a cup of tea, took a break, and cornered her with her own words, ¡°Since you¡¯ve said your abilities are limited, let Lin take care of the hotel module. When Brother Zhi is a bit better, let him take over.¡± Jiang Fuli agreed quickly, ¡°Okay, Grandma, as you decide.¡± This time, she had to comply. The hotel sector wasn¡¯t small; it was enough to peel off a layer of her skin. But it wasn¡¯t over, Old Lady Jiang continued, ¡°This matter can¡¯t just be left as is. Family siblings should speak openly if they have concerns, not resort to underhanded tactics. Go kneel in my study; you can come out when you have reflected.¡± Standing up for Jiang Zhi. Among all the legitimate and illegitimate descendants of the Jiang Family, Jiang Zhi was Old Lady Jiang¡¯s most treasured. Jiang Fuli¡¯s hand, hanging by her side, clenched a little tighter, her face still smiling, ¡°Hmm, granddaughter knows her mistake.¡± Her gaze casually swept over to the direction of the rocking chair. Everyone in the room was holding their breath, only Jiang Zhi nonchalantly playing with his hand warmer. He was born lucky, his father, Jiang Weixuan, being the Old Madam¡¯s most beloved son, just unlucky to die young. His face resembled his mother¡¯s, similarly a beauty that courted calamity. ¡°Today, since you all are here, I¡¯ll just lay it out¡ªon the business field, it¡¯s every man for himself; I won¡¯t intervene,¡± Old Lady Jiang spoke sharply, ¡°But if anyone dares harbor any inappropriate thoughts privately, I will not be lenient.¡± Several sons and grandsons quickly agreed. Only then did Old Madam rise with her walking stick, ¡°Brother Zhi, come with me.¡± ¡°Cough, cough, cough, cough¡­¡± Jiang Zhi stretched lazily in a dragging manner, taking slow, coughing steps, weak and wobbly, supported by someone. This drama, he just watched, minor squabbles that can¡¯t hurt the muscles or move the bones, utterly uninteresting. Once they reached the bedroom, Old Lady Jiang dismissed the servants and asked Jiang Zhi, ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± He walked a few steps and ran out of energy, found a spot to lie down, somewhat weary, ¡°What do you mean ¡®what¡¯s going on¡¯?¡± ¡°Fuli, why would she think you are feigning illness?¡± ¡°That¡¯s a question for her.¡± Jiang Zhi had a slight fever, his cheeks flushed, weakly keeping his eyelids open, ¡°You know I¡¯m ill, she¡¯s ill too.¡± ¡°What illness?¡± He hummed, ¡°Paranoia.¡± Old Lady Jiang scolded him for not being serious but refrained from asking further. Ah Wan, standing by the doorway, felt a bit dizzy, such a contradiction¡ªhow come the Old Madam treats her employer like the apple of her eye, yet this apple doesn¡¯t seem to want to stay in its socket? Just an inexplicable feeling. In the outside hall, people had mostly dispersed; Jiang Fuli stopped Jiang Xiaolin. ¡°Cousin, wait.¡± Jiang Xiaolin¡¯s attitude was neither cold nor warm, ¡°What is it?¡± She approached with a smile, ¡°Nothing much, just curious about how you arranged things; you¡¯re so well-informed. The police had just learned about the scratch marks on the killer¡¯s hand, and you had already added one under my people.¡± This whole basin of dirty water was cast together. He was in trouble, turned around and got her in trouble too; now the Old Madam wouldn¡¯t just focus on his branch of the family, truly shared hardship. Jiang Xiaolin, wearing glasses, his demeanor calm and scholarly, ¡°Trouble comes from the mouth.¡± In an elder¡¯s tone, he almost admonished, ¡°Fuli, be careful what you say without evidence.¡± Old fox! Jiang Fuli smirked, ¡°Thank you for the reminder, big cousin.¡± Jiang Xiaolin said ¡®you¡¯re welcome¡¯, waved his hand, ¡°Go kneel, once you¡¯ve reflected, come and learn from me.¡± ¡°¡­¡± She clenched her teeth in silence. When Jiang Xiaolin left, Luo Changfang muttered, ¡°Doesn¡¯t he hate Brother Zhi? What is this about then? How come he¡¯s matching up with you?¡± This Lin from the Jiang family is both righteous and wicked. His allegiance seems to change all the time. Jiang Weili stood up from his seat and cautioned, ¡°Fuli, don¡¯t be too impatient.¡± Seeing that no one else was around, he said, ¡°Keep an eye on Jin Song. If he dares to speak out of line¡­¡± He left the sentence hanging. Jiang Fuli nodded, understanding. Today, Jiang Zhi was staying overnight at the old house. He looked at his script for a while but couldn¡¯t focus at all. He was completely unable to get into it, his thoughts wandering off to Zhou Xufang. He realized something; ever since this girl started running wild in his heart, he had lost interest in almost everything else. He reached for his phone to send her a voice message. ¡°Zhou Xufang.¡± Zhou Xufang replied with a period. She didn¡¯t even type a word, just answered him with punctuation. Jiang Zhi was slightly annoyed: ¡°What are you doing?¡± Zhou Xufang then replied with two words. ¡°Selling stall.¡± Since Jiang Zhi was staying at the Jiang family house today and didn¡¯t need her to ¡®follow¡¯ him, she had the time to ride her electric trike to work. She really couldn¡¯t sit still for a moment. ¡°Putting on screen protectors again?¡± ¡°Mm.¡± Jiang Zhi couldn¡¯t help but nag her: ¡°Can¡¯t you take a break?¡± Zhou Xufang replied: ¡°.¡± Another period! He had so much he wanted to tell her, yet she had nothing to say back to him?! Jiang Zhi was very displeased inside, crumpling the script into a ball. He held back his anger and asked, ¡°Is it cold outside?¡± ¡°Not cold.¡± ¡°Waiting under the bridge.¡± Zhou Xufang replied with a voice message this time: ¡°Don¡¯t come.¡± She wasn¡¯t afraid of the cold, but Jiang Zhi was quite delicate. Jiang Zhi responded in a rather unreasonable tone: ¡°I¡¯m coming anyway.¡± Zhou Xufang: ¡°.¡± Another period. Jiang Zhi was increasingly unable to tolerate these periods. They made him feel neglected, brushed off, unloved, and undervalued: ¡°Stop with the periods. If you have nothing to say, just send me a kissy face emoji.¡± Zhou Xufang typed back: ¡°I don¡¯t have any emoji.¡± ¡°Go online and find one.¡± ¡°.¡± Alright. Jiang Zhi found one himself and sent it to her. ¡°Send me this.¡± She probably struggled for a bit, and a few minutes later, she replied, ¡°I don¡¯t know how.¡± Zhou Xufang never used emoji and barely socialized. She knew nothing about social media apps, only capable of basic typing and voice messages. She was a high-IQ life idiot, best at using food delivery apps. ¡°Click this emoji, then add it,¡± Jiang Zhi was stubborn about this kissy face emoji, ¡°and then forward it to me.¡± Zhou Xufang was still figuring it out. ¡°Zhou Xufang.¡± ¡°Mm.¡± ¡°Got it yet?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Send it to me.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Zhou Xufang then sent that kissy face emoji over. Jiang Zhi took a screenshot. The irritation in his heart was placated by her actions: ¡°Wait there, I¡¯m coming over now to give you a kiss.¡± Chapter 107 - Chapter 107: 107: Going with my wife to apply a screen protector~ Chapter 107: 107: Going with my wife to apply a screen protector~ ¡°Wait, I¡¯ll come over to kiss you right now.¡± Zhou Xufang: ¡°.¡± Another period. Jiang Zhi grabbed his coat, walked outside, and sent a voice message: ¡°Don¡¯t use periods.¡± ¡°Send me an emoticon.¡± The late-stage obsessive-compulsive patient, Zhou Xufang, sent an ellipsis back. Jiang Zhi: ¡­ He just couldn¡¯t seem to flirt with her. The drive from the Jiang Mansion to Ba Yi Bridge took over an hour. Ah Wan was a cautious driver and extra slow, which made Jiang Zhi kick him out of the driver¡¯s seat in annoyance. Jiang Zhi¡¯s driving was like drifting. Ah Wan almost threw up. However, they picked the wrong time to arrive. From a distance, they saw a young man with dyed yellow hair sitting at Zhou Xufang¡¯s stall. He was dressed flashily and wore small black diamond earrings that gave off a ¡®street¡¯ vibe. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í?¦Ï.§ã¦Ï The flashy yellow-haired young man was flirting with Zhou Xufang, wearing a self-assured grin that he thought was devastatingly handsome: ¡°Can I get your WeChat? I¡¯ll come back to your stall for screen protector services next time.¡± He was, at best, bronze level. Then, he met the king, Jiang Zhi. Jiang Zhi, with his frosted, muted blue hair, strolled over casually: ¡°Sure.¡± He took out a moon-white handkerchief from his high-end coat pocket, placed it on the seat, and sat down. His peach blossom eyes slightly lifted at the corners as he hooked in the soul of anyone who looked on, his murderous aura tinged with an elegant unworldliness, ¡°You can come directly to me, I¡¯ll do it for you.¡± The flashy yellow-haired young man was stunned, and it took him a long time to stammer out: ¡°You, who are you?¡± He seemed somewhat familiar. Jiang Zhi raised his hand, knocking on the small table Zhou Xufang used for applying screen protectors. His watch knocked against the table corner with a soft clink. He said, ¡°I¡¯m the ¡®Boss Lady¡¯ of this stall.¡± ¡°¡­¡± That watch was worth eight figures. The yellow-haired street youth scurried away, defeated. ¡°Why did you come?¡± Zhou Xufang was very happy, her eyes curving into a smile. Jiang Zhi nonchalantly flirted, ¡°To give you a kiss.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Zhou Xufang, bashful and thin-skinned, was afraid someone would overhear them. She looked around nervously, feeling guilty without having done anything wrong. It wasn¡¯t dark yet, and there were already quite a number of street vendors. Next to the screen protector stall was a stir-fried noodle vendor, run by a lady in her fifties who had been quietly watching Jiang Zhi for a long time: ¡°Xiao Zhou, is that your boyfriend?¡± ¡®Xiao Zhou¡¯ was about to explain¡ª ¡®Xiao Zhou¡¯s boyfriend¡¯ with his long legs stepped right over the stall to stand next to Zhou Xufang: ¡°Have you eaten?¡± Zhou Xufang said no. It was just past four. ¡°I brought something for you.¡± Jiang Zhi sent Ah Wan to get the insulated food container from the car. He then pulled up a stool beside Zhou Xufang, ¡°You eat first. I¡¯ll watch the stall for you.¡± Ah Wan: ¡°¡­¡± That was the dinner his mom had prepared for him! He was so annoyed! In the end, Ah Wan reluctantly handed over his own meal to Zhou Xufang. Zhou Xufang thanked him, took a bite of the rib, and asked Jiang Zhi, ¡°Do you know how to apply it?¡± Meanwhile, Ah Wan watched the rib, his heart bleeding. Jiang Zhi faced the wind, his hair fluttering: ¡°What¡¯s so hard about it?¡± Fifteen minutes later, the first customer arrived. The customer selected a tempered screen protector, twenty yuan. Jiang Zhi professionally peeled off the old phone protector and wiped the screen clean with a little damp cotton cloth before carefully applying the new one¡ª ¡°Hey!¡± The customer, a burly man in his thirties or forties with an intimidating build, looked like he had a short temper. ¡°How did you apply this? The screen is full of bubbles!¡± ¡°It¡¯s crooked!¡± ¡°Do you even know how to do this?!¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± If Zhou Xufang wasn¡¯t there, he might have thrown the man into the river nearby. He restarted, trying to reapply the screen protector. ¡°It¡¯s still crooked!¡± ¡°There¡¯s another bubble underneath.¡± ¡°You¡¯ll scratch my phone if you keep scraping like that.¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± Clang! She tossed her phone. The other person shut up. ¡°If it¡¯s scratched, I¡¯ll compensate you with a car,¡± Jiang Zhi kicked the small table, her peach blossom eyes lifting with a frosty air, ¡°Are you going to shut up now?¡± Customer: ¡°¡­¡± In Imperial City, every other person is a ¡®master.¡¯ Look at her clothes, look at that demeanor¡­ She could really be a ¡®master.¡¯ The customer stopped talking, eyeing the screen full of air bubbles, with a herd of ¡®f*cks¡¯ galloping in their mind. Zhou Xufang also saw the bubbles: ¡°Let me do it.¡± Jiang Zhi was still scraping bubbles off the screen with a small metal piece, ¡°You eat.¡± She quickly wolfed down a few bites: ¡°I¡¯m done.¡± ¡°You think I did a bad job?¡± he said, and with one forceful scrape, a large scratch appeared on the phone protector. Customer: ¡°¡­¡± If she kept scraping, who knows if the screen would survive¡ªinside, the customer¡¯s herd of ¡®f*cks¡¯ was racing even more fiercely. ¡°That¡­¡± The customer took out a twenty-yuan note from their wallet, placed it on the table, ¡°I won¡¯t put it on.¡± Then they picked up their phone, full of bubbles and scratches, and left. Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t care and handed the twenty yuan to Zhou Xufang: ¡°Tell me, do you think I did a bad job?¡± She was irked, ¡°I even made you money.¡± Zhou Xufang said that wasn¡¯t it: ¡°Your hands are all red from the cold.¡± She was concerned for him. Jiang Zhi chuckled with her head tilted back, stuffed the money into her pocket, and then presented her frostbitten hands, eyes gleaming on this cloudy day: ¡°Then warm them up for me.¡± The outdoor temperature had plummeted below zero, it was very cold. Zhou Xufang turned to grab two large boxes used for stocking goods. Digging through them, she found some leftover hand warmers from a few days ago. Ripping one open, she adhered it to Jiang Zhi¡¯s arm through his clothing, then tore another, placing it symmetrically on his other arm, sticking it on straight and proper. Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± Then Zhou Xufang pulled down Jiang Zhi¡¯s sleeves, adjusted them, and upon looking at him again, noticed: ¡°Your face is red from the cold too.¡± You can¡¯t stick a hand warmer on a face, after all. Jiang Zhi leaned his handsome face closer: ¡°Just covering it with your hand would suffice.¡± Zhou Xufang stared blankly at him for several seconds, then her face dawned with realization; she stood up and fetched the yellow helmet that only showed the eyes from the tricycle, and swiftly put it on Jiang Zhi: ¡°Now the wind won¡¯t get to you.¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± What kind of creature was it that he had fallen for? Ah Wan shook her head, unable to bear watching. The Boss Lady at the fried noodle stall couldn¡¯t stand it either: ¡°Xiao Zhou.¡± Xiao Zhou turned her head: ¡°Hmm?¡± The Boss Lady asked: ¡°What does your boyfriend do?¡± Zhou Xufang was quite proud: ¡°He acts in films.¡± Oh, she caught herself and blushed as she explained, ¡°He¡¯s not my boyfriend.¡± The Boss Lady looked at Jiang Zhi several times. The more she looked, the less satisfied she became compared to her own nephew. She wanted to introduce her nephew to Xiao Zhou, seeing that Xiao Zhou was the most hardworking girl on the street, and many stall owners wanted to introduce their relatives to her. As for Xiao Zhou¡¯s ¡®boyfriend¡¯¡­ Sporting a head of blue hair, he didn¡¯t look like any respectable young man at first glance, probably one of those hundred and eighth-rate minor celebrities, with no real talent but still wanting to wear branded clothes every day, probably even relying on Xiao Zhou to make a living. After concocting a million-word backstory in her head, the Boss Lady sighed: ¡°What matters most in life is to be down to earth.¡± Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t quite understand but still responded with an ¡°Oh.¡± ¡°And another thing, a man¡¯s looks come second,¡± the Boss Lady spoke earnestly, ¡°He should be ambitious.¡± Zhou Xufang continued with ¡°Oh¡± and asked Jiang Zhi: ¡°Are you still cold?¡± Jiang Zhi said he wasn¡¯t cold but then coughed right after that. The Boss Lady chimed in: ¡°Your boyfriend seems quite delicate.¡± Zhou Xufang understood this time and was a bit upset: ¡°He¡¯s just not very healthy.¡± Even if he were delicate, it wasn¡¯t for others to criticize. ¡°It¡¯s no good for a man to be so weak,¡± the Boss Lady commented. Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t want to continue the conversation and smoothed things over for Jiang Zhi. Once he stopped coughing, she said, ¡°There¡¯s a place selling hot water bottles over there. Wait here, I¡¯ll go buy you one.¡± Jiang Zhi, wearing the yellow helmet: ¡°Hmm.¡± Zhou Xufang ran off to buy the hot water bottle. Jiang Zhi removed the helmet and ruffled his hair: ¡°Ah Wan.¡± His voice was not as sweet as it had been in front of Zhou Xufang. Ah Wan came over: ¡°Boss.¡± ¡°Could you check if the land under my feet is for sale?¡± Ah Wan asked, ¡°What do you want to buy land for?¡± ¡°To build a store for Zhou Xufang.¡± Jiang Zhi¡¯s peach blossom eyes were half-closed, flickering briefly across the fried noodle stall, ¡°Might as well spruce up this street while I¡¯m at it.¡± After giving his instructions, he leaned against the little table where screens were being fitted, propping his chin with one hand, and dialed Xue Baoyi¡¯s number: ¡°Screen fitting?¡± His legs, too long to fit comfortably anywhere, were stretched out lazily under the table. Ah Wan gave an OK sign and, turning his head, ¡®complained¡¯ to the fried noodle stall owner: ¡°Eh, my boss, he¡¯s got too much money.¡± The Boss Lady: ¡°¡­¡± Ah Wan stepped in front of the stall, his large frame blocking half of it, and continued ¡®complaining¡¯: ¡°Yeah, and he¡¯s so delicate. Wherever there¡¯s a breeze, that¡¯s where he decides to build a house. Such a pampered one!¡± The Boss Lady: ¡°¡­¡± Ah Wan fished out car keys from his pocket, toying with them: ¡°He¡¯s too fragile, really. The old lady at home built several medical labs and contracted quite a few hospitals just to take care of him.¡± These car keys you recognize, right? The Boss Lady: ¡°¡­¡± Ah Wan used the car key to clean out his ear: ¡°And he¡¯s not ambitious at all, just prancing around, nothing to do but jet off to international film festivals. Truly, his feet aren¡¯t planted on the ground.¡± Although his employer was indeed quite annoying. But no matter what, this was his employer. As the saying goes, ¡°The ruler¡¯s grain eaten, his affairs done,¡± and he, Lin Wanwan, was a man of integrity and pride. He could have his complaints, but could others? They could not! Ah Wan heaved a deep sigh: ¡°Ah, if he doesn¡¯t get serious about his acting, my boss will have to go home and inherit the family fortune.¡± The fried noodle stall owner: ¡°¡­¡± Her face turning various shades, finally, she forced a ¡®kind and friendly¡¯ smile: ¡°Xiao Zhou¡¯s boyfriend, would you like some rice noodles?¡± Xiao Zhou¡¯s boyfriend was on the phone, saying, ¡°Come to Zhou Xu¡¯s place to pick up goods, name your price, the money will come from me,¡± and after finishing this sentence, he finally turned his attention to the fried noodle stall: ¡°No, thank you.¡± These manners and actions¡­ The more she watched, the more unbelievable it became. Seizing the opportunity, Ah Wan chimed in again: ¡°Look at him, so delicate. His stomach is spoiled by all the fancy foods, can¡¯t eat just anything, unlike me,¡± he swiftly changed the topic, ¡°Madam, I¡¯ll have a bowl of rice noodles.¡± Still engulfed in the anxious thought of ¡®this street is going to be bought by Xiao Zhou¡¯s boyfriend, and the noodle stall might be cleaned out,¡¯ the fried noodle Boss Lady managed an ¡°¡­ Oh.¡± Remembering his pork rib meal that Miss Zhou who was applying screen protectors had eaten, Ah Wan felt very hungry: ¡°Can I add an egg?¡± ¡°Yes, you can.¡± ¡°Then give me four sunny-side-up eggs.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± In the end, the Boss Lady, with trembling hands, served Ah Wan a portion of rice noodles fit for three, adding two large spoonfuls of pork and a spoonful of chicken dices, and absolutely refused to take any money. Ah Wan ate with relish, stuffing a big piece of egg into his mouth, and turned to see Zhou Xufang hurrying back: ¡°Boss, the young Boss Lady is back.¡± Jiang Zhi was visibly delighted by this title, a spring-like joy shimmering in his eyes. Zhou Xufang had run all the way here, the hand warmer stuffed inside her clothing. When she reached Jiang Zhi, she handed over the warmed handwarmer she¡¯d been hiding: ¡°It¡¯s fully charged, hold it.¡± The spring in Jiang Zhi¡¯s eyes flourished. His little girl knew how to take care of people. ¡°Xiao Zhou.¡± The neighboring fried noodle stall owner suddenly gave Zhou Xufang a thumbs-up: ¡°Your boyfriend is really good.¡± Zhou Xufang was first dumbfounded, then, touching her hot ears, she sneaked a glance at Jiang Zhi and muttered quietly, ¡°He¡¯s not my boyfriend.¡± The Boss Lady clenched her fists, making an encouraging gesture: ¡°Hold on to him, go for it!¡± Zhou Xufang: ¡°¡­¡± This Boss Lady is weird. There were many strange people today. The recent customer was a young man who appeared to have run all the way and was still catching his breath, his head covered with sweat: ¡°Screen fitting?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Zhou Xufang asked the customer, ¡°Which kind do you want to have fitted?¡± The customer said, ¡°Any kind.¡± So Zhou Xufang picked out a tempered glass protector for him. After it was fitted, the customer asked again, ¡°You have phone cases, right?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Give me ten.¡± Off to the side, the non-grounded, delicate, ambition-lacking Jiang Zhi who might have to go back and inherit his fortune if he doesn¡¯t act properly raised his eyelids slightly. The customer¡¯s voice seemed to tremble, ¡°Twenty?¡± ¡°` ¡°Cough cough cough cough cough¡­¡± Jiang Zhi was coughing. Zhou Xufang immediately turned around, looking at him with concern. Jiang Zhi soothingly rubbed the little girl¡¯s head. The customer then changed their order, ¡°Forty!¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have that many of this model of phone case,¡± Zhou Xufang said. The customer scanned the code and paid directly, ¡°Any model will do.¡± After ten more minutes, another odd customer arrived. Dressed in a suit and leather shoes, like a white-collar worker from a big company, he carried a big bag full of phones, dumping them all onto the table. ¡°Screen protectors.¡± Zhou Xufang was surprised, ¡°All of them?¡± ¡°Yep, all of them.¡± He then asked, ¡°You have phone cases, right?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll take eighty, any model, as long as it¡¯s a phone case.¡± Zhou Xufang: ¡°¡­¡± It took her more than twenty minutes to finish applying the screen protectors. After the man left, she said to Jiang Zhi, ¡°That man had so many phones.¡± Jiang Zhi sat next to her, seemingly unfazed by the dirt and mess around, holding a hand warmer, wearing a helmet, and patiently waiting for Zhou Xufang to make money from applying screen protectors. He was very well-behaved. He asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°Could he be a phone thief?¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± The people Xue Baoyi finds! Zhou Xufang was conflicted, ¡°Should we call the police?¡± Jiang Zhi casually said, ¡°He might be dealing in second-hand phones.¡± So they decided not to call the police. Ding. Zhou Xufang¡¯s WeChat message arrived; she checked it briefly. Jiang Zhi asked, ¡°Who¡¯s looking for you?¡± ¡°It¡¯s Mr. Xue Baoyi, he wants to buy phone cases from me.¡± After reading the message, she put her phone back in her bag with a very happy expression, ¡°I made a lot of money today, Jiang Zhi, I¡¯ll treat you to some fruit jellies.¡± Why fruit jelly? Zhou Xufang had recently taken a liking to fruit jelly, finding strawberry-flavored jelly to be as delightful as cotton candy. Having had a ¡®very good business day,¡¯ she closed up shop early, taking Jiang Zhi to buy two big bags of fruit jelly. Jiang Zhi drove her home, and she ate them the whole way in the car. Jiang Zhi¡¯s car was pink inside, with cotton candy and milk. Zhou Xufang ate her fruit jellies, completely satisfied. Jiang Zhi laughed, ¡°You like it that much?¡± She nodded, bit into a strawberry-flavored jelly, her eyes curving into crescent moons, ¡°I¡¯ve never had it before.¡± ¡°Your parents didn¡¯t buy it for you?¡± Her crescent eyes slowly drooped, and she went silent. She accidentally crushed the plastic jelly container, dropping the jelly onto the car seat. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I¡¯ve made your car dirty.¡± She reached out to pick it up. Jiang Zhi took her hand, wiped it clean before bothering about the car seat, ¡°I¡¯ll buy it for you in the future.¡± He patted her head, ¡°Tell me whatever you haven¡¯t had, and I¡¯ll buy them all for you.¡± She lifted her head and smiled again, not showing any sign of loss, smiling quite foolishly. Jiang Zhi opened another fruit jelly for her and fed it to her mouth. She nibbled it gently. ¡°Sweet?¡± ¡°Sweet.¡± He leaned in and tasted it from her lips, ¡°It is very sweet.¡± The Zhou Xufang who just leaked a mouthful of jelly: ¡°¡­¡± She turned as red as a tomato, dumbfounded like a goose, with some jelly remnants on her lips. ¡°Do you have a fever again?¡± As he spoke, Jiang Zhi licked away the jelly remnants, his face also red, with reddened eyes, but his gaze hid none, looking straight at her, then reached out, resting his hand on her forehead. Yes, she was feverish again. Zhou Xufang¡¯s soul floated in the clouds for a good while before returning to her body. In a fluster, she dug out two strawberry-flavored jellies from the bag and handed them to Jiang Zhi, ¡°For you.¡± She pushed open the car door and rushed into the house. Once inside, she started bounding around frantically, hopping here and there like a gust of wind. ¡°` Chapter 108 - Chapter 108: 108: Jiang Zhi has come to rescue Fang Bao~ Chapter 108: 108: Jiang Zhi has come to rescue Fang Bao~ As soon as she entered the house, she started bouncing around wildly, darting back and forth like a gust of wind. After expending her energy, she panted like a dog for a few minutes before finally settling down by the computer desk, still feverish, face flushed and uncomfortable, breathing unevenly, and guzzling several cans of milk. At that moment, Shuangjiang sought her out. ¡°The data from the Criminal Investigation Team is out. Jiang Xiaolin has an alibi, which temporarily rules him out as a suspect. The witness, Tang Xiang, who testified for him, doesn¡¯t have a good relationship with him, so the likelihood of perjury is not high. Among the other three suspects, Han Feng and Luo Changde corroborate each other¡¯s alibis, which I find very suspicious.¡± Click! Zhou Xufang opened the fourth can of milk, ¡°I¡¯m going to the Luo Family tonight.¡± ¡°To look for the watch?¡± At this point, that was the only clue left. Zhou Xufang nodded, ¡°Yes.¡± She then opened a packet of fruit jelly. Shuangjiang didn¡¯t ask further and quickly answered her, ¡°I¡¯ll arrange the route for you.¡± She hummed a response, drew a parabola towards the trash can, intending to toss the empty milk can into it, but her heart was unsettled, and she missed. She got up to pick it up, and with her head lowered, suddenly said, ¡°Shuangjiang, I don¡¯t want to buy Moon Bay anymore.¡± Shuangjiang replied with a question mark. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?0 She sat back down, eating her fruit jelly, and said, ¡°I need to save my money to take care of Jiang Zhi.¡± Shuangjiang sent an exclamation mark. Tonight, the moon was half-visible, a breeze was blowing, and the shadows of the trees swayed gently. The Luo Family¡¯s villa stood alone, very quiet after nightfall. The wind whispered through the cedar trees, rustling softly, the ground covered with scattered, withered leaves from the four-season begonia, floating about. Listening closely, there was a sound from the courtyard, Luo Yinghe, the second youngest daughter of the Luo Family, was outside talking on the phone. ¡°Is Xiao Yusheng coming?¡± The other end of the line answered no. Luo Yinghe then lost interest, ¡°Then never mind, I won¡¯t go either.¡± After a few more words, the topic changed. ¡°The script is not bad, my agent is discussing it.¡± Someone said something on the other side. She laughed lightly, ¡°Of course I¡¯m the female lead, do I look like someone who plays supporting roles?¡± ¡°Who¡¯s Fang Lixiang?¡± Fang Lixiang was a rising star, her reputation building even before her works were released, amassing decent resources and showing up on several variety shows, maintaining a high level of public interest. It seemed Baoguang was promoting her. Friends said that, but Luo Yinghe didn¡¯t think much of it, scoffing dismissively, ¡°Weaver Girl or not, how can she compare to me?¡± Her friend agreed, saying, definitely not, calling her Tianxing¡¯s princess, backed by the entire Luo Family. At this moment, someone from inside the house called out, ¡°Yinghe.¡± ¡°Yinghe.¡± It was Luo Yinghe¡¯s mother, Xu Yunci, calling for her. She ended her call and responded, ¡°Coming!¡± Zhou Xufang saw her running and leapt onto the second-floor balcony of the neighboring building; despite being tens of meters away, she still overheard Luo Yinghe talking with her mother. ¡°Is Qinghe back?¡± ¡°In the garage.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve made soup, tell her to come and have some.¡± ¡°I won¡¯t, she said not to disturb her.¡± ¡°She locked up the garage as soon as she got back, acting all neurotic, I don¡¯t know what she¡¯s up to.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Zhou Xufang listened intently for a while, then stopped. It was odd, the Luo Family was unusually quiet today. ¡°Ah Fang.¡± Zhou Xufang adjusted her headset, ¡°Yes?¡± Shuangjiang, using a voice synthesizer, said, ¡°Abort the operation immediately.¡± ¡°What happened?¡± ¡°Someone has hacked into the computer, your whereabouts might have been leaked,¡± Shuangjiang urged her, ¡°You need to get out fast, I¡¯m worried there could be an ambush.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t hesitate and prepared to withdraw. But just then, the attic door creaked open, blown by the wind, the street light nearly as tall as the two-story building, its light spilling into the entrance of the little attic. On that door, there was a carving of a plump orange cat. It was unclear what was used to carve it or how long ago it had been done, but the marks were deep and old. Like a child¡¯s doodle, not very lifelike. Strangely, Zhou Xufang glanced at it and then couldn¡¯t look away. Compelled, she approached the attic. The old wooden door creaked as the wind blew, and she stood in front of it, stared at the orange cat for a while, then pushed the door open, the light from the lamp mingling§Ú§é§Ö§ã§ä§Ó§à The room was empty, containing only an old wooden bed and an equally ancient table, with nothing else but spider webs sprawling across the ceiling. She turned on the light, and the room brightened immediately. Oh, there was something carved on the headboard of the wooden bed¡ªit wasn¡¯t an orange cat but a¡­ perhaps a boy, with three strands of hair on his head. The drawing was clumsy. Zhou Xufang wanted to take a closer look, but suddenly, an image flashed into her mind. It was this place, on this bed, where a thin, small child huddled in the corner, eyes red. A woman stood in front of the bed, her back to him, speaking. ¡°Don¡¯t talk to anyone, understand?¡± The child looked about five or six years old, very small, his eyes appearing especially large due to his thinness, sporting a buzzcut, and wearing ill-fitting clothes that hung over him from head to toe. He asked the woman, ¡°Why?¡± His speech was faltering, not fluent at all. Speaking was difficult for him, not very clear, he uttered, word by word, ¡°I¡¯m not mute.¡± ¡°You are!¡± His eyes reddened, holding back tears, ¡°I, am, not.¡± At that age, children¡¯s voices are usually soft and mushy. He wasn¡¯t, he seemed like he had never spoken before, his throat hoarse, but if you listened closely, you could still hear the tender childlike tone. Timid, carrying a fear and anxiety towards the world. He reached out and grabbed the woman¡¯s sleeve, carefully tugging at it, ¡°Aunt Xiu, I can speak, I learned by myself, I didn¡¯t need anyone to teach me.¡± He thought Aunt Xiu would praise him. Since no one had taught him to speak, yet he had learned. Instead, the woman harshly pushed his hand away, scolding him, ¡°If they find out you¡¯re a girl, they¡¯ll kill you. Do you still want to talk?¡± Oh, so the little bald kid was a girl. She nodded while crying, not daring to make a sound, her small body trembling, ¡°I understand.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll never talk again¡­¡± Like an old movie, that frame suddenly pulled away, and another scene burst in. The buzz-cut had turned into a gaunt, small boy, still very thin and rather short. He dragged a pretty boy into the room, the other boy much taller, his skin very fair, coughing. He then helped the boy breathe, stood on his toes, and whispered secretly, ¡°You need to hide, they¡¯ll poison your drink, they are all bad people.¡± It had been too long since he last spoke, his voice rough and hoarse. The boy was surprised, ¡°You can talk?¡± He didn¡¯t answer, instead, he rummaged through his worn pillow and pulled out a pill from the pillowcase, then ran over to the boy, offering him the medicine. He said, ¡°Take this, it¡¯s not poisoned.¡± His vocal cords were strange, the sounds they produced odd. ¡°Bang!¡± Zhou Xufang staggered, unable to stand steadily, and bumped into the corner of the table; the scene in front of her cracked upon impact, colliding in her mind, causing a splitting headache. After jumbling her thoughts topsy-turvy, it vanished into thin air. In just that instant, despite her usually excellent memory, she couldn¡¯t recall the people from the scene, only a vague voice still echoing in her ear. Who was that child? Was it an illusion? Below, someone suddenly exclaimed, ¡°What¡¯s that noise?!¡± ¡°It sounds like it¡¯s from the attic.¡± Zhou Xufang couldn¡¯t wait, she directly jumped out the window, landing on the ground right as a voice came through her earpiece. ¡°Ah Fang, we¡¯ve got trouble.¡± ¡°Get out fast!¡± Zhou Xufang took off her earpiece, listening closely. Footsteps, and the sound of car wheels pressing against the ground, drew closer, increasingly clear. ¡°Surround it.¡± It was Luo Qinghe¡¯s voice, ¡°Don¡¯t let a single fly escape.¡± Zhou Xufang looked in the direction of the sound, her good eyesight allowing her to see the Luo Family garage, hundreds of meters away, where the lift door suddenly flung open, and seven or eight SUVs drove out. This Luo Qinghe, cunning enough to be annoying. Zhou Xufang had initially planned to escape, but suddenly she didn¡¯t want to, she felt like teaching someone a lesson. ¡°Z, right?¡± She walked over from the garage, wearing a dull blue dress, ¡°I¡¯ve been waiting for you for a long time.¡± Zhou Xufang, clad in black, stood under a street lamp, her cap casting a shadow over her eyes, ¡°You¡¯ve been investigating me?¡± They even found Shuangjiang, they must have been investigating for a long time. No wonder Lixiang said, ¡°Luo family people are like dogs, once they bite, they never let go.¡± Luo Qinghe flipped her hair beside her ear, she didn¡¯t approach, she just stood far away, watching Zhou Xufang, ¡°How can you play with someone like you without preparing?¡± She had been researching this person for a long time, knowing that the Jiang Family had employed her and aware of her capabilities. Since the Jiang Family initiated the investigation, she had been waiting, hoping they would approach her, as she had long wanted to meet this errand runner. As expected, she came on behalf of the Jiang Family. ¡°Who hired you? Jiang Zhi, or Old Mrs. Jiang?¡± Jiang Zhi had fallen into the water, and a suspect emerged from the Luo Family. This trip of hers was definitely on behalf of the Jiang Family. Zhou Xufang remained silent. Luo Qinghe was not in a hurry either; he waved his hand, signaling the few SUVs to approach, ¡°They all say you can do anything. Today, I want to see how you ascend to the heavens or burrow into the ground.¡± Who are they? They are the twenty-some individuals in those SUVs. Zhou Xufang glanced at the logo pasted on the car, her peers¡ªFOR. The wind was strong; she fastened the hood of her hoodie over her cap, tying the straps and looking toward Luo Qinghe. ¡°I warned you not to investigate or provoke me,¡± she said, squatting down to pick up a pebble the size of a thumb. She tossed it in her hand twice. ¡°I can¡¯t ascend to the heavens or enter the earth, but killing you is much easier than doing either of those.¡± Her voice was cold and steady, devoid of fluctuations. After finishing, she threw the pebble in her hand. The pebble traveled in a straight line, cutting through the wind, grazing Luo Qinghe¡¯s face, and striking an SUV behind her. Thud! The SUV¡¯s window glass cracked. Luo Qinghe turned his head aside, his cheek quickly oozing blood. He touched the half-inch-long cut, his hand coming away bloody. The wound wasn¡¯t deep. He touched his sore cheek, which was starting to feel numb, fire in his eyes: ¡°You won¡¯t kill me. You¡¯ve taken on many errand tasks and have never killed a soul.¡± He laughed, looking at Zhou Xufang, ¡°Will you dare to kill someone?¡± Zhou Xufang clenched her teeth. This woman was too annoying; she had surely investigated her for a long time. ¡°Someone catch her for me. Whoever succeeds, ask for money or power,¡± Luo Qinghe said, dragging the last syllable, ¡°either is fine.¡± With one sentence, the men in the SUVs were all restless. A fight would ensue today. Zhou Xufang pulled out a pair of leather gloves from her pocket, put them on, stepped back, and was about to jump into action when she paused. She heard it, a coughing sound. ¡°Cough, cough, cough, cough¡­¡± Approaching intermittently. It was Jiang Zhi. Then came his lazy voice: ¡°What¡¯s happening here, so lively?¡± Zhou Xufang turned around. Luo Qinghe and his hired thugs also turned around. Under a streetlight outside the fence, wavering slightly, a figure emerged with a long shadow, dyed dark blue hair, walking slowly, backlit; he came from the darkness with a crescent moon behind him, no stars in the sky, but they were in his eyes. They say: beauty lies in the bones, not in the skin. Jiang Zhi looked the part, both in bones and skin. Luo Qinghe wiped the blood from his face with a handkerchief, looking through the fence at the person outside, ¡°You haven¡¯t been to the Luo Family for seven or eight years, what wind brought you here today?¡± He stepped one foot on the Luo Family¡¯s fence, his hair casually cut; the wind blew, covering his eyebrows, his expression, a mix of smiling and non-smiling: ¡°Your father is the suspect who pushed me into the sea; am I wrong in coming to identify the killer?¡± That blue hair¡ªa color that shouldn¡¯t be serious¡ªdyed by him added not less to his noble air, but more defiant and arrogant traits, clearly showing his youth. Like a young man. A young man with fine clothes and high spirits, daring to compare with the heavens. ¡°You haven¡¯t answered me,¡± he said slowly, unhurriedly, asking Luo Qinghe, ¡°What is this? Gathering a crowd to fight?¡± Luo Qinghe replied unflinchingly, ¡°This little thief broke into my Luo Family¡¯s property and I caught her.¡± ¡°Catching a thief?¡± Jiang Zhi glanced at the ¡®little thief,¡¯ the peach blossom eyes brimming with laughter, ¡°Perfect, I brought the police.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Luo Qinghe was speechless. As for Zhou Xufang, she felt a bit stupefied; she just wanted to fight quietly, to teach a lesson quietly¡­ She didn¡¯t want to end up in a cell. Jiang Zhi had already dialed the phone, leaning against the Luo Family¡¯s iron fence, fiddling with the hair blown over his forehead: ¡°Nanchu, have you arrived? Come to ¡®catch the thief.''¡± ¡®Little thief¡¯ Zhou Xufang: ¡°¡­¡± Could she still escape now? ¡°wu¡ª¡ªwu¡ª¡ªwu¡ª¡ªwu¡ª¡ª¡± The siren was loud. In less than a minute, Qiao Nanchu arrived, accompanied by the Criminal Investigation Team¡¯s Mr. Cheng. Before entering the Luo Family¡¯s main gate, Jiang Zhi left a message for Qiao Nanchu. ¡°Let her go.¡± Qiao Nanchu looked at him, ¡°What do you mean?¡± He said, ¡°She¡¯s my person.¡± How strange those words sounded. Qiao Nanchu asked, ¡°Did you send her?¡± He didn¡¯t say whether he did or didn¡¯t, but instead commanded, ¡°Don¡¯t hurt her, or else,¡± There was more to it. Qiao Nanchu was waiting for him to continue. Jiang Zhi, rarely this serious, said, ¡°Otherwise, we can¡¯t be brothers.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Well, this isn¡¯t someone recognizing a murderer, this is more like a hero saving the beauty. No longer lingering, Jiang Zhi entered the Luo Family¡¯s gate. The last time he visited the Luo family was eight years ago. Eight years earlier, the Jiang and Luo families had a good relationship. The Jiang family¡¯s second son had married the third daughter of the Luo family, making the two families related by marriage, and they used to visit each other often. Jiang Zhi, not fond of going out, was sixteen when he first visited the Luo family. He saw Luo Qinghe teaching someone a lesson and meddled in, calling over the little mute of the Luo family, specifically asking him to lead the way. That little mute, perhaps due to being whipped with rose bushes for a while, was covered in blood. So thin, barely even ten years old. Jiang Zhi asked him, ¡°What is your name?¡± He picked up a stick and scratched three lines in the dirt. Indeed, he was called Luo San, not even a formal name. Then he asked, ¡°What¡¯s its name?¡± pointing to a fat cat beside his feet which had just come out of hiding. ¡°Meow.¡± The cat was indeed fat. At fourteen years old, the little mute from the Luo family was as thin as a pole; he took the stick and scratched four lines in the dirt. ¡°Four?¡± Jiang Zhi looked at the lines. The little mute awkwardly wrote another character. Luo Si, the orange cat was called Luo Si. And he was Luo San. ¡°You can write?¡± As soon as Jiang Zhi finished speaking, as if greatly startled, the boy immediately rubbed out the awkward Luo character, pointed down the path ahead, then turned and ran away. Indeed, a peculiar person. Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t leave until very late that day, having spent most of it at the Luo Family. He didn¡¯t see Luo San again until late evening just as his driver was pulling out of the Luo estate. Someone smashed his car window. The driver stopped, ¡°Young master, it¡¯s the foster son from the Luo family.¡± That little mute, apparently. I heard, he¡¯s also a bit simple-minded. The Luo family even said he was mentally challenged. For reasons unknown, he got out of the car, saw the skinny boy through the fence, and just couldn¡¯t bring himself to reprimand him. He asked, ¡°Why did you smash my car?¡± The little simpleton couldn¡¯t speak; his wrists so thin, they easily slipped through the iron bars to open his hand, revealing a piece of braised pork, oily and glistening. He grabbed a piece of the pork to give to Jiang Zhi. ¡°Why are you giving me a piece of meat?¡± He pointed to his own mouth. ¡°For me to eat?¡± He nodded. Jiang Zhi, at sixteen, was fastidious and somewhat germaphobic, naturally disdainful, but for some unknown reason, he still took it. The little mute dropped the pork and ran off. Jiang Zhi stared at the meat in his hand, a large and fatty piece of braised pork, the first time anyone had ever given him a piece of meat. Knowing his aversion to dirt, the driver quickly handed him a handkerchief and water, ¡°Give it to me, and wash up first.¡± He put it in his mouth and ate. It was too fatty, overwhelmingly so. Jiang Zhi found out later that the piece of meat was stolen; that little mute from the Luo family had been beaten for stealing it, and again, beaten with rose bushes. ¡°Brother Zhi.¡± ¡°Brother Zhi.¡± Luo Changde put down his teacup and called out twice. Jiang Zhi snapped back to the present, suppressing the memory, and with an unfriendly tone said, ¡°Brother Zhi is also something you can call me?¡± Luo Changde: ¡°¡­¡± As families related by marriage, Jiang Zhi was still supposed to address his maternal cousin Jiang Fuli casually as uncle. Chapter 109 - Chapter 109: 109: Fang Bao confessed, together now~ Chapter 109: 109: Fang Bao confessed, together now~ Jiang Zhi had only stayed at the Luo Family for a little over ten minutes. Luo Changde was very skilled at playing Tai Chi, not giving Jiang Zhi a single useful word, so he didn¡¯t bother wasting any more time with him. When he came out, Qiao Nanchu was still in the Luo Family¡¯s courtyard. ¡°Why did you come out so quickly?¡± He was concerned about Zhou Xufang and didn¡¯t care about anything else, ¡°What about her?¡± ¡°She ran off really fast and scaled the wall quite smoothly, who needs me to let her go?¡± Qiao Nanchu said with a cigarette in his mouth, pointing in a direction, ¡°There, she ran that way.¡± Jiang Zhi went after her. ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± Qiao Nanchu blew a smoke ring and stopped him, asking, ¡°When did you start working with her?¡± So, he was keeping secrets from him. Jiang Zhi turned his head, standing under the streetlight, ¡°It¡¯s none of your business.¡± He looked far off at Qiao Nanchu, his short hair casting broken shadows on his face, half-lit and half-dark, ¡°You already know I¡¯m working with her, so stop tailing her.¡± After finishing his sentence, he resumed his pursuit. Qiao Nanchu flicked the ash off his cigarette, tsk, this was quite unusual. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?¦Ï The Luo Family¡¯s villa was situated in a somewhat special location, separated by a road opposite to the undeveloped slums, with deep alleys, intertwining paths, and old, chaotically distributed Ping buildings, where dogs barked at night. There were no surveillance cameras here, and with many intersections, it was a good place to hide. Upon reaching the mouth of the alley, Jiang Zhi stopped, slightly out of breath, ¡°Don¡¯t follow.¡± Ah Wan refused sternly, ¡°How can that be okay? What if you encounter criminals¡ª¡± Jiang Zhi looked back with a glance. Ah Wan immediately shut up, ¡°Oh.¡± This damn, ubiquitous, reflexive reaction! Jiang Zhi entered the alley alone, choosing a path away from the light, and upon reaching the deep alley, he stopped and looked around, ¡°There¡¯s no one else here, come out.¡± Zhou Xufang, who was actually lying on the roof of a Ping building: ¡°¡­¡± There were the sounds of dogs barking and cats meowing, but she could only hear Jiang Zhi¡¯s voice, as though it was the wind that brushed in, softening both her ears and heart. He said, ¡°Come out and see me, I have a question for you.¡± Alright. She gave up resisting, jumped down from the Ping building, and after landing, emerged from a dim path. Hearing footsteps, Jiang Zhi turned his head and saw her, a pitch-dark figure with her eyes completely covered by glasses, offering no glimpse at all. It was strange that even in this disguise, he could still recognize her. Worried about scaring her off again, he didn¡¯t approach, standing still, and asked her, ¡°Why did you come to the Luo Family?¡± She answered, ¡°Looking for a watch.¡± She must have researched this case beforehand, or she would not have known about the clue of the watch, which meant that there must be a very capable hacker behind her. This hacker¡­ Are they male or female? Jiang Zhi nearly blurted out the question but controlled himself, asking seriously, ¡°Who hired you to look for the watch?¡± She couldn¡¯t come up with an answer. ¡°If no one hired you,¡± he looked at her, his gaze deep, like an unfathomable and clean sea, ¡°then is it for me?¡± Yes. Zhou Xufang wouldn¡¯t admit it, ¡°Your grandmother paid me twenty million, and I¡¯m helping you because¡ª¡± Jiang Zhi interrupted her, ¡°I will also pay you twenty million to hire you.¡± She was taken aback, then reacted, ¡°What do you want me to do?¡± He stepped forward out of the backlight, the fine shadows in his eyes slowly becoming clear, then reflecting into a pitch-black shape, which was her shadow. He said, ¡°Take off your mask.¡± Zhou Xufang, without thinking, replied, ¡°I don¡¯t accept.¡± She turned to leave. Jiang Zhi called after her from behind, ¡°Zhou Xufang.¡± Zhou Xufang¡­ How on earth did he recognize her? How could he be so sure, without a shadow of doubt? She should have fled, she should have clung to the chance of not being fully exposed yet, hidden herself tighter, never to reveal that disguise, that protective coloration again, but she couldn¡¯t move, as if nailed to the spot, foolishly letting Jiang Zhi enter her defensive circle. He stood right in front of her, just an arm¡¯s length away, and asked, ¡°What are you afraid of?¡± She feared many things. Crowds, socializing, even just making simple eye contact, which is why she always wore her hat low, crouched in places without people, guarding vigilantly, hiding day and night. ¡°I¡ª¡± She had just lifted her head and hadn¡¯t finished speaking when Jiang Zhi leaned in, placing his lips on hers, through the mask. Her eyes widened, stunned for a moment before coming to her senses, intending to push him away, but he grasped her hand. ¡°Your hand is all red.¡± Jiang Zhi¡¯s fingers caressed the back of her hand, where the skin swiftly reddened and grew warm, he laughed, released her hand, and placed it on her forehead, ¡°Still won¡¯t admit it?¡± Now, she was utterly exposed. Zhou Xufang bit her lip in regret, ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± She no longer masked her voice, nor did she avoid Jiang Zhi¡¯s gaze. Confused and lost, unsure of how to handle him, she watched as he stepped further into her territory, leaving her helpless. Surrender, Zhou Xufang. She stopped running, standing motionlessly as Jiang Zhi removed her glasses, her mask, and then her hat, a sliver of moonlight falling on her fair face. Lips like capsized boats, eyes like phoenixes, cold and aloof when not smiling. Her eyes were very large, distinct in black and white, splashed with the darkest ink, like a solitary star in the desert, coldly shimmering with loneliness. It was Zhou Xufang, a girl who rarely smiled, a girl who didn¡¯t even know how to smile. Jiang Zhi smoothed her messy hair that was disheveled by the hat, without surprise or urgency, in his usual tone, he asked her, ¡°Are you hurt anywhere?¡± Zhou Xufang shook her head and said, ¡°No.¡± He stepped back to take a good look at her, ensuring she was unharmed, then asked again, ¡°Has anyone bullied you?¡± She shook her head again. ¡°Luo Qinghe¡ª¡± Jiang Zhi was about to ask more when she interrupted him. ¡°Aren¡¯t you curious?¡± Even though she hid it, her eyes still betrayed a glint of uneasy fear and caution, ¡°About my identity, my background, my origins, and about me as a person.¡± Jiang Zhi had seen her running swiftly, he had seen her uprooting trees with her bare hands, he had also seen her sudden fever spikes followed by abrupt recoveries. Perhaps, in the eyes of others, she was already a monster. What did he think? Jiang Zhi stood opposite her, looking up to meet the light, his eyes brighter than the stars: ¡°Curious, of course, I¡¯m curious.¡± Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t understand: ¡°Then why don¡¯t you ask?¡± Ever since he began to doubt her, he had never pressed her for answers. He accepted all her peculiarities and abnormalities; as long as she didn¡¯t say, he would leave it at that, not questioning, nor investigating. Wasn¡¯t he afraid she was a demon? Or a ghost that roamed at night? Jiang Zhi raised his hand, pressing down a tuft of stray hairs at the back of her head, but the disobedient lock sprang up again the moment he let go. Instead, he simply spread his palm and covered her head with it. He smiled and said, ¡°I¡¯m more curious about when you¡¯ll come to kiss me.¡± How could there be someone like Jiang Zhi? The shadows in his eyes were full, all of them were her, all of her little monster self. Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t want to think anymore, couldn¡¯t think; her mind filled with Jiang Zhi¡¯s voice, his appearance, so without pondering deeply, her body made a quicker move than her brain. She tiptoed and kissed him on the face. Then, he was stunned, staring at her without a response for a long time. She tugged at his clothes: ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± His Adam¡¯s apple turned red and bobbed: ¡°You didn¡¯t forget what I said, did you?¡± His speech was still calm, but his fluttering eyelashes betrayed him, ¡°If you kiss me, we¡¯ll be together.¡± That day behind the hospital in the garden, he had said if she agreed to be with him, she should come over and kiss him. Zhou Xufang, who had a good memory, naturally remembered. She tiptoed again and kissed him on the lips, a light touch, and then she stepped back, standing up straight, and declared with the solemnity of an oath: ¡°Jiang Zhi, I like you.¡± Before, she wanted to buy an island, live hidden away by herself, walking on land when no one was around, hiding underwater when people came. Now, she wanted to follow Jiang Zhi. These words, if thought over carefully, she wouldn¡¯t be able to say them, so she seized the moment while the wind blinded her eyes, while Jiang Zhi¡¯s gaze stole her soul, and she said it all at once. ¡°I really like you, I want to be with you for a lifetime.¡± Each word was solemn and earnest, although uttered in the heat of the moment, it was no joke; she was very serious. ¡°Ah Fang,¡± Jiang Zhi¡¯s eyes were warm, breaking all the stars apart, reflections scattered and bright. He bent down to her height, his ears reddening, his voice floating: ¡°Say it again, the words you just said.¡± Zhou Xufang repeated with all seriousness and sincerity: ¡°I like you; I want to be with you for a lifetime.¡± Finally, he had waited for this moment. The girl had opened her heart, her words sweet enough to kill. Jiang Zhi opened his arms, hugging her close, his eyes and brows curving into a smile: ¡°From now on, Jiang Zhi is yours.¡± Oh, he was hers. Zhou Xufang was delighted, lifting her hanging hands to embrace him tightly, her Jiang Zhi. In her ears, he was speaking, his voice low, soft, and gentle. ¡°Are you hot?¡± Zhou Xufang answered honestly: ¡°Hot.¡± Her exposed skin was all red, as if boiled, exceptionally warm. Jiang Zhi held her with one hand and touched her forehead with the other: ¡°You have a fever again.¡± Zhou Xufang: ¡°Oh.¡± So be it if it was a fever. Jiang Zhi was hugging her; she wouldn¡¯t be sad even if she burned to death. No, she couldn¡¯t burn to death; if she did, she couldn¡¯t be hugged anymore. With that thought, Zhou Xufang pushed Jiang Zhi away a little, just a little, so she could breathe. Jiang Zhi relaxed his embrace slightly, tilting his head back, gazing at her face: ¡°Are you in discomfort?¡± ¡°Not at all.¡± It was just a bit of ringing in her ears, as if set off by fireworks, dizzy, with an urge to hop and leap. Jiang Zhi asked again: ¡°Any reactions other than the fever?¡± Zhou Xufang: ¡°No.¡± Her heart was leaping wildly. But she couldn¡¯t say it, saying so would scare Jiang Zhi, and what if he never hugged her again¡­ She couldn¡¯t say it! Jiang Zhi still let her go, holding her hand, leaning down, patiently explaining to her: ¡°I know you¡¯re different from ordinary people, you don¡¯t have to say anything you don¡¯t want to, just be my girlfriend, that¡¯s enough, everything else is secondary. But you need to tell me what you can and cannot do.¡± He had held her, embraced her, and even kissed her. Only starting a family was left. ¡°Oh, Jiang Zhi is infertile.¡± Miss Zhou Xufang felt a bit lost since she still had no concept of this matter. She shook her head, ¡°I don¡¯t know either.¡± He was like a big grey wolf coaxing a little lamb to open the door, his peach blossom eyes hooked with seduction, casting a spell to hook out someone¡¯s heart and soul, gently and persuasively, ¡°Then shall we give it a try?¡± Zhou Xiaoyang: ¡°Hmm?¡± He leaned down and kissed her briefly. In the end, he stopped and looked at her. ¡°Your face is very red.¡± Zhou Xufang¡¯s face turned beet red. Jiang Zhi¡¯s handsome face came close to hers, ¡°Your eyes are a bit red too.¡± In fact, it was the same for him. His eyes misty with moisture, utterly bewildered. He touched the temperature of her neck, ¡°You¡¯re very hot.¡± Probably more than forty degrees, ¡°Does it feel bad?¡± Zhou Xufang was still dazed, her mouth agape, red and moist, with a silly expression, she shook her head stupidly, ¡°It doesn¡¯t feel bad.¡± It¡¯s just tinnitus, just dizziness, just palpitations, just¡­ None of that mattered! She was so excited she wanted to leap to the moon and roll around! Jiang Zhi became worried, ¡°Shouldn¡¯t we go to the hospital for a checkup?¡± She said no, and again that it wasn¡¯t necessary, and then, she hopped in place twice, restraining herself from jumping several meters high, saying, ¡°I¡¯m completely fine.¡± Jiang Zhi was amused by her and rubbed her hair, ¡°If you feel unwell, you have to tell me.¡± ¡°Mhm.¡± Jiang Zhi hugged her back into his arms, caressing her soft hair with his head, ¡°Another kiss.¡± Zhou Xufang timidly said, ¡°Okay.¡± He pulled her into an alley. The moon also hid behind the clouds. After a while, there was a voice. ¡°Wait here for me, I¡¯ll go and distract Lin Wanwan.¡± Zhou Xufang, still with red ears, ¡°Why do you need to distract him?¡± Jiang Zhi¡¯s voice was hoarse, saying, ¡°He¡¯s too dumb. I¡¯m not comfortable letting him know about your identity as an errand runner.¡± Zhou Xufang, still with red ears, ¡°Oh.¡± He fixed her hat and mask again, ¡°Hide there and wait for me.¡± Zhou Xufang, still with red ears, ¡°Okay.¡± She followed Jiang Zhi¡¯s instructions, hid in the depths of the alley, crouching in the dark waiting for him. Jiang Zhi emerged from the mouth of the alley, onto the main road, where Ah Wan was still waiting, bored, counting the stones on the ground. ¡°Lin Wanwan.¡± The voice sounded strange, somewhat sultry, somewhat seductive, somewhat beguiling. Iron-straight man Ah Wan didn¡¯t overthink it, ¡°Boss, you finally came out.¡± He looked behind Jiang Zhi, ¡°Where¡¯s that errand runner miss?¡± ¡°She¡¯s gone.¡± ¡°Ah? She left just like that?¡± Such an unprofessional bodyguard! Ah Wan couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Was it Miss Zhou?¡± Jiang Zhi kept a straight face, ¡°No.¡± Upon hearing this, Ah Wan became excited, overzealous: ¡°I knew it! Miss Zhou is so dignified and virtuous, how could she possibly be involved in petty theft?¡± Petty theft¡­ Jiang Zhi wanted to kick him. The man didn¡¯t know when to stop, kept badmouthing, kept blackening, ¡°That errand runner, always clinging to you, must have fallen for your good looks.¡± Jiang Zhi narrowed his eyes. The man grew more excited as he spoke, ¡°Boss, you must be very careful, I think she might be a scum.¡± ¡°Enough!¡± Ah Wan was so startled that his body trembled. So fierce¡­ He was just looking out for him, how wronged, how heartbroken. He didn¡¯t dare to retort, and silently snorted through his nose, ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll say no more, just be careful.¡± In the end, if he got molested, it would be his own fault! ¡°Boss, why is your face so red?¡± Jiang Zhi unnaturally turned his head away, licking his lips, ¡°It¡¯s the wind.¡± Naive Ah Wan was so kind, generous, considerate, and professional. He cared without bearing any grudge, ¡°You better get into the car quickly then, don¡¯t get sick from the wind again.¡± Jiang Zhi stood at the mouth of the alley, motionless, ¡°Give me the car keys.¡± Ah Wan: ¡°Ah?¡± ¡°The car keys.¡± Ah Wan handed over the car keys, not understanding what he meant, ¡°What do you need the car keys for?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll drive myself; you go back first.¡± ¡°How can you drive with your condition?¡± What if he fainted halfway through¡­ Ah Wan was scared just thinking about it, standing firm, ¡°No no, I must stick with you. If something were to happen to you, not to mention your family¡¯s old lady, Ms. Song from my family would also kill me.¡± Jiang Zhi casually threw out, ¡°If you don¡¯t leave, I¡¯ll kill you right now.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Not human! Ah Wan shrank her neck, feeling a bit intimidated, ¡°Boss, you¡¯re acting so strange today.¡± Jiang Zhi lost patience and threw her a cutting glare, ¡°Scram.¡± Ah Wan: ¡°Oh, I¡¯m off then.¡± Once she was gone, Jiang Zhi picked up the car keys and turned back into the depths of the alley. ¡°Xu Fang.¡± A head peeked out from around the corner: ¡°Hmm?¡± She was squatting there, like a mushroom. Jiang Zhi walked over and plucked the black mushroom up: ¡°Still feverish?¡± Mushroom Xu Fang said, ¡°Not anymore.¡± Jiang Zhi touched her head, which was no longer hot; her fever had come quickly and dissipated just as swiftly. He led her outside, ¡°I¡¯ll take you home.¡± Xu Fang obediently followed, her mouth still red¡ªwhere he had bitten her earlier, ¡°Aren¡¯t we going to the hospital?¡± He was still admitted there. He pulled her hand into his, their fingers intertwining tightly, ¡°No need, the beds there are uncomfortable.¡± ¡°Then, can you be discharged?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± The car was parked on the opposite side of the alley, and Jiang Zhi opened the passenger door. Xu Fang didn¡¯t get in, instead saying, ¡°I¡¯ll drive.¡± Driving was tiring, and her boyfriend was quite delicate. Jiang Zhi agreed, handing her the car keys: ¡°Drive slowly.¡± He wanted to spend more time with her. ¡°Sure.¡± All the way, Jiang Zhi did nothing but watch her. Xu Fang drove with full concentration, never glancing at Jiang Zhi, which made him a bit grumpy. At the traffic lights, he pecked her on the face to ease his irritation. Xu Fang drove unusually slow, taking an hour and a half for a fifty-minute journey, and by the time they reached Yuquan Bay, it was past ten o¡¯clock. She parked the car at the roadside and didn¡¯t drive in. ¡°We¡¯re here.¡± Jiang Zhi furrowed his brows, ¡°That¡¯s it?¡± ¡°Mhm.¡± He sat still without unbuckling his seatbelt and suggested, ¡°Let¡¯s go for another round.¡± Xu Fang chuckled, ¡°Okay.¡± Then, after circling another three times, the car once again stopped at the entrance of Yuquan Bay¡ªnow it was eleven. Usually, Jiang Zhi would have been asleep by this time. He checked the time and unbuckled her seatbelt for her, ¡°If you feel unwell at all, call me.¡± Xu Fang agreed, ¡°Sure.¡± Jiang Zhi got out and opened the car door for her: ¡°When will you let me visit your place?¡± he said with a hint of grievance, ¡°I¡¯m already your boyfriend.¡± It just wasn¡¯t right not having visited his girlfriend¡¯s home yet. Xu Fang replied, ¡°It¡¯s very late now, and you¡¯re not well. You shouldn¡¯t be staying up.¡± Sometimes she was so obedient. And sometimes, she had a rationale for everything. Jiang Zhi had figured out her temperament by now; she was very principled, yet outside those boundaries, her tolerance was quite high. He still needed to coax her slowly. He put the hood of her hoodie on her, ¡°Go upstairs.¡± Xu Fang waved, ¡°Goodbye, Jiang Zhi.¡± After saying that, she walked toward the residential complex. Jiang Zhi leaned against the car door, watching her enter; just as her silhouette disappeared from view, she came darting back. He laughed, ¡°Why did you come back? Can¡¯t bear to leave me?¡± Xu Fang had raced back: ¡°I¡¯ll take you home.¡± ¡°No need.¡± She insisted, ¡°I¡¯ll take you.¡± The world was full of dangers, with so many vile people around, and many who wished to harm Jiang Zhi¡ªa beautiful young man on his own would be in grave danger. Xu Fang couldn¡¯t rest easy. Jiang Zhi, half-amused and half-touched by her earnestness, said, ¡°If you take me home, then I¡¯ll have to drive you back again. Do we even need to sleep tonight?¡± Seeing the little lady standing firm, he had to cajole her, ¡°I¡¯m not so frail. You be good and go sleep. I¡¯m heading to the old house; my grandmother is there, it¡¯s safe.¡± Xu Fang hesitated for a long time: ¡°Then be careful on the way.¡± ¡°Mhm.¡± Jiang Zhi held her, reluctant to let go, ¡°How about a hug before I go?¡± ¡°Okay.¡± She looked around nervously; once sure no one was around, she timidly and tensely¡­ snuggled into his embrace. ¡°Xu Fang.¡± ¡°Mhm.¡± Jiang Zhi whispered in her ear, laughing, his eyes shining like the stars, ¡°I had a great time today.¡± She spoke softly, saying that she did too, very, very much. Chapter 110 - Chapter 110: 110: Tons of Dog Food after Falling in Love Chapter 110: 110: Tons of Dog Food after Falling in Love Zhou Xufang was so excited she couldn¡¯t help but jump up and down. She hopped around the entryway for a long time before going to turn on her computer. ¡°Shuangjiang.¡± SpongeBob hadn¡¯t popped up yet. The ecstatic Zhou Xufang had forgotten what time it was and kept poking at the computer, ¡°Shuangjiang.¡± ¡°Are you asleep?¡± On the other side, the young girl, roused by the alarm sound from the computer, crawled out of bed, blinking sleepily with her cheeks flushed red from high altitude, yawned, got out of bed, and sat in front of the computer, sending two words over: ¡°No.¡± On the screen, Zhou Xufang¡¯s enlarged face was red and radiant, like the morning sun. ¡°The morning sun¡± grinned, ¡°I¡¯m very happy today.¡± Shuangjiang was just about to ask why she was so happy. She couldn¡¯t wait to blurt out, ¡°I have a boyfriend now.¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.?¦Ï The next sentence was even more upbeat, more excited, and filled with joy, ¡°My boyfriend is Jiang Zhi!¡± Shuangjiang wasn¡¯t surprised at all. Zhou Xufang, ah, would sooner or later be whisked away by that pretty boy. ¡°What about Moon Bay?¡± Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t think before answering, ¡°Not going anymore.¡± She said, ¡°I have a boyfriend now.¡± She was incredibly excited, emphatically dancing with joy as she stressed, ¡°My boyfriend is Jiang Zhi.¡± Her tone oozed with pride, ¡°I want to be with my boyfriend.¡± Shuangjiang: ¡°¡­¡± Zhou Xufang, ah, had drunk the love potion Jiang Zhi gave her, and quite a big bowl of it. ¡°Have you told him everything?¡± Shuangjiang adjusted her address, ¡°Have you told your boyfriend Jiang Zhi everything?¡± Zhou Xufang shook her head. The ¡®morning sun¡¯ on the screen suddenly became clouded, revealing a worried expression, ¡°He only knows a little bit; I don¡¯t dare tell him everything.¡± Those eyes of hers that turn red when she¡¯s angry¡ªshe didn¡¯t dare let Jiang Zhi see. Too much like a female ghost¡­ Shuangjiang asked, ¡°What about later?¡± Zhou Xufang had thought about this question, ¡°I¡¯ll tell him everything once he loves me a bit more.¡± By that time, ah, he won¡¯t be able to do without her¡­ Zhou Xufang buried her head and sneakily chuckled. On the screen, Shuangjiang sent her a bunch of little peach hearts, which reflected into Zhou Xufang¡¯s eyes, filling her sight with peachy hues. She laughed to herself for a while, reached for her phone, and said, ¡°I won¡¯t talk to you anymore, I¡¯m going to send Jiang Zhi a WeChat.¡± Then she stopped chatting with Shuangjiang. Her fingers danced on the phone, typing for a long time¡ª ¡°He should still be driving.¡± Driving required focus, so she would wait a bit longer to contact him. Zhou Xufang deleted the message she had typed, just about to put down her phone, when Jiang Zhi sent a video call. She immediately answered. On the screen, Jiang Zhi¡¯s handsome face popped up. ¡°Zhou Xufang.¡± Zhou Xufang looked around for the camera, ¡°Have you arrived home?¡± Jiang Zhi, in profile toward her, was driving, ¡°Still on the road.¡± The sounds of traffic flowed into the video. ¡°Then you drive; don¡¯t talk to me.¡± After saying that, she hung up. Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± He wanted to drag her over and nibble on her to vent his annoyance. Jiang Zhi pressed the gas pedal, his car speeding along until he arrived at the old residence. He hadn¡¯t even unbuckled his seatbelt before sending Zhou Xufang a WeChat message. ¡°I¡¯m here.¡± As soon as his voice message was sent, Zhou Xufang initiated a video call. Fine, he wasn¡¯t annoyed with her anymore. It really was strange; ever since he started liking this girl, his level of immaturity had broken records time and again. He accepted the call. On the other end, Zhou Xufang clumsily looked for the camera for a while before she found it and then called out to him, ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± Jiang Zhi felt his soul being called away. She was incredibly cute. His girlfriend, the cutest in the universe. ¡°What are you doing?¡± He unfastened his seatbelt, got out of the car, and didn¡¯t enter the house. Instead, he stood under the lantern outside the old house, using the lantern¡¯s light to see the girl in the video. She appeared to be sitting on a couch, with a pristine white wall behind her, sitting up straight and answering his questions, ¡°I was waiting for you to send me a WeChat.¡± So well-behaved. His girlfriend, the best-behaved in the universe. At this moment, there was a sound from inside the house. Jiang Zhi covered the phone¡¯s screen, placing it against his lips and whispering quietly, ¡°Xufang, don¡¯t make any noise yet, wait until I get into my room to talk.¡± Zhou Xufang also whispered quietly, ¡°Okay.¡± It was Mrs. Luo from the second branch of the Luo Family who came out. ¡°Brother Zhi has arrived.¡± Jiang Zhi slipped his phone back into his pocket and walked into the house, responding, ¡°Hmm.¡± Luo Changfang held a toy poodle in her hands, her nails shiny and well-maintained. She gently stroked the poodle¡¯s fur, her voice soft and tender, ¡°How come you were discharged? Does your grandma know?¡± ¡°Bark!¡± The poodle barked menacingly at Jiang Zhi. Jiang Zhi slightly raised his brows, a frostiness congealing in his eyes, ¡°If I wish to be discharged, I will be discharged. Who else needs to agree?¡± The poodle immediately quieted down, burying itself into its owner¡¯s embrace. Luo Changfang soothingly patted the toy poodle while her eyes twinkled with amusement, ¡°That¡¯s not what I meant. Since you¡¯ve been discharged, we should be informed in advance, so the servants can prepare your soup and medicine.¡± After winter had set in, Jiang Zhi¡¯s medicine seemed to never run out. He coughed a few times, his lips turned red, but his skin was pale, he slightly gasped, ¡°This old lady is too concerned, it¡¯s unnecessary for second aunt to trouble herself.¡± Luo Changfang nodded, ¡°Alright then, I won¡¯t disturb you any further, you should rest early.¡± He coughed again a few times and went upstairs. Once he entered his room, he locked the door, turned on the light, and took out his cellphone, ¡°We can talk now.¡± Zhou Xufang filled the camera entirely with her face, magnified in such a way that it made her look even more clueless. She asked Jiang Zhi, ¡°Are you feeling unwell again?¡± Jiang Zhi took off his jacket and sat on the bed, ¡°No.¡± She stared at the camera, gaze eager, fixated on Jiang Zhi¡¯s pale face as if she wanted to climb through the screen, ¡°But you coughed.¡± Jiang Zhi responded with a light and nonchalant tone, ¡°Old problem, it¡¯s alright.¡± ¡°How can it be alright, you¡¯re sick!¡± Zhou Xufang¡¯s expression was very serious. ¡°Jiang Fuli is not a good person, and her mother definitely isn¡¯t either. You need to be careful living there, don¡¯t eat anything they give you, even the water¡ªdon¡¯t drink carelessly.¡± She was so anxious her face wrinkled up. Jiang Zhi was still smiling, and when he did smile, his eyes bloomed like peach blossoms, becoming unspeakably beautiful, ¡°Mhm, I know.¡± She was still worried, ¡°Show me your room.¡± ¡°What for?¡± ¡°To see if there is any chronic poison or something.¡± She was seriously concerned, saying, ¡°That¡¯s how they show it in the TV dramas.¡± Her expression was a bit innocently dumb. She seldom smiled, with a cold expression, when angry her lips pursed into a straight line, when worried her eyebrows furrowed into furled marks, not many emotions, but all written on her face. Cold but cute. ¡°Xufang.¡± Her focus wavered, ¡°Hmm?¡± Jiang Zhi leaned back on his arms, the top buttons of his shirt were undone revealing a glimpse of his collarbone, and he told his little lady, ¡°Bring your face closer.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± She brought her entire face up to the camera. Jiang Zhi kissed the screen and laughed, ¡°Why are you so obedient.¡± Then the screen went dark. It was Zhou Xufang¡¯s phone that had dropped; she fumbled under the sofa for a while before picking up the phone and putting her face back in the camera, now blushing. ¡°Stop worrying about me.¡± Jiang Zhi¡¯s fingertip touched the cool screen, gently caressing it, his eyes tender, though his words not so much, ¡°They are bad people but I¡¯m not exactly a good person either. If they really want to play dirty, it¡¯s not clear yet who will play who.¡± Zhou Xufang corrected him, ¡°You are a good person.¡± Jiang Zhi smiled, a small fang barely noticeable, just a pointed tip visible, enough to soften his fierce look, making him appear like a boy, ¡°In this world, only you think I am a good person.¡± His hands were untainted by any blood. But he liked to manipulate others into doing his dirty deeds, it was a common occurrence. ¡°You are!¡± She was quite firm. Jiang Zhi smiled again, not bothering to correct her. ¡°What did you label me as in WeChat?¡± he asked about something important. The most beautiful beauty in the world. Zhou Xufang was too embarrassed to say, so she lied, ¡°I¡¯ve labeled it with your name.¡± Jiang Zhi was unsatisfied, ¡°It needs to change.¡± Right now, he wanted to slap a ¡®Jiang Zhi Exclusive¡¯ label on Zhou Xufang¡¯s forehead, wishing to proclaim to the entire world that he¡¯d got himself a girl, the best one. Childish, right? He admitted, he was childish and cowardly towards her. ¡°Change it to what?¡± He thought for a moment, ¡°Boyfriend Jiang Zhi.¡± Zhou Xufang, ¡°¡­¡± Her ears started to burn. Thinking again, he still felt it was not enough, ¡°My Baby Boyfriend Jiang Zhi, let¡¯s change it to that for now.¡± Zhou Xufang, ¡°¡­¡± Cringeworthy¡­ Seeing she hadn¡¯t agreed, Jiang Zhi sat up from the bed, his hair messed up, appearing a bit irritable, ¡°Why aren¡¯t you speaking?¡± He didn¡¯t even wait for her to respond before he started to get anxious. ¡°Are you not willing to change it?¡± ¡°Do you no longer like your boyfriend?¡± Zhou Xufang, ¡°¡­¡± People in love, regardless of gender, are often sensitive and petty. Jiang Zhi was no exception. Before gaining her, he plotted in every way he could, and after gaining her, he was trembling with fear, worried that he could not hold on to her. He had surrendered all his pride and principles to her. ¡°Zhou Xufang!¡± Zhou Xufang agreed, ¡°I¡¯ll change it.¡± She held up her phone at a forty-five-degree angle above her, with a look on her face as if she embodied ¡®loyal to the nation¡¯, ¡°I¡¯ll change it!¡± Jiang Zhi was truly quick-tempered. And it was also true that he was easy to coax. He laughed, ¡°Then I¡¯ll change it too.¡± His original WeChat note for Zhou Xufang was ¡®My Little Ancestor¡¯, now it became ¡®My Girlfriend Fangbao the Little Ancestor¡¯. Without being in love, he would never have known he could be so cheesily clingy to this extent. He felt it wasn¡¯t his fault, it was Zhou Xufang, she had cast a spell on him. After hanging up the video call, Jiang Zhi was still unable to calm his mind, climbed up like an idiot, ground ink, and wanted to paint a picture for Zhou Xufang. In the end¡ª Forget it, it was so bad he couldn¡¯t even recognize it himself, hard to bear to look at. He wanted to throw it away, but thinking of Zhou Xufang, he couldn¡¯t bring himself to do it. He summoned a servant, even at the midnight hour to get a scroll, mount it properly, and hang the painting by the bed. The servant hesitated to speak, ¡°Young Master, this is¡­¡± he ventured a guess, ¡°Is it for warding off evil spirits?¡± Soul artist Jiang Zhi, ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Get out.¡± When he referred to himself as ¡®Master¡¯, he was mostly annoyed. The servant scurried away. It was already late at night, Jiang Zhi lay there, looking at the painting, his mind filled with thoughts of Zhou Xufang, not sleepy at all. He took out his phone and began to call. The first person, Qiao Nanchu. ¡°Nanchu.¡± Qiao Nanchu was woken up halfway through his sleep and was irritable, ¡°What time is it, can¡¯t you sleep!¡± Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t care, ¡°It¡¯s very important.¡± ¡°Say it.¡± He said, ¡°I¡¯m no longer single.¡± His tone was clearly boastful. Qiao Nanchu: ¡°¡­¡± He glanced at the time, 12:16 am. His drowsiness was also disrupted, he ran his hand through his hair, cursed under his breath, ¡°Just for this?¡± Jiang Zhi hummed a response, his tone drawn out and full of smugness, all chirpy like a little bird. Up late at night, not sleeping, just to boast about his girlfriend. Sick! Qiao Nanchu managed a half-hearted smile, ¡°Congratulations.¡± Jiang Zhi was to the point, ¡°Straight cash.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°The gift for meeting my girlfriend.¡± Qiao Nanchu: ¡°¡­¡± This guy had changed ever since he¡¯d set his heart on Zhou Xufang, the dignity and indifferent coolness that Old Lady Jiang had painstakingly instilled in him all went to waste. It was as if a person from a painting was dragged out, but at least he seemed alive now. Qiao Nanchu didn¡¯t want to banter with him, ¡°I need to sleep now, hanging up.¡± He promptly ended the call. A few seconds later, Jiang Zhi received a money transfer, he accepted it, then dialed the second call. ¡°Xue Baoyi.¡± At this hour, Xue Baoyi was living her nightlife, who knew in which pleasure ground she was reveling, with music loud enough to deafen. On the stage, the DJ was spinning, Xue Baoyi couldn¡¯t hear well, she shouted over the phone, ¡°It¡¯s too noisy here, I¡¯ll call you back later.¡± Jiang Zhi held his phone away from his ear, ¡°Come out.¡± ¡°Give me half a minute,¡± Xue Baoyi found a quieter place, ¡°What is it that you must say right now.¡± ¡°I¡¯m dating Zhou Xufang.¡± No wonder he was up late at night, struck by spring fever. Xue Baoyi laughed, ¡°Your guy is a block of ice and wood, not easy at all, you finally managed to get a bite.¡± Her previously cheerful tone took a sharp turn, ¡°Who are you calling wood?¡± ¡°¡­¡± Xue Baoyi shuddered a bit at his imposing harshness, ¡°That¡¯s not the point.¡± But that was exactly the point. ¡°Zhou Xufang is not wood.¡± At first, he was haughty, but as he spoke, he became buoyant with pride. Jiang Zhi said, ¡°She¡¯s really well-behaved.¡± And added, ¡°And cute, too.¡± His tone was proud, ¡°She¡¯s also fierce in a fight.¡± Like a parent boasting about their child, ¡°She can uproot a tree barehanded, can you?¡± Xue Baoyi: ¡°¡­¡± ¡°The world champions don¡¯t run as fast as she does, what right do you have to call her wood.¡± Xue Baoyi: ¡°¡­¡± Just like that, he flaunted his face full of pride. Couldn¡¯t stand him anymore, more outrageous than Qiao Nanchu¡¯s cousin who was enslaved by his daughter, Xue Baoyi snapped, ¡°Too much, Brother Zhi, it¡¯s not like no one has ever had a girlfriend, cut the bragging with me.¡± Jiang Zhi was sarcastic, ¡°Can any of those messy girlfriends of yours compare to Zhou Xufang?¡± Messy?! ¡°Jiang Zhi, you¡¯ve said enough, I don¡¯t want to talk to you!¡± ¡°Get the gift ready for when you meet my girlfriend, don¡¯t come empty-handed.¡± After that, Jiang Zhi hung up the call. Xue Baoyi: ¡°¡­¡± Got a girlfriend and making such a fuss? 12:32 am. Xue Bingxue received a call from Jiang Zhi at the hospital. ¡°Bingxue.¡± ¡°I¡¯m busy right now, I have to go change Wei¡¯er¡¯s bandages.¡± The person who usually sleeps after eight and doesn¡¯t stay up late was still very energetic at this time, not coughing or showing signs of asthma anymore, ¡°You do your thing, I¡¯ll say mine.¡± ¡°Oh, then go ahead.¡± Jiang Zhi said, ¡°I¡¯m dating Zhou Xufang.¡± As soon as Xue Bingxue heard it, he immediately asked, ¡°How did you manage to woo her?¡± He wanted to pursue Jiang Wei¡¯er too. ¡°Zhou Xufang and Jiang Wei¡¯er are different.¡± Whenever Jiang Zhi mentioned Zhou Xufang, he was filled with joy, losing all his haughtiness, and just wanting to brag to the whole world about his girl, ¡°Zhou Xufang is a girl who is satisfied with just a pack of cotton candy.¡± Xue Bingxue tried to generalize, ¡°So should I get Wei¡¯er two packs?¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± This silly and naive guy. Jiang Zhi was in a good mood, lazily tossing out a suggestion, ¡°She has a strong personality, but a soft heart, you should stick to her more.¡± ¡°What if she gets annoyed with me?¡± ¡°Give her a beating.¡± As he said this, Xue Bingxue immediately defended, ¡°Wei¡¯er would never hit anyone, she has never hit me.¡± When he thought about it, Jiang Wei¡¯er, who even kicked Qiao Nanchu, rarely ever hit Xue Bingxue. ¡°With a face like yours, I couldn¡¯t bring myself to hit it either.¡± Too tender-looking! Three sentences in, the subject had to come back, Jiang Zhi couldn¡¯t steer the conversation away from Zhou Xufang for three sentences, ¡°Still, mine¡¯s the best.¡± ¡°Zhou Xufang has never hit me.¡± ¡°She can¡¯t bear to part with it.¡± The Jiang Zhi who was too lazy to talk before, the Jiang Zhi who was indifferent to everything, the Jiang Zhi who seemed no different from a dead person, the Jiang Zhi who played with people¡¯s hearts as if it were life and death. Now, when he praises Zhou Xufang, he has endless, nauseatingly sweet words to say. Xue Bingxue sincerely felt, ¡°Jiang Zhi, your girlfriend is really a good person.¡± She was able to turn someone like the big demon Jiang Zhi into a flesh-and-blood mortal. Jiang Zhi was very proud, ¡°Of course.¡± Zhou Xufang is the best person in the world. After hanging up the phone, Jiang Zhi posted an update, using his private account visible only to a special group. The content is as follows¡ª My girlfriend. @Zhou Xufang Below it was a photo of Zhou Xufang when she was a hair model for ¡®Fairy Descending.¡¯ Jiang Zhi had gotten that photo from the hair director at that time. Why this photo? Because it¡¯s the only one that¡¯s high resolution. The ones Jiang Zhi secretly took¡­ Zhou Xufang was¡­ just a blob of black. In that group, there were only a few people who had just been called by Jiang Zhi one by one. No one had gone to bed yet. The handsomest man in the capital: Not even a single photo together, I don¡¯t accept this official announcement! Qiao Nanchu: Wishing you an early birth of a precious child. I am a little snowflake replying to Qiao Nanchu: Jiang Zhi is sterile. I am a little snowflake: Wishing you a quick cure for your sterility. The handsomest man in the capital: Girl with the screen protector, come on, call me ¡®brother¡¯ and let me hear it. This flirtatious handsomest man in the capital is, of course, Xue Baoyi. Three minutes later, Jiang Zhi posted another update, just one picture, a composite of him and Zhou Xufang, photoshopped from ¡®Fairy Descending¡¯s hairstyle poster, one with their faces obscured by matte blue, seamlessly joined together. Jiang Zhi felt they looked very much like a married couple and was quite satisfied. The comments followed¡ª Qiao Nanchu: That¡¯s sick! I am a little snowflake: [Smile][Flowers] The handsomest man in the capital: Damn, I thought I stumbled upon a beauty salon advertisement. Jiang Zhi was restless, sitting at the head of the bed and staring at his phone. Ten minutes passed, and the comments and likes page hadn¡¯t moved. Why hadn¡¯t Zhou Xufang liked the post? Why hadn¡¯t Zhou Xufang commented? Why hadn¡¯t Zhou Xufang posted on Moments? Why hadn¡¯t Zhou Xufang shown off their love? Had Zhou Xufang¡¯s feelings changed?! Jiang Zhi¡¯s thoughts reached this point, and he slammed his phone down onto the table. Ding! Jiang Zhi immediately picked up his phone, clicked on WeChat¡ªnot Zhou Xufang, but Xue Baoyi. He was adding fuel to the fire. The handsomest man in the capital: Did your lady go off to apply facial masks? She¡¯s not responding to you. The handsomest man in the capital: Brother Zhi, you¡¯re not favored. Not favored¡­ Not favored¡­ Not favored¡­ Bang! Jiang Zhi tossed his phone away, flipped the covers over himself to sleep, an hour, two hours¡­ two and a half hours later, he got up and glanced at the phone¡­ Seven in the morning, as the sun peeked out just a bit, the winter sun was slightly warm but carried a whiff of cold air. The phone on the coffee table suddenly rang. Zhou Xufang awoke from her dream, sat up abruptly, and after a dozen seconds, answered the phone, ¡°Hello.¡± Her voice was hoarse, throat sore. Having had a high fever for too long yesterday, after the fever broke, she was too active for too long, hyper for quite a while, then the fever continued¡­ repeating this cycle, her energy was depleted, and she fell asleep on the couch, feeling groggy, even dreaming about the attic of the Luo Family. Her head was dizzy. Jiang Zhi¡¯s voice was on the other end, ¡°Are you regretting it?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± The first response was irritation, the next was panic, ¡°You don¡¯t like me anymore?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Right now, Zhou Xufang¡¯s facial expression resembled a dumbfounded emoticon. Jiang Zhi scolded her, not truly scolding, but with unassertive, powerless, and helpless scolding, ¡°Zhou Xufang!¡± Zhou Xufang: ¡°Here!¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± ¡°How are you?¡± The voice of the young girl on the phone was soft and weak, ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± Jiang Zhi was silent for a while before speaking up, ¡°I posted on Moments last night, and you didn¡¯t reply to me.¡± He felt like he had been left hanging when announcing their relationship. Zhou Xufang, who had just woken up, was a bit slow to respond and finally uttered an ¡°Oh¡± after a while, ¡°I fell asleep.¡± ¡°¡­¡± He had been longing for her all night long, not closing his eyes for a moment, and she had fallen asleep so quickly? His mind then returned to the jerk Xue Baoyi¡¯s words¡ªnot favored. While he was still indignant, he heard the girl on the phone say, ¡°I don¡¯t have any regrets.¡± She was barely awake, so she answered his initial question one by one, earnestly, ¡°I like it.¡± With those two sentences, all of Jiang Zhi¡¯s uncertainties and fears were soothed. Alright, he forgave her. The corners of his mouth curled up, revealing a hint of a smile, ¡°I¡¯m downstairs at your place.¡± He sniffled, his voice nasally, ¡°If you don¡¯t come get me, your boyfriend is going to freeze to death.¡± He had been waiting outside her apartment complex for two hours, unwilling to disturb her sleep by knocking at her door. Zhou Xufang was startled, then leaped off the couch. Less than ten seconds¡ª Click, the door opened. Jiang Zhi¡¯s left hand still held the phone, his right hand carried a thermos. The cold wind had reddened his eyes and nose. He looked at the girl in front of him, sporting a ¡®bird¡¯s nest¡¯ hairstyle, ¡°Zhou Xufang, did you fly here?¡± That was fast. ¡°No,¡± she said, ¡°I ran.¡± She wasn¡¯t wearing a coat; her clothes were thin, which made her look even more slender. Jiang Zhi took off his jacket, wrapped it around her, and pressed down a tuft of hair sticking out at the top of her head. He asked, ¡°Are you going to let your boyfriend in?¡± Zhou Xufang: ¡°Yes.¡± He took her hand, ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Chapter 111 - Chapter 111: 111: Go to Fang Baos house to love and cherish each other~ Chapter 111: 111: Go to Fang Bao¡¯s house to love and cherish each other~ He took her hand, ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Zhou Xufang lived on the seventh floor without an elevator. She went up and down the stairs without getting red in the face or out of breath. Her door was black, and the gray cat in the pink bunny dress nestled at her doorstep, lazily lounging. When it saw someone coming, it meowed twice and then continued its nap. Zhou Xufang hurried down the stairs, leaving the door ajar. She went inside first and found a pair of slippers in the shoe cabinet for Jiang Zhi, ¡°Wear these.¡± The slippers were blue and based on the size, they were men¡¯s. Jiang Zhi immediately became suspicious, ¡°Whose are these?¡± What man had been here! Zhou Xufang tore open the packaging and then the tag, squatting down to place them beside Jiang Zhi¡¯s feet, ¡°I bought them for you, just hadn¡¯t had the chance to give them to you yet.¡± She had previously given Jiang Zhi a pink pair which Mr. Xue Baoyi saw him wearing when visiting the hospital. He had teased Jiang Zhi for being effeminate, so she bought another pair in blue, not with bunny heads but mushrooms. Jiang Zhi patted her head, praising her, ¡°Good taste.¡± Zhou Xufang smiled shyly, ¡°Sit here, I¡¯m going to brush my teeth.¡± He tousled her already messy hair even more, ¡°Go ahead.¡± Zhou Xufang went off to brush her teeth in the bathroom. Jiang Zhi slipped on the slippers and walked around the apartment, sizing up her place. No wonder she had previously refused to let him in. Just from the several computers and the dressing room, one could tell something was amiss. The two suites were combined into one, with very little furniture¡ªit was all visible at a glance, either gray or black. For a girl who liked pink so much, there wasn¡¯t a hint of warm color in her room. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í??.§ã¦Ï Oh, except for two lamps. Zhou Xufang came out of the bathroom. Jiang Zhi asked, ¡°Why are those two lamps by the bed?¡± Both were gifts from him, one from his own house and the other from the porridge shop. Zhou Xufang explained, ¡°Because you gave them to me.¡± Originally, they were installed on the ceiling, but she liked these two lamps so much that she always wanted to touch them, so she placed them by the bed. Jiang Zhi looked at the lamps, then at her. This girl, with just a few words, could poke right at his heart. ¡°Come over and have breakfast first.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Zhou Xufang sat on the sofa, and just as she picked up her chopsticks, she noticed she had an unread message¡ªit was a WeChat transfer from Jiang Zhi, sent at five in the morning. She looked at Jiang Zhi, puzzled, ¡°Why did you transfer money to me?¡± Jiang Zhi took out the takeout boxes of crystal buns and shrimp dumplings, about to explain, but she beat him to it, ¡°Am I being kept by you?¡± ¡°¡­¡± The way her mind worked was always so intriguing. Her expression was blank, and Jiang Zhi poked her face lightly, ¡°What kept? Who taught you that word?¡± She had only learned the bad stuff. Zhou Xufang said, ¡°From the television.¡± Jiang Zhi served her some porridge, asking, ¡°Which television show? What¡¯s it called?¡± She recounted precisely, ¡°¡®President Gu, Your Delicate Wife Has Run Off with the Ball Again.''¡± Jiang Zhi, ¡°¡­¡± Those kinds of shows passed the censors? Zhou Xufang had recently become too engrossed in TV dramas. When she was his nurse at the hospital, the moment she had some time, she¡¯d be clutching a tablet, watching a show. That idiot Lin Wanwan even recommended her all sorts of soap operas. All corrupted by Lin Wanwan! ¡°Do you like watching TV dramas?¡± Zhou Xufang nodded eagerly, ¡°Yeah.¡± She used to watch them less but recently discovered they were so entertaining. Jiang Zhi then suggested, ¡°Don¡¯t watch all those messy ones. When I¡¯m done filming the movie, I will shoot a TV drama for you to watch.¡± Zhou Xufang had been secluded for too long, like a blank sheet of paper. He had to keep a close eye on her, not allowing any messy stuff to lead her astray. Zhou Xufang, ¡°Okay.¡± Jiang Zhi fed her a dumpling, ¡°Then what kind of TV drama do you like?¡± Zhou Xufang thought seriously, ¡°¡®President Gu, Your Delicate Wife Has Run Off with the Ball Again,¡¯ like that.¡± Jiang Zhi, ¡°¡­¡± She had truly inherited Lin Wanwan¡¯s teachings. He would remember this and settle it with Lin Wanwan later. Zhou Xufang stuffed a crystal bun in her mouth, ¡°You haven¡¯t said why you transferred money to me.¡± ¡°It¡¯s from Nanchu, a meeting gift.¡± Zhou Xufang checked the amount, ¡°It¡¯s a lot of money, can I accept it?¡± ¡°Keep it. When he gets a girlfriend, I¡¯ll send it back.¡± She put down her chopsticks, ¡°Then I¡¯ll transfer it to you.¡± ¡°It was given to you,¡± Jiang Zhi took away her phone, ¡°Eat.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Zhou Xufang picked up another crystal bun¡ªit was delicious. She pushed the rest of them towards Jiang Zhi, sharing with him. Halfway through their meal, Jiang Zhi received a phone call from Qiao Nanchu. ¡°The agent, Xiao Linsu, has turned herself in, claiming she was the one who drove the car that hit you.¡± Zhou Xufang puffed her cheeks and perked up her ears to listen. Jiang Zhi placed two crystal buns into her bowl, ¡°Did she drive Xiao Linsu¡¯s car?¡± Qiao Nanchu grunted in acknowledgment, ¡°That¡¯s what she¡¯s saying.¡± ¡°Is there any evidence?¡± ¡°There¡¯s dashcam footage.¡± Just when one wave had settled, another had risen. Jiang Zhi asked a few more questions and hung up. Zhou Xufang was staring at him, ¡°Are you going to the police station?¡± She took a sip of the porridge and set down her chopsticks, ¡°If the dashcam footage was tampered with, it¡¯d be pretty easy to find out. The evidence from Lin Shuang¡¯s confession should be real.¡± She thought for a moment, ¡°Whether Xiao Linsu is the principal offender, an accessory, or unaware, that depends on Lin Shuang¡¯s testimony.¡± She had low emotional intelligence, but she was clever. Jiang Zhi leaned back, stretched out his legs, and two blue mushroom slippers peeked out from under the coffee table, ¡°You heard all that?¡± ¡°Mhm,¡± she said, ¡°I have good hearing.¡± Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t bother to inquire just how good. ¡°Are you heading to the police station later?¡± she asked. He served her another small bowl of porridge, ¡°Mhm.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll come too.¡± ¡°Finish your meal first.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± She continued eating her porridge, ¡°Why aren¡¯t you eating?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve already eaten.¡± Well, okay. She ended up eating all the delicious crystal buns. After breakfast, Zhou Xufang picked out clothes to change into and went to the bathroom, while Jiang Zhi waited outside, leaning against the door, looking at the wardrobe across the way that had every kind of clothing. ¡°Xu Fang.¡± She responded from inside, ¡°Hmm?¡± Jiang Zhi asked her, ¡°Why did you become a professional errand runner?¡± He turned around, the glass being one-way, he could only see her blurry outline, ¡°If you don¡¯t want to say, you don¡¯t have to answer.¡± Zhou Xufang came out dressed, ¡°I need a lot of money.¡± Otherwise, she couldn¡¯t afford Moon Bay. The income of a professional errand runner was high, particularly for her, as she had a high success rate and was well-known within the industry, charging double, if not more, than her peers. Jiang Zhi walked over, his hand on her waist, pinching it gently, ¡°We¡¯ve just started our relationship, and I shouldn¡¯t interfere too much, but this industry is too dangerous, and I worry for you. Whether you switch careers should be your own decision. If you choose to continue, I won¡¯t stop you, but there¡¯s one thing you must promise me.¡± He lowered his head to look into her eyes, ¡°You can¡¯t take on those high-risk jobs anymore, deal?¡± Qiao Nanchu worked in intelligence, so Jiang Zhi knew a bit as well: many of the tasks of a professional errand runner were in a legal gray area, dangerous, and likely to make enemies. Zhou Xufang nodded, saying, ¡°Okay.¡± She had Jiang Zhi now, she thought. She intended to live a long, full life and couldn¡¯t just ¡®roam the martial world, fighting and killing¡¯ anymore. As for other matters, she¡¯d talk about them when she felt like it. Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t push any further, he took a card out of his wallet and placed it in her hand, ¡°If you¡¯re ever short on cash, use this.¡± Zhou Xufang refused, pushing it back to him, ¡°I¡¯ve got a lot of money, this entire building is mine.¡± She wasn¡¯t boasting; she spoke with complete sincerity, ¡°I¡¯ve saved a considerable sum. If the Jiang Family ever goes bankrupt, I could support you. I can even build you hospitals and laboratories.¡± Jiang Zhi, ¡°¡­¡± She was adorably impossible for him to handle. Deadly, indeed. By 8:30 a.m., Jiang Zhi and Zhou Xufang had arrived at the police station. ¡°You¡¯re here,¡± Qiao Nanchu, with his flirtatious looks, sipped his instant coffee, dressed in a police uniform, which gave his smile a bit of a roguish edge, ¡°Hello there, little sister-in-law.¡± Little Sister-in-law Zhou, embarrassed, bowed her head, ¡°He- hello.¡± She still wasn¡¯t accustomed to socializing. Jiang Zhi pulled a mask from his coat pocket, put it on Zhou Xufang, and shepherded her behind him, throwing Qiao Nanchu a look that suggested he better cut it out, then asked, ¡°Did you start the interrogation?¡± The sappy smell of romance was in the air. Qiao Nanchu downed the coffee in his disposable cup, threw a perfect parabola, and tossed the cup into the trash can, ¡°We¡¯re in the process, come with me.¡± He led the two of them to the monitoring room next to the interrogation room. Through the special glass, they could see the other side, where Captain Cheng of the Criminal Investigation Team was conducting an interrogation, ¡°Who ordered you to do this?¡± Lin Shuang looked a bit haggard but remained composed, ¡°Jin Song.¡± Captain Cheng persisted, ¡°Does Xiao Linsu know anything about it?¡± Without a moment¡¯s hesitation before answering, ¡°He was completely unaware.¡± Handcuffed, she leaned forward, looked straight into Captain Cheng¡¯s eyes, and stated, ¡°Ask as many times as you want, my answer will remain the same. You can bring in a micro-expression expert to see if I¡¯m lying.¡± She rested her handcuffed hands on the table and leaned back naturally, relaxed and unhurried, ¡°He has no connection to this at all. It was Jin Song who wanted to teach Jiang Zhi a lesson. He blackmailed Linsu with a video, and I was there at the time.¡± Captain Cheng pressed on, ¡°Then why were you the one to hit Jiang Zhi?¡± She picked up the cup beside her and took a sip of water, ¡°Linsu was hesitant, I was afraid Jin Song would release the video, so I made the decision for him.¡± Her expression only changed when talking about Xiao Linsu, ¡°It was my unrequited love for him. I was willing to do anything for him. Officer,¡± her eyes reddened, ¡°He hasn¡¯t broken the law.¡± Still the same line. Lin Shuang persisted in her confession, saying that it was all her doing and had nothing to do with Xiao Linsu. ¡°It¡¯s been reviewed several times, and it¡¯s always the same story,¡± said Vice Captain Xing of the Criminal Investigation Team, speaking to Qiao Nanchu, ¡°If there¡¯s no new evidence, we¡¯ll have to release her.¡± After all, the dashcam footage was irrefutable evidence, clearly capturing the entire process of Lin Shuang driving and hitting someone. Qiao Nanchu looked at Jiang Zhi: ¡°What do you think?¡± Thankfully, the dashcam footage didn¡¯t capture Zhou Xufang. Jiang Zhi was thinking about that. Qiao Nanchu waved his hand in front of his face: ¡°I¡¯m talking to you.¡± He took Zhou Xufang by the hand and left: ¡°Love issues, no point asking me.¡± The case had evolved into a love dispute now. In the end, Xiao Linsu was released, and at the police station entrance, he saw Jiang Wei¡¯er, more than ten days later, when everything had changed profoundly. She had lost a lot of weight. So had he. It was Jiang Wei¡¯er who broke the silence first: ¡°Let¡¯s talk.¡± Xue Bingxue was also standing by her side. Xiao Linsu¡¯s clothes were wrinkled and he looked disheveled: ¡°Okay.¡± The two went to the vacant lot behind the police station, Xue Bingxue didn¡¯t follow, waiting in place for Jiang Wei¡¯er. They faced each other in silence, silent for a long time. Above them, the national flag fluttered in the wind, her voice scattered, ephemeral and uncertain: ¡°Those words you said to Lin Shuang in the hospital, do you have any explanation?¡± She calmed down for a while, had thought of many possibilities, some good and some bad, and only dared to see him once she had calmed down. Xiao Linsu looked at her for a while, his gaze a bit cold and steady, no emotions given away, and spoke plainly, ¡°After my sister passed away, I wanted to break ties with Jin Song, but he had a video, and from that point, I knew it would be difficult to get out unscathed.¡± She listened, saying nothing. He continued: ¡°Lin Shuang said she found me a martial arts instructor, who was the Fifth Miss of the Jiang Family, and also said that the Jiang Family¡¯s Fifth Miss¡¯s idol just happened to be me.¡± Lin Shuang said the opportunity had come. His lifeline had appeared. Jiang Wei¡¯er asked with a slight tremor in her voice, ¡°So, from the beginning, you knew who I was?¡± He nodded: ¡°I just didn¡¯t know that you were the same person I met in my youth before I saw you.¡± He didn¡¯t know the Fifth Miss of the Jiang Family was the girl of his dreams; it started with a mistake, and then, everything went wrong. From then on, without having to say anything, she would help him, and in two years, he went from an unknown singer to a popular actor. ¡°What about the burn on Lin Shuang¡¯s body?¡± Jiang Wei¡¯er¡¯s hands hung at her sides and clenched, ¡°Did you do that?¡± He was silent for a long time: ¡°Yes.¡± His voice was low and hoarse, ¡°After being abused for a long time, one can develop the desire to abuse. I couldn¡¯t bring myself to hurt you, but Lin Shuang was different, she¡ª¡± She couldn¡¯t listen anymore: ¡°I don¡¯t believe it.¡± Her eyes reddened, and her trembling hands were clenched tightly, forcing herself to calm down, ¡°You¡¯ve hidden it for so long, why would you say it that day, outside my hospital room, without any concern? Wasn¡¯t it deliberate for me to hear?¡± He looked her straight in the eyes, unwavering, ¡°Because I got the video, it was time to end things.¡± She shook her head, ¡°You¡¯re not that kind of person¡­¡± she repeated to herself, muttering, ¡°You¡¯re not.¡± ¡°Wei¡¯er.¡± His voice remained gentle when he called her name, he said, ¡°I¡¯m an actor.¡± No matter what role, none were beyond his performance, and what she saw was only what he chose to show her. An actor excels at putting on a fa?ade. Jiang Wei¡¯er felt unsteady, stumbling back a couple of steps: ¡°One last question,¡± she stared at him, her gaze scorching, ¡°Did you truly know nothing about Lin Shuang driving into Jiang Zhi?¡± He replied, ¡°I didn¡¯t know.¡± ¡°If what you¡¯re saying is the truth, then there are two possibilities.¡± Her face was devoid of color, only her bitten lips were a bright red, ¡°First, you didn¡¯t want to work with Jin Song and didn¡¯t want to hurt Jiang Zhi, so it was Lin Shuang acting on her own initiative.¡± That was Lin Shuang¡¯s confession. She looked at him fiercely, ¡°Second, you wanted the video, and you wanted to hurt Jiang Zhi, but you didn¡¯t want to dirty your own hands, so you coaxed her skillfully, you had Lin Shuang walk into the trap willingly, to clear the obstacles for you, because you knew, that woman was foolish, she would do anything for you.¡± Her fists tightened, her nails dug into her skin, feeling no pain, while her feigned composure was close to shattering, her voice trembling, ¡°Which one is it? Xiao Linsu, don¡¯t lie to me.¡± He didn¡¯t answer directly: ¡°Does it still matter which one?¡± ¡°It matters.¡± His expression remained mild and calm, looking at her, composed, ¡°I never forced Lin Shuang to do anything, it was all her voluntary choice, and,¡± finally, his tranquil eyes stirred, ¡°ten years ago, it was Lin Shuang who introduced me to Jin Song.¡± She suddenly laughed. ¡°Are you still the Xiao Linsu I knew?¡± She stood, swaying, reached out, as if wanting to touch his face, but suddenly retracted her hand and hurriedly retreated, ¡°No, have I ever truly seen you?¡± Xiao Linsu just watched her intently, those eyes blurred, filled with desolation. ¡°From now on¡­¡± She began to speak, her voice broke, and the words stuck in her throat: ¡°Let¡¯s not see each other again.¡± He agreed. He said, ¡°Wei¡¯er,¡± his own voice quivered, his eyes reddened, ¡°take care.¡± After speaking, he was the first to turn away. ¡°Linsu.¡± He stood there, not turning around, ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°Do you ever love me?¡± ¡°I did.¡± He didn¡¯t turn to look at her; his voice quivered, ¡°It¡¯s just that the world has been so unfair to me, I have to love myself as well.¡± After he finished speaking, he put on his mask and sunglasses, turned his back to her, and walked further and further away. Jiang Wei¡¯er stood still, beginning to smile; soon her face was streaming with tears. ¡°Wei¡¯er.¡± She wiped her eyes and turned to see Xue Bingxue, ¡°Let me see her.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Lin Shuang was taken into custody, and when Jiang Wei¡¯er saw her again, she was already dressed in prison garb. ¡°I asked the lawyer, you¡¯ll get at least three years,¡± Jiang Wei¡¯er said across from her, her eyes red from crying, ¡°Do you regret it?¡± Lin Shuang was calm, ¡°No regrets.¡± ¡°What if he used you, would you regret it then?¡± Lin Shuang shook her head, ¡°There¡¯s no using, it was all my choice.¡± She looked at Wei¡¯er, her eyes full of resignation, ¡°Wei¡¯er, have you ever seen Xiao Linsu at the age of eighteen?¡± Jiang Wei¡¯er said, ¡°I have.¡± I remember how he was covered in wounds. ¡°Have you ever seen him before he debuted?¡± Lin Shuang asked. Jiang Wei¡¯er shook her head. ¡°I have.¡± She seemed to be speaking to herself, smiling with tears in her eyes, ¡°The first time I saw him, he was kneeling under a tree, speaking to a dog, saying,¡± She blinked, and tears fell, ¡°He said, sorry, I can¡¯t take you home, my sister has a heart condition, we can¡¯t keep a dog¡­¡± At that time, he was also just eighteen, youthful and innocent, wearing a clean school uniform, his eyes clear and uncorrupted by the turbid world. The young boy knelt on the ground, took off his school jacket, and laid it on the shivering puppy. Lin Shuang smiled through her tears, ¡°Back then, he was pure and kind.¡± Who hasn¡¯t been untainted once, only to be scarred by the dust of the world¡­ After leaving the police station, Jiang Wei¡¯er squatted on the ground and sobbed uncontrollably. Zhou Xufang stood nearby, struggling to watch, her eyes also reddening, ¡°Jiang Zhi, your aunt is crying.¡± Jiang Zhi patted her head, ¡°Someone¡¯s gone.¡± He took her by the hand, ¡°Come on, let¡¯s go home.¡± Behind them, Jiang Wei¡¯er cried. Xue Bingxue knelt beside her, awkwardly patting her back, unable to comfort, just repeating two words, ¡°Don¡¯t cry, don¡¯t cry, don¡¯t cry¡­¡± It was overcast, with rain on the way. Jiang Zhi hadn¡¯t gone far when Qiao Nanchu called him back with another phone call. ¡°There¡¯s a case,¡± Qiao Nanchu stated briefly, ¡°it¡¯s related to you.¡± Troubles never come singly. One after another. Jiang Zhi and Zhou Xufang returned to the police station. The projector was on, and Vice Captain Xing from the Criminal Investigation Team was presenting the case, ¡°The victim, Duan Xi, twenty-two years old, a female artist from Tianxing.¡± Captain Cheng added a comment, ¡°Tianxing again.¡± The Luo Family sure has had its share of troubles this year. Vice Captain Xing pressed a button to the next slide, and the victim¡¯s photo was projected. Zhou Xufang¡¯s gaze fixed; it was her¡­ ¡°The victim was stabbed four times. The murderer put the body in a suitcase and threw it into a pond in the suburbs. The forensic examination has been done; the victim¡¯s lower body had been assaulted with a sharp object like a pen and was severely injured. However, the assailant left no DNA. The fatal injury was a cut to the carotid artery, and the murder weapon was just an ordinary fruit knife. Since the body had been submerged for a long time, we can only approximate the time of death.¡± Vice Captain Xing looked towards Jiang Zhi, ¡°It¡¯s roughly the same time you were thrown into the sea, Mr. Jiang.¡± Jiang Zhi stayed silent, pulling the girl beside him closer into his arms, fearing the gore, and covered her eyes. Zhou Xufang pushed his hand away; she wanted to see. Vice Captain Xing continued, ¡°Moreover, our investigation found that Duan Xi also attended the cruise ship wedding that day. Witnesses saw her on the boat, meaning, her time of death was after boarding the ship. The first and second floors of the cruise were guest lounges with no surveillance, but we captured the victim at a few staircases. Before her death, two people had come into contact with her.¡± On the projector, two photos were displayed. A ripple stirred in Jiang Zhi¡¯s peach blossom eyes, almost instinctively; he took off Zhou Xufang¡¯s mask. Suspect number one¡ªZhou Xufang. Others couldn¡¯t recognize her, but Jiang Zhi did instantly. Vice Captain Xing explained, ¡°Suspect number one, female, judging by the outfit, seems to be a cruise ship waiter, but she wore a mask and gloves, acting suspiciously, and we have yet to verify her identity.¡± Zhou Xufang appeared lost in thought. But it was Jiang Zhi who, fearing she would be recognized, eagerly hid her in his embrace. ¡°The second suspect, we only captured a hand, but that hand¡¯s watch,¡± Vice Captain Xing asked Jiang Zhi, ¡°do you recognize it, Mr. Jiang?¡± I don¡¯t remember the hand, but I recognize the watch. Jiang Zhi looked at the men¡¯s watch, ¡°It¡¯s the person who pushed me into the sea.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right, the same person.¡± Because the man in the photo also had scratch marks on the back of his hand. Chapter 112 - Chapter 112: 112: Fang Bao, pamper me more Chapter 112: 112: Fang Bao, pamper me more That watch¡­ Qiao Nanchu took a few careful looks, then laughed, ¡°Brother Zhi.¡± No joking now, seriously, ¡°You should stop drawing in the future.¡± The soulful artist Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± Outside, the clouds dispersed, and the sun emerged again; the weather was fickle and ever-changing. After leaving the police station, Jiang Zhi walked a distance with Zhou Xufang before he asked her, ¡°Do you remember anything about the deceased?¡± Zhou Xufang nodded, ¡°She asked me for help. I was in a hurry to find you, so I hid her in a closet.¡± That room was a gathering place for waiters, which should have been safe in theory. She thought about the details, ¡°When I saw her, she was already injured, with lots of blood on her dress.¡± After pondering for a bit, she said to Jiang Zhi, ¡°She must have been murdered after getting off the boat. If it happened on the boat, it would have been easier for the killer to throw the body into the sea, there would be no need to take it off the boat to find a place to dump it.¡± Jiang Zhi¡¯s focus was different from Zhou Xufang¡¯s, ¡°Did she touch you when she asked for help?¡± Zhou Xufang nodded. He then asked, ¡°What about the clothes?¡± ¡°Thrown away.¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?0 ¡°Think it over, you can¡¯t let the police trace it back to you.¡± Others might die a grievous death, but that was their business; he only cared about his own people. It didn¡¯t matter who the killer was, as long as it didn¡¯t involve Zhou Xufang, not even as a suspect. Not to say it wasn¡¯t her that killed, even if it was¡­ ¡°I was very careful,¡± she said with a tiny hint of pride, ¡°I¡¯ve been a professional errand runner for so long and no one has discovered my identity.¡± Quite impressive! Jiang Zhi: ¡°Didn¡¯t I discover it?¡± True, her little tail was caught by Jiang Zhi. Zhou Xufang felt deflated all of a sudden, unable to understand, ¡°When did I slip up?¡± Her voice was disguised, her face covered, even her footsteps and stride were deliberately varied. ¡°You smell of milk.¡± Oh, the scent. She sniffed, ¡°I can¡¯t smell it.¡± Jiang Zhi smiled, holding her chin to lift her face, ¡°I recognize your eyes too.¡± She blinked. He poked her forehead gently, ¡°And your skull.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°I can recognize the back of your head with a touch.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Oh, so her skull and the back of her head were so distinctive! Zhou Xufang became distressed, ¡°So in the future, when I¡¯m on a mission, do I need to wrap up my skull and the back of my head too?¡± That would be so strange, like a female ghost. ¡°No need,¡± said Jiang Zhi, ¡°others definitely won¡¯t recognize you.¡± Zhou Xufang disagreed, feeling like she should still wrap up her skull and the back of her head in the future, ¡°But you recognized me.¡± ¡°Others can¡¯t compare with me.¡± He caressed the back of her head, liking it more and more the more he touched it, unable to let go, ¡°Who loves you as much as I do.¡± The dumbstruck Zhou Xufang: ¡°¡­¡± Jiang Zhi was so good at sweet talk, so she had to say something too, ¡°I like your skull and the back of your head as well.¡± After saying it, she became embarrassed and turned her head away, secretly giggling. The skull and the back of the head that were just complimented, Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± He gestured her over, ¡°Come here.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Zhou Xufang shuffled forward slowly. Jiang Zhi touched her head, ¡°You are a bit feverish.¡± She was so used to the fever, ¡°It¡¯s fine, it¡¯ll pass soon.¡± Jiang Zhi¡¯s hand was cool, resting on her hot face to cool her down, ¡°Do you get a fever when others kiss you, hug you, or say nice things to you?¡± Zhou Xufang shook her head like a rattle, ¡°No fever.¡± She said earnestly, ¡°I would hit him.¡± ¡°So,¡± Jiang Zhi¡¯s eyes curved with his smile, ¡°you feel this way because you like me?¡± She was dumbfounded. After recovering, she nodded with a flushed face. Jiang Zhi thought of something else, ¡°What if you stop liking me in the future¡ª¡± Zhou Xufang, whose survival instinct suddenly peaked, said, ¡°My immunity is quite strong. If I stop running a fever in the future, it would mean I¡¯ve become immune, not that I don¡¯t like you.¡± It wasn¡¯t impossible. The first time she had a fever, it lasted a long time, and medicine didn¡¯t help. But now, the fever subsided within minutes. Who knows, maybe in the future, she wouldn¡¯t get a fever at all. Jiang Zhi snorted, his mood soured by his own hypothetical scenario. Zhou Xufang couldn¡¯t figure out his sudden moodiness, so she scooted over, gently shaking his finger to appease him. Jiang Zhi reached out, wrapped his arm around her waist, and pulled her into his embrace, ¡°Say it three times, Zhou Xufang will always like Jiang Zhi.¡± Zhou Xufang, ¡°¡­Oh.¡± Her expression and tone remained constant, like a parrot, as she repeated it three times. ¡°Zhou Xufang will always like Jiang Zhi.¡± ¡°Zhou Xufang will always like Jiang Zhi.¡± ¡°Zhou Xufang will always like Jiang Zhi.¡± The girl seemed lost and naive, utterly compliant to him. Jiang Zhi¡¯s heart softened from being so sweetly placated, and he rested his chin in the crook of her shoulder, ¡°I want to kiss you.¡± Zhou Xufang shrank back, ¡°You can¡¯t, not out here.¡± She was too shy to kiss in public. Jiang Zhi pecked her blushing earlobe, ¡°Fine, let¡¯s go to the car.¡± Before he had finished speaking¡ª The third wheel turned on, ¡°Boss! Boss!¡± Ah Wan paid the taxi driver then ran toward his employer, blurting out his frustrations without thinking, ¡°Why didn¡¯t you call me before you left? What if you passed out while driving?!¡± Interrupted, Jiang Zhi was more than just upset, ¡°Who are you complaining to?¡± His peach blossom eyes held a sharp, icy gleam¡ªlike daggers. How scary! Ah Wan stopped his casual banter, ¡°You¡¯ve misunderstood, you are my boss; how could I complain to you? I¡¯m just worried about your well-being.¡± He put on a sincere face, ¡°Is your esteemed self still in good health?¡± What a drama queen. Lin Xijing showed a deeply concerned expression, along with a look of ¡®thank heavens and blessed be the gods, the Boss is alright¡¯: ¡°Seeing your rosy complexion, you must be in good health, that¡¯s a relief to me.¡± Then he naturally changed the subject, glossing over his earlier grumbling, ¡°Miss Zhou is here too.¡± His gaze fell on the intertwined fingers of his employer and Miss Zhou, surprised, ¡°Yikes! You two¡­ made it official?¡± The little white rabbit, Miss Zhou, was finally snatched into the wolf¡¯s den by the big bad wolf. The car parked some hundred meters away, Jiang Zhi walked ahead with Zhou Xufang, ¡°At the Jiang Family¡¯s place, keep your mouth shut.¡± Ah Wan followed behind, ¡°Why?¡± Curiosity piqued, he boldly guessed, ¡°Boss, are you afraid Madam Gu will play the matchbreaker?¡± Jiang Zhi ignored him. The more Ah Wan thought about it, the more he believed it to be the case, feeling somewhat melancholy, ¡°It¡¯s true, Fifth Miss and Mr. Xiao were stricken down with a single blow. Look at Mr. Xiao, he almost ended up in jail, and Fifth Miss¡¯s heart turned to ashes. Madam Gu cares too much about social status. Since you¡¯re her darling, she will definitely meddle in your marriage matters. If Madam Gu finds out Miss Zhou is just a screen protector installer, she might just issue her a hefty check to leave you, like Madam Gu did in ¡®President Gu, Your Dainty Wife has Run off with the Ball Again 2¡¯.¡± Ah Wan had finished all the Korean dramas and recently switched to domestic idol dramas. ¡°Boss, you¡¯re not in the best of health. If Madam Gu really breaks up the pair with a stick, that blow could¡ª¡± Jiang Zhi turned around, his beautiful eyes suddenly frosted over, ¡°Can¡¯t keep your mouth shut, can you?¡± Ah Wan, who had become increasingly bold from his close relationship with the screen protector installer, Miss Zhou, ¡°¡­I can keep it shut.¡± Then, Ah Wan fell silent. But Zhou Xufang piped up, ¡°Ah Wan, is there a second part of ¡®President Gu, Your Dainty Wife has Run off with the Ball Again¡¯? I haven¡¯t seen it.¡± Jiang Zhi, ¡°¡­¡± He couldn¡¯t scold his girlfriend, so what could he do? He just bore with it. Ah Wan, who had an extraordinary relationship with the screen protector installer, Miss Zhou, and had again grown bold, said, ¡°The TV series isn¡¯t out yet, but the novel is.¡± He walked ahead. The large, nearly two-meter-tall, two-hundred-pound figure managed to maintain not only his muscle but also the girlish heart inherited from Ms. Song, with great enthusiasm, ¡°Miss Zhou, you haven¡¯t seen the novel, right?¡± Zhou Xufang said, ¡°No.¡± For Ah Wan, it was time to win over the Boss Lady, ¡°I¡¯ll send you the link.¡± Zhou Xufang: ¡°Okay.¡± Ah Wan opened the rear door first, then sat in the driver¡¯s seat and continued to chat with the Boss Lady: ¡°I still have an uncut version of the good stuff, do you want it?¡± Zhou Xufang: ¡°Yes.¡± Just as Ah Wan was about to share the link through her phone, someone kicked the back of her seat: ¡°Lin Wanwan.¡± Ah Wan¡¯s hand, in the midst of sending the link, trembled. She couldn¡¯t scold her girlfriend, so Jiang Zhi looked up, his reflection in the rearview mirror showcasing a pair of peach blossom eyes sharp enough to draw blood: ¡°Do you think I¡¯m dead?¡± This time, Ah Wan completely shut up, tightly sealed her mouth. Again, it was Zhou Xufang who spoke during the lull: ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± She asked, ¡°What is this uncut version of the good stuff?¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± He gave a glance at the driver¡¯s seat, wishing he could twist off Lin Wanwan¡¯s head. Ah Wan tucked in her head and sneakily peeked at the rearview mirror, seeing the employer leaning close to Miss Zhou¡¯s ear. ¡°Stuff not suitable for children.¡± Zhou Xufang was curious, as it was her first time encountering such things. Jiang Zhi whispered in her ear again: ¡°I¡¯ll teach you later.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± The very Ah Wan who was straining to eavesdrop¡ª ¡°Are you not going to drive? Do you want to stay here overnight?¡± Ah Wan weakly asked for the location. Jiang Zhi said, back to his apartment. They had only just started the car when Zhou Xufang¡¯s phone received a WeChat message. ¡°Who¡¯s looking for you?¡± Zhou Xufang said: ¡°The porridge shop¡¯s Boss Lady, asking if I could help deliver takeout.¡± Today was the weekend, and the porridge shop would be busy. Zhou Xufang worked honestly and could move quickly, so the porridge shop¡¯s Boss Lady often asked for her help when she was swamped. Jiang Zhi was holding onto the corner of a pink cushion: ¡°Are you going?¡± ¡°I¡¯m going; I agreed last week to help.¡± A promise shouldn¡¯t be broken. The pink cushion became crumpled in his grip: ¡°What about me?¡± Zhou Xufang then said: ¡°I¡¯ll take you home first.¡± Even decorated with soft pastel colors, the car couldn¡¯t hide the gloom creeping through Jiang Zhi¡¯s peach blossom eyes: ¡°We were just together yesterday.¡± Zhou Xufang listened. ¡°And today you¡¯re leaving me behind.¡± ¡°Is working more important than me?¡± His tone tinged with annoyance, disappointment, and a barely perceptible hurt. Oh! She realized why he was unhappy. She said: ¡°Working isn¡¯t more important than you.¡± ¡°Then you¡¯re still going to work.¡± He had plans for a date, all set. Zhou Xufang, suffering from severe heterosexual pride, interpreted the meaning: I¡¯m more important than your job, thus you must not work, or you don¡¯t care about me. She then had another thought: ¡°Eating isn¡¯t as important as you either, so in the future,¡± she timidly suggested, ¡°can I no longer eat?¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± To Ah Wan, this logic was flawless, and he felt that maybe they had swapped their scripts. ¡°You go then,¡± Jiang Zhi turned to look out the window. ¡°Just spend your life working.¡± Childish, and unreasonably petulant. It was like being bewitched¡ªno wonder Xue Baoyi said one mustn¡¯t mess with emotions, as they could be deadly. Indeed, if Zhou Xufang wished, she could play to death a man as cowardly and wretched as him. Zhou Xufang tugged at his sleeve: ¡°Are you mad?¡± ¡°No.¡± She was certain now: ¡°You are definitely mad.¡± He remained silent. Reflected on the car window was a beautiful face, with an expression that spelled out in three bold capital letters¡ªHurry! Comfort me! But Zhou Xufang wasn¡¯t good at comforting: ¡°Don¡¯t be mad, I¡¯ll just,¡± also can¡¯t stop eating or working, ¡°I¡¯ll eat a bit less, work a bit less.¡± Since when did he forbid her to eat?! His own girlfriend, whom he couldn¡¯t scold or be angry with, he just chilled his handsome brows and eyes, looked away, not at her: ¡°Lin Wanwan, to the porridge shop.¡± Zhou Xufang said: ¡°I¡¯ll take you home first.¡± ¡°No need.¡± Jiang Zhi was mad at her. Jiang Zhi was ignoring her. Zhou Xufang felt lost, unsure what to do. Behind them, silence filled the air. Ah Wan couldn¡¯t bear to watch any longer, thinking the employer was being downright unreasonable! Did people turn so childish when in love? After about fifteen minutes, they arrived at the porridge shop, Ah Wan parked the car along the roadside. ¡°Jiang Zhi,¡± Zhou Xufang called him. He didn¡¯t respond. She felt a bit sad but didn¡¯t know what was wrong, her voice losing its energy, spiritless: ¡°Then I¡¯m going to deliver the takeout.¡± Slowly, she got out of the car. Jiang Zhi, with a stern face, sat hugging his arms, his gaze enough to bore a hole through the porridge shop¡¯s sign. Ah Wan, the friend of women, felt he needed to speak a fair word: ¡°Boss, I don¡¯t think you¡¯re being fair.¡± ¡°Where am I not fair?¡± With ¡®Boss¡¯ popping out, he was truly annoyed. Ah Wan, a courageous athlete, boldly spoke out: ¡°Although Miss Zhou is your girlfriend, she also has her own career. Maybe in your view, applying screen protectors and delivering takeout aren¡¯t promising, but Miss Zhou doesn¡¯t think so. It¡¯s her workplace, and even a boyfriend shouldn¡¯t interfere. If she has to give up her own career just to be with you, then how are you any different from Mr. Xue¡¯s uncles who keep canaries? And moreover, Miss Zhou promised others earlier, not going would be breaking her word.¡± After finishing, Ah Wan carefully observed the reactions. The employer was in thought. Seeing that he might be taking it in, Ah Wan continued: ¡°I know, you just want Miss Zhou to coddle you, to spend time with you, but she doesn¡¯t know that. She¡¯s so naive, her emotional intelligence is movingly low, she¡¯s never dated, and she doesn¡¯t even have friends.¡± Jiang Zhi suddenly looked up: ¡°Who are you calling emotionally na?ve?¡± Wasn¡¯t that the brutal truth? But that wasn¡¯t important, what¡¯s important was¡ª ¡°You also forbid her to watch TV or read novels, not allowing her to learn and observe, how would she understand a man¡¯s heart?¡± Ah Wan may not have eaten pork, but he¡¯d seen a lot of TV dramas about pigs running. With confidence and the air of a relationship consultant, he said, ¡°This is when you should patiently teach her, how can you just get mad so easily?¡± ¡°And you can¡¯t be so clingy, it suffocates people.¡± To be honest, Ah Wan was shocked himself¡ªhow deeply must he like the girl to feel so insecure? Where did that air of domination he used to carry vanish to? Someone awkwardly asked: ¡°So what should I do now?¡± The relationship consultant Lin Wanwan said: ¡°You can go with her to deliver the takeout. That way, you can take care of Miss Zhou¡¯s career and build your relationship at the same time.¡± Silence for a moment. Jiang Zhi looked at the entrance of the porridge shop: ¡°I¡¯ll go deliver takeout with my girlfriend, what about you?¡± Lin Wanwan, momentarily blank: ¡°Uh¡­¡± Jiang Zhi opened the car door and stepped out: ¡°You do the delivery.¡± Lin Wanwan: ¡°¡­¡± As a person, one shouldn¡¯t get too ahead of oneself. Chapter 113 - Chapter 113: 113: Ah Fang gets jealous, Jiang Zhi placates Chapter 113: 113: Ah Fang gets jealous, Jiang Zhi placates Zhou Xufang had just put on her delivery helmet when the Boss Lady placed the porridge on the cashier counter. ¡°Two portions, one for Jiangyuan Road and one for Tianjing Road.¡± Zhou Xufang held them in her hand: ¡°Okay.¡± As she turned around, she saw Jiang Zhi under the doorway wind chime, which jingled gently. The wind chime was purple, made of seashells, and hung not too low. But Jiang Zhi was too tall, and a small seashell just happened to fall on top of his head. The gloom in Zhou Xufang¡¯s eyebrows had instantly dispersed: ¡°You haven¡¯t left yet.¡± ¡°Um.¡± Jiang Zhi grabbed a handful of his hair, flicking off the wind chime, and walked into the store. He said, ¡°I¡¯ve come to apologize.¡± He walked up to her, his hair tousled by the wind chime, which made him look fluffier and gave off a particularly soft feeling as he pulled down his face mask, ¡°It was my fault for being unreasonable.¡± His eyes looked very obedient. He came to apologize, what to do? If she wasn¡¯t going to coax him, then let him do the coaxing. Zhou Xufang was not angry to begin with, and when he spoke softly, she felt even less of a temper, reaching up on her tiptoes to press down the tuft of his hair that had sprung up. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í?¦Ï.§ã¦Ï The Boss Lady was calling her. Zhou Xufang, seeming like a thief, quickly hid her hands behind her back: ¡°Hmm?¡± The Boss Lady said: ¡°A customer is rushing their order.¡± She responded with an ¡°Oh,¡± then said to Jiang Zhi, ¡°I¡¯ll go deliver the food first, wait for me in the store.¡± Jiang Zhi took the bag in her hand, handed one to Ah Wan, and kept the other: ¡°I¡¯ll come with you.¡± At this hour, the roads were very congested; a vehicle with four wheels was not as fast as one with two. Zhou Xufang would ride an electric bike to make deliveries. Jiang Zhi had been pampered all his life; he was quite delicate. Zhou Xufang said, ¡°You shouldn¡¯t go, it¡¯s very cold outside.¡± He held her and did not let go: ¡°Zhou Xufang, are you taking me with you?¡± His tone was assertive. But Zhou Xufang felt he was being coquettish. How could she resist his coquetry? Without a moment¡¯s hesitation, she gave in: ¡°I¡¯ll take you.¡± Jiang Zhi smiled, which brightened her mood, ¡°Boss Lady, do you have a spare helmet?¡± The Boss Lady said there was one: ¡°I¡¯ll go get it for you.¡± After getting the helmet, the Boss Lady pulled Zhou Xufang aside and whispered a few words. ¡°Is this your boyfriend?¡± Zhou Xufang nodded. The Boss Lady had a good impression of Zhou Xufang and knew she was inexperienced in social affairs, worried she might be taken advantage of, so she asked carefully, looking out for her: ¡°What does he do?¡± Zhou Xufang responded, ¡°He¡¯s a director.¡± Even before the Boss Lady could ask in detail, Zhou Xufang boasted: ¡°He¡¯s a very famous director.¡± ¡°Extremely talented.¡± ¡°He has made many films and won a lot of awards.¡± The usually quiet girl, when praising her boyfriend, had quite a lot to say, and usually not making eye contact, she now looked earnestly at people, her bright eyes filled with many small emotions like expectation, pride, and a bit of smugness: ¡°Boss Lady, have you seen ¡®Chicheng¡¯?¡± The Boss Lady said she had. She became more proud: ¡°That was directed by my boyfriend.¡± Look how proud she was. The Boss Lady was very surprised: ¡°So he¡¯s a big-time director; no wonder he looked familiar.¡± The Boss Lady peeked a couple of times, ¡°He¡¯s also very handsome, even better looking than the male stars on TV.¡± Zhou Xufang nodded vigorously. Jiang Zhi was the most handsome! His looks could make him an artist, yet he chose to be a director: ¡°I wonder how many female stars have fallen for him¡ª¡± Zhou Xufang¡¯s head instantly drooped. Realizing her words were inappropriate, the Boss Lady quickly stopped herself: ¡°Oh my, it¡¯s getting late, go deliver the food.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Zhou Xufang, carrying a helmet, went to find Jiang Zhi. They left the porridge shop one after the other; she walked ahead, quickly, and didn¡¯t let Jiang Zhi hold her hand. Jiang Zhi tapped on her yellow helmet: ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± She wore one and held another, her expression complex. ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± She fell silent again. Jiang Zhi straightened her slightly crooked helmet, ¡°Why are you unhappy?¡± Zhou Xufang had a small head covered by the hat, her large eyes prominent on her palm-sized face, ¡°Do a lot of female celebrities like you?¡± It was a female celebrity who had instructed her the first time she kidnapped Jiang Zhi. There was also someone named Yu Ran who wore scanty clothes to discuss scripts with Jiang Zhi at night. Thinking about this, Zhou Xufang¡¯s eyebrows were deeply furrowed, ¡°With your capabilities and good looks, there must be many female celebrities who like you.¡± Definitely many female celebrities wearing scanty clothes to see him! Jiang Zhi said no, ¡°I used to be gay.¡± Oh, right. He was gay. With a look of profound grievance, Zhou Xufang corrected, ¡°Then there must be many male celebrities who like you.¡± Definitely many male celebrities wearing scanty clothes to see him! Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± He could smell it, the sourness. ¡°Jealous?¡± he asked laughing, ¡°Are you jealous?¡± Zhou Xufang honestly admitted, ¡°Yes.¡± It¡¯s good that she gets jealous. It shows he¡¯s not so unloved. Jiang Zhi lifted her face and kissed her lips lightly, ¡°Still jealous?¡± She nodded. So he kissed her again, ¡°You have no need to be jealous, I only kiss you.¡± Who could compare with her, even if it¡¯s in dreams, she was the one on top of him. Ah, Zhou Xufang, his queen, who could act up over his head. After two kisses, she was completely soothed, glanced around, then put a mask on Jiang Zhi, her lips and cheeks red, ¡°What if we get caught on camera?¡± Seeing her thief-like nervousness, Jiang Zhi chuckled, ¡°I¡¯m a director, I don¡¯t appear on camera much, not that much attention on me.¡± He was used to keeping a low-profile, setting clear boundaries about his privacy when he entered the circle; moreover, the Jiang family¡¯s standing in Imperial City is well-established, not many dare to gossip without his consent. However¡ª Zhou Xufang took a look at his face and still felt a strong sense of crisis, ¡°You look so handsome, you¡¯re still very conspicuous, boys should also be careful outside.¡± So¡ª ¡°Can you wear a mask when you go out?¡± she said sincerely, ¡°I¡¯ll wear one too, we¡¯ll both wear them.¡± Had someone dared to compliment Jiang Zhi¡¯s looks to his face in the past, He didn¡¯t like being praised for his looks, preferring recognition for his capabilities; usually, any compliments about his face made him uncomfortable. However, somehow when those discomfiting words came from Zhou Xufang, they sounded delightful. Jiang Zhi was in a great mood, ¡°I¡¯ll listen to you.¡± Then he bent down, asking her to put the helmet on him. Each sporting a yellow helmet, Zhou Xufang rode the bike, carrying Jiang Zhi to deliver food. Ah Wan had gone to Jiangyuan Road, they headed to Tianjing Road, a fifteen-minute ride on an electric bike. The destination was secluded, an old residential area, with a construction site opposite, due to the poor environment, most residents had relocated, and most people living there were construction workers. There was no elevator; during the lunch break, the corridors and stairs were crowded with people, mostly men, some shirtless despite the cold, chatting in groups. You could smell it from afar. Jiang Zhi slightly pulled up Zhou Xufang¡¯s mask and pressed down the helmet, ¡°Wait for me outside, I¡¯ll make the delivery.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± ¡°Call me if you need anything.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Jiang Zhi took a handkerchief, covering his nose and mouth as he went in. Zhou Xufang stood in the lobby on the first floor, gathered her thoughts, listened to the noises upstairs, and as she focused, sounds from all directions flooded her ears. ¡°There¡¯s a new girl on the third floor, she¡¯s a prostitute.¡± ¡°How do you know? Have you tried?¡± ¡°Swaggin¡¯ while walking, it¡¯s obvious by one glance.¡± ¡°You old lecher, aren¡¯t you worried your wife will find out?¡± ¡°My wife¡¯s back in my hometown, she doesn¡¯t care.¡± ¡°¡­¡± The conversation that followed became increasingly unsavory. Most of the tenants in the neighborhood were men, with few women and children¡¯s voices to be heard. ¡°It¡¯s me, Mr. Han.¡± It was a young woman¡¯s voice, sounding like she was smoking, raspy and a bit lazy. ¡°Has the body been found?¡± ¡°You can rest easy, I¡¯ve taken care of everything.¡± ¡°When will you send me the money?¡± At that moment, someone outside shouted. ¡°Delivery.¡± It was Jiang Zhi. Zhou Xufang continued to listen. ¡°I can¡¯t wait too long; it¡¯s best if you settle the payment soon.¡± The woman ended the call, stubbed out her cigarette, put on a coat, and went to open the door, ¡°Coming.¡± Opening the door, there stood a handsome man, his remarkable features apparent even beneath a mask. ¡°Last name Chen?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± The woman reached out to take the delivery, revealing her arms marked with several red scratches. Jiang Zhi handed her the delivery and turned to leave. ¡°Wait.¡± The woman, very young and exceptionally charming and alluring at just over twenty, her tight sweater under her open coat accentuating her figure, ¡°Young man, can I have your contact?¡± The ¡®delivery guy¡¯ turned his head back, ¡°I don¡¯t use a phone.¡± The woman laughed, ¡°The delivery app has the rider¡¯s phone number.¡± Under the dim hallway light, a beautiful face shadowed half in light, half in dark, ¡°That¡¯s my girlfriend¡¯s number.¡± Downstairs, Zhou Xufang was covering her mouth and laughing. Soon, Jiang Zhi came out. ¡°That woman flirted with me!¡± He sounded quite displeased, complaining to Zhou Xufang. Zhou Xufang asked, ¡°So did you entertain her?¡± He became even more upset, sucking heavily on her face, ¡°I did, or else I was afraid she¡¯d give you a bad review.¡± He acted as if he had suffered a great injustice and started seeking Zhou Xufang¡¯s comfort again. Zhou Xufang smiled, and he was pacified. Speaking of Ah Wan, who went to deliver to Jiangyuan Road, it was his first time delivering. Ah Wan was a bit excited; Jiangyuan Road is a well-known affluent area, and he had been there a few times with his employer and knew his way around. Since it was an upscale villa area with strict access control, Ah Wan couldn¡¯t get in and used the guardhouse¡¯s communication equipment to contact the seller. ¡°Delivery for 405.¡± The seller said, ¡°Wait at the gate.¡± That voice¡­ sounded familiar. Seven or eight minutes later, a woman in sunglasses and a mask appeared, looking around apprehensively, ¡°Where¡¯s my delivery?¡± Ah Wan handed over the bag, ¡°Miss Ming, your delivery.¡± Ming Saiying, the fourth child of the Ming Family also mingled in the entertainment circle, and had a nickname, ¡®harem professional.¡¯ All in all, a big shot. This big shot had long coveted the beauty of Imperial City¡¯s top beauty, Jiang Zhi, and of course she recognized Ah Wan, quite surprised, ¡°Lin, Lin, Lin¡­¡± What was it again, she just couldn¡¯t remember, ¡°Big guy, it¡¯s you.¡± Ah Wan: ¡°¡­¡± Does being a big guy mean I don¡¯t deserve to have a name?! Don¡¯t I deserve human rights and respect?! Ah Wan coldly placed the delivery at the guardhouse window, ¡°Enjoy your meal and if it¡¯s convenient, please leave a good review, goodbye.¡± ¡°Wait a minute.¡± Ming Saiying stopped him, ¡°I still have something to ask you.¡± If it weren¡¯t for the five-star rating, Ah Wan wouldn¡¯t have stopped. He could guess what Ming Saiying was going to say with just his toes. ¡°I heard from Ming Xiaohua that Jiang Zhi turned straight and even got a girlfriend, is that true?¡± Many men and women chased after Jiang Zhi, but Ming Saiying was definitely one of the most enduring ones. Of course, don¡¯t think she was deeply in love; she was just obsessed with appearances. Ah Wan remained silent. Ming Saiying put on the air of a major harem player, ¡°Who is that woman?¡± He maintained his silence. She became anxious, ¡°If you don¡¯t tell me, I¡¯ll give a bad review.¡± ¡°Hmph, suit yourself.¡± Ah Wan left directly. Ming Saiying, forgetting she was a public figure, shouted angrily, ¡°Hey big guy, I wasn¡¯t done asking!¡± Ah Wan, ¡°¡­¡± He couldn¡¯t stand it anymore! Using his two-meters and 200 kilograms presence, he said, ¡°My name isn¡¯t ¡®big guy.¡¯ My surname is Lin, Lin Wanwan.¡± Ming Saiying sneered, her laugh as frivolous as a prodigal, ¡°For a big man, your name is more feminine than a lady¡¯s.¡± ¡°¡­¡± How manly do you think a lady¡¯s name can be? Don¡¯t you have any fucking sense?! Ah Wan was so angry he could have died! In the end, he restrained himself, not bothering to argue with the likes of her. By the time he reached the porridge shop, the employer and Miss Zhou had already arrived. The employer stepped aside to take a call. Ah Wan approached, ¡°Miss Zhou.¡± Zhou Xufang was eating porridge, ¡°Mmm.¡± Ah Wan with a heavy expression, ¡°You might be getting a bad review.¡± He had delivered for Miss Zhou, so the rider was Miss Zhou. Zhou Xufang understood what he meant, ¡°It¡¯s okay.¡± Ah Wan still felt guilty, ¡°I will definitely help you get your rating back up.¡± Jiang Zhi was outside the porridge shop on the corridor taking a call, from Qiao Nanchu. ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± ¡°The medical examiner just sent over a new autopsy report. From the height and strength of the fatal wounds, the murderer is very likely a woman.¡± Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t respond, his gaze passing through the glass showcase, he was watching Zhou Xufang. ¡°As of now, the biggest suspect is that female waiter,¡± Qiao Nanchu leisurely continued, ¡°If I¡¯m not wrong, she¡¯s that professional errand runner, right?¡± Jiang Zhi neither denied nor confirmed. Qiao Nanchu asked, ¡°What exactly is your relationship with her?¡± Jiang Zhi answered, ¡°An unspeakable relationship.¡± The lunch rush was over and the shop had fewer people. ¡°Auntie.¡± A woman, her hair in a ponytail and wearing a lady¡¯s suit, was helping an elderly lady walk down from the second floor, ¡°Take care of my mom for a bit, I need to step out.¡± The woman was the niece of the Boss Lady. The Boss Lady was at the cashier, sparing a moment to acknowledge her, then she led the elderly lady to sit next to the cashier counter and instructed her a few times before leaving. The elderly lady, clearly not in a normal mental state, sat muttering for a while, then climbed off the chair by herself. The Boss Lady, busy settling bills for customers, didn¡¯t notice. She walked over to Zhou Xufang¡¯s table and said loudly, ¡°Why are you still here?¡± She waved her hands, urging, ¡°Hurry up and work, or else the elder and younger miss will see and whip you.¡± ¡°Are you talking to us?¡± Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t recognize the lady. Ah Wan did. He called out, ¡°Ms. He.¡± Ms. He had returned to the cashier, took a pair of scissors, smiled at Zhou Xufang and waved her over, ¡°Luo San, come here, Aunt Xiu will cut your hair.¡± Aunt Xiu¡­ Zhou Xufang froze. Ms. He had already lifted the scissors over her head, a hand reached from behind and grabbed her hand, ¡°Mom, what are you doing with the scissors?¡± Ms. He¡¯s daughter, recognized by Ah Wan too, was Luo Jiatang. Chapter 114 - Chapter 114: 114: Spinning Brand Dog Food, Sweet Secret Crush Chapter 114: 114: Spinning Brand Dog Food, Sweet Secret Crush Ms. He¡¯s daughter, Ah Wan, also recognized Luo Jiatang. She snatched the scissors. Ms. He screamed twice, looked around frantically with a vacant gaze, and started talking to herself. ¡°I want to cut Luo San¡¯s hair.¡± ¡°They will hit her.¡± ¡°I need to cut hair.¡± ¡°The roses have bloomed¡­ I need to cut Luo San¡¯s hair.¡± She fixed her gaze on Zhou Xufang¡¯s hair, muttering incessantly, her hand continuously pounding on the table. Tang Xiang helped her sit down, whispering words of comfort, ¡°Mom, she¡¯s not Luo San. Luo San was called by the Second Miss to water the flowers.¡± ¡°Has she gone to water the flowers?¡± Tang Xiang nodded. Only then did Ms. He stop making a fuss and stopped pounding on the table, murmuring with her head bowed, ¡°She¡¯s going to get beaten again.¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.?¦Ï ¡°Little Mute is going to get beaten again.¡± ¡°Where¡¯s the phone? I need to call the old man.¡± Tang Xiang called out ¡®Second Aunt¡¯. The Boss Lady immediately picked up the phone and called Ms. He over. Tang Xiang breathed a sigh of relief, put the scissors away, and approached Zhou Xufang¡¯s table, ¡°I¡¯m very sorry, did I scare you?¡± Zhou Xufang shook his head. The wind blew the door chime, which rang twice. Jiang Zhi entered and asked, ¡°What happened?¡± ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± The first call was from Zhou Xufang, the second from Tang Xiang. Oh, they all know each other. Tang Xiang looked Zhou Xufang over briefly, nodded politely, then turned to Jiang Zhi, ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to introduce us?¡± Jiang Zhi sat down, speaking concisely, just three words: ¡°Zhou Xufang.¡± It¡¯s Zhou Xufang. Not girlfriend Zhou Xufang. Zhou Xufang understood that this person needed to be guarded against. ¡°Hello,¡± Tang Xiang smiled lightly, ¡°I¡¯m Tang Xiang.¡± Zhou Xufang looked up, expressionless, ¡°Hello.¡± She was dressed all in black, her face cold and aloof, her eyes watchful, her whole demeanor screaming, ¡°Don¡¯t talk to me, I don¡¯t know you.¡± ¡°Just now I startled Miss Zhou,¡± Tang Xiang apologized again, ¡°I¡¯m truly sorry.¡± Zhou Xufang: ¡°It¡¯s okay.¡± Her lips were thin, suggesting a strong sense of distance the moment they pursed, and along with her high-class disinterested look, her expression still read¡ªDon¡¯t talk to me, I don¡¯t know you. Such a peculiar person. Tang Xiang glanced at the time, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I have to leave first.¡± Zhou Xufang nodded, indicating¡ªPlease do. After Tang Xiang and her mother had left, Zhou Xufang then asked Jiang Zhi, ¡°Who is she?¡± Jiang Zhi poured a glass of hot water and after cleaning the spoon, she brought her own bowl of porridge over, picking out the shrimp and placing it into Zhou Xufang¡¯s bowl, ¡°Part of the Luo family.¡± No wonder Jiang Zhi was cautious. Zhou Xufang had also heard rumors on the set; it seemed Jiang Zhi and the Luo family were at odds. She asked further, ¡°Why only part?¡± ¡°She and her father were both raised in the Luo family to serve them, outsiders in name.¡± In ancient times, called a family slave. In modern times, called a housekeeper, but Tang Xiang was different; she managed more than just affairs at home, she also managed Luo family¡¯s business, holding significant power. ¡°Tang Xiang is capable and skilled, the old master of the Luo family values her greatly, publicly calling her the righteous daughter of Luo Changde.¡± Zhou Xufang felt it was more than just a part, almost a significant part of the Luo family. ¡°And who is Luo San?¡± she had many questions today. Jiang Zhi¡¯s action of picking shrimps halted for a moment, ¡°Who told you about Luo San?¡± Her gaze cold as she glanced at Ah Wan. Ah Wan: ¡°!¡± Unjustly accused! ¡°Tang Xiang¡¯s mother called me Luo San just now.¡± Ms. He really is severely ill; she can¡¯t even distinguish genders anymore. Jiang Zhi put down her spoon and took a wet wipe to clean her hands. ¡°He is an adopted son of the Luo Family.¡± Zhou Xufang was seriously listening, a rare occurrence of curiosity. Jiang Zhi licked her lips and remained silent for a long time. ¡°Eight years ago, the Luo Family¡¯s house caught fire, and Luo San was burned to death.¡± Her eyelashes drooped, concealing the emotions in her eyes, Jiang Zhi said, ¡°Tang Xiang¡¯s father also died in that fire. After that, her mother became mentally unstable.¡± Her tone was very low. The air pressure was also low. In Jiang Zhi¡¯s eyes, Zhou Xufang saw a great cloud of gloom, Oh, she remembered that on the cruise, Luo Qinghe had mentioned that Luo San was someone Jiang Zhi cherished. Now she too was someone cherished by Jiang Zhi, which made Luo San her ¡®neighbor.¡¯ She felt she was about to get jealous, no, she couldn¡¯t get jealous, her ¡®neighbor¡¯ was already deceased, she couldn¡¯t be petty. After calming herself, she continued to ask Jiang Zhi, ¡°Was the Luo Family¡¯s house fire a natural disaster?¡± ¡°It was arson.¡± Zhou Xufang fell into deep thought. Jiang Zhi placed the last piece of shrimp in her bowl, ¡°Why are you curious about this?¡± Zhou Xufang said, ¡°I don¡¯t like the Luo Family.¡± Luo Qinghe is a wicked woman, and so is Luo Yinghe. Jiang Zhi gently touched her seriously expressioned face, ¡°I don¡¯t like them either.¡± See, how perfectly matched she and Jiang Zhi were, Zhou Xufang thought. Jingbai City is the territory of the Lu Family from Imperial City; the seven-story building is located in the city center, with floors one to four being a shopping center, the fifth floor a tea house and restaurant, and the sixth and seventh floors a club and cinema, respectively. Zhou Qingrang had a meeting scheduled in the teahouse on the fifth floor, three o¡¯clock, and the other party arrived on time. ¡°Mr. Zhou.¡± The middle-aged man sat down, sliding a folder over: ¡°The fire eight years ago, the Luo Family probably tampered secretly, all related personnel have been handled.¡± This man worked for a professional errand company, Zhou Qingrang had hired him to investigate the Luo Family¡¯s background. ¡°What about Luo San?¡± Zhou Qingrang opened the folder. The middle-aged man said, ¡°It¡¯s similar to what the Luo Family disclosed publicly; Luo San was a child adopted by Tang Guangji¡¯s couple from their hometown, only the Luo Family and Tang Guangji¡¯s wife, He Xiangxiu, knew from where exactly the child was adopted.¡± The middle-aged man was average in appearance, wearing glasses on his nose, ¡°After Tang Guangji¡¯s death eight years ago, He Xiangxiu became mentally unstable.¡± Zhou Qingrang flipped through a few pages, ¡°Help me check something, during my hospital stay, who was paying for my hospital expenses.¡± The other party responded, ¡°Okay.¡± Zhou Qingrang took out a card from his wallet, placed it on the table, then drank the tea in his cup in one gulp, and pushed his wheelchair out of the teahouse. Since it was the weekend, there were many passersby. When turning the corner in the corridor, his walking stick from the wheelchair scraped against a person. That person was on the phone, quite irritated, and cursed with a swear word: ¡°Damn, can¡¯t you watch where you¡¯re going?¡± Zhou Qingrang moved his wheelchair to the innermost side, and quietly apologized. Probably because his demeanor was elegant, sitting in a wheelchair and hanging his head low, he still exuded an extraordinary aura, which the bumped man disliked at the sight of his suit and shoes, touched the tattoo on his neck, and disdainfully spoke: ¡°If your legs aren¡¯t good, you shouldn¡¯t go out and bother others.¡± What an act of elegance! Feeling vexed, the man spat on the ground to clear the bad luck and continued on the phone: ¡°No worries, just bad luck running into a damn cripple, go on.¡± The temperature had dropped the past couple of days; wearing a prosthetic was too painful. Zhou Qingrang hadn¡¯t worn it today, the blanket covering the empty space under his left leg. He tugged on the blanket to adjust it properly and pushed his wheelchair towards the elevator. The elevator button was a bit high; he couldn¡¯t reach it. A tender hand pressed the button. Then came the clear voice of a girl, ¡°Do you need help?¡± Zhou Qingrang looked up: ¡°No need,¡± he said, ¡°Thank you.¡± The girl said nothing, standing next to him. Once the elevator doors opened, she walked in first to the furthest corner, then Zhou Qingrang followed with his wheelchair, his back to her. She could see his straight back just by lowering her head. Zhou Qingrang. Zhou Qingrang. Zhou Qing¡ª When she silently repeated it for the third time, the man on the wheelchair turned around: ¡°Hello.¡± Lu Sheng was taken aback, stuttering after a long pause, ¡°Hello.¡± His tone was gentle, and he asked politely, ¡°Your umbrella is still with me, could you tell me your address?¡± Address?! ¡°Ah?¡± Lu Sheng had been duking it out in the business world with her father since she was a teenager, so there wasn¡¯t a scenario she hadn¡¯t seen. Her name as Second Miss Lu was well-known in Imperial City. No one had seen her this nervous, swallowing her saliva. ¡°Last month, outside Tingyu Building,¡± Zhou Qingrang patiently explained, ¡°you borrowed my umbrella and have not yet returned it.¡± The voice of a broadcast host, truly one of a kind. Even ordinary sentences, when he slowly recited them, sounded charming. Lu Sheng still remembered the first time she heard Zhou Qingrang¡¯s voice; at that moment, she had only one thought¡ªto keep him to herself, so he could tell her stories by her bedside every day. Later, after meeting him, her thoughts changed; she wanted to coax him into hiding under her sheets. She lost her composure, her eyes wide, unable to conceal her excitement, ¡°You remember me?¡± Zhou Qingrang said, ¡°I remember.¡± Her eyes twinkled as she quickly blinked twice and said, ¡°I can¡¯t tell you my address.¡± Today she was dressed in a black business suit, and her makeup was impeccable, but¡­ She couldn¡¯t help but smile like a schoolgirl, ¡°Can you give me your number? I can come to the station to pick it up.¡± She knew he worked at the radio station. Zhou Qingrang had clear, handsome features, and his gaze when he looked at someone was very mild, ¡°Do you recognize me?¡± Lu Sheng nodded, ¡°Yes, I¡¯m a fan.¡± He smiled, ¡°Good.¡± He took a piece of paper from the storage box beside the wheelchair armrest and wrote down a string of digits for her, ¡°Sorry to bother you.¡± Lu Sheng, ¡°No bother at all!¡± Just then, the elevator reached the ground floor. After Zhou Qingrang nodded, he went out first; Lu Sheng followed, feeling too embarrassed to catch up immediately, so she pretended to head to the reception desk. ¡°Second Miss¡ª¡± Lu Sheng hushed her, and the receptionist quickly closed her mouth. They watched as the young boss of Jingbai City stealthily followed him, glued to the glass for a long time before reluctantly turning back. Secretary Yang Xiu then came over. Lu Sheng straightened her hair beside her ear and asked, ¡°Where is he?¡± The atmosphere suddenly shifted. The title of the little business demon wasn¡¯t for nothing; Yang Xiu carefully responded, ¡°On the second floor.¡± She headed to the second floor, Yang Xiu trailing behind. In the elevator, she suddenly said, ¡°The buttons in the mall¡¯s elevator are too high.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll arrange for someone to come and modify it.¡± ¡°As soon as possible.¡± Every floor of the mall had a lounge that only VIP customers with annual spending over a million could enter; at this moment, the second-floor lounge was cleared, and people were guarding the door. Footsteps were heard before anyone appeared. Two men at the door immediately stood straight and lowered their heads, ¡°Second Miss.¡± She hummed, entered the lounge, took off her coat, and threw it to the female secretary, ¡°Where is he?¡± The secretary signaled with her eyes, and a security guard entered the room and dragged a man out, pushing him onto the couch. ¡°Who¡ªwho are you people?¡± The man being pressed had tattoos on his neck, and he was trembling and struggling. The room filled with security and secretaries remained silent. Lu Sheng said, ¡°Someone to teach you manners.¡± She picked up a bottle of red wine, walked over, and because she was quite young, spoke casually but seriously, ¡°You should be polite when you¡¯re out and about; didn¡¯t your parents teach you that?¡± The tattooed man kicked and struggled; Yang Xiu kicked him directly, making him behave. ¡°Cripple?¡± The young girl laughed. She twirled the wine bottle in her hand, tapping the man¡¯s head lightly and intermittently. She asked with a smile, ¡°Who gave you the audacity to call him a dead cripple?¡± She emphasized the last word, revealing her sharpness. ¡°I¡ªI¡ª¡± Before he could finish, the wine bottle crashed down. ¡°Bang!¡± The wine contained gas, and erupted with a loud sound. Red wine and glass shards splattered the man¡¯s face; he was dumbstruck, staring at the dent made by the wine bottle on the table corner. Of course, he had not been hit. Lu Sheng, a legitimate businesswoman, didn¡¯t engage in illegal acts. She threw away the broken wine bottle, only a small half remaining, wiped her hands with a tissue, and sat on the couch, ¡°He hasn¡¯t gone far. Go downstairs and apologize. If he doesn¡¯t forgive you, I will kill you.¡± ¡°I¡ªI¡ªI¡­¡± Unable to speak, the man trembled as he desperately crawled away. Lu Sheng tossed the used tissue into the trash can, pursed her lips: Humph, really can¡¯t take a scare. ¡°Second Miss.¡± Yang Xiu stepped forward with a cellphone, ¡°Young Master Xinglan¡¯s call.¡± She took it. ¡°Brother.¡± The voice on the other end of the phone was lazy, as if still half-asleep, ¡°Who is Zhou Qingrang?¡± Lu Sheng sat up straight, glanced at the people in the room, ¡°Who went to you again to gossip?¡± Who would dare. ¡°Just now at the dinner table, I met someone from the TV station who told me that Zhou Qingrang would soon be transferred back to the TV station.¡± He spoke unhurriedly, ¡°Tell me, who is Zhou Qingrang?¡± Now that she knew, she couldn¡¯t be bothered to be coy, ¡°He¡¯s the person I like.¡± Speaking of Zhou Qingrang, her eyebrows danced with excitement, and her expression was incredibly animated. There was silence on the other end of the phone for quite some time. ¡°He¡¯s fourteen years older than you, missing one leg, and the other is nearly lame.¡± Lu Xinglan directly called out, ¡°Lu Sheng.¡± His tone turned stern, and Lu Sheng faltered. ¡°Our family doesn¡¯t care about social status, but as your husband,¡± his tone left no room for doubt, ¡°he must at least be in good health.¡± Lu Sheng pouted, ¡°You¡¯re still being picky, and he doesn¡¯t even know who I am.¡± Her tone was extraordinarily dejected but also dissatisfied because she hadn¡¯t yet caught his eye. Lu Xinglan chuckled softly, ¡°So you mean, it¡¯s still unrequited love? You¡ª¡± His sentence suddenly cut off. Lu Sheng called out, ¡°Brother?¡± ¡°Brother?¡± No one responded to her. A moment later, the phone was picked up by someone else, Lu Xinglan¡¯s accompanying secretary, ¡°Second Miss, Young Master Xinglan has fallen asleep again.¡± Lu Sheng, ¡°¡­¡± Her brother¡¯s hypersomnia was getting more severe. After hanging up the phone, she stood up and walked to the floor-to-ceiling window, looking downstairs. She had mild nearsightedness and usually disliked wearing glasses. She couldn¡¯t see clearly downstairs and squinted to see. Zhou Qingrang hadn¡¯t gone far indeed; today was a weekend, and there were too many people, making his wheelchair move very slowly. ¡°Sir!¡± ¡°Sir, wait!¡± Zhou Qingrang turned around, ¡°What is it?¡± It was the man who had called him a cripple. The man was covered in sweat, his face and neck still stained with red wine and a few streaks of blood from glass shards, looking very embarrassed and panicked. He ran over, stammering as he began, ¡°I¡ªI came to apologize, I¡¯m sorry for earlier.¡± Zhou Qingrang sat quietly in his wheelchair, not responding. The man glanced at the second floor of the mall, then immediately withdrew his gaze in a fluster, and knelt down, hands pressed together, squeezing out two lines of clear tears, ¡°It was all my fault for not recognizing a great person. I was out of line, and I have no manners.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry, sir, I know I was wrong, and I will never discriminate against people with disabilities or be so arrogant again, please forgive my ignorance of youth.¡± It was almost as if he would kowtow. Zhou Qingrang silently watched the man kneeling on the ground. ¡°Sir, then have you¡­¡± the man said earnestly, his expression fearful, ¡°forgiven me?¡± As sweat the size of beans rolled down his face freely, he trembled, ¡°If you don¡¯t forgive me, I¡ªI¡ª¡± The man clenched his teeth, ¡°I will kneel here indefinitely!¡± A grown man kneeling on the street quickly attracted the attention of passers-by. Zhou Qingrang moved his wheelchair to the side of the road, trying not to block the path, and said to the man, ¡°You can get up.¡± He still knelt, ¡°So, you have forgiven me?¡± Zhou Qingrang nodded. The man was profusely grateful, almost bursting into tears, ¡°You are truly a good person.¡± Zhou Qingrang, ¡°¡­¡± a bit amused. Afternoon. Zhou Xufang delivered seven takeaway orders, Jiang Zhi refused to rest and insisted on going along. Riding on the electric scooter in the cold wind, Zhou Xufang stuck eight heating pads on him to prevent him from getting cold. In the evening, Jiang Zhi drove her home. The Maybach stopped outside Yuquan Bay, not entering the community. Zhou Xufang mentioned it was getting cold at night and urged him to quickly go home. ¡°Zhou Xufang.¡± Sometimes when Jiang Zhi was a bit moody, he liked to call her by her full name. Zhou Xufang tilted her head to look at him, ¡°Hmm?¡± Forget it, not going to scold her. He forcefully kissed her cheek, leaving it red before he stopped, ¡°Sleep early. I¡¯ll come over to pick you up at eight tomorrow morning.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± She had just agreed and was about to open the car door when Jiang Zhi caught her hand, his tone unsatisfied and a bit resentful, ¡°Zhou Xufang, you really don¡¯t cling to me enough.¡± Chapter 115 - Chapter 115: 115: Fang Bao: Jiang Zhi, I miss you Chapter 115: 115: Fang Bao: Jiang Zhi, I miss you ¡°Zhou Xufang, you¡¯re not clingy enough with me.¡± Zhou Xufang¡¯s experience with interpersonal relationships was basically nil. Clingy, that word was a bit beyond her comprehension. Hmm, she didn¡¯t quite understand¡ªshould she stick to Jiang Zhi every single day like those eight warming pads? ¡°I¡¯m going back now, and you don¡¯t seem to care at all.¡± His tone sounded annoyed, but he was full of grievances. He even huffed at her, like a spoiled cat. When you stop pampering it, it can throw quite a tantrum, and it might even pat you with its chubby paws. As expected. He nibbled on her chin again, forcefully. Zhou Xufang calmly wiped off his saliva: ¡°I do care.¡± It¡¯s just that, she said, ¡°but we can see each other tomorrow.¡± She disapproved of his saliva! Jiang Zhi¡¯s slightly mollified mood flared up again: ¡°You don¡¯t even kiss me on your own.¡± Zhou Xufang¡¯s serious face crumbled into shyness: ¡°There are, there are people.¡± It should be mentioned that when Zhou Xufang watched television, she would look up at the ceiling and take a sip of milk to calm down whenever a kissing scene came on. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.§ã¦Ï After dating Jiang Zhi, she got slightly better. She dared to watch with squinted eyes. Jiang Zhi was talented in those areas, having directed various kinds of passionate kissing scenes. ¡°Lin Wanwan,¡± Jiang Zhi commanded, ¡°leave.¡± Ah Wan: ¡°¡­Oh.¡± Such a beast, this employer of hers. Jiang Zhi rolled up the car window and moved his face closer: ¡°Zhou Xufang, there¡¯s no one around now.¡± Zhou Xufang looked around, peeking in every direction. Jiang Zhi watched her panicked look with amusement: ¡°Why do you act like a thief when kissing your boyfriend?¡± Ah Wan crouched down five meters away on the roadside. Zhou Xufang quickly covered his mouth: ¡°Don¡¯t be so loud, if someone discovers us it won¡¯t have a good¡ª¡± Jiang Zhi wasn¡¯t listening anymore, he removed her hand and kissed her chattering mouth. After a while, Jiang Zhi let Zhou Xufang get out of the car, Ah Wan had already given up hope for this morally degenerate world, too lazy to even roll her eyes at the self-satisfied Mr. Jiang. Zhou Xufang sneaked back into the residential area like a thief. The Maybach waited for a quarter of an hour, then started up and drove away. Thirty seconds later, a black Volvo drove out of the neighborhood and followed it. The Volvo was Zhou Xufang¡¯s car, a bit on the pricier side, and Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t know it was hers. She secretly saw Jiang Zhi back to his place, a round trip that took nearly two hours. By the time she returned to the neighborhood, it was already past ten. She parked the car and went to buy two rows of AD calcium milk at the neighborhood convenience store, crouching at one side to drink. Wen Baiyang also crouched down, typed something on his phone, and showed it to Zhou Xufang. ¡°Will you come over to work part-time later?¡± Zhou Xufang said: ¡°I¡¯ll come.¡± Wen Baiyang brought two small stools over, she sat on one and offered the other to Zhou Xufang: ¡°You seem to be in a bad mood.¡± Zhou Xufang shook her head: ¡°I haven¡¯t been sleeping well recently, always having dreams.¡± Always dreaming of that attic in the Luo Family. Wen Baiyang pulled out a very small canvas bag from his jacket pocket. The bag was sealed, and inside was a portable music player, an old model from many years ago. He handed one of the earphones to Zhou Xufang: ¡°I used to have dreams as well, this is from my benefactor, and it¡¯s very effective when I can¡¯t sleep.¡± He added, ¡°Even though I can¡¯t hear it.¡± A gentle piano piece played in her ear, a song Zhou Xufang had never heard before. This old music player had been well-maintained, signifying its original owner was someone very cherished by Wen Baiyang. ¡°A benefactor?¡± ¡°Yes, the one who brought me out of the mountain.¡± He used sign language, stating, ¡°I have two benefactors. They are both very kind people.¡± Zhou Xufang had already learned to understand simple sign language. ¡°You are too,¡± she replied in sign language. ¡°You are also a very kind person.¡± Wen Baiyang smiled, his round eyes shining like the stars in the sky. Zhou Xufang finished drinking her two rows of AD calcium milk while sitting and got up from the stool: ¡°I¡¯m going home now, I¡¯ll come back later.¡± Wen Baiyang nodded. Guided by the streetlights, she stepped on the shadows of the cedar trees scattered on the ground and slowly made her way back to the neighborhood, the shadows on the ground swaying, and her hair tips flickering as well. The night was beautiful. The neighborhood guard, Mr. Fang, had recently brought his dog along¡ª a well-behaved Golden Retriever named Gui Fei. Gui Fei recognized Zhou Xufang from afar and wagged her tail at her. Mr. Fang emerged from the guardroom, his face creased with a smile, ¡°Xu Fang is back.¡± Ah Wan and Mr. Fang were very friendly to Zhou Xufang, so friendly that she almost forgot that it was her red eyes that had terrified the previous guard into fleeing in utter panic. Although Zhou Xufang hardly interacted with others, when others treated her with courtesy, she would try to respond as a normal person would. She approached and greeted, ¡°Good evening, Uncle Fang.¡± Mr. Fang¡¯s eyes filled with even more affection as he looked at her, ¡°Ah, dear, you really are well-behaved.¡± Ah Wan continued wagging its tail. From a distance, under the dim street lights, Wen Baiyang stood in front of the convenience store with a faint smile on his lips: Her benefactor was a very good person. That year, when Wen Baiyang was only fourteen, she lived in a small wooden house on Da Mai Mountain with her grandmother. Then, a fire consumed their modest home, no more than twenty square meters in size. ¡°Bai Yang!¡± ¡°Bai Yang!¡± ¡°My Bai Yang is still inside, quick, put out the fire, put out the fire!¡± The old woman, with her white hair and hunched back, was being pulled along as she loudly called for help, crying that her granddaughter was still inside, begging people to go rescue her. The village chief of Wenjia Village was an eighty-year-old man, the eldest and most influential person in the village. He spoke up. He said, ¡°Add more firewood.¡± It was then that the old woman had a sudden realization, ¡°It was you¡­ you are the ones who set the fire?¡± At that moment, there was a cacophony of voices, some people holding spatulas, some with rolling pins, and others with hoes in their hands. ¡°Aunt Lian, we told you to drive her out of the village long ago, but you wouldn¡¯t.¡± ¡°A disaster born of incest, better off dead.¡± ¡°Her dad¡¯s dead, her mom ran off, only she¡¯s tough enough to survive, bringing death to so many.¡± ¡°How long has it been since Da Mai Mountain got any rain? It¡¯s all because of this disaster.¡± ¡°Hurry, add more firewood, burn her to death!¡± ¡°¡­¡± A living girl, just fourteen years old, merely unable to speak, merely deaf, merely burdened with selfish parents, was deemed unforgivable in this backward village. The old woman cried, the villagers shouted, and the children cheered, saying, ¡°It¡¯s raining, it¡¯s raining, the disaster is going to die¡­¡± That day, the wind was fierce, it had been a long time since Da Mai Mountain had seen rain, and the dry tinder met a raging fire, burning fiercely. Suddenly, someone shouted, ¡°Who went in there?¡± ¡°It looks like the Tieshan Family¡¯s guest.¡± ¡°She¡¯s come out!¡± The sealed door flung wide open, and the girl emerged, holding the girl she had rescued from the fire, her face blackened, unconscious. In the blink of an eye, the girl had moved from the doorway to the front of the villagers. She raised her head, ¡°Why burn her?¡± ¡°A demon, a demon¡­¡± Later on, the village was abuzz with rumors, saying the Tieshan Family¡¯s guest was a demon, with eyes the color of blood, that she floated in the air, that she had no legs, that she devoured children, that she killed people and set fires. No one spoke of how that girl had saved two lives in the Tieshan Family. The girl left. The girl¡¯s tragedy did not end there; just two months later, she was ordered by the village chief to undergo the village¡¯s justice. Wenjia Village was a backward village, isolated from the world for many years, and some of the old ancestral rules were still in use, such as¡ªdrowning those who committed grave errors. It was done with a cage nailed shut with wood, locking the person inside, weighing it down with stones, and then slowly lowering the caged person into the pond. The girl was deaf-mute, unable to cry or call for help, and her grandmother had already fainted from crying, with no one to plead for her. Then, he arrived, emerging from the afterglow of the setting sun. He was a dashing young man. ¡°What¡¯s going on here?¡± Da Mai Mountain seldom saw outsiders, and the villagers warily watched the stranger who had suddenly appeared, demanding, ¡°Who are you?¡± The man was very young, barely in his early twenties, with a blade of grass in his mouth, wearing combat gear with camouflage on his face, which still didn¡¯t hide his rebelliousness. ¡°First, answer me, are you trying to kill her?¡± The old village chief said sternly, ¡°This is our village¡¯s affair. If you want to leave Da Mai Mountain alive, mind your own business.¡± ¡°A threat, is it?¡± He removed his hat, swept back his hair, and put the hat back on. He smiled, leisurely stating, ¡°Add another crime to your list.¡± One of the bolder villagers had already swung up a hoe, ¡°Just who are you?!¡± He leisurely spat out two words, ¡°Police.¡± Then, he methodically drew his gun, ¡°Now, get those hands up.¡± The ignorant and backward villagers had never seen such a posture, they were all frightened out of their wits, stepping aside to make way for the police to drag the caged girl from the pond, her face covered with a black cloth. When the cloth was yanked off, it turned out to be a little girl. He asked, ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± The girl pointed to her own throat and shook her head. She couldn¡¯t speak. He didn¡¯t ask any further and dialed a number, requesting support, ¡°Captain Cheng, eight hundred meters inside Guankou¡ª¡± A hand reached out from the cage and grabbed his pant leg. ¡°Wen Baiyang.¡± She scribbled her name awkwardly on the ground with her finger. He said, ¡°Nice name,¡± and then continued the call, ¡°Eight hundred meters inside Guankou, Wenjia Village, bring people over right away.¡± Moments later, he hung up the phone, his back to the setting sun as he looked at the girl in the cage and said a name. ¡°Qiao Nanchu.¡± Suddenly, her cell phone in her pocket vibrated, pulling Wen Baiyang out of her memories. Her phone and computer were linked by software; it was Zhou Xufang looking for her. ¡°Shuangjiang.¡± She turned on her computer and sent over a smiley emoji. The computer had special software installed that could convert Zhou Xufang¡¯s voice into text, ¡°Help me look up someone.¡± ¡°Who?¡± ¡°Luo San.¡± Luo San¡­ She had briefly looked up the Luo Family when investigating Luo Qinghe before and had a slight impression of Luo San, ¡°The Luo Family?¡± Zhou Xufang said, ¡°He¡¯s an adopted son of the Luo Family.¡± She remembered, ¡°Didn¡¯t the Luo Family¡¯s adopted son pass away? Why are you looking for him?¡± ¡°He might be someone I know.¡± She sent a question mark. ¡°I have a memory of the Luo Family¡¯s attic,¡± Zhou Xufang was silent for a while, ¡°I¡¯ve dreamt of Luo San. It might not have been a dream, perhaps I witnessed something.¡± In her memory, there was the Luo Family¡¯s attic and Luo San, leaving only two possibilities: she was a participant, or she was a bystander. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll look into it.¡± That night, Zhou Xufang dreamt again, still of the Luo Family¡¯s attic. In the attic was a window, outside of which stood a large camphor tree, voices were calling from outside. ¡°Luo San.¡± ¡°Luo San.¡± They were the voices of young men. Then the little bald boy ran out from the attic, his head freshly shaved, very sleek. The young man was standing with his back to him under the tree, ¡°Come here.¡± The little bald boy ran over, opening his hand to reveal a piece of meat, grinning foolishly. The young man seemed a bit annoyed with him, poking his head, ¡°Did you steal the braised meat again?¡± ¡°You little idiot, who said I like meat?¡± ¡°And what¡¯s with your head? It looks terrible.¡± The little fool still smiled. Suddenly a bolt of lightning struck, and Zhou Xufang opened her eyes, sitting up, calming down for a few minutes before lying down again. She was startled awake from the dream, and once she closed her eyes she couldn¡¯t fall asleep again. She tossed and turned in bed for a long time, still without a hint of sleepiness, so she finally got up, changed her clothes, and went out. It was already two o¡¯clock in the morning. The guard dog at the Jiang Mansion suddenly started barking, ¡°Woof!¡± It was a Tibetan Mastiff, kept for guarding the house. ¡°Woof Woof!¡± ¡°Woof Woof!¡± The butler, Jiang Chuan, who hadn¡¯t gone to bed yet, shouted from the veranda, ¡°Fula.¡± The mastiff was named Fula, a name bestowed by the Old Madam. Fula tilted its head back and continued howling, ¡°Woof woof!¡± ¡°In the middle of the night, what are you barking for?¡± Jiang Chuan walked into the courtyard, scolding the Tibetan Mastiff, ¡°Don¡¯t bark anymore. If you wake up the Old Madam, I¡¯ll stew you!¡± Fula barked once more before returning to its kennel. Boom¡ªa sudden clap of thunder sounded. Jiang Zhi opened his eyes to see a head hanging upside down above the window¡ªa head so dark it was almost indiscernible. It took him a good while before he exhaled a breath, didn¡¯t turn on the light, and illuminated the figure with his phone¡¯s torch, ¡°Zhou Xufang.¡± The head tilted slightly. Jiang Zhi threw off the covers and slipped out of bed, shuffling over to the window in the pink rabbit slippers Zhou Xufang had given him, ¡°Are you trying to scare your boyfriend to death?¡± Ah, he recognized her. Such joy. The head wobbled from side to side, quite merrily. The sight was so spooky that Jiang Zhi found it amusing, so he opened the window. The head asked, ¡°Do I look like a female ghost?¡± Jiang Zhi told the truth, ¡°You do.¡± ¡°Then how did you still recognize me?¡± The head hanging upside down twisted back, revealing a pitch-black skull as she explained to Jiang Zhi, ¡°You see, I covered my skull and the back of my head entirely.¡± Now she looked even more like a female ghost. Jiang Zhi shone the flashlight of his phone on her. Indeed, it was tough to spot her face, but with her hanging there, he just knew that this was nobody else¡¯s head but Zhou Xufang¡¯s. No sleight of hand, he just knew. ¡°Even turned to ashes, you¡¯d still be Zhou Xufang.¡± Zhou Xufang, with her foot hooked on the security bars, flipped around, finally revealing her body¡ªnot just a head anymore, but a dark lump, wrapped up from head to toe, with only her eyes showing. She crouched on the security bars, looking at Jiang Zhi and asked, ¡°Aren¡¯t you afraid?¡± Jiang Chuan leaned out a bit, approaching the dark lump and teased her, ¡°Zhou ghost girl, will you drain my Yang energy?¡± The ghost girl shook her head. ¡°Then what is there to be afraid of?¡± Seeing her perched on the security bars outside, Jiang Zhi was filled with trepidation, fearing she might fall, ¡°We have security bars here, you can¡¯t come in. I¡¯ll go open the front door¡ªyou first¡ª¡± But she already pried open the security bars with one hand. Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± Zhou Xufang immediately regretted her brashness, feeling she was too forceful, and quickly adopted a gentle tone in the guise of a demure girl, ¡°Did I frighten you?¡± Jiang Zhi shone the light of his phone on her face, staring intently, ¡°Are you really a little ghost girl?¡± She pondered, ¡°I am, yeah.¡± Jiang Zhi laughed and stepped aside, ¡°Come in then, little ghost girl, and have your fill of Yang energy.¡± Zhou¡¤Little Ghost Girl¡¤Xufang slipped right in. Jiang Zhi closed the window, ¡°Why are you not sleeping at this late hour and running to my place¡ª¡± Before he could finish. Zhou Xufang lunged forward, and they both tumbled onto the bed where she clung to him tightly. Jiang Zhi¡¯s senses were jumbled from the fall, his hand reflexively embracing her around the waist. The small girl on top of him wasn¡¯t heavy, and she smelled of milk. He felt the back of her head, still wrapped up tightly, ¡°What¡¯s this about?¡± Zhou Xufang rubbed against him with her equally snugly wrapped skull, her muffled and soft voice carrying affection, ¡°I missed you.¡± This girl was getting the hang of coquettishness. Jiang Zhi helped her sit up, removed her hat, mask, and scarf, then got out of bed to take off her shoes for her, ¡°Then don¡¯t leave. Sleep here with me.¡± Zhou Xufang tilted her head, obedient, ¡°Okay.¡± She was unusually docile. This girl was thin-skinned, like an old cadre; what was with her today, becoming so clingy? Jiang Zhi turned on the bedside lamp, taking a moment to look at her in the light, ¡°Your coat.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± After some rustling, she took off her coat, sweater, and pants, and slipped into the bed wearing just her thermal underwear, the thermal set¡­ well, an elderly style. She rolled to the innermost side of the bed, covered up well, showing just a head, ¡°Jiang Zhi, hurry over. You sleep on the outside.¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± His little ghost girl was quite forward tonight. Chapter 116 - Chapter 116: 116: The Night of Pillow Talk for the Textile Couple~ Chapter 116: 116: The Night of Pillow Talk for the Textile Couple~ Jiang Zhi lifted the blanket and lay down without turning off the light, propping her chin in her hand as she lay on her side: ¡°Xu Fang.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± ¡°Did something happen?¡± Tonight, she was so well-behaved it hurt one¡¯s heart. She said, ¡°No.¡± Her face was expressionless, neither happy nor angry. She didn¡¯t want to talk about it. Jiang Zhi moved a bit closer, almost touching her: ¡°Tired?¡± Zhou Xufang: ¡°Hmm.¡± He moved his face closer, very near to hers, the light above his head casting the shadow of his profile right onto her face. ¡°Zhou Xufang, do you want to sleep holding each other?¡± he said, ¡°I want to hold you.¡± Zhou Xufang wanted that too. So, she immediately rolled into his arms, her hands obediently wrapped around his waist. He kissed her face, patting her back to lull her to sleep. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?¦Ï After a quiet moment, thinking she had fallen asleep, he was about to turn off the light when she suddenly raised her head: ¡°The birthday on my ID card is fake, I don¡¯t know my real birth date either.¡± She then buried her head in his chest once more. ¡°I must have been abandoned.¡± Jiang Zhi remained silent, listening to her piece together her past, sharing her origins with him for the first time. ¡°They say my chromosomes are different from normal people¡¯s, arranged strangely, and there are many genetic mutation triggers.¡± Who were they? She murmured to herself again, wondering: ¡°I don¡¯t know if it¡¯s because of this that I was abandoned.¡± In other words, her anomaly was due to her chromosomes and genes. This was a completely foreign field to Jiang Zhi, right, the Luo Family¡¯s little fool also had a chromosomal abnormality. She was getting sleepy, her voice growing softer: ¡°Ever since I can remember, I have been alone.¡± Her eyelids fluttered and closed, ¡°I¡¯ve met good people who helped me, and bad people who were scared of me.¡± Jiang Zhi, a conspiracy theorist at heart, believed that only a very small part of the population could be called good people. Of course, most weren¡¯t bad either, it was those who didn¡¯t qualify as good nor bad that were the majority. Often, it was these people, usually kind and friendly, who would become prickly and self-centered once their comfort zone and safety were challenged. That was normal; most people have a strong sense of self-preservation and selfishness, so he could imagine the hardships Zhou Xufang, an extraordinary person, must have endured living and growing up alone. She, ah, was a girl who had grown up without anyone to love her, struggling every step of the way on her own. ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± She was drowsy now: ¡°I¡¯m going to sleep.¡± He adjusted their position, holding her: ¡°Sleep then.¡± She mumbled something, and fell asleep. Before long, her breathing steadied, Jiang Zhi turned off the light: ¡°Fang Bao.¡± She didn¡¯t respond, asleep. Jiang Zhi kissed her forehead: ¡°You won¡¯t be alone anymore, you have me now.¡± Outside, the sky was flashing with lightning, yet it refused to rain. The moon and stars all hid behind the clouds, the night air heavy and somber. Downstairs, Fula was barking again. Jiang Chuan, slipping on his clothes, got up and in the dimness saw a figure, dragging a suitcase. It was only when he approached that he recognized who it was. ¡°Fifth Miss.¡± Jiang Wei¡¯er turned around. Jiang Chuan advanced: ¡°It¡¯s so late, where are you heading?¡± She had cut her hair, very short, barely reaching her ears. She said, ¡°To the airport.¡± Jiang Chuan, concerned, replied: ¡°I will go wake Old Madam.¡± He had just turned his head when Jiang Wei¡¯er stopped him, her demeanor composed and serene: ¡°Don¡¯t disturb Mother¡¯s sleep, I¡¯m just going out to clear my head, I¡¯ll be back.¡± ¡°Fifth Miss¡ª¡± She waved her hand: ¡°I¡¯m off.¡± ¡°Woof!¡± ¡°Woof woof!¡± Fula called out again, endless and unceasing. Jiang Wei¡¯er left, on the three o¡¯clock flight in the early morning. She didn¡¯t tell anyone, intentionally choosing this time. At this hour, the airport wasn¡¯t crowded. Perhaps due to the deep night, passers-by unconsciously softened their footfalls, creating an air of desolate tranquility. A billboard blocked out the light, leaving a large shadow in which a person stood still for a long, long time. ¡°Brother Xiao,¡± The assistant behind him said, ¡°It¡¯s very late, let¡¯s go back.¡± The figure had not moved; he was looking in the direction of the boarding gates. The plane had long departed, and no one was there anymore. The assistant couldn¡¯t help but mutter, ¡°If you can¡¯t bear to part with her, why didn¡¯t you stop her?¡± He acted as if he hadn¡¯t heard, talking to himself. ¡°Wei¡¯er was wearing black clothes and she had cut her hair short.¡± His voice was so low that the assistant couldn¡¯t hear clearly and moved closer: ¡°What did you say?¡± He said, ¡°She looked very pretty.¡± The remark was disconnected and confusing, so the assistant didn¡¯t understand, ¡°What looked very pretty?¡± Xiao Linsu shook his head and didn¡¯t say anything more. He turned and saw Xue Bingxue standing next to a pillar, not knowing how long he¡¯d been there. Their eyes met, both expressions subdued, both silent. Xiao Linsu walked over. His face was covered with a mask and sunglasses, hiding his expression. He placed the bag he was holding on a bench nearby. The bag was full of medicine. ¡°Her stomach is weak, and she doesn¡¯t eat properly. She always forgets to bring¡ª¡± He stopped mid-sentence. Ridiculous, what was he doing? He picked up the bag again, clutching it tightly in his hand, and turned to leave without a word, his eyes under the sunglasses finally moistening. Before coming to the airport, Xiao Linsu had gone to the police station. The verdict hadn¡¯t yet been delivered. It had taken him some effort to see Lin Shuang, who was calmer than he expected. He was nearly the same, feeling peaceful after the dust had settled. ¡°I¡¯ve talked to the lawyer, and you won¡¯t be sentenced for long,¡± Xiao Linsu started. Lin Shuang looked at him through the glass without making a sound. He spoke alone, his tone like that of dealing with final affairs: ¡°I¡¯ll take care of your parents for you.¡± And he added, ¡°Huayu is now managed by Xue Baoyi, and the new talents you brought will transfer to Baoguang. Xue Baoyi is fair and won¡¯t treat them badly.¡± He spoke slowly, and softly. ¡°Your contract¡ª¡± Lin Shuang cut him off, ¡°Stop talking about me, talk about yourself.¡± Talk about himself? There wasn¡¯t much to say about him. He was silent for a while: ¡°The press conference is tomorrow afternoon.¡± Lin Shuang¡¯s calm eyes rippled: ¡°Do you really have to retire?¡± He nodded: ¡°I can¡¯t let Wei¡¯er hear any news about me.¡± Whenever he mentioned Jiang Wei¡¯er, his gaze gained a slight vibrancy. ¡°What about you?¡± Lin Shuang asked him, her tone accusatory and urgent, ¡°Are you going to give up everything?¡± He didn¡¯t respond directly: ¡°After it ends, I¡¯ll take my sister¡¯s ashes back to Zhang Town.¡± Zhang Town was Xiao Linsu¡¯s hometown. It was a small town with flowers and bridges, mountains and water, where his parents lay buried. Lin Shuang remembered again, the first time she had seen him in Zhang Town. Her eyes, betraying her, reddened: ¡°Will you come back?¡± Xiao Linsu said, ¡°I won¡¯t return.¡± She lowered her head, laughing at herself with self-derision. There was nothing left to say. He sat for a while, then stood up: ¡°Lin Shuang.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± He said, ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± Sorry? It was she who had brought him from Zhang Town to Imperial City. She who had introduced him to Jin Song. She who had used Jiang Wei¡¯er. And she who had crashed into Jiang Zhi. What did he do? He directed and acted in a play where he was the one to get hurt, leaving everyone else overjoyed. ¡°Sorry for what?¡± she choked, laughing and crying like a madwoman, ¡°Xiao Linsu, you haven¡¯t done wrong by anyone, the only person you¡¯ve let down is yourself, even if it¡¯s Jiang Wei¡¯er, you don¡¯t owe her anything.¡± That was all he had, his future, his pride, and the rest of his life¡­ he had already given it all away. What else could he give? It¡¯s unfair of heaven to bury him in the mud, giving him so little, this was all he had¡­ He said thank you again and said, ¡°I¡¯m leaving.¡± And just like that, he left. Lin Shuang called after him, ¡°What are you going to do?¡± He turned back, asking what she meant by what was he going to do. ¡°Without Jiang Wei¡¯er, what will you do?¡± He laughed, laughed in response, ¡°Just let it be.¡± Just like that, his life drifted aimlessly, destined to die alone. That was his life. ¡°Linsu.¡± He stopped but did not turn around. Lin Shuang¡¯s eyes were moist with tears as she looked at his straight, lean back, ¡°I regret helping you to drive her away¡­¡± Thunder rumbled all night, but it didn¡¯t rain. The next day, the sky cleared up, and sunlight streamed through the windows, covering the floor with golden light. Jiang Zhi opened her eyes to see Zhou Xufang¡¯s face right in front of her, sitting against the wall with a mess of hair on her head, still wearing her old-fashioned long johns. Unlike the movies he made, where the male lead wakes up to find the female lead gazing at him tenderly from the ground. Zhou Xufang¡¯s face was expressionless, serious if anything. ¡°Zhou Xufang.¡± His voice was husky and bubbly from just waking up, lazy. Zhou Xufang replied, ¡°Hmm.¡± Jiang Zhi crawled out of the covers, her hair even messier than Zhou Xufang¡¯s, with cowlicks sticking out unabashedly, and some red mark on her face that looked like it had been pressed by a hand or something. The buttons of her pajamas had come loose, hanging sloppily over her shoulder and exposing her pale and tender collarbone. He grabbed his hair, still groggy, ¡°When did you wake up?¡± Zhou Xufang said, ¡°A little after six.¡± He probably didn¡¯t sleep enough, his peach blossom eyes looking puffy, ¡°Why so early?¡± Zhou Xufang took a glance at his collarbone, just one quick look, then quickly shifted her gaze away. She reached out, carefully pulling up his pajamas, ¡°You kicked me awake.¡± Sleeping Beauty was now fully awake. ¡°Did I kick you?¡± Zhou Xufang nodded, not looking at him, pulling the blanket haphazardly thrown over his legs all the way up, covering everything below the waist, ¡°Yes, you kicked me eleven times last night.¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Jiang Zhi,¡± after she had covered him up properly did she dare to look at him, ¡°you have bad sleeping habits.¡± It wasn¡¯t a complaint; she was just stating a fact. Kicking blankets and people was not all; he liked to burrow into pillows, burrowing back and forth¡­ Zhou Xufang had to pick up the pillow eight times last night. Later, afraid he would burrow into the pillows again, she held them down, and then he stopped burrowing into the pillows, instead, he burrowed into her¡­ Zhou Xufang¡¯s back was feeling a little sore now. Jiang Zhi had his reasons, proud and assertive, ¡°I¡¯ve never slept with anyone else; I¡¯m just not used to it. I¡¯ll stop kicking once I get used to it.¡± Zhou Xufang was unconvinced. Even if he didn¡¯t kick, he would still burrow into people. She rubbed her back, ¡°I¡¯m not sleeping with you anymore.¡± She spoke without thinking, and Jiang Zhi¡¯s mind began to wander, ¡°So are we going to sleep in separate beds after we get married?¡± ¡°Ah?¡± She hadn¡¯t thought that far ahead. ¡°No way.¡± His pajamas and blanket were black, setting off his fair skin, making him look more like a pampered young master, ¡°You just need to get me to behave, there¡¯s always a way. Separate beds,¡± his hair stood up at one end with a red mark on his face, ¡°don¡¯t even think about it.¡± She hadn¡¯t thought about it at all¡­ ¡°How did we end up talking about what to do after getting married?¡± At this moment, footsteps could be heard outside. Jiang Zhi lowered her voice, ¡°Someone¡¯s coming.¡± Zhou Xufang immediately burrowed into the covers, lying still as if playing dead. A servant knocked on the door a few times, ¡°Young Master, breakfast is ready.¡± There was no response from inside the room. ¡°Are you up?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not up,¡± a languid voice came from inside the room, accompanied by a few coughs, ¡°I want to sleep a bit longer, don¡¯t disturb me.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± The servant then withdrew. Once the footsteps faded, Zhou Xufang emerged from under the covers, ruffled her hair, and pointing at a painting by the bed, she asked Jiang Zhi, ¡°What did you paint?¡± She guessed, since it was hanging by the bed, ¡°Is it a charm against evil spirits?¡± ¡°It¡¯s you,¡± Jiang Zhi replied. Zhou Xufang scratched her head, looked at the painting again with effort, straining her eyes, observing carefully, ¡°If you look closely, it does resemble me.¡± She stared harder, even more intently, scrutinizing it, ¡°You used the colors really well.¡± It was all just a blotch of black. Jiang Zhi no longer wanted to discuss the painting with her. Her feet were still under the covers, and in a fit of pique, she kicked Zhou Xufang¡¯s legs. Ticklish, Zhou Xufang dodged, ¡°I should head home now.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t go back. I¡¯ll take you out in a bit.¡± Zhou Xufang refused, ¡°I need to go home to brush my teeth and change clothes.¡± She clambered over Jiang Zhi¡¯s outstretched legs, careful not to press down on him, her movements reminiscent of a grasshopper missing limbs, her head cocked to one side, watching Jiang Zhi, ¡°I have a meal with your friends today, I want to dress up a bit.¡± Jiang Zhi was charmed by her last statement and reached out to wrap his arm around her waist, lifting her from the bed and placing her down on the floor. Without bothering to put on shoes, he stepped barefoot on the carpet, picking up her clothes one by one and helping her dress. ¡°I¡¯ll pick you up from your place at nine.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Zhou Xufang wrapped a scarf around the back of her head and cranium completely, finishing she walked out the door. Jiang Zhi tugged at her sleeve, ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to give me a kiss before you go?¡± With a serious expression, she said, ¡°No kissing, I haven¡¯t brushed my teeth.¡± ¡°¡­¡± He hadn¡¯t landed himself a girlfriend, but rather a chunk of steel. This steel was surprisingly flexible when it came to climbing out the window, easily scaling the anti-theft bars with just a hand, the other waved goodbye to him. Jiang Zhi watched nervously, ¡°Don¡¯t fall, be careful¡ª¡± She leapt onto the roof in a single bound. Jiang Zhi stuck his head out the window, but she was already out of sight. This feeling¡­ How to describe it? It was as if she were a patron of pleasure seeking the company of courtesans and he, the beauty in the red tent, used and then abandoned without even leaving payment. Jiang Zhi ran a hand through his hair, laughing. The servant knocked again, ¡°Young Master, the Old Madam sent me to bring breakfast over. Do you want to eat before you sleep?¡± Jiang Zhi opened the door, ¡°Just leave it.¡± The one carrying the tray in was a young lad named Xiao Tian, a distant relative of Jiang Chuan who hadn¡¯t been working at the Jiang family for long and wasn¡¯t quite familiar with the rules. He was easily startled. ¡°Yikes! What happened to this window? It wasn¡¯t a thief, was it?¡± Good heavens, even the anti-theft bars were twisted! What a diabolical little thief! Jiang Zhi put on a jacket, his beautiful eyes composed, pajama buttons not fully fastened, suggestively indecent, ¡°Which little thief would dare to steal from the Jiang family?¡± He said calmly, ¡°It¡¯s from a lightning strike.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Last night there had been thunder, but¡ª ¡°Does lightning twist anti-theft bars like this?¡± Jiang Zhi blew a stray hair out of his eyes, ¡°Do you want me to go and ask Duke of Thunder?¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Don¡¯t disturb the Old Madam, just find someone to fix it as soon as possible.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± Chapter 117 - Chapter 117: 117: Taking Fang Bao to Meet the Parents Chapter 117: 117: Taking Fang Bao to Meet the Parents At nine o¡¯clock, Jiang Zhi went to pick up Zhou Xufang. His car stopped outside the residential area, and he waited for her at the stairwell entrance; she said she wanted to dress up nicely, and then¡ª Jiang Zhi was stunned. Zhou Xufang approached him, feeling anxious, ¡°Does it not look good?¡± He first smiled, then knelt down to tie her shoelaces, which she hadn¡¯t managed to fasten tightly, into an ugly knot, and said, ¡°It looks good.¡± Pleased with the compliment, Zhou Xufang happily twirled on the spot, ¡°I also think it looks good.¡± She felt that pink was the best color¡ªunrivaled in beauty! So, she dressed in pink from head to toe, including her hair clips and shoelaces. As a result, when Xue Baoyi saw her in the Fusheng Inn parking lot, he couldn¡¯t help but ask a rather immature question. ¡°Little sister, you,¡± Xue Baoyi wasn¡¯t sure and looked her over from head to toe again, ¡°are you of age?¡± This wave of pink gave off a very young vibe. Zhou Xufang, with a pink hair clip on her head, answered, ¡°I am of age.¡± Xue Baoyi hadn¡¯t noticed before; now, taking a closer look, the girl seemed very young. Xue Baoyi had reason to suspect Jiang Zhi of cradle-snatching. ¡°Xue Baoyi.¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?? Jiang Zhi shielded the girlish figure in his arms, not letting her be seen, his gaze filled with a warning. Xue Baoyi flashed a smile like a doting aunt, ¡°I¡¯m just worried you¡¯re seducing an underage girl.¡± Jiang Zhi would never seduce anyone! Zhou Xufang immediately defended him, ¡°I¡¯m twenty-two.¡± Her ID was procured by the ¡®good samaritan¡¯ who saved her; although the month was fabricated, the year was true. Jiang Zhi would never seduce an underage girl! Ah, this protective instinct. Xue Baoyi threw a flirtatious look at Jiang Zhi, ¡°Who would have guessed, you¡¯re eligible to get a marriage license.¡± This wave of crazy implications! Yet Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t understand. She still addressed him formally, ¡°Mr. Xue.¡± Mr. Xue, with eyebrows sharp and eyes bright, looked decent except for a somewhat bandit-like aura, ¡°Don¡¯t be a stranger; just follow Brother Zhi and call me ¡®Brother Bao.''¡± ¡°Oh.¡± After that¡ª Zhou Xufang¡¯s expression was stern and righteous like Xue Baoyi¡¯s grandfather who slicked back his hair and was an academic, ¡°Mr. Xue.¡± She moved a squarely wrapped large box from the trunk, covered in pink wrapping paper with a big butterfly bow on top, though what was inside was not visible; Zhou Xufang sincerely said, ¡°This is for you.¡± Using ¡®you¡¯ formally, she truly brought the manner of meeting the parents. Xue Baoyi was amused, ¡°No need to be so formal, little sister,¡± and reached one hand to receive the ¡®little sister¡¯s¡¯ gift¡ª Damn, it was heavy! He hastily used both hands. After giving the gift, Zhou Xufang offered her sincere wishes, ¡°Wishing you good health.¡± Xue Baoyi: ¡°¡­¡± This girl spoke so formally, just like his nearly eighty-year-old grandfather. He pulled Jiang Zhi aside, ¡°Your wife gave me a gift.¡± Jiang Zhi ¡®hmmed,¡¯ proud and pleased, ¡°My girlfriend is sensible; just keep it.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± It was so heavy! Xue Baoyi¡¯s arms bulged with veins as he held it. Jiang Zhi, his eyes filled only with his girlfriend and not even looking at Xue Baoyi, replied, ¡°Chicken eggs.¡± Xue Baoyi: ¡°¡­¡± Who gifts that these days? Jiang Zhi: ¡°Eighty-eight of them, symbolizing safety for a lifetime.¡± Xue Baoyi: ¡°¡­¡± No wonder his hands were about to break! After some effort, Xue Baoyi managed to move the eggs to the trunk, then he discreetly massaged his reddened wrist before casting an awkward yet polite smile at Zhou Xufang and finally looking at Jiang Zhi, lowering his voice, ¡°Brother Zhi, your wife¡¯s style, so old-school.¡± Jiang Zhi agreed, ¡°Yeah, she won¡¯t even kiss me in public.¡± Zhou Xufang heard everything and thought bitterly: Why must Jiang Zhi spill every bit of information with no sense of shame? She lowered her head, her ears red. Xue Bingxue was the first to arrive and had been waiting in the private room for a while, checking his phone. When he saw others walk in, he put his phone away. He stood up, ¡°Hello.¡± Zhou Xufang straightened her back, ¡°Hello.¡± Xue Baoyi couldn¡¯t stop laughing: Both are such good kids, must have been the most well-behaved children in kindergarten. Today¡¯s dinner was organized by Jiang Zhi, formally introducing his girlfriend. Among them, it was the first time someone seriously brought a girlfriend to ¡®meet the parents.¡¯ The meal had to be eaten, and the meeting gifts had to be presented. Jiang Zhi was not playing around; the others, well¡­ Xue Bingxue was hopelessly devoted to Jiang Wei¡¯er, never having dated anyone. Xue Baoyi would switch girlfriends every so often, but he never brought one to meet the group. Qiao Nanchu didn¡¯t care much for romantic affairs. At that moment, Xue Baoyi received a call on his phone. As soon as he picked up, Zhou Xufang heard a woman¡¯s voice. ¡°Mr.¡± Her voice was coquettish, very alluring. Xue Baoyi lazily grunted in response. The coquettish voice asked him, ¡°Where are you?¡± Xue Baoyi didn¡¯t answer, sitting with crossed legs and smiling, ¡°Do I have to report to you?¡± Second Young Master was usually easy-going, especially good-tempered with women. But he had a rule: be obedient, don¡¯t meddle in things you shouldn¡¯t, don¡¯t ask questions you shouldn¡¯t, and don¡¯t demand what you shouldn¡¯t. After all, he roamed freely without a care. ¡°It¡¯s not like that,¡± the coquettish voice sounded a bit hurt, ¡°you said you would visit the set this weekend.¡± Xue Baoyi flicked his freshly styled heart-shaped bangs, ¡°Did I say that?¡± ¡­ Xue Baoyi was not one to pity or cherish women, he never was: ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll send Xiao Zhuang over, tell him what you want to eat.¡± The coquettish voice struggled to let go, ¡°Then are you free tonight?¡± ¡°Do you want to meet up?¡± Jiang Zhi covered Zhou Xufang¡¯s ears. Useless, she could still hear the coquettish woman flirting, though she didn¡¯t quite understand the conversation. ¡°Are you free or not?¡± ¡°That depends on what you want to meet for.¡± ¡°I booked a spot at Grand Hyatt.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not free.¡± And the call ended there. Xue Baoyi hung up, feeling bored, and snorted arrogantly, ¡°Just met a few times and already clamoring to climb into my bed.¡± Is it that easy to get into his bed! Zhou Xufang understood this statement. Lixiang was right, Mr. Xue was definitely a scumbag. She silently moved Jiang Zhi¡¯s chair closer to her side, distancing herself from Xue Baoyi, as Jiang Zhi smiled and patted her head. The private room had every entertainment facility. Xue Baoyi couldn¡¯t sit still, took off his jacket, and started playing with darts. His aim stunk; he missed every shot. ¡°Why isn¡¯t Nanchu here yet?¡± Xue Bingxue sipped his tea, ¡°On the way, stuck in traffic.¡± Messages were still popping up on Xue Baoyi¡¯s phone; he casually clicked one open. It was another voice message from a woman. However, this time it was not coquettish but rather bold: ¡°Call me ¡®daddy¡¯ three times, and daddy will take you out for chicken tonight.¡± ¡­ The air suddenly went quiet. Zhou Xufang thought the voice sounded a bit like Lixiang, but Lixiang wouldn¡¯t talk like that to a direct superior. This is what Xue Baoyi said, clearing his throat before speaking, ¡°Sent to the wrong person, just spam.¡± Then he put down the darts, picked up his jacket, ¡°I¡¯m stepping out for a smoke.¡± Zhou Xufang found it strange and quietly asked Jiang Zhi, ¡°Who was that?¡± She had recently been reading many novels and dramas sent by Ah Wan, and she felt she had gained some insight, ¡°Is it his girlfriend?¡± Jiang Zhi then told her, ¡°It was his dad.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Xue Baoyi went out to text her ¡°dad¡±, choosing a secluded spot. He was fuming with anger, but didn¡¯t use voice messages. Instead, he typed, ¡°Doesn¡¯t the old man have any face left at all!!!!!!¡± With five exclamation marks! Second Young Master Xue had a temper too! The nickname on the WeChat page read ¡°a female hooligan.¡± That female hooligan sent a voice message, in the boldest tone server-wide, ¡°A noob who dies upon landing eight times in a row has no right to talk about having face.¡± Xue Baoyi: ¡°¡­¡± A female hooligan: ¡°Don¡¯t even think about me taking you into games in the future~¡± A female hooligan: ¡°Hold your heart and ask yourself, with your crappy skills, can you even last three minutes?¡± He really couldn¡¯t. Honestly, with Xue Baoyi¡¯s skills, even driving could end up killing teammates. No one else wanted to play with him, not even Xue Bingxue, who was very patient but couldn¡¯t stand being blown up by him multiple times. Due to harming teammates, Xue Baoyi had been reported and banned a number of times. However, noobs had their dignity too: ¡°Don¡¯t get cocky. If you won¡¯t play with me, there are plenty of pros who will.¡± A female hooligan: ¡°Blow some grenades ten or eight times and see if any pro will still play with you.¡± A female hooligan: ¡°Also, your ¡®dad¡¯ has played professionally too.¡± She had only played professionally for a week, and this guy bragged about it endlessly. Standing at the border between Mei Garden and Bamboo Garden, Xue Baoyi was near an artificial lotus pond that reflected his face, beaming with joy: ¡°A pro forced to retire because of too much swearing and you still brag about it.¡± A female hooligan: ¡°Oh, you admit it then.¡± ¡°What?¡± A female hooligan: ¡°I am your ¡®dad¡¯~¡± ¡°¡­¡± A female hooligan: ¡°Meet me at midnight in Absolute Survival, I¡¯ll take you flying.¡± They had teamed up for a dozen games and he¡¯d been scolded each time. Would Second Young Master Xue have endured if her skills weren¡¯t good? ¡°Too late. Can¡¯t it be earlier?¡± he succumbed. A female hooligan: ¡°Your ¡®dad¡¯ is swamped with work, yet still finds the time to play games with you. It¡¯s not easy, you know.¡± ¡°¡­¡± She was the most boastful one in the entire server! Xue Baoyi was both annoyed and amused, so he made a call to her. ¡°Hello~¡± It was a sweet and cute voice, then a bit whiny. Such a drama queen! She was the best actress in Baoguang! From blasting the entire universe one second to being all virtuous the next, her seamless transition was award-worthy, a disservice to his meticulous mentorship otherwise. ¡°Fang Lixiang.¡± Fang¡¤Virtuous¡¤Lixiang: ¡°Yes, boss.¡± ¡°Put your manager on the phone.¡± Fang¡¤Virtuous¡¤Lixiang: ¡°Okay, boss.¡± The manager took the call. ¡°President Xue.¡± ¡°Clear Fang Lixiang¡¯s schedule for tonight.¡± The tone was reluctant but unavoidable, like¡­ like a young woman forced into prostitution at a brothel, compelled by fate no matter how unwilling her heart. The manager was confused: ¡°What?¡± Not sure why the big boss was irritated, he simply responded, ¡°Understood?¡± ¡°¡­Understood.¡± ¡°Hand her the phone.¡± The phone switched hands again. Fang Lixiang had a script in hand where she played an unfavored concubine, immersing herself fully in the role, she adopted the demeanor of serving His Majesty, ¡°Boss, please give your orders.¡± This case of split personality! Bao Yi curled her lips into a mischievous smile, ¡°Say something nice for me to hear.¡± Has this guy¡¯s brain been slammed in a door? Okay. Well, you are the golden daddy. After organizing her thoughts, Fang Lixiang recited emotionally, ¡°You are like the spring rain that nourishes all living things; you are like the summer breeze, refreshingly cool; you are like the autumn sunset, infinitely beautiful; you are like the winter¡¯s light snow, pure and flawless.¡± Bao Yi, embodying rain, wind, sun, and snow, was speechless. He immediately hung up the phone. Ding. A message from a hooligan lady came through. ¡°Kiddo, daddy¡¯s not working tonight, I¡¯ll take you to Autistic City at nine¡«¡± ¡°¡­¡± This guy, always managing to blow his mind. And yet, he found playing games with her freaking awesome. Damn, is this self-torture? Bao Yi, fuming, returned to the private room and immediately saw Jiang Zhi peeling broad beans for Zhou Xufang; the pampered young master who usually wouldn¡¯t touch mundane chores was actually peeling beans, and enjoying it too. Fried broad beans, Zhou Xufang¡¯s first time trying them. A large plate of bean shells had been discarded already, and the little plate in front of Zhou Xufang was piled into a small mountain; Jiang Zhi took off her disposable gloves and poured her a cup of clear tea, ¡°Is it tasty?¡± Zhou Xufang, crunching loudly, ¡°Delicious.¡± ¡°Then I¡¯ll ask the kitchen to make more, you can take some home.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Ah Wan, who ordered two plates of beans and didn¡¯t get to eat any, complained, ¡°They should peel them all before serving, disappointing.¡± Jiang Zhi looked up, ¡°Get out.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± He rolled out. He went to order more beans. After scolding Ah Wan, with a shift in her peach blossom eyes, Jiang Zhi turned back to Zhou Xufang, her eyes brimming with tenderness, ¡°I¡¯ll peel more and bring them over.¡± Just seated Bao Yi, ¡°¡­¡± Unbearable! Was this still the little wolf cub Jiang Zhi? Had Zhou Xufang flattened his claws and pulled his teeth, turning him into a milk cat? Zhou Xufang refused, ¡°I can peel them myself.¡± Fussy, clean freak Jiang Zhi wasn¡¯t bothered by the dirt now, he wiped her mouth with his hand, ¡°You have a boyfriend now, you should use free labor, understand?¡± Zhou Xufang hesitated deeply. She glanced at the pile of bean shells on the table three times. She still felt she should tell the truth, ¡°But I want to suck on the bean shells.¡± She sneakily picked up a shell Jiang Zhi had peeled and discarded, quickly popping it into her mouth and savored it, then revealed a satisfied smile, ¡°There¡¯s a lot of seasoning on the shell, ah, really tasty.¡± Jiang Zhi, ¡°¡­¡± People should not easily mock others, especially best buddies, unless you really can¡¯t resist. Bao Yi burst into loud laughter. Even Xue Bingxue was chuckling quietly. Jiang Zhi shot a look her way, and Xue Bingxue immediately straightened up, ¡°Jiang Zhi, I have something to say to you.¡± Jiang Zhi, looking at Zhou Xufang who revelled in sucking the shells, still put a plate of the discarded shells in front of her, ¡°I¡¯ll step out for a bit, keep eating.¡± ¡°Mmm.¡± She stuffed two shells in her mouth, sucking joyously. Jiang Zhi stood up, kicking Bao Yi¡¯s chair a little, ¡°You keep her entertained for a while.¡± Bao Yi grinned like a thug, ¡°Aren¡¯t you afraid I¡¯ll lead her astray?¡± ¡°Just try.¡± Jiang Zhi patted his girl¡¯s head, then went out with Xue Bingxue. Chapter 118 - Chapter 118: 118: Ah Fang, restrain the wife! Chapter 118: 118: Ah Fang, restrain the wife! Jiang Zhi patted his daughter¡¯s head and went out with Xue Bingxue. In the private room, only Xue Baoyi and Zhou Xufang were left. Looking at the delicate little girl, Xue Baoyi felt a surge of paternal affection. Setting aside his usual carefree demeanor, he asked kindly and amiably, ¡°What do you usually do for fun, little sister-in-law?¡± Little Sister-in-law Zhou said, ¡°Watch TV.¡± Watch TV, huh. Xue Baoyi then asked, ¡°Do you watch the shows directed by Jiang Zhi?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve watched all of his shows,¡± Zhou Xufang, always prompt to respond and knowing Jiang Zhi¡¯s good friend was asking, sat up straighter than usual and replied with more sincerity than usual, ¡°Now, I¡¯m watching ¡®President Gu, Your Fragile Wife Ran Away With the Ball¡¯.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Xue Baoyi was stunned. Regarding ¡°President Gu, Your Fragile Wife Ran Away With the Ball,¡± Xue Baoyi had no desire whatsoever to learn about it. He sipped his tea and changed the subject, ¡°Brother Zhi mentioned that you¡¯re quite an outstanding extra in crowd scenes.¡± Zhou Xufang¡¯s eyes lit up, ¡°Really? He praised me as outstanding?¡± ¡°¡­ Cough cough.¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.§ã¦Ï Xue Baoyi choked on his tea. There was nothing he could add to the perfunctory praise he had blurted out, so he switched topics again, ¡°Do you have any plans to pursue acting?¡± ¡°No.¡± Zhou Xufang was still not used to making eye contact, so she looked at a plate of edamame shells in front of her, ¡°I look like a female ghost in every role.¡± Then let¡¯s not go for a debut. Xue Baoyi tried another topic, ¡°Are you still running a stall at Ba Yi Bridge?¡± ¡°Yep.¡± He just mentioned casually, ¡°Your phone screen protectors are of good quality.¡± Zhou Xufang sounded as official as a Taobao customer service, ¡°Thank you for your trust and support.¡± Xue Baoyi: ¡°¡­¡± Maybe it¡¯s better not to force small talk. No matter how witty he was, he couldn¡¯t keep up with the steel-strong, quirky thought processes. Xue Baoyi put down his teacup, ¡°How about playing darts?¡± Zhou Xufang wasn¡¯t interested, but since Mr. Xue was a good friend of Jiang Zhi, she pretended to be very interested, ¡°Sure.¡± ¡°Have you played before?¡± ¡°No.¡± At this point, anyone would want to show off a ¡®miraculous skill,¡¯ so Xue Baoyi took a dart, squinted one eye, and aimed, ¡°It¡¯s very simple, just hit that target¡ª¡± Thud. It hit the bullseye. Xue Baoyi, who hadn¡¯t finished aiming yet, ¡°¡­ ¡± He looked at the dart deeply embedded in the bullseye and awkwardly retracted the one in his hand, ¡°First time playing?¡± Zhou Xufang: ¡°Yep.¡± First time and she hit the bullseye. Xue Baoyi, out of politeness, said, ¡°Little sister-in-law, you¡¯ve got good skills.¡± Little Sister-in-law Zhou: ¡°You flatter me.¡± ¡°¡­¡± That overwhelmingly old cadre vibe. Looking like she was eighteen, the little girl spoke in a rigid, academic tone, like an old scholar. Xue Baoyi found darts boring, ¡°How about billiards? Ever played?¡± There were plenty of entertainment options in the private room, but most visitors to Fusheng Inn looking for fun were young masters, and there wasn¡¯t much for girls to do. The delicate Zhou Xufang shook her head, saying she¡¯d never played billiards. That damn desire to show off surged again, and Xue Baoyi grabbed a cue stick, prepped it with chalk, and stretched his muscles, ¡°Let me show you how.¡± He hit a flashy but successful shot. After demonstrating, he briefly explained the basic rules and handed the cue stick to Zhou Xufang. Zhou Xufang¡¯s learning ability was extraordinarily strong; she copied everything, used the chalk, flexed her wrists, hit a fancy shot and made it too. Xue Baoyi was stunned once again. ¡°Are you really playing for the first time?¡± The young master didn¡¯t quite believe it. The peachy Zhou Xufang wore an honest expression, ¡°Yep.¡± Where on earth did Jiang Zhi find this top-notch little capable person? Xue Baoyi thought this girl was cut out for big things, ¡°Little sister-in-law, what did you do before you sold screen protectors?¡± Zhou Xufang thought for a moment, oh, he remembered, ¡°I sold kebabs.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Xue Baoyi felt as if both his EQ and IQ had been rubbed raw. No, he had been humiliated thoroughly. He decided to play to his strengths and show little sister-in-law just how capable Brother Bao was, ¡°Let¡¯s play cards.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Five minutes later¡­ Xue Baoyi grabbed a handful of his hair, doubting his life, ¡°Little sister-in-law, what did you do before selling kebabs?¡± Zhou Xufang thought for a moment, oh, ¡°I worked on a construction site moving bricks.¡± ¡°¡­¡± After playing three rounds of cards, apart from the first round where he explained the rules, the pretty little sister-in-law had memorized all his cards in the next two rounds. Xue Baoyi felt he was making a fool of himself. ¡°Let¡¯s just eat broad beans.¡± Finally, he could stop pretending to be interested, and Zhou Xufang agreed readily, ¡°Sure!¡± Then, the two of them in the private room ate their own broad beans. Outside the private room. The two leaned against the wall, standing in the corridor, separated by a water-ink mural. Fusheng Inn had an air of pseudo-elegance, and the painting had a certain imposing quality. Xue Bingxue said, ¡°My flight is in the afternoon.¡± Jiang Zhi hummed in acknowledgment. ¡°If I pretended it was a chance encounter, would Wei¡¯er believe it?¡± Xue Bingxue was the worst liar among them. ¡°No,¡± Jiang Zhi said, ¡°she would beat you up.¡± That¡¯s okay. Xue Bingxue smiled, ¡°Let her beat me then.¡± Idiot. Jiang Zhi couldn¡¯t be bothered to berate him. ¡°I won¡¯t be here; if you need anything, go to the Chinese medicine clinic and find my teacher.¡± Xue Bingxue pulled out a medicine bottle from his pocket and handed it to Jiang Zhi, instructing him seriously, ¡°This medicine is for emergencies, don¡¯t take it unless absolutely necessary.¡± He took it, ¡°I know, I still want to have children with Zhou Xufang.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Xue Bingxue was a bit naive; he was embarrassed just listening and ignored Jiang Zhi. He then asked, ¡°Am I really infertile?¡± A blushing Xue Bingxue, ¡°..currently, yes.¡± Angrily embarrassed, Xue Bingxue said, ¡°You have no shame!¡± Ashamed? Even though Old Sir Xue had taught him all sorts of crafty schemes, and despite being strictly righteous in certain areas to an infuriating extent, Jiang Zhi knew that what was deeply ingrained in Xue Bingxue was no different from any of them; they were of the same kind. ¡°There¡¯s something I can¡¯t figure out.¡± Xue Bingxue asked, ¡°What?¡± Jiang Zhi held the medicine bottle, playing with it by flipping it over, ¡°Why was Xiao Linsu urgently arrested before Lin Shuang turned himself in? At that time, Jin Song¡¯s recording hadn¡¯t reached the Criminal Investigation Team, how did he become a suspect?¡± The timing didn¡¯t match up. Xiao Linsu¡¯s arrest came first, but the evidence from the recording surfaced later. Xue Bingxue was silent for a while, ¡°Someone reported an attempted murder.¡± ¡°Who was the reporter?¡± ¡°His own self.¡± Drip. The medicine bottle fell from Jiang Zhi¡¯s hand. First, acting out a scene by imposing on himself the unforgivable titles of abuser and murderer, then pushing Jiang Wei¡¯er away and sending himself to prison. It was a suicidal plan. Jiang Zhi picked up the medicine from the ground and pocketed it, asking nonchalantly, ¡°Was it the old lady or you?¡± Xiao Linsu¡¯s vulnerability was too apparent¡ªextremely insecure and overly emotional. Those who knew how to play mind games could make him surrender with just the three words ¡®Jiang Wei¡¯er.¡¯ Xue Bingxue looked up, his eyes turbulent as though a stone had been tossed into a clear, tranquil pond, stirring the calm, ¡°It was¡ª¡± Jiang Zhi interrupted him, ¡°Don¡¯t tell anyone, including me.¡± Without waiting for him, Jiang Zhi headed back to the private room in Bamboo Garden first. Xue Baoyi was on a phone call, receiving a call from Qiao Nanchu. ¡°Don¡¯t wait for me.¡± Xue Baoyi threw a broad bean into her mouth, crunching loudly, ¡°What happened?¡± ¡°Rear-ended.¡± So unlucky! Just as Xue Baoyi was about to ask further, a woman¡¯s voice came through the phone. ¡°Nanchu.¡± That voice¡­ Xue Baoyi, finding it familiar, asked, ¡°Female driver?¡± Qiao Nanchu, distracted, replied, ¡°Yeah, you know her too.¡± ¡°Who is it?¡± Qiao Nanchu said, ¡°Zhang Zixi.¡± After saying that, he hung up the phone. Damn! Xue Baoyi laughed, ¡°What is even going on?¡± She glanced at Jiang Zhi, ¡°Nanchu got rear-ended, guess who it was?¡± Jiang Zhi was feeding Zhou Xufang and pouring water with little enthusiasm. Xue Bingxue cooperatively asked, ¡°Who?¡± ¡°Zhang Zixi.¡± Xue Bingxue also showed a surprised expression. Jiang Zhi pulled out a wet wipe to clean Zhou Xufang¡¯s hands, asking, ¡°Who is Zhang Zixi?¡± Xue Baoyi was dumbfounded¡­ You¡¯ve met her so many times before and still don¡¯t remember! ¡°Nanchu¡¯s ex-girlfriend.¡± Oh, Jiang Zhi had some impression then. Qiao Nanchu had only dated one girlfriend, five years ago, not long after he had transferred from the police academy. Zhang Zixi was the belle of the police academy, who had pursued him overtly and covertly for a while; Qiao Nanchu was always lukewarm. Then he took a trip to Da Mai Mountain, and when he returned, the two started dating. ¡°Long time no see.¡± The woman stood by the roadside, dressed simply with her hair tied back neatly and generously. She smiled, showing shallow dimples; she was very pretty in a completely non-threatening way. Zhang Zixi. It had been five years. Qiao Nanchu got out of the car, ¡°When did you get back?¡± His tone was as casual as asking ¡®have you eaten,¡¯ utterly placid. ¡°Got back to the country last month.¡± He walked to the rear of the car, squatting to check it without lifting his head, ¡°Still the same number?¡± Zhang Zixi smiled, ¡°Changed it long ago.¡± Her gaze stayed on him, her expression complex, so much to say yet nothing to say. The rear-end was severe. His taillight was smashed. He pulled out his phone and handed it to her, ¡°Enter your number.¡± She hesitated for a moment before taking it, entered her own number, and then handed it back. ¡°The rear-end is entirely your fault,¡± he said, looking down as he saved the number. ¡°Agree?¡± His tone was rather like a traffic police officer. Zhang Zixi smiled faintly, nodding, ¡°Agree.¡± He had darkened a bit from five years ago, less youthful, his gaze wilder, still as cool and elegant but oblivious to charm. ¡°Rushing now, I¡¯ll contact you later.¡± He threw the phone on the passenger seat, closed the car door, and sped off with a press of the accelerator. Zhang Zixi stood there, chuckling. When Qiao Nanchu arrived at Fusheng Inn, it was almost dinner time. Jiang Zhi poured half a cup of milk into a cup, pushed it toward Zhou Xufang, then looked up and exchanged a glance with him, ¡°You¡¯re late.¡± Qiao Nanchu pulled up a chair to sit down, flipping the wineglass right side up, ¡°So, how many drinks for my penalty?¡± ¡°Judge for yourself.¡± Jiang Zhi handed the menu to the waiter, ¡°Is my girlfriend¡¯s soup ready? If it is, bring it over first.¡± He was worried about Zhou Xufang getting hungry. The waiter quickly agreed. Qiao Nanchu poured three glasses of ¡°white,¡± sat down, and leisurely consumed them one by one, his demeanor¡­ Xue Baoyi had always thought he was the most ¡°cultured¡± scoundrel among them. He kicked the scoundrel¡¯s chair, ¡°Speak.¡± After three glasses of white wine, Qiao Nanchu didn¡¯t even blink, ¡°Speak about what?¡± ¡°About your ex-girlfriend.¡± His interest faded, ¡°That was ages ago, there¡¯s nothing to talk about.¡± Listen to that nonchalant tone! ¡°If a woman dared to cheat on me, I¡¯d break her legs, yet you¡¯re so generous, even being chased by her afterwards.¡± As a brother, he was frustrated, ¡°If I were you, I¡¯d wreck her car to bits.¡± Qiao Nanchu dated Zhang Zixi for two months, and they broke up because she was caught cheating. Qiao Nanchu poured a cup of tea, took a sip, ¡°You¡¯re like a three-year-old, talking about wrecking things to bits, seems like you want to end up in jail.¡± That same indifferent attitude! Xue Baoyi couldn¡¯t stand Qiao Nanchu¡¯s attitude, as if the sky could fall and it wouldn¡¯t affect him. Like when Zhang Zixi cheated on him, wouldn¡¯t a normal person¡¯s reaction be to first kill the cheating guy? But not Qiao Nanchu¡ªhe calmly sized up the guy and then made a very objective assessment, ¡°Those abs are pretty ugly.¡± The guy was so embarrassed his face turned green. Xue Baoyi humphed, feeling uncomfortable, and blurted out, ¡°I think you just can¡¯t let go of that trashy girl. Men can hardly forget their first love, like Brother Zhi is still hung up on¡ª¡± Crash! Zhou Xufang¡¯s spoon dropped to the floor. The broad beans Jiang Zhi was peeling also dropped. Xue Baoyi¡¯s right eyelid began to twitch. ¡°Jiang Zhi,¡± Zhou Xufang picked up the spoon, cleaned, and put it away, ¡°I need to go to the restroom.¡± Jiang Zhi stood up, ¡°I¡¯ll take you there.¡± Passing by Xue Baoyi, he left a sentence with a deadly look in his peach blossom eyes that lost its charm, ¡°We¡¯ll settle this later.¡± One after the other, the couple left. Xue Baoyi took a deep breath, resigned, ¡°That look in Brother Zhi¡¯s eyes, like he wants to kill me.¡± Qiao Nanchu spread his hands, lounging back in the chair with a lazy attitude, ¡°Any last words, say them.¡± ¡°Die together like brothers.¡± ¡°Get lost, who¡¯s your brother, I don¡¯t even know you that well.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Outside the private room, Zhou Xufang squatted by the wall, back facing Jiang Zhi, presenting only the back of her head to him. Jiang Zhi squatted opposite her, ¡°Not going to the restroom?¡± She jerked her head away, refusing to look at him, and even pulled on her hoodie¡¯s cap, squatting there like a sulky blob, ¡°Your friend is inside, I came out here to be jealous, it wouldn¡¯t be polite inside.¡± Jiang Zhi was amused by her. She was irritated, ¡°You¡¯re still laughing.¡± ¡°Alright, no more laughing.¡± His mouth stopped laughing, but his eyes still were. Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t want to bother with him anymore and shifted away. Jiang Zhi moved closer, bringing his handsome face below her eyes, intentionally tempting her with his coquettish dimples. She moved again. He moved too. Fine, she stopped moving, ¡°I have a question for you, and you can¡¯t lie.¡± Occasionally, passersby came and went. Jiang Zhi pulled out a face mask and put it on her, ¡°What do you want to know?¡± Puffed up like a pufferfish, she fiercely asked Jiang Zhi, ¡°How many girlfriends have you had?¡± Trying to sound fierce, like a little leopard that hasn¡¯t grown its teeth yet. Jiang Zhi looked at her wanting to kiss. He just leaned in, his lips hadn¡¯t touched her forehead yet when she dodged, not letting him kiss. Jiang Zhi chuckled, ¡°Just you.¡± She covered the only part of her head sticking out of the mask, ¡°What about boyfriends?¡± Still not letting him kiss. Jiang Zhi directly pressed his lips against the back of her hand. Chapter 119 - Chapter 119: 119: Jiang Zhi Coaxes Wife, Truth Behind Luo Familys Great Fire Chapter 119: 119: Jiang Zhi Coaxes Wife, Truth Behind Luo Family¡¯s Great Fire Jiang Zhi pressed his lips directly against the back of her hand. This move was very effective, she froze like a block of wood, completely still. Taking advantage of her stillness, Jiang Zhi moved her hand away and kissed her hot forehead, saying, ¡°No.¡± Then he kissed her again, ¡°No boyfriend, no girlfriend, only you.¡± With just those pecks, she became as flustered as if she¡¯d caught fire, her face and ears turning red. She was stunned for a moment, then crouched down and scurried toward a secluded corner of the wall. Turning her head and seeing Jiang Zhi with his chin resting on his hand, still watching her without having moved, she returned and dragged him to the same corner as well. This way, passersby couldn¡¯t see them. She scolded him, calling him shameless! The shameless Jiang Zhi laughed, his canines showing. She wasn¡¯t soothed yet, and still angry, said, ¡°You lied to me, Mr. Xue said you had a first love.¡± This wasn¡¯t something that could be concealed, and Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t intend to hide it. ¡°Consider it a first love.¡± He took Zhou Xufang¡¯s hand into his, held it, and told her, ¡°He was a boy, I was sixteen then, and he was fourteen.¡± He revealed no emotion to her, his tone as ordinary as it could be. The first important point Zhou Xufang picked up on was¡ªJiang Zhi¡¯s first love was a boy, and she was frustrated: ¡°Is it because of him that you came out?¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.?? Jiang Zhi admitted, ¡°Yes.¡± She was so jealous she could die, ¡°Hmph, so it was him who turned you!¡± ¡°It¡¯s you who¡¯s turned me back, isn¡¯t it?¡± Jiang Zhi chuckled, reaching out to touch her head. She wouldn¡¯t let him, jumping back. She also picked up on the second important point, ¡°You were in young love!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t run.¡± Jiang Zhi pulled her over and held her in his arms, his chin rubbing against the hat on the top of her head, ¡°I didn¡¯t even get the chance to be in a relationship before he was gone.¡± His voice sounded a bit weak. And somewhat suppressed. Zhou Xufang immediately stopped moving, asked tentatively, and with caution, ¡°He¡¯s gone?¡± ¡°Yeah, he burned to death.¡± The matter-of-fact statement erased all the jealousy in Zhou Xufang¡¯s belly and the minor moodiness between her brows. She understood that this boy, must not be brought up; Jiang Zhi would be saddened. ¡°I¡¯m not angry anymore.¡± She looked up at him with her finger gently poking Jiang Zhi¡¯s furrowed brow, ¡°Don¡¯t be upset.¡± He smiled. He liked her too much, far too much. He caught her hand and kissed her fingertips, ¡°So, Fang Bao, you need to stay well and always be with me, understand?¡± She nodded vigorously, her tone very serious, ¡°Jiang Zhi, I will live a long life, and you must too.¡± Jiang Zhi said okay, then caught her and kissed her. She didn¡¯t avoid him anymore, they were intimate for a long time before returning to their private room. Xue Baoyi had sharp eyes, ¡®yo¡¯ she called out, teasingly scolding Jiang Zhi as a little beast, to which Jiang Zhi kicked her and told her to get lost. Zhou Xufang internally retorted to Mr. Xue that Jiang Zhi was not a little beast; he was just a bit bad, a great guy! She felt so much sympathy for Jiang Zhi, so she gave him all the best braised pork to eat. At the end of the meal, Zhou Xufang gave Qiao Nanchu and Xue Bingxue gifts along with her sincerest wishes¡ªfor a long life. She now felt that wishing for a long life was the best blessing. After lunch, they were supposed to go to the entertainment city together, but in the parking lot, Qiao Nanchu received a call. ¡°Hello.¡± ¡°Who is it?¡± Qiao Nanchu didn¡¯t speak again; after listening for a while, he turned to Xue Baoyi and said, ¡°Get me a designated driver.¡± He had drunk and couldn¡¯t drive. Xue Baoyi casually asked, ¡°What happened?¡± ¡°No time to explain.¡± Qiao Nanchu opened the car door and got into the passenger seat. Without delay, Xue Baoyi immediately fetched a manager from the Fusheng Inn. ¡°I have an emergency, gotta go.¡± With that, Qiao Nanchu turned to urge the driver, ¡°Drive faster.¡± The lobby manager, hastily recruited to be the designated driver, stepped on the gas and the car sped away. Xue Baoyi watched the departing taillights and clicked his tongue, ¡°With Nanchu¡¯s demeanor, even if the sky fell, he¡¯d first light a cigarette. I wonder who called him to get such a reaction.¡± Xue Bingxue also felt it was unusual. Qiao Nanchu was truly indifferent, unbendingly so except towards a few old friends; the people and matters that could truly catch his eye were few and far between. Xue Baoyi speculated, ¡°Couldn¡¯t have been his ex-girlfriend, could it?¡± Probably not. On tiptoe, Zhou Xufang whispered into Jiang Zhi¡¯s ear, ¡°The person on the phone, they didn¡¯t say anything.¡± Not speaking¡­ Jiang Zhi knew who it was. The car arrived at Jiajing Garden. Qiao Nanchu got out of the car and ran directly to the third floor without knocking. He stood at the door and sent a text message. ¡°Open the door.¡± It was freezing cold outside, but there was a thin sweat on his forehead. He pursed his lips, feeling the urge to smoke. He waited nearly half a minute before the door opened. As he was about to get a cigarette out of the pack, he put it back in his pocket and looked up. The first thing he saw was the excessively pale neck of the girl, standing leaning on the door, her eyes moist, lips slightly parted. ¡°Brother Chu¡­¡± This was the first sentence of lip-reading Wen Baiyang had learned and the three words she could imitate most accurately. ¡°Do you want to leave Da Mai Mountain?¡± ¡°Call me brother and I¡¯ll take you away.¡± When they first met, the rhododendrons on Da Mai Mountain were in full bloom across the hills, and he insisted she call him brother as he gave her one. But she couldn¡¯t even speak. Still, he brought her from Da Mai Mountain to Imperial City. Qiao Nanchu entered the room: ¡°Where do you feel uncomfortable?¡± Standing barefoot on the carpet, she used sign language to tell him she had severe stomach pain. ¡°Why aren¡¯t your shoes on?¡± After saying ¡®excuse me,¡¯ he bent down and picked her up. She didn¡¯t dare to move in his embrace, her eyes bloodshot, cold sweat dampening her hair, not knowing where to place her hands, she awkwardly clutched at his sleeve. He didn¡¯t bother with slippers but carried her to the sofa, touched her forehead, and it was burning hot: ¡°Where are your clothes?¡± She pointed to the bedroom. Because she got up in a hurry, she was only wearing pajamas and had broken out into a cold sweat, leaving her body ice-cold. Qiao Nanchu went into the room and got a sweater and coat for her. Located at a high altitude, Wen Baiyang¡¯s rosy cheeks from Da Mai Mountain were quite noticeable when she first arrived in Imperial City, but over the years, they had nearly faded away. Now with a fever, her little face had lost all color, looking extremely pale. Her face was round, and her eyes were round too, showing a hint of naivety when she looked at people. But now she was ill, her expression lethargic, her eyes devoid of vitality, as she curled up on the sofa, her consciousness a bit blurred. Qiao Nanchu brushed the sweaty hair off her face: ¡°Can you dress yourself?¡± She tried to raise her hand. But it was limp, lacking any strength, and after several attempts, she couldn¡¯t even get her hand through the sleeve. Qiao Nanchu simply picked her up from the sofa, told her to stay still and not to move, as he began to dress her himself. Having never taken care of anyone before, his movements, though gentle, were still somewhat rough, and it took quite a while to finally get the sweater and coat on her. Picking up the blanket from the sofa, he wrapped it around her head: ¡°To the hospital, huh?¡± Wen Baiyang nodded, her mind foggy. By the end, her consciousness was no longer clear, vaguely seeing him urging the driver, saying, ¡°Drive faster, faster¡­¡± He said, ¡°Hang in there, just hang in there and it¡¯ll be okay¡­¡± It was acute appendicitis, and surgery was needed. Qiao Nanchu signed the consent form for the surgery, acting as the patient¡¯s ¡®brother¡¯, and strictly speaking, he really was her ¡®brother.¡¯ Wen Baiyang¡¯s biological mother, Wen Ya, was a young woman who had come down from Da Mai Mountain, only a little over a decade older than Qiao Nanchu, and had married his father five years ago as a second wife. Before that, Wen Ya had never been married; Wen Baiyang was the result of a premarital pregnancy. Her father was a close relative, which caused Wen Baiyang to be born with a disability and abandoned on Da Mai Mountain, living with her grandmother. Wen Ya was like a parasitic vine, at least on the surface, sometimes crying in nine out of ten sentences. Qiao Nanchu rarely contacted his young stepmother so that when Wen Ya received his call, she was surprised: ¡°Nanchu?¡± Her tone sounded uncertain. ¡°It¡¯s me.¡± His attitude was as cold as ever. At that moment, his father¡¯s voice came from the other end of the phone. ¡°Who is it?¡± Wen Ya replied in a soft, delicate voice: ¡°It¡¯s Nanchu.¡± When she continued on the phone, her tone became even gentler, ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Why are you calling at this hour? Have you had lunch?¡± She was offering warmth, almost like a caring mother. Qiao Nanchu couldn¡¯t be bothered with pretense: ¡°Your daughter is sick, in the hospital.¡± She started crying instantly: ¡°Is it serious? Is it dangerous?¡± ¡°Acute appendicitis.¡± Qiao Nanchu looked at the operation room¡¯s door, the light on, his eyes cool as autumn frost, ¡°You were a nurse, so you know how to take care of patients¡ªI don¡¯t need to tell you. Make some soup tomorrow and come to the hospital to take care of her, and if you want to act as a loving mother in front of my father, then at least do a convincing job.¡± Having finished speaking, he hung up the phone. A loving mother? Would a loving mother leave her biological daughter in the mountains, unheard from and uncared for, for over a dozen years? Wen Baiyang didn¡¯t wake up until three p.m., but Qiao Nanchu hadn¡¯t left; he was sitting by the bed. ¡°Brother Chu.¡± ¡°Mm.¡± Qiao Nanchu didn¡¯t understand sign language, but he could read those three words. However, in the girl¡¯s second year in Imperial City, he had learned a bit of sign language. Using sign language, Wen Baiyang said, ¡°Sorry for taking up your time.¡± She didn¡¯t have anyone else to contact; when the pain was bad enough to make her roll on the floor, he was the first one she thought of. Qiao Nanchu spoke more slowly than usual, ¡°I¡¯m off today, not busy.¡± She gestured her thanks to him, then stopped bothering him, lying down quietly, watching him. Qiao Nanchu read emails on his phone for a while, then lifted his head; those round eyes were still fixed on him, ¡°Not sleeping?¡± She shook her head, saying the incision was too painful to sleep. He threw his phone on the cabinet next to the hospital bed, freeing his hands; he clumsily stroked her head, patting it twice, ¡°Endure it, it¡¯ll stop hurting if you endure.¡± He really wasn¡¯t good at comforting people. When Wen Baiyang first arrived in Imperial City and didn¡¯t know sign language, he wasn¡¯t a patient man; his writing was fast but messy. ¡°You can stay here for now.¡± He settled her in a big house. He didn¡¯t live there, and before leaving, he gave her many instructions. ¡°The lady who cooks will come during the day.¡± ¡°The school has been contacted, you¡¯ll report in three days.¡± He tore another post-it note, writing a string of numbers for her, ¡°This is my number, call me if you need anything. But I often have training and may not always get the call. If it¡¯s urgent, ask the lady who cooks.¡± His handwriting was flamboyant. She struggled to read it. He must have just graduated from the police academy, still wearing his uniform, explaining everything before he left. It took all her courage to dare to grab the strap of his backpack. He turned around to meet the timid eyes of the little girl; indeed, a little girl¡ªfourteen years old and only as tall as his chest, thin and small. ¡°Scared?¡± Scared. In this strange city, she only knew him. She nodded. He smiled, patting her shoulder, ¡°Endure it, you¡¯ll stop being scared if you endure.¡± He always said that, endure it, and it will get better. There was only one time when he didn¡¯t comfort her that way. That was her first menstrual period, which turned into a complete mess with the bedding and pants all soiled; she was confused and scared, tears streaming down. ¡°What are you crying for?¡± Her shoulders were shaking as she cried, and he took a tissue, roughly wiping away her tears. ¡°It¡¯s not a terminal illness. All girls go through this.¡± Finally, he awkwardly shoved a pack of sanitary pads to her, then slammed the door as he left. In the evening, he returned, threw a book on female biology at her, and again slammed the door as he left. That year, Qiao Nanchu was twenty, Wen Baiyang only fourteen. Qiao Nanchu didn¡¯t leave the hospital until after five. By six o¡¯clock, the Weibo server had crashed. Up-and-coming male celebrity Xiao Linsu announced his withdrawal from public life. At the press conference, his manager was absent, and even the agency had no representative present. Faced with various questions from reporters, Xiao Linsu only explained, ¡°Tired, just want to rest.¡± The news was everywhere; the man in question, however, was no longer to be seen, as if he had evaporated from the world. At quarter past six, Jiang Zhi received a call from Qiao Nanchu. ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± As darkness fell and the chill deepened, Jiang Zhi lay on a small daybed, covered by a thin blanket, with medicine that had just been brought in set on the table to cool. ¡°Captain Cheng called,¡± said Qiao Nanchu succinctly, ¡°just as you expected.¡± The men¡¯s watch was a limited edition, traceable to the identity of the purchaser. Among them was Luo Changde. Jiang Zhi rose from his daybed, carrying the medicine over to the window and pouring the dark liquid into the planter. He said, ¡°We can make the arrest now.¡± At six-thirty, the Criminal Investigation Team set out to take someone from the Luo Family. In the Luo family study, Luo Huaiyu smashed a cup of tea and picked up a cane on the desk to strike down on the back of his eldest son. ¡°You worthless thing! How could our Luo family have spawned such a beast!¡± With that cane strike, Luo Changde¡¯s legs buckled, and he knelt on the ground, sweating with pain. Gritting his teeth, he leaned on the desk to stand up. ¡°Like dragon sire dragon, like phoenix sire phoenix, Dad, how do you think I was born?¡± ¡°You¡ª¡± Luo Huaiyu trembled with fury, raising the cane again. ¡°Grandfather.¡± Luo Qinghe stepped forward and caught the cane. ¡°Leave this matter to me.¡± Luo Huaiyu glared venomously at his eldest son before relenting. Leaning on his cane, he left the study, leaving behind a single sentence for his granddaughter. ¡°Remember, our Luo family must not be implicated.¡± Luo Qinghe answered, ¡°I know.¡± Once the old man left the study, she closed the door, and her expression suddenly changed. ¡°I¡¯ve already taken care of that woman for you, why did you feel the need to silence her?¡± Luo Changde moved his back, feeling the painful burn. Bloodshot eyes filled with resentment. ¡°Only dead people can¡¯t talk. Money is only a temporary solution.¡± Luo Qinghe folded her arms. ¡°Well then, you made the mess, you clean it up.¡± Luo Changde sneered. He sat down and poured himself a cup of tea, confident and composed, ¡°I pushed Jiang Zhi into the sea for whom, do you think?¡± He scoffed and took a sip of tea to rinse his mouth. ¡°Do I need to remind you how that fire started eight years ago?¡± Her face changed drastically with those words. Luo Changde tugged at the corner of his mouth, smiling as he looked at the daughter most like him. ¡°Dear daughter, don¡¯t make me wait too long at the police station.¡± Her hands clenched as her eyes gradually darkened. At that moment. A servant at the doorway said, ¡°Miss, the police have come.¡± At eight o¡¯clock, Luo Changde was detained by the police. At half-past eight, Zhou Xufang was still out delivering takeaways. She had to get back by nine to video chat with Jiang Zhi; this was her last order, and the buyer¡¯s address was on Tianjing Road. Previously, she and Jiang Zhi had delivered takeout there once. She knew the route well. The construction site across the street was hustling through the night, and the residential area was relatively quiet. She went to the third floor, knocked on the door, and called out, ¡°306, your takeaway.¡± A man inside replied, ¡°Just a moment.¡± Soon after, someone came to open the door. Zhou Xufang, wearing a mask and a delivery cap, asked, ¡°Mr. Jiang?¡± The man, in his forties, looked her over. He wore a gray cotton jacket on top and only pajama bottoms below, seemingly intrigued by the novelty of a female delivery person, he scrutinized her for a long while before saying, ¡°That¡¯s me.¡± Zhou Xufang handed over the bag. ¡°Your porridge.¡± The man, with a licentious gaze, took it and smiled at her, ¡°Thanks, little sister.¡± Flippant. Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t like such people. Not even bothering to ask for a good review, she turned to leave. Just as she reached the stairwell, her steps suddenly halted. What was that smell? She took a sniff and sniffed deeply again. Like the stench of blood¡­ Following the scent, she moved further inside and stopped in front of a door that was left unlocked. Gently pushing it open, she was right at the ventilator, where the strong smell of blood assailed her senses. Her foot had just stepped inside when she saw the blood on the floor and the woman lying in a pool of it. She looked around briefly and, composedly, took out her phone to report to the police: ¡°Hello officer, I¡¯d like to report a crime.¡± At the police station. Due to Luo Changde¡¯s case, the entire Criminal Investigation Team had not clocked out, interrogating through the night. ¡°Has he confessed?¡± Captain Qiao entered from outside, still with a cigarette in his mouth. The guy sure was addicted to smoking. Captain Cheng of the Criminal Investigation Team hadn¡¯t had dinner yet, cramming a piece of bread into his mouth: ¡°We¡¯ve questioned him four times, he hasn¡¯t uttered a word.¡± He cursed with a laugh, ¡°Just now, that beast rolled his eyes back and feigned unconsciousness, we¡¯ve sent him to the infirmary.¡± Captain Qiao extinguished his cigarette and pulled up a chair to sit. ¡°A few kicks will make him behave.¡± This hooligan cop! Captain Cheng took a sip of water and teased him, ¡°Captain Qiao, forcing a confession is illegal.¡± Chapter 120 - 120: 120: Fang Baos superpower exposed, Luo Sans identity exposed Chapter 120: 120: Fang Bao¡¯s superpower exposed, Luo San¡¯s identity exposed ¡°Captain Qiao, forcing a confession is illegal.¡± ¡°Forcing a confession?¡± He fiddled with a lighter in his hands, smiling coldly. ¡°Who saw? Any evidence?¡± Captain Cheng was speechless. It¡¯s good that this guy hadn¡¯t joined the Criminal Investigation Team considering he disregarded regulations and norms. The Qiao Family was a prestigious family, the late Mrs. Qiao was from a scholarly family, yet it was a wonder how such a non-conformist was raised in their midst. There was something undeniably rogue about him, hard to say whom he took after. ¡°Captain, we¡¯ve received a report.¡± A colleague in the team hung up the phone and said, ¡°Number 38, Tianjing Road, there¡¯s been a murder.¡± Around nine o¡¯clock, Jiang Zhi received a phone call from Nanchu Qiao. He was brief and to the point, saying, ¡°Come to the police station.¡± Jiang Zhi glanced at the time. It was almost nine, and he was supposed to video call Zhou Xufang. He cleared his throat, sounding listless and weak. ¡°I¡¯m frail, not going out.¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?¦Ï How feeble! This guy really thought he was Lin Daiyu, Nanchu Qiao couldn¡¯t stand his nonsense, ¡°Your wife is here, are you coming or not?¡± Hearing this, Jiang Zhi sat up from his daybed, ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Gone was his previously sickly demeanor; his tone was urgent. Nanchu Qiao¡¯s interest was piqued, and he continued to ramble with wide eyes, ¡°She¡¯s gotten into trouble.¡± Among them, Jiang Zhi was the most scheming. Now, even this casual joke seemed to have fooled him; his mind must have been blocked by the words ¡°Zhou Xufang.¡± He even said, ¡°Tell her not to confess, wait for me to handle it.¡± His tone was serious, certainly not joking. He was probably planning how to ¡®exonerate¡¯ Zhou Xufang in his mind. Nanchu Qiao became curious, ¡°Tell me, how do you plan to handle it? Will you frame someone else or destroy the evidence?¡± In any case, it wouldn¡¯t be anything aboveboard. Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t say more, grabbed his car keys, and walked out: ¡°Let Zhou Xufang take the call.¡± Nanchu Qiao cursed him ¡®Scoundrel¡¯ and, holding back a laugh, said, ¡°Without probing a bit, you really think you¡¯re above the law, huh?¡± Scoundrel! Jiang Zhi cursed him back. ¡°Don¡¯t joke about Zhou Xufang; I can¡¯t afford to.¡± Nanchu Qiao realized this guy was under his girlfriend¡¯s thumb. Switching to serious tones, he said, ¡°There¡¯s been a murder at Tianjing Road, and your girlfriend is the one who reported it.¡± Jiang Zhi got into his car and put on his Bluetooth headset, ¡°Hand the phone to Zhou Xufang.¡± Soon after, the joyful voice of a young girl came through on the phone, ¡°Jiang Zhi~¡± Jiang Zhi adjusted the Bluetooth headset¡¯s volume, steering with one hand as he backed the car out, questioning Zhou Xufang, ¡°Have they taken your statement?¡± ¡°Mhm.¡± As the car left the parking spot, Jiang Zhi floored the accelerator, driving fast, and asked again, ¡°Was the person taking your statement harsh? Did they bully you?¡± Listening on speaker was Nanchu Qiao: ¡°¡­¡± This prick, what does he think our police are! Zhou Xufang detailed everything, saying, ¡°No, that guy was very nice, even gave me instant noodles.¡± Hearing this, Jiang Zhi fumed, ¡°They only gave you instant noodles?¡± Zhou Xufang, ¡°No, there were also some ham and duck necks.¡± Nanchu Qiao couldn¡¯t listen anymore, grabbed his cigarettes and lighter, and went out to smoke. Zhou Xufang then turned off the speakerphone, telling Jiang Zhi how tasty the duck necks and ham were. ¡°Once we¡¯re home, I¡¯ll buy you some.¡± Set aside duck necks and ham for a moment, Jiang Zhi asked her, ¡°Did you go to Tianjing Road to deliver food again?¡± ¡°Mhm.¡± In this perilous world, danger lurked everywhere. Yet he couldn¡¯t stop her from working. Jiang Zhi thought for a moment. ¡°Tomorrow come to the set with me; you can be an extra.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll be at the police station soon; have Nanchu find you a place to rest until I get there.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± After Zhou Xufang agreed, she inquired, ¡°Are you driving?¡± Jiang Zhi hummed a confirmation, turned the steering wheel sharply, and the car entered the highway. He was driving fast, the wind blowing fiercely through the windows, Zhou Xufang could even hear it. How could he drive so fast! ¡°Drive a bit slower,¡± she immediately recited the traffic slogan, ¡°There are countless roads but safety comes first; driving carelessly brings loved ones to tears.¡± ¡°¡­It¡¯s not that fast.¡± ¡°Stop making calls and concentrate on driving.¡± After that, Zhou Xufang directly hung up the phone. Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± Forget it, just drive slower. It was already late at night, and no one from the Criminal Investigation Team had left work since they had just returned from the crime scene and were working on the case report. ¡°The victim, Chen Li, was twenty-six years old, female, and worked as a bartender.¡± A few photos from the scene were posted on a mobile whiteboard, along with a few bullet points. Vice Captain Xing marked the key points with a pen and continued, ¡°The autopsy report hasn¡¯t come out yet, but from the scene photos, it appears to be a homicide. There¡¯s no sign of any disturbance inside the house, so we can probably rule out robbery. Moreover, the door lock is intact, and there are no signs of struggle, so it¡¯s very likely that the perpetrator was an acquaintance.¡± ¡°The wound is clean; the murderer is likely male.¡± Captain Cheng asked, ¡°What about the murder weapon?¡± Vice Captain Xing pointed to a photo: ¡°It should be this fruit knife, which has already been sent to the forensic department for analysis.¡± Neither the forensic nor forensic investigations had produced results yet, and there were currently no breakthroughs. Captain Cheng tapped the table thoughtfully and began to assign tasks: ¡°Zhwen, you take a team to visit the apartment complex where the crime occurred, see if there¡¯s been anything unusual lately, or if the victim had any feuds.¡± ¡°Xiao Zhong, you go to the bar where the victim worked.¡± ¡°Gangzi, check the victim¡¯s personal accounts, call records, and social relationships.¡± ¡°Zhang Wen, you continue with Luo Changde¡¯s case.¡± After giving the instructions, Captain Cheng stood up, waved his hand to signal that everyone could leave: ¡°Alright, let¡¯s call it a day.¡± After ensuring everything was arranged, he remembered someone else, ¡°Nanchu, help me take the person who reported the crime back.¡± ¡°No need,¡± Qiao Nanchu tilted his chin towards the door, ¡°The family of the person who reported it has arrived.¡± Zhou Xufang immediately stood up from his chair: ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± He walked quickly, bringing a gust of wind in: ¡°Were you scared?¡± ¡°No.¡± Zhou Xufang¡¯s delivery helmet was still on the table. Jiang Zhi took the helmet in one hand and held her hand with the other, saying, ¡°I¡¯m taking her away.¡± Captain Cheng agreed. Qiao Nanchu glanced at Jiang Zhi: ¡°I sent my car for repairs, give me a lift.¡± He took out his phone, dialed a number: ¡°Lin Wanwan, come to the police station.¡± After hanging up, he told Qiao Nanchu, ¡°I¡¯ve called a driver for you.¡± Qiao Nanchu: ¡°Get lost.¡± Jiang Zhi walked away holding his girlfriend¡¯s hand. The car was parked quite far away, and they had to walk a bit, Zhou Xufang being led, her mind wandering. It was cold at night, Jiang Zhi put the helmet on her and wrapped his scarf around her neck: ¡°What are you thinking about?¡± ¡°The case.¡± ¡°Let the police worry about the case.¡± Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t think so, she was serious, very stern: ¡°Building a harmonious society is everyone¡¯s responsibility.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Ever since she started watching TV dramas, her vocabulary had not only expanded significantly, but it had also opened many new worlds for her. Good, she had become much more outgoing than before, and not as scared of people. Jiang Zhi then asked, ¡°So, what have you figured out?¡± She showed him a secretly snapped photo of the victim on her phone: ¡°Is it her? The customer who flirted with you last time.¡± Jiang Zhi glanced at it and recognized her: ¡°It¡¯s her.¡± ¡°I overheard her talking on the phone, talking about a homicide; this victim said she had disposed of the body and was asking a Mr. Han to pay her.¡± She asked Jiang Zhi, ¡°Could she have been killed by this Mr. Han?¡± Before Jiang Zhi could respond, she began to speculate, her speech speed and tone mimicking that of a detective drama character: ¡°They were plotting something big, and after it was done, Mr. Han, afraid of leaks, murdered the victim to silence her.¡± Jiang Zhi caressed her cheek, praising: ¡°Your analysis makes a lot of sense.¡± Having been complimented, Zhou Xufang was naturally excited: ¡°That¡¯s how they do it in TV dramas.¡± ¡°What you heard, I will pass on to Nanchu, let the police investigate it,¡± Jiang Zhi¡¯s hands rested on her yellow helmet, looking into her eyes, ¡°Detective Zhou Xufang, first tell me, how did you overhear the victim¡¯s phone call?¡± ¡°¡­¡± Crap, I¡¯ve said too much. Zhou Xufang was clearly not good at lying, her eyes darting around, and after a long pause, she whispered softly, ¡°I heard it from outside.¡± ¡°You were downstairs at the time.¡± Three floors, does she have super-hearing or what? Zhou Xufang lowered her head, tilting her helmet: ¡°I have good hearing.¡± Jiang Zhi wouldn¡¯t let her dodge, holding her chin and lifting her face: ¡°How good?¡± I can¡¯t make up any more¡­ Zhou Xufang decided to come clean and ask for leniency. How good was her hearing? She needed an example, so she focused intensely, pricking up her ears to listen to the sounds from all directions. Moreover, she mimicked exactly, reciting a small segment verbatim. ¡°What is this?¡± It was a man¡¯s voice, which she imitated quite realistically. ¡°Lipstick, what else could it be?¡± That was a woman¡¯s voice. A conversation between a man and a woman, Zhou Xufang played both roles: for the man, she stood on the left and deepened her voice, for the woman, she stood on the right and pinched her voice to mimic. She imitated the woman: ¡°Whose lipstick is this?¡± Imitated the man: ¡°Isn¡¯t it yours?¡± Imitated the woman: ¡°No, it¡¯s not.¡± Imitated the man: ¡°Then someone must have left it behind by accident,¡± The climax arrived, emotions exploded! ¡°Perhaps someone left it behind on purpose.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°You know what I mean.¡± ¡°My intuition doesn¡¯t tell me anything, Liu Tong, stop making baseless accusations.¡± ¡°Stop the car.¡± ¡°We¡¯re on a major road, that¡¯s enough.¡± ¡°Stop the car!¡± As Zhou Xufang yelled furiously, With a hiss, a car on the road opposite her and Jiang Zhi came to a sudden halt, and a woman in a black down jacket got out from the passenger side. ¡°Wang Zhongliang, you really have no class, daring to let another woman leave lipstick in your car and not having the guts to admit it,¡± the woman said with red eyes, sarcastically berating her boyfriend, ¡°That¡¯s all you¡¯re capable of.¡± Her boyfriend stayed in the car, not getting out, cursing and swearing. ¡°What are you freaking out about, which eye of yours saw me with another woman?¡± ¡°And you want to argue with me about this! Can¡¯t feel comfortable without a quarrel, huh?¡± ¡°Sicko!¡± After cursing, the man drove off, leaving the woman behind. She stood by the roadside for a while, crouched down, and cried. It was the couple arguing, and the dialogue Zhou Xufang had recited was the content of their argument, which lasted at least half a minute. Even if the car was moving slowly, the voice was still hundreds of meters away, at night with the wind and the noise of traffic. ¡°You could hear all that?¡± Jiang Zhi found it unbelievable. Zhou Xufang nodded: ¡°Yeah,¡± she said, ¡°I need to concentrate to hear it.¡± Then, she concentrated again, continued to listen, and kept repeating. ¡°Liu Wenhui, what exactly do you mean, placing the lipstick in my car, did you intentionally want my wife to find it?¡± Zhou Xufang imitated the man¡¯s words seriously and accurately, ¡°Didn¡¯t we agree to just have fun, not to expose anything, are you playing me now?¡± The car had already gone quite far, yet she could still hear. ¡°This is pointless¡ª¡± Jiang Zhi interrupted her: ¡°That¡¯s enough.¡± Oh. She stopped and looked at Jiang Zhi. He was also looking at her, his eyes as if studded with sparkling stars, bright and fiery. ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± ¡°Mhm.¡± Her two hands clenched, nervously fidgeting with her fingers: ¡°Am I like a little monster?¡± Her eyelashes trembled rapidly, showing a mix of fear, nervousness, and dejection. She wore her anxiety and unrest on her face and in her eyes. Jiang Zhi slightly bent down, making his gaze level with hers: ¡°Why a little monster?¡± She said: ¡°I¡¯m different from others.¡± Her voice very low. She was afraid, even felt inferior. Jiang Zhi could tell; she disliked her uncommon self, blamed herself, attributing all the intolerance of others to herself. She described herself as a little monster. Jiang Zhi straightened her askew helmet, exposing her face: ¡°Have you watched any fairy or martial arts TV shows?¡± She nodded, ¡°I¡¯ve seen it.¡± ¡°It might not be a monster,¡± he covered her head with his hand, knocked on her helmet making a clanging sound, and said, ¡°Zhou Xufang, you might be a fairy from the heavens, come down to experience tribulations, and because the seal was broken, you now have boundless mana.¡± He was talking nonsense. Zhou Xufang laughed. ¡°Jiang Zhi, there are no fairies in this world.¡± Although she loved watching TV dramas, she also knew there were many fictional elements in them, and she didn¡¯t believe in fairies. Jiang Zhi poked her face, creating a small dimple on her right cheek, ¡°Then how don¡¯t you understand? There are no monsters in the world, only humans blinded by evil thoughts.¡± Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t quite understand. ¡°Even if it¡¯s really a monster,¡± Jiang Zhi smiled, his eyes spilling with soft light, ¡°Lord Black Impermanence, I have a long life ahead, and I will love the little monster for a long time.¡± Lord Black Impermanence did not fully understand his words, but he caught the last sentence, Jiang Zhi said he would love her for a long time. That was enough for her; she wasn¡¯t greedy. Whether or not there were fairies or monsters, or whether people¡¯s eyes were blinded, she didn¡¯t care anymore because Jiang Zhi had her in his eyes. She had never felt so content before, as if she had gained the whole world, obtained all the beautiful stars in the sky. She smiled, her eyes curving, she put on her hoodie and tiptoed to put on Jiang Zhi¡¯s, ¡°The little monster wants to kiss you, lower your head.¡± Jiang Zhi lowered his head. She tiptoed, carefully kissing him. The next day, it rained, and the temperature in Imperial City was too low, turning the raindrops into ice, dripping sounded. At eight in the morning, Tang Xiang drove to the nursing home. The nurse, Xiao Qu, just came out of the ward, saw her, and greeted with a smile, ¡°Miss Tang is here.¡± ¡°How is my mom¡¯s mental state today?¡± ¡°Early in the morning she asked me for paper and pen, saying she wanted to write.¡± After a brief chat, Tang Xiang put her umbrella in the rack and pushed the door into the ward. ¡°Mom.¡± Ms. He was kneeling on a foam mat on the floor, buttocks in the air while writing something, then she looked up and waved at Tang Xiang, ¡°Luo San come quickly, Aunt Xiu is teaching you how to write.¡± She didn¡¯t recognize people again, usually, she talked the most about Luo San. Tang Xiang patiently explained, ¡°It¡¯s me, Mom, I¡¯m Xiangxiang, not Luo San.¡± Ms. He grabbed her hand, pulled her over, and looked around, ¡°Shush, keep your voice down, don¡¯t let them hear you talking.¡± Tang Xiang didn¡¯t have the strength to explain further and let her ramble. Ms. He suddenly jumped up, startled, ¡°Where¡¯s your necklace?¡± ¡°What necklace?¡± Ms. He didn¡¯t specify which necklace, sitting on the foam mat, she shook her head and mumbled to herself. ¡°Where¡¯s the necklace?¡± ¡°That was given by your mom; you can¡¯t lose it.¡± ¡°The necklace has a name.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Her speech was disjointed and Ms. He murmured for a while. It was all gibberish that Tang Xiang didn¡¯t understand. Her eyes caught the notebook on the floor, written neatly, in Ms. He¡¯s handwriting. She filled up a page with just two words: ¡ª Xu Fang. Tang Xiang picked up the notebook, ¡°What is this?¡± Ms. He swayed her head, smiling like a child, ¡°It¡¯s your name.¡± ¡°What¡¯s my name?¡± Ms. He paused, tilting her head watching her for a while, then recognized her, ¡°You¡¯re Xiangxiang.¡± She smiled happily then seemingly dissatisfied, complained, ¡°Why did you come back so late?¡± Tang Xiang opened the notebook, showed her clearly, ¡°Mom, first tell me, whose name is this?¡± Ms. He pushed the notebook away, looked towards the door, ¡°Where¡¯s your dad?¡± ¡°How come he hasn¡¯t come back?¡± ¡°Did the old master send him somewhere on business again?¡± ¡°Make a phone call, ask him to come back.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Ms. He kept muttering, Tang Xiang called her, but she didn¡¯t respond. Xu Fang. Tang Xiang looked at the words on the notebook, lost in thought. Chapter 121 - 121: 121: Xu Fang falls into the water, the death of Luo San Chapter 121: 121: Xu Fang falls into the water, the death of Luo San Xiao Linsu, as the lead in ¡°Wilderness¡±, even though he had finished all his scenes, his retirement still had a significant impact on the film. For example, journalists were relentless, staking out even the film set. Today¡¯s scene was outdoors, shot in a natural mountain range on the outskirts of Imperial City, with a parking lot located a kilometer away from the shoot, and the crew¡¯s temporary rest area was nearby. After parking the car, Jiang Zhi unbuckled Zhou Xufang¡¯s seatbelt. ¡°There are reporters outside, you go ahead first.¡± Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t move. ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± ... ¡°Hm?¡± Jiang Zhi turned toward her. She asked, ¡°Are we going to date in secret?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you want to date in secret?¡± No. She wanted to keep it a secret, to avoid others knowing. Jiang Zhi was a celebrity, and going public with a relationship could cause many inconveniences, and the Jiang Family was also watching like a hawk, so caution was advised. What she was worried about was, ¡°My acting is terrible, I¡¯m afraid I¡¯ll give it away.¡± Her acting really was terrible, or she wouldn¡¯t have been an extra for so long. Except for Jiang Zhi, other directors wouldn¡¯t even let her play a corpse with a line. When she was filming, she was usually only seen from the back. Once her face showed, it was easy for the whole scene to collapse. ¡°Who says your acting is bad? You played the female ghost quite well.¡± ¡°¡­¡± What should Lord Black Impermanence say? Lord Black Impermanence said, ¡°Thank you.¡± Jiang Zhi smiled, not teasing her anymore: ¡°It¡¯s okay if we blow our cover; if we get discovered, we¡¯ll go public.¡± She would listen to whatever Jiang Zhi said: ¡°Okay.¡± Jiang Zhi put a hat and mask on her and wrapped her face and neck, leaving only her eyes and eyebrows exposed. ¡°Jiang Zhi, it¡¯s like we¡¯re having an affair.¡± Zhou Xufang found it amusing. ¡°I¡¯m the domineering CEO¡¯s secret little wife.¡± Jiang Zhi was a mix of annoyed and amused: ¡°Has Lin Wanwan been sending you novels again?¡± ¡°No.¡± Mm, good girl. Jiang Zhi just wanted to praise her. She earnestly revealed the truth: ¡°I downloaded an APP and found it myself.¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± Every day, he worried if she would be led astray, deceived, or abducted¡ªhe guessed those without daughters wouldn¡¯t understand his feelings. Not daring to speak harshly, fearing she might rebel. So Jiang Zhi reminded her in a fatherly tone: ¡°You know you shouldn¡¯t watch things that are inappropriate for children, right?¡± Zhou Xufang, unfamiliar with the internet, asked innocently: ¡°What counts as inappropriate for children?¡± Jiang Zhi thought for a moment, then summarized in one sentence: ¡°Everything after undressing.¡± Zhou Xufang turned away, laughing: ¡°Jiang Zhi, I¡¯ve already come of age.¡± The grown-up Zhou Xufang added, ¡°Plus, Tang Xiang said that censorship is strict now, you can¡¯t write about anything below the neck.¡± At this point, she felt frustrated and let out a sigh: ¡°It¡¯s so annoying.¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± That feeling, like someone had stolen sweet potatoes from your own field. That sweet potato, bouncing happily: ¡°Jiang Zhi, do you have QQ?¡± Jiang Zhi just wanted to nibble her right there and then, he licked his lips, holding back: ¡°I do.¡± Zhou Xufang¡¯s eyes brimmed with anticipation: ¡°Can I borrow it?¡± This was a sweet potato with no survival instincts. ¡°I want to join Tang Xiang¡¯s group; he said he would send out benefits.¡± She had never seen the benefits, but Ah Wan said they were fantastic, very fulfilling. Jiang Zhi licked his teeth: ¡°No.¡± She felt let down: ¡°Oh.¡± She was only down for a few seconds before her excitement surged again, ¡°Then alright, I¡¯ll go register one myself.¡± ¡°Zhou Xufang.¡± Click. Jiang Zhi unbuckled his own seatbelt. He had used her full name. Oh, he was angry. Zhou Xufang was puzzled: ¡°Hmm?¡± Jiang Zhi tugged at the collar of his black sweater, giving her a death stare: ¡°Are you trying to kill your boyfriend with frustration?¡± Zhou Xufang felt wronged: ¡°I didn¡¯t.¡± She swore to heaven, she hadn¡¯t. Her expression was sincere: ¡°Are you angry?¡± Of course, her expression was also innocent, ¡°Why are you angry?¡± Jiang Zhi stayed silent, turned away, and started coughing. He had fair skin, delicate as could be, flushing everywhere at the slightest cough. A hint of watery gleam in his eyes, lips red and teeth white¡ªthree parts illness, seven parts charm. Such a pitiful sight. Yet, terribly captivating all the same. Zhou Xufang felt an itch of concern, too enamored to bear, and hurried to soothe him, gently patting his back while coaxing with kind words, ¡°It¡¯s all my fault. Don¡¯t be mad, don¡¯t be mad.¡± Jiang Zhi leaned against the chair, gazing at her with a pair of misty, peach blossom eyes, ¡°What did you do wrong?¡± ¡°¡­¡± What did she do wrong? She didn¡¯t know, didn¡¯t dare to ask¡ªso confused, so perplexed. Alright, he¡¯d stop teasing her. Jiang Zhi, feigning weakness, made a request as if he were on his sickbed: ¡°Don¡¯t go looking for happiness.¡± His tone was commanding but weak, almost coquettish due to his ¡®illness.¡¯ Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t immediately agree, visibly struggling. Jiang Zhi turned away, erupting into another bout of coughs, his Adam¡¯s apple tinged with a faint red from the effort. Zhou Xufang eventually gave in: ¡°¡­Okay.¡± The combined strategy of playing the beauty and the victim¡ªunfailingly effective. Jiang Zhi faked another cough, covered his mouth, and laughed. Such an innocent and gullible girl¡ªhow could he not keep a close watch on her? ¡°You¡¯re coughing so badly,¡± Zhou Xufang expressed her concern, ¡°Should we go to the hospital?¡± With a rosy flush on his cheeks, panting slightly, he made up complete nonsense with a straight face: ¡°This is from sheer frustration. No need for a hospital. I¡¯ll be fine as long as I¡¯m in good spirits.¡± Zhou Xufang was half-convinced: ¡°What would make you feel better?¡± He leaned in close: ¡°If you took the initiative to kiss me.¡± ¡°¡­¡± In the affairs of love, such maneuvers were charming, but Zhou Xufang¡¯s worldly experience couldn¡¯t hold a candle to Jiang Zhi¡¯s. A few minutes later. Zhou Xufang was sneaking off Jiang Zhi¡¯s car, barely reaching the parking lot¡¯s exit when suddenly someone called out her name. ¡°Zhou Xufang.¡± Having just done something ¡®naughty,¡¯ Zhou Xufang felt guilty, stood up straight and loudly replied, ¡°Here!¡± Then turning, she saw Ullala Li Xiang. Ullala Li Xiang, whose career had recently exploded with numerous variety shows, was now a rising star. She was as incognito as Zhou Xufang, with only a pair of laughingly squinted ¡®thief-like¡¯ eyes visible: ¡°I saw everything.¡± Zhou Xufang cocked her head, feigning ignorance. ¡°Jiang Zhi pinned you in the seat.¡± Zhou Xufang blinked, continuing to play dumb. ¡°For three minutes.¡± Zhou Xufang¡¯s eyes widened in protest: ¡°It wasn¡¯t that long!¡± That was slander! Lixiang laughed, a mischievous twinkle in her eye, looking every bit the madam of a brothel: ¡°Xufang, you just admitted it.¡± Zhou Xufang: ¡°¡­¡± Ah, she¡¯d been tricked. Such regret! Lixiang beckoned with her finger: ¡°Come on, spill it¡ªthe truth will be easier on you.¡± Zhou Xufang trusted Lixiang, although they hadn¡¯t known each other for very long. She felt Lixiang was a helpful and easygoing person, so she revealed the truth, saying, ¡°Jiang Zhi and I are playing at friends.¡± The term ¡®playing at friends¡¯ tickled Lixiang, her maternal instinct overflowing as she looked at Zhou Xufang with a motherly gaze: ¡°Has Jiang Zhi straightened out?¡± Without hesitation, Zhou Xufang affirmed: ¡°He has.¡± ¡°Will he bend again?¡± Zhou Xufang was adamant: ¡°No.¡± Whether Jiang Zhi was straight or might bend, Lixiang wasn¡¯t sure. There were too many rumors about Jiang Zhi for her to sort out the truth. But she was sure of one thing¡ªZhou Xufang truly liked Jiang Zhi, so much that her eyes now held a hint of worldly desire. This girl, who had always been so lifeless, finally learned what it meant to experience joy, anger, sorrow, and pleasure. Lixiang asked with a smile, ¡°Are you playing for keeps?¡± ¡°Mhm.¡± ¡°Then play well.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± But still¡ª Lixiang was a little worried, after all, considering Director Jiang¡¯s reputation, which made him seem almost too cunning: ¡°Just be careful, don¡¯t end up playing with your life.¡± Zhou Xufang hadn¡¯t even grasped the meaning: ¡°Huh?¡± Lixiang cleared her throat: ¡°Ahem, just make sure you take precautions.¡± ¡°` ¡°¡­¡± Zhou Xufang blushed and ran off. Fang Lixiang blinked, unable to see where Zhou Xufang had gone. Had she run off that quickly, like a rabbit? Just as she was about to go catch the rabbit¡ª ¡°Fang Lixiang?¡± Someone called her from behind, uncertainly, as if probing. Fang Lixiang reflexively turned her head. Damn it, her cover was blown. With that turn of her head, it was as good as having six words written on her forehead¡ª¡±I am Fang Lixiang.¡± She looked at who it was. Those eyes, that nose, those lips¡­ She didn¡¯t recognize them. ¡°Who are you?¡± The person approached and handed her a business card, ¡°Hello, I¡¯m Tang Xiang.¡± A somewhat familiar name. Fang Lixiang glanced at the business card. She didn¡¯t catch the job title but recognized the logo on it; it was from the Luo Family. She didn¡¯t take the card. ¡°Sorry, I have no plans to change jobs at the moment.¡± Tang Xiang took the card back and casually placed it on a nearby car. ¡°I¡¯m not here to poach you. I just have a few questions to ask you.¡± As soon as the Luo Family was mentioned, Fang Lixiang wanted nothing to do with it and turned an indifferent face. ¡°We are not acquainted.¡± Tang Xiang wasn¡¯t in a hurry and remained calm. ¡°May I ask if your father¡¯s name is Fang Dashun?¡± Oh, she wasn¡¯t looking for her. She was looking for old man Fang. ¡°Not at all,¡± Fang Lixiang smiled slyly. ¡°My dad is called Fang Xiaoxi.¡± Old Fang, huh? Old Fang hadn¡¯t been a firefighter for a long time. He should be enjoying life by now, his daughter had become a star, what was her name again? Strive? Advance? That¡¯s it, her name was Lixiang! Recalling what those old firefighters had said, Tang Xiang was fairly certain that this girl was old Fang¡¯s daughter. ¡°If it¡¯s convenient, could you give me your father¡¯s phone number?¡± Fang Lixiang: ¡°It¡¯s not convenient.¡± ¡°Then please convey a message to your father for me. I am Miss Tang, the daughter of Tang Guangji.¡± Having said that, she walked away. Fang Lixiang stood in place, frowning in deep thought: What¡¯s her background, friend or foe? She picked up the business card and put it in her pocket, then called her dad. ¡°Old Fang.¡± Old Fang put on airs: ¡°How should you speak to your dad? You¡¯re being disrespectful!¡± Fang Lixiang stopped joking and got down to business. ¡°Someone came asking about you just now, even mentioned your former name, Fang Dashun.¡± ¡°Who is it?¡± ¡°She said she is the daughter of Tang Guangji.¡± The more Fang Lixiang thought about it, the more she felt something was off. ¡°Who is Tang Guangji?¡± Old Fang was silent for quite a while. The usually unserious old man suddenly became serious. ¡°He¡¯s another victim of the Luo Family fire incident.¡± As expected, she came because of that matter. Fang Lixiang felt a bad premonition and lamented with frustration, ¡°Old Fang, the fire won¡¯t be contained by the paper. It looks like we¡¯re both in for some trouble.¡± Old Fang howled, ¡°This is all your fault! I told you to change your name along with me and you refused; now see what happened, we¡¯ve been found!¡± Heh. Old Fang used to be called Fang Dashun when he was a firefighter. After he got injured and changed careers, he also changed his name to Fang Xiaoxi. Back then, he wanted his daughter to change her name with him, saying that they had done something wrong and needed to change their names to hide. Fang Lixiang had refused. ¡°It¡¯s my fault, my fault I didn¡¯t choose the name Fang Dalang.¡± Indeed, Fang Xiaoxi had chosen the name for his daughter¡ªFang Dalang. Fang Lixiang, of course, would never agree to that. Zhou Xu The walk from the parking lot to the filming location took more than ten minutes. Besides Jiang Zhi¡¯s crew, the crew of ¡°Da Wei Heavenly Dynasty¡± was also filming in this area. A sizable body of water separated the two crews, without interference with one another. ¡°Mr. Tang has arrived.¡± ¡°Carry on with your work; no need to mind me. I¡¯ll just look around.¡± The Luo Family was the investor behind ¡°Da Wei Heavenly Dynasty,¡± so the director naturally recognized Tang Xiang and was very respectful. ¡°I¡¯ll get back to my duties then. If you need anything, just call for me.¡± Tang Xiang walked to the edge of the water and dialed a number. The call was quickly answered. ¡°Hello?¡± ¡°I asked you something on WeChat, and you haven¡¯t responded yet.¡± Someone was playing dumb with her: ¡°Who are you?¡± ¡°` Tang Xiang felt that Jiang Xiaolin was shameless. Despite everyone in the circle saying he was mature, stable, refined, elegant, and shrewd, she still thought he was just as much of a scoundrel as he had been back in school, thoroughly incorrigible. ¡°Forget it, I¡¯ll look into it myself.¡± Jiang Xiaolin criticized her, ¡°Can¡¯t you change that bad temper of yours?¡± Tang Xiang, ¡°No.¡± She hung up. Jiang Xiaolin, ¡°¡­¡± He had never seen such a resolute woman. Ten seconds later, he redialed, ¡°There was a firefighter who carried out Luo San, but the man couldn¡¯t be saved, he died on the ambulance. The Luo Family disposed of the body that very night and even kept the incident under wraps. I guess,¡± he paused to think, ¡°there must be some secret on the body that they didn¡¯t want getting out.¡± The night of the Luo Family fire, Tang Xiang wasn¡¯t at the Luo residence. She received the news of the death the next day, and she had never seen her father¡¯s corpse, only a small urn of ashes. The body was disposed of too quickly, like destroying evidence. Tang Xiang was clueless, ¡°What secret?¡± Jiang Xiaolin said, ¡°You¡¯ll have to ask the Luo Family about that.¡± ¡°Thanks.¡± ¡°You can save the verbal thanks¡ª¡± The call had already been disconnected. ¡°Beep beep beep beep beep¡­¡± Jiang Xiaolin, ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Da Wei Heavenly Dynasty¡± was a TV drama invested in by the Luo Family, and naturally, Luo Yinghe played the lead female role. Luo Yinghe was used to being fawned over and flattered by a crowd of people, raised spoiled and tyrannical. If anything wasn¡¯t to her liking, she would throw a fit. And now, she was at it again. They said it was because she had been dropped from Jiang Zhi¡¯s new movie, and for several days, she had been in a fiery mood. With a bang. She slammed the cup on the table, ¡°Are you trying to scald me to death?¡± The female assistant hurriedly apologized, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Sister Ying, I¡¯ll get you another cup right away.¡± Cables covered the ground, and the outdoor terrain was uneven. The female assistant, nervously carrying the coffee, was momentarily careless and tripped over a cable. She stumbled, and a cup of hot coffee spilled all over by Luo Yinghe¡¯s feet. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The coffee wasn¡¯t actually that hot, but Luo Yinghe screamed in anger. The female assistant was petrified with fear, and it took her a while to recover before she started wiping with tissues, repeatedly apologizing. Luo Yinghe shoved her hand away, ¡°You did that on purpose, didn¡¯t you!¡± ¡°It wasn¡¯t on purpose, Sister Ying, it was the cable on the ground¡ª¡± ¡°You dare talk back?¡± She grabbed a bouquet of roses gifted by a fan and began lashing the assistant with it, ¡°I¡¯ll teach you to talk back!¡± Luo Yinghe had a mild temper disorder, but not many people knew about it. ¡°If you can¡¯t even carry coffee properly, what use do I have for you?¡± ¡°Still dare to scald me?¡± ¡°Still dare to talk back?¡± ¡°¡­¡± Insults carried across the water to the other side, where Zhou Xufang could hear and see everything clearly. Rose petals scattered, creating a striking red on the ground. The person holding the flowers had beautifully manicured nails, targeting the thorny part of the roses to lash at someone¡­ ¡°Still dare to steal my textbook?¡± ¡°You think you can learn to write?¡± ¡°Idiot!¡± ¡°Dumb and mute, might as well die!¡± ¡°¡­¡± Zhou Xufang stumbled backward. She didn¡¯t know where it was coming from, but a noise suddenly rushed into her ears, causing a buzzing and dizziness. ¡°Excuse me, please move.¡± ¡°Someone ahead, please move aside.¡± A stagehand was pushing a rack full of costumes from behind. The rack was piled too high, partially blocking his view. He maneuvered it while shouting to the person in front, ¡°Hey, I¡¯m talking to you!¡± Zhou Xufang turned around, and the iron rack had already hit her at the waist. She lost her balance and fell backward. ¡°Xu Fang!¡± With a splash, water flew everywhere. The water in this area was twenty meters deep; if a person fell in, they would disappear in an instant. Chapter 122 - 122: 122: Wearing a Jiang Zhi shirt, punishing Luo Yinghe Chapter 122: 122: Wearing a Jiang Zhi shirt, punishing Luo Yinghe ¡°` The water in this area is twenty meters deep, and a person who falls in disappears in an instant. ¡°Xu Fang!¡± It was Jiang Zhi calling out. After he called out and received no response, his next instinctual action was to jump in after her, purely a subconscious reaction without any thought. Fortunately, Ah Wan, who was behind him, was quick-witted and caught hold of him, ¡°Boss, what are you doing!¡± ... But Jiang Zhi pushed him away and continued to move toward the edge of the water area. It had been over a dozen seconds, already more than a dozen seconds, and Zhou Xufang still hadn¡¯t resurfaced. She knew how to swim, but she hadn¡¯t come up. A few more seconds passed, and the surface of the water gradually calmed down, still without a sign of her swimming up. Could it be a cramp in her leg? Could she be injured? Could she have been entangled in some plant by her foot? Jiang Zhi¡¯s mind was filled with such assumptions, overwhelming him to the point where he couldn¡¯t think clearly, and his feet moved before his brain did. Ah Wan immediately grabbed hold of him, starting to panic as well, ¡°Boss, you can¡¯t go down.¡± He was sweating profusely and turned back to shout to those behind, ¡°What are you waiting for, hurry up and rescue her!¡± As soon as Ah Wan finished shouting, several male staff members immediately took off their shoes and entered the water. One by one, seven or eight people went in, splashing water everywhere. Still, Jiang Zhi hadn¡¯t snapped back to his senses and was determined to plunge into the water, body and soul. He pried Ah Wan¡¯s hands off, ¡°Let go.¡± Ah Wan wouldn¡¯t let go, tightly holding onto one of his arms, ¡°You can¡¯t swim.¡± What¡¯s the point in going down there! To die! Ah!! Not only could he not swim, but he also had a fear of water. Going down would mean going to his death! ¡°Lin Wanwan,¡± Jiang Zhi looked at the water, with raging waves in his eyes, but his face was ashen, he said, ¡°Let go.¡± Ah Wan dared not let go, for Jiang Zhi had already become completely rattled, and he couldn¡¯t afford to be careless, ¡°What do you intend to do by going down? Cause more trouble?¡± His voice was loud, attempting to howl some sense back into Jiang Zhi, ¡°We only need to rescue Miss Zhou, but if you go down, we¡¯ll have to expend energy to save you too.¡± He took it in and stood still, his eyes constantly fixed on the water, and he declared emphatically, ¡°Those who can swim get down there, as long as Zhou Xufang is safe and sound, I¡¯ll reward you all generously.¡± With the promise of a hefty reward, of course, there would be no shortage of brave volunteers, and many more people subsequently entered the water. Jiang Zhi stood at the shore, breaking out in a cold sweat, his lips already pale from being pressed together, his ears ringing, his legs weak, his palms numb from being pinched. His mind was blank, and he couldn¡¯t think of anything. It was as though a second lasted an eternity, exactly like that. People who went into the water were emerging one after another, each looking worse for wear. ¡°Director Jiang, there¡¯s nothing.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t see anyone.¡± ¡°I went to the deep water area, but there was no one.¡± ¡°It¡¯s bizarre, she clearly fell from here, how could she just¡­¡± One by one, they came up, each one saying they hadn¡¯t seen Zhou Xufang. No person. No body. Had she simply vanished from the face of the earth? Jiang Zhi¡¯s voice was tense, ¡°Continue searching.¡± The Ah Wan holding onto him could clearly feel it; his whole body was shaking. The temperature was too low; a thin layer of ice that had formed on the surface had been shattered into pieces. About twenty people had gone into the water, searching inch by inch near the spot where she had fallen, almost to the point of draining the water area in an upside-down search. But five minutes had passed, and still, no person was found. A normal person underwater not breathing for five minutes¡­ even if they were brought up, the chances of survival would be slim. The rescuers were all shaking their heads. Suddenly, Jiang Zhi moved a step forward. Ah Wan immediately clung to him, ¡°Boss!¡± He clung to Jiang Zhi¡¯s arm tightly, attempting to drag him away, but unable to move him, he became frantic, ¡°What are you trying to do?¡± ¡°Go down and find Zhou Xufang.¡± He said it calmly, as if stating something ordinary. But to Ah Wan, he seemed to be in a trance, emotionless and thoughtless. Ah Wan felt like he was about to collapse and roared in desperation, ¡°Have you lost your mind?¡± He had. Jiang Zhi looked at the water, his lip already bitten until blood dripped out, ¡°Let go.¡± Ah Wan didn¡¯t let go, one hand gripping the arm, the other the waist, desperately pulling him backward, ¡°Are you looking to die? Have you lost your will to live?¡± ¡°I have.¡± He commanded flatly, ¡°Let go.¡± This was no trance. He was like a soul extracted and cursed by black magic. Ah Wan¡¯s face turned beet red, ¡°I won¡¯t let go!¡± If he let go, tomorrow¡¯s headlines would read ¡®Famed Director Jiang dies a romantic yet tragic death.¡¯ Jiang Zhi was still so calm, his voice low, telling only Ah Wan, ¡°Let me go down, if I find Zhou Xufang, bring me up with her, if not, don¡¯t bother to rescue me.¡± Ah Wan had been with Jiang Zhi for two years and knew he was not a man of impulse, even to the extent of being callous, indifferent, and rarely empathetic, with no hint of sympathy, mercy, or compassion. This man who toyed with worldly affairs had finally stumbled. And then everything collapsed like a landslide, for miles. Ah Wan could predict that in the future, anyone who wanted to deal with Jiang Zhi just had to seize Zhou Xufang. As long as Zhou Xufang was caught, Jiang Zhi would be unable to scheme or plan; his mind would be gone, and he¡¯d obediently hand over his life to you. ¡°` Ah Wan now had to cling to this reckless and death-defying individual, ¡°Don¡¯t act rashly, calm down first, and then we can find another way.¡± ¡°Get out of the way!¡± Jiang Zhi fiercely shoved Ah Wan away. He fell on his butt on the ground, his hand just hitting the leg of a stool. Without time to think, he picked up the stool, charged forward, and smashed it with all his might. Jiang Zhi¡¯s body swayed, then he fell down. Ah Wan was like someone just fished out of water, sitting on the ground, dripping with sweat and gasping for air. The length of the water was not short, but its width was not wide. The crew on the opposite side couldn¡¯t hear the noise, they could only vaguely see someone standing by the shore¡ªa thoughtful Tang Xiang. Before Zhou Xufang fell into the water, the direction of his gaze¡­ It was Luo Yinghe. Jiang Zhi was knocked out, so it was up to Ah Wan to take control of the situation. He was as panicked and anxious as the next person, his legs trembling, but he had no choice but to steady himself, even if it meant pinching his thigh. ¡°Have you called 120?¡± Ah Wan asked the set coordinator. The coordinator was also sweating profusely, and replied, ¡°We¡¯ve called.¡± Ah Wan then summoned the assistant director, ¡°Vice Director Zhao, go find more people, we must fish Zhou Xufang out.¡± His tone was sorrowful, almost crying, ¡°We need to see the body even if he¡¯s dead.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Vice Director Zhao immediately went to call for people. Ah Wan held back the tears that were close to breaking through the dam, and with heavy sorrow, he addressed the searchers in the water, ¡°Please, everyone, the person who fell is very important to my boss, please look very carefully.¡± He couldn¡¯t hold it back in the end, Ah Wan covered his face and wept. Miss Zhou, how pitiful, she was only twenty-two, she had not yet married, hadn¡¯t had children, oh, couldn¡¯t have children¡ªJiang Zhi was infertile. Ah Wan continued to grieve, she was only twenty-two, she hadn¡¯t been to an amusement park, hadn¡¯t seen welfare, and there were so many novels and TV shows she hadn¡¯t watched¡­ Ah Wan managed not to cry out loud, but someone did cry out loud, wailing loudly. It was Fang Lixiang, who had just returned from squatting in the toilet. She had only gone to squat for a while, and her close friend¡­ Fang Lixiang sat down by the water and began to cry, ¡°Zhou Xufang, Zhou Xufang, where are you?¡± She was distraught, weeping bitterly, ¡°Please come up.¡± She had scenes to shoot soon, all made up with peach blossom eyes, but now she cried turning into a streaked flower cat, her eyeliner smeared, her eyeshadow ruined¡­ she sobbed with trembling shoulders. ¡°Wuu wuu wuu¡­ Zhou Xufang¡­¡± ¡°Don¡¯t die, our Old Fang¡¯s house owes you.¡± ¡°Xu Fang, Xu Fang!¡± ¡°Wuu wuu wuu¡­¡± The cries and howls grew louder and louder. When Fang Lixiang¡¯s mother passed away, she hadn¡¯t cried out this loudly because her mother had been sick for many years, and she had been prepared. Zhou Xufang was different, she had just gone to use the toilet¡­ ¡°I¡¯m never using the toilet again.¡± ¡°It¡¯s all my fault¡­ wuu wuu wuu¡­ I should have taken you with me to the toilet¡­¡± ¡°My poor Xu Fang.¡± ¡°Wuu wuu wuu¡­ pitiful, oh heavens¡­¡± The crying and screaming were earthshaking. It was so intense that Ah Wan even forgot his grief and hurriedly called over some people, ¡°Get her out of here first,¡± to avoid disturbing others. Two director¡¯s assistants came over and dragged Fang Lixiang away; she reached out her hand, with tears streaming down her upturned face, in utter despair. ¡°Xu Fang, Zhou Xufang!¡± She was pulled to the outskirts of the crowd. But she still couldn¡¯t stop crying, ¡°Wuu wuu wuu¡­ eh!¡± Suddenly, she hiccupped. It was because¡­ with tears in her eyes, she suddenly saw a person, drenched from head to toe, with a covered face showing only a pair of eyes. This person looked like a female ghost, like Zhou Xufang. ¡°Lixiang.¡± The voice was also similar¡­ Fang Lixiang was still sitting on the ground, her voice hoarse from crying, ¡°You you you you¡ª¡± Her tongue must be burnt, she stuttered, ¡°Are you Zhou Zhou Xufang?¡± The person who resembled a female ghost replied, ¡°I am.¡± A background actor said that Zhou Xufang had fallen into the water and hadn¡¯t been fished out for five minutes, he must be dead. Another background actor agreed, ¡°Gone, gone, the person is definitely gone.¡± Fang Lixiang was a bit dizzy, thinking she might have cried herself silly, hallucinating. She shook her head forcefully, but the apparition remained. ¡°Are you a ghost?¡± Fang Lixiang rubbed her eyes, although they were good friends, she was still afraid of ghosts, ¡°I¡¯m seeing your ghost.¡± Zhou Xufang pulled off the mask, her hair clinging to her face, dripping with water, chin dripping too. Since she wore a down jacket which had soaked up water, the hem was puffed up. She pushed the hair off her face, ¡°I¡¯m not a ghost, I¡¯m a person.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not that,¡± Fang Lixiang shook with a trembling finger, ¡°weren¡¯t you in the water?¡± ¡°I swam up from over there.¡± Fang Lixiang¡¯s legs pushed out, and she fainted. Zhou Xufang: ¡°¡­¡± At this moment, two special actors were whispering to each other. Although they were quiet, Zhou Xufang could hear them. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with Director Jiang? Why is he reacting so strongly?¡± ¡°Who knows? It¡¯s just an extra that fell into the water, isn¡¯t it? Director Jiang is acting like his wife died or something.¡± ¡°He must be in a panic. After all, it¡¯s his film crew. If someone were to die, that would be big trouble.¡± ¡°Director Jiang himself is already one foot in the grave. I¡¯m really afraid he won¡¯t be able to catch his breath.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Miss Zhou couldn¡¯t make out the rest as she pushed through the crowd and rushed inside. The place where she had fallen in was crowded with people. Ah Wan was at the forefront, wearing only a sweater, pacing back and forth. Each time someone emerged from the water, he immediately asked, ¡°Did you find her?¡± ¡°No.¡± Another person surfaced, shaking their head, ¡°Still nothing; we¡¯ve searched this whole area.¡± Then another, also shaking their head: ¡°How could there not even be a body?¡± Ah Wan listened, feeling an icy chill in his heart. He wiped away a tear of sorrow: ¡°Keep looking further upstream¡ª¡± Then, a familiar voice called out, ¡°Ah Wan.¡± Ah Wan turned around, and damn, he jumped in fright: ¡°You, you, you, you¡ª¡± He stuttered for a long while, his tongue unable to untwist. Miss Zhou knew he wanted to ask ¡®are you a person or a ghost?¡¯ and she answered, ¡°I¡¯m human.¡± Then, she urgently asked, ¡°Where¡¯s Jiang Zhi?¡± Ah Wan stood there, dumbstruck, ¡°In the rest tent.¡± Miss Zhou said ¡®thank you¡¯ and then turned and ran towards the rest tent. She ran so fast that soon Ah Wan couldn¡¯t see her anymore. After being stunned for maybe a dozen seconds, Ah Wan told the brave souls in the water, ¡°Come on up.¡± The brave ones asked, ¡°Aren¡¯t we going to continue searching?¡± ¡°No need. She¡¯s climbed up by herself¡­¡± Because it was outdoors and cold, they were worried about the possibility of rain, so they had set up a few rest tents, crudely constructed. Only Jiang Zhi had a single room. By this time, everyone had gone to see what the commotion was about, and there were not many people around. Miss Zhou ran straight to Jiang Zhi¡¯s tent. Ah Wan, fearing that Director Jiang might do something rash, had locked the tent. Miss Zhou simply pulled with two fingers and the lock broke. She rushed in, anxious and flustered. Jiang Zhi was lying on a lounge chair, motionless under a blanket. ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± Miss Zhou knelt beside him, gripping the armrest while calling out, ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± He didn¡¯t respond, and she was so worried she was about to cry. She gently touched his face: ¡°Wake up, Jiang Zhi.¡± Jiang Zhi still didn¡¯t wake. She didn¡¯t dare to pinch his philtrum, afraid her hand strength might be too great and harm him. Instead, she decided to give him mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. Puckering her lips to move closer¡ª Jiang Zhi suddenly opened his eyes. Their eyes met, and Miss Zhou was startled for a moment before becoming ecstatic, ¡°You¡¯re awake!¡± Jiang Zhi lay there unmoved, his gaze initially vacant, then slowly burning. In the depths of his eyes, bits and pieces gathered, reflecting Miss Zhou¡¯s face. ¡°Am I still alive?¡± His voice was low, a bit hoarse. Miss Zhou nodded earnestly, splashing water onto Jiang Zhi¡¯s face as she said, ¡°Alive.¡± One moment in heaven, the next in hell. It was like a dream. Jiang Zhi wasn¡¯t quite sure if this was real, staring at Miss Zhou. He said, ¡°Bite me.¡± Without waiting for Miss Zhou to react, he reached out, his palm pressing down on the back of her head, and with a push, her lips pressed against his. Miss Zhou, thrown off balance, placed both hands on Jiang Zhi¡¯s shoulders. His lips rubbing against hers, he murmured, ¡°Bite harder.¡± She blinked and complied. Jiang Zhi¡¯s lip was already bitten before. Now it started bleeding again, a real, painful sensation; his nape also ached, probably bruised by Lin Wanwan. He let go and took a deep breath, ¡°I¡¯m not dreaming.¡± Miss Zhou felt as if she was in a dream. Jiang Zhi sat up and pushed her away, his complexion deathly pale: ¡°Miss Zhou, are you trying to scare me to death!¡± His tone was fierce, not the usual playful anger, but true anger. Her eyes reddened, her nose twitched, ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± Tears were about to fall. She was about to cry. At such a sight, how could Jiang Zhi bear to scold her? The fierceness in his eyes wilted, ¡°It¡¯s my fault.¡± He awkwardly cupped her face, kissing her eyes, ¡°I won¡¯t scold you anymore, don¡¯t cry.¡± Miss Zhou fought to push the tears back. It wasn¡¯t grievance she felt, but remorse, deep regret: ¡°You did nothing wrong; it was all my fault.¡± Her expression was one of ¡®about to cry but desperately holding back.¡¯ Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t care about her being soaking wet and cradled her damp head into his chest, ¡°You nearly scared me to death. You don¡¯t comfort me, instead, I have to comfort you.¡± He poked her forehead, ¡°If you cry again, I won¡¯t comfort you.¡± Miss Zhou, not wanting to get Jiang Zhi wet, pulled back, ¡°I¡¯m not crying.¡± She scared him, so she needed to comfort him, saying, ¡°I won¡¯t die so easily. I¡¯m a Fairy who descended to face tribulations, with my seal broken, my Mana is boundless.¡± She could breathe underwater. But in the water, her eyes were blood-red. She didn¡¯t dare to come up, so the moment she fell in, she dived deeper and kept swimming. The water wasn¡¯t wide, but it was long enough. She swam to the very end, far away. While unobserved, she found a spot out of sight, daring there to climb out. Once her eyes were no longer red, she ran to see him. She still scared him. It was all her fault. She was filled with regret: ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Jiang Zhi. Next time, I¡¯ll climb up to see you much faster.¡± Even if it meant gouging out her eyes, she wouldn¡¯t let him wait again. His health wasn¡¯t good either, and if he didn¡¯t come up for air¡­ Zhou Xufang dared not think about it. ¡°How did you come up?¡± Jiang Zhi asked. She honestly replied, ¡°I swam up from the east side of the water.¡± No wonder! She had fallen in from the south but ended up swimming to the east. Although the width of this body of water was only about ten meters, its length spanned several hundred meters. The people who went down to dive for her hadn¡¯t swum that far to retrieve her. And she swam quickly! She said, ¡°I¡¯m a very good swimmer.¡± Jiang Zhi knew she was good in the water, as she had been the one to pull him out of the sea last time, but he hadn¡¯t seen her emerge after she fell, so regardless of her swimming skills, he feared the worst. When he feared something, his mind would race with the most negative, pessimistic assumptions. ¡°Xu Fang.¡± ¡°Mm.¡± He hadn¡¯t realized before just how tender and vulnerable he was; if she were gone, he might truly have followed her in death. What a spineless wimp! He admitted with resignation, ¡°I don¡¯t want to die yet, so you need to live a long, healthy life, got it?¡± Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t quite grasp the gravity of his words, but obediently promised, ¡°Okay.¡± ¡°Your clothes are still wet.¡± He touched her face with the back of his hand; it was as cold as ice. ¡°I¡¯m not cold,¡± Zhou Xufang said. ¡°I have a low body temperature and don¡¯t mind the cold at all.¡± Cold or not, she was still flesh and blood. She really thought she was made of steel. Jiang Zhi pushed her away, refusing to hug her anymore: ¡°You¡¯re too icy, I¡¯m cold just holding you.¡± That made sense. Zhou Xufang twisted the water out of her sleeves, but they were so wet they might freeze; she didn¡¯t know what to do: ¡°But I don¡¯t have any clothes to change into.¡± Jiang Zhi got up, lifted the blanket, and found a spare shirt, the only one, left there by Lin Wanwan: ¡°This is all I have, put it on, get under the blankets, and I¡¯ll have someone send some clothes over for you.¡± Zhou Xufang hesitated for a few seconds, took it, and then looked around the rest area that was open to view¡­ not even a place to hide. She felt a bit awkward: ¡°Turn around.¡± Jiang Zhi said sure with a laugh and turned his back. Holding the shirt, she hid behind the deck chair, peeped out, and seriously told him, ¡°You can¡¯t turn around.¡± Amused, Jiang Zhi raised his hand to cover his eyes: ¡°I won¡¯t look. Hurry up and change.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Zhou Xufang crouched, quickly peeled off her wet clothes while glancing around, and hurried into the shirt. After she changed, her shoes and socks also came off. After changing, she glanced at Jiang Zhi and sneaked her underwear inside her wet clothes before stuffing them all into a plastic bag. Now wearing only a shirt, which felt empty, Zhou Xufang had never worn so little before¡ªit made her feel insecure. She quickly crawled under Jiang Zhi¡¯s blanket, curled up into a ball on the deck chair. ¡°Jiang Zhi, I¡¯m done.¡± He took his hand away from his eyes, turned around, and his gaze involuntarily swept over the wet clothes on the ground and the curled-up figure on the deck chair, then he awkwardly averted his eyes. Zhou Xufang noticed: ¡°Your face is red.¡± Jiang Zhi walked over, sat down near her feet: ¡°Yeah, you did that.¡± He took some tissues, pressed them against the tips of her dripping hair, gently wiping them, and said, ¡°Fang Bao, remember, most men are beasts, they can strip a person¡¯s clothes off with their minds, without using their hands or eyes.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Now it was Zhou Xufang¡¯s turn to blush. Jiang Zhi fastened the top button of her shirt, took off his jacket, and covered her from head to toe, leaving her completely ensconced: ¡°Who knocked you into the water?¡± He was ready to settle the score. Zhou Xufang recalled the situation objectively: ¡°It¡¯s not that person¡¯s fault; I was distracted. He called me several times, but I didn¡¯t respond and was watching someone else.¡± He wouldn¡¯t let the matter rest there. ¡°Watching who?¡± ¡°Luo Yinghe.¡± Zhou Xufang frowned, ¡°She was whipping her assistant with a rose.¡± She hated it when people used roses to hit others; she didn¡¯t know why before, but this time, seeing Luo Yinghe¡¯s ¡®viciousness,¡¯ she started to remember. She guessed she might have been whipped before as well and had a traumatic memory of it. These suspicions Zhou Xufang wasn¡¯t certain about, so she didn¡¯t tell Jiang Zhi. Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t ask further, his peach blossom eyes icy as if they could freeze three feet of ice. At that moment, someone outside was calling out with a sobbing voice: ¡°Xu Fang.¡± ¡°Xu Fang.¡± It was Fang Lixiang. Zhou Xufang pushed Jiang Zhi away: ¡°Lixiang, I¡¯m here.¡± Standing up, Jiang Zhi wrapped her up tightly in the blanket and clothes. Fang Lixiang¡¯s sobbing voice arrived before she did: ¡°Wuuuu¡­ Xu Fang¡­ Wuu¡­¡± She rushed in, embraced Zhou Xufang tightly, her makeup smeared by tears and snot, ¡°I thought I¡¯d be eternally separated from you, that would be too tragic, unfinished love between humans and ghosts¡­ Eh!¡± She belched. She continued sorrowfully: ¡°Humans and ghosts¡­ unfinished affairs¡­ Wuuuu¡­¡± Her emotions peaked, and what followed was textbook-style crying¡ª ¡°Lixiang, don¡¯t cry,¡± Zhou Xufang pushed her away slightly, ¡°Don¡¯t smear your snot on Jiang Zhi¡¯s blanket, he¡¯s a germaphobe.¡± Suddenly unable to cry any longer, Fang Lixiang said, ¡°¡­¡± Chapter 123 - 123: 123: Fang Bao, do you mind living together? Chapter 123: 123: Fang Bao, do you mind living together? Suddenly unable to cry anymore, Fang Lixiang: ¡°¡­¡± She took a tissue, blew her nose, her eyes originally filled with sorrow, now squeezed out a hint of grievance. Actors are just actors, switching roles effortlessly. Actor Fang sighed, ¡°Ah, I can¡¯t believe I¡¯m even less than a blanket of Jiang Zhi¡¯s.¡± After the sigh, another tear welled up in her eyes; before she had been crying, now it was a crying scene, still textbook level, ¡°Zhou Xufang, have you forgotten the happy times we had together as extras over the years?¡± Zhou Xufang did remember, so she corrected her, ¡°It wasn¡¯t that happy.¡± She meant no harm, she was just sincere, ¡°I didn¡¯t know Jiang Zhi back then.¡± Fang Lixiang was finished. ... Jiang Zhi was all pleased with herself. Ah Wan saw Jiang Zhi with a glowing complexion walking out of the rest tent and still thoughtfully asked after her, ¡°Boss, are you alright?¡± The boss was obviously in a good mood and didn¡¯t even mind getting knocked out by a stool. Ah Wan was reassured, tiptoed to peek inside the rest tent, and asked, ¡°Is Miss Zhou alright?¡± Jiang Zhi closed the door, standing in the doorway blocking it, ¡°Zhou Xufang¡¯s clothes are wet, send someone to get her a clean set.¡± Also, ¡°She wears size 37 shoes.¡± Ah Wan gave a ¡®leave it to me¡¯ look and then went to call Ms. Song, informing Ms. Song that Shuangxi¡¯s mother¡¯s clothes were wet and Daddy Shuangxi asked for clothes to be prepared. From the rest tent, sounds of Fang Lixiang could be occasionally heard, laughter, crying, wailing, all included. This girl, Xue Baoyi wanted to support her, not bad acting skills, just a bit over the top, with too many vulgar words, Jiang Zhi was slightly worried, afraid that Zhou Xufang might be led astray. ¡°Over there,¡± Jiang Zhi pointed to the water¡¯s opposite side. ¡°Which director¡¯s crew is that?¡± After hanging up the call with Ms. Song, Ah Wan replied, ¡°Director Hong.¡± Leaning on the door, Jiang Zhi looked lazily in the distance and casually mentioned, ¡°Call the head of their photography team over.¡± The investor for the crew on the other side was the Luo Family, Ah Wan thought the boss was up to something, ¡°What do you want them for?¡± He responded offhandedly, with little enthusiasm, ¡°Talk about collaboration.¡± Bullshit! Ah Wan: ¡°Oh.¡± Ten minutes later, the chief person in charge of the photography team from ¡°Da Wei Heavenly Dynasty¡± was ¡®invited¡¯ over by Ah Wan, picked a rest tent with no one around for a special ¡®treatment,¡¯ and Ah Wan considerately¡­er, ¡®waited¡¯ at the door. This person in charge was obviously overwhelmed and then excessively shocked, becoming somewhat flustered, ¡°Director Jiang, hello.¡± Can¡¯t blame him for being weak, it¡¯s just that Jiang Zhi¡¯s reputation is too grand, ranking first on the Imperial City ancestors list! The handsomest ancestor in the capital casually dragged his voice, ¡°What¡¯s your last name?¡± ¡°My last name is Huang.¡± He glanced up and then quickly lowered his head again. This ancestor, ranking first on the list, was also first on the beauty list ¨C just looking at that face, indeed, would make photographers itch to take his portrait, with very little clothing¡­ ¡°Let¡¯s skip the nonsense,¡± Jiang Zhi shifted his position, more like sprawling than sitting, willowy as if boneless, ¡°I want to know if Mr. Huang is interested in collaborating with me.¡± Mr. Huang was momentarily thrilled, nearly squeaking, ¡°Of course!¡± Jiang Zhi was a low-output director, not many films directed, but it was either high box office or high ratings, raking in awards until his hands were full¡ªnot only did his own films benefit, but his team also rose with the tide, achieving both fame and fortune. So even if Jiang Zhi was tough to serve, there was no shortage of people in the Imperial City willing to line up from the southern to the northern border to attend to him. Mr. Huang just couldn¡¯t figure out why he was chosen. ¡°Cough, cough, cough, cough¡­¡± Jiang Zhi coughed lightly and slowly followed up, ¡°It depends on whether Mr. Huang is sincere.¡± Mr. Huang understood there was no free lunch in this world, ¡°Just tell me what you want, Director Jiang.¡± He raised an eyebrow slightly, uttering a name. Luo Yinghe. Mr. Huang got the message. Generally speaking, even during actors¡¯ break times, there would be specific cameras turned on. Luo Yinghe had the gall to do it because the crew wouldn¡¯t dare offend the Luo Family. However, in the Imperial City, who would dare cross the youngest master of the Jiang Family? The scenes scheduled for today would have wrapped up by four in the afternoon, but due to Zhou Xufang falling into the water, there was a delay, and they shot until sunset. Zhou Xufang had one scene, playing an orange seller, not showing her face, but with one line of dialogue, still in a scene with the second lead, Fang Lixiang. Fang Lixiang asked: How much are these oranges selling for? Zhou Xufang: Three cents a pound, miss, if you don¡¯t buy, you can¡¯t touch. Indeed, this wasn¡¯t just ordinary dialogue, but also a secret signal ¨C Fang Lixiang obviously knew, this was the director giving his girlfriend more scenes. So, she, on the brink of infiltrating the enemy, had to trot down the mountain to buy a pound of oranges, even took the secret code dialogue meant for the male second lead and gave it to Zhou Xufang. Director Jiang also insanely hid the enemy¡¯s important letters inside the oranges, invisibly elevating Zhou Xufang¡¯s role to something very mysterious and badass, leading some onlookers to think it was the big boss¡¯s entrance. Fang Lixiang wanted to give a thumbs up for that move. Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Of course, Zhou Xufang was unaware of how awesome she was in the movie. Instead, she noticed something ¨C her fellow extras working with her suddenly became especially warm towards her. The extra playing the enemy¡¯s Detective A, a middle-aged lady, came over to chat with her: ¡°You¡¯re called Zhou¡­ Zhou¡­ Zhou¡­¡± What was it again? Actually, the circle of extras wasn¡¯t large, and they bumped into each other on set from time to time. Zhou Xufang could be considered a ¡®veteran¡¯ extra, just not sociable, not mingling, always wrapping herself up, her buddies seldom saw her face, nor knew her name, so they gave her a codename ¨C Xiao Hei. Zhou Xiaohei said, ¡°Just call me Xiao Zhou is fine.¡± Xiao Zhou, with a mask, hat, and gloves on, looked like a black lump from afar or up close. The extra lady thought for a long while, couldn¡¯t find the right words to praise her, and reluctantly complimented, ¡°Xiao Zhou, you look quite good in that outfit.¡± Xiao Zhou: ¡°Thank you.¡± Extra playing the enemy Agent B: ¡°Xiao Zhou, want some chocolate?¡± Xiao Zhou reached out with both hands: ¡°Thank you.¡± Extra playing the enemy Agent C: ¡°Xiao Zhou, where are you from?¡± Actually, Xiao Zhou didn¡¯t know either, but saying she didn¡¯t know would be strange, so she said, ¡°I¡¯m a local.¡± Agent C had a look of realization on his face. Extra playing our side¡¯s Detective A: ¡°Xiao Zhou, want some milk tea?¡± Xiao Zhou: ¡°Yes.¡± Extra playing our side¡¯s Agent B: ¡°Xiao Zhou, have some bread.¡± Xiao Zhou: ¡°I¡¯ll have some.¡± Extra playing the innocent civilian killed by the enemy A: ¡°Xiao Zhou, want some little fish snacks?¡± Xiao Zhou: ¡°Yes.¡± Extra playing the innocent civilian killed by the enemy B: ¡°Xiao Zhou, fancy some duck feet?¡± Xiao Zhou: ¡°Sure.¡± Comrade Xiao Zhou had no resistance to snacks, so she accepted them all and then went off to a corner to eat her stash. She thought, next time she¡¯ll also bring snacks to the set to share with friends. Oh! The little fish snacks are so tasty; she¡¯s going to buy a cartload. Xiao Zhou was enjoying her snacks when the extra playing the undercover agent on our side squatted down nearby. ¡°Xiao Zhou,¡± the serious question came, ¡°you know Director Jiang?¡± Xiao Zhou swallowed the fish snacks, wiped her mouth, and put her mask back on. The special extras chuckled and hinted around the subject: ¡°I see Director Jiang takes quite good care of you.¡± Extra playing the innocent civilian killed by the enemy A: ¡°That¡¯s right, you didn¡¯t see it just now, when you fell into the water, Director Jiang almost fainted from worry.¡± Comrade Xiao Zhou pondered: Did Jiang Zhi really nearly faint from worry? Extra playing the innocent civilian killed by the enemy B: ¡°Assistant Lin even said you are a very important person to Director Jiang.¡± Extra playing our side¡¯s Detective A: ¡°You must be very close with Director Jiang.¡± Comrade Xiao Zhou was still a little socially awkward and not used to being watched by so many people, she subconsciously looked down, avoiding eye contact. She tried to minimize her presence and replied very softly: ¡°I¡¯m his distant cousin.¡± She added, ¡°We are not that close, the very distant kind.¡± She had agreed with Jiang Zhi to date surreptitiously, so she couldn¡¯t tell the truth. Just then, the very distant, very distant, cousin Jiang Zhi, who just ¡®happened to pass by¡¯: ¡°¡­¡± After work, the very distant, very distant, cousin Jiang Zhi called Zhou Xufang out with a phone call. They got into the car one after the other, sneaky and without a word to each other. Jiang Zhi suddenly hummed, ¡°We¡¯re not close?¡± Distant cousin Zhou Xufang: ¡°¡­¡± He stared at her with an intense gaze, like a beast that had tasted blood, sending a dangerous message: ¡°I¡¯ve kissed you so many times, you¡¯re telling me we¡¯re not¡ª¡± Zhou Xufang immediately covered his mouth and glared at him: ¡°Ah Wan is still here.¡± Don¡¯t say such shameless things¡­ Jiang Zhi pulled her hand away, slightly upset, a bit fierce, but since he had a delicate appearance, his fierceness seemed mostly harmless, like a clawing kitten: ¡°If he dares to peek, I¡¯ll break his dog¡¯s head.¡± Driver Lin Wanwan: ¡°¡­¡± she kept her hands on the steering wheel, playing the quiet driver. ¡°Zhou Xufang, I¡¯ll give you one more chance.¡± Jiang Zhi pinched her chin, not forcefully, but he wouldn¡¯t let go, and insisted on looking into her eyes, ¡°Are we close or not?¡± It was clear from his expression¡ªdare to say we¡¯re not close, and I¡¯ll make sure we are. Zhou Xufang quickly nodded. What she meant was, they were very close. But Jiang Zhi played bad and deliberately misinterpreted, leaning in close, his handsome eyebrows and eyes full of triumphant joy, ¡°Where do you want to be kissed?¡± Without waiting for her reaction, he took the initiative and kissed her lips. Lin Wanwan internally cursed: Beast! Jerk! Zhou Xufang thought: Ah Wan is right, Jiang Zhi is a little bastard. Along the way, Zhou Xufang looked at the scenery outside the car window, ignoring that immature little bastard Jiang Zhi. Jiang Zhi¡¯s phone kept ringing, it was their childhood friends¡¯ four-person group chat, distracting him, so he muted it. Before muting, he glanced at the chat content, and it was Xue Baoyi, that idle rascal, sending cheesy love lines, only the good baby Xue Bingxue would entertain him. The handsomest man in the capital: ¡°Guess where my heart is?¡± I am a small ice snowflake: ¡°On the left side.¡± The handsomest man in the capital: ¡°Wrong, it¡¯s by your side.¡± I am a small ice snowflake: ¡°Your heart has a problem.¡± Qiao Nanchu: ¡°His brain has a problem.¡± The handsomest man in the capital: ¡°Do you have a lighter?¡± I am a small ice snowflake: ¡°I don¡¯t.¡± I am a small ice snowflake: ¡°I don¡¯t smoke.¡± The handsomest man in the capital: ¡°Then how did you ignite my heart?¡± I am a small ice snowflake: ¡°Get lost, it¡¯s so disgusting.¡± The handsomest man in the capital: ¡°I want to buy a piece of land.¡± I am a small ice snowflake: ¡°Where? What project are you investing in?¡± The handsomest man in the capital: ¡°Your undying devotion.¡± Xue Bingxue: ¡°I¡¯m not talking to you anymore!¡± The handsomest man in the capital: ¡°Are you tired?¡± Xue Bingxue: ¡°Tired, yeah. I got up at six this morning to go to Yuxiu Mountain to find Wei¡¯er.¡± The handsomest man in the capital: ¡°Of course you¡¯re tired, you¡¯ve been running around in my heart all day long.¡± Xue Bingxue: ¡°Shameless!¡± Qiao Nanchu had kicked the handsomest man in the capital out of the group chat. Jiang Zhi tossed her phone aside and looked towards Zhou Xufang, but she wouldn¡¯t look his way, which slightly displeased him. ¡°Xufang.¡± Zhou Xufang turned her head to look at him: ¡°Yes?¡± The words that Xue Baoyi had sent, though silly and tacky, were still lovey-dovey, and his own family member here seemed to really enjoy hearing them; every time they were spoken, her eyes would turn red with emotion. Therefore, Jiang Zhi decided to take a leaf out of that book. He had a good memory: ¡°Guess which side of me my heart is on?¡± Zhou Xufang wore a big ¡°confused¡± expression on her face: ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°It¡¯s on your side.¡± Zhou Xufang¡¯s face first appeared startled, then innocent: ¡°It¡¯s in your chest; I didn¡¯t take it.¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± This didn¡¯t count. Zhou Xufang was hearing this kind of cheesy lovey-dovey talk for the first time and hadn¡¯t yet grasped what to do. Jiang Zhi continued: ¡°Do you have a lighter?¡± Zhou Xufang suddenly became very serious: ¡°When did you learn to smoke?¡± Her expression was grave and stern, no joking around: ¡°Jiang Zhi, you shouldn¡¯t smoke,¡± she warned him. ¡°Smoking is bad for your health.¡± The line ¡®how did you ignite my heart¡¯ suddenly became impossible to say. Jiang Zhi licked his teeth in frustration, with an indescribable expression: ¡°I don¡¯t smoke.¡± ¡°Oh, that¡¯s good then.¡± Jiang Zhi felt a bit hot, rolled down the car window, supported Zhou Xufang¡¯s shoulder, and made her look at him: ¡°Zhou Xufang, I want to buy a piece of land.¡± Zhou Xufang blinked: ¡°Don¡¯t you have enough money?¡± She reached into her wallet, pulled out a card, and handed it to Jiang Zhi, ¡°I can give it to you.¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± He stuffed the card back to her, ¡°I¡¯m not short on money.¡± This steel-hearted straightforward girl! The passenger, Lin Wanwan, struggled to suppress her laughter until her face contorted. After a quiet moment. Jiang Zhi still wasn¡¯t quite reconciled, tried one last time: ¡°Are you tired?¡± Zhou Xufang finally responded according to the script: ¡°Not tired.¡± Jiang Zhi¡¯s furrowed brow relaxed: ¡°You¡¯ve been running around in my heart all day.¡± This time, Zhou Xufang understood. She said: ¡°Jiang Zhi, you¡¯re so cheesy.¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± In the end, who¡¯s the cheesy one! He didn¡¯t want to talk to this steel-hearted straightforward girl anymore and turned to look out the window, but unexpectedly ended up cricking his neck. Zhou Xufang immediately grew anxious: ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Jiang Zhi held the back of his neck, let out a few hums and haws, tilted his head, and collapsed onto Zhou Xufang¡¯s shoulder: ¡°My neck hurts.¡± Cheesy lines didn¡¯t work on Zhou Xufang, but the sympathy ploy always caught her. ¡°Let me take a look.¡± Jiang Zhi obediently bowed his head for her inspection. Zhou Xufang pulled open the collar of his sweater: ¡°It¡¯s all bruised, a big patch.¡± Jiang Zhi¡¯s skin was pale, making the injured area look distinctively marked. She used her fingertip to gently touch it, ¡°Does it hurt a lot?¡± It didn¡¯t hurt. Her fingers tickled him, making him want her to be gentler, but also harder. He answered: ¡°It hurts.¡± Zhou Xufang thought he was really in pain, so while rubbing the area she blew on it too: ¡°Then we should first go to the hospital.¡± Jiang Zhi took her hand out from his clothes: ¡°Do you have any medicinal plasters at home?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Then let¡¯s go to your place.¡± Zhou Xufang hesitated, then agreed: ¡°Alright.¡± She glanced at Ah Wan, saw he wasn¡¯t peeking, then dared to reach out her hand to loop around Jiang Zhi¡¯s neck, her palm against the red and swollen spot, ¡°How did this happen?¡± Jiang Zhi said: ¡°A dog did it.¡± Lin Wanwan, who was always ready to eavesdrop: ¡°¡­¡± After more than ten minutes, they arrived at Yuquan Bay. Ah Wan parked the car outside the residential area, waited in the car, while Jiang Zhi and Zhou Xufang went in, hand in hand. From behind, they indeed looked like a perfect couple ¨C that is, if Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t insult someone by calling them a dog. As soon as Zhou Xufang entered her house, she started rummaging through the cabinets trying to find the medicinal plaster, turning everything upside down before finally digging out a box that wasn¡¯t expired, along with a bottle of medicinal liquor. She had Jiang Zhi sit on the sofa and stood behind it herself. ¡°Lower your head.¡± Jiang Zhi pulled her to the front, and by lowering his head, it perfectly reached her waist. He wasn¡¯t behaving himself, nudging her with his head. Zhou Xufang pressed down on his head, telling him not to move. She poured some medicinal liquor into her palm, rubbed it to warm it up, bent down, and placed her hand on his neck, gently massaging in circles. ¡°This is medicinal liquor, a friend gave it to me. It¡¯s very effective for bruises.¡± It was Shuangjiang who had given it to her, but since her self-healing abilities were very strong, she rarely used it. Jiang Zhi looked up, ¡°Male or female?¡± ¡°Female.¡± Zhou Xufang patted his head, ¡°Lower your head.¡± Jiang Zhi wrapped his arms around her waist and lowered his head again. Zhou Xufang poured some more medicinal liquor into her hand, covered his neck with her palm again, and gently massaged him. ¡°Does it hurt?¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t hurt, it¡¯s cool.¡± It was the temperature of her palm, very cool. But Jiang Zhi found it comfortable, an agonizing sort of comfort. After Zhou Xufang finished applying the medicinal liquor, she put two plasters on him. ¡°All done.¡± As soon as she removed her hands, he caught them and pressed them back. ¡°Your massage is very soothing, do it a little longer.¡± His mind was foggy, recalling the ludicrous things he had done to her in his dreams. His desires were stirring. Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t realize this, her hands remained on his neck, feeling sorry for his injury, so she massaged very gently. Suddenly he asked, ¡°Xu Fang, do you mind cohabitation before marriage?¡± Zhou Xufang was startled for a moment, then shook her head, ¡°I don¡¯t mind.¡± He suspected she didn¡¯t understand. ¡°The kind where we share a bed.¡± Her face turned red, but she still shook her head, her answer unchanged, ¡°I don¡¯t mind.¡± Jiang Zhi pulled her to sit down, ¡°You answered too quickly,¡± he said, with a quite rationale attitude, ¡°As a girl, you should think about it deeply.¡± Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t think about it and said firmly, ¡°You¡¯ll think for me, I¡¯ll listen to whatever you say.¡± She trusted him completely, leaving no room for personal thoughts or margins. However, Jiang Zhi shook his head. ¡°Even if it¡¯s me, you shouldn¡¯t agree to everything I say. Don¡¯t just acquiesce to my requests ¨C I¡¯ll take advantage of that, and then, if one day you stop indulging me, I might feel like it¡¯s because you¡¯re in the wrong or you don¡¯t love me anymore.¡± He was serious and his tone wasn¡¯t like usual. Zhou Xufang listened, half-understanding, ¡°So we can¡¯t cohabit before marriage?¡± He said not exactly, ¡°If you can be sure, at the very least after careful thought, that you will marry me someday, that you¡¯ll be the mother of my children, then we can.¡± Zhou Xufang was still somewhat naive about marriage. She didn¡¯t completely understand his words and asked Jiang Zhi, ¡°Have you decided?¡± Jiang Zhi nodded, ¡°Yes, I have decided, so I¡¯m waiting for you.¡± He looked at her with profound eyes, like an endless starry sky on a mid-summer¡¯s night. Being someone who follows his desires and has a strong possessive streak, Zhou Xufang was surprised to hear him say such things, ¡°What you¡¯re saying is strange.¡± Jiang Zhi picked her up and sat her on his lap, ¡°Does it not seem like me?¡± She obediently hung her arms around his neck, ¡°Yeah.¡± The usually Jiang Zhi would be clingier, love to act spoiled, and liked her to coddle and spoil him. Sometimes he even got annoyed if she didn¡¯t obey him. Jiang Zhi touched her still hot ears, ¡°These aren¡¯t my true intentions, but what your mother should¡¯ve taught you. But since it¡¯s just you, with no one to teach you, it¡¯s up to me.¡± He let go of her ear and kissed its tip, adding, ¡°Although I would really like to live with you, would really like it if you agreed with everything I want.¡± The last part was his true intention. Yet, knowing Zhou Xufang grew up alone, he couldn¡¯t bear to see her confused and fumbling as she learned to be independent and kind. He took it upon himself to teach her the rest. He felt like something was wrong with himself, clearly her boyfriend, yet he was playing both dad and mom, wanting to fill all the gaps for her. Zhou Xufang was moved and held onto his neck, kissing his face repeatedly, ¡°Jiang Zhi, you really are a good person.¡± ¡°¡­¡± He had been given the ¡°good guy¡± card again. Jiang Zhi had dinner at Zhou Xufang¡¯s place, neither of them could cook, so they ordered takeout. The person who¡¯d just spoken of not living together anytime soon couldn¡¯t bear to leave, playfully asking Zhou Xufang to kiss him, dawdling for a long time before going downstairs. Zhou Xufang¡¯s home had cameras everywhere except where she slept, changed clothes, and bathed. When Jiang Zhi was there, she¡¯d turn them off, only to turn them back on after he left. She also turned on her computer; the building she lived in, the residential area, and the area outside all had surveillance. She watched her computer screen as Jiang Zhi¡¯s car drove away into the distance. Shuangjiang went online, and SpongeBob popped up, ¡°Xu Fang.¡± Zhou Xufang absentmindedly responded. ¡°Jiang Zhi is already far away.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± She shifted her gaze from one computer to the next. Shuangjiang had serious matters to discuss, ¡°I did some digging on the adoptive son of the Luo Family.¡± ¡°Did you find anything?¡± Zhou Xufang suspected that she had some relationship with Luo San or the Luo Family ¨C the disjointed fragments could be memories. ¡°The information I found is pretty much the official story the Luo Family tells,¡± Shuangjiang used a synthesized voice rather than typing, ¡°He was a child brought from the countryside by the family¡¯s butler. The Luo Family adopted him as a son. He has chromosomal abnormalities, born with disabilities, he doesn¡¯t feel pain or hunger, and also has speech impediments.¡± Chromosomal abnormalities again, Zhou Xufang furrowed her brows. Shuangjiang continued, ¡°But one thing is odd, no one in the Luo Family likes this defective adopted son. Why keep him? The Luo Family doesn¡¯t have any kind-hearted souls who would raise an outsider for no reason. If it were just because the Luo Family lacked a male heir, they could¡¯ve simply adopted a normal child instead of one they call ¡®retarded.''¡± Zhou Xufang fell silent for a while, then spoke up, ¡°I can only think of one possibility.¡± Shuangjiang asked, ¡°What?¡± ¡°Luo San is of Luo Family¡¯s bloodline.¡± Chapter 124 - 124: 124: The truth is revealed and the Luo Family is tormented Chapter 124: 124: The truth is revealed and the Luo Family is tormented ¡°Luo San is of the Luo family¡¯s bloodline.¡± ¡°If he¡¯s of the bloodline, and the only boy, why don¡¯t they treat him right?¡± Zhou Xufang was silent for a while before speaking in a low voice, ¡°Luo San may not be a boy.¡± If the fragments in her mind were real, the little bald kid living in the attic must be a girl. Shuangjiang asked, ¡°Then who are her parents? Why hide her gender?¡± Zhou Xufang shook his head. ... At that moment¡ª ¡°Here¡¯s a task.¡± Shuangjiang sent over a screenshot, ¡°Client: Tang Xiang.¡± Zhou Xufang, who had been deep in thought, looked up immediately upon hearing the name Tang Xiang, ¡°What¡¯s the task?¡± ¡°Get a person¡¯s hair.¡± ¡°Whose?¡± Shuangjiang replied, ¡°Yours.¡± Tang Xiang wanted Zhou Xufang¡¯s DNA. The payment was eight million. Shuangjiang didn¡¯t know Tang Xiang, ¡°What does she want with your DNA?¡± Zhou Xufang pondered, holding a can of milk and intermittently tapping the table, ¡°There are two possibilities, related to my background, or related to the Genetic Laboratory.¡± Whenever the Genetic Laboratory was mentioned, Shuangjiang became very wary, ¡°Then don¡¯t do it, it¡¯s too risky.¡± If someone found out she had a genetic superpower¡­ ¡°I¡¯ll do it.¡± Zhou Xufang stated, ¡°I also want to know who I really am.¡± Shuangjiang had a bad feeling and was full of concerns, ¡°Should you tell Jiang Zhi?¡± She said not for now, ¡°If I can¡¯t handle it, I¡¯ll find him.¡± Telling him would only worry him needlessly. She liked to share good news, not bad. Regarding her own background, there wasn¡¯t a single good memory. She didn¡¯t really want Jiang Zhi to know, especially about that Genetic Laboratory. At nine o¡¯clock, she lay on the bed with no intention of sleeping, just staring at the two lamps Jiang Zhi had given her, lost in thought. Ding¡ª It was a WeChat message from Jiang Zhi, who sent over the wave emoji. Zhou Xufang typed back, ¡°Why aren¡¯t you asleep yet?¡± Mr. Xue had said that Jiang Zhi used to sleep by eight-thirty, and only began staying up late after getting together with her. Staying up late wasn¡¯t good. The voice message Jiang Zhi sent seemed to be from under the covers, his voice a bit soft and muffled, but very pleasant, ¡°At this hour, I figured you¡¯d be missing me.¡± The next line¡ª Jiang Zhi wanted to say: I miss you. Instead, Zhou Xufang sent back, ¡°I¡¯m not thinking of you, I¡¯m thinking about other things.¡± She was thinking about the Luo San issue. ¡°¡­¡± He wanted to flirt with her, but she blocked him without saying a word. So lack of romance! Jiang Zhi replied with an emoji pack of ¡°[Pin you to the ground and kiss you till you cry].¡± The emoji pack had cartoon versions of Jiang Zhi and Zhou Xufang, easy to recognize, with Jiang Zhi in blue hair, and Zhou Xufang all in black with only her eyes showing. The little blue-haired person was pinning the little black-clothed person to the ground¡­ It was the first time Zhou Xufang had seen this emoji pack, and she found it very cute, ¡°This emoji is adorable.¡± Of course! Jiang Zhi proudly said, ¡°I had someone make them,¡± now sounding smug, ¡°I made a whole set.¡± Zhou Xufang, ¡°You¡¯re so amazing!¡± Jiang Zhi, ¡°¨s^¨t¡± Zhou Xufang, ¡°Can you send them to me?¡± With the tone of a big bad wolf luring a little white rabbit, ¡°You¡¯ve got to ask in a more begging manner.¡± Jiang Zhi made a demand, ¡°Send over a kiss first.¡± Zhou Xufang sent a kissing emoji. Seeing her obedience, Jiang Zhi sent her the whole set of emojis. ¡°[Kiss Jiang Zhi]¡± The little person all in black with just eyes showing lay down, stars sparkling in her eyes as she looked up at the blue-haired little person above her, with ¡°Jiang Zhi¡± written in big letters. ¡°[No matter what, I¡¯ll spoil you!]¡± The blue-haired little person, arms crossed and turning his head with a charismatic expression, as if to say ¡®if you don¡¯t spoil me, I won¡¯t talk to you.¡¯ ¡°[Your little ancestor is online]¡± The blue-haired little person sat obediently with a big head drawn. ¡°[Don¡¯t want to sleep]¡± The blue-haired little person lay with the covers kicked off the bed, his fingers enticingly beckoning. ¡°You can¡¯t use periods, you have to hold back,¡± a little person all in black with only their eyes showing is desperately holding back, their expression looking constipated. ¡°If you use a period again, I¡¯ll make you cry,¡± a little person with blue hair has the all-black one pinned against the wall, one looking like a grand demon king, the other pitifully close to tears. ¡°I¡¯m the fairy who lifts the seal,¡± the little person all in black is spinning in place, with a colorful glow suspended above their head and a magic wand in their hand. ¡°Goodnight Fang Bao,¡± ¡°Goodnight Jiang Zhi.¡± The last two images¡­ The little person with blue hair is lying down, with their clothes half-unbuttoned, while the little person all in black is sitting on top of them, one hand lifting their chin, the other pressing on their abs¡­ All the ones before were great, but Zhou Xufang felt¡­ she felt a bit hot looking at these two ¡°goodnight¡± emojis, kicked off her blanket, got up, drank a glass of water, favorited them all before she replied to Jiang Zhi¡¯s Weibo message. Zhou Xufang: ¡°Jiang Zhi, you can¡¯t send dirty pictures.¡± Jiang Zhi sent an audio message, you could tell he was laughing: ¡°What¡¯s dirty about it?¡± Zhou Xufang, embarrassed to spell it out, typed: ¡°Your clothes aren¡¯t on right.¡± Jiang Zhi still laughing: ¡°Aren¡¯t yours on right?¡± Zhou Xufang: ¡°.¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡°If you use a period again, I¡¯ll make you cry.¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡°This is how you are in my dreams.¡± Hmph. Jiang Zhi is a little hooligan! Zhou Xufang sent him the new emoji she favorited: ¡°You can¡¯t use periods, you have to hold back.¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡°Finally, no periods.¡± Zhou Xufang has OCD, she must be the last one to end the chat: ¡°You can¡¯t use periods, you have to hold back.¡± Jiang Zhi thought that was it and put his phone down, but two minutes later, Zhou Xufang sent another message. ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± Jiang Zhi sent an emoji back: ¡°Your little ancestor is online.¡± Jiang Zhi sent another one: ¡°Don¡¯t want to sleep.¡± Zhou Xufang rarely sent a voice message: ¡°Were you a ¡®bottom¡¯ before?¡± ¡°Are you, or not?¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡­ He didn¡¯t answer, so she kept calling ¡°Jiang Zhi, Jiang Zhi¡± over and over. He couldn¡¯t take it anymore and accused her: ¡°Have you been reading some messy novels again?¡± Zhou Xufang: ¡°It¡¯s not messy, I read a BL novel, it¡¯s really good.¡± Jiang Zhi took a moment to understand what ¡®BL¡¯ meant, while Zhou Xufang kept pestering him. ¡°Are you a ¡®bottom¡¯?¡± ¡°Are you or not?¡± ¡°Are you or not?¡± Instead of answering, Jiang Zhi sent an emoji: ¡°I¡¯ll pin you to the ground and make you cry.¡± Zhou Xufang: ¡°.¡± A long time passed, so long that Zhou Xufang was almost asleep, before Jiang Zhi replied with one word: ¡°Yes.¡± No wonder, she topped him. Zhou Xufang crawled under the covers, laughing for a while, and replied to Jiang Zhi with an emoji: ¡°Goodnight Jiang Zhi.¡± The next day, at nine in the morning, entertainment news exploded ¨C Tianxing¡¯s leading actress Luo Ying was accused of beating an assistant on set, with photos as evidence. Instantly, netizens blew up. Action movie global shopping: ¡°Damn! The most poisonous woman¡¯s heart! @LuoYingheV¡± I¡¯m a sweet little thing: ¡°She looks skilled at hitting, must not be her first time, no wonder she changes assistants so often.¡± You have your candle, I have my whip: ¡°Another persona collapses.¡± Please call me handsome pot: ¡°Get out of the entertainment industry! @LuoYingheV¡± Don¡¯t change my nickname until I lose 30kg: ¡°You can¡¯t get the whole story from just a snippet; don¡¯t judge without knowing the circumstances.¡± Mom and dad go to work, I go to kindergarten: ¡°Defending her even now? Hitting is wrong, no matter the reason, it¡¯s inexcusable.¡± I¡¯m a mink, the world¡¯s skin: ¡°People aren¡¯t saints; getting angry and hitting happens, don¡¯t blindly hate without knowing the whole story.¡± Don¡¯t call me, I¡¯m under the covers watching a movie: ¡°Yeah, when I get angry, I also kick my little brother, what¡¯s wrong with that?¡± Quick, kowtow to your elder, reply @Don¡¯t call me, I¡¯m under the covers watching a movie: ¡°No problem, let me kick you first to try?¡± ¡°¡­¡± In a little while, the shares and comments broke new records. Luo Yinghe had smooth sailing since her debut, the little princess pushed by Tianxing; no matter if real fans or haters, her Weibo followers had surpassed fifty million. She always had good resources, working with top stars, but her acting skills were not improving. Many who disliked her and wanted to take her down were waiting for an opportunity. Now that the scandal broke, the discussion kept spiking high, and in less than two hours, Luo Yinghe¡¯s incident of hitting an assistant with roses made the hot search headlines. Bang¡ª Luo Yinghe slammed the tablet onto the table, her eyes burning with fury, ¡°What is the public relations department doing? Why hasn¡¯t the hot search been taken down yet?¡± Agent Yang Fan replied, ¡°The topic is too hot, we can¡¯t pull it down.¡± Emotions running high, Luo Yinghe suddenly stood up, knocking over a chair with a loud bang, and yelled at the agent, ¡°Then why don¡¯t you find a way? Tianxing pays you so much money for you to be useless?¡± ¡­ If it wasn¡¯t because Luo Yinghe was the second daughter of the Luo family and half the owner of Tianxing, Yang Fan would definitely not have become an agent for such a princess who was all temper and no brains. She took a deep breath, ¡°First, issue an apology statement¡ª¡± Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. But Luo Yinghe was unwilling to comply, completely unreasonable, ¡°Why should I apologize? I pay the assistant, and if she can¡¯t do the job, why can¡¯t I discipline her?¡± Bullying the weak and fearing the strong, arrogant and self-important. That¡¯s the upbringing of the Luo family. Yang Fan was too lazy to argue with her and was getting impatient, ¡°Even if the PR does a fantastic job, it¡¯s no use if you don¡¯t apologize.¡± Luo Yinghe¡¯s eyes bulged with rage, ¡°You¡ª¡± She was interrupted. The door to the studio was pushed open, and Luo Qinghe stood at the entrance, dropping a casual remark, ¡°That¡¯s enough.¡± Luo Yinghe immediately fell silent. It was clear that she was intimidated by her older cousin. Luo Qinghe, with her single eyelids, looked aloof and indifferent, always carrying a sense of haughty ferocity in her eyes. She ordered, ¡°First, issue an apology statement.¡± Luo Yinghe didn¡¯t dare to be presumptuous, only refusing in a low voice, ¡°I don¡¯t want to.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t want to?¡± She smiled, her tone light and dismissive, ¡°If you don¡¯t want to, then get out of Tianxing.¡± Luo Yinghe¡¯s face turned pale, and she stopped talking. Her temper as the young mistress might flare up at anyone, but she dared not challenge Luo Qinghe, who she feared the most in the entire Luo family, and of course, whom she also despised the most. Luo Qinghe entered, closed the door behind her, pulled up a chair to sit down, her legs together, wearing her business suit immaculately. She asked Yang Fan, ¡°How does that assistant usually perform her duties?¡± Yang Fan replied, ¡°Quite meticulous.¡± Luo Qinghe tapped her fingers on the table, composed, ¡°Then find something less meticulous.¡± Yang Fan understood what she meant and then asked, ¡°What about the hot search?¡± She looked up, her slender eyes like fine drizzle as she looked at people, but they conveyed a stark intensity, ¡°If it can¡¯t be pulled down, then find something more sensational to overshadow it. Do I really need to teach you such a simple principle?¡± Yang Fan was struck dumb, not daring to add to the conversation. Unlike Luo Yinghe¡¯s erratic and spoiled vase, Luo Qinghe was not someone to be trifled with. In her many years in the business world, her skills were no less than any man¡¯s. At that moment, the cellphone rang. Luo Qinghe answered; on the line, the secretary said, ¡°Younger Luo, the autopsy report is out.¡± She rose and walked out, ¡°Get Han Feng over here.¡± At the police station. Once the autopsy report was released, the Criminal Investigation Team held an emergency meeting. The projector was on, the curtains in the conference room drawn, Vice Captain Xing held a pointer, indicating the content of the report on the screen, ¡°The time of death was around three in the afternoon, the fatal injury was in the lung, the victim didn¡¯t have many wounds, indicating a clear murder intent from the perpetrator, nearly a fatal strike with a single blow.¡± He flipped a page, continuing, ¡°The forensic team made a comparison, the fruit knife left at the scene is the murder weapon.¡± Colleague Zhang Wen raised a question, ¡°Then why didn¡¯t the killer take the murder weapon with them?¡± Leaving the murder weapon would risk exposing fingerprints, DNA, and even fibers from clothing. A smart criminal would definitely not leave the murder weapon at the scene unless they dropped it in a panicked escape, or they wanted to challenge the police by leaving it there. But the scene was clean, ruling out the possibility of the killer making a mistake. Vice Captain Xing said, ¡°I don¡¯t understand this point either, and besides the victim Chen Li¡¯s blood on the fruit knife, there was someone else¡¯s blood on it.¡± Zhang Wen asked, ¡°Is it the killer¡¯s?¡± Vice Captain Xing shook his head, ¡°Not the killer¡¯s.¡± He flipped a page on the projection, ¡°It¡¯s the victim from the suitcase abandonment case, Duan Xi.¡± The suspect no. 2 in that abandonment case had been photographed with a watch. The killer who pushed Jiang Zhi into the sea had also been caught wearing the same watch. Could it be that these three cases are related? ¡°The killer in the suitcase case was a woman,¡± speculated one of the Criminal Investigation Team, ¡°Could it be Chen Li?¡± Vice Captain Xing couldn¡¯t conclude, ¡°The fruit knife does match the fatal wound on Duan Xi, and Duan Xi¡¯s blood was also found in Chen Li¡¯s kitchen, but one thing doesn¡¯t add up. If Chen Li killed Duan Xi, why did she bring the murder weapon back home? She didn¡¯t even clean up the blood.¡± Then, a leisurely voice added, ¡°It¡¯s a case of hired killing, leaving no evidence, how else to extort money?¡± It was Captain Qiao from intelligence. He was there to listen in. Sitting across from him, Captain Cheng of the Criminal Investigation Team asked, ¡°Why do you say it¡¯s a case of hired killing?¡± Qiao Nanchu flipped through the materials on the table, handed a page to Captain Cheng, ¡°Chen Li and Duan Xi didn¡¯t even know each other, there¡¯s no motive for murder, and she was on drugs. A bartender¡¯s salary wouldn¡¯t cover it; she was very likely doing it for the money.¡± Most importantly, Jiang Zhi said his girlfriend overheard Chen Li talking on the phone with a man named Mr. Han. The conversation included details about disposing of the body and transferring money. It could only be a case of hired killing. Vice Captain Xing combined Qiao Nanchu¡¯s speculation with his own inference, ¡°So you¡¯re saying someone hired Chen Li to kill Duan Xi, and after Chen Li dumped the body in a suitcase, she took the murder weapon with the intention of extorting money from the employer, but couldn¡¯t reach an agreement with the person who hired her and ultimately was silenced by the same knife?¡± Furthermore, since Duan Xi was a victim of sexual assault on the cruise ship, if we follow this line of reasoning, the abuser is very likely to be the murderer¡¯s employer. Qiao Nanchu was noncommittal, only saying, ¡°Chen Li had wounds on her hands; simply check Duan Xi¡¯s fingernails to see if she¡¯s the one who killed Duan Xi.¡± That hit the nail on the head. This guy, he should be in the Criminal Investigation Team. Captain Cheng turned to his colleague and ordered, ¡°Call the forensic department.¡± After giving the order, he shot Qiao Nanchu a teasing look, ¡°Captain Qiao, would you be interested in transferring to my Criminal Investigation Team?¡± Qiao Nanchu leaned back in his office chair, ¡°No.¡± Captain Cheng continued to make his case, ¡°Your investigative skills are being wasted in the intelligence unit.¡± He replied with a cold indifference befitting someone devoid of compassion, ¡°Not a waste, I¡¯m versatile.¡± ¡°¡­¡± This guy! Dropping the jokes, Captain Cheng proceeded with the case discussion, ¡°We can now be fairly certain that the person who pushed Mr. Jiang into the sea and the person who hired Chen Li to kill Duan Xi are the same person, or an accomplice.¡± Vice Captain Xing followed up, ¡°Luo Changde has an injury on his arm, the clue from the watch checks out, and moreover, Luo Changde has a history of sexual violence along with the motive. So, doesn¡¯t it mean that if we can find financial transactions between him and Chen Li, we can convict him?¡± Captain Cheng countered Vice Captain Xing¡¯s point, ¡°It¡¯s not that simple. We still haven¡¯t found his watch, and there¡¯s no direct evidence of murder¡ªno fingerprints, DNA, or eyewitnesses, only circumstantial evidence. It will be difficult to win the case.¡± The discussion reached this point when Xiao Zhong, who had been out in the field, returned. ¡°Captain Cheng.¡± Captain Cheng asked how his search went, ¡°Any large deposits in Chen Li¡¯s personal account recently?¡± Xiao Zhong shook his head, wiped his brow, grabbed a bottle of water from the table, took a gulp, and said, ¡°Her account looks clean, and so do her relatives¡¯ accounts, with no large financial transactions.¡± ¡°Could it be that it wasn¡¯t a hired killing?¡± Vice Captain Xing grabbed his hair, feeling mentally stretched. If it wasn¡¯t a hired killing, then all the previous speculations would have to be overturned. Captain Cheng looked at Qiao Nanchu across from him. He didn¡¯t make a sound, picked up a phone call, listened for a bit over a minute, hung up, and said, ¡°There were no bank transactions, but she received two bags of cash and stored them in a locker at the Zhu Feng Building.¡± So, it was still a case of hired murder. Captain Cheng was surprised, ¡°How did you know?¡± Qiao Nanchu smiled without answering. That evening, he called Jiang Zhi out and asked him the same question, ¡°How did you know?¡± Those two bags of cash were unearthed by Jiang Zhi. Jiang Zhi leaned at the bar inside the private room, grabbed several glasses, and randomly mixed drinks, saying, ¡°I guessed.¡± Going through personal accounts is too risky; if he were to hire a murderer, he would choose to use cash as well. Qiao Nanchu, supporting his chin with one hand, casually watched Jiang Zhi, ¡°Then guess again, is the murderer Luo Changde?¡± Jiang Zhi added beer to the glass with ice, ¡°It¡¯s him,¡± swirled the glass, ¡°but he¡¯ll get off the hook.¡± It was a bit warm in the private room, so Qiao Nanchu took off his jacket and threw it aside, ¡°How so?¡± ¡°If Chen Li was silenced, why leave the murder weapon behind?¡± Jiang Zhi mixed drinks without any real method, speaking lightly, ¡°Because it¡¯s to be used to get acquitted.¡± The intention was to link all three cases together. Then, to put forth an accomplice or, alternatively, a scapegoat. Qiao Nanchu¡¯s phone rang at that moment; he took a call, and after hanging up, he laughed, ¡°You got it all right; the ¡®murderer¡¯ has turned themselves in at the police station.¡± Jiang Zhi looked up; the dim light of the bar shone in his eyes, ¡°Han Feng?¡± Qiao Nanchu couldn¡¯t help but laugh, ¡°You guessed it again?¡± ¡°Of the four suspects who pushed me into the sea, Jiang Xiaolin was ruled out, Huang Peidong was deliberately framed by Jiang Xiaolin, leaving only Luo Changde and Han Feng,¡± Jiang Zhi explained, dropping a slice of lemon into a cocktail glass, his misty blue hair hanging down, concealing his brows, his eyelashes casting long shadows across his face, ¡°Besides, it was Han Feng who provided Luo Changde with an alibi.¡± In other words, the two were accomplices. Jiang Zhi speculated, ¡°It must have been Luo Qinghe making a move, sacrificing a pawn to save the king.¡± All the pieces matched. It¡¯s a good thing Jiang Zhi wasn¡¯t a criminal; with a brain like that, if he turned to a life of crime, that would be something else. ¡°There¡¯s one more thing,¡± Qiao Nanchu, propping his chin, looked at Jiang Zhi¡¯s face, more delicate than a woman¡¯s, ¡°Why did Luo Changde try to push you into the sea? Could it be that you saw him sexually assaulting Duan Xi?¡± Jiang Zhi shook his head, lifted his eyelids, his peach blossom eyes seemingly drunk yet sober, naturally captivating without trying, ¡°Because of you.¡± ¡°Me?¡± Qiao Nanchu stretched out his legs, ¡°What does it have to do with me?¡± ¡°I was on the phone with you before he pushed me overboard.¡± The phone conversation was about¡ª Qiao Nanchu remembered, ¡°The Luo Family arson case?¡± Right, they were discussing investigating the Luo Family arson case. So, Luo Changde killed two birds with one stone. ¡°What was just a suspicion, I¡¯m now sure of,¡± Jiang Zhi¡¯s eyes lowered, shielding the cold glint within, ¡°That fire was set by the Luo Family themselves.¡± Chapter 125 - 125: 125: Jiang Zhi seeks favor, Fang Bao says youre infertile. Chapter 125: 125: Jiang Zhi seeks favor, Fang Bao says you¡¯re infertile. ¡°The fire was set by the Luo Family themselves.¡± Qiao Nanchu clicked his tongue, ¡°The Luo Family really are a bunch of beasts.¡± No, beasts are better. Jiang Zhi finally added two ice cubes to the adjusted drink, shook it until it was even, picked it up, and brought it to his lips. Before he could taste it, Qiao Nanchu intercepted his glass, took a sip, put it down, then grabbed a clean goblet and poured him a glass of milk, ¡°Drink your milk.¡± Jiang Zhi gave him a cold look and snatched the drink back. ... ¡°Bang!¡± Xue Baoyi kicked open the door and came in. Qiao Nanchu glanced at him, ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you? Such a fiery temper.¡± He walked over, snatched the glass of alcohol from Jiang Zhi¡¯s hand, and gulped it down, ¡°I¡¯ve been screwed over.¡± Jiang Zhi kicked his shin, telling him to move away, and climbed down from the barstool to nest on the sofa. ¡°Who screwed you over?¡± Qiao Nanchu¡¯s mouth curled with a smile, clearly delighting in his misfortune. Xue Baoyi was fuming, ¡°Luo Qinghe.¡± He slammed his phone down on the table, poured a glass of alcohol, and drank it in one go, ¡°She got her cousin off the trending searches by getting me on there instead.¡± Qiao Nanchu picked up the phone, looked at it, and laughed, ¡°One night with two ladies?¡± Weibo¡¯s wording really is getting more and more explicit. Xue Baoyi slammed his glass down, his brows and eyes ferociously angry, ¡°Bullshit! I was just playing mahjong with them.¡± ¡°If a grown man brings two beauties to a hotel just to play mahjong, would you,¡± Qiao Nanchu jerked his chin up, ¡°would you believe that?¡± No. No man would believe that. That¡¯s the problem. If Xue Baoyi had done something else, he wouldn¡¯t have been so annoyed, but all he did was play mahjong, and that¡¯s unacceptable. ¡°So I suspect Tianxing set me up. Those two artists used to be with Tianxing. Besides them, there was also a director and a producer that night.¡± The person curling up on the sofa lazily added a comment, ¡°Were the cameras broken?¡± Xue Baoyi turned to look at him, ¡°How did you know?¡± Jiang Zhi said, ¡°That was the Luo Family¡¯s hotel.¡± Xue Baoyi was speechless, a thousand words converging into one expletive, ¡°Fuck!¡± Luo Qinghe is more venomous than many men. Honestly, Xue Baoyi really couldn¡¯t outplay her if it came to tricks. ¡°Why such a big reaction this time? Your gossip never stopped,¡± Qiao Nanchu teased him, ¡°Didn¡¯t you get caught last month bringing four girls swimming? I didn¡¯t see you jumping then.¡± Xue Baoyi grabbed his hair, clearly annoyed, ¡°How can that be the same? I can mess around if I want, but I won¡¯t stand for others messing with me.¡± At that moment, Jiang Zhi spoke up, ¡°I¡¯m the one who exposed Luo Yinghe¡¯s news.¡± Upon hearing this, Xue Baoyi took on a grievance-stricken tone, playfully reproaching him, ¡°Brother Zhi, it turns out I¡¯m taking the fall for you.¡± He didn¡¯t deny it, ¡°Isn¡¯t your company about to release a movie?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°Good. Use this to stir things up.¡± The next day, the skies were overcast¡ªa bad omen. Luo Yinghe issued an apology, and her assistant came forward to clarify, accepting the blame. Moreover, some ¡®informed sources¡¯ revealed that said assistant had character issues and meticulously listed five instances of her moral failings, arguing with reason and evidence. With the influence of paid posters and fans, Luo Yinghe was pretty much cleared, and all the dirt was thrown onto that assistant. This, along with Xue Baoyi topping the news, resulted in a decently managed PR campaign. Tianxing¡¯s PR skills have always been top-notch in the industry, but just as one wave settled, another rose. It was still about Luo Yinghe¡¯s violence¡ªthe edited video showed all eight of her past assistants bearing brunt of her abuse to various degrees. Plus, there was a psychiatrist¡¯s diagnosis clearly stating that Luo Yinghe suffered from a mild form of violent behavior disorder. Once this solid evidence came out, it almost completely negated all the previous PR work. The paid posters and fans had just whitewashed her image, and now they darkened it again, much to the amusement of the onlookers. Bro, I¡¯ve been severely hurt, don¡¯t tease me: ¡°This is the fastest face-slapping I¡¯ve ever seen.¡± Being chubby just ate your rice: ¡°Have your own problems but blame the assistant¡¯s character, truly shameless to the extreme.¡± Another day in love with President Gu: ¡°Tianxing¡¯s artists are toxic, right? Have you not noticed? The two women who went to the hotel with Second Young Master Xue used to be with Tianxing. I seriously suspect he was framed.¡± Erm erm erm hmm add me for a massage and reply to @Another day in love with President Gu: ¡°Sister, you¡¯ve got the truth! Second Young Master Xue was all open and aboveboard when he brought four girls the last time, no way he¡¯d be sneaking around with just two.¡± Xue Baoyi¡¯s baoyi: ¡°Hold me tight, Second Young Master, I lose if I unfollow! @Beijing¡¯s Hottest Guy V¡± Guess if I¡¯m wearing panties: ¡°Second Young Master¡¯s persona is to wander freely. If he didn¡¯t bring girls to the hotel, his image would collapse. I think, Second Young Master did it on purpose @Beijing¡¯s Hottest Guy V¡± I¡¯m a little princess: ¡°I¡¯ve disliked Luo Yinghe for a long time now. Last time during the meeting with Yun Sheng, she kept pressing up against him, my goodness, Yun Sheng was still a high school student!¡± Sister, lie down boldly: ¡°Get treated if you¡¯re sick @Luo Yinghe V¡± ¡°¡­¡± Under Luo Yinghe¡¯s Weibo, there was a tide of bad comments, and her fans didn¡¯t dare to make a sound for fear of being scolded. In just two hours, she lost over two million followers. Xue Baoyi was originally headlining the news, but with this storm, he got pushed to third place. Third place? How could that be enough? No, he had to post a Weibo. Beijing¡¯s Hottest Guy V: Just here to hop on the trend wave, releasing on January 25. A short clip of Baoguang¡¯s New Year¡¯s film¡¯s outtakes was attached. Xue Baoyi¡¯s Weibo boasted twenty million followers. He wasn¡¯t even an artist, so why did he have so many followers? Because he¡¯s a show-off, making headlines every so often, and not in an ordinary way. Looking for typists¡«add QQ¡«84613¡«: ¡°This timing for trend-hopping, very showy¡«¡± You have stars in your eyes, I only have eye boogers: ¡°Last time he went swimming bringing four girls, this time only two at the hotel, disappointing!¡± Wang Wei 1246: ¡°What¡¯s with women nowadays? Fawning over such garbage, they really ought to get their eyes checked.¡± Zeng Dangyang, did you ripple today reply to @Wang Wei 1246: ¡°Jealous, aren¡¯t you, fatso? Quickly pound your chest and lament the injustice of the heavens!¡± Don¡¯t call me a fangirl, call me the hottie harvester replied to @Wang Wei 1246, ¡°For the sake of Mr. Second Young Master, I¡¯m willing to go blind.¡± Orange Peel Too Peeled: ¡°About conquering two girls in one night, aren¡¯t you going to explain? @Beijing¡¯s Hottest Guy V¡± This Orange Peel Too Peeled had been spotlighted by Xue Baoyi. Beijing¡¯s Hottest Guy V replied to @Orange Peel Too Peeled: ¡°Why should I explain? You¡¯re not my wife, are you?¡± Then, the comments piled up as follows: Xue Baoyi¡¯s Baoguang: ¡°I am your wife, you heartless man! @Beijing¡¯s Hottest Guy V¡± I¡¯m Second Young Master Xue¡¯s Concubine: ¡°Look at my nickname @Beijing¡¯s Hottest Guy V¡± I¡¯m Second Young Master Xue¡¯s Second Room Concubine: ¡°Look at my nickname @Beijing¡¯s Hottest Guy V¡± ¡­ The internet was in an uproar, but what was Xue Baoyi doing? He was lying in his executive chair, wildly kicking his legs around as he played a game, and within just five minutes, he couldn¡¯t take it anymore and started howling, ¡°Teammate!¡± ¡°Teammate, teammate!¡± ¡°Quick, help me up!¡± ¡°You, come and help me up!¡± The teammate on the other end of the phone couldn¡¯t take it anymore, their ears hurt, they ripped off an earphone: ¡°Coming, stop howling.¡± On the gaming screen, the teammate with two colorful braids went to help up the dead weight. Xue Kenghuo stood up and immediately began to complain, oh, Xue Kenghuo¡¯s in-game name was A Handsome Life, and the teammate was I¡¯m Your Ancestor. A Handsome Life: ¡°Up on the roof across, the one in the nurse outfit, he¡¯s sniping me!¡± I¡¯m Your Ancestor: ¡°Hide behind me. Watch me blow his head off with one shot!¡± In the game, a big man in a camo tank-top hid behind the woman with two colorful braids, peeking out now and then. The braided woman took out the AWM and a scope, took aim. Bang! ¡ªYou hit joeper¡¯s head with an AWM for a headshot elimination. When she said one-shot headshot, she meant not a bullet more! Now, if you don¡¯t show off at a time like this, you¡¯re not human. I¡¯m Your Ancestor: ¡°Am I or am I not a pro, son?¡± Truly awesome! A Handsome Life: ¡°Screw off, who¡¯s your son?!¡± Through the earphone, I¡¯m Your Ancestor¡¯s crazy laughter transmitted: ¡°Son, go lick up the first-aid kit.¡± That ¡°son¡± sure rolled off the tongue smoothly. A Handsome Life replied just as naturally: ¡°Then cover me.¡± I¡¯m Your Ancestor: ¡°Rest assured, son. Your dad¡¯s got the Kar98k and AWM to protect you.¡± On screen, the person in the camo tank-top sneakily ran to lick the first-aid kit. A big fat loot crate. After looting, Xue Baoyi was a bit panicked; you know that feeling, right? The more equipment you have, the more nervous you get, especially for noobs. His hands on the game¡¯s interface were even shaking a little. He felt he could make it to the final circle this round. Through the earpiece, the girl¡¯s voice was deliberately suppressed, sounding a bit coarse. I¡¯m Your Ancestor: ¡°There¡¯s a motorcycle over there.¡± A Handsome Life: ¡°I¡¯ll drive.¡± Volunteering confidently. I¡¯m Your Ancestor: ¡°You sure?¡± A Handsome Life: ¡°If I crash and kill you again, then I¡¯m a dog.¡± Ten seconds after both got on the motorcycle¡­ I¡¯m Your Ancestor: ¡°Hey hey hey, steady, steady!¡± The motorcycle began to wobble and tilt, not following a straight line. A Handsome Life: ¡°Don¡¯t worry, we won¡¯t die.¡± Just as he said that, the motorcycle flipped. On the other side of the game, Fang Lixiang glanced at the time. Only nine minutes into the round¡­ Hmm, still didn¡¯t make it past ten minutes. I¡¯m Your Ancestor: ¡°I¡¯m dead again.¡± She was too weak to even complain, her voice feeble. Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. A Handsome Life: ¡°Hmm.¡± Just totally calm. I¡¯m Your Ancestor: ¡°I died because you crashed.¡± Still, she had to point out the noob move. A Handsome Life: ¡°Really?¡± Still, absolutely calm. I¡¯m Your Ancestor: ¡°You¡¯re a dog.¡± Quite angry. A Handsome Life: ¡°Woof.¡± Still, entirely unbothered. Fang Lixiang exited the game. Not long after, that noob reached out to her on WeChat. A Handsome Life: ¡°Let¡¯s play another round.¡± I¡¯m Your Ancestor: ¡°No more, I have work to do.¡± A Handsome Life: ¡°Alright then.¡± Fang Lixiang put her phone down for three minutes, then picked it up again. You know what¡¯s the most awkward thing? The person who said they had to work got caught in the game by Xue Baoyi again. He had just landed, hadn¡¯t even found a gun, cowering in a cabinet trembling, when he instantly recognized Fang Lixiang¡¯s flamboyant serpentine movements. A Handsome Life: ¡°Weren¡¯t you supposed to be working?¡± He turned on the full voice chat, his voice icy to the max! The moment the voice came out, the girl with two small braids got startled, immediately jumping away, then composed herself¡­ composed¡­ and then, she also turned on voice chat. I¡¯m Your Ancestor: ¡°Hehe, work and rest combined.¡± The laugh was very fake. A Lifetime of Handsome: ¡°Then why won¡¯t you team up with me?¡± Extremely angry, very upset, just a tiny bit aggrieved overall, he wanted to blow her head off with a sniper rifle. Dream on. You don¡¯t have a sniper rifle. Even if you had one, you couldn¡¯t headshot within two meters and five shots. I¡¯m Your Ancestor: ¡°I just want to get a ¡®chicken dinner¡¯ here.¡± With him as a teammate, she¡¯d never get that chicken dinner in her lifetime. I¡¯m Your Ancestor: ¡°So, should I head off first?¡± She was a little guilty. I¡¯m Your Ancestor: ¡°Farewell until we meet again on the battlefield.¡± She felt a smidgen of reluctance. The woman with the two colored braids just turned to leave when the man in the camo tank top followed her, matching her step for step, ignoring every first-aid kit along the way, just following her. I¡¯m Your Ancestor: ¡°What are you following me for?¡± She was a bit annoyed by him. A Lifetime of Handsome: ¡°I¡¯m going this way too.¡± He said righteously. Fang Lixiang simply took a different path. Okay, the annoying tag-along was still following her. I¡¯m Your Ancestor: ¡°Why are you still following me?¡± She was angry! I¡¯m Your Ancestor: ¡°Don¡¯t follow me.¡± She was really angry! I¡¯m Your Ancestor: ¡°If you keep following me, my teammates will report me.¡± She was extremely angry! I¡¯m Your Ancestor: ¡°Stop following me.¡± Her last warning. I¡¯m Your Ancestor: ¡°If you keep following me, I¡¯ll snipe you!¡± Really, the very last warning. A Lifetime of Handsome: ¡°Go ahead and snipe.¡± He laid down resignedly, a gesture of despair, his voice filled with heartbreak as he threw himself to the ground. This poor thing¡­ Fang Lixiang couldn¡¯t pull the trigger. After all, she¡¯d been carrying this noob through the game for a month, treating him like a son¡ªthe attachment was there. She put down the gun. I¡¯m Your Ancestor: ¡°Here¡¯s a gun for you.¡± I¡¯m Your Ancestor: ¡°Don¡¯t follow me anymore, I need to run from the gas.¡± She had just turned around when someone blew the man¡¯s head off with a single shot, killing him. I¡¯m Your Ancestor: ¡°¡­¡± Damn it, what¡¯s with this intense guilt? This round, Fang Lixiang didn¡¯t get her chicken dinner either, preoccupied with the little noob and worried he¡¯d lose his cool, which made her own performance suffer. She got her head blown off and didn¡¯t even make it to the final circle. Such is the fate of a caregiver in gaming! Fang Lixiang logged onto WeChat and sent a couple of messages in a bid to make amends. I¡¯m Your Ancestor: ¡°Still playing?¡± I¡¯m Your Ancestor: ¡°I¡¯ll carry you.¡± Fang Lixiang sent text messages; apart from in the game, she rarely used voice chat now. In-game, she also modulated her voice to create an air, after all, she was still a female celebrity. A Lifetime of Handsome: ¡°Not playing.¡± A Lifetime of Handsome: ¡°Not in the mood.¡± He rarely used voice chat too, and just like in the game, his voice was pinched, still putting on an air, but it was evident that his voice was rather dejected. Indeed, he had lost his cool. Fang Lixiang was full of remorse¡ªafter all, even noobs have their dignity¡ªso she decided to offer some comfort. ¡°Feeling down? Let me tell you a joke.¡± So, she started to tell a joke in a voice message, trying to sound gentle and cute by pinching her voice. ¡°My boss took two girls to a hotel, and people said he was going to play mahjong. But actually, he¡¯s just got kidney deficiency, hahahaha¡­¡± On the other end¡ª Xue Baoyi: ¡°¡­¡± Dammit, she was about to explode! ¡°He couldn¡¯t actually be going to play mahjong?!¡± I¡¯m Your Ancestor: ¡°If he was going to play mahjong, I¡¯d twist off my head and let you use it as a soccer ball.¡± A Lifetime of Handsome: ¡°Get lost.¡± The anger in that voice message was palpable. Fang Lixiang was a bit confused. How had the joke bombed like this? It made no sense. I¡¯m Your Ancestor: ¡°Why are you so angry? I didn¡¯t say you had kidney deficiency.¡± Embarrassed? A professional sniper in the wilderness knows no embarrassment. What¡¯s that? I¡¯m Your Ancestor: ¡°I¡¯m not a woman, I¡¯m your father.¡± Eh? Fang Lixiang listened to the voice message again and noticed something. I¡¯m Your Ancestor: ¡°Your voice really resembles my boss¡¯s.¡± A Lifetime of Handsome: ¡°And your voice is similar to that female celebrity, Ms. Fang.¡± Fang Lixiang was so startled her phone nearly dropped. She couldn¡¯t blow her cover, so she coughed twice, pinched her voice again, and exaggerated a bit more: ¡°What a coincidence~¡± On the other side, Xue Baoyi threw her phone down, angry. Secretary Xiao Zhuang had been with Xue Baoyi for three years, how could she not know his ways? ¡°Mr. Xue,¡± Xiao Zhuang was a little chubster, looking much like a lucky doll, with a face full of collagen, white, chubby, smooth, and tender, ¡°Did you lose at gaming again?¡± Xue Baoyi gave the little chub a glance: ¡°Did Fang Lixiang come to the company today?¡± Fang Lixiang? Oh, that newly trending Weaver girl. ¡°I¡¯ll make a call and check.¡± Xiao Zhuang dialed Fang Lixiang¡¯s agent, asked, and then replied, ¡°She did.¡± Xue Baoyi lay back on the boss chair: ¡°Call her over.¡± As a competent secretary, Xiao Zhuang would not ask the boss what he wanted to do, although she was very curious, extremely curious, well, it weren¡¯t her fault if she overheard something while standing by the door. Fang Lixiang, who was suddenly called to the office, was very anxious: ¡°Boss.¡± She wondered if the boss had seen her gaming again? ¡°Do you have any appointments tonight?¡± Huh? Fang Lixiang was momentarily baffled before responding: ¡°No.¡± She guessed the boss might have some task for her and immediately showed her loyalty, ¡°Whatever you command, boss, I¡¯ll go through fire and water without¡ª¡± ¡°Come with me to the hotel tonight.¡± ¡°Cough, cough!¡± Damn! Fang Lixiang choked, stunned for quite sometime as her mind started racing. What for at the hotel? What else could it be at the hotel? The boss had just been caught taking two actresses to the hotel ¡®to play mahjong.¡¯ Could it be that he also wanted to take her ¡®to play mahjong¡¯? Damn, she didn¡¯t want ¡®to play mahjong¡¯ with the boss. At that moment, Fang Lixiang¡¯s heart thumped wildly with fear, but she had to remain calm: ¡°Boss, I don¡¯t know how to play mahjong.¡± Xue Baoyi snorted inwardly and maintained a straight face: ¡°I¡¯ll teach you.¡± Fang Lixiang: ¡°¡­¡± This is the end! After leaving the boss¡¯s office, Fang Lixiang immediately called Zhou Xufang. ¡°Xu Fang, Xu Fang!¡± Zhou Xufang was eating, her cheeks bulging: ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± Fang Lixiang felt like the sky was falling: ¡°I think my boss wants to hit on me!¡± Zhou Xufang knew what ¡®hit on¡¯ meant. She had been reading danmei novels set in the entertainment circle lately. She said: ¡°Mr. Xue doesn¡¯t seem like that kind of person.¡± Zhou Xufang felt that although Mr. Xue was somewhat flirty¡­ ¡®Flirty,¡¯ this expression, was also something she picked up from danmei novels from the entertainment circle¡­ She thought Mr. Xue was flirty but not a bad person. Fang Lixiang was still anxious, very worried: ¡°How can he be not like that, he took four girls swimming, and two girls to get a room!¡± That¡¯s also true. Zhou Xufang quickly changed sides: ¡°Then don¡¯t go.¡± It¡¯s too dangerous. Fang Lixiang felt troubled: ¡°One can¡¯t disobey while on the job.¡± Her career as a Weaver had just begun to take off, upsetting the boss¡­ she dared not think of it. ¡°What now?¡± Zhou Xufang was also at a loss. Fang Lixiang contemplated: ¡°I will calm myself down with a game.¡± Zhou Xufang hung up the telephone. ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± Jiang Zhi was scooping soup for her. Because Zhou Xufang was hungry, Jiang Zhi took her out to lunch before eleven o¡¯clock. Zhou Xufang poked a meatball with her chopsticks, gulped it down, and asked Jiang Zhi: ¡°Is Mr. Xue a good person?¡± Jiang Zhi pulled out a napkin to wipe the oil on her mouth corner: ¡°He¡¯s not.¡± ¡°Then is he very bad?¡± The oil from the meatball dripped onto Zhou Xufang¡¯s hand down the chopsticks. Jiang Zhi pulled out a few more napkins to wipe her hand: ¡°A bad person, not exactly.¡± So is he a good person or a bad person? Zhou Xufang took out her mobile phone to show Jiang Zhi her Weibo: ¡°But he took two girls to the hotel.¡± Although someone came out to clarify, claiming it was to play mahjong. Zhou Xufang still felt taking girls to the hotel to play mahjong was not decent. ¡°They were discussing a collaboration.¡± Jiang Zhi took her mobile phone away, stored it, and explained to her, ¡°Everything on the internet is half-true, half-false, just have a look but don¡¯t believe it all.¡± Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t know much about the entertainment industry, she didn¡¯t understand: ¡°Then why not clarify it?¡± ¡°The entertainment industry doesn¡¯t really need the truth, it needs buzz, and Bao Yi is not a celebrity, he¡¯s naturally ostentatious, there is no reputation to speak of, clarifying it would be less effective than creating buzz.¡± Zhou Xufang liked eating meat, seldom touched vegetables. Jiang Zhi used the chopsticks to give her a big pile of greens, and also a big pile of carrots, ¡°He¡¯s in this line of business, not to make a name for himself, but to make money.¡± That makes sense! Zhou Xufang took a bite of a carrot¡­ but braised pork was tastier, she kept her eyes on the braised pork, just watching, not picking it up. Jiang Zhi had no choice but to pick up the meat for her, worried that she was eating too greasy, he also ordered a bowl of steamed egg custard: ¡°Want some egg custard?¡± Zhou Xufang looked down and continued to eat meat: ¡°I don¡¯t eat eggs.¡± Jiang Zhi was surprised, she was usually not picky, ate anything, and rarely fussy about food: ¡°Anything else you don¡¯t like?¡± Zhou Xufang shook her head, continuing to eat meat: ¡°No, just eggs.¡± Jiang Zhi moved the bowl of egg custard in front of himself. She hadn¡¯t swallowed the meat in her mouth yet: ¡°After you eat eggs, you can¡¯t kiss me immediately.¡± Jiang Zhi pushed the egg custard away, his tone somewhat unsatisfied: ¡°Then why did you send me a whole car of chicken eggs?¡± Doing it on purpose to keep him from kissing her? Zhou Xufang explained: ¡°Because they are nutritious.¡± She spoke the absolute truth: ¡°You need to replenish your nutrients.¡± She also said, in all seriousness: ¡°If you don¡¯t replenish yourself well, you¡¯ll keep being infertile.¡± Jiang Zhi, truly infertile and unable to refute: ¡°¡­¡± Chapter 126 - 126: Lesson 126: Luo Changdes Memories of Fang Bao Chapter 126: Lesson 126: Luo Changde¡¯s Memories of Fang Bao In the afternoon, Luo Yinghe held a press conference where she tearfully apologized for the recent violent incident. Her studio also issued a statement, saying they would suspend all activities and actively cooperate with psychological treatment. Additionally, they established a charity foundation to aid mental health patients. Then, massive amounts of internet trolls started pity-selling her story and building a positive image for her online. Of course, there was also a large group that wasn¡¯t buying it. The entertainment industry is just like this, get into a scandal and hide for a while. Once netizens almost forget, the tainted celebrity comes out to do charity work and wash their image clean for a comeback. Luo Yinghe probably had to take this route too. However, netizens were still quite happy, at least not having to see her plastic surgery-enhanced internet celebrity face for a while. At six in the evening. ... Xue Baoyi happily went to the hotel, where the hotel lobby manager, of course, recognized this god of wealth and bowed to welcome him in. Xue Baoyi took off his tacky sunglasses, ¡°Is the room ready?¡± Secretary Xiao Zhuang, clutching a briefcase and following behind, had a face too round, chubby like a stump, with fair and tender skin, and a slicked back hairdo seeing even more ¡®festive¡¯: ¡°Ready, boss.¡± Half an hour ago, his boss specifically changed into a pink suit¡­ So tacky. He usually dressed in a tough-guy style, always saying pink was for sissies, but today who knew what got into him, flamboyantly dressing in the very sissy pink. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï??0.§ã0 Xue¡¤Tacky¡¤Baoyi, ¡°Where are they?¡± Xiao Zhuang replied, ¡°All notified, they¡¯re good friends from the Weaver circles, enough to make up two tables for mahjong.¡± The Weavers referred to here were Fang Lixiang. The boss today especially wore a saucy pink suit to play mahjong with the Weaver, and also called over six little flowers to add to the fun, Xiao Zhuang didn¡¯t know which wire his boss crossed, nor did he dare to ask. The cell phone ringtone sounded, it was Xue Baoyi¡¯s. He glanced at the number, it was a call from one of his fair-weather friends, inviting him, ¡°Coming to play mahjong? We need one more.¡± Xue Baoyi put his sunglasses back on his nose, striding with flair, ¡°No.¡± The fair-weather friend called out, ¡°Come on, don¡¯t be like that, it¡¯s boring without you.¡± Among Imperial City¡¯s young masters, Second Young Master Xue was the most fun-loving, all the young lads liked to follow his lead. Normally he didn¡¯t even have to call them; as soon as night fell, wherever the fun was, that¡¯s where he¡¯d be. But today, Second Young Master Xue seemed to have changed his nature, using an immensely disdainful tone to decline the invitation, ¡°Why should I play mahjong with a bunch of crooked melons and cracked dates like you lads?¡± Crooked melons and cracked dates¡­ Fair-weather friend fiercely retorted, ¡°Fuck your mother!¡± ¡°Hmph~¡± Xue Baoyi hung up directly and soon another call came in. He laughed upon seeing the number, and without rushing to answer, deliberately waited for ten to twenty seconds before putting it to his ear. ¡°Hello?¡± His tone was that of a bigwig. On the other end, as always, meek, ¡°Boss, it¡¯s me.¡± Xue Baoyi pretended to be confused, ¡°Who are you?¡± ¡°It¡¯s me, boss,¡± the other side introduced themselves, ¡°Fang Lixiang.¡± How could he not recognize her? He could recite her phone number backward. But he thought about how this character had overly familiarly acknowledged a son in the game, and he simply had to dull her edge a bit. His tone was that of a big boss, like a bandit king in a den of thieves, ¡°What do you want?¡± Fang Lixiang was very respectful, like a younger brother, ¡°I¡¯m afraid I can¡¯t join you for mahjong?¡± When Mr. Xue heard this, he was displeased, ¡°Why not?¡± She had to come! He needed to clear his kidney¡¯s name. ¡°It¡¯s like this, boss,¡± the voice on the phone began to sound sorrowful, ¡°You had arranged for me to come play mahjong at eight tonight, right? I went off early to keep our appointment, but I was so excited on the way downstairs that I couldn¡¯t help but take a little hop.¡± Sincere enough. Xue Baoyi half-believed, ¡°And then?¡± There were sighs on the other end, ¡°Then I broke my hand; I¡¯m in the hospital getting a cast now.¡± She was an acting queen on a typical day; Xue Baoyi didn¡¯t believe her, ¡°You¡¯re trying to fool me, aren¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Why would I dare!¡± She was so wronged! She said, ¡°Wait for it, I¡¯ll send you an MMS.¡± Ding¡ª Xue Baoyi received an MMS, opened it to see that she really was wearing a cast, lying on a hospital bed, with two nurses by her side, her face pale and filled with pain. Xue Baoyi paused in his step and didn¡¯t move forward, ¡°Really fell?¡± ¡°Yes, boss, my wrist is dislocated, and there¡¯s a bit of a ligament strain. I can¡¯t lift it now, can¡¯t play mahjong anymore.¡± Perhaps she touched the injury, she inhaled sharply, bearing the pain while expressing her frustration and disappointment, ¡°I¡¯m truly sorry I can¡¯t play mahjong with you.¡± It sounded, a bit pitiable. Xue Baoyi irritably ran his fingers through his hair, ¡°Let¡¯s do it next time.¡± She was obedient and honest, ¡°Okay boss, I hope you have fun.¡± ¡°Take care of yourself.¡± He of course wasn¡¯t concerned about her, his bossy tone served up again, ¡°Don¡¯t delay filming!¡± Fang Xiaodi promptly agreed, ¡°Of course, of course.¡± ¡°Hang up.¡± ¡°Goodbye, boss.¡± Xue Baoyi hung up the phone and turned around. Xiao Zhuang quickly stopped in his tracks and turned to follow, ¡°Not playing mahjong anymore?¡± ¡°Make a call to ask Fang Lixiang¡¯s agent which hospital she¡¯s in.¡± He was a bit anxious and walked quickly. Xiao Zhuang didn¡¯t know what had happened but hurried to call Fang Lixiang¡¯s agent. Just as they got through¡ª ¡°No need to call.¡± That tone, it had a bit of grit to it. Xue Baoyi stared at his own phone. On the WeChat page, a friend nicknamed ¡®I¡¯m Your Ancestor¡¯ had sent him a message. ¡°Kiddo, hurry up, we¡¯re flying to self-closure city.¡± Xue Baoyi: ¡°¡­¡± Wasn¡¯t his hand fractured? A single cool character followed him through life: ¡°Is your hand okay?¡± A single cool character followed him through life: ¡°You play games every day, doesn¡¯t your hand hurt?¡± Give her a chance to explain, better speak up well! I¡¯m Your Ancestor: ¡°Hurts like a bird.¡± She was impatient over there, urging, ¡°Hurry up and get on the game. Today I¡¯ll definitely get you to the final circle!¡± Xue Baoyi, suppressing the urge to punch someone, entered the game, and this round, they really made it to the final circle. Her skills were as good as ever, consistently landing headshots with every shot. A fracture? A ligament injury? Heh. The next day, Xue Baoyi was on the headlines again, taking girls to a hotel, this time six of them. When these six girls were asked what they did at the hotel, they all unanimously answered¡ªplaying mahjong. Oh! The netizens finally understood and even made a heartwarming gesture¡ªcrowdfunding to buy Second Young Master Xue some health supplements for his kidneys. Fang Lixiang also generously donated one yuan. At seven in the evening. The colleagues from the Criminal Investigation Team hadn¡¯t left work yet. Zhang Wen came back from outside: ¡°Captain Cheng.¡± Captain Cheng put down the lunchbox in his hand: ¡°How¡¯d it go?¡± ¡°Last Tuesday, there was indeed a cash withdrawal from Han Feng¡¯s card, the amount just matches the cash found in Chen Li¡¯s locker at the Zhu Feng Building, and, moreover, the nearby surveillance caught the two of them meeting.¡± Vice Captain Xing looked at Captain Cheng: ¡°Could it really have been Han Feng who did it?¡± He still felt Luo Changde couldn¡¯t possibly be innocent. Captain Cheng stood up to pour a glass of water, ¡°Even if he did it, it was at the Luo Family¡¯s instigation.¡± The office landline phone rang. Zhang Wen listened to the call and hung up before saying, ¡°Captain Cheng, the blood found under Duan Xi¡¯s fingernails has been tested.¡± ¡°Is it Chen Li¡¯s?¡± Zhang Wen nodded. With both the blood traces and the murder weapon found, along with the cash for hiring a murderer, it was almost certain that Chen Li was the murderer of Duan Xi. Once the forensic report came out, the Criminal Investigation Team brought in Han Feng for interrogation. This was the third time. This guy, whether he was a master of psychology or simply no longer cared for his life, confessed without reservation, calm and composed from start to finish. ¡°Go over the details of your crime again,¡± Captain Cheng demanded, looking into the suspect¡¯s eyes. Han Feng, wearing glasses, didn¡¯t avoid the gaze for a moment, ¡°On the night of December 3rd at nine o¡¯clock, I lured Duan Xi to a guest rest room without surveillance under the pretext of official business, and I assaulted her.¡± He paused for two seconds and emotionlessly added, ¡°With a pen.¡± It matched the autopsy report for Duan Xi. Captain Cheng tapped the table with his knuckles, ¡°Be more specific.¡± ¡°I hit her, on the neck, face, thighs, oh, and her head was hit with an ashtray, but I didn¡¯t r*pe her. She was disobedient and kept screaming, so I used the pen to stab her lower body.¡± Han Feng¡¯s confession was slow and measured, nearly identical to the first time he had given it. ¡°She said she was going to report me, so on the cruise ship I wanted to kill her, but she escaped. After the cruise ship wedding ended, I found Chen Li.¡± Captain Cheng immediately asked, ¡°Why Chen Li?¡± ¡°Chen Li was getting drugs from a friend of mine, she was heavily addicted but had no money. I promised her two million to kill Duan Xi for me.¡± Captain Cheng didn¡¯t speak, gesturing for him to continue. ¡°Not long after Duan Xi¡¯s death, the police found her body. I was afraid of being exposed, so I planned to send Chen Li out of the country. But she got greedy and demanded another five million from me. I refused, only giving her two million, so she used the fruit knife that killed Duan Xi to threaten me.¡± Captain Cheng interrupted, his gaze intense, ¡°So you killed Chen Li too?¡± Han Feng definitively said, ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Were there others present at Chen Li¡¯s home at the time?¡± ¡°No.¡± ¡°You¡¯re lying!¡± Captain Cheng threw the photo from the scene, stood up, and leaned forward on the table with both hands, his tone suddenly escalating and confrontational, ¡°In Chen Li¡¯s house, besides you, there is another person¡¯s footprint. Speak! Who is your accomplice?¡± Across from him, the suspect remained unflustered: ¡°There is no accomplice.¡± He responded with ease, showing none of the panic you¡¯d expect from a person on trial, his argument and logic flawlessly woven. ¡°It might¡¯ve been a friend or neighbor of Chen Li. They could have come in any time before or after I killed her.¡± He looked up, challenging Captain Cheng, ¡°What does that prove?¡± This guy must have rehearsed everything before turning himself in, not a trace was out of place. Captain Cheng sat back down, suppressing the urge to beat the criminal senseless: ¡°Then what evidence do you have to prove that you were the one who killed her?¡± He stayed silent for a moment, then took off the watch on his right wrist and placed it on the table: ¡°There should still be Chen Li¡¯s blood on it. I got it on there when I killed her.¡± ¡°You got the victim¡¯s blood on it and didn¡¯t clean it, just so you could have it when you surrendered?¡± He didn¡¯t confirm or deny. Captain Cheng picked up the watch, weighed it in his hand, and examined it for a moment: ¡°This is Luo Changde¡¯s watch.¡± That limited edition watch that was photographed on the cruise. ¡°He gave it to me last month.¡± Captain Cheng glanced at his right hand: ¡°Did you push Jiang Zhi into the sea?¡± Without hesitation, he said: ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°What was the motive?¡± ¡°He was on that level too. I suspected he saw something.¡± ¡°Suspected?¡± Captain Cheng ground his back teeth, ¡°Just on suspicion, you decided to kill?¡± Han Feng lifted his gaze, defiant: ¡°Why not? Officer.¡± Captain Cheng couldn¡¯t hold back and threw a stack of files directly onto his head. After leaving the interrogation room, Captain Cheng was still fuming. Vice Captain Xing handed him a cup of coffee: ¡°Was Han Feng¡¯s testimony all lies?¡± ¡°Half-true, half-false.¡± That was what he feared. If Han Feng was an accomplice, the half-true, half-false testimony would be hard to overturn. Captain Cheng passed the evidence bag with the watch to Vice Captain Xing: ¡°Take this watch to forensics for testing.¡± Three days later, the results came back. The watch indeed still had traces of the victim Chen Li¡¯s blood, and even Han Feng¡¯s blood. They had the murder weapon and the physical evidence. The same day, Luo Changde¡¯s lawyer requested his release. The police refused, citing Luo Changde as having given false testimony on behalf of Han Feng. Luo Changde¡¯s lawyer claimed Luo had not been wearing the watch on the cruise at the time and had given wrong timing, leading to the false testimony by mistake. He was prepared to take legal responsibility, and after a righteous proclamation, Luo Changde¡¯s lawyer filed a request for bail, managing to get him out. On Christmas Eve, Luo Changde was released. Captain Cheng watched the beast leave the police station with a smile on his face and bit his teeth to hold himself back from chasing him down and beating him, looking to the people around him: ¡°Just like that, we¡¯re letting him go?¡± Qiao Nanchu, arms crossed, resting one foot on the ground and the other on the chair, asked, ¡°Otherwise?¡± Captain Cheng was not satisfied: ¡°The one who pushed Jiang Zhi into the sea and the murderer of Chen Li both wore watches on their left hand. But Han Feng is left-handed. He normally wears a watch on his right hand. That means it¡¯s very possible that Han Feng only hired someone to commit the murders, and the real culprit behind both the sexual assault and murder of Duan Xi and the killing of Chen Li is Luo Changde.¡± The bloodstain found on Chen Li¡¯s clothes from a watch reinforced this: its position and orientation clearly implied the killer wore it on the left hand. Qiao Nanchu was unperturbed: ¡°Personal habits can¡¯t be used as evidence. He could just say his hand was hurting that day and he switched the watch to the other hand.¡± That¡¯s exactly what Han Feng had said! He didn¡¯t even wait for the police to ask, he had plugged that hole in his own story. Captain Cheng felt an urge to hit someone. Qiao Nanchu unfolded his leg, began to flip through the files thrown on the table, and pushed them towards Captain Cheng: ¡°Han Feng had gastric cancer surgery five years ago, and a month ago was diagnosed with a recurrence. His wife and child have already been sent out of the country by Luo Qinghe. It¡¯s nearly impossible to get him to spill the beans on Luo Changde.¡± Captain Cheng was in disbelief: ¡°All this was manipulated by Luo Qinghe?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± The thought was chilling¡ªno wonder they say hell hath no fury like a woman scorned. Listening to all this, Captain Cheng felt an icy shiver down his spine: ¡°So meticulously executed, this woman must¡¯ve done such things more than once.¡± Qiao Nanchu offered neither confirmation nor denial: ¡°Each of her secretaries has never worked for more than a year. Do you know why?¡± ¡°Why?¡± Qiao Nanchu stood up, patted Captain Cheng on the shoulder, and whispered in his ear: ¡°Because they all ended up in prison.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Captain Cheng felt a chill run down his spine. Qiao Nanchu left the police station and made a phone call to Jiang Zhi: ¡°Luo Changde has been acquitted.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± He took out a cigarette, placed it in his mouth, and searched his pants pocket for a lighter. Lighting it up, he took a drag: ¡°What do you plan to do?¡± S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Jiang Zhi was in a car, and you could hear the sound of wind: ¡°If honorable methods don¡¯t work, then it¡¯s time to take a different path.¡± Qiao Nanchu smiled: ¡°Like?¡± Jiang Zhi coughed with playful weariness, her voice laden with lethargy as if it seeped into her very bones, lacking energy: ¡°Like using some unorthodox methods.¡± Qiao Nanchu jokingly scolded her for messing around. ¡°I¡¯ve been messing around for more than just a day or two,¡± Jiang Zhi said, calling out to stop the car, then added, ¡°No rush, the Luo family members have to be sent to prison one by one.¡± That night, a crescent moon and a few scattered stars adorned the sky. Across from the police station, a black Land Rover was parked. After Luo Changde bid farewell to his lawyer, he walked across to the Land Rover, checked the license plate, and asked the person in the driver¡¯s seat, ¡°Are you the driver called by Qinghe?¡± The person bowed their head, a baseball cap hiding their face: ¡°Mhm.¡± Luo Changde then got into the car. The Land Rover sped off, quickly getting onto the overpass. In the back seat, Luo Changde closed his eyes for a brief rest. Around fifteen minutes later, he was awakened by the wind outside the window, yawned, and looked out. The streetlamps glowed a dim yellow, and it was quiet outside. Luo Changde suddenly sat up straight, ¡°Where are we headed?¡± This wasn¡¯t the way to the Luo Family¡¯s home! The person driving lifted their head, their face covered by a mask, and hit the gas, entering a tunnel. In the dull gloom, a chilling and cold voice came through, ¡°The road to the Yellow Springs.¡± It was a woman¡¯s voice, low and cold, and sharp. A chill ran down Luo Changde¡¯s back as he lost color in shock, ¡°Who are you?!¡± The steering wheel was suddenly jerked, and the car turned into an underpass below a bridge. The person at the wheel turned around, wearing special glasses that made it impossible to discern the color of her eyes¡ªjust a dark mass. The wind was loud, but her voice pierced through, ¡°A professional errand runner, Z.¡± Upon hearing this, Luo Changde¡¯s complexion drastically changed. The car stopped by the seaside, at the very stretch of sea where Jiang Zhi had fallen into the water. Zhou Xufang unbuckled the seatbelt, turned around, ¡°Have you heard of my name?¡± She had no intention of doing anything illegal or disorderly. It¡¯s just that since Jiang Zhi had swallowed a few gulps of water here, she decided this fellow should drink some too. Of course, she couldn¡¯t expose herself. So, she decided to deceive him, ¡°Since you¡¯ve heard of me, you should know I¡¯m in the business of taking money to ward off disasters for others.¡± Luo Changde, as soon as he heard this, immediately asked, ¡°Who hired you?¡± Who indeed? She hadn¡¯t thought that far ahead, ¡°You guess?¡± Her forced smile made her seem like a female ghost. Luo Changde, having heard of professional errand runners before, was terrified and spoke rashly in his panic, ¡°Is it Luo Qinghe? Did she send you to kill and silence me?¡± Murder and silence¡­ What apt words. Zhou Xufang opened the car door, got out, walked to the back, and dragged Luo Changde out from the back seat. The car was stopped close to a streetlamp, under bright light. Luo Changde, being lifted by one hand, was terrified, and when he struggled in panic, he looked up. Only then did Zhou Xufang see his full face clearly. That face¡­ She was only startled for a moment before Luo Changde took his chance, stabbing the pen tip he had been gripping into her shoulder socket. The force left her hand, and he tumbled to the ground. The pen had been plunged deep, blood seeping out and staining her clothes instantly, yet her eyebrow didn¡¯t twitch as she pulled the pen from her shoulder and raised it to stab into Luo Changde¡¯s back¡ª Suddenly, the headlights of a passing vehicle flashed¡ªa glaringly bright light, like fire, like a raging inferno. ¡°Don¡¯t scream.¡± The man¡¯s gruff voice was pressing. ¡°Don¡¯t scream.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t shout.¡± ¡°It¡¯ll be over quickly.¡± ¡°You¡¯ll soon be free.¡± The firelight was too bright, blinding. She couldn¡¯t see anything clearly, but faintly she saw a plump hand holding a hammer, striking repeatedly. Bang, bang, bang¡­ Zhou Xufang¡¯s hand holding the pen began to tremble. She staggered, the pen falling to the ground, blood still on her hand. She numbly lifted it up to her right chest. It was a steel bar, a thick one being hammered under the hammer¡­ She could barely stand, staggering continuously. Behind her, Luo Changde got up from the ground, picked up a stone, and approached from behind, slowly lifting the rock¡ª Suddenly, his hand was grabbed. He turned around, his eyes wide in shock, ¡°Jiang, Jiang Zhi.¡± Under the streetlamp, Jiang Zhi¡¯s face was almost translucently white, yet his eyes were pitch black, matching the dense night behind him like an indissoluble spot of ink. He seized the stone and without hesitation, smashed it onto Luo Changde¡¯s forehead. Luo Changde collapsed, blood pouring from his head. Jiang Zhi dropped the stone and reached out to steady the staggering Zhou Xufang. ¡°Xufang.¡± She turned to look at him, her pupils lifeless, about to fall backward. ¡°Xufang!¡± She fell into his arms, her eyes vacant, as if unable to breathe, her mouth gaping, gasping, ¡°There¡¯s¡­ a steel bar¡­¡± Jiang Zhi saw the blood on her chest, and panic took over. He couldn¡¯t hear clearly, so he removed her mask, ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Fang Bao?¡± Her eyes were red, trembling in terror. ¡°Here,¡± she shook, taking Jiang Zhi¡¯s hand and placing it over her chest, like a fish out of water, mouth agape, ¡°here¡­ a steel bar has been nailed¡­¡± A hand was holding a hammer, driving the steel bar, bit by bit, into her chest. Chapter 127 - 127: 127: Go to sleep at Jiang Zhis place, Jiang Zhi checks Fang Bao Chapter 127: 127: Go to sleep at Jiang Zhi¡¯s place, Jiang Zhi checks Fang Bao A hand held a hammer, driving the steel bar into her chest bit by bit. ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± She whimpered softly, calling him twice before passing out. Jiang Zhi took off his coat, wrapped her in it, and carefully held her in his arms as he walked toward the car. Stunned, Ah Wan hurriedly followed. S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ... Jiang Zhi looked back and glanced at him, ¡°You stay.¡± The unsettled Ah Wan stammered, ¡°What?¡± Jiang Zhi gave a concise and clear order, ¡°Clean up the blood on the ground and that rock.¡± Ah Wan exclaimed, ¡°!¡± Getting rid of the corpse and destroying evidence! Ah Wan looked at the ¡°corpse,¡± the ¡°murder weapon,¡± and the crime scene¡¯s ¡°evidence¡± in horror, shivering and stammering, ¡°Boss, I¡¯m afraid.¡± He was a witness, after all. No, he couldn¡¯t be an accomplice. ¡°Boss, I¡¯m afraid of going to jail¡­¡± ¡°She¡¯s not dead,¡± Jiang Zhi looked at him as if he were an idiot, ¡°Idiot!¡± Ah Wan, ¡°¡­¡± He was nearly scared to death! There were no hospitals nearby, and Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t trust taking Zhou Xufang to one, so he took her to a Chinese medicine clinic instead. It was not even nine o¡¯clock, and the clinic was already closed. Jiang Zhi, holding Zhou Xufang in both hands and drenched in sweat, kicked the door repeatedly with his feet until someone inside made a noise. ¡°Stop knocking; there¡¯s nobody here.¡± Jiang Zhi continued to kick, each kick harder than the last. The person inside became impatient and roared, ¡°I told you to stop knocking!¡± ¡°It¡¯s me, Jiang Zhi.¡± The person in the clinic was an acquaintance, the old teacher of Xue Bingxue, a middle-aged, single man who was nearing old age. The middle-aged single man angrily said, ¡°Even if it¡¯s you, I¡¯m not opening!¡± His tone was extremely annoyed, ¡°We are closed for the day, come back tomorrow.¡± Jiang Zhi continued to kick, ¡°Open up, or I¡¯ll set a fire.¡± Damned kid! Bang! The door was yanked open, and the middle-aged single man, who was wrapped in an old army coat, had a face as black as coal, ¡°What do you want in the middle of the night!¡± Ji Feifan, a man, 49 years old but with the face of a 59-year-old, the stride of a 69-year-old, the hair of a 79-year-old, and yet the mental age of a 29-year-old, was a third-generation single heir ¡°old Chinese medicine practitioner.¡± Xue Bingxue was studying Chinese medicine under him. Jiang Zhi, holding a person, bypassed him and entered, ¡°My girlfriend is injured; please check her quickly.¡± Ji Feifan touched the sparse strands of graying hair on his head and glanced at the patient, ¡°Lay her on the bed.¡± Jiang Zhi carefully placed her on the examination bed, pulled the blanket, and covered her precisely. Ji Feifan yawned, dragging his ¡®elderly¡¯ pace, and asked while inspecting, ¡°What did you stab her with?¡± ¡°A pen.¡± Jiang Zhi glared at him dissatisfiedly, urging, ¡°Hurry up!¡± Ji Feifan could be explosive too, glanced sideways at Jiang Zhi, ¡°What¡¯s the rush; it¡¯s a minor flesh wound, she won¡¯t die.¡± Checking the bleeding, he rubbed his eyes, ¡°Take off her clothes first.¡± After saying that, he wiped away the physiological tears caused by being too sleepy and shuffled in his slippers to fetch medicine. Jiang Zhi sat at the bedside, hesitated for a few seconds, then reached to undo Zhou Xufang¡¯s clothes. Just as he touched her collar, she suddenly opened her eyes and grabbed his hand. Awake? She was still a bit groggy, her gaze vacant, ¡°Are you going to take off my clothes?¡± Jiang Zhi nodded, his face even paler than Zhou Xufang¡¯s, ¡°I need to treat the wound.¡± He unzipped her coat. She immediately held his hand, ¡°Don¡¯t take it off.¡± Her consciousness slowly returning, slightly dehydrated, her lips dry, she licked them and said, ¡°I¡¯m already fine.¡± Jiang Zhi still felt like he was hanging in mid-air, unable to find solid footing, scared, panicked, and flustered. Her trembling just now had left him still trembling, and now she was lively again, climbing off the exam bed and standing on the floor, even jumping a bit. ¡°Really, I¡¯m already fine.¡± Fearing he wouldn¡¯t believe her, she continued to jump. This girl, trying to kill him. Jiang Zhi¡¯s heart was still racing, unable to calm down, his face looking worse than hers, palms sweating coldly. He grabbed her, ¡°Stop jumping.¡± Bending down, he picked her up and placed her back on the bed, ¡°I won¡¯t look, can you apply the medicine yourself?¡± She didn¡¯t want him to see her wound. Then he wouldn¡¯t look. Zhou Xufang then lay down quietly, ¡°Okay.¡± Jiang Zhi worried about her wound, his brows deeply furrowed, and he was upset and impatient, urging, ¡°Is the medicine ready yet?¡± Ji Feifan turned and yelled back, ¡°Nagging, nagging, nagging, what are you nagging for!¡± He gathered the medicine and bandages on a tray and brought it over, glanced at the patient, ¡°Why haven¡¯t you taken off her clothes yet?¡± Zhou Xufang could tell that Jiang Zhi and the doctor knew each other, so she greeted him proactively, ¡°Hello, Grandpa.¡± ¡°¡­¡± A death stare from the middle-aged single man: ¡°I¡¯m only forty-nine.¡± Zhou Xufang¡¯s expression management was really poor; the ¡®Is this for real? Can¡¯t believe it!¡¯ expression was all over his face, but then he corrected himself, ¡°Hello, Uncle.¡± Ji Feifan had already forgotten how many times thirty-something-year-olds had called him Grandpa; he was so numb to it, he grunted, not bothering to argue with the young girl, ¡°Let¡¯s apply the medicine first.¡± She subconsciously zipped up her jacket, ¡°Can I apply the medicine myself?¡± This girl, so guarded, looked like her injury wasn¡¯t serious, with a frightened and uneasy gaze, more like someone who had been scared. Ji Feifan set down the tray and glanced at the blood stains on the girl¡¯s clothes, ¡°Has the bleeding stopped?¡± ¡°Yes, it stopped,¡± Zhou Xufang added, ¡°The cut is small.¡± He put on gloves, ignoring the ¡®sinister¡¯ look from the guy next to the girl, and pressed around the wound, ¡°Does it hurt?¡± Zhou Xufang honestly replied, ¡°It doesn¡¯t hurt.¡± Her wound must have mostly healed by now, as she didn¡¯t feel anything when pressed. ¡°Raise your hand above your head.¡± She did as told, raising her hand high and even moving it in circles a couple of times. The old traditional Chinese medicine doctor Ji Feifan then asked her, ¡°Is there ink in the pen?¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s a very new pen.¡± The artery wasn¡¯t hit, nor were the nerves, just a minor flesh wound. Look how panicked someone is! Ji Feifan rolled his eyes at Jiang Zhi, ¡°First clean the wound with this, then apply the powder, and lastly the ointment. This is to be taken orally, three times a day.¡± He pushed the medicine to the side, took off his gloves, threw them in the trash, yawned, ¡°Handle it yourself; I¡¯m going to sleep. Help me close the door when you leave.¡± Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t say a word, still looking like he was owed a billion dollars. Zhou Xufang responded, ¡°Okay.¡± And thanked him, ¡°Thank you, Uncle.¡± Ji Feifan shuffled upstairs in his slippers. Jiang Zhi remained silent, watching Zhou Xufang, wanting to ask many questions. But as the words reached his lips, he couldn¡¯t utter them, afraid she might cry, afraid she might react like before, appearing like she was on the brink of death, trapped in fear. He drew the curtain, ¡°I¡¯ll be outside, call me if you need anything.¡± The moment the curtain closed Zhou Xufang lowered her eyelashes, taking deep breaths. She couldn¡¯t hear those voices anymore, but her heart was still tight. She sat quietly for a while, pulled down her clothes, the pen-stab wound was beginning to scab over and would heal by tomorrow, but she still applied all the medicines. A half-inch away from that wound was a round scar; she covered it with her palm, gently stroking it. Turns out, it was from a steel nail. She took a few deep breaths, ¡°I¡¯m okay now.¡± Jiang Zhi opened the curtain, walked over, and looked at her face and injured shoulder. His brow never relaxed, his eyes still dark: ¡°Are you really alright?¡± She nodded, ¡°Yeah.¡± She stood up from the bed, moved her arm to show him, ¡°It doesn¡¯t hurt anymore, and it¡¯s not bleeding.¡± Jiang Zhi placed his hand on her shoulder, keeping her from moving. He could guess something about her injury. She wasn¡¯t speaking, still had concerns. He didn¡¯t ask either; this girl didn¡¯t seem to realize where his limits and tolerance were. He placed his hand over her chest, ¡°Tell me when you¡¯re ready to talk.¡± It wasn¡¯t that he wasn¡¯t curious, just that he didn¡¯t dare to ask, afraid he might say something wrong and touch her wound. He was truly afraid, afraid she would cry like before, not hysterically, but just trembling in fear, and he found it unbearably distressing. ¡°I¡¯ll take you home.¡± He withdrew his hand. Zhou Xufang immediately grabbed his hand, ¡°Jiang Zhi,¡± her eyes still showing timid fear, she softly pleaded, ¡°Can you take me to your house tonight? I don¡¯t want to sleep alone.¡± She was very afraid. Jiang Zhi patted her head, ¡°Okay.¡± She was silent all the way, holding his hand tightly. When they arrived at Qingshan Mansion, he carried her upstairs. She was no longer shy, hugging his neck tightly and pressing her face into his chest. Even if passersby glanced their way, she didn¡¯t move away, burrowing into him. Jiang Zhi set her on the sofa, ¡°I¡¯ll go get you some clothes, you go wash up. Don¡¯t let the wound touch the water.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± As she tried to get up, Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t let her, carrying her to the bathroom instead and waited outside the door for a while. Only when he heard the sound of water did he go to the wardrobe to fetch her clothing. His phone on the table rang. Jiang Zhi answered. It was Ah Wan: ¡°Boss, Luo Changde has already been sent to the hospital.¡± Ah Wan was breathing heavily, ¡°He didn¡¯t die.¡± Jiang Zhi asked, ¡°Which hospital?¡± Why? Did he want to finish the job since the guy hadn¡¯t died? Ah Wan was nervous, hesitating for a long half a minute, also afraid to hide anything, covered the phone and quietly answered, ¡°Fifth Renmin Hospital.¡± Jiang Zhi hummed a response, and that was it. But Ah Wan had more, his biggest question was, ¡°Boss, that, that¡­¡± ¡°Stop beating around the bush.¡± Tonight, the boss¡¯s tone was especially daunting. Ah Wan pat his chest, gathering courage, ¡°I think I heard you call that errand runner Zhou Xu.¡± He was standing far away and didn¡¯t see the face clearly, ¡°I must have heard wrong, right? How could Miss Zhou possibly be¡ª¡± that scum. His words were cut off. Jiang Zhi¡¯s voice was icy, ¡°Keep your mouth shut. If you let this slip, whether deliberately or not, I will kill you.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Ah Wan shivered, ¡°I wouldn¡¯t dare¡­¡± His lips trembled weakly, but his heart thundered like a stampede. Holy shit shit shit shit shit! The virtuous, kind-hearted, gentle Miss Zhou was actually scum! As expected, a woman¡¯s heart is as unfathomable as the ocean! Ah Wan clutched at his heart, took a deep breath, and decided to say something nice to soothe his shocked boss, ¡°So Miss Zhou had taken a liking to you that early.¡± He hadn¡¯t forgotten how that professional errand runner had once pressed down on his boss! There had even been touching! But, it was quite sensational. A million-word novel formed in Ah Wan¡¯s mind, ¡°Desiring your body is also desiring you, a love that starts with the body¡ª¡± ¡°Dudu dudu dudu dudu¡­¡± The call was hung up! Ah Wan looked up at the sky, sighed, and felt that the world still needed more love and respect. Zhou Xufang was still washing up, Jiang Zhi hung up on Ah Wan¡¯s call, sat for a while, then dialed another number. ¡°Mr. Jiang?¡± It was Vice President Sun from the Fifth Renmin Hospital. Jiang Zhi walked to the balcony, glanced at the bathroom, and lowered his voice, ¡°It¡¯s me.¡± Vice President Sun was pleasantly surprised, ¡°What can I do for you this late?¡± Jiang Zhi had smoked when he was eighteen, casually, without remembering why he had quit, with no real addiction¡ªbut now, feeling agitated, he craved a smoke. He took out a bag of marshmallows instead, unwrapped one, and popped it in his mouth, ¡°I need a favor from Vice President Sun.¡± ¡°Anything, Mr. Jiang.¡± He chewed on the candy but couldn¡¯t taste any sweetness, ¡°Do you know Luo Changde?¡± Vice President Sun hesitated for three seconds, ¡°I do?¡± Of course, he did. The Luo Family was well-known in Imperial City. Jiang Zhi crumpled the candy wrapper into a ball and threw it in the trash, ¡°Don¡¯t kill him¡ªtorment him for a few more days.¡± The hospitals in Imperial City were mostly under the Jiang Family¡¯s control. Killing someone was easy, making their life worse than death was also easy. Vice President Sun was shocked for a long time before responding, ¡°I, I understand.¡± Just then, click, the bathroom door opened. Zhou Xufang¡¯s eyes were wet as she came out, ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± Her hair was also washed, wrapped up in a towel. Jiang Zhi set his phone down, ¡°Come here.¡± She walked over in a pair of pink slippers. Not just the slippers, the towel, clothes, and even the toothbrush and shower gel in the bathroom were all pink. Jiang Zhi pulled her to sit on the couch, scattered her hair, and patiently dried it with a towel, ¡°Did you get water on your wound?¡± She bowed her head, exposing the top of her head, ¡°No.¡± Jiang Zhi first set down the towel, took the medicine Ji Feifan had prescribed, placed it in Zhou Xufang¡¯s hand, then got up to pour a glass of warm water, ¡°Take the medicine first.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Zhou Xufang obediently swallowed the pills. After taking the medicine, she set the cup down, pulled at the clothes she was wearing, and showed them to Jiang Zhi, ¡°Jiang Zhi, whose clothes are these?¡± ¡°Pink, who do you think?¡± he pulled her up, led her to the wardrobe, pointed to the left side which was his, and then showed her the right side, ¡°It¡¯s all yours.¡± Clothes, shoes, everything she liked, all in her favorite pink. She was very happy, hugged Jiang Zhi¡¯s arm, and nuzzled him, ¡°You¡¯re amazing; you even know my size.¡± Jiang Zhi chuckled, went into the wardrobe, and grabbed a knitted home coat for her, helping her put it on, ¡°You learn after a few hugs.¡± His hand lingered on her chest, fastening buttons, ¡°Is the underwear too big?¡± A suddenly feverish Zhou Xufang, ¡°¡­No.¡± Embarrassed, she looked away, then caught sight of the whole wall behind her covered in pink wallpaper, and the tatami on the balcony strewn with pink rabbit dolls. Cups on the shelves, pillows on the couch, wind chimes on the hallway wall, all were warm shades of pink. She was surprised, ¡°So much pink.¡± Jiang Zhi¡¯s house originally had a stern, minimalist style, but this alteration made it particularly girlish. Jiang Zhi led her to sit on the couch, picked up the towel again, and continued drying her hair, ¡°Do you like it?¡± She nodded earnestly, ¡°When did you do this?¡± ¡°After I visited your house,¡± he said, ¡°It was too bleak there.¡± She hugged his waist and burrowed into his embrace, smiling like a contented cat, ¡°Jiang Zhi, you are so good.¡± He wasn¡¯t good. He was only kind and gentle to her alone. Covering her head with the towel, he cradled her face, leaned down to peck all over her face¡ªfrom her forehead to her chin, finally lingering on her lips, gently rubbing them, ¡°Still scared?¡± She shook her head, her eyes bright, ¡°Not anymore.¡± ¡°Xufang.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± He was silent for a while, hugged her tightly, his voice barely audible, ¡°Tell me, who nailed you with a steel bar?¡± She could avoid other questions, talk if she wanted. But not this one. He couldn¡¯t forget how she shivered and cried by the sea, nor dared he think of the image when a steel rod was nailed into her chest. Before, he had never believed in feeling another¡¯s pain, but now he did. All the hardships and tortures she had endured, he felt them all again in his heart. ¡°I don¡¯t remember,¡± she said softly, shrinking into his embrace, ¡°I was sold abroad when I was a child, I don¡¯t remember anything before that.¡± She didn¡¯t remember who nailed her, only the hammer, that piece of steel rod, and the splash of blood in her vision, plus that plump hand. She didn¡¯t know why these memories suddenly came up, perhaps it was because of the wound from a fountain pen stab, or maybe it was because of Luo Changde¡¯s face which she found strangely yet terrifyingly unfamiliar. ¡°When I was little,¡± she said slowly, ¡°I must have been abused.¡± Therefore, she was afraid of many things¡ªroses, fire, hammers, steel rods, Luo Changde¡¯s face¡­ Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t speak, his hands shaking slightly as he held her. He held her so tightly that she almost couldn¡¯t breathe, yet she didn¡¯t hide. She rested her head on his shoulder, babbling, ¡°I¡¯m fine now.¡± ¡°I met you, now I¡¯m fine.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t remember the past anymore, it won¡¯t make me sad.¡± ¡°I am still very fortunate.¡± ¡°Jiang Zhi, don¡¯t be sad either.¡± ¡°¡­¡± She placed her hand on Jiang Zhi¡¯s back, gently patting, gently soothing. The injuries she suffered from all the tumult she went through were hers, yet she was comforting him, asking him not to be sad, not to feel her pain. Jiang Zhi buried his face in her shoulder, his eyes turning red. This fool, who neither resented nor hated, unlike him, full of vengeance, wanting to reciprocate the pain inflicted on her a thousandfold, even if it meant killing and arson, in this sinful world, he feared no crime. At night, Zhou Xufang had a dream and couldn¡¯t wake up, crying incessantly. ¡°Xufang.¡± Jiang Zhi got up to turn on the light, and kneeling by her side, he called her, ¡°Xufang.¡± ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± She didn¡¯t wake up; her hands struggled and her voice mumbled his name unclearly. ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± He picked her up, kissing her continuously, ¡°I¡¯m here.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid, I¡¯m here.¡± ¡°Fang Bao, don¡¯t cry anymore.¡± ¡°Please, don¡¯t cry.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t wake up, didn¡¯t see the tears about to fall from Jiang Zhi¡¯s eyes. The first half of the night it rained, then late into the night the wind and rain stopped, making it exceptionally quiet. A phone placed on the cabinet suddenly vibrated, the sound in the night comparable to a sinister ringing. The person under the blanket turned over, not wanting to deal with it, but the phone rang incessantly, persistently. Qiao Nanchu cursed rudely, annoyed as he answered, ¡°Do you even know what time it is?¡± Three in the morning. Jiang Zhi still hadn¡¯t a trace of sleepiness, his mood heavy, matching the outside sky, ¡°I need your help with something.¡± Qiao Nanchu was irritable, turned on the light, and sat up, ¡°Can¡¯t you find me during the day?¡± His temper was not good after his sleep was disturbed, ¡°Speak.¡± Jiang Zhi¡¯s voice was low and slightly hoarse, ¡°Professional errand runner Z, by any means necessary, help me thoroughly investigate her past. I want to know everything about it.¡± Through the phone, Qiao Nanchu could feel the heavy atmosphere on the other end. That feeling, it was like eight years ago when the Luo Family¡¯s child disappeared, and Jiang Zhi was just like this, full of a deadly aura, unstoppable, even setting fire to the Luo Family¡¯s house. Qiao Nanchu sensed something was off, ¡°Give me a reason.¡± Silence fell on the other end of the line for a moment. ¡°She is Zhou Xufang.¡± Qiao Nanchu¡¯s cigarette dropped as he touched it, ¡°Jiang Zhi,¡± it seemed unbelievable to him, ¡°you have hidden this from me for so long.¡± The reason from Jiang Zhi was, ¡°You are still somewhat a police officer.¡± ¡°Are you afraid I¡¯d arrest her?¡± He didn¡¯t confirm or deny. Qiao Nanchu gave a chuckle and cursed, ¡°She was active abroad before, it¡¯s hard to check, but I¡¯ll try.¡± ¡°Thanks.¡± Jiang Zhi rarely thanked anyone so formally. It was all for his wife. Qiao Nanchu laughed, ¡°What kind of girlfriend did you find anyway?¡± She looked like an naive young girl, shy around strangers, yet she was someone people feared. He had been searching for years and hadn¡¯t caught even a tail. That shameless Jiang Zhi replied, ¡°The best girlfriend in the entire world.¡± ¡°Get lost.¡± Qiao Nanchu hung up the phone. There, Jiang Zhi quietly returned to the bedroom, lifted the blanket and lay down, pulling the girl beside him into his arms. She slept restlessly, her brow always furrowed. He leaned down, his kiss landing between her brows, ¡°From now on, I won¡¯t let anyone bully you.¡± Those who had made her suffer, just wait, he would settle every account one by one. Chapter 128 - 128: 128: Loving and sweet Chapter 128: 128: Loving and sweet The next morning at seven o¡¯clock, Luo Changde was rushed into the ICU. When Luo Qinghe arrived, Luo Changde had not yet regained consciousness. At this time, her voice was the only sound that could be heard in the entire hospital corridor, ¡°What exactly happened?¡± ¡°We haven¡¯t found out yet.¡± sea??h th§× Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The man named Shen Yue was her new secretary, in his thirties, with a square face and crew cut, appearing stiff and serious. ¡°What about the surveillance?¡± Shen Yue said, ¡°The surveillance along that route is all malfunctioning.¡± ... All the surveillance malfunctioning meant that someone had done it on purpose. At that moment, the door to the ward opened, and a nurse came out, ¡°The patient is awake.¡± Luo Qinghe asked if she could visit. The nurse said it was possible and led her to change into a sterile isolation gown. Luo Changde had suffered a head injury and undergone a craniotomy. He had just woken up and was still wearing an oxygen mask, lying there with labored breaths. Luo Qinghe glanced at the tubes covering his body, expressionless, ¡°Who did this?¡± Luo Changde couldn¡¯t move his body, only his fingers twitched. His face was ashen, his lips pallid, faltering as he exhaled the words, ¡°Jiang, Zhi.¡± At the mention of Jiang Zhi, Luo Qinghe¡¯s face turned cold. ¡°Did you provoke him again? How many times have I told you not to mess with him?¡± Luo Changde, still under the effect of the anesthetic, couldn¡¯t move his head, his lips trembling, ¡°You¡ª¡± His eyes blazed with fury as he ground his teeth, ¡°You¡ª¡± His speech was intermittent, and he couldn¡¯t get the words out; the line on the heart monitor surged dramatically. Luo Qinghe couldn¡¯t clearly hear what he was saying, leaning in closer, ¡°What are you saying?¡± Luo Changde bit his teeth, enunciating each word deliberately, ¡°You, hired, someone.¡± Hearing the muffled words, Luo Qinghe stood upright, arms folded, looking down at him, ¡°What are you talking about exactly?¡± Shivering, Luo Changde removed his oxygen mask, his lips quivering palely, squeezing out each word from his throat, ¡°Professional, errand, Z.¡± Upon hearing the final word, Luo Qinghe frowned slightly, ¡°Professional errand runner Z?¡± His eyelids suddenly propped open as he stared at her accusingly, ¡°It was you!¡± Only then did she understand the whole story. What a hefty load of slander. Yet her demeanor remained unchanged, her smirk like a non-smirk, she calmly corrected, ¡°Not me.¡± Luo Changde clearly didn¡¯t believe her, eyes burning with rage, again removing his oxygen mask, his face turning blue with suffocation, his eyes rolling back¡ªhe was about to faint. Luo Qinghe stepped forward, fitting the oxygen mask back onto him without immediately moving her hand away, trailing it along the oxygen supply tube to the ventilator, ¡°I didn¡¯t hire anyone. This matter has nothing to do with me.¡± She leaned in, her neatly trimmed nails tapping lightly on the ventilator, her eyes narrow, sharp like the edge of a knife, ¡°Don¡¯t you believe me?¡± Believe? The Luo Family only trusts themselves. ¡°If I wanted to go against you¡­¡± She left her statement hanging, with an implicit threat, and removed her hand from the ventilator. Rising to her feet, she examined her own hand in the light, half her face shrouded in the dim light, flickering on and off, ¡°Was it Z who said, I hired her?¡± The man on the bed was infuriated to the point of rupturing, opening his mouth but producing no sound, his breathing growing heavier. ¡°Beep¡ªBeep¡ªBeep¡ª¡± The heart monitor suddenly sounded an alarm. Luo Changde was once again rushed into the emergency room. Zhou Xufang awoke at ten o¡¯clock in the morning. It had rained last night, but today the weather was not bad, with thin sunlight seeping through the cracks of the window. She opened her eyes and stared blankly at the ceiling for a moment before rubbing her eyes. ¡°Awake?¡± Jiang Zhi was standing at the door, it was uncertain how long he had been there. Stretching her arms, Zhou Xufang felt around and grabbed a handful of candy. She pulled out two pieces and blinked sleepily, ¡°Why is there candy under the pillow?¡± ¡°It¡¯s Christmas today.¡± He sat on the bed and wrapped her along with the blanket in a hug, smoothing the hair that had been bent during her sleep, ¡°Whatever you want, I¡¯ll grant it.¡± He bowed his head, wanting to give her a kiss. Zhou Xufang dodged, ¡°Need to brush teeth first.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Can¡¯t she get a little romantic?! He fished her out from under the covers, picked up her slippers, and put them on for her, ¡°Go brush your teeth first.¡± She yawned and headed for the bathroom; he followed and went in too. As she brushed her teeth, he stood by the sink watching her. After brushing her teeth, she asked, ¡°No need to go to the set today?¡± Turning on the tap, she cupped some cold water and splashed it on her face. Jiang Zhi caught her hand, shook off the water in it, and adjusted the cold to warm, ¡°I¡¯m off today, we¡¯re going out on a date.¡± She stopped washing her face and asked with high spirits, ¡°Where are we going?¡± ¡°Amusement park.¡± He grabbed a towel, soaked it, and started to wipe her face for her, ¡°Have you been before?¡± ¡°No.¡± Things she hadn¡¯t played with, things she hadn¡¯t eaten, he wanted to provide them all for her. After wetting her face, Jiang Zhi squeezed a bit of facial cleanser and scrubbed it haphazardly before spreading it over her face. He had never helped anyone wash their face, and it got everywhere, but he was having so much fun. He caught her and rubbed a face full of bubbles on her. ¡°I¡¯ll take you on the merry-go-round.¡± Bubbles smeared all over Zhou Xufang¡¯s face, she laughed with her eyes shut, her eyelashes fluttering, ¡°Okay.¡± Jiang Zhi leaned in to kiss her; she dodged backward, smearing a mouthful of foam on him. They had takeout for breakfast. Jiang Zhi had a bowl of porridge, a crystal bun, and a dumpling, while Zhou Xufang had three bowls of porridge, a plate of crystal buns, and a plate of dumplings. The clothes they went out in were chosen by Jiang Zhi, and Zhou Xufang surprisingly discovered, ¡°Jiang Zhi, we¡¯re dressed the same.¡± He handed her a fluffy pink hat, ¡°It¡¯s not the same, this is a couple¡¯s outfit.¡± She ran to the mirror, twirled around, and sincerely admired, ¡°It¡¯s really pretty.¡± Jiang Zhi squatting in front of the cabinet, searching for shoes to match for her, suddenly remembered something, ¡°Zhou Xufang, are you wearing long johns?¡± She ran over to him clattering, ¡°No.¡± He looked up at her legs. So straight, so slender¡­ ¡°Cough cough,¡± He diverted his gaze, his ears warming, ¡°Go put them on.¡± Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t want to wear them, ¡°I¡¯m not cold.¡± He insisted, ¡°It¡¯s four degrees below zero outside.¡± He rummaged through the cabinet and pulled out the thickest pair of long johns, stuffing them into her hands, ¡°Go put them on.¡± Fine, she put on the thick, elderly-style long johns. Because it was Christmas, the amusement park was having activities; it was packed with people, especially lively. The streets outside were okay, but the atmosphere inside the park was rich with holiday cheer; everywhere, you could see staff wearing Christmas hats and Christmas trees hung with bells and string lights. Zhou Xufang looked around curiously and found it novel. She just didn¡¯t dare to step in too far, taking small, tentative steps and following behind Jiang Zhi, peeking around. ¡°There are so many people.¡± She was used to hiding and a bit scared of strangers. Jiang Zhi held her hand, fitting her mask snugly, ¡°Don¡¯t be scared, hold on tight to me.¡± She said she would, obediently snuggling into his embrace, only to sneak out after a while, tugging at Jiang Zhi¡¯s clothes, ¡°I want a super-sized ice cream.¡± A young couple walking in front of them were eating ice cream. Zhou Xufang¡¯s nose was incredibly sharp; she could smell it¡ªit was strawberry flavored. She also wanted some! Jiang Zhi looked at the size of the ice cream box, ¡°It¡¯s too cold, would cotton candy be okay?¡± Oh right, there¡¯s also cotton candy. She honestly expressed her desire, ¡°I want both.¡± Having no choice, Jiang Zhi had to take her to buy some; they queued for over ten minutes. Zhou Xufang asked for two boxes. Jiang Zhi only bought one. She held the strawberry-flavored ice cream, ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to have any?¡± Jiang Zhi embraced her, ¡°I¡¯ll eat what¡¯s left over from yours.¡± She scratched at the ice cream¡¯s cardboard carton, a bit embarrassed, but she still told the truth, ¡°But I can¡¯t leave any leftovers; I can eat it all myself.¡± She could finish both cartons. ¡°¡­¡± In other people¡¯s relationships, boyfriends are always eating their girlfriend¡¯s food, sweetly taking turns bite by bite, all lovey-dovey. But in his case, there¡¯s nothing left to eat. Jiang Zhi pulled her forward, ¡°I won¡¯t eat.¡± He wore a mask, and his slight irritation was evident through his peach blossom eyes. ¡°Oh.¡± Since Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t like ice cream, she might as well enjoy it by herself. She scooped a big spoonful into her hand and licked it happily, taking small bites. She was so delighted that little stars seemed to burst from her heart. Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± The girlfriend he picked out, no matter how tough, had to be spoiled. The amusement park was crowded everywhere, and there was a line for every ride. Jiang Zhi wasn¡¯t in a hurry; he first took Zhou Xufang to buy cotton candy. She didn¡¯t like the amusement park¡¯s cotton candy much, it was all artificial sweetener, too sweet, and after one bite, she didn¡¯t want it anymore. Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t eat it either, finding it too cloying, but the cotton candy was too pretty to throw away, so she had Jiang Zhi hold it. Ice cream was still the tastiest. Zhou Xufang loved it beyond words, ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± She scooped a spoonful, ¡°Open up.¡± Jiang Zhi hesitated for a while, then took off his mask and opened his mouth. Zhou Xufang fed him a bite and asked with a smile, ¡°Is it sweet?¡± To be honest, he didn¡¯t taste much but for the sight of his girl, smiling so brightly it dazzled him. If they weren¡¯t out in public, he¡¯d have grabbed her and showered her with kisses. He licked his lips, ¡°Sweet.¡± Bite by bite, how could it not be sweet? His girlfriend was the sweetest. ¡°Do you want more?¡± The Mr. Jiang who had just said he didn¡¯t want any, now smiled like an obedient, clingy cat, ¡°Yes.¡± See? He found it delicious after trying it. Zhou Xufang turned the ice cream carton upside down, revealing its empty insides, ¡°All finished.¡± She looked at him sincerely, ¡°Jiang Zhi, shall we go buy two more cartons? One for you and one for me.¡± ¡°¡­¡± One carton for you and one for me, rather than taking turns one bite at a time. Jiang Zhi put his mask back on and let go of her hand, ¡°It¡¯s too cold; you can¡¯t eat too much.¡± Elsewhere, another boyfriend said the same thing, ¡°It¡¯s too cold, you shouldn¡¯t eat too much ice cream.¡± The other girlfriend coquettishly pleaded, ¡°Dear, I want some, come on, pleaseeee.¡± With shy, small fists, she punched her boyfriend¡¯s chest and stomped her feet, her sweet voice laced with a loli tone cooing persuasively, ¡°Mmmm¡ªMmm¡ª¡± And then, the other girlfriend¡¯s boyfriend showed a face filled with doting yet helpless laughter, ¡°Alright, alright, you¡¯re irresistible.¡± In the end, the other girl¡¯s boyfriend took his girlfriend to buy ice cream. Oh. Zhou Xufang suddenly got it. She was a quick learner and immediately imitated the other girl, clutching Jiang Zhi¡¯s sleeve and, in a pinched voice, said, ¡°Dear.¡± She mimicked with earnest devotion, anxious not to misspeak, so her expression was grave. ¡°I want some.¡± She echoed flawlessly. ¡°Please.¡± She recited meticulously. ¡°Please.¡± She was precise and uncompromising. Next, she paused to recall, then held up a single fist. Careful not to hurt him, she gently tapped Jiang Zhi¡¯s chest, a light pat, ¡°Mmm¡ª¡± The key was to draw out the sound. She tapped again, ¡°Mmm¡ª¡± continuing to elongate it. Oh, one more, ¡°Mmm¡ª¡± Lastly, she stomped her foot, perfectly concluding the act. Jiang Zhi, utterly overwhelmed by the sudden cuteness, ¡°¡­How many cartons you want?¡± Buy, buy, buy, buy them all! He¡¯d even get the stars from the sky for her. Cold yet endearingly unaware, the old cadre Zhou Xufang held up two fingers. While queueing for ice cream, Zhou Xufang kept looking at others, seven or eight times, and on her last look, she maintained it for seven or eight seconds. Jiang Zhi tugged at the pompom on her hat and called her by her full name, ¡°Zhou Xufang.¡± ¡°Mm.¡± She still didn¡¯t turn back. Jiang Zhi was about to get angry and gave a hard tug, skewing her hat: ¡°Why do you keep looking at someone else?¡± And at a man, no less! Zhou Xufang turned to look at Jiang Zhi, straightened her hat, then looked away again: ¡°That guy in the yellow down jacket, his headband is really cute.¡± Jiang Zhi thought that yellow down jacket was hideously ugly, like a lump of shit: ¡°It¡¯s not cute, it¡¯s silly.¡± He turned Zhou Xufang¡¯s head back, ¡°Stop looking.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Before long¡­ Zhou Xufang sneakily glanced over again. Jiang Zhi poked her palm, fueled by a gulp of vinegar-laced rage: ¡°Zhou Xufang!¡± She giggled from being tickled, rubbing her hands on her clothes. Survival instinct? Not a chance, she would never have that in this lifetime: ¡°Jiang Zhi, you should go ask him where he bought that headband.¡± Jiang Zhi tossed his head: ¡°I¡¯m not going.¡± ¡°Alright then.¡± She wasn¡¯t going to press him. ¡°I¡¯ll go myself.¡± She had barely walked two steps toward that ¡®lump of shit¡¯ when Jiang Zhi pulled her back, grinding his teeth, only holding out for a few seconds: ¡°¡­I¡¯ll go.¡± ¡°Good.¡± He had found himself a real master: ¡°Where¡¯s the mask?¡± Zhou Xufang fished it out of her pocket. Jiang Zhi fitted his little master with it: ¡°Don¡¯t run off, wait for me here.¡± Zhou Xuzong Xufang: ¡°Mm.¡± It wasn¡¯t long before Jiang Zhi returned. ¡°Did you find out?¡± ¡°Mm.¡± Jiang Zhi took the freshly made ice cream, paid for it, and took her to buy the headband. The headband was a pair, a couple¡¯s set, with one large and one small pink hoop and springs attached beneath, bobbing with every movement when worn on the head. Jiang Zhi felt that having hoops on top of his head was utterly foolish. Zhou Xufang put the small hoop on herself and handed the large hoop to Jiang Zhi: ¡°You wear this one.¡± He didn¡¯t want to, it was too silly. Zhou Xufang, with her hoop bobbing with every move, tilted her head to look at Jiang Zhi, causing the hoop to swing from side to side: ¡°Don¡¯t you like it?¡± But she really liked couple¡¯s items. Jiang Zhi grunted in a subdued voice. Zhou Xufang showed a look of great disappointment: ¡°Then I¡¯ll wear it alone.¡± Her head drooped, and the spring-loaded pink hoop bounced even more joyfully. To be honest, it really was silly. But what could he do? She liked it, so Jiang Zhi still lowered his head: ¡°You put it on me.¡± He was clearly acting coy, obviously needing coddling, yet he still caved first, letting her mess with him. Jiang Zhi admitted that in front of Zhou Xufang, he had thrown all his pride to the dogs. Zhou Xufang became happy, cheerfully placing the headband on him. Then, standing on tiptoe, she touched his hoop and then her own, giving two thumbs up: ¡°Jiang Zhi, you¡¯re the most handsome in the world.¡± She beamed with a smile. Jiang Zhi felt as if he¡¯d been coaxed, and even the headband didn¡¯t seem so silly anymore. With one hand, he held a box of ice cream for her, and with the other, he held her hand: ¡°Do you only like my face?¡± He wore a mask, exposing only a pair of peach blossom eyes that still managed to catch the passing girls¡¯ frequent glances. ¡°Not just that,¡± Zhou Xufang pondered, ¡°I also like the back of your head and your skull.¡± He didn¡¯t watch the road, just gazed at her like a wolf cub coaxing a little rabbit: ¡°Would you like someone else if they were better-looking than me, and had a better-looking back of the head and skull?¡± ¡°There won¡¯t be anyone.¡± She was sure of this, squeezing the ice cream between her elbows, and raising both thumbs: ¡°You¡¯re the most handsome in the world.¡± If Jiang Zhi had a tail, it would surely be wagging now, just like the springy pink hoop on his head, flaunting left and right. After swinging it, he¡¯d roll on the ground, showing his tender belly to his little girl, and in the end, still wanting her to touch his belly. His mood was excellent, and through the mask, he pecked her on the lips. Fearing others might see, she grabbed him and ran. After finishing the ice cream and the cotton candy, Jiang Zhi asked Zhou Xufang, ¡°Do you want to ride the roller coaster?¡± She thought for a moment: ¡°No.¡± ¡°The bungee drop?¡± ¡°No.¡± ¡°What about that one?¡± Jiang Zhi indicated the pendulum ride. Zhou Xufang shook her head: ¡°Jiang Zhi, let¡¯s ride the carousel.¡± He complied with her every wish: ¡°Okay.¡± Chapter 129 - 129: 129: The whole world wants to pamper Fangbao Chapter 129: 129: The whole world wants to pamper Fangbao The carousel area was crowded, and they waited in line for over ten minutes. During which time, Zhou Xufang managed to devour an entire bucket of fried chicken nuggets by herself. Jiang Zhi felt that he needed to control his girlfriend¡¯s snacks, especially the junk food. Zhou Xufang and Jiang Zhi rode the carousel together. Initially, Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t want to go on it, thinking it was too effeminate for a grown man, but Zhou Xufang just deployed her newly acquired charm skill and cooed a few times, and Jiang Zhi relented. After the ride, Zhou Xufang asked him, ¡°Do you feel dizzy?¡± ¡°Not dizzy.¡± Zhou Xufang adjusted his hair, which had been mussed by the wind on the carousel, ¡°Then let¡¯s go again.¡± ... Jiang Zhi agreed. There were many girls and children on the carousel, and with Jiang Zhi wearing a pink headband and his hair dyed smog blue, he stood out conspicuously, attracting several young women who started taking covert pictures of him. Zhou Xufang was displeased and fiercely blocked the cameras, not allowing anyone to take photos. S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After the ride, she asked Jiang Zhi again, ¡°Feeling dizzy now?¡± Jiang Zhi shook his head, ¡°What else do you want to ride?¡± She wanted another go on the carousel, but with too many girls around, and Jiang Zhi drawing too much attention, she felt conflicted, ¡°Bend your head down.¡± So, he did. She pulled his mask up a bit further to cover his nose completely and even tugged at the fringe on his forehead to cover more of his forehead, ¡°Can we go on the carousel again?¡± Bent over, Jiang Zhi stayed still and let her adjust his appearance, ¡°Don¡¯t you want to try something else?¡± Zhou Xufang shook her head. He guessed the reason, ¡°Is it because of me?¡± She remained silent. ¡°It¡¯s okay, I can handle it,¡± he thought, realizing it was time to discuss his ¡®condition¡¯ with her. Zhou Xufang, worried about his ¡®delicate and frail¡¯ conditions, ¡°Have you ever been on one before?¡± He had never, thinking it childish. But Jiang Zhi, blatantly lying, ¡°Yes, I have.¡± Zhou Xufang was still not reassured, hesitant. Shuangjiang had checked Jiang Zhi¡¯s health, unable to pinpoint a specific illness, only mentioning something congenital about inadequate heart and lung function. ¡°Don¡¯t believe the rumors, just trust me, my health isn¡¯t that bad,¡± Jiang Zhi reassured her, leading her towards the giant pendulum, ¡°I¡¯m not afraid of heights either.¡± He wasn¡¯t afraid of heights, but¡­ As soon as the giant pendulum came to a stop, Zhou Xufang heard Jiang Zhi calling out weakly. ¡°Xu Fang.¡± ¡°Xu Fang, Xu Fang.¡± ¡°Xu Fang.¡± His voice was breathless. ¡°I¡¯m here, I¡¯m here,¡± Zhou Xufang quickly unbuckled her safety belt and went to check on Jiang Zhi. His hair was a complete mess, sticking out all over, and the headband was askew, with the pink hoop nearly slipping off. He reached out to Zhou Xufang, voice faint and delicate, ¡°Help me.¡± His face was pale, his lips colorless, ¡°I¡¯m dizzy.¡± His voice sounded somewhat pitiable. Zhou Xufang was terribly worried, ¡°Do you feel really bad? Should we go to the hospital?¡± Jiang Zhi shook his head, pulled down his mask to breathe, a slight blush on his face, and his eyes moist, ¡°It¡¯s not my body, I just got dizzy from spinning. I¡¯ll be fine after resting awhile.¡± He fumbled with his messy hair and leaned his tall frame against his girlfriend, looking as fragile as a newborn kitten, ¡°Hold me with both hands, or I¡¯ll fall.¡± It was three parts discontent and seven parts petulance. So Zhou Xufang held him with both hands. He nuzzled into her shoulder, ¡°Don¡¯t blame me.¡± He was quite annoyed, ¡°It¡¯s this machine¡¯s fault, it just kept spinning.¡± ¡°Look at others, they are throwing up.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t throw up.¡± At that moment, he was weak and unable to exert much force, his bluster having little effect, like a puppy, seemingly fierce but actually just putting on a show. Whenever Jiang Zhi felt unwell, he became clingy and acted like a small animal needing comforting. Zhou Xufang suppressed a smile and went along with his words, ¡°Yes, it¡¯s all the machine¡¯s fault.¡± Being pampered, Jiang Zhi cuddled Zhou Xufang and whined like Da Jin. ¡°Let¡¯s sit over there for a while.¡± Zhou Xufang¡¯s hand was placed respectfully on Jiang Zhi¡¯s waist as his hands roamed, touching her neck and then her back, sickly resting his head on her, ¡°Help me over.¡± Zhou Xufang supported him to a dessert shop. At the entrance of the dessert shop was a large Christmas tree, adorned with various colored paper tied with bells that jingled merrily each time the door opened. Under the tree were boxes of presents, and standing by ¡®Santa Claus¡¯ who offered that for twenty yuan, one could hang two wishes on the tree and receive a gift from ¡®Santa Claus.¡¯ It was mostly children making wishes. Except for Zhou Xufang, the only adult. Next to the Christmas tree, a mother and son were sitting. The little boy, about five or six, nagged his mother, ¡°Mom, I want to make a wish too.¡± His mother, dressed intelligently and speaking gently, ¡°See that ¡®Santa Claus¡¯, isn¡¯t his beard about to fall off?¡± The boy looked at ¡®Santa Claus¡±s beard, nodded, ¡°Yes.¡± The mother smiled, ¡°He¡¯s just pretending, not the real Santa Claus.¡± The inquisitive child immediately asked, ¡°Then where is the real Santa Claus?¡± Only children believe that Santa Claus truly exists. The mother didn¡¯t correct him, ¡°The real Santa Claus only comes out at night. If you have any wishes, write them down before you go to bed, place them under your pillow, and once you¡¯re asleep, Santa Claus will come collect your wishes.¡± The boy looked like he had an epiphany, then stuck his tongue out and made faces at the fake Santa Claus, ¡°Liar, shame on you.¡± ¡®Santa Claus¡¯ calmly fixed his beard and asked the ¡®adult¡¯ in front of him, ¡°Twenty yuan for two wishes, want to write them?¡± Zhou Xufang, ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Santa Claus¡± gave her two pieces of colored paper. Zhou Xufang finished writing her wish, picked two pink bells, tied them well, and hung the wish on the tree. ¡°Santa Claus¡± gave her a kind smile and presented her with a gift¡ªa very big lollipop. Zhou Xufang gave the candy to a child. When she came back, Jiang Zhi asked her, ¡°What did you wish for?¡± Her tone was quite serious, ¡°You can¡¯t say it; it won¡¯t come true if you do.¡± Jiang Zhi pushed the dessert he had just ordered towards her, his tone like that of an adult teaching a child, ¡°Fang Bao, it¡¯s all just to fool children.¡± ¡°I know,¡± she looked at Jiang Zhi, her eyes clear and pure, without a trace of impurity, and said, ¡°I really wanted to make a wish, so let it deceive me.¡± She was like an innocent child, still possessing a childlike heart. Jiang Zhi patted her head. The cherries in the dessert were tasty; she tasted one and picked the remaining one out and placed it on Jiang Zhi¡¯s plate, ¡°Does it still hurt?¡± ¡°Mm.¡± He pushed the cherry back to her, no appetite, still wearing a mask, resting his chin on a hand propped against the table, tilting his head toward Zhou Xufang, ¡°Move closer, let me lean on you.¡± He wasn¡¯t feeling bad anymore, but every time the little girl anxiously asked, he just wanted to pretend a bit and win a little bit of her favor. Zhou Xufang, iron-willed in other aspects, was very careful and cautious about Jiang Zhi¡¯s body. She quickly moved her chair to sit next to him, not even needing his request to gently place an arm around him. Jiang Zhi embraced his girlfriend contentedly. Halfway through the dessert, Zhou Xufang said, ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± ¡°Mm.¡± She whispered very softly, ¡°I need to use the restroom.¡± She had eaten three big boxes of ice cream, two cups of fruit drink, and held it for a long time¡­ but the public restroom was far from here. Jiang Zhi saw her face turning red from holding it in, unable to help but chuckle, ¡°Wait for me a moment.¡± He left Zhou Xufang sitting and went to the cashier. ¡°Hello.¡± Being somewhat of a public figure, he continued wearing his mask. The female cashier was thoroughly dazzled by a pair of beautiful peach blossom eyes, stunned for several seconds before managing to speak dryly, ¡°¡­hello.¡± The boy¡¯s misty blue dyed hair could seem frivolous to some, but not on him; his eyes, charming when he smiled and clear when not, carried an air of carefully sculpted nobility. ¡°Could we use the restroom in your store?¡± Jiang Zhi politely asked. The restroom for staff was usually not for public use. Still, the cashier, a young girl bewitched under the spell of the beauty behind the mask, readily agreed, ¡°Yes, would you like me to show you the way?¡± Jiang Zhi thanked her and turned back to call his girl, ¡°Xufang, come here.¡± Zhou Xufang ran over quickly. Jiang Zhi took her small purse, which only had room for a lipstick, held it for her¡ªthe purse was more for decoration, one he had arranged for her, and had purposely put a lipstick in it, but since she was all thumbs at makeup, she suggested to Jiang Zhi that maybe next time he could pack cotton candy instead. The sight practically turned the cashier into pure jealousy. Jiang Zhi placed a pack of tissues into the pocket of Zhou Xufang¡¯s coat before asking the cashier, ¡°Could you please show my girlfriend the way?¡± The cashier smiled awkwardly but politely, ¡°Of course.¡± Fairy-tale boyfriends are always someone else¡¯s! While Zhou Xufang was in the restroom, Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t return to his seat but leaned against the cashier¡¯s counter waiting for her. At that moment, a customer entered the store, pushing open the door and letting in a breeze that knocked a few pieces of colored paper off the Christmas tree. ¡°Santa Claus¡± went over, picked them up, glanced around to see if anyone was watching, and moved toward the trash can, about to throw them away¡ª A voice full of warning, icy cold, commanded, ¡°Hang them back.¡± ¡°Santa Claus¡± looked up, embarrassed. A pair of beautiful peach blossom eyes rested on those two pieces of pink paper, uncompromisingly, ¡°Hang my girlfriend¡¯s wishes back up.¡± Oh, it was that adult¡¯s boyfriend. ¡°Santa Claus¡± chuckled awkwardly, ¡°The wind blew them off; I was just about to hang them back up.¡± He rubbed the back of his neck and tied the pink wish papers back onto the tree. Jiang Zhi stood there, observing the tree for a while, couldn¡¯t resist, walked over, opened Zhou Xufang¡¯s wishes, and found both pieces of paper bore the same message. In upright, forceful handwriting, she had written: I wish Jiang Zhi lives to a hundred. Jiang Zhi smiled, rolled the papers nicely, tied them back up, then turned around and said, ¡°Give me paper and a pen.¡± ¡°Santa Claus¡± handed him a box of paper. Jiang Zhi picked two pieces of pink paper, quietly lowered his lashes, pondered for a moment, then wrote with flourish, ¡ªI wish Zhou Xufang a worry-free century. After writing, Jiang Zhi tied them with string, added two pink bells, and tied them onto the Christmas tree, right next to Zhou Xufang¡¯s wishes, and made double knots to prevent them from being blown away again. Once done, just as Zhou Xufang came out, ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± ¡°Mm.¡± Jiang Zhi turned to look at her, his eyes sparkling like stars. Leaving the dessert shop, Jiang Zhi took Zhou Xufang to many extreme rides, of course, marking off all those that went round and round¡ªhe was quite average at keeping balance and would vomit if spun too much. Zhou Xufang, having never had such experiences, was exhilarated beyond measure; at every high point, she called out to Jiang Zhi, saying she was so happy, laughing like a fool. Jiang Zhi found his little fool¡¯s laughter incredibly beautiful; he desperately wanted to kiss her, and he desperately wanted to sleep. As dusk approached, the last traces of the sunset tinged half the sky a chaotic orange. The amusement park moved into its evening session, all sorts of colorful lights came to life. Having disembarked from a rollercoaster, Jiang Zhi and Zhou Xufang went for dinner; she wanted barbecue, but Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t allow it and took her for steamed fish instead. After dinner, Jiang Zhi took her to a nighttime show and fireworks; holding her under the sky full of fireworks, he asked, ¡°Want to ride the Ferris wheel?¡± She asked him, ¡°Will you feel dizzy?¡± The Ferris wheel also went round, and she was worried it might make Jiang Zhi dizzy. ¡°No, this one moves slowly.¡± She wanted to ride, nodded, and said she wanted to. Jiang Zhi led her to the queue. In front of them, there was also a couple. ¡°Do you know what this Ferris wheel is called?¡± The girl tugged at her boyfriend¡¯s hand, which was busy playing a game. The boy, who was likely quite straightforward, replied, ¡°Isn¡¯t a Ferris wheel just called a Ferris wheel? What else could it be called?¡± Zhou Xufang thought the same. The girl looked up at the Ferris wheel at a forty-five degree angle and romantically said, ¡°It¡¯s called ¡®A Degree of Happiness.''¡± Her boyfriend retorted, ¡°That¡¯s so cheesy.¡± Zhou Xufang thought that too! The girl, petite and wearing large glasses, looked cute and didn¡¯t get angry at her boyfriend. Instead, she explained, ¡°This Ferris wheel makes a full circle at three hundred sixty-one degrees, which is one degree more than a full circle.¡± Pointing to the top, she showed her boyfriend, ¡°See the highest point? The arc there bends a bit, exactly by one degree.¡± Her boyfriend was confused: ¡°So?¡± The girl, slightly shy, lowered her voice a bit, ¡°It is said that couples who kiss at that spot will stay together forever.¡± Her straightforward boyfriend: ¡°You believe that?¡± Straightforward Zhou Xufang: So fake. The girl: ¡°Better to believe it¡¯s true.¡± The boy: ¡°You¡¯re so childish.¡± The girl: ¡°¡­¡± Zhou Xufang totally agreed and also thought it was childish. The couple in front went silent, seemingly sulking. Zhou Xufang pulled Jiang Zhi a bit closer and quietly asked, ¡°Jiang Zhi, do you believe it?¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡°No.¡± Why would he believe that? He was a businessman. From a business perspective, he evaluated, ¡°This is a typical commercial tactic. The managers, for the sake of turnover, deliberately create gimmicks. Those legends are all nonsense.¡± A gimmick, huh? Nonsense, huh? When Jiang Zhi and Zhou Xufang reached the highest point¡ª ¡°Jiang Zhi, are you scared?¡± It was quite high from the ground, and Zhou Xufang was a bit nervous, her nerves taut: ¡°If you¡¯re scared, just hold on to me tight.¡± Fortunately, she had good reflexes and was quick, but Jiang Zhi was still with her, so she couldn¡¯t be careless. ¡°If the Ferris wheel breaks, I¡¯ll just hold you¡ª¡± Click. The gondola of the Ferris wheel moved into that additional one degree of the three hundred sixty-one. ¡°Zhou Xufang.¡± A nervous Zhou Xufang tilted her head: ¡°Hmm?¡± Jiang Zhi took off his mask, and his cold lips pressed against hers. Because the Ferris wheel was moving, he misjudged the force, bumping her painfully. Zhou Xufang pushed him, her face flushed: ¡°Others will see.¡± Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t care about others, pulling her back into his arms: ¡°Don¡¯t move, I¡¯m not done kissing yet.¡± Gently sucking at the spot where his teeth had accidentally bumped against hers. This thing called ¡®A Degree of Happiness,¡¯ timed its circles perfectly, stopping exactly at 13 minutes and 14 seconds. What a gimmick, impressively executed. After they came down, Zhou Xufang¡¯s face was still flushed, her eyes misty as she looked at Jiang Zhi: ¡°Why did you kiss me just now? Did you start believing in it?¡± Jiang Zhi licked his lips, still feeling the aftertaste, he obviously wouldn¡¯t admit to being childish: ¡°I just wanted to kiss you.¡± Zhou Xufang snorted. Ah Wan was right, Jiang Zhi¡¯s mouth, always deceiving. The deceitful one started coaxing again: ¡°Xufang, shall we go for another ride?¡± The night air was chilly. Zhou Xufang, worried he might catch a cold and start coughing, put his mask back on and moved closer to shield him from the wind: ¡°You want to go again?¡± ¡°Uh-huh.¡± He hadn¡¯t timed it right just now, had kissed her a bit late. ¡°One more time, okay?¡± He drew out the last word coquettishly, and then deliberately coughed twice, appearing somewhat fragile. Zhou Xufang hurriedly hugged him, warming him: ¡°Okay.¡± Jiang Zhi got his way, and even more so, kissed her incredibly, incredibly long. As they came down, Zhou Xufang¡¯s lips were as red as if she wore lipstick, a bit swollen; she was mad at Jiang Zhi and ignored him. After ignoring him for over a minute, Jiang Zhi called out ¡®Fang Bao¡¯ twice, and she forgave him, snuggling into his embrace to shield him from the cold. Leaving the amusement park, it was already after seven, the festive lights just turning on, the evening of Christmas bustling everywhere. Jiang Zhi, holding her hand, walked slowly: ¡°Tired?¡± She shook her head: ¡°Not tired.¡± ¡°You should say you¡¯re tired.¡± Oh, she then said, ¡°Tired.¡± Jiang Zhi then crouched down: ¡°Hop on.¡± Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t get on, afraid to hurt his delicate body. Seeing her hesitate, Jiang Zhi feigned sternness: ¡°Come on, get on, I¡¯m going to carry you!¡± Alright. She obediently got on and stayed still, her hands neatly placed on Jiang Zhi¡¯s shoulders: ¡°Am I heavy?¡± ¡°Very light.¡± Genuinely light. Where those three bowls of porridge, a plate of crystal buns, and a plate of dumplings she had for breakfast went, no one knew. She was nearly 170 cm tall, but he felt almost no weight. No, he had to nourish her. ¡°If you¡¯re tired, tell me, I can carry you too.¡± Jiang Zhi laughed: ¡°Look around on the street, see if any girl is carrying a boy.¡± Zhou Xufang disagreed: ¡°You¡¯re different.¡± Also, ¡°I¡¯m different too. I¡¯m a fairy with her seals broken, possessing limitless mana.¡± Jiang Zhi laughed out loud, his eyes like neon lights. He carried her on his back, walking slowly, crushing shadows beneath them, ¡°How have I changed?¡± Zhou Xufang said, ¡°You¡¯re the most delicate.¡± ¡®Delicate¡¯ was not a word Jiang Zhi liked; which big man would like that? He was unhappy and became slightly moody, ¡°Do you dislike me?¡± ¡°No.¡± Two soft and tender hands reached out and hugged Jiang Zhi¡¯s neck; she leaned to his ear and whispered, ¡°I like you the most.¡± Girls who aren¡¯t good at sweet nothings, suddenly saying a phrase of love, could be overwhelmingly sweet. ¡°Say it again.¡± Jiang Zhi laughed heartily, his small canine teeth showing, like a cat rolling around under the warm sun, showing its belly, asking for more touches. She, however, didn¡¯t say it again, shyly wriggling instead. ¡°Stop wriggling.¡± His voice was husky, restrained, carrying a slightly unbearable, pleading tone. Zhou Xufang stopped moving. ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± ¡°Hm?¡± ¡°I had a lot of fun today.¡± She buried her face in his neck, obediently saying, ¡°Thank you.¡± She knew that Jiang Zhi wanted to compensate her for everything the world had treated her harshly with. Jiang Zhi rubbed his cheek against the girl¡¯s cold nose, ¡°Do you like amusement parks?¡± She said, ¡°I do.¡± ¡°How about I build you one?¡± He wanted to give her everything she liked. Zhou Xufang thought for a moment, then shook her head, ¡°Let¡¯s not.¡± Her soft hair burrowed into his neck, making him itch. She had eaten a lot of ice cream, and he could smell a faint scent of strawberry, ¡°Why not?¡± Zhou Xufang looked at the pink ring on Jiang Zhi¡¯s head and smiled, no longer stiff-faced, smiling like a contented child, ¡°Being too greedy isn¡¯t good. I already have you.¡± Jiang Zhi was touched by her words, his heart melting into a mush. At nine in the evening, Zhou Xufang posted on her Moments ¡ª her first post in nearly a year, without any text, just a photo of her and Jiang Zhi in the amusement park standing in front of a Christmas tree, each wearing a headband, both smiling, a child who accidentally entered the frame also smiling. Zhou Xufang had few friends, apart from the enigmatic Shuangjiang, previously only Fang Lixiang and Wen Baiyang, and later on Jiang Zhi¡¯s friends were added. My girlfriend Fang Baozilla: [Heart][Heart][Heart] Wen Baiyang: Merry Christmas. Ullala Lixiang: I must be seeing things, this beautiful flower is actually displaying a bit of proud and foolish charm, is that really Director Jiang? Zhou Xufang replied to Ullala Lixiang: It¡¯s Jiang Zhi. The beauty beside me has a screw loose: The boss looks so silly with that headband. The beauty beside me has a screw loose, is Ah Wan¡¯s alias, he responded, and within five seconds, deleted it, and replied again. The beauty beside me has a screw loose: Truly a match made in heaven! Through the screen, one could feel Ah Wan¡¯s will to live. Qiao Nanchu: Can¡¯t bear to look. A Little Ice and Snow: Merry Christmas [Flowers][Flowers] Zhou Xufang replied to A Little Ice and Snow: Thank you [Flowers][Flowers] The handsomest man in the capital: Brother Zhi, this vibe of suffering comes right at you. My girlfriend Fang Baozilla replied to The handsomest man in the capital: Get lost. Zhou Xufang replied to My girlfriend Fang Baozilla: Don¡¯t curse. Five seconds later, Jiang Zhi deleted that reply. Then, in the [Top Four Handsomes of the Imperial City] group chat, a silly group name changed by Xue Baoyi, Jiang Zhi tagged Xue Baoyi: Delete it. The handsomest man in the capital: I won¡¯t! My girlfriend Fang Baozilla: Wait till I kill you. The handsomest man in the capital: You only dare to be so bold with me, Zhou Xufang¡¯s little submissive! My girlfriend Fang Baozilla: That incident where you took your uncle¡¯s four lovers for a swim, your dad still doesn¡¯t know, right? It happened like this. Xue Baoyi¡¯s second uncle was quite the playboy, nearly fifty and his son could get married, yet he hadn¡¯t settled down, supported several lovers, and even brought them into the family, nearly driving Xue Baoyi¡¯s second aunt to death since she was soft-hearted and wouldn¡¯t make a fuss, she just ran to Xue Baoyi¡¯s mom and cried all day and night, endlessly. Fed up, Xue Baoyi¡¯s mom, ahem, ordered her son to get rid of these lovers by any means necessary. Bored by his mother¡¯s nagging, Xue Baoyi took the lovers to swim, deliberately hired a private detective to snap spicy photos, mosaic his face, and then sent them to his second uncle. However, fate has its own plans, and he got caught by paparazzi. Xue Baoyi¡¯s dad didn¡¯t follow gossip news and was yet to know about it; if he did, he would definitely beat the crap out of his son. Xue Baoyi was very afraid of his dad¡¯s belt and admitted defeat. The handsomest man in the capital: Ancestor! The handsomest man in the capital: Ancestor, I was wrong. My girlfriend Fang Baozilla: ¨s^¨t Qiao Nanchu: My father received a wedding invitation; is your grandmother hosting her birthday party next week? My girlfriend Fang Baozilla: Yes. Qiao Nanchu: Isn¡¯t her birthday after the New Year? Jiang Zhi sent a voice message: The elder of the Luo family was invited; I guess, grandma wants to settle some accounts. The handsomest man in the capital: Luo Changde is still in the ICU, is it you, Brother Zhi? My girlfriend Fang Baozilla: There are cops here, watch your words. The handsomest man in the capital moved Qiao Nanchu out of the group chat. The handsomest man in the capital: Can we talk now? My girlfriend Fang Baozilla has left the group chat. The handsomest man in the capital: ¡­ Chapter 130 - 130: 130: Lord Fang Bao is about to discipline the bad guys Chapter 130: 130: Lord Fang Bao is about to discipline the bad guys On December 28th, the Jiang Family held a banquet at their old mansion to celebrate Old Lady Jiang¡¯s birthday. Old Lady Jiang personally sent out invitations, calling upon the distinguished families and wealthy merchants of the Imperial City to join in the celebration. The invitations sent out by Old Lady Jiang required respect from both the elite of the business world and the military and political spheres. By 7 p.m., luxury cars were parked a hundred meters away from the Jiang Mansion. The guests had almost all arrived, and the yard was set with traditional Chinese dining tables, with red lacquered wood and old round tables. There were eight tables on the inside and eight on the outside, exuding the flavor of an old ancestral mansion. Old Lady Jiang sat at the first table on the left, taking the central seat. The Lu Family hadn¡¯t arrived, while elders from the Xue and Qiao Families sat in the seats of honor. Old Lady Jiang wore a maroon cheongsam and draped a fur over her shoulders today. Her graying hair was meticulously arranged, radiating authority and neatness. She turned her head and asked softly, ¡°Where¡¯s Brother Zhi?¡± ... Jiang Fuxi stepped forward from behind her and replied, ¡°He¡¯s not feeling very well and said he would come later.¡± Old Lady Jiang became concerned and instructed, ¡°Go and wait outside his room. Be careful and let me know immediately if there¡¯s anything wrong with him.¡± Jiang Fuxi acknowledged with a ¡®yes¡¯ and went back into the house. During the banquet, someone said with a chuckle, ¡°Isn¡¯t this Wei Ning¡¯s daughter? She¡¯s grown up beautifully. If only Wei Ning were still with us¡ª¡± But before the speaker could finish, they were pulled back by the person beside them. Old Lady Jiang¡¯s face already showed displeasure. The guest who had spoken realized their mistake and hastily offered wine as an apology. Everyone in the circle knew there were two topics not to be mentioned at the Jiang¡¯s: Old Lady¡¯s fourth daughter, Wei Ning, and the Jiang Family¡¯s young master, Jiang Zhi. One died mysteriously, and the other suffered from an unusual illness; they were the two great secrets of the Jiang Family. Now, let¡¯s see what the ¡°not feeling very well¡± young Master of the Jiang Family was up to. Inside the room, the light was dim, and Jiang Zhi leaned against the headboard, where an ominous ¡®exorcism painting¡¯ hung. He was holding a smartphone, focusing intently on¡­ chatting on WeChat. Of course, he was chatting with his girlfriend. The first voice message: ¡°Fang Bao~¡± The tone was melodious, enough to send shivers down the spine. Yet, within ten seconds, there was no reply. Jiang Zhi sent out a second voice message: ¡°Fang Bao.¡± This time, the allure was gone, but still, there was no reply. The third voice message: ¡°Xu Fang.¡± Not Fang Bao, but Xu Fang. Zhou Xufang still did not reply. The fourth voice message: ¡°Xu Fang!¡± Note the slight irritation now, but it¡¯s not anger¡ªmore like petulant insistence. After waiting for another ten seconds with no reply, Jiang Zhi became impatient. He always replied to her instantly; couldn¡¯t she do the same? Didn¡¯t she care about him anymore, love him anymore, or concern herself with him anymore? The fifth voice message: ¡°Zhou Xufang!¡± Calling out his girlfriend by her full name was a red alert. Just as Jiang Zhi was about to lose his patience and was almost ready to storm over to Zhou Xufang¡¯s house to catch her, she finally replied with a single word: ¡°Hmm.¡± Just one word. Jiang Zhi felt neglected. He grabbed a handful of his hair, ruining the hairstyle his stylist had carefully crafted. He demanded through his phone, ¡°Why did it take so long for you to reply to me?¡± His dissatisfaction was almost tangible through the screen. Zhou Xufang sent a voice message at last, not just one word this time: ¡°I can¡¯t look at my phone right now.¡± Fine, his anger subsided a bit, and his tone softened: ¡°What are you doing?¡± Zhou Xufang replied promptly: ¡°I¡¯m climbing through a window.¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡°What window?¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡°Whose window?¡± Zhou Xufang: ¡°Yours.¡± There was the sound of wind in that voice message. Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t understand it at first and listened again. Suddenly, someone shouted from outside the window: ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± He looked up, stunned. A dark figure dangled in front of the window, one hand holding a phone, the other waving: ¡°Jiang Zhi, I¡¯m here.¡± This little female ghost. Jiang Zhi was both surprised and more startled. He threw off the covers, got out of bed without even putting on shoes, and ran over to scold her: ¡°You¡¯re risking your life! Hold on tight, don¡¯t fall.¡± She remained upside-down, steady as a log. Something dark was wrapped around her head, and her eyes peeking out were somewhat comical. ¡°I won¡¯t fall. My legs are hooked onto the security bars above.¡± She clung to the window, pressing her face forward, her nose stuck in the gaps of the security bars¡ªnow looking even more comical, ¡°You go and put on shoes first.¡± Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t leave. Standing on the warm jade floor in just socks, he opened the inside window and watched the girl, hanging outside the security bars, with amusement: ¡°Did you come to see me because you missed me?¡± His smile resembled that of a concubine in ancient times, who had been favored and undoubtedly wanted to strut around the palace victoriously. Zhou Xufang: ¡°No.¡± One second a favored concubine, the next frozen out; Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± Had there been no security bars, he¡¯d have dragged her into the room and pinned her to the bed until she admitted it. ¡°Go put on your shoes.¡± Jiang Zhi went back to the bedside, put on his shoes, and came back: ¡°If you don¡¯t miss me, then why come at all?¡± There was annoyance, mixed with reproach. Zhou Xufang said, ¡°I came to protect you.¡± That was all it took. Jiang Zhi¡¯s annoyance vanished entirely, his lips curling into a smile. See how easily he¡¯s appeased. But Zhou Xufang wasn¡¯t actually trying to appease him; she was serious: ¡°Today, your family is having a birthday banquet, and many people are here. I was afraid someone would harm you, so I came.¡± Although she wouldn¡¯t say it out loud, she was constantly thinking about him. Jiang Zhi leaned on the window sill with his head poking out. Though separated by a security window, it gave him the illusion of visiting a prison cell: ¡°Reach your hand in.¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± Zhou Xufang¡¯s head pushed forward a bit, bending the security window slightly. He leaned a bit more forward, his back arched: ¡°Give me a kiss.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Zhou Xufang reached her hand through. Jiang Zhi took off her glove, pecked her hand briefly, then immediately put the glove back on her: ¡°Hold onto the security window tightly. I¡¯m scared you¡¯ll fall.¡± His heart was pounding with fear. Just as Zhou Xufang got a grip on the window, a voice was heard: ¡°Someone¡¯s coming.¡± ¡°Hide well.¡± She hooked her feet on the top of the security window and sprang up, her head disappearing from above the window. Jiang Zhi really didn¡¯t know how many tricks this girl had up her sleeve; he was beyond nervous: ¡°Xu Fang, did you fall? Are you still up there?¡± Above him, a voice tinged with guilt replied: ¡°I¡¯m here.¡± Relieved, Jiang Zhi coughed as he walked toward the bed and lay down, mussing up his hair a bit more and drooping his eyelids to feign a frail and sickly manner. He occasionally let out light pants and coughs, lying there as if languishing in a half-sleep. After a while, a knock on the door indeed followed. Jiang Zhi coughed a couple of times, his breathing slightly rapid and laborious, and asked, ¡°Who is it?¡± ¡°It¡¯s me.¡± The voice was soft and gentle; even unseen it conveyed a sense of poise and graciousness. Jiang Zhi¡¯s attitude was neither cold nor warm: ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± Jiang Fuxi, outside the door, inquired: ¡°Are you feeling any better? Do you need me to call Shiyu over?¡± Qin Shiyu was the physician for the Jiang Family, and as long as Jiang Zhi stayed in the old house, Qin Shiyu would also stay overnight to be available for consultation at any time. He refused, his tone indifferent: ¡°Not necessary.¡± Jiang Fuxi¡¯s temper was always gentle: ¡°Then rest well.¡± ¡°Cough, cough, cough, cough, cough¡­¡± Inside the room, coughs came in bursts, and when they subsided, Jiang Zhi called out: ¡°Jiang Fuxi.¡± Jiang Fuxi responded from outside the door. ¡°Don¡¯t linger at my door.¡± His tone was clearly impatient. Jiang Fuxi paused for a moment, her hand clenched at her side briefly before relaxing. After a short while, she replied: ¡°I¡¯ll be downstairs. Call for me if you need anything.¡± Then it was quiet. Jiang Zhi waited a little before getting out of bed and walking to the window. He whispered for ¡®Xu Fang¡¯: ¡°Are they gone?¡± A head suddenly popped up from above: ¡°They¡¯re gone.¡± While it¡¯s said that love blinds one to flaws, objectively speaking, Zhou Xufang hanging upside down was quite a scary sight, and Jiang Zhi felt that it could serve as inspiration for a horror film in the future. ¡°Do you want to come in?¡± ¡°I won¡¯t come in.¡± Zhou Xufang¡¯s eyes, which were exposed outside, were filled with worry, ¡°Are you really feeling unwell? You were coughing so severely just now.¡± Jiang Zhi replied: ¡°I was just bluffing her. It¡¯s not that serious.¡± But how serious was it really? Zhou Xufang felt increasingly bemused about Jiang Zhi¡¯s illness. She also had a question: ¡°Is Jiang Fuxi really your biological cousin?¡± She emphasized the words ¡®biological.¡¯ Jiang Zhi confirmed: ¡°What about it?¡± If this were a novel or a K-drama, she surely would have been adopted. Zhou Xufang shook her head, stating it was nothing, though she didn¡¯t know how to express her thoughts¡ªshe just felt there was something strange, not knowing where the strangeness lay, only that it was strange. Suddenly, her ears twitched: ¡°Someone¡¯s coming again.¡± She swiftly climbed back atop the security window. Jiang Zhi lay back down and started coughing again. It wasn¡¯t Jiang Fuxi this time, but another girl had come. The girl knocked on the door quite loudly, her tone neither subdued nor delicate like Jiang Fuxi¡¯s. She was exuberant and enthusiastic: ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± It was Ming Lao, Ming Saiying. ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t want to respond. Ming Saiying didn¡¯t knock again. Instead, she leaned against the door, refusing to leave: ¡°I know you¡¯re in there. I heard your coughing.¡± Jiang Zhi remained silent, but she wasn¡¯t lonely, chatting away to herself: ¡°You don¡¯t need to get up. Just lie there.¡± Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t have any intention of getting up anyway. Ming Saiying wore a red tube dress. In the dead of winter, even though the Jiang Family had coal fires lit throughout, she shivered in the cold. Yet, determined to see Jiang Zhi, she had unflinchingly removed her thick cotton jacket. Rubbing her nearly frozen hands, she chuckled: ¡°I heard from my brother that you¡¯ve been ¡®straightened out.¡¯ I have no particular agenda, just here to line up. If you break up with your girlfriend, I can be the replacement backup¡ª¡± Jiang Zhi couldn¡¯t bear to listen any longer and dialed a number on his phone. ¡°Lin Wanwan.¡± After Ah Wan let out a strange sound, she asked: ¡°What¡¯s up, boss?¡± Jiang Zhi was curt: ¡°Drag away the person outside my door.¡± Ah Wan let out another strange sound, ¡°But I¡¯m squatting in the toilet.¡± It was constipation, you know, that kind of pain. Jiang Zhi said, ¡°Come here immediately.¡± Ah Wan, ¡°¡­¡± That demon Jiang Demon! When Ah Wan got there, Ming Lao was leering at Jiang Demon¡¯s door, saying in a disgustingly fake, nauseating, and affected voice, ¡°sweetly,¡± ¡°I¡¯ll wait for you.¡± Ah Wan touched her not-so-clear stomach, ¡°Miss Ming.¡± Ming Saiying put on a perfunctory fake smile, ¡°Oh, it¡¯s you, big guy.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Ah Wan hated when people called him ¡®big guy¡¯ or ¡®strong man.¡¯ Was it his fault for being tall and strong? Annoyed, he said, ¡°I have a name.¡± As Ming Saiying moved away from Jiang Zhi¡¯s door, guessing that Jiang Zhi couldn¡¯t hear her anymore, she reverted to her true nature, letting out a hearty laugh, ¡°With that girly name of yours, I just can¡¯t bring myself to call it.¡± The second thing Ah Wan hated most was when people said his name was girly. He didn¡¯t want to exchange another word with this manly woman, his face, the picture of ¡®honest simplicity,¡¯ was full of cold indifference, ¡°Please leave.¡± Ming Saiying showed no intention of leaving, hugging her numb arms, so cold she wanted to spew curses, ¡°I haven¡¯t finished talking with your boss yet.¡± Ah Wan said without changing his expression, ¡°Please leave.¡± Everyone invited to the Jiang Family banquet today was someone significant, and Ming Saiying had quite a reputation outside, her temper flaring, ¡°Rush for what, hurry, hurry, hurry, if you rush me one more time I¡¯ll¡ª¡± Ah Wan didn¡¯t listen and directly grabbed her hand, dragging her out. She had dressed elegantly for the sake of appearance, and with both her arms bare, her pale arms were instantly marked by the grip of a towering one-meter-ninety man; her anger fully ignited, ¡°Hey, where are you touching!¡± Ah Wan ignored her and kept dragging her by the arm. Ming Saiying fumed, and after a heavy push, which didn¡¯t budge the solid man resembling an ox, she flailed about in a furious frenzy. With a smack, her left palm hit Ah Wan¡¯s face. A solid slap, nails even scraping flesh. Five finger marks instantly appeared on Ah Wan¡¯s face. After slapping him, Ming Saiying herself was stunned, her eyes flitting left and right before she defensively exclaimed, ¡°It¡¯s not my fault; you were the one pulling me.¡± Ah Wan, already troubled by constipation, felt even more so in his face. A real man should endure! Endure! Endure! He moved his cheek which had been stung by the slap, silent, continuing to drag her. Ming Saiying broke free, he grabbed her again, she pushed away once more. Slap¡ª Another slap landed on his arm. Ah Wan, ¡°¡­¡± He had his temper too! Undoing a button on his suit, he pushed her forcefully, pinning her against the wall. There was a thud. The wall pinning was quite intense. Ming Saiying was stunned, her pupils suddenly filled with a stern face, blinked three times, her face turning red, ¡°Are you fucking touching me?¡± sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Her voice trembled, both embarrassed and annoyed! Ah Wan was angry too, his arm firmly pressing her down, ¡°I¡¯m not.¡± Ming Saiying glanced down, ¡°Then where is your hand?¡± Silence for three seconds. Ah Wan snapped out of it like from a nightmare, recoiling abruptly. Unfortunately, his shoe caught the hem of the girl¡¯s dress, and as he jumped, the dress followed suit¡ªdown. ¡°Ah ah ah ah ah ah ah¡ª¡± Shrill screams followed one after another. Zhou Xufang, rubbing his ears stunned by the noise, remarked, ¡°Ah Wan seems to have caused trouble.¡± Jiang Zhi heard the screams too but didn¡¯t care, ¡°He¡¯s too dumb.¡± He didn¡¯t have time to care about others; he needed to teach his own, ¡°You play with him less in the future.¡± Zhou Xufang went online, watched TV shows, and read novels, all led by Lin Wanwan. Recently, Lin Wanwan had even been secretly sending her novel perks¡­ The content becoming more and more explicit. Zhou Xufang, clinging to the security window, blamed Jiang Zhi, ¡°It¡¯s your fault too.¡± ¡°How is it my fault?¡± She frowned at her brow, murmuring her complaint, ¡°Why do you have so many admirers? It¡¯s so annoying.¡± Sourly jealous, her mood not so bright, she didn¡¯t want to eavesdrop, but they were making too much noise and her hearing too sharp; all the sounds kept drilling into her ears. Ming Saiying bellowed, ¡°You¡¯re still looking! Turn around now!¡± Ah Wan responded woodenly, ¡°¡­ Oh.¡± Ming Saiying continued to roar, ¡°Take off your clothes for me!¡± Ah Wan kept being wooden, ¡°¡­ Oh.¡± The young lady yelled with masculine force, ¡°Don¡¯t look back!¡± The big man¡¯s rebuttal was feeble, ¡°¡­ I didn¡¯t look back.¡± Then came the rustling sound of clothing. After getting dressed, Ming Saiying grabbed her small purse and lunged at the big guy, ¡°If I don¡¯t beat you to death today, you pervert, I won¡¯t be called Ming Saiying.¡± A nearly two hundred kilogram hulk of a man held his head, ¡°¡­¡± This was completely the plotline of an overbearing female boss and her fragile little assistant. While Zhou Xufang was enjoying the scene, about ten meters away, a voice suddenly interrupted. ¡°Younger Luo.¡± Zhou Xufang climbed higher and stood on the anti-theft window, catching a glimpse of a spark and white smoke. Luo Qinghe held a cigarette in her hand, mumbling ¡®mm-hmm¡¯ through puffs of smoke. On the phone, the secretary Shen Yue said, ¡°Han Feng wants to see you.¡± She flicked ash off her cigarette. At night, her voice echoed, chilly and remote, ¡°No need to meet him, tell him to go in peace.¡± A backyard lantern was lit; she stood backlit, her mobile phone screen¡¯s light cast on her profile making her red lips seem fiery, ¡°For those who should leave, lingering too long isn¡¯t good for those left behind.¡± Tap. There was a noise behind her. Luo Qinghe, using the light, looked back, ¡°Who¡¯s there?¡± Behind a column in the corridor, someone emerged slowly, ¡°Miss Luo.¡± It was one of the Jiang Family¡¯s servants, carrying a tray to the front yard to serve wine. Passing by, she heard someone on the phone, unsure whether to advance or retreat, she hid for the time being. Unfortunately, she knocked the tray against the column and disturbed the guest. Luo Qinghe hung up the phone, stood under the light without moving, a cigarette still in hand, her eyes thinly veiled in darkness, unclear in color, ¡°Bring me a cup of wine.¡± It was a young girl, not very old, presumably temporarily hired by the Jiang Family for the celebration; likely untrained and inexperienced, she was timid and shaky. The girl poured a glass of red wine, her hands trembling as she offered it. Luo Qinghe, observing the girl who dared not lift her head, accepted the drink with an indistinct smile. The girl let out a sigh of relief and turned to leave. Luo Qinghe squatted down, pinched out her cigarette, her voice slow and somewhat sharp, ¡°Did I say you could go?¡± The girl immediately stopped, her back arched, and she turned around nervously, ¡°Do you have any further instructions, Miss Luo?¡± Luo Qinghe smiled, stepping forward, and raised the cup of wine, pouring it over the girl¡¯s head. The girl didn¡¯t dare move, standing there shivering. Luo Qinghe continued to smile, her slender eyes slightly upturned, a chilling coldness in her gaze, ¡°To live, one must understand the rules. Do you understand?¡± ¡°Un-understand,¡± the girl stammered, her tray wobbling, the glasses clinking together with a piercing sound. Luo Qinghe placed the cup back on the tray; she leaned in close to the girl¡¯s ear, her crimson lips barely moving, ¡°What did you just hear?¡± The girl¡¯s face was drenched in wine; her hair disheveled and sticking to her forehead. She shook her head desperately, claiming to have heard nothing. Luo Qinghe smiled, patting her shoulder, ¡°Go on with your work then.¡± The girl stumbled away. On the anti-theft window ten meters away, Zhou Xufang had seen everything clearly and was livid, unable to help but curse softly, ¡°Wicked woman.¡± Jiang Zhi, from his angle, could not see below, ¡°Who?¡± ¡°Luo Qinghe. She¡¯s so annoying.¡± She looked away, ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± Zhou Xufang wasn¡¯t certain, so she asked him, ¡°Would you be upset if I messed up your grandmother¡¯s birthday banquet?¡± His little ghost wanted to teach someone a lesson. Jiang Zhi laughed, ¡°Go ahead.¡± In the Jiang Mansion¡¯s front yard, guests packed the place, bustling with excitement. The Jiang Family had set up sixteen tables; the inner eight were mostly elders, while the outer eight were mainly filled with sons and daughters of Imperial City¡¯s influential families. Among them was Luo Yinghe. Mr. Luo didn¡¯t care much for her, so she was seated alone. As soon as she sat down, the young gentlemen at the table gave each other looks and glanced at her sideways. Luo Yinghe faced them with a cold, cosmetically altered face, ¡°What are you looking at?¡± The young gentlemen smiled silently, giving the Luo Family some face, not stooping to her level, except for Ming Lao from the Ming Family, who was not one to hold back, and retorted, ¡°What, is your temper tantrum making it a crime to look?¡± Luo Yinghe had recently been ridiculed online for her temper tantrums, and this had struck a nerve, making her scream out, ¡°Ming Yanghua!¡± Ming Yanghua snorted at her, arrogantly, ¡°I¡¯m not deaf; don¡¯t shout so loud.¡± When spoiled rich kids clash with a princess, sparks flew. Her phone rang. Ming Yanghua gave Luo Yinghe a provocative look before answering, ¡°What¡¯s up now?¡± It was his eldest sister, commanding, ¡°Come here.¡± ¡°I¡¯m busy.¡± Though he said this, his body had been well-trained by his sister to be honest; reluctantly, he got up from his chair and walked towards the main Jiang house. On the other end, Ming Saiying was losing her temper, ¡°Hurry up and come over, I¡¯ve been harassed.¡± Ming Yanghua laughed, ¡°Really?!¡± A light, floating voice behind him said, ¡°Hey.¡± Ming Yanghua paid no attention to what was behind him and kept walking, hands in his pockets, still gleefully teasing his sister: ¡°Which Liang Mountain hero dared to harass you?¡± The light, floating voice again said, ¡°Hey.¡± This time, Ming Yanghua heard it, turned around, and saw that on the opposite window, a dark shadow was moving. The phone in his hand dropped with a clatter. Ming Yanghua¡¯s eyelids twitched, his legs trembling, ¡°You-you-you¡ª¡ª¡± How come this female ghost kept haunting him! ¡°You-you-you-you, what do you want this time?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not a female ghost,¡± The dark figure fluttered, appearing right in front of him, ¡°I am a Hell Messenger, Lord Black Impermanence.¡± Chapter 131 - 131: 131: Lord Black Impermanence punishes Luo Qinghe Chapter 131: 131: Lord Black Impermanence punishes Luo Qinghe ¡°I am a Hell Messenger, Lord Black Impermanence.¡± Ming Yanghua rolled his eyes, about to faint. Lord Black Impermanence coldly ordered, ¡°Don¡¯t you dare faint.¡± Ming Yanghua, who was on the verge of fainting from his overwhelming fear of ghosts, yet clinging to his will not to faint, remained silent. Lord Black Impermanence moved with the speed of the wind, drifting from his left side to his right, a ghostly voice whispering in his ear, ¡°If you faint, I¡¯ll claim your life.¡± Oh Mommy! ... He pinched his thigh hard, using all his strength, pain keeping him alert, pain filling his eyes with tears, pain making him forget that he was once a pampered rich kid, suddenly becoming¡ª a coward, ¡°I¡¯ll burn you all the money you want, just don¡¯t keep haunting me¡­¡± He was about to cry! He had been afraid of ghosts since he was a child, genuinely scared! Lord Black Impermanence was relentless, like a restless ghost, darting up and down in front of him, ¡°I¡¯m not haunting you. No one else can see me, only you can.¡± Damn, I¡¯m really going to cry¡­ Finally, Lord Black Impermanence landed, a dark mass advancing toward him, ¡°Do you know why?¡± He shook in terror, legs trembling, backing away, curse it, he was truly terrified of ghosts! Lord Black Impermanence said with all seriousness, ¡°It¡¯s because you have a unique bone structure, you are a different kind of person, only someone like you can see a Hell Messenger.¡± ¡­ The truth made him shed tears. Lord Black Impermanence¡¯s ¡®raspy¡¯ voice rose again, ¡°So,¡± Is there more to it? Ming Yanghua¡¯s eyes rolled again as he struggled on the verge of fainting, pinching his thigh until it was almost bruised to prevent himself from passing out. Lord Black Impermanence slowly revealed the intention, ¡°You have been chosen by the Hell Messenger.¡± He said he wasn¡¯t haunting him? He had been chosen! Ming Yanghua shook his head, his face a mixture of ruffian charm and a hint of fierceness, yet marked with the look of fear for ghosts, trembling in the wind like a small sapling about to fall without support, ¡°Lord Black Impermanence, I don¡¯t want to die yet¡­¡± He was only 24, so suave and handsome, not yet married, nor had he inherited the billion-dollar family fortune¡­ ¡°You don¡¯t have to die.¡± Ming Yanghua paused for a moment. Lord Black Impermanence suddenly turned authoritative, like a big boss in a TV drama, flinging his sleeve and placing a hand behind his back, ¡°You are my mortal messenger chosen by Lord Black Impermanence, no one dares let you die.¡± Huh? Ming Yanghua was stunned. Lord Black Impermanence looked at him, calling out, ¡°Mortal Messenger.¡± He was bewildered. Lord Black Impermanence called out again, ¡°Mortal Messenger.¡± He remained bewildered. Lord Black Impermanence raised his voice, becoming serious, ¡°I¡¯m calling you.¡± She got too into it and momentarily forgot to make her voice harsher, ¡°Mortal Messenger.¡± The voice was actually quite pleasant. Ming Yanghua crossed his arms, a gesture of resistance, his voice shivering, ¡°Here¡­¡± Lord Black Impermanence leaped up to the balcony on the second floor, stepped up with one foot on the railing, and stretched out her hand, making a summoning gesture, ¡°Come here, there¡¯s something I need you to do as a mortal messenger for Lord Black Impermanence now.¡± This female ghost¡­ damn it, Lord Black Impermanence really could fly. The mortal messenger, Ming Yanghua, stepped forward with hesitation every three steps, grabbed a pinch of his womanizer-quiff haircut, and despite his reluctance to show weakness, he still succumbed to the formidable power of Lord Ghost, ¡°Please command, my lord.¡± Lord Black Impermanence was satisfied, her eyes forming crescents, ¡°Very good.¡± Zhou Xufang¡¯s mimicking skills were exceptional, and she recently watched a BL novel called ¡°Why Lord Ghost behaves this way,¡± which narrated the story of a male student who failed his college entrance exams and attempted to jump off a building in despair. He didn¡¯t die but accidentally killed a flourishing young man, who became an Innocent Ghost and gradually defeated countless other innocent ghosts to become a powerful Lord Ghost in Hell. Six years later, the Lord Ghost started his revenge plan, constantly haunting the male student who cut his life short¡­ and through entanglement, they developed a deep romance. The act Zhou Xufang just performed was the scene of the initial encounter between the Lord Ghost and the male student, where she played the assertive younger ghostly suitor¡ªLord Ghost. Not bad at all, she had a natural talent for playing a female ghost. At 7:30, as all the guests were seated and the banquet was about to start, Jiang Zhi appeared, gasping every three steps and coughing every five, assisted downstairs from the upper floor. Ah Gui bent over and whispered to Old Madam Jiang, ¡°Old Madam, the young master has come down.¡± Old Madam Jiang immediately sent away her eldest grandson, Jiang Xiaolin, cleared the chair beside her, and laid down a fur blanket, ¡°Brother Zhi, come and sit by Grandma.¡± Jiang Xiaolin was used to it; without changing expression, he moved to another table to sit down, but his father, Jiang Weikai, looked a bit displeased. This Old Madam¡¯s favoritism was too much. Jiang Zhi dragged his feet, moving exceptionally slowly to the chair. Once seated, he leaned back, gasping for air, then began coughing, ¡°Cough cough cough cough cough¡­¡± His pale face, from the coughing, blushed slightly, and coupled with his delicate features, he looked pitiable. Despite that, his eyes were proud and aristocratic, no trace of femininity. He was both appealing in his delicacy and proud in his arrogance. Putting aside how the Jiang Family¡¯s young master was too delicate to get along with, his title as the most beautiful person in Imperial City was well-deserved. His presence immediately captured the attention of all the men and women in the room. ¡°Cough cough cough cough cough¡­¡± Between the gasps and coughs of the beauty, his peach blossom eyes misted over, exuding a romantic allure. Damn it! What a Fairy! Xue Baoyi was at the next table over, feeling a pang in his heart just looking on. Even he, a sturdy, straightforward man, could barely stand it¡ªJiang Zhi¡¯s appearance was truly enchanting. ¡°How come the coughing is so severe?¡± After showing concern, Old Lady Jiang instructed Gui, who was nearby, to fetch a hand warmer, with an overflowing look of heartache written all over her face. Jiang Zhi was breathless and listless, with half-closed eyelids; his voice was faint. But as soon as he spoke, everyone else went silent to listen to his feeble words, ¡°Probably because I was pushed into the sea a while back, it left me with an ailment, and I cough badly whenever the weather turns damp.¡± Why would he suddenly bring up this matter¡­ ¡°Father-in-law,¡± Old Lady Jiang¡¯s face went cold as soon as she spoke, her gaze turned to Grandpa Luo, ¡°What is your take on this matter?¡± The yard suddenly became silent as the grave. This grandfather-grandson pair was playing good cop and bad cop, settling scores after autumn. Luo Huaiyu sat upright, his expression unchanged: ¡°The criminal has been apprehended, and the trial will commence shortly. We¡¯ll definitely see that justice is served for Brother Zhi.¡± The Jiang Family and the Luo Family were related by marriage. Old Lady Jiang bringing the issue to light was indeed unexpected¡ªit was no wonder that the Jiang Family¡¯s youngest son was said to be the apple of the Old Lady¡¯s eye and untouchable by others. ¡°If my memory serves me right,¡± Old Lady Jiang paused for a moment, her gaze turned towards Luo Qinghe, ¡°the culprit was from Qinghe¡¯s men, right?¡± Luo Qinghe set down her teacup and rose to speak, ¡°Yes Grandma Jiang, that was indeed my oversight in supervision.¡± Her tone was gentle, showing a gesture of goodwill, therefore giving the Jiang Family a way out¡ªbending her head, she wanted to gloss over the matter. But Old Lady Jiang did not intend to let it go. ¡°Of course it¡¯s your fault.¡± The Old Madam¡¯s face was stern as she took a hard line in front of everyone, accusatory and aggressive, ¡°Not only you but also your father, who not only gave false testimony but also deliberately burned his hand, repeatedly trying to confuse everyone. What exactly is it that your Luo Family doesn¡¯t want to come to light when it comes to catching the criminal?¡± The attitude was now clear; the Luo Family must give an explanation for this matter. Luo Qinghe¡¯s face showed difficulty as she stepped forward to answer. No matter how proud she used to be, she had to keep her henchmen in the Jiang house in check, speaking softly and gently: ¡°Grandma Jiang, you misunderstand, my father had no intention, and did not know who the culprit was.¡± Old Madam Jiang snorted, her expression unyielding and inflexible: ¡°I do not care whether you truly don¡¯t know or pretend not to know. Solving the case and finding the criminal is the police¡¯s responsibility. Go tell them your theory of innocence. I¡¯m just an old woman who won¡¯t pass judgment, but I do know that your Luo Family can¡¯t shake off your connection to this matter.¡± Gui came in from the house with a blanket. Old Madam Jiang took it and covered Jiang Zhi, continuing, ¡°Since you can¡¯t shake off your connection, then don¡¯t even try. My Brother Zhi has suffered greatly because of this. You all know how frail he is; he can¡¯t withstand such torment. I¡¯m not asking to make things difficult for you¡ªlet¡¯s have the Luo Family make an apology in public and send some medicinal herbs to help his body recover. That¡¯s not asking too much, right?¡± ¡°Cough cough cough¡­¡± Jiang Zhi let out intermittent light coughs. He seemed spiritless, almost asleep, as if none of this concerned him at all. Now that things had come to this point, the Luo Family had to make amends. Aside from Grandpa Luo Huaiyu, Tang Xiang and the two granddaughters were present, so Luo Qinghe took the lead. ¡°That¡¯s not asking too much at all.¡± She approached Jiang Zhi, eyes downcast as she made an apology in front of everyone, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Jiang Zhi, for not supervising my subordinates closely. I am here to apologize to you for my part in this.¡± The responsibility was merely not keeping a close watch on her subordinates. Naturally, she did not admit that the matter had anything to do with the Luo Family. Jiang Zhi, who had been drooping his eyelids, suddenly lifted them a bit. His tone nonchalant, ¡°Is this how you apologize to someone?¡± After finishing speaking, he covered his mouth and coughed lightly. Despite appearing fragile as a reed in the wind, this noncommittal remark held a firm grip on the situation, carrying the air of ¡®if you do not satisfy me today, don¡¯t think of leaving this place.¡¯ Luo Qinghe¡¯s forced smile faltered. It turns out this birthday celebration was set up to show her Luo Family their place. Without a thorough apology, this matter would probably not end. She would have to bend her back even if she didn¡¯t want to. She gave a deep bow, ninety degrees, and said to Jiang Zhi, ¡°I apologize.¡± Jiang Zhi showed the temperament of a spoiled rich kid, not deigning to give her a glance. This must be the first time the Miss of the Luo Family had to lower her head to someone. Luo Qinghe stood with her hands hanging by her sides, tightly clenched. Several seconds later, she stood up straight, her face quickly returning to normal. Everyone thought the matter would end there. But no, the account had not been settled yet. Old Madam Jiang, holding a cup of tea in one hand and the lid in the other, casually flicked away tea leaves on the surface: ¡°Why isn¡¯t Changde here today?¡± Luo Qinghe answered, ¡°My father had an accident, he¡¯s still in the hospital.¡± Being a clever person, she understood what Old Lady Jiang implied, ¡°Let me make the apology on behalf of my father to Brother Zhi.¡± Being a junior, the apology would not hugely damage the Luo Family¡¯s face. However, Old Madam Jiang chuckled, ¡°You cannot represent him, as the failure to teach is the father¡¯s fault.¡± The Old Madam took a sip from her cup, looking towards Luo Huaiyu, ¡°Father-in-law, what do you think?¡± With that one sentence, Luo Huaiyu¡¯s complexion changed. Today, aside from the Lu Family who were at odds with the Jiang Family and not present, all the distinguished families of the Imperial City were here. Having him, a man in his late seventies, apologize to the Jiang Family¡¯s youngest son was Old Lady Jiang¡¯s way of humiliating the Luo Family. The guests remained silent, watching the drama unfold. At that moment, a young girl¡¯s voice came from outside, ¡°I think Old Madam Jiang is right. The apology needs to be made.¡± It was a young girl¡¯s voice. Old Madam Jiang looked up, surprised, ¡°Second Miss Lu, how did you come here?¡± Everyone was also curious; why had Second Miss Lu also come? The Lu Family and the Jiang Family were sworn enemies, and for years, there had been no private interactions between the two families, aside from exchanging courtesy invitations¡ªwhich both families tacitly understood to accept but not attend. Lu Sheng smiled like a harmless, well-behaved girl next door: ¡°My grandma¡¯s getting old and isn¡¯t very mobile, so she sent me here in her place.¡± She walked in, pulled up a chair to sit down, placed her hands on the round table, and rested her chin on them, playfully blinking at Luo Huaiyu, ¡°Mr. Luo, please hurry with the apology, let¡¯s start the meal. I am hungry here.¡± Compared to the Jiang Family, Lu Sheng despised the Luo Family even more. This birthday feast was for everyone to witness the Luo Family¡¯s embarrassment, and she wouldn¡¯t miss it for the world. Lu Sheng urged cutely, ¡°Come on, Mr. Luo, we are all hungry.¡± For the first time, the prestigious Four Great Families¡¯ Jiang and Lu Families were on the same side. Luo Huaiyu¡¯s grip on his teacup tightened almost to the point of shattering it, his face turning ashen as he stood up, facing Jiang Zhi, and bent forward in a bow, ¡°It¡¯s this old man¡¯s fault for not teaching well. My apologies.¡± The moment he bowed, from tomorrow onward, the Luo Family would become the laughingstock of the entire Imperial City. Jiang Zhi covered his mouth with a cough, ¡®too busy¡¯ to comment, making an elder who was aged seventy or eighty bend his back for over ten seconds. At the table, a few clueless youngsters couldn¡¯t hold back and whispered jokes among themselves, mocking the three generations of the Luo Family, all turning uncomfortable shades of red. ¡°Cough, cough, cough, cough¡­¡± Jiang Zhi started coughing again. S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Old Lady Jiang quickly helped him catch his breath, ¡°Coughing so vigorously might mean that the seawater has damaged your lungs.¡± She then looked over at Luo Huaiyu, repeatedly calling him ¡°father-in-law,¡± ¡°Father-in-law, I¡¯ve heard that you have a Lingzhi mushroom. Since you also wish to compensate our Brother Zhi, why not give the Lingzhi to him to strengthen his body?¡± Luo Huaiyu: ¡°¡­¡± A surge of internal bleeding stuck in his throat, neither spitting out nor swallowing down, turning his face red with effort. Those few clueless youngsters laughed even more impudently. Everyone in Imperial City knew that the Luo Family possessed a precious Lingzhi mushroom¡ªa true treasure that money couldn¡¯t buy. It was acquired by the Luo Family from a tomb raider. The eldest son of the Lu Family was also in poor health, and the Lu Family matriarch had once approached the Luo Family asking for the medicinal mushroom, offering a high price of fifty million, but the Luo Family did not sell. Now Old Lady Jiang was trying to get it for free. Whether in terms of wealth or social influence, the Luo Family was a few ranks below the Jiang Family. In front of so many people, they had not only lost face but with this ¡®compensation,¡¯ even though it hurt, they had to give it. Luo Huaiyu, his face turning green, said, ¡°I¡¯ll have someone send it over tomorrow.¡± Only then did Old Lady Jiang appear satisfied, ¡°Order to start the banquet.¡± Just as the accounts settled there, even before the dishes were served, another commotion arose. ¡°Ah!¡± It was a sharp scream. The crowd turned to look and saw a column of water falling from the sky, drenching the still-unsuspecting Luo Qinghe. The water column was considerable, and Luo Qinghe was immediately pushed over by the force, knocking over a table and falling to the ground. Xue Baoyi happened to be sitting at that table. ¡°Damn! It splashed on me!¡± He jumped up to dodge and disgustingly shook the water off his feet. In the middle of winter, the water was bone-chillingly cold, and the catastrophe happened so suddenly and without warning that people had yet to react when Luo Qinghe was already drenched and unable to stand. Old Lady Jiang quickly told people to support Jiang Zhi and move back to avoid getting involved, and asked Jiang Chuan beside her, ¡°What¡¯s happening?¡± The butler looked up at the water column, which seemed to be spraying down from the rooftop, but it was too dark to see anything clearly. He shook his head, also uncertain of the situation. The water column continued to spray at Luo Qinghe, who couldn¡¯t even open her eyes and curled up on the ground, rolling around. Her meticulously styled hair and makeup were completely ruined, looking like a bedraggled lunatic. Finally, she couldn¡¯t bear it and started to cry out. ¡°Stop!¡± As soon as she opened her mouth, the water column took the opportunity to pour into it. ¡°Cough, cough, cough¡­ Stop it!¡± ¡°Grandpa, Grandpa!¡± The water flow left her face frozen stiff, with water in her nose and mouth, her hair wet and sticking to her face. The buttons of her coat had come undone in her struggles, and underneath was a flashy red dress. Due to the force of the water, her dress was lifted, revealing her large thighs cladded in flesh-colored stockings. The young Miss of the Luo Family had probably never been so humiliated. She flailed around, holding her face and shrieking, ¡°Ah¡ªAh¡ªAh¡ª¡± Nobody came forward. In the biting cold, everyone kept their distance, not wanting to be splashed. The water jet was forceful and long-reaching. Zhou Xufang was very pleased, squinting one eye to aim right at Luo Qinghe¡¯s face, and firing¡ª ¡°Ah¡ªAh¡ªAh¡ª¡± Ha, that¡¯ll teach you to spill drinks on others! Squinting again, she aimed at Luo Qinghe¡¯s thighs, and firing¡ª ¡°Ah¡ªAh¡ªAh¡ª¡± Your lapdog made Jiang Zhi drink seawater, so I¡¯ll make you become a drenched dog! Ha! Zhou Xufang readied her aim and fired again¡ª ¡°Ah¡ªAh¡ªAh¡ª¡± Luo Qinghe held her head with one hand and tried to pull down her dress with the other, but it was too late. Zhou Xufang held the hose with one hand and covered her mouth with the other, letting out laughter like tolling bells. Downstairs, it was utter chaos. Luo Qinghe was screaming miserably and awkwardly. The moment the water lifted her skirt, she lost all reason, blinded by the heavy flow and unable to stand, only able to call out desperately for help. ¡°Grandpa! Grandpa, save me!¡± ¡°Stop it, please!¡± ¡°Please stop!¡± The young Miss of the Luo Family, having lost all her dignity and image, was a sight the crowd had never seen before. Usually so lofty, just one splash of cold water reduced her to nothing but screams. Tang Xiang approached Luo Huaiyu and said softly, ¡°There¡¯s someone on the roof.¡± Luo Huaiyu¡¯s face darkened as he scolded sharply, ¡°Yinghe, go and help your cousin up!¡± Luo Yinghe hesitated for a moment but immediately stepped back, ¡°I don¡¯t want to, it¡¯s so cold.¡± If his own family wouldn¡¯t step forward, why should they expect others to? Luo Qinghe was usually aloof and arrogant, ruthless and decisive in the business world, and most in the courtyard were there to watch her humiliation or see her make a fool of herself. Who would want to get involved and end up drenched? At that moment, Old Lady Jiang spoke, ¡°Go and help Miss Luo up.¡± It was then that the Jiang Family¡¯s servants went to assist. But helping her up was useless, as the water jet seemed to have eyes of its own, targeting only Luo Qinghe. It sprayed with precision, hitting her face and thighs. Just as she was helped up, she was knocked down again by the water¡¯s force. ¡°There¡¯s someone messing with us from above.¡± Luo Huaiyu stood up, glared at Old Lady Jiang with fury, and thundered, ¡°Are you Jiang Family going to give me an explanation?¡± However, no explanation could be provided at the moment. Old Lady Jiang first made her apologies, ordered protection for Luo Qinghe, and then instructed the servants, ¡°Some of you go and block the exits of the manor, and the rest of you bring the guests inside.¡± Once everything was in order, she continued, ¡°Jiang Chuan, go upstairs and see who is causing trouble.¡± Jiang Chuan responded and headed upstairs. Just then, someone burst out saying, ¡°I know who it is.¡± It was Ming Family¡¯s Xiao Liu. ¡°Xiao Liu, come back here!¡± This troublesome child! Ming Songding quickly pulled back his simple-natured son. Although Xiao Liu appeared as a rowdy ruffian outside, his nature was pure. He was oblivious to people¡¯s expressions, just like the silly son of a wealthy landowner, and he kept shouting out loud. When Old Lady Jiang heard this, she asked, ¡°Younger Young Master Ming, who do you think it is?¡± Ming Yanghua spoke loudly, ¡°It¡¯s Lord Black Impermanence.¡± Everyone: ¡°¡­¡± Ming Songding held his forehead, lamenting his past life¡¯s sins that resulted in birthing such a creature. The Ming Family was not a nouveau riche household but had generations of merchants with a decent fortune. He wondered at which point something went wrong leading to the appearance of such a ¡®fool¡¯. Ming Yanghua, remembering his duty as a mortal messenger, stood out. Amid his wandering demeanor, he spoke with confident vigor: ¡°Don¡¯t disbelieve. I am a mortal messenger and can see ghost messengers. The one spraying water from above is Lord Black Impermanence.¡± At this moment, he felt incredibly imposing. His tone rose with the arrogance of a street gang leader, brimming with mettle. ¡°Lord Black Impermanence said this woman has committed grave sins, and before claiming her life, he wants to punish her first.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Everyone looked at him as if he were mentally challenged. Ming Songding was so frustrated he wanted to crawl into a hole and bury this embarrassment of a son. His beard nearly stood on end as he snapped, ¡°What nonsense are you spouting? Shut your mouth now!¡± But Ming Yanghua didn¡¯t shut up; he wasn¡¯t finished: ¡°Lord Black Impermanence also said, the Luo Family¡¯s sins are known to those below, and they are remembered. It¡¯s not that there won¡¯t be retribution, only that the time has not yet come. The Luo Family should be careful, not to venture out at night, and stop harming others.¡± At that moment, Ming Yanghua¡¯s admiration for Lord Black Impermanence surged inexplicably. It was as though he really had seen a ghost. Of course, he still feared ghosts, a fear deep in his bones, so he dared not forget the instructions of Lord Black Impermanence. Standing tall, he addressed everyone with an earnest tone: ¡°And the same goes for all of you. Lord Black Impermanence said not to do evil, otherwise, she will come to find each of you one by one.¡± His father was close to having a breakdown. ¡°Xiao Liu! Stop talking nonsense!¡± It wasn¡¯t nonsense but the commands of Lord Black Impermanence. He affirmed this dutifully, fearing being haunted, and said, ¡°I¡¯m not. It was Lord Black Impermanence. Wait and ask the butler when he comes down if you don¡¯t believe me.¡± Anyway, he believed it. Such a ¡®powerful¡¯ female ghost must surely be an official, Lord Black Impermanence without a doubt! Everyone thought that something must have possessed the youngster from the Ming Family. Hadn¡¯t he been frightened by a ¡®female ghost¡¯ at the beach recently and ended up in the hospital? Since then, he had claimed he could see ghosts and was probably mentally disturbed. The Ming Family should call for a Taoist priest. Back to the rooftop. Jiang Chuan had just reached the top when he saw a dark figure and shouted, ¡°Who¡¯s there?!¡± The figure turned around. Jiang Chuan¡¯s legs weakened, and he fell to the ground, ¡°Gh¡­ ghost¡­¡± It was a pitch-black figure, with only the eyeballs shining with a bloodred, dim light. Dripping from its head was something wet. Oh, it was Zhou Xufang who had been ¡®playing with water¡¯ and got sprayed in the eye. She discarded the hose, ¡°I¡¯m not a ghost.¡± ¡°You¡ª¡± Before he could finish, Jiang Chuan¡¯s eyes bulged in shock, paralyzed. In the blink of an eye, the ¡®ghost¡¯ had ¡®floated¡¯ next to him, freezing him in place. His pupils dilated with extreme terror. In a low voice by his ear, she said, ¡°I am Lord Black Impermanence.¡± After speaking, she ¡®floated¡¯ away just as quickly as she had arrived, disappearing from sight. Ten seconds later¡ª ¡°A ghost!¡± Jiang Chuan ran down with trembling legs. When Old Lady Jiang saw him come down, she immediately asked, ¡°Jiang Chuan, what happened?¡± His legs gave out, and Jiang Chuan collapsed to the floor, panting heavily with sweat pouring down his forehead and a look of horror in his eyes, ¡°Old¡­ Old Madam.¡± ¡°Why are you panicking? Who was up there?¡± Jiang Chuan, now in his sixties, was close to fainting from the shock. His lips turned white as he stuttered, ¡°She she she said¡­ she is Lord Black Impermanence.¡± Ming Yanghua folded his arms and snorted with a touch of smug pride in his voice: ¡°See, I told you, it was Lord Black Impermanence.¡± Believe it now? It was the powerfully magical Lord Black Impermanence! Chapter 132 - 132: 132: Bullying jerks feels great, constantly bullying jerks is a consistent thrill Chapter 132: 132: Bullying jerks feels great, constantly bullying jerks is a consistent thrill ¡°It¡¯s the almighty Lord Black Impermanence!¡± Old Lady Jiang naturally didn¡¯t believe this nonsense, and she asked Jiang Chuan again, ¡°What kind of ghost-talk is this? Who exactly was it?¡± Jiang Chuan was already too scared to speak. Seeing that no words could be gotten out of him, Old Lady Jiang called a few servants over, ¡°You all go up there and take a look.¡± A group of them went up together. They returned in less than two minutes. ... ¡°Old Madam, there¡¯s no one upstairs.¡± Upon hearing this, everyone was puzzled. Someone asked, ¡°How is that possible? The exits were all blocked, could the person have flown away?¡± Eyes were everywhere, could someone really sprout wings and fly? The ¡°idiot son¡± from the Landlord Ming¡¯s family started babbling some superstitious nonsense again, ¡°Of course people can¡¯t fly, but Lord Black Impermanence can.¡± Worrying no one would believe him, he patted his chest to assure, ¡°I¡¯ve seen it with my own eyes, Lord Black Impermanence¡¯s mana is boundless.¡± It was beginning to sound more plausible. ¡°Jiang Chuan,¡± Old Lady Jiang had someone help him up, ¡°I¡¯ll ask you one more time, who is upstairs?¡± Jiang Chuan had recovered a bit, but his expression still betrayed a residual fear, as he replied, ¡°It was Lord Black Impermanence.¡± Geez! Xue Baoyi rubbed his arms, ¡°I¡¯m freaking getting goosebumps.¡± He elbowed Qiao Nanchu who was next to him, ¡°Do you believe in ghosts?¡± ¡°People with a guilty conscience believe in ghosts.¡± ¡°But the person on the roof really did vanish into thin air, and we even have two ¡®eyewitnesses¡¯ who saw the ghost.¡± The whole ¡®no guilty deed, no fear of ghosts knocking at the door¡¯ didn¡¯t quite suit the crowd attending the banquet today. These were people at the top of the pyramid, and those who managed to climb that high rarely had clean hands; there were bound to be a few guilty consciences. Xue Baoyi was among them. He felt a chill on his back, ¡°I kind of do believe it. I figure I might have a ghost in my heart, come to think of it, I¡¯ve done my fair share of bad deeds. Should I make a donation tomorrow, maybe build a Hope Primary School or something?¡± ¡°What, scared of a ghost coming knocking?¡± ¡°Scared, yeah.¡± Xue Baoyi started to joke again, ¡°But if it¡¯s a pretty female ghost, that¡¯s a different story.¡± Qiao Nanchu was too lazy to talk nonsense with him, ¡°Look at Jiang Zhi.¡± Suddenly faced with ghosts, everyone was on edge, except for Jiang Zhi. He sat there leisurely, legs crossed. Xue Baoyi clicked his tongue, ¡°He¡¯s got quite the seductive smile.¡± That smile was full of triumph. You could tell, the little beauty was in a good mood. Qiao Nanchu¡¯s smile was ambiguously mischievous, ¡°Maybe bewitched by a ghost.¡± The birthday party was thrown into chaos because of this incident. Many guests were anxious; they wanted to leave but didn¡¯t dare to, and everywhere outside was damp. In the cold night, thin ice was already forming. Old Lady Jiang made a decision, ¡°Fuli, take Qinghe back to your room to freshen up.¡± sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Luo Qinghe, frozen stiff, was a mess. She was far from her usual fierce self and struggled to even stand, supported by Jiang Fuli and other servants, she withdrew first. Old Madam gave another order, ¡°Ah Gui, take some servants and search the house. Don¡¯t miss a single spot.¡± ¡°Yes, Old Madam.¡± After giving the instructions, Old Madam then turned to the guests, ¡°I apologize for the fright. I, an old woman, will use tea to substitute wine and offer my apologies here.¡± After finishing her tea in one gulp, Old Madam continued, ¡°The banquet will be set up in the mansion in the back garden. Please, everyone, join us there.¡± The guests were led by the servants to the main mansion¡¯s back. Ming Songding, when no one was watching, grabbed his idiot son by the ear, ¡°You come here!¡± Ming Yanghua hopped and skipped three steps away, dodging him and looking pitifully at Ming Saiying for help, ¡°Sis.¡± Her sister was wearing some man¡¯s suit jacket, her face twisted in annoyance. Not only did she not help, but she also kicked his behind, ¡°Go over there!¡± This was his own sister and father! Ming Yanghua didn¡¯t even have time to lament his miserable fate before his father caught his ear again, ¡°You little brat, daring to spout nonsense even in a place like this. Can¡¯t go a day without courting trouble, can you?¡± Ming Yanghua winced in pain, ¡°Dad, come on.¡± He was already in his twenties; yet his father still pulled his ears at the drop of a hat. It was so embarrassing. Hadn¡¯t he any face to lose? Annoying! Ming Yanghua turned around, glaring at his father, ¡°You can¡¯t hit me, I¡¯m Lord Black Impermanence¡¯s mortal messenger¡ª¡± Ming Songding brought down his fist. ¡°Ouch!¡± Lord Black Impermanence¡¯s mortal messenger just got a thrashing. Using his hands wasn¡¯t enough, Ming Songding also kicked with his feet: ¡°What kind of crap mortal messenger are you? Spout more nonsense and I¡¯ll beat you to death!¡± Ming Yanghua was defiant, yanking her ear from her father¡¯s grip: ¡°I really am a mortal messenger. Lord Black Impermanence said so, praised my extraordinary bones. Only I can see the Hell Messengers, you bunch of mortals¡ª¡± Mortal Ming Songding retorted: ¡°Only you can see them? Then what did Housekeeper Jiang see?¡± His volatile temper flared as he bellowed, ¡°A ghost, huh?!¡± Oh, right. How could Housekeeper Jiang also see Lord Black Impermanence? ¡°Mortal messenger?¡± Ming Songding kicked again, ¡°Messenger my ass!¡± Feeling as if she¡¯d been played like a fool, Ming Yanghua: ¡°¡­¡± Damn! Was she deceived? Did a ghost really trick her?! Damn damn damn damn damn! ¡°Ao ao ao ao ao¡ª¡± Following that was Ming Yanghua¡¯s pathetic, wailing scream, drowned out by the uproar of the crowd. Qiao Nanchu pulled Jiang Zhi aside to a quiet corner where they could talk and asked, ¡°Who was on the rooftop just now?¡± He actually replied seriously, ¡°Lord Black Impermanence.¡± Bullshit! Qiao Nanchu took out his lighter and cigarettes: ¡°Do you think I¡¯d believe that?¡± As he was about to light up, Jiang Zhi snatched the cigarette away: ¡°Don¡¯t smoke in front of this invalid.¡± He tossed the cigarette into the trash, ¡°If it was you on the rooftop, and there were people guarding downstairs, how would you escape?¡± Qiao Nanchu surveyed the terrain: ¡°There¡¯s another room behind.¡± Jiang Zhi glanced at him with a hint of amusement in his eyes: ¡°There¡¯s a ten-meter gap, are you going to fly over it?¡± ¡°If I had the right tools, it wouldn¡¯t be impossible,¡± Qiao Nanchu added, ¡°Of course, the average person shouldn¡¯t even think about it, it would have to be someone with special training.¡± Jiang Zhi overturned his hypothetical: ¡°That room behind has a flat roof with nothing to grab onto, no tools can be used.¡± There¡¯s no escape then. Qiao Nanchu twiddled the lighter in his hand: ¡°So?¡± How did the person get away? Jiang Zhi brought out the same serious nonsense: ¡°So it was Lord Black Impermanence.¡± Qiao Nanchu laughed, a rare display of enthusiasm: ¡°I was only suspicious before but seeing how adamantly you defend, I¡¯m convinced now, it was your person.¡± Busted, Jiang Zhi grumbled: ¡°As a police officer, speak with evidence.¡± ¡°No evidence, but plenty of sensational rumors are swirling among the errand runners. They say she has three heads and six arms, is bulletproof and omnipotent,¡± Qiao Nanchu said with a playful look, ¡°Does your person really have the ability to climb walls?¡± Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t answer directly, instead, he bluffed pretentiously, with an air of pride: ¡°She might be a fairy whose seals have been unlocked, possessing boundless mana.¡± ¡°Wasn¡¯t it Lord Black Impermanence? Now she¡¯s a fairy?¡± ¡°Quit trying to fish for information, go enjoy your drink,¡± Jiang Zhi glanced at his watch, ¡°In no more than ten minutes, things will wrap up.¡± This abrupt statement confused Qiao Nanchu: ¡°Wrap what up?¡± He said no more and ambled away lazily. Ten minutes, huh¡­ Qiao Nanchu timed his wait, and at the eighth minute, a servant from the Jiang Family rushed in, flustered. ¡°Old Madam, two Misses from the Luo Family have started fighting.¡± Both adjacent tables heard, that Luo Family, never a moment¡¯s peace. Old Lady Jiang was still seated, unfazed and detached: ¡°This is the Luo Family¡¯s private matter, report to the father-in-law, the old master.¡± The servant got the hint and informed Luo Huaiyu. He summoned Tang Xiang and was just getting up with his cane when shrieks could already be heard. ¡°Ahhh ahh ahh ahh ahh ahh¡ª¡± Still Luo Qinghe. Today, she seemed determined to lose face all at once. In the great hall of the leading house, the Luo sisters were in a ¡®heated fight¡¯; to be precise, Luo Yinghe was single-handedly beating Luo Qinghe. The ground was covered with blue petals. Unknown what plant it was, the flowers had six petals, slightly transparent blue, with no leaves, thorny stems, slim and sharp, as long as fingernails. Luo Yinghe grabbed a bunch and fiercely whipped Luo Qinghe with them. The needle-thin thorns broke off when they pierced the skin, causing Luo Qinghe to shriek in pain. Stumbling and falling while trying to dodge, she was weakened by a bone-chilling cold and a high fever, utterly lacking the strength to get up, so she could only curl up and scoot backward. She was furious, ¡°Stop!¡± ¡°I refuse to.¡± Luo Yinghe, seemingly unaware of pain, clutched a bunch of flower stems and violently swung it, landing a solid hit on Luo Qinghe¡¯s back. She screamed in pain. But Luo Yinghe became even more excited as she lashed out, her veins bulging and her eyes reddening. She cursed wildly as she beat mercilessly. ¡°Who do you think you are?¡± ¡°Why do you get to boss me around all the time!¡± She was completely irrational, her face twisted in a grotesque sneer, staring down Luo Qinghe with a handful of flower stems, taking out all her resentment on her. Intermittent explosive disorder. She had an episode, even more out of control than usual. The bouquet¡¯s petals were all gone, the slender thorns scraping against the skin, leaving long trails of blood. Luo Qinghe, drained of all strength, was forced back into a corner, shouting, ¡°Luo Yinghe!¡± On any other day, what Luo Yinghe feared most was her cousin¡¯s stern and cold gaze. But now her mind was in a state of extreme excitement; the shouts not only failed to stop her but further agitated her. She raised her hand high and struck Luo Qinghe¡¯s face with the thorny flower stem. ¡°What are you putting on airs for!¡± ¡°What¡¯s so great about you! You¡¯re only a few years older than me!¡± ¡°You think you¡¯re so tough?¡± ¡°Show me how tough you are! Ah!¡± For each insult, she whipped her, unleashing all the suppressed resentment and anger. She acted like a madwoman. Jiang Fuli stepped forward to pull her away, ¡°Yinghe.¡± She shook him off forcefully, ¡°Get lost!¡± ¡°Luo Yinghe!¡± Jiang Fuli grabbed her whipping hand, ¡°Calm down.¡± She didn¡¯t listen at all, her eyes fierce as if she¡¯d eat someone, flailing the thorny branches, ¡°Move or I¡¯ll beat you too.¡± Something was not right¡­ She only had mild intermittent explosive disorder, it shouldn¡¯t have driven her to such madness. As Luo Yinghe turned her frenzy towards Jiang Fuli, Luo Qinghe, leaning against the wall, staggered to her feet, only to be yanked back by the hair by someone behind her and dragged away forcefully. ¡°Where do you think you¡¯re going?¡± Tears sprang from the pain, her hair disheveled, her face covered in blood. She bit down on her teeth in hatred, utterly exhausted, head yanked back as she was pulled by her hair. The flower stem lashed at her again. Luo Yinghe¡¯s eyes seemed like they would pop out, bloodshot and crazed. Her carefully styled hair was a mess; she clutched at a handful of it. ¡°Who said you could leave?¡± After her roar, she pushed Luo Qinghe against the wall and pressed the thorny stem against her, ¡°I¡¯m not done teaching you a lesson, who said you could leave!¡± Luo Qinghe, still in a high fever and unable to move, wished she could kill this mad woman, ¡°You lunatic, you better kill me, or else¡ª¡± Luo Yinghe slapped her squarely. ¡°I am a lunatic, I am prone to outbursts, but I¡¯m still better than you and your father. You¡¯re a beast, and so is your father, he even¡ª¡± ¡°Enough!¡± Following the shout was the sound of Luo Huaiyu¡¯s cane and the commotion of footsteps. The battling pair were stunned. One with a ferocious countenance, the other covered in blood, the two Misses of the Luo Family had truly become a spectacle for all the guests to behold. Luo Yinghe was tolerable; she was known for being trouble and spoiled. But Luo Qinghe¡­ As haughty and dominant as she was before, today she was in a pitiful state of disarray. And the Luo Family, their image utterly tarnished, became a laughingstock in the circles of the Imperial City. Luo Huaiyu¡¯s hands trembled with his cane, his pupils a fiery red with rage, but with everyone present, he restrained himself, ¡°Old Madame Jiang, may I borrow a few people?¡± Old Madame Jiang nodded and signaled a few men over. They stepped forward and grabbed Luo Yinghe. Unwilling, she cursed and struggled, the girl displaying strength unknown from whence it came, defiant even when dragged by several men, kicking and flailing. Luo Qinghe, supported by Jiang Fuli, was in disarray after the ordeal, her usual defiance and spirit completely worn down. Her clothes were disheveled, panting weakly as if hanging by a thread. Luo Huaiyu¡¯s face was ashen as he fought the surging anger, ¡°My granddaughter is ill, please help me take her to the hospital.¡± Several men worked together to finally drag her away. Curses echoed until they were far away, Luo Yinghe spewing the word ¡®beast¡¯ at Luo Changde, Luo Qinghe, and even Luo Huaiyu. Once the yelling had faded, Luo Huaiyu grimaced as he apologized to the guests, ¡°My granddaughter suffers from intermittent explosive disorder, which causes her to speak nonsense when it flares up. Please forgive us for this embarrassing spectacle.¡± Whether it¡¯s nonsense or not, one man¡¯s meat is another man¡¯s poison. ¡°Today I¡¯ve spoiled everyone¡¯s mood, I¡¯ll hold a feast at the Luo Family¡¯s place another day to make amends.¡± Luo Huaiyu apologized formally, and then Old Lady Jiang stepped in to ask the guests to move on. At this point, Jiang Zhi suddenly squatted down, picked up a fallen flower from the ground: ¡°What kind of flower is this?¡± He sniffed gently, ¡°It has a medicinal scent.¡± Old Lady Jiang¡¯s heart immediately rang alarm bells: ¡°Brother Zhi, don¡¯t touch it.¡± He let go. The flower stem hit the ground and broke into several petals. Only then did everyone notice, the flower had a medicinal scent. Old Lady Jiang turned around and questioned the few servants in the room: ¡°Where did this flower come from?¡± The servants were silent as cicadas in winter and could not answer. ¡°Old Madam,¡± It was Qin Shiyu, who stepped forward, his tone as mild as ever: ¡°This is my flower, a medicinal plant. It seems that a servant made a mistake and used it as a decoration.¡± He resided at the Jiang Mansion, and in the garden behind there was a flower arbor dedicated to his use, where he often cultivated medicinal herbs and flowers. Old Lady Jiang was aware of this, so she said no more. Qin Shiyu made an apology and then squatted down to pick up the fallen branches and petals, carrying them away in his clothes. ¡°Wait a minute.¡± Jiang Xiaolin suddenly spoke up, seemingly casually, and asked, ¡°Shiyu, does this flower have another name, known as Qiu Luhua?¡± Qin Shiyu did not reply, his expression unclear as he lowered his eyes. Jiang Xiaolin did not press further, instead, he raised his eyes and turned to his old classmate, ¡°Do you still recognize this flower? We saw it back when we were in school.¡± Tang Xiang and Jiang Xiaolin had studied biology in college. Upon this mention, she recalled, ¡°If I¡¯m not mistaken, the medicinal scent that this flower emits can cause hallucinations after prolonged exposure, and it¡¯s a banned substance, isn¡¯t it?¡± Qin Shiyu remained silent. Everyone revealed an enlightened look on their faces, no wonder then¡ªthe second young miss of the Luo Family acted like she had gone mad. So there was trickery at play here. Indeed, where there is something abnormal, there must be a demon. Luo Huaiyu said coldly, ¡°Tang Xiang, call the police.¡± A fine birthday banquet ended abruptly like this. Before nine o¡¯clock, all the guests had left. Jiang Zhi called Qiao Nanchu aside and took him back to his room, not bothering with pleasantries, he bluntly asked, ¡°How long can you be imprisoned for illegally purchasing and cultivating banned plants?¡± ¡°If the circumstances are not serious, it won¡¯t be for long,¡± Qiao Nanchu leaned back against the table, ¡°You¡¯re the one pulling strings, aren¡¯t you?¡± His tone was joking, but his voice was sure. Jiang Zhi neither admitted nor denied it. This guy, full of schemes and plots. Qiao Nanchu found it amusing and pressed on, ¡°So, are you after the Luo sisters or Qin Shiyu?¡± ¡°Qin Shiyu,¡± he replied distractedly, as if it had nothing to do with him, without a trace of awareness that he had caused trouble, speaking lazily, ¡°The Luo Family is just incidental.¡± To use another¡¯s hand to kill one¡¯s enemy, and even achieve two ends with one means. If you talk about being sinister, no one among these people could beat Jiang Zhi. Qiao Nanchu asked this sly fellow, ¡°Did he offend you?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve already stopped my medication, Qin Shiyu is a nuisance,¡± Jiang Zhi stood by the window, gazing outside, seeming somewhat absent-minded, ¡°And I also want to know if he contributed to my ¡®illness.''¡± Qin Shiyu was a deep one. Friend or foe, he had not yet figured it out, and without the patience, he¡¯d deal with it directly. ¡°I advised you for so long, and you wouldn¡¯t listen, you just got a girlfriend and stopped your medication,¡± Qiao Nanchu teased, ¡°Brother Zhi, are you planning on counting on your child¡¯s fortune?¡± Jiang Zhi shifted his gaze from the window, ¡°That¡¯s a good suggestion.¡± Actually thinking about counting on his child¡¯s fortune. As a brother, of course, he had to offer advice, ¡°Then I suggest you get your infertility treated first.¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± Damn, did you have to bring that up? Alright, not to touch on his sore point, Qiao Nanchu spoke seriously, ¡°I¡¯ve asked professionals, the fragrance of Qiu Luhua accelerates nerve stimulation and has hallucinogenic effects, but there are no studies concerning whether it has adverse effects on patients with explosive disorder.¡± In other words, Luo Yinghe¡¯s episode might not be related to that bunch of flowers. Jiang Zhi continued to look outside the window, not knowing what he was observing, his eyes full of moonlight. Qiao Nanchu walked over and asked, ¡°Did you drug Luo Yinghe with something else?¡± Chapter 133 - 133: 133: Fang Bao takes Jiang Zhi for infertility treatment Chapter 133: 133: Fang Bao takes Jiang Zhi for infertility treatment ¡°Luo Yinghe, did you slip something else into the drink?¡± Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t turn around but offered a sideways glance, ¡°If you¡¯re that curious, go join the criminal investigation unit.¡± He didn¡¯t say it, but Qiao Nanchu had guessed as much and didn¡¯t press further. He shrugged, half-jokingly said, ¡°Forget criminal investigation, I might not be able to resist arresting you.¡± ¡°Arrest me?¡± Jiang Zhi threw a provocative look from the corner of his eye, ¡°Do you think I¡¯m that easy to catch?¡± Qiao Nanchu cursed with a laugh, ¡°You lawless bastard!¡± Jiang Zhi ignored him and continued looking out the window. ... The room was filled with antiques, each piece a rare treasure, except for an odd painting hanging above the bed that seemed out of place. Qiao Nanchu then noticed the painting and took a closer look, unable to figure it out, ¡°What is this painting supposed to be?¡± he guessed, ¡°A talisman to ward off evil spirits?¡± Jiang Zhi turned his head, a cold light coating his face from the lamp overhead, ¡°That¡¯s Zhou Xufang.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Qiao Nanchu looked back at the painting again. Was sure this wasn¡¯t just a blotch of ink splattered on paper? ¡°So it¡¯s Zhou Xufang,¡± he said nonchalantly, ¡°does Zhou Xufang know this is supposed to be her?¡± Jiang Zhi kept a straight face, barely containing his irritation, ¡°She knows.¡± Qiao Nanchu grinned, slyly and maliciously, ¡°And she didn¡¯t hit you?¡± Jiang Zhi¡¯s peach blossom eyes went icy, ¡°Get lost.¡± Qiao Nanchu laughed even harder, pocketing his lighter, his tone quite sincere, ¡°Jiang Zhi, you really should stop painting.¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± This damn bastard! As soon as Qiao Nanchu left, a servant came with a message: ¡°Young master, the Old Madam is asking for you.¡± The Jiang Family had dispersed, only Old Lady Jiang was in the main hall, sitting in a loop chair with a brazier underneath. Jiang Zhi walked over. The Old Lady nudged the brazier with her foot, beckoning him to sit, ¡°You just touched that flower, do you feel unwell anywhere?¡± Jiang Zhi sat on the armchair, one hand propping him up, his complexion slightly pale, ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡± ¡°If it were just a banned plant, you could have been bailed out, but this involves the Luo Family, so Shiyu might have to stay in the police station for a while,¡± the Old Lady took a hand warmer from a servant and handed it to him, ¡°For now, let Vice President Sun look after you.¡± He half-closed his eyes, listless, ¡°Hmm.¡± Seeing his poor complexion, Old Lady Jiang was quite worried, ¡°Are you tired?¡± He pinched his forehead, lacking energy and half-reclining in the chair, ¡°It was too noisy earlier, I have a bit of a headache.¡± Hearing him mention being tired, Old Lady Jiang dropped the subject, ¡°Then you should rest early.¡± He hummed a response, ¡°I¡¯ll go to my own place.¡± At the doorway, Ah Wan went over to help him. Old Lady Jiang glanced at Ah Wan¡¯s bruised face, deliberating, then called out, ¡°Lin¡­ Lin¡­ Lin¡­¡± What was his full name again? She could never remember this bulky fellow¡¯s name. Ah Wan, with a ¡®colorful¡¯ face, replied, ¡°Lin Wanwan.¡± That name¡­ Old Madam Jiang really couldn¡¯t say it, so she opted for another address, ¡°Lin Xiaodi, who hit you?¡± Lin Xiaodi: ¡°I fell by myself.¡± In reality, he had been beaten by Ming Saiying, that tomboy, with a handbag. His face was the least of it; his back was the real disaster area. He couldn¡¯t hold on much longer; he had to call an ambulance for himself soon. Old Lady Jiang gave him another complicated look but said nothing. Jiang Zhi went upstairs, changed into an overcoat, ¡°Hand me the car keys, you can head back.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Lin Xiaodi handed over the keys, perfect; he needed to call an ambulance. Jiang Zhi, his mind full of his girlfriend, didn¡¯t even notice Lin Xiaodi¡¯s ¡®injured yet pretending to be strong¡¯ expression as he walked out while texting his girlfriend. ¡°Xu Fang.¡± No response. Jiang Zhi sent another message: ¡°Xu Fang.¡± Still no reply. ¡°Zhou Xufang!¡± She responded with a voice message, ¡°Hmm.¡± Her voice was sleepy, drowsy. Jiang Zhi asked her, ¡°Where are you?¡± ¡°In your car.¡± It was Jiang Zhi¡¯s other car, and the keys were with Zhou Xufang. That car wasn¡¯t parked in the Jiang Family¡¯s garage but out on the street. Jiang Zhi sped up his pace, ¡°Honey, wait for me five more minutes.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± He got there in three minutes. Zhou Xufang had locked the car and was sleeping inside. Jiang Zhi knocked on the window, ¡°Fang Bao.¡± She immediately sat up, rubbing her eyes, somewhat groggy, and opened the car door, ¡°If you didn¡¯t come soon, I¡¯d have fallen asleep.¡± Jiang Zhi got in and noticed her clothes were wet, ¡°Why are your clothes wet?¡± The car¡¯s heater wasn¡¯t on, and her clothes were almost icy. She explained, ¡°I got sprayed when I used the hose on Luo Qinghe.¡± Jiang Zhi pinched her icy cold little face, scolding, ¡°Don¡¯t you know to turn on the heater? What if you catch a cold?¡± She shook her head with a mischievous smile, claiming she wasn¡¯t afraid of the cold. Acting as if she were made of iron. Jiang Zhi got out of the car and retrieved a bag of clothes from the trunk, ¡°Put these on.¡± Inside was a set of men¡¯s clothing, complete from inside out. ¡°Yours?¡± ¡°Mhm, make do with these.¡± The car was all decked out in pink and girly decorations. Previously, to please her, he had even hung pink tassel curtains on the windows. Now, they came in handy. He pulled down the curtains, shielding the drenched girl as he carried her to the back seat, ¡°I¡¯ll stand guard outside. You change out of your wet clothes first.¡± She obediently replied, ¡°Okay.¡± Jiang Zhi stepped out and looked around, fortunately, there was no one around. Zhou Xufang crouched between the back seat and the driver¡¯s seat, quickly stripping off her wet clothes. Jiang Zhi called out to her from outside, ¡°Xu Fang.¡± ¡°Mhm.¡± He leaned against the car, hands in his pockets, casual leg propped up, kicking at the gravel intermittently. Suddenly, he asked Zhou Xufang, ¡°Do you like children?¡± Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t think much and replied, ¡°I do.¡± After a while. He hesitated before speaking, the tone awkward, ¡°Then should I get checked?¡± Zhou Xufang was puzzled for a moment, ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you?¡± He mumbled something indistinctly. Zhou Xufang had good hearing and understood clearly. He said, ¡°Infertility.¡± Before, she never thought much of this topic, but ever since Zhou Xufang read novels and about novel benefits, she found it embarrassing to discuss, equivocating, ¡°It¡¯s¡­up to you.¡± ¡°It being up to me isn¡¯t helpful, you need to decide,¡± Jiang Zhi said awkwardly but assertively, ¡°If you want to, I¡¯ll have children with you.¡± He was serious. He didn¡¯t mind whether or not they had offspring; it all depended on Zhou Xufang¡¯s wishes. ¡°What about you?¡± Zhou Xufang asked softly from within the car, ¡°Do you like children?¡± Without a second thought, Jiang Zhi shook his head, ¡°No.¡± He had seen the children in Qiao Nanchu cousin¡¯s family, loud and mischievous, too little to understand scolding yet unable to be smacked, just a bothersome little burden. He had no fondness for children, lacking the patience. However, if it was a little bun born from Zhou Xufang, a dark little bun, quiet and coolly adorable¡­ the corners of his mouth lifted, ¡°I would like it if it¡¯s yours, especially if it¡¯s a powerful little Black Impermanence like you.¡± Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t respond. She didn¡¯t wish to be like herself. She hoped to be like Jiang Zhi, entirely like him. Seeing her silent, Jiang Zhi worried she was upset and said, ¡°If you don¡¯t want¡ª¡± She interrupted him, ¡°Go get treated.¡± Jiang Zhi¡¯s eyes crinkled, ¡°Okay.¡± ¡°I¡¯m done changing.¡± She packed the wet clothes and placed them under the seat. Jiang Zhi got in the car, pulled her close, and adjusted her shirt collar. The sweater was a bit large, so he rolled it up at her wrists. She clutched her pants with one hand, not letting go. Jiang Zhi lifted the sweater to check, ¡°Too big?¡± ¡°Mhm, it¡¯s falling.¡± It was his suit pants, loose at the waist and, unfortunately, there were no spare belts in the car. Jiang Zhi had no other choice but to pull two threads from that fringed pink curtain, tying them together. ¡°Raise your hands.¡± She obediently let go and raised them. Jiang Zhi bent down, clumsily threading the makeshift belt, stumbling through the task, and after much fumbling, finally tied a knot, ¡°There you go.¡± Yes, the belt was fixed. But she moved¡ª She looked down, avoiding Jiang Zhi¡¯s gaze, and pushed him gently, ¡°Get out of the car, wait for me a little longer.¡± ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Her voice was soft, timid, ¡°The shoulder strap.¡± Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t understand at first, lifting her face, ¡°Hmm?¡± Her face was beet-red, her voice as faint as a mosquito¡¯s, ¡°¡­it¡¯s loose.¡± It must have snagged while she was changing. Jiang Zhi was initially stunned but then chuckled, ¡°I¡¯m not getting out.¡± She lifted her head, looking at him puzzled, her expression blank, utterly bewildered. Jiang Zhi leaned in, embracing her, his hand moving around her waist, from under the hem of her shirt to her back. He fumbled for a long time before finding the clasp, and once fixed, he straightened up proudly, ¡°There.¡± He adjusted her shirt and fastened her coat¡¯s buttons. Zhou Xufang stole a glance at Jiang Zhi, ¡°Your face is so red.¡± She touched it with a finger, ¡°Like you have a fever.¡± He didn¡¯t know if he had a fever, but Zhou Xufang might have. He leaned closer to her ear and whispered something. Zhou Xufang¡¯s ear tips turned red as she pushed him away. Unable to curse, she just glared at him with a ferocious look, ¡°You have no shame!¡± Jiang Zhi went with the flow, ¡°Yeah, I have no shame.¡± S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°You scoundrel!¡± He smiled, ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m a scoundrel.¡± Zhou Xufang had no comeback. He reached out and touched her head, his eyes filled with a tender shadow, ¡°The shameless scoundrel now wants to take you home¡ª to your place or mine?¡± Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t want to deal with him, stubbornly silent for seven or eight seconds, ¡°To my house.¡± Jiang Zhi opened the car door and led her to the passenger side. The next day, a video of Luo Qinghe being doused and beaten was exposed. Although it was mosaic-blurred, Luo Yinghe appeared in the video and, being known in the circles, was quickly recognized; and following the clues, Luo Qinghe was also implicated. This wasn¡¯t the first time Luo Qinghe was in the news. Normally, she was featured in the business sections as an entrepreneur, but this time it was because of an embarrassing video that she topped the entertainment trending searches. As soon as the video came out, onlookers swarmed for a feast of gossip. ¡°The one hitting others is Luo Yinghe, right? Who¡¯s the other one?¡± ¡°Luo Group¡¯s current CEO, Luo Qinghe. You¡¯re welcome.¡± This netizen¡¯s comment even included a recent photo of Luo Qinghe from a business interview. Despite the mosaic, her build, attire, and hairstyle were a match; even the eagle-eyed could tell that the humiliated haute monde lady in the video was the same person. Then, Luo Yinghe¡¯s detractors came forward to leak information, claiming that the pair were fake, plastic sisters. More and more netizens gathered, with comments flooding in. ¡°This rage disorder is just terrifying.¡± ¡°I won¡¯t accept Luo Yinghe being whitewashed!¡± ¡°The high society sure knows how to play.¡± ¡°I feel like I¡¯ve stumbled upon something huge.¡± ¡°They¡¯re sisters? The kind that hits you with flowers?¡± ¡°¡­¡± With a loud bang. The tablet was fiercely smashed onto the ground, immediately shattering into pieces. Luo Qinghe, decked in a hospital gown, still pale, clenched her fists with the IV needle still drawing blood. Her lip was bitten red, eyes seething with raging fury, ¡°Take down the trending search.¡± Secretary Shen Yue stood beside the hospital bed, ¡°We¡¯re already on it.¡± Her hair draped over half her face, the exposed side sharp and severe. Her voice was hoarse from a fever all night, ¡°Who released the video?¡± Shen Yue replied, ¡°The young master from the Jin Family.¡± Of course, it had to be the Jin Family. The Luo Family wanted to bid on a plot of land, which happened to belong to the Jin Family. At this junction, she couldn¡¯t afford to offend the Jin Family. She threw off the blanket, stood up, yanked out the IV, and walked out of the hospital room. Luo Yinghe was also in this hospital, right next door. She had been injected with a sedative last night and had just woken up, weak and feeble. Seeing Luo Qinghe coming in, she was so frightened that she immediately sat up. ¡°Sister.¡± Luo Qinghe¡¯s eyes were cold and sharp, filled with chilling frost and brimming with murderous intent. Luo Yinghe shivered with fear, her memories of the previous night fragmented. Doubting herself, she timidly shrank into the bed, not daring to look up, apologizing with her head low, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, sister. I was drugged last night and wasn¡¯t in my right mind.¡± Luo Qinghe sneered, ¡°Not in your right mind, but your mind was clear enough to remember how much you despise me.¡± Yes, she despised her. But she was even more afraid of her. She crawled out of the blankets, kneeling on the bed, wringing her hands and pleading miserably, ¡°I was wrong, I was wrong, sister. I¡¯ll get better, I won¡¯t dare do it again.¡± Her body weak, she staggered, her back sweating cold, ¡°Sorry¡ª¡± She couldn¡¯t finish her plea. Luo Qinghe grabbed her hair violently and dragged her off the bed. Luo Yinghe, with no strength in her legs, fell to the ground, the IV stand toppling over and hitting her calf. Ignoring the pain, she cried out in shock, ¡°Sister!¡± Her hair tugged by Luo Qinghe, tears sprang from the pain, ¡°Sister, please, spare me this once.¡± Luo Qinghe yanked her head back forcefully, forcing her to meet her eyes, ¡°You were not lucid, you said? Now, I¡¯ll make you lucid.¡± The sedative was still in effect inside Luo Yinghe, leaving her powerless as Luo Qinghe dragged her by the hair across the floor, pulling her into the restroom. ¡°Sister!¡± ¡°Sister!¡± Luo Yinghe screamed, tears streaking her face, shivering as she tried to back away. She knew what kind of person her cousin was¡ª a vengeful spirit that was utterly terrifying. Last night, her high fever was the only reason she was at a disadvantage. If Luo Qinghe suffered a loss, for every bit she lost, she would repay tenfold. Luo Qinghe grabbed Luo Yinghe by the hair, lifting her up and turning on the tap, violently forcing her head under the running water. Luo Yinghe screamed, ¡°No!¡± ¡°No, sister!¡± Cold water poured down on her head. With both hands, Luo Qinghe pressed her down into the sink, turning the water to full blast, ¡°Are you lucid yet?¡± The water soon filled up to her face, her eyes blazing with excitement, laughing as she asked, ¡°Are you lucid now?¡± Luo Yinghe struggled violently, water splashing everywhere, her head forcibly held down, icy water pouring into her nose and mouth. She coughed violently, twisting her head, ¡°Cough cough cough¡­ Sister¡­ cough¡­¡± As the water level rose, Luo Qinghe¡¯s laughter grew louder. Beads of blood formed where the needle had been, but she felt no pain, pressing down harder, water splashing her face; she wiped it away, ¡°Speak up, are you lucid yet?¡± ¡°Qing¡­¡± As soon as he opened his mouth, water rushed into his throat: ¡°Cough cough cough¡­¡± Water spilled everywhere on the ground, Luo Yinghe¡¯s struggling movements became smaller and smaller, her whole head was submerged in water, and there was no sound anymore. At that moment, the door was forcefully pushed open. Luo Yinghe¡¯s mother, Xu Yunci, rushed in and saw the mess all over the floor and her daughter in the sink, she cried out in panic, ¡°Yinghe!¡± Hearing the voice, Luo Yinghe suddenly struggled to come up: ¡°Mom¡­ cough¡­ help¡­¡± Luo Qinghe leisurely pushed her down again. Xu Yunci¡¯s eyes were frantic: ¡°Qinghe, Qinghe, let go of your sister.¡± Seeing that Luo Qinghe still hadn¡¯t let go, she ran over to pull and started crying as soon as she spoke, ¡°I¡¯m begging you, Qinghe, she¡¯s your sister, let her go, Qinghe, your auntie begs you.¡± Hmph, such a weak and incompetent thing. Luo Qinghe shrugged off Xu Yunci¡¯s hand and finally released Luo Yinghe. She immediately raised her head from the sink, dizzy and short of breath from swallowing too much water, and sat on the ground, supporting herself with her hands, coughing violently. Luo Qinghe took a towel, leisurely wiped his hands, then threw it on the ground, and slowly approached. Luo Yinghe backed away in panic, her eyes red with fear. Luo Qinghe squatted down, grabbed her chin and lifted it up, picked up the towel from the ground, covered her face with it, and rubbed hard, softly asking, ¡°Will you dare again in the future?¡± Luo Yinghe shook her head vigorously, her wet hair sticking to her face, she gasped heavily, ¡°No, I won¡¯t dare anymore.¡± Xu Yunci sat aside, covering her mouth, afraid to cry out loud. Luo Qinghe let go, stood up, and looked down at the mother and daughter on the ground: ¡°If there¡¯s a next time, I¡¯ll kill you.¡± After saying that, she wiped the blood from the back of her hand and left the restroom. Only when Luo Qinghe was far away did Luo Yinghe no longer suppress herself, sitting on the ground and crying out loud, screaming Luo Qinghe¡¯s name. ¡°Mr. Luo.¡± Shen Yue was waiting at the door, and when he saw Luo Qinghe come out, he immediately handed her a blanket. She wrapped herself in the blanket and walked towards the ward. A click sounded behind her, someone was stealthily taking pictures. She turned her head and glanced at Shen Yue, who understood and went after the person taking pictures. More than twenty minutes later, Shen Yue returned to the ward. Luo Qinghe had already reinserted the needle and was sitting on the hospital bed, checking her emails on a laptop, without looking up, she asked, ¡°Did you catch him?¡± Shen Yue bowed his head and replied, ¡°Caught.¡± She slightly curled her lips, a smile that was not quite a smile: ¡°Break his hands for me.¡± Shen Yue¡¯s expression changed slightly, but then returned to normal: ¡°Understood.¡± Luo Qinghe looked at the computer, the light from the screen reflecting cold white on her face, ¡°Did you find out anything about last night?¡± ¡°Qin Shiyu is still in police custody for illegally cultivating prohibited plants, he¡¯s been detained. His testimony claims the flowers were stolen, but it¡¯s still unclear who took them,¡± Shen Yue paused before continuing, ¡°As for whether Miss Second¡¯s illness is related to those flowers, there¡¯s no research indicating that.¡± How could it be such a coincidence. It must be done by someone, but who? Luo Qinghe¡¯s pupils didn¡¯t move, staring at a spot on the computer, her neatly trimmed nails intermittently tapping on the keyboard, pondering for a while: ¡°Who was spraying water upstairs?¡± Shen Yue shook his head: ¡°According to the Jiang Family¡¯s butler, it was, it was,¡± he felt it was absurd and couldn¡¯t say it. Luo Qinghe raised her head: ¡°Who?¡± ¡°Lord Black Impermanence.¡± At those words, she scoffed. Shen Yue, meticulous as usual, continued: ¡°The person disappeared from the Jiang Family¡¯s rooftop, and the Jiang Family hasn¡¯t found out who it was. However, the Jiang Family butler said, the person on the rooftop had red eyes.¡± Luo Qinghe paused her tapping on the keyboard: ¡°Red?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± She pushed the computer away, leaned back, laughing with a chilling glitter in her eyes: ¡°It¡¯s her again.¡± Professional errand runner, Z. The smile at the corner of her mouth slowly faded, her features sharp and ungroomed, her appearance stern and fierce, she took out her phone and dialed a number: ¡°Miss Zhang.¡± The gentle female voice on the other end answered, ¡°Hello, Mr. Luo.¡± Luo Qinghe, neither hurrying nor pausing, picked up the cup on the cabinet, took a sip: ¡°I have a business proposition for you, Miss Zhang, are you interested?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s hear it.¡± At nine in the morning, Jiang Zhi and Zhou Xufang went to Ji Feifan¡¯s clinic together. Ji Feifan seemed to have just woken up, his black and white, sparse hair messy, not covering the shiny ¡®Mediterranean¡¯, squinting at the patients entering the door: ¡°Why is it you two again?¡± He casually pressed down the messy strands of hair, covering the glistening scalp. If not for his sparse hair, he would be quite a handsome uncle. Zhou Xufang, very polite, greeted first: ¡°Uncle Ji, hello.¡± Ji Feifan looked them over, yawned, barely awake, a few tears of physiological nature seeping from the corners of his eyes: ¡°Which one of you is seeing the doctor?¡± Zhou Xufang answered: ¡°It¡¯s Jiang Zhi.¡± Jiang Zhi followed behind, looking uncomfortable, her beautiful face brooding, silent. Ji Feifan glanced at him again, the complexion wasn¡¯t too bad, what on earth was he sick with, let out another yawn, shuffling in slippers: ¡°Follow me inside.¡± The couple followed him into the consultation room. Ji Feifan, from somewhere, procured a bottle of milk, sipped it through a straw, and asked Jiang Zhi: ¡°What¡¯s the problem?¡± He didn¡¯t speak, just sat on the chair like a lord, merely watching his girlfriend with a weirdly submissive expression. Like the bashful young wife at the village entrance. As he continued to stay silent, Zhou Xufang answered for him: ¡°Infertility.¡± Chapter 134 - 134: 134: Those Things About Treating Infertility Chapter 134: 134: Those Things About Treating Infertility He had been silent, so Zhou Xufang spoke on his behalf, ¡°Infertility.¡± Ji Feifan nearly sprayed out the milk he was drinking and held his breath, his face turning red, ¡°Infertility, huh.¡± Zhou Xufang was calm and collected, ¡°Yeah, infertility.¡± Jiang Zhi¡¯s face was red to his ears, ¡°¡­¡± The topic of infertility, if discussed in depth, would definitely not be suitable for children. Jiang Zhi couldn¡¯t sit still, ¡°Xufang, come with me for a moment.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± ... Zhou Xufang followed Jiang Zhi out. He asked her to sit on the waiting chair outside the consultation room, ¡°You wait for me here.¡± Oh, he¡¯s feeling shy. Zhou Xufang complied with his wish, ¡°Alright.¡± ¡°Then I¡¯m going in.¡± ¡°Mhm.¡± Jiang Zhi went in, and in less than ten seconds, he came out again, his face full of worry. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± He asked, ¡°Did you bring headphones?¡± Zhou Xufang nodded and took out her Bluetooth headphones from her bag. Jiang Zhi put the headphones on her and played a song, ¡°Don¡¯t eavesdrop.¡± Zhou Xufang nodded, her gaze sincere, ¡°Oh.¡± Only then did Jiang Zhi enter, making sure to close the door behind him. Ji Feifan clicked his tongue a few times, really not seeing it coming that this guy turned out to be quite pure-hearted and asked, ¡°Did Bingxue get you to stop taking that medicine?¡± Jiang Zhi pulled up a chair and sat down, ¡°Stopped.¡± ¡°How long ago?¡± ¡°Almost a month.¡± Ji Feifan asked a few more personal male-related questions, and Jiang Zhi answered awkwardly. Ji Feifan threw away the milk carton, ¡°Hand over your hand.¡± Jiang Zhi extended his hand. After taking his pulse, Ji Feifan¡¯s expression revealed that the situation was not good, ¡°You¡¯ve taken too many messy medicines, and your body is in bad shape.¡± Jiang Zhi frowned, ¡°Can¡¯t it be treated?¡± ¡°It depends on your fate,¡± Ji Feifan said as he wrote a prescription, ¡°Start by trying this medicine for a while.¡± In little more than ten minutes, Jiang Zhi came out. Zhou Xufang was sitting properly on the waiting chair, looking obedient. Jiang Zhi walked over and took off her headphones, ¡°Did you eavesdrop?¡± She shook her head and said, ¡°No.¡± ¡°The medicine isn¡¯t ready yet, please wait a bit longer.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Jiang Zhi sat down next to her and took her hand into his, ¡°I have to go to the suburbs to shoot a scene this afternoon, you¡¯re coming with me.¡± Her response came quickly, ¡°I¡¯m not coming.¡± ¡°¡­¡± He poked the center of her palm a couple of times in frustration. Zhou Xufang felt her hand tickle from his poking, so she withdrew her hand, not letting him hold it. She explained, ¡°I have an errand to run this afternoon.¡± ¡°What kind of errand? Is it dangerous?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not dangerous.¡± Zhou Xufang thought for a moment and decided to tell Jiang Zhi about the errand, ¡°A rich woman is keeping a male escort, but that escort isn¡¯t staying put and has used the woman¡¯s money to keep a group of escorts. So she asked me to replace his lubricant with glue.¡± Jiang Zhi, ¡°¡­¡± The rich woman was also a werewolf. There was something Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t quite understand, ¡°But why switch the lubricant?¡± Wasn¡¯t it to get back at the unfaithful duck? Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t yet know what a lubricant was used for. Of course, Jiang Zhi wouldn¡¯t explain it to her, skillfully changing the subject, ¡°Xufang, how many times a day did Doctor Ji tell you to take the medicine?¡± ¡°Once, boil three bowls of water down to one.¡± Just as expected, Jiang Zhi poked her face, ¡°You were eavesdropping.¡± Zhou Xufang, ¡°¡­¡± Jiang Zhi was so cunning. He lifted her head she¡¯d bowed out of a guilty conscience, leaned in close, eye to eye, he was smiling, with ill intent, ¡°That curious, huh?¡± Zhou Xufang, very curious but pretending not to be, ¡°¡­¡± Her ears had already turned red. Jiang Zhi found it amusing, bringing his lips close to her ear and gently blowing, ¡°Then do you want me to explain it to you in detail?¡± She admitted defeat, ¡°No¡­¡± She¡¯s just a paper tiger. Jiang Zhi laughed. After leaving the clinic, Jiang Zhi first dropped Zhou Xufang off at her home, then drove to the set. The filming in the afternoon didn¡¯t go very smoothly, probably because Zhou Xufang wasn¡¯t there, he just couldn¡¯t get into it and wrapped up early to return to the Qingshan Mansion. It hadn¡¯t even been half a day since he had visited the clinic, and Ji Feifan, the big mouth, had already told Xue Bingxue. Xue Bingxue, that white lotus, directly mentioned him in the group chat. I am a little ice and snow: ¡°My teacher said you went to see about infertility and sterility @My Girlfriend Fang Bao¡± That bastard, he did it on purpose. My Girlfriend Fang Bao: ¡°Xue Bingxue, retract it!¡± I am a little ice and snow: ¡°Oh.¡± He retracted the message above. Qiao Nanchu: ¡°Already saw it.¡± The handsomest man in the capital: ¡°I saw it too, and even took a screenshot.¡± The handsomest man in the capital: [Screenshot] These damn scoundrels! Jiang Zhi wanted to twist their dog heads off. My Girlfriend Fang Bao: ¡°Wait till you get back, then we¡¯ll settle the score @I am a little ice and snow¡± I am a little ice and snow: ¡°I didn¡¯t do it on purpose.¡± The handsomest man in the capital: ¡°I¡¯ve wanted to ask you a question for a long time.¡± The handsomest man in the capital: ¡°Do you raise it?¡± Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t reply. Xue Bao Yi was getting ahead of herself. The handsomest man in the capital: ¡°If you won¡¯t answer, I¡¯m going to ask Zhou Xufang @My Girlfriend Fang Bao¡± My Girlfriend Fang Bao: ¡°Go ahead if you want to die.¡± Qiao Nanchu: ¡°I have a friend with the same problem. Do you want the home remedy or not?¡± My Girlfriend Fang Bao: ¡°Enough is enough, don¡¯t provoke me, or else, you¡¯re silenced.¡± Qiao Nanchu: ¡°I¡¯m shutting up.¡± Xue Bingxue also kept quiet, but Xue Bao Yi, loving the drama and not fearing trouble, began spamming ads crazily. The handsomest man in the capital: ¡°For infertility treatment, head to the Imperial City ** Hospital.¡± The handsomest man in the capital: ¡°** Infertility and Sterility Hospital, may good ¡®fortune¡¯ accompany you.¡± The handsomest man in the capital: ¡°** Hospital, where the miracle of life is witnessed.¡± The handsomest man in the capital: ¡°The last hope for infertility patients ¡ª National Infertility and Sterility Base *£ª Hospital.¡± My Girlfriend Fang Bao has left the group chat. The handsomest man in the capital: ¡°Hahahahahahahahahaha¡­¡± Irritated, Jiang Zhi tossed his phone onto the table, his face full of displeasure. Not knowing who else had annoyed Fangbao, to avoid being a victim of collateral damage, Ah Wan spoke several degrees gentler, ¡°Boss, the Luo Family has delivered the Lingzhi,¡± he dutifully asked for instructions, ¡°Should it be sent to the old mansion, or¡­?¡± ¡°Keep it here.¡± Ah Wan understood, ¡°Then I¡¯ll have Ms. Song from my family prepare it for you.¡± Jiang Zhi hummed in agreement, with a reminder, ¡°Zhou Xufang can¡¯t eat eggs.¡± Understood. The Lingzhi was for his darling girlfriend. Ah Wan couldn¡¯t help but be curious: Are there people who can¡¯t eat eggs? What happens if they eat them? Will they break out in a rash? Jiang Zhi lay on the couch for a while, then got up and took a bag of fried herbs from the fridge, poured a bowl of hot water, and soaked the vacuum-sealed herbs to warm them up. Ah Wan drew closer, ¡°What is this medicine? Did the Old Madam send it?¡± Jiang Zhi gave a cold eviction order, ¡°Why are you still here?¡± Ah Wan scratched his head, ¡°Oh, leaving now.¡± After three to five minutes, the medicine was warm. Jiang Zhi bit a hole in the bag, drank a couple of swallows, and, holding the medicine bag in his mouth, went to find his phone to call Zhou Xufang. She picked up very quickly. ¡°Xu Fang.¡± ¡°Mhm.¡± Her voice sounded very obedient. ¡°Have you finished the task?¡± ¡°I have finished it.¡± Zhou Xufang asked, ¡°What are you doing?¡± Jiang Zhi swallowed two mouthfuls of herbal medicine, ¡°Drinking medicine.¡± ¡°Is it bitter?¡± Is it bitter? It probably was bitter; after all, he had been a medicine jar for so many years and couldn¡¯t remember how much medicine he had drunk¡ªbecoming numb to it. But when she asked with such concern, he wanted to act a little, to be coaxed by her, and so he said, ¡°Extremely bitter.¡± Zhou Xufang said ¡®what to do¡¯ a couple of times before suggesting, ¡°Then eat some cotton candy.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want candy.¡± Jiang Zhi threw the empty medicine bag into the trash bin, deliberately pressing his tone to be soft and floppy, ¡°I want to kiss you.¡± Jiang Zhi was very good at acting coy. Exceptionally good. When he talked like this, Zhou Xufang couldn¡¯t help but comply with everything and be especially tender-hearted towards him, ¡°Then I¡¯ll come over to your place now.¡± Jiang Zhi, pleased, genuinely didn¡¯t want to hassle her, ¡°It¡¯s too late, I¡¯ll come to pick you up in the morning.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Jiang Zhi was just about to sweet-talk her a bit more when she said, ¡°A friend is looking for me; I¡¯ll call you back later.¡± ¡°Which friend?¡± ¡°My partner.¡± She added, ¡°It¡¯s a girl.¡± Assuming it had something to do with her errand running work, Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t ask further, ¡°I¡¯ll wait for your call.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Zhou Xufang hung up and sat down in front of the computer. SpongeBob crawled away on the screen, followed by two lines of text popping up: ¡°I¡¯ve given the hair to Tang Xiang already; she hasn¡¯t sent it for verification immediately. I¡¯ve installed a wiretap on her phone. I¡¯ll let you know when there are results.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± ¡°The materials for the new task have been sent to you. The employer is anonymous, offering a five million commission to transfer a packet of high-quality imitation diamonds.¡± Shuangjiang asked, ¡°Do you accept?¡± High-quality imitation diamonds, that¡¯s a crime. Zhou Xufang thought for a while, ¡°Accept.¡± Shuangjiang, ¡°Same old rules?¡± ¡°Mhm, old rules.¡± Generally speaking, if it involved illegal transactions, they would send a tip to the police after the mission was completed. What happened afterwards didn¡¯t concern them too much; they couldn¡¯t interfere too much, otherwise, they would ruin their own reputation. Shuangjiang sent over the task details: ¡°The goods are in a storage locker on the third floor of Jingbai City; deliver to the end of Jingming Road 28 by nine o¡¯clock tomorrow night.¡± This time¡¯s employer was anonymous, with only a surname that might or might not be real. Surname Zhang. The next day, at eight o¡¯clock in the morning, Jiang Zhi came to pick up Zhou Xufang for morning tea. As soon as the two got in the car, Jiang Zhi leaned on her shoulder and closed his eyes to rest. His complexion didn¡¯t look very well. Zhou Xufang lowered her shoulder to make it more comfortable for him, ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Are you not feeling well?¡± He rubbed against her shoulder a few times before opening his eyes, looking sleepy, ¡°Tired.¡± Zhou Xufang tidied up the hair that he had rubbed messy on his forehead and saw Jiang Zhi¡¯s eyes were red and moist, ¡°Did you stay up late last night?¡± He shook his head, his voice nasal, ¡°Had a dream.¡± ¡°Dreamt about what?¡± She asked casually. He looked up, his misty peach blossom eyes held a dim glow of colors, ¡°You.¡± Oh. He had dreamt about her. Zhou Xufang secretly smiled. With his head leaning on her shoulder, and just as he was lifting it, his lips landed right on her face. He pecked her twice, enticing in such a gentle manner, ¡°Won¡¯t you ask what you did in my dream?¡± Zhou Xufang did ask, ¡°What did I do?¡± With him, she was like a rabbit, jumping into any pit he¡¯d dig. He leaned in close to her ear and whispered something. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Zhou Xufang thought of that goodnight emoticon. She covered his mouth, and with the guilty conscience of a thief, she glanced at Ah Wan in the driver¡¯s seat, her face blushing red, annoyed at him, ¡°Stop talking.¡± ¡°Hmph, Jiang Zhi has no shame!¡± Jiang Zhi stopped teasing her, looking extremely sleepy. ¡°The medicine from Ji Feifan must have worked last night, but who knows what he put in it.¡± He lay down, resting his head on her legs, ¡°Let me nap a bit more, wake me when we get there.¡± ¡°Mhm.¡± Zhou Xufang sat still, allowing Jiang Zhi to sleep. Not long after he had laid down, his phone rang. He couldn¡¯t be bothered to answer, so Zhou Xufang reached into his coat pocket and took out the phone. With his head on her legs, he shifted slightly but didn¡¯t open his eyes. ¡°Who is it?¡± Zhou Xufang glanced at the caller ID. ¡°It¡¯s Mr. Qiao.¡± ¡°Answer it for me.¡± He continued with his nap. Zhou Xufang turned her head, covered the phone¡¯s receiver with her hand, and answered quietly, ¡°Hello.¡± A girl¡¯s voice¡­ Qiao Nanchu: ¡°Is that my sister-in-law?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Zhou Xufang¡¯s voice was as soft as a whisper. ¡°Jiang Zhi is asleep.¡± If Jiang Zhi had answered the call, Qiao Nanchu would certainly have teased him about the fleeting pleasures of a spring night, but Jiang Zhi¡¯s girl here was young, shy, and bashful, not someone you could joke with. He cut straight to the point: ¡°Nothing much, just tell Jiang Zhi that Han Feng has committed suicide in jail.¡± Zhou Xufang just listened, not asking further: ¡°Alright.¡± Such a well-behaved young lady, she didn¡¯t seem like a professional errand runner at all. Qiao Nanchu hung up the phone. ¡°Captain Qiao.¡± It was a colleague from the Criminal Intelligence Department, Lu Ning. Qiao Nanchu walked over. ¡°Did we get the address?¡± Lu Ning shook her head. ¡°Just this.¡± She pressed enter, and the computer screen filled up with SpongeBob. ¡°This SpongeBob,¡± said another person, who leaned in close to the computer, his eyes nearly diving into the screen. It was Li Xiaodong from the intelligence department, severely shortsighted yet always reluctant to wear glasses. He stroked his chin and looked again, ¡°Why does it look familiar?¡± Lu Ning pulled up another page. ¡°Do these two look alike?¡± ¡°Indeed, they look like the same person¡¯s style.¡± Li Xiaodong compared the two screens of SpongeBob. ¡°Who is this?¡± ¡°The partner of professional errand runner Z, Shuangjiang,¡± Lu Ning said. ¡°The last time we tracked her address, we also found a screen full of SpongeBob.¡± Shuangjiang. That name was familiar to all of them; a notorious hacker in the underworld who would visit the police station¡¯s data ¡®from time to time.¡¯ She came and went without a trace, and the intelligence department had been chasing her for years without catching a glimpse of her shadow. ¡°These two couldn¡¯t be the same person, could they?¡± Li Xiaodong asked, then shook his head, ¡°That shouldn¡¯t be right, one is the informant for a gold shop robbery and murder case, and the other is an errant runner known for doing evil. One good, one bad, they just don¡¯t match up.¡± ¡°Not entirely evil.¡± Li Xiaodong turned around. ¡°Huh?¡± What did the captain mean? This person who treated the police data like a library to come and go as they pleased, who viewed the city surveillance as if it were a TV to change channels on at will, who played with the entire intelligence department as if it were a kindergarten, wasn¡¯t entirely evil? Qiao Nanchu offered no explanation, tapped on Lu Ning¡¯s desk, ¡°Go into the criminal investigation system and do a check. Compile all the cases that have featured this pattern.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Li Xiaodong rolled back to his seat on his chair; an anonymous email had just popped up on his computer. He clicked to read it, and his expression suddenly changed: ¡°Captain Qiao, 0893 sent a confidential message.¡± 0893 was a code name, an undercover code name. Apart from handling the collection, processing, and storage of criminal case information, the intelligence department also managed the information exchange for all the secret operations of the police department, which formed a vast intelligence network, including the Anti-Smuggling Bureau and the Drug Enforcement Team. 0893, was from the Drug Enforcement Team. Qiao Nanchu asked, ¡°What¡¯s the movement?¡± Li Xiaodong conveyed the contents of the email: ¡°Tonight at nine, the end of Jingming Road number twenty-eight for a delivery.¡± ¡°Notify the Drug Enforcement Team.¡± Li Xiaodong immediately dialed the internal line. Outside the office, the new intern Xiao Hui knocked on the door, ¡°Captain Qiao, there¡¯s someone looking for you.¡± ¡°Who?¡± Xiao Hui grinned slyly, ¡°It¡¯s a beautiful girl.¡± Qiao Nanchu was clearly unexcited, finishing up his work before slowly leaving the office with a cigarette between his lips. Once he left, the office burst into jokes. ¡°It¡¯s not just any girl who¡¯d come looking for Captain Qiao at the station.¡± Captain Qiao was a handsome man, and many girls had come to the station to show their interest, but his temperament was such that he was blunt and unsympathetic, never mixing personal matters with work. He was distant both from women and social courtesies, and after several rejections, the girls stopped coming to embarrass themselves. Li Xiaodong chuckled, ¡°Even the old cactus is going to bloom.¡± Chapter 135 - 135: 135: Touch my people, youre looking for a beating! (One more 2) Chapter 135: 135: Touch my people, you¡¯re looking for a beating! (One more 2) The person hadn¡¯t come in yet. Outside, Qiao Nanchu glanced through the door. The wind was really strong. He strode back, put on a jacket, and then came out, ¡°Why did you come up here?¡± It was his ex-girlfriend, someone somewhat familiar. ¡°Just happened to be passing by this area,¡± Zhang Zixi replied, carrying a canvas bag with her hair tied in a ponytail, looking like a student just out of school, ¡°I still owe you for the rear-end collision repair, and since you never came looking for me, I took the liberty of stopping by.¡± He said, ¡°I forgot.¡± ... The response was very perfunctory. Same old, same old. He was like this five years ago too. ¡°Have you been very busy recently?¡± she asked casually. His reply was precious, ¡°Busy.¡± She smiled, the dimples on her cheeks shallow, ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to invite me in to sit?¡± ¡°Just instant coffee, want some?¡± She nodded. Qiao Nanchu turned to push the door open, entered first, and Zhang Zixi followed behind him. Not bothering to hold the door or wait for the lady. Utterly graceless. The above musings stemmed from a gossipy heart hiding in all directions, peering from the shadows. Qiao Nanchu made a cup of instant coffee and placed it on the table, ¡°Did you come back to the country for work?¡± The question was like catching up with an old friend. Just that the setting wasn¡¯t quite right; he hadn¡¯t invited her into his office but had pulled out a chair for Zhang Zixi in the shared pantry outside instead. She sat down, not at all bothered by the curious glances of the Criminal Intelligence Department colleagues ¡®accidentally passing by, ¡°A bit of both, official and personal matters.¡± ¡°Still staying at the old place?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± After that, he didn¡¯t speak anymore and almost finished his coffee. The instant coffee was very sweet. Zhang Zixi didn¡¯t like sweets, but he probably didn¡¯t remember. He had forgotten even five years ago. She set down her cup, ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to say something?¡± ¡°Say what?¡± He actually thought it over for a moment and then came up with a change of topic, ¡°That Wang or was it Li, are you still with him?¡± Both were wrong. The man she cheated on him with years ago was surnamed Xu, something he never remembered. Zhang Zixi shook her head, the look of loss in her eyes fleeting before she said with an air of nonchalance, ¡°We were never together.¡± ¡°Oh, is that so?¡± After that, Qiao Nanchu fell silent again. A little while later, he stood up and made himself another cup of coffee. Zhang Zixi picked up her bag, ¡°May I use the bathroom?¡± He tilted his chin, pointing the way, ¡°Straight down, then a left turn.¡± No sooner had she left her seat than Li Xiaodong came in with a cup, pretending to fill it up with water and casually greeted, ¡°Who was that, Captain Qiao?¡± ¡°Ex-girlfriend.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Talk about explosive news! Just as Li Xiaodong was about to dig for more gossip, Qiao Nanchu held up his hand to stop him, taking a call from Vice Captain Xing of the Criminal Investigation Team. ¡°Another case?¡± Vice Captain Xing said it wasn¡¯t a criminal case, ¡°Do you know Wen Baiyang?¡± Qiao Nanchu stood up from his seat, ¡°What happened to her?¡± Vice Captain Xing said, ¡°She hit someone on the subway, and the victim is accusing her of assault.¡± Assault? With her little strength? ¡°She won¡¯t talk, don¡¯t touch her, I¡¯ll be there soon.¡± Bang! He knocked into the table, coffee spilling everywhere, but he didn¡¯t bother cleaning it up, his steps were hurried. Li Xiaodong called out from behind, ¡°Captain Qiao, where are you going?¡± ¡°Criminal Investigation Team.¡± Could it be a major case? But that wouldn¡¯t make sense. Even when that crime syndicate was taken down last time, he was drifting along, leisurely puffing on a cigarette. What was concerning was, ¡°Your ex-girlfriend is still¡ª¡± The man had already walked away¡­ Li Xiaodong rested his chin on his hand, deep in thought. Something was fishy. He cleaned up the coffee on the table and thoughtfully made another cup for his boss¡¯s ex-girlfriend before returning to the office. Just as he was at the door, he heard Lu Ning¡¯s voice. ¡°Who are you? This is the office area for the Intelligence Department; outsiders aren¡¯t allowed in.¡± ¡°Sorry, I was looking for the bathroom.¡± ¡°The bathroom is on the left.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°It was Captain Qiao¡¯s ex-girlfriend. She went to the wrong place.¡± The Criminal Investigation Team and the Criminal Intelligence Department don¡¯t share an office, but they are close by, just a ten-minute drive apart. Qiao Nanchu arrived in eight minutes. Vice Captain Xing teased him, ¡°You got here pretty fast.¡± Qiao Nanchu asked directly, ¡°Where is she?¡± Vice Captain Xing pointed behind him, ¡°There.¡± On the chair behind, the young girl, who had been sitting with her head down, looked up upon his arrival. Sitting across from her was a man in his thirties or forties, bald, with a swollen blue nose and a robust build, wearing a jacket with a black dragon tattooed on his neck. Thinking the young girl was staring at him, he snapped ferociously, ¡°What are you looking at! You damn mute.¡± Vice Captain Xing simply said, ¡°It¡¯s him.¡± The one whom Wen Baiyang ¡®assaulted.¡¯ Even inside the police station, that bald guy didn¡¯t know to hold back, still arrogantly taunting, ¡°Deafie, can you hear me cursing you?¡± Qiao Nanchu stood there, observing Wen Baiyang. Her eyes were very red; she had been crying. Normally, he wasn¡¯t very fond of violence, but if he lost his temper, he couldn¡¯t say he wouldn¡¯t hit someone. He walked over and kicked the bald man hard in the back. Caught off guard, the bald man fell to the ground, struck by a solid kick that left his back aching and numb. Enraged, he turned around and roared, ¡°Who the hell are you!¡± Qiao Nanchu pointed at Wen Baiyang, ¡°Her family member.¡± Upon hearing this, the bald guy grew even angrier, leaped up, and stepped onto the chair, ¡°You mother¡ª¡± He didn¡¯t care to listen and just kicked him again. This kick was even harder, sending the bald man crashing into the chair across, nearly shaking his lungs out. Glaring at the source of his pain and having been kicked twice in a row, he was somewhat intimidated and didn¡¯t dare rush forward. Instead, he bluffed by shouting, ¡°You openly assault people in a police station; I¡¯m going to sue you!¡± ¡°Assault?¡± Qiao Nanchu approached and shielded Wen Baiyang with his body. ¡°Who saw it?¡± Still, he denied it! The bald man turned and shouted, ¡°Officers, he¡¯s beating someone up!¡± The officers, from A to D, all looked up at the ceiling. The bald man: ¡°¡­¡± Still confused, he took another kick to the chest. The bald man collapsed on the ground, no longer getting up, wailing pitifully. Qiao Nanchu hadn¡¯t had his fill yet. He rolled up his sleeves and was about to kick again when someone from behind held him back; he turned around to see the young girl¡¯s red eyes pleading him by shaking her head. Vice Captain Xing couldn¡¯t stand to watch, ¡°Captain Qiao, we¡¯re still in the police station.¡± It¡¯s enough; otherwise, we¡¯ll need to detain you too! Captain Qiao?! Shit, the bald man was speechless; this motherfucker turned out to be a cop, and he went ballistic, ¡°I¡¯ll sue¡ª¡± Qiao Nanchu just turned his head. The bald man immediately quieted down. ¡°Give me a few minutes.¡± Qiao Nanchu nodded to Vice Captain Xing and then took Wen Baiyang to the interrogation room, closed the door, and asked her, ¡°Are you hurt anywhere?¡± She replied with sign language, ¡°No.¡± He pulled up a chair for her to sit, while he stood, leaning forward slightly, ¡°It¡¯s just us here, tell me.¡± He wasn¡¯t quite clear on the details; Vice Captain Xing had merely summed it up with two words over the phone¡ª¡±indecent assault.¡± Just hearing those two words, he had thought of killing that guy. She hesitated, remained silent with her head down for a long time before finally looking up and using gestures to tell him what happened. ¡°He pressed against me with that area.¡± She tried not to cry with her eyes reddening, ¡°I was very angry, so I hit him with the computer.¡± ¡°But I hit him too hard.¡± Tearing up, she didn¡¯t know whether it was from frustration or a sense of grievance. Qiao Nanchu squatted down, looking up at her, ¡°It wasn¡¯t too hard. He deserved it.¡± He reached out and touched her head, ¡°You did nothing wrong.¡± She blinked, and tears began to fall. She was born in July, her eighteenth birthday just recently passed. Still young, particularly prone to tears in front of him, and he was not good at comforting, he took a couple of tissues from the table and handed them to her, ¡°What¡¯s there to cry about?¡± She pocketed the tissues he offered, freeing her hands to signal slowly; she used sign language to say, ¡°Because I can¡¯t speak, I¡¯m disabled; that¡¯s why he did that.¡± Because she couldn¡¯t call for help, nor explain. Because she was disabled, thus easy to bully. Qiao Nanchu lifted his hand to wipe away the tears at the corner of her eyes, ¡°You¡¯re fine; it¡¯s just that the world is still too messed up.¡± With her eyes swollen from crying, she only left the interrogation room with him once she stopped crying. Vice Captain Xing took a look, seldom seeing a woman around the usually aloof Qiao Nanchu, and couldn¡¯t help but tease, ¡°What¡¯s this? Even made the young girl cry.¡± Qiao Nanchu told Wen Baiyang to sit down first, ¡°Is there surveillance in the car?¡± Vice Captain Xing replied, ¡°There is surveillance, but it was rush hour, too crowded, nothing was captured.¡± The bald man also sat nearby. Seeing Qiao Nanchu, he wanted to move his chair away but didn¡¯t budge, held in place by a hand, ¡°Name your price, how much to settle this privately?¡± S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The bald man shrank back, ¡°I, I won¡¯t settle, I¡¯m going to sue her.¡± After all, there was no surveillance footage, but he had injuries, he was in the right. Qiao Nanchu wasn¡¯t in a hurry, pulled up a chair and sat down, ¡°Do you know what I do?¡± He didn¡¯t wait for an answer and continued, ¡°I¡¯m a police officer.¡± His hand rested on the table, tapping it, ¡°This is the police station.¡± His meaning was clear in a single sentence¡ªdo you really want to cause trouble on my turf? Chapter 136 - 136: 136: The Right Way to Open Sweet Words (Second Update) Chapter 136: 136: The Right Way to Open Sweet Words (Second Update) Bald hesitated, but despite his hesitation, he recognized the frighteningly expensive watch on Qiao Nanchu¡¯s wrist, ¡°Let¡¯s settle this privately, but you¡¯ll have to compensate me for medical expenses and mental distress.¡± Qiao Nanchu had no objections and spoke concisely, ¡°Name your price.¡± The higher the better. Bald was still not bold enough, only asking for one hundred thousand. After the formalities were completed, Qiao Nanchu asked Wen Baiyang to sit on a chair first because she was going to read lips. He was used to looking at her eyes when he spoke, ¡°Wait here for me, I¡¯ll take you back to school later.¡± She nodded, hugging the computer that had been damaged in the assault, and sat obediently waiting. ... He poured her a cup of hot water before heading to the warehouse of the Criminal Investigation Team to get a pair of gloves. Vice Captain Xing asked if he was going to the scene. He didn¡¯t answer, but said, ¡°Turn off the surveillance in the back lot.¡± Vice Captain Xing figured out what he was intending to do, ¡°You¡¯re still at the station, don¡¯t mess around.¡± This guy, truly wild, even in a police uniform, no one could restrain him. Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He simply stated, ¡°I have my limits.¡± Vice Captain Xing, knowing he could not be persuaded, turned a blind eye, but asked, ¡°Then tell me, who is this young girl?¡± He kept a straight face, ¡°Sister.¡± Vice Captain Xing threw down his pen, chuckling, ¡°You¡¯re pulling my leg, you think I don¡¯t know you¡¯re an only child? Not just Qiao Nanchu¡¯s own dad, but even his uncles don¡¯t have a sister that big.¡± Qiao Nanchu raised his eyebrows and switched to a different tone, matching his suave appearance, ¡°Girlfriend, no good?¡± Vice Captain Xing cursed softly, ¡°There you go, only nineteen and already so audacious.¡± Qiao Nanchu, not in the mood for jokes, turned off the surveillance in the back lot, left the police station, and soon caught up with Bald. He called out, ¡°Hey.¡± Bald turned around, standing still. He beckoned with his finger, ¡°I¡¯m calling you, come here.¡± Bald stepped back, ¡°What, what do you want to do?¡± He pulled out a pair of white rubber gloves from his pocket and put them on, ¡°One hundred thousand, right? That must be quite an injury.¡± Those gloves, often seen on TV in criminal investigations, were worn by police at crime scenes to avoid contaminating evidence with their fingerprints. Bald broke into a run. But he hadn¡¯t gone far before a hand grabbed his collar and pulled him into an empty lot behind the police station, where no one was around. Qiao Nanchu threw him to the ground and picked up a rock, ¡°There are no cameras here, even if I kill you here, it¡¯ll remain an unsolved case.¡± He weighed the rock the size of a fist in his hand, looked down, and said, ¡°Ever heard of the Qiao family from Imperial City?¡± Officials in Imperial City, countless among them bore the surname Qiao. That Qiao family? Bald, sweating profusely with fear, stammered, ¡°Heard of it.¡± His liver trembled, ¡°I don¡¯t want the one hundred thousand¡ª¡± Qiao Nanchu was not very patient and didn¡¯t wait for him to finish. He walked over with the rock in hand, ¡°Remember this well, I¡¯m the fourth child of the Qiao family, Qiao Nanchu.¡± He squatted down, patted the bald head with gloved hands ¡ª his handsome face carrying a mischievous smile ¡ª and said, ¡°If you want revenge, come find me.¡± With that, he swung the rock down. ¡°Ah ah ah ah ah¡ª¡± This world is too horrible, sometimes, violence must be met with violence, evil with evil. In the afternoon, Jiang Zhi only had one scene, which also marked the final scene of ¡°Wilderness.¡± After this last scene, the film would wrap up, even Zhou Xufang made a cameo. A group of Republic-era bosses discussed their next reform plan. Zhou Xufang, as an extra without a frontal shot, poured a cup of tea for these bosses. Vice Director Zhao was also exhausted. This film was essentially a major showcase for the three male leads, with minimal parts for female roles. Even Yu Ran, the female lead, had few scenes. But as an extra, Zhou Xufang almost had to appear daily, and the impromptu addition of extra scenes was quite draining. After wrapping up, the producer invited everyone for afternoon tea, but Jiang Zhi, claiming to feel unwell, passed and instead lured Zhou Xufang to the resting room with two ice cream cones. ¡°Are you accompanying me to the wrap-up party tonight?¡± Zhou Xufang, licking the strawberry-flavored cone, holding Jiang Zhi¡¯s cotton candy box, discovered a new way to eat it, dipping the cotton candy into the ice cream ¡ª the taste was simply amazing. She enjoyed it immensely, her eyes contentedly half-closed, ¡°It¡¯s all crew members, it wouldn¡¯t be appropriate for me to go.¡± Other people¡¯s girlfriends always follow them around, his, not so much. ¡°Why wouldn¡¯t it be appropriate? You¡¯re part of the crew.¡± He spoke earnestly, ¡°You¡¯re an outstanding representative of the extras.¡± The outstanding extra representative, Zhou Xufang took another lick of her cone and declined the director¡¯s invitation, ¡°I won¡¯t go, I have work.¡± Another task? Jiang Zhi immediately asked, ¡°What time, where?¡± ¡°Nine o¡¯clock, Jingming Road.¡± Zhou Xufang briefly summarized the task, ¡°Deliver a package.¡± He wanted to ask her not to go, feeling it would seem unreasonable and unappreciative on his part, so Jiang Zhi asked, ¡°Can¡¯t I come with you? I won¡¯t be in your way.¡± Zhou Xufang shook her head, ¡°You would distract me.¡± Her ability to protect herself was sufficient. If Jiang Zhi came along, she would worry about him. Jiang Zhi confiscated the ice cream cone from her hand, ¡°Why take on so much work?¡± He indeed wanted to pamper her a bit, to have her only accompany him and not allow her to do anything else. But that was just a thought¡ªhe dared not treat her with brute force. Zhou Xufang answered, ¡°To make money.¡± Jiang Zhi wasn¡¯t satisfied with that answer, ¡°I have money.¡± She knew he was wealthy, ¡°Your money should be used for your business; my money can be used to support you.¡± Holding a piece of candy, she guided Jiang Zhi¡¯s hand to dip it into his ice cream cone and while eating it, she earnestly explained, ¡°I¡¯ve seen on TV that it¡¯s easy for entrepreneurs to make money but also easy to go bankrupt. If I have money, there¡¯s nothing to fear. Even if you fail in your business ventures, I can still allow you to live a life of great wealth.¡± She spoke with utmost seriousness, clearly having given it much thought. Jiang Zhi was charmed by the words ¡®great wealth,¡¯ stars twinkling in his beautiful eyes. He returned the ice cream cone to her, dipping the candy and feeding it to her, ¡°I won¡¯t go bankrupt, you don¡¯t need to support me.¡± Zhou Xufang disagreed, ¡°Even if you don¡¯t go bankrupt, you will still have to confront the Jiang Family in the future and will need a lot of capital. I can¡¯t give you much, only enough to ensure you have no worries about food and clothing.¡± The more he heard, the better it sounded, joy visibly escaping from his eyes. At that point, Zhou Xufang started concentrating on making plans: ¡°You are twenty-four now, if you live to a hundred, that¡¯s 76 more years. Since you¡¯re so delicate, requiring the best food and clothes, not to mention cars and houses; even if I don¡¯t buy you diamond watches every year, it will still cost tens of millions annually. Over seventy-six years¡­¡± she did a quick calculation, ¡°that¡¯s a lot of money, and I haven¡¯t saved enough yet.¡± Moreover, she wanted to buy Jiang Zhi diamond watches since all his friends had them. He couldn¡¯t be the only one without. So, yes, she needed to save more. He was so charmed by her that he couldn¡¯t consider whether this counted as being a kept man: ¡°I can do without the best food or clothes, and I don¡¯t need the cars, houses, or watches.¡± Like a big golden retriever being stroked, he hugged her and affectionately nuzzled her, ¡°Having you is enough.¡± ¡°How could that be okay?¡± Zhou Xufang felt it wasn¡¯t right and insisted, ¡°How can you be raised in poverty? You must be raised in luxury!¡± He laughed so hard his shoulders shook. Zhou Xufang was serious, ¡°Don¡¯t laugh, I¡¯m not joking.¡± ¡°Alright, I won¡¯t laugh.¡± His mouth was still smiling, his eyes still twinkling with amusement, as he kept kissing her on the couch, relentless like a dog¡­ At eight in the evening, the vibrant nightlife was just beginning. The wrap party was held at a bar where Jiang Zhi had booked an entire floor for them to make noise, though naturally, no one dared to get too rowdy in his presence as he disliked noise. He found a corner to sit in, bored, watching his watch count the time. ¡°Director Jiang.¡± Jiang Zhi lifted his eyelids. It was Fang Lixiang. Fang Lixiang¡¯s choice of casual wear was always indescribable. Coming to a bar, he wore a garishly patterned robe and within half an hour was hot like a dog, panting and asking, ¡°Why isn¡¯t Xu Fang here?¡± ¡°She went to make money and support the family.¡± ¡°¡­¡± So, Director Jiang, are you just responsible for being pretty? Fang Lixiang genuinely praised, ¡°Xu Fang is truly virtuous.¡± Jiang Zhi replied, ¡°Hmm.¡± He continued watching his watch. After a round of toasts, a few actors came over to offer drinks. Jiang Zhi, lacking any enthusiasm, brushed them off, ¡°I drove here; I¡¯m not drinking.¡± The producer next to him teasingly ventured, ¡°Does your partner keep a tight leash at home?¡± ¡°Not really.¡± He poured himself a glass of milk without looking up, sitting in the dimmest light, his face turned sideways, like a fine young nobleman walked out of a painting, ¡°I¡¯m self-disciplined.¡± Either holding a graceful partner or a stunningly beautiful one, the movie folks were left speechless¡­ At eight-thirty. There was still half an hour left until the deadline. The intelligence department was on high alert; they had been tracking this drug trafficking gang for over six months, sending out four undercover agents, three of whom had already lost contact. ¡°What¡¯s the route?¡± ¡°Captain Xiao has already sent it over.¡± Lu Ning pulled up the route map. Qiao Nanchu confirmed once more, ¡°The surveillance can be cut now.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Lu Ning¡¯s fingers moved rapidly over the keyboard; in less than thirty seconds, all the surveillance of the routes was transferred to the intelligence department¡¯s computers. A wall full of monitors was dizzying to behold. Li Xiaodong was somewhat excited, ¡°From picking up the goods to delivery, our police are everywhere along the way. Captain Xiao has prepared several contingency plans just for the escape routes; even if this tumor grows wings, it won¡¯t be able to fly away this time.¡± No sooner had he finished speaking¡ª He was dumbstruck, ¡°What¡¯s going on?!¡± All the computer monitors suddenly went dark. Lu Ning connected to the computers, swiftly entering a string of codes, but still, there was no response: ¡°The surveillance has been intercepted.¡± Qiao Nanchu looked at the dark computer screens, pondered for a moment, then said, ¡°Check who is interfering.¡± Chapter 137 - 137: 137: Zhou Xufangs domineering counterattack from desperation! Chapter 137: 137: Zhou Xufang¡¯s domineering counterattack from desperation! S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Check who¡¯s breaching our system?¡± Lu Ning quickly typed on the keyboard, a full screen of codes scrolling continuously. After they stopped, she tapped the enter key, and got in! Holy shit! Lu Ning felt faint, ¡°It¡¯s a thousand-digit password.¡± She switched the entry point and started cracking it. The speed was so fast that she could barely keep up, ¡°This is a high-level hacker, Captain Qiao, I need assistance.¡± Qiao Nanchu called over a colleague from the tech team, ¡°Yao An, stop what you¡¯re doing and assist Lu Ning.¡± Yao An connected his computer and flexed his fingers, ¡°OK.¡± ... The entire office resounded with the sound of keyboard clattering, so fast it made one¡¯s heartbeat race. Qiao Nanchu stepped aside and connected with Captain Xiao of the Drug Enforcement Team: ¡°Our surveillance got hacked, it could be a trap, tell Zihao to return to the team immediately.¡± If it was a trap set by the drug trafficking gang, it meant that their undercover was probably blown. Captain Xiao understood, ¡°Thanks, I¡¯ll have Zihao return to the team right away.¡± Code name 0893, name: Jiao Zihao, thirty-eight years old, male. Apart from his direct superior, Captain Xiao, only Qiao Nanchu knew his real name and identity. ¡°Captain Qiao!¡± Lu Ning called out. Qiao Nanchu ended the call and returned to the office, casting a glance at Lu Ning¡¯s computer screen filled with SpongeBob¡­ This thing again. Li Xiaodong found it inconceivable, ¡°Could it be that we¡¯ve encountered our old nemesis again?¡± Who else could their old nemesis be? ¡ªThe errand runner hacker who visited their Criminal Intelligence Department every now and then. Lu Ning moved her sore and numb fingers, sticking to the facts, ¡°It¡¯s a bit difficult; even with Yao An¡¯s help, we can barely keep up, and we still can¡¯t crack her password. This style and speed, it does indeed resemble Shuangjiang.¡± Li Xiaodong stared at the screen full of SpongeBob and pondered, ¡°Isn¡¯t he just an errand runner? Since when did he join a drug trafficking gang?¡± Yao An interjected, ¡°He might be employed by them.¡± ¡°Tech team,¡± Qiao Nanchu started to speak. He knocked on the table and issued a direct order, ¡°Drop everything you¡¯re doing and catch this SpongeBob for me first.¡± ¡°Yes Sir.¡± At this moment, the neon lights began to illuminate the twilight zone of glamour. After cutting the wrapped-up cake, the heavy metal music in the bar started booming. An actor from the cast was DJing on stage, with strobe lights flickering, setting an exhilarating atmosphere. Fang Lixiang felt so hot she questioned her life choices. She removed her flowered jacket but was still overheated. How foolish she had been to wear a jacket to a bar, and even more so to wear a sweater underneath it. She poured herself a glass of ice beer and downed it in one gulp. At that moment, from a position above to her left, someone called her, ¡°Miss Fang.¡± Fang Lixiang turned her head and revealed a standard professional fake smile, ¡°President Lin.¡± Wasn¡¯t this the investor who had knocked on two actresses¡¯ doors in one night? Burly and complacent. What was his name¡­ oh, Lin Qianxun. Such a waste of a ¡®modest and gentlemanly¡¯ name. Lin Qianxun straightened his tie, putting forth the manner of a business elite, ¡°May I sit here?¡± Could she refuse? An investor was like a father, like a mother, like the rain and sunshine. She couldn¡¯t refuse, continuing with her professional fake smile, ¡°Sure¡ª¡± Someone interrupted from above to her right, ¡°You can¡¯t.¡± That voice¡­ Fang Lixiang turned her head, ¡°Boss.¡± This was also a father, also a mother, and also rain and sunshine. ¡°Wilderness¡± was Jiang Zhi¡¯s movie, naturally Xue Baoyi had invested in it, also being one of the investors, his presence at the wrap party was not surprising. Xue Baoyi was a hairstyle fanatic, sporting a new look again with some blue on top and a diamond stud on his right earlobe, wearing a biker-style jacket and effortlessly being the brightest star in the bar wherever he stood. He stretched out a hand and pointed next to Fang Lixiang, ¡°That¡¯s my spot.¡± Second Young Master Xue¡¯s nickname was well-known in the entertainment industry, after all, he was from the Xue Family and ¡®Prince¡¯ of Imperial City. Lin Qianxun naturally gave him respect, hastily raising his glass in apology, ¡°I didn¡¯t realize it was Second Young Master Xue¡¯s person, my apologies, my apologies.¡± Second Young Master Xue waved his hand dismissively. Lin Qianxun quickly retreated. Indeed, it was a world that spoke with money. Fang Lixiang felt quite touched by this. After her thoughts, she said to Xue Baoyi, ¡°Boss, I think President Lin misunderstood.¡± Xue Baoyi, straddling her leg as he sat down, moved aside her flowered jacket: ¡°What misunderstanding? I own the entirety of Baoguang, and thus all employees of Baoguang are mine,¡± he pointed a finger at Fang Lixiang, ¡°including you.¡± Fang Lixiang: ¡°Oh.¡± Xue Baoyi flicked his trendy fringe and called out, ¡°Employee Fang Lixiang.¡± ¡°¡­¡± That tone, imperial as an emperor¡¯s. Employee Fang Lixiang: ¡°Present, boss.¡± He leaned back on the sofa, crossed his legs, and looked at people from the corner of his eye, his gaze like a favored consort graced with the dragon¡¯s favor, ordering, ¡°Pour me a drink.¡± To Fang Lixiang, she felt like the eunuch waiting upon him in court, ¡°Yes, boss.¡± She quickly poured the fine wine. Xue Baoyi drank leisurely, occasionally ordering people around him for some fruit or whatever, clearly in no rush, lazily lifting his eyes, just in time to catch Jiang Zhi standing up from his seat. He asked, ¡°Brother Zhi, where are you going?¡± Jiang Zhi ignored him. He got up and walked over, then after a couple of steps, he called Fang Lixiang to follow: ¡°Come with me.¡± To prevent more shortsighted people from bothering her. ¡°Oh.¡± Eunuch Fang Lixiang followed closely. Xue Baoyi, walking with a purposeful stride, blocked Jiang Zhi¡¯s path, ¡°You¡¯re leaving?¡± The wrap party was centered around him, and he was the main attraction; it made no sense to just walk away. Jiang Zhi, seemingly indifferent, ¡°It¡¯s half-past eight.¡± ¡°It¡¯s only half-past eight.¡± His mind seemed elsewhere, his gaze foggy, not fully present, ¡°Zhou Xufang¡¯s shooting ends at nine, and I¡¯m going to pick her up.¡± Alright then. He truly couldn¡¯t spend a moment without Zhou Xufang. At that moment, his phone rang. Jiang Zhi answered; it was Qiao Nanchu. Whatever was said, he couldn¡¯t hear clearly; the DJ¡¯s music on the stage was too loud, and he felt irritated, ¡°It¡¯s too noisy, speak up.¡± He handed a card to Xue Baoyi, ¡°Settle the bill for me.¡± Without waiting for a reply, he headed out. On the phone, Qiao Nanchu was concise, ¡°Zhou Xufang¡¯s in trouble.¡± Jiang Zhi halted, ¡°What do you mean? Make it clear.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a case with the Drug Enforcement Team. Our undercover just sent a secret report, notifying that there¡¯s a drug deal tonight. We just found out that a third party has intervened, and it¡¯s very likely that Zhou Xufang¡¯s partner is involved.¡± Zhou Xufang never touched illegal transactions. It was a trap. Jiang Zhi quickly walked outside, his expression disturbed, asking, ¡°What time and where is the deal?¡± ¡°Nine o¡¯clock, Jingming Road.¡± Nine o¡¯clock, Jingming Road. Zhou Xufang really went there for a task. Jiang Zhi¡¯s hand holding the phone tightened, ¡°Nanchu, help me.¡± Even though he knew Qiao Nanchu also stood as a police officer, he still made the request, as he had no choice; Zhou Xufang was his lifeline. Qiao Nanchu did not hesitate and gave a grunt of affirmation, ¡°I can speak to the Drug Enforcement Team, but I suspect there are others in the shadows; it¡¯s best to stop Zhou Xufang from going to Jingming Road.¡± ¡°Contact me if anything happens.¡± After hanging up, Jiang Zhi tried to call Zhou Xufang, but couldn¡¯t get through¡ªher phone was off. She normally wouldn¡¯t have it on during a task. Jiang Zhi took a deep breath and walked into the wintry night. The car parked outside a bar, and Ah Wan got out of the vehicle, ¡°Boss, why did you come out?¡± Jiang Zhi pulled the car door open and sat inside, ¡°Go to Jingming Road.¡± Eight forty-five. The office of the Criminal Intelligence Department was quiet, save for the rapid clicking of keyboard keys. All of a sudden, Yao An shouted in surprise, ¡°Captain Qiao! Come look at this.¡± Qiao Nanchu tossed his half-smoked cigarette into the ashtray and stood up to approach. Yao An enlarged the red dot moving on the screen and charted a course, ¡°This tracker¡¯s moving straight towards Jingming Road.¡± It wasn¡¯t a police tracker. ¡°Who sent this?¡± ¡°An unknown IP.¡± Monitors had just been hijacked, and now they sent a location¡ªwhat¡¯s the meaning? Was this a provocation toward the police or someone using them as a cat¡¯s paw? Qiao Nanchu stroked his chin, pondering for a moment, ¡°First, send the location to Captain Xiao.¡± ¡°OK.¡± Eight forty-six. FOR headquarters, a glance reveals nothing but computers, digitally styled interior, three projectors, one surveillance wall, and touchscreens every few steps. FOR, established only half a year ago, had become the largest errand runner company in the country. ¡°Boss.¡± A man in his thirties, wearing a plaid shirt and glasses, sat in front of a computer, his fingers moving swiftly across the keyboard, ¡°The location has been sent to the police.¡± The man called boss, with a buzz cut, square face, thick eyebrows, and big eyes, tall and strong, was FOR¡¯s leader Ah Win. Tattooed sleeves and a coin-sized scar on his temple, he started by collecting debts, had eight priors, and was well-known in the circles for being ruthless. Ah Win walked over, leaned on the desk with his sleeves rolled up revealing his tattooed arms, ¡°Did you clean up any traces?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry about my work.¡± After double-checking, Ah Win moved toward the filing cabinet, shifted the only English book on top aside, and a door behind the cabinet revealed itself; he stepped through. ¡°President Zhang.¡± The woman was seated in an executive chair, back to him, with only her slender apricot heels visible, ¡°Is it done?¡± Ah Win nodded in confirmation, ¡°The location is right on the goods, and it¡¯s been sent to the authorities¡ªwe should get a hit this time.¡± The woman rested her hand on the armrest and tapped, ¡°Securing the evidence and the culprit is the police¡¯s job. Your task is to ensure that ¡®Z¡¯ doesn¡¯t come back.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, the people are already sent out.¡± Eight fifty-nine, Jingming Road. Music from a square dance in the opposite park roared deafeningly; across the street, the alley remained deserted, save for the occasional passerby. Drug Enforcement Team¡¯s undercover agents blended with those passers-by, ¡°accidentally¡± passing by. Nine o¡¯clock sharp¡ª The man selling helium balloons by the roadside fiddled with his earpiece, whispering low, ¡°Number one position, target spotted!¡± Ten meters away. A couple sitting by the green belt stood up; the man adjusted his hat and lowered his head, ¡°Number two position, target spotted!¡± Another ten meters. ¡°Number three position, target spotted.¡± Number twenty-eight Jingming Road was at the end of the street, with only a closed-down kindergarten. There was the drop-off point. The target had appeared, about one meter seventy tall, very thin, wearing a black top, black pants, black hat, a black mask, and carrying a black handbag. At the neighboring barbecue stand, a man put down his beer bottle, fingered the gun at his waist, and opened his earpiece, ¡°Captain Xiao, target approaching.¡± The Drug Enforcement Team¡¯s commander Captain Xiao was standing opposite the kindergarten, in a small shop. He tossed away his cigarette and walked out of the shop, ¡°All units ready.¡± The target stopped at the kindergarten¡¯s door, waited for fifteen minutes with no one coming to receive the goods, seeming hesitant, pacing four times before dropping the bag and leaving. All undercover drug enforcement officers were in place, ready to act. Captain Xiao shouted, ¡°1¡ª¡± ¡°2¡ª¡± ¡°3!¡± ¡°Take him!¡± At the command, some twenty undercover drug enforcement officers, guns drawn, surrounded the target, who seemed petrified, standing in shock; he wore large glasses which nearly covered his entire face. Captain Xiao, gun in hand, closed in, eyes locked on the target¡¯s hands, not daring to be careless, yelled, ¡°Raise your hands!¡± The target didn¡¯t hesitate and immediately raised his hands. Captain Xiao moved closer, ¡°Put your hands on your head and squat down!¡± The target complied, putting his hands on his head and squatting down. Captain Xiao signaled. The deputy leader understood immediately and went to check the goods¡ªupon opening the black handbag, he froze. Captain Xiao asked, ¡°What¡¯s the situation?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not the goods.¡± ¡°Then what is it?¡± The deputy leader turned the bag upside down, emptying its contents: ¡°It¡¯s AD milk calcium.¡± The entire Drug Enforcement Team: ¡°¡­¡± What was going on?! A drug bust turned up a bunch of milk calcium? Li Xiao, who was closest to the suspect, kicked him down to the ground, ¡°Who are you?¡± The suspect sat down hard, his glasses and hat falling off. As he lifted his face, beads of sweat the size of beans were visible, trembling as he removed his mask, ¡°I, I, I¡¯m Wang Dahai.¡± Wang Dahai had wet his pants. Such a coward, clearly a decoy! Captain Xiao crouched down, grabbed the suspect, and slapped on the handcuffs, ¡°Who sent you?¡± Wang Dahai looked about to cry, feeling wronged, sad, and scared, ¡°It was, it was Lord Black Impermanence.¡± Chapter 138 - 138: 138: Decisive Strike, A Exploded (Second Update) Chapter 138: 138: Decisive Strike, A Exploded (Second Update) ¡°It¡¯s¡­ it¡¯s Lord Black Impermanence.¡± Lord Black Impermanence? Bullshit! Captain Xiao lost his temper and kicked out, ¡°Damn it, spout nonsense again and I¡¯ll beat you!¡± Scowling, he asked again, ¡°Say it again, who sent you?¡± Wang Dahai was still clutching his head, trembling all over, and began to cry, ¡°I¡­ I wasn¡¯t talking nonsense, it was Lord Black Impermanence.¡± Must be an idiot. ... Captain Xiao grabbed the bag and searched through it, indeed finding a tracking device on top of it. Which meant the operation had been blown, the contact had fled, leaving an idiot to bring a bag of AD Calcium Milk as a decoy. Damn it! Captain Xiao felt like punching someone. Wang Dahai immediately hugged his head and shrank back, very frightened, very shocked, but he resolutely decided to go for broke, his voice trembling as he began to speak, ¡°Lord Black¡­ Black¡­ Black Impermanence also had a message.¡± Every other word was Lord Black Impermanence; he really made it sound like some mysterious spirit calling. Captain Xiao actually wanted to see what kind of demon or ghost was playing tricks: ¡°What did he say?¡± Wang Dahai¡¯s face looked exactly like he was possessed, amidst the terror, there was a strange mixture of reverence, ¡°Lord Black Impermanence said, there are many little ghosts around here.¡± One Lord Black Impermanence wasn¡¯t enough, now there¡¯s a whole bunch of little ghosts. Damn it all! In the dead of the night, the Drug Enforcement Team was kept awake, each one turned into a confused mess, Li Xiao rubbed his forehead, ¡°What the hell is all this?¡± He kicked a stone in irritation, hitting a car just right. The last digits of the license plate, four threes, huh. That kind of license plate, there¡¯s only one in the entire police department¡ªit belonged to the boss of the intelligence unit, the Qiao family¡¯s fourth son. Although Li Xiao didn¡¯t care for the rich sons who drove with one hand, he still respected the head of the intelligence unit: ¡°Captain Qiao, what brings you here?¡± Qiao Nanchu got out of the car, didn¡¯t come over, but leaned against the door with his arms crossed: ¡°Don¡¯t mind me, go catch ghosts.¡± Li Xiao had a baffled look, ¡°Huh?¡± Qiao Nanchu stood beside his fancy car, looking carefree and like a playboy rather than a policeman, smiling but not quite smiling, he said, ¡°There are little ghosts around.¡± Li Xiao still didn¡¯t understand, ¡°What little ghosts?¡± Captain Xiao had already given the order, ¡°Search.¡± In the shadows. The lurking underlings were nervous, wiping the sweat from their heads: ¡°Boss, something¡¯s not right.¡± The man called boss touched the tattoo on his neck, thought for a moment, then walked out from the back alley of the kindergarten, activated his earpiece and said, ¡°Everyone retreat.¡± ¡°There!¡± The Drug Enforcement Team was closing in. The man didn¡¯t have time to plan, he only urged those hidden in the dark, ¡°Hurry up and retreat!¡± Retreat? The Drug Enforcement Team had seven apprehension plans in place for the planned escape routes for this drug sweep, wishing to retreat, but where to? ¡°Bang!¡± Captain Xiao fired a shot into the air, ¡°Arrest everyone, don¡¯t let a single one get away.¡± ¡°Yes Sir!¡± FOR headquarters. The man with long bangs rushed in from the outside in a hurry, screaming in panic, ¡°Boss, boss!¡± Ah Win frowned, the scar on his forehead twitched twice, ¡°What are you shrieking about?¡± ¡°Trouble, Brother Cheng called, said Z didn¡¯t go to Jingming Road, all the brothers we sent have been caught by the cops.¡± Upon hearing this, Ah Win clenched his fist, his tattooed forearm muscles bulged and tensed up: ¡°What rubbish! If Z didn¡¯t go to Jingming Road, then where did she go?¡± Where indeed? The girl¡¯s voice was low, ¡°I¡¯m right here.¡± The door was pushed open, and Zhou Xufang walked in dressed in black, carrying a baseball bat. A black cap covered her forehead, beneath which were a pair of special-function glasses, a black mask, a leather jacket over a hoodie, paired with black pencil pants, and Doc Martens. She moved with precision and cleanliness, her movements didn¡¯t carry a breeze but an aura of menace. The errand runner, Z. Her showing up at FOR¡¯s headquarters was completely unexpected. Ah Win was astounded, his eyes flashed with fleeting panic, his arm muscles completely tensed, ready to fight at any moment: ¡°How did you get here?¡± It was, of course, time to settle accounts. Zhou Xufang put down the black backpack, tossed it on the floor, dragged the baseball bat forward a couple of steps, stopped, then raised the bat and smashed it into the computer by the door. Clang! The computer screen shattered instantly. Ah Win stepped back, and all the computer technicians in the large office froze. That single loud noise had all of FOR¡¯s enforcers coming out, from upstairs and downstairs, at least thirty or forty people. No one expected Zhou Xufang to pick up a metal bar and tap it on the computer desk. Clearly a young girl, yet when she spoke, she exuded an intimidating presence: ¡°Where is that guy named Zhang? Call him out.¡± Forty minutes earlier. Zhou Xufang had taken the goods out from the storage locker on the third floor of Jingbai City and didn¡¯t take the roads, fearing being tracked, she took ¡®the air route¡¯¡ªrunning from building to building. Although tiring, it was safe. Not even a thousand meters out from Jingbai City, Shuangjiang called her to stop. ¡°Xu Fang, something¡¯s not right.¡± Zhou Xufang stopped on the rooftop of a building, looking down over the bustling street below: ¡°What is it?¡± The synthetic voice of Shuangjiang came through the earpiece: ¡°Besides me, a third party is tampering with the surveillance on this route.¡± An ambush? Zhou Xufang set the bag down, opened it, and tore through layer after layer of white wrapping paper, and when she reached the very last layer, her expression darkened, ¡°We¡¯ve been played, it¡¯s not counterfeit diamonds in the bag, it¡¯s narcotics.¡± She¡¯d been set up. ¡°Can you check for a tracking device?¡± Zhou Xufang flipped the bag over and saw it, ¡°Yes, there is one.¡± Shuangjiang said, ¡°Wait for me three minutes.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Zhou Xufang found a spot to sit and weighed the bag in her hold. The quantity inside was enough for a death penalty. They were out to kill her. Exactly three minutes passed. Shuangjiang pulled out the locator. ¡°The tracking server is at FOR¡¯s headquarters.¡± She speculated, ¡°Someone must have hired FOR, purposely leading us to Jingming Road. There might be an ambush there.¡± Not just FOR¡¯s people, but likely the police were also involved. Zhou Xufang looked up at the sky¡ªno stars at all¡ªher mood couldn¡¯t be any worse. ¡°If it¡¯s just to lure me over, there¡¯s no need to involve drugs and the police. There must be another motive.¡± It seemed like a trap, birds of a feather falling together. She was in the worst of moods. She was supposed to meet Jiang Zhi at nine, but now it looked like that would have to be postponed. She missed Jiang Zhi so much¡­ she didn¡¯t want to do this anymore¡­ Shuangjiang asked her opinion, ¡°What should we do?¡± ¡°We have to figure it out.¡± Zhou Xufang never liked being in the dark, nor did she enjoy trouble. But when someone messed with her, she had to mess back. Without establishing authority, how can one survive in the world of errand runners? Shuangjiang had concerns: ¡°You can¡¯t go to Jingming Road. If you do, things will get messy.¡± ¡°Yeah, I know.¡± Zhou Xufang stood up with her bag and walked to the edge of the rooftop. It wasn¡¯t very high. With a leap, she jumped down. Perfect¡ªrounding the corner, there was a small supermarket. Inside, there was just one cashier, a young guy with a strikingly square face¡ªvery square, like a perfect rectangle. Rectangle-face guy was engrossed in a video game. Zhou Xufang¡¯s attire didn¡¯t draw his notice; head down, he continued gaming, only saying, ¡°Get whatever you need.¡± Zhou Xufang went in and asked, ¡°Is there a black backpack here?¡± ¡°Top of the third shelf on the left.¡± Rectangle-face guy was busy playing a shooting game, shouting for his teammates to heal up. Having just healed them, a hand in a black glove placed a black backpack on the counter, followed by several cartons of AD calcium milk. He momentarily put down his phone, though his eyes reluctantly stayed glued to the screen as he scanned the items. ¡°That¡¯s one eighty-four. Cash or¡ª¡± He picked up his phone again, finally looking up at the customer. ¡°Duang!¡± The phone hit the ground. In the game, his character crashed and died. The guy was terrified: ¡°You¡ªyou¡¯re robbing the place?¡± This head-to-toe getup is typically a robber¡¯s, usually those big-time heist kind with knives and guns. Zhou Xu spoke with a low voice, ¡°I¡¯m not robbing.¡± She stuffed the calcium milk into the backpack, surprised, ¡°You can see me?¡± What else? He¡¯s not a ghost to be invisible, right? The ¡®robber¡¯ asked, ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± If he doesn¡¯t answer, will she pull out a gun and shoot him? Better to answer; better alive than dead: ¡°Wang Dahai.¡± At that moment, he wanted to scream for help, but he didn¡¯t dare. He feared being silenced. The ¡®robber¡¯ called out his name, then exclaimed with amazement, ¡°You have a unique bone structure, a destiny unlike others.¡± Wang Dahai: ¡°??¡± Do today¡¯s robbers act this wild? Moreover, a female robber? She was serious, like a somber preacher, ¡°Others can¡¯t see me because I am a ghost.¡± Wang Dahai: ¡°!!¡± S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Just rob and get it over with¡­ don¡¯t play the ghost card. Just hurry up and rob, and after that get out¡­ But she wasn¡¯t interested in robbing. She popped her hooded head out, just a mass of black, and said, ¡°I am a Hell Messenger, Lord Black Impermanence.¡± And then, a miracle happened. In the blink of an eye, she vanished. Another blink, and she reappeared. With the next blink, she leaped to the ceiling, shattering the hanging light. Instant darkness, then in the next second, she whipped out a flashlight and shone it forward, illuminating Wang Dahai. He sat down hard on the floor and began to screech, ¡°Ghost ah ah ah¡ª¡± The silent ghost ¡®floated¡¯ over, flashlight still on Wang Dahai¡¯s square face, ¡°Don¡¯t scream.¡± A living, breathing ghost¡­ Wang Dahai covered his mouth, too terrified to make a sound, nearly fainting as he scooted backward, tears and snot streaming, ¡°Don¡¯t¡ªdon¡¯t¡ªdon¡¯t come any closer¡­¡± But the ghost followed him. His eyes rolled back; he was about to pass out. ¡°Don¡¯t faint,¡± the female ghost said. ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid; I won¡¯t hurt you. I told you, you have a unique bone structure, capable of seeing Lord Ghost Messenger, a distinguished mortal messenger.¡± In immense fear, the distinguished mortal messenger plunged into a deep confusion. ¡°Lord Black Impermanence has a task for you,¡± she said, leaning closer, her black figure dominating. ¡°Mortal messenger, can you fulfill it?¡± Mortal messenger: ¡°??¡± The mortal messenger only wanted to soil himself. Rewind to nine sixteen, at FOR¡¯s headquarters. Bang. A computer screen shattered into pieces. Zhou Xufang, wielding a metal baseball bat, tapped on the desk with a deep, commanding voice, ¡°Bring out that guy named Zhang.¡± Ah Win raised his hand, and the technicians stepped back as muscular enforcers encircled them. With a vicious look and a twitching scar on his forehead, his gaze fixed on Zhou Xufang like a venomous snake, ¡°Do you know where you are? Are you daring to come here alone?¡± She didn¡¯t speak but lifted the bat again and smashed it down. Bang! Another computer went to pieces, and the adjacent glass door shattered in response. She crouched down, rested the bat on her shoulder, and retied her loose shoelaces. Lifting her head, her eyes fierce behind her glasses, she said, ¡°Do you know who I am? Is there anywhere I wouldn¡¯t dare go?¡± She put her hoodie over her cap and stood up, weighing the baseball bat in her hand. ¡°I don¡¯t pull all-nighters. I need to get back quickly, so let¡¯s speed this up. All of you, come at once.¡± Such audacity. Ah Win clapped his hands. His tattooed muscles bulged with eagerness. He loudly declared, ¡°Boys, let¡¯s give our honored guest a proper welcome.¡± As his words fell, a dozen robust men advanced toward Zhou Xufang. Her expression unchanging, she tossed the baseball bat high, leapt to catch it, and prepared to strike fiercely. Chapter 139 - 139: 139: Jiang Zhi makes a move, the sick youngster loses his vest (first update) Chapter 139: 139: Jiang Zhi makes a move, the sick youngster loses his vest (first update) 9:23. Shuangjiang received an email, which she thought was a hiring contract, but it wasn¡¯t. It contained only two sentences: ¡°Tell me Zhou Xufang¡¯s location.¡± ¡°I am Jiang Zhi.¡± After reading it, she was thinking when suddenly, the computer sounded an alert. ¡°Beep¡ªbeep¡ªbeep¡ª¡± ... Damn! She had been caught! With no time for wrapping things up, she promptly notified Zhou Xufang, ¡°Xu Fang, I¡¯ve been exposed. We need to move immediately.¡± Zhou Xufang quickly replied, ¡°I¡¯m alright here, you get out of there fast.¡± She was worried about Zhou Xufang and hesitated for a long time before finally sending the location to Jiang Zhi, ¡°Help her find backup, someone who can fight.¡± After leaving the message, she backed up the data in the computer. Once done, she started the destruction program, which would take at least half an hour. Near Jingming Road, a gray Bentley had been parked for a few minutes. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.§ã0 Inside the car, Ah Wan still hadn¡¯t figured out what was happening, and the atmosphere was a bit weird. He didn¡¯t dare ask and just silently played the role of a competent driver. Jiang Zhi checked the coordinates on her phone, ¡°Get out of the car.¡± Ah Wan, puzzled, ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°Get out.¡± Jiang Zhi got out of the car without delay, opened the driver¡¯s door, and urged impatiently and aggressively, ¡°Hurry up!¡± Ah Wan got out of the car, bewildered, ¡°Where are you going alone?¡± Jiang Zhi pressed the gas pedal and left. Ah Wan, swallowing the exhaust, ¡°¡­ Something is very wrong here.¡± A few steps away, a police car stopped. Inside were six computers and three people. ¡°Captain Qiao, we¡¯ve located Shuangjiang.¡± Lu Ning highlighted the address, ¡°It¡¯s very close.¡± Thanks to FOR¡¯s interference, they had split Shuangjiang¡¯s attention, giving the Criminal Intelligence Department the chance to strike and capture her. Qiao Nanchu stood outside the car, glancing at the address. Jiajing Garden¡­ Lu Ning asked for instructions, ¡°Should we notify the Criminal Investigation Team?¡± ¡°No need.¡± Qiao Nanchu picked two who were somewhat capable, ¡°Yao An, Xiao Dong, you¡¯re coming with me.¡± 9:35. At FOR¡¯s headquarters, quite a few people were already lying on the ground. Zhou Xufang was stepping on a man¡¯s stomach, ¡°Do you want to keep fighting?¡± She looked up at the group three meters away, ¡°Everyone¡¯s injured, this place will have to close tomorrow.¡± The man under her foot struggled continuously, trying a side kick, but she struck his shin with a stick, causing him to howl a few times before staying still. Ah Win looked at the people lying on the ground, wiped his lips with his fingertip, and smiled, ¡°Only striking the legs, not taking lives, is that your rule?¡± This was also a weakness of the professional errand runner Z. In this line of work, caring about human lives, how could one let loose. Zhou Xufang kicked the man beneath her away, slung the baseball bat over her shoulder, and knocked down a dozen people in one breath, not even out of breath, ¡°Striking legs can also bring you down.¡± A girl is still a girl, not suited for this brutal scene. Ah Win suddenly felt an impulse, wanting to yank off her mask to see what kind of girl she was, who could get him so excited. ¡°There are over sixty people here. I want to see if we¡¯re knocked down first, or if you tire out first.¡± He walked to the table, picked up a golf club, rolled up his shirt sleeves, his eyes gleaming with anticipation, ¡°I never hit women, but you¡¯re the first.¡± Having said that, he raised his golf club and attacked Zhou Xufang, swinging fiercely towards her face. Just as it was about to connect, she shifted sideways with ease, dodging effortlessly. The club swung through the air and smashed into the wall, denting it. Zhou Xufang glanced at it and objectively commented, ¡°Good strength, but too slow.¡± Truly the best in the industry, no mere display. Ah Win, holding the golf club in one hand, leaped forward, swinging to the left targeting Zhou Xufang¡¯s right shoulder. She bent down, evaded swiftly, and moved behind him, the glass shattered by the golf club. Such quick speed! Ah Win moved his neck, exhaled a long breath, gripped the golf club with both hands, quickly rearranged his position to just within a club¡¯s length to her, and raised the club for an upward strike at her chin. This time, she didn¡¯t dodge. She stretched out one hand to catch the head of the golf club effortlessly. With full force behind his swing, it could have shattered her hand bones, yet she fearlessly intercepted it with her fingers. Snap. A soft sound, and she held the club head. Ah Win paused, then pulled hard, but found the club immobile in her grasp. She wore glasses, slightly turned her body, and could only see her thick eyelashes flicker, ¡°I won¡¯t tire out because I haven¡¯t even exerted any effort.¡± With that, she pinched the club head and snapped it easily. The cue stick suddenly snapped, causing Ah Win to lose balance and stagger backwards two steps, but he quickly stabilized himself and stretched out his left foot to attack her left calf. Zhou Xufang made a small turn, lifted her foot, and stepped on his leg; he tried to pull his foot back but couldn¡¯t budge it. Zhou Xufang found it boring and, with a kick of her toe, sent him flying into the wall; the impact numbed all the muscles in his back, and he sat on the ground, unable to get up for a while. From beginning to end, he hadn¡¯t even touched the hem of her clothes. ¡°Your boss has already been taken down,¡± she asked, calm and collected, ¡°who¡¯s next?¡± The room full of burly men looked at each other, none of them stepping forward. Cowards! Ah Win, leaning on the wall to stand up, shouted hoarsely, ¡°All of you, attack together!¡± No sooner had he spoken than dozens of men swarmed and surrounded Zhou Xufang. She was entangled and couldn¡¯t escape for the moment. Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The sound of iron bars hitting was drowned out by screams; computers and desks were smashed to pieces, leaving the office a complete mess. The number of men falling increased, and their moans were incessant. Ah Win stood at the door, watching for a long time, then drew a tranquilizer gun from his jacket pocket, aimed, and moved his finger to the trigger. Suddenly, a hand reached out from behind, fair and distinct, pinching the tip of the gun. ¡°I hate sneak attacks the most.¡± The hand moved up, grabbed Ah Win¡¯s wrist, twisted forcefully, and the sounds of a cry and a dislocated bone came almost simultaneously. An arm was dislocated. Ah Win¡¯s body was half numb with pain; he turned around and saw a man standing with his arms crossed, dressed in black, wearing a cap and a mask, his peach blossom eyes drunken yet pure, partly inhibited, partly desirous. He adjusted his cap and said, ¡°Lord Black Impermanence, I am here.¡± Zhou Xufang turned around when she heard the voice. Jiang Zhi. It was Jiang Zhi who had come. Her usually calm eyes suddenly turned stormy; she kicked away the man grappling with her and quickly moved to Jiang Zhi¡¯s side, instinctively pushing him behind her, ¡°What are you doing here!¡± Initially, she was just playing around, nonchalantly fighting, but the moment Jiang Zhi arrived, her entire nervous system tensed up; she scanned the area, ready for battle, keeping an eye on the approaching enemies, not looking back, she tugged at Jiang Zhi¡¯s clothes and said, ¡°Hurry up and leave.¡± She quickly turned her head and shouted, ¡°Hurry up!¡± She had never been so harsh to Jiang Zhi before. At that moment, she was like a fiercely attacking little leopardess. Her mouth was covered by the mask, yet a smile escaped from the corners of Jiang Zhi¡¯s eyes; he stood close behind her, leaning down, his chin on her shoulder, whispering, ¡°I came to protect you.¡± Zhou Xufang grew anxious, gripping her baseball bat tightly; as she guarded against the approaching enemies, she urged Jiang Zhi in a low voice, ¡°I don¡¯t need protection, just go.¡± The people behind didn¡¯t move. She reached out, poked his abdomen, trying to push him away, ¡°Can you please leave? Hmm?¡± Her palms were slightly sweaty from nervousness, one hand gripping the baseball bat, the other open in front of Jiang Zhi, as if shielding him. Like a mother leopard protecting her cub. Jiang Zhi raised his hand, took hold of her open hand, stood beside her, shoulder to shoulder; his voice was low, only audible to her. He said, ¡°Fang Bao, don¡¯t panic, your Lord White Impermanence is here.¡± Zhou Xufang turned around, ¡°Your body¡ª¡± Before she could finish, someone took advantage of her distraction and swung a bat at her. Jiang Zhi pulled her back, dodged the blow, then instantly pushed her behind him, picked up the broken golf club, leaped up, hooked his ankle around a man¡¯s leg, threw him to the ground, and as the man tried to get up, he reversed the club, knelt down, and thrust the sharp end into the man¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Ah!¡± Blood splattered, staining the white wall red. Jiang Zhi, holding the club, yanked it forcefully out from the flesh; his fair, slender fingers were now stained with blood. He stepped on the bleeding man¡¯s shoulder, casually wiping his hand on the man¡¯s clothes, lifted his eyelids, his peach blossom eyes no longer seductive but filled with menace, ¡°I¡¯m different, I won¡¯t just cripple your legs, I will take your lives.¡± Zhou Xufang wouldn¡¯t hurt anyone¡¯s life. He would. Nine forty-three. Jiajing Garden. All the streetlights were on; at this hour, there were few pedestrians, the neighborhood was serene, undisturbed. Qiao Nanchu left his two colleagues at the entrance, ¡°I¡¯ll go up, keep the exit covered, don¡¯t let anyone out.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± Qiao Nanchu didn¡¯t even put out his cigarette, just went upstairs with it in his mouth. Li Xiaodong was a bit worried, ¡°Can Captain Qiao handle it alone?¡± He was new to the Criminal Intelligence Department and didn¡¯t know the full story of Qiao Nanchu, but Yao An, an old hand at the department, certainly did, ¡°Captain Qiao was the sanda champion for four consecutive years back in police academy.¡± Damn! He had thought the gentlemen from influential families were just for show, but it turned out he had iron fists. ¡°He¡¯s got the goods,¡± Li Xiaodong was puzzled, ¡°why choose the Intelligence Department?¡± The Intelligence Department was essentially a clerical department of the police force; with such combat skills, it was a pity not to be on the frontline. Of course, there was a reason, and the reason was¡ª ¡°Captain Qiao, the senior himself said, he doesn¡¯t like all the fighting and killing, only barbarians resort to fists.¡± Chapter 140 - 140: 140: Did Ah Fang and Shuangjiang both fall off the horse? (Second update Chapter 140: 140: Did Ah Fang and Shuangjiang both fall off the horse? (Second update S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Jiajing Garden 403. That SpongeBob¡¯s lair. Qiao Nanchu stubbed out his cigarette, threw it in the trash can, the doorman handed him a key, which he inserted into the keyhole and gently twisted¡ª Ring ring ring ring ring! The fire alarm suddenly sounded. He stopped what he was doing and glanced in the corridor; the alarm continued to sound, and there was a growing commotion in the stairwell, but just at this moment¡­ ... He withdrew his hand, turned around, and ran towards the stairs. Jiajing Garden 303 lived Wen Baiyang. He ran to the third floor, saw her door was closed. He first sent a text message, but with no reply in half a minute, he could wait no longer. He grabbed a fire extinguisher, smashed at the door, and after a few hits, it opened. The door was flimsy; it was time for a replacement. He kicked the door open, and Wen Baiyang had just stepped out of the bathroom. Seeing him, her toothbrush fell to the floor. She wiped the toothpaste foam from her lips and called out with her lips, ¡°Brother Chu.¡± She was still in her pajamas, the bear-design kind. Qiao Nanchu awkwardly turned his gaze away, took the jacket from the couch, and wrapped it around her: ¡°Come with me first.¡± Using sign language, she asked, ¡°What¡¯s happening?¡± ¡°The alarm sounded.¡± She couldn¡¯t hear it. The fire alarm, she couldn¡¯t hear it. So, without confirming whether the situation was real, he instinctively smashed her door in and took her out. Then, Li Xiaodong saw his captain leading a girl downstairs. Such a dramatic scene, Li Xiaodong couldn¡¯t help but sneak a look at the girl: ¡°Captain Qiao, this¡­¡± What¡¯s the situation? Qiao Nanchu didn¡¯t explain and directly asked Yao An, ¡°What¡¯s going on with the alarm?¡± Yao An replied, ¡°The security has already checked it out.¡± ¡°What about downstairs?¡± ¡°Residents of the community are all here, nothing out of the ordinary.¡± Because of the fire alarm, people from the community had all come downstairs. Qiao Nanchu had instructed the doorman to lock the exit doors; the residents were all gathered on the open ground below, making a racket. Qiao Nanchu zipped up Wen Baiyang¡¯s jacket: ¡°Wait here for me, okay?¡± She nodded. He settled her in a safe place and went back upstairs. Li Xiaodong and Yao An each guarded an exit, security was watching on the outer perimeter. Li Xiaodong observed the scene but didn¡¯t forget to gossip, ¡°Young lady, what is your family name?¡± Wen Baiyang pointed at her throat, shaking her head. Can¡¯t speak? The girlfriend Vice Captain Xing talked about! Li Xiaodong felt he might have stumbled upon some incredible scandal. A quarter of an hour later, Qiao Nanchu came back down, and the alarm had stopped. Yao An approached, ¡°How is it, Captain Qiao?¡± He shrugged, ¡°The person ran away.¡± Li Xiaodong also moved closer to ask, ¡°Was it Shuangjiang¡¯s hideout?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°Is the computer data still there?¡± ¡°Too late, it¡¯s all been destroyed.¡± Wen Baiyang¡¯s clenched hands relaxed, she turned her back and took a deep breath of relief. ¡°The fire alarm was a false one, definitely a deliberate act by Shuangjiang to escape,¡± Li Xiaodong snorted with a touch of frustration, ¡°Too cunning, slipped through our fingers again.¡± Qiao Nanchu was much more composed, twirling a strawberry hairband meant for girls on his finger, ¡°Not a total loss, at least, we¡¯ve confirmed her gender.¡± The Criminal Intelligence Department¡¯s top target, the renowned hacker Shuangjiang, turned out to be a woman. Nine fifty-eight. FOR headquarters. People were strewn all over the ground in various states¡­ well, quite severely. Jiang Zhi held a golf club in his hand, now half covered with blood. He propped it on the ground, tapped it, blood dripped, ¡°Don¡¯t try to get up again, or I won¡¯t guarantee you can still be healed.¡± FOR¡¯s brothers, injured or not, handicapped or whole, standing or lying, all stood still, daring not move forward. Z doesn¡¯t hurt people, it¡¯s all petty fights. But this man was fierce, every move as if he intended to kill. Over sixty brothers were too cautious to proceed recklessly. With the situation looking grim, Ah Win shouted loudly, ¡°What are you waiting for! Name your price for anyone who can take these two down!¡± With a high reward, of course, there were those who were not afraid of death. Many began to stir, tentatively stepping forward, some with electric batons, others with daggers; they were really going for broke. Zhou Xufang was worried Jiang Zhi wouldn¡¯t last, pushing him, ¡°You go first.¡± Jiang Zhi was different, his body merely mortal and, no matter how skilled at fighting, his stamina had limits. Jiang Zhi kept his eyes forward, ¡°Don¡¯t get distracted.¡± She turned to look at him, her expression fierce, and yelled, ¡°You go first!¡± Jiang Zhi twisted her face back around, smearing her face mask with the blood on his hands, ¡°Don¡¯t look at me, watch the knife!¡± Zhou Xufang was, in fact, observing him, her eyes urgently reddening, ¡°How can I not watch when you¡¯re here!¡± While he was there, she simply couldn¡¯t concentrate on fighting the enemy wholeheartedly, scared someone would hit him, scared someone would ambush him, scared he would be caught off guard, scared he would become exhausted, scared someone would approach him from behind. She could not care less about herself. Just then, as she was distracted by glancing at Jiang Zhi, suddenly a dagger thrust towards her. Jiang Zhi could no longer focus on the people in front of him and reached out to pull her back. As his hand stretched out, a dagger came thrusting at him. He first pushed her away, then retracted his hand, a bit too late. The blade of the dagger grazed his arm, ripped through his clothes, and cut him. The wound was shallow, the blood seepage not severe, but it still wet his clothes. Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t care much, ¡°It¡¯s fine, just a scratch.¡± How could it be fine? He was bleeding. Zhou Xufang¡¯s eyes immediately reddened. She shoved Jiang Zhi aside and in the blink of an eye, she was upon the man with the knife, moving so fast it was dizzying. The man hadn¡¯t even seen how she got there. Caught off guard, he was disarmed, and when he looked up, he saw a pair of blood-red eyes. ¡°You¡ª¡± Zhou Xufang raised the knife in her hand and thrust it fiercely toward the man¡¯s heart. Jiang Zhi immediately caught her hand, nearly unable to grasp it, letting the dagger slide down several notches. It had already broken the skin of the man¡¯s chest, and he urgently shouted, ¡°You can¡¯t!¡± Zhou Xufang was pressing the man against a pillar with her left hand, while the dagger in her right hand slowly pierced deeper, ¡°He hurt you.¡± She wanted revenge. She wanted to kill this man. Jiang Zhi grabbed her hand too tightly, causing his wound to tear open a bit more, and blood dripped onto the back of her hand. His voice was resonant in her ear, ¡°You can¡¯t.¡± Her hands couldn¡¯t be stained with a life. Absolutely not. Zhou Xufang lifted her head to look at him, her glasses having fallen off at some point. Her eyes were a deep red, the color of blood. She was born with a beautiful pair of phoenix eyes, but when angry, they would turn red, making her look like a Monster. As a result, she never looked directly at others, never raised her head, always hiding her eyes. Jiang Zhi was frozen, staring straight into her eyes. Her eyelashes trembled, she panicked, her grip loosened, and she stepped back. Just after two steps, her hand was caught, and then her vision was blocked. It was Jiang Zhi. He suddenly reached out, pulled down her cap, covered her eyes, and then pulled her behind him. He ditched the iron bar in his hand, which conveniently struck the chandelier, plunging the room into darkness. He hugged her waist and hid her behind a pillar, whispering in her ear, ¡°Fang Bao, hide here, don¡¯t open your eyes.¡± Without any light, she couldn¡¯t see him, only hear his voice, and he still called her Fang Bao. She felt a heat in her eyes and closed them. To catch the bandits, you must catch their leader first. Using the faint moonlight from outside the window, Jiang Zhi snatched a dagger from the chaotic crowd, kicked away two men, and firmly grasped Ah Win, twisting his arm behind and pressing him down, ¡°Anyone who comes closer, I¡¯ll kill him.¡± Ah Win had a dislocated arm and couldn¡¯t move. In the shadows, everyone came to a stop. Jiang Zhi pinned down Ah Win, the tip of the dagger resting on his throat, and spoke with suppressed intensity, ¡°Hand over the one surnamed Zhang.¡± He knew what Zhou Xufang wanted to do, and he would do it for her. Ah Win, covered in sweat from multiple fractures and in immense pain, remained silent. He was a tough nut to crack. Jiang Zhi wasn¡¯t in a hurry, patting Ah Win¡¯s face with the flat of the blade and stating, ¡°I¡¯ll count to three, and if you don¡¯t speak, this dagger goes in.¡± Without waiting, he began counting, ¡°One.¡± Ah Win clenched his fist but made no sound. Jiang Zhi said, ¡°Two.¡± He gritted his teeth, still not making a peep. ¡°Three.¡± Almost simultaneously, Jiang Zhi lifted the dagger, plunging the tip forcefully into Ah Win¡¯s shoulder. That elicited a sound from him, ¡°Ah!¡± ¡°So you need a stab to make any noise, huh,¡± stated Jiang Zhi calmly, withdrawing the knife and hearing another agonized scream from Ah Win. His peach blossom eyes clouded with a misty hue, a thin layer of ice-cold determination formed, ¡°You think I¡¯m joking with you? If you don¡¯t speak, I¡¯ll really kill you.¡± Ah Win¡¯s face turned completely pale, the scar on his forehead twitching, and big beads of sweat rolled down his cheeks. He had never seen someone so fierce before. Jiang Zhi tapped Ah Win¡¯s face with the bloodied knife, dragging it out languidly, ¡°Counting to three again, this time aiming for the heart.¡± He started counting, ¡°One.¡± Ah Win¡¯s eyelids twitched. ¡°Two.¡± Jiang Zhi grew impatient, not pausing as he counted, ¡°Three.¡± As soon as he said ¡°three,¡± his hand raised the dagger high, aiming straight for the heart¡ª Ah Win shouted, ¡°The cabinet!¡± The knife-wielding hand paused, and he gasped for air, drenched in sweat, ¡°Behind the cabinet!¡± The man was a lunatic. ¡°That¡¯s better,¡± Jiang Zhi curved the corners of his eyes, grabbed Ah Win by the collar, pulling him to his feet, then letting go, he kicked his legs, ¡°Go open it.¡± Ah Win, clutching the wound on his shoulder, complied and opened the secret door in the cabinet. As soon as the door opened, a woman walked out. Light flooded from inside. She wore apricot-colored high heels and a white women¡¯s suit, with almond-shaped eyes and cherry lips, her long hair reaching her waist. Jiang Zhi gave her one look, ¡°It¡¯s you causing trouble?¡± Chapter 141 - 141: 141: Three Kills All Victorious, Ah Fang Confesses Superpower (First Update Chapter 141: 141: Three Kills All Victorious, Ah Fang Confesses Superpower (First Update Jiang Zhi shot her a glance, ¡°Is it you causing trouble?¡± It was a face he had never seen before. At that moment, the police sirens sounded from below. Zhou Xufang made a quick decision, kicking Ah Win out of the door and shutting it. The room inside wasn¡¯t big, but it had a window through which she shattered the glass with a baseball bat, then she took a rope out of her backpack and tied up the silent woman. This woman appeared to be seasoned; she didn¡¯t speak from start to finish, her expression unchanged. ... Zhou Xufang tied her up and threw her onto the rooftop of the adjacent building, securing one end of the rope in her hand. After setting everything up, she pulled Jiang Zhi towards the window. ¡°I¡¯m taking you flying, are you scared?¡± Jiang Zhi shook his head, ¡°Not scared. If I die, I¡¯ll just be ghost lovebirds with you.¡± ¡°I won¡¯t let you become a ghost.¡± She reached out, her arm encircling Jiang Zhi¡¯s waist. ¡°Hold on tight.¡± He held on tight to her. They both leapt out of the window. Jiajing Garden. It was already 10 p.m. After the fire alarm was canceled, the residents of the community dispersed, and Li Xiaodong had emptied his archrival¡¯s den, not even sparing a data cable. Yao An was taking statements from the landlord of that apartment. The landlord was a local with four flats in the community, living off the rents; his background was all checked and there was nothing suspicious. ¡°I negotiated the rental contract online, and after finalizing it, they asked me to leave the keys under the doormat at the entrance. We never met face to face,¡± said the landlord. ¡°I didn¡¯t even know who was living in there.¡± The signature and ID number on the rental contract were fake; easy feats for an expert hacker. Yao An asked, ¡°How long was the lease?¡± ¡°This is the eighth month.¡± ¡°And you haven¡¯t seen them once in eight months?¡± The landlord shook his head, explaining, ¡°That was the tenant¡¯s request; no one was allowed randomly in. I found it odd initially, but the rent was quite high so I¡­¡± He was blinded by money. ¡°Did you communicate over the phone?¡± ¡°No, we only ever texted.¡± ¡°Give me the number.¡± The landlord provided Yao An with the number. Yao An turned and inquired to the security personnel of the community, ¡°Is there surveillance in the community?¡± The security replied, ¡°The surveillance system breaks down every few days; the property management tried fixing it several times to no avail, and eventually they just stopped trying.¡± That figures, the surveillance could never be fixed; Shuangjiang¡¯s hands, give her a computer, she could cripple an entire city¡¯s internet. After concluding the statement, Yao An was about to report to his captain when Li Xiaodong pulled him aside, ¡°Why the rush? Captain Qiao is wooing his girl; why bring up work now?¡± The ¡®wooing his girl¡¯ Qiao Nanchu called the girl aside, ¡°Has the locksmith arrived?¡± Wen Baiyang shook his head, signalling with her hands, ¡°It¡¯s too late, they¡¯ll only come tomorrow.¡± He was responsible for breaking that lock. So, he was responsible. ¡°Go upstairs and pack, you¡¯re staying at my place tonight.¡± Without thinking, she refused, ¡°I can stay at a hotel.¡± Qiao Nanchu frowned, ¡°Hotels aren¡¯t safe.¡± She had just come of age, and her staying in a hotel, what would people think? She was still explaining, ¡°It¡¯s safe.¡± Qiao Nanchu really wanted to just drag her away forcefully, but seeing her youthful appearance, he didn¡¯t want to scare her, so he was as patient as possible, ¡°Can¡¯t you stay at my place?¡± His hands in his pockets, he looked down at the girl who had grown up to his shoulder height, ¡°Haven¡¯t you stayed at my place plenty of times before?¡± When she first came to Imperial City at fourteen, he didn¡¯t feel secure about her staying alone. Whenever her nanny wasn¡¯t there, he¡¯d have her stay with him. And he couldn¡¯t remember from when, but she hadn¡¯t been to his place anymore. Occasionally she would bring him little dishes of chicken and eggs; forget staying over, she wouldn¡¯t even step inside the door anymore. And also¡­ How long had it been since she¡¯d allowed him to attend a parent-teacher meeting for her?! She indicated with her hands, ¡°I¡¯m of age now.¡± Her hands were beautiful, small and very fair, always slow and gentle when she used sign language. Qiao Nanchu prodded his cheekbone, watching her, smiling, ¡°Yes, you¡¯re of age now, and not listening anymore.¡± He was a bit angry. It was ridiculous, he, debating with a young girl. Seeing him annoyed, she immediately stood up straight, ¡°I¡¯ll listen.¡± A girl not easily intimidated, yet claiming she was of age, he put the hood of her jacket on her, ¡°Go upstairs and pack.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Wen Baiyang obediently went up to pack. Qiao Nanchu smirked, amused. Li Xiaodong found his captain¡¯s smile quite cheeky, winking playfully, ¡°Captain, your little girlfriend, huh?¡± Qiao Nanchu, ¡°Scram.¡± Li Xiaodong chuckled as he scampered off. Treasuring her so much, if she wasn¡¯t his girlfriend he¡¯d write his name backwards! The phone rang; it was Captain Xiao from the Drug Enforcement Team. Qiao Nanchu stood under the streetlamp in the complex, his shadow trailing behind, lazy and casual, his eyes on the staircase as he picked up the call nonchalantly, ¡°Hello?¡± ¡°Just now, don¡¯t know who it was, but someone dumped a body at the entrance of the Drug Enforcement Team.¡± Captain Xiao sounded quite excited. Qiao Nanchu continued watching his staircase, ¡°And then?¡± And Captain Xiao got even more excited, ¡°That package we¡¯ve been sweeping all night also came with it.¡± So, that was both the person and the goods, delivered straight to the Drug Enforcement Team. Qiao Nanchu laughed, ¡°Isn¡¯t that perfect, a big help to you.¡± ¡°It did help, just didn¡¯t leave a name.¡± Captain Xiao roped him in as an advisor for this police ¡®wisdom tree¡¯, ¡°Who do you think it was?¡± He deadpanned, ¡°Could it be the justice-promoting Powerpuff Girls?¡± Captain Xiao, ¡°¡­¡± sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He continued with the nonsense, ¡°Or perhaps the upright and righteous Lord Ghost.¡± Captain Xiao, ¡°¡­¡± ¡°And let¡¯s talk about the ¡®punish evil and promote good,¡¯ Lord Ghost, the Powerpuff Girls.¡± She had interrogated the woman surnamed Zhang, but she couldn¡¯t get anything out of her. Even when the dagger reached her throat, the woman kept quiet, not even blinking. After sending the woman to the police station, she bought a bunch of medicine from a store and sat Jiang Zhi down on a chair by the riverbank, skillfully tending to his wound. ¡°Does it hurt?¡± The cotton swab was a bit rough as she squeezed ointment onto her hand and applied it with her fingertips. The wound wasn¡¯t deep and had already formed a scab. Jiang Zhi shook his head, saying it didn¡¯t hurt. ¡°How can it not hurt with such a long cut?¡± She looked up, and he was watching her. ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± ¡°Mm.¡± He suddenly reached out to touch her eyes. She instinctively pulled back, her gaze darting away, ¡°You saw it, didn¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Mm, red.¡± Jiang Zhi was staring into her eyes. She stopped dodging, locking eyes with him; her lovely phoenix eyes trembled with unease, ¡°Then, are you afraid of me?¡± Jiang Zhi asked, ¡°Do you eat people?¡± She shook her head. She didn¡¯t eat people; she even ate her steak well-done. ¡°If you ate people, I could let you bite me,¡± Jiang Zhi pulled out gauze from the bag and handed it to her, extending his arm for her to wrap, ¡°I¡¯m even prepared for that, do you think I would be afraid?¡± Her eyes were sore, and she said nothing, solemnly wrapping his arm. ¡°Zhou Xufang,¡± Jiang Zhi removed the cap from her head, lifting her face, ¡°Tell me everything, okay?¡± She hesitated for a long while, then agreed. ¡°Do you still remember the first time we met?¡± Jiang Zhi nodded, ¡°You jumped into the sea.¡± At that time, he thought she was ready to die. Zhou Xufang finished wrapping the bandage and tied a bow, ¡°I can breathe in water. In the water, my eyes turn red, and when I¡¯m angry, they change color too.¡± She was a dual human, the only one among humans. Even though Jiang Zhi had mentally prepared for this, he was still shocked, reaching out again to touch her eye, ¡°Like just now?¡± ¡°Mm, like just now.¡± Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t dodge; her eyelids fluttered twice under his touch, ¡°I¡¯m also not afraid of the cold; my body temperature is only about twenty degrees.¡± That¡¯s why her body was always cold. ¡°I can¡¯t eat eggs; eating eggs makes me react like you normal people do when you drink alcohol.¡± Jiang Zhi remembered, ¡°So that time at the porridge place, you got drunk from eating eggs?¡± Zhou Xufang nodded, continuing, ¡°I can jump very high, run very fast, and am much stronger than an average person, probably by more than thirty times. My vision and hearing are also particularly good.¡± What else? She took a dagger from her pocket and extended her other hand. ¡°What are you doing?¡± Jiang Zhi reached out to grab her hand. He missed, and she lightly slashed the back of her hand with a dagger; blood immediately surfaced. ¡°Have you seen vampire TV dramas?¡± Then she extended her hand in front of Jiang Zhi¡¯s eyes, ¡°My body¡¯s self-healing and regeneration speed is eighty-four times that of a normal human, a recovery speed visible to the naked eye.¡± Jiang Zhi watched the back of her hand as the wound quickly stopped bleeding and then began to scab over. It healed so rapidly he could even see the dynamic changes. ¡°It won¡¯t even take a day for this wound to leave no trace.¡± ¡°And the pain?¡± Jiang Zhi reached out, not touching the wound, but gently rubbing the skin around it. ¡°Does it hurt?¡± Zhou Xufang nodded, ¡°The faster it heals, the more it hurts.¡± Jiang Zhi frowned, took some disinfectant, and used a cotton swab to clean her wound. ¡°Then why do you cut yourself?¡± He squeezed some ointment left over from earlier onto his hand and smeared it over the wound on her hand. ¡°Is it congenital?¡± He was very calm, more calm than she had expected. A Dual Human, a creature in human skin but with bizarre self-healing abilities like a Red-eyed Monster, isn¡¯t that scary? Biology could no longer define her; perhaps, she wasn¡¯t human at all? She wiped the cold sweat from her palm onto her clothes. ¡°I don¡¯t know. My earliest memory is from a genetic laboratory when I was fourteen.¡± No, she shook her head, correcting herself, ¡°Maybe not, I can¡¯t be sure.¡± The gloom in Jiang Zhi¡¯s eyes seemed to deepen, ¡°What happened then?¡± She relayed it very lightly, in a single sentence, ¡°Then those experts made me very strong, and I beat them all down.¡± Jiang Zhi knew without asking how those experts had made her strong. Such human experimentation was common in foreign countries, using drugs, radiation, electric currents, or inducing cancer¡ªvarious innovative methods to treat people like lab rats. How many experiments had she endured to become as indestructible as she was today? Jiang Zhi wanted to ask but couldn¡¯t bring himself to do so. ¡°Jiang Zhi, I don¡¯t know if I was abnormal from the start or if I¡¯ll become even more abnormal later. I¡¯m not a little fairy, I¡¯m an anomaly, and perhaps, my offspring will be like me, anomalies as well, or maybe I won¡¯t be able to have offspring at all,¡± her eyes reddened, and her voice choked up as she looked at him, resisting tears, ¡°would you still want me?¡± She had intended to wait until he loved her so much he couldn¡¯t live without her before telling him. She was afraid he wouldn¡¯t want her anymore. She knew that having her meant a future that wouldn¡¯t be tranquil or stable. The genes in her body, the ones that would astonish the entire field of genetic biology, were like a ticking time-bomb. She could never forget the moment her superpower emerged, the greed and ambition in that biologist¡¯s eyes. ¡°Of course, I do,¡± he said. He said it so casually, without a hint of hesitation, ¡°Even if you were a demon or ghost, aren¡¯t you still Zhou Xufang?¡± Her eyes blinked, tears she couldn¡¯t hold back fell. She didn¡¯t want to involve him, didn¡¯t want to drag him into trouble, but she couldn¡¯t bear it; she desperately wanted him, would exchange all she owned for him. ¡°Fang Bao.¡± Jiang Zhi reached out, touching her head: ¡°What do I need to do so you won¡¯t feel so insecure? Can¡¯t you see, I can¡¯t live without you, it doesn¡¯t matter if you¡¯re an anomaly or whatever, I accept it all.¡± He moved closer to her, cupped her face with both hands, and gently pecked the tears on her face. They tasted salty. Her tears were cold. She cried pitifully, and he didn¡¯t know how to console her, just held her and gently patted her back, patiently spoke to her: ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter if we can¡¯t have offspring; am I not infertile too, and you still want me, don¡¯t you?¡± He then said, ¡°If we do have a little anomaly, we¡¯ll just secretly raise them, not letting anyone know.¡± He asked, ¡°Sound good?¡± Zhou Xufang, her eyes red, nodded vigorously. ¡°I would love a little anomaly. As long as it¡¯s yours, I¡¯ll love it.¡± Even an egg, she¡¯d love it! Jiang Zhi was amused by her goofy words. ¡°And that laboratory?¡± Sniffling, she said, ¡°It was blown up.¡± Chapter 142 - 142: 142: Jiang Zhis Secret, Timely Period (Second Update Chapter 142: 142: Jiang Zhi¡¯s Secret, Timely Period (Second Update She sniffled, ¡°It was blown up.¡± He didn¡¯t ask further, afraid she might cry, and added, ¡°Besides me, who else knows about this?¡± ¡°Only Shuangjiang knows.¡± That Shuangjiang, whom Qiao Nanchu had mentioned, had an unclear identity. His nationality, background, and age were all unknown, and he was elusive and skillful, practically untraceable. ¡°Can she be trusted?¡± Zhou Xufang nodded, ¡°Mhm.¡± ... There was another crucial question Jiang Zhi posed to her, ¡°What about your weaknesses? Do you have any?¡± Exposing her genetic superpower would inevitably bring calamity. This seemingly peaceful world was, in reality, not tranquil at all. Greed and ambition could overpower thousands of forces, driven only to fight to the death without stopping. ¡°I do, I cannot¡ª¡± He covered her mouth, ¡°Don¡¯t tell me.¡± His tone was extremely serious as he cautioned her, ¡°Don¡¯t tell anyone, understand?¡± Zhou Xufang nodded, acknowledging she understood, with tears still glistening at the corners of her eyes. Jiang Zhi gently kissed her eyes, ¡°There, no more crying.¡± Mhm, she stopped crying, for she had a question to ask. ¡°What is going on with you?¡± Jiang Zhi was still pitying her, not yet recovered, ¡°Hmm?¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you supposed to be sickly?¡± She placed her hand on his waist and pinched, ¡°You have abs; you must be a martial artist.¡± ¡°¡­¡± He couldn¡¯t hide it anymore. Jiang Zhi confessed, ¡°Qiao Nanchu and I were taught by the same master. We both learned a bit.¡± Zhou Xufang, knowledgeable in the field, directly exposed him, ¡°It¡¯s not just a bit. You¡¯ve practiced for at least five years.¡± She grew serious, ¡°Jiang Zhi, are you also hiding something from me?¡± Jiang Zhi hesitated whether to tell her or not. Forget it, she was considerate and cherished him deeply, ¡°I won¡¯t ask anymore. Speak only if you wish.¡± She was so obedient. Jiang Zhi couldn¡¯t bear to deceive her anymore and confessed, ¡°Actually, my health has been good for a few years now.¡± Zhou Xufang was shocked, ¡°So you were pretending?¡± He was too convincing! Oh, Jiang Zhi could win an Oscar! ¡°Not entirely,¡± Jiang Zhi explained, amused by her flabbergasted expression, cute and naive, ¡°Before I met you, I kept taking medicine. Long-term use could create the illusion of organ failure. I only stopped taking it recently.¡± So, was he sick because of the medicine? Was he sick or not? More importantly, ¡°Did you stop taking the medication because of me?¡± Jiang Zhi nodded in affirmation, ¡°Mhm, the side effects of that medicine were too severe. Aren¡¯t we supposed to grow old together? I can¡¯t keep taking it haphazardly.¡± Zhou Xufang patted his head, praising his great work. She hesitated for a moment, ¡°May I ask why?¡± Why keep up the pretense of being ill? ¡°If I were well, those who wish me ill would find ways to bring me down,¡± he said calmly, as if discussing someone else¡¯s issues, ¡°When my illness was severe, I wasn¡¯t of age yet and lacked the means to fight back, so I had to take a less direct approach.¡± He simply lay down, refusing to get up. And once he started playing the role of a sickly person, it went on for many years. Zhou Xufang was a bit puzzled, ¡°What about your grandmother? Doesn¡¯t she care about you?¡± The Jiang Family had many unscrupulous members, but regardless, Old Lady Jiang was still the family matriarch. How could she allow others to harm Jiang Zhi? Rumors said that Jiang Zhi was Old Madam¡¯s heart and liver, yet both were left to suffer organ failure. Didn¡¯t she care? Jiang Zhi¡¯s eyes were cool, without much fluctuation as he said, ¡°I used to think so too. Doesn¡¯t she care about me? Doesn¡¯t she see the peculiarity of my illness? Isn¡¯t she going to save me? Or perhaps, she can¡¯t save me.¡± Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t quite understand. What was Old Madam¡¯s stance, exactly? ¡°My illness wasn¡¯t solely congenital. It was also caused by others, year after year.¡± Jiang Zhi laughed, finding it amusing, ¡°I was practically trained by the old lady herself. If I could reach this level of deception, wouldn¡¯t she be capable of the same? She¡¯s been in control of the Jiang Family for nearly fifty years. Couldn¡¯t she protect her most beloved grandson?¡± Out of everyone in the Jiang Family, the one he couldn¡¯t see through the most was this elder lady. She indeed loved him genuinely, but she didn¡¯t manage to protect him. ¡°So, I no longer trust her.¡± At least, he had to take his life into his own hands now. Zhou Xufang, who initially quite liked that pampering old lady, now felt differently. She nodded in agreement, ¡°Yeah, no longer trust her.¡± She assured, ¡°If she can¡¯t protect you, I will.¡± In this world, no one would care for Jiang Zhi more than Zhou Xufang. No one could. He embraced her in his arms. ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± ¡°Mhm.¡± Zhou Xufang leaned on his shoulder, playing with his hair, ¡°Were you pretending to be sick all along?¡± ¡°¡­¡± Jiang Zhi¡¯s survival instinct was strong. He immediately coughed twice, ¡°My health is still poor. I just happen to be more resilient. The chaotic medications I¡¯ve taken before don¡¯t just recover quickly.¡± He coughed again, ¡°I¡¯m still very frail.¡± All right then. She believed him, he was very frail, ¡°What about being infertile? Is that also false?¡± Why did the conversation suddenly move to infertility? Jiang Zhi was silent for a few seconds, ¡°¡­That part is true.¡± Zhou Xufang roughly understood and patted his shoulder, speaking earnestly, ¡°Then you shouldn¡¯t feel inferior.¡± Jiang Zhi, who had never felt inferior before, was speechless. Just then, the phone rang. Infertile Jiang Zhi¡¯s tone couldn¡¯t possibly be any good, ¡°What is it?¡± It was Xue Baoyi on the line, ¡°I¡¯m coming over to sleep at your place tonight.¡± Jiang Zhi coldly refused, ¡°No.¡± In a voice of utter despair, Xue Baoyi changed tactics, ¡°I took four girls swimming, and now my dad found out and is chasing me to kill me.¡± He was 25, yet his father could still whip him so hard he¡¯d howl. It wasn¡¯t play-fighting; it was a beating to death¡¯s door. Xue Baoyi sometimes wondered if he was someone else¡¯s child given away at birth, just looking similar by coincidence. Jiang Zhi remained cold, ¡°Go to a hotel.¡± Xue Baoyi tried to play the sympathy card again, ¡°My credit with my dad is too low; if I go to a hotel, he¡¯ll think I¡¯m not going to sleep but to mess around.¡± Jiang Zhi replied, ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to mess around?¡± Xue Baoyi was silent. Scoundrel! Jiang Zhi was too lazy to waste words, ¡°Zhou Xufang is with me; it¡¯s not convenient for you to come.¡± Xue Baoyi huffed, bitter and resentful, ¡°Brother Zhi, ever since you got a girlfriend, you don¡¯t care about your buddies anymore. Have you forgotten we still have a lot of CP fans?¡± Jiang Zhi just hung up the phone. Xue Baoyi was speechless. This isn¡¯t human! He called someone else, ¡°Nanchu, I need to sleep over at your place.¡± Qiao Nanchu firmly refused, ¡°No.¡± Xue Baoyi felt a chill, ¡°Why?¡± ¡°No reason.¡± Lying to ghosts. After all, Mr. Xue had been around on the romantic fields, ¡°Hiding a woman, right?¡± Let Mr. Xue guess, ¡°Is it your foster child bride or an ex-girlfriend?¡± Qiao Nanchu, lazily annoyed, responded, ¡°What foster child bride? Watch your words.¡± He was too lazy to mention the ex-girlfriend. The foster child bride¡ªhis buddies weren¡¯t allowed to talk about her. If nothing was going on, Mr. Xue would eat his mahjong set! Let him analyze, ¡°A man keeping a girl only has three possibilities.¡± One, ¡°Rich and kind-hearted.¡± S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Two, ¡°Raising a daughter.¡± Three, ¡°Keeping a wife.¡± The more Xue Baoyi analyzed, the more he felt there was a big issue, ¡°What kind of person are you? I should know better! You don¡¯t have a shred of kindness. Kindness? Ha, how many of them have that? Also, ¡°When you were dating Zhang Zixi, you had her do the laundry and cook for that girl, acting as a nanny. Back then, I really believed your crap, thought you genuinely wanted to be a dad, huh, I think you¡¯ve always had ulterior motives.¡± Ever since he brought that girl out of Da Mai Mountain five years ago, he had arranged everything from housing to school, and always attended parent-teacher meetings himself. Publicly, he said she was his sister. But have you ever seen anyone buying intimate apparel for his sister? Qiao Nanchu asked, ¡°Are you done?¡± Xue Baoyi humphed. ¡°Hanging up.¡± Qiao Nanchu hung up directly. Xue Baoyi was speechless. Just like Jiang Zhi, not a person! He felt abandoned, alone in the world, and he called Xue Bingxue to complain, ¡°Uncle, Brother Zhi and Nanchu, those two ungrateful bastards left me¡ª¡± Xue Bingxue didn¡¯t listen to it all, ¡°Wei¡¯er went camping, I¡¯m going with him, no more talking.¡± Xue Baoyi was speechless. This damn person! Just as he was agitated and wanting to raise hell, a WeChat message pinged. I¡¯m Your Ancestor, ¡°Son, game of ¡®Chicken¡¯?¡± A lifetime of handsomeness, ¡°Take me along.¡± I¡¯m Your Ancestor, ¡°Alright, hide behind me, I¡¯ll lead you to rule the battlefield.¡± In that moment, Xue Baoyi actually felt warmth. Meanwhile, Qiao Nanchu hung up Xue Baoyi¡¯s call, checked the time, it was nearly eleven o¡¯clock, and he sent a message, ¡°Why aren¡¯t you out yet?¡± She had been in the bathroom for over an hour now. She didn¡¯t respond, so he sent another, ¡°Did you pass out?¡± Still no response. Qiao Nanchu, ¡°Answer me.¡± Qiao Nanchu, ¡°If you don¡¯t answer, I¡¯m breaking the door down.¡± He was just getting up when a message finally came. Wen Baiyang, ¡°My clothes got dirty.¡± Was she planning to spend the night in there if he didn¡¯t ask? Being a lady, one can¡¯t be blunt, Qiao Nanchu took his car keys, left her a message, and headed out, ¡°Stay in the room with the air conditioner on; I¡¯ll go buy you what you need.¡± When she hit puberty at fourteen, he was the one who bought her sanitary pads. He really did raise a daughter, and a single parent at that, playing both mom and dad. Chapter 143 - 143: 143: Sweet Memories, Behind the Scenes Emergence (First Update Chapter 143: 143: Sweet Memories, Behind the Scenes Emergence (First Update Qiao Nanchu¡¯s place had a special room for her, but ever since she became aware of the proprieties between men and women, she never stayed over again. The room still looked the same, with an old-fashioned phonograph on the balcony table and neatly stacked records beside it. He had once given her a portable music player. It seemed like he never minded whether she could hear it or not. He didn¡¯t deliberately avoid the subject, and he even learned sign language only to tell her after he had mastered it. He said he learned it casually. His phone vibrated in his pocket. Qiao Nanchu: ¡°I¡¯m outside the door.¡± She couldn¡¯t hear the knocking, so he always texted her. ... She replied, ¡°You can come in.¡± The door was unlocked, and Qiao Nanchu entered with a bag, ¡°Why are you standing?¡± She had been standing all this time, next to the sofa, her gaze shy and embarrassed, and she signed, ¡°Afraid I¡¯ll dirty the sofa.¡± Silly! ¡°If it gets dirty, we¡¯ll wash it.¡± He carried the black plastic bag over, tossed it on the sofa, ¡°Go freshen up first.¡± After setting things down, he went out again. Wen Baiyang looked at the contents of the bag, her face burning hot. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?0¦Í?0.?¦Ï He had bought quite a big bagful¡­ After she freshened up and came out, he was no longer in the living room; only the kitchen light was on. She went to turn off the light and saw a glass of milk on the dining table. It was warm. The first time she got her period, he seemed embarrassed too, awkwardly placed a sanitary pad down, slammed the door, and left. Then in the evening, he brought over a book on female physiology; he put the book down and didn¡¯t stay for a minute before leaving. She thought he had returned home, but when she got up in the middle of the night, she discovered he was still in the living room. He was playing ¡°Animal World¡± on the computer. Seeing her come out, he asked, ¡°Need something?¡± Back then, she didn¡¯t know lip reading, and he didn¡¯t know sign language. He closed ¡°Animal World¡± and wrote on the computer: ¡°Go lie down.¡± Another line read: ¡°Need anything?¡± She went to get a pen and paper: ¡°I want to drink water.¡± He got up to pour her some. ¡°Pain?¡± he pointed to her belly. She held her abdomen and nodded. He turned on the light to see her face clearly, which was deathly pale. Clueless about girl stuff, he bluntly said, ¡°Change your clothes, I¡¯ll take you to the hospital.¡± She shook her head. ¡°Then go back to your room, I¡¯ll go buy you medicine.¡± She still shook her head. He was young then, impatient and restless, he scribbled a few emotionally charged big characters: ¡°Then what do you want me to do?¡± Taking the pen, she wrote beside his flamboyant characters, a few small, neat, and elegant words: ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± Fine, scaring whom with that pale face? He grabbed an A4 paper and filled a whole page with two characters: ¡°Lie down.¡± So, she lied down, on the sofa. He hesitated for a long time but still went over, squatted beside her, stretched out his hand, and placed it on her lower abdomen, rubbing without much gentleness. She stiffened, about to sit up. He held her down: ¡°Don¡¯t move.¡± He continued to rub, still roughly, his face full of impatience. Gradually, his movements became gentler. Wen Baiyang had known since then that he was a man with a tough exterior but a tender heart. The next morning, just seven o¡¯clock, Qiao Nanchu had just gotten up and didn¡¯t see her anywhere; she had left, leaving behind a table full of breakfast. After breakfast, he went directly to the Drug Enforcement Team. The ones arrested last night were still being interrogated. ¡°Our FOR is a legitimate company,¡± Ah Win said with a straight face, clearly experienced, ¡°just running errands, nothing illegal, officer.¡± Xiao Zhao scoffed, ¡°Nothing illegal? You guys are drug trafficking.¡± His arm was dislocated, just fixed, still swollen, ¡°You wrong us, we are just errand runners for the employers, whatever the employers do, we don¡¯t know. We just sent a location for the employer, nothing else.¡± He leaned forward on the table, lifting his bruised face, ¡°Look at this injury on my face; it was caused by that guy.¡± And on his shoulder. It was that lunatic who stabbed him. ¡°All employees of FOR are injured,¡± he touched the scar at his forehead, ¡°we are also victims.¡± They couldn¡¯t get much out of the interrogation, there was no direct criminal evidence, and this gang wouldn¡¯t be detained for long. And there was that little errand runner for Black Impermanence¡­ Xiao He was nearly driven mad by the interrogation, ¡°I¡¯m asking you one more time, who sent you to Jingming Road?¡± Wang Dahai still didn¡¯t change his statement, maintaining it consistently, ¡°It was Lord Black Impermanence.¡± Xiao He slammed his cup down hard, ¡°You think this is a joke?¡± Wang Dahai immediately shook his head, his expression earnest, desperately trying to explain, his face turning red, ¡°Officer Sir, I¡¯m not lying. It really was Lord Black Impermanence.¡± Was he brainwashed? ¡°So, tell me, how did Lord Black Impermanence find you? And how did he assign you tasks?¡± Wang Dahai recounted every detail truthfully, ¡°Lord Black Impermanence came directly to my shop, appearing and disappearing mysteriously.¡± Xiao He asked, ¡°Is there surveillance in the shop?¡± ¡°The camera was not working.¡± Wang Dahai recalled carefully, very sure, ¡°It broke as soon as Lord Black Impermanence arrived, definitely her doing some kind of sorcery.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Was this guy cursed? Talking like some charlatan. Xiao He slammed the table, ¡°Don¡¯t spout nonsense, keep talking.¡± Wang Dahai felt wronged; he wasn¡¯t spouting nonsense, he was telling the truth, ¡°She came to my shop, bought a bag, and some AD calcium milk, then she told me, I had a special bone structure, able to see Lord Ghost Messenger.¡± Xiao He couldn¡¯t help but want to laugh, ¡°You believed that?¡± Surely, this was a fool. ¡°At first, I didn¡¯t believe either, but Lord Black Impermanence has magic.¡± ¡°One Lord Black Impermanence after another.¡± Xiao He really wanted to know what kind of deity this was, ¡°What magic does she possess?¡± At this point, Wang Dahai showed a fearful expression, ¡°She can fly, just swoosh and she appears right in front of me.¡± The officer across him tried not to laugh, clearly disbelieving his words. He insisted even more adamantly, ¡°And I have evidence. The chandelier in our shop was spoiled by her magic. She might have three heads and six arms, but I didn¡¯t dare to look.¡± He even said she had three heads and six arms. Fool! ¡°What does this Lord Black Impermanence look like?¡± ¡°Looks,¡± Wang Dahai thought about his words, ¡°dark and slippery.¡± Xiao He: ¡°¡­¡± In the next interrogation room, Vice Captain Yan from the Drug Enforcement Team was also interrogating someone. The suspect¡¯s personal information had just been retrieved that morning, and she was a white-collar worker at a foreign trade company. Gender: Female. Age: 30. Place of Origin¡­ Her details were typical, nothing unusual. Vice Captain Yan set aside the information, ¡°Zhang Tong?¡± The woman across him lifted her head. She wore a white women¡¯s suit with apricot high heels, long hair, and cherry lips, very beautiful. She seemed like a strong woman. Vice Captain Yan removed his pen cap, ¡°Go ahead.¡± ¡°Speak about what?¡± Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. She was expressionless, calm and composed. Vice Captain Yan, who had been a narcotics officer for many years, was somewhat accurate in judging people. This woman was a tough character. He wasn¡¯t in a hurry and slowly continued the interrogation, ¡°Everything, including the evidence, has been captured. Now tell me what?¡± She responded with an ¡®Oh,¡¯ admitting, ¡°I did it.¡± She spoke evenly from start to finish, ¡°The drugs were trafficked by me, and I hired the professional errand runner.¡± She had an injury on her head. Yesterday, when Zhou Xufang was interrogating, Jiang Zhi had smashed it directly. Useless, this woman was tough to crack. Vice Captain Yan asked, ¡°Why did you hire Z?¡± ¡°What else but to help me deliver the goods?¡± Nonsense! Vice Captain Yan stared into her eyes, ¡°She helps you deliver the goods, yet you have someone send her location to the police station. What, do you want to have a gang infight, or is your life too tough for you?¡± Zhang Tong stayed silent, not opening her mouth. Vice Captain Yan tossed his pen, ¡°Not talking?¡± She continued her silence, not moving her eyes at all, totally emotionless. ¡°Do you know the amount you trafficked could lead to the death penalty?¡± When the hard approach didn¡¯t work, Vice Captain Yan softened, ¡°If you can disclose your intentions and your contact above you, sentencing could be adjusted.¡± Zhang Tong still wore that same expression, looking up, ¡°Go ahead, just give me the death penalty.¡± Vice Captain Yan: ¡°¡­¡± Next door in the surveillance room. Captain Xiao shook his head, ¡°This woman, we probably can¡¯t pry her mouth open.¡± Qiao Nanchu murmured, ¡°A desperado, not afraid to die.¡± Originally, they had hoped to follow the trail and expose the gang, but it seemed like a long road lay ahead. Captain Xiao touched his balding head, ¡°I thought about it all last night,¡± he figured out, ¡°The one who delivered this Ms. Zhang to us was the professional errand runner Z, right?¡± Qiao Nanchu nonchalantly, ¡°On what basis?¡± ¡°Dark and slippery, mysterious, and capable of anything.¡± Captain Xiao laughed, his face full of wrinkles, ¡°Doesn¡¯t that describe professional errand runner Z?¡± Qiao Nanchu made no comment. Captain Xiao grew more curious about this professional errand runner, ¡°Haven¡¯t your Criminal Intelligence Department been investigating her for a long time? What kind of person is she? She doesn¡¯t seem like someone who¡¯s exceptionally evil.¡± If she were truly wicked, just delivering Ms. Zhang would have been enough. That cargo would have been worth quite a lot of money. Qiao Nanchu answered somewhat off-topic, airily conveying another matter, ¡°The Criminal Investigation Team solved a gold shop robbery last month.¡± Why bring this up? ¡°I know about that. They said a tipper provided crucial information that cracked the case.¡± Qiao Nanchu, ¡°It was her who reported it.¡± Captain Xiao: ¡°¡­¡± That case had seen three deaths and five perpetrators. After committing the crime, the criminals didn¡¯t rush to sell off the loot but hid it for a while before returning to their hometowns. As gold is too conspicuous, they didn¡¯t carry it on their person. They hired the professional errand runner to transport the gold. This, after moving the gold, she tipped off the authorities? ¡°If you must categorize her,¡± Qiao Nanchu reflected, ¡°she¡¯s someone who wouldn¡¯t complicate things for the police.¡± Upon hearing this, Captain Xiao became even more curious, ¡°So she is both righteous and wicked.¡± There was something he didn¡¯t understand, ¡°How did she get targeted by that venomous gang? This incident feels like it was intended to set her up.¡± ¡°If it was just to mess with her, they wouldn¡¯t necessarily need to involve the Drug Enforcement Team.¡± Captain Xiao felt a foreboding sense in his twitching eyelid, ¡°What does that mean?¡± Qiao Nanchu inquired, ¡°Has Zihao returned to the team?¡± 0893, Jiao Zihao, their colleague. Captain Xiao¡¯s expression suddenly grew serious, ¡°Not yet.¡± ¡°Then, it¡¯s probably more likely to be bad than good.¡± Messing with the professional errand runner Z was just one of their goals. They also aimed to target the police¡¯s undercover agents. Captain Xiao clenched his teeth, his eyes reddening, ¡°This gang of venomous rats!¡± Outside, the music of the orchestra was melodious. Among the pleasure-seeking spots in the Imperial City, Fusheng Inn was the most elegant. The private room was decorated in an antique style, with a screen made of nanmu, painted with falling plums. Luo Qinghe sat cross-legged on a silk cushion, brewing a pot of fine tea. She sniffed lightly, ¡°Zhang Tong.¡± Without lifting her head, she added fire to the brew, ¡°Her name¡¯s Zhang Tong, right?¡± ¡°Uh-huh.¡± Across the table, the woman lay lazily, her hair casually spread out, set against the embroidered fabric of the soft cushion. Chapter 144 - 144: 144: Ah Fangs Paternity Test (Second Update) Chapter 144: 144: Ah Fang¡¯s Paternity Test (Second Update) Luo Qinghe poured a cup of tea, seven-tenths full, and handed it to the woman opposite him, ¡°Is her mouth tight?¡± The woman propped herself up and sat up, laughing, ¡°Rest assured, it is.¡± Luo Qinghe poured another cup, took a small sip, and asked casually, ¡°What about your thorn in the side, did you get rid of it?¡± ¡°Fights of cornered beasts always involve some struggle.¡± She took a bronze hairpin and casually pinned her hair up at the back of her head, ¡°Let¡¯s not talk about that.¡± She looked at Luo Qinghe, smiling faintly. With her hair up, her forehead was exposed, her features tidy and clean, ¡°Are you interested in my goods?¡± Luo Qinghe shook his head, adding some water to the teapot, ¡°We Luo family don¡¯t touch that stuff.¡± The woman smiled cryptically, ¡°Is there anything you don¡¯t touch?¡± ... It¡¯s not about not touching, but not handling it himself. Luo Qinghe smiled without saying a word. The woman opposite him was dressed simply, with only lipstick and her eyebrows done, resembling a girl fresh out of school, ¡°That professional errand runner, do you have a grudge against her?¡± Luo Qinghe didn¡¯t go into detail but said simply, ¡°Too troublesome.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s cooperate for once, and I¡¯ll give you a piece of advice.¡± The woman finished the tea in her cup, stood up, and her tight black jeans outlined her slender figure. She got dressed in her jacket and scarf, ¡°To be a top runner in the industry, she must not be easy to handle. Even FOR¡¯s lot can¡¯t hold her down; you definitely can¡¯t beat her with brute force. You might as well start by finding her weaknesses.¡± Having said that, she left the private room, passed through the corridor, and bumped into an acquaintance at the corner. Her scarf fell to the ground, and as she lifted her head, she was astonished, ¡°Bai Yang, it¡¯s you.¡± Wen Baiyang picked up the scarf from the ground and returned it to her, then took out paper and a pen from his bag, writing, ¡°Long time no see, Sister Zixi.¡± Zhang Zixi looked at her for a while before searching for a pen. Wen Baiyang wrote another sentence in the notebook and showed it to her, ¡°I can read lips.¡± ¡°I see.¡± She stopped searching for a pen and handed Wen Baiyang a business card, ¡°Call me when you¡¯re free.¡± Wen Baiyang took the business card without saying anything. She said she had another matter to attend to and had to leave first, ¡°Oh, by the way.¡± She turned around, her eyes always carrying a faint smile, ¡°Are you together with Nanchu?¡± Wen Baiyang¡¯s eyes were puzzled, not understanding why she would ask such a question. Zhang Zixi smiled playfully, ¡°Not together, huh.¡± She waved her hand and left first. Not together, then. What was that about back then? Back then, when she and Qiao Nanchu were still studying at the police academy, Qiao Nanchu was very famous in the school, not only because of his family background but also because he was outstanding. She was also very famous, but purely because of her beauty. At a fighting competition, she fell in love with him at first sight. In the beginning, she also shyly hesitated but couldn¡¯t help it; she liked him, and since he didn¡¯t like her, she had to take the initiative. She couldn¡¯t remember how long she pursued him; he was always lukewarm to her. Then one day, all of a sudden. He asked casually, ¡°Do you want to date me?¡± She was dumbfounded for a long time before nodding, ¡°Yes.¡± He asked again, ¡°Can you cook?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± They were standing under the shade of a tree; he was looking distractedly at a basketball court in the distance, asking absent-mindedly, ¡°And laundry?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± He thought for quite some time before turning his distant gaze back to her, ¡°Can you stay out?¡± A girl with a first love, asked like this, would naturally be shy. She had a strict upbringing, and staying out wasn¡¯t allowed, but thinking it was him, she still nodded, ¡°¡­Yes.¡± ¡°That¡¯s settled then, let¡¯s date.¡± He wrote down an address for her, ¡°Move in here tomorrow.¡± At that time, she thought he wanted to live with her. After going there, she met a girl who couldn¡¯t speak or hear. Back then, Wen Baiyang was only fourteen, having just arrived in the Imperial City from Da Mai Mountain, the redness of the high plateau still clear on her face. In the most eastern part of Fusheng Bamboo Garden was the VIP room, with its doors tightly shut. A waiter came to deliver tea but was stopped by the secretary guarding the door. The secretary brought the tea inside and then came out, continuing to stand guard at the door. ¡°What¡¯s the result?¡± Inside were Tang Xiang and her guest. The man wore boxy glasses, was in his fifties with half-white hair. He pushed the envelope towards her, saying, ¡°No parental relationship.¡± Both expected and unexpected, Tang Xiang pondered for a moment then reaffirmed with him, ¡°Non of those people are related?¡± The man nodded, ¡°And, this person has an abnormal chromosome.¡± An abnormal chromosome¡­ Tang Xiang immediately asked, ¡°Which one?¡± ¡°The abnormality is on chromosome 6.¡± Just happen to be chromosome 6. The adopted son of the Luo family also had an abnormality on chromosome 6. ¡°The gene loci are also odd, but for more precise details, we need to conduct a more intricate genetic test.¡± Outside. Luo Qinghe walked down the corridor and noticed a familiar figure opposite him; then he suddenly stopped and asked, ¡°Is that Tang Xiang¡¯s secretary?¡± Shen Yue replied, ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Go see what she¡¯s doing.¡± Shen Yue understood the task and walked over. Tang Xiang¡¯s secretary stopped him, saying that an important matter was being discussed inside. Luo Qinghe gave a suggestive look, and Shen Yue didn¡¯t care about the obstruction and directly pushed open the door. ¡°The project budget I¡ª¡± The conversation inside was cut off halfway when Tang Xiang looked up angrily and lost his temper, ¡°Don¡¯t you know how to knock? Have all manners gone to the dogs?¡± Luo Qinghe had already come over. With the door wide open, she peeked inside and said, ¡°Isn¡¯t this meant to be a surprise? Just a family joke, why blow up over it?¡± A smile played at the corner of Luo Qinghe¡¯s eyes as she noticed the other person in the room, ¡°President Wang is here too.¡± That was President Wang from Zhang Lin Building Materials. Portly President Wang got up from his chair, with a very round face and mung bean eyes, and greeted her warmly, ¡°We were just discussing a project with your Luo Family. Would Younger Luo like to listen in?¡± Luo Qinghe smiled, ¡°No thanks, I won¡¯t interfere with Tang Xiang¡¯s projects.¡± She flicked her hair and moved towards the door, ¡°Please, continue.¡± Tang Xiang called out to her, ¡°Wait a moment.¡± Luo Qinghe leaned against the doorframe, calmly waiting for her to continue. Tang Xiang was seated, still holding a teacup. She raised her eyelids slightly, her gaze serene and unwavering as she looked at Luo Qinghe, ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to apologize before leaving?¡± Ever since Luo Qinghe took over the household, she was regarded with the utmost respect by the Luo Family and its business. The only exception was Tang Xiang. The old master trusted Tang Xiang, willing to let her manage half of his empire. Even so, as an outsider, she never once considered this Younger Luo a figure of importance. Luo Qinghe, with her arms crossed, dropped her smile and said, ¡°Sorry for the disturbance.¡± ¡°Remember your manners in the future.¡± With that, Tang Xiang closed the door. After there was no more noise outside, Tang Xiang sat back down and personally poured a cup of tea for him, ¡°Thank you, President Wang.¡± President Wang waved his hand, ¡°What¡¯s there to thank for? It was no trouble at all.¡± After President Wang left, the person hiding in the bathroom finally came out. Tang Xiang then continued the conversation that was interrupted, ¡°Dr. Qiu, please keep this a secret.¡± ¡°I understand.¡± The weather was nice today; the sun was warm. Zhou Xufang had set up her stall and was not installing screen protectors today; she was selling hot water bottles instead. Around nine, Jiang Zhi gave her a call. She happily picked up, ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± ¡°Are you packing up yet?¡± ¡°Yep.¡± Jiang Zhi said, ¡°I¡¯ll come to pick you up.¡± S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. She declined, not wanting to hold him up, ¡°Don¡¯t you have a premiere?¡± Jiang Zhi was supposed to join her at the stall, but he had a premiere at eight. A director cannot be absent. Director Jiang said, ¡°I can leave early.¡± Leaving early didn¡¯t mean being absent. Zhou Xufang thought it was acceptable, ¡°Then I¡¯ll wait for you.¡± Jiang Zhi spoke with her for a while before hanging up. At this time, under the big bridge, there were many night snack stalls, and the park across the street was filled with people doing square dancing. The music was loud enough to hear from a street away, creating a lively atmosphere. Zhou Xufang had good hearing and heard crying from a distance; it was coming from an alley, a child crying. She went over, ¡°Why are you crying?¡± The three or four-year-old child was plump, fair-skinned, and tender, looking like a custard bun, and the little custard bun cried, ¡°I dropped my candy.¡± The little custard bun was adorable. Zhou Xufang gave him a pack of cotton candy. The little custard bun immediately grinned, ¡°Thank you, sister.¡± Zhou Xufang wanted to pinch his chubby cheeks, ¡°Where¡¯s your mom?¡± In a milky voice, he said, ¡°Mommy is dancing.¡± I see¡­ Zhou Xufang poked his soft little face, ¡°Go to mommy, don¡¯t wander off alone, or the bad people will take you away.¡± The little custard bun agreed and hopped away joyfully. So cute. She thought she would like to have a little chubby kid like that with Jiang Zhi¡­ She shook her head, what was she thinking! Shameless! She was a bit hungry and wanted to eat a custard bun¡­ Just then, someone abruptly ran into her at the corner. She didn¡¯t budge, while the person who bumped her was bounced off, fell to the ground, and gasped for air. ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± Zhou Xufang apologized and approached to ask, ¡°Did I hurt you?¡± It was a man. He suddenly lifted his head and grabbed Zhou Xufang¡¯s arm, his voice desperate, ¡°Help me!¡± It was then that Zhou Xufang saw his face, with an injury on his forehead and sweat pouring down. ¡°Help with what?¡± He held his abdomen with one hand and frequently looked back. The sweat on his head kept rolling down, and his breaths grew more labored. After a frantic glance around, he pulled out a sheet of paper from his pocket and shoved it into her hand. He said, ¡°My name is 0893.¡± After saying that, he got up and ran off without looking back, desperate to escape. Chapter 145 - 145: 145: Ah Fang gets into a fight, Jiang Zhi covers for him (first update) Chapter 145: 145: Ah Fang gets into a fight, Jiang Zhi covers for him (first update) Having said that, he got up and ran desperately forward without looking back. Zhou Xufang spread her hands and looked at the piece of paper; there was blood on it and also on her sleeve. 0893 was injured. ¡°They¡¯re ahead.¡± ¡°Hurry up!¡± Zhou Xufang cocked her ear and listened; the messy footsteps were getting closer. ... Were these people chasing after 0893? She stood in the middle of the alley. About a dozen people came running in a swarm, completely disregarding her standing in the middle of the road, and charged over, bumping her against the wall. They bumped into her. Zhou Xufang patted her shoulder, ¡°Hey.¡± The man running at the front turned his head, his face gaunt and menacing. Zhou Xufang stepped in front to block the way, her expression downcast like a cold and detached vagrant, and she said, ¡°You bumped into me.¡± The leader, in a leather jacket with pierced ears and dyed yellow hair, tattoos from his neck to his ears, was very impatient, ¡°Move or die!¡± Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t move, her pretty little face under the oversized hoodie serious and stiff as she repeated, ¡°You bumped into me.¡± Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The man, looking fierce, pushed her, ¡°Get lost!¡± But she didn¡¯t budge. She stood firm, her expression even more serious, ¡°Not only did you bump me, but you pushed me too.¡± The man rubbed his hands in frustration, sneered, and pointed to a few of his men, ¡°You guys.¡± He made a gesture with his eyes, signaling them to chase after the person first, then turned back to Zhou Xufang and whistled, his face mean and sleazy, ¡°So, little girl, what do you want?¡± Zhou Xufang glanced at the men running off to chase and said, ¡°I¡¯m going to hit you now.¡± She said it earnestly, her small face serious, not joking at all. Yet the man laughed loudly, looking at her as if she were a joke. After he finished laughing, he picked up a discarded table leg from the alley and weighed it in his hand. ¡°Just don¡¯t cry.¡± With that, his expression suddenly turned violent as he raised the wooden stick and chopped towards Zhou Xufang¡¯s face. He thought he could scare the girl into crying¡­ But she stood there motionless, easily catching the table leg with her hand. The man¡¯s eyes bulged in shock, and he immediately tried to yank it away. But he couldn¡¯t. ¡°You¡ª¡± Zhou Xufang kicked the man in the calf, and he howled, jumping up with his leg in his arms, his face red with pain. Just as he was about to swear at her, he saw the slim and seemingly weak girl casually throw the table leg, accurately hitting and knocking down one of the men who were off chasing someone. She said, ¡°You all owe me an apology before you can leave.¡± The men who had gone off chasing looked at each other and then turned back, surrounding Zhou Xufang. When Jiang Zhi arrived, the stall was there, but not the person. He looked around and couldn¡¯t find Zhou Xufang, his calls going through only after the third attempt. ¡°Xu Fang, where are you?¡± Zhou Xufang said, ¡°I¡¯m at the police station.¡± When Jiang Zhi heard ¡®police station,¡¯ he got anxious, ¡°What happened?¡± She whispered into the phone, ¡°I hit someone.¡± Hit someone? As long as she wasn¡¯t the one being hit, it was fine. Jiang Zhi asked, ¡°Was it caught on the surveillance camera?¡± Zhou Xufang thought for a moment, ¡°No.¡± That made things easier. ¡°Don¡¯t admit to it.¡± He collected her stall, put it in the trunk, got into the driver¡¯s seat, and floored the accelerator, speeding off, ¡°Wait for me, I¡¯ll be right there.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Zhou Xufang hung up the phone and obediently waited. That man¡ªthe one with yellow hair and ear piercings, the gaunt and fierce-looking one, called Hua Jun, the leader of the group¡ªwas still cursing, ¡°How many times do I have to say it, she hit first!¡± Zhou Xufang turned her head, ¡°It wasn¡¯t me.¡± Hua Jun spat in disgust, kicked over a chair in anger, and stood up to confront Zhou Xufang, pointing at his own face, ¡°Then who hit this?¡± Zhou Xufang looked straight at the police officer, ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± Hua Jun and his group of bruised underlings were furious, rolling up their sleeves and rushing forward, ¡°You motherf¡ª¡± Zhang Wen banged his baton on the table, shouting, ¡°What do you think this place is? Keep yelling and see what happens!¡± He nodded at Zhou Xufang, ¡°Go on, you tell us.¡± Zhou Xufang stated it clearly, with a proper demeanor. ¡°They bumped into me.¡± Then, ¡°They didn¡¯t apologize, and they pushed me.¡± She went on seriously, ¡°I asked them to apologize, and they tried to hit me.¡± She wasn¡¯t lying; all of this was true. Then she hit them. She didn¡¯t go hard, just a casual hit. The rest is omitted. ¡°` In the end, ¡°Someone who saw something wrong reported it to the police.¡± Zhou Xufang said with a serious expression, like a good student sitting in the first row of the class, ¡°That¡¯s how things happened.¡± Hua Jun and his crew rolled their eyes so hard upon hearing this that you¡¯d think their eyes would pop out, all the while they were wincing in pain and cursing loudly, ¡°Bullshit!¡± Zhou Xufang leaned toward the police officer. Look how scared they got! Zhang Wen knocked his baton again, ¡°Be quiet!¡± After shouting, he asked the young lady in a softer tone, ¡°Did you hit them?¡± Zhou Xufang lowered her head, ¡°I did not.¡± She wasn¡¯t very good at lying, and her eyelashes would flutter whenever she did. Hua Jun couldn¡¯t hold back his laughter, rolled up his sleeve, and showed his arm bruised with violet spots, ¡°If you didn¡¯t hit us, then where did these injuries come from?¡± She looked up, first bewildered, then delighted, ¡°Jiang Zhi!¡± Jiang Zhi pushed the door open, and behind him was a sky full of stars and neon lights. He had arrived in a hurry, with his hair tousled by the wind, having just come from a premiere, still dressed in formal attire, with a black tie and suit, and an overcoat of the same color. The very picture of an elegant nobleman, with his misty blue short hair, which gave him an extra touch of unruliness and flamboyance on top of his already exquisitely beautiful features, making him look like he had stepped out of a painting. Tsk tsk tsk, the beauty of Imperial City truly lived up to his name. Zhang Wen had seen Jiang Zhi a few times at the Criminal Investigation Team and was aware of his relationship with Zhou Xufang, so he teased, ¡°Mr. Jiang, why have you come?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve come to pick up my girlfriend.¡± He walked over to Zhou Xufang, touched her head, ¡°Are you hurt?¡± Zhou Xufang nodded, ¡°Mhm.¡± She extended her right index finger, which had a pink band-aid on it. It was from when she was hitting people, and a splinter of wood had poked her. Jiang Zhi bent down, blew on her finger, coaxed her with a few words, then pulled up a chair to sit down, his peach blossom eyes lifting slightly, ¡°So it was you guys who hit my girlfriend?¡± Hua Jun and his battered brothers, ¡°¡­¡± Been a hoodlum for so many years, it was the first time they¡¯d been framed. One of the guys with a broken arm got so angry his face turned red, ¡°We didn¡¯t even touch her clothes, it was she who hit us!¡± Across from them, the blue-haired, handsome young man lifted his eyelids slightly, and the myriad of inky light in those peach blossom eyes suddenly darkened. He looked up, ¡°Are you still thinking of touching her clothes?¡± ¡°¡­¡± When did they ever want to touch her clothes?! Just as they were about to curse loudly¡ª The handsome young man lifted his chin, and under the light overhead, all the dim glow gathered in his eyes, ¡°You say my girlfriend hit you, do you have any proof?¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°A little girl hitting more than ten grown men, and you expect people to believe that?¡± The beautiful gentleman raised an eyebrow, smiled, and his eyes contained a serpentine allure mixed with a fierce coldness that sent shivers down the spine, ¡°Do you believe it?¡± ¡°¡­¡± Damn, a man¡¯s looks can be too damn enticing, yet he seems not to be someone you should mess with¡­ ¡°Also,¡± he continued, narrowing his gaze at the table full of ¡®items¡¯ found during the body search, ¡°Carring sticks and knives around, were you planning to do something illegal and disorderly?¡± ¡°¡­¡± Appearances can be deceiving; this is a wolf in an exquisite skin. ¡°I think these people need to be thoroughly checked out,¡± Jiang Zhi turned, looking at Zhang Wen, ¡°What do you think?¡± Zhang Wen smiled, ¡°I also think a thorough investigation is needed.¡± He called over a colleague, ¡°Lock them all up.¡± Hua Jun and his beaten up brothers, ¡°¡­¡± Five minutes later, Jiang Zhi took Zhou Xufang out of the police station. He held her hand as they walked to the car, ¡°Was it you who hit them?¡± Zhou Xufang admitted, ¡°Yes.¡± He asked again, ¡°Did anyone see you?¡± She shook her head, ¡°No, the alley was a blind spot.¡± Jiang Zhi opened the car door and let her get in first, then bent down to buckle her seat belt, his movements and voice were gentle, ¡°Then why did you hit them?¡± ¡°They seemed to be chasing someone. I deliberately stopped them to let that person get away.¡± She took out a piece of paper from her pocket and showed it to Jiang Zhi, ¡°This is what that person gave me, asking for my help.¡± The note was bloodstained and messily written with a string of numbers. ¡°He said his name was 0893.¡± 0893? That¡¯s a code name. Jiang Zhi got into the driver¡¯s seat and closed the car door, ¡°I¡¯ll look into this 0893 first.¡± Zhou Xufang agreed. Less than half an hour after they left, Zhang Wen received an emergency call, ¡°Deputy team leader, there¡¯s been a report, a body was found under Ba Yi Bridge.¡± Around nine o¡¯clock. Qiao Nanchu also received a call, from Captain Xiao of the Drug Enforcement Team, with a single sentence, ¡°0893 is dead.¡± 0893¡¯s wife had just given birth to twins last month. Qiao Nanchu hung up the phone, went to the balcony, and lit up a cigarette, taking a deep drag, stood there for a while, and then dialed a number on his phone. ¡°It¡¯s me.¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter if you can¡¯t hear me, don¡¯t hang up.¡± He stood under the balcony light, finished one cigarette, and then lit another. ¡°` Chapter 146 - 146: 146: Who are Xu Fangs parents? (Second update) Chapter 146: 146: Who are Xu Fang¡¯s parents? (Second update) Jiang Zhi dropped Zhou Xufang off at Yuquan Bay; it was almost half past nine. Just as they entered the complex, Zhou Xufang heard someone excitedly calling her. ¡°Xufang.¡± ¡°Xufang.¡± It was Mr. Fang, the security guard. Zhou Xufang approached and greeted him cheerfully, ¡°Hello, Uncle Fang.¡± ... Mr. Fang poked his head out of the window, his face crinkling with a smile like a blooming daisy, ¡°You¡¯re just getting back now? It¡¯s not safe for a young girl to be out so late¡ª¡± He paused upon noticing another person beside the young lady. Mr. Fang squinted, ¡°And who might this be?¡± Zhou Xufang introduced them straightforwardly, ¡°This is my boyfriend.¡± Jiang Zhi nodded, neither warm nor dismissive. Mr. Fang looked at Jiang Zhi, revealing a kindly smile, ¡°You¡¯re Jiang Zhi, aren¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Do you know me?¡± ¡°Of course, the great director, right?¡± Mr. Fang looked back and forth between Jiang Zhi and Zhou Xufang as if he were a madam of a brothel who had just sold off a girl, ¡°Ah, you two really are a match made in heaven.¡± Jiang Zhi liked the sound of that, ¡°Thank you.¡± Mr. Fang fished out two fruit jellies and handed them to Zhou Xufang, ¡°Here, take these and enjoy.¡± She accepted them, politely thanked him, and then headed upstairs with Jiang Zhi. Mr. Fang watched their compatible silhouettes from afar and sighed sentimentally, ¡°How wonderful.¡± The fire that year burned down the Luo Family¡¯s flower shed completely. Everyone said that child was gone, but not a single member of the Luo family showed even a hint of sorrow. Everyone turned a blind eye or simply watched from the sidelines. Only that young man, that frail young man, he took an urn, went in and came out with a box full of ashes. Only that young man, it was he alone who cried. Holding that orange cat and the urn, he sat in the charred remains of the flower shed for a long time, weeping. ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± ¡°I¡¯m too late¡­¡± Out of so many people, only he was the one who grieved. Thinking back, Mr. Fang heaved a heavy sigh, lost in thought when someone behind him called out, ¡°Mr. Fang Dashun.¡± Mr. Fang turned around, ¡°I¡¯m not Fang Dashun.¡± He had changed his name so many years ago! ¡°Then you must be Mr. Fang Xiaoxi, correct?¡± She emerged from the dim light, ¡°I am Tang Xiang, daughter of Tang Guangji¡± Tang Guangji¡­ At the mention of that name, Mr. Fang¡¯s expression turned cautious, ¡°What do you want with me?¡± Tang Xiang stepped forward, ¡°I wanted to ask about the fire at the Luo family back then.¡± He waved his hand dismissively, his face a mask of ¡®I don¡¯t know anything! How would I know? You could ask me a thousand times and I still wouldn¡¯t know!¡¯ ¡°I was just a firefighter, what could I possibly know about it?¡± Tang Xiang wasn¡¯t in a hurry, continuing calmly, ¡°As it happens, the thing I¡¯m asking about is something only you, a firefighter, would know.¡± This girl came prepared. Mr. Fang crossed his arms behind his back, ¡°What do you want to ask?¡± ¡°When you rescued Luo San from the fire, was she still alive?¡± Without a second thought, he replied, ¡°She was dead.¡± He was lying. That night, an ambulance clearly arrived. Tang Xiang walked into the guardhouse, bowed slightly, ¡°Mr. Fang, my father was a victim of that fire. I¡¯m not here in any capacity related to the Luo Family; I¡¯m here as a victim¡¯s family member.¡± She placed a business card on the table, ¡°If you remember anything, please contact me.¡± That night, the moon shone bright amidst a sparse constellation of stars. Zhou Xufang dreamed of a little bald boy, squatting behind iron bars, his hands clutching a bunch of foxtails. He had been there a long time, from the break of dawn till sunset¡¯s glow. Above him, the cicadas¡¯ noise would cease and then surge, surging and then ceasing. Below, the little bald boy holding the foxtails fought off sleep. In the distance, someone called, ¡°Luo San.¡± The drowsy boy instantly opened his eyes, looked up to see vast swaths of sunset clouds, and beneath them, a young man. The young man wore white clothes, including white shoes, emerging from the orange glow of the setting sun, ¡°What are you doing squatting here?¡± The little bald boy didn¡¯t speak, instead offering his foxtails. While the young man seemed a bit disdainful, he still accepted them, the sunset reflecting in his eyes, bringing forth a faint smile, ¡°Waiting for me, huh?¡± The little bald boy nodded. He was waiting for him, not knowing when he would come, so he waited three days, each day gathering a large bunch of foxtails, waiting here, wishing he could pick flowers for him, but the owner of the flower shed would beat him. All he could do was pick foxtails to give to him. The young man was handsome, holding the foxtails so beautifully that it was almost unreal. He said, ¡°Hold out your hand.¡± The little bald boy extended his dirty hand. He handed him a can of milk, ¡°This is for you.¡± The little bald boy grinned. Outside the fence, three cars stopped, with people shouting, ¡°Brother Zhi.¡± ¡°Brother Zhi.¡± ¡°Jiang Zhi!¡± ¡°What are you doing? Hurry up!¡± S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Those were the young man¡¯s friends, urging him on. He turned back reluctantly, replying, ¡°Xue Baoyi, stop rushing me.¡± Then he stood up and said to the little bald boy, ¡°I was just passing by, gotta go.¡± Holding the foxtails, he waved and left. The little bald boy clutched the fence, desperately pressing his head through. The young man got into a car and was out of sight, so the boy climbed up on the fence. After the car had gone far, he clutched the milk and grinned foolishly. Looking around, seeing no one else, he opened his mouth to whisper the young man¡¯s name. ¡°Jiang, Zhi.¡± ¡°Jiang, Zhi.¡± The voice was very hoarse, from unskilled to practiced. ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± Zhou Xufang suddenly woke from her dream and realized her pillow was wet with tears. She got up from the bed, sat stunned for a long time, took a can of milk from the refrigerator, opened it, and took a sip. Back in bed, she could no longer sleep. Eyes open, she stared at the chandelier above her bed, muttering Jiang Zhi¡¯s name intermittently. At eight in the morning, Shuangjiang came to her: ¡°Tang Xiang has met with the forensic doctor.¡± Zhou Xufang had barely slept all night, her eyelids were heavy, her voice nasal: ¡°Did they find anything?¡± ¡°She tested many people, but there were no parental relationships,¡± Shuangjiang was still trying to make sense of it. ¡°But why did she use your DNA for testing? Does she suspect you¡¯re related to He Xiangxiu?¡± Tang Xiang had compared Zhou Xufang¡¯s DNA with all of He Xiangxiu¡¯s relatives in her hometown. Zhou Xufang was silent for a long time: ¡°The Luo Family claimed publically that Luo San was a child of He Xiangxiu¡¯s relatives. Tang Xiang suspects that I am Luo San.¡± Shuangjiang sent two exclamation points. Zhou Xufang¡¯s eyes gradually grew darker: ¡°If Tang Xiang¡¯s speculation is correct, it would confirm one thing: the statement by the Luo Family is a lie. Luo San is not a child from He Xiangxiu¡¯s hometown, she is very likely from the Luo Family itself.¡± Her shoulders slumped, she suddenly sighed, ¡°Shuangjiang.¡± Shuangjiang: ¡°Hmm?¡± Zhou Xufang¡¯s voice was muffled, despondently: ¡°I¡¯m beginning to suspect it now too, that I might be Luo San.¡± She had already dreamt many times of the little bald boy. Last night, besides the bald boy, Jiang Zhi was also in her dream. Maybe it wasn¡¯t a dream. She had memories of the Luo Family¡¯s attic; she was either the person involved or a bystander, and now Tang Xiang was also investigating her. All clues were pointing in this one direction. Zhou Xufang continued to sigh, her mood very low: ¡°But I¡¯m still not certain, and I don¡¯t want to be part of the Luo Family.¡± At nine o¡¯clock, the sun was nowhere to be seen, and large clouds covered the sky, dark and oppressive, like a heavy rain was imminent. Tang Xiang parked her car outside the sanatorium and took a box to the ward. Xiao Qu was inside changing the bedsheets: ¡°Miss Tang is here.¡± ¡°My mom?¡± ¡°Xiao Hui took her to the park.¡± Tang Xiang left a box of small cakes on the table for Xiao Qu before leaving the ward. At the back of the sanatorium was a small park. Ms. He, formerly seated in a wheelchair, ran down to her upon seeing her. ¡°Xiangxiang!¡± ¡°Xiangxiang!¡± Ms. He was very happy, running toward her. Tang Xiang helped her sit back in the wheelchair: ¡°I brought your favorite walnut pastries.¡± ¡°You¡¯re spending money recklessly again.¡± Though she complained, she clutched the box of walnut pastries tightly. Tang Xiang told Xiao Hui to busy herself elsewhere while she took Ms. He for a stroll in the park. Along the way, Ms. He chattered non-stop, grasping the box of walnut pastries and laughing foolishly. Tang Xiang asked her, ¡°Why aren¡¯t you eating?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll wait for your dad to come back before eating.¡± Ms. He¡¯s mental state fluctuated, and right then, she wasn¡¯t very lucid. She stopped the wheelchair and walked ahead, squatting down, casually asking: ¡°Mom, where¡¯s Luo San?¡± Ms. He frowned: ¡°Where did she run off to again?¡± She looked around, ¡°Did she go to steal the braised pork again?¡± ¡°That silly girl isn¡¯t afraid of getting beaten, still daring to steal meat to eat.¡± After scolding the silly child, Ms. He stood up from the wheelchair, clamoring that she would go look for Luo San. Tang Xiang didn¡¯t stop her, following behind: ¡°Mom, where are Luo San¡¯s parents?¡± ¡°Her mother,¡± Ms. He suddenly stopped, whispering, ¡°Her mother was locked up.¡± ¡°Locked up where?¡± Ms. He suddenly became panicked, pacing back and forth, mumbling incessantly: ¡°Dead, she died.¡± ¡°Then her father¡ª¡± ¡°Shh!¡± Ms. He ran over, covering her mouth, looking around anxiously, ¡°They will kill you, you mustn¡¯t talk, mustn¡¯t speak¡­¡± Thunder roared, and then rain fell, the chill of winter rain piercing to the bone. Xue Baoyi had just arrived at the tea restaurant when she received a phone call from Zhou Xufang. ¡°Mr. Xue, it¡¯s me, Zhou Xufang.¡± ¡°Are you looking for Brother Zhi?¡± Zhou Xufang said: ¡°No, I want to meet with you.¡± Xue Baoyi was surprised: ¡°Just me and you?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± What could be the matter? Could the young couple have had a quarrel? After much thought, Xue Baoyi inquired: ¡°Should I inform Brother Zhi beforehand?¡± ¡°No need.¡± So, this was a secret meet-up without Jiang Zhi knowing? Xue Baoyi had a bad premonition. Half an hour later, Zhou Xufang arrived at the tea restaurant. Xue Baoyi, ever the gentleman, stood up to pull out her chair: ¡°Please, sit.¡± He turned back and called out to the waiter, ¡°I¡¯ve ordered milk for you.¡± Jiang Zhi treated his girlfriend like his darling baby, so Xue Baoyi only dared to give her milk. Zhou Xufang sat down: ¡°Thank you.¡± Xue Baoyi took his seat across from her: ¡°Did you need something?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± He guessed, ¡°Is it about Brother Zhi?¡± Zhou Xufang nodded. The waiter brought the milk, and after taking a sip, licking her lips, she said: ¡°Luo Qing mentioned that Luo San was someone dear to Jiang Zhi¡¯s heart,¡± she wanted to ask, ¡°were they in a relationship at a young age?¡± ¡°¡­¡± Indeed, it was a loaded question. Xue Baoyi decided his safety was the priority: ¡°You could just ask Jiang Zhi directly.¡± Zhou Xufang had figured she wouldn¡¯t get answers over a phone call, which is why she had arranged to meet him in person. She honestly admitted, ¡°Jiang Zhi gets very upset whenever he hears Luo San¡¯s name.¡± Chapter 147 - 147: 147: Zhou Xufang Makes Headlines Because of a Romance (First Update) Chapter 147: 147: Zhou Xufang Makes Headlines Because of a Romance (First Update) ¡°Jiang Zhi feels very upset whenever he hears Luo San¡¯s name.¡± Xue Baoyi thought it over and finally relaxed her stance, ¡°It¡¯s not exactly puppy love, but Jiang Zhi came out because of him.¡± ¡°Oh!¡± Zhou Xufang suddenly realized, ¡°So it was a first love.¡± She should have thought of it earlier; Jiang Zhi¡¯s love that perished in flames was, in fact, Luo San. Xue Baoyi: ¡°¡­¡± This topic was like a death sentence. Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t ask any more questions. She finished her milk, thanked Mr. Xue Baoyi, said goodbye, and left first. ... After exiting the tea restaurant, she sent an email to Shuangjiang. ¡°Shuangjiang, are you free tonight?¡± Shuangjiang replied: ¡°Yes.¡± Zhou Xufang put on her hat and mask, squatted by the roadside, holding her phone and typing slowly, letter by letter, ¡°Assist me, please. I¡¯m going to the Luo Family again tonight.¡± She needed to confirm as soon as possible whether she was Luo San. Shuangjiang: ¡°Okay.¡± That night, there was a film festival. Xue Baoyi, as an award presenter, attended, and Jiang Zhi was there too, nominated for Best Director; Xue Baoyi spotted him as soon as she entered. That prime spot with the best view had belonged to Jiang Zhi for three consecutive years. Xue Baoyi, wearing a jewel-blue suit and sporting curly hair, swayed over with a languid arrogance, dragging out her greeting, ¡°Brother Zhi~¡± Apart from the Jiang Family, only this rascal would call out ¡°Brother Zhi¡± without regard for the occasion, no wonder the rumors of the two had always been rampant in the circle. The female artists all covered their mouths in laughter, thinking: The sly top and the delicate bottom, what an affectionate pair. The sly top swaggered over and sat next to the delicate bottom, smiling elegantly, ¡°Brother Zhi, are we good buddies?¡± Jiang Zhi was slouched in his seat, not even lifting his eyelids, ¡°Speak human language.¡± Fine, Xue Baoyi was candid, ¡°Zhou Xufang sought me out today.¡± He tilted his head, leaning towards Jiang Zhi, speaking in a volume only the two of them could hear, ¡°She asked about Luo San.¡± Jiang Zhi kicked his shin lightly, ¡°What did you say?¡± Xue Baoyi scratched his head, feeling a bit guilty, ¡°Just mentioned a bit in passing.¡± Jiang Zhi kicked him again, ¡°Be specific.¡± Artists all around: Hey, they¡¯re flirting with each other. Seeing the situation, Director Jiang must be the one in charge at home; look at Second Young Master Xue, acting like a little wife. The little wife avoided his gaze, ¡°I talked about you coming out.¡± Jiang Zhi looked at him coldly. The little wife felt a chill at the back of his neck, touching his neck, ¡°It¡¯s not my fault, she¡¯s your wife, how could I not answer her?¡± Just as he finished, Ah Wan came running back with a phone, panting, ¡°Mr., you¡¯ve caused trouble.¡± Xue Baoyi: ¡°Ah?¡± Ah Wan, standing at one meter ninety, squeezed through the aisle with difficulty to his boss¡¯s side, presenting the phone, ¡°Boss, Miss Zhou and Mr. have both hit the trending searches.¡± Xue Baoyi, feeling like a stampede of grass mud horses had trampled over his mind: ¡°¡­¡± Jiang Zhi put down his crossed leg, his eyes lifting slightly, in the dim lighting, his gaze colder than the winter moon, ¡°Did they get the face?¡± Ah Wan pulled up the image and handed over the phone, ¡°Only the side face was captured, and not very clearly.¡± It was a stroke of luck amongst misfortune. Jiang Zhi¡¯s brows furrowed tightly, and he dialed Zhou Xufang¡¯s phone. She didn¡¯t answer. After calling three times with no response, Jiang Zhi kicked Xue Baoyi¡¯s trouser leg, ¡°Get it off the trending searches.¡± Xue Baoyi: ¡°Okay.¡± He pulled out his phone¡ª Ah Wan stopped him, ¡°You can¡¯t retract it.¡± Xue Baoyi: ¡°Ah?¡± His mind was straightforward, unable to grasp the twist. Ah Wan, having watched his fill of dramas and novels, hadn¡¯t ever seen a pig be butchered, but he¡¯d seen plenty of pigs run, and so he began to analyze, ¡°It isn¡¯t the first time Mr. has taken a girl to the headlines, and there¡¯ve been much more sensational stories before that weren¡¯t retracted. Retracting it now would just look more guilty, wouldn¡¯t it?¡± Makes sense. Xue Baoyi scratched his head, ¡°Then should I clarify?¡± To be honest, he¡¯d been on the headlines plenty, but he¡¯d never dealt with public relations; as a playboy, he never needed to follow rules, living a carefree life was his image. But involving Zhou Xufang now wasn¡¯t simple. Ah Wan racked her brain thinking back on the entertainment-related texts she had read and weighed her options, ¡°Making clarifications won¡¯t work, it¡¯ll just make things worse.¡± Second Young Master Xue from Baoguang had a reputation among women, he never made clarifications for a woman before, the more you clarify, the muddier it gets. Xue Baoyi was troubled and looked to Jiang Zhi, ¡°So what should we do?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll talk to Zhou Xufang first.¡± Zhou Xufang¡¯s phone was still unreachable, making Jiang Zhi restless. He took the car keys from Ah Wan, stood up, and left. Xue Baoyi called after him, ¡°If you leave now, what about the award ceremony?¡± Who¡¯s going to accept the Best Director award? Jiang Zhi kicked aside his obstructing foot, ¡°You figure it out.¡± The day had been rainy, with the dark clouds still lingering. The moon was concealed behind clouds, casting an ominous gloom. Such weather was simply irritating. In the background, Mom¡¯s constant nagging, ¡°You need to prune the leaves first.¡± Luo Yinghe was irritated beyond tolerance and threw the scissors down, ¡°I¡¯m not doing this.¡± Ever since she took a break from work, she had been confined at home, doing nothing but flower arranging or tea tasting all day long. She didn¡¯t have the patience for it and was so annoyed, she just wanted to lash out. Xu Yunci picked up the scissors, speaking softly and delicately, ¡°Be patient, the doctor said¡ª¡± Luo Yinghe grabbed a handful of flowers and threw them to the ground, ¡°Don¡¯t talk to me about doctors, so annoying!¡± Xu Yunci, scared she would have an episode, quickly pacified her, ¡°Okay, okay, I won¡¯t mention it anymore.¡± sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. She stood up and walked to the back of the flower pavilion, feeling suffocated and unable to vent her anger. She kicked around here and there, ¡°Day in, day out, arranging flowers, it¡¯s utterly dull.¡± ¡°Just wait a bit longer, okay?¡± Xu Yunci coaxed gently, ¡°After the hype dies down, we¡¯ll have the company arrange some charity events to reestablish your image, and then we¡¯ll make a comeback.¡± She was dissatisfied, ¡°How long would that take?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll talk to your sister after the New Year.¡± She snorted at the mention of Luo Qinghe, feeling agitated just thinking about it, and kicked over a potted plant. Xu Yunci knew she was upset and dared not bring it up again, so she changed the subject, ¡°We¡¯ll go to the hospital to see your uncle tomorrow.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not going, he has so many illegitimate daughters out there, why should we show kindness?¡± She spoke with disdain, clearly disgusted by Luo Changde. Xu Yunci was soft-hearted and pleaded, ¡°Don¡¯t say that, we¡¯re all family, it¡¯s not good to be estranged.¡± ¡°Family?¡± Luo Yinghe scoffed coldly, ¡°Who wants to be family with that beast.¡± Xu Yunci¡¯s face grew cold, ¡°Yinghe!¡± Luo Yinghe, far from being contrite, became even more irate, glaring at Xu Yunci without hiding her contempt and disgust, ¡°Stop defending him in front of me, don¡¯t think I don¡¯t know what¡¯s going on between you two.¡± She sneered, ¡°I¡¯m amazed, his¡ªhis manhood has been snipped by Zhou Qingmeng¡ª¡± ¡°Enough!¡± Xu Yunci scolded, rarely so fierce and stern, ¡°Who¡¯s been spouting such nonsense to you? Such talk can¡¯t be spread around carelessly, if your grandfather heard this, he would sew your mouth shut.¡± Luo Yinghe was defiant, pouting back, ¡°I¡¯m not spouting nonsense, it¡¯s what Luo Qinghe¡¯s mother said when she went mad.¡± Luo Qinghe¡¯s mother had died eight years ago, having gone mad for several years prior. Everyone in the Luo Family knew deep down that she was driven mad by Luo Changde, but no one dared to mention it. ¡°Regardless of what others say, remember,¡± Xu Yunci glanced outside the flower pavilion, her face stern and serious, ¡°in this family, those three people should never be mentioned.¡± Luo Yinghe impatiently replied, ¡°I know.¡± Those three people. Which three people? Zhou Xu squatted in a corner of the flower pavilion, counting the roses on the ground. Xu Yunci really liked roses; the flower pavilion was full of them, in all different varieties. Zhou Xu listened a while longer at the corner, then stealthily made her way to the bottom of the flower rack, and poured an entire bottle of paraquat on the roses. The smell of the chemical¡­ was a bit strong. She slipped out of the flower pavilion quietly and then climbed onto the roof of the villa, heading for the Luo Family¡¯s attic. Inside, it was the same old scene: cobwebs covered the whole room. She didn¡¯t dare to turn on the light, but instead used a flashlight to look around. The table and the wooden bed were covered in dust, and apart from the crude painting by the bedside, there were no signs of anything else. The attic was built quite low; Zhou Xu could reach the ceiling with her hand, making her feel quite claustrophobic. She heaved a deep sigh. In her earpiece, Shuangjiang asked, ¡°Did you remember anything?¡± ¡°Nothing.¡± She walked around inside for a while and eventually sat on the wooden bed, reaching out to touch the painting by the bed, ¡°But it feels very familiar.¡± Is that painting of Jiang Zhi? The hair was drawn too sparsely, just three strokes. She leaned in closer, peering carefully, but still couldn¡¯t make out Jiang Zhi¡¯s figure in the drawing. Instead, she saw a hole behind the wooden bed. She stood up, moved the bed away, and reached into the hole to search. She pulled out a decayed milk can, a faded candy wrapper, and a tattered notebook. They were too old; the milk can and the candy wrapper were no longer recognizable. Zhou Xu dusted off the notebook, opened it, and the handwriting inside was all crooked and misshapen, filling the entire book with one name. All ¡®Jiang Zhi¡¯. That child must have really, really liked that young man. Chapter 148 03-25 - 148: 148: Jiang Zhi, I am Luo San (second update Chapter 148: 148: Jiang Zhi, I am Luo San (second update Downstairs, there were sudden footsteps. Zhou Xufang quickly packed his stuff into his backpack, adjusted the bed, jumped out of the attic window, and leaped onto the roof. Someone had gone up to the attic and stood there for a while before leaving again. Zhou Xufang followed the sound of footsteps, jumping from the attic roof to the roof of the Luo Mansion. Just as he settled down, he heard voices. ¡°Where¡¯s grandpa?¡± Oh, it was Tang Xiang who had just gone up to the attic. ... A servant replied, ¡°In the study.¡± The study was on the first floor. Tang Xiang knocked on the door and was just about to push it open when the Luo Family¡¯s driver came running in to relay a message at the door, ¡°Chairman, there is a visitor.¡± Luo Huaiyu asked from inside, ¡°Who?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a gentleman. He said his last name is Zhou.¡± Zhou? Tang Xiang knew who it was. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï??0.?¦Ï There was silence inside for a while, ¡°Let him in.¡± Luo Huaiyu came out leaning on a walking stick and glanced at Tang Xiang, ¡°We¡¯ll talk about it tomorrow.¡± Tang Xiang nodded and left first. After she was far away, Luo Huaiyu instructed to have the guest brought in. Zhou Qingrang had left his wheelchair at the main entrance and walked with a cane. It was a short distance, but he moved slowly and with difficulty, breaking into sweat, and it took him a while to enter the house. The servants had already brewed tea. Luo Huaiyu sat on the living room sofa, and as Zhou Qingrang entered, his gaze became complex, lingering on his feet for a moment, ¡°You haven¡¯t been to the Luo Family for over twenty years.¡± Since it was winter and the weather was cold, wearing the prosthetic was painful. His left leg was severely limping, and his right leg, which had been reinforced with steel pins, could not support his body weight. He leaned on the chair and slowly sat down. Such a simple action made him break into a light sweat, and he breathed slightly rapidly. He sat up straight, his eyes cold and detached, ¡°No need to reminisce.¡± Luo Huaiyu also refrained from pleasantries, ¡°Did you come to ask about your sister?¡± S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°You folks at the Luo Family said she was dead, right?¡± His eyes had a mild gleam, and although the room was filled with the aura of worldly life, it failed to blend in, his gaze cold and distant like a pool of stagnant water, ¡°Where are her remains? I want to take them.¡± Luo Huaiyu didn¡¯t hesitate or weigh his words, and responded calmly, ¡°She did not die at the Luo¡¯s. She was pregnant with someone else¡¯s child and died outside¡ª¡± Zhou Qingrang interrupted, ¡°At first, I wasn¡¯t certain.¡± Now, he was sure. ¡°Not giving up the remains because you¡¯re afraid I¡¯ll find something, right?¡± Luo Huaiyu¡¯s expression slightly changed. Knowing what he needed to know, Zhou Qingrang didn¡¯t want to stay any longer. He got up with his walking stick, ¡°Uncle, don¡¯t sleep too soundly. I filed a case at the police station eight years ago, and there¡¯s no statute of limitations on my sister¡¯s case.¡± If he hadn¡¯t filed, the statute of limitations for criminal cases could last up to twenty years. Crash! The teacup in Luo Huaiyu¡¯s hand shattered. Dark clouds completely covered the moon, and a drizzle dampened the road. The wheelchair was left aside, and Zhou Qingrang, leaning on his cane, stood by the roadside. He had been waiting for a long time. Many taxis passed by, but none stopped. In this weather, nobody wanted the trouble of picking up a disabled person. So, he sat in the wheelchair, waiting aimlessly. The cold drizzling rain blurred his vision. At the road junction five hundred meters ahead, a car suddenly screeched to a halt. The male driver broke out into a sweat, rolled down the window, leaned out, and cursed loudly, ¡°You fucking want to die?¡± It turned out someone had suddenly run into the middle of the road, not paying attention. That person, dressed in black and with their face tightly covered, did not move away despite being cursed at and just looked at the driver before squatting down. The man cursed a few times before opening the car door and rushing out, and as soon as his feet hit the ground, he noticed the car body move. Lowering his head, he saw¡ª The car was lifted up! The man was instantly dumbstruck, ¡°You, you, you¡ª¡± Duang! Zhou Xufang released her hand, and the car body shook before stabilizing. She looked up, her eyes fixed on the man whose face had turned white from fear, and with a tone of serious negotiation, she said, ¡°If you behave, I won¡¯t suck your blood.¡± Ghost! A ghost! The man¡¯s legs trembled, ¡°I¡¯ll behave!¡± As long as you behave, Zhou Xufang stretched out her hand, pointing ahead, ¡°There¡¯s a man in a wheelchair over there, take him home.¡± Oh, she had to add, ¡°Take him home safely.¡± The man nodded frantically, beginning to sweat. Zhou Xufang waved her hand, ¡°Go on.¡± Two minutes later¡ª In front of the Luo Mansion, a private car stopped. Its owner was a specially pale, sweaty chubby guy. Oh, the chubby guy also stammered, ¡°Hey, hey, hey, where do you want to go? I, I, I¡¯ll take you.¡± Zhou Qingrang, leaning on his cane, stood up from the wheelchair and said, ¡°Thank you.¡± The chubby guy was terrified, looking around nervously, ¡°No, no, no need to thank me.¡± When Zhou Xufang returned to Yuquan Bay, it was almost ten o¡¯clock. From afar, she saw someone squatting downstairs. She ran over, cheerfully shouting, ¡°Jiang Zhi, Jiang Zhi!¡± Still, knowing to come back! Jiang Zhi was still squatting, didn¡¯t get up, and watched as a black blur sprinted towards him. He was happy inside but still annoyed, ¡°Do you know how many times I¡¯ve called you?¡± Zhou Xufang squatted down and embraced him tightly, ¡°I really like you.¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± He was knocked against the wall by her sudden hug, nearly losing his breath. This sudden display of sweet words¡­ He steadied himself, squatted properly, and embraced her, ¡°Are you trying to coax me? I¡¯m not mad at you.¡± She still hugged him, not letting go. A ¡®dark blur¡¯ burrowed into his arms, she said, ¡°I¡¯m not coaxing you.¡± Her voice was soft and mushy, her bones just as soft, wriggling restlessly in his embrace, ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± Jiang Zhi steadied her, stopping her movements, ¡°Hmm?¡± She tilted her head to look at him and asked, ¡°Do you like Luo San?¡± Jiang Zhi was momentarily stunned, ¡°What did Bao Yi tell you?¡± Her dark eyes stared into his, leaning closer and closer, filling her eyes entirely with him, and asked again, ¡°Do you like her?¡± She had a stubborn look, insisting on hearing an answer. About Luo San, he didn¡¯t know how much she knew, nor did he know where to start. After a long silence, he reached out and removed her mask. ¡°I used to think I would always like him.¡± He caressed her cool little face with the back of his hand, his eyes like stars in the desert, lonely yet bright, ¡°Then I met you.¡± She frowned, seemingly troubled. Jiang Zhi cradled her face, stroking her brow with his fingertips, his voice low and serious yet careful, ¡°Fang Bao, can you please not be jealous? Luo San is different, it¡¯s not about liking or not, he¡¯s a very important person, you¡¯re different too, you are the person I love most.¡± In his life, those who truly worried him were only these two people, one he personally put into an urn, and the other, in his arms, was his whole world. She knelt halfway, wrapping her arms around his neck and shook her head, ¡°I¡¯m not jealous.¡± Even if it was a misunderstanding, even if she wasn¡¯t Luo San, she wouldn¡¯t mind. That child, he couldn¡¯t reach the sun, in the everlasting darkness, he could only cling to Jiang Zhi. ¡°Jiang Zhi,¡± she lay on his shoulder, quiet for a while before asking, ¡°If I were Luo San, would you be happy?¡± Chapter 149 03-25 - 149: 149: Jiang Zhi Goes Public with Girlfriend (First Update) Chapter 149: 149: Jiang Zhi Goes Public with Girlfriend (First Update) ¡°If I were Luo San, would that make you happy?¡± Jiang Zhi shook his head, ¡°No.¡± He turned his head to whisper in her ear, ¡°Fang Bao, I wish you were an ordinary person, no need for anything sensational or dramatic. I don¡¯t want you to suffer like Luo San, to endure the pain others have given him.¡± He just wished for her to be ordinary. Fate had been too unfair to the child Luo San. ¡°I understand, don¡¯t be sad.¡± She thought it over, deciding it was better not to say anything before she was certain. Jiang Zhi let go of her, squatting face to face with her, ¡°Where did you run off to, why did you turn off your phone?¡± ... ¡°I was out on a mission, have you been waiting long?¡± He sounded especially sorrowful, and there was a hint of feeling neglected, ¡°I waited for two hours.¡± Zhou Xufang was apologetic, she kissed him and meekly said, ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± Alright, he forgave her. He extended his hand towards her, his whole face spelling out two words¡ªwhimsical, ¡°My legs are numb, help me up.¡± Zhou Xufang quickly supported him. His legs were still numb, so he simply leaned against her, boneless like a soft-bodied creature, ¡°Zhou Xufang, do you realize you¡¯ve caused trouble?¡± Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï Zhou Xufang¡¯s eyes widened, her mouth agape, her face expressing four words¡ªdumbfounded, cold, silly, cute, ¡°Ah?¡± ¡°You and Xue Baoyi made the headlines.¡± He fiddled with a small tuft of her hair, twirling it around his finger without tugging at her scalp, complaining with a sour tone, ¡°The internet is saying you¡¯re his girlfriend!¡± And he, the rightful partner, didn¡¯t even have his name mentioned! Zhou Xufang was startled, ¡°Was I secretly photographed?¡± Mr. Xue was actually such a famous person! ¡°Uh-huh.¡± Jiang Zhi nudged her with his chin, expressing his extreme displeasure, ¡°From now on, you¡¯re not allowed to be alone with Xue Baoyi. His public persona is that of a playboy, and a lot of paparazzi like to stalk him.¡± An entertainment company president, turning himself into an internet celebrity. He¡¯s such a dog. Zhou Xufang hadn¡¯t expected such a situation and was worried, ¡°So what do we do now?¡± It¡¯s all Xue Baoyi¡¯s fault, no blame on the girlfriend. Jiang Zhi released the hair twined around his finger, patting her head, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, they didn¡¯t catch your face.¡± She breathed a sigh of relief. ¡°Do you not want to show your face?¡± asked Jiang Zhi. She nodded, ¡°Mhm.¡± Showing her face made her feel insecure, afraid of being discovered, afraid of attracting attention. ¡°Xue Baoyi is too high-profile. All of his past rumored girlfriends were targets for media reporting. If we let this go unchecked, your information will be dug up sooner or later, and besides, I don¡¯t want others to spread that you are his girlfriend.¡± The latter part was the key point! There was a glint of hope in Jiang Zhi¡¯s eyes, shiny and bright, he said, ¡°Xu Fang, what about making it public?¡± To be honest, his background, his family, didn¡¯t suit being high-profile, and he had prepared to keep their relationship under wraps like hers. But when others mistook her as someone else¡¯s girlfriend, jealousy surged in him, wanting everyone to know she was his, wanting to introduce her proudly to all acquaintances and strangers alike. To put it bluntly, that¡¯s called exclusivity. His possessiveness towards Zhou Xufang was growing stronger, to the point where he couldn¡¯t tolerate even an online rumor. Zhou Xufang had her concerns, ¡°Wouldn¡¯t the Jiang family have trouble?¡± Caught up in a moment of folly, he wanted to be wilful just this once, ¡°If trouble seeks me out, I¡¯ll deal with it.¡± He almost pleaded, ¡°Zhou Xufang, give me a title.¡± Zhou Xufang was amused by him and nodded in agreement, ¡°Okay, if you want to go public, we go public. Anyway, I usually wear a mask when I¡¯m outside.¡± Content, he smiled as he led her upstairs. After staying with her for a while, he went back to his place. As soon as he got home, he made a call to Xue Baoyi. ¡°Find the paparazzo who took those pictures.¡± His tone seemed fine, not yet explosive. Xue Baoyi asked, ¡°What are you going to do?¡± He was a close friend, but to be honest, he couldn¡¯t pin down Jiang Zhi¡¯s limits. Jiang Zhi was succinct, ¡°A warning to others.¡± Someone was in for trouble. ¡°To what extent?¡± inquired Xue Baoyi. Jiang Zhi considered briefly, speaking as casually as discussing the weather, without a hint of the ruthlessness of life and death in his tone, ¡°At least make it known in our circles that my private affairs with Jiang Zhi are not for sale.¡± When he entered the entertainment industry, he made it clear; talk about his work all you want, whether good or bad didn¡¯t matter, but making him a personal target was off-limits. Xue Baoyi felt responsible for the incident and promptly agreed, ¡°I¡¯ll handle it.¡± The topic of Xue Baoyi and his ¡®outsider girlfriend¡¯ was still hot online. His twenty million fans were fierce, making his name hang on the trending searches for the entire day. Whether they were true fans or haters, all wanted to weigh in. ¡°Mr. Xue actually pulled out a chair for her! It¡¯s over, my Mr. Xue is truly bewitched by this little fairy, Mr. Xue, have you forgotten about Jiang Zhi by Daming Lake? @±±¾©µÄ×î˧¡± ¡°Mr. Xue even ordered her milk, none of his past rumored girlfriends had such treatment. If she¡¯s not the girlfriend, I¡¯ll livestream eating my keyboard!¡± ¡°You can tell from his previous female companions that this one is main wife treatment.¡± ¡°She must be an outsider, right? After getting around in the industry, he settles with an outsider in the end, huh, men.¡± ¡°No clear face shot and they dare to confirm the gossip, entertainment news is too careless these days.¡± ¡°From the side profile, why do I feel like it looks like a certain Y-surnamed female artist.¡± ¡°Young Master is Jiang Zhi¡¯s, nobody else better snatch!¡± ¡°Baozhi CP army is here, all demons and ghosts, retreat swiftly!¡± ¡°Looks not bad from the side profile, definitely a high-quality face. But¡­ did Director Jiang get cuckolded? @½­Ö¯V¡± ¡°¡­¡± While Xue Baoyi¡¯s Weibo was abuzz, journalists and media were snooping everywhere, and those questions made their way to Jiang Zhi. It was initially a press conference for his movie, but a thoughtless yet audacious reporter actually brought up gossip. ¡°Director Jiang, there are rumors about President Xue¡¯s romance all over the internet. As his good friend, do you know about this?¡± S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The close relationship between Jiang Zhi and Xue Baoyi was well-known in the circle, and it was even rumored that they were a couple. If that were true, it would be considered as ¡®cheating¡¯ on Xue Baoyi¡¯s part. Jiang Zhi¡¯s bad temper was no secret in the media circle. The reporter took a risk in asking and did not expect to get a response. ¡°I know.¡± All the reporters present perked up their ears and pushed their microphones forward. Jiang Zhi sat there and slightly lifted his eyes to meet the camera. He said, ¡°Pure fabrication.¡± As soon as he said this, the media stirred. It was the same female reporter who had asked the previous question, ¡°Are you clarifying this on behalf of President Xue?¡± Jiang Zhi lightly coughed and looked wan, his eyes brewing a faint hint of peach blossom color, noble yet indifferent, with an unmistakably commanding presence, ¡°Why should I clarify it for him?¡± ¡°¡­¡± Because you two have a bromance!!! Because you¡¯re the main partner!!! Because your CP has cheated!!! Of course, the reporters only dared to scream these thoughts internally. Unexpectedly, Jiang Zhi¡¯s response was bombshell¡ª ¡°I am clarifying this for my girlfriend.¡± The camera flashes were too much, and he squinted uncomfortably. His handsome face was extremely photogenic; it was just a pity that he was so stingy with showing any emotion. If you were looking for emotion on his face, all you could find was dissatisfaction, ¡°She is my girlfriend.¡± An unexpected official announcement completely twisted the direction of the wind¡­ All media friends were dumbfounded, their first reaction was shock, and their second reaction was doubt. ¡°Director Jiang,¡± a reporter from some corner asked with a bit of fear, weakly, ¡°Haven¡¯t you come out?¡± They hit the nail on the head. Jiang Zhi was an out-of-the-closet gay. ¡°My girlfriend straightened me out,¡± he said matter-of-factly, with a touch of smug pride, and of course, despite his expressionless face, there was a hint of indulgence in his eyes, ¡°Is that not allowed?¡± Straightened! Out! My God! The most shocking news of the year in the entertainment industry. The reporters at the press conference were like chickens injected with adrenaline, all standing up, with questions pouring out one after another. ¡°Director Jiang, can you tell us about your girlfriend?¡± ¡°Is she from outside the industry?¡± ¡°How did you meet?¡± ¡°Did you get connected through a drama?¡± ¡°How long have you been dating?¡± ¡°¡­¡± All cameras were focused on Jiang Zhi¡¯s face, with an endless stream of questions from reporters, while the movie¡¯s protagonists, left on the sidelines, felt a bit awkward. But as awkward as they were, they still had to watch the drama unfold. In the midst of it all, Jiang Zhi behaved as if nothing were amiss, reclining lazily, speaking in a light and breezy tone, uttering spine-chilling words: ¡°You may photograph me, but if you capture my girlfriend, please blur her out.¡± He made it sound casual, but it was anything but, with a frosty three-foot barrier visible in those peach blossom eyes¡ªthis was a threat, ¡°She¡¯s an outsider; anyone who leaks any information about her without permission, I will certainly hold them accountable.¡± ¡°!¡± So investigative reporting isn¡¯t allowed?! From an average person, such words might seem like grandiosity, but coming from Jiang Zhi, they warranted caution. As the young master of the Jiang Family in the capital, he could very well hide the sky with one hand. In this world, that¡¯s just how it is; the people at the top of the pyramid have the privilege to set the rules, no matter how unreasonable those rules may be. The reporters on site exchanged glances, wanting to ask more but not daring to do so. Jiang Zhi changed his sitting position, stretching out his long legs casually, ¡°Any more questions?¡± Yes, yes, yes! His tone was lazy as if he were not comfortable, presenting an ill yet handsome face, a signal that his patience was waning. He said, ¡°I will only answer questions related to the movie. As for my personal matters, no comment.¡± Reporters: ¡°¡­¡± The remainder of the press conference went as scheduled. Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t say another word about his personal life; he didn¡¯t bring it up, and nobody else dared to. Less than two hours after the conference ended, Xue Baoyi was bumped off the trending searches, and Jiang Zhi took over, along with his unnamed girlfriend, causing a Weibo explosion. Xue Baoyi stirred the pot with a statement. Beijing¡¯s Hottest Guy V: ¡°Hurry up and take your girlfriend away! @JiangZhiV¡± Jiang Zhi had opened a Weibo account years earlier, but was too lazy even to promote his movies, letting his account gather dust. For several years, he had hardly posted a handful of times. This time, however, he reposted Xue Baoyi¡¯s Weibo and even replied to it. JiangZhiV: ¨s^¨t Then, the gawking netizens exploded. ¡°I can¡¯t believe I was charmed by an emoticon, I¡¯m helpless too ¨s^¨t¡± ¡°Director Jiang got straightened out, how far am I from becoming a director¡¯s wife?¡± ¡°Not to mention anything else, I could be knocked out by the most beautiful man in the capital for five hundred years! Yet such a beauty actually has a girlfriend, a total waste of beauty!¡± ¡°I thought Mr. Xue had cuckolded Director Jiang, but in the end, it turned out that Mr. Xue himself had a huge grassland on his head. Weren¡¯t they promised to be each other¡¯s angels?¡± ¡°Bisexuality is even more disgusting than homosexuality! @JiangZhiV¡± ¡°Upstairs, are you jealous of Director Jiang¡¯s beauty? Why blacken his name like that.¡± ¡°With such aggressive appeal, why can¡¯t I help but imagine him on the bottom?¡± ¡°Baozhi girls, don¡¯t cry, I¡¯m copying this and writing a fanfic, our CP will never fall, top and bottom forever!¡± ¡°I have a bold guess, do you know about Duan Zhengchun¡¯s wife, Duobao Feng? To get back at Duan Zhengchun for his promiscuity, she deliberately seduced the ugly Duan Yanqing. Xue Baoyi is so flirtatious, Jiang Baifeng must¡¯ve been incensed, so he got himself this girlfriend¡ªan unknown Yanqing!¡± ¡°Upstairs, here¡¯s the pen, please continue your story!¡± ¡°¡­¡± Less than half a day after Jiang Zhi¡¯s official announcement, Old Lady Jiang made a phone call to him. ¡°Brother Zhi.¡± Jiang Zhi was driving one-handed, ¡°Hmm?¡± Zhou Xufang sat in the passenger seat, feeling that driving with one hand while on the phone was unsafe, so she took Jiang Zhi¡¯s phone for him, and reminded him to focus on driving. Old Lady Jiang on the phone asked with a hint of teasing and jest, ¡°That girlfriend of yours, is it real or fake?¡± The Old Lady naturally was skeptical. Jiang Zhi had come out at eighteen, causing quite a stir at the time, and the issue had even sparked an argument between the two generations. He indeed hadn¡¯t had a single woman at his side for many years, and now a girlfriend suddenly popped up without warning¡ªOld Lady Jiang wasn¡¯t convinced. Jiang Zhi replied, ¡°It¡¯s real.¡± Old Lady Jiang half-believed, half-doubted, ¡°Really straightened out?¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± Old Lady Jiang laughed, ¡°Truly a blessing from our ancestors.¡± Chapter 150 03-25 - 150: 150: Director Jiang shows off affection, love rival appears (second update) Chapter 150: 150: Director Jiang shows off affection, love rival appears (second update) Old Madam Jiang laughed, ¡°Truly, the blessings of our ancestors.¡± Jiang Zhi, ¡°¡­¡± Zhou Xufang was next to him, seriously holding back laughter. ¡°Do you have time tomorrow night?¡± Old Lady Jiang said, ¡°Bring your girlfriend over for dinner.¡± Without consideration, Jiang Zhi directly refused, ¡°We haven¡¯t been dating for long; we¡¯re not seeing parents yet.¡± Old Lady Jiang couldn¡¯t grasp his intentions either and didn¡¯t interfere, only reminding him, ¡°Since you¡¯ve found a girl, date her properly and don¡¯t create a mess like Bao Yi did.¡± ... ¡°Mhm.¡± After hanging up the phone, Jiang Zhi pulled the car over. ¡°Are you mad at me?¡± Zhou Xufang was confused, ¡°Hm?¡± Jiang Zhi unbuckled his seatbelt, ¡°You¡¯re not mad at me for not taking you to meet my family?¡± She shook her head. Source: Webnovel.com, updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.?¦Ï Jiang Zhi knew she understood but still wanted to explain seriously, ¡°It¡¯s not that I don¡¯t want to introduce you to them; it¡¯s just that those people do not count as my family.¡± He didn¡¯t want to roll her into the Jiang family¡¯s troubles too soon. ¡°I know.¡± Obedient and sensible. Jiang Zhi moved closer, wanting to hug her. Zhou Xufang dodged backwards, ¡°We¡¯re outside; someone might see.¡± Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t care¡­ The paparazzi hiding in the shadows: Please continue! An hour later, photos of a famous director and his girlfriend were trending online, attracting the gaze of countless onlookers. ¡°Wow, so sweet.¡± Mr. Xue: ¡°Only the joy of the newlyweds is seen, not the tears of the ones before.¡± ¡°Forgive me; I¡¯ve become a fan of the couple.¡± ¡°If the paparazzi had pixelated the girlfriend¡¯s lips, that would have been perfect.¡± ¡°¡­¡± That night, at eight o¡¯clock. Someone knocked on the door of the presidential suite. The door wasn¡¯t closed, and the woman inside said ¡°Come in.¡± A man walked in, with a pointy chin and gaunt cheeks, looking fierce and with tattoos from his neck to his earlobes, a black dragon one of them. It was Hua Jun, who had been detained by the police station for several days. He closed the door and entered the room, ¡°President Zhang.¡± The woman had just bathed and poured herself a glass of red wine, ¡°You¡¯re out.¡± The police had detained him for seven days for causing a disturbance. Hua Jun stepped forward to apologize, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, President Zhang; I almost messed up your plans.¡± She swirled the red wine in her glass, ¡°Who interfered?¡± ¡°I saw him once at the police station,¡± Hua Jun unlocked his phone and handed it over, ¡°It¡¯s the person in this photo.¡± It turned out to be a celebrity. The woman smiled, ¡°It¡¯s him.¡± For several consecutive days, there had been clear skies without a cloud in sight. The heat from Jiang Zhi¡¯s romance lasted only a few days since, after all, he was a director and came from one of the Four Great Families. The media didn¡¯t dare go too far, and moreover, it was known in the circle that the first paparazzi to expose Jiang Zhi¡¯s girlfriend had vanished from the face of the Earth. Everyone in the industry clearly understood that Jiang Zhi was making an example to warn others; hence, the media restrained themselves. They wouldn¡¯t offend Jiang Zhi over some gossip headlines. Of course, to satisfy netizen curiosity, reporters took many photos of his girlfriend, without pixelating them. Don¡¯t misunderstand; it¡¯s not that the media were brazen¡ªit¡¯s that there was no opportunity to pixelate. Director Jiang¡¯s girlfriend was always wearing a mask and dressed in all black, more covered up than the celebrities themselves. Consequently, Director Jiang¡¯s girlfriend got a nickname¡ªBlack-clothed Woman. Besides, now that Director Jiang was straightened out, many female artists were throwing themselves at him. Like at this dinner party today, there were quite a few more young women. Jiang Zhi was starting the shoots for his new movie after the New Year, and the investors organized a gathering to finalize details of the movie, including casting decisions. Currently, the lead female role for this new movie had been cast¡ªBaoguang¡¯s actress, the newly popular Weaver. Other roles depended on how many could be confirmed at this dinner gathering. ¡°Jiaojiao,¡± the head of Guangteng Film put down his chopsticks and said to the young girl next to him, ¡°Go pour Director Jiang a drink.¡± S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. It was Tao Jiaojiao, an actress beyond third-tier. Barely over twenty, a clean-looking young girl with a sweet voice, she picked up the wine and approached, ¡°Director Jiang.¡± Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t look up, ¡°I don¡¯t drink.¡± Tao Jiaojiao smiled, putting down the bottle of red wine and leaning forward slightly, her neckline low, ¡°Then I¡¯ll pour you some tea instead, Director Jiang.¡± She leaned in close, her slender hand mistakenly brushed the jacket Jiang Zhi had draped over the chair. ¡°No need,¡± Jiang Zhi picked up the jacket with two fingers and tossed it into the trash, then slowly wiped his hand with a tissue, ¡°Stay back, you¡¯ve got perfume on; it¡¯s hard to explain to my girlfriend when I get home.¡± Tao Jiaojiao¡¯s face went pale, visibly uncomfortable. Because Jiang Zhi had been straightened out, a lot of people in the circle had forgotten that he detested two things¡ªroses and women. The president of Guangteng Film came out to smooth things over, ¡°Men are bound to socialize, especially in our circle. The women at home need to be more accommodating,¡± he said with a smile, ¡°Don¡¯t you think so, Director Jiang?¡± Jiang Zhi sprawled out lazily, ¡°No.¡± The president of Guangteng Film: ¡°¡­¡± This guy really doesn¡¯t give face! It¡¯s not just this president; the other producers and investors, surrounded left and right by companions, also had awkward expressions on their faces. In the private room filled with men and women, everyone fell silent. Jiang Zhi sat in the main seat with a look of scant interest and said, ¡°Socializing is inevitable, but self-awareness is necessary.¡± No one dared to continue the conversation. ¡°Female and male artists who have nothing to do with my movie,¡± he paused, then continued, ¡°get out.¡± The table of presidents looked at each other, then silence fell like the chill of frost. The accompanying artists had no choice but to stand up and leave, men and women alike, all with superior looks, and silently left. Suddenly, Jiang Zhi called out to one, ¡°You, in the pink outfit, wait a second.¡± The girl in the pink dress felt a rush of joy. Being young and inexperienced, she couldn¡¯t hide the excitement in her eyes, ¡°Director Jiang, you called for me.¡± Jiang Zhi asked, ¡°Where did you buy the dress?¡± ¡°Ah?¡± His gaze swept over her, ¡°My girlfriend would definitely look better in it than you.¡± The girl in the pink dress: ¡°¡­¡± That¡¯s too much! The next day, the pink dress was sent to Zhou Xufang¡¯s house. Zhou Xufang tried it on, and while it looked good, Jiang Zhi felt the hem was too short, so he discussed with Zhou Xufang and had her wear it at home and avoid wearing it out. The obedient and agreeable Zhou Xufang: Okay. On Wednesday, there was a movie premiere that invited Jiang Zhi. Jiang Zhi usually had little to do with people in the circle, but this movie was the swan song of his mentor, so it was difficult for him to refuse. He brought Zhou Xufang with him. Other girls dressed up beautifully in dresses, but his girl was in black pants and hoodie, with a large mask covering her face. It was Zhou Xufang¡¯s first time at such an event. She felt uncomfortable and still had a slight social anxiety, staying close to Jiang Zhi wherever he went. A colleague approached to strike up a conversation: ¡°Director Jiang, your girlfriend, huh?¡± Jiang Zhi responded indifferently, ¡°Hmm.¡± There had been a lot of reports about Jiang Zhi¡¯s girlfriend recently, and the colleague was very curious, scrutinizing Zhou Xufang closely. Zhou Xufang felt uneasy, and Jiang Zhi shielded her behind him, ¡°Mine is shy.¡± Ah, look at how protective he is! The colleague offered a polite gesture and tactfully took a detour to leave. In the crowded corridor with people coming and going, mostly insiders, Jiang Zhi was afraid that someone might bump into Zhou Xufang, so he held her close to the wall as they walked, ¡°Are you feeling uncomfortable?¡± She said, ¡°It¡¯s okay.¡± She was uncomfortable, she was shy around strangers, and in crowded places, she would unconsciously be on guard and defensive. Jiang Zhi patted her head, made sure her mask and hat were properly on, and said, ¡°If you don¡¯t want to see anyone, just hide in my arms. I¡¯ll shield you.¡± She said okay and snuggled into his embrace. After a few steps, she suddenly stopped walking. Jiang Zhi asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± She pointed to a poster on the wall, ¡°Who is he?¡± He looks like someone. Jiang Zhi answered, ¡°The singer of the movie¡¯s theme song.¡± The boy on the poster was very young, so beautiful it was outrageous, a docile kind of attractive with not the slightest hint of aggression. The boy¡¯s skin was very white, should be the age of vigorous youth, yet his eyes were veiled with world-weariness, hollow and melancholic, resembling a doll in a display window, exquisite, but lifeless. It looked like that child. Zhou Xufang read the name on the poster, ¡°Xiao Yusheng.¡± She stared at the person in the poster, lost in thought. Jiang Zhi, completely ignored: ¡°Zhou Xufang.¡± Calling her by her full name, his tone carried discontent. She was still daydreaming, staring intently at the poster. ¡°What are you looking at?¡± Jiang Zhi stepped directly in front of her, completely blocking the poster, a cloud of gloom gathering in his handsome eyes, ¡°Your boyfriend is here.¡± Yes, he was getting jealous of a poster. Zhou Xufang tilted her head, still trying to see the poster, and said, ¡°This younger brother is very handsome.¡± Jiang Zhi sniffed disdainfully, ¡°What¡¯s so handsome about him?¡± A kid whose hair hasn¡¯t even grown in properly! Zhou Xufang, with her survival instincts apparently gone to the dogs, said, ¡°His eyes.¡± The nation¡¯s younger brother, Xiao Yusheng, had a pair of eyes more exquisite than a girl¡¯s, with slightly double eyelids and long, thin corners, forming a pair of curved crescents when he smiled. Jiang Zhi hummed, ¡°Better looking than me?¡± His eyes were peach blossom eyes, even when he was angry, the corners sharp, and the once colorful pupils now hooks that captivated people, beautiful indeed but always with a fierce charm about them. He said, ¡°If his eyes were better looking than mine, I would gouge mine out.¡± Chapter 151 03-25 - 151: 151: Kiss a lipstick and foundation (one more update) Chapter 151: 151: Kiss a lipstick and foundation (one more update) ¡°If his eyes were as good-looking as mine, I would gouge them out.¡± Zhou Xufang: ¡°¡­¡± She remembered what Lixiang had said before: Jiang Zhi hated it most when others praised his appearance. Hmm, the rumor was wrong; he cared so much about his looks. And yet, Jiang Zhi was not convinced; pointing at the poster, he said with a sneer, ¡°That¡¯s all makeup. Without it, he¡¯s definitely not good-looking.¡± Just then, a passerby who happened to be walking by exclaimed, ¡°Mr. Jiang, even without makeup, Yun Sheng looks good ahh!!!¡± Zhou Xufang was about to take a closer look at the poster when Jiang Zhi yanked her away¡ªyes, he dragged her away with a huge emotional pull, and only then did Zhou Xufang¡¯s survival instinct to run away from home return. She immediately gave Jiang Zhi a thumbs-up: ¡°You are the best-looking.¡± Her eyes were sincere. ¡°Really, no one else looks as good as you.¡± It was the truth. Although the brother in the poster was also good-looking, Jiang Zhi was the most handsome in the universe. Jiang Zhi let out a ¡°Hmph¡± with a nasal tone, discarding a single word. When it came to looks, not a single person in Imperial City could hold a candle to him! He pulled her to the makeup room where several actors were getting their makeup done; he directly asked others to leave and then ordered Lin Wanwan, ¡°Go find a makeup artist.¡± Zhou Xufang: ¡°¡­¡± She needed a moment of silence to think about how to compliment someone. Ah Wan: ¡°¡­¡± Damn this competitive spirit! No wonder they say men become childish when they fall in love. Just look at Jiang Zhi. He used to hate it when people talked about his beauty, yet now he was overdoing it. Not only did he care so much about the title of Imperial City¡¯s number one beauty, but Ah Wan had even caught him applying a facial mask! Tsk tsk tsk. Well, Miss Zhou was attracted by his face, after all. Otherwise, with his bad temper, who could stand it? After grumbling to herself, Ah Wan went to find a makeup artist. It was a female makeup artist, who obviously recognized Jiang Zhi and knew about his bad temper, and was a bit fearful of him: ¡°Director Jiang, what¡­ what kind of makeup do you want?¡± Had the sun risen from the west? Director Jiang, who never wore makeup for any show, was actually asking to be made up? She clearly remembered that last month, when Director Jiang went on a talk show and she was the on-site makeup artist, they needed to apply light makeup to the guest due to lighting issues. Director Jiang, with a cold face, wouldn¡¯t even let her touch him. This time, Director Jiang sat in front of the mirror, holding his girlfriend with one hand and parting his bangs with the other to reveal his handsome forehead. ¡°Make it the same as Xiao Yusheng¡¯s poster outside,¡± he said. Zhou Xufang fell silent, Ah Wan fell silent, the makeup artist fell silent; everyone was in silence! What could they do? They could only follow the orders of their ancestor, applying an idol-style stage makeup on his delicate face¡­ The female makeup artist¡¯s hand trembled continually, fearing that if she accidentally touched this germaphobe ancestor, it would be a disaster. This was probably the most difficult and least professional makeup she had ever done, yet paradoxically, his features were so striking that a modest application resulted in an impressive impact. ¡°It¡¯s done.¡± The makeup artist finished but didn¡¯t dare to look. Due to his chronic illness, Jiang Zhi¡¯s face always carried a touch of sickness. His complexion was pale, with a rosy tint at the corners of his eyes, which made him appear somewhat delicate and significantly reduced his aggressiveness. But once the makeup was applied¡­ His entire aura changed: less ethereal charm, more assertiveness added, giving people a conflicted sense of allure and intimidation. ¡°Zhou Xufang,¡± Jiang Zhi looked at the dazed little girl from the mirror. ¡°Come here.¡± Zhou Xufang: ¡°Oh.¡± She stared straight¡­ stared straight at Jiang Zhi and swallowed a big gulp of saliva. Jiang Zhi was pleased with her reaction, lifting her chin with his hand: ¡°Am I better looking, or is Xiao Yusheng?¡± Zhou Xufang: ¡°You.¡± He leaned in closer to give her a clearer view: ¡°What about the eyes, whose look better?¡± Zhou Xufang: ¡°Yours.¡± She gave a thumbs up, remembering ¡°Three Lives and Thirty Miles of Chrysanthemums,¡± ¡°You are the best looking across the seas and lands, you have the beauty to charm the moon and shame flowers, your looks stun fish and sink geese, you are as fragrant as a nation of colors, you¡ª¡± ¡°Stop.¡± Jiang Zhi frowned, dissatisfied, ¡°Why are all these descriptions for girls?¡± Oh. She rummaged through her brain, recalling the novel ¡°President Gu, Your Little Wife is on the Run Again¡± and switched descriptions: ¡°You are the most handsome on the Huaxia Continent, you possess a dashing charm, you have the looks of Pan An, you are Fu Fen He Lang, you are as graceful as a tree standing in the breeze, you¡ª¡± Suddenly, Jiang Zhi hooked his arm around her neck and pulled her close, ¡°Kiss me.¡± Zhou Xufang blinked, stared at his lips for a few seconds, and then stepped back, shaking her head: ¡°No.¡± She refused, she staunchly refused, ¡°I don¡¯t want to eat lipstick.¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± So, were all those compliments just to appease him?! Jiang Zhi gave the female makeup artist a cold stare. The makeup artist sweated bullets: You can¡¯t blame me, the makeup on Xiao Yusheng¡¯s poster was stage makeup, which includes lipstick, and you were the one who requested that style¡­ Jiang Zhi pulled the retreating girl back: ¡°Then kiss my cheek.¡± There was no lipstick on his cheeks. Zhou Xufang looked at Jiang Zhi¡¯s face, hesitated for a long time, but inside she still resisted, ¡°No, there¡¯s foundation. It will leave powder on my mouth.¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± The makeup artist: ¡°¡­¡± Her husband, a man of steel and logic, would react the same way. Ah Wan couldn¡¯t hold back and let out a snicker. Jiang Zhi: ¡°You two, get out.¡± Ah Wan and the makeup artist sister left together, thoughtfully closing the door behind them, and then looked at each other with a smile. Ah Wan: Get it? Makeup Artist: Got it! And then, two pairs of ears were pressed against the door. ¡°Xufang,¡± Jiang Zhi licked his lips and pulled Zhou Xufang closer, ¡°this lipstick is strawberry-flavored.¡± Zhou Xufang: ¡°Liar.¡± He tilted his chin, bringing his face closer to hers, ¡°Try it.¡± She dabbed her finger on his lips, picking up a tiny bit of red, then sniffed it. It was not strawberry-flavored at all. She backed away: ¡°No.¡± ¡°Whether you want to or not.¡± After that¡­ No ears listening! Outside the door, Ah Wan, who was eavesdropping: How shameless! Ten minutes later, the people in the makeup room came out. The makeup on Jiang Zhi¡¯s face had been washed off, while Zhou Xufang¡¯s lips were slightly red. The premiere was about to start, and as Jiang Zhi brought Zhou Xufang into the performance hall on the fifth floor of Shengdu Opera House, someone stopped them. ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± It was a girl. Zhou Xufang immediately turned around, yes, it was a pretty girl. She walked over, holding a walkie-talkie, dressed professionally like a staff member, and said, ¡°Long time no see.¡± Her gaze landed on Zhou Xufang but wasn¡¯t presumptuous. She nodded and sized her up politely, ¡°Girlfriend, huh.¡± Jiang Zhi grunted, neither cold nor warm. Someone behind was shouting ¡®Zixi,¡¯ and she turned to reply before saying, ¡°Excuse me.¡± Once she walked away, Jiang Zhi took Zhou Xufang into the venue and after sitting down, he said, ¡°She is Nanchu¡¯s ex-girlfriend.¡± Zhou Xufang sincerely complimented, ¡°Very pretty.¡± It was the kind of unthreatening beauty that all girls would like, someone who seemed easy to get along with. Jiang Zhi made no comment about other women, just stating the objective fact: ¡°Nanchu has a stepsister who wasn¡¯t taken care of when she was in her teens, so he sought her out.¡± Oh! Zhou Xufang gasped in surprise, ¡°Mr. Qiao is so scummy.¡± Jiang Zhi disagreed with her view, ¡°Not scummy, he never touched her, didn¡¯t take advantage of her, and even paid her when they broke up.¡± And, as a parting gift, she had even given him a cuckold¡¯s hat. S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He decided not to share the part about the cuckold¡¯s hat with her, to avoid corrupting the young girl. Zhou Xufang snorted, ¡°Still scummy.¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± Fine, scummy it is then. His phone vibrated. It was a call from Ah Wan. Since the show had already started, being at a public event, Jiang Zhi only listened, not speaking. Ah Wan couldn¡¯t come in. Over the phone, she said, ¡°Boss, I just got news, the person you asked me to check on is gone, the body is at the medical examiner¡¯s, and the Criminal Investigation Team is on the case.¡± Jiang Zhi covered the receiver a bit, his voice very low, ¡°Cause of death.¡± ¡°The cause of death isn¡¯t known yet. The guy was a small-time thug named Ah Hao, either collecting debts for people or hanging out in bars, bad reputation, offended many in the underworld.¡± ¡°Send me his information.¡± After ending the call, Jiang Zhi looked at Zhou Xufang, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± He hesitated for a moment but eventually told her, ¡°That person from 0893 was killed.¡± After listening, Zhou Xufang frowned, her mood very low, feeling guilt-ridden, ¡°I shouldn¡¯t have just stopped that person, I should have chased after them.¡± Jiang Zhi gently touched her face, through her mask, ¡°It¡¯s not related to you.¡± Their paths crossed by chance, she had already done more than enough by stepping in to intervene. At eight o¡¯clock, the premiere promptly began. Since Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t like crowds, Jiang Zhi intentionally chose seats at the very back. It was Zhou Xufang¡¯s first time at a premiere and she didn¡¯t understand the process at the stage. She quietly asked Jiang Zhi, ¡°Aren¡¯t they supposed to play the movie?¡± Half an hour had passed, and the actors on stage were still sharing ¡®funny anecdotes¡¯ about filming. ¡°They start with the usual pleasantries, and there are interactions and questions, it¡¯s part of movie promotion,¡± Jiang Zhi explained, holding her head against his shoulder, ¡°Rest your eyes for a bit, I¡¯ll wake you when it starts.¡± She leaned against him, shaking her head. She wouldn¡¯t sleep, even if it was boring, as it seemed impolite to sleep while others were speaking. However¡­ She was a bit sleepy, ¡°Is your premiere like this too?¡± ¡°Not so many promotional gimmicks.¡± Jiang Zhi replied with natural assurance, ¡°My name is the drawcard, it¡¯s well-known without promotion.¡± So impressive! Zhou Xufang gave two thumbs up enthusiastically, ¡°You¡¯re the greatest!¡± Jiang Zhi, flattered by the praise, wanted to plant a kiss on her forehead but just then, he was called upon. The host invited him on stage. Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t want to bother. The atmosphere suddenly turned awkward as many pairs of eyes looked back. Zhou Xufang lifted her mask slightly to ensure her face was well-covered, then she whispered softly to Jiang Zhi. ¡°Aren¡¯t you going up?¡± Jiang Zhi cast a displeased glance at the reporter swinging the camera toward him, ¡°It¡¯s not my film.¡± The host¡¯s face was turning red with embarrassment. Zhou Xufang urged Jiang Zhi, ¡°This director was your former teacher, you need to show respect.¡± Otherwise, the keyboard warriors would surely criticize her Jiang Zhi for being ungrateful. As his girlfriend had spoken, Jiang Zhi had to comply, reluctantly getting up, ¡°Sit tight, I¡¯ll be back soon.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± As Jiang Zhi approached the stage, cameras followed. An empty chair remained on stage and he sat down directly, ¡°Why did you call me up?¡± The premiere¡¯s director, Director Feng, had been Jiang Zhi¡¯s teacher in film school, and they had a good relationship. Giving him a glance, Director Feng joked, ¡°You, such an attitude coming up here.¡± Jiang Zhi kept his stern face, ¡°Someone is waiting for me, if you have questions, be quick.¡± Who¡¯s waiting? Jiang Zhi¡¯s girlfriend, of course! The journalists seemed more interested in gossip than Director Feng¡¯s art film. As the camera swiveled toward the back, aiming for a close-up of Jiang Zhi¡¯s girlfriend, suddenly¡ª All the lights went out. Instantly, the venue was in uproar, plunged into darkness. Jiang Zhi immediately stood up and called out, ¡°Xu Fang.¡± No response came. Blind to whether he could see or not, he pushed his way through the chairs, charging toward the back. A flashlight just happened to shine in the direction where Zhou Xufang was sitting. Her seat was empty. Jiang Zhi panicked, asking a nearby person, ¡°Where¡¯s the one who was sitting here?¡± ¡°Ah?¡± That person was momentarily dazed, ¡°Didn¡¯t, didn¡¯t notice.¡± The light flickered restlessly, casting wavering shadows in Jiang Zhi¡¯s eyes. His steps were rushed and frantic. Reaching the doorway, he grasped a security guard. He ordered, ¡°Lock down all the exits.¡± The guard, who had just arrived, was still unclear on the situation, ¡°Why should we close down¡ª¡± As shifting shadows agitated before his eyes, his voice was icy, repeating, ¡°Lock down all the exits.¡± The guard hesitated, then seeing the person clearly by flashlight, nodded immediately, ¡°I¡¯ll inform the security room right now.¡± Zhou Xufang¡¯s phone was off. The sweat began to bead in the palm of Jiang Zhi¡¯s hand gripping his phone. With no lights in the corridor, his steps were a mess, quickly running downstairs, dialing, ¡°Bao Yi, get some people over here, to the Shengdu Opera House.¡± ¡°What happened?¡± Too dark to see in the stairwell, he stumbled, crashing hard against a corner. He said, ¡°Zhou Xufang is missing.¡± Chapter 152 03-25 - 152: 152: Xu Fang is kidnapped, Jiang Zhi pursues (Second update Chapter 152: 152: Xu Fang is kidnapped, Jiang Zhi pursues (Second update ¡°Zhou Xufang is missing.¡± Xue Baoyi was baffled, ¡°What do you mean missing?¡± He didn¡¯t explain, just said, ¡°Don¡¯t alert the police yet, get some people over here.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll bring people over right away.¡± After hanging up with Xue Baoyi, Jiang Zhi called Lin Wanwan, who was frantic on the other end asking endlessly; Jiang Zhi interrupted, ¡°Pull up all the surveillance footage around the opera house.¡± That was all he said before hanging up. There were no windows in the stairwell, not a sliver of moonlight could seep in; only the weak glow from the phone¡¯s screen lit Jiang Zhi¡¯s hand, his fingertips slightly red, the veins on the back of his hand faintly visible. He stopped walking and stood in the dim light. ¡°Xu Fang.¡± He called out again, ¡°Xu Fang,¡± talking to himself, his voice the only sound in the stairwell, ¡°Can you hear me?¡± He paused, gripping his hand tightly, his palm sweaty. ¡°Your hearing is so good, can you hear me speaking?¡± She should be able to hear him. He said, ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid.¡± Don¡¯t panic, stay calm, he took a deep breath, ¡°And don¡¯t hesitate, if they make any demands, no matter what, just agree; I only care about your safety.¡± And also, ¡°Wait for me.¡± First floor of the opera house, the security room. Tang Jia took a call and woke up his dozing colleague. His colleague, groggy, heard some commotion outside, ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± he yawned, ¡°Why are the lights out?¡± Tang Jia pulled two flashlights from the drawer, ¡°The power¡¯s out.¡± ¡°The electrical system was just tested yesterday, how could there be a power failure?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± Tang Jia handed his colleague a flashlight, and they both left the security room. He switched on the radio, informing the security on other floors, ¡°Secure all the exits immediately, don¡¯t let anyone out.¡± His colleague was puzzled, ¡°The opera house is so huge, just seal it off like that? Who gave that order?¡± ¡°It was Mr. Jiang¡¯s personal order.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Alright, pretend I didn¡¯t ask. This opera house was owned by the Qiao Family, and Mr. Jiang and the Qiao Family¡¯s fourth son grew up together. Not to mention sealing off the building, even if someone wanted to bring in an excavator and dig three feet under, nobody would dare say a word. At that moment, outside the opera house, the sound of an ambulance siren could be heard. Tang Jia holding a flashlight, shone it outside, ¡°Who¡¯s injured, why is an ambulance here?¡± No sooner had he spoken than several people in costume rushed out from the first floor staircase, two of whom were carrying a stretcher, running in front. Tang Jia and his colleague went over and stopped them. The man carrying the stretcher was frantic, soaked in sweat, he bellowed, ¡°Move aside!¡± Tang Jia raised his flashlight, shining it on the man¡¯s face¡ªa big and sturdy guy, ordinary looking, dressed in ancient costume performance attire, sleeves rolled up, sporting a black dragon tattoo on his arm. This person seemed odd. Tang Jia didn¡¯t let them pass, ¡°The exit is sealed off, you can¡¯t leave for the moment.¡± The man became desperate, freed one hand, snatched the flashlight, and shone it on the stretcher, ¡°Don¡¯t you see she¡¯s bleeding? If she dies, who will take responsibility?¡± Tang Jia had not paid attention before, but now saw clearly and was startled; the stretcher held a girl covered in blood, her face obscured by blood, blood still dripping from her fingertips hanging off the stretcher. My God, how severe her injuries! Tang Jia looked at the ambulance outside and asked, ¡°Which theater are you from?¡± ¡°Third-floor, Hall four,¡± the man carrying the stretcher said, ¡°There was a power outage, and an actor fell from the stage, hitting filming equipment.¡± Tang Jia took back his flashlight, scrutinizing the blood-drenched girl on the stretcher, which sent shivers down the spine of anyone watching; he quickly signaled to his colleague, ¡°Quickly, confirm this with a call.¡± His colleague immediately connected with the third-floor¡¯s Hall four and after confirming, nodded, saying it indeed happened. Tang Jia hesitated, thinking whether to consult Mr. Jiang first, but the other party was already frantic, ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you security? This is a matter of life and death and you¡¯re obstructing us, shall I call the police?!¡± The person on the stretcher was still bleeding; in just that short moment, a small pool of blood had already formed on the ground. Tang Jia, feeling anxious, turned back to the colleague at the door and said, ¡°Let them go.¡± They didn¡¯t completely lift the blockade, just let the two carrying the stretcher through. As soon as the stretcher was carried out, the medics on the ambulance immediately lifted the person onto the vehicle. ¡°Loosing so much blood, can she still be saved?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± Tang Jia wiped his head, ¡°Something just feels off.¡± Outside, the ambulance had already driven away, very fast, and soon its sound could no longer be heard. His colleague asked him, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± He shook his head, unable to figure it out for a moment, ¡°You guys guard the exit well, don¡¯t let anyone else out.¡± After giving the order, he took a flashlight and was about to go upstairs to investigate when he took just a couple of steps¡ª Something was wrong! He realized, ¡°The ambulance arrived too quickly!¡± It was too late! ¡°Old Li, you guys hurry up and chase after it.¡± Tang Jia¡¯s face reddened with urgency as he pushed his dazed colleague, ¡°Brother Chong, call Mr. Jiang.¡± There was no need to call; he had already arrived. Jiang Zhi had run down, his head covered in sweat, his forehead hair already damp. He stopped beside the pool of blood, ¡°Where was she taken?¡± He was panting, his voice hoarse. Because of the power outage, the heating had also stopped, but Tang Jia was still covered in sweat, ¡°She was carried onto the ambulance.¡± Jiang Zhi crouched down, extended his hand, slightly trembling, and touched the blood on the ground¡ªit was chillingly cold. His eyes reddened at the sight of that shockingly crimson blood. ¡°Is she badly injured?¡± Tang Jia was terrified, ¡°Blood, there¡¯s blood all over her.¡± Jiang Zhi got up, his steps faltering slightly. ¡°Boss!¡± It was Ah Wan; he had also run down. Jiang Zhi¡¯s fingertips were still stained with blood, the rich redness making his fingers appear paler; he was sweating, his eyelashes seemed veiled by a layer of mist, his eyes already red, ¡°I¡¯m in no state to drive, you take people and chase after the ambulance.¡± ¡°Okay, I¡¯m on it.¡± Ah Wan immediately called a few men and chased after it. The ambulance sped very fast, and within a few minutes, it was on the elevated road. Apart from the driver at the front, there were four people in the back, two in white coats and two in stage costumes. The ambulance¡¯s door wasn¡¯t securely shut, a man with a crew-cut peeked through the gap to the outside, ¡°Brother San, it seems like someone is catching up.¡± The man called Brother San, who had blood-stained stage costumes, took them off and tossed them aside, his shirt sleeves still rolled up, a black dragon tattooed along his arm, coiling around it. The man was Hong San, known in the underworld as Brother San. He said, ¡°Notify Brother Hua to get ready, we¡¯ll switch cars at Three-mile Bridge.¡± ¡°What about her?¡± the crew-cut man pointed to the person on the stretcher, still unconscious and motionless. ¡°Tie her up.¡± After giving the order, Hong San made a call and said, ¡°We¡¯ve got the person.¡± The voice on the phone was a woman¡¯s, who lightly acknowledged, ¡°Do you know what to do next?¡± ¡°I know.¡± It was eight fifty-seven. The opera house¡¯s electrical circuit had been fixed; the blackout was caused by all three main fuses being intentionally cut, not a malfunction. By the time Xue Baoyi arrived, all unrelated personnel had already been cleared out; Jiang Zhi was checking the surveillance in the security room. Xue Baoyi had settled her people and asked him, ¡°How¡¯s the situation?¡± Jiang Zhi was silent, staring at the surveillance monitor. Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The power inside the opera house was out, but the outdoor surveillance wasn¡¯t connected internally and hadn¡¯t been cut; fortunately, it captured the entire process of the stretcher being loaded onto the ambulance. Xue Baoyi glanced at the monitor, ¡°Is that Zhou Xufang?¡± ¡°It is her.¡± Jiang Zhi couldn¡¯t be mistaken. The hoodie she was wearing was bought by him; even if her face was covered in blood, he recognized her bone structure¡ªit was definitely her. So much blood¡­ Glancing at the bloodied figure on the stretcher, Xue Baoyi also panicked, ¡°What are these people trying to do?¡± Is it a matter of life or money? If it¡¯s money, it¡¯s still okay, but if it¡¯s about taking her life¡­ ¡°They took her away, which indicates two things,¡± Jiang Zhi¡¯s eyes were fiery red as he kept his gaze fixed on the surveillance screen, ¡°She¡¯s still alive, and she¡¯s still useful.¡± Hearing this, Xue Baoyi breathed a slight sigh of relief, ¡°If that¡¯s the case, then they¡¯ll definitely contact you again.¡± At least, they won¡¯t be taking her life for now. Outside the security room, footsteps hurried. It was Ah Wan returning. Jiang Zhi asked him, ¡°Did you catch up?¡± Ah Wan shook his head, his face covered in sweat, ¡°Boss, it was premeditated; the escape route was all arranged in advance.¡± Indeed, it had been premeditated, or else they wouldn¡¯t have transferred her so smoothly. Chapter 153 03-25 - 153: 153: Kidnapped Ah Fang Turns Out to Be a Drama Queen (First Update Chapter 153: 153: Kidnapped Ah Fang Turns Out to Be a Drama Queen (First Update It was indeed premeditated, otherwise, the transfer couldn¡¯t have gone so smoothly. Xue Baoyi couldn¡¯t figure out one thing, ¡°How did these kidnappers know you¡¯d bring Zhou Xufang to the premiere today?¡± Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t respond, gazing at the frozen surveillance footage on the computer screen, lost in thought. ¡°There must be an insider,¡± Ah Wan said angrily. ¡°Only someone from the inside would know the guest list.¡± An insider? Xue Baoyi¡¯s mind hit a snag. ¡°The blood is fake,¡± Jiang Zhi suddenly interjected. Xue Baoyi¡¯s already snagged mind, snagged again, ¡°What?¡± Isn¡¯t this a kidnapping for ransom? So complicated. ¡°This isn¡¯t her blood,¡± Jiang Zhi said, stretching out his hand to point at the screen. When she was lifted onto the ambulance, her wrist was exposed, clean and unharmed, meaning the blood on the back of her hand and palm had been splashed on directly. Xue Baoyi stared at the screen for a long while, unable to detect anything, but if Jiang Zhi said it was fake, then it must be; he guessed, ¡°It must be a ruse to move her out, a false scene purposely created. It¡¯s good she isn¡¯t hurt. At least it means she¡¯s safe.¡± It was a relief that the blood was fake, otherwise¡­ that amount of blood¡­ might be enough to fabricate a motive for Jiang Zhi to commit murder and arson. Actually, to be honest, compared to Zhou Xufang, Xue Baoyi was more worried about Jiang Zhi. Kidnapping or extortion aside, there were ways to resolve those, but if Jiang Zhi decided to be ruthless, it would definitely be a disaster. Xue Baoyi comforted him, ¡°Don¡¯t worry too much. It¡¯s probably just about the money.¡± Jiang Zhi lifted his eyes, his gaze chilling. ¡°Don¡¯t worry too much?¡± He laughed incredulously, a frost-crafted pattern solidified in his eyes, unleashing a fierce aura as he said, ¡°I already feel like killing someone.¡± Xue Baoyi: ¡°¡­¡± Though none of them were benevolent, murder and arson were not on their to-do list. No, he had to intervene, he couldn¡¯t let his brother go down a dark path, ¡°Bro, think about Zhou Xufang. She is an upright girl, don¡¯t do anything rash!¡± Jiang Zhi was unimpressed. If he was going to act rashly, why would he let Zhou Xufang know? He had a thousand ways to create chaos without being caught, ten thousand methods to exact revenge without leaving a trace. And it wasn¡¯t about daring to act rashly. There was nothing he didn¡¯t dare to do. Who was he afraid of? There was just one person he feared. That girl, who liked good people. Forget it, he wouldn¡¯t act rashly, at least not for now. He had to wait for news about Zhou Xufang first. Whether he would unleash a massacre or cause a minor stir depended on whether she was hurt badly or left unscathed. He then instructed Ah Wan, ¡°Get rid of those security guards first, don¡¯t let them appear before me again.¡± Otherwise, he would retaliate, he would break the law; Zhou Xufang wouldn¡¯t like that, he needed to control himself. Ah Wan let out a breath of relief and quickly nodded. It was good that the blood was fake, otherwise, he really worried those security guards might have an ¡®accidental¡¯ encounter with a vehicle on the road, ending up dead or crippled. And this wasn¡¯t without precedent. Ah Wan had heard that the boss had once kept an orange cat named Luo Si which was killed, and afterward, someone got tormented half to death by the boss. Mr. Xue said that at the time, the boss was only a teenager. If this was over a cat, now it was his ¡°heart¡¯s flesh¡± at stake, he didn¡¯t dare think of the consequences if anything went seriously wrong. This world, truly is dark, especially the world of the wealthy. Anyway, Ah Wan wasn¡¯t too worried about Miss Zhou since she was a professional errand runner. He had a feeling that Miss Zhou was definitely someone who could fight back when cornered. He was more worried about his boss, who seemed exactly the sort to accidentally kill someone while causing trouble. ¡°Most likely it¡¯s kidnapping for ransom,¡± Xue Baoyi asked, ¡°Should we call the police?¡± Jiang Zhi did not even consider it, ¡°No police.¡± Xue Baoyi was not reassured, ¡°We should still call them. I¡¯m worried you might do something illegal and disorderly.¡± Ah Wan, on the side, nodded along, totally agreeing! Jiang Zhi¡¯s eyes were downcast, masking the murky coldness within, ¡°Even if I did something illegal and disorderly, do you think I¡¯d be foolish enough to leave behind evidence?¡± Xue Baoyi: ¡°¡­¡± Among their group, Jiang Zhi was truly the most ruthless. Ah Wan: ¡°¡­¡± See, I guessed all right. This is the guy who isn¡¯t afraid to cause fatal trouble! Jiang Zhi¡¯s tone was firm, non-negotiable, ¡°No calling the police. Reporting it would not be to Zhou Xu¡¯s advantage. I only want her to be safe and sound. Whether the kidnappers are captured or escape, I don¡¯t care.¡± He only cared about Zhou Xu, so if circumstances were dire, he wouldn¡¯t mind resorting to any means necessary. He also was well aware that Zhou Xu was no ordinary person. She had plenty of ability to protect herself and enough reason and vigilance not to be bested by a few kidnappers, let alone a truckload of them. He should have been calm, not still so unsettled and anxious, but he couldn¡¯t stop the cold sweat in his palms. He was truly afraid, afraid of what might happen. Really, when it came to matters concerning Zhou Xu, he was utterly vulnerable. He took a deep breath and pulled out his phone to compose an email. The business inbox of the professional errand runner Z was always managed by Shuangjiang. She was responsible for filtering assignment requests and contacting the employers before handing them over to Zhou Xu to execute. He sent the employment request directly to Shuangjiang. ¡°I am Jiang Zhi.¡± The email contained two sentences, and here¡¯s the other, ¡°Do you accept a private commission?¡± Within minutes, Shuangjiang replied to the email. ¡°Is this concerning Zhou Xu?¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡°Yes.¡± Shuangjiang replied instantly, ¡°Accepted.¡± By nine forty, the opera house had pretty much cleared out, because the power outage meant Director Feng¡¯s film premiere was a washout and had to be postponed for further discussion. Moreover, the premiere ended up being very unpleasant. Everyone who came, whether journalists, fans, or producers and investors, had to undergo individual ¡®interrogations¡¯. And do you know what the most ludicrous part was? The young master of the Jiang Family detained people, with the excuse that his girlfriend¡¯s earring was lost! And he warned that if anyone dared to speak out about today¡¯s events at the opera house, he would pursue the matter privately. Damn abuse of power! As if the Jiang Family¡¯s young master is so great, huh?! Can the Jiang Family¡¯s young master just do whatever he pleases?! The answer is¡ªYes. Disappointing, isn¡¯t it? But that¡¯s just the way the world works, the rich and powerful call the shots. If you¡¯re still clinging to the nice stuff, sorry, it¡¯s not necessarily because your world is nice, maybe just because you¡¯re not significant enough to reach the darkness. Enough of this dark view; it¡¯s getting a bit sad. Let¡¯s drop it. Scriptwriter Liu saw a familiar face: ¡°Zhang Cehua.¡± Zhang Zixi looked back. She was the main planner of this premiere event, having returned from abroad not long ago, and had taken a position as the chief planner at a very famous event planning company in the industry as soon as she got back. Scriptwriter Liu was a kind-hearted middle-aged married man and very enthusiastic, ¡°Why haven¡¯t you left yet? Do you want me to give you a lift?¡± Zhang Zixi, holding her handbag and waiting at the stairs on the first floor, smiled and declined the offer, ¡°No need, I have arranged to meet with Director Feng, to discuss the reorganization of the premiere event.¡± The planner was very fond of smiling, she was a very likable girl. Every time he saw such gentle, beautiful, and capable girls, Scriptwriter Liu greatly regretted having poor judgment and marrying too early. He waved his hand, ready to go home and cook for his wife, ¡°Then I¡¯ll take my leave.¡± Zhang Zixi nodded, ¡°Take care.¡± 10:24 p.m. Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t know how long the sedative¡¯s effects would last, but after she was smothered with a cloth soaked in sedative over her mouth and nose, she fainted for two or three minutes. Thinking it over, she still turned over and opened her eyes. As she opened her eyes, her mentality collapsed a bit; she was locked in a cage made of rebar steel, with a door on one side wrapped with iron chains as thick as an arm, and three padlocks securing it. Above her was a rain shed, and as she looked around, she saw walls on all sides, with straw beneath her feet. If she wasn¡¯t wrong, this place was¡ªa pigsty. Ah, how uncomfortable! ¡°Awake?¡± Zhou Xufang looked up, caught a glimpse, and then shyly avoided eye contact. Six men, all wearing masks and hats. The tallest one and the one with a crew cut¡ªit was these two who had carried her onto the ambulance. The crew-cut called the tallest one Third Young Master, and the tallest one called the crew-cut Ah Wang. This Third Young Master must be their leader. Zhou Xufang revealed a fearful expression, ¡°Who are you?¡± Hong San squatted down, looking at Zhou Xufang in the cage. His face was large, the mask covering only half, with thick eyebrows and triangular eyes, and a very flat nose, ¡°Can¡¯t tell?¡± It was clear. The kidnapper¡¯s boss! Zhou Xufang, filled with terror, backed into the far side of the cage, her hands gripping the steel bars, ¡°Are you after money?¡± she asked timidly, eyeing Hong San¡¯s arm resting on the cage. She recognized the tattoo. Hong San was satisfied with her frightened but unresisting demeanor, ¡°Quite smart.¡± He scrutinized the ¡®trembling¡¯ young woman inside from beyond the steel bars of the cage, ¡°We just need some money, and as it happens, your wealthy boyfriend has made your relationship public. He turned you into a fat sheep; it wouldn¡¯t be excessive for us to slaughter you, would it?¡± There were so many rich people, why Jiang Zhi? If she were in need of money, she would target the nouveaux riches without power rather than the powerful and wealthy Jiang Family. In the Imperial City, the most untouchable were the Four Great Families, with the Jiang Family at their head. So, the criminals who kidnapped her were either stupid or too clever. Zhou Xufang felt they were not stupid; thus, she had to struggle to act very frightened, very terrified. She wasn¡¯t good at acting, so she tried her best to not look at the kidnappers, behaving like a trembling and cowering turtle. As she shrank back, she saw blood on her body and then, as if she had received a huge shock, she let out an ¡®Ah¡¯. Hong San was even more satisfied, thinking this girl must have been pampered and sheltered all her life, easy to handle. ¡°The blood is fake, you¡¯re a money tree. Rest assured, we won¡¯t cut off our own wealth. As long as you obey, don¡¯t run or cause trouble, we won¡¯t make things hard for you. Once your famous director boyfriend delivers the money, you¡¯ll be released immediately. However,¡± he drew out the last word, his pupils shining, wholly sinister, ¡°if you dare scheme anything, and if we don¡¯t get the money, then don¡¯t expect to go back unharmed.¡± Zhou Xufang immediately hugged her knees and shrank back, her voice weak, ¡°Then don¡¯t hurt me and don¡¯t hit me. I won¡¯t run away. My boyfriend is rich, he can pay whatever you ask for.¡± Hong San pulled on the cage¡¯s chain, the metal clanking against itself with a loud clang, ¡°I just love you rich but foolish types.¡± You¡¯re the fool! Zhou Xufang curled up inside the cage, like a fragile and innocent little white flower that had been ravaged by a storm, ¡°Can I call him now? I¡¯ll tell him not to call the police and to bring the money over quickly.¡± She sniffled, ¡°I want to go home¡­¡± A few days ago, she had read a novel. The title was ¡°I¡¯m a Delicate Flower, You Must Cherish Me!¡± The heroine in the story was a little white flower that evoked sympathy, always speaking in reduplicated words. Eat meal-meal. Want hug-hug. Go home-home¡­ Hmm, things like that. Zhou Xufang had a good memory, and she remembered them all. Rough men like Hong San felt a sense of accomplishment when they saw a young girl about to cry, and while he had intended to scare her a bit more, seeing the hostage so obedient made his job easier. ¡°You are the most compliant hostage I¡¯ve ever seen.¡± Hong San took out a cell phone from his pocket, Zhou Xufang¡¯s phone, turned it on, and scrolled through the contact list. He couldn¡¯t find Jiang Zhi and became impatient, ¡°Which one is he?¡± Zhou Xufang replied softly, ¡°The World¡¯s Most Beautiful Beauty.¡± S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡­ This young master of the Jiang Family sure has unique tastes. Hong San found the number, and looking down at the frightened girl in the cage, he warned, ¡°If you dare to play any tricks, I¡¯ll kill you immediately.¡± Zhou Xufang, terrified, whispered, ¡°I wouldn¡¯t dare dare¡­¡± Hong San dialed the number labeled ¡°The World¡¯s Most Beautiful Beauty.¡± The phone rang once before connecting. The voice on the other end called out urgently, ¡°Xufang.¡± In the abandoned pigsty, a single lightbulb had been hung temporarily. Two metal barrels that usually contained diesel were next to the pig cage, and they were filled with burning wood, sending out strong flames. The yellow firelight cast a harsh glow on half of Hong San¡¯s face, his eyes sharp like a night-hunting eagle. He asked, ¡°Is this Director Jiang?¡± Jiang Zhi, with a low voice, tried to control his anxiety and anger, the calm before the storm, ¡°It¡¯s me.¡± Hong San picked up a wooden club from the ground and deliberately hit the cage hard, ¡°Your girlfriend has disappeared; aren¡¯t you worried?¡± Jiang Zhi exhaled deeply, struggling to suppress the rage in his chest, his voice hoarse, ¡°Put her on the phone. I need to confirm she¡¯s safe first.¡± Hong San first glanced at the call timer, then switched to speakerphone and laid the phone across the top of the cage. Zhou Xufang in the cage lifted her head, slowly, slowly inching towards the phone, stretched her neck towards the device, and plaintively cried out, ¡°Jiang Zhi¡­¡± Jiang Zhi was urgent, his voice tense and slightly trembling, asked her, ¡°Are you hurt?¡± Zhou Xufang, ¡°No.¡± Jiang Zhi let out a sigh of relief, his pace of speech slowing down, ¡°Did they hit you?¡± Zhou Xufang, ¡°They didn¡¯t hit me.¡± He paused for a few seconds, then asked, ¡°Have they not given you any food?¡± Zhou Xufang glanced at the menacing men, then shrank her neck, a look of both misery and fear, and said, ¡°I haven¡¯t eaten meal-meal yet¡­¡± Chapter 154 - 154: 154: Textile powerhouses join forces, unstoppable (second update Chapter 154: 154: Textile powerhouses join forces, unstoppable (second update ¡°I haven¡¯t had my meal yet¡­¡± Jiang Zhi was angry, ¡°They didn¡¯t give you any food?¡± Hostage Zhou Xufang pouted, ¡°Yes.¡± Kidnappers: ¡°¡­¡± On the phone, the family of the hostage took a deep breath to calm down, lowered their voice, and comforted the hostage, ¡°Xu Fang, don¡¯t be afraid, just¡ª¡± The call had already lasted one minute and thirty seconds. Hong San immediately picked up the phone, turned off the speakerphone, as he had neither the time nor the patience to listen to the lovebirds croon¡ªmoreover, the young master of the Jiang Family was not a simple one, and he didn¡¯t want to waste any more time. He was concise, ¡°Your girlfriend is fine, prepare the ransom.¡± Jiang Zhi got straight to the point, ¡°How much do you want?¡± Hong San said, ¡°Five million, all in US Dollars.¡± There was a moment of hesitation on the other end, ¡°The time and place for the exchange.¡± Hong San glanced at the call timer again and sped up his speech, ¡°I will have someone send the time and place later.¡± His tone shifted to a threat, ¡°But, don¡¯t call the police. If I find out there are police, I will send your girlfriend on her way immediately.¡± Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t hesitate, showing his stance, ¡°I won¡¯t call the police, but don¡¯t harm my people either. If you dare to treat me like a cash cow, you should know who I am. Money is no issue for me, and I don¡¯t need to call the police over five million. I¡¯ll give you whatever, consider it charity, but if my people get hurt, you won¡¯t end well. I don¡¯t care who you are, if you harm my people, I will make sure you¡¯re dead.¡± The young master of the Jiang family was truly not to be trifled with. Hong San, his face stern and eyes aflutter with panic, his hand sweaty as he clenched it by his side. Jiang Zhi continued in a commanding tone, ¡°She hasn¡¯t eaten yet, go buy her some food.¡± The call was approaching three minutes. Jiang Zhi was still speaking, ¡°And another thing¡ª¡± Hong San interrupted harshly, ¡°Stop stalling for time, just quietly wait for my instructions.¡± He snorted coldly, ¡°If you try any tricks, I¡¯m not afraid to die; your girlfriend can suffer for it.¡± After finishing his piece, Hong San hung up the phone, then immediately turned it off and threw it into a blazing fire barrel. ¡°That,¡± The hostage in the cage clung to the bars, anxiously said, ¡°I still haven¡¯t had my meal¡­¡± Hong San approached and kicked the cage, ¡°Be quiet, or I will shut your mouth!¡± The hostage immediately clamped her mouth shut, curling up in fear. Seeing her comply, Hong San turned back and instructed Ah Wan, ¡°You go buy some food.¡± Zhou Xufang, with her head buried, showed a satisfied expression. 10:34. Jiang Zhi had just hung up the phone, asked, ¡°Did you find anything?¡± He was still in the opera house¡¯s security room, a notebook on the table displaying SpongeBob, his phone connected to it by a data cable. Shuangjiang¡¯s voice was computer synthesized, sounding like a car navigation system, ¡°The time was too short, I couldn¡¯t track the specific address, only a general area.¡± The kidnapper was smart, knowing they would track him, and he timed it well. Shuangjiang was much faster than a typical hacker, barely managing to get a rough area. Jiang Zhi said, ¡°Send it to me.¡± Shuangjiang sent over the tracking area. Xue Baoyi came in from the outside, ¡°I checked all the vehicles; the plates are fake. The kidnappers¡¯ route ended at Three-mile Bridge, there are several intersections there, and it¡¯s remote with no surveillance, or it¡¯s a blind spot.¡± Three-mile Bridge. Jiang Zhi pulled up the map, circled the area Shuangjiang sent over, and silently studied it for a while: ¡°If I were the kidnapper, I would go here, here,¡± he marked several points on the map, ¡°and here.¡± The spots he pointed to were all places that would divert attention, with few eyewitnesses and little surveillance. This was counter-surveillance in criminology. Xue Baoyi roughly got his drift, ¡°A dragnet search?¡± Covering such a large area with a dragnet search would consume a lot of manpower, besides, it¡¯s just speculation. Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t explain further, only said, ¡°Don¡¯t miss any spot.¡± Xue Baoyi agreed, ¡°You promised you¡¯d pay the ransom, right? Once the ransom is paid, everything will be fine, so why go the extra mile?¡± ¡°Must have a backup plan.¡± Fine. This was like guarding one¡¯s lifeline. Xue Baoyi assured him, ¡°Don¡¯t worry.¡± Jiang Zhi wasn¡¯t worried at all; he still couldn¡¯t see Zhou Xufang, couldn¡¯t touch or hold her, his mind in constant unrest and panic. He pulled out a piece of paper, wiped the sweat from his palm, ¡°They only asked for five million.¡± Xue Baoyi inquired, ¡°What about five million?¡± ¡°If you were the kidnapper, you¡¯ve already made your move, someone like me,¡± Jiang Zhi hypothesized, then asked, ¡°would you only ask for five million?¡± Xue Baoyi, being a big-picture thinker, would obviously not settle for just five million. He spoke frankly, ¡°I would want five hundred million.¡± That made sense. Jiang Zhi¡¯s worth was far beyond five million, and the fact that the kidnapper dared to target him showed he had the nerve, yet he only asked for five million. Something was off, Xue Baoyi speculated, ¡°Maybe it¡¯s not about the money?¡± Jiang Zhi was certain, ¡°It¡¯s not.¡± Zhou Xufang¡¯s strength and speed were over thirty times that of a normal human. Under the assumption that her weakness was unknown, the likelihood of her being kidnapped quickly was slim. He suspected, Zhou Xufang had intentionally gotten herself kidnapped. Two in the morning. Jiang Zhi received an email from Shuangjiang. Shuangjiang: ¡°I received a message from an unknown number.¡± Jiang Zhi was still at the opera house and had not yet received the kidnappers¡¯ transaction time and location. He decided not to move, having not slept all night, his eyes slightly gritty and reddened. He said, ¡°The content.¡± ¡°One number, and one sentence.¡± Shuangjiang sent over the message exactly as it was, ¡°Jiang Zhi, don¡¯t worry, I am Lord Black Impermanence.¡± She is Lord Black Impermanence, her mana boundless, and she wouldn¡¯t suffer any loss. It was her way of informing him she was safe. Jiang Zhi¡¯s tense nerves relaxed slightly, ¡°What¡¯s the number?¡± Shuangjiang replied, ¡°0893.¡± As expected. She had been kidnapped intentionally and had her own plan. Jiang Zhi breathed a sigh of relief. Once he found her, he definitely needed to teach her a lesson for being so reckless. Meanwhile, at the pigsty. After sending the message to Shuangjiang, Zhou Xufang gently placed her phone back on the table. The man sleeping with his head on the table suddenly moved. Zhou Xufang raised her hand, but before she could strike, the man shifted his position and went back to sleep. Alright, she wouldn¡¯t hit him if he was still asleep. Silently, she crawled back into her cage, bent the iron bars she had twisted by hand back into place, and straightened them out. Unable to sleep in the pigsty, she lay awake, staring at the not-so-round moon outside, sighing in frustration. It was so annoying! The pigsty smelled terrible. The next day at seven in the morning, Jiang Zhi still hadn¡¯t received a call from the kidnappers. ¡°Boss,¡± Ah Wan, who had not slept all night, had two large dark circles under his eyes, his short hair standing on end in several strands, ¡°the people have been brought here.¡± Jiang Zhi emerged from the security area, leaning against the door, and scanned the crowd, ¡°Are they all here?¡± Ah Wan nodded, ¡°Everyone from Hall 4 on the third floor is here.¡± These people, having also stayed up all night, were detained in the opera house by Jiang Zhi. They all looked haggard and terrified, afraid of getting implicated. Jiang Zhi¡¯s face was pale, his voice raspy and hoarse from lack of sleep, the corners of his eyes tinged with red, perfectly complementing his peach-blossom eyes that radiated a trace of exotic allure. He slightly lifted his eyelashes, ¡°Are you the director?¡± Director Lao Qi of Hall 4 stepped forward, trembling, ¡°Yes.¡± Jiang Zhi, with his hands crossed, had his long legs lazily crossed, and cleared his slightly sore throat. His skin was pale, his Adam¡¯s apples reddened, he appeared drained, and asked in a weary tone, ¡°Do you know who was kidnapped?¡± This indifferent tone somehow sent chills down one¡¯s spine. Lao Qi was very nervous, ¡°I know.¡± Jiang Zhi nodded his chin, gesturing, ¡°Speak.¡± Lao Qi started to tremble and stutter, ¡°It¡¯s Mr. Jiang, your girlfriend.¡± Jiang Zhi coughed, his peach-blossom eyes brewing a foggy glow, he corrected, ¡°Fianc¨¦e.¡± His tone was languid and unhurried, ¡°You can go out and ask around to see what kind of person Jiang Zhi is.¡± There was no need for inquiries. Imperial City wasn¡¯t so large, and everyone who had a bit of business sense knew what kind of family the Jiang Family was. Especially since this was the Qiao Family¡¯s opera house. Although Jiang Zhi wasn¡¯t a regular visitor, he was a distinguished guest. Various rumors about him had never ceased, mostly discussing his appearance, his sexual orientation, his talent in directing plays, and his temper and handiwork. In addition, he was the beloved grandson of Jiang Family¡¯s Elder Madam who was fiercely protective; it was rumored before that someone had whispered slander about Jiang Zhi being sickly, and the Elder Madam, unwilling to tolerate such talk, had dealt with that person in private. In summary, among Imperial City¡¯s young masters, Jiang Zhi was the most untouchable. His tone was nonchalant as he spoke somewhat intermittently, ¡°As for me, I have a strong inclination for revenge, sinister and ruthless, and my methods aren¡¯t exactly clean.¡± His sickly pallor and weak voice, lips parting revealing white teeth, his peach blossom eyes finely shaped, portraying a proud and privileged young master. Though his words sounded playful, each word was harsher than the last. ¡°If there¡¯s anything wrong with my fianc¨¦e related to this matter, I¡¯ll retaliate against everyone associated.¡± He added leisurely, ¡°In secret, quietly, one by one, dealing with all of them.¡± People from Hall 4 on the third floor became silent as a chill crept up their spines. After speaking, Jiang Zhi asked, ¡°Do you understand my meaning?¡± Lao Qi wiped his sweat, nodding, ¡°Understood.¡± Jiang Zhi glanced over the people, ¡°And you?¡± Other actors all nodded, each trembling with fear. ¡°Since you understand, be smart about it. Confess, and I might find my fianc¨¦e sooner, which would reduce the chances of her getting hurt, and your days would be a bit more comfortable.¡± Jiang Zhi took off his watch, glanced at the time, and then held it in hand, ¡°My patience is short. I¡¯ll give you ten minutes to think it over. Will you confess yourselves or wait for me to investigate?¡± As soon as he finished speaking, in less than half a minute, a female actor in costume stepped forward, her arm injured and wrapped in a bandage slung around her neck. ¡°Mr. Jiang.¡± Jiang Zhi glanced at her, ¡°Speak.¡± The female actor hesitated for a moment, her back breaking into a cold sweat, nervously began, ¡°Just before the power outage, someone approached me, gave me fifty thousand in cash, asking me to pretend to fall.¡± It was because someone on the third floor really got injured that they managed to get past security. ¡°Go on, more details.¡± The female actor, not daring to withhold anything, confessed everything, ¡°After I fell, because there were no lights and I couldn¡¯t see anyone, someone carried me to a room and instructed me to hide there and not come out.¡± Jiang Zhi¡¯s brows furrowed with a hint of gloom, ¡°Do you remember his appearance?¡± She shook her head, ¡°Both were wearing masks and hats.¡± After a moment of thought, ¡°One had a crew cut, and the other was very tall and robust.¡± Oh, she remembered something else, ¡°He had a tattoo on his arm.¡± S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Jiang Zhi asked, ¡°What was tattooed?¡± The female actor paused for a long time, sounding uncertain, ¡°It was black, seemed like a dragon.¡± Jiang Zhi asked if there was more. She shook her head, tremblingly said there was nothing more. ¡°And you,¡± Jiang Zhi addressed the others, his gaze deep, ¡°Nothing to say?¡± Two more men stood forward. One of them began speaking, flustered and frightened, ¡°We just helped carry the stretcher, didn¡¯t think much of it, saw the person on the stretcher was bleeding a lot, so we followed to help.¡± Jiang Zhi remained silent. These two men felt even more unsettled, truly afraid of this wealthy and powerful young master. After exchanging glances a few times, the same man continued speaking, ¡°Those two men, one had a tattoo on his arm, the other on his neck, both tattoos were black dragons, the dragon¡¯s eyes were strange, they were, they were red.¡± Chapter 157 - 157: 157: Strong alliance to capture drug traffickers Chapter 157: 157: Strong alliance to capture drug traffickers Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t say anything, closed the file, took a pen from the car, and wrote a string of numbers on the paper: ¡°The numbers he gave to Zhou Xufang.¡± Qiao Nanchu looked at the numbers. Jiang Zhi asked, ¡°What do they mean?¡± He pondered, ¡°If they¡¯re not transaction information, they should be identity codes.¡± To understand what they specifically meant, he needed to investigate. Jiang Zhi took a document from the back seat: ¡°This is the invitation list for the premiere and the internal staff for the event; there should be someone from that gang among them.¡± Qiao Nanchu glanced through it but before he finished looking, his mobile phone rang. It was a call from the station. He listened for half a minute, hung up, and then asked Jiang Zhi, ¡°When is Zhou Xufang going to pay the ransom?¡± Jiang Zhi said, ¡°Tomorrow, at seven o¡¯clock in the evening.¡± Qiao Nanchu took a cigarette from the pack and held it between his fingers, ¡°I know why they¡¯re waiting for tomorrow.¡± Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t speak, waiting for him to continue. ¡°Because they think that 0893 leaked the transaction information,¡± he shared with Jiang Zhi the content of the call he had just taken, ¡°The intelligence section received a message that a shipment from the Golden Triangle is coming to Imperial City.¡± The goods from the Golden Triangle were about to arrive, and a trade would soon take place. Just at this time, 0893 was exposed, and those people would naturally suspect that it was the information about this trade that had been leaked. So, they were holding Zhou Xufang hostage, waiting for the trade to be completed, before releasing her, so as to not blow things up or risk her spilling any secrets. Jiang Zhi half-closed her eyes, and beneath her sunglasses, her eyelashes hung quietly: ¡°Which is to say, their transaction is scheduled before I go to pay the ransom.¡± Qiao Nanchu snapped his fingers: ¡°Bingo.¡± Now onto the so-called ¡®C position pig¡¯ who was ¡®worshipped by a crowd¡¯ ¡ª Zhou Xufang. She was brought to a slaughterhouse, a large one, with an overly keen sense of smell, she caught the blood scent of the poultry and meat from afar. When she arrived, the butcher was slaughtering pigs; a particularly sturdy one was resisting death, breaking free from the butcher, and running amok. The butcher and his wife, one with a knife and the other with a pole, chased after the pig. Of course, they couldn¡¯t overpower a strong, fat pig. The butcher grew angry and roared at his wife, ¡°What¡¯s going on? Didn¡¯t you drug this beast?¡± His wife, red-faced from the chase, said, ¡°I was so busy I forgot.¡± The butcher cursed, ¡®useless woman,¡¯ then shouted for his apprentices, ¡°Come over here and help me hold it down.¡± Then, several strong men surrounded the pig, which struggled, of course. The men beat it with sticks until it fell down, and the butcher injected the pig with a syringe. In the end, the pig was immobilized, ready to be butchered. Throughout the whole process, Zhou Xufang watched intently, thinking, Are they going to slaughter me the same way? After that, four men lifted each corner of the cage, carrying Zhou Xufang down just like they would with a pig. Hong San kicked the iron chain on her cage, ¡°Haven¡¯t you seen a pig being killed before?¡± She hadn¡¯t. So pigs are to be drugged before being slaughtered. Zhou Xufang decided that from that moment on, she wouldn¡¯t eat a single morsel. Hong San was pleased with the panicked and frightened expression she showed, but it wasn¡¯t enough. He squatted down and threatened her inside the cage, ¡°If you dare play any tricks, I¡¯ll butcher you just like that.¡± Zhou Xufang blinked rapidly, trying to cry, but no tears would come; she could only dryly pretend, ¡°I daren¡¯t¡­¡± Hong San stood up and ordered his minions, ¡°Carry her in.¡± Then, they confined Zhou Xufang and seven pigs in a pen; she was in a cage, but the seven pigs were not. They seemed curious about her cage, surrounding it and grunting at her. A slaughterhouse was different from a pig farm; besides pig pens, there were enclosures for chickens, ducks, and geese, all encircling Zhou Xufang¡¯s ¡®territory.¡¯ Zhou Xufang: ¡°¡­¡± Ah, it stinks! Hong San watched Zhou Xufang from outside the pig pen with a disdainful glance usually reserved for pigs, then his phone rang, and he walked away to answer it. Zhou Xufang held her breath and strained to listen. ¡°Brother Hua.¡± Hua Jun? On the other end of the phone was a man who said, ¡°Prepare two boxes of pieces for me.¡± In the underworld, firearms were referred to as ¡°pieces.¡± Zhou Xufang recognized the voice; it was indeed Hua Jun. Hong San asked, ¡°When should I pick up the goods?¡± ¡°Wrap things up by seven o¡¯clock tomorrow evening. Have everything ready half an hour before.¡± ¡°Rest assured.¡± After hanging up the phone, Hong San called over Ah Wang and a few brothers, ¡°I¡¯m stepping out for a bit; you guys keep a good watch.¡± ¡°Got it, Brother San.¡± Hong San left. By midnight, he had not returned. Among the guards, Ah Wan was the most cautious. He never took his eyes off the hostages in the pigpen. Midway, he took a phone call, leaving the others to chat for a bit and start dozing off. Before long, the hacker with thick glasses and thinning hair sitting in front of the computer monitoring the system lay down as well. The opportunity had arrived. Zhou Xufang twisted open the cage, carefully avoided the chains, and squeezed out, stepping over two pigs to exit the pigpen. She moved quietly to the computer and entered a link. She typed slowly and lightly, ¡°Shuangjiang, it¡¯s me.¡± Shuangjiang replied, ¡°I¡¯m here.¡± ¡°Tomorrow night at seven, those guys have a deal. I don¡¯t know the location yet.¡± There was no time to waste, so Zhou Xufang got straight to the point, ¡°Pass the message to Jiang Zhi. Tell him to inform the Drug Enforcement Team.¡± Shuangjiang responded affirmatively, ¡°I¡¯ve sent the link. Click into it, and I¡¯ll take control of this computer.¡± He needed to erase Zhou Xufang¡¯s operational records. ¡°Okay.¡± Zhou Xufang clicked on the link, and immediately codes began to scroll on the computer screen. Shuangjiang asked, ¡°Can you get Hong San¡¯s mobile?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll try.¡± In the small window at the bottom-right, the font changed, and three words came through: ¡°Zhou Xufang.¡± Shuangjiang never addressed her by her full name. Zhou Xufang stared at those three words for a few seconds, ¡°Jiang Zhi?¡± ¡°It¡¯s me.¡± He wanted her to back off, to get out. The words were on the tip of his tongue, but all that came out were two words, ¡°Be careful.¡± Zhou Xufang replied, ¡°Okay.¡± Afterward, Shuangjiang remotely controlled the computer, leaving nothing for Zhou Xufang to do. She crept back to the pigpen, fearing that the guards might wake up. Just as she squeezed back into the cage, she saw a cup on the table. It belonged to Hong San; old habits die hard, soaking goji berries. She crouched in the cage for a while, then slipped back out. That afternoon, the butcher¡¯s wife had put some drug in the pig feed. By morning, they were set to slaughter these seven pigs. Zhou Xufang squatted by the trough, rummaging through the feed, and indeed, found a half-dissolved pill. She crushed the pill and tossed it into the cup with the soaking goji berries. Late into the night, Hong San returned. Thanks to that half pill, he slept soundly, oblivious to his phone being taken from his pocket. The next day, early evening at six. Jiang Zhi sat waiting for a call, asking Ah Wan, ¡°Is the money ready?¡± ¡°It¡¯s all set.¡± Ah Wan showed a face full of concern for the people, ¡°Boss, are you really going alone?¡± ¡°Yep.¡± Going alone, he was too precious a target, too dangerous. Ah Wan was very anxious. S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. On the table, finally, there was some activity on the mobile phone Hong San had sent over. Jiang Zhi immediately answered, ¡°You can send over the actual deal location now.¡± The address given previously was fake; they wouldn¡¯t be foolish enough to reveal the exchange location from the get-go. On the phone, Hong San¡¯s voice was rough, ¡°Seven o¡¯clock, North Coast Pier. Come alone.¡± Chapter 158 - 158: 158: Textile Couple Jointly Abuse Dog (First Update) Chapter 158: 158: Textile Couple Jointly Abuse Dog (First Update) ¡°Seven o¡¯clock, North Coast Pier, come by yourself.¡± Jiang Zhi rose from his seat, opened the black briefcase, and glanced at the neatly arranged US dollars inside: ¡°Pick up my girlfriend.¡± Hong San activated the speakerphone. Zhou Xufang shouted, ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± After Jiang Zhi responded, he didn¡¯t speak and waited for a while: ¡°Xu Fang.¡± ¡°Uh-huh.¡± He said, ¡°Wait for me.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± This girl seemed compliant, but in reality, she had her principles and her own things she wanted to do. Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t want to influence her; thus, the only option was for him to step back and let her take control. ¡°If you dare bring the police,¡± Hong San deliberately banged loudly on the cage, his murderous intent palpable, ¡°I¡¯ll throw her into the sea to feed the fishes.¡± Feed the fishes? Zhou Xufang could swim in both water and on land, so it was uncertain whether she would feed the fishes or the fishes would feed her. Let¡¯s see. Jiang Zhi said, ¡°No police, don¡¯t harm her.¡± Hong San hung up the phone. ¡°Lin Wanwan,¡± Jiang Zhi tossed the phone on the table, ¡°you go out first.¡± Ah Wan: ¡°Oh.¡± Why is he sending me out?! After Ah Wan left and closed the door, Jiang Zhi then asked Xue Baoyi, ¡°Where¡¯s the stuff?¡± Xue Baoyi hesitated for quite some time, but still took out a gun from his pocket, wrapped it in a handkerchief, placed it on the table, and spoke with unusual seriousness, ¡°Brother Zhi, you can¡¯t mess with this casually.¡± He pushed the gun towards Jiang Zhi, not in his usual frivolous or joking manner; he was very serious, ¡°Don¡¯t take it out unless it is absolutely necessary.¡± Jiang Zhi took the gun and simply said, ¡°I understand.¡± You understand? I don¡¯t! Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Xue Baoyi was very uneasy. Half past six. Jiang Zhi received a call from Hong San, just one sentence: ¡°Turn around.¡± Hong San said, ¡°Go to South Coast Pier.¡± Then, the call was cut. North and South Coast Piers were separated by half the city; it would take half an hour to drive there even without traffic. Jiang Zhi put on his Bluetooth headset and contacted Shuangjiang with a different phone: ¡°Is Zhou Xufang moving towards South Coast Pier?¡± Shuangjiang replied, ¡°Yes.¡± After thinking for a few seconds, Jiang Zhi said, ¡°Send her location to Qiao Nanchu.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± He knew what Zhou Xufang planned to do, and was worried sick; but what could he do? He had to listen to her, right? He turned the steering wheel, making a U-turn. Seven o¡¯clock. The car arrived at South Coast Pier, where the wind was strong, whistling through the sails on the ferry, creating a howling sound. There was no moon tonight, nor a single star, only dim lights that painted the entire pier with a veil of obscurity. Jiang Zhi stopped the car, barely opened the door, when his phone rang. He got out, his gaze sweeping over the docked boats, and answered the call. Hong San said, ¡°Put the money on the chair to your left.¡± Jiang Zhi looked around and walked to the left, setting down the bag. Hong San then ordered, ¡°Step back.¡± He stepped back. The largest cruise ship at the center of the ferry terminal had a person descend, wearing a hood that only showed his eyes. He went forward to check the money in the bag, nodded to Hong San after confirming, and then walked back onto the ship with the bag. The ship¡¯s lights were off, its silhouette indistinct. Jiang Zhi, phone in hand, approached: ¡°Where is my girlfriend?¡± Suddenly, lights flashed at the bow of the ship. Hong San stood atop, wearing a mask over his face. He turned and instructed, ¡°Bring the person up.¡± Two men then dragged someone onto the deck. Jiang Zhi recognized the clothes as Zhou Xufang¡¯s. Her hands were bound, she struggled, and her head was covered with a black cloth, likely her mouth sealed with duct tape. Hong San pulled out a dagger from his pocket and grabbed the hostage¡¯s hood, ¡°Go to the outer side of the pier and wait. We¡¯ll release her after fifteen minutes.¡± Jiang Zhi hesitated very briefly before turning around and just as he took a step¡ª Suddenly, the sound of a police siren. Hong San was shocked, his face turned red in an instant, and he bellowed, ¡°You fucking called the cops!¡± He immediately turned and yelled to the people inside the cruise, ¡°Start the ship!¡± Start the ship? The entire low-voltage switchgear had been destroyed by someone; how could they start? But it was too late, as boats that had been stationary around the cruise started moving slowly, closing in, their lights blazing bright, and the decks teeming with armed police. Hong San was furious, screaming, ¡°Start the ship! Start it now!¡± Let¡¯s rewind half an hour back. After calling Jiang Zhi, Hong San took a dozen of his men, got into the slaughterhouse truck, and headed for the trading location, North Coast Pier, via the expressway. En route, he received a text from Hua Jun. After that, he made four calls, but none went through. Hong San hesitated for a while, ¡°Stop the car.¡± Everyone sat in the covered truck, surrounding a pig cage in the middle. Ah Wang asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Brother San?¡± Hong San kept dialing in a punchy and irritable manner. ¡°There¡¯s trouble at Brother Hua¡¯s side; he¡¯s asking for our backup.¡± Now? Ah Wang pointed at the person in the cage, ¡°What about her?¡± Hong San glanced at Zhou Xufang and then at the hacker who was furiously typing on the keyboard, ¡°Has Jiang Zhi called the cops?¡± He adjusted his glasses on the bridge of his nose, ¡°No, it¡¯s just him alone.¡± ¡°Are you sure?¡± ¡°I¡¯m sure.¡± Despite being cautious, Hong San was still uneasy. He tried another number; it was like all the calls were cursed, none went through, and messages sent received no replies. At that moment, he received another text from Hua Jun, only then did he put his doubts aside, directed the driver to turn around, and said, ¡°Brother Hua wants us to take her along too.¡± He sent a reply and instructed Ah Wang, ¡°Notify Jiang Zhi to redeem the person at South Coast Pier.¡± Oh, so it¡¯s South Coast Pier. Inside the pig cage, Zhou Xufang touched the tracking necklace on her neck, revealing a triumphant and delightfully self-satisfied smile. Six forty. The Criminal Intelligence Department received an intrusion alert. Yes, an intrusion; their defense systems were breached, and their computers were violently remotely controlled. With such a strong-arm approach, who else could it be! Yao An was the first to notice and shouted, ¡°Captain Qiao, take a look at this!¡± Qiao Nanchu swiveled his chair halfway and glanced at the screen with a smile, ¡°Send the location to the Criminal Investigation Team and the Drug Enforcement Team.¡± Those two guys were really quick in their actions. Li Xiaodong hesitated and asked for instructions, ¡°Shouldn¡¯t we confirm it first?¡± What if it¡¯s fake? Qiao Nanchu checked his watch, ¡°There¡¯s no time left, notify them now.¡± It seemed as though Captain Qiao knew something; regardless, Li Xiaodong was utterly confused but decided not to worry about it. He would follow his boss¡¯s orders, ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll notify them now.¡± Three minutes later, the intel department received a response. ¡°The Drug Enforcement Team has moved out.¡± ¡°The Criminal Investigation Team has also moved out.¡± Qiao Nanchu took a sip of water to moisten his throat, then set the cup down and opened the lowest drawer of his desk, took a gun, and put it in his pocket. The Criminal Intelligence Department is usually an administrative division that doesn¡¯t go to the front line of missions and typically doesn¡¯t carry guns. Qiao Nanchu was the only exception, as he had been involved with many cases from the Drug Enforcement Team, the Anti-Smuggling Bureau, and the Criminal Investigation Team. Li Xiaodong felt that a major case was unfolding, ¡°Captain Qiao, are you also going to the scene?¡± ¡°Yep.¡± Qiao Nanchu grabbed his car keys and, striding with his long legs, left. Li Xiaodong murmured, ¡°Why do I feel so uneasy?¡± ¡°I feel the same,¡± Yao An said while gazing at SpongeBob on the screen and the location, frowning tightly, ¡°After all, they¡¯re our archenemies. Can we trust the intel she provided?¡± In addition to the location, the screen displayed a sentence: Seven o¡¯clock, South Coast Pier delivery. Six-fifty. On the second floor of the cruise ship, every meter or two, there was someone on guard, all wearing black suits and fully prepared for action. Hua Jun paced in the room and asked his subordinate for the third time, ¡°Have they arrived?¡± The subordinate checked the time and replied, ¡°Ten minutes until they reach the ferry dock.¡± ¡°Brother Hua,¡± someone entered the room to report, ¡°Hong San and the others have arrived.¡± Upon hearing this, Hua Jun strode out of the room and saw Hong San in the second-floor corridor, his face immediately turning sour, ¡°Who told you to come?!¡± Hong San was stunned, ¡°Didn¡¯t you call me over?¡± Hua Jun¡¯s eyes nearly bulged out of their sockets, his expression taut as the tattoo of a black dragon on his neck was grotesquely distorted by the bulging veins, ¡°When did I ever call you?¡± Hong San panicked briefly, immediately took out his phone, and showed it to Hua Jun. After Hua Jun read the two messages, his face became utterly grim, ¡°I didn¡¯t send these.¡± Enraged, he shouted at Hong San, ¡°Couldn¡¯t you have confirmed with me first?¡± Hong San was also frantic, his face flushed, ¡°I made phone calls, but you didn¡¯t answer.¡± Didn¡¯t answer? Hua Jun never heard any incoming calls, ¡°Give me your phone.¡± Hong San handed over his phone used specifically for contacting the higher-ups, and pulled up his call history; he had made eight calls in total, six to Hua Jun and two to someone labeled ¡®Zhang¡¯. Hua Jun dialed his own number from Hong San¡¯s phone, his phone did not ring for a long time, while Hong San¡¯s phone kept saying it was unanswered. Hong San was at a loss, ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Hua Jun turned and gave him a kick in frustration, his lips trembling with anger, ¡°You idiot, someone tampered with your phone and you didn¡¯t even notice? Is this your first day on the job?¡± Hong San collapsed to the ground, sweating coldly and biting his teeth without uttering a sound. At that moment, a subordinate came to report from downstairs, ¡°Brother Hua, the goods have arrived.¡± The people from the Golden Triangle had already arrived, but trouble had arisen at this critical moment. Hua Jun hesitated, then ordered, ¡°Bring them aboard first,¡± and immediately made a phone call, ¡°President Zhang.¡± The person on the other end asked, ¡°Did you get the goods?¡± Hua Jun, somewhat panicky, said not yet, ¡°Our position might have been exposed.¡± He briefly and quickly relayed the sequence of events. The woman listened silently. Hua Jun, feeling uncertain, asked for instructions, ¡°President Zhang, what should we do next?¡± ¡°Once you get the goods, leave immediately.¡± Once the goods had literally arrived at the doorstep, there was no reason not to offload them. Hua Jun¡¯s palms were sweaty, his mind was in turmoil, ¡°Understood.¡± ¡°If the police show up, use the hostage if you can. If not,¡± the gentle, soft voice of the woman articulated slowly, pausing briefly before continuing, ¡°kill.¡± At least they still held a hostage in their hands. Hua Jun understood, hung up the phone, and asked Hong San, ¡°Where¡¯s the girl?¡± ¡°In the cage outside.¡± Hong San got up from the ground and called for Ah Wang to bring the person up. The person was still inside the cage without being let out, hooded, with their mouth sealed and all limbs bound with thick rope; they curled up quietly in the cage without struggling. Hua Jun squatted down, knocked on the iron cage with his phone, and spoke with a sinister tone, ¡°Whether you get off the ship alive depends on how well your boyfriend behaves.¡± The person inside the cage shivered. Good thing they still had this bargaining chip; Hua Jun¡¯s nerves slightly relaxed, ¡°Ah Wang, keep a close eye on her.¡± ¡°Yes, Brother Hua.¡± Hua Jun glared coldly at Hong San, ¡°You come with me to get the goods.¡± Hong San kicked the cage and followed out. Ah Wang ordered the men to move the cage inside the room, checked the locks carefully, and kept a constant vigil. Throughout it all, Zhou Xufang remained very ¡®honest¡¯ as a hostage inside the cage, while at the same time, she kept her ears pricked up for any noise outside. Hua Jun was receiving the goods, and the other party was speaking a foreign language. The sound of waves and wind was loud, and the noises from outside the cruise ship were hard to hear clearly amidst the clamor. ¡°Xufang.¡± It was Jiang Zhi¡¯s voice, faint and indistinct. ¡°Xufang.¡± Zhou Xufang quietly let out a soft ¡®hmm.¡¯ It was a strange sensation; amidst the cacophony, she tried desperately to catch a trace of his voice, and even the slight details brought her joy. She took several deep breaths, held her breath in concentration, and listened carefully. The voice was not clear, intermittent, ¡°If you can safely retreat¡­ hang the necklace on the sail¡­¡± Hmm, Jiang Zhi¡¯s voice was really nice, more pleasant than the sound of the wind. How did she come to think about this? Zhou Xufang pulled her wandering spirit back and moved her arms slightly. With a bang, the rope binding her burst into several pieces. Ah Wang heard the noise and glanced at the cage, ¡°You¡ª¡± He stared, dumbfounded. Zhou Xufang tugged at the chain with one hand and bent the steel bars with the other, easily creating an opening in the cage, and squeezed out from within. Ah Wang¡¯s legs went weak, and he sank down, his hand shaking as he reached for the door handle, ¡°Hong San!¡± ¡°San¡ª¡± The shout stopped abruptly. Ah Wang didn¡¯t even see how she got close, but her hand was already around his neck, the slender wrist choking off his airway. ¡°If you survive this, try to be a good person next time, okay?¡± Chapter 159 - 159: 159: Has Jiang Zhi recognized Luo San? (Second Release) Chapter 159: 159: Has Jiang Zhi recognized Luo San? (Second Release) ¡°If I survive this, I¡¯ll be a good person from now on, understand?¡± After Zhou Xufang finished speaking, she slapped Ah Wang on the neck. Ah Wang¡¯s leg twitched, and he passed out. Just as Zhou Xufang kicked him away, the door was pushed open. It was two men who, hearing the noise, rushed over. Zhou Xufang, worried that the loud noise would alert the people on the ship, decided to act quickly. She grabbed one with each hand, then clapped her hands together forcefully, slamming their heads together. One of them fainted. Zhou Xufang let go, and as the other one was just hitting the ground, she hooked her foot around his neck and gave a twist, knocking him out too. Then, she closed the door and cleaned up the scene. Moments later, she went out, grabbed a woman of similar build to herself, exchanged clothes, covered her up, and threw her into a pig cage. At seven o¡¯clock sharp, Zhou Xufang hung the necklace that Jiang Zhi gave her on the ship¡¯s sail, punched the switch to break it, then dove headfirst into the sea. On the shore, Jiang Zhi glanced at the flashing red dot on the sail and dialed Qiao Nanchu¡¯s number. ¡°Nanchu, we can start now.¡± On the third floor of the cruise, the corridor was packed with people standing on both sides, with four boxes placed on the ground. Hua Jun said, ¡°Go check the goods.¡± His subordinate nodded, stepped forward to open the boxes, each filled with neatly stacked ¡®white paper bricks.¡¯ He took a dagger, cut open the paper, dipped his hand in, and tasted it, checking each of the four boxes in turn before closing them up and returning to stand behind Hua Jun, whispering, ¡°The goods are fine.¡± Only then did Hua Jun raise his hand, signaling with a gesture. Two of his men, understanding, stepped forward with the boxes, opened them, and revealed they were full of US dollars. The opposing leader was a tall black man with a scar running from his mouth to the left ear, which was partially missing. He reached out his hand. Hua Jun stepped forward to shake it, ¡°Pleasure doing business.¡± The man spoke in English, ¡°We can¡¯t stay long. We need to leave immediately.¡± ¡°Of course, the ship is ready.¡± Hua Jun had just finished speaking when police sirens sounded outside. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± the black leader asked angrily, confronting Hua Jun, ¡°Why are there police here?¡± Hua Jun had no answer and shouted at his men, ¡°Where¡¯s the hostage?¡± As the sirens blared, everyone panicked; his subordinate replied, ¡°With Hong San.¡± Three minutes earlier, Hong San had taken the hostages to trade with Jiang Zhi. At that moment, on the deck of the cruise ship, Hong San looked around in panic, then glared at Jiang Zhi, ¡°You fucking called the cops!¡± He turned and shouted, ¡°Set sail! Set sail now!¡± But the cruise ship didn¡¯t move, surrounded by other ships. From a distance, the headlights of several police cars moved closer, entering the ferry terminal and completely blocking any escape route. Then the siren stopped, and Captain Xiao of the Drug Enforcement Team got out of a car with a megaphone, ¡°Everyone on the ship, listen up, you are surrounded.¡± After a brief pause, Captain Xiao raised his voice, stating deeply, ¡°If you resist, bullets won¡¯t be biased.¡± Afterward, dozens of people, men and women, Asian and black, came out from the cabins and went up to the deck. Hong San turned his head, ¡°Brother Hua.¡± Hua Jun stepped forward, kicked him aside, pulled out a gun, and pressed it against the back of a hostage, shouting to the ship below, ¡°Anyone moves, I¡¯ll blow the hostage¡¯s head off first.¡± Captain Xiao raised his hand, signaling to keep calm. Hua Jun grabbed the rope binding the hostage and pulled her towards the bow. He scanned the shore, fixing his gaze on Jiang Zhi, ¡°Mr. Jiang, you better convince these cops to back off soon, or your delicate girlfriend will be buried with us rough men.¡± Jiang Zhi stood in front of a police car, hands in his pockets, utterly calm, ¡°Who said she¡¯s my girlfriend?¡± Hua Jun was momentarily speechless, his hostage still struggling. The shore was crowded, but Jiang Zhi¡¯s messily windblown, haze-blue short hair stood out, lacking the typical composure of a wealthy young master. He smirked, appearing as worldly as a deep-reaching fairy, ¡°Ask her if she¡¯s my girlfriend.¡± Hua Jun paused, then ripped off the hostage¡¯s hood. By the light, he stared in shock, ¡°Where is that woman?¡± The ¡®hostage,¡¯ her mouth sealed with tape, struggled to shake her head. Just then, the ship suddenly tilted. Someone shouted, ¡°There¡¯s someone below!¡± Everyone on the deck looked down, spotting a wet head raising up, followed by a fair-skinned hand waving, ¡°I¡¯m here!¡± The light was too dim to see the outlines clearly, but Hua Jun recognized the voice. Astounded, he exclaimed, ¡°You¡ª¡± Zhou Xufang raised her other hand clutching a piece of rebar, lifted it high, and stabbed forcefully. The rebar pierced into the ship¡¯s hull; she pulled it out and stabbed again. After several repetitions, the ship began to rock intensely. Suddenly, someone screamed, ¡°The ship is leaking!¡± Immediately afterward, a gunshot rang out. ¡°Bang!¡± On the shore, Captain Xiao ordered, ¡°Snipers get ready, engage if they resist.¡± Hua Jun grabbed the fake hostage, using her as a shield, and loudly commanded his men, ¡°Kill that woman in the water!¡± The ship was filled with desperados not afraid of death, only seeking to drag others down with them. Upon Hua Jun¡¯s order, a dozen men aimed into the water, stirring up splashes all at once. It was too dark to see the person in the water clearly. Onshore, Jiang Zhi¡¯s hand, tucked into his pocket, just reached for the handle but was stopped. ¡°You can¡¯t touch this.¡± It was Qiao Nanchu. Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t turn around, his eyes fixed on Hua Jun on the deck, ¡°Zhou Xufang is still in the water.¡± Qiao Nanchu hummed noncommittally, ¡°I¡¯ll handle it.¡± He squinted one eye, leisurely aimed, and rotated the muzzle. ¡°Bang.¡± Hua Jun¡¯s knee was shot, and he fell on one knee. Qiao Nanchu moved his neck, dissatisfied, ¡°I haven¡¯t practiced for too long. I¡¯m a bit rusty.¡± Beside him, behind the police car, Captain Xiao was so excited his double chin squished out, ¡°Who just shot? That was damn accurate!¡± Someone answered, ¡°It was Captain Qiao!¡± Holy shit! That¡¯s top-tier sniper level! Captain Xiao thought, imagining how nice it would be if he were one of his Drug Enforcement Team members. Qiao Nanchu had taken down a few people and turned around to see Jiang Zhi walking further away. He yelled, ¡°Where are you going?¡± Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t look back, ¡°Going to get Zhou Xufang.¡± This crazy fool. Qiao Nanchu caught up, ¡°Bullets don¡¯t have eyes. Find somewhere to hide first.¡± Jiang Zhi turned, cool and composed, ¡°Yeah, bullets don¡¯t have eyes,¡± he said. ¡°So, I¡¯m leaving my back to you.¡± With that, he quickened his steps towards the seaside. This guy, did he trust him too much? Qiao Nanchu clicked his tongue, Dammit, what a lunatic! But what could he do? They had grown up together; how could he not protect him? The night was windy, and the waves rushed one after another, crashing against the shore, the sea water icy cold, soaking his shoes. But Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t care and stepped right into it. He called out, ¡°Zhou Xufang.¡± After the third shout, the water rippled, and a head emerged, followed by eyes and then an anxious face, ¡°How did you get here? Hide quickly!¡± Zhou Xufang¡¯s eyes were already red, the color of blood. Jiang Zhi wasn¡¯t afraid. He stared at her, took two steps forward, water reaching above his calves. He bent down and reached out his hand, ¡°I need to be with you.¡± No matter the danger, he had to be by Zhou Xufang¡¯s side. Zhou Xufang shook her head, telling him not to come, urging him to hide. Not far away, the cruise ship was half-sunk, the deck littered with bodies. Hua Jun lay at the bow, scanning the surface of the sea. Spotting his target, he aimed at Jiang Zhi¡¯s back, finger moving to the trigger, pressing down¡ª Zhou Xufang pulled Jiang Zhi into the sea. ¡°Bang!¡± Hua Jun fell to the ground. Qiao Nanchu blew on the gun¡¯s muzzle: Was Jiang Zhi¡¯s back something to aim at casually? Did they think he was dead? The distant streetlight shone on the water, creating sparkling ripples as the wind swept through, lifting layers of waves. That year, the young master of the Jiang Family fell into the water at the Luo Family¡¯s home, became seriously ill, and fell into a coma for a night. Due to his frail constitution, he was unfit to be moved and stayed at the Luo Family¡¯s home to recuperate. A black goose down comforter spread on the bed with the young man lying on his side, his pillow damp with sweat. ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Someone, tirelessly calling out with a rough, hoarse voice. The young man was annoyed awake, opened his eyes, and only saw his family¡¯s butler by the bedside. He sat up, weak, ¡°Who just came in?¡± His voice sounded harsh and smoky after the fever. Jiang Chuan shook his head and replied, ¡°I went to the kitchen to get some medicine and didn¡¯t notice.¡± He came forward with a tray, ¡°Young master, please drink your medicine first.¡± The medicine¡¯s scent was pungent and bitter. As the youngster grabbed the medicine bowl, intending to gulp it down, his sickly pale lips just touching the bowl, the room door burst open. It was the bald foster son of the Luo Family, clumsily rushing over, snatching the young master¡¯s medicine bowl, and throwing it to the floor, splashing the contents everywhere. Butler Jiang Chuan was about to erupt but was stopped by the young master who asked the little bald, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± The little bald boy couldn¡¯t speak. Usually, he would awkwardly gesture to him, but this time he didn¡¯t gesture and instead used his dirty hands to drag him, unknowingly brave, and pulled him outside. Jiang Chuan hurried after them: ¡°Young master.¡± The young master looked back, dismissing Jiang Chuan with a glance, allowing the little bald to tug and drag him to the attic. Bang! The door slammed shut, the little bald finally let go, seeing the young master gasping badly, his face pale. He quickly helped him breathe steady. Once the young master was breathing easier, he stood on his toes and whispered secretly, ¡°You need to hide. They gave you poison. They are bad people.¡± The foster son of the Luo Family was said to be mute, having never spoken before. His voice was rough and hoarse, exactly like the one the young master had heard in his sleep, ¡°You can talk?¡± The little bald did not respond, went to the bed, grabbed a pillow¡ªthe pillow shabby and torn. He reached into the pillow core, rummaged for quite a while, and finally found a pill, then held it out to the young master with both hands, ¡°Eat this, it¡¯s not poisoned.¡± His voice sounded strange, neither male nor female, both rough and gravelly. The young man stared intently at him. sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Eat it,¡± he urged. The young man was somewhat dazed but still opened his mouth, letting the dirty hand touch his lips, dropping a pill into his mouth. Before he could swallow, he was shoved into a cupboard. The little bald immediately closed the cupboard door and then leaned against it with his back. He kept talking, ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid. I¡¯m here.¡± ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Jiang Zhi suddenly opened his eyes to meet a pair of red eyes. It was Zhou Xufang. She cautiously wiped seawater from his face, saying, ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid. I¡¯m here.¡± After that incident in the water, Jiang Zhi had developed a fear of water. He paused for a moment, then hugged her tightly. Chapter 160 - 160: 160: Jiang Zhis beauty trap, Fang Bao takes the bait (first update) Chapter 160: 160: Jiang Zhi¡¯s beauty trap, Fang Bao takes the bait (first update) He was startled for a moment, then hugged her tightly. Zhou Xufang lifted her wet face from his shoulder and tilted her head to look at him, ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± He was holding her so tight that she was having trouble breathing. By her ear, Jiang Zhi was panting lightly. Water droplets from his bangs followed the contour of his face, dripping onto her neck. ¡°Fang Bao.¡± He tilted his head sideways, kissing her face. Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t move, ¡°Hmm?¡± He called her name and then fell silent again. Zhou Xufang clumsily patted his back, trying to console him, ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you?¡± He buried his face in her shoulder, his emotions suppressed and sinking deep within his eyes, his voice hoarse and barely more than a breath, trembling with sincere fear, he said, ¡°Don¡¯t be like him, don¡¯t die before me.¡± She was too much like Luo San. Her eyes, her way of speaking, her obedience, and her disobedience too. She was the spitting image of that foolish boy, her heart and eyes full of him as her entire world, willing to give her all, offering him every precious thing she had. Too much alike, it gave him the illusion as if he were going in circles, making the same mistakes over again. Oh, there was just one difference. Luo San was gone, and he was still alive. If Zhou Xufang were gone, he could not live. ¡°I will live to be a hundred years old.¡± Zhou Xufang was making a promise, her voice wrapping around him, lingering by his ear. She said she would live to be a hundred years old. She said, ¡°I will always be with you.¡± She had to live to be a hundred years old. Jiang Zhi wouldn¡¯t outlive her. ¡°Cough.¡± Such an ill-timed ¡®cough¡¯. Jiang Zhi released Zhou Xufang, ¡°Close your eyes first.¡± S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Her eyes were still red, but she obediently closed them. Qiao Nanchu, that third wheel out back, was waiting for the inseparable couple to part before he approached, ¡°It¡¯s all taken care of, let¡¯s withdraw.¡± Jiang Zhi shielded Zhou Xufang behind him and said, ¡°Thanks.¡± The sea breeze carried his voice, making it faint and elusive. Qiao Nanchu asked, ¡°Thanks for what?¡± ¡°For the backup.¡± Among their childhood friends, each more toxic in speech than the last, they seldom thanked each other so earnestly. Qiao Nanchu felt this guy had been tamed by his girlfriend, making it quite unfamiliar, ¡°Less cheesy.¡± He turned to leave but just as he had taken a step, he stopped, turned back, and also said, ¡°Thanks.¡± Indeed. Hearing it did sound cheesy. Jiang Zhi asked him, ¡°What are you thanking for?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not you.¡± The wind was fierce and bone-chilling. Qiao Nanchu took off his coat and tossed it to Jiang Zhi, ¡°0893, my colleague.¡± He looked at the young girl behind Jiang Zhi, ¡°Thanks, Zhou Xufang.¡± Zhou Xufang poked her head out, still with her eyes closed, ¡°No need for thanks, I was just doing what I should.¡± What she should? How many people in the world would risk their lives to do what they should? It¡¯s easy to lend a hand, but to give one¡¯s life for a righteous cause, who would do that? Qiao Nanchu didn¡¯t say more, it was too cold, he went to the car to warm up. Behind him, the insensible Jiang Zhi was still complaining about him, ¡°Smoke less, your clothes reek of cigarette smoke.¡± After his grumbling, he draped the coat over Zhou Xufang. Zhou Xufang wasn¡¯t actually cold. She asked Jiang Zhi, ¡°Aren¡¯t you cold?¡± Jiang Zhi, pale as paper, replied, ¡°Not cold.¡± If he wasn¡¯t cold, why was his voice trembling? She hugged Jiang Zhi, ¡°Let¡¯s get to the car quickly.¡± The dock was closer to Zhou Xufang¡¯s place. She was worried Jiang Zhi would catch a cold, so they went directly to hers. As both of them were soaked from the sea and in poor condition, Captain Cheng from the Criminal Investigation Team sent a police officer to drive them. The two sat in the back wrapped in a blanket. Zhou Xufang suddenly asked, ¡°Jiang Zhi, why are you afraid of water?¡± Jiang Zhi said, ¡°A sequela of nearly drowning.¡± He didn¡¯t elaborate on how he had almost drowned. Zhou Xufang felt melancholic, ¡°Then I can¡¯t take you to Moon Bay anymore.¡± It was a regret that she wouldn¡¯t be able to dive with Jiang Zhi at Moon Bay. It was the first time Jiang Zhi heard her mention this place, ¡°Where¡¯s Moon Bay? What do you do there?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a small island abroad.¡± Zhou Xufang, not wanting to distract the police officer driving in front, lowered her voice and moved close to Jiang Zhi to whisper, ¡°I used to want to buy it as a place to live.¡± The car¡¯s heater was blasting high. Having been dipped in water, and with the transition from cold to hot, it turned the moisture in Jiang Zhi¡¯s eyes into a layer of fog, veiling the glow in his peach blossom eyes. Zhou Xufang thought he looked like a delicate flower emerging from water, both tender and bright. The little flower asked, ¡°You want to live on the island?¡± Zhou Xufang nodded, telling her family¡¯s little flower, ¡°Living alone is safe. If people come, I can hide in the water and not let anyone find me.¡± She liked living alone. Jiang Zhi was aware that if she weren¡¯t dating him, she might not live in the city for long and would sooner or later become a ¡®worldly master¡¯ deep in the ¡®forests¡¯. Retreating to solitude was fine, but he had one condition, ¡°Going to the island is okay, but take me with you.¡± Zhou Xufang seriously considered it, then refused, ¡°I won¡¯t take you.¡± ¡°Cough cough cough cough!¡± He was already feeling an itch in his throat when her words made him choke, setting his stomach ablaze. Zhou Xufang, upon hearing his cough, immediately patted his back to ease his breath, thinking to herself that although Jiang Zhi feigned illness, his body was genuinely frail. His face was already red, and after a couple of coughs, his Adam¡¯s apple had reddened too. Illness tinged his features. He was dissatisfied, ¡°Why not take me?¡± Zhou Xufang explained, ¡°Moon Bay is very cold, you¡¯re so delicate, you can¡¯t live there.¡± Jiang Zhi was a pampered young master, unsuited for harsh environments. So, what she meant was, ¡°If you buy the island in the future, will you go alone and leave me behind?¡± Annoyed, his eyes reddened with a thin layer, like the early autumn sun casting its first meter of light onto the clear water, half the color submerged, half reflected. Zhou Xufang thought the little pampered flower looked even more beautiful soaked, and couldn¡¯t help but reach out to touch his face, touching here and there. She said to the little pampered flower, ¡°My money isn¡¯t enough to buy an island, I have to support you.¡± She was honest, not concealing her thoughts, ¡°I¡¯ll buy it when I¡¯ve saved enough.¡± The first half of her words were sweet, and Jiang Zhi felt a bit pacified. But then Zhou Xufang went on, ¡°Shuangjiang told me to buy it first, and if you make me angry in the future, I¡¯ll go to the island, and won¡¯t live with you.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Jiang Zhi unhesitatingly pushed away her wandering hands, tossed his head, and his expression conveyed a message¡ªgo live alone on your island, don¡¯t touch me! Oh, and another message¡ªHurry up! Pacify me! Then, Zhou Xufang spent the entire trip pacifying him, and the police officer driving the car struggled to hold back his laughter. He had never expected that Mr. Jiang, who always radiated an air of nobility even in his hair, could be so tender in front of his girlfriend. When they arrived at Yuquan Bay, it was just past half past eight. Zhou Xufang let Jiang Zhi take a shower first; she had plenty of his clothes here, some bought by her, and some brought by Jiang Zhi himself. When she came out after freshening up, Jiang Zhi had taken over her nest, occupying her bed, with one hand holding her cup and the other using her tablet. Zhou Xufang tiptoed to the bed in her slippers, climbed up, and asked, ¡°What are you looking at?¡± Jiang Zhi handed her the tablet, ¡°Watches.¡± Oh. She leaned in to take a closer look too. Jiang Zhi put down the cup and pulled her into the covers. He was wearing the same pajamas as hers, pink, with a large bunny printed on the back. ¡°Xu Fang,¡± he said with one arm around her and the other holding the tablet, ¡°buy me a watch.¡± This was the first time he had actively asked her for something. Zhou Xufang felt great and immediately agreed, ¡°Sure, which one do you like?¡± ¡°This one.¡± Jiang Zhi picked out the most expensive one. Zhou Xufang happily saved the link to the diamond watch, her actions exhibiting the grandeur of someone who could drop a fortune without a second thought. Jiang Zhi smiled. At his smile, Zhou Xufang felt lightheaded. ¡°Xu Fang.¡± He entwined her like a little demon. Zhou Xufang, feverishly distracted, simply muttered, ¡°Hmm?¡± The little demon smiled, seductive charm brimming from his peach blossom eyes, lips causing mischief at her neck, enticing in a gentle manner, ¡°Can you buy me a car too?¡± My lord, may I take a bite? Just like a little fox spirit that comes down the mountain to seduce scholars. In the end, the scholars in the plays are always drained dry by the little demons. Zhou Shusheng: ¡°I¡¯ll buy.¡± Buy, buy, buy! Buy it all! He wants stars? I¡¯ll buy him stars! I¡¯m willing even if it drains me dry! Jiang Zhi was pleased, revealing a little smirk with his small tiger teeth. Hmph, buy an island? She¡¯ll never be able to afford it in this lifetime. The little demon was up to mischief again, ¡°Is this building all yours?¡± The scholar said, ¡°It¡¯s all mine.¡± I¡¯m full of yang energy, come suck it up! Quick, come! She boasted proudly, ¡°I also have a villa.¡± Her two fingers traced a large circle in the air, Zhou Xufang laughed like a scholar whose senses had been ensnared by a fox spirit, ¡°I have lots of money.¡± Just in case she sells this building to buy the island¡­ Jiang Zhi pressed her down to lie back, himself sprawling on top of her: ¡°Isn¡¯t the property title in your name?¡± He had checked up on her; she didn¡¯t own any real estate, completely impoverished. Zhou Xufang blinked rapidly, her face flushed, her eyes darting around, occasionally glancing at Jiang Zhi¡¯s neck, ¡°I was afraid of investigations, so Shuangjiang arranged it under someone else¡¯s name for me.¡± He suddenly leaned in close, his pajama neckline slipping, ¡°Zhou Xufang, do you love me?¡± Ah, the collarbones. How lovely. Zhou Xufang immediately closed her eyes guiltily, nodded her head furiously, her cheeks turned as red as a cooked lobster. The little demon tempted her again, ¡°The property title doesn¡¯t have my name, yet you say you love me.¡± Zhou Shusheng opened her eyes, glanced for a second, shyly turned away her head, revealing her feverishly hot ears, and then she declared firmly, ¡°I¡¯ll transfer it to your name tomorrow!¡± Transfer everything! In the end, the scholar was truly devoured by the fox spirit. Jiang Zhi nodded in satisfaction: Now you don¡¯t have the money to buy an island, do you? Chapter 161 - 161: 161: The nights Jiang Zhi was pampered (second update Chapter 161: 161: The nights Jiang Zhi was pampered (second update Jiang Zhi nodded in satisfaction, ¡°Now you don¡¯t have money to buy the island, huh?¡± But he couldn¡¯t let his little ancestor turn into a pauper, he had to secretly save money for her without letting her know, lest she spend it on buying an island. Of course, he didn¡¯t think they would ever argue, and the possibility of her leaving him to live on the island was minuscule, but¡­ if he didn¡¯t deal with this island, he estimated that he would lose sleep tonight. ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± ¡°Mmm.¡± Zhou Xufang adjusted his pajama collar, her eyes proper, not wandering, she said, ¡°You and Chu Manman are quite alike.¡± ¡°Who is Chu Manman?¡± Jiang Zhi lay down, squeezing onto the same pillow, tugged on the blanket, and covered her snugly. Zhou Xufang¡¯s sleeping posture was very honest; she lay straight as a log, her head tilted, looking at Jiang Zhi, a bit tired, her voice soft and tender, ¡°She¡¯s a female protagonist in a manga.¡± She briefly explained the manga¡¯s content, ¡°She¡¯s the little pampered wife kept by President Gu.¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± He really couldn¡¯t refute that. Just now, he had indeed asked for a car, a house, and a watch; in serious terms, it was keeping. Well, if it¡¯s keeping let it be, if it¡¯s Zhou Xufang, he could accept it, but¡ª ¡°Did Lin Wanwan get you into manga again?¡± Zhou Xufang wouldn¡¯t let Ah Wan take the blame, she told the truth, ¡°No, I found it myself. This manga is adapted from a novel; it¡¯s very famous.¡± Talking about her favorite novel, her eyes sparkled, and her tone carried a vicarious pride, ¡°It¡¯s been turned into a TV series too. A friend in the bullet chat told me about the manga and said it was great, so I went to look for it.¡± Jiang Zhi asked, ¡°Which novel?¡± ¡°¡±President Gu, Your Little Pampered Wife Has Fled Again¡±.¡± ¡°¡­¡± His household member was really poisoned by this novel. At midnight, Ah Wan hadn¡¯t slept, staying up waiting for the manga update, then she received a text from her boss, immediately feeling disillusioned! Ah Wan had saved Jiang Zhi¡¯s contact as: Gorgeous Lunatic. Gorgeous Lunatic: ¡°There¡¯s an island called Moon Bay, go and contact them, buy it.¡± Ah Wan had saved her own contact as: Invincible Man Lin. Invincible Man Lin: ¡°Boss, why are you buying an island?¡± In the middle of the night, fussing about buying an island, utterly nonsensical. Then, no reply came. This beautiful lunatic was always like this, replied when he wanted, ignored when he didn¡¯t, completely whimsical, it made Ah Wan want to punch him. Forget it, she continued reading the manga. At exactly twelve o¡¯clock, the manga updated on time, and the newest chapter went as follows: The female protagonist, Chu Manman, and the male protagonist, Gu Yingjun, were accompanying a customer hiking, unexpectedly, Chu Manman got lost, Gu Yingjun, frantic, searched half the mountain before he found her. Then, as it was getting dark, alone with a man, under suspicious circumstances, inflammatory like a blush of fire¡­ that¡¯s impossible. The two sat back-to-back under a tree, watching the stars and the moon, they discussed everything from poetry to philosophy of life. ¡°President Gu, look, a shooting star!¡± exclaimed Chu Manman with delight, her charming smile visible under the moonlight. Male protagonist Gu Yingjun, looking at her enchanting smile, doted, ¡°Silly girl, that¡¯s an airplane.¡± ¡°Oh, it¡¯s an airplane,¡± Chu Manman said, her embarrassed expression still revealed a trace of innocent naivety, cute and adorable, ¡°It¡¯s pretty too.¡± Male protagonist Gu Yingjun was utterly captivated by this innocent naivety. After female protagonist, Chu Manman, fell asleep on Gu Yingjun¡¯s shoulder, he watched her sleeping beauty for a while, then made a call to his secretary. Gu Yingjun, in his cool, domineering CEO style, said, ¡°Get me ten airplanes, all ready to fly.¡± Secretary: ¡°¡­¡± Lunatic! This masterpiece entitled ¡°Goodnight, President Gu,¡± was a manga adapted from the novel ¡°President Gu, Your Little Pampered Wife Has Fled Again.¡± Upon reading this part of the manga, Ah Wan felt that Jiang Zhi, who wanted to buy an island, and Gu Yingjun, who wanted airplanes, were curiously similar, both having a strong chuunibyou aura. Ah Wan was deeply embarrassed. The day after Hua Jun and Hong San were arrested, Jiao Zihao¡¯s wife came to the police station to claim his body. The funeral was held three days later, that day, it was overcast. Being an undercover narcotics officer, for fear of involving his family, the funeral was conducted secretly, not even relatives were notified. The memorial service was set up in the funeral home. Qiao Nanchu parked his car on the side of the road, just as he got out, he saw an acquaintance. It was Captain Xiao from the Drug Enforcement Team, dressed in black formal attire, ¡°Why are you here?¡± He had brought his uniform with him, in the car, not worn. Qiao Nanchu walked ahead, and the two entered the funeral home one after the other; he looked back at Captain Xiao, ¡°Aren¡¯t you here too?¡± It¡¯s not known whether today was especially busy with funerals, as just upon entering, cries were incessant; Captain Xiao sighed, ¡°It looks like it¡¯s just us two.¡± Only the two of them knew, the gangster Ah Hao was an honorable narcotics officer, badge number: 110893. As they walked further inside, the light dimmed. Before entering the ancestral hall, Qiao Nanchu paused at the doorway and asked, ¡°Have you summoned them yet?¡± Captain Xiao shook his head, ¡°Their lips are sealed.¡± Qiao Nanchu took his hands out of his pockets and entered the hall. No mourners were present, except Jiao Zihao¡¯s wife, Qiu Family, sitting alone on the floor with disheveled hair and swollen, reddened eyes, ¡°Who are you?¡± Qiao Nanchu didn¡¯t respond; he placed a white chrysanthemum in front of the memorial tablet, then stood straight and saluted. Captain Xiao did the same; a white chrysanthemum and a salute. Qiu propped herself up and wobbled over to the memorial, covering her mouth as she sobbed. ¡°Zihao, your comrades¡­ your comrades are here¡­¡± Captain Xiao looked away, his eyes reddening. ¡°Condolences.¡± In the end, that was all they could offer, those pale four words; anything else felt too light, too stuck in the throat. Before leaving, Qiu chased after them, asking only one question, ¡°Did Zihao suffer when he passed?¡± Captain Xiao bowed his head, silent. It was Qiao Nanchu who spoke, ¡°No, he didn¡¯t suffer.¡± ¡°That¡¯s good¡­ that¡¯s good¡­¡± Qiu murmured a couple of times, sat down, and wept bitterly. ¡°Uncle.¡± An eight-year-old boy stood at the doorway, clutching Qiao Nanchu¡¯s sleeve. He was tall and stout, resembling his father, ¡°Are you my dad¡¯s friend?¡± Qiao Nanchu squatted down, ¡°Yes.¡± The little boy looked stubborn, clearly heartbroken, yet clearly trying not to cry, ¡°Then was my dad a bad person?¡± Qiao Nanchu shook his head. He sniffled but still refused to cry, ¡°They say my dad was a big villain, and that¡¯s why he was killed. They¡¯re just talking nonsense, right?¡± ¡°Right, they¡¯re talking nonsense.¡± Qiao Nanchu, crouching, nearly eye-level with the child, lifted his hand to pat the boy¡¯s head but ended up resting his hand on his shoulder instead. He told the little boy, ¡°Your dad wasn¡¯t a villain.¡± His eyes slightly reddened, ¡°He was a hero.¡± He lied¡ªhis comrade had suffered terribly when he died, cut by many knives, none fatal, almost bled dry. But he was just a child and he ended up crying. Crying, he said earnestly, like children do, ¡°When I grow up, I want to be a hero too.¡± He wiped away his tears again, gritting his teeth. His twin sisters were only a month old; now, he would be the head of the family and couldn¡¯t cry anymore; if he did, it would only make his mom sadder. ¡°Mom.¡± The little boy walked into the hall and knelt beside his mother, gently patting her back. Captain Xiao, covering his eyes, went outside, his fingers damp. Qiao Nanchu stood outside the hall, not in a hurry to leave, leaning against the wall, lighting a cigarette. At nine in the evening, Wen Baiyang had just finished showering when a message arrived on her phone. Qiao Nanchu: ¡°I¡¯m at your door.¡± He rarely visited her place unless it was something important. Wen Baiyang, pulling on a coat over her pajamas, opened the door, ¡°Why are you here?¡± she asked in sign language. He stood before her door, his eyes heavy and slightly drunken, ¡°I¡¯m here for tea.¡± She moved closer to sniff, ¡°Have you been drinking?¡± He laughed, ¡°A little.¡± Not just a little¡ªhis breath was heavy with alcohol, his eyes dull and listless. Wen Baiyang stepped aside, ¡°You sit, I¡¯ll make tea.¡± She hesitated whether to support him. Qiao Nanchu walked in on his own, his steps¡­ alright, just slightly unsteady. He picked the long couch, lying down straight away, closing his eyes and pinching his brow. Wen Baiyang returned with the tea only to find him already asleep, the couch slightly too small, fitting awkwardly. ¡°Brother Chu.¡± She couldn¡¯t make any sound, so she set down the teapot and leaned over to nudge Qiao Nanchu¡¯s hand. He opened his eyes, slightly intoxicated, and his gaze somewhat blurry. She moved closer, worried he couldn¡¯t see her signing, ¡°Don¡¯t sleep here, you¡¯ll catch a cold.¡± S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He turned over, not getting up, his eyes holding a faint smile that was lazy, watching her, ¡°Worried I¡¯ll catch a cold?¡± She nodded. He placed his hand under his neck, as casual as ever, but his smile faintly joyless, ¡°Then why don¡¯t you get me a blanket?¡± Chapter 162 - 162: 162: Raise the Daughter-in-law like a Daughter (First Update) Chapter 162: 162: Raise the Daughter-in-law like a Daughter (First Update) ¡°Why didn¡¯t you get me a blanket?¡± Oh, the blanket. Wen Baiyang went to the bedroom, brought out the blanket from her bed, and placed it on the sofa. He lay there, motionless, with drunkenness glinting three or four points in his eyes, an ambivalent emotion seemed to swell within, yet he spoke not a word, just watched her. For a long time. Then he finally said, ¡°Help me cover up.¡± He was so different today, like a small child in need of care. Wen Baiyang squatted down, fluffed the blanket, spread it evenly, covering him entirely except for his head peeking out, and she detected a strong scent of alcohol, ¡°Are you feeling upset?¡± ¡°Uh-huh.¡± She could tell, he was in a low mood. She didn¡¯t know how to comfort him, ¡°Do you want to drink more?¡± Qiao Nanchu laughed. Thinking he wanted to drink, she stood up to get the alcohol, but as soon as she stood, he grasped her, ¡°You can¡¯t offer alcohol to men, and certainly not at home.¡± She was still young, inexperienced. After drinking, most men are no good, and those who drink at a girl¡¯s home, taking advantage of the inebriation to act like beasts, are even more common. He released her, sat up slightly, asked patiently, ¡°Do you understand?¡± He truly resembled a competent and old-fashioned elder, no wonder Xue Baoyi said he raised a daughter. Indeed like raising a daughter. She nodded, not fully comprehending. He didn¡¯t dwell on this adult topic further; to continue would spoil the mood. He picked up his cup, sipped tea. This barley tea was her own concoction, slightly different from what¡¯s outside; he had some at home, all gifted by her, yet he particularly came here to ask for a drink. On the coffee table, besides the teapot, there was an ashtray. The last time he came over, he asked if she had one to use for smoking, but she said no. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. This was a new addition. Next to the ashtray, there was an old photograph. ¡°When was this taken?¡± In the photo, he was in police uniform, with a little girl only reaching his chest, making a silly scissor hand gesture. Wen Baiyang used sign language, ¡°The year I came to Imperial City.¡± Back then, her face still bore the distinct highland redness, and she seldom smiled. At the time, he was still studying at the police academy. Qiao Nanchu picked up the photo, looked at it, and asked her with a smile, ¡°When you first came, were you one point five meters tall?¡± ¡°¡­¡± Wen Baiyang, ¡°Yes.¡± She always respected her benefactor and never contradicted him, but this time, she wanted to correct him seriously, ¡°I was one point five one meters tall then.¡± Now she was one meter sixty-three. Qiao Nanchu laughed again. She had been raised quite well, having grown quite a bit taller. He put the photo down, his movement halted as he touched the cup, fixating his gaze on the police badge number in the photo. 14Z083, it was his police number while he was at the academy. Six characters, a mix of digits and letters; the first two were the year of entry, and the same numbering format was used for all students at Imperial City Police Academy. After contemplating for a moment, Qiao Nanchu dialed Jiang Zhi¡¯s number. It rang for a long time before finally connecting, Jiang Zhi was woken up, answered reluctantly, ¡°What is it? It¡¯s so late.¡± ¡°Is the note with 0893 for Zhou Xufang still there?¡± Jiang Zhi sounded very sleepy, his voice bubbly with slurring, ¡°It¡¯s here.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t sleep; I¡¯m coming over.¡± He was extremely tired, yawned, ¡°I¡¯ll leave the key under the doormat, let yourself in.¡± He was going to sleep first. Qiao Nanchu hung up the phone, stood up, ¡°I have to go.¡± Wen Baiyang nodded, ¡°Wait for me.¡± She ran to the kitchen, packed the small dishes from the refrigerator into a large bag and brought it out, ¡°Take this to eat.¡± Handing over the bag, she instructed, ¡°If you don¡¯t finish it, put it in the refrigerator.¡± Qiao Nanchu took the bag, ¡°Lock the door well, don¡¯t let anyone in at night, except for me.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Qiao Nanchu called a substitute driver and went to Qingshan Mansion. Jiang Zhi had placed the key under the doormat at the entrance; he went straight in. The lights were off inside; he turned them on, headed to the bedroom, and pulled away the blanket. ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± No reaction. ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± The lump lying down shifted, ¡°Mmh¡­¡± Qiao Nanchu grabbed a pillow, tossed it on his head, ¡°Get up.¡± Jiang Zhi, annoyed, ran a hand through his hair and sat up, hair tousled in a chaotic haze of smog blue, ¡°Couldn¡¯t you wait until morning?¡± Qiao Nanchu, ¡°No.¡± Jiang Zhi kicked off the pillow, clambered out of bed, yawned, and staggered sleepily to the study. The note left by 0893 had blood on it, just a string of numbers. Jiang Zhi nestled on the sofa, too lazy to move, ¡°Is there a problem?¡± Qiao Nanchu pointed it out to him, ¡°Could this ¡®2¡¯ possibly be the letter ¡®Z¡¯?¡± He glanced at it twice, ¡°Doesn¡¯t really look like it.¡± However, ¡°It could also be that ¡®0893¡¯ mistook ¡®Z¡¯ for a ¡®2¡¯.¡± That possibility couldn¡¯t be ruled out. Qiao Nanchu took out a pen and wrote a series of characters on a piece of paper, asking Jiang Zhi, ¡°If it¡¯s ¡®Z¡¯, do these two formats look similar?¡± 14Z083. 14Z096. Jiang Zhi hummed, ¡°What are they?¡± Holding the pen in his hand, Qiao Nanchu twirled it twice before the pen tip steadied and fell onto the paper, ¡°14Z083 was my police number at the police academy.¡± And 14Z096, was a clue left by an undercover. If ¡®2¡¯ was indeed ¡®Z¡¯¡­ Outside the window, the night was deep, with a few stars and a full moon. In the detached villa, there were cat cries echoing through the empty, serene house, one after another. ¡°Meow.¡± ¡°Meow.¡± The lights on the staircase came on, and the homeowner came downstairs in slippers, dressed in a white silk nightgown that clung to her body, outlining her slender curves. She turned on the light downstairs and picked up the Scottish Fold cat that was meowing incessantly in the corner, ¡°What¡¯s all this noise, aren¡¯t you sleeping?¡± ¡°Meow.¡± The Scottish Fold cat meowed again, struggled for a bit, and then fell to the ground. At that moment, the mobile phone on the coffee table rang. The homeowner picked up the cat, placing it on her lap with one hand, and answered the phone with the other, absentmindedly stroking the cat¡¯s back. ¡°President Zhang.¡± She asked, ¡°Is it all taken care of?¡± The man on the phone replied, ¡°Hua Jun and Hong San¡¯s wife and child have been taken away.¡± ¡°Watch the people closely before the execution.¡± ¡°I understand.¡± After hanging up, she dialed another number. ¡°Mr. Smith,¡± she spoke in fluent English, ¡°do you still have goods on hand?¡± Outside the house, the moonlight was hazy, and a faint white glow streamed in through the French windows that were left slightly ajar, letting a fine breeze in that lifted the fringe of the curtains, tangling them on the cabinet against the living room wall. On top of the cabinet was a photo of a young man and woman, both dressed in police uniforms. The girl¡¯s badge on the uniform was somewhat blurred, and the number on it wasn¡¯t very clear. You had to look closely to make out the characters: 14Z096. Half a month earlier. ¡°Have you caught the mole?¡± The laptop on the table had a video call in progress; the person on the other side didn¡¯t show their face. Only a pair of slender legs was visible, along with white cotton slippers beneath. Oh, and a picture frame on the cabinet in the background made it into the frame, but it wasn¡¯t very clear due to the distance. ¡°Not yet.¡± Hua Jun sat in front of the desk, hesitating a bit, ¡°There¡¯s a suspect.¡± The woman¡¯s voice was soft and slow, speaking three words in a matter-of-fact tone, ¡°Take care of it.¡± ¡°But it¡¯s just a guess; we cannot be sure.¡± She laughed lightly, as if she found the other party naive, and countered, ¡°Do we really need to be sure before taking action?¡± It¡¯s better to kill a thousand by mistake than to let go of one, that was the code of the street. At that moment, the door was suddenly pushed open. Ah Hao barged in clumsily, ¡°Brother Hua¡ª¡± Hua Jun turned around, and then with a snap, he shut the laptop, immediately becoming cold-faced and swearing, ¡°Don¡¯t you fucking know how to knock?¡± Ah Hao, seemingly unconcerned, scratched his head and laughed apologetically, ¡°Sorry about that, Brother Hua.¡± 14Z096. He had seen the number on the photo in the video. As the end of the year approached, the weather grew colder. Last week, the premiere at the opera house was abruptly halted, and Director Feng lodged a request with the event planning company to redo it within half a month, the sooner, the better. ¡°President Zhang.¡± After knocking, the secretary came in and placed the documents on the desk, ¡°This is the premiere planning proposal.¡± Zhang Zixi flipped through a couple of pages casually, not looking closely, ¡°I¡¯ll give you a response tonight.¡± She put down the documents and stood up, grabbing her bag. The secretary asked with a smile, ¡°Heading out?¡± ¡°Yes, I have a class reunion.¡± The reunion was set at a Luo Family hotel, not far from Zhang Zixi¡¯s company. A fifteen-minute drive would do, but parking was difficult to find during the rush hour peak. She had to circle around before finding a spot. As soon as she parked, there was a loud bang, and she was rear-ended. It was a hard hit; her forehead knocked against the steering wheel. It took her a moment to get out of the car and walk to the rear. The other car was an SUV. Looking at the driver on the other side, Zhang Zixi couldn¡¯t help but laugh, ¡°It¡¯s you.¡± Qiao Nanchu got out of his car, his gaze casually sweeping over her forehead, which was reddish, ¡°Are you hurt?¡± Zhang Zixi had just come from the office, her face still wearing light makeup, smiling with elegance and grace, ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡± She joked, ¡°Last time I rear-ended you, this time it¡¯s you, we¡¯re even now.¡± Qiao Nanchu walked to the back of the car, examined it for a moment, ¡°The damage is pretty bad, I¡¯ll call someone to tow the car, and I¡¯ll take you after we finish up here.¡± Chapter 163 - 163: 163: The weaver lady is angry again, coax her! (Second update) Chapter 163: 163: The weaver lady is angry again, coax her! (Second update) Qiao Nanchu walked to the rear of the car, looked around a few times, ¡°It¡¯s quite badly damaged, I¡¯ll call someone to tow the car, and after that, I¡¯ll take you.¡± Zhang Zixi shook her head and declined, ¡°No need to trouble yourself.¡± ¡°It¡¯s entirely my fault,¡± he said with a breeziness in his eyes but a firm tone, ¡°I have to take responsibility.¡± He hadn¡¯t changed at all, spontaneous in nature but not so compliant, with no understanding of sentiments in his words or looks. Zhang Zixi gave up arguing, ¡°Then I¡¯ll trouble you.¡± ¡°Contact me after you get the repair cost,¡± he parked the car and walked towards the hotel. She stood there, watching his back for a while, dazed, then followed him, ¡°Okay.¡± The next day, at the Criminal Intelligence Department. Qiao Nanchu had gone out for a while and upon his return, he handed Li Xiaodong a bloody piece of paper. ¡°Check this number.¡± Li Xiaodong spread it out and looked it over several times, front and back, ¡°What is this?¡± ¡°Information about a drug trafficker.¡± Li Xiaodong didn¡¯t understand, ¡°Just a string of numbers?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Is it Z or 2, needs to be confirmed. ¡°It doesn¡¯t look like transaction information, probably some sort of identity code,¡± Li Xiaodong muttered to himself. Qiao Nanchu didn¡¯t speak, took a seat on the swivel chair, and glanced vaguely in the direction of the door. The desk by the office door was empty; it was usually unoccupied and piled with many documents and two computers, one of which had a black object the size of a fingernail stuck behind it. It was a bugging device. ¡°What is this?¡± ¡°Information about a drug trafficker.¡± ¡°Just a string of numbers?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t look like transaction information, probably some sort of identity code.¡± The woman on the sofa removed her headphones, put the cat curled up on her legs on the floor, took her mobile phone, and walked to the French windows. She made a call in English, ¡°Mr. Smith, that shipment might be delayed.¡± The orange afterglow through the window fell on her side face, innocently beautiful as she explained, ¡°There¡¯s been a complication on my side.¡± After a few more words, she hung up the phone, and the fold cat at her feet meowed incessantly. She dialed another number, ¡°Book me a flight to T country.¡± ¡°Okay, President Zhang.¡± As the year neared its end, Jiang Zhi¡¯s new movie was scheduled to start filming after the New Year; he was free during this period. Of course, there were many promotional events for movies, but he was too lazy to attend, only wanting to accompany Zhou Xufang to set up a stall. Zhou Xufang hadn¡¯t taken him to set up a stall for two days now, which was fine, but he couldn¡¯t even see her, nor would she return his calls or send many messages! This woman didn¡¯t care about him anymore! This woman had changed! This woman didn¡¯t love him anymore! Bang! An empty milk can flew in an arc, smashing hard into the trash bin. Jiang Zhi sat up from the sofa, grabbed his phone, and pulled up Zhou Xufang¡¯s WeChat, nickname¡ªFangbao. Just a few days ago, he had changed it and even used couple profile pictures, the Q-version; his was a dark, nondescript little figure, Zhou Xufang¡¯s was this extremely beautiful character with blue hair, joined together by a pink heart. Fangbao¡¯s Boyfriend: ¡°Xu Fang.¡± Along with an emoticon behind it¡ª [Your little master is online] Just waited for three seconds. Fangbao¡¯s Boyfriend: ¡°Zhou Xufang!¡± It took about ten seconds for Zhou Xufang to reply. Fangbao: ¡°Hmm.¡± Fangbao¡¯s Boyfriend: ¡°How long have we not seen each other?¡± Fangbao: ¡°Two days.¡± Indeed, she didn¡¯t care about him anymore! Had changed! Didn¡¯t love him anymore! Jiang Zhi¡¯s heart, left out for two days, had cooled. Fangbao¡¯s Boyfriend: ¡°It¡¯s been fifty-six hours.¡± Another ten seconds without a reply. Jiang Zhi threw an emoticon over: [Pin you down on the ground and kiss you until you cry] Zhou Xufang replied. Fangbao: [Remember not to use periods, have to resist] Fangbao¡¯s Boyfriend: ¡°Didn¡¯t you say you could come back before noon?¡± Here¡¯s what happened: two days ago, Zhou Xufang had taken a delivery job to Lin City to send an important parcel. Naturally, Jiang Zhi wanted to accompany her but was firmly rejected by Zhou Xufang since there was a blizzard in Lin City and Jiang Zhi wouldn¡¯t give in, worrying about her going alone. In the end, Zhou Xufang sneaked out in the evening, and that way, Jiang Zhi was left behind. At that time, Zhou Xufang said she could come back in two days; she even sent a WeChat message last night updating her schedule, saying she could arrive by this noon; now it was already past one, Jiang Zhi had Zhou Xufang¡¯s house keys and had been waiting since eleven; it had been over two hours, she still hadn¡¯t come back, nor let him pick her up, and she hadn¡¯t called. How could he not be angry?! Fangbao: ¡°I¡¯m already back in the city.¡± Fangbao¡¯s Boyfriend: ¡°Then why haven¡¯t you come home?¡± Fangbao: ¡°I was at the train station when I saw someone hiring for unloading work, so I went to unload.¡± Fangbao: ¡°Fifty cents a box.¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡­ Not going home, not contacting him, not answering his calls, she was busy working! Is working more important than him?! Then just work away! And, of all things to do, she chose to unload goods, doesn¡¯t she know to take care of herself a little? How exhausting a job that is! Are they really that short on cash?! He was about to explode with anger! Fangbao¡¯s boyfriend, ¡°How much have you unloaded?¡± Little Ancestor Fangbao, ¡°Over three hundred boxes already.¡± Over three hundred¡­ He couldn¡¯t get angry anymore, he started to feel sorry for her. Fangbao¡¯s boyfriend, ¡°Stop unloading, come back.¡± Little Ancestor Fangbao, ¡°It¡¯s not hard, very light.¡± Zhou Xufang also sent a picture of her carrying five boxes with one hand. Did she also work as hard when she carried bricks on a construction site before? Jiang Zhi felt a pain in his chest. Fangbao¡¯s boyfriend, ¡°Come back!¡± Little Ancestor Fangbao, ¡°No, I need to work.¡± She had always been obsessed with working, almost to the point of not being able to help herself, otherwise Jiang Zhi wouldn¡¯t suspect that working was more important than him. However, he felt that Zhou Xufang was working to support him. Jiang Zhi remembered the incident a few days ago when he asked for a car, a house, and a watch, and he felt even more pained. Fangbao¡¯s boyfriend, ¡°I don¡¯t want the watch anymore, and I don¡¯t want the car either. I¡¯ll stop wasting money, and I have a lot of money to give you. So, please stop taking odd jobs, can you come back?¡± Little Ancestor Fangbao, ¡°I promised the boss, I¡¯d help him finish unloading.¡± Also, ¡°You didn¡¯t waste money, I wanted to buy those things for you.¡± Fangbao¡¯s boyfriend, ¡°Stay there, I¡¯m coming over now.¡± Little Ancestor Fangbao, ¡°Don¡¯t come, I don¡¯t want you to carry.¡± Fangbao¡¯s boyfriend, ¡°Wait for me.¡± Little Ancestor Fangbao, ¡°.¡± Fangbao¡¯s boyfriend, [Another period and I¡¯ll cry kisses on you] Little Ancestor Fangbao, [Can¡¯t send periods, must resist] Fangbao¡¯s boyfriend, ¡°I¡¯m going to drive now, don¡¯t send any more.¡± Little Ancestor Fangbao, [Can¡¯t send periods, must resist] After sending the last message, her boss called her just in time, ¡°Xiao Zhou.¡± Xiao Zhou pocketed her phone, ¡°Coming!¡± Jiang Zhi was on his way to the train station when he received a call from Qiao Nanchu. ¡°Peng Xianzhi¡¯s son has returned to the country.¡± Peng Xianzhi was the arsonist behind the Luo Family¡¯s big fire, and he had gone to the police station to turn himself in less than a day after the fire, serving eight years in prison already. Jiang Zhi held the steering wheel with one hand and had a Bluetooth headset on the other, ¡°When?¡± Qiao Nanchu, ¡°Last week.¡± The car sped fast, the window was open, and the wind blew Jiang Zhi¡¯s bangs into disarray, ¡°Has he contacted anyone from the Luo Family?¡± ¡°He contacted Luo Changde.¡± Qiao Nanchu said lazily, ¡°I agree with your previous speculation, Peng Xianzhi was probably a scapegoat. That big fire at the Luo Family, odds are it was set by someone surnamed Luo.¡± Just didn¡¯t know which Luo it was. Qiao Nanchu speculated, ¡°Peng Xianzhi¡¯s son might have something in his hands.¡± Jiang Zhi turned a corner, hit the national highway, and accelerated, ¡°Whatever it is, we¡¯ll snatch it first and talk later.¡± Qiao Nanchu could hear the wind on the other side, ¡°You¡¯re driving?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± This guy drove like he was drifting. Qiao Nanchu cautioned him, ¡°In a rush to reincarnate, huh? Slow down, damn it.¡± Jiang Zhi rolled up the window, ¡°Enough talk, I¡¯m going to help Zhou Xufang unload goods.¡± ¡°What goods?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t need to know.¡± With that, Jiang Zhi hung up the call. Just then, Qiao Nanchu¡¯s phone rang again, the contact saved as just two characters¡ªZhang 2. He had a colleague also surnamed Zhang, saved as Zhang 1. He casually saved Zhang Zixi¡¯s number as Zhang 2. sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. She was the first to speak, her voice soft, ¡°It¡¯s me.¡± Qiao Nanchu was still in the Criminal Intelligence Department, the computer was on, and the screen displayed a photo of a young girl in a police uniform, wearing a police badge. ¡°The repair cost is out?¡± he asked nonchalantly. Zhang Zixi answered, ¡°Yes, can we meet?¡± ¡°Anything else?¡± He tapped his pen on the table, making a tapping sound, his gaze faint as he looked at the photo on the computer. ¡°I have a flight tomorrow, I¡¯m going back to the head office. I want to say goodbye before I leave.¡± Maybe, I might not come back. She admitted without being asked. Now it was certain. The third character wasn¡¯t 2, it was Z. Qiao Nanchu closed the files on the screen, stood up, ¡°Set the time and place.¡± Chapter 164 - 164: 164: He also has a genetic superpower (one more update) Chapter 164: 164: He also has a genetic superpower (one more update) At two in the afternoon, Jiang Zhi drove to Imperial East Station. Finding someone in the crowded railway station was not easy, and he had to look around before finally finding Zhou Xufang among a group of rough workers unloading goods. She was carrying three boxes, and when she saw him, she freed one hand to wave at him: ¡°Jiang Zhi! Jiang Zhi!¡± She used to not smile, nor did she know how. Now, seeing him made her smile, her eyes shining with silly and confused happiness behind her mask. Jiang Zhi put on his mask and walked over, ¡°Give it to me.¡± She clung to the boxes, shaking her head firmly, ¡°How can you do heavy work? You can¡¯t!¡± The boxes were wooden, filled with light fixtures. She gently placed one on the ground, patted it, and gestured for Jiang Zhi to sit on it, ¡°You sit here and wait for me.¡± She looked up, noticing the sun, and wondered if she should buy some sunscreen. She couldn¡¯t let the sun spoil Jiang Zhi¡¯s delicate skin. ¡°Zhou Xufang.¡± He didn¡¯t sit; instead, he got a bit upset, ¡°Not listening to me again, huh?¡± Zhou Xufang shook her head, her expression obedient and sensible, ¡°I am listening.¡± He took off his watch, ¡°Then give me the boxes.¡± Zhou Xufang was effortlessly holding two boxes, both wider than her by more than twice, without breaking a sweat, ¡°But I¡¯m not tired at all.¡± Really, they felt so light to her. S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Jiang Zhi¡¯s brow furrowed a bit fiercely, ¡°If you don¡¯t give them to me now, I¡¯ll kiss you right here.¡± Out in public, without shame¡­ Zhou Xufang had no choice but to give him the boxes, placing them down especially gently, afraid of nicking or bumping him. Of course, Jiang Zhi wasn¡¯t as fragile as Zhou Xufang imagined. He lifted them easily, only she, who had seen him fight and break ribs, still insisted on treating him like a delicate flower. Jiang Zhi freed one hand, pressing her to sit, ¡°Sit here and wait for me.¡± Zhou Xufang was worried about her ¡®delicate flower¡¯, frowning with concern, ¡°If you get tired, let¡¯s just stop moving them.¡± Jiang Zhi put a cap on her head, then went to unload the boxes. The client was a man in his fifties with naturally curly, thick hair, who hadn¡¯t had his lunch yet, holding a bowl of sauerkraut beef noodles. The man, appreciating Zhou Xufang¡¯s hard-working and tolerant nature, started chatting while holding his noodles, ¡°Xiao Zhou, that¡¯s your boyfriend, right?¡± Xiao Zhou nodded shyly, ¡°Mhm.¡± The man glanced at Xiao Zhou¡¯s boyfriend, who was wearing a mask, but still looked refined and unacquainted with manual labor, negatively impacting his impression. He couldn¡¯t help but feel indignant for Xiao Zhou, a rare, resilient girl, ¡°Letting a girl do such work isn¡¯t right.¡± Her boyfriend must be living off her, judging by his clothing, brand-name wear, dyed hair¡ªdyed blue hair at that! Clearly a young man relying on his looks without ambition! Xiao Zhou, feeling annoyed upon hearing this, said, ¡°I wanted to work; my boyfriend didn¡¯t make me.¡± She defended him fiercely! Ah, smitten by a young man. The old man felt he had to help this ¡®misled girl.¡¯ He spoke earnestly, ¡°I¡¯m speaking from experience, dear, a man who needs you to support him isn¡¯t worth it, no matter how handsome he looks.¡± Xiao Zhou grew even more upset, maintaining her politeness with effort, without glaring at him, ¡°Uncle, that¡¯s really mean.¡± The old man: ¡°¡­¡± Harsh but true! ¡°Xiao Zhou¡ª¡± Xiao Zhou resolutely ignored him, ¡°Don¡¯t talk to me anymore.¡± The old man: ¡°¡­¡± How capable was this young man, completely enchanting the girl. The misled Xiao Zhou, infatuated with a young man in brand-name, blue-dyed hair, relying on his looks with no ambition, insisted: ¡°My boyfriend earns a lot, it¡¯s me who insists on supporting him.¡± Her face was serious, willingly, ¡®criticize my boyfriend again, and I¡¯ll bite you.¡¯ The old man: ¡°¡­¡± So upset he couldn¡¯t eat his noodles. Such a good girl, deeply stuck. Despite holding a grudge against the old man¡¯s heartfelt words, Xiao Zhou didn¡¯t want to insult anyone. Staying angry but holding back, she couldn¡¯t help but say, ¡°You¡¯re really mean.¡± After speaking, she turned her head away, refusing to deal with the man any longer. The ignored old man: ¡°¡­¡± Meanwhile, Xiao Zhou¡¯s boyfriend, the young man in brand-name, blue-dyed hair, relying on his looks with no ambition, had already unloaded forty boxes, and Xiao Zhou rushed over to check on him. ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± She followed behind Jiang Zhi, ¡°Are you tired?¡± Carrying two boxes, Jiang Zhi walked leisurely, ¡°Not tired.¡± Then she asked, ¡°Are you thirsty?¡± ¡°Not thirsty,¡± Jiang Zhi stopped and said, ¡°Stop following me, there are too many people here, you might get bumped.¡± Zhou Xufang couldn¡¯t help but stare at Jiang Zhi¡¯s hands. They were well-proportioned, slender, fair, and clean. They didn¡¯t look like the hands of someone who labored or fought, but rather of someone who held a pen to draw or paint. Now, his fingertips were a bit red. Zhou Xufang looked on reluctantly, ¡°Shall we stop moving them?¡± Jiang Zhi freed one hand, gently touched her head, his eyes reflecting delicate fragments of sunlight, ¡°You¡¯ve already promised your boss. You can¡¯t go back on your word.¡± He turned to the side, ¡°Take my wallet out of my pocket.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Zhou Xufang reached into the pocket of his overcoat to get the wallet. ¡°Take the outermost card.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± There were many cards but little cash in Jiang Zhi¡¯s wallet. The card Zhou Xufang picked was black, and she had a black card too, but not one with gold edges like Jiang Zhi¡¯s. He bent down and kissed her forehead. ¡°Go buy some ice cream,¡± he said, ¡°It¡¯s too cold, so only one.¡± After saying that, he went back to unloading. Zhou Xufang, holding a wallet in one hand and the card in the other, stood there dumbfounded. Ah! He kissed in public again! She covered her heated forehead, then went back and sat down. The owner of the goods had witnessed everything and clicked his tongue twice, slapping another label on Xiao Zhou¡¯s freeloading boyfriend¡ªdebauchery! Xiao Zhou was perceptive and noticed the owner¡¯s misunderstanding towards Jiang Zhi, so she stuck the Black Card that Jiang Zhi had given her on her forehead, held it up with a finger to keep it from falling, and then she brought her forehead close to the man, ¡°See this?¡± The owner had a 360-degree baffled expression: ¡°?¡± ¡°That¡¯s my boyfriend¡¯s Black Card,¡± Xiao Zhou said as she moved closer, showcasing the Black Card on her forehead from all angles. ¡°You know what a Black Card is?¡± Not a clue! Xiao Zhou wore a smug little expression, especially proud, ¡°It¡¯s that kind of card that¡¯s really, really awesome.¡± So, ¡°Why are you still working part-time?¡± Xiao Zhou replied earnestly and seriously, ¡°Because I have to support my boyfriend.¡± The owner: ¡°¡­¡± Are the young people nowadays all this wild? Across from the train station was an intersection, and due to the high foot traffic in the area, the intersection with the traffic lights was congested. A gray nanny van was barely moving, advancing at a snail¡¯s pace with three people inside. The driver focused on driving; in the back, one person was resting with eyes closed, the other was prattling away. The one who was prattling was an agent, in his thirties, male. ¡°The demo for the album has already been sent over. Have a listen.¡± The one resting, his hat covering his face, unseen, seemed not to want to be disturbed, and plugged in his headphones, turning to look out the window. The hat fell off, revealing his face. He looked under twenty, very young. He cocked his head, his facial features soft, his skin excessively pale, giving him a somewhat sickly fragile appearance. He was a man of few words, watching the traffic outside the window, his eyelashes quietly drooping. Across the street by the fence, a girl sat on a wooden crate, holding a huge bucket of ice cream, squinting her eyes in contentment. She took down her mask and scooped a large spoonful of ice cream. ¡°Yun Sheng.¡± ¡°Yun Sheng.¡± Agent Yang Xi called out twice, but Xiao Yusheng didn¡¯t respond, only blankly sitting up, blankly looking out the window, blankly stepping on his own hat, his usually listless eyes suddenly stirring up a storm. Yang Xi picked up the hat, ¡°What are you looking at?¡± ¡°Stop the car.¡± His voice was off, too tense. Yang Xi felt it was strange and also peered out the window while the driving assistant said, ¡°It¡¯s green now, can¡¯t stop.¡± Xiao Yusheng turned around, ¡°Stop the car quickly.¡± How did netizens describe Xiao Yusheng? Delicate, fragile, like a piece of jade with preexisting cracks¡ªbeautiful and expensive, but not to be touched lightly, lest it shatter. His songs were the same, not to be listened to alone, or tears would flow. He was a man with stories of sorrow filling his eyes, only sixteen when he debuted, an age brimming with youthful arrogance, yet it was unclear what he had experienced. His eyes lacked the brightness and innocence typical of his age, replaced by a world-weariness and solitude. Such a person, in that moment when he turned his head, Yang Xi saw an overwhelming surge of joy in his eyes. Yang Xi told the assistant, ¡°After the traffic light, pull over to the side.¡± The assistant nodded, crossed the street, and pulled over by the curb. Xiao Yusheng flung open the car door and got out. Yang Xi handed him the hat, ¡°Put on your hat first¡ª¡± He had already dashed off, not wearing a mask or hat, dodging through the traffic like a headless fly, frantic and rushed. The assistant in the car was terrified, ¡°What¡¯s gotten into him?¡± Yang Xi shook his head, ¡°I¡¯ve never seen him like this before.¡± He got out of the car and chased after him. He ran all the way to the plaza across from the train station. Xiao Yusheng, drenched in sweat, found the wooden crate empty; the person was already gone. He panted heavily, grabbing someone nearby and asking, ¡°Where¡¯s the person who was sitting here?¡± The owner of the goods: ¡°Ah?¡± This person looks familiar. ¡°Where did that girl who was sitting here go?¡± His voice fluctuated with too much emotion, veins on his neck visible, eyes reddening. The girl? The owner hesitated, ¡°You mean Xiao Zhou?¡± He almost shouted, ¡°Where is she?¡± The owner pointed down a road, ¡°She just left.¡± The face on the advertisement at the bus stop across the street, why does it look so much like this one? Xiao Yusheng turned and ran down that road, colliding with a worker carrying boxes. The sharp edge of the wood scratched a bloody line on the back of his hand. The wound was as long as a finger; the blood had just appeared before it immediately stopped. The worker dropped the box, dumbstruck, ¡°You¡ª¡± The wound was healing, visible to the naked eye. Xiao Yusheng quickly covered the back of his hand, glanced at the worker, then ran into the crowd, only to be surrounded by pedestrians within a few steps. ¡°Yun Sheng!¡± ¡°Xiao Yusheng!!¡± ¡°Ah ah ah! Yun Sheng, Yun Sheng! I love you so much!¡± ¡°¡­¡± Xiao Yusheng had reached fifty million Weibo followers at eighteen, his fans¡¯ craziness well-known throughout the entertainment industry. A few screams later, a large group of female fans gathered. He was trapped in the middle, barely able to move. Yang Xi squeezed through the crowd, pulled him out, and with the assistant¡¯s help, they barely managed to get him into the car. He was still reluctant to get in, his gaze searching, his face rarely showing such urgency. Just as the fans were about to catch up, Yang Xi forcefully pulled him in and immediately shut the car door, ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you? Who did you see?¡± So abnormal! This was the first time anyone had seen Xiao Yusheng so distracted. He sat dazed, still not recovering from his shock, murmuring as if to himself, ¡°It was someone very, very important.¡± His right hand hung by his side, the wound on the back of it already scabbed over. He turned his head to look out the window, his gaze returning to calm, like a sea of stillness. Across the street, Jiang Zhi and Zhou Xufang sat on chairs in front of a pharmacy, their ice cream set aside, beginning to melt. The goods were not yet fully unloaded, the bill unsettled, but Zhou Xufang had pulled Jiang Zhi over to buy a pile of medicine because Jiang Zhi had a water blister on her hand. Just a small one. Zhou Xufang felt terribly heartbroken, ¡°It¡¯s blistered.¡± Chapter 165 - 165: 165: Zhang Zixi Arrested, Tormented in Another Wave (Second Update) Chapter 165: 165: Zhang Zixi Arrested, Tormented in Another Wave (Second Update) Zhou Xufang felt terribly sorry for him, ¡°You¡¯ve got blisters.¡± Jiang Zhi let her grasp his hand, ¡°Do you pity me?¡± ¡°Uh-huh.¡± She dabbed a cotton swab with a bit of ointment and gently applied it to his hand, but it hardly adhered, as she was afraid of hurting him. Jiang Zhi couldn¡¯t stand her half-hearted efforts, which felt ticklish, so he simply took her hand and, with the swab, smeared it all over. The blisters instantly burst. Zhou Xufang: ¡°¡­¡± Didn¡¯t that hurt him? Watching it made her feel the pain. Jiang Zhi took the disinfectant and poured it over the area, cleaned it off, then squeezed some ointment on it before fetching a band-aid from the medicine bag for Zhou Xufang to apply. Her expression was¡­ utterly mournful! Jiang Zhi chuckled, ¡°Now can you understand me?¡± He ruffled her hair, ¡°When you work hard, I feel sorry for you too.¡± Zhou Xufang placed the band-aid on his hand and looked up with remorse, ¡°I won¡¯t take on tough jobs anymore.¡± She might not feel tired, but she was afraid Jiang Zhi would help her with the work. ¡°That¡¯s more like it.¡± Jiang Zhi was pleased with the girl¡¯s epiphany, ¡°We¡¯ll only take on jobs that pay well, aren¡¯t hard, and are not dangerous.¡± Lots of money, no hard work, no danger. Zhou Xufang was puzzled, ¡°Is there such a thing?¡± Jiang Zhi had a plan in mind, his peach blossom eyes lit up with delight, gently expressing his lazy contentment around three or four o¡¯clock, ¡°How about my family¡¯s grandmother employs you long-term, and you simply stay by my side?¡± So they intended to collude, wallow in the mire, and swindle money together¡­ from the old lady? Ah! That¡¯s so wicked. Zhou Xufang candidly exclaimed, ¡°Jiang Zhi, you¡¯re so cunning.¡± Cunning, clearly a pejorative word. It had been a long while since Zhou Xufang had praised him as a good person; did she no longer care about him? Did she no longer love him? Did she no longer want to pamper him? Did she no longer think he was the best person in the world? Jiang Zhi felt a strong sense of crisis; his expression fell, he furrowed his brow, moisture gathered in his peach blossom eyes, ¡°Fang Bao, my hand hurts.¡± Oh my! His hand hurts! Zhou Xufang immediately cradled his hand and pouted, blowing on it. Jiang Zhi was a bit more at ease now; Zhou Xufang still doted on him. ¡°Xu Fang.¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± Jiang Zhi focused on her small, exhaling mouth, and said unabashedly, ¡°I want to kiss.¡± Zhou Xufang: ¡°¡­¡± She looked left and right, like a meerkat, already nervous before committing the theft, scanning the area. After surveying the terrain, she whispered to Jiang Zhi, ¡°Let¡¯s hide in the park; there¡¯s no one there.¡± Adorable to the max! Jiang Zhi took his little darling, and off they went to the park. At three in the afternoon, the sun was hidden by clouds. Qiao Nanchu had an appointment with Zhang Zixi at a coffee shop; when he arrived, Zhang Zixi was already there, with her coffee half-drunk. As soon as he sat down, a cup of coffee was brought over by the waiter. Zhang Zixi had her hair pinned up with a few strands naturally falling by her temples, her earrings simple, which complemented her simple and clean elegance, ¡°I didn¡¯t know your preference has changed, so I ordered you an Americano.¡± ¡°It¡¯s all fine.¡± Qiao Nanchu sat casually and glanced at his watch, ¡°I have to be at the station, so I can only stay for twenty minutes.¡± Zhang Zixi put down her coffee cup and made idle chatter, ¡°Is the work at the Criminal Intelligence Department interesting?¡± His gaze was indifferent, leaning back on the chair, his posture relaxed and indolent, ¡°It¡¯s alright.¡± Actually, inviting him out wasn¡¯t for anything important, there wasn¡¯t even a topic of conversation; it was just that leaving like this, there was still reluctance. Five years had passed, and she thought even a red mole would have worn away, but seeing him, the scar of that mole still ached faintly. Perhaps, the less one obtains, the more one holds on; the more one holds on, the more it preoccupies the mind. There was loss in her eyes, ¡°If I hadn¡¯t transferred schools back then, maybe now we¡¯d be colleagues.¡± She only attended the police academy for two years before she transferred abroad. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you continue at the police academy?¡± he asked casually. She laughed, ¡°You actually don¡¯t know.¡± Such irony and heartache, her laugh growing more bitter, ¡°Zhang Guomin is my father.¡± The name Zhang Guomin was familiar to Qiao Nanchu, a name that had caused a stir in Imperial City five years ago, a party secretary who had embezzled a billion. However, he paid attention to politics, not personal affairs; he truly didn¡¯t know this party secretary also had a daughter who had been in the police academy. S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. As time passed, the things that once pained her are now just laughed off when mentioned, ¡°With a direct relative with a criminal record, even passing the political examination wouldn¡¯t get me far.¡± Qiao Nanchu offered no comment. He picked up his coffee and took a small sip, ¡°Then do you know my father is Qiao Shenxing?¡± ¡°A light touch was all it took. He was incredibly meticulous in his thinking. Zhang Zixi nodded, conceding, ¡°I know, and I also know that the case with my father was handled by your father.¡± Zhang Guomin¡¯s case had been personally overseen by his father, who had significant life-and-death authority. His expression remained indifferent, neither angry nor concerned, he simply commented, ¡°No wonder you could cook for Bai Yang for two months, I thought at most one week.¡± She was an intelligent person, and naturally understood that his dating wasn¡¯t genuine. Being a proud person, she must have endured the degradation for two months for her father¡¯s sake. Indeed, even being his girlfriend in name, she had become somewhat entangled with the Qiao Family. Zhang Zixi swept her hair behind her ear, her expression calm as if speaking of someone else¡¯s affairs: ¡°I also thought your father would show some mercy for your sake.¡± After all, as the ¡®girlfriend,¡¯ she hoped to spare her father some agony. But things didn¡¯t go as hoped. ¡°You don¡¯t understand enough,¡± Qiao Nanchu said, casually, ¡°I don¡¯t have much relationship with my father.¡± Besides, in the political arena, what mattered more was weighing pros and cons. Now that they had opened up, she felt a sense of relief, yet there was still something she didn¡¯t understand: ¡°Why choose me? Why not just hire a caregiver?¡± Could it be, she was somewhat different in his eyes? She fled in haste five years ago, without the chance to ask, and she had always wanted to know how much she meant to him. Qiao Nanchu leaned back in his chair, hands clasped, his gaze undisturbed, ¡°I did hire one, but she laid hands on Bai Yang and I fired her.¡± Back then, he hadn¡¯t found anyone reliable, and fearing the caregiver might abuse the little girl, he dared not hire just anyone. Just then, Zhang Zixi¡¯s reputation and popularity were quite favorable. He thought of letting her care for the child for a few days, so she could see that he was not a good person, hoping she would give up on him for the best. He hadn¡¯t expected her to cook for two months, and in the end, she even ¡°gifted¡± him a ¡®green hat.¡¯ That ¡®green hat,¡¯ reportedly the result of drunken debauchery, was none of his concern. It seemed she was only here for old time¡¯s sake, nothing more. Qiao Nanchu finished most of the coffee in his cup and stood up: ¡°I have a meeting to attend, I must go.¡± He pulled back his chair. The answer she had always wanted to know was evident, without words. She was no different to him, meant nothing. She stood up, ¡°Nanchu.¡± He looked up. Her eyes slightly reddened, ¡°It was because of my father¡¯s case that I approached you, however,¡± she paused for a long while, ¡°I really did like you.¡± He didn¡¯t say anything and turned to leave. This man, carefree and heartless, like the clouds outside that can¡¯t be grasped. Zhang Zixi sat down, gulping down the rest of the coffee in her cup, the cold brew bitter. How unwilling she was, she really liked him. The next day, 10:30 AM, clear skies, not a cloud in sight. Imperial Airport was bustling with people coming and going, rushing footsteps and the unceasing sound of luggage being pulled along. Qiao Nanchu leaned against an advertising board, finishing a phone call. ¡°Where are you, Captain Qiao?¡± It was Captain Xiao from the Drug Enforcement Team. His gaze lingered on a spot, the cigarette in his hand unlit, as he replied, ¡°At the airport.¡± Captain Xiao understood immediately, cutting straight to the result, ¡°We just got the stuff; we can make an arrest now.¡± Arrests required evidence, so they had been waiting. Qiao Nanchu drew back his casually stretched legs, tossing his cigarette into the trash, and joked as he began to walk, ¡°If we didn¡¯t get it, I¡¯d have to make the arrest anyway.¡± After speaking, he hung up the phone. At that moment, the airport¡¯s announcement system went off, the gentle and calm voice of a woman read out: ¡°Passengers traveling from Imperial City to T country, please note: Your flight ca1345 will be departing shortly. Passengers who have not yet boarded please proceed to gate 4 immediately for boarding. Thank you! Ladies and gentlemen¡ª¡± Zhang Zixi stood up from her seat in the waiting area, her bag hanging from her suitcase. As she pushed it, items from inside the bag spilled out. It was a photograph of a young man and woman both in police uniforms. It was the only photo of her and Qiao Nanchu together, taken in her sophomore year; she had never had the heart to throw it away. She crouched down to pick up the photo, but a distinctively boned hand beat her to it. Zhang Zixi looked up and smiled, ¡°Are you here to see me off?¡± Qiao Nanchu gazed at the photo, reciting the police number on the girl¡¯s uniform, ¡°14Z096.¡± He lifted his gaze to Zhang Zixi, saying, ¡°I¡¯m here to arrest you.¡± 14Z096 was Zhang Zixi¡¯s number when she was at the police academy. Her expression showed surprise for a moment, then returned to normal, ¡°Arrest me?¡± Qiao Nanchu pulled out handcuffs from his pocket, giving them a shake, ¡°Mhm, to arrest you.¡± She was calm and composed, ¡°On what charges?¡± He too remained stoic, ¡°Trafficking narcotics.¡± ¡°Do you have evidence?¡± The handcuffs in Qiao Nanchu¡¯s hand clinked and rattled but even at this confrontational encounter, his eyes revealed no turmoil as he said plainly, ¡°That car of yours I rear-ended is now at the police station.¡± He paced his words, ¡°The dashcam recorded your meeting with Hua Jun.¡± If not for the dashcam footage, he would have arrested her sooner. Zhang Zixi¡¯s countenance finally shifted, ¡°Did you do it on purpose?¡± To rear-end her on purpose, to have her tow the car, to send her off, and yes, to have her eavesdrop. Qiao Nanchu quirked an eyebrow, ¡°Otherwise? You think my driving is that bad?¡± She laughed, finding it absurd. He stood up straight, his tone becoming serious, ¡°Zhang Zixi, you are suspected of being involved in a gang smuggling, trafficking, transporting, and manufacturing narcotics. I am arresting you now. You can resist, and if you do, I¡¯ll add obstructing official duty to your charges.¡± He let go, and one end of the handcuffs fell from his palm, he asked, ¡°Planning to run?¡± Chapter 166 - 166: 166: Come on, apply the body lotion~ (First update) Chapter 166: 166: Come on, apply the body lotion~ (First update) He let go, and one end of the handcuffs dropped from his palm. He asked, ¡°Planning to run?¡± Run? He was prepared; could she really escape? She stepped forward and extended her hand. Click¡ª The metal latch clicked, and she was handcuffed. Qiao Nanchu did not personally escort her; he only visited the Drug Enforcement Team in the afternoon, and Captain Xiao had just come out of the interrogation room when he asked, ¡°Did she confess?¡± He was referring to Zhang Zixi. Captain Xiao shook his head with a headache, ¡°She only said one sentence, asking for Qiao Nanchu to come.¡± He had heard that both of them were classmates at the police academy. Those who graduated from the police academy and then trafficked drugs, knowing the law and breaking the law, were even more contemptible! Qiao Nanchu poured a glass of water, ¡°Let me handle the interrogation.¡± Captain Xiao agreed. Without asking for assistance, Qiao Nanchu entered the interrogation room alone. Zhang Zixi looked up, ¡°You¡¯ve arrived.¡± Her demeanor was still okay, quite calm, and aside from the handcuffs on her hands, she looked as composed as usual. Qiao Nanchu pulled up a chair and sat down; without any small talk, he began right away. He turned on the computer and pulled up the video, ¡°This is from a dash cam.¡± He pushed forward two more pieces of evidence. ¡°This is a witness testimony. On the day of the blackout at the opera house, someone saw you meeting with Hong San.¡± His eyes were calm, devoid of any notable emotion, flat and professional, ¡°This is evidence left by our colleague before he died.¡± Zhang Zixi just glanced faintly, without saying a word. It turned out that her badge number had been exposed. Why hadn¡¯t she thrown away that photo? Was it fate that she had to fall into his hands? ¡°Hua Jun and Hong San¡¯s family have been found, and they will confess sooner or later.¡± He looked at her, his eyes indifferent, and asked, ¡°Are you still going to argue?¡± A bit unfamiliar. This side of him, unlike usual, truly seemed like a policeman. She was lost in thought for a moment, then shook her head, ¡°No arguments.¡± Though she had been mentally prepared, actually sitting in front of him and confessing was still hard to articulate. She spoke very slowly, enunciating heavily, word by word, ¡°Smuggling, drug trafficking, transporting, manufacturing drugs¡ªI did it all. There¡¯s no need to ask who my boss is. The very ability to have my position is predicated on knowing I won¡¯t, can¡¯t, and don¡¯t dare to speak out of line.¡± Won¡¯t, can¡¯t, and don¡¯t dare. Qiao Nanchu looked down, catching a glimpse of the photo of them in police uniforms, ¡°Two years at the police academy,¡± his tone neither light nor heavy, his gaze intense, ¡°Did you decide to forget everything you learned?¡± He was rarely truly angry. His cold, icy gaze left her nowhere to hide, as if the last veil of privacy was lifted, exposing her most ugly, most vulnerable side entirely. She instinctively avoided his gaze. ¡°There¡¯s something I don¡¯t understand.¡± ¡°Ask.¡± S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°The night Hua Jun went to pick up the goods, I didn¡¯t hear any movement through the surveillance.¡± Qiao Nanchu laughed, ¡°What do you think the Criminal Intelligence Department is?¡± He leaned back in his chair, his eyes dark and deep, underneath his composed and elegant demeanor, there was an inherent confidence and boldness, ¡°What you heard on the bug was all that I let you hear.¡± ¡°Did you intentionally let me know I was exposed?¡± He did not deny it, ¡°At that time, we hadn¡¯t gotten the dash cam footage yet, and weren¡¯t sure it was you.¡± He paused, then casually added, ¡°But you ran, which was as good as confessing.¡± Prepare for all eventualities; lure the snake from its hole. Such careful scheming. ¡°Back at school, my investigative studies were never as good as yours,¡± she mocked herself, smiling, ¡°I can¡¯t complain about falling into your hands.¡± Qiao Nanchu sat upright, resting his hands on the table, leaning forward, ¡°Why engage in drug trafficking?¡± Why engage in drug trafficking? She had never considered this question. After thinking, she answered, ¡°No particular reason, just wanted to be superior to others.¡± Only those who have been stuck in the muck know the allure of standing above the rest. ¡°There are many ways to excel in life, but by choosing crime,¡± Qiao Nanchu glanced at the handcuffs on her wrists, ¡°you only became a prisoner.¡± He stood up. Zhang Zixi suddenly stood up, the handcuffs hitting the table with a loud clang, ¡°Nanchu.¡± Qiao Nanchu turned back. Her face no longer calm, her eyes clouded with a heavy gloom, ¡°Do you really despise me?¡± This question was hard to swallow. His gaze on her was faint, devoid of love, hatred, joy, or anger, as if he were looking at someone insignificant. ¡°I¡¯ve dealt with criminals, not a thousand, then eight hundred. Looking down on each one would be exhausting. If I really had to make distinctions, I¡¯d categorize them like this, life imprisonment offenders, restricted pardon offenders, death penalty offenders, life sentence offenders, fixed term sentence offenders.¡± He spoke with a detached ease, ¡°And you, you belong to the death penalty offenders.¡± After that, he turned and left the interrogation room. Has Zhang Zixi gone mad, still debasing herself at this time? She sat down, laughed, and as she laughed, tears streamed down her face. That evening, there was a charity auction hosted by entrepreneurs, with figures from the business and political circles invited. The old lady was too lazy to move, so she sent Jiang Zhi to make an appearance. The auction invited quite a few media outlets, and Zhou Xufang disliked being on camera, so he let Jiang Zhi go alone. Qiao Nanchu was also alone, without a female companion. Inside it was noisy, Jiang Zhi had just stepped out when Qiao Nanchu followed right behind, picking a spot where they could talk. Jiang Zhi asked him, ¡°Is the drug case going smoothly?¡± The evening event was held at a private residence with a large outdoor garden, where looking up, you¡¯d see stars scattered across the sky, neighboring the moonlight, and a galaxy¡¯s light had fallen. Qiao Nanchu wore a dark blue suit, his buttons undone, and nodded, ¡°Hmm, dug up some clues from Zhang Zixi¡¯s computer.¡± Her higher-ups and the main force of the group were overseas, so the case would be transferred there. Jiang Zhi, lacking enthusiasm, asked no further. The evening was a bit windy, and when the wind blew towards them, it carried a hint of the garden¡¯s floral fragrance and something else. Qiao Nanchu smiled at Jiang Zhi, ¡°Did you spray some perfume?¡± He furrowed his brows, ¡°No.¡± It was the scent of Gardenias. Qiao Nanchu¡¯s smile deepened, making his features even more charming, teasing Jiang Zhi, ¡°Then why do you smell like a woman?¡± Jiang Zhi, annoyed by the mockery, kept a straight face, ¡°It¡¯s not perfume.¡± He didn¡¯t want to engage, but afraid of being misunderstood, he reluctantly and awkwardly explained, ¡°It¡¯s body lotion.¡± Body lotion¡­ Qiao Nanchu laughed so hard his shoulders shook, unable to hold back, ¡°You, a big man, are using that stuff?¡± Damn it, Jiang Zhi thought about punching this bastard, ¡°Zhou Xufang gave it to me, what choice do I have?¡± Who knows what other guys¡¯ girlfriends usually give their boyfriends, probably no one¡¯s like Zhou Xufang, giving chicken, hand warmers, body lotion. Is it because he¡¯s been involved with men before? Even the gifts are so feminine. But it was from Zhou Xufang, what could he do? Even if she gave him sunscreen tomorrow, he¡¯d have to apply it before leaving the house. ¡°Did your girlfriend raise a son?¡± After the teasing, Qiao Nanchu added fuel to the fire, ¡°Stay away from me, don¡¯t get that scent on me.¡± Jiang Zhi with a cold face, ¡°Get lost.¡± He didn¡¯t leave, but complimented, ¡°This fragrance isn¡¯t bad, quite maidenly.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Xue Baoyi was also at the auction today. The items auctioned were pretty good, antiques and paintings included, but he was a coarse man, not into elegance, so he just handed his card to his secretary Xiao Zhuang, letting him bid on anything. He himself had important business to attend to ¡ª A handsome phrase throughout his life, ¡°I¡¯m out of bullets.¡± On the game screen, the woman with two colored braids and wearing a nurse¡¯s cap was him, his teammate wore a camouflage vest and helmet, walking in front of him. I¡¯m Your Ancestor, ¡°Don¡¯t panic.¡± Let her check the supplies, oh, bad news, ¡°I¡¯m out too.¡± A handsome phrase throughout his life, ¡°What should we do?¡± He was a bit panicked, quickly sticking close to his teammate¡¯s broad back, moving step by step with his teammate, looking around timidly, indeed¡­ a bit sleazy. In the game, the man in the camouflage vest had a woman with colored braids sticking to his back like a piece of chewing gum, making it difficult for him to move his hands and feet. He strained to observe the terrain, listening for footfall. I¡¯m Your Ancestor, ¡°Lie down, hide behind the rock.¡± The woman with two colored braids immediately lay behind the rock, playing dead. I¡¯m Your Ancestor, ¡°Here comes the car.¡± The man in the camouflage vest also lay down, playing dead. A handsome phrase throughout his life, ¡°You can¡¯t block it from there, come over, lie next to me.¡± The man in the camouflage vest wriggled over, from the game interface you could see, a man and a woman, body against body¡­ This feeling, quite subtle. Fang Lixiang was lost in thought, when suddenly gunshots burst through his headphones, the two bodies on the screen had now turned into two boxes. A handsome phrase throughout his life, ¡°We died again.¡± A handsome phrase throughout his life, ¡°That villain was really ruthless, we were already dead, and he came to finish us off.¡± Xue Baoyi, who had died many times, quickly quit the game and incidentally reported that scoundrel. A handsome phrase throughout his life, ¡°Where shall we fly next round?¡± The other party sent a WeChat message. I¡¯m Your Ancestor, ¡°I¡¯m not playing anymore, going to sleep.¡± A handsome phrase throughout his life, ¡°Sleeping so early?¡± Usually, this guy wouldn¡¯t settle down before midnight, always talking about how killing spree at night had a feel. The other party no longer responded to him. Chapter 167 - 167: 167: Qiao Nanchu Gets Jealous (Second Update) Chapter 167: 167: Qiao Nanchu Gets Jealous (Second Update) Fang Lixiang logged out of her gaming account, went to the balcony, opened the window, and gazed up at the stars at a 45-degree angle, sighing, ¡°Ah!¡± She was so melancholic, so sleepless, that after brooding for a while, she picked up her phone, logged out of her secondary WeChat account, and logged onto her main one. These days, who doesn¡¯t have a few alternate accounts? Ullala Li Xiang: ¡°Xu Fang.¡± She had saved Zhou Xufang¡¯s contact as Fairy Fang, and Fairy Fang replied to her within a few seconds. Fairy Fang: ¡°Hmm.¡± Fang Lixiang thought it over and over but still couldn¡¯t hide that little bit of curiosity. Ullala Li Xiang: ¡°What do you think about online romance?¡± Fairy Fang replied quickly: ¡°It¡¯s not good.¡± Ullala Li Xiang: ¡°Why not?¡± She¡¯d been feeling rather strange lately, actually finding that noob adorable¡ªshe just couldn¡¯t tell if it was his dying poses that were cute, or his screams as he died? Oh, what a twisted sense of aesthetics she had! It must be the excessive work pressure, her boss being so demanding, that she got addicted to gaming, to being repeatedly and creatively killed by that noob. If she didn¡¯t get tricked by him a few times a day, she felt like something was missing from her life. This was a disease, Stockholm syndrome! Zhou Xufang, having read novels, had gotten ahead with the trends, even understanding online romance. Fairy Fang: ¡°I joined a big readers¡¯ group and met a book friend there who also had an online romance. She eventually decided to meet up with him and discovered that the guy from the internet wasn¡¯t a young man at all, but a foot-scratching hulk.¡± Fang Lixiang: ¡°¡­¡± That noob couldn¡¯t possibly be a foot-scratching hulk, right? His voice does sound quite like her boss¡¯s. Fairy Fang: ¡°Moreover, that book friend also told me that this foot-scratching hulk was married and wanted her to be his mistress.¡± Fang Lixiang: ¡°¡­¡± Wow, the world is so complicated. Fairy Fang: ¡°Lixiang, have you fallen for an online guy?¡± Fallen for him? Forget about dating; she hadn¡¯t even landed a kissing scene yet. Ullala Li Xiang: ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± Ullala Li Xiang: ¡°Last week, while we were gaming, he took a bullet for me. I¡¯ve been playing chicken for so many years, and he¡¯s the first one to block a bullet for me.¡± At that moment, she and an enemy raised their guns at the same time. Honestly, if he hadn¡¯t blocked it, with her quick hands, she could have shot that scoundrel on the other side. But that noob, surprisingly stupid, just stepped in front of her. He blocked the bullet indeed but also saved that scoundrel. Normally, she would have cussed out the noob relentlessly, but she didn¡¯t. Not only that, she actually found the noob cute¡­ Anyway, since then, she felt weird, like, for example, if she teamed up with someone else instead of him, she felt like she was having an affair, guilt-ridden as hell. To give another example, when they teamed up and if he died first, she would feel like a widow! Fairy Fang: ¡°Then you should first ask him if he¡¯s single.¡± Ullala Li Xiang: ¡°Better not, it¡¯s too weird.¡± Now, back to the auction. All sixteen auction items had been sold, and it was time for the dinner banquet. At this kind of soir¨¦e, the banquet wasn¡¯t for eating, it was for networking. Qiao Nanchu was utterly bored and about to leave when Xue Baoyi¡¯s call came through: ¡°Table fourteen, hurry over.¡± ¡°It¡¯s too noisy inside.¡± He wasn¡¯t interested and continued to leave. But Xue Baoyi baited him with news like watching a drama unfold: ¡°That girl from Da Mai Mountain, your child bride, is also here.¡± He had barely finished speaking when the call was cut off. Panicked, aren¡¯t you? Xue Bao Yi poured herself a glass of red wine, waiting to see the show unfold. At the adjacent table number fourteen, Qiao Nanchu¡¯s stepmother Wen Ya came over with her daughter, who sat reservedly, shy and introverted. The wealthy wives at the same table, seeing a new face, couldn¡¯t help but take a few more glances, ¡°This is my first time seeing Mrs. Qiao¡¯s daughter; she¡¯s really beautiful.¡± The wealthy wife teased with a smile, ¡°Mrs. Qiao, with such a beautiful daughter, why have you been hiding her?¡± Wen Ya, who was still young, wore a light green dress that made her even more charming. Having been nurtured by the Qiao Family over the years, she had developed an air of nobility. Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Her features delicate and graceful, she spoke softly as she added food to Wen Bai Yang¡¯s dish, explaining, ¡°She can¡¯t speak and usually doesn¡¯t like going out much.¡± The wealthy wife was surprised, ¡°Can¡¯t speak?¡± Wen Ya¡¯s face showed a hint of embarrassment as she nodded. Realizing her own faux pas, the wealthy wife quickly apologized, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I was presumptuous.¡± Usually, one would only hear of Qiao City securing a young and beautiful wife; nobody knew that this wife came with an extra burden. Wen Ya showed no sign of displeasure on her face, ¡°No problem.¡± ¡°Can she hear?¡± a man suddenly asked from across. The man, in his forties, somewhat overweight, with an average look and small, round eyes behind silver-framed glasses that resembled mung beans, hadn¡¯t taken his gaze off her since Wen Bai Yang sat down. This was Miao HuaRen, the second master of the Miao Family, a widower for many years, and a few years older than Wen Ya. The Miao Family dealt in the seafood business and were considered wealthy and respectable in Imperial City. Wen Ya, having married into the Qiao Family for several years, had become more adept at social maneuvering and smiled, ¡°She can read lips.¡± So, she can¡¯t hear. ¡°What a pity.¡± Miao HuaRen didn¡¯t take his eyes off the still youthful face opposite him, thinking that if she grew up a bit more, she would definitely be even more beautiful than her mother, especially with those innocent and clear eyes that were irresistibly appealing, ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± Wen Bai Yang looked down, unresponsive. She felt extremely uncomfortable, clutching a handbag until her palm sweated. Seeing her ignore the man, Wen Ya scolded lightly, ¡°Bai Yang, Mr. Miao is speaking to you.¡± Then she raised her head and apologized with a smile, ¡°Sorry, my daughter is quite shy.¡± Miao HuaRen said, ¡®never mind,¡¯ his gaze moving from her face to her slender and smooth collarbone, his eyes growing increasingly fervent, ¡°Miss Bai Yang, may I invite you for a dance?¡± No sooner had he asked than a slow and measured voice came from behind, ¡°No, you may not.¡± Everyone at the table turned to look. It was the fourth young master of the Qiao Family. He was dressed in a suit, with his tie hanging loosely and the top button undone, his casual appearance lacking the prim and proper demeanor of a rich heir, though his facial features resembled his father¡¯s, including a naturally roguish charm. He walked over leisurely, took off his suit jacket, and draped it over the young girl¡¯s shoulders, his lazy eyes looking at the opposite side, ¡°Uncle Miao, you are an elder; she¡¯s too young to dance with you. It wouldn¡¯t be proper.¡± Miao HuaRen¡¯s plump face turned a shade of blue. He was implicitly being called old! Qiao Nanchu couldn¡¯t be bothered with pleasantries and pulled her over to his side, his hand resting naturally on her shoulder, ¡°She has classes tomorrow; I¡¯ll take her home now.¡± Having said that, he led her away. The atmosphere turned a bit unpleasant, especially for Miao HuaRen, who felt his dignity was compromised and his face showed it. Trying to smooth things over, one of the wealthy wives commented unwittingly, ¡°Nanchu is quite protective of his sister, isn¡¯t he?¡± Wen Ya didn¡¯t respond, just smiled awkwardly. Once they were out of the villa, Qiao Nanchu let go of her hand, his expression cooling, ¡°That old guy¡¯s eyes were glued to you; didn¡¯t you notice?¡± His tone was a bit harsher, revealing the anger inside him. She was still naive, wearing nothing but his suit jacket over her dress, which was a short strapless sundress, her slender legs bare. Qiao Nanchu glanced at them and got even more frustrated, ¡°Who made you wear this dress?¡± Chapter 168 - 168: 168: Three Flavors of Dog Food Chapter 168: 168: Three Flavors of Dog Food Qiao Nanchu took one glance and grew even more furious, ¡°Who made you wear this dress?¡± Is this what a nineteen-year-old girl should wear? His face stern, ¡°Button it up!¡± His severe and speech-heavy manner was just like a strict elder catching his own child misbehaving. Wen Baiyang blankly stared for a moment before buttoning up all the buttons on her blazer. Being tall, the jacket covered her skirt but her slim, straight legs were still exposed. Whenever the wind blew, she shivered from the cold. He was still afraid she¡¯d catch a cold after all. ¡°Come in with me first.¡± Oh. She followed him inside, and the warmth immediately turned her face bright red. Qiao Nanchu picked a quiet corner, the anger in his eyes not yet dissipated, and interrogated her, ¡°Who brought you here?¡± Wen Baiyang answered in sign language, ¡°She told me to come here.¡± ¡®She¡¯ referred to Wen Ya, a distant and unfamiliar way to address her. Not long after Wen Baiyang was born, Wen Ya abandoned her at Da Mai Mountain and hadn¡¯t inquired about her for fourteen years. If it hadn¡¯t been for Qiao Nanchu bringing her to the Imperial City five years ago, she probably would have never interacted with Wen Ya. Wen Ya never raised her, never taught her anything. However, just to play the role of a gentle and charitable mother in front of Qiao Shenxing, she provided some financial and material ¡®motherly love¡¯ along with some verbal ¡®care,¡¯ which was all there was to it. In Qiao Nanchu¡¯s view, Wen Ya wasn¡¯t much of a mother, and Wen Baiyang didn¡¯t need to listen or obey her. This girl was raised by him, she only needed to listen to him. ¡°You came just because she told you to?¡± Wen Baiyang wasn¡¯t angered by his scolding; she had a good temperament, gentle like a small animal that hadn¡¯t yet grown claws. She answered his question, ¡°She said you were here.¡± After signifying, she handed him the bag she carried, ¡°The doorman at your place has changed, they wouldn¡¯t hold things for me.¡± She was here to deliver things to him. Because she was gesturing, the bag had been hanging on her wrist for too long, and there was already a red ring around it. She did not complain, just worried, ¡°If I don¡¯t give it to you soon, it will spoil.¡± Wouldn¡¯t she contact him then? Qiao Nanchu took the bag from her, not caring what was inside, and grabbed her hand to look at the red mark on her wrist. She flinched, ¡°It¡¯s mushroom chicken soup.¡± She added, ¡°The chicken was sent by my grandmother, it¡¯s a free-range chicken she raised herself, very nutritious.¡± She really treated him as a benefactor, constantly bringing him food. Even if he was still angry, he couldn¡¯t let it out on her, ¡°Didn¡¯t I give you the keys?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t get the one for the main gate.¡± Because the previous doorman knew her, she didn¡¯t get one. Qiao Nanchu took down the magnetic card key for the main gate and approached her. She froze for a moment and stepped back. ¡°What are you dodging?¡± He reached around to her back, loosely holding her waist, not letting her move away, slightly bending over to remove the pocket square from her blazer and then slipped the card into it, ¡°I¡¯ll take you back.¡± He stepped back. Only then did she breathe deeply, her eyelashes still trembling. Holding the mushroom chicken soup bag, he smiled. Those few seconds, it felt just like love¡­ From a distance, Xue Baoyi saw everything clearly, ¡°If this is sibling love, I¡¯ll gouge out my eyes.¡± Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t respond. By then, Qiao Nanchu had already left with his ¡®foster bride.¡¯ Xue Baoyi craned her neck for a better look, ¡°That girl isn¡¯t even twenty yet, Nanchu¡¯s really cradling from the cradle, huh.¡± Oh right, ¡°Why do you smell so good?¡± This was the last question Jiang Zhi wanted to discuss. Xue Baoyi, curious, leaned in closer, sniffing like a hound dog, ¡°Brother Zhi, looking like you do is already enough, why fancy yourself up? Who are you trying to seduce?¡± Annoyed by his remarks, Jiang Zhi said, ¡°Zhou Xufang gave them.¡± ¡°Perfume?¡± He really didn¡¯t want to explain, but had to, ¡°Body lotion.¡± Xue Baoyi first laughed heartily, then stroking his chin, he adopted a roguish look and said flirtatiously, ¡°Man, you¡¯re sinfully sweet.¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡°Get lost.¡± Xue Baoyi left. Ding¡ª It was a message on his secondary WeChat account, where he had only one friend. I¡¯m Your Ancestor: ¡°Kid, give me the address.¡± A Handsome Character Throughout Life: ¡°What for?¡± After sending that, Xue Baoyi immediately regretted it and hurriedly corrected, ¡°Stop calling nonsense, who¡¯s your son!¡± The other party didn¡¯t care, she had already called. I¡¯m Your Ancestor: ¡°Sending you some good stuff.¡± S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. A Handsome Character Throughout Life: ¡°First tell me what it is.¡± Surely not sending him veggies, right? Just yesterday she cursed him in the game, calling him the king of scrubs. I¡¯m Your Ancestor: ¡°Body lotion.¡± Body lotion again? Is that the trend lately? Xue Baoyi recollected the fragrance from Jiang Zhi¡­despite feeling resistant inside. At last, an attractive man his whole life: ¡°I¡¯m a full-grown man, I don¡¯t need that.¡± I¡¯m Your Ancestor: ¡°You could give it to your mom, or your girlfriend could use it.¡± From a woman¡¯s way of thinking, the reply should be ¡ª girlfriend! Girlfriend! Key words: Girl! Friend! Sadly, Xue Baoyi was a typical straight guy. He just assumed that the body lotion from Jiang Zhi was a gift from a girlfriend, and now this guy was also sending him one, he was thrilled. He immediately sent his address over. Even, in his haste, he typed up: ¡°Recipient: Xue Baoyi.¡± Excited, he sent it out, and then¡ª A notification popped up on the screen: I¡¯m Your Ancestor has activated friend verification, you are not his/her friend yet, please send a friend verification request first, and you can chat after the recipient verifies it. Xue Baoyi: ¡°¡­¡± Damn it! Meanwhile, just after personally proving the ¡°tested and true¡± law, Fang Lixiang¡¯s mood plummeted, she had agreed not to ask, why was she so curious? Why! Oh why! She suddenly felt a bit cold, a chilling feeling inside, needing comfort and love. Ullala Li Xiang: ¡°Xu Fang.¡± Zhou Xufang might have been sitting at her computer or holding her phone all night, she responded very quickly. Fairy Fang: ¡°Yeah.¡± Fang Lixiang looked out the window, suddenly wanted to imitate Lin Daiyu and bury flowers, but decided against it, it was too cold outside. Ullala Li Xiang: ¡°He has a girlfriend.¡± She had told him to give the body lotion to his girlfriend, and he didn¡¯t deny having one. Fairy Fang: ¡°Then you shouldn¡¯t fool around with him, can¡¯t be the other woman.¡± Zhou Xufang had strong moral principles, every time she saw the other woman in novels, she disliked her, and even left comments for the author, hoping the other woman would exit early. So, she definitely wouldn¡¯t support Fang Lixiang fooling around with some guy online. Of course, Fang Lixiang also had strong moral values, now that the guy already had ¡°a dog at home,¡± she needed to straighten up, no more evil thoughts. She had to nip this evil seed in the bud, thankfully it was just sprouting, not yet a towering tree. Ullala Li Xiang: ¡°Just think of him as a dad.¡± Ullala Li Xiang: ¡°Playing games with him is actually quite fun.¡± This would surely be a touching father-son relationship. Let her be sad for a moment. After a while¡­ Ullala Li Xiang: ¡°Did you use the body lotion I mailed you? Is it good?¡± That body lotion was her first endorsement, and it was a high-end brand. The brand was very generous, giving her several boxes after the advertisement was shot. Fairy Fang: ¡°Yeah.¡± Zhou Xufang was typing too slowly, she started sending voice messages. Fairy Fang: ¡°It¡¯s very good.¡± Fairy Fang: ¡°Silky smooth, smells great.¡± Fairy Fang: ¡°I also bought some for Jiang Zhi.¡± She sent four messages in a row, it seems Zhou Xufang was very satisfied with this product, otherwise, she wouldn¡¯t have bought it for Jiang Zhi; she always carefully selected items for him. However¡ª Ullala Li Xiang: ¡°¡­This is specifically for women.¡± Also, the developers wanted this skincare product to be a substitute for perfume. Therefore, the scent, compared to ordinary body lotions, lingers much longer and the target audience is almost entirely women. Zhou Xufang said she was aware. Fairy Fang: ¡°Jiang Zhi¡¯s skin is as delicate as a girl¡¯s.¡± Right after that message, Zhou Xufang sent another one as a clarification. Fairy Fang: ¡°Jiang Zhi¡¯s skin is even more delicate than a girl¡¯s.¡± So, it must be cared for meticulously. Ullala Li Xiang: ¡°Very delicate?¡± Fairy Fang: ¡°Yeah!¡± Ullala Li Xiang: ¡°Have you touched it?¡± and added a mischievous laughing emoji. Suddenly becoming mischievous, Zhou Xufang took a while to reply. Fairy Fang: ¡°No.¡± Fairy Fang: ¡°Lixiang, you¡¯re so naughty.¡± Naughty Ullala Li Xiang: ¡°¡­¡± Fairy Fang: ¡°.¡± Naughty, huh. Fang Lixiang sent a streak of images. Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t want to look at those images, but hospitalized by her OCD, she needed to be the last to end the conversation, so each image from Fang Lixiang was met with a period from her, resulting in her viewing many, many naughty images. Chapter 170 - 170: 170: Torture a Dog with Personal Skill (First Update) Chapter 170: 170: Torture a Dog with Personal Skill (First Update) Fang Lixiang logged into the game, formed a team, and headed for G Harbor. Besides Fang Lixiang and Xue Baoyi, the other two teammates they matched with were both dudes, with IDs that read ¡®Gouzi pays a visit to Aunt¡¯ and ¡®I Can¡¯t Box with My Strength¡¯. Their luck wasn¡¯t too shabby, they found guns and a first-aid kit shortly after landing, and there were exceptionally many people at G Harbor this round, which made Fang Lixiang a bit excited, scoring two kills right off the bat. Xue Baoyi realized that this guy might actually be a former pro player who had been coaxed into retirement. The four of them moved, two in the front, two in the back. I Can¡¯t Box with My Strength: ¡°There¡¯s someone in the house ahead.¡± The voice sounded like a young guy. In the game, a woman with two colorful braids was walking at the back of the group, clad in a bulletproof vest and carrying a backpack, closely following the man in the camo tank top. ¡®I¡¯m Your Ancestor¡¯: ¡°I see him.¡± I Can¡¯t Box with My Strength: ¡°He seems unarmed, let¡¯s hit him.¡± ¡®I¡¯m Your Ancestor¡¯: ¡°Okay.¡± Xue Baoyi took a few glances, then opened fire furiously. They weren¡¯t too far apart, but the result¡­ I Can¡¯t Box with My Strength: ¡°Damn, didn¡¯t hit him once.¡± Seeing nothing strange, Fang Lixiang thought missing every shot was nothing. This noob was doing great just not to team kill. I Can¡¯t Box with My Strength: ¡°Are you a newbie?¡± There was a very clear disdain in his tone. Xue Baoyi couldn¡¯t be bothered, picked up her weapon, ready to fight again. ¡°Bang!¡± That shot was fired by Fang Lixiang, one shot to kill, very clean and crisp. Gouzi pays a visit to Aunt: ¡°Triple kill, not bad, teammate.¡± This little brother didn¡¯t have such a strong vibe of rancor. Urala Li Xiang: ¡°Just average, ranking third in the entire server.¡± The pride sounded as if he was first in the whole server. Gouzi pays a visit to Aunt: ¡°Oh, it¡¯s a sister.¡± Urala Li Xiang: ¡°Yep¡«¡± Damn it! They duo queued for two months, and she never used such a girly voice with him, just yelled and cursed at him! Xue Baoyi snorted. ¡®I¡¯m Your Ancestor¡¯: ¡°Stop flirting, get back to business.¡± On the screen, the man with the two colorful braids leaped onto a shipping container, immediately followed by Xue Baoyi exclaiming, ¡°Damn!¡± ¡®I¡¯m Your Ancestor¡¯: ¡°I found an M24!¡± Urala Li Xiang: ¡°Lucky you, kid.¡± Xue Baoyi hurriedly jumped down, looking around nervously. With an M24 in hand, he felt like the entire server was coveting his gun. So scared, it was the first time he picked up this gun. What a coward! Fang Lixiang asked, ¡°Do you want a Level 3 Head?¡± The teammate closest to her¡ª¡¯I Can¡¯t Box with My Strength¡¯ immediately answered: ¡°Yes.¡± Urala Li Xiang: ¡°Not for you.¡± Urala Li Xiang: ¡°Noob, here¡¯s a Level 3 Head for you.¡± The woman with colorful braids immediately scampered over, accepting her teammate¡¯s offer with peace of mind as if it were the norm. With a Level 3 Head and an M24, he felt like the whole battlefield was his. Xue Baoyi¡¯s palms started sweating with excitement. ¡°Heh.¡± I Can¡¯t Box with My Strength, ¡°Such a noob indeed.¡± A naked mockery. From a teammate who had neither a Level 3 Head nor an M24. Tension suddenly thickened in the air. Fang Lixiang forgot to disguise his voice and retorted, ¡°Noob is a pet name; only I get to use it.¡± The other side snorted derisively. Gouzi pays a visit to Aunt: ¡°Are you two boyfriend and girlfriend?¡± This teammate was skilled, silent but deadly, and Fang Lixiang had a good impression of him, so he responded. Urala Li Xiang: ¡°We are father and son.¡± Urala Li Xiang: ¡°There are footsteps.¡± All four of them were on a lawn, with nothing but rocks for cover. I Can¡¯t Box with My Strength: ¡°Lie down first.¡± I Can¡¯t Box with My Strength: ¡°Give me the M24.¡± He said it as if it were the most natural thing in the world. Who does he think he, Second Young Master Xue, is? A single character of ¡°handsome¡± lasted a lifetime: ¡°Why should I give it to you?¡± I Can¡¯t Box with My Strength: ¡°You can¡¯t even hit the target with it; it¡¯s a waste.¡± Calling him a noob. Leaning back in the executive chair with his legs crossed, Second Young Master Xue touched his cheek. Talk is cheap, prove it with strength. In the game, the woman with the colorful braids laying behind a rock suddenly stood up, took out her M24, aimed at the enemy team, and fired straight away. Then¡ª The enemy in a vehicle started heading their way. The four huddled behind the rocks, shuffling around and returning fire. ¡®I Can¡¯t Box with My Strength¡¯ threw a grenade, missed, and cursed over the mic: ¡°What are you shooting at? You missed, and you¡¯ve just exposed us, are you crazy?¡± A single character of ¡°handsome¡± lasted a lifetime: ¡°Who are you calling crazy?¡± Dammit, he hated these kinds of dogs who blame their teammates when they can¡¯t win themselves! I Can¡¯t Box with My Strength: ¡°You¡¯re so bad there¡¯s no saving you! Even primary school kids play better than you, you freaking noob!¡± Xue Baoyi: ¡°¡­¡± No good, he had to think of how to curse effectively, to use his full potential. It was okay to lose in the game, but he absolutely couldn¡¯t lose in a swearing match¡ª Someone had beaten him to it. I¡¯m Your Ancestor: ¡°So what if he¡¯s bad?¡± I¡¯m Your Ancestor: ¡°Can¡¯t bad players play the game?¡± I¡¯m Your Ancestor: ¡°If you get matched with weak teammates, it¡¯s your bad luck, whose fault is that?!¡± I¡¯m Your Ancestor: ¡°And speaking of which, do you have the nerve to criticize him? If it wasn¡¯t for me headshotting that guy behind you just now, you¡¯d be dead and turned into a box already, did I call you bad? You freaking noob.¡± You freaking noob: ¡°¡­¡± Xue Baoyi: ¡°¡­¡± Dang, he¡¯s having a heart attack! ¡°Bang! Bang!¡± A single character of ¡°handsome¡± lasted a lifetime got shot and fell to the ground, dead. I Can¡¯t Box with My Strength: ¡°Good riddance, less of a burden for the team.¡± Everything about this game was good except one thing¡ªit had too many players of all sorts, and just her luck, Ullala Li Xiang had a bit of a temper. I¡¯m Your Ancestor: ¡°Curse one more time, I dare you?¡± She¡¯d cursed plenty before, but she could curse, could others? Did they think her father was dead? I Can¡¯t Box with My Strength: ¡°Not allowing us to state the truth about a noob.¡± The opponent was furious, and he was starting to lose his confidence. Gouzi pays a visit to Aunt: ¡°Enough, kill more and talk less.¡± Fang Lixiang took a deep breath, found a good spot to hide, and started using a first-aid kit. At that moment, the vehicle of the opposing team drove over, and four players jumped out and started shooting wildly. ¡®I Can¡¯t Box with My Strength¡¯ was hit and fell to the ground, calling for help immediately: ¡°I¡¯m down, come and get me up.¡± Gouzi pays a visit to Aunt was too far away. He could only call for Fang Lixiang: ¡°Come on, help me up!¡± Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Help him? Ha. Fang Lixiang, carrying a gun and wearing a Level 3 helmet, looked over coldly: ¡°Just die.¡± I Can¡¯t Box with My Strength: ¡°F*ck your mother¡ª¡± This player ¡®I Can¡¯t Box with My Strength¡¯ was now dead, turned into a box. Afterwards, the only sounds in the headset were cursing and swearing. Fang Lixiang pulled out one earbud, switched weapons, hit an enemy in the neck, and then quickly ducked behind the rock, healing himself, and added, ¡°Sorry teammates, that guy was just too loud earlier.¡± Gouzi pays a visit to Aunt: ¡°I think so too.¡± I¡¯m Your Ancestor: ¡°Don¡¯t worry, the two of us can make it to the final circle.¡± After that, Fang Lixiang emerged from behind the rock, raised his gun, and in thirty seconds, took down two more players. In the end, seven kills and a victory. Watching the game, Xue Baoyi felt his blood boiling: This guy, just try not to be too handsome! The next day, eight o¡¯clock at night. The Zou Family had added a great-grandchild and booked the entire Tingyu Building, inviting families from Imperial City for a banquet, with thirty-six tables set from the first to the third floor. At 8:10 pm, as the banquet commenced, Jiang Chuan hurried down from upstairs, waiting at the entrance of Tingyu Building, peering outside repeatedly. Soon, the sound of coughing was heard before the person appeared. ¡°Cough, cough, cough¡­¡± It was drizzling outside, and Jiang Zhi, under a black umbrella, walked from the dense mist of the rain. As he approached, he tilted the umbrella back to reveal his face, with red lips, white teeth, and a face as beautiful as a lotus flower, with a hint of sickness yet brimming with nobility¡ªa perfect ten points of attractiveness, exquisitely crafted in every aspect. Standing there with an umbrella, he resembled a painting of the Jiangnan Water Town. Jiang Chuan stepped forward to greet him: ¡°Young Master.¡± He reached out to take the umbrella, ¡°Old Madam asked me to guide you.¡± Jiang Zhi wrapped his coat tighter around himself, rested by the doorway for a moment to catch his breath, then walked inside. Old Lady Jiang was also present today; in her youth, she was a close friend of the late Old Madam Zou, so of course, she had to come and offer her congratulations. As a senior in the family, she was seated at the VIP table on the third floor of Tingyu Building. Chapter 171 - 171: 171: Qiao Nanchu Attacks Little Baiyang (Second Update) Chapter 171: 171: Qiao Nanchu Attacks Little Baiyang (Second Update) Before the banquet began, many guests approached Old Madam Jiang to inquire about her wellbeing. She patiently responded to each of them, not least bit diminishing the grace of the number one family in the Imperial City. At the neighboring table, Luo Changde had just taken his seat. Old Lady Jiang offered her sympathies, ¡°When were you discharged from the hospital, Changde?¡± Luo Changde had grown thinner, his face pallid: ¡°Last week.¡± S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Old Lady Jiang, with a kind and gentle gaze, asked, ¡°I hope there are no serious issues with your health?¡± ¡°There¡¯s nothing to worry about now,¡± he replied, keeping his eyes downcast, his cheekbones high, and his brow ridge protruding, carrying a sullen rage between his brows. Old Lady Jiang¡¯s expression remained unchanged, and she continued, ¡°Have they caught the culprit who hit your head?¡± Asking what she already knew! Luo Changde¡¯s face darkened: ¡°No.¡± A look of pity crossed Old Lady Jiang¡¯s face as she advised, ¡°Then you should avoid walking alone at night from now on.¡± She took a small sip from her teacup, a smile emerging from the corners of her eyes, ¡°Brother Zhi has arrived.¡± Luo Changde turned around, his hand clenched into a fist, growing tighter and tighter; wasn¡¯t this the very assailant who hit his head, walking towards him coughing every three steps, in a sickly and twisted manner? As the beauty passed by, Ming Yanghua caught a scent wafting through the air; he sniffed with his nose, nudging the young master next to him with his elbow: ¡°Do you smell that?¡± Distracted by the nudge, the young master¡¯s peanuts were knocked loose: ¡°What?¡± ¡°Jiang Zhi smells so good,¡± Ming Yanghua took another sniff, it was genuinely fragrant. The young master gave him a sly grin, dragging his words shamelessly and flirtatiously like a debauched scoundrel teasing someone: ¡°Xiao Hua, you¡¯re quite the temptress.¡± Ming Yanghua: ¡°¡­¡± Go to hell! He was fuming, his expression becoming stern, ¡°It¡¯s Jiang Zhi who¡¯s the temptress, alright! Which normal man would douse themselves with perfume so much that it reeks? Pathetic!¡± Just as he finished ranting, the hand of his own sister struck his head like a mother hen protecting her chick: ¡°Mortal messenger, who are you calling pathetic?!¡± Mortal messenger Ming Yanghua: ¡°¡­¡± This title was an utter disgrace to him. He gritted his teeth in anger, as menacing as a snarling Shiba Inu: ¡°Don¡¯t talk to me about those four words!¡± Yet some people just had to stomp around in his minefield. ¡°Isn¡¯t this Lord Black Impermanence¡¯s mortal messenger?¡± Who else could it be but Xue Baoyi, that sluggish scoundrel, patting Ming Yanghua¡¯s shoulder like a bully, ¡°Haven¡¯t seen you in quite a while, why are you out today? Didn¡¯t Lord Black Impermanence assign you a task?¡± The room erupted in boisterous laughter. Ming Yanghua truly wanted to bite him to death. Alongside, his own sister joined the loud laughter, kicking him while he was down, ¡°Young Master, don¡¯t pick on him. This kid was locked up by my dad for half a month, with priests performing rituals every day, and it was quite an ordeal to chase away his Lord Black Impermanence.¡± Ming Saiying tilted her head, ¡°Right, mortal messenger?¡± Mortal messenger: ¡°¡­¡± Indeed, ever since the incident at the Jiang Family, where he was revealed as the mortal messenger, his old man kept inviting people to perform rituals, even going as far as to brew exorcism charms in his drink, claiming it was to rid him of evil spirits. What was even more outrageous, he constantly slapped exorcism charms on his body; he was currently wearing two on his back. He didn¡¯t want to deal with these vulgar folks any longer. After having his fill of teasing at this table, Xue Baoyi left: ¡°Brother Zhi, save me a seat.¡± He headed over to Jiang Zhi¡¯s table. Once more, Ming Yanghua caught a whiff of the intense gardenia scent, even stronger than before and slightly intoxicating, nudging the young master beside him: ¡°You smell that now, don¡¯t you?¡± The young master sniffed: ¡°There really is a scent of gardenias.¡± Certainly, the same scent! Ming Yanghua knew then, ¡°It¡¯s the scent of an affair.¡± Two vigorous young men, each carrying a fragrance, who¡¯d believe there wasn¡¯t something unspeakable going on? He figured, Jiang Zhi wasn¡¯t anything decent either; he had made his girlfriend public not long ago, yet here he was, reigniting the old flame with Xue Baoyi, and as he was considering this¡ª ¡°Nanchu, over here.¡± Qiao Nanchu had also arrived, with Xue Baoyi calling him over from the inside table. Ming Yanghua smelled the scent of Gardenia for the third time and was astonished, ¡°Momma mia, another one, can¡¯t you smell it, it¡¯s a love triangle!¡± Ming Saiying smacked him on the back of the head, ¡°Shut up, mortal messenger.¡± Mortal messenger Ming Yanghua: ¡°¡­¡± Speaking of that ¡®love triangle¡¯, Jiang Zhi sat in the middle, Qiao Nanchu to his left, Xue Baoyi to his right. Jiang Zhi was leaning back against the chair, Qiao Nanchu leaning to the right, and Xue Baoyi to the left. From this angle, it truly had the feeling of the fabled m¨¦nage ¨¤ trois scenario. Jiang Zhi turned his head to the left, ¡°You¡¯ve applied it.¡± Then turned to the right, ¡°You, too.¡± He took a slight sniff¡ªall Gardenia scent, a fragrance he was all too familiar with. Xue Baoyi, on the right, remained unflustered, ¡°I think that product isn¡¯t half bad.¡± Qiao Nanchu, on the left, ¡°Yeah, not bad.¡± Jiang Zhi, holding a handkerchief to his mouth, lightly coughing, his eyes slightly reddening, weakly cursed, ¡°You two dogs, laughing at me earlier.¡± Xue dog asked Qiao dog, ¡°Did I?¡± Qiao dog took a sip from the wine glass in front of him, ¡°This wine is good.¡± ¡°Is it?¡± Xue dog picked up the wine glass, ¡°Cheers.¡± Qiao dog clinked his glass lazily against the other¡¯s, ¡°Bang!¡± Let¡¯s rewind to today at two in the afternoon. Qiao Nanchu left the case files at home and had to return once during the day. Upon opening the door, he saw a young girl busying herself in the kitchen. She was wearing an apron, unaware of his presence due to her headphones, still concentrating on transferring the contents of the large box into smaller containers. Qiao Nanchu didn¡¯t rush in, standing in the entryway watching her. Wen Baiyang finished transferring the food and only when she looked up did she see him, surprised for a moment, ¡°Why have you come back at this time?¡± At this time, he should be at the intelligence office. ¡°Came to get something.¡± Qiao Nanchu entered the house, first going to the couch to pick up the document bag, then headed to the kitchen, glancing at the meal boxes on the table, ¡°Don¡¯t make so much next time, I can¡¯t finish it all by myself.¡± Her cooking skills were learned from the nanny who had taken care of her before, and over the years, she had constantly been concocting myriad dishes for him, her culinary skills continually improving to the point where she even got certified. She laughed it off nonchalantly, ¡°You can invite friends over to eat.¡± She turned around, intending to store the prepared food into the fridge, but he pressed down on the fridge door. ¡°Wen Baiyang.¡± She looked up at him. His handsome and suave eyes were pitch-black as they observed her. He asked, ¡°What am I to you?¡± He had to bend down to look her in the eye, ¡°A brother? Or an elder?¡± She paused, puzzled for a moment, and then answered, ¡°You are my savior.¡± Savior was used. Qiao Nanchu withdrew his hand from the fridge and leaned back against the waist-high kitchen cabinet, his gaze seemingly indifferent yet paradoxically filled with a dark intensity, ¡°Back in the day, one would repay a life-saving debt with a marriage proposal.¡± His legs stretched out lazily, his arms folded as he watched the girl¡¯s dumbfounded expression, joking, ¡°Interested?¡± While she was still pondering the meaning behind his words, he had already leaned in closer, ¡°Don¡¯t think of me as your savior in the future, nor am I your brother.¡± He reached out, holding her chin, ¡°I¡¯m unmarried. Single. And an adult male.¡± Chapter 172 - 172: 172: Progress in Joanne cp, Ah Fang drunk again (see beyond the question Chapter 172: 172: Progress in Joanne cp, Ah Fang drunk again (see beyond the question He reached out, his hand cradling her chin, ¡°I¡¯m unmarried, single, an adult male.¡± She was completely baffled. ¡°Do you understand what I¡¯m saying?¡± Her face started to heat up, her neck as well, and her ears¡ªall of them turned red. She instinctively wanted to dodge but couldn¡¯t escape because he was holding her chin, forcing her to look into his eyes. Fiery, urgent, and an unmistakable desire, things she had never seen in his eyes before, seemed to be drawing her in. She understood but had never thought of it that way before. Staring at him for a long time, she finally retreated until her back hit the refrigerator. It was so sudden, she hadn¡¯t had time to think it over and felt a bit dizzy, her sign language slow and sluggish. Blushing, she responded, ¡°I have a lot of respect for you.¡± After a pause, she added, ¡°Always.¡± ¡­ Respect. Meaning there was no romantic feeling. He was too hasty; this girl had just grown up and still saw him as an elder. Qiao Nanchu chuckled, ¡°I¡¯m only six years older than you. Stop respecting me that way.¡± His tone was negotiating, almost coaxing, ¡°Just think of me as a man, okay?¡± Her eyelashes fluttered for a long time before she lowered her head and made a gesture with her hand, ¡°Okay.¡± Such a good girl. He had always loved her obedience, her quietness, her easy nature, but he didn¡¯t know when he had started to love her as a person. Was it when she cut her hair short at eighteen? When she wore a dress at seventeen? Or when she was sixteen, bullied outside, crying on his back? He wasn¡¯t sure anymore, maybe even earlier. Then he waited for her to grow up, to understand the boundaries between men and women, to know about the joy of love between them. He had intended to wait a bit longer, but just now, after seeing her bustling about, the idea of marriage suddenly came to him, and the words slipped out in the heat of the moment. Luckily, the girl he¡¯d raised was well-behaved; even if startled, she wouldn¡¯t run away. Qiao Nanchu felt a bit thirsty, licked his lips, ¡°Colleagues at the bureau are waiting for me, I have to go back for a meeting and can¡¯t take you home. Don¡¯t go by yourself, wait here, I¡¯ll have the driver come to pick you up.¡± Wen Baiyang nodded, still blushing, not daring to look into his eyes like before. Qiao Nanchu hesitated for a moment, then placed his hand on her head, caressing the obedient girl, then smiled and drew his hand back as he observed her awkward stiffness. She stood dumbly in front of the refrigerator. He grabbed the documents and keys, and just as he was leaving through the entryway, she followed with a small paper bag. ¡°Is there something else you want to say?¡± She handed him the small paper bag. Qiao Nanchu accepted it. She explained in sign language, ¡°My friend said this is very useful,¡±, perhaps moved by his earlier words, her eyes timid, ¡°and it can also be used as a hand cream.¡± He looked inside the bag; how ironic, he had previously mocked Jiang Zhi for using this stuff. Remembering this, Qiao Nanchu chuckled to himself, Jiang Zhi asking him, ¡°What¡¯s so funny?¡± Looking at his own hands covered in lotion, he asked Jiang Zhi out of the blue, ¡°How did you manage to win Zhou Xufang over?¡± Jiang Zhi understood; this guy couldn¡¯t wait any longer. In July, the girl had her coming-of-age ceremony; the very next day, this guy bought a ring fitted for a ring finger, and he happened to see it, just one thought in his mind, this guy was a beast; she was still so young. Yet, after he himself met Zhou Xufang, he understood; a man becomes a beast in front of a girl he likes. Jiang Beast, ¡°You can¡¯t learn it.¡± Beast Qiao raised an eyebrow, ¡°Do tell.¡± Jiang Beast with an arrogant look, ¡°By the face.¡± Beast Qiao ¡°¡­¡± At 8:20 PM, as the banquet was about to begin, tea and wine were first served at the tables, and shortly after, the music started, and a famous actor from Tingyu Building came on stage, singing a lively opera piece. At that moment, Luo Changde stood up from his seat; the entire Tingyu Building had been rented out by the Zou Family. Besides the packed main hall on the third floor, the other private rooms were empty; he picked one and entered. After taking a call, he spoke in a hushed, tense voice, ¡°The money has been transferred to you.¡± The room was dark, only lit by the dim light from the mobile phone screen, which cast his gaunt face in half-shadow. ¡°Once you arrive in Imperial City, find a place to stay first, and we¡¯ll handle the rest of the money when we meet.¡± Not clear what the person on the other end said, Luo Changde coldly chuckled, his tone menacing, ¡°Don¡¯t get any funny ideas, or else you won¡¯t even know how you died.¡± ¡°Just remember one thing, I only want the item, not your life; her fate, however, might be different.¡± Outside, footsteps passed by; Luo Changde lowered his voice even further, and finally, ¡°You don¡¯t need me to teach you how to cover up a murder, do you?¡± Then he hung up, glanced outside the room to make sure no one was around, and left. Outside, the opera had reached its midpoint. The mobile phone on the table lit up, Luo Qinghe glanced at the caller ID and answered the phone. ¡°Younger Luo,¡± it was his secretary Shen Yue; because there was singing nearby, his voice was a bit louder, ¡°Peng Xianzhi¡¯s son has contacted Chairman Luo.¡± Luo Qinghe looked at the wine glass in his hand, silent for a long while, ¡°First keep an eye on them, don¡¯t scare the snake.¡± ¡°I understand.¡± After she hung up the phone, Luo Changde just returned to the table and sat down beside her. sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At the climax of the Kunqu opera performance on stage, the guests applauded warmly. Luo Qinghe poured a glass of wine and placed it in front of Luo Changde, who glanced at it but did not pick it up. She smiled, with a mix of genuine and feigned tone, ¡°Why aren¡¯t you drinking? Afraid I poisoned it?¡± Luo Changde remained silent, his eyebrows furrowed and his expression cold. ¡°Father,¡± she herself picked up the glass she had poured and took a small sip, ¡°If I really didn¡¯t wish you well, you wouldn¡¯t have been discharged from the hospital so quickly.¡± Luo Changde scoffed, ¡°It was just a small cut, and I ended up in the ICU twice. If I hadn¡¯t been discharged quickly, I might have ended up dying there.¡± Luo Qinghe¡¯s expression changed slightly, her brows and eyes cooling, she did not continue the conversation. He still suspected her; the errand runner Z had just casually instigated, and he began to guard against her, to catch her weaknesses. How frustrating. In the middle of the venue sat two tables occupied by the Four Great Families, one for the elders and one for the younger generation. Qiao Nanchu was seated to the left, looking up in the direction of the Luo father and daughter. He nudged Jiang Zhi with his knee, indicating for him to look their way, ¡°Look.¡± He nodded toward the Luo father and daughter, ¡°They¡¯re panicking.¡± Jiang Zhi leaned back in his chair, with everyone else having tea or wine in front of them, while he had only a bowl of soup. He lazily glanced over then withdrew his gaze, commenting, ¡°It¡¯s only fun when dogs bite each other.¡± Xue Baoyi was playing a game beside them, not paying attention to their conversation. Qiao Nanchu chatted casually, asking nonchalantly, ¡°Did you do this?¡± Jiang Zhi replied just as casually, ¡°Just framed them arbitrarily.¡± After Luo Changde had been in the ICU twice, he gave a slight hint, and he pointed it to Luo Qinghe. Last time, Zhou Xufang also casually incited, and that father and daughter duo harbored suspicions against each other. The family ties of the Luo family were indeed fragile, each one a self-serving atomist; they were the easiest to drive a wedge between. At that moment, Xue Baoyi chuckled, laughing quite freely. Don¡¯t misunderstand; it wasn¡¯t because he won in some shooter game. Winning a game? Unless his ¡°dad¡± helped him, he could never manage that in this life; instead, he had just been shot in the neck by a bandit in the game and had died. His laughter was due to an incoming call, the contact named¡ªFang Xijing. This scoundrel clearly had the number saved but still had to play Qiao, feigning nonchalance, and asked, ¡°Who is it?¡± ¡°¡­ ¡± He always asked this way. Fang Lixiang silently cursed a few times but spoke very respectfully on the phone, ¡°It¡¯s me, Lixiang, Boss.¡± Xue Baoyi dragged his words out like a lord, his voice tone wildly playful, yet portraying an air of ¡®the busy lord has no time for you¡¯. What a bureaucrat! Fang Lixiang, a minor employee, could only bear it, and she quickly got to the main point, ¡°Boss, are you with Director Jiang?¡± Xue Baoyi sat up straight, ¡°You¡¯re not looking for me?¡± His eyes flicked to the left, full of emotion. Jiang Zhi sitting on his left didn¡¯t respond to him. On the phone, Fang Lixiang continued with the main point, ¡°I¡¯m looking for Director Jiang.¡± ¡°What do you want with him?¡± Xue Baoyi was clearly dissatisfied and deliberately harsh, his tone so fierce that those around him couldn¡¯t ignore it, ¡°Why are you calling me if you want to talk to him!¡± His tone was as if he were owed a huge debt. Fang Lixiang didn¡¯t know what was displeasing this rich man, and she dared not ask. She adopted the tone she used when acting as an eunuch, ¡°It¡¯s like this, Boss, Director Jiang might not have saved my number, I just called him but was rejected.¡± The eunuch cautiously asked, ¡°Could you pass the phone to Director Jiang for a moment?¡± The response was cold, ¡°No.¡± Really wanted to snipe him in the head! Fang Lixiang smiled, ¡°Oh, then I¡¯m sorry for the disturbance, I¡¯ll try calling a few more times.¡± She was about to hang up. Xue Baoyi spitefully said, ¡°Wait.¡± Fang Lixiang: ¡°Thank you, Boss.¡± He turned his head, no longer even using Brother Zhi, directly, ¡°Jiang Zhi!¡± Throwing the phone as if Jiang Zhi owed him 8 million, ¡°It¡¯s for you.¡± Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t move, looking absolutely miserable, ¡°Who?¡± Xue Baoyi tossed a peanut into his mouth, then another, the second one missing and hitting Qiao Nanchu in the face. Qiao Nanchu sent him a look. He grunted, ¡°An ungrateful D-list actress.¡± Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t bother listening to his nonsense and took the call. The ungrateful D-list actress spoke first, ¡°Hello, Director Jiang.¡± Afraid the well-known director wouldn¡¯t recognize her voice, she quickly announced her name, ¡°I¡¯m Fang Lixiang.¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡°What is it?¡± Fang Lixiang asked, ¡°Can you come to pick up Zhou Xufang?¡± Upon hearing the name Zhou Xufang, the lackluster look in Jiang Zhi¡¯s eyes suddenly sparked to life, ¡°What happened to her?¡± Before Fang Lixiang could respond, a cheerful song burst through the phone, ¡°Our motherland is a garden, a garden where flowers bloom so bright. Warm sunlight shines upon us, smiles on everyone¡¯s faces, haha, ha, smiles on everyone¡¯s faces¡­¡± It was Zhou Xufang singing, and she seemed quite happy. Fang Lixiang explained the situation, ¡°She is singing to a traffic cop on the road, and no matter how I pull her, she won¡¯t leave.¡± Chapter 173 - 173: 173: Jiang Zhi goes to pick up the drunk cutie (second update) Chapter 173: 173: Jiang Zhi goes to pick up the drunk cutie (second update) ¡°She¡¯s singing to the traffic police on the road, and no matter how much I pull her, she won¡¯t leave.¡± Singing? S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Singing to the traffic cop?! ¡°Is she drunk?¡± Fang Lixiang hazarded a guess, ¡°She looks like she drank too much.¡± But then she got confused, ¡°But we didn¡¯t drink any alcohol.¡± They just went out for a meal. It must be some dish that had eggs in it. Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t explain, ¡°Just keep her there, don¡¯t let her move, and send me the address.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t let her go near any trees.¡± Last time Zhou Xufang ate eggs, she uprooted a tree. When he was there it was fine, but he was afraid someone might notice something odd about her when he wasn¡¯t. The bewildered Fang Lixiang: ¡°?¡± Why can¡¯t she go near trees? ¡°Oh.¡± She didn¡¯t ask. Jiang Zhi placed his phone on the table and got up from his seat. Qiao Nanchu asked, ¡°The banquet is about to start, where are you going?¡± ¡°I¡¯m going to pick up Zhou Xufang, she drank too much.¡± Jiang Zhi first went to Old Lady Jiang to say hello and mentioned feeling unwell. The old lady asked him a few concerned questions, which he answered before leaving. Speaking of Xue Baoyi, when Jiang Zhi returned the phone to him, the call wasn¡¯t disconnected yet. He let the phone sit on the table for a while before picking it up and putting it to his ear: ¡°Fang Lixiang, you¡ª¡± On the other end: ¡°Beep, beep, beep, beep¡­¡± The call had been disconnected. Xue Baoyi: ¡°¡­¡± Aside from Jiang Zhi and his father, it was the first time someone had hung up on his Young Master. Did they think he had no temper? He dialed directly back: ¡°Try hanging up my call again.¡± On the other end, the employee Fang startled by the boss¡¯s personal call quickly explained, ¡°I was just too quick, it wasn¡¯t intentional.¡± It really wasn¡¯t. Xue Baoyi didn¡¯t believe it: ¡°That¡¯s quite the coincidence then.¡± Whatever you say. She just stayed silent. But she stayed silent for quite a while, and the boss didn¡¯t speak either. It felt like when she was playing chicken games and heard a noise, not knowing where the enemy was hiding, which made her a bit uneasy. After waiting a bit longer: ¡°Boss, if there¡¯s nothing else, I¡¯m going to hang up¡ª¡± ¡°Who said there¡¯s nothing else?¡± He spoke nonchalantly, with a tone that teased. This deserving-of-a-beating attitude, he sounded exactly like a gang leader who collected protection money at the street corner. Fang Lixiang was just like a street vendor: ¡°Then, what would you like me to do?¡± Gangster Xue: ¡°Sing a song for me.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Who spoiled this guy?! Fang Lixiang suppressed the urge to hit someone, ¡°Are you lonely or something?¡± She suspected he was trying to seduce her. He kept up his nonchalant demeanor, clearly not behaving, ¡°Who¡¯s lonely?¡± He sat there with his leg propped up, not acting properly, touched his chin, and then found a sound reason, ¡°Sing a song, let me hear your voice. If it¡¯s good, the company might consider letting you work in film, TV, and music.¡± Boss. That attitude, totally like a golden daddy! Suddenly, Fang Lixiang felt his figure seemed tall and majestic: ¡°What would you like to hear? I¡¯ll sing anything I know.¡± Xue Baoyi, with legs crossed, tossed peanuts into his mouth, leisurely said, ¡°As you wish.¡± Just then, Zhou Xufang squatted in front of the young police officer, singing joyfully, ¡°Everyone¡¯s face breaks into a smile, ha ha ha ha, everyone¡¯s face breaks into a smile¡­¡± This song, got to say, was quite catchy. Fang Lixiang hadn¡¯t even realized what was happening and found herself singing along, ¡°Big sister, come quickly, little brother, don¡¯t hide away. Hand in hand, let¡¯s sing together, our lives are so joyful, ha ha ha ha, our lives are so joyful¡­¡± A peanut hit Xue Baoyi¡¯s face: ¡°¡­¡± The tune meandered back and forth, sounding like a husky. For some reason, it was vivid, quite husky-like, a flurry of goofy charm that hit him hard. Xue Baoyi moved the phone slightly away: ¡°That¡¯s enough.¡± The cursed tune kept looping in his head. Fang Lixiang wasn¡¯t done singing yet, as Zhou Xufang was starting the next verse, and she also wanted to continue with ¡®ha ha ha ha¡¯: ¡°There¡¯s another part, though.¡± Xue Baoyi took a sip of tea to moisten his throat, ¡°That¡¯s enough.¡± Fang Lixiang felt that the previous part hadn¡¯t showcased her full vocal abilities, and she was very eager. ¡°How was that? Should I sing another one for you?¡± After finishing the peanuts and moving on to a plate of fried broad beans, which he crunched noisily, Xue Baoyi suggested, ¡°You better stick to acting.¡± Fang Lixiang, who really wanted to be a singer, said, ¡°¡­¡± It hurts. She immediately lost her energy, ¡°Then I¡¯m hanging up.¡± Xue Baoyi¡¯s tone was a bit punch-worthy, ¡°Don¡¯t be too sad. No one is perfect. Although I am handsome and dashing, I suck at playing games and mahjong.¡± Hearing this, Fang Lixiang sincerely replied, ¡°Then don¡¯t be too down, even losers have their spring.¡± Xue Loser: ¡°¡­¡± He angrily threw a broad bean¡ª It hit Qiao Nanchu right on the nose, making a sound. Qiao Nanchu calmly took a tissue and wiped his nose, ¡°If you¡¯re itching for a fight, just say so.¡± Xue Baoyi hung up the phone, ¡°So losers don¡¯t deserve to eat broad beans?¡± Qiao Nanchu: ¡°¡­¡± He wanted to hit him, but suddenly he just couldn¡¯t. At nine o¡¯clock, neon lights were everywhere on the streets. On the top of a building at the left of the intersection, there was a massive LED screen displaying ads. Beneath it sat a man, gazing up at the screen, his head swaying. ¡°Are you 017?¡± Zhou Xufang was heavily drunk, her eyes foggy. She tilted her head, focusing on the person on the screen, ¡°Your face has gotten so much bigger.¡± Fang Lixiang squatted beside her and also glanced at it. That¡¯s the national heartthrob Xiao Yusheng. Zhou Xufang continued to mutter, ¡°Are you 017? Are you, are you?¡± She waved at the screen, ¡°I¡¯m 011.¡± 017? 011? Fang Lixiang thought Zhou Xufang might have been reading some spy novel lately. Drunken and bleary-eyed, 011 batted her eyes, ¡°017, don¡¯t run away. If you don¡¯t listen, they will hit you.¡± She spoke to the 017 on the screen, ¡°Let¡¯s not run. We¡¯ll just take our medicine, lots and lots of it, and once we¡¯re powerful, we¡¯ll run away together.¡± As she spoke, 011¡¯s eyes reddened, on the verge of tears. She looked up at the stars for a while before forcing back her tears and then continued to watch the screen, tilting her head, ¡°Hmm?¡± The electronic display had switched from a phone advertisement to Xiehe Hospital, where a handsome young man turned into a balding middle-aged man, reciting, ¡°For infertility, come to Xiehe.¡± Zhou Xufang stood up, wobbling, ¡°017, where did you go?¡± ¡°017.¡± 017 was gone, no one heard her. Zhou Xufang was disappointed; she felt like jumping up and smashing the bald man¡¯s head. But that won¡¯t do; Jiang Zhi had said not to run, jump, or get angry outside. Fang Lixiang, worried she might fall, went to support her, but she pushed him away and staggered over to the traffic booth, squatting down, ¡°Traffic cop, young man.¡± The young traffic cop had just swapped shifts. It was now his break, and he was young and shy, blushing as he uttered, ¡°Hmm.¡± Zhou Xufang squatted on the ground, lining up with the boulder block used to stop cars, gazing up, shaking her head as she admired the traffic cop¡¯s uniform, ¡°Your outfit is really nice.¡± She was tipsy and slightly slurred her words. The traffic cop blushed even more from the compliment. Her mask was long gone; her face was flushed, her eyes watery, and as she sweetly praised the traffic cop¡¯s uniform, she said, ¡°It¡¯s yellow and shiny, very pretty.¡± The young traffic cop adjusted his duty uniform. Zhou Xufang¡¯s expression was so sincere, ¡°Young man, can you sell me that outfit?¡± The young cop felt awkward. Her face in the hoodie looked clean; when she wasn¡¯t smiling, she looked heroic, and when she did, her bright eyes and white teeth were especially attractive. She said, ¡°I want to buy it for my boyfriend to wear.¡± Mentioning her boyfriend made her happy and proud, ¡°He¡¯s handsome, and wearing this yellow outfit, he would look even better.¡± He has a girlfriend. The young traffic cop felt a bit disappointed, ¡°This outfit isn¡¯t for sale.¡± Zhou Xufang¡¯s confused expression, ¡°Even if I offer a lot of money, you can¡¯t sell it?¡± The young cop shook his head, ¡°This is a uniform.¡± He couldn¡¯t sell it, and even if he did, ordinary people couldn¡¯t wear it. But Zhou Xufang, groggy from the eggs, mumbled, ¡°Can I work for you then sell it?¡± The young cop: ¡°¡­¡± Whose darling is this, come claim her soon. Otherwise, he¡¯d steal! Zhou Xiaoke¡¯ai felt regretful, ¡°Can¡¯t, huh?¡± She sighed deeply, ¡°My boyfriend is so unfortunate, can¡¯t even wear pretty clothes.¡± Having failed to buy the ¡®pretty¡¯ clothes, she sulked for a while, then resumed singing, ¡°On day twenty-nine, not lifting a hand to beckon, day twenty-seven of the third ninth, a cold gust past the hedge, day thirty-six of the fourth ninth, sleeping in the night as if drenched in dew, day forty-five of the fifth ninth, the poor dancing in the streets, day fifty-four of the sixth ninth, tender spikes poke through the fence¡­¡± The wind behind her carried a voice, ¡°Zhou Xufang.¡± Zhou Xufang squatted on the ground, blankly turned her head, then flashed a huge smile, ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± Chapter 174 - 174: 174: If you insult my boyfriend, Ill smash your head oh (one more update Chapter 174: 174: If you insult my boyfriend, I¡¯ll smash your head oh (one more update Zhou Xufang crouched on the ground, dazedly turned back, and then grinned a big smile: ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± ¡°Jiang Zhi, Jiang Zhi!¡± She waved at him vigorously, her shoulders shaking as she laughed like a happy fool. After a while, she pushed herself up by her knees and staggered toward Jiang Zhi. Jiang Zhi opened his arms to catch her and enveloped her in a hug. She was tipsy, unsteady on her feet, and slumped softly in his embrace. Looking up with a grin, her eyes narrowed into crescent moons as she asked happily, ¡°Jiang Zhi, are you going to carry me home?¡± Her blurry eyes somehow reflected his figure clearly. Jiang Zhi supported her waist: ¡°Hmm.¡± Then she decided to go with Jiang Zhi, turned her head, and waved to Fang Lixiang: ¡°Lixiang, I¡¯m going home now, goodbye.¡± Fang Lixiang was still sitting on the stone stool, her face well-covered. She stood up, waved her hand, and greeted Jiang Zhi as well: ¡°Then I¡¯m leaving too.¡± Jiang Zhi said, ¡°Thank you.¡± Cordial and polite. Actually, Jiang Zhi wasn¡¯t an easy person to get along with. On the contrary, being born into a prominent family exposed him to a lot of falsehood and flattery, which made him distant. As an aristocrat¡¯s son, he was somewhat spoiled. Apart from Xue Baoyi and a few others, he only had the patience for Zhou Xufang and Zhou Xufang¡¯s friends. The big director was formally expressing his gratitude in person, and Fang Lixiang was somewhat unaccustomed to it: ¡°Director Jiang is too polite.¡± With a wave of her hand, she left. Behind them, Zhou Xufang, in a coquettish manner, kept calling out ¡®Jiang Zhi, Jiang Zhi¡¯¡ªeach word brimming with joy. This girl really liked Jiang Zhi a lot. Fang Lixiang couldn¡¯t help herself, and under the street lamp, she turned back and smiled, ¡°It¡¯s good she met you. Before she met you, I had never seen her smile.¡± Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t say anything, but the corners of his lips were raised. Fang Lixiang adjusted her baseball cap and left first. Tonight, the night was beautiful, and the person Zhou Xufang deeply liked was equally happy. The wind was just right, the lights were just right, and the bustling city was filled with lively humanity. Jiang Zhi helped Zhou Xufang to crouch down, and then moved in front of her: ¡°Xu Fang, climb onto my back.¡± Zhou Xufang grabbed his clothes, clambered up, and then wrapped her arms around his neck, her legs on either side, rocking. She pressed her face against his shoulder and said, ¡°I¡¯m all settled.¡± S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Jiang Zhi then carried her on his back. Zhou Xufang lay still, not fidgeting. As they passed a traffic booth, she pointed it out to Jiang Zhi: ¡°I wanted to buy that traffic policeman¡¯s uniform for you to wear, but he wouldn¡¯t sell it to me.¡± Next to the booth, the young traffic policeman felt a bit embarrassed, discreetly glanced at Jiang Zhi. It was a bit dark, and even with the help of the streetlight, visibility wasn¡¯t great. Nevertheless, his clothes and demeanor were top-notch. Despite sporting a somewhat non-serious dyed hairstyle, it was unclear whether he was a respectable person. Just as he was about to take another look, their eyes accidentally met. He caught just a glimpse of the profile, but could tell the features were handsome. The young traffic policeman¡¯s heart skipped, and he quickly looked away. Jiang Zhi finished looking at the uniform, then said to Zhou Xufang: ¡°I can¡¯t wear that uniform.¡± She tilted her head, puzzled: ¡°Why not?¡± Jiang Zhi patiently explained: ¡°That uniform can only be worn by traffic police.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± She placed her hand on his head and patted it three times, ¡°Don¡¯t be sad, I¡¯ll buy you some other nice clothes.¡± The street was not very crowded, with rows of camphor trees planted along the side, and streetlights interspersed in between. The light filtered through the gaps in the trees, casting a dappled world around them. The wind blew, the trees swayed, and under the light, their shadows stretched out long. ¡°Xu Fang.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± Jiang Zhi walked very slowly. The streetlights receded behind them, their shadows leading the way, the girl on his back nodding and shaking her head. He looked at her shadow on the ground: ¡°You sang for others, but not for me.¡± Zhou Xufang immediately responded: ¡°Then I¡¯ll sing for you.¡± She happily boasted to him: ¡°I can sing the songs from your movies.¡± She was proud as she pretended to take credit, releasing her hands from around his neck, making a big circle with her arms, ¡°All of them, every single one.¡± Jiang Zhi chuckled softly. She began to sing: ¡°Wind¡¯s coming, rain¡¯s coming, the monk¡¯s coming with a drum, where to hide? Hide in the temple, hidden away is a young boy¡­¡± She switched from one song to another, all from his movies, and eventually, she fell asleep while singing. Jiang Zhi called a ride-sharing service and headed to his place. Zhou Xufang slept the whole way, the car entered Qingshan Mansion and parked on the side. She turned over but did not wake up. ¡°Xu Fang.¡± She nestled against Jiang Zhi¡¯s legs, her head nudging slightly, and she mumbled sleepily, ¡°Hmm¡­¡± Jiang Zhi brushed her hair from her face to behind her ear: ¡°We¡¯re home.¡± She half-slept for a while, her drunkenness half-dissipated but still half-present, utterly sleepy, absolutely refusing to open her eyes. She stretched out her arms and clung tightly to Jiang Zhi¡¯s waist: ¡°Not leaving.¡± Her head kept rubbing against him, ¡°I want you to carry me up.¡± Jiang Zhi, amused, ¡°Would a hug be okay?¡± She opened her eyes, which were still groggy and slow to react, and after a moment, she nodded: ¡°Yes.¡± Jiang Zhi got out of the car first and then picked her up. She was half-asleep, peaceful and quiet. ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± Jiang Zhi stopped in the middle of the road, ¡°Hmm?¡± She randomly tugged at her clothes, ¡°I¡¯m so hot.¡± She was strong and careless; jeoparding her neckline as she pulled, it stretched wide open. Jiang Zhi, worried about tearing the clothes, coaxed her, ¡°There are people outside,¡± lowering his stance, he whispered in her ear, ¡°We can only take it off at home.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Though still drowsy, she obediently listened to Jiang Zhi. Jiang Zhi¡¯s house was a detached one, tucked further inside, and required a few minutes to walk. Midway, he suddenly stopped and turned. The man following behind also halted, puzzled for a moment, then casually continued walking past. ¡°Delete it.¡± Hearing that, the man stopped again. Pocketing one hand, he held a smartphone with the other. In his twenties, with dyed hair and an earring, it seemed he had consumed some alcohol; his steps wobbled slightly. Unperturbed, he denied, ¡°I didn¡¯t film anything.¡± Jiang Zhi repeated, ¡°Delete it.¡± A few steps apart, he stood holding her against the backlight, the moonlight hazy, casting a winter chill in his eyes. The residents of Qingshan Mansion were all wealthy, not easily bullied; few were pushovers. The man, chin up, looked down his nose at him, intentionally belittling, ¡°Why act high and mighty? If you¡¯re afraid of being filmed, be more aware, and stay low in public¡ª¡± Suddenly, the person in Jiang Zhi¡¯s arms opened her eyes, still somewhat groggy, ¡°Are you talking about my boyfriend?¡± ¡°Who knows who I¡¯m talking about.¡± Tricky. Zhou Xufang blinked, oh, he was talking about Jiang Zhi. This displeased her. ¡°Say that again, and I will hit you.¡± The man clearly recognized Jiang Zhi and was unafraid. He scoffed, giving Zhou Xufang a once-over, his gaze teasing, ¡°Really a sickly one, needing a woman to defend him.¡± He also called Jiang Zhi a sickly guy. Zhou Xufang was furious! ¡°I want to get down.¡± Jiang Zhi let her down, far from angry; instead, he was excitedly watching his lady stand up for him. Zhou Xufang, still not fully sober, staggered as she walked, her face fierce, pouting and glaring like an agitated little fox. She looked ready to pounce. The man crossed his arms, ¡°What, you want to hit someone?¡± Neither a frail woman nor a sickly man frightened him. Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t walk straight, meandering off the path to the lawn, where she crouched, picked up the largest rock, then weaved back to the path. The rock was bigger than her head. Now the man flinched, instinctively stepping back, one hand guarding himself, ¡°Wh-what, don¡¯t come any closer, or I¡¯ll call the police!¡± ¡°Bang!¡± That rock, handled by the woman whose head was smaller than the stone, was broken into two pieces by her bare hands. ¡°!¡± The man was completely stunned. This must be a fake rock¡­ Here she came, carrying the stone, one in each hand, raised over her head¡­ ¡°Ah¡ª¡± Zhou Xufang: ¡°I haven¡¯t hit you yet.¡± His scream abruptly stopped, the man frozen in shock. Zhou Xufang: ¡°You¡¯re such a coward.¡± The man: ¡°¡­¡± This woman could break a large stone with her bare hands¡­ His drunkenness sobered up in fright, leaving him bewildered, all his earlier bravado gone. His neck shrank like a turtle, ¡°I¡¯ll delete it, okay?¡± Trembling, he deleted the video he had secretly taken, then obediently handed over his phone with both hands, ¡°Deleted.¡± Zhou Xufang glanced at it, ¡°Alright, I won¡¯t hit you then.¡± She still held a stone in each hand. She commanded, ¡°Kneel.¡± The man knelt down. ¡°Cover your head.¡± He covered his head. Finally, she ordered, ¡°Apologize to my boyfriend.¡± He bowed like a criminal, head in arms, bending deeply at ninety degrees, his apology as earnest as a convict reflecting before the world, ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± Chapter 175 - 175: 175: Dog Food after Getting Drunk Chapter 175: 175: Dog Food after Getting Drunk He squatted like a criminal, his hands clutching his head, and he bent over ninety degrees, ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± Zhou Xufang saw his submissive demeanor and wasn¡¯t so fierce anymore. Picking up a stone with one hand, she also squatted down, ¡°You also have to swear to the heavens that you won¡¯t secretly curse him.¡± To survive in this world, one must learn to bow to the ¡°Evil forces.¡± ¡°I swear,¡± the man raised his finger to the sky, ¡°I won¡¯t secretly curse your boyfriend.¡± Zhou Xufang, with a serious and solemn expression on her bright red face, said, ¡°If you can¡¯t do it, you¡¯ll turn into a pig.¡± The other party, also serious and solemn, replied, ¡°If I can¡¯t do it, I¡¯ll turn into a pig.¡± Alright then. Zhou Xufang put down the stone, dragged her bag from one side, rummaged through it for a while, and pulled out a can of milk, placing it on the ground, ¡°Goodbye.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Having finished scolding, Zhou Xufang staggered back to Jiang Zhi. ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± He was smiling, ¡°Hmm.¡± She extended her hand, handing it over, ¡°My hand hurts.¡± It turned red from prying the stones. Jiang Zhi held her hand, brought it to his lips, and gently pecked at the red spot in her palm. Zhou Xufang laughed, said it didn¡¯t hurt anymore, but it tickled. Jiang Zhi pecked at it again before leading her to the man who was still squatting with his head down, ¡°My girlfriend is magnanimous and won¡¯t fuss over this with you.¡± His voice, neither light nor heavy, mingled with the cold wind, ¡°I¡¯m different, I¡¯m a spiteful person.¡± Then, the spiteful person walked away with his magnanimous girlfriend. Then, the man in the cold wind shivered and made a phone call, ¡°Hello, hello, hello, is this the moving company¡­¡± They reached the front door of the house. Zhou Xufang yawned, with only a hint of drunkenness left in her eyes, and stumbled toward Jiang Zhi. Jiang Zhi supported her; she lifted her head, her expression playfully innocent, ¡°Are you going to send someone to beat him up?¡± ¡°Just to scare him.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Jiang Zhi opened the door. Zhou Xufang entered the house and began to take off her shoes first, stepping onto the carpet to start undressing. Jiang Zhi went to get her slippers, and when he turned around, the floor was covered with her clothes ¡ª coat, trousers, sweater, she had taken them all off, wearing only a set of elderly-style thermal underwear. She was still hot and lifted the thermal shirt up to her belly, intending to take it off. Jiang Zhi paused for a moment, distracted by the glimpse of her pale midriff, then caught her hand, ¡°That¡¯s enough.¡± She was still drunk, completely off guard. Zhou Xufang ¡°Oh¡¯d¡± a response, pulled her thermal shirt down, and without putting on slippers, staggered into the room and flopped onto the sofa, ¡°Then I¡¯m going to sleep.¡± Zhou Xufang, ¡°Good night.¡± As soon as her head hit the pillow, she closed her eyes and collapsed. Jiang Zhi, unable to help but laugh, placed her slippers down, squatted beside her, ¡°Xu Fang,¡± observing her clad in tight elderly thermals, he didn¡¯t know where to look. He hadn¡¯t drunk, but she had made him feel somewhat hot. He grabbed a blanket from nearby and covered her, ¡°Go to bed, okay?¡± Zhou Xufang remained motionless, lying straight. ¡°Fang Bao.¡± She still didn¡¯t move. Jiang Zhi bent down, picked her up, and walked towards the bedroom. She just touched the bed when she opened her eyes, ¡°I haven¡¯t brushed my teeth or washed my face yet.¡± Jiang Zhi turned on the bedside lamp, ¡°Not sleepy anymore?¡± She was sleepy enough for her eyelids to fight, but insisted, ¡°I need to brush my teeth and wash my face.¡± She got up herself, stood on the floor unsteadily, swaying. Jiang Zhi supported her, took off his own slippers for her, ¡°Put these on.¡± She put on his slippers, which were much too big. Jiang Zhi extended his hand, ¡°I¡¯ll take you.¡± She grabbed Jiang Zhi¡¯s hand, letting him lead her to the bathroom, not even looking where she was going, her eyes half-closed. Jiang Zhi filled a cup with water, prepared the toothpaste, and handed her the electric toothbrush; she still didn¡¯t open her eyes, and without even turning it on, began poking it towards her mouth ¡ª ¡°Zhou Xufang.¡± She opened her eyes, slightly tipsy and mostly sleepy, ¡°Hmm?¡± ¡°Give me the toothbrush.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Jiang Zhi held the glass to her lips, ¡°Drink some water first.¡± Zhou Xufang took a big gulp. ¡°Spit it out.¡± She swallowed with a gulp, ¡°Swallowed it.¡± She opened her mouth to show him. Jiang Zhi, ¡°¡­¡± He poked her flushed face, ¡°That water isn¡¯t drinkable.¡± She was groggy and bleary-eyed, her eyelashes fluttering, a beat too slow, ¡°But you told me to take a sip first.¡± Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t want to argue with this tipsy mess, and brought the glass to her lips again, ¡°Don¡¯t swallow now, just swish it around and spit it out.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± She took a sip of water and spat it out. Jiang Zhi held her chin, making her tilt her head back, ¡°Ah, open up.¡± And she followed, ¡°Ah¡ª¡± ¡°¡­¡± Silly and adorable. Jiang Zhi turned the electric toothbrush to its lowest setting and began brushing her teeth. She continued, ¡°Ah¡ªAh¡ªAh¡ª¡± Electric toothbrush, ¡°Buzz¡ªBuzz¡ªBuzz¡ª¡± In the mirror, Jiang Zhi¡¯s shoulders were shaking with laughter. This silly girl. The toothbrush buzzed for two minutes, she kept going ¡°Ah¡± for two minutes, Jiang Zhi turned off the toothbrush, filled the glass with water, and handed it to her, ¡°Rinse.¡± he instructed, ¡°Don¡¯t swallow.¡± ¡°Mhm.¡± She obediently rinsed a few times and handed the glass back to Jiang Zhi. Jiang Zhi asked her to sit on the closed toilet lid and wait, so she just obediently sat there, slowly nodding off. He fetched half a basin of hot water, wet a towel, and began to wipe her face, her already flushed cheeks became even redder at the touch of the hot towel. He wasn¡¯t used to caring for someone, clumsily wiping her face, then her neck, and finally her hands, all while she enjoyed it, humming with her eyes closed, eyelashes laden with a layer of undried mist. Jiang Zhi¡¯s hand, holding the towel, paused; he leaned in, wanting to kiss her. She suddenly opened her eyes, a look of realization on her face, ¡°I just remembered,¡± she kicked off her slippers below, ¡°Jiang Zhi, I haven¡¯t washed my feet yet.¡± Jiang Zhi bit her chin, ¡°You really are my ancestor.¡± His ancestor still grinned foolishly. ¡°Sit properly.¡± S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Jiang Zhi fetched another basin of hot water, took off the young girl¡¯s pink socks, first tested the water temperature, then touched her little feet to the water¡¯s surface, ¡°Is it hot?¡± Zhou Xufang shook her head, ¡°No.¡± Only then did he let her immerse her feet in the water. The warm water woke Zhou Xufang up a bit; she tilted her head and watched Jiang Zhi as he washed her feet, his head bowed, eyelashes quietly drooping. The light from the upper left fell on his face, casting a gentle shadow in the gentle light. ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± Jiang Zhi looked up, ¡°Hmm?¡± She kissed his face and said with a smile, ¡°You are so good.¡± The bathroom was steaming, making her feel faint, ¡°When you get so old you can¡¯t walk, I¡¯ll brush your teeth and wash your face for you.¡± Oh, and, ¡°I¡¯ll wash your feet too.¡± Jiang Zhi, looking up, his eyes misty as if a frost flower bloomed in them through the steam, blurred and glowing, laughed and called her silly, ¡°When I¡¯m too old to walk, you¡¯ll be too old to walk too.¡± That¡¯s true. ¡°What then?¡± Jiang Zhi dried her feet with a dry towel, moved the basin away, and let her toes rest on his knee. Supporting her waist with his hands, he smiled, ¡°We¡¯ll have more children, let them take care of us.¡± Zhou Xufang¡¯s head heated up, ¡°Okay.¡± She wasn¡¯t fully sober, her courage bolstered, she hugged Jiang Zhi¡¯s neck, ¡°Let¡¯s go now.¡± Chapter 176 - 176: 176: Disliked by wife for bad sleeping posture (first update) Chapter 176: 176: Disliked by wife for bad sleeping posture (first update) Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± That sudden heart-wrenching grip¡­ His ears turned red, ¡°Do you know what you¡¯re talking about?¡± She hummed in agreement, her head fell onto his shoulder, rubbing against it. ¡°Stop moving around.¡± Jiang Zhi picked her up and walked towards the bedroom, just a few steps away. She yawned several times, teary-eyed from sleepiness, and could barely keep her eyes open. Jiang Zhi chuckled, placed her on the bed, and pulled the covers over her. ¡°Don¡¯t kick off the covers.¡± After tucking in the corners of the blanket, he stood up. Zhou Xufang grabbed him, ¡°Where are you going?¡± ¡°I¡¯m going to take a shower.¡± She let go of him and put her hand back under the blanket, ¡°Oh.¡± Jiang Zhi dimmed the bedside lamp a bit before leaving the bedroom. When he returned, Zhou Xufang was already asleep. He carefully climbed into bed. ¡°Xu Fang.¡± She lay there properly, her cheeks still rosy under the light, sleeping soundly, breathing heavier than usual. After a whole night of trouble while drunk, she seemed genuinely tired. ¡°Good night.¡± Jiang Zhi kissed her cheek and turned off the bedside lamp. The next day. Zhou Xufang woke up at six in the morning when it was still dim outside. She blankly stared at the ceiling, then at the handsome face next to her on the pillow, and sighed silently. Why wake up so early? Because of Jiang Zhi. She lay still, waiting for the daylight to fully break. She then moved the half of her body that was against the wall and nudged the person whose arm was on her left side, ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± The lump under the blanket shifted, only the top of his head peeked out. Zhou Xufang: ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± The top of his head nudged and emerged from under the blanket, his short, misty blue hair messy¡­ resembling a bird¡¯s nest, he wasn¡¯t fully awake, his eyes still closed, just quivering his eyelashes and murmuring coquettishly, ¡°Mmm¡­¡± Jiang Zhi was like a pampered child when he just woke up, complete with severe morning grumpiness. Zhou Xufang gently soothed him, stroking his head like petting a cat, her expression very maternal, ¡°Good boy Jiang Zhi, move a bit.¡± Unfortunately, the sleep-deprived Jiang Zhi was anything but well-behaved! He pecked randomly at her hand and then burrowed his head back under the blanket, ¡°I¡¯ll sleep a bit more.¡± Zhou Xufang sighed silently again, then pulled his covers off, ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± His peach blossom eyes opened a slit, ¡°Hmm.¡± His voice was very drowsy, clearly not having enough sleep. Zhou Xufang lay on her side, back against the wall, facing Jiang Zhi. She was sandwiched in the middle, like the piece of meat in a hamburger, and Jiang Zhi¡¯s arm was thrown across her chest, his long legs firmly pressing down on her knees. She probably occupied about¡­ one-tenth of the entire bed, ¡°You¡¯re pressing on my leg.¡± The drowsy Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± Zhou Xufang, who had been awake for an hour: ¡°You¡¯ve numbed my leg.¡± The half-awake Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± Zhou Xufang, who hadn¡¯t moved once within that hour: ¡°You also pushed me to the edge.¡± During the hour she lay there awake, Jiang Zhi turned over eight times, kicked her twelve times, and lost count of how many times his chin knocked against her. And about last night, she probably woke up four or five times in between, sometimes because of being kicked, sometimes because of being squashed. Jiang Zhi was now fully awake, ruffled his hair a couple of times, stretched his arms and legs, and out of newfound conscience, shifted back, giving half of the bed he had occupied all night to Zhou Xufang. Zhou Xufang rolled over, stretched her arms and legs which were still quite numb, sat up, pounded her legs and shoulders, ¡°You really have a bad sleeping posture.¡± Jiang Zhi also sat up, with two tufts of silly hair sticking up, the right side of his face still had the imprint of Zhou Xufang¡¯s shoulder, his sleep posture was too bad, and his pajamas were all wrinkled, one pant leg up, one down, the collar hanging askew on his neck, exposing his left collarbone. He finally understood, his girlfriend was complaining! He felt a bit irritated, ¡°Are you despising me?¡± The just-awakened Jiang Zhi was most irritable, and if not cajoled well, would be grumpy all day, Zhou Xufang immediately shook her head, ¡°Not at all.¡± That¡¯s more like it. S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. If she dared to despise him, he would just cling to her bed every day. Jiang Zhi fixed his pajamas and moved next to her, just as he intended to hold her and catch some extra sleep, she suddenly asked, ¡°Is there only one bed in your house?¡± Yes. Jiang Zhi¡¯s house wasn¡¯t short of rooms, but there was just one bed, he wasn¡¯t hospitable at all, why would he prepare a guest room, even if Xue Baoyi and Qiao Nanchu came over, they were not allowed into the bedroom, because he had a cleanliness obsession, apart from Zhou Xufang, no one else could touch his bed. Look at him, how much he adores her! The beloved Zhou Xufang: ¡°Jiang Zhi, do you want to buy another one?¡± She didn¡¯t want to sleep with Jiang Zhi anymore, he always kicked her, pressed her. Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± His morning grumpiness had been triggered by her. He grabbed all the blankets, leaving none for Zhou Xufang, his face cold and imprinted from sleep, his eyes red with anger, ¡°Zhou Xufang, get out!¡± He stretched out his leg, kicked her calf, ¡°Don¡¯t sleep in my bed ever again!¡± Zhou Xufang: ¡°Oh.¡± Dressed in a tight, elderly-style, dark purple thermal underwear, she clumsily clambered over Jiang Zhi¡¯s legs, ¡°Then I¡¯m off to brush my teeth.¡± ¡°¡­¡± He was angry, and instead of coaxing him, she was going to brush her teeth! Jiang Zhi snorted sarcastically, ¡°I brushed your teeth for you last night.¡± Zhou Xufang had one foot on the ground and was just stepping out with the other when she stopped. Leaning against the headboard, arms crossed, Jiang Zhi said, ¡°I washed your face.¡± She brought one foot back. Jiang Zhi: ¡°And I washed your feet.¡± She brought the other foot back too, sitting up straight with her hands stacked on her stomach, the tight elderly-style thermals giving her an air of a seasoned cadre. Jiang Zhi: ¡°And you still despise me.¡± His tone was of immense grievance, full of resentment, his eyes like icy daggers stabbing into Zhou Xufang. As if she were an ungrateful, heartless cad who had abandoned his wife and children. Zhou ¡¤ Heartless ¡¤ Xufang¡¯s head drooped in sincere repentance, ¡°I was wrong.¡± She propped herself up on the bed, moving towards Jiang Zhi, ¡°Jiang Zhi, I won¡¯t buy the bed.¡± Jiang Zhi kicked away the blankets, walked around her, and got off the bed: ¡°Don¡¯t talk to me.¡± He stopped paying attention to her and went straight to the bathroom. Zhou Xufang: ¡°¡­¡± Indeed, Jiang Zhi was hardest to appease in the morning. She climbed out of bed, went to the living room to find clothes to wear, pulled her phone out of her bag, logged into QQ, and entered ¡®Authentic Little Wife Group¡¯ to ask¡ª ¡°How do you handle it when your boyfriend is mad?¡± Book Friend A: ¡°Beat him up once, and if once isn¡¯t enough, do it twice.¡± Jiang Zhi was delicate and tender, not suitable for beating. Zhou Xufang couldn¡¯t bear to. Book Friend B: ¡°Just a lovers¡¯ quarrel, nothing that can¡¯t be solved in bed.¡± This book friend was lecherous. Zhou Xufang remembered her name. Book Friend C: ¡°Let him be angry. You can¡¯t pamper him, or he¡¯ll become arrogantly untouchable.¡± No, she still wanted to spoil Jiang Zhi. Book Friend Ding: ¡°Don¡¯t talk, just kiss him!¡± This¡­ Zhou Xufang went to the bathroom, turned on the water to brush her teeth, stood next to Jiang Zhi who was still ignoring her, but after brushing didn¡¯t leave, just stood there, pretending to mess with his hair in the mirror. Zhou Xufang, after brushing her teeth, said, ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± He didn¡¯t respond. Zhou Xufang faced him, ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± He still ignored her, turning his handsome face away in the mirror. Zhou Xufang: ¡°Can I kiss you?¡± He held out for five seconds, then turned his face toward her: ¡°¡­okay.¡± Zhou Xufang went to lock the bathroom door. Jiang Zhi was in an excellent mood all day. However, Xue Baoyi felt his smile was too flirtatious, it dazzled her, she pushed the laptop towards him: ¡°Take a look at the casting for your movie.¡± Jiang Zhi sat up from the sofa, flipped through a few pages, his fingers pausing on the keyboard: ¡°This one,¡± he turned the screen, ¡°is she from your company?¡± Xue Baoyi glanced, shaking her head: ¡°After Jin Song was arrested, Huayu went downhill, Su Chan terminated her contract and set up her own studio.¡± He sat in an executive chair, swinging his leg, ¡°Not satisfied with her?¡± Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t comment. Xue Baoyi continued: ¡°Rong Heng is movie material, but he¡¯s had too few works in recent years, and Lixiang is still new; both lack topic and popularity.¡± Speaking about the person on the screen, ¡°Su Chan was Huayu¡¯s youngest film queen, top in both acting and popularity, her image matches the character in your movie perfectly, plus she started as a stunt double, excellent in action scenes, currently, there¡¯s no one more suitable than her.¡± Su Chan became famous for a difficult action scene where, as a double, she had jumped from the height of five floors with a rope and rose to prominence overnight; being from an ethnic minority, she had an exotic appeal and entered the top ranks within two years of her debut. She and Jiang Zhi had never worked together, but there was a connection. Initially, Su Chan had been slated for the female lead in Jiang Zhi¡¯s movie, but due to Jin Song, the collaboration fell through, and then Lixiang replaced her. In theory, with Su Chan¡¯s stature, there was no need to settle for less. ¡°Did you approach her, or did she come to you?¡± ¡°It was her side¡¯s initiative, expressing a desire to try out an antagonist role.¡± Jiang Zhi pondered for a moment: ¡°Arrange for an audition first.¡± Xue Baoyi was surprised: ¡°An audition?¡± Even as a buddy, he thought this guy was hard to please, ¡°She is, after all, a film queen.¡± And initially the first choice for the female lead. Jiang Zhi leaned back on the sofa: ¡°My rules, is that a problem?¡± Chapter 177 - 177: 177: The Secret of Genetic Experiments (Second Update Chapter 177: 177: The Secret of Genetic Experiments (Second Update Jiang Zhi leaned back on the sofa, ¡°My rules, not okay?¡± ¡°Okay, okay, okay, you¡¯re the ancestor; whatever you say goes¡ª¡± The cellphone on the table vibrated. Jiang Zhi pressed his finger to his lips, signaling Xue Baoyi to be quiet as he answered the call with a ¡®hmm.¡¯ It was Qiao Nanchu, ¡°Peng Zhongming has arrived in Imperial City.¡± Peng Zhongming was the only son of Peng Xianzhi and had settled abroad with his mother. Ever since the great fire at the Luo Family, Peng Xianzhi had been imprisoned, and it had been eight years since Peng Zhongming had shown his face. Jiang Zhi asked, ¡°Where is he hiding?¡± ¡°Still haven¡¯t found him,¡± however, ¡°just keep an eye on Luo Changde, he will definitely come knocking.¡± ¡°We need to get ready.¡± ¡°Ready for what?¡± Jiang Zhi lazily replied, ¡°Stealing things.¡± Qiao Nanchu understood his plan, switching the topic, ¡°I found out a little bit about Zhou Xufang.¡± He had been lounging carelessly, but now he sat up straight. Qiao Nanchu inquired, ¡°There¡¯s a medical laboratory called TANK, have you heard of it?¡± The Jiang Family¡¯s primary business was healthcare, and they were somewhat aware of any movement within the industry, whether domestic or international. TANK was a Genetic Laboratory, exposed only five years ago, and by the time it came to light, the laboratory had already been destroyed. Who was behind it, how it operated, and the research direction and purpose were still unclear. The reason it caused such a stir was that the police found a research journal in the ruined laboratory. It clearly recorded a series of genetic research data. As for what the final product was, related experts still couldn¡¯t conclude, only that the research process violated the ethics of biomedical research. It was certain that the laboratory had used humans as the research medium. Jiang Zhi was silent for a long time, ¡°I¡¯ve heard of it.¡± ¡°Zhou Xufang came from there,¡± Qiao Nanchu paused before continuing, ¡°Five years ago, when the laboratory exploded, of the twenty-four test subjects being researched upon, three went missing, and Zhou Xufang was presumably one of them.¡± Moreover, beyond any doubt, those three were surely the extraordinary among the twenty-four. With lowered eyes and a slight flutter of his eyelashes, Jiang Zhi¡¯s emotions slipped through, ¡°Can¡¯t the identities of those three be traced?¡± ¡°They¡¯ve been wiped clean, where they came from, their identities, ages, genders, all that¡¯s left are number codes, namely 011, 014, 017.¡± At six in the evening, the sky had already darkened. Zhou Xufang used to run a night stall, but after Jiang Zhi forbade her from going out at night, she switched to afternoons. She had to return home once it got dark, and while she was busy applying a screen protector for a phone, she looked up to see Jiang Zhi¡¯s car, parked under the Ba Yi Bridge. She still held a phone in her hand, waving and calling out, ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± The phone¡¯s owner also glanced back instinctively. Fuck, that license plate! Phone owner, ¡°How much?¡± Seeing Jiang Zhi put Zhou Xufang in a good mood; normally, she would charge twenty yuan for the screen protector, but she gave a discount of five yuan, ¡°Fifteen,¡± and handed over the phone. The phone¡¯s owner took it, scanned the payment code, ¡°Thanks.¡± Zhou Xufang, ¡°No need to thank me.¡± After the customer had left, she got up from the small stool and ran over to Jiang Zhi, wearing a face mask with a smile in her eyes, ¡°Are you here to pick me up?¡± ¡°Mhmm.¡± Jiang Zhi unbuckled his seatbelt, about to get out of the car. Zhou Xufang held the car door; there were many people coming and going under Ba Yi Bridge, and Jiang Zhi was without a face mask. She worried he might be recognized, ¡°Wait for me in the car; I¡¯ll go pack up my stall.¡± She had just turned around when Jiang Zhi stopped her. ¡°Xu Fang.¡± She turned her head, her eyes bright, like the stars tonight: ¡°Hmm?¡± Jiang Zhi got out of the car, spread his arms around to her back, and enveloped her in a hug. Lowering his head, his chin rested on her shoulder. Zhou Xufang was slightly taken aback: ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± She raised her hand to pat his back. ¡°Are you unhappy?¡± His voice was muffled as he nuzzled into the nape of her neck: ¡°I missed you.¡± The laboratory exploded, and with no one to seek revenge from, he felt blocked and uncomfortable inside. The sight of her tugged at his heartstrings, making him feel even worse! ¡°If you miss me later, tell me earlier,¡± she said obediently, letting him hold her, tilting her head up. She wore a woolen hat with a fluffy pom-pom that brushed against his neck. ¡°I can come to see you.¡± Jiang Zhi let go and, through the hat, touched her head: ¡°Okay.¡± He led her to the place where she was selling, ¡°How was business today?¡± Zhou Xufang nodded: ¡°Mm-hm.¡± She smiled contentedly, ¡°After deducting the costs, I made over ninety yuan¡ªI can buy a super-large tub of ice cream.¡± A tub of ice cream was enough to light up her eyes with stars; she was so ungreedy, still like a child. Such a pure and kind soul she was, why should she suffer, why should she¡­ Jiang Zhi¡¯s eyes drooped, a shadow overlaying them that could not be driven away. Across the street in the park, it was lively, with music echoing and more people joining the dance. Caught in the noise across the road were the shouts of vendors under the bridge. Amidst the commotion, an old voice, full of the vicissitudes of life, called out: ¡°Anyone want winter bamboo shoots?¡± It was an elderly granny, her only possession a carrying basket, tucked away in the most secluded corner under the bridge. She spread out a newspaper, sitting on one end of it with two unpeeled bamboo shoots on the other, and beside them, one peeled shoot that had slightly spoiled from the cold. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. A woman passing by glanced at them. The elderly lady turned the bottom of the bamboo shoot around to show the fresh cutting: ¡°Three yuan per kilo, very fresh.¡± The woman shook her head and walked away. People passed by in dribs and drabs, but the shoots on the newspaper remained unclaimed. The elderly lady stood up, started to pack the shoots back into her basket with slow, trembling movements due to her age, and struggled to lift it. Squatting down, she attempted to hoist it with her hunched back. ¡°Grandma, I would like to buy the bamboo shoots.¡± It was the voice of a young girl, clear and pure. Quickly, the elderly lady set her basket down again: ¡°Okay, okay.¡± She turned around, smiling, and asked, ¡°Young miss, how many would you like?¡± Zhou Xufang asked: ¡°How many kilos are there in total?¡± The granny had set up her stall even earlier than hers, yet her bamboo shoots seemed untouched. ¡°All of them?¡± She nodded: ¡°Mmhmm.¡± The granny used an old-fashioned steelyard to weigh. It took five measures to weigh the whole basket of shoots, the scales tipping substantially. The elderly weighed slowly due to her age and computed: ¡°That¡¯s 36 kilos in total.¡± Zhou Xufang pulled out a one-hundred-yuan bill from her bag and added another ten yuan one, handing them over. The granny only accepted the hundred, then holding Zhou Xufang¡¯s hand, she pushed the ten yuan back: ¡°Thank you, young lady.¡± She smiled: ¡°You¡¯re welcome.¡± Since there wasn¡¯t a large enough bag, the granny found four sturdy plastic bags to pack them for her. Zhou Xufang squatted down to help transfer the shoots into the bags, then began carrying them with both hands. ¡°Give them to me.¡± She passed the bags to Jiang Zhi, said ¡®goodbye¡¯ to the granny, and then followed Jiang Zhi away. The elderly watched the two young people leave with a smile and then bent down to pick up the empty carrying basket from the ground, only then noticing that there was another ten yuan inside. Chapter 178 - 178: 178: The Daily Loving Life of a Textile Couple (One More Update Chapter 178: 178: The Daily Loving Life of a Textile Couple (One More Update Back at the stall location, Zhou Xufang had Jiang Zhi place the winter bamboo shoots on her tricycle. ¡°Jiang Zhi, are you in a hurry to get home?¡± ¡°No rush.¡± Zhou Xufang looked at the four bags of bamboo shoots and was a bit at a loss. Neither she nor Jiang Zhi knew how to cook; taking the shoots home would be pointless. ¡°So, can we sell the bamboo shoots before we head home?¡± she wondered. ¡°Two yuan per catty should attract some buyers.¡± If they couldn¡¯t sell them, then one yuan would do, or even fifty cents. Jiang Zhi said they didn¡¯t need to set up a stall; he had a plan: ¡°Bao Yi¡¯s uncle is in the catering business, we can sell to him.¡± He also mentioned, ¡°We can sell for four yuan per catty.¡± Hmm, Jiang Zhi was quite the cunning merchant. Zhou Xufang nodded emphatically like she was pounding garlic: ¡°Sounds good.¡± She thought, Mr. Xue is a wealthy man, and his uncle must be wealthy too; she liked making money off wealthy people. Suddenly¡ª Someone shouted loudly, ¡°City management is coming!¡± Zhou Xufang turned around and saw¡ªoh no! City management was arriving in a vehicle, blowing their whistles fiercely. Zhou Xufang quickly placed her small tables and stools onto the tricycle. Jiang Zhi was still not moving, so she pulled him, ¡°Jiang Zhi, run!¡± Jiang Zhi, arms folded, calm and collected: ¡°Why should I run?¡± Oh, right. Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t set up a stall; he didn¡¯t need to run. Zhou Xufang let go of him and sat on the tricycle: ¡°Then you better move, I¡¯m going to drive away.¡± Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Move away?! What was this about? He sensed a hint of being disliked, felt annoyed, and grabbed the back of the tricycle: ¡°If you run, what about me?¡± Zhou Xufang looked around, not at all tense: ¡°City management won¡¯t catch you.¡± He didn¡¯t care: ¡°So you¡¯re just going to leave me behind?¡± She took the stools and chairs, but not him? He was really angry! City management was almost upon them, and Zhou Xufang was really anxious. She quickly said, ¡°I¡¯m not leaving you, I¡¯m not leaving you, just jump on quickly.¡± Jiang Zhi stuffed his hands into his pockets: ¡°No.¡± It was too silly to sit in the vehicle. Seeing other vendors had already run off, Zhou Xufang became even more frantic, urging Jiang Zhi: ¡°Hurry up, or I¡¯ll get caught!¡± Jiang Zhi looked back and scoffed, ¡°I want to see¡ªwho dares to catch my girlfriend¡ª¡± She didn¡¯t have time to listen to him ramble, she pedaled hard and sped off! Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± So, had he been left behind? Jiang Zhi: ¡°Xufang.¡± If she stopped now, he could still forgive her. Jiang Zhi: ¡°Xufang!¡± If she stopped now and soothed him a bit, he could still forgive her. Jiang Zhi: ¡°Zhou Xufang!¡± If she stopped now and soothed him a bit longer, he could still forgive her. Jiang Zhi¡¯s face was already turning blue, and his throat was hurting from shouting: ¡°Zhou¡ªXu¡ªfang¡ª¡± Even if she stopped now, even if she coaxed him in every possible way, he wouldn¡¯t forgive her anymore. However¡ª Zhou Xufang had already sped off, disappearing from sight. Left behind, Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± In less than a minute, the vendors under the bridge scattered in all directions, leaving only a few utterly confused customers, and Jiang Zhi, on the verge of exploding. The city management drove around three times before moving on to another location. Probably about twenty minutes later, vendors gradually returned, including Zhou Xufang. When she came back, Jiang Zhi was still standing there, completely still, hands in his pockets, hair all tousled by the wind, just staring at Zhou Xufang¡ªdeath glare. Zhou Xufang parked the tricycle on the side: ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± Jiang Zhi continued his death glare. Zhou Xufang tip-toed over, grabbed his sleeve, and shook it: ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± Jiang Zhi shook her off, turned his face away: ¡°Move away, I don¡¯t want to talk, don¡¯t talk to me.¡± Zhou Xufang scratched her head: ¡°Oh.¡± Okay then, Jiang Zhi needed some quiet, she wouldn¡¯t bother him. Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± She had one more minute to coax him, or he wouldn¡¯t forgive her. Zhou Xufang looked up at the sky, watching the stars. A minute passed¡­ Jiang Zhi glanced at her from the corner of his eye, gave her one more minute, the last minute! Zhou Xufang looked down at the ground, occasionally kicking at stones. Another minute passed¡­ Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± This absolute iron lady with zero awareness! ¡°Zhou Xufang,¡± he couldn¡¯t wait any longer, his peach blossom eyes reddened by the wind, looking quite fierce, ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to admit your mistake? Won¡¯t you coax me?¡± Oh, so he was waiting for her to admit fault. At last, the iron lady Zhou Xufang realized why Jiang Zhi wanted to ¡°calm down,¡± but: ¡°I wasn¡¯t wrong this time.¡± ¡°You left me behind.¡± Jiang Zhi stressed the words with great emphasis, highlighting ¡°left behind.¡± But Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t think it was ¡°leaving behind¡±, and she had a very good reason, so her expression was very serious: ¡°If I hadn¡¯t run, I would¡¯ve been caught by the city management and fined.¡± ¡°So, money is more important than me?¡± Jiang Zhi coldly huffed. Was that what she meant? She didn¡¯t though: ¡°I tried to make you run, but you wouldn¡¯t.¡± Jiang Zhi blew the fringe from his forehead that half-covered his eyes. As his forehead was revealed, the delicate peach blossom eyes set below his brows gathered a few drops of moisture and a bit of annoyance: ¡°So, not only do you refuse to admit fault, but you also think I¡¯m making a fuss over nothing, right?¡± Zhou Xufang immediately shook her head: ¡°No.¡± Jiang Zhi retorted: ¡°Yes, you do!¡± All right then. Zhou Xufang admitted defeat: ¡°If you want to think that way, I can¡¯t help it.¡± Isn¡¯t that a playboy¡¯s kind of line? Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± Surely, Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t want to coax him anymore, she didn¡¯t care about him anymore, she didn¡¯t love him anymore! ¡°Zhou Xufang, you¡ª¡± Zhou Xufang grabbed his collar, pulling it down, got on her tiptoes, and kissed him on the lips, then asked with a smiling face, ¡°Still angry?¡± Jiang Zhi was easily angered but also easily appeased. In fact, even if she didn¡¯t appease him, he wouldn¡¯t stay angry for long. But Zhou Xufang knew Jiang Zhi liked to be coaxed, so she kissed him again: ¡°Not angry anymore, hmm?¡± Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t respond but caught her and kissed her. Once Jiang Zhi was appeased, Zhou Xufang noticed something terrible: ¡°Jiang Zhi, your car is gone.¡± She had good eyesight and could see far off, the spot where Jiang Zhi had originally parked was now empty. ¡°Can¡¯t park here?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± That means it was towed. He took out his phone: ¡°I¡¯ll have Lin Wanwan come pick us up.¡± It was getting late, and Zhou Xufang felt bad to bother Ah Wan any further: ¡°Let¡¯s not call Ah Wan, we still have another vehicle.¡± What she referred to was her electric trike. Since the weather was good today, no rain, she had removed the rain shelter from the trike, making the cargo bed open-air. This vehicle also had a refined name: ¡ªThe Convertible Trike. Jiang Zhi internally refused: ¡°I¡¯m not taking it.¡± It felt beneath him. Zhou Xufang was thinking about how to convince him when a whistle suddenly sounded: ¡°Over there!¡± The city management officer had returned¡­ This time, Jiang Zhi reacted faster than Zhou Xufang, quickly jumping onto the cargo bed, sitting on Zhou Xufang¡¯s small stool, hands gripping the handrail tightly, as he peered back at the approaching officer and urged Zhou Xufang, ¡°What are you dazed for? Drive!¡± Zhou Xufang: ¡°¡­Oh.¡± She drove her convertible trike, taking Jiang Zhi along with thirty-six pounds of bamboo shoots and forty-eight phone cases, weaving through the city¡¯s neon lights. The cold night wind slapped against their faces, each strand of their hair fluttering. Their coolness level could rival any of Jiang Zhi¡¯s previous red carpet appearances. In the end, the bamboo shoots sold for one hundred and forty-four yuan. Xue Baoyi¡¯s uncle gave them two hundred yuan. Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t give change but ended up using the two hundred yuan to buy Zhou Xufang two huge tubs of ice cream. When Zhou Xufang got home with the ice cream, it was already half-past nine at night. Jiang Zhi said it was too late for ice cream and suggested eating it the next day. Zhou Xufang thought a few bites wouldn¡¯t hurt, and besides, she wouldn¡¯t tell Jiang Zhi that she sneakily ate some. She tore open a packet of marshmallows, added them to the ice cream, then sat on the couch to eat. Her computer ¡®dinged¡¯, and the screen lit up revealing a giant SpongeBob on display. She retrieved a can of milk from the fridge, then sat in front of the computer, one hand holding the milk, the other hugging the ice cream. SpongeBob wiggled off the screen, revealing boldly colored letters. Shuangjiang: ¡°Here¡¯s a mission.¡± Shuangjiang: ¡°The client¡¯s last name is Peng, a student, foreign national, no criminal record.¡± Zhou Xufang scooped a large spoon of ice cream, along with two marshmallows, stuffed them into her mouth, sweetly asking, ¡°What¡¯s the mission?¡± Shuangjiang: ¡°Escort him to a location. Important document handover.¡± Shuangjiang: ¡°Fee one million.¡± Zhou Xufang pulled open the tab on the milk can: ¡°Did they specify what the document is?¡± Shuangjiang: ¡°That part is confidential.¡± If it¡¯s confidential, it likely has a high risk factor and difficulty, possibly even involving ¡®gray area deals¡¯. Shuangjiang: ¡°Taking it?¡± After a thought, Zhou Xufang refused: ¡°Not taking it.¡± She scooped another large spoonful of ice cream and ate joyfully, ¡°My boyfriend says from now on, only take jobs that are well-paid, relaxed, and safe.¡± What the boyfriend says, one must heed. Shuangjiang: ¡°Like?¡± Zhou Xufang, being totally serious, gave an example: ¡°Protecting my boyfriend.¡± Shuangjiang: ¡°¡­¡± Chapter 179 - 179: 179: Jiang Zhi discovered the secret from that year (second update) Chapter 179: 179: Jiang Zhi discovered the secret from that year (second update) The next morning, Jiang Zhi returned to the Jiang Mansion, and Zhou Xufang stayed at home reading novels. Recently, she had become addicted to danmei and was neglecting sleep and meals. She read slowly, and a short novel of a couple hundred thousand words took her all morning to get through only about half. By the time she stopped, it was almost one o¡¯clock. Oh, she hadn¡¯t had lunch yet. She ordered a takeaway, and while waiting for the delivery, she left a comment for the author. Lord Black Impermanence 011: Author, the mother of the little gong is so annoying. Can you make her get married off and stop hindering the lifetime happiness of the little gong and little shou? Soon, a fellow reader replied to her. My Name Is Not Girly replied to Lord Black Impermanence 011: I think so too! Zhou Xufang couldn¡¯t help but post another comment. Lord Black Impermanence 011: Author, when can we start the group and have some ¡®meat¡¯? The author replied: Soon, soon~ Lord Black Impermanence 011: Happy, sending flowers. Then she sent 520 flowers. So happy, the group would start soon. Zhou Xufang tore open a packet of cotton candy and was halfway through eating it when the takeaway arrived. She had ordered spaghetti and pizza. The delivery guy smiled kindly, and Zhou Xufang gave a good review and tipped the delivery rider. While eating, Fang Lixiang got in touch with her. Ullala Li Xiang: ¡°Xu Fang, Xu Fang.¡± Fairy Fang: ¡°Hmm.¡± Ullala Li Xiang: ¡°Do you do part-time work? Our crew is looking for a foot double.¡± Zhou Xufang stuffed the remaining half of the pizza slice into her mouth, her cheeks puffing out. Fairy Fang: ¡°You need a double for feet too?¡± Ullala Li Xiang: ¡°Yeah, the lead actress has a size 39 foot, and the director thinks it¡¯s too big and doesn¡¯t look good.¡± Ullala Li Xiang: ¡°Yours look good.¡± Show my feet¡­ It shouldn¡¯t be a big deal, she occasionally went out in slippers to throw out the trash. Zhou Xufang asked, ¡°When¡¯s the shoot?¡± Ullala Li Xiang: ¡°Around four in the afternoon.¡± At four in the afternoon, Jiang Zhi and Qiao Nanchu had business to discuss, so she would be by herself anyway. Fairy Fang: ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll go.¡± Ullala Li Xiang: [Hmmhmm] GIF Ullala Li Xiang: ¡°Waiting for you.¡± Fairy Fang: ¡°.¡± After finishing her lunch, Zhou Xufang read comics for another half-hour, then set out. Since the film and television city Fang Lixiang mentioned was a bit far, she decided to drive her somewhat expensive car. When she arrived at East City Film and Television City, it was three thirty. Fang Lixiang was waiting for her outside the set, waving from afar: ¡°Xu Fang, over here.¡± Zhou Xufang ran over. Today was yet another day cloaked in black attire. Fang Lixiang handed over some snacks and canned milk tea she had kept for her: ¡°This is your afternoon tea, take it and eat.¡± Zhou Xufang: ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll take you to meet the director first.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± The production was another big-budget one, Lixiang was playing the second female lead, and while Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t recognize the lead actress, Lixiang said she was famous. But Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t know many famous people; she liked watching web dramas, especially those adapted from novel IPs, like ¡°President Gu, Your Little Delicate Wife Has Run Away with the Ball¡± kind of series. It seemed famed actors didn¡¯t like to act in those. Fang Lixiang took her straight to the director. ¡°Director Chen.¡± Director Chen didn¡¯t lift his head, busy writing and drawing on the script, he responded with a ¡°Hmm.¡± Fang Lixiang pulled Zhou Xufang forward: ¡°This is the double I mentioned to you.¡± Zhou Xufang felt it was impolite to meet the director with a mask on, so she took it off. In the midst of his busyness, Director Chen lifted his eyelids and glanced over: ¡°Take off your shoes and socks.¡± Oh. A foot double needed to be seen, Zhou Xufang squatted down and took off her shoes. At this time, the set designer standing behind Director Chen leaned in: ¡°Director.¡± He whispered, ¡°I saw this girl in Director Jiang¡¯s crew last time.¡± His peripheral vision caught the ¡®dark as pitch¡¯ lump, the set designer told Director Chen, ¡°I think she¡¯s Director Jiang¡¯s girlfriend.¡± S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. It was the same last time, dressed in ¡®dark as pitch¡¯ clothing. And, Director Jiang was very indulgent with this lump! He would cling to her wherever she went, and where she went, he followed! Setting aside Jiang Zhi¡¯s background, just considering his connections and influence in the film industry, Director Chen would have to give him some face, not to offend: ¡°No need to take them off.¡± Zhou Xufang put her shoes back on, a bit bewildered. Director Chen¡¯s tone became much more courteous: ¡°Let¡¯s talk about your pay first.¡± Considering she¡¯s Jiang Zhi¡¯s girlfriend, she surely wouldn¡¯t lack money, and low pay would be embarrassing, so Director Chen asked, ¡°How much do you think is appropriate?¡± Zhou Xufang considered and held up five fingers. Director Chen: ¡°Five thousand?¡± Zhou Xufang shook her head, five hundred, she thought. When she used to be an extra she would make a couple hundred a day, but a double would be paid more, and a foot double should be the cheapest, so she felt five hundred was appropriate. Director Chen, looking at those five fingers, felt a bit of pain: ¡°Fifty thousand?¡± There was no choice, they had inadvertently invited a major figure, and the cost had to be borne, ¡°Alright, fifty thousand.¡± Zhou Xufang and Fang Lixiang: ¡°¡­¡± The two sneaked off to the side, and Zhou Xufang whispered: ¡°Your crew is really rich.¡± Fang Lixiang touching her chin: ¡°I just realized it too.¡± Come almost four o¡¯clock, a stagehand returned to the set from outside and saw a familiar figure on the outskirts of the crowd. The stagehand approached: ¡°Mr. Tang,¡± he quickly cleared a way through the crowd and led the visitor inside, ¡°You¡¯re here.¡± This drama was funded by Tianxing, and the person directly in charge was Tang Xiang. She didn¡¯t often come to the set, just occasionally to visit. She pointed at the girl sitting on a small stool not far away and asked, ¡°Is that girl also an actor in our crew?¡± The staff glanced over and replied, ¡°No, she¡¯s a temporary body double we hired for today.¡± Tang Xiang didn¡¯t ask further, ¡°You go ahead with your work, I¡¯ll look around some more.¡± ¡°Okay, call me if you need anything.¡± Zhou Xufang. It was her. Tang Xiang stood there, scrutinizing her for a long time, then made a phone call to her secretary to postpone the afternoon¡¯s other plans. Meanwhile, Fang Lixiang went to change clothes, and Zhou Xufang sat alone in an inconspicuous corner. For some reason, she suddenly felt a bit melancholic. She used to run around different crews, but after Jiang Zhi let her in through the back door, she stuck to Jiang Zhi¡¯s sets. Now that she was with a different crew, she felt unaccustomed, missing the chair in front of the camera that Jiang Zhi would usually occupy. Just as she was thinking about Jiang Zhi, he called her. Zhou Xufang¡¯s melancholy vanished instantly, and she picked up the phone cheerfully, ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± Jiang Zhi could hear the noise on her end, ¡°Why is it so noisy? Are you outside?¡± ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m at East City Film and Television City.¡± ¡°Are you playing an extra?¡± Zhou Xufang answered honestly, ¡°A body double.¡± Jiang Zhi immediately asked, ¡°For what?¡± ¡°Feet.¡± He seemed to ponder something, then asked after a moment, ¡°Have they started shooting?¡± Zhou Xufang, ¡°Not yet.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t do it.¡± Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t understand, ¡°Why?¡± ¡°No reason.¡± With no explanation, Zhou Xufang wouldn¡¯t accept it and pointed out Jiang Zhi¡¯s fault honestly, ¡°Jiang Zhi, you¡¯re being unreasonable.¡± It was then that Jiang Zhi awkwardly explained, ¡°I don¡¯t want others to see your feet.¡± Zhou Xufang, ¡°¡­¡± He was so petty and jealous, just like the submissive character in the novel she read that morning. Zhou Xufang negotiated sweetly with him, ¡°I¡¯ve already promised the director, and if I back out now, it will delay the crew¡¯s shooting.¡± She spoiled her boyfriend just like the dominant character in that novel, ¡°I won¡¯t be a foot double after this, just this once.¡± She remembered the coquettish tricks she learned at the amusement park and practiced a bit before repeating, ¡°Please?¡± ¡°Please?¡± ¡°Please~~¡± This one had to be drawn out. ¡°Please~~¡± This one, too, had to be drawn out. ¡°Please~~~~~~~~¡± The last one stretched even longer. Jiang Zhi, ¡°¡­¡± Such a stiff attempt at acting spoiled and yet he found it adorable, there was no saving him, ¡°Wait for me there.¡± ¡°Are you coming over?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± Just then, Fang Lixiang called out, ¡°Xu Fang,¡± she didn¡¯t come over, just shouted across half of the set, ¡°Your turn.¡± Zhou Xufang said, ¡°I have to hang up first.¡± She hung up the phone, ¡°I¡¯m coming.¡± The pool was temporarily dug and covered with a green cloth. Later, special effects would be added to create an ethereal fog on the water. Since an initial decision was made not to use a body double, there was no extra skirt prepared on set, so since Zhou Xufang was only needed for her feet on camera, the lead actress gave Zhou Xufang her underpants from inside the skirt. The scene being filmed was the Heavenly Consort¡¯s first bath in the Fengwu Palace, and after the bath, the Heavenly Consort would consummate her marriage with the Emperor of Heaven; hence, both skirt and underpants were red. Zhou Xufang followed the director¡¯s instructions, positioned herself correctly, stood with one leg, and dipped the other into the pool, brushing the surface of the water with the arch of her foot¡­ The camera zoomed in, changing from a long shot to a close-up. Director Chen concentrated on the effect in the camera, and someone from behind said, ¡°The shadow on the water is revealing the ruse.¡± Director Chen turned around, ¡°Mr. Tang.¡± ¡°The shadow has given it away,¡± Tang Xiang suggested, ¡°Maybe the stand-in should change tops as well.¡± Director Chen checked the playback. And indeed, it had given it away. The body double was wearing a poofy down jacket, which cast a shadow on the water. Director Chen called a halt, ¡°Pei Ning, give her your top.¡± Pei Ning was the lead actress. Zhou Xufang went with her to change, but since Pei Ning¡¯s dressing room was private, Zhou Xufang had to go to the public changing room. Fang Lixiang pointed the way, ¡°Go in there, it¡¯s the third one on the left.¡± Fang Lixiang couldn¡¯t take her there as her assistant had come to hurry her along, ¡°I need to touch up my makeup for the next shot, if you can¡¯t find the place, ask the staff to take you there. I¡¯ll look for you after I¡¯m done.¡± Zhou Xufang agreed, didn¡¯t bother the staff, and went on her own. Less than five minutes after she left, Jiang Zhi arrived. ¡°Director Jiang,¡± Director Chen was surprised, ¡°how did you come by? We¡¯re not that familiar, only acquainted a few times.¡± Tsk, tsk, tsk, with that face of his, he¡¯d be perfect for roles like a male fox spirit. Jiang Zhi spoke as if it were the most natural thing in the world, ¡°I¡¯m visiting my girlfriend.¡± He looked around, but couldn¡¯t find Zhou Xufang, ¡°Where is she?¡± Rumors were true after all; Director Jiang doted on his ¡®gloomy and unremarkable¡¯ girlfriend. Director Chen said, ¡°She¡¯s gone to change, she¡¯ll be here soon.¡± Jiang Zhi wanted to see her now, ¡°Where is the dressing room?¡± ¡°Xiao Chuan,¡± Director Chen called the staff over, ¡°please take Director Jiang there.¡± Staff Xiao Chuan started leading Jiang Zhi toward the dressing room, but just reaching the corridor, Jiang Zhi signaled him to stop. Ahead, Tang Xiang was calling out to Fang Lixiang. ¡°Miss Fang,¡± she approached, ¡°may I talk to you?¡± Chapter 180 - 180: 180: The Revelation of Luo San’s Identity (First Update) Chapter 180: 180: The Revelation of Luo San¡¯s Identity (First Update) ¡°Miss Fang,¡± she approached, ¡°may I have a word with you?¡± Fang Lixiang smiled. ¡°Of course.¡± She continued to smile, now playing the role of a cultured and busy CEO, ¡°you¡¯ll need to make an appointment through my agent. I¡¯m very busy.¡± The implication was clear¡ªnow was not the time, Mr. Fang was too busy. Tang Xiang looked at her with a half-smile, ¡°You¡¯re avoiding me so much, you must know what I¡¯m trying to find out.¡± Fox! This was an old fox! The opponent was too crafty; Fang Lixiang knew she was outmatched and adopted a resigned attitude, along with a feigned dumb expression. ¡°Miss Tang, you¡¯ve really got the wrong person. My dad is just a firefighter, he has nothing to do with it after putting out fires. You should ask the Luo family about their issues.¡± Who knows if you are in cahoots with the Luo family. ¡°Ask the Luo family,¡± Tang Xiang said with a smile, ¡°are you sure?¡± Fang Lixiang was stunned by that smile, and a bad feeling hit her hard. Tang Xiang wasn¡¯t rushing, still keeping a calm tone, ¡°If the Luo family also finds out something, do you think you and your daughter could still live peacefully?¡± Fang Lixiang realized, feeling a chill, ¡°Are you threatening me?¡± Tang Xiang shook her head, correcting her leisurely, ¡°No, I¡¯m making an offer of friendship.¡± She folded her arms and stepped forward, ¡°I know you don¡¯t trust me yet. I¡¯ll just ask you one question.¡± S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Fang Lixiang didn¡¯t trust her, unsure if she was a human or a ghost, but one thing was certain¡ªeveryone from the Luo family was definitely a demon or ghost. She weighed her options. ¡°Ask.¡± Tang Xiang cut to the chase, ¡°Is Luo San a girl?¡± Damn! This person must know a lot. Fang Lixiang hesitated between telling the truth and lying for several seconds before finally nodding, ¡°Yes.¡± Tang Xiang was a bit safer than dealing with the Luo family. In the dressing room, Zhou Xufang was sitting, waiting; soon, Pei Ning brought the clothes and cautioned her, ¡°Be careful, don¡¯t tear the clothes.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Zhou Xufang held the clothes gently to change, as if she were cradling the precious Jiang Zhi. Pei Ning had just sat down when her phone rang. She answered, ¡°Sister Qing.¡± She got up and walked outside the dressing room, ¡°I¡¯m at the film set now.¡± It was her agent on the phone pushing her about a commercial endorsement. As Pei Ning walked, she briefed her agent, ¡°I had Xiao Jin send over the contract first¡ª¡± She hadn¡¯t finished speaking when she nearly bumped into someone at the corner, looking up, ¡°Mr. Tang.¡± Tang Xiang nodded slightly and continued walking. Pei Ning looked back, warning, ¡°Mr. Tang, that¡¯s the dressing room.¡± ¡°Just having a look.¡± Her pace didn¡¯t falter. What¡¯s there to see in a public dressing room? Pei Ning dismissed her doubt and resumed discussing the contract with her agent, ¡°Check if there are any other issues with the contract, and I¡¯ll come see you later.¡± Creak¡ª The dressing room was temporarily set up and shared with the makeup room; it was quite rudimentary, and the door made a noise when opening and closing. A quick glance showed no one inside; Tang Xiang entered and walked further. There were curtains pulled to either side as makeshift changing areas. The left curtain was drawn back, Tang Xiang walked towards the right, noticed two black sneakers on the floor, raised her hand, and reached for the curtain, just as her wrist was grabbed by a hand reaching out from behind the curtain. Her skin was so pale it looked like it rarely saw the sun. Behind the curtain, Zhou Xufang asked, ¡°What are you doing?¡± Tang Xiang was slightly startled, apologized, ¡°Sorry, I thought it was empty.¡± Zhou Xufang then let go of her hand. Tang Xiang looked down at her wrist, which was red where it had been grasped; she was quite strong. She sat down on a sofa waiting for Zhou Xufang to finish changing and come out before starting, ¡°Do you remember me, Miss Zhou?¡± she reminded, ¡°We¡¯ve met in the porridge shop.¡± Zhou Xufang nodded, dressed in the lead actress¡¯s bright red costume, a stark contrast to her usual black attire, making her look radiant and flamboyant. Tang Xiang seemed to make casual conversation, ¡°Are you also from Imperial City, Miss Zhou?¡± Zhou Xufang was expressionless, ¡°No.¡± Tang Xiang pondered for a moment before asking again, ¡°Then, could you tell me where your hometown is?¡± she explained, ¡°You resemble a long-lost friend of mine.¡± She was fishing for information. Zhou Xufang also considered seriously and answered, ¡°It¡¯s inconvenient.¡± Tang Xiang merely smiled, not taking offense. Zhou Xufang put on her shoes, packed her own clothes in a bag. ¡°I need to go film now.¡± After saying this, she left first. After she left, Tang Xiang rose from the sofa, her gaze casually lifted and landed on the right corner of the dressing room, where the curtains were rolled up; on the floor was a necklace threaded with a black thin line. She walked over and picked up the necklace. Zhou Xufang came out of the dressing room and had only walked a few steps when she saw Jiang Zhi leaning against the wall in the corridor, his head down as if he were daydreaming. She ran over, ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± He seemed not to hear her. She reached out to tug at his sleeve, a bit louder, ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± Jiang Zhi then came to his senses and looked up, ¡°Hmm?¡± ¡°What are you thinking about?¡± He shook his head, said nothing, and started walking her out. Zhou Xufang felt he seemed to be troubled but didn¡¯t want to talk about it, so she didn¡¯t ask further, ¡°When did you get here?¡± Jiang Zhi said, ¡°Just arrived.¡± At that moment, someone outside the set called for a stand-in actor, and Zhou Xufang responded, telling Jiang Zhi, ¡°I need to go over there first.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Zhou Xufang took another long look at Jiang Zhi before running off. He was acting so strangely, she thought. She had dressed up so beautifully, and he hadn¡¯t even complimented her. She really looked pretty. It was only after the shooting had started outside that Jiang Zhi took out his phone and dialed a number, speaking in hushed tones, ¡°Help me look someone up.¡± ¡°Who?¡± He said, ¡°Fang Lixiang.¡± Zhou Xufang¡¯s stand-in scene was finished in less than twenty minutes, Fang Lixiang complimented her on her beautiful feet and even took a selfie with them. To commemorate Zhou Xufang dressing so beautifully, Fang Lixiang took many photos of her. At four-thirty, Jiang Zhi drove her home, then left first because he had things to do. Luckily, Zhou Xufang also had matters to attend to, so once Jiang Zhi left, she changed her outfit and rode off on a motorcycle. At eight in the evening, Tang Xiang¡¯s car stopped outside the sanatorium. She usually came only during the day on weekends, so the nurse, Xiao Qu, asked her, ¡°Why have you come so late today?¡± Tang Xiang lingered at the nurse station for a while, ¡°Something came up. Is Mom asleep?¡± Xiao Qu handed her the key to Ms. He¡¯s room, ¡°Not yet, she even had two walnut pastries just now.¡± Because Ms. He¡¯s mental state fluctuated, Tang Xiang worried she might wander off when she was not lucid. Normally, she had the nurse lock the door while she slept. Tang Xiang took the key and went to the room. Ms. He wasn¡¯t asleep, just sitting on the bed, daydreaming. ¡°Mom.¡± Ms. He was surprised to see her, ¡°Why have you come back? Aren¡¯t there classes?¡± Ms. He was lucid occasionally, her mind still stuck eight years ago when the Luo Family hadn¡¯t yet become famous and Tang Xiang was still at university. Tang Xiang closed the door behind her, ¡°Tomorrow is the weekend.¡± Ms. He nodded, got up, and said she would cook for her. Tang Xiang held her back, sat beside her on the bed, and took out a necklace from her pocket, spreading it on her palm for Ms. He to see, ¡°Mom, I found this necklace on the road just now. Do you know whose it is?¡± Ms. He immediately recognized it, ¡°This is Luo San¡¯s necklace.¡± Her expression suddenly turned tense, she looked around, muttering, ¡°So careless, losing such an important thing.¡± It really was Luo San¡¯s. Ms. He snatched the necklace and hid it under the pillow, anxiously instructing Tang Xiang, ¡°Xiangxiang, don¡¯t talk about the necklace to anyone.¡± Tang Xiang glanced at the black thread peeking from under the pillow, ¡°Understood.¡± After coaxing Ms. He to sleep, Tang Xiang finally left the room. Xiao Qu asked, ¡°Are you going back now?¡± Distracted, she replied absently and left the room key behind. Stars filled the night sky, the night of a full moon according to the lunar calendar. The night was windy, carrying the chill of winter. There were only three buildings in the sanatorium, two for patient rooms and one for medical treatments. Zhou Xufang was on the rooftop of the medical treatment building, clad in a sleek black outfit that blended into the night. She crouched there, pondering the conversation she had just overheard. Through her earpiece, Shuangjiang informed her in a synthesized voice, ¡°Surveillance has been cut.¡± OK! Zhou Xufang leapt down from the building. She didn¡¯t take the stairs but climbed directly to Ms. He¡¯s window on the first floor. The room door was locked. She looked left and right, listening for footsteps nearby, then quietly twisted the doorknob with force. The lock gave way. Fortunately, the occupant was still asleep. Zhou Xufang blocked the door with a chair and tiptoed to the bedside. After searching, she saw the black thread under the pillow and reached for it¡ª Ms. He suddenly opened her eyes and called out, ¡°Luo San.¡± Chapter 182 - 182: 182: Luo Family Fire Flashback (Three More Updates Chapter 182: 182: Luo Family Fire Flashback (Three More Updates ¡°Girl or boy?¡± Mr. Fang looked up, his gaze unflinching, ¡°It¡¯s a girl.¡± The fire at the Luo Family was fierce. At the time, Mr. Fang was the captain of the second firefighting team, and the entire team had been deployed for the massive fire at the Luo Family. When he found the child in the greenhouse, she was already gasping for life, blood everywhere on the trellis and the ground. Despite the raging fire, the child¡¯s body was ice-cold, devoid of any warmth. He had injured a hand then and could only manage to carry her on his back. It didn¡¯t take long before his entire back was soaked with blood. It was said that she was the adopted child of the Luo Family, already fourteen years old. But how could a child from such a prominent family be so frail and tiny, so light that he felt almost no weight on his back? Her breath was as thin as silk, muttering under her breath as she spoke. Mr. Fang couldn¡¯t make it out, ¡°What are you saying?¡± ¡°Jiang Zhi¡­¡± Her voice was coarse and hoarse, her throat smoked from the fire, barely able to make a sound, but she kept repeating that name over and over. Whose name was it that this dying child couldn¡¯t forget? Mr. Fang couldn¡¯t bear it, ¡°Do you have something to say to Jiang Zhi?¡± She nodded, still calling out that name. Mr. Fang, who wore his firefighting helmet, spoke loudly, ¡°Listen to uncle, don¡¯t talk now. Wait till you get better, then you can talk to him slowly.¡± The child shook her head, insisting these were her last words, ¡°Won¡¯t get better.¡± Each word she spoke required a long pause; she was weak and her words intermittent, ¡°He said¡­ he said girls must die.¡± It was a girl. Mr. Fang had thought all girls in the world were like the one at his home, who would laugh wildly, act spoiled, make a fuss when scared, and cry when hurt. This one on his back was different; she neither cried nor made noise, just quietly letting her blood run dry. ¡°Who says girls must die? Who said it?¡± She might have already been delirious, clutching at Mr. Fang¡¯s clothes, shouting, ¡°Jiang Zhi,¡± her voice growing weaker and weaker, as if she was about to fall asleep, ¡°Don¡¯t be sad, I¡¯m just going to heaven.¡± Mr. Fang¡¯s eyes turned red as he carried her outside. Blood dripped onto the ground, the child had a hole in her body, and it was unclear what had been used to make it. She said, ¡°There are no bad people in heaven, heaven is nice, don¡¯t be sad¡­¡± Those were her last words, spoken to someone named ¡®Jiang Zhi.¡¯ ¡°What happened after that?¡± Jiang Zhi asked. After that¡­ Mr. Fang¡¯s eyes grew sore; he sniffled. Suddenly, Gui Fei barked, ¡°Woof!¡± ¡°There was no after,¡± Mr. Fang wiped his eyes, looked down at the ground, and said, ¡°By the time I found her, she had already stopped breathing.¡± Gui Fei barked again, ¡°Woof!¡± It was Fang Lixiang who came running. She glanced at Mr. Fang and asked Jiang Zhi, ¡°You already have Zhou Xufang, why are you still inquiring about Luo San?¡± She didn¡¯t want Zhou Xufang to be involved with the Luo family again. ¡°Because murder deserves retribution,¡± Jiang Zhi spoke slowly, his tone light, ¡°Because besides me, no one will seek justice for that child.¡± That child, unloved, her parentage unknown. S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Only he cared. Fang Lixiang¡¯s eyes reddened, words bursting out, ¡°She didn¡¯t stop breathing.¡± Mr. Fang immediately stopped her, ¡°Fang Lixiang!¡± But she couldn¡¯t control herself, ¡°She¡¯s still alive.¡± The dark ink in Jiang Zhi¡¯s eyes intensified, his voice trembling, ¡°Where is she?¡± Is she still alive? As long as she is alive, that¡¯s all that matters. ¡°She has a necklace with her name engraved on it.¡± This part, Mr. Fang had drunkenly told her countless times, each time with tears streaming down, tearing his heart apart, yet when he actually spoke, it was unexpectedly calm, ¡°Her name is Zhou Xufang.¡± Jiang Zhi¡¯s eyes instantly reddened, ¡°What did you say her name was?¡± Fang Lixiang repeated, ¡°Her name is Zhou Xufang.¡± Zhou Xufang¡­ He staggered two steps, nearly unable to stand. A thought of heaven, a thought of Hell, it was as if he had died once, sweat drenching him; he gasped in cold air, choking and coughing as if he was about to cough out his lungs. Why was it Zhou Xufang? Why was it her? She was born to undergo trials, enduring all the suffering possible. Jiang Zhi stood for a long time before he moved his feet towards Zhou Xufang¡¯s home, his steps uneven and shaky. He stood downstairs, head tilted back, tears in his eyes reflecting light, ¡°Zhou Xufang.¡± ¡°Zhou Xufang.¡± No one answered him. She probably wasn¡¯t home, and he kept mumbling ¡®Zhou Xufang¡¯ like a fool, for a long time, until the wind dried his eyes. Then he finally made a call. ¡°Hello.¡± Jiang Zhi said, ¡°I¡¯m waiting for you at the porridge shop.¡± It was Tang Xiang. She asked, ¡°Is something the matter?¡± Jiang Zhi had no patience for games, ¡°Don¡¯t pretend you don¡¯t know.¡± Having said that, Tang Xiang was forthright, ¡°You figured it out?¡± she admitted, ¡°I did indeed intend for you to overhear.¡± Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t want to waste words, succinctly, ¡°In forty minutes, meet me at the porridge shop.¡± ¡°It seems you¡¯ve already met Fang Dashun,¡± she surmised correctly; the Fang family, father and daughter, didn¡¯t trust her, but they trusted Jiang Zhi, and so did she. His capabilities and resourcefulness were unmatched in the Imperial City, she thought, and in just half a day, he had uncovered everything. Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t deny it, and hung up the phone. At 10:40, the clouds obscured the moonlight. When Tang Xiang arrived, Jiang Zhi was already there. The porridge shop was empty, and she sat down directly opposite him, ¡°Last time it was also in this porridge shop, my mom recognized Zhou Xufang, and kept calling her Luo San.¡± In front of Jiang Zhi was a cup of plain water, already cold, ¡°Since then, you suspected her?¡± Tang Xiang shook her head, ¡°After my mom went insane, she forgot many things. Sometimes she doesn¡¯t even recognize me, but she remembers everything about Luo San.¡± Tang Xiang had only discovered then that Luo San had another name. Indeed, Luo San was raised single-handedly by Ms. He ¨C fed by her, her hair cut by her, clothed by her, taught to read by her, and taught how to barely survive in the Luo Family. Ms. He understood Luo San better than her own daughter. ¡°I saw Zhou Xufang at an outdoor filming location. She seemed to have a phobia of roses just like Luo San. At first, it was just a suspicion, but today I am certain.¡± Tang Xiang took out the necklace and placed it on the table, ¡°Zhou Xufang left it in the dressing room, it¡¯s Luo San¡¯s necklace.¡± Chapter 183 - 183: 183: Jiang Zhi and Luo San Recognize Each Other in the Attic (First Update) Chapter 183: 183: Jiang Zhi and Luo San Recognize Each Other in the Attic (First Update) ¡°Zhou Xufang left it in the changing room, it¡¯s Luo San¡¯s necklace.¡± Jiang Zhi picked up the necklace, examining it closely in his palm. The metal disc was polished smooth, coin-sized, probably because the owner often touched it. The engraved script ¡®Zhou Xufang¡¯ had become shallow from frequent handling. This necklace looked quite old. Jiang Zhi carefully pocketed the necklace and looked up at Tang Xiang, ¡°Just say it, what¡¯s your purpose?¡± Tang Xiang didn¡¯t beat around the bush; she got straight to the point, ¡°There weren¡¯t many who knew about the Luo Family¡¯s great fire that year, Fang Dashun is one, but he doesn¡¯t trust me.¡± That¡¯s why she pulled Jiang Zhi into this. What she couldn¡¯t find, with Jiang Zhi¡¯s means, if he was willing, he could certainly pull it out. Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t confirm nor deny, counter-asking, ¡°Do you think I would trust you?¡± ¡°Since you know Luo San was a girl, you should also guess who hid her gender.¡± It was Tang Xiang¡¯s parents. Luo San¡¯s background was known only to the Luo Family and them. Tang Xiang revealed her purpose, ¡°I suspect my father¡¯s death in the fire wasn¡¯t an accident, it was the Luo Family wanting to silence him, and I, want to clarify this matter.¡± She and the Luo Family were never on the same side; she always remembered how hurriedly the Luo Family had dealt with her father¡¯s body and hastily closed the case when he perished in the fire. In the great fire of the Luo Family, two died, one was injured, yet the perpetrator wasn¡¯t sentenced to death; she didn¡¯t believe it was all unintentional. Jiang Zhi tentatively believed her, then asked, ¡°And what makes you trust me?¡± With a voice as if it was most natural, Tang Xiang had never doubted Jiang Zhi¡¯s goodwill towards Luo San, ¡°Aren¡¯t you always investigating the incident from eight years ago? Apart from me, the only other person who cried outside after the fire was you.¡± She didn¡¯t trust any of the Luo Family members, seeing them all as cruel-hearted. Even though Luo San was adopted, after so many years, not a single one from the Luo Family wished her well. Tang Xiang made her position clear without any concealment, ¡°Jiang Zhi, we are in a cooperative relationship, not a hostile one.¡± After Jiang Zhi left, Tang Xiang sat for a while in the porridge shop. The shop¡¯s Boss Lady was her second aunt, who specially cooked a bowl of porridge for her; she didn¡¯t leave until she had finished eating. She didn¡¯t come by car, so she chose a bus stop with fewer people, sat down, and lit a cigarette, watching the bustling traffic as she took intermittent puffs. A black business car stopped in front of her, the window rolled down, and a ruggedly handsome face stormed into her view, ¡°You still smoke?¡± Dressed in a suit and leather shoes, looking stable and scholarly. Just looking stable and scholarly was all, Tang Xiang was in no mood to deal with this old classmate who always disagreed with her, her tone more perfunctory, ¡°Is that a problem?¡± Jiang Xiaolin leaned on the car window, all relaxed, looking as if he was watching a fascinating show, ¡°What, did you confess to Jiang Zhi and get rejected?¡± he said mockingly, ¡°Smoking away your sorrow?¡± How long had he been here?! Tang Xiang held the cigarette between two fingers, blowing a smoke ring towards the car window, ¡°It¡¯s none of your damn business!¡± Back in her school days, she was a ¡®face-control¡¯ fanatic, had praised Jiang Zhi several times in front of this guy, and he always thought she ¡®coveted¡¯ Jiang Zhi¡¯s beauty. He straightened his tie, altogether suave and scholarly, ¡°As a lady, can¡¯t you speak politely?¡± Tang Xiang smiled sweetly, ¡°That depends on whom I¡¯m speaking with.¡± She flicked some ash off, leisurely smoking, ¡°I speak human words to humans, ghost words to ghosts, and naturally, I speak rogue words to rogues.¡± Calling him a rogue. Jiang Xiaolin didn¡¯t get angry, stepped out of the car, and walked over to her, ¡°Didn¡¯t you say I was a pervert? Then let¡¯s talk something more intense.¡± The great son of the Jiang Family, Lin, admired by so many. See, this is his true nature. Tang Xiang couldn¡¯t stand it anymore, ¡°Jiang Xiaolin!¡± He smiled like a scoundrel, ¡°You really know how to scream.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Really fucking intense. Tang Xiang lost the mood to smoke, stood up, and kicked towards him, ¡°Filthy rogue!¡± He didn¡¯t dodge, and took a solid kick, leaving a footprint on his impeccable suit pants. He bent down and calmly brushed off the dust, ¡°Feeling better now?¡± Tang Xiang was stunned for a moment. As he stood up, he also took the cigarette that was between her fingertips, looked at the lipstick stain on the cigarette butt, ¡°This isn¡¯t anything good, stop smoking it.¡± He extinguished the cigarette and threw it in the trash can, then turned back to his car, stepped on the accelerator, and left. Tang Xiang was left standing under the light with a complex expression. It was eleven twenty in the evening. The clouds dispersed, the moon was round again, surrounded by stars, casting myriad photons like a celestial diadem. ¡°Snap¡ª¡± Zhou Xufang casually twisted off the lock on Luo Yinghe¡¯s room; she felt the quality of the lock definitely needed improvement. At this hour, Luo Yinghe was actually asleep, with no lights on in the room, pitch black. Zhou Xufang, feeling her way in the dark, entered the bathroom and took out a flashlight from her bag. She searched the sink and the floor, gathered some hair strands, and also picked up a few from the brush and towel, which she put in a bag, and took the toothbrush too. Suddenly, there was a ¡®click¡¯ sound! Then, the sound of footsteps came from the bedroom; Luo Yinghe awoke. Zhou Xufang turned off the flashlight, left the bathroom door slightly ajar, and stood directly behind it, holding her breath, like an imperceptible piece of wood. Luo Yinghe, yawning, pushed the door and entered the bathroom, casually closing it, and groggily switched on the light without even noticing the lock was broken. Her steps wobbly, she walked to the toilet, squinted her eyes to undo her trousers, then sat down, her head swaying drowsily. Then came the sound of urination. Zhou Xufang: ¡°¡­¡± She was standing right in front of Luo Yinghe. Just a lift of Luo Yinghe¡¯s head would reveal her presence, so she decided to make the first move¡ªholding her breath, she moved forward, reached out, and turned off the light. The bathroom was plunged into darkness. Luo Yinghe let out a ¡®huh¡¯, looked up, and saw a vague silhouette. She was about to scream when suddenly her vision blurred, her neck felt numb, her eyes rolled back, and she collapsed behind the toilet. To be extra cautious, Zhou Xufang pulled a few more strands of hair from her head before feeling her way out. She only left for a little while, then came back in the dark, flashlight in her mouth, hands assisting to pull up Luo Yinghe¡¯s trousers. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Following that, she made her way to Luo Qinghe¡¯s room. Luo Qinghe¡¯s room was empty, likely he hadn¡¯t come back yet; this made her task much easier. She found the hair and toothbrush and left the room in less than five minutes. Just as she left Luo Qinghe¡¯s room, her mobile phone in her pocket vibrated. At this hour, it had to be Jiang Zhi calling her; she casually opened another guest room, hid inside, and picked up the call. Her voice was very soft, whispery, ¡°Hello.¡± Jiang Zhi asked, ¡°Where are you?¡± His voice was strange, tense, and heavy. Zhou Xufang couldn¡¯t explain her current situation in a few words, so she just said, ¡°I am on a mission.¡± He stubbornly pressed, ¡°Where?¡± The more she listened, the more Zhou Xufang felt that something was off, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± She sensed that Jiang Zhi¡¯s voice was suppressed, as if he was in a heavy mood. He didn¡¯t explain, only said, ¡°Want to see you, tell me where.¡± Zhou Xufang hesitated for quite some time but couldn¡¯t refuse him, ¡°I¡¯m at the Luo Family.¡± He paused for a long time, as if mulling over something, and the sound of the wind came through the phone for a long while before he finally spoke, ¡°Wait for me in the attic.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Zhou Xufang hung up the phone. Jiang Zhi was so strange, something sad must have happened; she¡¯d have to comfort him well when he arrived. Thinking this, she made her way to Luo Changde¡¯s room. Luo Changde had drunk a lot, sleeping soundly with snores echoing, the room filled with the stench of alcohol. Zhou Xufang, seeing him sleep like a pig, simply plucked some of his hair. She needed to collect DNA from all Luo Family members, ending with Mr. Luo. He lived on the first floor, and as Zhou Xufang approached, she could hear coughing sounds from inside. ¡°Cough, cough, cough.¡± The light was on in the room, and people were still awake. Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t want to startle the snake by hitting the grass, so she crouched under the staircase, listening to the movements inside and outside the room, and quietly observed the changes. About three or four minutes later, Luo Huaiyu received a phone call. ¡°Chairman,¡± a man¡¯s voice on the phone, probably a young adult, said, ¡°Peng Zhongming has arrived in Imperial City.¡± Luo Huaiyu pondered for a moment, ¡°Has he seen his father yet?¡± The man on the phone answered, ¡°No, Peng Xianzhi is still unaware. It was only after Peng Zhongming got involved with drugs abroad and had financial issues that he turned his sights to Mr. Luo.¡± Mr. Luo referred to the elder Mr. Luo, Luo Changde. Luo Qinghe was usually called Younger Luo. Luo Huaiyu thought it over for a moment and instructed the man on the phone, ¡°Have people watch Changde and Qinghe¡¯s side, and try to get ahold of what Peng Zhongming has in his hands.¡± ¡°Yes, Chairman.¡± Peng Zhongming, Peng Xianzhi. Zhou Xufang remembered these two names and planned to have Shuangjiang investigate them as soon as she got back. Suddenly, a hurried footsteps ran down from upstairs to the front of Luo Huaiyu¡¯s room door. It was a servant of the Luo Family, seeing that the light was still on in the room, knocked on the door and called out, ¡°Chairman.¡± Luo Huaiyu asked from inside, ¡°What is it?¡± The servant reported, ¡°The second young miss has fainted in her room.¡± Zhou Xufang, ¡°¡­¡± Thank goodness she had helped someone get dressed. She really was too kind. Afterward, Luo Huaiyu left the room with his cane. A golden opportunity! As soon as he departed, Zhou Xufang entered Luo Huaiyu¡¯s room. She rummaged around the pillow, but before she could find even a strand of hair, the sound of a cane tapping on the floor reached her ears again. Tap! Tap! Tap! The sound grew closer, and Zhou Xufang hadn¡¯t gotten the hair yet. She didn¡¯t plan to run; Luo Huaiyu pushed open the door, and they came face to face, ¡°You¡¯ve got some nerve.¡± With the incandescent lamp glowing in the room, Zhou Xufang looked up and saw Luo Huaiyu¡¯s stern and rigid face. Her mind flashed with sporadic fragments of memory. Back then she was a little Bald, in the attic, where she found a pill in a tattered pillow. She held it in both hands and stammered to a pale-faced, sickly boy, ¡°Eat this; it¡¯s not poisoned.¡± Her voice, not often used, was androgynous. The boy looked at her but didn¡¯t open his mouth. She urged, ¡°Eat it.¡± He blankly opened his mouth, and she directly threw the pill in, then pushed him into the closet, bracing the closet door with her back. Fearing the boy was scared, she comforted him, ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid, I¡¯m here.¡± The attic had only one small window, which was open. The sun was dim that day, and as she leaned against the closet door, she looked up to see a pair of eyes outside the window. It was the person she feared the most. He gestured for her to come out. She hesitated for a long time, then slow-footedly followed him out. Inside the closet, the boy called out, ¡°Luo San.¡± No response came, he knocked on the door, ¡°Luo San, are you still out there?¡± Still no reply, the boy pushed open the closet door and came out. In the attic, Bald was nowhere to be seen, and her whereabouts were unknown. Luo Huaiyu took her to the study and closed the door. The old man, his face full of wrinkles, a dark purple tint to his lips, crouched down very close to her, ¡°So, you can speak.¡± His eyes were cloudy as he gazed at her timidly, like coaxing her, yet also commanding, ¡°Say ¡®Grandpa,¡¯ let me hear it.¡± She was terrified and instinctively moved back, her back pressing against the room door. He held on to a cane, the handle of which was carved into a dragon¡¯s head with eyes made of jade, embedded in vibrant green. His hand was covered in age spots, and his fingers inconsistently rubbed the dragon¡¯s eyes while his other hand reached out towards her: ¡°Call out.¡± He placed his hand on her shoulder. She shivered, and her voice faltered as she stammered: ¡°Gr-grandpa.¡± The old man before her suddenly laughed. ¡°You¡¯ve got quite the nerve.¡± Zhou Xufang stared intensely at the person before her, the old face blurring into the memory of another elderly face. She hadn¡¯t recalled everything, yet even with the incomplete memories, fear remained like an instinctual reaction. Luo Huaiyu stood at the doorway, leaning on the jade-embedded dragon-headed cane. His piercing gaze fixated on her: ¡°Who are you?¡± Who was she? Luo San had died in the fire eight years ago; she was Zhou Xufang. She said, ¡°I am a vengeful ghost.¡± Wearing special glasses that glowed in the night, she stared straight at Luo Huaiyu, deliberately lowering her voice, eerily saying, ¡°Ever heard of ¡®Vengeful Ghost Soul Lock¡¯?¡± Luo Huaiyu snorted, ¡°Playing ghost and god tricks!¡± Well then, she¡¯d play ghost for a bit. She moved swiftly, stirring up a breeze, and in the blink of an eye, circled behind Luo Huaiyu. Catching him off guard, she pulled out several strands of his hair. Luo Huaiyu staggered and crashed into the door, shivering, whether from fright or anger, it was unclear. With the spoils in hand, Zhou Xufang had no interest in playing hide and seek with someone surnamed Luo. Expecting Jiang Zhi to arrive soon, she leapt onto the Luo family¡¯s rooftop, taking the ¡®air route¡¯ to the attic above the servants¡¯ quarters. She scoped out the area first. The villa side was in chaos, but no one seemed to come searching, so she then pushed open the attic door. It was dim inside, the lights off. Zhou Xufang tiptoed and whispered, creeping and cowering like a thief, ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± Very quietly, ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± The attic had wooden windows that were closed; the moonlight couldn¡¯t seep through, and she couldn¡¯t see clearly. She closed the door and fumbled in: ¡°I¡¯m here, Jiang Zhi.¡± She took out her flashlight from her bag, turned it on, and the beam shot straight forward, illuminating a face perfectly. Jiang Zhi was sitting on a dusty little wooden bed in the attic, his pale face made ghostly white by the flashlight. The atmosphere felt like a horror movie. Zhou Xufang jumped when she first saw him: ¡°Pointing that flashlight like that, you look like a ghost¡ª¡± Before she could finish, that ¡°ghost¡± rushed over and hugged her. Thud¡ª The flashlight fell to the floor, rolling under the wooden bed. Zhou Xufang paused for a moment: ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± He hugged her very tightly, his hands trembling. Zhou Xufang raised her hand, grasping the clothing at his waist: ¡°Jiang Zhi, what¡¯s wrong?¡± He buried his face in her shoulder, his voice tight, as if choking: ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± His voice choked, ¡°I promised to pick you up to go to the Jiang family,¡± he tightened his embrace, holding her closely, ¡°but I was late.¡± Oh. He knew too. Zhou Xufang was unclear how he had found out: ¡°I was just thinking about how to tell you that I am Luo San.¡± She lifted her hands, held Jiang Zhi¡¯s face, and stepped back a little to look into his eyes, ¡°How to tell you so that you won¡¯t feel sad for me.¡± The flashlight under the wooden bed cast a layer of light on the floor, and in the dim light, she saw tears in his eyes. Jiang Zhi was crying. This was the first time Zhou Xufang had seen him cry, he who was so proud, a man who would bleed but not shed tears. Chapter 184 - 184: 184: The Romance of the Young Textile Couple (Second Update) Chapter 184: 184: The Romance of the Young Textile Couple (Second Update) That year¡¯s blazing summer was filled with the incessant noise of cicadas. Luo Yinghe was not fond of studying. Whenever she took out her books and homework, she would start dozing off, and sure enough, within ten minutes, she had fallen asleep. When she awoke, the sun had already set. While gathering her books, she found that someone had written an answer to the question she couldn¡¯t solve. Instantly, she flew into a rage and marched over to the flower trellis, pushing Luo San: ¡°Who gave you permission to touch my homework?¡± In that flower pavilion, it was just the two of them, so besides Little Mute, it couldn¡¯t have been anyone else. There was a loud clang. The watering can Luo San was holding fell to the ground; the lid rolled away, and water splashed onto Luo Yinghe¡¯s skirt. This completely set off Luo Yinghe¡¯s temper. She grabbed the ill-fitting old dress on her, dragged her over to the table. ¡°You imbecile, can you even understand this?¡± The girl was two years younger than Luo Yinghe, and due to chronic malnutrition, she was both thin and short. Luo Yinghe was much taller, easily pinning her down on the table. ¡°Did you write this?¡± Pointing to the math problem, Luo Yinghe threw a tantrum: ¡°Who taught you to write?¡± The sixteen-year-old girl was all claws and teeth, not holding back at all, ¡°Speak up, who taught you how to write?¡± Pinned to the table, she did not struggle, nor did she show any expression. Her gaze was numb and empty. Seeing this dull expression on her face infuriated Luo Yinghe. She grabbed a book, deliberately hitting her with the hard part, all the while cursing: ¡°I¡¯m talking to you!¡± ¡°Now not only are you mute, but you¡¯ve also gone deaf, haven¡¯t you!¡± ¡°I told you to mess with my things! You don¡¯t know what¡¯s good for you!¡± Luo Yinghe, still fuming, threw down the book and pushed her to the ground. At that time, Luo San had not yet turned fourteen, frail and skinny. She was pushed quite a distance away, shoulder slamming against the flower trellis. Her hand went numb for a moment, and a piece of candy dropped out. The pink candy wrapper was pretty and eye-catching. Luo Yinghe immediately recognized it, walked over swiftly, and grabbed her hand. ¡°You even stole my candy! Being foolish is one thing, but now you are also a thief.¡± Her grip was tight. There¡¯s still more in her hand. Luo Yinghe pried open her fingers: ¡°Let go!¡± Now she had strength, surprisingly unable to pry her hand open. Luo Yinghe kicked her: ¡°Let go!¡± She wouldn¡¯t let go, showing no signs of pain, not even frowning when beaten. The more obstinate she was, the more Luo Yinghe disliked her: ¡°Humph, I would rather give it to a dog than you!¡± Unable to wrestle it from her, Luo Yinghe went to the trellis behind them, snapping off several roses, wrapping them in paper, then raising her hand to whip them across the person¡¯s back. Before the flower stems had fallen, Luo Yinghe¡¯s hand was caught. She irritably looked up, then paused for a second: ¡°Jiang, Jiang Zhi.¡± At that time, Jiang Zhi was a sixteen-year-old boy, tall and handsome. Every time Luo Yinghe saw him, she blushed. Jiang Zhi usually never looked straight at her, but this time, his usually laid-back eyes were intently fixed on her, arrogance and defiance in his gaze, not attempting to hide his hostility. He snatched away the roses and slapped them across her face. Luo Yinghe screamed, covering her face, the thorns cutting her skin, pain making her gasp for air. ¡°If I catch you hitting her again, I will beat you half to death,¡± the boy said coldly, throwing the flowers to the ground. ¡°I, Jiang Zhi, keep my word. You can try me.¡± Luo Yinghe often heard her mother mention what kind of temper the young master of the Jiang Family had, with the most repeated advice being to keep her distance and not to provoke him. The Luo Family was affluent, but it could not compare to the Jiang Family, which was at the pinnacle of the Imperial City¡¯s hierarchy, with Jiang Zhi being the most pampered young master of the Jiang Family. Everyone wanted to get on good terms with Jiang Zhi, but he only ever cared for the Luo Family¡¯s mute. Luo Yinghe kept her head down without talking back, her hands clenched tightly at her sides. ¡°Come with me.¡± Oh. Luo San obediently followed the young man out. Once out of the pavilion, he turned and scolded her: ¡°Are you an idiot?¡± She nodded blankly. Yes, everyone said she was a little fool. She was still nodding, and it was driving him insane, scolding her in frustration: ¡°Who said you¡¯re an idiot!¡± He snorted as if he couldn¡¯t vent his anger, grumbling irritably, ¡°Right, you¡¯re an idiot, not knowing how to fight back when hit. You¡¯re a boy, can¡¯t you even beat a girl?¡± She wanted to tell him that she had fought back before, and then was beaten much harder. She remained silent, only gazing at him with bright eyes. The boy was still in a temper, frowning handsomely: ¡°You¡¯re like a fool, just standing there taking hits.¡± His scolding grew fiercer: ¡°Can¡¯t you even run away? Are you even¡ª¡± She stretched out her hand, palm open, holding a piece of candy. It wasn¡¯t stolen; she had picked it up from the ground. It was clean; she had wiped it off, wanting to give it to him. She thought he would be pleased, but he seemed even angrier, glaring at her with beautiful eyes: ¡°You¡¯re really a fucking idiot!¡± After scolding her, he walked away. She stood there, foolishly, not understanding what had made him angry. Then, not long after, he ran back, breathing hard after only a few steps because of his poor health, and he took the candy from her hand. During the sunset, the afterglow was a deep red color. The handsome boy¡¯s forehead was sweaty, his face and the area around his eyes red. He said, ¡°Luo San, come to the Jiang Family with me.¡± He said, ¡°Come to my house, and I¡¯ll support you with my pocket money.¡± At that time, he too was a child, not yet grown up, but he earnestly promised her: ¡°This type of candy, I can buy you a whole room¡¯s worth.¡± Luo San smiled, foolishly joyful, eyes reddening, nodding vigorously. Good. She wanted to go to the Jiang Family, not because the Jiang Family had candy, but because the Jiang Family had Jiang Zhi. That evening, Jiang Zhi spoke with Old Lady Jiang: ¡°I want to bring Luo San to stay with the Jiang Family.¡± Old Lady Jiang was enjoying the cool in the courtyard, fanning herself with a palm-leaf fan: ¡°To stay for a few days?¡± The young boy stood under the tree, surrounded by fireflies, and said, ¡°To keep for good.¡± Still too young and capricious. Old Lady Jiang dismissed the idea decisively, ¡°No.¡± His beautiful eyes immediately darkened, and his face fell, ¡°Why not?¡± ¡°We, the Jiang Family, do not need to adopt a child.¡± He was annoyed, ¡°Who said anything about adoption?¡± Old Lady Jiang laughed, ¡°Then what do you want to bring him here for?¡± He did think about it, but couldn¡¯t come up with a good excuse, so he simply said, ¡°Can¡¯t I just take care of him? Luo San was born so frail; he surely won¡¯t eat much. He¡¯s not picky about food, easy to care for.¡± Old Lady Jiang rose from her rocking chair, speaking with a weighted seriousness, ¡°Brother Zhi, you¡¯re already sixteen years old. Keeping a boy in the house, people will gossip.¡± He didn¡¯t care about others, ¡°I¡¯ll use my own money to take care of Luo San. What¡¯s it to them? I¡¯d like to see who dares to wag their tongues.¡± Hearing his stubbornness, Old Madam¡¯s face tightened, and her tone became heavier, ¡°They might not dare in your presence, but who knows what they¡¯ll say behind your back?¡± His tone was firm, unyielding, ¡°Let them talk. I¡¯ll take care of my own.¡± Old Lady Jiang was furious, ¡°Brother Zhi!¡± ¡°Grandma,¡± the youth softened his voice, usually spoiled and never having to beg so humbly before, ¡°I¡¯m asking you, please, let Luo San come to the Jiang Family, alright?¡± It was the first time he had ever pleaded. Old Madam was in a difficult position, ¡°Even if I agree, the Luo Family won¡¯t.¡± His handsome face darkened, and despite his youth, his eyes betrayed a sternness and decisiveness beyond his years, ¡°If they don¡¯t agree, I¡¯ll snatch him.¡± What nonsense! Is this something a sixteen-year-old child should do?! Old Lady Jiang couldn¡¯t allow him to act so recklessly, ¡°Easier said than done. With his household register at the Luo Family, how will you snatch him without their consent?¡± The youth remained unflappable, ¡°I¡¯ll just take him by force.¡± ¡°Ridiculous!¡± Moonlight filtered through the silver pine tree, and the youth, who had been standing tall, suddenly knelt down. He had grown to sixteen without ever kneeling to anyone, not even his ancestors, and now for the sake of a stranger, he bent his knees, ¡°If you won¡¯t let me act rashly, then I¡¯m set on doing so. If you don¡¯t help me bring Luo San over, I¡¯ll just kneel here and not get up.¡± He was doing it on purpose. Old Madam always babied him, especially about his health, so he resorted to a hunger strike. If this tactic didn¡¯t work, he would be in trouble¡ªhe¡¯d have to resort to disgraceful schemes, which he hoped to avoid for a peaceful resolution, not to mention it would spare that child from making enemies. He was Old Lady Jiang¡¯s grandson, raised by her hand, and she knew his mind well, letting go indifferently, ¡°Then kneel if you must.¡± He knelt for two hours. Late into the night, Old Lady Jiang hadn¡¯t gone to bed yet, planning to check on the boy when Jiang Chuan rushed in with an urgent message, ¡°Old Madam, Young Master¡­ he¡­¡± Jiang Chuan was drenched in sweat, ¡°Young Master is vomiting blood.¡± Old Lady Jiang panicked at the news, ¡°What¡¯s happening? Is Dr. Qin here? Has Dr. Qin arrived?¡± It was during Jiang Zhi¡¯s weakest period, he needed daily medication, and even the physician said to prepare for the worst. He might not live to twenty-five, let alone become an adult. The diagnosis was the same eight words: Inborn deficiency, both the heart and lungs weak. He was unconscious for a whole day with this illness. When he awoke, it was dark, and Old Lady Jiang was by his bedside, ¡°Brother Zhi.¡± Old Madam let out a sigh of relief, ¡°It¡¯s good that you¡¯ve woken up, it¡¯s good.¡± The youth on the bed was languid, weak, still in a fever, cheeks flushed red, struggling to sit up, ¡°I need to go pick up Luo San.¡± Old Lady Jiang soothed him, ¡°You need to recover first.¡± He wouldn¡¯t agree, trying to rise, ¡°I need to get Luo San first.¡± Old Madam, now with no option left, softened her heart and conceded, ¡°Alright, alright, I¡¯ll talk to the Luo Family.¡± The frail youth finally relaxed, smiling. Old Lady Jiang was at a loss, whether to laugh or cry, getting up, intending to make the trip to the Luo Family. At the door, Jiang Chuan came running in, ¡°Madam, Young Master,¡± he hesitated, glancing at the person on the bed, fumbling for words until finally, he said, ¡°There¡¯s been a tragedy at the Luo Family. A fire broke out in the flower shed, claiming two lives.¡± The youth immediately asked, ¡°Who¡¯s gone?¡± Jiang Chuan fell silent. He shouted, ¡°Who¡¯s gone!¡± ¡°The adopted son of the Luo Family¡ª¡± Before he could finish, the person on the bed coughed, vomiting a mouthful of blood onto the covers, staining a large swath scarlet. ¡°Brother Zhi!¡± Seeing the blood, Old Lady Jiang cried out in alarm, ¡°Quickly call for Dr. Qin!¡± Jiang Chuan immediately ran to fetch the doctor. ¡°Cough, cough, cough¡­¡± He continued to cough, covering his mouth, a few drops of blood seeping through his fingers, the other hand braced against the bed, veins pulsing subtly on the back of his hand. Old Madam held him down, ¡°Don¡¯t move, lie down, the doctor will be here any moment.¡± He wiped away the blood with the back of his hand, his pale lips stained red with blood, eyes red too, the hand bracing himself on the bed trembling, his facial expression terrifyingly calm, he spoke deliberately, ¡°Let me go to the Luo Family.¡± S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°It¡¯s too late for that now.¡± He didn¡¯t care, staggering out of bed, his thin body wavering. ¡°Brother Zhi!¡± The youth turned back, his eyes blending with the lamplight, and said, ¡°If I don¡¯t go, no one will collect Luo San¡¯s body.¡± In the attic. Zhou Xufang looked up at Jiang Zhi, helpless, ¡°Jiang Zhi, don¡¯t cry, please.¡± She couldn¡¯t bear to see him cry, couldn¡¯t bear the tears misting his beautiful peach blossom eyes. She reached out, gently wiping his eyes, anxious and not knowing how to console him, she blurted out, ¡°You don¡¯t look good crying.¡± In reality, he did look good¡ªa beautiful person in tears is always sightly, but she couldn¡¯t bear it. Jiang Zhi¡¯s eyes were so lovely, they weren¡¯t meant to hold tears. Yet he looked at her, saying nothing, his eyes reddening, and with a blink, tears clung to his lashes. Zhou Xufang felt such heartache, she said, ¡°If you¡¯re not good-looking I won¡¯t like you anymore.¡± Her expression was stern, as she playfully threatened him, ¡°I only like you because you¡¯re handsome.¡± His lashes quivered but held steady, ¡°Do you only like my face?¡± Zhou Xufang replied, ¡°Yes.¡± Jiang Zhi, suddenly unable to continue crying, ¡°¡­¡± Chapter 185 - 185: 185: First Kiss in Youth (Third Update) Chapter 185: 185: First Kiss in Youth (Third Update) ¡°Yes,¡± Suddenly Jiang Zhi, unable to cry any longer, ¡°¡­¡± Zhou Xufang, however, laughed, stood on tiptoe, and kissed the corner of his left eye, then the right one, ¡°There, all better.¡± She had soothed him. Idiot! She was just like before, still his little fool. Even at a time like this, she only worried about him. Jiang Zhi opened his arms and embraced her, ¡°Do you remember this place?¡± Zhou Xufang shook her head, ¡°I only remember a little bit, there¡¯s so much I can¡¯t recall.¡± Oh, and she didn¡¯t forget to add, ¡°So I¡¯m not too upset about it, and you shouldn¡¯t be either.¡± Maybe it¡¯s better she doesn¡¯t remember. ¡°Then don¡¯t think about it.¡± She didn¡¯t have many good memories to dwell on either. Zhou Xufang thought for a moment, ¡°But I want to remember. I want to know what you were like before.¡± The young Jiang Zhi must have been everything she liked. She wanted to know everything about him. Jiang Zhi took off her hat, smoothing her disheveled hair, his eyes clearing after a storm, the most beautiful and purest ink color, ¡°You just need to know that I¡¯ve been good looking since I was little.¡± Zhou Xufang nodded with a smile, agreeing with him; she also thought that Jiang Zhi must have been a pretty child since youth. ¡°I¡¯ll tell you about myself, everything else, let¡¯s not try to remember.¡± Zhou Xufang, ¡°Okay.¡± Jiang Zhi suddenly remembered something very important, ¡°You kissed me here before.¡± Zhou Xufang was surprised, ¡°Then why did I kiss you?¡± Jiang Zhi¡¯s eyes curved with pride, ¡°Because you liked me.¡± Zhou Xufang blushed, ¡°Oh.¡± That was on the birthday of the second young mistress of the Luo Family. The Luo Family had held a grand birthday banquet, with a cake that was a meter tall. The young master of the Jiang Family was there too, along with his friends; it was exceptionally lively at the Luo residence. Normally, Luo San wasn¡¯t allowed to go over to the villa section, because the Luo Family felt she was an embarrassment. She had sneaked over, hiding behind the door to steal glances at Jiang Zhi. But before she had her fill of watching, she was caught by Luo Yinghe, who shouted in anger, ¡°Luo San!¡± In the room, the young man turned around. That fool, just standing there, taking the scolding. ¡°Why are you here? Get lost now! You¡¯re dirty and ugly, and if you frighten the guests, see how I¡¯ll deal with you!¡± The sixteen-year-old girl commanded imperiously, spoiled and arrogant. Luo San left, feeling downhearted. S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. She thought she¡¯d wait until the party was almost over, and then she¡¯d go back to the gate to wait for him. She had made a hat out of foxtail grass to give to Jiang Zhi. In the room, the young man put down his glass, ready to leave. ¡°Where are you going, Brother Zhi?¡± It was seventeen-year-old Xue Baoyi, with bangs covering her eyes and cross earrings, very non-mainstream and Ed Hardy, standing out as the most eye-catching one in the Funeral of Love group. ¡°Don¡¯t follow me.¡± Jiang Zhi took a big piece of cake on a plate and left. Xue San, a core member of the Funeral of Love group, asked a companion, ¡°What¡¯s he doing? He¡¯s not going to find that little mute again, is he?¡± Qiao Nanchu, a seventeen-year-old who looked much more presentable in a white shirt and black trousers, dapper and young, said, ¡°She has a name; don¡¯t just call her ¡®little mute.¡¯ Be careful, or Jiang Zhi will get upset with you.¡± ¡°Why does he protect that little mu¡ª¡± Xue San quickly corrected himself, ¡°¡ªprotect that Luo San so much?¡± Qiao Nanchu simply said, ¡°He¡¯s taken a liking to her.¡± Xue San, not understanding, grabbed his edgy hair, still with a bit of baby fat and innocence, pondered, ¡°What do you mean? Is he thinking of becoming sworn brothers with Luo San?¡± Qiao Nanchu looked at him as if looking at an idiot, ¡°Moron.¡± The moron Xue San, ¡°¡­¡± Back to Jiang Zhi, he took a plate of cake and went looking for that little fool in the attic. ¡°Luo San.¡± He called from outside, no answer, so he pushed the door open, ¡°Luo San.¡± He looked around the room, no one in sight, then turned and saw her at the door, just arrived, panting like a little dog. He handed her the plate, ¡°Here, eat.¡± She received it with a goofy smile, then scooped up a big spoonful to feed him first. The youth turned his head away, ¡°I¡¯ve already eaten.¡± Oh. Then she would eat by herself. She was a messy eater, gobbling up her food so that her mouth was smeared all over with cream, which was brilliantly white. Her little face was dark, and in contrast, it looked quite comical. He wanted to laugh at her, turned his head away, and chuckled at the corner of his mouth. After laughing, he said, ¡°Eat slower.¡± He pulled out a handkerchief and stuffed it into her hand, his tone filled with disgust, ¡°You¡¯re filthy.¡± She was indeed dirty because she had to work in the flower shed. Jiang Zhi¡¯s handkerchief was very clean, moon-white, with bamboo leaves embroidered on the corners. She held it in her hands, not using it to wipe her mouth, planning to hide it inside her pillow. As soon as he left, she would stash it away. ¡°You¡¯re really not hungry?¡± The youth watched her eat the cake, somewhat doubtful. She nodded. ¡°Yet you still love eating so much,¡± he commented with a tone of disdain, but his eyes were filled with warm, bright light. She scooped up a big spoonful of cake into her mouth, eating with great satisfaction, her eyes squinting happily. He asked again, ¡°Doesn¡¯t it hurt either?¡± Others would hit her, and she never dodged or cried. She thought for a moment, nodded, then shook her head, as if it didn¡¯t hurt but also as if it hurt a lot. The youth snorted and scolded her again, ¡°Idiot.¡± She was an idiot, indeed. Clutching a piece of cake, she munched joyfully. He had given her a piece too big¡ªbigger than her face. She ate eagerly, starting with a spoon but then using her hands, making a mess everywhere. There was a ring of cream around her mouth, even some on her face. ¡°You got it on your face.¡± Huh? She stared blankly at the backlit youth standing in the doorway. The youth pointed at his own face, ¡°On the face,¡± and then pointed again, ¡°Here.¡± He wanted to say that the cake on her face was disgustingly messy. She pondered blankly for a moment, then took a step towards him, tiptoed, and bumped her mouth against his face, smearing his face with cake. ¡°¡­¡± The pallor of the youth¡¯s face instantly turned crimson. He jumped back violently, touching his greasy face, ears reddening, and pointing at the little bald girl in front of him, he scowled, infuriated and embarrassed, ¡°You¡­ you¡¯re shameless!¡± He was clearly angry, but his words stuttered as they reached his lips. In a fit of rage, he glared at her once more before turning around and walking away. She sat on the little wooden bed, holding half a cake, with a mouthful of cream, looking bewildered¡­ Outside the attic, suddenly there was the sound of a police siren. It was the Luo family who had called the police. Zhou Xufang grabbed Jiang Zhi and jumped down from Ping Building, leaping over the wall in one bound, and another leap put him on the rooftop of the villa across the street. Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± His hair was all disheveled. Zhou Xufang¡¯s motorbike was parked about a kilometer away from the Luo family. She looked around, noticing no one was there, and asked Jiang Zhi, ¡°Did you drive here?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± Jiang Zhi fiddled with his hair, pressing down the unruly strands that got tousled while they were ¡®climbing walls.¡¯ ¡°Where¡¯s your car?¡± ¡°Parked on the road across,¡± said Jiang Zhi, ¡°I¡¯ll have Lin Wanwan come and fetch it tomorrow.¡± Zhou Xufang then asked: ¡°Do you want a ride back on my motorbike?¡± Her motorbike was super cool! Jet black and incredibly sleek! Jiang Zhi nodded, ¡°Yeah.¡± Of course, he would go home with her. Zhou Xufang brought over a pink helmet from her super cool, super sleek motorbike, ¡°Duck down.¡± This pink and tender helmet¡­ Jiang Zhi felt a bit resistant inwardly but ducked his head nevertheless. Zhou Xufang put it on him, pulled down the windshield as well, then with a smile, patted his helmet, ¡°Today, you¡¯re also President Fang¡¯s spoiled little wife.¡± Jiang Zhi directly picked her up and set her on the back seat, then put another helmet of the same style on her. He sat in front, holding both her hands on his waist, ¡°Hold on tight, President Fang.¡± Chapter 186 - 186: 186: The fairy Zhi is very clingy tonight (first update) Chapter 186: 186: The fairy Zhi is very clingy tonight (first update) He sat in front, grabbing her hands and placing them on his waist, ¡°Hold on tight, President Fang.¡± Jiang Zhi was skilled at riding, good with any vehicle, and rode the motorcycle so smoothly that President Fang was amazed, thinking his delicate wife was super cool and awesome! Tonight, President Fang¡¯s delicate wife was especially clingy, following him wherever he went. When Zhou Xufang went to pour a glass of water to drink, Jiang Zhi stayed close behind, and when she headed to the changing room, he followed there too. ¡°Why are you following me all the time?¡± The beautiful light in Jiang Zhi¡¯s eyes was captivating, ¡°Because I like you.¡± Zhou Xufang: ¡°¡­¡± Critical hit! Jiang Zhi was a little demon, so enticing. Zhou Xufang felt a bit feverish, but she needed to stay composed, not to be seduced, and said very seriously, ¡°But I need to take a bath.¡± The little demon gazed at her intently, ripples of allure in his eyes, ¡°Can¡¯t we do it together?¡± Then she would certainly be seduced by him. Zhou Xufang firmly stated, ¡°No.¡± They both had to be upright and serious individuals. Since it was a no¡­ Jiang Zhi went and brought a stool, placing it right outside the bathroom door and sat down, ¡°Go ahead and bathe.¡± Zhou Xufang was stunned, ¡°Jiang Zhi, are you a little pervert?¡± Jiang?Little Pervert?Zhi stretched his long legs forward, arms folded, adopting a debauched expression, looking at the young lady, ¡°If you don¡¯t go in, I¡¯ll turn into a big pervert.¡± Zhou Xufang: ¡°¡­¡± She hurried to the cloakroom to grab her clothes, then quickly slipped into the bathroom. The bathroom had one-way glass, so Zhou Xufang could see Jiang Zhi from the inside; he was sitting at the door, and she felt so uncomfortable. She barely dared to move, washing up quietly, as if she were a thief. Just as she started to undress, Jiang Zhi began calling out to her from outside. ¡°Zhou Xufang.¡± She responded, ¡°Mhm.¡± Jiang Zhi called again, ¡°Zhou Xufang.¡± She continued to respond, ¡°Mhm.¡± Jiang Zhi still called, ¡°Zhou Xufang.¡± She glanced towards the door, glaring at Jiang Zhi¡¯s beautiful skull and the back of his head, ¡°Why do you keep calling me?¡± He leaned against the door, head tilted back, legs lazily extended, his voice light and floating, ¡°Just felt like calling.¡± Then he carried on calling, ¡°Zhou Xufang.¡± ¡°Mhm.¡± Persistently, one call after another. ¡°Zhou Xufang.¡± ¡°Mhm.¡± Zhou Xufang couldn¡¯t concentrate on washing her hair anymore, ¡°Stop calling me.¡± He didn¡¯t listen, and called again, ¡°Zhou Xufang.¡± Zhou Xufang whipped her head around, staring toward the door, ¡°I¡¯m ignoring you.¡± If he called again, she¡¯d refuse to respond! Jiang Zhi called out with a laugh, ¡°Zhou Xufang.¡± Zhou Xufang was so irritated by him, she thought he was so clingy tonight, like a little fox spirit wrapped around her, ¡°Aren¡¯t you annoying?¡± He wasn¡¯t bothered, ¡°Zhou Xufang.¡± Zhou Xufang looked down, her hair covering her face, ¡°Zhou Xufang needs hot water now, can¡¯t hear you talking.¡± After saying that, Zhou Xufang turned on the water, letting it cascade down on her, drenching her like a female water ghost. Jiang Zhi: ¡°Zhou Xufang.¡± She couldn¡¯t hear. Jiang Zhi: ¡°Zhou Xufang.¡± She couldn¡¯t hear! Jiang Zhi suddenly twisted the doorknob, not in a playful tone, ¡°Zhou Xufang, you didn¡¯t close your door properly.¡± Zhou Xufang shuddered in fright and hugged herself, ¡°No coming in!¡± Jiang Zhi, that little pervert, laughed triumphantly, ¡°I thought you couldn¡¯t hear me?¡± Zhou Xufang: ¡°¡­¡± This fairy is too bad! She won¡¯t pay attention to him anymore! ¡°Zhou Xufang,¡± the fairy was saying sweet nothings, endearing little sweet nothings, ¡°I¡¯m really fond of you, fond to death.¡± Just now, having decided not to mind the little demon anymore, Zhou Xufang bashfully responded, ¡°I¡¯m fond of you too~¡± The little demon laughed outside. Afterward, when Zhou Xufang had finished bathing, Jiang Zhi insisted she also sit at the bathroom door to reciprocate by ¡®listening¡¯ to him. She wasn¡¯t sure what feelings Jiang Zhi got from it, but Zhou Xufang felt a bit hot, almost feverish. Jiang Zhi bathed quickly. Zhou Xufang asked him why he was so fast, and he said he needed to hurry out to dry her hair. Zhou Xufang thought he was so considerate. Considerate Jiang Zhi dried Zhou Xufang¡¯s hair, carried her to bed, then lay down himself, covering them with the blanket, ¡°What were you doing at the Luo Family¡¯s?¡± Zhou Xufang was sleeping inside, lying on her side, ¡°To get the Luo Family¡¯s DNA.¡± The pajamas on Jiang Zhi¡¯s body matched hers, a pink checkered pattern that made his skin look particularly white. His buttons were not properly fastened, revealing a glimpse of his collarbone. ¡°Did you get it?¡± Zhou Xufang: ¡°Mhm.¡± Jiang Zhi could guess what she wanted to do, and he was equally suspicious of her identity. The Luo Family didn¡¯t need a foster son nor was there a need to adopt a handicapped child. They had no choice because it was the only ¡®lineage.¡¯ ¡°Leave the rest to me.¡± For revenge and such, he could handle it; he wasn¡¯t afraid to dirty his hands. Zhou Xufang lay on the pillow, getting sleepy, ¡°Okay.¡± Jiang Zhi moved closer, his hand around her neck, and he put on the necklace he had gotten from Tang Xiang. Her eyes blinked, and she rubbed his hand with her face, ¡°You¡¯ve seen Tang Xiang?¡± It must have been Tang Xiang who managed to let him know the ins and outs. He nodded, ¡°Fang Bao.¡± ¡°Mhm.¡± ¡°I won¡¯t let any member of the Luo Family go,¡± his eyes suppressed with emotion, his voice deep, ¡°and don¡¯t stop me when the time comes.¡± When it came to Zhou Xufang, he wasn¡¯t broad-minded; he was very petty, intent on reclaiming what was owed to her. A life for a life, grievances must be avenged. ¡°Don¡¯t stop.¡± She had only one request, ¡°But could you not break the law, please?¡± She didn¡¯t want Jiang Zhi to do something bad because of bad people. ¡°I¡¯ll try my best.¡± Just trying his best. He couldn¡¯t promise. If the legitimate approach proved useless, he would still use illegitimate means to get revenge. Then she could only do her best to hold him back, to prevent him from becoming a lawbreaker; if she couldn¡¯t hold him back¡­ she would have to destroy the evidence. Zhou Xufang yawned, very sleepy, ¡°Jiang Zhi, aren¡¯t you going to sleep hugging me?¡± They each slept with their own pillow, and the distance between them could fit another person. Jiang Zhi was lying on his pillow, holding back from moving closer, ¡°Didn¡¯t you say I have a bad sleeping posture?¡± In his tone was a hint of grievance, which gave Zhou Xufang the illusion that she had been incredibly unfair, as if she had committed an unforgivable sin. Reflecting on it, she felt that she was a bit unreasonable, so she admitted her fault, ¡°If you want to hug, I¡¯ll let you hug me.¡± Jiang Zhi immediately moved closer, hugged her, and shared a pillow with her, promising earnestly, ¡°I won¡¯t kick you tonight.¡± The flag was raised too early. In the middle of the night, there was suddenly a loud thump. Jiang Zhi turned over, stretched out his hand, and not feeling anyone, he immediately woke up, sat up, and called out, ¡°Fang Bao?¡± Sleepy and a bit whiny. The lights in the room were off, and the lights in the bathroom were off too. He hadn¡¯t slept enough, the corners of his eyes red, as if he could wring water out of his pupils, his hair pressed into a messy state, and his fair face had two pillow marks on it. He rubbed his bleary eyes, turned on the bedside lamp, and took a look around the room, but saw no one. ¡°Fang Bao?¡± There was no answer, and Jiang Zhi was puzzled, ¡°Where have you gone?¡± He lifted the blanket, planning to get out of bed when suddenly a hand reached up from the floor to the bed, and then a head popped up: ¡°I¡¯m on the floor.¡± Jiang Zhi was fully awake now: ¡°What are you doing on the floor?¡± Zhou Xufang climbed up from the floor, dusting herself off: ¡°You kicked me off.¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± He tried to defend himself, ¡°I kicked you off?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Forget it; he might as well not argue, quietly and honestly moved to the farthest side of the bed. But what good did it do? The moment he fell asleep, he was back to his restless self. Thanks to Jiang Zhi, Zhou Xufang woke up with a sore back and an unrefreshing feeling. After breakfast, she climbed back into bed, intending to catch some more sleep. She ended up sleeping until noon. With the approach of the New Year, Jiang Zhi¡¯s work had basically come to a halt, and he didn¡¯t go out, just cooped up here with Zhou Xufang, flipping through scripts and watching her; time flew by. The cell phone on the coffee table rang. S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Zhou Xufang answered the call: ¡°Hello.¡± It was the delivery guy: ¡°Miss Zhou, your delivery.¡± It was a meal she had ordered for noon, and now it was already one o¡¯clock. It was raining outside, probably because of the bad weather. ¡°Please wait a moment.¡± Jiang Zhi was warming milk in the kitchen, and Zhou Xufang told him, ¡°I¡¯ll go down to get the delivery.¡± ¡°Put your clothes on properly.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± She put on a coat and went out. Once downstairs, the door was opened just a crack, and she poked her head out. The delivery man was a middle-aged man in a yellow uniform who hadn¡¯t bothered with an umbrella, and he was soaked through: ¡°Are you Miss Zhou?¡± In the bitter cold of Dibao¡¯s winter, where speaking makes one¡¯s breath visible like ¡®white smoke¡¯, Zhou Xufang answered: ¡°Yes, that¡¯s me.¡± The man handed over a bag with both hands, rain dripping from his hair down his face and onto the bag: ¡°I¡¯m sorry; I¡¯m late.¡± Zhou Xufang extended one hand to take the delivery: ¡°It¡¯s okay,¡± she said, ¡°Thank you.¡± The man didn¡¯t immediately leave. He stood outside in the cold, shivering, and explained, ¡°I fell on the way here and spilled the soup. Can I just charge you separately for the soup?¡± Zhou Xufang glanced at the bag; it was stained with blood, washed out by the rain. ¡°The soup was just to make up the order; no need for reimbursement.¡± The delivery probably didn¡¯t earn him much, yet she had ordered a very expensive soup for Jiang Zhi, likely worth a whole day¡¯s wages for the delivery man. He apologized profusely. Zhou Xufang said it was fine, looking outside at the continuing rain: ¡°Could you wait here for a moment?¡± The man hesitated for a bit but then nodded. Zhou Xufang went back upstairs and came down again shortly, holding another bag which she handed over, saying, ¡°It¡¯s raining.¡± Inside the bag was an umbrella. The man took the bag, peering inside to see some medicine as well: ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°No need.¡± Zhou Xufang closed the door. Downstairs, the man stood still, lost in thought for a moment, then took out the umbrella, opened it, and held the handle, whose palm was cut in several places, the wounds turning inside out, swollen and seeping beads of blood. The phone in his pocket rang. Checking the caller, he smiled as he answered: ¡°What¡¯s up, Lixiang?¡± The voice on the phone was childlike and milky: ¡°Dad, have you had lunch yet?¡± ¡°I have.¡± He hadn¡¯t eaten yet, and there were still two deliveries to make. The child was four or five years old, very sensible and well-behaved: ¡°Mom said it¡¯s raining, and she told you to buy an umbrella, not to be stingy with your money.¡± ¡°Mm, got it.¡± The man¡¯s eyes stung as he held a black umbrella, his steps a bit unsteady, walking farther and farther into the misty rain¡­ After closing the door, Zhou Xufang turned around to see Jiang Zhi. He had come down wearing only a black sweater, leaning on the stair railing, looking at her. Zhou Xufang approached: ¡°Why did you come down, too?¡± He didn¡¯t answer but shot back with his own question: ¡°Aren¡¯t you resentful?¡± ¡°Hm?¡± It came out of the blue and Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t understand what he was referring to. The staircase was fitted with a voice-activated light that dimmed then brightened again. Jiang Zhi walked up to her: ¡°The world has treated you like this, don¡¯t you harbor any resentment?¡± This girl¡¯s heart was too kind. He felt it was even more unfair; the world owed her so much. Why should she be kind to others when so few were kind to her? Why should she be good to people? He also knew his thoughts were perverted and twisted because he was filled with indignation. Zhou Xufang understood what he meant and countered: ¡°How has it treated me?¡± Jiang Zhi clenched his back teeth with a dark look in his eyes: ¡°Not well at all, you¡¯ve had to endure all kinds of suffering.¡± She wasn¡¯t resentful. He was. He resented the Luo Family, the Jiang Family, those relevant and irrelevant people, and even the rotten world and the blind heavens. He burned with rage, whereas she still smiled: ¡°No, there is some good.¡± She reached out to hold his hand, ¡°Aren¡¯t you very nice?¡± She actually felt that the world hadn¡¯t been too bad to her. To her, one Jiang Zhi was worth the whole world. Jiang Zhi grabbed her hand and poked her face, then bent down to kiss the spot, yet he was still not quite mollified: ¡°You¡¯re too kind, too content. If I were you and were treated like this, I would do everything in my power to destroy this world in mutual destruction.¡± Only if you can win should you fight. If you can¡¯t win, then it was time for a relentless struggle. He was that petty¡ªif anyone disrupted his life, he would dig three feet into their territory. Accept fate? He¡¯d never accept it in this lifetime. If he were Zhou Xufang, he figured he¡¯d become twisted mentally, maybe even antisocial. Although such a hypothesis would never be true, Zhou Xufang still pondered it seriously and then replied: ¡°Then I would definitely stop you.¡± She led Jiang Zhi upstairs, his hands were cold because he was lightly dressed, ¡°Don¡¯t you think this world is bad? Then it¡¯s not worth destroying yourself over it.¡± She held on to his hand, warming it against her neck: ¡°And then, I¡¯d try even harder to make the world a little better, so you wouldn¡¯t want to destroy yourself along with it.¡± Her heart was truly kind. In this world, how many people could go through such hardships and still keep a pure heart? Jiang Zhi rubbed her head: ¡°So silly.¡± His girl was a little fool. Zhou Xufang shook her head: ¡°I¡¯m not silly.¡± Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t argue with her and led his little fool back home. After lunch and a brief rest, Zhou Xufang received a call from Fang Lixiang. ¡°Xu Fang.¡± ¡°Mm.¡± The conversations were not like before; even without saying much, they felt very heavy. Fang Lixiang hesitated: ¡°Can we meet later?¡± ¡°Okay,¡± Zhou Xufang answered, ¡°Can I bring Jiang Zhi with me?¡± Jiang Zhi had told her about her identity; aside from Tang Xiang, Fang Lixiang and her father were also aware of it. Fang Lixiang said: ¡°Yes.¡± She added, ¡°I¡¯ll also bring someone with me.¡± Chapter 187 - 187: 187: The Truth About the Great Fire, Xu Fangs Mother (Second Update) Chapter 187: 187: The Truth About the Great Fire, Xu Fang¡¯s Mother (Second Update) Fang Lixiang said, ¡°Okay.¡± She added, ¡°I¡¯ll also bring someone with me.¡± The person Fang Lixiang brought was her father, Mr. Fang. At three o¡¯clock in the afternoon, they agreed to meet at a caf¨¦. When Zhou Xufang arrived, she greeted them first, ¡°Hello, Uncle Fang.¡± Jiang Zhi¡¯s expression was not very friendly; with a scowl on her face, she sat next to Zhou Xufang. Mr. Fang was so emotional he was about to cry. ¡°This is my dad.¡± Fang Lixiang felt it necessary to formally introduce him. Zhou Xufang nodded. Jiang Zhi had already told her. After the greetings, they fell into silence. Fang Lixiang was the first to call the server over and order some drinks. ¡°Lixiang,¡± Zhou Xu Fang initiated the conversation. ¡°Hmm?¡± Today¡¯s Fang Lixiang didn¡¯t seem as energetic as usual; she couldn¡¯t even manage a smile. Her gaze at Zhou Xufang was¡­very mournful. Zhou Xufang was calm, as usual, ¡°When did you recognize me?¡± She hoped it wasn¡¯t from the very beginning. sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Fang Lixiang stirred her coffee repeatedly: ¡°It was at the dressing room in the film studio when I saw your necklace; that¡¯s when I recognized you.¡± She explained, ¡°Every time Mr. Fang got drunk, he would talk about you. I could recite it all by heart.¡± Zhou Xufang nodded. It was good it wasn¡¯t from the start; by the time she found out, they were already friends. That was enough. After Fang Lixiang finished speaking, she nudged her father with her elbow: ¡°Mr. Fang, just spill it.¡± Mr. Fang wasn¡¯t quite ready and seemed a bit flustered. He took a sip from his iced drink in front of him to calm his nerves before speaking. ¡°There were three people trapped in the fire then, the house¡¯s butler had already stopped breathing, and the gardener had injured his left eye.¡± The third person was Zhou Xufang. Mr. Fang took a deep breath and continued: ¡°You were seriously injured when I carried you out; you were already unconscious.¡± Back then, the Luo Family¡¯s fire was publicly reported as two deaths, one injury. In fact, it wasn¡¯t so; Zhou Xufang still had a breath when she was taken out of the fire. Mr. Fang said, ¡°The ambulance was waiting outside, and nobody from the Luo Family accompanied me, so I went along.¡± Mr. Fang was lost in his memories for a long time and came back with a heavy expression, ¡°There were two nurses in the vehicle and a male doctor. On the way to the hospital, that male doctor declared the time of death.¡± There was a pause, and Mr. Fang looked at Zhou Xufang: ¡°But at that time, you were still alive.¡± Jiang Zhi asked, ¡°Do you have any memory of that doctor?¡± Mr. Fang shook his head: ¡°He was wearing a mask, about 1.7 meters tall, and his voice suggested he was middle-aged.¡± ¡°Which hospital?¡± ¡°Changling Hospital.¡± Changling Hospital. Luo Qinghe¡¯s uncle, Xiao Yi. Jiang Zhi¡¯s brows and eyes grew colder as she asked further, ¡°What did he offer you?¡± Mr. Fang¡¯s eyes reddened with intense self-reproach, making it hard for him to look up: ¡°At that time, Lixiang was hospitalized, waiting to undergo heart surgery, and we were dragging it because of the expenses.¡± Zhou Xufang glanced at Fang Lixiang. She had her head down, her nose red. As Mr. Fang spoke, he began to sob: ¡°I let that doctor take you away, and then I told the Luo Family¡­ said you were beyond rescue.¡± Mr. Fang wiped his eyes, tears streaking down his face: ¡°I¡¯m not human, I¡ª¡± Zhou Xufang interrupted him: ¡°You¡¯re the one who carried me out.¡± She spoke serenely, ¡°If it weren¡¯t for you, I would have died in the fire.¡± There was not a trace of resentment in her tone. ¡°That¡¯s different, I was a firefighter; it was my duty to save you.¡± Even though he was the one who had carried her out, he had no right to trade that life. The truth was that for the sake of his own daughter, he had sold the life of a child. ¡°It was my sin.¡± The father and daughter sitting opposite were both about to cry, each with reddened eyes. Zhou Xufang felt a bit of heartache, for herself and for this father and daughter; she guessed that for the past eight years, they must have been tormenting themselves too. So, when Fang Lixiang recognized her, Mr. Fang started working as a security guard in her residential community; probably trying to make amends to her. Actually, when it came down to it, she was both the victim and the beneficiary: ¡°You saved me twice.¡± She stated the fact, ¡°If I had been resuscitated that night, I probably wouldn¡¯t have lived until today. Those people wanted me dead.¡± It was a strange twist of fate. What Mr. Fang had given to the Luo Family was the news of her death. Zhou Xufang¡¯s eyes were calm and quiet as she said slowly, ¡°Uncle Fang, you don¡¯t have to blame yourself, intentional or not, you saved me twice.¡± Mr. Fang couldn¡¯t stop his tears from falling. So did Lixiang. Father and daughter cried like babies. Mr. Fang sobbed, ¡°There¡¯s one more thing; the wounds on your body, they don¡¯t look like they were caused by the fire.¡± He pointed to a spot above his chest, ¡°You had a large cut here, but I didn¡¯t see any sharp object at the scene, I suspect,¡± here, Mr. Fang felt immense pain, ¡°I suspect it was murder.¡± The child was only fourteen then; what kind of deep hatred could there be to do such a thing to her? Murder¡­ Someone so desperately wanted her dead. After Mr. Fang and Lixiang left, Zhou Xufang sat there in a daze. Jiang Zhi asked beside her ear, ¡°What are you thinking about?¡± Her thoughts were adrift, her gaze empty, ¡°After I escaped from the Genetic Laboratory, because of my self-healing and regeneration abilities, I never had scars left on my body again.¡± She pressed her hand to the spot above her chest where there was a scar the size of a thumb, talking as if to herself, ¡°The scar here must have been from the injury I sustained in the fire, from steel reinforcement.¡± She lifted her eyes to look at Jiang Zhi, ¡°It was made with steel reinforcement.¡± From steel reinforcement and a hammer, a chiseled wound. ¡°I just don¡¯t understand, I was already in the fire, did they still need to kill me? Were they afraid the fire wouldn¡¯t kill me?¡± She thought that if she didn¡¯t remember, she wouldn¡¯t be too upset. It seems that wasn¡¯t the case. Apparently, there were people in this world so eager for her to die, and that person was likely her own kin. Jiang Zhi placed his hand over hers, gently pressing the scar, ¡°Does it still hurt now?¡± She shook her head: ¡°It healed a long time ago, it doesn¡¯t hurt.¡± Jiang Zhi held her hand, pressing it to his lips. ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± She asked him, ¡°Could it be that I committed a very big mistake?¡± She was only a child back then; how big of a mistake could she make. Jiang Zhi shook his head and told her, ¡°It¡¯s their crime, they are unforgivable.¡± Bad people who do bad things are at fault for their actions. Jiang Zhi said, ¡°A criminal is a criminal. Don¡¯t try to rationalize their cruelty with any justification; no matter what the excuse, it cannot be a reason to commit a crime.¡± Zhou Xufang nodded. ¡°The doctor in the ambulance, do you know who he was?¡± ¡°Still just a guess,¡± Jiang Zhi said, ¡°It might be Luo Qinghe¡¯s uncle, a doctor of biomedical science. He probably took you to the Genetic Laboratory. As for his purpose, it¡¯s still unclear.¡± Outside, the rain continued to fall. The winter rain was bone-chillingly cold. Fang Lixiang¡¯s office was on the eighth floor of Luo Group. The internal line rang, and she picked up the phone. ¡°Mr. Tang,¡± the secretary from the general management office said, ¡°there¡¯s a gentleman who would like to see you.¡± The secretary added, ¡°This gentleman doesn¡¯t have an appointment.¡± Fang Lixiang put the signed documents aside: ¡°What is his last name?¡± The secretary replied: ¡°He says his last name is Zhou.¡± Suddenly, Fang Lixiang remembered that Zhou Xufang also happened to have the last name Zhou; she knew who this Mr. Zhou was: ¡°Reserve a spot for me in the nearby cafe.¡± ¡°Of course, Mr. Tang.¡± The cafe was close to Luo Group, and Fang Lixiang arrived there in ten minutes. The other party was already waiting, sitting in a wheelchair. Fang Lixiang approached: ¡°Hello, Mr. Zhou.¡± Zhou Qingrang lifted his head, his eyes clear and sharp, with not a hint of worldliness nor murkiness within them. He said: ¡°Hello.¡± Like someone from a painting, beautiful yet lacking the vivacity of life, as if he didn¡¯t quite fit into this world. He was so different from the person in her fuzzy memory. Fang Lixiang pulled out a chair to sit down: ¡°It¡¯s busy in the office and many eyes are watching, so I asked to meet you here. Please forgive me.¡± Zhou Qingrang spoke in a light tone: ¡°It¡¯s alright.¡± Fang Lixiang ordered a cup of warm water while looking at the man across from her, so clean and refined: ¡°You wanted to see me, is there something you need?¡± He was sitting in a wheelchair, slightly higher than the cafe¡¯s chairs, and from Fang Lixiang¡¯s angle, she could perfectly see his face, his skin very pale, probably due to prolonged illness. Having been bedridden in the hospital for fifteen years, his health was poor. On such a rainy day, his legs must be in pain. Fang Lixiang¡¯s gaze inadvertently fell on his legs, where it seemed he was not wearing prosthetics, with one end of the blanket hanging limply. He placed the hospital¡¯s payment certification on the table and said: ¡°During my hospital stay, it was your father who helped me with the hospitalization fees.¡± For fifteen years, it had always been him. Fang Lixiang¡¯s eyes turned red as she took a sip of water, her voice low: ¡°He¡¯s no longer with us.¡± Her father was an honest man, albeit a little timid, and treated the Luo Family with the utmost respect. Zhou Qingrang took out a card, pushing it toward her: ¡°Thank you,¡± he said formally, ¡°Thank you.¡± He had been hospitalized when he was just fourteen years old, alone in the world. If it had not been for her father, he surely would not have been alive today. The ¡®thank you¡¯ was late, but it still had to be said, and it had to be said to the family. A simple thanks brought tears to Fang Lixiang¡¯s eyes. She looked up, smiled wiping away the tears, and looked at Zhou Qingrang: ¡°Uncle Zhou, do you still remember me? When you were at the Luo Family,¡± she gestured with her hands, ¡°I was this tall.¡± Zhou Qingrang had sought refuge with the Luo Family that year, he was fourteen, and Fang Lixiang was only five. The Luo Family kids were just a little older, and they would call him names, only Fang Lixiang would chase after him, calling him Uncle Zhou. Zhou Qingrang nodded slightly, a faint smile on his lips: ¡°I remember, you were bad at math.¡± Fang Lixiang had started school early, and at that time, being young, she struggled, particularly with math. She knew one plus two was three, but two plus one, she couldn¡¯t tell what it equaled. She would take her book, larger than her face, to find Uncle Zhou on the second floor, her voice soft and sweet: ¡°Uncle Zhou, Uncle Zhou.¡± The little girl, marching on her short legs, climbed onto the bed in the room, placed her book on top and asked with her milky voice, ¡°How do I do this problem?¡± The boy, then, with his rosy lips and white teeth and a love for laughter, eyes turning to crescents: ¡°We covered this problem yesterday.¡± The little girl, frustrated, would hit her head: ¡°I forgot again.¡± She felt so stupid, not knowing what two plus one equaled. The boy, patient as ever, took her hand, teaching her to count on her fingers. Downstairs, a girl¡¯s voice called out: ¡°Qing Rang, Qing Rang.¡± The soft and tender voice belonged to a girl from the Jiangnan Water Town. The little girl no longer wanted to count, she clambered down from the bed, tugging at the boy¡¯s school uniform: ¡°Aunt Qing Meng is calling you.¡± The gentle girl called out again downstairs: ¡°Dinner¡¯s ready.¡± Upstairs, the boy replied: ¡°Coming.¡± That year, Zhou Qingmeng had just come to the Luo Family, not even seventeen yet, at the prime of girlhood. She came with her brother to seek refuge, and the Luo Family arranged for them to stay in a small flat where the servants lived: The first floor was occupied by Fang Lixiang¡¯s family of three, and the second floor by Zhou siblings. Fang Lixiang stood up: ¡°Uncle Zhou.¡± Zhou Qingrang¡¯s hand, which was pushing the wheelchair, paused, and he looked back. Fang Lixiang, with tears in her eyes, said: ¡°The accident.¡± Her voice choked up, ¡°My father said, it was no accident.¡± That once vibrant and spirited young man had lost a leg, living his life fragile and alone. He didn¡¯t say anything and pushed his wheelchair, leaving, his slender back straight and tall. The day his sister had the accident, the weather was just like today, bitterly cold, with rain. It was a Monday, and he was staying on campus. At ten o¡¯clock at night, he received a phone call from his sister. ¡°Sis.¡± In the call, there was hurried breathing, but no one spoke. He called out again: ¡°Sis?¡± His sister cried out on the phone: ¡°Qing Rang.¡± He was terrified, rising from his bed in the dormitory, grabbing a coat, and running outside: ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°Qing Rang,¡± she continued to cry out calling for him, ¡°Qing Rang, save me¡­¡± Her voice trembled, filled with fear, helplessness, and despair. He panicked, didn¡¯t bother with an umbrella as he ran into the rain: ¡°Where are you?¡± His sister didn¡¯t respond, her voice growing fainter. ¡°Sis!¡± ¡°Sis!¡± There was no more sound from the other end. He ran crazily towards the Luo Family, but before he could see his sister, he fell, collapsed at the doorstep of the Luo House, a car rolling over his legs¡­ He lay there for fifteen years, a vegetative state for fifteen years before waking up to a world where everything had changed, his sister gone. He sat in the wheelchair, clutching his chest where his heart was spasming. He gasped for air like a fish out of water, his neck outstretched, his breaths heavy and deep. His pale face slowly turned red, veins in his neck bulging. He couldn¡¯t breathe¡­ He gripped the armrests of the wheelchair tightly, his nails scraping marks into it. ¡°Sir!¡± ¡°Sir!¡± The young girl bent down, holding his hand: ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you?¡± Zhou Qingrang clutched tightly to that hand, his throat as if obstructed: ¡°Medicine.¡± His body shook uncontrollably, his face turning blue; he was holding onto the hand before him as if it was his last lifeline, ¡°Medicine¡­¡± Chapter 188 - 188: 188: Uncle and Aunt of Ah Fang, as well as... Brother-in-law (Third Watch) Chapter 188: 188: Uncle and Aunt of Ah Fang, as well as¡­ Brother-in-law (Third Watch) He grabbed the person¡¯s hand in front of him as if it were the last lifeline, ¡°Medicine¡­¡± She had seen this person before. Zhou Qingrang, sharing her surname. Zhou Xufang bent down, leaning in closely to listen, ¡°Where is the medicine?¡± He could no longer speak, collapsing in the wheelchair, his breathing going from rapid to faint. Jiang Zhi found the medicine in the storage box on the armrest of his wheelchair and asked him, ¡°How many?¡± He opened his mouth but made no sound, his lips moving, ¡°Two¡­ pills.¡± Jiang Zhi poured two pills out and placed them in his mouth. He took a while to swallow them after keeping them in his mouth. Zhou Xufang was about to get water when she heard an urgent voice. ¡°Zhou Qingrang!¡± ¡°Zhou Qingrang!¡± A girl rushed over, she grabbed Zhou Qingrang¡¯s hand in panic, her brows creased. Her eyes were red with urgency. She was wearing an A-line skirt and didn¡¯t care that her knees hit the ground, ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you? Zhou Qingrang!¡± The person in the wheelchair hung his head weakly without speaking. The girl looked back and yelled at the accompanying person, ¡°What are you dazing for? Call an ambulance quick!¡± Oh. The man behind dialed 120. ¡°Thank you.¡± After the girl said thanks, she began to push the wheelchair. Zhou Xufang took a step forward, blocking her, ¡°Do you know him?¡± She said assertively, ¡°I¡¯m his girlfriend.¡± After speaking, she quickly glanced at Zhou Qingrang before immediately bowing her head and running to the back of the wheelchair. Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Girlfriend, huh¡­ Zhou Xufang stepped aside to let her through. The girl pushed the wheelchair out. ¡°That¡¯s the second Miss from the Lu Family,¡± Jiang Zhi commented casually. The Lu Family from the Four Great Families, Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t know much about them, only that the Lu Family was discreet and that Old Lady Lu and Old Lady Jiang were at odds. Moreover, the Lu Family had a ¡®Sleeping Beauty¡¯ who suffered from a severe sleep disorder. When Zhou Qingrang was brought to the hospital, his consciousness had already returned. He was wheeled into the emergency room, and his attending physician, who seemed to be a ¡®regular¡¯ at the hospital, brought him straight to a specialized consultation room. Lu Sheng only heard bits and pieces of medical terminology. He fell asleep after taking the medication, and when he woke up, three hours had passed. The previously slouched Lu Sheng immediately stood up, ¡°You¡¯re awake.¡± ¡°Uh-huh.¡± His voice still sounded weak. Lu Sheng looked over at his face, which was unreasonably pale. She frantically asked, ¡°Are you feeling any discomfort anywhere else? Does your chest still hurt? Can you breathe properly?¡± She asked a barrage of questions without waiting for an answer before turning her head to shout, ¡°Doctor! Doctor!¡± Her hand was caught. His hand was so cold. He said, ¡°I¡¯m fine now,¡± his voice very low. She was completely frozen, staring blankly at her hand. His hand was not only cold but also pale and extremely thin. ¡°I¡¯ve offended you,¡± he released her hand and sat up before thanking her again, ¡°Thank you.¡± People on the street are like jade. There really are such people. Zhou Qingrang was one¡ªlike a piece of raw jade, clean, exquisite, beautiful, warm, and yet cold. His eyes held immense sadness. Every time Lu Sheng saw him, she felt this, and she even wondered if he ever truly laughed. Shaking her head, she said, ¡°Don¡¯t mention it.¡± This was their third encounter. The first time, she had lent him an umbrella. The second time, she got his number, promising she would return the umbrella. This was the third time. Zhou Qingrang said, ¡°You haven¡¯t come to get the umbrella you lent me.¡± She stood by the bed, looking a bit awkward, her toes unconsciously fidgeting back and forth as she said, ¡°I¡¯ll come over in a few days.¡± In reality, she had gone several times already, but she never retrieved the umbrella, fearing that without it, she¡¯d have no reason to go back. She had dialed his number several times, but each time, as soon as it connected, she hung up, not knowing what to say. Zhou Qingrang thought to address her but realized he didn¡¯t know her name and asked politely, ¡°May I know your name, please?¡± She immediately said, ¡°Sure!¡± Ah! Like an idiot! She had only been a voice-over fan, now she had turned into a brainless fan. Calm down, Lu Sheng! She repeated to herself before saying, ¡°My name is Lu Sheng, ¡®sheng¡¯ as in ¡®sound.''¡± If only he would call her name with that soul-hooking voice of his¡­ ¡°Thank you,¡± he said courteously, his tone distant as he addressed her, ¡°Miss Lu.¡± Lu Sheng: ¡°¡­¡± It seemed it would be a long time before he called her Lu Sheng. Lu Sheng left the hospital room dejected. Behind her, someone called out, ¡°Lu Sheng.¡± That voice, lazy, listless, as if he hadn¡¯t slept enough. Lu Sheng turned around with a premonition and smiled, ¡°Brother.¡± Her brother, Lu Xinglan, was a contradictory presence. How to describe him? That face, in two words: striking and wild. It was offensively attractive. Yet, paradoxically, he was dressed in a suit with every button fastened that could possibly be fastened. He looked restrained and rigid. He always had a half-asleep expression, ¡°What are you doing here?¡± She answered vaguely, wanting to gloss over it, ¡°One of my friends is in the hospital,¡± she said while looking like a domineering CEO outside but smiling innocently and brightly in front of her brother. Lu Xinglan had one hand in his pocket and lifted the other to check his watch, ¡°Which friend?¡± She continued to deflect, ¡°You wouldn¡¯t know even if I told you.¡± No need to say then. Lu Xinglan walked straight towards the room she came from. Lu Sheng surrendered, grabbing the hem of his suit jacket, pleading, ¡°Bro, brother, don¡¯t go in there, brother!¡± She worried he would scare the others. Lu Xinglan shook off her hand, straightened his suit, ¡°Who?¡± She whispered, ¡°Zhou Qingrang.¡± That person again. His sister was a serious voice enthusiast, smitten with a news anchor. ¡°Lu Sheng, are you prepared to be a widow?¡± he said, pondering his words but ultimately speaking bluntly, ¡°That Zhou Qingrang,¡± he pointed out, ¡°doesn¡¯t have long to live.¡± He was riddled with illness, had bad legs, and was too old. Lu Sheng was irritated by her brother¡¯s words, ¡°Did you investigate him?¡± He suddenly yawned, ¡°So sleepy.¡± After speaking, he pinched the bridge of his nose, chose an empty row of seats in the hospital corridor, and lay down to sleep. Lu Sheng: ¡°¡­¡± She wondered if there was any hope for her brother¡¯s sleep disorder. Chapter 189 - 189: 189: Oh, Jiang Zhi is not good at this~ (first update) Chapter 189: 189: Oh, Jiang Zhi is not good at this~ (first update) Monday, torrential rain. The weather was awful, so Zhou Xufang took the day off and stayed home, and Jiang Zhi was at her place too. He had been living there for several days now, with no indication of any intention to leave. Zhou Xufang felt that maybe¡­ she and Jiang Zhi were¡­ cohabitating. Since she discovered the internet, Zhou Xufang¡¯s free time had been very fulfilling. She had many novels, comics, and web dramas yet to finish. Oh, and there were games to play. So first thing in the morning, Zhou Xufang started her pleasant leisure time by grabbing her phone. Jiang Zhi was quite annoyed because he was being ignored. He couldn¡¯t concentrate on the script at all, tossing it onto the couch, ¡°Zhou Xufang.¡± Zhou Xufang was seated alone in the adjacent beanbag, not looking up, ¡°Hmm?¡± She was still concentrating on her phone. Jiang Zhi felt she was way too addicted to the internet, ¡°What are you doing?¡± Zhou Xufang, dressed entirely in pink and even sporting a pink headband, with her phone case also pink, answered, ¡°Playing games.¡± Wasn¡¯t she obsessed with online shopping just the other day? When did she get hooked on games? Better than online shopping anyway. Jiang Zhi asked, ¡°Did Lin Wanwan get you into this?¡± ¡°Nope,¡± Zhou Xufang honestly replied, ¡°A friend from the book community recommended it to me.¡± During her reply, she never took her eyes off her game screen, not once. Lin Wanwan might be avoidable, but not the web of book friends Zhou Xufang had all over the literary world. Jiang Zhi walked over and squatted beside her, ¡°What game?¡± ¡°QQ Dancer.¡± Zhou Xufang was playing a high-difficulty song. The rhythm was so fast, she was busy hitting the beats to score and had no time to spare for Jiang Zhi. In any case, Jiang Zhi was thoroughly neglected. Jiang Zhi tugged at the rabbit ears on her pink headband, trying to get her attention and make her recognize his presence, ¡°Isn¡¯t that a game from years ago?¡± ¡°It used to be a PC game, now it¡¯s a mobile game.¡± Ah, the pace was so fast, she was struggling to keep up. She leaned back to prevent Jiang Zhi from pulling her rabbit ears, ¡°Stop talking to me, you¡¯re distracting me from my game.¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± He went back to his seat and angrily tore open a bag of marshmallows, creating quite a commotion. Zhou Xufang paid him no mind; she had just finished a song and then looked for the friend who recommended QQ Dancer to her, ¡°Are you online?¡± Her friend quickly sent a voice message, ¡°I am.¡± Zhou Xufang also sent a voice message, ¡°Wanna go on an in-game trip with me? Completing that task yields an outfit.¡± Her friend replied, ¡°Sure.¡± And off went Zhou Xufang with her friend, joyfully completing quests together. Jiang Zhi felt uneasy all over as he lounged on the sofa. He sat up and opened a can of milk, ¡°Zhou Xufang.¡± Zhou Xufang, still not looking up, ¡°Hmm?¡± ¡°Ahem, ahem,¡± he coughed twice before saying, ¡°The tab of the milk can cut my hand.¡± When Zhou Xufang heard that he got hurt, she became anxious, ¡°Where?¡± She put down her phone and went over, ¡°Let me see.¡± Jiang Zhi extended a finger. After a careful inspection, Zhou Xufang asked, ¡°Where¡¯s the wound?¡± He showed the pad of his index finger to Zhou Xufang, right in front of her eyes, ¡°Here, it¡¯s red.¡± Didn¡¯t it look like how a neglected girlfriend would act petulant and coquettish to get attention while her boyfriend was gaming? Zhou Xufang: ¡°¡­¡± She got up to fetch the medicine, applied it to the fussy patient, and although there was hardly a wound to speak of, she stuck a band-aid on that finger, ¡°There, all done.¡± Then she put the medicine box away and went to grab her phone. Jiang Zhi caught hold of the hood of her pink hoodie, ¡°Are you still going to play the game?¡± Of course, she was. Zhou Xufang said, ¡°I still have one level I haven¡¯t passed.¡± Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t let go, ¡°Can¡¯t you play tomorrow?¡± What he meant was¡ªcan¡¯t you play with me instead? Zhou Xufang shook her head, pulling her hood back from Jiang Zhi¡¯s hand, ¡°Today is the last day of the event; it ends at midnight. That level is hard to pass, I need to hurry.¡± If she didn¡¯t clear the level, she wouldn¡¯t get the outfit. ¡°Let me see.¡± Zhou Xufang thought Jiang Zhi was very smart. Zhou Xufang thought Jiang Zhi was good at everything. Zhou Xufang thought Jiang Zhi could certainly pass the level. Zhou Xufang instantly handed her phone to Jiang Zhi. ¡°What are the rules?¡± She explained the rules of QQ Dancer¡¯s Star Move mode, ¡°You need to get an S rank on all the songs in this album, and then you can claim the clothes.¡± That outfit was really beautiful, all pink. Zhou Xufang had already earned five S ranks; only the skirt was left to claim. Jiang Zhi took a look at the outfit, ¡°Can¡¯t you just buy it directly?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a collectible outfit, you can¡¯t buy it.¡± Zhou Xufang was so frustrated, saying, ¡°I have been playing this song for so long without passing it.¡± Tap the circles and hold the lines, the game¡¯s rules were simple. Jiang Zhi declared, ¡°I¡¯ll clear it for you.¡± Zhou Xufang replied, ¡°Great.¡± She thought Jiang Zhi in his non-mainstream days had played Audition, she thought Jiang Zhi could do anything, she thought Jiang Zhi was unmatched under the heavens¡­ After a round of the game, Zhou Xufang began to doubt her life. ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± Zhou Xufang glanced at the score on the game interface and hesitated, ¡°Did you miss every beat?¡± Or did she see it wrong? ¡°You saw it wrong,¡± he said, with a beautiful yet frustrated and annoyed expression on his face that was ready to flare up yet couldn¡¯t, ¡°I hit several of those dots.¡± Zhou Xufang: ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Cough.¡± She gave a fake cough, trying to hide her current embarrassment. Jiang Zhi¡¯s ears turned red: ¡°Are you laughing at me?¡± Zhou Xufang shook her head like a rattle drum: ¡°No!¡± Her lips sealed tight, she definitely wouldn¡¯t laugh. Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Jiang Zhi stared at her: ¡°You are.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not.¡± She felt the need to comfort him a bit, gently patting his head, ¡°Don¡¯t be discouraged, no one¡¯s perfect.¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± This was his girlfriend ¨C you couldn¡¯t scold, hit, or get mad at her. ¡°Zhou Xufang, don¡¯t talk to me for three minutes.¡± He turned away, took out his phone, and downloaded QQ Dance. Zhou Xufang thought he needed some time to cool down and didn¡¯t bother him. She sat back on the lazy couch and sent a WeChat message to Ah Wan. Zhou Xufang: ¡°Ah Wan.¡± Ah Wan: [Here comes bro]GIF Zhou Xufang: ¡°Have you ever heard Jiang Zhi sing?¡± Ah Wan: ¡°No.¡± Ah Wan: ¡°Not even once.¡± Ah Wan: ¡°I guess he¡¯s tone-deaf.¡± Ah Wan: [Leg shaking]GIF Zhou Xufang: ¡°I think so too.¡± Zhou Xufang: ¡°His sense of rhythm is so bad.¡± The rhythm-impaired Jiang Zhi: ¡°Zhou Xufang.¡± Zhou Xufang immediately closed WeChat: ¡°Hmm?¡± He squatted down in front of her with his phone in hand, ¡°Why is this outfit so ugly? Where can I change it?¡± Jiang Zhi was still using a new account, and the clothes on the player were given by the system. Thinking of Jiang Zhi¡¯s performance just now, Zhou Xufang felt she had to offer some tips to the newbie: ¡°You get them from signing in and doing tasks, and you can also buy them in the store.¡± Jiang Zhi went to the store, made a mess of purchases, and then frowned, ¡°Why can¡¯t I join a dance crew?¡± ¡°Your level is too low. Dance a few more times and you¡¯ll level up.¡± He looked up at her. Zhou Xufang saw, for the first time, a look of confusion in those eyes of Jiang Zhi that could usually captivate anyone. Paired with his misty blue hair, he looked like an emoticon. Zhou Xufang taught this human emoticon hand by hand: ¡°Click here.¡± She helped him click, ¡°The first few levels are easy. You¡¯ll level up after completing them.¡± Jiang Zhi sat back down and started to progress through the levels. Probably after about thirty or forty minutes. ¡°Zhou Xufang.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± Jiang Zhi said somewhat awkwardly: ¡°Help me pass this level.¡± Zhou Xufang glanced at it, Star Motion Mode, chapter three, fifth song. In this case, one could say it was pretty lame. Of course, she wouldn¡¯t want to hurt her boyfriend¡¯s pride: ¡°Ah, this level is hard, you know. I played it many times before when I first started.¡± Jiang Zhi grunted. Zhou Xufang deliberately played below her ability, losing three rounds before finally helping him pass. Her palms were sweaty with the effort. It turned out, hiding one¡¯s prowess wasn¡¯t easy either. Ah! In the future, she better not take Jiang Zhi to play games that require hand speed and rhythm. In the end, after spending two hours during which Zhou Xufang helped him through several rounds, Jiang Zhi finally got the permissions to join dance crews, but not a single one wanted this newbie account. Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± Damn it! Zhou Xufang, the expert, remained quietly unspoken. Time spent gaming always flies by quickly. Since it was still raining heavily outside, they didn¡¯t go out for dinner, instead ordering takeout to eat at home. Zhou Xufang had downplayed her skills in the morning so as not to hurt Jiang Zhi¡¯s pride, and now, thinking back, it really wasn¡¯t easy, so she didn¡¯t play games in the afternoon. She watched a web series. Jiang Zhi started by dealing with official business, but later joined her in watching. There was no TV at Zhou Xufang¡¯s place, and she used a projector, a rather expensive one at that, to play ¡ª President Gu, your pampered wife has eloped again. She watched it for the third time and still found it thoroughly entertaining. Jiang Zhi had one arm around his girlfriend¡¯s shoulder and the other holding her cotton candy ice cream as he asked, ¡°Why does she want to run?¡± He was referring to the female protagonist. Zhou Xufang explained, ¡°Because she¡¯s pregnant.¡± Chapter 191 - 191: 191: Send Luo Family father and daughter to jail (first update Chapter 191: 191: Send Luo Family father and daughter to jail (first update Nine o¡¯clock in the evening, the wind ceased and the rain stopped. The duty officer, Zhang Wen, was dozing when the desk extension rang. He shook his head to clear the sleep and answered the phone, ¡°Hello, ** Precinct, Criminal Investigation Team.¡± The caller was in a panic, ¡°There¡¯s, there¡¯s been a death here.¡± Zhang Wen was fully awake in an instant and immediately asked, ¡°Where?¡± The other party said, ¡°Hongjiang Bridge Cave.¡± After giving some instructions, Zhang Wen hung up the phone and knocked on the door of the small office next door, ¡°Vice Captain, there¡¯s been a homicide.¡± Vice Captain Xing immediately got in touch with the forensic and trace evidence departments. By nine thirty, Captain Cheng of the Criminal Investigation Team had arrived at the murder scene. ¡°Captain Cheng.¡± ¡°Has the identity of the deceased been confirmed?¡± Vice Captain Xing passed over a pair of gloves, ¡°The victim¡¯s surname is Peng, a foreign national, twenty-three years old. There¡¯s a student ID in the backpack, so they¡¯re probably still a student.¡± Captain Cheng put on the gloves and walked into the bridge cave, ¡°Have you contacted the family?¡± ¡°Not yet.¡± Captain Cheng walked up to the corpse, squatted down to inspect it. The body was lying on its back, there was not much blood on the ground, nor any signs of a struggle, ¡°Time of death?¡± ¡°About an hour and a half ago.¡± Vice Captain Xing pointed to the head of the corpse, ¡°The cause of death will have to wait for the coroner¡¯s report, but the initial estimate is traumatic intracranial hemorrhage. The murder weapon is still uncertain.¡± Captain Cheng inspected the area surrounding the body, ¡°Is there any surveillance nearby?¡± Vice Captain Xing shook his head, ¡°This area has been deserted for a long time, there¡¯s a camera about ten meters away, but it¡¯s a blind spot.¡± Before the bridge cave was deserted, it was an intersection between the highway and city roads. Later the highway was reconstructed, and this area was no longer in use. One end of the bridge cave had been bricked up, with a depth of five or six meters. Even if there were cameras outside, they wouldn¡¯t capture what happened inside. The location of the body was in a visual blind spot. Moreover, the scene was too clean. captain Cheng was feeling a headache when a call from the Criminal Intelligence Department came in. ¡°Why are you calling me in the middle of the night?¡± The person on the other end greeted first, his voice tinged with laziness, ¡°Does your Criminal Investigation Team have another case?¡± This guy! Captain Cheng, squatting next to the body, chatted with him, ¡°How did you know?¡± ¡°The crime scene is at Hongjiang Bridge Cave?¡± He even knew this! Captain Cheng felt that this guy must have ¡®insiders¡¯, smiling, he said, ¡°Captain Qiao, you¡¯re very well-informed.¡± Qiao Nanchu was noncommittal, casually mentioning, ¡°There should be no surveillance there, as for eye witnesses,¡± he paused, took a drag of his cigarette, ¡°you should be able to find some, right?¡± There was a hidden message in his words. After hanging up, Captain Cheng called over Officer Zhang Wen, ¡°Put up a banner offering a reward for eye witnesses.¡± That banner turned out to be quite effective. By ten o¡¯clock the next morning, an eye witness had come forward to the police station. The eye witness was in his forties, a taxi driver. The driver was excited about something, very excited. He looked left and right, then held up two fingers, ¡°There were two perpetrators.¡± Zhang Wen stopped writing and asked the witness, ¡°Did you see it?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t,¡± the driver immediately emphasized, ¡°but my car¡¯s dash cam captured it, it was definitely two people.¡± He spoke as if he had witnessed it with his own eyes. ¡°About what time?¡± ¡°Around eight o¡¯clock.¡± Afraid the policeman wouldn¡¯t believe him, he explained in great detail, ¡°I have a habit of listening to the radio, and I was just listening to the eight o¡¯clock slot at that time.¡± Zhang Wen followed up with a question, ¡°What were you doing at Hongjiang Bridge Cave at that time?¡± His pen tapped on the table, ¡°That road is very deserted, and usually no one goes there.¡± ¡°Comrade, you¡¯re not suspecting me, are you?¡± The driver felt this comrade was inadequate, to even doubt a proactive and upright citizen like him; he hurried to explain, ¡°I had dropped off a client nearby and just then I picked up two more under the bridge cave.¡± Zhang Wen continued to inquire, ¡°You picked up clients but didn¡¯t leave? Were you waiting there to capture the perpetrators?¡± The suspicions of the police these days! ¡°The clients were waiting for someone there, it looked like it was about to rain, so they hailed my cab and waited inside.¡± The driver glanced at the officer opposite him, worried he would still be suspected, he raised his voice significantly and continued, ¡°They waited for about fifteen minutes, and my dash cam was on the whole time, capturing two people going in and out of the bridge cave.¡± ¡°What about the dash cam?¡± ¡°It¡¯s been handed to your colleagues already.¡± ¡°Do you remember anything about those two clients?¡± The driver thought for a moment, ¡°One had dyed blue hair.¡± He slapped his thigh, ¡°Looked like a fairy, and the other was a big, hulking guy, skittish.¡± S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Three o¡¯clock in the afternoon. A call came from the Criminal Identification Department, confirming that the video had not been tampered with. Zhang Wen hung up, ¡°Captain Cheng, the dash cam is fine.¡± Captain Cheng¡¯s computer screen was showing the video captured by the dash cam. He tapped the space bar and the frame froze, with a man and a woman on the screen, two individuals. ¡°Go invite the two suspects over.¡± Three thirty, Luo Family. Without knocking, Luo Changde pushed open Luo Qinghe¡¯s room door, his eyes swollen and his expression panic-stricken, ¡°The body has been found by the police.¡± Luo Qinghe sat in front of the vanity, putting on earrings, and looked up through the mirror, ¡°What¡¯s the panic.¡± Luo Changde was panicked, and also furious, ¡°Why didn¡¯t you let me dispose of the body?¡± She smiled and asked back, ¡°Why would you dispose of it?¡± Luo Changde hadn¡¯t slept all night, his eyes were red-rimmed, his cheekbones were too high, making his eyeballs seem slightly protruding, ¡°Aren¡¯t you afraid the police will suspect us?¡± Luo Qinghe stood up from the chair in front of the dressing mirror and turned around, ¡°I haven¡¯t killed anyone, what should I fear?¡± ¡°I haven¡¯t killed anyone either.¡± She smiled, ¡°Is that so?¡± Luo Changde glared angrily. She was still smiling, with thin lips and a monolid, a very dispassionate face, unlike Luo Changde, as she resembled her mother from the Xiao Family. ¡°I was thinking all of yesterday, if it was just to gain leverage over me, would you go to such elaborate lengths?¡± Her eyelids lifted as she looked at Luo Changde, speaking in an unhurried tone and a confident air, ¡°Is there also a possibility that what Peng Xianzhi had in his hands wasn¡¯t only against me, but perhaps there was also something unfavorable to you?¡± On hearing this, Luo Changde¡¯s expression turned frantic, ¡°Do you have the things?¡± This reaction¡­ She guessed correctly. ¡°Dad,¡± she said with a smirk, ¡°why play dumb with me, don¡¯t you clearly know where the things are?¡± Luo Changde snorted coldly, ¡°Don¡¯t turn things around on me.¡± The conversation paused there, as a servant outside knocked on the door, ¡°Sir, Miss, the police are here.¡± Luo Changde¡¯s face changed dramatically. Before the father and daughter inside could speak, Captain Cheng from the Criminal Investigation Team pushed the door open and smiled upon entering, ¡°Good, both of you are here, saves us the trouble of looking for you one by one.¡± Luo Qinghe responded calmly, ¡°Is there a matter?¡± Of course, the Criminal Investigation Team weren¡¯t there to waste time. Captain Cheng showed his badge without delay, ¡°Around eight last night, both of you went to the Hongjiang Bridge Cave, didn¡¯t you?¡± Both of their faces now looked unpleasant. Captain Cheng got straight to the point and took out handcuffs, ¡°You are suspected of being involved in a premeditated murder case, we are going to arrest you immediately. Anything you want to say? Our colleagues will record it for you.¡± The father and daughter exchanged glances, neither spoke. Captain Cheng directly instructed his subordinates to take them away and to conduct a search on site. After the Criminal Investigation Team left, the servants went to the study, ¡°Chairman.¡± There was no answer inside. The servant didn¡¯t dare enter and spoke from the doorway, ¡°Sir and the young miss have been taken by the police.¡± Inside the room, Luo Huaiyu opened the bottom drawer, took out a file folder, glanced at it, and then threw it forcefully to the floor. At the police station. Vice Captain Xing and Zhang Wen both came out from the interrogation room. Captain Cheng asked, ¡°Finished with the interrogation?¡± Zhang Wen answered, ¡°Yes, it¡¯s done.¡± ¡°What did they say?¡± Vice Captain Xing went to pour a glass of water, while Zhang Wen chose a spot on the desk to sit down, ¡°They deny everything. The father and daughter seem to have rehearsed it; their testimonies align perfectly. They claim that by the time they arrived there, the victim was already dead.¡± Without the coroner¡¯s report, it wasn¡¯t easy to judge the credibility of their alibis. Captain Cheng asked again, ¡°Did they say why they went there?¡± Zhang Wen shrugged, ¡°They wouldn¡¯t say.¡± He accepted a glass of water passed to him by the Vice Captain and took a sip to moisten his throat, ¡°These two are seasoned, not the least bit frightened. They were even bold enough to claim¡ª¡± Zhang Wen imitated Luo Qinghe¡¯s tone, reciting verbatim, ¡°It is the police¡¯s responsibility to find evidence of my guilt, not mine to prove my innocence.¡± Vice Captain Xing added, ¡°This woman, so arrogant and clever, not just anyone can handle her.¡± The desk phone rang. Captain Cheng answered it, giving an affirmative hum, listened to the message, and replied with a thanks before hanging up, ¡°The coroner says there was no one¡¯s blood at the scene other than Peng Zhongming¡¯s.¡± Meaning, up until now, there was no direct evidence linking the Luo Family father and daughter to the murder. Zhang Wen sighed deeply, ¡°This complicates things. If we didn¡¯t collect evidence on scene, it¡¯s going to be difficult to prove their guilt based solely on the dashcam footage.¡± He pondered hypothetically, ¡°The two of them went in and out at the same time, who could be the killer? Luo Qinghe seems calmer; could it have been Luo Changde?¡± Zhang Wen stroked his chin, ¡°Or, it could be an act, could they have conspired together?¡± Captain Cheng playfully aimed a kick at him, ¡°Stop guessing wildly, go and find the evidence.¡± Zhang Wen set down his glass and gave a salute, ¡°Yes, Sir!¡± Across the street from the Criminal Investigation Team, an SUV was parked with the license plate ending in four threes. Wasn¡¯t it the car of the Qiao Family¡¯s fourth son? He leaned back in his seat, head cocked, looking at the passenger seat, ¡°Who¡¯s the murderer?¡± A hand rested on the steering wheel, tapping leisurely, ¡°Luo Changde or Luo Qinghe?¡± Jiang Zhi seemed to have not slept well the night before, looking only moderately awake, ¡°Does it matter?¡± Qiao Nanchu laughed and countered, ¡°Doesn¡¯t it?¡± Inside Jiang Zhi¡¯s khaki coat was a pink sweater, obviously styled by someone known for ostentation. Such a flamboyant combination, yet he wore it with a noble elegance. His hair recently dyed, the matte blue still quite pronounced, made him look particularly enticing as he sat there. His tone was languid, ¡°Who the murderer is doesn¡¯t matter for now, as long as Peng Xianzhi in prison knows there are these two suspects.¡± Qiao Nanchu couldn¡¯t help but chuckle, ¡°Jiang Zhi, who are you scheming against?¡± His gaze fell on the rearview mirror as he tousled the hair on his forehead, ¡°What if Peng Xianzhi found out that his son was killed by the Luo Family? Would he still remain tight-lipped?¡± Qiao Nanchu teased him for being a fox spirit. He had the guise of a beauty, but was cunning to the core. That fox spirit was quite pleased with his hair color, a hint of a smile at the corner of his lips, ¡°Arrange it for me; I want to meet with him.¡± Chapter 193 - 193: 193: Luo Qinghes Leverage, The Secret Revealed (Undivided Chapter) Chapter 193: 193: Luo Qinghe¡¯s Leverage, The Secret Revealed (Undivided Chapter) The timeline rewound to the evening following the day the murder occurred. Inside the study, an old-fashioned desk lamp was lit. The man¡¯s voice on the phone was deep, ¡°Sir, Jiang Zhi went to meet with Peng Xianzhi.¡± The cellphone was placed on the desk, and Luo Huaiyu¡¯s hands were resting on his cane while the person standing beside him was holding their breath in rapt attention. Luo Huaiyu asked, ¡°Was the conversation recorded?¡± Meetings in prison usually involved landlines, especially for major felons, and the content of their conversations was often monitored. However, the person on the other end said nothing had been heard and explained, ¡°The fourth young master of the Qiao Family was there too, I couldn¡¯t intervene.¡± Jiang Zhi was seeking Peng Xianzhi for reasons Luo Huaiyu could guess, but what he was unclear about was Peng Xianzhi¡¯s attitude. He ordered the person on the phone, ¡°Keep a close eye on it.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± After hanging up, Luo Huaiyu smashed the cellphone down with force. It made two sounds, the first as it hit someone¡¯s head and the second as it fell to the ground, shattering the screen instantly. Luo Huaiyu was seething with anger, cursing, ¡°Good for nothing, good at messing things up.¡± The man beside him staggered from the impact of the cellphone, immediately stood firm again, with his hands clasped in front of him and his head bowed, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Chairman, it was my mistake.¡± The man, named Chen Li, was in his thirties with a criminal record and worked as a security guard at the Luo Family headquarters. Luo Huaiyu¡¯s anger had not abated as he asked sternly, ¡°I only asked you to retrieve something, who told you to kill someone?¡± With Peng Zhongming dead, Peng Xianzhi had become an unpredictable ticking time bomb. Chen Li defended, ¡°I didn¡¯t kill him, I only knocked him out.¡± ¡°You didn¡¯t kill him,¡± Luo Huaiyu shouted, ¡°then who did?¡± Chen Li couldn¡¯t answer, his head bowed and his palms sweating profusely. Luo Huaiyu¡¯s face darkened, and after a moment of silence, he asked, ¡°The item, have you found it?¡± ¡°We¡¯ve searched the place where Peng Zhongming lived.¡± Chen Li shook his head, his expression filled with dread, ¡°Nothing there, it must have been intercepted by someone.¡± With the man dead and the item still not in hand, this was the worst possible outcome. Luo Huaiyu stroked the dragon head on his cane, pondered for a long while, then tossed a file bag from the drawer onto the desk and commanded in a deep voice, ¡°Investigate.¡± The file bag lay open, its contents spilled onto the desk¡ªa book titled ¡°Everyone Should Be a Good Person.¡± When Jiang Zhi left Western Prison, it was almost dark. As soon as he stepped out the prison gate, he saw someone squatting by the side of the road, very obediently squatting with legs together, beside several car-blocking bollards. Like a pink mushroom that had sprouted from the ground. Jiang Zhi walked over and tapped her head with his finger, ¡°What are you doing squatting here?¡± She lifted her head, wearing a large mask, ¡°Waiting for you.¡± On the ground were many small stones, neatly arranged into two words¡ªJiang Zhi. What a cutie. Jiang Zhi reached out his hand toward her, she took it, and stood up to let him lead her away. The car was parked on the opposite side of the road. Very few vehicles and pedestrians passed by the prison gate on that road, with no pedestrian crossings or traffic lights. Jiang Zhi led her across the street, looking both ways for cars. The girl beside him followed obediently and quietly, like a primary school student being led by a parent. ¡°Did you buy the tape recorder?¡± Zhou Xufang said, ¡°I got it.¡± It was in the bag. ¡°Have you listened to it?¡± ¡°No,¡± she said, ¡°waiting to listen with you.¡± The item in Peng Zhongming¡¯s possession was a cassette tape, which Zhou Xufang had intercepted. Upon leaving the supermarket yesterday, she received the information sent by Shuangjiang and quickly recognized Peng Zhongming. Focusing on that supermarket, it only took Shuangjiang half an hour to find Peng Zhongming¡¯s address. Zhou Xufang had swapped the items in the file bag and placed a book inside before Peng Zhongming left his home. Once in the car, she couldn¡¯t wait any longer and took out the cassette and an old-fashioned tape recorder, which she had found after searching half of Imperial City, loaded it, and pressed play. ¡°Distance.¡± The first voice that came out was that of a girl practicing her English pronunciation, recording herself as she practiced. ¡°Expression.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Flashcard.¡± ¡°Vocabulary.¡± After reading several names in succession, the girl became impatient. She slammed down the book and began to unleash her emotions. Perhaps she herself had forgotten that the tape recorder was still running when she burst out cursing loudly, ¡°Luo Qinghe, you big idiot!¡± Zhou Xufang was sure now that this was the younger Luo Yinghe. She was arrogant and unbridled, ¡°Your mom is a lunatic!¡± ¡°Your dad is a big beast!¡± ¡°You¡¯re a psychological freak!¡± Even after hurling insults, she was not relieved and kicked over a stool. The recorder made a loud clanging noise. At that moment, a voice in the distance was calling out, ¡°Yinghe.¡± ¡°Yinghe.¡± Luo Yinghe spoke with impatience, ¡°What is it?¡± It was her mother calling her, ¡°Come here for a moment.¡± She got up, cursing and grumbling, and went out without turning off the tape recorder, which was still recording. After about seven or eight minutes, footsteps could be heard. One after the other, two people came in. ¡°Miss, you were looking for me.¡± Jiang Zhi recognized the voice, ¡°It¡¯s Peng Xianzhi.¡± Luo Qinghe, who had only recently come of age, sounded confident and composed in a way that did not match her youth, ¡°Just now outside the door, I ran into some people looking for Master Peng. They seemed to be debt collectors. I¡¯ve had them chased away.¡± Peng Xianzhi was a horticulturist and had worked in the Luo Family¡¯s greenhouse for several years. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Miss, for causing you trouble,¡± he said with utmost respect. ¡°It¡¯s no trouble.¡± She paused for a moment, ¡°As for you, Master Peng, I¡¯m afraid you might have some trouble.¡± The young girl spoke leisurely, as if making small talk, ¡°I hear those debt collectors from the casino will do anything. If they can¡¯t get their money, chopping off hands and feet is considered letting you off easy.¡± There was a thud. Peng Xianzhi went down on his knees, ¡°Miss, I¡¯m begging you to help me.¡± ¡°Help you? Sure.¡± The tape whirred, as the girl tapped on the trellis, ¡°Then, would Master Peng also help me with something?¡± ¡°Miss, just tell me.¡± This tape was old, and despite being carefully preserved, it had some gaps. Footsteps were sporadic as the girl roamed around the greenhouse. She said, ¡°My mother liked this greenhouse the most before she died. How about burning it for her?¡± The mother of Luo Qinghe had died that year from depression, a suicide. Peng Xianzhi asked, ¡°Just burn the greenhouse?¡± The girl laughed, ¡°And take the opportunity to burn some other dirty things as well.¡± ¡°What are you referring to?¡± She countered, ¡°What else could be unclean in the Luo Family?¡± Peng Xianzhi fell silent. Before she left, the girl left a message, ¡°When you¡¯ve decided, come find me.¡± Then, Peng Xianzhi also left the greenhouse. No other sounds followed, only the tape¡¯s static. Zhou Xufang turned off the tape recorder. Jiang Zhi was still holding her hand and did not let go, fiddling with it, ¡°Did you expect this?¡± She shook her head, ¡°I thought it was Luo Changde.¡± She couldn¡¯t understand, ¡°Why does she hate me so much?¡± She was even willing to commit a crime. Jiang Zhi pinched her fingers and leaned in for a peck, saying, ¡°She¡¯s got a screw loose.¡± Luo Yinghe had insulted her too, calling her psychologically disturbed. Zhou Xufang laughed, the furrow in her brow smoothing out as she nodded, ¡°I think so too.¡± Then she asked Jiang Zhi, ¡°With this tape, can she be convicted?¡± Jiang Zhi packed away the items and leaned over to fasten her seatbelt, ¡°Her conversation with Peng Xianzhi doesn¡¯t mention you, so this alone isn¡¯t enough. But if Peng Xianzhi is willing to testify against her, she could probably be convicted.¡± Now, they just needed Peng Xianzhi to crack. ¡°Incitement to murder,¡± said Jiang Zhi, ¡°could land her behind bars for a very long time.¡± There was another thing that puzzled Zhou Xufang, who thought for a moment and did not understand, ¡°Why would Luo Huaiyu also want to snatch this tape?¡± She couldn¡¯t believe the old man had intervened just to protect his family. Jiang Zhi plugged in the car key and turned the steering wheel, ¡°Perhaps, he¡¯s an accomplice too.¡± The car made a U-turn and headed for Cangjiang Road. It had been drizzly for the past few days, and by evening, it was already dark, with the neon lights along the road turning on, one by one. Zhou Xufang looked out the car window, ¡°Aren¡¯t we going back to Yuquan Bay?¡± This wasn¡¯t the way back to her home. Jiang Zhi said without looking back, ¡°Let¡¯s go to my place.¡± ¡°But you don¡¯t have a kitchen.¡± Zhou Xufang normally lived alone, but since Jiang Zhi often visited, the place already had a fair number of new pieces of furniture and decor, just no kitchenware. ¡°Do we need to cook?¡± Jiang Zhi hummed in response, ¡°Aren¡¯t you tired of takeout?¡± She had casually complained yesterday, saying she didn¡¯t want it anymore, that she was fed up with it, but, ¡°I can¡¯t cook.¡± Her past attempts had resulted in food that was too appalling to stomach, and she hadn¡¯t considered cooking since. Jiang Zhi said, ¡°I¡¯ll cook.¡± ¡°You know how?¡± ¡°No,¡± he glanced over at her, then back to the road, ¡°I¡¯ll have to learn.¡± He was driving with one hand and reached for her hand with the other, which she heartlessly shook off, ¡°Focus on driving properly.¡± After the reminder, she continued the conversation about cooking, ¡°We could eat out instead.¡± Jiang Zhi had his compelling reasons, ¡°One of us should learn, otherwise who¡¯ll cook for you when you go to Moon Bay?¡± He was still hung up on Moon Bay, worried about being left behind. So, the conclusion was, ¡°You must take me with you.¡± The tone was a strong one of seeking affection! ¡°We,¡± Zhou Xufang really loved that word, it sounded so pleasant and uplifting, ¡°You make a good point.¡± She didn¡¯t disagree, so Jiang Zhi took it as her consent that she would take him with her to Moon Bay in the future, his mouth turning up at the corners, ¡°Of course, Zhou Xufang¡¯s boyfriend is the best.¡± Zhou Xufang nodded vigorously, in full agreement, ¡°Mhm~¡± Her boyfriend was indeed the best in the world! After a trip to the supermarket, having purchased all the necessary cooking ingredients, they got home at six thirty, right on time to start cooking. Jiang Zhi¡¯s place had all the kitchenware, all chosen by Xue Baoyi, maybe not the most practical, but definitely the most expensive. The world¡¯s best boyfriend, Jiang Zhi, handed Zhou Xufang a bunch of sweet potato leaves, ¡°Just sit here and peel the vines.¡± He supported her waist, lifted her up, and placed her on a chair next to the dining table. He didn¡¯t plan to let her into the kitchen, her hands were more precious than his. Zhou Xufang looked at the vegetables in the basket, ¡°Is this all I¡¯m doing?¡± Jiang Zhi bent forward, tapping her forehead with his finger, smiling with soft light filling his eyes, ¡°Once you¡¯re done with that, I¡¯ll give you more tasks.¡± Zhou Xufang was all too happy to listen, and since they were at home, enclosed by four walls and a ceiling, she took the initiative to kiss Jiang Zhi on the lips, ¡°Okay.¡± Then, Jiang Zhi kissed her thoroughly before he left. Zhou Xufang, her face flushed and heart racing, picked through the vegetables, feeling as sweet inside as if she¡¯d eaten cotton candy. After a while, she went to get the cassette, to listen to it once more in the player. Jiang Zhi headed to the kitchen, taking his laptop with him, opening it up, and sending a video call invitation to Shuangxi¡¯s mother, Ms. Song. Ms. Song accepted. A chicken¡¯s head popped up on the screen first, ¡°Cluck cluck cluck!¡± Jiang Zhi, ¡°¡­¡± That chicken had gained so much weight; he could hardly recognize it as the very one Zhou Xufang had given him¡ªMs. Song¡¯s beloved pet, Shuangxi. Jiang Zhi called out, ¡°Auntie.¡± Ms. Song answered with a beaming smile, clasping her pet in her arms, ¡°Where¡¯s Shuangxi¡¯s mom?¡± Ms. Song had a young girl¡¯s heart, treating Shuangxi like her granddaughter, knitting it countless little sweaters and booties. Right now, Shuangxi was adorned in a checkered sweater dress, complete with a matching wool beret. Jiang Zhi found it somewhat hard to look at, trying his best not to stare at the chicken, ¡°She¡¯s picking vegetables.¡± Ms. Song then asked, ¡°Are you cooking?¡± sounding a bit skeptical. ¡°Mhm.¡± Shuangxi clucked again. Ms. Song slapped its rump, ¡°Shuangxi, stop fidgeting, your dad is learning to cook.¡± Jiang Zhi, ¡°¡­¡± It almost made it sound like he¡¯d sired it. Ms. Song asked again, ¡°Did you buy everything?¡± ¡°Everything on the list,¡± he replied. The list was what Ms. Song had compiled for him the night before. Ms. Song thought it was Shuangxi¡¯s mother who was going to cook, not the pampered Shuangxi¡¯s father, who¡¯d never laid fingers in spring water. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s make two simple dishes today,¡± said Ms. Song, ¡°Your wife likes sweets, doesn¡¯t she?¡± She knew quite a bit about Shuangxi¡¯s mother, aware that both Shuangxi¡¯s mom and dad liked milk and cotton candy. Over there, Jiang Zhi was delighted by the term ¡®wife,¡¯ his lips curling into a smile, ¡°Hmm, my family does like sweets,¡± his voice laced with a hint of boasting. Ms. Song said, ¡°Then let¡¯s make sweet and sour pork ribs.¡± Jiang Zhi replied, ¡°Okay.¡± He adjusted the angle of his laptop. Ms. Song looked around the kitchen and began to give remote instructions, ¡°First, blanch the ribs.¡± Blanch? Jiang Zhi looked puzzled. It was obvious that it was his first time in the kitchen. S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The Jiang Family was a prominent clan, and Old Lady Jiang was born into a scholarly family. The household still maintained old customs and traditions, where boys were not allowed in the kitchen. Gentlemen should focus on their inner development and cherish their well-being. Moreover, Jiang Zhi, who had been frail and frequently ill since childhood, was someone who had people to dress and serve him drinks. Such a pampered young master was now about to taste the toils of worldly life for his beloved girl. Ms. Song felt quite emotional¡ªthere was a sense of relief akin to marrying off a daughter, you know? There¡¯s the fear that one¡¯s daughter, once married off, won¡¯t know how to do anything and will be scorned by her in-laws. A mother wants to impart all she knows to her daughter before she gets married. That¡¯s exactly how Ms. Song felt now. With such feelings, Ms. Song started giving instructions, ¡°Use the pot on your left, fill it halfway with water, and heat it up.¡± Jiang Zhi took a pot, filled it halfway with water, placed it on the stove, then turned on the burner. After trying the switch three times, there was no flame. He turned back to the computer, ¡°The fire won¡¯t start.¡± Ms. Song, examining the screen, asked, ¡°Did you turn on the gas?¡± Ripples of confusion appeared in Jiang Zhi¡¯s peach blossom eyes, ¡°Do I have to?¡± Ms. Song replied, ¡°Of course.¡± Jiang Zhi inquired, ¡°Where do I turn it on?¡± Ms. Song was at a loss for words¡­ She felt that making these sweet and sour pork ribs was going to be a grueling process. Twenty minutes later. Zhou Xufang called out from the living room, ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± She was holding two sweet potato leaves, shaking them as she said, ¡°I¡¯ve picked them all.¡± Jiang Zhi emerged from the kitchen, wearing a pink apron with the sleeves of his home outfit rolled up, his arms wet, ¡°Do you know how to peel potatoes?¡± Zhou Xufang was full of enthusiasm, ¡°I do.¡± Given how cleanly she had peeled the sweet potato vines, not a trace of skin was left. Jiang Zhi went to the kitchen, got two potatoes and a peeler, and handed them to Zhou Xufang, ¡°Be gentle and don¡¯t hurt your hands.¡± He had to find something for her to do, or else she would definitely want to help in the kitchen. He didn¡¯t want her in there, just didn¡¯t want her there¡ªhe wanted to pamper her. Zhou Xufang replied, ¡°Hmm.¡± As soon as she took the potatoes, there was a sudden loud bang! Jiang Zhi asked, ¡°What was that sound?¡± Zhou Xufang reacted, pointing at the tape recorder, ¡°The cassette.¡± She explained, ¡°I forgot to turn it off, it kept playing.¡± After Luo Qinghe and Peng Xianzhi left the greenhouse, there were no other sounds on tape, and she thought there was nothing else recorded. Jiang Zhi walked over and turned the volume up to maximum. The noise they heard was the sound of a flowerpot hitting the ground, followed by footsteps and the clattering of someone bumping into a flower rack. ¡°Are you so afraid of me?¡± It was a man¡¯s voice. There was also the sound of panicked, frightened gasping, coming from someone else. ¡°What are you hiding from?¡± ¡°It was you outside the door that day, wasn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°Did you see it? Did you see everything?¡± The man¡¯s voice trailed off, followed by a thud, and then silence. A few minutes later, the tape ran to its end and stopped. Jiang Zhi rewound the tape and listened again, confirming, ¡°It¡¯s Luo Changde.¡± Zhou Xufang also recognized the voice. Only Luo Changde¡¯s voice could be heard; the other person had not spoken throughout the entire recording. She said, ¡°The other person is me.¡± Jiang Zhi shared her suspicion, ¡°You might have seen something you weren¡¯t supposed to see.¡± No wonder Luo Changde went to such lengths to obtain this tape. The waters of the Luo Family ran deep indeed. Chapter 194 - 194: 194: Jiang Zhi has a way to tame a wife, Fang Bao can only follow Chapter 194: 194: Jiang Zhi has a way to tame a wife, Fang Bao can only follow The waters of the Luo Family run deep. Zhou Xufang pondered with furrowed brows. Jiang Zhi reached out, and the tip of his index finger landed on her forehead, smoothing out her furrowed brows as he asked, ¡°The ribs are ready, do you want to try them?¡± Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t want to think about the matters of the Luo Family anymore and nodded, ¡°Yes.¡± Jiang Zhi led her to the kitchen, where the computer was still on. Ms. Song, seeing Zhou Xufang come in, enthusiastically called out, ¡°Shuangxi¡¯s mother!¡± Shuangxi: ¡°Giggle giggle giggle!¡± Shuangxi¡¯s mother: ¡°¡­¡± Shuangxi was even wearing handmade ¡®diapers¡¯¡­ Ah Wan¡¯s mother was really amazing. Zhou Xufang greeted her: ¡°Auntie, hello.¡± Ms. Song smiled warmly and affectionately, ¡°Hello to you too.¡± Zhou Xufang stood upright, clearly looking like a good student. Jiang Zhi picked up a piece of rib and fed it to her lips. She felt it was inappropriate to be so affectionate in front of an elder, so she turned away and took a small bite. Jiang Zhi immediately asked, ¡°Is it good?¡± A bit sweet, a bit sour. Zhou Xufang nodded, ¡°Mhm, it¡¯s good.¡± She leaned in to take another bite, ¡°Really good.¡± Jiang Zhi, afraid she was just flattering him, also bit where she had bitten. The taste¡­ was average at best, at least not bad. Zhou Xufang was very supportive, giving two big thumbs-up, genuinely and earnestly praising him, ¡°Jiang Zhi, you¡¯re really amazing!¡± There was, to some extent, the exaggeration of seeing beauty in the eyes of the lover in her words, but Jiang Zhi took it well. He glanced at the plate of sweet and sour ribs, ignoring the few burnt pieces and the pasty sauce, ¡°Cooking isn¡¯t that hard.¡± He was close to bursting with pride. Just ignore the pile of ruined ribs in the trash, and the mess that was visible all over the kitchen! At that moment, Ms. Song asked, ¡°Jiang Zhi, is the rice ready?¡± Jiang Zhi went to open the pot, glanced inside, and his previously upturned mouth corners drooped, ¡°The pot¡¯s broken.¡± Ms. Song craned her neck to see, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Isn¡¯t it a new pot? How could it be broken already? Jiang Zhi slammed the pot lid down, ¡°It¡¯s not cooked.¡± Ms. Song felt something wasn¡¯t right, ¡°Did you not set it to cook rice?¡± ¡°I did,¡± Jiang Zhi was certain, ¡°It¡¯s the pot that¡¯s broken.¡± He wanted to throw away this piece of junk that Xue Baoyi had bought. Zhou Xufang walked over, touched the edge of the pot ¨C it was cold. She turned the body of the pot half a circle, looked, oh, she understood now, ¡°Jiang Zhi, you didn¡¯t plug it in.¡± He looked towards the computer, ¡°You didn¡¯t tell me.¡± ¡°Ahem.¡± Ms. Song coughed pretentiously, ¡°Isn¡¯t this¡­ common sense?¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± Zhou Xufang plugged it in, worried that Jiang Zhi would feel downhearted, she comforted, ¡°We just need to wait a bit longer.¡± Ms. Song also consoled, ¡°It¡¯s okay, just a small mistake, you¡¯ll get the hang of it after a few more tries.¡± Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t speak, his gaze coolly fixed on the pot, determined to throw this piece of junk away. Zhou Xufang suddenly became very perceptive, ¡°It¡¯s all this pot¡¯s fault!¡± After belittling the pot, she began to praise Jiang Zhi, ¡°You did really well.¡± Her expression was sincere, ¡°You get it right after one try, that¡¯s the most amazing!¡± She put up her thumbs again, ¡°Besides QQ Dancer, you know everything else, you¡¯re incredibly awesome!¡± ¡°The most amazing in the entire universe!!¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± Why bring up QQ Dancer? Ms. Song: ¡°¡­¡± Such flattery! Shuangxi: ¡°Giggle!¡± Although the meal had some mishaps, Zhou Xufang ended up eating the ribs that Jiang Zhi had made. Afterward, she insisted on washing the dishes but was sent away with a tub of ice cream by Jiang Zhi. The next afternoon. At the police station. ¡°Mr. Cheng.¡± It was Liu Jieyang from the Forensic Department. Captain Cheng stubbed out his cigarette, ¡°Is the autopsy report out?¡± ¡°It¡¯s out.¡± ¡°What does it say?¡± ¡°There are two wounds on the victim¡¯s body, both on the back of the head¡ªone is a minor injury, and the other is fatal. The murder weapon appears to be a brick or something similar; the minor injury was likely caused by the assailant striking from behind. The real fatal blow was dealt straight down to the back of the head, causing intracranial bleeding. From the angle and the force, it could have been manslaughter.¡± Captain Cheng was surprised, ¡°Manslaughter?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± the medical examiner explained, ¡°to put it simply, the assailant struck the victim once, and when the victim fell backward, their head hit a rock. I asked the trace evidence team, and there indeed was a rock at the location corresponding with the back of the victim¡¯s head. There¡¯s no sign that the body was moved, and the placement of the rock is consistent with the fatal injury, making manslaughter a very likely scenario.¡± This result was completely unexpected. ¡°Can you deduce the identity of the assailant?¡± ¡°About 1.8 meters tall, and judging by the force, likely male. Oh right,¡± the medical examiner added, ¡°the rock used to strike the victim wasn¡¯t found at the scene; it must have been taken by the assailant.¡± Captain Cheng hung up the phone. ¡°According to Liu¡¯s speculation,¡± Zhang Wen was skeptical, ¡°the murderer isn¡¯t Luo Changde or Luo Qinghe?¡± These two suspects were both not 1.8 meters tall. ¡°It¡¯s not necessarily a direct murder,¡± Captain Cheng said, ¡°Peng Zhongming has been living abroad for a long time, and besides the Luo father and daughter, he hasn¡¯t had contact with anyone else.¡± At the moment, these two seemed to have the highest suspicion. At 10 p.m., the weather was oppressive; the sky threatened rain but held back. Lao Wu, the property surveillance officer for Jinfeng Garden, had just gone out for a late-night snack and came back to find a person in the control room¡ªa tall, burly, dark man. He wore a mask, and the brim of his baseball cap was pulled down low. Lao Wu took a couple of glances but couldn¡¯t make out which resident it was. He put his hands behind his back and approached, ¡°Who are you?¡± The man didn¡¯t say who he was, nor did he remove his mask, instead commanding, ¡°Pull up the surveillance from seven to eight o¡¯clock the night before last.¡± This person was strange. Lao Wu suspected ill intent, ¡°Just pull it up because you say so?¡± He waved his hand to shoo the man away, ¡°Get out, get out, you can¡¯t come in here.¡± The man¡¯s feet didn¡¯t budge, and his hand reached into his coat pocket. Lao Wu saw¡ª A dagger! Lao Wu was stunned. The man¡¯s grip on the knife handle was inside the pocket, not pulled out, and he repeated the same words again: ¡°Pull up the surveillance from seven to eight o¡¯clock the night before last.¡± These days, how many people wouldn¡¯t flinch at the sight of a knife? Lao Wu stuttered, ¡°I-I-I¡¯ll pull it up right now.¡± He sat at the surveillance desk, trembling as he pulled up the files. He was so tense that his brain couldn¡¯t keep up, ¡°What time?¡± The man stood behind, his hand and the knife unmoved, ¡°Seven to eight o¡¯clock.¡± Seven to eight o¡¯clock? Oh, right. Lao Wu turned back weakly. The man¡¯s impatience grew, ¡°Hurry up!¡± ¡°There¡¯s no video.¡± With a despondent expression and a trembling voice, Lao Wu said, ¡°Last night at seven, the surveillance system just happened to break.¡± At this, the man grew angry, ¡°You trying to fool me?¡± ¡°No!¡± Lao Wu stole a glance at the knife¡¯s handle, indeed, a bit more had been revealed, and he was scared half to death, his back breaking out in a cold sweat, ¡°I have the repair records too.¡± He immediately produced them, offering them up with both hands, meekly saying, ¡°Last night the surveillance really was broken¡­¡± The man snatched the logbook, glanced at it, threw it down, and turned to leave. Lao Wu collapsed in his chair, took a deep breath to calm his nerves, and when his heart dropped back into his stomach, he looked up at the screen. In the surveillance footage, the man was on the second floor, just as he reached the stairwell, something dark and inconspicuous blocked the doorway, then the screen flickered¡­ the surveillance failed again. That dark and inconspicuous figure was none other than Zhou Xufang. The man was Chen Li, carrying out an order from Luo Huaiyu to find something Peng Zhongming had brought and the person who intercepted it midway. Zhou Xufang had one foot planted on the door, blocking the way. She deliberately lowered her voice, ¡°Are you looking for me?¡± To make sure the man knew, she repeated the name of the book, ¡°Be a Budhist or Live a Fulfilling Life.¡± She had indeed been to this residential area the night before Peng Zhongming died. It was her! Chen Li reached out to grab her. She dodged adroitly, circling behind him, and then, turning back, kicked at Chen Li¡¯s shin, ¡°Big brother, remember to be a good person.¡± Chen Li slammed against the door and immediately his shin throbbed painfully. Annoyed and ashamed, he snapped, ¡°Who the hell are you!¡± Zhou Xufang replied smoothly, ¡°I am Lord Black Impermanence.¡± Her hat bore the symbol of a professional errand runner, Z. Chen Li had heard of her, but apart from her gender and professional skills, he knew very little about her. ¡°Is the item in your possession?¡± Zhou Xufang admitted, ¡°Yes.¡± Chen Li¡¯s eyes lit up instantly, ¡°Hand it over, or else¡ª¡± She cut him off, speaking in a negotiating tone, ¡°Don¡¯t you want to worry about your own problems first?¡± Stretching her hand behind her, she pulled a bag out from the outermost part of her backpack, ¡°Recognize this rock?¡± Inside the transparent, sealed bag was a rock the size of a fist, stained with blood that had turned dark red as it dried. Chen Li¡¯s complexion changed drastically. This was the rock he had thrown away! Correct, Zhou Xufang had picked it up from the trash can. That night, after intercepting Peng Zhongming¡¯s belongings, she followed him and, finding no cover in the underpass, she stayed outside and didn¡¯t enter, hiding instead. She hadn¡¯t witnessed Peng Zhongming¡¯s murder but had seen Chen Li come out with the blood-stained rock and toss it away after circling several streets. Zhou Xufang dangled the sealed bag and shook it slightly, ¡°Next time, find a place without surveillance to throw it away.¡± No, that¡¯s not right. She corrected herself, speaking coldly, ¡°Next time don¡¯t do bad things, read more books, do more good.¡± Without another word, Chen Li lunged forward, reaching out to grab it. Zhou Xufang bent backward, easily dodging, and circled behind Chen Li before continuing, ¡°The autopsy report says that Peng Zhongming was knocked unconscious with a rock and then suffered a head injury, leading to cerebral hemorrhage and death. It was manslaughter and this rock is the murder weapon.¡± Chen Li missed and stumbled forward a few steps before immediately spinning around and launching another attack at her. Zhou Xufang only defended, retreating three steps before raising her foot and sidestepping, kicking Chen Li¡¯s reaching hand away. Her cap from the hoodie fell off, and she calmly put it back on, ¡°You have a previous record, right? That¡¯s probably going to mean a long sentence.¡± Chen Li tried to strike multiple times, but couldn¡¯t touch her. His hand reached into his pocket, pulling out a dagger¡ªa military dagger, two palms long, with a sharp tip. Brandishing the knife, he advanced toward her. Zhou Xufang stopped retreating, put the rock back into her bag, and then took out a pair of black gloves from her pocket. She donned them, secured the special glasses on her nose, and spoke in a deliberately suppressed voice, gravely and icily, ¡°You¡¯re also attempting murder to silence a witness, which elevates your crime.¡± Chen Li raised his hand, thrusting the dagger at her. Zhou Xufang leapt up, dodging the military dagger with her ankle, hooked his head, and in a mid-air flip, slammed him to the ground. It was a clean and efficient chokehold slam. Half of Chen Li¡¯s body numbed, and he clenched his teeth in pain, his grip tightening on the knife as he raised his hand again. Zhou Xufang pressed her knee against his belly with force. ¡°Ah!¡± He yelled as the knife he thrust forward was caught between her fingers, which, without seeming to exert much effort, gently pulled. The knife in his hand was now in hers. He reached out to grab it. Zhou Xufang intercepted his wrist and twisted it backward. ¡°Ah!¡± Another cry of pain. His wrist was dislocated, and his face turned pale with agony. With one hand pinning him down and the other holding the knife, Zhou Xufang patted his face, not using brute force anymore, reasoning with him, ¡°You can¡¯t beat me, not even ten of you could. If you still aren¡¯t convinced, I won¡¯t fight you. I¡¯ll just hand this rock and the surveillance footage of you throwing it over to the police.¡± Chen Li tried to struggle but found he couldn¡¯t move. Zhou Xufang continued to reason with him, ¡°Now that you¡¯re my defeated opponent, you have to listen to me.¡± She asked him, ¡°Do you listen or not?¡± Chen Li stayed silent for a long time. The knee pressing on his belly gave another push¡ª ¡°Cough cough cough¡­¡± His lungs felt like they were going to burst as he forced out, ¡°What do you want me to do?¡± That¡¯s being obedient. She was easy to talk to. She let go of him and stood up, playing with the military knife in her hand, ¡°I want you to be a minion for Lord Black Impermanence.¡± When Zhou Xufang returned to Qingshan Mansion, it was almost eleven o¡¯clock. The lights were off in the house, and she crept in, quiet and stealthy. ¡°Zhou Xufang.¡± Zhou Xufang: ¡°!¡± Oh! Caught! She put down the two shoes she was carrying, turned on the light. Jiang Zhi was sitting on the sofa in the living room, wearing pajamas, with not a hint of sleepiness in his eyes. Zhou Xufang touched his nose, ¡°You¡¯re awake.¡± Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t engage in her tangential talk, with a thick, dark ink gathering in his peach blossom eyes, ¡°Did you go find him?¡± Her voice weakly responded, ¡°Yeah.¡± Jiang Zhi humphed at her, ¡°We agreed to go together.¡± He was genuinely annoyed, and there wasn¡¯t a hint of approval in his eyes, ¡°But you coaxed me to sleep.¡± He knew everything about Chen Li, about Peng Zhongming¡¯s cause of death, holding Chen Li in his hands as a pawn was also his calculation. They had agreed on it. Yet, she coaxed him to sleep and acted alone. How could he not be angry? sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Zhou Xufang tried to explain, ¡°I fell asleep too, it was you who kicked me awake.¡± Then the email from Shuangjiang arrived saying Chen Li was on the move. Jiang Zhi was silent¡­ He didn¡¯t want to discuss his sleeping habits with her at all. He was feeling hot just wearing pajamas, and out of irritation with her, he unbuttoned a button, ¡°Don¡¯t make excuses.¡± Zhou Xufang, ¡°Oh.¡± He unbuttoned another, ¡°Come here.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± She shuffled toward him. Jiang Zhi pulled her to sit beside him, ¡°Did it go smoothly?¡± She nodded, not to boast, but simply stated the fact, ¡°I was amazing, knocked them down.¡± Jiang Zhi took the mask off her face, then the hat, lifting her face reddened by the night breeze, his gaze deep as he looked at her, ¡°Is it because you¡¯re so capable, that you don¡¯t need me?¡± That feeling made him feel powerless. Zhou Xufang grabbed his hand, holding it tightly, ¡°That¡¯s not it.¡± She explained to him, ¡°It¡¯s not because I¡¯m capable that I didn¡¯t bring you, it¡¯s that it¡¯s very cold outside, I didn¡¯t want you to go through the trouble and fatigue.¡± At this moment, saying such things¡­ How could he stay angry? Jiang Zhi couldn¡¯t be annoyed with her anymore, but with himself, feeling sulky, he asked, ¡°Who taught you to speak such sweet nothings?¡± She looked at him eagerly, ¡°It¡¯s the truth.¡± Damn it, she¡¯s his nemesis! Jiang Zhi pulled her onto his lap, his tone softened, ¡°Then let me ask you, would you rather I go through trouble and fatigue, or would you rather I live in fear and anxiety?¡± She wanted neither. She didn¡¯t answer, so he changed the question, ¡°Are all the people from that Genetic Laboratory dead?¡± Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t know what he was getting at and replied that they were not. Jiang Zhi frowned, the hand around her waist tightening, ¡°So you¡¯re saying, there might be people as capable as you, who also know your weaknesses.¡± Zhou Xufang thought for a moment and nodded. Jiang Zhi wasn¡¯t rushing, leading her on sentence by sentence, ¡°Before you are invulnerable to swords and guns, and you have a partner who shares life and death with you, going it alone is the worst strategy.¡± He asked her, ¡°Do you agree with this statement?¡± Zhou Xufang, ¡°I agree.¡± So, his conclusion was, ¡°Next time, don¡¯t act alone, bring me.¡± He was so clever. If it really came down to reasoning, to logic, she couldn¡¯t beat him, she could only obediently agree, ¡°Got it.¡± Convincing her was simple for him, a little sweet-talking, a little strategizing was all it took. Jiang Zhi caressed her face, ¡°If you can¡¯t bear to part with me,¡± he looped his arm around her neck, pulling her close, whispering in her ear, ¡°then spoil me more in bed from now on.¡± Zhou Xufang was speechless¡­ He was so improper. She pushed him gently, without much force, but she cursed vehemently, ¡°Little hooligan!¡± The little hooligan even laughed as he chased her for a kiss. She didn¡¯t want to fuss with the little hooligan anymore. She had serious matters to discuss, ¡°Should we hand over that tape to Tang Xiang?¡± Jiang Zhi carried her toward the bedroom, ¡°Tang Xiang still needs to stay with the Luo family, it would be inconvenient for her to come forward.¡± Her hands wrapped properly around his neck, ¡°Then just give it directly to the police?¡± Jiang Zhi said not to, as he placed her on the bedroom bed and pecked her lips, his eyes gleaming with mirth, ¡°Fang Bao, how about I teach you how to use others to do the dirty work?¡± Chapter 195 - 195: 195: There is a kind of menstrual pain that makes boyfriends feel the pain. Chapter 195: 195: There is a kind of menstrual pain that makes boyfriends feel the pain. His eyes gleamed with mirth, ¡°Fang Bao, shall I teach you how to ¡®kill someone with a borrowed knife,¡¯ sound good?¡± Lying obediently, Zhou Xufang asked, ¡°Whose knife?¡± ¡°Hands.¡± She spread her hands, allowing Jiang Zhi to help her off with her coat. Jiang Zhi said, ¡°Borrow the knives from both parties, and let them hack at each other.¡± After tossing her coat aside, he lay down next to her, ¡°By the way, I¡¯ll also get you some pocket money.¡± A triple win? Zhou Xufang turned over, rolling into Jiang Zhi¡¯s arms, ¡°Jiang Zhi, you¡¯re so awesome!¡± ¡°Who¡¯s got a boyfriend this badass?¡± He lay on his side, one hand propping up his chin, pride and satisfaction lifting his face, and his eyes spelling out a line in large letters¡ªCome on, praise me! Zhou Xufang hugged his neck, exuberantly gushed, ¡°My boyfriend, the most badass!¡± The next afternoon, at three-thirty. The forensic department¡¯s autopsy results officially came out, temporarily excluding the possibility of the Luo Family father and daughter committing the murder. Even if they remained suspects, the forty-eight-hour detention had expired without new evidence surfacing, so the Criminal Investigation Team had no choice but to release them. The father and daughter duo, one following the other, were led by their lawyer to complete the formalities. Luo Changde had a sour expression from start to finish, muttering something bitter about ¡®bad luck¡¯ before leaving. ¡°Thank you for your hard work.¡± That was Luo Qinghe¡¯s remark. She walked to the door, stopped, turned back, and looked at the group of detectives in the large office. Smiling, she said, ¡°A word of advice for the future: be more careful when working cases, so you don¡¯t wrongly accuse good people.¡± This woman¡­ Damn she¡¯s arrogant! Captain Cheng also smiled back at her, ¡°I¡¯ll give you a piece of advice too: be more careful with your actions. The net of justice is wide, and while it¡¯s easy to enter the door of our Criminal Investigation Team, it¡¯s not so easy to leave.¡± The net of justice is wide; you can play for a little while, just wait, though the mesh may seem wide, nothing slips through. Shen Yue¡¯s car was parked at the entrance to the police station. Luo Qinghe came out and got directly into the car. She was still wearing the clothes from the day before yesterday, tiredness enveloping her. She sat in the back seat, silent, her face looking quite grim. Shen Yue didn¡¯t start the car immediately but took out a tablet, ¡°Younger Luo, you¡¯ve got mail.¡± She closed her eyes, gathering her strength, ¡°First, let¡¯s go back to the Luo Family.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not company mail.¡± Shen Yue glanced in the rearview mirror, waiting for her to open her eyes before continuing, ¡°It¡¯s from the professional errand runner Z.¡± ¡°Contents.¡± She was very interested in this Z, enough to spark her competitive nature. Shen Yue replied, ¡°She says she has something you want.¡± The thing she wanted, huh. This email came at just the right moment, timely like it was premeditated. Luo Qinghe asked, ¡°What are the terms?¡± ¡°Thirty million.¡± Simple and brutal, asking directly for money. Moreover, audacious to the extreme, opening with a lion¡¯s demand. Luo Qinghe lowered the leg that had been resting on her left thigh, leaning forward with an outstretched hand. Shen Yue handed over the tablet. Taking the tablet, she switched to her private account and personally replied to the email. ¡°Inspect the goods first.¡± Qingshan Mansion. On the computer screen, a message from Shuangjiang popped up: ¡°She wants to inspect the goods.¡± Zhou Xufang, cradling a box of Jiang Zhi¡¯s cotton candy, sat on the couch and snacked, ¡°Send her a small snippet.¡± In the kitchen, Jiang Zhi was fiddling with something, clanging and banging about. Zhou Xufang peeked in, then got up and headed to the kitchen. ¡°Did you break a bowl?¡± In the kitchen, Jiang Zhi calmly tossed broken ceramic pieces into the trash: ¡°Nope.¡± The car had already taken to the elevated highway. Shen Yue looked up, glancing at the rearview mirror. Luo Qinghe put on headphones; her brows locked in a deep frown, her eyes dark and cold. ¡°Miss, please help me.¡± ¡°Help you? Sure, but could Master Peng also do me a favor?¡± ¡°Miss, please just tell me.¡± ¡°My mother used to love coming to this flower pavilion. How about you burn it for her?¡± ¡°Just burn the flower pavilion?¡± ¡°And perhaps clean out some of the other unsavory things along with it.¡± ¡°What exactly are you referring to?¡± ¡°¡± ¡°Luo Family¡¯s dirty secrets, anything else?¡± The recording ended there, lasting less than two minutes. Luo Qinghe removed her earphones, slamming them and the tablet onto the car seat in frustration. She sat in silence, her face stern, not speaking for a long time before she finally picked up the tablet. ¡°How do we make the exchange?¡± The email reply came quickly, ¡°Pay a deposit first, ten million.¡± Luo Qinghe asked, ¡°When will I get the stuff?¡± The reply came, ¡°Eight o¡¯clock tonight, at Jiangjin Garden.¡± Ten seconds later, the inbox of the professional errand runner Z received another email. It was just one sentence, written in red bold font, ¡°If you don¡¯t want to go to prison, you¡¯d better be honest.¡± Ten minutes later. Shuangjiang sent Zhou Xufang a message: ¡°The money has been transferred.¡± She added, ¡°A deposit, ten million.¡± Zhou Xufang turned to Jiang Zhi with the good news, ¡°Jiang Zhi, we¡¯ve made a lot of money.¡± She was so delighted she hugged Jiang Zhi¡¯s neck, ¡°Whatever you want, I¡¯ll buy it for you!¡± The computer was still on. The webcam on Zhou Xufang¡¯s side was also active. The audio capturing program on Shuangjiang¡¯s side was engaged as well and could transcribe speech. Then, in a mechanical, emotionless voice, it repeated, ¡°I¡¯m still here, I¡¯m still here, I¡¯m still here,¡± followed by beeping sounds, ¡°Beep¡ªbeep¡ªbeep¡ª¡± Jiang Zhi got up to turn off the computer, hand steadying around Zhou Xufang¡¯s waist: ¡°My Fifth Aunt is back, I have to return to Jiang Mansion tomorrow night, the matriarch asked me to take you.¡± He inquired about her preference, ¡°Do you want to go?¡± Zhou Xufang let go of him, tilting her head, ¡°Can I?¡± ¡°All of Jiang Family know I have a girlfriend; it¡¯s not proper to keep you hidden forever. Just show up and make an appearance.¡± Jiang Zhi paused, ¡°But¡ª¡± Zhou Xufang settled down, ¡°What?¡± ¡°We need to put on an act.¡± He picked up a bowl that had been cooling on the coffee table for a good while, scooped up a spoonful, checked the temperature, and when it was no longer hot, he handed it to her. It was ginger and jujube soup with goji berries. Zhou Xufang was on her period, yet she felt nothing at all, no pain, no discomfort, but Jiang Zhi seemed to think she must be suffering. He had asked Ms. Song all morning for advice, embarrassing Zhou Xufang. Throughout the afternoon, he had accidentally shattered a bowl due to the heat, used up two bags of sugar, and after several attempts, he finally made a bowl of brown sugar water. Zhou Xufang, who could punch a cow to death, downed the brown sugar water in one gulp, ¡°Which act are we playing?¡± It was too sweet. Ah, sweet enough to cause a toothache. Jiang Zhi took the bowl from her hands and placed it on the coffee table, then pulled her into his embrace, rubbing her lower abdomen, ¡°We mustn¡¯t let them see that you are my life.¡± She was his weakness, a fact he could not expose. Zhou Xufang understood and responded with a smile, ¡°Got it.¡± His rubbing tickled her so much. Jiang Zhi looked at her, ¡°Can you act?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Zhou Xufang was quite confident, ¡°I¡¯ve watched a lot of TV dramas, my acting skills have improved greatly.¡± Improved greatly. She used a bold term. ¡°Then let me test you.¡± Zhou Xufang was slightly excited, ¡°Mhm.¡± Jiang Zhi pondered for a moment, threw out an idiom, ¡°Drooling with envy.¡± The corner of his mouth curled into a smile, ¡°Look at me and act it out.¡± Drooling with envy, huh¡­ Zhou Xufang thought for a moment, and then began her performance. She leaned forward, eagerly staring at him with widened eyes and sparkling pupils. As she got closer, she licked her lips, swallowed audibly, and finally, unable to resist, she took a bite at his face. It was a progressive performance, quite layered. Jiang Zhi patted her head, ¡°Not bad.¡± Emboldened by the praise from the ¡°big director,¡± Zhou Xufang felt very accomplished, ¡°Lixiang taught me.¡± Lixiang¡¯s method, ¡°When she can¡¯t cry in a sorrowful scene, she thinks about her hard times in the past, and then the tears come.¡± Fang Lixiang was indeed a spirited actor. Jiang Zhi then asked Zhou Xufang, ¡°So what were you thinking just now?¡± To act out drooling with envy, she surely had to think of him, like when he just finished showering, or when he wakes up, or when he¡¯s lying next to her pillow, or¡ª Zhou Xufang said, ¡°I was thinking of strawberry-flavored ice cream topped with a layer of marshmallow.¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± Half an hour later, Luo Changde also received an email from the professional errand runner Z, with an edited recording attached¡ªa short clip. He listened to it over and over again. ¡°Are you that afraid of me?¡± ¡°What are you hiding?¡± ¡°You were the one outside that day, weren¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Did you see it? Did you see everything?¡± It was his voice from eight years ago in Luo Family¡¯s greenhouse. Just those four sentences might mean nothing to an outsider, but the person who kept this recording, the person who sent this to him¡ªmust have realized something. ¡°Clang!¡± The cup on the table was knocked over. Luo Changde didn¡¯t care about the tea spilling everywhere and quickly replied to an email, ¡°How much money do you want?¡± Eight o¡¯clock in the evening, at Jiangjin Garden. The weather was not good, looking like it would rain soon. No one was in the garden; on the pebble-paved path, only a few street lamps lit the way, casting more shadows of trees than people. Tap, tap, tap¡­ The sound of high heels hitting the ground, from far to near. A figure emerged from beneath the tree shadows: ¡°Come out.¡± The surroundings were very quiet, with faint echoes. Then the tree shadows swayed, and she emerged, jumping down from above. Luo Qinghe turned her head and saw her: ¡°Where¡¯s the stuff?¡± She was dressed in black, with a cap, an additional hood over it, and glasses, a mask, and gloves on¡ªevery possible area covered. Aside from her figure, nothing else could be seen. She approached, pulled a document bag out of her backpack, her voice deliberately low and unrecognizable, ¡°Cash in hand, goods in hand.¡± Luo Qinghe glanced at her cap, embroidered with the letter Z. Appearing and disappearing like a ghost, all-powerful¡ªsuch was the reputation of Z in the circle of errand runners. Luo Qinghe made a phone call, only saying two words: ¡°Wire transfer.¡± Then she hung up. Immediately, Zhou Xufang¡¯s earpiece crackled with three words: ¡°Funds received.¡± Thirty million, in the bag. Underneath the mask, the corners of her mouth involuntarily curled up. Zhou Xufang tossed the document bag over. Luo Qinghe caught it, didn¡¯t open it, shook it twice, ¡°The contents are alright?¡± Zhou Xufang replied with grave seriousness and a cold calm, ¡°You don¡¯t need to question the credibility of the top professional errand runner in the industry.¡± Luo Qinghe still didn¡¯t open it, not afraid of her, standing two meters away, her gaze locked on her, ¡°Can I ask a question?¡± This woman was the boldest Zhou Xufang had ever seen; she had seen her with blood-red eyes, yet still unafraid. No tears until seeing the coffin. ¡°You may,¡± Zhou Xufang said, ¡°It¡¯ll cost you extra.¡± She was not so straight-laced either; faced with a big spender with bad intentions, she was ready to fleece them. She considered for a moment: ¡°One million.¡± The other party was quick, made another phone call, stated the transfer amount, then asked, ¡°Where did you get this item? Who hired you?¡± Zhou Xufang was solemn: ¡°That¡¯s two questions.¡± She held up two fingers, no room for negotiation, very serious, ¡°That¡¯ll be two million.¡± Luo Qinghe: ¡°¡­¡± Taking advantage of a crisis. Just a thief, after all. She called Shen Yue again: ¡°Transfer another million.¡± A million in the bag! Zhou Xufang, suppressing her little excitement, answered in a feigned voice, ¡°Peng Zhongming hired me, got it from him.¡± Of course, she couldn¡¯t tell the truth. She rarely lied, but she could be dishonest with the bad guys. Luo Qinghe was indeed furious: ¡°Are you messing with me?¡± Zhou Xufang looked at her through the glasses, tilting her head, ¡°Did you ask me?¡± Oh, she said, ¡°That will cost extra.¡± Luo Qinghe: ¡°¡­¡± And she didn¡¯t ask any further. Zhou Xufang was a bit disappointed; she wanted to earn more: ¡°Any more questions? If not, I¡¯m leaving.¡± She turned, deliberately walking away slowly. The others didn¡¯t stop her. sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Alright, it was just like ¡®acting as if walking away when the price won¡¯t go down while shopping,¡¯ so be it; she stopped, turned around, ¡°Since you¡¯re so tight on funds, I¡¯ll give you a piece of intel for free.¡± She emphasized free, ¡°This is a replica, the original has already been sold by me.¡± That free intel completely enraged Luo Qinghe: ¡°You¡¯re fucking playing with me!¡± Indeed. Zhou Xufang wouldn¡¯t admit she was in it for the money; no money-grabbing businessman would admit to their money-grubbing, lest they could not continue to grab more in the future, so, one must pretend to have professional integrity: ¡°Did I say what I was selling was the original? Did I say I was only selling to you?¡± She shook her head, ¡°I did not.¡± Luo Qinghe, caught red-handed and teeth knocked out, still swallowed blood: ¡°How many copies have you made?¡± ¡°Are you asking me?¡± Zhou Xufang once again made her terms clear, ¡°One million.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Red blood vessels in Luo Qinghe¡¯s eyes seemed to have crawled to the surface. Indeed, her archenemy was making her feel uncomfortable on purpose, yet what could she do? She was at a disadvantage now and had to endure it. Even if it was hard to tell the true from the false, she needed to gather as much information as possible. She gritted her teeth and dialed a number, pronouncing each word distinctly, ¡°Wire, the, money.¡± Then Zhou Xufang just waited, waited for the transaction to be completed. Ten seconds later. ¡°Received.¡± Zhou Xufang happily caressed her earpiece, answering the million-dollar question, ¡°One copy.¡± If Luo Qinghe were to ask her if this was the truth. She would certainly tell her it was a lie, and then demand another million before revealing the truth. However, Luo Qinghe¡¯s follow-up question was, ¡°Who did you sell the original to?¡± Asking in this way was fine, it was all the same. She held up a finger, ¡°One million.¡± Luo Qinghe: ¡°¡­¡± She clenched her teeth, ¡°Wire another million.¡± Oh yeah! Zhou Xufang squinted her eyes and made a ¡®V¡¯ sign behind her back. After the money was wired, Luo Qinghe asked, ¡°Who did you sell it to?¡± Zhou Xufang replied, ¡°Confidential.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Luo Qinghe could no longer suppress the fire in her eyes, her clenched fists threatening to burst her palms open. Before she could finish, Zhou Xufang generously offered another piece of information for free, ¡°Don¡¯t doubt the reliability and confidentiality of the top errand runner in the industry.¡± ¡°¡­¡± If looks could kill, Luo Qinghe would have certainly chopped her into pieces by now. The reputable and tight-lipped number one errand runner in the industry continued to promote her services, ¡°Do you want the post-sale confidentiality service?¡± She earnestly explained the importance of this service, ¡°If you don¡¯t buy it, when others ask me who I sold the replica to, I¡¯ll say your name.¡± Luo Qinghe glared furiously. She wished she could tear her to shreds! The top professional errand runner kept promoting her services without exaggeration. She spoke logically, ¡°You don¡¯t need to doubt me. Although we have a grudge and I really dislike you, my professional integrity is the best in the industry. You can ask around; I have a great reputation. As long as you purchase the after-sales service, I will definitely keep it a secret for you.¡± Luo Qinghe stared at her, her eyes brimming with murderous intent. This person had defeated her so thoroughly in their past encounters, leaving her with hefty losses. This time she didn¡¯t have any leverage at all and was completely at her mercy, forced to retreat time and again, sliced up by her adversary. She made a call, ¡°Wire another million.¡± Before she could hang up, Zhou Xufang quickly said, ¡°One million is the price for asking questions, after-sales service costs three million.¡± Luo Qinghe: ¡°¡­¡± Utter nonsense! Apparently, she was caught in a tight spot. Swallowing her anger, she conceded, ¡°Wire three million.¡± Oh yeah! Zhou Xufang squinted and secretly snickered like a little fox. The transaction was concluded, and Zhou Xufang made her swift exit. She took a path without surveillance cameras, leaped onto a high building, and didn¡¯t come down until she had her fill of excitement. She had arranged to meet Jiang Zhi at the Ba Yi Bridge not far from the park. Hopping along, she spotted Jiang Zhi¡¯s car from a distance. ¡°Jiang Zhi, Jiang Zhi.¡± She called out twice, waving and running up, gleefully saying, ¡°Jiang Zhi, I swindled so much money.¡± Jiang Zhi opened the car door and pulled her inside, ¡°So happy?¡± She nodded vigorously, ¡°Yeah!¡± It made her very happy to swindle money from the bad guys. She took off her glasses and asked Jiang Zhi, ¡°Did everything go smoothly on your end?¡± ¡°Smoothly.¡± She and Jiang Zhi had a plan: one would deal with Luo Qinghe, the other with Luo Changde, tricking both at once. She was excited and looking forward to it, her eyes sparkling, ¡°What¡¯s next, then?¡± Jiang Zhi buckled her seatbelt, ¡°That father-daughter pair will probably start turning on each other soon. We¡¯ll watch the show for now.¡± At the right time, they¡¯d fan the flames, add some fuel to the fire. Zhou Xufang: ¡°Good.¡± Both Luo family members had received the replica recording and would likely suspect the original was in the other¡¯s possession. If Jiang Zhi¡¯s guess was correct, and Luo Changde was also implicated in that big fire, he would have to protect himself by tossing Luo Qinghe to the wolves. Just perfect, as Luo Qinghe also needed a scapegoat. So¡­ let the dog-eat-dog fight commence¡ªlet¡¯s see who bites harder. Chapter 196 - 196: 196: Textile promoting dog food, Qiao Wen makes progress Chapter 196: 196: Textile promoting dog food, Qiao Wen makes progress On the way back, Xue Baoyi¡¯s call came through. He asked Jiang Zhi, ¡°We¡¯re all at Fusheng Inn, are you coming?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll ask Zhou Xufang.¡± You have to ask your girlfriend? Xue Baoyi despised! While driving, Jiang Zhi asked Zhou Xufang, ¡°Baoyi is throwing a welcome party for Bingxue, are you going?¡± Zhou Xufang glanced at the time, 8:20, and replied, ¡°If you¡¯re going, I¡¯ll go too.¡± If it were any later, she wouldn¡¯t go, since Jiang Zhi was not strong physically and couldn¡¯t stay up late. ¡°We¡¯ll be there in forty minutes,¡± he said, and then hung up the phone. Zhou Xufang leaned against the car window, looking outside, ¡°Isn¡¯t this place really close to Fusheng Inn?¡± Jiang Zhi said, ¡°Let¡¯s go home and change clothes first.¡± Right. Meeting Jiang Zhi¡¯s friends, she couldn¡¯t dress like Black Impermanence; she had to wear pretty pink. At the other end, Xue Baoyi placed his phone on the mahjong table, ¡°Brother Zhi will take a while to come over.¡± He sat like a boss, threw a tile out, ¡°Three bamboos.¡± His next player picked up a tile, pushed the mahjong tiles in front of him, and declared, ¡°I win.¡± Xue Baoyi grabbed his hair. Damn, to keep losing three games in a row, could his luck get any worse? The next player was Jiang Wei¡¯er, ¡°Pure suit, triple score.¡± She smiled, revealing a dimple, and extended her hand, ¡°Pay up, pay up.¡± She was a bit tanned, with very short hair, no longer than her ears, wearing two earrings on her left ear, and one on the right, dressed in a black punk-style top, with pencil pants and boots, looking sharp and handsome. This was how Jiang Wei¡¯er used to look, the only difference being that her smile now was missing some of the reckless pride and flamboyance of her unawakened youth. ¡°Pay up,¡± she urged Xue Baoyi. Xue Baoyi opened the small box on the mahjong table, finding it empty, not a single note inside: ¡°No cash.¡± He fished through his pockets, handed over his car keys reluctantly, and said, ¡°Take this!¡± His customized SUV! Jiang Wei¡¯er actually looked down on his vehicle, slapping his hand away, ¡°Who wants your flashy car? Pay up.¡± It was even better that she didn¡¯t want it ¨C Xue Baoyi wasn¡¯t willing to part with it anyway. He pocketed the car keys and gave up, ¡°I¡¯m out of cash.¡± He always lost when playing cards. This must be some bad karma! Jiang Wei¡¯er flashed him a radiant smile, ¡°No money? Well, alright, start stripping.¡± Xue Baoyi: ¡°¡­¡± He looked at the other two players. Qiao Nanchu was fiddling with his tiles, Xue Bingxue staring at the floor, both pretending not to see and showing no intention of lending him money. These damned bastards! He had no choice but to beg for mercy, putting on a cheesy smile, ¡°Fifth Aunt, leave me some dignity for future encounters, let me put it on my tab.¡± Jiang Wei¡¯er pushed all the tiles into the mahjong machine, pressed the shuffle button, and glanced at Xue Baoyi, ¡°Enough talk.¡± The rule had been set before starting the game, cash only, and if you lose all your cash, you start stripping off your belongings, two items a game. Xue Baoyi took off his watch and jacket, looking at his upper player Xue Bingxue with eyes of betrayal and asked coldly, ¡°Uncle, are you deliberately losing to Wei¡¯er?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not,¡± Xue Bingxue¡¯s skin, despite having been in the sun for over a month, was still as white as a freshly peeled egg. He glanced at Jiang Wei¡¯er, shy but straightforwardly admiring, ¡°Wei¡¯er is really good.¡± Xue Baoyi: ¡°¡­¡± The guy¡¯s a total nutcase! Around thirty minutes later, Jiang Zhi and Zhou Xufang arrived. Zhou Xufang was wearing a pink sweater, pink coat, pink shoes, and a pink knitted hat, with a bag that was white and pink, only her pants were black. She stopped in front of the private room door and told Jiang Zhi, ¡°You go in first, I need to use the restroom.¡± Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t let go, leading her to the restroom, ¡°I¡¯ll wait for you outside.¡± Zhou Xufang felt it was like a dad taking his daughter to the bathroom¡­ Zhou Xufang¡¯s daughter went inside. Jiang Zhi¡¯s dad waited outside, leaning against the wall with his hands in his pockets, looking down. Each time someone came out of the ladies¡¯ room, he looked up. His appearance was quite eye-catching, ladies going in and out took notice of him, those who recognized him quickly lowered their heads and walked away quickly, while those who didn¡¯t recognize him blushed and fluttered their hearts secretly. Of course, there were also those who took the initiative. ¡°Mr. Jiang.¡± It was a young lady from some wealthy family in Imperial City, last name Liu, Jiang Zhi couldn¡¯t remember her first name and didn¡¯t acknowledge her. The woman¡¯s name was Liu Yun, her family moderately wealthy. She had seen Jiang Zhi several times, which is why she greeted him, but feeling snubbed like that, she wasn¡¯t content to let it go. As she passed by Jiang Zhi, she stumbled, her entire body falling towards him. Jiang Zhi instantly dodged. She staggered fiercely, her shoulder slamming against the wall. ¡°¡­¡± This person really doesn¡¯t know what¡¯s good for them! Liu Yun said, ¡°My apologies,¡± before straightening her skirt and stepping into the women¡¯s restroom in her high heels. Her companion followed her in, and only when they reached the sink did she ask, ¡°Did you do that on purpose?¡± There was a teasing tone in her words. The woman named Zhang Lingqi, too, was a rich heiress. Having just lost face, and now being called out, Liu Yun was very embarrassed and naturally wouldn¡¯t admit it: ¡°Am I sick? Why would I deliberately fall?¡± Zhang Lingqi was touching up her powder in the mirror, saying half-jokingly, half-mockingly: ¡°Going for a hug-and-fall ploy, huh?¡± Liu Yun snorted disdainfully: ¡°Him?¡± She scoffed, ¡°A sickly wretch. Who knows if he¡¯ll even survive until next year¡ªI certainly don¡¯t want to be a widow.¡± Zhang Lingqi had finished touching up her makeup and was fussing with her hair: ¡°Anyway, he¡¯s still a young master of the Jiang Family. Even if he doesn¡¯t live long, he¡¯ll still inherit a hefty sum.¡± She smiled, her eyes lighting up at the thought of the man outside, ¡°And with a face like that, it wouldn¡¯t be too bad to have something going on with him.¡± The young masters from wealthy families, how many of them could be like him, untainted by vulgar interests, exuding an air of innate nobility? Having just been humiliated, Liu Yun was upset and unwilling to admit she was intrigued, so she deliberately spoke ill of him: ¡°It¡¯s just good luck, born into it. That temper of his ancestors¡ªwhoever wants to put up with that, can go ahead.¡± She flipped her hair and took out her lipstick, ¡°I think it¡¯s not only his body that¡¯s sick, his mind must be too.¡± This talk was getting more and more excessive! Zhou Xufang was about to kick the door open and teach them a lesson when the stall next to him suddenly made a loud bang. Jiang Wei¡¯er had kicked open the door, her eyes blazing with anger, though her lips wore a smile: ¡°Who¡¯s got the sickness now?¡± The two women by the sink jumped in shock, their expressions far from pleasant. Jiang Wei¡¯er walked over, her short hair and long neck complementing her tall stature; she commanded the space with a presence that was hard to ignore: ¡°You were talking so happily just now, why so quiet all of a sudden?¡± The two most famous people in the Jiang Family were Jiang Zhi and Jiang Wei¡¯er¡ªthe former for his appearance, the latter for her temperament. In social circles, everyone called Jiang Wei¡¯er ¡°Little Witch.¡± Over the years, no one knew why, but she had become less active, yet her notoriety remained intact. Zhang Lingqi, of course, recognized the Little Witch and immediately apologized: ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Miss Jiang, we misspoke.¡± At least she knew what was good for her. Jiang Wei¡¯er turned to the other one: ¡°What about you?¡± Liu Yun, spoiled as the only daughter in her family, did not realize how highly she ought to regard the Jiang Family of the Imperial City: ignorant of their reach, she responded flippantly, ¡°I didn¡¯t make it up; that¡¯s what everyone says.¡± This one was really clueless. Needed teaching. Jiang Wei¡¯er crossed her arms and approached; even in flats, she was a bit taller than Liu Yun, who wore high heels, and her aura was fully unleashed: ¡°Why don¡¯t you ask others and see if they dare let me hear them say it?¡± She stepped closer, ¡°Who are you to judge anyone from my Jiang family?¡± Liu Yun huffed. Zhang Lingqi stepped forward to pull her back, gesturing for her to back down, but Liu Yun shook off her hand: ¡°What did I say wrong? He¡¯s just a sickly¡ª¡± She couldn¡¯t finish her sentence. She cried out as her hair was grabbed. Jiang Wei¡¯er shoved her head into the sink, grasping her struggling hand and twisting it behind her: ¡°Say it again.¡± Liu Yun screamed in pain, cursing breathlessly: ¡°Sickly¡ª¡± Jiang Wei¡¯er cranked the faucet to full blast. With a whoosh, the water poured down. The bone-chilling cold water soaked Liu Yun¡¯s head, and she was completely stunned. Passersby came and went, none daring to approach. The Jiang Family¡¯s Fifth Miss was disciplining someone, and no one dared interrupt. Once the basin was half full, Jiang Wei¡¯er slapped the back of Liu Yun¡¯s sopping wet head: ¡°Still need to curse?¡± ¡°No¡­ cough cough cough¡­¡± She tried to speak but cold water gushed into her throat; Liu Yun couldn¡¯t open her mouth and shook her head frantically. Only then did Jiang Wei¡¯er let go. ¡°Cough cough cough¡­ cough cough cough¡­¡± She leaned on the sink, gasping for air with wide-open mouth, her face and body dripping, her makeup run, looking utterly disheveled. Jiang Wei¡¯er had only a few water splashes on her, which she flicked away with her hand, then pulled out a couple of tissues to dry her hands: ¡°If I ever hear it again,¡± she crumpled the tissue into a ball, tossed it effortlessly into the trash can with a perfect arc of her arm, and raised an eyebrow lightly, ¡°I¡¯ll kill you.¡± Having said this, she dusted off her hands and left. Outside the women¡¯s restroom, just a bit further on, Jiang Zhi was leaning against a window, bored to death, staring at a potted plant. ¡°What are you doing standing there?¡± He replied, ¡°Waiting for Zhou Xu.¡± Jiang Wei¡¯er gave him a sidelong glance: ¡°Pathetic!¡± Having dropped her remark, she walked ahead. Shortly after, Zhou Xu exited, rushing up to Jiang Zhi: ¡°Jiang Zhi, Jiang Zhi.¡± She looked around with a curiosity as if she had stumbled upon something shocking, and with excitement said, ¡°Your Fifth Aunt is so fierce!¡± Jiang Zhi, standing far enough away to be oblivious to the commotion in the restroom, asked, ¡°What happened?¡± ¡°Just now, some nasty woman was bad-mouthing you, and your Fifth Aunt put her in her place.¡± She was a bit angry but also excited, as she told Jiang Zhi, ¡°The way she pinned her down was so cool.¡± Jiang Zhi probably knew what was happening inside. ¡°She practices Taekwondo and spent a few years on the national team.¡± The national team, huh. Impressively badass! Zhou Xufang was quite surprised. ¡°I thought she was a little lady.¡± Jiang Zhi corrected, ¡°She¡¯s a Little Witch.¡± Jiang Wei¡¯er had always been like this; it was only because of Xiao Linsu that she had retracted her claws for a few years. Inside the private room, the mahjong machine was still spinning. Xue Baoyi had lost miserably, with few clothes left on him. He removed his tie and tossed it onto the chair next to him, ¡°You three are ganging up on me, only winning off my tiles. I¡¯m not playing anymore!¡± Just then, Jiang Zhi walked in with Zhou Xufang. Xue Baoyi turned his head and sought help. ¡°Brother Zhi, come here, help me deal with them!¡± Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t bother with him and asked Zhou Xufang, ¡°Wanna play?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know how.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll teach you.¡± Jiang Zhi led her over and asked Xue Baoyi to get up. Zhou Xufang hesitated for a moment, glanced at the mahjong table, and quietly asked Jiang Zhi, ¡°What if I lose?¡± ¡°If you lose, I¡¯ll cover it for you.¡± She blinked, feeling that this logic didn¡¯t quite make sense, and looked at Jiang Zhi in confusion. ¡°Isn¡¯t yours mine already?¡± Jiang Zhi smiled. ¡°It is.¡± These two! Qiao Nanchu knocked on the mahjong tiles. ¡°Alright, I¡¯m not here to listen to you two being lovey-dovey. Hurry up and start.¡± Zhou Xufang felt awkward, quickly sat down properly. Jiang Zhi pulled over a chair for her, wiped it twice with a tissue, and then sat down. He only taught the rules and didn¡¯t make decisions for her. In the first four rounds, Qiao Nanchu won by self-drawn once, Zhou Xufang caused others to win three times, once by Xue Bingxue, twice by Jiang Wei¡¯er. Jiang Zhi had to fork out a total of thirteen bills. On the sixth round, Zhou Xufang caused another win. Her head drooped, quite discouraged. ¡°Lost again.¡± She had lost a lot of tubs of ice cream¡­ Jiang Zhi patted her head. ¡°No worries, we¡¯ll win it back later.¡± He took out all the cash from his wallet and gave it to her. ¡°Got the rules down now?¡± Zhou Xufang. ¡°Got it.¡± She picked things up quickly, and after losing a few times, she started to get the hang of it. In the following several rounds, she occasionally caused another win. On the tenth hand, Zhou Xufang drew a 1-ting and uncertainly tugged on Jiang Zhi¡¯s clothes. ¡°Jiang Zhi, is this a win?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± She pushed her tiles over, grinning like a little money-grubber. ¡°Pay up, pay up.¡± After this round, she no longer caused anyone to win. If it wasn¡¯t her own win, it was someone else¡¯s self-drawn win, or someone else causing the win. The money she had put out mostly came back to her. In the round being played, she had drawn something big, warranting a three times multiplier. After she pushed her tiles down, Jiang Wei¡¯er took a look. ¡°Daughter-in-law, why didn¡¯t you play the three dots?¡± Zhou Xufang had a pair waiting for a single tile; playing the three dots would¡¯ve resulted in Jiang Wei¡¯er winning, so she didn¡¯t play it, opting to keep it and self-drawn. ¡°I was afraid you would win.¡± Jiang Wei¡¯er pushed his tiles down. ¡°I really would have won with the three dots.¡± It was curious, ¡°How did you know?¡± ¡°I guessed.¡± Zhou Xufang happily collected the money while honestly explaining, ¡°You mentioned you were waiting to win earlier, and after that, you were throwing away all your tiles instantly, only switching once when you discarded a 2-dot, and before you said you were waiting, you had also dropped a 1-dot, 7-dot, and 8-dot. You probably had a 2 and a 4 on hand, drew a 5, traded the 2, and then you could win with a 3 or 6.¡± She had guessed everything correctly. Jiang Wei¡¯er found it unfathomable. ¡°You remember all the tiles I played?¡± Zhou Xufang. ¡°Mhm.¡± The one who could remember the cards, besides Zhou Xufang, was Jiang Zhi. Therefore, Jiang Zhi rarely lost at mahjong. The one who mostly lost was Xue Baoyi. Jiang Wei¡¯er turned to him. ¡°Baoyi, do you know why you lose every time you play?¡± Xue Baoyi. ¡°?¡± Jiang Wei¡¯er tapped his head. ¡°You¡¯re not sharp enough up here.¡± Xue Baoyi. ¡°¡­¡± Damn, it¡¯s his fault for not being smart? A new game began, and Zhou Xufang was the dealer. Jiang Zhi asked her, ¡°I¡¯ll get you a drink, what would you like?¡± Zhou Xufang was busy picking up tiles and didn¡¯t look up as she said, ¡°I want the same as Mr. Xiao Xue.¡± Calling Xue Bingxue and Xue Baoyi by their full names felt too intimate, and using ¡®Mr. Second¡¯ and ¡®Mr. Third¡¯ was too distant and not quite right. Thus, Xue Bingxue was Mr. Xue, and Xue Baoyi was Mr. Xiao Xue. This was how Zhou Xufang differentiated between them. Jiang Zhi glanced at the drink in Mr. Xiao Xue¡¯s hand and then bent down to whisper into Zhou Xufang¡¯s ear, ¡°That¡¯s a cold drink, and you can¡¯t have that during your period.¡± Worried about being overheard, Zhou Xufang glanced around and said, ¡°¡­Oh.¡± ¡°Would milk be okay?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Jiang Zhi got up to get Zhou Xufang some hot milk. Xue Baoyi leaned in, mischief on his lips, ¡°Brother Zhi, your wife seems dumb but is actually quite clever.¡± Jiang Zhi gave him a cold look, ¡°Who are you calling dumb?¡± Xue Baoyi was taken aback. Jiang Zhi, ¡°Is your IQ even above a hundred to call my girlfriend dumb?¡± Jiang Zhi, ¡°You¡¯re the dumb one.¡± Jiang Zhi, ¡°You¡¯re the dumbest here.¡± Jiang Zhi, ¡°Idiot.¡± Xue Baoyi, ¡°¡­¡± Next to a girlfriend, brotherly love meant nothing at all. Plus, Zhou Xufang¡¯s former habit of lurking in corners did seem very silly¡­ When Jiang Zhi returned with a cup of hot milk, he heard upon pushing the door open, ¡°I¡¯ve won.¡± Zhou Xufang had won again. Jiang Zhi handed her the milk and ruffled her messy hair, as she had taken off her hat, ¡°How are you so good at this?¡± He shot a sidelong glance at Xue Baoyi, with his peach blossom eyes conveying one message¡ªIdiot, look how smart my girlfriend is! Xue Baoyi was hit by ten thousand points of damage. Zhou Xufang, because she had won money, was grinning ear to ear. At the start of the next game, Qiao Nanchu¡¯s phone chimed with a text. After reading it, he set down his tiles, ¡°I need to leave first.¡± Jiang Zhi asked, ¡°Do you have a case?¡± He replied, ¡°A personal matter.¡± Xue Baoyi drew out his words in a teasing tone, eyes full of mischief, ¡°Whose matter is it?¡± Who else could it be, but his betrothed. Qiao Nanchu cursed with a smile, ¡°Always the nosy one.¡± He grabbed his coat and stood up, ¡°I¡¯m off.¡± After he left the table, they were one player short. Zhou Xufang hadn¡¯t had enough, ¡°Aren¡¯t we playing anymore?¡± Jiang Zhi kicked Xue Baoyi¡¯s chair, ¡°Your turn.¡± He didn¡¯t move, just shrugged, ¡°I¡¯m out of money.¡± Jiang Zhi took out a wad of bills from the small box in front of Zhou Xufang, ¡°I¡¯ll lend you some.¡± Taking the money, Xue Baoyi joined the game. Ah, how nice. She could play Mahjong again. Today, Zhou Xufang had realized for the first time just how fun playing Mahjong could be, even more so than QQ Dazzling Dance. Tingyu Building, the best room under heaven. Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After a trip to the restroom, Miao HuaRen came back to find the girl still in the same position as when he left, with her backpack still on her back, sitting stiff and proper. He walked over and pulled out the chair next to the young lady to sit, ¡°Why haven¡¯t you ordered anything?¡± His bulky body was too close, his arm already touching her. Wen Baiyang shifted slightly to the side. She hadn¡¯t taken off her cotton jacket and was feeling very warm, her face flushed. She took out pen and paper from her bag and wrote, ¡°Sorry, I have to go.¡± Miao HuaRen adjusted his glasses, his mung bean eyes locking onto the young girl, ¡°Do you have an emergency?¡± She didn¡¯t respond. Miao HuaRen took out a piece of paper and wiped his hands, ¡°Didn¡¯t Mrs. Qiao tell you?¡± She nodded. Ms. Wen said it was about her residence registration, that¡¯s why she called her out. Miao HuaRen folded his napkin neatly over his lap, ¡°Since you¡¯re already here, why not have a meal before leaving?¡± ¡°Sorry,¡± she said in sign language, and stood up to leave. Miao HuaRen swiftly grabbed her wrist, ¡°What¡¯s so degrading about having a meal with me?¡± Chapter 197 - 197: 197: Talking about Marriage and Wedding ?Chapter 197: 197: Talking about Marriage and Wedding Chapter 197: 197: Talking about Marriage and Wedding Miao HuaRen promptly grabbed her wrist, ¡°Joining me for a meal, and you feel aggrieved?¡± He pulled her to sit down. She immediately withdrew her hand and frowned. A nineteen-year-old girl, indeed, tender and soft. Miao HuaRen glanced at his own hand, stroking his fingers, ¡°Mrs. Qiao didn¡¯t mention it to you, so let me tell you.¡± He called over a server and handed over the menu that he had ordered, his arm nearly touching the back of the girl beside him. His gaze unintentionally swept over her fair nape, as he said, ¡°The matchmaking was my idea, I thought you were quite good the first time I saw you.¡± Wen Baiyang immediately moved her chair farther away. Miao HuaRen didn¡¯t feel embarrassed, instead, he smiled, his look becoming warmer, his eyes filled with eagerness and determination. A deaf-mute person only, destined to be chosen by others. Miao HuaRen picked up a glass of water in front of him and drank elegantly, ¡°If we get along well, I will talk to the Miao Family. My father is quite old-fashioned, but if I insist, he probably won¡¯t mind your condition too much.¡± He spoke as if it were a given, and made it very clear. It was her problem. Unable to speak or hear, she was disabled. Therefore, he felt she was reaching above her station, and naturally, she should just be grateful. Miao HuaRen continued, his tone unchanged, still determined, ¡°I am older than you. If we were together, I could take care of you more.¡± Wen Baiyang tightened her grip on the pen she held. At this point, Miao HuaRen asked, ¡°Is it because you can¡¯t hear that you don¡¯t speak?¡± She didn¡¯t want to answer him at all. ¡°If the cochlear implant is fitted, could you speak then?¡± Miao HuaRen looked at the young, delicate girl in front of him, quite regretfully, ¡°Though I don¡¯t mind, if it can be cured¡ª¡± Wen Baiyang pushed her notebook toward him. It had a sentence written: ¡°I have a boyfriend.¡± Her resistant expression piqued his interest even more, his gaze light and scornful, smile on his lips as he asked, ¡°Is your boyfriend also deaf-mute like you?¡± Wen Baiyang was annoyed, her lips pressed tightly, about to write on the paper, when suddenly the door behind her opened, the breeze came in, stirring her hair. She turned around and saw him. He walked over, first gave her a glance then looked at Miao HuaRen. Speaking slowly so she could read his lips, he said, ¡°Her boyfriend is healthy, can speak, can hear, more handsome than you, richer than you, younger than you,¡± he paused, then added, ¡°and also hasn¡¯t lost a wife.¡± Miao HuaRen¡¯s face immediately turned ugly. Considering the other¡¯s status, he restrained himself from losing his temper, and lightened his tone trying to ease it, ¡°Why are you here? Afraid I¡¯ll bully your girlfriend?¡± Girlfriend. Yes, girlfriend also counts as a girlfriend. Qiao Nanchu didn¡¯t lose his temper but smiled and retorted, ¡°I am her boyfriend, what do you think brought me here?¡± This time Miao HuaRen couldn¡¯t even force a smile, his face turning shades of pale and green, ¡°Nanchu, don¡¯t talk recklessly. If this gets out, it could harm the Qiao Family¡¯s reputation.¡± Qiao Nanchu casually replied, ¡°Go ahead and try to spread it.¡± You dare? That was what he meant. Miao HuaRen¡¯s grip on the water glass turned pale. Qiao Nanchu¡¯s gaze moved past him, looking at Wen Baiyang, taking something out of his pocket and waving it toward her, ¡°Baiyang, come here.¡± Wen Baiyang stood up and walked over to him. He naturally took her hand, pulling her to his side, very clearly claiming his territory, ¡°Uncle Miao, best give up on that idea soon. I¡¯m not very patient, and I wouldn¡¯t want you, at your age, to strangle yourself trying.¡± Miao HuaRen: ¡°¡­¡± Always bringing up age! Little bastard! Insulting him! Having said that, Qiao Nanchu led her out. Once they left Tingyu Building, he released her hand and stopped under a streetlamp by the roadside, their shadows long and overlapping on the ground. ¡°Did that old man bully you?¡± The moment he spoke, Wen Baiyang could see his anger. He was angry. She shook her head, signaling ¡°no¡± with her hands. Qiao Nanchu was not reassured and, with a cold face, asked again, ¡°Did he touch you?¡± She hesitated for a moment and then told him truthfully, ¡°He grabbed my hand.¡± Qiao Nanchu¡¯s brow furrowed, his anger intensifying, ¡°Where?¡± She raised her wrist. Over the years, he had pampered her so much that her skin had become pale and tender. Her wrist had been touched, probably with some force, and the watch had bumped against her skin, leaving a slightly red mark that was still visible. Qiao Nanchu shifted her watch slightly and bent his head down to gently peck on the red mark. Wen Baiyang was stunned. He was much taller than her, so he bent down to look at her, the streetlight blurring in his eyes, creating halos. He asked her, ¡°Do you still remember what I told you last time?¡± She was a bit slow to react, nodding after a few seconds, her gaze firm and unwavering as she allowed him to look into her eyes. He asked again, ¡°Do you know I like you?¡± His tone still seemed casual, but one could hear the carefulness in each word, his lips and teeth moving slowly. He was generally an impatient person, quick in actions and speech, but whenever he talked to her, he would slow down, waiting for her to read his lips. Despite usually being so decisive and fast, his patience with her was exceptionally good. Wen Baiyang nodded and answered his question, then feeling it wasn¡¯t solemn enough, used sign language to reply again, ¡°I know.¡± Qiao Nanchu licked his teeth, couldn¡¯t hold back, and blurted out, ¡°What about you?¡± She looked bewildered, pondered for a long time, nodded, then shook her head. She had regarded him as a benefactor for too long, blurring the lines of her feelings. But there was one thing she was sure of, ¡°I can do anything for you.¡± Including sacrificing her life. It was he who had rescued her from Da Mai Mountain¡¯s cage, brought her to Imperial City, sent her to school to study, raised her from a teenager to an adult. She belonged to him, whether as a possession or whatever, everything she had, as long as he wanted it, she was willing to give it to him, without hesitation. ¡°You¡¯re an adult now, you can be taught.¡± He suddenly said this, then leaned in, his lips landing on her forehead. Now that she was an adult, he could teach her about love. She stood obediently, tilting her head back slightly, her eyelashes quivering gently. He was smiling, ¡°You didn¡¯t dodge.¡± Yes, she hadn¡¯t dodged. She had never even thought about dodging; it seemed right as if everything was natural and justified. Qiao Nanchu raised his hand and patted her head, ¡°At least, you don¡¯t dislike it.¡± She blinked. How could she dislike it? She wouldn¡¯t dislike anything he did. That¡¯s what she wanted to say, but she was too flustered; she didn¡¯t even know where to place her hands. He naturally took her hand and walked towards where the car was parked, not looking at the road but wanting to talk to her, ¡°Can I speak to Ms. Wen?¡± She asked, ¡°Say what?¡± ¡°Tell her that I fancy you, and want you to be my Mrs. Xiao Qiao.¡± Mrs. Daqiao is Wen Ya. She would be Mrs. Xiao Qiao, prefixed by his, his Mrs. Xiao Qiao. Wen Baiyang blushed, nodding without saying anything, her head down, watching the two shadows close together on the ground, her ears also secretly turning red. There was no need to say anything more. The true words of this world are rare, and a woman¡¯s blush speaks volumes more than a lengthy dialogue. Qiao Nanchu didn¡¯t take her home but returned to the villa area in the north of the city, where Qiao Shenxing and Wen Ya lived. He parked the car at the front, first unfastened her seatbelt, ¡°I¡¯ll park the car, wait for me to go in together.¡± She nodded, got out of the car, and stood waiting in the yard. ¡°Bai Yang?¡± She couldn¡¯t hear and didn¡¯t respond. Just then, Wen Ya came out, saw her standing in the courtyard, and went up to pat her shoulder, ¡°What are you standing around for? Come inside with me.¡± Wen Baiyang glanced toward the garage before entering the house. The house was elegantly decorated, everything was exquisite. Wen Ya was a woman who knew how to live well. Having been an official¡¯s wife for a few years, her demeanor and speech had become very refined. Even at this time, at home, she was dressed appropriately and luxuriously. She led her to the living room, then went to the kitchen to make a pot of tea and brought it over, ¡°Mr. Miao just called me and said he was very satisfied with you.¡± Her voice was very gentle. Qiao Shenxing liked women who were delicate and petitely pretty, and Wen Ya never spoke loudly. She said, ¡°I¡¯ve discussed it with your uncle as well, we¡¯ll transfer your residency to the Qiao Family, so if you end up marrying into the Miao Family, your social status won¡¯t be too low.¡± Her tone was soft and gentle, like a loving mother. However, Wen Baiyang, even unable to hear, still found it grating. She took out a pen and paper, writing, ¡°Why don¡¯t you ask if I am satisfied?¡± Wen Ya only knew simple sign language, and except for the most basic conversations, Wen Baiyang often had to write to communicate with her. After reading what she wrote, Wen Ya glanced toward the stairway, no one else was in the room, her voice grew a bit colder, ¡°You have dissatisfactions?¡± To this daughter, Wen Ya really couldn¡¯t feel affection; seeing her always reminded her of her own foolish and absurd youth. She had this daughter when she was just under twenty, the prime age for a girl. ¡°Can¡¯t I be dissatisfied?¡± Wen Baiyang wrote again. Wen Ya put down her teacup, ¡°Bai Yang, you are different.¡± ¡°How am I different?¡± Wen Baiyang rarely pressed this hard; she even rarely communicated with Wen Ya. The few exchanges they had were mostly because Qiao Shenxing was present. If it weren¡¯t for Qiao Nanchu bringing her to Imperial City, Wen Ya probably wouldn¡¯t remember she had a daughter. ¡°You can neither hear nor speak, be thankful that you can marry a normal person,¡± Wen Ya¡¯s tone was like she was advising, ¡°let alone someone with Mr. Miao¡¯s conditions.¡± Be thankful? She had used the term ¡°be thankful.¡± The hand holding the pen suddenly lost all strength, unable to continue writing. sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Someone else took over the conversation for her, ¡°He¡¯s nearly fifty, older than you, a widower with a son; he lacks ambition, still relying on his family after all these years.¡± It was Qiao Nanchu. Wen Ya immediately stood up from the sofa, ¡°Nanchu¡¯s here, there¡¯s something in the kitchen¡ª¡± Qiao Nanchu interrupted her, not as indifferent as usual, his tone somewhat imposing, ¡°Continue, how about his conditions?¡± Wen Ya couldn¡¯t smile anymore, she said awkwardly, ¡°He¡¯s physically healthy, without disabilities, and he won¡¯t loathe Bai Yang. For Bai Yang, that¡¯s the best condition.¡± Disabilities, loathe. No matter how gentle the tone, these words couldn¡¯t deceive anyone. Luckily, her back was turned, and Wen Baiyang couldn¡¯t read lips, she could only see him. That was good, just watch him speak, He asked, ¡°Then Ms. Wen, what do you think of me?¡± Clatter. The pen in Wen Baiyang¡¯s hand dropped to the floor. Wen Ya was taken aback, thinking she had misheard, ¡°What did you say?¡± Qiao Nanchu walked over, stood next to Wen Baiyang, and raised his hand to rest it on her shoulder, ¡°No need to look far, I am just right for her.¡± Wen Ya spilled the tea in her cup, in disbelief. ¡°Nanchu.¡± It was Qiao Nanchu¡¯s father, Qiao Shenxing, standing at the stairway entrance. It was unclear how much he had heard. He glanced at Wen Baiyang, ¡°Come with me.¡± He was calling Qiao Nanchu. Probably heard it all, which was good, resolve it in one go. ¡°Wait for me in my room.¡± Wen Baiyang nodded. Qiao Nanchu then went to the study. His room was on the second floor, and just as Wen Baiyang had taken a step, Wen Ya grabbed her, ¡°What¡¯s going on between you and Nanchu?¡± She didn¡¯t answer. Wen Ya lost her composure, forgetting to maintain her image of a kind and gentle mother, and her usually delicate and soft demeanor disappeared, her tone turning sharp, ¡°Are you with him?¡± She was somewhat out of control, visibly agitated, repeatedly questioning, ¡°How can you be together? He¡¯s your brother, how will I face others if you are with him? I¡¯m already not well-regarded by the elders in the Qiao Family. If you and Nanchu keep this ambiguous relationship, how will the Qiao Family view me?¡± Wen Baiyang pulled her hand away, ¡°Didn¡¯t you also get together with your own brother? And you had me.¡± Wen Ya understood this sign language. She raised her hand, ¡°You¡ª¡± Her hand trembled, but ultimately she did not slap. This was her scar, known by very few. After marrying into the Qiao Family, no one brought it up again. The biological father of Wen Baiyang was Wen Ya¡¯s cousin, within four degrees of kinship. Back then, Wen Ya was still young and recklessly pursued love, breaking moral boundaries only to be abandoned. Back then, she was in poor health with a thin uterine wall, unable to have an abortion, so she gave birth to a girl. This was her shame, a past she wished to erase completely. Wen Ya lowered her hand and clenched it tightly, ¡°He is the fourth young master of the Qiao Family, the grandfather¡¯s favorite grandson. Even if he¡¯s willing to accept you, Mr. Qiao won¡¯t let you through the door, nor will Uncle Qiao.¡± Wen Baiyang didn¡¯t respond. After a long pause, Wen Ya looked at her and said, ¡°Bai Yang, you don¡¯t deserve him.¡± Wen Baiyang¡¯s eyes reddened, her hands moving quickly and frantically in sign language, ¡°Others may say I don¡¯t deserve him, others may despise me for my disability, but you can¡¯t, you have no right.¡± Her sign language was too fast, and Wen Ya only understood the last sentence. The study. Qiao Shenxing was sitting, having been in a video conference, still in his formal clothes; he pulled off his tie and tossed it on the table, asking, ¡°When did this happen?¡± Qiao Shenxing was not yet fifty, mature and handsome. Qiao Nanchu resembled him, with a naturally charming appearance, anyone who saw him would find him to be a romantic figure. Qiao Shenxing and Nanchu¡¯s mother were in a political marriage, lacking affection. Qiao Shenxing seemed passionate but was actually indifferent. The father and son were not very close to begin with, and after Qiao Shenxing married Wen Ya, their relationship became even more strained, barely seeing each other throughout the year. Qiao Nanchu pulled up a chair and sat down, ¡°This is my business.¡± Qiao Shenxing removed his glasses, looking less scholarly but more mature and composed, ¡°Who you date is your business, but who you marry concerns the Qiao Family.¡± He asked, ¡°Do you intend to marry her?¡± Not just appearance. Qiao Nanchu¡¯s disposition also somewhat resembled his father¡¯s, equally capricious and autocratic. He answered, ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°That makes it a matter for the Qiao Family, and I must intervene.¡± Qiao Shenxing shifted his position, removing the cufflinks from his shirt and tossing them aside, saying, ¡°I don¡¯t agree.¡± Qiao Nanchu appeared nonchalant, his tone light, ¡°Whether you agree doesn¡¯t concern me, as long as she agrees.¡± Unruly. This son of his had always been unruly. Qiao Shenxing, uninterested in a lengthy debate, succinctly stated, ¡°Without your grandfather¡¯s and my approval, she cannot enter the Qiao Family.¡± Qiao Nanchu calmly replied, ¡°If you and grandfather don¡¯t mind, I can marry into her family.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Qiao Shenxing threw a book at him, ¡°You good-for-nothing!¡± Marry into her family? He had only this one son! Qiao Nanchu caught the book steadily and placed it back on the table, unmoved, he retorted, ¡°I learned it from you.¡± Accusing his father of being irresponsible. When Qiao Shenxing married Wen Ya, Mr. Qiao had disagreed. Qiao Shenxing didn¡¯t even try to negotiate and went ahead with the marriage¡ªbecause of that, Mr. Qiao still disdained him. It wasn¡¯t that Qiao Shenxing particularly liked Wen Ya, it was more about defying others, marrying whoever he wanted. Mr. Qiao¡¯s exact words were: ¡°Shenxing that damn boy gets everything right except for his taste in women, whether someone from our house or outside, he treats them all like playthings, always chooses those who are obedient and easy to control, his taste is truly perverse.¡± Indeed, Qiao Shenxing¡¯s private life in Qiao City could be described in four words¡ªutterly messed up. ¡°Are you taking revenge on me because I married Wen Ya?¡± Qiao Nanchu laughed lightly, ¡°Qiao City, you think too highly of yourself.¡± Chapter 198 - 198: 198: Show off relationships, then trash the scumbags (see additional information Chapter 198: 198: Show off relationships, then trash the scumbags (see additional information Qiao Nanchu laughed, ¡°Qiao City, you think too highly of yourself.¡± Qiao Shenxing, ¡°¡­¡± Whose brat is this, so asking for a beating? Qiao Nanchu stood up, ¡°Anything else to say? If not, I¡¯m leaving.¡± Qiao Shenxing told him to wait and said, ¡°In a few days, I will transfer Bai Yang¡¯s household registration to our family.¡± This was Wen Ya¡¯s idea. ¡°I have no objections,¡± Qiao Nanchu said indifferently, crossing his arms and looking at his father with an expression that said even the lord of heaven couldn¡¯t control him, ¡°If you bring her in here, I¡¯ll move out.¡± Qiao Shenxing glanced at him. He walked to the door, then stopped and added fuel to the fire, ¡°Oh, and tell your wife to stop arranging blind dates for me. I¡¯m not really keen on getting on the train first and buying the ticket later, so don¡¯t push me.¡± With that, he turned and left. Qiao Shenxing unbuttoned the top button of his shirt and cursed with a laugh, ¡°Son of a bitch.¡± Qiao ¡®Son of a bitch¡¯ Nanchu went upstairs. Without knocking, he stood at the door and sent a text message. After waiting for a while, Wen Baiyang came to open the door. Her expression was very anxious, and she signed quickly, asking him, ¡°Did your father hit you?¡± Qiao Nanchu shook his head with a smile, pulled her into the room, and closed the door, saying, ¡°Qiao City doesn¡¯t like to get physical.¡± That¡¯s good then. She continued signing, asking, ¡°Did he scold you then?¡± Qiao Nanchu seemed in a good mood, his eyes always smiling, ¡°Worried about me?¡± Wen Baiyang nodded, very concerned about him. ¡°No,¡± he said lightly and casually, ¡°Those literate folks neither hit nor curse. They can¡¯t beat someone rough like me.¡± Wen Baiyang corrected, ¡°You¡¯re not rough.¡± He laughed again. She couldn¡¯t smile, feeling guilty, ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± ¡°For what are you apologizing?¡± S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°I¡¯ve dragged you down.¡± She had just finished signing when he grabbed her hands and didn¡¯t let go, playing with her fingers, ¡°It wasn¡¯t for nothing.¡± Wen Baiyang didn¡¯t understand what he meant. ¡°I have a purpose,¡± his eyes full of lights, all focused on her, he said, ¡°Aren¡¯t I pursuing you?¡± A nineteen-year-old girl, inexperienced in love, flushed and became flustered with just a few heartfelt words. It was eleven o¡¯clock at night. The cold was severe outside, a thin layer of frost formed on the window. The room was quiet, playing a recording with a lot of static. ¡°That was you outside the door that day, wasn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°Did you see everything? Did you?¡± It was Luo Changde¡¯s voice. There was a thud, and then no more sound. Luo Qinghe rewound the recording and listened again, ¡°Hmm, there was another person, Luo San. What exactly did he see that made Luo Changde so guilty?¡± Luo Qinghe turned off the recording, and at that moment, there was a noise from downstairs. She stood up, left the room, and following the footsteps, she saw Luo Changde who had just come upstairs in the stairwell. ¡°Dad.¡± Luo Changde looked up, his expression startled for a moment. She asked, like any ordinary daughter, ¡°Where have you been, coming back so late?¡± Luo Changde casually replied, ¡°Went for a few drinks.¡± He was testing her. ¡°I thought you had gone to discuss some urgent matter.¡± ¡°What urgent matter could I have?¡± Luo Changde directly passed her and headed to the upstairs room. Avoiding discussion, acting guilty. Luo Qinghe stood briefly, then returned to her room. Right then, her secretary, Shen Yue, called, ¡°Younger Luo,¡± he said, ¡°Mr. Luo has contacted people in the prison to arrange for a meeting with Peng Xianzhi as soon as possible.¡± Another recording was indeed in his hands. He was still guarding against her. He feared that any disturbance would suffice for him to push her out. Her fingernails tapped on the table as she pondered for a moment before instructing Shen Yue over the phone, ¡°Go check where the gardener who escaped from the fire back then is now.¡± Luo Changde¡¯s room doors and windows were tightly locked. He walked into the bathroom, made a call, and asked, ¡°What did Peng Xianzhi say?¡± On the other end of the phone was someone from Western Prison. He said, ¡°Peng Xianzhi refused the meeting, he won¡¯t see anyone.¡± Luo Changde immediately asked, ¡°Can¡¯t it be enforced?¡± He needed to meet Peng Xianzhi as soon as possible. The man on the phone indicated it was difficult and explained, ¡°It must be Qiao Family¡¯s Fourth Young Master who has alerted the higher-ups, we have to follow the rules.¡± Qiao Nanchu had worked in the Criminal Intelligence Department for a few years, and his words carried weight with the police. Lacking an immediate solution, Luo Changde said, ¡°Think of another way.¡± He hung up and then dialed another number, ¡°Shen Yue.¡± ¡°Mr. Luo.¡± Isn¡¯t Shen Yue Luo Qinghe¡¯s secretary? Yes. However, in this day and age, absolute loyalty had become exceedingly rare. Most people were loyal to¡ªinterests. Luo Changde asked him, ¡°Where did Qinghe go tonight?¡± ¡°He went to meet someone.¡± ¡°Who?¡± Shen Yue replied, ¡°Professional errand runner Z.¡± Luo Changde understood. Indeed, she had obtained it too. Downstairs, the light in the study was still on. Chen Li placed a document bag on the table: ¡°I¡¯ve already had someone verify it, it¡¯s the original.¡± Luo Huaiyu glanced briefly inside the document bag, then made a phone call: ¡°Transfer the final payment.¡± After saying just that, he hung up and looked up to instruct, ¡°You can leave now.¡± Chen Li left the study. As he reached the doorway, he closed the door, looked around, saw no one, then stood in place, slightly leaning forward, his ear close to the crack of the door. Inside the study, Luo Huaiyu was speaking on the phone. ¡°We can¡¯t keep him.¡± he said, ¡°Find a way to get rid of him.¡± Thereafter, there was no further sound. Chen Li stood there for a while longer before leaving Luo Mansion, stepping out of the villa, into his car, and dialed a number saved as¡ªBig Ghost. Chen Li: ¡°It¡¯s me.¡± Oh, it¡¯s Black Impermanence¡¯s little ghost. Lord Black Impermanence asked him, ¡°Did you deliver the item to Luo Huaiyu?¡± ¡°I did.¡± Lord Black Impermanence then asked, ¡°Any suspicions?¡± Chen Li: ¡°None.¡± The original? In this lifetime, it¡¯s impossible to give the original. Everything is reproduced from a copy; whether deceiving two people or three, each deceit is still deceit. And considering Luo Huaiyu¡¯s background and calculations were still unknown, Zhou Xufang simply decided to use his plan against him, giving him the recording and waiting for him to reveal his true colors. Thinking too far ahead. Another crucial matter, Zhou Xufang seriously asked, ¡°Has the final payment been transferred?¡± Luo Huaiyu was a big shot. Thus, Zhou Xufang had demanded an even higher price. Chen Li said, ¡°It¡¯s been transferred.¡± His tone anxious, he asked, ¡°I¡¯ve done everything as you said, when will you give me the item?¡± The item he referred to was the stone that hit Peng Zhongming, the evidence of his manslaughter. Of course, Zhou Xufang wouldn¡¯t give it to him, feigning mystery with a raspy voice: ¡°Wait until Lord Black Impermanence no longer needs a little ghost.¡± For now, she needed him to continue as an inside man. Chen Li, being blackmailed by her, couldn¡¯t resist and had to cooperate: ¡°Luo Huaiyu just found someone, seems like he wants to eliminate someone.¡± ¡°Anything else?¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t hear anything else.¡± Zhou ¡¤ Lord Black Impermanence ¡¤ Xufang was very pleased: ¡°Good, keep up the good work. As long as you do well, Lord Black Impermanence will surely not shortchange you.¡± Lord Black Impermanence was in a good mood because he had tricked three bad people tonight and had won quite a bit at Mahjong. With more money in his pocket, he was very happy. Chen¡¤Little Ghost of Lord Black Impermanence¡¤Li: ¡°¡­¡± This feeling of being stuck on a thief¡¯s ship with no way off! Meanwhile, after hanging up the phone with the little ghost, Lord Black Impermanence went to tell Jiang Zhi, ¡°Luo Huaiyu seems to be up to no good again.¡± Jiang Zhi had just come out after washing his hair and threw the towel to Zhou Xufang to dry his hair, his eyes still damp from the bathroom moisture, ¡°He must be planning a murder to silence someone.¡± Zhou Xufang tiptoed to dry his hair, ¡°Silence who?¡± Jiang Zhi guessed, ¡°Maybe Peng Xianzhi.¡± ¡°Is he silencing someone for Luo Qinghe?¡± Jiang Zhi, seeing her on tiptoes and fearing she might tire, bent down, brought his head closer, and his hands mischievously landed on her waist, causing her to giggle. He said, ¡°Not necessarily.¡± He supported her waist and lifted her higher so she could stand on the back of his feet, ¡°Maybe he¡¯s also done something shameful.¡± At midnight, clouds covered the moon, making it the darkest hour outside. The person in bed slept restlessly, furrowing her brow and clenching her fists outside the blanket, her fingertips curling slightly as she struggled faintly. She was trapped in a nightmare, unable to wake up. In the dream, an old and deep voice called out. ¡°Luo San.¡± ¡°Luo San.¡± With a bang, the attic door was pushed open, and all the light outside flooded in, shining on the shivering small bundle on the wooden bed. Tap, tap, tap, tap¡­ The sound was getting closer; she raised her eyes and first saw a walking stick, and then, higher up, a pair of hands covered in age spots. ¡°Come here,¡± he beckoned. She was terribly frightened and shrank into the corner of the bed. He walked closer with the support of his walking stick, ¡°Aren¡¯t you supposed to talk? Why don¡¯t you call out?¡± She dared not look up again, hugging her knees, her voice trembling, ¡°Grand¡­ grandfather.¡± The old man bent down to look at her, his eyes cloudy. He stretched out his hand, saying, ¡°Don¡¯t hide.¡± She shrank back, ¡°No, I can¡¯t.¡± Her voice was rough and hoarse, stumbling over her words. ¡°Be good, Luo San.¡± The hands covered in age spots reached toward her¡­ Zhou Xufang suddenly opened her eyes and screamed, ¡°Jiang Zhi!¡± Jiang Zhi woke up instantly, getting up and going to her side, ¡°I¡¯m here, I¡¯m here, what¡¯s wrong?¡± He turned on the light and saw her head drenched in sweat, her hands clutching at the blanket still trembling; he bent down and hugged her, ¡°Were you having a nightmare?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± She leaned on his shoulder, gasping deeply, her back sweat-soaked and chillingly cold. He held her tight, kissing her brow, eyes, and face repeatedly, soothing her, ¡°What did you dream about?¡± She shook her head as if she had been crying, her eyes rimmed with red, her hands tightly clinging to his clothes, ¡°I don¡¯t know, I forgot as soon as I opened my eyes.¡± Her face was pale, still not recovered. Jiang Zhi wiped the sweat from her forehead with his pajama sleeve, ¡°Then let¡¯s not think about it.¡± She stopped thinking about it, but her heart still trembled, thumping like drums, ringing in her ears; she felt uneasy and held tightly onto Jiang Zhi¡¯s waist, burying herself into his embrace. ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± Jiang Zhi stroked her head, ¡°Hmm?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t sleep on the floor tonight, sleep holding me.¡± Since his sleeping habits were so bad, always kicking, she had him sleep in the guest room, but he refused to sleep separately, saying he would move to the floor once she was sound asleep. It was only his first night on the floor, and she already had a nightmare. He held her as they lay down, ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll sleep holding you.¡± She leaned on him, clinging tightly. ¡°Fang Bao.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± He called again, ¡°Fang Bao.¡± She looked up, ¡°Hmm.¡± The dim yellow light from the bedside lamp shone in her damp eyes. ¡°Fang Bao.¡± She asked, ¡°Why do you keep calling me?¡± Jiang Zhi gently stroked her hair that rested on his shoulder, ¡°Call out a few more times, and you will be able to dream of me.¡± He lowered his head and kissed her eyes, ¡°When I enter your dreams, you won¡¯t be afraid anymore.¡± She closed her eyes, with only Jiang Zhi¡¯s voice left in her ears. ¡°Fang Bao.¡± ¡°Fang Bao.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Indeed, Jiang Zhi was in her dream. In the dream, he was still the slender and handsome young man. The young man had a bad temper, shouting outside her door, ¡°Luo San!¡± ¡°Luo San!¡± Luo San opened the door. Back then, Luo San was not good-looking, skinny and dark, with no hair, just a little bald boy. The young man was angry with her, talking loudly, ¡°Did you steal the braised pork again?!¡± He had just arrived at the Luo Family and heard the servants saying that Luo San had been beaten again. They said that Luo San had sticky fingers, always stealing from the kitchen. She still couldn¡¯t read social cues well, not realizing how angry he was, still naively rummaging through cupboards, and from one she pulled out a wrapped parcel, layers of paper around a piece of braised pork. She held it in both hands, offering it to him. The young man already frail, got so exasperated he could barely breathe and said gruffly, ¡°I don¡¯t like meat!¡± And to her, braised pork was the finest thing, for in her past fourteen years, her biggest concern had been basic sustenance; she had never seen better and thought braised pork was the best there was. So he didn¡¯t like it, after all. She then asked, ¡°What do you like?¡± Her voice even rougher than many boys going through puberty. The young man, still angry, turned his head away, and after a long while awkwardly muttered, ¡°Foxtail grass, I like foxtail grass.¡± Of course, he didn¡¯t really like foxtail grass, but with such a big villa like the Luo Mansion, only that grass was available which wouldn¡¯t get her hit if she moved it. His tone turned serious, he earnestly told her, ¡°Next time I come, just pick foxtail grass for me, and don¡¯t steal any meat.¡± She assumed he really liked foxtail grass, immediately nodding her head, ¡°Okay.¡± She would pick a huge bunch of foxtail grass for him. The young man scolded her, ¡°Idiot.¡± She still grinned, a silly smile that even made him laugh; he squinted his eyes and told her, ¡°Only I can call you idiot, others can¡¯t, got it?¡± She nodded. She understood; when he called her an idiot, it was his way of being kind, he just didn¡¯t use sweet words. He was the kindest and best person to her in this world. ¡°If someone else calls you an idiot, just place some foxtail grass on top of the fence. I¡¯ll see it and come to find you, then you tell me who called you an idiot.¡± She looked at him, her eyes clear and simple, filled only with his image. The young man poked her head, ¡°Got it?¡± Her face darkened, a smile, her teeth especially white, ¡°Yeah, got it.¡± Her voice wasn¡¯t pleasant-sounding; when alone, she would still speak to him with her gruff voice. The young man asked her, ¡°You can speak, so why play mute?¡± ¡°Aunt Xiu said I can¡¯t talk.¡± The young man scolded her again, ¡°Yet you still talk to me.¡± She laughed foolishly, ¡°Because it¡¯s you.¡± The young man hummed, but his eyes curved into a smile, ¡°I¡¯m going home now.¡± He turned to leave, then turned back, ¡°Aren¡¯t you giving me that meat?¡± ¡°Oh.¡± She wrapped up the meat, ¡°Here.¡± The grease had seeped into the paper, no telling whether the paper was clean or not. The young man, a bit of a clean freak, deplored it, furrowing his brow as he pinched a corner of the paper bundle. ¡°I¡¯m leaving.¡± He walked away. She ran after him, following as he walked, stopping when he did, unstoppable, right up to the gate. The young man looked back, waving her off, ¡°Don¡¯t send me off anymore, go back.¡± She continued to follow. He scolded her, ¡°Idiot.¡± Yet that ¡®idiot¡¯ still clung to the iron fence, waving energetically at him. Chapter 199 - 199 199 Fang Bao meets the parents Jiang Zhis parents ?Chapter 199: 199: Fang Bao meets the parents, Jiang Zhi¡¯s parents Chapter 199: 199: Fang Bao meets the parents, Jiang Zhi¡¯s parents The next day, Jiang Zhi took Zhou Xufang to the Jiang Family¡¯s banquet. Before leaving, Jiang Zhi specifically called over the drama crew¡¯s stylist to pick out an expensive dress and jewelry for her, and then applied delicate makeup. Zhou Xufang said she looked even more like a kept lover now. Little Lover Zhou rarely wore makeup and found it novel. She spun around in front of the mirror several times, asking her ¡°Golden Lord,¡± ¡°Jiang Zhi, do I look good with makeup?¡± ¡°Pretty,¡± Jiang Zhi picked out a thick coat for her, ¡°Old Lady Jiang doesn¡¯t like to use heating; the old mansion still burns coal. It¡¯ll be cold at night, wear long johns under your dress.¡± Zhou Xufang, who did not want to wear long johns, said nothing. Jiang Zhi had already gone to find long johns, and she followed, ¡°¡­Alright.¡± She added behind him, ¡°Don¡¯t kiss me today, or you¡¯ll eat off my foundation.¡± The makeup artist added so many layers to her face, making her look so white and tender. Jiang Zhi handed her the long johns: ¡°It won¡¯t poison you.¡± He leaned in, insisting on a kiss. Zhou Xufang dodged, refusing to be kissed, ¡°You¡¯ll smear my foundation, and it won¡¯t be even.¡± She would no longer look white and tender! Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± He had thought she was worried about him getting sick from ingesting makeup. Because of this, Jiang Zhi remained sulky the whole trip. At seven o¡¯clock, they arrived at Jiang Mansion. Jiang Zhi looked outside; Zhou Xufang pulled at his clothing, ¡°Jiang Zhi, we¡¯re here.¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡°Mm.¡± She didn¡¯t come to cajole him; he was still upset. Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t have pierced ears and was wearing clip-on earrings, which made her uncomfortable. She kept touching them until her ears turned red. Jiang Zhi removed her hand, ¡°Does it hurt?¡± Zhou Xufang touched them again, ¡°It doesn¡¯t hurt, just a little itchy.¡± ¡°Then don¡¯t wear them.¡± He unfastened his seatbelt, leaned over, and took off her earrings for her. Her ears were red where they had been clipped; he gently blew on those spots. Zhou Xufang squirmed with ticklishness, retreating to the back of the seat, ¡°Do we start acting as soon as we get out?¡± Jiang Zhi placed the earrings in her hand, ¡°Act what?¡± Excited about acting, Zhou Xufang said, ¡°We can¡¯t let the Jiang Family see that we¡¯re close. We have to pretend.¡± She was unexpectedly eager for acting. Jiang Zhi was amused, touched her still-warm ear, ¡°As long as you don¡¯t mind, you don¡¯t need to try too hard.¡± Zhou Xufang: ¡°Okay.¡± The two of them got out of the car, and as soon as they stepped through the Jiang Family¡¯s gate, they ran into someone in the courtyard ¨C it was Luo Changfang from the second branch of the family. Luo Changfang, like a kind elder, came forward to greet them, ¡°Brother Zhi is here.¡± Jiang Zhi hummed in acknowledgment. Luo Changfang had grown used to his cool demeanor, glanced past him at his companion, and asked with a smile, ¡°Is this your girlfriend?¡± He hummed again, about to walk into the house when Zhou Xufang spoke up, her tone accusatory, ¡°What do you mean?¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡°!¡± Zhou Xufang¡¯s expression was full of grief, anger, and a reluctant and unwilling entanglement: ¡°Why won¡¯t you introduce me?¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡°!¡± Indeed, her acting had improved a lot. But this sudden outburst caught Jiang Zhi off guard; he was at a loss for words. As the main character, Zhou Xufang immersed herself quickly. Although her expressions weren¡¯t perfect, she purposefully turned her back to Luo Changfang and recited her lines convincingly, ¡°My friend was right. You were just playing around, but I took it seriously.¡± This scene was taken from ¡°Demon¡¯s Seven-Day Little Sweetheart.¡± Zhou Xufang furrowed her brows, forcing her eyes to redden, and held out her hand with the palm open. The clip-on pearl earrings sparkled in her hand, looking expensive. She recited sadly, ¡°This earring I just saw in your car, it¡¯s not mine.¡± This part was taken from ¡°Arrogant Young Master Song¡¯s Deep Love.¡± Zhou Xufang was smart to make use of her immediate surroundings. Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± Director Jiang was befuddled by an actor for the first time. Zhou Xufang sniffed, trying not to cry while stubbornly looking pitiful, ¡°You can¡¯t even be bothered to deal with me now, can you?¡± Not giving Jiang Zhi a chance to speak, she continued sorrowfully, ¡°You always brush me off. All my friends know you¡¯re my boyfriend, what about you?¡± She yelled, ¡°You won¡¯t even let the media publish a single photo of me.¡± Her effort was a bit too forceful, resulting in a somewhat strange and stiff expression, but that didn¡¯t matter, the lines were great, taken right out of ¡°President¡¯s Secret Wife¡±. Jiang Zhi turned his back, coughed twice, and then faced her again, his voice cold, tinged with anger, ¡°Stop being unreasonable.¡± ¡°I¡¯m being unreasonable?¡± Zhou Xufang mimicked the unruly sister of the male protagonist from a web series, jutting out her chin and saying stiffly, ¡°Fine, I¡¯m unreasonable. Then go find Sunny! Sunny isn¡¯t unreasonable!¡± The line was from ¡°Goodnight, Mr. Prosecutor.¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡°!¡± Sunny? Who was Sunny? Director Jiang was at a loss once again. Zhou Xufang was close to tears, but of course, one shouldn¡¯t focus on the expression; she sounded like she was about to cry, ¡°My best friend saw it, you went to the hotel with Sunny last night.¡± Jiang Zhi dismissively replied, ¡°Your best friend saw wrong.¡± She put on a sobbing tone, ¡°You even took her to see a house.¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± What a rollercoaster of a plot. ¡°Think whatever you like.¡± Jiang Zhi left her hanging and went inside first, appearing very impatient. The young girl left at the door covered her mouth, on the brink of tears. She really wanted to laugh, had to hold it in, and if she couldn¡¯t, she¡¯d cover it up. Zhou Xufang covered her mouth and lowered her head, ¡°I¡¯m sorry for making a fool of myself in front of you.¡± Luo Changfang shook her head, saying nothing. Zhou Xufang nodded to her, then went inside. ¡°Jiang Zhi!¡± ¡°Jiang Zhi!¡± She called out angrily twice, and when no one was around, and Luo Changfang couldn¡¯t hear her anymore, her tone changed, and she called out quietly, ¡°Jiang Zhi, Jiang Zhi~¡± Jiang Zhi was waiting for her up ahead. She immediately ran over to him. Fula, the yard dog, saw a stranger and barked twice. Jiang Zhi kicked a stone over to him, and Fula quieted down, the huge Tibetan Mastiff cowering in its kennel, looking timidly at Jiang Zhi with its tongue lolling out. Even the dogs were afraid of Jiang Zhi at Jiang¡¯s house. Jiang Zhi, whom even the dogs feared, asked, ¡°What were you acting out just now?¡± Zhou Xufang, who had just acted to her heart¡¯s content, was quite cheerful, ¡°Lovesick girl, faithless lover.¡± ¡°¡­¡± He was the faithless lover? Alright, let her act how she liked, but: ¡°Who¡¯s Sunny?¡± ¡°She¡¯s a malevolent supporting character from ¡®President Gu, Your Petite Wife Has Fled Again¡¯.¡± He figured she had learned all this from novels and web dramas; their Jiang Wei¡¯er was quite adept at picking up things and applying them broadly. ¡°How did I perform just now?¡± She blinked expectantly, looking like the most obedient kindergarten kid awaiting praise. His own girlfriend, and he couldn¡¯t complain that she was being overly dramatic. Jiang Zhi just said, ¡°Not too bad,¡± and reached out to touch her head. She dodged back, not allowing him to touch her, reminding him very seriously and solemnly, ¡°We¡¯re currently in a cold war, don¡¯t come any closer, otherwise, our cover will be blown.¡± She was still in the play, unwilling to come out. Jiang Zhi pulled her over, ¡°There¡¯s no one here.¡± Fine then, Zhou Xufang handed her hand over for him to hold. Jiang Zhi said, ¡°Let¡¯s go to my room.¡± Zhou Xufang replied, ¡°Okay~¡± Jiang Zhi led her to his room, and she still didn¡¯t enter with him, insisting on going in one after the other. She had been to Jiang Zhi¡¯s room quite a few times before but rarely ever through the main door, mostly climbing through the window; this time she noticed a photo on the cabinet by the entrance, placed at the very back. Zhou Xufang picked it up to look, it was a young man and woman, the man looking sideways at the person next to him, his face not captured in full view. The photo was rather old and not very clear, yet even in its blurriness, Zhou Xufang could see how extraordinary the woman¡¯s features were. She also had peach blossom eyes, very similar to Jiang Zhi¡¯s. ¡°Jiang Zhi, are these your parents?¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± She gently placed the photo back on the cabinet, ¡°You never mentioned them to me.¡± Not even once. Jiang Zhi never spoke of his parents. ¡°There¡¯s not much to say, they passed away soon after I was born, aside from their names, I don¡¯t know anything about them. Old Lady Jiang never mentions them, and other people from the Jiang Family don¡¯t dare to either,¡± Jiang Zhi said while pulling her to sit on the small couch by the bed, handing her a box of cotton candy from the table beside them, ¡°I heard from Fifth Aunt that Old Lady Jiang didn¡¯t like my mother, and she wasn¡¯t willing to marry my father.¡± It wasn¡¯t a good marriage, and possibly for this reason, few in the Jiang Family dare speak of his mother from the Guan Family in front of Old Lady Jiang or Jiang Zhi himself. Jiang Zhi, however, had heard from the servants in the house that his father was the most capable among Old Lady Jiang¡¯s five children and the most favored by her. ¡°Was it an arranged marriage?¡± Zhou Xufang asked. Jiang Zhi said no, ¡°My father forcefully took her,¡± Jiang Zhi glanced at the photo on the cabinet, ¡°He was an extreme man, intent on getting whatever he wanted, at all costs.¡± And he was crazy. ¡°After my mother died in a car accident, he committed suicide while holding her portrait,¡± Jiang Zhi said, ¡°He married my mother before he graduated, and he was only twenty-two when he passed away.¡± ¡°Your father loved her very much.¡± Yes, he loved her a lot, so much that he left behind a son, still an infant in swaddling, to join his deceased wife underground. Knock! Knock! Knock! Someone was knocking at the door, ¡°Young Master.¡± It was Jiang Chuan summoning someone, ¡°Old Madam is calling for you.¡± Jiang Zhi told him to wait downstairs. ¡°If the Old Lady asks something you don¡¯t want to answer or can¡¯t answer, throw it to me,¡± he instructed. Zhou Xufang replied, ¡°Hmm.¡± Jiang Zhi added, ¡°Whatever dish I pick for you, you eat; the ones I don¡¯t touch, you also don¡¯t touch.¡± There were plenty of sly characters in the Jiang Family, one had to be cautious. Zhou Xufang agreed to all, ¡°Got it.¡± Before opening the door, he lowered his head, ¡°Kiss me.¡± She pecked his face, and looking up she noticed, ¡°Your face has got lipstick on it.¡± Jiang Zhi stood leaning against the door, looking at her, ¡°You did it, you clean it up.¡± Oh. She tiptoed, leaning in. Jiang Zhi leaned down, and caught her squarely. Zhou Xufang: ¡°¡­¡± Little rascal! Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Thanks to a certain little rascal, Zhou Xufang had caught a fever. By the time it subsided, it was already ten minutes later. When the two of them arrived at the front hall, the Jiang Family had already been there for quite a while. ¡°To require such repeated invitations and urging just to have a meal, what kind of behavior is that?¡± The one chiding was Jiang Zhi¡¯s granduncle, Old Lady Jiang¡¯s eldest son, Jiang Weikai. Old Lady Jiang couldn¡¯t bear to scold her beloved grandson and immediately retorted, ¡°Why are you blaming Brother Zhi? Didn¡¯t you notice his poor complexion?¡± She turned her head to look at Jiang Zhi and her expression softened, asking in a gentle and soft voice, ¡°Are you feeling unwell?¡± Old Lady Jiang took the seat of honor, and there were two empty seats on her left hand side. Jiang Zhi sat down directly, not looking very spirited and short of breath as he spoke, ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡± A young girl followed behind him, who had been left quite far behind and only caught up now, looked at him with a face full of grievance and anger. Old Lady Jiang¡¯s gaze rotated between the two, ¡°What¡¯s the matter here?¡± Luo Changfang replied with a smile, ¡°The young couple had an argument.¡± Old Lady Jiang glanced at the young girl with reddened eyes and half-jokingly, half-scoldingly said to Jiang Zhi, ¡°Did you bully this young girl?¡± Jiang Zhi remained silent. The young girl bit her lip, smiling unnaturally, as if forcing a smile, ¡°Grandma Jiang, hello.¡± Not knowing how to address the other people, she simply nodded in greeting. Old Lady Jiang beckoned, ¡°Don¡¯t stand there, come sit.¡± This was the first time Zhou Xufang had a direct encounter with the Old Madam, a lady in her seventies or eighties with almost completely white hair, very spirited, dressed in an elaborate satin jacket and skirt, her hair neatly bunned up. Even though she was smiling, there was an austere and imposing look in her eyes and brows. Zhou Xufang sat down beside Jiang Zhi. Old Lady Jiang observed her closely, ¡°You are the first girl that our Brother Zhi has brought home. What is your name?¡± She asked in a whisper, as if afraid of frightening the girl. Zhou Xufang replied, ¡°My name is Xu Fang, Zhou Xufang.¡± Old Lady Jiang asked further, ¡°How did you get to know our Brother Zhi?¡± Zhou Xufang sat up straight and answered directly, ¡°I am an extra on his film set.¡± The Old Lady lifted her teacup, took a small sip and asked, ¡°Do you live in the Imperial City?¡± ¡°I have been living abroad until now.¡± ¡°What about your parents, are they here as well?¡± Parents, huh. Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t know how to answer and sought help. She had just stretched her hand under the table, not yet touching Jiang Zhi, when Jiang Wei¡¯er across from her took over the conversation, ¡°Mother, why are you asking so many questions as if you¡¯re conducting a census?¡± Old Lady Jiang chuckled, ¡°Well, this girl has straightened out our Brother Zhi, naturally I¡¯m curious.¡± ¡°Cough cough cough¡­¡± Jiang Zhi suddenly coughed. Zhou Xufang immediately went to pour tea and water, to pat his back and soothe his chest. He appeared to be used to it, leaning back in his chair to be attended to. He coughed for a while, his eyes reddened and breath uneven, gasping, he said, ¡°Who else hasn¡¯t arrived yet, why isn¡¯t the banquet starting?¡± Sitting to the right hand side of Old Lady Jiang was the lady from the fourth branch, Jiang Fuxi. Seeing Jiang Zhi coughing severely, she instructed the servants to move the charcoal brazier further away and ordered those beside her to fetch a blanket from inside. Zhou Xufang couldn¡¯t help but sneak a glance at her from the corner of her eye. Jiang Fuxi appeared elegant; probably because she learned painting from a young age, she had cultivated an excellent temperament, composed and graceful. Zhou Xufang felt she resembled an empress from historical dramas, dignified and composed, with a subtle depth of character. Old Lady Jiang stated, ¡°Bingxue hasn¡¯t arrived yet.¡± ¡°For a Jiang Family banquet, why are you inviting Bingxue?¡± Jiang Wei¡¯er¡¯s dissatisfaction was evident. The Old Lady glanced at her, ¡°He has been traveling with you all around for so long, shouldn¡¯t I thank him?¡± Speak of the devil, and he shall appear. A servant came to announce, ¡°Old Madam, Mr. Xue has arrived.¡± Chapter 200 - 200 200 Important boss appears ice and snow confession ?Chapter 200: 200: Important boss appears, ice and snow confession Chapter 200: 200: Important boss appears, ice and snow confession The servant came over and said, ¡°Old Lady Jiang, Mr. Xue has arrived.¡± Miss Xue Bingxue was led over by someone. Old Lady Jiang stood up to greet her, ¡°Bingxue, come quickly, we have saved a seat for you.¡± There was only one seat empty at the table, next to Jiang Wei¡¯er. It seemed Old Lady Jiang was intent on playing matchmaker. Miss Xue Bingxue handed the gift she was carrying to the servant and walked over, ¡°Aunt Jiang.¡± Old Lady Jiang smiled amiably, ¡°Please sit down.¡± He remained standing and glanced at Jiang Wei¡¯er. It was said that Mr. Xue was very afraid of Jiang Family¡¯s ¡°Little Witch,¡± and it was no lie; he dared not sit without her permission. Jiang Wei¡¯er, with her legs crossed, gave him a disdainful look, ¡°Why are you looking at me? Just sit down when you¡¯re told.¡± Only then did Xue Bingxue sit down next to her. The young people¡¯s intentions, how could the old foxes at the table not see that Mr. Xue¡¯s entire heart was set on Jiang Family¡¯s fifth son? ¡°Brother Lin.¡± Jiang Wei Li shifted the topic toward him and asked, ¡°Do you have a girlfriend yet?¡± Jiang Xiaolin, sitting upright, in a suit and appearing mature and steady, replied, ¡°No.¡± Jiang Wei Li was a smiling tiger, always having a smile on his face while jokingly asked, ¡°Truly do not have or pretending not to have?¡± The eldest grandson of the main house was already twenty-eight and still not married. Jiang Xiaolin smiled without saying a word, busying himself with his tea, never discussing his private matters. Beside him, his father, Jiang Weikai, started speaking in a deep voice, ¡°You¡¯re nearly thirty, still no news, even Brother Zhi, who is much younger, has a girlfriend. What are you doing all day and night?¡± There was a note of dissatisfaction in his tone. Jiang Weikai was the eldest son, the most conservative, believing one should establish a family before a career. However, in recent years, there wasn¡¯t even a proper girlfriend around Jiang Xiaolin, his secretaries were all male. He was excessively distant from women. Jiang Fuli joined in, half-jokingly said, ¡°The eldest cousin has been busy with company matters, Uncle, you need not worry. He¡¯s very popular; several families¡¯ daughters have asked me about him.¡± Due to a previous instance in the Jiang Family of coming out, Jiang Weikai was particularly concerned about his son¡¯s marital matters, ¡°What are their family backgrounds like?¡± Jiang Fuli laughed, ¡°Those who come to ask me, of course, are all suitable.¡± Jiang Weikai put down his teacup and made a direct command, ¡°Find some time for matchmaking.¡± Among the Jiang Family grandchildren, Jiang Xiaolin was thought to be the most pleasing, so everyone assumed he would agree, but he thwarted his father¡¯s wishes in front of everyone, ¡°Dad, anything else is up to you, but please do not interfere with my marital matters.¡± ¡°Do you already have a girl you like?¡± He did not answer. Jiang Weikai¡¯s expression turned unhappy, ¡°I don¡¯t care about anything else, but a girl with poor family background is unacceptable.¡± Jiang Wei Li picked up where his elder brother left off, ¡°What era is this still talking about equal social rank?¡± Crash! Zhou Xufang¡¯s teacup dropped. She was stunned for a moment, then hurriedly wiped the tea off the table, ¡°Sorry.¡± This seamless acting skill¡­ She must have watched quite a few novels where couples were beaten with rods because of mismatched social status. Jiang Zhi slightly raised his eyelids, gave her a look, and continued the act, ¡°Such a big person, can¡¯t even hold a teacup steadily,¡± his tone was accusatory. He was playing the bad cop. Old Lady Jiang, the senior of the house, was to play the good cop, ¡°You¡¯re blaming her, yet you also need people to wait on you.¡± She smiled at Zhou Xufang, ¡°Ignore him, this ancestor, very bad tempered.¡± Zhou Xufang forced a smile GIF. It was almost eight o¡¯clock, Old Lady Jiang called for Ah Gui, instructing, ¡°Tell the kitchen to serve the dishes please.¡± ¡°Yes, Old Lady.¡± Soon the dishes were all served, and just as they were about to begin eating, another guest arrived. ¡°Old Lady Jiang, Mr. Xu Wu has arrived.¡± The Xu Family was Old Lady Jiang¡¯s maternal family; this Mr. Xu mentioned by Jiang Chuan was the son of Old Lady Jiang¡¯s youngest brother, ranked fifth among the grandchildren in her family. People were still at the door when a greeting came through, ¡°Aunt.¡± Old Lady Jiang put down her chopsticks, ¡°Why has Po Zhi come at this time? Have you eaten yet?¡± Po Zhi was the illegitimate son of Fifth Master Xu, who had lost his son seven years ago and was left without an heir. Fearing he¡¯d die without anyone to send him off, he brought his illegitimate son back to the Xu Family and named him Po Zhi. Po Zhi entered the room, ¡°I haven¡¯t eaten yet. My father asked me to bring you some tea leaves. Fearing it would be too late and you¡¯d already be resting, I came early. I apologize for disturbing your meal, Aunt.¡± As the person approached, Zhou Xufang finally noticed his eyes. Po Zhi¡¯s left eye was damaged, the eyeball immobile, probably a prosthetic eye. He also had a fierce appearance¡ªwhen he looked at someone, the prosthetic ocular bulged outward excessively, making it somewhat daunting. ¡°Jiang Chuan, go add a bowl and chopsticks,¡± Old Lady Jiang also instructed the servants to bring a chair over, beckoning Po Zhi to sit, ¡°We¡¯ve only just begun dining; please sit down and join us.¡± Po Zhi sat down directly opposite Zhou Xufang. He was in his thirties, of average build, and rough-looking. He was dressed in a well-tailored suit, his one working eye turning towards Zhou Xufang, ¡°This must be Brother Zhi¡¯s girlfriend?¡± Zhou Xufang looked towards Jiang Zhi. He kept it brief, ¡°This is a cousin from the Xu Family, call him ¡®Cousin.''¡± Zhou Xufang looked at the man, ¡°Cousin.¡± Po Zhi nodded, his right eyeball shifted away, but the damaged left one lingered awkwardly on Zhou Xufang. The Jiang Family upheld many rules¡ªno talking while eating and no talking while sleeping, so the dining table was quite quiet until Old Lady Jiang put down her chopsticks, then chatted with Po Zhi. ¡°I heard from your father that you have also started working at the company, how is it going, everything smooth?¡± Po Zhi looked rough but spoke in a refined manner much like the Xu Family members, biting off his words like an ancient scholar, ¡°Thanks to several elder brothers, things are going quite smoothly.¡± S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The old lady asked a few more questions, all of which Po Zhi answered. The aunt and nephew enjoyed their conversation. The meal passed with both host and guest in good spirits. After the meal, Jiang Zhi was called over by the old lady, and Zhou Xufang sat for a while in the front hall but feeling uncomfortable, she found an excuse to leave for a walk. Outside in the courtyard, she encountered Jiang Fuli. ¡°Miss Zhou.¡± Zhou Xufang returned the greeting, ¡°Miss Jiang.¡± Jiang Fuli with an inquisitive look, ¡°We met at the hospital before, do you remember me?¡± She had recognized her at the dinner table. The very person who had bumped into her at the hospital and claimed to be Black Impermanence. Zhou Xufang remained unflustered, her gaze steady, ¡°I don¡¯t remember.¡± ¡°¡­¡± That kind of response could choke a person. Jiang Fuli then ¡®kindly¡¯ reminded her, ¡°You weren¡¯t very friendly to me back then.¡± At the time, she didn¡¯t know the reason, but now she thought it must have something to do with Jiang Zhi. Zhou Xufang was surprised, ¡°Really?¡± She remained calm, ¡°I don¡¯t remember.¡± Unacknowledged. Indeed an interesting person. Jiang Fuli, arms crossed, stood under the shade of a tree while the Tibetan Mastiff named Fula circled around her, ¡°Were you and Jiang Zhi together back then?¡± Zhou Xufang played dumb seriously, ¡°When?¡± Jiang Fuli smiled, ¡°Probably,¡± she paused in thought, ¡°two months ago.¡± Zhou Xufang, ¡°No.¡± She didn¡¯t want to chat or deal with her. Right then, Fang Lixiang¡¯s call came through. Zhou Xufang had an excuse, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I have to take this call.¡± She turned away, the person behind her still there, playing with the dog. Zhou Xufang answered, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Fang Lixiang, ¡°Are you free tomorrow? My film is premiering, please come to see it.¡± Zhou Xufang in surprise, ¡°Did you run into Sunny?¡± Fang Lixiang was also surprised, ¡°Sunny? Who is that?¡± Zhou Xufang angrily, ¡°What did she say?¡± Fang Lixiang confused, ¡°What?!¡± Zhou Xufang was even more furious, ¡°Shameless woman, seducing someone else¡¯s boyfriend and then having the audacity to show off about it.¡± Fang Lixiang, ¡°Zhou Xufang, Zhou Xufang? You are Zhou Xufang, right?¡± Zhou Xufang turned back, glanced at Jiang Fuli with an awkward smile, then avoided further conversation while talking on the phone, ¡°What does Jiang Zhi have to do with this? It¡¯s all that woman¡¯s fault, she¡¯s shameless!¡± Dialogues taken from ¡°My Husband is Super Sweet.¡± Once she was further away and Jiang Fuli could no longer hear her, Zhou Xufang said, ¡°I was just pretending.¡± ¡°I could tell,¡± Fang Lixiang asked, ¡°what happened?¡± Zhou Xufang wasn¡¯t joking, she said seriously, ¡°There are bad people trying to harm my boyfriend.¡± Fang Lixiang, ¡°¡­¡± The word harm fully demonstrated Zhou Xufang¡¯s deep hatred toward that evildoer. At that moment, Jiang Zhi was still in Old Lady Jiang¡¯s room, afraid of the cold, nestling in a wooden chair that accommodated a brazier. ¡°Brother Zhi, tell me the truth, are you serious about this Miss Zhou?¡± Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t answer but retorted back, ¡°Do I look like I¡¯m playing?¡± Old Lady Jiang couldn¡¯t put it into words, but something felt off, ¡°What is her family background?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t ask.¡± His attitude was indifferent. Such an attitude. Old Lady Jiang reprimanded, ¡°You¡¯re really too careless.¡± He was unconcerned, ¡°It¡¯s just dating, not as if we are getting married immediately.¡± He coughed twice, his eyes moist and voice dragging, lazily feeble, ¡°Besides, I¡¯m not even sure if I¡¯ll live long enough to get married.¡± This indifferent demeanor seemed almost resigned. Old Lady Jiang was both angry and heartbroken, ¡°You¡¯re speaking such ominous words again.¡± She didn¡¯t have the heart to scold him further, speaking kindly to him, ¡°You are doing well now, Vice President Sun also mentioned that your health has improved recently, once winter is over and the weather becomes warmer, we can try the new medication.¡± New medication? Again, new medication. Jiang Zhi hummed a response, too lazy to continue the conversation. At this moment, Xu Pozhi knocked on the door, calling from outside, ¡°Aunt Jiang.¡± Jiang Zhi stood up from the chair, ¡°I¡¯m going back.¡± ¡°You¡¯re not staying overnight?¡± He walked out leisurely, ¡°Not staying.¡± At the door, Xu Pozhi called out ¡®Brother Zhi¡¯, Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t stop but responded perfunctorily, his head lowered, staring at his phone. Fangbao¡¯s Boyfriend: ¡°Where are you?¡± Fangbao: ¡°In your room.¡± Jiang Zhi went to the second floor to find her. She was standing in front of a half-person-tall vase, bending over to look closely at the pattern, examining it very closely. Jiang Zhi locked the door, walked over, and hugged her from behind, his whole body clinging to her like he had no bones, ¡°Shall we go back now, or stay a bit longer?¡± Zhou Xufang turned around, ¡°Don¡¯t we need to sleep here?¡± ¡°Fearing you might not be comfortable, let¡¯s sleep at our own place.¡± Zhou Xufang uttered an ¡®oh¡¯, pointing at the vase and asking, ¡°Jiang Zhi, can I take this vase with me?¡± Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t know that in Jiang Zhi¡¯s room, except for the ¡®exorcism painting¡¯ at the bedside, everything else was a valuable treasure, and the vase she admired was an antique and quite expensive. Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t plan on telling her, so he asked, ¡°You like it?¡± She nodded, ¡°It¡¯s very pretty.¡± She liked beautiful things, like chandeliers, like cotton candy boxes, and like Jiang Zhi. ¡°You can take it, everything in this room is yours.¡± Jiang Zhi pulled up a chair and sat down, his hand resting on her waist, looking up at her with an expression so tender it was utterly sloppy, ¡°I am, too.¡± Skill level in romantic talk: master. Too bad, Zhou Xufang was straight. Zhou Xufang, ¡°You¡¯re not a thing.¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± Jiang Zhi pulled her onto his lap and nibbled on her neck with his teeth, murmuring in a muffled voice, ¡°Hmm.¡± Zhou Xufang squirmed with laughter, ¡°That Uncle Xu, is he a good person or a bad person?¡± She thought that man was strange. ¡°According to your standards, he should be a bad person.¡± Zhou Xufang¡¯s criteria for defining good and bad people were simple: those who harmed others were bad, and all others were good. ¡°What about according to your standards?¡± Jiang Zhi looked into her eyes, clearly defined in black and white, ¡°In my book, there¡¯s no good or bad, only enemies and friends, useful and useless.¡± He only cared about benefit and harm. As for good and evil, right and wrong, those were for cops and judges to decide. Zhou Xufang then changed her question, ¡°Is he an enemy?¡± ¡°Not for now.¡± Jiang Zhi asked, ¡°Are you afraid of him?¡± ¡°Afraid of what?¡± ¡°His eyes.¡± The eyes of Xu Pozhi were indeed frightening, being fake eyeballs placed in his sockets, which made him look eerie when he stared. Zhou Xufang shook her head, ¡°Is he as frightening as me? He only has one bad eye, but both of mine can turn red.¡± Xu Pozhi probably hadn¡¯t fainted anyone with fear, but she had. She was a hundred times more terrifying than him. To Jiang Zhi, beauty lies in the lover¡¯s eyes; he didn¡¯t think so: ¡°Where are you scary? Even when your eyes turn red, they are the prettiest.¡± Zhou Xufang giggled shyly. ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± ¡°I heard a cat meowing. Does the Jiang Family have a cat too?¡± ¡°It¡¯s Fuxi¡¯s cat.¡± The cat, named by Fuxi, was He Xi. ¡°Meow.¡± ¡°Meow.¡± He Xi was an orange cat, and though the saying goes ¡®ten oranges, nine fat,¡¯ He Xi was thin. It lay on the windowsill, continuously crying. The light inside the room was dim; its owner brought over some cat food. He Xi sniffed it and turned its head away. Its owner reached out, grabbed its neck, and twisted its head back, pressing it into the cat food, ¡°Why won¡¯t you eat?¡± She said, ¡°Come on, eat.¡± ¡°Meow.¡± The room was large and empty, echoing, ¡°He really likes orange cats.¡± ¡°Meow.¡± She murmured as if to herself, ¡°But why doesn¡¯t he like you?¡± ¡°Meow.¡± She got up and opened the window. The moonlight streamed in, mingling with the light inside and falling on a painting that depicted only a pair of beautiful peach blossom eyes. The wind blew into the studio, sweeping up cat fur around the room. The moon climbed high, the night was just right, and Fula persistently barked in the yard. Jiang Wei¡¯er roared fiercely, and it quieted down. Xue Bingxue walked on the cobblestone path in the yard, ¡°No need to see me out, it¡¯s cold outside.¡± Jiang Wei¡¯er hadn¡¯t worn a coat, just a sweater, hands in his pockets, following her, ¡°Old Madam asked me to escort you, I must obey the Empress Dowager¡¯s order.¡± She rubbed her hands, almost frozen stiff, ¡°Sorry about it, my grandmother is starting to meddle again in matchmaking.¡± The person ahead suddenly stopped. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± He was silent for a long while before turning around, ¡°No meddling.¡± His hands moved uncomfortably, from the back to the front, and from the front to the back, finally resting neatly against his trousers. He swallowed slightly, mustering courage, ¡°Didn¡¯t you know that I¡ª¡± Jiang Wei¡¯er interrupted, ¡°I know.¡± Chapter 201 - 201 201 Jiang Zhi plays tricks to catch the criminal ?Chapter 201: 201: Jiang Zhi plays tricks to catch the criminal, strikes out in the cold to chase his wife. Chapter 201: 201: Jiang Zhi plays tricks to catch the criminal, strikes out in the cold to chase his wife. Jiang Wei¡¯er interrupted, ¡°I know.¡± She wasn¡¯t stupid. But he wasn¡¯t just anyone, they had been childhood friends for so many years, and once this layer of paper was pierced, perhaps even their friendship wouldn¡¯t survive. Jiang Wei¡¯er had thought a lot about how to phrase her words, but when they reached her lips, they were still hard to express, and she didn¡¯t dare to look at him, ¡°I¡¯ve always treated you like a little brother.¡± Xue Bingxue stubbornly followed her gaze, ¡°I¡¯m only one day younger than you.¡± No, he corrected precisely, ¡°Half a day.¡± It wasn¡¯t a matter of who was older or younger. Jiang Wei¡¯er looked up at him, ¡°Do you know why I never hit you?¡± She even kicked Qiao Nanchu, but she never hit him. She said, ¡°Because you¡¯re good, I can¡¯t bring myself to do it.¡± He was too well-behaved, like a little prince who had accidentally escaped from an ivory tower, and she, the Little Witch, couldn¡¯t bear to be mean to him. ¡°Because I¡¯m too well-behaved, you don¡¯t see me as a grown man, is that what you¡¯re saying?¡± The expression on his face was one Jiang Wei¡¯er had never seen before, his gaze intense and confronting, ¡°Then you¡¯re wrong, I was just pretending.¡± After speaking, he leaned forward, bit her lips, then backed off a bit, watching her from a very close distance. ¡°Bingxue, you¡ª¡± He moved in again, silencing all her curses. Jiang Wei¡¯er: ¡°¡­¡± Who had corrupted this guy? She pushed him away and kicked him in the shin, both embarrassed and annoyed, ¡°Xue Bingxue, are you asking to be hit?¡± The kick wasn¡¯t light. Xue Bingxue, whether in pain or embarrassment, had a flushed face, but his lips curved into a smile, ¡°In the future, if you want to hit me, just hit me, and if I want to kiss you, I will kiss you.¡± Jiang Wei¡¯er: ¡°¡­¡± Not only had he been corrupted, but he had also learned to be shameless. She wiped her mouth, cursing furiously, ¡°Get lost!¡± He was like a cat that got the cream, full of pleasure and didn¡¯t bother her anymore, ¡°Then I¡¯ll get going.¡± He took a few steps, turned back, and looked at her with a flushed face, ¡°Even though you know it, I still have to say it one more time.¡± He said, ¡°Wei¡¯er, I like you, and have for a long time.¡± Jiang Wei¡¯er impatiently grabbed her short hair and turned to run back into the house. In secret, someone from the Zhou family who was eavesdropping exclaimed, ¡°Mr. Xue is so bold!¡± Jiang Zhi was driving and couldn¡¯t stand her praising someone else, ¡°What¡¯s so bold about him?¡± ¡°He¡¯s liked Wei¡¯er for a long time.¡± Is that considered bold? Jiang Zhi¡¯s competitive spirit was provoked, ¡°I¡¯ve also liked you for a long time.¡± And he emphasized, ¡°I¡¯ve liked you twice.¡± After listening, Zhou Xufang revealed an expression of sudden realization, and then with an annoyed toss of her head, she retorted, ¡°You big hoof.¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± Who taught her that word? He pinched her chin, turning her face towards him, ¡°What¡¯s wrong with me?¡± She shook off his hand, pouting angrily, ¡°You¡¯ve been unfaithful, you don¡¯t like Luo San anymore, you like me now!¡± He laughed, ¡°Aren¡¯t you all the same person?¡± She was taking advantage of loopholes, cornering herself into a dead end, ¡°You didn¡¯t know I was Luo San when you liked me.¡± She huffed, ¡°You big hoof!¡± He still laughed, ¡°What jealousy are you eating with yourself?¡± Just jealous, not talking to him. Zhou Xufang used to be a very reasonable person; she didn¡¯t like making a mountain out of a molehill or being unreasonably troublesome. It was Jiang Zhi, he taught her to laugh, to make a fuss. There¡¯s a saying, those who are favored are often more spoiled, because someone indulges them. A little fuss, there¡¯s always someone to coax. ¡°Fang Bao, you can¡¯t take advantage like this.¡± She didn¡¯t turn her head, so he watched her reflection in the car window, ¡°It¡¯s because you and Luo San are the same person that I¡¯ve fallen for you twice.¡± Without Luo San, there would be no Zhou Xufang, no stirring of emotions. He reached out and poked the reflection of the girl¡¯s face on the glass. ¡°Do you believe it or not? If you change your looks, or even your gender, I¡¯d still fall into your hands.¡± The person reflected in the window smiled. She turned her face, her phoenix eyes curling into two crescent moons. ¡°You like me that much?¡± Jiang Zhi said, ¡°Yes.¡± She hugged him tightly, filled with joy. Fool. She was still the same easy-to-please, easily coaxed little fool as before. At nine-thirty, Jiang Chuan sent the guests out of the Jiang Mansion. Xu Pozhi¡¯s car was parked outside the courtyard, and his mobile phone in his pocket had been vibrating for quite a while. He waited until he got into the car before answering the call. ¡°Mr. Xu, Luo Qinghe has already started looking into it.¡± Xu Pozhi, with only one working eye and rarely driving himself, listened as the silent driver in the front seat kept to himself. Xu¡¯s voice filled the car, ¡°Point her in the right direction.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± Xu Pozhi hung up the call, gave an address, and then the car changed direction and drove away from the Jiang Family home. 1998. That was the name of the bar where the nightlife was just beginning. The lights were dazzling, the DJ¡¯s music thundering, and the dance floor alive with the gyrating moves of the sultry night queens. The crowd was in the midst of revelry, either partying or hunting for love. Luo Qinghe swirled the drink in her glass, sitting alone at the bar, and lit a cigarette. ¡°All by yourself?¡± A man¡¯s hand had already landed on her shoulder. She glanced at that hand. ¡°Take it off.¡± After blowing a ring of smoke, she lifted her head, lips red and eyes seductive, ¡°The hand.¡± She had seen plenty of men spreading their nets in such lively places, and this one was of the lower sort. The man withdrew his hand, changing his posture and leaning on the bar with his elbow propped up. ¡°It¡¯s boring to be alone. Let me treat you.¡± As he spoke, he sat down next to her, ordered a drink, and rested his hands on the bar, revealing the watch on his wrist. The watch¡¯s hands were studded with diamonds, and when the laser lights from the dance floor hit them, they sparkled. Luo Qinghe eyed the watch. ¡°How much is that thing on your hand worth?¡± The man fiddled with his watchstrap. ¡°Not much, just a few million.¡± She laughed. ¡°What¡¯s so funny?¡± Laughing at his foolishness, she said, ¡°It¡¯s fake.¡± Irritated at being exposed, the man became angry. ¡°You know what?¡± Luo Qinghe took a drag of her cigarette, the changing lights above her head flickering bright and dark, the red and green lights shimmering in her eyes. In a lazy tone, she said, ¡°I know a bit more than you do.¡± Her gaze swept over again and she laughed, ¡°And it¡¯s a low-quality fake, too. Really devalues you.¡± His pride wounded, the man grew furious, slamming his glass down. ¡°Disgusting woman!¡± He cursed as he stormed off. Luo Qinghe snickered. Ah, men. At that moment, a watch was placed on the bar. ¡°What about this one, high imitation or low?¡± Luo Qinghe followed the hand back to its owner. The dazzling lights made her vision hazy. ¡°You look familiar. Which family are you from in Imperial City?¡± The man before her, dressed in a suit and looking the part. He sat down, ordered the strongest Champagne. ¡°The Xu Family.¡± The Xu Family, in his thirties, a problem with his eyes, that could only be one person. ¡°Xu the Fifth?¡± She had never met him, yet he seemed so familiar. Xu Pozhi extended his hand. ¡°Pleased to meet you, Miss Luo.¡± Luo Qinghe didn¡¯t reach out, simply eyeing him composedly. ¡°You know me?¡± ¡°I do.¡± Xu Pozhi withdrew his hand, his immobile left eye aimed in her direction as he picked up the watch and put it on, ¡°I¡¯ve been keeping an eye on you for a long time.¡± That eye was truly unsightly. Speaking of eyes, Jiang Zhi¡¯s were far more attractive. Luo Qinghe threw her cigarette butt into the wine glass, and wisps of smoke rose before quickly dissipating. She swirled the glass and set it down, ¡°Why are you paying attention to me?¡± ¡°An adult male paying attention to an adult female,¡± his tone was thick with teasing, ¡°does there need to be a reason?¡± She¡¯s quite bold. Luo Qinghe laughed, ¡°Interested in me?¡± Xu Pozhi smiled without saying a word. Luo Qinghe sniggered, not concealing her contempt, ¡°I¡¯m not interested.¡± She stood up and walked away. Xu Pozhi sat there, watching her from the side. From that angle, the white of his left eye was visible and, in the fluctuating light, it was chilling to the core. Still as arrogant and haughty as ever. ¡°Who are you?¡± The girl who suddenly stepped into the greenhouse held her hands, her gaze proud. Nineteen-year-old Luo Qinghe, who grew up graceful, was wearing an expensive and generous dress. The young boy by the trellis only glanced at her before he ducked his head, moving backward timidly. The girl had a strong presence, ¡°Who let you come here?¡± He didn¡¯t dare to look up, subconsciously tugging at the washed-out yellow T-shirt, ¡°I, I, I¡­¡± He stuttered for a long time but couldn¡¯t finish a complete sentence. ¡°Do you have a stutter?¡± He stuttered, ¡°No, no.¡± She was getting impatient, ¡°Then who are you?¡± The Jiang family¡¯s gardener walked in at that moment, ¡°Miss, he¡¯s my new apprentice.¡± The gardener¡¯s name was Peng, and everyone called him Master Peng. Master Peng had taken on a new apprentice named Ah Bin. The girl sized up the new apprentice, ¡°Looks a bit slow.¡± Master Peng agreed quickly. ¡°That pot of orchids is my mother¡¯s favorite,¡± she instructed the boy who didn¡¯t dare raise his head, ¡°you better take good care of it.¡± He nodded and immediately ducked his head down again. After the girl left, he looked up, stretching his neck to see outside the door. ¡°What are you looking at?¡± Master Peng said, ¡°That¡¯s Miss Luo from the Luo family; you have to keep to your manners when you see her.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± She¡¯s the Miss, no wonder she¡¯s so dazzling. Western Prison. Seven o¡¯clock was the time for the prisoners to shower, ten minutes per wave, in order. Peng Xianzhi was in the last wave, he hadn¡¯t finished showering when his cellmates had already cleaned up and left. As he turned the water off, he heard footsteps. It was five or six men with tattoos on their backs, bare-chested, walking over, the one in the lead with a finger-length scar on his chest, their boss, ¡°Peng Xianzhi, right?¡± Peng Xianzhi quickly put on his clothes, warily watching them, ¡°Who are you?¡± The boss signaled with his eyes, and four or five men surrounded him. Peng Xianzhi¡¯s face went pale with shock, hastily backing away, and scanned around but saw no one, ¡°What do you want to do?¡± The man with the scar raised an eyebrow, nonchalant, ¡°Don¡¯t you know what we want to do?¡± They pressed closer and closer. Peng Xianzhi was backed into a corner, bluffing as he shouted, ¡°Who sent you?¡± The scarred man pulled a smirk, ¡°It depends on who you¡¯ve offended.¡± He wrapped a towel around his fist a couple of times, ¡°Boys, make it quick and clean.¡± Peng Xianzhi immediately yelled, ¡°Instructor Liu!¡± ¡°Instructor Liu!¡± ¡°Liu¡ª¡± He was punched in the stomach and collapsed to the ground in agony. The men didn¡¯t plan to stop, they dragged him up, pushed him against the wall, and the others came over swinging their fists. Just then, a whistle blew. Instructor Liu, responsible for the cell of Master Peng, came in and barked, ¡°What¡¯s going on here?¡± He drew out his baton, ¡°Put your hands on your heads.¡± He stepped forward and kicked one of the men, ¡°Everyone stand to the side!¡± The few small-time thugs glanced at the man with scars before they crouched down with their hands over their heads. Master Peng¡¯s legs gave out, and he sat on the ground, as if his soul had left his body, mumbling incessantly, ¡°Someone wants to kill me, someone wants to kill me¡­put me in a single cell, someone wants to kill me!¡± This wasn¡¯t the first time. Yesterday at the woodshop, there had been a similar situation. The next day at nine in the morning, in the Luo Family study. ¡°Didn¡¯t I tell you to deal with it quietly?¡± Luo Huaiyu roared into the phone, ¡°Who told you to alert the enemy?¡± The person on the other end was his informant in the Western Prison. ¡°It wasn¡¯t me.¡± He explained over the phone, ¡°My people haven¡¯t laid a finger on him yet.¡± Luo Huaiyu demanded, ¡°Then who was it?¡± The person hesitated quite a bit before responding, ¡°Haven¡¯t found out yet.¡± ¡°Useless trash!¡± Luo Huaiyu hung up the phone, still seething with rage. Chen Li, standing by his side, remained silent, sneakily slipping his hand into his pocket and imperceptibly turned off the phone that was still connected. ¡°Doot doot doot doot doot doot¡­¡± Zhou Xufang also set down the phone she had on speaker. Jiang Zhi was sitting by her side and had heard what Luo Huaiyu said. She asked him, ¡°Was it Luo Qinghe who did it?¡± Luo Qinghe would probably very much want to silence someone forever. ¡°It wasn¡¯t her.¡± Jiang Zhi said, ¡°Luo Qinghe wouldn¡¯t dare touch Master Peng, she¡¯s afraid of being bitten back, and besides, her reach isn¡¯t that long, she can¡¯t extend it to Western Prison.¡± It couldn¡¯t have been Luo Changde either. Luo Changde should have been trying to win Master Peng over. Zhou Xufang couldn¡¯t guess, ¡°Then who was it?¡± Jiang Zhi replied, ¡°Me.¡± Zhou Xufang, ¡°?!¡± She jumped in fright, her tone becoming very serious as she earnestly said, ¡°Jiang Zhi, don¡¯t do anything illegal.¡± Even though Master Peng was a murderer, Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t want Jiang Zhi to go down a crooked path. If he got caught and sent to prison, she wouldn¡¯t be able to resist breaking him out¡­ Jiang Zhi patted her head, which was still full of wild thoughts, ¡°It¡¯s not about really doing anything to him.¡± He explained patiently, ¡°Peng Zhongming is already dead, Master Peng will think of self-preservation first, not revenge. If we don¡¯t scare him a bit, he won¡¯t cooperate.¡± Oh, it was just a scare. Zhou Xufang breathed a sigh of relief. The phone on the couch beside Jiang Zhi vibrated, with the caller ID showing just one word¡ªLiu. It was Instructor Liu from Western Prison: ¡°Mr. Jiang, Master Peng wishes to see you.¡± Jiang Zhi hummed in acknowledgment. Still, a scare was necessary. Look, now he¡¯s ready to talk. That afternoon at two, Western Prison. Master Peng, handcuffed, entered the visitation room; his face was haggard, his eyes swollen. Jiang Zhi tapped his fingers on the phone in front of him. Master Peng sat down and glanced at Jiang Zhi through a pane of glass, then put the phone to his ear, his voice coming through lazily, ¡°Have you thought it through?¡± Master Peng asked him first, ¡°Can you ensure my life will be safe?¡± His son was dead, and with that, he had become an enemy of the Luo Family. They were ready to throw him to the wolves, and even here in this prison, he couldn¡¯t sleep peacefully. Jiang Zhi had been waiting, waiting for him to crack. S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°If even I can¡¯t protect you, then no one in Imperial City can save you.¡± His voice conveyed certainty, as if he had everything under control. Master Peng pondered for a long time, then relented, ¡°What do you want me to do?¡± Jiang Zhi pulled his leg back in and sat up straight: ¡°Three things.¡± ¡°Speak.¡± He asked, ¡°Besides Luo Qinghe, who else is the killer?¡± Chapter 202 - 202 202 Luo Family father and daughter set a trap ?Chapter 202: 202: Luo Family father and daughter set a trap, cleaning up the mess Chapter 202: 202: Luo Family father and daughter set a trap, cleaning up the mess He asked, ¡°Besides Luo Qinghe, who else was a murderer?¡± Peng Xianzhi did not answer immediately, he hesitated and then said, ¡°She directed me. She¡¯s the only one I know about.¡± Additionally, he paused for a moment before adding, ¡°Luo Huaiyu knew about it. Before I agreed to Luo Qinghe¡¯s request, I had consulted with him.¡± Indeed, Luo Huaiyu could not escape involvement. Jiang Zhi asked, ¡°What did he say?¡± Peng Xianzhi shook his head. ¡°He said nothing. He was just an observer.¡± An observer? Jiang Zhi tapped his fingers on the table, rhythmically making a sound. ¡°It¡¯s a scheme to use others to do one¡¯s dirty work,¡± he speculated. ¡°The second matter,¡± Jiang Zhi continued in an unhurried tone, ¡°Record a statement, and when the court convenes, you will testify as a witness.¡± Peng Xianzhi hesitated. Jiang Zhi was in no hurry and said leisurely, ¡°Believe it or not? If you don¡¯t agree, you won¡¯t live to see the court date.¡± If he didn¡¯t agree, it wouldn¡¯t just be the Luo Family that wouldn¡¯t let him go, but also the inscrutable young master of the Jiang Family. Peng Xianzhi said, ¡°I¡¯ll do it.¡± He might be making a deal with a tiger. And Jiang Zhi was that tiger. There was a third matter, he said, ¡°Go meet Luo Changde. Whatever he says, do it.¡± His tone was composed but it carried a command. Peng Xianzhi did not understand. ¡°What do you mean?¡± He wasn¡¯t siding with the Luo Family. Jiang Zhi did not explain, ¡°You don¡¯t need to know this, you just need to obey.¡± Their ten-minute meeting time was up. Jiang Zhi got up and left the meeting room. In the corridor outside, two people approached him, a prison guard and a handcuffed prisoner. The guard nodded at Jiang Zhi and then stepped aside to light a cigarette. The handcuffed prisoner, tall and sturdy, looked around before walking up to Jiang Zhi and respectfully calling out, ¡°Mr. Jiang.¡± This man was the scarred thug who had punched Peng Xianzhi in the stomach the day before¡ªa gang leader with plentiful underlings and significant status in Western Prison. Why should a top dog listen to Jiang Zhi? If he didn¡¯t, Jiang Zhi would make sure he wouldn¡¯t survive long¡ªit was a big fish eating a small fish! ¡°Spread the word, no one touches Peng Xianzhi.¡± The gang leader responded, ¡°Understood.¡± That same afternoon at four o¡¯clock, Luo Changde made a trip to Western Prison. Right on his heels, Luo Qinghe received the news. S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Younger Luo,¡± Shen Yue stepped forward and said, ¡°Mr. Luo has gone to Western Prison.¡± Luo Qinghe, who had been reviewing documents, stopped and looked up, a wave of emotions in her eyes. ¡°Peng Xianzhi agreed to see him?¡± She had tried several times but had always been refused. Shen Yue nodded. Immediately, Luo Qinghe got up and quickly exited the office. After she had left, Shen Yue made a phone call, ¡°Mr. Jiang.¡± Winter days were short and nights long. At just past five o¡¯clock, the sun had already set. At Jiang Zhi¡¯s place, a new hanging swing chair had arrived that day, which Zhou Xufang had ordered online. She had given it a five-star review and posted pictures; she particularly liked it and had also placed a pink blanket and pink pillows in it. ¡°They are father and daughter after all. Will they really destroy each other?¡± Zhou Xufang swung in the hanging chair. The chair was too small to fit two people. Standing beside it, Jiang Zhi felt it wasn¡¯t sturdy enough and worried about her falling, so he kept a steadying hand on it. ¡°If there¡¯s no conflict of interest, Luo Changde might consider his paternal bond, but if Luo Qinghe poses a threat, it¡¯s a different matter entirely,¡± Jiang Zhi asked Zhou Xufang, ¡°What would you do if you were Luo Qinghe right now?¡± Zhou Xufang, holding a pink rabbit pillow, thought for a while, ¡°Surrender.¡± Currently in a weak position, Luo Qinghe could not afford a direct confrontation; surrender was the only option. ¡°To protect oneself and to secure a lasting peace, just surrendering isn¡¯t enough,¡± Jiang Zhi said. ¡°She needs to buy time to gather strength and acquire more bargaining chips.¡± Luo Qinghe wasn¡¯t one to just allow herself to be captured. Knowing Luo Changde felt guilty, she would definitely fight back. Zhou Xufang kicked her legs while swinging lazily in the chair, thought for a moment, and then asked Jiang Zhi, ¡°Would she use a ploy to feign injury?¡± Jiang Zhi said, ¡°She would.¡± Ding. Zhou Xufang opened a can of milk. ¡°Then what do we do?¡± She had stocked the chair with a lot of milk and cotton candy. Because of the snacks, Jiang Zhi couldn¡¯t fit in. But still, she kept them there¡­ he would just have to crouch. Just as she was about to drink her milk, Jiang Zhi took the can away from her, ¡°You can¡¯t drink any more. You¡¯ve had too much today.¡± Drinking too much meant she hardly ate her meals. ¡°Oh.¡± She would sneak some more later. Jiang Zhi drank her milk and then answered her earlier question, ¡°If she uses feigned injury, we use ¡®divide and conquer.''¡± He had thought through every possible outcome and come up with strategies for each, manipulating these people and letting them fight among themselves, all with ease. Zhou Xufang stopped talking and just watched him, intently gazing. Jiang Zhi, feeling tempted to misbehave under her gaze, licked his lips. Suddenly finding the taste of milk too bland, he rather felt like kissing her, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°Who taught you?¡± she asked. ¡°Hmm?¡± He didn¡¯t understand. ¡°You¡¯re very scheming,¡± Zhou Xufang initially wanted to say he was very deceitful, but she didn¡¯t want to upset Jiang Zhi. Jiang Zhi finished the milk in the can, tossed it into the trash can with perfect aim, and declared, ¡°Old Madam taught me.¡± His parents had died early, and he had been raised from a young age by Old Lady Jiang. ¡°When I was seven or eight, she took me under her wing,¡± he said. ¡°Jiang Xiaolin and the others all had tutors, but I didn¡¯t. She taught me herself, teaching all sorts of things about getting away with murder.¡± He had indeed surpassed his teacher in craftiness. Being taught plots and schemes at the age of seven or eight¡ªZhou Xufang couldn¡¯t fathom it, ¡°Why did she teach you these things?¡± ¡°Old Madam said: to protect myself.¡± But a child of only seven or eight, still learning to write, already learning to protect himself seemed too early, too rushed. Why? Wasn¡¯t he her most beloved grandson? ¡°If it were me, as long as I had the power to protect you, I wouldn¡¯t let you resort to such tactics so early,¡± she would have carefully hidden and protected him, at least letting him have a carefree childhood. ¡°Getting away with murder, could it be¡­] she looked at Jiang Zhi, ¡°that she also wanted to use you?¡± If that was the case¡­ Jiang Zhi was at a loss for words, unable to respond. ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± ¡°Mm.¡± Zhou Xufang stretched out her hand. Jiang Zhi walked over, took her hand, and knelt in front of her. She placed her other hand on his head, touching his soft hair, ¡°Maybe your grandmother doesn¡¯t truly love you.¡± Maybe she¡¯s sharpening her knives. Jiang Zhi looked up, pressing his face into the palm of her hand, gently rubbing against it, ¡°I¡¯m not sure.¡± he said, ¡°I only know you do.¡± She nodded vigorously, ¡°Yes, I do.¡± Old Lady Jiang¡¯s world contained too much, so there were losses and gains. Zhou Xufang was different, she had only Jiang Zhi, she wouldn¡¯t give him up, because to give him up would be to give up everything. Jiang Zhi hooked his arm around her neck, pulled her closer, and kissed her¡ªmm, a taste of milk. Western Prison. When Luo Changde came out, it was already dark outside, and he had just reached the entrance road when a car parked by the roadside turned on its headlights. ¡°Dad.¡± Luo Qinghe got out of the car, ¡°I¡¯ve been waiting for you for a while.¡± Luo Changde was momentarily surprised, ¡°You really have a way of finding things out.¡± She neither confirmed nor denied, cutting straight to the chase, ¡°Did Peng Xianzhi confess everything to you?¡± Without waiting for Luo Changde to speak, she guessed, ¡°He probably did.¡± Luo Changde neither admitted nor denied. ¡°Do you also have a recording? Are you going to send me in next?¡± Her tone was unusually calm, she neither pleaded nor negotiated. Luo Changde retorted sarcastically, ¡°Aren¡¯t you also investigating me?¡± ¡°Do you think if I found something, I would really send you in?¡± she smiled, ¡°You have a bunch of daughters outside, you don¡¯t lack this one, but I don¡¯t have a bunch of fathers outside.¡± Luo Changde remained indifferent and stopped her, ¡°Don¡¯t try to appeal to family emotions with me, just stop investigating that issue and I will too.¡± He said and walked away. Luo Qinghe still stood there, took out a lighter, and lit a cigarette. The phone rang, she answered, and the voice on the other end asked, ¡°Younger Luo, should we stop?¡± She exhaled a ring of smoke and said, ¡°Continue.¡± About half an hour later, Luo Changde¡¯s car had entered the highway. The road leading to Western Prison wasn¡¯t busy, and it was even quieter at night. Aside from Luo Changde¡¯s car, there was only a van in the opposite lane. Suddenly, the van changed lanes. Luo Changde¡¯s pupils sent shockwaves through his body, and he slammed on the brakes. Screech¡ª The car slid several meters, almost hitting the guardrail; Luo Changde¡¯s forehead banged against the steering wheel, instantly erupting in anger, he yelled outside, ¡°How the hell are you driving!¡± The back doors of the van opened, and four men got out, all tall and muscular, wearing masks and hats; one of them shouted, ¡®Brother Jin,¡¯ then the driver¡¯s door opened and another two men got out. Brother Jin was their leader, the shortest amongst them, also wearing a mask and a hat, his face unclear, dressed mismatchedly in jeans and leather shoes, apparently quite young. Luo Changde felt uneasy, sensing something was wrong, ¡°Who are you?¡± Brother Jin chuckled, stepped on the back seat of the van, half his body diving in, and came out with an iron rod, which he carried on his shoulder, chewing gum in his mouth. He said, ¡°Poor people.¡± He weighed the iron rod in his hand, walked over, and tapped Luo Changde¡¯s car window; his voice sounded young and rowdy, ¡°Mr. Luo, spare some money for us to spend.¡± Luo Changde¡¯s heart skipped a beat, ¡°What are you doing?!¡± These people were obviously prepared! Brother Jin spat out the chewing gum, put his hand behind his back, wiped off some sweat, switched hands, then gripped the rod with both hands. ¡°You¡ª¡± ¡°Clang!¡± The rod swung down, shattering the car window into pieces. At nine o¡¯clock that evening, Luo Qinghe received a strange phone call. ¡°Hello.¡± The person on the other end asked, ¡°Are you Luo Qinghe?¡± A man, probably young. ¡°That¡¯s me.¡± Luo Qinghe asked, ¡°Who are you?¡± The man spoke roughly, ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter who I am, more important is who your father is.¡± He asked, ¡°Is Luo Changde your father?¡± Luo Qinghe hummed in acknowledgment, waiting for what would come next. Before anything more was said, a scream came from the phone, then the man asked, ¡°Did you hear that?¡± It was Luo Changde¡¯s voice. Luo Qinghe checked the number and location, then started recording, ¡°Kidnapping for ransom?¡± The ¡®kidnapper¡¯ chuckled, ¡°Talking to smart people really saves energy.¡± Luo Qinghe listened, still calm, ¡°Let me talk to my dad.¡± The ¡®kidnapper¡¯ warned against any tricks before switching to Luo Changde. ¡°Qinghe.¡± Luo Qinghe asked, ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Luo Changde was frantic, speaking rapidly, ¡°They want money, just give it to them.¡± Just money? Could it be that simple? Luo Qinghe asked again, ¡°Are you alright?¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine now, don¡¯t call the police, whatever they ask, just pay them.¡± He spoke quickly, urgently instructing, ¡°You must come and redeem¡ª¡± The phone changed hands. The kidnapper was back, ¡°All set?¡± It was precisely this timing that unnerved her. ¡°Name your price.¡± Luo Qinghe said. ¡°What¡¯s the rush, I have to give you time to prepare,¡± the man hardened his tone, ¡°Wait for my call, and remember, don¡¯t call the cops, or you¡¯ll be waiting to collect your father¡¯s corpse.¡± He hung up after that. The van was still parked by the roadside; he turned off his phone, threw it into the river, and instructed his brothers, ¡°Tie him up, and gag him.¡± ¡°Right, Brother Jin.¡± The ¡®kidnapper¡¯ was called Da Jin, his subordinates all called him Brother Jin, and although he was the youngest by age, in the underworld, the toughest was the boss. Da Jin switched to a different phone and dialed, ¡°Sister Xiang.¡± Chapter 203 - 203 203 First fleece the Luo Family of a hundred ?Chapter 203: 203: First fleece the Luo Family of a hundred million! (One more chapter) Chapter 203: 203: First fleece the Luo Family of a hundred million! (One more chapter) Da Jin switched to a new phone and dialled a call, ¡°Sister Xiang.¡± Who else would want to kill the Luo Family but Tang Xiang? ¡°How¡¯s it going, smooth?¡± Da Jin, speaking with a Beijing accent, sounded very hearty, ¡°When Da Jin takes action, it must go smoothly.¡± He then asked, ¡°Sister Xiang, how much do you think is appropriate for the ransom?¡± He thought, well, the Luo Family is wealthy, so they could ask for quite a bit, maybe somewhere in the seven figures like three to five million. ¡°Their father-daughter affection is deep; of course, we should ask for more.¡± Great minds think alike, Da Jin got a bit excited, ¡°How much more?¡± Maybe five million? Or even seven million? Ah, he was getting carried away! Tang Xiang spoke lightly, as if discussing something trivial, ¡°Let¡¯s start by asking for a hundred million.¡± She sounded as if she was saying, ¡°Let¡¯s just take a kilo of radishes.¡± Da Jin stood dumbfounded, ¡°¡­¡± A hundred million?! Damn! The world of the rich was beyond his comprehension! Da Jin felt a little dizzy, his head heavy and feet light; it was as if he was being knocked senseless by the sheer amount of money, ¡°For a hundred million, we¡¯d need to use a car to transport it.¡± It would definitely take several cars! Oh, what a beautiful picture. Da Jin stopped his wonderful imagination, ¡°Wouldn¡¯t using cars be too blatant?¡± Maybe use woven sacks instead? Here¡¯s the story. Five years ago, Da Jin was a security guard for the Luo Group. When the company downsized, the employees caused a stir, which even led to an attempted murder case. Da Jin was made a scapegoat by the Luo Family and sentenced to six years. With good behavior in prison, he was released after four years. Back then, he was an orphan with no backing, and his first-trial lawyer was incompetent, sentencing him to thirteen years. The second-trial lawyer arranged by Tang Xiang managed to get it down to six years. He had been earnestly ¡®repenting¡¯ in prison, and now he was seriously ¡®committing a crime¡¯; in any case, he had his own code of justice, ¡°Fairness is in the heart of the people.¡± He hadn¡¯t been a gang leader for long and hadn¡¯t seen much of the world, and he had never seen a hundred million before. But Tang Xiang was different. No matter what, she was a ¡®boss¡¯, and Mr. Tang said, ¡°The Luo Family¡¯s jewelry company bought a batch of diamond roughs last month. Let¡¯s demand that.¡± That batch of diamonds could be worth that much. Diamonds are good¡ªeasy to carry! Da Jin readily agreed, ¡°Alright, we¡¯ll take the diamonds.¡± On the other end, Tang Xiang hung up and dialed another number. After four or five rings, someone picked up. Rarely, the person who usually slept at eight or nine in the evening had answered the call. Tang Xiang made a courteous remark, ¡°I hope I didn¡¯t disturb your sleep?¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡°You did.¡± Tang Xiang: ¡°¡­¡± Not very polite, is she? She cut to the chase, ¡°Will Luo Qinghe allow the kidnappers to murder the hostage?¡± Killing the hostage would end things once and for all, and rescuing the victim could also earn some goodwill, but what Luo Qinghe would do was hard to guess. Still half asleep, Zhou Xufang replied snappily, ¡°How would I know?¡± Wasn¡¯t it you who wanted to test how deep the father-daughter bond was? ¡°If she really comes with diamonds to show off their father-daughter affection, what should we do?¡± It¡¯s not like we can really play along with Luo Qinghe¡¯s act. Jiang Zhi¡¯s answer was straightforward and harsh, ¡°Then we make it so she can¡¯t continue the performance.¡± Go on. It must be done. ¡°We¡¯ll be in touch.¡± Tang Xiang hung up. Just then, Zhou Xufang woke up in bed, reached out, and found nobody beside her. She rubbed her eyes and got up, didn¡¯t turn on the light, and mumbled sleepily, ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± No one answered her. She got out of bed, yawned, slipped on her slippers, and walked out with heavy drowsiness, unable to walk a straight line, still muttering, ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± The bedroom door opened, and the bright light from outside spilled in. Jiang Zhi, dressed in pajamas with sleep-tousled hair, asked, ¡°Did I wake you?¡± Zhou Xufang walked over, hung her hands around his neck, and laid her face on his shoulder, ready to continue sleeping, her eyes too tired to open, ¡°Who was looking for you?¡± She yawned repeatedly, her voice had a sleepy, childlike quality. Jiang Zhi steadied her swaying body, ¡°Tang Xiang.¡± She tip-toed, snuggling into his embrace, half-asleep and speaking softly, ¡°Is it about Luo Qinghe?¡± ¡°Yep.¡± Her pajama top was a bit short, so as she leaned against his shoulder, the hem lifted, revealing a slender waist. Jiang Zhi¡¯s gaze shifted subtly, he bent down to pull her clothes right. This girl really thought of him as a paragon of virtue. He backed away a little awkwardly. Zhou Xufang stopped talking and just held onto him, unwilling to move, almost asleep. Her breathing became steadier and steadier. Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± He was burning up, yet she could still sleep. He gently patted her head, the motion very light, ¡°Fang Bao.¡± She nuzzled her face into his shoulder but did not respond ¡°Let¡¯s go back to the room to sleep.¡± She mumbled drowsily, ¡°I¡¯m not going, my legs are tired.¡± Getting cheeky now. Jiang Zhi used his chin to brush against her face, ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll carry you.¡± The next day, first light broke through the clouds, and it was clear and sunny. At noon, the executive assistant Shen Yue signed for a package with no sender¡¯s name, delivered by a courier who said it was for Luo Qing and that she should open it personally. Shen Yue knocked on the door. After two knocks, a voice from inside said, ¡°Come in.¡± He pushed the door open, ¡°Younger Luo, your package.¡± Luo Qinghe was having lunch; she put down her chopsticks, ¡°Hand it to me.¡± Shen Yue passed the package to her. She opened it, and inside was only an old-model cellphone that started ringing as soon as it was powered on. ¡°How¡¯s the steak?¡± Luo Qinghe didn¡¯t go down for lunch, and one of her subordinates had packed a meal and sent it up to her, including sirloin steak. She looked around, assessing every corner of the office before standing up and walking over to the floor-to-ceiling windows, gazing at the tall building across from her, ¡°Are you surveilling me?¡± The ¡®kidnapper¡¯ admitted in a hoodlum-like tone, ¡°Aren¡¯t I just afraid you¡¯d call the police?¡± Had they planted someone inside? Or installed miniature cameras? They were well-prepared and not simple at all. Luo Qinghe¡¯s voice rose in pitch, mixed with a bit of annoyance and intimidation, ¡°I won¡¯t call the police, but don¡¯t you all go too far.¡± The other party chuckled, speaking with a northern accent, though deliberately suppressing his voice, ¡°How could it be too far, just asking for a hundred million, that¡¯s all.¡± As if they were asking for a pound of radishes. With that intonation. ¡°A hundred million?¡± Luo Qinghe laughed, a laugh tinged with anger, ¡°You sure dare to ask.¡± ¡°Too much, huh,¡± the person continued in the same careless tone, like a reckless ruffian, ¡°Or do you want me to tear up the ticket? You won¡¯t have to spend a cent.¡± ¡°Enough with the threats.¡± Okay, no threats, ¡°Just tell me if you¡¯re going to give it or not.¡± Luo Qinghe pondered for a moment, ¡°I don¡¯t have that much liquid cash on hand.¡± ¡°Who said I wanted cash, your Luo Family sells jewelry, right? There must be plenty of diamonds,¡± he spoke with a semblance of dissatisfaction as if settling for less, ¡°I want the roughs.¡± The Luo Family recently acquired a batch of diamond roughs valued at over a hundred million. This news hadn¡¯t been made public yet. Luo Qinghe sensed something was off, ¡°How do you know our Luo Family has a batch of roughs?¡± Definitely a fox. So crafty! Fortunately, people like him, who played the big brother role, were always calm, ¡°Those of us in the game, what news can¡¯t we get.¡± Not beating around the bush with her, he laid it down straightforwardly, ¡°Stop trying to buy time with me. Have the goods ready by eight tonight, and we¡¯ll exchange the person for the goods.¡± Luo Qinghe asked, ¡°The location.¡± ¡°Wait for it.¡± And then the phone was hung up. Two minutes and forty-five seconds passed in the call, Luo Qinghe turned and ordered, ¡°Fetch the roughs.¡± Shen Yue hesitated for a moment before asking, ¡°Are you going to pay the ransom for Mr. Luo?¡± Luo Qinghe leaned back into her executive chair, ¡°Any issues with that?¡± ¡°With Peng Xianzhi defecting to Mr. Luo, this is very unfavorable for you. Why don¡¯t you just¡­¡± He didn¡¯t finish, but made a throat-slitting gesture. Why not use the situation to have the kidnappers take him out? Luo Qinghe, looking up, scrutinized him, ¡°Are you telling me how to do things?¡± To instigate murder by proxy? Who knows if it¡¯s not stirring up trouble. Shen Yue bowed his head, saying, ¡°I¡¯ve spoken out of turn.¡± Luo Qinghe didn¡¯t say much, just, ¡°Get out.¡± Shen Yue left. Luo Qinghe sat in the executive chair for a while before getting up and entering the restroom, turned on the tap, and threw her own cellphone into the sink. Only when the water submerged the phone did she turn off the tap and leave. ¡°Vicky.¡± The Vicky from the general management office rose from her seat, ¡°Younger Luo, do you need something?¡± Luo Qinghe asked with a smile, ¡°Can I borrow your phone? Mine fell into the water.¡± ¡°Of course, you can.¡± Vicky hurriedly handed over her own phone. Luo Qinghe thanked her and took the phone to the ladies¡¯ restroom on the lower floor, where she made a call, ¡°Do something for me.¡± There were a few questions from the other end. S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. She replied, ¡°Keep an eye on Shen Yue for me.¡± Two floors down was the trade headquarters. Knock, knock, knock. After three knocks, a voice from inside said, ¡°Please come in.¡± ¡°Mr. Tang.¡± The person who entered was the director of international jewelry trade, Qi Lu. Tang Xiang looked up, ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°Younger Luo had someone fetch a batch of diamond roughs from the processing plant,¡± Qi Lu inquired, ¡°Should I notify Chairman Luo?¡± She was personally promoted by Tang Xiang and, naturally, followed Tang Xiang¡¯s orders. ¡°No need, let her fetch them,¡± she said. Not even asking which batch of roughs? Thinking it strange, Qi Lu did not say more, ¡°Okay then, I¡¯ll be going.¡± After the office door closed, Tang Xiang made a phone call. ¡°Sister Xiang.¡± Tang Xiang hummed a response, ¡°Find someone who can appraise diamonds.¡± ¡°Now? Where would I find them?¡± Da Jin pondered. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t we look for a professional?¡± Tang Xiang said no need, ¡°A half-expert will do.¡± A half-expert? That¡¯s a hundred million we¡¯re talking about! ¡°What if she tries to fool us with fakes¡ª¡± He hadn¡¯t finished speaking when Tang Xiang interjected, ¡°That would be even better.¡± Chapter 204 - 204 204 DNA results are out revealing Xu Fangs ?Chapter 204: 204: DNA results are out, revealing Xu Fang¡¯s identity (second update) Chapter 204: 204: DNA results are out, revealing Xu Fang¡¯s identity (second update) He hadn¡¯t finished speaking when Tang Xiang interjected, ¡°Then that¡¯s even better.¡± Da Jin: ¡°?!?¡± He couldn¡¯t make heads or tails of it. After hanging up the phone, Da Jin scratched his head, put on his mask, and went back into the room to give Luo Changde a kick. Luo Changde was tied up and thrown on the floor, with tape over his mouth, so he couldn¡¯t speak, just whimpering. Da Jin crouched down, his eyes menacing as he patted Luo Changde¡¯s face: ¡°Want to know why I kicked you?¡± Luo Changde desperately scooted backward. Da Jin grabbed his leg and dragged him over: ¡°I can¡¯t stand the sight of you Luos, a bunch of animals.¡± He didn¡¯t even feel like eating his boxed lunch; he¡¯d give a beating first. At seven in the evening. Jiang Zhi received a call from the blood identification department of the hospital. ¡°Mr. Jiang, the identification results are out.¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡°Speak.¡± Zhou Xufang sneaked out of the kitchen with some ice cream and saw Jiang Zhi staring off into space on the balcony. She called out, ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± Jiang Zhi was unresponsive. She wiped the ice cream from her mouth, went to the balcony, and patted him on the shoulder from behind: ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± Jiang Zhi turned around: ¡°Hmm?¡± He was distracted. Zhou Xufang stood on tiptoe to look at him: ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± It was getting dark, and the wind was blowing outside. Jiang Zhi closed the balcony windows and led Zhou Xufang to sit on the hanging chair. He squatted in front of her: ¡°The DNA identification results are out.¡± Zhou Xufang guessed something: ¡°Is it a bad result?¡± Jiang Zhi nodded. She frowned ever so slightly: ¡°Is it Luo Changde?¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± She had guessed right. Jiang Zhi clasped her hand tightly: ¡°You, Luo Qinghe, as well as Luo Yinghe, all share the same biological father.¡± So Luo Yinghe was also¡­ Zhou Xufang fiddled with the hem of her garment, looking downward: ¡°I was mentally prepared,¡± she said, feeling quite low, ¡°but it¡¯s still disappointing.¡± She detested the Luo family. And she didn¡¯t like having the Luo family¡¯s blood in her veins. Jiang Zhi stroked her face, soothing her softly: ¡°You can be disappointed in others, just don¡¯t resent yourself.¡± She uttered a sound of agreement but still felt very despondent. Jiang Zhi lifted her chin for her to look up: ¡°Zhou Xufang.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± Jiang Zhi often called her by her full name, either when he was annoyed or when he was being serious. He looked at her, his voice grave: ¡°Remember, you will be taking your husband¡¯s last name in the future. You¡¯re going to be part of the Jiang Family¡¯s household registration and genealogy. You have nothing to do with the Luo Family; you shall take my surname, Jiang.¡± She had been unhappy, but with his words, she forgot her displeasure; a small smile appeared at the corners of her mouth, the clouds in her eyes dispersed, leaving only Jiang Zhi: ¡°So it¡¯s Jiang Zhou?¡± Jiang Zhi nodded: ¡°Yes, the Jiang Zhou of Jiang Zhi¡¯s house.¡± She smiled. Being born into the Luo family was her misfortune, but she bore no grudges. If not for the Luo family, she would not have met Jiang Zhi. She tiptoed and pecked his lips. Just as she was about to pull away, Jiang Zhi caught her: ¡°You¡¯ve been sneaking ice cream again.¡± Zhou Xufang: ¡°¡­¡± Fifth Renmin Hospital, the blood identification department. Of course, in addition to blood, testing could also be performed on hair follicles, mucous membranes, and fingernails, if the equipment was available, but it wasn¡¯t open to the public. Dr. Liu stared at the identification report in his hands for a long time and then got up: ¡°Director Yu, don¡¯t you think there¡¯s something strange about this person¡¯s DNA?¡± The director of the identification department, Director Yu, was in his forties and bald. Dr. Liu passed the identification report to Director Yu for review and raised his concerns: ¡°Her sixth chromosome arrangement is abnormal, and the two neighboring gene loci have both mutated, which theoretically should have a very low probability.¡± The odds of a genetic mutation are inherently low, and the probability of two adjacent gene loci both mutating is almost one in a million. Doctor Liu found it too peculiar, ¡°I even specifically tested additional genetic locites, and found that the mutation probability was bizarrely high.¡± Normally, genetic mutations are very rare, unless there is infection by a genetic disease, or medical stimulation, such as from drugs, radiation, electromagnetic waves, and so on. This twenty-two-year-old female, her genetic mutation sites were far beyond normal. Director Yu locked the appraisal report in the drawer, did not answer Doctor Liu¡¯s questions, but warned him sternly, ¡°Quash your curiosity.¡± Doctor Liu was baffled, ¡°Huh?¡± Director Yu seriously reminded him, ¡°A command from above: destroy all samples immediately, this person¡¯s genetic information must not be leaked.¡± So mysterious? Unable to contain his curiosity, Doctor Liu asked Director Yu, ¡°Who gave this order?¡± ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± Young Master Jiang! Doctor Liu instinctively closed his mouth, not daring to ask any further. Once again, Director Yu reminded him, ¡°Remember, keep your mouth tightly shut.¡± Doctor Liu immediately nodded. Outside the office of the blood identification department, a person stood. sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The head nurse of the department saw the person in the corridor and called out, ¡°Dr. Xiao.¡± It was Dr. Xiao Yi from Changling Hospital. Dr. Xiao, in his early fifties, wore glasses and looked quite young. His countenance was kind and scholarly, dressed in a suit and leather shoes, both gentlemanly and formal, he nodded to the head nurse. The head nurse approached and asked, ¡°Are you here to see our director? Why don¡¯t you go in?¡± Dr. Xiao specialized in biomedical research; his team had a gene medicine project with the Fifth Hospital, and both sides interacted frequently. Dr. Xiao had recently attended a seminar abroad and had just returned to the country a few days ago. ¡°There¡¯s something urgent at the institute, so I won¡¯t go in,¡± he handed over the blood sample in his hand to the head nurse, ¡°Please give this sample to your director.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± After thanking the head nurse, Dr. Xiao left first. As he walked out of the blood identification department, he made a call, ¡°Yun Sheng, come to the institute tonight.¡± Dr. Xiao was unmarried, with one adopted son named Yun Sheng. The hospital corridor lights were all on, still ominous, it was already eight o¡¯clock in the evening. The time for the ransom had been changed, Luo Qinghe received the ¡®kidnapper¡¯s¡¯ notice at eight fifteen¡ªjust one sentence¡ªnine o¡¯clock, Bailu Port. Bailu Port was an area awaiting development, divided by a road. On one side was a construction site under development, and on the other was Zhang River that spanned half of the Imperial City. At this hour, there weren¡¯t many people around. Surveillance¡­ Of course, it had to be disabled! Two vans were parked by the riverside, with their number plates covered, one black and one white, all windows tightly closed. Luo Changde was tied up like a dumpling and thrown in the back seat, mouth sealed, writhing and mmm, mmm-ing. Da Jin kicked him directly, ¡°Stay put!¡± Asked why he was so rough? Heh. Try sitting in jail for four years for a crime you didn¡¯t commit, and see if you¡¯re not rough to the enemy who framed you. If it wasn¡¯t illegal to beat someone, he would definitely kill Luo Changde! Da Jin cracked open a window slightly and asked the lookout outside, ¡°Has the person arrived?¡± The lookout replied, ¡°Not yet.¡± Not here yet. Da Jin checked the time, ¡°Five minutes left.¡± He patted Luo Changde on the forehead, put on a mask on his face, his eyes filled with a killing and malevolent air, ¡°In five minutes, if your daughter hasn¡¯t shown up, I¡¯ll toss you into the Zhang River to feed the fish.¡± Luo Changde¡¯s face was swollen like a pig¡¯s head, covered in sweat, grotesque, both angry and frightened, kicking with his legs, mmm, mmm. Da Jin slapped his face again, quieting him down, then warned, ¡°Don¡¯t blame me if you end up a ghost. Blame the fact that you have such a good daughter.¡± Blame your daughter! Take note, that¡¯s the key point! Luo Changde¡¯s temples throbbed with bulging veins, ¡°Mmm, mmm!¡± Da Jin slapped him again, leaving five finger marks, ¡°I¡¯m talking here, who allowed you to grunt.¡± Unsatisfied with just slapping, he kicked him with a foot. He was quite enjoying the beating, when a voice came through the earpiece he was wearing, ¡°They¡¯re here.¡± Chapter 205 - 205 205 Luo Family Father and Daughter Murder Each ?Chapter 205: 205: Luo Family Father and Daughter Murder Each Other (First Update) Chapter 205: 205: Luo Family Father and Daughter Murder Each Other (First Update) He was really into the beating when a voice came through the earpiece he was wearing on his ear, ¡°They¡¯re here.¡± One more kick! After the kick, Da Jin felt a bit of pain in his foot, so he shook his ankle and asked, ¡°Where are they?¡± The woman¡¯s voice in the earpiece said, ¡°Five hundred meters away.¡± Da Jin picked up a pair of binoculars, looked around east and west, saw nothing, and asked again, ¡°Are they alone?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Da Jin touched the little gadget on his ear and smirked, ¡°High tech, huh.¡± He grinned, ¡°Thanks.¡± The other side was silent. Hacker or not, that was some demeanor! That aura! Da Jin instantly felt a sense of admiration and asked, ¡°God, are you a man or a woman? Why use a voice changer?¡± He thought it might be some foot-scratching sweaty man. The God remained silent. The more mysterious the God was, the more curious Da Jin became, ¡°God, let me hear your voice.¡± The God did not respond and temporarily disconnected the earpiece. Da Jin thought to himself, he was still too green. This was a real big shot¡¯s style, catching only glimpses of the dragon but never the whole. At this moment, car lights approached; it was Luo Qinghe. Da Jin grabbed an iron rod, got off the car, and left one foot on the van, shaking his leg, ¡°Miss Luo is here.¡± This woman really had guts, coming alone. Luo Qinghe was still in the driver¡¯s seat, scanning outside, and under the streetlights, six people, all masked. She asked, ¡°Where¡¯s my father?¡± Da Jin put on a voice, sounding like he was being choked, ¡°In the van, he¡¯s fine, not a hair touched.¡± It was just a few beatings. The beatings didn¡¯t need mentioning, so Da Jin got straight to business, ¡°Where¡¯s what I want? Did you bring it?¡± Luo Qinghe got out of the car, holding a black cloth bag, ¡°Here¡¯s the stuff, now release him.¡± Da Jin glanced at the bag. A hundred million in diamonds, just like that? Must be expensive per piece! Da Jin, holding the rod, tapped the ground, ¡°How do we know it¡¯s real without checking first?¡± Luo Qinghe didn¡¯t hesitate and placed the cloth bag on the hood of the car. Da Jin shouted back, ¡°Expert Zhong, go check it.¡± ¡®Expert Zhong¡¯ was a short old man in overalls and a bow tie, his glasses almost sliding off from how thick they were. He adjusted his glasses on his nose, took a magnifying glass, and pulled out an uncut diamond from the bag. He scrutinized it under the streetlight with the magnifying glass, turning it front and back, obsessing over it for a while, even spraying some chemical reagent before finally nodding, ¡°This one is fine.¡± He set it aside and picked up another, continuing to check. Luo Qinghe asked, ¡°Can we release him now?¡± Da Jin gave his men a look, ¡°Release him.¡± His man kicked Luo Changde out of the van. Bound tight, Luo Changde wriggled on the ground like a salted fish. Luo Qinghe walked up to him, ripping off the tape from his mouth, ¡°Are you okay?¡± Luo Changde was bruised and sullen, spoke through clenched teeth, ¡°Help me untie these ropes.¡± Luo Qinghe first untied the ropes on his ankles, noticing they were bruised and purple. These kidnappers had some audacity. ¡°Diamonds are with you now,¡± she looked at the gang¡¯s leader, ¡°Can we go now?¡± Da Jin struck a welcoming pose, his thin single eyelids smiling into two slits, ¡°Mr. Luo, may you live a long life. Next time you¡¯re out of money, we¡¯re still here.¡± The shameless! Luo Changde grimaced, dropping the ropes that had bound his hands to the ground, ¡°Help me get up.¡± Luo Qinghe helped him stand. As they were about to walk to the car, the old man suddenly shouted, ¡°This one is fake.¡± Luo Changde¡¯s first reaction was to look at Luo Qinghe. She immediately defended, ¡°It¡¯s definitely real.¡± The old man added, ¡°This one is fake too.¡± Duang! Da Jin¡¯s rod hit the ground, ¡°Alright, trying to fool your uncle here.¡± Angry, he hefted the iron rod onto his shoulder, loosening up his neck and wrists, commanded his underlings, ¡°Grab them both!¡± The underlings flexed their muscles and closed in. No time to think, Luo Qinghe swiftly opened the car door and yelled to Luo Changde, ¡°Get in the car!¡± Luo Changde dove into the car. With a screech, the car sped away. Da Jin¡¯s underlings chased the car for a while before realizing they couldn¡¯t catch up¡ªthey needed to go back for the van. Their boss was still balancing on the van, shaking a leg. In times like these, still shaking a leg, the underlings asked, ¡°Brother Jin, should we chase?¡± Da Jin arrogantly jutted his chin, ¡°Chase, of course.¡± He continued to shake his leg, motionless. Younger Luo: ¡°Oh.¡± sat in the driver¡¯s seat of the van, turned around, and looked at Brother Jin¡¯s leg. Brother Jin stopped shaking his leg, casually closed the car door, and didn¡¯t get in. He took the diamond from the old man ¡°Expert¡± and weighed it in his hand, instructing his subordinate, ¡°Just make a show of it, no need to catch up.¡± The subordinates: ¡°Huh?¡± The subordinates looked confused. Brother Jin urged, ¡°Hurry up and go.¡± The subordinates: ¡°Oh.¡± The van started and went after someone, not going very fast because Brother Jin had said to just make a show of it. After the subordinates had all left and the old man ¡°Expert¡± was sent away, Brother Jin gave Tang Xiang a call, ¡°Sister Xiang, I¡¯ve got the diamond.¡± Tang Xiang hmm-ed, as calm as if she had expected it. Brother Jin was most concerned about, ¡°Is this diamond real or fake?¡± He couldn¡¯t resist and took one to bite hard with his teeth. Damn! It¡¯s so hard! That old man ¡°Expert¡± was found by Tang Xiang. It didn¡¯t matter if he could identify diamonds, as long as he could act. She said, ¡°It should be real.¡± But it didn¡¯t matter whether it was real or fake; it was enough that Luo Changde believed it was fake. ¡°Really?¡± Brother Jin¡¯s eyes nearly sparkled, ¡°Then we¡¯ve struck it rich!¡± Meanwhile, Luo Changde and his daughter. The van hadn¡¯t caught up as their car had already gotten onto the Zhangjiang Bridge, moving very fast, the wind howling outside the window. Luo Changde gripped the seat belt tightly, urging Luo Qinghe, ¡°Call the police quickly.¡± She kept her eyes forwards, still speeding up, ¡°What¡¯s the point of calling the police now?¡± She feared this was aimed at her, and involving the police wouldn¡¯t do her any good. Luo Changde suddenly turned to look at her, ¡°Are you feeling guilty?¡± Luo Qinghe snapped out of it to respond, ¡°What do you mean by that?¡± Last night at midnight, when the lead kidnapper thought he was asleep, he made a phone call and immediately shouted, ¡°Younger Luo.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll handle it, you just relax.¡± These two lines had entered Luo Changde¡¯s ears. How could he not suspect, having just met Peng Xianzhi, just obtained her weakness, only to be kidnapped. He adamantly declared, ¡°You all are clearly together.¡± Luo Qinghe quickly denied, ¡°No.¡± The wind outside was strong, her voice raised a notch, ¡°What good does doing this do for me?¡± Still playing dumb! ¡°I have your dirt, I get kidnapped, you pay the ransom, then I would be grateful to you, let you off.¡± Luo Qinghe, with a cold gaze and a smile, ¡°On just a phone call, you suspect me?¡± Between father and daughter, there was absolutely no trust, their blood relation was as thin as paper, easily punctured. Luo Changde completely didn¡¯t trust her: ¡°Even if that phone call was fake, what about the diamond? Why use a fake diamond to ransom me?¡± His tone was no longer questioning but furious, ¡°I think you¡¯re doing this on purpose, wanting me to be killed by them so you can be rid of me once and for all.¡± This kidnapping was definitely not simple. If the aim of the other party was to drive a wedge between father and daughter, then he had succeeded. S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Luo Qinghe¡¯s grip on the steering wheel tightened a bit, ¡°Don¡¯t you see the contradiction? If I were really with them, why would I use a fake diamond to fool them?¡± Luo Changde scoffed, ¡°You admitted it, the diamond is fake.¡± The diamond was real. She wasn¡¯t foolish to that extent. Taking a deep breath, she tried to explain, ¡°Dad, think calmly, how many doubts are there in this? If I really plotted against you, would it have this many loopholes?¡± Luo Changde knew all too well how astute she was. It was because she was too astute that he needed to be cautious, ¡°Loopholes are better, giving you a reason to absolve yourself.¡± Luo Qinghe¡¯s gaze gradually grew colder, ¡°It seems no matter how I explain, you won¡¯t believe me.¡± As expected. It was aimed at her. Suddenly, her phone rang. She stepped on the brake, pulling over, ¡°Dad, you really don¡¯t believe me?¡± Luo Changde snorted coldly. ¡°I need to take this call.¡± After speaking, Luo Qinghe went silent for a while, then got out of the car, her movement stumbling a bit as she pushed the car door open. She walked aside and answered the call. In the car, Luo Changde also made a call, only instructing, ¡°Prepare the trial documents.¡± Outside, Luo Qinghe looked at the person in the car, dazed and lost in thought. ¡°Younger Luo,¡± on the phone, the man asked for instructions, ¡°Should we continue?¡± She didn¡¯t respond, still looking at the person in the car, muttering to herself, ¡°Dad, why do you have to force me?¡± Why fall right into someone else¡¯s Divide and Conquer? She stayed silent for a long time, then finally spoke, her voice carried away by the night wind, ¡°Go ahead.¡± The man affirmed and hung up. Wind howled, the glaring headlights approaching from afar, a large truck emerged from the junction. Inside the car, Luo Changde suddenly turned his head, seeing the blue car body speeding towards them, he shouted, ¡°Qinghe¡ª¡± Chapter 206 - 206 206 Fang Bao exposed Luo Changde falls into the ?Chapter 206: 206: Fang Bao exposed, Luo Changde falls into the river Chapter 206: 206: Fang Bao exposed, Luo Changde falls into the river In the car, Luo Changde suddenly turned his head and saw the blue car body speeding toward him. He yelled, ¡°Qinghe¡ª¡± Sear?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Crash!¡± The two vehicles collided with a loud bang. The sedan was sent flying by the truck, breaking through the guardrail. Half of the car was left hanging over the edge, and below was the rolling waters of the Zhang River. The front of the truck was also heavily dented. The driver, wearing a mask, took one look, then immediately turned around to head back the way they came. In just over ten seconds, the truck responsible for the accident had vanished without a trace. The wind surged, and with thick smoke billowing, the sedan was left hanging half on the road, half over the bridge, teetering on the brink. Inside, Luo Changde¡¯s face was covered in blood, with all the car windows shattered. He reached out his bloody hand: ¡°Qing¡­¡± Tears mixed with blood streamed from the corner of his eyes as he called out for help outside, ¡°Qing, he.¡± Luo Qinghe stood still, her hand gripping the phone tightened, fingertips turning pale. The hand reaching out from the car window slumped down powerlessly. He sprawled forward, glass mingled with blood on his face, gasping, ¡°Save¡­ save me.¡± Luo Qinghe slowly moved her feet. ¡°Dad,¡± she approached the edge of the bridge. Amidst the sound of the wind and the waves, she sobbed, ¡°Go in peace.¡± Having said that, she turned around. ¡°Qing, he.¡± ¡°Qinghe, save¡­ save me.¡± He breathed raggedly, calling for help. Luo Qinghe paused for a moment, her clenched hand trembling, but she didn¡¯t look back. Her steps were slow, and she never once looked back, moving further and further away from the car leaking gasoline all over the ground. The teetering car suddenly shook violently. Suddenly, a pair of hands held up the car body. ¡°Do you understand?¡± Who was speaking? It was a girl¡¯s voice, low and icy: ¡°She told you to go in peace.¡± Luo Changde struggled to lift his head to look outside the car window. His eyes glazed over with blood, he could only see a blurry silhouette, someone dressed in black blending into the night. She was bent over, her hands supporting the car¡¯s suspended underside. Her face was not visible, masked. Luo Changde reached out to her: ¡°Save, save me.¡± She lifted her face, wearing glasses, her voice utterly devoid of emotion, repeating what was said earlier: ¡°She told you to go in peace.¡± Luo Changde suddenly leaned towards the window, trying to grab her clothes but touched only her mask. With one tug, her face was exposed. Zhou Xufang instinctively turned her head to the side. ¡°You, you¡­¡± He opened his mouth only for blood to gush from his throat. Zhou Xufang was still turned aside, the streetlight illuminating half of her defined facial profile: ¡°You¡¯ve seen my face.¡± The professional errand runner Z had never revealed her appearance before. She said, ¡°Go in peace.¡± As her voice trailed off, she let go. The car shook a few times and then plunged into the river, ¡°Splash!¡± Water splashed high as the black car was instantly engulfed by the deep waters. At eleven o¡¯clock that night, Luo Yinghe finally returned home. She had just come from a bar, still wearing her sparkly jacket. Passing by Luo Changde¡¯s room, she heard a racket inside. The door was unlocked. She pushed it open and glanced inside. The room was a mess. Luo Qinghe was frantically searching for something. Luo Yinghe asked, ¡°What are you looking for?¡± Without looking up, she replied, ¡°Get out.¡± Luo Yinghe stood still and retorted, ¡°This is not your room.¡± Luo Qinghe grabbed a cup from the bedside and hurled it toward the doorway. ¡°Crash¡ª¡± The cup shattered to pieces, spraying fragments at Luo Yinghe¡¯s feet. She was startled; then she heard Luo Qinghe screaming at her, ¡°Get out!¡± Luo Yinghe looked down at her ankle, scraped by shards of glass, leaving two bloody cuts, and suddenly, she also became angry. Bolstering her courage, she shouted back, ¡°You¡¯re insane!¡± After shouting, she slammed the door and left. Xu Yun Ci heard the noise and came to ask, ¡°What¡¯s wrong with Qinghe?¡± Luo Yinghe turned back, rolling her eyes toward the door, ¡°She¡¯s having a fit!¡± Xu Yun Ci scolded her for talking nonsense and stepped toward the room, only to be stopped by Luo Yinghe, ¡°What are you doing, looking for trouble?¡± Xu Yun Ci, concerned, said, ¡°Your sister¡ª¡± ¡°She¡¯s seriously ill!¡± Luo Yinghe dragged Xu Yun Ci and left. Downstairs in the study. ¡°Ring Ring Ring¡­¡± The ringing of the phone on the desk echoed. Luo Huaiyu answered the call. It was an unfamiliar number, an unfamiliar voice, ¡°Is this Mr. Luo Huaiyu speaking?¡± ¡°I am.¡± The caller said he was from the traffic police: ¡°There has been an accident at No. 215 Zhangjiang Road, a vehicle plunged into the river, and the owner of the car is your son, Luo Changde.¡± Luo Huaiyu was momentarily stunned. ¡°Thud.¡± His walking stick fell to the ground. On the phone, the traffic police detailed the situation, and Luo Huaiyu did not utter a word from beginning to end; after hanging up the phone, he didn¡¯t even use his walking stick as he staggered toward the door, ¡°Go summon Qinghe over here.¡± After a while, Luo Qinghe knocked on the door. Luo Huaiyu said, ¡°Close the door.¡± She shut the door, approached him, ¡°Grandfather, you called for me.¡± Luo Huaiyu, supporting himself, stood up from the sofa, raised his hand, and fiercely slapped her across the face. She stumbled back a step from the slap, her face quickly swelling and reddening, with blood at the corner of her mouth. Luo Huaiyu, shaking with anger, pointed at her, his eyes bloodshot, ¡°That¡¯s your father, your biological father who gave birth to and raised you!¡± She wiped the blood from the corner of her mouth, ¡°My biological father who gave birth to and raised me,¡± she clenched her fists, and looking up, she said, ¡°Then why didn¡¯t he let me go?¡± ¡°Beast!¡± Luo Huaiyu picked up his walking stick, his eyes red with rage, and started hitting her legs one after another. She swayed a couple of times and then knelt to the ground, biting her lip, not making a sound. ¡°Family, door, not, fortunate.¡± One word, one pause, one hit with the walking stick. Four hits in a row, each harder than the last. Luo Huaiyu, old and tired, without strength left, propped himself up with the stick, his voice hoarse with age, he shouted, ¡°What an unfortunate family!¡± Luo Qinghe knelt, her eyes red, saying nothing. Afterward, the Luo family was turned upside down. Luo Huaiyu had fallen ill, a heart attack, and when Luo Qinghe left the study, it was already late into the night; her legs numb, she walked unsteadily. Just as she reached the stairwell, her phone rang. She answered. ¡°Young Mr. Luo.¡± It was the person she had sent out, and the message was, ¡°We¡¯ve found the place where the recording is kept, but we cannot open it; we can only try the password three times.¡± As long as she got that recording, everything would be over. Luo Qinghe, leaning against the wall, numb and stiff, recited, ¡°770819.¡± After the other side tried it, the response came, ¡°That¡¯s not it.¡± ¡°963245.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not it.¡± Both of these were Luo Changde¡¯s usual passwords, which she had had hacked early on. And yet, they were not correct. She fell silent for a long time, ¡°92¡­¡± her voice trembling, choking up, and finally, she uttered, ¡°921105.¡± Ten seconds later¡ª ¡°It¡¯s open.¡± It¡¯s open¡­ Her eyelids drooped, ¡°Destroy it.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± 921105. It was her birthday. She hung up the phone, her legs gave out, and she sat down on the floor, releasing the grip of her tightly clenched hand; the palm was full of blood marks from her nails, she laughed and muttered to herself, ¡°Why did you have to force me?¡± ¡°Why did you have to force me¡­¡± ¡°Crash!¡± She smashed her phone and suddenly burst into loud sobs. Chapter 207 - 207 207 Jiang Zhi is jealous again Xiao Yusheng and ?Chapter 207: 207: Jiang Zhi is jealous again, Xiao Yusheng and Fang Bao (one more update) Chapter 207: 207: Jiang Zhi is jealous again, Xiao Yusheng and Fang Bao (one more update) She smashed her phone and suddenly burst into tears. Xu Yunci was about to step forward to ask, but Luo Yinghe held her back. ¡°What on earth is wrong with Qinghe?¡± Luo Yinghe replied irritably, ¡°God knows.¡± The last time Luo Qinghe shed tears was when her mother passed away; she was a proud and strong person, bleeding but never crying. To be honest, seeing her cry so desperately, Luo Yinghe felt quite pleased, ¡°Crying like my old man just died.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t talk nonsense!¡± Xu Yunci scolded her. She huffed and stormed into the house. Past eleven at night, Xiao Zhong returned from the Traffic Division, as there was a case, and several members of the Criminal Investigation Team were working overtime. Captain Cheng stopped his work, ¡°How is it?¡± Xiao Zhong took a sip of water, ¡°It¡¯s not a simple hit-and-run.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°They¡¯ve pulled up the car, but couldn¡¯t find the dashcam inside, and what¡¯s weirder, the surveillance in that area was broken, nothing was captured.¡± Xiao Zhong clicked his tongue, ¡°It¡¯s very likely deliberate murder.¡± Too many coincidences, mostly pointing to premeditation. Moreover, Luo Changde was a man with enemies everywhere; people wanting him dead could probably line up from the Traffic Division to the Criminal Investigation Team. Captain Cheng instructed Xiao Zhong, ¡°You check to see if there are any eyewitnesses.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± ¡°Zhang Wen, pull up the nearby surveillance and conduct a check, see if there¡¯s any suspicious vehicle.¡± ¡°No problem.¡± Captain Cheng checked his watch, ¡°It¡¯s almost half-past eleven, everyone get off work.¡± A few detectives in the office then started making plans to grab a drink together. ¡°Oh, right.¡± Xiao Zhong almost forgot, ¡°The body has not been dredged up yet; it might have been washed away by the river.¡± After this long in the river, there was essentially no chance of survival. ¡°Beep, beep, beep.¡± In the deep silence of the night, the only sound in the hospital room was the heart monitor. Tang Xiang, with her arms folded, stood in front of the hospital bed, looking at the numbers jumping on the monitor, ¡°This woman, Luo Qinghe,¡± she admitted admiration, ¡°is ruthless.¡± Her own father, and yet she had the heart to do it, just when it seemed like dogs might just bite each other, she went straight for the kill. Such boldness is rare among women, but unfortunately, her heart wasn¡¯t in the right place. With Luo Changde down, all plans were disrupted. Jiang Zhi and his spouse were also in the hospital room. Zhou Xufang had been quiet all along, his mood looked off, Jiang Zhi asked, ¡°Can he be saved?¡± Tang Xiang had just asked the doctor, and the doctor said he wasn¡¯t dead yet. ¡°His head is split open, and yet he¡¯s still breathing.¡± Tang Xiang sighed, ¡°Good people don¡¯t last, while the scourges linger for a thousand years.¡± It was indeed ironic. Jiang Zhi did not respond and took Zhou Xufang out. She was anxious, ¡°Jiang Zhi, did I do something wrong?¡± It was she who had pulled up the person. She had thought about letting that bad egg, Luo Changde, just die, but when she actually saw him struggling for help in the water, she couldn¡¯t remain indifferent. Because it was a human life. The hospital corridor was dim; Jiang Zhi led her to a brighter place and said, ¡°You did the right thing. Luo Changde can¡¯t die like this, and even if he must die, it can¡¯t be by your hand.¡± Her hands, could not be stained with blood, even if it was a bad person¡¯s. S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. She was still very uneasy, ¡°He saw my face.¡± Jiang Zhi bent down and hugged her, ¡°It¡¯s okay, I am here.¡± ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± She tilted her head, her cool little face against his neck moved, ¡°If I am exposed, should I hide?¡± If her identity as a professional errand runner was exposed, or if her abilities became known, she didn¡¯t know how much trouble would come knocking. Jiang Zhi said, ¡°You don¡¯t have to hide far, just behind me.¡± Floods and ferocious beasts are nothing; he would shield her from them. All the uneasiness in her heart was soothed by his comforting, as she hugged and nuzzled against him, telling him how good he was. Ding¡ª¡ª A WeChat notification sounded. Zhou Xufang took out his phone, read the message, and asked Jiang Zhi, ¡°Do you want to go to a concert?¡± A concert? Jiang Zhi had grown up without ever attending one. He lacked an artistic gene from childhood, and although the old lady forced him to try this and that when he was young, lack of talent meant just that. He couldn¡¯t manage musical instruments, and although he could draw a little, no one could understand what he was drawing. A concert? Not interested. But to accompany Zhou Xufang, he was interested, so he asked, ¡°Whose concert is it?¡± Zhou Xufang said, ¡°Xiao Yusheng.¡± Out of all people, it had to be that kid who hadn¡¯t even grown a full set of whiskers yet. Jiang Zhi: ¡°Don¡¯t want to.¡± Since he didn¡¯t want to go, Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t insist, ¡°Oh, then I¡¯ll go with Lixiang just the two of us.¡± ¡°¡­¡± He thought if he didn¡¯t go, she would coax him to. He thought if he didn¡¯t go, she wouldn¡¯t either. Once a month, Jiang Zhi would feel like Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t care about him that much, and then he would feel very anxious and insecure. ¡°Why are you going to his concert? Are you close with him?¡± His tone was like a husband who had caught his wife cheating. Zhou Xufang explained, ¡°Lixiang is really into this guy lately; she scored some tickets and invited me to go with her.¡± Fang Lixiang¡¯s idols could change several times a month, and this month, she was the national brother¡¯s fangirl. Jiang Zhi bent down to look at her, ¡°Is it okay if we don¡¯t go?¡± He sounded like a little kid asking for sweets. Zhou Xufang felt sorry, but there was nothing she could do, ¡°I¡¯ve already promised her.¡± Fine. Jiang Zhi grudgingly tossed out two words: ¡°Take me.¡± Zhou Xufang agreed, ¡°I hear from Lixiang that Xiao Yusheng will sing the theme song of your new movie. Don¡¯t you like him?¡± His tone didn¡¯t seem very fond. Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t quite understand, and as they walked, she held Jiang Zhi¡¯s hand, saying, ¡°He¡¯s super famous. My book club friends, and even the author of the book I¡¯m following, all really like him.¡± Xiao Yusheng had many fangirls and mom fans; Zhou Xufang felt she might soon become a mom fan herself. ¡°I don¡¯t even know him, where would I like or dislike him from?¡± Jiang Zhi complained, ¡°It¡¯s all because you said his eyes were pretty.¡± Oh, so it¡¯s her fault. This was a vat of old, sour vinegar still stinging. Zhou Xufang thought it might be better to explain, ¡°He looks a lot like someone I know.¡± As they stepped out of the hospital, the wind slapped against their faces. Jiang Zhi sheltered her in his arms, protecting her from the wind, and his questions came in rapid succession, ¡°Who? When? Where did you meet him?¡± Zhou Xufang answered truthfully, ¡°At the Genetic Laboratory.¡± When Jiang Zhi heard it was the lab, he fell silent, quietly listening to Zhou Xufang continue, ¡°That boy was young then. He also had a chromosome 6 anomaly, so we were put in the same group.¡± ¡°What was his number?¡± ¡°017.¡± Zhou Xufang said, ¡°He was 017, I was 011.¡± In that explosion, three test subjects vanished, two of whom were 011 and 017. These three, as per the experiment logs of the time, all had unique reactions in the genetic tests; in other words, they were all aberrations from the norm. ¡°Did 017 have any special abilities?¡± Chapter 208 - 208 208 Yun Shengs special ability the whereabouts of ?Chapter 208: 208: Yun Sheng¡¯s special ability, the whereabouts of Xu Fang¡¯s mother (second update) Chapter 208: 208: Yun Sheng¡¯s special ability, the whereabouts of Xu Fang¡¯s mother (second update) ¡°Does 017 have any special abilities?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know. In the laboratory, we were all kept in different places. I only saw him a few times during blood transfusions,¡± she added, ¡°and also during the explosion.¡± She couldn¡¯t recall the details anymore, but she did remember once when 017 had a drug rejection and was critically ill for a long time. A doctor had drawn her blood and transfused it into 017. It was since then that she was frequently drawn blood. ¡°Can we be sure it¡¯s Xiao Yusheng?¡± Jiang Zhi frowned, seemingly uneasy. Zhou Xufang shook her head; she couldn¡¯t be certain. ¡°It¡¯s not just girls who change dramatically as they grow up. Boys change a lot when they get older too.¡± She thought back to five years ago, ¡°Xiao Yusheng was too handsome, 017 didn¡¯t seem that good-looking.¡± Whether 017 was good-looking was no longer important, what was important was¡ª it was the second time Zhou Xufang had complimented Xiao Yusheng on his looks. ¡°Is he more handsome than me?¡± The question sounded chilling. Jiang Zhi wasn¡¯t one to engage in comparisons, nor did he like others commenting on his looks, after all, for any mature-minded male, many things are more important than appearance. But the contradiction lies in the fact that to him, Zhou Xufang was the most important, which meant he had to care about looks, because Zhou Xufang liked handsome ones. Zhou Xufang, shivering in the cold air, replied: ¡°No.¡± Her expression was so earnest it was only short of swearing to the heavens: ¡°You¡¯re the most handsome.¡± She gave a thumbs up, the image of an honest and truthful old cadre, ¡°Jiang Zhi is the best-looking man in the world.¡± The world¡¯s best-looking Jiang Zhi pulled her into the car and pulled down her favorite pink curtain. Five minutes later¡ª Zhou Xufang: ¡°Little hooligan!¡± Zhou Xufang: ¡°Little pervert!¡± Zhou Xufang: ¡°Little freak!¡± Although she cursed him out loud, if she didn¡¯t let Jiang Xiaoliu bother her, the Jiang Xiaoliu wouldn¡¯t have been able to pin her onto the passenger seat. Jiang Zhi: ¡°Mhm, whatever you say.¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡°Don¡¯t move.¡± Zhou Xufang: ¡°Hmph!¡± The next day, the sky was clear. Luo Changde¡¯s body had not been retrieved yet, and the traffic squad had said two words to the family: ¡°Condolences.¡± Not a single person cried. Captain Cheng from the Criminal Investigation Team said, ¡°The more despicable someone is in life, the more pitiful they are in death, so pitiful that there¡¯s not even anyone to mourn.¡± Nine o¡¯clock, the TV station. ¡°Mr. Zhou.¡± Sitting opposite Zhou Qingrang was someone from a professional errand company, specialized in gathering information. ¡°Have you found anything?¡± The middle-aged man nodded: ¡°We found the servant who worked for the Luo Family back then.¡± Zhou Qingrang sat on the couch; his cane was placed beside him. He was dressed in a black suit and looked stern and cold: ¡°Is there any news of my sister?¡± ¡°No one knows Miss Zhou¡¯s whereabouts except the Luo Family,¡± the middle-aged man took out a document from a black leather briefcase, ¡°Moreover, back then Miss Zhou had a son.¡± Zhou Qingmeng eloped with someone, was abandoned a year later, and had a son. This was the rumor of the time. ¡°What about the boy?¡± Is he still alive? ¡°He was born at the Luo Family, not in a hospital. The midwife was the wife of the butler, Tang Guangji.¡± Zhou Qingrang asked, ¡°He Xiangxiu?¡± The man nodded: ¡°She should know the whereabouts of the child.¡± He paused, ¡°However, eight years ago there was a big fire at the Luo Family, Tang Guangji died in it, and He Xiangxiu became mentally disturbed.¡± Apart from He Xiangxiu and the Luo Family, no one else knew the whereabouts of the child. This matter was the Luo Family¡¯s greatest secret. ¡°Mr. Zhou.¡± ¡°Mr. Zhou.¡± Colleagues at the door called to him twice, but he did not respond. ¡°Mr. Zhou.¡± The colleague knocked on the door again. Zhou Qingrang snapped out of it: ¡°What is it?¡± A colleague said, ¡°Someone¡¯s looking for you outside.¡± It was a young male colleague who liked to tease people, and his eyes were playful, ¡°It¡¯s a young and beautiful girl.¡± Zhou Qingrang settled into his wheelchair, propping himself with his crutch, and wheeled out of the rest room. The young and beautiful girl was standing by the information desk at the TV station, standing on tiptoe, craning her neck in anticipation. Behind her, someone called out, ¡°Shengsheng.¡± It was Lu Sheng. Since she wasn¡¯t going to the company today, she didn¡¯t wear her business attire. Not only was she not in business attire, but she also wore a beautiful lace dress. Her makeup was light but exquisite, complete with nails polished to match the color of her dress. She turned around and saw a familiar face: ¡°Uncle Xu.¡± The Uncle Xu she referred to was in his fifties, tall, lean, with glasses, sporting a scholarly appearance. When the staff at the information desk saw him, they called out ¡®Mr. Xu.¡¯ Xu Jinlin, a friend of Lu Sheng¡¯s parents, worked at the TV station. Being single and young at heart, he had a very good relationship with Lu Sheng, ¡°What brings you to the TV station today?¡± She said she was there for personal matters. ¡°Personal matters, huh?¡± Xu Jinlin laughed as he hit the nail on the head, ¡°Looking for Qing Rang?¡± Lu Sheng: Is it that obvious? Being a man of experience, Xu Jinlin could tell: ¡°Last time you asked me to transfer him back to the station, I already saw the signs.¡± Zhou Qingrang had offended the Luo Family and was sent to work as a nighttime radio broadcaster. Not many days later, this young girl invited him for tea and coyly praised Zhou Qingrang, implying that if he wasn¡¯t returned to the TV station, the news broadcast would lose a large number of loyal viewers. Lu Sheng had her reasons, ¡°I¡¯m his fan.¡± These days, it¡¯s rare to find fans of news broadcasters. Xu Jinlin bypassed the fan topic and said, ¡°You better act fast. Qing Rang is very popular in the station.¡± Popular?! The usually calm girl, who always kept her composure in the business world, became anxious and blurted out, ¡°Who else is thinking about him?¡± I dare them to try! Xu Jinlin laughed heartily, ¡°Aren¡¯t you just a fan?¡± Sure, a fan, one who aims high. Since the cat was out of the bag, Lu Sheng didn¡¯t hold back anymore, ¡°Just don¡¯t tell my parents yet.¡± Fearing that the elders might misunderstand, she made it clear, ¡°Let me catch him first and then I¡¯ll tell.¡± Boy, was the young lady falling fast. The elevator doors opened. Lu Sheng¡¯s eyes immediately brightened, and she placed her hands behind her back, waving at Xu Jinlin, ¡°Uncle Xu, you better go quickly. Zhou Qingrang is coming, and don¡¯t say you know me.¡± She couldn¡¯t let Zhou Qingrang know she had interfered with his job. Xu Jinlin teased her deliberately, refusing to leave, ¡°Why can¡¯t I say that?¡± How could a TV station director be so frivolous? The steadfast Lu Sheng, with a composed expression on her face, asked in a steady tone, ¡°Excuse me, sir, are you talking to me?¡± The flippant Mr. Xu: ¡°¡­¡± Zhou Qingrang¡¯s wheelchair had already rolled closer. He first saw Xu Jinlin standing in front of Lu Sheng and politely greeted him, ¡°Mr. Xu.¡± Zhou Qingrang was courteous to everyone, but also kept his distance from everyone. Truly an iceberg, it just wasn¡¯t clear if he was capable of melting. ¡°This young lady is looking for you,¡± Xu Jinlin made space for them and left. Zhou Qingrang wheeled over, ¡°Miss Lu.¡± That¡¯s pretty distant. Lu Sheng fiddled nervously with her short hair by her ear and licked her lips, ¡°Do you still remember my name?¡± He nodded, saying, ¡°Lu Sheng.¡± It sounded explosively nice! Lu Sheng suffered from a severe case of voice addiction; she had heard countless pleasant voices, but none were like Zhou Qingrang¡¯s. His tone was warm, yet it always seemed to carry a hint of coolness. Online, there was a comment about Zhou Qingrang that Lu Sheng agreed with; it went like this: Whenever Zhou Qingrang pronounced any sentence, it made people feel as though he was telling a very sad story. Lu Sheng was enchanted by his voice, so much so that just by listening, she wanted to rush up to hug him, to kiss him. ¡°Yeah, just call me Lu Sheng,¡± she said. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. She didn¡¯t like being called Miss Lu; it made it seem like she was from a different world than him. Zhou Qingrang understood what she meant, ¡°Did you come to get your umbrella?¡± She nodded and hastily added, ¡°I just happened to be passing by.¡± The weather was just right, she had just remembered him, and she just wanted to see him. Chapter 209 - 209 209 Stirred emotionally enjoying another wave of ?Chapter 209: 209: Stirred emotionally, enjoying another wave of excitement (one more update) Chapter 209: 209: Stirred emotionally, enjoying another wave of excitement (one more update) ¡°Is the umbrella upstairs? Do you want to come up with me?¡± Zhou Qingrang said, ¡°You can also wait here.¡± Lu Sheng immediately responded, ¡°I¡¯ll go up with you.¡± The ending sound of her words fluttered. Lu Sheng, stay calm, stay calm. Zhou Qingrang agreed and turned the direction of his wheelchair, leading the way in front. Because it was the dead of winter and it was cold, his fingertips were frozen red, and the skin on the back of his hands, extremely pale, contrasted sharply in color. Lu Sheng gazed at his hands for a long time and hesitated for quite a while before she finally spoke up, ¡°Let me push you.¡± Her offer seemed presumptuous, so she asked, ¡°May I?¡± Zhou Qingrang politely refused, ¡°No need, thank you.¡± He seemed to be the kind of person who didn¡¯t like to trouble others, so he always kept to himself, always pushed others away, living proudly and alone. Once they got into the elevator, he kept coughing, and his hand holding the handkerchief slightly trembled. He said, ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± Because it was a public place, he felt it was rude to cough like that. ¡°It¡¯s okay,¡± Lu Sheng asked, ¡°Are you sick?¡± The concern in her eyes was impossible to hide. Zhou Qingrang avoided her eyes, and it was unclear whether it was intentional or not, but he downplayed it, ¡°Just a chronic condition.¡± Several major surgeries followed his car accident, and while he had come back from the brink, he had also acquired a host of illnesses. ¡°Cough, cough, cough¡­¡± He bowed his head, coughing again, and a fine layer of sweat appeared on his forehead. He hunched over and endured, suppressing his breathing as much as possible. Seeing him like this made her feel bad. Lu Sheng¡¯s fingers curled up, but then she lifted them and placed them on his back. His body stiffened for a moment. The hand on his back gently, gently patted. He wanted to say it wasn¡¯t necessary, but when it came to his lips it turned into, ¡°Thank you.¡± Lu Sheng, bending down, stood behind him, ¡°Can you stop thanking me all the time?¡± Her voice came from behind, very soft, ¡°Also, don¡¯t keep apologizing. Those are the two things you say the most.¡± So much so that it tugged at one¡¯s heartstrings. It seemed he was doing it deliberately, deliberately isolating himself from people, from the world. He fell silent for a while, ¡°Okay.¡± Just as the elevator doors opened, Lu Sheng didn¡¯t withdraw her hand, and pushed his wheelchair out of the elevator. He wanted to say it wasn¡¯t necessary, but yet again he didn¡¯t speak up, and removed his hands from the wheels to place them in front of him. This girl was like the sun. And he, cold yet still averse to the cold. He led her to his resting room. ¡°Have a seat first.¡± Lu Sheng sat down somewhat stiffly, with proper posture. Zhou Qingrang took his cane and, propping himself up, stood up, ¡°I only have boiled water here, would you like some?¡± ¡°I would.¡± He got a clean cup and went to fill it with water. His resting room was very simple, the water dispenser was old-fashioned, and the water wasn¡¯t hot yet, so he stood by silently waiting, not speaking, always very quiet. Since he stood with his back to her, she could unabashedly observe, looking at his leg that was slightly uneven due to the prosthesis. He was only fourteen when they amputated his limb, still practically a child. Her eyes soured, and she looked away. ¡°Senior brother.¡± The door wasn¡¯t closed and was pushed open; a lady in professional attire entered, ¡°Could you help me look over my script¡ª¡± It was Tang Ying, Zhou Qingrang¡¯s co-anchor. Only then she noticed there was a guest, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I didn¡¯t realize you had company.¡± Zhou Qingrang said it was okay, ¡°I¡¯ll come to you later.¡± Tang Ying nodded, her gaze meeting Lu Sheng¡¯s. She gave a slight nod and then exited, helping to close the door behind her. Lu Sheng asked, ¡°Was that Anchor Tang just now?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Zhou Qingrang replied, one hand holding the cane, the other filling the cup with water. Lu Sheng stood up and went over herself. When the cup was more than half full, she reached out her hand. Zhou Qingrang placed the cup in her hands. The water was a bit hot, but it warmed her hands. She held the cup with both hands, ¡°She¡¯s even more beautiful than on television.¡± The hairstyle she wore during the news made her look older. Tang Ying was famously known as a beautiful news anchor, in her early thirties, with as lovely a resume as her person, from a good family, and with a kind disposition¡ªan exceptional woman. As for her attractiveness, Zhou Qingrang made no comment. She casually asked a question, pretending it was of little consequence, ¡°Are you two close?¡± Xu Jinlin had said Zhou Qingrang was highly sought after. She couldn¡¯t help but imagine things. Tang Ying looked at him so tenderly, did she also have her eye on him, how could this be, living close meant first dibs, what if someone else plucked her moon¡­ Zhou Qingrang¡¯s clear voice interrupted her thoughts, ¡°We¡¯re partners.¡± Not just partners, she was also his junior sister. Lu Sheng¡¯s sense of crisis didn¡¯t subside at all. ¡°Your umbrella.¡± He handed her the umbrella, ¡°Thank¡ª¡± He stopped himself before finishing the word. Don¡¯t keep saying thank you. He had just promised her. Smiling, she took the umbrella, but didn¡¯t leave immediately because she hadn¡¯t finished her water yet. One cup of water, and she took more than ten minutes to drink it¡­ During that time, Zhou Qingrang didn¡¯t say much, looking over his news scripts. She wanted to start a conversation but feared disturbing him. After dawdling for over ten minutes, her water turned cold. It wouldn¡¯t be proper to linger any longer. Lu Sheng put down the cup, ¡°I¡¯ll be going then?¡± Zhou Qingrang set the news script down on the table and reached for his cane nearby, ¡°I¡¯ll walk you down.¡± ¡°There¡¯s no need.¡± It was so cold, and walking with a cane must be painful for him, so she found an excuse, ¡°Don¡¯t bother, I¡¯d like to take a little walk around.¡± Zhou Qingrang agreed. She held the umbrella, walked to the door and looked back, ¡°Can I come to see you again?¡± She asked tentatively, a hint of expectation in her voice. ¡°Sure.¡± Her pupils brightened a bit, ¡°Then, can I call you?¡± She had his number, which she had gotten the last time under the pretext of borrowing his umbrella. Zhou Qingrang was silent for a short while, then nodded. Feeling content, the smile under her curved eyebrows grew, ¡°Then I¡¯m off.¡± Standing there, she waved, ¡°Goodbye, Zhou Qingrang.¡± He said, goodbye, Lu Sheng. Lu Sheng turned her head, her smile growing wider ¨C he had finally called her by her name. After the young lady left, Zhou Qingrang couldn¡¯t concentrate on the news script anymore; his mind was unsettled, his spirit distracted. His brows furrowed, he took up his cane to put away the cup she had used. He shouldn¡¯t have nodded, shouldn¡¯t get too close to anyone¡­ When revising the news scripts, Tang Ying noticed that Zhou Qingrang was distracted. ¡°Senior brother.¡± He was still lost in thought. ¡°Senior brother.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± He then looked up. This was the first time Tang Ying had seen him so disturbed. He was always distant and aloof, not seeming to care much about anything, rarely emotional, and even less so in his work. It must have been because of that girl just now. She casually asked, ¡°Who was that girl just now?¡± She shouldn¡¯t have pried, but she couldn¡¯t help herself. Zhou Qingrang said, ¡°A friend.¡± ¡°Girlfriend?¡± Her hands tightened unconsciously around the press release. He shook his head and said it wasn¡¯t. Tang Ying looked down, slightly relieved. ¡°I need to make a call. We will continue later.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Zhou Qingrang stood up, didn¡¯t grab his cane, and walked with a limp. He went outside and dialed Tang Xiang¡¯s number, ¡°Can I see your mother?¡± Luo Changde¡¯s body hadn¡¯t been found yet, the Luo Family hadn¡¯t announced the mourning, nor had a funeral been arranged. The masters of the Luo Family were unusually silent; the servants were trembling with fear, not daring to make a sound, and the atmosphere was somber and oppressive. Inside the study on the second floor, Luo Qinghe stood by the window, taking a call. The sky outside was overcast, mirroring the gloom in her eyes. ¡°Younger Luo,¡± the man on the phone said, ¡°The dash cam memory card has been recovered.¡± She replied, ¡°Send it over.¡± At that moment, a knock echoed at the door. Luo Qinghe ended the call, ¡°Come in.¡± Shen Yue entered, ¡°Younger Luo.¡± She returned to her chair at the desk and asked him, ¡°Is it the original?¡± She was referring to the recording obtained from Luo Changde. Shen Yue nodded, his hair meticulously combed, with a square face, rigid and serious. He answered, ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Has it been authenticated?¡± Luo Qinghe asked another question. Shen Yue was utterly respectful, ¡°It has been authenticated.¡± ¡°The item?¡± He set down the paper file bag he was holding. Luo Qinghe picked it up, glanced at it, then set it aside, looking up, ¡°Whose man are you?¡± With such an abrupt question, Shen Yue appeared puzzled, ¡°I don¡¯t understand what you mean.¡± Don¡¯t understand? Luo Qinghe threw the contents of the file bag at his feet, ¡°Before you came here, I had someone authenticate it too, and this is also a burned copy.¡± She¡¯d had her suspicions about him for a while. Recently, nothing had gone smoothly. She felt as if she were being led by someone else; she couldn¡¯t even confirm who her adversary was, yet they played her like a pawn, knowing her every move. There was an inside agent in the Luo Family, and one by her side as well. Shen Yue was momentarily surprised, but quickly composed himself, ¡°Are you testing me?¡± Fine, he¡¯d confess. He removed the thick glasses from his nose, and without the black frames, his demeanor shifted entirely¡ªless severe and more astute. He confessed fully, ¡°I¡¯m Mr. Luo¡¯s man. You had previously changed the meeting time with Peng Zhongming under Mr. Luo¡¯s name. I was the one who leaked the information.¡± Sure enough, an inside agent. ¡°What benefit did he offer you?¡± Shen Yue thought of a meme and quoted, ¡°As long as the money is in place, any position will do.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Luo Qinghe paused momentarily. Heh, she¡¯d misjudged. ¡°Is your medical report fake?¡± People around her were chosen because they were either reckless or on the brink of death. Such people were useful and had no worries for the future. Now Shen Yue was completely forthright, tossing his glasses on the table; he also removed his cufflinks and rolled up his sleeves. ¡°Fake,¡± he said, ¡°as long as the money¡¯s right.¡± A fake medical report and a fake background¡ªweren¡¯t they effortless to fabricate? Lastly, he tore off his tie and smiled, ¡°Younger Luo, in this world, there¡¯s nothing money can¡¯t do, and you¡¯re more aware of that than I am, right?¡± Luo Qinghe remained noncommittal, ¡°Having followed me for so long, you must have figured out my methods.¡± He should prepare himself mentally for the consequences of betraying her. Shen Yue leaned one hand on the desk, jiggling his leg, ¡°About eighty or ninety percent figured out.¡± ¡°Guessed your own fate yet?¡± Not at all! ¡°Didn¡¯t all your previous secretaries end up in prison?¡± His eyes shone with a businessman¡¯s cunning, losing all resemblance to his former composure as a secretary, ¡°I probably won¡¯t be locked up for long.¡± Luo Qinghe always had a way out. She had done many things she shouldn¡¯t have, but she never got her hands dirty. She had plenty of people to order around. She was also paranoid, trusting no one and leaving no evidence behind. Shen Yue had been ordered around too, having done several law-breaking deeds himself. ¡°Miss,¡± someone from outside addressed her, ¡°the police are here.¡± Shen Yue was shocked, ¡°So soon?!¡± No wonder they say never to cross a woman¡ªwhen they get vicious, it¡¯s lethal. Shen Yue took one last look at his former boss; he took off his suit jacket and slung it over his shoulder, ¡°Take care, Younger Luo.¡± Oh right, he turned around at the door, ¡°I don¡¯t know if there¡¯s any social event between the male and female prisons, maybe we¡¯ll meet in jail one day.¡± It wasn¡¯t nice to keep the officer waiting; he said his piece and stepped out, thoughtfully closing the door behind him. Inside¡ª ¡°Bang!¡± Something was smashed. Outside, two police officers and two prosecutors arrived. ¡°Officer, may I call my family?¡± Shen Yue earnestly requested, ¡°Just this once.¡± The officer was understanding and let him make the call. Firstly, he said a load of caring instructions, like for his plants, his pets, and about maintaining good health, and finally in a very soft voice, ¡°I¡¯ve been exposed.¡± The one on the other end was not a family member. Jiang Zhi replied, ¡°Your cell is ready, in the same one as Peng Xianzhi.¡± Peng Xianzhi? That source of trouble, Shen Yue resisted, ¡°Can it be changed?¡± His mission was complete; he didn¡¯t want more trouble. ¡°As you wish,¡± Jiang Zhi said indifferently, ¡°That cell is as secure as a fortress and is the safest place.¡± Peng Xianzhi was the witness to the Luo Family fire eight years ago and a high-priority protected individual. Shen Yue pondered and then decided, ¡°No need to change.¡± Also, the most important thing, ¡°Make sure to transfer the final payment to my account, Mr. Jiang.¡± The last two words, no longer reverent as before, sounded like a crafty businessman. Shen Yue used to hang around Chinese Street, doing venture investments, duping customers of ten million, and after years in a foreign prison, he returned to his country. S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. This man, a money-grubber. Decent? Heh, he would never be decent in this lifetime; he only befriended money. That¡¯s why he collaborated so briskly with Jiang Zhi¡ªbecause the money was good. Picking up another paycheck as an informant for Luo Changde and adding Luo Qinghe¡¯s on top, he was earning three salaries. With such compensation, as long as it wasn¡¯t murder, he would do anything. Afraid of jail? After sitting for a few years, he¡¯d be set for life. His morals were utterly twisted! Chapter 210 - 210 210 Dog Food Sweetness and Affection Between Us ?Chapter 210: 210: Dog Food: Sweetness and Affection Between Us (Second Update) Chapter 210: 210: Dog Food: Sweetness and Affection Between Us (Second Update) Servants came to fetch Luo Qinghe, saying that the old master was calling for her. Luo Qinghe then went to the downstairs bedroom. ¡°Grandpa.¡± Luo Huaiyu was still bedridden, in poor spirits, with phlegm in his throat, and the room was filled with his heavy breathing. ¡°We can¡¯t find the body, and we can¡¯t delay any longer, prepare for the funeral.¡± The Luo Family was still keeping the incident of Luo Changde¡¯s demise from the public. Luo Qinghe responded, ¡°Understood.¡± Luo Huaiyu sat up. ¡°Is this matter taken care of?¡± She said, ¡°Rest assured.¡± Truly heartless. How did the Luo family raise such a creature? Luo Huaiyu coughed up a mouthful of phlegm, spit it on paper, and tossed it into the trash can. ¡°I¡¯ve already destroyed the original document, from now on live peacefully, don¡¯t do anything else.¡± Another mishap, not only she, but the entire Luo Family would suffer. ¡°Are you sure, it was the original?¡± she hinted, ¡°I have Shen Yue by my side as a spy, Grandpa, everyone needs to be guarded against.¡± In this greedy world, trust is the most luxurious thing. Those who claim they don¡¯t act for personal gain are just not tempted enough. Not to mention that professional errand runner, slippery as an eel and very cunning, even less trustworthy. This time, Luo Huaiyu was adamant. ¡°Don¡¯t get involved in this matter anymore.¡± ¡°Pushing me to this point, how do you expect me to back out? I¡¯ve come this far step by step, it couldn¡¯t have been without someone stirring the waters.¡± She was extremely resentful, filled with a desire for revenge, unable to stop, and indeed, couldn¡¯t stop. ¡°There are only two people who have such a deep grudge and know me so well.¡± Tang Xiang and Jiang Zhi. Only these two had the motive; only they would so meticulously dig into the truth behind that fire. Which one of them was it? Seeing her eyes full of resentment, Luo Huaiyu¡¯s gaze turned completely cold. ¡°If you want to land yourself in prison, go ahead.¡± Only knowing how to attack, unwilling to conserve strength, this eldest granddaughter had to be abandoned. The internal traitor also had to be cleared out. In the afternoon, Tang Xiang and Zhou Qingrang were on their way to the nursing home to see Ms. He. On the road, Tang Xiang received a call from Da Jin. ¡°Sister Xiang, the diamond rough has been resold.¡± Such a rare and precious rough, once it hits the black market, was snatched up in minutes. ¡°It sold for ninety-five million!¡± Da Jin was so excited; he had never seen so much money in his life, truly ecstatic. ¡°Sister Xiang, how do we split it among the brothers?¡± Ninety million, enough for him to get at least a truckload. Tang Xiang didn¡¯t discuss the split, just asked, ¡°You dare to use such dirty money?¡± Dare to! Why not?! Let him use it all! Tang Xiang: ¡°Just donate it.¡± Da Jin almost bit his tongue. ¡°What?!¡± Other than cursing, he didn¡¯t want to speak. Mr. Tang had seen the world; ninety million seemed like nothing to her: ¡°I¡¯ll give you your hard-earned money separately, donate that sum.¡± The Luo family had committed so many sins; it was time to ¡°take¡± some money out for charity. Da Jin felt as if struck by lightning. Don¡¯t! That¡¯s trucks full of money! Da Jin hurriedly pleaded, ¡°Sister Xiang, maybe you should reconsider?¡± Your brothers need it if you don¡¯t! Tang Xiang did reconsider, then asked, ¡°Under whose name would it be more appropriate to donate? Yours or mine?¡± Da Jin quickly said, ¡°Mine, mine!¡± S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Tang Xiang promptly agreed, ¡°Alright, that¡¯s settled then.¡± Da Jin: ¡°¡­¡± He had just missed his chance at several truckloads of money. Tang Xiang hung up the phone, ¡°We¡¯re here.¡± She parked the car on the side of the road. Zhou Qingrang took his cane and got out of the car. As soon as the two of them walked into the nursing home, a caregiver ran over in a hurry, looking anxious. ¡°Miss Tang, you arrived just in time, there¡¯s been an incident.¡± Tang Xiang asked, ¡°What happened?¡± ¡°Ms. He is missing.¡± It was almost evening, and outside the sky was dim. Jiang Zhi was on a video call with a film post-production manager, while Zhou Xufang tiptoed into the kitchen, struggled for a while, but still sneakily opened the fridge door and took out a can of iced milk. Click. She had just pulled off the ring pull. ¡°Zhou Xufang!¡± Zhou Xufang¡¯s hand trembled, spilling the milk. ¡°Here.¡± Jiang Zhi stormed in. ¡°You¡¯re sneaking iced milk again!¡± Ever since getting a boyfriend, the wall of milk she accumulated started to dwindle slower. Jiang Zhi liked the milk himself, and who knows what his doctor told him, but he began to control his intake, and as a result, Zhou Xufang¡¯s intake as well. Maybe fearing getting high blood sugar, high cholesterol, and high blood pressure in old age. Zhou Xufang quietly put the opened can of milk back. ¡°I¡¯ve only had four cans today.¡± He sounded a bit guilty. Jiang Zhi looked like a nagging elder, his face stern, ¡°I¡¯ve seen it six times already.¡± One kiss, and it was a burst of milk flavor. Zhou Xufang had an innocent look on his face, ¡°Really?¡± It seemed like she had drunk eight cans. Couldn¡¯t blame her for being greedy, it was that imported milk came in cans too small, thumbs down! Jiang Zhi let her do as she pleased in other matters, but he was strict when it came to her eating habits, ¡°You don¡¯t eat regular meals every day but only snack. If you keep being disobedient, I¡¯ll throw out all the snacks at home.¡± Look at her! There was a cabinet full of marshmallows that he had filled up just a few days ago, and already half of it was gone. Marshmallows were one thing; they¡¯re not too unhealthy, but she had also been eating lots of puffed snacks and ice cream lately, loving everything but refusing to eat rice. Zhou Xufang, having been scolded, behaved and didn¡¯t talk back, ¡°Then I won¡¯t drink milk anymore.¡± She held up a finger, trying to make a deal, ¡°Can I drink a bottle of AD calcium milk instead?¡± Jiang Zhi tugged on the hood of her hoodie, pulling her out of the kitchen, ¡°No.¡± Zhou Xufang: ¡°¡­¡± So annoying, this guy! She could only sneak drinks when he wasn¡¯t home. Jiang Zhi¡¯s video call still wasn¡¯t over; he had her sit on the sofa opposite him so he could work and keep an eye on her at the same time. Zhou Xufang was not pleased and took out her phone to complain to Ah Wan. ¡°Jiang Zhi is so unreasonable; he won¡¯t even let me drink AD calcium milk.¡± Invincible Man Lin: ¡°Right?¡± Invincible Man Lin: ¡°I told you before, he¡¯s like a deep, cold well.¡± Ah Wan even sent a cold-well emoji. Zhou Xufang had seen this emoji used to insult someone in her readers¡¯ group chat; she got angry immediately, extremely angry, and jabbed at the keyboard on her phone screen with force, ¡°How could you insult Jiang Zhi?¡± Weren¡¯t you the first to insult him? Ah Wan sent back another emoji: [A face of utter confusion] GIF Zhou Xufang was still very angry, ¡°Lin Wanwan, you¡¯re being too much.¡± Ah Wan: ¡°¡­¡± How was he being too much? Zhou Xufang: ¡°Lin Dazhuang, we¡¯re not friends anymore.¡± She wouldn¡¯t bother with anyone who insulted Jiang Zhi! Lin Dazhuang: ¡°¡­¡± The moral and kind Miss Zhou was getting corrupted; Jiang Zhi¡¯s influence was pulling her further away from being moral and kind. Invincible Man Lin: ¡°But you were the one who insulted him first.¡± How could she blame him now?! Zhou Xufang did blame him, still upset, ¡°I can insult my boyfriend, but you can¡¯t.¡± Invincible Man Lin: [I wish I were dead!] GIF Zhou Xufang: ¡°.¡± Even when she was angry, she was still a stickler for details¡ªshe didn¡¯t want to talk to Lin Dazhuang anymore, but she had to punctuate with a period. Lin Dazhuang was also getting angry. ¡°Miss Zhou, you¡¯re being unreasonable. Don¡¯t come to me to complain about your boyfriend anymore!¡± Lin Dazhuang typed out the message and hit send. The screen popped up with the message: Little Ancestor Fang Bao has started friend verification; you are not his/her friend yet. Please send a friend verification request first, and after the other party approves, you can chat, send friend verification. Lin Dazhuang: ¡°¡­¡± Why can¡¯t the world be a bit more friendly? After blocking Ah Wan, Zhou Xufang went to tattletale on Jiang Zhi, ¡°Jiang Zhi, I¡¯m in a bad mood.¡± Jiang Zhi asked the post-production to wait and ended the video call, asking Zhou Xufang, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± She said, ¡°Someone was mean and said things I didn¡¯t like to hear.¡± Even though Lin Wanwan was mean, she still didn¡¯t tell Jiang Zhi who it was, even more afraid to tell him someone had called him cold as a deep well¡ªshe was worried it would hurt his feelings. Jiang Zhi sat next to her, ¡°Who? I¡¯ll teach them a lesson for you.¡± Zhou Xufang still didn¡¯t want Lin Dazhuang to be scolded by Jiang Zhi, so she told a little lie, ¡°You don¡¯t know them; it¡¯s one of my reader friends.¡± Jiang Zhi was at a loss then. Zhou Xufang¡¯s face was furrowed, her expression mournful, ¡°I¡¯m not in a good mood.¡± This silly, cold, cute kind of sorrow was very much like an emoji. Jiang Zhi wanted to laugh but held back, feigning a cough, ¡°What do you want me to do to cheer you up?¡± Zhou Xufang¡¯s emoji face changed to a more serious one as she played slick, ¡°No need to cheer me up, just let me have a bottle of AD calcium milk and I¡¯ll be fine.¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± This girl, he didn¡¯t know who had taught her, but she was becoming naughty. Considering she was in a bad mood, Jiang Zhi went and got a bottle of AD calcium milk from the fridge and laid down the law before giving it to her, ¡°If you dare to eat only a little bit at dinner tonight, you won¡¯t get a single sip tomorrow.¡± Zhou Xufang smiled, ¡°Okay~¡± Chapter 211 - 211 211 Errand runner exposed Luo Qinghe brutally ?Chapter 211: 211: Errand runner exposed, Luo Qinghe brutally beaten (first update) Chapter 211: 211: Errand runner exposed, Luo Qinghe brutally beaten (first update) Zhou Xufang grinned, ¡°Alright¡«¡± Jiang Zhi then allowed her to drink. The cell phone on the sofa rang, and Jiang Zhi answered it. It was Tang Xiang, ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± Her voice was rushed as she said, ¡°My mother is with Luo Qinghe.¡± S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°The Luo Family?¡± ¡°No, she hasn¡¯t sent me the address yet. She asked me to come alone.¡± Luo Qinghe must have suspected her and was probably planning to give her a taste of her own medicine. Jiang Zhi asked, ¡°What does she want?¡± ¡°She didn¡¯t say.¡± Tang Xiang guessed, ¡°It must be about the original recording.¡± It was eight forty in the evening. On Zhangjiang Bridge, the cold wind was moist. A stretched sedan was parked by the roadside, its windows tightly shut. The back seat was spacious with a wheelchair placed inside; Luo Qinghe sat next to the wheelchair with a briefcase on her lap. The briefcase was open, and the light from the screen shone on her black coat. Luo Qinghe was wearing headphones. After watching the video, she muttered to herself, ¡°So it was you.¡± It was her. Luo Qinghe took off her headphones and suddenly burst into laughter, ¡°Hahahahaha¡­¡± Because she laughed so loudly, the person sleeping behind her woke up. She encrypted the video, saved it, closed the briefcase, stood up, walked to the back seat, and squatted down: ¡°Aunt Xiu, Xiangxiang is here to pick you up. Let¡¯s go down.¡± Ms. He had been injected with drugs, her mind dazed and groggy, unconsciously murmuring, ¡°Xiangxiang.¡± At nine o¡¯clock, Tang Xiang arrived at Zhangjiang Bridge. Before she even got close, she saw Ms. He tied to the outside of the railing. She hurriedly ran towards her. ¡°Mom!¡± Luo Qinghe stood next to Ms. He, holding a small knife in her hand, and said, ¡°Stand still and don¡¯t move.¡± Tang Xiang stopped. Her mother was clearly disoriented, shaking her head and swaying, her entire body outside the railing, only held in place by a rope tied around her wrist to the railing. Luo Qinghe toyed with the small knife in her hand, the blade inadvertently brushing against the rope, ¡°Don¡¯t come too close. If you startle me and my hand slips, I can¡¯t guarantee the rope won¡¯t be cut.¡± Tang Xiang dared not move closer; her eyes were filled with urgency, ¡°You crazy woman, do you know what you¡¯re doing?¡± Luo Qinghe was insulted but still laughed, her eyes looking sinister and gloomy, ¡°You already called me a crazy woman. How would I know what I¡¯m doing?¡± She was impervious to reason; Tang Xiang grew both angry and anxious, ¡°I called the police before I came. They¡¯ll be here soon. If you don¡¯t want to go to prison, release her now.¡± The riverside wind was strong, causing Ms. He to sway perilously, the rope around her wrist creaking under the strain. Tang Xiang felt her heart might jump out! Luo Qinghe still laughed like a ghastly fiend, wearing a ruby hairpin, her red lips parting and closing, ¡°Releasing your mother won¡¯t keep me out of prison either. So tell me, why should I let her go?¡± Madwoman! Truly a madwoman! Tang Xiang was infuriated, ¡°Then, what the hell do you want!¡± ¡°You don¡¯t know what I want?¡± Luo Qinghe¡¯s single eyelids made her look unsympathetic and enchanting, ¡°Stop pretending, Tang Xiang, give me the original.¡± Tang Xiang immediately countered, ¡°What original?¡± Playing dumb. Luo Qinghe was in no rush, leisurely tapping the small knife in her hand, ¡°The old case in the Luo Family¡¯s garden; you¡¯re the one with a motive to dig to the root of it.¡± So many related to that case, it could also be traced back to Tang Xiang. If it really was her, that would be impressive. Enduring and working dutifully against the Luo Family for eight years, one could see her determination and tolerance were extraordinary. Even if it was not her¡­ Luo Qinghe remained calm, ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter if you don¡¯t admit it, I¡¯m not afraid of making a wrongful execution.¡± As long as nothing slips, trying each related person one by one, digging three feet into the ground should uncover something. Tang Xiang thought of a word¡ªDevil. Luo Qinghe was truly terrifying; the small knife was already pressing down on the rope. Tang Xiang shouted, ¡°Wait!¡± She tried to stall, ¡°I don¡¯t know what original you are speaking of, but I¡¯ll do anything, just don¡¯t hurt my mom.¡± Still unwilling to confess, was it not her then? Luo Qinghe lingered in speech, acrimoniously, ¡°So the mole isn¡¯t you.¡± She pretended to pity herself, ¡°Then what should I do? If I can¡¯t find the person framing me, my end might be close.¡± Her tone shifted, smiling revealing her teeth, ¡°Then I might have to drag someone down with me.¡± She rubbed the blade against the rope, and the flimsy rope immediately broke halfway. Damn! This crazy woman! Tang Xiang couldn¡¯t drag it out any longer and had to compromise, ¡°You want the original, right? Fine, here, I¡¯ll give you everything!¡± She took the backpack off her back and threw it over. Luo Qinghe still stood in place, not even bothering to pick it up, and gave a smirk, ¡°Heh.¡± Glancing at the item on the ground, she said, ¡°Too late, I don¡¯t want it anymore.¡± Who knows if these were just copied or recorded. Tang Xiang was nearly driven insane by this madwoman, ¡°Luo Qinghe!¡± Luo Qinghe didn¡¯t even look at her and leaned on the railing, gazing down at the rushing waters of the Zhangjiang River below, ¡°The currents of the Zhangjiang are strong. If you fall in, the chance of survival is very small.¡± She said, ¡°My dad died right here.¡± Right next to it, the crime scene¡¯s expandable barriers had yet to be removed, and the railing there had also been destroyed. Luo Qinghe turned her distant gaze back to the disoriented Ms. He and suddenly spoke in a gentle voice, ¡°Aunt Xiu, you should join him too.¡± After saying that, she swiftly slashed down. The rope snapped¡­ ¡°Mom!¡± Tang Xiang immediately ran towards the edge of the bridge. Just as Ms. He started to fall, the rope tied around her wrist was grabbed. Almost simultaneously, Luo Qinghe¡¯s neck was seized by a hand wearing black gloves. Here he came, the professional errand runner, Z. Luo Qinghe¡¯s pupils dilated, gasping frantically with her neck choked while her mouth hung open. The small knife in her hand dropped to the ground as she knocked the glasses off the face before her. Beneath the glasses were a pair of blood-red eyes. Zhou Xufang was enraged, and once she became angry, violence followed, her voice becoming slightly hoarse, barely contained, ¡°I don¡¯t hit women, but today I¡¯ll make an exception.¡± This woman, so bad, so bad, it made her itch to hit her! Zhou Xufang held her by the neck, and pushed forcefully, using about eighty percent of her strength. Luo Qinghe was sent flying, crashing into the railing a few meters away and rolled onto the ground, screaming in pain like a piece of rag. Zhou Xufang freed her hands and immediately pulled Ms. He back onto the bridge from over the railing. Tang Xiang quickly went over to support Ms. He. The professional errand runner Z, it was her first time seeing him with her own eyes. Was he hired by Jiang Zhi? Apart from her, only Jiang Zhi knew about this. As she was wondering, a gust of wind swept by, and when she looked up again, the errand runner clad in a black jacket had already moved to the opposite side of the bridge. Luo Qinghe¡¯s pupils contracted sharply. In just two seconds, the man was in front of her. She sat up from the ground, her back numb from the impact, and looked up at those blood-coloured eyes, ¡°I remember you warned me that when you get angry, your eyes turn red. I didn¡¯t believe it back then.¡± Fear was evident in her eyes, yet it was mixed with a thrill of excitement, ¡°Turns out you really are a Monster.¡± No wonder he could climb walls, was immune to weapons, and could strike terror in the entire errand runner circle. This Monster had one weakness, she dared not kill. Zhou Xufang adjusted the cap embroidered with letters on her head, ¡°Yes, Monster now wants to kill you.¡± She had never felt such an urge to kill someone before. She couldn¡¯t hold it back anymore and kicked Luo Qinghe squarely in the chest. Luo Qinghe rolled several meters across the ground from the kick. Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t hold back, and Luo Qinghe¡¯s face instantly turned pale, remaining motionless on the ground for a long time. She coughed, tasting blood in her throat. It took her a long time to get up, her red gem on her head shining brightly, and she suddenly burst into raucous laughter, ¡°Hahahahahahahaha¡­¡± Like a madwoman. Zhou Xufang approached, ¡°What are you laughing at?¡± Her eyes filled with red vessels as she laughed, ¡°Laughing at how foolish you all are, hahahaha¡­¡± ¡°Madwoman.¡± Beast! Even someone as good-tempered as Zhou Xufang felt like exploding in anger. She squatted down, grabbed Luo Qinghe by the collar, and punched her in the stomach. Luo Qinghe screamed in pain but there was a gleeful and wild look in her eyes even while being violently subdued; she showed no sign of submission or remorse. Zhou Xufang threw another punch. ¡°Cough, cough, cough¡­¡± Luo Qinghe lay on the ground, spitting out a mouthful of blood. Zhou Xufang¡¯s eyes grew darker with bloodlust as she crouched down, picked her up, made a fist, and smashed it down¡ª ¡°Enough.¡± Her hand was grabbed, and Jiang Zhi had arrived, dressed in black just like her, ¡°She¡¯ll die, you can¡¯t hit her anymore.¡± His voice was very low, audible only to Zhou Xufang. Zhou Xufang turned around, her pupils bright red, ¡°Then let her die.¡± Chapter 212 - 212 212 Luo Sans survival is exposed who wants to mess ?Chapter 212: 212: Luo San¡¯s survival is exposed, who wants to mess with Fang Bao? (Second update) Chapter 212: 212: Luo San¡¯s survival is exposed, who wants to mess with Fang Bao? (Second update) Zhou Xufang turned her head, her pupils crimson, ¡°Then let her die.¡± Such people aren¡¯t worth mourning. Jiang Zhi¡¯s hat was hers, and it was also embroidered with the letter Z. The brim was pulled down low, and the mask and glasses concealed her face. Zhou Xufang could only faintly see a glimmer of his eyes behind the glasses, like a flame rising up in a dark desert. He was still holding her hand, not letting go, ¡°Are you sure you want to kill her?¡± Zhou Xufang was at a loss for words for a moment. To kill someone¡­ S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Her hands had been stained with blood, but never with a life. She didn¡¯t answer, and Jiang Zhi answered for her, ¡°Okay.¡± He pulled her behind him, ¡°I¡¯ll be the one to do it.¡± He didn¡¯t hesitate to pull out a dagger, his gaze fixed on the position of Luo Qinghe¡¯s heart. If someone had to be killed, it would have to be him. Zhou Xufang couldn¡¯t do it. Luo Qinghe struggled to sit up from the ground, fear finally appearing in her eyes, she dragged her legs on the ground, constantly retreating. Jiang Zhi kept advancing. He raised his hand, and the white light reflected by the dagger flashed¡­ Zhou Xufang grabbed him, ¡°Don¡¯t kill her, don¡¯t kill her.¡± You can¡¯t kill people. No matter how angry, there has to be a line. Only then did Jiang Zhi hold back. At this time, Tang Xiang shouted, ¡°The police are coming soon, you guys go first.¡± Before she came, Jiang Zhi had given her the original document, which was in her bag. Luo Qinghe with her paranoia, who knew what crazy schemes she was cooking up. Jiang Zhi picked up Zhou Xufang¡¯s glasses that had fallen to the ground and led her away. Ms. He, who had regained some consciousness, suddenly rushed over, grabbed her, ¡°Luo San.¡± She was frantic, ¡°Luo San, where are you going?¡± Tang Xiang pulled Ms. He back and said to the two professional errand runners, ¡°Hurry up and go.¡± Jiang Zhi immediately led people away. Behind them, Luo Qinghe was lying on the ground, her face pale, blood oozing from the corners of her mouth, yet she was still laughing. Tang Xiang, annoyed, said, ¡°What the hell are you laughing at?¡± She got up, saying, ¡°Tang Xiang, thanks.¡± Crazy! ¡°My target isn¡¯t you, nor that original document.¡± She raised her hand, wiping the blood from her mouth, ¡°I won, haha¡­¡± She must have gone mad. At that moment, the sound of police sirens rang out. Luo Qinghe didn¡¯t end up at the police station; because of her serious injuries, she was taken to the hospital. How serious were the injuries? Her spleen had ruptured and required surgery. By the time she finished the surgery and regained consciousness, it was already the next day. She and Tang Xiang had their respective stories; one side claimed Luo Qinghe had attempted kidnapping, the other side claimed Tang Xiang had intentionally caused injury, neither with evidence, and the police could only detain both temporarily. Neither of them filed formal charges; after forty-eight hours, they each paid a fine and settled the matter privately. Changling Hospital. Luo Qinghe had been recuperating for two days and was already able to walk around. The director of Changling Hospital, Xiao Yi, was her maternal uncle, but he wasn¡¯t at the hospital during the two days of her stay. She made a phone call to him, ¡°Uncle, it¡¯s me.¡± ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± ¡°Did you personally deal with Luo San¡¯s body eight years ago?¡± Because a nosy firefighter pulled the body out before it was burnt to ashes. ¡°Yes, your father even came to the hospital specifically, asking me to deal with it as soon as possible,¡± Xiao Yi asked, ¡°Why?¡± She had clearly heard He Xiangxiu calling that Monster ¡°Luo San.¡± She said, ¡°Nothing much, just encountered something strange.¡± If there are monsters in this world, then nothing strange seems strange anymore. After hanging up, she threw her phone on the hospital bed, reached under her pillow, and felt the ruby hairpin. Click. The gem was removed, revealing a hidden miniature camera inside. ¡°Heh.¡± She chuckled softly. There was a knock on the door, ¡°Knock, knock, knock.¡± She placed the hairpin back under the pillow, ¡°Come in.¡± It was Mr. Xu Wu from the Xu Family, Xu Pozhi, who came in holding flowers. ¡°What are you doing here?¡± Xu Pozhi set down the flowers, ¡°Came to see you.¡± He turned his head to look at her; one artificial eye couldn¡¯t move, only one eyeball turned toward her. ¡°Are we close?¡± Her tone was disdainful and perfunctory. Xu Pozhi smiled and sat down, ¡°Visit a few more times and we¡¯ll be close.¡± No good deed comes without an ulterior motive. She couldn¡¯t help but be on guard, ¡°How did you get the news? Knowing I¡¯m in the hospital.¡± Xu Pozhi didn¡¯t answer directly, ¡°As I said before, I¡¯ve always been paying attention to you.¡± Last time at the bar, the lighting was dim, and she hadn¡¯t seen his face clear. Now that they were close, Luo Qinghe noticed his face appeared as if it had been cut by a knife. The area around his damaged eye looked unnatural and very discordant. No wonder looking at that face is so horrifying. Luo Qinghe continued his line of thought, ¡°The word ¡®paying attention,¡¯ if taken lightly, means inquiring; if taken seriously, means surveillance.¡± She leaned forward, staring at his frightening prosthetic eye with too much white showing, and asked, ¡°Which one is it, Mr. Xu Wu?¡± Mr. Xu Pozhi straightened his wine-red tie, ¡°Just the right amount of pressure.¡± Luo Qinghe smiled, ¡°Then what else did you notice?¡± ¡°The Luo Family hasn¡¯t announced the death yet,¡± he said, ¡°My condolences.¡± The news of Luo Changde¡¯s death was still being kept secret by the Luo Family, and the number of informed could be counted on two hands. The needle on the back of her hand was slightly crooked, she adjusted it and asked calmly, ¡°Anything else? Did you check on the Zhangjiang Bridge incident? And did you investigate Peng Xianzhi¡¯s matter?¡± He didn¡¯t answer directly, his words carrying hidden meanings, ¡°We¡¯ll meet a few more times, and I¡¯ll tell you slowly.¡± This person is of unknown background and very dangerous. ¡°It seems like you are intentionally getting close to me,¡± Luo Qinghe moved closer to him, ¡°What is your purpose?¡± He gazed intently at her, his expression unchanged as he said, ¡°I like you.¡± His incongruous face twisted into a smile, and he said, ¡°I want to marry you.¡± Marry her? Luo Qinghe let out a laugh, ¡°That¡¯s really funny.¡± Marry her, is this one-eyed dragon even worthy? Mr. Xu Pozhi remained unfazed, his rough features looking intimidating even when not angry, ¡°You¡¯ll find out, it¡¯s not funny at all.¡± ¡°There¡¯s no future, I don¡¯t like you one bit.¡± Luo Qinghe pressed the call button by the bed, ¡°I like beautiful eyes.¡± The best kind, peach blossom eyes. The young Miss of the Luo Family had been notably proud and unapproachable since her youth, deeming ordinary men unworthy. Back then, he was not called Xu Pozhi, but Ah Bin, a lowly gardener. The Miss had instructed him to take good care of her mother¡¯s favorite orchids, which he tended with great care, even personally delivering them. ¡°Miss,¡± he didn¡¯t dare to enter, standing at the doorway, his washed-out yellow clothes bringing him extreme embarrassment. The Miss¡¯s room, furnished lavishly and beautifully, she sat at her desk holding an all-English book, not looking up, ¡°What is it?¡± Ah Bin handed over the flower, ¡°The orchid.¡± She closed the book, ¡°Stuttering, is there something wrong with your tongue?¡± Ah Bin was about to say no. She was impatient, disgust evident, ¡°Get out.¡± He placed the flowerpot by the door, not daring to look up, eyes fixed on the floor as he left. A servant came by just then, announcing, ¡°Miss, Young Master Jiang from the Jiang Family is here.¡± The young girl in the room immediately stood up, went to the wardrobe, picked out a sky-blue dress, held it up to the mirror to see how it looked, and ordered the servants, ¡°Clean my room again, something dirty came in.¡± Ah Bin sped up his step, practically running out. That afternoon, while he was working in the greenhouse, he saw that sky-blue dress again. ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± That beautiful young man didn¡¯t even acknowledge her. She ran after him, the hem of her sky-blue dress swaying, ¡°Wait for me, I have something to say to you.¡± Ah Bin in the greenhouse watched her slender legs beneath the skirt. That evening, there was an annual film festival, and a movie Jiang Zhi directed earlier that year was nominated for Best Picture; as the core of the creative team, he was invited to attend. Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t want to go. Jiang Zhi, dragging his feet before leaving, wasn¡¯t keen either, ¡°I¡¯ll just make an appearance and come back.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Zhou Xufang saw him to the entryway. Jiang Zhi instructed her again, ¡°Don¡¯t roam around the house while I¡¯m gone.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± These days, they had been almost inseparable, accustomed to taking her everywhere. Now, having to part for a while, Jiang Zhi felt uneasy. It felt¡­ like the first time taking his daughter to kindergarten. A father lingers, unable to leave the kindergarten entrance. Jiang Zhi took a step out, then hesitated and turned back, ¡°You should come with me to the film festival, I¡¯m worried about leaving you alone.¡± Zhou Xufang looked sincere, ¡°Worried about what?¡± ¡°Afraid you¡¯ll snack too much.¡± Jiang Zhi knew her so well. Zhou Xufang, now adept at fibbing without blinking, ¡°No, I promise.¡± Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t trust her promise, ¡°You really won¡¯t come with me?¡± She shook her head, ¡°I don¡¯t want to be on camera.¡± He didn¡¯t push her, ¡°Alright, wait for me at home.¡± She agreed. Jiang Zhi took his time kissing her goodbye before he finally left. The film festival was starting at 8 PM and was being livestreamed online. Zhou Xufang ordered takeout, moved a tub of egg-free ice cream from the fridge, along with several bags of chips, some cotton candy, and a box of duck necks. She munched on the snacks, waiting at the computer for the live broadcast of the film festival. The festival had only just started and she hadn¡¯t even seen Jiang Zhi yet when the desktop computer next to her laptop suddenly turned on and an alarm rang out. ¡°Ah Fang.¡± Shuangjiang displayed a yellow font, a warning: ¡°Something¡¯s wrong downstairs.¡± There were surveillance cameras installed downstairs, keeping Shuangjiang informed of every move. Zhou Xufang asked, ¡°What happened?¡± Shuangjiang switched to the surveillance feed from downstairs: ¡°There are people beneath your apartment.¡± There were six individuals surrounding the entrance to building seventeen. Chapter 213 - 213 213 The lethal drug that causes Xu Fang to bleed ?Chapter 213: 213: The lethal drug that causes Xu Fang to bleed profusely (first update Chapter 213: 213: The lethal drug that causes Xu Fang to bleed profusely (first update There were six people surrounding the entrance and exit of building seventeen. Zhou Xufang put on a mask and a hat and slipped on a jacket before heading out. She didn¡¯t take the stairs but went to the rooftop and leapt down, landing behind building seventeen. She picked up a stone from the ground and threw it upwards, knocking the surveillance camera askew. The group of men with unclear intentions also came over at the sound. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. There were not just six of them but a total of eight¡ªeach one empty-handed but by their attire and build, they all appeared to be professional hitmen. Zhou Xufang assessed them, ¡°Who are you?¡± The men were also sizing her up. The man leading them was the shortest, with thick eyebrows and big eyes, and he wore a mask on his face, ¡°Are you Zhou Xufang?¡± They weren¡¯t here for the professional errand runner; they were here for Zhou Xufang. Zhou Xufang denied it, ¡°I¡¯m not.¡± The leading man did not engage in idle chatter, ¡°Whether you are or not, we¡¯ll find out.¡± He raised his hand, snapped his fingers, and commanded, ¡°Go!¡± The seven men excluding him closed in on Zhou Xufang, all tall and burly. A man to her left pulled out a telescopic stick from his waistband, flicked the switch, and swung it at Zhou Xufang. She dodged by stepping to the side and delivered a side kick, kicking the telescopic stick out of the man¡¯s hand to the ground. The man cried out in pain, unable to lift the hand that was struck. Zhou Xufang quickly picked up that telescopic stick, and as two men approached her from left and right, she immediately moved, circling to the back of one of them. Before he could react, she pushed him hard. The man went flying, crashing into his accomplice, both rolling to the ground. These men were quite agile, but they were no match for Zhou Xufang. She could lay them all out in five minutes. The fourth one was now hanging on the community¡¯s protective net, having been punched there by her. The leader among the eight men had been watching the fight from the side without stepping in until the fifth man fell. Then he pulled out a gun from the pocket of his dress pants, aiming in the dim streetlight. Zhou Xufang was being swarmed by two men. ¡°Whoosh!¡± It wasn¡¯t the sound of a gunshot but of an injection needle being fired. Zhou Xufang reacted with lightning speed, side-stepping to avoid a critical hit, but the needle still pricked her arm. It didn¡¯t hurt much, and she immediately pulled out the needle. If it was an anesthetic, given the dosage, it wouldn¡¯t have any effect on her. She dropped the needle on the ground and glanced at the sneak attacker before launching her assault. That man had the best skills among them, barely dodging Zhou Xufang¡¯s punches. Just as she was about to launch a second attack, her outstretched hands suddenly went weak; she staggered, nearly unable to stand. It wasn¡¯t an anesthetic; it was penicillin¡­ Her steps were faltering, and her vision began to blur. The gunman seized this moment to pull out a dagger and lunged at her aggressively. With her legs unsteady and her movements slow, she tried to dodge but wasn¡¯t fast enough. The dagger plunged straight into her back. She managed to land a kick to the man¡¯s chest. Due to the recoil, she stepped backwards several paces. The dagger had penetrated deeply, and the bleeding stopped instantly; the wound was visibly healing. Once penicillin took effect, it would slow down her recovery and self-healing abilities, bringing them below the level of a normal person. This would cause a clotting disorder, while the circulation of her blood would speed up to several times that of an average person. The wound that had just started to heal, cracked open again. Blood seeped out, first in small trickles, but within seconds, the flow increased, gushing out more and more¡­ She swayed, then fell backward. In her earpiece, Shuangjiang called to her with a synthesized voice, ¡°Ah Fang.¡± She lay on the ground, and in a short while, a small puddle of blood had formed on her back. ¡°Ah Fang.¡± ¡°Ah Fang!¡± There was no response. Shuangjiang switched to the surveillance feed and took a glance, immediately feeling frantic. Zhou Xufang said that Jiang Zhi was going to the film festival tonight, which was a live broadcast. She wasn¡¯t sure if her phone was permitted inside, so she tried calling, but as expected, no one answered. It was too late¡­ She sat down and her fingers hit the keyboard, quickly typing as code scrolled rapidly across the screen. At half-past eight in the evening, as soon as Qiao Nanchu arrived home, he received a call from the duty officer at the station. He took off his jacket and threw it on the couch, picking up the call, ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± Li Xiaodong reported to him, ¡°SpongeBob has graced our Criminal Intelligence Department again.¡± SpongeBob referred to the hacker Shuangjiang, who the colleagues in the intelligence department called so because each time she hacked into their system, she¡¯d pop up an image of SpongeBob. They had become so accustomed to her ¡®visits¡¯ that they would even miss her if she didn¡¯t ¡®play¡¯ for a few days. However, after so many confrontations, they realized that SpongeBob wasn¡¯t some kind of terrible villain. Qiao Nanchu asked, ¡°What does she want this time?¡± Li Xiaodong said, ¡°Just sent a few screenshots. It looks like someone got killed.¡± Similar situations had occurred before, like reports of sorts, ¡°Lu Ning is still verifying it.¡± ¡°Send them over to me to take a look.¡± Li Xiaodong said OK and sent the screenshots over. The images were taken outdoors, the lighting was dim, and the camera was far away, so they weren¡¯t very clear, but Qiao Nanchu still recognized the person lying on the ground. ¡°No need to verify anymore, the location is Yuquan Bay.¡± He immediately gave the order, ¡°Don¡¯t alert the Criminal Investigation Team yet, you take a few people over there.¡± Li Xiaodong was puzzled, ¡°Just us going over?¡± Why not contact the Criminal Investigation Team? If the screenshots were real, this was obviously a criminal case. Qiao Nanchu didn¡¯t explain, ¡°Don¡¯t ask so much, just take people over there first, I¡¯ll be at the scene in twenty minutes.¡± Zhou Xufang had a special profession, her matters couldn¡¯t be made public. Li Xiaodong didn¡¯t ask any further, and replied, ¡°I¡¯ll take action right away.¡± Qiao Nanchu hung up the phone and dialed Jiang Zhi¡¯s number, and he picked up after one ring. Qiao Nanchu was terse, ¡°Jiang Zhi, Zhou Xufang is in trouble.¡± Time rewound a quarter of an hour, to eight fifteen. Jiang Zhi had just entered the venue. Xue Baoyi called him over to sit. He had just sat down. Xue Baoyi tilted her head and leaned in, whispering to him, ¡°Brother Zhi, you really have your own style, arriving a quarter-hour late.¡± Only Jiang Zhi would be late to such occasions. No, there was also some upstart Weaver who was blissfully unaware of her stature. Jiang Zhi shifted to the other side, ¡°Speak if you want to speak, don¡¯t get so close.¡± Xue Baoyi was a rebel, she loved teasing beautiful people, ¡°I won¡¯t.¡± If the angle was right, one could snap a photo of Young Master Baoguang ¡®snuggling¡¯ up to Director Jiang¡¯s shoulder, the two of them appearing close and intimate. It seemed the Young Master had annoyed Director Jiang and was now coaxing him. Xue Baoyi moved closer and reached out to ¡®caress¡¯ Director Jiang¡¯s face. Director Jiang caught the Young Master¡¯s hand in one go. Fang Lixiang, one of the only other latecomers, witnessed it all and was immediately agape, ¡°Oh, my god!¡± Was she witnessing her best friend¡¯s boyfriend cheating? Seeing someone, Xue Baoyi quickly let go of Jiang Zhi¡¯s hand, and even bit back, ¡°Don¡¯t touch me, bastard!¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± Bastard! Jiang Zhi couldn¡¯t be bothered to deal with him anymore. Because Fang Lixiang was late, worried about being caught on camera, she covered her face and timidly looked for her seat. Like an ostrich! Xue Baoyi called her over in a hushed voice, trying to cover the noise, ¡°Fang Lixiang, come sit by me.¡± Fang Lixiang glanced at the seat next to the boss, where a woman¡¯s handbag was placed, presumably because the seat¡¯s owner had gone to the restroom. Of course, she wasn¡¯t going to poach someone else¡¯s spot, ¡°My seat isn¡¯t there.¡± It¡¯s not like she didn¡¯t have a seat. Xue Baoyi was like a bandit, speaking in a heavy Beijing accent, ¡°When I tell you to come sit, you come sit.¡± Alright then, she sat down. In the darkness, the ¡®bandit¡¯ revealed a triumphant smile. After sitting for a while, the original owner of the seat returned from the restroom. She was a popular actress. She looked at Fang Lixiang, then back at Xue Baoyi, and then displayed an expression of apparent understanding and significance. She cooperatively went to take Fang Lixiang¡¯s spot. Fang Lixiang handed over the popular actress¡¯s handbag, embarrassed but remaining polite. ¡°Boss.¡± Fang Lixiang faced forward, speaking softly. Xue Baoyi, not hearing clearly, leaned in a bit, ¡°Hmm?¡± Although she shouldn¡¯t meddle in the boss¡¯s private affairs as an employee, Zhou Xufang was her best friend, and she had to say something, ¡°Director Jiang already has a girlfriend, and they are very much in love.¡± You should stop interfering! Xue Baoyi raised an eyebrow, dressed in a flashy suit, carefree, looking like the most flamboyant bandit leader, ¡°So?¡± So: ¡°Stop bothering him.¡± Have some shame! Xue Baoyi: ¡°¡­¡± She didn¡¯t take kindly to the word ¡®bother,¡¯ ¡°Which eyes of yours saw me bothering him?¡± Fang Lixiang looked straight ahead, ¡°Both of them.¡± Xue Baoyi glanced over, and instead of sitting like a big shot in his own way, Fang Lixiang barely occupied half her seat, sitting upright and proper. He just saw the back of her head, ¡°Are you blind? Ever heard of brotherhood?¡± Chapter 214 - 214 214 Jiang Zhi Excitedly Receives an Award Travels ?Chapter 214: 214: Jiang Zhi Excitedly Receives an Award, Travels A Thousand Miles to Save Fang Bao (Second Update) Chapter 214: 214: Jiang Zhi Excitedly Receives an Award, Travels A Thousand Miles to Save Fang Bao (Second Update) Fang Lixiang was ¡°concentrating¡± on the award stage in front of him, ¡°Danmei stories all start with brotherly love.¡± Xue Baoyi, ¡°¡­¡± What the hell was stuffed inside his head? Before she could finish, she spoke solemnly, ¡°If you become the other woman, I will despise you for the rest of my life.¡± Her words painted him as an unashamed, persistent vixen; Xue Baoyi was fired up, ¡°I¡¯m straight, only like girls.¡± Only like girls, huh. Her curiosity instantly peaked, ¡°Someone like Tian Zhixiu? Or maybe Chu Yingbai.¡± If not, perhaps Mai Nu¡¯er, Zhang Huiqi, Guan Shishi, Yang Qian¡­ and so on. Xue Baoyi didn¡¯t grasp what she was going on about, ¡°What do they have to do with this?¡± Who¡¯s Tian Zhixiu? And who¡¯s Chu Yingbai? Those names sounded very familiar. Fang Lixiang considerately reminded her, ¡°Didn¡¯t you take them out for mahjong?¡± The media caught it, and it even made the trending list. Oh, it was the two girls brought by the boss from Guangna Media last week, not bad at mahjong, good at losing. That night, Xue Baoyi had the rare pleasure of winning a car. An honest game of mahjong, how did it turn into some sordid affair in her mouth? Given the situation, Xue Baoyi couldn¡¯t be bothered to explain, speaking maliciously, ¡°Jealous, huh? I¡¯ll take you to play mahjong next time.¡± Oh, heavens, it seemed she had invited trouble. Fang Lixiang immediately shut up, becoming a silent little sheep. On the award stage, the presenter¡¯s voice was correct and orderly, announcing, ¡°The winner for the Best Supporting Actress is¡ª¡± pausing for several seconds before reading, ¡°Su Chan.¡± After the declaration, the camera focused on the middle of the third row. Su Chan slowly stood up, dressed in a bright red cheongsam, her hair up in a bun. The high slit of the cheongsam revealed her fair legs intermittently; she rose gracefully with each step, unhurriedly making her way to the stage. The lights converged on her beautiful features, three parts charming; seven parts alluring, ¡°Good evening, I am Su Chan.¡± Below the award stage, applause thundered. This woman was born for this industry. Xue Baoyi leaned towards Jiang Zhi, ¡°What did you think of that fight scene just now?¡± He was referring to the fight scene from the film clip where Su Chan was nominated for Best Supporting Actress. Jiang Zhi had seen the premiere of that movie; it was well-produced, and both the script and the performers were impeccable. The protagonist was an artist in her sixties, with Su Chan playing her daughter. That elderly artist was also nominated for Best Actress. Jiang Zhi commented on the matter at hand, ¡°The standard is high.¡± Purely in terms of the fight scene, Su Chan was indeed outstanding among the younger generation of actors. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Of course, the standard is high; she started out as a stunt double.¡± Xue Baoyi touched her chin, eyeing the stage with that exotic beauty, ¡°Casting her in the new movie was the right choice; it will definitely be a hit.¡± Jiang Zhi was noncommittal. Onstage, Su Chan¡¯s acceptance speech was brief. At that moment, Jiang Zhi¡¯s phone in his pocket vibrated. Pulling it out, he saw an unfamiliar number. ¡°The next award, it¡¯s your turn, right?¡± Xue Baoyi whispered. The next award was for Best Picture, and the spy-themed movie Jiang Zhi had shot in the first half of the year was nominated. The big screen was already introducing the nominated works, one after the other. Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t answer the call, pocketing his phone instead. After the introduction of the nominated works was over, the presenter opened the white envelope and read out, ¡°The winner of the Best Picture Award is¡ª¡± To build suspense and atmosphere, the presenter deliberately drew out his words. Jiang Zhi¡¯s phone vibrated again. Initially ignoring it, continuous vibrations prompted him to glance at the caller ID; it was not the unfamiliar number from earlier. This time it was Zhou Xufang. At this hour, she should be home watching the award show; unless something urgent had happened, she wouldn¡¯t call. Jiang Zhi immediately picked up, saying, ¡°Xu Fang.¡± Xue Baoyi kicked his leg, covering her mouth to remind him, ¡°What are you doing, the camera is on you!¡± Taking a call at this time?! Jiang Zhi¡¯s phone call was projected onto the side screen. Now, not only the camera but hundreds of eyes in the venue turned toward him. Yet Jiang Zhi seemed oblivious to the surroundings, as silence fell; he only heard his anxious, flustered voice, ¡°Xu Fang.¡± No one responded to him. Jiang Zhi only heard the sound of wind and faint gasping, ¡°Say something, what happened?¡± From the phone came two intermittent, indistinct words, ¡°Jiang, Zhi¡­¡± It was Zhou Xufang. On the stage, the presenter intentionally raised his voice, overshadowing the sound from Jiang Zhi¡¯s phone, ¡°The winner of the Best Picture Award is¡ª¡¯Four-sided Chu Song¡¯.¡± On the large screen, beneath the film¡¯s title was a line, Director: Jiang Zhi. Jiang Zhi suddenly stood from his seat, ¡°Where are you?¡± The phone on the other end had already fallen silent. Jiang Zhi panicked, standing there absentmindedly, calling out to Zhou Xufang a few times. The noise around him was intense, with many people whispering among themselves. Xue Baoyi couldn¡¯t make out what Jiang Zhi was saying. He tugged at his suit jacket and reminded him once more, ¡°Everyone is watching you!¡± It¡¯s a live broadcast, get your phone away! He shook off Xue Baoyi¡¯s hand and instructed the creative team sitting behind him, ¡°Go accept it.¡± The screenwriter of ¡°Four-sided Chu Song¡± asked in a low voice, ¡°What about you?¡± He didn¡¯t explain anything and just left his seat. For a moment, there were lots of voices from below the stage, and the award presenter on the stage was stunned. The host immediately saved the situation. No reporter dared to stop Jiang Zhi, but all the cameras followed him. Xue Baoyi pinched the bridge of his nose, feeling a headache coming on, ¡°Normally it¡¯s fine, but can¡¯t you restrain yourself during a live broadcast? Just leaving like that, you¡¯re definitely going to be criticized in the headlines.¡± Jiang Zhi had risen to the top in the industry at such a young age; many were waiting to bring him down, especially since he was so outstanding looking. Although he had many female fans, there were also quite a few male fans who were critical of him. The rumors of his arrogant and dismissive behavior never ceased, and now that he had left the award ceremony so abruptly, Xue Baoyi could foresee the hot searches for the next couple of days. ¡°It must be something with Xu Fang,¡± Fang Lixiang muttered to herself next to him. Apart from Zhou Xufang, there probably wasn¡¯t anything else that could make Jiang Zhi lose his composure so greatly. Fang Lixiang shifted her position, avoiding the cameras as she called Zhou Xufang. No one answered, even after a long time, so she ducked under her chair and called her dad. Mr. Fang was walking the dog in the neighborhood and answered the phone, surprised, ¡°What¡¯s wrong, my girl? Aren¡¯t you at the film festival? Why are you calling me now?¡± Fang Lixiang hurriedly asked him, ¡°Are you at Yuquan Bay?¡± ¡°Woof.¡± Fang Guifei noticed a passing female Siberian husky and barked excitedly. Mr. Fang tugged on the leash and scolded Guifei for a moment before answering his daughter, ¡°No, I¡¯m on the day shift today.¡± Just his luck, Mr. Fang wasn¡¯t there! Fang Lixiang, frantic with worry, urged him, ¡°Quickly have someone check on Xu Fang.¡± Mr. Fang asked, ¡°What¡¯s happened?¡± Fang Lixiang didn¡¯t know what exactly had occurred, and there was no time to explain, ¡°Just go, quickly!¡± ¡°Alright, alright.¡± Mr. Fang quickly led the dog home while calling a colleague as he walked. At 8:38 pm, Jiang Zhi left the hotel. Had he left the banquet so early? Ah Wan wondered if he had seen wrong, ¡°Boss, why are you already out here?¡± And¡­ where¡¯s the trophy? Was it taken by someone else? He couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Did you receive the award?¡± Jiang Zhi remained silent, his pace quick, heading straight for the red carpet outside the hotel. Many media personnel were still standing beyond the barricade, and they frantically snapped pictures upon seeing him emerge. The blinding flashlights chased the figure on the red carpet. In the camera lens, that handsome face was expressionless, with only a furrow between the brows. Ah Wan hastened to catch up. They had just reached the garage when Jiang Zhi took a call from Qiao Nanchu. He was succinct, saying, ¡°Jiang Zhi, Zhou Xufang has had an accident.¡± Jiang Zhi¡¯s hand holding the phone trembled imperceptibly, his fingertips turning white, ¡°Her location.¡± ¡°She hasn¡¯t been moved, still at Yuquan Bay,¡± Qiao Nanchu said. ¡°She¡¯s injured.¡± From the photo, it looked serious. Jiang Zhi¡¯s step faltered. Ah Wan opened the door to the driver¡¯s side, only to hear his boss demanding, ¡°Move, I¡¯ll drive.¡± What was going on? His tone was like the sky was falling. Confused, Ah Wan said, ¡°Huh?¡± then quickly moved aside, handing over the car key, ¡°Okay.¡± Jiang Zhi ended the call and got into the driver¡¯s seat. After hesitating for a few seconds, Ah Wan moved to the passenger seat. He hadn¡¯t even settled in or fastened his seatbelt when the car ¡®drifted¡¯ away. Damn! So fast, so fast! Ah Wan clutched the seatbelt, his face pale with fear, ¡°Boss, slow, slow down¡­¡± Driving this fast was terrifying! Jiang Zhi ignored him, his profile stern, his fingers gripping the steering wheel, turning faintly blue. He put on a Bluetooth earpiece and made another call. It was to Vice President Sun at the Fifth Hospital, ¡°Mr. Jiang.¡± Jiang Zhi was concise, ¡°Pick a few medical staff who can keep their mouths shut, and head to Yuquan Bay immediately.¡± Just from the tone, one could tell the situation was urgent. Vice President Sun responded at once, ¡°Understood, Mr. Jiang.¡± Chapter 215 - 215 215 Jiang Zhi Fang Bao the pain will go away soon ?Chapter 215: 215: Jiang Zhi: Fang Bao, the pain will go away soon (first update) Chapter 215: 215: Jiang Zhi: Fang Bao, the pain will go away soon (first update) 9 p.m. There was nobody in the security room, and the phone on the desk had been ringing for quite a while with no one to answer it. Five minutes later, Lao Wei returned. Seeing the fourteen missed calls, he feared something urgent had come up, so he hurriedly called back, ¡°What¡¯s up, Mr. Fang?¡± Mr. Fang was so anxious he was practically spitting fire: ¡°Where did you go? You didn¡¯t answer your phone!¡± Lao Wei, taken aback by the scolding, replied, ¡°I went out back for a smoke.¡± Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Mr. Fang didn¡¯t have time to scold him further, urgently prompting, ¡°Quickly check on building 17.¡± With such a sense of urgency, Lao Wei couldn¡¯t guess what the issue was and asked, ¡°What happened?¡± ¡°Stop asking,¡± Mr. Fang exploded, roaring, ¡°Just go, quickly!¡± Lao Wei quickly grabbed a flashlight and headed straight for building 17. Seventeen was tucked away inside, far from the streetlights. From a distance, it appeared as though someone was lying on the ground. It was too dark to see clearly, and just as Lao Wei was about to step forward¡ª ¡°Stay put.¡± These two words, with an air of deadly force, stopped Lao Wei in his tracks. He turned around and saw a vague silhouette; he couldn¡¯t make out any features and could only listen to the voice. ¡°Stay here. Except for medical personnel, don¡¯t let anyone through.¡± ¡°Yes, boss.¡± Having ridden the ¡®roller coaster¡¯ all the way here, Ah Wan¡¯s expression was indescribable. He staggered forward, stopping the security guard, Lao Wei, and prepared for the highest level of precaution, vigilantly looking and listening in all directions. Zhou Xufang was lying motionless on the ground, surrounded by a pool of blood. Her cellphone was by her side, its pink case stained blood red. ¡°Xu Fang.¡± Jiang Zhi stumbled over and crouched down, reaching out first to touch her hand. Her body was ice cold. He knelt down, picking her up in his arms: ¡°Xu Fang.¡± His hands were shaking uncontrollably; he could barely hold onto her: ¡°Don¡¯t scare me, Zhou Xufang.¡± As he reached behind her, his hand came away slick with blood. Half ice cold, half burning hot, there was blood that had already clotted and blood that had just spilled out. He wrapped his arms around her back, pressing down on the wound: ¡°Zhou Xufang,¡± his voice so tight it trembled, ¡°open your eyes and look at me.¡± ¡°Zhou Xufang.¡± He kept repeating her name, calling out until his voice started to choke up. The wind blew, his hands covered in blood, his fingertips freezing stiff. ¡°Zhou Xufang.¡± Finally, the person in his arms stirred and opened her eyes: ¡°Jiang, Zhi.¡± Her voice was as thin as a breath. He held her, pressing on the wound, not daring to let go, and whispered in her ear: ¡°I¡¯m here.¡± She murmured incoherently. ¡°It hurts¡­¡± Zhou Xufang had told him once that her self-healing and regeneration abilities were more than eighty times that of a normal person, but if she was injured, her pain would also be many times more than that of a normal person. She never complained of pain, so it must have been excruciating for her to tell him it hurt. Jiang Zhi¡¯s eyes were slightly red: ¡°Hold on a little longer, the doctors are on their way, and soon it won¡¯t hurt anymore.¡± ¡°Twenty-fold,¡± her voice was a whisper barely heard. Jiang Zhi leaned in closer: ¡°What do you mean twenty-fold?¡± ¡°Medication¡­¡± she said in broken speech, ¡°needs to be twenty-fold.¡± Jiang Zhi rested his chin on her shoulder, smelling the heavy scent of blood. He tried to calm himself, pushing down the overwhelming panic and rage that threatened to crush him: ¡°Alright, I got it.¡± ¡°Penicillin¡­¡± Her voice was too weak to carry on speaking, and she weakly shook her head. So Jiang Zhi knelt in the pool of blood that flowed from her, his black suit tainted, dark stains seeping into the fabric: ¡°You can¡¯t use penicillin, is that it?¡± ¡°Mhm¡­¡± Then she closed her eyes again, her hand slipped from his arm. ¡°Xu Fang.¡± No one responded to him anymore. The cold wind should have chilled him, but it burnt his eyes instead, scorching hot. Qiao Nanchu and his colleagues from the Criminal Intelligence Department almost arrived at the same time, but they were stopped by Ah Wan in front of Building 17: ¡°My boss said to let only medical staff through.¡± Apart from Qiao Nanchu, there were four others from the Criminal Intelligence Department. Qiao Nanchu instructed them: ¡°Look around for clues, carefully check surveillance, access points, and the comings and goings of vehicles.¡± ¡°Yes, Captain Qiao.¡± After he had assigned tasks to everyone, Qiao Nanchu headed to the back of Building 17. Ah Wan stopped him again: ¡°Mr. Jiang, my boss won¡¯t let anyone through.¡± He said, ¡°I¡¯ll be fine.¡± He went through anyway. He was used to crime scenes, his nose was sharp, and even before getting close, he could smell the blood. The first thing he saw when he approached was Jiang Zhi¡¯s face, lifeless. ¡°How is it?¡± He said, ¡°Not good.¡± Qiao Nanchu glanced at the blood on the ground: ¡°Who did the hospital send?¡± ¡°Sun Qun.¡± Jiang Zhi¡¯s hand was pressing on Zhou Xufang¡¯s back, blood seeping through his fingers. Qiao Nanchu stepped aside and called Vice President Sun. Around five minutes later, the ambulance arrived. Vice President Sun was followed by two doctors in white coats and one nurse, who hurried forward: ¡°Mr. Jiang.¡± There was no moonlight at night, and in the dim light, Jiang Zhi¡¯s eyes shone fiercely: ¡°She¡¯s lost a lot of blood.¡± he said, ¡°Help me save her.¡± His voice was hoarse, powerless, as if begging. Vice President Sun had known him for years and had never seen him so defeated: ¡°Don¡¯t worry.¡± Vice President Sun called out, ¡°Director Qi.¡± Director Qi was the older of the two doctors and the head of general surgery; he walked over to Zhou Xufang and shone his flashlight. Except for a pair of bloodied hands, nothing else was visible. ¡°Mr. Jiang, please release one hand.¡± His movements were stiff, and he slowly relaxed one hand. Director Qi reached out, and the nurse behind him immediately handed over sterilized gauze. Blood was still spurting from the wound, not profusely, but the ground was already drenched, and there was no sign of it stopping. If no artery was hit, why was the bleeding relentless? ¡°Mr. Jiang, you can let go now.¡± Once Jiang Zhi released both hands, Director Qi pressed down on the wound with the gauze, ¡°Dr. Zhang, Nurse He, assist me.¡± They lifted Zhou Xufang onto the stretcher. Jiang Zhi stood up from the ground. He had been kneeling so long his legs were numb; he was still dazed, following the stretcher mechanically. When people emerged, Ah Wan was shocked by the blood all over Jiang Zhi: ¡°Boss.¡± ¡°You stay here.¡± Jiang Zhi left just those words and followed into the ambulance, which was crowded. He grabbed Zhou Xufang¡¯s hand, crouching helplessly beside the stretcher, his face unknowingly smeared with blood, the crimson color making his own face look even more ashen. Director Qi put on gloves and cut open the back of Zhou Xufang¡¯s clothes with sterilized scissors: ¡°What¡¯s her temperature?¡± The nurse checked the thermometer twice: ¡°35 degrees.¡± She answered, and then immediately shook her head, ¡°The temperature seems too low, can¡¯t measure it.¡± The range of normal medical thermometers is between 35 and 42 degrees. But the patient¡¯s body temperature was clearly below thirty-five degrees, cold like a block of ice. ¡°And her heart rate?¡± ¡°Forty-five.¡± ¡°The patient might have a clotting disorder.¡± Director Qi, using the light, examined the wound on the patient¡¯s back¡ªwhich looked to be from a dagger or similar sharp instrument. It shouldn¡¯t have struck an artery; persistent bleeding might relate to clotting function. He instructed the nurse, ¡°Have hematology prepare in advance.¡± ¡°Understood, Director.¡± Then, Jiang Zhi squatting next to Zhou Xufang, said softly, ¡°She can¡¯t use penicillin.¡± Director Qi nodded, assuming the patient was allergic to penicillin, and told Dr. He to his left: ¡°Start with thrombin.¡± Dr. He immediately fetched the medicine. Jiang Zhi struggled to maintain composure, and when he spoke, his voice still trembled slightly: ¡°The dosage needs to be twenty times stronger.¡± Chapter 216 - 216 216 Jiang Zhi is madly in love exposing during ?Chapter 216: 216: Jiang Zhi is madly in love, exposing during Shuangjiang (second update) Chapter 216: 216: Jiang Zhi is madly in love, exposing during Shuangjiang (second update) Jiang Zhi struggled to remain calm but when he spoke, his voice still trembled slightly, ¡°The dosage needs to be twenty times.¡± Twenty times? Director Qi thought he must have heard wrong, ¡°Mr. Jiang, what did you say?¡± ¡°All her medications need to be at twenty times the normal amount.¡± Director Qi found the idea incredible. ¡°Twenty times,¡± Doctor He looked down at the thrombin in his hand, twenty times that amount ¡°would be¡­¡± It would be lethal! Doctor He dared not increase the dosage and looked up to seek guidance from Director Qi. sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Director Qi had been practicing medicine for nearly thirty years, and he had never encountered a situation like this, ¡°Mr. Jiang, we have never administered such a large dosage to a patient¡ª¡± Jiang Zhi interrupted him: ¡°Administer the medication.¡± Director Qi hesitated. A dosage twenty times the norm would surely not be without side effects, and this patient was clearly Young Master Jiang¡¯s beloved. If anything were to happen¡­ ¡°This is my fianc¨¦e,¡± he didn¡¯t look up, his gaze resting on her back, his voice hoarse and weak, yet with an air of finality, ¡°administer the medications, I will take responsibility for her life.¡± Even if this gentleman would take responsibility, if it really came to the point of no return¡­ Director Qi did not dare to think further, no longer hesitated, and told Doctor He, ¡°Increase all medications to the larger dosage.¡± Doctor He¡¯s hands began to tremble. Fifteen years in clinical practice, countless surgeries performed, yet he had never felt such panic. The ambulance sped along its route, the only sounds inside were that of the siren and the faint dripping of liquids. Three medical staff members, all with nerves taut, worked in silence, administering emergency treatment, with someone¡¯s voice repeatedly calling out, tirelessly. ¡°Fang Bao.¡± ¡°Fang Bao.¡± ¡°¡­¡± At some point, he had bent his knees, as if kneeling in the vehicle, whispering by Zhou Xufang¡¯s ear, ¡°Fang Bao, you have to get better quickly.¡± His eyes were red as he kissed her tightly closed eyes. Qiao Nanchu was still at Yuquan Bay. Li Xiaodong and the others had returned: ¡°Captain Qiao.¡± He stood beside the pool of blood: ¡°Did you find anything?¡± Li Xiaodong spoke first: ¡°Behind building seventeen is a blind spot for the community surveillance, nothing was captured at the scene, we only captured the assailants at the entrance, there were eight people, all wearing masks.¡± Yao An followed up: ¡°I found this at the scene.¡± It was an injection needle, ¡°Possibly an anesthetic or some drug like that.¡± It was not difficult to deduce that they first drugged her, then struck. ¡°A defenseless girl, did they really need so many people? And to drug her!¡± These beasts, Li Xiaodong pondered, ¡°Is this about money or murder?¡± Professional errand runner Z was naturally not a defenseless girl. The fact that so many had come and even prepared drugs showed that they knew Zhou Xufang was no ordinary person. Qiao Nanchu said, ¡°It¡¯s not about money, nor is it about murder.¡± If it were for money, they would target Jiang Zhi. If it were murder, they wouldn¡¯t just leave the person behind. Li Xiaodong, being a computer guy and not very proficient in criminal investigation, felt at a loss: ¡°If it¡¯s neither for money nor murder, could it be malicious revenge?¡± Qiao Nanchu didn¡¯t answer, his gaze shifted elsewhere, and then he dismissed them: ¡°You guys go back first.¡± After sending them off, he left first, walking quickly. Xiao Hui glanced around and saw a person standing under the cedar tree in the distance; the team leader was heading towards that person. Xiao Hui was a bit short-sighted and couldn¡¯t see clearly, ¡°Who¡¯s that girl?¡± Who else could it be, Li Xiaodong said: ¡°It¡¯s Captain¡¯s girlfriend.¡± It was Wen Baiyang who had come, standing under the tree and looking towards building seventeen continually. The frown that Qiao Nanchu had been holding finally eased when he saw her, he approached her, ¡°Are you looking for me?¡± Wen Baiyang shook her head and sign-languaged: ¡°I¡¯m working part-time.¡± His frown returned, ¡°You¡¯re working part-time here?¡± ¡°At the convenience store outside the community.¡± She was still out working so late, Qiao Nanchu asked her, ¡°Are you short on money?¡± He had given her a supplementary card, yet apart from tuition fees, she never spent the money in it, so each time he went to her place, he would leave a stack of cash in her cabinet. She nodded, ¡°It¡¯s enough.¡± Qiao Nanchu wasn¡¯t satisfied, ¡°Then why are you working part-time?¡± Was he unable to provide for her? Was she in need of the small amount she would earn? Wen Baiyang didn¡¯t answer, looking somewhat uneasy. Had he been too harsh? Qiao Nanchu softened his tone, ¡°I¡¯m not trying to interfere.¡± He patiently explained, ¡°It¡¯s dangerous for a young lady like you to be out at night.¡± She couldn¡¯t hear and couldn¡¯t drive either. What he worried about most was her going out alone, as there were many malevolent drivers nowadays, and it was common to hear of young women falling victim at night¡­ Qiao Nanchu¡¯s frown deepened the more he thought. ¡°I¡¯ll be careful.¡± What¡¯s the use of being careful? He wasn¡¯t reassured, ¡°From now on, let me take you, or buy an apartment in this neighborhood. Choose one,¡± he said. ¡°You must choose one.¡± He could be very authoritarian at times, like how he never allowed her to go out with male classmates, nor did he permit her to attend school-organized activities. Wen Baiyang thought for a long time, then chose one, ¡°You take me.¡± He was pleased with her compliance, patting her head, ¡°Okay.¡± Lately, he often made such gestures, and also held her hand, which she had grown accustomed to. Pointing at building 17, she asked in sign language, ¡°Is she badly hurt?¡± She was referring to Zhou Xufang. ¡°Do you know Zhou Xufang?¡± She nodded, ¡°She also has a part-time job at the convenience store.¡± She then explained her intention, ¡°The doorman said she was injured, and I wanted to see her.¡± This was the first time Qiao Nanchu had heard her mention Zhou Xufang. ¡°I¡¯ll take you to the hospital.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± He naturally took her hand and led her out of the neighborhood. The car was parked outside. As he leaned in to fasten her seatbelt, he suddenly looked up at her. Close by, Wen Baiyang uncomfortably moved back, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± She didn¡¯t ask why he was there, nor how he knew Zhou Xufang. He didn¡¯t answer, she asked again, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Something was amiss. Qiao Nanchu leaned back against the driver¡¯s seat, looking at her sideways. His gaze moved from her face to the strawberry hair tie on her head. He had seen an identical hair tie before, in Shuangjiang¡¯s lair. ¡°Do you like SpongeBob?¡± he suddenly asked. She looked puzzled, ¡°Why do you suddenly ask this?¡± After speaking, she looked away, glancing out the car window. ¡°I was thinking,¡± Qiao Nanchu paused, touched the little strawberry on her hair tie, and seriously asked her, ¡°When we have kids, should the wallpaper in the nursery be SpongeBob or Pai Daxing?¡± Wen Baiyang felt her face heat up and immediately looked down, hiding her face. Qiao Nanchu propped her chin, lifting her face, and asked again, ¡°SpongeBob or Pai Daxing?¡± Like a conditioned reflex, she responded in sign language with ¡°SpongeBob.¡± SpongeBob, huh. Qiao Nanchu smiled, ¡°Alright, we¡¯ll go with your choice.¡± For the nursery, SpongeBob wasn¡¯t bad. Worst-case scenario, they could have two kids and do a Pai Daxing theme instead. He inserted the car key and was about to start the car. ¡°We,¡± she tugged on his sleeve, and he turned to her before she slowly asked in sign language, ¡°Are we boyfriend and girlfriend?¡± The nineteen-year-old girl, blushing, appeared like a bud waiting to bloom. ¡°I¡¯ve kissed you already, so my intentions are clear. Whether we¡¯re boyfriend and girlfriend depends on you. If you say we are, then we are.¡± He was in a hurry, but he could wait. As long as she agreed, he could sneak home to steal the household registration book. Wen Baiyang was too shy to look at him, ¡°Let¡¯s go to the hospital first.¡± Fifth Renmin Hospital. It was almost ten o¡¯clock, and the surgical lamp was still on in the operating room. ¡°Director, the bleeding has stopped.¡± Director Qi put down the scalpel and asked, ¡°Heart rate and blood pressure?¡± The assisting nurse replied, ¡°It¡¯s normal now.¡± The bleeding finally stopped. Director Qi exhaled in relief, ¡°Prepare for suturing.¡± He reached out, ¡°Surgical tweezers.¡± Doctor He handed over the surgical tweezers. At that moment, the anesthesiologist standing by the heart monitor spoke out in surprise, ¡°Director, the patient¡¯s body temperature¡ª¡± Director Qi cut him off, ¡°Talk less, focus on your work.¡± It wasn¡¯t just body temperature; many of the patient¡¯s data were significantly different from an average person¡¯s, including the dosage of anesthetic, which was twenty times the normal amount. This patient was definitely not ordinary. Outside the operating room. Jiang Zhi stood at the door, his hands and face smeared with blood, not to mention his suit, which was soiled with blood and mud. Xue Baoyi had never seen him in such a state. He was usually so dainty and clean, never in such disarray. His eyes were bloodshot, and Xue Baoyi suspected he had been crying. ¡°Brother Zhi, don¡¯t just stand there, go sit for a while.¡± He had been standing for so long. Jiang Zhi, as if he hadn¡¯t heard, remained rooted to the spot, out of sorts. ¡°It won¡¯t be anything serious, don¡¯t be too¡ª¡± Xue Baoyi hasn¡¯t finished her comforting words when Jiang Zhi interrupted her, ¡°If I die, donate all my assets and bury my ashes on an island called Moon Bay.¡± Chapter 217 - 217 217 Jiang Zhi avenges her husband exploded ?Chapter 217: 217: Jiang Zhi avenges her husband, exploded awesomely! (first update Chapter 217: 217: Jiang Zhi avenges her husband, exploded awesomely! (first update ¡°If I die, donate all my assets and bury my ashes on an island called Moon Bay.¡± Was this an arrangement for his last affairs? Xue Baoyi wasn¡¯t quite sure and asked, ¡°Are you running a fever?¡± He was starting to talk nonsense. Xue Baoyi raised his hand to touch Jiang Zhi¡¯s head to check for a fever, but the moment he looked up, he was met with a cool gaze, ¡°Did you understand?¡± Damn, he¡¯s serious! Is this him making a will? Xue Baoyi was thrown into confusion: ¡°¡­Understood.¡± Oh God, if Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t make it, Jiang Zhi might commit suicide, right? Swallow pills? Or hang himself? Or maybe jump into the river¡­ The more Xue Baoyi thought about it, the more terrified he became, but since his little subordinate was there, he couldn¡¯t lose his composure. Soon after, Qiao Nanchu arrived, also with a girl. He didn¡¯t approach Jiang Zhi, but instead asked Xue Baoyi, ¡°How is it going?¡± Xue Baoyi lowered his voice to make sure Jiang Zhi couldn¡¯t hear, ¡°I don¡¯t know about Zhou Xufang, Brother Zhi seems pretty sick.¡± Qiao Nanchu had expected this. It was then that Xue Baoyi noticed the young girl behind him and signaled with his eyes: ¡°You brought her out?¡± Qiao Nanchu couldn¡¯t be bothered to banter, shielding Wen Baiyang behind him. At 10:10, the stitches for the wound were finished. Vice President Sun, being an internal medicine doctor, did not participate; the surgeon was Director Qi of General Surgery. Vice President Sun supervised the entire procedure, and as soon as it was over, he began the post-op work. ¡°I will transfer the overtime pay into each of your accounts separately.¡± It sounded nice to call it overtime pay, but the few medical staff selected tonight to treat this special patient were all smart enough to know this was really hush money. A slightly younger nurse who hadn¡¯t thought too deeply took it as a windfall and excitedly said, ¡°Thank you, Vice President!¡± Vice President Sun wasn¡¯t all smiles: ¡°Once you walk out of this door, not a single word about this patient can be leaked.¡± His expression was stern, ¡°Understood?¡± That excited nurse couldn¡¯t smile anymore. ¡°Understood.¡± Afterward, the doors of the operating room opened, and Vice President Sun led people out. As soon as he stepped out, the first thing he saw was Jiang Zhi waiting at the door. Vice President Sun quickly stepped forward: ¡°Mr. Jiang.¡± He asked, ¡°Is the bleeding under control?¡± ¡°It¡¯s under control.¡± Vice President Sun said, ¡°The patient is out of danger now.¡± In contrast, Jiang Zhi looked like the patient himself, his face devoid of any color. Vice President Sun then asked, ¡°Mr. Jiang, do you need me to check on you?¡± Jiang Zhi shook his head, simply saying, ¡°Thank you.¡± sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Rarely did this gentleman thank someone so earnestly. Vice President Sun, taken aback, hurriedly responded, ¡°It¡¯s the least I could do.¡± Looking around and seeing others present, he approached and whispered, ¡°Mr. Jiang, rest assured, everything has been taken care of.¡± Jiang Zhi nodded. Zhou Xufang was still not out yet. He lifted his foot to go in, but having stood for too long, his feet were numb, and he staggered. Qiao Nanchu, standing closest, steadied him: ¡°You should rest a bit first.¡± Pretending to be sick was one thing, but Jiang Zhi¡¯s health truly wasn¡¯t in the best shape; they couldn¡¯t have Zhou Xufang recover only to have him collapse. He wouldn¡¯t listen and shook off Qiao Nanchu¡¯s hand. At this moment, Zhou Xufang was wheeled out of the operating room by the nurses. She hadn¡¯t woken up yet and was transferred to the VIP ward. Jiang Zhi stayed by her bedside without moving an inch, crouching until his legs went numb. She was still under the effects of anesthesia, unconscious. Because her spontaneous breathing wasn¡¯t very strong, she was still wearing an oxygen mask. Jiang Zhi watched her, his heart painfully aching, ¡°Xufang, does it still hurt?¡± Her eyebrows were furrowed, and she didn¡¯t open her eyes. Jiang Zhi leaned down and kissed her forehead, ¡°Sleep for a while, I¡¯ll be right back.¡± Xue Baoyi immediately asked, ¡°Where are you going?¡± Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t answer, his gaze moving past Xue Baoyi, ¡°Take care of her for me.¡± Fang Lixiang hesitated for a moment, ¡°Okay.¡± After giving his instructions, he got up and left. Qiao Nanchu blocked his path at the door, reminding him, ¡°Jiang Zhi, don¡¯t do anything rash.¡± He knew how extreme he could be when pushed. Jiang Zhi pushed him away, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m not going to kill or set anything on fire.¡± Zhou Xufang wouldn¡¯t like that. After saying this, he left the ward. It wasn¡¯t until he was far from the ward that he stopped, leaning against the wall and coughing violently. ¡°Mr. Jiang,¡± Vice President Sun happened to see him and quickly went to inquire, ¡°Are you alright?¡± He said it was nothing, ¡°I need all the medical records for my girlfriend to be completely wiped.¡± ¡°I understand.¡± His throat itchy, he faintly tasted blood, ¡°Tell those people, if they leak anything, I will not spare their wives and children, their parents will bear the consequences.¡± That must have been the most vicious thing he had ever said. For Zhou Xufang, he was prepared to be ruthlessly cruel. At 10:40 p.m., Jiang Zhi drove to Changling Hospital. The nurse on duty was dozing off when she heard footsteps. Rubbing her eyes and yawning, she looked over, ¡°Are you here to visit a patient?¡± The lights in the hospital corridor weren¡¯t very bright, and the nurse, having just woken up, had a groggy sight and couldn¡¯t see the person clearly. All she knew was that it was a tall male figure, wearing a mask and a hat. He seemed somewhat secretive. The duty nurse shook her head to clear it a little and said, ¡°Entering and exiting the VIP ward requires registration.¡± Beyond that was the VIP ward. The gentleman seemed to pay no heed and went straight in. ¡°Sir.¡± ¡°Sir.¡± He couldn¡¯t be called back, so the nurse on duty got up to follow: ¡°Sir!¡± This uninvited guest was Jiang Zhi. Coincidentally, a nurse was pushing a medical cart towards him. Jiang Zhi raised his hand and stopped the cart. The nurse looked up and saw a pair of peach blossom eyes with hooked corners. The eyes¡¯ owner was silent, took a pair of scissors and a pair of rubber gloves from the cart. ¡°Sir, what are you¡ª¡± Jiang Zhi glanced up. The nurse was alarmed by that intimidating gaze and watched him walk away. It wasn¡¯t until a long while later that she snapped back to reality and said to the duty nurse who had caught up, ¡°Go call security immediately!¡± Click. The door to the ward opened, and Luo Qinghe looked up at the sound. The visitor wore a mask, but she could recognize the misty blue hair as belonging to only one person. ¡°Jiang Zhi?¡± Bang! He locked the door behind him. Luo Qinghe closed the laptop she had on her lap and put it aside, ¡°Are you here to see me?¡± Jiang Zhi remained silent, slipping on the rubber gloves he was holding. Only then did Luo Qinghe notice the scissors in his right hand. Not only that, but his suit was splattered with blood, and even his forehead had a few bloody marks. He had come in the middle of the night to settle accounts with her. Luo Qinghe had guessed it too, ¡°Is this blood Zhou Xufang¡¯s?¡± His answer was noncommittal, ¡°Did you do it?¡± No wonder he had come; he was pinning everything on her. ¡°If I say it wasn¡¯t me, would you believe it?¡± ¡°I wouldn¡¯t.¡± That was that, then. A person in turmoil, eager for revenge, wouldn¡¯t listen to any explanations. Luo Qinghe pulled out the IV needle from the back of her hand and got off the bed, walking towards Jiang Zhi, ¡°Are you here to kill me?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not going to kill you.¡± He walked over to the bedside cabinet, tossed the scissors into an empty cup, and poured a cup of scalding hot water over it to disinfect and remove fingerprints. His movements were calm and deliberate as he said, ¡°She bled as much as you owe.¡± Luo Qinghe watched the scissors in the cup, ¡°I didn¡¯t do it.¡± He, unafraid of getting burnt, took the scissors out of the cup with his gloved hand, wiping off the droplets of water, ¡°Even if it wasn¡¯t you, you¡¯ll pay.¡± He used the pad of his finger to wipe away the droplets on the scissors, ¡°Wrongful killing doesn¡¯t matter, as long as there are no leaks.¡± Wrongful killing doesn¡¯t matter. She thought the same. ¡°Jiang¡ª¡± Before she could finish calling out, Jiang Zhi lunged at her with a pillow over her head, pinning her down on the hospital bed, raised his hand with the scissors and stabbed ruthlessly into her back. The sharp scissors pierced through skin and flesh, blood splattered, and the wound was in the same location as where Zhou Xufang was injured. Luo Qinghe screamed in pain. She tried to struggle, but her head was pressed down hard, rendering her immobile. As the scissors pierced a few centimeters into her flesh, blood didn¡¯t flow profusely, but it was enough to stain Jiang Zhi¡¯s plastic gloves red. He didn¡¯t pull out the scissors, his other hand pressing down the pillow. ¡°From now on, any harm that comes to my girlfriend, if the assailant can¡¯t be found, I¡¯ll hold you responsible.¡± He was teetering on the edge of rage, struggling to control the violent desires within him, ¡°Do you understand?¡± Luo Qinghe gritted her teeth, enduring the pain, and turned her face, ¡°You care so much for her, huh?¡± Why couldn¡¯t he continue liking men? His affection for Zhou Xufang, that fact, filled her with a destructive impulse. ¡°Yes.¡± His gaze was icy, but the bundle of light at the center of his pupils was as bright as scorching flames, ¡°Try touching her again.¡± A threat. A chilling threat. With that, he thrust the scissors deeper. Luo Qinghe screamed in pain, ¡°Jiang Zhi!¡± As the sharp point drove into her flesh, blood seeped out instantly, and she screamed in excruciating pain. Jiang Zhi turned a blind eye, stood up, and pulled out the scissors along with him, tossing them to the floor: ¡°If you¡¯re not convinced, go ahead and sue me. Let¡¯s see if it¡¯s you who ends up in jail, or me.¡± Luo Qinghe¡¯s legs gave way, and she half collapsed on the bed, kneeling on the floor. Her white and blue hospital gown quickly stained with a large patch of red from her blood. Chapter 218 - 218 218 Genetic Laboratory Secrets Soothing and Tender ?Chapter 218: 218: Genetic Laboratory Secrets, Soothing and Tender Care in the Ward (Second Update) Chapter 218: 218: Genetic Laboratory Secrets, Soothing and Tender Care in the Ward (Second Update) At that moment, someone came to the ward outside, knocking on the door frantically. ¡°Miss Luo!¡± ¡°Miss Luo!¡± S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Seeing that no one inside was responding, the security guard that came with the on-duty nurse immediately started ramming the door. On the third ram, the door suddenly opened from inside, and the two guards, unable to retract their momentum in time, lurched forward and nearly toppled over. The shorter of the guards, infuriated and embarrassed, turned and glared at the ¡®criminal¡¯ standing at the doorway, shouting, ¡°Who the hell are you?!¡± Before he could get an answer, the on-duty nurse let out a shriek, pointing at the blood-stained scissors on the ground: ¡°Catch him quickly!¡± The audacity to commit assault in a room! The two guards immediately moved to apprehend the person. Jiang Zhi was still standing at the doorway, not having moved a step back, and with a kick to the shoulder of the guard in front of him, using all his might, he sent the man flying, hitting the one behind and both ended up crashing to the ground. They really can¡¯t take a hit. He turned and walked away. Behind him, the two guards quickly got up and chased after him. Inside the ward, only Luo Qinghe and the on-duty nurse remained; the nurse saw Luo Qinghe already on the ground, her back covered in blood, and was so frightened that she was at a loss what to do. ¡°Miss Luo.¡± ¡°Miss Luo.¡± The person was already unconscious and unresponsive to calls, the on-duty nurse yelled in the ward: ¡°Doctor Zheng, Doctor Zheng!¡± Fifth Renmin Hospital. Zhou Xufang woke up less than an hour after leaving the operating room, and the first person she saw upon opening her eyes was not Jiang Zhi, but Fang Lixiang. ¡°Xu Fang.¡± At Fang Lixiang¡¯s call, the other few people in the ward came over as well. Qiao Nanchu was there, Xue Baoyi too, and even Wen Baiyang from the convenience store, but Jiang Zhi was the only one missing. Seeing that she did not respond, Fang Lixiang waved her hand in front of her eyes: ¡°Are you awake?¡± Zhou Xufang¡¯s eyes roamed about, searching for Jiang Zhi. She must be awake; Fang Lixiang, overjoyed to the point of near hysteria, wished she could pounce and hug her: ¡°You scared me to death!¡± Zhou Xufang¡¯s first question was about her boyfriend: ¡°Where¡¯s Jiang Zhi?¡± Fang Lixiang replied, ¡°He went out.¡± Zhou Xufang hadn¡¯t fully recovered yet, her voice weak and without much strength, her face also lacking much color, she removed her oxygen mask and asked Fang Lixiang again: ¡°Where did he go?¡± Fang Lixiang couldn¡¯t answer; she wasn¡¯t clear herself, and didn¡¯t dare to speak carelessly. Jiang Zhi had left with a murderous aura, and it didn¡¯t seem like he was off to do anything proper. At this moment, Qiao Nanchu joined in: ¡°He stepped out for a bit, he¡¯ll be back soon.¡± He glanced back at Xue Baoyi, ¡°Bao Yi, go call the doctor over.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Xue Baoyi had just left the ward when she ran into the returning Jiang Zhi. She sized him up from head to toe and saw that he was still in his blood-stained suit, but didn¡¯t notice anything else out of the ordinary. ¡°Zhou Xufang is awake, she¡¯s looking for you.¡± Jiang Zhi quickly entered the ward. Zhou Xufang was a bit weak, and only when he approached did she hear his footsteps. She looked up to see him and her heart settled down: ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± Her injury was on the right side, so using her left hand for support on the bed, she tried to sit up. ¡°You can¡¯t move.¡± Jiang Zhi helped her lie back down, and afraid of touching the wound on her back, had her lie on her side, ¡°Where¡¯s the doctor?¡± For some reason, Fang Lixiang felt intimidated upon seeing Jiang Zhi and couldn¡¯t help but stand up straight, answering, ¡°They¡¯ve already gone to call.¡± Zhou Xufang was rarely like this, listless and weak: ¡°Where did you go?¡± Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t tell her, just saying, ¡°I¡¯ll tell you once you¡¯re better.¡± Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t ask any further. The doctor had arrived. It was the chief surgeon, Director Qi, who first checked the data on the electrocardiogram monitor, then took a flashlight to examine Zhou Xufang¡¯s pupils. Her temperature needed to be taken as well. A special thermometer had been brought in, one from the Jiang Family¡¯s laboratory, capable of measuring extremely low body temperatures, but it had to be placed under the armpit for measurement. Director Qi, nearly sixty, had no reservations as a doctor. Just as he was about to take the patient¡¯s temperature, Jiang Zhi said, ¡°Let her do it,¡± indicating the female nurse. Director Qi awkwardly handed the thermometer to the female nurse. Jiang Zhi glanced backward. Qiao Nanchu consciously turned away, while Xue Baoyi did so unconsciously until Fang Lixiang pulled her away. 22 degrees. Was this a temperature a human could have¡­ The female nurse hesitated for a moment before recording the data. ¡°Don¡¯t hold back,¡± Jiang Zhi crouched at the bedside, ¡°tell the doctor wherever it hurts or feels uncomfortable.¡± Zhou Xufang¡¯s little face was still pale, her lips also white, devoid of any color. She shook her head, saying, ¡°It doesn¡¯t hurt anymore.¡± Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t believe her, asking the doctor, ¡°How is she?¡± Director Qi put away the stethoscope, ¡°She¡¯ll be fine once the bleeding stops. Rest for a few days and she should be alright.¡± ¡°Thank you,¡± said Jiang Zhi. Director Qi didn¡¯t dare to take credit, ¡°Mr. Jiang is too polite.¡± After the examination, Jiang Zhi said to the people behind him, ¡°I have something to say to Zhou Xufang. You all go out first.¡± Jiang Zhi¡¯s heart was clearly still unsettled, the fierceness not dissipated. Zhou Xufang needed to soothe him. Understanding this, Qiao Nanchu gave Xue Baoyi a look, and they both stepped aside. Once the door was shut, Jiang Zhi reached out to touch Zhou Xufang¡¯s face, ¡°It still hurts a lot, doesn¡¯t it?¡± Anaesthesia had to be used at twenty times the normal dosage; she couldn¡¯t possibly be pain-free. It was indeed very painful, but Zhou Xufang, not wanting Jiang Zhi to feel distressed and hurt for her, endured the pain and said, ¡°Just a tiny bit.¡± She was only deceiving herself with such words. ¡°The painkiller dosage can¡¯t be raised any further,¡± Jiang Zhi moved his hand to her mouth, ¡°If it hurts, you can bite me.¡± Zhou Xufang truly opened her mouth, not biting him, but kissing the back of his hand, then immediately frowned, ¡°There¡¯s a metallic taste.¡± There was a taste of blood; he hadn¡¯t had time to clean himself, his appearance was a mess. He said, ¡°It¡¯s your blood.¡± He leaned forward a little, touched his face to hers, still shaken, his voice hoarse, ¡°You almost scared me to death.¡± Zhou Xufang reached out to wipe the dried bloodstains on his face, wiping twice but not able to remove them, ¡°It¡¯s alright now. Once the drugs are metabolized, the wounds will heal.¡± ¡°Penicillin?¡± Jiang Zhi knew Zhou Xufang¡¯s abilities well. Without drugs, eight people couldn¡¯t possibly match her. Before the ambulance arrived, she had said penicillin couldn¡¯t be used. Zhou Xufang nodded, ¡°My physique is antagonistic to this antibiotic. Even a trace amount could significantly slow down my self-healing and regeneration speed, and my coagulation function will also have issues. If uninjured, it could lead to shock and high fever, but once the effects pass, it¡¯s okay.¡± But once injured, stopping the bleeding would be very difficult. And that was just a trace amount. ¡°What if a large amount is injected?¡± Jiang Zhi asked her. Heart arrest could occur, disappearance of major arterial pulsation and heart sounds, ischemia and hypoxia in all organs, leading to sudden death. These were the conclusions drawn by the doctor responsible for her; as for facts, nobody had tried. During her time in the laboratory, those people ran many experiments on her but never exceeded her critical threshold. She said, ¡°I¡¯m not sure.¡± So much unknown, Jiang Zhi had never felt this anxious before, fearing that after this time, he¡¯d be on edge: ¡°Who else knows about this?¡± ¡°I haven¡¯t told anyone. It should be just the people from the Genetic Laboratory.¡± But who could it be? Su Dingzhi, Su Qinghou, the medical doctors, or someone among the test subjects¡­ They all seemed possible, but Zhou Xufang couldn¡¯t guess any longer. Chapter 219 - 219 219 Jiang Zhi licks when the sugar is bitter (one ?Chapter 219: 219: Jiang Zhi licks when the sugar is bitter (one more update Chapter 219: 219: Jiang Zhi licks when the sugar is bitter (one more update It seemed everything was possible, and Zhou Xufang couldn¡¯t figure it out anymore. ¡°This time they might have just come to test the waters, now that they know for sure you are 011, they might take further actions,¡± Jiang Zhi said, ¡°The enemy is in the dark, we are in the light, Xufang, try not to act alone from now on, take me with you wherever you go, okay?¡± Zhou Xufang agreed, ¡°Okay.¡± Jiang Zhi¡¯s eyebrows were still furrowed, the hostility in his eyes had not dissipated. Zhou Xufang poked his forehead and softly comforted, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, if it¡¯s people from the Genetic Laboratory, they will only want to capture me, they won¡¯t kill me.¡± It would be a shame to kill her. The doctor in charge of her had said that among all test subjects, due to a genetic mutation triggering her superpower, she was the most successful example, her genes could be called a miracle in medicine. Jiang Zhi grabbed her hand and kissed it lightly, ¡°How could I not worry? I probably won¡¯t sleep well anymore.¡± She grinned with pale lips at him, ¡°Then I¡¯ll soothe you to sleep.¡± ¡°Fang Bao.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± ¡°Do you remember what you hung on the Christmas tree at the amusement park?¡± Zhou Xufang lay on her side looking at him, ¡°I remember.¡± S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. May you live a hundred years. Jiang Zhi touched her face, cold to the touch, and said, ¡°You need to be safe for me to live a hundred years.¡± He bowed his head, kissed her forehead, ¡°Zhou Xufang, if you don¡¯t live long, I¡¯ll have to die early, you know?¡± If you died, I wouldn¡¯t want to live alone. That was what he meant, She understood, and nodded vigorously. ¡°Be extremely careful from now on.¡± Today, he was particularly nagging, admonishing her over and over again. Zhou Xufang rubbed her face against his palm, ¡°I know.¡± She asked Jiang Zhi, ¡°Has the doctor who performed the surgery on me figured something was off?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve already sealed their lips, they dare not talk recklessly.¡± Zhou Xufang was no longer worried, ¡°Jiang Zhi, I want to drink water.¡± ¡°You can¡¯t drink now.¡± It hadn¡¯t even been an hour since the surgery, the chief doctor had advised not to drink water yet. She frowned, ¡°My mouth tastes so bitter.¡± Unknown what medicine the nurse had fed her, her mouth was particularly bitter still. She wanted to eat candy, wanted to drink AD calcium milk. ¡°There¡¯s no candy here.¡± He lowered his body, ¡°Only me, do you want me?¡± Her eyebrows relaxed, and she smiled, ¡°Hmm.¡± Jiang Zhi bent down to kiss her, swallowing all the bitterness in her mouth. When he came out of the sickroom again, the murderous look in his eyes had faded, Captain Qiao and Xue Baoyi each brought a girl, still waiting outside the sickroom. It was already past eleven, quite late. Jiang Zhi said, ¡°You guys go back first.¡± Xue Baoyi peeked into the sickroom, although he didn¡¯t know the specifics of the situation, Zhou Xufang was seriously injured, and that was certainly a big deal. ¡°You¡¯ll be okay alone?¡± ¡°This is the territory of the Jiang Family.¡± That¡¯s true. In a hospital owned by the Jiang Family, no one would dare cause trouble. Xue Baoyi could stay later, but his young employee was a female artist, and it wasn¡¯t proper for her to stay long in the hospital, ¡°Then I¡¯m going back, call me if there¡¯s anything.¡± He turned his head and called, ¡°Fang Lixiang, let¡¯s go, I¡¯ll take you.¡± Although Fang Lixiang was wearing a mask, she was still in the gown from the film festival, having rushed over without changing into regular clothes, she was very clumsy, so she didn¡¯t stay to cause trouble, ¡°I¡¯ll come to see Xufang again tomorrow.¡± She waved to Wen Baiyang, whom she had just met recently, and left with Xue Baoyi. Captain Qiao didn¡¯t seem to want to leave yet, taking Wen Baiyang to sit on a bench in the corridor, ¡°Wait here for me a moment.¡± She obediently sat waiting. Captain Qiao walked aside with Jiang Zhi, ¡°Those people came prepared, none showing their faces, and no useful clues left at the scene, it probably won¡¯t be easy to investigate.¡± Jiang Zhi had guessed this result, so he left Ah Wan to handle the scene: ¡°I will look into this privately, keep it under wraps at the Criminal Intelligence Department.¡± He didn¡¯t want to involve the police. Captain Qiao agreed, then asked, ¡°Where had you just been?¡± ¡°I gave Luo Qinghe a lesson.¡± A lesson? Jiang Zhi was consumed with rage at the time; he would not have used civilized means. Captain Qiao guessed, ¡°Was there blood?¡± He nodded his jaw, ¡°Hmm.¡± He wasn¡¯t one prone to physical violence, preferring schemes and strategies, but if anger got the better of him, he occasionally resorted to violence, which meant serious harm. ¡°So blatantly?¡± Can¡¯t you hold back and plan a little more elaborately? ¡°Hmm.¡± Couldn¡¯t hold back. Captain Qiao laughed out of frustration, ¡°You really mess around, not afraid of ending up in jail?¡± ¡°She wouldn¡¯t dare.¡± Jiang Zhi was certain. Luo Qinghe was also walking on thin ice, unable to protect herself; without full confidence, she wouldn¡¯t provoke him. ¡°She wouldn¡¯t dare, but she also can¡¯t just act recklessly.¡± After lecturing him a few more times, Captain Qiao then asked, ¡°Were the people this time hired by her?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t know yet.¡± Not knowing to instruct others anymore? That¡¯s really just messing around! Changling Hospital. After receiving emergency treatment, it was almost midnight for Luo Qinghe. She was severely injured and couldn¡¯t even lie down because the hospital nurses had reported the incident. Two people from the Criminal Investigation Team were sent over, Zhang Wen was responsible for taking notes, and Xiao Zhong was tasked with collecting evidence. ¡°Miss Luo, may I ask you a few questions?¡± Luo Qinghe nodded. She had been seriously injured twice within three days and was very weak. Zhang Wen asked, ¡°Did you see the assailant¡¯s face?¡± Luo Qinghe shook her head, her breath weak, her voice very low, ¡°No, he wore a mask.¡± ¡°What about his build and voice?¡± ¡°About one hundred eighty-five centimeters tall, with a relatively young voice.¡± One hundred eighty-five centimeters, that height wasn¡¯t very common. Zhang Wen asked again, ¡°Is he someone you know?¡± He had some understanding of Miss Luo; she wasn¡¯t a good person, and probably had many people wanting revenge on her, possibly one of her enemies had come knocking. Luo Qinghe said, ¡°No.¡± ¡°Did the assailant have any other distinguishing features?¡± Her answer came quickly, ¡°I didn¡¯t notice.¡± Didn¡¯t notice? That didn¡¯t seem like Miss Luo¡¯s style. Zhang Wen looked at her and asked, ¡°Did the assailant say anything to you? Like his purpose?¡± Luo Qinghe¡¯s face was pale, expressionless, ¡°No, he attacked as soon as he came in without saying anything.¡± So, basically no clues at all. Zhang Wen asked a few more questions but still got no useful information. He left the hospital room and met up with Xiao Zhong. ¡°It¡¯s strange; isn¡¯t Miss Luo supposed to be the toughest and most troublesome person? How come she just took a stabbing like that? And we found nothing.¡± Something was off, very off. Xiao Zhong guessed, ¡°Maybe there is some unspeakable secret.¡± Zhang Wen felt that Luo Qinghe was definitely hiding something, ¡°Are you done collecting evidence?¡± Xiao Zhong gestured OK, and as they walked, he said, ¡°This assailant has somewhat unique hair.¡± ¡°How is it unique?¡± Xiao Zhong showed him a color print photo taken from the surveillance video, ¡°Who does it look like?¡± The misty blue was very familiar; Zhang Wen thought for a moment, ¡°Young Master Jiang?¡± Yes, the Jiang Family¡¯s young master had dyed his hair blue, a rare kind of matte gray mixed in, a cool tone that ordinary people couldn¡¯t pull off, matte, dreamy, filled with a hazy sense. Don¡¯t ask why Zhang Wen knew so well because his sister was in the beauty business and even gave herself the same dye job as Jiang Zhi. No looks, dye your hair this color, and you¡¯d look totally drab. His sister said so. Xiao Zhong gave a profound look, ¡°I think it looks like him too.¡± And their heights seemed similar too. However, Zhang Wen was perplexed, ¡°But we can¡¯t arrest someone based on hair color alone, can we?¡± There was no evidence; one can¡¯t just arrest someone based on hair color. The two had just returned to the station when they received a call from Luo Qinghe. She said verbatim, ¡°I lost a bracelet; the assailant must have been after money. Let¡¯s not pursue the case, consider it bad luck mitigated by financial loss.¡± Mitigated by financial loss, those words were so unlike Luo Qinghe, a woman with ruthless methods and a strong vindictive spirit, who would normally seek out the perpetrator to exact harsh revenge. Was she being blackmailed? Surprisingly, she was holding her tongue. Zhang Wen hung up the phone, ¡°Captain Cheng, Luo Qinghe isn¡¯t pursuing the case.¡± Captain Cheng didn¡¯t make a sound and looked at the photo of the assailant, lit a cigarette, and called Qiao Nanchu, ¡°Haven¡¯t gone to bed yet?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± Normally reticent, Captain Qiao even patiently explained, ¡°A buddy¡¯s girlfriend is hospitalized. Been busy till now.¡± Captain Cheng, making casual conversation, asked, ¡°Which buddy?¡± Equally casually, the other side replied, ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± The guy with the blue hair, what a coincidence. Captain Cheng, puffing intermittently, asked, ¡°You were with him the whole time?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°Around 10:40, together then?¡± Qiao Nanchu, in a casual tone, ¡°At the Fifth Hospital, do you want me to check the surveillance?¡± The Fifth Hospital was Jiang Family territory; whether the surveillance was functioning or not depended on Jiang Zhi. Did Captain Cheng not know their tricks? ¡°I¡¯m still breathing as the captain of the Criminal Investigation Team here, don¡¯t mess around!¡± Swearing under his breath, Captain Cheng hung up the phone. Qiao Nanchu glanced at his phone¡¯s time, ¡°It¡¯s too late. I won¡¯t go in.¡± He dropped Wen Baiyang off at her doorstep. She still hadn¡¯t moved. ¡°Anything else to say?¡± She nodded, there was something to say. It was about the boyfriend-girlfriend topic they hadn¡¯t finished discussing today at Yuquan Bay. He said, ¡°Let¡¯s talk inside.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Wen Baiyang opened the door, went to make him a cup of barley tea. As she sat on the couch opposite him, fiddling with her fingers and waited as he finished his cup of tea without having spoken. Qiao Nanchu put down the cup, ¡°If you don¡¯t speak now, it¡¯ll be daylight.¡± Chapter 220 - 220 220 Jiang Zhi assists Fang Bao with brushing teeth ?Chapter 220: 220: Jiang Zhi assists Fang Bao with brushing teeth, going to the toilet, and during the postpartum confinement (second update) Chapter 220: 220: Jiang Zhi assists Fang Bao with brushing teeth, going to the toilet, and during the postpartum confinement (second update) Qiao Nanchu put down his cup, ¡°If you don¡¯t speak now, it will be dawn soon.¡± Her skirt was wrinkled from her own clutching, and as she loosened her grip, she poured more hot water into his cup, her drooping eyelashes fluttering randomly. ¡°My biological parents are close relatives,¡± she said in sign language. ¡°I know.¡± Because they were close relatives, Wen Ya didn¡¯t show a shred of affection for her. The backward village on Da Mai Mountain blamed her for everything, including famine and drought. The first time he saw her was on Da Mai Mountain, where people had locked her in a cage to sink in a pond. ¡°I am deaf and mute because there is a problem with my chromosomes.¡± The sign language for the word ¡°chromosome¡± was quite rare. Qiao Nanchu didn¡¯t understand, but he guessed what she was trying to say, ¡°I know all of this.¡± He had a rough idea of what she was going to say next. ¡°This condition cannot be cured, and cochlear implants won¡¯t work either.¡± Her hands paused briefly before continuing the signs, ¡°Any children we might have in the future could also be abnormal.¡± Qiao Nanchu leaned back, his posture relaxed, ¡°So, what is your conclusion?¡± She must have been very nervous, as a faint blush that wasn¡¯t too noticeable on her face had now become evident, ¡°If you don¡¯t mind all this¡ª¡± ¡°I don¡¯t mind.¡± Afraid she hadn¡¯t clearly seen his lip-reading, Qiao Nanchu also expressed it once more in sign language, ¡°I don¡¯t mind.¡± From the moment he had the thought about her, he had looked fifty years into the future, prepared whether or not to have children, or if they were to have children with disabilities. ¡°We, we,¡± She couldn¡¯t complete the sentence after trying to sign it twice, her face turning embarrassingly red, her movements sluggish, hardly daring to look in his eyes. After all, she was young with thin skin. Not like Qiao Nanchu, an old fox who could seduce people, ¡°I don¡¯t care about the other stuff,¡± he leaned forward, the two separated by a coffee table, ¡°just one thing, answer me properly.¡± S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Wen Baiyang nodded. Just one thing he needed to confirm, ¡°Do you like me?¡± He asked so directly¡­ Wen Baiyang¡¯s ears turned red as well, she gave him a timid glance, expressing very tactfully, ¡°I want to live with you.¡± He was not satisfied with that answer. ¡°Answer again.¡± He held her flushing face, his gaze fervent and direct, wanting to see the reflection of himself deep in her eyes, he asked once more, ¡°Do you like me?¡± She didn¡¯t use sign language; her lips parted and without a sound, she said, ¡°I like you.¡± How could she not like him? Her life was his, and from the day she arrived in Imperial City, she had been ready to give him everything she had. She didn¡¯t know if this was love. She only knew that after she turned eighteen, she began to feel anxious and insecure, afraid that once she came of age, he wouldn¡¯t care for her anymore. That¡¯s why she moved out, trying not to bother him at all, afraid she would annoy him. ¡°Just past midnight.¡± Qiao Nanchu smiled at her, ¡°Wen Baiyang, today is our first day together. Remember the date, we¡¯ll celebrate it in the future.¡± She nodded shyly, ¡°I¡¯ll remember.¡± She thought, now that she was his girlfriend, he wouldn¡¯t neglect her anymore. Midnight, the night was deep and quiet, outside a full moon hung, accompanied by a few stars. Jiang Zhi was still in the hospital room, having changed clothes, with no intention of leaving. Zhou Xufang was beginning to recover a bit, just weakened from too much blood loss, but it was Jiang Zhi who looked pale, ¡°Are you not going home to sleep?¡± He stated he would not leave, ¡°I¡¯ll stay here with you.¡± There was only one bed in the hospital room. Zhou Xufang moved a little to the side, ¡°Come up and sleep.¡± Her body temperature was low, and the room¡¯s heat was off; she was worried Jiang Zhi would catch a cold given his poor health. Jiang Zhi remained seated and unmoved, ¡°You have injuries, and I don¡¯t sleep well, I might kick you.¡± ¡°Where will you sleep?¡± He said, ¡°On the floor.¡± He didn¡¯t even dare to lie down beside her bed, fearing he¡¯d act inappropriately in his sleep because of the cold and chilly hospital environment, Zhou Xufang urged him, ¡°You should just go home and sleep. I don¡¯t need company.¡± Jiang Zhi refused to leave, ¡°If I go home, I won¡¯t be able to sleep either.¡± He made sure her blanket was tucked in tightly, ¡°Don¡¯t worry about me, you go to sleep first.¡± Unable to persuade him, Zhou Xufang felt weak and really tired, but said, ¡°I want to brush my teeth.¡± ¡°Stay lying down, don¡¯t move.¡± Jiang Zhi fetched a toothbrush, cup, and a small basin from the bathroom, supporting her as she sat up, ¡°You can¡¯t move your hands around, it might pull at the wound.¡± He only filled the cup halfway with cold water, added some hot water to it, and brought it to Zhou Xufang¡¯s lips, ¡°I¡¯ll help you brush.¡± It wasn¡¯t the first time he had brushed her teeth; the last time, when she was drunk, he had done the same. No wonder Xue Baoyi joked about him raising a daughter. ¡°Open your mouth.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Zhou Xufang took a mouthful of warm water. Jiang Zhi held the basin for her to spit the water back into it. The VIP ward¡¯s toothbrush was a bit too hard, so he brushed gently and slowly. Zhou Xufang¡¯s mouth was open, toothpaste foam dripping onto his hand. She pushed his hand, holding the toothbrush away, and Jiang Zhi pulled out a wet wipe to clean her mouth, neglecting the foam on his own hand. Jiang Zhi was quite the clean freak. Zhou Xufang had almost forgotten, and she asked, ¡°Jiang Zhi, don¡¯t you find me dirty?¡± Jiang Zhi handed her the cup again, ¡°Rinse.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± After she spat the rinse water into the basin and finished rinsing, she took a wet wipe to clean Jiang Zhi¡¯s hands, worried he¡¯d find her dirty because of his obsession with cleanliness. Jiang Zhi moved the basin away and wiped off the toothpaste residue at the corner of her mouth, ¡°When we kiss, I swallow your saliva, why would I find you dirty? Silly.¡± Right. He even ate her leftovers, Zhou Xufang thought, perhaps her influence had cured Jiang Zhi of his cleanliness obsession. After brushing teeth, it was time to prepare for bed. Zhou Xufang said, a bit embarrassed, ¡°I need to use the bathroom.¡± She had received several IV drips¡­ Jiang Zhi pondered for a moment and asked, ¡°Here or in the bathroom?¡± Here? Zhou Xufang decisively replied with a flushed face, ¡°In the bathroom.¡± Jiang Zhi hesitated then said, ¡°Better do it here. You have a wound on your back, and lifting you might hurt it.¡± He glanced at the small basin, ¡°I can look away.¡± So embarrassing¡­ Zhou Xufang felt that Jiang Zhi misunderstood, thinking she was incapacitated, ¡°My legs are fine, I can walk on my own.¡± Saying this, she got out of bed. Jiang Zhi called out for her to take it easy while going to help her and managed to push the IV stand with one hand. The VIP ward¡¯s bathroom was just inside, a short walk away. Jiang Zhi said ¡°Take it slow¡± four times while assisting her to the bathroom and even asked, ¡°Do you need my help?¡± Zhou Xufang, pale as she was, flushed again, ¡°No!¡± Jiang Zhi remained calm, despite his red ears, and unembarrassed, he said, ¡°Why be shy with me? When you have a baby, I¡¯ll be the one taking care of you during your confinement.¡± The image suddenly flooding Zhou Xufang¡¯s mind made her say, ¡°¡­get out.¡± Changling Genetic Medicine Research Room. Changling Hospital had a genetic medicine project, with a phase review scheduled for next week. It was past midnight, yet several key members were still busy in the research room. ¡°Dr. Xiao, is there some good news?¡± The speaker was the youngest member of the research team, named Gu Zhongmei, in his forties and looking very intellectual, ¡°You seem to be in a good mood.¡± Chapter 221 - 221 221 The little thing about applying medicine for ?Chapter 221: 221: The little thing about applying medicine for Fang Bao~ (first update) Chapter 221: 221: The little thing about applying medicine for Fang Bao~ (first update) ¡°You seem to be in a good mood.¡± Xiao Yi smiled, dipping a bloody test strip into a reagent before placing a bit under the microscope, and said, ¡°There¡¯s good news.¡± ¡°What good news?¡± He said something unrelated, ¡°If the replication rate of DNA increased by eighty times,¡± he asked, ¡°Dr. Gu, what do you think the result would be?¡± DNA replication speed increasing by eighty times, that¡¯s impossible, not even cancer cells could replicate that fast. Gu Zhongmei hypothesized, ¡°If replication really were that fast, there¡¯d be an insufficient supply of various proteins, and the organism would quickly weaken.¡± Xiao Yi postulated further, ¡°What if the weakened cell tissues could receive specific orders to automatically decompose and reassemble?¡± That hypothesis sounded far-fetched. Gu Zhongmei felt it was unlikely, ¡°Could there be such a possibility?¡± There was. The speed of self-healing and regeneration would be beyond normal. Dr. Xiao smiled silently, not continuing the topic. At that moment, the bell rang, and he went outside to answer the call. ¡°Doctor.¡± ¡°Did you get the stuff?¡± The man on the phone replied, ¡°No, the hospital¡¯s records have been destroyed.¡± ¡°Lie low for a bit, don¡¯t stir things up unnecessarily.¡± ¡°Got it.¡± That evening, Jiang Zhi suddenly leaving the film festival caused a frenzy online. By eight o¡¯clock the next day, both the topics [Best Film] and [Jiang Zhi Acting Like a Diva] had exploded. He became famous young and came from a good family, so naturally, many were envious of him, both inside and outside the industry. Normally, considering the power of the Jiang Family, no one dared to openly oppose him, but yesterday, Young Master Jiang had stirred up some trouble for himself, giving people a chance to mock him. Grilled Shark: ¡°Stop making movies, learn how to be a human first.¡± Love Chicken Daily: ¡°Rich family¡¯s young masters, making movies is just for fun, anyone who takes it seriously is the real loser.¡± Brother Construction Site: ¡°I actually liked his movies before, tsk tsk, his character is lacking, better do less grandstanding and more charity work.¡± Brother Ye: ¡°If not for the Jiang family¡¯s money, who would even know who Jiang Zhi is, bolstered by a bunch of female fans¡¯ nonsensical support, thinking he¡¯s a big shot.¡± Today I Became Single: ¡°I just cursed because I just broke up, have no girlfriend now.¡± Playboy Tang Jiu: ¡°With such character, still got a bunch of idiotic fans.¡± Trumpet Flowers Too Are Flowers replying to @Playboy Tang Jiu: ¡°What¡¯s wrong with idiotic fans? Did they eat your family¡¯s rice? No matter how you slander him, if his movies miss even one ticket sale, consider me the loser.¡± Wilderness Passion: ¡°Anyone else like me? I don¡¯t understand his movies at all.¡± Wang Xiaobo¡¯s Queen replying to @Wilderness Passion: ¡°Buddy, if you have low IQ, don¡¯t flaunt it! I love how you hate my bias yet can¡¯t do anything to him, that bitter look on your face.¡± Yun Sheng¡¯s Second Mistress: ¡°Sisters, don¡¯t be angry, let them be bitter, it¡¯s inevitable, who can blame us when Jiang Mei Ren is handsome, talented, and rich? The only flaw is that he¡¯s got a girlfriend, but no one is perfect, right?¡± Lord Yuan Bao: ¡°Insiders revealed, Director Jiang skipped the awards because of his girlfriend.¡± Jiang Zhi¡¯s girlfriend 032: ¡°The person above, stop spreading rumors! Our Director Jiang left in a huff because he had a spat with Young Master, the girlfriend was just an incident, Baozhi cp is the true love.¡± Enduring Too Much Beauty Has Its Costs: ¡°Director Jiang and Young Master¡¯s interactions are so sweet, I¡¯ve moved my bed over here, please continue in the same room!¡± ¡­ After browsing Weibo, Zhou Xufang threw her phone onto the pillow. Jiang Zhi brought two bowls of porridge back to the hospital room, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± After resting for the night, her spirits had lifted significantly, her cheeks puffy, she said irritably, ¡°I¡¯m really angry.¡± ¡°What are you angry about?¡± He unpacked the plain porridge and handed it to her. Zhou Xufang wasn¡¯t in the mood for breakfast, ¡°Lots of people online are insulting you.¡± Surely they were just jealous that her boyfriend was wealthy, talented, and attractive, hmph! Jiang Zhi chuckled, scooping a spoonful of porridge to feed her, ¡°Let them talk, it¡¯s not like I¡¯m going to lose a piece of flesh over it.¡± Zhou Xufang was still really upset, biting down so hard she left teeth marks on the spoon. Concerning online gossip, Jiang Zhi wasn¡¯t bothered, ¡°That¡¯s how this circle is, we make money from them, and they exploit us. It boils down to two things, lifting someone or stepping on someone. The former involves seeking satisfaction based on others, and the latter involves venting dissatisfaction onto others.¡± He had been in this circle for years and saw through it clearly. ¡°If it¡¯s not a big deal, let them vent. They¡¯re just bored and frustrated. They might not even be serious,¡± he said, blowing on the hot porridge before feeding Zhou Xufang, ¡°We shouldn¡¯t take it seriously.¡± She might not take other things seriously, but there was one thing Zhou Xufang was genuinely upset about, ¡°They even said I¡¯m an accident and that you and Mr. Xiao Xue are the true love.¡± She was the real, bona fide girlfriend, those people talking nonsense were infuriating! Jiang Zhi was amused by her jealous reaction, ¡°Should we clarify?¡± Her expression serious, ¡°How would we clarify?¡± He half-jokingly and cryptically suggested, ¡°You could post a picture of my bed.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Naughty boy. Zhou Xufang, her face already pale from blood loss, blushed at the shameless remark of this naughty boy, ¡°I don¡¯t have a picture of your bed.¡± And even if she did, she wouldn¡¯t show it to anyone. Jiang Zhi set down the bowl of porridge, his gaze bewitching like a seductive fairy, ¡°Want me to lie down and let you take one now?¡± Little ruffian. Zhou Xufang ignored the hooligans. She finished her porridge and then logged into her Weibo alternate account, which she originally created just to get a big reward on Weibo. The nickname hadn¡¯t been changed¡ªit was still a string of numbers and letters. She decided to change her nickname first, thought for a while, and typed six characters. But the system said it was already taken. She tried again, and it was still taken. Then she tried again¡­ Finally, the nickname that got approved was: Jiang Zhi¡¯s girlfriend 033. 001, 002, 003¡­ 031, 032 were all taken, so Zhou Xufang could only settle for 033, which kind of depressed her. After changing her nickname, she started replying one by one; she wanted to clear Jiang Zhi¡¯s name. Jiang Zhi¡¯s girlfriend 033 replied to @Grilled Shark: ¡°Jiang Zhi is a good guy, stop spreading lies!¡± Jiang Zhi¡¯s girlfriend 033 replied to @Brother Construction Site: ¡°Give me your construction site¡¯s address, I want to buy it.¡± Then fire you. Jiang Zhi¡¯s girlfriend 033 replied to @Brother Ye: ¡°Jiang Zhi is a big name, he¡¯s super super awesome, and his movies are super super amazing.¡± Jiang Zhi¡¯s girlfriend 033 replied to @Playboy Tang Jiu: ¡°Jiang Zhi is a good guy, you¡¯re the bad one!¡± Jiang Zhi¡¯s girlfriend 033 replied to @Wilderness Passion: ¡°I can understand everything just fine, you¡¯re the dumb one.¡± And she reported this user for having an inappropriate nickname. S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Jiang Zhi¡¯s girlfriend 033 replied to @Jiang Zhi¡¯s girlfriend 032: ¡°I¡¯m his real girlfriend, not you, and neither is Xue Baoyi¡ª¡± Before she could finish, Jiang Zhi took her phone away: ¡°Your injury isn¡¯t healed yet, play less on your phone.¡± ¡°I wasn¡¯t done yet.¡± Zhou Xufang tried to snatch the phone back, but Jiang Zhi grabbed her hand: ¡°Stop moving around, I¡¯ll reply for you.¡± He helped her lean back a little and pulled up the blanket, ¡°Is it time to change your dressing?¡± The penicillin in her system had almost completely metabolized, and she was recovering somewhat, so the time to change the dressing needed to be moved up. ¡°I¡¯ll call the doctor.¡± Zhou Xufang grabbed him: ¡°I¡¯ve nearly recovered, it wouldn¡¯t be good for the doctor to see.¡± Not like the normal data of temperature and blood pressure, the rate of healing and regeneration was too abnormal; a regular person would find it unbelievable and might even think of it as something supernatural. ¡°What about changing the dressing?¡± Zhou Xufang moved her shoulder; it didn¡¯t hurt much: ¡°We might not need to change it, it¡¯s almost healed.¡± Jiang Zhi urged her not to move: ¡°I¡¯ll be back soon, don¡¯t play with the phone.¡± He went to the office of the general surgery department. Director Qi had a patient and was in the middle of a consultation: ¡°It¡¯s not a big problem. I¡¯ll prescribe you some herbal medicine, come back for a check-up after you finish it.¡± ¡°Thank you, Director Qi.¡± As soon as the patient left, there was a knock on the door. ¡°Come in.¡± Jiang Zhi entered. Director Qi stood up from his seat: ¡°Mr. Jiang, what brings you here?¡± ¡°My girlfriend needs to change her dressing.¡± Changing the dressing after just one night? Director Qi didn¡¯t know what was going on and didn¡¯t dare to ask: ¡°I¡¯ll go right now.¡± Jiang Zhi said, ¡°No need, just teach me how.¡± This was wanting to do everything himself. Director Qi quickly agreed, thinking to himself that Young Master Jiang was just like his father, falling into the hands of a woman. When Jiang Zhi returned to the ward, Zhou Xufang was, as expected, playing with her phone again. ¡°You¡¯ve lost so much blood, you should be resting, not playing.¡± He walked over and snatched her phone away. Zhou Xufang was lying sideways on the hospital bed: ¡°What did you do?¡± ¡°I went to find your attending doctor.¡± She was about to ask why he had gone to find the attending doctor when the nurse responsible for her room came in: ¡°Mr. Jiang,¡± she was holding a medical tray, ¡°the medicine is ready.¡± Jiang Zhi took the medicine from her: ¡°Thank you.¡± The nurse smiled: ¡°You¡¯re welcome.¡± Recently Mr. Jiang had been thanking people a lot, all because of his girlfriend. ¡°I¡¯ll leave now.¡± The nurse left the room, thoughtfully closing the door behind her. ¡°Why did the nurse leave, isn¡¯t she going to help me change the dressing?¡± The wound was on her back, and she couldn¡¯t reach it herself. Jiang Zhi locked the door: ¡°I¡¯ll help you change it.¡± Zhou Xufang looked stunned: ¡°Do you know how?¡± ¡°I just learned.¡± He first checked the medicine and recalled the precautions before putting on gloves. ¡°Let¡¯s just have a doctor do it.¡± Afraid Jiang Zhi might feel jealous, she added, ¡°We could call a female doctor.¡± Displeased, he asked, ¡°Are you despising me?¡± Zhou Xufang immediately shook her head: ¡°Not at all.¡± She was just embarrassed because applying the medicine meant she had to undress. Reading her hesitant expression, Jiang Zhi knew she was shy: ¡°I don¡¯t want others to see you.¡± His ears turned a bit red as he awkwardly explained, ¡°It¡¯s okay for me to look, we¡¯re going to get married anyway.¡± Zhou Xufang buried her head and tugged at her fingers: ¡°¡­Oh.¡± He went and drew the curtains, darkening the room instantly, then turned on the light, sat on the bed, and removed the blanket from her body. ¡°I¡¯ll be gentle, won¡¯t hurt you.¡± Chapter 222 - 222 222 Hot Search Jiang Zhi Shows Off Affection Hot ?Chapter 222: 222: Hot Search Jiang Zhi Shows Off Affection, Hot Search Pregnancy Abortion (Second Update) Chapter 222: 222: Hot Search Jiang Zhi Shows Off Affection, Hot Search Pregnancy Abortion (Second Update) He reached out to unbutton her clothes. It wasn¡¯t a smooth operation ¨C he fumbled with the buttons, only managing to undo one after much effort. Zhou Xufang also felt uneasy, grabbing at her collar. ¡°I¡¯ll do it myself.¡± Jiang Zhi made a sound of acknowledgment and licked his teeth. ¡°Jiang Zhi,¡± her voice was tiny, ¡°could you close your eyes for a minute?¡± Jiang Zhi simply turned away. ¡°Tell me when you¡¯re done.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± She then looked around like a thief, hesitating a long while before she started to get undressed, keeping one sleeve on her arm and holding the hospital gown up in front of her to hide her body, revealing only the injury on her back. She spoke softly like a kitten, ¡°I¡¯m done.¡± Jiang Zhi turned back, glanced at her injury, and quickly looked away. ¡°Fang Bao, turn around so your back is facing me.¡± She turned around. Jiang Zhi placed the medical tray on the bed. ¡°Tell me if it hurts.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± But Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t cry out in pain. Jiang Zhi gently removed the gauze from her wound, awkward in his movements but gentle. ¡°Does it hurt?¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t,¡± she said. ¡°The wound is a bit itchy.¡± Itching meant that it was healing. Jiang Zhi took a cotton swab, dabbed it with antiseptic, leaned closer, and gently blew on the wound as he applied the medicine. Zhou Xufang looked back over her shoulder. ¡°Is it almost healed?¡± The metabolism of the Penicillin was almost done, so the healing of the wound would also start to speed up. Jiang Zhi said, ¡°It¡¯s beginning to scab over.¡± ¡°Then it¡¯ll heal up soon.¡± Jiang Zhi learned quickly, and after about twenty minutes under Director Qi, he went through the motions adeptly; after applying the medicine, he wrapped the wound with the cut gauze. His fingers occasionally brushed against her cool skin. ¡°Are you cold?¡± ¡°Not cold.¡± She had a lovely pair of shoulder blades and a very slim waist ¨C he guessed he could wrap his hand all the way around it. ¡°All done.¡± Jiang Zhi finished dressing the wound and cleaned up, then walked around to the front. She also had a beautiful collarbone, and about an inch below, there was a scar the size of a thumb. Zhou Xufang¡¯s eyes welled up as she glared at him. ¡°Don¡¯t look!¡± His eyes warmed slightly as he stepped closer¡ª Knock, knock, knock. Someone was at the door. Jiang Zhi glanced at the door and covered her with the blanket. ¡°Get dressed and hide under the covers.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Zhou Xufang crawled under the covers to get dressed. It was Fang Lixiang, who came with pig liver soup, to replenish Zhou Xufang¡¯s blood. Soon after, Ah Wan and Ms. Song also arrived, both bringing pig liver soup, also for blood replenishment. Lastly came Wen Baiyang, still carrying pig liver soup. After drinking three bowls of pig liver soup, Zhou Xufang felt, ¡°¡­¡±, a bit nauseated. Qiao Nanchu came with Xue Baoyi, bringing his new flame. As soon as he entered, he drew the standing Wen Baiyang to his side to sit, and the boundlessly flirtatious Xue Baoyi immediately saw the signs and fixed her sly gaze on them, ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to introduce us?¡± sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Qiao Nanchu, embracing his girl¡¯s waist, introduced her openly, ¡°My girlfriend, Wen Baiyang.¡± So he really managed to woo her¡­ Xue Baoyi shot Qiao Nanchu a knowing look before donning a mischievous expression to greet Wen Baiyang, ¡°Hello there, little sister-in-law.¡± Wen Baiyang signed her greetings, ¡°Hello.¡± Xue Baoyi, of course, didn¡¯t understand sign language, but that didn¡¯t cool his enthusiasm. ¡°Do you still remember me?¡± he gestured his hand at a certain height, ¡°You were this tall when Nanchu brought you to my house.¡± Back then, the little girl was on holiday, her nanny had gone home, and no one was looking after her. Qiao Nanchu used to take her everywhere with him. She was a scrawny girl with chubby, rosy cheeks, but in a few years, she had been transformed by that ¡°old beast¡± Qiao Nanchu into a fair-skinned, graceful young lady. Tsk, tsk, what an old beast. Wen Baiyang nodded, she remembered; she remembered all of Qiao Nanchu¡¯s friends. Xue Baoyi began to reflect melancholically, ¡°How time flies, a fleeting moment and the young sprout has grown into a tender blade of grass, swiftly taken into the mouth of¡ª¡± Qiao Nanchu intercepted with an apple throw. Xue Baoyi stopped talking, huffed, and took out his phone, ready to make a transfer. Ding¡ª It was followed by a message: A welcoming gift for your young wife. Ding¡ª This ding was from Jiang Zhi, sent directly to the group chat. Qiao Nanchu accepted the money and glanced at the amount: These two crude dogs! Zhou Xufang was most surprised by the news of Qiao Nanchu and Wen Baiyang, feeling it was a huge shocking pile of gorilla poop, ¡°When did you two meet?¡± Jiang Zhi sat by the bed, tucking Zhou Xufang snugly under the covers. Xue Baoyi smiled unscrupulously, ¡°Little Sister-in-law Zhou, didn¡¯t you know? The little lady is Nanchu¡¯s child bride.¡± Child bride, nothing. Qiao Nanchu gave him a cold warning glare, ¡°If you can¡¯t speak properly, then shut up.¡± Xue Baoyi fell silent, then gave Zhou Xufang a suggestive eyebrow raise, ¡°Get it now, Little Sister-in-law Zhou?¡± Little Sister-in-law Zhou blinked, ¡°Got it, got it, Mr. Xiao Xue.¡± Oh, so Bai Yang had mentioned her benefactor before ¨C it turns out Mr. Qiao was really raising a child bride. ¡°Miss Zhou,¡± Ah Wan suddenly exclaimed with delight, ¡°Your anonymous account is trending!¡± That was because Jiang Zhi had replied to a comment for Zhou Xufang, and he had done so using his prominent main account. Jiang Zhi V replied to @Jiang Zhi¡¯s girlfriend 032: ¡°033 is actually my girlfriend. @Jiang Zhi¡¯s girlfriend 033¡± This user 032 not only captured Jiang Zhi¡¯s reply but also went on to screenshot all comments made by 033. Jiang Zhi¡¯s girlfriend 032: ¡°This surprise dose of dog food @Jiang Zhi V @Jiang Zhi¡¯s girlfriend 033¡± Yun Sheng little brother, exclusively pampering me alone: ¡°033¡¯s replied to every comment Jiang Zhi liked; no doubt she¡¯s the girlfriend.¡± Did I diet today: ¡°This couple is so sweet, Jiang Zhi¡¯s girlfriend is so cute, I ship it.¡± ¡°¡­¡± While Zhou Xufang and Jiang Zhi¡¯s lovey-dovey display was heating up on one side, a massive bombshell dropped on the other. Ah Wan the drama enthusiast came across something else: ¡°Miss Fang, you¡¯re also trending.¡± Fang Lixiang, who had been munching on an apple, immediately jumped up, ¡°Really?¡± Excited as could be ¨C had she become that popular? She eagerly opened Weibo, only for her face to drain of color instantly, the apple dropping to the floor as she let out an expletive through gritted teeth, ¡°Fuck!¡± ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Xue Baoyi whipped out his phone in an instant. The trending headline was disturbing¡ª[Rising Weaver suspected of having an abortion]! And the comments below were even more disturbing. Chapter 223 - 223 223 Spinning Love at the Textile Hospital Bao Yi ?Chapter 223: 223: Spinning Love at the Textile Hospital, Bao Yi and Lixiang Make Progress (First Update Chapter 223: 223: Spinning Love at the Textile Hospital, Bao Yi and Lixiang Make Progress (First Update The comments below were even more vicious. ¡°No wonder she climbed up so fast, turns out she has a sugar daddy.¡± ¡°Damn, it¡¯s just like a maternity ward!¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t this a bit far-fetched? Can¡¯t someone just pass by the maternity ward?¡± ¡°In less than three months, from an extra to the Weaver, both the main character in a movie and a big celebrity endorser, plus a variety show, all such top resources, who would believe she didn¡¯t have a backer?¡± ¡°The person above must be a shill hired by her rival¡¯s camp, our Miss Lixiang is a great actress; someone must be jealous of her.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t speak for other directors, but Director Jiang always only looks at acting skills.¡± ¡°That hand in the shot couldn¡¯t be Director Jiang¡¯s, could it?!¡± ¡°Director Jiang has a black-clothed girlfriend, and also Young Master; he refuses bundling, carry off without dating.¡± ¡°Going to the hospital is for abortion, eating together means being a couple, one meter apart when walking means breaking up, not wearing high heels means pregnant, not having kids after two years means infertile¡­ The entertainment industry really is a magical place.¡± ¡°From an extra to the Weaver, didn¡¯t even act in TV dramas but directly became a movie star, the jump is too great, there must be something fishy.¡± ¡°¡­¡± A total of three photos, one showed her passing by the maternity ward, and the remaining two were of her and Xue Baoyi; probably the jerk starting the rumors didn¡¯t dare to mess with Xue Baoyi, so only let her hand get caught in the frame. With just this bit of stuff, rumors of an abortion went out of control, it was obvious that someone was deliberately leading the narrative and slinging mud. Well, it made sense since her resources were too good lately, blocking too many people¡¯s path. Fang Lixiang grabbed her bag and stood up: ¡°Xu Fang, I¡¯ll head back to the company first, and come see you again tomorrow.¡± ¡°What¡¯s the rush?¡± Xue Baoyi stopped her, ¡°Sit down, it¡¯s just a minor thing.¡± After all, she was the head of an entertainment company, remarkably calm at this time. She directly called Fang Lixiang¡¯s agent. ¡°Boss.¡± He started by scolding, ¡°How do you manage your talent? Not a peep until now, where is the PR?¡± The company had nearly a hundred artists if not dozens, this kind of rumor was common, the big boss had a lot on his plate, he couldn¡¯t personally deal with every little thing, why did he get involved this time? Lin Shang responded with a quivering voice: ¡°I¡¯ll take it off the trending search right now.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t bother, send a lawyer¡¯s letter directly.¡± A warning to others, see who else dares to spread rumors, and, ¡°Find out who¡¯s been throwing the mud behind the scenes.¡± ¡°Yes, boss.¡± After Xue Baoyi hung up the phone, Fang Lixiang went to ask, ¡°Do I need to make a public clarification?¡± Xue Baoyi said it wasn¡¯t necessary: ¡°Just focus on your acting. If you have to address every fabricated issue, what do we need an agent for?¡± ¡°Boss, you¡¯re right!¡± It was the first time Fang Lixiang sincerely realized, ¡®this playboy sure is impressive.¡¯ Baoguang Media. After Lin Shang finished Xue Baoyi¡¯s call, she put down her phone and sat on the sofa with a cold face, ¡°Are you going to confess to the boss yourself, or shall I do it for you?¡± Aside from Lin Shang, there was only Bai Li in the lounge. Bai Li was an actress who had been under Lin Shang¡¯s guidance for four years. She started as a child star, high-profile debut but low-profile since then, struggling for years and still outside the second tier. Ambitious and skillful, yet she never took off. This time, the scandal involving Fang Lixiang was her doing. Lin Shang was a top agent in the industry, so of course, she had some tricks up her sleeve. She knew who was behind it first thing in the morning, but both parties were her artists. She didn¡¯t want things to blow up and hoped to resolve the matter quietly. But the big boss had to stick his hand in. Bai Li was panicked now: ¡°Sister Shang, I know I was wrong, help me one more time.¡± She walked over and grabbed Lin Shang¡¯s hand, ¡°Just one more time, please Sister Shang.¡± ¡°How am I supposed to help you?¡± She was very annoyed, shaking free of her hold, ¡°How many times have I told you, don¡¯t mess with Lixiang, she¡¯s the one the boss wants to promote, but you just won¡¯t listen, insisting on making trouble for yourself.¡± Making trouble for oneself is one thing, using such dumb methods like hiring shills and mudslinging. Bai Li was indignant, her face red and stubborn: ¡°How can you blame all this on me? You told me before about the reality show, that I would be on it.¡± She didn¡¯t care if there were others outside, her voice was loud, ¡°But as soon as Fang Lixiang came along, I was pushed aside. Is that fair to me?¡± She had waited for a year for a chance at a variety show. Fang Lixiang had been with Baoguang Media for less than three months and had already snatched her opportunity. How could she not be angry? Just last night, she saw Fang Lixiang at the hospital and devised this desperate plan to ruin Fang Lixiang¡¯s reputation, thinking that would give her a chance to replace her. Lin Shang laughed out loud, laughing at her naivety: ¡°Is this your first day in the industry? Fairness, when has this industry ever been fair? The rules are as such: you snatch my resources, I snatch hers, we each rely on our own abilities. Either you have the ability, or you have a sugar daddy, sugar mommy, or sugar brother with the ability; if you don¡¯t have it, then you¡¯re a supporting role, slowly climbing up. It¡¯s been seven or eight years for you in the industry, do I still need to teach you this?¡± Bai Li was disdainful: ¡°What ability does Fang Lixiang have? Just pandering to people, right? After pandering to Director Jiang and to Mr., what a joke!¡± Lin Shang was too lazy to correct her self-righteousness: ¡°Someone¡¯s willing to let her pander, that¡¯s an ability too. Do you have it?¡± She bit her lip, furious. Lin Shang stood up, she had to deal with Fang Lixiang¡¯s situation and had no time to dally with her: ¡°I¡¯ll give you a day, go to the boss yourself.¡± She stopped at the door, after all, she had managed her for years and felt a bit of compassion, ¡°Make sure your apology sounds sincere.¡± Fifth Renmin Hospital. In the morning, Zhou Xufang had eaten pig liver, and at noon, she had again eaten pig liver. Come afternoon tea time, it was still pig liver. She was now so averse to pig liver that she felt nauseated at the sight of it. She pushed the bowl away, ¡°I can¡¯t eat anymore.¡± Jiang Zhi still tried to feed her, ¡°Ten more bites.¡± Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t want to eat and turned her head away, ¡°You just said ¡®ten more bites¡¯ a moment ago.¡± Before that, it had been the same story. It was like a child unwilling to walk; the parent promises to carry them after reaching a certain point, but once there, they say the child needs to walk a bit further. Lies! Jiang Zhi wouldn¡¯t give in to her, ¡°You lost so much blood, you need to replenish it.¡± He coaxed her with assurances, ¡°I¡¯m not deceiving you this time, just ten more bites.¡± She would trust him one last time. Zhou Xufang opened her mouth and took a sip of the pig liver soup. She counted each sip as if it were poison, making a pained face until the final sip when she finally relaxed her furrowed brow, ¡°That¡¯s ten.¡± No wonder Qiao Nanchu¡¯s cousin always said that the hardest thing in the world is coaxing a child to eat. ¡°If you eat ten more bites, I¡¯ll let you have some milk this afternoon.¡± Since she hadn¡¯t fully recovered, Jiang Zhi had been withholding it. Zhou Xufang was annoyed with him, ¡°Jiang Zhi, you¡¯re going to end up without a girlfriend if you keep this up.¡± Jiang Zhi just laughed. She snatched the spoon from his hand and angrily spooned a large helping of pig liver into his mouth, ¡°I¡¯m already better, I don¡¯t need to replenish blood anymore.¡± The pig liver soup had just a pinch of salt, making it particularly bland. It was made by Ms. Song; in addition to replenishing blood, it also contained red dates and Chinese herbs, leaving much to be desired in taste. Jiang Zhi stopped forcing her to eat and set the bowl down, ¡°Who says you¡¯re better?¡± Zhou Xufang glanced at the door, which was locked, then pulled down her collar to show Jiang Zhi her back, ¡°My wound has already healed, don¡¯t believe me? Just look.¡± He had changed her bandages a few times, and the young girl was becoming bolder. Jiang Zhi undid two of her buttons and peeled back the gauze on her back. The wound had indeed mostly healed. He touched it lightly with his finger, ¡°There¡¯s a scar.¡± About the size of a coin, the scab had fallen off not long ago, and it was still pinkish in color. Zhou Xufang said, ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter; it will get better over time.¡± After her genes were artificially altered, she had sustained many injuries but had never been left with scars. On her back, his breath grew closer, a bit warm, tickling her skin. ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± Jiang Zhi¡¯s lips had landed on her. A contrasting sensation of cold and warmth made Zhou Xufang¡¯s back stiffen, and she suddenly thought of a serious problem, ¡°I haven¡¯t bathed in two days.¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± His romantic mood was completely ruined by her blunt honesty. S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He fixed her collar and buttoned it up. Zhou Xufang said, ¡°I want to be discharged.¡± While in the hospital, Jiang Zhi forbade her from getting out of bed, eating snacks, and even from reading novels and comics, claiming it was bad for her wound, her health, and her eyes. Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t agree; she felt that she had recovered, that she could now punch a bull to death with a single blow. Jiang Zhi still didn¡¯t think it was safe for her to be discharged, ¡°Let¡¯s observe for two more days.¡± ¡°I¡¯m already fine.¡± ¡°What¡¯s the rush to leave?¡± Of course, she was in a hurry, ¡°The ice cream at home is going to go bad.¡± Jiang Zhi was at a loss for words. In the end, she pestered him relentlessly until he went to handle the discharge procedures. Just as they walked out of the surgical building, someone called out to him, ¡°Mr. Jiang Zhi?¡± It was a man dressed as a delivery person coming over. He took out a parcel from his backpack, ¡°Someone asked me to deliver this to you.¡± There was no sender¡¯s name on the delivery package. The delivery man handed the item to Jiang Zhi and left. Jiang Zhi listened to the sounds of the package, then unwrapped it to find a stack of photos inside. At that moment, his phone rang. It was Luo Qinghe, ¡°Did you receive the item?¡± Jiang Zhi tossed the delivery box into the trash can, flipping through the photos in his hand, ¡°It seems you won¡¯t stop until I kill you, will you?¡± Chapter 224 - 224 224 Jiang Zhis fertility status Bao Yi was drugged ?Chapter 224: 224: Jiang Zhi¡¯s fertility status, Bao Yi was drugged (second update Chapter 224: 224: Jiang Zhi¡¯s fertility status, Bao Yi was drugged (second update ¡°Looks like you won¡¯t stop until you¡¯re dead, huh?¡± This woman was too reckless; he needed to make a quick decision. Luo Qinghe, probably not yet recovered from his injuries, spoke breathlessly, ¡°I took a stabbing for nothing and can¡¯t even call the police; I must get some interest.¡± He said, ¡°Tonight at nine, Fusheng Inn, don¡¯t be absent.¡± Jiang Zhi returned to the hospital room with the stack of photos. ¡°What is this?¡± He showed the photos to Zhou Xufang, ¡°Luo Qinghe had someone send them over.¡± Zhou Xufang recognized them instantly, ¡°These are from Luo Changde¡¯s dash cam.¡± No wonder Luo Qinghe called her a monster; even the dash cam captured it. If this thing got out, there would be three troublesome issues: she was professional errand runner Z, her strength was extraordinary, and she was the last suspect at the scene of Luo Changde¡¯s plunge into the river. ¡°Jiang Zhi, I¡¯ve caused trouble.¡± Jiang Zhi corrected her, ¡°The troublemakers are that tearless father and daughter pair.¡± Seeing her still frowning, he reassured, ¡°Don¡¯t panic, I¡¯ll send them all to prison.¡± Zhou Xufang was still very worried, ¡°Luo Qinghe will definitely use this to threaten you.¡± ¡°She has her trump card, and so do I.¡± Snow began to fall outside, and Jiang Zhi went to close the window, for he was the type of person who, when plotting against someone, would never pave just one road to death. Zhou Xufang sat cross-legged on the hospital bed, not even wearing socks, her bare feet exposed, ¡°What¡¯s your trump card?¡± Jiang Zhi sat back on the bed, pulling the blanket over her, ¡°The big fire that year, there was a survivor who injured one eye.¡± Fang Lixiang¡¯s father also mentioned that a gardener survived. Just as Zhou Xufang was about to ask for details, someone knocked on the door. Jiang Zhi helped her lie down, ¡°Come in.¡± It was Vice President Sun, ¡°Mr. Jiang.¡± ¡°Vice President Sun,¡± Jiang Zhi sat by the headboard, concealing the young girl behind him, ¡°I need to ask a favor of you.¡± Vice President Sun had been promoted by Jiang Zhi himself. Officially, he obeyed Old Lady Jiang, but secretly, he was Jiang Zhi¡¯s informant. ¡°Just give your orders.¡± ¡°Wake Luo Changde up, no matter what it takes.¡± Due to Luo Qinghe¡¯s interference, Zhou Xufang¡¯s discharge from the hospital was temporarily delayed. Jiang Zhi said, with his people in the hospital, staying would be safer. At nine o¡¯clock in the evening, Fusheng Inn was in its bustling hours. Half an hour later, Xue Baoyi had an appointment, coincidentally at Fusheng Inn. Since it was on his way, he arrived early to see what else the troublemaker wanted to say. ¡°Chen Xiaozhuang,¡± Xue Baoyi sat in the back seat, glanced at the secretary¡¯s outfit for the day, and casually commented, ¡°You¡¯re dressed a bit provocatively today.¡± Chen Xiaozhuang gave a shy smile, his round, pale face was very tender, ¡°I have a blind date today.¡± He adjusted his tie, ¡°What do you think, Mr.?¡± That wine-red suit¡­ Definitely taken from ¡®Pinru¡¯s Closet.¡¯ Xue Baoyi replied, ¡°Not bad.¡± If it wasn¡¯t for the following remark, Chen Xiaozhuang might have believed his bluff, which was, ¡°Quite festive.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Chen Xiaozhuang, round and plump, resembled a ball because of his smooth, pale skin, making him appear like a festive, elastic rubber ball. But as a man, how could he appreciate being told he looked festively plump, even though he indeed was festively plump. Festively plump Chen Xiaozhuang said, ¡°I need to leave work early today.¡± He needed to arrive early for the blind date to make a good impression on the woman. ¡°I¡¯m not stopping you.¡± Xue Baoyi got out of the car, tall and slouching, ¡°Take the car too; if it works out, this car is yours.¡± Festively plump Chen Xiaozhuang only appeared young but was actually already thirty, still a bachelor from birth. His mother was extremely anxious, fearing he¡¯d remain single forever, thus arranged blind dates for him every few days. But blind dates aren¡¯t so easy; he had already been on sixteen this month. Chen Xiaozhuang¡¯s festively plump head popped out from the car window, ¡°Then how will you get back?¡± Xue Baoyi waved a hand dismissively, ¡°Waiting to pick me up, people could line up from the south to the north of the city.¡± Look at you, showing off! Fusheng Inn, Bamboo Garden, Heavenly Room No. 3. Jiang Zhi pushed the door open. ¡°Here you are.¡± Luo Qinghe was sitting on the couch drinking, obviously still hurt, her makeup heavy, but it couldn¡¯t hide her pale complexion. She put down her glass and took a clean one, poured some red wine, and pushed it across. Jiang Zhi glanced at it, standing still. ¡°Afraid I put something in the drink?¡± She picked up the glass and took a sip herself. Jiang Zhi pulled up a chair and sat down, ¡°No.¡± His eyelids lightly lifted, his gaze cold, ¡°It¡¯s just that your presence is so disgusting, I can¡¯t stomach anything.¡± He belonged to a prominent family, naturally impeccable in manners. Although not warm or close to others, he never spoke rudely, but he was never polite to her, never had a good word for her. Luo Qinghe couldn¡¯t understand, ¡°Why have you never looked at me favorably since we were young, what have I done to offend you?¡± Jiang Zhi had no patience to deal with her, ¡°Spare me the nonsense, just state your purpose.¡± Luo Qinghe, having sustained injuries recently, had lost quite a bit of weight, when she smiled, her cheekbones protruded. She asked Jiang Zhi, ¡°How have you been feeling recently?¡± Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t answer. She asked again, ¡°Have you been having regular check-ups?¡± He got up and walked away. Luo Qinghe spoke calmly, ¡°Dashcam,¡± He indeed stopped. She sat on the sofa, chin lifted sharply, ¡°If I give this to the police, Zhou Xufang and I will end up meeting in jail, won¡¯t we?¡± Fusheng Inn, Mei Garden, Room Number Four. Xue Baoyi had been sitting for quite a while before the other party showed up. He glanced at his watch, ¡°You¡¯ve made me wait for fifteen minutes.¡± The private room was ancient in style, burning incense, with threads of thin smoke floating up from a small bronze incense burner, carrying a faint medicinal fragrance. Outside was freezing cold, but Bai Li was wearing just a bright red dress under her coat, which she took off upon entering, revealing her equipped waist and gracefully curvy figure. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Mr. Zhou, I got held up by something.¡± She had invited Xue Baoyi out, saying she could help Fang Lixiang clear up the rumors. Xue Baoyi only came by on the way, being rather impatient and having worn out his patience after sitting for a while, ¡°I have a round at 9:30, you¡¯ve only got ten minutes.¡± Bai Li sat down, first pouring some wine, her voice sweet and soft, ¡°Mr. Zhou, let me toast you first.¡± Xue Baoyi pushed the cup away, ¡°No alcohol.¡± His uncle had gotten into trouble because of his drinking, falling into women¡¯s traps several times, each time bringing out an illegitimate child; Xue Baoyi had seen enough of these absurdities and naturally was cautious, never drinking recklessly outside. Growing impatient, he urged, ¡°Don¡¯t dawdle.¡± Bai Li¡¯s eyes suddenly reddened, her look pitiful as if the pear blossoms were bathed in rain, ¡°I was wrong, Mr. Zhou, please give me another chance.¡± Actors are just like actors, shedding tears as if turning on a tap. Xue Baoyi had seen it all too often and remained unimpressed, asking coldly, ¡°What did you do wrong?¡± Bai Li cried pitifully, ¡°I secretly filmed Lixiang.¡± Xue Baoyi, legs crossed leisurely, watched the girl¡¯s act, ¡°What else?¡± ¡°I gave the photos to the paparazzi, and,¡± she bit her lip, sniffled, half regretful and half fearful, ¡°also contacted a marketing account.¡± The scent of the incense was too strong, making Xue Baoyi cough slightly in discomfort, ¡°Didn¡¯t your agent tell you what I hate the most when you joined the company?¡± She had been told. Baoguang¡¯s boss did not oppose the overt and covert conflicts within the industry circle, but the fire should only be directed outward, not inward. Her tears started rolling again, ¡°I know I was wrong, I can help clear Lixiang¡¯s name, Mr. Zhou, please give me another chance, I will never do such things again.¡± In the future? Was he such a magnanimous person? Fang Lixiang was someone he intended to promote. Xue Baoyi stood up, ¡°The lawyer will contact you about the contract termination.¡± Bai Li immediately grabbed his arm, ¡°Mr. Zhou!¡± Fifth Renmin Hospital. Zhou Xufang was staring at the AD calcium milk in her hand, lost in thought. Fang Lixiang called her, ¡°Xufang.¡± She remained lost in thought. Didn¡¯t you want to drink the AD calcium milk? Why aren¡¯t you drinking it? ¡°Xufang,¡± Fang Lixiang waved her hand in front of her, ¡°What are you thinking about?¡± Zhou Xufang came back to her senses, ¡°Lixiang, I need to go out.¡± Fang Lixiang had entered while Jiang Zhi had not yet left, and before leaving, had specifically asked her to look after Zhou Xufang, ¡°Jiang Zhi asked you to stay in the hospital and wait for him.¡± Zhou Xufang couldn¡¯t sit still, ¡°I need to find him.¡± She was very worried, her desire for the AD calcium milk completely forgotten, placed aside, ¡°Luo Qinghe is very cunning, I¡¯m afraid he will harm Jiang Zhi.¡± Fang Lixiang thought Zhou Xufang was overthinking, ¡°Xufang, you have to believe me, your Jiang Zhi is even more cunning than her.¡± Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t take it in, having already removed her IV. Fang Lixiang had no other choice, ¡°Then I¡¯ll accompany you.¡± Fifth Renmin Hospital and Fusheng Inn are both located in the bustling area of Imperial City, not far from each other, without traffic, speeding slightly could get there in ten minutes. Fusheng Inn, Bamboo Garden, Room Number Three. Luo Qinghe sat composedly, ¡°I can choose not to give the item to the police.¡± Of course, she wouldn¡¯t give it to Jiang Zhi either. Such a valuable item should not be wasted in one go. Jiang Zhi cut to the chase, ¡°What do you want?¡± Luo Qinghe looked at his icy demeanor with a smile, ¡°Don¡¯t look like that, what I want from you is just a simple effort.¡± After all, she wouldn¡¯t hand over the dashcam to him that quickly. ¡°Tell me.¡± She got up and walked over, ¡°I want one of your sperms.¡± Jiang Zhi smiled, his peach blossom eyes glazing over with a thin layer of ice, his face not hiding his disgust at all, ¡°You¡¯re shameless.¡± He rarely cursed people like this. Luo Qinghe didn¡¯t mind, having emotions was better than none, ¡°I don¡¯t want to sleep with you, it¡¯s more like,¡± she paused, ¡°like donating sperm.¡± Jiang Zhi replied, ¡°I¡¯m sterile.¡± Chapter 225 - 225 225 Textile Progress Bao Yis Main Palace Arrives ?Chapter 225: 225: Textile Progress, Bao Yi¡¯s Main Palace Arrives (First Update Chapter 225: 225: Textile Progress, Bao Yi¡¯s Main Palace Arrives (First Update Jiang Zhi: ¡°I am infertile.¡± Luo Qinghe chuckled lightly, ¡°That excuse really lacks sincerity.¡± Since that¡¯s the case, further discussion is pointless. She took out her phone and dialed a number: ¡°Captain Cheng, I¡¯m here¡ª¡± Before she could finish, the phone in her hand was snatched by Jiang Zhi, who casually tossed it into a wine glass: ¡°And then?¡± And then¡­ She turned around and gave him a radiant smile: ¡°Have a boy to continue the Luo Family lineage.¡± Fusheng Inn, Mei Garden, Room number four. Xue Baoyi was frowning, his sleeve still being held by someone. Bai Li¡¯s eyes were red, tears hanging without falling, her crying face genuinely evoking pity: ¡°Mr., just give me one more chance, I will do anything you ask.¡± Second Young Master Xue was usually tender-hearted, but at this moment, he grew impatient: ¡°Enough with the dragging, let go of my hand.¡± Her hand loosened, resting at her waist, she pulled down the zipper of her dress. Xue Baoyi raised an eyebrow, smiling lasciviously: ¡°Do you think it¡¯s easy to climb into young master¡¯s bed?¡± Her fingers twined nervously as if confused or shy, bowing her head, occasionally glancing at him timidly: ¡°Mr., my body is clean.¡± The coy look of a young girl fully in sight, yet not lacking in allure. The Second Young Master of the Xue Family, a high branch, an elite of a noble family, if she could cling to him, it would ensure a lifetime of wealth and honor, even if she didn¡¯t enter the rich gates of the Xue Family, at least she could be sheltered in the entertainment circle. Bai Li tiptoed, her hands resting on Xue Baoyi¡¯s shoulders, leaning close, boldly flirting: ¡°Fang Lixiang can serve you well, and so can I.¡± Her hand moved downward. Xue Baoyi stepped back, grabbing her hand with disgust and throwing it away, his face smiling but his words cold as daggers, unlike his usual decency he said, ¡°A woman should still possess some shame.¡± Scolding her for being shameless. He dusted off his suit, as if he had touched something dirty: ¡°Oh, by the way, I¡¯ve never slept with Fang Lixiang, she doesn¡¯t find me appealing.¡± He turned and walked away, stumbling slightly as he took a step, shaking his head and suddenly feeling dizzy. The incense was too strong, its smell irritating. He tried to step forward again, staggered, steadied himself against the wall, shook his head again, the world spinning around him. ¡°Mr.,¡± from behind, a woman¡¯s hands wound around him, clasping his waist, ¡°I¡¯ve liked you for a very long time.¡± Xue Baoyi couldn¡¯t steady himself, the room¡¯s lights dim and dazzling, he braced himself with one hand against the wall, pushing away the hand on his waist: ¡°Let go of me!¡± The woman¡¯s hands were soft as if boneless, twining around him as she turned. ¡°Shall we try it, huh?¡± she teased subtly, her hand brushing from his waist up to his chest, pressing her body against him, ¡°I can take good care of you.¡± He swayed again, grabbing her hand. ¡°Fang Lixiang¡­¡± His head spun, her name the last on his lips. At the entrance to Fusheng Inn, Zhou Xufang and Fang Lixiang had just arrived, both wearing masks, glancing around suspiciously. Zhou Xufang led, Fang Lixiang following: ¡°Do you know which room it is?¡± Zhou Xufang moved ahead with his head down: ¡°No.¡± ¡°What do we do then?¡± Fusheng Inn wasn¡¯t large but it wasn¡¯t small either, four buildings in total, Mei Lan Zhu Ju Garden each occupying one, with over a hundred rooms. Zhou Xufang said: ¡°We¡¯ll have to search room by room.¡± With no other choice, Fang Lixiang divided the task: ¡°Then I¡¯ll go to Meilan Garden, you go to Bamboo and Chrysanthemum Garden.¡± ¡°Fine.¡± Zhou Xufang really searched room by room, from the first floor to the third. The farthest was the Sky character room, the door was locked, she was about to force it open when the door suddenly opened, her hand unable to retract in time, striking forward. ¡°Cough, cough, cough¡­¡± That was unexpected¡­ Jiang Zhi, face red from coughing: ¡°Why are you here?¡± Zhou Xufang hurried to rub his back: ¡°I was worried about you.¡± At that moment, Luo Qinghe walked out from inside, pausing at the door, looking at Jiang Zhi: ¡°I¡¯ll be waiting for you at Changling Hospital.¡± After she spoke, she glanced over Zhou Xufang¡¯s body with an almost imperceptible look and then left. Ugh, I hate this person! Zhou Xufang really didn¡¯t like Luo Qinghe and wanted to rush up and teach him a lesson, but she held herself back and first asked Jiang Zhi, ¡°What did she offer?¡± Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t say anything. Zhou Xufang guessed, ¡°Did she make an excessive demand?¡± ¡°Mm,¡± Jiang Zhi whispered in her ear. Zhou Xufang was shocked, her phoenix eyes wide open, ¡°You agreed?¡± He grunted again, looking pitiful and fixated on her. Zhou Xufang was furious, feeling that Luo Qinghe was a beast, she couldn¡¯t stand it anymore, itching to hit someone, ¡°I¡¯m going to kill her right now.¡± Desiring someone else¡¯s boyfriend¡­ It infuriated her! Jiang Zhi grabbed her as she was about to dash forward, coaxing her with a smile, ¡°Don¡¯t be angry, don¡¯t be angry, I tricked her.¡± He pulled her into his arms, holding her, ¡°How could I give her anything? My descendants will all be yours.¡± ¡­ Playing the little thug at this moment, Zhou Xufang shook her head, not wanting to deal with him anymore. Jiang Zhi, with a mischievous smile showing his small fang, pulled her into the room. ¡°Bang!¡± Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He shut the door, pinned the little girl against it, removed her face mask, and pecked her cheek. Zhou Xufang wriggled as he teased her, trying to dodge, ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± He continued, distractedly responding, ¡°Hmm?¡± She stopped moving, placed her hands on his shoulders, tiptoed slightly, and leaned in close to him, her eyelashes fluttering as she asked, ¡°Does Luo Qinghe have a crush on your good looks?¡± Jiang Zhi looked up, licking his lips, ¡°She must be sick, I hate her so much.¡± Zhou Xufang, serious, ¡°Don¡¯t use foul language.¡± Fine. Jiang Zhi stopped talking. ¡°I think she likes you,¡± Zhou Xufang was a bit angry, ¡°she even wants to have your children.¡± If Luo Qinghe just wanted an heir, any man would do, she could pick whomsoever she liked, but she specifically chose Jiang Zhi, who was in poor health. Zhou Xufang wasn¡¯t foolish, she could see that Luo Qinghe had a hidden agenda, Jiang Zhi held a special place in her heart, different from others. Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t want to talk about that woman, he had only one thought in his mind now, ¡°I want you to have my children.¡± Zhou Xufang glared at him, ¡°Don¡¯t change the subject.¡± He looked down, his breath on her ear, ¡°I really do want that.¡± He was holding her hand. ¡°You¡ª¡± Her eyelashes trembled, and she closed her eyes, ¡°¡­little thug.¡± Jiang Zhi laughed, ¡°Mm, I am a little thug.¡± Big thug! ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± His response was distracted, ¡°Hmm?¡± Zhou Xufang¡¯s voice was soft and gentle, ¡°Has your infertility been cured?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Mei Garden, Room Number Four. Fang Lixiang knocked on the door, saying, ¡°VIP service.¡± The woman¡¯s voice inside sounded vaguely familiar, ¡°No need.¡± Fang Lixiang continued to knock, louder now, ¡°VIP service.¡± He would keep knocking until the door was opened. Fortunately, the person inside was sensible and came to open the door. Fang Lixiang was surprised to see a familiar face, ¡°Bai Li?¡± The person also wore a face mask, but those fox-like eyes were unmistakable to Fang Lixiang; it was definitely Bai Li. Seeing she had been recognized, Bai Li immediately tried to close the door. Fang Lixiang put his foot in the door, ¡°Why so guilty?¡± Chapter 226 - 226 226 Oh love and affection Bao Yi loses her vest ?Chapter 226: 226: Oh love and affection, Bao Yi loses her vest (second update Chapter 226: 226: Oh love and affection, Bao Yi loses her vest (second update Fang Lixiang stuck out her foot to block the door, ¡°What¡¯s the matter, feeling guilty?¡± Bai Li averted her gaze and responded irritably, ¡°What¡¯s it to you?¡± She seemed really guilty about something. Fang Lixiang was quite curious and craned her neck to look inside, but Bai Li immediately blocked her view, ¡°Get lost.¡± She didn¡¯t want to mess up someone else¡¯s big plan, but that ¡°get lost¡± really irritated her. Fang Lixiang felt annoyed and didn¡¯t want others to feel good either. She smiled slightly, ¡°Okay, I¡¯m going.¡± After saying that, she reluctantly withdrew her foot. Bai Li relaxed a bit and was about to close the door. Fang Lixiang took the opportunity to barge in, causing Bai Li to stumble backward, and she slipped inside. ¡°Fang Lixiang!¡± sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Fang Lixiang¡¯s ears rang from that furiously embarrassed shout. She dug in her ears, eyes fixed on the person on the sofa, ¡°I have an immature little question,¡± she asked maturely, ¡°Miss Bai, are you trying to drug and rape someone?¡± Who else could be lying on the sofa but that fool, Xue Baoyi, still mumbling incoherently. Fool! Completely foolish! Bai Li flatly denied it, ¡°Mr. Second and I are consensual, mind your own business?¡± Her attitude was quite defiant. More defiant than her, Fang Lixiang had never lost. She glanced at the zipper on Bai Li¡¯s dress at her waist, ¡°Consensual?¡± Ha. She kicked Xue Baoyi¡¯s leg, ¡°Xue Baoyi.¡± Xue Baoyi mumbled something. Fang Lixiang kicked again, ¡°Xue Baoyi.¡± He still wasn¡¯t sober. Fang Lixiang had a rough idea of what was happening. This fool must have been drugged. She had heard from the agent Lin Shang that the online scandal was a trick by Bai Li, who probably used it to lure Xue Baoyi here and planned to offer herself to him. Bai Li, seeing Fang Lixiang kicking twice, became furious, ¡°What are you doing?¡± She hadn¡¯t kicked enough, a slap landed on Xue Baoyi¡¯s face, ¡°Xue Baoyi!¡± Xue Baoyi suddenly opened his eyes, grabbed her hand, his eyes bloodshot, ¡°Lixiang¡­¡± Who asked you to be foolish? Fang Lixiang looked up, grinned at Bai Li, ¡°Still not admitting it, rapist?¡± The white ¡¤ drugging ¡¤ rapist ¡¤ Li: ¡°¡­¡± She was at a loss for words. Fang Lixiang pulled her hand free from Xue Baoyi, looked around, the wine glass on the table was clean, meaning the drug wasn¡¯t in the drink. She sniffed. Oh, in the incense. She grabbed a wine bottle, went over and doused the incense in the copper burner, threw the wine bottle away, and took out her phone to take pictures around the room. Bai Li immediately ran over, grabbing her hand, both angry and anxious, her voice loud, ¡°Fang Lixiang, I warn you, don¡¯t mess up my business.¡± Warn? Is the firefighter¡¯s daughter scared by threats? Fang Lixiang shook off her hand, ¡°So what if it¡¯s messed up? As if I¡¯m afraid of you!¡± She shook the phone in her hand, ¡°With proof in hand, scared of you? Fat chance.¡± Bai Li got scared then, not caring about anything else, tried to grab the phone from Fang Lixiang¡¯s hand. Fang Lixiang dodged left and right, pushing lightly, and Bai Li fell down easily. Her body was like cotton, struggling to crawl a few times, and kept sitting back down. This symptom¡­ Fang Lixiang guessed, ¡°Is this starting to affect you?¡± It looked like Xue Baoyi had entered the room a bit earlier than Bai Li, hence her delayed reaction. People who aren¡¯t usually smart get quite comprehensive when plotting. Fang Lixiang¡¯s face showed a ¡®benevolent¡¯ smile, ¡°Do you want me to call a man for you?¡± Bai Li glared, her eyes red, ¡°Get out!¡± Alright, staying to watch others do their business wasn¡¯t nice, Fang Lixiang went to pull Xue Baoyi up, ¡°Then I¡¯ll take him and get lost.¡± Bai Li looked at her as if she were a mortal enemy, wishing she could tear her apart. Fang Lixiang tugged a couple of times, couldn¡¯t pull him up. Looking at Xue Baoyi¡¯s delicate face, she was a bit worried; she didn¡¯t have an extra mask. Xue Baoyi¡¯s face was pretty recognizable, carrying him out like that would surely make headlines. She thought for a moment, had a bright idea, took a plastic bag from the trash can. She put it over Xue Baoyi¡¯s head; unfortunately, that plastic bag was green. Having green on his head, life goes on. Fang Lixiang tied a green bow on his neck, grabbed one of his hands, hoisted him on her shoulder, and held him with her other hand while carrying his jacket. His tall stature almost made her collapse. He was still restless. Fang Lixiang slapped the back of his head, ¡°Stand properly!¡± Xue Baoyi stayed put, grunting on her shoulder like a dog. Fang Lixiang was practically carrying him, her back couldn¡¯t even straighten, dragging him along with difficulty. As she passed Bai Li, she left some ¡®kind¡¯ advice, ¡°Calling one isn¡¯t enough, you can call two.¡± Bai Li told her to get lost. Fang Lixiang, not only was she not angry, she even kindly helped close the door. Look how kind she was. Xue Baoyi had been tormenting her all the way, being a good person. Not only did he not walk properly, placing all his weight on her shoulder, but he also kept chattering non-stop. ¡°Lixiang.¡± Fang Lixiang carried him, almost tired as a dog, and really didn¡¯t want to bother with him. Dissatisfied, he called her full name: ¡°Fang Lixiang.¡± Fang Lixiang just wanted to hit someone. Not only was he not well-behaved, he also became more demanding, stretching his voice and shouting, ¡°Fang¡ªLi¡ªxiang!¡± Passersby stopped in their tracks to look. Damn! Fang Lixiang pulled up her mask a bit: ¡°Shut up!¡± she snapped, pinching him on his waist, ¡°Afraid others won¡¯t know it¡¯s me, aren¡¯t you?¡± He yelped, and then commanded: ¡°Hurry up and take off my clothes for me!¡± He reached to pull off the plastic bag over his head. All eyes around them watched like they were looking at monkeys. Fang Lixiang wished there was a crack in the ground she could dive into. She slapped Xue Baoyi¡¯s hands and said through clenched teeth, ¡°Behave.¡± He squirmed. Fang Lixiang stumbled a bit and nearly face-planted into the ground. Stay calm! Don¡¯t get angry! She took a deep breath, carried him, and staggered outside. Just by the fountain outside, Zhou Xufang called her. Fang Lixiang felt like she had seen a savior and freed a hand to answer the call: ¡°Xu Fang.¡± Zhou Xufang asked, ¡°I found Jiang Zhi, where are you?¡± ¡°I¡¯m at¡ª¡± Fang Lixiang was about to give the address when Xue Baoyi slapped her phone into Lotus Pond with a plop, sinking it. ¡°¡­¡± This nemesis! Fang Lixiang felt like she was about to explode, she endured and muttered, ¡°I must owe you in my past life!¡± There were too many people coming and going, she was a female artiste after all, fearing recognition, she didn¡¯t dare stay long. She struggled to carry him out of Fusheng Inn and didn¡¯t dare go to the hospital; instead, she headed to the nearest old hotel. A five-minute walk took her fifteen minutes while carrying him. By the time she reached the hotel, she was almost collapsing with fatigue, she ¡®sneakily¡¯ checked into a room, gave the Boss Lady an extra two hundred yuan, without showing an ID. The room was on the second floor; there was no elevator. She carried the person up, her old bones nearly fell apart. She dropped him directly on the floor once inside the room. Xue Baoyi¡¯s head hit the ground with a thud. He yelped again. Fang Lixiang, gasping dog-tired: ¡°You stay here, I¡¯m leaving.¡± If she took care of him any longer, she was a dog! She turned to leave but hesitated at the door and resigned herself to return. Might as well call an ambulance for him. Who knew if the medication would harm him. She squatted down, patted Xue Baoyi¡¯s back: ¡°Where¡¯s your phone?¡± He turned over, silent. She took off the plastic bag from his head, patted his face: ¡°Hey, the phone.¡± He blinked and then grabbed her hand, pulling hard. This time, it was Fang Lixiang¡¯s head that hit the ground with a thud, causing her eyes to see stars from the pain. Endure. Endure! She couldn¡¯t take it anymore and kicked him hard. The guy yelped, clutching his leg and looking at her with a pitiful expression, mumbling, ¡°It hurts.¡± Die of pain then! If she cared for him any longer, she was a dog! Forget it, better drag him to the bathroom, so he wouldn¡¯t go biting someone else. She dragged him by one leg to the bathtub, squatted down, patted his face: ¡°Hot, isn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°Mmm-hmm.¡± She moved half of his body, flipped him forward, and he tumbled into the bathtub. Then, Fang Lixiang started running cold water. He began to howl again, kicking and thrashing, splashing cold water all over her. Fang Lixiang didn¡¯t care, filled up the bathtub and left. Just as she reached the bathroom door, the phone rang. It was Xue Baoyi¡¯s; she turned back, fished the phone out of his pocket. The phone was waterproof, still ringing, not an incoming call, but a reminder. ¡°Ten o¡¯clock, Fang Lixiang, game.¡± Fang Lixiang¡¯s hand slipped, and the phone rolled into the bathtub. She froze for a while before calling him: ¡°Xue Baoyi.¡± Xue Baoyi mumbled, his eyes still shut. ¡°Xue Baoyi.¡± She slapped his face, ¡°Wake up.¡± He muttered and continued complaining of discomfort. Out of patience, she leaned close to his ear and asked loudly, ¡°What¡¯s your gaming ID?¡± Chapter 227 - 227 227 Jiang Zhi switches the beams with substitute ?Chapter 227: 227: Jiang Zhi switches the beams with substitute pillars; Luo Qinghe is carrying whose seed (see beyond the question) Chapter 227: 227: Jiang Zhi switches the beams with substitute pillars; Luo Qinghe is carrying whose seed (see beyond the question) She ran out of patience and leaned in to ask loudly in his ear, ¡°What¡¯s your gaming ID?¡± Xue Baoyi opened his eyes, which were hazy with a foggy haze. Fang Lixiang panicked, ¡°I¡¯m talking to you, what¡¯s your gaming ID?¡± No sooner had she finished shouting than her hand was grasped by him, and then she felt weightless as her whole body toppled into the bathtub. With a splash, water went flying in all directions. She choked on a gulp of cold water and took a moment to regain her composure. Just as she was about to get up, her vision dimmed, and she collapsed. sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. It was over; she had inhaled that incense as well¡­ The next day, the sky was clear. Luo Qinghe¡¯s hospital room faced the sun, which filled the windowsill. Xu Pozhi knocked and entered, ¡°How are you today?¡± Each time he came, he always brought a bouquet of flowers. Luo Qinghe, wrapped in a coat, was sitting on the bed dealing with work affairs and looked up during a lull, ¡°Mr. Xu Wu, do you have a lot of free time?¡± Xu Pozhi replied, ¡°Pretty busy.¡± He placed the flowers he was holding into a vase, his face a picture of tenderness if you disregarded his immobile prosthetic eye, ¡°No matter how busy, I need to see you.¡± The flowers he brought were roses. Luo Qinghe glanced at the vivid red bouquet, ¡°Don¡¯t you know I don¡¯t like roses?¡± He turned to look at her, ¡°You like them.¡± It was just Jiang Zhi who didn¡¯t. Jiang Zhi detested roses the most. Someone was knocking at the door from outside, calling, ¡°Miss Luo.¡± Luo Qinghe shut her laptop, rose from the bed, and draped on a black overcoat, ¡°You can waste your time if you wish, but don¡¯t bother me.¡± She left the hospital room. It was Director Pang of Changling Hospital who informed Luo Qinghe, ¡°Mr. Jiang is here.¡± The corners of Luo Qinghe¡¯s mouth lifted slightly, and she quickened her pace heading toward the elevator. Xu Pozhi was still in her hospital room. He stepped out for a glance, saw her walking away, the elevator doors already closed, then he turned back into the room, closed the door, took two roses from the vase, removed their petals, and scattered them one by one over Luo Qinghe¡¯s bed, spreading a swath of red. Then, he lay down on it. Before long, cries rang out from the hospital room. ¡°Qinghe.¡± ¡°Qinghe.¡± ¡°Qinghe.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Jiang Zhi was on the fifth floor. Luo Qinghe went to the same floor, her spirits high, a hint of allure on her normally aloof face, and a smile in place. From a distance, she caught sight of Jiang Zhi and approached, commenting, ¡°The scarf suits you.¡± Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t respond, merely took off the scarf and tossed it into a trash bin. She didn¡¯t mind and maintained her smile but kept silent. At this moment, a nurse came over, whispered something to Director Pang, who respectfully told Jiang Zhi, ¡°It¡¯s all prepared.¡± Jiang Zhi remained expressionless, his complexion a bit off, revealing a hint of sickness, and he said, ¡°I don¡¯t want anyone from the Jiang Family to know about this.¡± Luo Qinghe agreed, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t bring trouble upon myself.¡± After speaking, her glance directed Director Pang. Director Pang took the lead, ¡°Mr. Jiang, please follow me.¡± Director Pang was very thorough; he had prepared a special room complete with a bed, a bathroom, a projector, and had even ready a disk and an album. The room was spotlessly clean, obviously specially tidied up. After Jiang Zhi entered, two male doctors and two female nurses followed him in; the nurses held the pre-prepared sperm collection cups. ¡°Everyone, out.¡± After Jiang Zhi spoke, no one moved. His eyes darkened, ¡°What, do you want to stay and listen?¡± Luo Qinghe instructed, ¡°Everyone out.¡± With her direction, they finally stepped out, leaving the sperm collection cup in the room, and closed the door behind them. Outside the room, Luo Qinghe didn¡¯t leave. A group of medical staff stayed as well, waiting nearby. Director Pang approached with utmost respect, ¡°Miss Luo, you should rest. I will keep watch here.¡± Luo Qinghe didn¡¯t move; instead, she leaned against the wall by the door. The rooms in the hospital were soundproofed, not a sound could be heard from inside. She inquired, ¡°Apart from Jiang Zhi, has anyone else entered?¡± Director Pang answered, ¡°Ever since the room was prepared, there has been someone on guard constantly. No one has entered.¡± In other words, there couldn¡¯t be anything inside that shouldn¡¯t be there. Changling Hospital was her uncle¡¯s territory. Even with Jiang Zhi¡¯s reach, it would be hard for him to get in. But despite this, she still dared not be careless. Nothing could go wrong with this matter. She stood guard at the door, never moving an inch. Inside the room, Jiang Zhi locked the door, moved to a secluded spot, put on a headset, and called out softly, ¡°Xu Fang.¡± Zhou Xufang immediately responded, ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± The voice didn¡¯t come through the headset, and Jiang Zhi looked around. A voice from behind said, ¡°Over here, over here!¡± He turned around. ¡°¡­¡± The girl, clutching a rope, hung outside the window and even managed to free one hand to wave at him vigorously. Jiang Zhi hurriedly opened the window and reached out to catch her, ¡°Isn¡¯t it too dangerous for you to climb through windows like this?¡± Zhou Xufang clung to Jiang Zhi¡¯s shoulder and climbed in smoothly, ¡°I¡¯ve got a safety rope.¡± She even added, ¡°Even if I fall, it¡¯s not a big deal. It¡¯s just the fifth floor; I won¡¯t break.¡± She could hop around easily; jumping five stories was nothing for her. But for Jiang Zhi, he still feared she would get hurt. She looked around the room, ¡°Where¡¯s the stuff?¡± Jiang Zhi took the sperm cup, which was inside a sterile bag, and handed it to her. Zhou Xufang was seeing this thing for the first time; she glanced at it, felt a bit embarrassed, then squinted one eye and sneaked another look, ¡°So shameful.¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± He hadn¡¯t thought much about it, but once she arrived, it felt oddly weird to him. Zhou Xufang packed the stuff and, pressed for time, she couldn¡¯t stay long, ¡°Then I¡¯m off.¡± Jiang Zhi took down her mask, kissed her face, and then put the mask back on her, ¡°Be careful, don¡¯t fall.¡± ¡°Mhm, mhm,¡± she climbed onto the window. Jiang Zhi called out to her, ¡°Zhou Xufang.¡± Her one foot still on the windowsill, she turned around, her pupils dark and bright, ¡°Yes?¡± Jiang Zhi, standing on his toes to reach, kissed her forehead, ¡°Stay far away, don¡¯t look or listen.¡± She nodded vigorously, obediently agreeing. After Zhou Xufang had left, Jiang Zhi closed the window, wiped away the footprints, then messed up the albums on the table, put on the disc, set it to mute, and let it play. He completed the whole set of acts and, bored out of his mind, watched out the window, waiting for his girl to come. The clock on the wall, its minute hand went round and round. Outside the sickroom, Director Pang¡¯s legs were numb from standing, but he dared not move. Luo Qinghe asked, ¡°How long has it been?¡± Director Pang checked the time: ¡°Almost an hour now.¡± It was a bit long; could it be that the video and albums didn¡¯t suit Mr. Jiang¡¯s taste? Or maybe Mr. Jiang¡¯s body¡­ Luo Qinghe moved from the wall to the door, raised his hand as if to knock, hesitated, and then lowered it, turning to Director Pang, ¡°Ask.¡± What if it¡¯s a critical moment? Director Pang thought. He braced himself and moved forward, knocking on the door, ¡°Jiang¡ª¡± The door opened at that moment. Director Pang was startled, his tongue briefly tied, ¡°Mr. Jiang, the¡­ the thing?¡± Referring to ¡®the thing¡¯ didn¡¯t seem quite right, but what to say? Nothing seemed appropriate. Jiang Zhi: ¡°It¡¯s inside.¡± Director Pang entered the room, glanced back at Jiang Zhi, then checked the video and the albums, which had been disturbed. Lastly, he went to the bathroom, where there was water on the ground, obviously cleaned up. After the inspection, Director Pang handed the sperm cup to a nurse, then nodded to Luo Qinghe. Jiang Zhi¡¯s face lost color, regaining a semblance of sickly pallor, ¡°You¡¯re not planning to give me the dashcam memory card?¡± Luo Qinghe stood in the doorway talking to him, ¡°Such a useful thing, it would be a pity to use only once.¡± She had only promised not to expose it, but she did not agree to give it to him. Jiang Zhi showed impatience between his brows, ¡°I don¡¯t like being threatened, and I have very little patience. Let¡¯s be straightforward and finish this all at once.¡± Luo Qinghe was excited, ¡°How to finish it?¡± He got straight to the point, simple and concise, ¡°That original you want, I can give it to you.¡± Indeed. He and Tang Xiang were allies. Luo Qinghe teased, smiling, ¡°You¡¯re not planning on fooling me with a burnt copy again, are you?¡± She didn¡¯t think Jiang Zhi was a straightforward and honest person. Of course, she wasn¡¯t one either. Jiang Zhi stated his position, ¡°That depends on you.¡± He was open and made his position clear, ¡°If you¡¯re willing to delete the video from the dashcam, I¡¯ll give you the original. You can also play tricks, just don¡¯t get caught by me.¡± The professional errand runner Z had a very skilled hacker partner; it wouldn¡¯t be easy for her to be deceitful. Luo Qinghe agreed: ¡°It¡¯s a deal.¡± She didn¡¯t trust Jiang Zhi¡¯s character; she trusted that Jiang Zhi wouldn¡¯t risk involving Zhou Xufang¡¯s matter. ¡°When is Luo Changde¡¯s funeral?¡± he asked. The Luo Family had sent out the message yesterday. As soon as the news of Luo Changde¡¯s death came out, the Luo Family¡¯s stock price had dropped a lot. Luo Qinghe answered, ¡°This Sunday.¡± ¡°Just have the stuff ready on that day,¡± Jiang Zhi said before walking away. Luo Qinghe called out to him, ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± He stopped but didn¡¯t turn around. She smiled, watching his back, her gaze intense, ¡°You and I are the same kind.¡± His innate ruthlessness, cruelty, cunning, and suspicion were all the same as hers. Jiang Zhi turned back and said, ¡°We¡¯re all sick.¡± Chapter 228 - 228 228 Sweet Critical Hit Morbid Love (Second ?Chapter 228: 228: Sweet Critical Hit, Morbid Love (Second Release) Chapter 228: 228: Sweet Critical Hit, Morbid Love (Second Release) Jiang Zhi turned around and said, ¡°They¡¯re all sick.¡± Cursing her, Luo Qinghe gave a light chuckle. After Jiang Zhi walked away, she called Zhou Xufang. Zhou Xufang picked up very quickly. ¡°Where are you?¡± She said, ¡°I¡¯m waiting for you at the entrance to the emergency department of the hospital.¡± Jiang Zhi descended to the fifth floor and went straight to the emergency building. Zhou Xufang was squatting in a corner outside, wearing a pink sweater under black clothes which were inconspicuous, but Jiang Zhi could always spot her at first glance. When she saw him, she immediately stood up, ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± As soon as she saw him, her previously dull, cold, and wooden expression disappeared, and she smiled happily. Jiang Zhi walked over and asked her, ¡°Did you wash your hands?¡± Zhou Xufang shook her head, ¡°Wash what hands?¡± ¡°You touched dirty stuff.¡± He took her hand, turned back into the hospital and led her to the restroom to wash her hands. Zhou Xufang muttered as they walked, ¡°I wore gloves.¡± What she touched was a sperm collection cup, which was plastic and also sealed in a sterile bag. Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t care and led her to the women¡¯s restroom, pushing her in, ¡°Go wash your hands,¡± and instructed, ¡°Wash them several times.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Zhou Xufang washed her hands with hand soap four times before coming out, her hands washed red. Jiang Zhi used a handkerchief to dry her hands. They were icy and chilly. He held them and kissed them twice, smelling the scent of the hand soap¡ªlemon-scented. ¡°When I was outside, I heard Xu Pozhi calling Luo Qinghe¡¯s name. Does he really like her?¡± Zhou Xufang was a little curious. Jiang Zhi frowned, ¡°Didn¡¯t I tell you not to listen?¡± Zhou Xufang looked innocent, ¡°I didn¡¯t want to listen.¡± Her expression was honest and her gaze serious as she sighed, ¡°Ah, but my hearing is too good.¡± Jiang Zhi was still not pleased and thought to himself that he would make her listen to that some other time¡­ ¡°Cough cough.¡± He coughed twice, his face slightly red, and he discreetly dismissed those frivolous thoughts, ¡°Whether he likes her or not, I don¡¯t know. I only know that he wants to get his hands on Luo Qinghe.¡± Zhou Xufang had only ever had one boyfriend, Jiang Zhi, and did not know much about the intricacies of male-female relationships and didn¡¯t quite understand, ¡°Isn¡¯t that called liking?¡± Jiang Zhi found it hard to define, so he simply stated the facts, ¡°Xu Pozhi once dated a girlfriend who looked a lot like Luo Qinghe.¡± ¡°And then?¡± ¡°That woman went mad and is now in a mental hospital undergoing treatment.¡± Zhou Xufang was surprised, ¡°Why did she go mad?¡± Jiang Zhi briefly summarized, ¡°Because Xu Pozhi is a madman too.¡± More precisely, a pervert. ¡°¡­¡± Ah, how complicated, how dark! Zhou Xufang thought that Jiang Zhi was the best. Zhou Xufang was still a little worried, ¡°We¡¯ve switched the results, won¡¯t Luo Qinghe find out? She might ask for another verification or something.¡± Luo Qinghe was suspicious by nature, not easily deceived. Jiang Zhi had already planned for that, ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter if she checks, she can bribe people, and so can I.¡± At eleven in the morning, the sun was obscured. Xue Baoyi was awakened by the cold. When he woke up, he was only wearing pants and his head was heavy, he felt lightheaded, and his whole body ached. He looked around the room, which was unfamiliar. He found his clothes and cell phone in the bathroom, soaked in cold water. He looked at the puddle on the floor and made a call to Fang Lixiang. The call didn¡¯t go through. After dialing a few times to no avail, just as he was about to continue trying, his secretary Xiao Zhuang called in a hurry, ¡°Mr., the meeting is about to start, where are you?¡± He hadn¡¯t answered so many calls. Xue Baoyi ran his hand through his hair, which was still half-wet, ¡°How would I know where I am?¡± He had a splitting headache, and his mind felt like a muddled mess. Moreover, he was thirsty, extremely thirsty. He downed two glasses of water and then sent his location to Xiao Zhuang, ordering him to come and pick him up immediately and to bring a set of clean clothes. After giving the order, he hung up the phone and continued to try calling Fang Lixiang, but the calls still didn¡¯t connect. Twenty minutes later, Xiao Zhuang arrived. This little inn was quite shabby. It was strange for someone as delicate and pampered as Young Master to stay in such a place. Xiao Zhuang had gone on a blind date the day before and didn¡¯t know what had happened, so he asked, ¡°Mr., why are you here?¡± As Xue Baoyi was tying his tie, he replied, ¡°How would I know why I am here.¡± Xiao Zhuang: ¡°¡­¡± Could it be a knock to the head? Impossible to communicate. Xue Baoyi tossed all his wet clothes into a trash can, ¡°Did your blind date go well yesterday?¡± Xiao Zhuang¡¯s expression darkened suddenly, ¡°It didn¡¯t.¡± Why did he have to bring up painful memories? Xue Baoyi began to take pleasure in Xiao Zhuang¡¯s misfortune, ¡°Why not?¡± Xiao Zhuang was irritated talking about it, ¡°That woman said I looked like a New Year¡¯s picture doll.¡± Xue Baoyi glanced at his face, ¡°Don¡¯t say it, it¡¯s quite fitting.¡± Xiao Zhuang, who had full, rounded cheeks, responded, ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Has Fang Lixiang gone to the company yet?¡± Xue Baoyi went to the bathroom to style his hair in front of the mirror and noticed a big bump on the back of his head that hurt to the touch. How had that happened? He couldn¡¯t remember anything about it; his memories from last night were patchy, only remembering snippets¡ªFusheng Inn, Fang Lixiang, a motel, and a green plastic bag. Xiao Zhuang replied, ¡°No.¡± Xue Baoyi walked out while dialing Lin Shang¡¯s number. ¡°Boss.¡± ¡°Where¡¯s Fang Lixiang?¡± Looking for Fang Lixiang again? Lin Shang replied to his boss, ¡°Lixiang took leave today, said there was a family matter.¡± Xue Baoyi immediately asked, ¡°Did he say what the matter was?¡± ¡°No.¡± Xue Baoyi didn¡¯t ask about Fang Lixiang again. His tone turned cold, ¡°That woman with the surname Bai, get rid of her. I don¡¯t want to see her in this circle ever again.¡± He dared to drug him. No wonder his uncles always said to watch out for women, especially the pretty ones. Lin Shang didn¡¯t know what Bai Li had done again, nor did he dare to ask for leniency, ¡°Understood.¡± ¡°What about the rumors online?¡± He was referring to the business with Fang Lixiang. ¡°They¡¯ve all been suppressed.¡± There were plenty of beautiful female artists at the company, but the boss didn¡¯t treat any of them specially, except for Fang Lixiang, who received treatment like she was a beloved daughter. Lin Shang felt that the boss might have some other thoughts. The conversation eventually turned back to Fang Lixiang, ¡°Give me Fang Lixiang¡¯s home number.¡± Lin Shang could confirm now, the boss was probably about to eat the grass on his own turf. ¡°Achoo!¡± ¡°Achoo!¡± Fang Lixiang, wrapped in a quilt, sneezed twice in a row. Her eyes were red, and her complexion poor; she looked both haggard and sick. How could her body be okay? Last night¡¯s water was so cold¡­ ¡°Achoo!¡± She sniffled. Mr. Fang entered without knocking, ¡°Girl, someone called my phone looking for you.¡± Her phone had fallen into the pond last night, and she hadn¡¯t replaced the card yet. She asked Mr. Fang, ¡°Who?¡± Mr. Fang said, ¡°He said he¡¯s a colleague from your company.¡± Fang Lixiang guessed it was her agent and asked Mr. Fang to pass the phone to her, ¡°Hello.¡± Her voice was nasal because she had a heavy cold. ¡°It¡¯s me.¡± Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Fang Lixiang was confused. It was Xue Baoyi, his voice also nasal, ¡°Did you come to Fusheng Inn yesterday?¡± Why ask when you know! Fang Lixiang lost her nerve, ¡°No!¡± Her response was an automatic reflex, just like this morning when she woke up and ran away reflexively. Because¡­ she couldn¡¯t face anyone. Please don¡¯t remind her! Xue Baoyi humphed on the phone, ¡°Who do you think you¡¯re fooling? I remember everything.¡± Maybe it was the fever, but her face must have been hot enough to cook an egg. Xue Baoyi kept talking, one thing after another, ¡°You clearly came, and you took me to a rundown motel.¡± His tone was accusatory, ¡°You even immersed me in cold water.¡± However, it was good that she came; otherwise, that woman would have disgusted him to death! He sniffled, suffering from a heavy cold, ¡°You¡¯ve nearly taken half my life away!¡± Who messed with whom? Fang Lixiang didn¡¯t want to talk to him. On the other end, Xue Baoyi touched the back of his head, ¡°Did you hit me too?¡± Of course, Fang Lixiang wouldn¡¯t admit it, ¡°I didn¡¯t!¡± It seemed she had slapped him several times and kicked a few times, too. ¡°Then why do I have a bump on the back of my head?¡± She paused. That was from bumping into the bathtub; he actually didn¡¯t remember¡­ Right, he had inhaled so many drugs, was unconscious, unlike her, who only inhaled a small amount of incense, half-asleep, half-awake¡­ ¡°Why aren¡¯t you saying anything?¡± Fang Lixiang¡¯s face cooled down completely, her eyes grew cold, ¡°Yes, I did hit you.¡± And I feel like hitting you now. How could he not remember, how could¡­ That annoying Xue Baoyi was still complaining on the phone, ¡°It¡¯s one thing you soaked me in cold water, but then you were rough with me, Fang Lixiang¡ª¡± Fang Lixiang couldn¡¯t listen anymore, her attitude cold, ¡°I¡¯m tired, hanging up.¡± Chapter 229 - 229 229 There wont be any more brats now (first update ?Chapter 229: 229: There won¡¯t be any more brats now (first update Chapter 229: 229: There won¡¯t be any more brats now (first update Lixiang couldn¡¯t listen anymore, indifferent, ¡°I¡¯m tired, hanging up.¡± There, Xue Baoyi jumped up from the boss chair, ¡°Wait!¡± He sneezed and sniffed, ¡°Are you sick? Why does your voice sound off?¡± Seriously, asking me this? Who caused it?! Lixiang immediately hung up his call, pulled out the spare phone from the drawer, uninstalled the games, and blocked WeChat! Still not feeling relieved, she kicked the quilt and screamed, ¡°Damn it! Aaahhhhh!!¡± Her scream would have lit up all the sound-controlled lights in the neighborhood. Mr. Fang, thinking something serious had happened, didn¡¯t even put down the spring onion he was holding and hurried over to ask, ¡°What¡¯s wrong? What¡¯s wrong?¡± Lixiang looked up, her eyes red and teary, ¡°Mr. Fang.¡± Frightened by her state, he quickly threw away the spring onion, ¡°What¡¯s wrong, my girl?¡± It was better not to have asked, for as soon as he did, she couldn¡¯t hold back and tears started to fall. Lixiang, who hardly ever cried from childhood, had endured poverty and poor health without a tear. Being such a tough girl, this crying alarmed Mr. Fang, ¡°Why are you crying?¡± Her crying intensified, sobbing intermittently, ¡°I was bitten by a dog, wuwuwu¡­¡± Mr. Fang: ¡°¡­¡± That damn lethal dog! Daring to bite his girl! His temper flared, ¡°Which dog? Tell your dad, I¡¯ll teach it a lesson!¡± Lixiang cried pitifully, feeling miserable and disappointed, ¡°It was a stray dog, wuwuwu¡­¡± A stray dog? That¡¯s trouble! Mr. Fang became frantic, ¡°Did you get a shot?¡± Lixiang burped, confused, ¡°What shot?¡± ¡°Weren¡¯t you bitten by a dog? Get a rabies vaccination!¡± Mr. Fang looked at his daughter¡¯s slender legs but found no wounds, ¡°Where did it bite you? Show me.¡± Lixiang¡¯s face fell as if the sky was collapsing, ¡°It¡¯s over, I haven¡¯t gotten the shot yet.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go, let¡¯s go.¡± Mr. Fang, in a panic, pulled her, ¡°I¡¯m taking you to the hospital now.¡± She refused to get up, clinging to the headboard, ¡°I want to go by myself.¡± If Mr. Fang found out, he would probably beat that scoundrel to death. Let him get beaten to death! But¡­ But hell! Mr. Fang was still pulling her, ¡°Let dad take you.¡± She shook off his hand and rolled to the opposite side of the bed, ¡°Don¡¯t follow me, otherwise I¡¯ll¡­¡± she pouted, crying even harder. Mr. Fang¡¯s wife passed away early, leaving him only this beloved daughter, whom he cherished beyond measure: ¡°Alright, alright, I won¡¯t go.¡± Lixiang wiped away her tears, pulled herself together, and wrapped herself up like a mummy, then sneaked out to a pharmacy three kilometers from home. She lurked behind the light-shielded shelf, looked around furtively, didn¡¯t find what she was looking for, then plucked up her courage and hoarsely asked the clerk. ¡°Where¡¯s the contraceptive?¡± The clerk was an old man, not very old-looking yet hard of hearing, ¡°What medicine?¡± his voice loud and clear. Lixiang, with her face covered by a scarf and wearing sunglasses, looked around and whispered back, ¡°Contraceptive.¡± The old man adjusted his glasses on the bridge of his nose, ¡°What medicine?¡± Lixiang clenched her throat, ¡°Contraceptive.¡± The old man leaned in, ¡°Contra what?¡± Lixiang¡¯s temper flared, she shouted, ¡°Contraceptive!¡± Startled by the yelling, the old man frowned at her, digging in his ear, ¡°Contraceptive, why didn¡¯t you say so earlier?¡± Lixiang: ¡°¡­¡± Hadn¡¯t she said it from the start?! After buying the medicine and water, she found a restroom, took one pill, and not feeling reassured, took another, then threw away the rest of the pills before going back home. From afar, she already saw someone at the entrance of her apartment building, and without saying a word, she took off running. Who else could it be? That stray dog! ¡°Fang Lixiang!¡± the stray dog chased after her, taking advantage of his long legs, and caught up in just a few steps, grabbing her hat, ¡°Why are you running?¡± S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Right, why was she running? She hadn¡¯t done anything guilty! Well, strictly speaking, she had done a little bit, just a tiny bit: that bump on the back of his head, she had pressed it¡­ Wearing sunglasses, she blatantly lied, ¡°Didn¡¯t you see? I¡¯m running.¡± Xue Baoyi didn¡¯t believe her nonsense, ¡°Running in the middle of the day, what for.¡± Her face wrapped with a scarf, she spoke nonsense confidently, ¡°Didn¡¯t you see how I wrapped myself up? I¡¯m sick, I need to sweat it out.¡± Her voice indeed sounded odd, nasal. ¡°Where does it hurt, is it serious?¡± Xue Baoyi tried to lift the scarf from her face to see her complexion. Fang Lixiang immediately jumped back, wouldn¡¯t let her touch the scarf, with an expression that said ¡®don¡¯t touch me or I¡¯ll bite you,¡¯ and she glared at him, fiercely saying, ¡°I was bitten by a dog.¡± He asked, ¡°Which dog?¡± He would have to beat it up. Fang Lixiang sneered, ¡°A stray dog!¡± Xue Baoyi wanted to ask her why she hadn¡¯t been online gaming, why she had blocked him, but he feared exposing his alter ego, feeling suffocated inside, ¡°You were bitten by a dog and still running, don¡¯t you want to get better?¡± She ignored him, turning her head to the side. Xue Baoyi felt she was a bit strange today, normally she was so well-behaved in front of him except in the game, today she was like a little chili¡ªspicy and feisty. He stepped directly in front of her, ¡°Why are you not speaking?¡± She shook her head away again, ¡°I don¡¯t want to talk to a jerk.¡± Jerk: ¡°¡­¡± He ruffled his hair, the back of his head still aching, ¡°How am I a jerk?¡± ¡°Are you not aware of what you did?¡± Clueless jerk: ¡°¡­¡± What had he done? He still couldn¡¯t remember! Fang Lixiang: ¡°Jerk!¡± Alright then. Xue Baoyi wasn¡¯t in a rush to argue, ¡°Seeing you¡¯re sick, I¡¯ll let you curse me then.¡± Fang Lixiang scoffed, ¡°Thanks a lot.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Was she on edge? He didn¡¯t understand why she was upset. He¡¯d never seriously dated a girl before, didn¡¯t know how to soothe one, and his head was really hurting, he pressed his temples, ¡°Stop annoying me, I¡¯m sick too.¡± He leaned his head closer, his voice sounded nasally and weak, ¡°Feel it, I have a fever, my head could boil an egg.¡± She refused to touch him, ¡°Then why did you come to my place?¡± He stubbornly said, ¡°Who said I came specially to your place?¡± He blurted out a lie, ¡°I was just passing by.¡± ¡°Xue Baoyi,¡± she lost her furious tone, now serious, ¡°Do you really not remember anything from last night?¡± Xue Baoyi, having a fever, head throbbing: ¡°What happened last night?¡± Could it be they had fought? ¡°You¡ª¡± How could she start? As thick-skinned as she was, she was still a girl, and it bothered her that he didn¡¯t remember, it really bothered her, she couldn¡¯t help thinking, maybe to him, no matter who it was last night, it was all the same. It was so unfair, she wasn¡¯t like that, not everyone was the same to her, she wasn¡¯t senseless, she could have pushed him away, but because it was him, she didn¡¯t. He still asked, ¡°What about me?¡± What about you? You lied to me! Lied to me about online dating! She sniffed, her eyes heating up, ¡°You hit me!¡± Chapter 230 - 230 230 Funeral Turmoil Xu Fang Disciplining Someone ?Chapter 230: 230: Funeral Turmoil, Xu Fang Disciplining Someone (Second Update Chapter 230: 230: Funeral Turmoil, Xu Fang Disciplining Someone (Second Update She sniffled, her eyes growing hot, ¡°You hit me!¡± Xue Baoyi rubbed the bump on the back of her head, ¡°When did I hit you?¡± She huffed, ¡°Just go away.¡± Fine, he left, ¡°Then take care of yourself.¡± He looked back three steps at a time, still feverish, his eyes red and somewhat pitiful, ¡°If you have time at home, you can play some games.¡± Fang Lixiang turned and ran towards home. Not playing anymore! Never playing again! The next day, Lin Shang posted on Weibo to debunk rumors for Fang Lixiang and posted a photo of Fang Lixiang visiting the hospital, passing by the obstetrics and gynecology department. Just as Fang Lixiang¡¯s scandal subsided, Bai Li¡¯s scandal exploded. According to an ¡®informed source¡¯, Bai Li had ordered two host dudes at Fusheng Inn the previous night. With pictures, the news was undeniable and the topic surged in popularity. With such scandal breaking, the agency did not clarify immediately, which likely meant the rumors were true. With such damaging scandal, Bai Li¡¯s career in this circle was over. On Sunday, the Luo Family held a funeral, and from morning, private cars hadn¡¯t ceased at the funeral home¡¯s entrance. Old Master Luo couldn¡¯t bear the pain of losing his son, fell ill and never recovered. The funeral was managed by his daughter-in-law, Ms. Xu. The Luo Family had numerous illegitimate daughters outside, but none could enter the mourning hall, only Luo Qinghe and Luo Yinghe were guarding the spirit. Luo Yinghe¡¯s knees hurt from kneeling, she rubbed them and stood up. Xu Yunci asked her, ¡°Where are you going?¡± She made up an excuse on the spot, ¡°I¡¯m going out to take a call.¡± As soon as she went out, her phone really did ring. It was her friend in the circle, Shen Lin, also a Tianxing artist, mediocre in talent and resources, who typically adored her. ¡°Yinghe, coming out to play?¡± Luo Yinghe responded flatly, ¡°Not going.¡± ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Luo Yinghe¡¯s tone was harsh, ¡°Don¡¯t you watch the news? Didn¡¯t you know someone in my family died?¡± Shen Lin was momentarily embarrassed, quickly softened her tone to apologize, ¡°I didn¡¯t know about it, sorry.¡± Luo Yinghe didn¡¯t want to argue, ¡°Where did you guys go?¡± ¡°North City has a new bar, a lot of people from the circle went.¡± Shen Lin knew her preferences well and mentioned, ¡°The day before yesterday, my friend even saw Xiao Yusheng at the bar.¡± Luo Yinghe¡¯s crush on Xiao Yusheng was no secret in the circle. ¡°Yusheng went to such a place?¡± Shen Lin replied, ¡°Seems he was there for a celebration.¡± Mentioning Xiao Yusheng, Luo Yinghe became animated, ¡°My Yusheng is so well-behaved, he definitely wouldn¡¯t go by himself.¡± ¡°Exactly, your Yusheng is the best behaved.¡± Luo Yinghe agreed, then chattered some more, ¡°It¡¯s so annoying, the funeral is boring to death.¡± Shen Lin knew she and Luo Changde had no close relationship and didn¡¯t tiptoe around, ¡°Do you also have to cry at the funeral?¡± ¡°Luo Qinghe isn¡¯t crying, why should I? It¡¯s so boring anyway, they didn¡¯t even find the body, what¡¯s the point of a funeral? There¡¯s just a pile of clothes in the coffin, he¡¯s dead and still troubling people¡ª¡± Xu Yunci overheard all this from behind, she interrupted before Luo Yinghe could continue, ¡°Luo Yinghe!¡± Luo Yinghe turned back to look, ¡°Not talking about this anymore.¡± She hung up the phone, ¡°What do you want?¡± ¡°How can you speak like that.¡± Xu Yunci was usually meek, seldom this harsh. Luo Yinghe turned defiant, ¡°What did I say?¡± Xu Yunci scolded, ¡°Your uncle is gone, can¡¯t you show him some respect?¡± She sneered, indifferent, ¡°What does his being gone have to do with me?¡± She hated Luo Changde, the first time she saw him come out of Xu Yunci¡¯s room disheveled when she was eight, and she¡¯d loathed him ever since. Xu Yunci, her eyes red with anger, ¡°He is your uncle, how can you speak such heartless words.¡± Luo Yinghe scoffed, ¡°I¡¯m heartless, but not as much as you, with your deep and meaningful affair.¡± Xu Yunci widened her eyes in disbelief, ¡°What did you say?¡± ¡°You and your lover¡ª¡± Before she could finish, a heavy slap landed on her face. The right side of her cheek stung painfully. She clenched her jaw, glaring at Xu Yunci with indignation, ¡°You hit me?¡± Xu Yunci had never hit her before; this was the first time. ¡°Yinghe, Yinghe.¡± Regretting her action immediately, Xu Yunci reached out to grab her daughter¡¯s hand. Luo Yinghe shook her off: ¡°Don¡¯t touch me!¡± Xu Yunci¡¯s eyes reddened, ¡°Mom didn¡¯t mean to.¡± ¡°Luo Qinghe was right,¡± she paused, looking directly into her mother¡¯s eyes, and said, ¡°Mom, you¡¯re really despicable.¡± Having said that, she turned and walked away. Around the corner, there was the sound of a cane hitting the ground. She was running too fast and couldn¡¯t stop in time, crashing into someone. Already upset from the encounter with Xu Yunci, this collision made her even more furious: ¡°Are you blind, you crippled fool!¡± Zhou Qingrang¡¯s cane fell to the ground. His legs weren¡¯t very stable, and he staggered backward, but someone behind him caught him. He turned around. It was a girl dressed in all black. After venting her anger, Luo Yinghe couldn¡¯t be bothered and turned to leave, but a foot stretched out blocked her way. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Why are you blocking my way, move it!¡± Zhou Xufang walked up to Zhou Qingrang, picked up the cane from the ground: ¡°Apologize.¡± Luo Yinghe¡¯s tone was disdainful, her attitude extremely poor: ¡°Apologize for what?¡± Zhou Xufang returned the cane to Zhou Qingrang, he thanked her, and she responded with ¡°You¡¯re welcome¡±, then turned to Luo Yinghe with a colder gaze: ¡°Apologize to him.¡± Luo Yinghe recognized Zhou Xufang, the two had had conflicts on set before, and naturally didn¡¯t offer a pleasant expression: ¡°He bumped into me, why should I apologize.¡± Zhou Xufang corrected her in a stern tone: ¡°You bumped into him, I saw it.¡± ¡°Mind your own business.¡± She repeated again: ¡°Apologize.¡± Luo Yinghe, with a tone full of mockery and arrogance, replied: ¡°What can you do if I don¡¯t apologize?¡± ¡°You¡¯re not leaving if you don¡¯t apologize.¡± Zhou Xufang¡¯s tone was flat, her face stern, her expression serious. Luo Yinghe snorted and stubbornly tried to leave. Zhou Xufang grabbed her by the collar and pulled; Luo Yinghe¡¯s back slammed into the wall. She became furiously embarrassed and charged forward: ¡°Zhou Xu¡ª¡± Zhou Xufang pressed down on her shoulder and pushed hard: ¡°Apologize.¡± Luo Yinghe, in pain, struggled briefly but couldn¡¯t move. Gritting her teeth, she glared at Zhou Xufang and reluctantly said, ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t let go, she asked Zhou Qingrang, ¡°Do you forgive her?¡± Zhou Qingrang nodded, smiling. Only then did Zhou Xufang release her: ¡°He¡¯s forgiven you, you can go now.¡± Luo Yinghe moved her shoulders that had become numb from the pressure, gave Zhou Xufang a sidelong glance, and mocked: ¡°Big shot now that you¡¯re cozy with Jiang Zhi, huh!¡± She snorted and walked away. Zhou Qingrang, leaning on his cane, went over: ¡°Thank you.¡± Zhou Xufang said: ¡°You¡¯re welcome.¡± He smiled gently, his demeanor polite: ¡°I haven¡¯t had the chance to thank you since last time at the coffee shop.¡± Zhou Xufang, normally not very eloquent with strangers, couldn¡¯t think of what to say and quoted a line from a novel: ¡°It was nothing, hardly worth mentioning.¡± His eyes smiling warmly, he elegantly responded: ¡°A lifesaving grace is a debt I¡¯ll never forget.¡± She scratched her head and smiled shyly. Chapter 231 - 231 231 Jiang Zhi gets jealous Lu Sheng defends his ?Chapter 231: 231: Jiang Zhi gets jealous, Lu Sheng defends his husband (first update Chapter 231: 231: Jiang Zhi gets jealous, Lu Sheng defends his husband (first update She scratched her head and smiled shyly. ¡°Are you here for the funeral?¡± she asked. He nodded and said yes. Graceful as a clear breeze and moonlight, transcending the mundane and untouched by the world, these words perfectly described Zhou Qingrang. Although they were not close, Zhou Xufang had a good impression of him and took the initiative to introduce herself: ¡°My name is Zhou Xufang.¡± ¡°I also have the surname Zhou.¡± Leaning on a cane, his right foot slightly lame, he walked very slowly. He also gave his name, saying, ¡°My name is Zhou Qingrang.¡± ¡°I know.¡± Previously, for a task, Zhou Xufang had Shuangjiang look into him, and she found an excuse: ¡°I¡¯ve seen the news you broadcast.¡± The two had already reached the entrance of the memorial hall. Zhou Xufang stopped: ¡°I have to wait for someone, I won¡¯t go in.¡± Zhou Qingrang said okay, then went in alone. When Luo Qinghe saw him, his face changed: ¡°What are you doing here?¡± He looked at the photo on top of the coffin: ¡°I came to see the retribution of your Luo family.¡± Luo Qinghe, wearing mourning attire and clothed in black, his eyes shadowed with a dark gloom: ¡°You¡¯re not welcome here.¡± Ignoring him, he walked towards the coffin with the support of his cane. ¡°Zhou Xufang.¡± Zhou Xufang, fearing Luo Qinghe would make it difficult for Zhou Qingrang, was about to follow him when she was called, on the other side, Zhou Qingrang¡¯s ¡®girlfriend¡¯ had arrived. ¡°Miss Luo.¡± Someone from the Lu Family of the Four Great Families had come. Luo Qinghe went out to greet her: ¡°Second Miss Lu.¡± Lu Sheng signaled her secretary to wait outside, and she went in alone, approaching Luo Qinghe: ¡°Do you know my relationship with Zhou Qingrang?¡± Luo Qinghe, concealing her anger, pressed on: ¡°I know.¡± Previously, because of a scandal at Tianxing Entertainment reported by Zhou Qingrang, she had used her connections to transfer him to a nighttime radio station; Lu Sheng had a hand in spoiling her plans. She had thought that Second Miss Lu was only trying him out for fun, not expecting her to get serious. Lu Sheng didn¡¯t beat around the bush and made her stance clear: ¡°Since you know, give me, Lu Sheng, some respect, and show a little more respect to Zhou Qingrang.¡± These words, audible only to them, carried a warning. Luo Qinghe, jokingly, asked: ¡°Does the Old Mrs. Lu know about this lover of yours, Second Miss?¡± The Lu family was a prominent, wealthy family, and Zhou Qingrang, a cripple, could he really match the Lu family¡¯s standards? That was her implication. Lu Sheng gave her a perfunctory smile: ¡°You might want to ask the old lady herself about that.¡± Her gaze swept past Luo Qinghe, looking at Zhou Qingrang, ¡°Just a reminder, my grandmother is even more protective than I am.¡± After dropping those words, Lu Sheng called out: ¡°Zhou Qingrang.¡± Zhou Qingrang turned around and saw her. Back to Zhou Xufang¡¯s side, Jiang Zhi had gone to the restroom, and when he came out, he didn¡¯t see her and after searching found her following Zhou Qingrang. They had agreed to wait for each other. A woman¡¯s mouth, a liar¡¯s ghost. In the busy corridor, Jiang Zhi pulled her to the stairwell: ¡°Why didn¡¯t you wait for me?¡± Without waiting for Zhou Xufang to respond, he questioned her again, ¡°Why are you following another man?¡± His tone sounded as if she had been unfaithful. ¡°That¡¯s Zhou Qingrang, Lu Sheng¡¯s boyfriend.¡± Jiang Zhi naturally recognized Zhou Qingrang: ¡°Why are you following someone else¡¯s boyfriend?¡± His tone, quite displeased. Zhou Xufang explained to him: ¡°He seems to have a grudge with the Luo family, and I was afraid Luo Qinghe would make things difficult for him.¡± With that explanation, Jiang Zhi was even more dissatisfied: ¡°Aren¡¯t you afraid that Luo Qinghe will make things difficult for me?¡± Zhou Xufang scratched his head. His tone was not gentle or submissive at all, sounding both like a complaint and a scolding, ¡°Even if Luo Qinghe makes it difficult for Zhou Qingrang, he has his girlfriend to protect him, so why are you rushing over there? You don¡¯t have a boyfriend, do you?¡± His tone was really sour. Zhou Xufang looked half puzzled and half understanding, ¡°Are you jealous?¡± Jiang Zhi hummed, ¡°What do you think?¡± Yes, he was jealous. Because she didn¡¯t wait for him and went to talk to Zhou Qingrang, he got angry. Zhou Xufang bowed her head and secretly laughed, laughing for a while; when she raised her head, Jiang Zhi raised his hand to hold her head down. He blocked her and asked the person in front, ¡°Are you taking pictures of us?¡± It was a girl, dressed in a funeral home¡¯s uniform, quite young, and very embarrassed after being caught. Because she was nervous, she stammered, ¡°I, I¡­ I¡¯m a fan of yours.¡± Jiang Zhi was a director, usually low-key, and not often in front of cameras, but because he was good-looking, he had captured quite a few female fans. ¡°You can take pictures of me, but my girlfriend is not from this industry, please delete her photos.¡± Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t like appearing in front of cameras, and Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t want to expose her face either. The girl nodded blankly, deleted the photos from her phone, then looked at Jiang Zhi with hopeful eyes, ¡°Director Jiang, could you give me an autograph?¡± Jiang Zhi said, ¡°Okay.¡± The girl was so excited that her face turned red as she hurriedly handed over a piece of paper and a pen. This was the first time Zhou Xufang had seen Jiang Zhi give an autograph; suddenly, she realized¡ªoh, my boyfriend is also a public figure. After signing, Jiang Zhi took Zhou Xufang to a secluded spot. ¡°Where¡¯s your mask?¡± Zhou Xufang pulled out a mask from her pocket, and Jiang Zhi put it on her. ¡°Jiang Zhi, you have so many female fans.¡± Zhou Xufang sometimes browsed Jiang Zhi¡¯s Weibo; he hardly posted anything and didn¡¯t really use his personal account to promote movies. The people actively leaving comments every day were basically his female fans, asking for photos and the like. Male fans were movie buffs, less active but very loyal. Zhou Xufang was a bit proud, ¡°You have the most fans among directors!¡± If he ever debuted, he would definitely have a lot, a lot of female fans. She¡¯d also be his fan, a wife fan. ¡°Don¡¯t you get jealous?¡± She spoke very seriously, ¡°No, I also have stars I really like.¡± Really like? Jiang Zhi, ¡°Who?¡± Speaking of the star she liked, Zhou Xufang, who usually had little expression, became animated, ¡°I recently really like Xiao Yusheng. He sings super well, he¡¯s extremely talented, and all his songs are his own creations.¡± She used the word ¡®super¡¯ three times to express her fondness for Xiao Yusheng. Also, ¡°I even joined his fan club.¡± And, ¡°Oh, I forgot to vote for him on the charts today.¡± Zhou Xufang¡¯s survival instinct had completely flown out the window, completely ignoring those peach blossom eyes of his that were gradually turning stormy, even taking out her phone to vote for Xiao Yusheng under his gaze. Jiang Zhi gritted his teeth slightly, ¡°Have you joined my fan club?¡± Zhou Xufang, after voting, looked up, ¡°Do you have a fan club?¡± ¡°¡­¡± Jiang Zhi, ¡°I do.¡± S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Zhou Xufang casually responded, ¡°Then I¡¯ll join it.¡± She logged onto Weibo, but before she could follow Jiang Zhi¡¯s fan club, she remembered something else, ¡°That¡¯s right, I haven¡¯t checked into Xiao Yusheng¡¯s SuperTopic.¡± She hurriedly checked into the SuperTopic. Jiang Zhi, calling her by her full name, ¡°Zhou Xufang.¡± She didn¡¯t look up, ¡°Hmm?¡± A Jiang Zhi filled with frustration and having swallowed several barrels of jealousy, ¡°I have a SuperTopic too.¡± Zhou Xufang, deeply engrossed in her idol and unable to extricate herself, ¡°Oh.¡± Chapter 232 - 232 232 Jiang Zhi sets a trap Luo Qinghe is done ?Chapter 232: 232: Jiang Zhi sets a trap, Luo Qinghe is done playing (second update) Chapter 232: 232: Jiang Zhi sets a trap, Luo Qinghe is done playing (second update) Zhou Xufang, who was utterly obsessed with her idol, said, ¡°Oh.¡± That¡¯s it? Doesn¡¯t she care about him anymore? Doesn¡¯t she love him anymore? Jiang Zhi glanced at her phone for just a second and saw her nickname was no longer ¡®Jiang Zhi¡¯s girlfriend033¡¯; it had changed to ¡®Yun Sheng¡¯s mom fan015¡¯. He said, his tone getting stern, ¡°Change it back.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°Your name.¡± She hesitated, ¡°Can I not change it? Our fan group wants to keep a uniform nickname format.¡± She had just changed it today. Jiang Zhi said that wouldn¡¯t do, ¡°Last time I liked your comment, everyone knew you were my girlfriend. With this name, everyone will know Jiang Zhi¡¯s girlfriend is a fan of Xiao Yusheng.¡± It was all an excuse. He just wasn¡¯t happy her nickname featured another man¡¯s name. Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t use Weibo much and was half-clueless, ¡°Is it not okay to let people know?¡± ¡°You¡¯ll get a lot of messy people messaging you.¡± Zhou Xufang suddenly realized, ¡°No wonder I got so many messages today.¡± She understood, ¡°Then I will just register another Weibo account.¡± Jiang Zhi ground his back teeth. She couldn¡¯t be hit, couldn¡¯t be scolded, couldn¡¯t even be snapped at; how was he supposed to handle this girlfriend? Once Zhou Xufang finished, she looked up and met Jiang Zhi¡¯s deathly glare. Her survival instinct, which had fled when she ran away from home, finally knew to come back, ¡°I¡¯ve already changed my main account¡¯s nickname back.¡± And, ¡°I also followed your fan club.¡± And, ¡°And the super topic too.¡± ¡°Oh, is that so?¡± He pretended it was no big deal, as if he was a magnanimous boyfriend, not hinting at all that he was jealous and angry, and changed the subject casually, ¡°It¡¯s very cold today; let¡¯s skip buying ice cream.¡± Zhou Xufang, who was deprived of her snack, ¡°¡­¡± Suddenly someone called out, ¡°Brother Zhi.¡± It was the Luo Changfang family, all dressed in black suits, coming to attend Luo Changde¡¯s funeral. Luo Changfang approached and asked, ¡°Why aren¡¯t you going in?¡± Her gaze shifted to Zhou Xufang, her tone like that of a kind elder, ¡°Xufang is here too.¡± Zhou Xufang greeted, ¡°Hello, Auntie.¡± She also nodded to Jiang Weili. ¡°Wait for me in the car,¡± Jiang Zhi said, not up for discussion. Zhou Xufang got into character quickly, looking back every three steps with a gaze filled with grievance, sorrow, and reluctance, vividly expressing the heart-wrenching sadness of not having her boyfriend¡¯s pity. Jiang Zhi felt his girlfriend¡¯s acting skills had improved again. ¡°Why not bring her in with you?¡± Luo Changfang, clasping the hand of Jiang Weili, entered the hall of mourning. Jiang Zhi answered, ¡°It¡¯s not the right occasion.¡± On the other side, Zhou Xufang left the funeral home and made a call, ¡°Tang Xiang, have you arrived?¡± Tang Xiang said, ¡°Another five minutes.¡± Luo Changde was in Tang Xiang¡¯s car. Zhou Xufang hung up the phone, checked the time, looked around, and got into a police car parked by the roadside. The guests continued to arrive for the wake, all accommodated in the reception room next to the hall of mourning; in a quarter of an hour, they would close the coffin. There was no heart-wrenching sobs, no hysterical outcries; the pressure in the air was low within the hall of mourning. Xu Yunci, her eyes red, stood by the coffin, while Luo Yinghe stood to one side, head lowered the whole time. Luo Qinghe was outside taking a call. ¡°How is the share handling going?¡± The person on the other end was the Luo Family¡¯s corporate lawyer, ¡°They can¡¯t be transferred at the moment.¡± The Luo Family business was a family enterprise, of which ninety percent of the shares were held by the Luo family members. When the Luo Family divided their assets, Luo Huaiyu did not fully relinquish control and still held twenty percent of the shares. The remaining seventy percent was divided with each of his two sons and his eldest granddaughter holding twenty percent each, and the last ten percent was given to his third daughter, Luo Changfang. After the second son, Luo Chang¡¯an, passed away, his shares were split in half and given to his wife and daughter. The portion that Luo Qinghe needed to deal with belonged to Luo Changde. She asked her lawyer, ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°I checked with the estate notary; Chairman Luo¡¯s body has not been found. We need a police certificate declaring it impossible for him to be alive before we can pronounce him dead.¡± And there was another matter¡ªas the lawyer said, ¡°The Second Madam from the Jiang Family is also eyeing these shares, and even took advantage of the plummeting share prices to buy up some of the market shares.¡± She had married into the Jiang Family, yet she was still so restless. Standing in the corridor, Luo Qinghe glanced into the memorial hall, where Luo Changfang was wailing. What started as light sobbing had grown into loud weeping. ¡°Keep an eye on it for now; I¡¯ll get back to you later.¡± After hanging up the phone, she walked towards the memorial hall. Guests who had come to pay their respects were leaving, and upon seeing her, they solemnly said, ¡°My condolences.¡± This person was a senior executive of the Luo enterprise, who always enjoyed buttering up her father. ¡°My condolences.¡± ¡°My condolences.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Luo Qinghe kept hearing these words over and over. Among the visitors who came to offer condolences, there were all kinds of faces¡ªsome were feigning sincerity, some were indifferent, some barely concealed their smiles, pretending to be sad, and others who were so unconcerned they didn¡¯t even bother to pretend. No wonder people often say you can tell what kind of person someone was when they were alive as soon as they are dead. Those who entered the memorial hall, whether sincere or not, all offered incense sticks, with just two exceptions: Zhou Qingrang and Jiang Zhi. Zhou Qingrang was watching with aloofness. Jiang Zhi walked straight up to Luo Qinghe, ¡°Did you bring the thing?¡± She replied, ¡°I did.¡± He handed her the envelope he was carrying straightforwardly, without any attempt to conceal it from others. There were still guests in the memorial hall. Luo Qinghe was taken aback by his brazenness. ¡°Right here?¡± He countered, ¡°Is there a problem?¡± His manner of doing things was always impulsive and unguarded. Luo Qinghe hesitated for a moment before taking the envelope. She opened it to check the contents¡ªa dated, old cassette tape, with the recording date etched beneath. The date matched; it was indeed the original. After handing over the item, Jiang Zhi said, ¡°Give me the memory card.¡± Luo Qinghe had it with her, not trusting anyone else, and handed over the dashcam memory card to Jiang Zhi. As the dust settled, she smiled, ¡°It¡¯s been pleasant working with you.¡± Jiang Zhi glanced at his watch, ¡°You won¡¯t be feeling that way shortly.¡± Luo Qinghe was slightly startled, ¡°What do you mean by that?¡± He watched his watch, counting down unhurriedly, ¡°Five, four, three, two, one¡ª¡± Just as he finished speaking, a group of police officers suddenly burst through the door. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Luo Qinghe tightened her grip on the envelope and looked coldly toward the entrance, ¡°Are you here to offer condolences?¡± It was Captain Cheng from the criminal investigation team, who came with his team. He entered the room and flashed his police badge, ¡°We are here to make an arrest.¡± Luo Qinghe¡¯s expression turned sour as she held back her anger, ¡°Captain Cheng, have you made a mistake? Today is my father¡¯s funeral, and all here are close friends and family of the Luo Family, certainly not vile criminals.¡± Such an inopportune time to arrive¡­ The palm of her hand holding the envelope began to sweat. Captain Cheng was incorruptible and spoke with a tone of official business. ¡°Whether they are criminals or not will be determined after taking them back for questioning.¡± He pulled out a pair of handcuffs from his pocket. Suddenly, the memorial hall silent. Only Luo Qinghe¡¯s tense voice could be heard, ¡°Do you have a warrant?¡± Captain Cheng pulled it out of his pocket and unfolded it, ¡°Miss Luo Qinghe, you are currently suspected of involvement in a deliberate homicide. Please come with us for questioning.¡± Chapter 233 - 233 233 Jiang Zhi emerged victorious Black ?Chapter 233: 233: Jiang Zhi emerged victorious, Black Impermanence fell off his horse (first update) Chapter 233: 233: Jiang Zhi emerged victorious, Black Impermanence fell off his horse (first update) ¡°Miss Luo Qinghe, we suspect you¡¯re involved in a premeditated murder case. Please come with us to the police station.¡± ¡°Premeditated murder?¡± She seemed to find it amusing and scoffed, ¡°Who did I kill?¡± She managed to remain unfazed. Captain Cheng shook the handcuffs, lifted his chin, and pointed at the portrait hanging inside the memorial hall, ¡°You killed your father, Luo Changde.¡± His words hit the ground with force. A buzz of discussion started, suddenly turning into a commotion. Under everyone¡¯s gaze, Luo Qinghe smiled, ¡°Are you joking, Captain Cheng?¡± He wasn¡¯t joking, he was dead serious and without beating around the bush, he gave his order directly, ¡°Take her away!¡± The police officers approached, and Luo Qinghe immediately backed away, no longer unflappable, showing a hint of panic, ¡°You say I killed someone, but do you have any evidence?¡± Captain Cheng was about to speak when suddenly, someone screamed from the doorstep, ¡°A ghost!¡± Who else but¡ªMing Yanghua, the mortal messenger most afraid of ghosts. With his shout, everyone¡¯s gaze followed suit, and one by one they were stupefied. The man in the portrait had come to life! Luo Qinghe also froze for a good while before hesitantly opening her mouth and calling out, ¡°Dad¡­¡± Luo Changde, who was supposed to be lying in the coffin, was now sitting in a wheelchair, looking at Luo Qinghe with penetrating eyes, aggressively, ¡°You must be disappointed that I¡¯m not dead?¡± He stood up from his wheelchair, gaunt and skeletal, pointing at Luo Qinghe and loudly accused, ¡°It was her who hired someone to run me over with a car.¡± An incredible gasp of astonishment went through the crowd. Luo Qinghe, equally ¡®incredulous¡¯, ¡°Dad, what are you talking about?¡± How could he be alive? She had clearly seen the car plunge into the Zhang River, the current was swift, there was no way there was a chance of survival, which link in the chain had gone wrong¡­ sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Arrest her!¡± At Captain Cheng¡¯s order, Zhang Wen and Xiao Zhong immediately moved to apprehend her. Luo Qinghe violently shook off Zhang Wen¡¯s grasp on her hand, showing clear anger, ¡°It¡¯s just his word against mine, and without any proof whatsoever, how can that count as evidence?¡± Indeed, the evidence was insufficient. However, since they from the Criminal Investigation Team had come, they wouldn¡¯t leave empty-handed, ¡°We can look for more evidence, but Miss Luo, right now you are the only suspect and must cooperate with our police investigation.¡± Not wanting to argue with her, Captain Cheng ran out of patience, ¡°Take her away.¡± Luo Qinghe instinctively hid the envelope she was holding behind her back. Zhang Wen went straight to her, opened the handcuffs, and cuffed her. At this moment, Jiang Zhi remarked, ¡°Captain Cheng, shouldn¡¯t we also check what the suspect is holding?¡± He seemed detached, leisurely commenting, ¡°Perhaps, it might be evidence.¡± Only then did Captain Cheng notice the envelope in Luo Qinghe¡¯s hand. She panicked, took the tape out of the envelope, and tried to tear the reels inside. Captain Cheng called out, ¡°Zhang Wen.¡± Zhang Wen immediately grabbed Luo Qinghe¡¯s hand and twisted it backward. Thud¡ª The tape fell to the ground. Luo Qinghe¡¯s expression turned utterly grim, she sneered coldly, ¡°Heh.¡± She turned to look at Jiang Zhi, her eyes blazing with anger, ¡°You tricked me?¡± No wonder he gave her the item so openly and grandly; it was a trap. Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t deny it, his mouth curved in a shallow, pleased smile, saying, ¡°You reap what you sow.¡± Having been outmaneuvered, Luo Qinghe tore off the mourning band from her head and threw it on the ground, ¡°Jiang Zhi, this isn¡¯t over.¡± Jiang Zhi, playing with the memory card in his hand, ignored her. Luo Qinghe was taken away by the Criminal Investigation Team, and the guests who had come for the funeral gradually left, discussing the event in groups as they went. A father who was supposed to be dead showed up alive at his funeral to accuse his daughter of being the murderer. Even if this had happened in an average household, it would have been the talk of the town, let alone in a wealthy and esteemed family. ¡°Elder brother,¡± Luo Changfang seemed shocked, still wearing an expression of disbelief, ¡°What exactly is going on?¡± Luo Changde, barely holding onto life, looking withered and frail, sat back in his wheelchair, tilting his head to look at his siblings, with high cheekbones and sunken eye sockets, ¡°Are you disappointed that I¡¯m alive too?¡± Luo Changfang chided him softly, ¡°What are you talking about! I couldn¡¯t be happier to see you alive and well.¡± As she spoke, her eyes reddened again, and her makeup was smeared from her previous crying. Luo Changde knew exactly what the Luo Family was like; he wasn¡¯t buying any of it, and made his point clear with a cold face, ¡°You¡¯re a married daughter, stay out of the Luo Family¡¯s shares.¡± His daughter and sister had started plotting about his shares the moment he ¡®died¡¯. ¡°You misunderstand,¡± Luo Changfang¡¯s face was earnest as she explained, ¡°The Luo Family¡¯s stock price has fallen since your accident. I was just trying to prevent outsiders from taking advantage, I meant nothing else by it.¡± Luo Changde didn¡¯t believe a word of it and wasn¡¯t interested in her excuses, ¡°There¡¯s nothing to explain, we both know the score.¡± Luo Changfang fell silent, leaning on her husband¡¯s shoulder and wiping her tears. What actors each one in the Luo Family were, indeed a fine show. But Ming Yanghua didn¡¯t care about other people¡¯s family affairs; his focus was on the portrait and Luo Changde¡¯s face, ¡°The more I look, the more it seems like a ghost.¡± Luo Changde, whatever he had gone through, had become nothing but skin and bone, with bulbous eyes that looked frightening. Ming Saiying gave her foolish brother a disdainful look, ¡°Look at what little dignity you have!¡± Really, the more you look, the more you see the ghost! Ming Yanghua was very afraid of ghosts and decided to steer clear. Ming Saiying gave him a push, ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± ¡°Where to?¡± He always felt a chill down his back and couldn¡¯t help but look around. Is this the foolish son of the landowner? Ming Saiying didn¡¯t even want to walk with him, moving a couple of steps to the side, ¡°Go back, everyone¡¯s come back to life, are you still going to pay respects?¡± Right. Ming Yanghua followed suit and left, thinking that if he hurried, he could still join his friends for a few rounds of poker. Ming Saiying received a phone call and then ordered him, ¡°There¡¯s an emergency at Uncle Hong¡¯s place, go bring the car around.¡± Ming Yanghua was not pleased and put on his sunglasses, ¡°I¡¯m not your driver.¡± Ming Saiying gave him a kick, ¡°Go!¡± Such a tomboy! Hmph! Reluctantly, Ming Yanghua shuffled forward. When he reached the door, he saw someone crouching outside the glass door, dressed in black, looking like a lump of slick coal. This familiar feeling¡­ He inexplicably walked over. Separated by the glass door, he tiptoed and sneaked peeks, but he couldn¡¯t see anything but the back of a head. He clung to the door, eyes widened and leaned in closer. Suddenly, the lump of coal turned its head¨C He froze for a second, then calmly breathed on the glass door, ¡°I¡¯m cleaning the glass. A fly left a poop on it.¡± Zhou Heitan: ¡°¡­¡± After cleaning the ¡®fly poop,¡¯ Ming Yanghua scratched his head and walked away, pondering as he went: It¡¯s a girl, a girl wearing a mask, with nice yet cold eyes, a bit somber, like a ghost. Ming Saiying: This has to be an idiot, right?! Five minutes later, Ming Yanghua drove the car to the front and honked twice. Ming Saiying, hearing this, was about to get in the car when suddenly a motorcycle rushed out from the left, with two people on it. The man sitting in the back aimed for her bag and yanked it hard. Ming Saiying, in high heels, staggered a couple of steps, her sunglasses fell off, and she was still wearing a mask. Looking down, her hands were empty. ¡°Damn!¡± She kicked off her ten-centimeter heels and started chasing, ¡°Robbery, catch the thief!¡± Ming Yanghua¡¯s car was parked about ten meters away. Seeing his own sister getting robbed, his brain overheated and he sprinted towards the scene. Then¡­ there was no then. He stood like a log in the middle of the road, while the motorcycle showed no sign of stopping, charging straight towards him. Damn! He was stunned. In the split-second flash, he closed his eyes. Suddenly, someone grabbed him by the neck from behind, he leaned back, and the motorcycle brushed by his arm, ¡®whooshing¡¯ away into the distance. Almost at the same time, he opened his eyes. It was that lump of coal¡­ Zhou Xufang expressionless, ¡°Hey.¡± The other person looked like a dumbfounded goof. Zhou Xufang still expressionless, icily, ¡°Hey.¡± The dumbfounded guy blinked, his face a mix of confusion and sudden realization, ¡°Lord Black Impermanence?¡± Zhou Xufang: ¡°¡­¡± Oh, she remembered, this was her ¡®mortal messenger.¡¯ Zhou Xufang let go, her gaze unwavering, her expression unchanged, ¡°I¡¯m not.¡± Ming Yanghua, not quite steady on his feet, stumbled, ¡°You are.¡± Lord Black Impermanence: ¡°I¡¯m not.¡± Mortal messenger: ¡°You are.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not.¡± ¡°You are.¡± Zhou Xufang stopped talking to him. He didn¡¯t speak further, but reached out to remove her mask. Before he could touch it, he was called by name, ¡°Ming Yanghua.¡± Who¡¯s that? How dare someone address Sixth Master Ming so brazenly! Ming Yanghua turned his head: Oh, heaven spares no one. Jiang Zhi came over, pushed him aside, and he stumbled, nearly falling flat on his face. Usually so suave, at this moment he was like a bully, very unpleasantly remarking, ¡°Why bother about whether he lives or dies.¡± His attitude towards his girlfriend immediately took a 180-degree turn, ¡°Did you get hurt?¡± Zhou Xufang said, ¡°No.¡± Ming Yanghua: ¡°¡­¡± So, does Sixth Master Ming¡¯s life or death not warrant concern? Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t delay, ¡°I¡¯m going to catch the thief.¡± Jiang Zhi held her back, ¡°Ah Wan has already gone.¡± He leaned in and whispered, ¡°There are surveillance cameras nearby. You can¡¯t run too fast, and they¡¯re on a motorcycle, so it¡¯s no use even if you go.¡± Chapter 234 - 234 234 Jiang Zhis birth mother (second update) ?Chapter 234: 234: Jiang Zhi¡¯s birth mother (second update) Chapter 234: 234: Jiang Zhi¡¯s birth mother (second update) ¡°There are cameras nearby; you can¡¯t run too fast, and they have motorcycles. You wouldn¡¯t be of any use if you went.¡± In broad daylight, a lone man and a woman standing this close, what does it look like! Ming Yanghua glanced at Zhou Xufang and the more he looked, the more Zhou resembled Lord Black Impermanence¡­ Just as he was observing, Jiang Zhi blocked his view. ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to say thank you?¡± Jiang Zhi reminded, ¡°My girlfriend just pulled you back.¡± Girlfriend? That delivery girl?! Ming Yanghua remembered now; he had seen this girl several times. Setting aside whether she was a scammer, she indeed had pulled him back just now. ¡°Thank you.¡± His eyes were fixed behind Jiang Zhi. Jiang Zhi, taking advantage of being taller, hid his girlfriend thoroughly with an expression that screamed ¡®You can leave now, just go, why haven¡¯t you left?¡¯ This guard-like behavior, truly baffling, what, is he afraid I¡¯ll steal her?! Ming Yanghua decisively turned and walked away. ¡°Zhou Qingrang.¡± ¡°Zhou Qingrang.¡± Lu Sheng called twice before Zhou Qingrang turned back. She wanted to ask him why he was staring at Zhou Xufang, but she didn¡¯t have the right to question, ¡°Let me give you a ride, I drove here and it¡¯s on my way.¡± Zhou Qingrang glanced once more at Zhou Xufang across the street, then, leaning on his cane, walked outside the funeral home and politely declined, ¡°No, thank you.¡± He thanked her again, his tone polite and distant, as if deliberately keeping his distance. Lu Sheng felt very disappointed. He had hailed a taxi, sat inside, and bade her goodbye with only the words ¡®goodbye,¡¯ not calling her by her name. She really wanted to rush over; she wasn¡¯t afraid of being persistent, just afraid of annoying him, ¡°Then, take care on your way.¡± He nodded his head and gave the driver the address. The taxi drove off, and she still stood by the roadside like a statue, lingering there in hope. ¡°Lu Sheng.¡± ¡°Lu Sheng!¡± Lu Sheng¡¯s soul was called back, and turning around, she was startled, ¡°Granny, what are you doing here?¡± Parked behind her was a car, quite ordinary, a vehicle for tens of thousands, nothing special. In the back seat sat an old lady dressed simply, with white hair and wrinkles, typical of her age, yet what set her apart were her eyes that, regardless of how the years washed over her, retained a tranquil demeanor despite worldly hardships. It was Mrs. Lu, birth name Lin Qiunan. Nan Qiunan, Beijiu Ru, were what people called her and the Old Madam from the Jiang Family, both were famous beauties in their youth. ¡°I was passing by, who was that just now?¡± sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Lu Sheng thought for a moment and didn¡¯t hide it, ¡°Someone I like.¡± Mrs. Lu, having tasted over fifty more years of life than her, could easily see, ¡°Unrequited love?¡± Lu Sheng: ¡°¡­¡± Did you really have to be that perceptive? She asked the driver to pull over to the side so as not to block the road, casually inquiring, ¡°What¡¯s he like?¡± Lu Sheng answered, ¡°He¡¯s a good person.¡± ¡°How old is he?¡± ¡°Thirty-seven.¡± Mrs. Lu frowned slightly, ¡°A bit old.¡± Lu Sheng immediately countered, ¡°Older means more caring.¡± She was already defending him. The old lady in the car, watching the young girl outside said with a smile, ¡°Aren¡¯t you in unrequited love? How do you know if he¡¯ll be caring?¡± Lu Sheng: ¡°¡­¡± She did know; the one she liked was the gentlest person in the world, just worn and displaced, which made him cold. ¡°What does he do?¡± ¡°News anchor.¡± ¡°I see his leg doesn¡¯t seem very good.¡± Lu Sheng nodded, ¡°Yes.¡± Mrs. Lu guessed it outright, ¡°Is it Zhou Qingrang?¡± ¡°Do you know him too?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve heard of him.¡± He¡¯s a good person, just not in good health. Mrs. Lu¡¯s face remained expressionless, accustomed to life¡¯s turbulence, ¡°If you¡¯re just fooling around, don¡¯t bother him.¡± Lu Sheng rushed to say, ¡°I¡¯m serious.¡± Her gaze was determined, without a moment¡¯s hesitation. She had lived boldly and confidently for over two decades, then she met Zhou Qingrang, a person who made her want to throw caution to the wind yet feel helpless. The first time she stuttered in front of him, she knew, he was the calamity in her smooth-sailing life. Mrs. Lu understood her granddaughter¡¯s intentions, not saying much else, just advised, ¡°He¡¯s a whole generation older than you, don¡¯t be too childish, put some thought into it.¡± Lu Sheng surprised, ¡°You¡¯re not opposed?¡± ¡°If I opposed, would you give up?¡± She definitively answered, ¡°No.¡± Mrs. Lu glanced at her, her tone now a bit vexed, ¡°Then what use is my opposition?¡± She knew what this girl was like. Lu Sheng smiled radiantly, ¡°Thank you, Granny.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be too happy; he hasn¡¯t even taken to you.¡± Lu Sheng: ¡°¡­¡± Her previously blossoming heart was now desolate. ¡°Is that Jiang Zhi?¡± Mrs. Lu looked across the street. Lu Sheng also looked, ¡°Yes, that¡¯s his girlfriend next to him.¡± ¡°She really looks like his mother.¡± Lu Sheng heard for the first time about Jiang Zhi¡¯s mother, only knew she had passed away early: ¡°You met his mother?¡± Mrs. Lu scoffed, ¡°If it weren¡¯t for your second uncle¡¯s early death, Jiang Weixuan would have had nothing to do.¡± Unwilling to continue on the topic, she instructed the driver, ¡°Liu, drive.¡± Chapter 235 - 235 235 Wow pecs (One more update ?Chapter 235: 235: Wow, pecs! (One more update Chapter 235: 235: Wow, pecs! (One more update ¡°If it weren¡¯t for your second uncle¡¯s early death, Jiang Weixuan would have had nothing to do with it.¡± Wishing to speak no further, she instructed the driver, ¡°Liu, drive.¡± Jiang Weixuan was Jiang Zhi¡¯s father. Lu Sheng didn¡¯t know what kind of grievances had existed among these three, but recalling now, Jiang Zhi indeed resembled someone. Her second uncle¡¯s belongings had been almost entirely sorted out back then, fearing that the old lady would find them too reminiscent, leaving behind only a few paintings that he had cherished most. In those paintings, the main character was always the same person, a girl in a dress who looked just like Jiang Zhi, with peach-blossom eyes and a national beauty. It seemed that the girl in the painting must have been Jiang Zhi¡¯s mother. Speaking of the purse thief, he knew his way well, turning into a small alley. Just as he turned, a black motorcycle came charging straight toward him. ¡°Screech¡ª¡± The motorcycle braked hard, sliding over a meter before stopping. The two little thieves aboard the motorcycle were shaken hard, and upon looking up, wasn¡¯t it the big fellow who had been chasing them for three blocks? ¡°Seeking death, are you?¡± The one at the back of the motorcycle, rolling up his sleeves, tattooed arms, still holding onto the bag snatched from Ming Saiying, called out. Ah Wan took off his helmet, rubbed his buzz-cut, and stepped down from the bike coolly: ¡°Put down the bag, and I¡¯ll let you off.¡± ¡°Mind your own business.¡± The tattooed man handed the bag to his companion, took a baseball bat from the motorcycle, jumped off, and without a word swung it at Ah Wan. Ah Wan didn¡¯t dodge, caught the bat with one hand, and at the same time, punched the tattooed man in the stomach. The tattooed man howled, clutching his stomach, and sat down on the ground. That punch was too hard, he couldn¡¯t stand back up: ¡°Who the fuck are you!¡± Ah Wan was a low-key person: ¡°National youth champion in boxing.¡± Of course, that was a glory from fourteen years ago. When he was at his most glorious, he had also been a national champion. Tattooed man: ¡°¡­¡± Motherfucker! The sound of a police siren, the police had arrived. The other man still on the motorcycle threw down the tattooed man and ran; Ah Wan, quick-eyed and quick-handed, threw a right hook and knocked the man down. Ming Saiying, sitting in the police car: Wow! In the car was Xiao Zhong from the Criminal Investigation Team; wasn¡¯t he out to catch Luo Qinghe? Hearing of a purse theft, he had brought the victim along to catch the thief, but they were too late, the thief had already been taken care of. Ah Wan returned the purse to Ming Saiying: ¡°Check if anything¡¯s missing.¡± Ming Saiying checked, everything was there: ¡°I return favor with favor and revenge with revenge. This time you helped me retrieve my bag, so the incident where you molested me last time is now settled.¡± Ah Wan, with his honest and simple face, turned red instantly, choking up in his defense: ¡°I did not molest you.¡± Ming Saiying pointed to her chest: ¡°Buddy, you touched here, and you pulled down my skirt, what, still denying it?¡± ¡­ Honest and upright Ah Wan had nothing to say. Ming Saiying was very generous, balancing the good with the bad, decided not to pursue it further, laughed heartily, very sensible: ¡°Fine, who doesn¡¯t have a sleazy moment?¡± Of course, she did too. With her starry eyes, she looked at Ah Wan and winked: ¡°Big guy, let me touch your pecs.¡± ¡­ The big guy turned and walked away, cursing in his heart: slut! Police station. After Luo Qinghe was arrested, the Criminal Investigation Team interrogated her immediately, Captain Cheng personally conducted it. ¡°On the evening of the 24th, your father, Luo Changde, was kidnapped, and you took a batch of diamond rough to redeem him. On the way back, you got out of the car, and then a big truck came crashing.¡± This was Luo Qinghe¡¯s statement, Captain Cheng repeated it, then asked, ¡°Is that so?¡± Luo Qinghe calmly affirmed, ¡°Yes.¡± The psychological resilience of this woman was extraordinary, unflinching even if Mount Tai were to crumble before her. Captain Cheng was patient, with plenty of time to grind her down: ¡°Your father fell into the Zhang River, and the transportation department also opened a case. Why didn¡¯t you tell the truth when you were giving your testimony at that time?¡± That testimony didn¡¯t mention the kidnapping, nor did it mention the diamonds. Her reason was, ¡°I thought it was just a regular hit-and-run, and I didn¡¯t want to cause more trouble for the police.¡± Lying through her teeth, without even the slightest blush, Captain Cheng didn¡¯t believe a word she said: ¡°Those diamond roughs were worth a hundred million, no small sum. Are you not wanting to cause trouble, or are you just feeling guilty?¡± She, with her hands cuffed, responded calmly, ¡°It¡¯s just a hundred million. The Luo Family isn¡¯t short on that kind of money.¡± Go ahead, keep being arrogant! ¡°This is your father¡¯s testimony.¡± Captain Cheng threw the file on the table, ¡°He said that it was you who conspired with the kidnappers, committing an insider job.¡± Luo Qinghe glanced at it and remained unfazed. Captain Cheng continued, ¡°Because he had something on you, you hired someone to kidnap him. Unfortunately, he recognized it, and when one plan failed, you murdered him to silence him.¡± She didn¡¯t argue, just asked, ¡°Do you have any evidence?¡± Currently, there was none. ¡°I can make up stories too, Captain Cheng,¡± she said nonchalantly, smiling, ¡°Surely the Criminal Investigation Team doesn¡¯t solve cases with just imagination, right?¡± Seeing no coffin, no tears, Captain Cheng licked his back teeth and continued, ¡°Why did you suddenly get off the car at the Zhangjiang Bridge at that time?¡± She answered quickly, ¡°I felt unwell and got off the car to catch my breath.¡± Quite good at spinning her story. ¡°Since you were at the scene of the accident, why didn¡¯t you call the police or ask for help?¡± ¡°It was too late. The car fell quickly, I was shocked, and overwhelmed with grief. I was so bewildered that I didn¡¯t know what I was doing.¡± When she had given her testimony to the transportation team, it was the same spiel. Someone knocked on the door, and Captain Cheng asked what it was. Vice Captain Xing opened the door, ¡°Captain Cheng, the lawyer has arrived.¡± S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Following him was a person, about forty, dressed meticulously in a suit and tie, Luo Qinghe¡¯s lawyer. Luo Qinghe glanced towards the door, ¡°May I talk to my lawyer first?¡± Captain Cheng gathered his things and left. ¡°Has the batch of diamond roughs been found?¡± Vice Captain Xing followed behind, walking towards the office, ¡°They¡¯ve already been transferred abroad, through the black market, the seller can¡¯t be traced.¡± As expected. Captain Cheng asked again, ¡°What about the surveillance and eyewitnesses?¡± Vice Captain Xing shook his head, ¡°None.¡± Not only that, ¡°The owner of the large truck was found but died on the night of the incident.¡± ¡°How did he die?¡± ¡°The truck owner had liver cancer, drank a lot before the incident. He died shortly after the accident occurred.¡± Another dead end. This was a typical method of the Luo Family, always selecting those who wouldn¡¯t leave trouble behind. ¡°And that tape seized from Luo Qinghe, what about it?¡± Vice Captain Xing shared, ¡°It was sent to the forensics department for identification. I listened to it once, and it has nothing to do with this case.¡± Captain Cheng shook his head, feeling there was more to it and must relate to another case. He stroked his chin and pondered, ¡°The Jiang family cracked open, how can it not be related? Changde said he knew Luo Qinghe¡¯s dirt, maybe that tape is it.¡± The Jiang Family gentleman was not one to meddle without reason. Perhaps he was driving this case from behind the scenes, otherwise how so coincidental, catching the culprits and obtaining the goods. ¡°Go and bring Luo Changde to the police station.¡± ¡°Right away.¡± Chapter 236 - 236 236 Handsome Calculation the Unknown Secret ?Chapter 236: 236: Handsome Calculation, the Unknown Secret (Second Update) Chapter 236: 236: Handsome Calculation, the Unknown Secret (Second Update) In the visiting room. Jiang Chundong looked around to make sure there were no listening or surveillance devices before sitting down, ¡°Miss Luo.¡± ¡°Hello, Lawyer Jiang.¡± S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Jiang Chundong took out a pen case from his briefcase, and arranged the documents, ¡°Shall we begin?¡± Luo Qinghe nodded, ¡°Yes.¡± Jiang Chundong was a lawyer who specialized in murder trials. Five years ago, he defended a rapist and murderer in a case that seemed unwinnable, yet he won. The criminal was sentenced to only fifteen years in prison. Since then, his fame skyrocketed, and he only took on murder cases. ¡°There¡¯s something I need to ask Miss Luo first,¡± he adjusted his glasses on the bridge of his nose, his face devoid of any unnecessary expression, ¡°Did you hire Li Bidu?¡± Li Bidu was the driver involved in the accident. Luo Qinghe did not answer him, but instead examined the accomplished lawyer in front of her. He calmly explained, ¡°You are my client, and I have only one stance, which is to win your case. If you tell me the truth, it will be more advantageous for my defense strategy.¡± She answered his earlier question, ¡°No.¡± She trusted no one. Jiang Chundong simply replied, ¡°Okay, I understand.¡± The news that Luo Changde had come back from the dead and Luo Qinghe had been arrested spread like wildfire in just half a day, naturally reaching the ears of Luo Huaiyu as well. By evening, Tang Xiang was summoned to the Luo Family¡¯s home. A servant led her to the study¡¯s entrance, ¡°Chairman, Miss Tang is here.¡± ¡°Cough cough cough cough cough¡­¡± After a bout of coughing, Luo Huaiyu said, ¡°Come in.¡± Tang Xiang pushed open the door, ¡°Grandpa Luo.¡± ¡°You¡¯re here.¡± Luo Huaiyu covered his mouth with a handkerchief as he coughed. Tang Xiang approached and placed her resignation letter on the table, ¡°I¡¯ve completed the handover of my responsibilities at the company.¡± Luo Huaiyu had met with Luo Changde that afternoon and then asked for her to come. He had phlegm stuck in his throat, couldn¡¯t cough it out, and gasped for air as he called out to her, ¡°Xiangxiang.¡± Tang Xiang replied respectfully, ¡°Yes, Grandfather.¡± She had called him Grandfather for over twenty years now, and regardless of her motives, Luo Huaiyu had always been good to her. He glanced at the resignation letter without picking it up, then looked up at Tang Xiang, his gaze old and cloudy, ¡°Over the years, has the Luo Family ever mistreated you?¡± Tang Xiang shook her head, her expression neither servile nor overbearing, ¡°No, the Luo Family has been gracious to me.¡± Her father had died and her mother had fallen seriously ill when she was not yet graduated, unable to tend to both her mother and her studies ¨C it was Luo Huaiyu who had offered help. ¡°And yet you colluded with Jiang Zhi to bring disgrace upon our family,¡± the old man¡¯s voice was loud, shaking with fury. Luo Huaiyu had a temper with Luo Qinghe and Luo Yinghe, but this was the first time he was fiercely angry with Tang Xiang. Tang Xiang didn¡¯t attempt to defend herself, but instead placed all the things she had brought onto the desk, ¡°This one is the account of all expenses of my mother and me during the years following my father¡¯s death.¡± There was also a black card, which she laid down on the table, ¡°This is the card you gave me during my studies abroad. The money in it, I¡¯ve returned to you tenfold.¡± She stood straight before the desk, speaking each word clearly, emphatically, ¡°In the five years I¡¯ve worked for the Luo Corporation, I¡¯ve never committed any act to harm its interests. The grace you¡¯ve shown me, I¡¯ve repaid with my performance.¡± She, like her father, was not a kind person, but she was stubborn, principled, with a line she wouldn¡¯t cross ¨C there were things she¡¯d never do, and things she had to do. ¡°My car, my house, and my savings ¨C if you feel I do not deserve them, I¡¯m willing to return them all to you. The Luo Family has not mistreated me, and I will not owe you, but,¡± she looked up, her gaze steady, ¡°Grandpa Luo, the Luo Family owes my father a life, and I must seek justice for that.¡± She spoke slowly, each word resonant and powerful, ¡°I have returned the benefits I received, but the life owed by the Luo Family must also be repaid.¡± ¡°That was an accident.¡± She corrected, ¡°No, it was murder.¡± Pain and disappointment filled Luo Huaiyu¡¯s eyes, ¡°Even if Qinghe started the fire, it was not her intention to kill your father.¡± ¡°That sounds preposterous,¡± her voice trembled slightly with indignation, ¡°If it wasn¡¯t intentional, does that mean killing someone is without consequence? What kind of logic is that?¡± Luo Huaiyu was left speechlessly silent for a long time, his tone grave, ¡°You and Qinghe grew up together ¨C do you really want to send her to prison?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not that I want to send her to prison,¡± Tang Xiang clarified the facts, ¡°It¡¯s that she committed a crime.¡± She could guess what Luo Changde must have said to him, probably something about traitors and internal betrayal. But he wasn¡¯t wrong, after all. Luo Huaiyu collected the resignation letter, placing it in a drawer, and stood up with the support of his cane, ¡°From now on, you have no relation to the Luo Family.¡± Tang Xiang nodded, her hands clasped in front of her, ¡°I have one last request of you.¡± Luo Huaiyu paused, ¡°Speak.¡± She maintained her composure throughout, ¡°If you seek revenge, let it be against me, please spare my mother.¡± The hand gripping the cane quivered and he coughed violently, his face turning red, ¡°Is that how you see me, an old man?¡± Tang Xiang replied resolutely, ¡°Yes.¡± If it hadn¡¯t been for that, her father would not have died so mysteriously, and if it hadn¡¯t been for that, the Luo Family wouldn¡¯t have been intolerant even of a ¡°mute¡± child. Luo Huaiyu¡¯s eyes reddened as he sighed and waved his hand. ¡°You may go.¡± Tang Xiang left without hesitation. An hour later, Chen Li arrived. He knocked on the door. ¡°Chairman.¡± ¡°Come in.¡± Luo Huaiyu was taking his medication, swallowing three white tablets at once with a sip of water. Chen Li stepped forward. ¡°You wanted to see me?¡± Luo Huaiyu put down the cup and took out a check that was clipped between the pages of a book and placed it on the desk. Chen Li glanced at the amount on the check. ¡°What do you want me to do for you?¡± Luo Huaiyu cleared his throat and spat on a piece of paper. ¡°You won¡¯t need to come by anymore.¡± Chen Li was surprised. ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t need to go to the company anymore either, take this money and settle down well,¡± said Luo Huaiyu slowly, adding another sentence, ¡°It¡¯s best to pick a place farther away.¡± ¡°I understand.¡± Chen Li did not ask any questions, took the check, bowed, and left the study. Luo Huaiyu, leaning on his cane, walked to the window and drew the curtains. It was raining outside. The first time he heard that child speak was eight years ago. Her speech was unclear and stammering, her voice hoarse. It was only when calling out to the Jiang boy that her voice was clear. He went to the attic with his cane. The child was very afraid of him, shrinking on the wooden bed, not daring to move. He approached, ¡°Aren¡¯t you able to speak? Why don¡¯t you call someone?¡± She was very scared and stuttered, ¡°Grandpa, Grandpa.¡± Her voice was rough and thick. It must have been from years of not speaking, and her gender was indiscernible. He walked to the bed. ¡°Take off your clothes.¡± She shrank back, clutching her collar. ¡°No, no.¡± As soon as he reached out, she hid in the corner of the bed. ¡°Don¡¯t hide.¡± ¡°Be obedient, Luo San.¡± His hand reached out, covered with liver spots. Bang! A loud sound, and the door was pushed open. ¡°Chairman!¡± It was the butler who lived on the first floor who had rushed up, stepping forward to shield the trembling child. He withdrew his hand. ¡°Guangji, you¡¯ve arrived.¡± His tone was calm. ¡°You come and tell me, is this child a boy or a girl?¡± Tang Guangji, with sweat dripping from his forehead and a panicked expression, didn¡¯t speak for a while. The cane hit the floor with a thud, and he shouted, ¡°Is it a boy or a girl!¡± Tang Guangji knew he could no longer hide it. The old man was so shrewd and suspicious, knowing the child could speak would surely make him guess. He replied, ¡°A girl, a girl.¡± ¡°Having fooled me for fourteen years,¡± he caressed the dragon head on his cane, ¡°you and your wife are quite capable.¡± Tang Guangji was sweating profusely. ¡°I acted on my own. If you have to blame someone, blame me. This child, Luo San,¡± he knelt down, ¡°I beg for your magnanimity.¡± The child who was in the corner of the bed crawled down and knelt alongside Tang Guangji. ¡°Why did you dress her as a boy?¡± ¡°Was it because you feared I¡¯d kill her?¡± Tang Guangji instinctively reached out to hide the child behind him. A clap of thunder boomed, abruptly ending the memory. After Chen Li left the study, he went directly into the rain and left the Luo Family estate. Only when he was far away did he find a spot to take shelter and made a phone call. ¡°Luo Huaiyu told me not to come by tomorrow.¡± The person on the other end of the phone was his ¡®contact¡¯¡ªsomeone by the name of Black Impermanence. She asked, ¡°When were you exposed?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know either.¡± He was telling the truth, but there was another matter, ¡°Luo Huaiyu hired a group of professional errand runners, to help him find someone.¡± Zhou Xufang, ¡°Who are they looking for?¡± Chen Li recalled the conversation. ¡°Seems to be the Luo Family¡¯s former gardener, called Ah something.¡± Chapter 237 - 237 237 Marry him in a beautiful dress ?Chapter 237: 237: Marry him in a beautiful dress Chapter 237: 237: Marry him in a beautiful dress ¡°It seems he was a gardener for the Luo Family before, named Ah something.¡± Ah Bin. Zhou Xufang continued to interrogate, ¡°Is there anything else unusual?¡± ¡°No, Luo Huaiyu is very cautious, and he must have found the listening devices in his study.¡± Chen Li took the check out of his pocket, looked at it repeatedly, ¡°I did everything you asked me to do, now I¡¯m no use to you anymore, can you give me the goods now?¡± If it weren¡¯t for the other party holding his weakness over him, how could he possibly become a lackey. Damn, it¡¯s just bad luck, throwing a stone and not killing anyone, but accidentally causing a death. ¡°I didn¡¯t say I¡¯d give you the weapon, just that I wouldn¡¯t give it to the police.¡± Chen Li grew angry at this, ¡°Are you playing me?¡± Zhou Xufang corrected him seriously and solemnly, ¡°I¡¯m helping you.¡± She said sincerely, without bluffs, ¡°You should turn yourself in, you must have done many illegal things for Luo Huaiyu, if he wants to silence you, prison is actually the safest place. I won¡¯t give the weapon to the police, and if you confess, it being an accidental killing, you probably won¡¯t be sentenced for long.¡± Chen Li had nothing to say because she had predicted everything accurately. ¡°Who exactly are you?¡± Zhou Xufang pinched her voice to make it spooky, ¡°I am Black Impermanence.¡± Chen Li: ¡°¡­¡± Zhou Xufang hung up. ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± Jiang Zhi was making noodles for her in the kitchen. Zhou Xufang went into the kitchen, following Jiang Zhi, ¡°Don¡¯t you think Luo Huaiyu is very suspicious?¡± Jiang Zhi washed a handful of greens and added them to the noodles. She loved meat and wasn¡¯t very fond of vegetables, but Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t allow her to be picky. ¡°He¡¯s also looking for your uncle.¡± She couldn¡¯t understand, feeling confused, ¡°Is he helping Luo Changde, or Luo Qinghe?¡± Jiang Zhi said, ¡°Salt.¡± She handed him the salt. He added two spoonfuls to the pot, ¡°He¡¯s not that noble; he¡¯s just helping himself.¡± Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t understand. Jiang Zhi turned the flame down slightly, ¡°Have you noticed? No matter how Luo Changde and his daughter fight, Luo Huaiyu never intervenes.¡± He had never intervened, he had always been an observer. ¡°He also knew about the diamond rough, but he didn¡¯t do anything about it. Instead, he waited for the dust to settle before settling accounts with Tang Xiangqiu.¡± Like stirring up waves. Zhou Xufang couldn¡¯t see through the old man, ¡°Why did he do that?¡± One was his son, the other his granddaughter. Why would he let them tear each other apart? ¡°There¡¯s only one possibility, he was protecting himself.¡± Which means, he also did something remorseful. Jiang Zhi turned the stove off, scooped a spoonful of noodle soup, and fed it to Zhou Xufang, ¡°Try this.¡± She licked it. Jiang Zhi asked, ¡°Is it salty?¡± ¡°A bit.¡± He licked the spoon too, found it a bit salty, and re-lit the fire, ¡°Then I¡¯ll add some water.¡± He added another bowl of water, but it became bland. He added half a spoon of salt again. Eventually, it was still too salty. Zhou Xufang, being supportive, drank all the soup, it was a bit salty, so she secretly drank two cans of milk. Jiang Zhi¡¯s cooking skills were mediocre; he could cook edible meals which were just palatable, but he often missed the mark with the salt. Though he had no talent or skill in cooking, he cooked diligently, partly because Zhou Xufang was a bit picky¡ªif he cooked, she would eat all of it, and partly because he felt a tremendous sense of achievement watching Zhou Xufang eat his cooking. At night, the rain dripped steadily. Zhou Xufang fell asleep early, and she dreamed of Jiang Zhi. He was in his boyhood, appearing somewhat frailer and paler back then. He brought a few cans of milk to the Luo Family house and called her out from the flower shed, ¡°Here, for you.¡± She took them, holding them gleefully, her dark face smiling broadly, teeth shining white, looking foolishly happy. Seeing she wasn¡¯t drinking, the boy urged discontentedly, ¡°Why aren¡¯t you drinking?¡± She glanced around, no one was there, and whispered to him secretly, ¡°Need to hide it.¡± Whatever he gave her, she treasured like jewels, even stashing them inside her tattered pillow. That broken pillow was filled up by her, containing more than a dozen milk cans. Foolish to death. ¡°What¡¯s to hide, it¡¯s for drinking.¡± He opened a can for her, ¡°Drink quickly, I¡¯ll bring you more tomorrow.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± She drank hurriedly, getting milk froth all over her mouth. ¡°So dirty.¡± He complained about her being dirty but still wiped her mouth with his sleeve cuff while grumbling about her messiness. She still smiled. His sleeves got dirty from wiping her, so he rolled them up, eyes fixed on top of her head, ¡°Why are you so short?¡± She was already in her teens, yet thin and short, still looking like a young child. He handed her the bag he was carrying, ¡°The clothes I bought are too big, throw them away if you don¡¯t wear them.¡± The bag was full of new clothes. How could she throw them away? She liked them and smiled broadly. It was his first time buying clothes for someone, unclear about the sizes, all were too big, and he was frustrated, blamed her, ¡°It¡¯s all your fault, why are you so short.¡± She nodded, grinning foolishly with a toothy smile, and said hoarsely, ¡°It¡¯s all my fault.¡± The young boy snorted with a curl at the corner of his mouth. ¡°Come here.¡± She took two steps forward. ¡°Stand a little closer.¡± She then walked right up to him. Comparatively, she only reached his chest; he could look down and see her small bald head, ¡°How come you¡¯re only this tall?¡± With knitted beautiful eyebrows, he murmured, ¡°Do I need to buy you some calcium supplements?¡± She looked up at him, nodding at everything he said. S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Feeling she was obedient and well-behaved, he touched her small bald head, ¡°Next time I¡¯ll bring you calcium supplements.¡± Then, he instructed, ¡°Don¡¯t throw away your clothes. Wear them when you grow taller. Tomorrow, I¡¯ll buy you a smaller size.¡± She squinted her eyes and nodded vigorously. The dream shifted abruptly at that point. Outside the flower arbor, the sun was setting. A tangerine twilight spread all over, and the hand stretching out toward her was all wrinkled, with saggy skin and profusely marked with dark age spots and rough veins. ¡°Drink it. Don¡¯t you like it?¡± The old man handed her a can of milk. She received it timidly. The old man encouraged her to try it, saying he had obtained it from the boy from the Jiang Family. It was from Jiang Zhi. So she drank, savoring it gradually, sip by sip, unwilling to finish it all at once. Later, the old man walked away with his dragon-headed cane, and she slept in the wooden rocking chair beside the flower stand. Thump, thump, thump, thump¡­ She seemed to hear the sound of the cane tapping on the ground; she wanted to open her eyes, but couldn¡¯t, while an old voice spoke beside her. He said, ¡°Why is it a girl¡­¡± Why couldn¡¯t it be a girl? Her eyes remained closed, but she thought inside her heart how wonderful it was being a girl. If Jiang Zhi would accept her, she would grow up and marry him, like the woman she saw on the TV Aunt Xiu watched, with long hair dressing in the prettiest dress as his bride. She loved being a girl. ¡°A girl won¡¯t work.¡± ¡°A girl must die.¡± She heard the cane tapping sound again, growing fainter and fainter¡­ It turned dark, yet the flower arbor lit up with fire and soon dense smoke billowed. The bald girl without hair still lay on the wooden chair, drowsy, while people outside called her. ¡°Luo San!¡± ¡°Luo San!¡± It was Uncle Tang calling her. ¡°Hmm¡­¡± She responded, but her voice was so faint. She tried to lift her hand, only managing to move her fingers. Tang Guangji rushed in and found her by the flower arbor, shaking her shoulders to wake her, ¡°Luo San, Luo San!¡± She struggled to open her eyes, ¡°Uncle Tang¡­¡± Her voice, already hoarse, became inaudible after inhaling the dense smoke. Tang Guangji covered her nose and mouth with the wet towel he had been using, ¡°Don¡¯t be scared, Uncle Tang will take you outside now.¡± He tied the wet towel around her head and carried her on his back. The fire was too fierce, the light blinding, hard to see the path. Carrying the frail girl, he stumbled towards the exit. Fearing she wasn¡¯t fully conscious, he kept talking to her, ¡°Once we get out, shall we let Aunt Xiu take you to the countryside, alright?¡± The petite girl lying on the broad back of the man spoke in a thin, small voice, ¡°Are there foxtails in the countryside?¡± ¡°Yes, there¡¯s lots and lots of them,¡± he coughed from the smoke but still smiled, ¡°So our Xu Fang likes foxtail grass, huh?¡± Xu Fang. Aunt Xiu had said she had a name too, given by her mother. Aunt Xiu was serious, a cautious person, and never allowed her to use that name; only Uncle Tang would secretly call her Xu Fang when no one was around. This was the first time he said ¡®our Xu Fang,¡¯ just like he said ¡®our Xiangxiang.¡¯ She knew, Uncle Tang and Aunt Xiu were both good people, but they dared not treat her kindly. The Luo Family wouldn¡¯t like it. She also knew that the steamed bun under her pillow was placed there by Aunt Xiu, and the bundle of old books in her closet was brought back by Uncle Tang. Her eyes were nearly closing again, her voice becoming a murmur as if in a dream, ¡°No, it¡¯s Jiang Zhi who likes it.¡± She told Tang Guangji, ¡°Our Jiang Zhi likes foxtail grass.¡± Our Xu Fang. Our Jiang Zhi. She liked saying that. As a piece of wood from the flower arbor fell, Tang Guangji raised his arm to block it; sparks only reached his clothes, but his arm was scalded. He didn¡¯t mind, adjusted her higher on his back, and asked again, ¡°So what does our Xu Fang like?¡± She murmured drowsily, ¡°Our Xu Fang likes our Jiang Zhi¡­¡± At the entrance of the flower arbor, someone else rushed in. ¡°Housekeeper Tang.¡± Tang Guangji saw the person, surprised, ¡°Young master, with such a big fire, why did you come in too?¡± It was Luo Changde, all drenched, who glanced at the person on Tang Guangji¡¯s back, ¡°Give her to me.¡± ¡°I can carry her; you should get out quickly, the fire¡¯s getting bigger.¡± His pupils, reddened by the firelight, insisted, ¡°Give her to me.¡± After saying this, he picked up a piece of rebar from the ground, dragging it with a piercing noise, step by step moving closer¡­ Chapter 238 - 238 238 Take you abroad to get married~ ?Chapter 238: 238: Take you abroad to get married~ Chapter 238: 238: Take you abroad to get married~ The steel bar dragged across the ground, emitting a grating noise, inching closer step by step¡­ Zhou Xufang suddenly opened her eyes. The room was dark, and she took a while to recover her senses, whispering, ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± Jiang Zhi immediately woke up, turned on the bedside lamp, and looked at her in the light. Her eyes were red. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± he hugged her. ¡°Did you have a dream again?¡± She burrowed into his arms, rubbing her head on his chest, her voice soft and tender: ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± ¡°Mm.¡± She lifted her head and kissed his chin, ¡°Do you like foxtail grass?¡± Jiang Zhi was taken aback, ¡°Remember now?¡± She shook her head, ¡°I think I dreamt of you, and Tang Xiang¡¯s dad.¡± She wasn¡¯t sure, though, whether it was a dream or a memory. Jiang Zhi, seemingly afraid she¡¯d recall something unpleasant, asked tentatively, ¡°Anything else?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t remember much after opening my eyes.¡± He sighed in relief. Actually, he didn¡¯t really want her to remember the past. The hardships she had endured, the injuries she had suffered¡ªit was better if all were forgotten. ¡°You haven¡¯t answered my question,¡± while holding his face, noticing his thick, long eyelashes, she couldn¡¯t resist stroking them with her finger, and asked him again, ¡°Do you like foxtail grass or not?¡± Jiang Zhi, tickled by her touch, didn¡¯t move away: ¡°Who would like foxtail grass.¡± He lifted his chin, his lips just touching the palm of her hand. Zhou Xufang immediately withdrew her hand and nestled closer into his embrace. Jiang Zhi smiled, ¡°I like you. I was worried you¡¯d steal other things to give me, so I said I only liked foxtail grass.¡± Zhou Xufang felt delighted upon hearing this. Initially cuddled on the inside, she rolled over Jiang Zhi to the outer side, ¡°So you liked me even when you were that young.¡± Jiang Zhi said, ¡°Yes.¡± Worried she might fall, he pulled her back to the safer, wall-side of the bed, ¡°Back then, I had saved quite a bit of pocket money. I wanted to buy you a house, a bed, and clothes, and then fill a whole room with your favorite candies.¡± That year, his health was poor. After falling into water at the Luo Family¡¯s place, the doctors said he wouldn¡¯t last many years. He genuinely contemplated planning for the aftermath, even consulting a lawyer, although there wasn¡¯t much to arrange. His only thought was to leave all his money to her to ensure she wouldn¡¯t have to worry about food and clothing. Zhou Xufang lay on her side, close enough for their breaths to mingle: ¡°And then?¡± ¡°Then I¡¯d raise you until you came of age, and once you were an adult, I would come out of the closet, take you abroad and get married.¡± Of course, that was assuming he lived that long. A sixteen-year-old boy¡¯s thoughts were simple. After receiving a kiss, he¡¯d plan their future all the way until they were sixty, even sorting out marriage and inheritance. Zhou Xufang lay propped up, watching him and smiling. ¡°What are you laughing at?¡± Without answering, she rested her hand on his shoulder, leaning in to kiss him. The next day was overcast with strong winds. As the year-end approached, the residential complex was decorated with festive lights, and every household was busy preparing New Year¡¯s goods. Zhou Xufang was also busy; she had stocked a cabinet full of snacks and placed boxes filled with cotton candy in various cabinets around the house, all filled with candy. ¡°Jiang Zhi, your phone is ringing,¡± Zhou Xufang nestled on the sofa, watching a movie with the projector. Without sunlight outside, she drew the curtains, darkening the room. Jiang Zhi was hanging clothes, not allowing her to help. Usually, he either spent the night at Zhou Xufang¡¯s place or took Zhou Xufang to his, but she was shy at first, secretly washing and drying her intimate clothes. After Jiang Zhi had hand-washed them for her once, she became less bashful. Sometimes she would wash, and other times Jiang Zhi would. Jiang Zhi had never done housework before and was clumsy at first. Zhou Xufang, reluctant to let his beautiful fingers touch the mundane chores of firewood, rice, oil, and salt or just plain water, intended to pamper him. Still, he didn¡¯t like it, didn¡¯t want the housekeeping staff to touch her things, nor did he want her to do it all herself. After several little tantrums, Zhou Xufang simply let him have his way. He came in, answered the phone: ¡°Hello.¡± ¡°Mr. Jiang, it¡¯s me,¡± It was someone from the prison. ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± ¡°Luo Qinghe has applied for medical parole.¡± Zhou Xufang looked over and listened carefully. S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Jiang Zhi asked, ¡°Which hospital did she go to?¡± ¡°Changling Hospital.¡± ¡°Okay, I got it.¡± Jiang Zhi hung up the phone. Zhou Xufang sat down next to Jiang Zhi with a bag of chips in her arms, ¡°Luo Qinghe went to her uncle¡¯s hospital, do you think she¡¯s going to pull some tricks?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I already know what she¡¯s going to do.¡± Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t want to talk about that depressing woman; he glanced at the chips in Zhou Xufang¡¯s hands, ¡°Lunchtime is coming, you can¡¯t eat any more snacks.¡± Zhou Xufang felt this was not right, ¡°But I¡¯ve already opened them. If I don¡¯t eat them, they¡¯ll get damp and then be wasted. Wasting isn¡¯t good, wasting is a crime.¡± Such twisted logic. Jiang Zhi wiped the chip crumbs from her mouth and wrapped an arm around her waist. The heater was on in the room, and she was dressed thinly; her waist was notably slender to the touch, ¡°You seem to have lost a bit of weight; you haven¡¯t been eating much for proper meals lately.¡± Especially these days, she hadn¡¯t been eating much, snacking all day long. Jiang Zhi wouldn¡¯t let her, and she would sneak snacks. On this point, Zhou Xufang, who usually complied with Jiang Zhi, wasn¡¯t behaving too well. Zhou Xufang pinched her waist, ¡°I haven¡¯t lost weight.¡± She placed Jiang Zhi¡¯s hand on her stomach, ¡°Feel here, there¡¯s flesh here.¡± This girl, utterly unguarded. Men tend to take liberties with a beloved girl before them, and he was no saint; of course, he wasn¡¯t immune to such common behavior, let alone the fact that the girl in his arms was his own. There was no reason to play by the book. Her face turned red from his touch, but she didn¡¯t shy away, burying her head in his shoulder, whispering softly that it tickled. Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t tease her anymore but instead supported her waist and pecked her lips, ¡°Tastes like tomato.¡± Zhou Xufang was still holding a bag of tomato-flavored chips, nearly burying her head in the bag. He placed his hand on her forehead, ¡°You have a fever.¡± Yep, she was running a fever. He took advantage of her grogginess to take away her chips and removed the elastic band from her hair, tying the open bag, ¡°If you don¡¯t finish a bowl of rice for lunch, you won¡¯t get any snacks this afternoon.¡± Zhou Xufang: ¡°¡­¡± How cunning, seducing with colors. The movie was still playing; it was a thriller, and the soundtrack was enough to send shivers down one¡¯s spine. However, Zhou Xufang was no longer in the mood for the movie. With Jiang Zhi by her side, she couldn¡¯t concentrate. ¡°Xu Fang, won¡¯t you be going to the concert tonight?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± Tonight Xiao Yusheng was holding a concert at Imperial City¡¯s stadium. Fang Lixiang had handed her the tickets yesterday, having arranged to go together. But today¡¯s weather wasn¡¯t very good. Jiang Zhi asked her, ¡°It might snow tonight. Could you go another day?¡± ¡°I can¡¯t change it. The next show won¡¯t be in Imperial City.¡± She remembered something, ¡°Do they sell glow sticks at the venue, or should I prepare in advance?¡± ¡°How would I know?¡± He hadn¡¯t been to a concert before. Zhou Xufang was also a first-timer and didn¡¯t understand much, ¡°I¡¯ll ask Lixiang.¡± She dialed Fang Lixiang¡¯s number, ¡°Lixiang.¡± Chapter 239 - 239 239 Go to Yun Shengs Concert Together ?Chapter 239: 239: Go to Yun Sheng¡¯s Concert Together Chapter 239: 239: Go to Yun Sheng¡¯s Concert Together ¡°I¡¯ll ask Lixiang,¡± she dialed Fang Lixiang¡¯s number, ¡°Lixiang.¡± ¡°Mm.¡± Her voice sounded listless and nasally, as if she was sick. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Are you feeling unwell?¡± Fang Lixiang sniffled, ¡°It¡¯s nothing, just a little cold.¡± ¡°Then let¡¯s not go to the concert. It might snow tonight, and you shouldn¡¯t catch a cold again.¡± Fang Lixiang firmly disagreed, ¡°How can that be, we finally got the tickets. I¡¯ll be fine, I just need to dress warmly.¡± She continued on business, ¡°By the way, remember to wear the clothes I sent you.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Xiao Yusheng¡¯s support color was green. Fang Lixiang had bought two green long down jackets online, planning to wear matching outfits with Zhou Xufang. As for Jiang Zhi¡­ Fang Lixiang had initially thought he wouldn¡¯t go, but to her surprise, whenever Zhou Xufang wanted to go to a concert, Jiang Zhi would tag along. Just thinking about the three of them watching the concert together¡­ she felt like Zhou Xufang was the teacher¡¯s daughter, Jiang Zhi was the teacher, and she herself was the class¡¯s worst student. It was like the class delinquent taking the teacher¡¯s daughter out to play, and somehow the teacher followed too. Yes, that horribly awkward feeling. The ¡®teacher¡¯s daughter¡¯ asked, ¡°How should we buy the glow sticks?¡± The delinquent Fang Lixiang always felt the teacher¡¯s imposing presence through the phone, her voice a bit weak, ¡°Headband, light sign, KT board, and stickers, I¡¯ve bought everything, you don¡¯t need to buy anymore.¡± ¡°Mhm.¡± Zhou Xufang ended the call and went to look for her clothes. It was her first time wearing green, and she found it particularly novel, ¡°Jiang Zhi, do you have a green jacket?¡± S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Jiang Zhi, leaning against a full-length mirror, replied, ¡°No.¡± The green down jacket on Zhou Xufang, even through a lover¡¯s eyes, Jiang Zhi still thought she looked like a caterpillar. Fang Lixiang¡¯s taste was really questionable. ¡°Not even one?¡± Zhou Xufang wanted to wear green with Jiang Zhi. Jiang Zhi answered, ¡°No.¡± Most of his clothes were black, gray, and white, and he¡¯d only added a lot of pink because Zhou Xufang liked it. Zhou Xufang thought for a moment, ¡°Do you have a green hat, then?¡± Wearing a hat without a jacket could also work. Jiang Zhi chuckled, ¡°Do you think I¡¯d buy a green hat?¡± Right. Boys probably don¡¯t like buying green hats. But Zhou Xufang still wanted to wear matching colors with him, ¡°I remember you have a green sweater, just wear that.¡± Inside, Jiang Zhi was reluctant, but his girlfriend had spoken, so he had no choice but to comply. The concert started at 7:30 PM. Zhou Xufang and Jiang Zhi arrived outside the gymnasium at 6:00 PM. It was packed with people, from the subway exit to the square opposite the gymnasium, hardly a spot to stand. Supportive fans and vendors were everywhere, the chilly winter lively and bustling. Fang Lixiang had arrived at 4:00 PM, her car parked at the edge of the square. After waiting for over two hours, she wrapped herself up securely and from afar, spotted Zhou Xufang and Jiang Zhi, peeking out and waving vigorously, ¡°Xu Fang, Xu Fang, over here!¡± Zhou Xufang also spotted Fang Lixiang and was about to run over when Jiang Zhi held her back, ¡°Hold on, don¡¯t let go, there are too many people here, we might get separated.¡± He had barely finished speaking when someone clumsily bumped into them. Jiang Zhi pulled her close, trying to shield her in his arms. Even though they were only a dozen meters away from Fang Lixiang, they couldn¡¯t avoid being jostled by the crowd. Jiang Zhi, who was a bit of a germaphobe, looked visibly displeased after being touched and bumped. Seeing Jiang Zhi¡¯s mood swing with his handsome face, Fang Lixiang felt a bit intimidated, ¡°Director Jiang.¡± That damned feeling of meeting the teacher again. Jiang Zhi was usually not an easy person to get along with, but he was quite friendly toward Zhou Xufang¡¯s friends, ¡°Just call me by my name.¡± Every time Fang Lixiang thought about how Jiang Zhi scolded people on set with a stern face, she couldn¡¯t bring herself to say it; she opened the door of the nanny car and discussed important matters with Zhou Xufang, ¡°Xufang, which light board do you like?¡± Zhou Xufang pointed to a green, heart-shaped light board, ¡°This one.¡± ¡°Then you hold this one, and I¡¯ll hold this one.¡± Fang Lixiang handed her the light board and picked up a sunflower-shaped one, before symbolically asking a certain director, ¡°Director Jiang, how about you?¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡°No.¡± This clearly disgusted look, hidden because of his girlfriend¡¯s liking and showing not even a hint of disdain, was all concealed in the furrowed brows of Jiang Zhi. It went unnoticed, how submissive Director Jiang could be in front of his girlfriend. Afterwards, Fang Lixiang directly bypassed Jiang Zhi, and excitedly chatted with Zhou Xufang alone: ¡°These are wristbands, peripheral headbands, and also hair clips.¡± Zhou Xufang wore them all, that green ear and bow-shaped, twinkling headband¡ªshe really loved it. Fang Lixiang slid three glowing, snake-shaped wristbands onto her wrist and pinned a ¡®Q version Xiao Yusheng¡¯ hair clip onto her head, ¡°I had these custom-made, they won¡¯t clash with anyone else¡¯s.¡± Zhou Xufang also picked out a headband for Jiang Zhi, a simple design, just a straight, finger-thick, thirty-centimeter-long green stick. Like the antenna on top of Teletubbies¡¯ heads. Jiang Zhi thought it looked silly and refused, ¡°I¡¯m not wearing it.¡± ¡°There are too many people here, if you wear this, it will be easy to find you if we get separated.¡± Zhou Xufang tiptoed to put it on him but couldn¡¯t reach; Jiang Zhi was too tall. He bent down anyway and obediently let her help him put it on. Fang Lixiang sneakily glanced at Jiang Zhi¡¯s head, feeling puzzled, everyone¡¯s head was topped with a green light, our bodies surrounded by the festive glow of a children¡¯s festival yet somehow Jiang Zhi pulled off a high-fashion, abstinent feel. Oh, this damn attractiveness. ¡°Do you want a sticker?¡± Fang Lixiang asked Zhou Xufang. Zhou Xufang, who had never found a concert so surprisingly fresh, exclaimed, ¡°Yes!¡± Fang Lixiang stuck two Xiao Yusheng stickers on her own mask and then handed some to Zhou Xufang, leaning over, ¡°Xufang, help me stick them on my forehead.¡± After Zhou Xufang finished applying Fang Lixiang¡¯s stickers, ¡°I want some too.¡± Fang Lixiang then covered Zhou Xufang¡¯s face with stickers. Actually, Jiang Zhi was not really happy about Zhou Xufang sticking Q-version Xiao Yusheng stickers on her forehead but didn¡¯t want to dampen her spirits, so he kept quiet about it. ¡°Jiang Zhi, I¡¯ll stick one on you.¡± Zhou Xufang¡¯s mask was all ¡®Xiao Yusheng,¡¯ even one at the mouth¡¯s position. Jiang Zhi grumbled low, ¡°Hmm.¡± She couldn¡¯t reach, ¡°Lower your head a bit.¡± Jiang Zhi bent down, letting her put a heart sticker right in the middle of his forehead. He held her waist, lifting her slightly, ¡°Fang Bao, give me a kiss.¡± Zhou Xufang asked quietly, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± He took off the sticker from her mask, ¡°I¡¯m a bit jealous.¡± He didn¡¯t want to make a scene, just wanted her to pamper him a bit. Zhou Xufang, embarrassed to kiss, tiptoed and whispered to him, ¡°There are so many people here, Lixiang is also here.¡± He didn¡¯t care and leaned in. Zhou Xufang looked left and right, and when no one was paying attention, she took off her mask and quickly kissed his forehead, preparing to leave but was caught by Jiang Zhi, who kissed her through the mask. Blushing Zhou Xufang: ¡°¡­¡± Fang Lixiang shook her head, too embarrassed to look. Chapter 240 - 240 240 Grandpa Zhi protecting his wife exploded with ?Chapter 240: 240: Grandpa Zhi protecting his wife, exploded with popularity Chapter 240: 240: Grandpa Zhi protecting his wife, exploded with popularity Fang Lixiang shook her head, unable to bear watching any longer. As she flipped her head back, she noticed two suspicious-looking people. She focused her gaze on them again. The two people opposite her were staring at her too! Fang Lixiang immediately pulled up her scarf, covering everything up to her chin, ¡°Xu Fang, do those two recognize us? They¡¯ve been staring at us nonstop.¡± The pair had already approached, a man and a woman, arm in arm and hugging close, probably a couple. But their sizes¡­ didn¡¯t quite match. The girl was a petite loli type, quite short, while the man was hefty, his body like ¡®streaky pork¡¯ wobbling as he walked. However, that wasn¡¯t the main point. What stood out was his brand-name attire, the chain around his neck, the watch on his wrist, broadcasting four words all over¡ª¡¯I am loaded!¡¯ The rich guy spoke up, ¡°Where did you buy that headband of yours?¡± His Beijing accent was thick, and his tone was anything but friendly. Fang Lixiang wasn¡¯t really in the mood to chat but out of courtesy she still replied, ¡°We had it custom-made.¡± The loli was persistent, ¡°Isn¡¯t it available for sale anywhere?¡± That loli voice¡­ Why was she putting it on so thick? Fang Lixiang, ¡°Nope.¡± The loli asked in a delicate, whiny voice, ¡°Can¡¯t you sell yours to us?¡± Speaking in such a coquettish tone. Fang Lixiang felt a chill and her eyes, exposed to the air, still radiated a friendly light, ¡°Sorry, we don¡¯t sell them.¡± The rich guy was quickly riled up, his voice nasty, ¡°Fine, if you¡¯re not selling.¡± However, the little loli at his side wouldn¡¯t let it go and whined softly, ¡°But I really want one.¡± She whimpered, pointing at Zhou Xufang¡¯s headband, ¡°I want the one on her head.¡± Just because she wants it, she should get it? Fang Lixiang, Heh. But it¡¯s hard to resist when her boyfriend, the rich spender, said, ¡°I can pay extra. Would you consider selling it to us?¡± Zhou Xufang shook her head, not selling. The man glanced at the accessory on Zhou Xufang¡¯s head and made a lavish offer, ¡°I¡¯ll give you ten times the price.¡± Zhou Xufang, wearing a mask, had no expression in her eyes, just a touch of aloofness that warned others to keep their distance, ¡°I¡¯m not selling.¡± The man scoffed, chin lifted due to his shorter stature, ¡°Then how much do you want?¡± He made it sound as if she was trying to extort him, and Zhou Xufang was starting to get annoyed. Jiang Zhi stepped forward, pulling her behind him, and even with a somewhat comical green stick on his head, he lost none of his dignity, ¡°My girlfriend said it¡¯s not for sale. Can¡¯t you understand?¡± The man must have been someone of wealth and status too; his tone was arrogant and irascible, ¡°It¡¯s just a lousy headband. What¡¯s there to show off? Acting all high and mighty in front of me!¡± With such an invite for a beating, someone had to deliver it. Jiang Zhi had just taken a step forward when Zhou Xufang pulled him back. She shook her head, whispering, ¡°There are too many people here. We could get recognized.¡± He was somewhat of a public figure, after all, and Fang Lixiang was also present. Jiang Zhi licked his back teeth, holding back. Yet that guy still hadn¡¯t toned it down, soothing his upset little girlfriend, ¡°Baby, don¡¯t be angry. It¡¯s just a piece of junk; we don¡¯t need it.¡± As he spoke, he turned his head back, glancing over provocatively. Jiang Zhi was never known for his good temper. He took a bracelet from Zhou Xufang, weighed it in his hand, and with a light toss, kicked it with his foot right as it descended to knee height. ¡°Ah!¡± ¡°Right in the calf of the man, he screams in pain, ¡°Dammit, who the fuck is that?¡± He turns his head and glares at Jiang Zhi, cursing loudly, ¡°Are you fucking looking to die?¡± Jiang Zhi takes his other hand out of his overcoat pocket, looks at his girl, and says, ¡°Zhou Xufang, I¡¯m about to start hitting, you gonna stop me?¡± Zhou Xufang says, ¡°Nope.¡± That guy had just cussed at Jiang Zhi. Even Zhou Xufang, who doesn¡¯t like to solve problems with violence, felt that guy deserved a beating. Jiang Zhi unbuttons one of his overcoat buttons and says to the man, ¡°Stop running your mouth, come over here.¡± His tone is slow and drawn-out. The man rolls up his sleeves and charges over, ¡°I¡¯ll fuck your mother*!¡± Jiang Zhi steps forward, no bullshit, and kicks the man in the chest. The man staggers a few steps, falls on his ass, losing face, he¡¯s furious, ¡°Your mother¡ª¡± He starts to get up when a foot steps on his shoulder. Jiang Zhi is wearing short canvas shoes today, black, very street, perfect for fighting. He looks calm on his face, his voice lazy, ¡°Swear one more time.¡± The man struggles a bit, but his right shoulder is pinned to the ground, and he can¡¯t move at all. More and more onlookers gather, his face is utterly lost, he¡¯s so angry that his face turns red with shame, and he spits out in fury, ¡°Do you know who I am?¡± Jiang Zhi leans down a bit, ¡°And do you know who I am?¡± He presses a little harder with his foot, and the man immediately lets out a scream. ¡°Ah ah ah ah ah ah¡ª¡± The cries are unbearable to hear. His little Lolita girlfriend has been scared stiff, her face loses color, and she hides far away. ¡°It hurts, doesn¡¯t it?¡± The man is in so much pain his face is red, and the veins on his neck bulge. Jiang Zhi folds his arms and looks at him in his embarrassed state, ¡°You only learn when it hurts.¡± His voice is lazy but laced with a ruthless wildness, yet it still retains a dignified elegance, as he says, ¡°Remember from now on, don¡¯t walk around with your nose in the air, keep a lower profile. Here in Imperial City, everyone¡¯s a big shot.¡± And under Imperial City, big shots are also ranked. The man who¡¯s being pinned down is still struggling, his eyes bulging with rage. ¡°Not convinced?¡± he blows a strand of hair from his forehead, ¡°Jiang family¡¯s young master from Qingshan Mansion, not convinced, come find me.¡± Jiang family¡¯s young master? Which Jiang family? The man suddenly freezes, stupefied. This is Fang Lixiang¡¯s first time seeing Jiang Zhi fight. Everyone outside claims that this young master of the Jiang family is so frail he could barely breath, a sickly person who won¡¯t live past twenty-five. S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Fang Lixiang had been worried before, afraid that Jiang Zhi would pass away too soon, but now she¡¯s relieved, thinking Zhou Xufang probably won¡¯t become a widow too young. Jiang Zhi can look so fragile that it melts your heart, but when it comes to fighting, he can be wild to the point of leaving you breathless. Indeed, versatile in both attack and defense¡­ Ahem, ahem, her thoughts are running away from her, the matter at hand is more pressing, Fang Lixiang quickly reminds Zhou Xu, ¡°Xu Fang, someone is filming.¡± Zhou Xu, who only had eyes for her boyfriend, now realizes that many bystanders are recording with their phones; she immediately runs over and blocks in front of Jiang Zhi, speaking in a stern voice, ¡°Stop recording.¡± Jiang Zhi steps off, takes off the scarf around his neck, and wraps it around Zhou Xufang, leading her out of the crowd, ¡°Can we enter now?¡± Fang Lixiang puts her large canvas bag on her back, ¡°Yes.¡± The three of them head straight in. Zhou Xufang is still a little worried, ¡°Someone took a video just now.¡± If it gets online, people are definitely going to take things out of context and speak ill of Jiang Zhi. Jiang Zhi takes her backpack, holding it for her, ¡°It¡¯s okay, it was so dark out, and I was wearing a mask, they couldn¡¯t have captured much clearly.¡± Zhou Xufang recalls the lighting outside, which indeed seemed very dim, and she is reassured. Chapter 241 - 241 241 Yun Sheng meets Xu Fang Jiang Zhi becomes ?Chapter 241: 241: Yun Sheng meets Xu Fang, Jiang Zhi becomes jealous. Chapter 241: 241: Yun Sheng meets Xu Fang, Jiang Zhi becomes jealous. Their seats were in the very front row, the VVIP spots Fang Lixiang had managed to snag. With a bit of a stretch, one could even touch the stage. The stadium was open-air, and on such a chilly winter night, it was still incredibly warm with fans steadily streaming in. The stage was in the middle, surrounded by tiered stands that rose higher and higher. Looking from Zhou Xufang¡¯s point of view, there was a sea of green in all directions. After being inside for over twenty minutes, it got rather hot and she took off her scarf. Jiang Zhi held it for her. As the opening music began, a wave of screams followed. The lights all converged on one spot, and the lift slowly rose with a slender, delicate-looking young man with a guitar on his back appearing. He was dressed in a clean, white suit, his eyes frosty, carrying a touch of coolness. He was not one to smile much, pale and fragile. Fans screamed hysterically, from chaotic to uniform. ¡°Xiao Yusheng!¡± ¡°Xiao Yusheng!¡± ¡°Xiao Yusheng!¡± ¡°¡­¡± Echo after echo, precise and uniform. Xiao Yusheng walked to the center stage, his band behind him. He adjusted the mic, and his clear voice came through, ¡°I am Xiao Yusheng.¡± The nineteen-year-old brimmed with vitality, but there was a frostiness in his eyes, a detached look. Standing under the stage lights, the light fell on his overly pale face, giving off a sickly appearance, stunningly beautiful in an unthreatening way. He appeared like jade: exquisite but fragile. The fans below erupted, standing up to shout and scream. ¡°Ah ah ah ah¡ª¡± ¡°Ah ah ah ah¡ª¡± Xiao Yusheng hadn¡¯t been in the industry for long and, being a singer, he had not acted in any films or TV shows, nor had he appeared in many commercials. His fan count might not rival many popular idols, but the frenzy was unmatched in the entertainment industry. Since his appearance, the screams had never stopped. Apart from the central stage, the surrounding lights had been dimmed, and Jiang Zhi couldn¡¯t see Zhou Xufang¡¯s face clearly. The two butterfly-knotted horns on her head flickered a green glow. Jiang Zhi leaned in and asked by her ear, ¡°Does your ear feel uncomfortable?¡± His concern stemmed from the fact that she had highly sensitive hearing, worrying that the noise inside might upset her. Zhou Xufang shook her head, her eyes shining, ¡°It¡¯s not uncomfortable.¡± On stage, Xiao Yusheng had already started to sing, a slow, slightly pastoral song that was comforting to hear. The fans quieted down on their own, waving glow sticks in their hands, fluttering like a sky filled with green stars. Zhou Xufang watched intently, her eyes curved as if she was smiling, ¡°Jiang Zhi, it¡¯s so lively, so lively.¡± She was overjoyed. Seeing her joy, Jiang Zhi¡¯s mood lifted too, patting the horns on her headband, ¡°Do you like it this lively?¡± Zhou Xufang nodded enthusiastically, ¡°I like it.¡± She was used to being alone, always hiding, not knowing that amidst the din and clamor, such unrestrained revelry was possible, not knowing that laughter and chaos could be part of the merry-making as well. ¡°As long as you like it.¡± Jiang Zhi wasn¡¯t particularly interested in concerts, so he just watched her, watched her head bobbing, her eyes blinking, her hands randomly waving the glow stick. The previous Zhou Xufang never used to be like this. Always solitary, never crying or smiling, with dark, tightly closed lips, she would shrink in the corner, not speaking to or making eye contact with anyone. It¡¯s better now, her smile is beautiful. Zhou Xufang tilted her head to look at him, ¡°Do you find it noisy?¡± It was noisy. Jiang Zhi shook his head, ¡°Not noisy. Shout if you want to, just don¡¯t hurt your throat.¡± During the interlude, Fang Lixiang beside them started howling. Zhou Xufang felt too embarrassed to shout, so she just waved her light stick energetically, whispering the name of Xiao Yusheng along with the rhythm of the fans beside her. Xiao Yusheng sang three songs in a row. He spoke very little, and it was evident that he was quiet by nature, not fond of interacting. Aside from a few transitional words to announce the song titles, his interaction with the fans was almost nonexistent. He had a pair of eyes more delicate than a girl¡¯s, slight double eyelids, and when he looked at people, his gaze was filled with bright stars, very radiant, yet with a hint of lonely desolation. ¡°I don¡¯t know if you have come.¡± He spoke with the same tone as when he sang, slow-paced, like telling a story: ¡°This song is written for you.¡± He stood at the center of the stage, guitar on his back, and softly announced the song title, ¡°I Miss You.¡± As soon as the prelude started, the fans began to scream. ¡°Ah ah ah ah¡ª¡± ¡°Ah ah ah ah¡ª¡± Voices surrounded them; no one could hear anyone else. Fang Lixiang also screamed, her eyes turning red as she shouted, ¡°Xue Baoyi! Xue Baoyi! Xue Baoyi!¡± In a fit of anger, she yelled, ¡°Bastard! Bastard! Stinking bastard!¡± Others might not have heard, but Zhou Xufang did. She turned to see Fang Lixiang crying, her eyes red: ¡°Lixiang, what happened?¡± Fang Lixiang wiped her eyes and lied, ¡°I¡¯m just too happy to see Yun Sheng.¡± Sniffling and with a sob in her voice, she said, ¡°So happy I started crying.¡± After hastily wiping the tears from her face, she continued to scream, pretending nothing was amiss as the festivities carried on. The song was very sorrowful. As it neared the end, it quieted down, one that should not be listened to attentively, as it would leave a heartache. Many fans already had teary eyes. Cool snowflakes fell on her head. Zhou Xufang looked up and caught them with her hand. ¡°Jiang Zhi,¡± she said, ¡°it¡¯s snowing.¡± Xiao Xue was drifting down, slowly and gently, refracting off the green stage lights, like fireflies flickering with light. The weather forecast was accurate, predicting light snow at night. The concertgoers had all brought raincoats, including Fang Lixiang. She took one out from her canvas bag and handed it to Zhou Xufang. Jiang Zhi took it, helped Zhou Xufang into it, and placed the hood on her head. The raincoat was transparent, and the headband and hair clips on Zhou Xufang¡¯s head sparkled. Wearing the oversized raincoat hood and illuminated by the greenish light, she resembled a Little Witch. Jiang Zhi asked his Little Witch, ¡°Are you cold?¡± ¡°Not cold.¡± He grabbed her hand¡ªit was ice-cold¡ªso he took out a thermos from her backpack and poured her a cup to drink. sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Zhou Xufang removed her mask and took a sip, frowning slightly, ¡°You put in goji berries.¡± She found the taste of goji berries strange and unpalatable. ¡°Goji berries are for health.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Her boyfriend had changed; he was becoming more and more like an old-fashioned man. ¡°Drink a few more sips.¡± ¡°Oh,¡± Zhou Xufang finished the water in the cup lid. Jiang Zhi put away the thermos, ¡°Put your mask back on.¡± Surrounded by people, Zhou Xufang felt hot and sweaty, especially after drinking hot water. Her face also felt a bit feverish, ¡°I won¡¯t wear it, I¡¯m hot.¡± She shook the light stick in her hand and hummed softly along to the tune. Jiang Zhi wasn¡¯t paying attention to the concert; he was searching for the profile of the girl beside him in the lights. With snowflakes fluttering all around, Xiao Yusheng sang quietly. His long eyelashes drooped, catching a white snowflake on them. As he lifted his lashes, the snowflake melted into his eye, the clear light resembling dew condensed with frost, and he suddenly stilled. After the interlude, the music should have climaxed, but at this moment, it abruptly came to a halt. Chapter 242 - 242 242 Yun Sheng and Xu Fang recognized each other on ?Chapter 242: 242: Yun Sheng and Xu Fang recognized each other, on the same stage (1 update of 5,000 characters) Chapter 242: 242: Yun Sheng and Xu Fang recognized each other, on the same stage (1 update of 5,000 characters) After the interlude, the climax was supposed to come, but at that moment, the voice abruptly ceased. Gradually, the fans also fell silent. The accompaniment continued to play, and after more than ten seconds had passed, Xiao Yusheng still hadn¡¯t started singing again or interacted in any way; he was gazing fixedly at one spot, lost in thought. Since his debut, he had held six concerts, and this was the first time he had made a mistake in the middle of a performance. The fans below waited in silence for a moment, then began to shout his name. ¡°Xiao Yusheng!¡± ¡°Xiao Yusheng!¡± ¡°Xiao Yusheng!¡± ¡°¡­¡± One call after another, rhythmic and exhilarating. Xiao Yusheng¡¯s previously still eyelashes trembled slightly, and he came back to himself. He raised his hand to signal the band behind him to stop, and after the accompaniment faded away, the fans quieted down as well. He walked to the front of the stage and bowed to the audience, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I made a mistake.¡± The fans were all shouting that it didn¡¯t matter. ¡°Xiao Yusheng!¡± ¡°Xiao Yusheng, you can do it!¡± He returned to the stand-up microphone in the center of the stage and turned to the band, ¡°Would you please start over again.¡± The accompaniment began anew, and as he started to sing and play, his gaze roamed over the crowd and finally settled; afterward, it never strayed again. ¡°Xu Fang.¡± Fang Lixiang¡¯s throat was already hoarse from shouting. Zhou Xufang responded, ¡°Hmm.¡± Fang Lixiang shouted louder, ¡°Xu Fang.¡± ¡°I heard you.¡± Fang Lixiang even louder, ¡°Xu Fang!¡± With the surrounding noise too loud, Zhou Xufang could only yell back, ¡°Hey!¡± The two faced each other, their conversation like one was on top of a mountain and the other at the bottom. Fang Lixiang at the top shouted, ¡°Yun Sheng seems to be looking over here.¡± At the bottom of the mountain, Zhou Xufang responded, ¡°Yeah, yeah.¡± The person at the top always felt like the person at the bottom couldn¡¯t hear, and yelled as if their life depended on it, ¡°I said,¡± she called out loudly, ¡°Yun Sheng seems to be looking at us!¡± Zhou Xufang replied, ¡°I heard you.¡± Fang Lixiang asked, ¡°What?¡± Oh, she can¡¯t hear me, she yelled her lungs out, ¡°I¡¯m saying Yun Sheng he¡ª¡± Zhou Xufang cut in, ¡°I heard you!¡± The atmosphere on-site was too heated; all the interaction had to be shouted. During the mid-concert break, a guest singer took the stage, and Xiao Yusheng temporarily left. He was changing clothes and touching up his makeup when his manager, Yang Xi, approached. Yang Xi was tall and sturdy, a northerner with a heavy accent. ¡°What was that just now?¡± Sitting in front of the makeup mirror, with his eyes downcast and his mind elsewhere, he said absently, ¡°I made a mistake.¡± Nearly half a minute had passed without finding the rhythm again; it was a significant mistake: ¡°You¡¯ve never made a mistake before.¡± And such a big one at that. Yang Xi asked him, ¡°Is your throat uncomfortable?¡± His mind seemed to be somewhere else, and in his generally calm and unruffled eyes, there was a slight ripple, ¡°No.¡± The emperor is not in a hurry, but the eunuch is anxious to death. Yang Xi pressed on, ¡°Neither the sound system nor the equipment had issues. How about the in-ear monitors, were they functioning properly?¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± His response was noncommittal and without explanation. Xiao Yusheng was typically not very talkative and had a solitary personality. But he was self-disciplined and had almost never caused Yang Xi any concern; this time, though, something seemed off. ¡°So why did you stop singing all of a sudden?¡± Xiao Yusheng sat with his head lowered, his bangs covering his eyes and brows: ¡°I forgot the lyrics.¡± It was the first time he¡¯d forgotten the lyrics. Forgetting lyrics wasn¡¯t critical, but what mattered was, ¡°Why didn¡¯t you pass the microphone to the fans when you forgot the lyrics?¡± At that moment, all he needed to do was pass the mic and call out ¡®Let¡¯s sing it together.¡¯ ¡°Yun Sheng, lift your head.¡± He raised his head to let the makeup artist do their work: ¡°I forgot.¡± Yang Xi was speechless. Well, the kid forgot the lyrics for the first time; maybe he lacked experience. Yang Xi massaged his forehead, feeling a bit of a headache coming on, ¡°This is definitely going to make headlines tomorrow.¡± The titles will probably be along the lines of a concert disaster. This would probably become the first scandal for Xiao Yusheng, the flawless singer-songwriter. He didn¡¯t seem to care much, tilting his head back to get some makeup touch-ups, his chin¡¯s contour smooth and defined: ¡°After the guest singing, is it interaction time?¡± Leaning back like that, the light hitting his face, he looked like a porcelain doll, delicate and fragile. ¡°Yeah,¡± Yang Xi knew he disliked fan interactions the most and reassured him, ¡°You don¡¯t need to say much, just let the fans request songs, and you sing them.¡± Suddenly, he turned his head, his usually calm eyes now brimming with light, as if something was stirring amidst the clamor, ¡°Can I invite her to come on stage?¡± Yang Xi was startled, ¡°Her?¡± He looked away, ¡°The person requesting the song.¡± In the mirror, his eyelashes, slightly drooped at the front, quivered gently. Yang Xi didn¡¯t notice anything amiss and answered, ¡°She doesn¡¯t need to come on stage, just hand her a microphone.¡± He hummed in acknowledgment and said no more. Outside, the guest singer¡¯s song was nearing its end. Assistant Duan Xiaoguang entered and asked, ¡°Are you ready?¡± The makeup artist gave an OK sign. Duan Xiaoguang checked the time, ¡°Twenty seconds until you¡¯re on stage.¡± Xiao Yusheng took a sip of water, moistening his throat, then headed to the backstage lift area. The next song was a duet between Xiao Yusheng and the guest singer. As the intro just began, Duan Xiaoguang noticed something off, ¡°Brother Yang, Yusheng¡¯s condition doesn¡¯t seem right.¡± Duan Xiaoguang observed the stage and grew increasingly concerned, ¡°He isn¡¯t looking at the guest singer at all,¡± not a single glance, utterly no interaction. The guest singer looked his way several times without a response, finally retreating resignedly. Even from such a distance, Yang Xi felt the awkwardness, ¡°What¡¯s with him today?¡± Probably, this too would hit the headlines, something like ¡®ignores seniors, eyes full of contempt.¡¯ Duan Xiaoguang observed for a moment, ¡°He seems to be looking in one direction the entire time.¡± Yang Xi followed Xiao Yusheng¡¯s gaze, ¡°Where is he looking?¡± It seemed to be the VVIP section. VVIP section. ¡°Xu Fang,¡± Fang Lixiang leaned in to whisper to Zhou Xufang, ¡°Why do I feel like Yun Sheng has been looking our way the whole time?¡± S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Yeah, Zhou Xufang felt the same. The girl sitting in front of them was excited, ¡°Oh my god! Yun Sheng is looking at me!¡± In her excitement, she high-fived her companion, ¡°He keeps looking at me, ah ah ah ah¡ª¡± Her companion: ¡°¡­¡± The girl waved her light stick, ¡°Yun Sheng! Yun Sheng, I love you!¡± Her cries were hysterical. The song ended, but that girl was still shouting, her energy drained, looking like she was about to pass out. Xiao Yusheng thanked the guest singer, who waved and left the stage; it was time for the interactive session of the concert. Xiao Yusheng looked at the crowd below, ¡°Now, I will pick a fan to request a song.¡± The fans¡¯ hands were almost flailing off. At times like these, they look to see who¡¯s the most enthusiastic, whose light stick is unique, which girls or boys stand out. ¡°Me me me!¡± ¡ª¡ªFrom the scream of the girl sitting in front of Fang Lixiang. The girl was wearing a jacket covered in Xiao Yusheng¡¯s photos, fortunately, Fang Lixiang didn¡¯t have trypophobia. ¡°Yun Sheng! Yun Sheng, over here!¡± ¡°Pick me! Pick me! Pick me!¡± The girl was nearly frantic, and indeed, Xiao Yusheng seemed to be looking in that direction. ¡°He looked over, he looked over, ah ah ah ah ah!!¡± The decibels peak when a girl screams. Zhou Xufang instinctively leaned back a bit. Sensing her movement, Jiang Zhi noticed, ¡°Is it too loud?¡± ¡°Just a bit.¡± Her ears were too sensitive, that girl in front had been too excited, and since the concert started, her screams hadn¡¯t stopped. The prolonged exposure to the high-pitch was making Zhou Xufang¡¯s eardrums slightly uncomfortable. Jiang Zhi covered her ears, ¡°Is it a bit better now?¡± His hands were cool. Zhou Xufang nodded, placing her hands inside her sleeves, and covered Jiang Zhi¡¯s hands with her sleeved arms. On stage, Xiao Yusheng¡¯s voice was soothing as he gently asked, ¡°The girl in the third row wearing the green down jacket, can you come on stage?¡± Third row, green down jacket¡­ Fang Lixiang froze for three seconds, looking left and right, finally pointing to herself in disbelief, ¡°¡­Is it me?¡± Her eyes were wide open, an indescribable feeling, like winning a massive lottery. Gazes from all directions fixated on the stage. Fang Lixiang was about to scream¡ª The handsome boy on stage looked on with a calm focus and slowly said, ¡°The gentleman in the green sweater, and the girl in the green down jacket beside him.¡± The gentleman in the green sweater was Jiang Zhi, and the girl in the green down jacket¡ª Was Zhou Xufang. Jiang Zhi immediately lifted his light board to block the camera. ¡°I can¡¯t go down there,¡± the flurries of snow were intermittently lifted by the wind, Xiao Yusheng stood in the middle of the stage under the lights, amidst the clamor around him, his gaze still tranquil, ¡°Can you come up here?¡± His tone was very earnest. Below the stage, fans urged someone to go up. Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t like this unexpected twist, as it made him feel passive. He covered Zhou Xufang¡¯s face with his hand: ¡°Do you want to go up?¡± Zhou Xufang nodded. It was no longer a question of wanting to go up or not but rather that she couldn¡¯t decline. With so many eyes watching, if Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t go up, she might make the headlines tomorrow. Jiang Zhi put the mask on her: ¡°I¡¯ll wait for you here.¡± He moved the light board away, ¡°Go on.¡± She agreed, stood up from her seat, and was led by staff over to the stage. Xiao Yusheng stood waiting above, gripping the microphone a little tighter. When she got on stage, she seemed not quite accustomed to the strong stage lights, squinting her eyes slightly, and stood about four or five meters away, not too close. ¡°You,¡± he began, then remembered to lift the microphone he was holding, ¡°what¡¯s your name?¡± She said, ¡°My surname is Zhou.¡± She didn¡¯t want to reveal too much on camera, only giving her last name. Xiao Yusheng stood sideways, looking at her, silent for quite a while, as the snow continued to fall, thin sweat running down his temples. The stage was silent. The crowd below, incessant. ¡°Why isn¡¯t Yun Sheng speaking?¡± ¡°He must be nervous, our Yun Sheng has always disliked interacting with people.¡± ¡°Yun Sheng, you can do it!¡± ¡°You¡¯re the best!¡± ¡°¡­¡± Fans occasionally shouted a few words of support. A voice came through the microphone, clear and melodious: ¡°What song would you like to hear?¡± Zhou Xufang said, ¡°Any will do.¡± Watching him from this distance, she felt increasingly that he resembled that lean and young boy, especially the eyes, which were unusually bright and clear. Xiao Yusheng moved a chair in front of her, which was the one he sat on when he played and sang by himself. Because he had been standing for a while, a thin layer of snow had settled on the chair, which he wiped off with his sleeve: ¡°Is it okay to sit here?¡± Zhou Xufang nodded, preferring to sit sideways to avoid being in the camera¡¯s view. Once she was seated, Xiao Yusheng picked up the guitar from the ground and turned to report a song name to the accompanist. Zhou Xufang had heard this song before. It was very suitable for a snowy day, with warm yet sad lyrics. She enjoyed Xiao Yusheng¡¯s songs because they had stories within them. Snow falling from the heavens, the boy on stage slowly sang: ¡°By the banks of Alce¡¯s lake, spangled with moonlight, where the rain has fallen, I search for you in the azure sky¡­¡± Fang Lixiang also hummed along, her voice trembling as if she were about to cry. The girl in front of her¡ªthe one who had been screaming all night¡ªfinally quieted down: ¡°Why sing this song?¡± Her eyes brimmed with tears, ¡°This song makes me cry every time I hear it.¡± Her companion remarked, ¡°I see that Yun Sheng¡¯s eyes are red.¡± ¡°It looks like he¡¯s crying.¡± The girl felt tears welling up as well. This was a slow tune, from the first note until the last, the audience below was silent, either listening quietly or softly singing along. As the last note faded, the place erupted into clamor, with thunderous applause, the fans chanting Xiao Yusheng¡¯s name in unison. ¡°Xiao Yusheng!¡± ¡°Xiao Yusheng!¡± ¡°Xiao Yusheng!¡± ¡°¡­¡± He put down the guitar, walked over to the chair, bent down, and embraced the girl sitting there. His hands didn¡¯t touch her, they hung in the air, fingers curled, red from the cold. ¡°Are you 017?¡± Zhou Xufang¡¯s voice was very soft, inaudible to ordinary people. Xiao Yusheng removed the microphone from his collar, ¡°It¡¯s been an awfully long time, 011.¡± Zhou Xufang smiled. Having an idol who was a friend from the past was a delightful thing. Fans below the stage were screaming wildly. Xiao Yusheng let go, stepping back to a polite distance, and picked up his guitar again. He said, ¡°There¡¯s snow on the ground, it¡¯s slippery, so walk slowly.¡± Zhou Xufang nodded and walked down the stage, stepping on the half-melted snowy water. Midway, she looked back, and the boy on the stage was standing still, smiling faintly. That person who rarely smiled looked particularly attractive when he did. The desolation in his eyes sprouted buds, gained color, and was no longer so bleak. The liveliness on stage continued, and Xiao Yusheng had already invited the second fan to join him. It was a fan from the top seats who chose a more upbeat song. After Zhou Xufang sat down, Jiang Zhi brushed the snow off her head. ¡°Is it him? The boy from the lab.¡± He had seen the storm of emotions in Xiao Yusheng¡¯s eyes. Zhou Xufang glanced at the stage, ¡°Yes, it¡¯s him.¡± ¡°What did he say to you?¡± ¡°He said it¡¯s been an awfully long time.¡± It indeed had been an awfully long time, time enough for youth to shed its rawness, growing into adulthood. The snow was getting heavier. The boy on the stage had put on a green raincoat. Jiang Zhi stayed with Zhou Xufang until the concert¡¯s second half was over. By the end, Fang Lixiang had gone hoarse from shouting. The trio had just reached the exit when Zhou Xufang stopped. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± There were many noises behind them, and Zhou Xufang listened for a while, ¡°Someone is calling for Miss Zhou.¡± Jiang Zhi looked back, and indeed, someone was catching up. ¡°Miss Zhou,¡± it was a young gentleman, tall and thin, who had run hurriedly and was still out of breath. He asked Zhou Xufang, ¡°May I take a moment of your time?¡± Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t answer. Jiang Zhi asked her, ¡°Do you know him?¡± She shook her head. ¡°I am Xiao Yusheng¡¯s assistant.¡± Duan Xiaoguang briefly introduced himself and showed his work badge. He then said to Zhou Xufang, ¡°Yun Sheng can¡¯t come out, could you please come with me?¡± Zhou Xufang looked at Jiang Zhi. Jiang Zhi spoke for her, ¡°Not alone, my girlfriend has to be with me.¡± Duan Xiaoguang wasn¡¯t sure what Xiao Yusheng wanted with the girl he had interacted with. He was simply instructed to make sure she was brought over. After a moment of thought, Duan Xiaoguang asked the girl¡¯s boyfriend, ¡°Would it be alright to take a bit of your time as well?¡± Jiang Zhi still wanted to confirm Zhou Xufang¡¯s wishes, ¡°Shall we go?¡± Zhou Xufang thought for a moment, then nodded. Jiang Zhi said to Fang Lixiang, ¡°I¡¯ll call someone to pick you up.¡± Fang Lixiang quickly gestured no need, ¡°No, no, I can go back by myself.¡± Her emotions were surging at that moment; she had a premonition that her idol and her best friend definitely had some connection. Zhou Xufang and her partner were already being led away by Xiao Yusheng¡¯s assistant. Fang Lixiang immediately pulled out her newly purchased phone and sent a message to Zhou Xufang on WeChat. Fang Lixiang: ¡°Xu Fang, Xu Fang.¡± Fang Lixiang: ¡°Autograph!¡± Fang Lixiang: ¡°Help! Me! Get! An! Autograph!¡± Zhou Xufang: ¡°Okay.¡± Fang Lixiang: [Love you] GIF. Zhou Xufang: ¡°.¡± Fang Lixiang: [Finger heart] GIF. Zhou Xufang: ¡°.¡± This unbearable OCD. Fang Lixiang stopped sending images; otherwise, Zhou Xufang could keep sending periods till dawn. Fang Lixiang adjusted her mask and scarf, ready to leave. Someone called her from behind, ¡°Fang Lixiang?¡± Completely out of reflex, Fang Lixiang immediately turned around. The other person, like her, was wrapped up tightly and looked surprised to see her, ¡°It is really you.¡± Fang Lixiang kept her composure, ¡°It¡¯s not.¡± ¡°I have recognized you.¡± The person had a stylish dress sense, clearly not an ordinary person, and wearing so much cover, probably someone from within the industry. Fang Lixiang hadn¡¯t been officially in the industry for long and didn¡¯t have many close friends yet, just a few superficial acquaintances, so she didn¡¯t intend to have a ¡®reunion¡¯ and firmly denied, ¡°You¡¯ve got the wrong person.¡± Chapter 243 - 243: 243: Jiang Zhi Craves Affection, Sweet Critical Hit (Second Release) Chapter 243: 243: Jiang Zhi Craves Affection, Sweet Critical Hit (Second Release) ¡°So I¡¯m not planning on catching up,¡± she decisively denied, ¡°You¡¯ve got the wrong person.¡± That trendy guy: ¡°You are Fang Lixiang.¡± Fang Lixiang coldly replied, ¡°I¡¯m not, I¡¯m Fang Lixiang¡¯s cousin.¡± The guy laughed, ¡°It¡¯s me.¡± Fang Lixiang: ¡°?¡± Who? ¡°It¡¯s me!¡± ¡°?¡± Who are you! Alright, the guy removed his mask and black-rimmed glasses, revealing a handsome and delicate face, ¡°We¡¯ve worked together twice, and you still don¡¯t recognize me.¡± He was a young idol. Fang Lixiang remembered him, he was a member of a recently popular boy band; she had been on a variety show with them and had dinner afterwards. She didn¡¯t remember the details, but Fang Lixiang recalled drinking three of the young idols under the table, one of whom was this guy right here. Fang Lixiang greeted him warmly, ¡°Oh, it¡¯s you, Xiao Zimo.¡± ¡°¡­¡± The air froze for a few seconds. The pretty boy said, ¡°My name is Xia Hansong.¡± Fang Lixiang gave an awkward laugh and scratched her head. So embarrassing. Backstage at the concert. Yang Xi had finished thanking all the light, stage, and sound engineers and returned to the dressing room, ¡°What just happened?¡± Xiao Yusheng had removed his makeup but not changed his clothes and was staring at the door without responding. Yang Xi grabbed his already thinning hair, ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell me beforehand if you were going to invite her up?¡± He was still staring at the door, seemingly not listening. Yang Xi felt his blood pressure rising, ¡°And why did you hug her?¡± A nineteen-year-old artist casually hugging female fans? Yang Xi recalled his unusual behavior before going on stage and became more suspicious, ¡°You did it on purpose, didn¡¯t you, because you know her?¡± He didn¡¯t respond. His usually gloomy eyes were now brightly vigilant, looking anxious and restless. Yang Xi had never seen him like this before, ¡°I¡¯m talking to you, did you hear me?¡± He suddenly stood up. ¡°You¡¯re here.¡± A smile played around his eyes. Yang Xi was astonished; he had been managing Xiao Yusheng for years and knew just how rarely he smiled or showed any warmth. Despite being only nineteen, he always appeared prematurely solemn and weathered. Who was it that could melt the ice in his eyes? Yang Xi looked towards the door and saw a young man and woman. The girl was bundled up too tightly to make out her face, but the features of the person beside her were unmistakable. Misty blue hair, enticing yet aggressive peach blossom eyes, and an air of nobility and grace that you couldn¡¯t find a second of in the entire Imperial City. Yang Xi hesitated, ¡°Director Jiang?¡± Jiang Zhi nodded and removed his mask. With skin white as jade and lips red as cherries, his face was as beautiful as a peach blossom and his eyes as captivating as hooks. His charm was not unfounded; truly, he was first among Imperial City¡¯s beauties. It was Yang Xi¡¯s first time seeing Jiang Zhi up close, and he was momentarily stunned. Xiao Yusheng was also observing Jiang Zhi. With a lazy and indolent look in his peach blossom eyes, he said, ¡°Her boyfriend, came with her.¡± A ripple flickered in Xiao Yusheng¡¯s eyes, then calmed again. He stepped forward, ¡°Hello, I¡¯m Xiao Yusheng.¡± Nineteen, still too young. He had the appearance of a youth, yet his face bore a wearied look. Jiang Zhi responded with two words, ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± Xiao Yusheng didn¡¯t continue the conversation, remaining silent and observing the person behind Jiang Zhi. Yang Xi called out to him, ¡°Yun Sheng.¡± His eyes, always void of life, were filled with Zhou Xufang, like a desolate field blooming with colorful flowers. ¡°Yun Sheng.¡± Yang Xi coughed, ¡°Cough, Yun Sheng.¡± It¡¯s someone else¡¯s girlfriend, why keep staring! Xiao Yusheng remained silent, still watching, a slight joy in his brows, no longer lifeless. Jiang Zhi licked her teeth, her eyes brimming with emotion, but she didn¡¯t snap. It was Zhou Xufang who spoke first, ¡°Do you have something to say to me?¡± as she took off her mask. Xiao Yusheng nodded, like friends who hadn¡¯t seen each other in a long time, casually asking, ¡°How have you been all these years?¡± ¡°Very well.¡± Actually, they didn¡¯t have much to talk about. Back in the lab, they either got blood drawn together, received infusions together, or were electro-shocked together¡­ None of it was a pleasant memory. ¡°I¡¯ve been well too,¡± he added quietly, looking at her for a while, ¡°How is your health? Is your body okay?¡± ¡°Also good.¡± He was like before, not very talkative, appearing obedient. But Zhou Xufang knew, he was not obedient. Among so many people in the lab, he tried to escape the most and was punished the most. Those doctors in white coats, they didn¡¯t hit or yell, but they had many, many ways to make life unbearable. The first time Zhou Xufang met Xiao Yusheng, she was fourteen, he was eleven, she was bald, he was too, her number was 011, his was 017. She was the most well-behaved, he the least, and on their first night in the laboratory, he smashed a window, trying to escape. Zhou Xufang watched from the hospital room window as he climbed over the wall, fell, and couldn¡¯t get up, watched as two tall, strong guards dragged him back to the isolation room. Maybe those doctors wanted to make an example of him, so they ordered the nurses not to give 017 any food or water. Number 011, Zhou Xufang, secretly slid a cookie through the gap under the door of the isolation room. Later when they were grouped together, 017 didn¡¯t talk to anyone but 011, even secretly told 011 that during electric shocks, just pretend it wasn¡¯t painful, and they would stop increasing the voltage. Nineteen-year-old 017 was much taller than at eleven, ¡°Did those people ever come looking for you again?¡± Twenty-two-year-old 011 wasn¡¯t as dark and skinny anymore, she had grown a lot too, ¡°No.¡± That¡¯s good. He didn¡¯t speak further, just kept staring at her. Yang Xi was really worried something might happen, as he was staring at someone else¡¯s girlfriend again, ¡°Yun Sheng, you need to go change clothes, there¡¯s a press appointment later.¡± Jiang Zhi licked her teeth again. Those who knew him knew that he had a habit of licking his teeth when holding back his temper. Xiao Yusheng seemed not to hear Yang Xi¡¯s words, still watching Zhou Xufang, ¡°I¡¯m very glad you could come to my concert.¡± It was evident. His promotional photos almost never showed him smiling, unlike now, joy reaching his brows. Zhou Xufang was also very happy, her favorite celebrity was her former ¡®sick buddy,¡¯ though he had changed a lot since then, she still felt a deep familiarity. ¡°I¡¯m your fan,¡± Zhou Xufang, a dedicated fan, asked, ¡°Could you give me an autograph?¡± Xiao Yusheng asked Yang Xi, ¡°Are there any autographed photos left?¡± Yang Xi, clueless about their relationship, replied, ¡°Still have two boxes.¡± Xiao Yusheng turned to Zhou Xufang, ¡°Is that enough?¡± Two boxes. Zhou Xufang suddenly felt a sense of pride, typical of insiders, ¡°Enough!¡± She didn¡¯t take all two boxes, just twenty pictures, ten for her and Fang Lixiang each, the rest she planned to give to her book friends and online friends. Handing the sign to Jiang Zhi, Zhou Xufang said, ¡°I need to go back.¡± Xiao Yusheng immediately said, ¡°I¡¯ll walk you out.¡± Zhou Xufang declined, ¡°There are many fans outside.¡± ¡°Just to the door.¡± Everyone found it incredible, Xiao Yusheng¡¯s face actually showing a stubborn expression, normally devoid of any emotions. Xiao Yusheng walked Zhou Xufang to the door, as if he had more to say, hesitated for a long time, but only managed a farewell, ¡°See you next time.¡± Zhou Xufang agreed, put on her mask, and was led away by Jiang Zhi. As the figure disappeared into the distance, Xiao Yusheng still stood at the door. Yang Xi stood by, watching the light in his eyes fade, returning to his usual self, calm and unruffled, a pair of beautiful eyes turned bleak and desolate, like a still, dead sea. Zhou Xufang left, and his emotions before and after were like heaven and earth. Yang Xi remembered that such a situation had occurred once before, when Xiao Yusheng had told him that it was a very important person. That was the first time Yang Xi had seen a surge of ecstasy in his lifeless eyes. Just now, when Zhou Xufang appeared at the door, that expression had appeared on his face for the second time. Yang Xi couldn¡¯t suppress his curiosity, ¡°What¡¯s going on between you and Director Jiang¡¯s girlfriend?¡± He replied, ¡°We are old acquaintances.¡± ¡°Just old acquaintances?¡± Yang Xi felt there was more, at least on Xiao Yusheng¡¯s side. He bowed his head, sitting quietly, his pale side profile enveloped in light, looking somewhat fragile and did not speak, only murmuring softly. Guessing he wouldn¡¯t get more out of him, Yang Xi didn¡¯t press further, ¡°Why not keep a contact number? Aren¡¯t you old acquaintances?¡± Or ¡®very important¡¯ old acquaintances. He dropped his eyes, his eyelashes casting a shadow, ¡°No contact.¡± He spoke as if talking to himself, ¡°It¡¯s better not to contact.¡± His mood suddenly fell, and a thick shade covered his brow. Yang Xi was confused, ¡°I don¡¯t understand?¡± Xiao Yusheng didn¡¯t say more, usually uninterested in everything, he asked a very strange question, ¡°What kind of person is Jiang Zhi?¡± A beauty. A beauty that many men and women in Imperial City desire but dare not rashly make a move on. A beauty whose family background, means, and schemes are unfathomable, yet many men and women still wish to possess. Yang Xi summed up precisely, ¡°Someone many people want to provoke, but most people can¡¯t afford to.¡± Xiao Yusheng then asked, ¡°What about the extraordinary people?¡± Yang Xi was certain, ¡°They can¡¯t afford to either.¡± The young master of Jiang Family was definitely not a pushover. On the way home, Jiang Zhi was exceptionally silent. The snow had already stopped, not thick on the ground and nearly melted, leaving only a layer of ¡°frost white.¡± Zhou Xufang was led by Jiang Zhi, allowing her not to watch her step. She tilted her head looking at him, ¡°Why aren¡¯t you talking? Are you unhappy? Are you jealous?¡± If he was jealous, she could explain that Xiao Yusheng was a fellow patient she was on good terms with. During times of hardship, one often especially remembers those who offered consolation. S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. To Xiao Yusheng, she was probably that kind of person. Jiang Zhi said, ¡°No.¡± In fact, he was angry and jealous, but more than that, he was worried, ¡°Thinking about things.¡± ¡°Thinking about what?¡± The car stopped across from the square on the pedestrian street and they still had a bit to walk. Jiang Zhi led her on the inside, ¡°Do you know who Xiao Yusheng¡¯s foster father is?¡± Zhou Xufang saw on Xiao Yusheng¡¯s Baidu Encyclopedia, ¡°I only know he¡¯s a doctor.¡± ¡°He¡¯s Luo Qinghe¡¯s uncle, Xiao Yi.¡± And Xiao Yi specialized in genetic medicine. ¡°When you were carried out by Fang Dashun, the one who took over was Xiao Yi; if I¡¯m not wrong, he was the one who sent you to the Genetic Laboratory.¡± Whether Xiao Yi was on the list of doctors in that laboratory was still unknown. ¡°Then, his adopting Yun Sheng, is it also with malicious intent?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know yet.¡± Jiang Zhi sighed, pulling Zhou Xufang into his arms, ¡°I can¡¯t control Xiao Yusheng, I can only look after you.¡± He was truly afraid that someone would covet the genes carrying superpowers in his young lady¡¯s body, as greed, capable of devouring one¡¯s humanity, is indeed terrifying. Zhou Xufang patted his back, telling him not to worry, saying she would be very careful. ¡°Xu Fang.¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± Jiang Zhi slowed his pace even further, ¡°Do you like Xiao Yusheng a lot?¡± Considering they had also suffered together in their youth, although he himself was also her childhood friend, she did not remember things from before, only what happened after the laboratory. This fact made Jiang Zhi feel somewhat threatened. Zhou Xufang said honestly, ¡°When we were in the laboratory, we actually met very rarely, even fewer were the times we could really talk. We were sick friends, I don¡¯t know if we could be considered good friends.¡± But, Zhou Xufang mentioned, ¡°I like his singing.¡± Jiang Zhi added a statement, ¡°I don¡¯t sing well.¡± His tone was defeated, ¡°I am off-key.¡± In a tone that was unwilling but resigned, he admitted, ¡°I can¡¯t sing.¡± He had never been good at arts from a young age, be it singing, painting, or playing musical instruments; he could even be described as a complete mess. Zhou Xufang stopped in his tracks, his tone turning serious, ¡°Why would you compare yourself with him? How could it be the same? You¡¯re my boyfriend, and whether you can sing or not doesn¡¯t matter. My favorite singer, my favorite writer, my favorite artist, all combined, don¡¯t measure up to how much I like you. Moreover, it¡¯s not even the same.¡± They couldn¡¯t be compared at all. No one could be compared with Jiang Zhi. Jiang Zhi¡¯s arms were around her waist, standing by the roadside. There were hardly any people on the street at night, and under the streetlight, only their shadows were visible. He followed her gaze and asked her, ¡°How is it different?¡± She answered earnestly, ¡°I merely admire them, but you are different.¡± Jiang Zhi pressed further, ¡°How am I different?¡± Her face grew hot, and burying her head, she avoided his gaze, ¡°Don¡¯t ask when you already know the answer.¡± Yet, Jiang Zhi was relentless, cradling her face, ¡°I have to ask.¡± Zhou Xufang was too shy to say it out loud. When she didn¡¯t speak, he asked, ¡°Fang Bao, do you love me?¡± Still asking knowingly! Her ears burning, she didn¡¯t want to talk to him and just kept walking ahead. Jiang Zhi followed her, grabbed her hand, and wouldn¡¯t let her go, ¡°You¡¯ve never said it before.¡± He clung to her, pestering her, needing to know, ¡°Do you really love me?¡± Zhou Xufang blushed and, looking around to make sure no one else was there, tiptoed up to Jiang Zhi¡¯s ear, confessed her deep love for him, and after speaking, she felt embarrassed and stared at her toes. ¡°Fang Bao.¡± She looked up, her eyes bright, ¡°Hmm?¡± ¡°Will you marry me in the future?¡± Without a second thought, she said, ¡°Yes, I will.¡± He cautiously asked again, ¡°Are you sure?¡± Without hesitation, she affirmed, ¡°Sure.¡± Jiang Zhi smiled, his eyes bright as stars, seeming utterly content and proud, ¡°Then I won¡¯t hold back anymore.¡± Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t understand, ¡°Hold back what?¡± He leaned down and whispered something to her. Instantly, her face turned beet red. ¡°Don¡¯t say that anymore.¡± Jiang Zhi kissed her palm, smiling, ¡°Okay, I won¡¯t say it.¡± The two of them teased each other all the way; a short distance took them over ten minutes. Once in the car, Zhou Xufang asked, ¡°New Year¡¯s Eve is coming up, are you going back to the Jiang Family?¡± The festive atmosphere in the city was lackluster as New Year¡¯s Eve approached. Jiang Zhi replied, ¡°I have to go there for the New Year¡¯s Eve dinner.¡± It was a tradition established by the old lady, not only for holidays but even on the first and fifteenth of each month, everyone must return to the old house. Zhou Xufang hesitated, then asked Jiang Zhi, ¡°Will you take me with you?¡± He answered, ¡°No.¡± Her head drooped instantly, like a solitary quail. Jiang Zhi laughed and added the latter half of his statement, ¡°I¡¯ll sneak out to see you.¡± The quail found its flock again, bouncing joyously, ¡°Then you¡¯ll have to give me a New Year¡¯s gift.¡± Jiang Zhi moved closer, ¡°What if I give myself to you?¡± She pushed him away, ¡°No, I want money.¡± He ruffled her hair, messing it up, ¡°Okay okay okay, anything for you, my little ancestor.¡± The little ancestor hummed a song, beaming. At 11:30 p.m., Qiao Nanchu received a call from Jiang Zhi. ¡°Still not asleep?¡± Usually a person who slept around eight or nine, he thought about Jiang Zhi¡¯s health and felt obliged to give some unpleasant advice, ¡°Don¡¯t stay up too late.¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± ¡°What¡¯s all this fuss about, cut the nonsense.¡± Damn it, he had serious matters to discuss, ¡°I got into a fight tonight. Someone might have recorded it; please handle it for me.¡± Chapter 244 - 244: 244: Bao Yi confesses, Lixiang lays his cards on the table (3 updates) Chapter 244: 244: Bao Yi confesses, Lixiang lays his cards on the table (3 updates) ¡°I hit someone tonight, might have been photographed, help me handle it.¡± Qiao Nanchu¡¯s uncle is a big shot in the media industry. He said no problem and before hanging up, he also advised, ¡°Go to sleep early, need to keep the kidney healthy.¡± Jiang Zhi: Damn it! The next day, Xiao Yusheng dominated Weibo¡¯s hot search with all sorts of accurate predictions from Yang Xi about concert accidents and ignoring guests; a pile of negative news. Luckily, Xiao Yusheng¡¯s fans have high loyalty; they will never unfollow him, not in this lifetime. Oh, it¡¯s worth mentioning that beside Xiao Yusheng, there was another name that burst forth from the cracks. Fang Lixiang was sound asleep when her phone rang. She turned over, not wanting to deal, not knowing which annoying person kept calling. She stretched out a hand from under the covers, grabbed her phone, then retreated back, still half asleep, ¡°Hello¡­¡± ¡°Still sleeping?¡± It was her agent. Fang Lixiang yawned, crawling out from under the covers, ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± ¡°What¡¯s going on with you and Xia Hansong?¡± She scratched her hair, still groggy and confused, ¡°Xia Hansong? Who?¡± Lin Shang was speechless for a while, ¡°You went together to a concert, and you¡¯re asking me who?¡± A concert? Oh, right, she remembered. ¡°That Xiao Zimo?¡± Forgive her face blindness. In that idol boy group with a dozen boys, seven or eight of them looked so similar to her, with strikingly handsome features; she couldn¡¯t tell them apart in such a short time. ¡°What kind of mess is that?¡± Lin Shang got serious, ¡°I¡¯m asking you, how did you end up going to a concert with Xia Hansong?¡± What a misunderstanding! Fang Lixiang immediately clarified, ¡°Didn¡¯t go together, just ran into him on the way.¡± ¡°You got snapped by the paparazzi,¡± Lin Shang directed her to check Weibo, ¡°Just as the abortion scandal had died down, you got a new rumored boyfriend.¡± Fang Lixiang really couldn¡¯t understand, ¡°I was all covered up, how could I still get photographed? Have I become that famous?¡± Lin Shang brutally pointed out, ¡°The paparazzi weren¡¯t there for you, they were waiting for Xia Hansong.¡± Xia Hansong was a hot rising star. So, she was caught in the crossfire? Fang Lixiang scratched her head. ¡°What do I do now?¡± ¡°Get to the company quickly. Xia Hansong¡¯s agent is here, talking with the boss.¡± Xia Hansong¡¯s agent, Sun Yaoguang, was notoriously sly in the industry. Barely forty and already balding significantly, he had simply decided to shave his head, earning him the nickname¡ªSun Huatou. Sun Yaoguang had made many artists famous, especially adept at creating buzz. ¡°They¡¯re around the same age, have been on a couple of shows together, and the fans quite ship them, so with the rumors out now, there¡¯s no negative talk online. Might as well ride this momentum and stir things up,¡± Sun Yaoguang had everything planned, ¡°No need for real dating, just occasional interactions will do, even better if they really get together, but if not, we need to control the extent, over-hyping it can backfire.¡± He finished speaking. On the sofa across, Xue Baoyi was lounging comfortably, one leg stretched out and the other on the coffee table, not yet giving her opinion. Sun Yaoguang took a sip of tea, ¡°Young Master, what do you think?¡± He lazily responded, ¡°Not much.¡± Sun Yaoguang smiled, ¡°Young Master, what specifically do you find unsuitable?¡± ¡°Everything is unsuitable.¡± Young Master¡¯s tone indicated dissatisfaction and displeasure with everything. Sun Yaoguang was all ears. ¡°Fang Lixiang is an acting talent, she has a high profile destined for the big screen. If you want to stir up a CP with her, sure,¡± Xue Baoyi raised an eyebrow, ¡°Let your artist win a Best Actor first, doesn¡¯t even have a notable work and already wants to tie up with a movie star?¡± Aren¡¯t your artists a match for ours? That was the implied message. So, Xia Hansong might be a top influencer, but in Young Master¡¯s mouth, he amounted to nothing? Sun Yaoguang guessed that his artist must have unintentionally offended the gentleman. He awkwardly tried to persuade, ¡°Young Master, would you reconsider? The Xue Family now oversees Huayu, we are all family here, this mutually beneficial tactic¡ª¡± Xue Baoyi: ¡°Mutually beneficial my ass.¡± Sun Yaoguang: ¡°¡­¡± Even he couldn¡¯t be slick when dealing with this bandit. With disdain, Xue the Bandit said, ¡°Who is your family, do you have the surname Xue?¡± He snorted, ¡°Or does Xia Hansong have the surname Xue?¡± This tyrant! Sun Yaoguang tried to placate him with a smile, ¡°Third Young Master is surnamed Xue.¡± Back when Jin Song and Jin Lei were feuding, Mr. Xue had stepped in and gained control over the Jin Family, and since then he had been managing the business. Huayu was just one of their talent agencies. Mr. Xue, being a busy man of high status, naturally didn¡¯t manage things in great detail. But this tyrant was his nephew, about which Sun Yaoguang thought invoking Mr. Xue would do some good, but the tyrant simply didn¡¯t bite. He was impervious to persuasion and simply stated, ¡°Let Xue Bingxue talk to me about it.¡± Dare not, Third Young Master didn¡¯t bother with these matters at all. Xue Baoyi, losing her patience, waved him away like shooing a fly: ¡°Get out, get out, you¡¯re just annoying.¡± Sun Yaoguang: ¡°¡­¡± What had he done to deserve this? Aside from the office, Sun Yaoguang pulled Xiao Zhuang aside: ¡°Assistant Chen, has Young Master had any issues lately? Why is he so irritable?¡± Talking about this fake couple ordeal, it was clearly a win-win. One lacked popularity, the other lacked resources, wasn¡¯t it a perfect match? Disagreeing is one thing, but why get angry? Xiao Zhuang himself was also at a loss: ¡°I guess so, he¡¯s been really irritable these past few days.¡± Sun Yaoguang was puzzled: ¡°There aren¡¯t many in the capital who dare to offend him, who would have the guts?¡± Xiao Zhuang, with his plump, rosy-cheeked face glowing, said: ¡°Don¡¯t know who it is, but I respect the man.¡± ¡°And also,¡± Sun Yaoguang inquired further, ¡°what¡¯s the deal with Fang Lixiang? It¡¯s just creating a fake couple, does Young Master really need to personally intervene?¡± Baoguang had no less than dozens of female artists, was Young Master just bored out of his mind, not busy investing in films but fussing over a minor artist? Xiao Zhuang thought to himself: ¡°It¡¯s because she¡¯s a Weaver. Young Master has a good relationship with Director Jiang, of course, he would take care of her.¡± Sun Yaoguang rubbed his bald head: ¡°Just don¡¯t end up taking care of her in bed.¡± Right behind them, Fang Lixiang: ¡°¡­¡± Who said anything about taking it to the bed?! It blatantly took place in the bathtub! Lin Shang heard this too and reassured her with a line: ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it, Old Sun just has a loose mouth, he¡¯s not a bad person.¡± The two returned to Lin Shang¡¯s office. Fang Lixiang was down with a severe cold these days; she hadn¡¯t visited the hospital and was just bearing with it, somewhat lacking in spirit: ¡°How did it go?¡± While Sun Yaoguang and Xue Baoyi were inside talking, Lin Shang was outside and knew exactly what was going on, but as her agent, she had no say. ¡°The boss disagrees with creating a fake couple, both sides will clarify the rumors.¡± Fang Lixiang was satisfied with the outcome: ¡°So I¡¯m done here, can I go back?¡± She had been particularly sleepy lately because of her cold. Lin Shang asked her, ¡°When do you start work?¡± She, looking listless, said, ¡°It¡¯s almost New Year, I¡¯ll take the new year break first.¡± Lin Shang, noticing her poor condition and slightly thinner frame, asked, ¡°Feeling any better? What did the doctor say?¡± Xue Baoyi barged in without knocking: ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you?¡± Fang Lixiang, curled up on the sofa, glanced at him but didn¡¯t respond. Lin Shang, sharp-eyed, pretended to take a call: ¡°I¡¯ve got some things to handle, I¡¯ll be off then.¡± She left first, closing the door behind her. Now only the two of them were left in the room, Fang Lixiang felt somewhat uncomfortable. Xue Baoyi also didn¡¯t quite know what to say. He could clearly sense this ¡¯employee¡¯ had been quite temperamental lately, and inexplicably felt a bit intimidated by her, not knowing why he felt guilty, but he just felt very guilty. It was like inadvertently blowing her up in a game, leaving him disoriented and subordinate-like. Alright, why bother competing with a woman, he asked, ¡°The place where the dog bit you, has it healed?¡± Fang Lixiang responded with a non-committal grunt. Seeing that she was ill, Xue Baoyi didn¡¯t take it to heart and showed care for his employee, ¡°Where did it bite you, let me see.¡± He had just taken a step forward. Fang Lixiang immediately backed away: ¡°Boss, men and women should not touch hands.¡± Making him seem like some lothario, Xue Baoyi was annoyed: ¡°Am I going to eat you up? If you don¡¯t want to show, then don¡¯t, who cares to see!¡± ¡°That Xia Hansong, did you really go to the concert with him?¡± This sentence came out accusatory, as if interrogating her. Fang Lixiang defiantly said, ¡°Can¡¯t I?¡± Xue Baoyi immediately said, ¡°No way.¡± She then found a reason, and spoke with righteous indignation, ¡°The company has a rule that female artists in their rising period cannot date.¡± Using the rules to make your point, huh? Baoguang owns it, so what he says goes. Fang Lixiang was already feeling frustrated, but this blatant obstruction made her even more annoyed, and she couldn¡¯t help arguing back, ¡°Your exact words were that secret dating is not allowed, we need to report it to you.¡± Xue Baoyi¡¯s expression became dangerous, ¡°Are you reporting to me now?¡± She didn¡¯t deny it, ¡°Do you approve?¡± ¡°I do not approve.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Is that it? Not approved, then what? Surely you aren¡¯t going to date in secret, are you? Xue Baoyi felt extremely uncomfortable just thinking about that possibility, ¡°You don¡¯t really like that pretty boy, do you?¡± Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. A pretty boy is better than a jerk who forgets you right after rolling in the sheets! She no longer wanted to talk to the jerk, ¡°This is my personal matter.¡± Xue Baoyi felt she was defending the pretty boy, and it made him quite uncomfortable, feeling like ¡®the cabbage he planted was about to get eaten by someone else¡¯s pig.¡¯ That pig, Han Song! Xue Baoyi couldn¡¯t hold it back any longer, ¡°What¡¯s so great about that pretty boy anyway? Whiny, his singing sucks, his dancing is mediocre, and let¡¯s not even talk about his acting, it¡¯s total dog shit.¡± Fang Lixiang: ¡°¡­¡± Dog shit is a bit much, although it is pretty cringe. ¡°He¡¯s got a handsome face.¡± Xue Baoyi scoffed, ¡°Brother Zhi¡¯s face could leave him in the dust by thousands of miles!¡± Fang Lixiang felt he was being unreasonable, ¡°If that¡¯s all, I¡¯ll be leaving now.¡± She said and left, out of sight, out of mind. With a slam, she also shut the door behind her. Is she revolting or what?! Xue Baoyi felt this employee had grown too bold recently, just like she had equipped a Level 3 Head and Level 3 Armor in the game and dared to roam anywhere in the battleground. He opened the Weibo group chat. The handsomest man in the capital: ¡°Got a question for you guys.¡± Qiao Nanchu: ¡°Speak.¡± It would be too embarrassing to say he was rendered helpless by a woman, so Xue Baoyi changed how he said it. The handsomest man in the capital: ¡°We¡¯ve got a cat at home, used to be very well-behaved and obedient, but recently it keeps baring its teeth at me, what¡¯s going on?¡± Qiao Nanchu: ¡°It disdains you.¡± The handsomest man in the capital: ¡°That¡¯s not it!¡± He¡¯s so handsome and stylish! The handsomest man in the capital: ¡°We used to have a good relationship.¡± Xue Bingxue chimed in. I¡¯m a little snowflake: ¡°Doesn¡¯t your mom have a cat allergy? Since when did you have a cat?¡± Oh, he had forgotten that detail in his story. The handsomest man in the capital: ¡°A relative¡¯s.¡± He hurriedly fumbled his way through in case his uncle asked which relative. The handsomest man in the capital: ¡°Let¡¯s not get sidetracked, just teach me how to train that cat to be nice and obedient again.¡± Qiao Nanchu: ¡°Never had a cat, don¡¯t know.¡± Jiang Zhi joined in. My girlfriend Fangbao: ¡°Hit it.¡± How crude! The handsomest man in the capital: ¡°My relative cherishes that cat, can¡¯t hit it.¡± You can¡¯t hit or scold a girl who won¡¯t listen. I¡¯m a little snowflake: ¡°Then lure it with treats.¡± The handsomest man in the capital: ¡°She¡¯s ignoring me.¡± I am a Little Snowflake: ¡°Her?¡± The handsomest man in the capital: ¡°Typo.¡± The handsomest man in the capital: ¡°It won¡¯t listen to me.¡± Almost gave it away. My girlfriend Fangbao: ¡°You should beat up your relative.¡± My girlfriend Fangbao: ¡°One beating isn¡¯t enough, beat them again.¡± Look at this person! Has a beautiful face, but why such a venomous heart? The handsomest man in the capital: ¡°Let¡¯s not always talk about beatings and killings. We are all civilized people.¡± Jiang Zhi sent a picture of a Gouzi. The handsomest man in the capital: ¡°Let me put it this way, if it were your girlfriend who wasn¡¯t listening, how would you handle it?¡± Comparing to a cat doesn¡¯t seem right, comparing to a girlfriend is more fitting, they¡¯re both people after all. My girlfriend Fangbao: ¡°Ours is very well-behaved.¡± Qiao Nanchu: ¡°Ours is well-behaved too.¡± I am a Little Snowflake: [I am a Jealous Spirit] GIF. Didn¡¯t find out anything useful, even got fed dog food twice, Xue Baoyi felt very uncomfortable, sitting on the sofa pondering, she didn¡¯t really fall for that pretty boy, did she? It¡¯s not his business, doesn¡¯t matter. Damn it! Angrily, he kicked the table and ran outside. Fang Lixiang¡¯s car had just pulled out of the parking spot, when suddenly, someone dashed across the road in front of her; she immediately hit the brakes, her heart skipped a beat. Xue Baoyi, running hard, steadied herself on the car gasping: ¡°Almost got killed by you.¡± Fang Lixiang got furious: ¡°Then why did you run into it?¡± Normally messing around was one thing, but this was life-threatening! Xue Baoyi even felt justified: ¡°Would you have stopped if I hadn¡¯t hit you?¡± Of course not! He walked up to the car window, sweating from the run, forehead still damp, ¡°Give me a straight answer, do you really like that surnamed Xia, pretty boy?¡± His tone was serious. Fang Lixiang wound down the car window, good, she wanted a straightforward answer too: ¡°Xue Baoyi, are you trying to seduce me?¡± Xue Baoyi, one hand propped on her car roof, rebutted quickly and decisively: ¡°No.¡± ¡°What do you really want then?¡± He suddenly leaned in, looking at her through the window, and blurted out: ¡°I want to chase you.¡± He surprised himself with his own words. It was over, he really had lost his wits, didn¡¯t even know when it started. Fang Lixiang was taken aback by his gaze. He still leaned over, eyes level with hers, his tone not as rough as usual: ¡°Not logging into the game, blocked on WeChat, and unwilling to talk to me. Do you know?¡± Otherwise, he couldn¡¯t explain why her attitude had suddenly changed. She said: ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°When did you find out?¡± He hadn¡¯t slipped up in the game, had kept his voice controlled. Fang Lixiang didn¡¯t want to beat around the bush and spoke directly: ¡°The night you were set up by Bai Li, I saw your memo.¡± Xue Baoyi understood. It was since that night that, like growing claws, she started scratching at him. ¡°What about you?¡± Fang Lixiang countered him, ¡°When did you find out?¡± Xue Baoyi felt a bit unsure: ¡°I knew from the start.¡± He saw her expression, even faltered, his voice grew softer, ¡°I saw your game interface on the set.¡± He had been pretending for three months. Thinking of how she had indirectly asked him if he had a girlfriend, even considering an online relationship with him, she felt like a fool: ¡°Is it fun playing me? Is it fun seeing me split between the game and reality?¡± Xue Baoyi had never seen her so fiercely spoken, got a bit flustered, and immediately explained: ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to deceive you. At first, I thought if I told you, you wouldn¡¯t game with me. Later, as we grew closer, it became hard to bring it up; I was afraid you¡¯d be angry if I did.¡± How could she not be angry? She was furious! She didn¡¯t want to talk to him anymore. Seeing her like this, Xue Baoyi couldn¡¯t muster any boldness, his voice soft and lacking confidence: ¡°Are you angry with me these past few days because of this?¡± She thought for a few seconds: ¡°No.¡± Chapter 245 - 245: 245: New Years Eve Dog Food - The Pinnacle of Jiang Zhis Life (4 updates) Chapter 245: 245: New Year¡¯s Eve Dog Food ¨C The Pinnacle of Jiang Zhi¡¯s Life (4 updates) She thought for a few seconds, ¡°No.¡± Although she was angry that he deceived her, what made her even more furious was that he had completely forgotten what happened in the bathtub. Xue Baoyi was still clueless, ¡°Then why?¡± The nerve to even ask. She was too ashamed to say it, ¡°Wait until you know what I¡¯m angry about, then come talk to me.¡± Where was he supposed to find out? ¡°Xue Baoyi.¡± ¡°Mm.¡± Feeling his full name being called out felt pretty good, he probably, like his Uncle Xue Bingxue, was a bit of a masochist. Fang Lixiang hesitated to ask, looking away at something else, ¡°When you said you wanted to pursue me, were you serious?¡± It wasn¡¯t that she was overly suspicious, but this guy had too many priors! Every other day, he was either bringing a girl to a hotel to play mahjong or taking a girl to the beach for a swim. In the rake¡¯s ledger of Imperial City, if he was second, no one dared claim the first spot. Xue Baoyi suddenly became earnest, ¡°Do you think I¡¯m joking?¡± She didn¡¯t know if he was joking, but she never played with emotions, ¡°I don¡¯t like toying with feelings. If you provoke me, get ready to take responsibility. If you can¡¯t settle down, then don¡¯t come and shake my resolve.¡± Having made her stance clear, she rolled up the car window and drove away. On New Year¡¯s Eve, the snow that had been falling for several days stopped, and the morning even saw a bit of sunshine, melting half of the snow. In the morning, Jiang Zhi accompanied Zhou Xufang to buy some New Year¡¯s goods, mostly food, as well as some festive items. Zhou Xufang also picked out a potted tangerine tree, symbolizing good fortune and attracting wealth. The tree was laden with bright oranges, which looked appetizing to Zhou Xufang, but the seller said the fruits weren¡¯t edible. She placed the potted tree outside in the hallway, hanging red envelopes on it with auspicious numbers written on bills inside each one. It was Zhou Xufang¡¯s first time doing this, and she found it quite novel. Just after lunch, Zhou Xufang urged Jiang Zhi to hang up the couplets. His arms and legs were long, and he could reach the top of the door just by stepping on a stool. He compared the placement against the doorframe and then asked Zhou Xufang, ¡°Is it crooked?¡± Zhou Xufang was squatting on the ground, steadying the stool, looking up at the crosspiece on the door, ¡°The left side is a little higher.¡± So Jiang Zhi lowered the left side a bit, ¡°How about now?¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine now.¡± Jiang Zhi affixed the red couplets with black characters and turned around to see Zhou Xufang reaching out her hands to him. ¡°What are you doing?¡± Her expression was serious, her movements proper, ¡°I¡¯m scared you¡¯ll fall.¡± Jiang Zhi, standing on the stool, looked at the girl doing her best to catch him, amused, ¡°This stool is only twenty centimeters tall.¡± With his height over one meter eighty, would he really fall from a twenty-centimeter-tall stool? ¡°I¡¯m still worried you¡¯ll fall.¡± Zhou Xufang was unrelenting, stretching her arms out in readiness to catch him. Jiang Zhi stepped down with one foot, embracing the silly girl who had come to support his waist, ¡°Did you rub honey on your lips? You always say what I want to hear.¡± He kissed her on the lips. ¡°Jiang Zhi,¡± she placed her hands on his shoulders, ¡°today is New Year¡¯s.¡± Behind her was the tangerine tree, with the bright oranges growing right behind her head. Because it was New Year¡¯s, she wore a bright red sweatshirt, standing on her tiptoes, the shirt hiked up, revealing the red sweater underneath. She said it was festive to wear that way. ¡°I¡¯m very happy.¡± You could tell, she had been smiling since the morning. Jiang Zhi straightened her clothes, ¡°Why are you so happy?¡± She hugged his neck, planting kisses on his face, ¡°I used to spend it alone, without hanging couplets, without having a New Year¡¯s Eve dinner, with no one to accompany me.¡± But this year was different; this year she had Jiang Zhi. He led her into the house. The house had many more pieces of furniture now, and many of his belongings, not as cold and empty as before. After his arrival, her room came alive with the warmth of human life. ¡°At three, I¡¯ve got plans with Baoyi,¡± There was still an hour to go. She didn¡¯t speak, her chin resting on his shoulder. Jiang Zhi whispered in her ear, his voice low, ¡°Shall we go to the bathroom?¡± She obediently replied, ¡°Sure.¡± At three o¡¯clock, Jiang Zhi pushed aside Xue Baoyi¡¯s game, and the cellphone on the sink began to ring, a call from Qiao Nanchu. Jiang Zhi freed one hand to answer. ¡°What are you doing?¡± The sound of running water echoed in the bathroom. ¡°If it¡¯s important, just say it.¡± Qiao Nanchu teased, ¡°Am I interrupting something?¡± The water was still running, and Jiang Zhi, lacking patience for idle chat, curtly said, ¡°If you have nothing to say, I¡¯m hanging up.¡± Qiao Nanchu got down to business, ¡°Are you going to the Jiang family¡¯s tonight?¡± ¡°Mmhmm.¡± His answer was distracted. Guessing that Zhou Xufang was probably next to him, Qiao Nanchu cut to the chase, ¡°I also need to go back to the old man¡¯s place for New Year¡¯s Eve dinner. Send Zhou Xufang over to my girlfriend¡¯s place so they can have some company.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll ask her.¡± Jiang Zhi covered the phone¡¯s mouthpiece and asked Zhou Xufang, ¡°Do you want to go?¡± She leaned against the sink and nodded. Jiang Zhi put the phone to his ear and told Qiao Nanchu, ¡°I¡¯ll bring her over at five.¡± After he hung up, he turned off the tap and handed Zhou Xufang a dry towel to wipe her hands, which were small, with very slender fingers. Her palms were red. Zhou Xufang looked down, too shy to meet his gaze. He smiled and kissed her hand. Because Jiang Zhi hadn¡¯t attended Xue Baoyi¡¯s invitation, he was nagged at length for forgetting his brothers now that he had a wife. Feeling amiable, Jiang Zhi took it all and offered no rebuttals. At five in the afternoon, he dropped Zhou Xufang off at Wen Baiyang¡¯s residential complex. Upon reaching Wen Baiyang¡¯s floor, Jiang Zhi decided not to go any further, ¡°I won¡¯t come in.¡± He handed her the gift box he was holding, ¡°This is a gift for Qiao Nanchu¡¯s girlfriend.¡± Zhou Xufang nodded, ¡°Are you heading back to the Jiang family now?¡± She was reluctant to see him go. Jiang Zhi touched her wind-chilled, reddened cheek, ¡°Yes, the old lady is already urging me.¡± Zhou Xufang let go of her embrace, her eyes brimming with reluctance, ¡°The roads are snowy, please be careful when driving.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Jiang Zhi instructed her, ¡°Don¡¯t go home by yourself after dinner; I¡¯ll come to pick you up once I¡¯m finished over there.¡± Zhou Xufang agreed, then added, ¡°If your grandma won¡¯t let you leave, don¡¯t argue with her. If you can¡¯t come out, I¡¯ll come find you at the Jiang¡¯s.¡± ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll do as you say.¡± Jiang Zhi stood in the corridor, ¡°Go inside.¡± He wanted to wait until she entered before leaving. Wen Baiyang¡¯s door was just four or five meters ahead, and Zhou Xufang walked toward it hesitantly, constantly looking back. Jiang Zhi chuckled, then pulled her back to his side, ¡°You¡¯ll miss me that much?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± She would miss him terribly. Jiang Zhi bent down to kiss her. At that moment, a mother and son emerged from a neighboring home, walking right into the scene. The little boy, only three or four, at that curious yet oblivious age, stared wide-eyed, ¡°Mommy, what are those two people doing?¡± The young mother shielded her child¡¯s eyes with her hand, ¡°Baby, close your eyes, you shouldn¡¯t look.¡± The little boy sounded scared, on the verge of tears, ¡°I just saw it, mommy, am I going to get a sty?¡±) Zhou Xufang was mortified, burying her face in Jiang Zhi¡¯s embrace, unable to lift her head as he laughed. After loitering for a while longer, Jiang Zhi left. Zhou Xufang knocked on Wen Baiyang¡¯s door and, remembering she couldn¡¯t hear, sent a text message; soon after, Wen Baiyang came to open the door. Wen Baiyang¡¯s home was warmly decorated, filled with many handcrafted doodads she¡¯d made. Because it was New Year¡¯s, most of them were festive red. She was the most dexterous and spiritually gifted girl Zhou Xufang had ever seen. ¡°Happy New Year,¡± Zhou Xufang greeted. Wen Baiyang replied in sign language, ¡°Happy New Year.¡± Zhou Xufang remembered this sign. She had a good memory; she could recall most of the signs that Wen Baiyang showed her one or two times and understand simple everyday conversations. Only more complicated matters required Wen Baiyang to write by hand. ¡°I¡¯ve made some tea, would you like some?¡± Zhou Xufang said, ¡°Yes.¡± Wen Baiyang, wrapped in a scarf, went to the dining table to bring over the teapot and a few boxes of snacks, all of which she had made herself, arranged exquisitely on the plates. Zhou Xufang took a sip of the warm tea, ¡°It¡¯s very tasty.¡± Wen Baiyang typed on her phone, ¡°I made it myself, and there¡¯s plenty more. Would you like to take some home to drink?¡± Zhou Xufang nodded, ¡°Thank you.¡± She tasted a piece of the snack, and it too was particularly good. Her good friend was not only gifted and dexterous with her hands but also particularly good at cooking. Whoever married such a girl must have amassed a fortune of good karma over many lifetimes. The dexterous and culinarily skilled Wen Baiyang pointed towards the kitchen. Zhou Xufang stood up from the sofa, ¡°I¡¯ll help you.¡± ¡°Then help me pick the vegetables.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± By seven o¡¯clock in the evening, the whole Jiang family had arrived, and people from a few side branches had also come. Two tables were set up in the main hall, covered with various nuts and snacks. Old Lady Jiang had someone brew two pots of Da Hong Pao and chatted leisurely with a few of the elders from the side branches. The younger generation sat properly, either listening quietly or chiming in with the conversation. Only Jiang Zhi was the least concerned about manners, slouching carelessly, head bowed, not looking up for a long time. Old Lady Jiang called out to him, ¡°Brother Zhi.¡± ¡°Um.¡± He didn¡¯t look up but responded verbally. If it were someone else, Old Madam would have been angry by now, but she couldn¡¯t bring herself to scold this grandson, ¡°What are you doing? Why are you always looking at your phone?¡± Jiang Zhi replied, ¡°I¡¯m busy with something.¡± Zhou Xufang said she was making dumplings at Wen Baiyang¡¯s place and asked him what kind of filling he liked to eat. Not mentioning what he was busy with, Old Madam assumed it was business affairs, ¡°It¡¯s the New Year; put the work aside.¡± Jiang Zhi responded to Zhou Xufang with, ¡°Whatever you make is fine.¡± Only then did he put his phone down. After more idle chatter, Old Lady Jiang instructed the servants to clear the tables and set up for the meal. During this interlude, she addressed the Jiang family, ¡°I have something to tell you.¡± Jiang Weikai, sitting to Old Madam¡¯s right, said, ¡°Mother, please speak.¡± The younger members also listened attentively. Old Madam took her seat, dressed in a bright red embroidered robe, her hair done up in a bun secured with a jade pin, holding a hand warmer. The elderly lady exuded vitality and keenness, her eyes sharp, ¡°After the spring, when Brother Zhi is feeling better, I plan to transfer all the company shares under his father¡¯s name back to him.¡± Before the Old Sir of Jiang Family passed away, the Jiang family¡¯s shares were divided into six parts, one for the wife and one for each of the five children. Jiang Zhi¡¯s father passed away early, and the shares for their third branch had always been managed by Old Lady Jiang. After Jiang Zhi came of age, Old Madam had mentioned letting Jiang Zhi take over, but since he had gone off to become a director, the matter had been on hold for so long. Luo Changfang from the second branch chimed in with Old Madam, ¡°That¡¯s good, Xiaolin will have someone to help him and lighten his load.¡± A veiled reference to the main branch holding too much power. With one comment, the focus shifted to the main branch, but neither father nor son from the main branch said anything. Jiang Weikai had entered officialdom and did not get involved in business affairs, while Jiang Xiaolin was someone who could keep his composure; his emotions never showed on the surface, keeping everything under wraps. Old Madam didn¡¯t criticize the main branch, just said, ¡°Whether he takes a position in the company, we will see. However,¡± her gaze swept over everyone present, and then she stated decisively, ¡°even if he doesn¡¯t join the company, any company movements that should be reported to him still need to be reported. Don¡¯t forget that.¡± Jiang Xiaolin and Jiang Fuli, who held authority, both nodded in acknowledgment. ¡°Lin,¡± Old Madam suddenly turned to the eldest grandson, ¡°I heard from your father that you haven¡¯t been to any matchmaking meetings?¡± Jiang Xiaolin paused in his tea-drinking, frowning. The Jiang family had deep roots and still held many old values and practices. As the eldest son of the main family, Jiang Xiaolin¡¯s marriage had always been pushed urgently. The older generation of the Jiang Family did not advocate for marrying late. One should marry at a proper age and then establish a career. The eldest son beside Old Madam spoke up, clearly annoyed, ¡°It irks me to speak of this.¡± Jiang Weikai glared at his disobedient son, ¡°The boy stood the girl up, and I still can¡¯t face President Zhang to this day.¡± The girl in question was the daughter of a banking family, whose looks and demeanor Old Madam had seen and approved of; both her appearance and conduct were impeccable. She asked her eldest grandson, ¡°You weren¡¯t satisfied with Miss Zhang from the Zhang family?¡± Jiang Xiaolin didn¡¯t let on, ¡°There¡¯s no rush on this matter.¡± Dressed in formal attire, he looked cultured and confident as he casually tossed the conversation to the person across from him, ¡°Fifth Aunt isn¡¯t even married yet, so it¡¯s early days for me to be setting up a household.¡± Jiang Wei¡¯er: ¡°¡­¡± She crushed a peanut in her hand, just like Jiang Zhi, she was also the bluntest little ancestor in the family, ¡°What¡¯s it got to do with me!¡± She cast a cool glance at Jiang Xiaolin, ¡°Lin, that¡¯s not very nice of you, dragging me into this.¡± Jiang Xiaolin just smiled without replying. At that moment, the second oldest Jiang Weili chimed in, half teasing yet serious, ¡°Lin¡¯s not wrong, Wei¡¯er, I think the third of the Xue Family is quite good, why not give it a try?¡± The elders all understood the implications regarding the third son of the Xue Family towards Jiang Wei¡¯er, their thoughts as clear as a mirror. Jiang Wei¡¯er wasn¡¯t happy with her private matters being discussed so openly and got a bit angry, ¡°What¡¯s the meaning of this, on New Year¡¯s Day of all days? Can¡¯t we just have a peaceful meal?¡± Old Lady Jiang cut off the topic and ordered the servants to start serving the meal. sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Before a few bites were eaten, Jiang Zhi started coughing, weakened and drained by the bout, he leaned listlessly against the chair. Old Lady Jiang saw his flushed cheeks and became very concerned, ¡°Are you feeling unwell?¡± His eyes were slightly moist, his coughing had made his ears turn red, and his face had flushed, but his lips were pale, he replied weakly to the Old Madam, ¡°It¡¯s cold, feeling a bit sleepy.¡± The old lady quickly said, ¡°Then you should go rest first, I¡¯ll have someone bring dinner to your room.¡± ¡°No need to bring it, I can¡¯t eat.¡± He pushed himself up, wrapped tightly in his thick coat, ¡°I¡¯m going to sleep. Keep the firecrackers further away later, don¡¯t disturb me.¡± Old Lady Jiang agreed and had someone escort him back to his room. ¡°Cough, cough, cough, cough, cough¡­¡± As he walked, he kept coughing, his hanging hands slightly curled, the tips of his fingers reddened, the pale skin beneath showing barely visible blue veins. A relative from a side branch hesitated to speak, ¡°Brother Zhi¡¯s health¡ª¡± His words were left unfinished, stilled by Old Lady Jiang¡¯s stern gaze. ¡®Unwell¡¯ Jiang Zhi returned to his room, locked the door, and messaged Zhou Xufang on WeChat. Fangbao¡¯s Boyfriend: ¡°Have you finished eating?¡± Zhou Xufang replied quickly. Fangbao: ¡°Not yet.¡± Fangbao: ¡°Bai Yang made a lot of dishes.¡± Fangbao: ¡°What about you, have you eaten?¡± Fangbao¡¯s Boyfriend: ¡°I¡¯m not hungry, want to see you.¡± He couldn¡¯t stomach a meal with the Jiang Family around, their minds buzzing like a hornet¡¯s nest. Fangbao: ¡°Can you make it out?¡± Jiang Zhi walked to the door, listening for a moment, then replied to Zhou Xufang, ¡°I¡¯m coming to find you now.¡± Knowing he was coming made Zhou Xufang very happy, who sent a grinning emoji. Fangbao: ¡°Bai Yang made a lot of dumplings, shall I cook some for you when I get home?¡± Fangbao¡¯s Boyfriend: ¡°Okay.¡± Before Jiang Zhi left, he made sure to lock his room securely, instructing the servants that no one was to disturb him, and then left through the back door. Just as he stepped across the threshold, someone called out to him. ¡°Brother Zhi.¡± It was Jiang Fuxi, holding an umbrella. She walked over, ¡°It¡¯s going to snow, take the umbrella with you.¡± Jiang Zhi¡¯s tone was neither warm nor cold, ¡°No need, I have one in the car.¡± Her hand holding the umbrella gripped tighter. On this overcast day, Jiang Zhi stood under the bright red lanterns, his tall figure casting a long shadow. His skin was pale, the light casting a faint blush on his face while his eyes held an intense depth, radiating a distant coolness, ¡°Don¡¯t tell grandma you¡¯ve seen me here.¡± She said, ¡°I know.¡± Jiang Zhi then left. She called out to him, ¡°Are you going to see Zhou Xufang?¡± He replied, displeased, ¡°Mind your own business.¡± He had never been warm to her. Jiang Fuxi didn¡¯t ask any further, only saying, ¡°Be careful on your way.¡± He turned and walked away, growing more distant with each step. Chapter 248 - 248: 248: Textile Completion, Chasing Wife in Ice and Snow (7 updates) Chapter 248: 248: Textile Completion, Chasing Wife in Ice and Snow (7 updates) Jiang Zhi was always good at acting charming, especially when she wanted to be coddled and cared for: ¡°Shall we go home? You can apply medicine for me then.¡± He was doing it on purpose, using both the suffering strategy and the beauty strategy. Zhou Xufang sighed and suppressed her anger, ¡°Alright.¡± The blood in her eyes slowly faded. The child¡¯s parents were setting off fireworks in an empty part of the square. Zhou Xufang looked around, no one noticed her, she took a coin from her pocket, aimed at the ongoing fireworks, found the right angle, avoided the crowd, and ensured it wouldn¡¯t harm the innocent before she threw the coin. Bang! The fireworks fell over, but the base was made heavy, not shooting randomly, and accurately shot onto an unoccupied car. The family of three who were setting the fireworks didn¡¯t dare to approach, hurriedly hiding, could only watch as the fireworks continually hit the car windows. Sure enough, not long after, the owner of the car came shouting over. Zhou Xufang took out her phone and made a call: ¡°I want to report.¡± Her tone was serious and strict, ¡°This is People¡¯s Square, there are people illegally setting off fireworks.¡± Right across from her, there was a banner, the banner with red background and black letters read two sentences: ¡°Imperial City is my home, community compliance is up to us all!¡± The report number was 011100********. Note: In public areas, it is strictly forbidden to set off fireworks. You¡¯re asking if it¡¯s okay in private areas? Of course, it¡¯s not! Below is an example of significant damage caused by fireworks within a private residence to show you. Jiang Family had a tradition of staying up on New Year¡¯s Eve, and it was almost midnight, with lights brightly lit all around the house. Jiang Wei¡¯er hadn¡¯t slept, on such lively nights, she always found it easy to think of people from the past lying in bed, staring at the light, her eyes soon became sore. Outside the door, a servant called her, ¡°Fifth Miss.¡± Jiang Wei¡¯er closed her eyes, feeling a burning sensation: ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± ¡°Third Young Master from the Xue Family is here.¡± She glanced at the old wall clock, fifteen minutes to the New Year, ¡°Tell him I¡¯ve gone to sleep.¡± ¡°Wei¡¯er, I heard it all,¡± came the voice of Xue Bingxue, low and weak, carrying a hint of grievance. Jiang Wei¡¯er: ¡°¡­¡± Ever since that guy daringly kissed her, he¡¯s been getting bolder, not sure where he learned it from, acting like he¡¯s in his rebellious phase, rebellious to the bone. Jiang Wei¡¯er felt a bit annoyed, she grabbed her hair and went to open the door, not sounding very pleasant: ¡°It¡¯s so late, why aren¡¯t you at home celebrating the New Year, why come to my place?¡± Xue Bingxue¡¯s skin was delicate, reddened by the wind, appeared somewhat foolish: ¡°Came to set off fireworks for you.¡± He said, ¡°Your older brother said you like them.¡± Jiang Wei¡¯er was speechless with her straight brother: ¡°That was when I was eight, I¡¯m twenty-eight now.¡± Hearing this, Xue Bingxue seemed particularly defeated, his youthful baby-face looking harmlessly pitiful. Jiang Wei¡¯er felt a bit sorry: ¡°Did you bring it?¡± He immediately looked up, eyes shining: ¡°Mmm.¡± So annoying! Jiang Wei¡¯er went in to get a coat: ¡°Since you brought them, let¡¯s just set them off.¡± The Jiang Mansion was large, the old lady had not yet gone to sleep, worried about disturbing others, Jiang Wei¡¯er led Xue Bingxue to the spacious backyard. He carried the fireworks with both hands and stopped, then said to Jiang Wei¡¯er: ¡°Wei¡¯er, wait here, I¡¯ll go light them.¡± Jiang Wei¡¯er acknowledged with ¡°Mmm.¡± Xue Bingxue, cautious of harming people, specially moved to a distant place in the backyard to set them off, far away and lacking street lamps, Jiang Wei¡¯er couldn¡¯t see what was happening and after a long while, she heard no noise. She asked, ¡°Did you light it?¡± Xue Bingxue replied, ¡°Not yet.¡± After a while, still no noise. Jiang Wei¡¯er didn¡¯t know what he was up to, it was just lighting a firework, so slow: ¡°Did you light it?¡± Xue Bingxue: ¡°No.¡± Another moment passed. ¡°Did you light it or not?¡± His voice was very soft: ¡°Almost there.¡± Oh right, Xue Bingxue had been timid since he was small, like a delicate white flower, frightened by countless things, when she threw a worm into his backpack at the age of eight, it made him cry. No wonder Xue Baoyi always said he was foolishly sweet. ¡°Are you scared? Let me do it.¡± ¡°¡­Not scared,¡± his voice grew louder, ¡°Don¡¯t come here.¡± Fine, she didn¡¯t care anymore, let¡¯s see how long he could fuss, she crossed her arms and waited. Half a minute passed, suddenly, there was the sound of fireworks exploding, one after another. ¡°Bang, bang, bang¡­¡± Jiang Wei¡¯er heard dozens of noises, but didn¡¯t see a single firework in the sky, and when the noise stopped, Xue Bingxue finally came back, looking defeated, head hung low like an ostrich that had done something wrong. ¡°Finished?¡± Xue Bingxue: ¡°Mmm.¡± Jiang Wei¡¯er was puzzled: ¡°Where did you put them? I didn¡¯t see them.¡± She only heard the sounds, didn¡¯t see any sparks. S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Xue Bingxue raised her head for a glance, then lowered it again, explaining with little confidence, ¡°I tripped over the rope that was tying the fireworks together. It fell over.¡± Jiang Wei¡¯er: ¡°And then?¡± He was extremely embarrassed, ¡°They all shot up into the tree.¡± ¡°¡­¡± It was hard to say what to think of him. Jiang Wei¡¯er held back a laugh and asked seriously, ¡°Which tree?¡± Xue Bingxue looked flustered and a bit panicked, ¡°The arhat pine.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Of all the trees, it had to be that one¡ªthe one the old lady planted by hand over a decade ago. There was no escaping a scolding now. Jiang Wei¡¯er couldn¡¯t laugh anymore, ¡°That¡¯s pretty accurate, hitting my grandmother¡¯s prized possession in one go.¡± Xue Bingxue: ¡°¡­¡± He apologized, ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± If apologies worked, there would be no need for scolding. Seeing him hang his head in guilt, it was hard to chastise him, ¡°It didn¡¯t get damaged, did it?¡± Xue Bingxue, feeling cared for, was a bit happy, ¡°No.¡± ¡°Well,¡± Jiang Wei¡¯er suggested, ¡°let¡¯s not set off fireworks in the future, they can be quite destructive.¡± Xue Bingxue: ¡°Oh.¡± Finally, let¡¯s shout together, ¡°Imperial City is our home, banning firecrackers depends on us all!¡± When Zhou Xufang and Jiang Zhi got home from the square, it was almost midnight. Jiang Zhi refused to go to the hospital, so Zhou Xufang had to treat his wound with a first-aid kit at home. What was originally a blister the size of a fingernail now looked even worse. Burns are the most painful, and Zhou Xufang, heart aching and barely daring to press, couldn¡¯t manage to apply the medicine on the Q-tip to the wound, ¡°Does it hurt a lot?¡± The person who was acting spoiled and crying in pain at the square was now acting tough, holding Zhou Xufang¡¯s hand and applying the medicine himself, ¡°Not much.¡± Liar. Zhou Xufang held his hand and blew on it, admonishing him, ¡°Why did you go and pull me? It¡¯s not a big deal if I get hurt.¡± ¡°Why wouldn¡¯t it be a big deal?¡± She pouted her lips and blew on the wound, ¡°I heal quickly.¡± It does heal fast, but the pain is intense. ¡°So just because you heal quickly means you can get hurt?¡± Jiang Zhi rubbed her head, ¡°What flawed logic.¡± At that moment, the sound of the New Year¡¯s bells rang out from the distance at the square. After the stroke of midnight, there were burst after burst of firecracker sounds outside. ¡°Zhou Xufang,¡± Jiang Zhi looked at her, his eyes full of her reflection. He said, ¡°Happy New Year.¡± Zhou Xufang¡¯s brow, which had been furrowed, relaxed and she smiled back, ¡°Happy New Year.¡± He pulled her from the couch opposite him to his side, ¡°Got any New Year¡¯s resolutions?¡± ¡°I have one.¡± ¡°I would pluck the stars from the sky for you.¡± His eyes twinkled with stars and peach blossoms as he smiled, bright and beautiful. ¡°I don¡¯t want the stars.¡± She said, ¡°I just wish for your life to be smoother, without injuries or illnesses.¡± That had always been her only wish, hoping her Jiang Zhi would be healthy and live a long life. Jiang Zhi held her face and kissed her. ¡°Fang Bao.¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± The light above was shining in his eyes, making them brilliantly bright. His voice was low, with a hint of laughter, ¡°Did you throw away those two boxes we bought last time at the supermarket for fun?¡± Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t remember, ¡°What boxes?¡± Jiang Zhi whispered in her ear. ¡°¡­No.¡± ¡°Where did you put them?¡± His voice was mesmerizing, as if casting a spell, full of hooks that ensnared her. Zhou Xufang, like a turtle retracting into its shell, buried her neck into her collar and slowly said, ¡°Under the cabinet beneath the sink.¡± He lifted her face, ¡°I don¡¯t want you to become a mother yet. How about we wait a bit longer to have kids?¡± Zhou Xufang nodded, agreeing. Jiang Zhi carried her towards the bathroom. On the morning of the first day of the new year, it started to snow lightly. Jiang Zhi woke up very early, and as soon as his feet touched the floor, Zhou Xufang woke up as well, reaching out groggily for his pajamas: ¡°Jiang Zhi¡­¡± Jiang Zhi returned her hand to the blanket and tucked it in tight, ¡°It¡¯s still early, go back to sleep for a bit longer.¡± Chapter 249 - 249: 249: Xu Fang pregnant? Lixiang pregnant? (8 more updates) Chapter 249: 249: Xu Fang pregnant? Lixiang pregnant? (8 more updates) Brother Zhi tucked her hand back under the quilt and tightened the corner of the cover, ¡°It¡¯s still early, sleep a bit more.¡± She was still sleepy and couldn¡¯t open her eyes, ¡°What time is it?¡± Brother Zhi said, ¡°Half past six.¡± If it was half past six, it wouldn¡¯t be very light outside yet. Zhou Xufang lay on her side looking at him, blinking with sleepy eyes, just woken up, and her voice was soft, ¡°Why did you get up so early?¡± Brother Zhi was in black pajamas, with a few strands of hair sticking up, no sign of sleepiness in his eyes, only a faint happiness, ¡°Old Mrs. Jiang is going to the ancestral hall for a ceremony, I need to go back to the Jiang Family. You sleep a bit more, when you wake up, I should almost be back.¡± She hummed softly like a mosquito, her eyes almost closed. ¡°I¡¯ve set an alarm for you, and I¡¯ve arranged for someone to call you for breakfast, you need to get up and eat,¡± Brother Zhi touched her face, ¡°Okay?¡± Zhou Xufang rubbed her pillow, almost asleep, ¡°Mmm¡­¡± Brother Zhi kissed her cheek and tiptoed to the bathroom. At seven, Old Lady Jiang was already up, and her grandchildren even earlier, all waiting in the main hall. The Jiang Family¡¯s ancestral hall was quite far, nearly an hour away by car. But Brother Zhi hadn¡¯t arrived yet. Old Mrs. Jiang asked the housekeeper, ¡°Why hasn¡¯t Brother Zhi come yet?¡± Jiang Chuan couldn¡¯t answer. It was Xiao Tian, who often attended to Brother Zhi, who replied, ¡°The young master isn¡¯t feeling well, he said he would come over in ten minutes.¡± As soon as Old Mrs. Jiang heard that Brother Zhi wasn¡¯t feeling well, she immediately ordered, ¡°Jiang Chuan, go and fetch Vice President Sun.¡± Xiao Tian added, ¡°No need for a doctor, the young master said it¡¯s just an old ailment, some hot medicinal broth will do.¡± He hadn¡¯t seen him in person; he relayed what was said on the phone. ¡°Ah Gui,¡± Old Mrs. Jiang instructed the maid beside her, ¡°tell the kitchen to warm some medicinal broth and send it over.¡± Mrs. Gui replied, ¡°As you wish, Old Madam.¡± Old Mrs. Jiang sat down, ¡°Let¡¯s wait a bit more for Brother Zhi.¡± Jiang Weikai, usually strict with himself, was unhappy with his nephew¡¯s tardiness, ¡°Even on New Year¡¯s Day, he needs to be requested, totally lacking any discipline.¡± Jiang Wei Li, smiling and joking, said, ¡°Exactly, just like a young lady, making people wait left and right when he goes out.¡± ¡°Enough,¡± Old Lady Jiang spoke up, ¡°Brother Zhi is unwell, be accommodating.¡± More than ten minutes later, Brother Zhi arrived. His face was pale, and he walked slowly, both cheeks looked sickly, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Grandma, I¡¯m late.¡± Old Lady Jiang stood up, concerned, ¡°It¡¯s alright, how are you feeling?¡± He lacked strength, leaning on a chair, ¡°Better, cough cough cough¡­¡± Before leaving, he had caught some cold water, broke a sweat, and he walked fast on the way, hence his pale face and lips, sweaty forehead, and short of breath as he spoke. ¡°Your complexion really isn¡¯t good,¡± Old Lady Jiang asked, ¡°Did you not sleep well last night?¡± Last night, to avoid disturbing his sleep, they hadn¡¯t set off many firecrackers. Brother Zhi replied, ¡°I didn¡¯t sleep much.¡± That was the truth; he and Zhou Xufang had been up late arguing, and then he lacked the desire to sleep, hugging her and watching her for half the night, staying awake until dawn. His eyes were tinged with red blood vessels, ¡°It was chilly last night, I caught a bit of cold, didn¡¯t sleep well at night.¡± Old Mrs. Jiang said, ¡°Have the doctor check on you again later.¡± Brother Zhi agreed, and then covered his mouth, coughing, ¡°Cough cough cough¡­¡± He coughed quite violently, his neck turning red. Old Mrs. Jiang watched, full of concern, ¡°Why didn¡¯t you wear more?¡± She called over the maid beside her, ¡°Sister Xi, go and bring Brother Zhi a coat.¡± Jiang Fuxi glanced at Brother Zhi and went to fetch clothes from inside. At ten past ten, the cellphone on the bedside table rang. S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Zhou Xufang reached out one hand to touch the cellphone, eyes closed, placing it to her ear, ¡°Hello?¡± Brother Zhi was calling from outside, without an umbrella, standing amidst a vast expanse of snow, surrounded by a frozen landscape, but his eyes held the warmth of springtime, ¡°Still sleeping?¡± Zhou Xufang turned over in bed, ¡°Mmm¡­¡± The sleep-deprived young girl, cute and fluffy like a kitten, her paws tugging at one¡¯s heartstrings. ¡°I¡¯ve ordered food for you, it¡¯ll arrive in half an hour,¡± he cajoled his ¡®cat¡¯, ¡°Is it okay to sleep after eating?¡± Zhou Xufang climbed out of the blanket, rubbing his eyes, ¡°I¡¯m up.¡± ¡°Still sleepy?¡± ¡°A bit.¡± She asked Jiang Zhi, her voice very soft, ¡°Aren¡¯t you sleepy? You barely slept last night.¡± Jiang Zhi chuckled on the other end. Zhou Xufang climbed out of bed, his hair tousled, and headed to the bathroom, ¡°What are you laughing at?¡± Jiang Zhi teased her on purpose, ¡°Not shy anymore?¡± ¡°¡­¡± She went silent, shrinking like a turtle. In the bathroom mirror, the girl¡¯s face was peachy, her eyes watery like spring, resembling a freshly bloomed lotus. Jiang Zhi instructed her over the phone, ¡°Drink more water, you had a fever for a long time yesterday.¡± She had a fever all night, from the New Year¡¯s bells at midnight until the early morning, half asleep and half awake, always complaining of thirst. Jiang Zhi got up a few times to give her water. Zhou Xufang picked at the bathroom tiles, glancing at the rubbish bin nearby, showing signs of a fever again, ¡°Oh¡­¡± ¡°The old lady is calling me, I¡¯m hanging up.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± On the second day of the New Year, the Jiang Family hosted relatives and friends at the old house, and Young Master Jiang Zhi, feeling unwell, went to the ¡®hospital¡¯. On the third day of the New Year, relatives from the Jiang family¡¯s side came to visit Old Lady Jiang, and Young Master Jiang Zhi, still unwell, was still at the ¡®hospital¡¯. On the fourth day of the New Year, Old Lady Jiang visited Jiang Zhi in the hospital. Vice President Sun handed over the medical results with a grave expression, saying with heartfelt concern that the young master was weakened and his liver and kidneys were mildly failing. He needed to rest in bed. Old Lady Jiang was so anxious she couldn¡¯t eat. From the fifth to the ninth day of the New Year, Young Master Jiang continued to stay in the hospital. Of course, that wasn¡¯t actually the case. On the second day of the New Year, Jiang Zhi and Zhou Xufang stayed home all day, not going out. On the third day, they continued to nest, note, nesting in bed. On the fourth day, Jiang Zhi laid in the hospital for a morning. Old Lady Jiang came for a visit, warmly checking on him, and he cooperated by coughing a few times and spitting a few drops of blood, then returned to Zhou Xufang¡¯s place in the afternoon. On the fifth day, Jiang Zhi went out to the supermarket, buying some groceries and¡­ several boxes of contraceptives. From the sixth to the ninth day of the New Year, they didn¡¯t go out. On the tenth day of the New Year, the Xu Family sent out invitations, hosting Old Lady Jiang and the young members of the Jiang family. At ten in the morning, several cars stopped at the gate of the Xu family¡¯s villa, and the whole Xu family came out to welcome them. Old Madam Jiang was the eldest sister, followed by three younger brothers and a younger sister. The third youngest had passed away years ago, and the youngest sister had married off to Zhangzhou, and together with their children and grandchildren, there were over a dozen people. ¡°Brother Zhi has also arrived.¡± The speaker was Mr. Xu from the Xu Family, Xu Yajun. Old Lady Jiang smiled and replied, ¡°Indeed, he just got out of the hospital today.¡± It was well-known that Young Master Jiang¡¯s health was poor. He spent the coldest days at the end of each year in the hospital. It was said that he was better this year, but he still spent the New Year in the hospital. Such fragile beauty. Xu Yajun called out, ¡°Then don¡¯t catch a cold, come inside quickly.¡± ¡°Cough, cough, cough, cough¡­¡± Accompanied by a bout of coughing, Jiang Zhi entered the house. He had been ¡®sick¡¯ for several days and his face was pale. He was still gasping for breath as he spoke, ¡°Where¡¯s the guest room? I need to rest for a bit.¡± Xu Yajun called his wife over to lead Jiang Zhi to rest. Xu Pozhi stepped forward, offering to host the guests, ¡°Let me take Brother Zhi.¡± Mrs. Tao, Xu Yajun¡¯s wife, agreed. Xu Pozhi led the way, taking Jiang Zhi to the third floor. Once the bustling noise from downstairs was no longer audible, he spoke as they walked, ¡°Luo Huaiyu came looking for me yesterday.¡± Jiang Zhi stopped and leaned weakly against the wall, ¡°What did you say?¡± Xu Pozhi¡¯s eyes shifted, his other glass eye lifeless and dull, ¡°They want me to testify.¡± Jiang Zhi pondered for a moment, then said lazily, ¡°Testifying is fine, but on certain conditions.¡± ¡°What conditions?¡± He whispered two words, ¡°Shares.¡± Xu Pozhi¡¯s smile was ambiguous, his eye studying Jiang Zhi with a probing air, ¡°Why do you want shares from the Luo Family? Isn¡¯t the Jiang Family¡¯s share enough for you?¡± A chill settled in his eyes, a thin layer of cold light enveloping them, ¡°Don¡¯t meddle in my business. Knowing too much won¡¯t be good for you.¡± Xu Pozhi eyed him meaningfully, ¡°We¡¯ve been in this together a long time, and I still don¡¯t know what exactly you¡¯re up to.¡± Jiang Zhi coughed lightly and started walking upstairs, ¡°As long as I know what you want, that¡¯s enough.¡± Xu Pozhi stood there, deep in thought. It was Jiang Zhi who had approached him, promising to help him achieve his desires as long as he complied. At first, he didn¡¯t trust Jiang Zhi, but as each member of the Luo Family fell into the traps Jiang Zhi had set, he realized that Jiang Zhi had orchestrated a grand plan and he himself was a part of it. After the Lantern Festival, Jiang Zhi became busy. His new movie, which had been in preparation for half a year, was finally set to start filming on the first day of the lunar month of February. Before filming started, the lead actress¡¯s father¡ªMr. Fang¡ªheld a banquet at home for the director and his wife, intending to express their gratitude for the special care the Jiangs had extended to his daughter. It was just an excuse; after all, Zhou Xu hadn¡¯t come over for a meal during the New Year holidays. Mr. Fang wanted to make up for it. Jiang Zhi and Zhou Xu sat in the living room while Fang Lixiang joined them. Mr. Fang was busy in the kitchen. Being a widower who raised his daughter alone, his cooking skills were undeniable. Unfortunately, he had raised a daughter who was lazy and indifferent to practicalities. Fang Lixiang, who couldn¡¯t distinguish wheat from rice, called from the living room, ¡°Mr. Fang, is it ready yet?¡± Mr. Fang turned off the burner, ¡°Just the last dish.¡± He plated the dish and brought it to the table, announcing, ¡°Chicken stewed with mushrooms.¡± This was Mr. Fang¡¯s specialty. Fang Lixiang sniffed and a smell rushed down her throat, stirring her stomach. She immediately covered her mouth, fighting the urge to throw up, and rushed to the bathroom, opened the toilet lid, and vomited until she was dizzy. Mr. Fang followed her, ¡°What¡¯s wrong now?¡± Zhou Xu and Jiang Zhi also came over, but Mr. Fang gestured for them to sit. After throwing up what felt like everything, Fang Lixiang¡¯s mouth was terribly sour. She complained bitterly to her father, ¡°Your cooking is too greasy. I haven¡¯t recovered from my cold.¡± Her cold had lingered for a month, never fully healing, leaving her constantly tired, sleepy, and without an appetite. Mr. Fang patted her back with concern while scolding, ¡°Then why don¡¯t you go to the hospital?¡± Fang Lixiang asked her father to stay away because she could smell the chicken and felt nauseous, ¡°Mr. Fang, your daughter is a somewhat famous actress. Can she casually visit the hospital? Last time I went for a checkup, the paparazzi claimed I was getting an abortion. How dare I go to the hospital now?¡± Mr. Fang got up to pour a glass of water and grabbed a towel for her, ¡°Who asked you to be an actress?¡± Fang Lixiang rinsed her mouth and shrugged, ¡°Blame me for having great acting skills.¡± The father and daughter continued their banter in the bathroom. Zhou Xu sat on the living room sofa, frowning as she sipped some water. Jiang Zhi clinked her glass which had cooled, took it from her, and gave her his warm water, ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± Zhou Xu sipped the water and hesitated, then touching her stomach, she whispered to Jiang Zhi, ¡°Could I be pregnant?¡± Jiang Zhi was speechless, staring blankly, unable to move. Zhou Xu tugged at his sleeve. He snapped out of it like waking from a dream, his eyes storming with emotions¡ªshock, joy, then worry¡ªit was a total mess. He was going to be a father?! Wait, stay calm, it¡¯s not confirmed yet. Jiang Zhi took a deep breath, licked his lips and calmed down, ¡°If it happened this fast, then I must be really potent.¡± Let¡¯s see who dares to call him sterile. Zhou Xu, feeling embarrassed and not wanting Fang Lixiang and her father to hear, whispered to Jiang Zhi, ¡°Buy a pregnancy test.¡± Jiang Zhi was still staring at her flat belly, unable to resist, he reached out and touched it softly, ¡°I¡¯m afraid this might not be accurate, I¡¯ll take you to the hospital tomorrow.¡± His action was like that of a fool. Zhou Xufang was very happy, she couldn¡¯t help but touch her belly too, ¡°Okay.¡± Jiang Zhi¡¯s hand on her waist was extra careful, ¡°Let¡¯s eat first.¡± The thought of Zhou Xufang¡¯s slim waist bearing his child made his heart thump rapidly. He had mixed feelings, his heart was complicated. He wanted his beloved girl to bear a child sharing their blood, but he had not planned for it to be so soon. As soon as the topic of eating came up, Zhou Xufang felt uncomfortable in her stomach, ¡°I can¡¯t eat.¡± ¡°You have to eat even if you can¡¯t.¡± Jiang Zhi looked at the table full of rich dishes, then turned to Zhou Xufang to negotiate, ¡°Fang Bao, how about some porridge?¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Zhou Xufang and Fang Lixiang barely ate their lunch, Mr. Fang saw that both girls had no appetite, so he stir-fried two more plates of vegetarian dishes, Zhou Xufang drank a bowl of porridge and ate some greens. On the way back, Zhou Xufang was particularly silent. Jiang Zhi drove very slowly, ¡°Are you unhappy?¡± Zhou Xufang shook her head, how could she be unhappy, ¡°I¡¯m afraid of having an unhealthy baby.¡± After all, she was not normal. Jiang Zhi pulled over, grabbed her hand, gently poked her palm, and then placed her hand on her lower abdomen, ¡°Don¡¯t think nonsense. Even if you gave birth to an egg, I would still like it.¡± Zhou Xufang hung her head low, feeling down, ¡°I don¡¯t mind if it¡¯s just like me, but if it¡¯s¡ª¡± Jiang Zhi interrupted, ¡°Zhou Xufang.¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± She looked at him. He brought his handsome face close to hers, giving her a sly wink, ¡°Is your boyfriend amazing or not?¡± Zhou Xufang did not hesitate and gave a thumbs up, ¡°Amazing.¡± Jiang Zhi patted her head with a smile, ¡°Then you can rest assured, your boyfriend¡¯s genes are amazing too.¡± Zhou Xufang was amused by him. Yes. Her Jiang Zhi was a particularly, particularly amazing person. Jiang Zhi became serious, telling her, ¡°There¡¯s nothing to worry about, at most it will be a bit more like you, like a little superman.¡± It was possible that there might be a mutation in the original genes, Zhou Xufang thought. Jiang Zhi glanced at her, knowing what she was worried about. He had been carefully considering this issue since he had made up his mind to make her Mrs. Jiang. ¡°Let¡¯s say, even if there really is some other problem, there¡¯s no need to fear, if you want to have the baby, have it, if you don¡¯t want to, then don¡¯t. I can protect you, and I¡¯m willing to let go too.¡± He said, ¡°I agree with whatever decision you make, but if you¡¯re undecided, you can leave it to me.¡± He spoke very seriously, emphasizing, ¡°However, you need to know one thing, if I make the decision, I¡¯ll prioritize you first, and then the child.¡± His stance was very clear, in this matter, he gave her absolute decision-making power, with only one principle: no one was more important than her, including his offspring. Jiang Zhi cupped her face, ¡°Do you understand what I¡¯m saying?¡± Zhou Xufang, ¡°Mm.¡± He asked, ¡°Are you still scared?¡± She shook her head. She was scared, but her Jiang Zhi was invincible; she could hide behind him. Oh, there was another problem, ¡°Jiang Zhi, am I really going to lay an egg?¡± ¡°¡­¡± This girl, what kind of nonsense novels had she been reading? Jiang Zhi decisively said, ¡°No.¡± Zhou Xufang hypothesized, ¡°What if I do lay an egg?¡± After all, like a fish, she could breathe underwater, and like a monkey, she could leap ten meters high. Laying an egg wouldn¡¯t be so strange. If an egg was laid, it wouldn¡¯t be abandoned, His seed. Jiang Zhi resignedly concluded, ¡°I¡¯ll incubate it.¡± Chapter 250 - 250: 250: Jiang Zhis house, cute treasure Jiang Erdan, Lixiang is pregnant (9 updates Chapter 250: 250: Jiang Zhi¡¯s house, cute treasure Jiang Erdan, Lixiang is pregnant (9 updates Jiang Zhi resigned, ¡°I¡¯ll take care of it.¡± Zhou Xufang: ¡°¡­¡± Sitting on top of the egg, using her legs to warm it? Oh, she now had a mental image, so beautiful she couldn¡¯t bear to continue thinking about it because she would involuntarily imagine Jiang Zhi as a chicken¡­ Jiang Zhi was still organizing his egg, very systematically: ¡°If it¡¯s a seed of Jiang Zhi, even if it¡¯s only an egg, it¡¯s the most precious egg in the world. You just give birth, and I will make a golden nest for our egg, brooding it with damask silk, making it the happiest Fu Erdan in the world.¡± Fu Erdan¡¯s mom, Zhou Xufang: ¡°¡­¡± whispered to Fu Erdan¡¯s dad, ¡°It¡¯s also possible that there¡¯s no pregnancy.¡± Even softer, like a mosquito¡¯s buzz Zhou Xufang: ¡°¡­¡± This little pervert, always misusing words! The next morning, Jiang Zhi took Zhou Xufang to the hospital. Both were bundled up tightly. Vice President Sun had been waiting for a long time: ¡°Mr. Jiang.¡± Jiang Zhi, with one hand around his girlfriend¡¯s waist and the other holding her hand, looked over at his girlfriend every few steps. His liver and heart weren¡¯t protected as much as this. In order to avoid prying eyes, they directly took a special passage. Vice President Sun led the couple to a specially prepared hospital room: ¡°Everything has been arranged.¡± Jiang Zhi let Zhou Xufang sit and rest for a while, then poured her a cup of hot tea, gently warning her it was hot and to drink slowly. He then took the scarf wrapped around his girlfriend¡¯s face in his hand, turned around with the drinking girlfriend shielded behind him: ¡°I don¡¯t want anyone knowing about my girlfriend coming to the hospital, especially the Jiang Family.¡± Oh my! Know the face, not the heart! Normally like a princely ancestor, but in front of his girlfriend, submissive like a grandson! Vice President Sun suppressed his inner turmoil, his face composed: ¡°Rest assured.¡± God! The young master must surely be henpecked! Zhou Xufang and Jiang Zhi waited in the hospital room for a few minutes, then a nurse came to lead them to an examination room. After they entered, the nurse closed the door. The clinician was a female doctor, over fifty, wearing full-framed glasses, her hair slightly graying, with a gentle demeanor. She smiled at Zhou Xufang, introducing herself: ¡°My surname is Chen.¡± Zhou Xufang nodded, greeted her: ¡°Dr. Chen, hello.¡± ¡°Please, take a seat.¡± Zhou Xufang sat on the chair in front of the desk, Jiang Zhi stood beside her. Dr. Chen¡¯s posture was relaxed, hands clasped together on the desk, as if just chatting: ¡°When was your last period?¡± Zhou Xufang, shy because Jiang Zhi was beside her, softly replied to the doctor¡¯s question: ¡°The middle of last month.¡± Beside her, Jiang Zhi added a date: ¡°The seventeenth.¡± Zhou Xufang felt even more bashful. Dr. Chen smiled, accustomed to seeing couples and lovers coming in for pregnancy checks, and treated it all very normally, asking further: ¡°How has your appetite been recently? Sleeping well?¡± Zhou Xufang was about to say her appetite wasn¡¯t good but she slept well when Jiang Zhi answered for her, giving a very detailed and specific response: ¡°She sleeps quite a lot, about nine hours a day, tends to feel sleepy at noon and in the evening, appetite isn¡¯t good, can¡¯t eat much rice, eats more flour-based food.¡± He added, ¡°But she really likes eating snacks.¡± Jiang Zhi wasn¡¯t a patient or detailed person, instead pampered and spoiled, but when it came to matters concerning Zhou Xufang, he was meticulous, knowing more than she did herself, always remembered her monthly cycles, and was strict about her diet if it wasn¡¯t timely. Dr. Chen understood, and wrote an order: ¡°Let¡¯s do a blood test first.¡± Jiang Zhi thanked her, took Zhou Xufang to the hematology department for a blood test, and instructed Vice President Sun that no samples should be kept; after the check, they must all be destroyed. Jiang Zhi was extremely cautious about Zhou Xufang¡¯s hospital visit, fearing any leak of information. The blood test results would only be available at eleven, and there was still some time to wait. Considering Zhou Xufang hadn¡¯t eaten much that morning, Jiang Zhi took her to a well-reputed porridge shop; she ate a little. On the way back to the hospital, Zhou Xufang sat lost in thought. ¡°Xufang.¡± ¡°Xufang.¡± Jiang Zhi called her twice, but she didn¡¯t respond. What was she thinking about, with her boyfriend right beside her and still distracted, Jiang Zhi called her full name: ¡°Zhou Xufang.¡± Zhou Xufang turned her head: ¡°Hmm?¡± He couldn¡¯t bear to speak loudly to her, softly asking with a soothing tone, ¡°Close the car window, you shouldn¡¯t catch a draft.¡± Zhou Xufang: ¡°Oh.¡± She closed the car window and continued to ponder. Jiang Zhi looked at the vehicles ahead, driving slowly, ¡°What are you thinking about?¡± Zhou Xufang¡¯s serious expression, ¡°Thinking about names.¡± Already starting to think about baby names? Yes, she was thinking about the baby¡¯s name, had considered many options, and finally couldn¡¯t decide. She asked the baby¡¯s father, ¡°Does Jiang Tang sound nice, or does Jiang Mian? What about Jiang Ling, is it good?¡± Jiang Zhi¡¯s emotions became complicated again. The thought of a child like Zhou Xufang calling him dad made his heart bloom with joy, but then thinking about how the child would take up a big portion of Zhou Xufang¡¯s energy and time, even sharing the affection she had for him, made him feel threatened. Jiang Zhi¡¯s eyebrows furrowed and then relaxed, ¡°Which Tang? Which Mian? Which Ling?¡± Zhou Xufang seriously naming, ¡°The Tang from cotton candy, the Mian from cotton candy, the Ling from ice cream.¡± Jiang Zhi, ¡°¡­¡± She wouldn¡¯t be using food for all the names, would she? Jiang Zhi comforted himself that, at least, it wasn¡¯t Jiang Milk, Jiang Cotton, Jiang AD, Jiang Calcium Milk, Jiang Ice Cream or anything like that. Not wanting to dampen his girlfriend¡¯s enthusiasm, Jiang Zhi chose one, ¡°Let¡¯s go with Jiang Tang.¡± The name Jiang Ling might remind people of Jiangling Motors. Jiang Mian felt a bit too soft. Actually, Jiang Tang wasn¡¯t great either, just like brown sugar, ice sugar, and white sugar, not to mention, dad¡¯s name is ¡®ginger juice,¡¯ and the kid¡¯s name is ¡®ginger soup¡¯¡­ The more he thought about it, the stranger it seemed. Jiang Zhi kind of wanted to ask his girlfriend if they could name the baby Jiang Lake. Lake is the Chinese transliteration of Zhou Xufang¡¯s favorite milk, Jiang Muke would also be fine, just means Jiang milk, Jiang cow milk. Zhou Xufang seemed very happy, because she shared the ¡®same¡¯ preference with Jiang Zhi, ¡°I like that one too.¡± Jiang Zhi licked his lips and gave up on Jiang Lake or Jiang Muke, letting her decide. Zhou Xufang was happy for a while, then worried again, ¡°But if it¡¯s a boy, wouldn¡¯t Jiang Tang be too feminine?¡± Naming a boy Tang did seem a bit girly. Jiang Zhi blatantly lied, ¡°No, it¡¯s fine if you like it.¡± Zhou Xufang agreed and got very excited. That settled the official name, then came the nickname. Zhou Xufang, touching her belly and looking at Jiang Zhi, ¡°Jiang Zhi, you pick the nickname.¡± Zhou Xufang actually wanted to name the nickname Calcium Milk, but she thought since she chose the official name, she should leave the nickname to Jiang Zhi, since the baby was also half his. Jiang Zhi blurted out, ¡°Call him Fu Erdan.¡± Zhou Xufang, ¡°¡­¡± She regretted it, she should have chosen it herself. She coldly scolded Jiang Zhi, ¡°You¡¯re not thinking seriously!¡± Jiang Zhi chuckled, his eyes twinkling playfully, ¡°Aren¡¯t you worried about hatching eggs? The name fits well.¡± He made up an excuse, ¡°Erdan is good, a more down-to-earth name is easier to live by.¡± Zhou Xufang was instantly persuaded, ¡°Okay, call him Erdan.¡± The future Jiang Erdan, ¡°¡­¡± Is it really that casual? Shouldn¡¯t you reconsider? Lake Muke and Calcium Milk are fine too¡­ After settling the name, they arrived at the hospital. Zhou Xufang unbuckled her seatbelt and was about to open the door when Jiang Zhi held her hand. ¡°Xu Fang,¡± he said with a complex expression. Zhou Xufang looked at him, ¡°Hmm.¡± Jiang Zhi helped her put on her mask, ¡°I didn¡¯t sleep all last night.¡± Zhou Xufang said, ¡°I know, you didn¡¯t kick me when asleep, you kick me when you¡¯re awake.¡± Jiang Zhi, ¡± ¡­¡± He was trying to talk about serious matters, who brought up sleeping habits! He gathered his emotions again and spoke seriously, ¡°If you¡¯re really pregnant, shall we get the certificate first?¡± He had thought about it all night, and his final decision was that he wanted to marry Zhou Xufang even more now, wanting her to become Mrs. Xiao Jiang soon. Zhou Xufang did not hesitate, ¡°Okay.¡± Jiang Zhi kissed her and then led her into the hospital. Dr. Chen had already gotten the blood test results, and upon hearing the knock, said, ¡°Come in.¡± ¡°Dr. Chen.¡± Zhou Xufang came in and took off both her mask and hat. ¡°Please have a seat.¡± After she sat down, Dr. Chen put on his glasses, still holding the report in his hand, and asked Zhou Xufang, ¡°Miss Zhou, have you experienced any abdominal pain recently?¡± Zhou Xufang nodded. ¡°Could it be that the results are bad?¡± She had a stomachache yesterday and wondered if it was because she had ice cream that somehow affected Erdan¡­ As Zhou Xufang¡¯s thoughts wandered, Dr. Chen brought her back with one sentence, ¡°It¡¯s not pregnancy, it might be gastritis.¡± Zhou Xufang¡¯s feelings were indescribable. Jiang Zhi felt like he had been tied up and thrown from a high place. The ropes broke, first relaxing and then plummeting. He had even planned where to register the child¡¯s residence and which elementary school to attend. He had thought about it all last night¡­ and then¡ªgastritis. Dr. Chen looked at the young couple¡¯s changing expressions and couldn¡¯t help but laugh. ¡°You are still young. Don¡¯t worry, you will have plenty of opportunities in the future.¡± Zhou Xufang bowed her head, extremely embarrassed. Dr. Chen took off his glasses and said, ¡°I¡¯ve already contacted gastroenterology. It would be best for you to come in for a gastroscopy tomorrow morning. Starting after nine tonight you¡¯ll need to fast.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± After saying thank you, Jiang Zhi led the drooping girl out. Zhou Xufang sulked all the way, her head down, listless. ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± ¡°Hm.¡± There was no one else in the passage, but Jiang Zhi still put a hat and a mask on her. She called out to him, then exhaled a heavy sigh, sounding older than her age. Jiang Zhi was amused. She went on grumpily, ¡°And you¡¯re laughing!¡± Like a kitten just learning to use its claws. Watching her downcast demeanor, Jiang Zhi laughed so hard his shoulders shook. Zhou Xufang ignored him and walked ahead on her own. Jiang Zhi followed her. ¡°Very disappointed?¡± She nodded. So disappointed. She had even picked out a name, regardless of boy or girl¡ªall to be called Jiang Tang, nickname Erdan. Seeing her reaction, Jiang Zhi wanted to tease her a bit. ¡°You really want to have a child for me?¡± Zhou Xufang stopped walking and buried her head in his chest, unable to look up, feeling embarrassed, ashamed, and both lost and disheartened. Jiang Zhi, half-serious, said, ¡°When we get home, I¡¯ll throw out all the condoms¡ª¡± But he was serious. Zhou Xufang quickly covered his mouth and looked around nervously. ¡°Don¡¯t talk nonsense outside, others might hear.¡± Inside the house, it was okay. Jiang Zhi realized that at home, she was much braver. If he turned off the lights and coaxed her a little, she would say anything he wanted. Both obedient and pure. A smile filled Jiang Zhi¡¯s eyes. Zhou Xufang still seemed not quite happy. She looked up at Jiang Zhi. ¡°Aren¡¯t you disappointed?¡± Jiang Zhi replied, ¡°There¡¯s both disappointment and relief.¡± Zhou Xufang was only in her early twenties, they hadn¡¯t even gotten their marriage certificate, and he hadn¡¯t even seriously proposed yet. Having a baby at this time wouldn¡¯t be appropriate. Besides, she was still his baby, how could she have a little baby? Of course, he was also disappointed. He adored her, naturally, he would look forward to conceiving a child with her. Jiang Zhi grew serious and told her, ¡°I really want you to have a child for me, but I don¡¯t want you to become a mother so soon.¡± He stroked her head. ¡°Let¡¯s wait, or let it happen naturally, but if you want to have a child, just throw out everything in the bedside drawer.¡± Zhou Xufang felt this topic was both serious and embarrassing, and it made her blush, so she just nodded, without speaking. For Jiang Zhi, it was different. He could say anything to her. ¡°There¡¯s another thing,¡± Jiang Zhi said as he pulled her towards the exit. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell me about your abdominal pain?¡± ¡°It was just a slight pain.¡± Really, it was just a little. Jiang Zhi was always sensitive to pain, certainly much more than the average person. The faster she recovered, the more intense the pain became. Having experienced amplified pain many times, she might have become a bit numb or perhaps just gotten used to it and could endure it better. Jiang Zhi began to feel sorry for her again, ¡°From now on, you have to tell me even if it¡¯s just a little.¡± After returning, Jiang Zhi only allowed her to eat light food. The next morning, Jiang Zhi took her for a gastroscopy. The results came out quickly, and the gastroenterologist diagnosed her with gastritis, which was mild and not severe, caused by dietary issues. Zhou Xufang felt depleted after the gastroscopy. It wasn¡¯t pain but just a feeling of great discomfort. Jiang Zhi felt bad too and took her to a prepared room to rest, asking the accompanying nurse, ¡°My girlfriend is feeling quite unwell, please help me get some medicine.¡± The nurse nodded and asked them to wait for a moment. ¡°Feeling very uncomfortable, right?¡± Jiang Zhi held her, massaged her stomach, and patted her back, a bit clumsy and unsure how to make her feel better, ¡°Does it hurt?¡± Zhou Xufang, pale-faced and lacking in energy, lay in Jiang Zhi¡¯s arms, ¡°Not painful, just a bit nauseous.¡± Jiang Zhi was heartbroken, knowing he couldn¡¯t give her water to drink just yet, ¡°Don¡¯t eat anything cold for the next few days, and no snacks either.¡± She obediently nodded, ¡°I have strong recovery abilities, I should be better very soon.¡± In fact, Zhou Xufang wasn¡¯t completely sure either. Her wounds healed fast, but she wasn¡¯t too sure about her internal organs; however, if she got sick, she usually recovered very quickly. Jiang Zhi said, ¡°Even after you¡¯ve recovered, you can¡¯t eat recklessly.¡± He definitely wouldn¡¯t go soft on her again. It turned out that Zhou Xufang¡¯s internal recovery was much better than an average person¡¯s, too. She had taken more medicine than the normal dose and in less than a day, she was back to normal, lively and energetic, and even capable of climbing up the roof and moving along the walls. However, Jiang Zhi still didn¡¯t allow her to eat anything cold, and the snacks were completely controlled, harshly regulated every day. Zhou Xufang wasn¡¯t pregnant, but unfortunately¡ªFang Lixiang was. When she saw the two bars on the pregnancy test, she was completely stunned, unable to collect her thoughts for a long time. She sat on the toilet for more than twenty minutes, contemplating life and the future. Mr. Fang, seeing her taking so long to come out, knocked on the door: ¡°Girl.¡± ¡°Girl.¡± She hid the pregnancy test in her sweater, her legs numb, and walked out with a resolve despite her disabilities, her expression resembling that of a baffled ghost who had just died. Mr. Fang gave her a light pat, ¡°What¡¯s wrong, why are you so distracted?¡± Fang Lixiang shuffled in her slippers, her hair disheveled and clothes wrinkled, a pimple on her forehead from recent sleeplessness, and she forced out a constipated expression for her father, ¡°Nothing, just constipated.¡± Mr. Fang: ¡°¡­¡± His own daughter probably forgot she was still a celebrity. Mr. Fang suggested she take some laxatives, handed her a coat to wear, and then instructed, ¡°I¡¯m taking Gui Fei for a walk, there¡¯s still soup simmering in the kitchen, turn off the stove after fifteen minutes.¡± Wandering soul Fang Lixiang: ¡°Oh.¡± Fifteen minutes later, the wandering ghost left home, bundled up tightly, and went to the same pharmacy where she had bought contraception before¡ªthe clerk was still the same old man with poor hearing. Fang Lixiang was there to settle accounts, striding in with determination, ¡°Is there something wrong with the medication at your pharmacy?¡± She had been afraid it wouldn¡¯t work after taking it, so she had increased the dose. The old man, hard of hearing as usual, couldn¡¯t hear her and spoke loudly, ¡°What did you say?¡± Fang Lixiang, covering her face with a scarf, wearing sunglasses, snapped at him, ¡°I said your medication has problems!¡± She was on the verge of breaking down! She was a celebrity, about to shoot a movie with a famous director, and the person with her in the bathtub had passed out¡ªwhat about her? She was pregnant! Whimper, whimper¡­ She was pregnant with an accidental child¡­ Fang Lixiang was almost in tears, and the old man continued with his slow response, ¡°What has problems?¡± ¡°The medicine!¡± S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with the medicine?¡± Fang Lixiang: ¡°¡­¡± They couldn¡¯t communicate. She went straight to the shelf, took a box of pills, and opened it to examine it carefully. After she had finished, everything went dark before her eyes. She had been too frantic and furious at the time to check the expiration date. Oh god, she had run into the ridiculous situation of being unmarried and pregnant, and she hadn¡¯t even been in a relationship. How could she not be furious? She stormed up to the old man, incensed, ¡°Your medicine is expired!¡± The old man, as always hard of hearing, asked again, ¡°What?¡± Fang Lixiang yelled out, ¡°Damn it!¡± Chapter 251 - 251: 251: Scums biting each other, another truth of that year (10 more updates Chapter 251: 251: Scums biting each other, another truth of that year (10 more updates Fang Lixiang shouted, ¡°Damn it!¡± Just those two words¡ªgrandpa heard them loud and clear, and rolled his eyes at her. ¡°How can you curse like that, girl? You¡¯re so rude for someone so young.¡± Young and rude, Fang Lixiang: ¡°¡­¡± Not only did she curse, but she also wanted to report to the police! She stormed out of the pharmacy, squatted down by the roadside, and dialed the emergency number. A guy answered, ¡°This is the Criminal Investigation Team.¡± Fang Lixiang tried to remain calm, ¡°I want to report a crime.¡± The guy asked, ¡°What kind of case?¡± Her tone was grave, sorrowful, angry, and a little bit aggrieved, ¡°Murder!¡± Upon hearing it was a murder, the guy immediately became serious, ¡°Can you be more specific?¡± Fang Lixiang then described the ¡®murder¡¯ in great detail, with righteous indignation, ¡°At the intersection of Chaoyang Road and Mingli Road, there¡¯s a pharmacy called Bai Fule. They illegally sold expired contraception, leading to several innocent women falling victim to ¡®murder.''¡± And she, was one such innocent victim. The guy: ¡°¡­¡± The air was quiet for a dozen seconds. Fang Lixiang thought the call had been dropped, ¡°Officer? Officer?¡± The police officer, seemingly holding back laughter and with a voice that sounded a bit off, said, ¡°Young lady, reporting a crime isn¡¯t something to joke about.¡± His words were as fluent and amusing as if he were telling a comedy sketch. ¡°I¡¯m not joking around, I¡¯m very serious.¡± She was indeed very serious, extremely serious, nearly swearing by heaven, she said, ¡°Heaven above, earth below, everything I¡¯ve just said is true, not a word of lies!¡± The guy, holding in his laughter: ¡°¡­¡± This sister, she could make her debut on the stage of a comedy club. The air was quiet again for a dozen seconds. The guy was still trying to hold in his laughter, trying to be serious, ¡°Tell me again, what¡¯s the problem?¡± Even though it was indeed a ¡®life-threatening situation¡¯, it was really funny. Fang Lixiang summarized straightforwardly, ¡°The pharmacy sold expired contraceptive pills and hired a pharmacist who¡¯s hard of hearing. This is extremely dangerous for patients who come to buy medicine.¡± She once again informed the officer of the pharmacy¡¯s address, stating she had photos as evidence, and sincerely expressed the seriousness and urgency of the matter, hoping that such unscrupulous businesses would be immediately penalized! The police officer understood, ¡°I¡¯ll transfer you to the Drug Administration. You can report to them.¡± Oh, right, the Drug Administration was in charge of this, she was so angry she got confused. Squeezing her voice, she asked, ¡°Can I report anonymously?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± The police officer was Zhang Wen from the Criminal Investigation Team. After transferring the case to the Drug Administration, he hung up the phone and let out a chuckle, ¡°This sister is really hilarious.¡± Xiao Zhong inquired, ¡°What happened?¡± Now that he thought about it, Zhang Wen realized that the voice of the sister just now sounded familiar. He chatted casually, ¡°She probably bought expired contraceptive pills, got pregnant after using them, and then came to report a ¡®murder¡¯.¡± Xiao Zhong clicked his tongue, ¡°This girl is a real talent.¡± At that time, Vice Captain Xing returned to the station in a hurry, ¡°Captain Cheng,¡± he had just come back from Changling Hospital, he said, ¡°Luo Qinghe has applied for medical bail again.¡± Before her arrest, Luo Qinghe had sustained injuries and used them as an excuse to apply for medical bail numerous times. That woman was ruthless enough to do anything to get herself admitted to the hospital if the jail doctors didn¡¯t approve her leave for not being injured seriously¡ªin any case, she always found a way to get out to the hospital. Captain Cheng asked, ¡°What¡¯s the reason this time?¡± Vice Captain Xing replied, ¡°She¡¯s pregnant.¡± Zhang Wen and Xiao Zhong: ¡°¡­¡± Zhang Wen pondered, ¡°Could it also be because she took expired birth control pills?¡± That night, Jiang Zhi also received the news. Zhou Xufang sat at the dining table eating congee, ¡°Why does Luo Qinghe insist on getting pregnant?¡± On the table were dishes of green vegetables, stir-fried green beans with pork, and shredded potatoes¡ªmore accurately, potato strips since Jiang Zhi¡¯s knife skills were poor, resulting in thick cuts. She had just recovered from gastritis not long ago, so Jiang Zhi had been feeding her only light meals these past few days. Jiang Zhi added a chopstick-full of green vegetables that she didn¡¯t really like to her bowl, solving her puzzle, ¡°Pregnant women cannot be subjected to the death penalty, and if they are sentenced to detention or less than three years of fixed-term imprisonment, under certain conditions, they can even receive a suspended sentence.¡± Zhou Xufang pushed the green vegetables to the side, ¡°Is she trying to exploit a legal loophole?¡± Such a cunning woman, so evil! Jiang Zhi piled more green vegetables into her bowl, ¡°If that¡¯s what she wants, then let her have it.¡± He should have anticipated this and showed no surprise whatsoever. Zhou Xufang looked at her bowl, now half-filled with green vegetables. She picked up her bowl and moved away from Jiang Zhi, sitting opposite to continue the conversation, ¡°Are you going to let her get away with it?¡± The law wasn¡¯t the only way to punish evil and eliminate crime. His little niece was still too naive. Jiang Zhi moved his chair, insisting on sitting next to her, ¡°Sometimes, it¡¯s worse to be outside than in prison.¡± Zhou Xufang thought of Xu Pozhi and could probably guess Jiang Zhi¡¯s plan. She hugged her bowl and continued to move away. ¡°Zhou Xufang, if you move again, I¡¯ll make you sit on my lap to eat.¡± Zhou Xufang felt this remark was quite improper. Eat the green vegetables then, no more moving. Luo Qinghe was treated at Changling Hospital, and the detention center assigned two people to watch over her. Luo Huaiyu used some tricks to get into the specially controlled ward. The case from eight years ago was established, and the trial date was set. Since Luo Qinghe¡¯s arrest, it had been a month; she had grown thin all over, her face the only part that appeared swollen. Luo Huaiyu could not stay long and got straight to the point, ¡°I¡¯ve found the person, and you know him.¡± She looked up, with a plain, haggard face, ¡°Who?¡± ¡°Xu Pozhi.¡± The tape recorded by Peng Xianzhi contained words spoken by Luo Changde to Luo San, shortly before that fiery disaster. Luo Changde did his best to cover it up, obviously guilty, so he definitely couldn¡¯t escape involvement in that man-made tragedy. Of the three victims back then, only one gardener survived. After the incident, he vanished like steam, and Luo Qinghe had been searching for him for a while. It turned out to be Xu Pozhi. Such a coincidence, it felt strange to her, ¡°Are you sure you¡¯re not mistaken?¡± Luo Huaiyu detailed the facts, ¡°He¡¯s his father¡¯s illegitimate son. Seven years ago, after his father lost his son, he was brought back to the Xu family. Before that, he lived with his mother and even worked as a gardener in our Luo family. He injured his eyes and face in that fire and underwent facial corrective surgery and received prosthetic eyes.¡± No wonder she didn¡¯t recognize him, and no wonder no matter how hard she looked, she couldn¡¯t find him. He had transformed into Xu the Fifth of the Xu Family in Imperial City. Luo Huaiyu picked up his walking stick, stood up from the sofa, ¡°I¡¯ve arranged everything. You¡¯ll meet him tonight. If you have questions, ask him directly. The rest is up to your own abilities; I won¡¯t intervene anymore, nor will I involve the Luo Family.¡± With that, he left. ¡°Grandfather,¡± Luo Qinghe called out to him. He turned back, asking what the matter was. ¡°There¡¯s something I don¡¯t understand,¡± she was doubtful and questioned the old man with white hair at the door, ¡°Why did you choose me over my father and me?¡± At least for now, she seemed to be at a disadvantage, yet the old man continued to help her from the shadows. She didn¡¯t believe in the deep family affection narrative; after all, Luo Changde was his son. ¡°Because you are more useful to the Luo Family, and now there¡¯s another reason.¡± Luo Huaiyu¡¯s face remained impassive, ¡°It would be best if you gave birth to a boy.¡± Luo Qinghe was quite pleased with that answer; forget about familial affection, let¡¯s talk about interests. She placed her hand on her belly, gently stroking it, a profound smile appearing on her pale and swollen face, ¡°I also hope it¡¯s a boy.¡± It would be best, like Jiang Zhi. ¡°Who is the child¡¯s father?¡± Luo Huaiyu asked before leaving. She smirked, ¡°You don¡¯t need to know that.¡± Xu Pozhi came late at night, dressed very formally, with his suit and tie impeccably worn. He also brought a bouquet of roses, so fresh that there were still droplets of water on them. Luo Qinghe watched as he arranged the flowers in a vase, ¡°Did you anticipate that today would come?¡± His technique was professional as he properly set the flowers, then took a pair of medical scissors from the table to trim away the leaves that had not been cleanly removed, saying, ¡°I didn¡¯t.¡± Luo Qinghe didn¡¯t believe him and looked at him with cold eyes, ¡°Your approaching me was intentional, wasn¡¯t it?¡± To this question, he was forthright, ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°For what purpose?¡± He put down the scissors, took a piece of tissue to wipe his hands, and walked to the bedside, ¡°Haven¡¯t I told you? I like you, I want to marry you.¡± He laughed, his facial muscles somewhat rigid, twitching subtly with the corners of his mouth, ¡°You think I¡¯m joking.¡± Luo Qinghe was full of suspicion towards him, ¡°So you think I¡¯m stupid?¡± She folded her hands over her stomach, fixing Xu Pozhi with an intense gaze, ¡°You must know very well who started that fire. Now you come to me saying you like me, you want to marry me¡ªdo you think I would believe that?¡± Since he had appeared with intent, he must have found something out. The fire from eight years ago was at her instigation, which meant that his injury was caused by her¡ªit was she who blinded one of his eyes. With this grudge between them, how could he possibly mean well? Xu Pozhi didn¡¯t try to defend himself, as if everything was under control, ¡°Whether you believe it or not doesn¡¯t matter. You don¡¯t have a choice anymore. I¡¯m the only one who can help you now.¡± Indeed, she was now a prisoner at the bar, with no choice. If there wasn¡¯t a new angle, two lives¡ªgetting a commuted sentence would be difficult for her. After a long contemplation, Luo Qinghe could only ask, ¡°How can you help me?¡± He leaned forward, getting close to her, his glass eye unmoving as it bore into her, ¡°It wasn¡¯t you who killed them, it was your father.¡± Luo Qinghe was shocked, ¡°What are you saying?¡± The light in the hospital room was dim. He was so close, and his surgically adjusted face was stiff. The light shining on it gave a chilling effect as he said, ¡°I am the eyewitness. Tang Guangji and that child were not burnt to death.¡± Thud¡ª A cup was knocked over on the table, water spilled out. Zhou Xufang heard the noise and instantly opened her eyes. She was a light sleeper at night, a habit developed over time¡ªalert even in her sleep, waking at the slightest disturbance. Later, with Jiang Zhi¡¯s company, it had improved somewhat. She¡¯d been sleeping more and more soundly. She reached under the covers; it was cold¡ªJiang Zhi was not by her side. She climbed out of bed, wearing her pajamas, turned on the light while calling out, ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± Jiang Zhi¡¯s room was large; Zhou Xufang called out but got no response. Rubbing her eyes, fully awake, she pushed open the bedroom door and saw Jiang Zhi by the dining table in the living room, ¡°Why are you up?¡± Jiang Zhi turned around suddenly, looking somewhat flustered. No lights were on in the living room, just the computer on the table, its screen glowing. Zhou Xufang glanced at it¡ªit seemed like a video was playing, with two people in profile. She approached. The man in the video was speaking, ¡°They were killed by Luo Changde.¡± It was Xu Pozhi¡¯s voice. Jiang Zhi moved to shut the computer immediately, but Zhou Xufang grabbed her hand. He panicked, ¡°Xufang.¡± Zhou Xufang was silent, watching the people on the screen. The setting was a hospital room, dimly lit and not very clear. Xu Pozhi¡¯s voice was rough, speaking slowly, ¡°I saw it with my own eyes. Luo Changde smashed Tang Guangji¡¯s head with a steel rebar, and when that child clung to his legs, begging him to stop, he drove that piece of rebar into the child¡¯s body.¡± S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Luo Changde smashed Tang Guangji¡¯s head with a steel rebar¡­ A flash of an image surged through Zhou Xufang¡¯s mind: a man holding a steel rebar, eyes red with fury, and a child clasping his legs, crying out, ¡°Don¡¯t hit him, don¡¯t hit him.¡± He found a hammer and started pounding the rebar, saying, ¡°Stop crying, you¡¯ll be free soon.¡± The floor was covered in blood¡­ Zhou Xufang¡¯s body wavered for a moment before she began to fall backward. Jiang Zhi caught her, and she was trembling. ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± She seemed somewhat dazed, not knowing where to look. ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m here,¡± Jiang Zhi said as he picked her up and placed her on the sofa. She clung to his clothes, gripping them tightly. Her eyes rimmed slightly red, devoid of tears, dry, her gaze burning as she asked him, ¡°Could the DNA results be wrong?¡± She felt cold and leaned into Jiang Zhi¡¯s embrace, murmuring, ¡°Am I not his child? How could he drive the rebar in?¡± She wouldn¡¯t have felt pain then, but she could¡¯ve died. Jiang Zhi held her silently, hugging her tightly. The computer was still on. The two people in the video continued their conversation, four eyes locked, both harboring their own schemes. ¡°All this is just your side of the story.¡± Luo Qinghe quickly collected her shock, a flicker of eagerness in her eyes, ¡°Where¡¯s the evidence? Do you have any?¡± Xu Pozhi stood with his arms crossed, ¡°The murder weapon, I know where it is.¡± ¡°Where?¡± She asked immediately. Xu Pozhi smiled and did not continue the topic. Instead, he said slowly, ¡°It¡¯s time to talk about my terms.¡± He was casting bait, luring someone step by step into the trap he had set. Luo Qinghe knew he had an agenda, but given the circumstances, she had to step into the trap, ¡°What do you want?¡± He leaned over, one hand on the hospital bed, ¡°You.¡± Luo Qinghe laughed as if she¡¯d heard the biggest joke, ¡°I¡¯m pregnant.¡± His gaze fell on her stomach, his look intense, ¡°Doesn¡¯t matter, I can raise another man¡¯s child.¡± Luo Qinghe protected her stomach and moved backward, looking at him with cold laughter, ¡°Xu Pozhi, you really are a complete lunatic.¡± He didn¡¯t get angry but laughed instead, ¡°So are you,¡± he leaned in closer, one eye burning intensely while the other, dead and white, was chilling, ¡°You¡¯re a perfect match for me.¡± He reached out to touch her face. Luo Qinghe pushed his hand away, ¡°Do you think you¡¯re worthy of me?¡± She laughed, her eyes full of disdain and disgust, ¡°Ah Bin, you¡¯re still as delusional as ever, aren¡¯t you?¡± Xu Pozhi¡¯s smiling face suddenly stiffened, the muscles around his mouth twitching, as he grabbed her chin, ¡°My Miss Luo, you can either sleep in a jail cell, or in my bed. Make your choice.¡± Delusional. Indeed, he had once been delusional. He, a gardener covered in filth, had been obsessing day and night over that high-and-mighty girl dressed in her expensive skirts. He was pathetic, useless, as lowly as a worm, even struggling to speak in her presence. ¡°Miss,¡± he approached meekly yet hopefully, offering her something he treasured immensely, ¡°For, for you.¡± The noble Miss didn¡¯t even glance at it, ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± He unwrapped it himself, ¡°I made, made this bookmark.¡± He had used her favorite roses for the dried flowers on it, and he had carved every line and letter into the wood himself. She briefly looked at it, her eyes scornful, ¡°What use do I have for this trash?¡± She tossed it onto the floor, stood up, and called to Master Peng outside, ¡°Where¡¯s Luo San? Go fetch him for me.¡± The wooden bookmark hit the ground, the dried roses scattering all over. He crouched to pick them up. The girl grew impatient, ¡°Why are you still standing there? Leave.¡± He held the bookmark tightly in his sweaty palm, not daring to look at her, ¡°Miss, I have, have something to say, I, I,¡± he stammered for a long time, mustering courage to say, ¡°I like you¡­¡± ¡°Ha.¡± The girl laughed out loud, wearing a deep blue dress, chin held high, scornfully replying with a question: ¡°And you think you¡¯re worthy?¡± Chapter 252 - 252: 252: Brother Zhis Happy Life Ah~ (First Update) Chapter 252: 252: Brother Zhi¡¯s Happy Life Ah~ (First Update) That night, there was neither wind nor rain, the moon was crescent and the stars were few. Zhou Xufang was in a dream, unable to wake up. ¡°Jiang Zhi¡­¡± She muttered in her dreams, uttering just those two words. It was very strange, for the restless sleeper Jiang Zhi sometimes kicked Zhou Xufang out of bed without waking up at all, but sometimes when she was half-asleep, just two words were enough to rouse him. After she called out to him, he opened his eyes almost immediately, feeling for the person beside his pillow, who was slightly struggling. ¡°Xu Fang.¡± ¡°Xu Fang.¡± Jiang Zhi turned on the light and softly called her name. ¡°Xu Fang.¡± Only then did Zhou Xufang open her eyes, her pupils moist and slightly red. The pillowcase where she had been sleeping was wet. Jiang Zhi gently touched the corner of her eye, which was damp, ¡°Why are you crying again?¡± She had dreamt that someone was chiseling her with a steel rod, she had dreamt of people shouting, ¡°Luo San, run fast¡­¡± ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± ¡°Mhm.¡± She grabbed his hand and placed it an inch below her collarbone, ¡°It hurts a bit here.¡± The wound from eight years ago had long scarred over, so how could it still hurt? Jiang Zhi leaned down and kissed the scar, ¡°Zhou Xufang, don¡¯t be sad, those people aren¡¯t worth a single tear from you.¡± She didn¡¯t speak, just kissed his face, his eyes. She was very anxious, holding him very tightly. Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Jiang Zhi reached out from under the covers, aiming for the drawer beneath the bedside table. She huddled in his arms, ¡°Turn off the light.¡± ¡°Is it okay if we don¡¯t turn it off?¡± She hesitated for three seconds, ¡°Okay, leave it on.¡± Outside, the clouds dispersed, revealing a slice of the moon that shone a bright white light. The room was very quiet, and when Jiang Zhi spoke, there was a smile in his voice: ¡°You have a high fever again, Zhou Xufang.¡± She whispered very softly, ¡°Because I like you very much.¡± Damn¡­ Jiang Zhi would have given her his life. In the latter half of the night, Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t dream again, as the person beside her pillow whispered sweet nothings she loved to hear. She slept dreamlessly until morning light. The next day, the sky was clear with a gentle breeze. There was no sun and no snow, but spring had arrived, warming things up slightly and making it less cold. In the morning, Jiang Zhi made a call on the balcony, and Zhou Xufang heard him say, ¡°Send last night¡¯s video to Luo Changde.¡± She asked from inside the room, ¡°Should we tell Tang Xiang?¡± Jiang Zhi thought for a moment and said yes. Tang Guangji was Tang Xiang¡¯s father, and she had the right to know the whole truth. At nine-thirty in the morning, Tang Xiang made a trip to Fenghe Real Estate to discuss an employment offer. Since her resignation from Luo Family¡¯s company, many companies had shut their doors to her, but the intentions of Fenghe Real Estate¡¯s president were unclear, as no definitive answer had been given. The female secretary from the president¡¯s office came over to welcome her, politely saying, ¡°I¡¯m sorry Miss Tang, our President Shen is not in.¡± Tang Xiang glanced at her watch: ¡°Wasn¡¯t our appointment at ten?¡± She had only arrived a bit early. The secretary replied, ¡°President Shen had an emergency and just left.¡± It was the second time being stood up. ¡°When will he be back?¡± ¡°President Shen didn¡¯t say.¡± Tang Xiang sat down in the guest waiting area, smoothing out her A-line skirt, ¡°Call your President Shen and tell him I¡¯m waiting here.¡± The secretary brought her a cup of coffee, ¡°Alright, Miss Tang.¡± After sitting for a short while, Tang Xiang¡¯s phone rang once. She checked it, and it was a short video sent by Jiang Zhi ¨C a conversation between Xu Pozhi and Luo Qinghe. Right next to the president¡¯s office was the meeting room, where Vice President Yu of Fenghe Real Estate was entertaining guests. He noticed that the guests had cast several glances outside the meeting room. There were rumors within the business community that Mr. Jiang of the Jiang Family and Miss Tang from the Luo Family were at odds, constantly clashing fiercely. Thinking to please the client, Vice President Yu made a comment, ¡°How can this woman be so clueless? Can¡¯t she see that President Shen is deliberately avoiding her?¡± Sure enough, Mr. Jiang seemed interested. ¡°Why isn¡¯t he seeing her?¡± Vice President Yu set the project contract aside, ¡°When she was with the Luo Family, she was very arrogant and stole countless deals from our company. Now that she¡¯s been kicked out by Luo Huaiyu, the Luo Family has spread the word that this woman is a traitor. Who in this industry would employ her now? She still doesn¡¯t get it and frequently comes looking for our President Shen. If it wasn¡¯t for her good looks, President Shen¡ª¡± Jiang Xiaolin slightly lifted his gaze. Vice President Yu paused, that look in his eyes¡­ He quickly stopped himself, smiling apologetically, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Young Master Lin, I¡¯ve said too much.¡± Dressed in a suit and wearing gold-framed glasses, Jiang Xiaolin sat properly, ¡°You have, indeed.¡± Mr. Jiang had a good reputation in the circle: cultured, elegant, steady, and polite. Vice President Yu thought he was joking and wasn¡¯t embarrassed. He pushed the contract forward to continue the matter at hand, ¡°If there are no issues, you can sign here.¡± Jiang Xiaolin¡¯s hand rested on the armrest of his chair, motionless, ¡°There is an issue.¡± Vice President Yu was surprised, ¡°Is there a problem with the contract?¡± The content had been agreed upon by both parties; there shouldn¡¯t be any issues. With brevity, he said, ¡°No need to sign.¡± Vice President Yu was now unsettled and slightly panicked, ¡°If there¡¯s something about the contract that you find unsatisfactory, our company can revise it. Please consider¡ª¡± ¡°I have no issues with the contract; it¡¯s with your President Shen that I¡¯m not quite satisfied,¡± he paused, then added, ¡°Nor with you.¡± A business deal that had been progressing smoothly was suddenly collapsing. Vice President Yu wanted to salvage the situation, but the other party had already stood up and straightened his tie, ¡°Tell President Shen for me, losing to a woman in business is nothing, but he should have the requisite grace.¡± With that, Jiang Xiaolin walked out of the meeting room. Vice President Yu was dumbfounded. This collaboration with the Jiang Family was Fenghe Real Estate¡¯s biggest investment project of the year. If it fell through, he would have to pack his bags and leave. Leaving the office, the secretary following Jiang Xiaolin couldn¡¯t help but speak up, ¡°Young Master Lin.¡± Secretary Eden was very young, a mixed-race individual, and was recruited by Jiang Xiaolin from Chinese Street. His Chinese was somewhat awkward, ¡°The project is ready to start production. If we stop now, the losses will be significant.¡± ¡°Send me a quote, and I¡¯ll cover the losses,¡± Jiang Xiaolin answered absentmindedly. As he walked, he suddenly stopped, ¡°Give me the car keys; you can go back first.¡± Following his gaze, Eden saw a woman. Without asking further, he left the car keys and went ahead. The president¡¯s office had an open-plan layout with several desks and a reception area in the back, where Miss Tang sat alone, her head lowered, phone in hand, the coffee on the table beside her long since cold. Jiang Xiaolin approached her, his tone tinged with annoyance, ¡°Why are you still sitting here? Can¡¯t you see they¡¯re deliberately making a fool of you¡ª¡± Thud. Tears landed unexpectedly on the phone screen. Jiang Xiaolin stalled for a moment, uncertain, moving closer, ¡°Are you crying?¡± Her head remained lowered as tears dropped steadily down. Jiang Xiaolin had never seen her cry before. He had always considered her tougher than steel. During their study abroad, to save money, she lived in a remote place. Once, she nearly got her clothes ripped off by a drunkard that she encountered. Far from crying, when he arrived, he saw her wielding her high heels ferociously against two men. Why was she crying now? Jiang Xiaolin was at a loss, his voice an awkward mix of harsh and soft, ¡°What¡¯s there to cry about? It¡¯s not that big of a deal.¡± He tugged at his tie, feeling somewhat breathless and not adept at consoling, so he got down to business, ¡°Stop crying. If you can¡¯t find a job, you can come to me.¡± She looked up, face drenched in tears, ¡°Jiang Xiaolin.¡± Her call tugged at his heart, ¡°Hmm.¡± She called his name, then said nothing more, covering her eyes with her hands, and suddenly burst into loud sobs. Jiang Xiaolin was flustered by her crying, ¡°Don¡¯t cry, please.¡± He reached out a hand but then retracted it, ¡°Did someone bully you?¡± Tears streamed through her fingers, the tips of her fingers reddened from the force of her weeping. He knelt down, one knee hitting the ground, and finally reached out his hands to embrace her, ¡°Don¡¯t cry too much, my suit is very expensive.¡± She leaned on his shoulder, her tears wetting his suit. The employees in the president¡¯s office could no longer focus on their work, turning their attention to the commotion. A girl from the neighboring office came over with some items and immediately recognized Jiang Xiaolin, ¡°Isn¡¯t that Young Master Lin? Who¡¯s that woman?¡± An assistant from the president¡¯s office joined in, ¡°That¡¯s Mr. Tang from the Luo Family.¡± ¡°Are they that kind of couple?¡± Wasn¡¯t it said that they didn¡¯t get along? They had been at odds since college, and when Miss Tang went abroad for her studies, Jiang Xiaolin followed, enrolling at a nearby university just to keep the rivalry going. How did it turn into a romance? The assistant spoke in a knowing tone, ¡°It¡¯s not that sort of relationship. Why would a man kneel in front of a woman in the presence of others?¡± Chapter 253 - 253: 253: Pregnancy revealed, should the child be kept? (Second update) Chapter 253: 253: Pregnancy revealed, should the child be kept? (Second update) Tang Xiang cried for over ten minutes, her makeup smeared, her eyes swollen, but she didn¡¯t feel embarrassed in front of Jiang Xiaolin. He had seen her at her worst before; when she was studying abroad and worked in a bar, getting drunk by customers to the point of vomiting her guts out. She sat in the passenger seat, having calmed down: ¡°Do you mind if I smoke?¡± Jiang Xiaolin, in the driver¡¯s seat: ¡°If I minded, would you not smoke?¡± She shook her head: ¡°I¡¯d step out to smoke.¡± Today he didn¡¯t snap at her and rolled down the car window, in a particularly good mood: ¡°Smoke in the car.¡± Tang Xiang took out a cigarette and lighter from her bag. She preferred using a flint lighter, finding it satisfying to use, and lit a cigarette with practiced ease, taking a drag: ¡°How much for the suit?¡± Jiang Xiaolin returned to his usual banter with her: ¡°It¡¯s custom-made, you can¡¯t buy it.¡± His tone was a bit annoying. Around her, he was always like this, none of the restraint and politeness of the Jiang Family¡¯s eldest son that he displayed outside. Tang Xiang held the cigarette between her fingers, resting her arm on the car window, looking at him with red, swollen eyes: ¡°Then how should I compensate?¡± His lips curled into a smile: ¡°Come work at my company.¡± Tang Xiang could hear what he meant: ¡°Seeing me unemployed, you want to take me in?¡± He hummed: ¡°Consider it poverty alleviation.¡± She laughed. His eyebrows relaxed, and he finally laughed. ¡°I¡¯m not joking, come to my company.¡± His tone grew more serious, but still teasing, ¡°The top student of the whole school working for the second-best, I think that¡¯s not bad.¡± Back in school, she was the top of the grade, he was second. On the school¡¯s honor roll, he was always firmly pressed below her. He only beat her once in exams, and she then reported him for stealing underwear, costing him five morality points, which put him back to second place again. This woman was meant to trump him. Tang Xiang shook a piece of paper to dust off the ash, holding it in her hand: ¡°I¡¯m a traitor, aren¡¯t you afraid I¡¯ll steal your company secrets?¡± ¡°If you manage to steal them, it¡¯s my failing as a boss,¡± he said, ¡°I¡¯ll take the blame.¡± She smoked her cigarette, neither agreeing nor declining, drawing hard on the slim lady¡¯s cigarette until it was quickly spent. She wrapped the butt in two pieces of paper and pinched it out with practiced movements, holding the trash in her hand and then pulling out another cigarette from the pack. ¡°That¡¯s enough,¡± he said in a relatively mild tone, ¡°a woman like you with such a heavy addiction to smoking.¡± With a flick, she lit the lighter and ignited the cigarette: ¡°Mind your own business.¡± Mind? He couldn¡¯t control her, she was too tough and too wild. ¡°Just now,¡± he turned and leaned against the car door, looking at her, ¡°what happened?¡± She didn¡¯t answer, grabbed her bag, pushed open the car door and got out, taking the trash with her: ¡°I will compensate you for the suit.¡± She left him with those words and walked away. When he first met her, she was eighteen, wearing canvas shoes. Now she was twenty-eight, in high heels. A full ten years. The first lunar month had passed, and Jiang Zhi¡¯s movie was about to start shooting. The start-of-shooting ceremony was held two days ago; all actors were present except for Su Chan, who couldn¡¯t make it from abroad. Today, it was Fang Lixiang¡¯s first scene, which required extras, and Zhou Xufang had taken on this job. The movie was a palace intrigue theme, and most of the shooting locations were in the Imperial Palace of the film studio. Jiang Zhi parked her car quite far from the set, as requested by Zhou Xufang, who also requested, ¡°Don¡¯t come with me; it wouldn¡¯t look good to be seen together.¡± Jiang Zhi begrudgingly replied, ¡°What¡¯s wrong with that? We are in a normal relationship, not having an affair.¡± Zhou Xufang had her reasons: ¡°If others find out my boyfriend is the director, they will say I got into the group through connections.¡± Jiang Zhi teased her on purpose: ¡°Aren¡¯t you?¡± ¡°¡­¡± So annoying. Zhou Xufang corrected him seriously and earnestly: ¡°I rely on my acting skills.¡± She was now confident in her abilities, feeling she could not only bring the dead back to life but also make the living play dead. Jiang Zhi revealed a smile with her small canine teeth, no longer teasing her: ¡°Alright, you go ahead.¡± How could he refuse his girlfriend who wanted to keep their love under wraps? Just play along with her. Zhou Xufang adjusted her cap, covered it with a hoodie, and before putting on her mask, she obediently leaned in and kissed Jiang Zhi, then said, ¡°Once we¡¯re on set, you can¡¯t kiss me. We have to act like we don¡¯t know each other.¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡°I¡¯ll do my best.¡± Not kissing her was out of the question; the most he¡¯d concede was to find a secluded place for it. Zhou Xufang: ¡°I¡¯m going in.¡± Jiang Zhi took off her mask and lavished her with kisses before letting her go. After Zhou Xufang left, the window of a car parked nearby rolled down, revealing a square face: ¡°Hehe,¡± Vice Director Zhao laughed slyly, ¡°Your girlfriend is really cute.¡± Who knows how long this guy had been parked there. Although the new drama¡¯s cast had changed, and there was some turnover in production and financing, the executive director¡¯s team remained the same. Jiang Zhi had worked with Vice Director Zhao multiple times and was quite familiar with him. Jiang Zhi instructed him: ¡°Tell those in the know that my girlfriend doesn¡¯t like making a fuss.¡± Meaning, don¡¯t talk about what you shouldn¡¯t talk about, don¡¯t spread what you shouldn¡¯t spread, don¡¯t gossip about what shouldn¡¯t be gossiped. Vice Director Zhao made a cheeky gesture: ¡°I get it.¡± Role-playing secret romance, huh? Naughty fun. After Zhou Xufang entered the set, she went to find her good friend Fang Lixiang. Fang Lixiang sat on a bench, dressed in the attire of a palace guard, and was set to play alongside the male lead, a very capable film actor. Fang Lixiang would play his guard. Maybe because the lead actor was too famous and his acting too stiff, Fang Lixiang¡¯s face was full of worry. Zhou Xufang walked over, ¡°Lixiang.¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± Not only was her face clouded with worry, her complexion wasn¡¯t great either, like an eggplant damaged by frost. S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Zhou Xufang sat on the other end of the long bench, and because she had come to the film set, she had wrapped herself up like ¡°a lump of coal¡±: ¡°Aren¡¯t you happy?¡± Fang Lixiang shook her head, ¡°Not at all.¡± She was listless, ¡°I¡¯ve been constipated recently.¡± Assistant Xiao Liu: ¡°¡­¡± This female star is so down-to-earth. The previous assistant had resigned, Xiao Liu hadn¡¯t been around for long, and was still not accustomed to Fang Lixiang, a star without the airs of a female celebrity. Xiao Liu came over with a bag of breakfast: ¡°I bought you some steamed buns.¡± Fang Lixiang asked, ¡°What filling?¡± Xiao Liu took the bag of steamed buns out of the bigger bag: ¡°Mixed.¡± Fang Lixiang smelled it, and instantly her stomach reacted, she pinched her nose, ¡°Take it away, take it away.¡± ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Xiao Liu held the steamed buns a bit farther away. ¡°My stomach has been upset recently, I feel sick when I smell meat.¡± The little brat in her belly was really restless, only so big and already troubling her. She couldn¡¯t eat, couldn¡¯t sleep, and couldn¡¯t stand the smell of anything oily. ¡°Then try some tea eggs.¡± Xiao Liu gave all three tea eggs to Fang Lixiang, she only ate a few bites before feeling too nauseated to eat more. Zhou Xufang took a can of milk out of her backpack, opened it, and handed it to her. ¡°Xufang, I need to tell you something.¡± Zhou Xufang listened seriously, ¡°What is it?¡± Fang Lixiang glanced around, no one was paying attention to them here, so she whispered to Zhou Xufang: ¡°Doesn¡¯t your boyfriend¡¯s family run a hospital?¡± Zhou Xufang: ¡°They run a hospital.¡± Fang Lixiang stuttered with hesitation, ¡°Can you get me in through the back door?¡± Zhou Xufang asked, ¡°What kind of back door?¡± Again, she stuttered with hesitation, ¡°I need to have a minor surgery.¡± Zhou Xufang was very concerned about her good friend: ¡°Are you feeling unwell somewhere?¡± ¡°Just a minor ailment,¡± Fang Lixiang said, ¡°Hemorrhoids.¡± She had to lie; Zhou Xufang¡¯s boyfriend and that scoundrel Xue Baoyi were childhood friends, and she feared the word would get out. With an expression that spelled dilemma on her face, Zhou Xufang: ¡°¡­¡± Fang Lixiang scooted closer to her: ¡°I¡¯m a female star, you know. If people find out I¡¯m having hemorrhoids removed, I¡¯ll lose fans. Get it?¡± Zhou Xufang, feeling a bit cold, a bit confused, and a bit dazed: ¡°I get it.¡± Actually, she didn¡¯t entirely get it. If her idol also had hemorrhoids removed¡­ she couldn¡¯t imagine what Xiao Yusheng would look like having hemorrhoids surgery¡­ She digressed far; Fang Lixiang went back to the point: ¡°Can you get me in? The kind where no one will notice.¡± Zhou Xufang said, ¡°I¡¯ll get Jiang Zhi to help you out.¡± Fang Lixiang clasped her fists, ¡°Thanks, Hero Zhou.¡± Hero Zhou said it was a trifling effort, not worth mentioning. Fang Lixiang took a sip of milk. As soon as she swallowed, her stomach turned tumultuously, and she quickly ran to the side, throwing it all up. Zhou Xufang fell into deep thought. ¡°Lixiang.¡± She brought over a bottle of mineral water, unscrewed the cap, and handed it to Fang Lixiang, ¡°Could it be that you are pregnant?¡± It shouldn¡¯t be hemorroids; it should be an obstetrics and gynecology visit. ¡°Phew¡ª¡± Fang Lixiang sprayed out a mouthful of water, looking at Zhou Xufang incredulously. Zhou Xufang, always appearing cold, cute, and silly, was actually very astute. ¡°Ah!¡± Fang Lixiang sighed heavily, ¡°It looks like Jiang Zhi has already taken you on that ride.¡± The Zhou Xufang who had been on that ¡°little train¡±: ¡°¡­¡± One lie leads to a hundred just to cover it up; it couldn¡¯t be hidden anymore, Fang Lixiang confessed: ¡°I am pregnant.¡± Zhou Xufang showed a shocked expression, hesitant to speak. ¡°You want to know whose it is?¡± Zhou Xufang nodded. Fang Lixiang and she squatted in the ¡°Imperial Palace¡± corner, looking conspicuous from afar, murmuring and acting sneakily as if conspiring: ¡°You know him, otherwise I wouldn¡¯t have kept it from you.¡± Zhou Xufang knew only a few men. Mr. Xue fancied Fifth Aunt from the Jiang family, Mr. Qiao had Wen Baiyang already, Ah Wan was still obsessed with novels and Korean dramas, leaving only one person. ¡°Is it Mr. Xiao Xue?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Fang Lixiang patted her own belly, ¡°The little mongrel inside is from his dog.¡± Zhou Xufang was very surprised: ¡°When did you two get together?¡± She had no idea; not long ago, Mr. Xiao Xue was still making headlines with another female star. Chapter 254 - 254: 254: Jiang Zhi, you little thug! She has a high fever again~ Chapter 254: 254: Jiang Zhi, you little thug! She has a high fever again~ Zhou Xufang was very surprised, ¡°When did you two get together?¡± She had no idea, and Mr. Xiao Xue was just in the headlines with a female celebrity a few days ago. The female celebrity wore a dress with very little fabric, a particularly low neckline, and her hand resting on Mr. Xiao Xue¡¯s shoulder. ¡°We never got together, it was an accident.¡± Fang Lixiang picked up a pebble from the ground in frustration and threw it back down, ¡°Xue Baoyi¡¯s dog has already forgotten about it.¡± Zhou Xufang thought ¡®that dog¡¯ was too much. Fang Lixiang heaved a heavy sigh, ¡°I¡¯m just plagued with bad luck, ended up buying expired birth control.¡± Indeed, very unlucky. Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t know how to comfort her, but thought about it, ¡°Do you want me to go beat him up for you?¡± ¡°How would you do that?¡± ¡°Put a sack over his head.¡± She wasn¡¯t joking, she was serious. Fang Lixiang laughed at her suggestion, ¡°Beating him wouldn¡¯t do any good.¡± She waved her hand to dismiss the idea, ¡°Let¡¯s not stoop to the level of a dog.¡± It was not about being reluctant to stoop to the level of that dog. Zhou Xufang understood. In this accident, there must have been a hint of willingness; otherwise, Lixiang would have already gone out with a sack herself. ¡°Are you thinking of terminating the pregnancy?¡± If she was willing, it would be hard to let go. Fang Lixiang hesitated for a long time, ¡°I had a cold during that time and took medicine; it might have an effect.¡± She placed her hand on her still-flat belly, unable to feel anything, ¡°Plus, I¡¯m not planning on being an unmarried mother, at least not right now.¡± She was a public figure, unmarried, and if she had a child, she knew without thinking about all the trouble that would follow¡ªlike a series of troublesome baskets, not to mention Mr. Fang¡¯s disapproval would be an insurmountable barrier. Zhou Xufang couldn¡¯t offer advice, ¡°When are you going to the hospital?¡± ¡°This weekend, I guess.¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to tell Xue Baoyi?¡± Zhou Xufang no longer called him Mr. Xiao Xue, she thought he was a scumbag, she thought he was ¡®Gouzi¡¯. But, a girl shouldn¡¯t have to go to the gynecology and obstetrics department alone; it¡¯s too desolate. Even having a dog to accompany her would be better. Fang Lixiang smiled wryly, ¡°After telling him, what then? Use the child to tie him down?¡± She sighed again, showing her distress, ¡°I don¡¯t know what to do, I¡¯ll ask the doctor first, not even sure how much the medicine will affect things.¡± During the lunch break, Zhou Xufang sneaked into Jiang Zhi¡¯s resting room, crouching down and constantly looking back, afraid of being seen. Seeing her sneaky demeanor, Jiang Zhi was somewhat amused, ¡°Are you playing 007 or something?¡± She went in, closed the door, ¡°Jiang Zhi, could you give me Vice President Sun¡¯s contact information?¡± The last time she visited the gynecology and obstetrics department, it was Vice President Sun who helped her, presumably someone Jiang Zhi trusted. Jiang Zhi pulled her to sit beside him, ¡°What do you need his contact information for?¡± Zhou Xufang sat erect, giving an honest impression, ¡°A friend of mine is sick.¡± ¡°Wen Baiyang or Fang Lixiang?¡± ¡°¡­¡± How did he guess right away? Zhou Xufang looked elsewhere, ¡°Neither.¡± She could not admit it, Jiang Zhi and Xue ¡®Gouzi¡¯ were close. Jiang Zhi looked at her with a half-smile, as if seeing through her lies, ¡°You have other friends?¡± No. Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t discuss it further, just asked, ¡°Will you give it to me?¡± This was so weird. ¡°Tell me the situation, and I¡¯ll make arrangements for you.¡± ¡°No, don¡¯t interfere.¡± She had an expression which said, ¡®if you interfere, I¡¯m not dealing with you anymore,¡¯ ¡°And don¡¯t ask.¡± Her curiosity piqued, Jiang Zhi pulled her into an embrace, ¡°What¡¯s this about? Can¡¯t I even know?¡± Zhou Xufang, ¡°It¡¯s a secret.¡± All secretive, refusing to tell him, Jiang Zhi felt provoked, ¡°You used to hide nothing from me, and now you have secrets I can¡¯t know.¡± His beautiful eyes held a hint of complaint, looking at her as if she were a faithless lover, ¡°Zhou Xufang, do you not love me as much as before?¡± Zhou Xufang, ¡°¡­¡± She was afraid his next words would be¡ªthen tell me you love me, a hundred times. Because Jiang Zhi had done that before. Zhou Xufang told him half-truth, ¡°It¡¯s about a girl¡¯s illness; it¡¯s inconvenient to let you know.¡± Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He didn¡¯t ask further, handed her his phone, ¡°You set the password.¡± Oh. Six zeros. Zhou Xufang opened the contacts list, scrolling through, ¡°Did you save it as ¡®Vice President Sun¡¯?¡± ¡°That¡¯s his official number, dial his personal number.¡± Jiang Zhi said, ¡°Tingyu Building takeout.¡± Zhou Xufang, ¡°¡­¡± It sounded like an underground meeting signal. She found the ¡®Tingyu Building takeout¡¯ number and went to the bathroom to call, telling Jiang Zhi, ¡°Don¡¯t eavesdrop.¡± Jiang Zhi held her back, ¡°Wait and call later.¡± She looked puzzled, ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°I need to confirm something first.¡± She looked even more puzzled, ¡°Confirm what?¡± Jiang Zhi pulled her into the bathroom and closed the door. Zhou Xufang only got a fever when he became emotional. He had to confirm, wasn¡¯t it that she hadn¡¯t answered whether she loved him, how much she loved him, whether she loved him more now, or more in the past? He had to ¡°figure¡± out a result. A one and a half hour rest, work starts at two in the afternoon. Zhou Xufang had just changed into the extras¡¯ clothes when Fang Lixiang came up with a comment, ¡°Is Jiang Zhi a dog?¡± Zhou Xufang, with an honest face, replied, ¡°No, he¡¯s a person.¡± ¡°Then why does he bite people?¡± Zhou Xufang couldn¡¯t understand, ¡°But he doesn¡¯t.¡± How could Jiang Zhi bite people? He was certainly not Gouzi, Xue Baoyi was Gouzi. Fang Lixiang handed her a mirror, ¡°Take a look at yourself.¡± After looking in the mirror, Zhou Xufang said, ¡°¡­¡± She was about to play a palace maid, and the collar of the palace maid¡¯s clothing wasn¡¯t high enough to cover her neck. Zhou Xufang pulled on her down jacket and squatted in the corner to send a WeChat message to Jiang Zhi. Fangbao: ¡°You are a dog.¡± Jiang¡¤Dog¡¤Zhi replied quickly. Fangbao¡¯s Boyfriend: ¡°How am I a dog?¡± Hmph! Zhou Xufang glared at Jiang Zhi from afar. Fangbao: ¡°Lixiang saw it.¡± Fangbao: ¡°Neck.¡± Zhou Xufang also sent an emoticon of a dog to Jiang Zhi. Fangbao¡¯s Boyfriend: ¡°So she saw, she¡¯s not underage.¡± Shameless! Little pervert! Fangbao: ¡°You can¡¯t do it again in the future.¡± But the little pervert had no shame at all. Fangbao¡¯s Boyfriend: ¡°Can¡¯t do what?¡± The word ¡°do,¡± Zhou Xufang felt, had a hooligan vibe to it. Fangbao: ¡°Neck.¡± Fangbao¡¯s Boyfriend: ¡°Is it okay in other places?¡± Zhou Xufang squeezed into a corner of the Imperial Palace walls, covered her face, and took a long time to respond. Fangbao: ¡°Okay.¡± Ah, she seemed to have been led astray by a little hooligan. Fangbao¡¯s Boyfriend: [Lie down and kiss Jiang Zhi] GIF Fangbao: ¡°.¡± Fangbao¡¯s Boyfriend: [Cry if you send another period] GIF Fangbao: [You can¡¯t send a period, must resist] GIF ¡°Director Jiang,¡± Vice Director Zhao asked, ¡°What¡¯s the good news?¡± Look at that smile, his damn face is practically bending. This guy must not know how seductively he smiles when he does. Jiang Zhi ignored him and picked up a phone call. ¡°The video has been sent to Luo Changde.¡± He lay there lazily, ¡°Tell the police.¡± After six o¡¯clock, it got dark. After the start of spring, the temperature had risen quite a bit, but it was still chillingly cold at night. The lights were off in the room, the computer was on, and the screen emitted a cold white glow. ¡°I saw with my own eyes, Luo Changde using a rebar to smash Tang Guangji¡¯s head. The child on the ground clung to his leg, begging him to stop, but he then drove that piece of rebar into the child¡¯s body.¡± ¡°All of this is just your side of the story. Do you have any evidence?¡± ¡°The murder weapon, I know where it is.¡± ¡°Where?¡± ¡°It¡¯s time to talk about my conditions.¡± Click! The person in front of the computer pressed the space bar, and the conversation in the video stopped there. He pressed the cigarette butt in his hand into the ashtray, sat silently for a moment, then suddenly grabbed the ashtray and smashed it onto the floor, shattering glass everywhere. The light from the computer screen reflected in his eyes, somber and dark. He shut down the computer, got up, and left the room. Xu Yunci happened to be coming upstairs to call someone, ¡°Where are you going? It¡¯s almost time for dinner.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t follow me.¡± Luo Changde went downstairs. The outside of the villa was shrouded in darkness. He headed towards the greenhouse in the back, while a dark figure jumped down from Ping Building nearby, following him at a not too close yet not too far distance. No one was in the greenhouse. Luo Changde used his mobile phone as a light, walked up to a flower rack, glanced behind him a few times, then moved all the flower racks and pots nearby aside. That spot on the ground wasn¡¯t covered with tiles, a few sparse weeds growing. He grabbed a shovel and began to dig into that patch of soil. Without any lights on in the greenhouse, a shadow snuck in and hid behind the flower rack by the door. Chapter 255 - 255: 255: Xu Fang regains memory, all the truths (one more update) Chapter 255: 255: Xu Fang regains memory, all the truths (one more update) The flower room was dark when a shadow sneaked in and hid behind the door¡¯s flower rack. That shadow could only be Lord Black Impermanence. Luo Changde dug with a shovel a few times before squatting down to dig with his hands. From Zhou Xufang¡¯s perspective, she could only see his back and his frantic digging. Without warning, a burst of flame suddenly appeared before her eyes, and a fierce fire started all around. Outside the flower room, someone broke in with a bang, kicking open the door. ¡°Housekeeper Tang.¡± Eight years ago, Luo Changde wasn¡¯t so thin and was quite robust. Tang Guangji, seeing it was him, was shocked, ¡°Young master, with such a big fire, why have you come in too?¡± He said, eyes reflecting the towering flames, ¡°Give me the person.¡± The person on his back was barely conscious, and Tang Guangji, careful to avoid the still-burning wooden flower rack, said, ¡°I¡¯ll carry her, you get out quickly, the fire is getting bigger.¡± ¡°Give me the person.¡± The smoke filled the area, and Luo Changde¡¯s voice was hoarse, he threw away the towel covering his nose and mouth and picked up a steel rebar from the ground. The rebar dragged on the ground, making a grating sound. Tang Guangji was immediately on guard, ¡°You¡¯re not here to save her.¡± As he backed away, still carrying the person, he looked wary, ¡°What are you trying to do?¡± He had no patience left, irritable and gloomy, ¡°I told you to give me the person.¡± He was not here to save but to harm¡­ Tang Guangji set Luo San down and shook her forcefully to rouse her from near unconsciousness: ¡°Luo San! Luo San!¡± She struggled to open her eyes. Tang Guangji gripped her shoulder, trying to get her to come to, ¡°Hide behind the flower rack, quickly go.¡± She was dazed, nodded, and staggered backwards. Bang! Luo Changde shut the wooden door of the flower house, and in the semi-glass flower room spanning over a hundred square meters, thick smoke billowed. Hiss¡ª Hiss¡ª Hiss¡ª The sound of the rebar dragging grew closer, more piercing to the ears. Tang Guangji glanced back at the girl behind him, turned, and lunged at Luo Changde, but being too long in the fire himself, his steps were unsteady, and Luo Changde shoved him aside. The flower rack was right in front of them. Luo San stumbled, fell to the ground, completely out of strength, she tried to get up several times but couldn¡¯t, slowly crawling forward. Just as she was near the flower rack, a hand reached from behind, grabbing her ankle tightly. It was Luo Changde. He squatted on the ground, gripping her foot, dragging her back. She was terrified, kicking wildly, whimpering. Luo Changde said, ¡°Stop screaming.¡± He raised the rebar in his hand, and just then, Tang Guangji, on the ground, got up and picked up a chair, smashing it down from behind. Luo Changde was struck hard on the back and stumbled forward. Tang Guangji quickly pulled Luo San up and pushed her toward the door, ¡°Run!¡± She shook her head, open her mouth but made no sound, she was saying: let¡¯s go together. Tang Guangji shouted at her, ¡°Run!¡± Unsteady, she leaned against the scorching glass of the flower house and pointed behind Tang Guangji, ¡°Tang, Uncle, go, now.¡± Her words seemed torn from her throat, dry and hoarse. Tang Guangji turned and saw Luo Changde behind him, the steel rebar already raised in his hand, his eyes scorched red by the fire: ¡°You can still talk?¡± That meant she needed to die. Tang Guangji grabbed his waist, rushing him backward into the flower rack behind, holding him tightly and looking back to shout at Luo San, ¡°Run!¡± ¡°Go!¡± She wouldn¡¯t run, but stumbled forward, and as Luo Changde¡¯s rebar fell, she grabbed his hand, ¡°Don¡¯t hit Uncle Tang.¡± Tang Guangji, with red eyes, still yelling, told her to go. Luo Changde swung forcefully, throwing her to the ground, raised the steel rebar, and smashed it down on Tang Guangji¡¯s back. Tang Guangji fell to the ground, unable to get up, still shouting, ¡°Luo San, run¡­¡± The rebar, heated by high temperatures, burned to the touch. Luo Changde put on gloves from the flower rack and walked over, holding the half-meter-long rebar, and said, ¡®This is all your fault,¡¯ his eyes red, he forcefully smashed Tang Guangji¡¯s head. Luo Changde was prone to outbursts, and Luo Yinghe was just like him. On the second strike, his leg was grabbed by someone. ¡°Stop.¡± A fourteen-year-old girl, very small, short, and thin, used all her strength to pull at his leg, ¡°Don¡¯t hit him.¡± Her voice was rough, sobbing, ¡°Don¡¯t hit him, don¡¯t hit him¡­¡± Luo Changde squatted down, eyes red and completely irrational, pinched her shoulder. ¡°This is all your fault.¡± She desperately shook her head, ¡°I won¡¯t tell, I won¡¯t speak out.¡± ¡°Initially thought you were mute, but it turns out you can talk, you won¡¯t speak out?¡± He couldn¡¯t believe her, ¡°Only the dead truly keep secrets.¡± He grabbed her clothes, his hand moving from the thin shoulder of the girl to her neck. Tang Guangji, lying on the ground, struggled to his feet, all bloodied at the back of his neck, forcefully pushed Luo San away and seized the steel bar from Luo Changde¡¯s hand. ¡°Luo Changde,¡± Tang Guangji cursed, ¡°Beast!¡± Tigers don¡¯t eat their cubs, let alone humans. Luo Changde kicked him away. Tang Guangji crashed into the flower rack, all the flowerpots above fell, hitting Tang Guangji on the head and body, the flower rack teetered twice, then crashed down on him. ¡°Uncle Tang!¡± The real wood flower rack, tall as a wall, could crush bones to bits. Tang Guangji lay on the ground, face covered in blood. Luo San crawled over, undeterred by the heat, barehanded she tried to pull the flower rack, but it was too heavy, she couldn¡¯t move it. ¡°Someone, is there anyone?¡± ¡°Save him, please save him¡­¡± Her hands blistered from the heat, she didn¡¯t feel the pain, numbly she kept pushing the burning flower rack, crying out for Uncle Tang, but Tang Guangji no longer responded. Luo Changde grabbed her by the nape, dragging her away. She kicked and hit him, struggling to get up, but he pressed her down with the searing rebar on her shoulder. She was terrified of him, shivering as she cried out, ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± ¡°Jiang¡ª¡± Luo Changde pressed his knee against her flailing legs, ¡°Stop yelling.¡± She kept yelling for Jiang Zhi, calling out to him continuously. Jiang Zhi had once said, ¡°If someone bullies you, call for me, and I¡¯ll come to help you.¡± ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± ¡°Jiang Zhi¡­¡± Luo Changde, driven to even greater fury by her cries, groped on the ground for a hammer, ¡°I told you not to yell!¡± He picked up the hammer and forcefully drove the rebar down. Just once, and blood surged out. Her legs stopped moving, she took a deep breath that stuck in her throat, reaching out, ¡°Save, save,¡± pointing at the flower rack, ¡°Tang, Tang¡­¡± In Luo Changde¡¯s eyes, there was no reflection, only a gleam of blood, only shades of red. His head was covered in sweat, blood coursing rapidly over his bulging veins, ¡°It¡¯ll be over soon.¡± ¡°Soon you¡¯ll be freed.¡± Bang! Bang! Bang! With each strike, the hammer hit the rebar. Gradually, the girl on the ground stopped struggling, her hand drooping down, motionless. The fire grew stronger, reflecting a figure in the glass of the greenhouse, covering his mouth and nose, hiding behind the flower rack, it was Ah Bin¡­ Countless fragments collided in Zhou Xufang¡¯s brain, those memories buried deep resurfacing, she felt a splitting headache, lost her balance slightly, and bumped into a flowerpot behind her. Clang¡ª Luo Changde suddenly turned around, ¡°Who¡¯s there!¡± Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In his hand, he held the section of rebar that had once been nailed into her body, now covered with rust. In the dim light, Zhou Xufang saw those eyes filled with panic, grimness, agitation, and in an instant, a flicker of murderous intent. Such a gaze, she had seen it before outside Luo Changde¡¯s bedroom. The door wasn¡¯t closed tightly, leaving a crack. Inside the room, Luo Changde had his wife of the Xiao Family pressed against the sofa, his mood violently erratic and furious, ¡°Speak, why aren¡¯t you speaking?¡± His hand moved from her shoulder to her neck. ¡°Go tell others, it was I who violated Zhou Qingmeng.¡± He choked the Xiao Family¡¯s wife, bellowing, ¡°Go on! Go ahead!¡± The Xiao Family¡¯s wife struggled, whimpering. Luo Changde pried open her mouth with one hand while grabbing a jar of sleeping pills from the coffee table with the other, biting it open and shoving the entire jar into her mouth, ¡°I told you to speak, I told you!¡± Sleeping pills the size of beans scattered all over the ground. The Xiao Family¡¯s wife coughed a few times, then stopped struggling. Only then did Luo Changde regain his senses, and suddenly there was a clang from outside. He turned around, ¡°Who¡¯s there!¡± It was that same look, filled with panic, grimness, agitation, and a flicker of murderous intent in an instant. He pushed the door open, seeing no one, only a clump of foxtail grass on the floor. ¡°Who¡¯s out there?¡± Luo Changde raised the flashlight on his phone, lighting up the entrance of the flower rack. Again, there was silence behind the flower rack. He gripped the rusty section of rebar, stepping forward. Suddenly, a dark shadow emerged from the dimness, supporting herself on the flower rack, her steps wobbly. The greenhouse lights were off, making it too dark to clearly see the person; Luo Changde eyed her warily, ¡°Who are you?¡± Zhou Xufang lifted her head, her eyes bloodshot in the darkness, she said, ¡°I am Luo San.¡± The Luo San you nailed here with a rebar. Dead people don¡¯t come back to life, naturally Luo Changde didn¡¯t believe, ¡°Who are you really?¡± Zhou Xufang stepped out, approaching step by step, ¡°The wronged spirit you killed.¡± He abruptly raised the rusty section of rebar. Clang! The door to the greenhouse was kicked open, Jiang Zhi stormed in, knocking Luo Changde to the ground with a kick, his face masked, pulling Zhou Xufang behind the flower rack. ¡°Don¡¯t come, you never listen.¡± Jiang Zhi held back his voice, both angry and anxious, ¡°You¡¯re not obedient at all.¡± ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± She called out to him once, then suddenly her legs gave, sinking to the ground. Jiang Zhi immediately supported her, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Worried she might be hurt, he became frantic, ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Fang Bao?¡± Outside, police sirens sounded. Luo Changde tried to rise, but Jiang Zhi went over and gave a hard kick to his stomach, Luo Changde cried out in pain, doubling over, unable to rise. Only then did Jiang Zhi scoop up Zhou Xufang, exiting the Luo Family greenhouse, taking a shortcut through the back of the yard, leading her up to the loft where she had once lived. The loft door was unlocked, the light broken, the wooden bed covered in dust; Jiang Zhi laid Zhou Xufang on the bed. ¡°Xu Fang.¡± She appeared lost and dazed, her eyes dull. Jiang Zhi held her shoulders, ¡°Tell me, what¡¯s wrong?¡± He called her ¡°Fang Bao¡± twice before she came to her senses, the blood in her eyes fading somewhat, slightly flushed, ¡°Jiang Zhi, I remember everything.¡± Jiang Zhi knelt before her, removing her mask, tilting his head up touching her face, ¡°Remembered what?¡± The moonlight streamed in, her complexion pale, her lips trembling slightly, ¡°He killed someone, I saw it.¡± She grasped Jiang Zhi¡¯s hands, ¡°He killed his wife.¡± Chapter 256 - 256: 256: Revealing the past, Luo Sans identity (second update Chapter 256: 256: Revealing the past, Luo San¡¯s identity (second update ¡°He killed someone, and I saw it,¡± she clutched Jiang Zhi¡¯s hand, ¡°He killed his wife.¡± She remembered, remembered everything. At seven, she asked He Xiangxiu, ¡°Aunt Xiu, why do the Luo Family hate me so much? My last name is Luo too.¡± She taught herself to speak; she barely ever opened her mouth, her voice was strange, and her pronunciation odd. That time, He Xiangxiu scolded her and even hit her, then forbade her from speaking again. After scolding her, she found a pair of scissors and cut off all the hair that reached her ears. ¡°You¡¯re not Luo San.¡± He Xiangxiu said, ¡°You have a name too.¡± Luo San stammered, ¡°What is my name?¡± With reddened eyes, He Xiangxiu took a broom and began sweeping up the hair from the floor. ¡°There¡¯s a small town in Xiangnan called Xufang Town,¡± she said in a choked voice, looking down. ¡°Your mom and your uncle came from there.¡± She paused for a very long time. She said, ¡°Your last name is Zhou, after your mom, and your name is Zhou Xufang, Xu Fang from Xufang Town.¡± The seven-year-old child, confused, asked, ¡°Aunt Xiu, where are my mom and uncle then?¡± He Xiangxiu did not respond. Little Luo San reached out to pull her sleeve, ¡°Where did they go? Why haven¡¯t they come to pick me up?¡± She turned her head away, wiping her eyes, ¡°They¡¯re gone.¡± Luo San didn¡¯t understand and persisted, ¡°What does ¡®gone¡¯ mean?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t ask anymore.¡± He Xiangxiu shook off her hand and rummaged through a cabinet, pulling out a necklace¡ªor rather, just a string with a piece of metal on it, which had some words engraved and signs of polishing. He Xiangxiu hung the metal piece around her neck, ¡°This was left by your mother. Keep it with you. If anyone asks who your mother is, pretend you know nothing. You have no name, no home, and no mother or uncle, understand?¡± The seven-year-old Luo San didn¡¯t understand, but she excitedly thought that one day her mom and uncle would come for her, and take her back to her own home. ¡°Remember, you mustn¡¯t let anyone know you can talk, nor can they know you¡¯re a girl.¡± He Xiangxiu had repeated this warning to her many, many times, but she always failed to remember. Tang Guangji worked for the Luo Family, and back then, Mr. Luo was still hale and hearty. Tang Guangji stayed by the old man¡¯s side and seldom returned to Ping Building. In fact, Luo San didn¡¯t spend much time with him, but she liked him a lot. Even though he always seemed to dislike her in front of others and would hit and yell at her, she still really liked him. Back then, she envied Tang Xiang so much because she had such a good father. Whenever Tang Guangji came back, he would visit Tang Xiang first, and then come to the attic. She would see him and be so happy, calling out with her rough voice, ¡°Uncle Tang.¡± Tang Guangji¡¯s response was cold, ¡°You¡¯re talking again. If your Aunt Xiu hears this, she¡¯ll hit you again.¡± She smiled stupidly. ¡°Did the Second Miss hit you just now?¡± Yes, she was hit with a rose. She shook her head. Tang Guangji took out a bottle from the back of his coat¡¯s hood, ¡°Use this medicine.¡± She wanted to say she wasn¡¯t in pain. She was a child with issues¡ªwhile not being able to talk was a lie, not feeling pain was true. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter if it doesn¡¯t hurt, you still have to apply it.¡± Tang Guangji pushed the bottle into her hands and left. Holding the medicine bottle, she silently mouthed a thank you. She was still young back then, but she understood that Tang Guangji was a good person, but his whole family was also under the Luo¡¯s thumb, even his closest relatives worked for the Luo Family, dependent on them. He would always say, ¡°Luo San, Uncle Tang can¡¯t take care of you, you have to learn to survive on your own.¡± She knew if Tang Guangji¡¯s family was too nice to her, the Luo Family would be displeased, and if they were displeased, they would find ways to torment her. But Tang Guangji was just too kind-hearted, always unable to help but secretly treat her with kindness. He Xiangxiu was the total opposite; she would often hit and scold her, but she would choose to hit where the flesh was thick, places that didn¡¯t matter. When Luo San was in her thirties, Tang Xiang was already at university, staying at school and seldom coming home. The last time she came back, she taught her arithmetic, and this time, she taught her how to write. ¡°Luo San.¡± By then, Tang Xiang had grown very tall, unlike Luo San, who was skinny like a bean sprout. Tang Xiang gestured to her, ¡°Come here.¡± Luo San ran over with a bounce in her step. Tang Xiang wrote two characters in a notebook and showed her, ¡°This is your name, can you write it?¡± She shook her head. She could only grasp the most basic numbers, taught by He Xiangxiu during her leisure time. ¡°What a blockhead,¡± Tang Xiang scolded while holding her hand and teaching her to write on the paper, ¡°Start with the character ¡®three,¡¯ look carefully, just three strokes.¡± Tang Xiang drew three strokes with her hand and asked, ¡°Got it?¡± Luo San immediately nodded her head. The orange cat lying under the table woke up and meowed lazily. Luo San had found this cat at the Luo Family¡¯s doorstep. He Xiangxiu disagreed with keeping it and threw it out several times, but the cat kept coming back. Since she couldn¡¯t deal with it, she just let it be. When Luo San found it, it was just a scrawny little kitten, and now it had grown plump from eating well because Aunt Liu from the kitchen liked it and often fed it. But Aunt Liu didn¡¯t like Luo San and never gave her any treats. Luo San also named the orange cat Luo Si. She pointed at the cat and drew four strokes on the paper. Tang Xiang poked her forehead and called her a little idiot: ¡°¡®The character ¡®four¡¯ isn¡¯t written like this.¡± She wrote the character ¡®four¡¯ beside the four strokes and said, ¡°You copy it.¡± She couldn¡¯t write it well; it was crooked and twisted. ¡°You¡¯re hopelessly stupid!¡± Tang Xiang scolded her for being dumb while resignedly teaching her hand by hand. After that, Tang Guangji would find some old books and secretly slip them under Luo San¡¯s bed. She could now recognize many characters, but she wrote only a few, her hand disobedient, making writing a strenuous effort. He Xiangxiu threw all the Luo Family¡¯s unwanted newspapers, along with Tang Xiang¡¯s old books, old notebooks, and old pens to her. When Luo San wasn¡¯t working, she would write and draw by herself. One time, Luo Yinghe saw her. ¡°Pfft! Still trying to write.¡± Luo Yinghe threw her newspapers and pen on the ground and stepped on them, ¡°You¡¯re a retard; do you think you can even learn?¡± Luo Yinghe and Luo San were born in the same year, but Luo Yinghe was more than a head taller. She particularly despised Luo San, thinking her lowly and shabby. Her voice filled with malice, she said, ¡°Later, when my classmate comes, you¡¯d better stay in the attic; don¡¯t come out. If you disgust my guest, I¡¯ll never forgive you.¡± Luo San nodded and went to pick up the pen off the ground. Luo Yinghe grabbed a watering can used for plants and threw it at her: ¡°Stay away from me; you¡¯re filthy!¡± She was indeed filthy because she had to work in the greenhouse every day and also in the kitchen. The watering can was full of water, and when it hit her on the head, it soaked her bald scalp. Fortunately, it was plastic and didn¡¯t damage her skull. She picked up her things and stood farther away, out of Luo Yinghe¡¯s sight. ¡°No wonder that crazy old lady says you and your uncle are just stinking beggars.¡± The ¡°crazy old lady¡± was Luo Qinghe¡¯s mother. Luo San looked up because she heard the words ¡°uncle.¡± Luo Yinghe kept cursing, ¡°Your mom was a fox spirit.¡± She spat out the words maliciously, venting her anger, ¡°You¡¯re just a little fox spirit!¡± Luo San just listened. She wanted to hear more about her mom and uncle. ¡°Yinghe!¡± Xu Yunci ran in, interrupting, ¡°Don¡¯t talk nonsense!¡± Luo Yinghe snorted, ¡°I¡¯m not talking nonsense; Luo Qinghe¡¯s mom said it when she was sick.¡± Xu Yunci scolded her in a low voice and then said to Luo San, ¡°Don¡¯t just stand there, go outside.¡± Luo San clutched her belongings and left. That year, Luo Qinghe¡¯s mother from the Xiao Family was very sick, suffering from severe depression and schizophrenia, with tendencies toward violence and even suicide. For some reason, whenever Xiao Family saw Luo San, she would lose control of her emotions and become ill. Perhaps because of this, Luo Qinghe was particularly hostile toward Luo San, troubling her in every way she could whenever she was free. sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At that time, the Luo Family¡¯s perennial greenhouse was filled with blooming roses. Ah Bin came in and said, ¡°Miss, I have called Luo San for you.¡± Luo San approached timidly. Luo Qinghe had Ah Bin leave and called Luo San closer, ¡°See the flowers on the table?¡± Scattered on the table were freshly cut roses. Luo Qinghe instructed, ¡°Pull all the thorns off for me.¡± Luo San reached for scissors. ¡°With your hands.¡± Luo Qinghe commanded, ¡°Use your hands to pluck them.¡± Luo San never fought back because resistance was futile and only led to more trouble. She bowed her head and went over, taking a rose in her hands and tearing off its thorns. Rose thorns were hard to pluck, and after several pricks, her fingertips started to bleed. Luo Qinghe, holding a book with her tea nearby, dressed in an expensive and pretty dress said, ¡°You¡¯re so slow, didn¡¯t you eat?¡± Indeed, she hadn¡¯t eaten yet. Aunt Xiu was out, and Aunt Liu from the kitchen had thrown out all the leftovers. She was just drinking water and was now very hungry. She glanced at Luo Qinghe cautiously and continued pulling thorns. ¡°What are you looking at? Cursing me in your heart?¡± Luo Qinghe set down her cup. She was the lofty young miss, flamboyant and proud, ¡°To others, you claim to be the adopted child, but you really think of yourself as part of the Luo Family. You¡¯re nothing but a bastard, just lucky you were born the right sex.¡± Chapter 257 - 257: 257: The Sweetness of Young First Love (Part 1) Chapter 257: 257: The Sweetness of Young First Love (Part 1) ¡°You call yourself a Luo Family member just because you were said to be adopted; you¡¯re nothing but a bastard child who just happened to be born the right gender.¡± Luo San kept his head down, letting her curse. Luo Qinghe finished his tea in the cup, got up, and as he passed by her, he left a word, ¡°Don¡¯t let my mom see you again in the future, otherwise,¡± He laughed, but did not continue. After he left, Luo San took a deep breath. In fact, the adults in the Luo Family did not always bully her; they just harbored disgust in their eyes and turned a blind eye to all she endured and encountered. She feared Luo Qinghe and Luo Yinghe more, but Luo Qinghe, she feared the most. Luo Qinghe looked like her mother; Luo San was very afraid of this Madam of the Luo Family. Xiao Family had been sick for many years, sometimes better, sometimes worse. When her condition was good, she would lock herself up, hardly ever leaving her room. When her condition was bad, she would always cause trouble, make noise, and berate others, even harming herself, especially couldn¡¯t bear to see Luo San; every time she saw her, she would have an episode. One night, Luo San was asleep when suddenly someone choked her neck, she opened her eyes to see Xiao Family¡¯s eyes wishing to tear her apart. ¡°You bastard child.¡± Xiao Family strangled her throat, cursing her, ¡°Zhou Qingmeng¡¯s bastard!¡± Zhou Qingmeng¡­ This was the first time Luo San heard this name. She wanted to ask who Zhou Qingmeng was, whether she was her mother, but Xiao Family was strangling her neck so tightly that her fingernails almost broke into her flesh. ¡°All you Zhous deserve to die, and you¡¯re an incest bastard who deserves death even more!¡± Xiao Family¡¯s eyes were bloodshot, she cursed wildly, ¡°Die, just die!¡± Luo San with eyes open, stared at the ceiling, her vision getting blurrier and blurrier¡­ Bang¡ª He Xiangxiu rushed in: ¡°Madam.¡± She stepped forward to pull Xiao Family¡¯s hand away, ¡°Madam, please stop!¡± Afterward, Luo San thought, if Aunt Xiu had arrived a minute later, she probably would have gone to heaven, wondering if they would fill her belly with food there, and if they would serve braised pork. Xiao Family was severely ill that time, having swallowed a handful of sleeping pills. Thankfully, she was found early and rescued. After the dust settled, Luo Qinghe sought to settle the score, pinning all the blame on Luo San. Luo San remembered that day, Aunt Liu in the kitchen had gotten up early to prepare lunch. Aunt Liu said that the Luo Family had an important guest coming, He Xiangxiu asked her who was coming, and Aunt Liu said, ¡°The Young Master Jiang is here.¡± The Young Master Jiang. Luo San had heard of him through the lips of Luo Qinghe, seemingly the Young Master from the Luo Family¡¯s relative¡¯s side, who, due to poor health, had not visited much. In the morning, Luo Qinghe came to the flower room, dismissed Ah Bin and Master Peng, leaving only Luo San inside. Luo San knew that she was there to settle her mother Xiao Family¡¯s account. ¡°Didn¡¯t I tell you not to provoke my mom? Now you¡¯re not just mute, you¡¯re deaf too?¡± Luo San was ¡®mute¡¯ and wouldn¡¯t talk back no matter how much she was scolded. The flower room was warm all year round, and the roses were blooming beautifully. Luo Qinghe picked one and held it in her hand: ¡°Luo San, oh Luo San, why are you so detestable, just like your mother.¡± As she spoke, the rose also fell, landing on Luo San¡¯s body. Since she was working, she was wearing thin clothing, and the thorns pierced through, right into her flesh. Luo Qinghe asked, ¡°Does it hurt?¡± It didn¡¯t hurt. Since birth, she¡¯d had difficulty feeling pain, but that didn¡¯t mean she wasn¡¯t afraid of being beaten, just like not feeling hunger didn¡¯t mean she didn¡¯t need to eat or that she didn¡¯t love meat. She was a freak, but not invulnerable, only speechless. ¡°Why don¡¯t you scream? How come you¡¯re not screaming?¡± The ground was covered with roses; the reckless young girl laughed provocatively, ¡°Oh, I forgot, you¡¯re a mute.¡± The ¡®mute¡¯ on the ground said nothing, just hugging her arms and curling into a ball. ¡°Why are you still alive?¡± Luo Qinghe discarding the wilted rose in hand, picked two more branches, ¡°If I were you, I¡¯d have killed myself.¡± She wouldn¡¯t kill herself; she was going to wait for her mother and uncle to come for her. ¡°For a retard like you, being alive is just a waste of my Luo Family¡¯s food.¡± Luo Qinghe flung the rose stems onto her face, ¡°Oops, there¡¯s blood now.¡± She buried her head, using her sleeve to wipe the blood on her face. ¡°Does it still not hurt?¡± It hurt. But she didn¡¯t know where it hurt. ¡°Truly a bastard child, destined to suffer from the moment of birth.¡± Luo Qinghe held two thorny roses and lashed them against Luo San¡¯s body. Rose petals scattered all over the floor, as red as blood. Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Hey.¡± It was a young man¡¯s voice, accompanied by several coughs. Hearing this, Luo Qinghe turned around to see a handsome and pale face. Recognizing such good looks, she smiled gently, ¡°You must be Jiang Zhi.¡± At the time, Jiang Zhi was sixteen and in poor health. ¡°Come here.¡± He pointed to Luo San, ¡°Come and lead the way for me.¡± Luo Qinghe dropped the flowers, cleaning her hands with a handkerchief, ¡°I¡¯ll lead the way for you.¡± ¡°I want him to lead.¡± He didn¡¯t even glance at Luo Qinghe, ¡°Can you hear me? Come over.¡± That was the first time Luo San met Jiang Zhi. Ah, so there are people in the world who are so good-looking. That was her only thought at the time. The handsome boy asked her name, and the mute girl wrote her name on the ground, along with her cat¡¯s name. She was Luo San, and her cat was Luo Si. The characters were crooked and twisted, and she deeply regretted at the time¡ªwhy hadn¡¯t she practiced her writing more? That way, she could have shown him beautiful characters. When the Young Master from Jiang Family made a visit, he brought presents for everyone, one for each member of the Luo Family, except for Luo San, despite her also bearing the surname Luo. After lunch, Jiang Zhi came looking for her in the attic. She was startled and hurriedly hid behind the door. Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t enter but said from the doorway, ¡°I didn¡¯t know there was someone like you in the Luo Family, so I didn¡¯t prepare a gift for you.¡± He coughed twice, ¡°I¡¯ll make it up to you next time.¡± ¡°Cough cough cough cough cough¡­¡± He kept coughing. She, hiding inside, pressed her ear against the wall and listened intently. After a while, the sounds ceased, and she poked her head out, only to find he was gone, but there was a jar of milk left at the door. Sweet and delicious. When the weekend came, Tang Xiang returned, and she dragged Tang Xiang up to the attic. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Tang Xiang asked, not even setting down her bag. Luo San closed the door, picked up a piece of charcoal from the ground, and clumsily drew a boy with only three strands of hair on his head. Tang Xiang crouched down to see: ¡°Who did you draw here?¡± Since she couldn¡¯t speak, she drew a flower next to the boy. The young man was so good-looking, just like a flower. ¡°What¡¯s this supposed to be?¡± Tang Xiang still didn¡¯t understand. Luo San then wrote an ugly character on the ground. ¡°Jiang?¡± Tang Xiang guessed, ¡°Young Master Jiang?¡± She nodded vigorously. Young Master Jiang had visited the Luo Family a few days ago, and Tang Xiang knew about it: ¡°What did you ask him?¡± She pointed to herself, wrote ¡°Luo San¡± in two characters, and then pointed to the boy with three strands of hair. ¡°Did you ask his name?¡± She nodded as if pounding garlic. Tang Xiang said, ¡°His name is Jiang Zhi.¡± Know. Luo San wrote this character on the ground. Tang Xiang shook her head, ¡°Not that one.¡± Taking a small piece of charcoal, she wrote another character next to ¡®Öª¡¯, ¡°This one, the Zhi in weaving.¡± The Zhi in weaving. Jiang Zhi, Jiang Zhi, Jiang Zhi¡­ She finally knew his name, and she was so slow; it took many lessons from Tang Xiang before she could write her own name, yet she learned how to write Jiang Zhi¡¯s name after just one glance. The good-looking young man was called Jiang Zhi. When Jiang Zhi came to the Luo Family again, it was half a month later. This time he didn¡¯t bring gifts for the others but carried a delicate bag up to the attic. ¡°For you.¡± He didn¡¯t come in but handed the bag over, ¡°A gift, for everyone in the Luo Family.¡± His meaning was, everyone in the Luo Family was accounted for last time, this was to make up to her. Luo San hid behind the door, timidly reaching out to take it, her hand small, dry, very thin, and very dark. The gift was a box of pink candies, packed in a pretty glass container; Jiang Zhi hadn¡¯t chosen it himself¡ªhe wouldn¡¯t know how to pick gifts. It was chosen by his ¡°fair-weather friends.¡± ¡°Fair-weather friends¡± were calling from below: ¡°Brother Zhi.¡± Young men, in their flippant manner. ¡°I¡¯m coming.¡± Jiang Zhi responded and went downstairs. Luo San, hiding behind the door, peeked out furtively, watching him. ¡°Did you deliver the gift?¡± It was the seventeen-year-old Xue Baoyi. The gift was his idea, thinking it was for a young lady; he picked something pink and tender, sweet and delightful. Jiang Zhi glanced back at the attic absent-mindedly and grunted in acknowledgment. ¡°Is it for Luo Qinghe or for Luo Yinghe?¡± Xue Baoyi could whistle at girls since he was just a teen, sly and naughty, never thinking about anything serious. Jiang Zhi just gave him a cold look, ignoring him. That only egged him on, and he exclaimed in an old man¡¯s tone, ¡°Ah, our Brother Zhi is finally of the age to have spring dreams, knowing to give gifts to young ladies.¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡°Get lost.¡± The girl secretly watching from the attic giggled to herself. Yes, she was a young girl, fourteen years old¡ªsupposedly the age of blossoming, yet she seemed more like a blade of grass. From that day on, Luo San grew fond of pink, of sweets, of the beautiful glass box, and of a handsome young man. Chapter 258 - 258: 258: First Love, Heart Flutter, Embrace, Promise a Lifetime (Second Update) Chapter 258: 258: First Love, Heart Flutter, Embrace, Promise a Lifetime (Second Update) She wanted to give the most beautiful things in the world to that handsome young boy. S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. From the greenhouse, she picked the most beautiful, most noble orchid. To give it to him, she secretly stood outside the Luo Mansion¡¯s window for a very, very long time. He saw her. ¡°What are you skulking around here for?¡± She handed him the orchid and bolted away. Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± This little fool, why give him a flower? ¡°What are you standing there for?¡± Qiao Nanchu came out too. Behind him followed Xue Baoyi. Once he saw the orchid in Jiang Zhi¡¯s hand, he began to tease, ¡°Oh, received flowers, did you?¡± He squinted and made faces, all not very serious, ¡°Brother Zhi, which lady is it?¡± He hadn¡¯t seen who it was from inside. A lady? It was a little bald kid. Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t like flowers; he held it and looked for a while but didn¡¯t discard it: ¡°Stop talking nonsense.¡± Xue Baoyi, at the age of having springtime fantasies, had taken a girl out a few times on his motorcycle for mahjong games, fancied himself a ¡®casanova¡¯, and assumed an experienced air: ¡°How am I talking nonsense? If she gave you flowers, she must have a crush on you.¡± ¡°Can¡¯t you keep your mouth shut?¡± Jiang Zhi, holding the orchid, went inside. Xue Baoyi, behind him, teased Qiao Nanchu: ¡°Look at him, his face is all red.¡± Qiao Nanchu glanced at him, and sure enough, it was red. Jiang Zhi took the flower back to the Jiang Family. It was the most precious one from the Luo Family¡¯s greenhouse, naturally, Mr. Luo San got a beating. At night, Tang Guangji came home, bringing meat with him. He called over the limping Luo San and handed her the takeout meat: ¡°Go eat upstairs.¡± She was beaten that day and limped a little, but she was very happy, joyfully hugging the meat as she went up to the attic. Tang Guangji muttered behind her: ¡°She¡¯s too thin, need to get her more meat to eat.¡± He Xiangxiu scoffed, ¡°Having rice to eat is already good enough.¡± Where was there meat to eat? The Luo Family wanted to punish her. Eating too much could also become a reason for a beating. Luo San heard Tang Guangji¡¯s words. She felt that since Jiang Zhi was so thin, he needed to eat meat to fatten up. Later, when Tang Guangji wasn¡¯t at home and when He Xiangxiu wasn¡¯t watching her, she would sneak into the kitchen, steal meat for Jiang Zhi to eat, and even save the medicine she was supposed to take when she was sick, hiding it in her pillow, waiting for Jiang Zhi to come, then give it all to him, because his health was poor and he always needed to take medicine. Later, winter came, and Jiang Zhi, being cold-sensitive, rarely visited the Luo Family. Later, whenever Luo San had free time, she would squat at the entrance of the Luo Family mansion, aimlessly waiting and waiting, for the person at the sight of whom her heart leapt with joy. She recognized the Jiangs¡¯ car from a distance. ¡°Young Master Jiang.¡± Jiang Zhi stopped in his tracks: ¡°You go ahead first.¡± Jiang Chuan hesitated for a moment but obeyed the command. ¡°Come out.¡± Jiang Zhi stood at the entrance of the Luo Mansion, not walking in, The entrance was flanked by a four- to five-meter-tall cedar tree on each side. Luo San shuffled out from behind a tree, tiptoeing and cowering. Jiang Zhi looked at her, ¡°What are you hiding here for?¡± Waiting for you. Her dark little face was too thin, making her eyes look oversized. Winter had set in, and the Imperial City¡¯s winter was very cold, very cold. It rained in the morning, and the wet grounds quickly turned into a layer of thin ice. In this weather, she was just wearing a single-layer outfit with a work jacket over it. The jacket had five large characters printed on it¡ªJiajiale Furniture. Jiang Zhi frowned, ¡°The Luo Family doesn¡¯t even buy you clothes?¡± He had asked the old lady at his house about Luo San, who the Luo Family outwardly claimed was an adopted child, yet it seemed that even the servants got better treatment than this adopted child. He glanced at her hands, which had been frozen terribly. He took off his down jacket and gave it to her: ¡°Put it on.¡± She didn¡¯t take it, just gazed at him with shining eyes. He was also cold, shivering, and chided her harshly: ¡°When I tell you to put it on, put it on. Don¡¯t dawdle.¡± The down jacket was a short model, black in color, and he wore a white sweater inside, as white as snow. The down jacket looked nice, and so did he. She took it from him, hugged and touched it for a while, and then put it on. Little fool. Leaving the clothes behind, Jiang Zhi turned his head and left. She ran after him, just a meter or two behind, firmly following. The boy ahead turned and said to her, ¡°Don¡¯t follow me.¡± She tiptoed, as quietly, gently, and sneakily as possible¡­ followed behind. Still following! The boy in front deliberately walked faster, and the little bald kid behind also sped up. It had rained in the morning, and there was thin ice on the ground. He walked too fast, his feet slipped, and he started to fall backward, but she immediately shortened her steps and went to embrace him, also taking a stance behind him, firmly supporting his waist. Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± Damn this posture! He cursed the wretched weather in his heart, but his face remained composed as he straightened up and glanced at the hand still resting on his waist, ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to let go?¡± Two boys, supporting each other like this, what did it look like! Luo San quickly let go; her hand was dirty, and it happened that he was wearing a white sweater, which now bore several black handprints where she had grabbed him. Filthy! Jiang Zhi dusted off his sweater but failed to remove the marks, and with a huff, he moved forward. Luo San followed behind, afraid he might fall again. With arms outstretched and legs wide like a horse stance, she walked behind him like a crab. The boy ahead turned back to look and chided with a laugh, ¡°Idiot.¡± That idiot smiled happily. After escorting Jiang Zhi back inside, Luo San went to sweep. The drizzly rain was intermittent, and fearing that the path might ice over and he might fall, she spread a layer of coarse sand on the road. The road was no longer slippery, but it dirtied the shoes. In the afternoon, Luo San was summoned by the second young miss. ¡°Did you spread the sand on the road?¡± Luo Yinghe, who disdained Luo San for being dirty, had never allowed her a step inside the mansion; they stood outside in the yard, where the cold was intense. The outdoor pool had developed a thin layer of ice, due to neglect. Luo San nodded. Luo Yinghe tossed her used sports shoes at her, ¡°Clean these.¡± Oh. She squatted down and picked up the shoes. Luo Yinghe was about to enter the house when she noticed Luo San¡¯s clothes, ¡°Where did you get that outfit?¡± It was given by Jiang Zhi. It was far too big for her, like a child wearing adult clothes. Luo Yinghe eyed the down jacket on her, ¡°You stole it, didn¡¯t you?¡± Luo San immediately shook her head. How could it not be stolen, such an expensive brand. Luo Yinghe was convinced that her hands were unclean, ¡°You were stealing food before, and now you¡¯re stealing clothes.¡± She stepped forward, grabbing Luo San by the sleeve, ¡°How can you afford such expensive clothing?¡± She ordered, ¡°Take it off.¡± The usually passive and silent Luo San resisted for the first time. She held onto her clothing with one hand while shoving Luo Yinghe with the other. Luo Yinghe stumbled backward, furious, ¡°I told you to take it off!¡± Luo San turned to run. Luo Yinghe grabbed the hat of her down jacket and yanked it with force. Using the momentum of her backward fall, she pushed her into the swimming pool. With a splash, water flew everywhere. Servants came running over at the noise and saw the second young miss standing by the pool, raging, ¡°You¡¯ve dirtied my pool. Don¡¯t come out until it¡¯s clean!¡± In the pool struggled Luo San. ¡°Second young miss,¡± a servant said, ¡°he doesn¡¯t seem to know how to swim.¡± Luo Yinghe scoffed, ¡°As if he could drown.¡± She just stood there watching. Not far away, the Luo Family¡¯s other servants were out watching the entertainment, buzzing with gossip. ¡°Isn¡¯t that Luo San?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°He offended the second young miss and got punished to clean the pool.¡± ¡°Idiots will be idiots, didn¡¯t even think to drain the water.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Jiang Chuan was leading the way in front, telling Jiang Zhi about the old lady¡¯s summons when someone suddenly ran past them. ¡°Young master!¡± Jiang Chuan was a step too slow, watching helplessly as the boy who gasped from just walking leaped into the pool. This was bad; he might lose half his life¡­ It was so abrupt; Luo Yinghe couldn¡¯t even see who it was, ¡°Who jumped in?¡± The servants saw the frantic Jiang Chuan: ¡°It looks like, it¡¯s Young Master Jiang.¡± Luo Yinghe panicked now, ¡°Well, don¡¯t just stand there, go rescue him!¡± When they pulled up the person, it indeed was Jiang Zhi! Jiang Zhi couldn¡¯t swim; the water was chillingly cold, and he, frail and with poor health, swallowed plenty of water, the icy liquid filling his lungs, and fell gravely ill, nearly losing his life. For the whole afternoon, Jiang Zhi suffered from an untreatable high fever and unconsciousness. In his stupor, he heard a hoarse voice calling him. ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± His eyelashes fluttered, unable to open his eyes, in a daze. At the bedside, a little Bald knelt. ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± She wiped her hand on herself before gripping his, ¡°From now on, I¡¯ll treat you well.¡± She said, with eyes reddened, ¡°I¡¯ll treat you very, very well.¡± Chapter 259 - 259: 259: Jiang Zhis illness is peculiar, Fang Bao comes to the rescue (first update) Chapter 259: 259: Jiang Zhi¡¯s illness is peculiar, Fang Bao comes to the rescue (first update) She said with reddened eyes, ¡°I will treat you very well, very well.¡± At that moment, there were people talking outside; she wiped her tear-streaked eyes and reluctantly climbed out of the window. It was Old Madam Jiang who had arrived, accompanied by the Jiang Family¡¯s household doctor, Dr. Qin, and the father-daughter pair of Luo Huaiyu. As soon as she entered the room, Old Madam Jiang urged Dr. Qin, ¡°Dr. Qin, please check on Brother Zhi quickly.¡± Dr. Qin stepped forward to take the pulse. Old Lady Jiang called out ¡®father-in-law¡¯ with an unfriendly tone, ¡°My Brother Zhi came here as a guest, and this is how the Luo Family treats him?¡± Luo Huaiyu remained silent, while Luo Changfang beside him started to explain, ¡°Mother, you¡¯ve misunderstood; Brother Zhi jumped in by himself.¡± Old Lady Jiang didn¡¯t believe a half of it, ¡°In such cold weather, who would be silly enough to jump into the water themselves?¡± Luo Changfang: ¡°¡­¡± Your precious grandson¡¯s head got caught by the door! ¡°Enough,¡± Old Madam Jiang dismissed the Luo father and daughter, ¡°Go attend to your affairs; let Brother Zhi rest quietly for now. After he wakes up, I will ask him myself.¡± Like a Lord Buddha! Although the Jiang and Luo families were related by marriage, the Jiang Family was larger and wealthier, the head of the four major families. In contrast, the Luo Family, with insufficient foundation, didn¡¯t rank highly in the Imperial City and was considerably lower than the Jiang Family. When Old Madam Jiang spoke, even in the Luo Family, Luo Huaiyu had to show her full respect. After the Luo father and daughter had left, Old Madam Jiang called over Jiang Chuan, ¡°Go and prepare Brother Zhi¡¯s medicine.¡± ¡°Yes, Old Madam.¡± After Jiang Chuan had gone out, Old Madam Jiang called outside, ¡°Fuxi.¡± A gentle girl came in slowly. She was a lady from the fourth house of the Jiang Family, Jiang Fuxi, a sixteen-year-old girl who was slender and handsome, with an elegant demeanor and a dignified air about her. Old Madam Jiang instructed her, ¡°I will return to the Jiang Family for a while; you stay here and take good care of Brother Zhi.¡± Jiang Fuxi agreed. After the Old Madam had left, she took off her overcoat carefully and hung it up, lifted her skirts, and approached the bedside, calling out, ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± The young man on the bed was in a deep sleep. She sat down, smoothing her skirt, leaned over, and touched the boy¡¯s face, softly calling his name. ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Her voice was obsessed, her eyes entranced. Jiang Zhi was awakened by the noise. When he opened his eyes, only the butler Jiang Chuan was beside the bed, and the sun outside was dim. He asked, ¡°Who was just here?¡± His voice was hoarse after a long fever. Jiang Chuan replied, ¡°I went to the kitchen to get medicine and wasn¡¯t paying attention.¡± He added, ¡°It must have been Miss Fuxi; she just left a while ago.¡± He approached with a tray, ¡°Young Master, you should drink the medicine first.¡± The traditional Chinese medicine was foul and bitter; Jiang Zhi frowned as he took the medicine bowl. Suddenly, the room door was smashed open. Luo San ran over, grabbed the bowl out of his hands, and flung it to the ground, spilling all the liquid medicine. ¡°What happened?¡± Jiang Zhi asked. She dragged him out and ran upstairs. Just like a thief, she closed the door behind them, tiptoed over, and whispered in his ear, ¡°You have to hide; they¡¯re poisoning you with the medicine, they¡¯re all bad people.¡± It was the first time Jiang Zhi had heard her speak. ¡°You can talk?¡± She didn¡¯t answer, rummaging through a tattered pillow to pull out a pill and wanted to feed it to him. He had his reservations, but still opened his mouth and swallowed an ¡®unknown origin¡¯ pill. Afterward, she stowed him away in a cabinet, leaning against the cabinet door, guarding it without leaving, until she looked up and saw someone outside the window. It was Luo Huaiyu, gesturing for her to come out. That was when Luo Huaiyu discovered that she could speak. She went to meet Luo Huaiyu; he started to undress her, but Tang Guangji intervened. By the time she returned to the attic, it was already completely dark outside. The sickly young man hadn¡¯t left, sitting on her little wooden bed and waiting, not minding the dirtiness, covered with her patched-up blanket. Because he had waited too long, he was unhappy, ¡°Where did you go just now?¡± She was preoccupied, thinking about something, and did not respond. He grew even more dissatisfied, staring at her angrily, ¡°Can¡¯t you speak? Why are you ignoring me?¡± She said, ¡°I went to work.¡± Her voice was rough and hoarse, uglier than many boys¡¯ voices during puberty. ¡°Why pretend to be mute?¡± He asked this as if he were no longer a boy, but someone old and mature, which was somehow reassuring. Luo San looked at him but didn¡¯t answer. ¡°Can¡¯t you tell me?¡± She nodded. The usually temperamental and impatient young man was very easy to talk to at the moment, ¡°Okay, I won¡¯t ask anymore, and you shouldn¡¯t tell anyone else.¡± She wouldn¡¯t tell anyone else, not even Tang Xiang. She only told him. ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± Her speech was usually not very fluent, but she didn¡¯t stumble when she said his name. She spoke very slowly, almost letter by letter, ¡°Don¡¯t drink the medicine Jiang Chuan serves you, he is a bad person.¡± The normally silent girl said many words to him, ¡°Luo Changfang is too.¡± She said, ¡°I was hiding in the kitchen when I heard it, Luo Changfang said to Jiang Chuan, ¡®reduce the Du Zhong by one qian, increase the Poria by one qian.''¡± She hid in the kitchen to steal some meat for him to eat. The young man¡¯s eyes suddenly reddened. ¡°Okay, I understand,¡± he said. Outsiders always said that his grandmother loved him the most, wishing to pluck stars from the sky for him. He was too young at the time and actually believed it was true. She loved him but didn¡¯t protect him, unlike the foolish girl before him who, despite being unarmed, vulnerable, and barely able to feed herself, seemed ready to give him her heart. She tiptoed, touched his head, and clumsily patted, ¡°Don¡¯t be sad.¡± So foolish. ¡°Luo San,¡± he didn¡¯t dodge, letting her touch his head, ¡°I want the stars in the sky, will you pluck them for me?¡± Luo San said with disappointment, ¡°Stars can¡¯t be plucked.¡± If they could be, she would climb the heavens on her feet and reach for the stars with her hands. Jiang Zhi smiled, ¡°You¡¯re too short, once you grow a bit taller, you can pick them for me.¡± He was lying, but Luo San still nodded, agreeing that once she grew taller, she would pluck the stars for him. After that fall into the water, Jiang Zhi stayed in the hospital for half a month. The day after he was discharged, he paid a visit to the Luo Family. ¡°Second Miss,¡± Jiang Chuan went upstairs to fetch someone, ¡°Our young master asks for you to come over.¡± Luo Yinghe was surprised and flattered, ¡°What does he want with me?¡± Jiang Zhi had been a frequent visitor to the Luo Family over the past few months but had barely spoken to her, let alone had any private dealings. Unlike with Luo Qinghe, he was quite close to the foolish Luo San. Jiang Chuan replied from outside the room, ¡°The young master didn¡¯t say, and I¡¯m not very clear either.¡± ¡°Please wait a moment.¡± She changed into a beautiful dress, filled with secret joy, and went to the villa¡¯s back garden. Jiang Zhi had a handsome appearance and was considered one of the finest young masters in the Imperial City. Luo Yinghe, being in her early teens and of a romantically susceptible age, naturally had a favorable impression of the beautiful and noble young man. She went to meet him cheerfully, ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± The frail and exquisite young man stood by the poolside, behind him was the warm winter sun, which paled in comparison to the dazzling brilliance of his peach blossom eyes. He was absurdly beautiful. ¡°Was it you who pushed Luo San into the water?¡± he asked, immediately accusing. Luo Yinghe¡¯s heart, which had been fluttering with excitement, suddenly grew cold and anxious. She defensively said, ¡°I only asked him to clean the pool; he slipped and fell in by himself.¡± Jiang Zhi replied nonchalantly, ¡°Is that so?¡± Anxious, she avoided his gaze, ¡°Yes.¡± He didn¡¯t say anything more. He walked behind her and suddenly pushed her with his hand ¡ª splash ¡ª a large splash of water erupted. Jiang Zhi took a handkerchief from his coat pocket and wiped his hands, ¡°Sorry, I slipped.¡± The pool was almost two meters deep, and Luo Yinghe couldn¡¯t swim. Flailing wildly in the water, ¡°Help¡­ help¡­¡± As she opened her mouth to cry for help, she swallowed water and began to sink. The servants, hearing the commotion, rushed over and were about to jump in to save her when Young Master Jiang leisurely said, ¡°Your second miss is cleaning the pool. Don¡¯t go down and disturb her before she¡¯s finished.¡± With that, the servants didn¡¯t dare to move forward. ¡°Jiang Chuan.¡± ¡°Yes, young master.¡± Jiang Zhi tossed the handkerchief he used for wiping his hands to him, ¡°Stand here and watch. As long as she doesn¡¯t die, it¡¯s fine.¡± The implication was to let her drink some water and suffer a bit. Jiang Chuan glanced at the struggling girl in the water, ¡°Young master, this is not quite appropriate. What if¡ª¡± ¡°What have I done? How is it inappropriate?¡± Jiang Zhi¡¯s gaze half-closed, his peach blossom eyes surveyed the scene lazily, ¡°Did you see anything?¡± The servants were initially stunned and then shook their heads. Jiang Zhi twisted the facts without a change in expression, ¡°She slipped and fell by herself.¡± After he was finished, he left, leaving Jiang Chuan to watch. When the girl had drunk enough water, he finally allowed for her rescue. Naturally, she wouldn¡¯t drown; there was a limit to his actions. It was just to make Luo Yinghe swallow some cold water and suffer pneumonia. S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 260 - 260: 260: Xu Fang: Look, Ive finally grown up! (second update) Chapter 260: 260: Xu Fang: Look, I¡¯ve finally grown up! (second update) Certainly, it won¡¯t drown anyone, there¡¯s a limit to everything, it just made Luo Yinghe swallow some cold water and come down with pneumonia. Ever since then, Luo Yinghe had completely put Jiang Zhi out of her mind, not to mention pining after him, she was deathly afraid of him, and avoided him whenever she saw him. Naturally, this matter also reached Old Lady Jiang¡¯s ears. She summoned Jiang Zhi and lashed out angrily, ¡°If anything had happened to her, how would you have explained it to the Luo family?¡± Jiang Zhi, being young and insubordinate, retorted, ¡°Well, nothing happened, did it?¡± He didn¡¯t have a shred of remorse in him. Old Lady Jiang was extremely annoyed, seldom so sharp-tongued, ¡°You still don¡¯t think you¡¯re in the wrong?¡± He didn¡¯t think he was wrong, he even felt justified, ¡°You taught me to give as good as I get. My fall was her doing, now we¡¯re even.¡± The sixteen-year-old boy was recklessly arrogant. Old Lady Jiang sat and watched him, ¡°Just a few days ago you claimed you fell on your own, and now you say she caused it?¡± The young man spun his lies effortlessly, ¡°She ordered people to clean the pool, and I slipped because the water made the floor wet. If it¡¯s not her fault, whose is it?¡± Being obstinate was one thing, but he couldn¡¯t drag Luo San into it. This kind of unreasonable behavior further infuriated Old Lady Jiang, ¡°You still have the nerve to argue?¡± Unable to reason with him, she decreed, ¡°This afternoon, you¡¯re coming with me to the Luo family to apologize.¡± Jiang Zhi, ¡°I¡¯m not apologizing.¡± ¡°You¡ª¡± Old Lady Jiang, choked with rage, scolded, ¡°You hoodlum!¡± She was so angry she slammed the table, stood up, and stormed out. Jiang Zhi, who had been lounging on the chair, sat up, ¡°Don¡¯t go, I still have something to ask you.¡± He called out urgently, short of breath, and coughed several times. Old Lady Jiang¡¯s heart softened, and she turned back around to indulge this little ancestor, ¡°Now what do you want?¡± He caught his breath, and due to the coughing, a faint flush appeared on his pale skin, ¡°Do you know where Luo San was adopted from?¡± ¡°What does it matter to you?¡± S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°It matters because I can¡¯t understand why the Luo family, wanting a son to carry on the family line, didn¡¯t adopt a normal one. Instead, they chose someone who can¡¯t speak.¡± He also couldn¡¯t figure out why Luo San pretended to be mute. ¡°That¡¯s the Luo family¡¯s private business; how would outsiders know?¡± Old Lady Jiang spoke with him briefly, ¡°Mr. Luo said that child was already three years old when they found out there was a problem, and they couldn¡¯t bear to abandon him so they continued to raise him.¡± Such excuses would only fool those who are unaware. ¡°The child is neither here nor there, often berated and beaten,¡± the young man said mockingly, ¡°I think he must be the child of his enemy.¡± Others, who usually can¡¯t be bothered with their own affairs, are particularly concerned about the Luo family¡¯s adopted son. Old Lady Jiang disapproved, ¡°Worry about your business, and especially that mute from the Luo family¡ªkeep your distance.¡± He hmphed, and said nothing. Keeping his distance was out of the question; Young Master Jiang sought out the Little Mute whenever he went to the Luo family. Because of this, a lot of idle gossip started to spread, claiming that Young Master Jiang had a taste for youthful love, especially for those who had not yet blossomed. Each time Luo San heard such talk, she felt extremely disheartened, sneaking away to the restroom, undoing the white cloth binding her chest, holding a little broken mirror and looking at herself from all angles, growing more dejected with each glance. Ah! She really was an undeveloped sprout. It wasn¡¯t until summer that she began to grow a bit taller, and her chest developed somewhat, afraid of being noticed, she always slouched and hunched over. Because of this, Jiang Zhi picked on her a few times for cowering like a mouse. ¡°Luo San.¡± She had just finished picking foxtails when Luo Yinghe stopped her, ¡°What are you holding in your hand?¡± It was Jiang Zhi¡¯s favorite thing. Jiang Zhi had said he would come to see her today, so she went to the back yard to pick a handful of the most lush foxtails, each one carefully selected. Luo Yinghe glanced at the bunch of grass, ¡°You always bring trash into the house, like a beggar.¡± After her scolding, she pointed to an orchid at the doorway, ¡°Take that orchid to your great-aunt.¡± Luo San stood still. Luo Qinghe had said, she was not to show herself in front of the Xiao family. Seeing her unresponsive, Luo Yinghe grew angry and scolded, ¡°Are you deaf? Get moving!¡± Once finished scolding, she added, ¡°Just place it at the door when you go down. If Luo Qinghe asks, tell him I told you to bring it.¡± Luo San hesitated for a moment but eventually carried the pot of orchids upstairs. ¡°Idiot!¡± Luo Yinghe was triumphant, laughing with glee. As the Xiao Family quarreled with Luo Changde upstairs, this little idiot was heading up now, just wait until the Xiao Family bumps into her, then there¡¯ll be a good show to watch. Luo Changde and his wife had been separated for many years, with the Xiao Family residing on the third floor. Before Luo San even approached the gate, she could hear the sound of arguing, faint and indistinct. It was the Xiao Family cursing. ¡°Luo Changde, you¡¯re nothing but a beast!¡± ¡°You wouldn¡¯t even spare your own cousin.¡± She sounded mad, cursing and laughing at the same time: ¡°Even the heavens can¡¯t stand you, hahaha¡­ Serves you right to have your manhood cut off by Zhou Qingmeng, serves you right to have no heirs.¡± Luo Changde wasn¡¯t any better, completely losing control of his emotions. Inside the room, porcelain was being smashed with loud crashes. ¡°Shut your damn mouth!¡± The Xiao Family didn¡¯t restrain herself, instead escalating her insults: ¡°After you¡¯re done with the cousin, you¡¯ve set your sights on your sister-in-law, you¡¯re truly disgusting! I¡¯m going to expose you, I¡¯m going to let everyone know you¡¯re lower than pigs and dogs!¡± ¡°I¡¯m warning you one more time, shut your mouth!¡± ¡°You shameless beast¡ª¡± Before she could finish cursing, thud¡ªa sound interrupted as Luo Changde pressed the Xiao Family against the sofa, his hands around her neck. ¡°Speak up, why aren¡¯t you speaking now?¡± ¡°Go tell others, it was me who violated Zhou Qingmeng.¡± ¡°Go on! Go ahead!¡± He pried her mouth open with one hand while with the other, he grabbed a bottle of sleeping pills and began to force them into her mouth: ¡°I told you to speak, I told you to!¡± Sleeping pills scattered all over the floor, and after struggling a few times, the Xiao Family stopped moving. The door was unlocked. Behind it, Luo San, covering her mouth, turned to run, but the flowerpot in her hand collided with the wall, making a noise. Luo Changde abruptly turned: ¡°Who!¡± In a panic, she dropped the foxtail grass from her hands, not bothering to pick it up, and ran down the stairs clutching the flowerpot. Luo Changde watched the gap in the door for a long while before turning his gaze back inside. He let go of his grip and checked the Xiao Family¡¯s carotid artery¡ª Thud! The half-bottle of sleeping pills he held fell to the ground. He sat on the sofa for a while, then pushed the door open and went outside. At the door, he saw a pile of foxtail grass, glanced back at the Xiao Family on the sofa who hadn¡¯t closed her eyes yet, locked the room door, and went downstairs. In the downstairs hall, only Luo Yinghe was there. ¡°Did you just go upstairs?¡± Luo Yinghe looked up to see Luo Changde¡¯s bloodshot pupils and involuntarily moved back: ¡°It wasn¡¯t me, it was Luo San.¡± She dared not meet Luo Changde¡¯s eyes, ¡°L-Luo San went up to deliver flowers, I told him not to, but he wouldn¡¯t listen.¡± Luo Changde said nothing and went back upstairs. That evening, the head lady of the Luo Family, the Xiao Family, died from an overdose of sleeping pills. No investigation was launched; Luo Changde told outsiders it was suicide because the Xiao Family suffered from depression and schizophrenia, prone to self-harm and suicidal tendencies¡ªno one suspected a thing. That night there was thunder, and Luo San slept in a daze as someone pushed open the attic door. Thinking it was He Xiangxiu, she sat up and turned on the light. It was Luo Qinghe, her eyes bloodshot as she walked to the side of the bed. ¡°My mom¡¯s dead.¡± She moved closer. Luo San moved back. Her gaze was lifeless, filled with flames fueled by hatred: ¡°You can go to hell too.¡± She picked up a stool and smashed it towards Luo San¡¯s head. Chapter 261 - 261: 261: Luo San, do you want to date me? (first update Chapter 261: 261: Luo San, do you want to date me? (first update She picked up a stool and smashed it on Luo San¡¯s head. The head was broken, but the person didn¡¯t die, just like He Xiangxiu said, Luo San¡¯s life was exceptionally tough. During the Xiao Family¡¯s first seven days of mourning, Luo Qinghe tormented her even more ruthlessly, and Luo Yinghe also added fuel to the fire. It wasn¡¯t long after her head had just healed that Luo Yinghe beat her with a bunch of flower branches, all because she picked up a piece of candy from the ground. The candy was for Jiang Zhi. Jiang Zhi called her a fool. When they met, it was at sunset, with a crimson glow. The beautiful young man had sweat on his forehead; his face and eye sockets were flushed red. He said, ¡°Luo San, come with me to the Jiang Family.¡± Jiang Zhi, only sixteen and still not grown up, was standing in a field of foxtail grass, his slender back blocking the light, ¡°Come to my house, I¡¯ll support you with my allowance.¡± He put the piece of candy she had picked up back in her hand, ¡°I can buy you a whole houseful of such candy.¡± Luo San¡¯s eyes were red as she nodded vigorously. That afternoon. Jiang Zhi came to bring her a box of cotton candy. It was exquisitely packed in a glass box, much prettier than Luo Yinghe¡¯s candy. He pushed the box into her hands, ¡°It wasn¡¯t me who bought it.¡± He awkwardly explained, ¡°It was from Xue Baoyi.¡± All lies! It was him who bought it; he couldn¡¯t bear to see her picking up other people¡¯s candy from the ground, so he ran through several streets to buy the most expensive one for her, even the candy box was inlaid with diamonds. He went on spinning his lies, ¡°You know Xue Baoyi, the one with the motorcycle last time at the door, who dyed his hair yellow.¡± He was young and naive, saying one thing but meaning another. Such a lame lie, but Luo San believed it; she believed whatever he said, ¡°I know.¡± That yellow-haired one who called him Brother Zhi, the one who wore a cross earring. Luo San thought that person was very stylish. The young man continued with his nonsense, talking lie after lie just to give her a box of candy, ¡°A girl gave it to him, we both don¡¯t like it.¡± She hummed in response, sitting on the steps next to the little pond, picking a pink one to eat first, taking a bite, and her eyes narrowed with satisfaction, ¡°This candy is so soft.¡± What a silly look. ¡°Have you never had it before?¡± She stuffed her mouth full of cotton candy, her cheeks puffed out, and nodded like a pecking chicken. Jiang Zhi frowned, ¡°What about the candy I gave you last time?¡± She replied with a thick voice, ¡°I haven¡¯t eaten it yet.¡± ¡°Why not eat it?¡± She couldn¡¯t bear to. Because the candy had a wrapper, which was colorful and pretty, she couldn¡¯t bear to open it. She said naively, ¡°I¡¯ll save it to eat during the New Year.¡± Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t know what to say to her. Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Meow.¡± ¡°Meow.¡± An orange cat lay at her feet, rubbing its head against her hand. She tore off a little bit of candy to feed it, it sniffed and shook its head. She just ate it herself, placing one piece after another into her mouth, chewing the candy, her two thin, black legs swinging back and forth, full of joy. Jiang Zhi watched and also felt happy inside, ¡°Is it tasty?¡± She nodded and picked out a pink one, feeding it to his mouth, ¡°You eat too.¡± The cotton candy was soft and tender pink, while the little baldy¡¯s hand was grimy. Jiang Zhi looked at the candy, then at her hand, somewhat disgusted by the dirt, but still opened his mouth and ate it. Sickeningly sweet. But she liked it, she really liked candy. ¡°Then wait for me here tomorrow, I¡¯ll bring you cotton candy.¡± She flashed him a grin, ¡°Okay.¡± Quite obedient. Jiang Zhi picked up the lazy, sprawled fat cat, tossed it aside, and after placing a cushion down, he sat next to Luo San. Fat Cat Luo Si: ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Meow!¡± After a couple of swipes of its claws, it obediently lay down on the other side. ¡°Jiang Zhi,¡± it was the name she called most naturally. He leaned back, supporting himself with his hands on the ground: ¡°Hmm?¡± She picked up the orange cat by her feet, kneading its chubby face that could barely show its eyes, forcing it into a delightful expression: ¡°Can Luo Si come with me to the Jiang Family?¡± She cautiously solicited a living for the fat cat in her arms. ¡°It doesn¡¯t eat much, and it can sleep outside.¡± Luo Si, who clearly ate more than Luo San: ¡°Meow.¡± Jiang Zhi picked up the cat again and tossed it farther away: ¡°Okay.¡± Ignoring the teeth-baring cat by his feet, he asked, ¡°Anything else you need to bring?¡± She thought for a moment: ¡°A pillow.¡± She was so happy, smiling timidly, ¡°I want to bring my pillow.¡± The pillow contained many treasures she wanted to take to his house. Jiang Zhi had seen that tattered pillow: ¡°Bring whatever you want.¡± She was even happier, her legs kicking more joyfully as she smiled shyly, revealing a row of white teeth: ¡°I won¡¯t eat for free, I can do chores for your family.¡± He asked, ¡°What chores?¡± After thinking seriously, she said: ¡°I can wash your clothes.¡± His tone was somewhat scolding; he didn¡¯t really reprimand her, just wasn¡¯t happy about her washing clothes: ¡°Who asked you to wash them? You¡¯re a boy; why wash clothes?¡± He turned his face away, not knowing whether it was the heat or something else, but his ears and neck were slightly red, ¡°When we get to my house, I¡¯ll find you a school to attend, and you can study.¡± Luo San nodded furiously, his voice more unpleasant than a drake¡¯s: ¡°You¡¯re so nice.¡± His mouth twitched upward, but he didn¡¯t look at her, staring at the distant setting sun instead: ¡°What¡¯s so nice about me?¡± ¡°Everything¡¯s nice.¡± Hmph, always picking the pleasant things to say. The weather was hot that day; the sun must have addled his brain as he turned to look at her, letting her clear and distinct eyes bewitch him. As if possessed, he asked: ¡°Do you like me, then?¡± She was dumbfounded, mouth agape, drool dripping down, the cotton candy she was eating fell onto his hand. Disgusting! Even with the mess, he still found her adorable, not put off by her at all, and used the back of his hand to wipe the saliva from the corner of her mouth: ¡°Luo San, do you want to be in a relationship with me?¡± She sucked back a mouthful of saliva, swallowed hard. The sixteen-year-old boy, flustered by first-time affection: ¡°I¡¯m not a pervert, nor do I like boys; it¡¯s just that¡ª¡± Smack! She planted a loud kiss on his face, leaving saliva all over, and timidly said: ¡°Jiang Zhi, I really like you.¡± ¡°You¡¯re so dirty!¡± After chiding her, the young boy blushed and laughed: ¡°I guess I sort of like you too.¡± The sun was almost down before Luo San returned to the greenhouse, and upon entering, she bumped into Master Peng of the greenhouse. Master Peng was carrying a bucket, blue plastic, its contents obscured, but Luo San, with her keen nose, sniffed out the smell of gasoline. ¡°Luo San.¡± Master Peng called out to her, then shook his head: ¡°Never mind.¡± Luo San touched her bald head and went off to water the flowers in the greenhouse. That evening, the Luo Family suffered a terrible fire; two died, one was injured, and on the same day, the young master of the Jiang Family fell severely ill and was left unconscious. Eight years later, Luo Changde was arrested for the greenhouse murder case. ¡°Chairman.¡± There was no sound inside; the servant at the door announced: ¡°The eldest young master has been taken away by the police.¡± Still no response, and after a while, a coughing sound came from within. Chapter 262 - 262: 262: Fang Bao Shows Love - Uncle Notices the Clue Chapter 262: 262: Fang Bao Shows Love ¨C Uncle Notices the Clue No one answered, and after a while, coughing noises came from inside. The servant, unsure of the old master¡¯s intentions, dared not barge in and disturb; he waited outside for a long time before leaving. Xu Yunci was in the living room, frantically searching for a lawyer. Luo Yinghe must have just been called back, still wearing her outdoor clothes and heavy makeup, when she suddenly commented, ¡°Retribution.¡± Xu Yunci glared at her, ¡°Go upstairs, stop causing trouble here.¡± She snorted and clattered up the stairs. At ten o¡¯clock, Jiang Zhi brought Zhou Xufang home. She had been crying in the attic of the Luo Family¡¯s house. Perhaps tired, she slept all the way in the car. Jiang Zhi carefully carried her out of the car; she didn¡¯t wake up until they reached the bedroom, and as soon as he laid her on the bed, she opened her eyes. ¡°Awake?¡± ¡°Mm.¡± Her voice was nasal from crying. Jiang Zhi took off her shoes and covered her with a blanket. Her hand stretched out from under the blanket and wrapped around his neck, ¡°I just fell asleep, had a dream.¡± It wasn¡¯t a dream, but her past. Jiang Zhi sat on the bed, propped his hand on the pillow, and leaned over to look at her, ¡°Did you dream about me?¡± Zhou Xufang nodded, ¡°I dreamed I kissed you.¡± Jiang Zhi kicked off his shoes, lay down, and pulled her into his arms, starting to remove her outer jacket under the blanket, ¡°Who taught you to kiss boys at such a young age?¡± She hugged him, laughing. Jiang Zhi said, ¡°Lift your hand.¡± She lifted her hand. Jiang Zhi tossed her jacket off the bed, then his own, and half propped himself up, looking at her red eyes, ¡°You cried while you were asleep just now, no more crying.¡± She agreed. ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± ¡°Mm.¡± The window in the room was open, the outside wind blowing in, causing the chandelier¡¯s crystals to flicker, shattering the light into slices that fell into her eyes, filled with countless reflections of Jiang Zhi. She hugged his neck, pulled him in, and kissed his cheek, ¡°I think I like you even more now.¡± Jiang Zhi smiled, asking how much she liked him. How much indeed? She thought for a moment, ¡°I want to cook meat for you, pick foxtails for you, go to the sky to catch stars for you.¡± She wanted to give him all the most beautiful things in the world, her life, herself, her longevity, her whole future. Jiang Zhi propped his chin with one hand, the other on her waist, ¡°What else?¡± And there was more. She said, ¡°I want to marry you, bear your children.¡± Jiang Zhi slid his hand under the blanket, wrapping his arms around her as they both crawled inside, ¡°Zhou Xufang.¡± ¡°Mm.¡± sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He went silent, switched off the light, and tossed his clothes onto the floor. Zhou Qingrang and Tang Xiang had an appointment to meet at the nursing home at ten in the morning. Before leaving, he received a phone call. ¡°The year Miss Zhou gave birth to a boy, Tang Guangji and his wife adopted a child from the countryside into the Luo Family, and that child had a chromosomal anomaly.¡± ¡°If they are close relatives, it¡¯s very likely to give birth to children with chromosomal anomalies.¡± ¡°Mr. Zhou, if I am not mistaken, Luo San, the adopted son of the Luo Family, must be the child your sister bore.¡± ¡°Eight years ago, a fire broke Luo San perished in the blaze.¡± Zhou Qingrang sat in the passenger seat, lost in thought. ¡°Senior.¡± ¡°Senior.¡± Tang Ying called him twice. Only then did Zhou Qingrang look up, ¡°Yes?¡± She pulled over to the side of the road, ¡°We¡¯ve arrived at the nursing home.¡± He glanced outside the car window, picked up his cane, ¡°Thank you.¡± After expressing his thanks, he opened the door and got out of the car with the aid of his cane. Very polite. Although they had known each other for so many years, had he not been in a hurry to come here, had she not been ¡°on the way,¡± he probably wouldn¡¯t have even ridden in her car. Tang Ying was still sitting in the driver¡¯s seat, ¡°I¡¯ll wait here for you.¡± He shook his head, ¡°No need, you can go back. Be careful on the road.¡± Tang Ying had no choice but to leave first. ¡°Uncle.¡± It was Tang Xiang, coming out to meet people, just catching a glimpse of the rear of the red private car, clearly a woman¡¯s car, ¡°Girlfriend?¡± Zhou Qingrang shook his head, ¡°A colleague.¡± He walked slowly with his cane, ¡°How¡¯s your mother?¡± Tang Xiang replied, ¡°Her condition has stabilized.¡± Ms. He had previously been kidnapped by Luo Qinghe, which had greatly shocked her, leaving her in a very poor mental state for a while. Zhou Qingrang had intended to visit earlier but delayed his visit worrying it might further upset her. Zhou Qingrang, concerned about Ms. He¡¯s illness, ¡°May I see her?¡± Tang Xiang led him towards the interior of the nursing home, slowing her pace but not making it obvious, ¡°It should be fine, I¡¯ve casually mentioned you a few days ago, and my mother didn¡¯t have much reaction.¡± At that moment, Ms. He was in the nursing home¡¯s garden, sunbathing. She sat in a wheelchair, with a nurse pushing her around, and she saw Tang Xiang from a distance. ¡°Xiangxiang.¡± Ms. He waved at Tang Xiang. Tang Xiang led Zhou Qingrang over. Ms. He noticed the man with her, ¡°Who is this?¡± Ms. He¡¯s memory was muddled, sometimes in the past eight years, sometimes over twenty years ago. Tang Xiang let the nurse go back to the ward while she pushed the wheelchair, ¡°Mom, don¡¯t you recognize him?¡± Ms. He didn¡¯t recognize him, sizing up Zhou Qingrang, ¡°You are?¡± She had aged a lot, compared to before. Zhou Qingrang stepped up to her, slightly bowing, ¡°I am Qing Rang.¡± Ms. He, surprised, replied, ¡°You¡¯re also called Qing Rang? I have a younger brother named Qing Rang, but he¡¯s only a teenager, still studying, and doing very well in school.¡± Chapter 263 - 263: 263: Fang Bao Seeks Revenge, Sets Fire to the Luo Family (See Beyond the Title) Chapter 263: 263: Fang Bao Seeks Revenge, Sets Fire to the Luo Family (See Beyond the Title) ¡°You¡¯re called Qing Rang too? I have a younger brother also named Qing Rang, but he¡¯s only in his teens, still studying, and his grades are excellent.¡± That was Zhou Qingrang at fourteen, still a dashing young man. Now, he struggled to walk, his eyes reflecting a deep sense of time and hardship. He bent over, ¡°Sister Xiu,¡± his voice hoarse as he looked at an old acquaintance, choking up, ¡°I am Qing Rang.¡± When he first came to the Luo Family, he was young, hiding behind his sister, feeling uneasy because it was all new to him. The person who came out to greet them at the Luo Family¡¯s doorstep was a slightly plump woman, holding a little girl with her hair tied in pigtails. ¡°Are you Qing Meng and Qing Rang?¡± His sister said they were. The woman lifted the little girl into her arms, ¡°Haven¡¯t you eaten yet? Come in, I¡¯ll make noodles for you.¡± The girl in her arms cheerfully called out, ¡°Little Aunt, Little Uncle.¡± Time had passed, things had changed, and the people were no longer the same. Ms. He could not recognize him anymore, ¡°Xiangxiang, what¡¯s wrong with this person?¡± Tang Xiang patiently explained to Ms. He, ¡°Mom, he¡¯s your Little Uncle.¡± ¡°Nonsense, how old is your Little Uncle supposed to be?¡± At that time, Zhou Qingrang was fourteen and still in high school, living in the school dormitory. Ms. He¡¯s memory was in disarray, still caught up in events from twenty-three years ago, ¡°Xiangxiang, help me make a call to ask why he hasn¡¯t come back after so long.¡± Tang Xiang pretended to make a phone call, and asked when the person would return. ¡°Let me speak.¡± As soon as Ms. He finished speaking, Tang Xiang promptly put away her phone, ¡°It¡¯s already hung up.¡± Ms. He nagged for a while, complaining about how the child never returned home, then asked Tang Xiang, ¡°Did he say when he will come back?¡± Tang Xiang fabricated, ¡°He¡¯ll be back next weekend.¡± Ms. He was dissatisfied and rambled for a while, then suddenly asked, ¡°What about Luo San?¡± From Zhou Qingrang, the conversation had now switched to Luo San. This was a hysteria attack. Tang Xiang replied to Ms. He, ¡°She¡¯s gone out.¡± ¡°Did she go picking foxtail grass again?¡± Tang Xiang affirmed. ¡°Always focusing on useless things, she never learns even after being beaten.¡± Ms. He scowled as if she was about to scold someone, ¡°Go and call her for me.¡± ¡°Alright, alright, I¡¯ll call her.¡± Tang Xiang pretended to go look for someone but had only taken a few steps when Ms. He shouted from behind, ¡°Xiangxiang!¡± Tang Xiang couldn¡¯t help but laugh and cry, ¡°What¡¯s the matter now, Ms. He?¡± Ms. He grabbed her, panicked, ¡°Quick, put out the fire, your father and Luo San are still inside, they haven¡¯t come out yet!¡± ¡°Guangji, Guangji!¡± She called her husband¡¯s name loudly, standing up from the wheelchair, looking around, ¡°Where¡¯s the bucket, where¡¯s the bucket?¡± Not seeing a bucket, Ms. He pushed Tang Xiang aside and rushed forward, muttering about putting out the fire. ¡°Mom!¡± Tang Xiang could not stop Ms. He and signaled to Zhou Qingrang, ¡°I need to go take care of my mom.¡± Zhou Qingrang nodded. Tang Xiang chased after Ms. He. He did not have the chance to ask about Luo San, still holding onto a sliver of hope that perhaps it was not Luo San, perhaps that child was still alive in this world. His phone rang, showing it was a call from Mr. Hu. Mr. Hu was a private detective, hired by him to investigate the matter of his sister. ¡°Mr. Zhou, Luo Changde has been arrested.¡± ¡°Why was he arrested?¡± Mr. Hu explained, ¡°The police suspect that the Luo Family fire eight years ago was arson and murder, with both Luo Changde and his daughter as suspects, one for arson, the other for murder.¡± Arson, murder. These were acts the Luo Family was capable of. Ms. Tang had suffered another episode, and the psychiatrist recommended a short period of quiet recuperation at home to avoid stimulation. The TV station called, urging Zhou Qingrang to return quickly; as soon as he left, Zhou Xufang arrived, bumping into Tang Xiang outside the ward, without seeing Ms. He. ¡°How is Aunt Xiu¡¯s condition?¡± Tang Xiang shook her head, ¡°The doctor injected her with a sedative, and she just fell asleep.¡± The two went to a nearby coffee shop. Tang Xiang ordered two drinks, ¡°Why didn¡¯t Jiang Zhi come with you?¡± She pushed the sugar toward Zhou Xufang, knowing he liked it sweet. Zhou Xufang added five spoons of sugar, ¡°He has to film today.¡± The filming schedule was set in advance and couldn¡¯t be delayed, Jiang Zhi would come to pick her up later. ¡°I heard from Jiang Zhi that you¡¯ve remembered everything.¡± Zhou Xufang nodded, ¡°I have a question for you.¡± Tang Xiang put down the stirring spoon, ¡°What?¡± ¡°Why did Aunt Xiu make me pretend to be a boy?¡± He Xiangxiu never talked about these things with her and didn¡¯t allow her to ask. Other than her name, He Xiangxiu completely refrained from mentioning anything about her origins. Even Zhou Qingmeng¡¯s name, she had heard from the mouths of the Xiao Family and Luo Yinghe. Tang Xiang also shook her head, ¡°I¡¯m not too clear on the specifics. My parents kept even me in the dark; if it weren¡¯t for your appearance, I probably still wouldn¡¯t know that Luo San is a girl.¡± She recalled for a moment, ¡°When Ms. He fell ill, I did hear her ramble on about something; it was all muddled, and I didn¡¯t quite understand. It was roughly about the Luo Family needing a male to carry on the family line, and if Luo San were a girl, the old man wouldn¡¯t keep her around.¡± It was nearly what Zhou Xufang had figured. Tang Xiang pondered for a long while, her frown deepening, ¡°Luo Changde has many illegitimate daughters, but because they¡¯re all girls, the old man did not acknowledge any of them. Xufang,¡± she paused for quite a while, ¡°I guess, you might be a child of the Luo Family.¡± Otherwise, there was no need to adopt a child with ¡®imperfections.¡¯ Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t say anything but nodded. Tang Xiang hesitated to speak further. Zhou Xufang knew what she wanted to inquire about and answered, ¡°It¡¯s Luo Changde.¡± Tang Xiang suddenly felt the coffee had lost its flavor, unable to swallow it, ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay.¡± Zhou Xufang was still very calm, ¡°Tang Xiang, do you know Zhou Qingmeng?¡± The Xiao Family once clutched her throat and said that she was Zhou Qingmeng¡¯s curse. Tang Xiang was startled for a moment, replied, ¡°I know.¡± She had a very unpleasant guess. She lowered her hand from the table, her palm sweaty, ¡°Twenty-three years ago, Zhou Qingmeng came to the Imperial City to visit relatives, staying with our family, all in the Luo Family¡¯s Ping Building.¡± Visit relatives? Zhou Xufang asked, ¡°Is she a relative of Aunt Xiu?¡± ¡°Not,¡± Tang Xiang paused for a long time, said, ¡°Zhou Qingmeng and Luo Changde are cousins.¡± Clang¡ª¡ª The spoon in Zhou Xufang¡¯s hand dropped to the floor. S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Half an hour later, Jiang Zhi came to pick up Zhou Xufang; the film shoot wasn¡¯t finished yet, but he couldn¡¯t rest easy about Zhou Xufang, so he ended early. When he arrived, Zhou Xufang was squatting at the coffee shop¡¯s entrance, tucked into the small corner to the left, hugging her knees, motionless. Jiang Zhi walked over and crouched down, ¡°Why are you squatting here?¡± Zhou Xufang looked up, her eyes somewhat vacant, ¡°I¡¯m thinking about things.¡± The wind blew outside, whooshing chaotically. Jiang Zhi tidied the hair on her forehead, ¡°What are you thinking about?¡± Her expression was somewhat dazed, ¡°I¡¯m thinking, does karma exist in this world?¡± Jiang Zhi removed her mask, touching her cold little face, ¡°So, have you figured it out?¡± She said, ¡°I have.¡± ¡°Does it?¡± She shook her head, ¡°There¡¯s no karma in this world.¡± If there were karma, then twenty-three years ago, Luo Changde should have received his retribution, not lived up until eight years ago, not allowed to continue his wrongdoings. If there was karma, that would be good. ¡°My mom¡ª¡ª¡± Jiang Zhi interrupted her, ¡°Tang Xiang told me everything.¡± He leaned over and opened his arms to hug her. Zhou Xufang buried her head in his shoulder, muttering to herself, ¡°I also have an uncle. The day my mom met with misfortune, he had a car accident and became a vegetable, lying in the hospital for fifteen years.¡± Jiang Zhi remained silent, gently patting her back. Without crying or making a fuss, she quietly said, ¡°From the ages of fourteen to twenty-nine, the best years of his life, all spent lying in a hospital bed.¡± ¡°His left leg was amputated, his right leg wasn¡¯t good either, and it contained steel pins.¡± ¡°He contracted many illnesses, no one knows how much longer he can live.¡± Her voice grew increasingly hollow, colder, ¡°Tang Xiang said, the car accident wasn¡¯t an accident.¡± Her uncle, Zhou Qingrang, had been harmed to end up like that. ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± She clenched her hands into fists, holding them tight, her fingertips turning blue, ¡°I really hate those with the surname Luo.¡± She couldn¡¯t hold back, her voice trembling, choking up, ¡°I want to burn them to death.¡± Jiang Zhi tilted his head, kissing her ear, ¡°Shall I help you burn them, would that be okay?¡± She shook her head, ¡°No.¡± She loosened her fist, embracing Jiang Zhi, ¡°I don¡¯t want you to commit a crime.¡± Six o¡¯clock in the evening. The auto repair shop was about to close, and a customer walked in, dressed in black, with a hat on her head and a mask over her face. Judging by the figure, it was a girl. Well, truth be told, the quirky outfit was pretty cool; she probably was into cars. ¡°Welcome,¡± the staff greeted enthusiastically, ¡°Car wash or repair?¡± The cool girl, wearing opaque glasses, asked in a low voice, ¡°Do you have gasoline?¡± Chapter 264 - 264: 264: Avenging Uncle, Luo Huaiyu Trapped in a Sea of Fire (First Update) Chapter 264: 264: Avenging Uncle, Luo Huaiyu Trapped in a Sea of Fire (First Update) The very cool girl wore opaque glasses and asked in a low voice, ¡°Do you have any gasoline?¡± So cool! If she were wearing a motorcycle helmet, it would have been perfect. The clerk couldn¡¯t help but take a few more glances, ¡°Yes, we have it.¡± He looked outside, didn¡¯t see a car, and assumed it was parked far away, ¡°Would you like me to fill it up for you?¡± ¡°No need,¡± she said, ¡°Just sell it to me.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Isn¡¯t she planning to start a fire? Alarmed by his own speculation, the clerk retreated towards the mop at the back. If this criminal dared to hurt him, he would fight back with the mop, ¡°Our store doesn¡¯t sell it directly.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t sell it?¡± The ¡®criminal¡¯ thought for a moment, with a very serious tone, ¡°If you don¡¯t sell it to me, I¡¯ll burn down your shop.¡± She definitely is a criminal! Even at the level of a terrorist! The clerk instantly caved, ¡°Sell, sell, sell.¡± He shakily asked the ¡®terrorist¡¯, ¡°How much do you want?¡± The ¡®terrorist¡¯: ¡°Enough to burn down a three-story villa.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Oh my god! Around eight o¡¯clock, a strong wind suddenly picked up. Tang Ying knocked on the door, and the person inside said to come in. She pushed the door and entered, didn¡¯t see Zhou Qingrang, only the assistant Xiao Yuan was inside, and she asked, ¡°Did senior brother leave?¡± Xiao Yuan said, ¡°He left right after the broadcast.¡± He was still holding Zhou Qingrang¡¯s phone, ¡°He left his phone behind, and I don¡¯t know who¡¯s been trying to reach him; the phone keeps ringing.¡± While talking, the ringtone sounded again. Xiao Yuan glanced at the caller ID, it was the same number as before, ¡°It¡¯s ringing again, it must be something urgent.¡± ¡°You should answer it.¡± Xiao Yuan took the call. The person on the other end was a girl, calling Zhou Qingrang, ¡°Little uncle.¡± Little uncle? Isn¡¯t Mr. Zhou without family? ¡°Hello, I am Mr. Zhou¡¯s assistant.¡± ¡°Hello, I am Tang Xiang.¡± Xiao Yuan politely explained, ¡°Mr. Zhou has already left, and he left his phone at the radio station. Do you have some kind of urgent matter to discuss with him?¡± No wonder nobody was answering. Tang Xiang had just learned about the relationship between Zhou Xu and Zhou Qingmeng, and the first person she thought of was Zhou Qingrang. She felt sorry for Zhou Xu but also happy for Zhou Qingrang. He¡¯s been all alone, having a relative would be good for him. ¡°If you see him, could you ask him to return my call?¡± Xiao Yuan said, ¡°Of course.¡± Tang Xiang: ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°You¡¯re welcome.¡± Outside, the wind was booming, and it was unclear whether it was going to rain. Jiang Zhi¡¯s phone rang; the delivery had arrived. He ended the video conference and came out of the study but didn¡¯t see Zhou Xu in the living room. The bedroom light was on. ¡°Xu Fang.¡± ¡°Xu Fang.¡± No one answered, and he searched the room but didn¡¯t find her. She was not at home, and just fifteen minutes ago, she had been curled up on the sofa watching a show. Now, there was no sign of her. Normally, she would always tell him when she was leaving the house, even if she had errands to run at the last minute, she would report to him in advance. Jiang Zhi dialed her number; it was switched off, and even the number she usually used for assignments wasn¡¯t reachable. He called Fang Lixiang. ¡°Director Jiang,¡± Fang Lixiang was quite surprised when the big director himself made a call. Could it be that he wanted to offer her more scenes? ¡°Is my girlfriend with you?¡± ¡°¡­¡± So he was looking for his girlfriend. They really can¡¯t be apart for even a moment, Fang Lixiang said, ¡°No, she isn¡¯t.¡± Jiang Zhi said a brief ¡®sorry to bother you¡¯ and then hung up. He called Qiao Nanchu next. ¡°Is your girlfriend there?¡± Looking for Wen Baiyang. sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Qiao Nanchu: ¡°We don¡¯t live together.¡± Jiang Zhi was uninterested in whether they lived together or not, ¡°Is she there or not?¡± Qiao Nanchu licked his teeth, ¡°¡­ She¡¯s here.¡± He had just happened to come over, they weren¡¯t living together! Jiang Zhi sounded a bit anxious, ¡°Ask her if Zhou Xu has been in touch with her.¡± ¡°Look at you, searching for your girlfriend all the way over here with me.¡± Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t have free time to chatter with him and immediately hung up the phone. A while later, Wen Baiyang sent an email over, using Shuangjiang¡¯s email: ¡°Twenty minutes ago, Xu Fang asked me to hack the surveillance on Xiangming Road.¡± Xiangming Road was the main thoroughfare to the Luo Family¡¯s residence. Luo Family. At the study door, a servant came to relay a message: ¡°Chairman, Mr. Zhou has arrived.¡± Luo Huaiyu put aside his work: ¡°Let him in.¡± The door was pushed open from the outside; Zhou Qingrang moved slowly, leaning on his cane. Luo Huaiyu looked up at him and instructed the servant: ¡°Go brew a pot of tea.¡± ¡°No need.¡± His voice lacked the smoothness of his usual newscasting; it was cold and clear, directed at the servant of the Luo Family: ¡°Please step out for a moment.¡± The servant glanced at Luo Huaiyu before leaving and closed the door behind them. Luo Huaiyu sat on the solid wood chair, his cane with the dragon head beside him, the back of his hand spotted with age: ¡°You¡¯re here because of your sister again, aren¡¯t you?¡± If not for Zhou Qingmeng, he wouldn¡¯t have entered the Luo Family¡¯s doors again. He moved forward, his right leg suffering from an old injury, his left fitted with a prosthetic, his steps uneven: ¡°Is Luo San my sister¡¯s child?¡± Luo Huaiyu¡¯s expression changed instantly: ¡°Who told you that?¡± He didn¡¯t answer but kept his piercing gaze on Luo Huaiyu and asked again: ¡°Is it?¡± Only the Luo Family members and one other person knew this secret. ¡°Did you see He Xiangxiu?¡± Zhou Qingrang answered: ¡°Yes.¡± Unable to argue, Luo Huaiyu admitted: ¡°Indeed, she was born of Qing Meng.¡± He remained calm, without a hint of panic. ¡°Because she was Qing Meng¡¯s child, I kept her within the Luo Family. Otherwise, I wouldn¡¯t have adopted a disabled son.¡± He spoke as if he had performed some grand act of charity. Zhou Qingrang moved forward with a limp. His usually vacant and indifferent eyes shone like the blade of a knife: ¡°Eight years ago, your granddaughter committed arson, your son committed murder, did you know or not?¡± He was also investigating this matter. Luo Huaiyu didn¡¯t directly answer, his composure unchanged: ¡°The case is still under review. It¡¯s too early to draw any conclusions about the truth.¡± Still trying to dodge the responsibility. Zhou Qingrang sneered: ¡°Every movement in the Luo Family is under your watch; how could you possibly be unaware?¡± That Luo San would be burned to death was with his tacit approval, and perhaps there was even more to it. ¡°Qing Rang¡ª¡± Zhou Qingrang cut him off: ¡°Aren¡¯t you afraid of retribution?¡± No sooner than the words hit the ground, a loud bang came from outside the room. Then someone shouted: ¡°Fire, there¡¯s a fire!¡± And there was Xu Yunci¡¯s voice, frantically calling out: ¡°Yinghe!¡± ¡°Mom!¡± ¡°Mom!¡± ¡°The fire started, Yinghe, come down quickly!¡± Another bang sounded, likely something in the kitchen exploding. Outside was chaos; the masters and servants of the Luo Family were scrambling to escape, rushing outside with great urgency. Thick smoke quickly wafted into the study through cracks under the door; all the wires on the wall caught fire, crackling loudly. There was no light in the room except for the flames, which illuminated everything bright as day. Zhou Qingrang watched the flames rise higher outside the window and laughed: ¡°Luo Huaiyu, your retribution has arrived.¡± Luo Huaiyu immediately rose to his feet, leaning on his cane. But Zhou Qingrang was faster, locking the door from the inside. Luo Huaiyu¡¯s color drained: ¡°What are you doing?¡± His gaze blazed fiercely, reflecting the vast swathes of flames: ¡°Twenty-three years, I¡¯ve lived on just this breath for twenty-three years, waiting for the Luo Family¡¯s retribution. Luo Changde is finished, Luo Qinghe, too.¡± He looked at Luo Huaiyu, ¡°Only you remain.¡± He wanted to perish together¡­ Luo Huaiyu, leaning on his cane, hurried towards the door and bellowed: ¡°Move aside!¡± He didn¡¯t budge an inch, resolute, using his back to block the door: ¡°My sister is gone, Luo San is also dead, and with my body like this, I won¡¯t last long either. So, you might as well die with me.¡± He didn¡¯t want to live; he hadn¡¯t wanted to, not since eight years ago. Better to die, to go beneath and find his sister. His sister was timid, afraid of many things, and she would be scared without someone to accompany her. ¡°You¡¯re mad!¡± Luo Huaiyu was completely off balance. ¡°Yes, mad.¡± His hand clutching the doorknob was burned red, thin and knobby from the prominent bones. ¡°Eight years ago, I should have gone mad, should have carried a knife to kill all of the Luo Family. That way, at least Luo San could have lived.¡± This man had no intent to live. Luo Huaiyu shouted toward the outside: ¡°Lao Qi!¡± ¡°Open the door!¡± ¡°Lao Qi!¡± Fire raged outside the glass window, smoke billowed, the room sealed shut, the temperature rising higher and higher. Zhou Qingrang hobbled forward, the cane in his hand pointing at Luo Huaiyu. ¡°Zhou Qingrang!¡± His eyes were empty, filled only with a desperate decisiveness: ¡°Go down there and apologize to my sister.¡± Chapter 265 - 265: 265: Jiang Zhi protects his wife, Xu Fang rescues uncle from fire (Second Update) Chapter 265: 265: Jiang Zhi protects his wife, Xu Fang rescues uncle from fire (Second Update) Luo Mansion only had three floors. As soon as the fire started, people began running outside one after another. Everyone was now in the courtyard, visibly shaken. Xu Yunci was still trembling with fear and asked her daughter, ¡°Are you hurt?¡± Luo Yinghe, covered in soot, was annoyed, ¡°No.¡± She questioned one of the Luo Family¡¯s servants, ¡°What happened? Why did it catch fire?¡± Between the butlers, the drivers, and the gardener, there were about seven or eight of them, all shaking their heads, clueless about what happened. Xu Yunci questioned the oldest, Lao Qi, ¡°Is everyone out?¡± Lao Qi scanned the area briefly, ¡°Oh no!¡± He immediately became frantic. ¡°The chairman hasn¡¯t come out yet. He¡¯s in the study with Mr. Zhou.¡± In the face of the raging fire, everyone was only thinking about escaping, neglecting everything else. Xu Yunci quickly gathered the people, ¡°You, go inside and rescue them.¡± None of them moved. Xu Yunci became desperate, ¡°I will reward you.¡± Still, no one moved; nobody wanted to trade their life for money. Luo Yinghe made a cold remark from the side, ¡°With such a big fire, who would go in?¡± She glared at the servants and reprimanded harshly, ¡°Don¡¯t just stand there, call the police!¡± Lao Qi urgently dialed the fire department. Meanwhile, Aunt Liu from the kitchen noticed someone lying on the ground. ¡°Xiao Hui!¡± It was the Luo Family¡¯s new servant, lying motionless on the lawn. Aunt Liu went to wake her, ¡°Xiao Hui, wake up!¡± The girl opened her eyes, still dazed. ¡°Why are you lying here?¡± She held her head and asked, ¡°Why am I lying here?¡± Aunt Liu slapped her face, ¡°Scared silly?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know. I fell and hit my head while running downstairs. I must have fainted. Why would I be lying here?¡± Aunt Liu guessed, ¡°Someone must have carried you out.¡± It was Zhou Xufang who had carried her out. She only wanted to burn the Luo Family, not harm the innocent. The wind was exceptionally strong that night. The fire grew fiercer with the wind. She squatted on the roof of the adjoining attic, surrounded by the wind. She couldn¡¯t hear any noises from inside. ¡°Are they dead? They must be,¡± she murmured dreamily. ¡°Zhou Xufang.¡± Someone called her from behind. Zhou Xufang turned around, seeing the person, she suddenly panicked: ¡°Jiang, Jiang Zhi.¡± Like a child caught misbehaving, she was at a loss. Jiang Zhi had rushed over in a hurry, wearing only a black sweater and no coat. He glanced at the oil drum she still clutched in her hand. ¡°Did you start the fire?¡± he asked. Zhou Xufang jumped down from the attic roof, went up to him and nodded in admission, ¡°Yes.¡± It was she who had started the fire, splashed the gasoline, and even lit the microwave in the kitchen. Jiang Zhi questioned, ¡°Where did you get the gasoline?¡± ¡°From an auto repair shop.¡± He continued, ¡°Did anyone see your face, were you recorded?¡± His tone was stern. Zhou Xufang shook her head. ¡°What about on the way here? Did anyone see you?¡± She shook her head again. Jiang Zhi took the two empty gasoline containers from her hand, checked her gloves, still not reassured, he wiped off the areas she touched with the sleeve of his sweater, and solemnly instructed her, ¡°Today, you were at home, you didn¡¯t leave, and you certainly weren¡¯t here at Luo Mansion, understand?¡± He was covering for her. ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± Jiang Zhi couldn¡¯t fuss about the particulars, his eyes deep and serene like a bottomless sea, ¡°Listen, go home quickly.¡± She stood before him, unmoving, ¡°What about you?¡± He replied, ¡°I¡¯ll stay and handle the aftermath.¡± He would take the blame if someone found out, allowing her to walk away scot-free. Zhou Xufang knew his intentions well. ¡°I¡¯m not leaving.¡± Jiang Zhi, flustered by her, exclaimed¨C¨C¡±Zhou Xufang¨C¨C¡± She tugged at his sleeve, ¡°I started the fire, I intended to kill.¡± She wasn¡¯t afraid initially, but after his arrival, fear crept in. For the first time, she was acting recklessly without regard for the consequences, only realizing the trouble she caused afterwards¡­ ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter whether you started the fire or I did.¡± He set down the objects, hugged her, ¡°Zhou Xufang, I won¡¯t wait for you if you go to jail. I¡¯ll break you out, and in the end, I will still be committing a crime.¡± If she committed arson and murder, he would definitely be her accomplice. That was undeniable. The wind scattered his voice, echoing in her ear, ¡°Fang Bao, behave, go home.¡± The study was in complete disarray. Although Luo Huaiyu was old, Zhou Qingrang was seriously ill and immobile. Luo Huaiyu snatched his walking stick, pushed him to the ground, and had just touched the doorknob when his leg was grabbed. Luo Huaiyu covered his mouth and nose, his eyes reddened by the smoke, furious, he roared, ¡°Zhou Qingrang!¡± Zhou Qingrang clung to his leg, dragging him backward. Luo Huaiyu staggered and kicked Zhou Qingrang hard on the shoulder, ¡°Let go!¡± He looked up, his eyes barren and lifeless, breathing rapidly, his pale face almost translucent, he said, ¡°Only if I die.¡± Luo Huaiyu kicked hard, ¡°Let go! Let go!¡± Blood seeped from the corner of his mouth, his legs numbed, unable to straighten his back, but he kept his head raised, refusing to bow. Luo Huaiyu, exhausted from the effort, his pupils red, teeth clenched, said, ¡°Even if I die, I will haunt you as a ghost.¡± ¡°Then you be the ghost first.¡± Zhou Qingrang was smiling, looking out at the flames engulfing the heavens, tears melting the frost in his eyes, sparkling as he muttered to himself, ¡°Sister, Qing Rang kept you waiting.¡± S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Twenty-three years. He left his sister in the underworld, surviving miserably for twenty-three years. Luo Huaiyu picked up a vase from the cabinet, aiming at Zhou Qingrang¡¯s head, and swung down hard¡ª ¡°Bang!¡± The door was suddenly kicked open, and the vase stopped mid-air. A person dressed in black, face covered with a mask, entered, ¡°Were you about to hit him?¡± The room filled with thick smoke, Luo Huaiyu couldn¡¯t see clearly, he immediately cried for help, ¡°Who are you? Get me out of here!¡± Save him? Zhou Xufang grabbed the vase and swung it directly at Luo Huaiyu¡¯s head. Chapter 266 - 266: 266: Xu Fang Recognizes His Uncle (Part 1) Chapter 266: 266: Xu Fang Recognizes His Uncle (Part 1) Zhou Xufang snatched the vase and smashed it right over Luo Huaiyu¡¯s head. His vision blurred as he fell to the ground, blood instantly streaming from his head to his neck, fear filling his eyes as he looked at Zhou Xufang, ¡°You, you¡ª¡± Zhou Xufang threw the vase away, shattering it into pieces, ¡°If you don¡¯t crawl out now, I won¡¯t be able to stop myself from killing you.¡± She wasn¡¯t joking; she never joked. Luo Huaiyu, terrified to the extreme, pressed his hand against his head, felt the blood, and started crawling out frantically, rolling and stumbling like a wriggling worm, completely undignified. Zhou Xufang ignored him and crouched down to look at Zhou Qingrang, ¡°Mr. Zhou.¡± Zhou Qingrang, a broadcaster by profession, had a keen sensitivity to sound. The room was filled with thick smoke, stinging his eyes, he reached out, and in the thick white smoke, he touched a hand, ¡°Is that you, Zhou Xufang?¡± Zhou Xufang nodded, her voice unconsciously choked up, ¡°Mr. Zhou, could you tell me where your hometown is?¡± ¡°Xiangnan,¡± he said, ¡°Xufang Town.¡± Xufang Town in Xiangnan, a place with flowers and bridges, looked beautiful in the pictures Zhou Xufang had checked. She gripped Zhou Qingrang¡¯s hand. Perhaps due to years of pushing a wheelchair or using a crutch, his palm had thin calluses. ¡°My name is Zhou Xufang,¡± he knew her name but not how to write it; Zhou Xufang told him again, ¡°It¡¯s Xufang from Xufang Town.¡± Under the enveloping white smoke, a pair of clear, handsome eyes slightly reddened, ¡°Is it Luo San?¡± His voice trembled a bit from uncertainty and exhilaration. ¡°It¡¯s me,¡± her voice nasal, she quietly called out, ¡°Uncle.¡± Zhou Qingrang smiled at her, tears in his eyes. His hand, pale and thin, felt cool against her face as he removed her mask and looked at her face through the hazy smoke, scrutinizing carefully. He said, ¡°You don¡¯t look like your mom, you resemble your grandmother.¡± Zhou Xufang wiped away a tear, turned around, ¡°I¡¯ll carry you out.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll do it.¡± It was Jiang Zhi. He too had entered the burning building, crouched down, and said to Zhou Xufang, ¡°You go first, don¡¯t let people see you. I¡¯ve called an ambulance; go wait at the hospital.¡± Her identity was special, and getting involved with the police could complicate matters. Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t move; she looked at Zhou Qingrang. ¡°Go first.¡± Zhou Xufang listened to her uncle, ¡°Okay.¡± Jiang Zhi, ¡°¡­¡±, she had just recognized her uncle and now wasn¡¯t listening to her boyfriend. Zhou Xufang left through the rooftop. Jiang Zhi carried Zhou Qingrang out, with a good reason to give¡ªhe had received a call to come and rescue. The ambulance arrived quickly; the hospital wasn¡¯t far, and within forty minutes, he met Zhou Xufang there. Zhou Qingrang had inhaled too much smoke, undergoing a laryngoscopy in the emergency room. It was already late, and Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t want Zhou Xufang waiting outside the emergency room: ¡°I¡¯ll have Vice President Sun clear a room for you. Go rest, and I¡¯ll stay here.¡± She shook her head, unwilling to leave. ¡°Just now, why did you go in too? It was so dangerous.¡± Jiang Zhi held her hand, squeezing her little finger, ¡°You thought of me at last?¡± Little ungrateful one, forgot her boyfriend because of her uncle! ¡°I went in looking for you, knowing you wouldn¡¯t just head home.¡± Back at the attic rooftop, he had asked her to go home. She had turned around, and in the blink of an eye, she vanished. He wasn¡¯t a good person; he hadn¡¯t gone into the fire to rescue others but to find Zhou Xufang. ¡°Good thing I went back.¡± Zhou Xufang was relieved, or her uncle would have been in danger. Jiang Zhi wasn¡¯t surprised at all, ¡°I knew you¡¯d come back.¡± He knew her well; ¡°Even if you were impulsive, you wouldn¡¯t really commit arson and murder.¡± Of course, it wouldn¡¯t matter if she didn¡¯t come back; he had already thought of all her possible exits. At nine thirty PM. Lu Sheng was at home when his secretary called. ¡°Miss Two.¡± She was sitting at the dining table, having a late-night snack, ¡°What is it?¡± The secretary said, ¡°I¡¯ve just received news that a big fire broke out at the Luo Family.¡± Is that so? Lu Sheng felt good, ¡°Heaven has eyes.¡± She took a sip of bird¡¯s nest, ¡°Did those disasters from the Luo Family get burned?¡± Secretary, ¡°No.¡± Lu Sheng corrected herself, ¡°Heaven is blind.¡± The secretary added, ¡°Mr. Zhou was also at the Luo Family.¡± Duang! The spoon fell into the bowl. ¡°Who did you say?¡± Secretary, ¡°Mr. Zhou Qingrang.¡± Lu Sheng abruptly stood up, knocking her knee against the table, hissing in pain, as she winced. Her mother Yao Bixi was watching TV in the living room, her eyes covered with two eye masks. Hearing the noise, she asked, ¡°What are you doing, crashing around like that? Did you hurt yourself?¡± Yao Bixi was slightly overweight, with fair skin and a kind face, making her appear quite young. ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± She hadn¡¯t hung up the phone yet and hadn¡¯t changed her clothes. She grabbed a coat and hurried outside. ¡°I¡¯m stepping out for a bit.¡± Yao Bixi followed her with a question. ¡°It¡¯s so late, where are you going?¡± sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Lu Sheng brushed her off with, ¡°On official business.¡± She rushed out in a hurry. Yao Bixi muttered discontentedly and lifted her eye masks. ¡°It¡¯s not that you¡¯ve started dating, is it?¡± Her husband, Lu Jingsong, was sitting nearby. Upon hearing this, his expression hardened. ¡°Shengsheng is over twenty now,¡± Mrs. Lu had just come downstairs, dressed like a typical elderly woman with floral cardigans and wide pants, wearing reading glasses, ¡°it¡¯s time for her to date.¡± Lu Jingsong disagreed, ¡°Just over twenty, how can she be dating? Today¡¯s boys are so cunning, all they do is deceive young girls. What if our Shengsheng gets her feelings hurt¡ª¡± His wife chuckled from the side, ¡°Don¡¯t you know your own daughter¡¯s weight? Who could deceive her? It would be something if she doesn¡¯t deceive someone else.¡± Lu Jingsong, a robust and tall figure in the military, who could send tremors with a stomp, was a man of integrity and seriousness, a highly influential figure. ¡ªBut he was afraid of his wife and also, he doted on his daughter. Lu Jingsong turned his head. ¡°Xinglan, is your sister dating someone?¡± Lu Xinglan was lying on the dining table, half-way through her bird¡¯s nest soup. Yao Bixi applied another face mask, ¡°Xinglan is asleep, don¡¯t disturb him.¡± Lu Jingsong: ¡°¡­¡± He felt his lack of authority in the family. Around ten o¡¯clock, Lu Sheng arrived at the hospital. She was in such a hurry that she was still wearing her home sweatshirt and without makeup, looking fresh-faced and like a girl-next-door, except that when she spoke, it was with the commanding presence of a CEO. ¡°Can you check for me, which room is Zhou Qingrang in?¡± The nurse at the hospital ward lifted her head, ¡°In the VIP ward.¡± She knew without checking; Zhou Qingrang was a public figure. Lu Sheng was anxious, ¡°What¡¯s the room number?¡± The nurse, being new and still unfamiliar with procedures, and because Zhou Qingrang was a public figure, needed to be cautious, ¡°I¡¯m sorry miss, I can¡¯t disclose VIP patient information to anyone outside of family without permission.¡± Lu Sheng, unflinchingly, ¡°I am family.¡± She had been battling in the business world for years and had a formidable presence, she added for clarification, ¡°I¡¯m his girlfriend.¡± Mr. Zhou is single! Does she not watch the news at all? Who is she fooling? The nurse remained composed, ¡°Could you provide proof?¡± ¡°How so?¡± ¡°Like a photo.¡± Lu Sheng, slightly frustrated, still pulled out her phone, opened the gallery, ¡°This okay?¡± She actually had a photo together. The nurse looked, ¡°This picture¡­¡± her lips twitched, ¡°you edited this, right?¡± Lu Sheng: ¡°¡­¡± Yes, it was photoshopped. She had downloaded the picture from a computer, a photo of Zhou Qingrang with a female anchor, couldn¡¯t resist, and edited the female anchor out and photoshopped herself in. Was there a problem with that? The nurse suddenly stretched her neck and yelled, ¡°Miss Zhou, there¡¯s someone here with a photoshopped picture, trying to sneak into Mr. Zhou¡¯s room.¡± Lu Sheng: ¡°¡­¡± President Lu really doesn¡¯t care about face, huh! Zhou Xufang approached without a mask, polite, ¡°Hello.¡± Lu Sheng, a bit embarrassed, ¡°Hello.¡± She had met Zhou Xufang before and at that time, had claimed to be Zhou Qingrang¡¯s girlfriend. Zhou Xufang was straightforward, ¡°Are you my uncle¡¯s girlfriend?¡± Lu Sheng was shocked, ¡°Zhou Qingrang is your uncle?¡± She nodded. Lu Sheng was even more embarrassed, her domineering CEO aura all but gone, awkwardly, ¡°Not girlfriend, just friends.¡± The nurse chimed in, ¡°I told you it was a photoshopped picture.¡± Can you shut up! ¡°He¡¯s not awake yet,¡± Zhou Xufang asked, ¡°do you want to see him now?¡± Lu Sheng nodded eagerly. Zhou Xufang led the way, ¡°I¡¯ll take you there.¡± Lu Sheng followed. As the two came out of the third floor elevator, they saw Jiang Zhi hurrying over, ¡°Where did you run off to?¡± he addressed Zhou Xufang, ¡°The moment you¡¯re out of sight, you start wandering.¡± Such a shrewish tone. Lu Sheng doubted this was the Jiang Zhi she knew. Chapter 267 - 267: 267: Going for a prenatal checkup, Lu Sheng protects his wife (second update) Chapter 267: 267: Going for a prenatal checkup, Lu Sheng protects his wife (second update) Lu Sheng suspected this wasn¡¯t the Jiang Zhi she knew. Zhou Xufang said, ¡°I¡¯m going to handle the hospital admission procedures.¡± It was only then that Jiang Zhi noticed Lu Sheng. ¡°Why has she come?¡± Her tone was not very welcoming. Lu Sheng and Jiang Zhi had a feud, all business-related. ¡°She came to visit the sick,¡± Zhou Xufang said. Jiang Zhi was pale, looking somewhat sickly: ¡°You¡¯re quite well-informed, Second Miss Lu.¡± Her tone was like that of a noble young master who was difficult to deal with. It was not just like that; Jiang Zhi was difficult to deal with. Lu Sheng, equally of noble birth, was calm, ¡°It¡¯s alright.¡± She thought, this is awkward now, the Lu Family and the Jiang Family are enemies, what if they have to become relatives in the future¡­ Enemies meant nothing, as long as she could pursue Zhou Qingrang, she wouldn¡¯t need to bear the Lu surname; she would take the Zhou surname. Besides, Jiang Zhi was an in-law, and she wouldn¡¯t lose out in terms of family relations. Zhou Qingrang didn¡¯t have any major issues; he was just physically weak and needed to be observed and rest in the hospital for a few days, currently asleep. Zhou Xufang and Lu Sheng both stood guard outside the hospital room, while Jiang Zhi sat next to his girlfriend. It was already past ten o¡¯clock. ¡°Go sleep in the room downstairs,¡± Jiang Zhi whispered to Zhou Xufang. Zhou Xufang shook his head, refusing to sleep, ¡°You go sleep.¡± Jiang Zhi stayed seated, his hand on Zhou Xufang¡¯s shoulder, ¡°I can¡¯t sleep without holding you.¡± Zhou Xufang: ¡°¡­¡± Lu Sheng was still nearby. Lu Sheng pretended not to hear. She really hadn¡¯t pictured Jiang Zhi this way in front of his girlfriend. After Zhou Xufang fell asleep, Jiang Zhi gently lifted her, ¡°You want to pursue Zhou Qingrang?¡± he asked softly. Lu Sheng didn¡¯t deny it, ¡°Is there a problem?¡± ¡°No.¡± People of the Four Great Families all knew that the Lu Family was very protective, unlike other noble and wealthy families where blood relatives fought viciously over power and profit. The Lu Family was an exception; they were protective and only hostile externally, not internally. Jiang Zhi thought it would be nice for Zhou Qingrang to get involved with the Lu Family. ¡°My girlfriend and I are downstairs, call us if there¡¯s anything.¡± S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Lu Sheng: ¡°Alright.¡± Ah, Jiang Zhi carried the person, turning his head back lightly and added quietly, not wanting to disturb the person in his arms, ¡°The injury on Zhou Qingrang¡¯s shoulder was caused by Luo Huaiyu.¡± The Lu Family, always protective. Lu Sheng stood up from her seat, walked to the stairway, and made a phone call. ¡°Second Miss.¡± It was apparent that President Lu was furious: ¡°From now on, if it¡¯s Luo Family¡¯s business, seize it for me.¡± Secretary: ¡°¡­¡± He could almost see the warfare. That same night, Luo Huaiyu was also brought to the Fifth Hospital with a head wound, which was serious for an elderly person. He developed a high fever overnight, and although not life-threatening, he still hadn¡¯t regained consciousness by the next morning. Luo Yinghe came in the morning and sat in the hospital for a while before becoming restless, ¡°I¡¯m going back.¡± Xu Yunci stopped her, ¡°Your grandfather hasn¡¯t woken up yet, wait for him to wake up before you go.¡± Luo Yinghe was impatient, ¡°If you want to wait, wait, but I don¡¯t have the time to waste here.¡± She turned her head and walked away; hardly a few steps out of the room, someone bumped into her shoulder, knocking off her sunglasses. She was irritated, ¡°Are you blind?¡± The person who bumped her slowly looked up, with messy short hair and casual clothes, but when she spoke, it was commanding, ¡°Who are you talking about?¡± It was Lu Sheng, the Second Miss Lu. In Imperial City, the unassailable Imperial Princess. The Luo Family was nowhere near the Lu Family in status, and Luo Yinghe dared not openly offend her. Her voice automatically quieted down, ¡°You bumped into me first.¡± Small fish eat shrimp, big fish eat small fish. This is the rule. Lu Sheng, rushed out yesterday, dressed like a harmless student. Of course, she was no pushover, ¡°Which eye saw me bump into you? Tell me, so I can gouge it out for you.¡± Luo Yinghe: ¡°¡­¡± Being a Lu, does she get to be so arrogant? She held back her anger, not uttering a word. Silence didn¡¯t matter; Lu Sheng spoke unhurriedly, ¡°Since neither eye saw me bumping you, shouldn¡¯t you apologize?¡± Luo Yinghe, pampered and impatient, couldn¡¯t restrain herself any longer, disregarding the Lu Family¡¯s influence, angrily said, ¡°Lu Sheng, are you deliberately troubling me?¡± Lu Sheng shoved her hands into the pockets of her sweatpants, ¡°You¡¯re just noticing now?¡± She glanced at Luo Yinghe, ¡°You¡¯re pretty stupid.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Where had she offended this demanding little girl? Making a fuss over nothing! She was fuming, took off her mask, and snapped, ¡°Are you sick or something? How did I offend you? Picking a fight for no reason!¡± Just as Lu Sheng was about to speak, someone beat her to it, ¡°Who are you calling sick?¡± Lu Sheng turned around, ¡°Granny.¡± Mrs. Lu approached, followed by a secretary. The old lady was dressed simply in an old jacket, her makeup and hair neatly done, giving her a spirited and slightly more imposing appearance with her half-white hair. Lu Sheng asked her grandmother, ¡°What are you doing here?¡± Mrs. Lu was always economical with words, ¡°Health check.¡± She looked at Luo Yinghe, recognizing her as someone¡¯s daughter but not recalling her name, ¡°Luo family, who are you calling sick?¡± The Lu family members protected their own, especially the old lady, the champion of favoritism. Calling a member of the Lu family sick was like begging for trouble. Luo Yinghe, having only seen the old lady a few times, was naturally frightened and quickly changed her tone, trembling, ¡°Mrs. Lu.¡± The old lady¡¯s tone wasn¡¯t too harsh, but it was oppressive enough to make one feel breathless, ¡°I don¡¯t know what conflict you¡¯ve had with our Shengsheng, but it¡¯s never right to insult others.¡± Pretending to be oblivious. In all of Imperial City, the only person who could match this old lady was the Jiang family¡¯s old madam. Regardless of how reluctant Luo Yinghe was, she had to behave properly, ¡°I was rude.¡± ¡°Then apologize.¡± She gritted her teeth and apologized quietly, ¡°Sorry.¡± ¡°Be more careful with your words in the future.¡± ¡°I understand.¡± Old hag! Luo Yinghe internally fumed but respectfully took her leave on the surface. Lu Sheng blocked her way, leaned in, and whispered in her ear, ¡°Pass a message to your grandfather, Zhou Qingrang belongs to my Lu family, and he¡¯s untouchable.¡± It was all because of that cripple. With clenched fists, Luo Yinghe stormed off, fuming. Lu Sheng felt relieved and cheerfully called out, ¡°Granny.¡± Mrs. Lu chided, ¡°Stop grinning at me.¡± She glanced into the hospital room and asked, ¡°Is that Zhou Qingrang inside?¡± Having lived for seventy or eighty years, what hadn¡¯t she seen? How could she not know what her granddaughter was up to? Lu Sheng nodded. Mrs. Lu didn¡¯t inquire about the entanglements between Zhou Qingrang and the Luo family, merely asking, ¡°How is his health now?¡± Lu Sheng looked into the hospital room, her face filled with concern, ¡°Not very good.¡± Zhou Qingrang¡¯s health was poor, not just his legs, but his heart had problems and post-traumatic symptoms as well; in short, everything was problematic, surviving the car accident was a miracle. Mrs. Lu was also worried, her granddaughter could have liked anyone better, but she had to fall for him, ¡°If you end up with him, visiting the hospital will become routine. Prepare yourself mentally, and if you¡¯re not patient enough, better clear things up with him early.¡± The young girl earnestly responded, ¡°I know.¡± The old lady didn¡¯t nag any further, ¡°Don¡¯t go to the office today, let your secretary contact me if anything comes up.¡± She immediately beamed with joy, ¡°Thank you, Granny.¡± When Zhou Xufang woke up, Jiang Zhi had already left the hospital; he had left a note that he had gone to the police station to give a statement. There was a big fire last night, the Luo family reported it, and since Jiang Zhi mysteriously appeared at the Luo Family, the police naturally wanted to question him. She went out to buy breakfast, and by the time she returned to the hospital room, Lu Sheng was already inside, and Zhou Qingrang was awake too, and they seemed to be talking. She waited outside, not wanting to interrupt. Fang Lixiang called, ¡°Xu Fang.¡± She said on the phone, ¡°I¡¯m setting off now, will be there in half an hour.¡± They had arranged to meet this Saturday, today, to sneak in and visit the obstetrics and gynecology department. Zhou Xufang instructed her, ¡°Drive to Parking Lot 3, I¡¯ll meet you there.¡± That parking lot was for internal use only and wouldn¡¯t be frequented by paparazzi. ¡°Okay.¡± ¡°Lixiang.¡± She couldn¡¯t help but share the good news with her friend, ¡°I found my uncle.¡± Uncle? Wasn¡¯t Zhou Xufang an orphan? Fang Lixiang was surprised, ¡°Your real uncle? Who is he?¡± Zhou Xufang pronounced his name clearly, a hint of pride in her voice, ¡°His name is Zhou Qingrang.¡± My goodness, big news! ¡°The Zhou Qingrang from the national news broadcast?¡± Zhou Xufang nodded, ¡°Mhm.¡± Fang Lixiang could tell Zhou Xufang was very happy and she was genuinely happy for her, she always thought Zhou Xufang was so alone with no loving relatives, now she finally had family on her maternal side. ¡°That¡¯s wonderful! Should we celebrate? I know a great hot pot restaurant.¡± Zhou Xufang replied, ¡°You are pregnant now, you can¡¯t eat too much hot pot.¡± Chapter 268 - 268: 268: Xu Fang, the Doting Uncle Madman, Lu Shengs Confession (First Update) Chapter 268: 268: Xu Fang, the Doting Uncle Madman, Lu Sheng¡¯s Confession (First Update) Zhou Xufang: ¡°You¡¯re pregnant now, you can¡¯t eat too much hotpot.¡± Fang Lixiang deflated in a second: ¡°Maybe in a few days, I won¡¯t be.¡± Zhou Xufang felt like she was really attached to the ¡®Little Dog¡¯ in her stomach, she felt like she liked the ¡®Little Dog¡¯s dad, ¡®Big Doggy¡¯. After hanging up the phone, Zhou Xufang felt dejected for her good friend for a while, but soon she got happy again because she had an uncle now, and she was overjoyed, she wanted to share. She messaged Wen Baiyang on WeChat, ¡°Bai Yang, I have an uncle now.¡± She messaged Ah Wan on WeChat, ¡°Ah Wan, I have an uncle now.¡± She messaged Xue Bingxue on WeChat, ¡°Mr. Xue, I have an uncle now.¡± She messaged Qiao Nanchu on WeChat, ¡°Mr. Qiao, I have an uncle now.¡± She messaged Jiang Wei¡¯er on WeChat, ¡°Wei¡¯er, I have an uncle now.¡± There was no copy and paste; she typed each word with a heart full of excitement and joy. She even sent happy WeChat messages to the boss lady of the restaurant that often delivered takeout and the group leader of the crowd actors. The only person left in her friends list now was ¡®Little Dog¡¯s dad, ¡®Big Doggy¡¯¡ªthe one in Fang Lixiang¡¯s stomach. Well, Mr. Xiao Xue might be a bit of a jerk towards Lixiang, but she still wanted to share her happiness with him, so she sent him a message, ¡°Mr. Xiao Xue, I have an uncle now.¡± Everyone: ¡°¡­¡± Girl, you could have just posted a Moment. A minute later, Zhou Xufang, who almost never posted Moments, did post one. ¡°I have an uncle now. ????????????????????????¡± Fangbao¡¯s Boyfriend: ¡°When you had a boyfriend, you never posted in Moments.¡± It was only after he kept pressing her that she posted one. Oh, how sour! Fangbao replied to Fangbao¡¯s Boyfriend, ¡°????¡± Fangbao¡¯s Boyfriend replied to Fangbao, ¡°¨s^¨t¡± This damn sourness. Zhou Xufang¡¯s friends all commented below the post, with congratulations and dog food consumers alike, she read all the comments and politely replied with thanks and smileys. At that moment, Jiang Zhi sent her a message. Fangbao¡¯s Boyfriend: ¡°Zhou Xufang.¡± Zhou Xufang replied instantly. Fangbao: ¡°Here.¡± Fangbao¡¯s Boyfriend: ¡°Now that you have an uncle, do you not love me anymore?¡± Fangbao: ¡°No.¡± Fangbao¡¯s Boyfriend: ¡°Then do you love me?¡± Zhou Xufang felt embarrassed and after looking around, she sent a little heart. Jiang Zhi replied with a voice message to her. Fangbao¡¯s Boyfriend: ¡°I love you too.¡± He was the least shy of all. Zhou Xufang blushed secretly. Fangbao: ¡°Have you arrived at the police station yet?¡± Fangbao¡¯s Boyfriend: ¡°Almost there.¡± Fangbao: ¡°.¡± Fangbao¡¯s Boyfriend: ¡°Don¡¯t send me just a period. If you have nothing to say and still want to end the conversation last, just send me ¡®I love you¡¯.¡± Of course, one thing had to be emphasized. Fangbao¡¯s Boyfriend: ¡°You can only send it to me, send others off any way you want.¡± Fangbao: ¡°.¡± Jiang Zhi felt like he was given the brush-off. Zhou Xufang put away her phone and continued to wait outside the ward. She could hear the voices inside, Lu Sheng was asking, ¡°Are you feeling better?¡± Zhou Qingrang nodded. He was not very talkative while Lu Sheng had a lot more to say, ¡°What do you want to eat? I¡¯ll go buy it for you.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not necessary.¡± Because he had inhaled a lot of smoke last night, his voice hadn¡¯t recovered yet and was somewhat hoarse. ¡°It¡¯s no trouble.¡± She was just about to go out to buy something when he called her back, ¡°Lu Sheng.¡± Lu Sheng turned around. The hospital gown was white with blue checks; he was thin and it hung loosely on his frame, she could even see the faint bluish veins under his neck. ¡°Go back, I¡¯m fine here, I don¡¯t want to delay you.¡± The attitude was distant, somewhat rejecting people thousands of miles away. Lu Sheng felt a loss in her heart and couldn¡¯t hold back, she blurted out what was on her mind, ¡°If I go back, I will still keep thinking of you and won¡¯t be able to do anything either.¡± For a girl to say she misses you is equivalent to saying she likes you. He just looked at her, said nothing, his eyes deep and fluctuating, light and shadow chaotically dancing. Lu Sheng stood by the bed, not like a young girl in her early twenties, her eyes devoid of frivolity, serious and stubborn but also open and honest. She asked, ¡°Zhou Qingrang, can¡¯t you see it?¡± She liked him so much; it was so obvious that she liked him. Zhou Qingrang restrained his gaze, his tone flat and indifferent, he said: ¡°You can go back now.¡± ¡°You should go back.¡± This sentence was equivalent to a rejection. No leeway was given, not even a moment¡¯s consideration. Usually gentle, he was uncompromising on this matter. As soon as she made it clear, he immediately took a stance. Lu Sheng had actually guessed this outcome, but no matter how mentally prepared he was, it was still tough to take. He wanted her to leave¡­ She walked to the door, turned around, and looked at him with eager eyes: ¡°I haven¡¯t had my dinner yet.¡± It sounded pitiable. Zhou Xufang felt it was her cue to step in. She walked to the door and knocked: ¡°I¡¯ve bought some porridge.¡± Lu Sheng opened the door and looked at her as if seeing a family member. ¡°Eat before you leave.¡± Zhou Qingrang was still soft-hearted. Lu Sheng nodded eagerly, looking both miserable and content: ¡°Okay.¡± After she had eaten, she left. Zhou Qingrang made no effort to keep her there, and she didn¡¯t dare linger, afraid of annoying him. Her departing figure looked so pitiable¡­ ¡°Auntie,¡± Zhou Xufang felt it was magical that, for someone as slow to warm up as her, calling him uncle didn¡¯t feel strange but very familiar and natural, ¡°do you not like Lu Sheng?¡± He didn¡¯t answer directly: ¡°How old is she?¡± ¡°Not young anymore.¡± Lu Sheng was twenty-three. She herself had gotten involved with Jiang Zhi at twenty-two. Zhou Xufang had a particularly good impression of Lu Sheng. It¡¯d be great if Lu Sheng could become her aunt. She guessed that her uncle must have his concerns. So Zhou Xufang comforted him: ¡°Uncle, don¡¯t worry, Jiang Zhi¡¯s family is in the healthcare industry. You¡¯ll definitely live to a ripe old age.¡± Live to a ripe old age. Eight years ago, his primary doctor had told him, live one day, earn one day¡ªhow could he dare to hope for a century? Zhou Qingrang did not continue this topic: ¡°Enough about me. What about you? Is Jiang Zhi good to you?¡± Zhou Xufang honestly replied: ¡°Very good.¡± Whenever she mentioned Jiang Zhi, her eyes sparkled differently; she couldn¡¯t lie about it. ¡°After the Luo Family fire, where did you go? Did you live alone?¡± He wanted to know more about her, to understand what she had been through, to learn how she, destitute and alone, had grown up by herself. Zhou Xufang pulled up a stool and sat in front of the hospital bed: ¡°I was sent overseas by Luo Qinghe¡¯s uncle, where I met a benefactor. Five years ago, he sent me back to the country.¡± She only mentioned the positives, cutting out the negatives. She didn¡¯t want to tell her uncle about the things in the lab, so she skirted around it. But she didn¡¯t lie¡ªshe truly had come across a benefactor, otherwise, she couldn¡¯t have escaped the lab. She went on to say only the good things: ¡°I¡¯ve had a good life. I¡¯ve made a lot of money and even bought a house.¡± After that, she asked Zhou Qingrang, ¡°And you, uncle?¡± His mouth curved into a faint smile, softening the handsomeness of his face, making him seem less ethereal: ¡°One of my high school teachers supported me. After the adult college entrance examination, I studied broadcasting. After graduating, I went to work at a TV station. The director was very kind and took good care of me. Everything went smoothly.¡± Zhou Qingrang did the same, mentioning only the positive things. But how could everything go smoothly? He had been bedridden in the hospital for so long. To reintegrate into the world, he would have had to endure so much, not to mention his ill health and difficulty walking. Zhou Xufang had seen him walking with a limp, proud yet lonely. ¡°Xufang,¡± his gaze was tender, with a hint of light twinkling within, ¡°it¡¯s all uncle¡¯s fault for not going to find you at the Luo Family earlier.¡± Eight years ago, when he first woke up, he underwent three major surgeries in succession and received more than a dozen critical condition notices. He couldn¡¯t stand up and stayed in the hospital for a long time. Just rehab took over a year¡ªZhou Xufang knew all this. Her uncle had suffered far more than she had. She said: ¡°I haven¡¯t suffered much. When I was at the Luo Family, Aunt Xiu and her family took good care of me. And once I went overseas, I didn¡¯t worry about food and clothing.¡± She wasn¡¯t lying. Eating medicine and wearing hospital gowns every day, she indeed did not worry about food and clothing. What was most important was: ¡°My boyfriend is also a good person.¡± She couldn¡¯t stop mentioning Jiang Zhi. Zhou Qingrang smiled without reply. Whether Jiang Zhi was a good person, he knew some about that. But it didn¡¯t matter if someone was good or not, as long as they were good to her. ¡°Little uncle.¡± It was Tang Xiang who arrived, carrying a basket of fruit. Just then, Zhou Xufang received a message from Fang Lixiang: ¡°Tang Xiang, can you look after my uncle for me? My friend is coming for a consult, and I need to pick her up.¡± ¡°Go ahead, leave him to me, the jobless wanderer.¡± So Zhou Xufang went ahead to meet Fang Lixiang. She knew that her uncle would definitely ask about her affairs. She had already told Tang Xiang in advance to keep it light, to report only the good and spare the sorrows. Fang Lixiang parked the car in the hospital¡¯s private lot, which was off-limits to outsiders. It was an arrangement Zhou Xufang had made with Vice President Sun. sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Xufang, Xufang.¡± As soon as Zhou Xufang reached the parking garage, she spotted Fang Lixiang sneakily hiding behind a pillar. She donned a hat that covered everything from her head to her neck, revealing only her eyes: ¡°With this getup, no one should recognize me, right?¡± She looked around nervously like a thief. Zhou Xufang thought she could use such a hat on her next mission, but wearing it in broad daylight seemed odd: ¡°You seem more conspicuous like that.¡± As if she was there to rob a bank. ¡°Really?¡± It did seem so! Fang Lixiang took off her heist-appropriate scarf and hat, exhaling deeply, ¡°I¡¯m dying of heat.¡± Without the hat, Zhou Xufang noticed: ¡°Lixiang, you¡¯ve lost a lot of weight.¡± Fang Lixiang touched her stomach, also feeling helpless: ¡°The little monster inside is tormenting me; it won¡¯t let me eat a bite of meat. If I eat a bite, it makes me throw up ten.¡± Chapter 1 - 001 - First Encounter, He is Sickly, She is a Monster (Revised) Chapter 1: 001: First Encounter, He is Sickly, She is a Monster (Revised)October, the golden autumn season, the Silver Pine in the neighborhood left the ground littered with dry branches. The autumn atmosphere was desolate, only the scattered Red Leaf Photinia added a bit of vibrant red. Two old ladies walked one after the other, carrying shopping bags, heading towards the buildings in the neighborhood. Laughing and chatting along the way, when they turned into the path through the greenery, the old lady with the small curly hair in the front suddenly remembered something, "Let''s go from the back." Her companion was puzzled, "Why?" The curly-haired old lady pulled her back to retrace their steps, talking about the neighborhood gossip, "I heard there''s a weirdo living in Building Seventeen." "What kind of weirdo?" The old lady spoke loudly, "A young girl, always wrapping herself up tightly, only showing her eyes. Last time Old Wang said he saw her eyes were red and glowing. It scared him to death." "No way, who would dare live in that building then?" The old lady glanced back, feeling a chill on her back, she hurriedly pulled her coat tighter, "Indeed, no one lives there. Besides that young girl, there''s no one else." "Such an odd thing? Did the girl rent the whole building herself? Surely not bought it?" "Who knows." The voices faded away, the sunset was about to fall. Shadows stretched long on the pebbled path. At the end of the path, Building Seventeen stood tall, seventeen floors high touching the clouds, bathed in the glow of the evening light spreading gold. The delivery guy carried a bag, walking briskly; he looked up a few times to confirm the numbers on the building before taking out his phone to make a call, "Hello." "Hello." A young girl''s voice, clear and gentle, with a hint of laziness and carelessness, slightly cold in tone. What a nice voice, thought the delivery guy. "Delivery." The guy spoke politely, "I''m at the bottom of Building Seventeen, which floor do you live on?" "Please wait, I''ll come down to get it." There were muffled sounds on the other end of the phone, then the sound of a door closing. The delivery guy was about to say he could deliver it upstairs when the door at the stairway of Building Seventeen suddenly opened. The guy looked up and saw a hand. Long and slender fingers, pale like porcelain, with neat and clean nails. Above that, was a face, excessively pale skin like it hadn''t seen sunlight for years, giving a hint of sickness, a high yet delicate nose, and thin lips pressed together, looking cold and aloof when not smiling. The first look, just seemed excessively beautiful. The second look, one would be drawn into those phoenix eyes, long and slender, slightly upward-tilted at the corners, pupils colored with the darkest ink, three parts depth, three parts coldness, and the remaining, an ancient coldness, like stars in the summer desert, dazzling and hard to look away from, yet making one afraid to look longer. So young, how could there be such desolation, how could her eyes be filled with the weariness and emptiness that comes after years of hardship. The guy was stunned, staring at that face. Click. The door opened wider, the girl stepped out with one leg, slender and long, revealing a pale ankle under the nine-part black pencil pants. She wore a black-and-white over-the-knee long shirt, with a gray hoodie inside. The hoodie was casually draped over her head, revealing her collarbone, with strands of short hair sticking out from the hood, slightly messy. She wore no warm colors, except for a pair of pink bunny plush slippers. "Yunji Noodle Restaurant?" she asked, her voice still as clear and slightly cool as on the phone. The delivery guy came back to his senses, hurriedly handing over the bag, "Your delivery." "Thank you." She took it, then retracted her leg, and turned to close the door. Her hand was so cold. The guy realized later, the place her finger pads brushed still carried a bit of residual chill. He scratched his head, walked away, then couldn''t help but look back after a few steps. The sky was dark now, and the once dim window was lit up, the light from the sensor lamps broke through the window. From the first to the seventh floor, the lights almost simultaneously lit up. A gust of wind blew, giving the delivery guy goosebumps, he quickly turned and left. Bang! The door slammed shut, the two pink bunny slippers were kicked off at the entrance. She pulled off her hoodie, carrying the food container inside. Her name was Zhou Xufang, living alone. In Building Seventeen, only she lived there, not rented, the entire building belonged to her. Because she was different from others, she could only live alone. She lived on the seventh floor, two units connected into one, over two hundred square meters of space, looking very cold and deserted at a glance. To the left of the entrance was the cloakroom, with many types of clothes, but mostly black at a glance. To the right of the entrance was the bathroom, also separated by glass, one-way visible, only a corner of the ultra-large bathtub visible through the door crack. Walking further in, three steps up the stairs, to the right was the bed, all black bed sheets, lacking any lively color, the floor at the end of the bed scattered with a few pieces of clothing. To the left were four computers, one side a black lacquered wooden dressing table, a lazy sofa in the middle, a glass coffee table, with a projector in one corner of the table. Next to it, a delicate glass box filled with colorful cotton candy. The white walls and black floor, the entire two hundred square meter area, except for the pink bunny slippers at the entrance, there were no warm colors, devoid of any human presence and smoke. She put the delivery down, stood barefoot on the black plush carpet, picked a pink cotton candy from the glass box and put it in her mouth, just bit open the disposable chopsticks packaging, the computers on the table activated. On the screen, a bright yellow SpongeBob popped up, filling the entire screen. Code name Shuangjiang, real name unknown, age unknown, identity background and address all unknown. She was Zhou Xufang''s partner. Zhou Xufang never heard her voice nor saw her appearance, only knew she was a young girl. "Are you awake?" Three words popped up at the bottom of the screen, in bold red SimSun font. Zhou Xufang unwrapped the delivery bag, "Yes." "Got a new job." "I''m on vacation." Zhou Xufang didn''t look up, her hair just past her ears, bangs slightly covering her eyes; she ate her noodles quietly, with excellent manners, eating slowly and deliberately. "This one is easy." After a moment, words scrolled on the screen again, "It''s a female client, wants us to nab someone. She said it''s her sweetheart, wants to play the beauty saving the hero." Shuangjiang added, "The commission fee is five hundred thousand." Zhou Xufang''s chopsticks paused, her long eyelashes drooped, making her profile look much softer with her head bowed. After a while, SpongeBob on the screen jumped twice, Shuangjiang asked, "Take it?" She ate a mouthful of noodles, "Take it." As long as it didn''t harm the heavens or set fires, anything that made money, they would take. The next day happened to be the fifteenth, the moon was very round, surrounded by stars, casting a soft glow over the whole city. As the night lamps lit up, the city was bustling and lively. In a finely decorated club, ancient paintings adorned the walls, carvings of hollow flowers, and along the way, Corinthian Roman columns displayed various flowers, a faint floral scent lingered in the corridor. The flowers were meant to match the occasion, but alas, they came at the wrong time. The club lounge manager hurriedly ran, instructing the waiters, "Quick, put away all the roses." The head waiter came over, puzzled, "Manager, why suddenly take away all the flowers?" The manager was anxious, tugging at his tie, using a handkerchief to wipe the sweat on his neck, "An important guest is coming, who can''t stand the smell of roses." An important guest? In a high-end club, all the visitors were VIPs. The head waiter was unsure who it was, asking the manager, "Who?" The manager squatted down, picking up a fallen rose petal, "The Jiang Family''s important guest." S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Now, the head waiter understood. In the Imperial City''s Jiang Family, there was only one who could be called an important guest, the youngest son of the Jiang family, famous far and wide. Speaking of that beauty... The manager urged, "Hurry up, the person is almost here, be quick and don''t leave a single rose behind." About ten minutes later, the manager received a call, quickly bringing a few deputy managers to greet at the elevator entrance. Ding¡ª The elevator door opened, the person was not visible, but the coughing was heard first, one bout after another, slightly suppressed. When the elevator door fully opened, the tall figure was backlit by the glass lamps in the corridor. The person leaned against the left wall of the elevator, wearing a black long coat that reached past the knees. Underfoot was a pair of custom leather shoes, inside a white shirt and casual pants, the collar unbuttoned, revealing a long neck. Because of the cough, even the Adam''s apple was flushed pink, gently moving. He lowered his head, still coughing, his long hand pressed at his collarbone. Because of the severe coughing, even his fingertips were slightly red. The manager stepped aside to greet him respectfully, "Mr. Jiang." In the Jiang family, only this one person was addressed as Mr. Jiang, the rest naturally had to have their names appended to it, showing the difference in status. The man in the elevator finally raised his head. His hair was cut casually, highlighting his smooth contours, his bone structure extremely beautiful. His skin was pale, and just after coughing, his lips, pressed lightly together, carried a touch of red, with a thin layer of redness on his cheeks ¡ª three parts sickly, three parts delicate, three parts charming, and a touch of lazy carelessness. Moreover, he had a pair of standard peach blossom eyes, slightly pink around the edges, shaped like peach blossoms, with moisture, the corners slightly upturned, the black and white of his pupils not clearly defined, giving a seemingly drunken haze. Such a look, every frown and smile was exquisitely beautiful, making one''s heart beat faster. This was the Jiang family''s youngest son, Jiang Zhi, the most beautiful person in the Imperial City, breathless after three steps, coughing after five steps, truly a delicate and precious sick beauty. This charming person, stunning yet without any hint of femininity, with his peach blossom eyes, every glance, every move, a lazy indifference infused with inherent nobility and distance, noble and aloof bred within an aristocratic family. The manager, a man in his forties, was stunned despite having seen this beauty before, took a while to find his voice, "I-I''ll lead you there." The manager stammered nervously, treating this lord with both respect and fear, knowing well enough that this ancestor had a bad temper, upsetting him would surely lead to trouble. Jiang Zhi responded softly with a "mm," his eyelids lifting slightly. His languid demeanor seemed as if he hadn''t fully woken up. His legs were long and slender, but he walked very slowly. "Cough, cough, cough." He slightly bent his back, covering his mouth and nose as he coughed lightly. His brows furrowed gently, and the hair on his forehead was a bit disheveled, adding a touch of illness to his appearance. Ahead, the manager leading the way slowed his pace repeatedly. For such a short distance, he ended up breaking out in a cold sweat for no apparent reason. Opening the door to the private room, the first thing that caught his eye was a sharp-looking face with sword-like eyebrows and starry eyes. The manager respectfully greeted, "Mr. Xue." Xue Baoyi, the second son of the Xue Family. His mother gave him a tough-guy face but ironically named him Baoyi, a name for ladies because of a dream she had during pregnancy, hoping for a daughter. Instead, she had a son. Currently, Xue Baoyi was sitting at the gambling table. In the dimly lit room, his blue-purple hair was the most eye-catching feature. He had a rugged face and was smoking a cigarette as he called out, "Brother Zhi is here." Jiang Zhi''s grandmother was a lady from a prestigious family, and their household retained some old-fashioned customs. Boys were called "ge''er" and girls "jie''er." The young gentlemen friends liked to tease him by calling him "Brother Zhi." Xue Baoyi and Jiang Zhi were childhood friends, as their families had business ties and had known each other since they were toddlers. This gathering was organized by Xue Baoyi. Although the elite circle in Imperial City wasn''t large, it still had clear hierarchies. Jiang Zhi was at the top of this elite group. If it were not for Xue Baoyi and tonight''s birthday boy being close friends, they wouldn''t have been able to invite this little ancestor. The group of spoiled rich kids in the room greeted him eagerly, with tones indicating a wish to ingratiate themselves with him. Jiang Zhi lazily lifted his eyelids, "Put out those cigarettes, this place is all smoky." Xue Baoyi chuckled, "Alright, alright, as you say." Nudging the others, they all put out their cigarettes. He then threw a card onto the table, "How about a few rounds?" The smell of tobacco hadn''t completely dissipated from the room. Jiang Zhi coughed a couple of times, found a clean spot, and nestled there listlessly, "Didn''t you lose enough last time?" Xue Baoyi drew a card and laughed nonchalantly, "I''m hoping to win back my losses this time." Jiang Zhi ignored him, lounging lazily with his eyes half-closed, looking listless and sickly. His peach blossom eyes appeared to be in a state between waking and sleeping, giving an impression that he was always on the brink of dozing off. Xue Baoyi knew his temperament and didn''t bother him, instead, he asked a waiter to bring him a glass of milk. However, there were always those who didn''t understand. For instance, the young master from the Deng Family brought a woman along. Not only that, but she wasn''t behaving demurely either. As soon as she entered, her eyes were glued to Jiang Zhi, the provocative movements of her chest drawing attention. Jiang Zhi held a high-stemmed glass, sipping milk slowly. The woman took a bottle of red wine over and sat on the sofa opposite him, smiling coquettishly, "Shall I pour you a glass, Mr. Jiang?" He didn''t even lift his eyelids, replying sleepily, "Weak constitution, can''t drink alcohol." It was well-known that the youngest of the Jiang Family in Imperial City had a frail body; outsiders only knew him as someone constantly battling illness, unaware of his devastating beauty. Such a sickly beauty, even though the woman''s advances were rejected, she didn''t get angry. She put down the wine and picked up some darts, "Mr. Jiang, would you like to try? I heard from Mr. Deng that you''re the best at darts around here." Jiang Zhi lazily lowered his eyelids, "Weak constitution, can''t lift my hand." After saying that, he covered his mouth and coughed twice. His lips were red and teeth white, with a slight blush on his cheeks. A beauty like a painting, lying there, with a slight frown really tugged at people''s heartstrings. This delicate person... The woman quickly approached, wanting to help him catch his breath, but her tender hand was blocked by the high-stemmed glass filled with milk. The person nestled on the sofa suddenly raised his eyes, the lazy look vanished, replaced by a gaze like cold stars, "I''m allergic to roses." The woman''s hand froze in mid-air. She had applied rose-scented perfume that day. His disgust was evident, even throwing away the wine glass, "Stay away from me." The woman, embarrassed, retracted her hand and backed off. Xue Baoyi left the card table, giving young Master Deng a look. Only then did the young master recall and hurriedly led the woman out, ashamed of himself for forgetting that Mr. Xue had instructed not to bring women. Xue Baoyi knew Jiang Zhi had some cleanliness compulsions. He switched glasses and poured him another glass of milk, fawning as he approached him, since this little ancestor didn''t generally drink alcohol but loved milk. Jiang Zhi looked at him coldly with his peach blossom eyes, "Get away, you smell like a woman." "....." He had been with a woman that afternoon but had taken a bath before showing up. This little ancestor''s eyes were stunningly beautiful, but even a slight narrowing made them coldly menacing, like a shower of peach blossom ice rain falling from above. Xue Baoyi knew he was angry and dared not bother him any further. They couldn''t help it; Jiang Zhi was too beautiful and always looked sickly like a devastatingly attractive trouble in ancient times. All his childhood friends, being passionately normal men, found it hard to resist such a beautiful face. Knowing well that Jiang Zhi wasn''t a weak and delicate person, they still couldn''t help but want to coddle and pamper him. All their childhood friends knew there were two things this little ancestor hated most: roses and women. Because of this, when organizing the gathering, Xue Baoyi specifically reminded everyone not to bring women. Xue Baoyi fawned and apologized. Jiang Zhi got up from the sofa, "I''m leaving." "So soon?" Xue Baoyi tried to hold onto his sleeve to stop him, "The birthday boy hasn''t arrived yet." He shook off his sleeve, making his beautiful face cold, "Weak constitution, can''t stay up late." Xue Baoyi: "...." Damn it, was eight o''clock already considered late? Jiang Zhi left directly, without even a glance at the group of anxiously watching spoiled rich kids. Walking and coughing, he kept his head down, suppressing his cough, his cheeks showing a faint sickly blush. Xue Baoyi felt a pang in his heart, letting him go, thinking that a frail beauty needed to be pampered exceptionally. He couldn''t help marveling, "This little ancestor, who knows which boy will have him in the future." Oh, by the way, Jiang Zhi came out as gay at his eighteenth birthday celebration, declaring in front of a group of beautiful debutantes that he only liked men. Since then, the hottest topic in Imperial City''s elite circle was whether Jiang Zhi was a "top" or a "bottom." With such a beautiful face, many thought he looked like a "bottom," but his overbearing temperament suggested otherwise. Strangely enough, men in Imperial City wanted him, and so did women. He was indeed a troublemaker! Xue Baoyi had booked the top floor of the club for the night. The corridor outside the private room was completely empty. The soundproofing was excellent, making it so quiet that only footsteps and occasional coughing could be heard. The lights flickered suddenly. Jiang Zhi stopped in his tracks, his shadow stretching long on the ground. He slowly turned around, just in time to see a dark shadow hurtling towards him. It was so fast that he couldn''t make out what it was, just that a black figure was engulfing him completely. He stepped back but had only moved his foot when a sharp pain hit the back of his neck, and he was knocked unconscious. The black figure leaped and clung to the wall. Clang. A surveillance camera fell to the ground with a crash. The black figure descended, and somebody emerged from the high-speed wind it created. The person was tall and slender, dressed all in black. They wore a hoodie over a baseball cap, with short hair reaching the collarbone, and a black mask covering most of their face, revealing only a pair of eyes. Almond-shaped eyes with long eye-tails and deep-set pupils, resembling the stars in winter or the deep sea - cold and mysterious. Their legs were long and slim, indicating it was likely a girl. She walked over and with a gloved hand, lifted the person on the ground, carrying them on her shoulder. With a stride, she vanished down the corridor almost instantly. The moon hung alone high in the sky, the entire city shrouded in neon lights and moonlight, glittering and hazy. The sea breeze blew in, bringing a faint salty tinge, mingled with the desolate chill of an autumn night. The sound of waves crashing against the rocks nearby filled the ears, and the splashes wetted the hem of the person lying by the rock. His long eyelashes trembled, and he slowly opened his eyes, revealing a pair of peach blossom eyes. The moonlight was reflected in them along with a blurry silhouette. It was a slender and tall figure. Jiang Zhi suddenly raised his hand, grabbing a piece of fabric. His fingers brushed against cool skin. "Who are you?" His voice was hoarse, shattered by the sea breeze. The blurry figure turned, "Professional errand runner." It was a young girl''s voice, distorted somewhat by the wind, yet clear and pure, but cold and indifferent. The moonlight was dim, the damp sea air veiled his vision with a layer of mist. Try as he might, he couldn''t make out her features. The black mask merged with the night. She pulled her hand free, leapt, and dove into the sea. Jiang Zhi stood there, stunned. This woman has a death wish... The next dawn, as the sun peeked over the horizon, the sky was tinged with a corner of red light. The fisherman had just hauled in his nets and, with a basket on his back, was picking up the fish and shrimp washed ashore by the sea. Crouched down, he was collecting them along the shore when he suddenly froze, spotting a wet hand gripping a rock in the distance. Then, a head emerged from the water. It was a person! The fisherman hurried over, intending to lend a hand. But the person suddenly stood up and lifted their head. Short black hair, white face, red eyes... The fisherman''s legs went weak, and he fell to the ground, crying out, "Ghost, it''s a ghost!" The figure approached. The fisherman fainted from fright. The first ray of morning sunlight fell on the person''s face. Their almond-shaped eyes were both beautiful and desolate, glowing red. With cold pale lips, they softly murmured, "I''m not a ghost." She looked down, seeing the wound on her palm cut by the rocks, healing at a speed visible to the naked eye. She wasn''t a ghost. She was a monster. Chapter 2 - 002 - Being targeted by Brother Zhi Chapter 2: 002: Being targeted by Brother ZhiThe Fifth Renmin Hospital spanned a thousand square meters, located in the busiest and most prosperous area of the Imperial City. It was one of the medical facilities under the Jiang Family''s business empire. The hospital had six buildings, each six stories high, and was only open to members of the Jiang Family. Knock, knock, knock. The sound of knocking came slowly, three times, with a cautious undertone. Mr. Jiang. Inside the hospital room, a man''s voice, sounding frail and irritable, said, "Get out." The man knocking outside was Ah Wan, Jiang Zhi''s bodyguard and assistant, about thirty years old. He had a guileless appearance, dark skin, and muscular build, but both his intelligence and emotional quotients were not particularly high. It was precisely because Ah Wan was not clever enough that his employer had suffered from the cold wind by the seaside last night before being found. Luckily, they had gotten to him before the real perpetrators who had kidnapped him, or else the consequences... were unthinkable. "Oh." Ah Wan retreated silently, not daring to provoke his employer any further. Due to the exposure to the cold wind, the pampered and sickly one inside was now ill, coughing intermittently. The young master''s temper was not good, especially when he was unwell, and no one dared to provoke him. Of course, except for the Xue Family''s Second Young Master. "Brother Zhi~" The voice of Xue Baoyi came first before the man himself appeared, his tone casual. The hospital room door was pushed open with a bang, and a cup was immediately thrown at Xue Baoyi''s feet. Jiang Zhi was clearly upset. There is a saying that goes, "A frown brings two dimples of sorrow, fragrance silk entwines a body of frailty, tears glimmer, and there are soft breaths." Xue Baoyi felt these words perfectly described Jiang Zhi. He wiped his head; the head of blue-purple dyed hair from before was now shaved clean, in a neat and tidy buzz cut, making his features look more defined and imposing, with a mischievous grin on his face. "Wow, such a temper." The very temperamental Young Master Jiang was wearing a hospital gown. The plainly styled gown was loosely draped over him, and his skin was extremely fair, lips pale, appearing weak and delicate. He was clearly angry, coughing heavily with his mouth covered. Cough, cough, cough... With every cough from Jiang Zhi, the rims of his alluring eyes turned red, giving off a weak charm. His appearance really tugged at Mr. Xue''s heartstrings. "Okay, okay, don''t be angry," Xue Baoyi coaxed him gently, his joking tone disciplined, "Your delicate body, if hurt by anger, wouldn''t that break my little young master''s heart?" The Xue Family''s Second Young Master in the capital had no other vice except his fondness for beautiful people. Jiang Zhi''s face, he truly found bewitching. He even admired himself for growing up with such a beauty and still remaining straight. What a feat of iron will. He immediately stepped forward, raising his hand to comfort the beauty. Jiang Zhi pushed him away disdainfully, his alluring eyes cold. "Did you find out?" Xue Baoyi grinned, pulling a chair to sit. "I haven''t slept all night." Dare to kidnap his brother, did they think the Young Master Xue was dead? Jiang Zhi was too lazy to banter with him. "Who?" "The fourth of the Ming Family. I heard it was an attempt at ''hero saves the beauty,'' so they kidnapped you." Xue Baoyi laughed nastily. "That face of yours, really always making trouble." Although the Ming Family didn''t have the same background as the Four Great Families, they were still a prominent family in the Imperial City. The fourth miss of the Ming Family was curvy but not too bright, unable to control her eyes, and had been eyeing Jiang Zhi for a long time. Xue Baoyi played with a cigarette and lighter in his hand but didn''t light it. "This has nothing to do with the Ming Family, it''s just that fourth fool of theirs wanting to punch above her weight." He raised an eyebrow, asking Jiang Mei Ren, "What do you want to do?" Jiang Zhi, feeling sick, nestled deeper, his face paler, suppressing his cough. His pink-hued eyes seemed intoxicated yet icy cool. "Throw her into Canghai." Canghai was on the outskirts of the Imperial City, and Jiang Zhi had been taken there last night. Xue Baoyi was just about to say he was a law-abiding citizen when the door was pushed open. "This is a society governed by law, don''t do anything rash." A pair of long legs stepped in first, followed by a face that appeared both charming and roguish. Deep-set eyes, high nose bridge, and thin lips, a mix of elegance and cold disdain. He was Qiao Family''s son, Qiao Nanchu. Among the Four Great Families of the Imperial City, apart from the reclusive Lu Family, the Jiang, Xue, and Qiao Families had always been close, with the younger generation from the three families often mingling. Jiang Zhi lazily added, "Just don''t kill her." Xue Baoyi understood his meaning. A bit of pain, huh? This he was good at. Laughing, he agreed, "Got it, my dear ancestor!" "What happened?" Qiao Nanchu asked, leaning against a cabinet. Jiang Zhi coughed, a faint blush spreading on his cheeks. Qiao Nanchu poured a cup of warm water and handed it to him. "I checked the club''s surveillance. Only a glimpse of a shadow was captured before the footage malfunctioned." He smirked, a bit of playful mischief in his eyes. "Do you remember anything about the person who took you?" Jiang Zhi leaned against the pillow, looking fatigued, his beautiful eyes drooping. "Couldn''t see clearly." After thinking for a while, "About 1.7 meters tall, quite thin, very strong." Cough, cough, cough... He took a few sips of water before speaking again, "Nice eyes." The person wore a hat and mask, in the humid sea breeze. At that time, everything was foggy; he only vaguely saw an outline, not the voice, just remembered that it was nice but very cold. Qiao Nanchu, arms crossed, finger brushing his lips. "A bit short." 1.7 meters, wondering where the strength to carry him so far came from. "It''s a woman," Jiang Zhi said. The tone held an inexplicable mix of irritation, partial unwillingness, and dissatisfaction. The most cherished young master of the Jiang Family had been brought up with utmost care and pampering, never subjected to such hardships, let alone by a woman. Usually, Brother Zhi''s least favorite was women. Xue Baoyi laughed disrespectfully. "A woman, huh?" Teasing, he said, "Yet you praised her eyes. What, no longer dislike them now?" Jiang Zhi was openly gay, something he''d personally admitted. Over the years, he indeed had zero interest in women and not much interest in men either, except for a certain ''white moonlight'' of his heart. Jiang Zhi was unwilling to entertain Xue Baoyi, his brows furrowed with anger. His naturally noble and cool eyes losing their usual allure, simply cold. "She said she was a professional errand runner." Qiao Nanchu casually tapped on the cabinet. "I know who it is." Jiang Zhi raised his eyes to look at him. S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "I''ve been on her trail for half a year, codename Z." Qiao Nanchu put down the empty cup he took from Jiang Zhi, rubbing it thoughtfully. "Gender, female; age, unknown; address, unknown; nationality, unknown; top-notch skills." Professional errand running, as a job title, had only recently gained popularity. As long as you paid well, the errand runner could get anything done for you. Whether they would commit crimes was still unclear. "Interpol has been tailing her for a long time but never caught a glimpse. She only arrived in the Imperial City a year ago, with few missions taken, all at high prices and so far, a zero-failure rate." Qiao Nanchu was a cop, having worked several years in the Criminal Intelligence Department. This case had piqued his interest. Xue Baoyi was a businessman, uninterested in such troublesome matters. Seeing a colorful candy box on the bedside table, encrusted with tiny diamonds, one could tell whose it was at a glance. The delicately ornate box, he took it directly. Jiang Zhi tapped the table slowly. "Don''t touch." Seeing how he cherished it! Xue Baoyi snorted. "You, a grown man, eating cotton candy, so girly." Jiang Zhi picked a pink one, tossing it in his mouth, giving him only a cold look. Truth be told, the Jiang Family''s Brother Zhi had a lot of quirks, a bad temper, disliked roses, women, didn''t drink, couldn''t stand the smell of smoke, and acted like everyone should treat him as a deity. His temper might be aggressively dominant, but his preferences were quite the opposite. He loved cotton candy, though he didn''t eat it often. It was always kept bedside, in his office, and in his resting room, stored in the most exquisite boxes, not to be touched by anyone. Outside Yuquan Bay, there was a 24-hour convenience store. At this hour, the sky was draped in a layer of kumquat-colored twilight, the sunset sinking, and the store was nearly empty. At first glance, at the farthest shelf, someone squatted, wearing a black hoodie with the hood up, her ankles revealing smooth, pale skin due to her nine-point pencil pants being slightly rolled up. "Pink packaging, with a bunny drawn on it." The squatting person turned to ask the girl next to her, "Is there no more of that cotton candy?" Her phoenix eyes and boat-shaped lips were both cold and distant. She seemed disinclined to smile, lips tight. Her skin was as white as a sheet, translucent even, the last rays of sunset casting a glow on her lashes, lighting up her pupils like stars in a winter desert¡ªbright, yet lonely; a sense of desolation and barrenness. She was Zhou Xufang, coming to the store every three or four days to buy that pink-packaged cotton candy. Chapter 3 - 003 - Sir, would you like a screen protector? Chapter 3: 003: Sir, would you like a screen protector?Her name was Zhou Xufang. Every three to four days, she would come to the store to buy a pack of cotton candy with pink packaging. The girl behind the counter shook her head and handed over a note: "It''s sold out." Zhou Xufang stood in front of the shelf for a while, picked up a few bags of similar cotton candy, and always kept her head down. Her face under the hat was small, overly quiet. The girl scanned the codes and wrote on the paper: "Thirty-six yuan." Zhou Xufang handed over a red banknote. The sleeves of her sweatshirt were very long, covering her hands, with only her slender, cold white fingers¡ªneatly trimmed nails¡ªvisible. The girl accepted the money and gave the change. "Thanks," Zhou Xufang muttered, stuffing the change into the transparent bag that held the cotton candy. She subconsciously pulled her hat down and left with her head lowered. Behind her, the girl chased after her, opening her palm and gesturing with her other hand. Zhou Xufang turned back, looked at the girl. The wariness in her eyes took a moment to fade. She extended her hand, and the girl placed the soft candy into her palm. "Thanks." After speaking, Zhou Xufang entered her community. She kept holding the candy until she reached home. Only then did she unwrap the candy and put it in her mouth. She squinted her eyes and changed into the pair of pink fluffy bunny slippers. So soft and sweet. Zhou Xufang had excellent eyesight. From twenty meters away, she could see the notebook on the cashier''s counter with a name written on it. Her name was Wen Baiyang, the supermarket''s cashier. She couldn''t speak and was deaf-mute. She knew sign language and lip-reading, always carrying paper and a pen. Her face was round, like a bun, with big, dark eyes, and her cheeks had two persistent red patches. She was a little silly, not conventionally pretty, but her features were delicate, and she looked very well-behaved. "Beep¡ªbeep¡ªbeep¡ª" The computer suddenly emitted a sharp sound. Zhou Xufang had just opened the packaging of the cotton candy, looked up at the screen. First, a skull appeared, then SpongeBob emerged. Finally, a line of text rolled out at the bottom of the screen: "That man is investigating you." "Okay," Zhou Xufang continued to unpack the cotton candy. The text on the screen was in red, very conspicuous: "I''ve hacked the surveillance." Zhou Xufang said, "Thanks." The newly bought cotton candy was also colorful. She opened one bag after another, poured them into the glass box beside the computer desk. After filling it up, she tried one. A bit hard, not sweet enough. Hmm, not as tasty as the one with the pink packaging. She tasted one only, then closed the box. On the computer screen, Shuangjiang sent over a smiley face emoji, followed by three words: "You''re welcome." Shuangjiang was the partner ''Sir'' had found for her, they had been working together for almost a year. She didn''t know much about her. Shuangjiang never showed her face or spoke, mostly typing. Sometimes, she used special voice synthesis software or voice recording to text conversion. Zhou Xufang thought Shuangjiang should be a very skilled hacker. All she knew was that Shuangjiang was a girl. "I''ve looked into him, sent the information to you." Shuangjiang typed, and a new email popped up at the bottom of the screen. "Okay." Zhou Xufang opened the email. Inside was the man''s information. It seemed he had his eyes on her because she had kidnapped him. His name was Jiang Zhi, the youngest of the Jiang Family, one of the top four families in the Imperial City. He had many tags but Zhou Xufang only focused on the photo. He was very handsome. "I need to go to work," Zhou Xufang said. Shuangjiang asked her, "Are you short on money?" The commission from the client was split seventy-thirty between Zhou Xufang and her, a substantial sum. "Not short," Zhou Xufang said, "But I need more money." As the sky darkened, turning from orange to indigo, she got up and went to the garage. Inside were two motorcycles, a sedan, an off-road vehicle, and a small pedal tricycle. The tricycle had a rain cover, inside there was a small stool, a folding portable table, and a square wooden box. She pedaled the tricycle out of the community. By seven o''clock, under the Ba Yi Bridge, the vendors had set up their stalls all along the way, selling food, toys, and like Zhou Xufang, phone protectors. She picked an empty spot, moved down the wooden box, then spread out the phone cases and screen films inside. Beside her, the stall owner selling roasted sweet potatoes greeted Zhou Xufang warmly, "You''re here." Zhou Xufang nodded. She came half an hour earlier than usual, got a better spot. However, her business was bad today, very bad. Half an hour had passed, only one customer came, looked at the phone cases for a bit, then left without buying anything. The weather was stuffy, like it was going to rain. Not far from the riverbank, there was a square that was usually lively at this time of day, but today it had few people. A distant child, separated from their parents, was crying. Because of the bad weather, many people were packing up and leaving. No one paid attention to the crying child who looked pitiful. Zhou Xufang walked over, "Don''t cry." She wasn''t good at comforting children. The child, four or five years old, teary-eyed, hiccuped, "My hat," he sniffled, "the wind blew it into the river." Zhou Xufang looked at the river. There was wind under the bridge, the hat had been blown to the other side, where a few elderly anglers were fishing. She stared for a long time, took off her shoes, and stepped into the water. The wind blew in gusts, the water surface sparkled, and the moon hid behind the clouds. Only the street lights reflected in a patchy pattern on the water. "Old Qian, it''s going to rain. Let''s call it a day," said one of the elderly anglers wearing a fisherman''s hat. Nearby, his companion said, "All right." He stood up, reeled in his fishing line, and called out to his mates, "Let''s go drink!" "Okay." The old man in the fisherman''s hat just stood up when a head emerged from the water, startling him. He stammered, "Are-are-are you a person or a ghost?" The streetlight wasn''t bright enough to see clearly, just the head, with only the forehead visible, not the eyes. The head in the water didn''t answer. After exchanging bewildered glances, the elderly men dashed off without taking their fishing rods... scared to death! The wet head finally emerged from the water entirely. The twilight made her pupils appear especially bright, blood-red. Her eyes turned red after being in the water for a long time or when she got angry. That''s why she didn''t like getting angry. She put on the pair of sunglasses she carried in her hoodie pocket, went ashore, and returned the hat to the boy. He stopped crying, sniffed, and asked, "Sister, are you a mermaid?" Zhou Xufang shook her head. She didn''t know which species she belonged to either. She couldn''t understand fish but could sleep with them underwater. The woman on the opposite square anxiously called out, "Ningning." The boy put on the wet hat, smiled at Zhou Xufang, then ran towards the woman, not watching the road and darting straight into the lane. From the right, a bright red sports car came, screeching to a halt. "Screech¡ª" The car stopped. The boy was already petrified and was scooped up by Zhou Xufang. Reflexively, she lifted her head. Seeing no one around, she breathed a sigh of relief. "Sister," the boy stammered, still frightened, "you run so fast. Are you a Powerpuff Girl?" S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Zhou Xufang said no, put him down. His mother rushed over, expressing her gratitude. The driver of the car also got out, checked the road, then looked at Zhou Xufang: "You," his starry eyes surveyed her up and down, "a scammer?" Zhou Xufang raised her head, still wearing sunglasses. She pushed them up, "Sir, need a screen protector?" Her voice was cool, flat-toned, "Twenty yuan each." "..." The man was a handsome young guy with a buzz cut, dressed in a red motorcycle jacket paired with blue pants. So flamboyantly dressed, who else could he be but Xue Baoyi. Xue Baoyi stared at the girl who wore sunglasses at night and was soaked wet. After a long look, he decisively refused, "No!" He nearly got a heart attack. Zhou Xufang wrung out the water from her sleeves, returned to her stall, and put on a long shirt. Xue Baoyi stared for a moment before returning to his car, complaining to the person in the back seat, "That girl popped out of nowhere, freaked me out." The person in the back half-opened his eyes, lazily, "Xue Baoyi." Xue Baoyi felt a shiver down his spine, "Wh-wh-what is it?" When Jiang called him by his full name, he panicked. The man stated concisely, "Get out." Chapter 4 - 004 - Play around with a director Chapter 4: 004: Play around with a director``` That ancestor said, concisely: "Get lost." Xue Baoyi glanced in the rearview mirror. Jiang Zhi had just been discharged from the hospital; his complexion still wasn''t good. He looked sickly, with a touch of red on his pretty little face, possibly from a fever, which made him look all the more pitiful. In this fragile state, how could he drive? At this moment, Xue Baoyi even felt like reciting "Dengtuzi''s Love of Beauty": The son of the East House, adding one inch would be too long, reducing one inch would be too short... with a radiant smile, he bewitched Yang City and enchanted Xia Cai. Cough cough cough, back to the main point. As Mr. Xue, he always showed mercy to delicate beauties, so he stubbornly refused: "Won''t get lost." An unidentified object was hurled at him. With quick reflexes, he caught it and saw that it was Jiang Zhi''s mobile phone. "Hey, how did the screen break?" Jiang Zhi curled up in the back seat, a blanket covering his legs. His hands rested on top, with nails turning a sickly pale white. "I threw it." His peach blossom eyes slightly lifted, then drooped again as if he was too tired, caught between sleep and wakefulness. "It happened just when you braked." He felt guilty for causing Jiang Mei Ren''s phone to fall. Xue Baoyi touched the screen, then played some in-car music for the young master. "The screen isn''t broken, only the protector. Hold on; I''ll get a new one for you." Then, Xue Baoyi got out of the car and went to a small vendor stall for screen protectors. Zhou Xufang looked up. Xue Baoyi asked: "Do you have a protector for this phone model?" She glanced at the phone model. "Yes." She found three different types from her box. Xue Baoyi carefully picked one. "Give me the shiniest one." Mr. Xue liked bling-bling things. Zhou Xufang adjusted the lamp for better light and lowered her head to apply the screen protector. Xue Baoyi watched her. Hmm, not bad-looking. It''s tough for a pretty girl to make it on her own. He said: "Give me a pink phone case too." Quickly, Zhou Xufang applied the screen protector and fitted the pink case. "That''ll be fifty." Xue Baoyi paid and returned to the car. Jiang Mei Ren was resting with his eyes closed, breathing slightly rapid, his cheeks tinged with an unhealthy flush. His eyes seemed to fill with a vague mist, exuding a careless charm. Ah, this damned, untamed beauty. Steel-hearted Xue Baoyi dared not gaze at that face again. He muttered: "That girl is quite pretty, though odd, wearing sunglasses at night." The beauty in the back seat lifted his eyelids. Xue Baoyi immediately offered the phone like a treasure, shaking it. "Got you a phone case, this flashy pink one suits you." The flashy pink case had a large-headed rabbit drawn on it. Jiang Zhi took the phone, caressing the screen with elegant fingers, then casually removed the phone case and tossed it at Xue Baoyi''s head. "If your eyes don''t work, donate them." The phone case hit Xue Baoyi, making him see stars: "..." Damn, this little beauty is quite fiery. The little beauty''s phone rang. "Hello." The beauty spoke icily. On the other side was a woman: "Director Jiang." Jiang Zhi furrowed his brows, seemingly about to cough but suppressing it. Veins vaguely showed on his neck, his lips reddened a few degrees. Weakly, he asked, "Who?" The woman replied: "It''s me." Sounded quite important. Jiang Zhi had no patience, his tone lazy and lacking strength: "Who?" The woman then identified herself: "I''m Yang Xu." Yang Xu... Xue Baoyi vaguely remembered her as a newly rising popular star recently. Jiang Zhi furrowed his brows as if pondering for a moment. "The one who was late on set yesterday?" Clearly, this popular star had a low presence with the director. S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Sorry, Director Jiang, yesterday it was me who¡ª" Jiang Zhi covered his mouth and coughed. Due to his irritation, his ear tips reddened a bit. His body felt uncomfortable, and his temper worsened, interrupting before she finished: "You''ve already been replaced. No need to explain further." Then, Jiang Zhi hung up the phone. Xue Baoyi had heard enough to understand most of it. "The film''s already halfway shot, and you''re changing actors now?" If he remembered correctly, that popular star had quite a few scenes. The person in the back seat was tired and rubbed his temples. "She broke my rules." At eighteen, Jiang Zhi directed a film, initially as a casual endeavor, but it became an instant hit. As Jiang Zhi put it, since he was idle anyway, he might as well play around, ultimately earning himself the title of genius director. He kept a low profile, the media didn''t dare to write indiscriminately, and outsiders knew little. But insiders were well aware¡ªJiang Zhi had many rules. In his film crew, no matter how big a star you were, you had to obey. If not, you were kicked out immediately. "Fine, you''re the boss." Xue Baoyi turned the steering wheel, taking the young master back to the Jiang Family''s residence. The rain fell patteringly, with few pedestrians. Vendors by the riverside had all packed up and left. It took forty minutes by tricycle from the Ba Yi Bridge to Yuquan Bay. Zhou Xufang wore a black raincoat, her hoodie inside almost dry. She took off the dripping raincoat, put on her hoodie cap, and wearing sunglasses, walked into the supermarket outside the neighborhood. She picked a can of cat food and a bottle of water, heading to the cashier to pay. Wen Baiyang wrote: "29.9." She handed over the money, habitually lowered her cap, and walked out of the supermarket. At the entrance, she stopped, pointing at a job advertisement on the glass: "Are you still hiring?" Wen Baiyang nodded, writing down a number: "We need temporary workers, paid by the hour. Here''s the boss''s phone number." Zhou Xufang took it: "Thank you." Wen Baiyang read her lips and gestured: You''re welcome. Zhou Xufang walked to the tricycle, putting her raincoat on. The large black hood covered half of her face. With her head lowered, she bumped into someone passing by, causing her can of cat food to fall. She looked up. It was the curly-haired old lady from building sixteen. They exchanged a glance before the old lady averted her eyes immediately: "Sorry." Zhou Xufang shook her head without speaking, bending down to pick up the fallen cat food. At that moment, the curly-haired old lady reached out as well, their hands touching briefly. The old lady pulled back swiftly, shuddering, then hurriedly dragged her companion into the neighborhood supermarket. The rain thickened, the sound of raindrops tapping away on her raincoat. In the small supermarket behind her, the curly-haired old lady was buying salt, speaking softly. ``` Chapter 5 - 005 - My Sweetheart Darling (Part 2) Chapter 5: 005: My Sweetheart Darling (Part 2)The curly-haired old lady was buying salt, speaking in a very low voice. "Is it her? That little girl from Building Seventeen." "It''s her." "She seems normal, not as scary as Old Wang said." "I just touched her hand." "What about her hand?" "It was like ice, really scary." Zhou Xufang touched her own hand, it was indeed quite cold, her body temperature was much lower than normal. If the curly-haired old lady''s voice was a bit lower, it would have been better. Her hearing was excellent, probably about twenty times more acute than normal people. The curly-haired old lady lived next door, loved playing mahjong, and last night at midnight, the old lady got a winning hand and excitedly shouted. Even through her noise-canceling headphones, Zhou Xufang was awakened. She parked her tricycle in the garage, didn''t take the elevator, and went to the stairwell on the first floor. She glanced outside, no one was there, and meowed. A gray cat timidly emerged from behind the discarded furniture under the stairs, looking at her: "Meow." It was a gray cat. Zhou Xufang opened a can of cat food and poured some water into a bowl beside the old furniture. The gray cat softly meowed twice and ate happily. She stroked the cat''s head, and it remained still and obedient. "Could I be a cat demon?" She muttered to herself, and the gray cat responded with a meow. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. She pursed her lips, a bit disappointed: "But I can''t understand what you''re saying." "Meow~" She then mimicked: "Meow." The gray cat meowed again: "Meow." It seemed unlikely, although she was like a cat, able to jump very high. But she wasn''t a cat demon, nor a fish demon. After squatting for a while, she got up and headed upstairs as the kitten finished eating. The moon was out, and the streetlights glowed with a cold white hue, illuminating all the motion-sensor lights from the first to the seventh floor of Building Seventeen in seconds. Beep. A WeChat message arrived. Zhou Xufang opened it. Apart from ''WeChat Pay,'' ''WeChat Team,'' and several public accounts, there was only one dialog box named Head of Group. Head of Group: Jianna Film City announcement: "Wilderness" production, shooting tomorrow on the 10th, needs 10 male and 12 female extras (20-35 years old), males over 170 cm, females over 160 cm, pay is 150 yuan (finishing by 3 pm). Meet at Film City C1 subway exit at 8 am. Head of Group: WeChat registration, first come, first served! Zhou Xufang registered and then opened the food delivery app to order a meal. The Jiang Family''s residence was located in a suburban villa area, an independent courtyard, with a four-story antique-style building. It was imposing in appearance and was the home of Old Lady Jiang. Usually, the Jiang Family members were busy, occupied with politics and business, and were seldom there. Old Lady Jiang had set a rule that on the 1st and 15th of each month, regardless of whether they were busy, they must gather. Old Lady Jiang had five children, and with the extended family, there were more than a dozen grandchildren, all present except for the youngest, Jiang Zhi, who had not yet shown up. It was only he who dared to be late to Old Lady Jiang''s gatherings. "Grandma." The girl sitting beside Old Lady Jiang was from the fourth branch of the family. Her parents had died early, and she was raised by Old Lady Jiang. Her mother was the fourth daughter, the most beloved by Old Lady Jiang. She took her mother''s surname and recognized Old Lady Jiang as her grandmother. Old Lady Jiang named her Fuxi. Jiang Fuxi said to Old Lady Jiang: "It''s already eight o''clock, your stomach isn''t well, drink some soup to settle it." She had a classical appearance, with a gentle and kind nature. Old Lady Jiang always adored her, her stern face softened a bit, and she said: "Wait for Brother Zhi." Jiang Fuxi agreed. During the meal, the daughter-in-law of the second branch started a conversation: "Mother, have you heard about the Ming Family?" Old Lady Jiang''s second son, Jiang Weili, was in politics. He married the third daughter of the Luo patriarch, Luo Changfang, and they had a daughter, Jiang Fuli. Old Lady Jiang was seventy-three years old. Her ancestors were officials in the capital, and the family heritage had been passed down. A lady from a prominent family, even at her age, her hair was meticulously groomed, and she wore a dark purple cheongsam, exuding sharpness and refinement. "Which matter?" Luo Changfang, frowning, said: "The fourth girl from the Ming Family, Brother Zhi threw her into the sea. She drank a lot of water and is still in the hospital." This was a complaint. The third branch was gone, leaving only Jiang Zhi, who was deeply cherished by Old Lady Jiang. The other branches were naturally envious. Old Lady Jiang drank her tea, her expression unchanged, neither happy nor angry: "I''ve heard." Throwing the girl into the sea was somewhat lacking in the grace and manners of a nobleman. Luo Changfang''s face showed displeasure: "Brother Zhi went too far. It''s one thing for the younger generation to play around, but to get serious¡ª" Old Lady Jiang interrupted: "Play around?" She put down her tea-cup lid and looked up, her eyes sharp. "Is Brother Zhi''s health something that Ming Family''s fourth girl can afford to play around with?" Luo Changfang: "..." What could she say? The old lady spoiled her little grandson excessively. No one else dared to complain further, and the two tables of people quietly waited without a sound. "Lin," Old Lady Jiang instructed, "the project with the Ming Family, put it on hold for now." Lin was the eldest grandson of the Jiang Family, the only son of Old Lady Jiang''s eldest son. The legitimate grandchildren of the Jiang Family were few, aside from Jiang Zhi, Jiang Xiaolin was the most esteemed. He nodded, obeying Old Lady Jiang''s command. Just then, the old butler Jiang Chuan came in: "Old Lady, the young master has arrived." Before anyone entered, coughing was heard. The youngest had finally arrived. Old Lady Jiang''s face lit up with a smile as she instructed the girl beside her: "Fuxi, go inside and get Brother Zhi a coat." Jiang Fuxi got up and went inside to get the coat. Jiang Zhi''s health was poor, and the nights in late autumn were chilly. They were afraid he would catch a cold. Old Lady Jiang asked the butler: "Is Brother Zhi''s soup ready?" Jiang Chuan replied: "It''s kept warm in the kitchen." The young master was discharged from the hospital today. The nourishing soup had been simmering since noon. In the Jiang Family, only he received such treatment. Old Lady Jiang smiled: "Bring it quickly." "Yes." "Grandma." At the door, Jiang Zhi walked in slowly, breathing lightly, occasionally unable to suppress a cough. Old Lady Jiang immediately stood up with her cane: "Brother Zhi, come sit by Grandma." Two tables of Jiang Family members, all stood up now. No matter how displeased, they had to pamper this delicate young master. The youngest son of the Jiang Family, he was the apple of the old lady''s eye, her precious treasure, pampered beyond measure. Jiang Zhi was thus made into a little ancestor. The next day, it was gray. Little Ancestor Jiang caused trouble on the set again, throwing the script in his hand, and said in a light tone, "Stop." Chapter 6 - 006 - The femme fatale is Jiang Zhi Chapter 6: 006: The femme fatale is Jiang ZhiThe moon rose fair, and so did the fair lady. These verses from the Book of Songs were used to describe women, but Assistant Director Zhao felt that Director Jiang could live up to these eight words. Compared to him, the female lead of the movie seemed to lose her color. Beautiful she was, but her temper was truly great. Assistant Director Zhao approached gingerly, "Director, what happened?" Jiang Zhi was nestled on a recliner padded with thick blankets. His long legs were crossed. The temperature had dropped these past few days, and he felt even more listless, weak and sickly. He said, "Remove the makeup." He was referring to the female lead, Yu Ran. Yu Ran was a popular A-list actress. Jiang Zhi''s movie had a national theme, requiring all actors to appear on screen without makeup, but she just couldn''t let go. Being scolded by the director in public, Yu Ran stood there awkwardly. Her agent quickly stepped in to smooth things over, "It''s just a little foundation, Director, could you¡ª" Jiang Zhi lifted his gaze, "What do you think?" His eyes were peach blossom eyes, naturally beautiful, but when slightly narrowed, they emitted a dangerous aura. "Hurry up and remove Ranran''s makeup." The makeup artist quickly went over to remove Yu Ran''s makeup upon hearing the agent''s words. Today was slightly overcast, with some wind. Late autumn was passing, and there was a slight chill in the air. "Cough, cough, cough..." The beauty on the recliner coughed until her face turned red, looking pitiful. Ah Wan quickly handed over the warm milk and covered the frail employer with a blanket, then announced softly, "Mr. Jiang, Yang Xu''s agent has an appointment with you." Yang Xu was the up-and-coming starlet who had been replaced for being late. The milk was in a can with pure black packaging. Jiang Zhi held the can between his two pale fingers and took a slow sip, "No time." Next to him, Assistant Director Zhao timidly asked, "Then what about Yang Xu''s scenes?" S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Yang Xu had the second female lead role in this movie, with many scenes¡ªand primarily because of her wide following! To be honest, Assistant Director Zhao was reluctant to replace her, but... he didn''t dare. Director Jiang, half-closing his eyes, held that can of milk, tapping it with his fingers rhythmically. After a moment of silence, he lifted his eyelids, revealing his eyes like blooming peach blossoms. He raised his hand and pointed to a spot, "You, come here." Everyone looked in the direction he pointed. Across from the set, about twenty extras were gathered. The confused-looking girl on the outside of the group stepped forward, eyes wide in disbelief, pointing at herself, "Me?" That girl looked young, not very tall. Her appearance was unclear, as her face was covered in artificial blood, wearing the uniform costume of an extra actor. It was evident that she was a bystander in the scene, where citizens were suffering under enemy bombardment. She was just a villager who had been given a close-up. The extra called out by the famous director stood there, dumbfounded. "Yes." The director asked her in a tone that sounded half-awake, "What''s your name?" The extra scratched her head, still in a daze, "My name is Fang Lixiang." "How long have you been acting?" Perhaps the extra realized what was going on, her eyes brightened with excitement, "I''ve been an extra for four years." "Can you play Yang Xu''s role?" Oh, a pie fell from the sky! The girl felt her blood boiling, her big round eyes curved into a crescent, sparkling brightly. She said, "I can!" Patting her chest confidently, she added, "Director, I can even bring the dead to life with my acting!" Saying this, she suddenly fell to the ground, quivering a bit, her limbs went limp, her eyes rolled back, and her hand stretched out, slowly, slowly falling down¡ªperforming a death scene on the spot. Everyone: "..." Actually, she really did lay out a layered death scene. Jiang Zhi shifted his position on the recliner, "It''s her." Assistant Director Zhao was dumbfounded, so hasty? Just like that, Fang Lixiang had her sudden rise to fame, so thrilling, it felt like her life had reached its peak! She hopped around, wanting to jump up and touch the sun, "Xu Fang, Xu Fang!" Zhou Xufang stood among the extras, "Hmm." They had known each other for three months, one as an extra, the other an extra''s extra. They often met on set, though they weren''t very close. It was just last month that Zhou Xufang was owed wages, Fang Lixiang stood up for her, though the outcome wasn''t perfect, they formed a bond. Fang Lixiang hopped in front of her with a grin, revealing two small dimples, "Pinch me." Zhou Xufang poked her arm lightly. Feeling no pain, Fang Lixiang pinched the soft flesh of her own thigh hard, twisting it fiercely, and then grinned through the pain, "Not a dream." She burst with excitement, "Xu Fang, I''ve really become a Weaver girl, my ancestors are watching over me!" Zhou Xufang didn''t react. Fang "Weaver" Lixiang waved a hand in front of her eyes, "What''re you looking at?" Following Zhou Xufang''s gaze, "You''re looking at Director Jiang?" Zhou Xufang nodded, "He''s really good-looking." Fang Lixiang stared for a few moments, clicking her tongue... Not just good-looking, devastatingly beautiful! Director Jiang''s looks, if put in ancient times, would be the allure that brought disaster to the nation. There it was, the alluring beauty lying down weakly, causing people to "fight for the beauty." "Ming Saiying, what the hell are you doing!" Usually known in the entertainment circle as a goddess-like figure, Yu Ran now was flushed with rage. The person she was arguing with was also in the circle, the fourth of the Ming Family, a lead of the neighboring production. "Going crazy?" Ming Saiying, coming from a reputable family in Imperial City, was never short of money and always domineering in the industry. Who could match her pettiness, "At least better than you being a slut." Yu Ran was infuriated, "You¡ª" Ming Saiying folded her arms, still in costume from her historical drama, lifting her chin and exuding the aura of a harem queen, "Who knows who went knocking on the director''s door late at night in a skimpy dress." This incident was well-known in the circle. Just a few days into Jiang Zhi''s movie shoot, the lead actress Yu Ran had gone knocking on his door in a skimpy dress under the pretext of discussing the script. Of course, no "script" was discussed, and she ended up being escorted to the station by the police for public indecency. Having her scandal exposed, Yu Ran was so angry she directly grabbed Ming Saiying''s hair. Both their agents hurried to separate them, in the midst of pushing and shoving, someone tripped over a standing camera. Fang Lixiang, who had been enjoying the spectacle, noticed the camera falling, wide-eyed, "Xu Fang, get out of the way!" Zhou Xufang had been staring at Jiang Zhi''s face, while Jiang Zhi sat on the director''s recliner¡ªdrinking milk. The words on the milk can were in English. Zhou Xufang''s vision was too good, she could see clearly from a few hundred meters away. No wonder her client wanted her to kidnap him, he was really good-looking, even better looking than her glass jar for holding cotton candy. "Xu Fang!" Fang Lixiang tried to pull her but was too late. "Bang!" The camera hit Zhou Xufang, knocking her right off her feet. Her hand hit the camera stand, slicing a long gash. Chapter 7 - 007 - Broke him Chapter 7: 007: Broke himThe camera crashed onto Zhou Xufang, causing her to fall backward. Her hand slammed into the camera stand, ripping a long gash. Immediately, she used her hand to cover the wound, and blood seeped through her fingers. When the accident happened, it was break time. Jiang Zhi had already finished drinking a can of milk. He was quite far away and couldn''t hear the commotion, feeling lethargic as he rested with his eyes closed. Vice Director Zhao came over, hesitated for a moment, but then stepped forward to call out: "Director Jiang." Jiang Zhi lifted his eyelids slightly. The sun had just emerged from behind the clouds, not harsh but still somewhat glaring. He raised his hand to block the light. Ah Wan immediately stood by, using his strong body to shield his employer from the sun. Vice Director Zhao said, "Fourth Miss Ming and Yu Ran are having an argument." Everyone in the circle knew that Fourth Miss Ming had taken a fancy to Director Jiang''s looks, and Yu Ran had a bit of a playboy reputation. These two were rivals in love. However¡ª Jiang Zhi showed little interest: "Did it escalate to a fight?" "No, not really," Vice Director Zhao replied honestly. "Just a background actor got pushed and got slightly injured." But anyway, it was a case of the beautiful man causing trouble. Jiang Zhi, possibly tired, massaged his brows with some irritation, appearing somewhat impatient: "Send the person to the hospital." Vice Director Zhao nodded and then asked for further instructions: "What about Fourth Miss Ming and Yu Ran?" Those two flowers were not ordinary ones; they were popular figures in the industry. Especially Fourth Miss Ming, who was quite a domineering flower. If not handled well, Weibo could even crash. "Page eight, clause nine of the contract." Director Jiang was strictly business-like. Page eight, clause nine of the contract¡ªon the filming set, in the case of non-force majeure delays, Party B must pay ten times the compensation for delay. S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Vice Director Zhao understood. "Too noisy." Ah Wan glanced at his employer, who was lying on his side with visible displeasure between his brows. His lips were a very light red, pressed into a straight line. Honestly, the expression was quite harsh, but his employer was good-looking, making even such an expression rather pleasing to the eye. Knowing that his brain wasn''t as useful as his fists, Ah Wan stepped forward and asked: "Should I chase them out?" The employer didn''t respond, covered his mouth and coughed twice, got up, and headed to the lounge. He walked slowly, pausing every three steps to catch his breath, slightly hunched due to discomfort. From behind, the exposed part of his neck was strikingly pale. What did this mean? Should he chase them out or not? Ah Wan thought for a moment and decided to take a bathroom break first. Because the female lead had a clash with the female lead of the neighboring crew, filming was paused. Fang Lixiang had already removed her makeup; her bare, youthful face was radiant. Having been promoted to a "Weaver," the makeup artist sister specifically asked her to change clothes in an independent dressing room. After changing, she couldn''t find Zhou Xufang and didn''t know where the stage manager had taken her. Fang Lixiang grabbed a background actress and asked: "Have you seen Xu Fang?" The background actress asked in return: "Who''s Xu Fang?" Zhou Xufang wasn''t fast to warm up to people, had a cold demeanor, and mild social anxiety. Apart from Fang Lixiang, she basically didn''t talk to anyone. Even though she had known Zhou Xufang for several months, Fang Lixiang didn''t have her phone number. Zhou rarely brought her phone out and hardly used WeChat, like a caveman. Fang Lixiang described Zhou "the Caveman" to the background actress: "Hair this long, very fair skin, pretty, often wears a hat, with a somewhat disheveled vibe." The background actress was confused. Fine, Zhou Xufang''s presence in the crew was almost zero. Fang Lixiang clarified: "The one who just got injured." "Oh, she went to the lounge to bandage her wound." The crew had only four lounges: one for the male lead, one for the female lead, one common room, and one exclusive for the director. The stage manager, seeing Zhou Xufang injured and refusing to go to the hospital, placed her in the lounge and specifically instructed her to use the common lounge. At this time, the lounges were mostly occupied, with only one empty. In the corridor, occasional coughs echoed. "Jiang Zhi." A woman''s tone was cheerful, her steps eager. Ahead, Jiang Zhi turned around slowly, seeing the visitor: "When did you get discharged?" Yesterday, Xue Baoyi had thrown this woman into the sea for him. She was still in the hospital last night and now bouncing back so quickly. Ming Saiying wasn''t angry at all, smiling as she replied: "Today." To be fair, Ming Saiying wasn''t bad in many aspects. The Ming family was a well-known building materials business in the Imperial City. She was a late-born child, very much doted upon at home, with striking looks: a curvaceous figure, almond eyes, and cherry lips. Although she lacked acting skills, she thrived in the entertainment circle. But¡ª Her brain wasn''t the best, quite stubborn. Jiang Zhi glanced at her and said: "You didn''t drink enough seawater." "..." Ming Saiying, actually a fiery personality, lost her temper around Jiang Zhi. Dressed in a palace empress costume, she obediently apologized: "I acted impulsively in that incident; I apologize." She promised, "In the future, I''ll be straightforward and honest in pursuing you, no more tricks." Why did she like Jiang Zhi? The reason was simple; he was very good-looking. Everyone loves beauty, so ever since she saw Jiang Zhi at a party two years ago, she couldn''t stop thinking about his looks. Jiang Zhi, facing her, maintained his perennial indifferent face: "I don''t like women." He stated it matter-of-factly. He came out as gay at eighteen. Everyone in the circle knew he was genuinely gay. Heard he even couldn''t get aroused while watching straight porn. Ming Saiying pondered for a moment: "Then should I change my gender?" Jiang Zhi''s beautifully elaborate peach blossom eyes instantly turned icy cold. Whether out of exasperation at her shamelessness, he turned away, coughing severely. "Cough, cough, cough, cough..." His complexion was pale; his cheeks flushed large patches of red as he coughed, even his eye rims tinged with a blush, eyes misty. Tut, tut, tut... So beautifully unreasonable. Ming Saixing quickly rushed forward, wanting to help him ease his breathing. Jiang Zhi stepped back, lifted his eyes, past Ming Saixing, and angrily shouted: "Where have you been?" His gaze, cold as drizzling ice rain, struck with chilly precision. The tardy Ah Wan shivered: "I went to the bathroom." He was having diarrhea today. Jiang Zhi''s patience had worn out: "Get her out of here." He ordered, cupping his mouth as he coughed, his neck turning red. Ming Saiying felt heartbroken, quickly retreating: "Don''t get angry, I''ll leave on my own, leave on my own." She said, walking away reluctantly, looking back repeatedly. Ah Wan thought for a moment and followed her. Jiang Zhi, after catching his breath, pushed open the lounge door. By this time, it was already dark outside. The lounge was dim and barely visible. He groped for the light switch and, as he pressed it, a face suddenly appeared in his view without warning. "Click." The wind slammed the door shut. Jiang Zhi''s pupils slightly constricted: "Who are you?" These eyes... He had seen them before. Excessively beautiful, yet cold, clear and bright, filled with world-weariness and despair, somehow shimmering. The owner of the eyes didn''t answer his question. His gaze swept over her, landing on her bloodstained arm. Unexpectedly, a bloody hand covered his eyes. He froze, as a girl''s voice, as faint as smoke, whispered in his ear. She said: "Don''t look." Her hand was healing, visibly strange to the naked eye. She hid from others and ducked into the lounge. Skin-to-skin contact; he had just been coughing, his temperature still warm. Her hand, however, was cold as ice, covered in blood, the faint smell of blood wafting into his breaths. Logically, he should have found it filthy, but he forgot to react. It took him a while to speak, but before he could make a sound, that smoky, ethereal voice whispered again. "Don''t call out. I won''t hurt you." Her blood-stained palm still covered his eyes, with only a sliver of light seeping through the fingers, casting a blood-colored hue, faintly tinged red. Such a strong smell of blood. Jiang Zhi took a step back and, almost simultaneously, grabbed her wrist, just about to push away when her elbow pinned him to the wall. He couldn''t catch his breath. "Cough, cough, cough, cough..." Coughing as if his lungs would come out. Zhou Xufang heard his severe cough and immediately loosened her grip. One hand covered his eyes, while the other pressed on his shoulder. The wound on her arm had long scabbed over, but blood stained his body and face. She could see he was ill, her strength barely light, but she became even gentler: "I''ll leave when I finish bandaging. Don''t call out, don''t look, okay?" Maybe he coughed too hard, feeling hot, he licked his lips, his Adam''s apple bobbing slightly: "No." She frowned. "Snap." She turned off the light and almost simultaneously let go. Jiang Zhi stood leaning against the wall, his senses filled with unfamiliar, irritating scents. With no light, he sought those eyes in the darkness: "What are you doing¡ª" Before he finished talking, his jaw was grasped. In his daze, someone approached, the cool scent of mint mixed with blood overwhelming him. "Don''t talk. If I use force, it will hurt a lot." She was much stronger than a normal person. Just a gentle squeeze would cause him pain, possibly even break him. Zhou Xufang thought she had to be careful, avoid making him cry out. Jiang Zhi''s Adam''s apple rolled again. No other person, male or female, had ever been this close. The sheer intensity of her aura made him extremely uncomfortable; his jaw was still gripped, the icy touch penetrating his skin, the contrasts of cold and hot sending shivers through him. He could even hear himself swallow: "Move, move away a bit." Damn, I''m stuttering. The other party stayed silent for a moment: "Okay." She stepped back a little and thought for a moment before releasing his jaw. From her pocket, she fished out a bandage given by the stage manager, biting one end with her teeth and wrapping it single-handedly around her nearly healed wound. The heavy breathing was Jiang Zhi''s. He quietly regained his composure for a long time, discretely groping for the light switch. Just as he was about to press it, Zhou Xufang heard the sound and immediately grasped his hand. Then came a subtle crack from bone. Jiang Zhi gasped, his handsome face flushing white with pain. She paused: "It seems dislocated." She honestly didn''t use much force, but being thirty times stronger than an ordinary person, she had injured him. Chapter 8 - 008 - Beauty, would you like me to give you a chicken? Chapter 8: 008: Beauty, would you like me to give you a chicken?She really didn''t use much force, but her strength was more than thirty times that of an average person, and now it turned out, she broke him. "Does it hurt?" She let go. Maybe because this person was too good-looking, she forgot to stay on guard for a moment. Jiang Zhi''s wrist stiffened, he didn''t move: "What do you think?" Three words, squeezed out through his teeth. It should hurt a lot, after all, she was so strong. She wrapped up her arm, then turned on the light, stepped back, trying to keep as far away from the victim as possible: "I''m sorry." Jiang Zhi laughed in anger: "If ''sorry'' worked, what do we need the police for." "..." He made a good point, Zhou Xufang did not argue. Then¡ª Jiang Zhi called the police. Zhou Xufang went to the police station in a police car, while Jiang Zhi went to the hospital to treat his injury. His hand was dislocated, but fortunately, there were no tears. After repositioning, it wasn''t a big deal, except he had OCD and couldn''t stand the smell of blood. Against medical advice, he insisted on taking a bath, and soaked for half an hour. At nine-thirty in the evening, Jiang Zhi arrived at the police station. Zhou Xufang had already been ''arrested'' for two hours. Because it was related to Jiang Zhi, Qiao Nanchu specially made a trip to the criminal investigation team. "So, you want to sue her? For the charge of intentional injury?" Jiang Zhi curled up in a chair, his fingers playing with the bandage around his injury, his handsome face was expressionless: "The process of suing is too troublesome." Qiao Nanchu pulled up a chair and sat down, raising the corner of his eye slightly: "Then what do you want to do?" He moved his wrist: "Lock her up for a few days." "And then?" Then¡ª Jiang Zhi was thinking when Ah Wan spoke: "Mr. Jiang." S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He lifted an eyelid. Ah Wan''s large frame blocked a lot of light, his expression very honest: "She is the extra who got injured on the set today." Honest advice is hard to take, but Ah Wan felt it had to be said. After pondering for a moment, Ah Wan continued: "It was actually because of you that she got hurt." If that girl ended up in jail, he''d lose all faith in justice. Although the employer had money and power, he couldn''t just run roughshod over everyone. The rich and powerful, lawless employer suddenly asked: "Where were you when my hand was dislocated?" "..." After driving out the fourth young master of the Ming family, he went to the... restroom, really had a bit of diarrhea today, shouldn''t have eaten lobster for lunch. A cold chill washed over him! Ah Wan shrank his neck: "I was using the toilet." Jiang Zhi got straight to the point: "Get out." "Yes." When self-preservation was at stake, justice wasn''t all that important. Ah Wan decisively left the meeting room at the police station just as the Second Young Master Xue arrived at the door. "I''ve seen that girl before, under Ba Yi Bridge." Xue Baoyi came in and drank the untouched glass of water in front of Jiang Zhi. Jiang Zhi looked up at him. "The screen protector on your phone was put on by her." Xue Baoyi smiled mischievously, "Brother Zhi, be compassionate when possible." Qiao Nanchu glanced at Jiang Zhi''s screen protector and kicked Xue Baoyi''s chair: "What''s it to you?" Xue Baoyi had a point, speaking righteously: "That girl is quite pitiful, young and has to apply screen protectors and be an extra, obviously not an easy life. Besides, it''s all because of Brother Zhi''s romantic entanglement." What a show of philanthropy! If it weren''t for a pretty girl, Xue Baoyi would definitely help to ruin her. Qiao Nanchu couldn''t be bothered with the pretentious do-gooder, he asked Jiang Zhi: "What do you want? You say." Jiang Zhi seemed low in spirits, he lowered his eyelids, his brows furrowed and relaxed alternately, rarely so undecided, after a long while, he finally responded. "Let her go." After saying this, he coughed lightly, his originally sleepy eyes were slightly flushed due to frustration. It was already late autumn, he disliked the cold, his lazily hanging fingers at his side were pale. Qiao Nanchu leaned back in his chair, arms crossed, with a smile: "For the first time." He signaled to Xue Baoyi, "He''s feeling tender." Jiang Zhi snorted: "Tender my ass!" In the large office outside, Zhou Xufang was handling civil dispute mediation procedures. "Just sign here and you can leave." The round-faced officer said. She signed her name, and just in time, Jiang Zhi came out of the meeting room, his gaze didn''t stop, his expression indifferent and detached. Zhou Xufang thought for a moment, and still stepped forward, raised her head, and tried to drop her guard: "Thank you." This person was not only good-looking but also kind-hearted. She was really grateful to him. Her thanks were sincere, Jiang Zhi glanced at her eyes, frowning fiercely, and turned to leave. Seeing this person just made him so angry, burning with an inexplicable fire that he couldn''t quite put out. He wasn''t some kind of saint, why did he let her go? Heaven knows what kind of hex he was under. Walking behind, Ah Wan stopped, stared at Zhou Xufang for several moments. "We''ve met." Ah Wan felt a connection with this girl, "At the south bank of Canghai." That night, when the employer was abducted to Canghai, he saw this girl while looking for him. Zhou Xufang lowered her head, habitually keeping her distance, pulling up the hood of her sweatshirt, avoiding eye contact, her gaze wary: "I was there applying screen protectors." The client said to do no harm, just to rescue a damsel in distress, she wasn''t at ease, stayed there for an hour, making sure the person was safe before leaving. "Oh." Ah Wan didn''t doubt her, just thought this girl seemed a bit antisocial and cautious. Outside the police station, coughing sounds were carried in by the night wind. Ah Wan sighed: such a delicate employer. "Why aren''t you coming to drive!" The employer was losing his temper outside, never knew where all that anger came from. Ah Wan thought perhaps it was all that youthful vigor. Even though he was so delicate, he still had eight-pack abs. Those eight-pack abs, Ah Wan accidentally saw them, the employer had ordered him not to talk about it. Ah Wan found it hard to understand, thinking the employer was weird every day. He looked so frail and skinny, yet he had abs, while Ah Wan did two hours of exercise daily to get his own eight-pack. Hey, so unfair. "Oh." Ah Wan hurried out to drive the employer. Zhou Xufang got home, it was already past ten. She took a shower, put on a black loungewear hoodie, moved her computer to the bed, and contacted her partner Shuangjiang. The screen was full of SpongeBob, Shuangjiang typed: "Any tasks?" "No." She got up and held the cotton candy box in her hand, pinching one and eating it in small bites, "I accidentally hurt someone, want to make it up, what can I offer?" After a few seconds, text rolled out on the screen: "Where''s the injury?" "His hand was dislocated." This matter was her fault. She should apologize and compensate. She had no friends, only two ''colleagues,'' Shuangjiang and Fang Lixiang. She didn''t have Fang Lixiang''s contact information, so she could only ask Shuangjiang. Shuangjiang quickly gave a suggestion: "Send a local chicken, it''s nutritious." Send a chicken. Zhou Xufang had no experience in giving gifts, since she had memory, she had been alone, no one taught her social etiquette. She pursed her lips and rarely showed a troubled expression: "I don''t know if he likes to eat chicken." "Then do you know what he likes?" She tossed a marshmallow into her mouth, sickeningly sweet, she thought for a moment: "He likes drinking milk, a lot, drank three cans in one afternoon." Just like she liked marshmallows. Shuangjiang then said: "Then you send a chicken and a box of milk." Zhou Xufang thought that would work. Chapter 9 - 009 - The beauty is too delicate, can’t afford to keep her! Chapter 9: 009: The beauty is too delicate, can''t afford to keep her!"Then just send a chicken and a box of milk." Zhou Xufang thought that could work. S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The milk Jiang Zhi drank was an imported brand. Zhou Xufang ordered two boxes online, which would take a week to arrive. The cotton candy she liked was also out of stock online. She put on a big black coat with a hood and went to the supermarket in the neighborhood. At this hour, only Wen Baiyang was in the supermarket. She asked Wen Baiyang, "Is the cotton candy with the pink packaging still unavailable?" Wen Baiyang wrote, "Out of stock." Her handwriting was neat and pretty. "Seems like it''s discontinued." No wonder it couldn''t be found online either. Zhou Xufang furrowed her brows and picked another brand of cotton candy, feeling a bit disappointed. When paying, she said, "I''ll also be working part-time here from now on, Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from eleven at night till one in the morning." The pay for a professional errand runner was high, but tasks were not frequent. She had a lot of free time and could take on many part-time jobs. Wen Baiyang grinned, showing a few white teeth. Her face had a perpetual redness from the high altitude, making her look honest and simple. After giving the change, she rummaged in her canvas bag for a while, then handed Zhou Xufang an egg. Zhou Xufang still wore her hat, revealing only a small part of her face. "Is this for me?" Wen Baiyang nodded and wrote on a piece of paper, "It''s a farm egg." Such a kind person. Zhou Xufang was somewhat afraid of strangers and had a strong sense of caution due to a lack of social interaction. Wen Baiyang was the only one who made her feel relaxed. She liked her, especially the two rosy spots on her cheeks. "Thank you." She took the egg without touching Wen Baiyang''s hand. "Do you know where I can buy farm chickens?" Wen Baiyang nodded. Zhou Xufang added her on WeChat. Besides the group chats from the crew, Wen Baiyang was the first contact she added. For a whole week, Zhou Xufang didn''t get any group performance jobs. After October, a cold wave hit. On Monday, the group leader finally sent a message needing twenty extras. Zhou Xufang signed up, packed the chicken and milk she bought into a black travel bag, and set off to the set early in the morning. The meeting time from the group leader was nine in the morning. She arrived at the film city at seven because she didn''t know when Jiang Zhi would arrive, so she waited by the entrance. Around eight-thirty, a flashy sports car drove into the film city. Ah Wan drove slowly, sluggishly. In the rearview mirror, his employer was sitting in the back seat, dozing off. Maybe he hadn''t slept enough. He looked difficult to approach. At the back of the seat was a pretty and delicate glass box containing cotton candy. Jiang Zhi took a piece, threw it into his mouth, and before he could chew, he furrowed his brows hard and immediately spat it out, wrapping it in a handkerchief. Already in a bad mood from waking up, his face now looked worse. "Changed the brand?" Ah Wan replied, "The previous brand sold out." "Switch it back." His tone was completely unreasonable and domineering. Ah Wan pouted. Because he was big, he looked awkward and slightly comical sitting in the sports car''s driver seat. "I asked at many places, but it''s no longer available." Jiang Zhi didn''t even lift his eyelids. "Switch it back." "..." Heartless and unreasonable. Ah Wan sighed. "Sure." Making a living was not easy. He glanced out the car window, "Mr. Jiang." "Hmm." Jiang Zhi, still not fully awake, his spirits were low. "That person applying the film..." Ah Wan didn''t know their name. Jiang Zhi lifted his heavy eyelids, drowsy, and saw a person squatting by the streetlamp, dressed all in black with a large travel bag on their back, a hat pulled down low, revealing only a mop of black hair. Always dressed like a thief! Jiang Zhi straightened up, changing his posture. "Stop by the curb." Ah Wan stopped the car. Jiang Zhi rolled down the window. Ah Wan pressed the horn. Zhou Xufang raised her head, habitually tugging her hat down, looking a bit blank, her face emotionless and her eyes empty. She stood up, glanced around, saw no one, then walked over and stood a meter away from the car window. "Is your hand better?" Her voice was cool, without any fluctuation. What an odd person. Jiang Zhi made a sound of acknowledgement. She looked around again, then took off her backpack. "This is for you." She took a step forward and handed it over. "An apology." Jiang Zhi''s gaze fixed on her, meeting her eyes directly. Those eyes, black and white, were filled with cold indifference, yet excessively clear and pure. No wonder they seemed familiar. They were so much like the boy who perished in the fire. He was lost in thought for a long time before shifting his gaze to her black backpack. Then, he looked at her hand. Her sleeves were long, covering most of her hand, with a section exposed that was so white it shone under the sun. No wonder, she always bundled herself up like this, avoiding the sun, as pale as a ghost. Ah Wan, in the driver''s seat, coughed as a reminder to his employer. Staring at a girl''s hand for too long wasn''t appropriate. Only after Jiang Zhi withdrew his gaze did Ah Wan seek his employer''s approval through eye contact. Then, unexpectedly, his employer nodded. Ah Wan got out of the car and took the backpack, finding it quite heavy. After giving the gift, Zhou Xufang turned without saying another word and left. Ah Wan placed the backpack on the adjacent seat. "Mr. Jiang, do you want to check inside?" Other than a few coughs, there was no response. Ah Wan glanced through the rearview mirror; his employer yawned, lazily lying back down, with a few tufts of unkempt hair sticking up. When the car pulled into the parking space, Ah Wan heard the guy in the back say, "Open it." "Oh." Ah Wan parked the car, picked up his backpack, and placed it on his lap. He unzipped it¡ª "Cluck!" Ah Wan was dumbfounded. On his lap, a pair of eyes stared back at him. The creature stretched its neck and screeched at him, "Cluck, cluck, cluck, cluck, cluck..." The strong smell of chicken droppings assaulted his nose. Ah Wan froze for a moment. "It''s... a chicken." Jiang Zhi: "..." Qiao Nanchu had asked him before why he would ever show mercy to someone who had crossed him. After all, he wasn''t known for his benevolence. He thought it was probably because this person was incredibly peculiar, so peculiar that everything would unfold in the most outlandish ways. For example, the existence of this chicken and the ensuing chaos it would cause. At nine o''clock, the actors had already changed into their costumes and finished their makeup, just waiting for the big director to start filming. Fang Lixiang, as the newly popular Weaver, received special attention from the costume department. Her costume was custom-made. Despite her cute appearance, she had great versatility. Wearing a cheongsam and holding a feather fan used by dancers, she walked with such flair that she exuded infinite charm. The big director indeed had a sharp eye and picked the right person. Fang Lixiang twirled in her new costume in front of Zhou Xufang, showing off her dimples, "Does it look good?" Zhou Xufang, dressed in coarse cloth, replied, "Mm." "Xu Fang, do you use Weibo?" She shook her head. "Did you bring your phone?" She patted her pants pocket, "I did today." Fang Lixiang took out her phone, "Add me." She wore an expression as if she would never forget a friend in need, exuding boundless heroism, "In the future, if anyone withholds your wages again, let me know. Wulala Clan''s Li Xiang will back you up!" She was now the famous Weaver actress. Zhou Xufang lacked social skills and friends, appearing lonely like someone abandoned by the world. The Weaver had to protect her! Zhou Xufang nodded, keeping her head down and saying little. After they became friends, Wulala Clan''s Li Xiang, squatting in her cheongsam, opened Weibo and was stunned: "Oh my god!" Wulala Clan Li Xiang slapped her thigh, "Big companies sure are powerful; they bought me so many zombie followers." After becoming the second female lead in "Wilderness," many management companies sought to sign Fang Lixiang. Being a girl with ambitions, she signed with the leading company in the film industry, Baoguang, without hesitation. Speaking of Baoguang, what people loved talking about most was its president, Xue Baoyi. "Our president and Director Jiang are childhood friends." Fang Lixiang, being a gossip expert, had gathered all sorts of inside information in her four years of taking small roles. Zhou Xufang''s desolate gaze brightened a little. Noticing her rare interest, Fang Lixiang continued, "Have you heard of Xiao Xue, the second young master of the Xue Family in Imperial City?" Zhou Xufang shook her head. Fang Lixiang explained, "Get on Weibo, and you''ll see him every few days." Zhou Xufang, not being an avid internet user, asked, "Is he also an artist?" "No." The costume assistant offered chicken feet to them. Fang Lixiang unceremoniously took one and started chewing, "His bedmates are all artists." Zhou Xufang didn''t fully understand but felt it must be impressive. Fang Lixiang took another bite of the chicken foot and lamented, "Ah, he must be the doom of so many girls." Righteous as she was, she ferociously bit off the chicken foot, "He''ll get his due someday!" Zhou Xufang didn''t respond, looking up at something intently. Following her gaze, Fang Lixiang noticed the director had finally arrived, "Are you watching Director Jiang again?" Sitting in an inconspicuous corner, her expression was very calm, "He''s good-looking." She liked looking at beautiful things, such as her cotton candy box. Regarding Director Jiang''s looks, Fang Lixiang approved. Among the entire entertainment circle, no one could outshine him in beauty, except¡ª "Director Jiang is like a star in the sky, nice to look at but unreachable." Fang Lixiang threw away the chicken foot and wiped her hands, "Just lying there, Jiang Mei Ren turned countless young masters gay, but none could pluck that flower of his. Besides, he''s delicately fragile, with a family-run research institute just to take care of his health. It''s expensive; ordinary folks like us can''t afford it." Zhou Xufang thought, she had a lot of money, but she needed it to buy Moon Bay, not to support a beauty. "And, Director Jiang is gay." Fang Lixiang covered her mouth, whispering to Zhou Xufang, "There''s a rumor in the circle that he and Xiao Xue, the second young master, are an item." Zhou Xufang still didn''t fully understand but felt it must be significant. Ten minutes later, Assistant Director Zhao picked up a megaphone to announce, "We''re about to start shooting, prepare in ten minutes." The chatting extras dispersed. Assistant Director Zhao made a round checking the preparations. Everything was ready except there was a chicken in the corner. He asked the stagehand, Xiao Li, "Why is there a chicken here? Who put it here?" Xiao Li said, "I didn''t notice. It should be from the props department." Assistant Director Zhao looked around, "See that extra with the carrying pole?" He instructed Xiao Li, "Put the chicken in his pole." Xiao Li grabbed the chicken and put it in the extra''s pole, not realizing the string tied to the chicken''s feet had come loose. Then, during the explosion scene, with a boom¡ª the chicken flew everywhere. "Cluck, cluck, cluck, cluck, cluck..." It was a big rooster, around two to three pounds, flapping wildly around the set. Assistant Director Zhao broke into a sweat: "Director Jiang, this¡ª" Jiang Zhi threw the script aside and leaned back on the lounge chair covered with a thick blanket, "Did the props team leave their brains at home today?" He coughed, his eyes slightly red. Despite his sickly appearance, his gaze was cold. Assistant Director Zhao didn''t dare to make a sound as the pressure made it hard for him to breathe. Jiang Zhi licked his cough-reddened lips, "Where did the chicken come from?" Suddenly, Ah Wan replied, "It''s yours." "..." In the wind, amid his coughing, he suppressed his irritation, "Why are you still standing there?" Ah Wan rolled up his sleeves and joined the chicken-catching effort. Chapter 10 - 010 - The girl who applies the screen protector truly loves you! Chapter 10: 010: The girl who applies the screen protector truly loves you!Ah Wan rolled up her sleeves and joined the chicken-catching fray. Vice Director Zhao didn''t dare to take it lightly, either. He picked up a loudspeaker to direct the chicken catching, "Catch that motley rooster!" "You stand by machine one." "You, machine two." "Surround it!" "Quick, grab it!" At the Vice Director''s command, several male assistants and Ah Wan swarmed up, cornering the chicken within the encirclement. Ah Wan seized the opportunity and quickly used his grapple, and in the blink of an eye, the chicken soared into the air, "Cluck cluck cluck cluck..." After a flurry, the chicken headed straight toward a direction, and Ah Wan focused her gaze. Damn! Vice Director Zhao slapped his forehead in dismay. The motley rooster landed on the shoulder of the bedridden lead director, and instantly, the entire place fell deathly silent. Then, only a plop was heard as a blob of chicken poop teetered, about to fall. Jiang Zhi was utterly dumbfounded, his face ghastly pale. The silence was profound, one could hear a pin drop. Ah Wan held her breath, not daring to breathe, and tiptoed carefully forward, "Mr. Jiang." She whispered as if speaking in hush tones, wary not to disturb the chicken and that impending blob of chicken poop. Jiang Zhi lay there, his body stiff, "Quick, get it away." His voice trembled. Ah Wan was afraid he might pass out from not catching his breath, knowing full well how the young master was delicate and particularly obsessed with cleanliness. "Don''t move," Ah Wan instructed seriously, "Absolutely don''t move, the chicken poop will fall." "..." Jiang Zhi''s pale face turned dark, "What the hell do you want me to do then?" He was so angry that his handsome face contorted. Ah Wan didn''t quite know what to do, hesitated for a long while, then took a small step forward, reached out her hand, but before touching, suddenly¡ª A chicken feather landed on Vice Director Zhao''s face, causing his nose to itch. "Achoo!" Almost simultaneously, the motley rooster''s wings flapped, and it leapt into the air. "Cluck, cluck, cluck!" Amidst the fluttering chicken feathers, a black object hurled directly onto Jiang Zhi''s gray sweater, freezing him entirely, he instinctively closed his eyes. "Cluck!" A gust of wind suddenly passed by, whisking up the chicken feathers. No one noticed where the person in a hemp garment came from, her face and head all covered, seen pressing down towards the director. The blob of chicken poop then landed on her hemp garment. sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Hmm!" Jiang Zhi grunted under the pressure, suddenly opened his eyes, and met a pair of bright eyes¡ªlike an endless night sky, dark and seamless. Zhou Xufang. As Xue Baoyi mentioned, this girl was named Zhou Xufang¡ª a strange name, a strange person, strangely laying on top of him, stirring a weird turmoil in his mind. He had never been physically close to the opposite sex before, yet this person repeatedly broke his norms, even touching him, leaving him completely perplexed. Bewilderingly, he swallowed, his adam''s apple scorching hot, his entire face flushing, "You, you... cough cough cough..." His breath choked in his throat, causing his eyes to turn red. Zhou Xufang lay there, blinking her eyes. He yelled at her, "Get off me!" Oh. She climbed off him, since Jiang Zhi had taken off his coat while filming the explosion scene, his gray sweater tangled with her hemp costume revealing a stretch of fair waist, her fingers unintentionally brushing across. So smooth. Zhou Xufang looked at that stretch of waist, unfortunately, she missed seeing it as the owner almost aggressively pulled the sweater down to cover his waist, then flipped a blanket over firmly covering himself. After completing these actions in one go, he sat up, covered his mouth, and coughed desperately. Coughing his heart out! How delicate, Zhou Xufang thought, then asked, "Are you alright?" Her face was wrapped, revealing only a pair of phoenix eyes. Those eyes, seemingly clear and cool, made Jiang Zhi''s heart warm. He suppressed the itch in his throat, heaving deeply, "You, stay away from me!" He stammered again. Jiang Zhi clenched his fists, annoyed and feeling feverish all over. She then took five steps back. At that moment, Ah Wan stepped forward and asked, "Mr. Jiang, how are you?" Your face is so red, even your ears and collarbone are red, something''s not right. Jiang Zhi propped himself up with one hand on the lounge chair, a thin layer of sweat on his forehead, breathless as he spoke weakly, "What do you think?" Ah Wan thought that her employer was indeed delicate and highly strung, so she considerately said, "It seems like you''ve been crushed. Do you want me to call Dr. Xue over?" Jiang Zhi licked his teeth, then violently pulled on his jacket and put it on, "Get the fuck away from me!" He looked up, glaring at the person whose face was covered, "Everyone, get out!" Fang Lixiang hurried over, pulling Zhou Xufang away, and even Vice Director Zhao didn''t dare to say a word, signaling everyone to retreat with his eyes. However, Ah Wan didn''t dare to really leave and followed up. "I think I''ve caused trouble again," Zhou Xufang said, glancing at the still flapping, ragged rooster, her brows tight. Fang Lixiang comforted her, "It''s not your fault. It was all the chicken''s fault." She drooped her eyelids, "I was the one who gifted that chicken." Fang Lixiang: "..." How come the more he looked at Zhou Xufang, the more adorably awkward she seemed? There was a bathroom in the director''s office. It took Jiang Zhi more than half an hour to come out of the shower, the water temperature was set high, and his skin, already pale, turned a bright red. Ah Wan stood at the door, "Mr. Jiang." "Come in." Ah Wan hesitated as she entered, head down, quietly placing down the clothes, planning to leave quickly. "Lin Wanwan." "..." Could he stop using that name! He had a man''s dignity, and Ah Wan reluctantly looked up, "Your orders?" Jiang Zhi, clad in a soft white bathrobe, the neckline loose, his hair still damp, water trickling along his facial contours into the collar, "Go butcher that chicken." "Oh." Ah Wan stole a glance at her employer''s neckline, what heavenly collarbones! A big man and yet so finely sculpted. Roughness suited him better anyway. Jiang Zhi rubbed his hair with a towel, "Aren''t you leaving yet?" "Oh." Ah Wan reached the door but couldn''t help turning back, "Mr. Jiang, I''ve noticed something." "Speak." Ah Wan then said, "I think that sticker has fallen for your beauty." "Where did you see that?" Jiang Zhi, pulling at his bathrobe, sniffed it, feeling as if there was still a smell, wiped his neck repeatedly with a towel, the skin reddening from the friction. Ah Wan''s reason was, "She blocked the chicken poop for you." That''s got to be true love! Jiang Zhi paused in his movements, lifting his eyelids, "Don''t mention that word again." Now chickens couldn''t even be mentioned. Ah Wan wisely changed her wording, "She blocked the poop for you." Just as he finished speaking, a milk can hit him, leaving him dazed. "..." Working is hard. Ah Wan rubbed his head and left quietly, catching a glimpse of the table from the corner of his eye¡ªHuh? Didn''t he dislike that box of milk for smelling like chicken poop? Why was it opened? The mind of an employer, a needle in the sea! At eight o''clock in the evening, orchestra music rose in Fusheng Inn. The Imperial City had numerous dens of pleasure, mostly lavish, unlike the elegant Fusheng Inn. Plum, Orchid, Chrysanthemum, Bamboo¡ªthe wall paintings were exquisitely done, in front of them, a man and woman dressed flamboyantly. The woman, soft as if boneless, leaned against the wall, smiling enchantingly, "Young Master." The man, with a slight smile, a hint of displeasure, "Mr. will do, what Young Master?" In the Imperial City, there''s more than one Mr. Xue, but in the regular clientele of Fusheng Inn, there was only one Mr. Xue from Xue Family. Xue Baoyi''s father was the second oldest at home, thus a Mr. Xue, and Xue Baoyi, being the second grandchild, could only be Young Master, though Xue Baoyi disliked this ambiguous title, insisting people call him Mr. The woman tactfully changed her title, "Mr., would you like to have a drink with me?" "Did you wear perfume?" Xue Baoyi pulled his hand back, stepping back, "Then keep your distance, someone here dislikes the smell of women''s perfume." Chapter 11 - 011 - Jiang Mei Ren’s Strange Illness Chapter 11: 011: Jiang Mei Ren''s Strange Illness"Then stay away from me, there''s someone inside who doesn''t like the smell of women''s perfume." That person was like an ancestor, needed to be pampered, and had poor health. What else could be done but spoil him? The woman was sensible and stepped back, obedient and seductive, "Mr., can I play the role in the Tangren script?" This woman was a newcomer that Baoguang had just signed last month. Xue Baoyi tilted his chin and smiled, "You haven''t even served me yet, and you''re already thinking about resources?" The woman pouted, "You''re so annoying, I''m not thinking about that." "Don''t be in a hurry." Xue Baoyi pulled out a business card from his pocket and slipped it into the woman''s low neckline. His actions were frivolous, but his eyes were keen, "Wait for my call." Before he could withdraw his hand, someone behind him coughed, seemingly a bit reproachful, and then cleared their throat a few more times. Xue Baoyi pulled his hand back and turned his head, annoyed, "What?" The lights in the corridor of Fusheng Inn were dim, with gray-green lampshades casting a soft glow. In the shadowy light, a tall figure stood, wearing a cream-colored coat over a peach-colored sweater. The effeminate outfit was somewhat redeemed by the baby-faced look, quite like Fu Fen He Lang. ''Fu Fen He Lang'' approached, glaring at Xue Baoyi with clear, harmless doe eyes, "Aren''t you ashamed of yourself!" Xue Baoyi grinned mischievously, "What''s there to be ashamed about? Do you think everyone is as innocent as you?" The innocent ''Fu Fen He Lang'' quickly looked away from the woman''s low neckline, his face turning bright red. Despite his gentle appearance, his scolding held little intimidation, "Get inside, stop embarrassing yourself out here." After speaking, ''Fu Fen He Lang'' turned and left. The woman laughed and asked, "Mr., who is he?" Xue Baoyi adjusted his coat, "My uncle, Third Young Master of the Xue Family." Oh, the late-born son of Old Master Xue. As Xue Baoyi was about to step into the room, a chicken claw scratched at him. "Damn," he immediately kicked, "Why is there a chicken here?!" "Cluck, cluck, cluck!" The chicken, kicked into the corner, clucked noisily. Ah Wan went over and stepped on the string tied to the chicken to keep it from flapping around, saying, "The chicken belongs to Mr. Jiang. He brought it home to slaughter and cook for his employer''s health." Xue Baoyi took a tissue, wiped his shoe, and jokingly said, "Brother Zhi, you''ve switched from making movies to raising chickens?" The room was furnished in an antique style. Jiang Zhi lounged on a chaise, too lazy to respond. Ah Wan answered for him, "It was a gift from someone else." Xue Baoyi wiped his hands again, crumpled the tissue into a ball, and threw it into the trash, "People still give chickens as gifts these days?" He pulled a rattan chair and sat down, resting his long legs on the coffee table, "Who was it? A man or a woman?" Ah Wan was about to reply. Jiang Zhi lazily gave him a glance, "You, and that chicken, get out." Fine, Ah Wan carried the chicken and left. "Where is Nanchu?" Jiang Zhi asked. It was just past late autumn, and he was already wearing a thick sweater, looking increasingly unwell and lethargic. Xue Baoyi poured himself a drink, "He''s clashing with his dad again, will be late." This gathering was organized by him to welcome his third uncle. "I''m cold." Jiang Zhi nudged Xue Baoyi''s leg with his foot. His body was delicate, susceptible to cold, and couldn''t stand the heating. It wasn''t even winter yet, and he was already complaining about the cold. Xue Baoyi laughed, "You''re really like my ancestor!" He set his glass down and went out to get a blanket for Jiang Zhi. There was no helping it¡ªbeing an aesthetician at heart, he was fascinated by beauty, and among a group of men, he spoiled Jiang Zhi the most. Once everyone left, Jiang Zhi asked the person sitting quietly beside him, "Where''s the medicine?" The third young master of the Xue Family, Xue Bingxue. A man with a baby face, full of collagen, lips redder than a girl''s, eyelashes longer than a girl''s, and eyes bigger than a girl''s. Unlike Jiang Zhi''s delicateness, he was soft. Ridiculous, right? According to Xue Baoyi: My third uncle is a naive beauty, twenty-eight years old and still as innocent as a maiden, kind as a saint, probably even has an M-physique; otherwise, why would he at his age harbor unrequited feelings for someone who once stripped him and pinched his privates? Xue Bingxue took a pill bottle from his coat pocket and tossed it to Jiang Zhi, "One a week, no more." Jiang Zhi replied with a hum, unscrewed the cap, poured out a pill, swallowed it with warm water, then pocketed the bottle and rolled up his sleeve to place his arm on the table. Xue Bingxue, a doctor specializing in hematology, was apprenticed to an old Chinese medicine practitioner. He sat closer and took Jiang Zhi''s pulse. Congenital deficiency, weak heart and lungs. This was Jiang Zhi''s diagnosis at five years old, being born prematurely at less than seven months, his health was naturally poor. With good care, it wasn''t life-threatening, but despite being coddled at the Jiang Family like a treasure, his condition didn''t improve. Eventually, chronic organ failure, heart weakness, and increasing frailty set in. Especially in winter, he often needed bed rest and even had a tendency to cough up blood. The strange thing was, despite being riddled with ailments, no doctor could pinpoint his exact illness. If it weren''t for that boy''s accidental intervention, he might have died already. There was a rumor in the Jiang Family that the young master wouldn''t live past twenty-five. This year, he turned twenty-four. "It''s not worth it for them." Xue Bingxue said. The medicine was bitter, so Jiang Zhi washed the taste away with a small sip of liquor. He didn''t like alcohol, frowning as his stomach felt uneasy. He said, "I know." S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Xue Bingxue, gentle in nature, dared not persuade him, only said, "This medicine can''t be taken too much." "Mm." He added, "Too much can cause infertility." Jiang Zhi looked up at his face, cuter and cleaner than a girl''s, and laughed, "Do you think," he drawled lazily, "I would have children with anyone?" Fearing to upset him, Xue Bingxue muttered softly, "Maybe someone could turn you straight." Jiang Zhi snorted, "Nonsense." Xue Bingxue fell silent. After Jiang Zhi set the glass down and lay back, feeling drowsy possibly from the medicine''s effect, he said, "Don''t let my nephew find out, he''s straightforward and can''t keep secrets. My illness mustn''t be known to him." Xue Baoyi wasn''t foolish, just couldn''t keep his mouth shut. Xue Bingxue sat upright, "I understand." Just as the matter was finished, Xue Baoyi returned with a blanket, "Brother Zhi, I got you a pastel pink." Jiang Zhi glanced at the beige-pink sweater on Xue Bingxue and coldly muttered at Xue Baoyi, "Idiot." "..." Xue Baoyi rolled his eyes. Ah, Brother Zhi tormented him countless times, but he treated him like a first love. Fusheng Inn used to be a large courtyard with eight main entrances and exits. With some modern renovations and additions, it was divided into an outer and inner wing. The outer wing catered to ordinary guests, while the inner wing, with its four small courtyards named Plum, Orchid, Bamboo, and Chrysanthemum, was exclusive to the elite of the Imperial City. This Fusheng Inn belonged to the Luo Family, wealthy merchants of the Imperial City. Though rich, they lacked deep foundations and weren''t counted among the Four Great Families. Zhou Xufang looked up at the plaque above the door, surprised to find such a place in the Imperial City. She walked in with her bag, but was stopped just past the front hall. A woman in a short cheongsam, with a delicate face and gentle smile, said, "I''m sorry, this area is for VIPs only." It had begun to rain outside. Zhou Xufang wore a black raincoat, black rain boots, and a delivery cap. She masked herself, wrapped tightly. She took out her phone from her pocket and made a call, "Your delivery is here." She usually worked as a delivery driver for a seafood porridge shop in her free time. The Boss Lady was kind; Zhou Xufang had been a regular customer who once received the wrong porridge, containing eggs, which made her ill. The Boss Lady had kindly let her rest for the night, and since then, Zhou Xufang helped with deliveries when she could. A woman''s voice answered, "Room 304, please bring it in." Zhou Xufang replied, "I can''t get in." A man then took over the call, "Give the phone to the person blocking you." Zhou Xufang handed her phone to the woman blocking her, careful to avoid physical contact. After listening, the woman returned the phone, "You may go in now." Zhou Xufang carefully took her phone back, then proceeded to the inner courtyard. Upon entering, she found four forks in the path, with paintings of Plum, Orchid, Bamboo, and Chrysanthemum hanging nearby. She sent a text asking the customer which courtyard but received no reply. Forced to check each one, she began her search. Chapter 12 - 012 - The Luo Family’s Adopted Son Chapter 12: 012: The Luo Family''s Adopted SonShe first went to room 304 of Fusheng Inn. After all, it was a place of pleasure. Her hearing was very good; the music, singing, and dancing were especially noisy, aside from the drunken laughter and the giggles, there were also the cries and struggles of men and women. "Listen early, and you wouldn''t have to suffer so much." The man''s tone was frivolous. "I''m going to sue you all, I''m going to sue you all!" The woman was hysterical. The men, however, were all laughing. One was arrogant: "Go ahead, go sue." One mocked: "I''d like to see how this bitch remains chaste." "Get away!" "All of you get away! Don''t touch me! Don''t touch me!" The woman cried bitterly, desperate, resentful, unwilling, and reluctant. Oh, she was being forced. The mask was soaked with rain. Zhou Xufang took off the mask, threw it into the trash can, wiped her face with the back of her hand, then walked to the door of 304, grasping the doorknob, and gave it a gentle twist. "Click!" The door opened. Inside, it was smoky and smelled of alcohol. The woman''s clothes were disheveled, pressed to the ground by two men, while another man straddled her. He was middle-aged, slightly obese, and wore frameless glasses. His belt was loose, and his pants were stained with white filth. His business was interrupted, and he glared with rage: "Who let you open the door?" Zhou Xufang kicked the door all the way open: "Delivery." Occasional passersby strolled the corridor, so the man had to climb off the woman, grabbed a coat to cover the mess on his pants, his face extremely sullen: "We didn''t order any food, get lost." The woman on the ground took this chance to get up, someone grabbed her, she frantically pushed them away, biting, and took the opportunity to run. The man panicked: "Quick! Go catch her." Zhou Xufang at the door was knocked aside. The woman, covered in wounds, stumbled and ran slowly, two people chasing after her. Passersby only glanced at her a few more times, leaving their sights behind, but not their footsteps. Why would they turn a blind eye? Had they seen it so often? Zhou Xufang couldn''t understand. She turned sideways, avoiding the surveillance, plucking a button from her clothes, pinched it between her thumb and index finger, and flicked it gently. One of the chasing men cried out, his calf went numb, dragging the man in front down. By this time, the woman had already run out of Fusheng Inn. Zhou Xufang put on the hood of her raincoat and continued her delivery. Behind her, the man was swearing. "Didn''t I tell you to lock the door?" "I did lock it." A click sound, the entire lock fell off. "Why is the lock broken?" "The woman took it off?" "Damn, what nonsense are you saying? How could she have the strength to twist the lock off?" "Then why did it break?" "Enough." The man was impatient, "Go inform Manager Chen." Half a moment later, Manager Chen received the news. Manager Chen of Fusheng Inn, in her forties, was a slightly plump yet still charming woman, dressed in a light purple cheongsam, her every step was graceful. "Secretary Han." "Manager Chen." The speaker was dressed in a suit, looking refined. Manager Chen approached and asked: "Is Younger Luo inside?" "Yes." Among the Luo Family of merchants in the Imperial City, there was only one person called Younger Luo. Manager Chen pushed the door open and entered. The room was dimly lit. A woman lay sideways on a wooden chair, smoking, with thin lips and single eyelids, a rather indifferent appearance. A cigarette was held between her fingers, through the white haze, a faint smile hung at the corner of her mouth. Luo Family''s eldest granddaughter, Luo Qinghe. Besides the old master, the entire Luo Family had her holding the most power. Her brows and eyes were sharp with the shrewdness and toughness of a seasoned business person. With flaming red lips, she exhaled a thin stream of smoke: "Has the contract been signed?" Manager Chen stepped forward, "Signed." "And that newcomer? Is she obedient?" "Not very obedient." Manager Chen laughed. "Said she wanted to sue us." "Is that so?" She flicked the ash, dragging her tone, "Handle it according to the old rules." "Understood." Finishing the cigarette, Luo Qinghe stood up, straightened her professional suit, drained the glass of whiskey, and stepped out of the room in high heels. She opened the door, seeing a familiar face. "Jiang Zhi." The other side glanced sideways, looked at her, and ignored her. Luo Qinghe folded her arms, leaning against the door frame, smiling: "Why don''t you respond?" Her features were plain, but once she smiled, her aura emerged, full of arrogance. Jiang Zhi did not respond. Xue Baoyi stopped his steps, teasing: "Miss Luo really doesn''t know her place. If our Brother Zhi doesn''t respond, it means he doesn''t want to. Asking like this is just slapping your own face, isn''t it?" This was indeed hurtful. Luo Qinghe wasn''t angry, her eyes unabashedly lingering on Jiang Zhi: "Young Master is being protective." Xue Baoyi lazily lifted a foot, blocking Luo Qinghe''s sight: "What do you think?" She smirked, half-joking, her eyes brimming with confidence and dominance: "Rumors are indeed true. Your harem of three thousand is a sham. Jiang Zhi is your true heart." She dared to say this. Xue Baoyi''s face flushed with anger: "You¡ª" Ahead, Jiang Zhi urged: "What are you wasting words with her for." He slowed his pace, his eartips dyed red, and his suppressed coughs intermittent. Xue Bingxue soothed him. Xue Baoyi snorted, rolling his eyes, and followed Jiang Zhi. A left turn into a long corridor. Xue Baoyi asked Jiang Zhi: "Did you have some old grudge with the Luo Family before? Why do you hate them so much?" Anyway, in his memory, Jiang Zhi never gave the Luo Family a good face. "You talk too much." Jiang Zhi walked faster, "Don''t follow me, I''ll return by myself." After saying that, he left the Xue uncle and nephew behind and walked away alone. Ah Wan followed with a chicken in her arms. Xue Baoyi scratched his head: "Why did he get angry?" Xue Bingxue''s hair was soft, cut short, and under the light, the shadows between the hair were fine and scattered, looking very gentle and harmless: "Did you forget?" "Huh?" Xue Baoyi was puzzled. Xue Bingxue checked the surroundings, finding no one, then said: "Jiang Zhi''s first love was the adopted child of the Luo Family." Xue Baoyi knew a bit of this story too. He just couldn''t understand: "It''s been so many years, why still remember? They only met a few times. Besides, the adopted child of the Luo Family wasn''t great, couldn''t even speak." It was heard that he had intelligence issues as well. It was also strange. The Luo Family did not have a male heir in this generation. Adoption was appropriate, but why adopt a child who was both mute and had mental issues? But oddly enough, it was that mute and mentally challenged child that Jiang Zhi remembered for so many years. Xue Bingxue, with a serious baby face, said: "Don''t ever say that in front of Jiang Zhi." He wouldn''t dare. The Luo Family''s adopted child was rarely mentioned among the brothers. "Who would say that, am I stupid?" Xue Baoyi didn''t want to mention this anymore, sighing: "Ah, what is love in this world?" Sighing, he dialed a phone number, "Come to Fusheng Inn, Mr. is lonely." S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. On the other end, a woman coyly responded. Xue Bingxue was stunned by this bold move: "You¡ª" He was furious, unable to curse, staring at Xue Baoyi for a while, forcing out four words, "Shameless!" The shameless Xue Baoyi hooked his arm around his uncle''s neck: "Uncle, let your nephew enlighten you." Xue Bingxue, with a stern baby face, pushed away that scoundrel, and directly called: "Second brother, manage your son. He is messing around with men and women, what kind of behavior is this!" The indiscriminate Xue Baoyi: "..." This innocent fool! Chapter 13 - 013 - Xu Fang wants Brother Zhi’s WeChat (First Update) Chapter 13: 013: Xu Fang wants Brother Zhi''s WeChat (First Update)``` Bamboo Garden, Room 403. Zhou Xufang knocked on the door. The person who answered was a young man, wearing suit pants and a shirt, with two buttons undone at the collar, and a tie loosely hanging around his neck. His appearance was fierce, his attire was quite formal, but his hair was dyed in an unconventional color. Zhou Xufang handed over the porridge. "Your delivery." He didn''t take it, his gaze swept over Xufang''s face, and he smiled like a little rascal, "Miss, give me your WeChat." Scoundrel. Zhou Xufang remained expressionless, "I don''t use WeChat." The man poked the delivery bag with one finger, smiling roguishly, "No WeChat? Then I''ll give you a bad review." Zhou Xufang put down the stuff and walked away. Hey, she''s quite wild. The man closed the door and carried the bag back to his seat. There were quite a few men and women in the room, someone teased, "Mr. Ming, you don''t even let the delivery girl go?" The man called Mr. Ming tore off his tie, "A pretty girl, not flirting is a waste of resources." The guy next to him laughed at him, "Keep that up, watch out for your sister''s scolding!" sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Mr. Ming bristled, "Don''t mention that tomboy Ming Saiying." "Haha, scared, huh?" "Get lost!" "..." The room was filled with people, merry and lively. Jiang Zhi rubbed his temples, the noise from this place made his head hurt. "Mr. Jiang," Ah Wan was thrilled, "look!" The person who shielded you from the chicken poop! Fussing so much, what''s that about? Jiang Zhi had seen it already, but he pretended not to. The commotion drew the peculiar person''s attention, and he had to ask, "How many jobs do you work?" The person still had that blank, cold expression, "Do you have WeChat?" Completely unrelated, what was that all about? Jiang Zhi looked at her, increasingly finding her odd. "Yes." It was Ah Wan who answered on his behalf. He really liked this screen protector girl, hoping she could "straighten out" his employer. The employer''s chronic imbalance made his temper too volatile. His unsolicited help earned him a cold glance from the employer. He hugged the chicken and backed off. "Can you give me your WeChat?" She actually wanted the address. That chicken made a mess, and she wanted to bring another box of milk as an apology. "Didn''t you say you don''t use WeChat?" Her eyes, like autumn water, half-opened, half-shuttered, exuded a casual three-part laziness, three-part delicate faintness. It seemed her conversation with that rogue had been overheard. Zhou Xufang honestly responded, "I said I don''t use it because I didn''t want to give it." "I don''t use WeChat either." "..." Zhou Xufang thought, he was still mad because of that cock that defecated everywhere. She glanced at the chicken in Ah Wan''s hands, pulled down her yellow delivery cap, and walked away with her head lowered. Ah Wan felt that the screen protector girl''s figure looked very dejected, couldn''t help but speak for her, "Mr. Jiang, I think she''s a good person." Jiang Zhi didn''t say anything, standing at a fork in the road, watching that person in the black raincoat. Ah Wan was very sure, "And, I think she likes you." She came to ask for WeChat after all! Jiang Zhi turned and walked another path, he wasn''t in high spirits, his steps were slow and labored. He asked a completely unrelated question, "What''s your IQ?" Why suddenly ask this sad question? Ah Wan answered truthfully, "Just under a hundred." Really, just a little short. Jiang Zhi showed an ''I knew it'' expression, "Talk less in the future." "Oh." It felt like he was being looked down upon. Ah Wan had worked for Jiang Zhi for several years, if it weren''t for his worrying IQ, he wouldn''t be doing all sorts of chores for him. It was two years ago, Ah Wan''s mother had uremia, needed a kidney transplant. At that time, Ah Wan was a nameless boxer, couldn''t afford his mother''s surgery. He thought it over for three nights and decided to rob someone. After making the decision, Ah Wan lurked at Fusheng Inn for a week, finally chose a target¡ªa rich, frail young master. The process went smoothly, he successfully robbed a very expensive-looking watch, but it was his first time committing a crime, inexperienced, he rode his motorcycle into the police station... The rich, frail young master bore him no grudge. Not only did he not press charges, but he also bailed him out, paid for his mother''s expensive medical bills. At first, he thought he''d met a savior like Guanyin, until that thirty-year long¡ªand a servitude contract! That young master was Jiang Zhi. "Sigh!" Ah Wan sighed. The chicken in his arms clucked. Jiang Zhi glanced at the chicken. The chicken immediately stretched its neck and clucked. It was a sturdy cock, had been causing trouble all day but still full of energy. But its fate wasn''t good, Ah Wan said, "I''ll slaughter it when I get home," then added, "I''ll make chicken soup for you tomorrow." There was wind outside, almost winter, the nights were turning chilly. Jiang Zhi''s throat was uncomfortable, he coughed and bent over, looking listless, "I don''t want to drink." If he didn''t want it... Ah Wan asked, "Then what about this chicken?" He seemingly replied absent-mindedly, "Keep it." Ah Wan doubted his ears, "Why keep it?" A cock can''t be a pet. Why keep it? Jiang Zhi pondered, if it were his own usual self, he would have buried this cock alive while it was still breathing. It''s not that he was moved by pity, he had no such thing. So why keep it? He didn''t know. Just as Xue Baoyi said, his capriciousness had reached a maddening degree. He was curious about the chicken''s owner, so he kept it first. When he got upset, he''d kill it. Dragging his slow steps and drawling tone, he casually gave a reason¡ª "To lay eggs." Was the wind too strong? Did he hear it wrong? Ah Wan scratched his ear, and couldn''t hold it in. He was an honest person, had to speak up, "Mr. Jiang." Jiang Zhi acknowledged with a hum. Well-cared-for rich boys'' ignorance wasn''t surprising, but he still had to inform, "This is a cock. Cocks don''t lay eggs." The cock: "Cluck!" Jiang Zhi: "..." This one''s IQ definitely wasn''t just a bit short of a hundred. "Mr. Jiang, where should I take you?" "Home." Old Lady Jiang was once a noble lady from a prominent family. Many old customs were retained in Jiang''s house, such as the lanterns lit outside the courtyard at night, which gave a classical charm from afar. The poodle kept by the Old Madam barked in the yard. The Second Madam of the Luo Family stepped out of the hall and asked the housekeeper in the yard, "Who''s back?" The housekeeper replied, "Second Madam, it''s the young master." The Second Madam, Luo Changfang, was from the merchant family Luo, and Luo Qinghe addressed her as Third Aunt. Luo Changfang adjusted the shawl around her, "Is it Brother Zhi?" ``` Chapter 14 - 014 - Second Watch (See the Jiang Family Relationship Diagram in the Postscript) Chapter 14: 014: Second Watch (See the Jiang Family Relationship Diagram in the Postscript)Luo Changfang adjusted the shawl on her shoulders, "Oh, it''s Brother Zhi." Jiang Zhi entered the courtyard. "Second Aunt." He greeted with a cough, his attitude neither warm nor cold. Luo Changfang greeted him with a smile, "You came at the right time. Your grandmother is arguing with Wei''er again. Can you go and mediate?" The Wei''er mentioned by Luo Changfang was the youngest daughter of Old Lady Jiang. She was born late, only four years older than Jiang Zhi. With five children, the third son and the fourth daughter both passed away, making the fifth daughter extremely cherished. However, the mother and daughter never got along well. From a distance, the sound of their argument could be heard. "That circle is a mess. Why are you getting involved?" "Why is it a mess? Isn''t Brother Zhi part of that circle? If he can be involved, why can''t I?" Old Lady Jiang was furious, "You''re a girl. How can you compare yourself to him!" "My business is none of your concern." Short hair, oval face, bearing a slight resemblance to the old lady. She wasn''t tall and looked a bit like the clever, neighboring girl, but her personality was far from docile. This was the fifth of the Jiang Family, Jiang Wei''er. Besides Jiang Zhi, she was the only one in the Jiang Family who dared to talk back to the old lady. The old lady, in a fit of anger, smashed a cup. Jiang Zhi pushed open the door, "What''s gotten you so worked up again?" Seeing her beloved grandson, the old lady''s anger subsided a bit, "Brother Zhi, don''t bother. Your Fifth Aunt is getting more and more unruly. If this continues, I don''t know what kind of trouble she will cause." Jiang Wei''er scoffed and got up from the chair, "I''m leaving." She grabbed her bag and stormed out. The old lady, furious, threw her cane, "You think you can just leave? Stand still!" Jiang Wei''er ignored her and stormed out. "You¡ª" Just as the old lady was about to erupt, Jiang Zhi started coughing. "Cough, cough, cough..." He coughed so hard that he could hardly catch his breath, his face turning red. The old lady, feeling distressed, immediately stopped and went to her grandson''s side, "What''s wrong? Are you feeling unwell again?" She quickly called out, "Ah Gui, go get Dr. Qin." "I''m on it." In the courtyard, a poodle continued to bark. It wasn''t familiar with people, and since Jiang Wei''er seldom visited, it barked incessantly at her. "Winter is coming. I wonder if Brother Zhi''s body can make it through?" Luo Changfang remarked and instructed a servant to bring some soup from the kitchen. Jiang Wei''er stopped, replying, "Second Sister-in-law, don''t worry. That little brat, Brother Zhi, will live forever to trouble everyone." Luo Changfang smiled without a word. Jiang Zhi stayed at the old house for two days, taking some herbal medicine, but it had little effect. The old lady then instructed the Gui Family to prepare medicinal meals for him, delivering them every few days. That Thursday, there was a night scene. At seven o''clock in the evening, Ah Wan went to pick up the employer. While waiting for the traffic light under Ba Yi Bridge, he saw a familiar face, "Mr. Jiang, the person installing the screen protector!" Jiang Zhi, originally resting with his eyes closed, slightly opened his eyes, speaking indifferently, "Does she not have a name?" Ah Wan pondered, "Zhou, Zhou," but couldn''t remember, "Miss Zhou is installing screen protectors under the bridge." With the window closed, Jiang Zhi looked through the glass at the scene under the bridge. There were many stalls there. Curiously, he spotted her immediately, always dressed in black and wrapped up in a hat. Clearly not sociable, yet working everywhere. Strange person. "She looks about the same age as my sister, who is still in college." Ah Wan sighed, "She installs screen protectors, works on film sets, and delivers food. Who knows what other jobs she does?" Poor girl. Her family must be in dire straits, probably with a bunch of siblings to support... While thinking, Jiang Zhi kicked the driver''s seat, "Watch the road." The light turned green. S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Oh." Ah Wan hurriedly started the car. Just past the intersection¡ª Jiang Zhi languidly instructed, "Pull over." Today''s employer was as enigmatic as always. Ah Wan pulled over. The employer casually played with his cotton candy glass container, "Does your phone have a screen protector?" The cotton candy in the glass container was newly stocked by Ah Wan this morning, the brand that the employer favored. That brand had already stopped production, and it took great effort for him to acquire the factory just to supply the employer. Rich kids... Ah Wan replied, "No, it doesn''t." Jiang Zhi opened the glass container, took out a piece of candy, and put it in his mouth, licking his lips, "Go down and get a screen protector." "Huh?" Ah Wan didn''t register. "Go get a screen protector." He hesitated, "Oh." He unbuckled his seatbelt, just about to open the car door when another instruction came from behind, "And buy a phone case." He coughed again, the sweet taste of cotton candy lingering, "Your phone is ugly." Ah Wan, "Oh." Ah Wan went down, got a screen protector and a cool phone case, and returned to find Jiang Zhi lost in thought. Ah Wan handed him the new phone case, "Mr. Jiang, I think you''re quite nice to Miss Zhou." He knew how much Mr. Jiang disliked women, yet Miss Zhou was an exception. Mr. Jiang not only accepted her gift but also patronized her business. Jiang Zhi didn''t respond, his fingers playing with the cotton candy box pausing slightly, "Drive." In the rearview mirror, Ah Wan saw the person in the back seat frowning, appearing puzzled, annoyed, and frustrated. At eight o''clock in the evening, the moon was full. Zhou Xufang received a message in a group chat recruiting extras. She signed up, ate takeout at her desk, and had a can of milk at the side. Her computer beeped, automatically turning on. SpongeBob filled the screen, and Shuangjiang''s message came through, "A high school student offering fifty thousand for someone to do homework. Are you interested?" These days, people still hired others to do homework. Zhou Xufang shook her head, not interested. Shuangjiang typed, "Is the offer too low?" Her chopsticks paused, and she fell silent for a long time, eyes drooping, "I don''t know what grade I was in." Shuangjiang sent a question mark. Clack. Zhou Xufang opened the can of milk, took a sip, her expression returning to normal, "I was caught and taken to a lab where they injected me with many drugs. I don''t remember anything from before." After numerous injections, she became abnormal. She had a tag on her neck with her name; everything else was blank, even her age unknown. She pursed her lips, drank the milk in one go. Shuangjiang didn''t pry into her private matters, "I can do the homework. Will seventy-thirty work?" "No need to share with me." Pop. She opened another can of milk. She never used to drink milk, but when she bought it for Jiang Zhi, she ordered an extra box and discovered it tasted exceptionally good. Chapter 15 - 015 - Jiang Zhi is the most beautiful in the world! Chapter 15: 015: Jiang Zhi is the most beautiful in the world!She opened another can of milk. She didn''t used to drink much milk, but when she bought it for Jiang Zhi, she ordered an extra case and magically found that the milk was really tasty. This was the third can. In one morning, Zhou Xufang drank three cans of imported milk. Probably because of Ah Wan''s comment that "the girl pasting the film likes your looks," Jiang Zhi gave that person a few glances. Then he retracted his gaze and changed his lying position: "Call the vice director over." Ah Wan went to fetch Vice Director Zhao. Vice Director Zhao was a bit panicky when called upon: "Director Jiang, what can I do for you?" Jiang Zhi, seemingly absent-minded, was playing with a can of milk aimlessly. With no preamble, he said two words: "Extras." "Uh?" Vice Director Zhao couldn''t quite grasp what was meant, "What, what''s wrong with the extras?" Was it that they acted poorly, or¡ª "How much per day?" Uh... Director Jiang actually started caring about the livelihood of the extras. Vice Director Zhao answered truthfully, "About a hundred to two hundred, maybe a bit higher for special roles." Two hundred. The three cans of milk she drank cost nearly a few hundreds. Jiang Zhi found it bewildering; even if she pasted more films and delivered more food, it wouldn''t be enough for her to drink this much milk. Perhaps all the money she earned from part-time jobs was spent on buying milk? Strange, why was he curious about an extra''s livelihood? He toyed with the milk can in his hand. Maybe he really was too idle these days: "The extras today performed well." What did that mean? Vice Director Zhao scratched his head: "So...what do you think...should be done?" Director Jiang lifted his eyelids. Vice Director Zhao suggested, "Doubling their pay?" The director said nothing, just looked at Vice Director Zhao. He was sweating, hurriedly changed his tune: "Twice as much?" Pop. The director pulled the tab, opened the milk, and took a sip. Vice Director Zhao wiped his forehead, stammering, "Fi-five times?" No response. The person just got up, put on his coat, and started walking off. He seemed unwell, eyes drooping, pulling his coat tighter as he walked, looking frail. What''s going on? Vice Director Zhao was puzzled. After he walked away, the mercurial Jiang Meiren said, "Do as you see fit." "?" Vice Director Zhao wiped his sweat, filled with questions. Ah Wan checked the time; it was one o''clock, time for the boss''s lunch break. He followed along. "How''s that chicken lately?" Jiang Zhi asked suddenly. Ah Wan replied, "Quite well, it gained two ounces." Then there was nothing but intermittent coughing along the way, suppressed, making one''s chest feel tight. He seemed really unwell, Zhou Xufang thought. "Xufang." Fang Lixiang waved a hand in front of her: "Xufang." Zhou Xufang was still looking into the distance. Fang Lixiang jumped into her line of sight: "Hey, come back to earth!" She turned her head: "Hm?" The curiosity in her eyes was still there, unlike her usual calm demeanor, showing a hint of liveliness. Fang Lixiang pulled a girl to her: "This is my assistant." She signed with Baoguang, and got some attention, managed by Lin Shang, a top agent of Baoguang. But Lin Shang had other top-tier and mid-tier artists, so he couldn''t give her his full attention. This time, he sent her a dedicated assistant. The girl looked very young, short hair, clean and neat. "Hi, I''m Jiang Wei''er." She smiled sweetly, giving a first impression of being very obedient. Zhou Xufang wasn''t used to making eye contact, instinctively looked down, and said her own name: "Zhou Xufang." Jiang Wei''er smiled at her, a dimple appeared on her left cheek, shallow but visible when she showed her teeth. She also had the surname Jiang, she was also good-looking, Zhou Xufang thought. "Xufang, do you have any more milk? Let me have a sip to calm my nerves." Fang Lixiang clutched her chest, eyes shifting rapidly, "I''m about to do a scene with my idol, my heartbeat''s racing." Jiang Wei''er''s eyes widened slightly, looking even more spirited: "Your idol is Xiao Linsu?" "Yes!" Fang Lixiang seized any chance to praise her idol, pulled out her phone, found a photo of her idol, and began gushing, "Isn''t he handsome? I could admire this face for a hundred years!" The male lead of this film was Xiao Linsu, but Zhou Xufang hadn''t seen him much during her few times as an extra, so she took an extra look at Fang Lixiang''s phone. Then she said, "He''s not as good-looking as Jiang Zhi." She glanced at the photo again, "Jiang Zhi''s eyes are better-looking." Three-second pause, "His mouth is too." Everything about him was better. Fang Lixiang gave a death glare. Jiang Wei''er also gave a death glare. Zhou Xufang said no more, handed the opened milk to Fang Lixiang. Ding, Jiang Wei''er''s phone received a message. She glanced at it, then stood up: "I''m going to the restroom." The restroom was connected to the lounge, separated by a corridor. Just as Jiang Wei''er reached the turn, her wrist was grabbed, and she was pulled into a corner. "Wei''er." A man''s voice, low and pleasant. Xiao Linsu, originally a singer, had a naturally good voice. Jiang Wei''er nervously looked around, pulled the man aside, tried to free her hand but it was held tighter: "Let go, we''ll be seen." Xiao Linsu didn''t let go, instead he wrapped an arm around her waist: "If we''re seen, let''s go public." Usually gentle and refined, he rarely threw tantrums like this, but going public was impossible. If her identity was revealed with the Jiang family background, and Jiang Zhi being her nephew, no matter how hard Xiao Linsu worked, people would accuse him of using connections. S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "You signed with Baoguang?" "Yes." Xiao Linsu hugged her, chin resting on her shoulder, lightly rubbing, somewhat unhappy: "Why not come to me?" He had a mixed heritage, distinct features, a blend of oriental delicacy and western sharpness, especially gentle in nature. He had been a top-tier star for years. "Anywhere is the same," Jiang Wei''er let him hold her, smiling softly, "It''s good to avoid suspicion too." His voice was rich and low, "Wei''er, when I win Best Actor, let''s go public." She smiled, gentle and warm: "Okay." Just then, someone called for Linsu. Jiang Wei''er released her hold and pushed him: "Off you go." He kissed her on the cheek. When he had gone far, Jiang Wei''er came out, raising her head to see two familiar faces. One was Xue Baoyi, the tone in his voice extremely annoyed: "Ugh, ugh," his tone very annoyed, "So clingy, Jiang Zhi''s aunt, aren''t you bright-eyed?" Jiang Wei''er ignored him and walked away. "Wei, Wei''er." Xue Bingxue called her anxiously, face flushed red. Jiang Wei''er turned her head: "Hm?" She wore a white long dress, light makeup, and had bangs, looking very much like the quintessential girl-next-door, extremely well-behaved. She never used to wear dresses, never used to wear makeup, Xue Bingxue frowned, speaking softly, "If anyone in the circle bullies you, tell, tell me." The sentence was spoken awkwardly. Damn, they''d grown up together wearing the same trousers, yet he was nervous. Xue Baoyi couldn''t bear to look, snorted, "The Fifth Miss of the Jiang family, Jiang Zhi''s Fifth Aunt, who would dare to bully her?" His gaze roamed over Jiang Wei''er, that white dress was glaring, anger boiling, he sarcastically remarked, "Jiang Wei''er, aren''t you being pathetic? For a man, pulling out the thorns, from a wildflower to a delicate blossom?" She even wore a dress. Before, this girl could kick a two-hundred-pound man. It''s just that the one named Xiao liked delicate types, so this fierce flower pulled out all her thorns, wore a lady''s dress, and mingled in the entertainment industry as an assistant. The more Xue Baoyi thought, the angrier he got: "Where''s your fierceness from before when you could take down three people?" Jiang Wei''er couldn''t stand it anymore, went forward, and kicked him: "Get lost! If you meddle in my business again, I''ll beat you to death!" After kicking him, she ruffled her short hair and walked off. Xue Baoyi, clutching his leg, grimaced in pain. Damn it! He was furious, steam practically coming out of him: "Just arrogant in front of us, acting like a declawed kitten with Xiao Linsu, you''re hopeless!" Xue Bingxue looked pained: "Don''t say that about Wei''er." Xue Baoyi was angry at his uselessness: "You still defend her!" He wanted to poke his silly, sweet uncle''s head, "How did our Xue family produce such a coward? Crushing on her for over ten years, and let someone else steal her, isn''t that embarrassing?" Xue Bingxue was even more sorrowful, head hanging, self-loathing: "Wei''er doesn''t like me." What could he do? Look at this, so pitiful! Xue Baoyi wished he could kick him: "Couldn''t you use some force?!" Xue Bingxue turned bright red, afraid Jiang Wei''er, who hadn''t gone far, would hear and dragged Xue Baoyi to the side, glaring: "Y-you pervert!" Xue Baoyi: "..." This kind of silly sweet, deserved to be snatched! Xue Bingxue was the Xue family''s only child late in life, Jiang Wei''er was the Jiang family''s only daughter late in life, their birthdays were a day apart, personalities one dominant and one submissive, an uncle and a great-aunt, a perfect match by all accounts, except Xue Bingxue, from fourteen to twenty-eight, had secretly loved her for over fourteen years, never daring to hold her hand. So angry. Xue Baoyi, in a fit of rebellion, kicked his uncle and ran off. Outside the director''s lounge. Ah Wan stuck to the door and softly called: "Mr. Jiang." The person inside was half-asleep, voice hoarse, with bubbles: "Sleeping, don''t bother me." If it had been anyone else, Ah Wan wouldn''t have dared to disturb this notoriously cranky person, but he said, "Miss Zhou, the one pasting the film, is here." Chapter 16 - 016 - Do you have a crush on me? Chapter 16: 016: Do you have a crush on me?If it were someone else, Ah Wan definitely wouldn''t disturb this person who is extremely grumpy upon waking up. He said, "Miss Zhou, who installs the screen protector, is here." It was quiet inside for quite a while. The person who had just woken up, rarely seen to be a bit slow to react, sounded drowsy and surprisingly harmless. He said, "The door''s not locked." When Zhou Xufang came in, Jiang Zhi had just put on his coat. When he raised his hand, she happened to see a hint of skin under his black sweater, but it was quickly covered by the sweater. Jiang Zhi glanced at Ah Wan, "Get out, close the door." "Oh." Ah Wan went out, closed the door, and stationed himself at the door of the lounge, pressing his ear against the door, then holding his breath and concentrating. "What do you want from me?" Jiang Zhi sat down, holding a cup of hot water to warm his hands. Having just been woken up, there were still two red marks pressed into his face. This person must be a restless sleeper, Zhou Xufang thought. She put down her black backpack on the ground, "A gift for you, a peace offering." The chicken had pooped on him, and she felt really bad about it. Jiang Zhi''s gaze moved from her face to the bag, "More chickens?" He couldn''t hide the disdain in his eyes. "No, it''s milk." She paused, then added, "Two crates." When she spoke, she was always expressionless, but her tone was always so earnest, giving off a feeling of being both dull and cold. This brand was very expensive. How long would she have to install screen protectors to afford two crates of milk? Strange person. Jiang Zhi put down the cup, stood up from the sofa, and walked to within a meter of her, looking into her eyes. These eyes were beautiful, but looking too deeply into them made one''s heart race. "Zhou Xufang," he called her name for the first time like this. Zhou Xufang looked up, her eyes fixed as she thought that not only was he handsome, but his voice was also pleasant to hear. Jiang Zhi took another step forward, his expression unclear, his eyes deep and unreadable, pitch black. He asked, "Am I good-looking?" Zhou Xufang''s expression froze for a moment. He asked casually, "I asked you, am I good-looking or not?" Why did he ask when he already knew the answer? He was the most handsome person she had ever seen, just as good-looking as her cotton candy box. She wasn''t blind, her eyesight was so good, how could she not see it? She nodded, "Mm, good-looking." Jiang Zhi''s mouth curved slightly. Sure enough, his damned good looks. Ah Wan, that intellectually deficient guy, was right this time. This person was indeed attracted to his looks, which is why she made a series of peculiar moves to get his attention. Nothing unusual about it, he had seen it countless times. He tilted his chin up, in a good mood, and his tone was quite friendly as he said, "Don''t fall in love with me. I''m not interested in women." This person, though strange, was quite interesting. If only she was a guy¡ª "Fine, I won''t fall in love with you." Jiang Zhi was choked by her earnest response; a breath got stuck, his face flushed red, and his lungs hurt. He covered his mouth and started coughing violently, "Cough cough cough cough cough cough cough..." Why was she different from those who pursued him? Shouldn''t she continue to chase him tirelessly after he rejects her? "Cough cough cough cough..." The more he coughed, the more his lungs hurt! Zhou Xufang stood there calmly, with no special expression on her face, and asked, "Are you okay?" Jiang Zhi grabbed the cup by his side and, disregarding the heat, took a big gulp, smoothing his breath. His face was still hot as he looked at her coldly, "Why are you being stubborn? I won''t do anything to you." Zhou Xufang''s expression shifted from being dumb to confused. She wasn''t being stubborn. The cotton candy box, no matter how pretty it was, she would only look at it more; it wouldn''t change anything. It was the same with Jiang Zhi. She liked his appearance but didn''t covet it. She also liked the new chandelier at the porridge shop, and each time she delivered takeout, she would glance at it a few times, but she wouldn''t steal it home. Jiang Zhi was irritated by her expression. He turned his back to her and started undoing his buttons, "You go out. I''m going back to sleep." "Okay." Zhou Xufang just left. Jiang Zhi: "..." Was her IQ the same as Lin Wanwan''s?! He had only napped for a while. After getting back into bed, he couldn''t fall asleep, his whole body felt uncomfortable. His pride was shattered, and his sense of competitiveness and desire to conquer were aroused like never before. How could he sleep? In the afternoon, there were three scenes to shoot. One actress was not in good condition and kept causing NGs. The director was clearly very angry and had a bad temper, directly throwing down the script. "No need to shoot! Adjust your state. If you''re still like this tomorrow, don''t come." The actress apologized profusely with a pale face. Zhou Xufang asked Fang Lixiang, "Who is she?" "You mean Cheng Feiran?" Fang Lixiang was playing Chicken, taking a moment to glance, "An artist from Tianxing. Not very famous, seems to be a newcomer... Damn, this noob, can''t they play?!" When the game ended, Fang Lixiang, inevitably lost, cursed angrily. She encountered an idiot who was not only terrible but also always pretended. In the final duel... that noob actually blew her, his teammate, up. So frustrating! Fang Lixiang took a deep breath and asked Zhou Xufang, "What''s wrong?" She shook her head. Her hearing was too good, and she forgot to bring her noise-canceling earphones today. She just overheard the girl''s phone conversation. "I won''t let you guys off!" "I''ll expose all those dirty tricks." "What am I afraid of? At worst, we''ll both lose." Cheng Feiran. Zhou Xufang had seen her at Fusheng Inn where she was bullied by several men. Because Cheng Feiran had too many NGs, the scene originally scheduled to end by five was shot until seven. Zhou Xufang''s part as an extra was the last one to be filmed. By the time she returned to Yuquan Bay, it was almost eight o''clock. She ordered takeout and sat on the sofa eating cotton candy after removing her shoes. Shuangjiang came online to find her, "There''s a new client." She got up to go to the fridge, not deliberately avoiding the computer''s camera. From the sofa to the fridge, with her speed, it took less than two seconds. Opening the fridge door, she took out a can of milk, "What does the client want me to do?" She didn''t cook and didn''t have a fridge before. But recently, she had taken a liking to the brand of milk that Jiang Zhi drank, so she bought a fridge, and she discovered it tasted better chilled. "The client stored something at Zhu Feng Building and wants us to retrieve it and deliver it to the TV station in seven days, to be received by Zhou Qing." Shuangjiang typed on the computer screen, "The commission is two million." Two million, not bad. Zhou Xufang leaned against the fridge, drinking the milk very seriously, "What about the client?" "I investigated, nothing special, named Cheng Feiran." Cheng Feiran... Her again. "Do you want to take it?" Shuangjiang asked her. She finished the last gulp of milk, crushed the can, and threw it into the trash can with a flick of her wrist, "Take it." On the weekend, Xue Baoyi called out a few friends, saying he had something important to discuss. The big thing was¡ªplaying Chicken with him. This guy had recently gotten addicted to the game and was terrible at it. Qiao Nanchu entered the private room while making a call. "That informant is a bit odd." He talked while tugging off his tie, "Already hired a lawyer, then suddenly withdrew the case." "Check again." He reclined on the sofa, his long legs perched on the coffee table, holding an unlit cigarette, "No need to report it yet, find out the details first." After finishing this talk, he moved to another case. Ten minutes into the call, Xue Baoyi threw a lighter at him, "That''s enough, it''s the weekend, stop talking about work. Get online and help me crush this idiot." Qiao Nanchu hung up and laughed, "How old are you? So childish." Twenty-five, and he still got heated playing games. Xue Baoyi wasn''t convinced, "Damn, that guy called me a noob, should I put up with it?" No way he could endure it, he urged harshly, "Hurry, get on the game and help me thrash him!" Qiao Nanchu snorted, starting the game. Xue Baoyi handed an account to Xue Bingxue and then looked at Jiang Zhi, "Brother Zhi, just need you now." He curled up on the sofa, unmoving, "Tired, don''t want to play." Xue Baoyi went to drag him. sea??h th§× Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He turned away, "Don''t bother me, I''m sleeping!" "..." Damn, he''s just so delicate! Yet this delicate person, lying there doing nothing, occasionally coughing softly, occasionally licking his lips with his red-tipped tongue... as glorious as a peach blossom, such beauty. This fairy! Xue Baoyi kicked the person beside him, "Uncle, call Jiang Zhi''s fifth aunt. She''s great at gaming, let her take over." Xue Bingxue was reluctant, sounding like a little wife, "Don''t bother Wei''er, she posted on her timeline that she''s very busy." "..." Damn, all a bunch of trolls! Xue Baoyi licked his lips, resigned, and opened PUBG. He had made a pact with the guy who called him a noob to battle at ten o''clock. Whoever didn''t show up was a wimp! Ten minutes later... "Nanchu, hurry, hurry! He''s attacking me!" "Uncle, give me a hand." "..." "Help! Come save me!" "..." "I''m going to loot the body!" "There''s an ambush! Damn, Nanchu, Uncle, where are you?" Qiao Nanchu: "..." Xue Bingxue: "..." Xue Baoyi was still screaming, "Nanchu, Nanchu¡ª" Qiao Nanchu kicked him, "Can you shut up? You''re giving me a headache." Just after scolding, his game character fell backward and was killed. "..." Qiao Nanchu choked on his own rage, glaring at Xue Baoyi, "Why the hell did you blow me up?" Xue Baoyi was sweating nervously, "My hand slipped." Damn it! Qiao Nanchu threw his phone aside and, grabbing a pillow, pressed Xue Baoyi down on the sofa and started beating him. Just then, Ah Wan pushed the door open and came in. "Mr. Jiang," he walked forward, "You''re in the headlines." Qiao Nanchu and Xue Baoyi stopped messing around and looked over. Jiang Zhi still had his eyes closed, sleeping, giving no reaction. Xue Baoyi asked, "What''s it about this time?" After all, Jiang Zhi was a big director with such a face, it was common for him to hit the trending headlines. Ah Wan thought for a moment, "It''s kind of a gossip piece." Xue Baoyi got interested, "Oh, Brother Zhi got into a scandal? With whom? Which big star?" "With the screen protector girl," Ah Wan said, "Miss Zhou." Jiang Zhi slowly opened his eyes. Chapter 17: 017: Did Jiang Mei Ren get slapped in the face today? Chapter 17: 017: Did Jiang Mei Ren get slapped in the face today? Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation Jiang Zhi slowly opened his eyes. Ah Wan continued, ¡°Miss Zhou was photographed entering your lounge. The internet is abuzz about your relationship.¡± Those photos were not very clear, but those sharp-eyed could recognize Jiang Zhi. Xue Baoyi asked, ¡°Which media company is behind this?¡± So inconsiderate. Ah Wan replied, ¡°The Lu family.¡± No wonder. Most media companies wouldn¡¯t dare provoke the Jiang family¡¯s young master but the Lu family is different. Both are among the Four Great Families, and the Lu family isn¡¯t far behind the Jiang family. The two families have always been at odds. In this Imperial City, only the Lu family dared to annoy Jiang Zhi. Qiao Nanchu glanced at Jiang Zhi, unsure of what he was pondering, with his delicate eyebrows slightly furrowed. Qiao Nanchu tossed him the tablet: ¡°Those paparazzi act fast. They¡¯ve already found the protagonist.¡± On the screen was an enlarged face, which was Zhou Xufang. Jiang Zhi took a quick glance. A group of reporters surrounded Zhou Xufang at the entrance of the film city. She wore a baseball cap, shielding her face with her hand, eyes full of wariness. ¡°Who are you?¡± Her tone was exceptionally cold, almost chilling. ¡°We are reporters from Huayu Daily.¡± She continued covering her face, with tightly knitted brows indicating her vigilance and hostility, ¡°Why are you following me?¡± A reporter said, ¡°We aren¡¯t following you.¡± She repeated, ¡°Why are you following me?¡± ¡°We want to interview you. What¡¯s your relationship with Director Jiang?¡± She remained silent for a long time before realizing who Director Jiang was. She pushed away the camera: ¡°I¡¯m not very familiar with him.¡± The reporter persisted, ¡°Then why did you come from his¨C¡± She pulled down her hat further, covering her face, only showing a pair of sharp eyes: ¡°Don¡¯t follow me anymore.¡± The reporter tried to approach again. She snatched the camera and smashed it, walking away swiftly, leaving everyone stunned. The video ended there. Jiang Zhi¡¯s peach blossom eyes were half-open, making it hard to discern their color. He seemed angry. After all, the rumors were false. Ah Wan asked for instructions: ¡°Mr. Jiang, should we issue a statement to clarify the rumor?¡± He tossed the tablet onto the coffee table, his expression indifferent and slightly annoyed: ¡°Clarify what?¡± He sat up from the sofa, supporting his chin, his gaze shifting slightly, ¡°The girl said it herself, not familiar.¡± What nonsense about being attracted to his looks. He licked his lips, his throat slightly itchy: ¡°I want chicken soup tomorrow.¡± Ah Wan was stunned, ¡°Huh?¡± How did he suddenly bring up chicken soup? Jiang Zhi¡¯s long lashes lifted, casting a shadow under the light: ¡°That chicken, slaughter it.¡± Not familiar? Why didn¡¯t she say that when she gave him the chicken? ¡°Oh.¡± Ah Wan understood, the employer was angry at Miss Zhou for her remarks, so he was taking it out on an innocent rooster. Jiang Zhi sat up again, flipping the tablet on the coffee table, his eyes misty, joy and anger hidden within: ¡°Slaughter it today.¡± Not familiar? Why didn¡¯t she say that when she complimented his looks? Only serves to annoy people! Ah Wan: ¡°¡­¡± He didn¡¯t know what to say, ¡°Alright.¡± Jiang Zhi lay back on the sofa, closing his eyes, resembling a delicate beauty from ancient times, lazy and sickly. But soon, he started coughing, and the cough grew more severe, reddening his face. Xue Baoyi, having known him for over twenty years, couldn¡¯t fail to see the suppressed anger in him. Quickly, he soothed him, giving a playful smile, ¡°Something¡¯s off, Brother Zhi. Your reaction seems a bit overboard.¡± Rare to see, this reaction, Xue Baoyi gave a mischievous smile, ¡°What, did you fancy that girl?¡± Jiang Zhi slightly furrowed his brows. He detested women. All these years, he never doubted his sexual orientation, but Zhou Xufang was that peculiar existence, so peculiar that she evoked a curiosity towards the opposite sex, even a desire to win, that he had never felt in over twenty years. This realization made him incredibly irritated, extremely irritated. He thought, could it be because her eyes resembled that boy¡¯s, making his heart so unsettled¡­ the more he thought, the more annoyed he became. Jiang Zhi lifted his eyes, ¡°I prefer men.¡± After saying that, he looked at Xue Baoyi, exuding a mildly intoxicated charm without having drunk any alcohol. There it was again, those captivating peach blossom eyes! ¡°Don¡¯t look at me like that.¡± Xue Baoyi leaned back, ¡°I¡¯m straight.¡± Don¡¯t even think about turning him; he has a will of steel, he¡¯d never yield! Jiang Zhi narrowed his eyes: ¡°I¡¯m not desperate.¡± Xue Baoyi: ¡°¡­¡± If it weren¡¯t for the fact that he¡¯s a beauty, he¡¯d have punched him long ago. This interruption completely killed Jiang Zhi¡¯s mood. He grabbed his coat and got up to leave. Just as he exited the private room, he stopped again. Ah Wan quickly stepped forward, unsure of what the capricious employer would do next. ¡°Don¡¯t slaughter it.¡± He said. ¡°Huh?¡± Ah Wan really couldn¡¯t keep up with his employer¡¯s mercurial thoughts. ¡°That chicken.¡± With that, he quickened his pace, and his coughing grew louder. The employer was so fickle. Ah Wan followed, ¡°So, should I keep raising it?¡± It was just a chicken; what exactly was he fussing about? Jiang Zhi lowered his eyes, furrowing his brows, what was wrong with him? Why did that person ignite a fire in his heart, burning with an increasing sense of dissatisfaction? sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The elevator doors opened. He paused for a moment, stepped inside, leaned against the side, eyelashes drooping, shadowed by the light, concealing his emotions. Listening closely, there was a hint of annoyance in his voice: ¡°Let it starve for a few meals first.¡± ¡°¡­¡± How infuriating. Jiang Zhi¡¯s scandal stayed on the trending list for two days, then the buzz was overtaken by a shocking news story in the entertainment industry¡ªa famous actress attempted suicide, leaving a note exposing a major entertainment company¡¯s sex scandal. Tianxing Entertainment was also a top-tier entertainment company in the country and a bitter rival of Xue Baoyi¡¯s Baoguang. Hearing the news, Xue Baoyi was gleeful: ¡°Looks like Tianxing is in for a rough time this time.¡± At the dining table, it was just a few old friends, speaking without any reservations. Qiao Nanchu followed up, ¡°Not necessarily.¡± He had some involvement with the Criminal Investigation Team¡¯s affairs, ¡°The victim had gone to the police just days before to file a case but withdrew it soon after. Someone must have intervened.¡± How could a minor celebrity possibly stand up to a major company? Being stonewalled at every turn without any recourse was the harsh reality. Xue Baoyi poured a small glass of red wine, swirling it: ¡°These bastards, driving someone to suicide.¡± The entertainment circle was like this, using human lives to force out some morality, no one cares unless somebody dies. Just then, Xue Baoyi¡¯s secretary came in, handed him a tablet, explained a few things, and left. There had been new developments in the matter. ¡°Tianxing has moved quickly. Their PR strategy to shift the blame is already out.¡± Xue Baoyi handed the tablet to Jiang Zhi. Cheng Feiran¡¯s suicide attempt had failed. Tianxing Entertainment immediately shifted all the blame back, claiming a certain actress fabricated the story for publicity and announced they would pursue the matter to the end. Jiang Zhi asked for a bowl of soup, sipping leisurely: ¡°Who¡¯s managing Tianxing?¡± ¡°The Luo family is the largest shareholder, so it should be Luo Qinghe managing it.¡± Qiao Nanchu leaned lazily against the back of the chair, ¡°You want to get involved too?¡± He neither confirmed nor denied, ¡°Lack substantial evidence.¡± He only drank half the soup before getting tired of it, ¡°Ah Wan, go check on the actress who attempted suicide at the hospital.¡± ¡°Got it.¡± Since she had no work during the day, Zhou Xufang was at home sleeping, from morning until dusk. Not having eaten all day, she got hungry, went to the fridge to find something to eat, and had just finished a can of milk when Shuangjiang found her. ¡°Xu Fang, Cheng Feiran is in trouble.¡± On the computer screen, a webpage automatically opened, showing the entire Cheng Feiran incident. Zhou Xufang finished watching, tossed the milk can into the trash: ¡°Did they save her?¡± Online information about Cheng Feiran was scarce, summarizing her situation in eight words: ¡°Attempted suicide with unclear intent.¡± She was probably at the end of her rope with no support. Though she didn¡¯t die, public opinion wasn¡¯t on her side. With the webpages filling the screen, Shuangjiang couldn¡¯t type conveniently and used special speech synthesis software to send a synthesized voice over: ¡°She is out of danger but still in the hospital.¡± Zhou Xufang sat in front of the computer, took out her phone, and ordered takeout, ¡°Today is the seventh day.¡± The client had said to hand over the items after seven days, ¡°Send me the recipient¡¯s detailed information.¡± After some rustling noises, a few A4 papers dropped from the printer connected to the computer. Zhou Xufang picked them up. The synthesized voice sounded very mechanical, reading aloud: ¡°Zhou Qingrang, male, News Broadcast host, 37 years old.¡± This person was Cheng Feiran¡¯s last lifeline. Zhou Xufang looked at the information on the paper, flipping through page by page: ¡°Is he reliable?¡± Shuangjiang didn¡¯t answer, instead asked, ¡°Xu Fang, are you planning something?¡± Aside from matters within the scope of their commission, they never interfered with other related matters. She had a feeling that Zhou Xufang would make an exception this time. ¡°Cheng Feiran didn¡¯t lie. Those people are bad.¡± Zhou Xufang only fought, never cursed, but she had to curse this time, ¡°They¡¯re beasts!¡± Beasts¡­ Shuangjiang let her be: ¡°Okay, I understand. I¡¯ll help you.¡± She added, ¡°I¡¯ve already sent all the information on Zhou Qingrang to you. He should be reliable. He has a grudge against the Luo family behind Tianxing Entertainment. He will definitely make Cheng Feiran¡¯s evidence public.¡± The commission Cheng Feiran gave them was a video of forced sexual entertainment, substantial evidence of the incident. She probably knew she would have no way to seek justice and anticipated that Tianxing Entertainment would not let her go, so she transferred the evidence in advance. Zhou Xufang looked at the photo on the A4 paper: ¡°He looks very young.¡± At thirty-seven, nearing the age of not being easily swayed by desires, perhaps because of his pale complexion, he looked extremely young, with handsome and elegant features, but his eyes were indifferent, lacking in warmth. ¡°Zhou Qingrang had been in a coma for fifteen years. He was hospitalized at fourteen due to a car accident, losing one leg and nearly disabling the other. Doctors diagnosed him as a vegetative state, and he woke up at twenty-nine.¡± The synthesized voice sighed, ¡°What karma did the Luo family bring upon themselves?¡± Should have been a graceful young man, but he was crippled. Fifteen years, from youth to adulthood, the best years of a boy were all buried in the hospital. Zhou Xufang touched the brows and eyes on the photo: ¡°He also has the surname Zhou.¡± Yes, also a Zhou. Zhou Qingrang, a name that sounded elegant and pure. Chapter 18: 018: Professional Errand Runner—Zhou Xufang Chapter 18: 018: Professional Errand Runner¡ªZhou Xufang Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation Monday, a light drizzle fell continuously, mixed with mist in the winter wind, damp and bone-chilling. The cold spell had lasted for several days; winter was approaching. 7:30, the news broadcast ended. At eight, Tang Ying packed up her things and knocked on the door of the adjacent lounge. ¡°Come in,¡± came the response. Perhaps due to her profession, her first attention was always on voices. In the entire TV station, his voice was the best. Tang Ying pushed open the door but did not enter recklessly, remaining at the doorway: ¡°Senior Brother, I¡¯ll take you home.¡± Her senior brother, Zhou Qingrang, was the only person at the TV station who had taken less than three years to sit in the news broadcast host¡¯s seat. He had already changed out of his suit and into a heavy coat, sitting upright in a wheelchair: ¡°No need.¡± Outside, lights illuminated every household, yet he always seemed devoid of any earthly essence. He was born with a graceful and elegant appearance, reminiscent of figures in old paintings; not rendered with vibrant strokes, but with the delicate and restrained touch of ink wash, drawn with exquisite details. He was not young anymore; there were faint fine lines at the corners of his eyes. He didn¡¯t like to smile or talk, always keeping to himself. His temper was good, very gentle, but beyond work, he was not familiar with anyone. His legs were not in good condition; his left leg was amputated, and he had a prosthetic fitted three years ago. His right leg had undergone surgery, with the steel nails yet to be removed, so he rarely stood up. Though he used a wheelchair, he never troubled anyone. On his wheelchair, there was a pair of crutches that he rarely used. Tang Ying had seen him using them; he bent over, struggling with the crutches, taking very slow, deliberate steps. ¡°Let me take you home,¡± she insisted, sweeping her hair behind her ear, ¡°It¡¯s raining outside, the roads are slippery.¡± He just shook his head, saying nothing more. One must endure countless hardships to reach such inner peace. Tang Ying stood at the doorway for a long while before leaving. She next saw him at the entrance of the TV station. His wheelchair was at the top of the steps, and the security guard approached to offer help. He declined, picked up the crutches on his wheelchair, and with effort, stood up, using just one crutch and lifting the wheelchair with the other hand, descending the steps one by one. Due to the exertion, the veins on the back of his hand stood out visibly. The street lamps cast a diffuse light on the wet ground, blurring the edges of shadows; there was mist and water everywhere. His residence was not far from the TV station. After placing the wheelchair down, he sat and slowly began to push himself home. The distance was short, but there was an uphill section on the way home. The rain made the road slippery, and halfway up the slope, the wheelchair slid backwards. A hand stopped the sliding wheelchair from behind. Zhou Qingrang turned around. Against the light, he couldn¡¯t see the person¡¯s face, only that she was dressed in black. ¡°Thank you,¡± he said. She helped him push the wheelchair to the top of the slope: ¡°No need to thank me.¡± She was a young girl. He thanked her again, gripped the rear wheel, and moved away. It was him. Zhou Xufang stood in place for a long time before wearing her wireless headset: ¡°Cut off the surveillance at Haitang Bay for me.¡± In the headset, an artificial voice, mechanical, and efficient, asked: ¡°What are you going to do?¡± She evaded the question: ¡°His leg is in bad shape.¡± From several meters away, she followed Zhou Qingrang, putting on a jacket, hat, and mask she took out from her backpack as she walked. ¡°If his leg is in bad shape, I have to help him to the end.¡± Shuangjiang didn¡¯t ask more questions: ¡°I understand.¡± In less than half a minute, Shuangjiang¡¯s synthesized voice came through her headset again: ¡°Haitang Bay is only eight hundred meters from the TV station, with four cameras along the way. I have sent interference; you have five minutes.¡± ¡°Got it.¡± She pressed down the brim of her hat and leaped onto the rooftop. Because the road was slippery, what usually took ten minutes took Zhou Qingrang twenty. The night watchman, Lao Ji, was smoking outside the community. When he saw someone approaching, he put out his cigarette, ¡°Mr. Zhou is back.¡± Zhou Qingrang nodded. Lao Ji, in his sixties, had just graduated from the pharmaceutical factory in the first half of the year: ¡°There is a package for you in the security office; it requires your personal signature.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°Let me push you there.¡± He did not refuse: ¡°Sorry to trouble you.¡± ¡°Not at all.¡± Zhou Xufang stood on the opposite side of the road, watching the wheelchair enter the community. ¡°Xu Fang, there¡¯s a situation.¡± Zhou Xufang glanced at the height of the community fence. In the headset, Shuangjiang said: ¡°Thirty meters north of the main gate of Haitang Bay, there are two groups of people. One group is Tianxing¡¯s men, the identity of the other group is currently unknown. Every elevator entrance and emergency exit in building nine is being watched.¡± Zhou Qingrang lived in building nine. They had just delivered something to him, and now people were already looking for him. ¡°What now?¡± Shuangjiang asked for Zhou Xufang¡¯s input. She gauged the height, took a step back, bent down, and leaped over the fence: ¡°No choice left,¡± she straightened up, wiped the rainwater from her hands, and took out a pair of black gloves from her coat pocket, ¡°just have to fight.¡± At the entrance of building nine. A man walked out from behind the door: ¡°Younger Luo, Zhou Qingrang has gone upstairs.¡± The shadow on the ground was robust. The man wore a black suit, and had a square face with deep eye sockets. In the headset, a woman¡¯s voice said, ¡°Don¡¯t alert the enemy, first confirm if the item is with him.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± Suddenly, a shadow flashed past the man¡¯s eyes, making him immediately turn around, ¡°Who goes there?!¡± There was no one behind him, nor any sound. The voice-activated lights on this floor had been tampered with, providing only faint light from the basement floor. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°It¡¯s noth¡ª¡± Before the man could finish his sentence, his neck was grabbed. He looked up sharply, his pupils contracting: ¡°You, you, are¡ª¡± The person wore a mask, with a face no bigger than the man¡¯s palm, and at her feet were a pair of small-sized canvas shoes. It was a woman. When did she get in front of him? The man tried to open his mouth, but the hand on his neck tightened. She ripped off his wireless headset and said into it, ¡°No matter who you are, stop troubling Zhou Qingrang.¡± Having said this, she smashed the headset to the ground, stepping on it to crush it, then raised her head and released her grip. The man stumbled backwards a couple of steps, rubbing his neck, ¡°Who are you?¡± Who? On her black jacket, at the position of the arm, there was an embroidered letter¡ªZ. The man was dumbfounded: ¡°You, are¡ª¡± She took a step back, leapt up, her left foot touching the wall, and her right leg struck the man¡¯s neck sideways. She lowered her foot slightly, and he collapsed to the ground. His eyes rolled back as he passed out. Zhou Xufang straightened her hat and went up to the second floor. Several cars were parked by the roadside opposite Haitang Bay. At the front was a black Bentley, with the window half-open. The man in the passenger seat was on the phone. He sounded respectful: ¡°Younger Luo.¡± Old Mr. Luo had not been well for years. His eldest son was incompetent, his second son deceased. The Luo family was currently managed by his eldest granddaughter, Luo Qinghe, whom the company employees all referred to as Younger Luo. ¡°Secretary Han.¡± ¡°Yes, ma¡¯am.¡± ¡°If we can¡¯t obtain the item, do you know what to do next?¡± Han Feng, Luo Qinghe¡¯s secretary, had been with her for three years and understood her thoughts clearly: ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t make another mistake, the consequences will be severe.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± Luo Qinghe hung up the phone. Han Feng put on his headset and called out a few times. Receiving no response for some time, he got out of the car, seeing someone running out from the underground parking lot, looking panicked. It was one of the men he had sent. Han Feng walked over: ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± The man was drenched in sweat, looking around in a daze, and stammered, trembling: ¡°That¡­ that woman¡­ in the blink of an eye, she went upstairs¡­ like, like a female ghost.¡± Female ghost? Han Feng sneered, kicking the man¡¯s shin: ¡°Idiot, so many of you couldn¡¯t deal with a cripple.¡± He turned and instructed those in a few other cars, ¡°You all go in, use any means necessary, but get the item.¡± No sooner had he finished speaking than someone walked out from behind the streetlight. ¡°What item?¡± Han Feng looked up, hesitating for a moment: ¡°Mr. Qiao.¡± The Qiao family¡¯s young master, Qiao Nanchu. The rain had lessened. He didn¡¯t use an umbrella, leaning against the streetlight, his hair covered in a layer of mist. His eyebrows and eyes were sharp: ¡°You recognize me.¡± Mr. Qiao¡¯s grandfather¡¯s favorite grandson. Who in the Imperial City didn¡¯t recognize him? ¡°If you recognize me, you should know what I do, right?¡± Speaking this to himself, he didn¡¯t wait for an answer. He took out his phone and dialed a number, ¡°Mr. Cheng, some people here look very suspicious. Could you come over?¡± The Qiao family employed a large number of police officers. Han Feng remained calm: ¡°What does Mr. Qiao mean by this?¡± ¡°My childhood friend, Jiang Zhi, heard of him?¡± He pointed to a car not far away, ¡°He just had a twelve-million-yuan watch stolen and is catching the thief.¡± sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 19: 019: He smelled the milky scent on her. Chapter 19: 019: He smelled the milky scent on her. Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation ¡°He just had a watch worth twelve million stolen, and he¡¯s catching the thief now.¡± Han Feng had a cold face and a temper, ¡°We didn¡¯t steal it.¡± Qiao Nanchu pulled out a cigarette and lit it, ¡°Who knows.¡± About ten minutes later, Mr. Cheng from the Criminal Investigation Team arrived and detained Han Feng and his group. Qiao Nanchu wasn¡¯t part of the Criminal Investigation Team, so he just watched from the side, smoked two cigarettes, and was in a good mood when he said to Mr. Cheng, ¡°I suspect they hid the stolen goods in the car.¡± Mr. Cheng¡¯s direct superior was Qiao Nanchu¡¯s cousin-in-law. To be honest, Mr. Cheng still didn¡¯t understand what this young master was up to, but he had to give him face, ¡°Tow the car away too.¡± Just like that, both the people and the car were taken to the station. Additionally, Mr. Cheng left a team at the scene to continue the search. Qiao Nanchu stubbed out his cigarette, crossed the street, and knocked on Jiang Zhi¡¯s car window. ¡°Hand over the stolen goods.¡± Jiang Zhi took off the watch from his wrist and threw it to him. Qiao Nanchu weighed it in his hand, playing with it, ¡°The Luo Family wouldn¡¯t get involved personally. It¡¯s Han Feng who¡¯s covering for them. Mr. Cheng¡¯s team is already checking inside the community. If Han Feng has the goods, the police can find them. If not, then it¡¯s still with Zhou Qingrang.¡± Anyway, as long as it didn¡¯t fall into the hands of the Luo Family, the goal was accomplished. Jiang Zhi disliked the Luo Family and just wanted to stir up some trouble for them, which was why he came to cause some chaos. Qiao Nanchu looked at Jiang Zhi, ¡°Aren¡¯t you going back?¡± He answered irrelevantly, ¡°Zhou Qingrang¡¯s legs don¡¯t work?¡± ¡°Almost, he had one amputated, and the other one¡¯s almost useless too.¡± He either had to use a wheelchair or crutches. His legs were practically useless. Jiang Zhi got out of the car. ¡°What else do you want to do?¡± ¡°That sickly guy can¡¯t beat the Luo Family.¡± If the evidence from the Cheng Feiran incident was still in Zhou Qingrang¡¯s hands and hadn¡¯t been made public yet, the Luo Family wouldn¡¯t miss out on trying to snatch it. Qiao Nanchu found it funny, ¡°Aren¡¯t you a sickly guy too?¡± Jiang Zhi took a woolen black coat from the car and draped it over himself, ¡°Mm, I¡¯m going in to visit a fellow patient.¡± Qiao Nanchu, ¡°¡­¡± Visit my ass! Luo Qinghe had just found out about Zhou Qingrang from Cheng Feiran, and Jiang Zhi followed right after, clearly wanting to mess with the Luo Family and make things difficult for her. The evidence in Zhou Qingrang¡¯s hands couldn¡¯t fall back into the hands of the Luo Family, right? Qiao Nanchu was going to follow, but the Intelligence Department called him with a major case, so he answered the call outside first. The elevator was sealed, with police officers guarding all exits. Ah Wan walked in front, and the voice-activated lights were broken, making it so dark the path was barely visible. Upon reaching the first floor, he discovered someone fainted on the ground and immediately took a defensive stance, ¡°Boss, don¡¯t go up, something¡¯s wrong.¡± It was someone sent by the Luo Family. Who knocked him out? Zhou Qingrang, like his employer, was also a sickly person. Oh, by the way, Ah Wan recently started calling him boss. Because his IQ wasn¡¯t high, his employer showed him extreme disdain. He felt he needed to reinvent himself to showcase his extraordinary abilities to his employer. Jiang Zhi glanced at the person on the ground. Eager to prove himself, Ah Wan immediately stepped forward and said bravely, ¡°Boss, stay behind. I¡¯ll clear the way for you.¡± He wanted to see who else besides the sworn enemies of the Luo Family! Just as Ah Wan finished speaking, a shadow flashed behind him. He turned his head immediately, but it was too late, as a foot swung towards him and struck his waist directly. With a thud, Ah Wan fell flat on the ground. ¡°¡­¡± His supposed invincibility¡­ Damn! He supported himself to get up, but his waist hurt too much, and with another thud, he fell again. ¡°¡­¡± Which path are they from, with such strength? Ah Wan, who never had a temper, was also angry now, ¡°Who the hell are you? Sneaking attacks like a coward!¡± This coward! This voice¡­ Zhou Xufang was stunned. Suddenly, a beam of light shone over. Jiang Zhi held his phone, moving the light beam to scan her face, arms, and the letters on her jacket. ¡°It¡¯s you again.¡± He laughed. Enemies meet on a narrow path. Zhou Xufang raised her hand to block the light from the phone. Taking advantage of her distraction, Ah Wan suddenly jumped up and swung a punch at her. She almost instinctively countered by twisting Ah Wan¡¯s wrist, causing a cracking sound, making him yelp in pain. She immediately let go. Ah Wan took the opportunity to punch her shoulder. Fang Lixiang had mentioned that Ah Wan was once a boxing athlete, having won a national youth boxing championship in his early years. If he hadn¡¯t strayed into robbery, he might have been a world champion by now. He was very strong, and Zhou Xufang was forced to take several steps back after being punched. What should she do? Should she fight him? Zhou Xufang frowned. ¡°Ah Wan.¡± Jiang Zhi shone the phone light at him. Ah Wan got the message and withdrew. ¡°The police are outside,¡± Jiang Zhi walked forward, shining the phone¡¯s flashlight right in her face, ¡°Take off your mask, and I¡¯ll let them release you.¡± She stayed silent. He approached and reached out to remove it. ¡°Boss¡ª¡± She grabbed him and pinned him against the wall. With a crash, the phone fell to the ground, and the blingbling screen protector Xue Baoyi had bought shattered. ¡°Cough cough cough¡­¡± His breathing became heavy instantly, his lips turned pale, and his face flushed. Ah Wan shouted, ¡°Scum, let go of my boss!¡± Jiang Zhi, ¡°¡­¡± Zhou Xufang, ¡°¡­¡± That shout of ¡®scum¡¯ did a fantastic job of diverting attention, and Ah Wan took this chance to punch at the ¡®scum¡¯s¡¯ neck, pulling his knockout move, just like always¨C The ¡®scum¡¯ didn¡¯t even turn his head, kicking sideways so fast it was a blur, hitting Ah Wan squarely in the waist and abdomen, the force making his internal organs shake. Can¡¯t you kick somewhere else?! Ah Wan felt his waist go numb and fell backward. This ¡®scum¡¯ was a martial arts master¡­ he tilted his head and passed out completely. Did she kick too hard? She only used one-tenth of her strength, Zhou Xufang frowned even more. ¡°Trying to kidnap me again?¡± Jiang Zhi was staring at her. The light was dim, but his gaze seemed to light a fire, glowing intensely. Afraid he would see through her, she covered his eyes with her palm, pressing her elbow against his shoulder, lowering her voice, ¡°I¡¯ll be gentle.¡± I¡¯ll be gentle¡ªone of the scum¡¯s iconic lines. Jiang Zhi, ¡°¡­ If you touch me one more time, I¡¯ll¡ª¡± She raised her hand, chopping at his neck. His body went limp and he passed out, sliding down. Zhou Xufang instinctively hugged his waist, supporting him against the wall, muttering, ¡°I¡¯m not a scum.¡± She felt a bit sad, being misunderstood. She put him down, squatted for a while, then stood up, turned around, and started upstairs. She came back again, took off Ah Wan¡¯s coat, and put it on Jiang Zhi. His body was weak, he couldn¡¯t catch a cold. She squatted there, looked at him for a moment, heard footsteps downstairs, then left, heading straight to the rooftop. The police sirens blared downstairs, and she jumped to the opposite building. Ten minutes later, the door to apartment 904 of building nine was knocked on. ¡°Knock, knock.¡± Someone inside opened the door, ¡°May I help you?¡± Mr. Cheng flashed his police badge, ¡°We are the police.¡± Zhou Qingrang leaned on crutches, leaning against the wall with some difficulty, ¡°Is something the matter?¡± ¡°This complex has seen both thieves and robbers. Mr. Zhou, have you noticed anything unusual?¡± It was Young Master Qiao who gave the heads-up; Zhou Qingrang needed to be watched closely, not even a fly could escape. Zhou Qingrang said no. He looked normal, apparently unaware of all the troubles outside. ¡°Our officers will be stationed outside tonight. If you notice anything, just call us.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± Mr. Cheng said ¡®sorry for the disturbance¡¯ and turned to make arrangements. Zhou Qingrang closed the door, pushed his wheelchair to the bedroom, took the USB drive from the computer, and held it in his palm. Who sent this thing? Who was helping him? sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Nearly midnight, Xue Baoyi was having a blast at a night club when Qiao Nanchu called him to the hospital, saying Jiang Zhi had fainted again. ¡°Brother Zhi.¡± ¡°Brother Zhi.¡± Jiang Zhi¡¯s eyelashes fluttered and he opened his eyes. Xue Baoyi sat by the bed, peeling a banana, ¡°Finally awake.¡± He grinned, ¡°You delicate beauty, going to the hospital every other day, almost killing me with worry, scared you¡¯d kick the bucket.¡± Jiang Zhi propped himself up to sit. Xue Baoyi quickly supported him. ¡°How¡¯s Zhou Qingrang?¡± Xue Baoyi heard about it from Qiao Nanchu, ¡°Nothing happened. Nanchu has the Criminal Investigation Team guarding him. Don¡¯t worry, they won¡¯t get what he has.¡± Hearing Jiang Zhi still coughing, he threw the banana away and helped him breathe easier, ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you? That professional errand runner is like your nemesis, sending you to the hospital again.¡± Jiang Zhi kept a cold face, saying nothing. Qiao Nanchu came over, followed by Ah Wan, wrapped in bandages around his waist and looking like he was breathing more than living, such a big guy, almost six feet three, two hundred pounds, so frail. ¡°Awake?¡± Jiang Zhi leaned against the bed weakly, in bad shape. Qiao Nanchu asked, ¡°Did you find anything new this time? What¡¯s special about that Z?¡± The second confrontation, and they still didn¡¯t get much, and couldn¡¯t trace it back. Jiang Zhi thought deeply for a while, looking weary with dark circles under his eyes, ¡°The light was too dim to see clearly, and the voice was disguised, but,¡± ¡°But what?¡± He thought for a moment, ¡°She has a scent.¡± Qiao Nanchu thought he heard wrong, ¡°What scent?¡± Jiang Zhi was sure, ¡°Milk.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Someone the police had been chasing for years without a clue, a professional fighter who could take down over a dozen trained individuals¡­ had a milk scent? Jiang Zhi coughed, caught his breath, ¡°It smells just like the milk I drink.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Qiao Nanchu had nothing to say. Chapter 20: 020: Zhou Xufang also has weaknesses Chapter 20: 020: Zhou Xufang also has weaknesses S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation Ah Wan spoke up at this moment, ¡°Mr. Qiao.¡± He sniffled, having caught a bit of a cold from being out in the cold. ¡°What did you find out, Ah Wan?¡± Ah Wan looked at his employer cautiously and said, ¡°That Z seems to have taken a liking to my boss.¡± He might even be a scum. The latter part, he thought it better to say in private. Qiao Nanchu glanced at Jiang Zhi and laughed, ¡°How so?¡± Speaking of this matter, Ah Wan was a bit angry, ¡°She actually stripped my clothes off and put them on my boss.¡± This errand runner turns out to be a looks-obsessed dog, utterly contemptible! Just then, his employer¡¯s cold gaze shot over. Due to being sick, a hidden anger colored his cheeks peachy. ¡°Get out.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Ah Wan left the ward, full of worries. At midnight, the clouds dispersed, and a sliver of the moon appeared, faintly visible. Zhou Xufang returned to Yuquan Bay, changed clothes, and after applying medication, grabbed two cans of milk from the fridge. On the computer screen, SpongeBob¡¯s avatar from Shuangjiang was flashing. ¡°Is the injury on your shoulder serious?¡± Zhou Xufang pressed her shoulder and moved it a bit, ¡°It¡¯s already healed.¡± Not on a mission, Shuangjiang didn¡¯t use voice software but typed instead, ¡°You should still apply some medicine.¡± ¡°I did.¡± She pulled the tab on the milk can, ¡°Used two bottles of medicinal wine.¡± Her healing ability was more than eighty times faster than the average person, ordinary medicine didn¡¯t work for her; where others might take one pill for a cold, she¡¯d need half a bowl. ¡°Ah Fang,¡± after a long pause, text rolled out on the computer, ¡°do you have any weaknesses?¡± She took a sip of milk, ¡°Yes.¡± Shuangjiang didn¡¯t ask what they were, sending several warning icons instead, ¡°Don¡¯t tell me, don¡¯t tell anyone. No one should know.¡± ¡°Got it.¡± Her self-healing ability was too exceptional, with her unique constitution, if the medical community found out, peace would never be hers again¡­ The milk was tasty, but one can was too little; she opened another. ¡°I placed a micro-monitor with Zhou Qingrang, and the police are there. Tianxing Entertainment probably won¡¯t dare to go again. We shouldn¡¯t intervene for now; I fear it¡¯s not safe.¡± Shuangjiang reminded her, ¡°The Criminal Intelligence Department has their eyes on you.¡± Zhou Xufang nodded, drinking milk and eating cotton candy. She was in a good mood, legs swinging, pink bunny slippers on her feet shaking under the table. Shuangjiang suddenly remembered something, ¡°Who was that person you encountered at the scene?¡± ¡°He is Jiang Zhi.¡± Jiang Zhi? Shuangjiang had some impression of him and knew Zhou Xufang had seen him again after tying him up, ¡°Are you well acquainted with him?¡± Zhou Xufang put down the cotton candy box, finding this brand too sweet compared to the one she used to like. She said, ¡°Not very familiar.¡± Then finished another can of milk, ¡°But he¡¯s very good-looking.¡± Shuangjiang sent a screen full of smiley faces, ¡°Ah Fang, if you ever have someone special, will you take them to Moon Bay to live with you?¡± Someone special? The island had nothing; someone special would be hard to take care of. So Zhou Xufang decided, ¡°I¡¯ll just take a dog.¡± Moon Bay was a deserted island abroad, reputed to be the closest place to the moon, surrounded by the sea. Zhou Xufang planned to save enough money to buy it and live there alone. It had land and water, quite suitable for her as she could live on both land and water. The city was too unsafe for her unique constitution. She could keep a dog on the island, maybe chickens and ducks. Keeping people might be difficult. ¡°Someone is tracking my IP; I¡¯m logging off,¡± said Shuangjiang. ¡°Okay.¡± At the Criminal Intelligence Department, the lights were still on. It was already late, and a few technicians were still at work because of the Tianxing Entertainment case. ¡°Captain Qiao,¡± Yu Fang nudged his glasses up his nose, ¡°found the address.¡± Qiao Nanchu walked to his computer, ¡°Where?¡± ¡°Jiangfeng Mansion, seven buildings, unit 208.¡± Qiao Nanchu smiled, drew a cigarette from the pack on the desk, pulled up a chair, sat down, lit it, and took a puff. Under the light, his disheveled hair looked somewhat despondent, ¡°Jiangfeng Mansion, seven buildings, unit 208.¡± He licked his lips, ¡°That¡¯s my place.¡± Technician Yu Fang: ¡°¡­¡± Fooled by Shuangjiang again! Nearing one in the morning, Qiao Nanchu finally returned to Jiangfeng Mansion. The gate guard who had been dozing in the security room woke up at the sound of a car and helped open the gate, ¡°Mr. Qiao, just now getting back?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± He got out of the police car, said a few words to his colleague inside, holding a cigarette between his fingers, waved, and entered the villa area. ¡°Oh, by the way.¡± The guard suddenly remembered something, ¡°The girl who came to see you last week came by again this morning.¡± Qiao Nanchu stubbed out his cigarette, ¡°Did she leave any message?¡± ¡°No, just left a box of eggs.¡± The guard went back to the security room and brought out the box of eggs, ¡°Said they were free-range eggs from home.¡± There was also an envelope stuck on the box. Qiao Nanchu took the envelope off, inside was a piece of old-timey stationery. He unfolded it; there were only three lines, written in neat, elegant handwriting. ¡°Dear Mr. Qiao, Hoping you are in good health and everything goes well. Respectfully, younger generation.¡± Respectfully? Qiao Nanchu gritted his teeth, smiling. ¡°Mr. Qiao, is she your girlfriend?¡± The security guard had worked at Jiangfeng Mansion for years and had never seen Mr. Qiao bring a woman home. Mr. Qiao looked handsome and drove expensive cars. Many single women in the mansion had an interest in him, but he never talked to them, so they thought he must have someone. ¡°Not a girlfriend.¡± Qiao Nanchu tossed the letter back into the box of eggs, ¡°A student I¡¯m sponsoring.¡± The next day. Early in the morning, Ah Wan arrived at the ward with soup. The employer had just woken up. Apparently, he didn¡¯t sleep well; his face wasn¡¯t looking good, and he seemed sluggish. Ah Wan put down the thermos and saw the phone on the table. ¡°Boss, the screen protector on your phone is cracked.¡± Ah Wan, with a bit of a cold, thinking the employer¡¯s health wasn¡¯t good, wore a mask to avoid spreading germs, ¡°Shall I replace it for you?¡± ¡°Leave it be.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Ah Wan¡¯s back ached too, injured last night, and the pain was unbearable this morning. He pulled up a chair and opened the thermos lid. Jiang Zhi wrinkled his nose at the smell, ¡°Chicken soup?¡± ¡°Yes, yes.¡± Truly, he wasn¡¯t fishing for compliments, ¡°My mom knew you were hospitalized, so she got up early to make it with lots of medicinal herbs. It¡¯s very nourishing, not greasy at all. I had some this morning.¡± He only had a little; his mom wouldn¡¯t let him drink much of it. Ever since Jiang Zhi paid for his mother¡¯s kidney transplant two years ago, she treated Jiang Zhi like a real son, saving all the best foods for him. Knowing Jiang Zhi was hospitalized, his mom scolded him for half an hour last night, calling him useless for not being able to protect Jiang Zhi. She even called him a big, dumb brute. He suspected he might have been adopted. ¡°You guys killed that chicken?¡± Jiang Zhi¡¯s sleepy eyes lost their murkiness, gaining a touch of sharpness. Ah Wan explained, ¡°No, my mom bought an old hen.¡± Jiang Zhi responded with a hum, lifted his delicate hand, very genteel, ¡°Serve me a bowl, just the broth, no meat, not even a bit.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± In the evening, Jiang Zhi was discharged. Ah Wan came to pick him up. Maybe because of the previous night¡¯s events, Jiang Zhi hadn¡¯t been very friendly to him, a trace of displeasure on his face, changing like smoke, flaring up unpredictably¡ªsometimes bright, sometimes dark. The car pulled up under Ba Yi Bridge. The person in the backseat, who had been resting with his eyes closed, opened them, ¡°Find a place to park.¡± Ah Wan parked the car, the motion making his back ache, ¡°You need something, I¡¯ll get it for you.¡± ¡°Wait in the car.¡± Leaving the words behind, Jiang Zhi got out. At this time, under Ba Yi Bridge, stalls were set up with all sorts of things for sale. The opposite park was blaring dance music, making his head throb. Jiang Zhi walked and frowned, paused, suddenly realizing why he came here. Rubbing the crack on his phone screen with his thumb, he remembered he was only here to get the screen protector replaced. He walked to a stall, ¡°Where is Zhou Xufang¡¯s stall?¡± The spot where Zhou Xufang usually set up was occupied by a man in his forties, eating fried noodles, who looked up. Two slightly curved brows, a pair of eyes full of complex emotions¡­ Damn! A man who looked stunningly beautiful. The man looked twice, ¡°Who¡¯s Zhou Xufang?¡± There were many passersby under the bridge, jostling, with many snack stalls along the way, the air filled with mixed smells. Jiang Zhi took out a handkerchief, covering his nose and mouth, coughed twice, walked to a less crowded area, ¡°The woman in black, always wearing a hat, who sells screen protectors here.¡± The man noticed his fine clothes and polite speech, ¡°The people setting up stalls here change daily; I don¡¯t know who you mean.¡± With the black silk handkerchief against his face, Jiang Zhi¡¯s skin looked very white. Clearly unaccustomed to the noise and mess, his cheeks were rosy, his breath slightly uneven, ¡°The woman, always in black, wearing a hat.¡± The man took a bite of his noodles, ¡°Oh, I know who you mean. She¡¯s not here today.¡± ¡°Why isn¡¯t she here?¡± ¡°How would I know, we¡¯re rivals, not friends.¡± Looking at this man, clearly someone important, the man asked, ¡°Why are you looking for her?¡± At this moment, a small child bumped into Jiang Zhi. He immediately frowned, showing disgust. The child got scared and ran off. He looked displeased, ¡°I need a screen protector.¡± The man eagerly put down his noodles, ¡°I do screen protectors too, any kind!¡± Believing the other man to be rich, and assuming rich people never had small change, with a favorite phrase of ¡°keep the change.¡± Opportunity knocking! Smiling broadly, ¡°Do you want a screen protector? Free phone case with it.¡± No response. More persuasively, ¡°She charges twenty, I only charge fifteen.¡± Seeing the man turning to leave, the man slapped his thigh, ¡°Ten! Ten for a protector! Final offer!¡± ¡°No.¡± Damn! Instantly the man¡¯s demeanor changed, ¡°You¡¯re crazy!¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± Chapter 21: 021: Ah Fang’s background (Luo Family relationships, see postscript) Chapter 21: 021: Ah Fang¡¯s background (Luo Family relationships, see postscript) Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation Zhou Xufang did not set up her stall selling screen protectors today; she went to the TV station to deliver food. There were fifteen minutes left before the live broadcast began, and the backstage crew was ready. Tang Ying had finished her makeup and sent her assistant away. ¡°Brother, do you really have to do this?¡± Zhou Qingrang was reading a news script. ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°The station head¡ª¡± He put down the script. His fingers, white and slender, slowly buttoned up his suit one by one. ¡°You just cooperate with me. I¡¯ll handle the rest.¡± She had never seen him so stubborn. Tang Ying said no more. The assistant, Xiao Xing, came and knocked on the door. ¡°Mr. Zhou, there¡¯s a Miss Luo here to see you.¡± Before joining the TV station, Zhou Qingrang had been a teacher in the broadcasting department for half a year. Most people at the station called him Mr. Zhou. Tang Ying glanced at the time. ¡°There are still fifteen minutes until the live broadcast.¡± ¡°You go prepare first.¡± Zhou Qingrang pushed his wheelchair out of the break room. The person who had come was the Luo family¡¯s eldest granddaughter, Luo Qinghe. ¡°Long time no see.¡± She put down her teacup, stood up from the sofa, and called out, ¡°Uncle.¡± Uncle? The assistant at the door was stunned. Mr. Zhou and the Luo family were relatives? Click. Zhou Qingrang closed the door, looked up, his eyes cold and clear. ¡°You used to call me a beggar.¡± Luo Qinghe¡¯s smile remained unchanged as she stood up and exhibited perfect junior etiquette. ¡°I was young then, and spoke silly words. I hope Uncle can forgive me.¡± ¡°You¡¯re much like your father.¡± Zhou Qingrang placed his hands on the wheelchair armrests, tightening his grip. ¡°Just as hypocritical.¡± The smile on Luo Qinghe¡¯s face faded. ¡°Zhou Qingrang,¡± she sat down, the slant of her monolid eyes slightly raised, ¡°I respect you, but why are you refusing a toast only to drink a forfeit?¡± Zhou Qingrang ignored her, raising his hand to check the time. ¡°Ten more minutes until seven.¡± Seven o¡¯clock, the news broadcast. His stance was clear¡ªhe wasn¡¯t swayed by either hard or soft tactics. Luo Qinghe smiled, pulling out a lighter. With her red lips and white teeth biting a cigarette, she lit it unhurriedly. ¡°If I were you, I would know when to stop. Fighting against a rock with an egg is foolish.¡± Zhou Qingrang lowered his head, arranging the thin blanket on his knees. His crippled legs were stiff and numb. Throughout, he remained calm and composed. ¡°If it were just fighting against a rock with an egg, you wouldn¡¯t be here today.¡± Luo Qinghe was not surprised as she arrogantly tipped her chin up. ¡°Are you going to fight our Luo family to the end?¡± He neither confirmed nor denied it. Luo Qinghe stubbed out her barely smoked ladies¡¯ cigarette in the ashtray. ¡°Fine. Let me see how capable Zhou Qingrang really is.¡± She stood up, her gaze sweeping over his legs as she passed by him. Zhou Qingrang looked up, his eyes meeting hers. ¡°Do you know why your Luo family will die out?¡± Her expression changed instantly. Mr. Luo had two sons and one daughter. The second son had died early, leaving behind only a daughter. The eldest son, Luo Changde, was promiscuous and had numerous illegitimate daughters, but not a single son. He spoke each word forcefully, clearly. ¡°Because your Luo family has done too many things worse than beasts and must face retribution.¡± Mr. Luo had a younger sister, named Zhi Ning, who married out while she was young. Twenty-four years ago, Luo Zhining and her husband died in an accident, leaving behind a son and a daughter. The girl was called Qing Meng, and the boy was called Qing Rang. Both were under eighteen at the time. The next year, the siblings sought refuge with the Luo family in Imperial City. The Luo family welcomed them. At that time, the sister, Zhou Qingmeng, was under sixteen, and the brother, Zhou Qingrang, was just fourteen. Less than a year later, Zhou Qingmeng died of an unknown illness, with rumors claiming she had an illicit affair and gave birth to a child. In the same year, Zhou Qingrang lost his legs in a car accident and was hospitalized for many years. As for whether Zhou Qingmeng¡¯s child really existed and where they were¡­ it was a forbidden topic in the Luo family, never to be mentioned. ¡°Secretary Han.¡± Luo Qinghe sauntered down the corridor. ¡°Is everything ready?¡± On the phone, Han Feng replied, ¡°Everything¡¯s ready.¡± ¡°Proceed.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± Luo Qinghe hung up and, rounding the corner, bumped into someone at the other end of the corridor. She held her shoulder, stumbled a few steps back, and looked up to see a pair of black eyes. The other person was also looking at her. Those eyes, though unfamiliar, felt vaguely familiar. Luo Qinghe looked a couple times more before recovering her composure and walking away. Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Zhou Xufang was still standing there in a daze. Her ears suddenly rang, and jumbled sounds burst forth uncontrollably. It was a childish voice. ¡°Get lost! You made my place dirty.¡± ¡°My mom said your mom is a fox spirit, and you¡¯re a fool born of a fox spirit.¡± ¡°Little mute, get lost.¡± ¡°You¡¯re not allowed to eat my family¡¯s food!¡± ¡°Stinky beggar! Both you and your uncle are stinky beggars!¡± ¡°They said you¡¯re an idiot.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t play with him, he¡¯s an idiot.¡± ¡°. . .¡± Whose voice was that? Zhou Xufang staggered backward, her head splitting with pain. A hand supported her arm. ¡°Careful.¡± Her body stiffened and she turned her head slowly to see a pair of clear eyes. ¡°It¡¯s you.¡± It was him, the person she¡¯d met once before. She said, ¡°Thank you.¡± Zhou Qingrang rarely smiled, but his lips relaxed slightly, and the coldness in his eyes softened. ¡°No need.¡± At quarter past seven, Tianxing Entertainment issued an apology, claiming that it had investigated and found its high-level executives had abused their power to force company artists into sexual transactions, with audio recordings as evidence. All involved executives were publicly named and dismissed. Furthermore, Tianxing Entertainment would take full responsibility for all affected artists, cooperating wholeheartedly with the police investigation without evasion. At 7:30, the news anchor, Zhou Qingrang, publicly revealed evidence of Tianxing Entertainment¡¯s illegal sexual hospitality. Back-to-back, the timings were too precise. Whether it was a coincidence or something more, opinions varied. Some said Tianxing¡¯s move was to dump blame on the executives, allowing the Luo family behind the scenes to escape. Others claimed Tianxing¡¯s response and handling were exemplary for the entertainment industry. Exemplary? Bullshit! Xue Baoyi tossed his phone onto the desk. ¡°That Luo Qinghe is really something. She can shift blame and still come out looking good. No wonder my grandpa says she inherited Mr. Luo¡¯s cunning, full of devious tricks.¡± Opposite him, Jiang Zhi was hogging his office¡¯s leather sofa, insisting on having a clean blanket laid out before lying down, looking like a beautiful drunk, enticing everyone. Originally, they were there to discuss a new movie. This guy, complaining that the sofa was dirty, wouldn¡¯t lie down until a new blanket was brought. They were talking about the Luo family¡¯s affairs when the pretty boy interrupted him, ¡°There¡¯s a smell of smoke, open the window.¡± Xue Baoyi had smoked a cigarette before Jiang Zhi came, and thought his sense of smell was ridiculous. He opened the window. ¡°Don¡¯t complain about the cold now.¡± After opening the window, Xue Baoyi sat back down. Jiang Zhi kicked his leg again. ¡°Get me another blanket.¡± ¡°. . .¡± Damn it! Not even his ancestors bossed him around like this. Fine. Considering he¡¯s beautiful, fragile, and once saved him as a child¡­ Xue Baoyi got another blanket and threw it over Jiang Zhi. ¡°You don¡¯t seem surprised at all by this Tianxing mess. Did you expect it?¡± Jiang Zhi, feeling cold, pulled the blanket tight. ¡°The Luo family won¡¯t fall so easily.¡± True. In Imperial City, the Luo family was among the wealthiest. But that didn¡¯t stop Xue Baoyi from gloating. ¡°Even if they survive this, they¡¯ll shed a layer of skin.¡± In just a few hours, Luo family shares had plummeted, and Tianxing was even worse off. All its artists were caught in the scandal, and Xue Baoyi felt it was time to poach some talent from Tianxing, making the Luo family bleed a little more. ¡°What do you think happened between Zhou Qingrang and the Luo family? To be so fearless and confront them head-on. Once the Luo family smooths things over, Zhou Qingrang¡¯s good days are numbered.¡± Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t respond. Xue Baoyi knocked on the table. ¡°Talking to you. Why ignore me?¡± Jiang Zhi looked up, ¡°Come here.¡± What? Xue Baoyi felt uneasy under his gaze. ¡°What?¡± Jiang Zhi shifted his position, lying sideways with his chin propped up, his eyelashes fluttering. ¡°Come here.¡± Damn! This was seduction! His charming peach blossom eyes were both seductive and innocent. This was definitely a fairy spirit. Xue Baoyi remained steadfast. ¡°Jiang Zhi, I¡¯m really straight. Don¡¯t ruin me. I need to carry on the family line.¡± Jiang Zhi lazily reclined, but the movement made him gasp, his breath quickening. ¡°Ruin your sister! Get over here!¡± Tsk, not so cute now that he¡¯s swearing. Xue Baoyi hesitated but moved over reluctantly. Jiang Zhi pulled his right hand out from under the blanket, bringing it to Xue Baoyi¡¯s face. ¡°Smell.¡± What the hell! Xue Baoyi was horrified. ¡°You¡¯re so perverted.¡± Damn it, idiot! Jiang Zhi was uncomfortable, holding back his temper. ¡°Will you smell?¡± Fine. For the sake of his beauty. Xue Baoyi leaned in and sniffed. ¡°Does it smell like milk?¡± He sniffed again. ¡°Yes.¡± Jiang Zhi put his hand back under the blanket. ¡°Remember this smell. The person Z also has it.¡± ¡°Why should I remember?¡± Jiang Zhi also had this milky scent, which effectively meant memorizing Jiang Zhi¡¯s body smell. The idea made Xue Baoyi shudder with disgust. ¡°This brand of milk is unavailable domestically due to its price and origin, limiting its clientele and channels. Investigate and find that person.¡± So, it was about finding someone? Xue Baoyi was unhappy. ¡°You¡¯re asking me to find a needle in a haystack.¡± ¡°Will you do it?¡± Xue Baoyi spread his hands on the sofa, exuding authority. ¡°Brother Zhi, you¡¯re getting too arrogant.¡± Jiang Zhi ignored him, wrapping himself in the blanket and continuing to sleep. Chapter 22: 022: Extra Zhou Xufang went to deliver food today Chapter 22: 022: Extra Zhou Xufang went to deliver food today Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation Early winter, the sun was not strong, and even at noon, it was still somewhat chilly. The Luo Mansion faced the sun, and in the old master¡¯s study, the sunlight just happened to filter through the window sill. Luo Qinghe pushed the door open and came in. ¡°Grandfather.¡± The old master, Luo Huaiyu, had built his fortune from scratch, initially involved in the building materials industry. In recent years, he had delved into real estate. This old man in his seventies had a full head of white hair but was still vigorous. ¡°Is everything handled?¡± Luo Huaiyu referred to the matter concerning Tianxing. ¡°Yes, the people at Tianxing have been taken care of, and it won¡¯t involve our Luo Family.¡± The Luo Family¡¯s eldest son, Luo Changde, was fatuous and lustful, uninterested in business. After Luo Huaiyu stepped down, the Luo Family had been managed by his eldest granddaughter, Luo Qinghe, who hadn¡¯t made any mistakes over the past few years. This incident, however, was quite a big deal. Luo Huaiyu held a pen in his hand, proficient in calligraphy. The last stroke fell on the paper as he looked up, his gaze sharp: ¡°Don¡¯t leave any hidden dangers. Use some means if necessary.¡± Luo Qinghe nodded in agreement. ¡°This matter must not happen again.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± Exiting the study, Luo Qinghe did not linger and left immediately. ¡°Qinghe,¡± a woman came out of the kitchen, calling her gently, ¡°lunch is ready. Would you like to eat before you go?¡± This woman, named Xu Yunci, was the wife of Luo Huaiyu¡¯s second son, Luo Chang¡¯an, and had been widowed for over ten years. She had a daughter named Luo Yinghe. Xu Yunci, at forty-eight, maintained herself well, with a slender and graceful figure, looking like a delicate vine. ¡°I¡¯m not eating.¡± Her attitude was clearly indifferent, even disgusted. At the door, Luo Qinghe stopped and turned back: ¡°Second Aunt, don¡¯t let me see what¡¯s on your neck again.¡± Xu Yunci¡¯s face turned pale instantly, and she subconsciously covered her neck with her hand. Luo Qinghe sneered and turned to leave. A widowed woman, who rarely went outside, yet had love bites glaringly on her neck. Secretary Han Feng¡¯s car was parked outside the mansion. Seeing Luo Qinghe come out, he got out from the driver¡¯s seat and opened the rear door. Luo Qinghe got in. Han Feng handed over a document: ¡°Younger Luo, this is the information on that professional errand runner.¡± Luo Qinghe crossed her legs and flipped through a few pages: ¡°A woman?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± She flipped through the pages one by one, with a meaningful smile: ¡°Not bad.¡± She closed the document. ¡°I like playing with people like this.¡± A professional errand runner, huh? She would like to see if they could turn the sky upside down. The early winter sky was unpredictable. It rained in the evening, with fine, dense raindrops making the air damp. This rain lasted for several days. Tianxing¡¯s scandal had been trending for a week before the storm gradually subsided. ¡°Can¡¯t we catch anyone from the Luo Family?¡± Zhou Xufang took a sip of her drink, its sweetness making her squint, and then she continued gnawing on ribs. Shuangjiang typed quickly: ¡°Tianxing¡¯s upper management has taken the blame, and without other evidence, the police can¡¯t move against the Luo Family. Besides, offending the Luo Family would make life difficult.¡± Finishing a piece of sweet and sour rib, Shuangjiang sent another message. ¡°Zhou Qing has been suspended and demoted to a night show host at the radio station.¡± Zhou Xufang bit down hard, shattering the entire rib. How strong was her bite force? She didn¡¯t remember, but she could easily bite a Luo Family member to death. She spit out the rib pieces and cursed the surname Luo: ¡°Scum.¡± Shuangjiang followed up with a curse, then continued talking about serious matters: ¡°Ah Fang, I¡¯m afraid the next one Luo Qinghe will target is you.¡± Luo Qinghe was extremely vindictive; anyone who crossed her wouldn¡¯t have a peaceful day. Zhou Xufang wasn¡¯t afraid at all. ¡°If she comes to provoke me, I¡¯ll beat her.¡± After speaking, she finished the last piece of rib, wiped her hands: ¡°Time to go to work.¡± Then she turned off the computer, went to the dressing room to change clothes, put on a black fisherman¡¯s hat, carried a skull-patterned bag, and headed to the small supermarket outside the community to work. Wen Baiyang was still working part-time in the store. At this hour, there weren¡¯t many customers. She was leaning on the cash register, drawing, with a laptop next to her. Zhou Xufang walked over. Her shadow blocked the light, casting a shadow over the cash register. Wen Baiyang looked up, smiled at Zhou Xufang, and wrote: ¡°There are still fifteen minutes until eleven.¡± She wrote another sentence, ¡°You can sit for a while.¡± It wasn¡¯t time for her shift yet, so Zhou Xufang found a small stool to sit next to Wen Baiyang. Wen Baiyang put her laptop into her backpack and took out a pack of candy, asking Zhou Xufang: ¡°Want some candy?¡± Zhou Xufang liked sweets. ¡°Yes.¡± She reached out. Wen Baiyang picked a rainbow candy in pink wrapping and placed it in her hand. She unwrapped it and bit it with a crunch. Wen Baiyang placed all the candy on the cash register and pushed it towards Zhou Xufang, writing on a piece of paper: ¡°Want yogurt?¡± Her handwriting was beautiful, neat, and elegant, just like her. Zhou Xufang nodded: ¡°Yes.¡± Wen Baiyang took out a box of yogurt from her bag, inserted a straw, and handed it to Zhou Xufang. She then rummaged through her bag: ¡°I also have jelly.¡± She poured all the jelly on the table. Zhou Xufang had worked part-time at the supermarket several times and had become somewhat familiar with Wen Baiyang. She had brought Wen Baiyang milk last time, and this time Wen Baiyang had brought all her snacks. Zhou Xufang thought Wen Baiyang was like a little fairy. She picked a pink jelly and ate it in small bites: ¡°Are you still studying?¡± ¡°Yes, I¡¯m a freshman at the Imperial Special Education College.¡± Wen Baiyang wrote another sentence on the paper, ¡°I¡¯m in the computer science department.¡± After writing, she looked up to read Zhou Xufang¡¯s lips. Zhou Xufang gave her a thumbs-up: ¡°You¡¯re amazing.¡± Shuangjiang was also in the computer science department, and she thought that anyone in that department was impressive. Wen Baiyang blushed at the compliment, smiling shyly, and wrote slowly on the paper: ¡°Do you eat eggs? My grandmother has many chickens, so we have a lot of free-range eggs.¡± After writing, she turned around and rummaged through another bag for the eggs. Zhou Xufang tugged at her sleeve: ¡°I can¡¯t eat eggs.¡± She said, ¡°The ones you gave me last time, I haven¡¯t eaten them either.¡± Eating eggs made her drunk, and when she was drunk, she did wrong things. She remembered the first time she ate eggs, got drunk, and then climbed up a tree to sing ¡°My Motherland.¡± She refused to come down when others asked her, jumped to another tree, and sang ¡°A Child Without a Mother is Like a Weed.¡± After singing all the songs she knew, she uprooted all the trees and carried them home¡­ Wen Baiyang was very surprised, probably never having heard of someone who couldn¡¯t eat eggs, her eyes wide, cheeks flushed with a cute, innocent look: ¡°Can you eat chicken?¡± Zhou Xufang said: ¡°Chicken is fine.¡± ¡°Then I¡¯ll bring you hand-pulled chicken next time.¡± Wen Baiyang wrote on the paper, ¡°I can also make marinated chicken feet.¡± Zhou Xufang gave her a thumbs-up again: ¡°You¡¯re amazing.¡± Really, she couldn¡¯t cook anything, didn¡¯t have a kitchen at home, and had to rely on takeout every day. So she thought Wen Baiyang was great. She raised both thumbs, ¡°Really, really amazing.¡± Wen Baiyang smiled, her eyes crinkling into crescent moons, her cheeks even redder. Zhou Xufang thought Wen Baiyang was particularly beautiful. The next day, after several days of rain, the sky finally cleared. With the sky clear, Ah Wan thought, his employer was still in a very bad mood, but why? Why was his employer in such a bad mood? He didn¡¯t know. The employer had only taken two bites of his lunch before tossing his chopsticks aside. He asked, ¡°Does it not suit your taste?¡± Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t say anything, dipping a handkerchief in warm water, carefully wiping his hands, one finger at a time. His fair fingers turned red from the wiping. Ah Wan thought he was too particular about cleanliness, overly fastidious. He continued to ask, ¡°How about a can of milk?¡± Jiang Zhi tossed the handkerchief aside after wiping his hands: ¡°Go get the vice director.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Ah Wan went to get Vice Director Zhao. Vice Director Zhao had been in the middle of his meal and hadn¡¯t even wiped his mouth, which was glistening with oil. He quickly wiped it clean and went in: ¡°Director Jiang, you called for me?¡± The room was heated, and the window was open. Jiang Zhi¡¯s cheeks were a sickly red, whether from the cold wind or the warmth, he seemed indifferent as he asked casually: ¡°Did they replace the extras today?¡± Vice Director Zhao didn¡¯t understand: ¡°No, it¡¯s the same group as last time.¡± Jiang Zhi reclined on the lounge chair: ¡°Get out.¡± Vice Director Zhao: ¡°¡­¡± So, why did the director call him in the first place? Ah Wan followed him out and hinted: ¡°Wasn¡¯t Zhou Xufang supposed to come today?¡± Vice Director Zhao didn¡¯t have a clue: ¡°Zhou Xufang, who¡¯s that?¡± Ah Wan didn¡¯t say more, unsure of his employer¡¯s thoughts. Vice Director Zhao lost his appetite, going around to ask: ¡°Does anyone know who Zhou Xufang is?¡± Newly minted Weaver Fang Lixiang answered loudly: ¡°Vice Director, I know, I know. Zhou Xufang is a particularly excellent extra, really, very excellent. She can bring the dead back to life with her acting!¡± Vice Director Zhao: ¡°¡­¡± Urala Clan¡¯s Lixiang really stood out. Her friend, extra Zhou Xufang, must also be outstanding and excellent. Vice Director Zhao called the head of the extras: ¡°Get Zhou Xufang to come act.¡± And he added: ¡°You can raise her salary.¡± S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. And emphasized: ¡°As long as she comes, I¡¯ll give her more scenes!¡± Maybe she was the next Weaver. Five minutes later, Vice Director Zhao received a reply from the head of the extras: ¡°Extra Zhou Xufang is unavailable today.¡± Vice Director Zhao asked: ¡°What¡¯s she doing?¡± How could she not act, wasting away her talent! The head said: ¡°She¡¯s delivering takeout.¡± Vice Director Zhao: ¡°¡­¡± She even had a side job, this was not an excellent extra! Vice Director Zhao grabbed an assistant: ¡°Go to the director¡¯s rest area and inform them that Zhou Xufang is delivering takeout today, can¡¯t come to act.¡± The assistant relayed the message to Ah Wan. Ah Wan then told his employer: ¡°Boss, Miss Zhou is delivering takeout today.¡± Jiang Zhi pulled the blanket on the lounge chair up to cover the collarbone peeking from his shirt, with a couple of coughs: ¡°When did I ask her?¡± Ah Wan: ¡°¡­¡± Employer Jiang: ¡°Go warm up some milk for me. It should be 28 degrees, not a degree higher.¡± Ah Wan: ¡°¡­¡± He had to go home and tell his mom, who treated Jiang Zhi like her own son, that her ¡®own son¡¯ Jiang Zhi was really insufferable. Chapter 23: 023: Your delivery has arrived, please give a good review Chapter 23: 023: Your delivery has arrived, please give a good review Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation ¡°Brother Zhi.¡± The door was pushed open. Short hair and a white dress, it was Jiang Wei¡¯er: ¡°Why are you bullying Ah Wan again?¡± Ah Wan felt that in the entire Jiang family, the only rational ones were Old Lady Jiang and Jiang Wei¡¯er. ¡°Fifth Miss.¡± Ah Wan greatly admired Jiang Wei¡¯er because she had tough fists; she used to practice Taekwondo. Two years ago, she met Xiao Linsu and stopped, which was a pity¡­ Sigh, he went out and ordered takeout for his employer who had barely eaten anything. Jiang Zhi lay on his side and didn¡¯t get up: ¡°What are you here for?¡± ¡°Call me aunt, don¡¯t be so informal.¡± Jiang Wei¡¯er lifted her dress, sat down, and placed a foot on the coffee table, shaking her white canvas shoes with a rather bold posture. ¡°Xiao Linsu.¡± Jiang Zhi called out indifferently. As soon as Jiang Wei¡¯er heard it, she thought he was really coming and immediately retracted her foot, bringing her legs together and placing her hands neatly on her knees, sitting up straight like a proper lady, then looked toward the door. There was no sign of Xiao Linsu. Jiang Wei¡¯er pursed her lips, raised her eyebrows, and looked at Jiang Zhi with a smile: ¡°Feeling itchy for a beating?¡± He glanced at her white dress, got up from the lounge chair, wearing only a low-cut sweater, his collarbone faintly visible from the disheveled neckline. Such fine bones and skin. Jiang Wei¡¯er¡¯s impression of her late third brother and third sister-in-law had become blurry. She didn¡¯t know what kind of looks they had to produce such a stunning appearance as Jiang Zhi. He asked her: ¡°Aren¡¯t you tired?¡± The white dress was something Xiao Linsu liked, the light makeup and soft smile with bright eyes were also what Xiao Linsu liked. The real Jiang Wei¡¯er should be the one in leather jackets and shorts, smoking and fighting, clubbing and DJing, laughing and drinking heartily. Now, as she restrained herself like this, there was none of that uninhibited spirit left. Jiang Wei¡¯er didn¡¯t change her sitting posture, still sitting properly like a lady: ¡°What do you know, this is called being madly in love.¡± She spoke righteously, ¡°When you have your own little ancestor someday, you¡¯ll understand that for love, you can even become a grandson.¡± Jiang Zhi used his finger to hook the collar and pull it up, covering the collarbone. The gray sweater just set off his fair skin. He hummed lightly: ¡°Stop talking nonsense.¡± A grandson? Only a real grandson would become a grandson. Jiang Wei¡¯er didn¡¯t argue with him: ¡°The movie you¡¯re collaborating on with Bao Yi, is it aiming for a big award?¡± He got up, took a pill, and swallowed it with water. Drinking quickly made his throat itch, he suppressed a cough: ¡°Say what you mean.¡± ¡°Is Linsu suitable for that role?¡± Two years ago, Xiao Linsu was still lukewarm in the industry. It was one of Jiang Zhi¡¯s films that made him shine. Xiao Linsu probably still didn¡¯t know that if Jiang Wei¡¯er hadn¡¯t intervened, he would never have gotten that role. Jiang Zhi put the cup down: ¡°Not suitable.¡± Jiang Wei¡¯er didn¡¯t say anything else: ¡°Got it, I¡¯m going to work now.¡± The fifth Miss of the Jiang family, with all the wealth she could have, chose to work as an assistant for someone else. ¡°Isn¡¯t it better to be someone else¡¯s ancestor?¡± Jiang Zhi, indifferent to the matter, said: ¡°Why insist on being someone¡¯s grandson?¡± Xue Bingxue treated her like an ancestor, but she chose to be Xiao Linsu¡¯s grandson instead. Such a great ambition. Jiang Wei¡¯er smoothed out her white dress: ¡°Stop mocking me, you¡¯d better be careful or you¡¯ll become a grandson one day.¡± Jiang Zhi took a sip of water, his Adam¡¯s apple rolled: ¡°I¡¯m the ancestor.¡± ¡°Just wait and see.¡± Jiang Wei¡¯er smiled and left. At this moment, Ah Wan came in: ¡°Boss, I ordered takeout for you,¡± he particularly added, ¡°Miss Zhou delivered it.¡± Ah Wan felt that Miss Zhou and his employer were meant to be, even ordering takeout could lead to an encounter. Ah, love. ¡°Come in.¡± His voice was a bit hoarse, and his coughing had worsened. It was winter, and his health seemed to have deteriorated. When Zhou Xufang came in carrying the takeout, Jiang Zhi was getting dressed, his fair neck completely covered, wrapped tightly. She had heard from Fang Lixiang that Jiang Zhi was born with weak health, his heart and lungs were in poor condition, and he had chronic organ failure, which was incurable. How pitiful. She recognized Ah Wan¡¯s order, knowing it was for Jiang Zhi, she had specially added a few mantis shrimps for him. Jiang Zhi noticed she was wearing a takeout delivery outfit, with a yellow helmet on her head, and her small face was red from the wind outside. ¡°Are you delivering takeout because you think being an extra doesn¡¯t pay well?¡± His brows were unfriendly, in a bad mood, and not feeling well. Zhou Xufang shook her head and answered honestly: ¡°The owner of the congee shop is someone I know. I only help out when it¡¯s very busy during the weekends.¡± She placed the takeout on the table: ¡°Eat while it¡¯s hot.¡± There were many shrimps inside. Jiang Zhi stood, separated from her by a sofa: ¡°How much do you get for a takeout order?¡± Indeed, he was curious about her. He should have hated women but was incredibly curious about her, a curiosity that drove him mad, made him restless and uncomfortable, even a bit at a loss. Zhou Xufang replied: ¡°It depends on the distance, this order is seven yuan.¡± Her expression was blank and cool, but she was serious, ¡°A good review makes it eight yuan.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Jiang Zhi felt a throbbing pain in his head. Eight yuan, how many orders would she have to deliver to buy a can of imported milk? Zhou Xufang habitually pressed down on the hat on her head, hiding her face: ¡°I¡¯ll go deliver more takeout then.¡± She turned to leave. Jiang Zhi stopped her: ¡°How are you getting there?¡± Zhou Xufang turned back, her hat was a size too big, covering her head, making her face look small and her eyes large, her gaze always cold, solitary yet pure. She answered him: ¡°I drive.¡± Delivering takeout and she could afford a car? At this moment¡ª Assistant Director Zhao yelled through a megaphone outside, the entire set could hear him: ¡°Whose tricycle is this? You can¡¯t park here!¡± Zhou Xufang reacted in a second and ran out: ¡°Mine, mine!¡± It was the first time seeing her being so lively, not lifeless, finally like a girl of her age. Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± His head started to hurt again, his lungs too, and his throat felt sore from the coughing. Ah Wan quickly went to get water, not forgetting to speak well of Zhou Xufang: ¡°Miss Zhou works so hard. Boss, let¡¯s give her a good review.¡± He genuinely admired this hardworking girl, despite her poverty. Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t say anything, opened the takeout, looked at it for a long while, and then started eating. Seeing no objections, Ah Wan picked up his phone to give a good review and then discovered something amazing: ¡°Wow, there¡¯s an option to tip the rider.¡± Thinking that Miss Zhou had it tough, only earning eight yuan, he suggested, ¡°Boss, let¡¯s tip Miss Zhou.¡± Jiang Zhi held the spoon, his slender fingers gripping the handle. His skin was fair, with a hint of thinness, and faint blue veins showed on the back of his hand: ¡°If you want to tip, then tip, why tell me.¡± Ah Wan went ahead to tip. He didn¡¯t order takeout often and wasn¡¯t familiar with the app, so he fumbled with it for a while and then discovered: ¡°The most I can tip is only fifty yuan.¡± Although his salary wasn¡¯t very high, he wanted to tip a thousand yuan. S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Never mind, he would tip more next time. After tipping, Ah Wan was a bit excited: ¡°This also has the rider¡¯s phone number, I can add Miss Zhou on WeChat.¡± Clank. The spoon hit the bowl, Jiang Zhi looked up: ¡°Why add her on WeChat?¡± His face was stunning, but those peach blossom eyes always looked like they were hiding something sinister, a true young master from an aristocratic family, his aura was indeed strong. Ah Wan felt uneasy under his gaze, this big guy, six feet three and weighing two hundred pounds, weakly said: ¡°We¡¯re friends, after all.¡± Jiang Zhi threw the spoon and coughed lightly, took a napkin to wipe the corner of his mouth: ¡°I never noticed before how self-deluded you are.¡± ¡°¡­¡± This person was really annoying! Ah Wan insisted on adding her on WeChat. ¡°Give me the phone number.¡± Out of nowhere, Jiang Zhi said. Ah Wan¡¯s brain took a second to catch up: ¡°What phone number?¡± Jiang Zhi squinted his eyes, those peach blossom eyes void of any softness, deep like ink. ¡°Oh.¡± Ah Wan gave his employer the number for Zhou Xufang, the extra who applied screen protectors and delivered takeout on the side. Chapter 24: 024: Come on, let’s create Chapter 24: 024: Come on, let¡¯s create Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation Ah Wan reported the number of Zhou Xufang, the extra who also worked part-time doing food deliveries, to the employer. In the evening, Xue Baoyi called Jiang Zhi out to Fusheng Inn¡¯s Mei Garden, and promised to end by half-past eight, ensuring it wouldn¡¯t delay his sleep time. Jiang Zhi went but lay there, ignoring everyone. Xue Baoyi was playing dice, getting high, and shouted at Jiang Zhi, ¡°Brother Zhi, stop playing with your phone and come join us.¡± Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t respond, the light in his eyes seemed faint, occasionally glancing at the phone on the table. Ah Wan stood behind, naturally knowing what the employer was up to, ¡°Boss, Miss Zhou still hasn¡¯t agreed.¡± He felt a bit proud, ¡°She accepted my friend request.¡± Jiang Zhi frowned. The employer was unhappy, so Ah Wan advised, ¡°What name did you use? Did you use your real name?¡± He suddenly felt very clever, as if his brain had become more developed, and got carried away, ¡°Boss, you have to use your real name, or Miss Zhou won¡¯t know who you are and will think you¡¯re a scammer.¡± Jiang Zhi lifted an eyelid; just then, the laser light in the private room fell into his eyes, with a cold, multicolored glare, ¡°Why the fuck do you talk so much?¡± Ah Wan: ¡°¡­¡± Fine, he wouldn¡¯t speak. The employer had been swearing more frequently lately. Jiang Zhi opened a can of milk, poured it into a goblet, took a few sips, lost interest, and tossed it onto the table. He grabbed his phone from the sofa, changed his name, sent another message, and waited more than ten minutes with no response. Damn it, what stupid thing was he doing? ¡°Whang.¡± He threw the phone onto the table. S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Jiang Zhi,¡± Ming Saiying, dressed beautifully with a bright smile, danced over, ¡°Why is your phone screen cracked?¡± He undid a button at his collar, ¡°What¡¯s it to you?¡± ¡°¡­¡± He was in a bad mood today. Ming Saiying sat a bit further away, alright, a beauty should have some temper. She was originally celebrating in the room next door; knowing Jiang Zhi was here, she insisted on coming over. If Jiang Wei hadn¡¯t owed her a favor due to Xiao Linsu, he would probably have thrown her out. After all, she had just kidnapped Jiang Zhi not long ago. She didn¡¯t dare bother him, just quietly¡­ quietly watched the beauty. Xue Baoyi finished playing dice, had a little drink, felt exhilarated, and switched it up, ¡°Come on, come on, let¡¯s have a round of Truth or Dare.¡± Qiao Nanchu threw an orange peel at him, ¡°Xue Baoyi, how low-class can you be?¡± Xue Baoyi got defensive, ¡°So what if it¡¯s low-class, as long as it¡¯s fun.¡± He loved rough games like this, took off his suit jacket, stood up, and called out, ¡°Brother Zhi, come on, stop acting like a girl.¡± Jiang Zhi took his eyes off the phone screen, coughed lightly with a weak breath, but his eyes had a hint of aggression, ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll start.¡± Rarely, the sickly beauty was interested. Xue Baoyi rolled up his sleeves, ¡°Fine.¡± Today, he had to pry something out of Jiang Zhi¡­ Result¡ª In the first round, the beer bottle spun in Jiang Zhi¡¯s hand and landed on Xue Baoyi. Fuck! Damn accurate! Xue Baoyi even suspected he practiced, ¡°Brother Zhi, you¡¯re playing me on purpose.¡± Jiang Zhi sat alone on the opposite sofa, legs lazily stretched out, a blanket on his legs. His coat was open, and due to the poor airflow in the room, his eyes were flushed, giving a slightly drunken, powerless look. ¡°Just figuring it out now?¡± He fiddled with the empty bottle, ¡°Choose.¡± That damn, unplaceable dominance! Xue Baoyi felt a bit cowardly, ¡°Dare then.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Jiang Zhi took a wet wipe, cleaned his hands, ¡°Go streaking outside.¡± The first round was already this eye-searing¡­ Xue Baoyi¡¯s face fell, ¡°Ancestor, please don¡¯t.¡± He was, after all, the boss of an entertainment company, a semi-public figure; did he not want his reputation anymore? Jiang Mei Ren licked his lips, letting it slide. ¡°I¡¯ll permit you to keep your underwear.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Don¡¯t play games with Jiang Zhi, he was ruthless. Xue Baoyi, face ashen, undressed, walked out, holding his head the whole time, almost got thrown out by the Fusheng Inn staff as an exhibitionist. ¡°I want to quit.¡± Xue Bingxue was well-behaved, not playing this sort of outrageous game. Xue Baoyi, putting his pants back on, face red, ¡°No way!¡± He pulled Xue Bingxue beside him, ¡°I streaked; no one is getting out of this!¡± Xue Bingxue glanced secretly at Jiang Wei, touching his earlobe. The next spin landed on Ming Saiying. Xue Baoyi¡¯s expression turned sly, ¡°Choose, Ming Lao.¡± Ming Saiying didn¡¯t have the guts to streak, ¡°Truth.¡± Lame. If she had chosen dare, he would have made her either take Jiang Zhi down or strip a piece of his clothing to vent his frustration. ¡°If our Brother Zhi was impotent, would you still like him?¡± Xue Baoyi glanced at Jiang Zhi, the look filled with malicious intentions. Impotent, huh¡­ Whether he was or not, he was close to being infertile. Qiao Nanchu, aware of how sensitive this question was, kicked Xue Baoyi to remind him, ¡°Xue Baoyi, don¡¯t overdo it.¡± Xue Baoyi¡¯s shirt wasn¡¯t buttoned, ¡°I don¡¯t care, I¡¯ll go all out.¡± He wasn¡¯t afraid of trouble, ¡°Ming Lao, answer quickly.¡± Ming Saiying pretended to be shy, ¡°Even if he¡¯s impotent, I still like him.¡± Jiang Zhi licked his teeth. The next round, Ming Saiying spun to Jiang Wei. Jiang Wei put down her wine glass, raised her skirt, placing a foot on the table, ¡°Ask away.¡± ¡°Did you and Xiao Linsu do it?¡± She didn¡¯t even blink, ¡°No, my old lady has old-fashioned ideas; if that layer breaks, I have to marry immediately.¡± People: ¡°¡­¡± That was Jiang Family¡¯s rule indeed, but only she dared to say it. Xue Baoyi glanced at his uncle who was secretly smiling. This fool! Jiang Wei finished, flexed her fingers, twisted the bottle cap energetically. Not too much, exactly three and a half spins, landed on Jiang Zhi. This game, Jiang Zhi could play, and Jiang Wei could too, spinning it to whoever they wanted. Before Jiang Zhi could choose, she asked, ¡°Are you on top or bottom? If not done before, what about in dreams, top or bottom?¡± Jiang Zhi¡¯s brows furrowed slightly, the blanket slid down his legs; he picked it up and covered himself again. Xue Baoyi howled and disrupted the scene, as he had been curious for years. Jiang Zhi only said he was gay, but for so many years, no boyfriend was in sight. Was he top or bottom remained a mystery. Jiang Zhi¡¯s temperament was dominant, but his body was quite fragile. Too thrilling! Xue Baoyi couldn¡¯t wait any longer, urging, ¡°Quick, answer!¡± He didn¡¯t believe Jiang Zhi hadn¡¯t even dreamed. Jiang Zhi¡¯s face had little color, his skin pale with an unhealthy cold white, contrasting red lips, whether from coughing or biting them, ¡°Did I say I chose truth?¡± No answer. Jiang Wei blew her bangs playfully, ¡°I know the answer, bottom.¡± She crossed her long legs, arrogantly, ¡°Playing with your aunt, you¡¯re still too young.¡± If he was on top, he would¡¯ve answered. Jiang Zhi tore off his tie, revealing his throat and collarbone, white with a hint of red, ¡°Jiang Wei.¡± Three words, spoken lightly, but with a menacing tone. Indeed, that was Jiang Zhi¡¯s taboo. Xue Baoyi understood, recognizing that in those colored dreams, Jiang Zhi indeed played the bottom role. Jiang Wei knew when to stop, ¡°Alright, you passed, your turn.¡± Jiang Zhi unbuttoned another button on his shirt, sat up, his fingers touched the bottle cap, nails clean and bright. He flicked it lightly and slowly. Half a circle. The bottle pointed at Jiang Wei. ¡°You¡¯re retaliating.¡± Jiang Zhi replied nonchalantly, ¡°Yes.¡± Jiang Wei gritted her teeth, rolling up her sleeves, ¡°I choose dare.¡± Damn. Xue Baoyi gave a thumbs up, ¡°I admire Fifth Aunt¡¯s courage, bring it on!¡± Jiang Zhi rubbed his thumb against his lips, smiled. That smile, a hint of makeup beauty, raised his slender fingers, pointed at Xue Bingxue, ¡°Kiss him forcefully, one minute, not a second less.¡± Xue Bingxue: ¡°¡­¡± He instinctively¡­ swallowed. Chapter 25: 025: Jiang Zhi finally added Xu Fang on WeChat Chapter 25: 025: Jiang Zhi finally added Xu Fang on WeChat Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation ¡°Brother Zhi,¡± Jiang Wei¡¯er changed her sitting position, her face no longer the carefree expression she had earlier as she smoothed out her dress, ¡°Let¡¯s switch, anything else will do. This is inappropriate. Your aunt has a boyfriend.¡± Her tone was somewhat conciliatory. ¡°No.¡± Jiang Zhi, at his core, was a thoroughly bad person. He taunted, ¡°Can¡¯t handle it, can you?¡± Jiang Wei¡¯er had a fatal weakness: she couldn¡¯t be provoked. Once provoked, she¡¯d explode. She poured a glass of wine, drank it all in one go, set the glass down¡ª ¡°Don¡¯t bully Wei¡¯er anymore.¡± Xue Bingxue covered her mouth, her doe-like eyes fluttered as she tried to look at Jiang Wei¡¯er, but then timidly dodged away, her ears turning red as she said, ¡°Wei¡¯er¡¯s boyfriend will be upset with her.¡± If Wei¡¯er¡¯s boyfriend got upset, Wei¡¯er would be unhappy. If Wei¡¯er was unhappy, he would be sad. So, Xue Bingxue pressed her mouth shut firmly. Xue Baoyi: ¡°¡­¡± What use was having a teammate like a god? They also had a teammate who was as useless as a pig. Even a stubborn bronze couldn¡¯t be carried to victory by a king. Thud. The empty wine bottle was knocked over by Jiang Zhi, spinning halfway. The air stilled. Xue Bingxue was still sneaking glances at Jiang Wei¡¯er, afraid she¡¯d be upset. If Jiang Zhi got upset¡­ let him be upset, as long as Wei¡¯er wasn¡¯t. This silly yet sweet girl! Xue Baoyi couldn¡¯t bear to watch anymore, stomped on him in exasperation, and cursed in a pinched voice, ¡°Brother Zhi is helping you, you coward!¡± Xue Bingxue was again afraid Jiang Wei¡¯er would hear, so he glared at Xue Baoyi. Xue Baoyi: ¡°¡­¡± This pig! ¡°Not playing anymore, this is boring.¡± Jiang Zhi picked up his phone and walked off. Ah Wan went to grab a coat, hurried to follow, and as they looked from behind, they saw Jiang Zhi lowering his head, revealing a stretch of pale, smooth nape that begged to be touched. His profile was coated in a cold, white light reflected by his phone. He was looking at his phone again. Ah Wan couldn¡¯t help it: ¡°Has Miss Zhou not accepted the request yet?¡± ¡°Cough, cough, cough¡­¡± Jiang Zhi coughed so hard his face turned red; he couldn¡¯t even stand straight, leaning against the wall and clutching his chest. He turned back angrily: ¡°None of your damn business.¡± Ah Wan: ¡°¡­¡± He shrank his neck, ¡°Please calm down, don¡¯t faint.¡± ¡°Cough, cough, cough¡­¡± He was coughing so hard it felt like his lungs were coming out, his eyes were rimmed with red, and his gaze shimmered, beautiful as peach blossoms. This appearance of falling ill¡­ made Xue Baoyi¡¯s heart ache to see. Xue Bingxue hurried over to press on Jiang Zhi¡¯s acupoints to stop the cough. Ah Wan stood rooted to the spot, flustered and at a loss, terrified his employer would die young and leave behind a tragic beauty¡­ Ah Wan wished he could cut his stomach open on the spot! Right! Now! To! Die! ¡°What¡¯s up with Jiang Zhi tonight?¡± Qiao Nanchu, who had a flirtatious look, smiled roguishly, ¡°Something¡¯s not right.¡± Because Ah Wan had made a mistake and was sent home. It was the Fifth Miss who took the employer home. He thought he had gone too far, his brain was dull, and he didn¡¯t know what to say or what not to say. He wanted to make up for it by recalling how the employer liked the shrimp porridge at noon, so he quietly ordered another porridge for his employer. At eight-thirty. Jiang Zhi had just finished his bath when the phone in the security office rang. ¡°Mr. Jiang.¡± He placed a hand on his stomach, his face ghostly pale, becoming whiter than his bathrobe, which emphasized his exposed neck: ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°Did you order takeout? There¡¯s a delivery here saying it¡¯s your porridge.¡± He spoke breathlessly in a low, hoarse voice, ¡°I didn¡¯t.¡± With that, he hung up the phone. Just then, Ah Wan¡¯s WeChat message came in: ¡°Boss, I know I did wrong. I got you some night snack, it¡¯s the porridge you had at noon. I specially noted to add more shrimp. Lastly, wishing you good health and a long life.¡± Jiang Zhi glanced at the message, threw the phone to the side, went to the bathroom to get a towel, and dried his hair, pausing mid-action, then went back to pick up the phone. Damn, he was really sick¡­ He put on his coat, over the bathrobe, and coughed heavily as he ran out, irritably calling the security room. ¡°It¡¯s my takeout.¡± ¡°No need, I¡¯ll go down and get it myself.¡± Three minutes later¡­ Outside the villa district, the delivery boy smiled and handed over the porridge: ¡°Seven Villas Room 203, right? Here¡¯s your takeout.¡± Through the iron fence, Jiang Zhi, who wore a coat over his bathrobe, eyed him coldly. The delivery boy was utterly confused. His gaze subconsciously fell on the dripping wet neck, the Adam¡¯s apple, and finally on that exquisitely beautiful face carved out of marble, sculpted with no traces of the mundane world. His voice trembled: ¡°You¡­your takeout, could you give a good review?¡± A pale, slender, and well-defined hand took the bag: ¡°Depends on my mood.¡± ¡°¡­¡± The wind blew, chilling to the bone. The delivery boy stood dazed in the wind, watching that slightly hunched back from the coughing, and despite wearing so many layers, how did he still look like his bone structure was beautiful? The rumored beauty bones? Bam¡ª The door slammed shut, and Jiang Zhi, with a gloomy face, threw the takeout into the trash. ¡°Cough, cough, cough¡­¡± He felt intense pain in his body, had taken an extra pill during the day, and a metallic taste rose in his throat. With winter coming, his body was also in a terrible mess. Moving slowly, he held onto a chair, sat down at the dining table, and poured himself a cup of warm water. ¡°Ding.¡± The phone suddenly pinged. The cup fell back onto the table, and he hesitated momentarily, then picked up the phone. Zhou Xufang¡¯s three words hit his sight, the avatar a black smudge like the night, and there was a line in the chat: I accepted your friend request. Now we can start chatting. And then¡­ No movement. Jiang Zhi stared at the phone in a daze for a while, gulped down the cup of warm water, feeling a bit better in his belly. Just a short trip outside made him sweat coldly all over. He threw the phone aside, went to the bathroom to take another bath, returned, and saw only that one message on WeChat. Water dripped from his hair onto the carpet as he stood there, staring at the phone. Zhou Xufang. Muttering the name, he frowned, resigned, and picked up the phone. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you go deliver takeout?¡± After waiting for over ten seconds. Zhou Xufang replied: ¡°I got off work.¡± She wasn¡¯t typing quickly either, waiting a few more seconds, ¡°Is there something you need?¡± Was there something he needed? How would he know, he thought about it all day and couldn¡¯t figure out why. Why would a genuinely gay man suddenly become endlessly curious about a woman, possibly because of prolonged abstinence? Then again, how long had it been since he¡¯d had those kinds of dreams? He replied with two words: ¡°Nothing.¡± Zhou Xufang sent a period. ¡°What do you mean by sending a period?¡± The ¡®typing¡¯ indicator showed for a long time, before a moderately long text appeared: ¡°I have OCD. It has to be me who ends the conversation. If there¡¯s nothing to say, I¡¯ll send a punctuation mark.¡± sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± This person, why always cause problems for him. His finger pad turned slightly red as he tapped the screen: ¡°No words to chat?¡± It took a while again. Zhou Xufang replied: ¡°No.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t argue.¡± ¡°.¡± No words meant she¡¯d send punctuation marks. Still, she had to be the one to end the conversation. Jiang Zhi threw the phone aside, couldn¡¯t stop himself, grabbed a box of cough medicine, took two pills, tilted his head back to swallow them, then poured half a cup of warm water to drink, licked his lips, and his Adam¡¯s apple rolled¡ªit was really damn bitter. The box of marshmallows was on the dining table. He threw one into his mouth and picked up his phone. ¡°Zhou Xufang.¡± ¡°Mm.¡± ¡°Zhou Xufang.¡± ¡°.¡± ¡°If you don¡¯t have words to say, don¡¯t send anything.¡± ¡°.¡± ¡°Alright, go to sleep.¡± ¡°.¡± ¡°You really have OCD?¡± ¡°Mm.¡± ¡°What kind of ailment!¡± ¡°.¡± This OCD! But, it was somewhat interesting. If he wanted to keep chatting, she couldn¡¯t sleep and would have to send periods all night. Jiang Zhi threw the phone aside, yanked the bathrobe¡¯s collar, his hair not yet dry, droplets slid down his temple to his neck, making him itch, he wiped the water with his fingertip, pulled back the covers, lied down, and then started coughing. That night¡¯s sleep quality was horrendous. Chapter 26: 026: Hidden Beauty Chapter 26: 026: Hidden Beauty Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation This night¡¯s sleep quality was terrible to the extreme. Winter had already passed, and it was getting colder. Jiang Zhi¡¯s spirits were getting worse, and he was tired for long periods of the day, always lacking energy. At Fusheng Inn¡¯s Bamboo Garden, tea had been changed pot after pot, and the deputy general manager of Huayu was already impatient from waiting. ¡°Why hasn¡¯t Director Jiang come yet?¡± The secretary behind him stepped forward, ¡°Director Jiang¡¯s assistant called, saying Director Jiang caught a cold last night and was feeling unwell, so he¡¯ll be late.¡± Huayu, apart from Xue¡¯s Baoguang and Luo Family¡¯s Tianxing, was the largest entertainment company domestically. This deputy general manager was the current chairman Jin Lei¡¯s brother, Jin Song. At thirty-five years old, Jin Song had good looks, and his name was well-known in the circle for two reasons: his formidable methods and his notorious womanizing. After waiting for half an hour, Jin Song was naturally very unhappy, ¡°This Jiang Zhi, what a big shot.¡± Beside him sat a woman, an extremely beautiful woman. ¡°President Jin,¡± she poured him a cup of tea and said softly, ¡°Don¡¯t rush, have a cup of tea first.¡± The woman was called Su Chan, an artist of Huayu. She was from a minority ethnic group, with features giving her three or four parts of exotic beauty yet still possessing soft grace. She was rare even in the star-filled entertainment circle. She started as a martial arts stunt double and had only been in the industry for four years, but she was the youngest film queen of Huayu. Jin Song slightly gathered himself as his phone rang. He got up and took the call outside. ¡°Have all the people I selected signed the contracts?¡± The person on the other end replied, ¡°Tang Yinyin and Fang Zhi were signed by Baoguang.¡± These two were artists under Tianxing. After Tianxing¡¯s scandal broke out, their stock prices plummeted, and many of their artists terminated their contracts. Tianxing¡¯s decline would continue for a while. Artists who had enough strength could establish their studios, but those without sufficient standing had to find new owners. Baoguang and Huayu were the best choices, so the competition for talents between them was fierce. Here, we must mention Baoguang¡¯s owner, Xue Baoyi, a truly overbearing person. Coming from a prestigious family in the Imperial City, he had connections and received many advantages. Jin Song got angry just thinking about it, ¡°That idiot Xue Baoyi, sooner or later I¡¯ll crush¡ª¡± ¡°Cough, cough, cough, cough, cough¡­¡± Suddenly, a low cough interrupted him. Jin Song¡¯s words stopped abruptly, and he glanced back before ending the call, ¡°I¡¯ll talk more when I get back.¡± Hanging up, Jin Song changed his expression, smiling as he greeted, ¡°Director Jiang is here, let¡¯s talk inside.¡± He made a welcoming gesture, his gaze fixed on Jiang Zhi¡¯s face, never moving away. Jiang Zhi entered the private room, took off his coat, and handed it to Ah Wan, who then stepped aside, keeping a wary eye on Jin Song. He felt that Jin Song¡¯s gaze on his employer was somewhat inappropriate. ¡°Su Chan, pour Director Jiang a cup of tea,¡± Jin Song pulled out a chair and sat next to Jiang Zhi. Su Chan stood up, her slender fingers holding the tea cup delicately while she walked gracefully, her movements seductive. However, before the tea was poured, with a soft click, Jiang Zhi placed the lid on his cup. S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He coughed softly, his skin pale but lips red, and said, ¡°My throat hurts from coughing, I won¡¯t drink tea.¡± Su Chan¡¯s hand holding the teapot stiffened slightly before she smiled and sat back down as if nothing had happened. Jin Song took out the contract. ¡°The contract is ready. I have no issues on my side,¡± he pushed the thick contract towards Jiang Zhi, ¡°Director Jiang, see if there¡¯s anything you need to add.¡± This meeting was for signing a contract. For Jiang Zhi¡¯s new movie, Su Chan was chosen as the leading actress, primarily because of her fame and her skill. Both sides were not particularly concerned about the pay because this movie was a big production aimed at winning awards. They had reached an agreement in no time, only a contract remained. Initially, they thought today would be a mere formality, but¡ª Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t even open the contract, pushing it back untouched. Jin Song¡¯s smile faded, ¡°What do you mean by this?¡± Jiang Zhi calmly lifted his eyelids, seemingly smiling yet not, his profound eyes filled with ambiguous meaning as he asked, ¡°Don¡¯t you know my relationship with Xue Baoyi?¡± Heh, he had overheard the earlier conversation. Jin Song leaned back in his chair, eyes scanning Jiang Zhi¡¯s face with a smile hovering on his lips, a mix of challenge and a deeper implication, ¡°What relationship?¡± Dressed impeccably in suits, reeking of hypocrisy. In the circle, many used these eight words to describe Huayu¡¯s deputy general manager. ¡°What do you think?¡± In a lazy tone, Jiang Zhi threw the question back. What relationship? Rumors in the circle had it that Xue Baoyi and Jiang Zhi had a romantic involvement. Indeed, with Jiang Zhi¡¯s looks¡­ Jin Song took out a cigarette from his pack, offering one to Jiang Zhi, ¡°Director Jiang, for your movie, I doubt you can find anyone more suitable than Su Chan. You should think carefully.¡± Jiang Zhi remained seated, ¡°I don¡¯t smoke.¡± He then lifted his hand, and Ah Wan immediately handed over a business card and a pen. Jiang Zhi took them, wrote a string of numbers on the back of the card, ¡°For compensation matters, please contact my lawyer.¡± He pushed the card to Jin Song, put down the pen, wiped his hands with a handkerchief, and turned to leave. Ah Wan put away the pen and followed. Occasional coughing sounds arose, and Jin Song glanced at the door, seeing Jiang Zhi slightly hunched, exposing a small patch of skin paler than a woman¡¯s. A delicate beauty weakened by illness. The youngest of the Jiang Family in the Imperial City, just as rumored, short of breath every few steps, frequent coughs, unrivaled beauty, surpassed even adorned flowers. ¡°President Jin,¡± Su Chan called softly. Jin Song withdrew his gaze, ¡°This Jiang Zhi,¡± tapping the lighter on the table gently, tick-tack, tick-tack¡­ the sound unhurried and rhythmic, then he paused the motion and stopped speaking, ¡°No wonder even those princely lads are enchanted by him.¡± A man even more beautiful than women. Jiang Zhi had just walked out of the Bamboo Garden when he ran into Xue Baoyi, that flashy butterfly. His buzz cut had just started to grow out and he had dyed it gray again, making him look like a little old man. It was only his ruggedly handsome face that could pull it off. Xue Baoyi had come to have fun. When he saw Jiang Zhi, he was delighted: ¡°Brother Zhi, Brother Zhi!¡± Jiang Zhi glanced at him: ¡°Idiot.¡± Xue Baoyi, whose enthusiasm had been doused with cold water, clutched his heart: ¡°¡­¡± His heart hurt. ¡°What did I do to deserve this?¡± Jiang Zhi couldn¡¯t be bothered with him. Ah Wan looked at Xue Baoyi and thought the employer wasn¡¯t all that bad. Sure, he had a bad temper, was moody, sharp-tongued, picky, neurotic, and haughty¡­ but he was very protective. See, he could call Xue Baoyi an idiot, but he wouldn¡¯t let Jin Song do the same. Hmm, that must be a good quality. Ah Wan also reasoned that even though the employer cursed at him every day, if one day he got into a fight and couldn¡¯t win, the employer would drag his sickly body over to help him. The car was parked outside Fusheng Inn, but they hadn¡¯t left yet when Qiao Nanchu called. Jiang Zhi answered: ¡°Hmm?¡± ¡°Where are you?¡± Jiang Zhi said: ¡°Out discussing business.¡± ¡°Did you finish?¡± ¡°It fell through.¡± Jiang Zhi popped a marshmallow into his mouth. That idiot, Xue Baoyi! Qiao Nanchu asked him: ¡°Interested in the professional errand runner business?¡± Jiang Zhi stayed silent, fiddling with the marshmallow box, opening and closing it, making occasional clicking sounds. After a moment, he put down the glass box: ¡°I¡¯ll come over.¡± He hung up the phone and instructed Ah Wan, ¡°Go get Xue Baoyi.¡± Jiangfeng Mansion. It was nine in the morning, and the sun was just beginning to peek out from the clouds. Despite the cold of late winter, the seasonal begonias in the mansion had already bloomed. ¡°Back again?¡± The security guard uncle was leaning out the window, greeting the girl outside. The girl nodded. Her cheeks were reddened from the wind, making her look even more flushed. The security guard uncle saw she had a large canvas bag on her back and asked with a smile, ¡°Bringing food for Mr. Qiao again?¡± She nodded again, smiling, and took the canvas bag off to hand it over. The security guard uncle took it: ¡°Mr. Qiao is at home today. Aren¡¯t you going up?¡± She shook her head and took out a pen and paper from her coat, writing, ¡°No, please give it to him for me.¡± She then took a small lunchbox from the canvas bag, reached over the window, and placed it on the table. ¡°This is for you, homemade braised chicken feet and shredded chicken. Try some.¡± ¡°I get some too?¡± The security guard uncle¡¯s face wrinkled with a smile. ¡°Thank you. I don¡¯t know your name yet.¡± She turned to a new piece of paper and wrote her name carefully. ¡°Wen Baiyang.¡± She was called Wen Baiyang, like the white poplar tree. Both Jiang Zhi and Xue Baoyi owned property at Jiangfeng Mansion, though they rarely stayed there. When they did come over, they usually stayed at Qiao Nanchu¡¯s place. The security guard recognized the two of them. ¡°Mr. Jiang and Mr. Xue are here,¡± he said, opening the gate for them. ¡°Going to Mr. Qiao¡¯s place?¡± Xue Baoyi responded affirmatively. Mr. Jiang seemed unapproachable, but Mr. Xue had a good temper. The security guard seized the opportunity and handed over the package left by the girl earlier. ¡°This is for Mr. Qiao, brought by a girl just now. It¡¯s food. Could you take it up for me?¡± Xue Baoyi reached out from the passenger seat, ¡°I¡¯ll take it.¡± The security guard handed it over. Inside the car, Xue Baoyi sniffed. Damn! It smelled delicious! Three minutes later, even before they arrived, Qiao Nanchu heard Xue Baoyi¡¯s shout. ¡°Open the door!¡± Qiao Nanchu opened the door. Xue Baoyi burst in noisily: ¡°Qiao Nanchu, you¡¯re hiding a mistress behind my back!¡± ¡°As if!¡± Qiao Nanchu glanced at Xue Baoyi¡¯s shoes on the carpet and kicked at him, ¡°Damn it, change your shoes.¡± Xue Baoyi juggled his shoes off and waved the package at Qiao Nanchu¡¯s face, looking overly excited for no reason: ¡°Look, there¡¯s evidence. Don¡¯t try to deny it.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± Qiao Nanchu barely glanced and walked off to fetch Jiang Zhi a pair of clean disposable slippers. ¡°A girl brought it, see?¡± Xue Baoyi waggled his eyebrows, grinning mischievously, ¡°Don¡¯t deny it. Spill the beans. When did you start keeping a mistress?¡± The old man at home always used Qiao Nanchu as a model for teaching him to keep himself clean. Pfft, what a joke! Qiao Nanchu looked at him as if he was an idiot: ¡°You think I¡¯m like you.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Damn it, he got praised by elders all the time, and for what? Xue Baoyi took out the cartoonishly cute pink lunchbox from the canvas bag: ¡°Then what is this?¡± Still denying it! Qiao Nanchu took one look and snatched the lunchbox, ignoring Xue Baoyi¡¯s protests, and put it straight in the fridge: ¡°She¡¯s my stepsister. I supported her for a few years. She¡¯s still young, don¡¯t make fun of her.¡± Damn! Xue Baoyi remembered: ¡°You mean that girl you brought back from Da Mai Mountain five years ago?¡± Chapter 27: 027: Jiang Zhi is very bad Chapter 27: 027: Jiang Zhi is very bad Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation Xue Baoyi remembered, ¡°The one you brought back from Da Mai Mountain five years ago?¡± Qiao Nanchu responded with a hum. Xue Baoyi fell silent. That girl was somewhat special, she was mute and deaf. Qiao Nanchu¡¯s stepmother was a ruthless woman; she abandoned the girl to marry into the Qiao Family. The girl was different from ordinary people; she was born with disabilities due to being the product of close relatives. In the backward and feudal place like Da Mai Mountain, five years ago, the people there wanted to drown the girl. It was rumored that it wasn¡¯t the first time they had ¡®punished¡¯ her. Qiao Nanchu brought the girl to the Imperial City. At the time, Xue Baoyi had asked him why he brought that burden along. How did he reply back then? ¡°Maybe I¡¯m just kind-hearted.¡± Kind-hearted, my ass! Xue Baoyi thought for a while, ¡°Nanchu, seriously, are you raising a wife or a daughter?¡± None of them were saints, helping a little girl for no reason? He didn¡¯t believe there weren¡¯t ulterior motives. Qiao Nanchu didn¡¯t joke around with him, ¡°Mind your own business. If you keep talking, I¡¯ll throw you out.¡± He glanced at Jiang Zhi, who was curled up on the sofa. ¡°Cold?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± So damn delicate. Qiao Nanchu went to get him a blanket and got down to business, ¡°There was a home invasion robbery last week, and this week, there was another theft.¡± Jiang Zhi sat up, wrapped himself in the blanket, and lay back down. ¡°What does it have to do with her?¡± Xue Baoyi leaned in to listen. Qiao Nanchu spread the documents from the file on the table, pointing at the photos. ¡°Traces were left at the scene, and her hat was found there.¡± The hat had embroidery, the letter Z. Jiang Zhi had seen that letter on the sleeve of that professional errand runner. ¡°It¡¯s not her.¡± Jiang Zhi spoke with certainty. Qiao Nanchu smiled faintly, glancing at him. ¡°Indeed, it¡¯s not her. Our Criminal Investigation Team and the Intelligence Division have been chasing this for so long without finding a single clue. With her professional skills, how could she leave traces at the scene?¡± He tapped the photo with his finger intermittently. ¡°Either it¡¯s a setup, someone is trying to trouble her, or they¡¯re trying to lure her out.¡± ¡°Who did she offend?¡± Xue Baoyi crossed his arms, tapping his foot, looking quite serious. ¡°There are many.¡± Qiao Nanchu casually listed a few. ¡°Her peers, her clients, her clients¡¯ rivals.¡± If she were just an ordinary errand runner, it would be fine. But that Z, her capabilities were too strong. Even if she didn¡¯t take on murder or arson requests, she would still be involved in many morally ambiguous areas. Naturally, many were watching her. ¡°Brother Zhi,¡± Xue Baoyi teased, ¡°why are you so interested in this errand runner?¡± Jiang Zhi lazily lowered his eyelids, nonchalantly replying, ¡°She knocked me out twice, I need to know who she is.¡± ¡°Love-hate relationship, huh?¡± Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t entertain his nonsense, ¡°Did you find out about the milk?¡± ¡°Do I ever screw up what you ask me to do?¡± Xue Baoyi put on an inviting look, ¡°Just had someone send it to your email.¡± His face displayed a ¡®Mr. is impressive¡¯ expression. Mr. really was impressive! Ah Wan still admired Second Young Master Xue a lot, then used his phone to log into the employer¡¯s email and pulled out the information to hand over. It was just one page. Jiang Zhi glanced at it and his gaze froze. ¡°Boss!¡± Ah Wan exclaimed, hunched over, peeking, ¡°I see Miss Zhou¡¯s name, right below yours!¡± What a divine coincidence! He always said these two were meant to be. Miss Zhou even bought the milk to give to the employer, sending a total of three boxes. For a poor girl like Miss Zhou who worked multiple jobs to barely make ends meet, to give such expensive milk, she must really like the employer¡­ huh? ¡°Miss Zhou bought over thirty boxes!¡± Ah Wan was shocked! Jiang Zhi raised his eyes, giving a cold glance. Ah Wan stepped back and silently wondered, did Miss Zhou spend all her savings on milk? ¡°I¡¯ve investigated everyone inside. The ones circled in red are all likely to be that errand runner. Also, I checked Zhou Xufang¡¯s background, it¡¯s as clean as a whistle, nothing special. She has very little in terms of assets, the house she¡¯s living in is still registered under someone else¡¯s name. But, it could be hidden deeply.¡± Xue Baoyi paused, feeling the need to mention, ¡°She lives alone, an orphan.¡± Jiang Zhi¡¯s lowered eyelashes fluttered momentarily, lost in thought, then closed again. Xue Baoyi noticed, this Zhou Xufang seemed a bit special to Jiang Zhi. Exactly how special? Without Jiang Zhi saying, no one could guess. His thoughts were always hard to gauge. This matter could wait. Qiao Nanchu kicked Xue Baoyi¡¯s pant leg, ¡°Baoyi, go downstairs and get my package. I have something to discuss with Jiang Zhi.¡± Although Xue Baoyi was unhappy, he moved his feet, ¡°You all just keep ordering me around. What a pain you all are!¡± Ah Wan was still immersed in the sadness that Miss Zhou was an orphan. Only when his employer called him did he come back to his senses. ¡°You go help.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Once everyone was sent away, Qiao Nanchu spoke, ¡°That medical project has been secured. However, JC has gained a lot of fame this time, the Jiang Family and the Lu Family have noticed something. They will probably start investigating JC¡¯s background soon.¡± It was a project supported from above. Many people wanted a piece of the pie, but JC swallowed it all without a word. From then on, in the Imperial City business world, who would dare underestimate this black horse that suddenly appeared? Jiang Zhi appeared indifferent, ¡°If you can¡¯t cover it up, then show your face.¡± Qiao Nanchu couldn¡¯t figure out his game plan, ¡°You have enough capital now, when do you plan to settle accounts with the Jiang Family?¡± He had been preparing for years; it was time to stretch his muscles. Jiang Zhi covered his mouth and coughed twice. He seemed uninterested but his eyes turned somewhat gloomy, ¡°Depends on my mood.¡± Jiang Zhi was a very strange person. More than ten years ago, they all lived in the compound. At that time, there was him, Xue Baoyi, Xue Bingxue¡ªthey were the ¡®little gang¡¯ in the compound. Jiang Zhi was a sickly child; he didn¡¯t even leave the Jiang Mansion, let alone make friends. Later, during their middle school years, Xue Baoyi became rebellious, hanging out with people outside and causing trouble. He ended up in a fight with a group of young people from society. The three of them got cornered in a secluded alley and took quite a beating. One fearless young man even pulled out a knife. Just as the knife was about to pierce Xue Baoyi¡¯s stomach, Jiang Zhi, frail and sickly, walked out from the alley entrance with a baseball bat in his hand. Though he seemed weak, he somehow found the strength to break the ribs of the small gang leader. After the fight, Jiang Zhi fell unconscious for three days. After that incident, Xue Baoyi regarded Jiang Zhi as his lifesaver, almost treating him like a deity. Qiao Nanchu chuckled, still unable to understand him, ¡°To what extent? Just a lesson, or bringing them down completely?¡± ¡°Nanchu.¡± He didn¡¯t even lift his eyelids and said nonchalantly, ¡°Do you think I¡¯m that kind-hearted?¡± Qiao Nanchu was speechless. Jiang Zhi once had a cat. He loved that cat dearly, even built a golden house for it. Later, the cat died mysteriously. Following that, certain people in the Jiang Family also mysteriously lost half their lives. How ruthless Jiang Zhi could be, Qiao Nanchu couldn¡¯t fathom even after knowing him for over twenty years. He remembered something Jiang Zhi said when he buried the cat. ¡°Killing is bad,¡± the sixteen-year-old boy knelt under the evergreen tree at the Jiang Mansion, digging the ground with his bare hands, dirtying his clean, thin hands. He then placed the cat¡¯s body neatly in the soil, ¡°If you¡¯re dead, you won¡¯t feel pain anymore.¡± Whenever Qiao Nanchu thought of Jiang Zhi at that time, chills would run down his spine. In the small supermarket at Yuquan Bay, Wen Baiyang was packing up, getting ready to hand over to Zhou Xufang. ¡°Take this home to eat.¡± Wen Baiyang handed Zhou Xufang a cloth bag containing two large lunch boxes, ¡°I made a lot, keep the leftovers in the fridge.¡± Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. They contained shredded chicken and marinated chicken feet. Wen Baiyang had mentioned last time that she would make some for her. ¡°Okay.¡± Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t smile much, and her upward-curving lips appeared somewhat stiff, but she was happy. She moved over a carton of milk placed on the ground. ¡°For you,¡± she said, ¡°this tastes really good.¡± Wen Baiyang made a gesture with her hand, and Zhou Xufang, who had learned the simplest sign language, understood that she was saying thank you. Then Wen Baiyang rode her second-hand bicycle home with the milk, and Zhou Xufang thought, next time she would give Wen Baiyang a new bicycle. Although she wanted to give a sports car, Wen Baiyang couldn¡¯t hear, so she couldn¡¯t drive a car. At one in the morning, Zhou Xufang finished work and went home with the shredded chicken and marinated chicken feet. As soon as she got home, her computer started up automatically, and SpongeBob Squarpants patterns filled the screen. ¡°Ah Fang.¡± Zhou Xufang put the shredded chicken and marinated chicken feet in the fridge. Shuangjiang used red fonts, indicating urgency, ¡°Someone is committing crimes in your name.¡± Zhou Xufang sat at the computer desk, which was piled high with milk cartons. She had bought more than thirty boxes, creating a wall of milk. Looking at the milk made her happy. She thought that next time she would build a wall entirely of marshmallows and sit on it to eat. She leaned forward and reached out to grab a can of milk, ¡°Is it something serious?¡± ¡°Theft, robbery.¡± Zhou Xufang frowned, her face cold. She never stole or robbed. She tore open two packets of marshmallows and poured them into a glass box to eat. She hooked her finger into the milk pull tab, pulled it off, then crushed it. Shuangjiang typed quickly, lines of red text rolling out, ¡°Recently we haven¡¯t taken any big orders, the only people we¡¯ve offended are Jiang Zhi and Luo Qing, but it could also be our peers. Many people have been trying to learn to be a professional errand runner recently.¡± Zhou Xufang closed the marshmallow box, ¡°It¡¯s not Jiang Zhi.¡± ¡°Why?¡± She frowned, thinking for a long time for a reason, ¡°He¡¯s very good-looking.¡± The SpongeBob on the computer screen lay still for half a minute before Shuangjiang typed back, ¡°Ah Fang, good-looking people aren¡¯t necessarily kind-hearted.¡± Zhou Xufang had met very few people and knew little about human nature, but she still believed Jiang Zhi was a good person with a beautiful heart. So she argued, ¡°He even gave me a good review.¡± ¡°What kind of review?¡± ¡°For a food delivery.¡± Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t know that the good review¡ªthe one with hundreds of words praising the rider¡ªwas written by Ah Wan. ¡°Ah Fang,¡± the text on the computer screen changed from red to white, ¡°There¡¯s a new client.¡± Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t ask for specifics, she refused directly, ¡°No more jobs, things aren¡¯t peaceful right now. We are on vacation.¡± Shuangjiang hesitated for a moment. ¡°It¡¯s related to Jiang Zhi.¡± Hearing this, Zhou Xufang¡¯s mind went blank for a moment. She crushed the milk can in her hand. Chapter 28: 028: Xu Fang to be a body double? Chapter 28: 028: Xu Fang to be a body double? Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation Zhou Xu heard this and was momentarily stunned, crushing the milk can in her hand. ¡°Someone wants to kidnap him again.¡± Zhou Xu was silent for a while, then her face returned to its usual cold expression: ¡°What do they want with him?¡± ¡°The client didn¡¯t say. They only mentioned the time and place, and offered a very high price,¡± Shuangjiang sent over a figure. Seven zeros, ten million. This was an astronomical amount in the industry. Who could it be, willing to spend so much money to kidnap Jiang Zhi? Zhou Xu put the milk down, losing her appetite: ¡°Find out why they want to kidnap him?¡± She had rules for taking tasks. The purpose must be stated and it must not be illegal or unethical. If the client lied, she would breach the contract. Five minutes later, Shuangjiang replied. ¡°The client refused to state the purpose, but they raised the offer, now it¡¯s twenty million.¡± Willing to offer twenty million, they must be determined. The reflection of Zhou Xu¡¯s face on the dark computer screen showed her frowning tighter: ¡°Can we trace the client?¡± ¡°Proxy IP, can¡¯t trace it.¡± Even Shuangjiang couldn¡¯t trace it, this wasn¡¯t a simple person. Offering such a high price without stating the purpose, there must be a problem. Was it for Jiang Zhi¡¯s beauty¡­ Zhou Xu fell into deep thought. ¡°Shall we take it?¡± Zhou Xu, twisting the strap on her hoodie, hesitated and tied a knot: ¡°Take it.¡± If she didn¡¯t take it, someone else would. In the end, he would be kidnapped by someone else. Zhou Xu couldn¡¯t bear the thought of Jiang Zhi being kidnapped by someone else. Beautiful things should be well-protected, like her cotton candy box, which still looked new after being used for a long time. She also wanted Jiang Zhi to always look as new as ever, forever beautiful. But if she broke the contract or failed the mission, she would have to compensate double the commission amount, which would be forty million¡­ Zhou Xu felt a bit disheartened: ¡°It looks like I¡¯ll have to postpone buying Moon Bay.¡± Beautiful people indeed cost a lot of money. No, she had to work harder to earn money. She opened her phone and sent a WeChat message to the group leader: ¡°Do you have any roles that pay more?¡± Lao Wei, the group leader, replied to her three minutes later. ¡°Can you play any role?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°How about being a double?¡± ¡°That¡¯s fine.¡± Zhou Xu had seen others doing stunt doubles. It seemed simple to her; she just needed to control her strength so as not to hurt anyone, considering how strong she was. ¡°Send your weight, height, and measurements, along with a full-body photo,¡± Lao Wei thought she was an experienced group actor and should understand the industry slang, so he didn¡¯t elaborate. ¡°You might not get the role though, I¡¯ll give it a try.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Zhou Xu sent over the information and photo. Half an hour later, just as she was dozing off, Lao Wei replied: ¡°Yu Ran is very satisfied. You can come tomorrow to be her double for a scene, eight thousand yuan per shot.¡± Eight thousand. So much money. Being a stunt double was quite lucrative. Zhou Xu had never earned so much before, she was very happy: ¡°I¡¯ll come tomorrow.¡± ¡°When you arrive, go directly to the costume group and find Anna.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Lao Wei sent an emoji. Zhou Xu replied with a period. Lao Wei sent another emoji. Zhou Xu responded with another period. ¡°Alright, stop it, go to sleep now.¡± ¡°.¡± This girl! She always ended conversations with a period. The next day, Zhou Xu put on a military coat, wore a hat, wrapped herself well from head to toe, and went to the film city early. Apart from the staff, the actors hadn¡¯t arrived yet, and neither had Lixiang. She went straight to the costume group. Anna was already there, staring at her for quite a while: ¡°Are you the double Lao Wei found?¡± Zhou Xu nodded. Anna looked her up and down; she was wearing too many clothes, wrapped too tightly, making it hard to see her figure, so she asked: ¡°Have you done this before?¡± Zhou Xu said: ¡°No.¡± She hadn¡¯t been a double and feared she might hurt someone by not controlling her strength well. Anna could only see half of her face exposed outside the hat, which was quite calm. She offered routine comfort: ¡°The assistant director will clear the set, and someone will guide you through the actions. You don¡¯t need to be too nervous.¡± Zhou Xu remained expressionless, she wasn¡¯t nervous at all¡­ Having never been a double, Zhou Xu didn¡¯t know there was something called a body double. As the sun rose and the sky brightened, the mornings of severe winter didn¡¯t have harsh sunlight, and outside, it was foggy. Jiang Zhi had woken up too early and hadn¡¯t slept enough, making his temper not so good. As he sat in the chair resting, he opened his half-sleepy eyes, which were like the twilight of winter, with deep shadows, looking cold and gloomy. ¡°Still not starting?¡± His morning grumpiness hadn¡¯t dissipated, and there was anger in his words. Assistant Director Zhao was terrified of him and answered with a slight tremble: ¡°The actors are not ready yet.¡± Jiang Zhi raised his wrist to look at his watch: ¡°Eight forty-seven.¡± He looked up at Assistant Director Zhao, ¡°Making the whole crew wait for one person. Is this her first day? Doesn¡¯t she know my rules?¡± It was a cold winter day, and sweat immediately broke out on Assistant Director Zhao¡¯s forehead. The female lead Yu Ran¡¯s manager, Xu Lu, hurried over to apologize and explain: ¡°Sorry, Director Jiang, the stunt double isn¡¯t ready yet, we¡¯ve already urged her.¡± ¡°Stunt double?¡± Jiang Zhi looked at his own hand; his fingertips were reddened from the cold, and the weather was irritating him. He threw the script away and put his hands under the blanket to warm them, lifting his eyelids nonchalantly: ¡°When did I agree to use a stunt double?¡± In the winter, he looked lazy and weak, and his complexion was very pale. But this sickly appearance terrified people, and Xu Lu¡¯s heart pounded, making her swallow her pride and plead for her artist: ¡°Yu Ran is a new actress, her foundation isn¡¯t strong yet, and most of her fans are male. After several discussions at the studio, it was decided to use a double.¡± This film was a national drama, a spy war story, and the female lead was an intelligence agent. There was a bed scene that required exposure from the nape to the lower back. The scope wasn¡¯t large, but it did require undressing. ¡°What you¡¯re saying,¡± Jiang Zhi¡¯s speech was slow, occasionally accompanied by two coughs, sounding weak. He dragged his words, finishing the sentence, ¡°Does it have anything to do with my film?¡± He gave no face at all. ¡°Yu Ran, she,¡± Xu Lu panicked and made up a story, ¡°She has a scar on her back, it wouldn¡¯t look good on camera.¡± Female actors couldn¡¯t easily reveal their bodies, especially since Yu Ran had a pure image. Because of this, she brazenly went against his orders once. Jiang Zhi shook the milk can in his hand without speaking. Xu Lu quickly seized the opportunity and continued to persuade: ¡°The stunt double I¡¯ve found is in great shape, she will definitely give a better effect. Director Jiang, how about trying a take with her first?¡± Assistant Director Zhao also tried to smooth things over: ¡°Why don¡¯t we meet the stunt double first? Take a look at her back and then¡ª¡± Before he could finish. ¡°Boss!¡± ¡°Boss!¡± The six-foot-two hulking figure of Ah Wan stumbled over, out of breath. S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Miss Zhou, she,¡± Ah Wan gasped, ¡°She,¡± He choked on a breath of cold air and couldn¡¯t speak. Jiang Zhi glanced coldly, displeased: ¡°Straighten your tongue.¡± Ah Wan took a deep breath and exhaled: ¡°Miss Zhou wants to be the body double!¡± Body double¡­ Jiang Zhi squinted, sat up from the lounge chair, and his gaze shifted lightly, revealing a touch of sky blue: ¡°Who is the stunt double you found?¡± How would they know! Assistant Director Zhao hurriedly called out: ¡°Lao Wei.¡± His voice urgent, ¡°Lao Wei!¡± Lao Wei was one of the top group leaders at the film city, with a multitude of stunt doubles, background extras, and actors under his wing. He had been a long-time collaborator. Lao Wei ran onto the set: ¡°What is it, Assistant Director?¡± ¡°What¡¯s the name of the stunt double you found?¡± ¡°Her name is Zhou Xu,¡± Lao Wei scratched his head, ¡°Why? Is there a problem?¡± It¡¯s that Zhou girl again. Assistant Director Zhao wiped his sweat nervously, not daring to speak further, watching for Jiang Zhi¡¯s reaction only to see his eyes, previously sparkling like rippling water, darken. The atmosphere suddenly became oppressive. Lao Wei, seeing the director for the first time and unaware of his temper, couldn¡¯t help but say something nice: ¡°Director, Zhou Xu is very good. Although she hasn¡¯t been a double before, she has been an extra for a long time and is very experienced. Also, several team leads, including me, have seen her photos, her figure and¡ª¡± Bang. The milk can fell from Jiang Zhi¡¯s hand, rolling on the ground. Instantly, no one dared to breathe heavily. ¡°Break for twenty minutes.¡± Jiang Zhi left that statement, stood up, and his gaze lazily fell on the late-arriving Yu Ran: ¡°Can¡¯t shoot the back scene?¡± She bit her lip and remained silent. Jiang Zhi restrained his gaze, his slender fingers slowly buttoning up his coat one by one, speaking nonchalantly: ¡°If she can¡¯t shoot, find someone who can.¡± Xu Lu panicked: ¡°Director Jiang¡ª¡± Yu Ran pulled at her: ¡°I can do it.¡± Her face turned pale as she spoke each word, ¡°I can film it.¡± If she dared to say no, Jiang Zhi would replace her. On that gloomy day, the sound of coughing was carried away by the wind. ¡°Where is she?¡± Ah Wan was stunned. Jiang Zhi stopped in his tracks, turned back, his gaze darkening slightly, wrapped in an imperceptible anger: ¡°Zhou Xu, where is she?¡± Chapter 29: 029: Oh no, its the feeling of a heart attack Chapter 29: 029: Oh no, it¡¯s the feeling of a heart attack Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation Jiang Zhi stopped in his tracks, turned his head, and his eyes darkened with a trace of barely detectable anger. ¡°Zhou Xufang, where is she?¡± Ah Wan felt a cold wave rushing towards her and quickly shrank her neck. ¡°In the changing room.¡± At the moment, there was no one in the changing room. ¡°Xu Fang!¡± ¡°Xu Fang!¡± Fang Lixiang rushed in, but saw no one; only the curtain was drawn. Without thinking, she yanked open the curtain. ¡°Xu¡ª¡± The voice was stuck in her throat as she stared at Zhou Xufang¡¯s exposed shoulder, her eyes nearly popping out. So white¡­ That was her first reaction. The second reaction was shock. There was a scar under Zhou Xufang¡¯s shoulder, about the size of a thumb, and a black string hung around her neck, tied to a polished metal round piece. She covered it with her clothes. ¡°I¡¯m changing.¡± Then, she pulled the curtain closed with one hand. Fang Lixiang stood there, still shocked, only slowly calming down after a long while. ¡°Xu Fang, that necklace on your neck¡ª¡± The curtain was pulled open. Zhou Xufang came out, wrapped tightly as usual. Fang Lixiang, wearing heavy makeup and a costume, asked Zhou Xufang casually, ¡°That necklace is very special, where did you buy it?¡± She buttoned up her military coat, put on her hat, and zipped up to the top, covering her neck. ¡°I didn¡¯t buy it.¡± ¡°Was it given to you by someone else?¡± She looked up, stared directly at Fang Lixiang. ¡°Why do you keep asking about my necklace?¡± As she spoke, her pupils turned the darkest of black. Fang Lixiang had never seen Zhou Xufang with such a cold gaze. Fang Lixiang looked away first. ¡°Because your necklace is very beautiful.¡± ¡°My family left it to me.¡± Zhou Xufang lowered her head, hiding the wariness in her eyes, and said, ¡°You are sweating.¡± Fang Lixiang hastily wiped her forehead. ¡°It¡¯s a bit hot.¡± She fanned her face with her hand, again in a carefree manner, ¡°I almost forgot the main thing, Xu Fang, do you want to be a body double?¡± ¡°I won¡¯t be.¡± Zhou Xufang had just found out that the crew wanted her as a body double, so she told Anna she¡¯d pay to back out, then changed out of her costume. ¡°That¡¯s good.¡± Fang Lixiang let out a sigh of relief and, like a mother, admonished her, ¡°I¡¯m telling you, don¡¯t ever be a body double. It¡¯s bad for your reputation. When I become famous, I¡¯ll take you to make your debut.¡± Zhou Xufang was about to say she didn¡¯t need a debut. Someone called her from outside, ¡°Zhou Xufang.¡± The voice was low, like it was suppressing anger, along with a cough. It was Jiang Zhi. Zhou Xufang tilted her head to look over. ¡°Hmm?¡± Jiang Zhi did not enter the women¡¯s changing room, using a commanding tone. ¡°Come out for a moment.¡± Oh. Zhou Xufang adjusted the hat on her military coat and went out. ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± Jiang Zhi stood against the wall. Perhaps he had rushed over too quickly, causing his face to be slightly flushed, and his eyes were rimmed with a blush. ¡°Are you in desperate need of money?¡± He spoke, still panting a little. Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t know what he meant and answered truthfully, ¡°Not very desperate.¡± It was just that she had lost a few million and now couldn¡¯t afford Moon Bay. He stared at her for quite a while. ¡°Turn around.¡± S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Still a commanding tone. Why turn around? Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t move. Exposing one¡¯s back to someone else was dangerous. He suppressed the itch in his throat and held back his cough. ¡°I just want to take a look.¡± His tone softened a bit. Zhou Xufang felt he looked weak, like he would faint if he couldn¡¯t catch his breath, much like a fragile lady in those TV shows. After thinking for a while, she turned around, showing her back to him. She believed Jiang Zhi was a good person and wouldn¡¯t harm her. She couldn¡¯t see his face anymore, but she could hear his breathing, which had grown heavier. Jiang Zhi reached out, his fingertips reddening, moving closer to her back under the military coat. Zhou Xufang suddenly turned her head. ¡°You¡ª¡± He had just said one word when she grabbed his wrist, her eyes full of wariness. ¡°Why are you touching my back?¡± What had a girl in her early twenties been through to be so guarded? This was the first time Jiang Zhi saw in her eyes a vast emptiness, like cold, dark magnetism that could draw one in. His complexion turned pale. ¡°Let go.¡± She didn¡¯t release her grip, still staring at him. His throat surged with a breath. ¡°Cough, cough, cough, cough¡­¡± His eyes turned red, and he squeezed out words from his chest painfully, ¡°Zhou Xufang¡­ it hurts.¡± The last word had no strength at all. So delicate, like hitting a pillow with a punch, all the force was rebounded back, like a cat¡¯s paw, soft. Zhou Xufang froze, still holding his hand, forgetting to move. Jiang Zhi was already unwell; her grip was strong, and he struggled twice but couldn¡¯t break free, his body teetering, becoming furious out of shame. ¡°Damn it, you hurt me!¡± Hurt me! Hurt! Me! Zhou Xufang suddenly let go, seeing a red mark instantly appear on Jiang Zhi¡¯s fair wrist. His hands were beautifully pale, standing out sharply. She apologized immediately, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, did I hurt you?¡± This tone of self-blame, this guilt¡­ Ah Wan, who had just caught up, thought she had stumbled upon a female bully harassing a good young man. Ah Wan squinted over, seeing her employer¡¯s flushed face, hurried breaths, teary eyes, and rubbing his wrist. ¡°How can a woman have such strength?¡± It was her fault for being too strong. Zhou Xufang felt even more guilty. ¡°I¡¯ll be gentler next time.¡± Next time? Gentler? The more she spoke, the more she sounded like a rogue. Jiang Zhi coughed in frustration. Zhou Xufang reached out, wanting to pat his back, but awkwardly didn¡¯t know how to do it properly. Her hand stiffly stayed there for a long time and then silently retracted. ¡°You still haven¡¯t said why you were touching my back.¡± Jiang Zhi rested a while, finally stopping the cough, the fine veins on his neck visible, ears tinged red, panting, looking like he had been seriously bullied. He was very angry, his tone particularly bad. ¡°Script reading.¡± Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t understand. ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to be the body double for the lead female role in my movie?¡± His peach blossom eyes, rimmed with red, scanned her up and down. ¡°Forget it, you¡¯re not qualified.¡± The words were harsh, his temper was terrible. Maybe good-looking people had some temper; like noble daughters spoiled in big houses. Oh, right, Jiang Zhi was also the pampered young master of the Jiang Family. He must have been spoiled. Zhou Xufang: ¡°Oh.¡± Oh? That¡¯s it? Jiang Zhi felt a blockage in his chest. ¡°In the future¡ª¡± He didn¡¯t finish his sentence. Zhou Xufang waited a long time without hearing the rest, looking up from under the military coat hat. ¡°What?¡± What¡¯s with this outfit?! Jiang Zhi felt somewhat frustrated, not knowing why he was angry, just feeling inexplicably displeased. He forcefully tore open the coat¡¯s buttons, exhaling deeply. ¡°Don¡¯t ever be a body double again. If you need money, come to me for auditions.¡± A simple sentence, said with so much frustration. Yet Zhou Xufang knew, Jiang Zhi just had a bit of a bad temper, but he was a good person. She honestly, coldly, woodenly said, ¡°You¡¯re a really nice person.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Jiang Zhi almost choked on his breath, his throat burning. Nice person? To hell with being a nice person, he was very ill! Seeing him coughing severely, Zhou Xufang, conflicted, reached out and gently patted his back, careful not to hurt him, patting very lightly. Jiang Zhi was taken aback, turning his head. Her fingertips brushed against his face, icy cold against his burning skin, the extremes colliding, a fine needle poking at the heart, numbing and itching, with a slight tinge of pain. Jiang Zhi almost staggered away, his face and ears instantly flushed red, his voice hoarse. ¡°Your¡ªyour hands are so cold.¡± Oh, her body temperature was lower than normal. Zhou Xufang withdrew her hand, her expression unchanging, unlike Jiang Zhi¡¯s embarrassment. ¡°I¡¯m cold.¡± His Adam¡¯s apple bobbed, suddenly at a loss for words, feeling thirsty and breathless. ¡°I also have something to say to you.¡± He averted his eyes, responding only with a hum. She said, ¡°You must be careful in the future, do not go out alone, especially not at night.¡± Someone had offered two million to assault him. He turned to look at her. ¡°What do you mean?¡± She glanced around, took a step closer, stood on tiptoe, and whispered in his ear: ¡°You need to hide, or someone will covet your beauty.¡± That year, the mute boy from the Luo Family had also told him, standing on tiptoe by his ear, ¡°You must hide, they will make you drink poison, they are all bad people.¡± Oh, so he wasn¡¯t mute. That year, that boy died in a fire, never again warning him to hide because someone wanted to harm him. Jiang Zhi stared blankly at Zhou Xufang. Her eyes, looking at him solemnly, were exactly the same as that boy¡¯s, which was why, why she made his heart helpless and lost. Chapter 30: 030: Jiang Zhi got a disease called Zhou Xufang Chapter 30: 030: Jiang Zhi got a disease called Zhou Xufang Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation Zhou Xufang couldn¡¯t tell why he was in a daze. She had finished saying what she needed to say, ¡°Then I¡¯m leaving.¡± He still didn¡¯t speak. Zhou Xufang left. For a long while, Jiang Zhi stood motionless until Ah Wan called out to him. ¡°Boss.¡± ¡°Boss.¡± His boss didn¡¯t respond. Ah Wan waved a hand in front of him, trying to bring him back to reality, ¡°Boss.¡± Jiang Zhi finally came to his senses, still looking confused. The more Ah Wan looked at him, the more worried he became, ¡°Your face is so red.¡± His gaze was blank, and he mechanically raised a hand to his heart. Then he stumbled and leaned heavily against the wall, breathing deeply. This reaction scared Ah Wan. ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Boss? Are you not feeling well?¡± The boss leaned against the wall, coughing and breathing heavily. Ah Wan was frantic, ¡°Oh no, your ears are also red. Are you having an episode?¡± He quickly dialed the phone, ¡°Hello, Dr. Xue? My boss isn¡¯t feeling well.¡± Xue Bingxue asked for symptoms over the phone. Ah Wan hurriedly described them in detail. ¡°Coughing badly.¡± ¡°No blood in his sputum.¡± ¡°Should be a bit feverish, his face is very red, everywhere is red.¡± ¡°He seems to be out of breath.¡± Ah Wan started to sweat, ¡°It looks like symptoms of a myocardial infarction.¡± Last year, around this same time, as winter set in, the employer started coughing up blood. Ah Wan dreaded that his employer might have a short life. Though he had a bad temper, Ah Wan didn¡¯t want him to die. Ah Wan almost cried, ¡°He isn¡¯t walking well either¡­ seems like he might pass out¡­¡± My poor employer¡­ only twenty-four years old¡­ Please, heavens, have mercy¡­ Jiang Zhi stumbled back to the lounge, took a couple of tranquilizers, but they had no effect. His heartbeat was irregular, and he gasped for air, lying on the chair, taking large breaths. Ah Wan, with reddened eyes, stayed close by. ¡°Boss.¡± Jiang Zhi had no interest in responding to him. Ah Wan wanted to cry, pinching his thigh to hold back the tears, ¡°How do you feel? Do you want some hot water?¡± Without an answer, he quickly fetched a cup of hot water, presenting it with both hands, ¡°Dr. Xue will be here soon; please hold on.¡± The heat on Jiang Zhi¡¯s face hadn¡¯t subsided. His lips were redder than usual, adding an unusual touch of allure to his sickly look. He seemed very upset, roughly pulling off the blanket from the recliner and throwing it at Ah Wan. Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Send this to Zhou Xufang.¡± Ah Wan looked dumbfounded, ¡°Huh?¡± Jiang Zhi impatiently said, ¡°She¡¯s cold, take it to her.¡± Her hands were like ice blocks, she¡¯d freeze to death. Even at such a time, he was worried about someone else being cold. Ah Wan held the blanket in one hand, offering the hot water again, ¡°Aren¡¯t you cold?¡± Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t take it; his peach blossom eyes seemed to hold water, his expression blurred. He said, ¡°I¡¯m hot.¡± Hot? Ah Wan saw his red face and ears, growing even more worried, ¡°Do you have a fever?¡± Jiang Zhi took a deep breath, ¡°Hurry up and go.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Ah Wan ran off to deliver the blanket. Inside, only Jiang Zhi remained, lying on the chair, his eyes staring blankly. He raised a hand, pressing the back of it to his forehead. Damn, he was really burning up; his whole body was on fire! Xue Bingxue arrived twenty minutes later. ¡°Give me your hand.¡± Jiang Zhi lowered his eyes, lost in thought. Xue Bingxue called him, ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± No response. ¡°Jiang Zhi!¡± He lifted his eyes, ¡°Hmm?¡± Xue Bingxue looked at his face; it wasn¡¯t as bad as Ah Wan had described. His face was pale, but his eyes held a soft tenderness, still in decent condition. ¡°Give me your hand, for a pulse check.¡± Jiang Zhi extended his hand to the chair¡¯s armrest. Xue Bingxue was trained in traditional Chinese medicine, particularly skilled at pulse diagnosis. He felt Jiang Zhi¡¯s pulse several times, ¡°How many of the pills I gave you did you take this week?¡± Jiang Zhi seemed to be distracted, ¡°One.¡± That medicine harmed the lungs: taking it would cause coughing and even spitting blood. He absolutely couldn¡¯t take too much. Infertility was minor; it could be life-threatening. Of course, Xue Bingxue didn¡¯t know the full story, assuming it was just a medication issue. He advised Jiang Zhi, ¡°Your pulse is erratic. Stop the medication for now and try other treatments. Avoid going back to the Jiang Family these days. I¡¯ll prescribe something else to ease your condition.¡± That drug was still in the experimental phase, who knew what other side effects it might have besides infertility. Not sure if Jiang Zhi paid attention, he frowned the whole time, lost in thought. ¡°Can I ask you something?¡± He sat up from the chair. Xue Bingxue was writing a prescription, ¡°Go ahead.¡± ¡°Can sexual orientation change?¡± Xue Bingxue suddenly looked up. Jiang Zhi repeated, ¡°Can sexual orientation change?¡± His frown deepened. Was it because she resembled someone who had passed? Or because she was uniquely quirky? Or was he just curious about the opposite sex? Or¡­ was it simply because of this heart that beat chaotically? He couldn¡¯t be sure; all he knew was, she was different. Xue Bingxue, perhaps shocked by the question, had a puzzled look on his delicate face, his mouth slightly open. After a while, he responded, ¡°I don¡¯t know about you, but for me, no.¡± He was a bit shy but still firm, ¡°I will always only like Wei¡¯er.¡± Here he went again with Jiang Wei¡¯er! Pathetic! Jiang Zhi¡¯s already chaotic thoughts were further stirred by Xue Bingxue, making him annoyed as he scolded, ¡°If you like her, go after her.¡± In his view, anything he wanted, he had to get, by any means necessary. Xue Bingxue was different, though. Being the cherished child born late to elderly parents, he was a naive and pampered sweetie, ¡°She has a boyfriend; if I go after her, I¡¯d be the third wheel.¡± Jiang Zhi was dismissive, ¡°So what?¡± His tone was arrogant, his gaze challenging. That¡¯s just how Jiang Zhi was. He did whatever he wanted, didn¡¯t care about right or wrong; his sense of right and wrong was his own, unchangeable by anyone. An absolute egotist. Xue Bingxue didn¡¯t argue, his face sad. Jiang Zhi couldn¡¯t bear his pathetic look and coldly said with his beautiful eyes, ¡°If it were someone I liked,¡± he licked his lips, ¡°I¡¯d even get her to divorce if she were married.¡± He was determined to have her. Make¡­ make them divorce?! ¡°!¡± Naive Xue Bingxue was stunned, his worldview shattered! Suddenly, a voice cut in, ¡°What are you talking about?¡± The door was pushed open forcefully, and Jiang Wei¡¯er walked in, lifting her dress, giving Jiang Zhi a glare, ¡°Watch your language.¡± Xue Bingxue immediately stood up, his face turning beet red, swallowing a big gulp of saliva, ¡°Wei, Wei¡¯er.¡± Jiang Wei¡¯er saw his red ears, ¡°Did Brother Zhi bully you again?¡± His head shook vigorously, ¡°No!¡± Jiang Wei¡¯er didn¡¯t believe it, giving him a glance before looking at Jiang Zhi. Compared to his aggressive wolf-like eyes, Xue Bingxue was like a harmless little rabbit. She earnestly advised Xue Bingxue, ¡°Spend less time with those guys in the future; they¡¯ll only corrupt you.¡± Xue Baoyi was carefree; Qiao Nanchu was also sly and wicked¡ªnot one of them was honest! Xue Bingxue was extremely obedient, nodding like a pecking chick, ¡°Mm-hmm ~¡± Whatever Wei¡¯er said was right! He¡¯d listen to whatever Wei¡¯er said! Jiang Wei¡¯er saw his bright eyes like a harmless little animal and felt an urge to pet him. Among the group of young masters from back then, he was the most obedient. But too obedient, easy to deceive. While thinking, she received a call. Seeing the caller ID, she turned away to answer. ¡°Are you here?¡± Her voice was gentle and sweet. It was Xiao Linsu¡¯s call. She spoke to him like this, softly like a little white flower, ¡°Wait for me in the car.¡± Hanging up, her tone changed to domineering, ¡°I have something to do, leaving now. Brother Zhi, stop bullying Xue Bingxue.¡± Jiang Zhi responded with an indifferent look. Waving goodbye, Jiang Wei¡¯er left. Xue Bingxue reluctantly followed to the door, his eyes filled with sorrow. Jiang Zhi rubbed his brow, wanting to punch the wimp, and called out, ¡°Ah Wan.¡± Ah Wan stepped forward. Jiang Zhi frowned again, ¡°Arrange an appointment with a psychologist.¡± He needed to understand his feelings for Zhou Xufang. Was it because she resembled someone from the past? It didn¡¯t seem like it. Ah Wan found the boss extra weird today and asked, ¡°Why do you need a psychologist?¡± Was it because he was so ill that he broke down mentally? Jiang Zhi looked up, his eyes coldly sweeping over. Ah Wan quickly shut his mouth, promising not to ask more. Chapter 31: 031: Brother Zhi Longing for Spring (Part 1) Chapter 31: 031: Brother Zhi Longing for Spring (Part 1) Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation There was only one parking lot in the film city, nearly a kilometer away from Jiang Zhi¡¯s filming location. Jiang Wei¡¯er walked there, being particularly careful along the way. After ensuring no one was following her, she got into a car. As soon as she sat down, she was pulled over by a hand. Xiao Linsu didn¡¯t even wear a mask, smiling as he looked at her. Jiang Wei¡¯er, worried about paparazzi, backed away a little: ¡°Don¡¯t you have a schedule?¡± He refused, pulling her into his arms: ¡°I missed you.¡± His voice was hoarse beyond belief; he must¡¯ve been utterly exhausted. Just as Jiang Wei¡¯er wanted to ask why he came back so suddenly, he hugged her tightly, leaving her somewhat bewildered. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Xiao Linsu rested his chin on her shoulder: ¡°Wei¡¯er.¡± ¡°Mm.¡± He didn¡¯t say anything more, just kissed her. Worried that they were outside, Jiang Wei¡¯er pushed him away: ¡°We might get photographed.¡± ¡°Let them,¡± he moved closer and gently kissed the corner of her lips. Jiang Wei¡¯er¡¯s heart softened, letting him be. As she lowered her head, she saw a small patch of exposed skin on his wrist: ¡°What¡¯s wrong with your hand?¡± He lowered his hand: ¡°It¡¯s nothing, just got hurt while filming.¡± She was still worried and tried to pull up his sleeve. ¡°Don¡¯t look.¡± Xiao Linsu held her hand. ¡°Let me see.¡± Jiang Wei¡¯er undid his cufflinks and rolled up his sleeve, her brows furrowing instantly, ¡°You¡¯re lying. This wasn¡¯t from filming, these are cigarette burns.¡± His arm had two cigarette burn scars. Xiao Linsu laughed: ¡°You found out.¡± He loved to laugh, and when he did, his eyes brightened, now looking at her a bit pleadingly as he confessed, ¡°I just secretly smoked one.¡± He had always been good-tempered and gentle. Jiang Wei¡¯er couldn¡¯t bring herself to get angry with him, feeling merely heartbroken looking at the burns on his arm: ¡°It was so hard for you to quit.¡± He laughed and pecked her on the cheek: ¡°I won¡¯t dare again, I promise.¡± He used to smoke heavily, and it was Jiang Wei¡¯er who made him quit. Fifty meters away, Fang Lixiang was crouching, leaning against a parking lot pillar, bent at a ninety-degree angle, eavesdropping with focused concentration. Suddenly, someone patted her on the back. ¡°Lixiang.¡± She turned around quickly, pressing a finger to her lips: ¡°Shh.¡± Seeing how mysteriously she was acting, Zhou Xufang spoke in a low voice: ¡°What are you doing?¡± Fang Lixiang¡¯s face showed a mixture of excitement and sadness. Speaking in a high-pitched voice, she said: ¡°My assistant is having an affair with my idol!¡± After saying this, she strained her ears to listen again, her little face scrunched up tightly. ¡°Ugh, I can¡¯t hear anything!¡± So frustrating. Zhou Xufang had excellent hearing, able to catch even the slightest sound within a hundred meters if she wanted. She then faithfully recited the following dialogue. sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Baby, kiss me again.¡± with no expression. ¡°You can kiss, but don¡¯t say anything.¡± again with no expression. ¡°Mm, won¡¯t say anything.¡± still with no expression. ¡°Annoying.¡± still expressionless. Reciting the little love words, Zhou Xufang did so mechanically, her tone as if reciting a text. Fang Lixiang didn¡¯t react for a moment: ¡°What are you doing?¡± Zhou Xufang¡¯s expression was both serious and calm: ¡°Didn¡¯t you want to hear? I heard their affair talk, so I¡¯m telling you.¡± Fang Lixiang: ¡°¡­¡± This is a gem right here. Fang Lixiang thought Zhou Xufang was both cold and cute and well-behaved. Eavesdropping wasn¡¯t a task that would set the innocent Zhou Xufang on the wrong path. So, they left together. ¡°Xu Fang, are you short of money recently?¡± Zhou Xufang kept a bit of a distance from her, seemingly not liking others getting too close. Her face was also hidden within the hood of her military coat. She said: ¡°I have something very expensive to buy.¡± Knowing that Zhou Xufang had mild social difficulties, Fang Lixiang kept a distance walking behind her: ¡°Then I¡¯ll introduce you to a part-time job.¡± She said: ¡°I don¡¯t do nudity.¡± ¡°Not nudity, my cousin is opening a salon and recently looking for hair models.¡± Fang Lixiang felt that Zhou Xufang carried a mysterious sense of abstinence, looking particularly cool and handsome. However, with just a frown, she¡¯d have an advanced melancholic look, decadent yet chic. Anyway, she looked good no matter what, but Fang had never seen her smile and wondered how she looked when she did. ¡°What do I have to do?¡± Fang Lixiang responded generously: ¡°You don¡¯t have to do anything, just let him do your hair, and you can ask for any price!¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Because the nudity job didn¡¯t work out, Zhou Xufang went home earlier, and then went to Ba Yi Bridge early to set up her screen protector stall. The whole afternoon, the atmosphere on set was a bit off, though it was hard to pinpoint why. Anyway, the female lead Yu Ran got scolded to tears by Jiang Zhi, who said her acting was crap. Seven in the evening. Ah Wan had reserved a spot for Jiang Zhi at Hulun Tea House, arranging a meeting with a renowned psychologist in the Imperial City. ¡°Doctor Qiu is already waiting inside for you.¡± It started raining in the evening, and winter rain was chillingly cold. Jiang Zhi wore a mask: ¡°You don¡¯t need to follow.¡± He left Ah Wan behind, opened the car door, and walked into the rain with a black umbrella. Through the misty rain, Ah Wan saw him walking with his head down, coughing all the way. Alas, the employer was not just physically sick, but also mentally sick lately as well. Hulun Tea House had private seating areas ensuring good privacy. Jiang Zhi opened the door; someone was already waiting inside. The middle-aged man in a suit and tie stood up immediately upon seeing him, somewhat nervously calling out: ¡°Mr. Jiang.¡± Jiang Zhi took off his mask and his coat, the temperature difference quickly reddening his pale face: ¡°Sit down.¡± His voice lacked strength. Just like the rumors, he really was a sickly person. Doctor Qiu raised his head for a quick glance and immediately lowered it again. That face, rumored to be, indeed, as delicate and beautiful as a pear blossom. Jiang Zhi sat down, wiping the rainwater from his fingertips with a cloth: ¡°I¡¯m consulting you on something, and I hope none of the Jiang Family knows about it.¡± Doctor Qiu¡¯s heart beat faster, sincerely afraid: ¡°I understand.¡± Jiang Zhi casually poured himself a cup of tea, moistening his lips: ¡°Don¡¯t be nervous. It¡¯s nothing serious, just a few questions.¡± ¡°Please, go ahead.¡± He remained silent for a moment, seemingly not knowing how to start, his brows furrowed for quite a while: ¡°I have a friend.¡± After a three-second pause, he emphasized, ¡°This is about my friend.¡± Doctor Qiu, now embarrassed but forgetting his nervousness: ¡°¡­¡± The little tyrant of the Jiang Family was also using the ¡°friend¡± line? As if afraid he wouldn¡¯t believe him, Jiang Zhi further explained very nonchalantly: ¡°You know Xue Baoyi, the second son of the Xue Family, this concerns him.¡± Knowing everything yet pretending otherwise, Doctor Qiu put on a serious expression: ¡°Mm, understood, it¡¯s about the Second Young Master Xue.¡± Mr. Jiang, whatever you say goes. Jiang Zhi took a sip of tea, savoring it elegantly: ¡°He is gay, but he recently suspects he has been turned straight.¡± He took another sip, now a bit absent-minded, ¡°I want to know if a homosexual can be turned straight.¡± So, Mr. Jiang has been turned straight? Big news! Doctor Qiu, nervous yet excited, said: ¡°It¡¯s possible, sexual orientation is greatly influenced by one¡¯s environment.¡± As soon as he finished, Jiang Zhi furrowed his sharp eyebrows. ¡°He¡¯s only suspicious; how can he be sure?¡± Jiang Zhi put down the cup, his Adam¡¯s apple moving as he sat up straighter. From his micro-expressions, it was clear he was anxious. Doctor Qiu, also growing anxious, asked: ¡°Can you tell me more about how your¡­ your friend, the Second Young Master Xue, is different now?¡± Jiang Zhi, his eyes as pretty as peach blossoms in March, seemed lost in thought for a long time. ¡°He keeps thinking about that woman, but he feels restless when he sees her.¡± Frowning, he picked up the cup again, this time taking a big gulp, licking his lips as if still thirsty, ¡°Not seeing her makes him feel even worse.¡± Chapter 32: 032: You Must Lust After My Beauty (Chapter 2) Chapter 32: 032: You Must Lust After My Beauty (Chapter 2) Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Can¡¯t see her, feel even worse.¡± This symptom¡­ ¡°How about physical contact? Do you reject it?¡± Doctor Qiu asked. This time, Jiang Zhi answered quickly, ¡°No.¡± ¡°Is it just her you don¡¯t reject, or all the opposite sex?¡± A bewildered expression appeared in his peach blossom eyes, ¡°Not sure.¡± As if anyone else dared to pinch him and touch him like she did. After this line of questioning, Doctor Qiu¡¯s curiosity was piqued. He wondered which extraordinary woman had managed to straighten the Imperial City¡¯s most beautiful man. He spoke too quickly, ¡°Do you¡ª¡± His words were sharply interrupted, ¡°I said, this is Xue Baoyi¡¯s problem, not mine.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Was he angry? Sensing the tension, Doctor Qiu quickly rephrased his question, ¡°Is Second Young Master Xue curious about that woman?¡± Jiang Zhi shot him a cold glance, seemingly warning him not to make another mistake in his words. His posture became even more relaxed. He responded with a casual ¡°Mm,¡± admitting it, and then, topping it off, he added, ¡°Very curious.¡± Doctor Qiu felt this psychological consultation increasingly resembled an emotional consultation, so he boldly asked the crux of the matter, ¡°Is your heart moved?¡± He emphasized, ¡°I mean Second Young Master.¡± Jiang Zhi became lost in thought for a moment. Heart moved? When he was a teenager, he was fond of a boy. At that time, they were both kids. Before he could confirm if it was deep love, the boy was gone. Heart moved? He couldn¡¯t quite grasp it. He only knew he had missed him all these years and couldn¡¯t let go. He turned his face away and awkwardly lifted a teacup to hide, ¡°What does it count as?¡± ¡°Your heartbeat speeds up, your body heats up, like,¡± Doctor Qiu considered that the other party was a frail person and used a relatively apt description, ¡°like myocardial infarction.¡± Bang. Jiang Zhi set the cup down with a changed expression. Myocardial infarction, my ass! Where did they find this idiot psychologist? ¡°Let¡¯s end it here today.¡± He grabbed his coat and stood up. Rising too quickly, he coughed a few times in haste. It was unclear which sentence had upset the little tough guy. Doctor Qiu had to steel himself, handing over a business card, ¡°Th-this is my card. If Mr. Jiang has any more questions, you can contact me anytime.¡± Jiang Zhi deliberated with a downcast gaze. After a moment, he took the card. He pushed open the door and walked out of the private room. Someone was smoking in the hallway, and the smell irritated him. He crumpled the business card in his hand, walked to the corner, hesitated a moment, then threw the card in the trash. Turning around, he bumped into Zhou Xufang, who was wearing a black coat. ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± Two words, cold and unremarkable. Yet, it struck him harder than any other reaction anyone had ever given him, like a heavy hammer, abruptly and fiercely hitting his heart. Then, like that damn psychologist described, his heartbeat accelerated, and his body heated up. He instinctively swallowed, ¡°W-what are you doing here?¡± Her eyes carried a hint of affection, a gaze enveloped in a smoky veil of peach blossom. Zhou Xufang¡¯s expression was peculiar, one she didn¡¯t understand, so she chose not to look at him, ¡°I¡¯m here to deliver food.¡± His eyes reddened at the corners, the water glistening in his peach blossom eyes, which kept staring at her, his breath somewhat rapid. Zhou Xufang felt uncomfortable under his gaze, took a step back, and looked up at him, ¡°Your face is very red, are you feeling unwell?¡± Yes, unwell. Seeing her, his heart felt unwell. Before Jiang Zhi could speak, a drunk man staggered along, leaning against the corner, tripped, and fell towards Jiang Zhi. Zhou Xufang immediately grabbed him by the hand, gave a forceful tug, and threw the drunk far, far away against a wall, leaving him gasping with a red face. Holding back a cough, Jiang Zhi looked stunned, staring at his own hand that Zhou Xufang had grabbed. The back of his fair hand, now marked by two vivid red finger marks. The drunk had already staggered far away. Zhou Xufang realized her earlier action was inappropriate, ¡°Did I hurt you again?¡± She pursed her lips, feeling regretful, ¡°Sorry, I used too much force.¡± Jiang Zhi remained silent, only feeling the spot she touched was burning hot, even a bit numb. This woman, always pinching and touching him without warning. Zhou Xufang waited a long time for Jiang Zhi to speak, but he didn¡¯t. Her desolate eyes showed a rare confusion. She pulled at her hat, ¡°Then I¡¯ll go deliver the food now.¡± Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t speak. ¡°Goodbye.¡± Without a word, she truly left. She calmly intruded into his sight, then left indifferently. And he, like an idiot, stood there dazed, his mind wandering. Damn it. Jiang Zhi kicked over the trash can and then grabbed his short hair, feeling dissatisfied and unhappy, yet resignedly picked up the business card. Ah Wan felt the employer was in a daze the whole way. Zhou Xufang delivered six orders of food and returned home by nearly eleven o¡¯clock. She just opened the fridge and took out two cans of milk when Shuangjiang started her computer. ¡°Ah Fang, the client has confirmed the mission time.¡± Holding a can of milk, she bit open the tab with her teeth, ¡°When?¡± ¡°Tomorrow night at nine, deliver the person to Jiajing Garden, building seven, unit 101.¡± Zhou Xufang sat drinking two cans of milk. After eating some cotton candy, she kicked off her pink bunny slippers under the bed and lay on the black bed sheets for a while. Forty million. Jiang Zhi and forty million¡­ Jiang Zhi was so beautiful; she might as well give up the forty million. She got up to grab her phone and texted Jiang Zhi on WeChat. ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± He replied quickly, stingily, just with one word. ¡°Mm.¡± Zhou Xufang typed slowly, ¡°Can you not go out tomorrow night?¡± Over there, the beauty, awakened in the middle of the night, listlessly got up from bed, only those burning peach blossom eyes were hot and completely sleepless. ¡°Reason.¡± Reason, huh. She couldn¡¯t say someone was planning to kidnap him. Zhou Xufang thought for a moment, expressing it differently, ¡°You¡¯re too good-looking, and it¡¯s dangerous to go out.¡± She was telling the truth, ¡°There are a lot of perverts outside.¡± A few seconds later. ¡°How is my safety any of your business?¡± Zhou Xufang had a piece of cotton candy in her mouth. The sweetness melted and made her smile slightly as she slowly and methodically typed. ¡°It isn¡¯t.¡± She sent another message, sincerely, ¡°But you¡¯re a good person, and I don¡¯t want others to harm you.¡± Staring at his phone, Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± Good person my ass! He threw his phone aside, knocking over the cup on the table. Hot water spilled onto his clothes, but not caring about it, he grabbed the phone first. Woken up in the middle of the night, logically, he should have been furious. Instead, he was nervous, sweaty-palmed, and eager. Unable to restrain himself, he poked the dark profile picture again and sent two messages. ¡°Zhou Xufang.¡± ¡°Mm.¡± ¡°Are you also admiring my beauty?¡± Chapter 33: 033: Hands look good, want to touch (first update) Chapter 33: 033: Hands look good, want to touch (first update) Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation ¡°Are you also attracted to my beauty?¡± He shouldn¡¯t have asked, it was too abrupt. Without sorting himself out first, he impulsively pushed forward, which was indeed improper. But if he didn¡¯t ask, he felt uneasy. Within seconds, Zhou Xufang replied; four continuous beeps. She sent four messages, and as he clicked on her avatar, his palms began to sweat. Zhou Xufang: ¡°I am not.¡± Zhou Xufang: ¡°Really, I¡¯m not.¡± Zhou Xufang: ¡°You have to believe me.¡± Zhou Xufang: ¡°I am not attracted!¡± Four consecutive messages, each more urgent and sincere than the last, even using exclamation marks. She was just short of swearing to heaven to show her sincerity. Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± Great, after asking, he felt even more uneasy. This Zhou Xufang! Jiang Zhi threw his phone aside again, forcibly pulled two tissues, and impatiently wiped the stains on his pants. If he dealt with her again, he was a dog. Zhou Xufang hadn¡¯t received a reply from Jiang Zhi for a long time and thought he wouldn¡¯t respond anymore. Just as she was about to get up to rinse¡ª Ding. Another message came, eight minutes after the last one. ¡°The crew needs a hand double, are you in? Only hand shots.¡± Hand double? Zhou Xufang pondered. Jiang Zhi sent another message: ¡°The pay is twenty thousand.¡± She quickly replied: ¡°I¡¯m in.¡± Twenty thousand, she could buy a wall of cotton candy, how happy. ¡°Then come over at eight tomorrow morning.¡± The corners of her mouth curved slightly, an inadvertent smile, and the indifference in her eyes faded, replaced by vibrant brilliance. She replied: ¡°Okay.¡± So happy, she was going to eat a few cotton candies. WeChat was still ringing. Zhou Xufang couldn¡¯t find her slippers, didn¡¯t know where she¡¯d kicked them, went barefoot to get her phone, and stuffed three candies into her mouth, squinting from the sweetness. ¡°Zhou Xufang.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± Jiang Zhi said nothing else, just continued sending her name. ¡°Zhou Xufang.¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± ¡°Zhou Xufang.¡± She had nothing to say: ¡°.¡± Then WeChat went quiet, but only for a while before Jiang Zhi called her again. ¡°Zhou Xufang.¡± Zhou Xufang put the pretty cotton candy box away. Lately, she thought Jiang Zhi was even prettier than that box. Since he was so pretty, she wouldn¡¯t mind his annoyance. She liked everything pretty and pleasant, especially these days when she was a bit more wicked, wanting to steal all the beautiful things. She even wanted to take the pretty lamp from the congee shop home, to look at day and night. If she didn¡¯t go to Moon Bay, she might even steal Jiang Zhi and place him by her bedside, so she would see him as soon as she opened her eyes. Forget about Moon Bay, she couldn¡¯t steal Jiang Zhi; he was fragile, and Moon Bay was cold. He would freeze to death. Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t continue daydreaming and replied to Jiang Zhi: ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± ¡°Nothing.¡± ¡°But you kept calling me.¡± Jiang Zhi typed especially fast. Each message only took a few seconds: ¡°Just wanted to see how severe your OCD is.¡± Zhou Xufang, with nothing to say: ¡°.¡± ¡°Zhou Xufang.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± ¡°Zhou Xufang.¡± ¡°My OCD is really severe; stop messaging, I¡¯m going to sleep.¡± ¡°Sleep then.¡± ¡°.¡± Zhou Xufang went to bed barefoot. Just as she put her phone down, WeChat rang again. ¡°Zhou Xufang.¡± She pursed her lips, reached for her phone: ¡°I¡¯m sleeping.¡± ¡°You sleep, I¡¯ll text.¡± ¡°.¡± ¡°Zhou Xufang.¡± Her cheeks puffed up. For the first time, she found this person so annoying, wanting to pinch him until he cried. She lay there, too tired to move, shut her eyes and tried to fall asleep. No, she had to get up and reply. She got up, irritably tugged at her hair, reached for her phone, and replied with a period. ¡°Zhou Xufang.¡± She yawned, so sleepy: ¡°.¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡°Zhou Xufang.¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡°Last time, don¡¯t reply, go to sleep.¡± She put down her phone and lay down. No, she had to reply¡­ She got up again, reached for her phone, and wiped away the physiological tears that welled up from tiredness, replying: ¡°.¡± Then, finally, it was quiet. Zhou Xufang crawled into her pitch-black blanket, wrapping herself up like a silkworm cocoon. Before falling asleep, she pondered, what if Jiang Zhi keeps doing this to her in the future¡­ Should she block him? No, he had a bad temper and would get mad. If he got mad, she might lose her role as an extra. Then should she steal him, so he couldn¡¯t use his phone at night? No, that would expose her. Jiang Zhi might call the cops and capture her, thinking she was a scum who kidnapped him for lust. Maybe just steal his phone at night and return it during the day¡­ Thinking this, Zhou Xufang fell asleep. She rarely dreamed but had a dream about Jiang Zhi. He was tied to the pretty lamp in the congee shop, crying and calling her a scum and a villain for kidnapping both him and the lamp¡­ Zhou Xufang woke up in fright, saw the time, and realized she had only slept for half an hour. She turned over and continued to sleep. On the other side, Jiang Zhi stared at the period on his phone screen, smiled a bit, then his face darkened, his eyes turning cold instantly. Damn, what was he doing? Was he a dog? He grabbed a blanket and lay on the sofa. It was already the latter half of the night, yet he wasn¡¯t sleepy at all. The light was glaring, so he raised his hand to block the light above his head and naturally saw the two red marks on the back of his hand. That girl had quite the grip; the marks hadn¡¯t faded yet. That hand¡­ that hand was quite pretty, very white¡­ Jiang Zhi suddenly sat up, irritably sighed, and fished for his phone to dial a number. Vice Director Zhao received a call from the privileged director in the middle of the night, instantly waking up: ¡°Director Jiang?¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± Vice Director Zhao checked the time on his phone. Crap, it was two in the morning. ¡°It¡¯s so late. Do you need something?¡± When did this master start staying up late? Doesn¡¯t he usually sleep by eight? Jiang Zhi¡¯s voice was hoarse from lack of sleep, but he was mentally alert: ¡°I found a hand double, prepare for it. Tomorrow you personally guide her on set.¡± ¡°A hand double?¡± Saying that so late at night? Vice Director Zhao wondered if he was dreaming. ¡°For whom?¡± Jiang Zhi gritted his teeth, his voice low and hoarse: ¡°Who do you think?¡± The tone, unexpectedly seductive, making Vice Director Zhao think of a sexy, lazy cat in heat, even though the cat¡¯s claws were too sharp, making one uneasy. ¡°Yu Ran¡ª she needs a hand double?¡± Before Vice Director Zhao could finish asking, Jiang Zhi lazily replied, ¡°Her hands are prettier, why not a double?¡± Vice Director Zhao: ¡°¡­¡± Where did this sense of pride come from? He wondered if the director had a condition from staying up late. Next day, on set. Ah Wan felt something was off when his employer stared at the same spot for over ten minutes. ¡°Boss.¡± No reaction. Ah Wan raised his voice: ¡°Boss?¡± Still no reaction. Ah Wan walked in front of him: ¡°What are you looking at?¡± His gaze was like a monk seeing meat. Jiang Zhi¡¯s sharp brows furrowed, his eyes instantly turning from warm blossoms to icy flowers: ¡°You¡¯re in my way.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Ah Wan silently moved aside and secretly followed his employer¡¯s line of sight. Oh, it was Miss Zhou, who was applying film. Jiang Zhi stared at Zhou Xufang¡¯s hands, looking again and again, thinking they were increasingly beautiful. Wanting to touch. Really wanting to. He was watching intently when a figure in a cheongsam blocked his view. It was Fang Lixiang, in her costume, twisting her way to Zhou Xufang, smiling like a flower: ¡°Xu Fang, are you cold?¡± The sun was out today, it was about four to five degrees. Zhou Xufang shook her head. She couldn¡¯t really feel the cold or heat, just had a low body temperature and told people she was afraid of the cold, so she could bundle up more. But Fang Lixiang thought she was cold and draped her own down jacket over her. Then she asked, ¡°Xu Fang, are you hungry?¡± Zhou Xufang had just had breakfast, eaten three crates of soup dumplings, and drank two cans of milk, so she shook her head: ¡°I¡¯m not hungry.¡± Fang Lixiang, as if not hearing, shoved two big bags of snacks in Zhou Xufang¡¯s hands: ¡°I bought you some tasty snacks, eat them when you¡¯re hungry.¡± Today, Urala¡¯s Lixiang was particularly enthusiastic. Zhou Xufang took them: ¡°Thank you.¡± Courtesy dictates reciprocity; next time, she had to buy Fang Lixiang two bags. Having taken care of Zhou Xufang¡¯s food and warmth, Fang Lixiang asked again, ¡°Thirsty?¡± Before Zhou Xufang could answer. Fang Lixiang brought over a box of AD calcium milk: ¡°I bought you some milk. The brand you usually drink is imported; I haven¡¯t gotten it yet. Drink this for now; it¡¯s also very tasty.¡± Zhou Xufang hadn¡¯t tried this one before. She put the two bags of snacks down and blankly took the milk, feeling a bit unaccustomed to Fang Lixiang¡¯s enthusiasm. ¡°Xu Fang, if anyone bullies you on set, you must tell me, okay?¡± She looked righteous and brave, ¡°Urala¡¯s Lixiang has your back.¡± Just as she finished her heroic words, Vice Director Zhao roared. Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Fang Lixiang, get over here and start working!¡± Chapter 34: 034: Touched (Second Update) Chapter 34: 034: Touched (Second Update) Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation ¡°Fang Lixiang, come here and start working!¡± Fang Lixiang turned around in shock, ¡°Isn¡¯t my scene scheduled for ten?¡± It¡¯s only eight now! Vice Director Zhao rolled his eyes at her, ¡°Who told you to wander around aimlessly? Director Jiang is very dissatisfied with you.¡± Director Jiang specifically called him over to manage this flitting busybody. Fang Lixiang, feeling wronged for no reason, was of course upset, ¡°I¡¯m just wandering, how does that bother him?¡± Vice Director Zhao dragged her over, sneakily glanced at Zhou Xufang, and mumbled, ¡°How would I know?¡± This Zhou Xufang¡­ It¡¯s hard to say. Then, Ah Wan noticed that his employer¡¯s furrowed brow relaxed, and he continued to stare intently at the girl¡¯s hand, a suspicious smile forming at the corner of his mouth. When Ah Wan had previously robbed Jiang Zhi of his ridiculously expensive watch and spent a night in a cell, he thought his employer¡¯s current expression was exactly like that of the voyeur he had seen back then. Zhou Xufang was scheduled to have her hand double¡¯s scenes after Fang Lixiang, and it passed in just one take. Vice Director Zhao gave her twenty thousand yuan in cash, a thick wad, and Zhou Xufang was obviously in a very good mood. She treated a few extras around her to a can of milk each. Jiang Zhi thought, why doesn¡¯t she laugh? When she laughs, it must be beautiful. At lunchtime, Fang Lixiang wandered in front of Zhou Xufang again, carrying two large bags of takeout, as enthusiastic as a honeybee collecting nectar. ¡°The set meal isn¡¯t tasty. I ordered this specially, for you.¡± After handing it to Zhou Xufang, Fang Lixiang ran off. Zhou Xufang scratched her head, lost in thought. Over there, Fang Lixiang¡¯s assistant, Jiang Wei¡¯er, also thought her enthusiasm was over the top, ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you?¡± She could see that when Fang Lixiang looked at Zhou Xufang, there was guilt in her eyes. Fang Lixiang grinned, unclear if it was genuine or not, and casually made up an excuse, ¡°I owed her in a past life. In this life, Zhou Xufang is the heart, the liver, and the precious sweetie of the Fang family.¡± Jiang Wei¡¯er: ¡°¡­¡± Something¡¯s not right. Fang Lixiang didn¡¯t mention it again. She opened a game and started arguing with someone in the game. ¡°Why do I always run into these noobs?¡± She cursed the noob thoroughly, but then the noob wanted to add her as a game friend. ¡°Why do you want to add me as a friend?¡± After thinking about it, Fang Lixiang clicked accept, ¡°Damn it, you can¡¯t beat me in the game, and you have the nerve to come and curse me. Today I¡¯ll show you why the flowers are so red!¡± After cursing, she started typing away. Jiang Zhi barely ate a few bites of lunch before putting down his chopsticks. Considerate Ah Wan asked, ¡°Boss, is it not to your taste? Shall I order something else?¡± He stared at his hand, absentmindedly saying, ¡°Call Zhou Xufang over.¡± Ah Wan¡¯s curiosity got the better of him, ¡°What do you need her for?¡± Jiang Zhi threw his phone on the table. ¡°To apply a screen protector.¡± His phone¡¯s screen protector had been cracked for a while. Ah Wan had suggested replacing it several times, but Jiang Zhi hadn¡¯t mentioned going to get it fixed. Now, he was refusing to eat lunch and insisting on fixing it. What was up with him? Who indulged him in this! ¡°Miss Zhou definitely wouldn¡¯t carry a screen protector to the set. If you need it done now, I¡¯ll go outside to get you one¡ª¡± Jiang Zhi interrupted, ¡°Lin Wanwan.¡± He called her name with a dragged-out tone that carried a hint of dangerous menace. Ah Wan¡¯s sense of justice always bowed to tyranny, ¡°Oh, I¡¯ll go get her right away.¡± In less than five minutes, Ah Wan brought Zhou Xufang into Jiang Zhi¡¯s private lounge. ¡°You wanted to see me?¡± She was wearing Fang Lixiang¡¯s white down jacket, making her skin look even fairer. She wore a hat, revealing only a palm-sized face. She looked better in black. Jiang Zhi looked over her and said to Ah Wan, ¡°Get out.¡± Ah Wan left silently, closing the door behind him, then pressed his ear against the door. A lonely man and woman, dry wood and a fierce fire¡­ If he didn¡¯t eavesdrop, he would be a fool. Zhou Xufang stood five meters away from Jiang Zhi, not advancing any further. Jiang Zhi sat, the warm weather giving him a healthy complexion, though there were dark circles under his eyes, indicating poor sleep, ¡°My phone¡¯s screen protector is cracked.¡± He pointed to the phone on the table. Zhou Xufang glanced at it, unsure of his intent. She just said, ¡°Oh.¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± He started to feel breathless, he never kept his composure when she was around. He stood up, moved closer to her, though not too close, and in an almost commanding tone said, ¡°Apply it for me.¡± It was definitely a commanding tone, but upon close listening, there was a hint of awkwardness. Zhou Xufang finally understood the purpose of his call, realizing he wanted to support her business. What a nice person, ¡°I can¡¯t do it here. All my stuff is at home.¡± Jiang Zhi¡¯s eyelashes fluttered like falling butterfly wings, ¡°Take out your phone.¡± Not knowing his intention, Zhou Xufang still obediently took out her phone. The butterfly wings seemed to lift, revealing Jiang Zhi¡¯s pair of enchanting yet not effeminate peach blossom eyes, ¡°Same model as mine.¡± So? So, he said, ¡°Take your screen protector off and put it on mine.¡± Zhou Xufang: ¡°¡­¡± Fang Lixiang was strange today, but Jiang Zhi was even stranger. Zhou Xufang had an exceptionally high IQ but didn¡¯t really understand these complex and contradictory human emotions, ¡°Are you seriously ill today?¡± Besides this reason, she couldn¡¯t think of another. After all, Jiang Zhi was a terminally ill, fragile person. Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t deny it. He was seriously ill. Otherwise, why had he been incessantly wanting to look at her hand and touch her hand since last night? And Jiang Zhi would do anything he felt like, even to the extent of tearing the sky apart. Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Name your price.¡± This girl loved money. Zhou Xufang considered for a very short time. If it were someone else, she wouldn¡¯t bother, but it was Jiang Zhi. He looked so good and was so frail. Zhou Xufang agreed, ¡°One screen protector is twenty yuan, but this one is old. I¡¯ll charge you ten yuan.¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± At this moment, he wasn¡¯t thinking clearly, his mind muddled. Even if she had asked for a billion, he would have given it. But she only asked for ten yuan. Without further delay, Zhou Xufang squatted by the coffee table, took out a wet wipe to clean the phone screen, then peeled off her own phone¡¯s protector and applied it to Jiang Zhi¡¯s phone, although it was old and didn¡¯t stick well. Her movements were very skilled, and Jiang Zhi stared at her hands. ¡°It¡¯s done.¡± She turned around and met Jiang Zhi¡¯s gaze. He had a pair of beautiful peach blossom eyes, with long eyelashes, more attractive than many girls. Zhou Xufang rarely made eye contact with people, afraid they would see through her. She always hid her gaze, and it seemed she had only looked at Jiang Zhi like this. His eyes grew brighter, like a falling starry river. ¡°I don¡¯t have any small change,¡± he said. Zhou Xufang stood up, walked over, and handed him the phone, ¡°No problem, give it to me next time.¡± Her hand was very white, with a sickly pallor from lack of sunlight. Jiang Zhi looked at her hand and, against all reason, reached out and covered it. He touched her hand. Chapter 35: 035: Devil Jiang Zhi Online (Update 1) Chapter 35: 035: Devil Jiang Zhi Online (Update 1) Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation Ãþµ½ÁË,ËýµÄÊÖ. Miss Zhou¡¯s eyelashes fluttered once, and she stood there dumbfounded, letting the cellphone in her palm slide away. ¡°Bang.¡± The phone hit the edge of the glass coffee table, and the screen cracked instantly. Her expression and movements froze. Her speed and agility far exceeded that of normal people by dozens of times. For her, dropping the phone was a significant accident. ¡°Zhou Xufang.¡± She looked up, still a bit dazed: ¡°Huh?¡± Jiang Zhi, who was much taller than her, was looking down at her: ¡°The phone screen broke again.¡± His voice was tense, his forehead was sweaty, and a thin pink flush slowly appeared around his eyes as he stared at her intensely. No wonder people on set said that Jiang Zhi¡¯s eyes could captivate souls. Zhou Xufang herself noticed that her reactions seemed to slow down significantly at this moment, and her expression became more wooden and dull. She just remembered to say: ¡°It seems the screen is broken.¡± She even forgot about the burning hot hand still covering the back of her hand. A hint of satisfaction curved Jiang Zhi¡¯s lips: ¡°So, how will you compensate me?¡± Obviously, her stunned reaction amused him. ¡°You touched it first¡ª¡± Mid-sentence, Zhou Xufang looked down and realized that his palm was still stuck on the back of her hand. One cold, one hot, an extreme contrast. Reflexively, she pulled her hand back with force, then grabbed Jiang Zhi¡¯s wrist and twisted it hard, as she did countless times out of self-preservation instinct. Outside, Ah Wan heard a scream. Without a second thought, he kicked the door open and saw his employer clutching his hand, glaring at Zhou Xufang with his captivating, watery eyes. Blushing like a naive young boy unfamiliar with love and romance, he said: ¡°Dropping my phone can be forgiven, but hurting my hand cannot be overlooked.¡± Ah Wan: ¡°¡­¡± The scene of a well-behaved young man and a female bully forced Ah Wan to withdraw his foot and, unable to help himself, sneak a glance at ¡®the female bully.¡¯ ¡®The female bully¡¯ frowned, showing a guilty and regretful expression, not knowing how to handle the situation. After a while, she still extended her hand: ¡°Since I hurt your hand, you can pinch mine too.¡± Ah Wan understood. Miss Zhou had hurt the employer again. Now, Ah Wan was sure that their employer was the submissive type in past relationships, even to the bone. So, even now when he¡¯s not in such relationships, his nature is hard to change. And Miss Zhou was the definite dominant one. Miss ¡°Outright Dominant¡± Zhou even sincerely said: ¡°I don¡¯t fear pain; you can pinch harder.¡± After all, since she made him feel so much pain, she had to repay. In Ah Wan¡¯s opinion, Miss Zhou was a steel-hearted straight woman meeting a scheming submissive, and he was very excited to watch the show. Although his brain wasn¡¯t very developed, he had seen enough Korean romance dramas to understand a bit. The frown on Jiang Zhi¡¯s face softened, and his misty peach blossom eyes cleared up, suddenly brightened: ¡°You said it.¡± He stepped forward, ¡°This time, don¡¯t dodge.¡± She didn¡¯t dodge. He held her hand. For a long time, she didn¡¯t dodge. It turned out that a normal human¡¯s body temperature was so warm, unlike her, cold all over like a monster. His hand was so big it could wrap around her entire hand, transferring warmth to her bit by bit. In the end, she withdrew her hand and, without a word, walked out of the lounge. ¡°Boss.¡± ¡°Boss.¡± Jiang Zhi was in a daze. Ah Wan hesitated for a while, unable to resist his curiosity: ¡°Do you,¡± he covered his mouth and whispered, ¡°do you like Miss Zhou?¡± No wonder he had been acting strangely lately. It was because of love. Jiang Zhi withdrew his gaze from the door, with the lingering heat of excitement in his eyes, still showing that captivating red hue: ¡°What did you see just now?¡± Ah Wan weakly told the truth: ¡°I saw you touch her hand.¡± Not just a touch, a stroke! Surprisingly, Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t get angry. Instead, he stared at his hand, continuing to be lost in thought. Oh, he wasn¡¯t dreaming; he must have lost his mind. After a moment. ¡°Go out, close the door.¡± Ah Wan sneaked a look at his despondent employer: ¡°Oh.¡± Jiang Zhi sat quietly for a while, then picked up the phone with the cracked screen and dialed a number. He didn¡¯t know why he did it, but he saved the damned psychologist¡¯s number from the last time. ¡°Mr. Jiang.¡± On the phone, Doctor Qiu¡¯s voice trembled as if he had been greatly frightened. Jiang Zhi lay back on the sofa, stretched his legs on the coffee table, and spoke in a lazy, weak tone, as if talking to himself: ¡°Now, I think about her not only in my thoughts; I also want to touch her.¡± Doctor Qiu, who hadn¡¯t understood the situation: ¡°¡­¡± Is this series not pretending to be friends anymore? Jiang Zhi put the phone on speaker and threw it onto the sofa, lying on the sofa with his arms outstretched, looking up at the ceiling light: ¡°I just touched her hand.¡± With an unhurried, spine-chilling tone. The more Doctor Qiu listened, the more terrified he felt: ¡°¡­¡± Jiang Zhi narrowed his eyes, his peach blossom eyes elongated into the shape of a half-crescent moon. His gaze, unfocused, emitted a contradictory excitement and eagerness like a hound ready to hunt prey. ¡°That¡¯s not enough. Now, I want to touch her face.¡± Doctor Qiu gulped a mouthful of saliva out of fear: ¡°¡­¡± S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°I wonder what else I¡¯ll want to touch after her face?¡± Doctor Qiu shivered, trembling all over: ¡°¡­¡± What¡¯s with this overwhelming demonic aura? After describing, Jiang Zhi ended his illogical and spontaneous comments with a sickly tone: ¡°Do you think I¡¯m sick?¡± Chapter 36: 036: Three Beastly Deeds of the Jiang Family (Part 2) Chapter 36: 036: Three Beastly Deeds of the Jiang Family (Part 2) Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation ¡°Do you think I¡¯m sick?¡± Sure! Doctor Qiu suggested sincerely, trembling, ¡°Mr. Jiang, when you have time, would you like to come to the consultation room for a checkup?¡± There was no response from the other end. Doctor Qiu, perhaps scared out of his wits, asked an especially stupid question, ¡°Wasn¡¯t it Second Young Master Xue who touched it?¡± It was agreed to be Second Young Master Xue¡¯s matter. The call was decisively cut off. ¡°Beep beep beep beep beep beep¡­¡± Doctor Qiu: ¡°¡­¡± From the force of the phone being slammed down, it could be judged how agitated the patient was. Jiang Zhi had insomnia during his nap. When he closed his eyes, all he could see was Zhou Xufang¡¯s hand, Zhou Xufang¡¯s face, Zhou Xufang¡¯s back¡­ The initial plan was to start shooting at 1 PM. However, the director, who was always punctual, hadn¡¯t shown up even by 2:30 PM. At this time, Vice Director Zhao received a call from the director¡¯s assistant, Lin Wanwan. ¡°Brother Wan.¡± Despite Ah Wan having such a sissy name like Lin Wanwan, due to his criminal physique, people in society called him Brother Wan. In private, Ah Wan was still very imposing. After all, he was nine feet tall and nearly 200 pounds: ¡°Cut out the part with Zhou Xufang¡¯s hand double from the final cut.¡± Vice Director Zhao asked, ¡°Is Director Jiang unsatisfied? Should I call the stand-in for a reshoot?¡± He remembered Director Jiang being quite satisfied while shooting, otherwise, why would he have been staring at the stand-in¡¯s hand all the time? Ah Wan didn¡¯t reveal much, ¡°No need, just edit that part out and send it to my boss.¡± Vice Director Zhao didn¡¯t understand, nor did he dare ask further, ¡°What about the afternoon¡¯s shoot then?¡± ¡°Delay it for two hours.¡± ¡°Is Director Jiang unwell?¡± The weather wasn¡¯t even that cold today. Ah Wan lied solemnly, ¡°Yes, he had a myocardial infarction.¡± Vice Director Zhao: ¡°¡­¡± Rich young masters sure have a lot of issues. One hour later, Jiang Family¡¯s family doctor arrived to check on Jiang Zhi. The Old Lady Jiang, hearing Jiang Zhi¡¯s voice was off, immediately sent someone over. ¡°Boss, Dr. Qin is here.¡± Jiang Zhi responded. Ah Wan brought him in, closed the door, and stood by. The man was very young, ¡°Mr. Jiang.¡± His tone was respectful but not subservient. He was the Jiang family¡¯s family doctor, named Qin Shiyu, in his early thirties, but his medical skills were extraordinary. Old Lady Jiang sent him to check Jiang Zhi¡¯s pulse regularly. Today, Qin Shiyu wasn¡¯t wearing a white coat but a suit, exuding a scholarly aura of warmth and refinement. He managed himself with grace. Jiang Zhi invited him to sit, ¡°I heard you were just promoted to director last week, Dr. Qin.¡± Qin Shiyu¡¯s great-grandfather was a doctor from Old Lady Jiang¡¯s family, considered a family servant in the old days, before coming to the Jiang family with Old Lady Jiang. For generations, they served at Jiang family hospitals. Qin Shiyu was the most talented among his generation, with exceptional demeanor and capability. He replied humbly, ¡°It¡¯s all because of the eldest son¡¯s support, Shiyu feels undeserved.¡± The Jiang family was a century-old family with deep roots, speaking in an extremely refined manner. The Fifth Hospital was currently managed by Jiang Xiaolin, the eldest grandson of the Jiang family, with Qin Shiyu working under him for many years, mastering the bureaucratic double-speak. Jiang Zhi despised it the most. One by one, all pretending to be gentlemen. ¡°Qin Shiyu,¡± he called him by his full name. Qin Shiyu opened his medical kit to take out the pulse pillow, ¡°Mr. Jiang, what do you need?¡± Jiang Zhi lazily stretched out his hand, letting him take his pulse, and joked casually, ¡°If one day Jiang Xiaolin and Jiang Fuli were hit by a car and you had to perform surgery, who would you save first, Jiang Xiaolin or Jiang Fuli?¡± Jiang Xiaolin from the first house and Jiang Fuli from the second house, one the eldest grandson and the other the eldest granddaughter, both with real power and openly at odds. Qin Shiyu¡¯s smile remained unchanged, his eyes calm as if indifferent to contention, ¡°That hypothesis doesn¡¯t exist.¡± Jiang Zhi looked at him leisurely, ¡°Oh? Why does it not exist?¡± ¡°Which car would be so oblivious to simultaneously hit two of the Jiang family¡¯s esteemed masters?¡± Masters? When did Qin Shiyu start considering himself a servant? His intricate mind was hard to fathom. Jiang Zhi smiled with a hint of cynicism, ¡°You never know.¡± Maybe one day, if he got upset, he¡¯d kill them all. With so few people left in the Jiang family, they were all beasts anyway. ¡°If it truly came to that, I¡¯d naturally follow Old Madam¡¯s orders,¡± Qin Shiyu replied without revealing any hint of intention. Qin Shiyu was either deeply hidden or sharply observant. Jiang Zhi leaned back on the sofa, his gaze wandering. Qin Shiyu finished taking his pulse, ¡°Have you been coughing badly recently, Mr. Jiang?¡± Jiang Zhi took a wet wipe, slowly wiping his wrist, ¡°Yes, it¡¯s winter.¡± Every winter, he couldn¡¯t stand the cold and coughed severely. It had been the same for years. ¡°I¡¯ll prescribe some cough medicine first. After the full examination results are out, I¡¯ll discuss a conservative treatment plan with Dr. Shao and Dr. Chen,¡± Qin Shiyu said. Jiang Zhi responded indifferently, ¡°Do you think I¡¯ll make it past next winter with this body of mine?¡± Qin Shiyu, looking composed, replied evenly, ¡°The lab has been working on new medications for you. There¡¯s some progress. Mr. Jiang, you needn¡¯t be too pessimistic.¡± Jiang Zhi sneered, ¡°They said I wouldn¡¯t live past twenty-five. That was what your father said.¡± Initially, Qin Shiyu¡¯s father, Qin Yin, was Jiang Zhi¡¯s primary doctor. A few years ago, after Qin Yin passed away, Qin Shiyu took over treating this chronically ill patient. Old Lady Jiang didn¡¯t trust outsiders and selected the most talented Qin Shiyu. ¡°In my father¡¯s time, medical techniques were not as advanced as they are now,¡± Qin Shiyu explained. S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Advanced medicine?¡± Jiang Zhi laughed with blatant mockery, ¡°So advanced that my congenital deficiencies have been treated for over twenty years.¡± Not only that, but the condition only worsened, with no diagnosis found. Qin Shiyu remained unaffected, prescribing medication and stating that the medicine would be delivered to the Jiang family. Old Lady Jiang was cautious; Jiang Zhi¡¯s medications always needed approval from the Jiang family before being sent over. After he left, ¡°Ah Wan,¡± Jiang Zhi lay there, looking listless, ¡°Who do you think Qin Shiyu works for?¡± The Jiang family¡¯s complex structure was beyond Ah Wan¡¯s simple mind, he shook his head, ¡°He doesn¡¯t seem to interact much privately with Jiang Xiaolin or Jiang Fuli.¡± Qin Shiyu¡¯s image in the Jiang family was of someone without ambition, content and without conflicts, trusted by Old Madam Jiang. Jiang Zhi looked at Ah Wan, ¡°With your IQ, would you even notice if he did?¡± Ah Wan: ¡°¡­¡± He decided to express his defiance through silence. Chapter 37: 037: He just listened to Zhou Xufang (first update) Chapter 37: 037: He just listened to Zhou Xufang (first update) Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation He decided to express his defiance through silence. Jiang Zhi glanced at him with an expression of disdain, then lay back and closed his eyes, ignoring him. The phone with the broken screen rang. It was Xue Baoyi calling. Jiang Zhi was too lazy to move, so he raised his hand slightly. Ah Wan understood and went to answer the call, putting it on speaker. ¡°Brother Zhi, the Lu Family is hosting a business banquet at seven tonight. Are you coming?¡± sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. With a weak voice, Jiang Zhi replied, ¡°Not going.¡± Xue Baoyi, who enjoyed a wild time, coaxed him over the phone, ¡°Lu Sheng, that little girl, is bound to stir up trouble. Aren¡¯t you coming to check it out?¡± Among the Four Great Families, the Lu Family and the Jiang Family had always been at odds. The elders of both families had some unknown grudge against each other, and they had been openly and secretly competing for decades without any respite. The eldest son of the Lu Family had a sleeping disorder and was rarely awake during the day. Currently, the management was under the second daughter, Lu Sheng. At just over twenty, Lu Sheng was quite impressive, a domineering female CEO, not an average person. Jiang Zhi still showed no interest, ¡°I¡¯m not going out today.¡± Xue Baoyi snorted, ¡°What, are you cultivating moral character?¡± The banquet at the Lu Family, surely someone from the Jiang Mansion would attend. Jiang Zhi was overly leisurely and relaxed for someone from such a wealthy family. Xue Baoyi was quite anxious for him. Although the Old Madam of the Jiang Family doted on Jiang Zhi the most, Jiang Zhi¡¯s health was a disappointment. He didn¡¯t have much real power, all of it being held by the first and second branches of the family. Jiang Zhi remained indifferent and lazy, ¡°It¡¯s unsafe to go out at night. I¡¯m a short-lived ghost, I need to treasure my life.¡± ¡°What kind of nonsense are you talking about?¡± Jiang Zhi turned over without any sleepiness, sat up, and stared at his own hand absentmindedly, ¡°Looking this good, I¡¯ll get kidnapped if I go out.¡± Zhou Xufang had told him not to go out tonight. Xue Baoyi: ¡°¡­¡± By dusk, the filming ended. Ah Wan happened to return from an errand, putting a new phone in front of his employer, ¡°The phone has been replaced.¡± Also, ¡°The screen protector has been applied as well.¡± So dutiful! ¡°Ah Wan.¡± ¡°Yes, boss.¡± Jiang Zhi fiddled with the new phone, rubbing the screen absentmindedly, ¡°You¡¯re not very bright, don¡¯t try to be clever.¡± Ah Wan: ¡°¡­¡± The screen protector was applied for free by the phone store! Was it his fault?! Jiang Zhi tore off the screen protector, tossed it into the trash, took his coat, and stood up. Ah Wan followed, ¡°Should I drive you back?¡± Jiang Zhi walked out, a faint smile appearing on his lips, barely noticeable, making his sickly look slightly better and his features even more striking. Like a fairy. The Jiang Fairy said, ¡°No rush, it¡¯s still early.¡± Early? The sun had already set outside. Ah Wan took out the car keys and asked, ¡°Where to then?¡± ¡°Ba Yi Bridge.¡± Tsk tsk tsk, no wonder his eyes were brimming with flirtation. Ah Wan was clever this time, ¡°Going to find Miss Zhou to apply a screen protector?¡± Ah Wan thought, the employer was quite clingy. Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t respond, just asked lightly, ¡°How¡¯s that chicken Zhou Xufang gave me?¡± Ah Wan wasn¡¯t trying to take credit, just inexplicably proud, happily reporting to his employer, ¡°Good teeth, good stomach, good body, everything¡¯s delicious.¡± Jiang Zhi hummed in acknowledgment, the curve of his lips lifting slightly again. Ah Wan thought, that chicken had really good luck, just because it was a token of affection, its status was elevated from a dish to a beloved pet. Before six, Zhou Xufang had already set up a stall under Ba Yi Bridge. It was Friday, her business was good; she applied eight screen protectors in half an hour. Across the bridge, many people were dancing in the square, the music was loud and lively. Next to Zhou Xufang, an auntie was selling stinky tofu. She didn¡¯t have many customers and was bored, so she struck up a conversation with Zhou Xufang. ¡°Xiao Zhou, why are you here so early today?¡± Zhou Xufang, with her head lowered, replied in a soft and cool voice, ¡°The shoot ended early.¡± The auntie had been here for half a year, knowing Zhou Xufang wasn¡¯t talkative but polite and hardworking. She had a good impression of her and suddenly had the idea of matchmaking her with her single son. ¡°You are really hardworking, unlike my good-for-nothing son, who just plays games all day.¡± She laughed, a bit of pride showing on her face, ¡°That rascal is unambitious but has a decent face.¡± Zhou Xufang wasn¡¯t good at socializing, so she just listened without commenting. ¡°How old are you, Xiao Zhou?¡± She didn¡¯t remember her birthday. The person who saved her had told her the year she was born. She answered, ¡°I¡¯m twenty-two.¡± At twenty-two, setting up a stall, the aunt guessed she hadn¡¯t had much education, ¡°My son is two years older than you, he¡¯s twenty-four. Been out of college for two years and still doesn¡¯t find a job, hasn¡¯t dated anyone, just fiddles with starting a business all day.¡± The conversation flowed naturally, ¡°What about you, Xiao Zhou, do you have a boyfriend?¡± Though this girl lacked education, she had good looks and a nice temperament. The more the aunt looked, the more she liked her. Zhou Xufang frowned slightly, ¡°No.¡± Perfect! The aunt smiled so much that her wrinkles showed, ¡°Auntie sees you alone every day without friends. Why not give me your WeChat, I¡¯ll have my son add you. It¡¯s good for young people to have things to talk about and make friends.¡± Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t want to give her contact information to strangers and was at a loss how to refuse when a voice answered for her. ¡°She doesn¡¯t use WeChat.¡± The voice was pleasant. She knew it was Jiang Zhi, looking up, her frown relaxed. The aunt obviously wasn¡¯t happy with this unexpected interference, glaring over at the source of the voice, ¡°And who are you?¡± This guy was excessively handsome! Jiang Zhi tossed his phone in front of Zhou Xufang, raising an eyebrow, ¡°Here to get a screen protector.¡± Just another customer needing a screen protector. The aunt didn¡¯t bother further, as another customer came over for stinky tofu. She handed Zhou Xufang a piece of paper, ¡°Xiao Zhou, write your WeChat for me. Auntie¡¯s old, can¡¯t remember it without writing.¡± Zhou Xufang hesitated briefly, then returned the paper, ¡°I don¡¯t use WeChat.¡± ¡°¡­¡± The aunt sulked, throwing several white-eyed glances at Jiang Zhi, who was smiling provocatively, cursing internally, ¡°What¡¯s so great about being handsome?¡± ¡°Hi, hello.¡± It was the young woman buying stinky tofu, shyly looking at Jiang Zhi, ¡°Can I have your WeChat?¡± Jiang Zhi¡¯s smile faded, his peach blossom eyes cold, ¡°No.¡± The aunt: ¡°¡­¡± This world where looks mattered was infuriating. The aunt¡¯s hands shook, accidentally dropping two pieces of stinky tofu back into the oil, angrily asking the young woman if she wanted it spicy. The young woman left ten yuan, not taking the tofu, running away red-faced and embarrassed. The aunt: ¡°¡­¡± Amid the bustling crowd, Jiang Zhi frowned and moved closer to Zhou Xufang, found a spot, and squatted down. Wearing high-end tailored clothes that clashed with the market vibe, he didn¡¯t care, staring at her face, ¡°Do people often hit on you here at the stall?¡± Chapter 38: 038: Want to Touch Her Face (Second Update) Chapter 38: 038: Want to Touch Her Face (Second Update) Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation ¡°You set up a stall here. Do people often strike up a conversation with you?¡± Zhou Xufang picked up the phone he had placed on the small table, ¡°Which kind of screen protector do you want?¡± ¡°The most expensive one.¡± The expensive one should earn her a bit more. Zhou Xufang took out a tempered glass from the bag behind her and opened the package, ¡°No one strikes up a conversation.¡± She focused on her work, ¡°Many people are afraid of me.¡± She kept her head down, and his eyes became more unrestrained, gazing at her, ¡°Why are they afraid of you?¡± She spoke casually, ¡°They say I look like a ghost.¡± She wore black again today, with a fisherman¡¯s hat, wrapped tightly from head to toe, only a small portion of her pale, translucent face visible, always expressionless, with thin lips pressed together, looking cold and strange. Jiang Zhi glanced at her, not knowing who he was dissatisfied with, but he was very dissatisfied. His charming eyes grew more hostile, ¡°Who says you look like a ghost?¡± How could a ghost be this pretty? Zhou Xufang raised her head and shone a small desk lamp on her face, ¡°Don¡¯t I look like a ghost?¡± Under the black fisherman¡¯s hat, her palm-sized face was lit pale white by the flashlight. Mm, he saw clearly now. There was a faint mole at the end of her eyebrow, hidden in her messy hair, small and pretty. Her eyelashes were long, dense, and curled up like a soft fan, also very pretty. He stared for a long time, making Zhou Xufang uncomfortable, and she lowered her head again. The sky was completely dark now, and the light from the small desk lamp was weak. Due to the angle, it cast patches of light and shadow on her face. Jiang Zhi squatted, slightly tilting his head, watching her under the light, ¡°Aren¡¯t you strong? If someone says that, just beat them up.¡± Zhou Xufang lowered her eyelids, seriously applying the screen protector, ¡°If I beat them up, I have to pay for damages.¡± ¡°Do you love money that much?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± She wiped the phone screen with a clean cloth, ¡°It¡¯s done, sixty yuan.¡± The most expensive was only sixty yuan. Jiang Zhi took out a hundred-yuan note from his wallet, placed it beside her hand, wanting to touch her hand but resisted, ¡°Keep the change.¡± Zhou Xufang stored away the money, thanked him earnestly, then took her bag and rummaged through it. Dissatisfied, Jiang Zhi tugged at her fisherman¡¯s hat, tilting it before letting go, ¡°I said, keep the change.¡± Wearing the crooked hat, her expression became a bit dumbfounded. After a moment of daze, she pulled out a can of milk from her bag and pushed it, along with the phone with the new protector, towards Jiang Zhi, ¡°This is for you.¡± So cute. He wanted to touch her face. Jiang Zhi reached out again, but she moved back, blinking. He didn¡¯t retract his hand, ¡°Your hat is crooked, don¡¯t move.¡± She really didn¡¯t move. So obedient. He wanted to touch her face even more now. His fingertips trembled slightly, brushing past her face as he straightened her tilted fisherman¡¯s hat. The back of his hand touched her hair, it felt itchy, and he withdrew awkwardly, turning his head away, his ears turning red, ¡°I, I am leaving.¡± Under the hat, Zhou Xufang looked up at him, ¡°Goodbye.¡± Her expression remained unchanged. Jiang Zhi¡¯s face flushed, his chest felt tight. He squeezed the milk can hard and turned to leave. ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± He immediately turned back. Her face, lit by the desk lamp, looked softer, ¡°Don¡¯t go out tonight.¡± The furrowed brows of a second ago smoothed out. He lightly hummed, an uncontrollable warmth filling his eyes. A new customer approached for a screen protector. Zhou Xufang said another goodbye and paid no more attention to Jiang Zhi. Left standing in the middle of the road, Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± He turned and walked away! For the first time, he felt this way. His heart was like being on a rollercoaster, up and down, never at peace for a moment. After finishing applying a screen protector, Zhou Xufang saw Jiang Zhi already far away. She frowned, sat for a while, and took out her phone to send an email to Shuangjiang. Shuangjiang usually used email more. Soon, a call from an unfamiliar number came in. Zhou Xufang answered, and a synthetic mechanical voice spoke, ¡°Ah Fang, what do you want to do?¡± She looked at the distant road; Jiang Zhi¡¯s car was no longer visible, ¡°I¡¯m worried.¡± ¡°Worried about Jiang Zhi?¡± ¡°Yes, if the client made two sets of plans, if I don¡¯t rob him, someone else will.¡± Shuangjiang always let her have her way, ¡°How can I help you?¡± Zhou Xufang turned off the small desk lamp and packed up the stall, ¡°There are many surveillance cameras near where Jiang Zhi lives, I can¡¯t get in.¡± ¡°Give me twenty minutes.¡± Driving from Ba Yi Bridge to Jiang Zhi¡¯s residence at Qingshan Mansion took more than forty minutes. When Jiang Zhi arrived home, it was nearly eight o¡¯clock. He opened the door and was about to turn on the light when a hand pulled him inside. Bang¡ª The door was slammed shut. Almost simultaneously, he was pushed against the wall. A woman¡¯s deliberately low voice sounded in his ear, ¡°Don¡¯t move.¡± He didn¡¯t move, not even his eyelids, maintaining a calm demeanor. His tone remained lazily drawn out, showing no panic, ¡°It¡¯s you again.¡± It was her again, the professional errand runner. She remained silent, one hand gripping his waist, the other pressing against his shoulder. The room¡¯s lights were off, the moonlight from outside casting a blurry outline. He could only vaguely see the faint blue reflection from her glasses. ¡°Who sent you to rob me this time?¡± She deliberately lowered her voice further, ¡°I¡¯m not robbing you, don¡¯t move, and don¡¯t make a sound. I¡¯ll leave at dawn.¡± Being so close, he smelled the milky scent on her again. Click. The door suddenly made a sound, followed by Ah Wan¡¯s voice, ¡°Boss, you left your script in my car¡ª¡± The light from the door¡¯s crack fell on the glow in Zhou Xufang¡¯s eyes behind the lens. Ah Wan¡¯s voice abruptly stopped. After a few seconds of hesitation, he kicked the door open, ¡°You scum!¡± ¡°¡­¡± Her lips under the mask twitched slightly. Zhou Xufang firmly corrected, ¡°I¡¯m not a scum.¡± Ah Wan took a step back, assumed a defensive posture, and shouted, ¡°Scum, let go of my boss!¡± She definitely wasn¡¯t a scum! S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. She got a bit angry and coldly reminded, ¡°Behind you.¡± Ah Wan didn¡¯t listen, aggressively glaring at the ¡®scum,¡¯ shouting fiercely, ¡°Stop talking nonsense, let go of my boss!¡± Wearing a mask, hat, and glasses, Zhou Xufang leisurely said the last two words, ¡°Someone¡¯s there.¡± The lights suddenly turned on. Ah Wan turned around, and a club was swung at him. He dodged, and the stick missed his head, hitting his shoulder instead. At this moment, seven or eight burly men rushed in, each holding a club, and engaged in a brawl with Ah Wan. Chapter 39: 039: Jiang Zhi becomes suspicious of Z (Part 1) Chapter 39: 039: Jiang Zhi becomes suspicious of Z (Part 1) Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation At this moment, seven or eight tall and burly men rushed in, each holding a bat, and started fighting with Ah Wan. Ah Wan was very skilled, but he was outnumbered. Zhou Xufang released her hand from Jiang Zhi¡¯s shoulder, ¡°Stay here and don¡¯t move.¡± She lowered the brim of her hat, turned around, and kicked away the bat that was swinging towards Ah Wan¡¯s back, ¡°Who sent you?¡± The leader, wearing a mask, raised his hand to signal his men to stop, ¡°Are you Z?¡± ¡°I am.¡± The man scrutinized her, ¡°Mr. sent us to assist you.¡± Indeed, preparations were made for both outcomes. Zhou Xufang adjusted her special-material glasses, facing the man, ¡°I don¡¯t need it.¡± ¡°We won¡¯t interfere with your task, just deliver the person to the designated place and we¡¯ll leave. We won¡¯t hinder you.¡± Her voice was extremely low, and the coldness in her eyes behind the blue lenses suggested restrained anger, her whole being exuding an aura of hostility, ¡°I don¡¯t like others meddling in the jobs I take.¡± This was her rule, to act alone, never to accept collaboration. The man seemed to have anticipated this, saying no more, ¡°We also get paid to do our job, no offense.¡± At his command, his men surrounded Zhou Xufang, swinging iron rods and stun batons at her in a disorganized manner. She had no weapon, engaging them with her bare hands. Ah Wan felt dizzy¡ªthe aggressive attacks seemed to turn into soft blows upon reaching the errand runner. She moved quickly, dodging effortlessly, without even attacking, just defending. Ah Wan watched in astonishment for a while, then turned to ask Jiang Zhi, who was also watching, ¡°Boss, aren¡¯t they on the same side? Why are they fighting?¡± ¡°Shut your mouth.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Jiang Zhi supported himself up, dragging his sickly steps towards the fighting crowd. Ah Wan shouted for him to stay back. A man holding a stun baton turned towards Jiang Zhi upon hearing the shout, swinging his baton. Ah Wan leapt forward to kick, only to see Jiang Zhi weakly raising a hand, gently pinching the man¡¯s wrist. The stun baton clattered to the ground, and the man groaned in pain, rolling his eyes. Ah Wan was dumbfounded, where did the feeble patient go? ¡°Boss, have you been trained?¡± Such strength couldn¡¯t come without training, and that precise move to catch the baton, an ordinary person couldn¡¯t do it. Jiang Zhi pulled out a handkerchief from his coat to wipe his hands, ¡°No.¡± As he said this, he kicked down a man over six feet tall, then stepped on him unhurriedly, grinding his toe, and casually tossed the handkerchief, flexing his wrists, ¡°Who did you hire, so useless.¡± He coughed lightly, the misty water in his peach blossom eyes hiding all the fierce light. Ah Wan, ¡°!¡± He thought, after discovering the boss¡¯s six-pack abs, he now found another secret, lost in his thoughts¡ª ¡°Clang.¡± The blue and white porcelain tea cup on the coffee table was knocked and shattered by a staggering man. Jiang Zhi glanced over, frowning. That set of cups had cost him five million at auction, a centuries-old antique, what a pity. At this moment, the man who was kicked onto the coffee table lost his balance, falling backward and stabbing his back on the broken porcelain pieces. He turned pale from the pain, cursed lowly, pulled out a dagger from his coat, and ferociously lunged at Jiang Zhi. Ah Wan screamed, ¡°Boss, be careful!¡± Jiang Zhi! Zhou Xufang forced back two assailants and swiftly stepped in front of Jiang Zhi, reaching out to intercept the dagger, her arm was seized. She turned back. Jiang Zhi stared at her, his gaze burning. As the dagger approached, he yanked her arm, spinning around and kicking the man in the abdomen, causing him to cry out and fall, the dagger clattering to the ground. ¡°Who exactly are you?¡± These eyes¡­ Jiang Zhi stared into the eyes behind her glasses for just a second, reaching to remove her mask. Almost simultaneously, the man on the ground quickly picked up the dagger, slashing at Jiang Zhi¡¯s outstretched hand. There was no time to think; Zhou Xufang pushed Jiang Zhi away, the dagger grazed her right arm, blood instantly soaking her sleeve. Without blinking, she kicked the man down. Jiang Zhi stumbled back from the push. Ah Wan rushed to support him, sweating profusely, ¡°Boss, are you okay?¡± sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He didn¡¯t move, his gaze fixed on Zhou Xufang surrounded by the seven or eight men. She pressed her bleeding arm with one hand, kicked up the broken porcelain pieces, hitting the chandelier, plunging the room into darkness, no one could see her eyes turning red. It had been a long time since she got angry, whenever she got angry, her pupils turned red, as red as blood. In the dim light, the men holding bats groped closer. She leapt, wrapping her foot around a man¡¯s neck, slamming him hard, causing him to faint on the spot. Such speed! Giving no time to react, she jumped and side-kicked, punching out with three-tenths of her strength, causing two more to scream and drop. ¡°Leave now, or I won¡¯t show mercy.¡± She glanced at them, her eyes cold and filled with killing intent. There were always rumors in the industry about errand runner Z¡ªthat she was incredibly strong, as fast as lightning, and the tales were even more exaggerated, saying she could do anything from water to sky. The men looked at each other knowingly but eventually withdrew, knowing they couldn¡¯t win even with their numbers. After the men were gone, Zhou Xufang closed the door and turned around. Ah Wan immediately blocked Jiang Zhi, trying to look fierce, ¡°Don¡¯t come over, I¡¯ve called the police.¡± This ¡®scum¡¯ had formidable fighting skills, if he got violent, his employer¡¯s chastity wouldn¡¯t stand a chance. She did not advance, standing by the door, devoid of the earlier killing intent. Her expression was calm, the room dark, her mask, and hat concealing her, even her eyes behind the lenses were blurred. Her voice was low, hoarse, ¡°Do nothing, sit there and do not move, I will leave when the police arrive.¡± What did that mean? Not here to assault? Ah Wan¡¯s mind was muddled, completely confused, side-eyeing the employer, who was calm, eyes fixed on the errand runner. ¡°Who hired you?¡± She remained silent. Jiang Zhi asked again, ¡°What is your purpose?¡± In the dark, his gaze seeking out hers, intensely locking onto her, ¡°Why not capture me?¡± She said nothing, pressing her wound, quietly standing by the door. Jiang Zhi could smell the faint scent of blood. He pondered for a long time, then kicked the medical kit under the coffee table towards her. Chapter 40: 040: Behind the scenes emerges (second update) Chapter 40: 040: Behind the scenes emerges (second update) Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation Jiang Zhi smelled the scent of blood, faintly. He pondered for a long time and kicked the medical kit under the coffee table over. Zhou Xufang¡¯s regeneration and self-healing speed was eighty-four times that of a normal human. This was the data measured in the laboratory seven or eight years ago; she wasn¡¯t sure what it was now. However, the dagger wound had already scabbed over. It should only take a short time before the scab fell off, and then the skin would be restored as before. At most a day, and even the scar would disappear completely. She glanced at the medical kit on the ground but did not move. At this moment, the police siren sounded outside. The police should have arrived, and the blood-red in her pupils had almost faded. ¡°Be careful these days.¡± Leaving a sentence, she opened the door and quickly disappeared from Jiang Zhi¡¯s sight. After confirming that she had left, Ah Wan got up and went to the door to check. In the blink of an eye, there was no trace of her. A rabbit? Running so fast! ¡°Boss,¡± Ah Wan scratched his head, ¡°why do I feel that Z wasn¡¯t here to assault, but to help us?¡± Jiang Zhi lowered his eyes in silence, not knowing what he was thinking about, dazed and lost in thought. Ah Wan pondered, ¡°And her voice, why does it sound familiar?¡± Yes, it was familiar. Despite being deliberately suppressed, one could still hear a bit of her original tone, and her eyes, her body temperature, even the force when she pressed against him¡­ Jiang Zhi licked his dry lips, and waves surged in his eyes. A few minutes later, Qiao Nanchu and Mr. Cheng from the Criminal Investigation Team came up with people. Qiao Nanchu carefully examined the interior and asked Jiang Zhi, ¡°Are you hurt?¡± He shook his head, still seemingly lost in thought. ¡°Do you know who did it?¡± Distracted, not knowing what he was thinking, he replied perfunctorily, ¡°Many people want to mess with me. Can¡¯t guess.¡± People from the Jiang Family, enemies of the Jiang Family, openly and secretly, there were many who couldn¡¯t tolerate this young master of the Jiang Family. Qiao Nanchu thought for a moment, ¡°Move to my place for the next few days.¡± ¡°The old lady at home just called, asking me to return to the old house.¡± His gaze swept to the few dried blood drops on the floor, the light in his eyes flickered, sometimes dim, sometimes bright. ¡°That works too. Under the old lady¡¯s nose, those people will at least restrain themselves somewhat.¡± The phone rang, Qiao Nanchu answered it, listened to the other side for a few minutes, and then hung up, ¡°Just now, half an hour ago, the Criminal Investigation Team received a report that Z committed another crime in the suburbs.¡± This was the fourth case this month. As before, the scene had the mark of the professional errand runner Z. Jiang Zhi¡¯s drooping eyelids lifted, ¡°It wasn¡¯t her; half an hour ago, she was with me.¡± In those words, there seemed to be a hint of protection. Qiao Nanchu sat on the sofa, leisurely looking at Jiang Zhi, ¡°How can you be sure the one with you was the real one?¡± Jiang Zhi was restless, the waves in his peach blossom eyes still chaotic. He casually replied, ¡°She smelled of milk.¡± Qiao Nanchu smiled without saying anything. It was past nine, and outside the floor-to-ceiling windows of the Huayu Building, the lights were dim and scattered. There was a knock on the door outside. ¡°President Jin.¡± ¡°Come in.¡± The secretary pushed the door open and came in. Jin Song, with his shirt unbuttoned, sat in the boss¡¯s chair, leisurely swirling a glass of red wine, ¡°Where¡¯s the person, did you bring them?¡± S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The secretary shook his head. Jin Song put down the glass, leaned back with his hands open, a faint and somewhat grim smile at the corner of his mouth, ¡°I paid twenty million, and this is how you handle things?¡± The secretary explained, ¡°I¡¯ve already contacted the runners.¡± Jin Song shook his leg, silent and contemplative. The secretary stepped forward and reported another matter, ¡°There¡¯s one more thing, it¡¯s a bit strange.¡± Jin Song raised his eyes, indicating for him to continue. ¡°Besides the errand runners we hired, there¡¯s another group.¡± Jin Song thought for a moment and sneered, ¡°They even made a backup plan.¡± Sitting in the boss¡¯s chair, he turned half a circle, stood up, and dialed a number. Jin Song got straight to the point, ¡°Mr. Jiang, did you hire another group of people because you don¡¯t trust me?¡± The person on the other end of the line gave a brief explanation, not wanting to say more. At this moment, there was a knock on the door, and someone pushed it open, ¡°President Jin.¡± Jin Song looked at the man at the door, then returned to the person on the phone, ¡°Rest assured, once the funds are in place, my mouth will be sealed tight.¡± The other side hung up first. Jin Song smirked mockingly, threw the phone on the table, and looked up at the man at the door, ¡°Linsu, come here.¡± The vice president of Huayu, known for his preference for male lovers, wasn¡¯t a secret in the circle. Zhou Xufang returned to Yuquan Bay, and it was almost ten. ¡°You¡¯re hurt?¡± The computer camera was connected to Shuangjiang. As soon as Zhou Xufang walked in, Shuangjiang saw the blood on her arm. Zhou Xufang took off the black hooded jacket and threw it directly into the metal trash can, ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡± Shuangjiang knew some of her healing abilities. From the camera, the scabbed wound seemed to be no major issue. ¡°The client just contacted me, asking where the person they wanted is.¡± Zhou Xufang took off her hat and mask, threw them together with the jacket, poured some alcohol in, and tossed in a match. The flames instantly reflected in her eyes, flickering lights. She spoke coldly, ¡°Tell him the task failed. Compensation is possible, but there needs to be an explanation. My rule is, once I take a task, no one else can interfere.¡± Shuangjiang understood her intent, ¡°I¡¯ll handle it.¡± Zhou Xufang closed the lid of the metal trash can, and the air was filled with the smell of burning, ¡°Shuangjiang, do me a favor.¡± ¡°What do you need?¡± She threw a marshmallow into her mouth, rolled up her sleeves, and used a wet wipe to clean the dried blood on her arm. Her voice was as cold as her gaze, ¡°I need to know who wants to harm Jiang Zhi.¡± Chapter 41: 041: Zhou Xufang teaches Luo Qinghe a lesson Chapter 41: 041: Zhou Xufang teaches Luo Qinghe a lesson Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation ¡°I need to know, exactly who is after Jiang Zhi.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll investigate for you,¡± Shuangjiang typed back. ¡°And there¡¯s something else, someone else has impersonated you and caused trouble again.¡± It wasn¡¯t the first time someone had committed a crime under her guise. Zhou Xufang couldn¡¯t help but get angry, her pupils tinted a faint blood-red. She lowered her head, her eyelashes casting downwards, ¡°Did you find out who it was?¡± ¡°Yes, I found out.¡± Shuangjiang explained, ¡°It¡¯s that Luo surname, the theft and robbery a few days ago were also her doing, setting people up. She¡¯s been holding a grudge since Zhou Qingrang offended her last time, deliberately making trouble for us.¡± Luo Qinghe. Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t like this malicious woman, ¡°I¡¯m going to see her.¡± Shuangjiang was worried and advised her, ¡°Ah Fang, it¡¯s a trap to lure you out, don¡¯t go. I¡¯m afraid for your safety, people like Luo Qinghe are despicable and hold grudges.¡± ¡°I must go.¡± Zhou Xufang threw the blood-stained wet cloth into the trash can, ¡°She holds grudges, and I hold grudges too.¡± Besides, if she didn¡¯t seek revenge, she wouldn¡¯t be able to sleep. The crescent moon was like a hook, its glow hazy, shrouding the night sky in a layer of fine gauze. The thirty-six-story skyscraper towered into the clouds, and at the top floor was the office of Younger Luo of the Luo Family. Secretary Han Feng knocked on the door and went in, ¡°Younger Luo.¡± Luo Qinghe sat in the boss¡¯s chair, holding a cigarette between her fingers, smoke slowly drifting from her fiery red lips, ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°There¡¯s some trouble from Zhou Qingrang¡¯s side.¡± Her nail-pinching fingers were neatly manicured; she tapped the cigarette butt and looked down at the falling ashes, ¡°You can¡¯t handle a cripple?¡± Han Feng¡¯s neck glistened with a thin sweat, he replied cautiously, ¡°I¡¯ve taken care of the radio station, and we could have driven him out, but today someone from the Lu Family got involved.¡± After the sex entertainment incident, Zhou Qingrang was demoted to the nighttime radio station. He still had good relations with the higher-ups in Central Television, and as long as he stayed in the hosting world, his return from the radio station was only a matter of time. Of course, Luo Qinghe was not satisfied with this outcome; she wanted a permanent solution, preferably to keep Zhou Qingrang off the broadcasting desk forever. She snuffed out the cigarette, ¡°Which person from the Lu Family got involved?¡± Among the Four Great Families, the Jiang Family was the most formidable, followed by the Lu Family. Han Feng replied, ¡°It¡¯s Second Miss Lu, Lu Sheng.¡± Lu Sheng, another formidable character. The Lu Family¡¯s eldest son¡¯s narcolepsy was recurrent and unresolved, he didn¡¯t manage the family affairs much, and with few heirs, the vast family fortune was managed by Lu Sheng. This Lu Sheng, steeped in years of business, was not a good Samaritan with a heart of compassion. Luo Qinghe pondered, ¡°How did that crippled Zhou Qingrang get involved with Lu Sheng?¡± Han Feng reported in detail, ¡°Second Miss Lu is a sound fetishist; her subordinates say she¡¯s recently become enamored with Zhou Qingrang¡¯s voice.¡± He paused for a moment, then added, ¡°Zhou Qingrang probably won¡¯t stay in the radio station for long. If Lu Sheng speaks up, even the TV station director would have to give some face to the Lu Family, but perhaps it¡¯s just a novelty, something to dabble in for a while.¡± Luo Qinghe sneered, this Lu Sheng was still just a young girl after all, and Zhou Qingrang was handsome and ethereal. However, he was disabled, and how much protection could he receive, there would always be a time when he would be discarded. ¡°Keep an eye on it for now.¡± Han Feng agreed and was just turning around when the lights in the office suddenly went out. Luo Qinghe¡¯s expression changed abruptly, ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Han Feng took out his phone for light, ¡°I¡¯ll go check¡ª¡± Click. The door opened, and Han Feng¡¯s words ceased abruptly as the bright light shining through the door gap dazzled his eyes. He reached out to block the light, about to speak, when a gust of wind swept over his collar, and then he felt a numbness at his neck and fell to the ground. Bang. The door closed again. Luo Qinghe stood up in a rush, ¡°Who¡¯s there?¡± In the dimness, only a sliver of moonlight made the figure indistinct; in the enclosed space, a sudden cold voice asked, ¡°Don¡¯t you know who I am?¡± The professional errand runner, Z. Luo Qinghe¡¯s complexion changed drastically, knocking over the ashtray on the desk in a fluster, ¡°How did you get in here?¡± The building was full of people, not to mention the more than twenty bodyguards she had hired herself; how had this person arrived in front of her without a sound? In the darkness, a pair of pupils shone cold and bright, and the deliberately suppressed voice was deep and hoarse, ¡°I¡¯ll tell you now how I got in.¡± At the end of her words, she moved instantaneously, the breeze she created whisking the A4 papers on the table into a whirlwind, and in the blink of an eye, Zhou Xufang, dressed in black, stood before Luo Qinghe. Luo Qinghe was dumbfounded, ¡°You¡ª¡± Before she could finish speaking, her neck was pinched by two fingers, then her entire body was hoisted up. Zhou Xufang spoke slowly, word by word, calmly saying, ¡°With just a light flick of my fingers, I could snap your neck.¡± Luo Qinghe struggled kicking, her cheeks flushed red from lack of oxygen, ¡°You, you¡ª¡± With her throat seized, she couldn¡¯t utter a word, pupils dilated, seeing a pair of eyes gradually turning red. The owner of those eyes was holding her neck with just two fingers, effortlessly lifting her high. ¡°Do you see my eyes? They turn red when I get angry,¡± she said, her voice flat, yet spine-chilling, ¡°Stop provoking me and don¡¯t try to investigate me. It would be very easy for me to kill you.¡± Luo Qinghe opened her mouth gasping for air, the veins in her neck bulging, her flailing legs growing weaker, the oxygen in her chest depleting, her head throbbing, consciousness starting to scatter, fear magnifying endlessly. Even from such a close distance, she couldn¡¯t clearly see the person¡¯s outline. ¡°Do you understand?¡± she asked lightly, her mask concealing her face, exposing only a pair of eyes colder than the night sky of winter. Luo Qinghe squeezed out word by word with difficulty, ¡°Under, stood.¡± Zhou Xufang was satisfied, released her grip, letting Luo Qinghe crash heavily onto the ground. ¡°Oh,¡± she remembered something else, ¡°And Zhou Qingrang, stop bullying him. Otherwise, next time I will snap your neck.¡± After leaving those words behind, she adjusted her cap and turned to leave unhurriedly. ¡°You,¡± Luo Qinghe sat on the ground, breathing heavily, her pale face covered in cold sweat, gaze locked onto the masked face, voice taut, ¡°are you human or a ghost?¡± Such speed, strength, and her eyes, were not of ordinary humans. The person at the door just glanced back before, in the blink of an eye, disappearing. Luo Qinghe¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief. Moments later, the security guard hurried upstairs, and upon seeing the situation on the rooftop, was instantly filled with dread. ¡°Younger Luo.¡± As the security approached to help her, Luo Qinghe grabbed an ashtray and hurled it, causing the guard¡¯s head to bleed profusely. Still filled with rage, she demanded loudly, ¡°How did she get up here?¡± The guard¡¯s head was bleeding badly, his face covered in blood, too scared to move in the frigid sweat, ¡°No camera caught her, she must have come from the rooftop¡ª¡± ¡°The rooftop?¡± Luo Qinghe¡¯s eyes were bloodshot as she shouted, ¡°Are you trying to tell me she grew wings and flew to the rooftop?¡± ¡°Not, not yet clear.¡± Infuriated, she exclaimed, ¡°You bunch of useless trash!¡± The guard lowered his head, too afraid to answer back. Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°That errand runner,¡± she clenched her hand, nails digging into her palm, ¡°find out.¡± Whether she¡¯s a person or a ghost, she made me suffer, and I will make her pay back a thousand times. The next day, the temperature dropped sharply, the outside world freezing, likely to snow¡ªit was the kind of weather Jiang Zhi disliked the most. He slumped in the car seat, listless. Ah Wan drove slowly, meandering along the road. While waiting for a traffic light, he couldn¡¯t help but glance at his employer¡¯s complexion in the rearview mirror. The face was so pale ¨C he didn¡¯t look well, even though just last night, he had kicked over a large man. Ah Wan couldn¡¯t figure it out, so he stopped thinking about it, ¡°Boss, did you not sleep well last night?¡± Those drooping eyelids looked almost unable to stay open. Jiang Zhi was half-asleep, his eyelids didn¡¯t flicker. Ah Wan speculated again, ¡°Are you thinking about that scum?¡± Considering his pride, being played with by that wretch surely hurt his self-esteem, he comforted, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, one day Mr. Qiao will catch that womanly scum who teased you, and then you can do whatever you want with her.¡± Although his impression of the womanly scum wasn¡¯t bad, as he didn¡¯t think she was a bad person, he still couldn¡¯t forgive her lecherous intentions! Suddenly, in the rearview mirror, Jiang Zhi¡¯s eyes snapped open, frost gathering within, ¡°She¡¯s not scum.¡± Ah Wan was startled, ¡°Huh?¡± Isn¡¯t she? If she¡¯s not scum, why would she grope and pinch the employer, she must be! Jiang Zhi couldn¡¯t be bothered to respond to Ah Wan, his sleepiness gone, head aching slightly. He had not slept all night, his mind hazy, holding a can of milk, in a dazed state of mind. Ah Wan also noticed the can of milk, quite surprised, ¡°Oh, you still haven¡¯t drunk that milk.¡± Ah Wan laughed like a foolish, two-hundred-pounder, ¡°Boss, can¡¯t you bear to finish the milk Miss Zhou gave you?¡± It was just yesterday when she gave it to you during the screen pasting. Why did he recognize that can of milk? Because the boss was afraid of mixing it up, he bit a tooth mark on the can. Ah Wan thought the boss had already finished it. To think he still kept it, after the token chicken, there¡¯s now token milk. Jiang Zhi frowned displeasedly, ¡°Drive your car.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Chapter 42: 042: First Phone Call (Part 1) Chapter 42: 042: First Phone Call (Part 1) Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation ¡°Drive your car.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Ah Wan obediently shut her mouth, silent as a chicken. Jiang Zhi¡¯s phone rang. He didn¡¯t bother holding the phone, pressing the speaker button, ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± It was Qiao Nanchu, ¡°A guy just came to the police station to surrender, saying he impersonated Z.¡± Jiang Zhi felt a bit more awake, ¡°He confessed to everything?¡± ¡°Yeah, the forensic department did an in-person evidence collection. He did commit those robberies and thefts.¡± He tapped his finger on the milk can in his hand, ¡°Who ordered him?¡± Committing a big frame-up and then turning oneself in, there had to be something fishy. This perpetrator was just a pawn, someone hired to take the fall while the mastermind remained hidden. Qiao Nanchu and Jiang Zhi thought alike, ¡°He refused to say, claimed he did it for money, and was afraid the police would trace it back to him, so he used the name of the professional errand runner Z. But I looked into his background, he used to work for the Luo Family.¡± Qiao Nanchu pondered, ¡°It should be because of Zhou Qingrang¡¯s matter, Luo Qinghe holds a grudge against Z.¡± Jiang Zhi pondered for a moment, ¡°Why did she stop then?¡± That part was indeed suspicious. Luo Qinghe was vindictive and sinister, once she bit someone, she wouldn¡¯t let go easily, truly inherited from Mr. Luo, that old fox. Qiao Nanchu was in a good mood, chuckled, and said mischievously, ¡°Who knows, maybe she suffered a loss at Z¡¯s hands.¡± He dragged his tone suggestively, ¡°This Z is quite something.¡± At that moment, Jiang Zhi stayed silent. Qiao Nanchu teased him playfully, ¡°You¡¯ve dealt with her so many times, and besides the milk scent, you found nothing else?¡± Following that¡ª ¡°Beep beep beep beep beep beep¡­¡± Jiang Zhi hung up the phone. Qiao Nanchu rubbed his chin, chuckled quietly, something didn¡¯t seem right. At the film set, Jiang Zhi called Vice Director Zhao over, looked around, and asked, ¡°Where¡¯s Zhou Xufang?¡± First thing he did was ask about Miss Zhou. Vice Director Zhao couldn¡¯t help speculating, replying, ¡°She¡¯s not on set.¡± Jiang Zhi frowned, his peach blossom eyes filled with a smoky look, beautiful yet aggressive. ¡°Call her here.¡± It was a commanding tone. Vice Director Zhao felt a bit troubled, hesitated before speaking, ¡°But there¡¯s no scene with extras today¡­¡± Jiang Zhi squinted his eyes, his proud demeanor imposing, ¡°Can¡¯t you add one?¡± This Miss Zhou had an unusual relationship with the director. Vice Director Zhao was quick-witted, ¡°I¡¯ll add one right away.¡± Then, he took out his phone, about to contact the extras coordinator. Jiang Zhi stopped him, ¡°Forget it.¡± Vice Director Zhao was perplexed, ¡°Huh?¡± Why cancel now? So unpredictable. There, the director lounged on a recliner, resting with his eyes closed for a minute. He changed his posture several times, frowning, then relaxing, hesitating repeatedly, before finally taking out his phone, rubbing the keys for a long time before dialing. ¡°Hello.¡± The voice was perpetually cold. Jiang Zhi cleared his throat seriously, ¡°It¡¯s me.¡± This was Jiang Zhi¡¯s first time calling her, the number memorized from a takeout receipt, familiar by heart but never dialed before. Unaccountably, he felt a bit flustered. Zhou Xufang¡¯s tone was unwaveringly cold, ¡°Who is this?¡± ¡°¡­¡± She didn¡¯t save his number! She couldn¡¯t recognize his voice! Jiang Zhi gave a forceful cough, clearing his throat hoarse from a sleepless night, ¡°It¡¯s Jiang Zhi.¡± His tone was sharp, seventy percent angry, thirty percent reluctant. Upon hearing it was Jiang Zhi, Zhou Xufang remained silent for a few seconds, then greeted him, ¡°Hello, Jiang Zhi.¡± Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 43: 043: Hug Hug! (Part 2) Chapter 43: 043: Hug Hug! (Part 2) Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation ¡°Hello, Jiang Zhi.¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± The formality made him want to hit someone. ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± Zhou Xufang asked him. Her voice had softened a lot, no longer as cold and indifferent as when she first answered the phone. Jiang Zhi felt better and softened his voice as well, ¡°There¡¯s an impromptu scene that needs extras.¡± She didn¡¯t even consider it, ¡°I¡¯m busy right now.¡± She rejected him! She actually rejected him! Jiang Zhi sat up from the recliner, the blanket on his legs slipping to the floor due to his abrupt movement. He coughed a few times, his cheeks flushed with a sickly red. This annoyed and anxious look made him even more beautiful, like a noble young master from an aristocratic family. But his eyes held a sharp coldness, ¡°Where are you?¡± Zhou Xufang answered truthfully, ¡°I¡¯m on Changdu Road.¡± She added, ¡°Doing a part-time job.¡± Busy making money again, he couldn¡¯t even see her shadow. Jiang Zhi scratched the can of milk he had been holding, ¡°Twenty thousand, will you come?¡± Money wasn¡¯t an issue for him. As expected, Zhou Xufang was particularly interested in making money, ¡°Can I come in two hours?¡± Her voice was light, and it was clear she was delighted. She was much more passionate about money than she was about him. Jiang Zhi scratched the can of milk forcefully, ¡°Come quickly!¡± His tone was fierce. Zhou Xufang replied, ¡°Okay.¡± S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Then Jiang Zhi hung up the phone. Zhou Xufang stared at the number for a few seconds, then saved it, started typing the name Jiang Zhi, but deleted it and changed it to ¡°The Most Beautiful Person in the World.¡± At that moment, the salon owner came over. In his thirties, he dressed stylishly and had his hair dyed Granny Smith green. He was Fang Lixiang¡¯s cousin, named Cheng Xin, and was also the chief stylist of the salon. Zhou Xufang glanced at the potion Cheng Xin was holding, hesitant, ¡°Can I not use this color?¡± Cheng Xin called her baby naturally and said with a smile, ¡°This color suits you best. Trust me, after dyeing it, you¡¯ll look absolutely stunning.¡± Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t really trust him, but since he offered a high price of five thousand¡­ for the money¡­ She said, ¡°Alright.¡± Two hours later, Zhou Xufang arrived at the set. Because it was windy, she wore a mask and a hat, only revealing a pair of pitch-black eyes¡ªlike a lone wolf in the desert. Fang Lixiang stared at her for over ten seconds, a look of shock in her eyes. ¡°Lixiang,¡± Zhou Xufang called her. Fang Lixiang jumped back, dramatically hugging herself, ¡°Who are you?¡± Zhou Xufang removed her mask and then her hat, ¡°It¡¯s me.¡± It was the same somewhat wooden and extremely cold face, just with a head of fluffy, casually curled hair¡­ Fang Lixiang couldn¡¯t resist touching it, ¡°Did my cousin dye this for you?¡± Zhou Xufang, uncomfortable, pressed down on the fluffy hair on her head, ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°What¡¯s this color called?¡± ¡°Matte blue.¡± It was a cold, glamorous matte blue with a bit of Granny Smith gray, cut to ear length with some mid-curls at the ends, very casual, slightly messy, both cool and playful. Both decadent and beautiful. It was indeed Zhou Xufang. Fang Lixiang swallowed and couldn¡¯t dare to look anymore, scared she might bend. She called her cousin, ¡°Cousin, I also want to dye matte blue. I want the same hairstyle as Xu Fang.¡± On the other end, Cheng Xin bluntly knocked her down, ¡°Do you think everyone can pull it off? I¡¯ll dye yours green next time.¡± Fang Lixiang: ¡°¡­¡± Why did she still keep this cousin around? Break ties, it is. ¡°Zhou Xufang.¡± Someone called softly, gasping slightly, accompanied by a cough. It was Jiang Zhi. No one knew when he had arrived or how long he had been standing in the crowd. When Zhou Xufang turned to look at him, he was looking at her too. She answered with a word. He glanced at her hair, ¡°Come with me.¡± Zhou Xufang followed Jiang Zhi to the lounge. He sent Ah Wan away, shut the door, and with the demeanor cultivated by generations of nobility, asked, ¡°Why did you dye your hair?¡± Zhou Xufang kept a safe distance from him, ¡°I¡¯m working as a hair model at the salon.¡± He stared at her hair for a long moment, then at her eyes, ¡°Zhou Xufang.¡± She had a wooden expression, ¡°Yes.¡± He took a few steps closer to her, his gaze like a net, tightly wrapping around her, ¡°Can I hold you?¡± She thought for a long time and shook her head. No, she had secrets that needed to be tightly kept, so she always kept her distance from others, always hid in obscure places, always avoided eye contact, not letting anyone see her face. Jiang Zhi was already an exception. She seriously refused, ¡°No.¡± Jiang Zhi seemed to have anticipated this. He calmly took another step towards her, ¡°Since you don¡¯t agree, I can only use force.¡± He reached out and pulled her into his arms. Chapter 44: 044: Brother Zhi Who Loves the House and Its Crow (Part 1) Chapter 44: 044: Brother Zhi Who Loves the House and Its Crow (Part 1) Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation ¡°Since you don¡¯t agree, I¡¯ll have to use force.¡± He reached out and pulled her into his arms. Zhou Xu Fang reflexively raised her hand. ¡°Cough, cough, cough¡­¡± His chin rested on her shoulder, and all his coughing sounded in her ear. ¡°I¡¯m not in good health, go easy on me.¡± Her hand stiffened in midair and didn¡¯t come down. He looked pitiable, like the stray gray cat abandoned outside her building; it softened her heart. She barely dared to use any strength, just poking him with one finger. ¡°Let go.¡± She pushed very, very lightly. Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t let go. He held her waist tightly and, knowing her strength, used all his might to keep her in his embrace. ¡°Don¡¯t move, just for a while.¡± It felt a bit warm. Zhou Xu Fang¡¯s body temperature was low; she hadn¡¯t felt so hot and flustered in years; her skin was heating up. She was very uncomfortable and pushed Jiang Zhi away forcefully with two fingers. She really only used twenty percent of her strength. Jiang Zhi staggered backward, nearly bumping into the coffee table. His chest tightened, followed by a fit of coughing. ¡°Cough, cough, cough¡­¡± He coughed so hard his eyes turned a bit red. He glared at her with his watery eyes. ¡°You didn¡¯t go easy!¡± He was extremely annoyed, blood rushing to his face, making it blush red. His moist eyes resembled those of a fierce but harmless cub, evoking pity from anyone who saw him. Like a cat. Zhou Xu Fang thought Jiang Zhi was just like a high-bred cat, elegant and lazy when calm, so beautiful one would want to give him all the cat food in the world. But once angry, he became dangerous, using hidden claws to slowly and unexpectedly scratch people, hitting their vulnerable spots. Zhou Xu Fang averted her eyes and didn¡¯t look at him. ¡°I was already being gentle.¡± If she had used her full strength, he would be broken by now. Jiang Zhi finally calmed down a bit, wheezing with his hand on his chest, frowning. ¡°When can you wash that hair dye out?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll wash it out tonight when I get back.¡± She used a temporary dye that would wash out after two washes. Jiang Zhi glanced thoughtfully at her arm. Compared to undressing her to check for wounds, holding her was easier. He decided to hold her again tomorrow. The hug earlier had been too short; he didn¡¯t smell the scent of milk, only the harsh smell of hair dye. Should he hug her again? His gaze turned a bit scorching. Zhou Xu Fang took a large step back, saw his face turn cold instantly, and feared he¡¯d get angry. She moved forward a little bit. ¡°Anything else?¡± She was acting as if to guard against a thief! Jiang Zhi ground his teeth. His naturally charming peach blossom eyes now radiated fierceness, like a beast about to prey. He didn¡¯t speak, so Zhou Xu Fang waited a while before saying, ¡°I¡¯m leaving, then.¡± After speaking, she tucked herself into her coat, stepping lightly as she turned. ¡°Zhou Xu Fang.¡± She turned back. Her misty blue short hair was a bit fluffy, and under her bangs, her eyes were particularly dark, like the clearest water in a deep winter well. Zhou Xu Fang¡¯s eyes were just the way he liked them the most, he didn¡¯t even know why he stopped her, so he casually asked, ¡°Where did you get your hair done?¡± ¡°Want to dye yours too?¡± Zhou Xu Fang gave him the exact address. ¡°At No. 43 Changdu Road, at Fang Lixiang¡¯s cousin¡¯s place.¡± She thought for a moment. ¡°The salon is called Fairy Descending.¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± ¡°It would look even better on you,¡± she said very sincerely before leaving. Jiang Zhi sprawled onto the sofa, massaging his temples. This girl seemed to genuinely think he was good-looking, and didn¡¯t show any yearning for his beauty. The way she looked at him was the same as she looked at that multi-million-yuan vase in the prop room. Bang¡ª S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He kicked the trash can over. He must have been crazy, actually considering dyeing his hair. The can of milk she gave him was still hidden under the sofa pillow, pressing against his neck uncomfortably. He fished it out and played with it in his hand, touching the teeth marks on the can. What was the name of that shop again¡­ Fairy Descending. Chapter 45: 045: Rounding up is a date (part 2) Chapter 45: 045: Rounding up is a date (part 2) Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation Zhou Xufang returned home at almost eight o¡¯clock. It was a bit late, so she didn¡¯t go out to set up a stall to apply screen protectors. ¡°You dyed your hair,¡± Shuangjiang noticed as soon as she walked in the door. ¡°Mm.¡± ¡°It looks good.¡± Zhou Xufang awkwardly ran her fingers through her hair, ¡°I¡¯ll wash it out later.¡± Her profession was special, and she couldn¡¯t have any noticeable features when going on a task. If Jiang Zhi dyed his hair, it would definitely be beautiful, even more beautiful than the diamonds on a cotton candy box. At the bottom of the computer screen, a line of words scrolled by, ¡°We don¡¯t have to pay for that commission; they breached the contract first.¡± ¡°Did you find out who they were?¡± Zhou Xufang wiggled her pink bunny slippers, her mind wandering off to another place. If Jiang Zhi dyed his hair, it would definitely be especially beautiful¡­ Shuangjiang saw she was distracted and spoke with a synthetic voice instead of typing, ¡°I found out. The client¡¯s name is Jin Song. I sent his data to your email.¡± Zhou Xufang opened her email on another computer. ¡°The group that intervened in our task last night are also professional errand runners, quite famous in the industry. Their leader is a man named Brother Qin. They operate in a company model, with excellent logistics and confidentiality. I can¡¯t get their client information for now. I still don¡¯t know if their client is also this Jin guy.¡± That errand runner company was called FOR. Founded less than six months ago, it quickly became famous in the industry. Unlike Zhou Xufang, FOR took on any commission as long as they were paid. Zhou Xufang had competed with them for business a few times and had some understanding. S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. She asked Shuangjiang, ¡°Does this Jin Song have a grudge against Jiang Zhi?¡± ¡°They were supposed to collaborate on a movie, but it fell through for some unknown reason.¡± The synthetic voice stopped abruptly, and a line of bold capital letters rolled across the screen, ¡°Additionally, Jin Song likes men, especially good-looking men.¡± No wonder. Jiang Zhi was a handsome man, an extremely handsome man. Thinking of Jiang Zhi left Zhou Xufang feeling a bit deflated, ¡°Jiang Zhi already suspects me.¡± She didn¡¯t want to move. In the past, if she exposed herself, she would choose to run far away, but Jiang Zhi was so beautiful. If she moved away, she would never see his face again. The more she thought about it, the more she felt discouraged, her head drooping like a listless quail. Shuangjiang asked, ¡°Did you expose anything?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Zhou Xufang said. ¡°Jiang Zhi is very smart.¡± She had deliberately disguised her voice, didn¡¯t dare look him in the eye, yet he still found out. She continued to droop her head, her fog-blue dyed hair limp, looking like a defeated quail. Shuangjiang comforted her, ¡°Ah Fang, you¡¯re smart too.¡± Just too low in emotional intelligence. Zhou Xufang¡¯s eyelids drooped in contemplation, thinking about how to make Jiang Zhi stop suspecting her¡­ Ding. A WeChat message came in. She glanced at it. It was the boss lady of the porridge shop, asking if she could help deliver orders. The shop was too busy. It was gloomy outside; a heavy rain was coming. In this weather, traffic congestion would significantly lower the delivery efficiency of the couriers. Zhou Xufang replied to the boss lady, ¡°Okay.¡± After replying, she thought for a moment, then found Jiang Zhi¡¯s WeChat and sent him a smiley face. ¡°.¡± Jiang Zhi mimicked her and sent a period. She typed letter by letter, ¡°Are you hungry?¡± The other side showed ¡°typing,¡± showed for a long time, but Jiang Zhi¡¯s message didn¡¯t come through. Hm, she must have asked something too weird. Zhou Xufang organized her words and asked again, ¡°I¡¯m about to deliver food; are you hungry?¡± She put her phone on the table, using both hands to find the letters and type faster. She sent another message. ¡°You hired me as an extra. I should thank you.¡± After explaining, she asked again, ¡°Are you hungry?¡± This time, Jiang Zhi replied immediately, ¡°Hungry.¡± The corners of Zhou Xufang¡¯s mouth lifted slightly, not used to smiling, a bit stiff, but her eyes were full of joy, ¡°Then I¡¯ll buy you some porridge.¡± Was she asking him out? On the other end, Jiang Zhi¡¯s palms were sweaty, a bit slippery, nearly dropping his phone. He grabbed a jacket and stood up, ¡°Where are you? I¡¯ll come over.¡± ¡°It¡¯s raining heavily outside. I ordered delivery and will bring it to you.¡± She added, ¡°I asked Ah Wan for your address.¡± His steps paused. Delivery¡­ Couldn¡¯t she invite him to a place with better ambiance? Oh, she had no money¡­ Alright, delivery it is. He walked to the entryway, squatting down to change his shoes, ¡°No need to bring it over. I¡¯ll go to the porridge shop to find you.¡± ¡°It¡¯s cold outside, and your health isn¡¯t good; don¡¯t go out.¡± Quite obedient. Jiang Zhi took off his shoes, unable to suppress the smile at the corner of his mouth, ¡°Okay.¡± Zhou Xufang: ¡°.¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡°Hurry up.¡± Zhou Xufang: ¡°.¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡°I¡¯m hungry.¡± Zhou Xufang: ¡°.¡± Chapter 46: 046: Can I shower at your place? (Chapter 1) Chapter 46: 046: Can I shower at your place? (Chapter 1) Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation A thunderclap echoed through the night. After a loud thunderclap, torrential rain came pouring down. Zhou Xufang hid the porridge she was carrying inside her coat and ran across the street, tugging at her hat. The sudden downpour urged pedestrians to scatter. The night was chilly and the rain wrapped everything in a misty haze. Through the thick veil of water vapor, Zhou Xufang saw a black umbrella. A figure stood under it, backlit, under a tree. The rain splashed up, wetting his white sneakers. Looking up, she saw a pair of beige casual pants, then a pair of long, slender hands holding the umbrella, the fingers delicate and very pale, save for the neatly trimmed nails which glowed with a hue of pink. Zhou Xufang recognized those hands. She ran a little faster: ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± The umbrella lifted slightly and she saw his face. The normally curved line of his lips straightened when he saw her, ¡°It¡¯s pouring rain, you don¡¯t know to use an umbrella?¡± S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Beneath the umbrella, the beautiful man looked at her with anger in his eyes, his brows furrowed. His rain-soaked eyes stared at her. Jiang Zhi even looked good when he was angry. Zhou Xufang wiped the rain from her face, ¡°It wasn¡¯t raining when I left.¡± Wearing a stern expression, he stepped out from under the tree, seemingly wanting to grab her arm but hesitating. Instead, he reached up and grabbed the drawstring of her hoodie, pulling her under the umbrella, ¡°You¡¯re completely soaked.¡± He pushed the umbrella slightly toward her, ¡°Are you cold?¡± Zhou Xufang looked down at Jiang Zhi¡¯s sneakers, now mud-stained. Fang Lixiang had said Jiang Zhi came from a wealthy family, he was delicate and insisted on formality. She stepped onto the clean flagstones nearby, replying, ¡°Cold.¡± Jiang Zhi followed her, moving from the muddy grass to the clean flagstones. His umbrella was large, but the little girl standing under it was far off to the side, trying to make herself small. She was soaked, her wet eyes avoiding his gaze. Whether it was from washing or the rain, the dye in her hair from earlier that day had faded, and her wet hair clung to her head like a quail caught in the rain. ¡°Take it.¡± He shoved the umbrella into her hand, bent over to match her height, and took off his coat, draping it over her shoulders. The series of actions was swift and not particularly gentle, even somewhat clumsy. His expression was hardly friendly, resembling some pampered and delicate creature that needed constant comforting. Zhou Xufang stood there holding the umbrella, since she was significantly shorter, she had to stand on tiptoe to hold it over his head, shielding him from the wind and rain. Her other hand held the porridge hidden in her coat. She was cold all over, except for the warmth in her left chest where the porridge was. She looked up, raindrops falling from her eyelashes. She said, ¡°I¡¯m still very cold.¡± For once, she was so obedient and gentle. Jiang Zhi hesitated, wondering if he should warm her hands. But she asked him, ¡°Can I use your place to take a shower?¡± Her voice was low and cautious, her face upturned, eyes like black gemstones full of hope, looking at him with anticipation. Jiang Zhi was momentarily taken aback by her gaze, swallowing a huge gulp of cold air, which chilled him down to his throat. ¡°Cough cough cough cough cough¡­¡± Damn it. He bent over, coughing so hard that his peach blossom eyes were filled with bloodshot lines. Zhou Xufang, seeing him this weak, hurried to take off the coat to return it to him. The movement caused the umbrella to tilt, letting a large amount of rain pour onto her head. His hands, now wet and red from the cold, steadied the umbrella, pulling her and the coat closer, ¡°Wear it properly.¡± Take a shower? Who taught her this, she must have picked up some bad habits, what if she dared to be this reckless with someone else¡­ Jiang Zhi choked with anger, coughed a couple of times, still feeling unwell, but slowly tilted the umbrella more toward her. The rain quickly soaked his sweater, which was black, making his face look especially pale. Zhou Xufang worried that he might faint from the wind, so she stopped dawdling, ¡°If not, I¡¯ll leave.¡± She took the porridge from her coat and hung it on the umbrella handle, ¡°Eat the porridge while it¡¯s hot.¡± After reminding him, she moved to step out from under the umbrella. Jiang Zhi grabbed her hood, not letting her leave, ¡°I didn¡¯t say you couldn¡¯t.¡± He pulled her back under the umbrella, ¡°Move closer, you¡¯re getting soaked.¡± His tone indicated a bit of anger. Chapter 47: 047: You Wear Mine (Second Update) Chapter 47: 047: You Wear Mine (Second Update) Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation The tone was a bit angry. Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t know why he was upset. She stood still obediently and poked the umbrella towards him with a finger: ¡°I¡¯m already wet, it doesn¡¯t matter. You¡¯re delicate, you can¡¯t get wet.¡± Jiang Zhi snorted and stubbornly tilted the umbrella towards her. Under the streetlight, Zhou Xufang looked at him. The rain battered down, leaving his hair flat, without his usual defiant air, he looked more youthful. She felt he looked even more fragile and threw his wool coat over his head before running into the rain, leaving the umbrella with him. She didn¡¯t go far, just a short distance ahead. Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± From the gate of the villa area to Jiang Zhi¡¯s house was just a few steps, but the rain was heavy. Zhou Xufang was drenched. She wore black canvas shoes today. With the heavy rain, the soles of her shoes were all muddy. She stared at the doormat at the entrance for a long time but didn¡¯t follow Jiang Zhi inside. ¡°Why not come in?¡± Jiang Zhi squatted, looking for shoes. Zhou Xufang stood at the door: ¡°I¡¯m all wet. I¡¯ll dirty your carpet.¡± The carpet in his house looked very expensive. He rummaged through the cabinet at the entrance for a long time and found a pair of small-sized men¡¯s slippers. Squatting in front of her, he put the shoes by her feet: ¡°No girls¡¯ shoes, you wear these.¡± Then he urged, ¡°Come in quickly, let the carpet get dirty, otherwise why have it.¡± Zhou Xufang thought that made sense. She changed into the slippers and walked on the carpet. This wasn¡¯t her first time at Jiang Zhi¡¯s house. The last time it was dark and windy, so she didn¡¯t see much, just the light purple glass chandelier she had broken. Today, it had been replaced with a new one. Tall and crystal-like, it resembled a wind chime and was very beautiful. Zhou Xufang thought it was more delicate than the chandelier she had been eyeing at the porridge shop. She couldn¡¯t help but look at it several times before asking Jiang Zhi: ¡°Where¡¯s the bathroom?¡± Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. She was drenched, chilled. She was fine, not afraid of the cold, but Jiang Zhi was delicate and couldn¡¯t absorb the dampness from her. However, in the cold weather, he seemed a bit feverish and tugged at his sweater collar. ¡°The bathroom is on your left.¡± He was half wet but didn¡¯t care, roughly wiping his hair, ¡°I¡¯ll get you some clothes.¡± ¡°You change first, then get me clothes.¡± He was so delicate, unlike her, who was strong enough to kill a bull with her bare hands. Jiang Zhi poured a cup of hot water and stuffed it into her hands before heading to the closet. Zhou Xufang held the water quietly in the living room, not moving an inch. There was a small puddle of water where she stood. Taking a sip of the hot water, she couldn¡¯t help but look up at the chandelier again. So beautiful. She really wanted to steal it and bring it home¡­ ¡°I don¡¯t have girls¡¯ clothes here.¡± Jiang Zhi quickly returned, still in his wet clothes. Just now his face was just red, but now his neck and ears were also red. He clutched two pieces of loungewear, both white, and handed them to Zhou Xufang, ¡°You wear mine.¡± His neck got even redder. It was unclear whether he had a fever. Zhou Xufang quickly took them: ¡°I¡¯m going to take a shower. You should change clothes quickly.¡± He turned his head aside, looking elsewhere, and muttered, ¡°Mm.¡± Zhou Xufang walked towards the bathroom with the clothes, turned back halfway, and couldn¡¯t help saying: ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± He immediately turned his head toward her: ¡°Mm?¡± ¡°Where did you buy your chandelier? I want to buy one just like it.¡± He glanced at the ceiling. How much was this chandelier again? Oh, about two million. Without batting an eye, he calmly said: ¡°There¡¯s none left. This was the last one.¡± Zhou Xufang showed a disappointed look. She really liked pretty things and wanted to secretly stow them away and bring them to Moon Bay someday, but unfortunately, this chandelier was unavailable. She dropped her head and headed to the bathroom. Jiang Zhi called her back. She turned around: ¡°What do you want?¡± His eyes still had a circle of redness, unlike his usual noble and distant demeanor when dealing with others. His eyes were very warm and bright, reflecting fragmented pieces of chandelier light. He said: ¡°I¡¯ll have someone dismantle this one for you to take.¡± This chandelier, if she bought it, would require her to deliver takeout for decades. Hearing this, Zhou Xufang immediately lit up. Her eyes grew rounder: ¡°Then what should I give you?¡± She said, ¡°There should be an exchange of gifts.¡± She never took things for free. Should she give him a car? Boys seem to like cars. A watch would work too. She could give him a diamond-studded watch, a particularly beautiful one. But Jiang Zhi said: ¡°Native chicken eggs will do.¡± ¡°Mm?¡± ¡°I like eating eggs. Just give native chicken eggs.¡± These are cheap. Chapter 48: 048: Jiang Zhi Hides Xu Fang in a Gilded Cage (Part 1) Chapter 48: 048: Jiang Zhi Hides Xu Fang in a Gilded Cage (Part 1) Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation ¡°I like eating eggs, so you can give me organic eggs.¡± That¡¯s cheap. Zhou Xufang agreed, ¡°Okay.¡± Then she could just give him a truckload of eggs, or send them for a year. She looked up at the chandelier above her head again, feeling very satisfied, wanting to hum the theme song of her favorite TV show. But this was Jiang Zhi¡¯s house, so she held back and said to Jiang Zhi, ¡°You should go change your clothes and then drink your porridge; otherwise, it will get cold.¡± ¡°Mm.¡± He raised the corner of his mouth, and then flattened it again, urging with a stern face, ¡°Are you going to dawdle until dawn?¡± Not cold?! She hurried to the bathroom. Jiang Zhi went to the dressing room and put on a pullover sweatshirt he rarely wore. The porridge was warm. He drank a few sips; it was too fresh, with too much shrimp meat. He got up to pour a glass of cold water and drank half of it in one gulp. He also turned off the heating, but it was still hot, his mouth dry and parched. Maybe the cold wind caused it; his head was vaguely aching too. He thought he needed to find a reliable psychologist to examine his brain. Otherwise, how could giving away a lamp not be enough? He even wanted to throw her a bank card when he saw her eyes glued to that lamp, letting her buy ten or so just to play with. Was he sick? Leading her into the house without reason was one thing, but wanting to pack up all his belongings for her to take away was another. Could it be that this girl really turned him straight? Becoming like that silly, sweet Xue Bingxue who craved for Jiang Wei¡¯er to carve out her heart. Jiang Zhi unconsciously pressed his chest. If Zhou Xufang asked for his heart, would he dig it out? Damn it! He was sick, thinking about such issues. He gulped down the remaining half glass of cold water and felt somewhat less hot. He poured another glass of water and tapped his fingers on the dining table in thought before dialing Jiang Wei¡¯er¡¯s number. ¡°At this hour, why aren¡¯t you asleep yet?¡± It was noisy on Jiang Wei¡¯er¡¯s end, not sure which high-spirited venue she was at. Jiang Zhi stated his purpose directly, ¡°Get me a set of clothes over here.¡± After a brief pause, he added, ¡°For a girl.¡± Jiang Wei¡¯er took several seconds to react, realizing the situation, ¡°Brother Zhi, something¡¯s up, huh.¡± Her words were full of teasing. Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t bother with nonsense, ¡°Don¡¯t ask too much.¡± Fine, Jiang Wei¡¯er wouldn¡¯t ask, ¡°At least tell me the size.¡± ¡°170, slender.¡± He answered so quickly that it caught Jiang Wei¡¯er off guard, ¡°Where should I send the clothes?¡± ¡°My house.¡± Who could it be that managed to capture Jiang Zhi¡¯s interest, bending his years of resistance and already gaining house entry so quickly. Jiang Wei¡¯er was extremely curious, teasing obliquely, ¡°I thought you were impotent. Not bad, Brother Zhi, finally coming to life.¡± Jiang Zhi abruptly hung up and downed a glass of cold water. Damn, it was hot. On her end, Jiang Wei¡¯er listened to the busy tone on the phone and laughed silently. Without further delay, she grabbed her coat and stood up, ¡°You guys play, I¡¯m leaving.¡± Xue Baoyi, sitting beside a ¡®graceful¡¯ figure, was playing cards with a group of familiar wealthy young men, blowing smoke rings, ¡°Isn¡¯t Xiao Linsu filming in another province? It¡¯s early, why are you leaving?¡± Jiang Wei¡¯er went straight over and stubbed out his cigarette, ¡°Brother Zhi has a situation; I need to go there.¡± Xue Baoyi¡¯s hand trembled from the cigarette ash burning him, making him play a good card mistakenly, ¡°What situation?¡± She was succinct, ¡°Hidden Beauty.¡± Hidden Beauty? Jiang Zhi?! Xue Baoyi instantly lost interest in the card game, ¡°Damn, take me along.¡± He pushed away the ¡®graceful¡¯ figure beside him, ¡°You go back by yourself, Mr. has to catch a cheater.¡± Zhou Xufang took a quick shower, just ten minutes, and the sound of water stopped in the bathroom. ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± She called from inside. Jiang Zhi spilled two drops of the water from his cup, unconsciously licking his lips, ¡°What is it?¡± Zhou Xufang said, ¡°The clothes fell to the floor and got wet.¡± Her tone was very calm, without a hint of ulterior motive, but in Jiang Zhi¡¯s ears, it was like a claw, scratching and itching his heart. He swallowed a big gulp of cold water, his Adam¡¯s apple rolling, ¡°Wait a minute.¡± Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. This girl was probably here just to torment him. He pulled at the collar of his sweatshirt, exhaled deeply, got up, and went to the cloakroom for two more pieces of clothing. He then sidled to the bathroom door and knocked. The door opened a crack, and a tender, white hand reached out. She called him, ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± Clearly having never seen the sun, her skin was excessively white, showing no guard against him, audaciously exposing half her shoulder. Look away, Jiang Family¡¯s upbringing had always been strict, but at that moment, he forgot all about being a gentleman, his eyes traveling up from her fingertips, then stopping. Her hand hovered in midair for a long time, and she didn¡¯t get the clothes. ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± She called again. Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t respond. She waved her hand, ¡°Give me the clothes.¡± He was still staring at her outstretched hand, even subconsciously leaning his body forward, scrutinizing her arm. Porcelain white, translucent, with not a single scar. Just one day, how could there be no wounds? It wasn¡¯t her? The voice, eyes, body shape, even the strength were so alike. Then how to explain this? Coincidence? He furrowed his brows, standing in the doorway for a long time, completely puzzled. ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± Chapter 49: 049: Will you drink my milk or not (second update) Chapter 49: 049: Will you drink my milk or not (second update) Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± Zhou Xufang called him for the third time from inside. Unlike before, her tone had a hint of urgency, and her hand movements became larger, with her collarbone faintly showing. Jiang Zhi snapped back to attention and massaged his temples. It was good that it wasn¡¯t her. He didn¡¯t want her walking on the edge of a knife, living a life stained with blood. He placed the clothes in her hand and grew irritated. ¡°Do you act like this at other people¡¯s houses too?¡± Zhou Xufang took the clothes, pulled her hand back, and closed the door. ¡°I¡¯ve never been to anyone else¡¯s house.¡± Not once. Jiang Zhi¡¯s furrowed brows relaxed at her words. In the steam-filled bathroom, Zhou Xufang reached out to wipe the fog off the mirror. Her reflection became clear, and she looked down at her arm, rubbing it gently with her fingers. Her self-healing seemed to be faster than before. Outside the bathroom, Jiang Zhi¡¯s coughing could be heard occasionally. He had caught a chill. Was his illness getting worse? Lost in thought, her phone rang with an email from Shuangjiang. ¡°Is it done?¡± Zhou Xufang looked at Jiang Zhi¡¯s clothes and drifted off for a moment before replying, ¡°I don¡¯t have any wounds on my hands. He should be free of suspicion by now.¡± Luckily, it had rained heavily, giving her an excuse to come to Jiang Zhi¡¯s house. She didn¡¯t really like manipulating people and even more so didn¡¯t want to manipulate Jiang Zhi. But she had no choice. She couldn¡¯t expose her identity; at least not before going to Moon Bay. She had to remain unnoticed. ¡°Ah Fang, do you really have to live on Moon Bay?¡± Shuangjiang asked for the first time, with a hint of reluctance. ¡°Yes.¡± Zhou Xufang¡¯s response was absolute. She had to go. She wasn¡¯t suited for living in a community; she had to live alone. Shuangjiang¡¯s reply came after a long time. ¡°Can¡¯t you not go? You¡¯ll be very lonely on the island by yourself.¡± Can¡¯t you not go? Three years ago, Zhou Xufang had asked herself the same question until her then-neighbor found out about her. She didn¡¯t even have time to explain, and that neighbor, who usually shared half of everything they cooked with her, fainted. After that, she moved away, bought a building to live in alone, and never wanted neighbors again. She never asked herself whether she should go to Moon Bay anymore. ¡°I¡¯m scared,¡± Zhou Xufang said. Shuangjiang asked what she was afraid of. ¡°Afraid that one day, someone will discover my secret and burn me to death.¡± The year she escaped from the lab to Da Mai Mountain, by chance, she saved a couple. At first, they treated her well, but later, they saw her eyes, saw her running, saw her rapidly healing wounds, and then they called her a demon. Many people said the same, and they threw rocks, sticks, and shovels at her and tried to burn her. She was very afraid, afraid of those people, afraid of this cannibalistic world. Jiang Zhi brought her a sweatshirt and a pair of sweatpants. The clothes were too big for her, the pants rolled up three times, highly ill-fitting. From the moment she stepped out, Jiang Zhi had been examining her. Lying on the sofa, his face was pale and sickly, his expression lethargic, but his eyes were lively, like stars in a painting, nonchalantly attracting attention. Feeling uneasy, she pulled the hood of the sweatshirt over her head to hide her face. Jiang Zhi, however, walked over and pulled her hood off. His lips were very red, making his pale complexion stand out even more. ¡°Zhou Xufang.¡± ¡°Mm.¡± He took off the dry towel hanging around her neck and placed it on her head, then awkwardly turned away. ¡°Dry your hair.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± She covered her head with the towel and rubbed her hair in all directions. After washing it twice, the misty blue color had faded significantly. Jiang Zhi glanced at her multiple times before looking away, the tips of his ears slightly red. He looked somewhere else and asked, ¡°Do you want milk?¡± She poked her head out of the towel. ¡°Yes.¡± He got two cans of milk and went to the kitchen to heat it. She followed behind, shaking the overly long sleeves. ¡°I can drink it cold.¡± Jiang Zhi had already poured the canned milk into a cup and put it in the microwave. ¡°It¡¯s too cold, don¡¯t drink it cold.¡± She felt even more guilty, feeling she was too bad. Jiang Zhi treated her so kindly, yet she still tricked him. However, when she glanced at the microwave, then looked up at Jiang Zhi, she said, ¡°You didn¡¯t press the heat button.¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± Press the button? How was he supposed to know? This house¡¯s interior was designed by Xue Baoyi, and it was Xue Baoyi who had unnecessarily added the kitchen appliances. Since moving in, he¡¯d never been in the kitchen. Where was the heat button? Jiang Zhi stared at the microwave, frowning as he studied it. A finger reached over¡ª Ding! Sear?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Zhou Xufang pressed the heat button. ¡°There, it¡¯s done.¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± Xue Baoyi, that idiot, what kind of junk did he buy? He coughed twice. ¡°Can you cook?¡± ¡°No,¡± Zhou Xufang habitually hid her head under the hoodie, revealing only her eyes with a serious expression. ¡°But I can use a microwave. I learned when I worked part-time at a porridge shop.¡± Chapter 50: 050: Bring a ton of sugar (first update) Chapter 50: 050: Bring a ton of sugar (first update) Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation ¡°But I know how to use a microwave. I learned while helping at the porridge shop.¡± Jiang Zhi, who didn¡¯t know how to use a microwave, responded with, ¡°¡­¡± ¡°I can teach you.¡± Zhou Xu Fang¡¯s expression was extremely serious. ¡°¡­¡± S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Jiang Zhi had no interest in learning how to use a microwave. He lazily said, ¡°Hmm, go ahead and teach.¡± Then, Zhou Xu Fang explained the microwave¡¯s button steps and various common heating times to Jiang Zhi in detail. At the end, she turned to him and asked, ¡°Did you learn it?¡± Her eyelashes were very curled. The light shone down from above, casting shadows. When she blinked, the shadows fluttered with her eyelashes, and Jiang Zhi suddenly felt an impulse to reach out and touch them. ¡°Did you learn it?¡± she patiently asked again. Learn what? He had been too focused on looking at her. Who knows what she had said? Jiang Zhi shifted his gaze away. ¡°Yes.¡± Just then, the milk finished heating. Zhou Xu Fang washed two cups and poured the heated milk into them, one for herself and one for Jiang Zhi. ¡°I¡¯ll help you carry it over.¡± Then she used her sweatshirt sleeves to wrap around her hands, holding the two cups of milk as she skillfully walked to the living room. Jiang Zhi followed behind her. She was wearing his sweatshirt, the same style as the one he wore himself. It truly looked pleasing. Zhou Xu Fang turned to see the faint smile on his lips. He didn¡¯t smile often. Normally, he always looked half-asleep, lazy and indifferent, exuding an aloof elegance that was somewhat detached from the human world. He looked better when he smiled. Zhou Xu Fang thought of a saying, ¡°Beauty can be captivating to the point of causing trouble.¡± She thought, if Jiang Zhi had been born in the old times, he would definitely have been taken to the palace to serve, a beauty that brings disaster. Such looks wouldn¡¯t be fit for an ordinary family. Jiang Zhi pressed his lips together, and the smile disappeared from his eyes, returning to his usual handsome and defiant look. Zhou Xu Fang chose the seat at the farthest edge of the sofa, sipping milk in small sips. Jiang Zhi sat across from her without speaking. She couldn¡¯t openly admire his rare good looks, so she shifted her gaze and attention elsewhere. Then she noticed something surprising: ¡°You also have cotton candy at home?¡± On the third shelf of the built-in wall cabinet across from them, there was a small square glass box filled with colorful cotton candy. She rarely showed such a large emotional reaction. Jiang Zhi glanced at her eyebrows and softly responded, ¡°Mm.¡± ¡°I also like to eat cotton candy.¡± All her joy and excitement were written on her face. The bleak loneliness in her eyes was replaced with brightness. How much did she like that box of cotton candy? Jiang Zhi walked to the wooden cabinet, took down the box of cotton candy, and placed it on the coffee table. ¡°Have some.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± Her eyes turned into crescent moons, taking the box in her hands and touching the inlaid rhinestones on top. ¡°Your cotton candy box is prettier than mine.¡± She also wanted to buy one, but Jiang Zhi¡¯s was too exquisite. It must have been custom-made. Never mind. She had already taken his chandelier; she couldn¡¯t possibly covet his cotton candy box as well. So, she didn¡¯t ask him where it was custom-made, just quietly sat on the sofa and ate the candy. Jiang Zhi silently watched her. That year at the Luo Family¡¯s, the emaciated boy had also sat like this, by the small pond, swinging his legs, smiling as he stuffed cotton candy into his mouth one by one. Like her, he also picked the pink ones first. ¡°Have you never eaten it before?¡± Jiang Zhi had been at a rebellious age then. The boy nodded. He was so thin he was out of form, his face dirty, chewing the candy with his cheeks puffed out, a plump orange cat lying at his feet, stretching lazily and rubbing against his darkened hand. ¡°Then wait here for me tomorrow. I¡¯ll bring you cotton candy.¡± The boy gave him a small smile, and the cat meowed a couple of times too. But the next day, he didn¡¯t see the boy. A huge fire had burned the Luo Family¡¯s flower shed to ashes. Others told him the adopted son¡¯s ashes were in that pile of debris. ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± Zhou Xu Fang called out, looking up with three pieces of candy in her mouth, her cheeks slightly puffed out. ¡°This candy seems to have been discontinued. Where did you buy it?¡± It was her favorite brand. She hadn¡¯t had it in a long time. Jiang Zhi¡¯s thoughts were pulled back by her excited voice. ¡°I bought their factory.¡± Zhou Xu Fang hesitated for a while, then asked him, ¡°Can you give me some?¡± she sincerely requested, ¡°I can pay.¡± It was clear she really liked this candy. After all, she was still just a young girl who liked sweet and pretty things. ¡°You can come to my place to buy it in the future.¡± Jiang Zhi considered himself not someone who liked to share. In his understanding, what he liked, he must have all to himself. No one else was allowed to covet it. She was different, breaking his rules time and time again. She looked genuinely happy, with candy in her mouth and sweetness in her eyes, sincerely praising him, ¡°You are really a good person.¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± A good person? To buy that cotton candy factory, he had bankrupted its owner. The doorbell suddenly rang, and Jiang Zhi got up to open the door. Xue Baoyi stood at the door, wearing a flamboyant red coat, smiling charmingly, his manner exaggerated and dramatic, ¡°Brother Zhi¡«¡± Chapter 51: 051: Should I take it? Free shipping (second update) Chapter 51: 051: Should I take it? Free shipping (second update) Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation ¡°Brother Zhi~¡± Jiang Zhi directly cast his gaze past him, ¡°Where are the clothes?¡± Wei¡¯er used one finger to hook the handle of the shopping bag and shook it, ¡°Here.¡± Jiang Zhi took the bag, then turned around and slammed the door shut without the slightest pause. The two people outside the door, ¡°¡­¡± Inside the room, Zhou Xufang had already finished eating a whole box of marshmallows, ¡°Who came?¡± Jiang Zhi said, ¡°The one delivering the clothes.¡± She glanced at the bag with the clothes, reluctantly touching the marshmallow box, then stood up, ¡°It¡¯s late, I should go home.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll take you.¡± His ears blushed with a thin layer of red again. Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t even consider it before refusing, ¡°No need, it¡¯s very cold outside, you¡¯ll catch a cold if you go out.¡± ¡°I said I¡¯ll take you.¡± His tone hardened, becoming almost unreasonable. His face pale, his eyes slightly reddened, a frail air exuding from his very bones, reducing much of his aggression. Zhou Xufang still considered his health and put down the marshmallow box, ¡°I¡¯ll go back myself.¡± So disobedient! Jiang Zhi¡¯s eyes were dark and murky, his lips pressed into a stiff line, staring at her as he heavily tossed the bag of clothes onto the sofa next to her. ¡°Change clothes before you leave,¡± his tone was indeed unpleasant. Had she made him angry? Zhou Xufang hesitated for a moment, then took the clothes to the bathroom to change. Wei¡¯er had chosen warm-colored girly clothes, a white knitted dress paired with a pink coat. Pink was Zhou Xufang¡¯s favorite color. She touched the sleeves, thinking if she ever stopped being a professional errand runner, she would buy a house full of pink clothes. ¡°Do you like it?¡± Jiang Zhi asked with a bemused smile. The inexplicable anger in his heart dissipated upon seeing her satisfied little gestures. Such emotional ups and downs were truly unlike him. Zhou Xufang touched the collar again and honestly nodded, ¡°Yes, I like pink.¡± She liked milk, she liked marshmallows, and she liked pink. Clearly a little girl at heart, though she always seemed so aloof and mature. Since she liked it¡­ He fetched a large bag of marshmallows from the cupboard, picked out all the pink-packaged ones, filled a bag, and placed it by Zhou Xufang¡¯s feet, ¡°Take this with you to eat. When you finish it, ask me for more.¡± A small smile curved at the corner of his mouth. ¡°Okay.¡± Zhou Xufang was very happy and immediately transferred ten thousand yuan to him on her phone. Jiang Zhi, ¡°¡­¡± She didn¡¯t find it easy to make money either, hadn¡¯t she learned to be more frugal? He didn¡¯t accept her transferred money, sat down on the sofa, crossed his arms, and avoided looking at her, ¡°Take the umbrella.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Zhou Xufang lifted the bag of marshmallows, walked to the entrance, and waved her hand, ¡°Goodbye, Jiang Zhi.¡± Jiang Zhi sat there motionless. Click. As soon as the door opened, Jiang Zhi stood up and followed her to the entrance. Outside, Zhou Xufang just stepped out and saw Wei¡¯er, she was quite surprised. Wei¡¯er was Fang Lixiang¡¯s assistant and had met Zhou Xufang several times. She had a good impression of Zhou Xufang and greeted her with a smile, ¡°I am Jiang Zhi¡¯s aunt.¡± Wei¡¯er¡¯s identity was not disclosed within the circle, and Zhou Xufang wasn¡¯t very curious. She just nodded back without asking anything. Xue Baoyi, standing by, was a lively character, carelessly casual, ¡°Do you remember me?¡± Zhou Xufang wasn¡¯t very good at socializing and just wanted to hide her face in a hat. Unfortunately, the pink coat didn¡¯t have a hood, so she lowered her head, avoiding Xue Baoyi¡¯s gaze. ¡°I¡¯ve put a screen protector on your phone,¡± she said. S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. She had also seen Xue Baoyi¡¯s photos on Weibo, with a certain female celebrity. Fang Lixiang had said he was a scumbag. Xue ¡°Scumbag¡± Baoyi was very familiar, grinning roguishly, ¡°Hello, I¡¯m Jiang Zhi¡¯s childhood friend¡ª¡± ¡°What are you two doing blocking the door?¡± Interrupted, Xue Baoyi, ¡°¡­¡± Jiang Zhi stood leaning against the entrance cabinet, the black hoodie highlighting his pallor, a cold glare in his eyes, ¡°If you¡¯re not coming in, then get lost.¡± Xue Baoyi rolled his eyes. He wasn¡¯t stupid; he could tell Jiang Zhi¡¯s protective stance. ¡°It¡¯s not raining outside, you should head back early,¡± his gaze bypassed Xue Baoyi and landed on Zhou Xufang outside the door. His tone wasn¡¯t exactly gentle, but it was light, speaking slowly. Zhou Xufang agreed, carrying the marshmallows and wet clothes as she left. Xue Baoyi watched her go, then turned back inside, ¡°Brother Zhi, you¡ª¡± ¡°Who told you to step on my carpet? Get off, it¡¯s filthy.¡± Jiang Zhi¡¯s tone was laced with disdain. Dragging his weak body, he fetched two disposable shoe covers and a dry towel. Despite his sickly face, there was a fierce expression, ¡°Wipe off the water before coming in.¡± Xue Baoyi, ¡°¡­¡± There were water stains on the carpet, clearly already stepped on by someone; it didn¡¯t take much to figure out who. Such blatant favoritism brought a pang of hurt. Xue Baoyi felt a chill in his heart, gazing longingly at Jiang Zhi, ¡°Brother Zhi, don¡¯t you remember? Your Baoyi brother from the lakeside of Daming Lake.¡± Jiang Zhi gave him a glance, ¡°Idiot.¡± Xue Baoyi, full of dramatic flair but unable to continue, ¡°¡­¡± Such a brother, it¡¯s time to cut ties. Chapter 52: 052: Oh, it’s unrequited love (First Update) Chapter 52: 052: Oh, it¡¯s unrequited love (First Update) Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation ¡°Brother Zhi,¡± Wei¡¯er didn¡¯t join in the banter and asked, ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Jiang Zhi¡¯s rain-soaked hair hadn¡¯t dried yet, and he was listless at the moment, lying on the sofa with his peach blossom eyes looking all wilted. ¡°What do you mean, what¡¯s going on?¡± Wei¡¯er asked meaningfully, ¡°Zhou Xufang, of course.¡± Jiang Zhi turned his back, ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡± He ignored everyone else, reached for his phone, and dialed Ah Wan, ¡°Have a few people come over tomorrow and take down the chandelier in the living room.¡± Ah Wan was quite surprised. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with the light? Are you not satisfied with it?¡± Jiang Zhi frowned unhappily, ¡°Stop asking so many questions, just take it down if I tell you to.¡± Ah Wan, ¡°Oh.¡± S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The call hadn¡¯t ended yet when there was an abrupt sound. Jiang Zhi lazily glanced over and then suddenly sat up, ¡°Where did you get that can of milk from?¡± Xue Baoyi had the milk can ring hooked on his pinky finger, ¡°From the sofa.¡± Jiang Zhi sat up, ¡°Xue Baoyi.¡± Xue Baoyi¡¯s eyelid twitched, ¡°Hmm?¡± Calling out his full name! Usually, whenever this ancestor called out someone¡¯s full name, it meant no good. Xue Baoyi was startled and was just about to take a sip of milk to calm his nerves when Jiang Zhi kicked over. His breathing was heavy, and his eyes were red with rage. ¡°You damn well better not drink that!¡± Xue Baoyi, ¡°¡­¡± While he was still in a daze, Jiang Zhi had already snatched the milk away, his peach blossom eyes filled with ferocity, mixed with an extremely complex range of emotions, including regret and anger. Xue Baoyi was bewildered by him, unsure of how he had provoked this little beauty. No worries, Mr. was generous and wealthy, ¡°It¡¯s just a can of milk, next time, Mr. will buy you a truckload, no, a houseful!¡± Mr. had money and knew how to care for people. Jiang Zhi, unable to bear it any longer, was so infuriated that his anger surged, causing him to cough heavily with a pale face. ¡°Get, him, out, of, here.¡± He enunciated each word clearly, directing them at Wei¡¯er. Xue Baoyi was heartbroken by his coldness and shouted in pain, ¡°Am I really worth less than a can of milk?!¡± He turned and strode off to show his resolve, ¡°Brother Zhi, I¡¯m cutting ties with you!¡± ¡°Bang!¡± Jiang Zhi slammed the door shut. Xue Baoyi, ¡°¡­¡± Wei¡¯er glanced at Xue Baoyi like he was an idiot and left. Inside, Jiang Zhi leaned against the door, coughing for a long time. The phone was still on speaker, and Ah Wan had heard everything clearly. When the coughing finally stopped, he hesitantly asked, ¡°Boss, did Mr. open the can with the teeth marks on it?¡± ¡°Beep¡­ beep¡­ beep¡­¡± Jiang Zhi had hung up. Ah Wan suddenly understood everything. In the cold winter, Jiang Zhi had been caught in the rain earlier, inhaling some of the chill, which now made him dizzy and groggy. His lungs ached from coughing so much. He got up to find some medicine, swallowed them with warm water, and feeling too weak to move, he lay back down on the sofa, panting, his head aching fiercely. He lay there feebly, looking at the milk can with the opened ring that Xue Baoyi had taken, then got up and dialed a number. In the silent night, past nine, Doctor Qiu¡¯s voice trembled, ¡°Mr. Jiang?¡± Jiang Zhi¡¯s lazy voice echoed through the phone, colder because of the late hour, ¡°I let her come over to my house.¡± Doctor Qiu, ¡°Uh¡­¡± Jiang Zhi continued to speak slowly, one sentence at a time. ¡°I let her use my bathroom, my shower gel.¡± He paused, sighing as if baffled, elongating his tone, ¡°And my clothes too.¡± Doctor Qiu, ¡°Uh¡­¡± Jiang Zhi held the opened milk can, examining it closely, muttering as if to himself, ¡°I even gave her a two-million-dollar chandelier.¡± He then held the empty glass candy jar, rubbing it in his hand. ¡°Nobody can touch my candy, but she can.¡± ¡°Cough, cough, cough¡­¡± The coughing came in waves, his eyes slightly red, looking sickly and fragile, ¡°I even thought about giving her the factory.¡± ¡°I want to send her back.¡± ¡°She refuses.¡± His tone suddenly grew heavier, ¡°She actually refuses!¡± That familiar, overwhelming devilish aura. Doctor Qiu, ¡°Uh¡­,¡± his heart trembling! After a moment of silence, Jiang Zhi changed his tone, weak and lazy, yet still imposing like a young master, ¡°Tell me, what kind of illness do I have?¡± To be honest, Doctor Qiu had been practicing for years, having seen countless psychological perversions, but patients like this, seemingly normal yet actually abnormal, were rare. ¡°In my opinion¡­¡± In his opinion, ¡°Mr. Jiang, could it be that you¡¯re unrequitedly in love with that young¡ª¡± He was cut off by a sinister laugh. ¡°Unrequited love?¡± Jiang Zhi licked his red lips, his eyes narrowing into sharp crescents, ¡°I, being a homo, you say I¡¯m unrequitedly in love?¡± A deep-rooted self-assurance from being a homo. People like him, according to psychological theories, once they believe in something or someone, they become extremely obsessive in both thought and behavior. Since direct confrontation was futile, Doctor Qiu could only guide him gradually, ¡°Regarding your sexual orientation, I feel¡­ it might have returned to normal.¡± He cautiously suggested, ¡°If you¡¯re still unsure, you could try it out.¡± Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t respond, merely touched the teeth marks on the milk can, then tipped it back to drink. The icy liquid hit his stomach, causing it to cramp painfully. Then, the adviser began to devise a plan. Chapter 53: 053: Come on, let’s create (second update) Chapter 53: 053: Come on, let¡¯s create (second update) Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation Afterwards, the adviser began to offer schemes. At ten o¡¯clock at night, Jiang Zhi still hadn¡¯t slept. He gave Qiao Nanchu a call, then left. Before leaving, he casually threw the empty milk can with teeth marks into the¡­ safe box. Xue Baoyi was still angry at Jiang Zhi for his ruthlessness. When Jiang Zhi entered the private room, he snorted, turned his head, and banged his wine glass loudly. The private room had been cleared out, leaving only a few of their friends. Xue Bingxue sat on the side drinking juice, while Qiao Nanchu, sitting beside him, immediately poured himself the strongest liquor. ¡°What¡¯s your deal? Still awake this late?¡± Jiang Zhi lifted his eyes. Ah Wan, who was with him, quickly drew two wet wipes and wiped down all the edges and corners of the sofa, finally laying a clean blanket on it. Only then did Jiang Zhi sit down, speaking slowly and indifferently, ¡°Get me a few men.¡± Qiao Nanchu thought he had misheard: ¡°What did you say?¡± He repeated expressionlessly, ¡°Call a few men over.¡± Xue Baoyi sprang up like a carp, ¡°Brother Zhi, are you running a fever?¡± Jiang Zhi, sick and frail, nestled in, breathing slowly, his eyes half-closed, a delicate charm lingering in his features. Xue Baoyi thought to himself, ¡°It¡¯s over, with this kind of looks playing with men, how many decent married men will he bend?¡± No way, he needed to stay away! Qiao Nanchu remained much calmer, putting down his glass, smiling roguishly as he eyed Jiang Zhi, ¡°Do you want experienced ones or clean ones?¡± Jiang Zhi nonchalantly remarked, ¡°As long as they have nice eyes.¡± Qiao Nanchu understood now, made a call, and gave succinct instructions. Was he serious?! Xue Baoyi felt a bit exasperated, ¡°Brother Zhi, are you really not sick?¡± Jiang Zhi had been bent for many years, having seen all types of ¡°tops¡± and ¡°bottoms¡± without ever messing around. How did he suddenly change? Could it be after playing with Zhou Xufang, he now felt the truth that male-on-male was true love and male-female was just for procreation? At this moment, Xue Baoyi¡¯s mood reflected that of a worried old mother. He reached out to touch Jiang Zhi¡¯s forehead, only to have his hand slapped away, ¡°Don¡¯t touch me.¡± Was he guarding his purity? Was this the male version of ¡°men shouldn¡¯t touch men¡±? Steel-straight Xue Baoyi shivered, obediently sitting far away. He thought today¡¯s Brother Zhi was too strange, but after reconsideration, he figured, ¡°Well, it¡¯s fine. Later, you can find a few who are good at serving people and have a taste first.¡± In this room, the only one with proper principles was Xue Bingxue. ¡°You guys don¡¯t do this, this is, this is,¡± Xue Bingxue¡¯s face reddened, ¡°this is prostitution.¡± Xue Baoyi grabbed a blanket and tossed it, directly covering Xue Bingxue¡¯s head, ¡°You little chick, don¡¯t look around!¡± Xue Bingxue: ¡°¡­¡± He wasn¡¯t looking! Just then, the door was pushed open from outside, and more than ten boys filed in, entering in a line. Qiao Nanchu raised his chin, signaling Jiang Zhi, ¡°Everyone¡¯s here, pick.¡± He teased, ¡°If you like several, you can take them all at once.¡± These rich young masters had seen all types of play. In this Fusheng Inn, as long as you could afford it, there was nothing you couldn¡¯t get. The young master of the Jiang Family wanted to play, so those brought in were top-notch goods. Looks were just the surface; their aura and character mattered too, not just physical appearance. A dozen youths came in, each having their own unique appeal. Jiang Zhi glanced casually, pointed to a cold-faced handsome guy, ¡°You,¡± then to a delicate and graceful one, ¡°and you, come here.¡± Qiao Nanchu crossed his arms, smilingly watching the scene unfold. ¡°Mr. Jiang.¡± The delicate and graceful boy called out timidly, truly fitting the description of clean, especially those eyes, like a deer¡¯s, moist and innocent. sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Jiang Zhi half-leaned on the sofa, lazily not moving, and ordered, ¡°Come over and pour me a drink.¡± Chapter 54: 054: Jiang Zhi Caught in the Act (Part 1) Chapter 54: 054: Jiang Zhi Caught in the Act (Part 1) Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation ¡°Come here and pour me a drink.¡± The boy stepped forward sluggishly, his eyes misty with tears. He sneaked a glance at Jiang Zhi, hesitated a few times before sitting down, not daring to sit too close. He cautiously poured a glass of wine and handed it over. There was a faint scent of men¡¯s cologne, not too strong. However, Jiang Zhi still found it pungent. Holding back his nausea, he accepted the glass and downed it in one gulp. He then looked up at the other person: ¡°Don¡¯t you know how to serve people?¡± The cold-faced, handsome man exuded an air of elegance. He moved forward and sat down, his hand casually resting on Jiang Zhi¡¯s thigh. ¡°How about this?¡± The man looked at Jiang Zhi, his hand moving up along Jiang Zhi¡¯s thigh. His sharp brows and star-like eyes were impeccably handsome. ¡°What about this, Mr. Jiang?¡± This seductive demeanor wasn¡¯t effeminate at all. Clearly, he had been trained. Jiang Zhi said nothing. The man¡¯s hand continued upwards, along the inner thigh¡ª ¡°That¡¯s enough.¡± Jiang Zhi stood up: ¡°Get out.¡± He clutched his abdomen, a thin sheen of sweat on his forehead, the blood vessels on his neck faintly visible. He was at his limit. ¡°All of you, get out!¡± ¡°Not satisfied?¡± Looking at Jiang Zhi, pale-faced and red-eyed, Qiao Nanchu found it immensely amusing and teased: ¡°Shall I get you another batch?¡± Jiang Zhi kept a stern face, downed a glass of iced whiskey, and then left the private room. Ah Wan hurriedly followed. Xue Baoyi chased to the door to see Jiang Zhi clutching his abdomen and coughing, fleeing in a panic. He really didn¡¯t understand: ¡°What¡¯s wrong with Brother Zhi?¡± Xue Bingxue, who had been silent, said: ¡°Jiang Zhi suspects he¡¯s been straightened out.¡± Xue Baoyi gave an ¡®oh,¡¯ suddenly understanding. Ten minutes later, Jiang Zhi returned, paler than before, looking completely drained of energy. Xue Baoyi sat down next to him: ¡°Where did you go?¡± Jiang Zhi said nothing. Ah Wan answered for him: ¡°The boss went to throw up.¡± Xue Baoyi: ¡°¡­¡± Is this a fake gay? Sear?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Jiang Zhi leaned against the sofa, lifelessly drooping his eyelids: ¡°Get me a few more women.¡± More? Ah Wan worried his boss¡¯s fragile body couldn¡¯t handle it. Xue Baoyi actively went to arrange it, bustling around like an old madam: ¡°Manager You, get a few women over here, all different types.¡± Xue Bingxue cursed him for being shameless! Qiao Nanchu threw a blanket onto Jiang Zhi: ¡°Still feeling unwell?¡± Jiang Zhi coughed, his eyes watery: ¡°Mmm.¡± His throat itched, and he couldn¡¯t suppress his coughing. He reached out for a glass of wine. Qiao Nanchu snatched it away: ¡°Stop messing around.¡± He replaced it with a clean glass and poured some milk for him. ¡°Don¡¯t drink anymore.¡± By this time, the women had already entered. Xue Baoyi made them stand in a line, heads held high. Before long, the room was filled with the scent of perfume. Jiang Zhi clutched his abdomen. The milk he had just drunk churned violently in his stomach. Too tired to move, he glanced over the group. Among the eight young girls, there were both slender and voluptuous ones, some with delicate features, and some with refined temperaments. There were shy and timid ones, and of course, there were bold and proactive ones. If they could latch onto the little master of the Imperial City Jiang Family, they would have endless wealth and glory. The lady in the red dress thought of this and elegantly approached, her soft, bone-like body sidling up: ¡°Mr. Jiang.¡± The scent of roses mixed with cosmetic powder instantly overwhelmed him¡­ Jiang Zhi¡¯s face changed immediately. Using just one finger, wrapped in his sleeve, he poked the woman¡¯s shoulder and forcefully pushed her away. His peach blossom eyes filled with disdain, suddenly turning fierce. ¡°Ah Wan.¡± Ah Wan rushed over. The woman was shoved to one end of the sofa, while Jiang Zhi sat at the other end, taking off his coat with a dark expression. ¡°Get them out.¡± He weakly but authoritatively commanded, ¡°All of them!¡± He¡¯s not going to faint, is he? Ah Wan didn¡¯t dare delay. He swept the women out, their coughing really scaring him. He feared the boss might cough his lungs out and kept checking back several times. Jiang Zhi leaned on the sofa, panting heavily, his eyes filled with bloodshot veins, sweat beading on his forehead. Oh right, the boss couldn¡¯t stand the smell of rose perfume. Realizing this, Ah Wan grew even more disgusted with the red-dressed woman, thinking her a brazen slut. He roughly pushed her out and was about to close the door when he was startled, quickly clearing his throat and coughing: ¡°Boss, Miss Zhou is here¡ª¡± Too late, Xue Baoyi, that loudmouth, was still shouting: ¡°Brother Zhi, don¡¯t be discouraged. If these aren¡¯t satisfactory, I¡¯ll get another top girl for you.¡± Chapter 55: 055: Zhou Xufang gets jealous? (Charges are based on word count) Chapter 55: 055: Zhou Xufang gets jealous? (Charges are based on word count) Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation ¡°Brother Zhi, don¡¯t be discouraged. If you¡¯re not satisfied with these few, I¡¯ll get you another top girl.¡± What Ah Wan really wanted to say was¡ª Boss, Miss Zhou is here. Hurry up and get Mr. to take his women somewhere else to play. This meticulous and loyal act of framing Jiang Zhi ended in failure. Ah Wan smiled awkwardly but politely, ¡°Miss Zhou, what a coincidence.¡± The next second, the coughing abruptly stopped. Ah Wan didn¡¯t even know how his employer got to him. It was as if a gust of wind had blown in. ¡°Y-You, what are you doing here?¡± Jiang Zhi did not know where to look, where to place his hands, and his stammering made him look even more guilty, like a husband caught cheating by his wife. Jiang Zhi just stood at the door in that flustered state, sweating despite the freezing cold. Zhou Xu Fang, on the other hand, had changed from the pink outfit she wore two hours ago into a black one, with her perennial cold face partially hidden under a hat. ¡°I¡¯m going to deliver food now, goodbye.¡± After saying goodbye, she walked away quietly with two bags of pork liver and vegetable porridge, her head down, only sneaking a glance at the eight scantily clad women. Jiang Zhi was stunned for a few seconds before he chased after her. ¡°Zhou Xufang.¡± She turned around, ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± Jiang Zhi loosened the collar of his sweater a bit, revealing his fair skin and slightly reddened Adam¡¯s apple. ¡°It¡¯s not what you think.¡± Zhou Xufang: ¡°Oh.¡± That was it? Was that it? Jiang Zhi felt as if his heart had been stuffed with a wad of cotton, both blocked and itchy. ¡°Then I¡¯ll get back to work.¡± She turned to leave, but just as Jiang Zhi was about to call her back, she turned around by herself, looking very hesitant and conflicted, her brows furrowed. She looked at him and said earnestly, ¡°Jiang Zhi, you must take care of your health.¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± Damn it, he wasn¡¯t visiting prostitutes! After delivering the food, Zhou Xufang left Fusheng Inn. At the entrance, she saw two women and a man. Despite the cold weather, the women wore very little, hanging onto the man and refusing to let him leave. The man said mischievously, ¡°You can¡¯t bear to be apart? Then come with me.¡± Then the man hugged one woman on his left and the other on his right and got into a sports car. Before he drove off, the phone rang. ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± ¡°Where are you? Why aren¡¯t you back yet?¡± ¡°Working overtime.¡± ¡°What time will you be back? Xiao Bao has a slight fever.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll come home when I¡¯m done.¡± Then the man hung up and drove away. Scoundrel! Scumbag! Zhou Xufang parked her scooter on the side, picked up a stone from the ground, aimed it at the rear tire of the sports car, and kicked it. ¡°Bang!¡± The tire burst. The man cursed loudly. Zhou Xufang snorted inwardly, then put on the yellow helmet designated for delivery people. She pushed her scooter for a few steps before stopping at the sight of a trash bin. She paused, stared at it for a moment, placed her scooter down, walked over, and kicked the trash bin. It was supposed to be a light kick just for fun, but she was too strong. With a loud bang, the trash bin toppled. Why did she have to kick the trash bin? How annoying! Zhou Xufang tugged her hair in frustration, squatted down, and started picking up the trash that had spilled out, one piece at a time¡­ Suddenly, a pair of leather shoes stopped in front of the pile of trash. The shadow covered her. ¡°What are you doing?¡± Zhou Xufang looked up and saw Jiang Zhi. The neon lights behind him created a glow, like specks of light falling in his eyes, resembling the million lights of a city. She looked up at him and said, ¡°I¡¯m picking up trash.¡± Honestly, she didn¡¯t even know what she was doing or saying. It was all a mess. So she added, ¡°You can sell a bottle for a dime.¡± Coincidentally, she was holding a plastic water bottle. Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± She squatted there, donning a yellow helmet, looking like a lively mushroom. Jiang Zhi took a couple of steps forward into the light of the neon signs. ¡°Don¡¯t pick it up, it¡¯s dirty.¡± He bent down, grabbed the hood of her sweatshirt, and pulled her to the side. After letting go, he turned back and said, ¡°Ah Wan, you pick it up.¡± Ah Wan: ¡°¡­¡± All these years, it was honestly his first time picking up trash. Ah Wan felt an indescribable feeling. ¡°Don¡¯t you have something to say to me?¡± Jiang Zhi, wearing just a sweater, stood in the post-rain breeze. His face tightened from the night¡¯s chill, eyes locked on hers. Zhou Xufang was silent for a moment. She thought it was inappropriate to say anything but couldn¡¯t help herself: ¡°Jiang Zhi, don¡¯t fool around with those women.¡± ¡°Why?¡± She answered seriously, ¡°If you solicit prostitutes, you won¡¯t be a good citizen.¡± Jiang ¡°Good Citizen¡± Zhi, thinking she was attracted to him and had a possessive desire: ¡°¡­¡± S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. A ¡°good citizen,¡± my ass! This clueless, unromantic woman! Jiang Zhi couldn¡¯t decide whether he was more angry at her or at himself. With a stern face and a rough voice, he said, ¡°I wasn¡¯t soliciting!¡± Chapter 56: 056: Jiang Zhi really fell in love. Chapter 56: 056: Jiang Zhi really fell in love. Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation ¡°I didn¡¯t sleep with them.¡± The helmet was too large, and it slipped to one side when she moved. She straightened it, ¡°Really?¡± She had been a bit angry just now; her eyes even turned red for a moment. She thought it was very wrong to hire prostitutes and didn¡¯t want Jiang Zhi to stray down the wrong path. In case he actually headed down the wrong path, she wanted to help him find his way back. ¡°Why would I lie to you?¡± Jiang Zhi emphasized particularly, ¡°I didn¡¯t even touch them.¡± He spoke firmly, and there was a hint of anger in his tone. Could she have misunderstood him? Zhou Xufang furrowed her brows, deep in thought. ¡°You don¡¯t believe me?¡± He stared at her, a cluster of peach blossoms blooming in his eyes, alluring and captivating. Zhou Xufang thought deeply again. Hearing is believing; she thought she shouldn¡¯t doubt Jiang Zhi¡¯s character. After so much time together, aside from his sexual orientation, she thought he was a perfect person who was eager to help others and save those in distress. Thinking about it, Jiang Zhi looked like this; he didn¡¯t need to hire prostitutes. On the contrary, more people probably wanted to hire him. sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The more she thought about it, the more Zhou Xufang confirmed that she had misunderstood Jiang Zhi. This time, she didn¡¯t hesitate even a bit, ¡°I believe you.¡± The corners of Jiang Zhi¡¯s mouth lifted instantly. ¡°I knew you were a person of high moral character.¡± Jiang Zhi, the person of high moral character, ¡°¡­¡± Since he hadn¡¯t hired prostitutes, Zhou Xufang breathed a sigh of relief and didn¡¯t linger any longer, ¡°Then I¡¯m off to work.¡± She pushed her little electric bike, ready to return to the porridge shop. Jiang Zhi grabbed the tail of the electric bike. She turned her head. He didn¡¯t look at her eyes, instead, he stared at her yellow helmet, ¡°Don¡¯t go. It¡¯s so late, it¡¯s not safe for a girl like you.¡± See? He was a person of high moral character. Zhou Xufang felt a bit guilty; she had actually suspected him of hiring prostitutes just now. ¡°It¡¯s alright, I¡¯m quite strong.¡± She could kick a sports car¡¯s tire until it burst with one foot, and punch a bull to death with one fist. If it was unsafe, it would be unsafe for others, not her. Jiang Zhi was still holding onto the tail of the electric bike, not letting go. He was dressed lightly, and his fingers had already turned red from the cold. His nose was also a bit red as he inhaled, the cold air making him cough a few times. ¡°It¡¯s very cold, don¡¯t go. If you are short of money,¡± he turned his head away, exposing his red ears to her view, ¡°if you are short of money, I can give you some.¡± Because he had been in the cold wind for a long time, his voice had a bit of nasal sound. Zhou Xufang felt very touched when she heard this; her heart softened almost to the point of melting, ¡°You are a good person, how could I take advantage of you? Your money doesn¡¯t grow on trees either.¡± Jiang Zhi, ¡°¡­¡± Handing out continues good person cards made him want to hit someone. ¡°I have to go, it¡¯s very cold outside, you should hurry back.¡± Zhou Xufang effortlessly lifted the entire electric bike and, with a flick, flung Jiang Zhi¡¯s hand off it. She sat down on it, ¡°Oh, right, Ah Wan, can I have the bottles you picked up?¡± She wanted to give them to the granny picking up trash outside the porridge shop. The retired athlete Ah Wan, who was stunned by the strength of a girl in her twenties, ¡°¡­Sure.¡± Miss Zhou was really impoverished. In the future, he must frequent her screen protector business more often. ¡°Thank you.¡± Zhou Xufang placed the plastic bottles on the electric bike and waved at Jiang Zhi before riding off. Jiang Zhi stood where he was, watching the electric bike disappear into the bustling street. Ah Wan had just collected the trash and, afraid of being disliked by his germophobic employer, didn¡¯t dare get too close, ¡°Boss, let¡¯s go back?¡± He ignored him. Only when the distant neon lights changed from red to blue and finally to purple, reflected in his eyes, did he lower his eyelids, turn around, slightly bend his back, and cough gently. For some reason, Ah Wan thought this employer of his, who was trapped in unrequited love, seemed a little¡­ pitiful. After Jiang Zhi returned to the private room, he felt hot and had a slight fever. How could he not have a fever? It was minus two degrees outside. Xue Bingxue scolded him for his foolishness, saying that messing around with his fragile body was reckless. After scolding, she instructed Ah Wan to get some fever-reducing medicine. Qiao Nanchu asked Jiang Zhi, ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you?¡± He had no strength to make a fuss now, lying weakly, mumbling with his eyes closed, ¡°I don¡¯t like men.¡± After a while, he added, ¡°I don¡¯t like women either.¡± So? He resigned himself, ¡°But I kind of like her.¡± Liking her meant, most directly, that he had desire for her, a very strong possessiveness, unlike his fondness for certain objects which he could grab or snatch without any reservations. She was different. He did not dare to act rashly with her. ¡°Who is she?¡± Qiao Nanchu asked. Xue Baoyi answered for him, ¡°The one just now, Zhou Xufang, putting screen protectors down under Ba Yi Bridge.¡± Qiao Nanchu had heard the name Zhou Xufang more than once. The last time was yesterday when Jiang Zhi refused to eat, and insisted on having Ah Wan order takeout, specifying that Zhou Xufang should deliver it. ¡°Kind of like?¡± Qiao Nanchu laughed and exposed him, ¡°More than just kind of, Jiang Zhi, you¡¯re overreacting.¡± At minus two degrees, he still dragged his sick self out. If it was just a bit of fondness, he would be at home sleeping at this time. Jiang Zhi¡¯s eyelashes trembled twice, neither admitting nor denying it. Yes, he overreacted. For example ¨C ¡°Xue Baoyi.¡± Jiang Zhi suddenly raised his eyelids. Xue Baoyi¡¯s heart trembled, ¡°Don¡¯t call me that, you scare me.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t your company planning an end-of-year event?¡± This indifferent tone¡­ Xue Baoyi felt a chill, ¡°Just say it, master.¡± ¡°Employee benefits should be phone cases.¡± He was still weak and listless, speaking casually, ¡°Remember to buy them from under Ba Yi Bridge.¡± Xue Baoyi, ¡°¡­¡± Damn it, why not just say Zhou Xufang! The matter of hiring a top performer was now being settled in the fall. What could Xue Baoyi say? He could only nod, ¡°Alright, will a hundred for each person be enough?¡± Jiang Zhi weakly murmured an affirmative. Ah Wan, who had just come back with the medicine, heard this and admired his employer even more. Even when sick, he didn¡¯t forget to bring business to Miss Zhou who puts on screen protectors. It was all because of love! That night, Jiang Zhi lay in bed at two in the morning and only fell asleep at four, then he had a dream. In the dream, Zhou Xufang was like a fairy, softly calling his name constantly. ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± He couldn¡¯t bear it, ¡°Stop calling.¡± ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± She kept calling endlessly. When he looked up, he saw her sitting in a tree, smiling like a flower, wearing a very short white dress, her bright white legs swinging. She asked him, ¡°Do you like me?¡± He didn¡¯t answer. So she extended her arms and leaped from the tree. Without thinking, he reached out to catch her¡­ ¡°Do you like me?¡± She wrapped her tender white arms around his neck, hugging lightly, clinging to him, ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± She wrapped around him like a cloud. He didn¡¯t know where they were, but somewhere outside, under a tree, with stars filling the sky above and her triumphant, happy face below. She raised her body, laying her face against his neck, whispering softly, ¡°Oh, so you like me.¡± He didn¡¯t deny it, so she became bold. Chapter 57: 057: The person in Jiang Zhi’s dream~ Chapter 57: 057: The person in Jiang Zhi¡¯s dream~ Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation She held down his shoulder, ¡°Don¡¯t move.¡± He truly didn¡¯t move. Outside the window, thunder boomed. Jiang Zhi suddenly sat up, waking from a dream. It wasn¡¯t raining outside, just the sound of thunder. The light of dawn was enveloped by thick clouds, making the sky a dull gray. Ten minutes later, rain began to patter down. Jiang Zhi, sleepless, sat up listening to the raindrops hitting the window sill, his thoughts lingering in turmoil. The winter rain lasted for three days. Even Xue Baoyi could see that Jiang Zhi looked very unwell. Halfway through the Xue Family¡¯s birthday banquet, he was nowhere to be seen. After searching around, they found him in the lounge, trying to catch up on sleep. But he wasn¡¯t really asleep, just lying there listlessly. ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± ¡°Mm.¡± He looked extremely lethargic. Xue Baoyi, concerned, called Xue Bingxue over, ¡°Uncle, come have a look at him.¡± He looked as if he were on his deathbed. Xue Bingxue went over to feel Jiang Zhi¡¯s pulse. ¡°His pulse is very irregular, his body is extremely weak.¡± Xue Bingxue asked him, ¡°What have you been doing these past few days?¡± Jiang Zhi propped himself up to sit, ¡°Nothing much.¡± His tone was very ordinary, as if narrating a matter of course, ¡°Just liked someone, liked them so much I got sick.¡± The Xue uncle and nephew were speechless: ¡°¡­¡± They all knew that Jiang Zhi had feelings for a woman, they just didn¡¯t expect him to be so consumed by it. Xue Baoyi still found it hard to believe, ¡°Really turned straight?¡± ¡°Mm.¡± ¡°Really like her that much?¡± Jiang Zhi struggled for a second, then admitted, ¡°¡­Mm.¡± Tsk. It¡¯s real! To be honest, Xue Baoyi felt a bit sour. After all, their group of brothers had coddled Jiang Zhi, this little beauty, in the palm of their hand for so many years, and within just a few days, he was taken away by someone else¡¯s ¡°pig.¡± He had mixed feelings. Nonetheless, it wasn¡¯t easy for Jiang Zhi, the perennial iron tree, to finally bloom. As his brother, he couldn¡¯t cut short his peach blossom fortune. He had to support him, ¡°Don¡¯t be a chicken. What¡¯s the big deal? Just liking a girl.¡± He had to offer some strategies, ¡°Brother Zhi, don¡¯t overthink it. If you like her, go after her. If you don¡¯t know how, I¡¯ll teach you.¡± After all, he, Second Young Master Xue, had a reputation as a playboy. Xue Baoyi got increasingly excited as he spoke, ¡°Do you want me to teach you some¡ª¡± Jiang Zhi stood up and left. ¡°Where are you going?¡± He went to No. 43 Changdu Road, a beauty salon named Fairy Descending. ¡°You are¡­..¡± The shop owner and chief stylist Cheng Xin hesitated to recognize him, ¡°Director Jiang?¡± Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t often appear in public, but his face was unforgettable. Cheng Xin suspected his eyes were playing tricks, wondering why such a great figure would visit his modest salon. ¡°Shh.¡± Ah Wan gave him a sign to keep it low-key. It was really him! Cheng Xin, overwhelmed with favor, quickly ushered him in, ¡°Director Jiang, are you here for¡­ a haircut?¡± ¡°Mm.¡± He seemed absent-minded, his gaze fixed on a poster at the door. Cheng Xin couldn¡¯t quite understand why the big shot had humbled himself to come here, so he cautiously asked, ¡°What kind of hairstyle would you like, Director Jiang?¡± Jiang Zhi drew back his gaze, ¡°The same as Zhou Xufang¡¯s.¡± Cheng Xin was bewildered, ¡°Ah?¡± ¡°That poster at the door.¡± Jiang Zhi pointed. ¡°Dye my hair the same color as hers.¡± The great director appeared to be in a good mood. Although his face was sickly pale with dark circles under his eyes, his brows and eyes sparkled with energy, his lips were rosy and skin fair, genuinely a beautiful appearance. Cheng Xin couldn¡¯t help but appreciate the beauty for a moment longer, ¡°You want it dyed matte blue?¡± Jiang Zhi glanced at a chair. Ah Wan quickly placed a clean handkerchief on it. Jiang Zhi sat down, ¡°Mm.¡± Matte blue was a trending hair color in the salon, but it was usually favored by young, rebellious men. Cheng Xin thought it wasn¡¯t quite suitable for Jiang Zhi¡¯s status, so he objectively suggested, ¡°Director Jiang, maybe you should reconsider. This color might¡ª¡± Jiang Zhi, expression unchanged, interrupted, ¡°I¡¯m in a hurry, dye it quickly.¡± A great director, wanting to dye his hair the matte blue that playboys loved, it was really a bit¡­ Four hours later. Cheng Xin was genuinely amazed by his own work, ¡°Amazing!¡± My goodness, this looked too good! S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Dye it! Dye it! Jiang Zhi, who had been resting with his eyes closed the whole time, finally opened them, looking somewhat fatigued, a bit drowsy with a touch of laziness. Hoarsely, he asked, ¡°Looks good?¡± Cheng Xin nodded vigorously. Honestly, after Zhou Xufang, Jiang Zhi once again redefined his perception of matte blue. Plenty of men came to the salon for matte blue, and although it always looked good, it generally carried some air of roguishness. But with Jiang Zhi, his fine features and good bone structure, the dull grayish blue complemented his captivating eyes, making him look both seductive and reserved. The aristocratic aura was there, with a hint of enchantment, yet not a trace of vulgarity. At this hour, there was no one else in the salon. Cheng Xin flattered without restraint, ¡°Director Jiang, you¡¯ll be the most dazzling figure in this area when you walk out!¡± Beside him, Ah Wan, who deeply valued honor, took pride and quickly added, ¡°Of course, our boss¡¯s face is invincible even across the entire Imperial City.¡± Though his temper was bad, his face was undeniably enduring. ¡°Since it looks good,¡± Jiang Zhi stood up, walked to the mirror, and adjusted the hair at his forehead, ¡°can I be a model for your salon?¡± The misty blue tint in his alluring peach blossom eyes made anyone he looked at feel an uncanny stir. Cheng Xin was momentarily stunned, ¡°Ah?¡± ¡°The poster at the door, give it to me, you can name the price.¡± Jiang Zhi said, ¡°You can also use my photo as a model one.¡± Chapter 58: 058: Wife, quickly praise me, praise me! Chapter 58: 058: Wife, quickly praise me, praise me! Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation It was almost 2 PM when Xu Fang finally woke up. The blackout curtains didn¡¯t let any light through, making the room dark. A tender, white hand reached out from under the dark bedding, grabbed a phone off the bedside table, checked the time, then put the phone down again. She buried her head in the pillow for a long while before sitting up. Her hair was a mess, and her eyes were blank. ¡°Are you getting up?¡± The mechanical synthesized voice echoed in the large room. ¡°Hmm.¡± Just awake, Xu Fang¡¯s voice was heavily nasal. A tuft of hair stuck up at the top of her head, and she hadn¡¯t fully opened her eyes yet, squinting at the SpongeBob on her computer screen. Shuangjiang asked her, ¡°What time did you get back last night?¡± She hadn¡¯t had enough sleep. She yawned and sniffled, sounding a bit kiddish. ¡°After four.¡± She had taken a late-night gig the night before and got home very late. ¡°Someone¡¯s at the door downstairs.¡± The computer alarm sounded at the same time. Xu Fang had installed a camera at the downstairs door. Whenever someone approached, the alarm and monitoring system would trigger automatically. ¡°It¡¯s the noodles I ordered.¡± She ruffled her hair, went to the dressing room to change, and went downstairs to get her lunch. She had ordered noodles again. ¡°Ah Fang.¡± She was busy rating the delivery. ¡°Hmm?¡± Seeing that she was busy, Shuangjiang didn¡¯t type and used the synthesized voice. ¡°I¡¯ve informed Jiang Zhi about Jin Song hiring us, but he hasn¡¯t taken any action. I guess he might have found out who wanted to kidnap him on his own.¡± Xu Fang looked up. ¡°Will Jin Song still try to harm him?¡± Jiang Zhi had already temporarily moved back to the Jiang Family mansion yesterday. There were servants guarding outside at night. She didn¡¯t dare get too close. ¡°Don¡¯t worry too much. Many people in the Jiang Family want to harm him, but he¡¯s managed to survive until now, which shows he¡¯s not simple,¡± Shuangjiang said. ¡°Ah Fang, Jiang Zhi is much more hidden than you think.¡± Xu Fang knew that Jiang Zhi was a very smart person. Otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t have suspected her identity so quickly, but¡ª ¡°He¡¯s not a bad person.¡± Shuangjiang, however, said, ¡°He¡¯s just not bad to you.¡± Jiang Zhi was a deeply hidden person with too many secrets. That sickly appearance was probably just a facade. Xu Fang didn¡¯t argue with Shuangjiang and simply asserted, ¡°He treats me very well. That lamp,¡± she pointed to show Shuangjiang, ¡°He gave it to me.¡± The lamp had just been installed yesterday. The entire room had a dark and cold tone, and suddenly there was this luxurious and exquisite lamp. Though it looked nice, it seemed a bit out of place. But Xu Fang liked it. Sometimes she would jump up and touch the crystal pendant on the chandelier. Oh, Xu Fang remembered something. She put down her chopsticks and opened WeChat to send a message to Wen Baiyang. ¡°Bai Yang.¡± Wen Baiyang replied with a smiley face. Xu Fang was a slow typist, poking out one character at a time. ¡°Will the eggs I ordered arrive today?¡± Wen Baiyang¡¯s hometown was in Da Mai Mountain. Her grandmother raised a lot of free-range chickens, and many villagers made a living that way too. The last time Xu Fang sent Jiang Zhi a chicken, it was also bought by Wen Baiyang. This time, she had ordered a truckload of eggs from her. Wen Baiyang replied, ¡°Yes, the truck will arrive in the Imperial City at three o¡¯clock. Do we need to change the delivery address?¡± ¡°No need to change,¡± Xu Fang typed, ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°You¡¯re welcome.¡± ¡°.¡± She put down her phone and looked up; the computer screen was dark. Shuangjiang had gone offline at some point. She had to go to Jiang Zhi¡¯s set to be an extra at three o¡¯clock, just enough time. Fang Lixiang was also on the set. She was a Weaver Girl and had a lot of scenes. As soon as she saw Xu Fang, she happily fluttered over like a butterfly. ¡°Xu Fang~¡± S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Xu Fang felt a bit uncomfortable with her enthusiasm. Fang Lixiang, like showing off a treasure, brought a cup of milk tea to her. ¡°I bought you milk tea.¡± Xu Fang liked sweets, especially AD calcium milk and various milk teas. She accepted it and took a sip. ¡°Thank you.¡± She fumbled in her backpack and pulled out four eggs. ¡°Want some free-range eggs?¡± The eggs were stuffed into her bag by Wen Baiyang on the way here for her colleagues. Fang Lixiang was on a diet recently and didn¡¯t want her agent to see, so she quickly hid the eggs in her coat and nibbled on them inside: ¡°You¡¯re not eating?¡± Not wanting to say she gets drunk from eating eggs, Xu Fang lied, ¡°I¡¯m allergic to eggs.¡± There are people allergic to eggs? Fang Lixiang felt she might be illiterate, so ignorant. She stuffed half an egg into her mouth: ¡°Then don¡¯t eat the free meals on set from now on, I¡¯ll bring you food.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Xu Fang thought about giving Fang Lixiang extra money later. ¡°Xu Fang, I have to tell you, I might be in for some luck.¡± Fang Lixiang swallowed the egg, took a sip of milk tea, and chatted with Xu Fang squatting in the corner. ¡°Director Jiang had some fallout with Vice President Jin of Huayu and replaced Su Chan. I heard from Wei¡¯er that they will be selecting a new female lead from Baoguang¡¯s artists, and I¡¯m on the shortlist as Urala Li Xiang?!¡± Urala Li Xiang was dumbfounded herself. Jiang Zhi was known in the industry for being unconventional in casting. As long as the image fit and the acting skills were solid, he didn¡¯t care if the actor was new, old, popular, or forgotten. The sun was out today, and Xu Fang wore a fisherman¡¯s hat, making her face look especially small. She sincerely praised Fang Lixiang, ¡°Your acting is very good.¡± Fang Lixiang smiled broadly. Of course, her acting was good. She was a natural performer. ¡°Xu Fang, when I make it big, I¡¯ll help you debut.¡± Fang Lixiang thought, if she got rich, she wouldn¡¯t forget her friends. She must bring them along to prosperity. But Xu Fang shook her head. ¡°I don¡¯t like being in front of the camera. I¡¯m fine being an extra.¡± Extras didn¡¯t have many close-up shots, so she didn¡¯t have to worry about being remembered. True, Xu Fang was too introverted and had some social anxiety. Fang Lixiang thought for a moment, ¡°Then I¡¯ll have the crew heads give you some favoritism.¡± Xu Fang nodded, biting the straw. ¡°Whoa!¡± Fang Lixiang suddenly fixed her gaze. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Fang Lixiang stammered, ¡°Th-th-th-that¡­ that¡¯s Director Jiang?¡± Her eyes widened, ¡°Why did he dye his hair?!¡± Xu Fang was stunned and forgot to respond. Fang Lixiang spat out a mouthful of milk tea, and the pearls slid out. ¡°Wow, matte blue.¡± She glanced at Xu Fang¡¯s medium-short hair under the hat. ¡°Xu Fang, it¡¯s the same as yours.¡± Jiang Zhi had just arrived, and the set suddenly went quiet. Many eyes were on him¡­ and his hair. Xu Fang was also staring. She couldn¡¯t help touching her own hair. ¡°Mine is temporary, it¡¯s already washed out.¡± She whispered, ¡°Jiang Zhi¡¯s looks nice.¡± Even better than hers. Fang Lixiang rubbed her chin: Nice, but not very dignified. Jiang Zhi was already good-looking, and now with matte blue hair, he looked even more like a little demon. That little demon was pacing back and forth five meters away. Fang Lixiang scratched her head. ¡°What¡¯s he doing?¡± She couldn¡¯t understand, ¡°Why is he walking around like this?¡± Showing off his new hairstyle? Xu Fang finished her milk tea, threw it in the trash, and walked over. ¡°You dyed your hair.¡± There were many people around, so she didn¡¯t dare to get too close. Jiang Zhi moved to the side a little. ¡°Hmm.¡± Xu Fang followed, speaking honestly, ¡°It looks good.¡± Matte blue made him look a bit lazy and rascally, less soft, and more aggressive. But it looked good. Jiang Zhi¡¯s lips curved slightly, and he subconsciously moved his head a bit closer to her. ¡°Anything else?¡± He looked like¡­ the gray cat downstairs wanting to be petted. Xu Fang thought, should she praise him some more? Just then, Yu Ran¡¯s fan representative came over to visit the set. Though she was far away, Xu Fang had good hearing and picked up every word. The fan representative was screaming: ¡°Yu Ran, I love you so much, can you give me an autograph?¡± Does this count as praise? Xu Fang thought, then imitated: ¡°Your hair looks beautiful, can you give me an autograph?¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± The fan representative was stomping her feet excitedly. ¡°I really love you, I¡¯ve watched all your movies.¡± ¡°I¡¯m definitely going to support your new movie.¡± ¡°You¡¯re so beautiful.¡± ¡°Sign here, sign here!¡± ¡°Can I take a photo with you?¡± ¡°Oh my god, thank you, goddess!¡± Xu Fang also heard Yu Ran¡¯s laughter, sounding very happy. She thought, maybe normal people liked this kind of admiration. She mimicked that fan¡¯s actions, stomping her foot, then stomping again. ¡°Can I take a photo with you?¡± She gave a thumbs up, seriously emphasizing, ¡°Your hairstyle is really pretty.¡± After she finished, she remembered another line. ¡°I¡¯ve watched everything you¡¯ve made. I will definitely support your new movie.¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± The worst thing is when the air suddenly gets quiet¡­ Chapter 59: 059: Do you want me? Chapter 59: 059: Do you want me? Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation Over there, a fan representative got a photo with their idol and let out a groundhog-like scream. Jiang Zhi only glanced at it and understood. She was learning on the spot. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. As annoyed as he was, he couldn¡¯t bring himself to say anything to her. Jiang Zhi turned around: ¡°Come with me.¡± Zhou Xufang pulled her hat down and followed with her head lowered. Once they walked away, the people on the set dared to gossip secretly. Producer: ¡°Who is that girl?¡± Crew: ¡°No idea.¡± She was wrapped up too tightly to be seen clearly. Producer was puzzled: ¡°Isn¡¯t Director Jiang gay? How come he¡¯s so close to a girl?¡± Crew speculated: ¡°Could she be a close friend?¡± Producer: ¡°¡­¡± Like hell, a close friend! Assistant Director: ¡°My son is going through his rebellious phase, dyed his hair blue yesterday.¡± That little blue hair was full of attitude, looked like a little rascal. Crew: ¡°You mean Director Jiang is in his rebellious phase?¡± Assistant Director was confused: ¡°Director Jiang is already twenty-four.¡± Crew guessed: ¡°A late rebellion?¡± Assistant Director slapped him: ¡°Watch out, Director Jiang will hear you and have your head!¡± Crew rubbed his head. We don¡¯t know what¡¯s going on, and we don¡¯t dare to ask. Outside the director¡¯s lounge, Ah Wan stood firm like a pine tree, leaning against the door and concentrating on¡­ eavesdropping. ¡°Are you afraid of me?¡± ¡°No.¡± Jiang Zhi sat while Zhou Xufang stood, more than five meters apart. He suppressed the wild thoughts in his mind and didn¡¯t pull her over. ¡°Then why are you standing so far?¡± He pointed to the sofa opposite him, ¡°Sit here.¡± Zhou Xufang hesitated for a moment, then sat down. He went to get her two cans of milk and a box of marshmallows, placing them in front of her. Zhou Xufang said, ¡°Thank you.¡± Then she held the box, putting one piece after another into her mouth. Like a food-stashing hamster. Last night she appeared in his dream, looking just like this. But in the dream, she was even more obedient, sitting on his lap eating candy, hugging him when asked, kissing him when asked, making him want to pile the world¡¯s candy in front of her. The more Jiang Zhi thought about it, the itchier his heart became: ¡°Have you finished the candy I gave you?¡± Zhou Xufang opened a can of milk, gave one to Jiang Zhi, then opened another for herself: ¡°No.¡± ¡°Call me when you finish them.¡± She said okay. So well-behaved. The smile on Jiang Zhi¡¯s lips never faded, his eyes shimmering, filled with springtime brightness. His tired look from lack of sleep vanished when he saw her, making him look vibrant and radiant. ¡°Don¡¯t go to the hair salon as a model anymore. Too much hair dye is bad,¡± Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t bother hiding his concern, ¡°If you need money, I can give you a role.¡± He didn¡¯t like her photos being posted everywhere, nor did he like her working odd jobs. But giving her money outright, she would surely refuse. Letting her act was also good. At least, he could keep an eye on her anytime. Zhou Xufang took his concern at face value and agreed: ¡°Okay.¡± So good. Someone this good, should be easy to win over, right? ¡°You,¡± Before he could finish, his body started heating up, feeling restless. He inadvertently messed up the blanket on the sofa. Zhou Xufang, with a few candies in her cheeks, looked at him blankly: ¡°Hm?¡± ¡°Ahem.¡± He faked a cough, his eyes drifting from her face to her marshmallow-holding fingers, asking awkwardly, ¡°Do you think I look good?¡± Coy and cautious. Xue Baoyi often said, with a face like his, attracting people was effortless. Sure enough¡ª Despite feeling shy, she nodded. She was always honest. Jiang Zhi¡¯s eyebrows instantly filled with springtime brightness. His eyes were scorching, like a hungry wolf tasting the first bite of meat, all his desires triggered. He even swallowed once, his gaze tightly fixed on her, full of overwhelming affection, he asked, ¡°Then, do you,¡± his Adam¡¯s apple moved slightly, ¡°want me?¡± His eyes reflected a faint blue shadow, intentionally softened to become charming and seductive, coaxing her. As long as she said she wanted, he would give. But¡­ Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t even think about it: ¡°No.¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± The bright flowers in his eyes shattered to pieces instantly. He just wanted to curse, what use was seduction, Xue Baoyi was unreliable, all nonsense! His happiness got dashed, Jiang Zhi looked at her angrily: ¡°Didn¡¯t you say I look good!¡± Zhou Xufang was a bit befuddled by his rapidly changing emotions, showing confusion in her eyes: ¡°Can¡¯t I say it?¡± But everyone thought he looked good, couldn¡¯t she praise him? All his romantic thoughts were doused by a bucket of cold water: ¡°¡­¡± She didn¡¯t desire his looks at all, had no understanding of romance or love¡­ Jiang Zhi frowned, realizing he had been too hasty. Be patient, take it slow. Using the law of the jungle, he didn¡¯t dare. He feared all his lifetime patience would be spent on her. Jiang Zhi took a deep breath, drank half a can of milk in one go, hid his anxious feelings, looked away and coughed a few times, appearing a bit weak: ¡°Are we friends?¡± He knew, Zhou Xufang responded to softness, not hardness. She hesitated, then nodded. ¡°Then invite me to dinner tomorrow night.¡± Afraid she might refuse, Jiang Zhi specifically pointed out, ¡°I gave you that chandelier.¡± This time she agreed quickly: ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll treat you.¡± Jiang Zhi finally smiled. Just then, her phone beeped. After checking it, she asked Jiang Zhi: ¡°Are you free now?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± He would be free even if he wasn¡¯t. ¡°I have something to give you.¡± Then she led Jiang Zhi outside the film set. As soon as they went out, Jiang Zhi heard someone calling his name with a loudspeaker. ¡°Jiang Zhi!¡± ¡°Jiang Zhi!¡± Such clamor in public made Jiang Zhi very displeased. He threw a glance at Ah Wan. Ah Wan immediately got the hint and planned to see who was shouting his employer¡¯s name in broad daylight. ¡°Jiang Zhi!¡± ¡°Who¡¯s Jiang Zhi?¡± Ah Wan looked closely only to see a large truck parked across from the subway entrance. The truck driver was leaning out of the window, shouting with a big red loudspeaker. Ah Wan was about to check it out¡ª Zhou Xufang raised her hand, waving left and right: ¡°Here.¡± Across the street, the truck driver spoke through the loudspeaker: ¡°Are you Jiang Zhi?¡± Zhou Xufang nodded under her fisherman¡¯s hat, with Jiang Zhi following behind her, completely bewildered. The truck driver got out of the truck, wearing just a T-shirt with a cotton vest over it in the winter. Holding a slip in his hand, he walked over, looked Jiang Zhi up and down, and finally fixed his eyes on Jiang Zhi¡¯s hair, saying: ¡°Your eggs are here. A total of 3,496, please sign for them.¡± The truck driver had a thick accent. Jiang Zhi, thinking he misheard, asked Zhou Xufang: ¡°What¡¯s this about?¡± ¡°Your favorite farm eggs.¡± Jiang Zhi looked at the two-meter-tall green truck, 3,496¡­ eggs? He was far from thrilled! He had picked the cheapest option, and she instead sent him a truckload. Without hesitation, he asked the driver: ¡°Can we return them?¡± He had lived over two decades, done many extravagant things, but now he felt heartache over her spending this much. The truck driver looked at him like he was a scoundrel, thinking this blue-haired guy must be a young punk, relying on good looks given by parents, doing useless things. He decisively gave him a white-eye: ¡°The money¡¯s paid, no returns!¡± Social punk Jiang ¡°Blue Hair¡± Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you like it?¡± Zhou Xufang showed confusion again. She remembered Jiang Zhi said he liked farm eggs, not understanding why he was unhappy when she sent so many of his favorites. Jiang Zhi explained: ¡°I can¡¯t eat that many.¡± Not disliking was good. Zhou Xufang took the delivery slip, signed it, then told Jiang Zhi: ¡°There is rice bran and sawdust under the truck. You can bury the eggs in them, they¡¯ll last a long time in winter. If you can¡¯t finish them, you can share with friends and family.¡± Once again, Jiang Zhi looked at the truckload of eggs, feeling conflicted. Satisfied, but also pained by the money she spent: ¡°How much did you spend?¡± ¡°Not much.¡± She suddenly remembered something exciting, ¡°Mr. Xue Baoyi ordered many phone cases from me yesterday. The profit of one case is eight bucks, I made quite a bit.¡± She kept a straight face, seriously said: ¡°I am not short on money.¡± Jiang Zhi was speechless, once again constrained by emotions. Chapter 60: 060: They have a relationship where they fight in bed. Chapter 60: 060: They have a relationship where they fight in bed. Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation Jiang Zhi once again was left speechless with tears welling up. Ah Wan had a different take. She felt that Miss Zhou, who applied the phone screen protector, was someone who hid her accomplishments and fame, viewing money as dirt, not greedy nor opportunistic. Unlike those gaudy and insatiable women outside, Miss Zhou was different. She was a lady of high moral standards, content with selling a phone case, considering herself rich with just a few hundred thousand yuan¡ªan altitude of spirit not everyone could reach. Moreover, Miss Zhou was truly good to her employer. She bought a whole cart of eggs for him. What kind of divine love was this, as she marveled¡ª ¡°Lin Wanwan.¡± Could you please stop calling Lin! Wan! Wan! Reluctantly, Ah Wan stepped forward: ¡°What is it?!¡± Damn it, he definitely needed to change his name! ¡°Take the eggs to Chang¡¯an Mansion and find some knowledgeable people to help.¡± Jiang Zhi specially instructed, ¡°Don¡¯t break them.¡± These rural chicken eggs worth a few bucks each were heading to a mansion worth tens of millions. Suddenly, Ah Wan felt very melancholic, without even enough savings for a wife: ¡°Oh.¡± The truck driver, seeing the large order of eggs, agreed to deliver them on-site right away. Zhou Xufang thanked him and told Jiang Zhi: ¡°Then I¡¯ll go in now.¡± ¡°Together.¡± Ah Wan thought his employer¡¯s action of following behind was like a small, obedient wife. But¡­ Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t wait for Jiang Zhi at all. Seeing many pedestrians, afraid of being seen, she hurried ahead and disappeared in a flash. Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He wanted to catch her and give her a good thrashing! Ah Wan covered his mouth, hiding aside and snickering. Seeing his employer at a disadvantage made him very happy. So, he cheerfully patted the eggs on the truck: ¡°Boss, you can¡¯t eat all these rural eggs yourself. Can I take a few home to eat?¡± Jiang Zhi cast a cold glance at him, exuding his noble aura: ¡°Three thousand four hundred ninety-six, miss one, it¡¯ll come out of your salary.¡± Ah Wan: ¡°¡­¡± So annoying! Ah Wan thought his employer, this scoundrel, was unworthy of someone as excellent, remarkable, and of high moral standards as Miss Zhou. At four in the afternoon, Xue Baoyi came to the film set. ¡°Wow! Your hair is quite avant-garde.¡± Xue Baoyi touched his own equally avant-garde gray-haired old-man short hair, wondering if he should also go for blue. Jiang Zhi ignored him; his mind was full of that little girl. He already felt uneasy after not seeing her for a while. Xue Baoyi looked and asked: ¡°Not bad, where¡¯d you get it dyed?¡± This little rascal¡¯s hair color really set off Jiang Zhi¡¯s ten-level pale complexion, making it look desolate, transforming his once noble air into a charm. He now looked like a little demon, even more attractive. That little demon was quite cold: ¡°With your face, dyeing this color, you going to collect debts?¡± Xue Baoyi: ¡°¡­¡± This tormenting little demon. Forget it, Mr. would be magnanimous and not stoop to the level of this little beauty. He threw down the file folder he brought: ¡°The things you asked for.¡± He took off his suit and lay down on Jiang Zhi¡¯s customized couch. Jiang Zhi tore open the folder and casually flipped through a couple of pages. From the corner of his eye, he gave Xue Baoyi a quick glance full of naked disdain and warning. This finicky cleanliness freak. Xue Baoyi laughed and cursed, getting up from the couch and obediently sitting back on the sofa: ¡°Tang Heng¡¯s financing project was a mess created by Jin Song. I looked into his account and also checked Tang Heng¡¯s finances¡ªthere were many issues. I¡¯m guessing Jin Song wants to hollow out Tang Heng behind Jin Lei¡¯s back.¡± He looked at Jiang Zhi, ¡°How do you want to settle this?¡± Jin Song dared to hire people to plunder; he had to take the consequences. Jiang Zhi¡¯s fingers gently rubbed over the paper, smiling as if talking to himself: ¡°From the same root, why the rush to fry each other.¡± Xue Baoyi only felt a chill. Brother Zhi was up to something. ¡°You want the brothers to tear each other apart?¡± Jin Song was an illegitimate child, and Jin Lei had been good to him. Brothers turning into ungrateful wolves¡ªthis drama just got more intense. Jiang Zhi asked back coldly: ¡°What else?¡± He leaned weakly against the sofa, breathing lightly, ¡°A sickly man like me needs to recuperate¡ªI¡¯m not capable of scheming.¡± Xue Baoyi was amused, saying that? When he had done more than enough scheming already! Who¡¯d believe that nonsense! Still, Xue Baoyi said: ¡°Good for you not to dirty your hands, preventing the Jiang Family from targeting you again.¡± Better to quietly be a sickly man, ideally waiting for the Jiang Family to tear each other apart before closing the net. Jiang Zhi showed no interest and didn¡¯t respond. Xue Baoyi suddenly remembered something: ¡°I heard from Nanchu that the professional errand runner gave you a heads-up, sent you an email specifically to warn you about Jin Song.¡± He laughed mischievously, ¡°What¡¯s going on Tian Zhi, have you struck up feelings with that errand runner? She¡¯s even protecting you now.¡± Jiang Zhi, treasuring his words like gold: ¡°Mind your own business.¡± Xue Baoyi, loving gossip, had to tease him: ¡°I reckon, your peach blossom luck is about to overflow. One after another.¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡°Get lost.¡± See, so like a heartless, unreasonable little demon. Xue Baoyi insisted on not leaving, instead sitting beside him, mimicking a woman¡¯s mannerisms, acting theatrical: ¡°Zhi Ge, you don¡¯t talk to me like that in bed.¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± wanted to kick him to death. At this moment, there was a thud as something heavy hit the door. Jiang Zhi¡¯s expression turned instantly grim: ¡°Who?¡± ¡°It¡¯s me¡­¡± After a weak voice, a trembling little hand pushed open the door, revealing a cute little face with two dimples. It was Fang Lixiang, the only son of the Fang family¡¯s fourth generation. ¡°The screenwriter revised the script and asked me to bring it for you to look at.¡± Sneaky like a timid yet curious mouse poking its head. This girl Xue Baoyi had seen in photos¡ªhis company¡¯s new signee, an actress with some natural talent. Little did he know she had paparazzi potential too. ¡°Put it there.¡± Jiang Zhi pointed to the cabinet near the door. Fang Lixiang put the script down, stealing a few more glances, scratching her nose, hunched her shoulders: ¡°Then I won¡¯t disturb you.¡± After saying that, she silently turned around. At the door, she couldn¡¯t help but turn back and sincerely assured, ¡°Director Jiang, President Xue, I will definitely keep your secret.¡± She wouldn¡¯t tell anyone that Director Jiang and President Xue had a fighting-in-bed relationship. Having said that, she successfully exited, making space for ¡®lovers.¡¯ As she walked out, she saw Zhou Xufang squatting in the corner. The urge to leak the news exploded within her. ¡°Xu Fang! Xu Fang!¡± Zhou Xufang lifted her head: ¡°Hmm?¡± Fang Lixiang sprinted over, plopping down beside her, looking excited, actions sneaky, voice vibrating: ¡°Let me tell you, Director Jiang and our boss are having an affair in the lounge.¡± An affair. That word made Zhou Xufang take a whole five seconds to process: ¡°Jiang Zhi and Mr. Xue Baoyi?¡± Fang Lixiang vigorously nodded: ¡°I heard it with my own ears. Don¡¯t tell anyone.¡± She leaned closer, secretly whispered in Zhou Xufang¡¯s ear, ¡°They have a relationship on the bed.¡± Ow, ow! Fang Lixiang¡¯s fujoshi heart was about to explode, imagining two little figures fighting¡ªone with mist-blue hair, the other with gray-white hair¡­ Oh, nosebleed was imminent. Fang Lixiang felt her nose: ¡°I just wonder if they¡¯re friends or just playing around.¡± Saying this, she felt these two gays definitely had a deep connection. Beside her, Zhou Xufang squatted silently, the milk can in her hand tilted unknowingly, spilling milk all over the ground. Crunch! The milk can was crushed by her grip. Fang Lixiang asked what was up. She drank up all the milk in the can, then stomped on it, crushing it, and tossed it into the trash bag: ¡°Time for shooting. I¡¯ll go change.¡± Where was the trash bin? She suddenly felt like kicking something. Oh, there were plenty of trash bins near the parking lot. Walking in the parking lot, Zhou Xufang suddenly paused, then moved behind a pillar. About a hundred meters away, she could hear voices clearly. ¡°You¡¯re meeting Jiang Wei¡¯er?¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± The later voice was familiar to Zhou Xufang¡ªit was Jiang Wei¡¯er¡¯s boyfriend. A woman got off the nanny van, wearing a neatly pressed professional suit, her long hair, reaching her waist, was chestnut-colored, curled into big waves, around thirtyish, not striking in appearance but neat in demeanor. ¡°The set is crowded with nosy people. It¡¯s best you don¡¯t meet privately.¡± Xiao Linsu, wearing a mask with his baseball cap pressed low: ¡°Stay out of my business with her.¡± Unlike his usual gentle demeanor, his eyes were cold, his black coat making him look gloomy and brooding. ¡°I¡¯m your manager; I need to manage your affairs.¡± ¡°Lin Shuang, you¡¯ve forgotten your duties.¡± ¡°Linsu.¡± Xiao Linsu ignored her, just as he was about to step away, the woman anxiously grabbed his suit sleeve, her voice choked with sobs: ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± He stayed silent, shaking off her hand. Zhou Xufang squatted behind the pillar, thinking Xiao Linsu and Jiang Wei¡¯er also had an affair in this parking lot last time. She didn¡¯t understand why people liked having affairs. The woman named Lin Shuang stood there for a while before getting back into the car and leaving. Zhou Xufang stood up and walked to the entrance, giving a trash bin a kick and knocking it over. The next second, she squatted down and diligently picked up the garbage. Chapter 61: 061: This pair is full of passion, huh Chapter 61: 061: This pair is full of passion, huh Back on the film set, the sole heir of the fourth generation, Fang Lixiang, was quite shocked by the ¡°affair¡± scandal. So, during her break, she squatted in a corner to play a game to calm her nerves. And the result? Calming her nerves, my ass¡ªshe was about to explode with rage. ¡°Hide behind me.¡± ¡°Move your ass!¡± ¡°Holy crap, can¡¯t you throw your grenades more accurately? You almost blew me up.¡± ¡°Why do I always bump into such noobs day after day?¡± Yes, the champion Chicken King player that she was, she once again encountered teammates who were so bronze they couldn¡¯t be carried. That would have been fine, except noobs love to throw grenades, especially at her. Several close calls nearly ended her. ¡°Ancestor, can you please hide? I get chills down my spine just from you following me,¡± she muttered, fearing a clumsy teammate might accidentally send her to heaven. As she was gripped with fear¡ª ¡°Fang Lixiang.¡± Wearing headphones, Fang Lixiang couldn¡¯t hear clearly. It took her a while to turn around, then she made a foolish face: ¡°B-, Boss?¡± There stood her ultimate boss¡ªBoss Xue! It was horrifying. She shivered, lost her balance, and landed on her butt. Her hand trembled, she didn¡¯t aim her M249 properly, and the enemy blew her head off with a shot. On the game screen, ¡®I¡¯m Your Ancestor¡¯ lay dead. Game over! Boss Xue glanced at her phone screen and, rather than getting angry, chuckled: ¡°The company didn¡¯t invest in you to play games.¡± To Fang Lixiang, that laugh felt like the chill of death. She hastily removed her headphones and scrambled to her feet with agile limbs, showing her utmost loyalty: ¡°I¡¯ll uninstall the game right now.¡± Because if she failed to appease the big boss, she could kiss her career goodbye. The big boss let out a barely perceptible snort through her nose. Fang Lixiang shivered uncontrollably, thinking, surely the big boss isn¡¯t contemplating eradicating a witness, right? Good Lord, she¡¯s a sole heir! Seriously, how scared could she look? Boss Xue saw she was scared out of her wits and decided not to frighten her further, adopting the demeanor she usually displayed as a big CEO: ¡°Act well and cut down on the gaming.¡± The nodding, groveling, meek person replied: ¡°Yes¡ª¡± Boss Xue glanced over with her noble eyes and then shifted her esteemed footing. Fang Lixiang transformed into a lackey, bowing deeply: ¡°Farewell, Boss.¡± She had just managed a three-step send-off¡ª Boss Xue turned back: ¡°And another thing,¡± her tone suddenly turned fierce, ¡°curse less at the noobs!¡± Fang Xiaodi: ¡°?!¡± Why was the boss mad? She hadn¡¯t called her a noob. After watching the boss leave, Fang Lixiang decided to play another round to calm her nerves and soothe her frightened little heart. Uninstall the game? Hah, she¡¯d never uninstall it in her lifetime. Boss Xue¡¯s secretary, Xiao Zhuang, was a little plump, at five-foot-three and weighing 170 pounds, he waddled like a rolling ball. His only saving grace was his good skin, plump with collagen, resembling an inflated boiled egg¡ªquite distinctive, really. Xiao Zhuang had just received a call from the company president¡¯s office, instructing him to notify the boss of a meeting. The boss started a game as soon as he got into his car, and off he went without saying where. ¡°Mr. Xue.¡± Boss Xue wasn¡¯t having any of it. Xiao Zhuang poked his round, cheerful head from the front seat to the back: ¡°Mr. Xue.¡± Boss Xue was getting annoyed: ¡°I¡¯m playing a game; don¡¯t bother me.¡± Damn it, hardly ten minutes since he told her to focus on acting and there she was caught in PUBG. Xiao Zhuang didn¡¯t dare to push further and secretly took out his phone to play Miracle Nuan Nuan. The car was parked in the quiet basement garage. Boss Xue didn¡¯t have his headphones plugged in, so the game¡¯s sounds were crystal clear, including the cursing of teammates. ¡°Not you again, you noob! I must be cursed with bad luck!¡± Boss Xue was so mad he turned purple: ¡°¡­¡± I¡¯m Your Ancestor. That name¡­ he remembered it well, even adding it as a game friend for the sole purpose of arguments. Undoubtedly, in that round, Fang Lixiang once again perished at the hands of her nemesis. How she kept getting blasted away by the same stunning ¡°Handsome¡± in PUBG was truly a cursed fate. That evening, two pieces of news sent shockwaves through the entertainment world. The first was about the genius director, Jiang Wei¡¯er, acting as a special model for an eighteenth-tier hair salon. The hairstyle she sported gained popularity as soon as it was introduced. The second was the scandal involving Huayu¡¯s vice president Jin Song, who maintained inappropriate relationships with several artists under the label. At seven in the evening, the Fairy Descending salon was swamped with people. The owner and chief hairstylist Cheng Xin was as busy as a dog, still hadn¡¯t managed to eat dinner, and the customers kept coming non-stop¡ªnot all for hairdo¡¯s but for photos too. The poster by the door was rushed and printed without any retouching, but it¡¯s all good because Jiang Wei¡¯er¡¯s face was resilient to any bad shot¡ªjust stick her face on anything and it becomes a money magnet. Thanks to the blessing of the Wealth God, Fairy Descending made it onto the Hot Search list again. ¡°What color should we dye?¡± ¡°The Jiang Wei¡¯er style?¡± ¡°Xiao Chuan, do we still have the misty blue dye?¡± ¡°No more.¡± ¡°Can¡¯t change to a different color?¡± ¡°No need to change, just go to the front desk and queue up for an appointment.¡± This is the celebrity effect. At 8 o¡¯clock in the evening, Fusheng Inn was a dazzle of paper and gold. Behind the screen, geishas were playing the pipa, the food on the table was barely touched, and wine cups were filled one after another. The door pushed open, and the arrival was hurried. Jin Song raised his hand, and the serving woman pouring the drink put down the cup, exiting the room along with the music-playing geishas. ¡°President Jin.¡± Jin Song took a sip of baijiu, slightly tipsy, ¡°What did he say?¡± The secretary stepped forward and said, ¡°The Chairman said you don¡¯t need to go to Huayu for now, and Tang Heng¡¯s financing project is also on hold.¡± sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Jin Song swirled the drink in his cup and laughed, ¡°What a clever scheme to kill with a borrowed knife.¡± The secretary was silent as if chilled to the bone. Clang¡ª A table of banquet was flipped over entirely, and Jin Song stood up, walking to the old wooden sofa, ¡°Is your contract almost up?¡± Someone else was in the room. He replied, ¡°Twenty-three days left.¡± ¡°Want to get that video back?¡± It was then that the person on the sofa looked up. Jin Song leaned over, placing his hand on his shoulder, ¡°Help me with one last thing, and once it¡¯s done, I¡¯ll destroy all that stuff.¡± Xiao Linsu started his career as a singer and had been with Huayu for ten years, from eighteen to twenty-eight years old. ¡°What do you want me to do?¡± The hand resting on his shoulder slowly moved from his neck to his chest, teasing subtly. ¡°No rush, we¡¯ll talk it through slowly.¡± Click. The metallic sound of a belt buckle was piercing, and Jin Song laughed as he pulled out the long, slender belt from his waist. When Xiao Linsu came out again, it was an hour later, limping slowly. Lin Shuang had just arrived and was stunned for a moment before running up to him. ¡°Linsu¡ª¡± She hadn¡¯t touched him when she was pushed away, ¡°Get lost.¡± He was wearing a mask, clothes unscathed, but he couldn¡¯t straighten up, bent at the waist. Lin Shuang¡¯s eyes were already red, ¡°Can you get your wounds treated first?¡± He looked up, sweat rolling down, ¡°I told you to get lost.¡± Lin Shuang¡¯s outstretched hand froze, ultimately not daring to support him. The phone rang. Xiao Linsu leaned against the wall, staring at the screen for a long time before answering. ¡°Wei¡¯er.¡± His voice was very low, with a faint echo in the empty hallway. ¡°I¡¯ll be back the day after tomorrow.¡± The harsh winter had arrived, ice pellets fell in the evening, a prelude to heavy snow. The wind blew the leaves, howling in the cold outside, too cold¡ªJiang Wei¡¯er stood under a tree, wrapped in a thick down jacket, talking on the phone for a long time. An old voice called her ¡®Fifth Miss.¡¯ ¡°Old Madam is calling for you inside.¡± The messenger was Gui Family, who had served by Old Lady Jiang¡¯s side before she was married. After becoming a widow, Gui Family stayed with Old Lady Jiang in the Jiang Mansion. ¡°I¡¯ll call you back later,¡± Jiang Wei¡¯er ended the call, heading inside, ¡°Has Brother Zhi arrived yet?¡± Gui Family followed with an umbrella, replying from behind, ¡°Not yet. The icy pellets on the road made it slippery and inconvenient; he¡¯ll be late.¡± Jiang Wei¡¯er entered the house. Old Madam sat in the place of honor facing south, the eldest son of the big room sat facing east, the second son of the second room sat facing west, and then the grandsons were seated facing north in order. The cadets and those born out of the main line stood. The Jiang Family was always strict with their ranking of seniority. Jiang Xiaolin and Jiang Fuli each called out ¡®Fifth Aunt,¡¯ standing obediently, waiting for Jiang Wei¡¯er to take her seat. She was the most informal one, pulling up a chair directly next to Jiang Weikai, the eldest son of the Jiang family. Old Madam said nothing, and naturally, no one else dared to speak. ¡°Auntie,¡± It was Jiang Fuxi from the fourth branch; she brought over tea, ¡°I wasn¡¯t sure if your tastes had changed, so Sister Xi took the liberty to brew some Huangshan Maofeng for you.¡± Of all the Jiang family, the one most skilled at observing others¡¯ moods was Sister Xi from the fourth branch. Taking her mother¡¯s surname, she had lived cautiously and prudently within the Jiang family for a long time, always acting carefully and steadily. Jiang Wei¡¯er accepted the teacup; it was just the right temperature and didn¡¯t burn the hand, ¡°Thank you for the tea, Sister Xi.¡± Jiang Fuxi smiled and returned to stand beside Old Madam. Chapter 62: 062: The Jiang Family’s Secret, Jiang Zhi’s Illness Chapter 62: 062: The Jiang Family¡¯s Secret, Jiang Zhi¡¯s Illness ¡°Last time I saw you was Mid-Autumn Festival last year,¡± Jiang Weikai said with a stern face, ¡°Fifth, what have you been so busy with that you can¡¯t even find time to come back?¡± Jiang Wei¡¯er answered casually, ¡°Not busy with much, just messing around.¡± ¡°Still at the Taekwondo Hall?¡± At this moment, Jiang Weili across the table joined in, seemingly joking, ¡°Big brother, you might not know, but Wei¡¯er has switched careers.¡± Wei Li, who often dealt with political affairs, was a smiling tiger, and his wife, Luo Changfang, a businesswoman from the Luo Family, was diplomatic. The couple had only one daughter, Jiang Fuli, whom they raised to be intelligent and efficient. ¡°Have you returned to the company?¡± Jiang Weikai, who was usually busy, didn¡¯t inquire much about the family matters. He thought that as Fifth was of age, it was time for her to return to the family business. Jiang Wei¡¯er, sipping tea, said evasively, ¡°With my sister-in-law at the company, it¡¯s better I don¡¯t get in the way.¡± Luo Changfang laughed off her nonsense and steered the conversation back, ¡°The entertainment industry is murky. It¡¯s okay for Brother Zhi since he¡¯s a boy, but Wei¡¯er, you need to be cautious.¡± Jiang Wei¡¯er put down her teacup. This couple from the second branch¡­ ¡°You entered the entertainment industry?¡± Jiang Weikai finally realized she had switched to an entirely different line of work. Lazily sitting, she responded, ¡°Just assisting someone, not really an insider, just playing around.¡± ¡°You are a girl after all¡ª¡± She cut off her elder brother, quickly pleading, ¡°Big brother, I rarely come back, please don¡¯t nag me anymore.¡± Jiang Weikai¡¯s face stiffened, and he dropped the subject. Outside, the old butler, Jiang Chuan came in to announce, ¡°Old Madam, the young master has arrived.¡± Hearing this, Old Lady Jiang got up with the aid of her walking stick and instructed the maidservant beside her, ¡°Ah Gui, go fetch two hand-warming stoves.¡± ¡°Yes, Old Madam.¡± The courtyard door was open, letting bursts of winter wind in, and at this moment, the servants outside cried, ¡°Young Master!¡± Jiang Fuxi stepped forward, received the guests, took over their wind-chilled coats, and handed out a towel, ¡°Xiao Rong, go to Brother Zhi¡¯s room and fetch some clean clothes.¡± Xiao Rong acknowledged. Jiang Zhi, wiping his hands with the towel, walked slowly inside. The room had its door wide open, a brazier burning inside. The Jiang family, quite conservative in their ways, knew he was susceptible to cold; during winter, Old Lady Jiang would always have a brazier lit and several hand-warming stoves ready for him. Old Madam had passed her septuagenarian years, her hair white and hairdo meticulous, making her look spirited, though her mobility was hindered, needing a walking stick to move around. ¡°Brother Zhi, what happened to your hair?¡± As soon as Jiang Zhi entered, Old Madam¡¯s gaze fixed onto him. Jiang Zhi, taking the coat handed to him by a servant and putting it on, replied, ¡°I dyed it.¡± ¡°Just normal, why dye it such an indecent color?¡± Old Madam stared at his blue hair, hardly befitting a nobleman, too plebeian. Jiang Zhi disagreed, ¡°What¡¯s indecent about it?¡± Old Madam scolded him fondly, ¡°Nonsense.¡± He chose a spot nearest the brazier to sit and still felt cold, he drew his clothes tighter, took the tea offered by a servant but before he could drink, a coughing fit came over him. As he coughed, some tea spilled from his cup. ¡°Why such severe coughing?¡± Old Lady Jiang asked, ¡°Your medicine, did you take it on time?¡± His voice hoarse from coughing, ¡°I did.¡± ¡°What does Shiyu say?¡± Covering his mouth with a towel, his eyes tinged red, ¡°The medicine isn¡¯t really working anymore, judging by the time,¡± he said nonchalantly, ¡°my end is probably near.¡± Old Madam scolded, ¡°What nonsense are you talking!¡± She walked over to her grandson leaning on her walking stick, instructed a servant, ¡°No need to set the meal, take Brother Zhi¡¯s soup and medicinal dishes to his room.¡± ¡°Yes, Old Madam.¡± ¡°Fuxi, come help Brother Zhi.¡± Jiang Fuxi stepped forward to assist, but Jiang Zhi dodged, laboriously dragging his steps toward the stairs, his cough still audible from afar. Jiang Fuxi paused briefly, then followed upstairs. Jiang Zhi¡¯s bedroom was on the second floor, the room with the best light. Due to his frail health and aversion to cold, the floor was covered with warm jade. Old Madam doted on him, moving all sorts of fine objects into his room, including the most paintings and vases. Jiang Zhi, refusing assistance, laid down by himself. His pale, delicate face struggled for breath, not to mention how frail he looked. Old Madam sitting by the bed asked, ¡°Feeling any better?¡± He responded weakly, ¡°Yeah.¡± After his response, he started coughing again. Old Madam, both angry and distressed, helped smooth his breathing, chiding him, ¡°Don¡¯t scare this old lady by pretending to be so weak; you¡¯re not going to die.¡± Jiang Zhi replied weakly, ¡°Qin Shiyu said all my internal organs are ruined.¡± ¡°Even if they are completely ruined, I can still keep you breathing with medicine,¡± his grandma retorted. He grunted, breathing heavily, lacking the energy to speak. Seeing him like this, Old Lady Jiang spared him further lecturing, ¡°Fuxi, go to the kitchen and hurry them up. Why hasn¡¯t Brother Zhi¡¯s soup been served yet?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll go right now.¡± After Jiang Fuxi left, she closed the door behind her. With everyone else gone, Old Lady Jiang spoke to Jiang Zhi, ¡°Xiaolin and Fuli have lately been increasingly unrestrained.¡± ¡°Uh-huh, I¡¯ve heard,¡± he responded listlessly, his pale-blue hair limp over his brows, casting scattered shadows in his eyes, which carried a hint of lazy despondence. ¡°You¡¯ll just let them mess with the family business? You don¡¯t plan to come back and take control?¡± He slouched bonelessly, ¡°It¡¯s cold, I can¡¯t manage.¡± ¡°You just trouble this old bag of bones then,¡± the Old Madam scolded, no longer indulging his recklessness, ¡°When spring comes, I¡¯ll transfer your father¡¯s portion to you. Grandma is old; one foot is already in the coffin. The road ahead, Brother Zhi, you must walk on your own.¡± The Old Master Jiang had left a will when he passed away, dividing the family estate into six parts¡ªone for each of his five children and his wife. However, it was not equally divided, nor did he appoint a head of the family, creating restlessness among them all. Only the youngest, Jiang Zhi was sick, and had become a hands-off manager. He still had no proper concern, ¡°Both my feet are in the coffin, yet I can¡¯t die. You, on the other hand, still have life left.¡± Old Madam chuckled and scolded him for being a rascal. ¡°You may let other matters slide, but for those involving the Lu Family, you must handle them personally.¡± Speaking of the Lu Family sparked a hint of interest in Jiang Zhi, ¡°Did the Lu Family secure that piece of land?¡± ¡°They did, and thanks to your maneuver, they paid extra, which really annoyed them,¡± Old Lady Jiang said with a laugh, her eyes revealing undeniable pleasure and satisfaction. Among the Four Great Families, the Jiang and Lu Families were like fire and water, famously at odds with each other in the Imperial City. They had been covertly and overtly fighting for over a decade, yet why and for whom they fought remained a mystery. Even Jiang Zhi was kept in the dark. ¡°Grandma, give me some straight answers today,¡± he looked up at the Old Lady, ¡°What exactly is the grudge between you and the Lu Family?¡± This required personal involvement indeed. Truly curious. He joked in a casual tone, ¡°I¡¯ve heard that you once had a special relationship with the deceased Old Sir Lu.¡± Such words, only he dared to utter. Old Lady Jiang glared at him, ¡°Once you take over the Jiang Family, Grandma will tell you everything.¡± He harrumphed, dropping the conversation. ¡°Is the trouble with the Jin brothers your doing?¡± ¡°Mm.¡± S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it from now on,¡± Old Madam stood up leaning on her cane, ¡°Those who bully the Jiang Family really think this old woman is dead.¡± Outside, dark clouds obscured the moon. The Lu Family ancestors had started with the jade business, possessing wealth comparable to the Jiang Family. They had ventured into the pharmaceutical industry starting from Old Sir Lu¡¯s generation. The Lu Family tower was located in the most prosperous area in Imperial City, the tallest building in the city, offering a panoramic view of the city¡¯s neon lights from the top floor. ¡°Miss Second.¡± A young girl sat in the boss chair, squinting and napping, not bothering to open her eyes, she asked, ¡°Did you find out?¡± ¡°The one competing with us was indeed the Young Master of the Jiang Family,¡± said the secretary approaching her, impeccably dressed, his hair neatly combed. ¡°Somehow he got wind that we must obtain that plot of land, so he deliberately doubled the auction price.¡± The girl opened her eyes. Her eyes were long and sharp, her face small, her arched eyebrows spirited, her appearance exquisite, her demeanor striking. Despite her youthful appearance, barely in her early twenties, her single eyelids and lustrous black pupils exuded an assertive presence. Yet a slight upward curve at the corners of her lips added a touch of girl-next-door charm and cleanliness. She rubbed her brow, annoyed, ¡°This Jiang Zhi is really bothersome.¡± She muttered, then lowered her head to check her watch, ¡°It¡¯s nine o¡¯clock.¡± The secretary was momentarily puzzled by her half-statement. ¡°His radio show is starting.¡± She then pushed aside the project files worth hundreds of millions on her table and turned on the radio on her tablet. ¡°I really like a passage by Wang Xiaobo¡ªI give you my entire soul, along with its quirks, moods, light and darkness, and a thousand and eight hundred flaws. It¡¯s truly annoying, with only one redeemable quality¡ªits love for you.¡± The male voice on the radio was warm and deep, intoxicating like wine, like the wind in April, like a cello softly playing by the ear. ¡°Good evening, I¡¯m Zhou Qingrang.¡± The secretary, oblivious to the allure of the voice, was puzzled. Miss Second had recently become a fan of a radio host named Zhou, what was the term for it? Oh, a voice fetish. Chapter 63: 063: Jiang Zhi just became a father like that Chapter 63: 063: Jiang Zhi just became a father like that The dead of night was cold and silent, with the winter wind biting fiercely. ¡°Old Madam, Old Madam!¡± Outside, Gui Family¡¯s lady called out in a frantic tone. Old Lady Jiang got dressed and rose to her feet, ¡°What¡¯s all this noise in the middle of the night?¡± ¡°Old Madam, the young master is coughing up blood.¡± Outside the room, the first snowfall of winter began to flutter down with white, grey-white snowflakes. It had been eagerly anticipated for days and had finally arrived. ¡°What¡¯s going on out there?¡± The servants outside replied, ¡°They say the young master¡¯s chronic illness has flared up, and he has coughed up quite a bit of blood.¡± Afterward, Luo Changfang called for Fuli. Jiang Fuli got up, put on a coat, and went to open the door. Luo Changfang ordered the servants to stand guard at the door, entered the room, sat down, and poured a cup of tea, ¡°I had someone check Brother Zhi¡¯s medical records, and there are some issues with his internal organs.¡± Every year was the same, come winter, the sole scion of the third room would be hanging between life and death, with not a single one of his organs in good health, yet somehow he kept grasping at life. ¡°Not long ago, Dr. Hong from the clinic mentioned some drugs that, if taken for a long period, could lead to cardiopulmonary failure.¡± The lamp on the wall was old, and its dim light fell on Jiang Fuli¡¯s face. She shared a resemblance with Luo Changfang, about three or four points worth¡ªplump lips, deep-set eyes, and a facial structure that was sharp and distinct. When combined, however, they possessed an androgynous charm. In the Jiang Family, the most business-savvy was the first house¡¯s Jiang Xiaolin, but when it came to thoroughness and shrewdness, Jiang Fuli was by no means inferior. ¡°Do you suspect something about Brother Zhi¡¯s illness?¡± She did suspect something, ¡°That fox of his has become too cunning for his own good, I have to be wary.¡± If he wasn¡¯t cunning, he would already be a ghost. ¡°Have you had it tested?¡± She hummed in affirmation but did not elaborate, turning instead to instruct the servants outside, ¡°Go take a look and see if it¡¯s true or false.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± At three in the morning, Jiang Zhi was taken to the hospital, Qin Shiyu left at three thirty, and Xue Bingxue arrived on his heels. He took one look at the blood-stained tissues in the trash can and knew what was happening, ¡°How many pills have you taken?¡± ¡°Three.¡± Xue Bingxue immediately stiffened his face, which looked no older than eighteen, ¡°Have you no regard for your life?¡± The medicine was still in the developmental phase, with severe side effects. One pill was enough to sap his strength for a week, but he wasn¡¯t afraid to die, taking three at once. He said nonchalantly, ¡°I cough up blood every winter, it won¡¯t kill me.¡± But it would damage the liver and lungs! And could cause infertility! Xue Bingxue wanted to scold him but wasn¡¯t good at it and couldn¡¯t win against him, so he glared instead, ¡°Has someone in the Jiang Family grown suspicious?¡± He hummed in response, having vomited blood earlier, his face now as white as paper, ¡°Without Jiang Family¡¯s support, Jin Song wouldn¡¯t dare tamper with things over my head.¡± The attempted seduction was just a front; there were two groups that night. The first was to divert attention; the second was there to test his mettle. So, he coughed up blood to put those people ¡®at ease.¡¯ ¡°Brother Zhi,¡± Xue Bingxue said with a seriousness that made him seem like a little old man, ¡°Do you really like that girl with the facial mask?¡± Jiang Zhi choked. Why are you suddenly asking this?! ¡°If you really like her and want to spend the rest of your life with her, don¡¯t recklessly take medicine anymore,¡± Xue Bingxue said, ¡°Brother Zhi, you need to start cherishing your life.¡± Among this group, Xue Bingxue was the oldest, despite having the face of an eighteen-year-old and being cowardly in front of the girl he had secretly adored for over a decade. But his thoughts were always the most comprehensive and mature¡ªhis principles so upright that even in this dark world, he could find a large patch of pure land. Jiang Zhi was different. He had no principles, no bottom line, was harsh on others, and even harsher on himself. He didn¡¯t value life, didn¡¯t fear death¡ªgetting involved for fun when interested, and resorting to taking medicine when bored. He cared neither for himself nor for others¡ªa person who was both righteous and wicked, acting on a whim. He once said something that Xue Bingxue always remembered. ¡°Dead is dead, killed is killed.¡± The former referred to Jiang Zhi himself, while the latter referred to all the people he didn¡¯t care about. But this time, Xue Bingxue¡¯s words had stunned him. He needed to start cherishing his life¡­ He had to stop treating life as a game, stop playing with it for applause. He started fearing death because of Zhou Xufang. After a long while, he said to Xue Bingxue, ¡°Don¡¯t prescribe me any more medicine from now on.¡± Snow had fallen all night, and by morning, the world was enveloped in a clean, white layer. The snow in the Imperial City always fell fast and hard, with the wind turning it into an apocalyptic spectacle. At noon, Ah Wan had finished eating and came over, shook off the snow on his body, and waited at the doorway until the cold dampness had dissipated before entering the ward. Jiang Zhi lay there, looking out the window. Ah Wan thought he might be pondering life. ¡°Boss, would you like a bowl of hearty soup?¡± He set the soup he brought on the cabinet and highly recommended it, ¡°My mom has been simmering it all morning.¡± It wasn¡¯t an exaggeration¡ªhis mother¡¯s soup-making skills could rival those of a five-star chef, and it was all thanks to Jiang Zhi. Ever since the kidney transplant, his mother had treated Jiang Zhi like her own son, and she would worry more than anyone else whenever Jiang Zhi was hospitalized, thinking of all ways to nourish his body, hence mastering the art of soup-making. His mother, Ms. Song, might have forgotten that although it was Jiang Zhi who paid for that kidney, her own son had signed a thirty-year indenture. Ah Wan had grown used to it and was no longer sad. He filled a large bowl with soup and brought it over. Jiang Zhi maintained his position, not moving an inch. ¡°Go and arrange my discharge.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not advisable. With your current condition, you can¡¯t be reckless. It¡¯s snowing heavily outside, and it¡¯s cold. It¡¯s better if you stay in the hospital.¡± Don¡¯t go out and risk dying young from the cold. ¡°When I tell you to go, you go.¡± His look was as cold as the early winter¡¯s snow outside. Ah Wan shivered from his frostiness, shrank his neck, and moved back. ¡°I daren¡¯t. Old Lady Jiang said this morning when she left, to make sure I keep an eye on you.¡± Look at him, his employer¡¯s face pale with just a touch of red¡ªthe spitting image of someone on their deathbed. He dared not let him go out. After giving it some thought, Ah Wan asked, ¡°Do you want to be discharged because of Miss Zhou?¡± His employer was shameless enough to use his illness as an excuse, insisting that poor Miss Zhou, who was struggling to make ends meet, invite him to a meal. Jiang Zhi remained silent and just used his enchanting peach blossom eyes to casually shoot out cold air. Ah Wan moved back further. ¡°How about you tell Miss Zhou that you¡¯re ill and can¡¯t make it?¡± ¡°That won¡¯t do.¡± His tone was uncompromising, leaving no room for negotiation. Ah Wan racked his brains. ¡°Boss, Miss Zhou is such a nice person. If she knew you were hospitalized, she would surely come to see you. Nowadays, girls can¡¯t stand the ¡®beauty trap¡¯ or ¡®suffering act¡¯.¡± Hmm, comrade Lin Wanwan is a collector of Korean drama tropes. Although not the sharpest, she understands much more than most when it comes to matters of men and women. Jiang Zhi was silent for a moment. Ah Wan continued to persuade. ¡°The weather isn¡¯t good today, and since the restaurant hasn¡¯t been booked yet, it¡¯s the perfect opportunity to arrange another time with Miss Zhou. If Miss Zhou comes to visit you at the hospital, you¡¯ll have another chance to see her.¡± Indeed¡ª After a moment of consideration, Jiang Zhi took out his phone and sent a WeChat message to Zhou Xufang. ¡°I¡¯m sick.¡± Then three minutes went by, ten minutes passed, twenty minutes elapsed¡­ And she still hadn¡¯t replied! Miss Zhou, smacked in the face: ¡°¡­¡± Jiang Zhi threw his phone onto the table, his eyes seemed to melt with the heavy snow outside: ¡°Didn¡¯t you say she would come to the hospital to see me?¡± Ah Wan scratched his head, trying to appear as sincere and innocent as possible: ¡°Maybe she¡¯s busy and didn¡¯t see the WeChat message. Why don¡¯t you call her?¡± Jiang Zhi kicked the blanket off his feet, turned over to lie down, and sulked as if he were holding a grudge against someone. Ah Wan: ¡°¡­¡± The mood swings of a boy in unrequited love, indeed so fickle and childish. Let¡¯s see how long you can keep it up! Less than thirty seconds later¡ª ¡°Cough cough cough cough cough¡­¡± He coughed and wheezed, propped up his sickly body to sit up, drank a few sips of soup, then listlessly reached for the water cup on the cabinet, took a sip, and casually grabbed his phone. Ah Wan: ¡°¡­¡± Ah, men. Pretending to know nothing, Ah Wan sneakily glanced at his boss¡¯s phone. He had saved her name as a Zhou Xufang, at the very top of the contact list. The phone rang for a while before it was picked up. ¡°Hello.¡± Over the phone, the wind was louder than her voice; she must have been outside. Jiang Zhi coughed, cleared his throat: ¡°It¡¯s me.¡± ¡°I know it¡¯s you.¡± Hmm, obedient enough. Jiang Zhi leaned against the pillows, his bones felt as soft as a delicate patient who needed tender care. He asked her, a bit annoyed: ¡°Why aren¡¯t you checking WeChat?¡± S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Zhou Xufang said: ¡°I¡¯m distributing flyers.¡± ¡°¡­¡± How many jobs is she working! She doesn¡¯t even rest in such heavy snow. He coughed a few times: ¡°I¡¯m hospitalized.¡± His voice sounded weak, his tone quite pampered, as if saying: I¡¯m sick! How dare you not comply with my wishes? Upon hearing this, Zhou Xufang immediately asked: ¡°Are you sick? Is it serious?¡± ¡°Cough cough cough cough cough¡­¡± He replied weakly, ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s serious.¡± Zhou Xufang decided on the spot: ¡°Then I¡¯ll come see you after I¡¯m done handing out flyers.¡± Why wait until after handing out flyers?! Jiang Zhi couldn¡¯t wait: ¡°You¡ª¡± Now! Come! See! Me! But she didn¡¯t wait for him to finish speaking, hastily interrupted: ¡°The foreman is here, I have to hang up.¡± Then there was a series of beeping sounds. Jiang Zhi, who just spat blood last night and felt like doing so again: ¡°¡­¡± This feeling, it was like being kicked in the chest by a grass mud horse; pain was secondary, the main thing was¡ªit hurt his pride. Crash! Jiang Zhi threw his phone hard onto the cabinet. ¡°Lin Wanwan.¡± Ah Wan¡¯s scalp tingled with fear, but luckily, his phone rang just in time: ¡°My mom is video calling.¡± He turned his back to answer the video call from Ms. Song, ¡°Mom!¡± You truly are a Guanyin saving the suffering! On the phone screen, there was Ms. Song¡¯s face, round as if drawn with a compass, with a head full of fashionable instant noodle curls, and a girl¡¯s hair clip despite being close to sixty. ¡°Did you give Jiang Zhi the soup?¡± Ms. Song asked about Jiang Zhi as soon as she spoke. Ah Wan nodded and shook his head, his eyes carrying the grievance of a son: ¡°I did.¡± Although Ms. Song had a girly heart, she had quite a fierce temper: ¡°What are you shaking at? Move aside, don¡¯t block my camera.¡± This is one¡¯s own mother, one¡¯s own mother! Ah Wan silently moved his head out of the camera¡¯s view, letting Jiang Zhi appear on screen. The lioness¡¯s face from a second ago transformed to that of a blooming flower: ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± Ah, Ms. Song was a face-con, switching male idols every three days, but Jiang Zhi had been favored for two years. Jiang Zhi called her auntie. ¡°Are you feeling better?¡± Ms. Song¡¯s eyes looked as though they could squeeze out water with their tenderness. Jiang Zhi, not too close but polite and patient: ¡°Much better.¡± ¡°I put some warming and supplementing herbs in the soup I stewed for you; you should drink more.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± That¡¯s when, in the video, a rooster crowed. Then Ms. Song¡¯s round face moved away from the screen, revealing a chicken¡¯s head. Ms. Song holding the chicken: ¡°Shuangxi, come and bow to your daddy.¡± Jiang Zhi, who suddenly became a daddy: ¡°¡­¡± He barely recognized that chicken; it had plumped up more than a size since Zhou Xufang had given it to him, now dressed in a pink skirt, wearing a red bow tie, and a green head flower, looking like a festive and comical mascot. Ah Wan explained on the side: ¡°My mom named your pet chicken Shuangxi, and made a bunch of little skirts for it.¡± No matter how many times he stated that it was a rooster, it still couldn¡¯t stop Ms. Song¡¯s overflowing maternal love and dressing habits. The Shuangxi in the video was excited, fluttering its wings and clucking. Ms. Song said Shuangxi was bowing to daddy. Jiang Zhi, possibly infertile and now a rooster¡¯s daddy: ¡°¡­¡± Daddy? His heart felt as if it was being scratched by chicken claws, it was painful and irritating, and oddly enough, it itched. After hanging up the video call, the pressure in the sickroom remained low. Ah Wan felt it too, almost unable to breathe; perhaps it was time to go to the restroom. And as Ah Wan took his fourth trip to the toilet, Shuangxi¡¯s ¡®mommy,¡¯ Zhou Xufang, finally arrived. Chapter 64: 064: Can’t Help But Confess Chapter 64: 064: Can¡¯t Help But Confess While Ah Wan was making her fourth trip to the bathroom, Shuangxi¡¯s ¡°mom¡± Zhou Xufang finally arrived. She wore a fluffy hat and her black down jacket wrapped her from head to toe. ¡°Are you feeling better?¡± As soon as Jiang Zhi heard the voice, he turned around immediately, the corner of his mouth curved for a second before he suppressed it, and he looked at the door instead of her: ¡°No.¡± She was still carrying big and small packages. Ah Wan took the initiative to take the items: ¡°Miss Zhou, what are these?¡± ... ¡°Health supplements.¡± Ah Wan counted them, a total of eight boxes: ¡°Are they all for my boss?¡± Yes, he asked knowingly on purpose. Zhou Xufang touched the pompom on her wool hat and nodded. Jiang Zhi sat up from the hospital bed. He was particular, disliking the hospital¡¯s sick clothes for being unclean, and wore pajamas instead. His misty blue short hair was tousled and a strand stood up on his forehead. In this state, he had no aggressiveness at all. ¡°Do you have too much money? Why buy all these things?¡± Listening closely, one could hear a hint of smugness and pleasure in the scolding tone. Zhou Xufang said, ¡°To replenish your body.¡± Just like that¡­ his anger was soothed, the pique he wagered was gone, and the spring scenery burst crazily from his eyes again: ¡°How much do you earn a day from handing out flyers?¡± She answered precisely: ¡°Usually 150 yuan, but with the snow today, it¡¯s 300 yuan.¡± She had only a few flyers left when he called her, so that¡¯s why she waited to finish distributing them before coming. ¡°And how much did you spend on these things?¡± ¡°Eight thousand four hundred and thirty-seven.¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± He wanted to shove his card at her, to save worrying about her spending recklessly without money. ¡°Just come by yourself next time, don¡¯t buy anything else.¡± Zhou Xufang: ¡°Okay.¡± She thought, she couldn¡¯t really come empty-handed, it would be impolite not to bring anything for a visit. ¡°Why are you standing so far away? Come sit closer.¡± Zhou Xufang was too shy to sit on his hospital bed, so she moved a chair over, placing it not too far away from him. ¡°Are you hot?¡± The room had the heater on. She was bundled up tight in her hat and down jacket, her cheeks showing a layer of red, though it was uncertain if it was from the heat or the wind outside. Zhou Xufang shook her head: ¡°Not hot.¡± Jiang Zhi turned the temperature down by two degrees anyway and put on his coat: ¡°Do you want soup? Ah Wan¡¯s mother made it, it tastes very good.¡± ¡°I do.¡± He served her a big bowl, scooping all the precious medicinal ingredients and meat into it for her. Zhou Xufang said thank you, holding the bowl as she consumed the soup and meat. She couldn¡¯t help herself and asked, ¡°Didn¡¯t Mr. Xue come to keep you company?¡± Was Jiang Zhi dating Mr. Xue? These past few days, she had been contemplating this question, while working, even while sleeping, to the extent that it disturbed her sleep. Jiang Zhi stared at her frowning little face: ¡°Are you talking about Xue Baoyi or Xue Bingxue?¡± ¡°Mr. Xue Baoyi.¡± He shifted his position, leaning against the pillow sideways: ¡°Why would I want him to accompany me?¡± Her frown deepened, the look on her face confused and troubled, and after a long while she murmured softly, ¡°Isn¡¯t he your boyfriend?¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± He was so choked up that a rush of blood surged to his face, turning his otherwise pale complexion a bit rosy: ¡°Who told you he¡¯s my boyfriend?¡± Zhou Xufang said nothing then, she definitely couldn¡¯t betray Fang Lixiang. He gasped for air, propping himself up to sit straight: ¡°Zhou Xufang.¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± The expression on her face was simply¡­ a mess, looking bewildered, stupid, cute, and perplexed. He had been annoyed with her lack of understanding, but as he watched her face, he felt an urge to poke and touch it. In the end, he was neither angry nor willing to scold her, his voice softened by several degrees: ¡°Did someone tell you that I am gay?¡± She nodded. Jiang Zhi was silent for a moment, then his tone became suddenly serious: ¡°I¡¯m not, currently.¡± Currently? Zhou Xufang looked up at him with a completely baffled expression. He grew impatient and blurted out: ¡°I don¡¯t like anyone else, I¡ª¡± Suddenly, there was a knock at the door. ¡°Knock! Knock! Knock!¡± The words Jiang Zhi was about to say were all stifled in his throat, leaving him so frustrated he felt like hitting someone, his temper flaring up: ¡°What is it!¡± ¡°Mr. Jiang,¡± the head nurse was cowed by his shouting, ¡°It¡¯s, it¡¯s time. We need to draw some blood.¡± Jiang Zhi glanced at Zhou Xufang; she still had the same expression as before. Irritably, he ran his fingers through his hair, ¡°Come in.¡± The head nurse pushed the door open and entered; the atmosphere was tense, and she dared not breathe too heavily. S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Mr. Jiang¡¯s temper was well-known among the hospital¡¯s doctors and nurses; he wasn¡¯t the type to make things difficult for people on purpose, but whenever he looked coldly with those beautiful eyes of his, it felt like a barrage of ice shards pounding down¡ªit didn¡¯t kill you, but it pierced your heart. At this moment, the patriarch was wearing a stern face. ¡°Left hand or right hand?¡± With trembling hands, the head nurse placed the medical tray down, ¡°Right hand.¡± Jiang Zhi lay back and stretched out his arm, rolling up his sleeve. His veins were thin, but his skin was so pale it made them clearly visible. As the needle pierced his skin, he watched Zhou Xufang, who was watching his hand. Her expression was grave, ¡°Does it hurt?¡± He had been a ¡°sick seedling¡± for more than twenty years and was used to all sorts of pain, numb to it all, but this was the first time someone had asked him if it hurt. The question made his heart itch. ¡°It hurts,¡± he looked at her, ¡°Blow on it, and it won¡¯t hurt anymore.¡± Zhou Xufang, as if realizing something, turned her head, ¡°Nurse sister, could you blow on it for him?¡± The head nurse: ¡°¡­¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± Is this an ice sculpture? Completely unresponsive! Of course, the head nurse didn¡¯t dare blow on Jiang Zhi. She quickly drew two tubes of blood and scampered off. Zhou Xufang only sat for about twenty minutes before she left. Before going, she made plans with Jiang Zhi to eat together again the next evening. She seemed to be in a good mood, unusually greeting the patients she met at the door and even helped a female patient on her way to the restroom carry her IV drip. Jiang Zhi wasn¡¯t gay and wasn¡¯t friends with Mr. Xue Baoyi. She had to hurry and tell Fang Lixiang not to continue the misunderstanding. After Zhou Xufang left, Ah Wan approached the bedside. ¡°Boss,¡± he couldn¡¯t hold back, ¡°were you trying to confess just now?¡± Jiang Zhi neither admitted nor denied, fixated on the door, his mind elsewhere. Ah Wan considered for a moment, ¡°I think it¡¯s inappropriate.¡± Jiang Zhi¡¯s eyelids twitched, and his gaze turned to him. Although his employer was fussy and had a bad temper, Ah Wan had professional ethics; he was about to offer his unsolicited advice. ¡°I heard that actress called Lixiang say that Miss Zhou¡¯s IQ is over 130, which is very high, probably exchanged for EQ.¡± Lin Wanwan, with an IQ below 100, at this moment felt an inexplicable confidence. ¡°Plus, you see, Miss Zhou is completely clueless about you. If you confess hurriedly, you might scare her off.¡± Jiang Zhi pondered. Lifting his eyelids, he asked somewhat unnaturally, ¡°So, what do I do?¡± Ah Wan¡¯s face had an air of profound wisdom, ¡°Boss, you need to boil the frog in warm water, gradually and slowly infiltrate, until she gets used to your countless kindnesses, and then she can¡¯t leave you anymore.¡± He felt like he could be a relationship expert¡ªhe was particularly confident, ¡°I watched an idol drama a few days ago, and that¡¯s how the male lead got the girl.¡± Although he wasn¡¯t very sharp and his brain was quite simple, Lin Wanwan had been watching Korean dramas with Ms. Song since she was ten years old; she didn¡¯t get the nickname ¡®harvester¡¯ for nothing. When it came to matters of men and women, Jiang Zhi was a mere fledgling. ¡°Cough cough,¡± Jiang Zhi cleared his throat in a feigned manner and casually asked, ¡°What¡¯s that drama called?¡± ¡°The Overbearing CEO Falls in Love with Me.¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± He must be really desperate to believe the nonsense from Lin Wanwan. Contemplating for three seconds¡ª ¡°Send it to me.¡± The next day, the snow continued, covering the path as before. Jiang Zhi and Zhou Xufang had agreed to meet at the porridge shop, the one where Zhou Xufang worked. Jiang Zhi had chosen the place, and why didn¡¯t he choose somewhere more upscale, with more style? Because he wanted to save her money. Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t allow Jiang Zhi to come and pick her up; they scheduled to meet at 6:30 PM at the entrance of the porridge shop. Ah Wan thought his employer had issues; he had him drive over at 4 PM, didn¡¯t go inside the shop, just waiting in the freezing snow. The car parked across from the porridge shop, Jiang Zhi looked at his watch and asked Ah Wan, ¡°What time is it?¡± He suspected his watch was broken. ¡°Boss, it¡¯s only 5 PM.¡± Ah Wan couldn¡¯t help but comment, ¡°You¡¯re here too early.¡± Jiang Zhi flicked his eyelashes. Ah Wan immediately shut up, turned his head to look at the swirling snowflakes, the world draped in a silver veil, visibility obscured. Suddenly, he spotted a familiar figure and exclaimed, ¡°Ah! Miss Zhou is delivering orders!¡± At the entrance of the porridge shop, Zhou Xufang had just come out, wearing an eye-catching, delivery staff-exclusive, yellow helmet. Without even an umbrella, Jiang Zhi got out of the car, called out to Zhou Xufang, and then, amidst the falling snow, he stood across the street, waving his hand at her. She turned back and saw him, saw the snow on his shoulders, saw the matte black buttons on his coat, saw his smile¡ªfaint, but pleasant, like a youth hurriedly returning home. Then, from behind him on the road, a sedan crossed the zebra crossing and suddenly accelerated. The bag in Zhou Xufang¡¯s hand dropped. ¡°Jiang Zhi!¡± Chapter 65: 065: Xu Fang’s vest has fallen off Chapter 65: 065: Xu Fang¡¯s vest has fallen off ¡°Jiang Zhi!¡± Ah Wan cried out ¡°Watch out!¡± Jiang Zhi instinctively turned around, just as a fast-moving car crashed into his field of vision, getting closer and closer¡­ ¡°Boss!¡± He only managed to move one step before his waist was seized, and then his whole body fell backward, rolling twice amidst the dizzying world, as the falling snow mingled with the reflection of a yellow helmet in his eyes. The wind howled in his ears as the black sedan nearly brushed his back, quickly disappearing from view. ... After that, he let the owner of the yellow helmet press down on him, let her crash wildly through his thoughts. ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± Zhou Xufang called his name twice. But he showed no sign of hearing, his gaze fixated on her. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you?¡± Zhou Xufang¡¯s hat was askew, snow clung to the tip of her eyebrow. Ice chips hung from her eyelashes, trembling violently, as she frantically wrinkled her little face, ¡°Why aren¡¯t you speaking? Are you hurt somewhere?¡± She was still kneeling, a complete mess. Jiang Zhi sat on the snow, equally disheveled, covered in snow. ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± He didn¡¯t respond but extended a hand, reaching out to her. His long, slender fingers were slightly curved, covering half of her face, leaving only a pair of eyes to lock with his. Zhou Xufang suddenly pulled back. Jiang Zhi caught her hand, ¡°Is it you?¡± ¡°What?¡± After asking, she looked down, avoiding his gaze as her hat drooped, concealing half of her already small face. Jiang Zhi did not speak again, pulling at her hand and, with a tug, embraced her. Without thinking, Zhou Xufang raised her hand¡ª ¡°Xu Fang,¡± he bowed his head, his voice a low murmur next to her ear, ¡°don¡¯t hit, I¡¯m still sick.¡± Xu Fang. He called her Xu Fang. In the freezing cold, the bone-chilling wind carried only the warmth of his breath by her ear, ¡°Count to ten, and I¡¯ll let go.¡± His chin rested on her shoulder. She smelled of milk, just like that professional errand runner. One, two, three¡­ Zhou Xufang lowered her hand, silently counting. Jiang Zhi was still sitting on the snowy ground, the piercing cold seeping through the thick layers of clothing, his hands holding her, trembling faintly, ¡°In such a short time, how did you get to my side?¡± She wasn¡¯t used to being this close, her whole body stiff, ¡°I ran here.¡± ¡°In just three seconds?¡± ¡°I run fast.¡± She paused, ¡°You were also close to me.¡± Jiang Zhi coughed by her ear, his breath growing heavier, ¡°But you were clearly across the street.¡± Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°The snow was heavy; you saw wrong.¡± ¡°Zhou Xufang¡ª¡± His words were cut off, ¡°The count is over.¡± Then, she pushed him away, stepping back to straighten her hat, ¡°Even from across the street, it would take a minute to run; you saw wrong.¡± Having said that, she assumed her usual indifferent expression. Jiang Zhi steadied himself on the lamppost and stood up, brushing off the snow from his body, then lifted his head, his eyes blazing as he looked at her. For the first time, Zhou Xufang felt as though all her pretenses had been stripped away, leaving nowhere to hide. ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± She lowered her head, and the oversized yellow helmet slipped, covering her forehead. Her voice was muffled as she muttered, ¡°My hand hurts.¡± Shuangjiang had said, girls should know how to show vulnerability. Sure enough, Jiang Zhi was thrown into complete chaos, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± he asked, visibly flustered, ¡°Where does it hurt? Did you fall?¡± Zhou Xufang gently shook her arm, purposely swaying it close to him, ¡°I bumped it just now.¡± ¡°That was a feigned injury strategy.¡± Zhou Xufang used it for the first time. ¡°Let¡¯s go to the hospital.¡± Jiang Zhi reached out his hand, intending to pull hers, but fearing he might hurt her, he instead pulled her hood and called back, ¡°Lin Wanwan, why don¡¯t you go start the car!¡± Ah Wan: ¡°¡­¡± The dinner, again, did not happen. Jiang Zhi took Zhou Xufang to the hospital for X-rays, assuring himself that her bones were not injured, and only after all of this did he feel at ease. By the time they were done, it was already past nine. In reality, her arm didn¡¯t hurt at all, but Jiang Zhi insisted that the doctor wrap it with a bandage and repeatedly glared at the doctor, demanding assurance that not a single hair on her head was harmed before he was willing to leave the orthopedic department with her. Zhou Xufang felt even guiltier because of this. She was still carrying the helmet of the delivery person, hanging her head with a particularly listless look, ¡°It¡¯s late. I should go back.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll take you.¡± Zhou Xufang refused: ¡°It¡¯s cold outside, don¡¯t escort me.¡± Jiang Zhi was reluctant, looking at her ¡®pitiable¡¯ state, he couldn¡¯t bear to refuse, ¡°Then, I¡¯ll walk you to the door.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Ah Wan behind them: ¡°¡­¡± What to do, he felt that the boss was acting weak. Jiang Zhi took Zhou Xufang to the door, a five-minute walk that, because he was ¡®gasping every three steps and coughing every five steps, frail and breathless, tenderly gasping¡¯, took a full fifteen minutes. Once outside the hospital entrance, Zhou Xufang would not let him escort her any further. The heavy snow had just ceased, and everything outside was covered in a vast white expanse. Zhou Xufang stood at the bottom of the steps and after saying goodbye to Jiang Zhi, she earnestly warned him, ¡°The car that hit you had its plate covered by snow. Be careful, this was no accident.¡± Jiang Zhi stood higher up, bending over to listen to her, ¡°I know.¡± ¡°Then I¡¯m leaving.¡± Then she turned around. ¡°Xu Fang,¡± he grasped her hand that was not wrapped in bandages. She cocked her head to look at him, ¡°Hm?¡± Her hand was still as cold as ice, but it was different from before; she no longer instinctively pushed him away. Of course, she still guarded herself tightly, not revealing a single drop. ¡°You can say anything to me,¡± he said. Zhou Xufang looked at him, her gaze vacant. Jiang Zhi stepped down the stairs, ¡°Do you understand what I mean?¡± She shook her head. Jiang Zhi reached out his hand to cover her head, touching the helmet on her head. ¡°You¡¯re different from others. You can do anything to me,¡± including taking his candy, hitting his people, or even, pressing down on his body. All these were permissible; he thought about it, and it seemed there wasn¡¯t anything he couldn¡¯t tolerate her doing, including hiding or deceiving. Zhou Xufang, being unaccustomed to physical contact, stepped back, her cheeks flushed red by the cold wind. She blinked and said, ¡°My hair is messy.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Was her hair the point! ¡°If it¡¯s messy, let it be,¡± he ruffled her hair on her forehead forcefully and then pulled the hood of his jacket over her helmet, ¡°Go back now, and call me when you get there.¡± Zhou Xufang was silent for a while, ¡°Goodbye, Jiang Zhi.¡± Then, she walked away. Jiang Zhi stood at the hospital entrance for a long time, waiting until she was far away, and he could not bear it anymore, bending over and coughing violently. Ah Wan stepped forward, ¡°Boss, it¡¯s windy outside, let¡¯s go in.¡± Jiang Zhi did not move, his gaze fixed on the trail of footprints on the ground, ¡°Did you check the surveillance?¡± ¡°I did, but the snow was too heavy in the evening, and the camera malfunctioned.¡± He retracted his gaze, his eyes covered in a deep dusky haze, dark and hard to read, ¡°Did you see where she was standing at the beginning?¡± Ah Wan nodded. Then he shook his head, confused and troubled, ¡°But it doesn¡¯t make sense.¡± The speed of a normal person couldn¡¯t be that fast. Ah Wan couldn¡¯t figure it out, ¡°Boss, are we seeing things?¡± Jiang Zhi remained silent. Chapter 66: 066: Jiang Zhi Tests the Professional Errand Runner Chapter 66: 066: Jiang Zhi Tests the Professional Errand Runner Jiang Zhi said nothing. Ah Wan chattered on and on, ¡°Do you think Miss Zhou could be a fairy that descended from Heaven? Once she passes her ordeal, she¡¯ll ascend back to Heaven.¡± What an imagination! Ah Wan even admired his own creativity; he could debut as a scriptwriter. In the dead of night, the only sounds in the corridor were coughs and the boss¡¯s cold, disdainful voice, ¡°What kind of messy TV show have you been watching again?¡± What do you mean messy! ... Ah Wan straightened up, ¡°I¡¯ve been following ¡®Three Lives and Thirty Miles of Chrysanthemums¡¯ recently.¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± Speaking of Three Lives and Thirty Miles of Chrysanthemums, Ah Wan¡¯s mental fan fiction simply couldn¡¯t stop. ¡°If Miss Zhou really is here for an ordeal, then it must be a romantic one,¡± Ah Wan, who didn¡¯t know why he was so excited, was indeed very excited, ¡°Boss, you¡¯re Miss Zhou¡¯s destined tribulation.¡± If there really was a Heaven, he would build a nuclear bomb to blast it to pieces, and then get a spaceship to snatch Zhou Xufang over, whether she¡¯s human or a fairy, he would claim her. Jiang Zhi put a stop to this idiotic idea, turning around, ¡°Are you an idiot?¡± Ah Wan: ¡°¡­¡± You are! Your whole family is! Ah Wan decided that once he got back, he would have Shuangxi call him ¡®Grandpa¡¯ and call Jiang Zhi ¡®Chicken Dad¡¯. Back in the ward, the nurse came to administer an injection, which inevitably led to a gentle admonition about how Mr. Jiang¡¯s health was weak and how he shouldn¡¯t go out into the cold. Jiang Zhi, annoyed by the noise, told the nurse to shut up. ¡°Go check on Jin Song.¡± Ah Wan was still immersed in the fantasy of Shuangxi calling him grandpa and Jiang Zhi dad, and his brain didn¡¯t switch gears right away, responding after a long pause, ¡°Isn¡¯t he one of the Jiang Family?¡± ¡°The Jiang Family isn¡¯t that stupid.¡± Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t explain and just listlessly lay down. Ah Wan didn¡¯t understand, but he also didn¡¯t dare to ask. After Zhou Xufang got home, it was almost ten, and she hadn¡¯t changed her clothes when she turned on her computer. ¡°Shuangjiang.¡± Shuangjiang immediately typed back, ¡°I¡¯m here.¡± ¡°Did the surveillance catch me?¡± Jiang Zhi, with his meticulous mind, would surely check. Zhou Xufang had contacted Shuangjiang by phone from the hospital during the filming, hoping to mend the situation, but she wasn¡¯t sure if it was too late. ¡°Caught you.¡± Shuangjiang quickly added another line, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I blocked the video for you.¡± Zhou Xufang finally breathed a sigh of relief, ¡°Thanks.¡± She stood up and took a can of cold milk from the fridge, ¡°What about the car?¡± ¡°It was also caught on camera, but the snow was too heavy, you couldn¡¯t see clearly, and the person driving was wearing a mask, couldn¡¯t make out if it was a man or a woman.¡± Zhou Xufang returned to the computer, ¡°What about the car model?¡± ¡°I checked that too, a standard model BMW, nothing special.¡± The license plate was also covered, meaning there wasn¡¯t any usable evidence. Zhou Xufang looked down, pondering. Shuangjiang asked her, ¡°Are you going to get involved in Jiang Zhi¡¯s situation?¡± She didn¡¯t hesitate, ¡°I will.¡± She wouldn¡¯t let anyone harm Jiang Zhi. No one could. However, Shuangjiang was concerned, ¡°But Jiang Zhi has become suspicious of you, and he¡¯s cunning. I¡¯m afraid he might figure something out.¡± The wounds, the speed, her unusualness had already aroused Jiang Zhi¡¯s attention. Zhou Xufang stayed silent. She was very afraid of people discovering her secret, scared of being seen as a monster, most of all afraid that Jiang Zhi would look at her with disgust, stop being her friend, stop talking to her, stop giving her candy, stop giving her lanterns. ¡°Ah Fang, if you don¡¯t want to be exposed, you should keep your distance.¡± Crack¡ª Zhou Xufang accidentally crushed the can in her hand, milk spilling everywhere, she pursed her lips in annoyance, ¡°I know.¡± A look of loss appeared on her face. It was the first time Shuangjiang had seen such a vivid expression on her. ¡°Help me look up something else.¡± Zhou Xufang wiped her hands clean, ¡°A square-shaped Peace Talisman charm, made from yellow satin, with a ¡®Book¡¯ character embroidered on the bottom left corner with blue thread.¡± The person driving the car that hit someone was dressed entirely in black, the hat pulled down low, gloves and mask firmly in place, no distinguishing features at all. Zhou Xufang, with her good eyesight, remembered the charm on the car, about the size of half a palm. She pulled out paper and pen to try to draw the Peace Talisman, but after several attempts, it ended up twisted and didn¡¯t look right at all. She really had no talent for drawing. Her cell phone, left to the side, rang. She picked it up and saw a WeChat message from Jiang Zhi. ¡°Are you home yet?¡± She replied, ¡°Home.¡± ¡°Send me a photo,¡± Jiang Zhi sent another message, ¡°to confirm your safety.¡± Zhou Xufang stood up and snapped a picture of her front door for him. Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± He didn¡¯t want to see her house¡¯s door! S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Take a picture of yourself.¡± Oh. Zhou Xufang sent him a half-face selfie. In the photo, her gaze seemed absent and her expression was perplexed, as if she was searching for the camera lens but couldn¡¯t quite find it. Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± This girl probably had never taken a selfie before, possibly didn¡¯t use a smartphone often. He had noticed the last time they video-chatted that she couldn¡¯t find the camera lens. So smart, yet so adorably clueless. Jiang Zhi stopped typing and sent a voice message instead, ¡°Did you finish the cotton candy?¡± His voice sounded a bit hoarse. Zhou Xufang rarely used voice messages and wasn¡¯t very good at it, still slowly typing, ¡°Almost finished.¡± ¡°You come to the set tomorrow, I¡¯ll bring some for you.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± She immediately transferred ten thousand yuan to Jiang Zhi. Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t accept it. ¡°Do you have a lot of money?¡± Zhou Xufang thought for a moment, ¡°It¡¯s alright.¡± She couldn¡¯t tell the truth; Jiang Zhi was too astute. He then asked, ¡°How did you earn it?¡± She replied, ¡°By working.¡± ¡°What kind of work?¡± His tone was casual, sounding like small talk. Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t hesitate for long and began to list them one by one. ¡°Applying screen protectors.¡± ¡°Delivering takeout.¡± ¡°Being an extra in films.¡± ¡°Modeling.¡± ¡°Distributing flyers.¡± ¡°Driving for hire.¡± ¡°Moving bricks.¡± ¡°¡­¡± She listed a dozen more types of jobs. Just not a professional errand runner. Wait¡ª Jiang Zhi¡¯s tone even escalated, ¡°You actually move bricks?¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± she said, ¡°it pays well.¡± Mainly because she was strong, able to move three times the amount a man could. At that moment, Jiang Zhi envisioned a frail figure, wearing a red safety helmet among a bunch of stinky men, clad in ill-fitting clothes, wearing gloves with many holes, feet in liberation shoes, stooping dust-covered and pitifully moving bricks¡­ He couldn¡¯t bear to think about it; it was heart-wrenching! He almost shouted, ¡°No more moving bricks in the future!¡± Why not? Moving bricks was easy and profitable, Zhou Xufang couldn¡¯t understand, but she agreed anyway, ¡°Oh.¡± Such a good girl. If only she stayed this obedient. Jiang Zhi said, ¡°Xu Fang.¡± Zhou Xufang said nothing. ¡°Go to sleep, it¡¯s late.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± ¡°Goodnight.¡± ¡°Goodnight.¡± Finally, Jiang Zhi sent an emoticon he had saved from Xue Baoyi, ¡°As long as you¡¯re obedient, I¡¯ll buy you a ¡®gai¡¯.¡± Zhou Xufang replied with a period. Then the chat did not continue. Jiang Zhi had wanted to talk more, but when he thought about Zhou Xufang having to do so many jobs and even moving bricks, he didn¡¯t want to delay her sleep. He stared at that period. The chat background was her picture, obtained from the hair salon owner. She rarely took photos; her expression was blank, her eyes empty, her face displaying the original expression pack¡ª¡±Who am I, where am I, what am I going to do?!¡± The room was dark, and Ah Wan came in to see a beam of mobile phone light illuminating his boss¡¯s enchantingly beautiful face in the middle of the night, like a glamorous female ghost. He didn¡¯t know when his boss had developed the habit of staying up late. Ah Wan friendly reminded him, ¡°Boss, aren¡¯t you going to sleep? It¡¯s past ten.¡± He was still staring at his phone, ¡°How did the investigation go?¡± ¡°Miss Zhou doesn¡¯t appear to have any properties registered in her name, nor is the house registered under her account.¡± Her bank savings were also pity-inducingly meager. Jiang Zhi was silent, his finger lingering on the WeChat page, caressing Zhou Xufang¡¯s pitch-black profile picture. If she really was a professional errand runner, it was normal not to find anything. But how could he explain the injury on her arm the other time? And how could he explain her running across the street to him in just three seconds today? He was utterly clueless. Ah Wan felt it was time to express his thoughts, ¡°Boss, do you suspect Miss Zhou is that scum who abducted you?¡± His tone was certain, ¡°You must be mistaken, Miss Zhou is such a high-principled and righteous person, how could she be a scum?¡± Jiang Zhi looked up, the light of the phone casting a cold white glow on his face, ¡°Stop calling her ¡®scum.¡¯¡± Hah! Protective much! Hmph! Ah Wan didn¡¯t want to argue. Jiang Zhi put down his phone and went back to lying on the hospital bed, ¡°Pass a message to the old lady.¡± ¡°What message?¡± ¡°Just say,¡± his tone had a hint of mischief, ¡°just say there¡¯s always someone sinister trying to kill me.¡± And then? Was he expecting the old lady to help take down the sinister people? Ah Wan was about to ask for clarification. Jiang Zhi continued instructing, ¡°Then add another line.¡± ¡°What line?¡± His tone was languid, probably from the fatigue and sickness, soft and gentle, ¡°Mention that you¡¯re no match in strength or combat, and also tell the old lady that there¡¯s a formidable professional errand runner in Imperial City recently, highly skilled, powerful in execution, a bodyguard a hundred times stronger than you.¡± Ah Wan, who was no match in strength or combat, said, ¡°¡­¡± He really wanted to curse. Hold it in, just hold it in. Couldn¡¯t hold back anymore! Damn it! Chapter 67: 067: The Wife-Protecting Maniac is now online Chapter 67: 067: The Wife-Protecting Maniac is now online The next day, the heavy snow had paused, leaving the ground blanketed in white. Zhou Xufang had a shoot at nine, but she left the house just after seven, wearing a huge down jacket and a cotton hat that covered her ears and chin, leaving only her nose and eyes exposed. The ground was covered with thick snow, making a crunching sound as she walked on it. She jumped up and down in her snow boots, once, and then again. ¡°Miss Zhou.¡± Someone called out to her from behind. Zhou Xufang stood still, not jumping anymore. ... ¡°Miss Zhou.¡± She turned around and saw a round-faced, round-bellied old man: ¡°Are you calling me?¡± The old man chuckled with glee. ¡°Yes, yes.¡± He had his hands tucked into his sleeves, probably to ward off the cold, hunching and looking chubby, very cute and kind, ¡°I¡¯m the new security guard around here. If you run into any trouble, Miss Zhou, just come and find me, okay?¡± The previous security guard had been scared off by her bloodshot eyes. ¡°Okay.¡± Zhou Xufang kept her head down, avoiding eye contact, ¡°Thank you.¡± The old man looked at her with affectionate eyes, waving his hand, his eyes smiling so hard they became thin slits, ¡°Well, you head to work. Be careful on the road.¡± Zhou Xufang went on her way, head buried. After walking four or five meters¡ª She turned back, ¡°Uncle, what¡¯s your surname?¡± After just a short time outside, the old man¡¯s nose had turned red from the cold. It was slightly comical but cute. He blew into his hands and said, ¡°My surname is Fang.¡± Oh, another Fang. Zhou Xufang thought all Fangs were good people: ¡°Goodbye.¡± She bid the old man a polite farewell, then continued trudging through the snow to the set. Uncle Fang watched Zhou Xufang leave with a fond look, then rubbed his hands together and ran back to the security room, tucking a hand warmer into his pocket and pulling out his phone to make a call. ¡°Hello, my girl.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve seen her, I¡¯ve seen her.¡± ¡°She sure is pretty.¡± ¡°Oh, my memory, I forgot to give her the AD calcium milk.¡± When Zhou Xufang arrived at the film city, it was not yet half-past eight. She was early, and there weren¡¯t many people on set. ¡°Xu Fang, Xu Fang.¡± From a distance, she saw Fang Lixiang waving at her with a soup dumpling that he had taken a bite of in his hand. Zhou Xufang kept her hands in the sleeves of her down jacket, swinging left and right, acknowledging him. Ahead, the path was narrow, and an actress from another crew came walking toward them, exuding a strong presence with several assistants following her. Her dress was gorgeous, with a long train spreading over the ground. As they got closer, Zhou Xufang moved aside into the corner, not wanting to step on the beautiful dress. Hiss! The actress¡¯s dress nevertheless got torn with a large rip. Zhou Xufang glanced at it, then kept her head down and walked on. S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Hey.¡± Hey? Was she calling her? Zhou Xufang turned around. The actress had delicately done makeup, especially her eyeliner, attractively accentuated, but she had a stern look on her face: ¡°Are you blind?¡± Big eyes, small mouth, high nose bridge, sharp chin, a beautiful face. Zhou Xufang felt like she had seen this person before. Oh, she remembered now¡ªlast time when her computer had a virus, a pop-up with a scantily clad girl winking appeared, resembling this actress. Of course, Zhou Xufang, who rarely surfed the internet, didn¡¯t know about the phrase ¡°plastic surgery internet celebrity face.¡± Zhou Xufang, not comfortable under scrutiny, adjusted her cotton hat, ¡°I didn¡¯t step on it.¡± But the other woman wouldn¡¯t listen or believe her, lifting her sharp chin, ¡°If it wasn¡¯t you who stepped on it, did it tear itself?¡± Yet she really hadn¡¯t stepped on it. Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t want to argue and turned to leave. The actress suddenly raised her voice, ¡°Did I say you could leave?¡± Zhou Xufang frowned, a bit annoyed. Behind her, the actress¡¯s assistant stepped forward and called out, ¡°Sister Ying.¡± ¡°Which film crew does this woman belong to?¡± she asked, pointing at Zhou Xufang. The assistant replied, ¡°I¡¯ve never seen her before.¡± ¡°Get her out of here.¡± The ancient street from the Republic era was rented out by the ¡°Wilderness¡± film crew. At this time, there were hardly any people around and no onlookers to worry about, so the actress¡¯s assistant unhesitatingly moved forward to drag Zhou Xufang away. Suddenly¡ª A soup dumpling came flying, hitting the female assistant smack in the forehead, the soup splashing everywhere. Then came a carefree shout, ¡°Do you own this movie town?¡± Fang Lixiang arrived, her mouth still stuffed with a soup dumpling. First, she glanced at the actress. Damn, a member of the Luo Family! Don¡¯t panic! Fang Lixiang instantly calmed down, then pulled a mask out of her cotton jacket pocket, put it on Zhou Xufang, and whispered instructions to her, ¡°Xu Fang, cover your face quickly. If she asks who you are, don¡¯t you dare tell.¡± She couldn¡¯t afford to get pegged by the Luo Family! ¡°And who might you be?¡± Such arrogance, if not from a Miss Luo, then who? The Luo Family had many daughters in this generation, but only two from respectable backgrounds, Luo Qinghe and Luo Yinghe. Both were born with a silver spoon, but their temperaments were worlds apart. Luo Qinghe managed the household affairs, known for her shrewd intelligence, while Luo Yinghe entered the entertainment industry, notorious for her arrogant and domineering behavior. Fang Lixiang naturally recognized this face, altered to look like a snake spirit, but was she the type to bow to evil forces? Of course not! ¡°I am who I am, my name and surname remain unchanged,¡± Fang Lixiang declared confidently, ¡°I am Ullala Li Xiang!¡± Ullala Li Xiang had previously been an extra, and although she¡¯d recently risen to the rank of Weaver, her movie hadn¡¯t been released yet, and she was not famous. Luo Ying evidently didn¡¯t recognize her from Adam. ¡°So you want to stand up for her, huh?¡± Luo Ying crossed her arms, provoking, ¡°Fine, then you can pay for this dress.¡± This dress¡­ It looked really expensive. Fang Lixiang turned to look at Zhou Xufang. To avoid revealing Zhou Xufang¡¯s identity, she didn¡¯t call her by name but instead used a makeshift codename, ¡°Huifanala Shifang, did you step on it?¡± Huifanala Shifang shook her head. Fang Lixiang figured out the situation¡ªit was a sham, someone looking for a pretext. She was a bit of an idealist, quick to step in when she saw injustice. Rolling up her sleeves and stomping her feet, she spoke with a strong Beijing accent, ¡°I¡¯ll pay for your grandpa.¡± Luo Ying¡¯s face immediately changed color. The actress¡¯s assistant, emboldened by her status, stepped forward to teach her a lesson, ¡°You¡ª¡± Fang Lixiang gave a deceptive smile, ¡°Let me tell you, I¡¯ve got a fierce temper, so you¡¯d better not try to boss me around.¡± But the female assistant insisted on pointing at her forehead, ¡°Our Sister Ying says she has to pay, what¡¯s it to you!¡± This is a civilized society. One should be civilized. Never mind. Fang Lixiang grinned, displaying a thuggish smile, ¡°Told you I have a hot temper.¡± Then she grabbed the assistant by the hair, ¡°Pay for your grandma¡¯s pay!¡± Rewinding five minutes earlier. Ah Wan rushed into the lounge, hurried and frenetic. ¡°Boss!¡± ¡°Boss!¡± Leaning against the wall, Ah Wan gasped like a dog. Jiang Zhi, half-asleep, rubbed her eyes, ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± ¡°There¡¯s a commotion outside.¡± Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t sleep well last night and woke up in an extraordinarily foul mood, her tone particularly irritable, ¡°Why come to me? Can¡¯t you call the police?¡± Ah Wan scratched his head, ¡°But it seems like Miss Zhou is leading it.¡± Just as he finished¡ª Jiang Zhi suddenly stood up so quickly she coughed for a while, ¡°With whom?¡± ¡°The second young mistress of the Luo Family.¡± That Luo Family was famously difficult to deal with. Chapter 68: 068: Domineering Mr. Jiang Spoils His Wife (Part 1) Chapter 68: 068: Domineering Mr. Jiang Spoils His Wife (Part 1) The Luo family is notorious for their obstinacy. Of course, our Ullala Li Xiang didn¡¯t just eat plain vegetables either. Ah Wan was dumbfounded when she saw that frail-looking girl clutching a handful of hair, her ruthless character betrayed by her few words, ¡°Compensate your grandma for compensation!¡± Having spat out the threat, she was ready to start a fight! Suddenly, there was a snap. It was the sound of a milk carton¡¯s ring pull. ... Fang Lixiang, with her sharp ears, froze midway through pulling hair. Stiff-necked, she turned around, ¡°Dir, Director.¡± There were rules on the film set; troublemakers were to get lost. Caught in the act against the rules, Fang Lixiang felt guilty, gasping and trembling, ¡°That¡­ it¡¯s, it¡¯s a misunderstanding.¡± Everyone looked over in unison to see the director holding the milk carton between two slender fingers, not pouring it into his mouth but playfully swinging it back and forth. His tall figure was draped in a long black coat that reached his ankles. Standing there, he seemed like a perfect edited picture from a magazine with added filters, with the vast white snow as his backdrop. Out of the picture he stepped, lips red and teeth white, with a demeanor that was so arresting. Seven parts bewitching, three parts delicate. Add to that the leisurely grace cultivated by his wealthy upbringing; truly undetachable from one¡¯s gaze. S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He spoke with a lazy drawl, ¡°First, catch your breath for me.¡± His gaze had fallen on the face under the earmuff hat, his iridescent pupils reflecting the small face. Fang Lixiang, seeing the director wasn¡¯t angry and assuming he wasn¡¯t there to find fault, suddenly felt emboldened, straightened her back, and calmed her tumultuous heart and rash breaths. Jiang Zhi was the epitome of calm, ¡°Tell me, what happened?¡± Luo Yinghe glanced at Jiang Zhi just once and immediately felt intimidated. Her eyes darted about, void of the brash confidence from moments before. On the contrary, Fang Lixiang now had someone defending her, and she was righteous indignation personified as she pointed at Luo Yinghe and started to wail, ¡°Her dress got ruined, and she insists that it was stepped on by our Huifanala Shifang. She demands compensation, and we refuse to pay, she wouldn¡¯t let us leave. I could tolerate the verbal humiliation, but then,¡± she blinked, and tears started streaming down, ¡°she wanted to hit us¡­ wuuuu wuuuu¡­¡± Everyone: ¡°¡­¡± Indeed, the Weaver¡¯s acting skills were impeccable. Jiang Zhi took a sip of milk and casually tossed the carton in a parabola into the bin three meters away, then raised his eyebrows to look at Luo Yinghe, ¡°Is that so?¡± Luo Yinghe had met Jiang Zhi before, recognized him from when they were young. During her girlhood yearnings, like her older cousin, she harbored a crush on this handsome young man until that year when the Luo family mansion burned down. The lowly foster son died in that fire. At that time, Jiang Zhi was only sixteen, dragging a body weakened by chronic illness to the Luo family¡¯s doorstep and set fire to it. No one dared to stop him, and they watched as the young man with fiery red eyes smashed the ancestral plaques of the Luo family into dust. Since then, Jiang Zhi and the Luo family were at odds. Luo Yinghe couldn¡¯t muster any romantic feelings toward him any longer; fear was all that was left. She knew very well that if Jiang Zhi got tough, he wouldn¡¯t hesitate to do anything. She stuttered in response to Jiang Zhi, ¡°It, it was her who stepped on it.¡± He walked forward with a saunter, casual in his demeanor, ¡°They are both from my crew. It¡¯s just a dress, I will compensate.¡± ¡°It wasn¡¯t me who stepped on it,¡± Zhou Xufang who had been silent the whole time repeated, ¡°It wasn¡¯t me who stepped on it.¡± Jiang Zhi walked up to her, blocking the line of sight of the people behind him, and patted her hat, ¡°No worries, our film set isn¡¯t short of money.¡± His voice was very light. Zhou Xufang was mollified by him and didn¡¯t speak up again. Jiang Zhi turned back around, ¡°Name your price.¡± Luo Yinghe didn¡¯t dare to take Jiang Zhi¡¯s money; she lowered her tone and posture by several degrees, ¡°Never mind, no need for compensation.¡± Never mind? On his turf, after bullying his people, it could be settled just like that? Jiang Zhi covered his mouth, coughing lightly twice, ¡°You said the compensation was needed, and now you are the one saying it¡¯s not? Is my film crew without its own authority?¡± Luo Yinghe lost color. Lifting his eyes, reddened by the cough, he still carried a feeble look, but his ink-black pupils were like flames glistening, killing without being seen. ¡°Name your price,¡± he commanded. Luo Yinghe was truly panicked, ¡°Eight hundred thousand.¡± ¡°Zhao Zhong, give her the money,¡± Jiang Zhi instructed. Finished, Vice Director Zhao grandly wrote a check for eight hundred thousand yuan on the spot and handed it to Luo Yinghe¡¯s assistant. Luo Yinghe¡¯s face turned pale, without lingering any longer, she lifted her skirt and left. ¡°Wait a second.¡± Her steps halted, her spine chilled. From behind, a slow, steady voice came through, ¡°Money¡¯s paid now, does this dress belong to me?¡± Luo Yinghe was horrified, ¡°Jiang Zhi¡ª¡± He flicked his misty blue short hair, ¡°Take it off.¡± In front of everyone, he ruthlessly embarrassed her. Luo Yinghe¡¯s face went from white to red, the ultimate in humiliation. She clenched her teeth and said, ¡°I will have someone send it over in a moment.¡± Jiang Zhi remained unphased, his peach blossom eyes radiated the chill of three thousand feet of snow, ¡°No, take it off for me right now.¡± This was the first time Zhou Xufang heard Jiang Zhi speak to someone in such a way. He rarely referred to himself as ¡°Crown Prince,¡± and though he had a bad temper, he was taught noble etiquette by the Jiang family; he rarely lost his grace. But still, he was a scion of a prominent family, and when that authority was wielded, who would dare to defy it? No one dared to step forward to persuade him. Even Fang Lixiang, audacious as she was in society, held her breath, thinking to herself, the Crown Prince was indeed the Crown Prince; no ordinary person could rival his presence despite his frail health. The several assistants with Luo Yinghe didn¡¯t dare to make a sound. Jiang Zhi was running out of patience, ¡°Aren¡¯t you taking it off yet? Should I find someone to help?¡± ¡°I, I,¡± Luo Ying stammered, already sweating profusely, her hands gripping the dress; she had to swallow her humiliation and admit, ¡°I was wrong. Please show mercy and let this one go.¡± What use was her unwillingness? The Luo family might be rich and powerful, but next to the Jiang family, they were insignificant. Today, she had to submit whether she liked it or not. Jiang Zhi stood with crossed arms in front of Zhou Xufang, ¡°Where did you go wrong?¡± ¡°The dress, the dress was torn by the stones on the ground,¡± she was just in a bad mood and wanted to vent her frustration on someone, not expecting them to be from Jiang Zhi¡¯s crew. ¡°Now that you know what you did wrong, leave the money. And,¡± he stepped aside, grabbing Zhou Xufang¡¯s hat, pulling her forward, ¡°bow deeply at ninety degrees and apologize sincerely to her.¡± Chapter 69: 069: Xu Fang is intrigued Chapter 69: 069: Xu Fang is intrigued ¡°Bow 90 degrees again and apologize to her sincerely.¡± Damn you, Jiang Zhi! Luo Yinghe¡¯s palms were clenched so tight they almost bled. Step by step, very slowly, she approached Zhou Xufang, bent down, and bit her lip, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, it was my fault.¡± Zhou Xufang was totally confused the entire time, not knowing what to say, and turned her head to look at Jiang Zhi. This was the first time someone had stood up for her. She didn¡¯t know what to do. ... Jiang Zhi curled the corners of his mouth, grabbed her hat, and hid her behind him, his gaze sweeping over the crowd, ¡°Taking photos is fine, but if you dare to leak them to the media,¡± He didn¡¯t finish the threat¡ªeveryone could weigh the consequences themselves. In the end, he waved his hand, gasping for air. The previous aura was gone, replaced by a listless air, ¡°Alright, disperse now.¡± Luo Yinghe was helped away by two assistants, and the crowd wiped their cold sweat and scattered like birds and beasts. ¡°Xu Fang,¡± Jiang Zhi turned back, ¡°Come with me.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Zhou Xufang obediently followed him. Fang Lixiang was left behind, contemplating life. ¡°I feel,¡± Fang Lixiang stroked her chin, ¡°Director Jiang seems to have taken a fancy to our Fang.¡± Otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t be so protective of her. Next to her, Vice Director Zhao chimed in, ¡°Impossible, Director Jiang is gay.¡± Fang Lixiang immediately retorted righteously, ¡°Even gay people need to continue their family line, right?¡± She was really worried that Zhou Xufang would be tricked by a gay man to ensure the continuation of the Jiang family line. Zhou Xufang was led by Jiang Zhi to the resting room to ensure the continuation of the line¡­ Ugh, to be questioned alone. Jiang Zhi closed the door and fetched a can of milk for Zhou Xufang, asking her, ¡°Did you suffer any loss?¡± ¡°No,¡± she said, ¡°Thank you.¡± She knew Jiang Zhi had just been trying to stand up for her, which was why he was so tough on Luo Yinghe. Jiang Zhi really was a great guy. He opened the can of milk before handing it to her, ¡°In the future, if you encounter a similar situation, don¡¯t just bear it. If you can win, fight; if you can¡¯t, come find me.¡± Zhou Xufang took a sip of milk, ¡°If I break something, I¡¯ll have to compensate.¡± She was strong, and once she started, it was hard to stop and would surely end up paying a lot in medical bills. But Jiang Zhi said, ¡°Why be afraid, the crew will reimburse you.¡± Go ahead and fight! Even if she was a professional errand runner and injured someone badly, he could take care of it for her. Zhou Xufang was moved, her usually cold gaze turned warm. She nodded vigorously, ¡°Okay.¡± Jiang Zhi was really nice! Not realizing he had been handed a kindness card, Jiang Zhi was soothed by her obedience and brought a box of cotton candy from the cupboard, placing it on the coffee table, ¡°Take this home to eat.¡± In Zhou Xufang¡¯s memory, no one had ever been this nice to her. She felt warmth in her eyes, an odd feeling, and she rubbed them with her hand. Suddenly, she felt an intense desire to be good to Jiang Zhi, to really take care of him, but Jiang Zhi came from a wealthy background, he had everything, and she didn¡¯t know what she could offer him. After some thought, she asked, ¡°Have you finished the eggs I gave you?¡± ¡°Not yet.¡± He hadn¡¯t eaten any of them; they were all stored in the wine cellar of his villa, waiting for a while before he would donate the egg whites and keep the shells. Zhou Xufang said, ¡°Then let me know when you¡¯ve finished them, and I¡¯ll buy more for you.¡± If only Jiang Zhi were a bit poorer, then she could buy him a house, a car, a diamond watch. But Jiang Zhi was easy to please, a few eggs were enough to make his cheeks blush with joy, and he nodded hastily in agreement. Then Zhou Xufang stopped talking, planning the amount of eggs to bring next time. After sitting a while, she finished a can of milk, ¡°Then I¡¯ll be going.¡± She bent over to pick up the box of cotton candy. Jiang Zhi suddenly covered his mouth and coughed, ¡°Cough cough cough cough¡­¡± Zhou Xufang paused, then sat back down, ¡°Do you always cough so severely in the winter?¡± He slumped on the sofa, looking wilted and weak, ¡°Mhm.¡± ¡°Can¡¯t it be cured?¡± she asked, Fang Lixiang had told her that the Jiang family was in the pharmaceutical business. He lay there with a misty fog in his eyes from the coughing, his skin pale, lips red, and his eyes brimming with a fragile charm laced with a hint of seductiveness. S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He said, ¡°Can¡¯t be cured at the moment.¡± Zhou Xufang grew anxious, ¡°Then what should we do?¡± What should they do indeed? Jiang Zhi weakly convinced her, ¡°Just pat me on the back, that will make it better.¡± Pat on the back? She was afraid she would pat him to his last breath. She hesitated. ¡°Cough cough cough cough¡­¡± Jiang Zhi coughed more violently, looking at her with watery eyes, appearing utterly helpless. Zhou Xufang¡¯s heart immediately turned soft, and she set the box of cotton candy down, moved closer, stiffly placed her hand on Jiang Zhi¡¯s chest, and then didn¡¯t move for several seconds. Then she lifted her hand and gently lowered it, patting him slowly and softly¡­ She almost held her breath, fearing that she might use too much force and hurt him. Her actions and expression were so earnest they bordered on reverence. Jiang Zhi looked up and could see her face, so close, her presence enveloping him, invading without restraint. ¡°Your face is so red,¡± Zhou Xufang stared at his face, leaning in closer, ¡°Do you have a fever?¡± He gasped for breath, his hand sweaty, his fingers involuntarily curling up, ¡°You¡ªyou feel it.¡± Zhou Xufang had strong defenses. But for some reason, Jiang Zhi had become the exception. She had no guard up against him, the coldness and desolation in her eyes gone, leaving only Jiang Zhi¡¯s reflection. As if compelled, she laid her hand on Jiang Zhi¡¯s forehead. She didn¡¯t immediately remove her hand, noting, ¡°It¡¯s very hot.¡± Could he be running a fever? Should she call a doctor? As she was thinking, Jiang Zhi suddenly looked up. Before she could withdraw her hand, his lips were pressed to her palm. Boom! A firework exploded in her head. Dazed for three seconds, she abruptly retreated but tripped over the leg of the sofa and staggered, landing on the floor with a thump. Chapter 70: 070: A Kiss-Induced Sickness Chapter 70: 070: A Kiss-Induced Sickness She jerked back, but her foot got caught on the sofa leg, and she stumbled before landing flat on her rear on the floor. Then¡ª With her cheeks sporting two patches of ¡°highland red,¡± her mouth slightly open and her gaze vacant, her kissed hand remained motionless, held aloft as if frozen. Adorable overload! Wanting to kiss her again. Jiang Zhi licked his lips and dragged the beast raging within him back into its cage, but he couldn¡¯t quite contain the timid spring hues dancing in his eyes. ... ¡°Ahem¡­¡± He feigned a cough, his eyes brimming with peach blossom allure, like well-mixed watercolor too stunning to contain, unable to suppress the smile tugging at his lips. He rose and crouched down beside Zhou Xufang. With both hands reaching out, he picked her up like a child, bundled her up, placed her on the couch, then crouched before her to gaze up at her face. She, on the other hand, was like a statue, not even blinking. Jiang Zhi¡¯s tiger teeth showed as he laughed, his ears reddening, yet his gaze was unflinching, intensely staring at her, ¡°Why so careless, did you hurt yourself?¡± Her expression remained dazed, the kissed hand still stiff, but upon closer inspection, her five fingers slightly curled. Jiang Zhi, worrying her hand might cramp, pressed it down and poked her cheek with a finger, ¡°Gone silly?¡± She gazed foolishly at him, her face growing redder and redder¡­ Click. The door was suddenly pushed open, followed by the heavily accented Beijing dialect. ¡°Brother Zhi~¡± This offbeat person could be none other than Second Young Master Xue. This startling interruption snapped Zhou Xufang out of it; she leapt up, her knee accidentally striking Jiang Zhi and sending him flying. Thud. Jiang Zhi landed on the carpet, his hand knocking over a box on the coffee table, showering him with marshmallows. Zhou Xufang crouched, grabbed a couple of packets, and bolted. Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± Now it was his turn to be dumbfounded. ¡°Tsk tsk tsk.¡± Xue Baoyi glanced at the swiftly departing girl, ¡°Brother Zhi, what mischievous act were you attempting that scared the poor lady so?¡± He casually picked up a bag of marshmallows, about to open it¡ª Jiang Zhi snatched it back, still sitting on the carpet, and despite coughing, he started collecting the marshmallows back into the box. ¡°Ah Wan.¡± Ah Wan, hearing his call, entered. He steadied himself on the coffee table, ¡°Take this box of candies to Zhou Xufang.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Xue Baoyi¡¯s eyes nearly rolled back in exasperation, really wanting to hit someone, but seeing Jiang Zhi coughing, with his peach blossom eyes and tender pale face, his inherent compassion couldn¡¯t help but swell. That¡¯s him, can¡¯t stand to see a beauty suffer. Well, he forgave him. Xue Baoyi sat down, a leg casually draped over the other, giving some advice to Jiang Mei Ren, the little virgin, ¡°Your girl is clearly naive; don¡¯t be too aggressive, or you¡¯ll scare her off.¡± See, she¡¯s run off. Jiang Zhi lay down, blowing a tuft of hair from his forehead. Just now, he hadn¡¯t held back. He was a bit restless. ¡°What are you doing here?¡± Xue Baoyi got serious, ¡°Got a role for you in your new movie,¡± he pulled up the information on his phone, showing it to Jiang Zhi, ¡°These three are pretty good, take your pick.¡± The first two were Baoguang staples, one a film queen, the other a top actress, but the last one was a newcomer. Jiang Zhi swiped to the last page. Xue Baoyi took a glance, ¡°Don¡¯t you want to think it over?¡± He was a bit troubled, why he had chosen her, ¡°This girl is a bit wild, hard to handle.¡± Especially when playing video games¡ªoutrageously fierce, her insults unmatched, not repeating a single one in half an hour. But, to be fair, the girl had acting talent, an unpolished gem. Jiang Zhi indolently withdrew his hand, ¡°Her.¡± This girl, her earlier hair pulling was just perfect, promising. The promising Lixiang was now eating soup dumplings, stuffing one after another, face shiny with oil. Beside her, Zhou Xufang clutched two packets of pink marshmallows, her head down, still as a rock. Fang Lixiang finished the last dumpling, ¡°Xu Fang.¡± The ¡®rock¡¯ didn¡¯t budge. Fang Lixiang called out again, ¡°Xu Fang.¡± The ¡®rock¡¯ lifted her head, ¡°Huh?¡± Fang Lixiang noticed something was off, ¡°Why are you so distracted, did Director Jiang do something to you?¡± She immediately shook her head and clenched her right hand, placing it behind her back, ¡°No!¡± What¡¯s the matter? Why does it sound like she¡¯s hiding something? Fang Lixiang stared at her, ¡°Why is your face so red?¡± She didn¡¯t know. It was a bit hot. She took off her earmuff hat, still clutching it in her right hand behind her back, and fanned her face with her left hand. ¡°Xu Fang, let me tell you,¡± Fang Lixiang spoke to her in a motherly tone, ¡°you need to be very cautious around Director Jiang.¡± Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t understand, ¡°Why should I be cautious?¡± Fang Lixiang looked around and then leaned in close to Zhou Xufang, whispering, ¡°Isn¡¯t he gay? He¡¯s already twenty-four this year, his family will definitely start pressing him to marry and have kids. A family like the Jiang Family won¡¯t let Jiang Zhi marry a man, so,¡± she said with certainty, ¡°he¡¯ll definitely find a woman to continue his lineage.¡± Zhou Xufang¡¯s fanning paused, then she realized. Oh, so Jiang Zhi wants her to help him continue his lineage. The right hand Jiang Zhi had kissed made her sweat. She wiped it on her body, then said, ¡°I won¡¯t help him continue his lineage.¡± She was a monster herself, how could she bring another little monster into the world. Fang Lixiang was reassured: ¡°You¡¯re really awesome, Fang!¡± Zhou Xufang was still caught up in the matter of continuing lineage, her expression complex. ¡°Oh, there¡¯s something else that¡¯s very important.¡± Fang Lixiang beckoned Zhou Xufang closer. ¡°That Luo Yinghe, you must stay away from her.¡± Fang Lixiang spoke very earnestly, ¡°That evil woman holds grudges, I¡¯m afraid she¡¯ll cause you trouble.¡± Luo Yinghe¡¯s notorious and domineering reputation was known throughout the circle. Zhou Xufang covered her scorching face with her cool hands, trying to cool down: ¡°I understand.¡± But Fang Lixiang still wore a deeply concerned expression. Uncharacteristically serious, she advised Zhou Xufang, ¡°It¡¯s not just Luo Yinghe. Stay away from anyone with the surname Luo.¡± Zhou Xufang asked why. Fang Lixiang¡¯s eyes drifted away: ¡°I heard,¡± she whispered to Zhou Xufang, ¡°people from the Luo Family, they¡¯re all beasts.¡± If they weren¡¯t beasts, why would they even spare a child. ¡°Oh.¡± sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Zhou Xufang nodded, slightly distracted. Only then did Fang Lixiang notice the sweat on her head, ¡°Why is your face still so red?¡± Zhou Xufang looked blank. ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± She tugged at her collar, ¡°I¡¯m so hot.¡± Fang Lixiang examined her closely and saw that not only her face, but also her ears, neck, and even the skin on her wrists were red. Fang Lixiang hurriedly touched her head. One touch, and it was clear something was seriously wrong! ¡°Vice Director, Fang has a high fever!¡± Vice Director Zhao asked who? Fang Lixiang quickly pulled Zhou Xufang over and asked if there was a doctor with them. Vice Director Zhao saw that it was Zhou Xufang¡ªthe crowd actor that Director Jiang was most concerned about. He quickly had his assistant bring over a thermometer. They took her temperature and were shocked. It was 104 degrees! There was no doctor with the film crew. Fang Lixiang was so anxious she could have jumped, ¡°Fang, hang in there, I¡¯ll call an ambulance right now!¡± Zhou Xufang¡¯s face was as red as blood, but expressionless: ¡°No need.¡± Then, she picked up her backpack, ¡°I¡¯ll just go buy some medicine.¡± She would avoid the hospital if possible, fearing the doctors might find something abnormal. Zhou Xufang took some time off and was about to leave, but Fang Lixiang insisted on going with her. Zhou Xufang just¡­ just ran, ran very fast. Because she was going to buy medicine. She was feeling some discomfort in her heart, scared to go to the hospital and not wanting to risk it, she bought lots of fever medicine and secretly hid to take a dose. But it was useless. Her normal body temperature was only around 68 degrees, and this was the first time it had spiked to 104 degrees. There was a scene today, just in extras there were more than five hundred people. Vice Director Zhao had worked hard to arrange the extras¡¯ positions. Just as the clapperboard sounded¡ª Jiang Zhi called a halt. Vice Director Zhao asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± His gaze moved across the crowd, circling once, and he frowned: ¡°Where¡¯s Zhou Xufang?¡± ¡°¡­¡± Vice Director Zhao was curious, not knowing how the great director could tell from five hundred extras that one was missing: ¡°She¡¯s taken sick leave.¡± Jiang Zhi heard this, stood up from his chair too quickly, even knocking over a nearby thermos: ¡°What¡¯s wrong with her? Is it serious? Where is she now?¡± His peach blossom eyes suddenly flared, the intense glow inside made them hard to look directly at. Vice Director Zhao shuddered: ¡°She, she has a high fever.¡± The rest he didn¡¯t know. Chapter 71: 071: Come on, feel it (first update) Chapter 71: 071: Come on, feel it (first update) Vice Director Zhao shivered, ¡°She, she has a high fever.¡± The rest was unknown. Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t ask further, ¡°Filming stops for today.¡± As the big snow approached, the air seemed even colder. Vice Director Zhao hunched his neck, ¡°Bu-but¡ª¡± Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t wait for him to finish speaking, he turned and walked away, ¡°Ah Wan, go start the car.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± ... Everyone was left there, as the director just left, from the producer coordinator to the lead actors, not one dared to stop Jiang Zhi. Vice Director Zhao scratched his head, sighing. Another loss of several million, so annoying! Fifteen minutes later, Ah Wan had the car on the driveway, driving faster than ever before. Jiang Zhi, sitting in the back seat, kept dialing numbers in silence, his handsome face as cold as the long-accumulated snow outside, because he couldn¡¯t get through. Ah Wan felt the atmosphere was somewhat suffocating and thought he should say something to ease the tension. What should he say? Of course, he¡¯d talk about the employer¡¯s favorite. ¡°Miss Zhou gave the address to the crew group chat, but it was fake,¡± Ah Wan said casually, as if making small talk. Jiang Zhi kept dialing, not giving any response. Ah Wan cleared his throat, less awkwardly continuing the conversation he started himself, ¡°But no worries, last time we investigated Miss Zhou¡¯s address.¡± Getting carried away, Ah Wan exclaimed, ¡°Miss Zhou is so poor, she¡¯s renting a house! Plus, there¡¯s no one else in that building, the landlord immigrated abroad, and Miss Zhou lives there all quiet by herself.¡± Ah Wan found the landlord quite a character, owning a building and renting out just one apartment. Of course, what Ah Wan didn¡¯t know was that the ¡®landlord¡¯ was fake, and the whole building belonged to Zhou Xufang. Ah Wan was still immersed in pity for the ¡®film-covered¡¯ Miss Zhou, so poor, and couldn¡¯t help feeling heartache, ¡°Boss, I think Miss Zhou is in such poverty, won¡¯t you gift her an apartment?¡± After such ¡®heartfelt¡¯ words, Jiang Zhi finally lifted his eyelids. ¡°Can you shut your mouth?¡± An embarrassed Ah Wan: ¡°¡­¡± Alright, he shut up. Jiang Zhi kept calling Zhou Xu¡¯s phone, over and over, but she wouldn¡¯t answer. He was so anxious he felt like hitting someone. At this point, Zhou Xu was at home trying to sleep but seemed to be suffering from insomnia; she just couldn¡¯t sleep. She got up and measured her temperature with a special material thermometer, 28 degrees. She sighed in relief, crawled out of bed, ordered some takeout, and turned on her computer. ¡°You there?¡± SpongeBob popped up on the screen. Shuangjiang typed back, ¡°Here.¡± Zhou Xu asked her, ¡°Any clue about that car hanging ornament?¡± The computer had voice-to-text software installed, Zhou Xu didn¡¯t have to type, her hands freed, she started to unwrap and eat the two packs of cotton candy she¡¯d picked up from Jiang Zhi. Maybe it was the fever, but she was very hungry and thirsty. She grabbed two cans of milk. Shuangjiang seemed more accustomed to typing, ¡°It¡¯s a Peace Talisman from Lingdu Temple in Imperial City. Many people go there to pray; there¡¯s a registration list, but it¡¯s too long to investigate.¡± ¡°Send me the list.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Suddenly, SpongeBob on the computer screen changed to Zhou Xu¡¯s face, Shuangjiang asked, ¡°Ah Fang, are you sweating?¡± Zhou Xu found the camera on her computer, looked closely, and sure enough, her forehead hair was soaked. She nodded yes and grabbed a couple of tissues to wipe the sweat. ¡°It¡¯s my first time seeing you sweat so much.¡± After all, her body temperature was so low, and it was freezing outside. ¡°I fell ill today.¡± Zhou Xu touched her face, not so hot anymore, but she was still thirsty, so she took another sip of milk, ¡°It¡¯s also my first time having a fever.¡± Shuangjiang was aware of her physical condition and was worried, ¡°Did you take any medicine?¡± ¡°I did.¡± But Zhou Xu wasn¡¯t sure if it was the medicine that worked or if she had recovered on her own. She had a strong recuperative ability, very strong. ¡°You¡¯re not afraid of the cold, how did you suddenly fall ill?¡± Zhou Xu thought about what she did that day, then shook her head blankly, ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Was there anything else she shouldn¡¯t be exposed to besides Penicillin? She couldn¡¯t figure it out. Shuangjiang was concerned for her, ¡°Do you want to check into a private hospital?¡± Zhou Xu just sat there, suddenly unresponsive. ¡°Ah Fang.¡± She still didn¡¯t move, her gaze fixed somewhere. Shuangjiang stopped typing and switched to synthetic voice, calling her, ¡°Ah Fang, what¡¯s wrong?¡± Zhou Xu¡¯s eyelashes trembled. She moved and said, ¡°I heard Jiang Zhi¡¯s voice.¡± She froze again, listening intently, ¡°He¡¯s coughing.¡± She could tell it was Jiang Zhi by the coughing sounds? ¡°How could Jiang Zhi be here, you must have heard wrong¡ª¡± But in front of the computer, Zhou Xu¡¯s figure was no longer there; in a teleportation, she was gone. Shuangjiang was a bit worried, feeling like Zhou Xu¡¯s soul had been hooked away. At the front of Building Seventeen in Yuquan Bay, Ah Wan was sticking to a door at the staircase entrance, straining his ears, but no, he heard nothing. Ah Wan was puzzled, muttering, ¡°This is the building, right? Why is the door locked?¡± Jiang Zhi left in such a hurry, thinly dressed, the wind was strong, ruffling his blue, foggy short hair into a mess. He coughed while pushing Ah Wan away from the door with his foot. ¡°Cough cough cough¡­ move away.¡± Ah Wan moved to the side. Jiang Zhi raised his hand to knock on the door¡ª Click. The door suddenly opened on its own, and then Jiang Zhi saw the face he¡¯d been longing for. Zhou Xu wore a hoodie covered by a down coat reaching her ankles, with the Zipper undone. She didn¡¯t wear a hat, her hair just long enough to reach her shoulders, messy and fluffy from sleep, her face very pale but her eyes very dark. She was looking at Jiang Zhi with eyes bright like stars in the desert. ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± Jiang Zhi was still stunned. She leaned against the door frame, looking up at him, ¡°Why are you here?¡± Jiang Zhi¡¯s gaze rested on the pink rabbit-eared slippers beneath her feet for a few seconds, then back to her. Without explaining why he was there, he reached out and placed his hand on her forehead. Zhou Xu was taken aback. Jiang Zhi switched from the palm to the back of his hand, again touching her forehead, ¡°Why are you so cold?¡± Wasn¡¯t it a fever? Chapter 72: 072: First Kiss, Here Goes (Second Update) Chapter 72: 072: First Kiss, Here Goes (Second Update) ¡°Why is it so cold?¡± Shouldn¡¯t you have a fever? Zhou Xufang blinked her eyes, blinked again, and staggered backward. She buried her head, staring at the rabbit head on her shoe, ¡°My fever has already subsided.¡± Outside, the heavy snow fluttered down, the hexagonal snowflakes landing on his hair, ¡°Have you been to the hospital?¡± Zhou Xufang shook her head, ¡°I¡¯ve taken medicine.¡± The wind was strong, blowing against his tender neck, quickly turning it red. He looked away, coughed twice, leaned on the door to catch his breath, and said, ¡°I¡¯ll take you to the hospital.¡± ... S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Zhou Xufang refused to go. Jiang Zhi furrowed his brows in anger, calling her by her full name, ¡°Zhou Xufang,¡± he wanted to scold her for not taking care of herself, but he still couldn¡¯t bear to be harsh on her. The words lightened on his lips, and after much strain, he managed to choke out two awkward words, ¡°Be good.¡± Be good. It was the first time Zhou Xufang heard such pleasant words, like the curly-haired old lady next door cooing at her newborn grandson, incredibly gentle, incredibly loving. She exhaled a breath of warm air, feeling as if her recently lowered body temperature was making a comeback, a bit warm. She gathered her hair scattered around her neck and pulled it back, saying, ¡°I don¡¯t need to go to the hospital. I¡¯m very healthy, completely recovered.¡± Disobedient again. Unable to scold or beat her, Jiang Zhi found himself at a loss, ¡°Fine, we won¡¯t go to the hospital.¡± Then he¡¯d have to stay by her side. He brushed the snow off his shoulder, coughed a few times, ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to invite me in?¡± Zhou Xufang blocked the doorway and didn¡¯t move aside, her nails subconsciously scratching the door, too hard, leaving behind marks. She frowned in thought, then showed a troubled expression, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, my home can¡¯t entertain guests.¡± He was rejected. He! Was! Actually! Rejected! Jiang Zhi licked his lips, silent for a long time, then grabbed her wrist, ¡°Then come with me.¡± She refused him again, ¡°I can¡¯t.¡± And then, she remained immovable. Jiang Zhi exerted force, damn it¡­ he couldn¡¯t budge her! He was about to explode with anger! Still gripping her wrist, refusing to let go, pulling with all his might. Zhou Xufang gently withdrew her hand, really, it was gentle. Jiang Zhi stumbled from her pull, his shoulder banging against the door. Zhou Xufang immediately apologized, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, did I hurt you?¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± He turned his head away, not wanting to say a word, or he¡¯d end up being a fool. He seemed mad. Zhou Xufang felt very guilty. ¡°Ah Wan, could you please excuse us.¡± She looked at Jiang Zhi, ¡°I have something to tell you.¡± Jiang Zhi glanced at Ah Wan, and dismissed him, ¡°Go wait in the car. Don¡¯t come out unless I call you.¡± Ah Wan: ¡°¡­¡± He found his employer obnoxious, as annoying as the petted and arrogant Shuangxi rooster at home. Recently, Shuangxi had been Ms. Song¡¯s favorite, becoming too good for rice and eating only meat. Zhou Xufang led Jiang Zhi to the community square, at the far end there were two swings. She walked over and brushed the snow off one swing with her sleeve. She said to Jiang Zhi, ¡°You sit here.¡± Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t sit, walked over, directly lifted her up, and placed her on the swing, then blushed and crouched in front of her, ¡°I¡¯ll just squat here.¡± He was only mad at her for a few dozen seconds. He couldn¡¯t stay mad anymore. She had only slipped on a pair of slippers to come down, and he, worried that she would be cold, took the scarf from around his neck and wrapped it around her ankles. Zhou Xufang sat on the swing, swinging back and forth, her thoughts seemingly adrift. This wasn¡¯t the first time Jiang Zhi had held her. She had taken a long time to snap back to reality, and she didn¡¯t know what was wrong with her. All her usual defenses, her instinctive reflex to guard herself, had disappeared in Jiang Zhi¡¯s presence. She would never have allowed herself to be this close to someone else, let alone let someone touch her body. Jiang Zhi was different, he wasn¡¯t like anyone else. ¡°At the film studio,¡± without much thought, she blurted out, ¡°when you kissed my hand, did you do it on purpose?¡± Jiang Zhi squatted beside her swing, looking up at her. ¡°I did it on purpose.¡± ¡°Then why did you kiss me?¡± She had no parents or relatives, and not many friends. Before becoming a professional errand runner, she barely left the house, staying in a dark space cut off from the outside world. No one had taught her how to interact with boys or how to conduct herself in society. However, she had watched television and seen all of Jiang Zhi¡¯s movies. She knew that boys shouldn¡¯t casually kiss girls, not even on the hand. Jiang Zhi, holding onto the swing¡¯s rope, gently rocked it, his peach blossom eyes reflecting her swinging shadow: ¡°You¡¯re asking why I kissed you?¡± He swallowed nervously. ¡°Is it because,¡± Zhou Xufang planted her feet to stop the swing, and looked firmly at Jiang Zhi, ¡°is it because you want me to bear you a child?¡± ¡°¡­¡± Jiang Zhi was taken aback. He had only thought of convincing her to come over, and she was already thinking about having children. His mind involuntarily raced with the thought¡ªhaving children, if with her, wouldn¡¯t be so bad¡­ Zhou Xufang interrupted Jiang Zhi¡¯s whimsical thoughts: ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Jiang Zhi, I can¡¯t continue your family line. If your family truly doesn¡¯t approve of you marrying a boy, you should¡ªjust¡ª¡± Jiang Zhi¡¯s rising smile quickly fell: ¡°I should do what?¡± She wanted to say, you should find someone else to continue the family line. But for some reason, she couldn¡¯t bring herself to say it. However, it seemed Jiang Zhi understood; this girl with an IQ of over 130 was incredibly obtuse, so slow to catch on that he couldn¡¯t afford to take it step by step any longer. All this taking it slow like a boiling frog was nonsense; he couldn¡¯t wait any longer. He grabbed the rope of the swing and gave a strong pull, dragging her right in front of him. His ears flushed red with a mix of shyness and boldness, like a fairy just descended into the mortal world, naively flirting: ¡°You think I kissed you just to find a woman to continue the Jiang family¡¯s bloodline?¡± Wasn¡¯t it? Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t really understand men¡¯s thoughts. The shadows in Jiang Zhi¡¯s gaze sunk and floated: ¡°Zhou Xufang.¡± Zhou Xufang stayed still, feeling like he might be angry. ¡°I¡¯ve told you already, I¡¯m not gay anymore.¡± He looked up, snowflakes on his eyelashes, the world clad in silver, but a hint of pink bloomed at the corners of his eyes, his beautiful pupils reflecting her image. Her beauty was paired with the gentle breeze, a face as lovely as peach blossoms. Jiang Zhi was the most handsome person Zhou Xufang had ever seen. As he gazed at her intently, her mind turned to mush, muddled, and she struggled to keep up, hardly knowing what she was saying: ¡°If you¡¯re not gay, then why do you want me to continue your bloodline?¡± Jiang Zhi inhaled a gust of cold air, which made him cough so hard he nearly spat out blood, and blurted out without thinking: ¡°Who said I want you to continue my bloodline, I¡¯m infertile! Continue what goddamn bloodline!¡± Zhou Xufang, frozen like an ice sculpture: ¡°¡­¡± Jiang Zhi, unable to continue the family line due to infertility: ¡°¡­¡± He was stunned; what had he just said? The air became dreadfully still¡­ After a long pause, Zhou Xufang stuttered out: ¡°You, you, you¡¯re infertile.¡± She fiddled with her fingers, ¡°Sorry, I didn¡¯t mean to poke at your wound, I¡ª¡± Her left hand was grabbed. Jiang Zhi pulled hard, leaned in close, and sealed her incessantly babbling mouth with his. Chapter 73: 073: Kissed, hugged, touched, now you should take responsibility. Chapter 73: 073: Kissed, hugged, touched, now you should take responsibility. Jiang Zhi gave a hard tug and immediately moved in to seal her incessantly babbling mouth. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Then¡ª She became like an ice sculpture. He stood there dumbstruck. For a whole half-minute, they just stared into each other¡¯s eyes, mouth to mouth, her face and neck flushing red, his face and neck also turning red. Then¡ª ... There was no then. To put it in Second Young Master Xue¡¯s words, what, were you expecting a chick who¡¯s never even seen an ¡°action movie¡± to turn into a wolf? Besides, this chick had been oppressed in her dreams for so many years. The snow fell heavier and heavier, and in the icy, snowy world, Jiang Zhi¡¯s palms were sweaty, his beautiful peach blossom eyes misty with moisture, blurring all images except for her clear shadow. Her eyelashes trembled incessantly, and her face grew redder and redder. Jiang Zhi had directed quite a few passionate scenes before, the kind where clothes come off, and there¡¯s biting and rolling, but he had never taken much interest in such pure kiss scenes. As a result¡ªhe had no experience. So, he held Zhou Xufang¡¯s head still, not letting her move, and then on her lips¡ªhe rubbed, and¡ªchafed. Her eyelashes shook even more fiercely, hands pulling on the swing¡¯s rope, pulling harder and harder. Just as Jiang Zhi thought about making another move, with a snap, the swing broke. Zhou Xufang was on top, Jiang Zhi below, and she fell onto him, both of them tumbling into the snow. He instinctively wrapped his arms around her waist, getting a chest full of impact. The wind blew the snow, fluffy white flakes fluttering from her face onto his. She lay stiff and motionless, her face taut, giving him the illusion of holding an ice sculpture. Her fists clenched tight; she was actually holding her breath. Jiang Zhi propped himself up with one hand, poking her face with the other: ¡°Breathe.¡± Oh, breathe. Zhou Xu drew in a deep breath. Jiang Zhi laid himself directly onto the snowy ground, then without struggling, without resisting, let her lie on top of him. The curve of his mouth grew larger and larger until he burst out laughing, his eyes blossoming with thousands upon thousands of peach blossom trees, each flower representing the charming allure of spring. But it was different for Zhou Xu. She sat with a dazed face, taking a long time to figure out her bearings, then she tried to climb off him, but her limbs had no strength at all, and her whole body flopped over, rolling into a snowbank beside them. Jiang Zhi turned over, propped his chin up, and smiled as he watched her. Zhou Xufang felt he was particularly like those fairies in TV dramas that exclusively suck the lifeblood of humans; she scooted back and shrank away, glaring at him: ¡°You, you, you, you¡ª¡± She kept saying ¡°you¡± for a long time but couldn¡¯t utter a complete sentence. Jiang Zhi got up from the ground, squatted down, and moved closer to her: ¡°Want to ask me why I kissed you?¡± Zhou Xufang, using both hands and feet, got up and squatted down, nodding vigorously. The sky was a white expanse, the earth was a white expanse, him and her, drenched by the snow, became white expanses as well, squatting face to face¡ªstill looking like two tender mushrooms. Jiang Mushroom tilted his head, asking Zhou Mushroom: ¡°Have you seen a romance movie?¡± Zhou Mushroom nodded. Jiang Mushroom moved a step closer to her, brushed the snowflakes off her pink bunny slippers with his hand, and looked up: ¡°Do you know what a kiss means?¡± Zhou Mushroom, a little slow, nodded at first but then shook her head, staring blankly at Jiang Mushroom. Then, Jiang Mushroom held Zhou Mushroom¡¯s face with both hands. ¡°It means,¡± His eyes shone like the stars, the bright, clear light reflecting her face. Jiang Zhi said, ¡°Zhou Xufang, I like you.¡± Seven words, resonating profoundly. His hands were icy cold. And her face was burning hot. The clash of cold and heat left her dizzy. Zhou Xufang, I like you¡­ I like you¡­ The wind howled, but she couldn¡¯t hear it anymore, with only Jiang Zhi¡¯s voice in her ears. It was as if her ears were ringing; his words kept reverberating, burrowing in and out. No one had ever expressed liking her before, leading her to believe that no one in this world would ever like her. Then Jiang Zhi said he liked her. She couldn¡¯t help but wonder if there would be someone who would grieve for her should she one day be burned at the stake, or if she were taken to a laboratory to have her organs and blood all taken away¡ªwould there be someone who would miss her then? ¡°Do you understand what I mean?¡± Amid the howling wind, Jiang Zhi¡¯s voice gently, softly twined into her ears. His face flushed, he suppressed all his shyness and spoke earnestly, ¡°Zhou Xufang, I like you. It¡¯s not about sexual orientation or carrying on the family line; it¡¯s just me, Jiang Zhi, liking you, Zhou Xufang.¡± Would you cry if I were burned to death? Suddenly, she wanted to ask him this question, but she didn¡¯t; her body was hot, her throat was dry, she couldn¡¯t make a sound, squatting there motionless. She remained silent, so Jiang Zhi reached out to touch her cheek, red as an apple, and she flinched back. ¡°Don¡¯t move.¡± Jiang Zhi¡¯s hand was still touching her face, and she didn¡¯t move again. He smiled, cocking his head and bringing his handsome face close to her eyes, looking just like that fairy from the television, beginning to seductively charm her. ¡°May I have another kiss, please?¡± Yes, please. She was bewitched and almost spoke out loud. Jiang Zhi wasn¡¯t actually seeking consent; right after asking, he didn¡¯t wait for an answer¡ªhe leaned in, lightly pressed his lips to hers, and even more outrageous, he stuck out his tongue and licked her. That lick¡ª Zhou Xufang was startled once again and, with her eyes wide, immediately pushed him away. Really, it was just a gentle lick¡ª Jiang Zhi fell backward, collapsing into a large mound of snow. Jiang Zhi, who hadn¡¯t yet had his fill of kisses: ¡°¡­¡± He was so unwilling, so angry, so aggrieved: ¡°Zhou Xufang, did you hit me again?!¡± The expression on Zhou Xufang¡¯s flushed face stiffened: ¡°I, I, I¡­ I didn¡¯t.¡± Her tongue was tied! Surely, it was his lick that caused the problem! Zhou Xufang suddenly panicked! Jiang Zhi still sat in the snow, not getting up, accusing her of turning on him after a kiss: ¡°Don¡¯t you feel sorry for me?!¡± He turned his head and began to cough violently. In the swirling snow, the red lips and white teeth of his delicate and beautiful face stood out more than ever, unable to sit up because of the coughing, half-laying in the white expanse, his body facing the wind, tempting and alluring. Zhou Xufang suddenly felt she had gone too far; how could she push Jiang Zhi, who was so fragile, so beautiful, so delicate? She hurried over in her slippers, a worried expression on her face: ¡°Are you okay? Did you get hurt?¡± Jiang Zhi turned his head, humming: ¡°I¡¯m hurt, I can¡¯t get up.¡± Then he extended his delicate hand towards her¡ªthe once wild lion turned into a weak, helpless lamb in an instant, ¡°Help me up.¡± Zhou Xufang¡¯s mind was blank, unable to think. She wiped the sweat from the palm of her hand and reached out to pull him up. But as soon as she extended her hand, Jiang Zhi grabbed it, yanked her towards him, and pulled her into his arms, both tumbling into the snowy heap. Before she could push him away, he feigned weakness and coughed twice: ¡°Don¡¯t push, answer two questions for me first.¡± Zhou Xufang curled into a tiny ball, placing her hands behind her. She truly didn¡¯t want to hurt him inadvertently. Jiang Zhi flipped over, supporting himself on his hands on either side of her waist: ¡°Zhou Xufang, what do you think of me?¡± His presence and his breath bore down on her. Zhou Xufang felt extremely hot, her breathing uneven, panting in short gasps, her face sweaty, and she replied honestly, ¡°You¡¯re very nice.¡± Very nice, indeed. ¡°I¡¯m this nice¡ªdo you want me?¡± He leaned in closer, a thin blush spreading over his ears, ¡°Just nod, and from now on, Jiang Zhi will be yours.¡± His voice was light and soft, the lilt at the end like a hook, ensnaring her spirit. He coaxed her gently. Asking, ¡°Do you want me?¡± Chapter 74: 074: If you take me, then you can control me Chapter 74: 074: If you take me, then you can control me Asked, ¡°Do you want me?¡± Do you? The climate at Moon Bay was damp and cold. It took a whole day by boat to reach the nearest land. In the winter, the water would freeze, and there might even be herds of animals migrating over. Most importantly, there was no doctor on the deserted island. If Jiang Zhi were to settle down there with her¡­ She looked serious as she thought for a long while. Her brows relaxed and then furrowed intermittently. After more than ten seconds, her eyes filled with sorrow as she shook her head. She! Shook! Her! Head! ... She! Didn¡¯t! Want! Him! Jiang Zhi was so angry he wanted to pin her down in the snow and have his way with her. He took a deep breath of the cold air, ¡°Fine.¡± With one hand braced on the outside of her arm, he leaned his body toward her, ¡°Since you don¡¯t want me, I¡¯ve got no choice but to cling to you. Wherever you go, I¡¯ll follow.¡± Anyway, he had set his sights on her. Whether by stealing, robbing, or using any means of trickery and deceit, he had to have her. But no sooner had he finished speaking his unreasonable words¡ª Zhou Xufang crawled out from his squeaky embrace, swiftly propping herself up with her hands, then she was suddenly far from him. With a flushed yet expressionless face, she said in a very formal tone, ¡°My takeout has arrived, I need to go get my takeout.¡± After that, she turned and ran. ¡°¡­¡± Ran? She actually ran! Jiang Zhi sat on the ground, beginning to question his life. Was he even less important than takeout?! Click. Shuangjiang looked over at the sound. The door opened and Zhou Xufang entered, her head hanging low, despondent, like a rooster that had lost a fight, with bleakness in her eyes and no trace of spirit. Shuangjiang let out a series of beeps. She walked by as if she heard nothing, her soul seemingly adrift, slowly ambling until suddenly, her footsteps halted. The room had been fitted with special soundproofing materials during renovations, so actually, it was quite hard to hear outside noises. But strangely, she could still hear Jiang Zhi talking with Ah Wan. ¡°Boss, why are you sitting in the snow?¡± Ah Wan¡¯s voice was a bit muffled. Jiang Zhi sounded displeased as he snapped at him, ¡°Who told you to get out of the car!¡± Ah Wan responded with a wronged tone, ¡°I saw it was snowing and specially came over to bring you an umbrella.¡± Then, surprised, he asked, ¡°Where¡¯s Miss Zhou? Why did she leave you here alone?¡± Jiang Zhi sounded like he was in a bad temper, ¡°Quick, come help me up.¡± S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Ah?¡± Ah Wan seemed puzzled. Jiang Zhi panted and yelled, ¡°I told you to come help me, damn it, cough cough cough¡­ my legs are frozen stiff.¡± Legs frozen stiff? Zhou Xufang¡¯s brow furrowed deeply. Shuangjiang asked her with a synthetic voice, ¡°What¡¯s taking so long?¡± She sat down in front of the computer, her head lowered as she fiddled with the seat cushion, replying, ¡°Oh.¡± Downstairs, the wind howled. ¡°Boss, shall we go back?¡± Whether it was the prolonged exposure to the wind or not, Jiang Zhi¡¯s voice had a nasal sound, ¡°Not going back.¡± Ah Wan then asked, ¡°If we¡¯re not going back, then what are we doing here?¡± In this heavy snow, someone could freeze to death. ¡°Chasing after a girlfriend, haven¡¯t you seen it before?¡± The second half of the sentence was said with some irritation, unclear at whom. ¡°¡­¡± Ah Wan stayed silent for quite a while, before speaking with a motherly tone, ¡°The snow is getting heavier, I¡¯m worried you can¡¯t withstand it.¡± ¡°Cough cough cough¡­ cough cough cough¡­¡± Jiang Zhi coughed for a long time, managing to choke out a single word: ¡°Scram.¡± As if the cold wind had struck his chest, he coughed violently. Could he faint? Zhou Xufang was worried. Shuangjiang asked her, ¡°Has Jiang Zhi left?¡± She placed the takeout she was holding down, replying, ¡°Oh.¡± ¡°What did he say to you?¡± There was something haunting about her. Yet again, she responded, ¡°Oh.¡± Shuangjiang laughed. She had come back, but her soul had not. ¡°Your face is very red.¡± Zhou Xufang grunted in acknowledgement, took off her down jacket and threw it aside, then tugged at the sweatshirt underneath, muttering, ¡°I feel so hot.¡± After speaking, she touched her lip, then bent a corner of her eye with every touch. Shuangjiang asked, ¡°Are you feverish again?¡± She pressed her cool palm against her face for a while, but it was still hot, so she stood up to get a thermometer and measured her temperature. Forty-one degrees. She had fallen sick again. Her body seemed to have gone haywire, one moment as cold as ice and the next blazing like fire. She felt no discomfort, only a heat that made her restless, with a desire to leap and bounce around, to jump into the sky and split the air. Then, with a fierce leap, the ceiling light clanged loudly. Shuangjiang: ¡°¡­¡± She felt that Zhou Xufang was behaving too oddly. ¡°Is there any medicine left at home?¡± Zhou Xufang looked up for a while and fortunately, the lamp Jiang Zhi had given her was not damaged. She was sweating and thirsty, gulping down two cans of milk in one go. She said, ¡°None left.¡± She had consumed all the fever medicine. Moreover, aside from feeling hot, she didn¡¯t seem to feel unwell anywhere else, but¡­ It was so hot. She couldn¡¯t stay put any longer, ¡°I¡¯m going out for a bit.¡± Shuangjiang asked her, ¡°To buy medicine?¡± No. She dressed and donned a black, fluffy hat, saying, ¡°Jiang Zhi¡¯s scarf is still on the floor, I forgot to pick it up.¡± Shuangjiang: ¡°¡­¡± Then, Zhou Xufang vanished from the room in an instant. Shuangjiang felt that during her fever, her speed seemed even faster¡­ At the entrance to building seven, Jiang Zhi was still standing there, with Ah Wan carefully holding an umbrella behind him. ¡°Boss, you¡­¡± Ah Wan paused, trying to hold back, but he couldn¡¯t. He spoke up again, ¡°You¡­¡± And once more, ¡°You¡­¡± Repeatedly starting and stopping, he hadn¡¯t dared to speak his mind. Such indecisiveness was annoying. Jiang Zhi turned and gave him a cold glance, ¡°Is your tongue twisted, or can¡¯t you keep your mouth shut?¡± Ah Wan straightened his tongue to speak, ¡°Did Miss Zhou reject you?¡± Just one sentence. Successfully turned the blossoms in Jiang Zhi¡¯s eyes into ice, freezing to three feet deep, and the light shooting from within was bone-chilling. He said, ¡°Give me the umbrella.¡± Ah Wan shuddered, ¡°Oh.¡± He quickly handed over the umbrella. Jiang Zhi held the umbrella in one hand and brushed snow off his shoulder with the other. His misty blue hair was weighed down until it drooped, his eyes held moist vapor, misting into fog, making his entire appearance seem a lot more obedient and harmless, but¡ª His body was full of hostility, ¡°Move out from under the umbrella.¡± Because he wasn¡¯t allowed to share the umbrella, Ah Wan¡¯s heart suddenly grew cold, ¡°Oh¡­¡± He hugged himself tightly, bracing against the wind and snow, hunched over and shuffled to one side, enduring the torment of the cold. It was so excessive, so heartless, so capricious¡­ As Ah Wan was mentally greeting his employer, the sound of a door came from the stairwell entrance. Oh, the bane to the employer¡¯s existence had arrived. Look at the boss, as his eyes went from winter to spring in an instant, ¡°Why have you come down again?¡± He knew she couldn¡¯t bear to leave him. Zhou Xufang, with a face flushed red, expression serious, ¡°Scarf.¡± Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t understand, ¡°Hmm?¡± She said, ¡°I forgot to pick up the scarf.¡± So, she didn¡¯t come for him? The fingers of the hand clutching the umbrella turned white from gripping so tightly, and the spring in his eyes vanished completely, ¡°So, you don¡¯t bother picking up a living person like me, but you come down to pick up a scarf?¡± His face was red with embarrassment and annoyance, like a newlywed bride. Zhou Xufang hung her head in silence. Not obedient at all! Jiang Zhi was so angered by her that it pained him, and he called out to Ah Wan. ¡°Ah?¡± Jiang Zhi commanded, ¡°You go pick it up.¡± Hmph! You only take it out on me! Dare to do that with Miss Zhou! Using soft tactics on the weak but fearing the wife! After Ah Wan finished grumbling internally, he clutched his shivering self, ¡°Oh.¡± The scarf was picked up. He didn¡¯t look like he would faint either. Zhou Xufang then said, ¡°I¡¯ll go back up.¡± Just as she turned around, Jiang Zhi grabbed her hat, ¡°Won¡¯t you take me with you?¡± He couldn¡¯t be at peace with her going back alone. And also, he wanted to go to her place! Zhou Xufang stopped for a moment and pulled her hat back down, wearing it askew, ¡°You should go home, it¡¯s very cold.¡± She was worried he might fall sick. He was too fragile. Jiang Zhi, still holding the umbrella, continued to stand at the door entrance. The wind was strong, swirling snowflakes chaotically, many of them landing on him. His lips were a delicate shade of pink, which made his face look even paler. He did not insist on entering, remaining quiet and still. He began to cough again, ¡°Not going back, want to see you some more.¡± Zhou Xufang turned around, ¡°Jiang Zhi¡ª¡± He interrupted her, ¡°Didn¡¯t you want to be rid of me? You can only tell me what to do if you accept me.¡± Chapter 75: 075: Oh, it’s mutual affection. Chapter 75: 075: Oh, it¡¯s mutual affection. ¡°You don¡¯t want me, do you? You can only tell me what to do if you take me.¡± Zhou Xufang then fell silent. Jiang Zhi was upset by her again. After a while, she lowered her head and said, ¡°Sorry.¡± Ten seconds had passed, and Jiang Zhi was still angry. He said to her irritably, ¡°Who asked for your apology?¡± The next second he bent down to look at her face and immediately forgot about being angry. ¡°Why is your face still so red? Are you still running a fever?¡± He reached out, wanting to touch her head. ... She covered her head with her hands and jumped backwards. She was treating him like a thief! ¡°Did you take your medicine?¡± His tone was still annoyed, but he couldn¡¯t bring himself to speak harshly anymore. Zhou Xufang dishonestly nodded, ¡°Yes.¡± Her fever was severe, not only her face, but even her forehead was red. Jiang Zhi was overtaken with worry and insisted, ¡°Forget about me, go and lie down.¡± Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t move, ¡°You go back first.¡± Still trying to send him away even when she was sick like this. What to do? What could he do, he had to put up with it for the girl he had fallen for. ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll go back.¡± He still wasn¡¯t at ease, he peered through the door at her for a long time, inelegantly reminding her like an old woman, ¡°Get some good sleep, and if the medicine doesn¡¯t work, you must go to the hospital.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± He emphasized specially, ¡°You must call me.¡± Zhou Xufang hesitated for a moment, then obediently nodded, ¡°Okay.¡± ¡°Then I¡¯m leaving.¡± And he really left. Jiang Zhi walked slowly, clutching his umbrella at a tortoise¡¯s pace. Zhou Xufang called out to him, ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± He stood in the snow, immediately turning to look at her. The white expanse of snow blurred his vision, the black umbrella was thick with snow, and beneath it, the man¡¯s beautiful eyes were fixed on her; everything else faded to the background, he only gazed at her. Never had anyone shown her such concern, such reluctance to leave. Zhou Xufang lowered her head, her eyes growing warm; she said softly, ¡°Be careful on the road.¡± Jiang Zhi waved to her, ¡°Go back.¡± She closed the door and didn¡¯t go upstairs, standing behind the door, listening to his footsteps growing further and further away. Ah Wan had parked the car on the roadside outside the residential complex, he shook off the snow from his body and gently opened the car door for his frail employer. Jiang Zhi got into the back seat. Ah Wan, covered in snow, didn¡¯t dare bring the cold into the car and used a towel to dry himself off before getting in. ¡°Boss, should we go back to the old house or the apartment?¡± If we stay parked here any longer, we might get a ticket. Jiang Zhi was distracted, he was physically back, but his gaze and soul were still outside: ¡°Just find a parking spot and stay put.¡± ¡°You¡¯re not going back?¡± Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t say a word, fixating on the direction of Zhou Xufang¡¯s home from the car window. Ah Wan felt that his employer¡¯s unrequited love had come on a bit strong, with his mind full of Miss Zhou who was keen on applying cling film, he was on the verge of losing himself. The snow showed no sign of stopping, falling incessantly. Ah Wan was sitting in the driver¡¯s seat until he felt his discs might protrude; finally, Zhou Xufang¡¯s call came through. S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The phone had only rung once when Jiang Zhi answered, ¡°Has your fever gone down?¡± ¡°It has.¡± Her voice sounded a bit hoarse, weak and breathless. Jiang Zhi still didn¡¯t feel at ease, ¡°Video call me, I want to see whether your face is still red or not.¡± Zhou Xufang then hung up the phone and started a video call. The first thing she said was, ¡°Go home.¡± He was extremely upset, ¡°Always rushing me off.¡± The girl on the other end of the phone still could not find the camera lens as usual, looking blank and confused about where to stare, she brought the phone very close so that her face filled the screen. Her face was not red anymore, it looked sweaty, and her eyes were moist. Jiang Zhi felt a pang of heartache as he watched, unable to bear not listening to her anymore, ¡°Alright, stop rushing me. I¡¯ll go back once we hang up.¡± What he meant was to keep on video calling because he hadn¡¯t had his fill of watching her yet. And then¡ª Zhou Xufang disconnected the video call. Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± ¡°¡± He really was her ancestor! He was so angry that he dragged out her WeChat and sent over a ferocious voice message. ¡°Zhou Xufang!¡± Zhou Xufang replied with a ¡°.¡± Her tone was still soft, and he called out to her with his back turned to Ah Wan¡¯s gaze, ¡°Zhou Xufang.¡± ¡°.¡± The more Jiang Zhi looked at it, the more he found those periods annoying. He was also a coward; he could never stay angry with her for more than a few seconds. He continued to send her voice messages, instructing her warmly and gently in a tone he despised himself: ¡°Stop ordering takeout, I¡¯ll have someone deliver dinner to you tonight.¡± Zhou Xufang replied quickly: ¡°No need.¡± Jiang Zhi put the phone to his mouth, his fierce tone full of indulgence: ¡°I insist on sending it, and if you don¡¯t eat it, just throw it away!¡± Zhou Xufang: ¡°.¡± Ah Wan: ¡°¡­¡± Deaf, are you? Unperturbed, Jiang Zhi continued to instruct his little ancestor: ¡°Rest well these few days, don¡¯t go out to work.¡± Zhou Xuzong replied, ¡°Okay.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll buy you some tonics later.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have to come over,¡± Zhou Xufang sent in a voice message, ¡°It¡¯s very cold.¡± Jiang Zhi listened to it twice, the corners of his mouth curving higher and higher: ¡°I won¡¯t come, I¡¯ll have someone else deliver it.¡± She replied with a period. At that moment, Jiang Zhi lifted his head and glared at the back of Ah Wan¡¯s head, finding it exceedingly irritating. He stopped sending voice messages and began to type. ¡°Zhou Xufang.¡± ¡°Uh.¡± He smiled and typed four words to her: ¡°I like you.¡± And he changed his nickname to ¡®My Little Ancestor.¡¯ Zhou Xufang: ¡°.¡± ¡°I really like you.¡± He was crazy, just wanted her to hear it. He had never been like this before, his heart floating, swirling around her, helpless to do anything but worship her. Zhou Xufang: ¡°.¡± Jiang Zhi was annoyed by the series of periods: ¡°If you send another period, I¡¯ll take it as you have feelings for me too.¡± Zhou Xufang: ¡°¡­¡± Jiang Zhi couldn¡¯t continue. Damn ellipsis! After she sent the last ellipsis, Zhou Xufang stared at her phone for a long time, making sure that Jiang Zhi wouldn¡¯t reply again, before she put down the phone. Shuangjiang had been online the whole time, witnessing all of Zhou Xufang¡¯s expressions ¨C her worry, her joy, complex and vivid, brimming with life. ¡°Did Jiang Zhi confess to you?¡± Zhou Xufang stared intently at her phone for a long time before she finally nodded. ¡°Ah Fang, do you know what liking someone means?¡± Shuangjiang added, ¡°It¡¯s not the same as liking chandeliers or cotton candy.¡± Ever since she could remember, Zhou Xufang had been alone; no one had ever taught her these things. She nodded as if she understood, then shook her head. ¡°Let me give you an example, if your favorite lamp broke, what would you do?¡± She thought for a moment and said seriously: ¡°Bury it.¡± Shuangjiang: ¡°¡­¡± Then she asked, ¡°What if Jiang Zhi was gone?¡± Her brow furrowed: ¡°Why would he be gone?¡± ¡°If he were to be killed by someone¡ª¡± She didn¡¯t even let her finish, her expression turned fierce immediately: ¡°I wouldn¡¯t let anyone hurt him.¡± She looked up, her pupils reddening slightly beneath her thick lashes, ¡°Whoever dares to harm him, I¡¯ll break their arms and legs.¡± When Zhou Xufang was angry, her eyes would turn red. It was just a hypothetical situation, and she was already angry. Perhaps she didn¡¯t even know herself how much she treasured that boy. Shuangjiang rarely saw her with red eyes, and although she never tried to hide it: ¡°Do you understand now? Jiang Zhi is different from the chandelier.¡± Zhou Xufang seemed to realize afterward and nodded. She said: ¡°He¡¯s different from chandeliers, chandeliers can be buried at Moon Bay, but he can¡¯t.¡± She couldn¡¯t bear it. Jiang Zhi was so wonderful, she hoped he¡¯d be in the best place, with the best people, living the best life, instead of following her, boring and lifeless, adrift on a desolate, uninhabited island. And moreover¡ª She suddenly felt very despondent: ¡°If Jiang Zhi knew I was a freak, he wouldn¡¯t like me anymore.¡± Chapter 76: 076: I am willing to let her ride on my head~ Chapter 76: 076: I am willing to let her ride on my head~ S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Xue Baoyi was restless, always needing to be on the move or he¡¯d feel uneasy all over. In the evening, he called everyone out, insisting on playing mahjong. Jiang Zhi was disinterested. Qiao Nanchu arrived fashionably late. Upon entering, he snuffed out his cigarette and immediately noticed Jiang Zhi slumped on the sofa. He teased, ¡°What¡¯s up with you? Looking all listless.¡± Xue Baoyi, whilst shaking the dice and amusing himself, chimed in, ¡°Isn¡¯t it obvious? He got the cold shoulder from Zhou Xufang.¡± Jiang Zhi shot him a glare. Xue Baoyi quickly got the hint and zipped his lips with a hand gesture: ¡°I¡¯m not saying anything more, nothing more.¡± ... Lifeless. Unable to really get into the card game, Xue Baoyi then called Xue Bingxue over to play video games. Ah Wan came in from outside, hung up his coat, and listened to Mr. exclaiming in anguish as he got killed in the game. Calmly, he walked over to where Jiang Zhi was lying on the sofa. ¡°Boss, Jin Song has found some clues.¡± In the game, Xue Baoyi momentarily looked up as Ah Wan spoke: ¡°Was it really Jin Song who hired someone to hit him?¡± Ah Wan didn¡¯t answer but leaned in and whispered something to Jiang Zhi. Jiang Zhi sat up straight on the sofa and lazily crossed his legs, calling out, ¡°Bingxue.¡± Xue Bingxue, who was gaming, looked up. Jiang Zhi said, ¡°Go wait outside for ten minutes.¡± Xue Bingxue¡¯s face showed confusion: ¡°Why?¡± Just then, Xue Baoyi yelped again. He hadn¡¯t managed to grab a weapon upon landing and got instantly shot in the head, swearing in a Beijing accent out of frustration. Jiang Zhi kicked Xue Baoyi¡¯s shin with the back of his foot. That quieted Xue Baoyi. Jiang Zhi glanced at Xue Bingxue and slowly said, ¡°We¡¯re about to discuss something vile, don¡¯t wanna scare you.¡± Xue Bingxue looked at the three ¡®animals¡¯ in the room, decided not to ask further, and left. Xue Baoyi shook his head, puzzled by who had raised such a tactful and honest nephew, rendering his own big nephew embarrassed to look directly at him. Once he was alone, Jiang Zhi asked Ah Wan, ¡°What¡¯s Jiang Wei¡¯er¡¯s involvement?¡± Xue Baoyi was about to operate his 98k when his fingers paused. Bang! He was headshot again. After tossing his phone aside, Xue Baoyi looked up. Ah Wan replied, ¡°It¡¯s not related to Fifth Miss; it¡¯s Fifth Miss¡¯s boyfriend.¡± Qiao Nanchu poured a drink and sat next to Jiang Zhi, ¡°So, the one who hit Brother Zhi that day was Xiao Linsu?¡± Ah Wan said, ¡°We haven¡¯t found evidence of that yet.¡± ¡°What did you find out then?¡± Ah Wan rubbed his buzz cut, ¡°Xiao Linsu and Jin Song have an unusual relationship.¡± Xue Baoyi leaned in, ¡°How unusual?¡± Ah Wan had a shocked expression as if his whole worldview had been shattered: ¡°Xiao Linsu spent the night at Jin Song¡¯s place!¡± Xue Baoyi laughed, ¡°Wow, they¡¯re playing big.¡± No wonder Jiang Zhi sent his uncle away, otherwise if his uncle found out about Xiao Linsu¡¯s disloyalty to Jiang Wei¡¯er, he might abandon his long-held beliefs of twenty-eight years and go on a rampage. But they couldn¡¯t tip their hand yet; they needed solid evidence. ¡°Ah Wan.¡± ¡°Boss, go ahead.¡± Jiang Zhi poured a small glass of red wine and took a delicate sip, ¡°Send Jin Song¡¯s investigation files to Old Lady Jiang.¡± Ah Wan nodded, ¡°Oh.¡± Qiao Nanchu intercepted Jiang Zhi¡¯s glass and replaced it with a glass of milk, ¡°Do you have something on Jin Song?¡± He sighed weakly, holding his chest and coughing slightly, his complexion pale and breath short, ¡°Can¡¯t a sick man protect himself?¡± Qiao Nanchu cursed jokingly and downed Jiang Zhi¡¯s wine. Xue Baoyi grabbed a handful of his freshly styled hair. Something wasn¡¯t right. If Jiang Zhi had leverage, why involve Old Lady Jiang? Couldn¡¯t he just take action directly? Whether it was grandson or grandmother, wouldn¡¯t the impact be the same? Just as Xue Baoyi was about to ask for clarification, Xue Bingxue came back on his own. ¡°Brother Zhi,¡± Xue Bingxue stood at the door. ¡°I saw your family¡¯s Miss Zhou sticking films.¡± The joke about sticking films was getting old. Jiang Zhi stood up at the mention, ¡°Where?¡± ¡°She¡¯s outside handing out flyers.¡± Qiao Nanchu chuckled, ¡°Is this girl a model worker or something?¡± Without another word, Jiang Zhi left his friends to find his industrious girl. By then, the night had completely fallen; the street was brilliantly lit with neon lights. Due to the heavy snow, there were few pedestrians who, reluctant to take out their hands in the bitter cold, refused the flyers being handed to them. Zhou Xufang was about to move to a more crowded area when someone called her name fiercely from behind. ¡°Zhou Xufang!¡± Oh, it was the world¡¯s most beautiful beauty, Jiang Zhi. Zhou Xufang turned around, her previously expressionless face now softened. She thought to herself: How wonderful, I¡¯ve met him again today. Jiang Zhi stormed out of Fusheng Inn, without even bothering to use an umbrella, and began scolding, ¡°Didn¡¯t I tell you not to come out and work?¡± How can you be so disobedient! Zhou Xufang was clad in a black raincoat, with a large hood covering her entire head, and she also wore a mask, only revealing a pair of dark eyes. Her feet were shod in black rain boots. In the dead of night, she looked like¡­ like a female ghost. No wonder pedestrians not only refused her flyers but also avoided her by a wide margin. However, Zhou Xufang was sincere in her work, never lazy, willing to endure hardship. On this cold winter night, she was the only one willing to work, so the hotpot restaurant¡¯s owner, out of desperation, had offered her a ¡®high price¡¯ to come and help. The Zhou Xufang, who had been recruited for a ¡®high price,¡¯ was holding a stack of flyers for the hotpot restaurant. She told Jiang Zhi, ¡°I¡¯m already better.¡± To prove her recovery, she bounced in place twice, ¡°Really, I am completely healed.¡± Not long after Jiang Zhi left, her fever had subsided. Moreover, she hadn¡¯t actually felt unwell; even when she had a fever, she felt only warmth and no other discomfort, instead feeling an abundance of energy. Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t believe her. He lifted the hood of her raincoat to see if her forehead was still red. Zhou Xufang cooperatively lifted her head and obediently took off her mask, saying, ¡°See, the fever has gone down.¡± Her lips were rosy, parting and closing as she spoke. Made him want to kiss her. Ahem, ahem, ahem¡­ Jiang Zhi coughed a few times. His Adam¡¯s apple, tinged with a blush, bobbed as he swallowed. He pulled her raincoat¡¯s hood back over her head and turned his head away, saying petulantly, ¡°You¡¯re not allowed to get sick again.¡± Zhou Xufang was troubled, ¡°But I¡¯ve already promised Boss Zhang.¡± A person ought to keep their word, plus the hotpot restaurant¡¯s Boss Zhang was very kind and often looked out for her at work. Today, with the heavy snow being perfect hotpot weather, Boss Zhang couldn¡¯t find anyone else to distribute flyers and had specially asked her. She couldn¡¯t break her word. Jiang Zhi snatched the flyers from her hand, ¡°I¡¯ll distribute them for you. You go inside.¡± Zhou Xufang stood stunned, not moving. Jiang Zhi urged, ¡°Go inside quick.¡± Then to the onlookers at the doorway who had come to enjoy the show, he bellowed, ¡°What are you few still standing around for? Come and help me!¡± Xue Bingxue: ¡°¡­¡± Qiao Nanchu: ¡°¡­¡± Xue Baoyi: ¡°¡­¡± The three young masters, who knew little of the hardships of the common folk, internally resisted, but seeing Jiang Zhi, who had never touched cold water since childhood, distributing flyers in the snow, how could they, as his brothers, not help? The three young masters could only step into the snow to distribute flyers together with Jiang Family¡¯s young master. Ah Wan, standing behind helping her frail employer hold an umbrella, inwardly sighed, it really was a world that judged by appearances. Their master, with a face that looked like someone owed him a billion, had yet to have a single flyer refused. Xue Baoyi, unaccustomed to such hardships, soon had hands red from the cold. He couldn¡¯t help but say, ¡°Brother Zhi, this is a bit much.¡± Jiang Zhi was unfeeling, ¡°Speak human.¡± Xue Baoyi sincerely said, ¡°A woman shouldn¡¯t be spoiled too much, or she¡¯ll climb onto your head.¡± Like his two uncles, who because they doted on women too much, couldn¡¯t tell apart home from outside, resulting in constant turmoil in the family. Concubines, heavily pregnant, would run to the wife to make trouble, outrageously audacious. Honestly, it wasn¡¯t unusual for men from wealthy families to mess around, but like his two uncles, ruining their reputations was just idiotic, all brought about by spoiling women, otherwise why would each one daringly have secret affairs? But Jiang Zhi was utterly unconcerned, ¡°If I want her to climb, what about it.¡± He looked towards the entrance of Fusheng Inn, where the girl in the raincoat stood quietly, obediently watching him. Forget climbing on him, as long as Zhou Xufang was willing, he was up for anything. Xue Baoyi: ¡°¡­¡± What about it? Done for. After distributing the flyers, Jiang Zhi escorted Zhou Xufang home. Xue Baoyi, no longer in the mood for fun, watched as his good buddy fell headfirst into love. Feeling somewhat gloomy, he pulled out his phone to start a game of game, perhaps spurred by Jiang Zhi¡¯s actions, he uncharacteristically invited his arch-nemesis¡ªI¡¯m Your Ancestor. Moreover, he sent a private message: ¡°It¡¯s time you experienced my true skills.¡± On the other end, Fang Lixiang, playing the game while squatting in the restroom, curled the corners of her mouth, sneering. She accepted the invitation and readied to see how this noob would make a fool of himself. Not five minutes into the game¡ª The headset was filled with a cacophony of yells: ¡°Ah, ah, ah, don¡¯t hit me!¡± Truth be told, Xue Baoyi was usually a domineering CEO type, certainly a refined young master with an imposing aura, but once he entered the battleground¡­ He couldn¡¯t control himself: ¡°Quick, come here, they¡¯re hitting me!¡± ¡°Teammate! Teammate! Where are you? Teammate!!!¡± ¡°They¡¯re coming, help me! Quick, help me up!¡± Fang Lixiang¡¯s eardrums hurt from the shouting inside her headset. This noob¡¯s voice sounded somewhat like her boss? ¡°Teammate! Teammate, come quick!¡± ¡°Help me, help me get up aaaah!¡± Fang Lixiang picked her ears and drove over, ¡°Damn it, stop yelling, I¡¯m here.¡± Then, she got out of the vehicle, just as she was helping the person up, a fire started behind her. Fang Lixiang exploded in irritation, ¡°What the hell, why did you throw a Molotov?!¡± Xue Baoyi stammered, scared, ¡°To¡­ to kill the enemy.¡± Fang Lixiang was on the verge of a breakdown, ¡°To kill your grandma, you threw it at me, I¡¯m going to be burned alive by you!¡± In the game, I¡¯m Your Ancestor had already been killed. The game hadn¡¯t even lasted five minutes, she hadn¡¯t killed a single person yet, had picked up several guns, but hadn¡¯t managed to fire a single bullet before being burned to death by a teammate¡­ Fang Lixiang roared, ¡°It¡¯s all your fault!¡± The other party was unrepentant, ¡°Who told you to be behind me.¡± Damn, he even found an excuse. Fang Lixiang was furious to the point of nearly dropping dead on the spot: ¡°Wasn¡¯t it you who freaking told me to come help you?¡± She couldn¡¯t hold back any longer, really couldn¡¯t hold back, ¡°You noob! And you have the nerve to go by ¡®A lifetime of handsome,¡¯ I think you should be ¡®A lifetime of noob¡¯!¡± Xue¡¤Noob¡¤Baoyi: ¡°¡­¡± She despised those players who cursed their teammates for being noobs after dying. Chapter 77: 077: Brother Zhi is so bad~ Chapter 77: 077: Brother Zhi is so bad~ The next day, a financial news story hit the top of Weibo¡¯s trending search. Vice President Jin Song of Huayu was urgently arrested on suspicion of tax evasion and bribery. His brother, Jin Lei, claimed to be unaware and would fully cooperate with the police investigation. Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Snow continued for two days, and the sun only appeared on the third day. At nine in the morning, the police station had a visitor. Tap, tap, tap, tap¡­ Jin Song, sitting in the interrogation room, could hear the sound of a walking stick hitting the ground before he saw the person. The visitor was an elderly person with graying hair. ... She was assisted by someone, holding a walking cane, wearing an emerald and translucent bracelet, her makeup and hair meticulously perfect. ¡°Are you Jin Song?¡± At ten, Qiao Nanchu visited Qingshan Mansion. Jiang Zhi had just woken up, still appearing sleepy. Qiao Nanchu teased him a bit before getting down to business, ¡°Jin Song has been released.¡± Jiang Zhi grunted, his spirit was down, his face showing no surprise, still appearing half-asleep. ¡°Expected that?¡± He did not commit to an answer, grabbed a pullover sweater to put on, and ruffled his tousled hair, ¡°Old Mrs. Jiang still has a sharp edge.¡± Qiao Nanchu also inquired with the Criminal Investigation Team. It definitely was Old Lady Jiang¡¯s doing, and he grew curious, ¡°You handed Jin Song¡¯s leverage to Old Mrs. Jiang? Weren¡¯t you aiming to take down Jin Song?¡± It had only been forty-eight hours, and the man was already out. This was not like Jiang Zhi¡¯s style. ¡°Yeah, to finish him off.¡± Jiang Zhi, sitting on the couch, slowly sipping warm milk, leisurely responded with this. ¡°Why was he released then?¡± Qiao Nanchu, today in a police uniform, his tie undone and slouching against the couch, his righteous expression unable to hide a mischievous smile, asked cheekily, ¡°What is your Old Lady Jiang up to? Sending someone in and then pulling him back out¡ªwhat¡¯s the meaning of all this?¡± Jiang Zhi put down his cup, tossing a marshmallow into his mouth, ¡°Who said it was Old Mrs. Jiang who sent him in?¡± Qiao Nanchu raised an eyebrow. ¡°I gave the stuff to Old Mrs. Jiang, she just handed it to Jin Lei,¡± holding a glass candy jar without leaving his hand, Jiang Zhi idly fiddled with it, ¡°We, the Jiang Family, don¡¯t like to dirty our own hands.¡± Qiao Nanchu unfastened a button of his police uniform, leaned back, and lounged into the sofa, ¡°Old Mrs. Jiang even used Jin Lei¡¯s hand to put the man inside, then why release him?¡± ¡°My Fifth Aunt was insulted; how could Old Mrs. Jiang just sit by?¡± If his guess was right, Old Mrs. Jiang would have demanded some compensation before pulling the strings to get him out. Such cunning. Qiao Nanchu laughed, ¡°Your Old Lady Jiang uses others to do her killing. What about you?¡± He looked at Jiang Zhi, eager, ¡°You¡¯re not just playing around with this whole act, right?¡± Indeed, Old Mrs. Jiang was an old fox. And Jiang Zhi? A cunning fox with even deeper tricks. He still appeared unconcerned and lazy. ¡°I just said it.¡± What did he just say? ¡°Finish off Jin Song?¡± Jiang Zhi, slightly drowsy, lay there with his peach blossom eyes drooping, a faint red at the corners not very noticeable, more charming than a lady but always with a hint of severe allure, didn¡¯t confirm but instead posed Qiao Nanchu a question, ¡°What would you do if someone put you in jail and then you got out?¡± ¡°Seek revenge.¡± He smiled, as delightful as peach blossoms, ¡°I just love watching the brothers turn against one another and bite each other like dogs.¡± No wonder he sent the stuff to Old Lady Jiang and stayed out of it directly. This man plays with people¡¯s hearts and to be honest, Qiao Nanchu has never seen anyone more sinister than Jiang Zhi. ¡°You Jiang Family folks really don¡¯t like to get your own hands dirty.¡± Old Mrs. Jiang is one, and Jiang Zhi is certainly no less. He still languidly lay there, absently saying, ¡°Send a message to Bao Yi. Huayu is about to implode internally. Tell him not to sit idle but to start closing the net.¡± Jin Lei and Jin Song, the brothers turned on each other, a classic case of the fisherman benefiting from the snipe and clam¡¯s fight. Jiang Zhi, oh Jiang Zhi, ruthlessly cunning. Qiao Nanchu laughed and cursed him as shameless. Jiang Zhi hummed, unapologetically, grabbed his phone and dialed a number. ¡°Vice Director Zhao.¡± As soon as Vice Director Zhao picked up the call from this big shot, his voice trembled, ¡°Director Jiang, what can I do for you?¡± Seemingly casual, Jiang Zhi asked, ¡°No extras in the scenes this afternoon?¡± Vice Director Zhao honestly reported, ¡°No, the afternoon is all main character scenes.¡± He didn¡¯t know what he had done to upset the big shot, as the voice came unfriendly, ¡°Why not add some?¡± A scene where the main characters confess their love¡ªhow do you add extras to that, tell me, how do you add them? Stick in a third wheel?! Vice Director Zhao was helpless, ¡°It really wouldn¡¯t be appropriate¡ª¡± Before he could finish, the call was hung up. ¡°¡­¡± Really! Vice Director Zhao was even starting to doubt his life choices, wondering if Director Jiang wasn¡¯t really shooting a grand national espionage film but rather the rise of extras. At eleven, Zhou Xufang received a message from the group leader, asking if she would take an extra¡¯s role in a scene where the main characters kiss. She would just need to express surprise and then walk by without showing her face, just one shot, and she could name her price. Name her price¡­ It must be Jiang Zhi trying to look out for her. Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t immediately reply to the group leader. She sat in front of the computer, her expression a bit bleak. Shuangjiang was originally discussing with her the property issue of this building, fearing Jiang Zhi might find something out; they might have to make another move. Zhou Xufang¡¯s crestfallen mood came abruptly. ¡°Why so gloomy?¡± Zhou Xufang let her head sag, unhappy, ¡°I can¡¯t do the extra work.¡± Shuangjiang didn¡¯t understand what she meant and sent a string of question marks. She said, ¡°I¡¯m supposed to go to Moon Bay and can¡¯t bring Jiang Zhi along. I should keep my distance from him.¡± As she spoke, she became even more despondent, her face showing an utterly defeated expression, ¡°It¡¯s all over TV, stringing someone along when you can¡¯t be together is just trashy.¡± Shuangjiang: ¡°¡­¡± Zhou Xufang even knew the term ¡°trashy.¡± ¡°But I really want to act,¡± Zhou Xufang sighed, ¡°they pay a lot.¡± Shuangjiang immediately typed a line: ¡°Ah Fang, be honest, it¡¯s not about the money, you just want to see Jiang Zhi.¡± Zhou Xufang¡¯s face blushed instantly, she lowered her head, silent, her ears also turning red, then she put her hands on the keyboard and manually replied: ¡°.¡± Shuangjiang: ¡°¡­¡± This girl really likes Jiang Zhi a lot. She had a feeling Moon Bay wasn¡¯t going to happen. ¡°Ah Fang,¡± Shuangjiang¡¯s font suddenly turned red, ¡°there¡¯s a new hiring mission.¡± Zhou Xufang was still listless: ¡°Oh.¡± ¡°It involves protecting someone.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Shuangjiang used a large bold font: ¡°The beneficiary, Jiang Zhi.¡± Zhou Xufang paused for a moment, her eyes widened, ¡°Who¡¯s hiring?¡± ¡°It¡¯s Jiang Zhi¡¯s grandmother.¡± Shuangjiang added, ¡°The hiring period is one month, with a commission of twenty million.¡± She asked Zhou Xufang, ¡°Will you take it?¡± Zhou Xufang frowned, then relaxed, and tightened again, battling internally for a long time, finally, she said, ¡°I¡¯ll take it.¡± ¡°Not keeping your distance from Jiang Zhi anymore?¡± Shuangjiang teased her playfully. She turned her head away in embarrassment, speaking earnestly and softly, ¡°I need to make money, or I won¡¯t be able to afford Moon Bay.¡± Shuangjiang chuckled. Zhou Xufang ah, you¡¯ve learned to lie. The dispirited Zhou Xufang was suddenly spirited again; she replied to the group leader with a ¡®go¡¯, then got up to change clothes in the dressing room, carrying two packs of cotton candy Jiang Zhi had given her to eat on the way. ¡°I¡¯m off to work,¡± she told Shuangjiang, ¡°Goodbye.¡± Chapter 78: 078: Wear Pink on a Date (First Update) Chapter 78: 078: Wear Pink on a Date (First Update) ¡°I¡¯m off to work,¡± she told Shuangjiang, ¡°goodbye.¡± Then she headed out to work as usual, wearing her face mask and hat securely and wrapped in a black down jacket from head to foot. The only difference today was that she wore a pink hoodie under her down jacket. As soon as she stepped downstairs, someone called out to her. ¡°Xu Fang.¡± The voice sounded very familiar. It was the new security guard, an old man who was very enthusiastic. He hadn¡¯t been around long but had already become friendly with everyone in the community, including Zhou Xufang, whose reputation had always been rather poor in the community. Every time she passed by, he greeted her. ... Everyone in the community called him Mr. Fang. Zhou Xufang politely greeted him back, ¡°Hello, uncle.¡± Mr. Fang always looked at her with affection, ¡°Are you going on a date?¡± It was the first time he had seen her wear pink; she looked as pretty as his own daughter. Hearing this, Zhou Xufang immediately shook her head seriously, ¡°No, it¡¯s not a date.¡± Her face flushed as she explained seriously, ¡°I¡¯m going to work.¡± Oh, she¡¯s shy. Mr. Fang, as someone who had been through it all, didn¡¯t spell it out. He took out a row of AD calcium milk bottles warmed from his greatcoat and handed them to Zhou Xufang, ¡°Take this, drink it on the way.¡± Zhou Xufang was surprisingly flattered and hesitated for a while before accepting them, hurriedly saying, ¡°Thank you.¡± Mr. Fang chuckled in an aunty-like manner and waved her off, ¡°Go on, take care on the road.¡± She said ¡®goodbye¡¯ and then walked out of the community with a row of AD calcium milk. When she passed the community supermarket, she gave two bottles to Wen Baiyang. When she arrived at the film set, it was just one o¡¯clock in the afternoon, still early. Zhou Xufang had good eyesight and good hearing; from afar, she saw the noisy perimeter of the set, and at the corner, a man crouched, wearing just a white shirt on such a cold day, his back straight as a rod. In the corner, a mixed-breed puppy shivered, very small and extremely skinny, its fur tangled into clumps. Its front leg was still bleeding. The man¡¯s hands were clean and pale, pressing on the puppy¡¯s wound, soft-spokenly he asked it, ¡°Were you beaten by someone again?¡± Perhaps it was in pain, the puppy whimpered a few times. He dirtied his hand but didn¡¯t mind, taking off the handkerchief from his shirt pocket, gently wrapped it around the puppy¡¯s injured leg. His movements were gentle and slow. This stray dog was very obedient, neither moving nor barking, allowing him to bandage it. After he had bandaged the wound, the man used his blood-stained palm to caress the dirty head of the puppy, advising it, ¡°Don¡¯t go stealing food anymore, come to me if you¡¯re hungry.¡± Zhou Xufang had seen this dog once before, not knowing where this stray came from. It occasionally ran to the set but often provoked the set¡¯s crew who would then chase it while yelling. Zhou Xufang continued towards the set when the man turned around, his gaze colliding with hers. He was Jiang Zhi¡¯s aunt¡¯s boyfriend, Zhou Xufang recognized him. She was wearing a mask and a hat, and he clearly didn¡¯t recognize her, greeting her with a gentle and polite smile, ¡°Are you here for an autograph?¡± He thought she was a fan. In fact, Zhou Xufang had seen Xiao Linsu several times on the set, though she was always crouching in inconspicuous corners, unnoticed by Xiao Linsu. In her impression, Linsu was a gentle and kind person to everyone. Seeing her not speaking, Xiao Linsu asked her, ¡°Do you have any paper?¡± Zhou Xufang shook her head. He thought for a very short moment, then took out a cigarette box, which had only one cigarette left. He took out the cigarette, placed it in his mouth, then pulled out a pen from his shirt pocket, signed his name on the cigarette box, and handed it to Zhou Xufang with a smile. Since he had touched the dog¡¯s wound, there was blood on his palm, which stained both the pen and the cigarette box. Zhou Xufang was about to explain that she wasn¡¯t a fan when someone behind her called out. ¡°Xu Fang!¡± It was Fang Lixiang, hanging around the entrance of the set urging her, ¡°Hurry up, I bought soup dumplings.¡± Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t explain, took the cigarette box, thanked him, and entered the set, where Fang Lixiang was chattering nonstop. Zhou Xufang couldn¡¯t help but look back, seeing Xiao Linsu returning to the spot. He squatted down, smoked for a while, then put out his cigarette. He looked at the dog, gently asking, ¡°Does it hurt a lot?¡± The puppy softly whined at him. He reached out his hand to its head, gently rubbing with a natural and practiced motion, as if he had done this thousands of times. He asked the dog, that clearly didn¡¯t understand human speech, ¡°Do you want to come with me?¡± It barked once in response. He smiled, tossed the cigarette butt, picked up the dog¡ªits injured leg bled onto him. Zhou Xufang recognized the shirt; Xiao Linsu was the male lead in ¡°Wilderness¡± and that shirt was his costume. She thought, perhaps the dog had come to the set looking for him; others might yell at it, but it still came. ¡°Xu Fang.¡± Fang Lixiang waved her hand in front of Zhou Xufang. Zhou Xufang diverted her gaze, asking her, ¡°Lixiang, do you know Xiao Linsu well?¡± Fang Lixiang glanced toward the crowd, saw the manager was not around, quickly stuffed the soup dumplings hidden in her coat into her mouth, and mumbled unclearly, ¡°Can¡¯t say I know him well, but I really liked him when he first started out.¡± Speaking of her idol, she seemed melancholic, ¡°He was only eighteen then, a very warm person.¡± ¡°And now?¡± Zhou Xufang felt he wasn¡¯t a bad person, although she had seen him pulling and tugging with his manager in the parking lot. Fang Lixiang thought for a moment, ¡°Quite melancholic.¡± Asked Zhou Xufang, ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± Zhou Xufang shook her head. She just felt that him squatting there, with the abandoned, yelled-at stray dog, was very similar. They didn¡¯t mention Xiao Linsu anymore. Fang Lixiang was surprised to find something, ¡°You¡¯re actually wearing pink today.¡± Although Zhou Xufang was young, she dressed and behaved like someone cut off from the world, an old cadre; her clothes were always black. Fang Lixiang found it a bit subtle, ¡°This is the first time I¡¯ve seen you wear pink.¡± Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t speak, silently zipped up her down jacket, covering the pink hoodie inside. Then, someone suddenly called her. ¡°Zhou Xufang.¡± S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 79: 079: Shocking! He actually treated her like a beast (second update Chapter 79: 079: Shocking! He actually treated her like a beast (second update ¡°Zhou Xufang.¡± Fang Lixiang looked up to see a beautiful face, and then sneakily winked at Zhou Xufang, ¡°Director Jiang is calling you.¡± Zhou Xufang uttered an ¡°oh¡± before silently pulling down the zipper of her down jacket, revealing the pink sweatshirt inside. Only then did she turn around, a bit too quickly, causing the motion to yank on her pocket. The cigarette case that Xiao Linsu had signed for her fell out and rolled right to Jiang Zhi¡¯s feet. Jiang Zhi¡¯s smile tightened slightly, ¡°You smoke?¡± Who led her astray! Zhou Xufang immediately shook her head, ¡°It¡¯s not mine.¡± Jiang Zhi picked up the cigarette case, flipped it over for a look. The bloodstains Zhou Xufang¡¯s pocket had rubbed off, and the pen ink was a bit smudged, but it was still recognizable. ... ¡°Xiao Linsu?¡± Xiao Linsu¡¯s handwriting was very nice, the signature done neatly. That¡¯s what Zhou Xufang was thinking in her head. Jiang Zhi¡¯s tone suddenly turned fierce, ¡°Come with me!¡± Why is he angry? ¡°Oh.¡± Zhou Xufang followed. Jiang Zhi led her into his private rest room and then, turning back with an indifferent expression, commanded Ah Wan, ¡°Stand guard outside.¡± Ah Wan felt like this was a secret affair. He was a diligent and good assistant, ¡°Yes, boss.¡± Bang! The door was slammed shut by Jiang Zhi, who then turned to face Zhou Xufang, pinching the autographed cigarette case between two fingers, with a look of disgust and anger on his face. He questioned Zhou Xufang, ¡°Is this cigarette case Xiao Linsu¡¯s?¡± She actually kept another man¡¯s cigarette case in her pocket! She has never kept him in her pocket! Zhou Xufang nodded. And she doesn¡¯t even explain! Jiang Zhi never thought he had a bad temper before, but now he felt truly irritable, and really wanted to scold her, but was afraid of scaring her. He forced himself to ask in a gentle voice while his face turned red, ¡°Why did he give you the cigarette case?¡± Zhou Xufang answered straightforwardly, ¡°He mistook me for his fan and signed it for me.¡± A fan? Shameless man! Jiang Zhi was still a bit angry at her and continued to question her awkwardly, ¡°Then why didn¡¯t you throw it away?¡± S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Zhou Xufang replied, ¡°It would be impolite to throw it away.¡± Impolite? Hah! Jiang Zhi pinched the case with two fingers, squashed it, and then casually threw it into the trash can. With a stern face, he instructed her, ¡°Stay away from that Xiao guy from now on.¡± No, that¡¯s still not enough. He changed his phrasing, emphasizing, ¡°From now on, whenever you see a man, you need to stay away.¡± She was so adorable and her EQ was so low, it was too easy for someone to deceive her. Must! Watch! Her! Closely! Zhou Xufang really did have a low EQ and didn¡¯t understand, ¡°Why?¡± Jiang Zhi gave her a reason without changing his expression, ¡°All men are beasts.¡± She disagreed, ¡°Not all.¡± She looked at Jiang Zhi with a very serious gaze, stating firmly and earnestly, ¡°You¡¯re not.¡± Jiang Zhi was charmed by her, yet still insisted stubbornly, ¡°I am, too.¡± This phrase, however, did not scare her. He really was a beast, eager to snatch her back to his den. Zhou Xufang remained adamant, completely unaware that Jiang Zhi¡¯s gaze had turned aggressive, nor did she understand the heated, explicit scrutiny, sticking to her guns and saying, ¡°You are a good person.¡± A good person, huh. Jiang Zhi chuckled, then leaned forward, seeking her lips to close in. Her eyelashes fluttered, she quickly retreated, covering her mouth. What are you dodging for? Not cute at all! Jiang Zhi did not back down, still bent at the waist, speaking close enough for his breath to deliberately fall on her neck, his voice deliberately suppressed, low and rough. Like temptation. He asked her, ¡°Have you ever seen that kind of film?¡± the corners of his eyes flushed with a shy peach blossom hue. A fiery red climbed over Zhou Xufang¡¯s face, she stiffened without moving, her eyelashes trembling with nervousness, but she did not dodge, obediently and cleverly looking up at Jiang Zhi, her right hand still covering her mouth, her voice muffled, she asked him, ¡°Which kind?¡± Jiang Zhi narrowed his eyes slightly, the corners dragging out, the elegance of a noble¡¯s son thrown cleanly away, seductively beckoning her. ¡°The kind without clothes.¡± His breath fell entirely on her neck, the small patch of skin visible underneath the pink sweatshirt reddening at a rate visible to the naked eye. Zhou Xufang was not very good at lying, she hesitated for a while, then nodded. She had seen all of Director Jiang¡¯s movies, which included the kind he mentioned, not particularly explicit, but still undressed, Director Jiang had a firm grasp on it, not vulgar, but teasing enough to make one itch, she watched with her eyes covered. Suddenly, He moved in even closer, his peach blossom eyes intently fixated on her fluttering lashes, his voice like a captivating hook, he said, ¡°I¡¯ve even done such things to you in my dreams.¡± His Adam¡¯s apple bobbed, his ears turning red. She understood. Jiang Zhi slightly tilted his head, his lips almost imperceptibly brushing past her ear, ¡°Do you still think I¡¯m a good person?¡± She thought about it, then nodded again. Even though he suspected her to be a professional errand runner, he had never harbored any ill intentions towards her, he had given her the greatest kindness and tolerance, in her eyes, he truly was a very good person. Jiang Zhi laughed, a hearty laugh. She stepped back a little, wanting to ask why he laughed. Director Jiang spoke first, ¡°I¡¯m not a good person.¡± Having said that, he leaned his body toward her, placing his lips on the back of her hand, licking it like a cat¡¯s tongue. ¡°!¡± Zhou Xufang fled in a panic, before escaping, she did not forget to leave a bottle of AD calcium milk she had warmed with her hand on the table. Jiang Zhi drank the AD calcium milk while pondering adviser Xue Baoyi¡¯s words. ¡°With that kind of face, don¡¯t waste it man, go for the seduction, allure, strip!!!!¡± Should he strip next time? Jiang Zhi sank into thought and after a while, he got up to pour a glass of cold water, gulping it down his throat, licking his lips, still hot¡­ Without a doubt, Zhou Xufang had a fever again, but not sure if her body had produced antibodies, it only lasted a short while before subsiding. The extras¡¯ scenes were shot smoothly, getting it in one take, just that Xiao Linsu¡¯s costume got dirty, and the assistant director had a couple of words to say. After the shooting ended, Jiang Zhi disregarded the gazes of others, under the public¡¯s eye, he approached Zhou Xufang. He said, ¡°Your pink sweatshirt looks very nice.¡± Zhou Xufang had just finished acting as an extra, not wearing a mask or hat, disliking being the center of attention like this, unconsciously pressing her head lower and lower, quietly responding to Jiang Zhi, ¡°Thank you.¡± Actually, she was not wearing that pink sweatshirt now, but an old-fashioned costume. Jiang Zhi complimented again how beautiful it was, and then asked her, ¡°Is there a version for men?¡± Chapter 80: 080: Got her in the bag! Chapter 80: 080: Got her in the bag! Jiang Zhi complimented her again for being very beautiful and then asked her, ¡°Do they have men¡¯s styles?¡± She said she didn¡¯t know. He asked, ¡°Where did you buy it?¡± She honestly replied, ¡°Online.¡± ¡°Send me the link.¡± She immediately nodded, ¡°Oh.¡± ... She secretly thought, Jiang Zhi wearing pink must be the best-looking in the world. Then Jiang Zhi left the set. Then all sorts of gossip started on the set. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°Did Director Jiang take a fancy to that extra?¡± ¡°I thought he was gay?¡± ¡°Who knows, he could be bisexual.¡± ¡°She¡¯s so lucky.¡± ¡°Lucky? Haven¡¯t you heard, Director Jiang has erectile dysfunction.¡± ¡°Really?!¡± ¡°Of course, it¡¯s true. With Director Jiang¡¯s frail body, he might have the desire but not the strength. It¡¯s been spread around the circle that Director Jiang isn¡¯t physically able to perform, and can only be on the bottom.¡± ¡°With that face of his, turns out he¡¯s a¡­ tsk tsk, such a waste.¡± ¡°Who cares if he can get it up or not, being noticed by Director Jiang is already a stroke of luck; at least she can make her debut. Just a little promotion and she could be famous.¡± ¡°What does she look like? I¡¯ve never really seen her face.¡± ¡°Me neither, she¡¯s always keeping her head down, dressed all in dark clothes, like a female ghost.¡± Female ghost Zhou Xufang: ¡°¡­¡± Her hearing was too good, really, she could hear everything. It didn¡¯t matter that they compared her to a female ghost, but how could they talk about Jiang Zhi! She was a bit angry, and lowered her head even more, afraid her red eyes would frighten them to death. In small groups, they were all quietly discussing when Vice Director Zhao came out and spoke, ¡°It¡¯s fine to talk about it here, but once you step outside, keep your mouths shut.¡± Even the Assistant Director spoke up¡­ Such a warning convinced the onlookers even more that there was no smoke without fire, and so they all cast curious, probing, and respectful glances at Zhou Xufang. Only Fang Lixiang was full of worry. ¡°Fang ah.¡± ¡°Hm?¡± Zhou Xufang kept her head down, hiding her face. Fang Lixiang tugged at her clothes and pulled her aside, whispering, ¡°Did Jiang Zhi get his hands on you?¡± Get his hands on¡­ Such a crude phrase. Zhou Xufang murmured, ¡°Don¡¯t say ¡®get his hands on.''¡± Little hooligans are the ones who do that, not Jiang Zhi. Jiang Zhi is a good person. Is ¡®get his hands on¡¯ the focus? It¡¯s getting his hands on her that¡¯s the focus! Fang Lixiang was truly shocked, ¡°You didn¡¯t even deny it!¡± She put on a look of utter hopelessness, ¡°It¡¯s over, our Fang has been seduced by that outsider little demon.¡± Zhou Xufang immediately corrected her, ¡°Jiang Zhi is not a little demon.¡± Fang Lixiang: ¡°¡­¡± It¡¯s over, she¡¯s been completely bewitched by the little demon, completely taken! Let¡¯s not dwell on this; there¡¯s an even more important question, ¡°Tell me, is he really gay or not?¡± Zhou Xufang looked around and whispered softly, ¡°He¡¯s not.¡± Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He liked her. Fang Lixiang looked at Zhou Xufang, wondering why it felt like her act of blushing and hiding her face in her collar was a bit too much like the saying ¡®there¡¯s no silver here¡¯. Something strange was going on. Fang Lixiang continued probing, ¡°Have you confirmed whether or not he¡¯s gay?¡± Zhou Xufang looked confused, not quite understanding. Fang Lixiang beckoned her over, leaning in to ask outright, suggestive, ¡°Can ¡®he¡¯ get it up with women?¡± ¡°¡­¡± Lixiang is so¡­ lewd. Zhou Xufang took out a face mask, put it on, and went to the side to blush in hiding. Fang Lixiang stroked her chin, deep in thought, wondering how such purity could be deceived by the big bad wolves on the outside. There were two more scenes in the afternoon, both involving the male and female leads. Director Jiang made some last-minute changes that once again required the participation of the crowd actor Zhou Xufang. There was a half-hour break in the middle of the day. Jiang Wei¡¯er went to return something she got from a sponsor and didn¡¯t come to the set until almost two o¡¯clock. Ever since Fang Lixiang found out about her and Xiao Linsu¡¯s relationship, she had been helping her cover things up. From a distance, she could hear the quarreling coming from Xiao Linsu¡¯s resting room. ¡°Why do you care about my private life?¡± Xiao Linsu was usually even-tempered and rarely got angry like this. ¡°I just want to help¡ª¡± ¡°Lin Shuang!¡± He warned her coldly, ¡°Don¡¯t meddle in my affairs.¡± As Jiang Wei¡¯er approached, the argument inside had already settled down. Lin Shuang ran out with tearful eyes, and when she saw Jiang Wei¡¯er, she twitched her sleeve subconsciously and looked away, ¡°You¡¯re here.¡± ¡°Pfft.¡± Jiang Wei¡¯er¡¯s gaze swept over her arm. She naturally placed her hands behind her back, ¡°Linsu is inside.¡± She smiled, ¡°I¡¯ve asked the assistant to keep an eye out for you guys outside.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± She said no thanks were needed and turned to leave. Jiang Wei returned his gaze and slightly furrowed his brows. As an agent for over a decade, Lin Shuang was used to being strong-willed and proud, but she seemed a bit too careful when it came to Xiao Linsu. The injuries on her arm looked like they were from cigarette burns. Jiang Wei¡¯er withdrew her attention and lifted her skirt to enter Xiao Linsu¡¯s dressing room. Inside, the smell of smoke was heavy. He was sneaking a smoke again. Seeing her enter, he panicked and tried to hide the cigarette behind his back, standing there awkwardly. Jiang Wei¡¯er chuckled, ¡°I already saw it, what¡¯s the point in hiding it?¡± He then crushed the cigarette and went to embrace her, not sure how many he had smoked, his voice slightly hoarse, ¡°Why are you here?¡± ¡°I came to see you.¡± He held her, motion careful and gentle, ¡°Have you eaten?¡± Jiang Wei¡¯er nestled in his embrace and looked up, ¡°Not yet.¡± He immediately put on a stern face, ¡°You just had a stomachache last month, why are you being careless?¡± After scolding her, he turned to rummage through his things to find her something to eat, ¡°There¡¯s only chocolate. Eat this to hold you over, I¡¯ll order you a meal.¡± He unwrapped the chocolate and fed it to her. She took a bite, ¡°Linsu, has Lin Shuang got a boyfriend?¡± He lowered his head, ¡°Not sure, why do you ask about her?¡± ¡°Just curious, she¡¯s not young anymore.¡± She ate a few bites of chocolate fed to her, and it was so sweet it made her feel sick, ¡°No more, it¡¯s too sweet.¡± Xiao Linsu coaxed her, ¡°A little bit more.¡± She shook her head. He ate the leftover chocolate and made a call to his assistant, ¡°Help me order a meal. No spicy, no garlic, make it light.¡± In the end, he gave a special instruction, ¡°No shrimp.¡± Her stomach was not good. She didn¡¯t eat spicy. She was allergic to shrimp. Yet she always took it for granted, and he had to remember. After the shoot, the sun was almost setting. Zhou Xufang packed her bag to go home, and Fang Lixiang hopped over, bursting with enthusiasm. ¡°Xufang, I have great news for you!¡± Zhou Xufang slung on her backpack and turned around, listening seriously. ¡°Director Jiang¡¯s new film, I got selected!¡± Fang Lixiang excitedly spun around on the spot, howling, ¡°I¡¯m the female lead!¡± Zhou Xufang raised both thumbs, praising soberly, ¡°You¡¯re amazing.¡± ¡°¡­¡± That sudden onset of veteran cadre vibes. Why can¡¯t this girl be like her peers, all jumpy and lively? ¡°Xufang.¡± At the door, Jiang Zhi called her. Zhou Xufang tilted her head back, ¡°Hmm?¡± Jiang Zhi had her hands in her pockets, leaning on the door frame, looking like she was waiting for someone, ¡°I¡¯ll take you home.¡± Zhou Xufang thought for three seconds. ¡°Okay.¡± She turned back to Fang Lixiang, ¡°Lixiang, goodbye.¡± After speaking, she hopped a few times, moving to Jiang Zhi¡¯s side, and after hopping as if realizing something amiss, she shrank back into her large down jacket and proceeded modestly. Fang Lixiang rubbed her eyes, wondering if she was seeing things. She just saw Zhou Xufang, that old cadre, jumping and bouncing around. Jiang Zhi had no intention of sneaking around, and quite openly led her into his flashy sports car. Ah Wan drove, playing the ¡®mute¡¯ perfectly, not disrupting his employer¡¯s flirting, and very considerately drove super slow, advancing at a snail¡¯s pace. See, what an understanding person he was! Zhou Xufang, since getting into the car, had not spoken a word, sitting very upright, with eyes straight ahead, her posture like a student paying careful attention in class. Unlike Jiang Zhi, looking boneless, half-leaning, half-reclining, with his long legs restlessly placed wherever. ¡°Why aren¡¯t you speaking?¡± Jiang Zhi looked at her. Since getting into the car, he only had eyes for her. Zhou Xufang turned to him, blinking. What should she say? With her fingers twisting around each other, her palms started to sweat. This look of someone waiting for a dressing down from the principal made Jiang Zhi itch to tease her, but he refrained, afraid to scare her away. He shifted his position, still lounging in his seat, but now nudging closer to her. The red in his eyes, coupled with his pale skin, gave him an almost sickly but delicate charm, always looking heartbreakingly appealing. He asked her, ¡°Do you live alone?¡± Zhou Xufang replied, ¡°Yeah.¡± Seemingly casually fixating on her, he asked again, ¡°What about your family?¡± Without thinking, she said, ¡°I don¡¯t have a family.¡± How did she grow up if she didn¡¯t have a family? Jiang Zhi had originally planned to probe a bit of her background with a couple of questions, but he couldn¡¯t continue, finding it too heart-wrenching to hear. Chapter 81 - 79: 079: Shocking! He actually treated her like a beast (second update Chapter 79: 079: Shocking! He actually treated her like a beast (second update ¡°Zhou Xufang.¡± Fang Lixiang looked up to see a beautiful face, and then sneakily winked at Zhou Xufang, ¡°Director Jiang is calling you.¡± Zhou Xufang uttered an ¡°oh¡± before silently pulling down the zipper of her down jacket, revealing the pink sweatshirt inside. Only then did she turn around, a bit too quickly, causing the motion to yank on her pocket. The cigarette case that Xiao Linsu had signed for her fell out and rolled right to Jiang Zhi¡¯s feet. Jiang Zhi¡¯s smile tightened slightly, ¡°You smoke?¡± Who led her astray! Zhou Xufang immediately shook her head, ¡°It¡¯s not mine.¡± Jiang Zhi picked up the cigarette case, flipped it over for a look. The bloodstains Zhou Xufang¡¯s pocket had rubbed off, and the pen ink was a bit smudged, but it was still recognizable. ... ¡°Xiao Linsu?¡± Xiao Linsu¡¯s handwriting was very nice, the signature done neatly. That¡¯s what Zhou Xufang was thinking in her head. Jiang Zhi¡¯s tone suddenly turned fierce, ¡°Come with me!¡± Why is he angry? ¡°Oh.¡± Zhou Xufang followed. Jiang Zhi led her into his private rest room and then, turning back with an indifferent expression, commanded Ah Wan, ¡°Stand guard outside.¡± Ah Wan felt like this was a secret affair. He was a diligent and good assistant, ¡°Yes, boss.¡± Bang! The door was slammed shut by Jiang Zhi, who then turned to face Zhou Xufang, pinching the autographed cigarette case between two fingers, with a look of disgust and anger on his face. He questioned Zhou Xufang, ¡°Is this cigarette case Xiao Linsu¡¯s?¡± She actually kept another man¡¯s cigarette case in her pocket! She has never kept him in her pocket! Zhou Xufang nodded. And she doesn¡¯t even explain! Jiang Zhi never thought he had a bad temper before, but now he felt truly irritable, and really wanted to scold her, but was afraid of scaring her. He forced himself to ask in a gentle voice while his face turned red, ¡°Why did he give you the cigarette case?¡± Zhou Xufang answered straightforwardly, ¡°He mistook me for his fan and signed it for me.¡± A fan? Shameless man! Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Jiang Zhi was still a bit angry at her and continued to question her awkwardly, ¡°Then why didn¡¯t you throw it away?¡± Zhou Xufang replied, ¡°It would be impolite to throw it away.¡± Impolite? Hah! Jiang Zhi pinched the case with two fingers, squashed it, and then casually threw it into the trash can. With a stern face, he instructed her, ¡°Stay away from that Xiao guy from now on.¡± No, that¡¯s still not enough. He changed his phrasing, emphasizing, ¡°From now on, whenever you see a man, you need to stay away.¡± She was so adorable and her EQ was so low, it was too easy for someone to deceive her. Must! Watch! Her! Closely! Zhou Xufang really did have a low EQ and didn¡¯t understand, ¡°Why?¡± Jiang Zhi gave her a reason without changing his expression, ¡°All men are beasts.¡± She disagreed, ¡°Not all.¡± She looked at Jiang Zhi with a very serious gaze, stating firmly and earnestly, ¡°You¡¯re not.¡± Jiang Zhi was charmed by her, yet still insisted stubbornly, ¡°I am, too.¡± This phrase, however, did not scare her. He really was a beast, eager to snatch her back to his den. Zhou Xufang remained adamant, completely unaware that Jiang Zhi¡¯s gaze had turned aggressive, nor did she understand the heated, explicit scrutiny, sticking to her guns and saying, ¡°You are a good person.¡± A good person, huh. Jiang Zhi chuckled, then leaned forward, seeking her lips to close in. Her eyelashes fluttered, she quickly retreated, covering her mouth. What are you dodging for? Not cute at all! Jiang Zhi did not back down, still bent at the waist, speaking close enough for his breath to deliberately fall on her neck, his voice deliberately suppressed, low and rough. Like temptation. He asked her, ¡°Have you ever seen that kind of film?¡± the corners of his eyes flushed with a shy peach blossom hue. A fiery red climbed over Zhou Xufang¡¯s face, she stiffened without moving, her eyelashes trembling with nervousness, but she did not dodge, obediently and cleverly looking up at Jiang Zhi, her right hand still covering her mouth, her voice muffled, she asked him, ¡°Which kind?¡± Jiang Zhi narrowed his eyes slightly, the corners dragging out, the elegance of a noble¡¯s son thrown cleanly away, seductively beckoning her. ¡°The kind without clothes.¡± His breath fell entirely on her neck, the small patch of skin visible underneath the pink sweatshirt reddening at a rate visible to the naked eye. Zhou Xufang was not very good at lying, she hesitated for a while, then nodded. She had seen all of Director Jiang¡¯s movies, which included the kind he mentioned, not particularly explicit, but still undressed, Director Jiang had a firm grasp on it, not vulgar, but teasing enough to make one itch, she watched with her eyes covered. Suddenly, He moved in even closer, his peach blossom eyes intently fixated on her fluttering lashes, his voice like a captivating hook, he said, ¡°I¡¯ve even done such things to you in my dreams.¡± His Adam¡¯s apple bobbed, his ears turning red. She understood. Jiang Zhi slightly tilted his head, his lips almost imperceptibly brushing past her ear, ¡°Do you still think I¡¯m a good person?¡± She thought about it, then nodded again. Even though he suspected her to be a professional errand runner, he had never harbored any ill intentions towards her, he had given her the greatest kindness and tolerance, in her eyes, he truly was a very good person. Jiang Zhi laughed, a hearty laugh. She stepped back a little, wanting to ask why he laughed. Director Jiang spoke first, ¡°I¡¯m not a good person.¡± Having said that, he leaned his body toward her, placing his lips on the back of her hand, licking it like a cat¡¯s tongue. ¡°!¡± Zhou Xufang fled in a panic, before escaping, she did not forget to leave a bottle of AD calcium milk she had warmed with her hand on the table. Jiang Zhi drank the AD calcium milk while pondering adviser Xue Baoyi¡¯s words. ¡°With that kind of face, don¡¯t waste it man, go for the seduction, allure, strip!!!!¡± Should he strip next time? Jiang Zhi sank into thought and after a while, he got up to pour a glass of cold water, gulping it down his throat, licking his lips, still hot¡­ Without a doubt, Zhou Xufang had a fever again, but not sure if her body had produced antibodies, it only lasted a short while before subsiding. The extras¡¯ scenes were shot smoothly, getting it in one take, just that Xiao Linsu¡¯s costume got dirty, and the assistant director had a couple of words to say. After the shooting ended, Jiang Zhi disregarded the gazes of others, under the public¡¯s eye, he approached Zhou Xufang. He said, ¡°Your pink sweatshirt looks very nice.¡± Zhou Xufang had just finished acting as an extra, not wearing a mask or hat, disliking being the center of attention like this, unconsciously pressing her head lower and lower, quietly responding to Jiang Zhi, ¡°Thank you.¡± Actually, she was not wearing that pink sweatshirt now, but an old-fashioned costume. Jiang Zhi complimented again how beautiful it was, and then asked her, ¡°Is there a version for men?¡± Chapter 82: 082: The Jealousy Routine of the Husband-Protecting Maniac (Second Update) Chapter 82: 082: The Jealousy Routine of the Husband-Protecting Maniac (Second Update) On the way back, the employer instructed, ¡°Slow down a bit.¡± Ah Wan once again slowed the sports car to a snail¡¯s pace, and for the sixth time turned his head to look at the employer in the back, ¡°Boss, what are you looking at?¡± Jiang Zhi couldn¡¯t be bothered to answer him, her gaze fixed outside the car window. Ah Wan guessed, ¡°Are you looking for that Z?¡± Jiang Zhi finished scanning the bustling roads and then looked up high. Ah Wan felt his employer was going crazy; anyhow, he didn¡¯t believe that scum was the kind-hearted and morally upright Miss Zhou. ... He couldn¡¯t help but mutter, ¡°She¡¯s not a three-headed, six-armed creature, nor can she scale walls and roofs.¡± Those people must¡¯ve been exaggerating; they¡¯d all had nine years of compulsory education, and he didn¡¯t think that Z had any supernatural abilities. Night fell quickly in winter, neon lights flickered everywhere, and the lights of a thousand homes shimmered in dwindling twilight, with the towering Imperial Buildings rising into the clouds, linking the far horizon. Tonight, there were no stars, the thick clouds obscuring the moonlight. So Zhou Xufang weaved between high-rises, jumping from one to another, not blinking as she went, dashing through the pitch-black night like an agile cheetah. Only¡­ Suddenly, the sky began to drop ice pellets, paining her face as they fell. Approaching the traffic light intersection, Jiang Zhi suddenly said, ¡°Let¡¯s find a warm place to rest, wait for the ice pellets to stop before we go back.¡± The dim-witted tall man in front was a bit slow on the uptake, ¡°Huh?¡± Jiang Zhi rolled down the window, caught some ice pellets in her hand, and said, ¡°Park the car, I¡¯m tired.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Ah Wan found a high-end tea house. The place was a bit secluded, but he had been there several times. It was where the elite of the Imperial City went; he had driven his employer there many times and knew the way well. Perhaps it was the abruptness of the ice pellets, but the tea house was overcrowded; private rooms were all taken, so Ah Wan chose a secluded spot outside. But even that couldn¡¯t block his employer¡¯s widespread allure. ¡°Jiang Zhi?¡± It was the fourth daughter of the Ming family, dressed in an attention-grabbing fiery red dress, looking like a perfectly ripe chili pepper. Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t even lift an eyelid. Ming Saiying was bold and proactive, especially towards Jiang Zhi, tirelessly teasing, ¡°Where did you get this hair done?¡± The foggy blue dye favored by the little rascals, looking both bewitching and beautiful on Jiang Zhi, made her seem like a lovable little demon. The little Jiang demon ignored her. Not discouraged, Ming Saiying smiled dazzlingly, ¡°Why so stingy? Are you afraid I¡¯ll copy your style?¡± The little Jiang demon still treated her as if she were thin air. The young man beside Ming Saiying couldn¡¯t stand it any longer, tugged at Ming Saiying, annoyed yet not daring to lose his temper, and hurried her in a pinched voice, ¡°Let¡¯s go, sis.¡± The young man had a scrappy foil perm, and looked fierce like a dashing little hooligan. He was Ming Saiying¡¯s younger brother, the sixth child of the Ming family, Ming Yanghua, known in the Imperial City as Young Master Hua. However, Young Master Ming despised such unwarrior-like nicknames, only allowing people to call him Mr. Ming, although, privately, everyone quietly called him Xiao Hua. Ming Saiying shrugged him off, ¡°Wait over there.¡± Ming Yanghua snorted and walked away, unable to bear seeing his tomboy sister unable to move whenever she saw Jiang Zhi. ¡°Jiang Zhi,¡± said Ming Saiying, who was stuck in place, her eyes smiling brightly, ¡°let¡¯s share a table.¡± Jiang Zhi finally deigned to speak, ¡°No.¡± She looked good. Her voice sounded good, too. Ming Saiying was itching inside, ¡°I¡¯ll just sit down; I¡¯ll leave right after drinking.¡± She was in pursuit of a beauty, and having finally encountered her, she couldn¡¯t just walk away. Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t even bother to talk back, showed impatience on her face, and called out to Ah Wan, making a shooing gesture. Getting the hint, Ah Wan was about to step forward to drag her off when Ming Saiying suddenly moved back, accidentally bumping into a tea-serving waiter. Losing her balance, she lurched toward Jiang Zhi. Solidly, she ended up sprawled across Jiang Zhi¡¯s legs. A beautiful face on Jiang Zhi quickly turned cold, her body stiffening with disgust. ¡°Ming Saiying,¡± his voice was muddled, biting off his words, and his beautiful eyes were already showing a frightening look. Curiously enough¡ª Ming Saiying thought his angry demeanor was full of attack, both forbidden and desirous, which left her stunned for a moment. ¡°Huh?¡± S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He was yanking at the corner of his coat on his thigh, fiercely tearing it away. ¡°Get off.¡± Jiang Zhi hated women and roses the most in his life. Of course, Ming Saiying knew that. She scrambled up in a hurry, blushing for the first time with a thick-skinned innocence, ¡°I really didn¡¯t mean to.¡± Jiang Zhi looked up at her with anger in his eyes, his gaze intense. She¡¯s angered him! Ming Saiying touched her nose. ¡°Your body is delicate; don¡¯t be angry.¡± It would hurt her if she got upset, ¡°I¡¯ll roll away myself.¡± And with that, she cleverly rolled away. Outside the tea pavilion, a pair of eyes stared fixedly through the glass. Touched¡­ That woman¡¯s hand had touched Jiang Zhi¡¯s leg, and she wanted to twist that hand off. Really wanted to. Zhou Xufang was fixated on the woman¡¯s hand in a daze when suddenly someone bumped into his shoulder, causing his glasses to drop to the ground. ¡°Sorry about that. Did I hit you?¡± The tone of the apology was a bit frivolous. Zhou Xufang looked up. ¡°You you you you¡­¡± The man was so frightened that his hair stood on end, stuttering for a long time. His face, pampered and delicate, quivered as he asked, ¡°Are you a human or a ghost?¡± The figure in black was dressed head-to-toe, with only a pair of crimson eyes exposed. Lowering her voice, her gaze chilling, she replied, ¡°A ghost.¡± Ming Yanghua rolled her eyes back and fainted, lying sprawled on the ground. Now, Zhou Xufang was petrified as well. If Jiang Zhi saw her looking like this, would he be the same? Would he be scared of her, disgusted by her? Ice pellets hit her face, and it hurt. Her eyes grew redder, but she put on her glasses, squatted down, picked up the person, and tossed them into a large trash can by the roadside. Then she heard the woman in the red dress inside the tea pavilion yelling anxiously and irately. Zhou Xufang felt the ice pellets were not as painful anymore. In the corridor of the tea pavilion, wind chimes tinkled in the breeze, mixed with the sound of a wheelchair rolling across the floor. The threshold was just too high; the wheelchair couldn¡¯t pass. The man in the wheelchair leaned on a crutch to stand, while the person behind him grew impatient, ¡°Excuse me.¡± He turned his head. It was a handsome face with a slight flicker in his eyes. What a small world for enemies to meet. Luo Qinghe stood behind with folded arms, a sly smile playing on his lips, ¡°You¡¯re blocking my way.¡± Without a word, he moved aside, relying on just one crutch to support his prosthetic leg, limping to the side. Just a few steps made sweat bead on his forehead. Luo Qinghe stepped over the threshold, took a few steps, then turned back with a nonchalant smile. ¡°Still have the leisure to come here for tea, it seems Uncle Zhou you¡¯re quite comfortable at the radio station.¡± Zhou Qingrang said nothing, looking down as he pulled the wheelchair to one side, his eyes cold and clear. Luo Qinghe nodded towards his coat, ¡°Since your leg is crippled, better behave.¡± With that, she walked away in her high heels, with leisurely steps, the hem of her coat under her dress fluttering, conjuring lotuses with every step. That was until someone blocked her path around the corner. She looked up, the smile gone, ¡°Second Miss Lu, what brings you here?¡± The other was young, commanding without anger, ¡°Luo Qinghe,¡± she paused slightly, her gaze becoming more piercing, ¡°Do you know whose turf this is?¡± The second child of the Lu Family, Lu Sheng. She was just over twenty, with a dashing and exquisite appearance, but her aura, few weren¡¯t intimidated by her. Chapter 83: 083: Brother Zhi Chasing His Wife - The Top Three Things (As Seen in the Title) Chapter 83: 083: Brother Zhi Chasing His Wife ¨C The Top Three Things (As Seen in the Title) She was in her early twenties with a spirited and refined appearance, but her presence was so intimidating that few could stand before her without fear. With such arrogance and conceit, she demanded, ¡°Whose turf is this?¡± Luo Qinghe¡¯s smile was ambiguous, and without losing his temper, he replied, ¡°It belongs to the Lu Family.¡± This Tingyu Building in Imperial City was Lu Family¡¯s territory. Lu Sheng¡¯s Beijing accent wasn¡¯t that heavy, but she spoke with authoritative precision, ¡°Then I want you to leave right now.¡± She stated this flatly without much hint of anger, but her command bore an overpowering force. ... Luo Qinghe¡¯s smile grew colder, ¡°For that ¡®cripple¡¯?¡± Cripple. That word chilled Lu Sheng¡¯s eyes, ¡°Say that again.¡± With such a stance, it seemed one more insult, and Lu Er would not let it go lightly. Zhou Qingrang ah Zhou Qingrang, she really found herself a solid backer. Not wanting to make an enemy of the Lu Family, Luo Qinghe reined in her temper, ¡°Fine then, why sour the mood?¡± Brushing off her sleeves and turning to leave, she left an enigmatic remark, ¡°After all, we are business partners. Let me remind you, Zhou Qingrang doesn¡¯t have much longer to live.¡± With a smile, Luo Qinghe walked away at a leisurely pace. Lu Sheng stood in place, pensive. Her secretary approached from behind, calling out, ¡°Second Miss.¡± Lu Sheng¡¯s expression softened slightly, ¡°Tell brother to wait for me, I¡¯m stepping out for a bit.¡± ¡°There¡¯s no rush, Young Master Xinglan has fallen asleep again. He won¡¯t be waking up any time soon.¡± The eldest young master of the Lu Family, Lu Xinglan, suffered from severe hypersomnia, with limited waking hours each day. After giving a couple more instructions, Lu Sheng left the teahouse. Outside, the air was still filled with icy pellets, the biting wind fierce, and the roads slick. The wheelchair skidded backwards when going uphill, nearly crashing into a lamp post, when a hand steadied the back of the chair. Zhou Qingrang turned and with a faint gaze, said, ¡°Thank you.¡± After expressing gratitude, he adjusted the wheels¡¯ direction. Lu Sheng blurted out without thinking, though she stuttered, ¡°Do you, do you want me to push you?¡± Her umbrella unconsciously tilted toward him. He shook his head, then added, ¡°Thank you.¡± But the road was ultimately too slippery, the wheelchair unable to ascend the hill. Passersby also came forward, asking if he needed help, which he politely declined. Picking up his cane from the wheelchair, he pushed himself up, limping painfully up the slope. A mere dozen meters bent his back, as the ice pellets drenched his hair. Lu Sheng stood right behind him, watching his every difficult step, her own legs starting to move forward several times before retreating. She had listened to his radio broadcasts many times, knew he was a proud man. She had also investigated him, knew his left limb was amputated, his right leg embedded with steel pins, and that his health was poor, having spent fifteen years in the hospital. Zhou Qingrang¡­ For some reason, merely whispering his name made her heart flutter, and she gripped her umbrella tighter. Yet, she ran over to him, catching up and shielding his head from the falling ice with her umbrella. Zhou Qingrang looked back at her, not recognizing her. His gaze was distant and indifferent. ¡°Is there something you need?¡± he asked. Lu Sheng, unsure what to say, remained silent for a while before she managed, ¡°Umbrella.¡± She was used to being decisive in the business world since she was sixteen, but she felt clumsy with her words around him, ¡°Here, take my umbrella.¡± He refused the offer. ¡°You, take it¡ªI live nearby.¡± She thrust the umbrella into his hands and ran off, faintly hearing him thanking her. Actually, this wasn¡¯t the first time Lu Sheng had seen him. She used to love sitting in front of the TV watching his newscasts. When he was transferred to the radio station, she began to follow his live broadcasts there. She had gone to the TV station to see him, stealthily, from a distance, only catching a few glimpses. Strictly speaking, this was the first time they had met face-to-face. His voice was just as pleasant as it had been on TV. He was colder than she had imagined. His beautiful eyes held no light, reminiscent of the night before a heavy snowfall: dark, cold, and lonely. The ice pellets ceased after a while, replaced by the gentle and almost imperceptible drift of snowflakes. Jiang Zhi sat in the teahouse, bored, watching the snow outside the window and pondering with a furrowed brow. She wasn¡¯t outside getting caught in the snow, was she? He took out his phone and sent her a WeChat message. ¡°Zhou Xufang.¡± It took nearly half a minute for Zhou Xufang to reply, ¡°Hmm.¡± Jiang Zhi peered through the window, ¡°It¡¯s snowing now, aren¡¯t you cold?¡± She replied, ¡°Not cold.¡± His finger hesitated on the phone screen before he sent a voice message, ¡°I want to see you.¡± His voice was soft, with a hint of longing. After over ten seconds, Zhou Xufang sent back a voice message, ¡°It¡¯s late.¡± Jiang Zhi listened twice, catching the sound of the wind in the background¡ªshe was really outside. ¡°I want to see you now.¡± ¡°.¡± Another full stop, leaving Jiang Zhi speechless. He jabbed her pitch-black profile picture several times, before sending an irritated reply, ¡°Don¡¯t just respond with punctuation marks.¡± There was no response for a long time after that. Feeling a bit defeated, Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t know how to handle her. He couldn¡¯t get angry with her, only able to coax her with his voice low and soft, ¡°I miss you. Will you come see me, please?¡± He was indeed becoming more pathetic, finding himself easily slipping into these pleading and affectionate gestures. And the result? Zhou Xufang said, ¡°No.¡± ¡°Zhou Xufang!¡± ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± She called out, and the wind, along with her voice, filtered through the phone, tickling him like a feather. She said, ¡°Stop messing around.¡± All the unease and restlessness born from uncertainty subsided with her concise three-word response. This wasn¡¯t a good sign, he was completely subdued by her. In the end, he sent a ¡®hmpf¡¯, marking his last bit of defiance. Zhou Xufang responded with a period. Conversations always came to a halt at Zhou Xufang¡¯s punctuation, this infuriating OCD, Jiang Zhi stood up, grabbing his coat. Ah Wan immediately came forward, ¡°Are you leaving?¡± Jiang Zhi walked out, ¡°If I don¡¯t go now, I¡¯m afraid the snow will just get worse.¡± Ah Wan didn¡¯t quite catch the meaning. In the following two days, Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t see Zhou Xufang, feeling listless, unable to muster enthusiasm for anything. Xue Baoyi knew exactly what was going on at a glance, ¡°Looking like this¡­¡± he teased with schadenfreude, ¡°Haven¡¯t gotten your hands on them?¡± Jiang Zhi told him to scram. He still insisted on squeezing onto the sofa with Jiang Zhi, ¡°Want some advice from the bros?¡± Jiang Zhi slightly lifted his eyelids, signaling him to continue. Qiao Nanchu playing darts also glanced back. Xue Baoyi, a veteran in the game of romance, spoke like one who¡¯d been through it all, ¡°Women, pretty easy to please, Primary level stuff: gifts like bags, flowers, cars, houses, a bit more advanced, cater to their tastes. If she likes romance, then be romantic. If she loves surprises, pull off a surprise. If she¡¯s into thrills,¡± he grinned mischievously, ¡°some R-rated play could be in the cards.¡± On the opposite sofa, Xue Bingxue bit her straw and interjected, ¡°R-rated play is not okay.¡± Xue Baoyi tossed a grape at her, ¡°Silly sweetie, shut your mouth.¡± ¡®Silly sweetie¡¯ glared at him, ignoring the little rascal and looked at Jiang Zhi seriously, ¡°Don¡¯t mess around with your body.¡± Xue Baoyi¡¯s gaze immediately swept down to Jiang Zhi¡¯s lower half with a cheeky expression, ¡°Brother Zhi, give us a straight answer, are you actually¡ª¡± up for it? Jiang Zhi hit him on the head with a pillow, telling him to scram once more. Xue Baoyi ran his hand through his freshly dyed white hair and left. It was then that Ah Wan came in. This was a sober bar, and honestly, there was plenty of socializing at the bar outside, but it didn¡¯t compare to the company in this private room. One with dyed blue hair, another with white, one playing darts in a military uniform, another in a suit snacking on grapes. What sort of ghouls and goblins were these? Ah Wan walked up behind the biggest demon, ¡°Boss, your clothes have arrived.¡± Jiang Zhi hummed in acknowledgment. Xue Baoyi, who was pouring a base liquor while mixing a drink, asked, ¡°What clothes?¡± The straightforward Ah Wan replied, ¡°The same style as Miss Zhou.¡± Xue Baoyi dropped two cubes of ice into his glass and called out to ¡®Brother Zhi¡¯ with an elaborate shout, ¡°I always thought you were the shy and reserved type, turns out you¡¯re blatantly flashy.¡± He sneered. Dressing in matching couple outfits, talk about having no shame! Jiang Zhi licked his lips, downed the drink Baoyi had mixed in one gulp, stood up, rolled up his sleeves, and approached where Qiao Nanchu was, ¡°Let me throw a couple.¡± Qiao Nanchu handed the darts to him. Jiang Zhi warmed up his wrists, fidgeting with a dart between his fingers, ¡°Lin Wanwan, paste Xue Baoyi¡¯s photo up there.¡± Xue Baoyi: ¡°¡­¡± Lin Wanwan: ¡°¡­¡± In the end, Jiang Zhi turned Xue Baoyi¡¯s ¡®head¡¯ into a pincushion. On Saturday, Zhou Xufang asked Jiang Zhi out, the location chosen by Jiang Zhi¡ªstill the porridge place; no other reason but frugality, Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t find it easy to earn money, and he couldn¡¯t bear to spend hers. At six, Ah Wan drove his employer to Yuquan Bay. The car stopped outside the complex; Ah Wan waited for his employer to finish a phone call before speaking, ¡°Boss.¡± S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Jiang Zhi lazily replied. Ah Wan hesitated to speak, ¡°This car¡­¡± ¡°This car¡­¡± Jiang Zhi fluttered his peach blossom eyes, his gaze icy, ¡°Who taught you to hem and haw like that?¡± Ah Wan stopped beating around the bush and blurted out quickly, ¡°This car is too flamboyant; it feels so awkward to drive.¡± His tone was full of complaints and dissatisfaction. Really, too many people were looking into the car along the way. He was nearly one meter ninety, a big guy, though not yet impressively muscular. But still, to have everything inside the car drenched in pink, it hurt his manly pride. So flamboyant, others must think the driver¡¯s some effeminate guy! Clearly, the word ¡®flamboyant¡¯ touched a nerve with Jiang Zhi; his hand, which rested on the pink plush toy, suddenly landed on the back of the driver¡¯s seat. Ah Wan tensed up immediately, ¡°I¡­ I meant the car¡¯s interior is too pink.¡± From the seat cushion to the throw pillows to the plush toys to the stickers on the car window, everything was pink and tender. Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t say a word, absent-mindedly playing with the pink crystal pendant hanging behind the seat. Xue Baoyi said it, cater to their preferences. He figured his little lady must like pink. Jiang Zhi lifted his eyes, ¡°Whose car is this?¡± Ah Wan replied weakly, ¡°Yours, boss.¡± ¡°Then keep your mouth shut.¡± Chapter 84: 084: Her Past Identity and Nostalgic Hits Chapter 84: 084: Her Past Identity and Nostalgic Hits ¡°Then shut your mouth for me.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Ah Wan felt a bit wronged, but he didn¡¯t dare to resist. If he did, he¡¯d only be suppressed even more by his employer. In order to survive, he had no choice but to swallow his pride. Ah, the sorrow of the common folk. At this time, it was the rush hour for getting off work. Passersby couldn¡¯t help but give the flashy car a second glance, and then looked at Ah Wan, who stood at one meter ninety and weighed two hundred pounds. Their meaningful, secretive smiles made Ah Wan feel like he was on the verge of a breakdown. Fortunately, the wait was only a short while. Ah Wan was like he had seen his own mother: ¡°Miss Zhou has come down!¡± I saw it. Jiang Zhi got out of the car and walked up to meet her. ... Zhou Xufang wasn¡¯t wearing a mask today. She donned a black lamb¡¯s wool coat over a pink sweatshirt, her hair pulled back and tied with a black hairband into a bun¡ªapparently done with a bit of inexperience, slightly messy. The band had a tiny, tiny pink diamond that was only noticeable upon closer inspection. Ah, she truly liked pink. Jiang Zhi unbuttoned one button of his coat, not minding the cold, and left it open. He pointed to the matching sweatshirt inside his coat, ¡°What a coincidence, we¡¯ve matched our outfits.¡± Ah Wan: ¡°¡­¡± How shameless! Never have I seen such brazen shamelessness! The schemes of the romantic world are seen as a kind of charm. However, Zhou Xufang wasn¡¯t quite so good at playing along, she simply blurted out, ¡°You look really good,¡± then ducked her head and climbed into the car. She only sat on a small portion of the seat, leaving plenty of space for Jiang Zhi. The flattered Jiang Zhi irritably tugged on the drawstring of his sweatshirt and sat down next to Zhou Xufang, then methodically took off his coat. Only after he glanced at the pink on Zhou Xufang did his mood begin to lighten. As soon as she got in the car, she didn¡¯t give him a glance. She looked at the stickers on the car window, then at the plushies on the seat cushion. Finally, her gaze firmly landed on the pink crystal pendant on the seat. Her eyes curved up in delight, ¡°Everything inside the car is pink.¡± Waiting for the praise, Jiang Zhi lifted his chin thirty degrees, ¡°Hmm.¡± S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. She earnestly complimented, ¡°It¡¯s very beautiful.¡± In Jiang Zhi¡¯s eyes, a brilliant and pink peach blossom bloomed, ¡°Hmm.¡± She then put up her thumb and continued to sincerely flatter, ¡°Especially, especially beautiful. You have great taste!¡± Such a sweet demeanor. Jiang Zhi grinned, showing a small canine tooth, ¡°I¡¯ll give it to you.¡± As long as she wanted it, he could buy a dozen cars like this for her. It was also what Xue Baoyi said¡ªlike her, give her cars, give her houses. But Zhou Xufang flatly declined without hesitation, ¡°No need, I can buy my own.¡± Jiang Zhi, who very much wanted to give cars and houses, was silent¡­ She wasn¡¯t following the script. She played with the pink pendant on the seat for a while, then her gaze shifted to the glass candy box behind her. She asked politely, ¡°May I have some of this cotton candy?¡± So, what she loved most was still sweets. Jiang Zhi placed the glass box into her hands, and the doting in his eyes turned into ripples of spring water, ¡°You like sweets that much?¡± She nodded. He smiled and gave her another box too. His girl sure didn¡¯t follow the ordinary path. She didn¡¯t want a car; a box of sweets was enough to satisfy her. Watching her demurely eating the candy, he suddenly thought, in the future, if he stopped directing, he could switch to candy making, build her a house of sugar, and let her nibble wherever she went. Outside the car window, the setting sun had fallen, and neon lights lit up together with the homes of thousands, glowing in the fading evening. Unluckily, just as they arrived, there was a young man in the porridge shop proposing. In tears, with snot and all, he clutched a bunch of huge roses, the ground also scattered with petals. Zhou Xufang couldn¡¯t help but observe a few more times. ¡°Do you like it?¡± She turned her head, ¡°What?¡± Jiang Zhi was walking behind her, overshadowing her silhouette, ¡°Roses.¡± That adviser of Xue Baoyi even said, women all like flowers. If she liked them, he could give them too. But Zhou Xufang said, ¡°I don¡¯t like them.¡± Her brow furrowed slightly, and she pursed her lips, ¡°I don¡¯t like roses.¡± Jiang Zhi leaned in closer, bending over to talk to her, his voice as gently unaware, ¡°Why?¡± That damn adviser¡¯s words were all bullshit. Her gaze blanked out for a moment, and a hint of coolness seeped through her dark pupils. She lowered her head, her voice softened, ¡°The thorns of roses are very painful.¡± Jiang Zhi suddenly stopped in his tracks. Ah Wan immediately sensed something off from behind, ¡°Boss, are you okay?¡± Zhou Xufang became anxious upon hearing that, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Jiang Zhi stared at her silently, his eyes a thousand clusters of light turning into fireworks, the numerous roses casting red shadows on the ground. Ah Wan explained on the side, ¡°The boss is allergic to roses.¡± Without hesitation, Zhou Xufang grabbed Jiang Zhi¡¯s hand, ¡°Let¡¯s go somewhere else.¡± Her hand was really cold. Jiang Zhi naturally took hold of her and brought her to his side, ¡°No need to change, I am not allergic. Like you, I just hate roses.¡± The flower he hated most was the rose, almost to an intolerable extent. Word got around, and it became known that he was allergic; he was too lazy to correct it ¨C he simply did not want to see those thorny things. That year, he was not yet sixteen and was a spirited young man. The Luo Family¡¯s Second Madam loved flowers, and as it happened, the first time he visited the Luo Family was during the rose blooming season. From a distance, he could hear the curses of a young girl in the greenhouse. ¡°Does it hurt?¡± ¡°Why aren¡¯t you shouting? Why don¡¯t you shout?¡± The ground was covered with roses, and all that could be seen was a trembling figure in the bushes and the girl¡¯s provocative and arrogant smile. ¡°Oh, I forgot, you¡¯re a mute.¡± The girl leaned over with her arms crossed and looked down at the person on the ground with undisguised hatred in her eyes, ¡°What¡¯s the point of you being alive? You can¡¯t speak, you don¡¯t feel pain, and you don¡¯t even know when to eat when you¡¯re hungry.¡± She threw the wilted rose in her hand and broke off two more branches to twirl between her fingers, ¡°If I were you, I¡¯d have killed myself.¡± She laughed for a while. ¡°People like you, a retardation, are a waste of food from my Luo Family.¡± ¡°Ah, there¡¯s blood.¡± ¡°Does it still not hurt?¡± ¡°Indeed, you¡¯re a little monster, born to be punished.¡± The teenage girl, lively and captivating, held two thorny roses and repeatedly whipped the thin and sallow young man lying on the ground. He did not cry out or shout, only convulsing continuously as rose petals scattered all over him, as red as blood. Couldn¡ät speak? ¡°Who is he?¡± The Jiang Family¡¯s accompanying steward replied, ¡°Young Master, that is the Luo Family¡¯s eldest lady.¡± Jiang Zhi looked towards the greenhouse, ¡°I wasn¡¯t asking about her.¡± He pointed to the ground, ¡°Who is that child?¡± That child was actually not young anymore, merely always undernourished and small compared to others his age. The steward glanced briefly and replied, ¡°He is a foster child of the Luo Family. Mr. Luo never gave him a name, everyone just calls him Luo San.¡± The steward diverted his gaze, ¡°Young Master, I¡¯ll take you to the living room.¡± After all, it was another family¡¯s domestic affair, and it wasn¡¯t appropriate for him to intercede. Nevertheless, Jiang Zhi ignored the steward and headed towards the greenhouse, his steps slightly hurried, feeling unwell and coughing severely. He called out, ¡°Hey.¡± The girl turned her head and seeing his sickly but graceful appearance, she knew who he was and smiled sweetly, ¡°You must be Jiang Zhi.¡± The Luo Family¡¯s eldest lady, Luo Qinghe. That was the first time Jiang Zhi saw her, his gaze lingered only for a moment before shifting to the ground, ¡°Come here.¡± He pointed to the thin and gangly child, ¡°Come and show me the way.¡± The girl dropped the rose and wiped her hands with a delicate handkerchief, ¡°I¡¯ll show you the way.¡± ¡°I want him to lead.¡± Jiang Zhi did not even glance at the girl, only staring at the child curled up on the ground, ¡°Can you hear me? Come here.¡± Jiang Zhi only knew that he couldn¡¯t speak; he did not know if he could hear. He moved; he could hear. Still shivering, he slowly shuffled forward, draped in clothes too big for him, torn by the roses¡¯ thorns, blood streaking his attire. He hunched in front of Jiang Zhi. ¡°Can¡¯t you speak?¡± He nodded. ¡°Don¡¯t feel pain either?¡± He nodded again. ¡°Come to the front, show me the way.¡± He wiped the blood from his face caused by the thorns and limped to the front of Jiang Zhi, continuously shaking the whole way. He really couldn¡¯t feel pain? Jiang Zhi wondered about this all the way. Later, Jiang Zhi heard that the Luo Family¡¯s foster child was an idiot; they said he had a chromosomal disorder, didn¡¯t feel pain, didn¡¯t feel hunger, and couldn¡¯t speak. Thus, when others hit him, he never dodged, never cried out, and never begged for mercy. A fourteen-year-old boy, both thin and short. The Luo Family grew a garden full of flowers; those beasts preferred to whip him with flowers, especially thorny roses. At that time, Jiang Zhi was already a young man, much taller than that boy. ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± Zhou Xufang called out to him twice. Jiang Zhi came back to his senses from the memories, ¡°Hmm?¡± Chapter 85: 085: Sweet Pink Bubbles Chapter 85: 085: Sweet Pink Bubbles Jiang Zhi had just snapped back from his reverie, ¡°Hmm?¡± Zhou Xufang glanced at the hand he was holding and hesitated but didn¡¯t pull away, ¡°Are you feeling unwell?¡± He shook his head without letting go of her hand and led her into the private room with slow steps, not watching the road but turning his head back to look at her, ¡°If one day you want flowers, I¡¯ll buy them for you, but can I not buy roses?¡± She said, ¡°I don¡¯t like flowers.¡± Jiang Zhi felt once again that everything Xue Baoyi had said was bullshit. The reserved room was on the second floor, nicely decorated and near a window, where with just a glance up one could see the neon lights at the street corner. However, Jiang Zhi liked cleanliness and had Ah Wan wipe down the table and chairs before he would sit. ... Zhou Xufang pushed the menu towards him. He pushed it back to her, ¡°You order for me.¡± Ah Wan, standing silently to the side, felt that there was something off about her employer¡¯s persona. ¡°Do you have any food dislikes?¡± Jiang Zhi said he didn¡¯t have any, ¡°Order what you like.¡± Ah Wan rolled her eyes, wondering how many finicky, annoying habits this stubborn ancestor of hers had¨Che wouldn¡¯t eat onions, ginger, or garlic, couldn¡¯t handle fish with bones, wouldn¡¯t eat shrimp that weren¡¯t peeled, porridge couldn¡¯t be too thin or too thick, rice couldn¡¯t be too soft or too hard, couldn¡¯t tolerate even a bit of fat on meat, and would throw a fit if lean meat was even slightly tough¡­ No food dislikes? Ha! Zhou Xufang ordered the signature seafood porridge for Jiang Zhi just like hers but requested hers without egg and added a dozen or so dim sums and all of the signature dishes from the restaurant. Jiang Zhi frowned deeply at the abundance. ¡°Don¡¯t order so much.¡± Thinking about her earning money through hard labor, he couldn¡¯t bear the extra expense and took a pen, crossing out over half of what she had ordered. Zhou Xufang reached for the pen again, ¡°I¡¯m afraid it won¡¯t be enough for you.¡± Jiang Zhi closed the menu decisively and handed it back to the waiter behind him, ¡°I don¡¯t eat much.¡± He took off his coat and casually slid his chair closer to hers, claiming coolly, ¡°I¡¯m easy to feed.¡± Ah Wan felt like scoffing again. Easy to feed? Shameless, not knowing who was so picky that he drove several chefs away. And there was something even more shameless¡ª ¡°Are you hot?¡± Zhou Xufang nodded. With utmost naturalness, he responded, ¡°Then take off your coat.¡± The heater was on in the room and indeed it was a bit warm, so Zhou Xufang took off her coat. Jiang Zhi glanced at the pink sweatshirt she was wearing, and the more he looked, the more pleasing it was to his eye. With an artistic flair, he was completely at ease, ¡°Why didn¡¯t you come to the set yesterday?¡± ¡°I went to clean some windows.¡± Jiang Zhi¡¯s eyebrows tightened abruptly, ¡°Clean what windows?¡± Zhou Xufang pointed to the high-rise buildings outside the window in a typical, serious tone, ¡°The ones like that.¡± The skyscrapers outside soared into the clouds, towering over a hundred meters high. Jiang Zhi took one look at it and his expression darkened before he fell silent, just watching her. After a long while, she realized that he seemed to be angry. ¡°Why aren¡¯t you talking?¡± She didn¡¯t know what had suddenly annoyed him. When he wasn¡¯t smiling, with his eyebrows tightly knit, his eyes were filled with severity, ¡°Don¡¯t you know how dangerous working at heights is?¡± Oh, he was worried about her. Patiently, she explained, ¡°It¡¯s okay, I have a professional qualification certificate.¡± She even got a certificate¡­ He fell silent again. Unable to scold her, he could only sulk. Seeing that he wasn¡¯t talking, Zhou Xufang also remained silent, poured herself a cup of sweet tea, and sipped it slowly. She could still drink her tea! Jiang Zhi grew even more annoyed, ¡°Zhou Xufang!¡± His expression was fierce, but because he wore a pink outfit today and his hair was a matte warm color, with an unhealthy pallor over his face making him look delirately gentle, he didn¡¯t seem so imposing. Instead, he looked like a tiny kitten that was angry and trying to be ferocious but had yet to grow claws. Even when he bared his teeth and waved his paws, he had no real power. Zhou Xufang was not afraid of him at all and even agreed with him. Jiang Zhi felt like she had scratched the tip of his heart. It was painful and itchy, and he grabbed a handful of his own hair, frustrated and angry, and complained to her, ¡°If I don¡¯t talk to you, can¡¯t you initiate conversation with me?¡± His expression was still fierce, but his tone had softened. Coquetry, Jiang Zhi found, was quite addictive, because she ate it up, and he increasingly took it up with ease. Zhou Xufang was both confused and stunned. ¡°What should I talk about then?¡± ¡°Say that you¡¯ll never work outside again.¡± That wouldn¡¯t work; she wanted to buy Moon Bay. Afraid that Jiang Zhi would get angry, she muttered softly, ¡°I still need to work.¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± When obedient, you could make his heart itch. When disobedient, you could make his hair stand on end. Such a pain! Jiang Zhi took a deep breath, unable to outstubborn her, and could only compromise, ¡°Then can you not do anything dangerous? No window washing, no brick-moving.¡± Zhou Xufang thought for a moment, then agreed. No brick-moving¡ªshe could work with concrete pumps. No window washing¡ªshe could scrub toilets. Jiang Zhi was naturally still worried, pondered for a moment, ¡°Would you want to become a celebrity?¡± Zhou Xufang shook her head without thinking. Compared to letting her work outside, Jiang Zhi would rather bring her into his own circle, ¡°The entertainment industry is exceedingly profitable, why not join? It¡¯s just about making money, and if you want, I can make you earn until your hands ache.¡± She honestly discussed the matter, ¡°I¡¯m not good at acting, singing, or dancing.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t need to be, my support is enough.¡± That¡¯s how peculiar the entertainment circle was¡ªthere were countless ways to be famous, not necessarily through talent. Zhou Xufang still shook her head, unexplained. She was not like most people, too much exposure made her feel a severe sense of crisis; she was only suited for solitude, preferably somewhere isolated like Moon Bay. Jiang Zhi poured himself a cup of tea and gulped it down to cool his temper. He wasn¡¯t angry with her, but with himself because he couldn¡¯t handle her. At that moment, his phone rang. It was Xue Baoyi. ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± His tone was as explosive as if he had swallowed a ton of dynamite. Xue Baoyi still teasingly ridiculed him from the other end, ¡°Why so angry? Did Zhou Xufang upset you?¡± Jiang Zhi couldn¡¯t be bothered to discuss it, ¡°Hanging up.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t,¡± he hastily got to the point, ¡°there¡¯s a bit of a tricky situation at Huayu, Jin Lei has made some secondary preparations, it seems you can¡¯t swallow it all at once.¡± Jin Lei and Jin Song, the two brothers fighting like dogs, and plenty of others wanted a piece of it too. Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t reply to Xue Baoyi, pressed the phone against his ear, and instructed Zhou Xufang, ¡°Don¡¯t move, wait for me here.¡± ¡°Mm.¡± sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He grabbed his coat, stood up, and left to take the call. Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t know what it was about, but could Ah Wan not know? It was about discussing thuggish schemes, sneaking in where they¡¯re not wanted¡ªthat¡¯s why he was deliberately avoiding the high-principled and morally righteous Miss Zhou. In the lobby of the porridge shop, a child was crying. The crying annoyed Jiang Zhi, and he pulled a face mask out of his pocket, put it on, and walked outside. Hearing the sob, the waiter set down his tray and went over to comfort the child. ¡°What¡¯s wrong, little buddy?¡± Just then, Jiang Zhi pushed open the door. The night breeze slipped in, knocking a note off the tray. The child was still sobbing intermittently, unable to find his mother. The waiter took him to the information desk, made sure everything was handed off at the front, then returned to continue his service, noticing the note had flipped over. Assuming a passing guest had accidentally touched the tray, he didn¡¯t pay much attention, directly taking it into a private room. ¡°Your seafood porridge.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± Zhou Xufang asked the waiter, ¡°Which bowl doesn¡¯t have egg in it?¡± ¡°The one on the left.¡± Zhou Xufang thanked him and moved that bowl in front of herself. More than ten minutes passed before Jiang Zhi returned to the room, finding Zhou Xufang motionless, lying with her head on the table. Chapter 86: 086: Ah Fang is drunk, Jiang Zhi’s welfare Chapter 86: 086: Ah Fang is drunk, Jiang Zhi¡¯s welfare Jiang Zhi returned to the box more than ten minutes later and found Zhou Xufang sprawled motionless on the table. ¡°Xu Fang.¡± No response. Jiang Zhi bent over and called her, ¡°Xu Fang.¡± She still lay motionless. Jiang Zhi called Ah Wan over, ¡°What¡¯s wrong with her?¡± ... Ah Wan scratched his head, equally puzzled, ¡°I don¡¯t know either.¡± He was considerate and had intentionally gone to the next room to eat to avoid being a third wheel. Jiang Zhi pulled up a chair and sat next to Zhou Xufang, leaned down close to her ear, and softly called, ¡°Xu Fang.¡± She looked up, staring blankly ahead, ¡°Hmm?¡± He moved his face into her line of sight, observed her bleary appearance, and couldn¡¯t resist patting her head, ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Are you sleepy?¡± Her head wobbled, and her eyes welled up with tears, ¡°Stop shaking; it¡¯s making my eyes blur.¡± He wasn¡¯t shaking though. Jiang Zhi leaned in closer with his nose, sniffed, and asked, ¡°Have you been drinking?¡± She suddenly giggled, continuing to sway her head. Ah Wan muttered, ¡°There was no alcohol ordered.¡± Jiang Zhi leaned in closer and sniffed again but still couldn¡¯t smell any alcohol, ¡°Xu Fang, you¡ª¡± Before he could finish, two ice-cold hands cupped his face. She turned her head to look at him, her eyes wet and lashes fluttering, with a vague yet intense gaze, she asked him, ¡°Are you Jiang Zhi?¡± Her eyes were hazy, and her voice soft and limp, like she had pulled all her prickles out, turning into a soft bundle, tickling your heart. Jiang Zhi¡¯s heart melted. He smiled and patted her face, ¡°Yes, I¡¯m Jiang Zhi.¡± She blankly processed this for a moment, then lifted her hand and gently patted his face, the action extremely light. After patting, her hand hung around his neck; she leaned in and nuzzled his shoulder, adorably helpless, ¡°Can you carry me home? I want to sleep.¡± Her cool face rested against his neck, moving haphazardly. Jiang Zhi felt a ticklish itch, his fingers curling, he steadied her restless self. ¡°Aren¡¯t you eating anything?¡± She shook her head, her cheeks flushed and eyes moist. So adorable. And she didn¡¯t throw a drunken tantrum. Jiang Zhi grabbed her coat, helped her into it, then squatted in front of her, ¡°Climb on, I¡¯ll carry you.¡± She pursed her lips, giggled, and clambered onto his back. At this moment, she was utterly defenseless against him, tilting her head to whisper by his ear, ¡°Can I bite you?¡± Jiang Zhi turned around, ¡°Lin Wanwan, please leave.¡± Lin Wanwan: ¡°!¡± Boss, please be a decent human being! Ah Wan, too nervous to intervene, anxiously looked back three times as he exited. Once the door closed, Jiang Zhi set her down on a chair and knelt before her. The old lady at home often advised that a gentleman should know what to do and what not to do; The young master of the Jiang Family should epitomize morality, demeanour, and integrity. He had never agreed with this doctrine of gentlemanliness, favoring tactics of supporting those who align with him and opposing those who don¡¯t. Usually, he would play the role, acting like a graceful gentleman from a painting. But not today, not in front of her. He steadied her and freed one hand to tug down the collar of her sweatshirt, ¡°Lightly, do you understand?¡± It took a long time before they emerged. Ah Wan hurried over, checking on the employer with the unconscious person on his back, ¡°Boss, is Miss Zhou alright?¡± Jiang Zhi ignored him and continued walking with her on his back. Ah Wan, frantic, couldn¡¯t keep his words to himself, ¡°And you¡¯re okay?¡± He didn¡¯t dare to ask outright if he had behaved decently, instead offering, ¡°Let me carry her; you¡¯re not in good shape yourself.¡± The ¡®not in good shape¡¯ Jiang Zhi looked back with a cold glare, ¡°Go pay the bill.¡± His aggressiveness was palpable, like a wolf guarding its food. Ah Wan reflexively shuddered, ¡°Oh.¡± Truly a beast! Fortunately, this meal ultimately didn¡¯t cost Miss Zhou¡¯s ¡®hard-earned money.¡¯ At the ground floor, Jiang Zhi put a facemask on Zhou Xufang as the Boss Lady approached, ¡°Heading out?¡± Zhou Xufang had been helping in the shop with deliveries, and they had become somewhat acquainted, so the Boss Lady casually asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong with Xu Fang?¡± S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°She¡¯s drunk.¡± ¡°Last time was the same, got drunk without drinking anything.¡± Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t want to elaborate and headed for the exit. The person on his back suddenly stirred. Jiang Zhi stopped to ask what was wrong. She slurred unclearly, ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± She looked up, pointing to the ceiling, ¡°I want to jump up there.¡± Jiang Zhi looked up, momentarily dazzled by the chandelier¡¯s bright light. By his ear, the girl quietly said, ¡°I¡¯ll tell you a secret, I can jump really high.¡± Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t rush out but turned to listen closely, ¡°Why do you want to jump up there?¡± Her face flushed as she gazed upward, her eyes catching the light, shimmering mesmerizingly. She said, ¡°I want to take that chandelier home.¡± Her head wobbling, she mused dreamily, ¡°It¡¯s so beautiful; I want to hide it away.¡± She seemed to really like beautiful things. Jiang Zhi looked up at the porcelain-carved lamp on the ceiling, ¡°You want that lamp?¡± She nodded vigorously, ¡°Mm-hmm.¡± Jiang Zhi, still carrying her, returned to the cashier counter and asked the Boss Lady, ¡°Could you sell me that chandelier?¡± The Boss Lady hesitated, ¡°This¡­¡± Jiang Zhi cut to the chase, ¡°Name your price.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± The Boss Lady quickly agreed. Zhou Xufang cuddled against Jiang Zhi¡¯s neck, giggling foolishly¡ªit really was a foolish giggle. She rarely laughed, and when she did, her expression was somewhat stiff, resembling an innocent child unversed in worldly matters. Jiang Zhi, shielded by the facemask, kissed her cheek and carried her out of the porridge shop. Ah Wan was left behind. After the shop closed, he would need to contact someone to remove the lamp, but he was truly worried about Miss Zhou, unconscious and in the clutches of his beastly employer. Chapter 87: 087: Show affection all the way to the police station Chapter 87: 087: Show affection all the way to the police station Jiang Zhi¡¯s car was parked across the street, and there was a bit of distance to cover. Zhou Xufang was light, and although he walked slowly, she wasn¡¯t very calm, constantly moving and continuously calling his name while on his back. ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± ¡°Mmm.¡± ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± ¡°Mmm.¡± ... Incessantly, she tilted her head and called into his ear, never tiring of it, ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± Jiang Zhi stopped walking, ¡°Why do you keep calling me?¡± She didn¡¯t speak but buried her head in his neck, rubbing against it. After a while, she muttered in a muffled voice, ¡°When I leave, will you miss me?¡± Carrying her on his back and standing under the streetlight, their shadows intertwined tightly. He glanced at them and couldn¡¯t help but smile, ¡°Where are you going?¡± She didn¡¯t answer but kept pressing, ¡°Will you?¡± Her hands clung to his neck, her legs kicking gently, urging him to respond, ¡°Will you or won¡¯t you?¡± He adjusted her slightly, securing her position, ¡°I will.¡± Where could she go anyway? Wherever she went, he would follow. Zhou Xufang was delighted to hear that, swinging her legs and saying, ¡°Then I¡¯ll swim back to see you.¡± Her drunken ramblings were gentle and incessant, her breath warm against Jiang Zhi¡¯s ear, reddening a patch of skin there. Under the light, his eyes began to redden too; his breathing became unsteady, and he felt overwhelmingly flush. ¡°Why would you swim back?¡± She said, ¡°Because I¡¯m in the water.¡± She was truly drunk, uttering complete nonsense. ¡°Do you still feel uncomfortable?¡± ¡°Mmm.¡± She found the mask uncomfortable, so she yanked it off, crumpled it into a ball, and stuffed it into Jiang Zhi¡¯s shirt collar. Then, holding his neck, she buried her face in his clothes, whimpering about her discomfort. His heart was nearly melted by her. Jiang Zhi caressed her head with his cheek, ¡°Then let¡¯s not talk, sleep for a bit.¡± She sniffled, her voice a bit babyish, ¡°I won¡¯t sleep, I¡¯ll sing for you instead.¡± She tightened her grip around his neck, swinging her slender legs, and began to sing in a crooked, wobbling tune, ¡°Lanterns in the first month, kites in the second, in the third month watch for pretty girls from a boat, in the fourth month traffic wears bamboo hats, the fifth month under the sun the fleas¡­¡± This nursery rhyme was an interlude in a movie Jiang Zhi had worked on. She was completely off-key as she sang, yet for some reason, it pained him to listen¡ªnot knowing exactly what he felt pity for, just feeling the girl on his back had perhaps suffered a lot. He suddenly felt bewildered, ¡°Fang Bao.¡± ¡°Mmm.¡± She responded. No one had called her that before, nor had Jiang Zhi called anyone else in such a way. He stopped, standing amidst the neon lights, and asked her, ¡°Do you like me?¡± She didn¡¯t make a sound, uncertain whether she was asleep. Jiang Zhi turned his head and nuzzled her face with his chin, persistently asking, ¡°Do you like me?¡± She murmured, dreamily confessing her liking. Then, Jiang Zhi gratuitously made a comparison. ¡°Do you like me, or do you like the lamp at the congee shop?¡± Zhou Xufang, groggy with sleep, caught only the last word, ¡°Lamp¡­¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± He was being ridiculous earlier, it didn¡¯t count. He asked again formally, ¡°Answer again, do you like the lamp at the congee shop or Jiang Zhi?¡± He emphasized the last two words particularly. ¡°Jiang Zhi¡­¡± Jiang Zhi then smiled, ¡°Good baby.¡± He soothed her to sleep and happily hummed a few lines of the tune she had just sung. But Zhou Xufang only slept briefly and hadn¡¯t even reached the street across when the sudden lighting of a lamp on a street tree startled her from her slumber. The winter solstice was nearing, and little strings of lights were hung on the street-side trees, flickering lively and festive at night. Zhou Xufang was startled awake by the lights, straightening her back alertly and excitedly tugging at the hood of Jiang Zhi¡¯s sweatshirt, ¡°Jiang Zhi, look, the lights are on!¡± She really did like lights, all kinds of shiny lights. ¡°I see them.¡± She was thrilled, her eyes curving into crescent moons, her chin resting on top of Jiang Zhi¡¯s head, mussing up his hair, contentedly and cheerfully saying, ¡°The lights are beautiful, and the trees are too.¡± S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. On the ground, Jiang Zhi¡¯s shadow¡¯s hair started to bristle a bit. Worried she might fall, he lifted his hand to support her, ¡°Lie down nicely, don¡¯t move.¡± Her interest in the little strings of lights on the tree was intense, and while staring at them, she let go of his hat and cupped his face, asking, ¡°Do you like them?¡± Seeing her joy, Jiang Zhi¡¯s heart softened beyond recognition, ¡°I like them.¡± ¡°Then I¡¯ll steal them and give them to you.¡± After she spoke, she kicked her legs and leaped high into the air. Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± Was this girl a monkey? He hadn¡¯t clearly seen how she had jumped down when she had already darted to the base of the tree. ¡°There¡¯s electricity, don¡¯t¡ª¡± Too late, before he could finish his sentence, the ground shook a couple of times, and the camphor tree was uprooted by her. Then, bang, bang, bang, bang¡ª An entire street¡¯s little string lights all short-circuited simultaneously. ¡°Jiang Zhi, Jiang Zhi!¡± The girl who had pulled out the tree joyfully carried the nearly ten-meter-tall tree, sprinting over to Jiang Zhi with agile steps, seeming as though she were carrying a bundle of cotton, effortlessly flipping the tree upright with one hand, and presented it to Jiang Zhi, ¡°Here, for you.¡± Jiang Zhi was dumbfounded. ¡°Who?!¡± ¡°Who is damaging public property?¡± A traffic police officer, holding an electric baton, chased from the guardhouse across the street. Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± He paused for just five seconds, then quickly reacted, ¡°Good baby, quickly throw away the tree.¡± Zhou Xufang was dazed for a few seconds, then obediently tossed the tree, emitting a loud Duang sound. Jiang Zhi pulled out a mask, quickly put it on her, and brushed off the dirt clinging to her body, and with a kick, he tried to shove away the tree. However, his kick didn¡¯t move the tree an inch. By this time, the traffic police officer had caught up, roughly in his forties or fifties, short and chubby, he had run a short distance and was panting heavily, brandishing his electric baton aggressively, and demanded, ¡°Was it you two damaging public property?¡± Jiang Zhi shielded Zhou Xufang behind him, denying without a change in expression, ¡°It wasn¡¯t us.¡± Still not admitting it? He had clearly seen them from across the street! The police officer immediately called for a patrol officer, ¡°Officer Liu, there are two drunkards here damaging public property.¡± Fake drunk Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± Real drunk Zhou Xufang: ¡°¡­¡± Fifteen minutes later, a patrolling officer took the two to the police station. The duty officer, Officer Zhao, yawned, ¡°Names.¡± The man across him looked outstanding, dressed fine, not much like a criminal, quite the demeanor of a noble young master, except for a head of dyed blue hair, likely a trendy young man with taste. ¡®Trendy young man¡¯ responded, ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± That name sounds familiar. Officer Zhao glanced again, mmm, this excessively handsome face also looked a bit familiar, but he couldn¡¯t recall where he had seen it. Officer Zhao continued with the paperwork, glancing at the young girl sleeping in the ¡®trendy young man¡¯s arms, ¡°And her, name.¡± ¡°My girlfriend had too much to drink, she can¡¯t do the paperwork,¡± the person in his arms stirred, and Jiang Zhi gently soothed her, ¡°Good, sleep for a while.¡± Sleep? What kind of place did he think a police station was! Officer Zhao¡¯s voice rose a bit, using his absolute authority, ¡°ID number.¡± Jiang Zhi recited a series of numbers. Officer Zhao checked the identification details, beginning the interrogation, ¡°Why were you damaging public property?¡± Jiang Zhi took off his jacket, draped it over Zhou Xufang, tugged her mask, covering her completely from head to toe, and never once raised his head, ¡°We didn¡¯t damage public property.¡± Look at that! This trendy young man still dared to defy the officers! Officer Zhao directly pulled up the surveillance footage, his voice fierce, ¡°The cameras caught everything, and you still want to argue?¡± Finally, the ¡®blue-haired trendy young man¡¯ looked up, casually pushed back his hair from his forehead, the matte, misty blue making his complexion appear fair, seven parts aristocratic mixed with three parts laziness in his enticing peach blossom eyes, a hint of untamed wildness flickering within them. ¡°How heavy is that tree?¡± Officer Zhao was taken aback by the question, ¡°Uh¡­ around two hundred kilograms?¡± ¡°You think,¡± his voice disturbed the person in his arms, and he softly soothed her with a couple of whispers before continuing, ¡°how much strength it would take to uproot that tree with its roots intact?¡± Chapter 88: 088: Take home overnight~ Chapter 88: 088: Take home overnight~ ¡°How much strength would it take to uproot that tree completely?¡± Officer Zhao thought for a moment and chuckled, ¡°Are you playing with me?¡± How could a normal person possibly uproot a nearly ten-meter-tall tree! ¡°Officer, it¡¯s you who¡¯s playing with us.¡± Jiang Zhi slung the girl in his arms, with one hand on her back, lightly patting it now and then, ¡°My girlfriend is just a tiny girl under hundred pounds, fragile as can be, where would she get the strength to damage a tree over ten meters tall?¡± Officer Zhao thought about it¡­ that did seem reasonable. However, Officer Zhao wasn¡¯t easy to fool either, ¡°Then how did the surveillance capture her pulling at the tree?¡± Jiang Zhi turned the computer at a different angle, pointed at the screen without any sign of nervousness in the police station, calm and collected, he said, ¡°At that time, the wind was blowing, bending the tree. My girlfriend kindly went over to support it, but the wind was so strong that it blew the tree onto her shoulder. You don¡¯t even give my girlfriend a good citizen award, yet you falsely accuse her of damaging public property.¡± He dragged out his words lazily, ¡°Officer, where¡¯s the logic in that?¡± ... ¡°¡­¡± Officer Zhao was at a loss for words, looking at this ¡®blue-haired young society member¡¯, feeling a wicked vibe rushing towards him, and yet there was a composed grandeur about him. Truly remarkable. It seemed he wasn¡¯t just an ordinary member; he was big brother level. Officer Zhao calmed himself down, tidied up his thoughts, ¡°Can tonight¡¯s wind pull a tree up by its roots?¡± Jiang Zhi shifted his legs, changing the girl¡¯s sleeping position in his arms, ¡°Then do you think my girlfriend could?¡± This, this, this¡­ Officer Zhao was speechless. The man remained casual, unhurried, ¡°Any more questions?¡± That lazy tone, somehow mixed with a decisive authority. Officer Zhao¡¯s voice somehow weakened, ¡°¡­ no, not for now.¡± Just then, the sound of a door opening was heard, a gust of wind came through the door, Officer Zhao looked up, surprised, ¡°Captain Qiao, why are you here?¡± The head of the Criminal Intelligence Department had arrived. This Captain Qiao from the Criminal Intelligence Department was a legendary figure, rising to the top at a young age. Regardless of whether or not he had family connections, he certainly had the capability. Soon after taking office, he had shaped up the department impressively, and most importantly, Captain Qiao had single-handedly increased the number of female applicants at the police academy. In this era of valuing appearances, it was helpless, the Criminal Investigation Team recently got two new female interns who were all drawn by this ¡®police grass¡¯. Qiao Nanchu was handsome, but frankly speaking, he had a bit of a frivolous air, lacking the compelling righteousness of public servants. His eyes always carried a faint trace of heartlessness and a mischievous bad boy charm. With a cigarette in his mouth, he smiled with a mix of roguishness and indifference, ¡°I came to get someone.¡± He raised a hand and pointed, with a nod, ¡°These two are my friends.¡± Officer Zhao remembered then. Captain Qiao had a childhood friend who was into film making, he had made the headlines alright, no wonder he looked familiar. It turned out this ¡®blue-haired young society member¡¯ was actually quite the young master. After completing the procedures, Qiao Nanchu led people out of the police station. He glanced at the girl in Jiang Zhi¡¯s arms, ¡°What happened?¡± Jiang Zhi, careful not to let the girl fall, gently supported her waist, coaxing her not to move, coaxed, then looked up at his brother, his eyes were not so tender and loving anymore, ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it.¡± Qiao Nanchu couldn¡¯t stand seeing him like this, ineffectually ensnared, scolded him jokingly, asking, ¡°Is she drunk?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°Well done, Brother Zhi, quite the progress.¡± Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t respond, focused on comforting the girl in his arms; it seemed she was mumbling about discomfort, he patted and soothed her more, his winter coat now on the girl as he broke out in a thin sweat. Qiao Nanchu chuckled, having never seen Jiang Zhi so tenderly compromising his assertiveness; he lit another cigarette, zipping up his police uniform all the way. ¡°Why did you even end up at the police station? If you were photographed, you¡¯d be in trouble.¡± Although directors weren¡¯t as high-profile as artists, they were still somewhat public figures. He took a few puffs of his cigarette, exhaling smoke rings with practiced ease, ¡°Do you want to go public?¡± Jiang Zhi shook his head, ¡°Not now, the Jiang Family is keeping a tight watch.¡± He wasn¡¯t afraid of trouble, just of annoying her, ¡°Help me get in touch with your uncle and let him know, they can photograph me, but Xu Fang cannot show her face.¡± Qiao Nanchu¡¯s uncle worked in media and journalism, so blocking a piece of news wasn¡¯t difficult. ¡°Your family?¡± Qiao Nanchu, with a cigarette between his lips, slowly exhaled a dense cloud of smoke, taunting, ¡°Have you got it secured already? Still ¡®your family¡¯?¡± The girl in Jiang Zhi¡¯s arms coughed twice from the smell of smoke. He gave a look of displeasure, ¡°Put out the cigarette.¡± Such a protective guy! Qiao Nanchu chuckled and swore, then stubbed out the cigarette, ¡°Take it easy.¡± He pulled a set of car keys from his police uniform pocket and threw them to Jiang Zhi, ¡°I¡¯ve got matters to attend to at the station, I¡¯m heading out first.¡± ¡°Thanks.¡± Qiao Nanchu waved his hand and left first. Jiang Zhi lifted her into the car, buckled her seatbelt. She slept restlessly, tossing a bit, pouting her lips, and mumbling something in her sleep, unclear, murmuring indistinctly. Jiang Zhi leaned in, observing her intently for a long while, then poked her cheek, ¡°Zhou Xufang.¡± She murmured a response but didn¡¯t wake up. Through the mask, Jiang Zhi rubbed his chin against her face, ¡°What else are you still hiding from me?¡± Startled, she fluttered her eyelashes, opened her eyes, and met Jiang Zhi¡¯s gaze unguarded, her eyes clear, reflecting only his outline. She cooed softly to him, ¡°Jiang Zhi, I¡¯m thirsty.¡± Jiang Zhi smiled and ruffled her hair, ¡°I¡¯ll get you something to drink.¡± It was fine with him, whether she spoke or not, he didn¡¯t mind anymore, as long as it was her. Clouds covered the moon, the night was pitch black, not a star in sight. Zhou Xufang¡¯s place was too far, Jiang Zhi took her back to his apartment. She woke up on the way but was still drunk, humming and chirping, singing some unknown tune. Click¡ª Jiang Zhi opened the door, supporting her into the house. She clumsily moved in his arms, afraid to fall, she held onto his clothes obediently, her eyes bleary as she asked him, ¡°Where is this?¡± Jiang Zhi shut the door, ¡°My place.¡± She hummed in acknowledgment, then nestled against his shoulder, quiet again like a restless animal, clinging tightly to him, behaving herself. Jiang Zhi fetched slippers from the shoe cabinet and placed them under her feet, ¡°Lift your feet.¡± She didn¡¯t move. Jiang Zhi had to lift her onto a cabinet in the entryway, bent down to change her shoes, her legs swinging, hitting his hands several times. He coaxed her not to move several times before he successfully changed her shoes and then carried her down from the cabinet, pinching her face, ¡°You really are a handful.¡± S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. She grinned and echoed, ¡°A handful.¡± Jiang Zhi laughed. She too laughed, pulling on his hand unwilling to move, wanting him to carry her. Jiang Zhi was just about to squat down when she stopped moving and squatted beside him, staring at him with longing eyes, ¡°Jiang Zhi, I¡¯m thirsty again.¡± Chapter 89: 089: Tossed and turned all night~ Chapter 89: 089: Tossed and turned all night~ ¡°Jiang Zhi, I¡¯m thirsty again.¡± She licked her lips, squatting and curled into a ball. Jiang Zhi chuckled and squatted down to talk to her, ¡°Do you want water or milk?¡± ¡°Milk.¡± Jiang Zhi stood up. She followed suit, trailing him to the kitchen wherever he went. ... He had just taken out two cans of milk when she said, ¡°I want it cold.¡± ¡°No,¡± Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t give in to her, opened a can, poured it into a cup, and handed it to her, ¡°It¡¯s too cold outside to drink it cold.¡± Zhou Xufang, unhappy, pinched the cup without opening her mouth, scratched the rim twice, and then¡ª ¡°Clang!¡± She crushed the cup, splashing milk all over the floor. ¡°¡­¡± Was the girl a strongwoman? ¡°Why did you use so much strength!¡± He had just finished speaking when her head drooped, she glanced at him, and muttered, ¡°Jiang Zhi scolded me.¡± ¡°Jiang Zhi scolded me.¡± ¡°Jiang Zhi scolded me.¡± She repeated it three times in a row! Then, she showed an injured expression, as though the sky had fallen. Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± Are all the girls who¡¯ve been drinking so charming? Not daring to speak to her loudly anymore, Jiang Zhi touched her head, his technique¡­ well, was much like petting a cat. He spoke softly and gently this time, ¡°I¡¯m not scolding you, I¡¯m worried you¡¯ll get hurt.¡± Zhou Xufang paused for three seconds: ¡°Oh.¡± She was easy to console and immediately snapped out of her sadness, standing unsteadily, swaying. ¡°Let me see your hand.¡± She held out both hands. Fortunately, she was not cut by glass, just a hand covered with milk. Jiang Zhi took some paper towels to clean her up, then led her out of the kitchen, placed a chair for her to sit on. He went back to the kitchen for more milk. Zhou Xufang followed him. ¡°Sit here and wait.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± She sat back down, shaking her head and swaying. Jiang Zhi warmed up two cans of milk in the kitchen, this time not letting her hold the cup herself. He fed her, and she sipped daintily. Jiang Zhi couldn¡¯t take his eyes off her: ¡°Is it good?¡± She licked her lips, her eyes forming two narrow curves, nodded her head, and said it was delicious. She didn¡¯t look at all like her usual stiff and serious self; her eyes were misty, like a lonely star shrouded in moisture, the desolation and solitude gone, only leaving an irresistible gentleness. She was just a sheep in wolf¡¯s clothing, with sharp claws, behind the mask, actually not aggressive at all. She licked her lips again. Her tongue tip was red¡­ Jiang Zhi¡¯s gaze grew warmer: ¡°Let me taste it?¡± She agreed, pushing the cup in his hand toward his lips. He took her hand away, set down the cup, leaned over, his hand bracing against the back of the chair, the other lifting her chin, and bent down to kiss her. Her eyes widened in surprise, her already flushed face turned thoroughly red. Jiang Zhi wasn¡¯t much better off, with his ears tinged red; the sickly pallor on his face now looked more beautiful with a flush of emotion, his hand on her waist slightly sweaty. He sucked gently, nipping at her. The light fell on the left side, casting shadows in Jiang Zhi¡¯s open collar, on his neck where the skin showed carelessly, marked by three or four hickeys. Zhou Xufang had ¡°bitten¡± those in the private room. Jiang Zhi thought he could bite back, opened his mouth, but just as his tongue touched her lips, she pushed him away, mischievously. ¡°Hot¡­¡± She said it was hot. Only then did Jiang Zhi realize how hot her skin felt to the touch, and all his romantic imaginations vanished. He stepped back a few paces and reached out to touch her face. ¡°Why is it so hot?¡± She kept saying it was very hot, not just her face, all the exposed skin was red. ¡°Do you feel uncomfortable anywhere?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not uncomfortable.¡± Jiang Zhi was a bit flustered and touched her forehead with his face, but still felt it was abnormally hot. He then carried her to the master bedroom, removed her shoes and jacket, and wrapped her with the blanket. She complained of the heat and tried to kick it off; as soon as her foot lifted, Jiang Zhi pressed it down, ¡°Be good, lie still, don¡¯t kick the blanket.¡± Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. She didn¡¯t kick anymore and laid there like a log, perfectly still except for her eyelids, not moving an inch. Jiang Zhi rummaged through drawers and cabinets for quite a while before he found the medicine box. When he returned to the master bedroom with the thermometer, her eyelids had already closed, and she was sleeping in a daze. ¡°Xu Fang.¡± She hummed in response. Jiang Zhi sat by the bed, warming his hand before reaching under the blanket, ¡°Lift your arm for me.¡± She obediently lifted her arm. Jiang Zhi placed the thermometer under her armpit, waited a few minutes before taking it out. Just these few actions had him fumbling nervously, sweating profusely. 42 degrees, it was a high fever. He threw the thermometer aside and bent over to pick her up. Zhou Xufang turned over, refusing to be carried, ¡°Leave me alone, I want to sleep.¡± ¡°You can sleep later, we need to go to the hospital first.¡± Hospital? ¡°I don¡¯t want to go!¡± She turned to her side and pushed with her hand. Jiang Zhi, completely unprepared, was pushed off the bed, landing with a solid thud. At twelve o¡¯clock, Xue Bingxue was awakened by the ringing of his cellphone. Irritated by the disruption of his sleep in the middle of the night, even with his good temper, he was annoyed. It took him some time before reaching out of the covers to find his phone on the bedside table, without even opening his eyes. ¡°Hello?¡± ¡°Fever.¡± Concise and to the point, just two words, it was Jiang Zhi¡¯s voice. Xue Bingxue scratched his head and slowly climbed out from under the covers, glanced at the time on his phone, voice sleepy, ¡°Didn¡¯t you stop taking your medicine?¡± Jiang Zhi¡¯s voice was urgent, ¡°It¡¯s not me.¡± Oh, Xue Bingxue understood now, ¡°Is it Zhou Xufang who has a fever?¡± ¡°What should I do?¡± Just from the tone, it was clear how frantic Jiang Zhi was. This guy had been in and out of the ICU countless times over the past dozen years without ever panicking, yet Zhou Xufang¡¯s fever had him completely disoriented. Xue Bingxue rubbed his eyes, very sleepy, ¡°What do you mean what to do, take her to the hospital.¡± ¡°She doesn¡¯t want to go to the hospital.¡± ¡°Do you have any fever reducers at home?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Start by giving her the medicine.¡± Xue Bingxue yawned and wiped away the drowsiness, instructing Jiang Zhi on how to cool her down physically over the phone. On the other end, Jiang Zhi hung up the phone and went to give Zhou Xufang the medicine. She was sleeping heavily and refused to open her mouth, so he had to crush the pill and mix it with water to feed her. As soon as she tasted it, Zhou Xufang wrinkled her small face, ¡°Bitter.¡± She must really detest the bitterness, her eyebrows deeply furrowed. The sleepiness faded half way, but after Jiang Zhi softly coaxed her twice, she opened her mouth and drank the medicine. After feeding her the medicine, Jiang Zhi gave her a pink cotton candy, ¡°Still bitter?¡± ¡°Still bitter.¡± He fed her another candy, then got up to fetch some alcohol and water. He needed to use diluted alcohol for a body rub¡­ This was what Xue Bingxue had said. Jiang Zhi took off his sweater, feeling a bit hot. By the time he prepared the alcohol and returned to the room, Zhou Xufang had already crawled under the covers, sleeping soundly. She slept neatly, like a perfectly straight ¡®log of wood¡¯. Jiang Zhi placed the towel and basin on the bedside table, ¡°Xu Fang.¡± She didn¡¯t wake up. Good, at that moment, his desire was flaring, and he couldn¡¯t bear to see those eyes of hers that could captivate his soul. He pulled the blanket down a bit, watched her for a while before leaning down next to her ear, whispering, ¡°Someday in the future, I¡¯ll put you in a wedding dress.¡± Undressing a girl meant he had to cloak her in a wedding gown. He kissed her forehead, his hand slipping under the blanket, reaching for her waist¡­ So cold. It stayed for just a short time before he pulled his hand back out, placing it on her forehead. ¡°¡­¡± There wasn¡¯t a hint of fever to her, she was like a piece of ice. The next day dawned with a faint clear sky. Chapter 90: 090: Let’s date Chapter 90: 090: Let¡¯s date The next day, the sky was slightly clear. The weak warmth of the early winter sun filtered through the window cracks, scattering dancing patches of light all around, making the person on the bed squint in the sunshine, frown and flutter her eyelashes before finally opening her eyes. The chandelier on the ceiling was really pretty. Zhou Xufang rubbed her eyes, still groggy from sleep, and stared at the chandelier for a long time. Blinking, she then suddenly sat up. This wasn¡¯t home¡­ Her first reaction was to clench her fists and guard her chest, then she looked around warily¡ª ... All the guard in her eyes fell away when she saw Jiang Zhi, lying beside her bed. He was still asleep, his hair messy and sticking out on all sides, his thin clothes shifted to one side revealing a hint of his collarbone, gleaming under the sun¡¯s rays, porcelain white. His sleeping posture wasn¡¯t great, and his legs were too long, stretched out carelessly. The patches of light from the window just happened to land on his face, his skin fair and lips red. With his eyes closed and silent, he resembled a painting of a beautiful person. Normally, his peach blossom eyes, not prone to flirtation, were hidden under his soft, obedient eyelashes, casting a few shadows. He seemed not at all like a young master but more like a gentle youth. She, as if possessed, reached out her hand to touch him. Jiang Zhi suddenly opened his eyes, and she froze in her movement. There wasn¡¯t a trace of sleepiness in his eyes, only a joyful and triumphant smile, ¡°What are you doing?¡± propping himself up on the bed, he leaned toward her with the clear light of his peach blossom eyes, ¡°Do you want to touch me?¡± Zhou Xufang moved back, ¡°No!¡± She said it particularly loudly. Bluffing, really bluffing. Not teasing her anymore, Jiang Zhi stood up, not caring about his messy hair, touched her face, then her forehead, ¡°You don¡¯t have a fever anymore.¡± After he moved back and sat down, Zhou Xufang, who had been holding her breath, finally breathed quietly. ¡°Do you remember much about yesterday?¡± Yesterday¡¯s events¡­ Events and scenes rapidly flooded into Zhou Xufang¡¯s mind. It was annoying, her memory was very good, she didn¡¯t know how many times better than normal people. Feeling somewhat guilty, she hung her head, her hair as messy as Jiang Zhi¡¯s, and confessed in a small voice, ¡°I uprooted a tree.¡± Jiang Zhi leaned back in his chair, crossed his right leg over his left, hummed, waiting for her to continue. Zhou Xufang continued confessing honestly, ¡°We also went to the police station.¡± Jiang Zhi hummed, ¡°What else?¡± Her head buried even lower, her voice fainter, ¡°¡­ I don¡¯t remember.¡± But she remembered biting him, for a long time. She sneakily glanced at Jiang Zhi¡¯s neck, full of bite marks¡­ She frustratingly tugged at her clothes, her face flushed and scratching her palm, wondering if Jiang Zhi would think she was a lecherous demoness¡­ ¡°Do you remember you kissed me?¡± Her voice broke, ¡°I didn¡¯t, it was you¡ª¡± Jiang Zhi laughed, ¡°You remember, huh.¡± S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°¡­¡± Suddenly, she thought Jiang Zhi was a little bit bad, just a little. He looked into her eyes, his gaze intense, ¡°So, should you explain how you managed to uproot a tree weighing several hundred pounds?¡± Why? Actually, to be precise, she didn¡¯t know why either. Her memory stopped at that human genetic laboratory where she had lots of blood drawn, took many pills, and underwent many radiation experiments, and after all that, she became this way. Before that, she couldn¡¯t remember anything but knew that many people called her a Monster, others called her a legend in genetic medicine. She didn¡¯t look into Jiang Zhi¡¯s eyes anymore, ¡°I¡¯m strong.¡± Jiang Zhi¡¯s tone was casual, not like an accusation, more like making conversation, ¡°What about the alcohol? Who gave you the drink?¡± ¡°I bought it myself.¡± Her ears turned red. This girl was probably not good at lying, her panic and guilt were written all over her face. Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t expose her, ¡°You had a fever last night.¡± Within less than five minutes, it dropped from over forty degrees to the twenties, which was very abnormal. Zhou Xufang hung her head and fiddled with her fingers, unsure how to explain. She had been having frequent fevers lately, which hadn¡¯t happened before, and she still hadn¡¯t figured out why. ¡°Zhou Xufang.¡± She immediately sat up straight. Still unwilling to say anything, Jiang Zhi felt a sense of powerlessness as if he could be abandoned at any moment. He leaned forward, resting his elbows on the edge of the bed, ¡°What is our relationship?¡± She blankly asked back, ¡°What relationship?¡± On the platform, Feng Zhengxiong, Xiao Qingqing, and the other members of the Feng family were panic-stricken. Feng Wuchen¡¯s injuries were extremely serious, with one stab piercing through his Qi Sea; the platform¡¯s ground turned a swath of red. ¡°Elder, how¡¯s Chen Er¡¯s injury?¡± Xiao Qingqing asked anxiously. ¡°Take Wuchen back for treatment immediately!¡± The Feng family¡¯s Elder, Feng Qianyang, said gravely. ¡°Outrageous!¡± Hearing Feng Qianyang¡¯s words, Feng Zhengxiong flew into a rage, the ferocious killing intent erupting unchecked, ¡°Mo Qianshan! If Chen Er doesn¡¯t survive today, I will absolutely not spare your Mo family!¡± ¡°This matter has nothing to do with me. If the Feng Family Head really wants to attack my Mo family, I am ready to welcome you at any time,¡± the Mo family head replied indifferently, leaving without turning his head. Even though Feng Zhengxiong had already broken through to the Ninth Level of the Transformative Realm, the Mo family head was not the least bit afraid. ¡°Family Head Feng, I forgot to tell you that Ling¡¯er¡¯s current identity is a student at Tianyan Academy. Not to mention that it was Wuchen himself who thrust the sword, even if Ling¡¯er killed him, your Feng family can¡¯t do anything about it. With Tianyan Academy and my Huangfu family¡¯s support, you should weigh your own strength before trying to deal with the Mo family,¡± the young man on the platform sneered proudly. After a scornful laugh, the young man added, ¡°Do you know what a Sixth Grade Martial Soul signifies? I have never heard of Unmatched City producing a genius with a Sixth Grade Martial Soul before, let alone a woman. Even at Tianyan Academy, Ling¡¯er stands out among the best.¡± Leaving those words behind, the young man also departed. ¡°Tianyan Academy?¡± Feng Zhengxiong¡¯s face underwent a severe change, but he had no time to think further, quickly leaving with the severely injured Feng Wuchen. By comparison, Feng Wuchen¡¯s life was more important. ¡°Mo Ling¡¯er has been recruited by Tianyan Academy? When did this happen?¡± ¡°As expected of Unmatched City¡¯s top genius, Mo Ling¡¯er was recruited by Tianyan Academy!¡± ¡°A Sixth Grade Martial Soul, such a powerful talent¡ªTianyan Academy would be crazy not to recruit her! Mo Ling¡¯er¡¯s future accomplishments will be boundless!¡± ¡°Having such an astonishing talent, if I were in her place, I would do the same. Such a powerful gift indeed offers better choices. Wuchen cannot blame Mo Ling¡¯er.¡± The entire venue was shocked by such genius, truly making the people of Unmatched City envious. Mo Ling¡¯er¡¯s entry into Tianyan Academy meant her status had risen even higher, so Wuchen had even less standing to reach for her. ¡­ In the Feng family hall, there was silence, and worry and urgency were written on the faces of the higher-ups. Less than a quarter hour had passed when Feng Qianyang appeared in the hall, his elderly face showing traces of sorrow and helplessness. ¡°Elder, how is Chen Er?¡± Xiao Qingqing asked anxiously; everyone¡¯s eyes turned toward Feng Qianyang. Feng Qianyang shook his head helplessly, saying, ¡°Wuchen¡¯s injury is too severe; his Dan Tian is damaged, and he has dropped to the Second Layer of the Body Refining Realm. With my strength as a First-grade Alchemist, I can¡¯t save Wuchen.¡± ¡°Elder, do you mean to say Chen Er won¡¯t make it?¡± Feng Zhengxiong asked in panic, his gaze locked onto Feng Qianyang. ¡°Elder, please think of a way! You must save Chen Er!¡± Xiao Qingqing collapsed upon hearing this, tears streaming down like rain. Feng Qianyang shook his head again, with a sigh, ¡°Unless it¡¯s a remedy concocted by a Third-grade Alchemist. But where could we find a Third-grade Alchemist in Unmatched City?¡± Upon hearing this, Feng Zhengxiong sat down in despair. Feng Qianyang¡¯s words had effectively pronounced a death sentence for Feng Wuchen. ¡°Mo Ling¡¯er!¡± Feng Yuan, the eldest son, gnashed his teeth, his fists clenched with rage, ¡°I will never forgive you! If my younger brother doesn¡¯t survive, I¡¯ll make sure you join him in death!¡± ¡°Elder, is there truly no other way?¡± Xiao Qingqing asked through tearful sobs, unwilling to give up even the faintest glimmer of hope. ¡°I truly have no means to help. Wuchen has not much time left¡ªyou can go and see him for the last time,¡± Feng Qianyang shook his head once more. Sorrow and anger spread through the hall. At that moment, Feng Wuchen was still unconscious, his life force extremely fragile, hanging by a thread. However, not long after, something miraculous happened! The wound at Wuchen¡¯s Dan Tian, inflicted by the sword, began to heal at a visible rate! The next second, Feng Wuchen suddenly opened his eyes wide, gasping for air as if he¡¯d been holding his breath underwater for hours, looking as though he had a nightmare, his head covered in cold sweat, his face pale with fright. ¡°What¡­ What was that black thing?¡± Feng Wuchen wiped off his sweat, speaking with fright, but before he could think further, his expression suddenly changed, ¡°My¡­ My injury, what¡­ what happened?¡± ¡°Ah¡­¡± As Feng Wuchen was startled and astonished, his head suddenly felt as if it had been stabbed by a sword, the pain immense, his face instantly contorting. Then, a massive influx of information poured into his mind. ¡°This is¡­¡± Accepting the massive influx of information without resistance, Feng Wuchen was so shocked that his eyes nearly popped out; he nearly forgot the severe throbbing pain in his head. ¡°This is the memory of the Evil Dragon God! He is from the Ancient Dragon God Clan! It¡¯s said the Dragon Clan is an all-powerful Supreme with no equal. How could the Evil Dragon God be hiding within me, looking to use my body to reincarnate? This¡­ Could this all be a dream?¡± Feng Wuchen cried out in disbelief, feeling that everything was utterly implausible. The Ancient Dragon God Clan, Feng Wuchen had never heard of such a thing. It was only when these massive snippets of information suddenly emerged in his mind that he felt as if he were still in a dream. In the memory of the Evil Dragon God, Feng Wuchen came to know that the Evil Dragon God was from the Ancient Dragon God Clan, which had two Holy Sons, Long Tianhun and Long Tianzhan. The two were the most dazzling geniuses of the Dragon God Clan, but they tore their faces apart in their fight for the supreme throne of the Dragon Clan. They had been openly and secretly struggling against each other for years. In the end, on the day of the election for the supreme throne, Long Tianhun was not chosen due to having improper motives, and his brother Long Tianzhan successfully became the next Supreme of the Dragon Clan. In terms of talent and strength, Long Tianhun was not inferior to Long Tianzhan. In a world where strength was esteemed, he believed he could make the Dragon God Clan even more powerful, and that the supreme throne of the Dragon Clan should rightfully belong to him, but alas, it did not. Long Tianhun felt it was his father playing favorites. He could not accept the supreme throne falling into Long Tianzhan¡¯s hands. His hatred grew deeper over time, and eventually, Long Tianhun led many strong members of the Dragon Clan away, severing ties with the Dragon God Clan completely. As a result, Long Tianhun also changed his name to the Evil Dragon God! To forcibly seize the supreme throne of the Dragon Clan, Long Tianhun brazenly recruited soldiers and horses. A great war broke out within the Dragon God Clan. With overwhelming power, Long Tianhun defeated Long Tianzhan, seized the Dragon God Seal, and thought he had secured the supreme throne, only to be sealed by divine skills used by the six elders of the Dragon God Clan in the end. ¡°This¡­ this can¡¯t be real, right? The Evil Dragon God is too terrifying! No, those six elders are even more terrifying!¡± As he flipped through the memories of the Evil Dragon God, Feng Wuchen trembled in horror, sweating profusely and gasping for air. ¡°Third Young Master! You¡­ you¡¯re awake?¡± Just as Feng Wuchen was shivering in fright, the room door was suddenly opened, and a beautiful maid rushed in. The maid had been alarmed by the screams coming from the room earlier. When she rushed in and saw Feng Wuchen awake, she was completely dumbfounded. But Zhou Xufang knew, he couldn¡¯t bear to let her starve. She took the breakfast with her, leaving Jiang Zhi¡¯s house, finished it at the doorstep, and walked out of the compound with red eyes. Chapter 91: 091: Xu Fang: I dumped Jiang Zhi! Chapter 91: 091: Xu Fang: I dumped Jiang Zhi! At nine o¡¯clock, Zhou Xufang returned home, did nothing, and just sat still for an hour. The computer was on, and messages from Shuangjiang kept coming one after another. ¡°I have managed your properties and funds, Jiang Zhi won¡¯t find out.¡± ¡°I did an estimate, and you¡¯re still short by about one billion.¡± ¡°I tried to check the Peace Talisman hangings from Lingdu Temple, I¡¯ve sent you the new list.¡± Zhou Xufang had no reaction; though her eyes were on the computer, her mind was elsewhere. ... ¡°Xu Fang.¡± Shuangjiang made a clicking sound. She was still zoning out. Shuangjiang clicked again in a series, ¡°Xu Fang.¡± She finally looked up, her gaze empty, speaking to herself, ¡°Jiang Zhi is mad at me.¡± ¡°Jiang Zhi is ignoring me.¡± ¡°Jiang Zhi isn¡¯t talking to me.¡± She said it three times, each more panicky and remorseful than the last; she even ripped the cushion and bit her lip until it bled. Shuangjiang sent a question mark. S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°I sent Jiang Zhi so many periods, and he hasn¡¯t responded to me,¡± Zhou Xufang spoke more and more sorrowfully, her shoulders slumped, devoid of any spirit, looking like the sky was falling, ¡°he doesn¡¯t want to bother with me.¡± She felt terrible. Shuangjiang didn¡¯t know how to console her, and after seeing her sit a while longer, she couldn¡¯t sit still anymore. ¡°Where are you going?¡± She stood up from the chair, her expression desolate, ¡°I¡¯m going on a mission.¡± Even if Jiang Zhi was ignoring her, she would still protect him. The computer screen suddenly switched to a surveillance feed. Shuangjiang sent a message, ¡°Someone¡¯s at the door.¡± Only then did Zhou Xufang gather a trace of spirit to listen to the noises downstairs; after making sure of the footsteps, she put on a coat that wrapped her from head to foot and went downstairs. With her hood on, she opened the door and only poked her head out, ¡°Who¡¯s it?¡± Her voice was a bit cold and listless. At the door stood three men, all in the uniforms of a logistics company, with the two at the back carrying a box, and the man at the front asking, ¡°Are you Miss Zhou Xufang?¡± ¡°I am.¡± Her face was small, half-hidden in her clothing. The delivery man couldn¡¯t make out her face and found her chill, piercing eyes a bit disconcerting, he handed over the delivery slip, ¡°Your chandelier, please sign here.¡± She looked up upon hearing that. Only then did the delivery guy see her face clearly, a pretty girl with an aura of keeping others at a distance. She took the slip, signed, and handed it back, ¡°Thank you.¡± Her hands were pale and delicate, clearly not often exposed to sunlight. The delivery guy, without any ill intentions, took a second look and asked, ¡°Do you need us to carry it upstairs for you?¡± It¡¯s very heavy; how could a delicate girl like you lift it? Her response was cold and blunt, ¡°No need.¡± She reached out from behind the door, took the box with one hand, and effortlessly lifted it, not even fluttering an eyelash. ¡°!¡± The delivery guy was shocked, ¡°Do you need help installing it?¡± She shook her head and said thank you. She had once worked part-time as an electrician and could install it herself; she carried the box into the building, said thanks again, and closed the door. The delivery guy was stunned again and couldn¡¯t help asking his colleague, ¡°How heavy is that box?¡± ¡°Over a hundred pounds.¡± ¡°I watched that girl lift it like it was a head of cabbage.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Zhou Xufang carried the ¡®cabbage¡¯ into the house with one hand, opened the box to take a look, and felt even more disheartened. She squatted down beside the box, her head hanging down, once again muttering to herself. ¡°Jiang Zhi bought me a lamp.¡± ¡°Jiang Zhi carried me last night.¡± ¡°Jiang Zhi is too good to me.¡± ¡°He¡¯s so good to me, and I still made him angry.¡± She was so regretful. ¡°I¡¯m so awful.¡± So despondent. ¡°I am trashy!¡± So annoyed! Zhou Xufang felt exceedingly terrible, her world seemed grayed out; without being with him, how could she so recklessly get close to Jiang Zhi, and even more recklessly accept his kindness. She was angry with herself, ¡°I am a major trashy woman!¡± Shuangjiang: ¡°¡­¡± Seeing Zhou Xufang self-criticize in such a way, Shuangjiang suggested, ¡°Why not try to smooth things over with him?¡± Smooth things over? Zhou Xufang was lost in confusion. By four o¡¯clock in the afternoon, the top trending headline was ¡°Famous Director Jiang Visits Police Station with a Beautiful Woman at Night¡±, whereas the second and third headlines were about a celebrity couple¡¯s wedding. The wedding was held on a cruise ship and almost half of the entertainment industry was invited, including the infamous Director Jiang. The wedding was not open to the media, maintaining a high level of secrecy. Journalist friends could only lie in wait outside the yacht on the red carpet, snagging whoever came by and digging up whatever they could. Media friends found that Director Jiang¡¯s mood was extremely bad today, incredibly explosive! ¡°Director Jiang, could you answer a question? Last night at the police station¡ª¡± He didn¡¯t let them finish, his eyes turning cold, ¡°None of your business!¡± ¡°And the lady who was with you¡ª¡± Again, not letting them finish, Director Jiang straightforwardly pushed away the camera, his sickly yet beautiful face showing no trace of amiability, all but distant and indifferent, ¡°Which media are you from?¡± Media friends: ¡°!¡± You¡¯re the boss, I won¡¯t dare to ask anymore, no more daring to ask¡­ Jiang Wei¡¯er also came today, not as the Fifth Miss of the Jiang Family, but as a new assistant to the Weaver, who was known for her wild nature and had vanished as soon as she got on the cruise, not knowing where she had gone off to roam. Taking advantage of the absence of others on the deck, Jiang Wei¡¯er called out ¡°Brother Zhi¡±, ¡°Why are you so angry?¡± Since boarding, he had been sulking, his face wearing an ¡®stay away from me¡¯ expression and he didn¡¯t seem in good spirit, covering his mouth and nose with a handkerchief and coughing intermittently. ¡°This cough of yours doesn¡¯t seem to get any better.¡± ¡°It won¡¯t get better.¡± His lips were slightly pale, and it was unclear who he was irritated at; his temper flared, partly despairing, ¡°Next year I¡¯ll be twenty-five, should start preparing for my coffin.¡± It was rumored that the young master of the Jiang Family wouldn¡¯t live past twenty-five. Jiang Wei¡¯er just laughed, throwing his words right back at him, ¡°No need for a coffin, misfortune lingers for a thousand years.¡± She stopped joking and then mentioned something serious, ¡°Just now, the old lady called me.¡± Jiang Zhi was not very interested. She continued, ¡°She asked me if you were in love.¡± With all the fuss on Weibo, naturally, the old lady had also heard the rumors and had even started probing her. Then, Jiang Zhi finally turned to look at her. ¡°I said yes,¡± she joked pretentiously, ¡°I said our little ancestor of the Jiang Family is out there acting like someone else¡¯s grandson.¡± No sooner had she finished than his face clouded over, fury shooting from his peach blossom eyes, as if it could materialize, sharp enough to draw blood if it could. Zhou Xufang was truly dear to his heart, not to be spoken of lightly. Jiang Wei¡¯er chuckled, ¡°I was joking.¡± Strangely enough, ¡°What, can¡¯t I say that?¡± ¡°Fifth Aunt.¡± He suddenly addressed her so solemnly. Jiang Wei¡¯er was taken aback, ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Such a grave tone.¡± It was unusual. Jiang Zhi, rarely this somber and focused, ¡°Don¡¯t mention anything about Zhou Xufang to any of the Jiang Family members.¡± Knowing his seriousness, only a few people were in the know. His tone was almost pleading as he lowered his own stance. Although Jiang Wei¡¯er had never confronted him directly before, his typical indifferent and detached demeanor as a result of being raised in a prominent family like the Jiangs made him appear as though he had stepped right out of an ancient painting, devoid of vitality, rarely showing such heartfelt concern. She asked, ¡°Does that include your grandmother?¡± Jiang Zhi replied, ¡°Including her.¡± This pair of grandfather and grandson, one insinuating indirectly, the other secretly diverting, both had their own schemes. ¡°Understood.¡± Jiang Wei¡¯er lifted her skirt and headed towards the cruise ship¡¯s guest rooms, leaving a remark as she walked away, ¡°Brother Zhi, you¡¯re still a Jiang after all.¡± Just as she left, the Xue Family uncle and nephew arrived. Xue Baoyi happened to hear Jiang Wei¡¯er¡¯s last remark, sensing a palpable tension, ¡°What¡¯s up with you two, your expressions so serious?¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing,¡± Jiang Zhi did not wish to elaborate. Xue Bingxue¡¯s eyes reluctantly moved away from the direction Jiang Wei¡¯er had left, glaring at Jiang Zhi, ¡°Jiang Zhi, did you bully Wei¡¯er again?¡± Jiang Zhi gave no definite response, eyeing his protective demeanor, ¡°If she felt wronged, would you stand up for her?¡± Without a second thought, Xue Bingxue replied, ¡°Of course.¡± Fine. Jiang Zhi casually threw out, ¡°Xue Bingxue, your Jiang Wei¡¯er has been cuckolded.¡± Xue Bingxue¡¯s youthful, collagen-rich face tightened, ¡°What did you say?¡± He did not continue, ¡°Just wait, the old lady will come looking for you.¡± After that, he left with a drag in his steps. Xue Bingxue stood stunned for a moment then chased after Jiang Wei¡¯er. Xue Baoyi was utterly confused, unable to grasp the situation. Glancing from side to side, he followed Jiang Zhi, ¡°Brother Zhi, what are you implying? Didn¡¯t you not want my uncle involved in this mess?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want to, but he¡¯s already involved.¡± Xue Baoyi didn¡¯t understand, ¡°What do you mean?¡± Jiang Zhi gave him a sidelong glance, ¡°Do you know what my grandmother is best at?¡± What? What?! Xue Baoyi was about to explode, ¡°Can¡¯t you speak plainly?¡± Dammit, he felt like his intelligence wasn¡¯t sufficient. Chapter 92: 092: Brother Zhi Excels in Fun Games Chapter 92: 092: Brother Zhi Excels in Fun Games Jiang Zhi walked slowly, coughing occasionally, ¡°She loves to kill with a borrowed knife.¡± Xue Baoyi knew this too, but¡ª ¡°What does this have to do with my uncle?¡± ¡°The internal strife in the Jin Family was stirred up by our Old Lady Jiang. No matter who wins in the end, Old Lady Jiang can¡¯t live peacefully. Behind Huayu and Tang Heng, there is the entire Jin Family. Your Baoguang alone can¡¯t swallow them all. At this time, it¡¯s best to have someone take care of everything at once, to eliminate Old Lady Jiang¡¯s worries.¡± Killing with a borrowed knife, once and for all. Old Lady Jiang had sat in a high position for so many years, her skills were no mere few. Jiang Zhi was different. He liked to manipulate hearts; he would just look around leisurely and occasionally take action. Then all the trends would blow according to his whims. ... Old and young psychopaths. Xue Baoyi couldn¡¯t figure out the old psychopath¡¯s plan. She asked the young psychopath, ¡°Why is it my uncle?¡± ¡°It¡¯s related to my Fifth Aunt, the best one to use is Bingxue.¡± Xue Baoyi was straightforward, always fighting openly. Facing Jiang Zhi, this manipulative young psychopath, her intelligence felt challenged, her mind almost exploded, ¡°My uncle is just a traditional Chinese medicine doctor.¡± Jiang Zhi glanced at him, ¡°Do you know why your Xue family¡¯s heritage wasn¡¯t passed down to you?¡± Xue Baoyi pondered, wasn¡¯t it because he was too reckless? ¡°Because your grandfather wanted to keep it for Bingxue.¡± Xue Baoyi couldn¡¯t believe it, ¡°He is just a simple, naive sweetie.¡± Jiang Zhi looked at him as if looking at someone intellectually challenged, ¡°You¡¯re even more simple and na?ve than him.¡± It was a miracle how a family¡¯s son had grown up so straightforward and simple-minded. Xue Baoyi was speechless. ¡°Your Xue Family isn¡¯t much simpler than my Jiang Family; how could your family¡¯s darling youngest son not be cunning?¡± Xue Bingxue just dislikes using schemes, he has morals like his mom, too upright. But if he really starts scheming, he¡¯s not inferior to anyone. Xue Baoyi was speechless. At that moment, Xue Baoyi felt the world was so complicated! ¡°Brother Zhi, how do you know everything?¡± In the matter of Jin Song, Jiang Zhi had hardly taken any action, just played with intelligence. However, he guessed almost every move of his Old Madam. With an air of nonchalance, he replied, ¡°Because I have brains.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Was he saying he didn¡¯t have brains? Honestly, Xue Baoyi wasn¡¯t worried about his uncle since Jiang Zhi had anticipated everything. The outcome must also be within his expectations. Despite being twisted, hypocritical, sinister, and shameless¡­ besides beauty, Jiang Zhi had one more quality, he was very protective. Xue Baoyi started to probe, ¡°Then let me ask your brains, can my uncle win over your aunt?¡± ¡°If he can be a bit more hypocritical and shameless,¡± Jiang Zhi picked a table by the side, pulled out a piece of paper to wipe the table and chair, and sat down, ¡°he can.¡± What did that mean? Xue Baoyi once again felt his intelligence in crisis, sinking into deep thought. His uncle, that man, was still too honest. The honest Xue Bingxue was beating someone at that moment. Time rewound five minutes. ¡°Wei¡¯er.¡± He had followed Jiang Wei¡¯er all the way to the aft deck before he called out to her. Jiang Wei¡¯er turned around, ¡°What is it?¡± He was at a loss for words again. The wind swayed her white skirt, ¡°Why aren¡¯t you speaking?¡± He thought she looked better in black, ¡°Xiao¡ª¡± His words were interrupted. ¡°Wei¡¯er, Wei¡¯er!¡± Fang Lixiang was waving vigorously at the top deck, like a brothel¡¯s Madam, ¡°Come, come~¡± The wind was strong on the cruise ship, Jiang Wei¡¯er¡¯s skirt exposing her ankles, she wasn¡¯t afraid of the cold in such weather. Xue Bingxue took off his coat for her, ¡°You go ahead, I¡¯ll wait here.¡± She didn¡¯t take it, claimed she wasn¡¯t cold, waved at him, and left first. Not long after her departure, two people, a man and a woman, came out from the viewing room in the distance. The woman handed over something, the man took a long while to accept. ¡°Don¡¯t wait for someone else to tell her¡­ also no turning back¡­¡± The sound was intermittent, distorted by the sea wind, and soon it was unclear. Xue Bingxue took a few steps closer. It was Xiao Linsu and his agent Lin Shuang. As they got closer, Lin Shuang¡¯s voice became clearer, ¡°Jin Song that beast still kept a backup, I¡¯m afraid the thing has already ended up in the Jiang Family¡¯s hands, Linsu, we can¡¯t delay any longer, you¡ª¡± ¡°Does the cigarette burn hurt?¡± He didn¡¯t know if he was listening, his gaze fell on her hand, he raised his hand, pulled up the sleeve of her suit, the burn on her arm had already scabbed over, looking somewhat fierce. The wind was too strong, making Lin Shuang¡¯s eyes red, she shook her head, ¡°It doesn¡¯t hurt.¡± Xiao Linsu loosened his hand, his voice low and soft, almost inaudible, he muttered to himself, ¡°How could it not hurt.¡± Cigarette burns are the most painful, more painful than a whip. ¡°Xiao Linsu!¡± It was Xue Bingxue. His eyes were red with anger, he charged over, and kicked Xiao Linsu in the chest, Xiao Linsu took the blow solidly, stumbling and falling. Xue Bingxue didn¡¯t wait for him to get up, he pinned him down with his knee on his stomach, choking him like an enraged beast, ¡°You dare deceive her, you dare deceive her!¡± He swung his fist and smashed it down into his stomach. Lin Shuang was stunned for a moment, then came to her senses, ¡°Mr. Xue, please speak calmly, don¡¯t resort to violence.¡± ¡°Get lost!¡± Xue Bingxue¡¯s eyes were full of blood. No one had seen him angry before, they thought such a gentle and obedient person would never strike someone, this was the only time, he lost his reason, using all his brute strength, punching Xiao Linsu in the body, in the face. ¡°You beast!¡± He couldn¡¯t curse well, the few phrases he knew were all taught by Xue Baoyi, but he was very angry, wanted to use the most venomous words to curse him, use the greatest strength to punish him, ¡°Are you even human, Wei¡¯er never wore skirts before, not even once!¡± S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Lin Shuang couldn¡¯t hold him back, he fiercely kept hitting. Xiao Linsu lay there, motionless. ¡°Fight back, damn it!¡± Xiao Linsu wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, his gaze empty, as if smiling, unsure what he was smiling at. Xue Bingxue¡¯s hands were covered in blood, he tore off his tie, ¡°If you won¡¯t fight back, fine, then I¡¯ll beat you to death!¡± He pressed down on Xiao Linsu, raising his fist to smash. ¡°Xue Bingxue!¡± It was Wei¡¯er¡¯s voice. He froze in his movement, looking back slowly and blankly. Jiang Wei¡¯er¡¯s gaze was intensely hot, she walked closer, grabbed his hand, her voice mixed with the sea wind, carrying a coolness, ¡°Stop this, Xue Bingxue.¡± As soon as he saw her, Xue Bingxue¡¯s expression became chaotic, the color draining from his face bit by bit, ¡°I¡¯m not causing trouble.¡± She was looking at Xiao Linsu, all the sorrow, all the reluctance written across her face. Xue Bingxue always knew, she really liked someone else, he always knew. ¡°I¡¯m not causing trouble!¡± his eyes slightly reddened, this was the first time, he yelled at Jiang Wei¡¯er, ¡°I just can¡¯t stand to see him bully you.¡± She was unaware, slightly stunned, ¡°We¡¯ll talk about it later.¡± She squatted down to help Xiao Linsu, ¡°Are you alright?¡± Xiao Linsu shook his head, bracing himself to stand up. ¡°Go to the guest room first.¡± She supported him, turning to leave. Xue Bingxue called out from behind, ¡°I have something to say to you.¡± His voice trembled low, ¡°Wei¡¯er, don¡¯t go with him.¡± He was showing weakness, pleading with her. Jiang Wei¡¯er had known him for over twenty years, how could she not understand him, he wouldn¡¯t hit someone for no reason, but, matters of the heart, it wasn¡¯t appropriate for him to intervene. ¡°Lixiang, bring your boss over.¡± Fang Lixiang, still holding the selfie stick, was a bit confused, ¡°¡­Oh.¡± Oh, this Mr. Xue is his uncle¡¯s boss. Jiang Wei¡¯er tried to remain calm, turning back to look at Xue Bingxue, ¡°Your hand is swollen, go get it treated first.¡± Both of them needed some quiet, couldn¡¯t stay together, she also needed to sort things out. After leaving those words, Jiang Wei¡¯er helped Xiao Linsu leave. Xue Bingxue stood in place, his eyes filled with loss and panic. Dark clouds covered the moon, the night wind was cold. Chapter 93: 093: Nostalgia Kill - About First Love Chapter 93: 093: Nostalgia Kill ¨C About First Love The silence was pervasive, only the wind could be heard. Suddenly, a phone rang; it was Old Lady Jiang calling. ¡°Bingxue.¡± ¡°Speak, Auntie.¡± He walked to the side to answer the call. Fang Lixiang stood there stunned for a moment, then took out his phone, found the boss¡¯s number, and dialed. Knock, knock, knock. ... Jiang Wei¡¯er opened the door; the server was standing at the doorstep, handing over a medical kit, ¡°Here¡¯s the spare medicine you asked for.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°You¡¯re welcome.¡± Jiang Wei¡¯er closed the door and carried the medical kit to the bedside, ¡°Don¡¯t you have anything to say to me?¡± Since entering the room, there had been no explanation, only silence. ¡°Linsu¡ª¡± He looked up at her, his eyes bloodshot. The medical kit in her hand fell to the floor, and she suddenly panicked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you?¡± Jiang Wei¡¯er had only seen Xiao Linsu cry on TV before; this was the first time she had seen his eyes redden in front of her. She couldn¡¯t bear seeing him like this, and her eyes reddened too, ¡°Don¡¯t cry, I won¡¯t ask anymore, I won¡¯t ask.¡± ¡°Wei¡¯er.¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± He reached out his hand, wanting to touch her face, but his hands were bloody and dirty, so he bowed his head and kissed her eyes instead, ¡°Don¡¯t you like wearing white dresses?¡± As he bowed his head, his tears fell onto her face. ¡°If you like it, then I like it.¡± She grabbed his hand, pressing it against her face, not minding the dirt or the semi-dry bloodstains that smeared her face, ¡°Before we were together, I watched many of your interviews. You said you liked girls who wear white dresses, ones who smile tenderly.¡± Back then, before they were together, she had tried every which way to become everything he liked¡ªshe started growing her hair long, wearing dresses, and sitting and walking properly. ¡°Do you know why?¡± She shook her head. His voice choked and hoarse, ¡°Because of you.¡± There was no such thing as an ideal type; it had always been her. ¡°Xue Bingxue said you never used to wear dresses, but that¡¯s not true; you did.¡± He didn¡¯t know she disliked dresses, but the first time he saw her, she was wearing a white dress. After that, the woman in his dreams, all his preferences, it was all her. Back then, he was just eighteen, and in his most disheveled state when he met her. ¡°Sorry, did you fall anywhere?¡± It was he who had stumbled and bumped into her. He didn¡¯t stand steady and fell to the ground. She went over to help him, but he shouted at her, ¡°Don¡¯t touch me!¡± Back then, Jiang Wei¡¯er was also only eighteen and was frightened by the guarded look in his eyes. He got up on his own and stumbled out. That place was the entrance of a hotel; that day was Jiang Wei¡¯er¡¯s coming of age celebration. Even the hotel lobby had exaggeratedly hoisted a banner wishing her a happy birthday. The banner was made by Xue Baoyi, who always tended to overdo things¡ªonly fifteen but with a wildly non-mainstream hairstyle, acting as if he owned the world. ¡°What kind of insolent kid is this, treating our cousin like that?¡± Xue Baoyi, still a young boy, had the look of a little ruffian, and gestured with his chin toward Jiang Wei¡¯er, ¡°Look, your dress is dirty now.¡± Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. She touched the stained spot. ¡°It¡¯s blood.¡± The one who spoke was a young boy next to Xue Baoyi, still looking very youthful yet undeniably handsome, but his frail body looked sickly and exceedingly thin. That was the fourteen-year-old Jiang Zhi. ¡°When will my uncle get here, Wei¡¯er has finally gambled and worn a dress for once. We have to let him see how awkwardly she walks in it.¡± ¡°Get lost.¡± Xue Baoyi snorted. He was still apprehensive around Jiang Wei¡¯er; she had always been keen on kicking people since they were kids. ¡°You guys go ahead and wait for me inside,¡± the birthday boy suddenly changed direction, heading out. ¡°Where are you going?¡± She waved her hand behind her and ran across the street. Across the street, there was a park, turn left from the park for five hundred meters, and there was a pharmacy. She ran there, and ran back, panting and sweating profusely. ¡°Hey!¡± She called out. The boy sitting by the fountain looked up, always wearing a mask, only his beautiful eyes visible, indeed the person who had bumped into her in the hotel. It was the eighteen-year-old Xiao Linsu. In the middle of summer, he was dressed in long clothes, his exposed skin was minimal, but even that tiny bit was covered in injuries¡ªcuts and burns, most had scabbed over, only his left wrist was still bleeding. His eyes were very red, he had been crying. ¡°Why are you crying?¡± He remained silent. She shook the bag of medicine in front of him, ¡°Here, for you.¡± But he didn¡¯t take it, turned his back, and ignored her. The eighteen-year-old girl was at an age marked by sharpness, born lucky, and had yet to encounter anyone who gave her such attitude, she laughed, ¡°You dirtied my dress, and still have such a temper?¡± Still silent. After a long time, he turned back to look at her dress, its white hem stained with blood from when he had bumped into her. The wound on his wrist, as if inflicted by a sharp knife, continued to bleed profusely. It looked terribly painful; she sighed, took out a bottle of hydrogen peroxide from her bag, and was about to disinfect his wound by pulling his hand toward her when he reacted strongly and jerked away, retreating backwards. ¡°I am very dirty.¡± His voice still carried the clarity of youth, but it was as if his throat was torn, both dry and hoarse. His shoulders shook as he mutely repeated, ¡°I am very dirty.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll wash it off, and then you won¡¯t be dirty anymore,¡± she said, grabbing his hand and pouring the diluted hydrogen peroxide on it. He flinched. ¡°Does it hurt?¡± He avoided her probing gaze and remained silent. Dipping some ointment, she applied it to his wound, and then awkwardly wrapped it with a bandage. ¡°If it hurts, you can cry.¡± She saw the sadness and despair in his eyes. Perhaps it was the gentleness in the girl¡¯s voice that quietly breached his defenses; he bowed his head, and tears hit the ground before he hugged his knees and sobbed loudly¡­ The sun was bright, a slight breeze in the air, and through his tear-blurred vision, all he could see was the swaying of the girl¡¯s dress. She placed her baseball cap on his head, pressing it down until it almost covered half of his face. ¡°Now, no one can see you.¡± He cried for a long time, eventually quieting down, while she remained sitting silently beside him on a stone, waiting until he stopped crying and looked up before she stood, her face now sunburned. Though tears blurred his vision, he still saw her clearly¡ªshort hair to her ears, delicate and beautiful. She said, ¡°Then I¡¯m leaving.¡± ¡°Wei¡¯er! Jiang Wei¡¯er!¡± In the distance, the boys called for her. She turned and replied, ¡°Don¡¯t rush, I¡¯m coming.¡± Then she threw the medicine to him, ¡°Apply this one three times a day, and this one, once a day.¡± ¡°Wei¡¯er!¡± ¡°Coming, coming.¡± She ran into the crowd, her white dress fluttering long in his vision. Jiang Wei¡¯er. Her name was Jiang Wei¡¯er. That day was Jiang Wei¡¯er¡¯s eighteenth birthday. She lost a bet and wore a white dress she would never normally wear. Xue Bingxue missed her coming of age ceremony and didn¡¯t see the awkward way she walked in the dress. That day, Xiao Linsu was first selling himself for a hundred thousand yuan at Jin Song¡¯s, pitifully tarnished, when she appeared. Their next meeting was six years later. He was an actor, she a Taekwondo Hall coach, his martial arts instructor. She didn¡¯t recognize him, she didn¡¯t even remember a boy who had wept in front of her six years ago. ¡°Did you recognize me back at the Taekwondo Hall?¡± Xiao Linsu nodded. How could he not recognize her? He knew her at first glance, then¡­ step by step, it all went wrong. He placed the USB drive he had held for a long time into her hand. ¡°What is this?¡± ¡°It¡¯s evidence.¡± It was the evidence of his insatiable mistakes. He didn¡¯t know how long he had held the metal USB drive; it was warm and covered in sweat. Jiang Wei¡¯er¡¯s heart raced, panic stricken: ¡°Did Xue Bingxue get violent with you because of this too?¡± He said yes, ¡°Xue Bingxue did nothing wrong, it was my fault.¡± ¡°You¡ª¡± Suddenly, an alarm sounded. Soon after, Jiang Wei¡¯er¡¯s phone rang too. She swallowed her words and answered the call first. It was Xue Baoyi: ¡°Wei¡¯er, Jiang Zhi is in trouble.¡± Time rewound fifteen minutes. The wedding march had just begun, and Xue Baoyi received a call from an unknown number. The caller¡¯s voice trembled: ¡°Boss.¡± Xue Baoyi did not recognize the timid voice at first: ¡°Who is this?¡± The timid one said: ¡°Boss, it¡¯s me.¡± Damn it, Xue Baoyi was out of patience: ¡°Who are you?¡± The dry voice on the other end of the phone said: ¡°I¡¯m the new Weaver, Fang Lixiang. Don¡¯t you remember me, boss?¡± Xue Baoyi put down her drink and laughed: ¡°I remember, vividly.¡± The guy who loved cursing in games. Right now, the guy who loved to curse in games was very respectful on the phone: ¡°Boss, your uncle got into a fight. Oh, don¡¯t worry, it was just your uncle beating up someone else. Then he injured his own hand. Are you free to come over and pick up the patient? He seems very unstable, and we¡¯re at the stern. He might do something foolish¡­¡± She paused. ¡°Boss, are you listening?¡± Xue Baoyi tapped on the table: ¡°Listening.¡± Fang Lixiang then asked, ¡°So, will you come over?¡± Emperor Xue: ¡°Hmm.¡± Fang the Palace Maid: ¡°Then I will wait respectfully over here.¡± Drama queen! Chapter 94: 094: The Husband-Protecting Maniac Zhou Xufang Goes Online Again Chapter 94: 094: The Husband-Protecting Maniac Zhou Xufang Goes Online Again Drama queen! Xue Baoyi hung up the phone and got up from her seat, ¡°My uncle ended up hurting himself while beating someone up, I¡¯m off to pick him up.¡± Jiang Zhi held a glass of wine in her hand, just toying with it without drinking. Xue Baoyi had barely budged before someone had set their sights on her seat. ¡°Jiang Zhi, Jiang Zhi!¡± Ming Saiying swished her skirt and plonked herself down. ... And honestly, this Ming Lao¡¯s stamina was quite commendable. Even Xue Baoyi admired her spirit of ¡°Though Jiang Zhi tortures me a thousand times over, I still regard Jiang Zhi with the freshness of a first love.¡± The girl wasn¡¯t bad, actually¡ªshe had curves in all the right places, but she was a bit single-minded. Ming Saiying, with curves and single-mindedness, had no sense of the awareness expected of a female artist and stared at Jiang Zhi like a crazed fan. Jiang Zhi stood up and left. Xue Baoyi asked, ¡°Where are you going?¡± ¡°To see the stars.¡± Ming Saiying looked up, ¡°¡­¡± But tonight the clouds obscured the moon, and not a single star was visible. The wedding was set up on the top deck of the cruise ship, while the lower three decks were reserved for guest rooms. Currently, the wedding ceremony was underway, so the guest room floors were empty except for some staff to guide guests at the entrances. In the second-floor corridor, a man and a woman were struggling. ¡°Let go.¡± The woman wore a black gown that trailed on the floor, her long hair tied in a high ponytail¡ªsleek yet feminine. But on the verge of anger, she glared with an intensity that made her difficult to approach. The man, however, remained unfazed, one hand gripping the woman¡¯s wrist and the other pressing on her shoulder, effectively trapping her between his hands. He smirked, ¡°I refuse to let go.¡± Dressed in a suit and shoes, he had a handsome and resolute appearance, though a hint of dominance in his eyes made it hard for anyone to look him in the eye. Angered by his illogical response, the woman snapped, ¡°Jiang Xiaolin!¡± The man was none other than the eldest grandson of the main branch of the Jiang family¡ªJiang Xiaolin. The usually composed and steady Jiang Xiaolin was uncharacteristically rascally and shameless. Lifting his leg, he pressed his knee against the woman¡¯s, his laugh was actually quite rakish, ¡°You¡¯re calling me rather sweetly, come on, call me again.¡± The headstrong woman, flushed with anger, retorted, ¡°Are you fucking sick or what!¡± sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°I am sick.¡± He leaned in close to her ear, ¡°That year, you were the one who reported me to the school, claiming I was a pervert who specialized in stealing women¡¯s underwear.¡± ¡°¡­¡± The beautiful woman rolled her eyes indelicately, ¡°That was years ago, and you¡¯re dredging up old grievances.¡± At that moment, a cough interrupted their standoff. Jiang Xiaolin turned to look and upon seeing who it was, he let go and leisurely straightened his suit, his gaze changing to one without a trace of his earlier ¡®sleazy rou¨¦¡¯ behavior, the act of loosening his cuff button was elegant and haughty, ¡°I thought you wouldn¡¯t come in such cold weather.¡± Jiang Xiaolin, four or five years older than Jiang Zhi, was a cousin who rarely interacted with her. When not at the old house, he couldn¡¯t even be bothered to be courteous. Jiang Zhi almost impersonally ¡°Hmm¡¯d¡± in response and walked past them both. The woman¡¯s gaze followed him. Jiang Xiaolin pinched her chin and turned her face towards him, ¡°If you can¡¯t bear to part with him, why not chase after him?¡± The woman pushed his hand away, ¡°That¡¯s exactly what I intend to do.¡± Finishing her declaration, she turned and walked away. Jiang Xiaolin grabbed hold of her. Without a word, she struck out with her claws. Instantly, three scratch marks appeared on the back of his hand, ¡°Tang Xiang!¡± The woman turned with a charming smile, ¡°It sounds quite nice when you call me, come on, call me again.¡± Jiang Xiaolin: ¡°¡­¡± Who is Tang Xiang? Aside from that iron-fisted Miss Luo of the Luo Family, the most well-known person was this thunderously efficient female butler. Despite her young age, she was the old patriarch¡¯s most dependable aide. In the Luo Family, even the legitimate masters would have to lower their heads a bit in Tang Xiang¡¯s presence. Speaking of the history between Tang Xiang and Jiang Xiaolin, one would have to go back seven or eight years. They were classmates, one ranked first and the other second in their grade, each finding the other intolerable. By the way, Tang Xiang was number one, while Jiang Xiaolin was perpetually second. There was only one time he scored higher than her, but due to behavioural issues, he was docked five points for moral character, once again reverting to second-best. And regarding the deductions of moral character points, it was apparently because Tang Xiang¡¯s undergarments were found in Jiang Xiaolin¡¯s backpack¡­ Let¡¯s talk about Jiang Zhi. He had just descended the stairs when someone called out to him. ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± It was Luo Qinghe. Jiang Zhi ignored her as if he had heard nothing and continued walking without turning back. With arms crossed, Luo Qinghe leaned casually against the doorframe: ¡°You seem to really dislike me.¡± She watched the person in front of her leisurely, ¡°Because of Luo San?¡± Jiang Zhi halted, then turned around. ¡°Knowing that I dislike you, how come you don¡¯t know to stay away from me?¡± Luo Qinghe wasn¡¯t upset; she brushed the long hair beside her ear, her appearance might not have been stunning, but her bone structure was exceptionally delicate, especially her elegant collarbones. She said with a half-serious, half-joking tone: ¡°Luo San has been dead for so many years now, yet he still holds a place at the top of your heart.¡± In his youth, Jiang Zhi often mingled with the Luo Family. The Luo daughters were numerous, with Luo Qinghe and Luo Yinghe, the pair of legitimate cousin sisters, leading them; the illegitimate ones were countless. Whatever shape or form you could imagine, they had; but the young Jiang Zhi only played with the Little Mute, disregarding everyone else. ¡°You don¡¯t need to know whether he is still in my heart,¡± Jiang Zhi spoke in an even tempo, ¡°You just need to remember firmly that your Luo Family is still an eyesore to me.¡± Having said that, he turned and left swiftly. Luo Qinghe¡¯s smile faded slowly. ¡°Young Mr. Luo.¡± It was the secretary Han Feng, who had just come down from upstairs. She withdrew her gaze: ¡°Where is Luo Changde?¡± Han Feng leaned in, whispering a few words. Upon hearing this, Luo Qinghe¡¯s expression darkened dramatically: ¡°That worthless piece of trash.¡± After cursing, she turned and headed toward the stairwell, but she had barely taken a step when her knee went numb, and she fell to her knees without any warning. ¡°Young Mr. Luo!¡± She fell hard, and Luo Qinghe couldn¡¯t get up for a while; below her left knee was a fiery sting, and she was unable to move for a moment. Less than an inch from where her knee hit the ground, there was a spoon with a severely bent handle. She picked up the spoon, enduring the pain, and stood up with the support of the wall. Seeing this, Han Feng approached the corner of the corridor. ¡°Come out!¡± After he yelled, there was silence. ¡°Who?¡± asked Luo Qinghe. Han Feng shook his head; there was no one around the corner, only a puddle of water on the ground. Hmph! Bad woman! I¡¯ll hit you with a spoon again next time! Zhou Xufang cursed the bad woman several times in her heart before stopping, crouching at the staircase near the stern of the boat, twisting the water from her sleeve and frowning in thought. Who was Luo San? Jiang Zhi¡¯s good friend? She was so deep in thought that she didn¡¯t notice the footsteps behind her. ¡°Who¡¯s there?!¡± It was a waiter from the cruise, still holding a bottle of red wine. Zhou Xufang turned around; she didn¡¯t have an invitation, and had to swim over from the sea, recently climbing up from the water, her eyes still red; not the pretty red of cosmetic contacts, but the color of blood. She knew it was terrifying. ¡°Crash!¡± The red wine shattered, the waitress¡¯ legs gave out, and she sat on the floor: ¡°Demon, demon¡­¡± In the blink of an eye, the red-eyed ¡®demon¡¯ was in front of her, and she opened her mouth to scream. Zhou Xufang covered her mouth: ¡°Don¡¯t scream.¡± The demon¡¯s hand was so cold¡­ That waitress was scared out of her wits, trembling as she said: ¡°I, I won¡¯t¡­ won¡¯t scream.¡± Good, if she doesn¡¯t scream, I won¡¯t have to hit her. Zhou Xufang pointed to the nearest cabin: ¡°Go inside and take off your clothes for me.¡± Chapter 95: 095: Xu Fang plays the hero to save the beauty Chapter 95: 095: Xu Fang plays the hero to save the beauty S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Knock, knock, knock. The sound of knocking thrice, yet no response came from within. Luo Qinghe stood at the doorway, ¡°It¡¯s me.¡± After she spoke, someone inside finally responded, though notably impatient, ¡°What is it?¡± The door opened, and Luo Changde stood disheveled, his neck and chest covered with scratches from a woman¡¯s nails. Luo Qinghe¡¯s expression instantly turned cold. She entered with her secretary and slammed the door forcefully, ¡°You still ask me what it is, Luo Changde? Look at the mess you¡¯ve made.¡± ... Luo Changde, just over fifty, had swollen eyes that made him look older. Due to his physical disability, he had become even more unrestrained in his antics over the years. He sneered, ¡°It¡¯s just a woman.¡± Just a woman? Hmph, just a woman who had left him childless and without descendants. Luo Qinghe scanned the room; a pen lay on the floor, its tip bloody. The woman on the bed lay motionless, her legs spread, still bleeding from down below. More than twenty years ago, Luo Changde had been rendered impotent, and ever since, he had taken pleasure in doing this to others. ¡°You really can¡¯t teach an old dog new tricks.¡± Contempt and disdain filled her eyes, unhidden. Luo Changde could not stand her domineering attitude. His murky eyes narrowed, ¡°Who taught you to be so disrespectful to your elders?¡± Despite having led a frivolous life in recent years, the once head of the Luo Family, Luo Changde, still retained a ruthless streak. Luo Qinghe chuckled coldly, ¡°My mom¡¯s dead. Who do you think taught me?¡± ¡°You¡ª¡± She was utterly repulsed, not wanting to hear another word, ¡°I don¡¯t care what you do outside, but within my sight and the influence of the Luo Family, you¡¯d better restrain yourself. The Luo Family is under my command now.¡± Luo Changde laughed scornfully, not showing whether he took her words to heart. He took a piece of paper from the bedside, wrapped the pen with it to wipe it clean, and tossed it into the trash can. His back was slightly hunched, his hair peppered with gray, and his lean figure bent forward as he tucked his shirt into his belt, ¡°Clean this place up¡­ and take care of this woman.¡± The swearing-in of the newcomers concluded, and fireworks lit up the sky from the top deck of the cruise ship. In the sky, myriad trees blossomed brightly, illuminating the night like daylight. Zhou Xufang, wearing a waiter¡¯s uniform, her large face mask covering half her face, adjusted the special glasses on the bridge of her nose. ¡°Is there surveillance here?¡± Shuangjiang replied, ¡°The wedding guests are either public figures or business magnates, requiring high confidentiality. There¡¯s no surveillance in the guest rooms on the first and second floors.¡± Zhou Xufang asked directly, ¡°Where is Jiang Zhi?¡± ¡°He¡¯s not in the surveillance area.¡± Which meant, he was on either the first or second floor. Zhou Xufang was on the second floor and began searching room by room. Just as she reached the end of the hallway, a blood-soaked woman suddenly tumbled out from around the corner. Her gown was tattered. She curled up on the ground barely clothed, her blood flowing down her legs and onto the floor. ¡°Save, save,¡± she extended her hand towards Zhou Xufang, her nails caked with blood, ¡°Save¡­ me¡­¡± Bang! Bang! Bang! The fireworks exploded in the sky, dazzlingly bright in the starless winter night, disrupting the noisy revelry of the guests aboard with their booming echoes. Jiang Zhi felt irritable as he walked toward the stern of the ship. Over the phone, Qiao Nanchu¡¯s voice sounded somewhat weary, ¡°I¡¯ve visited the arsonist.¡± ¡°Will he change his statement?¡± ¡°He¡¯s still sticking to his story, no matter how much pressure is applied.¡± Jiang Zhi stood at the stern, sea spray flying high, the cool mist dampening his legs. The wind tousled his dusky blue hair, and he casually raked a hand through it, ¡°If we can¡¯t pry his mouth open, we¡¯ll start with the people around him.¡± Qiao Nanchu speculated, ¡°Maybe he is the murderer?¡± The sea breeze was strong, the waves gently rocked the ship, and footstep sounds were drowned out by the ongoing fireworks. Leaning against the railing, Jiang Zhi surveyed the sea of fireworks and the endless ocean, ¡°Two people died in the Luo Mansion fire back then, and no death sentence was handed down. Does that make sense?¡± Qiao Nanchu remained silent about the Luo Mansion fire, instead questioning Jiang Zhi, ¡°You really want to get involved in this?¡± His reply was nonchalant, ¡°Yeah.¡± There was the sound of a lighter from the phone; Qiao Nanchu lit a cigarette, ¡°Are you still concerned about that child from the Luo Family?¡± Jiang Zhi¡¯s tone suddenly became serious, ¡°I already have Zhou Xufang. Don¡¯t bring this up again.¡± Qiao Nanchu chuckled, ¡°Then why?¡± ¡°I can¡¯t stand the Luo Family.¡± At that moment, A hand slowly extended from behind. The roar of fireworks was deafening by his ears, drowning out all other sounds. Having just thought of his beloved, Jiang Zhi¡¯s mind was restless. He wondered what kind of reaction Zhou Xufang would have if she knew about that Luo Family¡¯s young man. If only he could make her jealous¡­ Lost in thought, he grew absentminded: ¡°That case¡ª¡± A forceful push came from behind¡ª At that moment, with his mind full of Zhou Xufang, Jiang Zhi forgot to be cautious. His body flipped over the railing and plunged straight into the sea. Clang! His phone landed on the deck, followed by the sound of water splashing. ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± ¡°Jiang Zhi!¡± Qiao Nanchu shouted loudly from the phone. That hand was large and strong, with a few scratch marks on the back and wearing a watch. It picked up the phone and forcefully cast it into the depths of the sea. At this time, Zhou Xufang had just carried a woman to the staff changing room when an emergency alert from Shuangjiang came through his earpiece. ¡°Xu Fang!¡± Zhou Xufang acknowledged with a sound and opened the cupboard, placing the woman inside. ¡°Jiang Zhi¡¯s phone suddenly got cut off.¡± Her movements froze briefly, her eyelashes fluttering. After a moment of being stunned, she quickly snatched a coat and tossed it to the woman: ¡°This place is safe. Wait until the ship stops before calling for help.¡± After giving instructions, she vanished in the blink of an eye, with only the door clanging shut behind. The woman covered her mouth, shutting the cupboard door as she trembled. The carpet in front of the guest room door was flipped up, like a gust of wind had swept by. Under the light, a complete silhouette was uncatchable, only a fleeting shadow, belonging to the running Zhou Xufang. ¡°Shuangjiang, help me check possible places Jiang Zhi could be.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Ten seconds later. Shuangjiang spoke, ¡°The first-floor stern or the second-floor observation area.¡± Zhou Xufang¡¯s speed and leaping power were thirty-three times that of a normal human, getting from the second floor to the first-floor stern in a mere instant. Without concern of being noticed, she kicked open the stairwell door. The force caused the entire vessel to sway slightly. The deck was deserted. Zhou Xufang was already sweating, ¡°He¡¯s not here.¡± She had a very bad feeling. After searching the area and finding no abnormalities, she was about to leave when Shuangjiang sent another alert: ¡°Criminal Intelligence Department has breached the cruise¡¯s top-level surveillance. Qiao Nanchu has sent a distress signal.¡± Shuangjiang paused, ¡°Xu Fang, something might have happened to Jiang Zhi.¡± As long as the person was onboard, Xue Baoyi must be able to rescue them immediately, unless¡­ Zhou Xufang turned and headed towards the ship¡¯s stern, and before removing her earpiece, she only said one thing, ¡°Keep an eye on the ship for me.¡± ¡°Xu Fang¡ª¡± The connection was lost. Zhou Xufang tossed aside her earpiece and leaped, diving into the sea. That year, it was also winter, dreadfully cold, the swimming pool at the Luo Mansion had a thin layer of ice. Suddenly, the ice broke and splashed, and someone was floundering in the pool. The servants in the greenhouse hurried over at the noise, crowding near the pool to watch the commotion. ¡°What¡¯s happened here?¡± ¡°Look, someone¡¯s fallen in.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t that Luo San?¡± ¡°Yes, it is.¡± ¡°He offended the second Miss and got punished to clean the pool.¡± ¡°Fool¡¯s a fool, doesn¡¯t even know to drain the water first.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Whether discussing or silent, no one got into the pool to rescue. This was because the haughty second Miss Luo said, until the pool was cleaned, no one was allowed up. Then, there was another splash. Someone had entered the water. When they were pulled up, they realized it was Young Master Jiang, a visitor to the Luo Family. For some reason, the distinguished young master, who couldn¡¯t swim, had jumped into the water. With the day being cold and the pool water icy, the frail Young Master Jiang, with his weak constitution, swallowed a lot of water. The frigid water filled his lungs; because of this, Young Master Jiang fell seriously ill, nearly losing his life. It was after this incident that Young Master Jiang developed a fear of water. Qiao Nanchu once asked him, ¡°Why jump in if you can¡¯t swim?¡± He said, ¡°If I didn¡¯t go into the water, nobody else would have come to rescue.¡± Later, whenever Young Master Jiang visited the Luo Family, that silly Luo San would hide behind the house, stealthily watching him. If caught, he would hurriedly give him the little stars he had folded for a long time. That fool couldn¡¯t speak, but he would smile dimly at Jiang Zhi, secretly burying his ¡®treasures¡¯ under the tree in the greenhouse. When Jiang Zhi arrived, he would dig them out; all for Jiang Zhi, candies, beautiful stones, paper-folded little stars, and even tightly wrapped white-steamed buns. Back then, that silly boy of the Luo Family thought steamed buns were the best thing in the world. The sea breeze was relentless, causing ear pain, while fireworks continued to explode, casting a mottled reflection on the sea¡¯s surface. In the flickering light, a slender figure emerged from the water. She emerged, carrying a person on her back from the glittering water. Chapter 96: 096: Jiang Zhi: Zhou Xufang, is it you? Chapter 96: 096: Jiang Zhi: Zhou Xufang, is it you? She carried a person on her back, emerging from the shimmering water, her eyes wet and red as blood. The winter night was cold, and the rocks were chilling to the bone. She placed him on a dry patch of grass, laying him flat, and knelt beside him. ¡°Jiang Zhi!¡± ¡°Jiang Zhi!¡± No matter how she called, he wouldn¡¯t wake up. ... She took off her mask, her eyes red, and kept pressing on his chest, constantly performing CPR. ¡°Jiang Zhi!¡± ¡°Wake up, Jiang Zhi!¡± Zhou Xufang had never been so scared. If Jiang Zhi were gone, if Jiang Zhi were gone¡­ Her hands shook, her whole body trembled, and she didn¡¯t even have the strength to give him mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. When she bowed her head, tears fell, mixing with the seawater, running from her face to the corner of his mouth, both salty and bitter. ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± Her voice choked in the wind, ¡°Don¡¯t you die¡­¡± Then¡ª Jiang Zhi spat out a mouthful of water onto her face. ¡°Cough, cough, cough¡­ cough¡­¡± His body curled up, coughing continuously. Zhou Xufang¡¯s tense nerves suddenly relaxed, and she collapsed onto the ground, gasping for breath. He was alive, he was alive¡­ ¡°Zhou Xufang,¡± The next second, cold hands grabbed her wrist. ¡°Is it you?¡± He could only see half of her face in the blurry night. Zhou Xufang violently turned around. ¡°Cough, cough, cough¡­¡± He struggled as she pulled away, and he fell back heavily onto the ground. It took a long while before he propped himself up and reached for her still dripping sleeve. ¡°Turn around, let me have a look at you.¡± His voice, raspy from swallowing seawater, broke as he spoke. Zhou Xufang, standing with her back to him, deliberately suppressed her voice, ¡°I¡¯m just an errand runner, taking people¡¯s money to solve their problems.¡± After saying this, she put on her mask, lowered her eyelashes to cover her reddened eyes, and turned to walk away. The sea breeze was painfully sharp, the wind whistled past her ears, and he kept coughing behind her. Zhou Xufang wiped her eyes, which were scorchingly hot. At this hour, there were only a few people on the beach, all appearing cold and desolate. She had thought there would be many reporters, but it turned out they had been cleared away, an utter waste of his new sunglasses. Why wear sunglasses at night? What an act! Ming Yanghua took off his pretentious accessory, no longer posing, kicking the stones by the seaside as he walked, with his friends calling out on the phone. ¡°Ming Xiaohua, where are you, why aren¡¯t you here yet?¡± His friends liked to tease his name, his ancestors! How could Sixth Master Ming put up with that? He immediately showed his displeasure, ¡°Your mother, if you call me Xiao Hua again, I¡¯ll hammer you to death!¡± His friends chuckled mischievously, not taking anything seriously, ¡°Alright, alright, Young Master Ming, just come on over, we¡¯re all waiting for you.¡± There was nothing serious going on. His friends were all wealthy idlers with money to burn, spending their days not doing anything constructive, just enjoying singing KTV, flirting, and playing mahjong with him. Ming Yanghua ran his fingers through his tin-foil-permed hair, ¡°I¡¯m not coming.¡± His friends were displeased, ¡°Why not?¡± Ming Yanghua made up an excuse, ¡°Ying Xianxian from Tingyu Building has invited me over to enjoy some music.¡± In reality, his tomboy sister insisted he come pick someone up. If he didn¡¯t, his sister could have their dad cut off his card, and his dad, being utterly devoted to his daughter, would definitely comply. S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. His bold friends dared to expose him, ¡°Ying Xianxian is at our place, got dragged by your sister to work again, huh?¡± Ming Yanghua hated it when people said he was weak or scared of his sister, how could he tolerate this? ¡°Put your damn¡ª¡± ¡°That thing said, ¡®Someone fell into the water, call an ambulance.''¡± Wearing a mask, her face not visible, cars sped by on the roadside, their headlights flickering momentarily over that ¡®thing¡¯¡ªbarely qualifying as a person¡ªuntil Ming Yanghua saw her eyes. ¡°You, you, you, you¡­ you are that, that, that thing from Tingyu Building¡­¡± That female ghost with red eyes who had thrown him into the trash! Zhou Xufang was out of patience and commanded, ¡°Hurry and call an ambulance.¡± Ming Yanghua¡¯s face had turned pale, his body shaking uncontrollably: ¡°You, you, you, you¡ª¡± He screamed as if his life depended on it, ¡°Ahhhh! A ghost!¡± Ming Yanghua was afraid of ghosts, had been since he was young. His limited-edition versatile tool was lost; he was just about to ¡®escape for his life¡¯ when that ¡®female ghost¡¯ suddenly leaped in front of him¡ªreally, just like that! This ¡®female ghost¡¯ could even drift¡­ His eyes rolled back, and he fainted, his cellphone dropping to the ground while his mischievous friends still called out for ¡®Xiao Hua.¡¯ Zhou Xufang picked up his phone and dialed for emergency services. In the man¡¯s contacts, there was also a number she recognized¡ªit was Xue Baoyi¡¯s. Within ten minutes, Xue Baoyi found Jiang Zhi by the seaside. The ambulance arrived quickly; because a young master of the Jiang family had had an accident, the cruise wedding was hastily concluded. At ten o¡¯clock, doctors lined up in two rows at the entrance of the hospital. At quarter past ten, the two rows of doctors moved to the emergency room. At half-past ten, in the empty hallway, the sound of a cane hitting the floor grew closer and closer, tap, tap, tap¡­ it was chilling to hear. Vice Dean Sun hurriedly advanced, ¡°Old Madam, how come you are here?¡± The arriving figure, leaning on a cane, dressed in a button-embroidered overcoat, hair meticulously combed, was none other than Old Madam Jiang from the Xu Jiu Ru family. Old Madam¡¯s expression was cold, her presence commanding without anger: ¡°My grandson is in the hospital; how could I not be here?¡± She supported by others, walked to the emergency room door, glanced around at everyone, and asked, ¡°How is Brother Zhi?¡± Vice Dean Sun replied, trembling, ¡°Still, still in emergency treatment.¡± She then asked, ¡°Which doctor is in charge?¡± ¡°Dr. Xue.¡± Ah, Xue Bingxue. Accompanying her was the newly appointed Dean of the Fifth Hospital, Qin Shiyu. He stood beside Old Madam Jiang, slightly lowering his head, yet neither servile nor overbearing, he asked, ¡°Old Madam, do you need me to go in and check?¡± Jiang Zhi¡¯s chronic illness had always been treated by him; he knew the situation better than anyone. Old Madam Jiang dismissed the offer: ¡°No need, let¡¯s wait for Bingxue to come out.¡± Qin Shiyu agreed and said nothing more. The emergency room was silent, only the sound of the heart monitor audible. The person on the bed, having just undergone emergency treatment, moved his fingers. ¡°Awake?¡± He awoke quite quickly. Jiang Zhi stared at the ceiling, distracted for a moment, then reached up to remove his oxygen mask. Xue Bingxue said, ¡°You can¡¯t remove that yet.¡± Ignoring her, he took it off anyway, his handsome face unnaturally pale, his body weak, his dull blue hair limp; he began to cough as soon as he opened his mouth: ¡°Cough, cough¡­ Zhou¡­ cough, cough¡­¡± Opening his eyes, he asked for Zhou Xufang. Xue Bingxue pressed the oxygen mask back on him: ¡°Don¡¯t speak yet.¡± With a stern expression on her doll-like face, she spoke with a maturity beyond her years, ¡°You¡¯ve only recently stopped your medication, your body hasn¡¯t recovered, and you¡¯ve ingested a lot of water this time, which isn¡¯t good.¡± The most critical issue was his lungs. Jiang Zhi¡¯s body had been ill for too long, all his organs were damaged; he needed careful nursing, having only recently stopped the medication that caused his condition, his body hadn¡¯t recovered yet, and this incident was a major setback. ¡°If you still want to keep this life, then you better stay in bed these next few days.¡± Xue Bingxue sternly lectured, ¡°Qin Shiyu is also here; I¡¯ll administer your medication in a bit, but you¡¯ll stay in the ICU for now.¡± Qin Shiyu couldn¡¯t be fully trusted, and it was unclear whose side he was on; precautions were necessary. Jiang Zhi opened his mouth, his voice hoarse as if smoke-damaged: ¡°Help me.¡± Xue Bingxue didn¡¯t quite catch that, leaning closer: ¡°What?¡± He said, ¡°I want to be discharged.¡± Xue Bingxue thought he was being reckless: ¡°Jiang Zhi, don¡¯t act rashly.¡± This wasn¡¯t up for discussion. Jiang Zhi pushed himself upright, pulling out his IV: ¡°Don¡¯t let the old lady know; get me out of here, I¡¯ll come back soon.¡± ¡°Planning to see Zhou Xufang?¡± ¡°Mm.¡± Chapter 97: 097: Jiang Zhi: Ah Fang, please coax me (first update) Chapter 97: 097: Jiang Zhi: Ah Fang, please coax me (first update) At 10:40 p.m., Xue Bingxue came out of the emergency room. Old Lady Jiang, supported by others, rose to her feet, ¡°Bingxue, how is Brother Zhi doing?¡± Xue Bingxue pulled down her mask, ¡°Seawater has caused aspiratory pneumonia; we need to proceed with anti-inflammatory and antiviral treatments.¡± ¡°Is there a risk to his life?¡± Xue Bingxue¡¯s expression grew grave, ¡°His cardio-pulmonary condition isn¡¯t very good; we still need to observe him.¡± Hearing this, Old Lady Jiang staggered. ... The Gui Family hastily spoke soothing words, urging the Old Madam not to upset herself too much. ¡°Don¡¯t worry too much. Once Brother Zhi¡¯s condition stabilizes, I¡¯ll inform you,¡± hesitated Xue Bingxue, ¡°regarding the perpetrator¡­¡± He stopped there, not continuing further. When Old Lady Jiang heard the words ¡°perpetrator,¡± her expression turned cold, ¡°Ah Gui, call Fuxi over to attend to Brother Zhi.¡± Gui complied, ¡°Yes, Old Madam.¡± Old Lady Jiang lifted her gaze and looked over her shoulder, ¡°Lin.¡± Jiang Xiaolin stepped forward and asked what was the matter. ¡°I heard from the servants below that Fuli also went to the wedding today,¡± the Old Lady seemed to be hinting at something. Jiang Xiaolin replied, ¡°She did go.¡± Aside from Jiang Zhi, those invited from the Jiang Family included the eldest of the first house, Jiang Xiaolin, the second house¡¯s Jiang Fuli, and the Fifth Miss, Jiang Wei¡¯er. Even the subordinates from the Jiang Group had all come to the hospital, yet Jiang Fuli was nowhere to be seen. Old Lady Jiang was visibly angry, ¡°Brother Zhi was pushed into the sea, and she, as his cousin, didn¡¯t even show her face?¡± Jiang Xiaolin, hand on his suit, looked closely, several scratch marks visible on the back of his hand. His expression unchanged, his reply was composed, ¡°She might have had business with the company and left the seat midway. She called just now, saying she would come over later.¡± Clearly annoyed, Old Madam tapped her cane, ¡°Tell her there¡¯s no need to come!¡± Jiang Xiaolin acknowledged he understood. Old Madam then turned to look at Jiang Wei¡¯er, completely ignoring the person beside her, ¡°Wei¡¯er, come with me to the police station.¡± Jiang Wei¡¯er subconsciously looked back. Standing behind her was Xiao Linsu. He hadn¡¯t asked a single question about her relationship with the Jiang Family; he just followed her, accompanying her through all the hustle and bustle. This was probably the first time Old Lady Jiang had met him in person. Her demeanor was indifferent, distant, and there was a hint of condescension, ¡°We won¡¯t trouble Mr. Xiao with our Jiang Family affairs.¡± Jiang Wei¡¯er was about to defend him. But Xiao Linsu held her back, shaking his head. Jiang Wei¡¯er then refrained from arguing with her mother, feeling somewhat nervous, and instructed him, ¡°Wait for my call.¡± He replied, ¡°Okay.¡± At eleven o¡¯clock at night, there were footsteps outside the ward. The Gui Family hurried forward to greet the visitor, asking, ¡°Is it Sister Xi?¡± The newcomer lowered her hood, with well-proportioned features, she looked dignified and stately, ¡°It¡¯s me.¡± Her voice was gentle and soft, pleasing to the ear, ¡°Is Brother Zhi awake?¡± Jiang Fuxi was only older than Jiang Zhi by some months; they rarely called each other cousins. The Gui Family answered, ¡°Not yet.¡± Stepping forward to take the embroidered cloak from Jiang Fuxi, she conveyed the instructions from the Old Madam one by one, ¡°The Old Madam and Fifth Miss have gone to the police station; Lin has returned to the old house. Before leaving, the Old Madam said that the Young Master doesn¡¯t like strangers and asked Sister Xi to take good care of him.¡± ¡°I understand.¡± Then, the two of them walked together to the intensive care ward. Xue Bingxue just happened to be at the door. Jiang Fuxi approached, ¡°Dr. Xue.¡± Xue Bingxue was not particularly close to Jiang Fuxi; she had been brought up by Old Lady Jiang¡¯s side since childhood and rarely left home. Xue Bingxue nodded; they had little to say to each other. Jiang Fuxi always spoke kindly, inquiring, ¡°May I go in to see Brother Zhi?¡± Xue Bingxue shook her head, her doctor¡¯s white coat making her young-looking face appear more somber, ¡°It¡¯s not visiting hours right now. There¡¯s a family waiting room outside; I¡¯ll let you know once Brother Zhi is past the observation period.¡± Jiang Fuxi thanked her and gazed toward the door for a while before leaving. Once she was far enough away, Xue Bingxue put on her mask and entered the ward. ¡°How are you feeling?¡± The person on the bed moved, ¡°I don¡¯t feel very comfortable.¡± The figure turned over, looking worried, ¡°Third Young Master, what kind of medicine is this? Can it be administered even without any illness? Won¡¯t there be any side effects? I feel like half of my body is all cold.¡± This person was Lin Wanwan. Her employer had slipped away, and she had been brought in to fill in, impersonating someone else was one thing, but this was a bit too realistic; her chest felt numb, could she be electrocuted by the monitor? And also this IV drip¡­ Dr. Xue comforted the ¡®patient¡¯, ¡°It¡¯s just glucose; it¡¯s not harmful to the body.¡± Ah Wan suddenly felt the cold on one side dissipate, ¡°Oh, glucose.¡± But what about the heart monitor? Could that electrocute her? Ah Wan remained filled with worry. Meanwhile, Jiang Zhi, who had slipped away from the hospital, was already on the expressway. For the fourth time, he urged, ¡°Drive faster, cough cough cough cough cough¡­¡± ¡°It felt as if his lungs were on fire. Wrapped in a coat, he curled up on the back seat, coughing more and more violently. Xue Baoyi glanced at him through the rearview mirror. His beautiful face was now as pale as a ghost¡¯s, the rims of his eyes reddened, his expression listless, like a wilted flower, bereft of its vibrant beauty, leaving only delicate frailty. It was heart-wrenchingly pitiful! ¡°We¡¯re already going very fast,¡± Xue Baoyi, seeing his condition, couldn¡¯t help but tease him, ¡°If you keep this up, you¡¯re going to lose that half a life you have left.¡± Really, after all these years, I¡¯ve never seen him act so recklessly. Can a woman be more important than one¡¯s own life? Xue Baoyi couldn¡¯t understand, feeling that Jiang Zhi was going overboard, ¡°Brother Zhi, I mean, do you really have to be this way? If you want to see her, just give her a call. If she doesn¡¯t come, I¡¯ll tie her up and bring her to you. Is it really necessary for you to personally drag yourself over in this state?¡± This will only spoil her, and then she¡¯ll be even more out of control. Jiang Zhi, pinching his forehead, had fingers devoid of color, pale and translucent, truly bereft of strength, weakly said, ¡°My head hurts a lot, stop nagging me.¡± Xue Baoyi hummed, ¡°Alright, I won¡¯t talk anymore. After all, it¡¯s not me who¡¯s being tormented by a woman.¡± Jiang Zhi urged him to drive faster once again. A forty-minute journey was completed in less than half an hour. The on-duty security guard, seeing the luxury car, asked a few questions before letting them through. Xue Baoyi parked the car aside and unbuckled his seatbelt, ¡°I¡¯ll go call her down for you.¡± Jiang Zhi pushed the car door open directly, ¡°No need, I¡¯ll go myself.¡± He adjusted the coat around him and walked into the night. The cold wind of a winter night was bone-chilling; within moments, his pale face flushed with a hint of rosy color. The cold was biting, the night devoid of pedestrians, and the dim streetlights cast splotchy shadows off the branch tips of a cedar tree, scattering points of light. Jiang Zhi hadn¡¯t reached Building 17 when the door on the ground floor opened abruptly without warning. Zhou Xufang, wearing a black hoodie with a cotton coat thrown over it, holding a bag of something, stood at the door, staring blankly at Jiang Zhi. He was looking at her too. Behind him was a sliver of moonlight, peering through dispersing clouds, pale white, mingling with the lamplight, blending into a beautiful color, yet not as fetching as him, not by a fraction. Zhou Xufang watched him for a long while before she turned her head away and stammered, ¡°I came down to take out the trash.¡± Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t expose her lie, standing still, the wind blowing his hair and the hem of his clothes, leaving only his weak and hoarse voice in the profound silence. ¡°Zhou Xufang, I don¡¯t have the energy, come here to me.¡± She agreed, setting the trash bag down, and took steps toward him, stopping a meter away from him. Jiang Zhi moved a step forward, extended his hand, and pulled her into his embrace. Not far away, the overhead street light cast a pair of entwined shadows on the ground¡ªhe was much taller than her, and with his arms wide open, he could easily hide her completely in his embrace. He tilted his head slightly, and his chin grazed the soft hair on top of her head, ¡°Do you have any discomfort?¡± Without moving, Zhou Xufang replied, ¡°No.¡± She informed him, ¡°I¡¯m in good health.¡± That¡¯s good. Jiang Zhi rubbed his face against her head, exhaling a long breath of relief. Zhou Xufang tilted her head just a bit, ¡°What about you?¡± ¡°I won¡¯t die.¡± He couldn¡¯t afford to die, not now that he had her. He had to live a bit longer. She was still worried about him, looking up to stare at his face, feeling as if he had gotten thinner, ¡°It¡¯s very windy outside¡ª¡± she began to urge him to go back to the hospital. Jiang Zhi knew too well, cutting her off, holding her without letting go, ¡°Don¡¯t rush me, it wasn¡¯t easy for me to come here.¡± ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± He bent down, burying his face in her shoulder, ¡°Let¡¯s hug a bit longer.¡± How bold she was, to leap into the deep sea. He had drunk too much water and couldn¡¯t remember details, only that she kept calling for him, and seemed to be crying. ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± Zhou Xufang craned her neck to look at him, noticing his eyes were red. She became anxious immediately, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Jiang Zhi let go of her, hastily wiped his eyes, and made up a quick excuse, ¡°The wind is too strong, it¡¯s making my eyes hurt.¡± She believed him and tiptoed to cover his eyes with her hands, shielding him from the wind. She was a smart girl, yet sometimes so naive. Jiang Zhi caught her hand, bringing it to his lips. She instantly pulled back, her expression timid and shy, stepping back a couple of paces, her cheeks reddening, too shy to look at him, she asked softly, ¡°Are we reconciled?¡± She remembered him being angry before. Jiang Zhi, hands in his pockets, found her obedience quite pleasing yet still managed to suppress the smile curving on his lips, ¡°No,¡± he argued illogically, ¡°I don¡¯t make friends with women. If you don¡¯t become my girlfriend, we can¡¯t reconcile.¡± Zhou Xufang¡¯s eyebrows furrowed, her face quickly showing signs of disappointment and sadness. Jiang Zhi smiled, ¡°Unless,¡± She immediately looked up. He began cajoling, ¡°If you coax me, if you coax me, then I¡¯ll be friends with you.¡± So she had to coax him to be friends. ¡°¡± Shuangjiang also said she needed to coax him. But how? She had never coaxed anyone before. Her eyebrows were furrowed for a long while before she finally said, ¡°I have a gift for you.¡± The gift was at home. ¡°Can you wait here for me, okay?¡± Jiang Zhi said okay. She hurried back, and when she reached the staircase, she looked back: ¡°Do you want to wait here? There¡¯s no wind.¡± He had just fallen into the water not long ago; his body must be very weak and couldn¡¯t be chilled by the cold wind again. Jiang Zhi, of course, would have wished for nothing better: ¡°I can.¡± Not able to enter her room, but at least he made it into her apartment staircase. Zhou Xufang ran up and quickly came down again. The gift she brought Jiang Zhi was a bit¡­ special. ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± She handed it over to Jiang Zhi with both hands: ¡°Slippers.¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± This one from his family really didn¡¯t follow the beaten path. ¡°Why give me slippers?¡± And they were pink and tender at that¡ªnot only were they pink and tender, but there was also a huge rabbit head on the slippers. Zhou Xufang obviously cherished these slippers, tenderly smoothing down the fur on the rabbit: ¡°I bought a pair too; the pink color is very pretty and they¡¯re especially warm.¡± She felt that when something was good, she wanted to give it all to Jiang Zhi. Jiang Zhi glanced at the girlish rabbit heads on the slippers and resisted inside: ¡°These are women¡¯s.¡± ¡°No, I asked the customer service, and they said size 42 and 43 are for men.¡± Would a man wear such effeminate shoes? Nevermind. After all, it was his little girl¡¯s kind intention, how could he not go along with it? He was rather pleased to accept the gift: ¡°Have you bought these for anyone else?¡± These slippers were hard to buy; they had to be reserved. She had wanted to buy them for Jiang Zhi for a long time, and it took quite a while before they arrived. She shook her head: ¡°No.¡± She had only bought slippers for him. That¡¯s more like it. Jiang Zhi touched the rabbit head¡¯s fur and found it more and more pleasing to the eye. Then suddenly¡ª ¡°Meow!¡± A cat¡¯s meow in the middle of the night sounded a bit eerie. Jiang Zhi turned his head and saw a grey cat emerge from the old furniture in the stairwell: ¡°Where did this cat come from?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a stray cat.¡± That grey cat lashed out at Jiang Zhi a few times with its claws, then it went to Zhou Xufang¡¯s feet and rubbed against her pant leg obediently. Really unlucky¡ªthis cat was dressed all in pink, and the pink dress even featured a large rabbit head. And just so happed it looked exactly the same as the one on Jiang Zhi¡¯s slippers, definitely from the same series at the same store! ¡°Did you buy this stupid cat¡¯s dress too?¡± Yes, stupid cat. Zhou Xufang nodded honestly. Jiang Zhi¡¯s face changed instantly: ¡°Didn¡¯t you say you didn¡¯t buy it for anyone else?¡± He was a little fierce, not very powerful, just like the grey cat usually acted when guarding its food. Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t know what he was angry about and didn¡¯t dare to ask, only whispered in defense: ¡°It¡¯s a cat, not a person.¡± Jiang Zhi was still unsatisfied and pointed to the pink dress on the cat: ¡°How much did its dress cost?¡± Zhou Xufang had a good memory: ¡°Three hundred and forty-eight.¡± Jiang Zhi then lifted his slippers to her: ¡°And mine?¡± Zhou Xufang was honest and straightforward: ¡°One, hundred and ninety.¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± Fine, he was less worthy than a cat. Damn, wanted to kill that stupid cat. ¡°Meow~¡± The cat that was baring its teeth just a moment ago was now shivering and hiding behind Zhou Xufang. The ironclad straight girl Zhou Xufang couldn¡¯t grasp what was in Jiang Zhi¡¯s jealously sensitive young heart: ¡°Are we good now?¡± Jiang Zhi leaned languidly against the wall, appearing quite frail and delicate, huffy as he spoke with a tone that was anything but pleasant: ¡°No.¡± His eyelids drooped as he glowered darkly at the stupid cat, ¡°I¡¯m not that easy to coax.¡± Oh, not yet appeased. Zhou Xufang immediately asked: ¡°What else do you want?¡± She would give it all to him! Jiang Zhi turned away, coughing delicately with a flush on his skin and eyes misty: ¡°Cough, cough¡­ I want you to take me back.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Zhou Xufang went directly to get the vehicle from the garage. Jiang Zhi, looking at the vehicle and holding his slippers, was stunned for a few seconds: ¡°What kind of vehicle is this?¡± ¡°An electric tricycle.¡± Her SUV and sedan had been sent for maintenance, and they were a bit expensive¡ªshe didn¡¯t dare to drive them in front of Jiang Zhi. Only motorcycles, electric scooters, and bicycles remained in the garage. This one had a rain cover, and Jiang Zhi couldn¡¯t be exposed to wind, so she brought out the electric tricycle she usually used for her market stall. Jiang Zhi stood in the draft, his blue hair blown into a wild disarray, his expression a bit¡­ hard to describe: ¡°Where should I sit?¡± Zhou Xufang opened the rain canopy in the back: ¡°You sit in the back under the canopy, I¡¯ve laid out a blanket, it¡¯s very warm.¡± Captivated by the sight of the adorable bunny design on the blanket, Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± It was his first time riding in such a posh vehicle as he had grown up. On the way back, Xue Baoyi was driving while talking on the phone to her uncle. Xue Bingxue was urging on the other end, ¡°I¡¯m coming, I¡¯m coming.¡± ¡°Come out to meet me when I get to the hospital.¡± Xue Bingxue instructed her to drive directly to the hospital¡¯s parking lot. So Xue Baoyi just said, ¡°Oh, Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t ride in my car.¡± Whose car did he ride in? Xue Baoyi drove the sports car at a snail¡¯s pace, closely following the tricycle in front: ¡°It¡¯s Zhou Xufang¡¯s vehicle.¡± ¡°It¡¯s an electric tricycle, and Jiang Zhi is sitting in the yellow canopy in the back.¡± ¡°He¡¯s also wearing a yellow helmet for food delivery.¡± It¡¯s not that I don¡¯t want to be a good bro and laugh at him; I just can¡¯t help it: ¡°Seeing him wrapped in a blanket and sitting in the back, I fucking want to donate to him.¡± ¡°He¡¯s even holding a pair of women¡¯s pink slippers.¡± ¡°The fussiness scared the hell out of me.¡± ¡°He was afraid of making his woman angry and kept glaring at me; I was about to get sick from holding back my laughter!¡± ¡°HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA¡­ Jiang Zhi is ridiculously stupid!¡± Fifty minutes later, Zhou Xufang, carrying the ¡®ridiculously stupid¡¯ Jiang Zhi, arrived at the hospital. She parked the car in a concealed spot and then got out to open the canopy in the back: ¡°Jiang Zhi, we¡¯re here.¡± ¡°Mhm.¡± Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t move, waiting for her to assist him. Zhou Xufang reached out her hand. He obediently leaned on her, coughing lightly and gasping as he got off the car. Zhou Xufang felt he was uncomfortable due to the illness and helped him with extra care, afraid that using too much force might hurt him: ¡°Do you want me to take you inside?¡± ¡°No need.¡± He didn¡¯t want the Jiang Family to see her. Zhou Xufang gave an ¡°oh¡±: ¡°Then I¡¯ll be going.¡± Jiang Zhi hadn¡¯t let go yet, his hand resting on her shoulder, not putting all his weight on her, but leaning his entire body towards her, he looked down, making eye contact. ¡°Zhou Xufang.¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± He touched the yellow delivery helmet on her head, tucking a stray lock of her hair behind her ear: ¡°Come to the hospital to see me tomorrow.¡± S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Zhou Xufang agreed: ¡°Okay.¡± After a moment of silence, her tone suddenly became solemn, and she looked at him intently, ¡°Jiang Zhi, you need to stay healthy and not get sick.¡± He bent down to tighten her helmet a bit more: ¡°Okay, I promise you.¡± After giving his instructions, Zhou Xufang was about to say goodbye. Jiang Zhi asked her: ¡°Did you get your driver¡¯s license?¡± ¡°I did.¡± ¡°How¡¯s your driving?¡± Zhou Xufang was very honest: ¡°It¡¯s great.¡± Jiang Zhi glanced back: ¡°Xue Baoyi, let her drive your car.¡± Xue Baoyi climbed out of the flashy sports car: ¡°Then what should I drive?¡± Jiang Zhi pointed to Zhou Xufang¡¯s electric tricycle: ¡°Drive this.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Xue Baoyi struggled desperately: ¡°Can I refuse?¡± Jiang Zhi took off the ¡®ridiculously stupid¡¯ yellow helmet from his head and threw it to him: ¡°Nope.¡± Xue Baoyi: ¡°¡­¡± In the end, Xue Baoyi¡¯s beloved sports car was still given to Jiang Zhi¡¯s darling. Everyone had walked away, yet Jiang Zhi was still standing in the draft, basking in the night as he watched his girl. Xue Baoyi urged: ¡°Okay, she¡¯s out of sight now, let¡¯s go in.¡± ¡°Cough cough cough cough cough¡­¡± Jiang Zhi couldn¡¯t hold back anymore, his body swayed, crouching to the ground, coughing out a mouthful of blood. Xue Baoyi, seeing the pool of blood on the ground, panicked. ¡°Third uncle!¡± ¡°Third uncle, come quickly!¡± Chapter 98: 098: Apply a heating pad to him, and warm up the sickbed as well. Chapter 98: 098: Apply a heating pad to him, and warm up the sickbed as well. The neon lights outside the car window were rapidly receding. Zhou Xufang put on her headset, ¡°Shuangjiang.¡± Shuangjiang knew what she was going to ask and immediately replied, ¡°I¡¯ve copied out the guest data and surveillance video footage from the cruise ship, but there are no cameras turned on the first and second floors, so there¡¯s not much information available.¡± Zhou Xufang drove with one hand, the wind blowing her hair into disarray, so she simply put on her hat, ¡°Has the Jiang family filed a case?¡± ¡°Yes, Jiang Zhi¡¯s grandmother came forward.¡± After pondering for a moment, she asked, ¡°Is it possible to start from the police side?¡± ... ¡°I¡¯ll try.¡± After thanking him, Zhou Xufang turned the steering wheel and headed back. In the hospital room, Xue Bingxue had just finished administering emergency treatment to Jiang Zhi. Xue Baoyi was pacing back and forth anxiously, ¡°How is it going?¡± Xue Bingxue, with a stethoscope, listened intently for a while, then removed it, ¡°There¡¯s fluid in the lungs, he needs to undergo thoracentesis.¡± Jiang Zhi¡¯s lung condition was quite bad, and with the drowning, the presence of fluid was also expected. If it weren¡¯t for his eagerness to meet Zhou Xufang, he should have received thoracentesis earlier. Impressive endurance, dragging such a sick body to see his beloved. Jiang Zhi, with half-closed eyes, said, ¡°You do it.¡± ¡°My specialty is traditional Chinese medicine.¡± He lay weakly on his hospital bed, the pair of slippers that Zhou Xufang sent placed beside the pillow. He had no strength, not even wanting to move a finger, ¡°I don¡¯t trust anyone else.¡± Xue Bingxue, although specializing in traditional Chinese medicine, had surgical skills no less than any surgeon¡¯s. ¡°Take off your clothes, I¡¯ll start with acupuncture.¡± Jiang Zhi stripped off his jacket and directly lifted his hospital gown. Xue Baoyi stared unblinkingly, then let out a sound of admiration, ¡°Brother Zhi, you¡¯re so white¡­¡± followed by another exclamation, ¡°Holy shit, you actually have abs!¡± Those few abs¡­ Holy shit! He was even feeling the desire. Jiang Zhi gave him a glance, yanked the blanket, and covered himself, ¡°Get out.¡± Yo, suddenly shy. Xue Baoyi hummed and didn¡¯t leave, ¡°We¡¯re all grown men, what¡¯s the big deal?¡± Jiang Zhi¡¯s eyelids flickered, his brilliant peach blossom eyes coupled with this sickly look were quite enticing, but the words he spoke contrasted starkly, ¡°How few grown men have I turned?¡± Grown man Xue Baoyi: ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Baoyi,¡± Xue Bingxue spoke up, ¡°you go out, don¡¯t hinder me.¡± One should listen to one¡¯s elders, so Xue Baoyi hummed and left. Xue Bingxue put on gloves, took the needles, and lifted Jiang Zhi¡¯s shirt, his needling was quick and light, ¡°What happened to you?¡± Jiang Zhi rested his arm under his neck, playing with the pair of slippers Zhou Xufang sent him, ¡°What happened to what?¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t you have training? How come you were pushed into the sea?¡± His lack of vigilance didn¡¯t seem like Jiang Zhi¡¯s style. He casually provided a reason, ¡°I was careless, thinking about Zhou Xufang at that moment.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Xue Bingxue didn¡¯t know what to say to him anymore; Zhou Xufang¡¯s influence on him was too great. Jiang Zhi changed the topic, ¡°Has my family¡¯s old lady talked to you?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Without asking, Jiang Zhi could guess what the old lady had told him ¡®Jiang Wei¡¯er,¡¯ those three words, were the best bargaining chip, ¡°Most of the Jiang family are self-serving, don¡¯t be too noble yourself.¡± The old lady would play tricks, and so would Jiang Zhi. But Xue Bingxue, he disliked kicking someone when they were down. He even asked a particularly naive and sweet question, with an earnest expression, ¡°If you do something bad and your conscience is uneasy, what do you do?¡± Jiang Zhi laughed, ¡°Conscience?¡± This kid was still too honest. He touched the rabbit head on the pink slippers, ¡°That thing, I don¡¯t have it.¡± Xue Bingxue: ¡°¡­¡± In the early morning, there was the sound of a car horn outside the Jiang Mansion, and the servant on night duty put on a coat, got up, and went to open the door. It was the car from the second branch of the family. ¡°Miss Fuli has returned.¡± Jiang Fuli got out of the car, gave a few instructions to the driver, and then entered the house, heading towards the small building. She took off her outer garment and handed it to the servant, ¡°Stay outside.¡± The servants responded. On the south side of the main building of Jiang Mansion, a covered walkway had been built, lined on one side by a pavilion and an attic for scenic views. Her mother hadn¡¯t retired to bed yet; she was waiting for her in the pavilion. She walked over and took a seat, ¡°Did you have someone check it out?¡± Luo Changfang poured her a cup of tea and said, ¡°We did.¡± After pouring the tea, she added, ¡°Jiang Zhi¡¯s frail body certainly doesn¡¯t seem faked, this fall into the water must have cost him half his life.¡± Jiang Fuli took a sip from her teacup, ¡°To still not die after all that, he¡¯s really quite tenacious.¡± Luo Changfang¡¯s action of pouring tea paused for a moment. She looked around, saw no one, and asked in a low voice, ¡°Fuli, did you do it?¡± Jiang Fuli smiled and pushed aside the tea leaves with the lid, ¡°Mother, you can¡¯t speculate wildly; I have an alibi.¡± The next day, due to the low temperature, the drizzling rain had frozen into ice pellets, hinting at an impending snowfall. At nine in the morning, Jiang Zhi was transferred to a common ward. He only awoke at ten. Coincidentally, Jiang Fuxi was bringing in water, she pushed the door open, her voice soft and gentle, ¡°Is there anywhere else you feel uncomfortable?¡± Jiang Zhi sat up, his eyes clear of any sleepiness, ¡°Why are you here?¡± She set down the basin, ¡°Grandma asked me to come and look after you.¡± She took a clean towel, dampened it with water, wrung it out, and approached the bedside, bending slightly forward to wipe Jiang Zhi¡¯s hands. He avoided her, leaving her gesture incomplete, his expression cold and indifferent, ¡°Leave, let my assistant come in.¡± In the Jiang family generation, only four children were born, none of them close. Even Jiang Zhi and Jiang Fuxi, both reared under Grandma Jiang¡¯s knee, had a rather thin private relationship. Jiang Zhi avoided interaction with others, and Jiang Fuxi seldom left the women¡¯s quarters. The two hadn¡¯t developed any feuds, nor did they share any profound sibling affection. She set down the towel, took the clothes hanging on the rack without any annoyance, her temper still pleasant, her voice still gentle and soft, ¡°I¡¯ll wait outside, call me if you need anything.¡± Jiang Zhi ordered her directly, ¡°Go back to Jiang Mansion, you¡¯re not needed here to look after me.¡± ¡°But grandma¡ª¡± ¡°I will talk to Grandma.¡± She nodded her head, put on her coat¡ªcustom-made just like Grandma Jiang; she too loved embroidery, loved cheongsams, cherished calligraphy, paintings, and books. She always carried an air of fresh ink elegance. ¡°Then I¡¯ll be leaving, take good care of your health.¡± On her way out, she happened to run into Xue Baoyi and Qiao Nanchu at the door, greeted them with a nod, and then left the ward. Once she was far away, Xue Baoyi turned to look back, stroked his chin, ¡°My mother would love someone like Jiang Fuxi.¡± The delicate and virtuous daughters from big households were the type of daughters-in-law that matriarchs from wealthy families adored. Qiao Nanchu teased him, ¡°What, you still have feelings for her?¡± Xue Baoyi immediately changed his tune, scowling, ¡°Don¡¯t bring up such stale news.¡± Jiang Fuxi was Xue Baoyi¡¯s first love. Back then, Xue Baoyi was only a teenager, a brash youth who made waves throughout the estate. At that time, he was buddies with Jiang Zhi and often visited the Jiang family. It was the age of romantic yearnings, and through many visits, he took a fancy to Jiang Fuxi. There was no particular reason; at that age, any girl who a boy spends time with can start to seem appealing. Then, Xue Baoyi chose a perfect moonlit night to courageously confess his feelings, accompanied by a group of childhood friends, spouting nearly ten thousand words of adolescent bravado essentially saying ¡®become my wife, and I¡¯ll look after you.¡¯ The result¡ª The graceful young girl simply replied with, ¡°Are you done? I haven¡¯t finished embroidering my flower.¡± The teenage Xue Baoyi was utterly dumbfounded at the time. Qiao Nanchu didn¡¯t quite remember what happened after, only that Xue Baoyi dragged them all to a bar to drown his sorrows, and then he took a fancy to a bartending sister¡­ In short, this was a rough patch in Xue Baoyi¡¯s youthful indiscretions. ¡°However, she is pretty; she could debut as a star,¡± Xue Baoyi commented objectively, as befits his status as an entertainment industry CEO. Qiao Nanchu entered the ward, pulled up a chair, and sat down, ¡°Didn¡¯t your mom tell you? The prettier a woman is, the more poisonous.¡± Xue Baoyi didn¡¯t deny it. ¡°This Jiang Fuxi,¡± Qiao Nanchu stretched out his legs, hitting the bedpost with his foot, ¡°Jiang Zhi, don¡¯t you think there¡¯s something odd about her?¡± Jiang Zhi said nothing. Xue Baoyi leaned against the cabinet, ¡°What¡¯s odd about her?¡± Qiao Nanchu fiddled with his lighter, ¡°Can¡¯t quite put my finger on it.¡± Without bringing up Jiang Fuxi again, he spoke of more serious matters, ¡°Your grandma has already filed a case; Mr. Cheng will come over soon to take your statement.¡± Jiang Zhi propped himself up with a pillow, not looking too well, ¡°Can we restrict their travel?¡± ¡°Who do you mean?¡± ¡°Everyone on that cruise ship.¡± Qiao Nanchu caressed the roller of his lighter, ¡°That¡¯s difficult, the guests invited last night are all influential, without sufficient evidence, it¡¯s tough to handle.¡± Jiang Zhi abruptly said, ¡°I saw the murderer¡¯s hand.¡± Qiao Nanchu stopped fiddling with the lighter, ¡°Could you recognize it?¡± ¡°Too little time, just an impression.¡± After thinking, Jiang Zhi said, ¡°Left hand, men¡¯s watch, three scratch marks on the back of the hand.¡± Scratch marks¡­ With just this one feature, the range of suspects could be narrowed. Qiao Nanchu stood up and made a phone call to the Criminal Investigation Team, ¡°Scratch marks on the back of the hand, start screening immediately.¡± After giving a few more instructions, Qiao Nanchu had just hung up when someone knocked on the door. Xue Baoyi asked who it was, and went to open the door with her hands in her pockets. The person outside replied, ¡°It¡¯s me.¡± The young girl was carrying two large bags, and introduced herself formulaically, ¡°I¡¯m Zhou Xufang.¡± Jiang Zhi perked up. Xue Baoyi turned back to Jiang Zhi and playfully winked. Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t look at him; his gaze was fixed on the girl, eyes brimming with spring charm, but his voice was cold as frost, ¡°Everyone out.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Talk about favoritism. Xue Baoyi clicked his tongue, ¡°A faithless scoundrel when a beauty is near.¡± Turning back, he greeted Zhou Xufang with a roguish charm, ¡°Hello, Miss Zhou.¡± Miss Zhou was a bit unaccustomed to such enthusiasm and avoided his gaze, ¡°Hello, Mr. Xue.¡± She was just about to greet another ¡®Mr. Qiao¡¯ when Jiang Zhi urged her, ¡°Xu Fang, close the door.¡± Zhou Xufang said, ¡°Oh.¡± Snap! The door closed, and Xue Baoyi and Qiao Nanchu were almost left out in the cold, the nerve of these two! Zhou Xufang took a few small steps forward, looking at Jiang Zhi with concern, ¡°Are you feeling better?¡± Jiang Zhi lay there, appearing fragile as if boneless, panting weakly, the embodiment of sickness, ¡°I can¡¯t hear clearly, come closer to talk.¡± His act was like a big bad wolf trying to coax a little white rabbit. Zhou Xufang was particularly gullible; she believed everything Jiang Zhi said, really thinking he couldn¡¯t hear well, so she strode over to him and asked again with concern, ¡°Are you feeling better?¡± He wanted to trick her into worrying about him a little. But he wouldn¡¯t let her be too frightened or anxious. S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Jiang Zhi suppressed the urge to cough, ¡°It¡¯s nothing, I¡¯ll be better in a few days.¡± He patted the edge of the bed, ¡°Come, sit here.¡± Perhaps because he was ill, she was more obedient than usual and sat on the very edge of the bed, barely touching it. Jiang Zhi took the large bag from her hands, ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± ¡°Nutritional supplements I bought for you.¡± More nutritional supplements. Expensive. Jiang Zhi placed the bag on the cabinet, unable to resist nagging her, ¡°I have more than enough supplements, don¡¯t buy any more in the future.¡± Zhou Xufang listened to him, ¡°Okay.¡± Then she¡¯d buy something else. She took down her backpack and said, ¡°I have another gift for you.¡± He had said yesterday that he hadn¡¯t been properly cheered up yet and needed more comforting. Another gift? She rummaged in her backpack and pulled out a pretty pink gift box, straightened the ribbon on top to make it neat, and then presented it to Jiang Zhi. Jiang Zhi looked at the square box, ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± Zhou Xufang opened the box, ¡°A heat pack.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Isn¡¯t that something women use? After giving slippers, now a heat pack¡ªa girl¡¯s gift? Was she raising him as her confidante? ¡°The snow will come again soon, and it will be very cold. If you stick this on your body, you won¡¯t be cold.¡± Jiang Zhi was in poor health and afraid of the cold. The heat pack was recommended by Lixiang, and she thought it was very suitable for Jiang Zhi, so she bought a lot. She gave him a small box to try. If it worked well, she would bring all the stock from home for him. However, Jiang Zhi¡¯s expression seemed a bit complicated. She felt a little anxious and unconsciously scratched the box with her fingernail, ¡°Don¡¯t you like it?¡± Seeing her about to frown, Jiang Zhi quickly snatched the box away and even took out a heat pack, caressing it as if it was priceless, ¡°Who said I didn¡¯t like it?¡± Love me, love my dog. Who could blame him for liking her? When Zhou Xufang heard him say that, she finally smiled shyly, ¡°As long as you like it.¡± Then she asked Jiang Zhi, ¡°But do you know how to use it?¡± He hadn¡¯t even seen the thing before. Jiang Zhi pinched a piece in his hands, ¡°You teach me.¡± ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll help you put one on,¡± Zhou Xufang said as she took one out and pressed it under the blanket, careful not to touch Jiang Zhi. She occupied just a little space, ¡°You have to warm it up first, otherwise it will be very cold to start.¡± ¡°Then you warm it up.¡± Jiang Zhi took his cotton candy tin and picked out a piece to feed her. She opened her mouth and ate it. ¡°Want more?¡± ¡°Mhm.¡± He fed her another piece. And fed her, kept feeding, kept on feeding¡­ Until her mouth was stuffed with candy, cheeks bulging, she said, ¡°It¡¯s warmed up now.¡± So adorable. The cutest in the world! Jiang Zhi set down the cotton candy tin, leaned back, with an ¡®I won¡¯t resist whatever you do to me¡¯ expression, even a bit anticipatory, ¡°So, where do you put it?¡± Zhou Xufang was an honest child, ¡°Where are you cold?¡± She would put it wherever he was cold. Jiang Zhi pulled away the blanket, lifted the hem of his jacket, ¡°Here.¡± She stared at the hospital gown underneath¡­ Jiang Zhi was in an exceptionally good mood, his eyes gleamed with springtime joviality, ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to help me put it on?¡± ¡°Oh.¡± She peeled off the backing paper and, using two fingers, tugged at Jiang Zhi¡¯s hospital gown, covering a small stretch of his exposed pale waist. She compared it a couple of times before sticking it squarely on his abdomen. Zhou Xufang felt a bit hot; she dared not look around aimlessly, her eyes and hands kept proper, focusing on the checks of Jiang Zhi¡¯s hospital gown. It seemed as if she could see a flower¡­ She kept her head down. From Jiang Zhi¡¯s angle, all he could see was the top of her head and her two restlessly placed little fingers, cocked as if afraid of touching him. Her fingers were trembling. Jiang Zhi laughed, ¡°Your hand is shaking.¡± She wouldn¡¯t admit it, ¡°It¡¯s not!¡± He laughed even more joyously, ¡°It is.¡± She felt so annoyed and argued weakly, ¡°¡­No,¡± then ignored him, burying herself in putting the heat pack on him. Pinching it with four fingers, she smoothed it bit by bit; after securing it with a few pokes, she quickly moved back, ¡°Done.¡± Jiang Zhi touched the square thing on his belly. It was actually quite warm. He was about to tease his little girl further when¡ª ¡°Grandma Jiang!¡± It was Xue Baoyi outside the ward. His voice was loud, drawn out, ¡°How come you¡¯re here?¡± ¡°Here to see my Brother Zhi.¡± The sound of a walking stick against the floor grew nearer, mixed with the voices of Jiang Xiaolin and Jiang Fuli. Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t have time to think more and lifted the blanket, ¡°Xufang, get in.¡± Zhou Xufang was a bit bewildered, ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°Hide under the blanket.¡± She didn¡¯t understand, ¡°Why would I hide?¡± Jiang Zhi stroked her head gently, reassuringly whispered, ¡°Because there are bad people.¡± She didn¡¯t ask any more questions, climbed up, and crawled under the blanket. But she dared not touch him, desperately inching towards the edge. Jiang Zhi watched the lump under the blanket with amusement. He patted her back through the blanket, coaxing her, ¡°Don¡¯t be so distant, Fang Bao, stay close to me.¡± He called her Fang Bao again. Zhou Xufang hid under the blanket, chuckled secretly, and bit by bit moved closer to him. Chapter 99: 099: Nurse Ah Fang, patient Jiang Zhi Chapter 99: 099: Nurse Ah Fang, patient Jiang Zhi At that moment, the door to the hospital room swung open. Jiang Zhi bent his legs, propping up the blanket, and casually grabbed a pillow to press to one side, ¡°Why have you come?¡± Old Lady Jiang, leaning on her cane, entered, ¡°If I don¡¯t come and check on this ancestor of mine, how could I possibly sleep?¡± Not only were Jiang Xiaolin and Jiang Fuli there, but someone from the second branch of the Luo Family had also come. She waited on Old Lady Jiang¡¯s side, taking her coat and pulling up a chair for the older woman to sit down. ¡°Feeling any better?¡± Jiang Zhi, listlessly, hummed in response, shifting his position slightly, his hand resting on the pillow beside him. ... Seeing him in such a sickly state, Old Lady Jiang felt truly heartbroken and, with gentle words, urged him, ¡°Don¡¯t go filming these next few days. Rest well in the hospital.¡± Jiang Zhi agreed. Old Lady Jiang continued her inquiry, ¡°Has anyone from the police station been over?¡± ¡°Nanchu has.¡± She was preoccupied with this matter and immediately asked, ¡°Then, were there any new clues?¡± Jiang Zhi, lethargically squinting, stayed silent. Old Lady Jiang was sharp-minded and definitely understood his thoughts. Turning her head, she ordered, ¡°All of you, go out and wait.¡± Luo Changfang, unlike Jiang Xiaolin and Jiang Fuli, who were composed and self-assured, had an expression that seemed unable to hide her unease. However, she dared not speak out, taking the two younger ones with her and leaving the hospital room. After they had all left and the door was closed, Old Lady Jiang then asked Jiang Zhi, ¡°Does it have anything to do with those two?¡± ¡°Those two¡± referred to the first and second branches of the family. Jiang Zhi switched the leg he was bending, with no semblance of a sleeping posture, the blanket becoming uneven. He said, ¡°The killer had scratch marks on the back of their hand.¡± The little girl under the covers was breathing hotly, making him feel warm. ¡°Are you talking about Lin?¡± Jiang Xiaolin hadn¡¯t particularly concealed the injuries on his hands. Old Lady Jiang had seen them the night before. When she asked what had happened, he didn¡¯t tell her. But it turned out the culprit who¡¯d pushed Jiang Zhi into the sea also had scratches. How could it be such a coincidence? ¡°It¡¯s hard to say,¡± Jiang Zhi stretched his hand for a cup, took a sip of lukewarm water to moisten his throat, ¡°If he wanted to kill me, he didn¡¯t need to dirty his own hands.¡± ¡°Perhaps he anticipated you¡¯d think just that and deliberately did the opposite.¡± That possibility couldn¡¯t be ruled out. ¡°That Fuli girl too, she never leaves early or late, but just when you were in trouble, she wasn¡¯t on the boat.¡± Old Lady Jiang huffed, her expression showing displeasure, ¡°Every single one of them is nothing but trouble.¡± The Jiang Family was not as splendid as rumors suggested. With each branch of the family having its own issues, falling apart was just a matter of time ¡ª it was all waiting for this old lady to pass away. Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t want to talk further, stating his position, ¡°Leave this matter alone. If the investigation does lead back to our own Jiang Family, it would bring you trouble as well.¡± Old Lady Jiang was unconvinced, her grip on her cane tightening, her tone just as firm, ¡°What trouble? If the police can handle it, let them. If not, whoever dared hurt you, I¡¯ll retaliate in kind. Other matters we can solve behind closed doors, but this murderous behavior cannot go unchecked.¡± They were of the same family tree; unless absolutely necessary, she wouldn¡¯t take extreme measures. ¡°Ms. Xu,¡± Only Jiang Zhi dared to tease the Old Madam like that, ¡°what¡¯s all this about retaliation? Didn¡¯t you always teach me to speak elegantly?¡± This was all because the incident had riled her up! Old Lady Jiang was both exasperated and amused by him, ¡°You¡¯ve learned quite the thuggish ways from the outside world yourself.¡± Deciding to stop joking around, she put on a serious face, ¡°Let¡¯s not talk about that. Tell me about that errand runner you employed. Where was he when you had your accident?¡± A small shape beneath the blanket shifted slightly. Jiang Zhi adjusted his position, his hand naturally sliding under the blanket, finding a head, and gave it a rub, ¡°It has nothing to do with her.¡± His family¡¯s thin one, cowering in a ball under the blanket, was hardly noticeable. He would need to watch her eat from now on. ¡°How can you say it has nothing to do with him? After taking a commission of twenty million, you¡¯d let someone take advantage of this. What¡¯s the use of hiring him?¡± Old Lady Jiang was naturally dissatisfied with the errand runner, having paid a high price yet not receiving the expected service. ¡°She dived into the sea to save me.¡± His tone was still assertive, as if no one could say otherwise. Knowing Jiang Zhi¡¯s temperament well, how could Old Lady Jiang not understand? When had he ever defended someone like this? His protectiveness was truly baffling. ¡°Why are you making excuses for him?¡± He felt the cold little hand of the girl under the blanket, her fingers docile, allowing him to rub and poke them, toying with them made him feel much better. He said, ¡°Let¡¯s stick to the facts.¡± ¡°And your hulking assistant, why didn¡¯t he stay with you?¡± Up until now, Old Lady Jiang had not remembered Lin Wanwan¡¯s name; she always referred to her as ¡°hulking.¡± Speaking of the hulking assistant made Jiang Zhi lose interest, ¡°He gets seasick.¡± ¡°¡­¡± What kind of people were these? Jiang Zhi urged, ¡°When will you go back?¡± This guy, really rushing people off. ¡°Am I, an old woman, being too naggy?¡± Jiang Zhi¡¯s eyelids drooped, ¡°I¡¯m tired and want to sleep.¡± Old Lady Jiang scolded the little ancestor with a smile and got up, ¡°I¡¯ll keep an eye on Lin and Fuli. Don¡¯t be careless yourself. I¡¯ll send some more skilled people over to watch over you tonight.¡± He hummed a response, listless and weak. Old Lady Jiang left after giving a few more instructions. When the door closed, and there was silence in the room, the bundle under the pillow stirred a bit before extending a finger to poke Jiang Zhi¡¯s arm. ¡°Don¡¯t move.¡± Jiang Zhi tossed the pillow aside, ¡°You¡¯re making me itch.¡± Hearing him speak at last, Zhou Xufang dared to squeak, ¡°Is he gone?¡± ¡°He¡¯s gone.¡± ¡°Then I¡¯m coming out.¡± ¡°Come on out.¡± The lump under the blankets slowly shifted backwards, and the head gradually emerged. Just as her head peeked out, a handsome face leaned in. ¡°Jiang¡ª¡± Jiang Zhi planted a kiss directly on her blushing little face. Zhou Xufang: ¡°!¡± Her ears turned red in an instant. She froze for three seconds, then suddenly sprang backward¡ª With a creak, the bed collapsed. Jiang Zhi, who had just wanted to steal a quick kiss and was now half on the ground, half dangling from the hospital bed: ¡°¡­¡± At that moment, there were voices outside the room. ¡°Hold it steady, don¡¯t spill the soup.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± ¡°Jiang Zhi he¡ª¡± The door wasn¡¯t locked, and opened with a twist. Ah Wan and Ms. Song, who¡¯d just pushed the door open: ¡°¡­¡± And Ms. Song¡¯s pet chicken, Shuangxi: ¡°Cluck cluck!¡± What an awkward time to walk in! Bang, bang, bang¡ªthe IV stand shook violently. Zhou Xufang, quick to react, jumped up and stabilized the IV bag with her hands and feet. She looked at Jiang Zhi with concern: ¡°Did you hurt yourself?¡± The puncture site was a bit painful. Jiang Zhi coughed once and said with an unchanged expression, ¡°No.¡± Zhou Xufang felt guilty and proactively approached to support Jiang Zhi, bearing an extremely red face, admitting her mistake, ¡°I shouldn¡¯t have jumped around. This bed,¡± her voice grew fainter, ¡°¡­ it¡¯s not sturdy.¡± She really didn¡¯t use much force; if she had, the bed would¡¯ve been dust by now. So annoying, her strength was so great. She would definitely be extra, extra careful in the future to protect Jiang Zhi and never bump into him again. ¡°Mmh, it¡¯s not your fault.¡± Jiang Zhi glanced at the ultra-luxurious wooden VIP hospital bed that had broken in half without changing his expression, absolving his girlfriend¡¯s responsibility, ¡°It¡¯s all the bed¡¯s fault.¡± Zhou Xufang hung her head in chagrin. The mother and son at the door exchanged glances, both exhibiting the calmness that comes with experience. Ah Wan: ¡°Boss, do you need us to step outside for a moment?¡± How considerate of him. Jiang Zhi showed no embarrassment or guilt of being ¡®caught in the act,¡¯ dressed in checkered hospital pants, embodying the nonchalance of a peerless young master. ¡°Go get me another bed,¡± he added, ¡°Something sturdier.¡± Ah Wan thought to himself: Were they fighting on the bed? Of course, switching beds wouldn¡¯t happen immediately. First, Ah Wan helped his employer switch rooms. And when filling out the bed-change form, under the reason, Ah Wan decisively wrote¡ªintense activity. Oh, his damned clever wit. This was Ms. Song¡¯s first encounter with Zhou Xufang, her curious gaze sizing up the young woman for a long time. With rosy lips and white teeth, the more she looked, the more she liked what she saw. ¡°You must be Miss Zhou.¡± Ms. Song had a round face and could be described as¡­ very robust, with permed trendy hair and a hair clip suited for a young girl attached to her curls. Ah Wan¡¯s build, it turned out, was similar to his mother¡¯s. Zhou Xufang stood as upright as if she were facing an interviewer: ¡°Yes, that¡¯s me.¡± Ms. Song¡¯s wide face broke into a smile, eyes squinting into slits: ¡°I¡¯m Wanwan¡¯s mom.¡± Zhou Xufang was a little shy around strangers, hardly lifting her head, bowing politely: ¡°Nice to meet you, Auntie.¡± Aw, she was like a primary school student. So well-behaved, so sensible. Ms. Song observed her ¡®future daughter-in-law¡¯ with increasing satisfaction and straightened the feathers on the big rooster in her arms: ¡°Shuangxi, say hello.¡± Shuangxi, wearing a pink hand-knitted sweater-dress: ¡°Cluck!¡± Zhou Xufang: ¡°¡­¡± Ms. Song was enthusiastic and comfortably familiar: ¡°I heard from Wanwan that Shuangxi was a gift from you to Jiang Zhi.¡± Zhou Xufang looked at the rooster dressed in a pink dress, somewhat befuddled. Jiang Zhi saw her standing there like a block of wood and pulled her to sit down: ¡°It¡¯s that free-range chicken you gave.¡± Oh, it was that chicken that had pooped on Jiang Zhi. Zhou Xufang stared at the rooster more closely: ¡°It seems to have put on weight.¡± It had gotten much rounder, and the chicken legs were also plumper¡ªeating it would probably be very nourishing¡­ Ms. Song gently stroked Shuangxi: ¡°With both you and Jiang Zhi so busy, and since I have nothing much to do at home, I thought I¡¯d take care of it for you. If you want to take care of it yourselves later on, just take it back. After a while, it¡¯ll get familiar with you.¡± As Ah Wan listened, something seemed off. It sounded like his mother was talking about raising a grandson. The conversation about Shuangxi came to an end. Ms. Song started talking business, ¡°Have they caught the guy who pushed you yet?¡± ¡°Not yet.¡± Jiang Zhi played with Zhou Xufang¡¯s hand, pulling it towards him; she pulled it back, and he pulled it back again, seemingly enjoying the game. ¡°That damn bastard!¡± Ms. Song had a temper and was furious, ¡°Wanwan, you move in with Jiang Zhi tomorrow and sleep on the floor. From now on, you can¡¯t let him be alone.¡± Ah Wan really didn¡¯t like her mom calling her Wanwan. He refused, with the reason, ¡°He has germaphobia.¡± Ms. Song¡¯s tone was as spicy and choking as if she had eaten a pound of chili peppers, ¡°You have the nerve to say that, even Shuangxi bathes more often than you.¡± ¡°I¡ª¡± ¡°What about you! If you hadn¡¯t gotten seasick, would Jiang Zhi have been pushed into the sea?¡± Ah Wan: ¡°¡­¡± Alright, blame him for everything, for getting seasick, for not liking to bathe, for even being born! ¡°It¡¯s not convenient for him to stay with me,¡± Jiang Zhi casually mentioned. Ms. Song immediately revealed a girlish smile, ¡°Not convenient, huh? Fine, then he won¡¯t stay. From now on, make Wanwan go earlier and come back later.¡± Ah Wan: ¡°¡­¡± This wasn¡¯t his mom, this was Jiang Zhi¡¯s mom. From today onwards, he was an orphan. ¡°Wanwan, quickly pour out some soup for Jiang Zhi to drink.¡± Ah Wan stubbornly held on for three seconds: ¡°¡­Oh.¡± Forget it, it¡¯s his own fault for not being good-looking. Ah Wan poured a bowl of soup, which Ms. Song first handed to Jiang Zhi, then Ah Wan poured another bowl, which Ms. Song gave to Zhou Xufang: ¡°Xiao Fang, you have some too.¡± Xiao Fang took the soup: ¡°¡­¡± Xiao Fang was still not used to this new nickname. Ms. Song drank the third bowl herself. Then the thermos was empty, and Ah Wan¡¯s heart also cooled. Ms. Song still smiled like a blooming spring flower, ¡°You two as well, young and energetic as you are, can¡¯t overdo it. You should wait until your health is better before¡ª¡± Ms. Song coughed twice, pretending, too embarrassed to continue. The ¡®young and vigorous¡¯ Jiang Zhi looked a bit embarrassed, and the ¡®young and vigorous¡¯ Zhou Xufang was so clueless, she didn¡¯t understand the implications of the colorful words spoken. Ms. Song was talkative and sat in the ward for more than ten minutes discussing everything from Ah Wan wetting the bed at seven years old to fainting from nervousness at a boxing match when he was seventeen. Ah Wan felt utterly dispirited throughout. After Ms. Song and her son left, Zhou Xufang said to Jiang Zhi, ¡°Wanwan¡¯s mom is very nice.¡± ¡°Wanwan?¡± It was grating, very grating; Jiang Zhi wasn¡¯t too pleased, and tugging at Zhou Xufang¡¯s clothes, he pulled her close, ¡°Lin Wanwan has a nickname.¡± Zhou Xufang: ¡°Ah?¡± Jiang Zhi casually made one up: ¡°It¡¯s Lin Dazhuang.¡± Zhou Xufang believed it utterly and corrected herself: ¡°Oh, Lin Dazhuang¡¯s mom is very nice.¡± So well-behaved. Jiang Zhi couldn¡¯t help but pat her head, ¡°Yeah, she is nice.¡± He then explained in detail, ¡°Lin Dazhuang¡¯s mom used to have uraemia, and I paid for her surgery.¡± As for the fact that Lin Wanwan had signed a thirty-year indentured servitude contract for that, there was no need to mention. Moved by what she heard, Zhou Xufang said, ¡°You¡¯re really a good person.¡± Jiang ¡¤ Philanthropist ¡¤ Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± Zhou Xufang checked the time, it was getting late: ¡°I should go back now.¡± Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t want her to leave: ¡°Go back for what?¡± She put on her backpack, ¡°I have to go to work.¡± Jiang Zhi took her backpack, tugging her along, coaxing and almost deceiving, ¡°Don¡¯t go, can you work for me here?¡± ¡°What would I do?¡± Anything would work. He coughed, breathing weakly and looking pitiful, ¡°Be my nurse, I have no one to care for me.¡± She seriously considered it for a moment, ¡°Okay.¡± She agreed too quickly, and Jiang Zhi hadn¡¯t expected it, ¡°You agree?¡± She was afraid someone else would harm him again, ¡°Mhm.¡± He smiled, his small tiger teeth hardly noticeable, and he lay back on the hospital bed, extending his delicate and pale hand toward her, ¡°Then start by wiping my hands.¡± Of course, Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t really let Zhou Xufang serve him; instead, as the patient, he spoiled her with delicious treats. He found that Zhou Xufang seemed to like snacks, especially sweets, and there were so many things she had never tried before, as if she had no childhood. Thus, Jiang Zhi sent Ah Wan to buy a bunch of snacks for Zhou Xufang to taste to her heart¡¯s content. In the afternoon, Qiao Nanchu came by and from a distance saw Jiang Zhi, the usually ill-tempered little ancestor, holding a jelly in one hand and a lollipop in the other, offering them to Zhou Xufang, saying she couldn¡¯t eat too much since dinner was soon, and could only have one. ¡°Which one do you like?¡± Jiang Zhi¡¯s tone¡­ Qiao Nanchu felt it was exactly like how his cousin would coddle his daughter. Zhou Xufang chose the jelly: ¡°This one.¡± She hadn¡¯t tried it before and found the jelly incredibly tasty; this was the last one left. Jiang Zhi tore open the packaging for her: ¡°Lin Dazhuang, go buy some more jelly.¡± Lin Dazhuang: ¡°¡­¡± In this world, the person he hated the most was Jiang Zhi, and the second one was Ms. Song. Ah Wan turned his head with a grudge and noticed Qiao Nanchu, who was rarely in his crisp police uniform: ¡°You seem quite comfortable in this place.¡± Jiang Zhi ignored his joke and stuffed a few gummies into Zhou Xufang¡¯s hand: ¡°How about you and Lin Dazhuang go buy some jelly together? Pick the flavors you like.¡± He wanted to send her away. Zhou Xufang agreed. When everyone had left, Jiang Zhi then asked Qiao Nanchu, ¡°Have you canvassed?¡± Qiao Nanchu pulled up a chair to sit down and unwrapped a candy, popping it in his mouth: ¡°This case is a bit troublesome.¡± ¡°How so?¡± ¡°Unfortunately, we¡¯ve already caught three with scratch marks on the back of their hands, not to mention another with a burn.¡± Jiang Zhi wasn¡¯t surprised: ¡°Who are they?¡± Qiao Nanchu showed him photos on his phone: ¡°What¡¯s even more coincidental is that they all have some grudge against you or less.¡± The four suspects were either associated with the Jiang Family or the Luo Family. Jiang Zhi¡¯s guess wasn¡¯t too far off: ¡°Do any of them have alibis?¡± Qiao Nanchu went through them one by one: ¡°Huang Peidong said he was in a second-floor cabin on the cruise ship, talking on the phone with Jiang Fuli. We¡¯ve checked the call logs; the timing adds up, but it doesn¡¯t rule out him committing the crime while on the phone.¡± Huang Peidong was familiar to both him and Jiang Zhi, as Jiang Fuli¡¯s right-hand man. ¡°And the scratches? How and when did they happen?¡± ¡°They happened this morning, from his mistress,¡± Qiao Nanchu crumpled the candy wrapper into a ball and tossed it into the trash. ¡°She was interrogated as well, no issues for now.¡± Jiang Zhi pondered for a moment. Qiao Nanchu continued, ¡°Han Feng and Luo Changde were together on the second floor; no surveillance backs them up, they¡¯re each other¡¯s alibis. Moreover, Luo Changde burned his hand last night at home, and because the burn is quite severe, it can¡¯t be confirmed whether there were any scratches before it.¡± Huang Peidong was suspect number one, Han Feng, and Luo Changde were two and three. Whether it was the Jiang Family or the Luo Family, they were all Jiang Zhi¡¯s sworn enemies and all had motives for murder. Jiang Zhi, leaning on his hand, with his jacket sleeve slipping down to reveal a small square of white, asked, ¡°Who scratched Han Feng¡¯s hand?¡± ¡°He said it was Luo Qinghe, for incompetence. The forensic examiner did a live collection of evidence; the results are not out yet.¡± Han Feng was Luo Qinghe¡¯s secretary; with everyone on the same boat, the possibility of colluding testimonies was quite high. ¡°Only Jiang Xiaolin has no proof at all; he says he was in his room alone. As for the scratches on his hand,¡± that guy was quite arrogant, ¡°he said it was a private issue and declined to comment.¡± Aside from Jiang Xiaolin, the other three, regardless of the truth, had alibis and stories to tell; on the surface, Jiang Xiaolin seemed to be the most suspicious. Qiao Nanchu speculated: ¡°All these suspects might have issues.¡± ¡°Then keep an eye on each of them.¡± Jiang Zhi took out a notepad from the cabinet and handed it to Qiao Nanchu, ¡°I¡¯ve drawn a quick sketch; start by checking this men¡¯s wristwatch.¡± Qiao Nanchu glanced at it and laughed: ¡°Brother Zhi, your drawing skills¡­¡± Are beyond words. Jiang Zhi gave him a cold look. He stopped teasing and closed the notebook: ¡°What¡¯s that thing you¡¯ve got on your hand?¡± Jiang Zhi casually pushed up his sleeve, his eyes brimming with pride: ¡°A heat patch, Zhou Xufang put it on for me.¡± He had a total of four patches, all applied by Zhou Xufang. He was even bragging about it now. Qiao Nanchu teased with a laugh: ¡°Virtuous indeed!¡± In the evening. Jiang Zhi received a call from the old mansion, saying Jiang Wei¡¯er and the Old Madam were having a dispute. When he arrived at the Old House, he saw Xiao Linsu outside the door. It was dark by that time; he stood beneath the large lantern at the entrance of the Jiang Family, his back straight, his shadow on the ground solitary and desolate. Jiang Zhi got out of the car and paused when passing by him. It was cold at night, and Xiao Linsu was wrapped in a coat, coughing lightly: ¡°Go back, you can¡¯t enter the doors of our Jiang Family.¡± S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He stood immobile, his eyes devoid of light and spirit, muttering, ¡°Wei¡¯er is crying inside.¡± Jiang Zhi looked at him: ¡°And?¡± Standing in the light, he looked distantly, weak yet resolute: ¡°I cannot leave.¡± Then keep standing. Jiang Zhi entered the house and from afar saw a courtyard full of people. A screen had been set up on the outdoor lawn, projecting images. It was somewhat dark and unclear, a hazy grey, but the screams were clear. ¡°Scream!¡± ¡°Does it hurt?¡± ¡°If you don¡¯t scream, I¡¯ll beat you to death!¡± As Jiang Zhi drew closer, he recognized the projection on the screen. Jin Song, having grown tired from using a belt, had switched to a cigarette end, pressing an entire handful onto Xiao Linsu¡¯s bare back. He was undressed, lying there like a corpse, neither crying out in pain nor begging for mercy. Both the masters and servants of the Jiang Family were there, all silent. Old Lady Jiang¡¯s face was ashen as she stood beside the screen, while Jiang Wei¡¯er knelt in front of her, wailing loudly: ¡°Please, Mother, stop it¡­¡± Chapter 100: 100: Jiang Zhi: Going to give my wife an umbrella~ Chapter 100: 100: Jiang Zhi: Going to give my wife an umbrella~ ¡°I beg you, Mother, please don¡¯t let it play¡­¡± Old Lady Jiang looked down at her. ¡°Have you seen clearly?¡± She knelt on the ground, tears blurring her vision, clutching her palms without answering. ¡°I¡¯m asking you,¡± Old Lady Jiang raised her voice and asked again with a heavy tone, ¡°Have you seen clearly?¡± She dared not hesitate any longer and nodded vigorously: ¡°I¡¯ve seen it, I¡¯ve seen it¡­ Mother,¡± she crept forward on her knees, grasping the edge of the Old Lady¡¯s robes, ¡°please don¡¯t let it play, don¡¯t let it play¡­¡± She was pleading, crying soundlessly. ... ¡°Wei¡¯er,¡± the Old Lady bent down, her wrinkled hand touching her face, wiping away the tears, her voice finally softening a bit, ¡°Don¡¯t blame your mother for being heartless. If you don¡¯t wake up painfully now, you will suffer for a long time in the future.¡± She choked up, blurting out, ¡°It¡¯s my fault, I shouldn¡¯t have¡ª¡± With that, Old Lady Jiang¡¯s face turned to ice, she hadn¡¯t even finished listening before she became angry: ¡°You¡¯re still defending him.¡± On the screen, Jin Song was holding a knife, carving letters into Xiao Linsu¡¯s back. He laughed as he cursed him for being lowly. Then, with each stroke a trail of blood was written, the character for ¡®lowly¡¯ was carved onto Xiao Linsu¡¯s back; the sheets stained with splotches of blood, his gaze empty, he lay there numb, motionless. Devoid of dignity. Jiang Wei¡¯er could no longer bear to watch, not even a glance, her heart was in too much pain, the knife seemed to carve into her own flesh, blood spilling violently. ¡°Mother, I have never asked you for anything, just this one time, just this one time,¡± she knelt, bowing deeply, ¡°Mother, Wei¡¯er is begging you.¡± She had seen this video before; she¡¯d only managed to watch less than ten seconds before turning it off. The segment she saw was not of the present Xiao Linsu, but of him at eighteen, when he would still struggle, still cry. She hadn¡¯t watch it to the end, not knowing when he had started to become numb and stopped resisting altogether. Old Lady Jiang moved forward with the support of a cane, lifting her shoulders, urging her to rise: ¡°Stop kneeling. Such a trifle is not worth the Fifth Miss of the Jiang Family bending her back for him.¡± Jiang Wei¡¯er lifted her head, tears in her eyes, a solitary defiance swirling within, she wiped her face, placing all her chips on the table: ¡°Don¡¯t force me.¡± Old Lady Jiang, infuriated, laughed: ¡°You still won¡¯t repent?¡± Repentance? Jiang Wei¡¯er raised her hand, pointing towards the screen, her voice trembling, each word choked but resolute: ¡°Then tell me, what have I done wrong? What has he done wrong? Can¡¯t you see it? His eyes are pleading for help.¡± But nobody was saving him. No wonder, she always felt that his eyes held frost, an enduring gloom that couldn¡¯t be swept away. There were so many people standing in the courtyard, yet no one turned off the projector. They just watched indifferently, spectating the play, as the person in the video was humiliated and trampled on without dignity. But nobody was saving him. Everyone was silent, only Old Lady Jiang¡¯s powerful voice resounded, accusatory and aggressive: ¡°You¡¯re not wrong, and perhaps he has his own difficulties, not wrong either. But you know that if you continue to be with him, for the next three, five, or even ten, twenty years, you won¡¯t be able to let go of this incident. Knowing that I, as a mother, will absolutely not allow my daughter to spend half her life paying for someone else¡¯s mistake, yet you still stubbornly pursue this course; that is where you are wrong!¡± Jiang Wei¡¯er glared back with red eyes: ¡°That is my business.¡± ¡°You¡ª¡± The Old Lady¡¯s hand was already raised, on the verge of a harsh slap, but she was interrupted: ¡°Grandmother.¡± Coughs approached from a distance; it was Jiang Zhi. The rain had not yet started, but the air was heavy with moisture. Someone held an umbrella over him as he made his gradual approach, the servants stepping aside to make way for him. Old Lady Jiang swept her eyes over the crowd and spoke sharply: ¡°Who is so blind as to have called the Young Master here?¡± Jiang Zhi moved with a labored breath every three steps, a cough every five, stumbling forward. At this moment, the old butler, Jiang Chuan, spoke up: ¡°It was my meddling, please, Old Lady, calm your anger and don¡¯t let it spoil the harmony.¡± Jiang Chuan was an old member of the Jiang Family. He served by the Old Master¡¯s side when he was still alive, and Old Lady Jiang usually showed him some respect. While she was on the verge of unleashing her wrath, Jiang Zhi spoke: ¡°That¡¯s enough.¡± He stepped forward and promptly turned off the projector. Only he dared to turn it off, and only he would do it without anyone daring to stop him. ¡°You¡¯ve given enough lessons; you can state your purpose directly now.¡± Such an attitude, as if watching theater. He said it with ease and relaxation. Old Lady Jiang glared at him: ¡°Don¡¯t interfere in this matter.¡± She turned and instructed, ¡°Ah Gui, take the Young Master back to the hospital.¡± Before Gui Family could speak, Jiang Zhi pulled over a chair and sat down, crossing his legs casually: ¡°I¡¯d like to see who dares to chase me away,¡± he said, coughing twice, looking sick and listless. ¡°Who dares to stop her? What if she faints?¡± After all, the Gui Family did not dare to stop her. This ancestor¡¯s temper was also spoiled by Old Lady Jiang, no one could handle her, ¡°Fuxi, go add a coat to Brother Zhi.¡± Jiang Fuxi nodded, stood up, and went inside to get clothes. Jiang Wei¡¯er was still kneeling, her legs numb and without sensation. Old Madam remained unyielding, her hair meticulously done, ¡°There¡¯s nothing to discuss. I¡¯m giving you one day to break it off with him completely.¡± Jiang Wei¡¯er looked up, meeting her gaze, ¡°What if I don¡¯t?¡± In the entire Jiang Family, besides Jiang Zhi, it was Jiang Wei¡¯er who was the most rebellious, stubborn just like Old Lady Jiang in her younger days, the more she was pushed, the more resistant she became. Old Lady Jiang couldn¡¯t be bothered to say more, stating directly, ¡°Then this video won¡¯t just be shown in our Jiang Family.¡± Jiang Wei¡¯er scoffed coldly, her eyes blazing, ¡°Mother, did you drive Wei Ning to death the same way?¡± Jiang Weining was the Jiang Family¡¯s fourth child, Fuxi¡¯s mother. With that statement, Jiang Fuxi, who had gone to get the clothes, paused for a moment. She did not turn around, continuing into the room. Then, a loud slap followed. Old Madam had used all her strength, her hand trembling, her voice shaking with rage, ¡°Get out of the Jiang Family right now. Come back when you¡¯ve cleared your head. If you remain confused, then there¡¯s no need to return!¡± Jiang Wei¡¯er did not hesitate, she stood up, her steps faltering. Turning around, she dragged her feet, her legs heavy as if filled with lead, one step at a time, she left the Jiang Family¡¯s territory. On the cobblestone path, Xue Bingxue approached from the other side. He called out to her, ¡°Wei¡¯er.¡± Jiang Wei¡¯er didn¡¯t respond, brushing past him. He grabbed her, ¡°Wei¡¯er,¡± clutching her wrist, he exerted a little force. He looked at her swollen eyes, not knowing if she had run there, in the cold winter night, he was sweating, ¡°Don¡¯t go with him.¡± It was like a plea. Jiang Wei¡¯er pushed his hand away, her voice raw and hoarse from crying, ¡°Bingxue, he¡¯s still outside waiting for me.¡± She still intended to leave. Xue Bingxue handed her the umbrella he was holding, ¡°It¡¯s going to rain, don¡¯t get wet.¡± She said thank you, took the umbrella, and turned to exit the Jiang Mansion¡¯s gate. The sky was overcast, with clouds obscuring the moon, a heavy rain was impending. The wind blew at the old-fashioned lanterns in front of the Jiang Mansion¡¯s gate, swaying them to and fro, the shadows on the ground doing the same. Xiao Linsu stood under the lamp, watching her. She crossed the threshold, her eyes red as she looked up at him, ¡°Have you been waiting long?¡± Xiao Linsu shook his head, stepped forward, and bent down to embrace her. His voice made ethereal by the wind, ¡°Wei¡¯er, would you please go back? Speak nicely with your mother, don¡¯t anger her, and don¡¯t speak up for me¡ª¡± She said, ¡°No.¡± The hands Xiao Linsu had wrapped around her back tightened slightly. He bowed his head, but she couldn¡¯t see his reddened eyes. He knew, her mother had slapped her, her face was swollen. Before, she would always talk to him about her mother, saying she was a traditional and strict person who lacked empathy. But out of the five children, her mother loved her the most. Jiang Wei¡¯er rested her face on his shoulder, ¡°It¡¯s going to pour soon, won¡¯t you take me away?¡± Xiao Linsu said okay, wiping away her tears, ¡°Then no more crying.¡± He led her into the night; their shadows clung to each other, elongated by the light of the lanterns. Raindrops began to fall softly, the air damp and foggy. A car sped away, Zhou Xufang wearing a hat and mask crouched on a nearby villa rooftop, watching that car for a long while before flipping the switch on her headset. ¡°Shuangjiang.¡± ¡°Here.¡± Zhou Xufang looked in the direction the car had headed, lying prone, ¡°Among those registered for the peace charm at Lingdu Temple, is Jiang Wei¡¯er included?¡± After half a minute, Shuangjiang replied, ¡°There¡¯s no Jiang Wei¡¯er, but there is another Ms. Jiang registered, called Jiang Wu.¡± Jiang Family¡¯s fifth son, Jiang Wei¡¯er. ¡°That makes sense,¡± Jiang Zhi¡¯s voice was quiet as he regarded the yellow satin peace charm with the character ¡®Shu¡¯ embroidered in teal thread, identical to the one hanging in Xiao Linsu¡¯s car. The window on the second floor was left open, allowing the wind to blow in and causing the curtains to flutter all around. Jiang Zhi was nestled on a couch heavily blanketed with layers of warmth, toying with a calligraphy scroll Old Lady Jiang had recently given him, his attention elsewhere as he pondered. Xue Bingxue hadn¡¯t touched her tea and was also lost in thought, until after a long moment, she voiced, ¡°Wei¡¯er has left.¡± Jiang Zhi responded absently, ¡°Isn¡¯t that what you expected?¡± He had expected it; Wei¡¯er was stubborn and deeply loyal; her feelings for Xiao Linsu ran deep, and the video wasn¡¯t enough to break them apart. Xue Bingxue was disheartened, ¡°I just didn¡¯t expect her not to ask a single question before taking his side.¡± She had seen the video, but Wei¡¯er would rather investigate on her own than confront Xiao Linsu; she didn¡¯t doubt or despise him. She must really like Xiao Linsu. Out of the Jiang Family, she was the most stubborn, never begging anyone for anything, never kneeling to anyone, even as a child when Old Lady Jiang opposed her Taekwondo practice and had her beaten as punishment, she didn¡¯t shed a tear. Today, she had done everything she had never done before for Xiao Linsu, casting aside her pride. ¡°Bingxue,¡± Jiang Zhi put down the scroll and suddenly asked, ¡°Do you really want her?¡± Xue Bingxue didn¡¯t hesitate, ¡°Yes.¡± Jiang Zhi¡¯s health hadn¡¯t recovered yet, his skin pale and almost translucent with a hint of illness, appearing slightly drawn as he spoke lazily, ¡°Then you¡¯ll have to be a bit more shameless and despicable.¡± Xue Bingxue was momentarily speechless. It wasn¡¯t that he lacked plans, but he feared making the wrong move might disgust her, might make her hate him. In this world, the person most wishing for her to live well was himself; he wanted nothing more than for her to be content and safe. S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. From outside the door came a voice, ¡°Third Young Master.¡± It was Ah Gui from Old Madam¡¯s side, who had knocked and come in to relay a message, ¡°Old Madam asks for you to come over.¡± Xue Bingxue knew what Old Lady Jiang was scheming. He had barely stepped out when Jiang Zhi said slowly from behind, ¡°Last time, a car tried to hit me. I did some investigating and found out a few things.¡± Then came a loud rumble from outside. Sudden thunder, accompanied by the sound of rain, startled Zhou Xufang, who was crouched on the roof of the villa. Then large raindrops began to fall, hitting her face with stinging pain. Imperial City sure loved its rain! She wiped the rainwater off her head and retreated under the shelter of the roof¡¯s eaves, hugging herself tightly into a ball. The rain grew heavier, and Jiang Zhi, with an umbrella held high and another in hand, hurriedly left the Jiang Mansion, and Ah Wan, who had been waiting in the car, quickly ran to him with an umbrella held diligently over both their heads. ¡°Boss, it¡¯s pouring! Where are you going?¡± Ah Wan called. Jiang Zhi moved swiftly, the rain pelting down, and soon his hair was wet, ¡°Don¡¯t follow me.¡± Ah Wan jogged behind him, a large man wielding a tiny umbrella, half-soaked to the bone and chilling to the core, yet he remained professional, ¡°How can I do that? If you catch a cold, your body won¡¯t hold up.¡± If he allowed his boss to get sick, Ms. Song would sever ties with him. Ahead, Jiang Zhi stopped and looked around. The Jiang Family¡¯s old mansion was located in an isolated area, surrounded only by a few villas with yards, all belonging to the high-powered elites of the Imperial City. Ah Wan had no clue what his employer was looking for and asked, ¡°What are you looking at?¡± Jiang Zhi ignored him, picked an obvious spot, opened the umbrella he held, and placed it on the ground. Ah Wan was confused, ¡°Why are you leaving an umbrella here?¡± Under a black umbrella, a fair and finely chiseled handsome face peeked out. It seemed as though he wasn¡¯t part of the mundane world, further obscured by the misting rain, appearing like a figure stepped out from a painting. His tone, however, was not as gentle, ¡°I simply don¡¯t wish to drench this patch of land. Is that a problem?¡± This capricious behavior was just like menopausal Ms. Song! Indeed, they were truly mother and son! Ah Wan replied, ¡°Sure!¡± You¡¯re the boss! Whatever you say goes! After Jiang Zhi looked back a few more times, he returned to the mansion. Only after he was far enough away did Zhou Xufang, who had been hiding on the roof of a nearby villa, leap down, pick up the umbrella, and sneakily hop back up, a jump of more than ten meters, flying through the air! Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t stay the night at the old mansion. Despite Old Madam¡¯s efforts to keep him, he insisted on going back to the hospital. Old Madam had no choice but to have someone take him back to the hospital. Arriving at the hospital nearly twenty minutes after him, Zhou Xufang tiptoed into the ward. ¡°Where have you been?¡± Jiang Zhi sat on the hospital bed, his gaze fixed on her. Zhou Xufang picked up the bag in her hand, glanced at the IV stand, then down at the pink bunny slippers she had brought for Jiang Zhi: ¡°I went to buy jelly.¡± As soon as she lied, her eyes began to dart around. Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t expose her lie but just beckoned her over. Zhou Xufang, feeling guilty, was especially obedient and immediately ran to him. He touched the back of her hand with his: ¡°Your hand is so cold, aren¡¯t you cold?¡± Zhou Xufang shook her head: ¡°I¡¯m not afraid of the cold.¡± Her perception of temperature was not very sensitive; she wasn¡¯t afraid of the cold or the heat. Jiang Zhi, not caring whether she was cold or not, insisted on holding her hand to warm it. She had intended to pull away, but considering her strength often inadvertently hurt him, she didn¡¯t dare to move again. Jiang Zhi brought a cup from the cupboard to her lips: ¡°Drink this.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°Medicine for preventing a cold.¡± She had been caught in the rain, and he was worried she¡¯d get sick. He had prepared several cups, all kept warm waiting for her return. ¡°Oh.¡± Zhou Xufang obediently drank it all. ¡°Zhou Xufang.¡± When Jiang Zhi called her full name, it was usually for something serious. Zhou Xufang answered formally: ¡°Yes!¡± ¡°If one day, someone forbids you to be with me, what would you do?¡± He thought of Jiang Wei¡¯er and felt she was ultimately too easy to manipulate. If Old Lady Jiang interfered with his relationship with Zhou Xufang, he would turn the Jiang Family upside down for her. Zhou Xufang blushed slightly, shyly looked away, and corrected him in a soft voice: ¡°We¡¯re good friends.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Damn good friends! Who would want to be just friends with her¡ªhe didn¡¯t know how many times she had overpowered him in his dreams! Alright then, he altered his question: ¡°If one day, someone forbids you to be my good friend, what would you do?¡± Zhou Xufang thought for a moment, then answered seriously: ¡°I would beat them up.¡± She used the word ¡°beat up.¡± For someone who was always kind to others, this was a rather aggressive thing to say. Though it was a bit rash, nonetheless¡ª Jiang Zhi grabbed her hand and placed it on his head, guiding her hand to tousle his hair: ¡°That¡¯s my good girl.¡± Zhou Xufang was puzzled by his action¡ªwas he asking her to rub his head? Oh, she understood. She rubs Jiang Zhi¡¯s hair as if she were petting that gray cat. Jiang Zhi was clearly delighted, his eyes sparkling brightly like stars. ¡°Lin Wanwan.¡± Suddenly, Jiang Zhi called out. Zhou Xufang also turned to look at the closed door; Lin Wanwan¡¯s fingernails had accidentally scratched it a few times, and she had heard it. Jiang Zhi said indifferently: ¡°If you keep eavesdropping by the door, I¡¯ll pull off your ears.¡± Ah Wan, who was eavesdropping at the door: ¡°!¡± He quickly stood at attention, chest out, eyes staring straight ahead. Jiang Zhi instructed: ¡°Have someone move a bed over here.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Ah Wan didn¡¯t dare to eavesdrop any longer and went off to move the bed obediently. Zhou Xufang, as Jiang Zhi¡¯s ¡®nurse,¡¯ was meant to stay overnight. Normally, she wasn¡¯t fussy and could squat anywhere for the night: ¡°You don¡¯t need to go to all that trouble, I can sleep on the couch.¡± ¡°No need to move a bed then, you can sleep with me.¡± Chapter 101: 101: Jiang Zhi gets jealous; even superpowers have a nemesis. Chapter 101: 101: Jiang Zhi gets jealous; even superpowers have a nemesis. ¡°Not moving the bed works too, you can sleep with me,¡± he said with a pair of peach blossom eyes that seemed inebriated yet lucid. Hmm, he was seducing her. Zhou Xufang stood straight: ¡°I¡¯m going to help Ah Wan move the bed.¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± Such a pure-hearted girl she was, that little lady of his. Zhou Xufang left the ward to help Ah Wan move the bed, and of course, Ah Wan was very pleased, thinking that Miss Zhou, who patched things up, was a considerate, kindhearted, and friendly person. ... Unable to help herself, Ah Wan confided in her: ¡°Miss Zhou.¡± Zhou Xufang: ¡°Hmm?¡± S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Ah Wan didn¡¯t really have any colleagues, spending all day with her employer and without friends, so finally having met someone she could talk to heart-to-heart, she wanted to share her grievances: ¡°Don¡¯t you think my boss has a bad temper?¡± Zhou Xufang, walking along the wall with her head down: ¡°Jiang Zhi has a very good temper.¡± Ah Wan, having accumulated a belly full of complaints, felt relieved to vent: ¡°He¡¯s also very picky.¡± Zhou Xufang: ¡°No, he¡¯s very nice.¡± Ah Wan felt that Miss Zhou, who was good at mending things, was still too naive and unaware of the wickedness of people¡¯s hearts, and so, Ah Wan felt it necessary to enlighten her a bit: ¡°Then you don¡¯t know, he¡¯s very cunning. Not only does he do misdeeds but also instigates the Third Young Master¡ª¡± Zhou Xufang looked up: ¡°Mr. Lin.¡± Ah Wan was dumbfounded by this alienating ¡®Mr. Lin.¡¯ The little lady who had stopped now looked extremely serious, and moreover, she was seething with rage, and even she, who never had eye contact with strangers, was glaring at someone: ¡°If you keep slandering Jiang Zhi like that, I won¡¯t be polite to you anymore.¡± Mr. Lin: ¡°¡­¡± Was Miss Zhou under some kind of spell cast by her employer? Ah Wan stubbornly whispered, ¡°I¡¯m not slandering¡­¡± Zhou Xufang was already very angry, walking on alone, not wanting to bother with him anymore! It was late at night, and the hospital was quiet. Around the corner, someone was on the phone, clear as day across the hallway. The person was wearing a checkerboard hospital uniform, one hand holding a phone and the other pushing an IV stand, hair permed with foil, likely neglected due to the hospital stay, and turned a bit frizzy. Who else could it be but Ming Yanghua, terrified into hospitalization by a female ghost. At this moment, Sixth Young Master Ming was on the phone, cursing someone: ¡°Your mother¡¯s talking nonsense!¡± Here¡¯s what happened. The news about his hospitalization from being scared fainted had been leaked by some mischievous friends, and his other friends had been mocking him for being a coward. In order to prove he wasn¡¯t a coward, he recounted last night¡¯s seaside supernatural encounter to them in detail. His friends didn¡¯t believe it. Damn it! Ming Yanghua was getting agitated: ¡°How many times do I have to tell you, it was a female ghost, a female ghost!¡± His friends still didn¡¯t believe him, saying he was making it up. ¡°I saw it with my own eyes, how could it be false? She was a red-eyed female water ghost.¡± His friends asked what the female ghost looked like. Was she a beautiful seductive ghost? What did she look like? Ming Yanghua recalled: ¡°Just a black mass, only eyes, no face.¡± Speaking of which, he arrived at the corner. As he turned around, he saw a black mass, fortunately with a face, a beautiful and cold one, radiating an upscale world-weariness. It was the type he liked. Breaking his phone, he grabbed a handful of hair, and with a few swipes, fashioned a heart-shaped fringe. With only one hand available to push the IV stand, he had to tuck the other into his pocket¡ªoh, the hospital uniform didn¡¯t have pockets, so he pretended to tuck his hand in anyway. Regardless, the gesture was cool, not like a little ruffian, but like the leader of the ruffians. In his ruffian-leader swagger, he said: ¡°Girl, how about giving me your WeChat?¡± This was the second time. The previous time was at Bamboo Garden in Fusheng Inn, where she was delivering food, and this young rogue had also asked for her WeChat. Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t want to deal with this kind of little ruffian and bypassed him. Ming Yanghua, a veteran of flirting and thick-facedness, dropped his head and caught up: ¡°You look familiar to me, must be fate. How about we add each other on WeChat?¡± Familiar? They had seen each other several times already. Clearly, the little ruffian didn¡¯t remember her. Zhou Xufang¡¯s face was coldly indifferent, ¡°I don¡¯t use WeChat.¡± And¡ª She turned back, ¡°I am a female ghost.¡± She covered her face with one hand, revealing only her eyes, ¡°Just a dark mass, eyes without a face.¡± ¡°¡­¡± This girl, quite spicy. And truth be told, she was dressed in black too, those little eyes quite intimidating. Ming Yanghua found her more and more appealing, ¡°That pretty little ghost, how about giving me your number?¡± Zhou Xufang, dead serious, made up, ¡°We don¡¯t use phones in the underworld.¡± Old hand at love, Ming Yanghua: ¡°¡­¡± This was his Waterloo in the history of flirting, unacceptable, he had to redeem himself¡ªbut then, from behind him, an unexpected voice: ¡°Ming Xiaohua.¡± Ming Lao hated it when people called him Xiaohua. ¡°If you call me Xiaohua again I¡ª¡± He turned around, saw who it was, and the insults got stuck in his throat, his bravado draining away like a little ruffian¡¯s boss coming face to face with the top dog, ¡°Jiang Zhi¡­ Brother.¡± He hesitated for a few seconds, but added a ¡®Brother¡¯ in the end. The Jiang Family and the Ming Family had a lukewarm relationship. Imperial City was full of gents, but there were distinct social strata. There was Mr. This, Third Young Master That¡ªeveryone had such titles, but Jiang Zhi belonged to nobility among the ranks. He was also wearing the hospital¡¯s patient attire, draped in a knee-length black coat. He was delicately handsome with a frail appearance, walking leisurely, with enticing, alluring peach blossom eyes. Yet, within that seemingly intoxicated haze, there was a wildness that captivated the soul. Key point, his face was excessively beautiful. Getting closer, Jiang Zhi raised his hand, pointing to the ¡®little female ghost¡¯, ¡°Do you know who she is?¡± Ming Yanghua didn¡¯t interact much with Jiang Zhi normally. But for some inexplicable reason, he felt uneasy, remaining expressionless as he shook his head. Only to see Jiang Zhi approach the ¡®little female ghost¡¯, chin lifted while looking at him, ¡°She¡¯s the girl I¡¯m pursuing.¡± Ming Yanghua: ¡°¡­¡± That boastful, proud, and warning tone. He doubted his hearing, ¡°You¡¯re not, aren¡¯t you¡ª¡± Jiang Zhi slowly filled in, ¡°Gay?¡± Ming Yanghua truly had little to do with Jiang Zhi, but he had a sister at home who was crazy about Jiang Zhi¡¯s good looks. Thanks to her, he had learned quite a lot about him. For instance, he had come out at the age of eighteen. And, he had an intense aversion to women. Jiang Zhi smiled charmingly, soul-snatching, ¡°How incredible she is to have straightened me out.¡± Ming Yanghua: ¡°¡­¡± His sister always said she couldn¡¯t get Jiang Zhi solely because fate was cruel in making her a woman. Now it seemed, that was all just hot air! Here was this little female ghost who had roped him in. No, she didn¡¯t even need to do anything¡ªjust look at the way Jiang Zhi gazed at her, that sort of liking, as if anyone else giving her an extra glance would turn him into a wolf cub with off-the-charts aggression, dying to take a bite out of you. ¡°Still want her WeChat?¡± Ming Yanghua: ¡°No need any longer.¡± Jiang Zhi took a step forward, tall as he was, he stood protectively, shielding his girl thoroughly: ¡°And the phone number?¡± Ming Yanghua shook his head vigorously. Satisfied at last, Jiang Zhi then turned around, reaching into the air with a slender, graceful hand, ¡°Fang Bao, support me.¡± Fang Bao¡­ Ah Wan felt a pang of jealousy. Zhou Xufang: ¡°Oh.¡± She steadied Jiang Zhi¡¯s hand. Jiang Zhi naturally let the hand resting on her back rest on her shoulder instead, without really pressing his weight on her. He was just very close to her, tossing the Ming Yanghua behind him, and he walked away with his girl. ¡°Do you have your mask with you?¡± Zhou Xufang pulled out a black mask from her pocket: ¡°I have it.¡± He took the mask and put it on her, ¡°From now on, wear a mask when you go out,¡± he said in all seriousness, with a perfectly valid reason, ¡°The lousy weather in the Imperial City is too cold.¡± So she won¡¯t attract attention! Ah Wan: ¡°¡­¡± Blame the weather again. Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t think too much of it: ¡°Okay.¡± Jiang Zhi looked back, and, as expected, that stinking brat from the Ming Family was still watching. He shot him a cold glance, executing him with his gaze, then pulled his girl¡¯s hood over her head. ¡°You should wear your hood too.¡± Zhou Xufang again agreed. Jiang Zhi reevaluated, no, this was too cute. ¡°Actually, let¡¯s not wear the hood.¡± Wearing a hood made her look too cute, not wearing it made her too pretty. Her head was extraordinarily beautiful, and Jiang Zhi felt more and more insecure the more he thought about it. He instructed sternly, ¡°Unless you really need to go out, try to stay indoors.¡± This time Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t immediately agree, hesitating, ¡°But I have to work.¡± ¡°Then you wear that helmet that only shows your eyes when you go out,¡± Jiang Zhi came up with another reason, ¡°The damn weather in the Imperial City always likes to drop ice pellets.¡± Ah Wan: ¡°¡­¡± And the weather is blamed yet again. Zhou Xufang remembered the previous times her face was pelted with ice, and thought Jiang Zhi made a lot of sense, wholeheartedly agreeing, ¡°You are so right!¡± So gullible, she need to be closely watched. Jiang Zhi pressed his chest, coughed a few times: ¡°The place where I was stabbed hurts a bit, help me back to my room.¡± Upon hearing that he was uncomfortable, Zhou Xufang supported his hand to her shoulder and turned towards Mr. Lin, ¡°Mr. Lin, you move the bed yourself, I¡¯ll help Jiang Zhi back first.¡± Ah Wan: ¡°¡­¡± Annoyed, still calling him Mr. Lin. Look! Just look! How could he falsely accuse Jiang Zhi, who was not treacherous and despicable? Jealously begrudging, yet speaking righteously and blaming the Imperial City¡¯s weather! While cursing in her mind, Ah Wan went to move the bed. Zhou Xufang supported Jiang Zhi towards the VIP ward, wanting to walk quickly but afraid of jostling him, feeling anxious. ¡°Does it hurt a lot?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± He coughed, his cheeks flushed, looking weak and delicate. Zhou Xufang was worried he would faint on their way: ¡°Let me carry you.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Appreciation was enough, a big guy like him couldn¡¯t let the girl he liked carry him. Jiang Zhi: ¡°No.¡± Zhou Xufang: ¡°I¡¯m strong.¡± ¡°Still no,¡± he let go of her hand and took hers instead, ¡°No matter how strong you are, you¡¯re still a girl.¡± Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t understand. She could lift up to a thousand pounds. Not knowing who raised this girl or how, she was alert to everything and had heavy defenses. There was a solitary chill in her eyes as if she had endured much suffering. Yet she was so pure she seemed like a blank slate. If she was willing to let you see her eyes, a single glance would reveal it all. Jiang Zhi stopped and looked at her, telling her, ¡°It¡¯s okay to be a little spoiled when someone cherishes you.¡± Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t quite understand Jiang Zhi¡¯s words. ¡°Don¡¯t understand?¡± She nodded. No one had ever taught her how to be a person, let alone how to be a girl. However, someone had taught her how to maximize the energy within her body. Jiang Zhi bent down and patiently and tenderly taught her, saying, ¡°You¡¯re loved by someone, someone couldn¡¯t bear to lose you, so you need to care for yourself a bit more, don¡¯t just think about others.¡± Zhou Xufang was stunned. This was the first time she¡¯d heard such sweet words in her life. In her simple and monotonous memories, no one had ever told her that she was cherished by someone. Her eyes were about to turn red. Seeing her moved almost to tears, Jiang Zhi wanted to kiss her, and the atmosphere was just right when suddenly¡ª There was a commotion in the ward ahead. ¡°Everyone get out!¡± It was a duck-like voice, probably a teenager still going through puberty. The teenager was violently irritable, and the ward was banging loudly, ¡°I¡¯m about to die, what¡¯s the point of treatment! Get out, all of you, I don¡¯t want to see you!¡± A woman¡¯s voice was urgently concerned, with a sobbing tone, ¡°Yeye¡ª¡± ¡°Get out!¡± As he roared, the teenager in the tumor ward pushed away a nurse, grabbed a bottle of liquid and threw it with force. With a crash, the shards scattered everywhere. Zhou Xufang¡¯s first reaction was to turn around, raise her hand, and firmly shield Jiang Zhi. The shards of the bottle grazed her face, causing a sting, like being pricked by a needle. She immediately covered her face. Just then, Vice President Sun appeared with a group of doctors on a ward round and witnessed the scene. Vice President Sun¡¯s heart almost leaped out, ¡°Mr. Jiang, Mr. Jiang.¡± This Fifth Renmin Hospital, the Jiang family were the biggest shareholders, and Jiang Zhi was the most untouchable little ancestor. Sure enough, the little ancestor was angry. Jiang Zhi¡¯s voice became extremely cold, with restrained fury smoldering in his eyes, ¡°If he doesn¡¯t want treatment, let him pack his things and get out of the hospital immediately.¡± Vice President Sun didn¡¯t dare make a sound, reading Jiang Zhi¡¯s mood. Just a moment ago, the little ancestor who was furious now had a softened gaze, as he carefully bent down to examine the young girl¡¯s face in front of him, reaching to take her hand away from her face. She pressed on her face, refusing to let go, ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± Her wounds healed too quickly to be seen by others. ¡°Let me see.¡± She shook her head, ¡°The glass didn¡¯t hit me.¡± Jiang Zhi gently touched the space between her middle and ring fingers with one finger, his eyes brimming with concern that he couldn¡¯t conceal, ¡°You¡¯re bleeding.¡± Hearing this, Zhou Xufang touched it and indeed, blood was still flowing. She turned around, ¡°Was the bottle filled with penicillin?¡± The nurse in the room was surprised, ¡°How did you know?¡± Because penicillin was her nemesis, even a little bit could greatly reduce her self-healing ability, even to less than an ordinary person. She said, ¡°I recognize this type of bottle; it¡¯s used for penicillin.¡± Back in the laboratory, those ¡®experts¡¯ in white coats enjoyed injecting her with it and then watching the speed of her bleeding to calculate the fatalness of penicillin to her. She let go of her hand and checked the blood between her fingers. There wasn¡¯t much blood; the wound must have been very small. She said to Jiang Zhi, ¡°It¡¯s a minor cut, it doesn¡¯t matter.¡± Her pale skin made the small spread of blood on her right cheek stand out even more glaringly. Jiang Zhi frowned, wanting to wipe it off but afraid of hurting her. He had never felt this way before; the sting from the shard felt as if it had embedded in his body, an indescribable dull pain. He was done for. He was bewitched by her. He pulled her to his side, casting a glance at the teenager, who was now panicked and at a loss under the oppressive atmosphere, ¡°Still have the strength to throw a tantrum here, you¡¯re not dying, see. If you really want to die, the window is open, jump yourself. Otherwise, shut your mouth. If you continue to make a fuss, I¡¯ll throw you out myself.¡± The teenager and his mother didn¡¯t dare to make a sound anymore. Jiang Zhi took Zhou Xufang away, leaving a sentence behind, ¡°Have the surgeon come over.¡± Chapter 102: 102: Ah Fangs Thirty-Six Strategies to Coax Jiang Zhi Chapter 102: 102: Ah Fang¡¯s Thirty-Six Strategies to Coax Jiang Zhi Vice President Sun called for the chief surgeon, Doctor Wu. Being the leading surgeon for over thirty years, he had never treated such a minor wound, and he was quite frustrated. However, he dared not complain, since his salary was paid by the Jiang Family. He didn¡¯t even ask the nurse to come, but personally cleaned and dressed the patient¡¯s wound. ¡°Is it serious?¡± Jiang Zhi¡¯s eyes were fixed on Zhou Xufang¡¯s face. Doctor Wu, feeling nervous under his gaze, replied with a shaky hand, ¡°It¡¯s just a superficial injury.¡± ... Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t lie back on the hospital bed. Instead, he moved a chair next to Zhou Xufang, himself still receiving IV fluids. Ignoring the needle on the back of his hand, he patted the young girl¡¯s back, though it was unclear what he was trying to comfort. He asked again, ¡°Will it leave a scar?¡± ¡°¡­¡± Did Young Master Jiang have some misunderstanding about superficial injuries? Trying to maintain his patience, Doctor Wu explained, ¡°It won¡¯t leave a scar; it¡¯s just a very tiny cut.¡± After disinfecting, applying medication, and covering it with gauze, it took just three minutes. ¡°There, done.¡± Jiang Zhi diverted some of his intense gaze from the girl¡¯s face to glance at Doctor Wu, ¡°That¡¯s it?¡± Otherwise? ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to prescribe any medicine?¡± Jiang Zhi¡¯s look was sharp, showing his dissatisfaction. Doctor Wu felt a chill down his spine and fumbled, ¡°No need for medicine. It¡¯s really just a very, very tiny wound¡­¡± Jiang Zhi ignored him, ¡°Vice President Sun, bring me another doctor.¡± The chief surgeon: ¡°¡­¡± Vice President Sun: ¡°¡­¡± Unsure of what to say, he glanced at the injured young girl. The girl was easygoing. She said, ¡°No need, by the time the doctor arrives, the wound would have healed by itself.¡± That made perfect sense. Doctor Wu and Vice President Sun nodded, in agreement. S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Only then did Jiang Zhi speak, ¡°You all may leave now.¡± ¡°If you need anything, just call me.¡± Vice President Sun hurried away with his chief surgeon. ¡°You, too, get out.¡± Ah Wan: ¡°Oh.¡± Ah Wan also left, closing the door of the ward behind her. After thinking for three seconds, she still pressed her ear against the door. The hospital wasn¡¯t very soundproof, and she heard Miss Zhou¡¯s voice. ¡°Are you angry?¡± Zhou Xufang felt he was angry; his expression was very stern. Jiang Zhi got up from the chair, pushing his IV stand, and went to the bed where he lay down, ¡°Who asked you to take that for me?¡± His tone was like a reprimand. Yes, he was really angry. But Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t understand why he was angry, ¡°We are good friends,¡± she said earnestly and with conviction, ¡°For a friend, sparing no effort is what you do.¡± That line, she had learned it from one of Jiang Zhi¡¯s movies. Zhou Xufang felt it was spot-on, truly worthy of something filmed by Jiang Zhi. Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± He was even angrier now! The kind that couldn¡¯t be easily appeased. Zhou Xufang¡¯s emotional intelligence seemed irredeemably low; he didn¡¯t want to talk to her anymore. ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± Jiang Zhi did not respond. Zhou Xufang got a bit anxious and stepped forward quickly, ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± She called his name softly, trying to appease him. She wasn¡¯t good at appeasing either, like coaxing a child, holding snacks in front of him with both hands, ¡°Would you like some jelly?¡± No. ¡°How about cotton candy?¡± No! Jiang Zhi just looked at her. The message was clear; he wanted to be coaxed. Zhou Xufang tilted her head, unsure of what to do. Just then, ice pellets began to fall outside, tapping against the window. She put down the snacks, ¡°Are you cold, Jiang Zhi?¡± She fetched a heating pad, crouched and leaned over the hospital bed like a black mushroom, ¡°If you¡¯re cold, I¡¯ll place this heating pad on you.¡± How could she be so adorable. She was unaware, speaking seriously, and looking sincerely solemn. Jiang Zhi¡¯s heart almost melted at her kindergarten-level coaxing tactics, and he couldn¡¯t bring himself to scold her anymore. This unspoiled young girl, this girl who instinctively used her back to shield others from harm, needed to be slowly taught to care more about herself. Fortunately, he was crafty enough, and his family, too kind at heart. He turned his back to her, lifting the blankets, exposing his back to her, ¡°Place it on my lower back.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± With one heating pad, she had managed to soothe Jiang Zhi. Zhou Xufang believed Jiang Zhi to be the most good-tempered person in the world, Mr. Lin Dazhuang even falsely accused Jiang Zhi of being bad-tempered, which was a bit too much. At the door, Lin Dazhuang: ¡°¡­¡± Boom! Late into the night, thunder suddenly roared. Xiao Linsu had just placed Jiang Wei¡¯er on the bed when she suddenly woke up, her eyes still swollen from crying for so long. She whispered hoarsely, calling out to him, ¡°Linsu.¡± Xiao Linsu tucked her into the covers and responded, ¡°Hmm.¡± ¡°I just had a dream.¡± ¡°What did you dream about?¡± Her eyes were gritty and uncomfortable as she rubbed them, ¡°I dreamed about the first time I met you.¡± That day was her birthday. Xiao Linsu took her hand away, wetted a towel, and gently wiped her eyes. His voice was calm and gentle, ¡°That day was also my sister¡¯s birthday.¡± This was the first time Xiao Linsu spoke of his sister. All the light in his eyes seemed to meld together, casting gentle, fragmented shadows, ¡°She was fifteen years younger than me, looked like our mother, a very beautiful and well-behaved child, loved by the nurses and doctors at the hospital.¡± He mentioned the hospital. His sister was ill. Jiang Wei¡¯er sat up, ¡°Where is she now?¡± Xiao Linsu never talked about his family, and whenever she asked, he would only say he had no family. He didn¡¯t mention it, and she was afraid to probe his wounds, so she didn¡¯t ask. He put down the towel, soaked it in hot water, and wrung it out to wipe her hands. His tone was unexpectedly calm as he said, ¡°My sister, she passed away.¡± Jiang Wei¡¯er was stunned. ¡°Our second meeting, that day was the day of her funeral.¡± His sister died before she even turned eleven. His parents weren¡¯t around, and he had to conduct the funeral alone with no friends or relatives. He had a few drinks before going to work. He thought that would be his last piece, that he would leave the industry after finishing it, but then she appeared, full of light, bursting into his life. Jiang Wei¡¯er remembered that day, meeting him at the Taekwondo Hall. She thought then how contradictory a person he was, outwardly kind and gentle to everyone, yet his eyes held such deep sadness, as if he had given up hope on the world. It turned out, that day was his sister¡¯s funeral. ¡°Is it because¡­¡± She couldn¡¯t finish her question. Xiao Linsu nodded, knowing what she was about to ask. ¡°My sister had a heart condition, she needed to be hospitalized.¡± He chuckled self-mockingly, ¡°She was unlucky to have a useless brother like me. I couldn¡¯t save her.¡± There was a long pause. Bowing his head, he said, ¡°The money from Jin Song was for saving her life.¡± He talked on and on, his words flowing gently and flat, as if he was talking about someone else¡¯s life. At that time, he had just come of age, his parents both met with hazards¡ª one died, one injured¡ª and he spent all the family savings. His mother was actually saved, but his critically ill sister needed care, and their mother herself removed the respirator. After his parents¡¯ death, all the relatives turned their backs on him. Still young, the most valuable thing he possessed was his youthful body. Jin Song was cunning, signing a contract with him. The money and resources provided could only save lives, not afford him any opportunities to thrive. He was tethered like this for eight years. He set the now cold towel aside, pulling her hand into the covers, ¡°My sister did not wait for a suitable heart transplant and passed away. I wanted to break the contract after that.¡± Then she appeared. Ten years enslaved, the first eight for his sister, the last two for his own selfish desires. ¡°Jin Song has a video, I was afraid you¡¯d find out,¡± he held her hand tightly, showing great force, ¡°I was being selfish.¡± Her eyes reddened again, and even though he spoke so calmly, she knew the kind of life he had led during those long ten years. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell me?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t dare.¡± ¡°Why didn¡¯t you dare?¡± He was silent for a long time: ¡°I was afraid you¡¯d find me disgusting.¡± She suddenly fell silent. ¡°Wei¡¯er.¡± She reached out, starting to unbutton his shirt. Xiao Linsu held her hand back, ¡°Wei¡¯er.¡± ¡°I want to see.¡± He shook his head, ¡°The wounds are healed.¡± She did not let go, continuing to tug at his buttons, ¡°Let me see.¡± ¡°No need to see,¡± his voice turned hoarse, almost pleading, ¡°Wei¡¯er, I am very dirty.¡± All his self-loathing was evident in his eyes, clearly showing helplessness and hatred. Undeterred, Jiang Wei¡¯er with red eyes shouted at him, ¡°I want to see, I have to see.¡± He hesitated for a moment. ¡°Alright.¡± He loosened his grip, allowing her to unbutton his shirt. Below the collarbone, there were many marks; some had healed, some still bore scars, some were burns from cigarette butts, others from whippings. No wonder, in their two years together, he never touched her. ¡°What caused this?¡± The scar was on his chest, about five centimeters long, and Jiang Wei¡¯er¡¯s fingers gently caressed it. Xiao Linsu thought for a while, ¡°It¡¯s been too long, I don¡¯t remember.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t remember¡­¡± Such an understatement forced tears from her eyes. She leaned in, her lips touching the scar, ¡°Not dirty.¡± Looking up into Xiao Linsu¡¯s eyes, Jiang Wei¡¯er said, ¡°You are not dirty at all.¡± Each word, felt deeply and sincerely. He embraced her, finally showing vulnerability, ¡°Wei¡¯er, I am scared¡­¡± The next day, it rained violently. Imperial City¡¯s winters are always like this, chilling to the bone. This year, the snow and rain were more aggressive than before, seemingly endless. Four o¡¯clock in the afternoon. Jin Song had just finished a TV interview when his secretary came over and said, ¡°Vice President, Chairman Jin has gone to meet the Xue Family.¡± His brother, really wanting to kill him. Walking and tidying his suit cuffs, Jin Song asked, ¡°Which member of the Xue Family?¡± The secretary replied, ¡°Mr. Xue.¡± That traditional Chinese medicine practitioner from the Xue Family? There had previously been no contact between the Jin and Xue families, and amid the internal strife within Jin Family, it was unlikely that Jin Lei was doing something unnecessary. He wondered what he was plotting. ¡°Look into that Mr. Xue.¡± From the adjacent studio, two people emerged. ¡°Wei¡¯er,¡± it was Fang Lixiang, who had just finished recording a variety show and hadn¡¯t removed his makeup yet, ¡°I¡¯m done here. You look unwell; you should head back and rest.¡± Jiang Wei¡¯er replied, ¡°No need.¡± Looking up, she saw Jin Song approaching. Jiang Wei¡¯er and Jin Song had met a few times at some upper-class gatherings. Jin Song, impeccably dressed, approached and said warmly, ¡°Long time no see, Miss Jiang.¡± Jiang Wei¡¯er met his gaze coldly. His eyes were suggestive, they held each other¡¯s gaze for a moment, then brushed past each other. ¡°Forgot to ask,¡± he suddenly stopped and sneered, ¡°How¡¯s Linsu¡¯s taste? Even though I¡¯ve worn him out, but¡ª¡± Jiang Wei¡¯er couldn¡¯t stand it any longer and lost her temper. She picked up a fire extinguisher from the ground and smashed it hard on his head. Fang Lixiang was stunned, unable to hold him back in time. Blood burst forth from the injury. This was the real Jiang Wei¡¯er, wild and ostentatious. It was just past five o¡¯clock, and it had already grown dark outside. The lights of thousands of homes and neon lights filled the streets; looking out from a high vantage point, the world was ablaze with the lights of human life. Jiang Zhi looked out of the window, his mind wandering somewhere. Possibly due to the cold weather, his lung condition wasn¡¯t going to improve in a day or two; he had been coughing severely these last few days and had just coughed up some blood. His complexion was as pale as paper. Xue Bingxue was performing acupuncture on him, ¡°Your aunt came by yesterday.¡± She had come to check on his illness. Distracted, Jiang Zhi replied, ¡°Hmm.¡± He asked Ah Wan, ¡°What time is it?¡± Ah Wan checked the time and answered, ¡°Five forty-three.¡± He had been asking for the time repeatedly since three in the afternoon. Oh, at three o¡¯clock, Miss Zhou who applied the medical patches had left, saying she would return at six after freshening up at home. Once Miss Zhou left, his spirit seemed to leave as well. Ah Wan felt this symptom was a bit over the top; he thought it might be an illness. He had watched a Korean drama where the male lead was so in love with the female lead that he fell ill, acting like a madman. He locked the female lead up, insisting on being with her day and night. Ah Wan thought his employer might also be exhibiting symptoms of this illness. Xue Bingxue was still discussing serious matters, with a stern expression, ¡°Qin Shiyu has also looked over your medical records.¡± Still distracted, Jiang Zhi responded, ¡°Hmm.¡± ¡°It should be fine; the hospital staff are all your people.¡± Jiang Zhi hummed in response. Completely absent-minded. Xue Bingxue lifted his shirt, put on gloves, and pressed on his chest, ¡°Does it hurt?¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡°No.¡± ¡°That¡¯s good.¡± After listening with a stethoscope for a while, Xue Bingxue said, ¡°You should be able to be discharged in a few days.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s stay for now.¡± He didn¡¯t want to be discharged yet; getting discharged meant his young lady might not come to report every day so obediently. Jiang Zhi looked at Ah Wan again, ¡°What time is it?¡± Unable to bear it! Ah Wan was getting annoyed, ¡°You just asked!¡± Jiang Zhi kept a straight face, his eyes icy as they settled with frost, ¡°What time is it?¡± Ah Wan, succumbing to the tyranny of his employer, replied, ¡°Five forty-five.¡± Jiang Zhi¡¯s mood soured as he stared at the pair of pink rabbit slippers on the floor. Why hasn¡¯t she arrived yet! He didn¡¯t know when he had developed this irritating habit, but whenever he couldn¡¯t see her, he felt uneasy and panicky. He couldn¡¯t wait any longer and dialed her number, but¡ª She! Didn¡¯t! Pick up! ¡°Miss Zhou isn¡¯t picking up?¡± Ah Wan saw the frost accumulating on his handsome face and suggested, ¡°Maybe she¡¯s busy and can¡¯t answer the phone. You should try sending a WeChat message.¡± Jiang Zhi tossed his phone aside, grabbed a handful of azure blue hair, tore off a heat patch, and threw it into the trash, ¡°Why should I send one?¡± His tone grew increasingly harsh, ¡°Can¡¯t I live without her?¡± Ah Wan: ¡°¡­¡± Did he say anything? Besides, isn¡¯t that the case? Jiang Zhi scoffed and tore off another heat patch, which Zhou Xufang had applied for him, and threw them all into the trash can. Then, ten seconds later¡ª He picked up his phone and sent a WeChat message to Zhou Xufang, blasting five audio messages. ¡°Zhou Xufang.¡± A bit fierce. ¡°It¡¯s almost six!¡± Very fierce! ¡°You said you¡¯d be back by six.¡± His tone softened. ¡°Where are you?¡± His tone became gentle. ¡°Where?¡± Finally, he sounded plaintive. Ah Wan: ¡°¡­¡± He was certain, their employer was just as insane as the male lead in those Korean dramas! Jiang Zhi had sent five voice messages in a row and waited for over ten seconds without a response. Initially annoyed with Zhou Xufang, he couldn¡¯t afford to be annoyed anymore; he started to worry about her. He sent another one, ¡°Why haven¡¯t you returned to the hospital?¡± After waiting about four or five seconds, there was still no response. His tone became urgent, ¡°Reply to me.¡± At last, Zhou Xufang responded, ¡°I¡¯m outside.¡± Jiang Zhi asked, ¡°What are you doing outside?¡± He asked again, ¡°Are you working again?¡± Zhou Xufang typed, slowly, showing ¡®typing¡­¡¯ for a long time, before she finally sent the simple two words: ¡°Something urgent.¡± So simple that Jiang Zhi felt she was brushing him off. Jiang Zhi: ¡°What urgent matter?¡± Zhou Xufang: ¡°.¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡°Zhou Xufang.¡± Zhou Xufang: ¡°.¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡­ He couldn¡¯t continue the conversation! She was being so disobedient; he wanted to drag her back here and bite her! With a bang, he threw his phone on the table, tore off all the warming patches Zhou Xufang had applied to him, and got up from the sickbed, ¡°I need to go out.¡± Xue Bingxue removed her gloves and scoffed at him, ¡°You just said you were going to stay a few more days.¡± ¡°I¡¯m going to catch someone.¡± Jiang Zhi had just removed the IV needle when his phone, which was on the cabinet, rang. Thinking it was Zhou Xufang, his eyes brightened as he picked it up immediately. Upon seeing the caller, his face darkened again. ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± The caller spoke for a while. Jiang Zhi asked, ¡°What¡¯s Old Madam¡¯s stance on this?¡± The call was from the Jiang Mansion. ¡°Keep an eye on it,¡± Jiang Zhi hung up and told Xue Bingxue, ¡°My aunt is in the police station.¡± Xue Bingxue became anxious at once, ¡°What happened to Wei¡¯er?¡± ¡°She hit Jin Song, and that beast is now suing her,¡± Jiang Zhi took the coat Ah Wan handed to him, ¡°And the Old Madam has spoken; no one is allowed to bail her out.¡± Old Lady Jiang was waiting, waiting for Linsu to lower his pride. In the evening, the rain had stopped. Outside the police station, under the streetlight, shadows elongated. The air was heavy with moisture from the recent rain, foggy and the light passing through it hazy, reminiscent of a misty Jiangnan landscape. ¡°How will you agree to drop the charges?¡± Under the light, Linsu¡¯s eyes were covered with frost. Jin Song¡¯s head was wrapped in a bandage, he smiled at Linsu, looking decent but his gaze was a mix of light taunting and deep malignance, ¡°You really like her, huh?¡± ¡°It¡¯s none of your business.¡± Jin Song¡¯s smile grew wider, slight wrinkles crinkling at the corners of his eyes, ¡°Didn¡¯t you say that you just liked her identity as the Jiang Family¡¯s fifth son?¡± Linsu remained silent, his gaze icy cold. Jin Song then lost his smile, pulled out a cigar from his pocket, and lit it, ¡°You¡¯ve followed me for so many years, there¡¯s no sentiment but there¡¯s face. Listen to me, save yourself, the Old Madam Jiang is too formidable; you¡¯re no match for her.¡± ¡°Are you targeting the Jiang Family?¡± He had sent someone to jail, not just to vent anger but also with ulterior motives. Jin Song didn¡¯t deny it, nor did he try to conceal the contempt and disdain in his gaze: ¡°You see, this is the difference between you and Jiang Wei¡¯er. Let¡¯s not even talk about the Imperial City¡¯s Jiang Family; you don¡¯t even have the capital to negotiate with me.¡± Linsu glared with eyes full of fury. The eighteen-year-old youth, whose wings had already hardened, Jin Song flicked off some cigar ash, ¡°Linsu, remember, if one does not seek his own interest, he courts his own destruction.¡± Snuffing out his cigar, Jin Song left. Linsu stood under the streetlight for a long time before taking out his phone: ¡°Old Madam Jiang, it¡¯s me, Linsu.¡± Jin Song¡¯s secretary was waiting on the opposite side of the road, the car parked by the curb. Seeing someone approach, he got out of the car. ¡°Vice President,¡± the secretary opened the car door for him, ¡°Heading back to the company?¡± Jin Song got in the car: ¡°Help me set up a meeting with Mr. Xue.¡± The secretary had started the car and just responded when suddenly, a shadow lurched onto the road, startling him, and he immediately slammed on the brakes. The car jerked to a halt, Jin Song lurching forward. ¡°What kind of driving is this?¡± ¡°Vice President, there¡¯s someone.¡± Following that¡ª The sound of metal scraping on the ground grew closer and louder. As night fell and all else was silent, this sound was especially chilling. Jin Song looked out the car window and saw a vague outline of a person dressed all in black, the hat almost completely covering the face, leaving only two eyes shining. He couldn¡¯t tell if it was a man or a woman, but they were dragging an iron rod, emerging from the darkness. Jin Song¡¯s nerves were on edge, his voice trembling involuntarily, ¡°Who are you?¡± ¡°Come down.¡± The voice was crisp and cold¡ªfemale. ¡°You¡ª¡± She interrupted, ¡°I am Black Impermanence,¡± her voice chillingly emotionless, ¡°I¡¯ve come for your life.¡± Chapter 103: 103: Ah Fangs vest dropped again! Chapter 103: 103: Ah Fang¡¯s vest dropped again! She interrupted, ¡°I am Black Impermanence.¡± Her voice was cold and emotionless, ¡°I¡¯m here to take your life.¡± As she finished speaking, she raised the iron rod in her hand, her eyes unblinking, and smashed down fiercely. ¡°Bang!¡± With a loud crash, the car¡¯s windows shattered into pieces, fragments flying everywhere. Several cuts were made on Jin Song¡¯s right cheek, and he was already scared out of his wits, his body unconsciously shrinking back as he stammered, ¡°You, don¡¯t come closer.¡± This person was unknown and very dangerous. ... Indeed, this dangerous individual was Zhou Xufang, and his strike was effective. Scared now. Good to know fear. She planted the iron rod on the ground and tapped it twice, ¡°Come out.¡± Wearing a cap and an oversized hood over it, her mask was so large that only her eyes were visible. She looked up at the moon obscured by dark clouds, then squatted down and lifted the car. Letting go, with a ¡®Duang¡¯ sound, it shocked the two people inside the car into stupidity, and their courage was shattered. Finally, with an expressionless face, she solemnly recited a phrase, ¡°King Yan commands you to die at midnight.¡± Zhou Xufang had been watching a ghost-hunting TV show recently. S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. She had a good memory and remembered many lines. It was a deep, silent night, not a soul on the street, surrounded by eerie silence, only the cold wind rustling the leaves. Jin Song felt a tingling on his scalp and shouted twice. ¡°Secretary Pang!¡± ¡°Secretary Pang!¡± Secretary Pang was in the driver¡¯s seat and had turned pale with fright. This ¡®Black-clothed Man¡¯ could¡­ really lift a car with bare hands, it was too eerie! Jin Song commanded, ¡°Get down.¡± In the dead of winter, Secretary Pang sweat profusely, ¡°Vice President¡­¡± He moved to the furthest corner of the back seat and shouted, ¡°Get down!¡± After a long mental preparation, Secretary Pang tremblingly opened the door and kept his distance, ¡°The police station is not far from here, don¡¯t, don¡¯t mess around.¡± She wasn¡¯t going to mess around. She said, ¡°Your time is not up yet.¡± She waved her hand dismissively at the secretary, her voice cold and echoing, ¡°Go.¡± Sweat as big as beans rolled down Secretary Pang¡¯s face. He plucked up his courage, walked forward, bit his lip and reached for the iron rod, ¡°Who sent you?¡± Her eyes were pitch black, her whole body covered so as not to expose an inch of skin. Her voice was stiff, ghostly, ¡°King Yan.¡± ¡°¡­¡± How could there possibly be ghosts in this world! Secretary Pang moved forward silently, taking a small step and stealthily reaching out to grab the iron rod with determination in one swift motion. Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t resist and let him take it. Seeing him raise the iron rod, she stood still, tilted her head and asked, ¡°Are you going to hit Lord Black Impermanence?¡± ¡°¡­¡± Secretary Pang¡¯s eyes nearly popped out as he stared at ¡®Lord Black Impermanence¡¯ without hesitation, mustering up his courage, he raised the rod and fiercely smashed down. He used all his strength. Zhou Xufang raised her hand with a light and effortless motion, easily catching the rod. Her voice was also light but stern and rigid, her eyes steady, ¡°This belongs to the underworld, touching it will shorten your life.¡± Secretary Pang was struck dumb by her gaze. The next second, reflexively, the hand holding the iron rod let go. Well, people are still afraid of ghosts. ¡®Black Impermanence¡¯ Zhou Xufang picked up the iron rod without effort, raising and lowering it. ¡°Bang!¡± One end of the rod hit the roof of the car, immediately denting it. Secretary Pang heard the noise and shuddered, about to shrink back when his nape was grabbed. Turning around, he was dumbfounded. ¡®Lord Black Impermanence¡¯ was merely using two fingers to pinch the collar at his nape, effortlessly lifting him up, swaying left and right. Inside the car, Jin Song was already dumbfounded. Secretary Pang¡¯s legs went weak, unable to pedal at all, hanging like a sheet of paper, being carried around. He stuttered, ¡°What¡­ what are you going to do?¡± Zhou Xufang recalled another line from the ghost-hunting TV show and recited it with a deep monotone voice, ¡°How dare you disrespect Lord Black Impermanence.¡± After saying that, she shook him even harder. The strength of normal humans couldn¡¯t possibly be this great¡­ Secretary Pang was both scared and dizzy, nearly vomiting, as his whole body was covered in sweat, shaking with chattering teeth, trembling as he begged for mercy. ¡°Sir, spare my life.¡± ¡°Lord Black Impermanence, spare my life¡­¡± ¡®Lord Black Impermanence¡¯ maintained one expression from beginning to end, that of having no expression, her eyes perhaps the only things moving. She said, ¡°All right.¡± Then she let go. Secretary Pang fell to the ground. ¡®Lord Black Impermanence¡¯ wiped her fingers on herself a couple of times, seeming a bit disgusted, then tapped her iron rod on the ground twice, looking down at the man coldly, ominously saying, ¡°When your destined lifespan is over, I will come to claim your life. You may go.¡± Secretary Pang shakily got up, stumbled a few steps, and then ran off. ¡®Lord Black Impermanence¡¯ quietly curled the corners of her lips. However¡ª As soon as the man, whose ¡®life was not yet over¡¯, ran off, he began to shout loudly, ¡°Someone help! Save me!¡± ¡°Someone!¡± ¡°Quick, someone!¡± Luckily, there weren¡¯t many people on this road at night. Zhou Xufang was a bit angry, grabbing the rod, turning around, and in a flash, she was in front of the man. ¡°Don¡¯t shout.¡± Secretary Pang was completely stunned; this ¡®ghost¡¯ had floated over¡­ His eyes rolled back, and he fainted from fright. Truly faint-hearted. Fearing the passing cars might run him over, Zhou Xufang crouched down, dragged him to the side, then walked back carrying her iron rod. Jin Song took this opportunity to dial the emergency number. His hands trembled continuously, unsure of what he was pressing: ¡°Hello, is this the police station?¡± his speech was unclear from fright, ¡°Someone, someone is trying to kill me, I am at, at¡ª¡± The silhouette in the dark distance had already reached him in the blink of an eye. Jin Song was stupefied. Zhou Xufang tapped the car window with her iron rod: ¡°Hang up the phone, come out.¡± Jin Song¡¯s hand shook and the phone fell: ¡°Don¡¯t, don¡¯t,¡± his hand trembling as though he had Parkinson¡¯s, he pushed open the car door, ¡°don¡¯t kill me.¡± This woman was too bizarre, with such speed and strength, definitely not a normal human. ¡®Non-human¡¯ Zhou Xufang, holding the rod, her pitch-black eyes unmoving said, ¡°It depends on your performance.¡± Jin Song¡¯s legs went weak, leaning on the car, he wiped the sweat from his forehead: ¡°I¡¯ll give you whatever amount you want.¡± She was unmoved, utterly indifferent: ¡°We ghost messengers do not accept bribes.¡± A rod prodded against Jin Song¡¯s lungs, ¡°King Yan asks what wrongful acts you have committed in the past three months?¡± Jin Song toppled over, sitting on the ground, dumbfounded for a long time: ¡°None.¡± Still stubborn. ¡°Lying and withholding information will also be punished.¡± Zhou Xufang leaned forward, the ink in her eyes gradually fading, replaced by a smear of blood-red, slowly emerging, getting darker and deeper. Approaching the color of blood. With her crimson eyes, she stared at the man on the ground: ¡°Don¡¯t you believe I am a ghost messenger?¡± Jin Song opened his mouth, utterly terrified and unable to make a sound. She suddenly reached out, grabbed his neck, leapt onto the rooftop, he hadn¡¯t even reacted when she was holding him, took another leap, jumping between buildings as if on flat ground. Jin Song was completely petrified, his body like a dead corpse, not moving at all, his eyes not even blinking, the wind whooshing by his ears, his pupils reflecting the quickly receding tall buildings, his body swung around, elevated and dropped¡­ This journey was walking through the gates of hell. Finally, Zhou Xufang stopped on the rooftop of a tall building, still holding him, standing at the edge of the skyscraper, her hand stretched outward, his feet dangling in the air, looking down twenty meters below, the vehicles appeared tiny. ¡°Just let me release my grip,¡± Zhou Xufang loosened three fingers, holding with just two, ¡°and you will smash into a mess of flesh.¡± Jin Song snapped out of his trance: ¡°No! Don¡¯t!¡± He stiffened his body, the bandage on his head had long come undone, the blood-stained cloth still wrapped around his neck, his face as if doused with a bucket of water, all sweat, his shirt collar constricting his neck, his face deathly pale, the wound on his head oozing blood, blurring his sight, he didn¡¯t dare to move, fearing she would let go and he¡¯d certainly die beyond recognition from such a height. Zhou Xufang asked, ¡°Confess, or not?¡± Jin Song didn¡¯t dare to hesitate for a second: ¡°I¡¯ll confess!¡± his voice hoarse as he shouted, ¡°I confess!¡± She then carried the man to another location and let go. Jin Song was thrown onto the rooftop, his bones turned soft with fear, and he sat on the ground like a dehydrated fish, gasping for breath, taking a long time to recover. ¡°Spill it fast.¡± Jiang Zhi was still waiting for her at the hospital, and Zhou Xufang had no patience left. Jin Song instinctively shrank back and began tremblingly, ¡°The month before last, I injured someone, whipped them harshly with a belt.¡± Zhou Xufang stared at him coldly, ¡°What else?¡± Jin Song dared not prevaricate, his eyes already bloodshot, and he wiped the blood off his forehead with a shaking hand, ¡°I kidnapped the Jiang Family¡¯s youngest son.¡± Her tone suddenly rose, ¡°Why did you kidnap him?¡± Jin Song choked on his words. She suddenly leaned in close, her blood-red eyes staring him down, repeated, ¡°Why did you kidnap him?¡± Jin Song¡¯s shoulders shivered with fear, hitting the wall of the rooftop, ¡°He replaced the female lead in the movie, causing me a great loss.¡± He swallowed hard, his voice trembling terribly, ¡°I wanted to toy with him, and the Jiang Family wanted me to test him, see if he was faking his illness.¡± The Jiang Family¡­ Zhou Xufang immediately asked, ¡°Which member of the Jiang Family?¡± ¡°Jiang Fuli.¡± I wonder if Jiang Zhi knows? He¡¯s so clever, he must have found out too, so why didn¡¯t he beat up that wicked woman? Could he beat her up? She wanted to beat her up. Zhou Xufang thought for a while, many things she couldn¡¯t understand, glanced at Jin Song with red eyes, ¡°What else?¡± Jin Song, terrified, dared not hide anything, ¡°Last month, I had someone hit him with a car.¡± He shivered as he explained, ¡°But it was unsuccessful.¡± Hearing this, Zhou Xufang¡¯s eyes turned completely cold, as Shuangjiang¡¯s investigation was indeed correct. ¡°Who drove the car?¡± Jin Song¡¯s lips turned purple, cold sweat rolled into the cuts on his face from the car glass, numbing the pain, ¡°Xiao Linsu.¡± It all matched up. Zhou Xufang said, ¡°Continue.¡± ¡°Last week, I had someone kidnap Cheng Lianzhou¡¯s wife and child, forcing him to give me his shares.¡± Cheng Lianzhou was an old shareholder of Jin Family. Jin Song was frozen by the cold wind, unable to move at all, only instinctively shrank back, ¡°The day before yesterday, I manipulated a sixteen-year-old boy into signing with me,¡± he paused, ¡°to serve me in the future.¡± This beast! Zhou Xufang cursed him inwardly, ¡°Anything else?¡± ¡°No, no more.¡± ¡°Really nothing else?¡± Jin Song nodded desperately, ¡°Nothing!¡± Zhou Xufang was finally satisfied, reached into her pocket, turned off the recorder, leaned over, and reached out. Jin Song hastily backed away, ¡°Don¡¯t kill me!¡± Humph, beast! Zhou Xufang picked him up with one hand, walked to the edge of the rooftop, and leaped down. ¡°Ah ah ah ah ah¡ª¡± The scream, like ghosts wailing and wolves howling. After landing, Zhou Xufang threw the man to the ground, wiped her hands on her pants, and said, ¡°King Yan has ordered me to spare you for now. If you commit evil again, I will come for your life.¡± Jin Song was petrified with fear, lying motionless on the ground, his crotch soaked. Zhou Xufang kicked him with the tip of her shoe, her tone serious and stern, ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to thank Lord Black Impermanence?¡± She had played a bit player for over a year, and she thought her acting was quite average. But, she felt she was very suited to play a female ghost. Jin Song buried his head, hands clenched at his sides, ¡°Thank¡­ Lord Black Impermanence.¡± How could there be real ghosts in the world. Only those who play tricks and deceive. He clenched his teeth, still shaking, terrified, angry, and outraged. ¡°You object?¡± Zhou Xufang kicked his car, it seems not to use much force, yet the hood caved in. Jin Song trembled even more violently; his legs were too weak to stand, so he crawled backward. Zhou Xufang stepped on his sleeve, leaned over with eyes as red as if they were melting fresh blood inside, and pointed a finger at the back of Jin Song¡¯s head, ¡°In the future, will you dare to do evil again?¡± Jin Song stuttered nervously, ¡°No, I dare not.¡± ¡°Remember what you said today.¡± After she spoke, she raised her hand and knocked him out. Then, clapping her hands and picking up her iron rod, Shuangjiang could only temporarily control the surveillance; it wasn¡¯t suitable for her to stay long. She was about to leave when she heard the sound of a car door opening. Someone was there! Zhou Xufang pulled her hat down. The voice came from behind, ¡°Lord Black Impermanence.¡± That voice¡­ She only needed to hear it once to know who it was. He was five meters away, his words slow and deliberate, ¡°Jiang Family¡¯s youngest son, Jiang Zhi.¡± He walked forward leisurely, ¡°Can you check for me how much longer I have to live?¡± He heard everything! His car was parked five meters away, the night wind was loud and interfering with her hearing; she couldn¡¯t hear the car sound from the rooftop. When had he come? How long had he been here? What had he heard? The more Zhou Xufang thought, the more annoyed she became; she didn¡¯t turn around but hid behind the car. Oh, she nonchalantly replied in a disguised voice, like a ghost, ¡°You have a long life ahead, you¡¯ll live to a ripe old age.¡± Jiang Zhi chuckled softly, his steps halting. Zhou Xufang stood behind the car, afraid he saw her ¡®misdeeds.¡¯ She crouched down, secretly grabbed Jin Song¡¯s leg, and dragged him to the back. Jiang Zhi just stood still, watching her ¡®actions.¡¯ ¡°Did you see?¡± Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t know how much he had seen. Wrapped in a coat, Jiang Zhi coughed in the wind-blown mess of his hair. Under the light, the dim, foggy blue showed a hint of tenderness apart from its flamboyance, ¡°What?¡± Zhou Xufang pushed the car, and it moved. Her strength was truly extraordinary. Jiang Zhi said, ¡°I saw.¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you scared?¡± The part where she jumped onto the rooftop and scurried around like a monkey, he probably didn¡¯t see; she could at least be sure that he came after she had reached the rooftop; otherwise, with her hearing, it was impossible not to hear. So, Jiang Zhi only saw her using brute force. No, there was also her crude violence, posing and feigning, and beating people. Zhou Xufang was so annoyed; she should have been more ladylike, like the queen in the TV dramas who spoke with a pinched voice and twisted her fingers¡­ The wind carried Jiang Zhi¡¯s voice over, ¡°Afraid of what? Afraid that Lord Black Impermanence will come for my life?¡± Zhou Xufang: ¡°¡­¡± He laughed, his eyes twinkling with stars and lamp light, from a distance, a beautiful figure in the painting, the wind fluttering his coattails, every scene was beautifully exquisite. ¡°So, I¡¯ve done so many terrible things, why haven¡¯t you come for me yet?¡± He drawled with a smile before calling out again, ¡°Lord Black Impermanence.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡®Lord Black Impermanence¡¯ was a bit dazed, a bit stunned, a bit numb, a bit overwhelmed. Suddenly, Jiang Zhi tentatively called her, ¡°Zhou Xufang?¡± ¡®Lord Black Impermanence¡¯ pinched a deep and muffled voice, ¡°I am not Zhou Xufang.¡± Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t argue and switched, ¡°Fine, Lord Black Impermanence,¡± his tone slightly heavy and resounding, ¡°turn around.¡± Silence followed, only the sound of the wind. After a long time, she finally turned around. ¡°You only saw the surface.¡± Her eyes had lost their red tint, from a distance, through the light she looked at his ink-smeared eyes, ¡°But I am a hundred times, a thousand times more dangerous than what you saw.¡± She was clad entirely in black, enveloped tightly. She glanced at Jiang Zhi once and dared not meet his gaze again; without waiting for him to come closer, she placed the recording pen on the car, ¡°I took your grandmother¡¯s employment fee, this is all I should do.¡± Having said that, she turned and ran into the night. Jiang Zhi watched the direction in which her figure disappeared, kicked a stone on the ground, ¡°Why hide? I¡¯m not going to eat you.¡± Chapter 104: 104: Jiang Zhi elopes with Fang Bao to get married and have children. Chapter 104: 104: Jiang Zhi elopes with Fang Bao to get married and have children. The moon was still hidden behind the dark clouds, gusts of cold wind chilling to the bone. The burly figure hidden in the driver¡¯s seat poked his head out now, looking cautiously around. ¡°Boss.¡± Jiang Zhi continued to stare off into the distance, ignoring him. Ah Wan felt a bit spooked, hugging herself tightly while clutching the steering wheel and extending her head a bit further to ask her employer, ¡°Do you believe in ghosts?¡± Jiang Zhi, standing in the wind, coughed, ¡°I don¡¯t.¡± Ah Wan felt even colder, hugging herself tighter, ¡°I didn¡¯t either.¡± She glanced at Jin Song¡¯s car in the rearview mirror, ¡°Just at that moment, I started to believe.¡± ... Jiang Zhi couldn¡¯t be bothered to engage in this nonsense with him. Ah Wan¡¯s spooky story was becoming more convincing as he spoke; pinching two fingers together, he mimed a flying motion and added a sound effect, ¡°Whoosh¡ª¡± He dragged the ¡®whoosh¡¯ out especially long, ¡°with that sound, a person just appeared, as if falling from the sky¡ªI didn¡¯t even see clearly where she drilled out from with a person in tow.¡± He got himself worked up, finding it unbelievable. He speculated, ¡°Could she have emerged from the ground?¡± He grew more certain, ¡°Boss, she might really be Lord Black Impermanence.¡± Jiang Zhi coldly threw two words at him, ¡°Idiot.¡± ¡°¡­¡± You¡¯re the idiot! ¡°Boss,¡± He really shouldn¡¯t speak when the employer is in a bad mood, but he couldn¡¯t help it, ¡°Is Lord Black Impermanence truly that errand runner?¡± The employer treated him as an idiot, not answering any of his questions. It didn¡¯t matter. He could deduce it himself using his sharp wits, ¡°Then she definitely isn¡¯t Miss Zhou, who does the film application. Miss Zhou isn¡¯t that violent; Miss Zhou is gentle, kind, pure, adorable, and of noble character¡ª¡± Jiang Zhi got into the back seat and slammed the car door shut, ¡°Shut up and drive.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Ah Wan closed his mouth for all of about fifteen seconds. ¡°Eh, where did Third Young Master go?¡± Third Young Master left too quickly, missing that terrifying scene, otherwise, Ah Wan could ask if he believed in ghosts, ¡°Did he go to the police station already? That was fast indeed, truly a man swift as the wind¡ª¡± ¡°Annoying.¡± ¡°¡­ then I¡¯ll stop talking.¡± Outside the police station, the lights were on, and a person stood straight, smoking a cigarette. Xue Bingxue walked over from the distant streetlight. ¡°Mr. Xiao.¡± Xiao Linsu turned around, saw him approaching, and then put out his cigarette. The air was thick with the scent of tobacco; nearby, a trash can was filled with many cigarette butts. Xue Bingxue glanced at it, then withdrew his gaze, ¡°Wei¡¯er¡¯s mother is still on the way, shall we talk in the meantime?¡± Xiao Linsu tossed his extinguished cigarette into the trash can, ¡°Talk about what?¡± Xue Bingxue cut to the chase, ¡°About Wei¡¯er.¡± Twenty minutes later, Old Lady Jiang also made her way to the police station. Jiang Wei¡¯er wasn¡¯t released; she was detained. It was clear that Old Lady Jiang meant that troubles were brewing; she wanted Wei¡¯er to stay inside as a cautionary measure, to also calm down and reflect. Jiang Zhi made a trip to the Xue Family and by the time he got back to the hospital, it was already nine o¡¯clock. He could see from a distance that there was a dark figure squatting at the hospital entrance, head drooping while playing with the pebbles on the ground. It was Lord Black Impermanence. Jiang Zhi got out of the car and walked over, standing and looking down at the figure, ¡°What are you squatting here for?¡± She forced a not-very-natural smile, ¡°Waiting for you.¡± Nice words to say. This girl wasn¡¯t good at flattering, yet sometimes her dull and dazed words hit right in the heart. Jiang Zhi squatted down, took her hand, and pulled her up. She was docile at that moment, not withdrawing her hand but letting him lead her away instead. She asked, ¡°Aren¡¯t we going back to the ward?¡± Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t answer her, ¡°Lin Wanwan, no need to follow any longer.¡± Ah Wan, who was closely trailing behind, ¡°¡­ Oh.¡± He always felt his employer was about to do something bad with Miss Zhou; it was a pity, really. Now out of earshot, he couldn¡¯t constantly remind or urge his employer. All he could do was pray to the heavens, hoping his employer would be decent. Jiang Zhi led her away to the park behind the hospital, and because it was night, there was no one else in the park, only the sound of the wind rustling through the leaves. The nighttime temperature was very low, a thin layer of ice had formed over the pond, and the light from the streetlamps fell upon it, casting a halo. ¡°Why come here?¡± Jiang Zhi placed his hands on her shoulders, making her sit on a wooden chair, ¡°I have something to tell you.¡± Zhou Xufang looked up at him, ¡°Jiang Zhi¡ª¡± Jiang Zhi suddenly bent down, calling out her name, ¡°You know, I really like you.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Zhou Xufang was baffled by this sudden confession; she had thought he was going to interrogate her. ¡°As for how much,¡± he furrowed his beautiful brows, pondering for a moment, ¡°I even doubt if I¡¯m sick, a bit inseparable from you.¡± It was probably more than just a bit. Jiang Zhi sat down next to her, took her hand, and played with it in his, sounding quite casual, as if he was resigned to his fate, ¡°If nothing unexpected happens, we will get married in the future, and you will become my wife.¡± Married¡­ Wife¡­ Zhou Xufang¡¯s eyelashes fluttered in shock. He continued in the same undisturbed tone, speaking slowly, ¡°There won¡¯t be any accidents. If you¡¯re willing, it¡¯ll all come naturally. If you¡¯re not, I¡¯ll be persistent.¡± ¡°We won¡¯t have kids for now, I¡¯m sterile, but if you want, I can get treated, and we can have as many as you like; I can afford to support them.¡± A blush started to creep onto Zhou Xufang¡¯s face. ¡°It¡¯s fine if you¡¯re afraid of people, I can move out with you. Anywhere is fine, those people from the Jiang family, you can see them if you want or I can hide you from them.¡± He also said, ¡°You like money, I can give it all to you, however much you want I can earn for you.¡± His tone was neither light nor heavy, as if he was talking about the most ordinary things. But to Zhou Xufang¡¯s ears, it sounded like a storm surge. He leaned against the back of the chair, spreading one hand behind her, entwining a little tuft of her hair around his finger, ¡°I will live for a long time, I can¡¯t give you a guarantee now, but don¡¯t worry, misfortunes endure for a thousand years, someone as bad as me will surely outlive you.¡± Her eyes stung, and she sniffled. By her ear, Jiang Zhi¡¯s voice was especially tender, devoid of his usual arrogance, ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter that you¡¯re different from others, I¡¯m not a good person either, I¡¯ve done so many bad things, I¡¯ve grown bold. You can¡¯t scare me.¡± ¡°Zhou Xufang,¡± She tilted her head, looking at him seriously, Jiang Zhi reached out, cupping her head, stroking it gently, ¡°Think about it carefully. This Jiang Zhi, do you want him or not?¡± After asking, he didn¡¯t wait for her answer. He simply laid down all his words, tearing open his thoughts and attitude and laying them bare before her. ¡°If you don¡¯t want me,¡± he pressed harder, ruffling her hair into a mess before letting go, ¡°I¡¯ll have to resort to tricks on you.¡± Force and might, he could play that game too. But with her, he preferred to persuade and to coax. He had never liked someone this much, nor had he ever said such cheesy things. He was resigned to falling for her. He was getting impatient, afraid ¡®Lord Black Impermanence¡¯ would run away again. ¡°I am a bit anxious now; I can¡¯t take it slow.¡± His face was also very red, even his neck blushed with a touch of spring, his beautiful eyes brimming with emotion, yet he pushed forward recklessly. ¡°We can¡¯t be just good friends, we have to be lovers.¡± He lowered his head, and kissed her trembling eyelid, ¡°Because I like you too much.¡± Zhou Xufang¡¯s face turned into a bright red Fuji apple. After Jiang Zhi finished speaking, he stood up, tilting her drooping head back up, ¡°I won¡¯t give you much time to think. If you agree to be with me, come kiss me. I won¡¯t wait too long. If you don¡¯t come, I¡¯ll come to get you.¡± He poked her face with his finger, ¡°Do you understand?¡± Zhou Xufang nodded slowly. His home¡¯s slow one probably needed some time to react. Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t press her further, lifting her up and dusting off the snowflakes that had just settled on her shoulder. ¡°It¡¯s snowing.¡± Tiny snowflakes, blown by the wind, drifted down. ¡°Oh.¡± Zhou Xufang was still burning up, her mind full of Jiang Zhi¡¯s words, echoing over and over, bombarding her until she felt her head was about to explode with fireworks. Jiang Zhi put the hood of her sweatshirt on her head, tightening it so the wind wouldn¡¯t blow inside her collar, ¡°Are you cold?¡± ¡°Not cold.¡± She was so hot. She felt as if her blood was boiling. Jiang Zhi was very pleased with the tumultuous look in her eyes, smiling with a lifted corner of his mouth, ¡°I¡¯m cold.¡± After saying that, he extended his hand, ¡°Hold it, warm me up.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Still in a whirlwind of emotions, Zhou Xufang dumbly wrapped her hands around Jiang Zhi¡¯s hand, holding his with her two little hands in an extremely awkward and stiff ¡¯embrace¡¯. Ah Wan saw that and became more convinced of her own thought, Miss Zhou¡¯s employer must not be a human. Returning to the sickroom, Zhou Xufang dared not look at Jiang Zhi anymore, a single glance would make her eyes moist and her ears turn red, like¡­ like she had taken a stimulant. Moreover, her footsteps seemed a bit floaty, giving Jiang Zhi the illusion that she might leap into the sky at any moment and stand shoulder to shoulder with the moon. Seeing her dazed, Jiang Zhi helped her take off her coat and hang it on the coat rack, ¡°Why is your face still so red?¡± Zhou Xufang covered her face, ¡°I might have a fever.¡± And the symptoms were quite severe. She really wanted to jump up and down, to roll around and splash in the sea, for some reason, she was so excited, so boiling, so full of hot blood, so restless¡­ Jiang Zhi asked her to sit down, touched her forehead, and sure enough, she had a high fever again. ¡°Lin Wanwan, go call the doctor over.¡± Ah Wan: ¡°Oh.¡± Afraid that she would catch cold, Jiang Zhi turned up the air conditioning a few degrees and put her coat back on her, ¡°Why do you always get fevers?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± She pushed the clothes away, ¡°Don¡¯t wear it, so hot.¡± ¡°Just bear with it for a moment, you¡¯ll catch cold without it.¡± Jiang Zhi insisted on dressing her and zipped up all the way, ¡°Did it happen like this before?¡± Zhou Xufang shook her head. Her health used to be very good, and she hardly ever got sick, Jiang Zhi asked again, ¡°When did it start then?¡± She pondered for a moment. Oh, it started from the first time he kissed the palm of her hand. She was too embarrassed to say it and lowered her head to secretly exhale a big breath, as if it didn¡¯t feel so hot anymore, then she exhaled another big breath, with her tongue out like she was breathing, like a¡­ dog. ¡°Do you often get fevers when I¡¯m not here?¡± Zhou Xufang felt a bit dizzy and blurted out, ¡°No, it only happens when you¡¯re here.¡± After saying that she felt it wasn¡¯t quite right, she explained, ¡°I¡¯m not blaming you.¡± Jiang Zhi did not press further, looking at the little girl¡¯s rosy cheeks, he seemed to be thinking about something. ¡°Boss, the doctor is here.¡± Ah Wan brought in a male doctor in his thirties. Although Jiang Zhi was not pleased, he didn¡¯t say anything, ¡°Have a look at her.¡± The male doctor took a thermometer and asked Zhou Xufang to put it inside her clothes. Zhou Xufang hesitated and did not move, ¡°Can we not take my temperature?¡± Her temperature was not the same as normal people, afraid that it might frighten someone. ¡°Ah?¡± Without taking the temperature, how to proceed? The male doctor thought for a moment, reached out to touch the patient¡¯s forehead to make a rough estimate, but his hand hadn¡¯t even reached halfway¡ª ¡°Where are you touching?¡± This voice was eerie and weird, chilling. The male doctor shuddered, withdrew his hand, and stuttered, ¡°T-t-take the temperature.¡± In front of him, touching his person, was he considered dead? Jiang Zhi glared coldly, stood up, and blocked Zhou Xufang firmly behind him, completely disregarding the demeanor and pride of a family scion, ferociously protective like a mother wolf guarding her cubs, ¡°Back off, stay away from her.¡± Doctor: ¡°¡­¡± Ah Wan: ¡°¡­¡± Crazy! ¡®Crazy¡¯ Jiang Zhi even put Zhou Xufang¡¯s hat on, not willing to let anyone catch a glimpse of her, he squatted down and touched her forehead. Hmm? He touched her forehead again, ¡°You don¡¯t seem to have a fever anymore.¡± He looked back, ¡°Both of you, get out.¡± Doctor: ¡°¡­¡± Ah Wan: ¡°¡­¡± Crazy! Ah Wan led the doctor out again, slamming the door shut with great force, then apologetically smiled at the doctor, pointed to the sickroom, pointed to his own head, and shook his head. The doctor instantly understood, giving him a sympathetic look. In the end¡ª The doctor left, and Ah Wan pressed her ear against the door. Jiang Zhi crouched in front of Zhou Xufang, carefully examining her face. He reached out a finger and poked a dimple into her cheek: ¡°What is this body made of?¡± Her face wasn¡¯t very fleshy, but it was soft, creating a small dimple with every poke, turning a bunch of them bright red. Zhou Xufang felt embarrassed and dodged backward, replying, ¡°Blood and flesh.¡± After pausing, she added seriously, ¡°And bones too.¡± Jiang Zhi laughed, ¡°I want to try it.¡± ¡°Try what?¡± He leaned in and pecked her on the left cheek. She froze. Then he pecked the right cheek as well. Her face flushed red, followed by her ears, her neck¡­ even the back of her hands turned red. Her whole body heated up; the temperature that just went down surged back. She was about to stick out her tongue and pant like a dog when a refreshingly cool hand covered her head. ¡°I guessed right, your temperature isn¡¯t rising because of a fever, it¡¯s because of my kisses.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At two in the morning, after Jiang Zhi fell asleep. Zhou Xufang tiptoed stealthily out of the sickroom, went outside, found a spot without people or surveillance, and then began to jump up and down. She wanted to bounce off to the moon and roll around. Occasionally at night, passersby would witness this. Suddenly, a child exclaimed: ¡°Mom, Mom, there¡¯s an alien!¡± The young woman smiled and asked, ¡°Where?¡± The child looked up at the sky: ¡°It jumped to the moon.¡± In the sky, a blob of darkness flitted from east to west and then from west back to east¡­ After numerous repetitions, it plunged into a pond¡­ The next day, light snow fell. With Winter Solstice approaching, the cold air nipped sharply. An attendant at Fusheng Inn led the way ahead: ¡°Third Young Master, this way please.¡± Xue Bingxue entered a private room in Bamboo Garden. Inside, Jin Song had been waiting, and seeing his guest arrive, stood up: ¡°Would Third Young Master like tea or wine?¡± He still had bandages wrapped around his head and several cuts on his face. Xue Bingxue took a seat: ¡°Tea,¡± scrutinizing the time. Thanks to his naturally babyish face, his age wasn¡¯t apparent, and even with a stern expression, he seemed harmless, ¡°I have patients waiting, so I can only spare ten minutes.¡± Jin Song personally poured him a cup of tea; his eyes were surrounded by dark circles, and he looked haggard: ¡°Then I¡¯ll get straight to the point.¡± He approached the topic directly, ¡°I heard that Third Young Master and Fifth Miss of the Jiang Family share a childhood friendship.¡± Xue Bingxue, aware of why he was invited today, simply said, ¡°Speak your terms.¡± Jin Song set down the teapot: ¡°The Xue Family has an investment case that I am very interested in.¡± This investment case had been specially authorized to Xue Bingxue by Old Sir Xue; it was a high-investment, key project. The old man showed his partiality by intentionally handing the lucrative opportunity to his beloved youngest son, aiming to empower him to gain influence and authority. Not only Jin Song but also his older brother Jin Lei was very interested in this project and had already contacted Xue Bingxue in private. ¡°I wonder if Third Young Master is interested in cooperation?¡± Xue Bingxue picked up his teacup, took a sip, and stated, ¡°Get her out as soon as possible.¡± Jin Song raised his cup, ¡°Pleasure doing business.¡± Jiang Wei¡¯er was released that afternoon. Jin Song withdrew his lawsuit, and in less than half an hour, rumors began to circulate that the new product development of the Xue Family would cooperate with Tang Heng. As everyone knew, the Jiang and Xue families were old friends. Third Young Master Xue¡¯s decision was most likely also the intent of Old Lady Jiang, hence rumors started to spread in the circles that the vendetta between Old Lady Jiang and the Jin brothers had thawed. When Jiang Wei¡¯er arrived at the old mansion, Old Lady Jiang had just awoken from her nap and was being assisted by servants in washing up. Charcoal burned in the room, crackling softly. Old Lady Jiang took a mouthful of warm water to rinse her mouth, spitting it into a porcelain cup, and glanced over: ¡°You¡¯ve come.¡± Jiang Wei¡¯er had just returned from the police station, looking disheveled. ¡°Having spent a day inside, have you sobered up yet?¡± Old Lady Jiang inquired. Her eyes were bloodshot, her complexion pale, and she looked unwell: ¡°Apart from breaking up, I¡¯ll do whatever you want.¡± You¡¯re still muddled,¡± Old Lady Jiang washed her hands and dried them, ¡°If that¡¯s the case, there¡¯s nothing more to say. From now on, you don¡¯t need to enter the Jiang¡¯s doors ever again. I¡¯ll give you the video of Xiao Linsu. As a token of motherly affection, let this be my final gesture of dignity for you.¡± Jiang Wei¡¯er immediately knelt down, eyes reddening, ¡°Mother¡ª¡± ¡°No need to call me mother anymore. I¡¯m not worthy to be a mother to someone who resents the matchmaker. From today onwards, you and the Jiang Family have no relationship.¡± After a moment¡¯s pause, Old Lady Jiang said in a stern voice, ¡°Ah Gui, show the guest out.¡± Chapter 105: 105: Fang Bao protects her husband, abusing Jiang Fuli Chapter 105: 105: Fang Bao protects her husband, abusing Jiang Fuli Boom! After the flash of lightning and the roar of thunder, the downpour began. ¡°Old Madam,¡± Gui Family looked at the deluge outside, ¡°Fifth Miss is still kneeling out there.¡± Old Lady Jiang was lying on her side on the couch, pinching the bridge of her nose, ¡°Let her kneel. Without a taste of hardship, she will never come to her senses.¡± Gui Family was not at ease and glanced outside several times, ¡°Mr. Xiao has also arrived.¡± After a moment¡¯s thought, she still stepped forward to persuade, ¡°Old Madam, why not let them¡ª¡± Her words were cut off. ... ¡°Don¡¯t plead for that girl.¡± Old Lady Jiang fell silent for a while, then heaved a long sigh, ¡°That child is not bad, it¡¯s just a pity, her lot in life is poor, and she will not have peace for the rest of her days.¡± Jiang Wei¡¯er had been kneeling for five hours, the cold seeping into her bones, her body couldn¡¯t take it, and she fainted. When she woke up again, she was in the hospital. There was no one in the hospital room, it was very quiet. Outside, it had already grown dark and the lights were off, leaving the room dim and shadowy. She lay with her eyes open, took a while to recover, then sat up and called out, ¡°Linsu.¡± ¡°Linsu.¡± No one answered her. She put on a piece of clothing, got out of bed, and walked towards the door pushing her IV stand. The room was dark, with only the light from the corridor filtering in. As she got closer, she could hear people talking in the corridor outside; the sound was indistinct and hard to make out. Taking a few more steps towards the door, she finally recognized the voice as Lin Shuang¡¯s. ¡°Did you get the video?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°That¡¯s good.¡± Lin Shuang asked, ¡°When are you going to break up with her?¡± After that, there was a long silence. Xiao Linsu¡¯s originally weak voice laced with a few strands of rage, ¡°It¡¯s none of your business.¡± ¡°Weren¡¯t we in agreement? Once you get the video, you¡¯d break it off cleanly with her. Linsu, have you grown attached to her?¡± Jiang Wei¡¯er had known Lin Shuang for two years. Lin Shuang was decisive and firm in her actions, always swift like the wind in everything she did, indifferent towards everyone. Jiang Wei¡¯er had never heard her speak with such a tone, vulnerable, pleading, and filled with anguish. She even choked up, ¡°You can¡¯t bear to lay a finger on her, yet you didn¡¯t hesitate to burn me with cigarette butts.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t compare yourself to her.¡± Xiao Linsu was a singer by origin, naturally blessed with a gentle voice. However, the words he spoke were invisibly hurtful. ¡°That¡¯s true, what am I compared to her? She is the Fifth Miss of the Jiang Family, a lady favored by the heavens. Without the conveniences provided by her Jiang Family, we would never have been able to flourish under Jin Song¡¯s watchful eye.¡± Lin Shuang said with a bitter laugh, ¡°You knew she was from the Jiang Family from the start, from the beginning, I never measured up to her in your heart.¡± ¡°Enough.¡± He lowered his voice, tossing the words at her face one by one, ¡°Wasn¡¯t this all your own choice? Have I ever coerced you?¡± Lin Shuang found herself at a loss for words. Click¡ª The door was pushed open, and Xiao Linsu turned his head to see Jiang Wei¡¯er standing at the entrance of the hospital room. She stood leaning against the door, unsteady, ¡°What are you talking about? I don¡¯t understand.¡± Xiao Linsu¡¯s first reaction was to avert his gaze, and then he reached out to pull her towards him. ¡°Wei¡¯er.¡± Jiang Wei¡¯er stepped back, knocking over the IV stand. The needle was torn from her flesh, and droplets of blood beaded on the back of her hand. She paid it no mind, staring at Xiao Linsu, ¡°You knew who I was from the start, you approached me just to get rid of Jin Song.¡± She paused, a lump in her throat, ¡°Is that what you meant by your conversation just now?¡± He remained silent. Jiang Wei¡¯er staggered a few steps, barely able to stand, her body trembling, her voice quivering, ¡°Fine, you don¡¯t have to answer that. Just answer me one question, the burn on Lin Shuang¡¯s hand, who did it?¡± She had seen the burn scars from cigarette butts on Lin Shuang¡¯s arm. He was still silent. Jiang Wei¡¯er¡¯s eyes were bloodshot as she yelled, ¡°Xiao Linsu!¡± It was at that moment that footsteps approached. Four men, the leader in his thirties with a respectable appearance, came over from the other end of the hallway, ¡°Are you Xiao Linsu?¡± ¡°I am.¡± The man pulled out a badge from his pocket, ¡°I¡¯m Lin Qian from the Criminal Investigation Squad. You¡¯re suspected of being involved in an intentional murder case, and we¡¯re arresting you on an emergency basis. You have the right to remain silent, but anything you say can and will be used in a court of law. Please come with us.¡± As one wave subsided, another arose. The calamity arrived without warning. Jiang Wei¡¯er even doubted that she was hearing things. ¡°Attempted murder,¡± she looked at Xiao Linsu and asked, ¡°who is the victim?¡± Xiao Linsu remained silent the whole time. Lin Qian said, ¡°He hit someone with a car, the victim was the Jiang Family¡¯s youngest son, Jiang Zhi.¡± He added, ¡°It¡¯s an attempted murder, which constitutes a crime.¡± Attempted murder¡­ Jiang Zhi¡­ Jiang Wei¡¯er felt as if all her strength had been drained, and she collapsed backward. ¡°Wei¡¯er!¡± It was Xiao Linsu, calling out her name with a voice hoarse from exertion. Jiang Wei¡¯er had slept for an entire day and had a very long dream. In the dream were Xiao Linsu at eighteen, Xiao Linsu at twenty-eight, her mother, Jin Song in the video wielding a whip, and also Xue Bingxue holding her hand, begging her not to leave. ¡°Wei¡¯er.¡± ¡°Wei¡¯er.¡± Someone was calling her. Jiang Wei¡¯er opened her eyes to blinding lights; she squinted and looked at the person by the bed. ¡°Bingxue.¡± She had had a fever all night, and her voice was completely hoarse. Xue Bingxue got up from the chair and squatted in front of her. ¡°Hm?¡± He had watched over her all night and had barely closed his eyes; his eyes were red with blood vessels. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± He didn¡¯t hear her clearly and leaned in closer, ¡°What?¡± She looked at the ceiling and murmured to herself, ¡°Where did I go wrong¡­¡± Where did she go wrong? Why had things turned out so absurdly? ¡°You did nothing wrong,¡± Xue Bingxue said in her ear, ¡°you¡¯ve done nothing wrong at all.¡± She had simply fallen for someone with all her heart. ¡°I¡¯ll sleep a little more¡­¡± She closed her eyes again, drifting in and out of consciousness. Outside the room, the rain continued to fall. In the evening, Old Madam Jiang had come by and stood outside the hospital room without entering; after a while, she walked away. Jiang Wei¡¯er drifted in and out of consciousness for several days. The high fever would not subside, and she was mostly delirious, having lost a lot of weight. During these days, a lot of things had happened. Mr. Xue and Jin Song had fallen out, with Mr. Xue withdrawing his investment from Tang Heng. Jin Family¡¯s stock price plummeted, and using this as justification, Jin Lei forcefully stripped Jin Song of all his voting rights in the board of directors. The next day, Jin Song was involved in criminal cases and was urgently arrested by the police. When the police came to arrest him, Jin Family¡¯s corporate penthouse was holding a shareholders¡¯ meeting. Jin Song, having been stripped of his powers, had no right to participate. He was causing a scene outside the conference room, and when the doors opened, he realized that Xue Bingxue was also inside, sitting in the top seat, with Jin Lei next to him. Jin Song had an epiphany. He had unwittingly led a wolf into his house. ¡°Xue Bingxue, are you playing me?¡± Xue Bingxue didn¡¯t look like a businessman at all, dressed in a suit, elegant like a gentleman without any aggression: ¡°Yes,¡± he said, ¡°Jiang Zhi is my childhood friend, and Jiang Wei¡¯er is the girl I like. You targeted both of them, so I played you.¡± Everyone said that Mr. Xue was an upright gentleman. Turns out, even upright gentlemen can resort to unscrupulous tactics. Jin Song cursed loudly and lunged forward, wishing he could tear Xue Bingxue apart to vent his anger. The two officers who were restraining him pulled him back, pressing down hard: ¡°Keep it up, and we¡¯ll charge you with assaulting a police officer.¡± He was dragged away, still struggling and cursing for a long time before finally quieting down. The internal strife within Jin Family could now be considered concluded. Jin Song was suspected of several criminal offenses and, once imprisoned, it would not be so easy for him to get out. From then on, Jin Family¡¯s Tang Heng would be dominated by Jin Lei alone. Jin Lei was naturally pleased with the outcome, his mood blooming with joy. He turned around and bowed to Xue Bingxue, ¡°Thank you, Mr. Xue, for your assistance.¡± Xue Bingxue had the face of a child, his expression harmless: ¡°I did not assist you. From now on, our Xue Family will be taking control of Jin Family.¡± Jin Lei was shocked! This too was a wolf that devoured people without spitting out the bones! In the afternoon, Qiao Nanchu came to the hospital; he looked at Jiang Zhi and saw that his complexion was not bad. ¡°Why haven¡¯t you been discharged yet?¡± Jiang Zhi covered his mouth and coughed twice, convincingly, ¡°Seriously ill.¡± Qiao Nanchu threw a fruit peel at him, ¡°Stop faking.¡± He tossed half a tangerine into his mouth and got to the point, ¡°I¡¯ve already given the recording to Mr. Cheng.¡± ¡°Uh-huh.¡± ¡°With the recording and witness testimony, you should be looking at a sentence of maybe ten or twenty years.¡± Qiao Nanchu asked him, ¡°How did you get that recording?¡± Jiang Zhi lay on one arm, looking the picture of sickness, too weak to even move, and said breathily, ¡°Picked it up on the street.¡± This guy couldn¡¯t lie to save his life. Qiao Nanchu didn¡¯t press him for details, peeled another tangerine, stretched out his legs, moved his neck around, and casually said, ¡°Who¡¯s got the clout to make a beast like Jin Song come clean?¡± Jiang Zhi continued the banter, ¡°Could be a Fairy.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Qiao Nanchu choked, laughed, and cursed him for being insane. His phone rang. Qiao Nanchu threw the tangerine peel on the table and picked up. He listened for just over a minute, then hung up, ¡°Someone provided an alibi for Jiang Xiaolin, clearing him from suspicion for the time being.¡± Jiang Zhi lifted his eyelids, ¡°Who?¡± ¡°The Luo Family, Tang Xiang.¡± The chair was too small for comfort, so Qiao Nanchu stood up, kicked the chair away, ¡°Four suspects, all now have alibis. We¡¯ll have to start by investigating who gave false testimony.¡± In the end, whoever pushed Jiang Zhi to the brink wasn¡¯t from the Jiang Family, it was someone from the Luo Family. ¡°What about that watch?¡± Qiao Nanchu rubbed his chin, chuckled, ¡°With your drawing skills, looking for clues is like finding a needle in a haystack.¡± Jiang Zhi directly pelted him with a fruit peel, telling him to get lost. Qiao Nanchu laughed and left with a cigarette in his mouth. At the end of the hospital corridor, someone stood against the light making a call; the light from the window was blocked, casting a slender shadow on the floor. ¡°Tang Xiang?¡± ¡°Check her out for me.¡± She turned around; it was Jiang Fuli. Jiang Fuli¡¯s features were sharp, with deep-set eyes and a high nose bridge, lacking the gentleness and grace of an Eastern woman, yet altogether, she exuded a bold and stunning beauty. She spoke in a low voice, instructing the person on the phone as she walked, ¡°Be careful with Jiang Xiaolin. If he could scratch your hand, he could also land you with an attempted murder charge.¡± The person she was talking to was the prime suspect in pushing Jiang Zhi into danger, Huang Peidong. After a few more instructions, Jiang Fuli hung up the phone and barely took a turn around the corner when someone crashed right into her. With a loud thud. Her phone clattered to the ground; she lost her balance and stumbled backward, slamming hard against the wall, causing half her shoulder to throb with pain. The other person said, ¡°Sorry.¡± Cold and dry, the word lacked any sincerity. It was a young girl dressed in black, head down, avoiding eye contact. Jiang Fuli straightened her business suit a bit, ¡°With so much space, did you do that on purpose?¡± The young girl looked up, expressionless, ¡°No.¡± Jiang Fuli sized her up, ¡°Have we met before?¡± S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Still with no change in facial expression, ¡°No.¡± ¡°Since we haven¡¯t, why did you bump into me?¡± ¡°Unintentional.¡± Jiang Fuli laughed, revealing a sharpness in her eyes, ¡°Do I look that easy to fool?¡± The girl who¡¯d been allowing her eyelids to droop finally revealed her full eyes: phoenix-shaped, slender and upturned at the corners, cold and detached, ¡°Then are you going to sue me?¡± Not a hint of regret or politeness, full of aggression. Such hostility. Jiang Fuli was puzzled, wondering when she had offended this person. ¡°If you¡¯re not suing, then I¡¯m leaving.¡± She turned her head to go. Jiang Fuli, arms crossed, stood still, ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± She turned back, unfazed, ¡°I¡¯m called Black Impermanence.¡± ¡°` ¡°¡­¡± After Jiang Fuli had walked away, ¡®Black Impermanence¡¯ tiptoed back and chased after her. Reaching the stairwell, she picked up a pebble from a potted plant and peeked over the edge, aiming carefully. After taking aim, she threw the pebble. ¡°Ah!¡± The scream of Jiang Fuli echoed from the stairwell. ¡®Black Impermanence¡¯ finally revealed a satisfied and joyous smile. Humph, it¡¯s this bad woman who bullied Jiang Zhi. After several days of overcast weather, it finally cleared up in the afternoon. Tang Xiang finished giving her statement and signed it, then left the police station. Jiang Xiaolin hadn¡¯t left yet, standing at the entrance with one hand in his pocket and straightening his tie with the other, sporting a pair of rimless glasses today. His features were well-defined, and he had a handsome appearance. Dressed to the nines and looking every bit the part! ¡°Shall I take you?¡± Mature and composed? Apparently, outsiders have a misunderstanding about the eldest grandson of the main branch of the Jiang Family. Tang Xiang thought he was nothing but a wolf in sheep¡¯s clothing. She bypassed him: ¡°I drove here.¡± Jiang Xiaolin leisurely followed her, ¡°That¡¯s perfect, I didn¡¯t drive. You can give me a lift.¡± ¡°¡­¡± He was just like he had been in their school days, going out of his way to annoy her. Turning her head, Tang Xiang said with an indifferent face, ¡°Mr. Jiang, are we that familiar?¡± Jiang Xiaolin calmly adjusted the glasses on the bridge of his nose: ¡°If we¡¯re not familiar, then why did you rush to testify for me?¡± Eager? Damn you! Tang Xiang didn¡¯t want to get into a squabble with him. She took her car keys and strode ahead: ¡°One thing doesn¡¯t relate to the other. I just did what a good citizen should do.¡± She opened the car door, got in, and was about to close it¡ª Jiang Xiaolin raised his hand and held it open: ¡°A good citizen would give me a ride home, right?¡± ¡°¡­¡± Tang Xiang wished she could smash the car keys into his face. Jiang Xiaolin got into the car, and Tang Xiang sat in the driver¡¯s seat and drove in silence. ¡°Why not talk?¡± She kept her eyes on the road: ¡°I have nothing to say to you.¡± Jiang Xiaolin leaned on the car window, looking over at her. The elegance of a young noble was tossed aside. His mature, composed demeanor was gone to the dogs. He spoke disgracefully: ¡°Then let¡¯s talk about your underwear.¡± Tang Xiang turned her head: ¡°Jiang Xiaolin!¡± He acknowledged her with a hum and suddenly changed his demeanor, appearing more respectful: ¡°It wasn¡¯t me who took them.¡± She was at her wit¡¯s end: ¡°Can we not bring this up anymore?¡± That was from their sophomore year. While she was in the bathhouse, someone stole her underwear. Wrapped in a towel, she chased after the thief, only to find Jiang Xiaolin outside the bathhouse with her missing underwear hanging off his backpack. She had directly reported him to the academic affairs office. Because of that incident, Jiang Xiaolin had five points deducted from his conduct score and also got the nickname ¡°lecher¡±. Since then, he had begun to target her. He said, ¡°We can¡¯t turn the page.¡± ¡°Fine.¡± She decided to have it out with him, ¡°If you¡¯re not a lecher, what were you doing outside the women¡¯s bathhouse in the middle of the night?¡± He casually replied: ¡°I was passing by.¡± Passing by? Ha. ¡°Don¡¯t believe me?¡± Suddenly, Jiang Xiaolin moved closer to her, his face devoid of a smile, his presence dominating, ¡°If I were a lecher, would you still be able to sit here arguing with me?¡± Hiss¡ª The car stopped. Tang Xiang yelled at him: ¡°Get out!¡± ¡°` Chapter 106: 106: Infighting at Jiang Family, Exclusive Favoritism Towards Jiang Zhi Chapter 106: 106: Infighting at Jiang Family, Exclusive Favoritism Towards Jiang Zhi Tang Xiang yelled at him, ¡°Get out!¡± Jiang Xiaolin wasn¡¯t annoyed, he got out of the car and stood idly, looking at the person inside. She furrowed her brows, her hand resting on the steering wheel. The car didn¡¯t move for a long while, her gaze occasionally swept over the rearview mirror. ¡°Aren¡¯t you leaving? Can¡¯t bear to part with me?¡± He leaned over, coming close to the car window, casually watching her. ¡°Huang Peidong,¡± Tang Xiang turned her head to ask, ¡°is he the murderer?¡± Like Jiang Xiaolin, Huang Peidong had scratch marks on his hand and was also a suspect; furthermore, Huang Peidong was under Jiang Fuli¡¯s command and had sufficient motive to commit the crime. ... Jiang Xiaolin folded his arms and stood up straight, ¡°That, you¡¯ll have to ask the police.¡± Fine. Tang Xiang immediately closed the car window, but before it was fully shut, a hand stopped it, ¡°He isn¡¯t.¡± In other words, Jiang Zhi being pushed into the sea had nothing to do with Jiang Fuli. Tang Xiang pondered for a moment, then understood and looked at the person outside the window, ¡°Then the scratches on his hand, you did that, right?¡± Jiang Xiaolin neither confirmed nor denied, released his hand, and smiled meaningfully, ¡°You believe what a sex maniac says?¡± ¡°¡­¡± She rolled up the car window abruptly and stepped on the accelerator, driving away. She has no patience, after all these years, still the same bad temper! Jiang Xiaolin watched the departing car tail lights and smiled. Moments later. A Bentley parked by the roadside. A middle-aged man got out of the car and walked around to the back seat to open the door. Jiang Xiaolin got into the car, saying, ¡°Back to the old mansion.¡± About an hour later, Jiang Xiaolin arrived at the Jiang family home. The whole family was there, except for Jiang Wei¡¯er who was still in the hospital. Even a few rarely seen in-laws had come, and he was the last to arrive. A servant went ahead to announce, ¡°Old Madam, Lin has arrived.¡± The room fell silent. Jiang Xiaolin entered the room, strolling leisurely, ¡°Sorry, I¡¯m a bit late.¡± Old Madam Jiang sat directly ahead and set down her cup to ask him, ¡°Have you had lunch?¡± Jiang Xiaolin shook his head, ¡°It¡¯s okay.¡± ¡°How can you not eat?¡± the Old Lady instructed, ¡°Ah Gui, ask the kitchen to warm some soup for Lin.¡± Ah Gui agreed and went to the kitchen. At that moment, Jiang Zhi coughed twice. He was at the place closest to the charcoal fire, on Old Madam Jiang¡¯s left hand side. In the Jiang Family, with its many rules, everyone was either sitting or standing, each with heads held high, except for him, half-sitting, half-lying in a rocking chair padded with a thick layer of quilts. His occasional coughs caused the chair to rock as well. Truly pampered. Old Madam Jiang doted on him, fearful that he might catch cold, and called a servant over, ¡°Add some more charcoal.¡± She then hurried the butler, ¡°Why hasn¡¯t the hand warmer been sent over yet?¡± ¡°It¡¯s here, it¡¯s here.¡± Outside the door, Ah Gui carried in some soup and also brought a delicate little hand warmer. That hand warmer was an antique. Old Madam Jiang didn¡¯t hesitate to use it; she covered it with a layer of velvet fabric to warm Jiang Zhi¡¯s hands. With the Winter Solstice approaching, the weather was getting colder. Jiang Zhi held the hand warmer, avoiding people, his continuous coughs making his voice sound somewhat raspy, ¡°Go to my room and fetch me a blanket.¡± Ah Wan was just about to go. Fuxi came over to refill Jiang Zhi¡¯s tea, ¡°I¡¯ll go.¡± In the entire Jiang Family, Miss Fuxi was the best-natured, unpretentious, always gentle and soft-spoken to everyone. Ah Wan thought she was a good person, but for some reason, the master always treated her coldly. ¡°No need.¡± Jiang Zhi glanced back, ¡°Lin Wanwan, you go.¡± Ah Wan: ¡°Oh.¡± After a few exchanges of pleasantries among the people in the room, Old Madam Jiang got to the point. ¡°I called you all here today because there are two matters.¡± The old lady was spirited as she spoke forcefully, ¡°A few days ago, Brother Zhi was pushed into the sea and injured. He¡¯s still in the hospital.¡± The old lady had always kept this in mind and was now ready to settle the account. ¡°I am an old woman and cannot manage business affairs anymore. I can turn a blind eye to the usual squabbles,¡± she continued at a measured pace, ¡°but using such filthy tactics against Brother Zhi¡¯s life, we must get to the bottom of this.¡± The five branches of the Jiang Family were traditionally discordant, competing against each other in business. Old Madam Jiang usually let them fend for themselves, each holding shares and beyond her control, but they couldn¡¯t cross the line¡ªand Jiang Zhi was that line. This was well known among the Jiang Family. ¡°Mother, you are right.¡± The speaker was Jiang Xiaolin¡¯s father, the eldest son of the Jiang Family, Jiang Weikai, who was in politics and rarely involved in family affairs, ¡°Such lowly acts cannot be condoned.¡± Jiang Wei Li hurriedly agreed as well. The two brothers¡ªone never frivolous, the other always smiling¡ªtheir temperaments were nothing alike, representing two extremes. Old Madam Jiang cast a glance at the two brothers, ¡°Among the four suspects, one is from the first house, one from the second house,¡± she paused, ¡°do you have anything to say?¡± Jiang Weikai looked at Jiang Xiaolin, who was sipping his soup silently. The second house spoke first; it was Luo Changfang, Jiang Weili¡¯s wife, who started, smiling without agitation, ¡°Mother, I don¡¯t quite agree with what you said. First of all, whether Huang Peidong is the murderer of Brother Zhi or not, even if he is, what does that have to do with our second house?¡± Luo Changfang from the second house was the third daughter of the Luo Family, as shrewd as her father. Old Madam Jiang was not in a hurry, she spread her hands and argued, ¡°Huang Peidong was promoted to his current position by Fuli, and it was Fuli who provided his alibi. Being a simple-minded old woman, I can only guess this, his close aides, after all, are your second house¡¯s hands.¡± Luo Changfang¡¯s smile faded; just as she was about to defend herself, she was stopped by her daughter, Jiang Fuli. Luo Changfang then withheld her words, allowing Jiang Fuli to speak. ¡°Grandma,¡± she poured a cup of tea, moistening her throat, ¡°then do you think I am foolish?¡± ¡°You,¡± Old Madam Jiang laughed, ¡°are smart.¡± Her mother¡¯s shrewdness and her father¡¯s adaptability, she had learned them all thoroughly. Jiang Fuli spoke calmly and composedly, ¡°That¡¯s it, if I really wanted to harm our Jiang Family people, I wouldn¡¯t be foolish enough to use my own close aides.¡± She set down the cup, her eyes shifting slightly, a touch of sorrow appearing, ¡°Brother Zhi is my direct cousin, his health isn¡¯t good, thinking about how he might¡­¡± Perhaps not live past twenty-five. Where would she need to dirty her hands? She calmed her emotions before continuing, ¡°Thinking like this, the heart of one who is a sister aches as if cut by knives. How could I be so cruel, and besides, such fratricidal behavior would simply disgust you, wouldn¡¯t it, Grandma? Even if I¡¯m muddled, I wouldn¡¯t be foolish to that extent.¡± With just a few words, she absolved herself cleanly. Truly, she had a clever mouth, very articulate. Old Madam Jiang turned her head and asked the eldest grandchild of the main house, ¡°Lin, do you have anything to say?¡± Scratches were also on the back of his hand; he couldn¡¯t shake off the suspicion. Yet, he replied, ¡°No.¡± Setting down his spoon, his expression was calm, showing no signs of panic, ¡°I just came back from the police station, Grandma, you can just inquire with the Criminal Investigation Team. I won¡¯t repeat it, to avoid delaying your rest.¡± One was eloquent, and the other was reticent, each had their own way. Old Madam Jiang picked up her teacup, flicked some tea leaves off her face, and took a sip, ¡°You each stick to your own story, both making sense. I¡¯m old, and my mind is slow, I can¡¯t distinguish the truth from the lies in your words. In that case, let¡¯s wait for the police investigation. Before the murderer is caught, apart from Brother Zhi, you all will stay at the old mansion. If you need to go out for anything, you also have to report it to me. Any objections?¡± Jiang Weikai said, ¡°Mother, your decision stands.¡± Old Madam Jiang set down her cup, ¡°Well, I¡¯ve said my piece, it¡¯s best if the investigation shows it has nothing to do with you, otherwise,¡± she paused briefly, her voice deepening, ¡°I¡¯ll personally clean house.¡± Everyone fell silent. Only Jiang Zhi was coughing, as if uninvolved, not saying a word, just languishing sickly. ¡°I have one more thing.¡± Old Madam Jiang called the butler forward, ¡°Jiang Chuan, play the recording for everyone.¡± The recording wasn¡¯t the original file; it was played on a mobile phone, which included some background noise, but it was still clear. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. It was Jin Song¡¯s voice. ¡°I abducted the young master of the Jiang Family.¡± His voice sounded trembling, as if he had been frightened. Aside from Jin Song, there was also a girl¡¯s voice, deliberately disguised, sounding very low. ¡°Why did you abduct him?¡± Jin Song did not immediately answer; the girl asked again, ¡°Why did you abduct him?¡± ¡°He changed the female lead of the movie, causing me a huge loss,¡± Jin Song faltered, ¡°Also, I wanted to play with him, and moreover, the Jiang family wanted me to test him to see if he was feigning illness.¡± ¡°Which member of the Jiang family?¡± ¡°Jiang Fuli.¡± ¡°Anything else?¡± ¡°Last month, I had someone ram into him,¡± he explained shakingly, ¡°but it wasn¡¯t successful.¡± ¡°Who drove the car to hit him?¡± ¡°Xiao Linsu.¡± The recording stopped there. The few sentences were very clear in meaning. Old Madam Jiang¡¯s gaze sharpened, ¡°Fuli, do you have any explanation?¡± Without waiting for her to speak, she continued, ¡°I had someone check your interactions with Jin Song, and it indeed happened.¡± It was clear; no need for her to make excuses. Old Madam¡¯s voice deepened, her expression cooling, ¡°Our Jiang Family and the Jin Family have always been on bad terms; I never knew you had contact with Jin Song behind the scenes.¡± Jiang Fuli remained unruffled, not a hint of guilt visible, calmly explaining, ¡°Yes, there were some dealings in the past, business matters, nothing personal.¡± Old Madam snorted, ¡°No personal relations, and yet you asked him to test Brother Zhi?¡± She didn¡¯t even pause to think, quickly responding, logically and coherently, ¡°I was worried about Brother Zhi¡¯s illness, so I asked him to pay more attention, not expecting him to have ill intentions. If I knew he would use such methods, how could I agree?¡± She lifted her head, her eyes meeting the old madam¡¯s without wavering, open and honest, ¡°Moreover, I was afraid it might hurt Brother Zhi, so I specifically sent an additional group of people to watch over him.¡± She spoke succinctly, everything making sense, every statement in its place, without a single flaw. She always remained calm, ¡°Grandma, if you don¡¯t believe me, you can send someone to check. The errand company I hired operates legitimately.¡± Old Lady Jiang was momentarily at a loss for words. She had made secondary preparations, guessing that she couldn¡¯t trust Jin Song and had thus hired someone else. Now, it had become her excuse for exoneration; she had seemingly managed everything perfectly, seamlessly. ¡°I don¡¯t care whether the people you hired are legitimate or not, just give me a reason¡ªwhy on earth are you testing Brother Zhi? He has been sick for over a decade; how could you think he¡¯s faking it?¡± Old Lady Jiang was annoyed, somewhat aggressive, ¡°Besides, even if he were faking it, what are you scheming?¡± Jiang Fuli looked aggrieved, ¡°Grandma, why would you think that?¡± She glanced at Jiang Zhi and said, ¡°Brother Zhi is well, of course I want him to take over my responsibilities. In the fifth branch of the Jiang Family, uncle owns the most shares, and naturally, Brother Zhi should take over that part. My abilities are limited; I genuinely hope Brother Zhi gets well soon to help me share the burden at the company.¡± Silver-tongued indeed, silver-tongued. Old Lady Jiang sighed, ¡°You could even talk a dead person back to life; what more could I say.¡± She probably wouldn¡¯t find anything; her granddaughter was always meticulous in her actions. She smiled, jokingly, ¡°Grandma, your insight is clear.¡± The Jiang Family, oh, just too many clever people. A mess. Old Lady Jiang pinched the bridge of her nose, had a servant add a cup of tea, took a break, and cornered her with her own words, ¡°Since you¡¯ve said your abilities are limited, let Lin take care of the hotel module. When Brother Zhi is a bit better, let him take over.¡± Jiang Fuli agreed quickly, ¡°Okay, Grandma, as you decide.¡± This time, she had to comply. The hotel sector wasn¡¯t small; it was enough to peel off a layer of her skin. But it wasn¡¯t over, Old Lady Jiang continued, ¡°This matter can¡¯t just be left as is. Family siblings should speak openly if they have concerns, not resort to underhanded tactics. Go kneel in my study; you can come out when you have reflected.¡± Standing up for Jiang Zhi. Among all the legitimate and illegitimate descendants of the Jiang Family, Jiang Zhi was Old Lady Jiang¡¯s most treasured. Jiang Fuli¡¯s hand, hanging by her side, clenched a little tighter, her face still smiling, ¡°Hmm, granddaughter knows her mistake.¡± Her gaze casually swept over to the direction of the rocking chair. Everyone in the room was holding their breath, only Jiang Zhi nonchalantly playing with his hand warmer. He was born lucky, his father, Jiang Weixuan, being the Old Madam¡¯s most beloved son, just unlucky to die young. His face resembled his mother¡¯s, similarly a beauty that courted calamity. ¡°Today, since you all are here, I¡¯ll just lay it out¡ªon the business field, it¡¯s every man for himself; I won¡¯t intervene,¡± Old Lady Jiang spoke sharply, ¡°But if anyone dares harbor any inappropriate thoughts privately, I will not be lenient.¡± Several sons and grandsons quickly agreed. Only then did Old Madam rise with her walking stick, ¡°Brother Zhi, come with me.¡± ¡°Cough, cough, cough, cough¡­¡± Jiang Zhi stretched lazily in a dragging manner, taking slow, coughing steps, weak and wobbly, supported by someone. This drama, he just watched, minor squabbles that can¡¯t hurt the muscles or move the bones, utterly uninteresting. Once they reached the bedroom, Old Lady Jiang dismissed the servants and asked Jiang Zhi, ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± He walked a few steps and ran out of energy, found a spot to lie down, somewhat weary, ¡°What do you mean ¡®what¡¯s going on¡¯?¡± ¡°Fuli, why would she think you are feigning illness?¡± ¡°That¡¯s a question for her.¡± Jiang Zhi had a slight fever, his cheeks flushed, weakly keeping his eyelids open, ¡°You know I¡¯m ill, she¡¯s ill too.¡± ¡°What illness?¡± He hummed, ¡°Paranoia.¡± Old Lady Jiang scolded him for not being serious but refrained from asking further. Ah Wan, standing by the doorway, felt a bit dizzy, such a contradiction¡ªhow come the Old Madam treats her employer like the apple of her eye, yet this apple doesn¡¯t seem to want to stay in its socket? Just an inexplicable feeling. In the outside hall, people had mostly dispersed; Jiang Fuli stopped Jiang Xiaolin. ¡°Cousin, wait.¡± Jiang Xiaolin¡¯s attitude was neither cold nor warm, ¡°What is it?¡± She approached with a smile, ¡°Nothing much, just curious about how you arranged things; you¡¯re so well-informed. The police had just learned about the scratch marks on the killer¡¯s hand, and you had already added one under my people.¡± This whole basin of dirty water was cast together. He was in trouble, turned around and got her in trouble too; now the Old Madam wouldn¡¯t just focus on his branch of the family, truly shared hardship. Jiang Xiaolin, wearing glasses, his demeanor calm and scholarly, ¡°Trouble comes from the mouth.¡± In an elder¡¯s tone, he almost admonished, ¡°Fuli, be careful what you say without evidence.¡± Old fox! Jiang Fuli smirked, ¡°Thank you for the reminder, big cousin.¡± Jiang Xiaolin said ¡®you¡¯re welcome¡¯, waved his hand, ¡°Go kneel, once you¡¯ve reflected, come and learn from me.¡± ¡°¡­¡± She clenched her teeth in silence. When Jiang Xiaolin left, Luo Changfang muttered, ¡°Doesn¡¯t he hate Brother Zhi? What is this about then? How come he¡¯s matching up with you?¡± This Lin from the Jiang family is both righteous and wicked. His allegiance seems to change all the time. Jiang Weili stood up from his seat and cautioned, ¡°Fuli, don¡¯t be too impatient.¡± Seeing that no one else was around, he said, ¡°Keep an eye on Jin Song. If he dares to speak out of line¡­¡± He left the sentence hanging. Jiang Fuli nodded, understanding. Today, Jiang Zhi was staying overnight at the old house. He looked at his script for a while but couldn¡¯t focus at all. He was completely unable to get into it, his thoughts wandering off to Zhou Xufang. He realized something; ever since this girl started running wild in his heart, he had lost interest in almost everything else. He reached for his phone to send her a voice message. ¡°Zhou Xufang.¡± Zhou Xufang replied with a period. She didn¡¯t even type a word, just answered him with punctuation. Jiang Zhi was slightly annoyed: ¡°What are you doing?¡± Zhou Xufang then replied with two words. ¡°Selling stall.¡± Since Jiang Zhi was staying at the Jiang family house today and didn¡¯t need her to ¡®follow¡¯ him, she had the time to ride her electric trike to work. She really couldn¡¯t sit still for a moment. ¡°Putting on screen protectors again?¡± ¡°Mm.¡± Jiang Zhi couldn¡¯t help but nag her: ¡°Can¡¯t you take a break?¡± Zhou Xufang replied: ¡°.¡± Another period! He had so much he wanted to tell her, yet she had nothing to say back to him?! Jiang Zhi was very displeased inside, crumpling the script into a ball. He held back his anger and asked, ¡°Is it cold outside?¡± ¡°Not cold.¡± ¡°Waiting under the bridge.¡± Zhou Xufang replied with a voice message this time: ¡°Don¡¯t come.¡± She wasn¡¯t afraid of the cold, but Jiang Zhi was quite delicate. Jiang Zhi responded in a rather unreasonable tone: ¡°I¡¯m coming anyway.¡± Zhou Xufang: ¡°.¡± Another period. Jiang Zhi was increasingly unable to tolerate these periods. They made him feel neglected, brushed off, unloved, and undervalued: ¡°Stop with the periods. If you have nothing to say, just send me a kissy face emoji.¡± Zhou Xufang typed back: ¡°I don¡¯t have any emoji.¡± ¡°Go online and find one.¡± ¡°.¡± Alright. Jiang Zhi found one himself and sent it to her. ¡°Send me this.¡± She probably struggled for a bit, and a few minutes later, she replied, ¡°I don¡¯t know how.¡± Zhou Xufang never used emoji and barely socialized. She knew nothing about social media apps, only capable of basic typing and voice messages. She was a high-IQ life idiot, best at using food delivery apps. ¡°Click this emoji, then add it,¡± Jiang Zhi was stubborn about this kissy face emoji, ¡°and then forward it to me.¡± Zhou Xufang was still figuring it out. ¡°Zhou Xufang.¡± ¡°Mm.¡± ¡°Got it yet?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Send it to me.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Zhou Xufang then sent that kissy face emoji over. Jiang Zhi took a screenshot. The irritation in his heart was placated by her actions: ¡°Wait there, I¡¯m coming over now to give you a kiss.¡± Chapter 107: 107: Going with my wife to apply a screen protector~ Chapter 107: 107: Going with my wife to apply a screen protector~ ¡°Wait, I¡¯ll come over to kiss you right now.¡± Zhou Xufang: ¡°.¡± Another period. Jiang Zhi grabbed his coat, walked outside, and sent a voice message: ¡°Don¡¯t use periods.¡± ¡°Send me an emoticon.¡± The late-stage obsessive-compulsive patient, Zhou Xufang, sent an ellipsis back. ... Jiang Zhi: ¡­ He just couldn¡¯t seem to flirt with her. The drive from the Jiang Mansion to Ba Yi Bridge took over an hour. Ah Wan was a cautious driver and extra slow, which made Jiang Zhi kick him out of the driver¡¯s seat in annoyance. Jiang Zhi¡¯s driving was like drifting. Ah Wan almost threw up. However, they picked the wrong time to arrive. From a distance, they saw a young man with dyed yellow hair sitting at Zhou Xufang¡¯s stall. He was dressed flashily and wore small black diamond earrings that gave off a ¡®street¡¯ vibe. The flashy yellow-haired young man was flirting with Zhou Xufang, wearing a self-assured grin that he thought was devastatingly handsome: ¡°Can I get your WeChat? I¡¯ll come back to your stall for screen protector services next time.¡± He was, at best, bronze level. Then, he met the king, Jiang Zhi. Jiang Zhi, with his frosted, muted blue hair, strolled over casually: ¡°Sure.¡± He took out a moon-white handkerchief from his high-end coat pocket, placed it on the seat, and sat down. His peach blossom eyes slightly lifted at the corners as he hooked in the soul of anyone who looked on, his murderous aura tinged with an elegant unworldliness, ¡°You can come directly to me, I¡¯ll do it for you.¡± The flashy yellow-haired young man was stunned, and it took him a long time to stammer out: ¡°You, who are you?¡± He seemed somewhat familiar. Jiang Zhi raised his hand, knocking on the small table Zhou Xufang used for applying screen protectors. His watch knocked against the table corner with a soft clink. He said, ¡°I¡¯m the ¡®Boss Lady¡¯ of this stall.¡± ¡°¡­¡± That watch was worth eight figures. The yellow-haired street youth scurried away, defeated. ¡°Why did you come?¡± Zhou Xufang was very happy, her eyes curving into a smile. Jiang Zhi nonchalantly flirted, ¡°To give you a kiss.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Zhou Xufang, bashful and thin-skinned, was afraid someone would overhear them. She looked around nervously, feeling guilty without having done anything wrong. It wasn¡¯t dark yet, and there were already quite a number of street vendors. Next to the screen protector stall was a stir-fried noodle vendor, run by a lady in her fifties who had been quietly watching Jiang Zhi for a long time: ¡°Xiao Zhou, is that your boyfriend?¡± ¡®Xiao Zhou¡¯ was about to explain¡ª ¡®Xiao Zhou¡¯s boyfriend¡¯ with his long legs stepped right over the stall to stand next to Zhou Xufang: ¡°Have you eaten?¡± Zhou Xufang said no. It was just past four. ¡°I brought something for you.¡± Jiang Zhi sent Ah Wan to get the insulated food container from the car. He then pulled up a stool beside Zhou Xufang, ¡°You eat first. I¡¯ll watch the stall for you.¡± Ah Wan: ¡°¡­¡± That was the dinner his mom had prepared for him! He was so annoyed! In the end, Ah Wan reluctantly handed over his own meal to Zhou Xufang. Zhou Xufang thanked him, took a bite of the rib, and asked Jiang Zhi, ¡°Do you know how to apply it?¡± Meanwhile, Ah Wan watched the rib, his heart bleeding. Jiang Zhi faced the wind, his hair fluttering: ¡°What¡¯s so hard about it?¡± Fifteen minutes later, the first customer arrived. The customer selected a tempered screen protector, twenty yuan. Jiang Zhi professionally peeled off the old phone protector and wiped the screen clean with a little damp cotton cloth before carefully applying the new one¡ª ¡°Hey!¡± The customer, a burly man in his thirties or forties with an intimidating build, looked like he had a short temper. ¡°How did you apply this? The screen is full of bubbles!¡± ¡°It¡¯s crooked!¡± ¡°Do you even know how to do this?!¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± If Zhou Xufang wasn¡¯t there, he might have thrown the man into the river nearby. He restarted, trying to reapply the screen protector. ¡°It¡¯s still crooked!¡± ¡°There¡¯s another bubble underneath.¡± ¡°You¡¯ll scratch my phone if you keep scraping like that.¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± Clang! She tossed her phone. The other person shut up. ¡°If it¡¯s scratched, I¡¯ll compensate you with a car,¡± Jiang Zhi kicked the small table, her peach blossom eyes lifting with a frosty air, ¡°Are you going to shut up now?¡± Customer: ¡°¡­¡± In Imperial City, every other person is a ¡®master.¡¯ Look at her clothes, look at that demeanor¡­ She could really be a ¡®master.¡¯ The customer stopped talking, eyeing the screen full of air bubbles, with a herd of ¡®f*cks¡¯ galloping in their mind. Zhou Xufang also saw the bubbles: ¡°Let me do it.¡± Jiang Zhi was still scraping bubbles off the screen with a small metal piece, ¡°You eat.¡± She quickly wolfed down a few bites: ¡°I¡¯m done.¡± ¡°You think I did a bad job?¡± he said, and with one forceful scrape, a large scratch appeared on the phone protector. Customer: ¡°¡­¡± If she kept scraping, who knows if the screen would survive¡ªinside, the customer¡¯s herd of ¡®f*cks¡¯ was racing even more fiercely. ¡°That¡­¡± The customer took out a twenty-yuan note from their wallet, placed it on the table, ¡°I won¡¯t put it on.¡± Then they picked up their phone, full of bubbles and scratches, and left. Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t care and handed the twenty yuan to Zhou Xufang: ¡°Tell me, do you think I did a bad job?¡± She was irked, ¡°I even made you money.¡± Zhou Xufang said that wasn¡¯t it: ¡°Your hands are all red from the cold.¡± She was concerned for him. Jiang Zhi chuckled with her head tilted back, stuffed the money into her pocket, and then presented her frostbitten hands, eyes gleaming on this cloudy day: ¡°Then warm them up for me.¡± The outdoor temperature had plummeted below zero, it was very cold. Zhou Xufang turned to grab two large boxes used for stocking goods. Digging through them, she found some leftover hand warmers from a few days ago. Ripping one open, she adhered it to Jiang Zhi¡¯s arm through his clothing, then tore another, placing it symmetrically on his other arm, sticking it on straight and proper. Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± Then Zhou Xufang pulled down Jiang Zhi¡¯s sleeves, adjusted them, and upon looking at him again, noticed: ¡°Your face is red from the cold too.¡± You can¡¯t stick a hand warmer on a face, after all. Jiang Zhi leaned his handsome face closer: ¡°Just covering it with your hand would suffice.¡± Zhou Xufang stared blankly at him for several seconds, then her face dawned with realization; she stood up and fetched the yellow helmet that only showed the eyes from the tricycle, and swiftly put it on Jiang Zhi: ¡°Now the wind won¡¯t get to you.¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± What kind of creature was it that he had fallen for? Ah Wan shook her head, unable to bear watching. The Boss Lady at the fried noodle stall couldn¡¯t stand it either: ¡°Xiao Zhou.¡± Xiao Zhou turned her head: ¡°Hmm?¡± The Boss Lady asked: ¡°What does your boyfriend do?¡± Zhou Xufang was quite proud: ¡°He acts in films.¡± Oh, she caught herself and blushed as she explained, ¡°He¡¯s not my boyfriend.¡± S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The Boss Lady looked at Jiang Zhi several times. The more she looked, the less satisfied she became compared to her own nephew. She wanted to introduce her nephew to Xiao Zhou, seeing that Xiao Zhou was the most hardworking girl on the street, and many stall owners wanted to introduce their relatives to her. As for Xiao Zhou¡¯s ¡®boyfriend¡¯¡­ Sporting a head of blue hair, he didn¡¯t look like any respectable young man at first glance, probably one of those hundred and eighth-rate minor celebrities, with no real talent but still wanting to wear branded clothes every day, probably even relying on Xiao Zhou to make a living. After concocting a million-word backstory in her head, the Boss Lady sighed: ¡°What matters most in life is to be down to earth.¡± Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t quite understand but still responded with an ¡°Oh.¡± ¡°And another thing, a man¡¯s looks come second,¡± the Boss Lady spoke earnestly, ¡°He should be ambitious.¡± Zhou Xufang continued with ¡°Oh¡± and asked Jiang Zhi: ¡°Are you still cold?¡± Jiang Zhi said he wasn¡¯t cold but then coughed right after that. The Boss Lady chimed in: ¡°Your boyfriend seems quite delicate.¡± Zhou Xufang understood this time and was a bit upset: ¡°He¡¯s just not very healthy.¡± Even if he were delicate, it wasn¡¯t for others to criticize. ¡°It¡¯s no good for a man to be so weak,¡± the Boss Lady commented. Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t want to continue the conversation and smoothed things over for Jiang Zhi. Once he stopped coughing, she said, ¡°There¡¯s a place selling hot water bottles over there. Wait here, I¡¯ll go buy you one.¡± Jiang Zhi, wearing the yellow helmet: ¡°Hmm.¡± Zhou Xufang ran off to buy the hot water bottle. Jiang Zhi removed the helmet and ruffled his hair: ¡°Ah Wan.¡± His voice was not as sweet as it had been in front of Zhou Xufang. Ah Wan came over: ¡°Boss.¡± ¡°Could you check if the land under my feet is for sale?¡± Ah Wan asked, ¡°What do you want to buy land for?¡± ¡°To build a store for Zhou Xufang.¡± Jiang Zhi¡¯s peach blossom eyes were half-closed, flickering briefly across the fried noodle stall, ¡°Might as well spruce up this street while I¡¯m at it.¡± After giving his instructions, he leaned against the little table where screens were being fitted, propping his chin with one hand, and dialed Xue Baoyi¡¯s number: ¡°Screen fitting?¡± His legs, too long to fit comfortably anywhere, were stretched out lazily under the table. Ah Wan gave an OK sign and, turning his head, ¡®complained¡¯ to the fried noodle stall owner: ¡°Eh, my boss, he¡¯s got too much money.¡± The Boss Lady: ¡°¡­¡± Ah Wan stepped in front of the stall, his large frame blocking half of it, and continued ¡®complaining¡¯: ¡°Yeah, and he¡¯s so delicate. Wherever there¡¯s a breeze, that¡¯s where he decides to build a house. Such a pampered one!¡± The Boss Lady: ¡°¡­¡± Ah Wan fished out car keys from his pocket, toying with them: ¡°He¡¯s too fragile, really. The old lady at home built several medical labs and contracted quite a few hospitals just to take care of him.¡± These car keys you recognize, right? The Boss Lady: ¡°¡­¡± Ah Wan used the car key to clean out his ear: ¡°And he¡¯s not ambitious at all, just prancing around, nothing to do but jet off to international film festivals. Truly, his feet aren¡¯t planted on the ground.¡± Although his employer was indeed quite annoying. But no matter what, this was his employer. As the saying goes, ¡°The ruler¡¯s grain eaten, his affairs done,¡± and he, Lin Wanwan, was a man of integrity and pride. He could have his complaints, but could others? They could not! Ah Wan heaved a deep sigh: ¡°Ah, if he doesn¡¯t get serious about his acting, my boss will have to go home and inherit the family fortune.¡± The fried noodle stall owner: ¡°¡­¡± Her face turning various shades, finally, she forced a ¡®kind and friendly¡¯ smile: ¡°Xiao Zhou¡¯s boyfriend, would you like some rice noodles?¡± Xiao Zhou¡¯s boyfriend was on the phone, saying, ¡°Come to Zhou Xu¡¯s place to pick up goods, name your price, the money will come from me,¡± and after finishing this sentence, he finally turned his attention to the fried noodle stall: ¡°No, thank you.¡± These manners and actions¡­ The more she watched, the more unbelievable it became. Seizing the opportunity, Ah Wan chimed in again: ¡°Look at him, so delicate. His stomach is spoiled by all the fancy foods, can¡¯t eat just anything, unlike me,¡± he swiftly changed the topic, ¡°Madam, I¡¯ll have a bowl of rice noodles.¡± Still engulfed in the anxious thought of ¡®this street is going to be bought by Xiao Zhou¡¯s boyfriend, and the noodle stall might be cleaned out,¡¯ the fried noodle Boss Lady managed an ¡°¡­ Oh.¡± Remembering his pork rib meal that Miss Zhou who was applying screen protectors had eaten, Ah Wan felt very hungry: ¡°Can I add an egg?¡± ¡°Yes, you can.¡± ¡°Then give me four sunny-side-up eggs.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± In the end, the Boss Lady, with trembling hands, served Ah Wan a portion of rice noodles fit for three, adding two large spoonfuls of pork and a spoonful of chicken dices, and absolutely refused to take any money. Ah Wan ate with relish, stuffing a big piece of egg into his mouth, and turned to see Zhou Xufang hurrying back: ¡°Boss, the young Boss Lady is back.¡± Jiang Zhi was visibly delighted by this title, a spring-like joy shimmering in his eyes. Zhou Xufang had run all the way here, the hand warmer stuffed inside her clothing. When she reached Jiang Zhi, she handed over the warmed handwarmer she¡¯d been hiding: ¡°It¡¯s fully charged, hold it.¡± The spring in Jiang Zhi¡¯s eyes flourished. His little girl knew how to take care of people. ¡°Xiao Zhou.¡± The neighboring fried noodle stall owner suddenly gave Zhou Xufang a thumbs-up: ¡°Your boyfriend is really good.¡± Zhou Xufang was first dumbfounded, then, touching her hot ears, she sneaked a glance at Jiang Zhi and muttered quietly, ¡°He¡¯s not my boyfriend.¡± The Boss Lady clenched her fists, making an encouraging gesture: ¡°Hold on to him, go for it!¡± Zhou Xufang: ¡°¡­¡± This Boss Lady is weird. There were many strange people today. The recent customer was a young man who appeared to have run all the way and was still catching his breath, his head covered with sweat: ¡°Screen fitting?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Zhou Xufang asked the customer, ¡°Which kind do you want to have fitted?¡± The customer said, ¡°Any kind.¡± So Zhou Xufang picked out a tempered glass protector for him. After it was fitted, the customer asked again, ¡°You have phone cases, right?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Give me ten.¡± Off to the side, the non-grounded, delicate, ambition-lacking Jiang Zhi who might have to go back and inherit his fortune if he doesn¡¯t act properly raised his eyelids slightly. The customer¡¯s voice seemed to tremble, ¡°Twenty?¡± ¡°` ¡°Cough cough cough cough cough¡­¡± Jiang Zhi was coughing. Zhou Xufang immediately turned around, looking at him with concern. Jiang Zhi soothingly rubbed the little girl¡¯s head. The customer then changed their order, ¡°Forty!¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have that many of this model of phone case,¡± Zhou Xufang said. The customer scanned the code and paid directly, ¡°Any model will do.¡± After ten more minutes, another odd customer arrived. Dressed in a suit and leather shoes, like a white-collar worker from a big company, he carried a big bag full of phones, dumping them all onto the table. ¡°Screen protectors.¡± Zhou Xufang was surprised, ¡°All of them?¡± ¡°Yep, all of them.¡± He then asked, ¡°You have phone cases, right?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll take eighty, any model, as long as it¡¯s a phone case.¡± Zhou Xufang: ¡°¡­¡± It took her more than twenty minutes to finish applying the screen protectors. After the man left, she said to Jiang Zhi, ¡°That man had so many phones.¡± Jiang Zhi sat next to her, seemingly unfazed by the dirt and mess around, holding a hand warmer, wearing a helmet, and patiently waiting for Zhou Xufang to make money from applying screen protectors. He was very well-behaved. He asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°Could he be a phone thief?¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± The people Xue Baoyi finds! Zhou Xufang was conflicted, ¡°Should we call the police?¡± Jiang Zhi casually said, ¡°He might be dealing in second-hand phones.¡± So they decided not to call the police. Ding. Zhou Xufang¡¯s WeChat message arrived; she checked it briefly. Jiang Zhi asked, ¡°Who¡¯s looking for you?¡± ¡°It¡¯s Mr. Xue Baoyi, he wants to buy phone cases from me.¡± After reading the message, she put her phone back in her bag with a very happy expression, ¡°I made a lot of money today, Jiang Zhi, I¡¯ll treat you to some fruit jellies.¡± Why fruit jelly? Zhou Xufang had recently taken a liking to fruit jelly, finding strawberry-flavored jelly to be as delightful as cotton candy. Having had a ¡®very good business day,¡¯ she closed up shop early, taking Jiang Zhi to buy two big bags of fruit jelly. Jiang Zhi drove her home, and she ate them the whole way in the car. Jiang Zhi¡¯s car was pink inside, with cotton candy and milk. Zhou Xufang ate her fruit jellies, completely satisfied. Jiang Zhi laughed, ¡°You like it that much?¡± She nodded, bit into a strawberry-flavored jelly, her eyes curving into crescent moons, ¡°I¡¯ve never had it before.¡± ¡°Your parents didn¡¯t buy it for you?¡± Her crescent eyes slowly drooped, and she went silent. She accidentally crushed the plastic jelly container, dropping the jelly onto the car seat. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I¡¯ve made your car dirty.¡± She reached out to pick it up. Jiang Zhi took her hand, wiped it clean before bothering about the car seat, ¡°I¡¯ll buy it for you in the future.¡± He patted her head, ¡°Tell me whatever you haven¡¯t had, and I¡¯ll buy them all for you.¡± She lifted her head and smiled again, not showing any sign of loss, smiling quite foolishly. Jiang Zhi opened another fruit jelly for her and fed it to her mouth. She nibbled it gently. ¡°Sweet?¡± ¡°Sweet.¡± He leaned in and tasted it from her lips, ¡°It is very sweet.¡± The Zhou Xufang who just leaked a mouthful of jelly: ¡°¡­¡± She turned as red as a tomato, dumbfounded like a goose, with some jelly remnants on her lips. ¡°Do you have a fever again?¡± As he spoke, Jiang Zhi licked away the jelly remnants, his face also red, with reddened eyes, but his gaze hid none, looking straight at her, then reached out, resting his hand on her forehead. Yes, she was feverish again. Zhou Xufang¡¯s soul floated in the clouds for a good while before returning to her body. In a fluster, she dug out two strawberry-flavored jellies from the bag and handed them to Jiang Zhi, ¡°For you.¡± She pushed open the car door and rushed into the house. Once inside, she started bounding around frantically, hopping here and there like a gust of wind. ¡°` Chapter 108: 108: Jiang Zhi has come to rescue Fang Bao~ Chapter 108: 108: Jiang Zhi has come to rescue Fang Bao~ As soon as she entered the house, she started bouncing around wildly, darting back and forth like a gust of wind. After expending her energy, she panted like a dog for a few minutes before finally settling down by the computer desk, still feverish, face flushed and uncomfortable, breathing unevenly, and guzzling several cans of milk. At that moment, Shuangjiang sought her out. ¡°The data from the Criminal Investigation Team is out. Jiang Xiaolin has an alibi, which temporarily rules him out as a suspect. The witness, Tang Xiang, who testified for him, doesn¡¯t have a good relationship with him, so the likelihood of perjury is not high. Among the other three suspects, Han Feng and Luo Changde corroborate each other¡¯s alibis, which I find very suspicious.¡± Click! Zhou Xufang opened the fourth can of milk, ¡°I¡¯m going to the Luo Family tonight.¡± ... ¡°To look for the watch?¡± At this point, that was the only clue left. Zhou Xufang nodded, ¡°Yes.¡± She then opened a packet of fruit jelly. Shuangjiang didn¡¯t ask further and quickly answered her, ¡°I¡¯ll arrange the route for you.¡± She hummed a response, drew a parabola towards the trash can, intending to toss the empty milk can into it, but her heart was unsettled, and she missed. She got up to pick it up, and with her head lowered, suddenly said, ¡°Shuangjiang, I don¡¯t want to buy Moon Bay anymore.¡± Shuangjiang replied with a question mark. She sat back down, eating her fruit jelly, and said, ¡°I need to save my money to take care of Jiang Zhi.¡± Shuangjiang sent an exclamation mark. Tonight, the moon was half-visible, a breeze was blowing, and the shadows of the trees swayed gently. The Luo Family¡¯s villa stood alone, very quiet after nightfall. The wind whispered through the cedar trees, rustling softly, the ground covered with scattered, withered leaves from the four-season begonia, floating about. Listening closely, there was a sound from the courtyard, Luo Yinghe, the second youngest daughter of the Luo Family, was outside talking on the phone. ¡°Is Xiao Yusheng coming?¡± The other end of the line answered no. Luo Yinghe then lost interest, ¡°Then never mind, I won¡¯t go either.¡± After a few more words, the topic changed. ¡°The script is not bad, my agent is discussing it.¡± Someone said something on the other side. She laughed lightly, ¡°Of course I¡¯m the female lead, do I look like someone who plays supporting roles?¡± ¡°Who¡¯s Fang Lixiang?¡± Fang Lixiang was a rising star, her reputation building even before her works were released, amassing decent resources and showing up on several variety shows, maintaining a high level of public interest. It seemed Baoguang was promoting her. Friends said that, but Luo Yinghe didn¡¯t think much of it, scoffing dismissively, ¡°Weaver Girl or not, how can she compare to me?¡± Her friend agreed, saying, definitely not, calling her Tianxing¡¯s princess, backed by the entire Luo Family. At this moment, someone from inside the house called out, ¡°Yinghe.¡± ¡°Yinghe.¡± It was Luo Yinghe¡¯s mother, Xu Yunci, calling for her. She ended her call and responded, ¡°Coming!¡± Zhou Xufang saw her running and leapt onto the second-floor balcony of the neighboring building; despite being tens of meters away, she still overheard Luo Yinghe talking with her mother. ¡°Is Qinghe back?¡± ¡°In the garage.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve made soup, tell her to come and have some.¡± ¡°I won¡¯t, she said not to disturb her.¡± ¡°She locked up the garage as soon as she got back, acting all neurotic, I don¡¯t know what she¡¯s up to.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Zhou Xufang listened intently for a while, then stopped. It was odd, the Luo Family was unusually quiet today. ¡°Ah Fang.¡± Zhou Xufang adjusted her headset, ¡°Yes?¡± Shuangjiang, using a voice synthesizer, said, ¡°Abort the operation immediately.¡± ¡°What happened?¡± ¡°Someone has hacked into the computer, your whereabouts might have been leaked,¡± Shuangjiang urged her, ¡°You need to get out fast, I¡¯m worried there could be an ambush.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t hesitate and prepared to withdraw. But just then, the attic door creaked open, blown by the wind, the street light nearly as tall as the two-story building, its light spilling into the entrance of the little attic. On that door, there was a carving of a plump orange cat. It was unclear what was used to carve it or how long ago it had been done, but the marks were deep and old. Like a child¡¯s doodle, not very lifelike. Strangely, Zhou Xufang glanced at it and then couldn¡¯t look away. Compelled, she approached the attic. The old wooden door creaked as the wind blew, and she stood in front of it, stared at the orange cat for a while, then pushed the door open, the light from the lamp mingling§Ú§é§Ö§ã§ä§Ó§à The room was empty, containing only an old wooden bed and an equally ancient table, with nothing else but spider webs sprawling across the ceiling. She turned on the light, and the room brightened immediately. Oh, there was something carved on the headboard of the wooden bed¡ªit wasn¡¯t an orange cat but a¡­ perhaps a boy, with three strands of hair on his head. The drawing was clumsy. Zhou Xufang wanted to take a closer look, but suddenly, an image flashed into her mind. It was this place, on this bed, where a thin, small child huddled in the corner, eyes red. A woman stood in front of the bed, her back to him, speaking. ¡°Don¡¯t talk to anyone, understand?¡± The child looked about five or six years old, very small, his eyes appearing especially large due to his thinness, sporting a buzzcut, and wearing ill-fitting clothes that hung over him from head to toe. He asked the woman, ¡°Why?¡± His speech was faltering, not fluent at all. Speaking was difficult for him, not very clear, he uttered, word by word, ¡°I¡¯m not mute.¡± ¡°You are!¡± His eyes reddened, holding back tears, ¡°I, am, not.¡± At that age, children¡¯s voices are usually soft and mushy. He wasn¡¯t, he seemed like he had never spoken before, his throat hoarse, but if you listened closely, you could still hear the tender childlike tone. Timid, carrying a fear and anxiety towards the world. He reached out and grabbed the woman¡¯s sleeve, carefully tugging at it, ¡°Aunt Xiu, I can speak, I learned by myself, I didn¡¯t need anyone to teach me.¡± He thought Aunt Xiu would praise him. Since no one had taught him to speak, yet he had learned. Instead, the woman harshly pushed his hand away, scolding him, ¡°If they find out you¡¯re a girl, they¡¯ll kill you. Do you still want to talk?¡± Oh, so the little bald kid was a girl. She nodded while crying, not daring to make a sound, her small body trembling, ¡°I understand.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll never talk again¡­¡± Like an old movie, that frame suddenly pulled away, and another scene burst in. The buzz-cut had turned into a gaunt, small boy, still very thin and rather short. He dragged a pretty boy into the room, the other boy much taller, his skin very fair, coughing. He then helped the boy breathe, stood on his toes, and whispered secretly, ¡°You need to hide, they¡¯ll poison your drink, they are all bad people.¡± It had been too long since he last spoke, his voice rough and hoarse. The boy was surprised, ¡°You can talk?¡± He didn¡¯t answer, instead, he rummaged through his worn pillow and pulled out a pill from the pillowcase, then ran over to the boy, offering him the medicine. He said, ¡°Take this, it¡¯s not poisoned.¡± His vocal cords were strange, the sounds they produced odd. ¡°Bang!¡± Zhou Xufang staggered, unable to stand steadily, and bumped into the corner of the table; the scene in front of her cracked upon impact, colliding in her mind, causing a splitting headache. After jumbling her thoughts topsy-turvy, it vanished into thin air. In just that instant, despite her usually excellent memory, she couldn¡¯t recall the people from the scene, only a vague voice still echoing in her ear. Who was that child? Was it an illusion? Below, someone suddenly exclaimed, ¡°What¡¯s that noise?!¡± ¡°It sounds like it¡¯s from the attic.¡± Zhou Xufang couldn¡¯t wait, she directly jumped out the window, landing on the ground right as a voice came through her earpiece. ¡°Ah Fang, we¡¯ve got trouble.¡± ¡°Get out fast!¡± Zhou Xufang took off her earpiece, listening closely. Footsteps, and the sound of car wheels pressing against the ground, drew closer, increasingly clear. ¡°Surround it.¡± It was Luo Qinghe¡¯s voice, ¡°Don¡¯t let a single fly escape.¡± Zhou Xufang looked in the direction of the sound, her good eyesight allowing her to see the Luo Family garage, hundreds of meters away, where the lift door suddenly flung open, and seven or eight SUVs drove out. This Luo Qinghe, cunning enough to be annoying. Zhou Xufang had initially planned to escape, but suddenly she didn¡¯t want to, she felt like teaching someone a lesson. ¡°Z, right?¡± She walked over from the garage, wearing a dull blue dress, ¡°I¡¯ve been waiting for you for a long time.¡± Zhou Xufang, clad in black, stood under a street lamp, her cap casting a shadow over her eyes, ¡°You¡¯ve been investigating me?¡± They even found Shuangjiang, they must have been investigating for a long time. No wonder Lixiang said, ¡°Luo family people are like dogs, once they bite, they never let go.¡± Luo Qinghe flipped her hair beside her ear, she didn¡¯t approach, she just stood far away, watching Zhou Xufang, ¡°How can you play with someone like you without preparing?¡± She had been researching this person for a long time, knowing that the Jiang Family had employed her and aware of her capabilities. Since the Jiang Family initiated the investigation, she had been waiting, hoping they would approach her, as she had long wanted to meet this errand runner. As expected, she came on behalf of the Jiang Family. ¡°Who hired you? Jiang Zhi, or Old Mrs. Jiang?¡± Jiang Zhi had fallen into the water, and a suspect emerged from the Luo Family. This trip of hers was definitely on behalf of the Jiang Family. Zhou Xufang remained silent. Luo Qinghe was not in a hurry either; he waved his hand, signaling the few SUVs to approach, ¡°They all say you can do anything. Today, I want to see how you ascend to the heavens or burrow into the ground.¡± Who are they? They are the twenty-some individuals in those SUVs. Zhou Xufang glanced at the logo pasted on the car, her peers¡ªFOR. The wind was strong; she fastened the hood of her hoodie over her cap, tying the straps and looking toward Luo Qinghe. ¡°I warned you not to investigate or provoke me,¡± she said, squatting down to pick up a pebble the size of a thumb. She tossed it in her hand twice. ¡°I can¡¯t ascend to the heavens or enter the earth, but killing you is much easier than doing either of those.¡± Her voice was cold and steady, devoid of fluctuations. After finishing, she threw the pebble in her hand. The pebble traveled in a straight line, cutting through the wind, grazing Luo Qinghe¡¯s face, and striking an SUV behind her. Thud! The SUV¡¯s window glass cracked. Luo Qinghe turned his head aside, his cheek quickly oozing blood. He touched the half-inch-long cut, his hand coming away bloody. The wound wasn¡¯t deep. He touched his sore cheek, which was starting to feel numb, fire in his eyes: ¡°You won¡¯t kill me. You¡¯ve taken on many errand tasks and have never killed a soul.¡± He laughed, looking at Zhou Xufang, ¡°Will you dare to kill someone?¡± Zhou Xufang clenched her teeth. This woman was too annoying; she had surely investigated her for a long time. ¡°Someone catch her for me. Whoever succeeds, ask for money or power,¡± Luo Qinghe said, dragging the last syllable, ¡°either is fine.¡± With one sentence, the men in the SUVs were all restless. A fight would ensue today. Zhou Xufang pulled out a pair of leather gloves from her pocket, put them on, stepped back, and was about to jump into action when she paused. She heard it, a coughing sound. ¡°Cough, cough, cough, cough¡­¡± Approaching intermittently. It was Jiang Zhi. Then came his lazy voice: ¡°What¡¯s happening here, so lively?¡± Zhou Xufang turned around. Luo Qinghe and his hired thugs also turned around. Under a streetlight outside the fence, wavering slightly, a figure emerged with a long shadow, dyed dark blue hair, walking slowly, backlit; he came from the darkness with a crescent moon behind him, no stars in the sky, but they were in his eyes. They say: beauty lies in the bones, not in the skin. Jiang Zhi looked the part, both in bones and skin. Luo Qinghe wiped the blood from his face with a handkerchief, looking through the fence at the person outside, ¡°You haven¡¯t been to the Luo Family for seven or eight years, what wind brought you here today?¡± He stepped one foot on the Luo Family¡¯s fence, his hair casually cut; the wind blew, covering his eyebrows, his expression, a mix of smiling and non-smiling: ¡°Your father is the suspect who pushed me into the sea; am I wrong in coming to identify the killer?¡± That blue hair¡ªa color that shouldn¡¯t be serious¡ªdyed by him added not less to his noble air, but more defiant and arrogant traits, clearly showing his youth. Like a young man. A young man with fine clothes and high spirits, daring to compare with the heavens. ¡°You haven¡¯t answered me,¡± he said slowly, unhurriedly, asking Luo Qinghe, ¡°What is this? Gathering a crowd to fight?¡± Luo Qinghe replied unflinchingly, ¡°This little thief broke into my Luo Family¡¯s property and I caught her.¡± ¡°Catching a thief?¡± Jiang Zhi glanced at the ¡®little thief,¡¯ the peach blossom eyes brimming with laughter, ¡°Perfect, I brought the police.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Luo Qinghe was speechless. As for Zhou Xufang, she felt a bit stupefied; she just wanted to fight quietly, to teach a lesson quietly¡­ She didn¡¯t want to end up in a cell. Jiang Zhi had already dialed the phone, leaning against the Luo Family¡¯s iron fence, fiddling with the hair blown over his forehead: ¡°Nanchu, have you arrived? Come to ¡®catch the thief.''¡± ¡®Little thief¡¯ Zhou Xufang: ¡°¡­¡± Could she still escape now? ¡°wu¡ª¡ªwu¡ª¡ªwu¡ª¡ªwu¡ª¡ª¡± The siren was loud. In less than a minute, Qiao Nanchu arrived, accompanied by the Criminal Investigation Team¡¯s Mr. Cheng. Before entering the Luo Family¡¯s main gate, Jiang Zhi left a message for Qiao Nanchu. ¡°Let her go.¡± Qiao Nanchu looked at him, ¡°What do you mean?¡± He said, ¡°She¡¯s my person.¡± How strange those words sounded. Qiao Nanchu asked, ¡°Did you send her?¡± He didn¡¯t say whether he did or didn¡¯t, but instead commanded, ¡°Don¡¯t hurt her, or else,¡± There was more to it. Qiao Nanchu was waiting for him to continue. S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Jiang Zhi, rarely this serious, said, ¡°Otherwise, we can¡¯t be brothers.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Well, this isn¡¯t someone recognizing a murderer, this is more like a hero saving the beauty. No longer lingering, Jiang Zhi entered the Luo Family¡¯s gate. The last time he visited the Luo family was eight years ago. Eight years earlier, the Jiang and Luo families had a good relationship. The Jiang family¡¯s second son had married the third daughter of the Luo family, making the two families related by marriage, and they used to visit each other often. Jiang Zhi, not fond of going out, was sixteen when he first visited the Luo family. He saw Luo Qinghe teaching someone a lesson and meddled in, calling over the little mute of the Luo family, specifically asking him to lead the way. That little mute, perhaps due to being whipped with rose bushes for a while, was covered in blood. So thin, barely even ten years old. Jiang Zhi asked him, ¡°What is your name?¡± He picked up a stick and scratched three lines in the dirt. Indeed, he was called Luo San, not even a formal name. Then he asked, ¡°What¡¯s its name?¡± pointing to a fat cat beside his feet which had just come out of hiding. ¡°Meow.¡± The cat was indeed fat. At fourteen years old, the little mute from the Luo family was as thin as a pole; he took the stick and scratched four lines in the dirt. ¡°Four?¡± Jiang Zhi looked at the lines. The little mute awkwardly wrote another character. Luo Si, the orange cat was called Luo Si. And he was Luo San. ¡°You can write?¡± As soon as Jiang Zhi finished speaking, as if greatly startled, the boy immediately rubbed out the awkward Luo character, pointed down the path ahead, then turned and ran away. Indeed, a peculiar person. Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t leave until very late that day, having spent most of it at the Luo Family. He didn¡¯t see Luo San again until late evening just as his driver was pulling out of the Luo estate. Someone smashed his car window. The driver stopped, ¡°Young master, it¡¯s the foster son from the Luo family.¡± That little mute, apparently. I heard, he¡¯s also a bit simple-minded. The Luo family even said he was mentally challenged. For reasons unknown, he got out of the car, saw the skinny boy through the fence, and just couldn¡¯t bring himself to reprimand him. He asked, ¡°Why did you smash my car?¡± The little simpleton couldn¡¯t speak; his wrists so thin, they easily slipped through the iron bars to open his hand, revealing a piece of braised pork, oily and glistening. He grabbed a piece of the pork to give to Jiang Zhi. ¡°Why are you giving me a piece of meat?¡± He pointed to his own mouth. ¡°For me to eat?¡± He nodded. Jiang Zhi, at sixteen, was fastidious and somewhat germaphobic, naturally disdainful, but for some unknown reason, he still took it. The little mute dropped the pork and ran off. Jiang Zhi stared at the meat in his hand, a large and fatty piece of braised pork, the first time anyone had ever given him a piece of meat. Knowing his aversion to dirt, the driver quickly handed him a handkerchief and water, ¡°Give it to me, and wash up first.¡± He put it in his mouth and ate. It was too fatty, overwhelmingly so. Jiang Zhi found out later that the piece of meat was stolen; that little mute from the Luo family had been beaten for stealing it, and again, beaten with rose bushes. ¡°Brother Zhi.¡± ¡°Brother Zhi.¡± Luo Changde put down his teacup and called out twice. Jiang Zhi snapped back to the present, suppressing the memory, and with an unfriendly tone said, ¡°Brother Zhi is also something you can call me?¡± Luo Changde: ¡°¡­¡± As families related by marriage, Jiang Zhi was still supposed to address his maternal cousin Jiang Fuli casually as uncle. Chapter 109: 109: Fang Bao confessed, together now~ Chapter 109: 109: Fang Bao confessed, together now~ Jiang Zhi had only stayed at the Luo Family for a little over ten minutes. Luo Changde was very skilled at playing Tai Chi, not giving Jiang Zhi a single useful word, so he didn¡¯t bother wasting any more time with him. When he came out, Qiao Nanchu was still in the Luo Family¡¯s courtyard. ¡°Why did you come out so quickly?¡± He was concerned about Zhou Xufang and didn¡¯t care about anything else, ¡°What about her?¡± ¡°She ran off really fast and scaled the wall quite smoothly, who needs me to let her go?¡± Qiao Nanchu said with a cigarette in his mouth, pointing in a direction, ¡°There, she ran that way.¡± Jiang Zhi went after her. ... ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± Qiao Nanchu blew a smoke ring and stopped him, asking, ¡°When did you start working with her?¡± So, he was keeping secrets from him. Jiang Zhi turned his head, standing under the streetlight, ¡°It¡¯s none of your business.¡± He looked far off at Qiao Nanchu, his short hair casting broken shadows on his face, half-lit and half-dark, ¡°You already know I¡¯m working with her, so stop tailing her.¡± After finishing his sentence, he resumed his pursuit. Qiao Nanchu flicked the ash off his cigarette, tsk, this was quite unusual. The Luo Family¡¯s villa was situated in a somewhat special location, separated by a road opposite to the undeveloped slums, with deep alleys, intertwining paths, and old, chaotically distributed Ping buildings, where dogs barked at night. There were no surveillance cameras here, and with many intersections, it was a good place to hide. Upon reaching the mouth of the alley, Jiang Zhi stopped, slightly out of breath, ¡°Don¡¯t follow.¡± Ah Wan refused sternly, ¡°How can that be okay? What if you encounter criminals¡ª¡± Jiang Zhi looked back with a glance. Ah Wan immediately shut up, ¡°Oh.¡± This damn, ubiquitous, reflexive reaction! Jiang Zhi entered the alley alone, choosing a path away from the light, and upon reaching the deep alley, he stopped and looked around, ¡°There¡¯s no one else here, come out.¡± Zhou Xufang, who was actually lying on the roof of a Ping building: ¡°¡­¡± There were the sounds of dogs barking and cats meowing, but she could only hear Jiang Zhi¡¯s voice, as though it was the wind that brushed in, softening both her ears and heart. He said, ¡°Come out and see me, I have a question for you.¡± Alright. She gave up resisting, jumped down from the Ping building, and after landing, emerged from a dim path. Hearing footsteps, Jiang Zhi turned his head and saw her, a pitch-dark figure with her eyes completely covered by glasses, offering no glimpse at all. It was strange that even in this disguise, he could still recognize her. Worried about scaring her off again, he didn¡¯t approach, standing still, and asked her, ¡°Why did you come to the Luo Family?¡± She answered, ¡°Looking for a watch.¡± She must have researched this case beforehand, or she would not have known about the clue of the watch, which meant that there must be a very capable hacker behind her. This hacker¡­ Are they male or female? Jiang Zhi nearly blurted out the question but controlled himself, asking seriously, ¡°Who hired you to look for the watch?¡± She couldn¡¯t come up with an answer. ¡°If no one hired you,¡± he looked at her, his gaze deep, like an unfathomable and clean sea, ¡°then is it for me?¡± Yes. Zhou Xufang wouldn¡¯t admit it, ¡°Your grandmother paid me twenty million, and I¡¯m helping you because¡ª¡± Jiang Zhi interrupted her, ¡°I will also pay you twenty million to hire you.¡± She was taken aback, then reacted, ¡°What do you want me to do?¡± He stepped forward out of the backlight, the fine shadows in his eyes slowly becoming clear, then reflecting into a pitch-black shape, which was her shadow. He said, ¡°Take off your mask.¡± Zhou Xufang, without thinking, replied, ¡°I don¡¯t accept.¡± She turned to leave. Jiang Zhi called after her from behind, ¡°Zhou Xufang.¡± Zhou Xufang¡­ How on earth did he recognize her? How could he be so sure, without a shadow of doubt? She should have fled, she should have clung to the chance of not being fully exposed yet, hidden herself tighter, never to reveal that disguise, that protective coloration again, but she couldn¡¯t move, as if nailed to the spot, foolishly letting Jiang Zhi enter her defensive circle. He stood right in front of her, just an arm¡¯s length away, and asked, ¡°What are you afraid of?¡± She feared many things. Crowds, socializing, even just making simple eye contact, which is why she always wore her hat low, crouched in places without people, guarding vigilantly, hiding day and night. ¡°I¡ª¡± She had just lifted her head and hadn¡¯t finished speaking when Jiang Zhi leaned in, placing his lips on hers, through the mask. Her eyes widened, stunned for a moment before coming to her senses, intending to push him away, but he grasped her hand. ¡°Your hand is all red.¡± Jiang Zhi¡¯s fingers caressed the back of her hand, where the skin swiftly reddened and grew warm, he laughed, released her hand, and placed it on her forehead, ¡°Still won¡¯t admit it?¡± Now, she was utterly exposed. Zhou Xufang bit her lip in regret, ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± She no longer masked her voice, nor did she avoid Jiang Zhi¡¯s gaze. Confused and lost, unsure of how to handle him, she watched as he stepped further into her territory, leaving her helpless. Surrender, Zhou Xufang. She stopped running, standing motionlessly as Jiang Zhi removed her glasses, her mask, and then her hat, a sliver of moonlight falling on her fair face. Lips like capsized boats, eyes like phoenixes, cold and aloof when not smiling. Her eyes were very large, distinct in black and white, splashed with the darkest ink, like a solitary star in the desert, coldly shimmering with loneliness. It was Zhou Xufang, a girl who rarely smiled, a girl who didn¡¯t even know how to smile. Jiang Zhi smoothed her messy hair that was disheveled by the hat, without surprise or urgency, in his usual tone, he asked her, ¡°Are you hurt anywhere?¡± Zhou Xufang shook her head and said, ¡°No.¡± He stepped back to take a good look at her, ensuring she was unharmed, then asked again, ¡°Has anyone bullied you?¡± She shook her head again. ¡°Luo Qinghe¡ª¡± Jiang Zhi was about to ask more when she interrupted him. ¡°Aren¡¯t you curious?¡± Even though she hid it, her eyes still betrayed a glint of uneasy fear and caution, ¡°About my identity, my background, my origins, and about me as a person.¡± Jiang Zhi had seen her running swiftly, he had seen her uprooting trees with her bare hands, he had also seen her sudden fever spikes followed by abrupt recoveries. Perhaps, in the eyes of others, she was already a monster. What did he think? Jiang Zhi stood opposite her, looking up to meet the light, his eyes brighter than the stars: ¡°Curious, of course, I¡¯m curious.¡± Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t understand: ¡°Then why don¡¯t you ask?¡± Ever since he began to doubt her, he had never pressed her for answers. He accepted all her peculiarities and abnormalities; as long as she didn¡¯t say, he would leave it at that, not questioning, nor investigating. Wasn¡¯t he afraid she was a demon? Or a ghost that roamed at night? Jiang Zhi raised his hand, pressing down a tuft of stray hairs at the back of her head, but the disobedient lock sprang up again the moment he let go. Instead, he simply spread his palm and covered her head with it. He smiled and said, ¡°I¡¯m more curious about when you¡¯ll come to kiss me.¡± How could there be someone like Jiang Zhi? The shadows in his eyes were full, all of them were her, all of her little monster self. Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t want to think anymore, couldn¡¯t think; her mind filled with Jiang Zhi¡¯s voice, his appearance, so without pondering deeply, her body made a quicker move than her brain. She tiptoed and kissed him on the face. Then, he was stunned, staring at her without a response for a long time. She tugged at his clothes: ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± His Adam¡¯s apple turned red and bobbed: ¡°You didn¡¯t forget what I said, did you?¡± His speech was still calm, but his fluttering eyelashes betrayed him, ¡°If you kiss me, we¡¯ll be together.¡± That day behind the hospital in the garden, he had said if she agreed to be with him, she should come over and kiss him. Zhou Xufang, who had a good memory, naturally remembered. She tiptoed again and kissed him on the lips, a light touch, and then she stepped back, standing up straight, and declared with the solemnity of an oath: ¡°Jiang Zhi, I like you.¡± Before, she wanted to buy an island, live hidden away by herself, walking on land when no one was around, hiding underwater when people came. Now, she wanted to follow Jiang Zhi. These words, if thought over carefully, she wouldn¡¯t be able to say them, so she seized the moment while the wind blinded her eyes, while Jiang Zhi¡¯s gaze stole her soul, and she said it all at once. ¡°I really like you, I want to be with you for a lifetime.¡± Each word was solemn and earnest, although uttered in the heat of the moment, it was no joke; she was very serious. ¡°Ah Fang,¡± Jiang Zhi¡¯s eyes were warm, breaking all the stars apart, reflections scattered and bright. He bent down to her height, his ears reddening, his voice floating: ¡°Say it again, the words you just said.¡± Zhou Xufang repeated with all seriousness and sincerity: ¡°I like you; I want to be with you for a lifetime.¡± Finally, he had waited for this moment. The girl had opened her heart, her words sweet enough to kill. Jiang Zhi opened his arms, hugging her close, his eyes and brows curving into a smile: ¡°From now on, Jiang Zhi is yours.¡± Oh, he was hers. Zhou Xufang was delighted, lifting her hanging hands to embrace him tightly, her Jiang Zhi. In her ears, he was speaking, his voice low, soft, and gentle. ¡°Are you hot?¡± Zhou Xufang answered honestly: ¡°Hot.¡± Her exposed skin was all red, as if boiled, exceptionally warm. Jiang Zhi held her with one hand and touched her forehead with the other: ¡°You have a fever again.¡± Zhou Xufang: ¡°Oh.¡± So be it if it was a fever. Jiang Zhi was hugging her; she wouldn¡¯t be sad even if she burned to death. No, she couldn¡¯t burn to death; if she did, she couldn¡¯t be hugged anymore. With that thought, Zhou Xufang pushed Jiang Zhi away a little, just a little, so she could breathe. Jiang Zhi relaxed his embrace slightly, tilting his head back, gazing at her face: ¡°Are you in discomfort?¡± ¡°Not at all.¡± It was just a bit of ringing in her ears, as if set off by fireworks, dizzy, with an urge to hop and leap. Jiang Zhi asked again: ¡°Any reactions other than the fever?¡± Zhou Xufang: ¡°No.¡± Her heart was leaping wildly. But she couldn¡¯t say it, saying so would scare Jiang Zhi, and what if he never hugged her again¡­ She couldn¡¯t say it! Jiang Zhi still let her go, holding her hand, leaning down, patiently explaining to her: ¡°I know you¡¯re different from ordinary people, you don¡¯t have to say anything you don¡¯t want to, just be my girlfriend, that¡¯s enough, everything else is secondary. But you need to tell me what you can and cannot do.¡± He had held her, embraced her, and even kissed her. Only starting a family was left. ¡°Oh, Jiang Zhi is infertile.¡± Miss Zhou Xufang felt a bit lost since she still had no concept of this matter. She shook her head, ¡°I don¡¯t know either.¡± He was like a big grey wolf coaxing a little lamb to open the door, his peach blossom eyes hooked with seduction, casting a spell to hook out someone¡¯s heart and soul, gently and persuasively, ¡°Then shall we give it a try?¡± Zhou Xiaoyang: ¡°Hmm?¡± He leaned down and kissed her briefly. In the end, he stopped and looked at her. ¡°Your face is very red.¡± Zhou Xufang¡¯s face turned beet red. Jiang Zhi¡¯s handsome face came close to hers, ¡°Your eyes are a bit red too.¡± In fact, it was the same for him. His eyes misty with moisture, utterly bewildered. He touched the temperature of her neck, ¡°You¡¯re very hot.¡± Probably more than forty degrees, ¡°Does it feel bad?¡± Zhou Xufang was still dazed, her mouth agape, red and moist, with a silly expression, she shook her head stupidly, ¡°It doesn¡¯t feel bad.¡± It¡¯s just tinnitus, just dizziness, just palpitations, just¡­ None of that mattered! She was so excited she wanted to leap to the moon and roll around! Jiang Zhi became worried, ¡°Shouldn¡¯t we go to the hospital for a checkup?¡± She said no, and again that it wasn¡¯t necessary, and then, she hopped in place twice, restraining herself from jumping several meters high, saying, ¡°I¡¯m completely fine.¡± Jiang Zhi was amused by her and rubbed her hair, ¡°If you feel unwell, you have to tell me.¡± ¡°Mhm.¡± Jiang Zhi hugged her back into his arms, caressing her soft hair with his head, ¡°Another kiss.¡± Zhou Xufang timidly said, ¡°Okay.¡± He pulled her into an alley. The moon also hid behind the clouds. After a while, there was a voice. ¡°Wait here for me, I¡¯ll go and distract Lin Wanwan.¡± Zhou Xufang, still with red ears, ¡°Why do you need to distract him?¡± Jiang Zhi¡¯s voice was hoarse, saying, ¡°He¡¯s too dumb. I¡¯m not comfortable letting him know about your identity as an errand runner.¡± Zhou Xufang, still with red ears, ¡°Oh.¡± He fixed her hat and mask again, ¡°Hide there and wait for me.¡± Zhou Xufang, still with red ears, ¡°Okay.¡± She followed Jiang Zhi¡¯s instructions, hid in the depths of the alley, crouching in the dark waiting for him. Jiang Zhi emerged from the mouth of the alley, onto the main road, where Ah Wan was still waiting, bored, counting the stones on the ground. ¡°Lin Wanwan.¡± The voice sounded strange, somewhat sultry, somewhat seductive, somewhat beguiling. Iron-straight man Ah Wan didn¡¯t overthink it, ¡°Boss, you finally came out.¡± He looked behind Jiang Zhi, ¡°Where¡¯s that errand runner miss?¡± ¡°She¡¯s gone.¡± ¡°Ah? She left just like that?¡± Such an unprofessional bodyguard! Ah Wan couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Was it Miss Zhou?¡± Jiang Zhi kept a straight face, ¡°No.¡± Upon hearing this, Ah Wan became excited, overzealous: ¡°I knew it! Miss Zhou is so dignified and virtuous, how could she possibly be involved in petty theft?¡± Petty theft¡­ Jiang Zhi wanted to kick him. The man didn¡¯t know when to stop, kept badmouthing, kept blackening, ¡°That errand runner, always clinging to you, must have fallen for your good looks.¡± Jiang Zhi narrowed his eyes. The man grew more excited as he spoke, ¡°Boss, you must be very careful, I think she might be a scum.¡± ¡°Enough!¡± Ah Wan was so startled that his body trembled. So fierce¡­ He was just looking out for him, how wronged, how heartbroken. He didn¡¯t dare to retort, and silently snorted through his nose, ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll say no more, just be careful.¡± In the end, if he got molested, it would be his own fault! ¡°Boss, why is your face so red?¡± Jiang Zhi unnaturally turned his head away, licking his lips, ¡°It¡¯s the wind.¡± Naive Ah Wan was so kind, generous, considerate, and professional. He cared without bearing any grudge, ¡°You better get into the car quickly then, don¡¯t get sick from the wind again.¡± Jiang Zhi stood at the mouth of the alley, motionless, ¡°Give me the car keys.¡± Ah Wan: ¡°Ah?¡± ¡°The car keys.¡± Ah Wan handed over the car keys, not understanding what he meant, ¡°What do you need the car keys for?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll drive myself; you go back first.¡± ¡°How can you drive with your condition?¡± What if he fainted halfway through¡­ Ah Wan was scared just thinking about it, standing firm, ¡°No no, I must stick with you. If something were to happen to you, not to mention your family¡¯s old lady, Ms. Song from my family would also kill me.¡± Jiang Zhi casually threw out, ¡°If you don¡¯t leave, I¡¯ll kill you right now.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Not human! Ah Wan shrank her neck, feeling a bit intimidated, ¡°Boss, you¡¯re acting so strange today.¡± Jiang Zhi lost patience and threw her a cutting glare, ¡°Scram.¡± Ah Wan: ¡°Oh, I¡¯m off then.¡± Once she was gone, Jiang Zhi picked up the car keys and turned back into the depths of the alley. ¡°Xu Fang.¡± A head peeked out from around the corner: ¡°Hmm?¡± S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. She was squatting there, like a mushroom. Jiang Zhi walked over and plucked the black mushroom up: ¡°Still feverish?¡± Mushroom Xu Fang said, ¡°Not anymore.¡± Jiang Zhi touched her head, which was no longer hot; her fever had come quickly and dissipated just as swiftly. He led her outside, ¡°I¡¯ll take you home.¡± Xu Fang obediently followed, her mouth still red¡ªwhere he had bitten her earlier, ¡°Aren¡¯t we going to the hospital?¡± He was still admitted there. He pulled her hand into his, their fingers intertwining tightly, ¡°No need, the beds there are uncomfortable.¡± ¡°Then, can you be discharged?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± The car was parked on the opposite side of the alley, and Jiang Zhi opened the passenger door. Xu Fang didn¡¯t get in, instead saying, ¡°I¡¯ll drive.¡± Driving was tiring, and her boyfriend was quite delicate. Jiang Zhi agreed, handing her the car keys: ¡°Drive slowly.¡± He wanted to spend more time with her. ¡°Sure.¡± All the way, Jiang Zhi did nothing but watch her. Xu Fang drove with full concentration, never glancing at Jiang Zhi, which made him a bit grumpy. At the traffic lights, he pecked her on the face to ease his irritation. Xu Fang drove unusually slow, taking an hour and a half for a fifty-minute journey, and by the time they reached Yuquan Bay, it was past ten o¡¯clock. She parked the car at the roadside and didn¡¯t drive in. ¡°We¡¯re here.¡± Jiang Zhi furrowed his brows, ¡°That¡¯s it?¡± ¡°Mhm.¡± He sat still without unbuckling his seatbelt and suggested, ¡°Let¡¯s go for another round.¡± Xu Fang chuckled, ¡°Okay.¡± Then, after circling another three times, the car once again stopped at the entrance of Yuquan Bay¡ªnow it was eleven. Usually, Jiang Zhi would have been asleep by this time. He checked the time and unbuckled her seatbelt for her, ¡°If you feel unwell at all, call me.¡± Xu Fang agreed, ¡°Sure.¡± Jiang Zhi got out and opened the car door for her: ¡°When will you let me visit your place?¡± he said with a hint of grievance, ¡°I¡¯m already your boyfriend.¡± It just wasn¡¯t right not having visited his girlfriend¡¯s home yet. Xu Fang replied, ¡°It¡¯s very late now, and you¡¯re not well. You shouldn¡¯t be staying up.¡± Sometimes she was so obedient. And sometimes, she had a rationale for everything. Jiang Zhi had figured out her temperament by now; she was very principled, yet outside those boundaries, her tolerance was quite high. He still needed to coax her slowly. He put the hood of her hoodie on her, ¡°Go upstairs.¡± Xu Fang waved, ¡°Goodbye, Jiang Zhi.¡± After saying that, she walked toward the residential complex. Jiang Zhi leaned against the car door, watching her enter; just as her silhouette disappeared from view, she came darting back. He laughed, ¡°Why did you come back? Can¡¯t bear to leave me?¡± Xu Fang had raced back: ¡°I¡¯ll take you home.¡± ¡°No need.¡± She insisted, ¡°I¡¯ll take you.¡± The world was full of dangers, with so many vile people around, and many who wished to harm Jiang Zhi¡ªa beautiful young man on his own would be in grave danger. Xu Fang couldn¡¯t rest easy. Jiang Zhi, half-amused and half-touched by her earnestness, said, ¡°If you take me home, then I¡¯ll have to drive you back again. Do we even need to sleep tonight?¡± Seeing the little lady standing firm, he had to cajole her, ¡°I¡¯m not so frail. You be good and go sleep. I¡¯m heading to the old house; my grandmother is there, it¡¯s safe.¡± Xu Fang hesitated for a long time: ¡°Then be careful on the way.¡± ¡°Mhm.¡± Jiang Zhi held her, reluctant to let go, ¡°How about a hug before I go?¡± ¡°Okay.¡± She looked around nervously; once sure no one was around, she timidly and tensely¡­ snuggled into his embrace. ¡°Xu Fang.¡± ¡°Mhm.¡± Jiang Zhi whispered in her ear, laughing, his eyes shining like the stars, ¡°I had a great time today.¡± She spoke softly, saying that she did too, very, very much. Chapter 110: 110: Tons of Dog Food after Falling in Love Chapter 110: 110: Tons of Dog Food after Falling in Love Zhou Xufang was so excited she couldn¡¯t help but jump up and down. She hopped around the entryway for a long time before going to turn on her computer. ¡°Shuangjiang.¡± SpongeBob hadn¡¯t popped up yet. The ecstatic Zhou Xufang had forgotten what time it was and kept poking at the computer, ¡°Shuangjiang.¡± ¡°Are you asleep?¡± ... On the other side, the young girl, roused by the alarm sound from the computer, crawled out of bed, blinking sleepily with her cheeks flushed red from high altitude, yawned, got out of bed, and sat in front of the computer, sending two words over: ¡°No.¡± On the screen, Zhou Xufang¡¯s enlarged face was red and radiant, like the morning sun. ¡°The morning sun¡± grinned, ¡°I¡¯m very happy today.¡± Shuangjiang was just about to ask why she was so happy. She couldn¡¯t wait to blurt out, ¡°I have a boyfriend now.¡± The next sentence was even more upbeat, more excited, and filled with joy, ¡°My boyfriend is Jiang Zhi!¡± Shuangjiang wasn¡¯t surprised at all. Zhou Xufang, ah, would sooner or later be whisked away by that pretty boy. ¡°What about Moon Bay?¡± Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t think before answering, ¡°Not going anymore.¡± She said, ¡°I have a boyfriend now.¡± She was incredibly excited, emphatically dancing with joy as she stressed, ¡°My boyfriend is Jiang Zhi.¡± Her tone oozed with pride, ¡°I want to be with my boyfriend.¡± Shuangjiang: ¡°¡­¡± Zhou Xufang, ah, had drunk the love potion Jiang Zhi gave her, and quite a big bowl of it. ¡°Have you told him everything?¡± Shuangjiang adjusted her address, ¡°Have you told your boyfriend Jiang Zhi everything?¡± Zhou Xufang shook her head. The ¡®morning sun¡¯ on the screen suddenly became clouded, revealing a worried expression, ¡°He only knows a little bit; I don¡¯t dare tell him everything.¡± Those eyes of hers that turn red when she¡¯s angry¡ªshe didn¡¯t dare let Jiang Zhi see. Too much like a female ghost¡­ Shuangjiang asked, ¡°What about later?¡± Zhou Xufang had thought about this question, ¡°I¡¯ll tell him everything once he loves me a bit more.¡± By that time, ah, he won¡¯t be able to do without her¡­ Zhou Xufang buried her head and sneakily chuckled. On the screen, Shuangjiang sent her a bunch of little peach hearts, which reflected into Zhou Xufang¡¯s eyes, filling her sight with peachy hues. She laughed to herself for a while, reached for her phone, and said, ¡°I won¡¯t talk to you anymore, I¡¯m going to send Jiang Zhi a WeChat.¡± Then she stopped chatting with Shuangjiang. Her fingers danced on the phone, typing for a long time¡ª ¡°He should still be driving.¡± Driving required focus, so she would wait a bit longer to contact him. Zhou Xufang deleted the message she had typed, just about to put down her phone, when Jiang Zhi sent a video call. She immediately answered. On the screen, Jiang Zhi¡¯s handsome face popped up. ¡°Zhou Xufang.¡± Zhou Xufang looked around for the camera, ¡°Have you arrived home?¡± Jiang Zhi, in profile toward her, was driving, ¡°Still on the road.¡± The sounds of traffic flowed into the video. ¡°Then you drive; don¡¯t talk to me.¡± After saying that, she hung up. Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± He wanted to drag her over and nibble on her to vent his annoyance. Jiang Zhi pressed the gas pedal, his car speeding along until he arrived at the old residence. He hadn¡¯t even unbuckled his seatbelt before sending Zhou Xufang a WeChat message. ¡°I¡¯m here.¡± As soon as his voice message was sent, Zhou Xufang initiated a video call. Fine, he wasn¡¯t annoyed with her anymore. It really was strange; ever since he started liking this girl, his level of immaturity had broken records time and again. He accepted the call. On the other end, Zhou Xufang clumsily looked for the camera for a while before she found it and then called out to him, ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± Jiang Zhi felt his soul being called away. She was incredibly cute. His girlfriend, the cutest in the universe. ¡°What are you doing?¡± He unfastened his seatbelt, got out of the car, and didn¡¯t enter the house. Instead, he stood under the lantern outside the old house, using the lantern¡¯s light to see the girl in the video. She appeared to be sitting on a couch, with a pristine white wall behind her, sitting up straight and answering his questions, ¡°I was waiting for you to send me a WeChat.¡± So well-behaved. His girlfriend, the best-behaved in the universe. At this moment, there was a sound from inside the house. Jiang Zhi covered the phone¡¯s screen, placing it against his lips and whispering quietly, ¡°Xufang, don¡¯t make any noise yet, wait until I get into my room to talk.¡± Zhou Xufang also whispered quietly, ¡°Okay.¡± It was Mrs. Luo from the second branch of the Luo Family who came out. ¡°Brother Zhi has arrived.¡± Jiang Zhi slipped his phone back into his pocket and walked into the house, responding, ¡°Hmm.¡± Luo Changfang held a toy poodle in her hands, her nails shiny and well-maintained. She gently stroked the poodle¡¯s fur, her voice soft and tender, ¡°How come you were discharged? Does your grandma know?¡± ¡°Bark!¡± The poodle barked menacingly at Jiang Zhi. Jiang Zhi slightly raised his brows, a frostiness congealing in his eyes, ¡°If I wish to be discharged, I will be discharged. Who else needs to agree?¡± The poodle immediately quieted down, burying itself into its owner¡¯s embrace. Luo Changfang soothingly patted the toy poodle while her eyes twinkled with amusement, ¡°That¡¯s not what I meant. Since you¡¯ve been discharged, we should be informed in advance, so the servants can prepare your soup and medicine.¡± After winter had set in, Jiang Zhi¡¯s medicine seemed to never run out. He coughed a few times, his lips turned red, but his skin was pale, he slightly gasped, ¡°This old lady is too concerned, it¡¯s unnecessary for second aunt to trouble herself.¡± Luo Changfang nodded, ¡°Alright then, I won¡¯t disturb you any further, you should rest early.¡± He coughed again a few times and went upstairs. Once he entered his room, he locked the door, turned on the light, and took out his cellphone, ¡°We can talk now.¡± Zhou Xufang filled the camera entirely with her face, magnified in such a way that it made her look even more clueless. She asked Jiang Zhi, ¡°Are you feeling unwell again?¡± Jiang Zhi took off his jacket and sat on the bed, ¡°No.¡± She stared at the camera, gaze eager, fixated on Jiang Zhi¡¯s pale face as if she wanted to climb through the screen, ¡°But you coughed.¡± Jiang Zhi responded with a light and nonchalant tone, ¡°Old problem, it¡¯s alright.¡± ¡°How can it be alright, you¡¯re sick!¡± Zhou Xufang¡¯s expression was very serious. ¡°Jiang Fuli is not a good person, and her mother definitely isn¡¯t either. You need to be careful living there, don¡¯t eat anything they give you, even the water¡ªdon¡¯t drink carelessly.¡± She was so anxious her face wrinkled up. Jiang Zhi was still smiling, and when he did smile, his eyes bloomed like peach blossoms, becoming unspeakably beautiful, ¡°Mhm, I know.¡± She was still worried, ¡°Show me your room.¡± ¡°What for?¡± ¡°To see if there is any chronic poison or something.¡± She was seriously concerned, saying, ¡°That¡¯s how they show it in the TV dramas.¡± Her expression was a bit innocently dumb. She seldom smiled, with a cold expression, when angry her lips pursed into a straight line, when worried her eyebrows furrowed into furled marks, not many emotions, but all written on her face. Cold but cute. ¡°Xufang.¡± Her focus wavered, ¡°Hmm?¡± Jiang Zhi leaned back on his arms, the top buttons of his shirt were undone revealing a glimpse of his collarbone, and he told his little lady, ¡°Bring your face closer.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± She brought her entire face up to the camera. Jiang Zhi kissed the screen and laughed, ¡°Why are you so obedient.¡± Then the screen went dark. It was Zhou Xufang¡¯s phone that had dropped; she fumbled under the sofa for a while before picking up the phone and putting her face back in the camera, now blushing. ¡°Stop worrying about me.¡± Jiang Zhi¡¯s fingertip touched the cool screen, gently caressing it, his eyes tender, though his words not so much, ¡°They are bad people but I¡¯m not exactly a good person either. If they really want to play dirty, it¡¯s not clear yet who will play who.¡± Zhou Xufang corrected him, ¡°You are a good person.¡± Jiang Zhi smiled, a small fang barely noticeable, just a pointed tip visible, enough to soften his fierce look, making him appear like a boy, ¡°In this world, only you think I am a good person.¡± His hands were untainted by any blood. But he liked to manipulate others into doing his dirty deeds, it was a common occurrence. ¡°You are!¡± She was quite firm. Jiang Zhi smiled again, not bothering to correct her. ¡°What did you label me as in WeChat?¡± he asked about something important. The most beautiful beauty in the world. Zhou Xufang was too embarrassed to say, so she lied, ¡°I¡¯ve labeled it with your name.¡± Jiang Zhi was unsatisfied, ¡°It needs to change.¡± Right now, he wanted to slap a ¡®Jiang Zhi Exclusive¡¯ label on Zhou Xufang¡¯s forehead, wishing to proclaim to the entire world that he¡¯d got himself a girl, the best one. Childish, right? He admitted, he was childish and cowardly towards her. ¡°Change it to what?¡± He thought for a moment, ¡°Boyfriend Jiang Zhi.¡± Zhou Xufang, ¡°¡­¡± Her ears started to burn. Thinking again, he still felt it was not enough, ¡°My Baby Boyfriend Jiang Zhi, let¡¯s change it to that for now.¡± Zhou Xufang, ¡°¡­¡± Cringeworthy¡­ Seeing she hadn¡¯t agreed, Jiang Zhi sat up from the bed, his hair messed up, appearing a bit irritable, ¡°Why aren¡¯t you speaking?¡± He didn¡¯t even wait for her to respond before he started to get anxious. ¡°Are you not willing to change it?¡± ¡°Do you no longer like your boyfriend?¡± Zhou Xufang, ¡°¡­¡± People in love, regardless of gender, are often sensitive and petty. Jiang Zhi was no exception. Before gaining her, he plotted in every way he could, and after gaining her, he was trembling with fear, worried that he could not hold on to her. He had surrendered all his pride and principles to her. ¡°Zhou Xufang!¡± Zhou Xufang agreed, ¡°I¡¯ll change it.¡± She held up her phone at a forty-five-degree angle above her, with a look on her face as if she embodied ¡®loyal to the nation¡¯, ¡°I¡¯ll change it!¡± Jiang Zhi was truly quick-tempered. And it was also true that he was easy to coax. He laughed, ¡°Then I¡¯ll change it too.¡± His original WeChat note for Zhou Xufang was ¡®My Little Ancestor¡¯, now it became ¡®My Girlfriend Fangbao the Little Ancestor¡¯. Without being in love, he would never have known he could be so cheesily clingy to this extent. He felt it wasn¡¯t his fault, it was Zhou Xufang, she had cast a spell on him. After hanging up the video call, Jiang Zhi was still unable to calm his mind, climbed up like an idiot, ground ink, and wanted to paint a picture for Zhou Xufang. In the end¡ª Forget it, it was so bad he couldn¡¯t even recognize it himself, hard to bear to look at. He wanted to throw it away, but thinking of Zhou Xufang, he couldn¡¯t bring himself to do it. He summoned a servant, even at the midnight hour to get a scroll, mount it properly, and hang the painting by the bed. The servant hesitated to speak, ¡°Young Master, this is¡­¡± he ventured a guess, ¡°Is it for warding off evil spirits?¡± Soul artist Jiang Zhi, ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Get out.¡± S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. When he referred to himself as ¡®Master¡¯, he was mostly annoyed. The servant scurried away. It was already late at night, Jiang Zhi lay there, looking at the painting, his mind filled with thoughts of Zhou Xufang, not sleepy at all. He took out his phone and began to call. The first person, Qiao Nanchu. ¡°Nanchu.¡± Qiao Nanchu was woken up halfway through his sleep and was irritable, ¡°What time is it, can¡¯t you sleep!¡± Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t care, ¡°It¡¯s very important.¡± ¡°Say it.¡± He said, ¡°I¡¯m no longer single.¡± His tone was clearly boastful. Qiao Nanchu: ¡°¡­¡± He glanced at the time, 12:16 am. His drowsiness was also disrupted, he ran his hand through his hair, cursed under his breath, ¡°Just for this?¡± Jiang Zhi hummed a response, his tone drawn out and full of smugness, all chirpy like a little bird. Up late at night, not sleeping, just to boast about his girlfriend. Sick! Qiao Nanchu managed a half-hearted smile, ¡°Congratulations.¡± Jiang Zhi was to the point, ¡°Straight cash.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°The gift for meeting my girlfriend.¡± Qiao Nanchu: ¡°¡­¡± This guy had changed ever since he¡¯d set his heart on Zhou Xufang, the dignity and indifferent coolness that Old Lady Jiang had painstakingly instilled in him all went to waste. It was as if a person from a painting was dragged out, but at least he seemed alive now. Qiao Nanchu didn¡¯t want to banter with him, ¡°I need to sleep now, hanging up.¡± He promptly ended the call. A few seconds later, Jiang Zhi received a money transfer, he accepted it, then dialed the second call. ¡°Xue Baoyi.¡± At this hour, Xue Baoyi was living her nightlife, who knew in which pleasure ground she was reveling, with music loud enough to deafen. On the stage, the DJ was spinning, Xue Baoyi couldn¡¯t hear well, she shouted over the phone, ¡°It¡¯s too noisy here, I¡¯ll call you back later.¡± Jiang Zhi held his phone away from his ear, ¡°Come out.¡± ¡°Give me half a minute,¡± Xue Baoyi found a quieter place, ¡°What is it that you must say right now.¡± ¡°I¡¯m dating Zhou Xufang.¡± No wonder he was up late at night, struck by spring fever. Xue Baoyi laughed, ¡°Your guy is a block of ice and wood, not easy at all, you finally managed to get a bite.¡± Her previously cheerful tone took a sharp turn, ¡°Who are you calling wood?¡± ¡°¡­¡± Xue Baoyi shuddered a bit at his imposing harshness, ¡°That¡¯s not the point.¡± But that was exactly the point. ¡°Zhou Xufang is not wood.¡± At first, he was haughty, but as he spoke, he became buoyant with pride. Jiang Zhi said, ¡°She¡¯s really well-behaved.¡± And added, ¡°And cute, too.¡± His tone was proud, ¡°She¡¯s also fierce in a fight.¡± Like a parent boasting about their child, ¡°She can uproot a tree barehanded, can you?¡± Xue Baoyi: ¡°¡­¡± ¡°The world champions don¡¯t run as fast as she does, what right do you have to call her wood.¡± Xue Baoyi: ¡°¡­¡± Just like that, he flaunted his face full of pride. Couldn¡¯t stand him anymore, more outrageous than Qiao Nanchu¡¯s cousin who was enslaved by his daughter, Xue Baoyi snapped, ¡°Too much, Brother Zhi, it¡¯s not like no one has ever had a girlfriend, cut the bragging with me.¡± Jiang Zhi was sarcastic, ¡°Can any of those messy girlfriends of yours compare to Zhou Xufang?¡± Messy?! ¡°Jiang Zhi, you¡¯ve said enough, I don¡¯t want to talk to you!¡± ¡°Get the gift ready for when you meet my girlfriend, don¡¯t come empty-handed.¡± After that, Jiang Zhi hung up the call. Xue Baoyi: ¡°¡­¡± Got a girlfriend and making such a fuss? 12:32 am. Xue Bingxue received a call from Jiang Zhi at the hospital. ¡°Bingxue.¡± ¡°I¡¯m busy right now, I have to go change Wei¡¯er¡¯s bandages.¡± The person who usually sleeps after eight and doesn¡¯t stay up late was still very energetic at this time, not coughing or showing signs of asthma anymore, ¡°You do your thing, I¡¯ll say mine.¡± ¡°Oh, then go ahead.¡± Jiang Zhi said, ¡°I¡¯m dating Zhou Xufang.¡± As soon as Xue Bingxue heard it, he immediately asked, ¡°How did you manage to woo her?¡± He wanted to pursue Jiang Wei¡¯er too. ¡°Zhou Xufang and Jiang Wei¡¯er are different.¡± Whenever Jiang Zhi mentioned Zhou Xufang, he was filled with joy, losing all his haughtiness, and just wanting to brag to the whole world about his girl, ¡°Zhou Xufang is a girl who is satisfied with just a pack of cotton candy.¡± Xue Bingxue tried to generalize, ¡°So should I get Wei¡¯er two packs?¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± This silly and naive guy. Jiang Zhi was in a good mood, lazily tossing out a suggestion, ¡°She has a strong personality, but a soft heart, you should stick to her more.¡± ¡°What if she gets annoyed with me?¡± ¡°Give her a beating.¡± As he said this, Xue Bingxue immediately defended, ¡°Wei¡¯er would never hit anyone, she has never hit me.¡± When he thought about it, Jiang Wei¡¯er, who even kicked Qiao Nanchu, rarely ever hit Xue Bingxue. ¡°With a face like yours, I couldn¡¯t bring myself to hit it either.¡± Too tender-looking! Three sentences in, the subject had to come back, Jiang Zhi couldn¡¯t steer the conversation away from Zhou Xufang for three sentences, ¡°Still, mine¡¯s the best.¡± ¡°Zhou Xufang has never hit me.¡± ¡°She can¡¯t bear to part with it.¡± The Jiang Zhi who was too lazy to talk before, the Jiang Zhi who was indifferent to everything, the Jiang Zhi who seemed no different from a dead person, the Jiang Zhi who played with people¡¯s hearts as if it were life and death. Now, when he praises Zhou Xufang, he has endless, nauseatingly sweet words to say. Xue Bingxue sincerely felt, ¡°Jiang Zhi, your girlfriend is really a good person.¡± She was able to turn someone like the big demon Jiang Zhi into a flesh-and-blood mortal. Jiang Zhi was very proud, ¡°Of course.¡± Zhou Xufang is the best person in the world. After hanging up the phone, Jiang Zhi posted an update, using his private account visible only to a special group. The content is as follows¡ª My girlfriend. @Zhou Xufang Below it was a photo of Zhou Xufang when she was a hair model for ¡®Fairy Descending.¡¯ Jiang Zhi had gotten that photo from the hair director at that time. Why this photo? Because it¡¯s the only one that¡¯s high resolution. The ones Jiang Zhi secretly took¡­ Zhou Xufang was¡­ just a blob of black. In that group, there were only a few people who had just been called by Jiang Zhi one by one. No one had gone to bed yet. The handsomest man in the capital: Not even a single photo together, I don¡¯t accept this official announcement! Qiao Nanchu: Wishing you an early birth of a precious child. I am a little snowflake replying to Qiao Nanchu: Jiang Zhi is sterile. I am a little snowflake: Wishing you a quick cure for your sterility. The handsomest man in the capital: Girl with the screen protector, come on, call me ¡®brother¡¯ and let me hear it. This flirtatious handsomest man in the capital is, of course, Xue Baoyi. Three minutes later, Jiang Zhi posted another update, just one picture, a composite of him and Zhou Xufang, photoshopped from ¡®Fairy Descending¡¯s hairstyle poster, one with their faces obscured by matte blue, seamlessly joined together. Jiang Zhi felt they looked very much like a married couple and was quite satisfied. The comments followed¡ª Qiao Nanchu: That¡¯s sick! I am a little snowflake: [Smile][Flowers] The handsomest man in the capital: Damn, I thought I stumbled upon a beauty salon advertisement. Jiang Zhi was restless, sitting at the head of the bed and staring at his phone. Ten minutes passed, and the comments and likes page hadn¡¯t moved. Why hadn¡¯t Zhou Xufang liked the post? Why hadn¡¯t Zhou Xufang commented? Why hadn¡¯t Zhou Xufang posted on Moments? Why hadn¡¯t Zhou Xufang shown off their love? Had Zhou Xufang¡¯s feelings changed?! Jiang Zhi¡¯s thoughts reached this point, and he slammed his phone down onto the table. Ding! Jiang Zhi immediately picked up his phone, clicked on WeChat¡ªnot Zhou Xufang, but Xue Baoyi. He was adding fuel to the fire. The handsomest man in the capital: Did your lady go off to apply facial masks? She¡¯s not responding to you. The handsomest man in the capital: Brother Zhi, you¡¯re not favored. Not favored¡­ Not favored¡­ Not favored¡­ Bang! Jiang Zhi tossed his phone away, flipped the covers over himself to sleep, an hour, two hours¡­ two and a half hours later, he got up and glanced at the phone¡­ Seven in the morning, as the sun peeked out just a bit, the winter sun was slightly warm but carried a whiff of cold air. The phone on the coffee table suddenly rang. Zhou Xufang awoke from her dream, sat up abruptly, and after a dozen seconds, answered the phone, ¡°Hello.¡± Her voice was hoarse, throat sore. Having had a high fever for too long yesterday, after the fever broke, she was too active for too long, hyper for quite a while, then the fever continued¡­ repeating this cycle, her energy was depleted, and she fell asleep on the couch, feeling groggy, even dreaming about the attic of the Luo Family. Her head was dizzy. Jiang Zhi¡¯s voice was on the other end, ¡°Are you regretting it?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± The first response was irritation, the next was panic, ¡°You don¡¯t like me anymore?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Right now, Zhou Xufang¡¯s facial expression resembled a dumbfounded emoticon. Jiang Zhi scolded her, not truly scolding, but with unassertive, powerless, and helpless scolding, ¡°Zhou Xufang!¡± Zhou Xufang: ¡°Here!¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± ¡°How are you?¡± The voice of the young girl on the phone was soft and weak, ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± Jiang Zhi was silent for a while before speaking up, ¡°I posted on Moments last night, and you didn¡¯t reply to me.¡± He felt like he had been left hanging when announcing their relationship. Zhou Xufang, who had just woken up, was a bit slow to respond and finally uttered an ¡°Oh¡± after a while, ¡°I fell asleep.¡± ¡°¡­¡± He had been longing for her all night long, not closing his eyes for a moment, and she had fallen asleep so quickly? His mind then returned to the jerk Xue Baoyi¡¯s words¡ªnot favored. While he was still indignant, he heard the girl on the phone say, ¡°I don¡¯t have any regrets.¡± She was barely awake, so she answered his initial question one by one, earnestly, ¡°I like it.¡± With those two sentences, all of Jiang Zhi¡¯s uncertainties and fears were soothed. Alright, he forgave her. The corners of his mouth curled up, revealing a hint of a smile, ¡°I¡¯m downstairs at your place.¡± He sniffled, his voice nasally, ¡°If you don¡¯t come get me, your boyfriend is going to freeze to death.¡± He had been waiting outside her apartment complex for two hours, unwilling to disturb her sleep by knocking at her door. Zhou Xufang was startled, then leaped off the couch. Less than ten seconds¡ª Click, the door opened. Jiang Zhi¡¯s left hand still held the phone, his right hand carried a thermos. The cold wind had reddened his eyes and nose. He looked at the girl in front of him, sporting a ¡®bird¡¯s nest¡¯ hairstyle, ¡°Zhou Xufang, did you fly here?¡± That was fast. ¡°No,¡± she said, ¡°I ran.¡± She wasn¡¯t wearing a coat; her clothes were thin, which made her look even more slender. Jiang Zhi took off his jacket, wrapped it around her, and pressed down a tuft of hair sticking out at the top of her head. He asked, ¡°Are you going to let your boyfriend in?¡± Zhou Xufang: ¡°Yes.¡± He took her hand, ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Chapter 111: 111: Go to Fang Baos house to love and cherish each other~ Chapter 111: 111: Go to Fang Bao¡¯s house to love and cherish each other~ He took her hand, ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Zhou Xufang lived on the seventh floor without an elevator. She went up and down the stairs without getting red in the face or out of breath. Her door was black, and the gray cat in the pink bunny dress nestled at her doorstep, lazily lounging. When it saw someone coming, it meowed twice and then continued its nap. Zhou Xufang hurried down the stairs, leaving the door ajar. She went inside first and found a pair of slippers in the shoe cabinet for Jiang Zhi, ¡°Wear these.¡± The slippers were blue and based on the size, they were men¡¯s. Jiang Zhi immediately became suspicious, ¡°Whose are these?¡± What man had been here! Zhou Xufang tore open the packaging and then the tag, squatting down to place them beside Jiang Zhi¡¯s feet, ¡°I bought them for you, just hadn¡¯t had the chance to give them to you yet.¡± ... She had previously given Jiang Zhi a pink pair which Mr. Xue Baoyi saw him wearing when visiting the hospital. He had teased Jiang Zhi for being effeminate, so she bought another pair in blue, not with bunny heads but mushrooms. Jiang Zhi patted her head, praising her, ¡°Good taste.¡± Zhou Xufang smiled shyly, ¡°Sit here, I¡¯m going to brush my teeth.¡± He tousled her already messy hair even more, ¡°Go ahead.¡± Zhou Xufang went off to brush her teeth in the bathroom. Jiang Zhi slipped on the slippers and walked around the apartment, sizing up her place. No wonder she had previously refused to let him in. Just from the several computers and the dressing room, one could tell something was amiss. The two suites were combined into one, with very little furniture¡ªit was all visible at a glance, either gray or black. For a girl who liked pink so much, there wasn¡¯t a hint of warm color in her room. Oh, except for two lamps. Zhou Xufang came out of the bathroom. Jiang Zhi asked, ¡°Why are those two lamps by the bed?¡± Both were gifts from him, one from his own house and the other from the porridge shop. Zhou Xufang explained, ¡°Because you gave them to me.¡± Originally, they were installed on the ceiling, but she liked these two lamps so much that she always wanted to touch them, so she placed them by the bed. Jiang Zhi looked at the lamps, then at her. This girl, with just a few words, could poke right at his heart. ¡°Come over and have breakfast first.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Zhou Xufang sat on the sofa, and just as she picked up her chopsticks, she noticed she had an unread message¡ªit was a WeChat transfer from Jiang Zhi, sent at five in the morning. She looked at Jiang Zhi, puzzled, ¡°Why did you transfer money to me?¡± Jiang Zhi took out the takeout boxes of crystal buns and shrimp dumplings, about to explain, but she beat him to it, ¡°Am I being kept by you?¡± ¡°¡­¡± The way her mind worked was always so intriguing. Her expression was blank, and Jiang Zhi poked her face lightly, ¡°What kept? Who taught you that word?¡± She had only learned the bad stuff. Zhou Xufang said, ¡°From the television.¡± Jiang Zhi served her some porridge, asking, ¡°Which television show? What¡¯s it called?¡± She recounted precisely, ¡°¡®President Gu, Your Delicate Wife Has Run Off with the Ball Again.''¡± Jiang Zhi, ¡°¡­¡± Those kinds of shows passed the censors? Zhou Xufang had recently become too engrossed in TV dramas. When she was his nurse at the hospital, the moment she had some time, she¡¯d be clutching a tablet, watching a show. That idiot Lin Wanwan even recommended her all sorts of soap operas. All corrupted by Lin Wanwan! ¡°Do you like watching TV dramas?¡± Zhou Xufang nodded eagerly, ¡°Yeah.¡± She used to watch them less but recently discovered they were so entertaining. Jiang Zhi then suggested, ¡°Don¡¯t watch all those messy ones. When I¡¯m done filming the movie, I will shoot a TV drama for you to watch.¡± Zhou Xufang had been secluded for too long, like a blank sheet of paper. He had to keep a close eye on her, not allowing any messy stuff to lead her astray. Zhou Xufang, ¡°Okay.¡± Jiang Zhi fed her a dumpling, ¡°Then what kind of TV drama do you like?¡± Zhou Xufang thought seriously, ¡°¡®President Gu, Your Delicate Wife Has Run Off with the Ball Again,¡¯ like that.¡± Jiang Zhi, ¡°¡­¡± She had truly inherited Lin Wanwan¡¯s teachings. He would remember this and settle it with Lin Wanwan later. Zhou Xufang stuffed a crystal bun in her mouth, ¡°You haven¡¯t said why you transferred money to me.¡± ¡°It¡¯s from Nanchu, a meeting gift.¡± Zhou Xufang checked the amount, ¡°It¡¯s a lot of money, can I accept it?¡± ¡°Keep it. When he gets a girlfriend, I¡¯ll send it back.¡± She put down her chopsticks, ¡°Then I¡¯ll transfer it to you.¡± ¡°It was given to you,¡± Jiang Zhi took away her phone, ¡°Eat.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Zhou Xufang picked up another crystal bun¡ªit was delicious. She pushed the rest of them towards Jiang Zhi, sharing with him. Halfway through their meal, Jiang Zhi received a phone call from Qiao Nanchu. ¡°The agent, Xiao Linsu, has turned herself in, claiming she was the one who drove the car that hit you.¡± Zhou Xufang puffed her cheeks and perked up her ears to listen. Jiang Zhi placed two crystal buns into her bowl, ¡°Did she drive Xiao Linsu¡¯s car?¡± Qiao Nanchu grunted in acknowledgment, ¡°That¡¯s what she¡¯s saying.¡± ¡°Is there any evidence?¡± ¡°There¡¯s dashcam footage.¡± Just when one wave had settled, another had risen. Jiang Zhi asked a few more questions and hung up. Zhou Xufang was staring at him, ¡°Are you going to the police station?¡± She took a sip of the porridge and set down her chopsticks, ¡°If the dashcam footage was tampered with, it¡¯d be pretty easy to find out. The evidence from Lin Shuang¡¯s confession should be real.¡± She thought for a moment, ¡°Whether Xiao Linsu is the principal offender, an accessory, or unaware, that depends on Lin Shuang¡¯s testimony.¡± She had low emotional intelligence, but she was clever. Jiang Zhi leaned back, stretched out his legs, and two blue mushroom slippers peeked out from under the coffee table, ¡°You heard all that?¡± ¡°Mhm,¡± she said, ¡°I have good hearing.¡± Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t bother to inquire just how good. ¡°Are you heading to the police station later?¡± she asked. He served her another small bowl of porridge, ¡°Mhm.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll come too.¡± ¡°Finish your meal first.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± She continued eating her porridge, ¡°Why aren¡¯t you eating?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve already eaten.¡± Well, okay. She ended up eating all the delicious crystal buns. After breakfast, Zhou Xufang picked out clothes to change into and went to the bathroom, while Jiang Zhi waited outside, leaning against the door, looking at the wardrobe across the way that had every kind of clothing. ¡°Xu Fang.¡± She responded from inside, ¡°Hmm?¡± Jiang Zhi asked her, ¡°Why did you become a professional errand runner?¡± He turned around, the glass being one-way, he could only see her blurry outline, ¡°If you don¡¯t want to say, you don¡¯t have to answer.¡± Zhou Xufang came out dressed, ¡°I need a lot of money.¡± Otherwise, she couldn¡¯t afford Moon Bay. The income of a professional errand runner was high, particularly for her, as she had a high success rate and was well-known within the industry, charging double, if not more, than her peers. Jiang Zhi walked over, his hand on her waist, pinching it gently, ¡°We¡¯ve just started our relationship, and I shouldn¡¯t interfere too much, but this industry is too dangerous, and I worry for you. Whether you switch careers should be your own decision. If you choose to continue, I won¡¯t stop you, but there¡¯s one thing you must promise me.¡± He lowered his head to look into her eyes, ¡°You can¡¯t take on those high-risk jobs anymore, deal?¡± Qiao Nanchu worked in intelligence, so Jiang Zhi knew a bit as well: many of the tasks of a professional errand runner were in a legal gray area, dangerous, and likely to make enemies. Zhou Xufang nodded, saying, ¡°Okay.¡± She had Jiang Zhi now, she thought. She intended to live a long, full life and couldn¡¯t just ¡®roam the martial world, fighting and killing¡¯ anymore. As for other matters, she¡¯d talk about them when she felt like it. Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t push any further, he took a card out of his wallet and placed it in her hand, ¡°If you¡¯re ever short on cash, use this.¡± Zhou Xufang refused, pushing it back to him, ¡°I¡¯ve got a lot of money, this entire building is mine.¡± She wasn¡¯t boasting; she spoke with complete sincerity, ¡°I¡¯ve saved a considerable sum. If the Jiang Family ever goes bankrupt, I could support you. I can even build you hospitals and laboratories.¡± Jiang Zhi, ¡°¡­¡± She was adorably impossible for him to handle. Deadly, indeed. By 8:30 a.m., Jiang Zhi and Zhou Xufang had arrived at the police station. ¡°You¡¯re here,¡± Qiao Nanchu, with his flirtatious looks, sipped his instant coffee, dressed in a police uniform, which gave his smile a bit of a roguish edge, ¡°Hello there, little sister-in-law.¡± Little Sister-in-law Zhou, embarrassed, bowed her head, ¡°He- hello.¡± She still wasn¡¯t accustomed to socializing. Jiang Zhi pulled a mask from his coat pocket, put it on Zhou Xufang, and shepherded her behind him, throwing Qiao Nanchu a look that suggested he better cut it out, then asked, ¡°Did you start the interrogation?¡± The sappy smell of romance was in the air. Qiao Nanchu downed the coffee in his disposable cup, threw a perfect parabola, and tossed the cup into the trash can, ¡°We¡¯re in the process, come with me.¡± He led the two of them to the monitoring room next to the interrogation room. Through the special glass, they could see the other side, where Captain Cheng of the Criminal Investigation Team was conducting an interrogation, ¡°Who ordered you to do this?¡± Lin Shuang looked a bit haggard but remained composed, ¡°Jin Song.¡± Captain Cheng persisted, ¡°Does Xiao Linsu know anything about it?¡± Without a moment¡¯s hesitation before answering, ¡°He was completely unaware.¡± Handcuffed, she leaned forward, looked straight into Captain Cheng¡¯s eyes, and stated, ¡°Ask as many times as you want, my answer will remain the same. You can bring in a micro-expression expert to see if I¡¯m lying.¡± She rested her handcuffed hands on the table and leaned back naturally, relaxed and unhurried, ¡°He has no connection to this at all. It was Jin Song who wanted to teach Jiang Zhi a lesson. He blackmailed Linsu with a video, and I was there at the time.¡± Captain Cheng pressed on, ¡°Then why were you the one to hit Jiang Zhi?¡± She picked up the cup beside her and took a sip of water, ¡°Linsu was hesitant, I was afraid Jin Song would release the video, so I made the decision for him.¡± Her expression only changed when talking about Xiao Linsu, ¡°It was my unrequited love for him. I was willing to do anything for him. Officer,¡± her eyes reddened, ¡°He hasn¡¯t broken the law.¡± Still the same line. Lin Shuang persisted in her confession, saying that it was all her doing and had nothing to do with Xiao Linsu. ¡°It¡¯s been reviewed several times, and it¡¯s always the same story,¡± said Vice Captain Xing of the Criminal Investigation Team, speaking to Qiao Nanchu, ¡°If there¡¯s no new evidence, we¡¯ll have to release her.¡± After all, the dashcam footage was irrefutable evidence, clearly capturing the entire process of Lin Shuang driving and hitting someone. Qiao Nanchu looked at Jiang Zhi: ¡°What do you think?¡± Thankfully, the dashcam footage didn¡¯t capture Zhou Xufang. Jiang Zhi was thinking about that. Qiao Nanchu waved his hand in front of his face: ¡°I¡¯m talking to you.¡± He took Zhou Xufang by the hand and left: ¡°Love issues, no point asking me.¡± The case had evolved into a love dispute now. In the end, Xiao Linsu was released, and at the police station entrance, he saw Jiang Wei¡¯er, more than ten days later, when everything had changed profoundly. She had lost a lot of weight. So had he. It was Jiang Wei¡¯er who broke the silence first: ¡°Let¡¯s talk.¡± Xue Bingxue was also standing by her side. Xiao Linsu¡¯s clothes were wrinkled and he looked disheveled: ¡°Okay.¡± The two went to the vacant lot behind the police station, Xue Bingxue didn¡¯t follow, waiting in place for Jiang Wei¡¯er. They faced each other in silence, silent for a long time. Above them, the national flag fluttered in the wind, her voice scattered, ephemeral and uncertain: ¡°Those words you said to Lin Shuang in the hospital, do you have any explanation?¡± She calmed down for a while, had thought of many possibilities, some good and some bad, and only dared to see him once she had calmed down. Xiao Linsu looked at her for a while, his gaze a bit cold and steady, no emotions given away, and spoke plainly, ¡°After my sister passed away, I wanted to break ties with Jin Song, but he had a video, and from that point, I knew it would be difficult to get out unscathed.¡± She listened, saying nothing. He continued: ¡°Lin Shuang said she found me a martial arts instructor, who was the Fifth Miss of the Jiang Family, and also said that the Jiang Family¡¯s Fifth Miss¡¯s idol just happened to be me.¡± Lin Shuang said the opportunity had come. His lifeline had appeared. Jiang Wei¡¯er asked with a slight tremor in her voice, ¡°So, from the beginning, you knew who I was?¡± He nodded: ¡°I just didn¡¯t know that you were the same person I met in my youth before I saw you.¡± He didn¡¯t know the Fifth Miss of the Jiang Family was the girl of his dreams; it started with a mistake, and then, everything went wrong. From then on, without having to say anything, she would help him, and in two years, he went from an unknown singer to a popular actor. ¡°What about the burn on Lin Shuang¡¯s body?¡± Jiang Wei¡¯er¡¯s hands hung at her sides and clenched, ¡°Did you do that?¡± He was silent for a long time: ¡°Yes.¡± His voice was low and hoarse, ¡°After being abused for a long time, one can develop the desire to abuse. I couldn¡¯t bring myself to hurt you, but Lin Shuang was different, she¡ª¡± She couldn¡¯t listen anymore: ¡°I don¡¯t believe it.¡± Her eyes reddened, and her trembling hands were clenched tightly, forcing herself to calm down, ¡°You¡¯ve hidden it for so long, why would you say it that day, outside my hospital room, without any concern? Wasn¡¯t it deliberate for me to hear?¡± He looked her straight in the eyes, unwavering, ¡°Because I got the video, it was time to end things.¡± She shook her head, ¡°You¡¯re not that kind of person¡­¡± she repeated to herself, muttering, ¡°You¡¯re not.¡± ¡°Wei¡¯er.¡± His voice remained gentle when he called her name, he said, ¡°I¡¯m an actor.¡± No matter what role, none were beyond his performance, and what she saw was only what he chose to show her. An actor excels at putting on a fa?ade. Jiang Wei¡¯er felt unsteady, stumbling back a couple of steps: ¡°One last question,¡± she stared at him, her gaze scorching, ¡°Did you truly know nothing about Lin Shuang driving into Jiang Zhi?¡± He replied, ¡°I didn¡¯t know.¡± ¡°If what you¡¯re saying is the truth, then there are two possibilities.¡± Her face was devoid of color, only her bitten lips were a bright red, ¡°First, you didn¡¯t want to work with Jin Song and didn¡¯t want to hurt Jiang Zhi, so it was Lin Shuang acting on her own initiative.¡± That was Lin Shuang¡¯s confession. She looked at him fiercely, ¡°Second, you wanted the video, and you wanted to hurt Jiang Zhi, but you didn¡¯t want to dirty your own hands, so you coaxed her skillfully, you had Lin Shuang walk into the trap willingly, to clear the obstacles for you, because you knew, that woman was foolish, she would do anything for you.¡± Her fists tightened, her nails dug into her skin, feeling no pain, while her feigned composure was close to shattering, her voice trembling, ¡°Which one is it? Xiao Linsu, don¡¯t lie to me.¡± He didn¡¯t answer directly: ¡°Does it still matter which one?¡± ¡°It matters.¡± His expression remained mild and calm, looking at her, composed, ¡°I never forced Lin Shuang to do anything, it was all her voluntary choice, and,¡± finally, his tranquil eyes stirred, ¡°ten years ago, it was Lin Shuang who introduced me to Jin Song.¡± She suddenly laughed. ¡°Are you still the Xiao Linsu I knew?¡± She stood, swaying, reached out, as if wanting to touch his face, but suddenly retracted her hand and hurriedly retreated, ¡°No, have I ever truly seen you?¡± Xiao Linsu just watched her intently, those eyes blurred, filled with desolation. ¡°From now on¡­¡± She began to speak, her voice broke, and the words stuck in her throat: ¡°Let¡¯s not see each other again.¡± He agreed. He said, ¡°Wei¡¯er,¡± his own voice quivered, his eyes reddened, ¡°take care.¡± After speaking, he was the first to turn away. ¡°Linsu.¡± S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He stood there, not turning around, ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°Do you ever love me?¡± ¡°I did.¡± He didn¡¯t turn to look at her; his voice quivered, ¡°It¡¯s just that the world has been so unfair to me, I have to love myself as well.¡± After he finished speaking, he put on his mask and sunglasses, turned his back to her, and walked further and further away. Jiang Wei¡¯er stood still, beginning to smile; soon her face was streaming with tears. ¡°Wei¡¯er.¡± She wiped her eyes and turned to see Xue Bingxue, ¡°Let me see her.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Lin Shuang was taken into custody, and when Jiang Wei¡¯er saw her again, she was already dressed in prison garb. ¡°I asked the lawyer, you¡¯ll get at least three years,¡± Jiang Wei¡¯er said across from her, her eyes red from crying, ¡°Do you regret it?¡± Lin Shuang was calm, ¡°No regrets.¡± ¡°What if he used you, would you regret it then?¡± Lin Shuang shook her head, ¡°There¡¯s no using, it was all my choice.¡± She looked at Wei¡¯er, her eyes full of resignation, ¡°Wei¡¯er, have you ever seen Xiao Linsu at the age of eighteen?¡± Jiang Wei¡¯er said, ¡°I have.¡± I remember how he was covered in wounds. ¡°Have you ever seen him before he debuted?¡± Lin Shuang asked. Jiang Wei¡¯er shook her head. ¡°I have.¡± She seemed to be speaking to herself, smiling with tears in her eyes, ¡°The first time I saw him, he was kneeling under a tree, speaking to a dog, saying,¡± She blinked, and tears fell, ¡°He said, sorry, I can¡¯t take you home, my sister has a heart condition, we can¡¯t keep a dog¡­¡± At that time, he was also just eighteen, youthful and innocent, wearing a clean school uniform, his eyes clear and uncorrupted by the turbid world. The young boy knelt on the ground, took off his school jacket, and laid it on the shivering puppy. Lin Shuang smiled through her tears, ¡°Back then, he was pure and kind.¡± Who hasn¡¯t been untainted once, only to be scarred by the dust of the world¡­ After leaving the police station, Jiang Wei¡¯er squatted on the ground and sobbed uncontrollably. Zhou Xufang stood nearby, struggling to watch, her eyes also reddening, ¡°Jiang Zhi, your aunt is crying.¡± Jiang Zhi patted her head, ¡°Someone¡¯s gone.¡± He took her by the hand, ¡°Come on, let¡¯s go home.¡± Behind them, Jiang Wei¡¯er cried. Xue Bingxue knelt beside her, awkwardly patting her back, unable to comfort, just repeating two words, ¡°Don¡¯t cry, don¡¯t cry, don¡¯t cry¡­¡± It was overcast, with rain on the way. Jiang Zhi hadn¡¯t gone far when Qiao Nanchu called him back with another phone call. ¡°There¡¯s a case,¡± Qiao Nanchu stated briefly, ¡°it¡¯s related to you.¡± Troubles never come singly. One after another. Jiang Zhi and Zhou Xufang returned to the police station. The projector was on, and Vice Captain Xing from the Criminal Investigation Team was presenting the case, ¡°The victim, Duan Xi, twenty-two years old, a female artist from Tianxing.¡± Captain Cheng added a comment, ¡°Tianxing again.¡± The Luo Family sure has had its share of troubles this year. Vice Captain Xing pressed a button to the next slide, and the victim¡¯s photo was projected. Zhou Xufang¡¯s gaze fixed; it was her¡­ ¡°The victim was stabbed four times. The murderer put the body in a suitcase and threw it into a pond in the suburbs. The forensic examination has been done; the victim¡¯s lower body had been assaulted with a sharp object like a pen and was severely injured. However, the assailant left no DNA. The fatal injury was a cut to the carotid artery, and the murder weapon was just an ordinary fruit knife. Since the body had been submerged for a long time, we can only approximate the time of death.¡± Vice Captain Xing looked towards Jiang Zhi, ¡°It¡¯s roughly the same time you were thrown into the sea, Mr. Jiang.¡± Jiang Zhi stayed silent, pulling the girl beside him closer into his arms, fearing the gore, and covered her eyes. Zhou Xufang pushed his hand away; she wanted to see. Vice Captain Xing continued, ¡°Moreover, our investigation found that Duan Xi also attended the cruise ship wedding that day. Witnesses saw her on the boat, meaning, her time of death was after boarding the ship. The first and second floors of the cruise were guest lounges with no surveillance, but we captured the victim at a few staircases. Before her death, two people had come into contact with her.¡± On the projector, two photos were displayed. A ripple stirred in Jiang Zhi¡¯s peach blossom eyes, almost instinctively; he took off Zhou Xufang¡¯s mask. Suspect number one¡ªZhou Xufang. Others couldn¡¯t recognize her, but Jiang Zhi did instantly. Vice Captain Xing explained, ¡°Suspect number one, female, judging by the outfit, seems to be a cruise ship waiter, but she wore a mask and gloves, acting suspiciously, and we have yet to verify her identity.¡± Zhou Xufang appeared lost in thought. But it was Jiang Zhi who, fearing she would be recognized, eagerly hid her in his embrace. ¡°The second suspect, we only captured a hand, but that hand¡¯s watch,¡± Vice Captain Xing asked Jiang Zhi, ¡°do you recognize it, Mr. Jiang?¡± I don¡¯t remember the hand, but I recognize the watch. Jiang Zhi looked at the men¡¯s watch, ¡°It¡¯s the person who pushed me into the sea.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right, the same person.¡± Because the man in the photo also had scratch marks on the back of his hand. Chapter 112: 112: Fang Bao, pamper me more Chapter 112: 112: Fang Bao, pamper me more That watch¡­ Qiao Nanchu took a few careful looks, then laughed, ¡°Brother Zhi.¡± No joking now, seriously, ¡°You should stop drawing in the future.¡± The soulful artist Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± Outside, the clouds dispersed, and the sun emerged again; the weather was fickle and ever-changing. After leaving the police station, Jiang Zhi walked a distance with Zhou Xufang before he asked her, ¡°Do you remember anything about the deceased?¡± Zhou Xufang nodded, ¡°She asked me for help. I was in a hurry to find you, so I hid her in a closet.¡± ... That room was a gathering place for waiters, which should have been safe in theory. She thought about the details, ¡°When I saw her, she was already injured, with lots of blood on her dress.¡± After pondering for a bit, she said to Jiang Zhi, ¡°She must have been murdered after getting off the boat. If it happened on the boat, it would have been easier for the killer to throw the body into the sea, there would be no need to take it off the boat to find a place to dump it.¡± Jiang Zhi¡¯s focus was different from Zhou Xufang¡¯s, ¡°Did she touch you when she asked for help?¡± Zhou Xufang nodded. He then asked, ¡°What about the clothes?¡± ¡°Thrown away.¡± ¡°Think it over, you can¡¯t let the police trace it back to you.¡± Others might die a grievous death, but that was their business; he only cared about his own people. It didn¡¯t matter who the killer was, as long as it didn¡¯t involve Zhou Xufang, not even as a suspect. Not to say it wasn¡¯t her that killed, even if it was¡­ ¡°I was very careful,¡± she said with a tiny hint of pride, ¡°I¡¯ve been a professional errand runner for so long and no one has discovered my identity.¡± Quite impressive! Jiang Zhi: ¡°Didn¡¯t I discover it?¡± True, her little tail was caught by Jiang Zhi. Zhou Xufang felt deflated all of a sudden, unable to understand, ¡°When did I slip up?¡± Her voice was disguised, her face covered, even her footsteps and stride were deliberately varied. ¡°You smell of milk.¡± Oh, the scent. She sniffed, ¡°I can¡¯t smell it.¡± Jiang Zhi smiled, holding her chin to lift her face, ¡°I recognize your eyes too.¡± She blinked. He poked her forehead gently, ¡°And your skull.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°I can recognize the back of your head with a touch.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Oh, so her skull and the back of her head were so distinctive! Zhou Xufang became distressed, ¡°So in the future, when I¡¯m on a mission, do I need to wrap up my skull and the back of my head too?¡± That would be so strange, like a female ghost. ¡°No need,¡± said Jiang Zhi, ¡°others definitely won¡¯t recognize you.¡± Zhou Xufang disagreed, feeling like she should still wrap up her skull and the back of her head in the future, ¡°But you recognized me.¡± ¡°Others can¡¯t compare with me.¡± He caressed the back of her head, liking it more and more the more he touched it, unable to let go, ¡°Who loves you as much as I do.¡± S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The dumbstruck Zhou Xufang: ¡°¡­¡± Jiang Zhi was so good at sweet talk, so she had to say something too, ¡°I like your skull and the back of your head as well.¡± After saying it, she became embarrassed and turned her head away, secretly giggling. The skull and the back of the head that were just complimented, Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± He gestured her over, ¡°Come here.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Zhou Xufang shuffled forward slowly. Jiang Zhi touched her head, ¡°You are a bit feverish.¡± She was so used to the fever, ¡°It¡¯s fine, it¡¯ll pass soon.¡± Jiang Zhi¡¯s hand was cool, resting on her hot face to cool her down, ¡°Do you get a fever when others kiss you, hug you, or say nice things to you?¡± Zhou Xufang shook her head like a rattle, ¡°No fever.¡± She said earnestly, ¡°I would hit him.¡± ¡°So,¡± Jiang Zhi¡¯s eyes curved with his smile, ¡°you feel this way because you like me?¡± She was dumbfounded. After recovering, she nodded with a flushed face. Jiang Zhi thought of something else, ¡°What if you stop liking me in the future¡ª¡± Zhou Xufang, whose survival instinct suddenly peaked, said, ¡°My immunity is quite strong. If I stop running a fever in the future, it would mean I¡¯ve become immune, not that I don¡¯t like you.¡± It wasn¡¯t impossible. The first time she had a fever, it lasted a long time, and medicine didn¡¯t help. But now, the fever subsided within minutes. Who knows, maybe in the future, she wouldn¡¯t get a fever at all. Jiang Zhi snorted, his mood soured by his own hypothetical scenario. Zhou Xufang couldn¡¯t figure out his sudden moodiness, so she scooted over, gently shaking his finger to appease him. Jiang Zhi reached out, wrapped his arm around her waist, and pulled her into his embrace, ¡°Say it three times, Zhou Xufang will always like Jiang Zhi.¡± Zhou Xufang, ¡°¡­Oh.¡± Her expression and tone remained constant, like a parrot, as she repeated it three times. ¡°Zhou Xufang will always like Jiang Zhi.¡± ¡°Zhou Xufang will always like Jiang Zhi.¡± ¡°Zhou Xufang will always like Jiang Zhi.¡± The girl seemed lost and naive, utterly compliant to him. Jiang Zhi¡¯s heart softened from being so sweetly placated, and he rested his chin in the crook of her shoulder, ¡°I want to kiss you.¡± Zhou Xufang shrank back, ¡°You can¡¯t, not out here.¡± She was too shy to kiss in public. Jiang Zhi pecked her blushing earlobe, ¡°Fine, let¡¯s go to the car.¡± Before he had finished speaking¡ª The third wheel turned on, ¡°Boss! Boss!¡± Ah Wan paid the taxi driver then ran toward his employer, blurting out his frustrations without thinking, ¡°Why didn¡¯t you call me before you left? What if you passed out while driving?!¡± Interrupted, Jiang Zhi was more than just upset, ¡°Who are you complaining to?¡± His peach blossom eyes held a sharp, icy gleam¡ªlike daggers. How scary! Ah Wan stopped his casual banter, ¡°You¡¯ve misunderstood, you are my boss; how could I complain to you? I¡¯m just worried about your well-being.¡± He put on a sincere face, ¡°Is your esteemed self still in good health?¡± What a drama queen. Lin Xijing showed a deeply concerned expression, along with a look of ¡®thank heavens and blessed be the gods, the Boss is alright¡¯: ¡°Seeing your rosy complexion, you must be in good health, that¡¯s a relief to me.¡± Then he naturally changed the subject, glossing over his earlier grumbling, ¡°Miss Zhou is here too.¡± His gaze fell on the intertwined fingers of his employer and Miss Zhou, surprised, ¡°Yikes! You two¡­ made it official?¡± The little white rabbit, Miss Zhou, was finally snatched into the wolf¡¯s den by the big bad wolf. The car parked some hundred meters away, Jiang Zhi walked ahead with Zhou Xufang, ¡°At the Jiang Family¡¯s place, keep your mouth shut.¡± Ah Wan followed behind, ¡°Why?¡± Curiosity piqued, he boldly guessed, ¡°Boss, are you afraid Madam Gu will play the matchbreaker?¡± Jiang Zhi ignored him. The more Ah Wan thought about it, the more he believed it to be the case, feeling somewhat melancholy, ¡°It¡¯s true, Fifth Miss and Mr. Xiao were stricken down with a single blow. Look at Mr. Xiao, he almost ended up in jail, and Fifth Miss¡¯s heart turned to ashes. Madam Gu cares too much about social status. Since you¡¯re her darling, she will definitely meddle in your marriage matters. If Madam Gu finds out Miss Zhou is just a screen protector installer, she might just issue her a hefty check to leave you, like Madam Gu did in ¡®President Gu, Your Dainty Wife has Run off with the Ball Again 2¡¯.¡± Ah Wan had finished all the Korean dramas and recently switched to domestic idol dramas. ¡°Boss, you¡¯re not in the best of health. If Madam Gu really breaks up the pair with a stick, that blow could¡ª¡± Jiang Zhi turned around, his beautiful eyes suddenly frosted over, ¡°Can¡¯t keep your mouth shut, can you?¡± Ah Wan, who had become increasingly bold from his close relationship with the screen protector installer, Miss Zhou, ¡°¡­I can keep it shut.¡± Then, Ah Wan fell silent. But Zhou Xufang piped up, ¡°Ah Wan, is there a second part of ¡®President Gu, Your Dainty Wife has Run off with the Ball Again¡¯? I haven¡¯t seen it.¡± Jiang Zhi, ¡°¡­¡± He couldn¡¯t scold his girlfriend, so what could he do? He just bore with it. Ah Wan, who had an extraordinary relationship with the screen protector installer, Miss Zhou, and had again grown bold, said, ¡°The TV series isn¡¯t out yet, but the novel is.¡± He walked ahead. The large, nearly two-meter-tall, two-hundred-pound figure managed to maintain not only his muscle but also the girlish heart inherited from Ms. Song, with great enthusiasm, ¡°Miss Zhou, you haven¡¯t seen the novel, right?¡± Zhou Xufang said, ¡°No.¡± For Ah Wan, it was time to win over the Boss Lady, ¡°I¡¯ll send you the link.¡± Zhou Xufang: ¡°Okay.¡± Ah Wan opened the rear door first, then sat in the driver¡¯s seat and continued to chat with the Boss Lady: ¡°I still have an uncut version of the good stuff, do you want it?¡± Zhou Xufang: ¡°Yes.¡± Just as Ah Wan was about to share the link through her phone, someone kicked the back of her seat: ¡°Lin Wanwan.¡± Ah Wan¡¯s hand, in the midst of sending the link, trembled. She couldn¡¯t scold her girlfriend, so Jiang Zhi looked up, his reflection in the rearview mirror showcasing a pair of peach blossom eyes sharp enough to draw blood: ¡°Do you think I¡¯m dead?¡± This time, Ah Wan completely shut up, tightly sealed her mouth. Again, it was Zhou Xufang who spoke during the lull: ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± She asked, ¡°What is this uncut version of the good stuff?¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± He gave a glance at the driver¡¯s seat, wishing he could twist off Lin Wanwan¡¯s head. Ah Wan tucked in her head and sneakily peeked at the rearview mirror, seeing the employer leaning close to Miss Zhou¡¯s ear. ¡°Stuff not suitable for children.¡± Zhou Xufang was curious, as it was her first time encountering such things. Jiang Zhi whispered in her ear again: ¡°I¡¯ll teach you later.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± The very Ah Wan who was straining to eavesdrop¡ª ¡°Are you not going to drive? Do you want to stay here overnight?¡± Ah Wan weakly asked for the location. Jiang Zhi said, back to his apartment. They had only just started the car when Zhou Xufang¡¯s phone received a WeChat message. ¡°Who¡¯s looking for you?¡± Zhou Xufang said: ¡°The porridge shop¡¯s Boss Lady, asking if I could help deliver takeout.¡± Today was the weekend, and the porridge shop would be busy. Zhou Xufang worked honestly and could move quickly, so the porridge shop¡¯s Boss Lady often asked for her help when she was swamped. Jiang Zhi was holding onto the corner of a pink cushion: ¡°Are you going?¡± ¡°I¡¯m going; I agreed last week to help.¡± A promise shouldn¡¯t be broken. The pink cushion became crumpled in his grip: ¡°What about me?¡± Zhou Xufang then said: ¡°I¡¯ll take you home first.¡± Even decorated with soft pastel colors, the car couldn¡¯t hide the gloom creeping through Jiang Zhi¡¯s peach blossom eyes: ¡°We were just together yesterday.¡± Zhou Xufang listened. ¡°And today you¡¯re leaving me behind.¡± ¡°Is working more important than me?¡± His tone tinged with annoyance, disappointment, and a barely perceptible hurt. Oh! She realized why he was unhappy. She said: ¡°Working isn¡¯t more important than you.¡± ¡°Then you¡¯re still going to work.¡± He had plans for a date, all set. Zhou Xufang, suffering from severe heterosexual pride, interpreted the meaning: I¡¯m more important than your job, thus you must not work, or you don¡¯t care about me. She then had another thought: ¡°Eating isn¡¯t as important as you either, so in the future,¡± she timidly suggested, ¡°can I no longer eat?¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± To Ah Wan, this logic was flawless, and he felt that maybe they had swapped their scripts. ¡°You go then,¡± Jiang Zhi turned to look out the window. ¡°Just spend your life working.¡± Childish, and unreasonably petulant. It was like being bewitched¡ªno wonder Xue Baoyi said one mustn¡¯t mess with emotions, as they could be deadly. Indeed, if Zhou Xufang wished, she could play to death a man as cowardly and wretched as him. Zhou Xufang tugged at his sleeve: ¡°Are you mad?¡± ¡°No.¡± She was certain now: ¡°You are definitely mad.¡± He remained silent. Reflected on the car window was a beautiful face, with an expression that spelled out in three bold capital letters¡ªHurry! Comfort me! But Zhou Xufang wasn¡¯t good at comforting: ¡°Don¡¯t be mad, I¡¯ll just,¡± also can¡¯t stop eating or working, ¡°I¡¯ll eat a bit less, work a bit less.¡± Since when did he forbid her to eat?! His own girlfriend, whom he couldn¡¯t scold or be angry with, he just chilled his handsome brows and eyes, looked away, not at her: ¡°Lin Wanwan, to the porridge shop.¡± Zhou Xufang said: ¡°I¡¯ll take you home first.¡± ¡°No need.¡± Jiang Zhi was mad at her. Jiang Zhi was ignoring her. Zhou Xufang felt lost, unsure what to do. Behind them, silence filled the air. Ah Wan couldn¡¯t bear to watch any longer, thinking the employer was being downright unreasonable! Did people turn so childish when in love? After about fifteen minutes, they arrived at the porridge shop, Ah Wan parked the car along the roadside. ¡°Jiang Zhi,¡± Zhou Xufang called him. He didn¡¯t respond. She felt a bit sad but didn¡¯t know what was wrong, her voice losing its energy, spiritless: ¡°Then I¡¯m going to deliver the takeout.¡± Slowly, she got out of the car. Jiang Zhi, with a stern face, sat hugging his arms, his gaze enough to bore a hole through the porridge shop¡¯s sign. Ah Wan, the friend of women, felt he needed to speak a fair word: ¡°Boss, I don¡¯t think you¡¯re being fair.¡± ¡°Where am I not fair?¡± With ¡®Boss¡¯ popping out, he was truly annoyed. Ah Wan, a courageous athlete, boldly spoke out: ¡°Although Miss Zhou is your girlfriend, she also has her own career. Maybe in your view, applying screen protectors and delivering takeout aren¡¯t promising, but Miss Zhou doesn¡¯t think so. It¡¯s her workplace, and even a boyfriend shouldn¡¯t interfere. If she has to give up her own career just to be with you, then how are you any different from Mr. Xue¡¯s uncles who keep canaries? And moreover, Miss Zhou promised others earlier, not going would be breaking her word.¡± After finishing, Ah Wan carefully observed the reactions. The employer was in thought. Seeing that he might be taking it in, Ah Wan continued: ¡°I know, you just want Miss Zhou to coddle you, to spend time with you, but she doesn¡¯t know that. She¡¯s so naive, her emotional intelligence is movingly low, she¡¯s never dated, and she doesn¡¯t even have friends.¡± Jiang Zhi suddenly looked up: ¡°Who are you calling emotionally na?ve?¡± Wasn¡¯t that the brutal truth? But that wasn¡¯t important, what¡¯s important was¡ª ¡°You also forbid her to watch TV or read novels, not allowing her to learn and observe, how would she understand a man¡¯s heart?¡± Ah Wan may not have eaten pork, but he¡¯d seen a lot of TV dramas about pigs running. With confidence and the air of a relationship consultant, he said, ¡°This is when you should patiently teach her, how can you just get mad so easily?¡± ¡°And you can¡¯t be so clingy, it suffocates people.¡± To be honest, Ah Wan was shocked himself¡ªhow deeply must he like the girl to feel so insecure? Where did that air of domination he used to carry vanish to? Someone awkwardly asked: ¡°So what should I do now?¡± The relationship consultant Lin Wanwan said: ¡°You can go with her to deliver the takeout. That way, you can take care of Miss Zhou¡¯s career and build your relationship at the same time.¡± Silence for a moment. Jiang Zhi looked at the entrance of the porridge shop: ¡°I¡¯ll go deliver takeout with my girlfriend, what about you?¡± Lin Wanwan, momentarily blank: ¡°Uh¡­¡± Jiang Zhi opened the car door and stepped out: ¡°You do the delivery.¡± Lin Wanwan: ¡°¡­¡± As a person, one shouldn¡¯t get too ahead of oneself. Chapter 113: 113: Ah Fang gets jealous, Jiang Zhi placates Chapter 113: 113: Ah Fang gets jealous, Jiang Zhi placates Zhou Xufang had just put on her delivery helmet when the Boss Lady placed the porridge on the cashier counter. ¡°Two portions, one for Jiangyuan Road and one for Tianjing Road.¡± Zhou Xufang held them in her hand: ¡°Okay.¡± As she turned around, she saw Jiang Zhi under the doorway wind chime, which jingled gently. The wind chime was purple, made of seashells, and hung not too low. But Jiang Zhi was too tall, and a small seashell just happened to fall on top of his head. The gloom in Zhou Xufang¡¯s eyebrows had instantly dispersed: ¡°You haven¡¯t left yet.¡± ... ¡°Um.¡± Jiang Zhi grabbed a handful of his hair, flicking off the wind chime, and walked into the store. He said, ¡°I¡¯ve come to apologize.¡± He walked up to her, his hair tousled by the wind chime, which made him look fluffier and gave off a particularly soft feeling as he pulled down his face mask, ¡°It was my fault for being unreasonable.¡± His eyes looked very obedient. He came to apologize, what to do? If she wasn¡¯t going to coax him, then let him do the coaxing. Zhou Xufang was not angry to begin with, and when he spoke softly, she felt even less of a temper, reaching up on her tiptoes to press down the tuft of his hair that had sprung up. The Boss Lady was calling her. Zhou Xufang, seeming like a thief, quickly hid her hands behind her back: ¡°Hmm?¡± The Boss Lady said: ¡°A customer is rushing their order.¡± She responded with an ¡°Oh,¡± then said to Jiang Zhi, ¡°I¡¯ll go deliver the food first, wait for me in the store.¡± Jiang Zhi took the bag in her hand, handed one to Ah Wan, and kept the other: ¡°I¡¯ll come with you.¡± At this hour, the roads were very congested; a vehicle with four wheels was not as fast as one with two. Zhou Xufang would ride an electric bike to make deliveries. Jiang Zhi had been pampered all his life; he was quite delicate. Zhou Xufang said, ¡°You shouldn¡¯t go, it¡¯s very cold outside.¡± He held her and did not let go: ¡°Zhou Xufang, are you taking me with you?¡± His tone was assertive. But Zhou Xufang felt he was being coquettish. How could she resist his coquetry? Without a moment¡¯s hesitation, she gave in: ¡°I¡¯ll take you.¡± Jiang Zhi smiled, which brightened her mood, ¡°Boss Lady, do you have a spare helmet?¡± The Boss Lady said there was one: ¡°I¡¯ll go get it for you.¡± After getting the helmet, the Boss Lady pulled Zhou Xufang aside and whispered a few words. ¡°Is this your boyfriend?¡± Zhou Xufang nodded. The Boss Lady had a good impression of Zhou Xufang and knew she was inexperienced in social affairs, worried she might be taken advantage of, so she asked carefully, looking out for her: ¡°What does he do?¡± Zhou Xufang responded, ¡°He¡¯s a director.¡± Even before the Boss Lady could ask in detail, Zhou Xufang boasted: ¡°He¡¯s a very famous director.¡± ¡°Extremely talented.¡± ¡°He has made many films and won a lot of awards.¡± The usually quiet girl, when praising her boyfriend, had quite a lot to say, and usually not making eye contact, she now looked earnestly at people, her bright eyes filled with many small emotions like expectation, pride, and a bit of smugness: ¡°Boss Lady, have you seen ¡®Chicheng¡¯?¡± The Boss Lady said she had. She became more proud: ¡°That was directed by my boyfriend.¡± Look how proud she was. The Boss Lady was very surprised: ¡°So he¡¯s a big-time director; no wonder he looked familiar.¡± The Boss Lady peeked a couple of times, ¡°He¡¯s also very handsome, even better looking than the male stars on TV.¡± Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Zhou Xufang nodded vigorously. Jiang Zhi was the most handsome! His looks could make him an artist, yet he chose to be a director: ¡°I wonder how many female stars have fallen for him¡ª¡± Zhou Xufang¡¯s head instantly drooped. Realizing her words were inappropriate, the Boss Lady quickly stopped herself: ¡°Oh my, it¡¯s getting late, go deliver the food.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Zhou Xufang, carrying a helmet, went to find Jiang Zhi. They left the porridge shop one after the other; she walked ahead, quickly, and didn¡¯t let Jiang Zhi hold her hand. Jiang Zhi tapped on her yellow helmet: ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± She wore one and held another, her expression complex. ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± She fell silent again. Jiang Zhi straightened her slightly crooked helmet, ¡°Why are you unhappy?¡± Zhou Xufang had a small head covered by the hat, her large eyes prominent on her palm-sized face, ¡°Do a lot of female celebrities like you?¡± It was a female celebrity who had instructed her the first time she kidnapped Jiang Zhi. There was also someone named Yu Ran who wore scanty clothes to discuss scripts with Jiang Zhi at night. Thinking about this, Zhou Xufang¡¯s eyebrows were deeply furrowed, ¡°With your capabilities and good looks, there must be many female celebrities who like you.¡± Definitely many female celebrities wearing scanty clothes to see him! Jiang Zhi said no, ¡°I used to be gay.¡± Oh, right. He was gay. With a look of profound grievance, Zhou Xufang corrected, ¡°Then there must be many male celebrities who like you.¡± Definitely many male celebrities wearing scanty clothes to see him! Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± He could smell it, the sourness. ¡°Jealous?¡± he asked laughing, ¡°Are you jealous?¡± Zhou Xufang honestly admitted, ¡°Yes.¡± It¡¯s good that she gets jealous. It shows he¡¯s not so unloved. Jiang Zhi lifted her face and kissed her lips lightly, ¡°Still jealous?¡± She nodded. So he kissed her again, ¡°You have no need to be jealous, I only kiss you.¡± Who could compare with her, even if it¡¯s in dreams, she was the one on top of him. Ah, Zhou Xufang, his queen, who could act up over his head. After two kisses, she was completely soothed, glanced around, then put a mask on Jiang Zhi, her lips and cheeks red, ¡°What if we get caught on camera?¡± Seeing her thief-like nervousness, Jiang Zhi chuckled, ¡°I¡¯m a director, I don¡¯t appear on camera much, not that much attention on me.¡± He was used to keeping a low-profile, setting clear boundaries about his privacy when he entered the circle; moreover, the Jiang family¡¯s standing in Imperial City is well-established, not many dare to gossip without his consent. However¡ª Zhou Xufang took a look at his face and still felt a strong sense of crisis, ¡°You look so handsome, you¡¯re still very conspicuous, boys should also be careful outside.¡± So¡ª ¡°Can you wear a mask when you go out?¡± she said sincerely, ¡°I¡¯ll wear one too, we¡¯ll both wear them.¡± Had someone dared to compliment Jiang Zhi¡¯s looks to his face in the past, He didn¡¯t like being praised for his looks, preferring recognition for his capabilities; usually, any compliments about his face made him uncomfortable. However, somehow when those discomfiting words came from Zhou Xufang, they sounded delightful. Jiang Zhi was in a great mood, ¡°I¡¯ll listen to you.¡± Then he bent down, asking her to put the helmet on him. Each sporting a yellow helmet, Zhou Xufang rode the bike, carrying Jiang Zhi to deliver food. Ah Wan had gone to Jiangyuan Road, they headed to Tianjing Road, a fifteen-minute ride on an electric bike. The destination was secluded, an old residential area, with a construction site opposite, due to the poor environment, most residents had relocated, and most people living there were construction workers. There was no elevator; during the lunch break, the corridors and stairs were crowded with people, mostly men, some shirtless despite the cold, chatting in groups. You could smell it from afar. Jiang Zhi slightly pulled up Zhou Xufang¡¯s mask and pressed down the helmet, ¡°Wait for me outside, I¡¯ll make the delivery.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± ¡°Call me if you need anything.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Jiang Zhi took a handkerchief, covering his nose and mouth as he went in. Zhou Xufang stood in the lobby on the first floor, gathered her thoughts, listened to the noises upstairs, and as she focused, sounds from all directions flooded her ears. ¡°There¡¯s a new girl on the third floor, she¡¯s a prostitute.¡± ¡°How do you know? Have you tried?¡± ¡°Swaggin¡¯ while walking, it¡¯s obvious by one glance.¡± ¡°You old lecher, aren¡¯t you worried your wife will find out?¡± ¡°My wife¡¯s back in my hometown, she doesn¡¯t care.¡± ¡°¡­¡± The conversation that followed became increasingly unsavory. Most of the tenants in the neighborhood were men, with few women and children¡¯s voices to be heard. ¡°It¡¯s me, Mr. Han.¡± It was a young woman¡¯s voice, sounding like she was smoking, raspy and a bit lazy. ¡°Has the body been found?¡± ¡°You can rest easy, I¡¯ve taken care of everything.¡± ¡°When will you send me the money?¡± At that moment, someone outside shouted. ¡°Delivery.¡± It was Jiang Zhi. Zhou Xufang continued to listen. ¡°I can¡¯t wait too long; it¡¯s best if you settle the payment soon.¡± The woman ended the call, stubbed out her cigarette, put on a coat, and went to open the door, ¡°Coming.¡± Opening the door, there stood a handsome man, his remarkable features apparent even beneath a mask. ¡°Last name Chen?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± The woman reached out to take the delivery, revealing her arms marked with several red scratches. Jiang Zhi handed her the delivery and turned to leave. ¡°Wait.¡± The woman, very young and exceptionally charming and alluring at just over twenty, her tight sweater under her open coat accentuating her figure, ¡°Young man, can I have your contact?¡± The ¡®delivery guy¡¯ turned his head back, ¡°I don¡¯t use a phone.¡± The woman laughed, ¡°The delivery app has the rider¡¯s phone number.¡± Under the dim hallway light, a beautiful face shadowed half in light, half in dark, ¡°That¡¯s my girlfriend¡¯s number.¡± Downstairs, Zhou Xufang was covering her mouth and laughing. Soon, Jiang Zhi came out. ¡°That woman flirted with me!¡± He sounded quite displeased, complaining to Zhou Xufang. Zhou Xufang asked, ¡°So did you entertain her?¡± He became even more upset, sucking heavily on her face, ¡°I did, or else I was afraid she¡¯d give you a bad review.¡± He acted as if he had suffered a great injustice and started seeking Zhou Xufang¡¯s comfort again. Zhou Xufang smiled, and he was pacified. Speaking of Ah Wan, who went to deliver to Jiangyuan Road, it was his first time delivering. Ah Wan was a bit excited; Jiangyuan Road is a well-known affluent area, and he had been there a few times with his employer and knew his way around. Since it was an upscale villa area with strict access control, Ah Wan couldn¡¯t get in and used the guardhouse¡¯s communication equipment to contact the seller. ¡°Delivery for 405.¡± The seller said, ¡°Wait at the gate.¡± That voice¡­ sounded familiar. Seven or eight minutes later, a woman in sunglasses and a mask appeared, looking around apprehensively, ¡°Where¡¯s my delivery?¡± Ah Wan handed over the bag, ¡°Miss Ming, your delivery.¡± Ming Saiying, the fourth child of the Ming Family also mingled in the entertainment circle, and had a nickname, ¡®harem professional.¡¯ All in all, a big shot. This big shot had long coveted the beauty of Imperial City¡¯s top beauty, Jiang Zhi, and of course she recognized Ah Wan, quite surprised, ¡°Lin, Lin, Lin¡­¡± What was it again, she just couldn¡¯t remember, ¡°Big guy, it¡¯s you.¡± Ah Wan: ¡°¡­¡± Does being a big guy mean I don¡¯t deserve to have a name?! Don¡¯t I deserve human rights and respect?! Ah Wan coldly placed the delivery at the guardhouse window, ¡°Enjoy your meal and if it¡¯s convenient, please leave a good review, goodbye.¡± ¡°Wait a minute.¡± Ming Saiying stopped him, ¡°I still have something to ask you.¡± If it weren¡¯t for the five-star rating, Ah Wan wouldn¡¯t have stopped. He could guess what Ming Saiying was going to say with just his toes. ¡°I heard from Ming Xiaohua that Jiang Zhi turned straight and even got a girlfriend, is that true?¡± Many men and women chased after Jiang Zhi, but Ming Saiying was definitely one of the most enduring ones. Of course, don¡¯t think she was deeply in love; she was just obsessed with appearances. Ah Wan remained silent. Ming Saiying put on the air of a major harem player, ¡°Who is that woman?¡± He maintained his silence. She became anxious, ¡°If you don¡¯t tell me, I¡¯ll give a bad review.¡± ¡°Hmph, suit yourself.¡± Ah Wan left directly. Ming Saiying, forgetting she was a public figure, shouted angrily, ¡°Hey big guy, I wasn¡¯t done asking!¡± Ah Wan, ¡°¡­¡± He couldn¡¯t stand it anymore! Using his two-meters and 200 kilograms presence, he said, ¡°My name isn¡¯t ¡®big guy.¡¯ My surname is Lin, Lin Wanwan.¡± Ming Saiying sneered, her laugh as frivolous as a prodigal, ¡°For a big man, your name is more feminine than a lady¡¯s.¡± ¡°¡­¡± How manly do you think a lady¡¯s name can be? Don¡¯t you have any fucking sense?! Ah Wan was so angry he could have died! In the end, he restrained himself, not bothering to argue with the likes of her. By the time he reached the porridge shop, the employer and Miss Zhou had already arrived. The employer stepped aside to take a call. Ah Wan approached, ¡°Miss Zhou.¡± Zhou Xufang was eating porridge, ¡°Mmm.¡± Ah Wan with a heavy expression, ¡°You might be getting a bad review.¡± He had delivered for Miss Zhou, so the rider was Miss Zhou. Zhou Xufang understood what he meant, ¡°It¡¯s okay.¡± Ah Wan still felt guilty, ¡°I will definitely help you get your rating back up.¡± Jiang Zhi was outside the porridge shop on the corridor taking a call, from Qiao Nanchu. ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± ¡°The medical examiner just sent over a new autopsy report. From the height and strength of the fatal wounds, the murderer is very likely a woman.¡± Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t respond, his gaze passing through the glass showcase, he was watching Zhou Xufang. ¡°As of now, the biggest suspect is that female waiter,¡± Qiao Nanchu leisurely continued, ¡°If I¡¯m not wrong, she¡¯s that professional errand runner, right?¡± Jiang Zhi neither denied nor confirmed. Qiao Nanchu asked, ¡°What exactly is your relationship with her?¡± Jiang Zhi answered, ¡°An unspeakable relationship.¡± The lunch rush was over and the shop had fewer people. ¡°Auntie.¡± A woman, her hair in a ponytail and wearing a lady¡¯s suit, was helping an elderly lady walk down from the second floor, ¡°Take care of my mom for a bit, I need to step out.¡± The woman was the niece of the Boss Lady. The Boss Lady was at the cashier, sparing a moment to acknowledge her, then she led the elderly lady to sit next to the cashier counter and instructed her a few times before leaving. The elderly lady, clearly not in a normal mental state, sat muttering for a while, then climbed off the chair by herself. The Boss Lady, busy settling bills for customers, didn¡¯t notice. She walked over to Zhou Xufang¡¯s table and said loudly, ¡°Why are you still here?¡± She waved her hands, urging, ¡°Hurry up and work, or else the elder and younger miss will see and whip you.¡± ¡°Are you talking to us?¡± Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t recognize the lady. Ah Wan did. He called out, ¡°Ms. He.¡± Ms. He had returned to the cashier, took a pair of scissors, smiled at Zhou Xufang and waved her over, ¡°Luo San, come here, Aunt Xiu will cut your hair.¡± Aunt Xiu¡­ Zhou Xufang froze. Ms. He had already lifted the scissors over her head, a hand reached from behind and grabbed her hand, ¡°Mom, what are you doing with the scissors?¡± Ms. He¡¯s daughter, recognized by Ah Wan too, was Luo Jiatang. Chapter 114: 114: Spinning Brand Dog Food, Sweet Secret Crush Chapter 114: 114: Spinning Brand Dog Food, Sweet Secret Crush Ms. He¡¯s daughter, Ah Wan, also recognized Luo Jiatang. She snatched the scissors. Ms. He screamed twice, looked around frantically with a vacant gaze, and started talking to herself. ¡°I want to cut Luo San¡¯s hair.¡± ¡°They will hit her.¡± ¡°I need to cut hair.¡± ... ¡°The roses have bloomed¡­ I need to cut Luo San¡¯s hair.¡± She fixed her gaze on Zhou Xufang¡¯s hair, muttering incessantly, her hand continuously pounding on the table. Tang Xiang helped her sit down, whispering words of comfort, ¡°Mom, she¡¯s not Luo San. Luo San was called by the Second Miss to water the flowers.¡± ¡°Has she gone to water the flowers?¡± Tang Xiang nodded. Only then did Ms. He stop making a fuss and stopped pounding on the table, murmuring with her head bowed, ¡°She¡¯s going to get beaten again.¡± ¡°Little Mute is going to get beaten again.¡± ¡°Where¡¯s the phone? I need to call the old man.¡± Tang Xiang called out ¡®Second Aunt¡¯. The Boss Lady immediately picked up the phone and called Ms. He over. Tang Xiang breathed a sigh of relief, put the scissors away, and approached Zhou Xufang¡¯s table, ¡°I¡¯m very sorry, did I scare you?¡± Zhou Xufang shook his head. The wind blew the door chime, which rang twice. Jiang Zhi entered and asked, ¡°What happened?¡± ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± The first call was from Zhou Xufang, the second from Tang Xiang. Oh, they all know each other. Tang Xiang looked Zhou Xufang over briefly, nodded politely, then turned to Jiang Zhi, ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to introduce us?¡± Jiang Zhi sat down, speaking concisely, just three words: ¡°Zhou Xufang.¡± It¡¯s Zhou Xufang. Not girlfriend Zhou Xufang. Zhou Xufang understood that this person needed to be guarded against. ¡°Hello,¡± Tang Xiang smiled lightly, ¡°I¡¯m Tang Xiang.¡± Zhou Xufang looked up, expressionless, ¡°Hello.¡± She was dressed all in black, her face cold and aloof, her eyes watchful, her whole demeanor screaming, ¡°Don¡¯t talk to me, I don¡¯t know you.¡± ¡°Just now I startled Miss Zhou,¡± Tang Xiang apologized again, ¡°I¡¯m truly sorry.¡± Zhou Xufang: ¡°It¡¯s okay.¡± Her lips were thin, suggesting a strong sense of distance the moment they pursed, and along with her high-class disinterested look, her expression still read¡ªDon¡¯t talk to me, I don¡¯t know you. Such a peculiar person. Tang Xiang glanced at the time, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I have to leave first.¡± Zhou Xufang nodded, indicating¡ªPlease do. After Tang Xiang and her mother had left, Zhou Xufang then asked Jiang Zhi, ¡°Who is she?¡± Jiang Zhi poured a glass of hot water and after cleaning the spoon, she brought her own bowl of porridge over, picking out the shrimp and placing it into Zhou Xufang¡¯s bowl, ¡°Part of the Luo family.¡± No wonder Jiang Zhi was cautious. Zhou Xufang had also heard rumors on the set; it seemed Jiang Zhi and the Luo family were at odds. She asked further, ¡°Why only part?¡± ¡°She and her father were both raised in the Luo family to serve them, outsiders in name.¡± In ancient times, called a family slave. In modern times, called a housekeeper, but Tang Xiang was different; she managed more than just affairs at home, she also managed Luo family¡¯s business, holding significant power. S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Tang Xiang is capable and skilled, the old master of the Luo family values her greatly, publicly calling her the righteous daughter of Luo Changde.¡± Zhou Xufang felt it was more than just a part, almost a significant part of the Luo family. ¡°And who is Luo San?¡± she had many questions today. Jiang Zhi¡¯s action of picking shrimps halted for a moment, ¡°Who told you about Luo San?¡± Her gaze cold as she glanced at Ah Wan. Ah Wan: ¡°!¡± Unjustly accused! ¡°Tang Xiang¡¯s mother called me Luo San just now.¡± Ms. He really is severely ill; she can¡¯t even distinguish genders anymore. Jiang Zhi put down her spoon and took a wet wipe to clean her hands. ¡°He is an adopted son of the Luo Family.¡± Zhou Xufang was seriously listening, a rare occurrence of curiosity. Jiang Zhi licked her lips and remained silent for a long time. ¡°Eight years ago, the Luo Family¡¯s house caught fire, and Luo San was burned to death.¡± Her eyelashes drooped, concealing the emotions in her eyes, Jiang Zhi said, ¡°Tang Xiang¡¯s father also died in that fire. After that, her mother became mentally unstable.¡± Her tone was very low. The air pressure was also low. In Jiang Zhi¡¯s eyes, Zhou Xufang saw a great cloud of gloom, Oh, she remembered that on the cruise, Luo Qinghe had mentioned that Luo San was someone Jiang Zhi cherished. Now she too was someone cherished by Jiang Zhi, which made Luo San her ¡®neighbor.¡¯ She felt she was about to get jealous, no, she couldn¡¯t get jealous, her ¡®neighbor¡¯ was already deceased, she couldn¡¯t be petty. After calming herself, she continued to ask Jiang Zhi, ¡°Was the Luo Family¡¯s house fire a natural disaster?¡± ¡°It was arson.¡± Zhou Xufang fell into deep thought. Jiang Zhi placed the last piece of shrimp in her bowl, ¡°Why are you curious about this?¡± Zhou Xufang said, ¡°I don¡¯t like the Luo Family.¡± Luo Qinghe is a wicked woman, and so is Luo Yinghe. Jiang Zhi gently touched her seriously expressioned face, ¡°I don¡¯t like them either.¡± See, how perfectly matched she and Jiang Zhi were, Zhou Xufang thought. Jingbai City is the territory of the Lu Family from Imperial City; the seven-story building is located in the city center, with floors one to four being a shopping center, the fifth floor a tea house and restaurant, and the sixth and seventh floors a club and cinema, respectively. Zhou Qingrang had a meeting scheduled in the teahouse on the fifth floor, three o¡¯clock, and the other party arrived on time. ¡°Mr. Zhou.¡± The middle-aged man sat down, sliding a folder over: ¡°The fire eight years ago, the Luo Family probably tampered secretly, all related personnel have been handled.¡± This man worked for a professional errand company, Zhou Qingrang had hired him to investigate the Luo Family¡¯s background. ¡°What about Luo San?¡± Zhou Qingrang opened the folder. The middle-aged man said, ¡°It¡¯s similar to what the Luo Family disclosed publicly; Luo San was a child adopted by Tang Guangji¡¯s couple from their hometown, only the Luo Family and Tang Guangji¡¯s wife, He Xiangxiu, knew from where exactly the child was adopted.¡± The middle-aged man was average in appearance, wearing glasses on his nose, ¡°After Tang Guangji¡¯s death eight years ago, He Xiangxiu became mentally unstable.¡± Zhou Qingrang flipped through a few pages, ¡°Help me check something, during my hospital stay, who was paying for my hospital expenses.¡± The other party responded, ¡°Okay.¡± Zhou Qingrang took out a card from his wallet, placed it on the table, then drank the tea in his cup in one gulp, and pushed his wheelchair out of the teahouse. Since it was the weekend, there were many passersby. When turning the corner in the corridor, his walking stick from the wheelchair scraped against a person. That person was on the phone, quite irritated, and cursed with a swear word: ¡°Damn, can¡¯t you watch where you¡¯re going?¡± Zhou Qingrang moved his wheelchair to the innermost side, and quietly apologized. Probably because his demeanor was elegant, sitting in a wheelchair and hanging his head low, he still exuded an extraordinary aura, which the bumped man disliked at the sight of his suit and shoes, touched the tattoo on his neck, and disdainfully spoke: ¡°If your legs aren¡¯t good, you shouldn¡¯t go out and bother others.¡± What an act of elegance! Feeling vexed, the man spat on the ground to clear the bad luck and continued on the phone: ¡°No worries, just bad luck running into a damn cripple, go on.¡± The temperature had dropped the past couple of days; wearing a prosthetic was too painful. Zhou Qingrang hadn¡¯t worn it today, the blanket covering the empty space under his left leg. He tugged on the blanket to adjust it properly and pushed his wheelchair towards the elevator. The elevator button was a bit high; he couldn¡¯t reach it. A tender hand pressed the button. Then came the clear voice of a girl, ¡°Do you need help?¡± Zhou Qingrang looked up: ¡°No need,¡± he said, ¡°Thank you.¡± The girl said nothing, standing next to him. Once the elevator doors opened, she walked in first to the furthest corner, then Zhou Qingrang followed with his wheelchair, his back to her. She could see his straight back just by lowering her head. Zhou Qingrang. Zhou Qingrang. Zhou Qing¡ª When she silently repeated it for the third time, the man on the wheelchair turned around: ¡°Hello.¡± Lu Sheng was taken aback, stuttering after a long pause, ¡°Hello.¡± His tone was gentle, and he asked politely, ¡°Your umbrella is still with me, could you tell me your address?¡± Address?! ¡°Ah?¡± Lu Sheng had been duking it out in the business world with her father since she was a teenager, so there wasn¡¯t a scenario she hadn¡¯t seen. Her name as Second Miss Lu was well-known in Imperial City. No one had seen her this nervous, swallowing her saliva. ¡°Last month, outside Tingyu Building,¡± Zhou Qingrang patiently explained, ¡°you borrowed my umbrella and have not yet returned it.¡± The voice of a broadcast host, truly one of a kind. Even ordinary sentences, when he slowly recited them, sounded charming. Lu Sheng still remembered the first time she heard Zhou Qingrang¡¯s voice; at that moment, she had only one thought¡ªto keep him to herself, so he could tell her stories by her bedside every day. Later, after meeting him, her thoughts changed; she wanted to coax him into hiding under her sheets. She lost her composure, her eyes wide, unable to conceal her excitement, ¡°You remember me?¡± Zhou Qingrang said, ¡°I remember.¡± Her eyes twinkled as she quickly blinked twice and said, ¡°I can¡¯t tell you my address.¡± Today she was dressed in a black business suit, and her makeup was impeccable, but¡­ She couldn¡¯t help but smile like a schoolgirl, ¡°Can you give me your number? I can come to the station to pick it up.¡± She knew he worked at the radio station. Zhou Qingrang had clear, handsome features, and his gaze when he looked at someone was very mild, ¡°Do you recognize me?¡± Lu Sheng nodded, ¡°Yes, I¡¯m a fan.¡± He smiled, ¡°Good.¡± He took a piece of paper from the storage box beside the wheelchair armrest and wrote down a string of digits for her, ¡°Sorry to bother you.¡± Lu Sheng, ¡°No bother at all!¡± Just then, the elevator reached the ground floor. After Zhou Qingrang nodded, he went out first; Lu Sheng followed, feeling too embarrassed to catch up immediately, so she pretended to head to the reception desk. ¡°Second Miss¡ª¡± Lu Sheng hushed her, and the receptionist quickly closed her mouth. They watched as the young boss of Jingbai City stealthily followed him, glued to the glass for a long time before reluctantly turning back. Secretary Yang Xiu then came over. Lu Sheng straightened her hair beside her ear and asked, ¡°Where is he?¡± The atmosphere suddenly shifted. The title of the little business demon wasn¡¯t for nothing; Yang Xiu carefully responded, ¡°On the second floor.¡± She headed to the second floor, Yang Xiu trailing behind. In the elevator, she suddenly said, ¡°The buttons in the mall¡¯s elevator are too high.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll arrange for someone to come and modify it.¡± ¡°As soon as possible.¡± Every floor of the mall had a lounge that only VIP customers with annual spending over a million could enter; at this moment, the second-floor lounge was cleared, and people were guarding the door. Footsteps were heard before anyone appeared. Two men at the door immediately stood straight and lowered their heads, ¡°Second Miss.¡± She hummed, entered the lounge, took off her coat, and threw it to the female secretary, ¡°Where is he?¡± The secretary signaled with her eyes, and a security guard entered the room and dragged a man out, pushing him onto the couch. ¡°Who¡ªwho are you people?¡± The man being pressed had tattoos on his neck, and he was trembling and struggling. The room filled with security and secretaries remained silent. Lu Sheng said, ¡°Someone to teach you manners.¡± She picked up a bottle of red wine, walked over, and because she was quite young, spoke casually but seriously, ¡°You should be polite when you¡¯re out and about; didn¡¯t your parents teach you that?¡± The tattooed man kicked and struggled; Yang Xiu kicked him directly, making him behave. ¡°Cripple?¡± The young girl laughed. She twirled the wine bottle in her hand, tapping the man¡¯s head lightly and intermittently. She asked with a smile, ¡°Who gave you the audacity to call him a dead cripple?¡± She emphasized the last word, revealing her sharpness. ¡°I¡ªI¡ª¡± Before he could finish, the wine bottle crashed down. ¡°Bang!¡± The wine contained gas, and erupted with a loud sound. Red wine and glass shards splattered the man¡¯s face; he was dumbstruck, staring at the dent made by the wine bottle on the table corner. Of course, he had not been hit. Lu Sheng, a legitimate businesswoman, didn¡¯t engage in illegal acts. She threw away the broken wine bottle, only a small half remaining, wiped her hands with a tissue, and sat on the couch, ¡°He hasn¡¯t gone far. Go downstairs and apologize. If he doesn¡¯t forgive you, I will kill you.¡± ¡°I¡ªI¡ªI¡­¡± Unable to speak, the man trembled as he desperately crawled away. Lu Sheng tossed the used tissue into the trash can, pursed her lips: Humph, really can¡¯t take a scare. ¡°Second Miss.¡± Yang Xiu stepped forward with a cellphone, ¡°Young Master Xinglan¡¯s call.¡± She took it. ¡°Brother.¡± The voice on the other end of the phone was lazy, as if still half-asleep, ¡°Who is Zhou Qingrang?¡± Lu Sheng sat up straight, glanced at the people in the room, ¡°Who went to you again to gossip?¡± Who would dare. ¡°Just now at the dinner table, I met someone from the TV station who told me that Zhou Qingrang would soon be transferred back to the TV station.¡± He spoke unhurriedly, ¡°Tell me, who is Zhou Qingrang?¡± Now that she knew, she couldn¡¯t be bothered to be coy, ¡°He¡¯s the person I like.¡± Speaking of Zhou Qingrang, her eyebrows danced with excitement, and her expression was incredibly animated. There was silence on the other end of the phone for quite some time. ¡°He¡¯s fourteen years older than you, missing one leg, and the other is nearly lame.¡± Lu Xinglan directly called out, ¡°Lu Sheng.¡± His tone turned stern, and Lu Sheng faltered. ¡°Our family doesn¡¯t care about social status, but as your husband,¡± his tone left no room for doubt, ¡°he must at least be in good health.¡± Lu Sheng pouted, ¡°You¡¯re still being picky, and he doesn¡¯t even know who I am.¡± Her tone was extraordinarily dejected but also dissatisfied because she hadn¡¯t yet caught his eye. Lu Xinglan chuckled softly, ¡°So you mean, it¡¯s still unrequited love? You¡ª¡± His sentence suddenly cut off. Lu Sheng called out, ¡°Brother?¡± ¡°Brother?¡± No one responded to her. A moment later, the phone was picked up by someone else, Lu Xinglan¡¯s accompanying secretary, ¡°Second Miss, Young Master Xinglan has fallen asleep again.¡± Lu Sheng, ¡°¡­¡± Her brother¡¯s hypersomnia was getting more severe. After hanging up the phone, she stood up and walked to the floor-to-ceiling window, looking downstairs. She had mild nearsightedness and usually disliked wearing glasses. She couldn¡¯t see clearly downstairs and squinted to see. Zhou Qingrang hadn¡¯t gone far indeed; today was a weekend, and there were too many people, making his wheelchair move very slowly. ¡°Sir!¡± ¡°Sir, wait!¡± Zhou Qingrang turned around, ¡°What is it?¡± It was the man who had called him a cripple. The man was covered in sweat, his face and neck still stained with red wine and a few streaks of blood from glass shards, looking very embarrassed and panicked. He ran over, stammering as he began, ¡°I¡ªI came to apologize, I¡¯m sorry for earlier.¡± Zhou Qingrang sat quietly in his wheelchair, not responding. The man glanced at the second floor of the mall, then immediately withdrew his gaze in a fluster, and knelt down, hands pressed together, squeezing out two lines of clear tears, ¡°It was all my fault for not recognizing a great person. I was out of line, and I have no manners.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry, sir, I know I was wrong, and I will never discriminate against people with disabilities or be so arrogant again, please forgive my ignorance of youth.¡± It was almost as if he would kowtow. Zhou Qingrang silently watched the man kneeling on the ground. ¡°Sir, then have you¡­¡± the man said earnestly, his expression fearful, ¡°forgiven me?¡± As sweat the size of beans rolled down his face freely, he trembled, ¡°If you don¡¯t forgive me, I¡ªI¡ª¡± The man clenched his teeth, ¡°I will kneel here indefinitely!¡± A grown man kneeling on the street quickly attracted the attention of passers-by. Zhou Qingrang moved his wheelchair to the side of the road, trying not to block the path, and said to the man, ¡°You can get up.¡± He still knelt, ¡°So, you have forgiven me?¡± Zhou Qingrang nodded. The man was profusely grateful, almost bursting into tears, ¡°You are truly a good person.¡± Zhou Qingrang, ¡°¡­¡± a bit amused. Afternoon. Zhou Xufang delivered seven takeaway orders, Jiang Zhi refused to rest and insisted on going along. Riding on the electric scooter in the cold wind, Zhou Xufang stuck eight heating pads on him to prevent him from getting cold. In the evening, Jiang Zhi drove her home. The Maybach stopped outside Yuquan Bay, not entering the community. Zhou Xufang mentioned it was getting cold at night and urged him to quickly go home. ¡°Zhou Xufang.¡± Sometimes when Jiang Zhi was a bit moody, he liked to call her by her full name. Zhou Xufang tilted her head to look at him, ¡°Hmm?¡± Forget it, not going to scold her. He forcefully kissed her cheek, leaving it red before he stopped, ¡°Sleep early. I¡¯ll come over to pick you up at eight tomorrow morning.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± She had just agreed and was about to open the car door when Jiang Zhi caught her hand, his tone unsatisfied and a bit resentful, ¡°Zhou Xufang, you really don¡¯t cling to me enough.¡± Chapter 115: 115: Fang Bao: Jiang Zhi, I miss you Chapter 115: 115: Fang Bao: Jiang Zhi, I miss you ¡°Zhou Xufang, you¡¯re not clingy enough with me.¡± Zhou Xufang¡¯s experience with interpersonal relationships was basically nil. Clingy, that word was a bit beyond her comprehension. Hmm, she didn¡¯t quite understand¡ªshould she stick to Jiang Zhi every single day like those eight warming pads? ¡°I¡¯m going back now, and you don¡¯t seem to care at all.¡± His tone sounded annoyed, but he was full of grievances. He even huffed at her, like a spoiled cat. When you stop pampering it, it can throw quite a tantrum, and it might even pat you with its chubby paws. As expected. ... He nibbled on her chin again, forcefully. Zhou Xufang calmly wiped off his saliva: ¡°I do care.¡± It¡¯s just that, she said, ¡°but we can see each other tomorrow.¡± She disapproved of his saliva! Jiang Zhi¡¯s slightly mollified mood flared up again: ¡°You don¡¯t even kiss me on your own.¡± Zhou Xufang¡¯s serious face crumbled into shyness: ¡°There are, there are people.¡± It should be mentioned that when Zhou Xufang watched television, she would look up at the ceiling and take a sip of milk to calm down whenever a kissing scene came on. After dating Jiang Zhi, she got slightly better. She dared to watch with squinted eyes. Jiang Zhi was talented in those areas, having directed various kinds of passionate kissing scenes. ¡°Lin Wanwan,¡± Jiang Zhi commanded, ¡°leave.¡± Ah Wan: ¡°¡­Oh.¡± Such a beast, this employer of hers. Jiang Zhi rolled up the car window and moved his face closer: ¡°Zhou Xufang, there¡¯s no one around now.¡± Zhou Xufang looked around, peeking in every direction. Jiang Zhi watched her panicked look with amusement: ¡°Why do you act like a thief when kissing your boyfriend?¡± Ah Wan crouched down five meters away on the roadside. Zhou Xufang quickly covered his mouth: ¡°Don¡¯t be so loud, if someone discovers us it won¡¯t have a good¡ª¡± Jiang Zhi wasn¡¯t listening anymore, he removed her hand and kissed her chattering mouth. After a while, Jiang Zhi let Zhou Xufang get out of the car, Ah Wan had already given up hope for this morally degenerate world, too lazy to even roll her eyes at the self-satisfied Mr. Jiang. Zhou Xufang sneaked back into the residential area like a thief. The Maybach waited for a quarter of an hour, then started up and drove away. Thirty seconds later, a black Volvo drove out of the neighborhood and followed it. The Volvo was Zhou Xufang¡¯s car, a bit on the pricier side, and Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t know it was hers. She secretly saw Jiang Zhi back to his place, a round trip that took nearly two hours. By the time she returned to the neighborhood, it was already past ten. She parked the car and went to buy two rows of AD calcium milk at the neighborhood convenience store, crouching at one side to drink. Wen Baiyang also crouched down, typed something on his phone, and showed it to Zhou Xufang. ¡°Will you come over to work part-time later?¡± Zhou Xufang said: ¡°I¡¯ll come.¡± Wen Baiyang brought two small stools over, she sat on one and offered the other to Zhou Xufang: ¡°You seem to be in a bad mood.¡± Zhou Xufang shook her head: ¡°I haven¡¯t been sleeping well recently, always having dreams.¡± Always dreaming of that attic in the Luo Family. Wen Baiyang pulled out a very small canvas bag from his jacket pocket. The bag was sealed, and inside was a portable music player, an old model from many years ago. He handed one of the earphones to Zhou Xufang: ¡°I used to have dreams as well, this is from my benefactor, and it¡¯s very effective when I can¡¯t sleep.¡± He added, ¡°Even though I can¡¯t hear it.¡± A gentle piano piece played in her ear, a song Zhou Xufang had never heard before. This old music player had been well-maintained, signifying its original owner was someone very cherished by Wen Baiyang. ¡°A benefactor?¡± ¡°Yes, the one who brought me out of the mountain.¡± He used sign language, stating, ¡°I have two benefactors. They are both very kind people.¡± Zhou Xufang had already learned to understand simple sign language. ¡°You are too,¡± she replied in sign language. ¡°You are also a very kind person.¡± Wen Baiyang smiled, his round eyes shining like the stars in the sky. Zhou Xufang finished drinking her two rows of AD calcium milk while sitting and got up from the stool: ¡°I¡¯m going home now, I¡¯ll come back later.¡± Wen Baiyang nodded. Guided by the streetlights, she stepped on the shadows of the cedar trees scattered on the ground and slowly made her way back to the neighborhood, the shadows on the ground swaying, and her hair tips flickering as well. The night was beautiful. The neighborhood guard, Mr. Fang, had recently brought his dog along¡ª a well-behaved Golden Retriever named Gui Fei. Gui Fei recognized Zhou Xufang from afar and wagged her tail at her. Mr. Fang emerged from the guardroom, his face creased with a smile, ¡°Xu Fang is back.¡± Ah Wan and Mr. Fang were very friendly to Zhou Xufang, so friendly that she almost forgot that it was her red eyes that had terrified the previous guard into fleeing in utter panic. Although Zhou Xufang hardly interacted with others, when others treated her with courtesy, she would try to respond as a normal person would. She approached and greeted, ¡°Good evening, Uncle Fang.¡± Mr. Fang¡¯s eyes filled with even more affection as he looked at her, ¡°Ah, dear, you really are well-behaved.¡± Ah Wan continued wagging its tail. From a distance, under the dim street lights, Wen Baiyang stood in front of the convenience store with a faint smile on his lips: Her benefactor was a very good person. That year, when Wen Baiyang was only fourteen, she lived in a small wooden house on Da Mai Mountain with her grandmother. Then, a fire consumed their modest home, no more than twenty square meters in size. ¡°Bai Yang!¡± ¡°Bai Yang!¡± ¡°My Bai Yang is still inside, quick, put out the fire, put out the fire!¡± The old woman, with her white hair and hunched back, was being pulled along as she loudly called for help, crying that her granddaughter was still inside, begging people to go rescue her. The village chief of Wenjia Village was an eighty-year-old man, the eldest and most influential person in the village. He spoke up. He said, ¡°Add more firewood.¡± It was then that the old woman had a sudden realization, ¡°It was you¡­ you are the ones who set the fire?¡± At that moment, there was a cacophony of voices, some people holding spatulas, some with rolling pins, and others with hoes in their hands. ¡°Aunt Lian, we told you to drive her out of the village long ago, but you wouldn¡¯t.¡± ¡°A disaster born of incest, better off dead.¡± ¡°Her dad¡¯s dead, her mom ran off, only she¡¯s tough enough to survive, bringing death to so many.¡± ¡°How long has it been since Da Mai Mountain got any rain? It¡¯s all because of this disaster.¡± ¡°Hurry, add more firewood, burn her to death!¡± ¡°¡­¡± A living girl, just fourteen years old, merely unable to speak, merely deaf, merely burdened with selfish parents, was deemed unforgivable in this backward village. The old woman cried, the villagers shouted, and the children cheered, saying, ¡°It¡¯s raining, it¡¯s raining, the disaster is going to die¡­¡± That day, the wind was fierce, it had been a long time since Da Mai Mountain had seen rain, and the dry tinder met a raging fire, burning fiercely. Suddenly, someone shouted, ¡°Who went in there?¡± ¡°It looks like the Tieshan Family¡¯s guest.¡± ¡°She¡¯s come out!¡± The sealed door flung wide open, and the girl emerged, holding the girl she had rescued from the fire, her face blackened, unconscious. In the blink of an eye, the girl had moved from the doorway to the front of the villagers. She raised her head, ¡°Why burn her?¡± ¡°A demon, a demon¡­¡± Later on, the village was abuzz with rumors, saying the Tieshan Family¡¯s guest was a demon, with eyes the color of blood, that she floated in the air, that she had no legs, that she devoured children, that she killed people and set fires. No one spoke of how that girl had saved two lives in the Tieshan Family. The girl left. The girl¡¯s tragedy did not end there; just two months later, she was ordered by the village chief to undergo the village¡¯s justice. Wenjia Village was a backward village, isolated from the world for many years, and some of the old ancestral rules were still in use, such as¡ªdrowning those who committed grave errors. It was done with a cage nailed shut with wood, locking the person inside, weighing it down with stones, and then slowly lowering the caged person into the pond. The girl was deaf-mute, unable to cry or call for help, and her grandmother had already fainted from crying, with no one to plead for her. Then, he arrived, emerging from the afterglow of the setting sun. He was a dashing young man. ¡°What¡¯s going on here?¡± Da Mai Mountain seldom saw outsiders, and the villagers warily watched the stranger who had suddenly appeared, demanding, ¡°Who are you?¡± The man was very young, barely in his early twenties, with a blade of grass in his mouth, wearing combat gear with camouflage on his face, which still didn¡¯t hide his rebelliousness. ¡°First, answer me, are you trying to kill her?¡± The old village chief said sternly, ¡°This is our village¡¯s affair. If you want to leave Da Mai Mountain alive, mind your own business.¡± ¡°A threat, is it?¡± He removed his hat, swept back his hair, and put the hat back on. He smiled, leisurely stating, ¡°Add another crime to your list.¡± One of the bolder villagers had already swung up a hoe, ¡°Just who are you?!¡± He leisurely spat out two words, ¡°Police.¡± Then, he methodically drew his gun, ¡°Now, get those hands up.¡± The ignorant and backward villagers had never seen such a posture, they were all frightened out of their wits, stepping aside to make way for the police to drag the caged girl from the pond, her face covered with a black cloth. When the cloth was yanked off, it turned out to be a little girl. He asked, ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± The girl pointed to her own throat and shook her head. She couldn¡¯t speak. He didn¡¯t ask any further and dialed a number, requesting support, ¡°Captain Cheng, eight hundred meters inside Guankou¡ª¡± S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. A hand reached out from the cage and grabbed his pant leg. ¡°Wen Baiyang.¡± She scribbled her name awkwardly on the ground with her finger. He said, ¡°Nice name,¡± and then continued the call, ¡°Eight hundred meters inside Guankou, Wenjia Village, bring people over right away.¡± Moments later, he hung up the phone, his back to the setting sun as he looked at the girl in the cage and said a name. ¡°Qiao Nanchu.¡± Suddenly, her cell phone in her pocket vibrated, pulling Wen Baiyang out of her memories. Her phone and computer were linked by software; it was Zhou Xufang looking for her. ¡°Shuangjiang.¡± She turned on her computer and sent over a smiley emoji. The computer had special software installed that could convert Zhou Xufang¡¯s voice into text, ¡°Help me look up someone.¡± ¡°Who?¡± ¡°Luo San.¡± Luo San¡­ She had briefly looked up the Luo Family when investigating Luo Qinghe before and had a slight impression of Luo San, ¡°The Luo Family?¡± Zhou Xufang said, ¡°He¡¯s an adopted son of the Luo Family.¡± She remembered, ¡°Didn¡¯t the Luo Family¡¯s adopted son pass away? Why are you looking for him?¡± ¡°He might be someone I know.¡± She sent a question mark. ¡°I have a memory of the Luo Family¡¯s attic,¡± Zhou Xufang was silent for a while, ¡°I¡¯ve dreamt of Luo San. It might not have been a dream, perhaps I witnessed something.¡± In her memory, there was the Luo Family¡¯s attic and Luo San, leaving only two possibilities: she was a participant, or she was a bystander. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll look into it.¡± That night, Zhou Xufang dreamt again, still of the Luo Family¡¯s attic. In the attic was a window, outside of which stood a large camphor tree, voices were calling from outside. ¡°Luo San.¡± ¡°Luo San.¡± They were the voices of young men. Then the little bald boy ran out from the attic, his head freshly shaved, very sleek. The young man was standing with his back to him under the tree, ¡°Come here.¡± The little bald boy ran over, opening his hand to reveal a piece of meat, grinning foolishly. The young man seemed a bit annoyed with him, poking his head, ¡°Did you steal the braised meat again?¡± ¡°You little idiot, who said I like meat?¡± ¡°And what¡¯s with your head? It looks terrible.¡± The little fool still smiled. Suddenly a bolt of lightning struck, and Zhou Xufang opened her eyes, sitting up, calming down for a few minutes before lying down again. She was startled awake from the dream, and once she closed her eyes she couldn¡¯t fall asleep again. She tossed and turned in bed for a long time, still without a hint of sleepiness, so she finally got up, changed her clothes, and went out. It was already two o¡¯clock in the morning. The guard dog at the Jiang Mansion suddenly started barking, ¡°Woof!¡± It was a Tibetan Mastiff, kept for guarding the house. ¡°Woof Woof!¡± ¡°Woof Woof!¡± The butler, Jiang Chuan, who hadn¡¯t gone to bed yet, shouted from the veranda, ¡°Fula.¡± The mastiff was named Fula, a name bestowed by the Old Madam. Fula tilted its head back and continued howling, ¡°Woof woof!¡± ¡°In the middle of the night, what are you barking for?¡± Jiang Chuan walked into the courtyard, scolding the Tibetan Mastiff, ¡°Don¡¯t bark anymore. If you wake up the Old Madam, I¡¯ll stew you!¡± Fula barked once more before returning to its kennel. Boom¡ªa sudden clap of thunder sounded. Jiang Zhi opened his eyes to see a head hanging upside down above the window¡ªa head so dark it was almost indiscernible. It took him a good while before he exhaled a breath, didn¡¯t turn on the light, and illuminated the figure with his phone¡¯s torch, ¡°Zhou Xufang.¡± The head tilted slightly. Jiang Zhi threw off the covers and slipped out of bed, shuffling over to the window in the pink rabbit slippers Zhou Xufang had given him, ¡°Are you trying to scare your boyfriend to death?¡± Ah, he recognized her. Such joy. The head wobbled from side to side, quite merrily. The sight was so spooky that Jiang Zhi found it amusing, so he opened the window. The head asked, ¡°Do I look like a female ghost?¡± Jiang Zhi told the truth, ¡°You do.¡± ¡°Then how did you still recognize me?¡± The head hanging upside down twisted back, revealing a pitch-black skull as she explained to Jiang Zhi, ¡°You see, I covered my skull and the back of my head entirely.¡± Now she looked even more like a female ghost. Jiang Zhi shone the flashlight of his phone on her. Indeed, it was tough to spot her face, but with her hanging there, he just knew that this was nobody else¡¯s head but Zhou Xufang¡¯s. No sleight of hand, he just knew. ¡°Even turned to ashes, you¡¯d still be Zhou Xufang.¡± Zhou Xufang, with her foot hooked on the security bars, flipped around, finally revealing her body¡ªnot just a head anymore, but a dark lump, wrapped up from head to toe, with only her eyes showing. She crouched on the security bars, looking at Jiang Zhi and asked, ¡°Aren¡¯t you afraid?¡± Jiang Chuan leaned out a bit, approaching the dark lump and teased her, ¡°Zhou ghost girl, will you drain my Yang energy?¡± The ghost girl shook her head. ¡°Then what is there to be afraid of?¡± Seeing her perched on the security bars outside, Jiang Zhi was filled with trepidation, fearing she might fall, ¡°We have security bars here, you can¡¯t come in. I¡¯ll go open the front door¡ªyou first¡ª¡± But she already pried open the security bars with one hand. Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± Zhou Xufang immediately regretted her brashness, feeling she was too forceful, and quickly adopted a gentle tone in the guise of a demure girl, ¡°Did I frighten you?¡± Jiang Zhi shone the light of his phone on her face, staring intently, ¡°Are you really a little ghost girl?¡± She pondered, ¡°I am, yeah.¡± Jiang Zhi laughed and stepped aside, ¡°Come in then, little ghost girl, and have your fill of Yang energy.¡± Zhou¡¤Little Ghost Girl¡¤Xufang slipped right in. Jiang Zhi closed the window, ¡°Why are you not sleeping at this late hour and running to my place¡ª¡± Before he could finish. Zhou Xufang lunged forward, and they both tumbled onto the bed where she clung to him tightly. Jiang Zhi¡¯s senses were jumbled from the fall, his hand reflexively embracing her around the waist. The small girl on top of him wasn¡¯t heavy, and she smelled of milk. He felt the back of her head, still wrapped up tightly, ¡°What¡¯s this about?¡± Zhou Xufang rubbed against him with her equally snugly wrapped skull, her muffled and soft voice carrying affection, ¡°I missed you.¡± This girl was getting the hang of coquettishness. Jiang Zhi helped her sit up, removed her hat, mask, and scarf, then got out of bed to take off her shoes for her, ¡°Then don¡¯t leave. Sleep here with me.¡± Zhou Xufang tilted her head, obedient, ¡°Okay.¡± She was unusually docile. This girl was thin-skinned, like an old cadre; what was with her today, becoming so clingy? Jiang Zhi turned on the bedside lamp, taking a moment to look at her in the light, ¡°Your coat.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± After some rustling, she took off her coat, sweater, and pants, and slipped into the bed wearing just her thermal underwear, the thermal set¡­ well, an elderly style. She rolled to the innermost side of the bed, covered up well, showing just a head, ¡°Jiang Zhi, hurry over. You sleep on the outside.¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± His little ghost girl was quite forward tonight. Chapter 116: 116: The Night of Pillow Talk for the Textile Couple~ Chapter 116: 116: The Night of Pillow Talk for the Textile Couple~ Jiang Zhi lifted the blanket and lay down without turning off the light, propping her chin in her hand as she lay on her side: ¡°Xu Fang.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± ¡°Did something happen?¡± Tonight, she was so well-behaved it hurt one¡¯s heart. She said, ¡°No.¡± Her face was expressionless, neither happy nor angry. She didn¡¯t want to talk about it. ... Jiang Zhi moved a bit closer, almost touching her: ¡°Tired?¡± Zhou Xufang: ¡°Hmm.¡± He moved his face closer, very near to hers, the light above his head casting the shadow of his profile right onto her face. ¡°Zhou Xufang, do you want to sleep holding each other?¡± he said, ¡°I want to hold you.¡± Zhou Xufang wanted that too. So, she immediately rolled into his arms, her hands obediently wrapped around his waist. He kissed her face, patting her back to lull her to sleep. After a quiet moment, thinking she had fallen asleep, he was about to turn off the light when she suddenly raised her head: ¡°The birthday on my ID card is fake, I don¡¯t know my real birth date either.¡± She then buried her head in his chest once more. ¡°I must have been abandoned.¡± Jiang Zhi remained silent, listening to her piece together her past, sharing her origins with him for the first time. ¡°They say my chromosomes are different from normal people¡¯s, arranged strangely, and there are many genetic mutation triggers.¡± Who were they? She murmured to herself again, wondering: ¡°I don¡¯t know if it¡¯s because of this that I was abandoned.¡± In other words, her anomaly was due to her chromosomes and genes. This was a completely foreign field to Jiang Zhi, right, the Luo Family¡¯s little fool also had a chromosomal abnormality. She was getting sleepy, her voice growing softer: ¡°Ever since I can remember, I have been alone.¡± Her eyelids fluttered and closed, ¡°I¡¯ve met good people who helped me, and bad people who were scared of me.¡± Jiang Zhi, a conspiracy theorist at heart, believed that only a very small part of the population could be called good people. Of course, most weren¡¯t bad either, it was those who didn¡¯t qualify as good nor bad that were the majority. Often, it was these people, usually kind and friendly, who would become prickly and self-centered once their comfort zone and safety were challenged. That was normal; most people have a strong sense of self-preservation and selfishness, so he could imagine the hardships Zhou Xufang, an extraordinary person, must have endured living and growing up alone. She, ah, was a girl who had grown up without anyone to love her, struggling every step of the way on her own. ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± She was drowsy now: ¡°I¡¯m going to sleep.¡± He adjusted their position, holding her: ¡°Sleep then.¡± She mumbled something, and fell asleep. Before long, her breathing steadied, Jiang Zhi turned off the light: ¡°Fang Bao.¡± She didn¡¯t respond, asleep. Jiang Zhi kissed her forehead: ¡°You won¡¯t be alone anymore, you have me now.¡± Outside, the sky was flashing with lightning, yet it refused to rain. The moon and stars all hid behind the clouds, the night air heavy and somber. Downstairs, Fula was barking again. Jiang Chuan, slipping on his clothes, got up and in the dimness saw a figure, dragging a suitcase. It was only when he approached that he recognized who it was. ¡°Fifth Miss.¡± Jiang Wei¡¯er turned around. Jiang Chuan advanced: ¡°It¡¯s so late, where are you heading?¡± She had cut her hair, very short, barely reaching her ears. She said, ¡°To the airport.¡± Jiang Chuan, concerned, replied: ¡°I will go wake Old Madam.¡± He had just turned his head when Jiang Wei¡¯er stopped him, her demeanor composed and serene: ¡°Don¡¯t disturb Mother¡¯s sleep, I¡¯m just going out to clear my head, I¡¯ll be back.¡± ¡°Fifth Miss¡ª¡± She waved her hand: ¡°I¡¯m off.¡± ¡°Woof!¡± ¡°Woof woof!¡± Fula called out again, endless and unceasing. Jiang Wei¡¯er left, on the three o¡¯clock flight in the early morning. She didn¡¯t tell anyone, intentionally choosing this time. At this hour, the airport wasn¡¯t crowded. Perhaps due to the deep night, passers-by unconsciously softened their footfalls, creating an air of desolate tranquility. A billboard blocked out the light, leaving a large shadow in which a person stood still for a long, long time. ¡°Brother Xiao,¡± The assistant behind him said, ¡°It¡¯s very late, let¡¯s go back.¡± The figure had not moved; he was looking in the direction of the boarding gates. The plane had long departed, and no one was there anymore. The assistant couldn¡¯t help but mutter, ¡°If you can¡¯t bear to part with her, why didn¡¯t you stop her?¡± He acted as if he hadn¡¯t heard, talking to himself. ¡°Wei¡¯er was wearing black clothes and she had cut her hair short.¡± His voice was so low that the assistant couldn¡¯t hear clearly and moved closer: ¡°What did you say?¡± He said, ¡°She looked very pretty.¡± The remark was disconnected and confusing, so the assistant didn¡¯t understand, ¡°What looked very pretty?¡± Xiao Linsu shook his head and didn¡¯t say anything more. He turned and saw Xue Bingxue standing next to a pillar, not knowing how long he¡¯d been there. sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Their eyes met, both expressions subdued, both silent. Xiao Linsu walked over. His face was covered with a mask and sunglasses, hiding his expression. He placed the bag he was holding on a bench nearby. The bag was full of medicine. ¡°Her stomach is weak, and she doesn¡¯t eat properly. She always forgets to bring¡ª¡± He stopped mid-sentence. Ridiculous, what was he doing? He picked up the bag again, clutching it tightly in his hand, and turned to leave without a word, his eyes under the sunglasses finally moistening. Before coming to the airport, Xiao Linsu had gone to the police station. The verdict hadn¡¯t yet been delivered. It had taken him some effort to see Lin Shuang, who was calmer than he expected. He was nearly the same, feeling peaceful after the dust had settled. ¡°I¡¯ve talked to the lawyer, and you won¡¯t be sentenced for long,¡± Xiao Linsu started. Lin Shuang looked at him through the glass without making a sound. He spoke alone, his tone like that of dealing with final affairs: ¡°I¡¯ll take care of your parents for you.¡± And he added, ¡°Huayu is now managed by Xue Baoyi, and the new talents you brought will transfer to Baoguang. Xue Baoyi is fair and won¡¯t treat them badly.¡± He spoke slowly, and softly. ¡°Your contract¡ª¡± Lin Shuang cut him off, ¡°Stop talking about me, talk about yourself.¡± Talk about himself? There wasn¡¯t much to say about him. He was silent for a while: ¡°The press conference is tomorrow afternoon.¡± Lin Shuang¡¯s calm eyes rippled: ¡°Do you really have to retire?¡± He nodded: ¡°I can¡¯t let Wei¡¯er hear any news about me.¡± Whenever he mentioned Jiang Wei¡¯er, his gaze gained a slight vibrancy. ¡°What about you?¡± Lin Shuang asked him, her tone accusatory and urgent, ¡°Are you going to give up everything?¡± He didn¡¯t respond directly: ¡°After it ends, I¡¯ll take my sister¡¯s ashes back to Zhang Town.¡± Zhang Town was Xiao Linsu¡¯s hometown. It was a small town with flowers and bridges, mountains and water, where his parents lay buried. Lin Shuang remembered again, the first time she had seen him in Zhang Town. Her eyes, betraying her, reddened: ¡°Will you come back?¡± Xiao Linsu said, ¡°I won¡¯t return.¡± She lowered her head, laughing at herself with self-derision. There was nothing left to say. He sat for a while, then stood up: ¡°Lin Shuang.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± He said, ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± Sorry? It was she who had brought him from Zhang Town to Imperial City. She who had introduced him to Jin Song. She who had used Jiang Wei¡¯er. And she who had crashed into Jiang Zhi. What did he do? He directed and acted in a play where he was the one to get hurt, leaving everyone else overjoyed. ¡°Sorry for what?¡± she choked, laughing and crying like a madwoman, ¡°Xiao Linsu, you haven¡¯t done wrong by anyone, the only person you¡¯ve let down is yourself, even if it¡¯s Jiang Wei¡¯er, you don¡¯t owe her anything.¡± That was all he had, his future, his pride, and the rest of his life¡­ he had already given it all away. What else could he give? It¡¯s unfair of heaven to bury him in the mud, giving him so little, this was all he had¡­ He said thank you again and said, ¡°I¡¯m leaving.¡± And just like that, he left. Lin Shuang called after him, ¡°What are you going to do?¡± He turned back, asking what she meant by what was he going to do. ¡°Without Jiang Wei¡¯er, what will you do?¡± He laughed, laughed in response, ¡°Just let it be.¡± Just like that, his life drifted aimlessly, destined to die alone. That was his life. ¡°Linsu.¡± He stopped but did not turn around. Lin Shuang¡¯s eyes were moist with tears as she looked at his straight, lean back, ¡°I regret helping you to drive her away¡­¡± Thunder rumbled all night, but it didn¡¯t rain. The next day, the sky cleared up, and sunlight streamed through the windows, covering the floor with golden light. Jiang Zhi opened her eyes to see Zhou Xufang¡¯s face right in front of her, sitting against the wall with a mess of hair on her head, still wearing her old-fashioned long johns. Unlike the movies he made, where the male lead wakes up to find the female lead gazing at him tenderly from the ground. Zhou Xufang¡¯s face was expressionless, serious if anything. ¡°Zhou Xufang.¡± His voice was husky and bubbly from just waking up, lazy. Zhou Xufang replied, ¡°Hmm.¡± Jiang Zhi crawled out of the covers, her hair even messier than Zhou Xufang¡¯s, with cowlicks sticking out unabashedly, and some red mark on her face that looked like it had been pressed by a hand or something. The buttons of her pajamas had come loose, hanging sloppily over her shoulder and exposing her pale and tender collarbone. He grabbed his hair, still groggy, ¡°When did you wake up?¡± Zhou Xufang said, ¡°A little after six.¡± He probably didn¡¯t sleep enough, his peach blossom eyes looking puffy, ¡°Why so early?¡± Zhou Xufang took a glance at his collarbone, just one quick look, then quickly shifted her gaze away. She reached out, carefully pulling up his pajamas, ¡°You kicked me awake.¡± Sleeping Beauty was now fully awake. ¡°Did I kick you?¡± Zhou Xufang nodded, not looking at him, pulling the blanket haphazardly thrown over his legs all the way up, covering everything below the waist, ¡°Yes, you kicked me eleven times last night.¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Jiang Zhi,¡± after she had covered him up properly did she dare to look at him, ¡°you have bad sleeping habits.¡± It wasn¡¯t a complaint; she was just stating a fact. Kicking blankets and people was not all; he liked to burrow into pillows, burrowing back and forth¡­ Zhou Xufang had to pick up the pillow eight times last night. Later, afraid he would burrow into the pillows again, she held them down, and then he stopped burrowing into the pillows, instead, he burrowed into her¡­ Zhou Xufang¡¯s back was feeling a little sore now. Jiang Zhi had his reasons, proud and assertive, ¡°I¡¯ve never slept with anyone else; I¡¯m just not used to it. I¡¯ll stop kicking once I get used to it.¡± Zhou Xufang was unconvinced. Even if he didn¡¯t kick, he would still burrow into people. She rubbed her back, ¡°I¡¯m not sleeping with you anymore.¡± She spoke without thinking, and Jiang Zhi¡¯s mind began to wander, ¡°So are we going to sleep in separate beds after we get married?¡± ¡°Ah?¡± She hadn¡¯t thought that far ahead. ¡°No way.¡± His pajamas and blanket were black, setting off his fair skin, making him look more like a pampered young master, ¡°You just need to get me to behave, there¡¯s always a way. Separate beds,¡± his hair stood up at one end with a red mark on his face, ¡°don¡¯t even think about it.¡± She hadn¡¯t thought about it at all¡­ ¡°How did we end up talking about what to do after getting married?¡± At this moment, footsteps could be heard outside. Jiang Zhi lowered her voice, ¡°Someone¡¯s coming.¡± Zhou Xufang immediately burrowed into the covers, lying still as if playing dead. A servant knocked on the door a few times, ¡°Young Master, breakfast is ready.¡± There was no response from inside the room. ¡°Are you up?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not up,¡± a languid voice came from inside the room, accompanied by a few coughs, ¡°I want to sleep a bit longer, don¡¯t disturb me.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± The servant then withdrew. Once the footsteps faded, Zhou Xufang emerged from under the covers, ruffled her hair, and pointing at a painting by the bed, she asked Jiang Zhi, ¡°What did you paint?¡± She guessed, since it was hanging by the bed, ¡°Is it a charm against evil spirits?¡± ¡°It¡¯s you,¡± Jiang Zhi replied. Zhou Xufang scratched her head, looked at the painting again with effort, straining her eyes, observing carefully, ¡°If you look closely, it does resemble me.¡± She stared harder, even more intently, scrutinizing it, ¡°You used the colors really well.¡± It was all just a blotch of black. Jiang Zhi no longer wanted to discuss the painting with her. Her feet were still under the covers, and in a fit of pique, she kicked Zhou Xufang¡¯s legs. Ticklish, Zhou Xufang dodged, ¡°I should head home now.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t go back. I¡¯ll take you out in a bit.¡± Zhou Xufang refused, ¡°I need to go home to brush my teeth and change clothes.¡± She clambered over Jiang Zhi¡¯s outstretched legs, careful not to press down on him, her movements reminiscent of a grasshopper missing limbs, her head cocked to one side, watching Jiang Zhi, ¡°I have a meal with your friends today, I want to dress up a bit.¡± Jiang Zhi was charmed by her last statement and reached out to wrap his arm around her waist, lifting her from the bed and placing her down on the floor. Without bothering to put on shoes, he stepped barefoot on the carpet, picking up her clothes one by one and helping her dress. ¡°I¡¯ll pick you up from your place at nine.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Zhou Xufang wrapped a scarf around the back of her head and cranium completely, finishing she walked out the door. Jiang Zhi tugged at her sleeve, ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to give me a kiss before you go?¡± With a serious expression, she said, ¡°No kissing, I haven¡¯t brushed my teeth.¡± ¡°¡­¡± He hadn¡¯t landed himself a girlfriend, but rather a chunk of steel. This steel was surprisingly flexible when it came to climbing out the window, easily scaling the anti-theft bars with just a hand, the other waved goodbye to him. Jiang Zhi watched nervously, ¡°Don¡¯t fall, be careful¡ª¡± She leapt onto the roof in a single bound. Jiang Zhi stuck his head out the window, but she was already out of sight. This feeling¡­ How to describe it? It was as if she were a patron of pleasure seeking the company of courtesans and he, the beauty in the red tent, used and then abandoned without even leaving payment. Jiang Zhi ran a hand through his hair, laughing. The servant knocked again, ¡°Young Master, the Old Madam sent me to bring breakfast over. Do you want to eat before you sleep?¡± Jiang Zhi opened the door, ¡°Just leave it.¡± The one carrying the tray in was a young lad named Xiao Tian, a distant relative of Jiang Chuan who hadn¡¯t been working at the Jiang family for long and wasn¡¯t quite familiar with the rules. He was easily startled. ¡°Yikes! What happened to this window? It wasn¡¯t a thief, was it?¡± Good heavens, even the anti-theft bars were twisted! What a diabolical little thief! Jiang Zhi put on a jacket, his beautiful eyes composed, pajama buttons not fully fastened, suggestively indecent, ¡°Which little thief would dare to steal from the Jiang family?¡± He said calmly, ¡°It¡¯s from a lightning strike.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Last night there had been thunder, but¡ª ¡°Does lightning twist anti-theft bars like this?¡± Jiang Zhi blew a stray hair out of his eyes, ¡°Do you want me to go and ask Duke of Thunder?¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Don¡¯t disturb the Old Madam, just find someone to fix it as soon as possible.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± Chapter 117: 117: Taking Fang Bao to Meet the Parents Chapter 117: 117: Taking Fang Bao to Meet the Parents At nine o¡¯clock, Jiang Zhi went to pick up Zhou Xufang. His car stopped outside the residential area, and he waited for her at the stairwell entrance; she said she wanted to dress up nicely, and then¡ª Jiang Zhi was stunned. Zhou Xufang approached him, feeling anxious, ¡°Does it not look good?¡± He first smiled, then knelt down to tie her shoelaces, which she hadn¡¯t managed to fasten tightly, into an ugly knot, and said, ¡°It looks good.¡± Pleased with the compliment, Zhou Xufang happily twirled on the spot, ¡°I also think it looks good.¡± She felt that pink was the best color¡ªunrivaled in beauty! So, she dressed in pink from head to toe, including her hair clips and shoelaces. ... As a result, when Xue Baoyi saw her in the Fusheng Inn parking lot, he couldn¡¯t help but ask a rather immature question. ¡°Little sister, you,¡± Xue Baoyi wasn¡¯t sure and looked her over from head to toe again, ¡°are you of age?¡± This wave of pink gave off a very young vibe. Zhou Xufang, with a pink hair clip on her head, answered, ¡°I am of age.¡± Xue Baoyi hadn¡¯t noticed before; now, taking a closer look, the girl seemed very young. Xue Baoyi had reason to suspect Jiang Zhi of cradle-snatching. ¡°Xue Baoyi.¡± Jiang Zhi shielded the girlish figure in his arms, not letting her be seen, his gaze filled with a warning. Xue Baoyi flashed a smile like a doting aunt, ¡°I¡¯m just worried you¡¯re seducing an underage girl.¡± Jiang Zhi would never seduce anyone! Zhou Xufang immediately defended him, ¡°I¡¯m twenty-two.¡± Her ID was procured by the ¡®good samaritan¡¯ who saved her; although the month was fabricated, the year was true. Jiang Zhi would never seduce an underage girl! Ah, this protective instinct. Xue Baoyi threw a flirtatious look at Jiang Zhi, ¡°Who would have guessed, you¡¯re eligible to get a marriage license.¡± This wave of crazy implications! Yet Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t understand. She still addressed him formally, ¡°Mr. Xue.¡± Mr. Xue, with eyebrows sharp and eyes bright, looked decent except for a somewhat bandit-like aura, ¡°Don¡¯t be a stranger; just follow Brother Zhi and call me ¡®Brother Bao.''¡± ¡°Oh.¡± After that¡ª Zhou Xufang¡¯s expression was stern and righteous like Xue Baoyi¡¯s grandfather who slicked back his hair and was an academic, ¡°Mr. Xue.¡± She moved a squarely wrapped large box from the trunk, covered in pink wrapping paper with a big butterfly bow on top, though what was inside was not visible; Zhou Xufang sincerely said, ¡°This is for you.¡± Using ¡®you¡¯ formally, she truly brought the manner of meeting the parents. Xue Baoyi was amused, ¡°No need to be so formal, little sister,¡± and reached one hand to receive the ¡®little sister¡¯s¡¯ gift¡ª Damn, it was heavy! He hastily used both hands. After giving the gift, Zhou Xufang offered her sincere wishes, ¡°Wishing you good health.¡± Xue Baoyi: ¡°¡­¡± This girl spoke so formally, just like his nearly eighty-year-old grandfather. He pulled Jiang Zhi aside, ¡°Your wife gave me a gift.¡± Jiang Zhi ¡®hmmed,¡¯ proud and pleased, ¡°My girlfriend is sensible; just keep it.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± It was so heavy! Xue Baoyi¡¯s arms bulged with veins as he held it. Jiang Zhi, his eyes filled only with his girlfriend and not even looking at Xue Baoyi, replied, ¡°Chicken eggs.¡± Xue Baoyi: ¡°¡­¡± Who gifts that these days? Jiang Zhi: ¡°Eighty-eight of them, symbolizing safety for a lifetime.¡± Xue Baoyi: ¡°¡­¡± No wonder his hands were about to break! After some effort, Xue Baoyi managed to move the eggs to the trunk, then he discreetly massaged his reddened wrist before casting an awkward yet polite smile at Zhou Xufang and finally looking at Jiang Zhi, lowering his voice, ¡°Brother Zhi, your wife¡¯s style, so old-school.¡± Jiang Zhi agreed, ¡°Yeah, she won¡¯t even kiss me in public.¡± Zhou Xufang heard everything and thought bitterly: Why must Jiang Zhi spill every bit of information with no sense of shame? She lowered her head, her ears red. Xue Bingxue was the first to arrive and had been waiting in the private room for a while, checking his phone. When he saw others walk in, he put his phone away. He stood up, ¡°Hello.¡± Zhou Xufang straightened her back, ¡°Hello.¡± Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Xue Baoyi couldn¡¯t stop laughing: Both are such good kids, must have been the most well-behaved children in kindergarten. Today¡¯s dinner was organized by Jiang Zhi, formally introducing his girlfriend. Among them, it was the first time someone seriously brought a girlfriend to ¡®meet the parents.¡¯ The meal had to be eaten, and the meeting gifts had to be presented. Jiang Zhi was not playing around; the others, well¡­ Xue Bingxue was hopelessly devoted to Jiang Wei¡¯er, never having dated anyone. Xue Baoyi would switch girlfriends every so often, but he never brought one to meet the group. Qiao Nanchu didn¡¯t care much for romantic affairs. At that moment, Xue Baoyi received a call on his phone. As soon as he picked up, Zhou Xufang heard a woman¡¯s voice. ¡°Mr.¡± Her voice was coquettish, very alluring. Xue Baoyi lazily grunted in response. The coquettish voice asked him, ¡°Where are you?¡± Xue Baoyi didn¡¯t answer, sitting with crossed legs and smiling, ¡°Do I have to report to you?¡± Second Young Master was usually easy-going, especially good-tempered with women. But he had a rule: be obedient, don¡¯t meddle in things you shouldn¡¯t, don¡¯t ask questions you shouldn¡¯t, and don¡¯t demand what you shouldn¡¯t. After all, he roamed freely without a care. ¡°It¡¯s not like that,¡± the coquettish voice sounded a bit hurt, ¡°you said you would visit the set this weekend.¡± Xue Baoyi flicked his freshly styled heart-shaped bangs, ¡°Did I say that?¡± ¡­ Xue Baoyi was not one to pity or cherish women, he never was: ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll send Xiao Zhuang over, tell him what you want to eat.¡± The coquettish voice struggled to let go, ¡°Then are you free tonight?¡± ¡°Do you want to meet up?¡± Jiang Zhi covered Zhou Xufang¡¯s ears. Useless, she could still hear the coquettish woman flirting, though she didn¡¯t quite understand the conversation. ¡°Are you free or not?¡± ¡°That depends on what you want to meet for.¡± ¡°I booked a spot at Grand Hyatt.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not free.¡± And the call ended there. Xue Baoyi hung up, feeling bored, and snorted arrogantly, ¡°Just met a few times and already clamoring to climb into my bed.¡± Is it that easy to get into his bed! Zhou Xufang understood this statement. Lixiang was right, Mr. Xue was definitely a scumbag. She silently moved Jiang Zhi¡¯s chair closer to her side, distancing herself from Xue Baoyi, as Jiang Zhi smiled and patted her head. The private room had every entertainment facility. Xue Baoyi couldn¡¯t sit still, took off his jacket, and started playing with darts. His aim stunk; he missed every shot. ¡°Why isn¡¯t Nanchu here yet?¡± Xue Bingxue sipped his tea, ¡°On the way, stuck in traffic.¡± Messages were still popping up on Xue Baoyi¡¯s phone; he casually clicked one open. It was another voice message from a woman. However, this time it was not coquettish but rather bold: ¡°Call me ¡®daddy¡¯ three times, and daddy will take you out for chicken tonight.¡± ¡­ The air suddenly went quiet. Zhou Xufang thought the voice sounded a bit like Lixiang, but Lixiang wouldn¡¯t talk like that to a direct superior. This is what Xue Baoyi said, clearing his throat before speaking, ¡°Sent to the wrong person, just spam.¡± Then he put down the darts, picked up his jacket, ¡°I¡¯m stepping out for a smoke.¡± Zhou Xufang found it strange and quietly asked Jiang Zhi, ¡°Who was that?¡± She had recently been reading many novels and dramas sent by Ah Wan, and she felt she had gained some insight, ¡°Is it his girlfriend?¡± Jiang Zhi then told her, ¡°It was his dad.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Xue Baoyi went out to text her ¡°dad¡±, choosing a secluded spot. He was fuming with anger, but didn¡¯t use voice messages. Instead, he typed, ¡°Doesn¡¯t the old man have any face left at all!!!!!!¡± With five exclamation marks! Second Young Master Xue had a temper too! The nickname on the WeChat page read ¡°a female hooligan.¡± That female hooligan sent a voice message, in the boldest tone server-wide, ¡°A noob who dies upon landing eight times in a row has no right to talk about having face.¡± Xue Baoyi: ¡°¡­¡± A female hooligan: ¡°Don¡¯t even think about me taking you into games in the future~¡± A female hooligan: ¡°Hold your heart and ask yourself, with your crappy skills, can you even last three minutes?¡± He really couldn¡¯t. Honestly, with Xue Baoyi¡¯s skills, even driving could end up killing teammates. No one else wanted to play with him, not even Xue Bingxue, who was very patient but couldn¡¯t stand being blown up by him multiple times. Due to harming teammates, Xue Baoyi had been reported and banned a number of times. However, noobs had their dignity too: ¡°Don¡¯t get cocky. If you won¡¯t play with me, there are plenty of pros who will.¡± A female hooligan: ¡°Blow some grenades ten or eight times and see if any pro will still play with you.¡± A female hooligan: ¡°Also, your ¡®dad¡¯ has played professionally too.¡± She had only played professionally for a week, and this guy bragged about it endlessly. Standing at the border between Mei Garden and Bamboo Garden, Xue Baoyi was near an artificial lotus pond that reflected his face, beaming with joy: ¡°A pro forced to retire because of too much swearing and you still brag about it.¡± A female hooligan: ¡°Oh, you admit it then.¡± ¡°What?¡± A female hooligan: ¡°I am your ¡®dad¡¯~¡± ¡°¡­¡± A female hooligan: ¡°Meet me at midnight in Absolute Survival, I¡¯ll take you flying.¡± They had teamed up for a dozen games and he¡¯d been scolded each time. Would Second Young Master Xue have endured if her skills weren¡¯t good? ¡°Too late. Can¡¯t it be earlier?¡± he succumbed. A female hooligan: ¡°Your ¡®dad¡¯ is swamped with work, yet still finds the time to play games with you. It¡¯s not easy, you know.¡± ¡°¡­¡± She was the most boastful one in the entire server! Xue Baoyi was both annoyed and amused, so he made a call to her. ¡°Hello~¡± It was a sweet and cute voice, then a bit whiny. Such a drama queen! She was the best actress in Baoguang! From blasting the entire universe one second to being all virtuous the next, her seamless transition was award-worthy, a disservice to his meticulous mentorship otherwise. ¡°Fang Lixiang.¡± Fang¡¤Virtuous¡¤Lixiang: ¡°Yes, boss.¡± ¡°Put your manager on the phone.¡± Fang¡¤Virtuous¡¤Lixiang: ¡°Okay, boss.¡± The manager took the call. ¡°President Xue.¡± ¡°Clear Fang Lixiang¡¯s schedule for tonight.¡± The tone was reluctant but unavoidable, like¡­ like a young woman forced into prostitution at a brothel, compelled by fate no matter how unwilling her heart. The manager was confused: ¡°What?¡± Not sure why the big boss was irritated, he simply responded, ¡°Understood?¡± ¡°¡­Understood.¡± ¡°Hand her the phone.¡± The phone switched hands again. Fang Lixiang had a script in hand where she played an unfavored concubine, immersing herself fully in the role, she adopted the demeanor of serving His Majesty, ¡°Boss, please give your orders.¡± This case of split personality! Bao Yi curled her lips into a mischievous smile, ¡°Say something nice for me to hear.¡± Has this guy¡¯s brain been slammed in a door? Okay. Well, you are the golden daddy. After organizing her thoughts, Fang Lixiang recited emotionally, ¡°You are like the spring rain that nourishes all living things; you are like the summer breeze, refreshingly cool; you are like the autumn sunset, infinitely beautiful; you are like the winter¡¯s light snow, pure and flawless.¡± Bao Yi, embodying rain, wind, sun, and snow, was speechless. He immediately hung up the phone. Ding. A message from a hooligan lady came through. ¡°Kiddo, daddy¡¯s not working tonight, I¡¯ll take you to Autistic City at nine¡«¡± ¡°¡­¡± This guy, always managing to blow his mind. And yet, he found playing games with her freaking awesome. Damn, is this self-torture? Bao Yi, fuming, returned to the private room and immediately saw Jiang Zhi peeling broad beans for Zhou Xufang; the pampered young master who usually wouldn¡¯t touch mundane chores was actually peeling beans, and enjoying it too. Fried broad beans, Zhou Xufang¡¯s first time trying them. A large plate of bean shells had been discarded already, and the little plate in front of Zhou Xufang was piled into a small mountain; Jiang Zhi took off her disposable gloves and poured her a cup of clear tea, ¡°Is it tasty?¡± Zhou Xufang, crunching loudly, ¡°Delicious.¡± ¡°Then I¡¯ll ask the kitchen to make more, you can take some home.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Ah Wan, who ordered two plates of beans and didn¡¯t get to eat any, complained, ¡°They should peel them all before serving, disappointing.¡± Jiang Zhi looked up, ¡°Get out.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± He rolled out. He went to order more beans. After scolding Ah Wan, with a shift in her peach blossom eyes, Jiang Zhi turned back to Zhou Xufang, her eyes brimming with tenderness, ¡°I¡¯ll peel more and bring them over.¡± Just seated Bao Yi, ¡°¡­¡± Unbearable! Was this still the little wolf cub Jiang Zhi? Had Zhou Xufang flattened his claws and pulled his teeth, turning him into a milk cat? Zhou Xufang refused, ¡°I can peel them myself.¡± Fussy, clean freak Jiang Zhi wasn¡¯t bothered by the dirt now, he wiped her mouth with his hand, ¡°You have a boyfriend now, you should use free labor, understand?¡± Zhou Xufang hesitated deeply. She glanced at the pile of bean shells on the table three times. She still felt she should tell the truth, ¡°But I want to suck on the bean shells.¡± She sneakily picked up a shell Jiang Zhi had peeled and discarded, quickly popping it into her mouth and savored it, then revealed a satisfied smile, ¡°There¡¯s a lot of seasoning on the shell, ah, really tasty.¡± Jiang Zhi, ¡°¡­¡± People should not easily mock others, especially best buddies, unless you really can¡¯t resist. Bao Yi burst into loud laughter. Even Xue Bingxue was chuckling quietly. Jiang Zhi shot a look her way, and Xue Bingxue immediately straightened up, ¡°Jiang Zhi, I have something to say to you.¡± Jiang Zhi, looking at Zhou Xufang who revelled in sucking the shells, still put a plate of the discarded shells in front of her, ¡°I¡¯ll step out for a bit, keep eating.¡± ¡°Mmm.¡± She stuffed two shells in her mouth, sucking joyously. Jiang Zhi stood up, kicking Bao Yi¡¯s chair a little, ¡°You keep her entertained for a while.¡± Bao Yi grinned like a thug, ¡°Aren¡¯t you afraid I¡¯ll lead her astray?¡± ¡°Just try.¡± Jiang Zhi patted his girl¡¯s head, then went out with Xue Bingxue. Chapter 118: 118: Ah Fang, restrain the wife! Chapter 118: 118: Ah Fang, restrain the wife! Jiang Zhi patted his daughter¡¯s head and went out with Xue Bingxue. In the private room, only Xue Baoyi and Zhou Xufang were left. Looking at the delicate little girl, Xue Baoyi felt a surge of paternal affection. Setting aside his usual carefree demeanor, he asked kindly and amiably, ¡°What do you usually do for fun, little sister-in-law?¡± Little Sister-in-law Zhou said, ¡°Watch TV.¡± Watch TV, huh. Xue Baoyi then asked, ¡°Do you watch the shows directed by Jiang Zhi?¡± ... ¡°I¡¯ve watched all of his shows,¡± Zhou Xufang, always prompt to respond and knowing Jiang Zhi¡¯s good friend was asking, sat up straighter than usual and replied with more sincerity than usual, ¡°Now, I¡¯m watching ¡®President Gu, Your Fragile Wife Ran Away With the Ball¡¯.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Xue Baoyi was stunned. Regarding ¡°President Gu, Your Fragile Wife Ran Away With the Ball,¡± Xue Baoyi had no desire whatsoever to learn about it. He sipped his tea and changed the subject, ¡°Brother Zhi mentioned that you¡¯re quite an outstanding extra in crowd scenes.¡± Zhou Xufang¡¯s eyes lit up, ¡°Really? He praised me as outstanding?¡± ¡°¡­ Cough cough.¡± Xue Baoyi choked on his tea. There was nothing he could add to the perfunctory praise he had blurted out, so he switched topics again, ¡°Do you have any plans to pursue acting?¡± ¡°No.¡± Zhou Xufang was still not used to making eye contact, so she looked at a plate of edamame shells in front of her, ¡°I look like a female ghost in every role.¡± Then let¡¯s not go for a debut. Xue Baoyi tried another topic, ¡°Are you still running a stall at Ba Yi Bridge?¡± ¡°Yep.¡± He just mentioned casually, ¡°Your phone screen protectors are of good quality.¡± Zhou Xufang sounded as official as a Taobao customer service, ¡°Thank you for your trust and support.¡± Xue Baoyi: ¡°¡­¡± Maybe it¡¯s better not to force small talk. No matter how witty he was, he couldn¡¯t keep up with the steel-strong, quirky thought processes. Xue Baoyi put down his teacup, ¡°How about playing darts?¡± Zhou Xufang wasn¡¯t interested, but since Mr. Xue was a good friend of Jiang Zhi, she pretended to be very interested, ¡°Sure.¡± ¡°Have you played before?¡± ¡°No.¡± At this point, anyone would want to show off a ¡®miraculous skill,¡¯ so Xue Baoyi took a dart, squinted one eye, and aimed, ¡°It¡¯s very simple, just hit that target¡ª¡± Thud. It hit the bullseye. Xue Baoyi, who hadn¡¯t finished aiming yet, ¡°¡­ ¡± He looked at the dart deeply embedded in the bullseye and awkwardly retracted the one in his hand, ¡°First time playing?¡± Zhou Xufang: ¡°Yep.¡± First time and she hit the bullseye. Xue Baoyi, out of politeness, said, ¡°Little sister-in-law, you¡¯ve got good skills.¡± Little Sister-in-law Zhou: ¡°You flatter me.¡± ¡°¡­¡± That overwhelmingly old cadre vibe. Looking like she was eighteen, the little girl spoke in a rigid, academic tone, like an old scholar. Xue Baoyi found darts boring, ¡°How about billiards? Ever played?¡± There were plenty of entertainment options in the private room, but most visitors to Fusheng Inn looking for fun were young masters, and there wasn¡¯t much for girls to do. The delicate Zhou Xufang shook her head, saying she¡¯d never played billiards. That damn desire to show off surged again, and Xue Baoyi grabbed a cue stick, prepped it with chalk, and stretched his muscles, ¡°Let me show you how.¡± He hit a flashy but successful shot. After demonstrating, he briefly explained the basic rules and handed the cue stick to Zhou Xufang. Zhou Xufang¡¯s learning ability was extraordinarily strong; she copied everything, used the chalk, flexed her wrists, hit a fancy shot and made it too. Xue Baoyi was stunned once again. ¡°Are you really playing for the first time?¡± The young master didn¡¯t quite believe it. The peachy Zhou Xufang wore an honest expression, ¡°Yep.¡± Where on earth did Jiang Zhi find this top-notch little capable person? Xue Baoyi thought this girl was cut out for big things, ¡°Little sister-in-law, what did you do before you sold screen protectors?¡± Zhou Xufang thought for a moment, oh, he remembered, ¡°I sold kebabs.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Xue Baoyi felt as if both his EQ and IQ had been rubbed raw. No, he had been humiliated thoroughly. He decided to play to his strengths and show little sister-in-law just how capable Brother Bao was, ¡°Let¡¯s play cards.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Five minutes later¡­ Xue Baoyi grabbed a handful of his hair, doubting his life, ¡°Little sister-in-law, what did you do before selling kebabs?¡± Zhou Xufang thought for a moment, oh, ¡°I worked on a construction site moving bricks.¡± ¡°¡­¡± After playing three rounds of cards, apart from the first round where he explained the rules, the pretty little sister-in-law had memorized all his cards in the next two rounds. Xue Baoyi felt he was making a fool of himself. ¡°Let¡¯s just eat broad beans.¡± Finally, he could stop pretending to be interested, and Zhou Xufang agreed readily, ¡°Sure!¡± Then, the two of them in the private room ate their own broad beans. Outside the private room. The two leaned against the wall, standing in the corridor, separated by a water-ink mural. Fusheng Inn had an air of pseudo-elegance, and the painting had a certain imposing quality. Xue Bingxue said, ¡°My flight is in the afternoon.¡± Jiang Zhi hummed in acknowledgment. ¡°If I pretended it was a chance encounter, would Wei¡¯er believe it?¡± Xue Bingxue was the worst liar among them. ¡°No,¡± Jiang Zhi said, ¡°she would beat you up.¡± That¡¯s okay. Xue Bingxue smiled, ¡°Let her beat me then.¡± Idiot. Jiang Zhi couldn¡¯t be bothered to berate him. ¡°I won¡¯t be here; if you need anything, go to the Chinese medicine clinic and find my teacher.¡± Xue Bingxue pulled out a medicine bottle from his pocket and handed it to Jiang Zhi, instructing him seriously, ¡°This medicine is for emergencies, don¡¯t take it unless absolutely necessary.¡± He took it, ¡°I know, I still want to have children with Zhou Xufang.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Xue Bingxue was a bit naive; he was embarrassed just listening and ignored Jiang Zhi. He then asked, ¡°Am I really infertile?¡± A blushing Xue Bingxue, ¡°..currently, yes.¡± Angrily embarrassed, Xue Bingxue said, ¡°You have no shame!¡± Ashamed? Even though Old Sir Xue had taught him all sorts of crafty schemes, and despite being strictly righteous in certain areas to an infuriating extent, Jiang Zhi knew that what was deeply ingrained in Xue Bingxue was no different from any of them; they were of the same kind. ¡°There¡¯s something I can¡¯t figure out.¡± Xue Bingxue asked, ¡°What?¡± Jiang Zhi held the medicine bottle, playing with it by flipping it over, ¡°Why was Xiao Linsu urgently arrested before Lin Shuang turned himself in? At that time, Jin Song¡¯s recording hadn¡¯t reached the Criminal Investigation Team, how did he become a suspect?¡± The timing didn¡¯t match up. Xiao Linsu¡¯s arrest came first, but the evidence from the recording surfaced later. Xue Bingxue was silent for a while, ¡°Someone reported an attempted murder.¡± ¡°Who was the reporter?¡± ¡°His own self.¡± Drip. The medicine bottle fell from Jiang Zhi¡¯s hand. First, acting out a scene by imposing on himself the unforgivable titles of abuser and murderer, then pushing Jiang Wei¡¯er away and sending himself to prison. It was a suicidal plan. Jiang Zhi picked up the medicine from the ground and pocketed it, asking nonchalantly, ¡°Was it the old lady or you?¡± Xiao Linsu¡¯s vulnerability was too apparent¡ªextremely insecure and overly emotional. Those who knew how to play mind games could make him surrender with just the three words ¡®Jiang Wei¡¯er.¡¯ Xue Bingxue looked up, his eyes turbulent as though a stone had been tossed into a clear, tranquil pond, stirring the calm, ¡°It was¡ª¡± Jiang Zhi interrupted him, ¡°Don¡¯t tell anyone, including me.¡± Without waiting for him, Jiang Zhi headed back to the private room in Bamboo Garden first. Xue Baoyi was on a phone call, receiving a call from Qiao Nanchu. ¡°Don¡¯t wait for me.¡± Xue Baoyi threw a broad bean into her mouth, crunching loudly, ¡°What happened?¡± ¡°Rear-ended.¡± So unlucky! Just as Xue Baoyi was about to ask further, a woman¡¯s voice came through the phone. ¡°Nanchu.¡± That voice¡­ Xue Baoyi, finding it familiar, asked, ¡°Female driver?¡± Qiao Nanchu, distracted, replied, ¡°Yeah, you know her too.¡± ¡°Who is it?¡± Qiao Nanchu said, ¡°Zhang Zixi.¡± After saying that, he hung up the phone. Damn! Xue Baoyi laughed, ¡°What is even going on?¡± She glanced at Jiang Zhi, ¡°Nanchu got rear-ended, guess who it was?¡± Jiang Zhi was feeding Zhou Xufang and pouring water with little enthusiasm. Xue Bingxue cooperatively asked, ¡°Who?¡± ¡°Zhang Zixi.¡± Xue Bingxue also showed a surprised expression. Jiang Zhi pulled out a wet wipe to clean Zhou Xufang¡¯s hands, asking, ¡°Who is Zhang Zixi?¡± Xue Baoyi was dumbfounded¡­ You¡¯ve met her so many times before and still don¡¯t remember! ¡°Nanchu¡¯s ex-girlfriend.¡± Oh, Jiang Zhi had some impression then. Qiao Nanchu had only dated one girlfriend, five years ago, not long after he had transferred from the police academy. Zhang Zixi was the belle of the police academy, who had pursued him overtly and covertly for a while; Qiao Nanchu was always lukewarm. Then he took a trip to Da Mai Mountain, and when he returned, the two started dating. ¡°Long time no see.¡± The woman stood by the roadside, dressed simply with her hair tied back neatly and generously. She smiled, showing shallow dimples; she was very pretty in a completely non-threatening way. Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Zhang Zixi. It had been five years. Qiao Nanchu got out of the car, ¡°When did you get back?¡± His tone was as casual as asking ¡®have you eaten,¡¯ utterly placid. ¡°Got back to the country last month.¡± He walked to the rear of the car, squatting to check it without lifting his head, ¡°Still the same number?¡± Zhang Zixi smiled, ¡°Changed it long ago.¡± Her gaze stayed on him, her expression complex, so much to say yet nothing to say. The rear-end was severe. His taillight was smashed. He pulled out his phone and handed it to her, ¡°Enter your number.¡± She hesitated for a moment before taking it, entered her own number, and then handed it back. ¡°The rear-end is entirely your fault,¡± he said, looking down as he saved the number. ¡°Agree?¡± His tone was rather like a traffic police officer. Zhang Zixi smiled faintly, nodding, ¡°Agree.¡± He had darkened a bit from five years ago, less youthful, his gaze wilder, still as cool and elegant but oblivious to charm. ¡°Rushing now, I¡¯ll contact you later.¡± He threw the phone on the passenger seat, closed the car door, and sped off with a press of the accelerator. Zhang Zixi stood there, chuckling. When Qiao Nanchu arrived at Fusheng Inn, it was almost dinner time. Jiang Zhi poured half a cup of milk into a cup, pushed it toward Zhou Xufang, then looked up and exchanged a glance with him, ¡°You¡¯re late.¡± Qiao Nanchu pulled up a chair to sit down, flipping the wineglass right side up, ¡°So, how many drinks for my penalty?¡± ¡°Judge for yourself.¡± Jiang Zhi handed the menu to the waiter, ¡°Is my girlfriend¡¯s soup ready? If it is, bring it over first.¡± He was worried about Zhou Xufang getting hungry. The waiter quickly agreed. Qiao Nanchu poured three glasses of ¡°white,¡± sat down, and leisurely consumed them one by one, his demeanor¡­ Xue Baoyi had always thought he was the most ¡°cultured¡± scoundrel among them. He kicked the scoundrel¡¯s chair, ¡°Speak.¡± After three glasses of white wine, Qiao Nanchu didn¡¯t even blink, ¡°Speak about what?¡± ¡°About your ex-girlfriend.¡± His interest faded, ¡°That was ages ago, there¡¯s nothing to talk about.¡± Listen to that nonchalant tone! ¡°If a woman dared to cheat on me, I¡¯d break her legs, yet you¡¯re so generous, even being chased by her afterwards.¡± As a brother, he was frustrated, ¡°If I were you, I¡¯d wreck her car to bits.¡± Qiao Nanchu dated Zhang Zixi for two months, and they broke up because she was caught cheating. Qiao Nanchu poured a cup of tea, took a sip, ¡°You¡¯re like a three-year-old, talking about wrecking things to bits, seems like you want to end up in jail.¡± That same indifferent attitude! Xue Baoyi couldn¡¯t stand Qiao Nanchu¡¯s attitude, as if the sky could fall and it wouldn¡¯t affect him. Like when Zhang Zixi cheated on him, wouldn¡¯t a normal person¡¯s reaction be to first kill the cheating guy? But not Qiao Nanchu¡ªhe calmly sized up the guy and then made a very objective assessment, ¡°Those abs are pretty ugly.¡± The guy was so embarrassed his face turned green. Xue Baoyi humphed, feeling uncomfortable, and blurted out, ¡°I think you just can¡¯t let go of that trashy girl. Men can hardly forget their first love, like Brother Zhi is still hung up on¡ª¡± Crash! Zhou Xufang¡¯s spoon dropped to the floor. The broad beans Jiang Zhi was peeling also dropped. Xue Baoyi¡¯s right eyelid began to twitch. ¡°Jiang Zhi,¡± Zhou Xufang picked up the spoon, cleaned, and put it away, ¡°I need to go to the restroom.¡± Jiang Zhi stood up, ¡°I¡¯ll take you there.¡± Passing by Xue Baoyi, he left a sentence with a deadly look in his peach blossom eyes that lost its charm, ¡°We¡¯ll settle this later.¡± One after the other, the couple left. Xue Baoyi took a deep breath, resigned, ¡°That look in Brother Zhi¡¯s eyes, like he wants to kill me.¡± Qiao Nanchu spread his hands, lounging back in the chair with a lazy attitude, ¡°Any last words, say them.¡± ¡°Die together like brothers.¡± ¡°Get lost, who¡¯s your brother, I don¡¯t even know you that well.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Outside the private room, Zhou Xufang squatted by the wall, back facing Jiang Zhi, presenting only the back of her head to him. Jiang Zhi squatted opposite her, ¡°Not going to the restroom?¡± She jerked her head away, refusing to look at him, and even pulled on her hoodie¡¯s cap, squatting there like a sulky blob, ¡°Your friend is inside, I came out here to be jealous, it wouldn¡¯t be polite inside.¡± Jiang Zhi was amused by her. She was irritated, ¡°You¡¯re still laughing.¡± ¡°Alright, no more laughing.¡± His mouth stopped laughing, but his eyes still were. Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t want to bother with him anymore and shifted away. Jiang Zhi moved closer, bringing his handsome face below her eyes, intentionally tempting her with his coquettish dimples. She moved again. He moved too. Fine, she stopped moving, ¡°I have a question for you, and you can¡¯t lie.¡± Occasionally, passersby came and went. Jiang Zhi pulled out a face mask and put it on her, ¡°What do you want to know?¡± Puffed up like a pufferfish, she fiercely asked Jiang Zhi, ¡°How many girlfriends have you had?¡± Trying to sound fierce, like a little leopard that hasn¡¯t grown its teeth yet. Jiang Zhi looked at her wanting to kiss. He just leaned in, his lips hadn¡¯t touched her forehead yet when she dodged, not letting him kiss. Jiang Zhi chuckled, ¡°Just you.¡± She covered the only part of her head sticking out of the mask, ¡°What about boyfriends?¡± Still not letting him kiss. Jiang Zhi directly pressed his lips against the back of her hand. Chapter 119: 119: Jiang Zhi Coaxes Wife, Truth Behind Luo Familys Great Fire Chapter 119: 119: Jiang Zhi Coaxes Wife, Truth Behind Luo Family¡¯s Great Fire Jiang Zhi pressed his lips directly against the back of her hand. This move was very effective, she froze like a block of wood, completely still. Taking advantage of her stillness, Jiang Zhi moved her hand away and kissed her hot forehead, saying, ¡°No.¡± Then he kissed her again, ¡°No boyfriend, no girlfriend, only you.¡± With just those pecks, she became as flustered as if she¡¯d caught fire, her face and ears turning red. She was stunned for a moment, then crouched down and scurried toward a secluded corner of the wall. Turning her head and seeing Jiang Zhi with his chin resting on his hand, still watching her without having moved, she returned and dragged him to the same corner as well. This way, passersby couldn¡¯t see them. ... She scolded him, calling him shameless! The shameless Jiang Zhi laughed, his canines showing. Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. She wasn¡¯t soothed yet, and still angry, said, ¡°You lied to me, Mr. Xue said you had a first love.¡± This wasn¡¯t something that could be concealed, and Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t intend to hide it. ¡°Consider it a first love.¡± He took Zhou Xufang¡¯s hand into his, held it, and told her, ¡°He was a boy, I was sixteen then, and he was fourteen.¡± He revealed no emotion to her, his tone as ordinary as it could be. The first important point Zhou Xufang picked up on was¡ªJiang Zhi¡¯s first love was a boy, and she was frustrated: ¡°Is it because of him that you came out?¡± Jiang Zhi admitted, ¡°Yes.¡± She was so jealous she could die, ¡°Hmph, so it was him who turned you!¡± ¡°It¡¯s you who¡¯s turned me back, isn¡¯t it?¡± Jiang Zhi chuckled, reaching out to touch her head. She wouldn¡¯t let him, jumping back. She also picked up on the second important point, ¡°You were in young love!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t run.¡± Jiang Zhi pulled her over and held her in his arms, his chin rubbing against the hat on the top of her head, ¡°I didn¡¯t even get the chance to be in a relationship before he was gone.¡± His voice sounded a bit weak. And somewhat suppressed. Zhou Xufang immediately stopped moving, asked tentatively, and with caution, ¡°He¡¯s gone?¡± ¡°Yeah, he burned to death.¡± The matter-of-fact statement erased all the jealousy in Zhou Xufang¡¯s belly and the minor moodiness between her brows. She understood that this boy, must not be brought up; Jiang Zhi would be saddened. ¡°I¡¯m not angry anymore.¡± She looked up at him with her finger gently poking Jiang Zhi¡¯s furrowed brow, ¡°Don¡¯t be upset.¡± He smiled. He liked her too much, far too much. He caught her hand and kissed her fingertips, ¡°So, Fang Bao, you need to stay well and always be with me, understand?¡± She nodded vigorously, her tone very serious, ¡°Jiang Zhi, I will live a long life, and you must too.¡± Jiang Zhi said okay, then caught her and kissed her. She didn¡¯t avoid him anymore, they were intimate for a long time before returning to their private room. Xue Baoyi had sharp eyes, ¡®yo¡¯ she called out, teasingly scolding Jiang Zhi as a little beast, to which Jiang Zhi kicked her and told her to get lost. Zhou Xufang internally retorted to Mr. Xue that Jiang Zhi was not a little beast; he was just a bit bad, a great guy! She felt so much sympathy for Jiang Zhi, so she gave him all the best braised pork to eat. At the end of the meal, Zhou Xufang gave Qiao Nanchu and Xue Bingxue gifts along with her sincerest wishes¡ªfor a long life. She now felt that wishing for a long life was the best blessing. After lunch, they were supposed to go to the entertainment city together, but in the parking lot, Qiao Nanchu received a call. ¡°Hello.¡± ¡°Who is it?¡± Qiao Nanchu didn¡¯t speak again; after listening for a while, he turned to Xue Baoyi and said, ¡°Get me a designated driver.¡± He had drunk and couldn¡¯t drive. Xue Baoyi casually asked, ¡°What happened?¡± ¡°No time to explain.¡± Qiao Nanchu opened the car door and got into the passenger seat. Without delay, Xue Baoyi immediately fetched a manager from the Fusheng Inn. ¡°I have an emergency, gotta go.¡± With that, Qiao Nanchu turned to urge the driver, ¡°Drive faster.¡± The lobby manager, hastily recruited to be the designated driver, stepped on the gas and the car sped away. Xue Baoyi watched the departing taillights and clicked his tongue, ¡°With Nanchu¡¯s demeanor, even if the sky fell, he¡¯d first light a cigarette. I wonder who called him to get such a reaction.¡± Xue Bingxue also felt it was unusual. Qiao Nanchu was truly indifferent, unbendingly so except towards a few old friends; the people and matters that could truly catch his eye were few and far between. Xue Baoyi speculated, ¡°Couldn¡¯t have been his ex-girlfriend, could it?¡± Probably not. On tiptoe, Zhou Xufang whispered into Jiang Zhi¡¯s ear, ¡°The person on the phone, they didn¡¯t say anything.¡± Not speaking¡­ Jiang Zhi knew who it was. The car arrived at Jiajing Garden. Qiao Nanchu got out of the car and ran directly to the third floor without knocking. He stood at the door and sent a text message. ¡°Open the door.¡± It was freezing cold outside, but there was a thin sweat on his forehead. He pursed his lips, feeling the urge to smoke. He waited nearly half a minute before the door opened. As he was about to get a cigarette out of the pack, he put it back in his pocket and looked up. The first thing he saw was the excessively pale neck of the girl, standing leaning on the door, her eyes moist, lips slightly parted. ¡°Brother Chu¡­¡± This was the first sentence of lip-reading Wen Baiyang had learned and the three words she could imitate most accurately. ¡°Do you want to leave Da Mai Mountain?¡± ¡°Call me brother and I¡¯ll take you away.¡± When they first met, the rhododendrons on Da Mai Mountain were in full bloom across the hills, and he insisted she call him brother as he gave her one. But she couldn¡¯t even speak. Still, he brought her from Da Mai Mountain to Imperial City. Qiao Nanchu entered the room: ¡°Where do you feel uncomfortable?¡± Standing barefoot on the carpet, she used sign language to tell him she had severe stomach pain. ¡°Why aren¡¯t your shoes on?¡± After saying ¡®excuse me,¡¯ he bent down and picked her up. She didn¡¯t dare to move in his embrace, her eyes bloodshot, cold sweat dampening her hair, not knowing where to place her hands, she awkwardly clutched at his sleeve. He didn¡¯t bother with slippers but carried her to the sofa, touched her forehead, and it was burning hot: ¡°Where are your clothes?¡± She pointed to the bedroom. Because she got up in a hurry, she was only wearing pajamas and had broken out into a cold sweat, leaving her body ice-cold. Qiao Nanchu went into the room and got a sweater and coat for her. Located at a high altitude, Wen Baiyang¡¯s rosy cheeks from Da Mai Mountain were quite noticeable when she first arrived in Imperial City, but over the years, they had nearly faded away. Now with a fever, her little face had lost all color, looking extremely pale. Her face was round, and her eyes were round too, showing a hint of naivety when she looked at people. But now she was ill, her expression lethargic, her eyes devoid of vitality, as she curled up on the sofa, her consciousness a bit blurred. Qiao Nanchu brushed the sweaty hair off her face: ¡°Can you dress yourself?¡± She tried to raise her hand. But it was limp, lacking any strength, and after several attempts, she couldn¡¯t even get her hand through the sleeve. Qiao Nanchu simply picked her up from the sofa, told her to stay still and not to move, as he began to dress her himself. Having never taken care of anyone before, his movements, though gentle, were still somewhat rough, and it took quite a while to finally get the sweater and coat on her. Picking up the blanket from the sofa, he wrapped it around her head: ¡°To the hospital, huh?¡± Wen Baiyang nodded, her mind foggy. By the end, her consciousness was no longer clear, vaguely seeing him urging the driver, saying, ¡°Drive faster, faster¡­¡± He said, ¡°Hang in there, just hang in there and it¡¯ll be okay¡­¡± It was acute appendicitis, and surgery was needed. Qiao Nanchu signed the consent form for the surgery, acting as the patient¡¯s ¡®brother¡¯, and strictly speaking, he really was her ¡®brother.¡¯ Wen Baiyang¡¯s biological mother, Wen Ya, was a young woman who had come down from Da Mai Mountain, only a little over a decade older than Qiao Nanchu, and had married his father five years ago as a second wife. Before that, Wen Ya had never been married; Wen Baiyang was the result of a premarital pregnancy. Her father was a close relative, which caused Wen Baiyang to be born with a disability and abandoned on Da Mai Mountain, living with her grandmother. Wen Ya was like a parasitic vine, at least on the surface, sometimes crying in nine out of ten sentences. Qiao Nanchu rarely contacted his young stepmother so that when Wen Ya received his call, she was surprised: ¡°Nanchu?¡± Her tone sounded uncertain. ¡°It¡¯s me.¡± His attitude was as cold as ever. At that moment, his father¡¯s voice came from the other end of the phone. ¡°Who is it?¡± Wen Ya replied in a soft, delicate voice: ¡°It¡¯s Nanchu.¡± When she continued on the phone, her tone became even gentler, ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Why are you calling at this hour? Have you had lunch?¡± She was offering warmth, almost like a caring mother. Qiao Nanchu couldn¡¯t be bothered with pretense: ¡°Your daughter is sick, in the hospital.¡± She started crying instantly: ¡°Is it serious? Is it dangerous?¡± ¡°Acute appendicitis.¡± Qiao Nanchu looked at the operation room¡¯s door, the light on, his eyes cool as autumn frost, ¡°You were a nurse, so you know how to take care of patients¡ªI don¡¯t need to tell you. Make some soup tomorrow and come to the hospital to take care of her, and if you want to act as a loving mother in front of my father, then at least do a convincing job.¡± Having finished speaking, he hung up the phone. A loving mother? Would a loving mother leave her biological daughter in the mountains, unheard from and uncared for, for over a dozen years? Wen Baiyang didn¡¯t wake up until three p.m., but Qiao Nanchu hadn¡¯t left; he was sitting by the bed. ¡°Brother Chu.¡± ¡°Mm.¡± Qiao Nanchu didn¡¯t understand sign language, but he could read those three words. However, in the girl¡¯s second year in Imperial City, he had learned a bit of sign language. Using sign language, Wen Baiyang said, ¡°Sorry for taking up your time.¡± She didn¡¯t have anyone else to contact; when the pain was bad enough to make her roll on the floor, he was the first one she thought of. Qiao Nanchu spoke more slowly than usual, ¡°I¡¯m off today, not busy.¡± She gestured her thanks to him, then stopped bothering him, lying down quietly, watching him. Qiao Nanchu read emails on his phone for a while, then lifted his head; those round eyes were still fixed on him, ¡°Not sleeping?¡± She shook her head, saying the incision was too painful to sleep. He threw his phone on the cabinet next to the hospital bed, freeing his hands; he clumsily stroked her head, patting it twice, ¡°Endure it, it¡¯ll stop hurting if you endure.¡± He really wasn¡¯t good at comforting people. When Wen Baiyang first arrived in Imperial City and didn¡¯t know sign language, he wasn¡¯t a patient man; his writing was fast but messy. ¡°You can stay here for now.¡± He settled her in a big house. He didn¡¯t live there, and before leaving, he gave her many instructions. ¡°The lady who cooks will come during the day.¡± ¡°The school has been contacted, you¡¯ll report in three days.¡± He tore another post-it note, writing a string of numbers for her, ¡°This is my number, call me if you need anything. But I often have training and may not always get the call. If it¡¯s urgent, ask the lady who cooks.¡± His handwriting was flamboyant. She struggled to read it. He must have just graduated from the police academy, still wearing his uniform, explaining everything before he left. It took all her courage to dare to grab the strap of his backpack. He turned around to meet the timid eyes of the little girl; indeed, a little girl¡ªfourteen years old and only as tall as his chest, thin and small. ¡°Scared?¡± Scared. In this strange city, she only knew him. She nodded. He smiled, patting her shoulder, ¡°Endure it, you¡¯ll stop being scared if you endure.¡± He always said that, endure it, and it will get better. There was only one time when he didn¡¯t comfort her that way. That was her first menstrual period, which turned into a complete mess with the bedding and pants all soiled; she was confused and scared, tears streaming down. ¡°What are you crying for?¡± Her shoulders were shaking as she cried, and he took a tissue, roughly wiping away her tears. ¡°It¡¯s not a terminal illness. All girls go through this.¡± Finally, he awkwardly shoved a pack of sanitary pads to her, then slammed the door as he left. In the evening, he returned, threw a book on female biology at her, and again slammed the door as he left. That year, Qiao Nanchu was twenty, Wen Baiyang only fourteen. Qiao Nanchu didn¡¯t leave the hospital until after five. By six o¡¯clock, the Weibo server had crashed. Up-and-coming male celebrity Xiao Linsu announced his withdrawal from public life. At the press conference, his manager was absent, and even the agency had no representative present. Faced with various questions from reporters, Xiao Linsu only explained, ¡°Tired, just want to rest.¡± The news was everywhere; the man in question, however, was no longer to be seen, as if he had evaporated from the world. At quarter past six, Jiang Zhi received a call from Qiao Nanchu. ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± As darkness fell and the chill deepened, Jiang Zhi lay on a small daybed, covered by a thin blanket, with medicine that had just been brought in set on the table to cool. ¡°Captain Cheng called,¡± said Qiao Nanchu succinctly, ¡°just as you expected.¡± The men¡¯s watch was a limited edition, traceable to the identity of the purchaser. Among them was Luo Changde. Jiang Zhi rose from his daybed, carrying the medicine over to the window and pouring the dark liquid into the planter. He said, ¡°We can make the arrest now.¡± At six-thirty, the Criminal Investigation Team set out to take someone from the Luo Family. In the Luo family study, Luo Huaiyu smashed a cup of tea and picked up a cane on the desk to strike down on the back of his eldest son. ¡°You worthless thing! How could our Luo family have spawned such a beast!¡± With that cane strike, Luo Changde¡¯s legs buckled, and he knelt on the ground, sweating with pain. Gritting his teeth, he leaned on the desk to stand up. ¡°Like dragon sire dragon, like phoenix sire phoenix, Dad, how do you think I was born?¡± ¡°You¡ª¡± Luo Huaiyu trembled with fury, raising the cane again. ¡°Grandfather.¡± Luo Qinghe stepped forward and caught the cane. ¡°Leave this matter to me.¡± Luo Huaiyu glared venomously at his eldest son before relenting. Leaning on his cane, he left the study, leaving behind a single sentence for his granddaughter. ¡°Remember, our Luo family must not be implicated.¡± Luo Qinghe answered, ¡°I know.¡± Once the old man left the study, she closed the door, and her expression suddenly changed. ¡°I¡¯ve already taken care of that woman for you, why did you feel the need to silence her?¡± Luo Changde moved his back, feeling the painful burn. Bloodshot eyes filled with resentment. ¡°Only dead people can¡¯t talk. Money is only a temporary solution.¡± Luo Qinghe folded her arms. ¡°Well then, you made the mess, you clean it up.¡± Luo Changde sneered. He sat down and poured himself a cup of tea, confident and composed, ¡°I pushed Jiang Zhi into the sea for whom, do you think?¡± He scoffed and took a sip of tea to rinse his mouth. ¡°Do I need to remind you how that fire started eight years ago?¡± Her face changed drastically with those words. Luo Changde tugged at the corner of his mouth, smiling as he looked at the daughter most like him. ¡°Dear daughter, don¡¯t make me wait too long at the police station.¡± Her hands clenched as her eyes gradually darkened. At that moment. A servant at the doorway said, ¡°Miss, the police have come.¡± At eight o¡¯clock, Luo Changde was detained by the police. At half-past eight, Zhou Xufang was still out delivering takeaways. She had to get back by nine to video chat with Jiang Zhi; this was her last order, and the buyer¡¯s address was on Tianjing Road. Previously, she and Jiang Zhi had delivered takeout there once. She knew the route well. The construction site across the street was hustling through the night, and the residential area was relatively quiet. She went to the third floor, knocked on the door, and called out, ¡°306, your takeaway.¡± A man inside replied, ¡°Just a moment.¡± Soon after, someone came to open the door. Zhou Xufang, wearing a mask and a delivery cap, asked, ¡°Mr. Jiang?¡± The man, in his forties, looked her over. He wore a gray cotton jacket on top and only pajama bottoms below, seemingly intrigued by the novelty of a female delivery person, he scrutinized her for a long while before saying, ¡°That¡¯s me.¡± Zhou Xufang handed over the bag. ¡°Your porridge.¡± The man, with a licentious gaze, took it and smiled at her, ¡°Thanks, little sister.¡± Flippant. Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t like such people. Not even bothering to ask for a good review, she turned to leave. Just as she reached the stairwell, her steps suddenly halted. What was that smell? She took a sniff and sniffed deeply again. Like the stench of blood¡­ Following the scent, she moved further inside and stopped in front of a door that was left unlocked. Gently pushing it open, she was right at the ventilator, where the strong smell of blood assailed her senses. Her foot had just stepped inside when she saw the blood on the floor and the woman lying in a pool of it. She looked around briefly and, composedly, took out her phone to report to the police: ¡°Hello officer, I¡¯d like to report a crime.¡± At the police station. Due to Luo Changde¡¯s case, the entire Criminal Investigation Team had not clocked out, interrogating through the night. ¡°Has he confessed?¡± Captain Qiao entered from outside, still with a cigarette in his mouth. The guy sure was addicted to smoking. Captain Cheng of the Criminal Investigation Team hadn¡¯t had dinner yet, cramming a piece of bread into his mouth: ¡°We¡¯ve questioned him four times, he hasn¡¯t uttered a word.¡± He cursed with a laugh, ¡°Just now, that beast rolled his eyes back and feigned unconsciousness, we¡¯ve sent him to the infirmary.¡± Captain Qiao extinguished his cigarette and pulled up a chair to sit. ¡°A few kicks will make him behave.¡± This hooligan cop! Captain Cheng took a sip of water and teased him, ¡°Captain Qiao, forcing a confession is illegal.¡± Chapter 120: 120: Fang Baos superpower exposed, Luo Sans identity exposed Chapter 120: 120: Fang Bao¡¯s superpower exposed, Luo San¡¯s identity exposed ¡°Captain Qiao, forcing a confession is illegal.¡± ¡°Forcing a confession?¡± He fiddled with a lighter in his hands, smiling coldly. ¡°Who saw? Any evidence?¡± Captain Cheng was speechless. It¡¯s good that this guy hadn¡¯t joined the Criminal Investigation Team considering he disregarded regulations and norms. The Qiao Family was a prestigious family, the late Mrs. Qiao was from a scholarly family, yet it was a wonder how such a non-conformist was raised in their midst. There was something undeniably rogue about him, hard to say whom he took after. ... ¡°Captain, we¡¯ve received a report.¡± A colleague in the team hung up the phone and said, ¡°Number 38, Tianjing Road, there¡¯s been a murder.¡± Around nine o¡¯clock, Jiang Zhi received a phone call from Nanchu Qiao. He was brief and to the point, saying, ¡°Come to the police station.¡± Jiang Zhi glanced at the time. It was almost nine, and he was supposed to video call Zhou Xufang. He cleared his throat, sounding listless and weak. ¡°I¡¯m frail, not going out.¡± How feeble! This guy really thought he was Lin Daiyu, Nanchu Qiao couldn¡¯t stand his nonsense, ¡°Your wife is here, are you coming or not?¡± Hearing this, Jiang Zhi sat up from his daybed, ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Gone was his previously sickly demeanor; his tone was urgent. Nanchu Qiao¡¯s interest was piqued, and he continued to ramble with wide eyes, ¡°She¡¯s gotten into trouble.¡± Among them, Jiang Zhi was the most scheming. Now, even this casual joke seemed to have fooled him; his mind must have been blocked by the words ¡°Zhou Xufang.¡± He even said, ¡°Tell her not to confess, wait for me to handle it.¡± His tone was serious, certainly not joking. He was probably planning how to ¡®exonerate¡¯ Zhou Xufang in his mind. Nanchu Qiao became curious, ¡°Tell me, how do you plan to handle it? Will you frame someone else or destroy the evidence?¡± In any case, it wouldn¡¯t be anything aboveboard. Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t say more, grabbed his car keys, and walked out: ¡°Let Zhou Xufang take the call.¡± Nanchu Qiao cursed him ¡®Scoundrel¡¯ and, holding back a laugh, said, ¡°Without probing a bit, you really think you¡¯re above the law, huh?¡± Scoundrel! Jiang Zhi cursed him back. ¡°Don¡¯t joke about Zhou Xufang; I can¡¯t afford to.¡± Nanchu Qiao realized this guy was under his girlfriend¡¯s thumb. Switching to serious tones, he said, ¡°There¡¯s been a murder at Tianjing Road, and your girlfriend is the one who reported it.¡± Jiang Zhi got into his car and put on his Bluetooth headset, ¡°Hand the phone to Zhou Xufang.¡± Soon after, the joyful voice of a young girl came through on the phone, ¡°Jiang Zhi~¡± Jiang Zhi adjusted the Bluetooth headset¡¯s volume, steering with one hand as he backed the car out, questioning Zhou Xufang, ¡°Have they taken your statement?¡± ¡°Mhm.¡± As the car left the parking spot, Jiang Zhi floored the accelerator, driving fast, and asked again, ¡°Was the person taking your statement harsh? Did they bully you?¡± Listening on speaker was Nanchu Qiao: ¡°¡­¡± This prick, what does he think our police are! Zhou Xufang detailed everything, saying, ¡°No, that guy was very nice, even gave me instant noodles.¡± Hearing this, Jiang Zhi fumed, ¡°They only gave you instant noodles?¡± Zhou Xufang, ¡°No, there were also some ham and duck necks.¡± Nanchu Qiao couldn¡¯t listen anymore, grabbed his cigarettes and lighter, and went out to smoke. Zhou Xufang then turned off the speakerphone, telling Jiang Zhi how tasty the duck necks and ham were. ¡°Once we¡¯re home, I¡¯ll buy you some.¡± Set aside duck necks and ham for a moment, Jiang Zhi asked her, ¡°Did you go to Tianjing Road to deliver food again?¡± ¡°Mhm.¡± In this perilous world, danger lurked everywhere. Yet he couldn¡¯t stop her from working. Jiang Zhi thought for a moment. ¡°Tomorrow come to the set with me; you can be an extra.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll be at the police station soon; have Nanchu find you a place to rest until I get there.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± After Zhou Xufang agreed, she inquired, ¡°Are you driving?¡± Jiang Zhi hummed a confirmation, turned the steering wheel sharply, and the car entered the highway. He was driving fast, the wind blowing fiercely through the windows, Zhou Xufang could even hear it. How could he drive so fast! ¡°Drive a bit slower,¡± she immediately recited the traffic slogan, ¡°There are countless roads but safety comes first; driving carelessly brings loved ones to tears.¡± ¡°¡­It¡¯s not that fast.¡± ¡°Stop making calls and concentrate on driving.¡± After that, Zhou Xufang directly hung up the phone. Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± Forget it, just drive slower. It was already late at night, and no one from the Criminal Investigation Team had left work since they had just returned from the crime scene and were working on the case report. ¡°The victim, Chen Li, was twenty-six years old, female, and worked as a bartender.¡± A few photos from the scene were posted on a mobile whiteboard, along with a few bullet points. Vice Captain Xing marked the key points with a pen and continued, ¡°The autopsy report hasn¡¯t come out yet, but from the scene photos, it appears to be a homicide. There¡¯s no sign of any disturbance inside the house, so we can probably rule out robbery. Moreover, the door lock is intact, and there are no signs of struggle, so it¡¯s very likely that the perpetrator was an acquaintance.¡± ¡°The wound is clean; the murderer is likely male.¡± Captain Cheng asked, ¡°What about the murder weapon?¡± Vice Captain Xing pointed to a photo: ¡°It should be this fruit knife, which has already been sent to the forensic department for analysis.¡± Neither the forensic nor forensic investigations had produced results yet, and there were currently no breakthroughs. Captain Cheng tapped the table thoughtfully and began to assign tasks: ¡°Zhwen, you take a team to visit the apartment complex where the crime occurred, see if there¡¯s been anything unusual lately, or if the victim had any feuds.¡± ¡°Xiao Zhong, you go to the bar where the victim worked.¡± ¡°Gangzi, check the victim¡¯s personal accounts, call records, and social relationships.¡± ¡°Zhang Wen, you continue with Luo Changde¡¯s case.¡± After giving the instructions, Captain Cheng stood up, waved his hand to signal that everyone could leave: ¡°Alright, let¡¯s call it a day.¡± After ensuring everything was arranged, he remembered someone else, ¡°Nanchu, help me take the person who reported the crime back.¡± ¡°No need,¡± Qiao Nanchu tilted his chin towards the door, ¡°The family of the person who reported it has arrived.¡± Zhou Xufang immediately stood up from his chair: ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± He walked quickly, bringing a gust of wind in: ¡°Were you scared?¡± ¡°No.¡± Zhou Xufang¡¯s delivery helmet was still on the table. Jiang Zhi took the helmet in one hand and held her hand with the other, saying, ¡°I¡¯m taking her away.¡± Captain Cheng agreed. Qiao Nanchu glanced at Jiang Zhi: ¡°I sent my car for repairs, give me a lift.¡± He took out his phone, dialed a number: ¡°Lin Wanwan, come to the police station.¡± After hanging up, he told Qiao Nanchu, ¡°I¡¯ve called a driver for you.¡± Qiao Nanchu: ¡°Get lost.¡± Jiang Zhi walked away holding his girlfriend¡¯s hand. The car was parked quite far away, and they had to walk a bit, Zhou Xufang being led, her mind wandering. It was cold at night, Jiang Zhi put the helmet on her and wrapped his scarf around her neck: ¡°What are you thinking about?¡± ¡°The case.¡± ¡°Let the police worry about the case.¡± Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t think so, she was serious, very stern: ¡°Building a harmonious society is everyone¡¯s responsibility.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Ever since she started watching TV dramas, her vocabulary had not only expanded significantly, but it had also opened many new worlds for her. Good, she had become much more outgoing than before, and not as scared of people. Jiang Zhi then asked, ¡°So, what have you figured out?¡± She showed him a secretly snapped photo of the victim on her phone: ¡°Is it her? The customer who flirted with you last time.¡± Jiang Zhi glanced at it and recognized her: ¡°It¡¯s her.¡± ¡°I overheard her talking on the phone, talking about a homicide; this victim said she had disposed of the body and was asking a Mr. Han to pay her.¡± She asked Jiang Zhi, ¡°Could she have been killed by this Mr. Han?¡± Before Jiang Zhi could respond, she began to speculate, her speech speed and tone mimicking that of a detective drama character: ¡°They were plotting something big, and after it was done, Mr. Han, afraid of leaks, murdered the victim to silence her.¡± Jiang Zhi caressed her cheek, praising: ¡°Your analysis makes a lot of sense.¡± Having been complimented, Zhou Xufang was naturally excited: ¡°That¡¯s how they do it in TV dramas.¡± ¡°What you heard, I will pass on to Nanchu, let the police investigate it,¡± Jiang Zhi¡¯s hands rested on her yellow helmet, looking into her eyes, ¡°Detective Zhou Xufang, first tell me, how did you overhear the victim¡¯s phone call?¡± ¡°¡­¡± Crap, I¡¯ve said too much. Zhou Xufang was clearly not good at lying, her eyes darting around, and after a long pause, she whispered softly, ¡°I heard it from outside.¡± ¡°You were downstairs at the time.¡± Three floors, does she have super-hearing or what? Zhou Xufang lowered her head, tilting her helmet: ¡°I have good hearing.¡± Jiang Zhi wouldn¡¯t let her dodge, holding her chin and lifting her face: ¡°How good?¡± I can¡¯t make up any more¡­ Zhou Xufang decided to come clean and ask for leniency. How good was her hearing? She needed an example, so she focused intensely, pricking up her ears to listen to the sounds from all directions. Moreover, she mimicked exactly, reciting a small segment verbatim. ¡°What is this?¡± It was a man¡¯s voice, which she imitated quite realistically. ¡°Lipstick, what else could it be?¡± That was a woman¡¯s voice. A conversation between a man and a woman, Zhou Xufang played both roles: for the man, she stood on the left and deepened her voice, for the woman, she stood on the right and pinched her voice to mimic. She imitated the woman: ¡°Whose lipstick is this?¡± Imitated the man: ¡°Isn¡¯t it yours?¡± Imitated the woman: ¡°No, it¡¯s not.¡± Imitated the man: ¡°Then someone must have left it behind by accident,¡± The climax arrived, emotions exploded! ¡°Perhaps someone left it behind on purpose.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°You know what I mean.¡± ¡°My intuition doesn¡¯t tell me anything, Liu Tong, stop making baseless accusations.¡± ¡°Stop the car.¡± ¡°We¡¯re on a major road, that¡¯s enough.¡± ¡°Stop the car!¡± As Zhou Xufang yelled furiously, With a hiss, a car on the road opposite her and Jiang Zhi came to a sudden halt, and a woman in a black down jacket got out from the passenger side. ¡°Wang Zhongliang, you really have no class, daring to let another woman leave lipstick in your car and not having the guts to admit it,¡± the woman said with red eyes, sarcastically berating her boyfriend, ¡°That¡¯s all you¡¯re capable of.¡± Her boyfriend stayed in the car, not getting out, cursing and swearing. ¡°What are you freaking out about, which eye of yours saw me with another woman?¡± ¡°And you want to argue with me about this! Can¡¯t feel comfortable without a quarrel, huh?¡± ¡°Sicko!¡± After cursing, the man drove off, leaving the woman behind. She stood by the roadside for a while, crouched down, and cried. It was the couple arguing, and the dialogue Zhou Xufang had recited was the content of their argument, which lasted at least half a minute. Even if the car was moving slowly, the voice was still hundreds of meters away, at night with the wind and the noise of traffic. ¡°You could hear all that?¡± Jiang Zhi found it unbelievable. Zhou Xufang nodded: ¡°Yeah,¡± she said, ¡°I need to concentrate to hear it.¡± Then, she concentrated again, continued to listen, and kept repeating. ¡°Liu Wenhui, what exactly do you mean, placing the lipstick in my car, did you intentionally want my wife to find it?¡± Zhou Xufang imitated the man¡¯s words seriously and accurately, ¡°Didn¡¯t we agree to just have fun, not to expose anything, are you playing me now?¡± The car had already gone quite far, yet she could still hear. ¡°This is pointless¡ª¡± Jiang Zhi interrupted her: ¡°That¡¯s enough.¡± Oh. She stopped and looked at Jiang Zhi. He was also looking at her, his eyes as if studded with sparkling stars, bright and fiery. ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± ¡°Mhm.¡± Her two hands clenched, nervously fidgeting with her fingers: ¡°Am I like a little monster?¡± Her eyelashes trembled rapidly, showing a mix of fear, nervousness, and dejection. She wore her anxiety and unrest on her face and in her eyes. Jiang Zhi slightly bent down, making his gaze level with hers: ¡°Why a little monster?¡± She said: ¡°I¡¯m different from others.¡± Her voice very low. She was afraid, even felt inferior. Jiang Zhi could tell; she disliked her uncommon self, blamed herself, attributing all the intolerance of others to herself. She described herself as a little monster. Jiang Zhi straightened her askew helmet, exposing her face: ¡°Have you watched any fairy or martial arts TV shows?¡± She nodded, ¡°I¡¯ve seen it.¡± ¡°It might not be a monster,¡± he covered her head with his hand, knocked on her helmet making a clanging sound, and said, ¡°Zhou Xufang, you might be a fairy from the heavens, come down to experience tribulations, and because the seal was broken, you now have boundless mana.¡± He was talking nonsense. Zhou Xufang laughed. ¡°Jiang Zhi, there are no fairies in this world.¡± Although she loved watching TV dramas, she also knew there were many fictional elements in them, and she didn¡¯t believe in fairies. Jiang Zhi poked her face, creating a small dimple on her right cheek, ¡°Then how don¡¯t you understand? There are no monsters in the world, only humans blinded by evil thoughts.¡± Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t quite understand. ¡°Even if it¡¯s really a monster,¡± Jiang Zhi smiled, his eyes spilling with soft light, ¡°Lord Black Impermanence, I have a long life ahead, and I will love the little monster for a long time.¡± Lord Black Impermanence did not fully understand his words, but he caught the last sentence, Jiang Zhi said he would love her for a long time. That was enough for her; she wasn¡¯t greedy. Whether or not there were fairies or monsters, or whether people¡¯s eyes were blinded, she didn¡¯t care anymore because Jiang Zhi had her in his eyes. She had never felt so content before, as if she had gained the whole world, obtained all the beautiful stars in the sky. She smiled, her eyes curving, she put on her hoodie and tiptoed to put on Jiang Zhi¡¯s, ¡°The little monster wants to kiss you, lower your head.¡± Jiang Zhi lowered his head. She tiptoed, carefully kissing him. The next day, it rained, and the temperature in Imperial City was too low, turning the raindrops into ice, dripping sounded. At eight in the morning, Tang Xiang drove to the nursing home. The nurse, Xiao Qu, just came out of the ward, saw her, and greeted with a smile, ¡°Miss Tang is here.¡± ¡°How is my mom¡¯s mental state today?¡± ¡°Early in the morning she asked me for paper and pen, saying she wanted to write.¡± After a brief chat, Tang Xiang put her umbrella in the rack and pushed the door into the ward. ¡°Mom.¡± Ms. He was kneeling on a foam mat on the floor, buttocks in the air while writing something, then she looked up and waved at Tang Xiang, ¡°Luo San come quickly, Aunt Xiu is teaching you how to write.¡± She didn¡¯t recognize people again, usually, she talked the most about Luo San. Tang Xiang patiently explained, ¡°It¡¯s me, Mom, I¡¯m Xiangxiang, not Luo San.¡± Ms. He grabbed her hand, pulled her over, and looked around, ¡°Shush, keep your voice down, don¡¯t let them hear you talking.¡± Tang Xiang didn¡¯t have the strength to explain further and let her ramble. sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Ms. He suddenly jumped up, startled, ¡°Where¡¯s your necklace?¡± ¡°What necklace?¡± Ms. He didn¡¯t specify which necklace, sitting on the foam mat, she shook her head and mumbled to herself. ¡°Where¡¯s the necklace?¡± ¡°That was given by your mom; you can¡¯t lose it.¡± ¡°The necklace has a name.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Her speech was disjointed and Ms. He murmured for a while. It was all gibberish that Tang Xiang didn¡¯t understand. Her eyes caught the notebook on the floor, written neatly, in Ms. He¡¯s handwriting. She filled up a page with just two words: ¡ª Xu Fang. Tang Xiang picked up the notebook, ¡°What is this?¡± Ms. He swayed her head, smiling like a child, ¡°It¡¯s your name.¡± ¡°What¡¯s my name?¡± Ms. He paused, tilting her head watching her for a while, then recognized her, ¡°You¡¯re Xiangxiang.¡± She smiled happily then seemingly dissatisfied, complained, ¡°Why did you come back so late?¡± Tang Xiang opened the notebook, showed her clearly, ¡°Mom, first tell me, whose name is this?¡± Ms. He pushed the notebook away, looked towards the door, ¡°Where¡¯s your dad?¡± ¡°How come he hasn¡¯t come back?¡± ¡°Did the old master send him somewhere on business again?¡± ¡°Make a phone call, ask him to come back.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Ms. He kept muttering, Tang Xiang called her, but she didn¡¯t respond. Xu Fang. Tang Xiang looked at the words on the notebook, lost in thought. Chapter 121: 121: Xu Fang falls into the water, the death of Luo San Chapter 121: 121: Xu Fang falls into the water, the death of Luo San Xiao Linsu, as the lead in ¡°Wilderness¡±, even though he had finished all his scenes, his retirement still had a significant impact on the film. For example, journalists were relentless, staking out even the film set. Today¡¯s scene was outdoors, shot in a natural mountain range on the outskirts of Imperial City, with a parking lot located a kilometer away from the shoot, and the crew¡¯s temporary rest area was nearby. After parking the car, Jiang Zhi unbuckled Zhou Xufang¡¯s seatbelt. ¡°There are reporters outside, you go ahead first.¡± Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t move. ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± ... ¡°Hm?¡± Jiang Zhi turned toward her. She asked, ¡°Are we going to date in secret?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you want to date in secret?¡± No. She wanted to keep it a secret, to avoid others knowing. Jiang Zhi was a celebrity, and going public with a relationship could cause many inconveniences, and the Jiang Family was also watching like a hawk, so caution was advised. What she was worried about was, ¡°My acting is terrible, I¡¯m afraid I¡¯ll give it away.¡± Her acting really was terrible, or she wouldn¡¯t have been an extra for so long. Except for Jiang Zhi, other directors wouldn¡¯t even let her play a corpse with a line. When she was filming, she was usually only seen from the back. Once her face showed, it was easy for the whole scene to collapse. ¡°Who says your acting is bad? You played the female ghost quite well.¡± ¡°¡­¡± What should Lord Black Impermanence say? Lord Black Impermanence said, ¡°Thank you.¡± Jiang Zhi smiled, not teasing her anymore: ¡°It¡¯s okay if we blow our cover; if we get discovered, we¡¯ll go public.¡± She would listen to whatever Jiang Zhi said: ¡°Okay.¡± Jiang Zhi put a hat and mask on her and wrapped her face and neck, leaving only her eyes and eyebrows exposed. ¡°Jiang Zhi, it¡¯s like we¡¯re having an affair.¡± Zhou Xufang found it amusing. ¡°I¡¯m the domineering CEO¡¯s secret little wife.¡± Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Jiang Zhi was a mix of annoyed and amused: ¡°Has Lin Wanwan been sending you novels again?¡± ¡°No.¡± Mm, good girl. Jiang Zhi just wanted to praise her. She earnestly revealed the truth: ¡°I downloaded an APP and found it myself.¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± Every day, he worried if she would be led astray, deceived, or abducted¡ªhe guessed those without daughters wouldn¡¯t understand his feelings. Not daring to speak harshly, fearing she might rebel. So Jiang Zhi reminded her in a fatherly tone: ¡°You know you shouldn¡¯t watch things that are inappropriate for children, right?¡± Zhou Xufang, unfamiliar with the internet, asked innocently: ¡°What counts as inappropriate for children?¡± Jiang Zhi thought for a moment, then summarized in one sentence: ¡°Everything after undressing.¡± Zhou Xufang turned away, laughing: ¡°Jiang Zhi, I¡¯ve already come of age.¡± The grown-up Zhou Xufang added, ¡°Plus, Tang Xiang said that censorship is strict now, you can¡¯t write about anything below the neck.¡± At this point, she felt frustrated and let out a sigh: ¡°It¡¯s so annoying.¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± That feeling, like someone had stolen sweet potatoes from your own field. That sweet potato, bouncing happily: ¡°Jiang Zhi, do you have QQ?¡± Jiang Zhi just wanted to nibble her right there and then, he licked his lips, holding back: ¡°I do.¡± Zhou Xufang¡¯s eyes brimmed with anticipation: ¡°Can I borrow it?¡± This was a sweet potato with no survival instincts. ¡°I want to join Tang Xiang¡¯s group; he said he would send out benefits.¡± She had never seen the benefits, but Ah Wan said they were fantastic, very fulfilling. Jiang Zhi licked his teeth: ¡°No.¡± She felt let down: ¡°Oh.¡± She was only down for a few seconds before her excitement surged again, ¡°Then alright, I¡¯ll go register one myself.¡± ¡°Zhou Xufang.¡± Click. Jiang Zhi unbuckled his own seatbelt. He had used her full name. Oh, he was angry. Zhou Xufang was puzzled: ¡°Hmm?¡± Jiang Zhi tugged at the collar of his black sweater, giving her a death stare: ¡°Are you trying to kill your boyfriend with frustration?¡± Zhou Xufang felt wronged: ¡°I didn¡¯t.¡± She swore to heaven, she hadn¡¯t. Her expression was sincere: ¡°Are you angry?¡± Of course, her expression was also innocent, ¡°Why are you angry?¡± Jiang Zhi stayed silent, turned away, and started coughing. He had fair skin, delicate as could be, flushing everywhere at the slightest cough. A hint of watery gleam in his eyes, lips red and teeth white¡ªthree parts illness, seven parts charm. Such a pitiful sight. Yet, terribly captivating all the same. Zhou Xufang felt an itch of concern, too enamored to bear, and hurried to soothe him, gently patting his back while coaxing with kind words, ¡°It¡¯s all my fault. Don¡¯t be mad, don¡¯t be mad.¡± Jiang Zhi leaned against the chair, gazing at her with a pair of misty, peach blossom eyes, ¡°What did you do wrong?¡± ¡°¡­¡± What did she do wrong? She didn¡¯t know, didn¡¯t dare to ask¡ªso confused, so perplexed. Alright, he¡¯d stop teasing her. Jiang Zhi, feigning weakness, made a request as if he were on his sickbed: ¡°Don¡¯t go looking for happiness.¡± His tone was commanding but weak, almost coquettish due to his ¡®illness.¡¯ Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t immediately agree, visibly struggling. Jiang Zhi turned away, erupting into another bout of coughs, his Adam¡¯s apple tinged with a faint red from the effort. Zhou Xufang eventually gave in: ¡°¡­Okay.¡± The combined strategy of playing the beauty and the victim¡ªunfailingly effective. Jiang Zhi faked another cough, covered his mouth, and laughed. Such an innocent and gullible girl¡ªhow could he not keep a close watch on her? ¡°You¡¯re coughing so badly,¡± Zhou Xufang expressed her concern, ¡°Should we go to the hospital?¡± With a rosy flush on his cheeks, panting slightly, he made up complete nonsense with a straight face: ¡°This is from sheer frustration. No need for a hospital. I¡¯ll be fine as long as I¡¯m in good spirits.¡± Zhou Xufang was half-convinced: ¡°What would make you feel better?¡± He leaned in close: ¡°If you took the initiative to kiss me.¡± ¡°¡­¡± In the affairs of love, such maneuvers were charming, but Zhou Xufang¡¯s worldly experience couldn¡¯t hold a candle to Jiang Zhi¡¯s. A few minutes later. Zhou Xufang was sneaking off Jiang Zhi¡¯s car, barely reaching the parking lot¡¯s exit when suddenly someone called out her name. ¡°Zhou Xufang.¡± Having just done something ¡®naughty,¡¯ Zhou Xufang felt guilty, stood up straight and loudly replied, ¡°Here!¡± Then turning, she saw Ullala Li Xiang. Ullala Li Xiang, whose career had recently exploded with numerous variety shows, was now a rising star. She was as incognito as Zhou Xufang, with only a pair of laughingly squinted ¡®thief-like¡¯ eyes visible: ¡°I saw everything.¡± Zhou Xufang cocked her head, feigning ignorance. ¡°Jiang Zhi pinned you in the seat.¡± Zhou Xufang blinked, continuing to play dumb. ¡°For three minutes.¡± Zhou Xufang¡¯s eyes widened in protest: ¡°It wasn¡¯t that long!¡± That was slander! Lixiang laughed, a mischievous twinkle in her eye, looking every bit the madam of a brothel: ¡°Xufang, you just admitted it.¡± Zhou Xufang: ¡°¡­¡± Ah, she¡¯d been tricked. Such regret! Lixiang beckoned with her finger: ¡°Come on, spill it¡ªthe truth will be easier on you.¡± Zhou Xufang trusted Lixiang, although they hadn¡¯t known each other for very long. She felt Lixiang was a helpful and easygoing person, so she revealed the truth, saying, ¡°Jiang Zhi and I are playing at friends.¡± The term ¡®playing at friends¡¯ tickled Lixiang, her maternal instinct overflowing as she looked at Zhou Xufang with a motherly gaze: ¡°Has Jiang Zhi straightened out?¡± Without hesitation, Zhou Xufang affirmed: ¡°He has.¡± ¡°Will he bend again?¡± Zhou Xufang was adamant: ¡°No.¡± Whether Jiang Zhi was straight or might bend, Lixiang wasn¡¯t sure. There were too many rumors about Jiang Zhi for her to sort out the truth. But she was sure of one thing¡ªZhou Xufang truly liked Jiang Zhi, so much that her eyes now held a hint of worldly desire. This girl, who had always been so lifeless, finally learned what it meant to experience joy, anger, sorrow, and pleasure. Lixiang asked with a smile, ¡°Are you playing for keeps?¡± ¡°Mhm.¡± ¡°Then play well.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± But still¡ª Lixiang was a little worried, after all, considering Director Jiang¡¯s reputation, which made him seem almost too cunning: ¡°Just be careful, don¡¯t end up playing with your life.¡± Zhou Xufang hadn¡¯t even grasped the meaning: ¡°Huh?¡± Lixiang cleared her throat: ¡°Ahem, just make sure you take precautions.¡± ¡°` ¡°¡­¡± Zhou Xufang blushed and ran off. Fang Lixiang blinked, unable to see where Zhou Xufang had gone. Had she run off that quickly, like a rabbit? Just as she was about to go catch the rabbit¡ª ¡°Fang Lixiang?¡± Someone called her from behind, uncertainly, as if probing. Fang Lixiang reflexively turned her head. Damn it, her cover was blown. With that turn of her head, it was as good as having six words written on her forehead¡ª¡±I am Fang Lixiang.¡± She looked at who it was. Those eyes, that nose, those lips¡­ She didn¡¯t recognize them. ¡°Who are you?¡± The person approached and handed her a business card, ¡°Hello, I¡¯m Tang Xiang.¡± A somewhat familiar name. Fang Lixiang glanced at the business card. She didn¡¯t catch the job title but recognized the logo on it; it was from the Luo Family. She didn¡¯t take the card. ¡°Sorry, I have no plans to change jobs at the moment.¡± Tang Xiang took the card back and casually placed it on a nearby car. ¡°I¡¯m not here to poach you. I just have a few questions to ask you.¡± As soon as the Luo Family was mentioned, Fang Lixiang wanted nothing to do with it and turned an indifferent face. ¡°We are not acquainted.¡± Tang Xiang wasn¡¯t in a hurry and remained calm. ¡°May I ask if your father¡¯s name is Fang Dashun?¡± Oh, she wasn¡¯t looking for her. She was looking for old man Fang. ¡°Not at all,¡± Fang Lixiang smiled slyly. ¡°My dad is called Fang Xiaoxi.¡± Old Fang, huh? Old Fang hadn¡¯t been a firefighter for a long time. He should be enjoying life by now, his daughter had become a star, what was her name again? Strive? Advance? That¡¯s it, her name was Lixiang! Recalling what those old firefighters had said, Tang Xiang was fairly certain that this girl was old Fang¡¯s daughter. ¡°If it¡¯s convenient, could you give me your father¡¯s phone number?¡± Fang Lixiang: ¡°It¡¯s not convenient.¡± ¡°Then please convey a message to your father for me. I am Miss Tang, the daughter of Tang Guangji.¡± Having said that, she walked away. Fang Lixiang stood in place, frowning in deep thought: What¡¯s her background, friend or foe? She picked up the business card and put it in her pocket, then called her dad. ¡°Old Fang.¡± Old Fang put on airs: ¡°How should you speak to your dad? You¡¯re being disrespectful!¡± Fang Lixiang stopped joking and got down to business. ¡°Someone came asking about you just now, even mentioned your former name, Fang Dashun.¡± ¡°Who is it?¡± ¡°She said she is the daughter of Tang Guangji.¡± The more Fang Lixiang thought about it, the more she felt something was off. ¡°Who is Tang Guangji?¡± Old Fang was silent for quite a while. The usually unserious old man suddenly became serious. ¡°He¡¯s another victim of the Luo Family fire incident.¡± As expected, she came because of that matter. Fang Lixiang felt a bad premonition and lamented with frustration, ¡°Old Fang, the fire won¡¯t be contained by the paper. It looks like we¡¯re both in for some trouble.¡± Old Fang howled, ¡°This is all your fault! I told you to change your name along with me and you refused; now see what happened, we¡¯ve been found!¡± Heh. Old Fang used to be called Fang Dashun when he was a firefighter. After he got injured and changed careers, he also changed his name to Fang Xiaoxi. Back then, he wanted his daughter to change her name with him, saying that they had done something wrong and needed to change their names to hide. Fang Lixiang had refused. ¡°It¡¯s my fault, my fault I didn¡¯t choose the name Fang Dalang.¡± Indeed, Fang Xiaoxi had chosen the name for his daughter¡ªFang Dalang. Fang Lixiang, of course, would never agree to that. Zhou Xu The walk from the parking lot to the filming location took more than ten minutes. Besides Jiang Zhi¡¯s crew, the crew of ¡°Da Wei Heavenly Dynasty¡± was also filming in this area. A sizable body of water separated the two crews, without interference with one another. ¡°Mr. Tang has arrived.¡± ¡°Carry on with your work; no need to mind me. I¡¯ll just look around.¡± The Luo Family was the investor behind ¡°Da Wei Heavenly Dynasty,¡± so the director naturally recognized Tang Xiang and was very respectful. ¡°I¡¯ll get back to my duties then. If you need anything, just call for me.¡± Tang Xiang walked to the edge of the water and dialed a number. The call was quickly answered. ¡°Hello?¡± ¡°I asked you something on WeChat, and you haven¡¯t responded yet.¡± Someone was playing dumb with her: ¡°Who are you?¡± ¡°` Tang Xiang felt that Jiang Xiaolin was shameless. Despite everyone in the circle saying he was mature, stable, refined, elegant, and shrewd, she still thought he was just as much of a scoundrel as he had been back in school, thoroughly incorrigible. ¡°Forget it, I¡¯ll look into it myself.¡± Jiang Xiaolin criticized her, ¡°Can¡¯t you change that bad temper of yours?¡± Tang Xiang, ¡°No.¡± She hung up. Jiang Xiaolin, ¡°¡­¡± He had never seen such a resolute woman. Ten seconds later, he redialed, ¡°There was a firefighter who carried out Luo San, but the man couldn¡¯t be saved, he died on the ambulance. The Luo Family disposed of the body that very night and even kept the incident under wraps. I guess,¡± he paused to think, ¡°there must be some secret on the body that they didn¡¯t want getting out.¡± The night of the Luo Family fire, Tang Xiang wasn¡¯t at the Luo residence. She received the news of the death the next day, and she had never seen her father¡¯s corpse, only a small urn of ashes. The body was disposed of too quickly, like destroying evidence. Tang Xiang was clueless, ¡°What secret?¡± Jiang Xiaolin said, ¡°You¡¯ll have to ask the Luo Family about that.¡± ¡°Thanks.¡± ¡°You can save the verbal thanks¡ª¡± The call had already been disconnected. ¡°Beep beep beep beep beep¡­¡± Jiang Xiaolin, ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Da Wei Heavenly Dynasty¡± was a TV drama invested in by the Luo Family, and naturally, Luo Yinghe played the lead female role. Luo Yinghe was used to being fawned over and flattered by a crowd of people, raised spoiled and tyrannical. If anything wasn¡¯t to her liking, she would throw a fit. And now, she was at it again. They said it was because she had been dropped from Jiang Zhi¡¯s new movie, and for several days, she had been in a fiery mood. With a bang. She slammed the cup on the table, ¡°Are you trying to scald me to death?¡± The female assistant hurriedly apologized, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Sister Ying, I¡¯ll get you another cup right away.¡± Cables covered the ground, and the outdoor terrain was uneven. The female assistant, nervously carrying the coffee, was momentarily careless and tripped over a cable. She stumbled, and a cup of hot coffee spilled all over by Luo Yinghe¡¯s feet. The coffee wasn¡¯t actually that hot, but Luo Yinghe screamed in anger. The female assistant was petrified with fear, and it took her a while to recover before she started wiping with tissues, repeatedly apologizing. Luo Yinghe shoved her hand away, ¡°You did that on purpose, didn¡¯t you!¡± ¡°It wasn¡¯t on purpose, Sister Ying, it was the cable on the ground¡ª¡± ¡°You dare talk back?¡± She grabbed a bouquet of roses gifted by a fan and began lashing the assistant with it, ¡°I¡¯ll teach you to talk back!¡± Luo Yinghe had a mild temper disorder, but not many people knew about it. ¡°If you can¡¯t even carry coffee properly, what use do I have for you?¡± ¡°Still dare to scald me?¡± ¡°Still dare to talk back?¡± ¡°¡­¡± Insults carried across the water to the other side, where Zhou Xufang could hear and see everything clearly. Rose petals scattered, creating a striking red on the ground. The person holding the flowers had beautifully manicured nails, targeting the thorny part of the roses to lash at someone¡­ ¡°Still dare to steal my textbook?¡± ¡°You think you can learn to write?¡± ¡°Idiot!¡± ¡°Dumb and mute, might as well die!¡± ¡°¡­¡± Zhou Xufang stumbled backward. She didn¡¯t know where it was coming from, but a noise suddenly rushed into her ears, causing a buzzing and dizziness. ¡°Excuse me, please move.¡± ¡°Someone ahead, please move aside.¡± A stagehand was pushing a rack full of costumes from behind. The rack was piled too high, partially blocking his view. He maneuvered it while shouting to the person in front, ¡°Hey, I¡¯m talking to you!¡± Zhou Xufang turned around, and the iron rack had already hit her at the waist. She lost her balance and fell backward. ¡°Xu Fang!¡± With a splash, water flew everywhere. The water in this area was twenty meters deep; if a person fell in, they would disappear in an instant. Chapter 122: 122: Wearing a Jiang Zhi shirt, punishing Luo Yinghe Chapter 122: 122: Wearing a Jiang Zhi shirt, punishing Luo Yinghe ¡°` The water in this area is twenty meters deep, and a person who falls in disappears in an instant. ¡°Xu Fang!¡± It was Jiang Zhi calling out. After he called out and received no response, his next instinctual action was to jump in after her, purely a subconscious reaction without any thought. Fortunately, Ah Wan, who was behind him, was quick-witted and caught hold of him, ¡°Boss, what are you doing!¡± ... But Jiang Zhi pushed him away and continued to move toward the edge of the water area. It had been over a dozen seconds, already more than a dozen seconds, and Zhou Xufang still hadn¡¯t resurfaced. She knew how to swim, but she hadn¡¯t come up. A few more seconds passed, and the surface of the water gradually calmed down, still without a sign of her swimming up. Could it be a cramp in her leg? Could she be injured? Could she have been entangled in some plant by her foot? Jiang Zhi¡¯s mind was filled with such assumptions, overwhelming him to the point where he couldn¡¯t think clearly, and his feet moved before his brain did. Ah Wan immediately grabbed hold of him, starting to panic as well, ¡°Boss, you can¡¯t go down.¡± He was sweating profusely and turned back to shout to those behind, ¡°What are you waiting for, hurry up and rescue her!¡± As soon as Ah Wan finished shouting, several male staff members immediately took off their shoes and entered the water. One by one, seven or eight people went in, splashing water everywhere. Still, Jiang Zhi hadn¡¯t snapped back to his senses and was determined to plunge into the water, body and soul. He pried Ah Wan¡¯s hands off, ¡°Let go.¡± Ah Wan wouldn¡¯t let go, tightly holding onto one of his arms, ¡°You can¡¯t swim.¡± What¡¯s the point in going down there! To die! Ah!! Not only could he not swim, but he also had a fear of water. Going down would mean going to his death! ¡°Lin Wanwan,¡± Jiang Zhi looked at the water, with raging waves in his eyes, but his face was ashen, he said, ¡°Let go.¡± Ah Wan dared not let go, for Jiang Zhi had already become completely rattled, and he couldn¡¯t afford to be careless, ¡°What do you intend to do by going down? Cause more trouble?¡± His voice was loud, attempting to howl some sense back into Jiang Zhi, ¡°We only need to rescue Miss Zhou, but if you go down, we¡¯ll have to expend energy to save you too.¡± He took it in and stood still, his eyes constantly fixed on the water, and he declared emphatically, ¡°Those who can swim get down there, as long as Zhou Xufang is safe and sound, I¡¯ll reward you all generously.¡± With the promise of a hefty reward, of course, there would be no shortage of brave volunteers, and many more people subsequently entered the water. Jiang Zhi stood at the shore, breaking out in a cold sweat, his lips already pale from being pressed together, his ears ringing, his legs weak, his palms numb from being pinched. His mind was blank, and he couldn¡¯t think of anything. It was as though a second lasted an eternity, exactly like that. People who went into the water were emerging one after another, each looking worse for wear. ¡°Director Jiang, there¡¯s nothing.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t see anyone.¡± ¡°I went to the deep water area, but there was no one.¡± ¡°It¡¯s bizarre, she clearly fell from here, how could she just¡­¡± One by one, they came up, each one saying they hadn¡¯t seen Zhou Xufang. No person. No body. Had she simply vanished from the face of the earth? Jiang Zhi¡¯s voice was tense, ¡°Continue searching.¡± The Ah Wan holding onto him could clearly feel it; his whole body was shaking. The temperature was too low; a thin layer of ice that had formed on the surface had been shattered into pieces. About twenty people had gone into the water, searching inch by inch near the spot where she had fallen, almost to the point of draining the water area in an upside-down search. But five minutes had passed, and still, no person was found. A normal person underwater not breathing for five minutes¡­ even if they were brought up, the chances of survival would be slim. The rescuers were all shaking their heads. Suddenly, Jiang Zhi moved a step forward. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Ah Wan immediately clung to him, ¡°Boss!¡± He clung to Jiang Zhi¡¯s arm tightly, attempting to drag him away, but unable to move him, he became frantic, ¡°What are you trying to do?¡± ¡°Go down and find Zhou Xufang.¡± He said it calmly, as if stating something ordinary. But to Ah Wan, he seemed to be in a trance, emotionless and thoughtless. Ah Wan felt like he was about to collapse and roared in desperation, ¡°Have you lost your mind?¡± He had. Jiang Zhi looked at the water, his lip already bitten until blood dripped out, ¡°Let go.¡± Ah Wan didn¡¯t let go, one hand gripping the arm, the other the waist, desperately pulling him backward, ¡°Are you looking to die? Have you lost your will to live?¡± ¡°I have.¡± He commanded flatly, ¡°Let go.¡± This was no trance. He was like a soul extracted and cursed by black magic. Ah Wan¡¯s face turned beet red, ¡°I won¡¯t let go!¡± If he let go, tomorrow¡¯s headlines would read ¡®Famed Director Jiang dies a romantic yet tragic death.¡¯ Jiang Zhi was still so calm, his voice low, telling only Ah Wan, ¡°Let me go down, if I find Zhou Xufang, bring me up with her, if not, don¡¯t bother to rescue me.¡± Ah Wan had been with Jiang Zhi for two years and knew he was not a man of impulse, even to the extent of being callous, indifferent, and rarely empathetic, with no hint of sympathy, mercy, or compassion. This man who toyed with worldly affairs had finally stumbled. And then everything collapsed like a landslide, for miles. Ah Wan could predict that in the future, anyone who wanted to deal with Jiang Zhi just had to seize Zhou Xufang. As long as Zhou Xufang was caught, Jiang Zhi would be unable to scheme or plan; his mind would be gone, and he¡¯d obediently hand over his life to you. ¡°` Ah Wan now had to cling to this reckless and death-defying individual, ¡°Don¡¯t act rashly, calm down first, and then we can find another way.¡± ¡°Get out of the way!¡± Jiang Zhi fiercely shoved Ah Wan away. He fell on his butt on the ground, his hand just hitting the leg of a stool. Without time to think, he picked up the stool, charged forward, and smashed it with all his might. Jiang Zhi¡¯s body swayed, then he fell down. Ah Wan was like someone just fished out of water, sitting on the ground, dripping with sweat and gasping for air. The length of the water was not short, but its width was not wide. The crew on the opposite side couldn¡¯t hear the noise, they could only vaguely see someone standing by the shore¡ªa thoughtful Tang Xiang. Before Zhou Xufang fell into the water, the direction of his gaze¡­ It was Luo Yinghe. Jiang Zhi was knocked out, so it was up to Ah Wan to take control of the situation. He was as panicked and anxious as the next person, his legs trembling, but he had no choice but to steady himself, even if it meant pinching his thigh. ¡°Have you called 120?¡± Ah Wan asked the set coordinator. The coordinator was also sweating profusely, and replied, ¡°We¡¯ve called.¡± Ah Wan then summoned the assistant director, ¡°Vice Director Zhao, go find more people, we must fish Zhou Xufang out.¡± His tone was sorrowful, almost crying, ¡°We need to see the body even if he¡¯s dead.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Vice Director Zhao immediately went to call for people. Ah Wan held back the tears that were close to breaking through the dam, and with heavy sorrow, he addressed the searchers in the water, ¡°Please, everyone, the person who fell is very important to my boss, please look very carefully.¡± He couldn¡¯t hold it back in the end, Ah Wan covered his face and wept. Miss Zhou, how pitiful, she was only twenty-two, she had not yet married, hadn¡¯t had children, oh, couldn¡¯t have children¡ªJiang Zhi was infertile. Ah Wan continued to grieve, she was only twenty-two, she hadn¡¯t been to an amusement park, hadn¡¯t seen welfare, and there were so many novels and TV shows she hadn¡¯t watched¡­ Ah Wan managed not to cry out loud, but someone did cry out loud, wailing loudly. It was Fang Lixiang, who had just returned from squatting in the toilet. She had only gone to squat for a while, and her close friend¡­ Fang Lixiang sat down by the water and began to cry, ¡°Zhou Xufang, Zhou Xufang, where are you?¡± She was distraught, weeping bitterly, ¡°Please come up.¡± She had scenes to shoot soon, all made up with peach blossom eyes, but now she cried turning into a streaked flower cat, her eyeliner smeared, her eyeshadow ruined¡­ she sobbed with trembling shoulders. ¡°Wuu wuu wuu¡­ Zhou Xufang¡­¡± ¡°Don¡¯t die, our Old Fang¡¯s house owes you.¡± ¡°Xu Fang, Xu Fang!¡± ¡°Wuu wuu wuu¡­¡± The cries and howls grew louder and louder. When Fang Lixiang¡¯s mother passed away, she hadn¡¯t cried out this loudly because her mother had been sick for many years, and she had been prepared. Zhou Xufang was different, she had just gone to use the toilet¡­ ¡°I¡¯m never using the toilet again.¡± ¡°It¡¯s all my fault¡­ wuu wuu wuu¡­ I should have taken you with me to the toilet¡­¡± ¡°My poor Xu Fang.¡± ¡°Wuu wuu wuu¡­ pitiful, oh heavens¡­¡± The crying and screaming were earthshaking. It was so intense that Ah Wan even forgot his grief and hurriedly called over some people, ¡°Get her out of here first,¡± to avoid disturbing others. Two director¡¯s assistants came over and dragged Fang Lixiang away; she reached out her hand, with tears streaming down her upturned face, in utter despair. ¡°Xu Fang, Zhou Xufang!¡± She was pulled to the outskirts of the crowd. But she still couldn¡¯t stop crying, ¡°Wuu wuu wuu¡­ eh!¡± Suddenly, she hiccupped. It was because¡­ with tears in her eyes, she suddenly saw a person, drenched from head to toe, with a covered face showing only a pair of eyes. This person looked like a female ghost, like Zhou Xufang. ¡°Lixiang.¡± The voice was also similar¡­ Fang Lixiang was still sitting on the ground, her voice hoarse from crying, ¡°You you you you¡ª¡± Her tongue must be burnt, she stuttered, ¡°Are you Zhou Zhou Xufang?¡± The person who resembled a female ghost replied, ¡°I am.¡± A background actor said that Zhou Xufang had fallen into the water and hadn¡¯t been fished out for five minutes, he must be dead. Another background actor agreed, ¡°Gone, gone, the person is definitely gone.¡± Fang Lixiang was a bit dizzy, thinking she might have cried herself silly, hallucinating. She shook her head forcefully, but the apparition remained. ¡°Are you a ghost?¡± Fang Lixiang rubbed her eyes, although they were good friends, she was still afraid of ghosts, ¡°I¡¯m seeing your ghost.¡± Zhou Xufang pulled off the mask, her hair clinging to her face, dripping with water, chin dripping too. Since she wore a down jacket which had soaked up water, the hem was puffed up. She pushed the hair off her face, ¡°I¡¯m not a ghost, I¡¯m a person.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not that,¡± Fang Lixiang shook with a trembling finger, ¡°weren¡¯t you in the water?¡± ¡°I swam up from over there.¡± Fang Lixiang¡¯s legs pushed out, and she fainted. Zhou Xufang: ¡°¡­¡± At this moment, two special actors were whispering to each other. Although they were quiet, Zhou Xufang could hear them. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with Director Jiang? Why is he reacting so strongly?¡± ¡°Who knows? It¡¯s just an extra that fell into the water, isn¡¯t it? Director Jiang is acting like his wife died or something.¡± ¡°He must be in a panic. After all, it¡¯s his film crew. If someone were to die, that would be big trouble.¡± ¡°Director Jiang himself is already one foot in the grave. I¡¯m really afraid he won¡¯t be able to catch his breath.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Miss Zhou couldn¡¯t make out the rest as she pushed through the crowd and rushed inside. The place where she had fallen in was crowded with people. Ah Wan was at the forefront, wearing only a sweater, pacing back and forth. Each time someone emerged from the water, he immediately asked, ¡°Did you find her?¡± ¡°No.¡± Another person surfaced, shaking their head, ¡°Still nothing; we¡¯ve searched this whole area.¡± Then another, also shaking their head: ¡°How could there not even be a body?¡± Ah Wan listened, feeling an icy chill in his heart. He wiped away a tear of sorrow: ¡°Keep looking further upstream¡ª¡± Then, a familiar voice called out, ¡°Ah Wan.¡± Ah Wan turned around, and damn, he jumped in fright: ¡°You, you, you, you¡ª¡± He stuttered for a long while, his tongue unable to untwist. Miss Zhou knew he wanted to ask ¡®are you a person or a ghost?¡¯ and she answered, ¡°I¡¯m human.¡± Then, she urgently asked, ¡°Where¡¯s Jiang Zhi?¡± Ah Wan stood there, dumbstruck, ¡°In the rest tent.¡± Miss Zhou said ¡®thank you¡¯ and then turned and ran towards the rest tent. She ran so fast that soon Ah Wan couldn¡¯t see her anymore. After being stunned for maybe a dozen seconds, Ah Wan told the brave souls in the water, ¡°Come on up.¡± The brave ones asked, ¡°Aren¡¯t we going to continue searching?¡± ¡°No need. She¡¯s climbed up by herself¡­¡± Because it was outdoors and cold, they were worried about the possibility of rain, so they had set up a few rest tents, crudely constructed. Only Jiang Zhi had a single room. By this time, everyone had gone to see what the commotion was about, and there were not many people around. Miss Zhou ran straight to Jiang Zhi¡¯s tent. Ah Wan, fearing that Director Jiang might do something rash, had locked the tent. Miss Zhou simply pulled with two fingers and the lock broke. She rushed in, anxious and flustered. Jiang Zhi was lying on a lounge chair, motionless under a blanket. ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± Miss Zhou knelt beside him, gripping the armrest while calling out, ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± He didn¡¯t respond, and she was so worried she was about to cry. She gently touched his face: ¡°Wake up, Jiang Zhi.¡± Jiang Zhi still didn¡¯t wake. She didn¡¯t dare to pinch his philtrum, afraid her hand strength might be too great and harm him. Instead, she decided to give him mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. Puckering her lips to move closer¡ª Jiang Zhi suddenly opened his eyes. Their eyes met, and Miss Zhou was startled for a moment before becoming ecstatic, ¡°You¡¯re awake!¡± Jiang Zhi lay there unmoved, his gaze initially vacant, then slowly burning. In the depths of his eyes, bits and pieces gathered, reflecting Miss Zhou¡¯s face. ¡°Am I still alive?¡± His voice was low, a bit hoarse. Miss Zhou nodded earnestly, splashing water onto Jiang Zhi¡¯s face as she said, ¡°Alive.¡± One moment in heaven, the next in hell. It was like a dream. Jiang Zhi wasn¡¯t quite sure if this was real, staring at Miss Zhou. He said, ¡°Bite me.¡± Without waiting for Miss Zhou to react, he reached out, his palm pressing down on the back of her head, and with a push, her lips pressed against his. Miss Zhou, thrown off balance, placed both hands on Jiang Zhi¡¯s shoulders. His lips rubbing against hers, he murmured, ¡°Bite harder.¡± She blinked and complied. Jiang Zhi¡¯s lip was already bitten before. Now it started bleeding again, a real, painful sensation; his nape also ached, probably bruised by Lin Wanwan. He let go and took a deep breath, ¡°I¡¯m not dreaming.¡± Miss Zhou felt as if she was in a dream. Jiang Zhi sat up and pushed her away, his complexion deathly pale: ¡°Miss Zhou, are you trying to scare me to death!¡± His tone was fierce, not the usual playful anger, but true anger. Her eyes reddened, her nose twitched, ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± Tears were about to fall. She was about to cry. At such a sight, how could Jiang Zhi bear to scold her? The fierceness in his eyes wilted, ¡°It¡¯s my fault.¡± He awkwardly cupped her face, kissing her eyes, ¡°I won¡¯t scold you anymore, don¡¯t cry.¡± Miss Zhou fought to push the tears back. It wasn¡¯t grievance she felt, but remorse, deep regret: ¡°You did nothing wrong; it was all my fault.¡± Her expression was one of ¡®about to cry but desperately holding back.¡¯ Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t care about her being soaking wet and cradled her damp head into his chest, ¡°You nearly scared me to death. You don¡¯t comfort me, instead, I have to comfort you.¡± He poked her forehead, ¡°If you cry again, I won¡¯t comfort you.¡± Miss Zhou, not wanting to get Jiang Zhi wet, pulled back, ¡°I¡¯m not crying.¡± She scared him, so she needed to comfort him, saying, ¡°I won¡¯t die so easily. I¡¯m a Fairy who descended to face tribulations, with my seal broken, my Mana is boundless.¡± She could breathe underwater. But in the water, her eyes were blood-red. She didn¡¯t dare to come up, so the moment she fell in, she dived deeper and kept swimming. The water wasn¡¯t wide, but it was long enough. She swam to the very end, far away. While unobserved, she found a spot out of sight, daring there to climb out. Once her eyes were no longer red, she ran to see him. She still scared him. It was all her fault. She was filled with regret: ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Jiang Zhi. Next time, I¡¯ll climb up to see you much faster.¡± Even if it meant gouging out her eyes, she wouldn¡¯t let him wait again. His health wasn¡¯t good either, and if he didn¡¯t come up for air¡­ Zhou Xufang dared not think about it. ¡°How did you come up?¡± Jiang Zhi asked. She honestly replied, ¡°I swam up from the east side of the water.¡± No wonder! She had fallen in from the south but ended up swimming to the east. Although the width of this body of water was only about ten meters, its length spanned several hundred meters. The people who went down to dive for her hadn¡¯t swum that far to retrieve her. And she swam quickly! She said, ¡°I¡¯m a very good swimmer.¡± Jiang Zhi knew she was good in the water, as she had been the one to pull him out of the sea last time, but he hadn¡¯t seen her emerge after she fell, so regardless of her swimming skills, he feared the worst. When he feared something, his mind would race with the most negative, pessimistic assumptions. ¡°Xu Fang.¡± ¡°Mm.¡± He hadn¡¯t realized before just how tender and vulnerable he was; if she were gone, he might truly have followed her in death. What a spineless wimp! He admitted with resignation, ¡°I don¡¯t want to die yet, so you need to live a long, healthy life, got it?¡± Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t quite grasp the gravity of his words, but obediently promised, ¡°Okay.¡± ¡°Your clothes are still wet.¡± He touched her face with the back of his hand; it was as cold as ice. ¡°I¡¯m not cold,¡± Zhou Xufang said. ¡°I have a low body temperature and don¡¯t mind the cold at all.¡± Cold or not, she was still flesh and blood. She really thought she was made of steel. Jiang Zhi pushed her away, refusing to hug her anymore: ¡°You¡¯re too icy, I¡¯m cold just holding you.¡± That made sense. Zhou Xufang twisted the water out of her sleeves, but they were so wet they might freeze; she didn¡¯t know what to do: ¡°But I don¡¯t have any clothes to change into.¡± Jiang Zhi got up, lifted the blanket, and found a spare shirt, the only one, left there by Lin Wanwan: ¡°This is all I have, put it on, get under the blankets, and I¡¯ll have someone send some clothes over for you.¡± Zhou Xufang hesitated for a few seconds, took it, and then looked around the rest area that was open to view¡­ not even a place to hide. She felt a bit awkward: ¡°Turn around.¡± Jiang Zhi said sure with a laugh and turned his back. Holding the shirt, she hid behind the deck chair, peeped out, and seriously told him, ¡°You can¡¯t turn around.¡± Amused, Jiang Zhi raised his hand to cover his eyes: ¡°I won¡¯t look. Hurry up and change.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Zhou Xufang crouched, quickly peeled off her wet clothes while glancing around, and hurried into the shirt. After she changed, her shoes and socks also came off. After changing, she glanced at Jiang Zhi and sneaked her underwear inside her wet clothes before stuffing them all into a plastic bag. Now wearing only a shirt, which felt empty, Zhou Xufang had never worn so little before¡ªit made her feel insecure. She quickly crawled under Jiang Zhi¡¯s blanket, curled up into a ball on the deck chair. ¡°Jiang Zhi, I¡¯m done.¡± He took his hand away from his eyes, turned around, and his gaze involuntarily swept over the wet clothes on the ground and the curled-up figure on the deck chair, then he awkwardly averted his eyes. Zhou Xufang noticed: ¡°Your face is red.¡± Jiang Zhi walked over, sat down near her feet: ¡°Yeah, you did that.¡± He took some tissues, pressed them against the tips of her dripping hair, gently wiping them, and said, ¡°Fang Bao, remember, most men are beasts, they can strip a person¡¯s clothes off with their minds, without using their hands or eyes.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Now it was Zhou Xufang¡¯s turn to blush. Jiang Zhi fastened the top button of her shirt, took off his jacket, and covered her from head to toe, leaving her completely ensconced: ¡°Who knocked you into the water?¡± He was ready to settle the score. Zhou Xufang recalled the situation objectively: ¡°It¡¯s not that person¡¯s fault; I was distracted. He called me several times, but I didn¡¯t respond and was watching someone else.¡± He wouldn¡¯t let the matter rest there. ¡°Watching who?¡± ¡°Luo Yinghe.¡± Zhou Xufang frowned, ¡°She was whipping her assistant with a rose.¡± She hated it when people used roses to hit others; she didn¡¯t know why before, but this time, seeing Luo Yinghe¡¯s ¡®viciousness,¡¯ she started to remember. She guessed she might have been whipped before as well and had a traumatic memory of it. These suspicions Zhou Xufang wasn¡¯t certain about, so she didn¡¯t tell Jiang Zhi. Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t ask further, his peach blossom eyes icy as if they could freeze three feet of ice. At that moment, someone outside was calling out with a sobbing voice: ¡°Xu Fang.¡± ¡°Xu Fang.¡± It was Fang Lixiang. Zhou Xufang pushed Jiang Zhi away: ¡°Lixiang, I¡¯m here.¡± Standing up, Jiang Zhi wrapped her up tightly in the blanket and clothes. Fang Lixiang¡¯s sobbing voice arrived before she did: ¡°Wuuuu¡­ Xu Fang¡­ Wuu¡­¡± She rushed in, embraced Zhou Xufang tightly, her makeup smeared by tears and snot, ¡°I thought I¡¯d be eternally separated from you, that would be too tragic, unfinished love between humans and ghosts¡­ Eh!¡± She belched. She continued sorrowfully: ¡°Humans and ghosts¡­ unfinished affairs¡­ Wuuuu¡­¡± Her emotions peaked, and what followed was textbook-style crying¡ª ¡°Lixiang, don¡¯t cry,¡± Zhou Xufang pushed her away slightly, ¡°Don¡¯t smear your snot on Jiang Zhi¡¯s blanket, he¡¯s a germaphobe.¡± Suddenly unable to cry any longer, Fang Lixiang said, ¡°¡­¡± Chapter 123: 123: Fang Bao, do you mind living together? Chapter 123: 123: Fang Bao, do you mind living together? Suddenly unable to cry anymore, Fang Lixiang: ¡°¡­¡± She took a tissue, blew her nose, her eyes originally filled with sorrow, now squeezed out a hint of grievance. Actors are just actors, switching roles effortlessly. Actor Fang sighed, ¡°Ah, I can¡¯t believe I¡¯m even less than a blanket of Jiang Zhi¡¯s.¡± After the sigh, another tear welled up in her eyes; before she had been crying, now it was a crying scene, still textbook level, ¡°Zhou Xufang, have you forgotten the happy times we had together as extras over the years?¡± Zhou Xufang did remember, so she corrected her, ¡°It wasn¡¯t that happy.¡± She meant no harm, she was just sincere, ¡°I didn¡¯t know Jiang Zhi back then.¡± Fang Lixiang was finished. ... Jiang Zhi was all pleased with herself. Ah Wan saw Jiang Zhi with a glowing complexion walking out of the rest tent and still thoughtfully asked after her, ¡°Boss, are you alright?¡± The boss was obviously in a good mood and didn¡¯t even mind getting knocked out by a stool. Ah Wan was reassured, tiptoed to peek inside the rest tent, and asked, ¡°Is Miss Zhou alright?¡± Jiang Zhi closed the door, standing in the doorway blocking it, ¡°Zhou Xufang¡¯s clothes are wet, send someone to get her a clean set.¡± Also, ¡°She wears size 37 shoes.¡± Ah Wan gave a ¡®leave it to me¡¯ look and then went to call Ms. Song, informing Ms. Song that Shuangxi¡¯s mother¡¯s clothes were wet and Daddy Shuangxi asked for clothes to be prepared. From the rest tent, sounds of Fang Lixiang could be occasionally heard, laughter, crying, wailing, all included. This girl, Xue Baoyi wanted to support her, not bad acting skills, just a bit over the top, with too many vulgar words, Jiang Zhi was slightly worried, afraid that Zhou Xufang might be led astray. ¡°Over there,¡± Jiang Zhi pointed to the water¡¯s opposite side. ¡°Which director¡¯s crew is that?¡± After hanging up the call with Ms. Song, Ah Wan replied, ¡°Director Hong.¡± Leaning on the door, Jiang Zhi looked lazily in the distance and casually mentioned, ¡°Call the head of their photography team over.¡± The investor for the crew on the other side was the Luo Family, Ah Wan thought the boss was up to something, ¡°What do you want them for?¡± He responded offhandedly, with little enthusiasm, ¡°Talk about collaboration.¡± Bullshit! Ah Wan: ¡°Oh.¡± Ten minutes later, the chief person in charge of the photography team from ¡°Da Wei Heavenly Dynasty¡± was ¡®invited¡¯ over by Ah Wan, picked a rest tent with no one around for a special ¡®treatment,¡¯ and Ah Wan considerately¡­er, ¡®waited¡¯ at the door. This person in charge was obviously overwhelmed and then excessively shocked, becoming somewhat flustered, ¡°Director Jiang, hello.¡± Can¡¯t blame him for being weak, it¡¯s just that Jiang Zhi¡¯s reputation is too grand, ranking first on the Imperial City ancestors list! The handsomest ancestor in the capital casually dragged his voice, ¡°What¡¯s your last name?¡± ¡°My last name is Huang.¡± He glanced up and then quickly lowered his head again. This ancestor, ranking first on the list, was also first on the beauty list ¨C just looking at that face, indeed, would make photographers itch to take his portrait, with very little clothing¡­ ¡°Let¡¯s skip the nonsense,¡± Jiang Zhi shifted his position, more like sprawling than sitting, willowy as if boneless, ¡°I want to know if Mr. Huang is interested in collaborating with me.¡± Mr. Huang was momentarily thrilled, nearly squeaking, ¡°Of course!¡± Jiang Zhi was a low-output director, not many films directed, but it was either high box office or high ratings, raking in awards until his hands were full¡ªnot only did his own films benefit, but his team also rose with the tide, achieving both fame and fortune. So even if Jiang Zhi was tough to serve, there was no shortage of people in the Imperial City willing to line up from the southern to the northern border to attend to him. Mr. Huang just couldn¡¯t figure out why he was chosen. ¡°Cough, cough, cough, cough¡­¡± Jiang Zhi coughed lightly and slowly followed up, ¡°It depends on whether Mr. Huang is sincere.¡± Mr. Huang understood there was no free lunch in this world, ¡°Just tell me what you want, Director Jiang.¡± He raised an eyebrow slightly, uttering a name. Luo Yinghe. Mr. Huang got the message. Generally speaking, even during actors¡¯ break times, there would be specific cameras turned on. Luo Yinghe had the gall to do it because the crew wouldn¡¯t dare offend the Luo Family. However, in the Imperial City, who would dare cross the youngest master of the Jiang Family? The scenes scheduled for today would have wrapped up by four in the afternoon, but due to Zhou Xufang falling into the water, there was a delay, and they shot until sunset. Zhou Xufang had one scene, playing an orange seller, not showing her face, but with one line of dialogue, still in a scene with the second lead, Fang Lixiang. Fang Lixiang asked: How much are these oranges selling for? Zhou Xufang: Three cents a pound, miss, if you don¡¯t buy, you can¡¯t touch. Indeed, this wasn¡¯t just ordinary dialogue, but also a secret signal ¨C Fang Lixiang obviously knew, this was the director giving his girlfriend more scenes. So, she, on the brink of infiltrating the enemy, had to trot down the mountain to buy a pound of oranges, even took the secret code dialogue meant for the male second lead and gave it to Zhou Xufang. Director Jiang also insanely hid the enemy¡¯s important letters inside the oranges, invisibly elevating Zhou Xufang¡¯s role to something very mysterious and badass, leading some onlookers to think it was the big boss¡¯s entrance. Fang Lixiang wanted to give a thumbs up for that move. Of course, Zhou Xufang was unaware of how awesome she was in the movie. Instead, she noticed something ¨C her fellow extras working with her suddenly became especially warm towards her. The extra playing the enemy¡¯s Detective A, a middle-aged lady, came over to chat with her: ¡°You¡¯re called Zhou¡­ Zhou¡­ Zhou¡­¡± What was it again? Actually, the circle of extras wasn¡¯t large, and they bumped into each other on set from time to time. Zhou Xufang could be considered a ¡®veteran¡¯ extra, just not sociable, not mingling, always wrapping herself up, her buddies seldom saw her face, nor knew her name, so they gave her a codename ¨C Xiao Hei. Zhou Xiaohei said, ¡°Just call me Xiao Zhou is fine.¡± Xiao Zhou, with a mask, hat, and gloves on, looked like a black lump from afar or up close. The extra lady thought for a long while, couldn¡¯t find the right words to praise her, and reluctantly complimented, ¡°Xiao Zhou, you look quite good in that outfit.¡± Xiao Zhou: ¡°Thank you.¡± Extra playing the enemy Agent B: ¡°Xiao Zhou, want some chocolate?¡± Xiao Zhou reached out with both hands: ¡°Thank you.¡± Extra playing the enemy Agent C: ¡°Xiao Zhou, where are you from?¡± Actually, Xiao Zhou didn¡¯t know either, but saying she didn¡¯t know would be strange, so she said, ¡°I¡¯m a local.¡± Agent C had a look of realization on his face. Extra playing our side¡¯s Detective A: ¡°Xiao Zhou, want some milk tea?¡± Xiao Zhou: ¡°Yes.¡± Extra playing our side¡¯s Agent B: ¡°Xiao Zhou, have some bread.¡± Xiao Zhou: ¡°I¡¯ll have some.¡± Extra playing the innocent civilian killed by the enemy A: ¡°Xiao Zhou, want some little fish snacks?¡± Xiao Zhou: ¡°Yes.¡± Extra playing the innocent civilian killed by the enemy B: ¡°Xiao Zhou, fancy some duck feet?¡± Xiao Zhou: ¡°Sure.¡± Comrade Xiao Zhou had no resistance to snacks, so she accepted them all and then went off to a corner to eat her stash. She thought, next time she¡¯ll also bring snacks to the set to share with friends. Oh! The little fish snacks are so tasty; she¡¯s going to buy a cartload. Xiao Zhou was enjoying her snacks when the extra playing the undercover agent on our side squatted down nearby. ¡°Xiao Zhou,¡± the serious question came, ¡°you know Director Jiang?¡± Xiao Zhou swallowed the fish snacks, wiped her mouth, and put her mask back on. The special extras chuckled and hinted around the subject: ¡°I see Director Jiang takes quite good care of you.¡± Extra playing the innocent civilian killed by the enemy A: ¡°That¡¯s right, you didn¡¯t see it just now, when you fell into the water, Director Jiang almost fainted from worry.¡± Comrade Xiao Zhou pondered: Did Jiang Zhi really nearly faint from worry? Extra playing the innocent civilian killed by the enemy B: ¡°Assistant Lin even said you are a very important person to Director Jiang.¡± Extra playing our side¡¯s Detective A: ¡°You must be very close with Director Jiang.¡± Comrade Xiao Zhou was still a little socially awkward and not used to being watched by so many people, she subconsciously looked down, avoiding eye contact. She tried to minimize her presence and replied very softly: ¡°I¡¯m his distant cousin.¡± She added, ¡°We are not that close, the very distant kind.¡± She had agreed with Jiang Zhi to date surreptitiously, so she couldn¡¯t tell the truth. Just then, the very distant, very distant, cousin Jiang Zhi, who just ¡®happened to pass by¡¯: ¡°¡­¡± After work, the very distant, very distant, cousin Jiang Zhi called Zhou Xufang out with a phone call. They got into the car one after the other, sneaky and without a word to each other. Jiang Zhi suddenly hummed, ¡°We¡¯re not close?¡± Distant cousin Zhou Xufang: ¡°¡­¡± He stared at her with an intense gaze, like a beast that had tasted blood, sending a dangerous message: ¡°I¡¯ve kissed you so many times, you¡¯re telling me we¡¯re not¡ª¡± Zhou Xufang immediately covered his mouth and glared at him: ¡°Ah Wan is still here.¡± Don¡¯t say such shameless things¡­ Jiang Zhi pulled her hand away, slightly upset, a bit fierce, but since he had a delicate appearance, his fierceness seemed mostly harmless, like a clawing kitten: ¡°If he dares to peek, I¡¯ll break his dog¡¯s head.¡± Driver Lin Wanwan: ¡°¡­¡± she kept her hands on the steering wheel, playing the quiet driver. ¡°Zhou Xufang, I¡¯ll give you one more chance.¡± Jiang Zhi pinched her chin, not forcefully, but he wouldn¡¯t let go, and insisted on looking into her eyes, ¡°Are we close or not?¡± It was clear from his expression¡ªdare to say we¡¯re not close, and I¡¯ll make sure we are. Zhou Xufang quickly nodded. What she meant was, they were very close. But Jiang Zhi played bad and deliberately misinterpreted, leaning in close, his handsome eyebrows and eyes full of triumphant joy, ¡°Where do you want to be kissed?¡± Without waiting for her reaction, he took the initiative and kissed her lips. Lin Wanwan internally cursed: Beast! Jerk! Zhou Xufang thought: Ah Wan is right, Jiang Zhi is a little bastard. Along the way, Zhou Xufang looked at the scenery outside the car window, ignoring that immature little bastard Jiang Zhi. Jiang Zhi¡¯s phone kept ringing, it was their childhood friends¡¯ four-person group chat, distracting him, so he muted it. Before muting, he glanced at the chat content, and it was Xue Baoyi, that idle rascal, sending cheesy love lines, only the good baby Xue Bingxue would entertain him. The handsomest man in the capital: ¡°Guess where my heart is?¡± I am a small ice snowflake: ¡°On the left side.¡± The handsomest man in the capital: ¡°Wrong, it¡¯s by your side.¡± I am a small ice snowflake: ¡°Your heart has a problem.¡± Qiao Nanchu: ¡°His brain has a problem.¡± The handsomest man in the capital: ¡°Do you have a lighter?¡± I am a small ice snowflake: ¡°I don¡¯t.¡± I am a small ice snowflake: ¡°I don¡¯t smoke.¡± The handsomest man in the capital: ¡°Then how did you ignite my heart?¡± I am a small ice snowflake: ¡°Get lost, it¡¯s so disgusting.¡± The handsomest man in the capital: ¡°I want to buy a piece of land.¡± I am a small ice snowflake: ¡°Where? What project are you investing in?¡± The handsomest man in the capital: ¡°Your undying devotion.¡± Xue Bingxue: ¡°I¡¯m not talking to you anymore!¡± The handsomest man in the capital: ¡°Are you tired?¡± Xue Bingxue: ¡°Tired, yeah. I got up at six this morning to go to Yuxiu Mountain to find Wei¡¯er.¡± The handsomest man in the capital: ¡°Of course you¡¯re tired, you¡¯ve been running around in my heart all day long.¡± Xue Bingxue: ¡°Shameless!¡± Qiao Nanchu had kicked the handsomest man in the capital out of the group chat. Jiang Zhi tossed her phone aside and looked towards Zhou Xufang, but she wouldn¡¯t look his way, which slightly displeased him. ¡°Xufang.¡± Zhou Xufang turned her head to look at him: ¡°Yes?¡± The words that Xue Baoyi had sent, though silly and tacky, were still lovey-dovey, and his own family member here seemed to really enjoy hearing them; every time they were spoken, her eyes would turn red with emotion. Therefore, Jiang Zhi decided to take a leaf out of that book. He had a good memory: ¡°Guess which side of me my heart is on?¡± Zhou Xufang wore a big ¡°confused¡± expression on her face: ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°It¡¯s on your side.¡± Zhou Xufang¡¯s face first appeared startled, then innocent: ¡°It¡¯s in your chest; I didn¡¯t take it.¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± This didn¡¯t count. Zhou Xufang was hearing this kind of cheesy lovey-dovey talk for the first time and hadn¡¯t yet grasped what to do. Jiang Zhi continued: ¡°Do you have a lighter?¡± Zhou Xufang suddenly became very serious: ¡°When did you learn to smoke?¡± Her expression was grave and stern, no joking around: ¡°Jiang Zhi, you shouldn¡¯t smoke,¡± she warned him. ¡°Smoking is bad for your health.¡± The line ¡®how did you ignite my heart¡¯ suddenly became impossible to say. Jiang Zhi licked his teeth in frustration, with an indescribable expression: ¡°I don¡¯t smoke.¡± ¡°Oh, that¡¯s good then.¡± Jiang Zhi felt a bit hot, rolled down the car window, supported Zhou Xufang¡¯s shoulder, and made her look at him: ¡°Zhou Xufang, I want to buy a piece of land.¡± Zhou Xufang blinked: ¡°Don¡¯t you have enough money?¡± She reached into her wallet, pulled out a card, and handed it to Jiang Zhi, ¡°I can give it to you.¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± He stuffed the card back to her, ¡°I¡¯m not short on money.¡± This steel-hearted straightforward girl! The passenger, Lin Wanwan, struggled to suppress her laughter until her face contorted. After a quiet moment. Jiang Zhi still wasn¡¯t quite reconciled, tried one last time: ¡°Are you tired?¡± Zhou Xufang finally responded according to the script: ¡°Not tired.¡± Jiang Zhi¡¯s furrowed brow relaxed: ¡°You¡¯ve been running around in my heart all day.¡± This time, Zhou Xufang understood. She said: ¡°Jiang Zhi, you¡¯re so cheesy.¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± In the end, who¡¯s the cheesy one! He didn¡¯t want to talk to this steel-hearted straightforward girl anymore and turned to look out the window, but unexpectedly ended up cricking his neck. Zhou Xufang immediately grew anxious: ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Jiang Zhi held the back of his neck, let out a few hums and haws, tilted his head, and collapsed onto Zhou Xufang¡¯s shoulder: ¡°My neck hurts.¡± Cheesy lines didn¡¯t work on Zhou Xufang, but the sympathy ploy always caught her. ¡°Let me take a look.¡± Jiang Zhi obediently bowed his head for her inspection. Zhou Xufang pulled open the collar of his sweater: ¡°It¡¯s all bruised, a big patch.¡± Jiang Zhi¡¯s skin was pale, making the injured area look distinctively marked. She used her fingertip to gently touch it, ¡°Does it hurt a lot?¡± It didn¡¯t hurt. Her fingers tickled him, making him want her to be gentler, but also harder. He answered: ¡°It hurts.¡± Zhou Xufang thought he was really in pain, so while rubbing the area she blew on it too: ¡°Then we should first go to the hospital.¡± Jiang Zhi took her hand out from his clothes: ¡°Do you have any medicinal plasters at home?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Then let¡¯s go to your place.¡± Zhou Xufang hesitated, then agreed: ¡°Alright.¡± She glanced at Ah Wan, saw he wasn¡¯t peeking, then dared to reach out her hand to loop around Jiang Zhi¡¯s neck, her palm against the red and swollen spot, ¡°How did this happen?¡± Jiang Zhi said: ¡°A dog did it.¡± Lin Wanwan, who was always ready to eavesdrop: ¡°¡­¡± After more than ten minutes, they arrived at Yuquan Bay. Ah Wan parked the car outside the residential area, waited in the car, while Jiang Zhi and Zhou Xufang went in, hand in hand. From behind, they indeed looked like a perfect couple ¨C that is, if Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t insult someone by calling them a dog. As soon as Zhou Xufang entered her house, she started rummaging through the cabinets trying to find the medicinal plaster, turning everything upside down before finally digging out a box that wasn¡¯t expired, along with a bottle of medicinal liquor. She had Jiang Zhi sit on the sofa and stood behind it herself. ¡°Lower your head.¡± Jiang Zhi pulled her to the front, and by lowering his head, it perfectly reached her waist. He wasn¡¯t behaving himself, nudging her with his head. Zhou Xufang pressed down on his head, telling him not to move. She poured some medicinal liquor into her palm, rubbed it to warm it up, bent down, and placed her hand on his neck, gently massaging in circles. ¡°This is medicinal liquor, a friend gave it to me. It¡¯s very effective for bruises.¡± It was Shuangjiang who had given it to her, but since her self-healing abilities were very strong, she rarely used it. Jiang Zhi looked up, ¡°Male or female?¡± ¡°Female.¡± Zhou Xufang patted his head, ¡°Lower your head.¡± Jiang Zhi wrapped his arms around her waist and lowered his head again. Zhou Xufang poured some more medicinal liquor into her hand, covered his neck with her palm again, and gently massaged him. ¡°Does it hurt?¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t hurt, it¡¯s cool.¡± It was the temperature of her palm, very cool. But Jiang Zhi found it comfortable, an agonizing sort of comfort. After Zhou Xufang finished applying the medicinal liquor, she put two plasters on him. ¡°All done.¡± As soon as she removed her hands, he caught them and pressed them back. ¡°Your massage is very soothing, do it a little longer.¡± His mind was foggy, recalling the ludicrous things he had done to her in his dreams. His desires were stirring. Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t realize this, her hands remained on his neck, feeling sorry for his injury, so she massaged very gently. Suddenly he asked, ¡°Xu Fang, do you mind cohabitation before marriage?¡± Zhou Xufang was startled for a moment, then shook her head, ¡°I don¡¯t mind.¡± He suspected she didn¡¯t understand. ¡°The kind where we share a bed.¡± Her face turned red, but she still shook her head, her answer unchanged, ¡°I don¡¯t mind.¡± Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Jiang Zhi pulled her to sit down, ¡°You answered too quickly,¡± he said, with a quite rationale attitude, ¡°As a girl, you should think about it deeply.¡± Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t think about it and said firmly, ¡°You¡¯ll think for me, I¡¯ll listen to whatever you say.¡± She trusted him completely, leaving no room for personal thoughts or margins. However, Jiang Zhi shook his head. ¡°Even if it¡¯s me, you shouldn¡¯t agree to everything I say. Don¡¯t just acquiesce to my requests ¨C I¡¯ll take advantage of that, and then, if one day you stop indulging me, I might feel like it¡¯s because you¡¯re in the wrong or you don¡¯t love me anymore.¡± He was serious and his tone wasn¡¯t like usual. Zhou Xufang listened, half-understanding, ¡°So we can¡¯t cohabit before marriage?¡± He said not exactly, ¡°If you can be sure, at the very least after careful thought, that you will marry me someday, that you¡¯ll be the mother of my children, then we can.¡± Zhou Xufang was still somewhat naive about marriage. She didn¡¯t completely understand his words and asked Jiang Zhi, ¡°Have you decided?¡± Jiang Zhi nodded, ¡°Yes, I have decided, so I¡¯m waiting for you.¡± He looked at her with profound eyes, like an endless starry sky on a mid-summer¡¯s night. Being someone who follows his desires and has a strong possessive streak, Zhou Xufang was surprised to hear him say such things, ¡°What you¡¯re saying is strange.¡± Jiang Zhi picked her up and sat her on his lap, ¡°Does it not seem like me?¡± She obediently hung her arms around his neck, ¡°Yeah.¡± The usually Jiang Zhi would be clingier, love to act spoiled, and liked her to coddle and spoil him. Sometimes he even got annoyed if she didn¡¯t obey him. Jiang Zhi touched her still hot ears, ¡°These aren¡¯t my true intentions, but what your mother should¡¯ve taught you. But since it¡¯s just you, with no one to teach you, it¡¯s up to me.¡± He let go of her ear and kissed its tip, adding, ¡°Although I would really like to live with you, would really like it if you agreed with everything I want.¡± The last part was his true intention. Yet, knowing Zhou Xufang grew up alone, he couldn¡¯t bear to see her confused and fumbling as she learned to be independent and kind. He took it upon himself to teach her the rest. He felt like something was wrong with himself, clearly her boyfriend, yet he was playing both dad and mom, wanting to fill all the gaps for her. Zhou Xufang was moved and held onto his neck, kissing his face repeatedly, ¡°Jiang Zhi, you really are a good person.¡± ¡°¡­¡± He had been given the ¡°good guy¡± card again. Jiang Zhi had dinner at Zhou Xufang¡¯s place, neither of them could cook, so they ordered takeout. The person who¡¯d just spoken of not living together anytime soon couldn¡¯t bear to leave, playfully asking Zhou Xufang to kiss him, dawdling for a long time before going downstairs. Zhou Xufang¡¯s home had cameras everywhere except where she slept, changed clothes, and bathed. When Jiang Zhi was there, she¡¯d turn them off, only to turn them back on after he left. She also turned on her computer; the building she lived in, the residential area, and the area outside all had surveillance. She watched her computer screen as Jiang Zhi¡¯s car drove away into the distance. Shuangjiang went online, and SpongeBob popped up, ¡°Xu Fang.¡± Zhou Xufang absentmindedly responded. ¡°Jiang Zhi is already far away.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± She shifted her gaze from one computer to the next. Shuangjiang had serious matters to discuss, ¡°I did some digging on the adoptive son of the Luo Family.¡± ¡°Did you find anything?¡± Zhou Xufang suspected that she had some relationship with Luo San or the Luo Family ¨C the disjointed fragments could be memories. ¡°The information I found is pretty much the official story the Luo Family tells,¡± Shuangjiang used a synthesized voice rather than typing, ¡°He was a child brought from the countryside by the family¡¯s butler. The Luo Family adopted him as a son. He has chromosomal abnormalities, born with disabilities, he doesn¡¯t feel pain or hunger, and also has speech impediments.¡± Chromosomal abnormalities again, Zhou Xufang furrowed her brows. Shuangjiang continued, ¡°But one thing is odd, no one in the Luo Family likes this defective adopted son. Why keep him? The Luo Family doesn¡¯t have any kind-hearted souls who would raise an outsider for no reason. If it were just because the Luo Family lacked a male heir, they could¡¯ve simply adopted a normal child instead of one they call ¡®retarded.''¡± Zhou Xufang fell silent for a while, then spoke up, ¡°I can only think of one possibility.¡± Shuangjiang asked, ¡°What?¡± ¡°Luo San is of Luo Family¡¯s bloodline.¡± Chapter 124: 124: The truth is revealed and the Luo Family is tormented Chapter 124: 124: The truth is revealed and the Luo Family is tormented ¡°Luo San is of the Luo family¡¯s bloodline.¡± ¡°If he¡¯s of the bloodline, and the only boy, why don¡¯t they treat him right?¡± Zhou Xufang was silent for a while before speaking in a low voice, ¡°Luo San may not be a boy.¡± If the fragments in her mind were real, the little bald kid living in the attic must be a girl. Shuangjiang asked, ¡°Then who are her parents? Why hide her gender?¡± Zhou Xufang shook his head. ... At that moment¡ª ¡°Here¡¯s a task.¡± Shuangjiang sent over a screenshot, ¡°Client: Tang Xiang.¡± Zhou Xufang, who had been deep in thought, looked up immediately upon hearing the name Tang Xiang, ¡°What¡¯s the task?¡± ¡°Get a person¡¯s hair.¡± ¡°Whose?¡± Shuangjiang replied, ¡°Yours.¡± Tang Xiang wanted Zhou Xufang¡¯s DNA. The payment was eight million. Shuangjiang didn¡¯t know Tang Xiang, ¡°What does she want with your DNA?¡± Zhou Xufang pondered, holding a can of milk and intermittently tapping the table, ¡°There are two possibilities, related to my background, or related to the Genetic Laboratory.¡± Whenever the Genetic Laboratory was mentioned, Shuangjiang became very wary, ¡°Then don¡¯t do it, it¡¯s too risky.¡± If someone found out she had a genetic superpower¡­ ¡°I¡¯ll do it.¡± Zhou Xufang stated, ¡°I also want to know who I really am.¡± Shuangjiang had a bad feeling and was full of concerns, ¡°Should you tell Jiang Zhi?¡± She said not for now, ¡°If I can¡¯t handle it, I¡¯ll find him.¡± Telling him would only worry him needlessly. She liked to share good news, not bad. Regarding her own background, there wasn¡¯t a single good memory. She didn¡¯t really want Jiang Zhi to know, especially about that Genetic Laboratory. At nine o¡¯clock, she lay on the bed with no intention of sleeping, just staring at the two lamps Jiang Zhi had given her, lost in thought. Ding¡ª It was a WeChat message from Jiang Zhi, who sent over the wave emoji. Zhou Xufang typed back, ¡°Why aren¡¯t you asleep yet?¡± Mr. Xue had said that Jiang Zhi used to sleep by eight-thirty, and only began staying up late after getting together with her. Staying up late wasn¡¯t good. The voice message Jiang Zhi sent seemed to be from under the covers, his voice a bit soft and muffled, but very pleasant, ¡°At this hour, I figured you¡¯d be missing me.¡± The next line¡ª Jiang Zhi wanted to say: I miss you. Instead, Zhou Xufang sent back, ¡°I¡¯m not thinking of you, I¡¯m thinking about other things.¡± She was thinking about the Luo San issue. ¡°¡­¡± He wanted to flirt with her, but she blocked him without saying a word. So lack of romance! Jiang Zhi replied with an emoji pack of ¡°[Pin you to the ground and kiss you till you cry].¡± The emoji pack had cartoon versions of Jiang Zhi and Zhou Xufang, easy to recognize, with Jiang Zhi in blue hair, and Zhou Xufang all in black with only her eyes showing. The little blue-haired person was pinning the little black-clothed person to the ground¡­ It was the first time Zhou Xufang had seen this emoji pack, and she found it very cute, ¡°This emoji is adorable.¡± Of course! Jiang Zhi proudly said, ¡°I had someone make them,¡± now sounding smug, ¡°I made a whole set.¡± Zhou Xufang, ¡°You¡¯re so amazing!¡± Jiang Zhi, ¡°¨s^¨t¡± Zhou Xufang, ¡°Can you send them to me?¡± With the tone of a big bad wolf luring a little white rabbit, ¡°You¡¯ve got to ask in a more begging manner.¡± Jiang Zhi made a demand, ¡°Send over a kiss first.¡± Zhou Xufang sent a kissing emoji. Seeing her obedience, Jiang Zhi sent her the whole set of emojis. ¡°[Kiss Jiang Zhi]¡± The little person all in black with just eyes showing lay down, stars sparkling in her eyes as she looked up at the blue-haired little person above her, with ¡°Jiang Zhi¡± written in big letters. ¡°[No matter what, I¡¯ll spoil you!]¡± The blue-haired little person, arms crossed and turning his head with a charismatic expression, as if to say ¡®if you don¡¯t spoil me, I won¡¯t talk to you.¡¯ ¡°[Your little ancestor is online]¡± The blue-haired little person sat obediently with a big head drawn. ¡°[Don¡¯t want to sleep]¡± The blue-haired little person lay with the covers kicked off the bed, his fingers enticingly beckoning. ¡°You can¡¯t use periods, you have to hold back,¡± a little person all in black with only their eyes showing is desperately holding back, their expression looking constipated. ¡°If you use a period again, I¡¯ll make you cry,¡± a little person with blue hair has the all-black one pinned against the wall, one looking like a grand demon king, the other pitifully close to tears. ¡°I¡¯m the fairy who lifts the seal,¡± the little person all in black is spinning in place, with a colorful glow suspended above their head and a magic wand in their hand. ¡°Goodnight Fang Bao,¡± ¡°Goodnight Jiang Zhi.¡± The last two images¡­ The little person with blue hair is lying down, with their clothes half-unbuttoned, while the little person all in black is sitting on top of them, one hand lifting their chin, the other pressing on their abs¡­ All the ones before were great, but Zhou Xufang felt¡­ she felt a bit hot looking at these two ¡°goodnight¡± emojis, kicked off her blanket, got up, drank a glass of water, favorited them all before she replied to Jiang Zhi¡¯s Weibo message. Zhou Xufang: ¡°Jiang Zhi, you can¡¯t send dirty pictures.¡± Jiang Zhi sent an audio message, you could tell he was laughing: ¡°What¡¯s dirty about it?¡± Zhou Xufang, embarrassed to spell it out, typed: ¡°Your clothes aren¡¯t on right.¡± Jiang Zhi still laughing: ¡°Aren¡¯t yours on right?¡± Zhou Xufang: ¡°.¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡°If you use a period again, I¡¯ll make you cry.¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡°This is how you are in my dreams.¡± Hmph. Jiang Zhi is a little hooligan! Zhou Xufang sent him the new emoji she favorited: ¡°You can¡¯t use periods, you have to hold back.¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡°Finally, no periods.¡± Zhou Xufang has OCD, she must be the last one to end the chat: ¡°You can¡¯t use periods, you have to hold back.¡± Jiang Zhi thought that was it and put his phone down, but two minutes later, Zhou Xufang sent another message. ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± Jiang Zhi sent an emoji back: ¡°Your little ancestor is online.¡± Jiang Zhi sent another one: ¡°Don¡¯t want to sleep.¡± Zhou Xufang rarely sent a voice message: ¡°Were you a ¡®bottom¡¯ before?¡± ¡°Are you, or not?¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡­ He didn¡¯t answer, so she kept calling ¡°Jiang Zhi, Jiang Zhi¡± over and over. He couldn¡¯t take it anymore and accused her: ¡°Have you been reading some messy novels again?¡± Zhou Xufang: ¡°It¡¯s not messy, I read a BL novel, it¡¯s really good.¡± Jiang Zhi took a moment to understand what ¡®BL¡¯ meant, while Zhou Xufang kept pestering him. ¡°Are you a ¡®bottom¡¯?¡± ¡°Are you or not?¡± ¡°Are you or not?¡± Instead of answering, Jiang Zhi sent an emoji: ¡°I¡¯ll pin you to the ground and make you cry.¡± Zhou Xufang: ¡°.¡± A long time passed, so long that Zhou Xufang was almost asleep, before Jiang Zhi replied with one word: ¡°Yes.¡± No wonder, she topped him. Zhou Xufang crawled under the covers, laughing for a while, and replied to Jiang Zhi with an emoji: ¡°Goodnight Jiang Zhi.¡± The next day, at nine in the morning, entertainment news exploded ¨C Tianxing¡¯s leading actress Luo Ying was accused of beating an assistant on set, with photos as evidence. Instantly, netizens blew up. Action movie global shopping: ¡°Damn! The most poisonous woman¡¯s heart! @LuoYingheV¡± I¡¯m a sweet little thing: ¡°She looks skilled at hitting, must not be her first time, no wonder she changes assistants so often.¡± You have your candle, I have my whip: ¡°Another persona collapses.¡± Please call me handsome pot: ¡°Get out of the entertainment industry! @LuoYingheV¡± Don¡¯t change my nickname until I lose 30kg: ¡°You can¡¯t get the whole story from just a snippet; don¡¯t judge without knowing the circumstances.¡± Mom and dad go to work, I go to kindergarten: ¡°Defending her even now? Hitting is wrong, no matter the reason, it¡¯s inexcusable.¡± I¡¯m a mink, the world¡¯s skin: ¡°People aren¡¯t saints; getting angry and hitting happens, don¡¯t blindly hate without knowing the whole story.¡± Don¡¯t call me, I¡¯m under the covers watching a movie: ¡°Yeah, when I get angry, I also kick my little brother, what¡¯s wrong with that?¡± Quick, kowtow to your elder, reply @Don¡¯t call me, I¡¯m under the covers watching a movie: ¡°No problem, let me kick you first to try?¡± ¡°¡­¡± In a little while, the shares and comments broke new records. Luo Yinghe had smooth sailing since her debut, the little princess pushed by Tianxing; no matter if real fans or haters, her Weibo followers had surpassed fifty million. She always had good resources, working with top stars, but her acting skills were not improving. Many who disliked her and wanted to take her down were waiting for an opportunity. Now that the scandal broke, the discussion kept spiking high, and in less than two hours, Luo Yinghe¡¯s incident of hitting an assistant with roses made the hot search headlines. Bang¡ª Luo Yinghe slammed the tablet onto the table, her eyes burning with fury, ¡°What is the public relations department doing? Why hasn¡¯t the hot search been taken down yet?¡± Agent Yang Fan replied, ¡°The topic is too hot, we can¡¯t pull it down.¡± Emotions running high, Luo Yinghe suddenly stood up, knocking over a chair with a loud bang, and yelled at the agent, ¡°Then why don¡¯t you find a way? Tianxing pays you so much money for you to be useless?¡± ¡­ If it wasn¡¯t because Luo Yinghe was the second daughter of the Luo family and half the owner of Tianxing, Yang Fan would definitely not have become an agent for such a princess who was all temper and no brains. She took a deep breath, ¡°First, issue an apology statement¡ª¡± But Luo Yinghe was unwilling to comply, completely unreasonable, ¡°Why should I apologize? I pay the assistant, and if she can¡¯t do the job, why can¡¯t I discipline her?¡± Bullying the weak and fearing the strong, arrogant and self-important. That¡¯s the upbringing of the Luo family. Yang Fan was too lazy to argue with her and was getting impatient, ¡°Even if the PR does a fantastic job, it¡¯s no use if you don¡¯t apologize.¡± Luo Yinghe¡¯s eyes bulged with rage, ¡°You¡ª¡± She was interrupted. The door to the studio was pushed open, and Luo Qinghe stood at the entrance, dropping a casual remark, ¡°That¡¯s enough.¡± Luo Yinghe immediately fell silent. It was clear that she was intimidated by her older cousin. Luo Qinghe, with her single eyelids, looked aloof and indifferent, always carrying a sense of haughty ferocity in her eyes. She ordered, ¡°First, issue an apology statement.¡± Luo Yinghe didn¡¯t dare to be presumptuous, only refusing in a low voice, ¡°I don¡¯t want to.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t want to?¡± She smiled, her tone light and dismissive, ¡°If you don¡¯t want to, then get out of Tianxing.¡± Luo Yinghe¡¯s face turned pale, and she stopped talking. Her temper as the young mistress might flare up at anyone, but she dared not challenge Luo Qinghe, who she feared the most in the entire Luo family, and of course, whom she also despised the most. Luo Qinghe entered, closed the door behind her, pulled up a chair to sit down, her legs together, wearing her business suit immaculately. She asked Yang Fan, ¡°How does that assistant usually perform her duties?¡± Yang Fan replied, ¡°Quite meticulous.¡± Luo Qinghe tapped her fingers on the table, composed, ¡°Then find something less meticulous.¡± Yang Fan understood what she meant and then asked, ¡°What about the hot search?¡± She looked up, her slender eyes like fine drizzle as she looked at people, but they conveyed a stark intensity, ¡°If it can¡¯t be pulled down, then find something more sensational to overshadow it. Do I really need to teach you such a simple principle?¡± Yang Fan was struck dumb, not daring to add to the conversation. Unlike Luo Yinghe¡¯s erratic and spoiled vase, Luo Qinghe was not someone to be trifled with. In her many years in the business world, her skills were no less than any man¡¯s. At that moment, the cellphone rang. Luo Qinghe answered; on the line, the secretary said, ¡°Younger Luo, the autopsy report is out.¡± She rose and walked out, ¡°Get Han Feng over here.¡± At the police station. Once the autopsy report was released, the Criminal Investigation Team held an emergency meeting. The projector was on, the curtains in the conference room drawn, Vice Captain Xing held a pointer, indicating the content of the report on the screen, ¡°The time of death was around three in the afternoon, the fatal injury was in the lung, the victim didn¡¯t have many wounds, indicating a clear murder intent from the perpetrator, nearly a fatal strike with a single blow.¡± He flipped a page, continuing, ¡°The forensic team made a comparison, the fruit knife left at the scene is the murder weapon.¡± Colleague Zhang Wen raised a question, ¡°Then why didn¡¯t the killer take the murder weapon with them?¡± Leaving the murder weapon would risk exposing fingerprints, DNA, and even fibers from clothing. A smart criminal would definitely not leave the murder weapon at the scene unless they dropped it in a panicked escape, or they wanted to challenge the police by leaving it there. But the scene was clean, ruling out the possibility of the killer making a mistake. Vice Captain Xing said, ¡°I don¡¯t understand this point either, and besides the victim Chen Li¡¯s blood on the fruit knife, there was someone else¡¯s blood on it.¡± Zhang Wen asked, ¡°Is it the killer¡¯s?¡± Vice Captain Xing shook his head, ¡°Not the killer¡¯s.¡± He flipped a page on the projection, ¡°It¡¯s the victim from the suitcase abandonment case, Duan Xi.¡± The suspect no. 2 in that abandonment case had been photographed with a watch. The killer who pushed Jiang Zhi into the sea had also been caught wearing the same watch. Could it be that these three cases are related? ¡°The killer in the suitcase case was a woman,¡± speculated one of the Criminal Investigation Team, ¡°Could it be Chen Li?¡± Vice Captain Xing couldn¡¯t conclude, ¡°The fruit knife does match the fatal wound on Duan Xi, and Duan Xi¡¯s blood was also found in Chen Li¡¯s kitchen, but one thing doesn¡¯t add up. If Chen Li killed Duan Xi, why did she bring the murder weapon back home? She didn¡¯t even clean up the blood.¡± Then, a leisurely voice added, ¡°It¡¯s a case of hired killing, leaving no evidence, how else to extort money?¡± It was Captain Qiao from intelligence. He was there to listen in. Sitting across from him, Captain Cheng of the Criminal Investigation Team asked, ¡°Why do you say it¡¯s a case of hired killing?¡± Qiao Nanchu flipped through the materials on the table, handed a page to Captain Cheng, ¡°Chen Li and Duan Xi didn¡¯t even know each other, there¡¯s no motive for murder, and she was on drugs. A bartender¡¯s salary wouldn¡¯t cover it; she was very likely doing it for the money.¡± Most importantly, Jiang Zhi said his girlfriend overheard Chen Li talking on the phone with a man named Mr. Han. The conversation included details about disposing of the body and transferring money. It could only be a case of hired killing. Vice Captain Xing combined Qiao Nanchu¡¯s speculation with his own inference, ¡°So you¡¯re saying someone hired Chen Li to kill Duan Xi, and after Chen Li dumped the body in a suitcase, she took the murder weapon with the intention of extorting money from the employer, but couldn¡¯t reach an agreement with the person who hired her and ultimately was silenced by the same knife?¡± Furthermore, since Duan Xi was a victim of sexual assault on the cruise ship, if we follow this line of reasoning, the abuser is very likely to be the murderer¡¯s employer. Qiao Nanchu was noncommittal, only saying, ¡°Chen Li had wounds on her hands; simply check Duan Xi¡¯s fingernails to see if she¡¯s the one who killed Duan Xi.¡± That hit the nail on the head. This guy, he should be in the Criminal Investigation Team. Captain Cheng turned to his colleague and ordered, ¡°Call the forensic department.¡± After giving the order, he shot Qiao Nanchu a teasing look, ¡°Captain Qiao, would you be interested in transferring to my Criminal Investigation Team?¡± Qiao Nanchu leaned back in his office chair, ¡°No.¡± Captain Cheng continued to make his case, ¡°Your investigative skills are being wasted in the intelligence unit.¡± He replied with a cold indifference befitting someone devoid of compassion, ¡°Not a waste, I¡¯m versatile.¡± ¡°¡­¡± This guy! Dropping the jokes, Captain Cheng proceeded with the case discussion, ¡°We can now be fairly certain that the person who pushed Mr. Jiang into the sea and the person who hired Chen Li to kill Duan Xi are the same person, or an accomplice.¡± Vice Captain Xing followed up, ¡°Luo Changde has an injury on his arm, the clue from the watch checks out, and moreover, Luo Changde has a history of sexual violence along with the motive. So, doesn¡¯t it mean that if we can find financial transactions between him and Chen Li, we can convict him?¡± Captain Cheng countered Vice Captain Xing¡¯s point, ¡°It¡¯s not that simple. We still haven¡¯t found his watch, and there¡¯s no direct evidence of murder¡ªno fingerprints, DNA, or eyewitnesses, only circumstantial evidence. It will be difficult to win the case.¡± The discussion reached this point when Xiao Zhong, who had been out in the field, returned. ¡°Captain Cheng.¡± Captain Cheng asked how his search went, ¡°Any large deposits in Chen Li¡¯s personal account recently?¡± Xiao Zhong shook his head, wiped his brow, grabbed a bottle of water from the table, took a gulp, and said, ¡°Her account looks clean, and so do her relatives¡¯ accounts, with no large financial transactions.¡± ¡°Could it be that it wasn¡¯t a hired killing?¡± Vice Captain Xing grabbed his hair, feeling mentally stretched. If it wasn¡¯t a hired killing, then all the previous speculations would have to be overturned. Captain Cheng looked at Qiao Nanchu across from him. He didn¡¯t make a sound, picked up a phone call, listened for a bit over a minute, hung up, and said, ¡°There were no bank transactions, but she received two bags of cash and stored them in a locker at the Zhu Feng Building.¡± So, it was still a case of hired murder. Captain Cheng was surprised, ¡°How did you know?¡± Qiao Nanchu smiled without answering. That evening, he called Jiang Zhi out and asked him the same question, ¡°How did you know?¡± Those two bags of cash were unearthed by Jiang Zhi. Jiang Zhi leaned at the bar inside the private room, grabbed several glasses, and randomly mixed drinks, saying, ¡°I guessed.¡± Going through personal accounts is too risky; if he were to hire a murderer, he would choose to use cash as well. Qiao Nanchu, supporting his chin with one hand, casually watched Jiang Zhi, ¡°Then guess again, is the murderer Luo Changde?¡± Jiang Zhi added beer to the glass with ice, ¡°It¡¯s him,¡± swirled the glass, ¡°but he¡¯ll get off the hook.¡± It was a bit warm in the private room, so Qiao Nanchu took off his jacket and threw it aside, ¡°How so?¡± Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°If Chen Li was silenced, why leave the murder weapon behind?¡± Jiang Zhi mixed drinks without any real method, speaking lightly, ¡°Because it¡¯s to be used to get acquitted.¡± The intention was to link all three cases together. Then, to put forth an accomplice or, alternatively, a scapegoat. Qiao Nanchu¡¯s phone rang at that moment; he took a call, and after hanging up, he laughed, ¡°You got it all right; the ¡®murderer¡¯ has turned themselves in at the police station.¡± Jiang Zhi looked up; the dim light of the bar shone in his eyes, ¡°Han Feng?¡± Qiao Nanchu couldn¡¯t help but laugh, ¡°You guessed it again?¡± ¡°Of the four suspects who pushed me into the sea, Jiang Xiaolin was ruled out, Huang Peidong was deliberately framed by Jiang Xiaolin, leaving only Luo Changde and Han Feng,¡± Jiang Zhi explained, dropping a slice of lemon into a cocktail glass, his misty blue hair hanging down, concealing his brows, his eyelashes casting long shadows across his face, ¡°Besides, it was Han Feng who provided Luo Changde with an alibi.¡± In other words, the two were accomplices. Jiang Zhi speculated, ¡°It must have been Luo Qinghe making a move, sacrificing a pawn to save the king.¡± All the pieces matched. It¡¯s a good thing Jiang Zhi wasn¡¯t a criminal; with a brain like that, if he turned to a life of crime, that would be something else. ¡°There¡¯s one more thing,¡± Qiao Nanchu, propping his chin, looked at Jiang Zhi¡¯s face, more delicate than a woman¡¯s, ¡°Why did Luo Changde try to push you into the sea? Could it be that you saw him sexually assaulting Duan Xi?¡± Jiang Zhi shook his head, lifted his eyelids, his peach blossom eyes seemingly drunk yet sober, naturally captivating without trying, ¡°Because of you.¡± ¡°Me?¡± Qiao Nanchu stretched out his legs, ¡°What does it have to do with me?¡± ¡°I was on the phone with you before he pushed me overboard.¡± The phone conversation was about¡ª Qiao Nanchu remembered, ¡°The Luo Family arson case?¡± Right, they were discussing investigating the Luo Family arson case. So, Luo Changde killed two birds with one stone. ¡°What was just a suspicion, I¡¯m now sure of,¡± Jiang Zhi¡¯s eyes lowered, shielding the cold glint within, ¡°That fire was set by the Luo Family themselves.¡± Chapter 125: 125: Jiang Zhi seeks favor, Fang Bao says youre infertile. Chapter 125: 125: Jiang Zhi seeks favor, Fang Bao says you¡¯re infertile. ¡°The fire was set by the Luo Family themselves.¡± Qiao Nanchu clicked his tongue, ¡°The Luo Family really are a bunch of beasts.¡± No, beasts are better. Jiang Zhi finally added two ice cubes to the adjusted drink, shook it until it was even, picked it up, and brought it to his lips. Before he could taste it, Qiao Nanchu intercepted his glass, took a sip, put it down, then grabbed a clean goblet and poured him a glass of milk, ¡°Drink your milk.¡± Jiang Zhi gave him a cold look and snatched the drink back. ... ¡°Bang!¡± Xue Baoyi kicked open the door and came in. Qiao Nanchu glanced at him, ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you? Such a fiery temper.¡± He walked over, snatched the glass of alcohol from Jiang Zhi¡¯s hand, and gulped it down, ¡°I¡¯ve been screwed over.¡± Jiang Zhi kicked his shin, telling him to move away, and climbed down from the barstool to nest on the sofa. ¡°Who screwed you over?¡± Qiao Nanchu¡¯s mouth curled with a smile, clearly delighting in his misfortune. Xue Baoyi was fuming, ¡°Luo Qinghe.¡± He slammed his phone down on the table, poured a glass of alcohol, and drank it in one go, ¡°She got her cousin off the trending searches by getting me on there instead.¡± Qiao Nanchu picked up the phone, looked at it, and laughed, ¡°One night with two ladies?¡± Weibo¡¯s wording really is getting more and more explicit. Xue Baoyi slammed his glass down, his brows and eyes ferociously angry, ¡°Bullshit! I was just playing mahjong with them.¡± ¡°If a grown man brings two beauties to a hotel just to play mahjong, would you,¡± Qiao Nanchu jerked his chin up, ¡°would you believe that?¡± No. No man would believe that. That¡¯s the problem. If Xue Baoyi had done something else, he wouldn¡¯t have been so annoyed, but all he did was play mahjong, and that¡¯s unacceptable. ¡°So I suspect Tianxing set me up. Those two artists used to be with Tianxing. Besides them, there was also a director and a producer that night.¡± The person curling up on the sofa lazily added a comment, ¡°Were the cameras broken?¡± Xue Baoyi turned to look at him, ¡°How did you know?¡± Jiang Zhi said, ¡°That was the Luo Family¡¯s hotel.¡± Xue Baoyi was speechless, a thousand words converging into one expletive, ¡°Fuck!¡± Luo Qinghe is more venomous than many men. Honestly, Xue Baoyi really couldn¡¯t outplay her if it came to tricks. ¡°Why such a big reaction this time? Your gossip never stopped,¡± Qiao Nanchu teased him, ¡°Didn¡¯t you get caught last month bringing four girls swimming? I didn¡¯t see you jumping then.¡± Xue Baoyi grabbed his hair, clearly annoyed, ¡°How can that be the same? I can mess around if I want, but I won¡¯t stand for others messing with me.¡± At that moment, Jiang Zhi spoke up, ¡°I¡¯m the one who exposed Luo Yinghe¡¯s news.¡± Upon hearing this, Xue Baoyi took on a grievance-stricken tone, playfully reproaching him, ¡°Brother Zhi, it turns out I¡¯m taking the fall for you.¡± He didn¡¯t deny it, ¡°Isn¡¯t your company about to release a movie?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°Good. Use this to stir things up.¡± The next day, the skies were overcast¡ªa bad omen. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Luo Yinghe issued an apology, and her assistant came forward to clarify, accepting the blame. Moreover, some ¡®informed sources¡¯ revealed that said assistant had character issues and meticulously listed five instances of her moral failings, arguing with reason and evidence. With the influence of paid posters and fans, Luo Yinghe was pretty much cleared, and all the dirt was thrown onto that assistant. This, along with Xue Baoyi topping the news, resulted in a decently managed PR campaign. Tianxing¡¯s PR skills have always been top-notch in the industry, but just as one wave settled, another rose. It was still about Luo Yinghe¡¯s violence¡ªthe edited video showed all eight of her past assistants bearing brunt of her abuse to various degrees. Plus, there was a psychiatrist¡¯s diagnosis clearly stating that Luo Yinghe suffered from a mild form of violent behavior disorder. Once this solid evidence came out, it almost completely negated all the previous PR work. The paid posters and fans had just whitewashed her image, and now they darkened it again, much to the amusement of the onlookers. Bro, I¡¯ve been severely hurt, don¡¯t tease me: ¡°This is the fastest face-slapping I¡¯ve ever seen.¡± Being chubby just ate your rice: ¡°Have your own problems but blame the assistant¡¯s character, truly shameless to the extreme.¡± Another day in love with President Gu: ¡°Tianxing¡¯s artists are toxic, right? Have you not noticed? The two women who went to the hotel with Second Young Master Xue used to be with Tianxing. I seriously suspect he was framed.¡± Erm erm erm hmm add me for a massage and reply to @Another day in love with President Gu: ¡°Sister, you¡¯ve got the truth! Second Young Master Xue was all open and aboveboard when he brought four girls the last time, no way he¡¯d be sneaking around with just two.¡± Xue Baoyi¡¯s baoyi: ¡°Hold me tight, Second Young Master, I lose if I unfollow! @Beijing¡¯s Hottest Guy V¡± Guess if I¡¯m wearing panties: ¡°Second Young Master¡¯s persona is to wander freely. If he didn¡¯t bring girls to the hotel, his image would collapse. I think, Second Young Master did it on purpose @Beijing¡¯s Hottest Guy V¡± I¡¯m a little princess: ¡°I¡¯ve disliked Luo Yinghe for a long time now. Last time during the meeting with Yun Sheng, she kept pressing up against him, my goodness, Yun Sheng was still a high school student!¡± Sister, lie down boldly: ¡°Get treated if you¡¯re sick @Luo Yinghe V¡± ¡°¡­¡± Under Luo Yinghe¡¯s Weibo, there was a tide of bad comments, and her fans didn¡¯t dare to make a sound for fear of being scolded. In just two hours, she lost over two million followers. Xue Baoyi was originally headlining the news, but with this storm, he got pushed to third place. Third place? How could that be enough? No, he had to post a Weibo. Beijing¡¯s Hottest Guy V: Just here to hop on the trend wave, releasing on January 25. A short clip of Baoguang¡¯s New Year¡¯s film¡¯s outtakes was attached. Xue Baoyi¡¯s Weibo boasted twenty million followers. He wasn¡¯t even an artist, so why did he have so many followers? Because he¡¯s a show-off, making headlines every so often, and not in an ordinary way. Looking for typists¡«add QQ¡«84613¡«: ¡°This timing for trend-hopping, very showy¡«¡± You have stars in your eyes, I only have eye boogers: ¡°Last time he went swimming bringing four girls, this time only two at the hotel, disappointing!¡± Wang Wei 1246: ¡°What¡¯s with women nowadays? Fawning over such garbage, they really ought to get their eyes checked.¡± Zeng Dangyang, did you ripple today reply to @Wang Wei 1246: ¡°Jealous, aren¡¯t you, fatso? Quickly pound your chest and lament the injustice of the heavens!¡± Don¡¯t call me a fangirl, call me the hottie harvester replied to @Wang Wei 1246, ¡°For the sake of Mr. Second Young Master, I¡¯m willing to go blind.¡± Orange Peel Too Peeled: ¡°About conquering two girls in one night, aren¡¯t you going to explain? @Beijing¡¯s Hottest Guy V¡± This Orange Peel Too Peeled had been spotlighted by Xue Baoyi. Beijing¡¯s Hottest Guy V replied to @Orange Peel Too Peeled: ¡°Why should I explain? You¡¯re not my wife, are you?¡± Then, the comments piled up as follows: Xue Baoyi¡¯s Baoguang: ¡°I am your wife, you heartless man! @Beijing¡¯s Hottest Guy V¡± I¡¯m Second Young Master Xue¡¯s Concubine: ¡°Look at my nickname @Beijing¡¯s Hottest Guy V¡± I¡¯m Second Young Master Xue¡¯s Second Room Concubine: ¡°Look at my nickname @Beijing¡¯s Hottest Guy V¡± ¡­ The internet was in an uproar, but what was Xue Baoyi doing? He was lying in his executive chair, wildly kicking his legs around as he played a game, and within just five minutes, he couldn¡¯t take it anymore and started howling, ¡°Teammate!¡± ¡°Teammate, teammate!¡± ¡°Quick, help me up!¡± ¡°You, come and help me up!¡± The teammate on the other end of the phone couldn¡¯t take it anymore, their ears hurt, they ripped off an earphone: ¡°Coming, stop howling.¡± On the gaming screen, the teammate with two colorful braids went to help up the dead weight. Xue Kenghuo stood up and immediately began to complain, oh, Xue Kenghuo¡¯s in-game name was A Handsome Life, and the teammate was I¡¯m Your Ancestor. A Handsome Life: ¡°Up on the roof across, the one in the nurse outfit, he¡¯s sniping me!¡± I¡¯m Your Ancestor: ¡°Hide behind me. Watch me blow his head off with one shot!¡± In the game, a big man in a camo tank-top hid behind the woman with two colorful braids, peeking out now and then. The braided woman took out the AWM and a scope, took aim. Bang! ¡ªYou hit joeper¡¯s head with an AWM for a headshot elimination. When she said one-shot headshot, she meant not a bullet more! Now, if you don¡¯t show off at a time like this, you¡¯re not human. I¡¯m Your Ancestor: ¡°Am I or am I not a pro, son?¡± Truly awesome! A Handsome Life: ¡°Screw off, who¡¯s your son?!¡± Through the earphone, I¡¯m Your Ancestor¡¯s crazy laughter transmitted: ¡°Son, go lick up the first-aid kit.¡± That ¡°son¡± sure rolled off the tongue smoothly. A Handsome Life replied just as naturally: ¡°Then cover me.¡± I¡¯m Your Ancestor: ¡°Rest assured, son. Your dad¡¯s got the Kar98k and AWM to protect you.¡± On screen, the person in the camo tank-top sneakily ran to lick the first-aid kit. A big fat loot crate. After looting, Xue Baoyi was a bit panicked; you know that feeling, right? The more equipment you have, the more nervous you get, especially for noobs. His hands on the game¡¯s interface were even shaking a little. He felt he could make it to the final circle this round. Through the earpiece, the girl¡¯s voice was deliberately suppressed, sounding a bit coarse. I¡¯m Your Ancestor: ¡°There¡¯s a motorcycle over there.¡± A Handsome Life: ¡°I¡¯ll drive.¡± Volunteering confidently. I¡¯m Your Ancestor: ¡°You sure?¡± A Handsome Life: ¡°If I crash and kill you again, then I¡¯m a dog.¡± Ten seconds after both got on the motorcycle¡­ I¡¯m Your Ancestor: ¡°Hey hey hey, steady, steady!¡± The motorcycle began to wobble and tilt, not following a straight line. A Handsome Life: ¡°Don¡¯t worry, we won¡¯t die.¡± Just as he said that, the motorcycle flipped. On the other side of the game, Fang Lixiang glanced at the time. Only nine minutes into the round¡­ Hmm, still didn¡¯t make it past ten minutes. I¡¯m Your Ancestor: ¡°I¡¯m dead again.¡± She was too weak to even complain, her voice feeble. A Handsome Life: ¡°Hmm.¡± Just totally calm. I¡¯m Your Ancestor: ¡°I died because you crashed.¡± Still, she had to point out the noob move. A Handsome Life: ¡°Really?¡± Still, absolutely calm. I¡¯m Your Ancestor: ¡°You¡¯re a dog.¡± Quite angry. A Handsome Life: ¡°Woof.¡± Still, entirely unbothered. Fang Lixiang exited the game. Not long after, that noob reached out to her on WeChat. A Handsome Life: ¡°Let¡¯s play another round.¡± I¡¯m Your Ancestor: ¡°No more, I have work to do.¡± A Handsome Life: ¡°Alright then.¡± Fang Lixiang put her phone down for three minutes, then picked it up again. You know what¡¯s the most awkward thing? The person who said they had to work got caught in the game by Xue Baoyi again. He had just landed, hadn¡¯t even found a gun, cowering in a cabinet trembling, when he instantly recognized Fang Lixiang¡¯s flamboyant serpentine movements. A Handsome Life: ¡°Weren¡¯t you supposed to be working?¡± He turned on the full voice chat, his voice icy to the max! The moment the voice came out, the girl with two small braids got startled, immediately jumping away, then composed herself¡­ composed¡­ and then, she also turned on voice chat. I¡¯m Your Ancestor: ¡°Hehe, work and rest combined.¡± The laugh was very fake. A Lifetime of Handsome: ¡°Then why won¡¯t you team up with me?¡± Extremely angry, very upset, just a tiny bit aggrieved overall, he wanted to blow her head off with a sniper rifle. Dream on. You don¡¯t have a sniper rifle. Even if you had one, you couldn¡¯t headshot within two meters and five shots. I¡¯m Your Ancestor: ¡°I just want to get a ¡®chicken dinner¡¯ here.¡± With him as a teammate, she¡¯d never get that chicken dinner in her lifetime. I¡¯m Your Ancestor: ¡°So, should I head off first?¡± She was a little guilty. I¡¯m Your Ancestor: ¡°Farewell until we meet again on the battlefield.¡± She felt a smidgen of reluctance. The woman with the two colored braids just turned to leave when the man in the camo tank top followed her, matching her step for step, ignoring every first-aid kit along the way, just following her. I¡¯m Your Ancestor: ¡°What are you following me for?¡± She was a bit annoyed by him. A Lifetime of Handsome: ¡°I¡¯m going this way too.¡± He said righteously. Fang Lixiang simply took a different path. Okay, the annoying tag-along was still following her. I¡¯m Your Ancestor: ¡°Why are you still following me?¡± She was angry! I¡¯m Your Ancestor: ¡°Don¡¯t follow me.¡± She was really angry! I¡¯m Your Ancestor: ¡°If you keep following me, my teammates will report me.¡± She was extremely angry! I¡¯m Your Ancestor: ¡°Stop following me.¡± Her last warning. I¡¯m Your Ancestor: ¡°If you keep following me, I¡¯ll snipe you!¡± Really, the very last warning. A Lifetime of Handsome: ¡°Go ahead and snipe.¡± He laid down resignedly, a gesture of despair, his voice filled with heartbreak as he threw himself to the ground. This poor thing¡­ Fang Lixiang couldn¡¯t pull the trigger. After all, she¡¯d been carrying this noob through the game for a month, treating him like a son¡ªthe attachment was there. She put down the gun. I¡¯m Your Ancestor: ¡°Here¡¯s a gun for you.¡± I¡¯m Your Ancestor: ¡°Don¡¯t follow me anymore, I need to run from the gas.¡± She had just turned around when someone blew the man¡¯s head off with a single shot, killing him. I¡¯m Your Ancestor: ¡°¡­¡± Damn it, what¡¯s with this intense guilt? This round, Fang Lixiang didn¡¯t get her chicken dinner either, preoccupied with the little noob and worried he¡¯d lose his cool, which made her own performance suffer. She got her head blown off and didn¡¯t even make it to the final circle. Such is the fate of a caregiver in gaming! Fang Lixiang logged onto WeChat and sent a couple of messages in a bid to make amends. I¡¯m Your Ancestor: ¡°Still playing?¡± I¡¯m Your Ancestor: ¡°I¡¯ll carry you.¡± Fang Lixiang sent text messages; apart from in the game, she rarely used voice chat now. In-game, she also modulated her voice to create an air, after all, she was still a female celebrity. A Lifetime of Handsome: ¡°Not playing.¡± A Lifetime of Handsome: ¡°Not in the mood.¡± He rarely used voice chat too, and just like in the game, his voice was pinched, still putting on an air, but it was evident that his voice was rather dejected. Indeed, he had lost his cool. Fang Lixiang was full of remorse¡ªafter all, even noobs have their dignity¡ªso she decided to offer some comfort. ¡°Feeling down? Let me tell you a joke.¡± So, she started to tell a joke in a voice message, trying to sound gentle and cute by pinching her voice. ¡°My boss took two girls to a hotel, and people said he was going to play mahjong. But actually, he¡¯s just got kidney deficiency, hahahaha¡­¡± On the other end¡ª Xue Baoyi: ¡°¡­¡± Dammit, she was about to explode! ¡°He couldn¡¯t actually be going to play mahjong?!¡± I¡¯m Your Ancestor: ¡°If he was going to play mahjong, I¡¯d twist off my head and let you use it as a soccer ball.¡± A Lifetime of Handsome: ¡°Get lost.¡± The anger in that voice message was palpable. Fang Lixiang was a bit confused. How had the joke bombed like this? It made no sense. I¡¯m Your Ancestor: ¡°Why are you so angry? I didn¡¯t say you had kidney deficiency.¡± Embarrassed? A professional sniper in the wilderness knows no embarrassment. What¡¯s that? I¡¯m Your Ancestor: ¡°I¡¯m not a woman, I¡¯m your father.¡± Eh? Fang Lixiang listened to the voice message again and noticed something. I¡¯m Your Ancestor: ¡°Your voice really resembles my boss¡¯s.¡± A Lifetime of Handsome: ¡°And your voice is similar to that female celebrity, Ms. Fang.¡± Fang Lixiang was so startled her phone nearly dropped. She couldn¡¯t blow her cover, so she coughed twice, pinched her voice again, and exaggerated a bit more: ¡°What a coincidence~¡± On the other side, Xue Baoyi threw her phone down, angry. Secretary Xiao Zhuang had been with Xue Baoyi for three years, how could she not know his ways? ¡°Mr. Xue,¡± Xiao Zhuang was a little chubster, looking much like a lucky doll, with a face full of collagen, white, chubby, smooth, and tender, ¡°Did you lose at gaming again?¡± Xue Baoyi gave the little chub a glance: ¡°Did Fang Lixiang come to the company today?¡± Fang Lixiang? Oh, that newly trending Weaver girl. ¡°I¡¯ll make a call and check.¡± Xiao Zhuang dialed Fang Lixiang¡¯s agent, asked, and then replied, ¡°She did.¡± Xue Baoyi lay back on the boss chair: ¡°Call her over.¡± As a competent secretary, Xiao Zhuang would not ask the boss what he wanted to do, although she was very curious, extremely curious, well, it weren¡¯t her fault if she overheard something while standing by the door. Fang Lixiang, who was suddenly called to the office, was very anxious: ¡°Boss.¡± She wondered if the boss had seen her gaming again? ¡°Do you have any appointments tonight?¡± Huh? Fang Lixiang was momentarily baffled before responding: ¡°No.¡± She guessed the boss might have some task for her and immediately showed her loyalty, ¡°Whatever you command, boss, I¡¯ll go through fire and water without¡ª¡± ¡°Come with me to the hotel tonight.¡± ¡°Cough, cough!¡± Damn! Fang Lixiang choked, stunned for quite sometime as her mind started racing. What for at the hotel? What else could it be at the hotel? The boss had just been caught taking two actresses to the hotel ¡®to play mahjong.¡¯ Could it be that he also wanted to take her ¡®to play mahjong¡¯? Damn, she didn¡¯t want ¡®to play mahjong¡¯ with the boss. At that moment, Fang Lixiang¡¯s heart thumped wildly with fear, but she had to remain calm: ¡°Boss, I don¡¯t know how to play mahjong.¡± Xue Baoyi snorted inwardly and maintained a straight face: ¡°I¡¯ll teach you.¡± Fang Lixiang: ¡°¡­¡± This is the end! After leaving the boss¡¯s office, Fang Lixiang immediately called Zhou Xufang. ¡°Xu Fang, Xu Fang!¡± Zhou Xufang was eating, her cheeks bulging: ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± Fang Lixiang felt like the sky was falling: ¡°I think my boss wants to hit on me!¡± Zhou Xufang knew what ¡®hit on¡¯ meant. She had been reading danmei novels set in the entertainment circle lately. She said: ¡°Mr. Xue doesn¡¯t seem like that kind of person.¡± Zhou Xufang felt that although Mr. Xue was somewhat flirty¡­ ¡®Flirty,¡¯ this expression, was also something she picked up from danmei novels from the entertainment circle¡­ She thought Mr. Xue was flirty but not a bad person. Fang Lixiang was still anxious, very worried: ¡°How can he be not like that, he took four girls swimming, and two girls to get a room!¡± That¡¯s also true. Zhou Xufang quickly changed sides: ¡°Then don¡¯t go.¡± It¡¯s too dangerous. Fang Lixiang felt troubled: ¡°One can¡¯t disobey while on the job.¡± Her career as a Weaver had just begun to take off, upsetting the boss¡­ she dared not think of it. ¡°What now?¡± Zhou Xufang was also at a loss. Fang Lixiang contemplated: ¡°I will calm myself down with a game.¡± Zhou Xufang hung up the telephone. ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± Jiang Zhi was scooping soup for her. Because Zhou Xufang was hungry, Jiang Zhi took her out to lunch before eleven o¡¯clock. Zhou Xufang poked a meatball with her chopsticks, gulped it down, and asked Jiang Zhi: ¡°Is Mr. Xue a good person?¡± Jiang Zhi pulled out a napkin to wipe the oil on her mouth corner: ¡°He¡¯s not.¡± ¡°Then is he very bad?¡± The oil from the meatball dripped onto Zhou Xufang¡¯s hand down the chopsticks. Jiang Zhi pulled out a few more napkins to wipe her hand: ¡°A bad person, not exactly.¡± So is he a good person or a bad person? Zhou Xufang took out her mobile phone to show Jiang Zhi her Weibo: ¡°But he took two girls to the hotel.¡± Although someone came out to clarify, claiming it was to play mahjong. Zhou Xufang still felt taking girls to the hotel to play mahjong was not decent. ¡°They were discussing a collaboration.¡± Jiang Zhi took her mobile phone away, stored it, and explained to her, ¡°Everything on the internet is half-true, half-false, just have a look but don¡¯t believe it all.¡± Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t know much about the entertainment industry, she didn¡¯t understand: ¡°Then why not clarify it?¡± ¡°The entertainment industry doesn¡¯t really need the truth, it needs buzz, and Bao Yi is not a celebrity, he¡¯s naturally ostentatious, there is no reputation to speak of, clarifying it would be less effective than creating buzz.¡± Zhou Xufang liked eating meat, seldom touched vegetables. Jiang Zhi used the chopsticks to give her a big pile of greens, and also a big pile of carrots, ¡°He¡¯s in this line of business, not to make a name for himself, but to make money.¡± That makes sense! Zhou Xufang took a bite of a carrot¡­ but braised pork was tastier, she kept her eyes on the braised pork, just watching, not picking it up. Jiang Zhi had no choice but to pick up the meat for her, worried that she was eating too greasy, he also ordered a bowl of steamed egg custard: ¡°Want some egg custard?¡± Zhou Xufang looked down and continued to eat meat: ¡°I don¡¯t eat eggs.¡± Jiang Zhi was surprised, she was usually not picky, ate anything, and rarely fussy about food: ¡°Anything else you don¡¯t like?¡± Zhou Xufang shook her head, continuing to eat meat: ¡°No, just eggs.¡± Jiang Zhi moved the bowl of egg custard in front of himself. She hadn¡¯t swallowed the meat in her mouth yet: ¡°After you eat eggs, you can¡¯t kiss me immediately.¡± Jiang Zhi pushed the egg custard away, his tone somewhat unsatisfied: ¡°Then why did you send me a whole car of chicken eggs?¡± Doing it on purpose to keep him from kissing her? Zhou Xufang explained: ¡°Because they are nutritious.¡± She spoke the absolute truth: ¡°You need to replenish your nutrients.¡± She also said, in all seriousness: ¡°If you don¡¯t replenish yourself well, you¡¯ll keep being infertile.¡± Jiang Zhi, truly infertile and unable to refute: ¡°¡­¡± Chapter 126: Lesson 126: Luo Changdes Memories of Fang Bao Chapter 126: Lesson 126: Luo Changde¡¯s Memories of Fang Bao In the afternoon, Luo Yinghe held a press conference where she tearfully apologized for the recent violent incident. Her studio also issued a statement, saying they would suspend all activities and actively cooperate with psychological treatment. Additionally, they established a charity foundation to aid mental health patients. Then, massive amounts of internet trolls started pity-selling her story and building a positive image for her online. Of course, there was also a large group that wasn¡¯t buying it. The entertainment industry is just like this, get into a scandal and hide for a while. Once netizens almost forget, the tainted celebrity comes out to do charity work and wash their image clean for a comeback. Luo Yinghe probably had to take this route too. However, netizens were still quite happy, at least not having to see her plastic surgery-enhanced internet celebrity face for a while. At six in the evening. ... Xue Baoyi happily went to the hotel, where the hotel lobby manager, of course, recognized this god of wealth and bowed to welcome him in. Xue Baoyi took off his tacky sunglasses, ¡°Is the room ready?¡± Secretary Xiao Zhuang, clutching a briefcase and following behind, had a face too round, chubby like a stump, with fair and tender skin, and a slicked back hairdo seeing even more ¡®festive¡¯: ¡°Ready, boss.¡± Half an hour ago, his boss specifically changed into a pink suit¡­ So tacky. He usually dressed in a tough-guy style, always saying pink was for sissies, but today who knew what got into him, flamboyantly dressing in the very sissy pink. Xue¡¤Tacky¡¤Baoyi, ¡°Where are they?¡± Xiao Zhuang replied, ¡°All notified, they¡¯re good friends from the Weaver circles, enough to make up two tables for mahjong.¡± The Weavers referred to here were Fang Lixiang. The boss today especially wore a saucy pink suit to play mahjong with the Weaver, and also called over six little flowers to add to the fun, Xiao Zhuang didn¡¯t know which wire his boss crossed, nor did he dare to ask. The cell phone ringtone sounded, it was Xue Baoyi¡¯s. He glanced at the number, it was a call from one of his fair-weather friends, inviting him, ¡°Coming to play mahjong? We need one more.¡± Xue Baoyi put his sunglasses back on his nose, striding with flair, ¡°No.¡± The fair-weather friend called out, ¡°Come on, don¡¯t be like that, it¡¯s boring without you.¡± Among Imperial City¡¯s young masters, Second Young Master Xue was the most fun-loving, all the young lads liked to follow his lead. Normally he didn¡¯t even have to call them; as soon as night fell, wherever the fun was, that¡¯s where he¡¯d be. But today, Second Young Master Xue seemed to have changed his nature, using an immensely disdainful tone to decline the invitation, ¡°Why should I play mahjong with a bunch of crooked melons and cracked dates like you lads?¡± Crooked melons and cracked dates¡­ Fair-weather friend fiercely retorted, ¡°Fuck your mother!¡± ¡°Hmph~¡± Xue Baoyi hung up directly and soon another call came in. He laughed upon seeing the number, and without rushing to answer, deliberately waited for ten to twenty seconds before putting it to his ear. ¡°Hello?¡± His tone was that of a bigwig. Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. On the other end, as always, meek, ¡°Boss, it¡¯s me.¡± Xue Baoyi pretended to be confused, ¡°Who are you?¡± ¡°It¡¯s me, boss,¡± the other side introduced themselves, ¡°Fang Lixiang.¡± How could he not recognize her? He could recite her phone number backward. But he thought about how this character had overly familiarly acknowledged a son in the game, and he simply had to dull her edge a bit. His tone was that of a big boss, like a bandit king in a den of thieves, ¡°What do you want?¡± Fang Lixiang was very respectful, like a younger brother, ¡°I¡¯m afraid I can¡¯t join you for mahjong?¡± When Mr. Xue heard this, he was displeased, ¡°Why not?¡± She had to come! He needed to clear his kidney¡¯s name. ¡°It¡¯s like this, boss,¡± the voice on the phone began to sound sorrowful, ¡°You had arranged for me to come play mahjong at eight tonight, right? I went off early to keep our appointment, but I was so excited on the way downstairs that I couldn¡¯t help but take a little hop.¡± Sincere enough. Xue Baoyi half-believed, ¡°And then?¡± There were sighs on the other end, ¡°Then I broke my hand; I¡¯m in the hospital getting a cast now.¡± She was an acting queen on a typical day; Xue Baoyi didn¡¯t believe her, ¡°You¡¯re trying to fool me, aren¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Why would I dare!¡± She was so wronged! She said, ¡°Wait for it, I¡¯ll send you an MMS.¡± Ding¡ª Xue Baoyi received an MMS, opened it to see that she really was wearing a cast, lying on a hospital bed, with two nurses by her side, her face pale and filled with pain. Xue Baoyi paused in his step and didn¡¯t move forward, ¡°Really fell?¡± ¡°Yes, boss, my wrist is dislocated, and there¡¯s a bit of a ligament strain. I can¡¯t lift it now, can¡¯t play mahjong anymore.¡± Perhaps she touched the injury, she inhaled sharply, bearing the pain while expressing her frustration and disappointment, ¡°I¡¯m truly sorry I can¡¯t play mahjong with you.¡± It sounded, a bit pitiable. Xue Baoyi irritably ran his fingers through his hair, ¡°Let¡¯s do it next time.¡± She was obedient and honest, ¡°Okay boss, I hope you have fun.¡± ¡°Take care of yourself.¡± He of course wasn¡¯t concerned about her, his bossy tone served up again, ¡°Don¡¯t delay filming!¡± Fang Xiaodi promptly agreed, ¡°Of course, of course.¡± ¡°Hang up.¡± ¡°Goodbye, boss.¡± Xue Baoyi hung up the phone and turned around. Xiao Zhuang quickly stopped in his tracks and turned to follow, ¡°Not playing mahjong anymore?¡± ¡°Make a call to ask Fang Lixiang¡¯s agent which hospital she¡¯s in.¡± He was a bit anxious and walked quickly. Xiao Zhuang didn¡¯t know what had happened but hurried to call Fang Lixiang¡¯s agent. Just as they got through¡ª ¡°No need to call.¡± That tone, it had a bit of grit to it. Xue Baoyi stared at his own phone. On the WeChat page, a friend nicknamed ¡®I¡¯m Your Ancestor¡¯ had sent him a message. ¡°Kiddo, hurry up, we¡¯re flying to self-closure city.¡± Xue Baoyi: ¡°¡­¡± Wasn¡¯t his hand fractured? A single cool character followed him through life: ¡°Is your hand okay?¡± A single cool character followed him through life: ¡°You play games every day, doesn¡¯t your hand hurt?¡± Give her a chance to explain, better speak up well! I¡¯m Your Ancestor: ¡°Hurts like a bird.¡± She was impatient over there, urging, ¡°Hurry up and get on the game. Today I¡¯ll definitely get you to the final circle!¡± Xue Baoyi, suppressing the urge to punch someone, entered the game, and this round, they really made it to the final circle. Her skills were as good as ever, consistently landing headshots with every shot. A fracture? A ligament injury? Heh. The next day, Xue Baoyi was on the headlines again, taking girls to a hotel, this time six of them. When these six girls were asked what they did at the hotel, they all unanimously answered¡ªplaying mahjong. Oh! The netizens finally understood and even made a heartwarming gesture¡ªcrowdfunding to buy Second Young Master Xue some health supplements for his kidneys. Fang Lixiang also generously donated one yuan. At seven in the evening. The colleagues from the Criminal Investigation Team hadn¡¯t left work yet. Zhang Wen came back from outside: ¡°Captain Cheng.¡± Captain Cheng put down the lunchbox in his hand: ¡°How¡¯d it go?¡± ¡°Last Tuesday, there was indeed a cash withdrawal from Han Feng¡¯s card, the amount just matches the cash found in Chen Li¡¯s locker at the Zhu Feng Building, and, moreover, the nearby surveillance caught the two of them meeting.¡± Vice Captain Xing looked at Captain Cheng: ¡°Could it really have been Han Feng who did it?¡± He still felt Luo Changde couldn¡¯t possibly be innocent. Captain Cheng stood up to pour a glass of water, ¡°Even if he did it, it was at the Luo Family¡¯s instigation.¡± The office landline phone rang. Zhang Wen listened to the call and hung up before saying, ¡°Captain Cheng, the blood found under Duan Xi¡¯s fingernails has been tested.¡± ¡°Is it Chen Li¡¯s?¡± Zhang Wen nodded. With both the blood traces and the murder weapon found, along with the cash for hiring a murderer, it was almost certain that Chen Li was the murderer of Duan Xi. Once the forensic report came out, the Criminal Investigation Team brought in Han Feng for interrogation. This was the third time. This guy, whether he was a master of psychology or simply no longer cared for his life, confessed without reservation, calm and composed from start to finish. ¡°Go over the details of your crime again,¡± Captain Cheng demanded, looking into the suspect¡¯s eyes. Han Feng, wearing glasses, didn¡¯t avoid the gaze for a moment, ¡°On the night of December 3rd at nine o¡¯clock, I lured Duan Xi to a guest rest room without surveillance under the pretext of official business, and I assaulted her.¡± He paused for two seconds and emotionlessly added, ¡°With a pen.¡± It matched the autopsy report for Duan Xi. Captain Cheng tapped the table with his knuckles, ¡°Be more specific.¡± ¡°I hit her, on the neck, face, thighs, oh, and her head was hit with an ashtray, but I didn¡¯t r*pe her. She was disobedient and kept screaming, so I used the pen to stab her lower body.¡± Han Feng¡¯s confession was slow and measured, nearly identical to the first time he had given it. ¡°She said she was going to report me, so on the cruise ship I wanted to kill her, but she escaped. After the cruise ship wedding ended, I found Chen Li.¡± Captain Cheng immediately asked, ¡°Why Chen Li?¡± ¡°Chen Li was getting drugs from a friend of mine, she was heavily addicted but had no money. I promised her two million to kill Duan Xi for me.¡± Captain Cheng didn¡¯t speak, gesturing for him to continue. ¡°Not long after Duan Xi¡¯s death, the police found her body. I was afraid of being exposed, so I planned to send Chen Li out of the country. But she got greedy and demanded another five million from me. I refused, only giving her two million, so she used the fruit knife that killed Duan Xi to threaten me.¡± Captain Cheng interrupted, his gaze intense, ¡°So you killed Chen Li too?¡± Han Feng definitively said, ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Were there others present at Chen Li¡¯s home at the time?¡± ¡°No.¡± ¡°You¡¯re lying!¡± Captain Cheng threw the photo from the scene, stood up, and leaned forward on the table with both hands, his tone suddenly escalating and confrontational, ¡°In Chen Li¡¯s house, besides you, there is another person¡¯s footprint. Speak! Who is your accomplice?¡± Across from him, the suspect remained unflustered: ¡°There is no accomplice.¡± He responded with ease, showing none of the panic you¡¯d expect from a person on trial, his argument and logic flawlessly woven. ¡°It might¡¯ve been a friend or neighbor of Chen Li. They could have come in any time before or after I killed her.¡± He looked up, challenging Captain Cheng, ¡°What does that prove?¡± This guy must have rehearsed everything before turning himself in, not a trace was out of place. Captain Cheng sat back down, suppressing the urge to beat the criminal senseless: ¡°Then what evidence do you have to prove that you were the one who killed her?¡± He stayed silent for a moment, then took off the watch on his right wrist and placed it on the table: ¡°There should still be Chen Li¡¯s blood on it. I got it on there when I killed her.¡± ¡°You got the victim¡¯s blood on it and didn¡¯t clean it, just so you could have it when you surrendered?¡± He didn¡¯t confirm or deny. Captain Cheng picked up the watch, weighed it in his hand, and examined it for a moment: ¡°This is Luo Changde¡¯s watch.¡± That limited edition watch that was photographed on the cruise. ¡°He gave it to me last month.¡± Captain Cheng glanced at his right hand: ¡°Did you push Jiang Zhi into the sea?¡± Without hesitation, he said: ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°What was the motive?¡± ¡°He was on that level too. I suspected he saw something.¡± ¡°Suspected?¡± Captain Cheng ground his back teeth, ¡°Just on suspicion, you decided to kill?¡± Han Feng lifted his gaze, defiant: ¡°Why not? Officer.¡± Captain Cheng couldn¡¯t hold back and threw a stack of files directly onto his head. After leaving the interrogation room, Captain Cheng was still fuming. Vice Captain Xing handed him a cup of coffee: ¡°Was Han Feng¡¯s testimony all lies?¡± ¡°Half-true, half-false.¡± That was what he feared. If Han Feng was an accomplice, the half-true, half-false testimony would be hard to overturn. Captain Cheng passed the evidence bag with the watch to Vice Captain Xing: ¡°Take this watch to forensics for testing.¡± Three days later, the results came back. The watch indeed still had traces of the victim Chen Li¡¯s blood, and even Han Feng¡¯s blood. They had the murder weapon and the physical evidence. The same day, Luo Changde¡¯s lawyer requested his release. The police refused, citing Luo Changde as having given false testimony on behalf of Han Feng. Luo Changde¡¯s lawyer claimed Luo had not been wearing the watch on the cruise at the time and had given wrong timing, leading to the false testimony by mistake. He was prepared to take legal responsibility, and after a righteous proclamation, Luo Changde¡¯s lawyer filed a request for bail, managing to get him out. On Christmas Eve, Luo Changde was released. Captain Cheng watched the beast leave the police station with a smile on his face and bit his teeth to hold himself back from chasing him down and beating him, looking to the people around him: ¡°Just like that, we¡¯re letting him go?¡± Qiao Nanchu, arms crossed, resting one foot on the ground and the other on the chair, asked, ¡°Otherwise?¡± Captain Cheng was not satisfied: ¡°The one who pushed Jiang Zhi into the sea and the murderer of Chen Li both wore watches on their left hand. But Han Feng is left-handed. He normally wears a watch on his right hand. That means it¡¯s very possible that Han Feng only hired someone to commit the murders, and the real culprit behind both the sexual assault and murder of Duan Xi and the killing of Chen Li is Luo Changde.¡± The bloodstain found on Chen Li¡¯s clothes from a watch reinforced this: its position and orientation clearly implied the killer wore it on the left hand. Qiao Nanchu was unperturbed: ¡°Personal habits can¡¯t be used as evidence. He could just say his hand was hurting that day and he switched the watch to the other hand.¡± That¡¯s exactly what Han Feng had said! He didn¡¯t even wait for the police to ask, he had plugged that hole in his own story. Captain Cheng felt an urge to hit someone. Qiao Nanchu unfolded his leg, began to flip through the files thrown on the table, and pushed them towards Captain Cheng: ¡°Han Feng had gastric cancer surgery five years ago, and a month ago was diagnosed with a recurrence. His wife and child have already been sent out of the country by Luo Qinghe. It¡¯s nearly impossible to get him to spill the beans on Luo Changde.¡± Captain Cheng was in disbelief: ¡°All this was manipulated by Luo Qinghe?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± The thought was chilling¡ªno wonder they say hell hath no fury like a woman scorned. Listening to all this, Captain Cheng felt an icy shiver down his spine: ¡°So meticulously executed, this woman must¡¯ve done such things more than once.¡± Qiao Nanchu offered neither confirmation nor denial: ¡°Each of her secretaries has never worked for more than a year. Do you know why?¡± ¡°Why?¡± Qiao Nanchu stood up, patted Captain Cheng on the shoulder, and whispered in his ear: ¡°Because they all ended up in prison.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Captain Cheng felt a chill run down his spine. Qiao Nanchu left the police station and made a phone call to Jiang Zhi: ¡°Luo Changde has been acquitted.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± He took out a cigarette, placed it in his mouth, and searched his pants pocket for a lighter. Lighting it up, he took a drag: ¡°What do you plan to do?¡± Jiang Zhi was in a car, and you could hear the sound of wind: ¡°If honorable methods don¡¯t work, then it¡¯s time to take a different path.¡± Qiao Nanchu smiled: ¡°Like?¡± Jiang Zhi coughed with playful weariness, her voice laden with lethargy as if it seeped into her very bones, lacking energy: ¡°Like using some unorthodox methods.¡± Qiao Nanchu jokingly scolded her for messing around. ¡°I¡¯ve been messing around for more than just a day or two,¡± Jiang Zhi said, calling out to stop the car, then added, ¡°No rush, the Luo family members have to be sent to prison one by one.¡± That night, a crescent moon and a few scattered stars adorned the sky. Across from the police station, a black Land Rover was parked. After Luo Changde bid farewell to his lawyer, he walked across to the Land Rover, checked the license plate, and asked the person in the driver¡¯s seat, ¡°Are you the driver called by Qinghe?¡± The person bowed their head, a baseball cap hiding their face: ¡°Mhm.¡± Luo Changde then got into the car. The Land Rover sped off, quickly getting onto the overpass. In the back seat, Luo Changde closed his eyes for a brief rest. Around fifteen minutes later, he was awakened by the wind outside the window, yawned, and looked out. The streetlamps glowed a dim yellow, and it was quiet outside. Luo Changde suddenly sat up straight, ¡°Where are we headed?¡± This wasn¡¯t the way to the Luo Family¡¯s home! The person driving lifted their head, their face covered by a mask, and hit the gas, entering a tunnel. In the dull gloom, a chilling and cold voice came through, ¡°The road to the Yellow Springs.¡± It was a woman¡¯s voice, low and cold, and sharp. A chill ran down Luo Changde¡¯s back as he lost color in shock, ¡°Who are you?!¡± The steering wheel was suddenly jerked, and the car turned into an underpass below a bridge. The person at the wheel turned around, wearing special glasses that made it impossible to discern the color of her eyes¡ªjust a dark mass. The wind was loud, but her voice pierced through, ¡°A professional errand runner, Z.¡± Upon hearing this, Luo Changde¡¯s complexion drastically changed. The car stopped by the seaside, at the very stretch of sea where Jiang Zhi had fallen into the water. Zhou Xufang unbuckled the seatbelt, turned around, ¡°Have you heard of my name?¡± She had no intention of doing anything illegal or disorderly. It¡¯s just that since Jiang Zhi had swallowed a few gulps of water here, she decided this fellow should drink some too. Of course, she couldn¡¯t expose herself. So, she decided to deceive him, ¡°Since you¡¯ve heard of me, you should know I¡¯m in the business of taking money to ward off disasters for others.¡± Luo Changde, as soon as he heard this, immediately asked, ¡°Who hired you?¡± Who indeed? She hadn¡¯t thought that far ahead, ¡°You guess?¡± Her forced smile made her seem like a female ghost. Luo Changde, having heard of professional errand runners before, was terrified and spoke rashly in his panic, ¡°Is it Luo Qinghe? Did she send you to kill and silence me?¡± Murder and silence¡­ What apt words. Zhou Xufang opened the car door, got out, walked to the back, and dragged Luo Changde out from the back seat. The car was stopped close to a streetlamp, under bright light. Luo Changde, being lifted by one hand, was terrified, and when he struggled in panic, he looked up. Only then did Zhou Xufang see his full face clearly. That face¡­ She was only startled for a moment before Luo Changde took his chance, stabbing the pen tip he had been gripping into her shoulder socket. The force left her hand, and he tumbled to the ground. The pen had been plunged deep, blood seeping out and staining her clothes instantly, yet her eyebrow didn¡¯t twitch as she pulled the pen from her shoulder and raised it to stab into Luo Changde¡¯s back¡ª Suddenly, the headlights of a passing vehicle flashed¡ªa glaringly bright light, like fire, like a raging inferno. ¡°Don¡¯t scream.¡± The man¡¯s gruff voice was pressing. ¡°Don¡¯t scream.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t shout.¡± ¡°It¡¯ll be over quickly.¡± ¡°You¡¯ll soon be free.¡± The firelight was too bright, blinding. She couldn¡¯t see anything clearly, but faintly she saw a plump hand holding a hammer, striking repeatedly. Bang, bang, bang¡­ Zhou Xufang¡¯s hand holding the pen began to tremble. She staggered, the pen falling to the ground, blood still on her hand. She numbly lifted it up to her right chest. It was a steel bar, a thick one being hammered under the hammer¡­ She could barely stand, staggering continuously. Behind her, Luo Changde got up from the ground, picked up a stone, and approached from behind, slowly lifting the rock¡ª Suddenly, his hand was grabbed. He turned around, his eyes wide in shock, ¡°Jiang, Jiang Zhi.¡± Under the streetlamp, Jiang Zhi¡¯s face was almost translucently white, yet his eyes were pitch black, matching the dense night behind him like an indissoluble spot of ink. He seized the stone and without hesitation, smashed it onto Luo Changde¡¯s forehead. Luo Changde collapsed, blood pouring from his head. Jiang Zhi dropped the stone and reached out to steady the staggering Zhou Xufang. ¡°Xufang.¡± She turned to look at him, her pupils lifeless, about to fall backward. ¡°Xufang!¡± She fell into his arms, her eyes vacant, as if unable to breathe, her mouth gaping, gasping, ¡°There¡¯s¡­ a steel bar¡­¡± Jiang Zhi saw the blood on her chest, and panic took over. He couldn¡¯t hear clearly, so he removed her mask, ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Fang Bao?¡± Her eyes were red, trembling in terror. ¡°Here,¡± she shook, taking Jiang Zhi¡¯s hand and placing it over her chest, like a fish out of water, mouth agape, ¡°here¡­ a steel bar has been nailed¡­¡± A hand was holding a hammer, driving the steel bar, bit by bit, into her chest. Chapter 127: 127: Go to sleep at Jiang Zhis place, Jiang Zhi checks Fang Bao Chapter 127: 127: Go to sleep at Jiang Zhi¡¯s place, Jiang Zhi checks Fang Bao A hand held a hammer, driving the steel bar into her chest bit by bit. ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± She whimpered softly, calling him twice before passing out. Jiang Zhi took off his coat, wrapped her in it, and carefully held her in his arms as he walked toward the car. Stunned, Ah Wan hurriedly followed. ... Jiang Zhi looked back and glanced at him, ¡°You stay.¡± The unsettled Ah Wan stammered, ¡°What?¡± Jiang Zhi gave a concise and clear order, ¡°Clean up the blood on the ground and that rock.¡± Ah Wan exclaimed, ¡°!¡± Getting rid of the corpse and destroying evidence! Ah Wan looked at the ¡°corpse,¡± the ¡°murder weapon,¡± and the crime scene¡¯s ¡°evidence¡± in horror, shivering and stammering, ¡°Boss, I¡¯m afraid.¡± He was a witness, after all. No, he couldn¡¯t be an accomplice. ¡°Boss, I¡¯m afraid of going to jail¡­¡± ¡°She¡¯s not dead,¡± Jiang Zhi looked at him as if he were an idiot, ¡°Idiot!¡± Ah Wan, ¡°¡­¡± He was nearly scared to death! There were no hospitals nearby, and Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t trust taking Zhou Xufang to one, so he took her to a Chinese medicine clinic instead. It was not even nine o¡¯clock, and the clinic was already closed. Jiang Zhi, holding Zhou Xufang in both hands and drenched in sweat, kicked the door repeatedly with his feet until someone inside made a noise. ¡°Stop knocking; there¡¯s nobody here.¡± Jiang Zhi continued to kick, each kick harder than the last. The person inside became impatient and roared, ¡°I told you to stop knocking!¡± ¡°It¡¯s me, Jiang Zhi.¡± The person in the clinic was an acquaintance, the old teacher of Xue Bingxue, a middle-aged, single man who was nearing old age. The middle-aged single man angrily said, ¡°Even if it¡¯s you, I¡¯m not opening!¡± His tone was extremely annoyed, ¡°We are closed for the day, come back tomorrow.¡± Jiang Zhi continued to kick, ¡°Open up, or I¡¯ll set a fire.¡± Damned kid! Bang! The door was yanked open, and the middle-aged single man, who was wrapped in an old army coat, had a face as black as coal, ¡°What do you want in the middle of the night!¡± Ji Feifan, a man, 49 years old but with the face of a 59-year-old, the stride of a 69-year-old, the hair of a 79-year-old, and yet the mental age of a 29-year-old, was a third-generation single heir ¡°old Chinese medicine practitioner.¡± Xue Bingxue was studying Chinese medicine under him. Jiang Zhi, holding a person, bypassed him and entered, ¡°My girlfriend is injured; please check her quickly.¡± Ji Feifan touched the sparse strands of graying hair on his head and glanced at the patient, ¡°Lay her on the bed.¡± Jiang Zhi carefully placed her on the examination bed, pulled the blanket, and covered her precisely. Ji Feifan yawned, dragging his ¡®elderly¡¯ pace, and asked while inspecting, ¡°What did you stab her with?¡± ¡°A pen.¡± Jiang Zhi glared at him dissatisfiedly, urging, ¡°Hurry up!¡± Ji Feifan could be explosive too, glanced sideways at Jiang Zhi, ¡°What¡¯s the rush; it¡¯s a minor flesh wound, she won¡¯t die.¡± Checking the bleeding, he rubbed his eyes, ¡°Take off her clothes first.¡± After saying that, he wiped away the physiological tears caused by being too sleepy and shuffled in his slippers to fetch medicine. Jiang Zhi sat at the bedside, hesitated for a few seconds, then reached to undo Zhou Xufang¡¯s clothes. Just as he touched her collar, she suddenly opened her eyes and grabbed his hand. Awake? She was still a bit groggy, her gaze vacant, ¡°Are you going to take off my clothes?¡± Jiang Zhi nodded, his face even paler than Zhou Xufang¡¯s, ¡°I need to treat the wound.¡± He unzipped her coat. She immediately held his hand, ¡°Don¡¯t take it off.¡± Her consciousness slowly returning, slightly dehydrated, her lips dry, she licked them and said, ¡°I¡¯m already fine.¡± Jiang Zhi still felt like he was hanging in mid-air, unable to find solid footing, scared, panicked, and flustered. Her trembling just now had left him still trembling, and now she was lively again, climbing off the exam bed and standing on the floor, even jumping a bit. ¡°Really, I¡¯m already fine.¡± Fearing he wouldn¡¯t believe her, she continued to jump. This girl, trying to kill him. Jiang Zhi¡¯s heart was still racing, unable to calm down, his face looking worse than hers, palms sweating coldly. He grabbed her, ¡°Stop jumping.¡± Bending down, he picked her up and placed her back on the bed, ¡°I won¡¯t look, can you apply the medicine yourself?¡± She didn¡¯t want him to see her wound. Then he wouldn¡¯t look. Zhou Xufang then lay down quietly, ¡°Okay.¡± Jiang Zhi worried about her wound, his brows deeply furrowed, and he was upset and impatient, urging, ¡°Is the medicine ready yet?¡± Ji Feifan turned and yelled back, ¡°Nagging, nagging, nagging, what are you nagging for!¡± He gathered the medicine and bandages on a tray and brought it over, glanced at the patient, ¡°Why haven¡¯t you taken off her clothes yet?¡± Zhou Xufang could tell that Jiang Zhi and the doctor knew each other, so she greeted him proactively, ¡°Hello, Grandpa.¡± ¡°¡­¡± A death stare from the middle-aged single man: ¡°I¡¯m only forty-nine.¡± S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Zhou Xufang¡¯s expression management was really poor; the ¡®Is this for real? Can¡¯t believe it!¡¯ expression was all over his face, but then he corrected himself, ¡°Hello, Uncle.¡± Ji Feifan had already forgotten how many times thirty-something-year-olds had called him Grandpa; he was so numb to it, he grunted, not bothering to argue with the young girl, ¡°Let¡¯s apply the medicine first.¡± She subconsciously zipped up her jacket, ¡°Can I apply the medicine myself?¡± This girl, so guarded, looked like her injury wasn¡¯t serious, with a frightened and uneasy gaze, more like someone who had been scared. Ji Feifan set down the tray and glanced at the blood stains on the girl¡¯s clothes, ¡°Has the bleeding stopped?¡± ¡°Yes, it stopped,¡± Zhou Xufang added, ¡°The cut is small.¡± He put on gloves, ignoring the ¡®sinister¡¯ look from the guy next to the girl, and pressed around the wound, ¡°Does it hurt?¡± Zhou Xufang honestly replied, ¡°It doesn¡¯t hurt.¡± Her wound must have mostly healed by now, as she didn¡¯t feel anything when pressed. ¡°Raise your hand above your head.¡± She did as told, raising her hand high and even moving it in circles a couple of times. The old traditional Chinese medicine doctor Ji Feifan then asked her, ¡°Is there ink in the pen?¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s a very new pen.¡± The artery wasn¡¯t hit, nor were the nerves, just a minor flesh wound. Look how panicked someone is! Ji Feifan rolled his eyes at Jiang Zhi, ¡°First clean the wound with this, then apply the powder, and lastly the ointment. This is to be taken orally, three times a day.¡± He pushed the medicine to the side, took off his gloves, threw them in the trash, yawned, ¡°Handle it yourself; I¡¯m going to sleep. Help me close the door when you leave.¡± Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t say a word, still looking like he was owed a billion dollars. Zhou Xufang responded, ¡°Okay.¡± And thanked him, ¡°Thank you, Uncle.¡± Ji Feifan shuffled upstairs in his slippers. Jiang Zhi remained silent, watching Zhou Xufang, wanting to ask many questions. But as the words reached his lips, he couldn¡¯t utter them, afraid she might cry, afraid she might react like before, appearing like she was on the brink of death, trapped in fear. He drew the curtain, ¡°I¡¯ll be outside, call me if you need anything.¡± The moment the curtain closed Zhou Xufang lowered her eyelashes, taking deep breaths. She couldn¡¯t hear those voices anymore, but her heart was still tight. She sat quietly for a while, pulled down her clothes, the pen-stab wound was beginning to scab over and would heal by tomorrow, but she still applied all the medicines. A half-inch away from that wound was a round scar; she covered it with her palm, gently stroking it. Turns out, it was from a steel nail. She took a few deep breaths, ¡°I¡¯m okay now.¡± Jiang Zhi opened the curtain, walked over, and looked at her face and injured shoulder. His brow never relaxed, his eyes still dark: ¡°Are you really alright?¡± She nodded, ¡°Yeah.¡± She stood up from the bed, moved her arm to show him, ¡°It doesn¡¯t hurt anymore, and it¡¯s not bleeding.¡± Jiang Zhi placed his hand on her shoulder, keeping her from moving. He could guess something about her injury. She wasn¡¯t speaking, still had concerns. He didn¡¯t ask either; this girl didn¡¯t seem to realize where his limits and tolerance were. He placed his hand over her chest, ¡°Tell me when you¡¯re ready to talk.¡± It wasn¡¯t that he wasn¡¯t curious, just that he didn¡¯t dare to ask, afraid he might say something wrong and touch her wound. He was truly afraid, afraid she would cry like before, not hysterically, but just trembling in fear, and he found it unbearably distressing. ¡°I¡¯ll take you home.¡± He withdrew his hand. Zhou Xufang immediately grabbed his hand, ¡°Jiang Zhi,¡± her eyes still showing timid fear, she softly pleaded, ¡°Can you take me to your house tonight? I don¡¯t want to sleep alone.¡± She was very afraid. Jiang Zhi patted her head, ¡°Okay.¡± She was silent all the way, holding his hand tightly. When they arrived at Qingshan Mansion, he carried her upstairs. She was no longer shy, hugging his neck tightly and pressing her face into his chest. Even if passersby glanced their way, she didn¡¯t move away, burrowing into him. Jiang Zhi set her on the sofa, ¡°I¡¯ll go get you some clothes, you go wash up. Don¡¯t let the wound touch the water.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± As she tried to get up, Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t let her, carrying her to the bathroom instead and waited outside the door for a while. Only when he heard the sound of water did he go to the wardrobe to fetch her clothing. His phone on the table rang. Jiang Zhi answered. It was Ah Wan: ¡°Boss, Luo Changde has already been sent to the hospital.¡± Ah Wan was breathing heavily, ¡°He didn¡¯t die.¡± Jiang Zhi asked, ¡°Which hospital?¡± Why? Did he want to finish the job since the guy hadn¡¯t died? Ah Wan was nervous, hesitating for a long half a minute, also afraid to hide anything, covered the phone and quietly answered, ¡°Fifth Renmin Hospital.¡± Jiang Zhi hummed a response, and that was it. But Ah Wan had more, his biggest question was, ¡°Boss, that, that¡­¡± ¡°Stop beating around the bush.¡± Tonight, the boss¡¯s tone was especially daunting. Ah Wan pat his chest, gathering courage, ¡°I think I heard you call that errand runner Zhou Xu.¡± He was standing far away and didn¡¯t see the face clearly, ¡°I must have heard wrong, right? How could Miss Zhou possibly be¡ª¡± that scum. His words were cut off. Jiang Zhi¡¯s voice was icy, ¡°Keep your mouth shut. If you let this slip, whether deliberately or not, I will kill you.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Ah Wan shivered, ¡°I wouldn¡¯t dare¡­¡± His lips trembled weakly, but his heart thundered like a stampede. Holy shit shit shit shit shit! The virtuous, kind-hearted, gentle Miss Zhou was actually scum! As expected, a woman¡¯s heart is as unfathomable as the ocean! Ah Wan clutched at his heart, took a deep breath, and decided to say something nice to soothe his shocked boss, ¡°So Miss Zhou had taken a liking to you that early.¡± He hadn¡¯t forgotten how that professional errand runner had once pressed down on his boss! There had even been touching! But, it was quite sensational. A million-word novel formed in Ah Wan¡¯s mind, ¡°Desiring your body is also desiring you, a love that starts with the body¡ª¡± ¡°Dudu dudu dudu dudu¡­¡± The call was hung up! Ah Wan looked up at the sky, sighed, and felt that the world still needed more love and respect. Zhou Xufang was still washing up, Jiang Zhi hung up on Ah Wan¡¯s call, sat for a while, then dialed another number. ¡°Mr. Jiang?¡± It was Vice President Sun from the Fifth Renmin Hospital. Jiang Zhi walked to the balcony, glanced at the bathroom, and lowered his voice, ¡°It¡¯s me.¡± Vice President Sun was pleasantly surprised, ¡°What can I do for you this late?¡± Jiang Zhi had smoked when he was eighteen, casually, without remembering why he had quit, with no real addiction¡ªbut now, feeling agitated, he craved a smoke. He took out a bag of marshmallows instead, unwrapped one, and popped it in his mouth, ¡°I need a favor from Vice President Sun.¡± ¡°Anything, Mr. Jiang.¡± He chewed on the candy but couldn¡¯t taste any sweetness, ¡°Do you know Luo Changde?¡± Vice President Sun hesitated for three seconds, ¡°I do?¡± Of course, he did. The Luo Family was well-known in Imperial City. Jiang Zhi crumpled the candy wrapper into a ball and threw it in the trash, ¡°Don¡¯t kill him¡ªtorment him for a few more days.¡± The hospitals in Imperial City were mostly under the Jiang Family¡¯s control. Killing someone was easy, making their life worse than death was also easy. Vice President Sun was shocked for a long time before responding, ¡°I, I understand.¡± Just then, click, the bathroom door opened. Zhou Xufang¡¯s eyes were wet as she came out, ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± Her hair was also washed, wrapped up in a towel. Jiang Zhi set his phone down, ¡°Come here.¡± She walked over in a pair of pink slippers. Not just the slippers, the towel, clothes, and even the toothbrush and shower gel in the bathroom were all pink. Jiang Zhi pulled her to sit on the couch, scattered her hair, and patiently dried it with a towel, ¡°Did you get water on your wound?¡± She bowed her head, exposing the top of her head, ¡°No.¡± Jiang Zhi first set down the towel, took the medicine Ji Feifan had prescribed, placed it in Zhou Xufang¡¯s hand, then got up to pour a glass of warm water, ¡°Take the medicine first.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Zhou Xufang obediently swallowed the pills. After taking the medicine, she set the cup down, pulled at the clothes she was wearing, and showed them to Jiang Zhi, ¡°Jiang Zhi, whose clothes are these?¡± ¡°Pink, who do you think?¡± he pulled her up, led her to the wardrobe, pointed to the left side which was his, and then showed her the right side, ¡°It¡¯s all yours.¡± Clothes, shoes, everything she liked, all in her favorite pink. She was very happy, hugged Jiang Zhi¡¯s arm, and nuzzled him, ¡°You¡¯re amazing; you even know my size.¡± Jiang Zhi chuckled, went into the wardrobe, and grabbed a knitted home coat for her, helping her put it on, ¡°You learn after a few hugs.¡± His hand lingered on her chest, fastening buttons, ¡°Is the underwear too big?¡± A suddenly feverish Zhou Xufang, ¡°¡­No.¡± Embarrassed, she looked away, then caught sight of the whole wall behind her covered in pink wallpaper, and the tatami on the balcony strewn with pink rabbit dolls. Cups on the shelves, pillows on the couch, wind chimes on the hallway wall, all were warm shades of pink. She was surprised, ¡°So much pink.¡± Jiang Zhi¡¯s house originally had a stern, minimalist style, but this alteration made it particularly girlish. Jiang Zhi led her to sit on the couch, picked up the towel again, and continued drying her hair, ¡°Do you like it?¡± She nodded earnestly, ¡°When did you do this?¡± ¡°After I visited your house,¡± he said, ¡°It was too bleak there.¡± She hugged his waist and burrowed into his embrace, smiling like a contented cat, ¡°Jiang Zhi, you are so good.¡± He wasn¡¯t good. He was only kind and gentle to her alone. Covering her head with the towel, he cradled her face, leaned down to peck all over her face¡ªfrom her forehead to her chin, finally lingering on her lips, gently rubbing them, ¡°Still scared?¡± She shook her head, her eyes bright, ¡°Not anymore.¡± ¡°Xufang.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± He was silent for a while, hugged her tightly, his voice barely audible, ¡°Tell me, who nailed you with a steel bar?¡± She could avoid other questions, talk if she wanted. But not this one. He couldn¡¯t forget how she shivered and cried by the sea, nor dared he think of the image when a steel rod was nailed into her chest. Before, he had never believed in feeling another¡¯s pain, but now he did. All the hardships and tortures she had endured, he felt them all again in his heart. ¡°I don¡¯t remember,¡± she said softly, shrinking into his embrace, ¡°I was sold abroad when I was a child, I don¡¯t remember anything before that.¡± She didn¡¯t remember who nailed her, only the hammer, that piece of steel rod, and the splash of blood in her vision, plus that plump hand. She didn¡¯t know why these memories suddenly came up, perhaps it was because of the wound from a fountain pen stab, or maybe it was because of Luo Changde¡¯s face which she found strangely yet terrifyingly unfamiliar. ¡°When I was little,¡± she said slowly, ¡°I must have been abused.¡± Therefore, she was afraid of many things¡ªroses, fire, hammers, steel rods, Luo Changde¡¯s face¡­ Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t speak, his hands shaking slightly as he held her. He held her so tightly that she almost couldn¡¯t breathe, yet she didn¡¯t hide. She rested her head on his shoulder, babbling, ¡°I¡¯m fine now.¡± ¡°I met you, now I¡¯m fine.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t remember the past anymore, it won¡¯t make me sad.¡± ¡°I am still very fortunate.¡± ¡°Jiang Zhi, don¡¯t be sad either.¡± ¡°¡­¡± She placed her hand on Jiang Zhi¡¯s back, gently patting, gently soothing. The injuries she suffered from all the tumult she went through were hers, yet she was comforting him, asking him not to be sad, not to feel her pain. Jiang Zhi buried his face in her shoulder, his eyes turning red. This fool, who neither resented nor hated, unlike him, full of vengeance, wanting to reciprocate the pain inflicted on her a thousandfold, even if it meant killing and arson, in this sinful world, he feared no crime. At night, Zhou Xufang had a dream and couldn¡¯t wake up, crying incessantly. ¡°Xufang.¡± Jiang Zhi got up to turn on the light, and kneeling by her side, he called her, ¡°Xufang.¡± ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± She didn¡¯t wake up; her hands struggled and her voice mumbled his name unclearly. ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± He picked her up, kissing her continuously, ¡°I¡¯m here.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid, I¡¯m here.¡± ¡°Fang Bao, don¡¯t cry anymore.¡± ¡°Please, don¡¯t cry.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t wake up, didn¡¯t see the tears about to fall from Jiang Zhi¡¯s eyes. The first half of the night it rained, then late into the night the wind and rain stopped, making it exceptionally quiet. A phone placed on the cabinet suddenly vibrated, the sound in the night comparable to a sinister ringing. The person under the blanket turned over, not wanting to deal with it, but the phone rang incessantly, persistently. Qiao Nanchu cursed rudely, annoyed as he answered, ¡°Do you even know what time it is?¡± Three in the morning. Jiang Zhi still hadn¡¯t a trace of sleepiness, his mood heavy, matching the outside sky, ¡°I need your help with something.¡± Qiao Nanchu was irritable, turned on the light, and sat up, ¡°Can¡¯t you find me during the day?¡± His temper was not good after his sleep was disturbed, ¡°Speak.¡± Jiang Zhi¡¯s voice was low and slightly hoarse, ¡°Professional errand runner Z, by any means necessary, help me thoroughly investigate her past. I want to know everything about it.¡± Through the phone, Qiao Nanchu could feel the heavy atmosphere on the other end. That feeling, it was like eight years ago when the Luo Family¡¯s child disappeared, and Jiang Zhi was just like this, full of a deadly aura, unstoppable, even setting fire to the Luo Family¡¯s house. Qiao Nanchu sensed something was off, ¡°Give me a reason.¡± Silence fell on the other end of the line for a moment. ¡°She is Zhou Xufang.¡± Qiao Nanchu¡¯s cigarette dropped as he touched it, ¡°Jiang Zhi,¡± it seemed unbelievable to him, ¡°you have hidden this from me for so long.¡± The reason from Jiang Zhi was, ¡°You are still somewhat a police officer.¡± ¡°Are you afraid I¡¯d arrest her?¡± He didn¡¯t confirm or deny. Qiao Nanchu gave a chuckle and cursed, ¡°She was active abroad before, it¡¯s hard to check, but I¡¯ll try.¡± ¡°Thanks.¡± Jiang Zhi rarely thanked anyone so formally. It was all for his wife. Qiao Nanchu laughed, ¡°What kind of girlfriend did you find anyway?¡± She looked like an naive young girl, shy around strangers, yet she was someone people feared. He had been searching for years and hadn¡¯t caught even a tail. That shameless Jiang Zhi replied, ¡°The best girlfriend in the entire world.¡± ¡°Get lost.¡± Qiao Nanchu hung up the phone. There, Jiang Zhi quietly returned to the bedroom, lifted the blanket and lay down, pulling the girl beside him into his arms. She slept restlessly, her brow always furrowed. He leaned down, his kiss landing between her brows, ¡°From now on, I won¡¯t let anyone bully you.¡± Those who had made her suffer, just wait, he would settle every account one by one. Chapter 128: 128: Loving and sweet Chapter 128: 128: Loving and sweet The next morning at seven o¡¯clock, Luo Changde was rushed into the ICU. When Luo Qinghe arrived, Luo Changde had not yet regained consciousness. At this time, her voice was the only sound that could be heard in the entire hospital corridor, ¡°What exactly happened?¡± ¡°We haven¡¯t found out yet.¡± The man named Shen Yue was her new secretary, in his thirties, with a square face and crew cut, appearing stiff and serious. ¡°What about the surveillance?¡± Shen Yue said, ¡°The surveillance along that route is all malfunctioning.¡± ... All the surveillance malfunctioning meant that someone had done it on purpose. At that moment, the door to the ward opened, and a nurse came out, ¡°The patient is awake.¡± Luo Qinghe asked if she could visit. The nurse said it was possible and led her to change into a sterile isolation gown. Luo Changde had suffered a head injury and undergone a craniotomy. He had just woken up and was still wearing an oxygen mask, lying there with labored breaths. Luo Qinghe glanced at the tubes covering his body, expressionless, ¡°Who did this?¡± Luo Changde couldn¡¯t move his body, only his fingers twitched. His face was ashen, his lips pallid, faltering as he exhaled the words, ¡°Jiang, Zhi.¡± At the mention of Jiang Zhi, Luo Qinghe¡¯s face turned cold. ¡°Did you provoke him again? How many times have I told you not to mess with him?¡± Luo Changde, still under the effect of the anesthetic, couldn¡¯t move his head, his lips trembling, ¡°You¡ª¡± His eyes blazed with fury as he ground his teeth, ¡°You¡ª¡± His speech was intermittent, and he couldn¡¯t get the words out; the line on the heart monitor surged dramatically. Luo Qinghe couldn¡¯t clearly hear what he was saying, leaning in closer, ¡°What are you saying?¡± Luo Changde bit his teeth, enunciating each word deliberately, ¡°You, hired, someone.¡± Hearing the muffled words, Luo Qinghe stood upright, arms folded, looking down at him, ¡°What are you talking about exactly?¡± Shivering, Luo Changde removed his oxygen mask, his lips quivering palely, squeezing out each word from his throat, ¡°Professional, errand, Z.¡± Upon hearing the final word, Luo Qinghe frowned slightly, ¡°Professional errand runner Z?¡± His eyelids suddenly propped open as he stared at her accusingly, ¡°It was you!¡± Only then did she understand the whole story. What a hefty load of slander. Yet her demeanor remained unchanged, her smirk like a non-smirk, she calmly corrected, ¡°Not me.¡± Luo Changde clearly didn¡¯t believe her, eyes burning with rage, again removing his oxygen mask, his face turning blue with suffocation, his eyes rolling back¡ªhe was about to faint. Luo Qinghe stepped forward, fitting the oxygen mask back onto him without immediately moving her hand away, trailing it along the oxygen supply tube to the ventilator, ¡°I didn¡¯t hire anyone. This matter has nothing to do with me.¡± She leaned in, her neatly trimmed nails tapping lightly on the ventilator, her eyes narrow, sharp like the edge of a knife, ¡°Don¡¯t you believe me?¡± Believe? The Luo Family only trusts themselves. ¡°If I wanted to go against you¡­¡± She left her statement hanging, with an implicit threat, and removed her hand from the ventilator. Rising to her feet, she examined her own hand in the light, half her face shrouded in the dim light, flickering on and off, ¡°Was it Z who said, I hired her?¡± The man on the bed was infuriated to the point of rupturing, opening his mouth but producing no sound, his breathing growing heavier. ¡°Beep¡ªBeep¡ªBeep¡ª¡± The heart monitor suddenly sounded an alarm. Luo Changde was once again rushed into the emergency room. Zhou Xufang awoke at ten o¡¯clock in the morning. It had rained last night, but today the weather was not bad, with thin sunlight seeping through the cracks of the window. She opened her eyes and stared blankly at the ceiling for a moment before rubbing her eyes. ¡°Awake?¡± Jiang Zhi was standing at the door, it was uncertain how long he had been there. Stretching her arms, Zhou Xufang felt around and grabbed a handful of candy. She pulled out two pieces and blinked sleepily, ¡°Why is there candy under the pillow?¡± ¡°It¡¯s Christmas today.¡± He sat on the bed and wrapped her along with the blanket in a hug, smoothing the hair that had been bent during her sleep, ¡°Whatever you want, I¡¯ll grant it.¡± He bowed his head, wanting to give her a kiss. Zhou Xufang dodged, ¡°Need to brush teeth first.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Can¡¯t she get a little romantic?! He fished her out from under the covers, picked up her slippers, and put them on for her, ¡°Go brush your teeth first.¡± She yawned and headed for the bathroom; he followed and went in too. As she brushed her teeth, he stood by the sink watching her. After brushing her teeth, she asked, ¡°No need to go to the set today?¡± Turning on the tap, she cupped some cold water and splashed it on her face. Jiang Zhi caught her hand, shook off the water in it, and adjusted the cold to warm, ¡°I¡¯m off today, we¡¯re going out on a date.¡± She stopped washing her face and asked with high spirits, ¡°Where are we going?¡± ¡°Amusement park.¡± He grabbed a towel, soaked it, and started to wipe her face for her, ¡°Have you been before?¡± ¡°No.¡± Things she hadn¡¯t played with, things she hadn¡¯t eaten, he wanted to provide them all for her. After wetting her face, Jiang Zhi squeezed a bit of facial cleanser and scrubbed it haphazardly before spreading it over her face. He had never helped anyone wash their face, and it got everywhere, but he was having so much fun. He caught her and rubbed a face full of bubbles on her. ¡°I¡¯ll take you on the merry-go-round.¡± Bubbles smeared all over Zhou Xufang¡¯s face, she laughed with her eyes shut, her eyelashes fluttering, ¡°Okay.¡± Jiang Zhi leaned in to kiss her; she dodged backward, smearing a mouthful of foam on him. They had takeout for breakfast. Jiang Zhi had a bowl of porridge, a crystal bun, and a dumpling, while Zhou Xufang had three bowls of porridge, a plate of crystal buns, and a plate of dumplings. The clothes they went out in were chosen by Jiang Zhi, and Zhou Xufang surprisingly discovered, ¡°Jiang Zhi, we¡¯re dressed the same.¡± He handed her a fluffy pink hat, ¡°It¡¯s not the same, this is a couple¡¯s outfit.¡± She ran to the mirror, twirled around, and sincerely admired, ¡°It¡¯s really pretty.¡± Jiang Zhi squatting in front of the cabinet, searching for shoes to match for her, suddenly remembered something, ¡°Zhou Xufang, are you wearing long johns?¡± She ran over to him clattering, ¡°No.¡± He looked up at her legs. So straight, so slender¡­ ¡°Cough cough,¡± He diverted his gaze, his ears warming, ¡°Go put them on.¡± Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t want to wear them, ¡°I¡¯m not cold.¡± He insisted, ¡°It¡¯s four degrees below zero outside.¡± He rummaged through the cabinet and pulled out the thickest pair of long johns, stuffing them into her hands, ¡°Go put them on.¡± Fine, she put on the thick, elderly-style long johns. Because it was Christmas, the amusement park was having activities; it was packed with people, especially lively. The streets outside were okay, but the atmosphere inside the park was rich with holiday cheer; everywhere, you could see staff wearing Christmas hats and Christmas trees hung with bells and string lights. Zhou Xufang looked around curiously and found it novel. She just didn¡¯t dare to step in too far, taking small, tentative steps and following behind Jiang Zhi, peeking around. ¡°There are so many people.¡± She was used to hiding and a bit scared of strangers. Jiang Zhi held her hand, fitting her mask snugly, ¡°Don¡¯t be scared, hold on tight to me.¡± She said she would, obediently snuggling into his embrace, only to sneak out after a while, tugging at Jiang Zhi¡¯s clothes, ¡°I want a super-sized ice cream.¡± A young couple walking in front of them were eating ice cream. Zhou Xufang¡¯s nose was incredibly sharp; she could smell it¡ªit was strawberry flavored. She also wanted some! S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Jiang Zhi looked at the size of the ice cream box, ¡°It¡¯s too cold, would cotton candy be okay?¡± Oh right, there¡¯s also cotton candy. She honestly expressed her desire, ¡°I want both.¡± Having no choice, Jiang Zhi had to take her to buy some; they queued for over ten minutes. Zhou Xufang asked for two boxes. Jiang Zhi only bought one. She held the strawberry-flavored ice cream, ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to have any?¡± Jiang Zhi embraced her, ¡°I¡¯ll eat what¡¯s left over from yours.¡± She scratched at the ice cream¡¯s cardboard carton, a bit embarrassed, but she still told the truth, ¡°But I can¡¯t leave any leftovers; I can eat it all myself.¡± She could finish both cartons. ¡°¡­¡± In other people¡¯s relationships, boyfriends are always eating their girlfriend¡¯s food, sweetly taking turns bite by bite, all lovey-dovey. But in his case, there¡¯s nothing left to eat. Jiang Zhi pulled her forward, ¡°I won¡¯t eat.¡± He wore a mask, and his slight irritation was evident through his peach blossom eyes. ¡°Oh.¡± Since Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t like ice cream, she might as well enjoy it by herself. She scooped a big spoonful into her hand and licked it happily, taking small bites. She was so delighted that little stars seemed to burst from her heart. Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± The girlfriend he picked out, no matter how tough, had to be spoiled. The amusement park was crowded everywhere, and there was a line for every ride. Jiang Zhi wasn¡¯t in a hurry; he first took Zhou Xufang to buy cotton candy. She didn¡¯t like the amusement park¡¯s cotton candy much, it was all artificial sweetener, too sweet, and after one bite, she didn¡¯t want it anymore. Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t eat it either, finding it too cloying, but the cotton candy was too pretty to throw away, so she had Jiang Zhi hold it. Ice cream was still the tastiest. Zhou Xufang loved it beyond words, ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± She scooped a spoonful, ¡°Open up.¡± Jiang Zhi hesitated for a while, then took off his mask and opened his mouth. Zhou Xufang fed him a bite and asked with a smile, ¡°Is it sweet?¡± To be honest, he didn¡¯t taste much but for the sight of his girl, smiling so brightly it dazzled him. If they weren¡¯t out in public, he¡¯d have grabbed her and showered her with kisses. He licked his lips, ¡°Sweet.¡± Bite by bite, how could it not be sweet? His girlfriend was the sweetest. ¡°Do you want more?¡± The Mr. Jiang who had just said he didn¡¯t want any, now smiled like an obedient, clingy cat, ¡°Yes.¡± See? He found it delicious after trying it. Zhou Xufang turned the ice cream carton upside down, revealing its empty insides, ¡°All finished.¡± She looked at him sincerely, ¡°Jiang Zhi, shall we go buy two more cartons? One for you and one for me.¡± ¡°¡­¡± One carton for you and one for me, rather than taking turns one bite at a time. Jiang Zhi put his mask back on and let go of her hand, ¡°It¡¯s too cold; you can¡¯t eat too much.¡± Elsewhere, another boyfriend said the same thing, ¡°It¡¯s too cold, you shouldn¡¯t eat too much ice cream.¡± The other girlfriend coquettishly pleaded, ¡°Dear, I want some, come on, pleaseeee.¡± With shy, small fists, she punched her boyfriend¡¯s chest and stomped her feet, her sweet voice laced with a loli tone cooing persuasively, ¡°Mmmm¡ªMmm¡ª¡± And then, the other girlfriend¡¯s boyfriend showed a face filled with doting yet helpless laughter, ¡°Alright, alright, you¡¯re irresistible.¡± In the end, the other girl¡¯s boyfriend took his girlfriend to buy ice cream. Oh. Zhou Xufang suddenly got it. She was a quick learner and immediately imitated the other girl, clutching Jiang Zhi¡¯s sleeve and, in a pinched voice, said, ¡°Dear.¡± She mimicked with earnest devotion, anxious not to misspeak, so her expression was grave. ¡°I want some.¡± She echoed flawlessly. ¡°Please.¡± She recited meticulously. ¡°Please.¡± She was precise and uncompromising. Next, she paused to recall, then held up a single fist. Careful not to hurt him, she gently tapped Jiang Zhi¡¯s chest, a light pat, ¡°Mmm¡ª¡± The key was to draw out the sound. She tapped again, ¡°Mmm¡ª¡± continuing to elongate it. Oh, one more, ¡°Mmm¡ª¡± Lastly, she stomped her foot, perfectly concluding the act. Jiang Zhi, utterly overwhelmed by the sudden cuteness, ¡°¡­How many cartons you want?¡± Buy, buy, buy, buy them all! He¡¯d even get the stars from the sky for her. Cold yet endearingly unaware, the old cadre Zhou Xufang held up two fingers. While queueing for ice cream, Zhou Xufang kept looking at others, seven or eight times, and on her last look, she maintained it for seven or eight seconds. Jiang Zhi tugged at the pompom on her hat and called her by her full name, ¡°Zhou Xufang.¡± ¡°Mm.¡± She still didn¡¯t turn back. Jiang Zhi was about to get angry and gave a hard tug, skewing her hat: ¡°Why do you keep looking at someone else?¡± And at a man, no less! Zhou Xufang turned to look at Jiang Zhi, straightened her hat, then looked away again: ¡°That guy in the yellow down jacket, his headband is really cute.¡± Jiang Zhi thought that yellow down jacket was hideously ugly, like a lump of shit: ¡°It¡¯s not cute, it¡¯s silly.¡± He turned Zhou Xufang¡¯s head back, ¡°Stop looking.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Before long¡­ Zhou Xufang sneakily glanced over again. Jiang Zhi poked her palm, fueled by a gulp of vinegar-laced rage: ¡°Zhou Xufang!¡± She giggled from being tickled, rubbing her hands on her clothes. Survival instinct? Not a chance, she would never have that in this lifetime: ¡°Jiang Zhi, you should go ask him where he bought that headband.¡± Jiang Zhi tossed his head: ¡°I¡¯m not going.¡± ¡°Alright then.¡± She wasn¡¯t going to press him. ¡°I¡¯ll go myself.¡± She had barely walked two steps toward that ¡®lump of shit¡¯ when Jiang Zhi pulled her back, grinding his teeth, only holding out for a few seconds: ¡°¡­I¡¯ll go.¡± ¡°Good.¡± He had found himself a real master: ¡°Where¡¯s the mask?¡± Zhou Xufang fished it out of her pocket. Jiang Zhi fitted his little master with it: ¡°Don¡¯t run off, wait for me here.¡± Zhou Xuzong Xufang: ¡°Mm.¡± It wasn¡¯t long before Jiang Zhi returned. ¡°Did you find out?¡± ¡°Mm.¡± Jiang Zhi took the freshly made ice cream, paid for it, and took her to buy the headband. The headband was a pair, a couple¡¯s set, with one large and one small pink hoop and springs attached beneath, bobbing with every movement when worn on the head. Jiang Zhi felt that having hoops on top of his head was utterly foolish. Zhou Xufang put the small hoop on herself and handed the large hoop to Jiang Zhi: ¡°You wear this one.¡± He didn¡¯t want to, it was too silly. Zhou Xufang, with her hoop bobbing with every move, tilted her head to look at Jiang Zhi, causing the hoop to swing from side to side: ¡°Don¡¯t you like it?¡± But she really liked couple¡¯s items. Jiang Zhi grunted in a subdued voice. Zhou Xufang showed a look of great disappointment: ¡°Then I¡¯ll wear it alone.¡± Her head drooped, and the spring-loaded pink hoop bounced even more joyfully. To be honest, it really was silly. But what could he do? She liked it, so Jiang Zhi still lowered his head: ¡°You put it on me.¡± He was clearly acting coy, obviously needing coddling, yet he still caved first, letting her mess with him. Jiang Zhi admitted that in front of Zhou Xufang, he had thrown all his pride to the dogs. Zhou Xufang became happy, cheerfully placing the headband on him. Then, standing on tiptoe, she touched his hoop and then her own, giving two thumbs up: ¡°Jiang Zhi, you¡¯re the most handsome in the world.¡± She beamed with a smile. Jiang Zhi felt as if he¡¯d been coaxed, and even the headband didn¡¯t seem so silly anymore. With one hand, he held a box of ice cream for her, and with the other, he held her hand: ¡°Do you only like my face?¡± He wore a mask, exposing only a pair of peach blossom eyes that still managed to catch the passing girls¡¯ frequent glances. ¡°Not just that,¡± Zhou Xufang pondered, ¡°I also like the back of your head and your skull.¡± He didn¡¯t watch the road, just gazed at her like a wolf cub coaxing a little rabbit: ¡°Would you like someone else if they were better-looking than me, and had a better-looking back of the head and skull?¡± ¡°There won¡¯t be anyone.¡± She was sure of this, squeezing the ice cream between her elbows, and raising both thumbs: ¡°You¡¯re the most handsome in the world.¡± If Jiang Zhi had a tail, it would surely be wagging now, just like the springy pink hoop on his head, flaunting left and right. After swinging it, he¡¯d roll on the ground, showing his tender belly to his little girl, and in the end, still wanting her to touch his belly. His mood was excellent, and through the mask, he pecked her on the lips. Fearing others might see, she grabbed him and ran. After finishing the ice cream and the cotton candy, Jiang Zhi asked Zhou Xufang, ¡°Do you want to ride the roller coaster?¡± She thought for a moment: ¡°No.¡± ¡°The bungee drop?¡± ¡°No.¡± ¡°What about that one?¡± Jiang Zhi indicated the pendulum ride. Zhou Xufang shook her head: ¡°Jiang Zhi, let¡¯s ride the carousel.¡± He complied with her every wish: ¡°Okay.¡± Chapter 129: 129: The whole world wants to pamper Fangbao Chapter 129: 129: The whole world wants to pamper Fangbao The carousel area was crowded, and they waited in line for over ten minutes. During which time, Zhou Xufang managed to devour an entire bucket of fried chicken nuggets by herself. Jiang Zhi felt that he needed to control his girlfriend¡¯s snacks, especially the junk food. Zhou Xufang and Jiang Zhi rode the carousel together. Initially, Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t want to go on it, thinking it was too effeminate for a grown man, but Zhou Xufang just deployed her newly acquired charm skill and cooed a few times, and Jiang Zhi relented. After the ride, Zhou Xufang asked him, ¡°Do you feel dizzy?¡± ¡°Not dizzy.¡± Zhou Xufang adjusted his hair, which had been mussed by the wind on the carousel, ¡°Then let¡¯s go again.¡± ... Jiang Zhi agreed. There were many girls and children on the carousel, and with Jiang Zhi wearing a pink headband and his hair dyed smog blue, he stood out conspicuously, attracting several young women who started taking covert pictures of him. Zhou Xufang was displeased and fiercely blocked the cameras, not allowing anyone to take photos. After the ride, she asked Jiang Zhi again, ¡°Feeling dizzy now?¡± Jiang Zhi shook his head, ¡°What else do you want to ride?¡± She wanted another go on the carousel, but with too many girls around, and Jiang Zhi drawing too much attention, she felt conflicted, ¡°Bend your head down.¡± So, he did. She pulled his mask up a bit further to cover his nose completely and even tugged at the fringe on his forehead to cover more of his forehead, ¡°Can we go on the carousel again?¡± Bent over, Jiang Zhi stayed still and let her adjust his appearance, ¡°Don¡¯t you want to try something else?¡± Zhou Xufang shook her head. He guessed the reason, ¡°Is it because of me?¡± She remained silent. ¡°It¡¯s okay, I can handle it,¡± he thought, realizing it was time to discuss his ¡®condition¡¯ with her. Zhou Xufang, worried about his ¡®delicate and frail¡¯ conditions, ¡°Have you ever been on one before?¡± He had never, thinking it childish. But Jiang Zhi, blatantly lying, ¡°Yes, I have.¡± Zhou Xufang was still not reassured, hesitant. Shuangjiang had checked Jiang Zhi¡¯s health, unable to pinpoint a specific illness, only mentioning something congenital about inadequate heart and lung function. ¡°Don¡¯t believe the rumors, just trust me, my health isn¡¯t that bad,¡± Jiang Zhi reassured her, leading her towards the giant pendulum, ¡°I¡¯m not afraid of heights either.¡± He wasn¡¯t afraid of heights, but¡­ As soon as the giant pendulum came to a stop, Zhou Xufang heard Jiang Zhi calling out weakly. ¡°Xu Fang.¡± ¡°Xu Fang, Xu Fang.¡± ¡°Xu Fang.¡± His voice was breathless. ¡°I¡¯m here, I¡¯m here,¡± Zhou Xufang quickly unbuckled her safety belt and went to check on Jiang Zhi. His hair was a complete mess, sticking out all over, and the headband was askew, with the pink hoop nearly slipping off. He reached out to Zhou Xufang, voice faint and delicate, ¡°Help me.¡± His face was pale, his lips colorless, ¡°I¡¯m dizzy.¡± His voice sounded somewhat pitiable. Zhou Xufang was terribly worried, ¡°Do you feel really bad? Should we go to the hospital?¡± Jiang Zhi shook his head, pulled down his mask to breathe, a slight blush on his face, and his eyes moist, ¡°It¡¯s not my body, I just got dizzy from spinning. I¡¯ll be fine after resting awhile.¡± He fumbled with his messy hair and leaned his tall frame against his girlfriend, looking as fragile as a newborn kitten, ¡°Hold me with both hands, or I¡¯ll fall.¡± It was three parts discontent and seven parts petulance. So Zhou Xufang held him with both hands. He nuzzled into her shoulder, ¡°Don¡¯t blame me.¡± He was quite annoyed, ¡°It¡¯s this machine¡¯s fault, it just kept spinning.¡± ¡°Look at others, they are throwing up.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t throw up.¡± At that moment, he was weak and unable to exert much force, his bluster having little effect, like a puppy, seemingly fierce but actually just putting on a show. Whenever Jiang Zhi felt unwell, he became clingy and acted like a small animal needing comforting. Zhou Xufang suppressed a smile and went along with his words, ¡°Yes, it¡¯s all the machine¡¯s fault.¡± Being pampered, Jiang Zhi cuddled Zhou Xufang and whined like Da Jin. ¡°Let¡¯s sit over there for a while.¡± Zhou Xufang¡¯s hand was placed respectfully on Jiang Zhi¡¯s waist as his hands roamed, touching her neck and then her back, sickly resting his head on her, ¡°Help me over.¡± Zhou Xufang supported him to a dessert shop. At the entrance of the dessert shop was a large Christmas tree, adorned with various colored paper tied with bells that jingled merrily each time the door opened. Under the tree were boxes of presents, and standing by ¡®Santa Claus¡¯ who offered that for twenty yuan, one could hang two wishes on the tree and receive a gift from ¡®Santa Claus.¡¯ It was mostly children making wishes. Except for Zhou Xufang, the only adult. Next to the Christmas tree, a mother and son were sitting. The little boy, about five or six, nagged his mother, ¡°Mom, I want to make a wish too.¡± His mother, dressed intelligently and speaking gently, ¡°See that ¡®Santa Claus¡¯, isn¡¯t his beard about to fall off?¡± The boy looked at ¡®Santa Claus¡±s beard, nodded, ¡°Yes.¡± The mother smiled, ¡°He¡¯s just pretending, not the real Santa Claus.¡± The inquisitive child immediately asked, ¡°Then where is the real Santa Claus?¡± Only children believe that Santa Claus truly exists. The mother didn¡¯t correct him, ¡°The real Santa Claus only comes out at night. If you have any wishes, write them down before you go to bed, place them under your pillow, and once you¡¯re asleep, Santa Claus will come collect your wishes.¡± The boy looked like he had an epiphany, then stuck his tongue out and made faces at the fake Santa Claus, ¡°Liar, shame on you.¡± ¡®Santa Claus¡¯ calmly fixed his beard and asked the ¡®adult¡¯ in front of him, ¡°Twenty yuan for two wishes, want to write them?¡± Zhou Xufang, ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Santa Claus¡± gave her two pieces of colored paper. Zhou Xufang finished writing her wish, picked two pink bells, tied them well, and hung the wish on the tree. ¡°Santa Claus¡± gave her a kind smile and presented her with a gift¡ªa very big lollipop. Zhou Xufang gave the candy to a child. When she came back, Jiang Zhi asked her, ¡°What did you wish for?¡± Her tone was quite serious, ¡°You can¡¯t say it; it won¡¯t come true if you do.¡± Jiang Zhi pushed the dessert he had just ordered towards her, his tone like that of an adult teaching a child, ¡°Fang Bao, it¡¯s all just to fool children.¡± ¡°I know,¡± she looked at Jiang Zhi, her eyes clear and pure, without a trace of impurity, and said, ¡°I really wanted to make a wish, so let it deceive me.¡± She was like an innocent child, still possessing a childlike heart. Jiang Zhi patted her head. The cherries in the dessert were tasty; she tasted one and picked the remaining one out and placed it on Jiang Zhi¡¯s plate, ¡°Does it still hurt?¡± ¡°Mm.¡± He pushed the cherry back to her, no appetite, still wearing a mask, resting his chin on a hand propped against the table, tilting his head toward Zhou Xufang, ¡°Move closer, let me lean on you.¡± He wasn¡¯t feeling bad anymore, but every time the little girl anxiously asked, he just wanted to pretend a bit and win a little bit of her favor. Zhou Xufang, iron-willed in other aspects, was very careful and cautious about Jiang Zhi¡¯s body. She quickly moved her chair to sit next to him, not even needing his request to gently place an arm around him. Jiang Zhi embraced his girlfriend contentedly. Halfway through the dessert, Zhou Xufang said, ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± ¡°Mm.¡± She whispered very softly, ¡°I need to use the restroom.¡± She had eaten three big boxes of ice cream, two cups of fruit drink, and held it for a long time¡­ but the public restroom was far from here. Jiang Zhi saw her face turning red from holding it in, unable to help but chuckle, ¡°Wait for me a moment.¡± He left Zhou Xufang sitting and went to the cashier. ¡°Hello.¡± Being somewhat of a public figure, he continued wearing his mask. The female cashier was thoroughly dazzled by a pair of beautiful peach blossom eyes, stunned for several seconds before managing to speak dryly, ¡°¡­hello.¡± The boy¡¯s misty blue dyed hair could seem frivolous to some, but not on him; his eyes, charming when he smiled and clear when not, carried an air of carefully sculpted nobility. ¡°Could we use the restroom in your store?¡± Jiang Zhi politely asked. The restroom for staff was usually not for public use. Still, the cashier, a young girl bewitched under the spell of the beauty behind the mask, readily agreed, ¡°Yes, would you like me to show you the way?¡± Jiang Zhi thanked her and turned back to call his girl, ¡°Xufang, come here.¡± Zhou Xufang ran over quickly. Jiang Zhi took her small purse, which only had room for a lipstick, held it for her¡ªthe purse was more for decoration, one he had arranged for her, and had purposely put a lipstick in it, but since she was all thumbs at makeup, she suggested to Jiang Zhi that maybe next time he could pack cotton candy instead. The sight practically turned the cashier into pure jealousy. Jiang Zhi placed a pack of tissues into the pocket of Zhou Xufang¡¯s coat before asking the cashier, ¡°Could you please show my girlfriend the way?¡± The cashier smiled awkwardly but politely, ¡°Of course.¡± Fairy-tale boyfriends are always someone else¡¯s! While Zhou Xufang was in the restroom, Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t return to his seat but leaned against the cashier¡¯s counter waiting for her. At that moment, a customer entered the store, pushing open the door and letting in a breeze that knocked a few pieces of colored paper off the Christmas tree. ¡°Santa Claus¡± went over, picked them up, glanced around to see if anyone was watching, and moved toward the trash can, about to throw them away¡ª A voice full of warning, icy cold, commanded, ¡°Hang them back.¡± ¡°Santa Claus¡± looked up, embarrassed. A pair of beautiful peach blossom eyes rested on those two pieces of pink paper, uncompromisingly, ¡°Hang my girlfriend¡¯s wishes back up.¡± Oh, it was that adult¡¯s boyfriend. ¡°Santa Claus¡± chuckled awkwardly, ¡°The wind blew them off; I was just about to hang them back up.¡± He rubbed the back of his neck and tied the pink wish papers back onto the tree. Jiang Zhi stood there, observing the tree for a while, couldn¡¯t resist, walked over, opened Zhou Xufang¡¯s wishes, and found both pieces of paper bore the same message. In upright, forceful handwriting, she had written: I wish Jiang Zhi lives to a hundred. Jiang Zhi smiled, rolled the papers nicely, tied them back up, then turned around and said, ¡°Give me paper and a pen.¡± ¡°Santa Claus¡± handed him a box of paper. Jiang Zhi picked two pieces of pink paper, quietly lowered his lashes, pondered for a moment, then wrote with flourish, ¡ªI wish Zhou Xufang a worry-free century. After writing, Jiang Zhi tied them with string, added two pink bells, and tied them onto the Christmas tree, right next to Zhou Xufang¡¯s wishes, and made double knots to prevent them from being blown away again. Once done, just as Zhou Xufang came out, ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± ¡°Mm.¡± Jiang Zhi turned to look at her, his eyes sparkling like stars. Leaving the dessert shop, Jiang Zhi took Zhou Xufang to many extreme rides, of course, marking off all those that went round and round¡ªhe was quite average at keeping balance and would vomit if spun too much. Zhou Xufang, having never had such experiences, was exhilarated beyond measure; at every high point, she called out to Jiang Zhi, saying she was so happy, laughing like a fool. Jiang Zhi found his little fool¡¯s laughter incredibly beautiful; he desperately wanted to kiss her, and he desperately wanted to sleep. As dusk approached, the last traces of the sunset tinged half the sky a chaotic orange. The amusement park moved into its evening session, all sorts of colorful lights came to life. Having disembarked from a rollercoaster, Jiang Zhi and Zhou Xufang went for dinner; she wanted barbecue, but Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t allow it and took her for steamed fish instead. After dinner, Jiang Zhi took her to a nighttime show and fireworks; holding her under the sky full of fireworks, he asked, ¡°Want to ride the Ferris wheel?¡± She asked him, ¡°Will you feel dizzy?¡± The Ferris wheel also went round, and she was worried it might make Jiang Zhi dizzy. ¡°No, this one moves slowly.¡± She wanted to ride, nodded, and said she wanted to. Jiang Zhi led her to the queue. In front of them, there was also a couple. ¡°Do you know what this Ferris wheel is called?¡± The girl tugged at her boyfriend¡¯s hand, which was busy playing a game. The boy, who was likely quite straightforward, replied, ¡°Isn¡¯t a Ferris wheel just called a Ferris wheel? What else could it be called?¡± Zhou Xufang thought the same. The girl looked up at the Ferris wheel at a forty-five degree angle and romantically said, ¡°It¡¯s called ¡®A Degree of Happiness.''¡± Her boyfriend retorted, ¡°That¡¯s so cheesy.¡± Zhou Xufang thought that too! The girl, petite and wearing large glasses, looked cute and didn¡¯t get angry at her boyfriend. Instead, she explained, ¡°This Ferris wheel makes a full circle at three hundred sixty-one degrees, which is one degree more than a full circle.¡± Pointing to the top, she showed her boyfriend, ¡°See the highest point? The arc there bends a bit, exactly by one degree.¡± Her boyfriend was confused: ¡°So?¡± The girl, slightly shy, lowered her voice a bit, ¡°It is said that couples who kiss at that spot will stay together forever.¡± Her straightforward boyfriend: ¡°You believe that?¡± Straightforward Zhou Xufang: So fake. The girl: ¡°Better to believe it¡¯s true.¡± The boy: ¡°You¡¯re so childish.¡± The girl: ¡°¡­¡± Zhou Xufang totally agreed and also thought it was childish. The couple in front went silent, seemingly sulking. Zhou Xufang pulled Jiang Zhi a bit closer and quietly asked, ¡°Jiang Zhi, do you believe it?¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡°No.¡± Why would he believe that? He was a businessman. From a business perspective, he evaluated, ¡°This is a typical commercial tactic. The managers, for the sake of turnover, deliberately create gimmicks. Those legends are all nonsense.¡± A gimmick, huh? Nonsense, huh? When Jiang Zhi and Zhou Xufang reached the highest point¡ª ¡°Jiang Zhi, are you scared?¡± It was quite high from the ground, and Zhou Xufang was a bit nervous, her nerves taut: ¡°If you¡¯re scared, just hold on to me tight.¡± Fortunately, she had good reflexes and was quick, but Jiang Zhi was still with her, so she couldn¡¯t be careless. ¡°If the Ferris wheel breaks, I¡¯ll just hold you¡ª¡± Click. The gondola of the Ferris wheel moved into that additional one degree of the three hundred sixty-one. ¡°Zhou Xufang.¡± A nervous Zhou Xufang tilted her head: ¡°Hmm?¡± Jiang Zhi took off his mask, and his cold lips pressed against hers. Because the Ferris wheel was moving, he misjudged the force, bumping her painfully. Zhou Xufang pushed him, her face flushed: ¡°Others will see.¡± Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t care about others, pulling her back into his arms: ¡°Don¡¯t move, I¡¯m not done kissing yet.¡± Gently sucking at the spot where his teeth had accidentally bumped against hers. This thing called ¡®A Degree of Happiness,¡¯ timed its circles perfectly, stopping exactly at 13 minutes and 14 seconds. What a gimmick, impressively executed. After they came down, Zhou Xufang¡¯s face was still flushed, her eyes misty as she looked at Jiang Zhi: ¡°Why did you kiss me just now? Did you start believing in it?¡± Jiang Zhi licked his lips, still feeling the aftertaste, he obviously wouldn¡¯t admit to being childish: ¡°I just wanted to kiss you.¡± Zhou Xufang snorted. Ah Wan was right, Jiang Zhi¡¯s mouth, always deceiving. The deceitful one started coaxing again: ¡°Xufang, shall we go for another ride?¡± The night air was chilly. Zhou Xufang, worried he might catch a cold and start coughing, put his mask back on and moved closer to shield him from the wind: ¡°You want to go again?¡± ¡°Uh-huh.¡± He hadn¡¯t timed it right just now, had kissed her a bit late. ¡°One more time, okay?¡± He drew out the last word coquettishly, and then deliberately coughed twice, appearing somewhat fragile. Zhou Xufang hurriedly hugged him, warming him: ¡°Okay.¡± Jiang Zhi got his way, and even more so, kissed her incredibly, incredibly long. As they came down, Zhou Xufang¡¯s lips were as red as if she wore lipstick, a bit swollen; she was mad at Jiang Zhi and ignored him. After ignoring him for over a minute, Jiang Zhi called out ¡®Fang Bao¡¯ twice, and she forgave him, snuggling into his embrace to shield him from the cold. Leaving the amusement park, it was already after seven, the festive lights just turning on, the evening of Christmas bustling everywhere. Jiang Zhi, holding her hand, walked slowly: ¡°Tired?¡± She shook her head: ¡°Not tired.¡± ¡°You should say you¡¯re tired.¡± Oh, she then said, ¡°Tired.¡± Jiang Zhi then crouched down: ¡°Hop on.¡± Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t get on, afraid to hurt his delicate body. Seeing her hesitate, Jiang Zhi feigned sternness: ¡°Come on, get on, I¡¯m going to carry you!¡± Alright. She obediently got on and stayed still, her hands neatly placed on Jiang Zhi¡¯s shoulders: ¡°Am I heavy?¡± ¡°Very light.¡± Genuinely light. Where those three bowls of porridge, a plate of crystal buns, and a plate of dumplings she had for breakfast went, no one knew. She was nearly 170 cm tall, but he felt almost no weight. No, he had to nourish her. ¡°If you¡¯re tired, tell me, I can carry you too.¡± Jiang Zhi laughed: ¡°Look around on the street, see if any girl is carrying a boy.¡± Zhou Xufang disagreed: ¡°You¡¯re different.¡± Also, ¡°I¡¯m different too. I¡¯m a fairy with her seals broken, possessing limitless mana.¡± Jiang Zhi laughed out loud, his eyes like neon lights. He carried her on his back, walking slowly, crushing shadows beneath them, ¡°How have I changed?¡± Zhou Xufang said, ¡°You¡¯re the most delicate.¡± ¡®Delicate¡¯ was not a word Jiang Zhi liked; which big man would like that? He was unhappy and became slightly moody, ¡°Do you dislike me?¡± ¡°No.¡± Two soft and tender hands reached out and hugged Jiang Zhi¡¯s neck; she leaned to his ear and whispered, ¡°I like you the most.¡± Girls who aren¡¯t good at sweet nothings, suddenly saying a phrase of love, could be overwhelmingly sweet. ¡°Say it again.¡± Jiang Zhi laughed heartily, his small canine teeth showing, like a cat rolling around under the warm sun, showing its belly, asking for more touches. She, however, didn¡¯t say it again, shyly wriggling instead. ¡°Stop wriggling.¡± His voice was husky, restrained, carrying a slightly unbearable, pleading tone. Zhou Xufang stopped moving. ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± ¡°Hm?¡± ¡°I had a lot of fun today.¡± She buried her face in his neck, obediently saying, ¡°Thank you.¡± She knew that Jiang Zhi wanted to compensate her for everything the world had treated her harshly with. Jiang Zhi rubbed his cheek against the girl¡¯s cold nose, ¡°Do you like amusement parks?¡± She said, ¡°I do.¡± ¡°How about I build you one?¡± He wanted to give her everything she liked. Zhou Xufang thought for a moment, then shook her head, ¡°Let¡¯s not.¡± Her soft hair burrowed into his neck, making him itch. She had eaten a lot of ice cream, and he could smell a faint scent of strawberry, ¡°Why not?¡± Zhou Xufang looked at the pink ring on Jiang Zhi¡¯s head and smiled, no longer stiff-faced, smiling like a contented child, ¡°Being too greedy isn¡¯t good. I already have you.¡± Jiang Zhi was touched by her words, his heart melting into a mush. At nine in the evening, Zhou Xufang posted on her Moments ¡ª her first post in nearly a year, without any text, just a photo of her and Jiang Zhi in the amusement park standing in front of a Christmas tree, each wearing a headband, both smiling, a child who accidentally entered the frame also smiling. Zhou Xufang had few friends, apart from the enigmatic Shuangjiang, previously only Fang Lixiang and Wen Baiyang, and later on Jiang Zhi¡¯s friends were added. My girlfriend Fang Baozilla: [Heart][Heart][Heart] Wen Baiyang: Merry Christmas. Ullala Lixiang: I must be seeing things, this beautiful flower is actually displaying a bit of proud and foolish charm, is that really Director Jiang? Zhou Xufang replied to Ullala Lixiang: It¡¯s Jiang Zhi. The beauty beside me has a screw loose: The boss looks so silly with that headband. S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The beauty beside me has a screw loose, is Ah Wan¡¯s alias, he responded, and within five seconds, deleted it, and replied again. The beauty beside me has a screw loose: Truly a match made in heaven! Through the screen, one could feel Ah Wan¡¯s will to live. Qiao Nanchu: Can¡¯t bear to look. A Little Ice and Snow: Merry Christmas [Flowers][Flowers] Zhou Xufang replied to A Little Ice and Snow: Thank you [Flowers][Flowers] The handsomest man in the capital: Brother Zhi, this vibe of suffering comes right at you. My girlfriend Fang Baozilla replied to The handsomest man in the capital: Get lost. Zhou Xufang replied to My girlfriend Fang Baozilla: Don¡¯t curse. Five seconds later, Jiang Zhi deleted that reply. Then, in the [Top Four Handsomes of the Imperial City] group chat, a silly group name changed by Xue Baoyi, Jiang Zhi tagged Xue Baoyi: Delete it. The handsomest man in the capital: I won¡¯t! My girlfriend Fang Baozilla: Wait till I kill you. The handsomest man in the capital: You only dare to be so bold with me, Zhou Xufang¡¯s little submissive! My girlfriend Fang Baozilla: That incident where you took your uncle¡¯s four lovers for a swim, your dad still doesn¡¯t know, right? It happened like this. Xue Baoyi¡¯s second uncle was quite the playboy, nearly fifty and his son could get married, yet he hadn¡¯t settled down, supported several lovers, and even brought them into the family, nearly driving Xue Baoyi¡¯s second aunt to death since she was soft-hearted and wouldn¡¯t make a fuss, she just ran to Xue Baoyi¡¯s mom and cried all day and night, endlessly. Fed up, Xue Baoyi¡¯s mom, ahem, ordered her son to get rid of these lovers by any means necessary. Bored by his mother¡¯s nagging, Xue Baoyi took the lovers to swim, deliberately hired a private detective to snap spicy photos, mosaic his face, and then sent them to his second uncle. However, fate has its own plans, and he got caught by paparazzi. Xue Baoyi¡¯s dad didn¡¯t follow gossip news and was yet to know about it; if he did, he would definitely beat the crap out of his son. Xue Baoyi was very afraid of his dad¡¯s belt and admitted defeat. The handsomest man in the capital: Ancestor! The handsomest man in the capital: Ancestor, I was wrong. My girlfriend Fang Baozilla: ¨s^¨t Qiao Nanchu: My father received a wedding invitation; is your grandmother hosting her birthday party next week? My girlfriend Fang Baozilla: Yes. Qiao Nanchu: Isn¡¯t her birthday after the New Year? Jiang Zhi sent a voice message: The elder of the Luo family was invited; I guess, grandma wants to settle some accounts. The handsomest man in the capital: Luo Changde is still in the ICU, is it you, Brother Zhi? My girlfriend Fang Baozilla: There are cops here, watch your words. The handsomest man in the capital moved Qiao Nanchu out of the group chat. The handsomest man in the capital: Can we talk now? My girlfriend Fang Baozilla has left the group chat. The handsomest man in the capital: ¡­ Chapter 130: 130: Lord Fang Bao is about to discipline the bad guys Chapter 130: 130: Lord Fang Bao is about to discipline the bad guys On December 28th, the Jiang Family held a banquet at their old mansion to celebrate Old Lady Jiang¡¯s birthday. Old Lady Jiang personally sent out invitations, calling upon the distinguished families and wealthy merchants of the Imperial City to join in the celebration. The invitations sent out by Old Lady Jiang required respect from both the elite of the business world and the military and political spheres. By 7 p.m., luxury cars were parked a hundred meters away from the Jiang Mansion. The guests had almost all arrived, and the yard was set with traditional Chinese dining tables, with red lacquered wood and old round tables. There were eight tables on the inside and eight on the outside, exuding the flavor of an old ancestral mansion. Old Lady Jiang sat at the first table on the left, taking the central seat. The Lu Family hadn¡¯t arrived, while elders from the Xue and Qiao Families sat in the seats of honor. Old Lady Jiang wore a maroon cheongsam and draped a fur over her shoulders today. Her graying hair was meticulously arranged, radiating authority and neatness. She turned her head and asked softly, ¡°Where¡¯s Brother Zhi?¡± ... Jiang Fuxi stepped forward from behind her and replied, ¡°He¡¯s not feeling very well and said he would come later.¡± Old Lady Jiang became concerned and instructed, ¡°Go and wait outside his room. Be careful and let me know immediately if there¡¯s anything wrong with him.¡± Jiang Fuxi acknowledged with a ¡®yes¡¯ and went back into the house. During the banquet, someone said with a chuckle, ¡°Isn¡¯t this Wei Ning¡¯s daughter? She¡¯s grown up beautifully. If only Wei Ning were still with us¡ª¡± But before the speaker could finish, they were pulled back by the person beside them. Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Old Lady Jiang¡¯s face already showed displeasure. Source: , updated on ?¦Ï¦Í??.?¦Ï The guest who had spoken realized their mistake and hastily offered wine as an apology. Everyone in the circle knew there were two topics not to be mentioned at the Jiang¡¯s: Old Lady¡¯s fourth daughter, Wei Ning, and the Jiang Family¡¯s young master, Jiang Zhi. One died mysteriously, and the other suffered from an unusual illness; they were the two great secrets of the Jiang Family. Now, let¡¯s see what the ¡°not feeling very well¡± young Master of the Jiang Family was up to. Inside the room, the light was dim, and Jiang Zhi leaned against the headboard, where an ominous ¡®exorcism painting¡¯ hung. He was holding a smartphone, focusing intently on¡­ chatting on WeChat. Of course, he was chatting with his girlfriend. The first voice message: ¡°Fang Bao~¡± The tone was melodious, enough to send shivers down the spine. Yet, within ten seconds, there was no reply. Jiang Zhi sent out a second voice message: ¡°Fang Bao.¡± This time, the allure was gone, but still, there was no reply. The third voice message: ¡°Xu Fang.¡± Not Fang Bao, but Xu Fang. Zhou Xufang still did not reply. The fourth voice message: ¡°Xu Fang!¡± Note the slight irritation now, but it¡¯s not anger¡ªmore like petulant insistence. After waiting for another ten seconds with no reply, Jiang Zhi became impatient. He always replied to her instantly; couldn¡¯t she do the same? Didn¡¯t she care about him anymore, love him anymore, or concern herself with him anymore? The fifth voice message: ¡°Zhou Xufang!¡± Calling out his girlfriend by her full name was a red alert. Just as Jiang Zhi was about to lose his patience and was almost ready to storm over to Zhou Xufang¡¯s house to catch her, she finally replied with a single word: ¡°Hmm.¡± Just one word. Jiang Zhi felt neglected. He grabbed a handful of his hair, ruining the hairstyle his stylist had carefully crafted. He demanded through his phone, ¡°Why did it take so long for you to reply to me?¡± His dissatisfaction was almost tangible through the screen. Zhou Xufang sent a voice message at last, not just one word this time: ¡°I can¡¯t look at my phone right now.¡± Fine, his anger subsided a bit, and his tone softened: ¡°What are you doing?¡± Zhou Xufang replied promptly: ¡°I¡¯m climbing through a window.¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡°What window?¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡°Whose window?¡± Zhou Xufang: ¡°Yours.¡± There was the sound of wind in that voice message. Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t understand it at first and listened again. Suddenly, someone shouted from outside the window: ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± He looked up, stunned. A dark figure dangled in front of the window, one hand holding a phone, the other waving: ¡°Jiang Zhi, I¡¯m here.¡± This little female ghost. Jiang Zhi was both surprised and more startled. He threw off the covers, got out of bed without even putting on shoes, and ran over to scold her: ¡°You¡¯re risking your life! Hold on tight, don¡¯t fall.¡± She remained upside-down, steady as a log. Something dark was wrapped around her head, and her eyes peeking out were somewhat comical. ¡°I won¡¯t fall. My legs are hooked onto the security bars above.¡± She clung to the window, pressing her face forward, her nose stuck in the gaps of the security bars¡ªnow looking even more comical, ¡°You go and put on shoes first.¡± Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t leave. Standing on the warm jade floor in just socks, he opened the inside window and watched the girl, hanging outside the security bars, with amusement: ¡°Did you come to see me because you missed me?¡± His smile resembled that of a concubine in ancient times, who had been favored and undoubtedly wanted to strut around the palace victoriously. Zhou Xufang: ¡°No.¡± One second a favored concubine, the next frozen out; Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± Had there been no security bars, he¡¯d have dragged her into the room and pinned her to the bed until she admitted it. ¡°Go put on your shoes.¡± Jiang Zhi went back to the bedside, put on his shoes, and came back: ¡°If you don¡¯t miss me, then why come at all?¡± There was annoyance, mixed with reproach. Zhou Xufang said, ¡°I came to protect you.¡± That was all it took. Jiang Zhi¡¯s annoyance vanished entirely, his lips curling into a smile. See how easily he¡¯s appeased. But Zhou Xufang wasn¡¯t actually trying to appease him; she was serious: ¡°Today, your family is having a birthday banquet, and many people are here. I was afraid someone would harm you, so I came.¡± Although she wouldn¡¯t say it out loud, she was constantly thinking about him. Jiang Zhi leaned on the window sill with his head poking out. Though separated by a security window, it gave him the illusion of visiting a prison cell: ¡°Reach your hand in.¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± Zhou Xufang¡¯s head pushed forward a bit, bending the security window slightly. He leaned a bit more forward, his back arched: ¡°Give me a kiss.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Zhou Xufang reached her hand through. Jiang Zhi took off her glove, pecked her hand briefly, then immediately put the glove back on her: ¡°Hold onto the security window tightly. I¡¯m scared you¡¯ll fall.¡± His heart was pounding with fear. Just as Zhou Xufang got a grip on the window, a voice was heard: ¡°Someone¡¯s coming.¡± ¡°Hide well.¡± She hooked her feet on the top of the security window and sprang up, her head disappearing from above the window. Jiang Zhi really didn¡¯t know how many tricks this girl had up her sleeve; he was beyond nervous: ¡°Xu Fang, did you fall? Are you still up there?¡± Above him, a voice tinged with guilt replied: ¡°I¡¯m here.¡± Relieved, Jiang Zhi coughed as he walked toward the bed and lay down, mussing up his hair a bit more and drooping his eyelids to feign a frail and sickly manner. He occasionally let out light pants and coughs, lying there as if languishing in a half-sleep. After a while, a knock on the door indeed followed. Jiang Zhi coughed a couple of times, his breathing slightly rapid and laborious, and asked, ¡°Who is it?¡± ¡°It¡¯s me.¡± The voice was soft and gentle; even unseen it conveyed a sense of poise and graciousness. Jiang Zhi¡¯s attitude was neither cold nor warm: ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± Jiang Fuxi, outside the door, inquired: ¡°Are you feeling any better? Do you need me to call Shiyu over?¡± Qin Shiyu was the physician for the Jiang Family, and as long as Jiang Zhi stayed in the old house, Qin Shiyu would also stay overnight to be available for consultation at any time. He refused, his tone indifferent: ¡°Not necessary.¡± Jiang Fuxi¡¯s temper was always gentle: ¡°Then rest well.¡± ¡°Cough, cough, cough, cough, cough¡­¡± Inside the room, coughs came in bursts, and when they subsided, Jiang Zhi called out: ¡°Jiang Fuxi.¡± Jiang Fuxi responded from outside the door. ¡°Don¡¯t linger at my door.¡± His tone was clearly impatient. Jiang Fuxi paused for a moment, her hand clenched at her side briefly before relaxing. After a short while, she replied: ¡°I¡¯ll be downstairs. Call for me if you need anything.¡± Then it was quiet. Jiang Zhi waited a little before getting out of bed and walking to the window. He whispered for ¡®Xu Fang¡¯: ¡°Are they gone?¡± A head suddenly popped up from above: ¡°They¡¯re gone.¡± While it¡¯s said that love blinds one to flaws, objectively speaking, Zhou Xufang hanging upside down was quite a scary sight, and Jiang Zhi felt that it could serve as inspiration for a horror film in the future. ¡°Do you want to come in?¡± ¡°I won¡¯t come in.¡± Zhou Xufang¡¯s eyes, which were exposed outside, were filled with worry, ¡°Are you really feeling unwell? You were coughing so severely just now.¡± Jiang Zhi replied: ¡°I was just bluffing her. It¡¯s not that serious.¡± But how serious was it really? Zhou Xufang felt increasingly bemused about Jiang Zhi¡¯s illness. She also had a question: ¡°Is Jiang Fuxi really your biological cousin?¡± She emphasized the words ¡®biological.¡¯ Jiang Zhi confirmed: ¡°What about it?¡± If this were a novel or a K-drama, she surely would have been adopted. Zhou Xufang shook her head, stating it was nothing, though she didn¡¯t know how to express her thoughts¡ªshe just felt there was something strange, not knowing where the strangeness lay, only that it was strange. Suddenly, her ears twitched: ¡°Someone¡¯s coming again.¡± She swiftly climbed back atop the security window. Jiang Zhi lay back down and started coughing again. It wasn¡¯t Jiang Fuxi this time, but another girl had come. The girl knocked on the door quite loudly, her tone neither subdued nor delicate like Jiang Fuxi¡¯s. She was exuberant and enthusiastic: ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± It was Ming Lao, Ming Saiying. ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t want to respond. Ming Saiying didn¡¯t knock again. Instead, she leaned against the door, refusing to leave: ¡°I know you¡¯re in there. I heard your coughing.¡± Jiang Zhi remained silent, but she wasn¡¯t lonely, chatting away to herself: ¡°You don¡¯t need to get up. Just lie there.¡± Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t have any intention of getting up anyway. Ming Saiying wore a red tube dress. In the dead of winter, even though the Jiang Family had coal fires lit throughout, she shivered in the cold. Yet, determined to see Jiang Zhi, she had unflinchingly removed her thick cotton jacket. Rubbing her nearly frozen hands, she chuckled: ¡°I heard from my brother that you¡¯ve been ¡®straightened out.¡¯ I have no particular agenda, just here to line up. If you break up with your girlfriend, I can be the replacement backup¡ª¡± Jiang Zhi couldn¡¯t bear to listen any longer and dialed a number on his phone. ¡°Lin Wanwan.¡± After Ah Wan let out a strange sound, she asked: ¡°What¡¯s up, boss?¡± Jiang Zhi was curt: ¡°Drag away the person outside my door.¡± Ah Wan let out another strange sound, ¡°But I¡¯m squatting in the toilet.¡± It was constipation, you know, that kind of pain. Jiang Zhi said, ¡°Come here immediately.¡± Ah Wan, ¡°¡­¡± That demon Jiang Demon! When Ah Wan got there, Ming Lao was leering at Jiang Demon¡¯s door, saying in a disgustingly fake, nauseating, and affected voice, ¡°sweetly,¡± ¡°I¡¯ll wait for you.¡± Ah Wan touched her not-so-clear stomach, ¡°Miss Ming.¡± Ming Saiying put on a perfunctory fake smile, ¡°Oh, it¡¯s you, big guy.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Ah Wan hated when people called him ¡®big guy¡¯ or ¡®strong man.¡¯ Was it his fault for being tall and strong? Annoyed, he said, ¡°I have a name.¡± As Ming Saiying moved away from Jiang Zhi¡¯s door, guessing that Jiang Zhi couldn¡¯t hear her anymore, she reverted to her true nature, letting out a hearty laugh, ¡°With that girly name of yours, I just can¡¯t bring myself to call it.¡± The second thing Ah Wan hated most was when people said his name was girly. He didn¡¯t want to exchange another word with this manly woman, his face, the picture of ¡®honest simplicity,¡¯ was full of cold indifference, ¡°Please leave.¡± Ming Saiying showed no intention of leaving, hugging her numb arms, so cold she wanted to spew curses, ¡°I haven¡¯t finished talking with your boss yet.¡± Ah Wan said without changing his expression, ¡°Please leave.¡± Everyone invited to the Jiang Family banquet today was someone significant, and Ming Saiying had quite a reputation outside, her temper flaring, ¡°Rush for what, hurry, hurry, hurry, if you rush me one more time I¡¯ll¡ª¡± Ah Wan didn¡¯t listen and directly grabbed her hand, dragging her out. She had dressed elegantly for the sake of appearance, and with both her arms bare, her pale arms were instantly marked by the grip of a towering one-meter-ninety man; her anger fully ignited, ¡°Hey, where are you touching!¡± Ah Wan ignored her and kept dragging her by the arm. Ming Saiying fumed, and after a heavy push, which didn¡¯t budge the solid man resembling an ox, she flailed about in a furious frenzy. With a smack, her left palm hit Ah Wan¡¯s face. A solid slap, nails even scraping flesh. Five finger marks instantly appeared on Ah Wan¡¯s face. After slapping him, Ming Saiying herself was stunned, her eyes flitting left and right before she defensively exclaimed, ¡°It¡¯s not my fault; you were the one pulling me.¡± Ah Wan, already troubled by constipation, felt even more so in his face. A real man should endure! Endure! Endure! He moved his cheek which had been stung by the slap, silent, continuing to drag her. Ming Saiying broke free, he grabbed her again, she pushed away once more. Slap¡ª Another slap landed on his arm. Ah Wan, ¡°¡­¡± He had his temper too! Undoing a button on his suit, he pushed her forcefully, pinning her against the wall. There was a thud. The wall pinning was quite intense. Ming Saiying was stunned, her pupils suddenly filled with a stern face, blinked three times, her face turning red, ¡°Are you fucking touching me?¡± Her voice trembled, both embarrassed and annoyed! Ah Wan was angry too, his arm firmly pressing her down, ¡°I¡¯m not.¡± Ming Saiying glanced down, ¡°Then where is your hand?¡± Silence for three seconds. Ah Wan snapped out of it like from a nightmare, recoiling abruptly. Unfortunately, his shoe caught the hem of the girl¡¯s dress, and as he jumped, the dress followed suit¡ªdown. ¡°Ah ah ah ah ah ah ah¡ª¡± Shrill screams followed one after another. Zhou Xufang, rubbing his ears stunned by the noise, remarked, ¡°Ah Wan seems to have caused trouble.¡± Jiang Zhi heard the screams too but didn¡¯t care, ¡°He¡¯s too dumb.¡± He didn¡¯t have time to care about others; he needed to teach his own, ¡°You play with him less in the future.¡± Zhou Xufang went online, watched TV shows, and read novels, all led by Lin Wanwan. Recently, Lin Wanwan had even been secretly sending her novel perks¡­ The content becoming more and more explicit. Zhou Xufang, clinging to the security window, blamed Jiang Zhi, ¡°It¡¯s your fault too.¡± ¡°How is it my fault?¡± She frowned at her brow, murmuring her complaint, ¡°Why do you have so many admirers? It¡¯s so annoying.¡± Sourly jealous, her mood not so bright, she didn¡¯t want to eavesdrop, but they were making too much noise and her hearing too sharp; all the sounds kept drilling into her ears. Ming Saiying bellowed, ¡°You¡¯re still looking! Turn around now!¡± Ah Wan responded woodenly, ¡°¡­ Oh.¡± Ming Saiying continued to roar, ¡°Take off your clothes for me!¡± Ah Wan kept being wooden, ¡°¡­ Oh.¡± The young lady yelled with masculine force, ¡°Don¡¯t look back!¡± The big man¡¯s rebuttal was feeble, ¡°¡­ I didn¡¯t look back.¡± Then came the rustling sound of clothing. After getting dressed, Ming Saiying grabbed her small purse and lunged at the big guy, ¡°If I don¡¯t beat you to death today, you pervert, I won¡¯t be called Ming Saiying.¡± A nearly two hundred kilogram hulk of a man held his head, ¡°¡­¡± This was completely the plotline of an overbearing female boss and her fragile little assistant. While Zhou Xufang was enjoying the scene, about ten meters away, a voice suddenly interrupted. ¡°Younger Luo.¡± Zhou Xufang climbed higher and stood on the anti-theft window, catching a glimpse of a spark and white smoke. Luo Qinghe held a cigarette in her hand, mumbling ¡®mm-hmm¡¯ through puffs of smoke. On the phone, the secretary Shen Yue said, ¡°Han Feng wants to see you.¡± She flicked ash off her cigarette. At night, her voice echoed, chilly and remote, ¡°No need to meet him, tell him to go in peace.¡± A backyard lantern was lit; she stood backlit, her mobile phone screen¡¯s light cast on her profile making her red lips seem fiery, ¡°For those who should leave, lingering too long isn¡¯t good for those left behind.¡± Tap. There was a noise behind her. Luo Qinghe, using the light, looked back, ¡°Who¡¯s there?¡± Behind a column in the corridor, someone emerged slowly, ¡°Miss Luo.¡± It was one of the Jiang Family¡¯s servants, carrying a tray to the front yard to serve wine. Passing by, she heard someone on the phone, unsure whether to advance or retreat, she hid for the time being. Unfortunately, she knocked the tray against the column and disturbed the guest. Luo Qinghe hung up the phone, stood under the light without moving, a cigarette still in hand, her eyes thinly veiled in darkness, unclear in color, ¡°Bring me a cup of wine.¡± It was a young girl, not very old, presumably temporarily hired by the Jiang Family for the celebration; likely untrained and inexperienced, she was timid and shaky. The girl poured a glass of red wine, her hands trembling as she offered it. Luo Qinghe, observing the girl who dared not lift her head, accepted the drink with an indistinct smile. The girl let out a sigh of relief and turned to leave. Luo Qinghe squatted down, pinched out her cigarette, her voice slow and somewhat sharp, ¡°Did I say you could go?¡± The girl immediately stopped, her back arched, and she turned around nervously, ¡°Do you have any further instructions, Miss Luo?¡± Luo Qinghe smiled, stepping forward, and raised the cup of wine, pouring it over the girl¡¯s head. The girl didn¡¯t dare move, standing there shivering. Luo Qinghe continued to smile, her slender eyes slightly upturned, a chilling coldness in her gaze, ¡°To live, one must understand the rules. Do you understand?¡± ¡°Un-understand,¡± the girl stammered, her tray wobbling, the glasses clinking together with a piercing sound. Luo Qinghe placed the cup back on the tray; she leaned in close to the girl¡¯s ear, her crimson lips barely moving, ¡°What did you just hear?¡± The girl¡¯s face was drenched in wine; her hair disheveled and sticking to her forehead. She shook her head desperately, claiming to have heard nothing. Luo Qinghe smiled, patting her shoulder, ¡°Go on with your work then.¡± The girl stumbled away. On the anti-theft window ten meters away, Zhou Xufang had seen everything clearly and was livid, unable to help but curse softly, ¡°Wicked woman.¡± Jiang Zhi, from his angle, could not see below, ¡°Who?¡± ¡°Luo Qinghe. She¡¯s so annoying.¡± She looked away, ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± Zhou Xufang wasn¡¯t certain, so she asked him, ¡°Would you be upset if I messed up your grandmother¡¯s birthday banquet?¡± His little ghost wanted to teach someone a lesson. Jiang Zhi laughed, ¡°Go ahead.¡± In the Jiang Mansion¡¯s front yard, guests packed the place, bustling with excitement. The Jiang Family had set up sixteen tables; the inner eight were mostly elders, while the outer eight were mainly filled with sons and daughters of Imperial City¡¯s influential families. Among them was Luo Yinghe. Mr. Luo didn¡¯t care much for her, so she was seated alone. As soon as she sat down, the young gentlemen at the table gave each other looks and glanced at her sideways. Luo Yinghe faced them with a cold, cosmetically altered face, ¡°What are you looking at?¡± The young gentlemen smiled silently, giving the Luo Family some face, not stooping to her level, except for Ming Lao from the Ming Family, who was not one to hold back, and retorted, ¡°What, is your temper tantrum making it a crime to look?¡± Luo Yinghe had recently been ridiculed online for her temper tantrums, and this had struck a nerve, making her scream out, ¡°Ming Yanghua!¡± Ming Yanghua snorted at her, arrogantly, ¡°I¡¯m not deaf; don¡¯t shout so loud.¡± When spoiled rich kids clash with a princess, sparks flew. Her phone rang. Ming Yanghua gave Luo Yinghe a provocative look before answering, ¡°What¡¯s up now?¡± It was his eldest sister, commanding, ¡°Come here.¡± ¡°I¡¯m busy.¡± Though he said this, his body had been well-trained by his sister to be honest; reluctantly, he got up from his chair and walked towards the main Jiang house. On the other end, Ming Saiying was losing her temper, ¡°Hurry up and come over, I¡¯ve been harassed.¡± Ming Yanghua laughed, ¡°Really?!¡± A light, floating voice behind him said, ¡°Hey.¡± Ming Yanghua paid no attention to what was behind him and kept walking, hands in his pockets, still gleefully teasing his sister: ¡°Which Liang Mountain hero dared to harass you?¡± The light, floating voice again said, ¡°Hey.¡± This time, Ming Yanghua heard it, turned around, and saw that on the opposite window, a dark shadow was moving. The phone in his hand dropped with a clatter. Ming Yanghua¡¯s eyelids twitched, his legs trembling, ¡°You-you-you¡ª¡ª¡± How come this female ghost kept haunting him! ¡°You-you-you-you, what do you want this time?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not a female ghost,¡± The dark figure fluttered, appearing right in front of him, ¡°I am a Hell Messenger, Lord Black Impermanence.¡± Chapter 131: 131: Lord Black Impermanence punishes Luo Qinghe Chapter 131: 131: Lord Black Impermanence punishes Luo Qinghe ¡°I am a Hell Messenger, Lord Black Impermanence.¡± Ming Yanghua rolled his eyes, about to faint. Lord Black Impermanence coldly ordered, ¡°Don¡¯t you dare faint.¡± Ming Yanghua, who was on the verge of fainting from his overwhelming fear of ghosts, yet clinging to his will not to faint, remained silent. Lord Black Impermanence moved with the speed of the wind, drifting from his left side to his right, a ghostly voice whispering in his ear, ¡°If you faint, I¡¯ll claim your life.¡± Oh Mommy! ... He pinched his thigh hard, using all his strength, pain keeping him alert, pain filling his eyes with tears, pain making him forget that he was once a pampered rich kid, suddenly becoming¡ª a coward, ¡°I¡¯ll burn you all the money you want, just don¡¯t keep haunting me¡­¡± He was about to cry! He had been afraid of ghosts since he was a child, genuinely scared! Lord Black Impermanence was relentless, like a restless ghost, darting up and down in front of him, ¡°I¡¯m not haunting you. No one else can see me, only you can.¡± Damn, I¡¯m really going to cry¡­ Finally, Lord Black Impermanence landed, a dark mass advancing toward him, ¡°Do you know why?¡± He shook in terror, legs trembling, backing away, curse it, he was truly terrified of ghosts! Lord Black Impermanence said with all seriousness, ¡°It¡¯s because you have a unique bone structure, you are a different kind of person, only someone like you can see a Hell Messenger.¡± Source: , updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.?? ¡­ The truth made him shed tears. Lord Black Impermanence¡¯s ¡®raspy¡¯ voice rose again, ¡°So,¡± Is there more to it? Ming Yanghua¡¯s eyes rolled again as he struggled on the verge of fainting, pinching his thigh until it was almost bruised to prevent himself from passing out. Lord Black Impermanence slowly revealed the intention, ¡°You have been chosen by the Hell Messenger.¡± He said he wasn¡¯t haunting him? He had been chosen! Ming Yanghua shook his head, his face a mixture of ruffian charm and a hint of fierceness, yet marked with the look of fear for ghosts, trembling in the wind like a small sapling about to fall without support, ¡°Lord Black Impermanence, I don¡¯t want to die yet¡­¡± He was only 24, so suave and handsome, not yet married, nor had he inherited the billion-dollar family fortune¡­ ¡°You don¡¯t have to die.¡± Ming Yanghua paused for a moment. Lord Black Impermanence suddenly turned authoritative, like a big boss in a TV drama, flinging his sleeve and placing a hand behind his back, ¡°You are my mortal messenger chosen by Lord Black Impermanence, no one dares let you die.¡± Huh? Ming Yanghua was stunned. Lord Black Impermanence looked at him, calling out, ¡°Mortal Messenger.¡± He was bewildered. S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Lord Black Impermanence called out again, ¡°Mortal Messenger.¡± He remained bewildered. Lord Black Impermanence raised his voice, becoming serious, ¡°I¡¯m calling you.¡± She got too into it and momentarily forgot to make her voice harsher, ¡°Mortal Messenger.¡± The voice was actually quite pleasant. Ming Yanghua crossed his arms, a gesture of resistance, his voice shivering, ¡°Here¡­¡± Lord Black Impermanence leaped up to the balcony on the second floor, stepped up with one foot on the railing, and stretched out her hand, making a summoning gesture, ¡°Come here, there¡¯s something I need you to do as a mortal messenger for Lord Black Impermanence now.¡± This female ghost¡­ damn it, Lord Black Impermanence really could fly. The mortal messenger, Ming Yanghua, stepped forward with hesitation every three steps, grabbed a pinch of his womanizer-quiff haircut, and despite his reluctance to show weakness, he still succumbed to the formidable power of Lord Ghost, ¡°Please command, my lord.¡± Lord Black Impermanence was satisfied, her eyes forming crescents, ¡°Very good.¡± Zhou Xufang¡¯s mimicking skills were exceptional, and she recently watched a BL novel called ¡°Why Lord Ghost behaves this way,¡± which narrated the story of a male student who failed his college entrance exams and attempted to jump off a building in despair. He didn¡¯t die but accidentally killed a flourishing young man, who became an Innocent Ghost and gradually defeated countless other innocent ghosts to become a powerful Lord Ghost in Hell. Six years later, the Lord Ghost started his revenge plan, constantly haunting the male student who cut his life short¡­ and through entanglement, they developed a deep romance. The act Zhou Xufang just performed was the scene of the initial encounter between the Lord Ghost and the male student, where she played the assertive younger ghostly suitor¡ªLord Ghost. Not bad at all, she had a natural talent for playing a female ghost. At 7:30, as all the guests were seated and the banquet was about to start, Jiang Zhi appeared, gasping every three steps and coughing every five, assisted downstairs from the upper floor. Ah Gui bent over and whispered to Old Madam Jiang, ¡°Old Madam, the young master has come down.¡± Old Madam Jiang immediately sent away her eldest grandson, Jiang Xiaolin, cleared the chair beside her, and laid down a fur blanket, ¡°Brother Zhi, come and sit by Grandma.¡± Jiang Xiaolin was used to it; without changing expression, he moved to another table to sit down, but his father, Jiang Weikai, looked a bit displeased. This Old Madam¡¯s favoritism was too much. Jiang Zhi dragged his feet, moving exceptionally slowly to the chair. Once seated, he leaned back, gasping for air, then began coughing, ¡°Cough cough cough cough cough¡­¡± His pale face, from the coughing, blushed slightly, and coupled with his delicate features, he looked pitiable. Despite that, his eyes were proud and aristocratic, no trace of femininity. He was both appealing in his delicacy and proud in his arrogance. Putting aside how the Jiang Family¡¯s young master was too delicate to get along with, his title as the most beautiful person in Imperial City was well-deserved. His presence immediately captured the attention of all the men and women in the room. ¡°Cough cough cough cough cough¡­¡± Between the gasps and coughs of the beauty, his peach blossom eyes misted over, exuding a romantic allure. Damn it! What a Fairy! Xue Baoyi was at the next table over, feeling a pang in his heart just looking on. Even he, a sturdy, straightforward man, could barely stand it¡ªJiang Zhi¡¯s appearance was truly enchanting. ¡°How come the coughing is so severe?¡± After showing concern, Old Lady Jiang instructed Gui, who was nearby, to fetch a hand warmer, with an overflowing look of heartache written all over her face. Jiang Zhi was breathless and listless, with half-closed eyelids; his voice was faint. But as soon as he spoke, everyone else went silent to listen to his feeble words, ¡°Probably because I was pushed into the sea a while back, it left me with an ailment, and I cough badly whenever the weather turns damp.¡± Why would he suddenly bring up this matter¡­ ¡°Father-in-law,¡± Old Lady Jiang¡¯s face went cold as soon as she spoke, her gaze turned to Grandpa Luo, ¡°What is your take on this matter?¡± The yard suddenly became silent as the grave. This grandfather-grandson pair was playing good cop and bad cop, settling scores after autumn. Luo Huaiyu sat upright, his expression unchanged: ¡°The criminal has been apprehended, and the trial will commence shortly. We¡¯ll definitely see that justice is served for Brother Zhi.¡± The Jiang Family and the Luo Family were related by marriage. Old Lady Jiang bringing the issue to light was indeed unexpected¡ªit was no wonder that the Jiang Family¡¯s youngest son was said to be the apple of the Old Lady¡¯s eye and untouchable by others. ¡°If my memory serves me right,¡± Old Lady Jiang paused for a moment, her gaze turned towards Luo Qinghe, ¡°the culprit was from Qinghe¡¯s men, right?¡± Luo Qinghe set down her teacup and rose to speak, ¡°Yes Grandma Jiang, that was indeed my oversight in supervision.¡± Her tone was gentle, showing a gesture of goodwill, therefore giving the Jiang Family a way out¡ªbending her head, she wanted to gloss over the matter. But Old Lady Jiang did not intend to let it go. ¡°Of course it¡¯s your fault.¡± The Old Madam¡¯s face was stern as she took a hard line in front of everyone, accusatory and aggressive, ¡°Not only you but also your father, who not only gave false testimony but also deliberately burned his hand, repeatedly trying to confuse everyone. What exactly is it that your Luo Family doesn¡¯t want to come to light when it comes to catching the criminal?¡± The attitude was now clear; the Luo Family must give an explanation for this matter. Luo Qinghe¡¯s face showed difficulty as she stepped forward to answer. No matter how proud she used to be, she had to keep her henchmen in the Jiang house in check, speaking softly and gently: ¡°Grandma Jiang, you misunderstand, my father had no intention, and did not know who the culprit was.¡± Old Madam Jiang snorted, her expression unyielding and inflexible: ¡°I do not care whether you truly don¡¯t know or pretend not to know. Solving the case and finding the criminal is the police¡¯s responsibility. Go tell them your theory of innocence. I¡¯m just an old woman who won¡¯t pass judgment, but I do know that your Luo Family can¡¯t shake off your connection to this matter.¡± Gui came in from the house with a blanket. Old Madam Jiang took it and covered Jiang Zhi, continuing, ¡°Since you can¡¯t shake off your connection, then don¡¯t even try. My Brother Zhi has suffered greatly because of this. You all know how frail he is; he can¡¯t withstand such torment. I¡¯m not asking to make things difficult for you¡ªlet¡¯s have the Luo Family make an apology in public and send some medicinal herbs to help his body recover. That¡¯s not asking too much, right?¡± ¡°Cough cough cough¡­¡± Jiang Zhi let out intermittent light coughs. He seemed spiritless, almost asleep, as if none of this concerned him at all. Now that things had come to this point, the Luo Family had to make amends. Aside from Grandpa Luo Huaiyu, Tang Xiang and the two granddaughters were present, so Luo Qinghe took the lead. ¡°That¡¯s not asking too much at all.¡± She approached Jiang Zhi, eyes downcast as she made an apology in front of everyone, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Jiang Zhi, for not supervising my subordinates closely. I am here to apologize to you for my part in this.¡± The responsibility was merely not keeping a close watch on her subordinates. Naturally, she did not admit that the matter had anything to do with the Luo Family. Jiang Zhi, who had been drooping his eyelids, suddenly lifted them a bit. His tone nonchalant, ¡°Is this how you apologize to someone?¡± After finishing speaking, he covered his mouth and coughed lightly. Despite appearing fragile as a reed in the wind, this noncommittal remark held a firm grip on the situation, carrying the air of ¡®if you do not satisfy me today, don¡¯t think of leaving this place.¡¯ Luo Qinghe¡¯s forced smile faltered. It turns out this birthday celebration was set up to show her Luo Family their place. Without a thorough apology, this matter would probably not end. She would have to bend her back even if she didn¡¯t want to. She gave a deep bow, ninety degrees, and said to Jiang Zhi, ¡°I apologize.¡± Jiang Zhi showed the temperament of a spoiled rich kid, not deigning to give her a glance. This must be the first time the Miss of the Luo Family had to lower her head to someone. Luo Qinghe stood with her hands hanging by her sides, tightly clenched. Several seconds later, she stood up straight, her face quickly returning to normal. Everyone thought the matter would end there. But no, the account had not been settled yet. Old Madam Jiang, holding a cup of tea in one hand and the lid in the other, casually flicked away tea leaves on the surface: ¡°Why isn¡¯t Changde here today?¡± Luo Qinghe answered, ¡°My father had an accident, he¡¯s still in the hospital.¡± Being a clever person, she understood what Old Lady Jiang implied, ¡°Let me make the apology on behalf of my father to Brother Zhi.¡± Being a junior, the apology would not hugely damage the Luo Family¡¯s face. However, Old Madam Jiang chuckled, ¡°You cannot represent him, as the failure to teach is the father¡¯s fault.¡± The Old Madam took a sip from her cup, looking towards Luo Huaiyu, ¡°Father-in-law, what do you think?¡± With that one sentence, Luo Huaiyu¡¯s complexion changed. Today, aside from the Lu Family who were at odds with the Jiang Family and not present, all the distinguished families of the Imperial City were here. Having him, a man in his late seventies, apologize to the Jiang Family¡¯s youngest son was Old Lady Jiang¡¯s way of humiliating the Luo Family. The guests remained silent, watching the drama unfold. At that moment, a young girl¡¯s voice came from outside, ¡°I think Old Madam Jiang is right. The apology needs to be made.¡± It was a young girl¡¯s voice. Old Madam Jiang looked up, surprised, ¡°Second Miss Lu, how did you come here?¡± Everyone was also curious; why had Second Miss Lu also come? The Lu Family and the Jiang Family were sworn enemies, and for years, there had been no private interactions between the two families, aside from exchanging courtesy invitations¡ªwhich both families tacitly understood to accept but not attend. Lu Sheng smiled like a harmless, well-behaved girl next door: ¡°My grandma¡¯s getting old and isn¡¯t very mobile, so she sent me here in her place.¡± She walked in, pulled up a chair to sit down, placed her hands on the round table, and rested her chin on them, playfully blinking at Luo Huaiyu, ¡°Mr. Luo, please hurry with the apology, let¡¯s start the meal. I am hungry here.¡± Compared to the Jiang Family, Lu Sheng despised the Luo Family even more. This birthday feast was for everyone to witness the Luo Family¡¯s embarrassment, and she wouldn¡¯t miss it for the world. Lu Sheng urged cutely, ¡°Come on, Mr. Luo, we are all hungry.¡± For the first time, the prestigious Four Great Families¡¯ Jiang and Lu Families were on the same side. Luo Huaiyu¡¯s grip on his teacup tightened almost to the point of shattering it, his face turning ashen as he stood up, facing Jiang Zhi, and bent forward in a bow, ¡°It¡¯s this old man¡¯s fault for not teaching well. My apologies.¡± The moment he bowed, from tomorrow onward, the Luo Family would become the laughingstock of the entire Imperial City. Jiang Zhi covered his mouth with a cough, ¡®too busy¡¯ to comment, making an elder who was aged seventy or eighty bend his back for over ten seconds. At the table, a few clueless youngsters couldn¡¯t hold back and whispered jokes among themselves, mocking the three generations of the Luo Family, all turning uncomfortable shades of red. ¡°Cough, cough, cough, cough¡­¡± Jiang Zhi started coughing again. Old Lady Jiang quickly helped him catch his breath, ¡°Coughing so vigorously might mean that the seawater has damaged your lungs.¡± She then looked over at Luo Huaiyu, repeatedly calling him ¡°father-in-law,¡± ¡°Father-in-law, I¡¯ve heard that you have a Lingzhi mushroom. Since you also wish to compensate our Brother Zhi, why not give the Lingzhi to him to strengthen his body?¡± Luo Huaiyu: ¡°¡­¡± A surge of internal bleeding stuck in his throat, neither spitting out nor swallowing down, turning his face red with effort. Those few clueless youngsters laughed even more impudently. Everyone in Imperial City knew that the Luo Family possessed a precious Lingzhi mushroom¡ªa true treasure that money couldn¡¯t buy. It was acquired by the Luo Family from a tomb raider. The eldest son of the Lu Family was also in poor health, and the Lu Family matriarch had once approached the Luo Family asking for the medicinal mushroom, offering a high price of fifty million, but the Luo Family did not sell. Now Old Lady Jiang was trying to get it for free. Whether in terms of wealth or social influence, the Luo Family was a few ranks below the Jiang Family. In front of so many people, they had not only lost face but with this ¡®compensation,¡¯ even though it hurt, they had to give it. Luo Huaiyu, his face turning green, said, ¡°I¡¯ll have someone send it over tomorrow.¡± Only then did Old Lady Jiang appear satisfied, ¡°Order to start the banquet.¡± Just as the accounts settled there, even before the dishes were served, another commotion arose. ¡°Ah!¡± It was a sharp scream. The crowd turned to look and saw a column of water falling from the sky, drenching the still-unsuspecting Luo Qinghe. The water column was considerable, and Luo Qinghe was immediately pushed over by the force, knocking over a table and falling to the ground. Xue Baoyi happened to be sitting at that table. ¡°Damn! It splashed on me!¡± He jumped up to dodge and disgustingly shook the water off his feet. In the middle of winter, the water was bone-chillingly cold, and the catastrophe happened so suddenly and without warning that people had yet to react when Luo Qinghe was already drenched and unable to stand. Old Lady Jiang quickly told people to support Jiang Zhi and move back to avoid getting involved, and asked Jiang Chuan beside her, ¡°What¡¯s happening?¡± The butler looked up at the water column, which seemed to be spraying down from the rooftop, but it was too dark to see anything clearly. He shook his head, also uncertain of the situation. The water column continued to spray at Luo Qinghe, who couldn¡¯t even open her eyes and curled up on the ground, rolling around. Her meticulously styled hair and makeup were completely ruined, looking like a bedraggled lunatic. Finally, she couldn¡¯t bear it and started to cry out. ¡°Stop!¡± As soon as she opened her mouth, the water column took the opportunity to pour into it. ¡°Cough, cough, cough¡­ Stop it!¡± ¡°Grandpa, Grandpa!¡± The water flow left her face frozen stiff, with water in her nose and mouth, her hair wet and sticking to her face. The buttons of her coat had come undone in her struggles, and underneath was a flashy red dress. Due to the force of the water, her dress was lifted, revealing her large thighs cladded in flesh-colored stockings. The young Miss of the Luo Family had probably never been so humiliated. She flailed around, holding her face and shrieking, ¡°Ah¡ªAh¡ªAh¡ª¡± Nobody came forward. In the biting cold, everyone kept their distance, not wanting to be splashed. The water jet was forceful and long-reaching. Zhou Xufang was very pleased, squinting one eye to aim right at Luo Qinghe¡¯s face, and firing¡ª ¡°Ah¡ªAh¡ªAh¡ª¡± Ha, that¡¯ll teach you to spill drinks on others! Squinting again, she aimed at Luo Qinghe¡¯s thighs, and firing¡ª ¡°Ah¡ªAh¡ªAh¡ª¡± Your lapdog made Jiang Zhi drink seawater, so I¡¯ll make you become a drenched dog! Ha! Zhou Xufang readied her aim and fired again¡ª ¡°Ah¡ªAh¡ªAh¡ª¡± Luo Qinghe held her head with one hand and tried to pull down her dress with the other, but it was too late. Zhou Xufang held the hose with one hand and covered her mouth with the other, letting out laughter like tolling bells. Downstairs, it was utter chaos. Luo Qinghe was screaming miserably and awkwardly. The moment the water lifted her skirt, she lost all reason, blinded by the heavy flow and unable to stand, only able to call out desperately for help. ¡°Grandpa! Grandpa, save me!¡± ¡°Stop it, please!¡± ¡°Please stop!¡± The young Miss of the Luo Family, having lost all her dignity and image, was a sight the crowd had never seen before. Usually so lofty, just one splash of cold water reduced her to nothing but screams. Tang Xiang approached Luo Huaiyu and said softly, ¡°There¡¯s someone on the roof.¡± Luo Huaiyu¡¯s face darkened as he scolded sharply, ¡°Yinghe, go and help your cousin up!¡± Luo Yinghe hesitated for a moment but immediately stepped back, ¡°I don¡¯t want to, it¡¯s so cold.¡± If his own family wouldn¡¯t step forward, why should they expect others to? Luo Qinghe was usually aloof and arrogant, ruthless and decisive in the business world, and most in the courtyard were there to watch her humiliation or see her make a fool of herself. Who would want to get involved and end up drenched? At that moment, Old Lady Jiang spoke, ¡°Go and help Miss Luo up.¡± It was then that the Jiang Family¡¯s servants went to assist. But helping her up was useless, as the water jet seemed to have eyes of its own, targeting only Luo Qinghe. It sprayed with precision, hitting her face and thighs. Just as she was helped up, she was knocked down again by the water¡¯s force. ¡°There¡¯s someone messing with us from above.¡± Luo Huaiyu stood up, glared at Old Lady Jiang with fury, and thundered, ¡°Are you Jiang Family going to give me an explanation?¡± However, no explanation could be provided at the moment. Old Lady Jiang first made her apologies, ordered protection for Luo Qinghe, and then instructed the servants, ¡°Some of you go and block the exits of the manor, and the rest of you bring the guests inside.¡± Once everything was in order, she continued, ¡°Jiang Chuan, go upstairs and see who is causing trouble.¡± Jiang Chuan responded and headed upstairs. Just then, someone burst out saying, ¡°I know who it is.¡± It was Ming Family¡¯s Xiao Liu. ¡°Xiao Liu, come back here!¡± This troublesome child! Ming Songding quickly pulled back his simple-natured son. Although Xiao Liu appeared as a rowdy ruffian outside, his nature was pure. He was oblivious to people¡¯s expressions, just like the silly son of a wealthy landowner, and he kept shouting out loud. When Old Lady Jiang heard this, she asked, ¡°Younger Young Master Ming, who do you think it is?¡± Ming Yanghua spoke loudly, ¡°It¡¯s Lord Black Impermanence.¡± Everyone: ¡°¡­¡± Ming Songding held his forehead, lamenting his past life¡¯s sins that resulted in birthing such a creature. The Ming Family was not a nouveau riche household but had generations of merchants with a decent fortune. He wondered at which point something went wrong leading to the appearance of such a ¡®fool¡¯. Ming Yanghua, remembering his duty as a mortal messenger, stood out. Amid his wandering demeanor, he spoke with confident vigor: ¡°Don¡¯t disbelieve. I am a mortal messenger and can see ghost messengers. The one spraying water from above is Lord Black Impermanence.¡± At this moment, he felt incredibly imposing. His tone rose with the arrogance of a street gang leader, brimming with mettle. ¡°Lord Black Impermanence said this woman has committed grave sins, and before claiming her life, he wants to punish her first.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Everyone looked at him as if he were mentally challenged. Ming Songding was so frustrated he wanted to crawl into a hole and bury this embarrassment of a son. His beard nearly stood on end as he snapped, ¡°What nonsense are you spouting? Shut your mouth now!¡± But Ming Yanghua didn¡¯t shut up; he wasn¡¯t finished: ¡°Lord Black Impermanence also said, the Luo Family¡¯s sins are known to those below, and they are remembered. It¡¯s not that there won¡¯t be retribution, only that the time has not yet come. The Luo Family should be careful, not to venture out at night, and stop harming others.¡± At that moment, Ming Yanghua¡¯s admiration for Lord Black Impermanence surged inexplicably. It was as though he really had seen a ghost. Of course, he still feared ghosts, a fear deep in his bones, so he dared not forget the instructions of Lord Black Impermanence. Standing tall, he addressed everyone with an earnest tone: ¡°And the same goes for all of you. Lord Black Impermanence said not to do evil, otherwise, she will come to find each of you one by one.¡± His father was close to having a breakdown. ¡°Xiao Liu! Stop talking nonsense!¡± It wasn¡¯t nonsense but the commands of Lord Black Impermanence. He affirmed this dutifully, fearing being haunted, and said, ¡°I¡¯m not. It was Lord Black Impermanence. Wait and ask the butler when he comes down if you don¡¯t believe me.¡± Anyway, he believed it. Such a ¡®powerful¡¯ female ghost must surely be an official, Lord Black Impermanence without a doubt! Everyone thought that something must have possessed the youngster from the Ming Family. Hadn¡¯t he been frightened by a ¡®female ghost¡¯ at the beach recently and ended up in the hospital? Since then, he had claimed he could see ghosts and was probably mentally disturbed. The Ming Family should call for a Taoist priest. Back to the rooftop. Jiang Chuan had just reached the top when he saw a dark figure and shouted, ¡°Who¡¯s there?!¡± The figure turned around. Jiang Chuan¡¯s legs weakened, and he fell to the ground, ¡°Gh¡­ ghost¡­¡± It was a pitch-black figure, with only the eyeballs shining with a bloodred, dim light. Dripping from its head was something wet. Oh, it was Zhou Xufang who had been ¡®playing with water¡¯ and got sprayed in the eye. She discarded the hose, ¡°I¡¯m not a ghost.¡± ¡°You¡ª¡± Before he could finish, Jiang Chuan¡¯s eyes bulged in shock, paralyzed. In the blink of an eye, the ¡®ghost¡¯ had ¡®floated¡¯ next to him, freezing him in place. His pupils dilated with extreme terror. In a low voice by his ear, she said, ¡°I am Lord Black Impermanence.¡± After speaking, she ¡®floated¡¯ away just as quickly as she had arrived, disappearing from sight. Ten seconds later¡ª ¡°A ghost!¡± Jiang Chuan ran down with trembling legs. When Old Lady Jiang saw him come down, she immediately asked, ¡°Jiang Chuan, what happened?¡± His legs gave out, and Jiang Chuan collapsed to the floor, panting heavily with sweat pouring down his forehead and a look of horror in his eyes, ¡°Old¡­ Old Madam.¡± ¡°Why are you panicking? Who was up there?¡± Jiang Chuan, now in his sixties, was close to fainting from the shock. His lips turned white as he stuttered, ¡°She she she said¡­ she is Lord Black Impermanence.¡± Ming Yanghua folded his arms and snorted with a touch of smug pride in his voice: ¡°See, I told you, it was Lord Black Impermanence.¡± Believe it now? It was the powerfully magical Lord Black Impermanence! Chapter 132: 132: Bullying jerks feels great, constantly bullying jerks is a consistent thrill Chapter 132: 132: Bullying jerks feels great, constantly bullying jerks is a consistent thrill ¡°It¡¯s the almighty Lord Black Impermanence!¡± Old Lady Jiang naturally didn¡¯t believe this nonsense, and she asked Jiang Chuan again, ¡°What kind of ghost-talk is this? Who exactly was it?¡± Jiang Chuan was already too scared to speak. Seeing that no words could be gotten out of him, Old Lady Jiang called a few servants over, ¡°You all go up there and take a look.¡± A group of them went up together. They returned in less than two minutes. ... ¡°Old Madam, there¡¯s no one upstairs.¡± Upon hearing this, everyone was puzzled. Someone asked, ¡°How is that possible? The exits were all blocked, could the person have flown away?¡± Eyes were everywhere, could someone really sprout wings and fly? The ¡°idiot son¡± from the Landlord Ming¡¯s family started babbling some superstitious nonsense again, ¡°Of course people can¡¯t fly, but Lord Black Impermanence can.¡± Worrying no one would believe him, he patted his chest to assure, ¡°I¡¯ve seen it with my own eyes, Lord Black Impermanence¡¯s mana is boundless.¡± It was beginning to sound more plausible. Source: , updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?0.?? ¡°Jiang Chuan,¡± Old Lady Jiang had someone help him up, ¡°I¡¯ll ask you one more time, who is upstairs?¡± Jiang Chuan had recovered a bit, but his expression still betrayed a residual fear, as he replied, ¡°It was Lord Black Impermanence.¡± Geez! Xue Baoyi rubbed his arms, ¡°I¡¯m freaking getting goosebumps.¡± He elbowed Qiao Nanchu who was next to him, ¡°Do you believe in ghosts?¡± ¡°People with a guilty conscience believe in ghosts.¡± ¡°But the person on the roof really did vanish into thin air, and we even have two ¡®eyewitnesses¡¯ who saw the ghost.¡± The whole ¡®no guilty deed, no fear of ghosts knocking at the door¡¯ didn¡¯t quite suit the crowd attending the banquet today. These were people at the top of the pyramid, and those who managed to climb that high rarely had clean hands; there were bound to be a few guilty consciences. Xue Baoyi was among them. He felt a chill on his back, ¡°I kind of do believe it. I figure I might have a ghost in my heart, come to think of it, I¡¯ve done my fair share of bad deeds. Should I make a donation tomorrow, maybe build a Hope Primary School or something?¡± ¡°What, scared of a ghost coming knocking?¡± ¡°Scared, yeah.¡± Xue Baoyi started to joke again, ¡°But if it¡¯s a pretty female ghost, that¡¯s a different story.¡± Qiao Nanchu was too lazy to talk nonsense with him, ¡°Look at Jiang Zhi.¡± Suddenly faced with ghosts, everyone was on edge, except for Jiang Zhi. He sat there leisurely, legs crossed. Xue Baoyi clicked his tongue, ¡°He¡¯s got quite the seductive smile.¡± That smile was full of triumph. You could tell, the little beauty was in a good mood. Qiao Nanchu¡¯s smile was ambiguously mischievous, ¡°Maybe bewitched by a ghost.¡± The birthday party was thrown into chaos because of this incident. Many guests were anxious; they wanted to leave but didn¡¯t dare to, and everywhere outside was damp. In the cold night, thin ice was already forming. Old Lady Jiang made a decision, ¡°Fuli, take Qinghe back to your room to freshen up.¡± Luo Qinghe, frozen stiff, was a mess. She was far from her usual fierce self and struggled to even stand, supported by Jiang Fuli and other servants, she withdrew first. Old Madam gave another order, ¡°Ah Gui, take some servants and search the house. Don¡¯t miss a single spot.¡± ¡°Yes, Old Madam.¡± After giving the instructions, Old Madam then turned to the guests, ¡°I apologize for the fright. I, an old woman, will use tea to substitute wine and offer my apologies here.¡± After finishing her tea in one gulp, Old Madam continued, ¡°The banquet will be set up in the mansion in the back garden. Please, everyone, join us there.¡± S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The guests were led by the servants to the main mansion¡¯s back. Ming Songding, when no one was watching, grabbed his idiot son by the ear, ¡°You come here!¡± Ming Yanghua hopped and skipped three steps away, dodging him and looking pitifully at Ming Saiying for help, ¡°Sis.¡± Her sister was wearing some man¡¯s suit jacket, her face twisted in annoyance. Not only did she not help, but she also kicked his behind, ¡°Go over there!¡± This was his own sister and father! Ming Yanghua didn¡¯t even have time to lament his miserable fate before his father caught his ear again, ¡°You little brat, daring to spout nonsense even in a place like this. Can¡¯t go a day without courting trouble, can you?¡± Ming Yanghua winced in pain, ¡°Dad, come on.¡± He was already in his twenties; yet his father still pulled his ears at the drop of a hat. It was so embarrassing. Hadn¡¯t he any face to lose? Annoying! Ming Yanghua turned around, glaring at his father, ¡°You can¡¯t hit me, I¡¯m Lord Black Impermanence¡¯s mortal messenger¡ª¡± Ming Songding brought down his fist. ¡°Ouch!¡± Lord Black Impermanence¡¯s mortal messenger just got a thrashing. Using his hands wasn¡¯t enough, Ming Songding also kicked with his feet: ¡°What kind of crap mortal messenger are you? Spout more nonsense and I¡¯ll beat you to death!¡± Ming Yanghua was defiant, yanking her ear from her father¡¯s grip: ¡°I really am a mortal messenger. Lord Black Impermanence said so, praised my extraordinary bones. Only I can see the Hell Messengers, you bunch of mortals¡ª¡± Mortal Ming Songding retorted: ¡°Only you can see them? Then what did Housekeeper Jiang see?¡± His volatile temper flared as he bellowed, ¡°A ghost, huh?!¡± Oh, right. How could Housekeeper Jiang also see Lord Black Impermanence? ¡°Mortal messenger?¡± Ming Songding kicked again, ¡°Messenger my ass!¡± Feeling as if she¡¯d been played like a fool, Ming Yanghua: ¡°¡­¡± Damn! Was she deceived? Did a ghost really trick her?! Damn damn damn damn damn! ¡°Ao ao ao ao ao¡ª¡± Following that was Ming Yanghua¡¯s pathetic, wailing scream, drowned out by the uproar of the crowd. Qiao Nanchu pulled Jiang Zhi aside to a quiet corner where they could talk and asked, ¡°Who was on the rooftop just now?¡± He actually replied seriously, ¡°Lord Black Impermanence.¡± Bullshit! Qiao Nanchu took out his lighter and cigarettes: ¡°Do you think I¡¯d believe that?¡± As he was about to light up, Jiang Zhi snatched the cigarette away: ¡°Don¡¯t smoke in front of this invalid.¡± He tossed the cigarette into the trash, ¡°If it was you on the rooftop, and there were people guarding downstairs, how would you escape?¡± Qiao Nanchu surveyed the terrain: ¡°There¡¯s another room behind.¡± Jiang Zhi glanced at him with a hint of amusement in his eyes: ¡°There¡¯s a ten-meter gap, are you going to fly over it?¡± ¡°If I had the right tools, it wouldn¡¯t be impossible,¡± Qiao Nanchu added, ¡°Of course, the average person shouldn¡¯t even think about it, it would have to be someone with special training.¡± Jiang Zhi overturned his hypothetical: ¡°That room behind has a flat roof with nothing to grab onto, no tools can be used.¡± There¡¯s no escape then. Qiao Nanchu twiddled the lighter in his hand: ¡°So?¡± How did the person get away? Jiang Zhi brought out the same serious nonsense: ¡°So it was Lord Black Impermanence.¡± Qiao Nanchu laughed, a rare display of enthusiasm: ¡°I was only suspicious before but seeing how adamantly you defend, I¡¯m convinced now, it was your person.¡± Busted, Jiang Zhi grumbled: ¡°As a police officer, speak with evidence.¡± ¡°No evidence, but plenty of sensational rumors are swirling among the errand runners. They say she has three heads and six arms, is bulletproof and omnipotent,¡± Qiao Nanchu said with a playful look, ¡°Does your person really have the ability to climb walls?¡± Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t answer directly, instead, he bluffed pretentiously, with an air of pride: ¡°She might be a fairy whose seals have been unlocked, possessing boundless mana.¡± ¡°Wasn¡¯t it Lord Black Impermanence? Now she¡¯s a fairy?¡± ¡°Quit trying to fish for information, go enjoy your drink,¡± Jiang Zhi glanced at his watch, ¡°In no more than ten minutes, things will wrap up.¡± This abrupt statement confused Qiao Nanchu: ¡°Wrap what up?¡± He said no more and ambled away lazily. Ten minutes, huh¡­ Qiao Nanchu timed his wait, and at the eighth minute, a servant from the Jiang Family rushed in, flustered. ¡°Old Madam, two Misses from the Luo Family have started fighting.¡± Both adjacent tables heard, that Luo Family, never a moment¡¯s peace. Old Lady Jiang was still seated, unfazed and detached: ¡°This is the Luo Family¡¯s private matter, report to the father-in-law, the old master.¡± The servant got the hint and informed Luo Huaiyu. He summoned Tang Xiang and was just getting up with his cane when shrieks could already be heard. ¡°Ahhh ahh ahh ahh ahh ahh¡ª¡± Still Luo Qinghe. Today, she seemed determined to lose face all at once. In the great hall of the leading house, the Luo sisters were in a ¡®heated fight¡¯; to be precise, Luo Yinghe was single-handedly beating Luo Qinghe. The ground was covered with blue petals. Unknown what plant it was, the flowers had six petals, slightly transparent blue, with no leaves, thorny stems, slim and sharp, as long as fingernails. Luo Yinghe grabbed a bunch and fiercely whipped Luo Qinghe with them. The needle-thin thorns broke off when they pierced the skin, causing Luo Qinghe to shriek in pain. Stumbling and falling while trying to dodge, she was weakened by a bone-chilling cold and a high fever, utterly lacking the strength to get up, so she could only curl up and scoot backward. She was furious, ¡°Stop!¡± ¡°I refuse to.¡± Luo Yinghe, seemingly unaware of pain, clutched a bunch of flower stems and violently swung it, landing a solid hit on Luo Qinghe¡¯s back. She screamed in pain. But Luo Yinghe became even more excited as she lashed out, her veins bulging and her eyes reddening. She cursed wildly as she beat mercilessly. ¡°Who do you think you are?¡± ¡°Why do you get to boss me around all the time!¡± She was completely irrational, her face twisted in a grotesque sneer, staring down Luo Qinghe with a handful of flower stems, taking out all her resentment on her. Intermittent explosive disorder. She had an episode, even more out of control than usual. The bouquet¡¯s petals were all gone, the slender thorns scraping against the skin, leaving long trails of blood. Luo Qinghe, drained of all strength, was forced back into a corner, shouting, ¡°Luo Yinghe!¡± On any other day, what Luo Yinghe feared most was her cousin¡¯s stern and cold gaze. But now her mind was in a state of extreme excitement; the shouts not only failed to stop her but further agitated her. She raised her hand high and struck Luo Qinghe¡¯s face with the thorny flower stem. ¡°What are you putting on airs for!¡± ¡°What¡¯s so great about you! You¡¯re only a few years older than me!¡± ¡°You think you¡¯re so tough?¡± ¡°Show me how tough you are! Ah!¡± For each insult, she whipped her, unleashing all the suppressed resentment and anger. She acted like a madwoman. Jiang Fuli stepped forward to pull her away, ¡°Yinghe.¡± She shook him off forcefully, ¡°Get lost!¡± ¡°Luo Yinghe!¡± Jiang Fuli grabbed her whipping hand, ¡°Calm down.¡± She didn¡¯t listen at all, her eyes fierce as if she¡¯d eat someone, flailing the thorny branches, ¡°Move or I¡¯ll beat you too.¡± Something was not right¡­ She only had mild intermittent explosive disorder, it shouldn¡¯t have driven her to such madness. As Luo Yinghe turned her frenzy towards Jiang Fuli, Luo Qinghe, leaning against the wall, staggered to her feet, only to be yanked back by the hair by someone behind her and dragged away forcefully. ¡°Where do you think you¡¯re going?¡± Tears sprang from the pain, her hair disheveled, her face covered in blood. She bit down on her teeth in hatred, utterly exhausted, head yanked back as she was pulled by her hair. The flower stem lashed at her again. Luo Yinghe¡¯s eyes seemed like they would pop out, bloodshot and crazed. Her carefully styled hair was a mess; she clutched at a handful of it. ¡°Who said you could leave?¡± After her roar, she pushed Luo Qinghe against the wall and pressed the thorny stem against her, ¡°I¡¯m not done teaching you a lesson, who said you could leave!¡± Luo Qinghe, still in a high fever and unable to move, wished she could kill this mad woman, ¡°You lunatic, you better kill me, or else¡ª¡± Luo Yinghe slapped her squarely. ¡°I am a lunatic, I am prone to outbursts, but I¡¯m still better than you and your father. You¡¯re a beast, and so is your father, he even¡ª¡± ¡°Enough!¡± Following the shout was the sound of Luo Huaiyu¡¯s cane and the commotion of footsteps. The battling pair were stunned. One with a ferocious countenance, the other covered in blood, the two Misses of the Luo Family had truly become a spectacle for all the guests to behold. Luo Yinghe was tolerable; she was known for being trouble and spoiled. But Luo Qinghe¡­ As haughty and dominant as she was before, today she was in a pitiful state of disarray. And the Luo Family, their image utterly tarnished, became a laughingstock in the circles of the Imperial City. Luo Huaiyu¡¯s hands trembled with his cane, his pupils a fiery red with rage, but with everyone present, he restrained himself, ¡°Old Madame Jiang, may I borrow a few people?¡± Old Madame Jiang nodded and signaled a few men over. They stepped forward and grabbed Luo Yinghe. Unwilling, she cursed and struggled, the girl displaying strength unknown from whence it came, defiant even when dragged by several men, kicking and flailing. Luo Qinghe, supported by Jiang Fuli, was in disarray after the ordeal, her usual defiance and spirit completely worn down. Her clothes were disheveled, panting weakly as if hanging by a thread. Luo Huaiyu¡¯s face was ashen as he fought the surging anger, ¡°My granddaughter is ill, please help me take her to the hospital.¡± Several men worked together to finally drag her away. Curses echoed until they were far away, Luo Yinghe spewing the word ¡®beast¡¯ at Luo Changde, Luo Qinghe, and even Luo Huaiyu. Once the yelling had faded, Luo Huaiyu grimaced as he apologized to the guests, ¡°My granddaughter suffers from intermittent explosive disorder, which causes her to speak nonsense when it flares up. Please forgive us for this embarrassing spectacle.¡± Whether it¡¯s nonsense or not, one man¡¯s meat is another man¡¯s poison. ¡°Today I¡¯ve spoiled everyone¡¯s mood, I¡¯ll hold a feast at the Luo Family¡¯s place another day to make amends.¡± Luo Huaiyu apologized formally, and then Old Lady Jiang stepped in to ask the guests to move on. At this point, Jiang Zhi suddenly squatted down, picked up a fallen flower from the ground: ¡°What kind of flower is this?¡± He sniffed gently, ¡°It has a medicinal scent.¡± Old Lady Jiang¡¯s heart immediately rang alarm bells: ¡°Brother Zhi, don¡¯t touch it.¡± He let go. The flower stem hit the ground and broke into several petals. Only then did everyone notice, the flower had a medicinal scent. Old Lady Jiang turned around and questioned the few servants in the room: ¡°Where did this flower come from?¡± The servants were silent as cicadas in winter and could not answer. ¡°Old Madam,¡± It was Qin Shiyu, who stepped forward, his tone as mild as ever: ¡°This is my flower, a medicinal plant. It seems that a servant made a mistake and used it as a decoration.¡± He resided at the Jiang Mansion, and in the garden behind there was a flower arbor dedicated to his use, where he often cultivated medicinal herbs and flowers. Old Lady Jiang was aware of this, so she said no more. Qin Shiyu made an apology and then squatted down to pick up the fallen branches and petals, carrying them away in his clothes. ¡°Wait a minute.¡± Jiang Xiaolin suddenly spoke up, seemingly casually, and asked, ¡°Shiyu, does this flower have another name, known as Qiu Luhua?¡± Qin Shiyu did not reply, his expression unclear as he lowered his eyes. Jiang Xiaolin did not press further, instead, he raised his eyes and turned to his old classmate, ¡°Do you still recognize this flower? We saw it back when we were in school.¡± Tang Xiang and Jiang Xiaolin had studied biology in college. Upon this mention, she recalled, ¡°If I¡¯m not mistaken, the medicinal scent that this flower emits can cause hallucinations after prolonged exposure, and it¡¯s a banned substance, isn¡¯t it?¡± Qin Shiyu remained silent. Everyone revealed an enlightened look on their faces, no wonder then¡ªthe second young miss of the Luo Family acted like she had gone mad. So there was trickery at play here. Indeed, where there is something abnormal, there must be a demon. Luo Huaiyu said coldly, ¡°Tang Xiang, call the police.¡± A fine birthday banquet ended abruptly like this. Before nine o¡¯clock, all the guests had left. Jiang Zhi called Qiao Nanchu aside and took him back to his room, not bothering with pleasantries, he bluntly asked, ¡°How long can you be imprisoned for illegally purchasing and cultivating banned plants?¡± ¡°If the circumstances are not serious, it won¡¯t be for long,¡± Qiao Nanchu leaned back against the table, ¡°You¡¯re the one pulling strings, aren¡¯t you?¡± His tone was joking, but his voice was sure. Jiang Zhi neither admitted nor denied it. This guy, full of schemes and plots. Qiao Nanchu found it amusing and pressed on, ¡°So, are you after the Luo sisters or Qin Shiyu?¡± ¡°Qin Shiyu,¡± he replied distractedly, as if it had nothing to do with him, without a trace of awareness that he had caused trouble, speaking lazily, ¡°The Luo Family is just incidental.¡± To use another¡¯s hand to kill one¡¯s enemy, and even achieve two ends with one means. If you talk about being sinister, no one among these people could beat Jiang Zhi. Qiao Nanchu asked this sly fellow, ¡°Did he offend you?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve already stopped my medication, Qin Shiyu is a nuisance,¡± Jiang Zhi stood by the window, gazing outside, seeming somewhat absent-minded, ¡°And I also want to know if he contributed to my ¡®illness.''¡± Qin Shiyu was a deep one. Friend or foe, he had not yet figured it out, and without the patience, he¡¯d deal with it directly. ¡°I advised you for so long, and you wouldn¡¯t listen, you just got a girlfriend and stopped your medication,¡± Qiao Nanchu teased, ¡°Brother Zhi, are you planning on counting on your child¡¯s fortune?¡± Jiang Zhi shifted his gaze from the window, ¡°That¡¯s a good suggestion.¡± Actually thinking about counting on his child¡¯s fortune. As a brother, of course, he had to offer advice, ¡°Then I suggest you get your infertility treated first.¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± Damn, did you have to bring that up? Alright, not to touch on his sore point, Qiao Nanchu spoke seriously, ¡°I¡¯ve asked professionals, the fragrance of Qiu Luhua accelerates nerve stimulation and has hallucinogenic effects, but there are no studies concerning whether it has adverse effects on patients with explosive disorder.¡± In other words, Luo Yinghe¡¯s episode might not be related to that bunch of flowers. Jiang Zhi continued to look outside the window, not knowing what he was observing, his eyes full of moonlight. Qiao Nanchu walked over and asked, ¡°Did you drug Luo Yinghe with something else?¡± Chapter 133: 133: Fang Bao takes Jiang Zhi for infertility treatment Chapter 133: 133: Fang Bao takes Jiang Zhi for infertility treatment ¡°Luo Yinghe, did you slip something else into the drink?¡± Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t turn around but offered a sideways glance, ¡°If you¡¯re that curious, go join the criminal investigation unit.¡± He didn¡¯t say it, but Qiao Nanchu had guessed as much and didn¡¯t press further. He shrugged, half-jokingly said, ¡°Forget criminal investigation, I might not be able to resist arresting you.¡± ¡°Arrest me?¡± Jiang Zhi threw a provocative look from the corner of his eye, ¡°Do you think I¡¯m that easy to catch?¡± Qiao Nanchu cursed with a laugh, ¡°You lawless bastard!¡± Jiang Zhi ignored him and continued looking out the window. ... The room was filled with antiques, each piece a rare treasure, except for an odd painting hanging above the bed that seemed out of place. Qiao Nanchu then noticed the painting and took a closer look, unable to figure it out, ¡°What is this painting supposed to be?¡± he guessed, ¡°A talisman to ward off evil spirits?¡± Jiang Zhi turned his head, a cold light coating his face from the lamp overhead, ¡°That¡¯s Zhou Xufang.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Qiao Nanchu looked back at the painting again. Was sure this wasn¡¯t just a blotch of ink splattered on paper? ¡°So it¡¯s Zhou Xufang,¡± he said nonchalantly, ¡°does Zhou Xufang know this is supposed to be her?¡± Jiang Zhi kept a straight face, barely containing his irritation, ¡°She knows.¡± Qiao Nanchu grinned, slyly and maliciously, ¡°And she didn¡¯t hit you?¡± Jiang Zhi¡¯s peach blossom eyes went icy, ¡°Get lost.¡± Qiao Nanchu laughed even harder, pocketing his lighter, his tone quite sincere, ¡°Jiang Zhi, you really should stop painting.¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± This damn bastard! As soon as Qiao Nanchu left, a servant came with a message: ¡°Young master, the Old Madam is asking for you.¡± The Jiang Family had dispersed, only Old Lady Jiang was in the main hall, sitting in a loop chair with a brazier underneath. Jiang Zhi walked over. The Old Lady nudged the brazier with her foot, beckoning him to sit, ¡°You just touched that flower, do you feel unwell anywhere?¡± Jiang Zhi sat on the armchair, one hand propping him up, his complexion slightly pale, ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡± ¡°If it were just a banned plant, you could have been bailed out, but this involves the Luo Family, so Shiyu might have to stay in the police station for a while,¡± the Old Lady took a hand warmer from a servant and handed it to him, ¡°For now, let Vice President Sun look after you.¡± He half-closed his eyes, listless, ¡°Hmm.¡± Seeing his poor complexion, Old Lady Jiang was quite worried, ¡°Are you tired?¡± He pinched his forehead, lacking energy and half-reclining in the chair, ¡°It was too noisy earlier, I have a bit of a headache.¡± Hearing him mention being tired, Old Lady Jiang dropped the subject, ¡°Then you should rest early.¡± He hummed a response, ¡°I¡¯ll go to my own place.¡± At the doorway, Ah Wan went over to help him. Old Lady Jiang glanced at Ah Wan¡¯s bruised face, deliberating, then called out, ¡°Lin¡­ Lin¡­ Lin¡­¡± What was his full name again? She could never remember this bulky fellow¡¯s name. Ah Wan, with a ¡®colorful¡¯ face, replied, ¡°Lin Wanwan.¡± That name¡­ Old Madam Jiang really couldn¡¯t say it, so she opted for another address, ¡°Lin Xiaodi, who hit you?¡± Lin Xiaodi: ¡°I fell by myself.¡± In reality, he had been beaten by Ming Saiying, that tomboy, with a handbag. His face was the least of it; his back was the real disaster area. He couldn¡¯t hold on much longer; he had to call an ambulance for himself soon. Old Lady Jiang gave him another complicated look but said nothing. Jiang Zhi went upstairs, changed into an overcoat, ¡°Hand me the car keys, you can head back.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Lin Xiaodi handed over the keys, perfect; he needed to call an ambulance. Jiang Zhi, his mind full of his girlfriend, didn¡¯t even notice Lin Xiaodi¡¯s ¡®injured yet pretending to be strong¡¯ expression as he walked out while texting his girlfriend. ¡°Xu Fang.¡± No response. Jiang Zhi sent another message: ¡°Xu Fang.¡± Still no reply. ¡°Zhou Xufang!¡± She responded with a voice message, ¡°Hmm.¡± Her voice was sleepy, drowsy. Jiang Zhi asked her, ¡°Where are you?¡± ¡°In your car.¡± It was Jiang Zhi¡¯s other car, and the keys were with Zhou Xufang. That car wasn¡¯t parked in the Jiang Family¡¯s garage but out on the street. Jiang Zhi sped up his pace, ¡°Honey, wait for me five more minutes.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± He got there in three minutes. Zhou Xufang had locked the car and was sleeping inside. Jiang Zhi knocked on the window, ¡°Fang Bao.¡± She immediately sat up, rubbing her eyes, somewhat groggy, and opened the car door, ¡°If you didn¡¯t come soon, I¡¯d have fallen asleep.¡± Jiang Zhi got in and noticed her clothes were wet, ¡°Why are your clothes wet?¡± The car¡¯s heater wasn¡¯t on, and her clothes were almost icy. She explained, ¡°I got sprayed when I used the hose on Luo Qinghe.¡± Jiang Zhi pinched her icy cold little face, scolding, ¡°Don¡¯t you know to turn on the heater? What if you catch a cold?¡± She shook her head with a mischievous smile, claiming she wasn¡¯t afraid of the cold. Acting as if she were made of iron. Jiang Zhi got out of the car and retrieved a bag of clothes from the trunk, ¡°Put these on.¡± Inside was a set of men¡¯s clothing, complete from inside out. ¡°Yours?¡± ¡°Mhm, make do with these.¡± The car was all decked out in pink and girly decorations. Previously, to please her, he had even hung pink tassel curtains on the windows. Now, they came in handy. He pulled down the curtains, shielding the drenched girl as he carried her to the back seat, ¡°I¡¯ll stand guard outside. You change out of your wet clothes first.¡± She obediently replied, ¡°Okay.¡± Jiang Zhi stepped out and looked around, fortunately, there was no one around. Zhou Xufang crouched between the back seat and the driver¡¯s seat, quickly stripping off her wet clothes. Jiang Zhi called out to her from outside, ¡°Xu Fang.¡± ¡°Mhm.¡± He leaned against the car, hands in his pockets, casual leg propped up, kicking at the gravel intermittently. Suddenly, he asked Zhou Xufang, ¡°Do you like children?¡± Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t think much and replied, ¡°I do.¡± After a while. He hesitated before speaking, the tone awkward, ¡°Then should I get checked?¡± Zhou Xufang was puzzled for a moment, ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you?¡± He mumbled something indistinctly. Zhou Xufang had good hearing and understood clearly. He said, ¡°Infertility.¡± Before, she never thought much of this topic, but ever since Zhou Xufang read novels and about novel benefits, she found it embarrassing to discuss, equivocating, ¡°It¡¯s¡­up to you.¡± ¡°It being up to me isn¡¯t helpful, you need to decide,¡± Jiang Zhi said awkwardly but assertively, ¡°If you want to, I¡¯ll have children with you.¡± He was serious. He didn¡¯t mind whether or not they had offspring; it all depended on Zhou Xufang¡¯s wishes. ¡°What about you?¡± Zhou Xufang asked softly from within the car, ¡°Do you like children?¡± Without a second thought, Jiang Zhi shook his head, ¡°No.¡± He had seen the children in Qiao Nanchu cousin¡¯s family, loud and mischievous, too little to understand scolding yet unable to be smacked, just a bothersome little burden. He had no fondness for children, lacking the patience. However, if it was a little bun born from Zhou Xufang, a dark little bun, quiet and coolly adorable¡­ the corners of his mouth lifted, ¡°I would like it if it¡¯s yours, especially if it¡¯s a powerful little Black Impermanence like you.¡± Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t respond. She didn¡¯t wish to be like herself. She hoped to be like Jiang Zhi, entirely like him. Seeing her silent, Jiang Zhi worried she was upset and said, ¡°If you don¡¯t want¡ª¡± She interrupted him, ¡°Go get treated.¡± Jiang Zhi¡¯s eyes crinkled, ¡°Okay.¡± ¡°I¡¯m done changing.¡± She packed the wet clothes and placed them under the seat. Jiang Zhi got in the car, pulled her close, and adjusted her shirt collar. The sweater was a bit large, so he rolled it up at her wrists. She clutched her pants with one hand, not letting go. Jiang Zhi lifted the sweater to check, ¡°Too big?¡± ¡°Mhm, it¡¯s falling.¡± It was his suit pants, loose at the waist and, unfortunately, there were no spare belts in the car. Jiang Zhi had no other choice but to pull two threads from that fringed pink curtain, tying them together. ¡°Raise your hands.¡± She obediently let go and raised them. Jiang Zhi bent down, clumsily threading the makeshift belt, stumbling through the task, and after much fumbling, finally tied a knot, ¡°There you go.¡± Yes, the belt was fixed. But she moved¡ª She looked down, avoiding Jiang Zhi¡¯s gaze, and pushed him gently, ¡°Get out of the car, wait for me a little longer.¡± ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Her voice was soft, timid, ¡°The shoulder strap.¡± Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t understand at first, lifting her face, ¡°Hmm?¡± Her face was beet-red, her voice as faint as a mosquito¡¯s, ¡°¡­it¡¯s loose.¡± It must have snagged while she was changing. Jiang Zhi was initially stunned but then chuckled, ¡°I¡¯m not getting out.¡± She lifted her head, looking at him puzzled, her expression blank, utterly bewildered. Jiang Zhi leaned in, embracing her, his hand moving around her waist, from under the hem of her shirt to her back. He fumbled for a long time before finding the clasp, and once fixed, he straightened up proudly, ¡°There.¡± He adjusted her shirt and fastened her coat¡¯s buttons. Zhou Xufang stole a glance at Jiang Zhi, ¡°Your face is so red.¡± She touched it with a finger, ¡°Like you have a fever.¡± He didn¡¯t know if he had a fever, but Zhou Xufang might have. He leaned closer to her ear and whispered something. Zhou Xufang¡¯s ear tips turned red as she pushed him away. Unable to curse, she just glared at him with a ferocious look, ¡°You have no shame!¡± Jiang Zhi went with the flow, ¡°Yeah, I have no shame.¡± ¡°You scoundrel!¡± He smiled, ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m a scoundrel.¡± Zhou Xufang had no comeback. He reached out and touched her head, his eyes filled with a tender shadow, ¡°The shameless scoundrel now wants to take you home¡ª to your place or mine?¡± Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t want to deal with him, stubbornly silent for seven or eight seconds, ¡°To my house.¡± Jiang Zhi opened the car door and led her to the passenger side. The next day, a video of Luo Qinghe being doused and beaten was exposed. Although it was mosaic-blurred, Luo Yinghe appeared in the video and, being known in the circles, was quickly recognized; and following the clues, Luo Qinghe was also implicated. This wasn¡¯t the first time Luo Qinghe was in the news. Normally, she was featured in the business sections as an entrepreneur, but this time it was because of an embarrassing video that she topped the entertainment trending searches. As soon as the video came out, onlookers swarmed for a feast of gossip. ¡°The one hitting others is Luo Yinghe, right? Who¡¯s the other one?¡± ¡°Luo Group¡¯s current CEO, Luo Qinghe. You¡¯re welcome.¡± This netizen¡¯s comment even included a recent photo of Luo Qinghe from a business interview. Despite the mosaic, her build, attire, and hairstyle were a match; even the eagle-eyed could tell that the humiliated haute monde lady in the video was the same person. Then, Luo Yinghe¡¯s detractors came forward to leak information, claiming that the pair were fake, plastic sisters. More and more netizens gathered, with comments flooding in. ¡°This rage disorder is just terrifying.¡± ¡°I won¡¯t accept Luo Yinghe being whitewashed!¡± ¡°The high society sure knows how to play.¡± ¡°I feel like I¡¯ve stumbled upon something huge.¡± ¡°They¡¯re sisters? The kind that hits you with flowers?¡± ¡°¡­¡± With a loud bang. The tablet was fiercely smashed onto the ground, immediately shattering into pieces. Luo Qinghe, decked in a hospital gown, still pale, clenched her fists with the IV needle still drawing blood. Her lip was bitten red, eyes seething with raging fury, ¡°Take down the trending search.¡± Secretary Shen Yue stood beside the hospital bed, ¡°We¡¯re already on it.¡± Her hair draped over half her face, the exposed side sharp and severe. Her voice was hoarse from a fever all night, ¡°Who released the video?¡± Shen Yue replied, ¡°The young master from the Jin Family.¡± Of course, it had to be the Jin Family. The Luo Family wanted to bid on a plot of land, which happened to belong to the Jin Family. At this junction, she couldn¡¯t afford to offend the Jin Family. She threw off the blanket, stood up, yanked out the IV, and walked out of the hospital room. Luo Yinghe was also in this hospital, right next door. She had been injected with a sedative last night and had just woken up, weak and feeble. Seeing Luo Qinghe coming in, she was so frightened that she immediately sat up. ¡°Sister.¡± Luo Qinghe¡¯s eyes were cold and sharp, filled with chilling frost and brimming with murderous intent. Luo Yinghe shivered with fear, her memories of the previous night fragmented. Doubting herself, she timidly shrank into the bed, not daring to look up, apologizing with her head low, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, sister. I was drugged last night and wasn¡¯t in my right mind.¡± Luo Qinghe sneered, ¡°Not in your right mind, but your mind was clear enough to remember how much you despise me.¡± Yes, she despised her. But she was even more afraid of her. She crawled out of the blankets, kneeling on the bed, wringing her hands and pleading miserably, ¡°I was wrong, I was wrong, sister. I¡¯ll get better, I won¡¯t dare do it again.¡± Her body weak, she staggered, her back sweating cold, ¡°Sorry¡ª¡± She couldn¡¯t finish her plea. Luo Qinghe grabbed her hair violently and dragged her off the bed. Luo Yinghe, with no strength in her legs, fell to the ground, the IV stand toppling over and hitting her calf. Ignoring the pain, she cried out in shock, ¡°Sister!¡± Her hair tugged by Luo Qinghe, tears sprang from the pain, ¡°Sister, please, spare me this once.¡± Luo Qinghe yanked her head back forcefully, forcing her to meet her eyes, ¡°You were not lucid, you said? Now, I¡¯ll make you lucid.¡± The sedative was still in effect inside Luo Yinghe, leaving her powerless as Luo Qinghe dragged her by the hair across the floor, pulling her into the restroom. ¡°Sister!¡± ¡°Sister!¡± Luo Yinghe screamed, tears streaking her face, shivering as she tried to back away. She knew what kind of person her cousin was¡ª a vengeful spirit that was utterly terrifying. Last night, her high fever was the only reason she was at a disadvantage. If Luo Qinghe suffered a loss, for every bit she lost, she would repay tenfold. Luo Qinghe grabbed Luo Yinghe by the hair, lifting her up and turning on the tap, violently forcing her head under the running water. Luo Yinghe screamed, ¡°No!¡± ¡°No, sister!¡± Cold water poured down on her head. With both hands, Luo Qinghe pressed her down into the sink, turning the water to full blast, ¡°Are you lucid yet?¡± The water soon filled up to her face, her eyes blazing with excitement, laughing as she asked, ¡°Are you lucid now?¡± Luo Yinghe struggled violently, water splashing everywhere, her head forcibly held down, icy water pouring into her nose and mouth. She coughed violently, twisting her head, ¡°Cough cough cough¡­ Sister¡­ cough¡­¡± As the water level rose, Luo Qinghe¡¯s laughter grew louder. Beads of blood formed where the needle had been, but she felt no pain, pressing down harder, water splashing her face; she wiped it away, ¡°Speak up, are you lucid yet?¡± ¡°Qing¡­¡± As soon as he opened his mouth, water rushed into his throat: ¡°Cough cough cough¡­¡± Water spilled everywhere on the ground, Luo Yinghe¡¯s struggling movements became smaller and smaller, her whole head was submerged in water, and there was no sound anymore. At that moment, the door was forcefully pushed open. Luo Yinghe¡¯s mother, Xu Yunci, rushed in and saw the mess all over the floor and her daughter in the sink, she cried out in panic, ¡°Yinghe!¡± Hearing the voice, Luo Yinghe suddenly struggled to come up: ¡°Mom¡­ cough¡­ help¡­¡± Luo Qinghe leisurely pushed her down again. Xu Yunci¡¯s eyes were frantic: ¡°Qinghe, Qinghe, let go of your sister.¡± Seeing that Luo Qinghe still hadn¡¯t let go, she ran over to pull and started crying as soon as she spoke, ¡°I¡¯m begging you, Qinghe, she¡¯s your sister, let her go, Qinghe, your auntie begs you.¡± Hmph, such a weak and incompetent thing. Luo Qinghe shrugged off Xu Yunci¡¯s hand and finally released Luo Yinghe. She immediately raised her head from the sink, dizzy and short of breath from swallowing too much water, and sat on the ground, supporting herself with her hands, coughing violently. Luo Qinghe took a towel, leisurely wiped his hands, then threw it on the ground, and slowly approached. Luo Yinghe backed away in panic, her eyes red with fear. Luo Qinghe squatted down, grabbed her chin and lifted it up, picked up the towel from the ground, covered her face with it, and rubbed hard, softly asking, ¡°Will you dare again in the future?¡± Luo Yinghe shook her head vigorously, her wet hair sticking to her face, she gasped heavily, ¡°No, I won¡¯t dare anymore.¡± Xu Yunci sat aside, covering her mouth, afraid to cry out loud. Luo Qinghe let go, stood up, and looked down at the mother and daughter on the ground: ¡°If there¡¯s a next time, I¡¯ll kill you.¡± After saying that, she wiped the blood from the back of her hand and left the restroom. Only when Luo Qinghe was far away did Luo Yinghe no longer suppress herself, sitting on the ground and crying out loud, screaming Luo Qinghe¡¯s name. ¡°Mr. Luo.¡± Shen Yue was waiting at the door, and when he saw Luo Qinghe come out, he immediately handed her a blanket. She wrapped herself in the blanket and walked towards the ward. A click sounded behind her, someone was stealthily taking pictures. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. She turned her head and glanced at Shen Yue, who understood and went after the person taking pictures. More than twenty minutes later, Shen Yue returned to the ward. Luo Qinghe had already reinserted the needle and was sitting on the hospital bed, checking her emails on a laptop, without looking up, she asked, ¡°Did you catch him?¡± Shen Yue bowed his head and replied, ¡°Caught.¡± She slightly curled her lips, a smile that was not quite a smile: ¡°Break his hands for me.¡± Shen Yue¡¯s expression changed slightly, but then returned to normal: ¡°Understood.¡± Luo Qinghe looked at the computer, the light from the screen reflecting cold white on her face, ¡°Did you find out anything about last night?¡± ¡°Qin Shiyu is still in police custody for illegally cultivating prohibited plants, he¡¯s been detained. His testimony claims the flowers were stolen, but it¡¯s still unclear who took them,¡± Shen Yue paused before continuing, ¡°As for whether Miss Second¡¯s illness is related to those flowers, there¡¯s no research indicating that.¡± How could it be such a coincidence. It must be done by someone, but who? Luo Qinghe¡¯s pupils didn¡¯t move, staring at a spot on the computer, her neatly trimmed nails intermittently tapping on the keyboard, pondering for a while: ¡°Who was spraying water upstairs?¡± Shen Yue shook his head: ¡°According to the Jiang Family¡¯s butler, it was, it was,¡± he felt it was absurd and couldn¡¯t say it. Luo Qinghe raised her head: ¡°Who?¡± ¡°Lord Black Impermanence.¡± At those words, she scoffed. Shen Yue, meticulous as usual, continued: ¡°The person disappeared from the Jiang Family¡¯s rooftop, and the Jiang Family hasn¡¯t found out who it was. However, the Jiang Family butler said, the person on the rooftop had red eyes.¡± Luo Qinghe paused her tapping on the keyboard: ¡°Red?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± She pushed the computer away, leaned back, laughing with a chilling glitter in her eyes: ¡°It¡¯s her again.¡± Professional errand runner, Z. The smile at the corner of her mouth slowly faded, her features sharp and ungroomed, her appearance stern and fierce, she took out her phone and dialed a number: ¡°Miss Zhang.¡± The gentle female voice on the other end answered, ¡°Hello, Mr. Luo.¡± Luo Qinghe, neither hurrying nor pausing, picked up the cup on the cabinet, took a sip: ¡°I have a business proposition for you, Miss Zhang, are you interested?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s hear it.¡± At nine in the morning, Jiang Zhi and Zhou Xufang went to Ji Feifan¡¯s clinic together. Ji Feifan seemed to have just woken up, his black and white, sparse hair messy, not covering the shiny ¡®Mediterranean¡¯, squinting at the patients entering the door: ¡°Why is it you two again?¡± He casually pressed down the messy strands of hair, covering the glistening scalp. If not for his sparse hair, he would be quite a handsome uncle. Zhou Xufang, very polite, greeted first: ¡°Uncle Ji, hello.¡± Ji Feifan looked them over, yawned, barely awake, a few tears of physiological nature seeping from the corners of his eyes: ¡°Which one of you is seeing the doctor?¡± Zhou Xufang answered: ¡°It¡¯s Jiang Zhi.¡± Jiang Zhi followed behind, looking uncomfortable, her beautiful face brooding, silent. Ji Feifan glanced at him again, the complexion wasn¡¯t too bad, what on earth was he sick with, let out another yawn, shuffling in slippers: ¡°Follow me inside.¡± The couple followed him into the consultation room. Ji Feifan, from somewhere, procured a bottle of milk, sipped it through a straw, and asked Jiang Zhi: ¡°What¡¯s the problem?¡± He didn¡¯t speak, just sat on the chair like a lord, merely watching his girlfriend with a weirdly submissive expression. Like the bashful young wife at the village entrance. As he continued to stay silent, Zhou Xufang answered for him: ¡°Infertility.¡± Chapter 134: 134: Those Things About Treating Infertility Chapter 134: 134: Those Things About Treating Infertility He had been silent, so Zhou Xufang spoke on his behalf, ¡°Infertility.¡± Ji Feifan nearly sprayed out the milk he was drinking and held his breath, his face turning red, ¡°Infertility, huh.¡± Zhou Xufang was calm and collected, ¡°Yeah, infertility.¡± Jiang Zhi¡¯s face was red to his ears, ¡°¡­¡± The topic of infertility, if discussed in depth, would definitely not be suitable for children. Jiang Zhi couldn¡¯t sit still, ¡°Xufang, come with me for a moment.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± ... Zhou Xufang followed Jiang Zhi out. He asked her to sit on the waiting chair outside the consultation room, ¡°You wait for me here.¡± Oh, he¡¯s feeling shy. Zhou Xufang complied with his wish, ¡°Alright.¡± ¡°Then I¡¯m going in.¡± ¡°Mhm.¡± Jiang Zhi went in, and in less than ten seconds, he came out again, his face full of worry. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± He asked, ¡°Did you bring headphones?¡± Zhou Xufang nodded and took out her Bluetooth headphones from her bag. Jiang Zhi put the headphones on her and played a song, ¡°Don¡¯t eavesdrop.¡± Zhou Xufang nodded, her gaze sincere, ¡°Oh.¡± Only then did Jiang Zhi enter, making sure to close the door behind him. Ji Feifan clicked his tongue a few times, really not seeing it coming that this guy turned out to be quite pure-hearted and asked, ¡°Did Bingxue get you to stop taking that medicine?¡± Jiang Zhi pulled up a chair and sat down, ¡°Stopped.¡± ¡°How long ago?¡± ¡°Almost a month.¡± Ji Feifan asked a few more personal male-related questions, and Jiang Zhi answered awkwardly. Ji Feifan threw away the milk carton, ¡°Hand over your hand.¡± Jiang Zhi extended his hand. After taking his pulse, Ji Feifan¡¯s expression revealed that the situation was not good, ¡°You¡¯ve taken too many messy medicines, and your body is in bad shape.¡± Jiang Zhi frowned, ¡°Can¡¯t it be treated?¡± ¡°It depends on your fate,¡± Ji Feifan said as he wrote a prescription, ¡°Start by trying this medicine for a while.¡± In little more than ten minutes, Jiang Zhi came out. Zhou Xufang was sitting properly on the waiting chair, looking obedient. Jiang Zhi walked over and took off her headphones, ¡°Did you eavesdrop?¡± She shook her head and said, ¡°No.¡± ¡°The medicine isn¡¯t ready yet, please wait a bit longer.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Jiang Zhi sat down next to her and took her hand into his, ¡°I have to go to the suburbs to shoot a scene this afternoon, you¡¯re coming with me.¡± Her response came quickly, ¡°I¡¯m not coming.¡± ¡°¡­¡± He poked the center of her palm a couple of times in frustration. Zhou Xufang felt her hand tickle from his poking, so she withdrew her hand, not letting him hold it. She explained, ¡°I have an errand to run this afternoon.¡± ¡°What kind of errand? Is it dangerous?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not dangerous.¡± Zhou Xufang thought for a moment and decided to tell Jiang Zhi about the errand, ¡°A rich woman is keeping a male escort, but that escort isn¡¯t staying put and has used the woman¡¯s money to keep a group of escorts. So she asked me to replace his lubricant with glue.¡± Jiang Zhi, ¡°¡­¡± The rich woman was also a werewolf. There was something Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t quite understand, ¡°But why switch the lubricant?¡± Wasn¡¯t it to get back at the unfaithful duck? Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t yet know what a lubricant was used for. Of course, Jiang Zhi wouldn¡¯t explain it to her, skillfully changing the subject, ¡°Xufang, how many times a day did Doctor Ji tell you to take the medicine?¡± ¡°Once, boil three bowls of water down to one.¡± Just as expected, Jiang Zhi poked her face, ¡°You were eavesdropping.¡± Zhou Xufang, ¡°¡­¡± Jiang Zhi was so cunning. He lifted her head she¡¯d bowed out of a guilty conscience, leaned in close, eye to eye, he was smiling, with ill intent, ¡°That curious, huh?¡± Zhou Xufang, very curious but pretending not to be, ¡°¡­¡± Her ears had already turned red. Jiang Zhi found it amusing, bringing his lips close to her ear and gently blowing, ¡°Then do you want me to explain it to you in detail?¡± She admitted defeat, ¡°No¡­¡± She¡¯s just a paper tiger. Jiang Zhi laughed. After leaving the clinic, Jiang Zhi first dropped Zhou Xufang off at her home, then drove to the set. The filming in the afternoon didn¡¯t go very smoothly, probably because Zhou Xufang wasn¡¯t there, he just couldn¡¯t get into it and wrapped up early to return to the Qingshan Mansion. It hadn¡¯t even been half a day since he had visited the clinic, and Ji Feifan, the big mouth, had already told Xue Bingxue. Xue Bingxue, that white lotus, directly mentioned him in the group chat. I am a little ice and snow: ¡°My teacher said you went to see about infertility and sterility @My Girlfriend Fang Bao¡± That bastard, he did it on purpose. My Girlfriend Fang Bao: ¡°Xue Bingxue, retract it!¡± I am a little ice and snow: ¡°Oh.¡± He retracted the message above. Qiao Nanchu: ¡°Already saw it.¡± The handsomest man in the capital: ¡°I saw it too, and even took a screenshot.¡± The handsomest man in the capital: [Screenshot] These damn scoundrels! Jiang Zhi wanted to twist their dog heads off. My Girlfriend Fang Bao: ¡°Wait till you get back, then we¡¯ll settle the score @I am a little ice and snow¡± I am a little ice and snow: ¡°I didn¡¯t do it on purpose.¡± The handsomest man in the capital: ¡°I¡¯ve wanted to ask you a question for a long time.¡± The handsomest man in the capital: ¡°Do you raise it?¡± Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t reply. Xue Bao Yi was getting ahead of herself. The handsomest man in the capital: ¡°If you won¡¯t answer, I¡¯m going to ask Zhou Xufang @My Girlfriend Fang Bao¡± My Girlfriend Fang Bao: ¡°Go ahead if you want to die.¡± Qiao Nanchu: ¡°I have a friend with the same problem. Do you want the home remedy or not?¡± My Girlfriend Fang Bao: ¡°Enough is enough, don¡¯t provoke me, or else, you¡¯re silenced.¡± Qiao Nanchu: ¡°I¡¯m shutting up.¡± Xue Bingxue also kept quiet, but Xue Bao Yi, loving the drama and not fearing trouble, began spamming ads crazily. The handsomest man in the capital: ¡°For infertility treatment, head to the Imperial City ** Hospital.¡± The handsomest man in the capital: ¡°** Infertility and Sterility Hospital, may good ¡®fortune¡¯ accompany you.¡± The handsomest man in the capital: ¡°** Hospital, where the miracle of life is witnessed.¡± The handsomest man in the capital: ¡°The last hope for infertility patients ¡ª National Infertility and Sterility Base *£ª Hospital.¡± My Girlfriend Fang Bao has left the group chat. The handsomest man in the capital: ¡°Hahahahahahahahahaha¡­¡± Irritated, Jiang Zhi tossed his phone onto the table, his face full of displeasure. Not knowing who else had annoyed Fangbao, to avoid being a victim of collateral damage, Ah Wan spoke several degrees gentler, ¡°Boss, the Luo Family has delivered the Lingzhi,¡± he dutifully asked for instructions, ¡°Should it be sent to the old mansion, or¡­?¡± ¡°Keep it here.¡± Ah Wan understood, ¡°Then I¡¯ll have Ms. Song from my family prepare it for you.¡± Jiang Zhi hummed in agreement, with a reminder, ¡°Zhou Xufang can¡¯t eat eggs.¡± Understood. The Lingzhi was for his darling girlfriend. Ah Wan couldn¡¯t help but be curious: Are there people who can¡¯t eat eggs? What happens if they eat them? Will they break out in a rash? Jiang Zhi lay on the couch for a while, then got up and took a bag of fried herbs from the fridge, poured a bowl of hot water, and soaked the vacuum-sealed herbs to warm them up. Ah Wan drew closer, ¡°What is this medicine? Did the Old Madam send it?¡± Jiang Zhi gave a cold eviction order, ¡°Why are you still here?¡± Ah Wan scratched his head, ¡°Oh, leaving now.¡± After three to five minutes, the medicine was warm. Jiang Zhi bit a hole in the bag, drank a couple of swallows, and, holding the medicine bag in his mouth, went to find his phone to call Zhou Xufang. She picked up very quickly. ¡°Xu Fang.¡± ¡°Mhm.¡± Her voice sounded very obedient. ¡°Have you finished the task?¡± ¡°I have finished it.¡± Zhou Xufang asked, ¡°What are you doing?¡± Jiang Zhi swallowed two mouthfuls of herbal medicine, ¡°Drinking medicine.¡± ¡°Is it bitter?¡± Is it bitter? It probably was bitter; after all, he had been a medicine jar for so many years and couldn¡¯t remember how much medicine he had drunk¡ªbecoming numb to it. But when she asked with such concern, he wanted to act a little, to be coaxed by her, and so he said, ¡°Extremely bitter.¡± Zhou Xufang said ¡®what to do¡¯ a couple of times before suggesting, ¡°Then eat some cotton candy.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want candy.¡± Jiang Zhi threw the empty medicine bag into the trash bin, deliberately pressing his tone to be soft and floppy, ¡°I want to kiss you.¡± Jiang Zhi was very good at acting coy. Exceptionally good. When he talked like this, Zhou Xufang couldn¡¯t help but comply with everything and be especially tender-hearted towards him, ¡°Then I¡¯ll come over to your place now.¡± Jiang Zhi, pleased, genuinely didn¡¯t want to hassle her, ¡°It¡¯s too late, I¡¯ll come to pick you up in the morning.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Jiang Zhi was just about to sweet-talk her a bit more when she said, ¡°A friend is looking for me; I¡¯ll call you back later.¡± ¡°Which friend?¡± ¡°My partner.¡± She added, ¡°It¡¯s a girl.¡± Assuming it had something to do with her errand running work, Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t ask further, ¡°I¡¯ll wait for your call.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Zhou Xufang hung up and sat down in front of the computer. SpongeBob crawled away on the screen, followed by two lines of text popping up: ¡°I¡¯ve given the hair to Tang Xiang already; she hasn¡¯t sent it for verification immediately. I¡¯ve installed a wiretap on her phone. I¡¯ll let you know when there are results.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± ¡°The materials for the new task have been sent to you. The employer is anonymous, offering a five million commission to transfer a packet of high-quality imitation diamonds.¡± Shuangjiang asked, ¡°Do you accept?¡± High-quality imitation diamonds, that¡¯s a crime. Zhou Xufang thought for a while, ¡°Accept.¡± Shuangjiang, ¡°Same old rules?¡± ¡°Mhm, old rules.¡± Generally speaking, if it involved illegal transactions, they would send a tip to the police after the mission was completed. What happened afterwards didn¡¯t concern them too much; they couldn¡¯t interfere too much, otherwise, they would ruin their own reputation. Shuangjiang sent over the task details: ¡°The goods are in a storage locker on the third floor of Jingbai City; deliver to the end of Jingming Road 28 by nine o¡¯clock tomorrow night.¡± This time¡¯s employer was anonymous, with only a surname that might or might not be real. Surname Zhang. The next day, at eight o¡¯clock in the morning, Jiang Zhi came to pick up Zhou Xufang for morning tea. As soon as the two got in the car, Jiang Zhi leaned on her shoulder and closed his eyes to rest. His complexion didn¡¯t look very well. Zhou Xufang lowered her shoulder to make it more comfortable for him, ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Are you not feeling well?¡± He rubbed against her shoulder a few times before opening his eyes, looking sleepy, ¡°Tired.¡± Zhou Xufang tidied up the hair that he had rubbed messy on his forehead and saw Jiang Zhi¡¯s eyes were red and moist, ¡°Did you stay up late last night?¡± He shook his head, his voice nasal, ¡°Had a dream.¡± ¡°Dreamt about what?¡± She asked casually. He looked up, his misty peach blossom eyes held a dim glow of colors, ¡°You.¡± Oh. He had dreamt about her. Zhou Xufang secretly smiled. With his head leaning on her shoulder, and just as he was lifting it, his lips landed right on her face. He pecked her twice, enticing in such a gentle manner, ¡°Won¡¯t you ask what you did in my dream?¡± Zhou Xufang did ask, ¡°What did I do?¡± With him, she was like a rabbit, jumping into any pit he¡¯d dig. He leaned in close to her ear and whispered something. Zhou Xufang thought of that goodnight emoticon. She covered his mouth, and with the guilty conscience of a thief, she glanced at Ah Wan in the driver¡¯s seat, her face blushing red, annoyed at him, ¡°Stop talking.¡± ¡°Hmph, Jiang Zhi has no shame!¡± Jiang Zhi stopped teasing her, looking extremely sleepy. ¡°The medicine from Ji Feifan must have worked last night, but who knows what he put in it.¡± He lay down, resting his head on her legs, ¡°Let me nap a bit more, wake me when we get there.¡± ¡°Mhm.¡± Zhou Xufang sat still, allowing Jiang Zhi to sleep. Not long after he had laid down, his phone rang. He couldn¡¯t be bothered to answer, so Zhou Xufang reached into his coat pocket and took out the phone. With his head on her legs, he shifted slightly but didn¡¯t open his eyes. ¡°Who is it?¡± Zhou Xufang glanced at the caller ID. ¡°It¡¯s Mr. Qiao.¡± ¡°Answer it for me.¡± He continued with his nap. Zhou Xufang turned her head, covered the phone¡¯s receiver with her hand, and answered quietly, ¡°Hello.¡± A girl¡¯s voice¡­ Qiao Nanchu: ¡°Is that my sister-in-law?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Zhou Xufang¡¯s voice was as soft as a whisper. ¡°Jiang Zhi is asleep.¡± If Jiang Zhi had answered the call, Qiao Nanchu would certainly have teased him about the fleeting pleasures of a spring night, but Jiang Zhi¡¯s girl here was young, shy, and bashful, not someone you could joke with. He cut straight to the point: ¡°Nothing much, just tell Jiang Zhi that Han Feng has committed suicide in jail.¡± Zhou Xufang just listened, not asking further: ¡°Alright.¡± Such a well-behaved young lady, she didn¡¯t seem like a professional errand runner at all. Qiao Nanchu hung up the phone. ¡°Captain Qiao.¡± It was a colleague from the Criminal Intelligence Department, Lu Ning. Qiao Nanchu walked over. ¡°Did we get the address?¡± Lu Ning shook her head. ¡°Just this.¡± She pressed enter, and the computer screen filled up with SpongeBob. ¡°This SpongeBob,¡± said another person, who leaned in close to the computer, his eyes nearly diving into the screen. It was Li Xiaodong from the intelligence department, severely shortsighted yet always reluctant to wear glasses. He stroked his chin and looked again, ¡°Why does it look familiar?¡± Lu Ning pulled up another page. ¡°Do these two look alike?¡± ¡°Indeed, they look like the same person¡¯s style.¡± Li Xiaodong compared the two screens of SpongeBob. ¡°Who is this?¡± ¡°The partner of professional errand runner Z, Shuangjiang,¡± Lu Ning said. ¡°The last time we tracked her address, we also found a screen full of SpongeBob.¡± Shuangjiang. That name was familiar to all of them; a notorious hacker in the underworld who would visit the police station¡¯s data ¡®from time to time.¡¯ She came and went without a trace, and the intelligence department had been chasing her for years without catching a glimpse of her shadow. ¡°These two couldn¡¯t be the same person, could they?¡± Li Xiaodong asked, then shook his head, ¡°That shouldn¡¯t be right, one is the informant for a gold shop robbery and murder case, and the other is an errant runner known for doing evil. One good, one bad, they just don¡¯t match up.¡± ¡°Not entirely evil.¡± Li Xiaodong turned around. ¡°Huh?¡± What did the captain mean? This person who treated the police data like a library to come and go as they pleased, who viewed the city surveillance as if it were a TV to change channels on at will, who played with the entire intelligence department as if it were a kindergarten, wasn¡¯t entirely evil? Qiao Nanchu offered no explanation, tapped on Lu Ning¡¯s desk, ¡°Go into the criminal investigation system and do a check. Compile all the cases that have featured this pattern.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Li Xiaodong rolled back to his seat on his chair; an anonymous email had just popped up on his computer. He clicked to read it, and his expression suddenly changed: ¡°Captain Qiao, 0893 sent a confidential message.¡± 0893 was a code name, an undercover code name. Apart from handling the collection, processing, and storage of criminal case information, the intelligence department also managed the information exchange for all the secret operations of the police department, which formed a vast intelligence network, including the Anti-Smuggling Bureau and the Drug Enforcement Team. 0893, was from the Drug Enforcement Team. Qiao Nanchu asked, ¡°What¡¯s the movement?¡± Li Xiaodong conveyed the contents of the email: ¡°Tonight at nine, the end of Jingming Road number twenty-eight for a delivery.¡± ¡°Notify the Drug Enforcement Team.¡± Li Xiaodong immediately dialed the internal line. Outside the office, the new intern Xiao Hui knocked on the door, ¡°Captain Qiao, there¡¯s someone looking for you.¡± ¡°Who?¡± Xiao Hui grinned slyly, ¡°It¡¯s a beautiful girl.¡± S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Qiao Nanchu was clearly unexcited, finishing up his work before slowly leaving the office with a cigarette between his lips. Once he left, the office burst into jokes. ¡°It¡¯s not just any girl who¡¯d come looking for Captain Qiao at the station.¡± Captain Qiao was a handsome man, and many girls had come to the station to show their interest, but his temperament was such that he was blunt and unsympathetic, never mixing personal matters with work. He was distant both from women and social courtesies, and after several rejections, the girls stopped coming to embarrass themselves. Li Xiaodong chuckled, ¡°Even the old cactus is going to bloom.¡± Chapter 135: 135: Touch my people, youre looking for a beating! (One more 2) Chapter 135: 135: Touch my people, you¡¯re looking for a beating! (One more 2) The person hadn¡¯t come in yet. Outside, Qiao Nanchu glanced through the door. The wind was really strong. He strode back, put on a jacket, and then came out, ¡°Why did you come up here?¡± It was his ex-girlfriend, someone somewhat familiar. ¡°Just happened to be passing by this area,¡± Zhang Zixi replied, carrying a canvas bag with her hair tied in a ponytail, looking like a student just out of school, ¡°I still owe you for the rear-end collision repair, and since you never came looking for me, I took the liberty of stopping by.¡± He said, ¡°I forgot.¡± ... The response was very perfunctory. Same old, same old. He was like this five years ago too. ¡°Have you been very busy recently?¡± she asked casually. His reply was precious, ¡°Busy.¡± She smiled, the dimples on her cheeks shallow, ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to invite me in to sit?¡± ¡°Just instant coffee, want some?¡± She nodded. Qiao Nanchu turned to push the door open, entered first, and Zhang Zixi followed behind him. Not bothering to hold the door or wait for the lady. Utterly graceless. The above musings stemmed from a gossipy heart hiding in all directions, peering from the shadows. Qiao Nanchu made a cup of instant coffee and placed it on the table, ¡°Did you come back to the country for work?¡± The question was like catching up with an old friend. Just that the setting wasn¡¯t quite right; he hadn¡¯t invited her into his office but had pulled out a chair for Zhang Zixi in the shared pantry outside instead. She sat down, not at all bothered by the curious glances of the Criminal Intelligence Department colleagues ¡®accidentally passing by, ¡°A bit of both, official and personal matters.¡± ¡°Still staying at the old place?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After that, he didn¡¯t speak anymore and almost finished his coffee. The instant coffee was very sweet. Zhang Zixi didn¡¯t like sweets, but he probably didn¡¯t remember. He had forgotten even five years ago. She set down her cup, ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to say something?¡± ¡°Say what?¡± He actually thought it over for a moment and then came up with a change of topic, ¡°That Wang or was it Li, are you still with him?¡± Both were wrong. The man she cheated on him with years ago was surnamed Xu, something he never remembered. Zhang Zixi shook her head, the look of loss in her eyes fleeting before she said with an air of nonchalance, ¡°We were never together.¡± ¡°Oh, is that so?¡± After that, Qiao Nanchu fell silent again. A little while later, he stood up and made himself another cup of coffee. Zhang Zixi picked up her bag, ¡°May I use the bathroom?¡± He tilted his chin, pointing the way, ¡°Straight down, then a left turn.¡± No sooner had she left her seat than Li Xiaodong came in with a cup, pretending to fill it up with water and casually greeted, ¡°Who was that, Captain Qiao?¡± ¡°Ex-girlfriend.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Talk about explosive news! Just as Li Xiaodong was about to dig for more gossip, Qiao Nanchu held up his hand to stop him, taking a call from Vice Captain Xing of the Criminal Investigation Team. ¡°Another case?¡± Vice Captain Xing said it wasn¡¯t a criminal case, ¡°Do you know Wen Baiyang?¡± Qiao Nanchu stood up from his seat, ¡°What happened to her?¡± Vice Captain Xing said, ¡°She hit someone on the subway, and the victim is accusing her of assault.¡± Assault? With her little strength? ¡°She won¡¯t talk, don¡¯t touch her, I¡¯ll be there soon.¡± Bang! He knocked into the table, coffee spilling everywhere, but he didn¡¯t bother cleaning it up, his steps were hurried. Li Xiaodong called out from behind, ¡°Captain Qiao, where are you going?¡± ¡°Criminal Investigation Team.¡± Could it be a major case? But that wouldn¡¯t make sense. Even when that crime syndicate was taken down last time, he was drifting along, leisurely puffing on a cigarette. What was concerning was, ¡°Your ex-girlfriend is still¡ª¡± The man had already walked away¡­ Li Xiaodong rested his chin on his hand, deep in thought. Something was fishy. He cleaned up the coffee on the table and thoughtfully made another cup for his boss¡¯s ex-girlfriend before returning to the office. Just as he was at the door, he heard Lu Ning¡¯s voice. ¡°Who are you? This is the office area for the Intelligence Department; outsiders aren¡¯t allowed in.¡± ¡°Sorry, I was looking for the bathroom.¡± ¡°The bathroom is on the left.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°It was Captain Qiao¡¯s ex-girlfriend. She went to the wrong place.¡± The Criminal Investigation Team and the Criminal Intelligence Department don¡¯t share an office, but they are close by, just a ten-minute drive apart. Qiao Nanchu arrived in eight minutes. Vice Captain Xing teased him, ¡°You got here pretty fast.¡± Qiao Nanchu asked directly, ¡°Where is she?¡± Vice Captain Xing pointed behind him, ¡°There.¡± On the chair behind, the young girl, who had been sitting with her head down, looked up upon his arrival. Sitting across from her was a man in his thirties or forties, bald, with a swollen blue nose and a robust build, wearing a jacket with a black dragon tattooed on his neck. Thinking the young girl was staring at him, he snapped ferociously, ¡°What are you looking at! You damn mute.¡± Vice Captain Xing simply said, ¡°It¡¯s him.¡± The one whom Wen Baiyang ¡®assaulted.¡¯ Even inside the police station, that bald guy didn¡¯t know to hold back, still arrogantly taunting, ¡°Deafie, can you hear me cursing you?¡± Qiao Nanchu stood there, observing Wen Baiyang. Her eyes were very red; she had been crying. Normally, he wasn¡¯t very fond of violence, but if he lost his temper, he couldn¡¯t say he wouldn¡¯t hit someone. He walked over and kicked the bald man hard in the back. Caught off guard, the bald man fell to the ground, struck by a solid kick that left his back aching and numb. Enraged, he turned around and roared, ¡°Who the hell are you!¡± Qiao Nanchu pointed at Wen Baiyang, ¡°Her family member.¡± Upon hearing this, the bald guy grew even angrier, leaped up, and stepped onto the chair, ¡°You mother¡ª¡± He didn¡¯t care to listen and just kicked him again. This kick was even harder, sending the bald man crashing into the chair across, nearly shaking his lungs out. Glaring at the source of his pain and having been kicked twice in a row, he was somewhat intimidated and didn¡¯t dare rush forward. Instead, he bluffed by shouting, ¡°You openly assault people in a police station; I¡¯m going to sue you!¡± ¡°Assault?¡± Qiao Nanchu approached and shielded Wen Baiyang with his body. ¡°Who saw it?¡± Still, he denied it! The bald man turned and shouted, ¡°Officers, he¡¯s beating someone up!¡± The officers, from A to D, all looked up at the ceiling. The bald man: ¡°¡­¡± Still confused, he took another kick to the chest. The bald man collapsed on the ground, no longer getting up, wailing pitifully. Qiao Nanchu hadn¡¯t had his fill yet. He rolled up his sleeves and was about to kick again when someone from behind held him back; he turned around to see the young girl¡¯s red eyes pleading him by shaking her head. Vice Captain Xing couldn¡¯t stand to watch, ¡°Captain Qiao, we¡¯re still in the police station.¡± It¡¯s enough; otherwise, we¡¯ll need to detain you too! Captain Qiao?! Shit, the bald man was speechless; this motherfucker turned out to be a cop, and he went ballistic, ¡°I¡¯ll sue¡ª¡± Qiao Nanchu just turned his head. The bald man immediately quieted down. ¡°Give me a few minutes.¡± Qiao Nanchu nodded to Vice Captain Xing and then took Wen Baiyang to the interrogation room, closed the door, and asked her, ¡°Are you hurt anywhere?¡± She replied with sign language, ¡°No.¡± He pulled up a chair for her to sit, while he stood, leaning forward slightly, ¡°It¡¯s just us here, tell me.¡± He wasn¡¯t quite clear on the details; Vice Captain Xing had merely summed it up with two words over the phone¡ª¡±indecent assault.¡± Just hearing those two words, he had thought of killing that guy. She hesitated, remained silent with her head down for a long time before finally looking up and using gestures to tell him what happened. ¡°He pressed against me with that area.¡± She tried not to cry with her eyes reddening, ¡°I was very angry, so I hit him with the computer.¡± ¡°But I hit him too hard.¡± Tearing up, she didn¡¯t know whether it was from frustration or a sense of grievance. Qiao Nanchu squatted down, looking up at her, ¡°It wasn¡¯t too hard. He deserved it.¡± He reached out and touched her head, ¡°You did nothing wrong.¡± She blinked, and tears began to fall. She was born in July, her eighteenth birthday just recently passed. Still young, particularly prone to tears in front of him, and he was not good at comforting, he took a couple of tissues from the table and handed them to her, ¡°What¡¯s there to cry about?¡± She pocketed the tissues he offered, freeing her hands to signal slowly; she used sign language to say, ¡°Because I can¡¯t speak, I¡¯m disabled; that¡¯s why he did that.¡± Because she couldn¡¯t call for help, nor explain. Because she was disabled, thus easy to bully. Qiao Nanchu lifted his hand to wipe away the tears at the corner of her eyes, ¡°You¡¯re fine; it¡¯s just that the world is still too messed up.¡± With her eyes swollen from crying, she only left the interrogation room with him once she stopped crying. Vice Captain Xing took a look, seldom seeing a woman around the usually aloof Qiao Nanchu, and couldn¡¯t help but tease, ¡°What¡¯s this? Even made the young girl cry.¡± Qiao Nanchu told Wen Baiyang to sit down first, ¡°Is there surveillance in the car?¡± Vice Captain Xing replied, ¡°There is surveillance, but it was rush hour, too crowded, nothing was captured.¡± The bald man also sat nearby. Seeing Qiao Nanchu, he wanted to move his chair away but didn¡¯t budge, held in place by a hand, ¡°Name your price, how much to settle this privately?¡± The bald man shrank back, ¡°I, I won¡¯t settle, I¡¯m going to sue her.¡± After all, there was no surveillance footage, but he had injuries, he was in the right. Qiao Nanchu wasn¡¯t in a hurry, pulled up a chair and sat down, ¡°Do you know what I do?¡± He didn¡¯t wait for an answer and continued, ¡°I¡¯m a police officer.¡± His hand rested on the table, tapping it, ¡°This is the police station.¡± His meaning was clear in a single sentence¡ªdo you really want to cause trouble on my turf? Chapter 136: 136: The Right Way to Open Sweet Words (Second Update) Chapter 136: 136: The Right Way to Open Sweet Words (Second Update) Bald hesitated, but despite his hesitation, he recognized the frighteningly expensive watch on Qiao Nanchu¡¯s wrist, ¡°Let¡¯s settle this privately, but you¡¯ll have to compensate me for medical expenses and mental distress.¡± Qiao Nanchu had no objections and spoke concisely, ¡°Name your price.¡± The higher the better. Bald was still not bold enough, only asking for one hundred thousand. After the formalities were completed, Qiao Nanchu asked Wen Baiyang to sit on a chair first because she was going to read lips. He was used to looking at her eyes when he spoke, ¡°Wait here for me, I¡¯ll take you back to school later.¡± She nodded, hugging the computer that had been damaged in the assault, and sat obediently waiting. ... He poured her a cup of hot water before heading to the warehouse of the Criminal Investigation Team to get a pair of gloves. Vice Captain Xing asked if he was going to the scene. He didn¡¯t answer, but said, ¡°Turn off the surveillance in the back lot.¡± Vice Captain Xing figured out what he was intending to do, ¡°You¡¯re still at the station, don¡¯t mess around.¡± This guy, truly wild, even in a police uniform, no one could restrain him. He simply stated, ¡°I have my limits.¡± Vice Captain Xing, knowing he could not be persuaded, turned a blind eye, but asked, ¡°Then tell me, who is this young girl?¡± He kept a straight face, ¡°Sister.¡± Vice Captain Xing threw down his pen, chuckling, ¡°You¡¯re pulling my leg, you think I don¡¯t know you¡¯re an only child? Not just Qiao Nanchu¡¯s own dad, but even his uncles don¡¯t have a sister that big.¡± Qiao Nanchu raised his eyebrows and switched to a different tone, matching his suave appearance, ¡°Girlfriend, no good?¡± Vice Captain Xing cursed softly, ¡°There you go, only nineteen and already so audacious.¡± Qiao Nanchu, not in the mood for jokes, turned off the surveillance in the back lot, left the police station, and soon caught up with Bald. He called out, ¡°Hey.¡± Bald turned around, standing still. He beckoned with his finger, ¡°I¡¯m calling you, come here.¡± Bald stepped back, ¡°What, what do you want to do?¡± He pulled out a pair of white rubber gloves from his pocket and put them on, ¡°One hundred thousand, right? That must be quite an injury.¡± Those gloves, often seen on TV in criminal investigations, were worn by police at crime scenes to avoid contaminating evidence with their fingerprints. Bald broke into a run. But he hadn¡¯t gone far before a hand grabbed his collar and pulled him into an empty lot behind the police station, where no one was around. Qiao Nanchu threw him to the ground and picked up a rock, ¡°There are no cameras here, even if I kill you here, it¡¯ll remain an unsolved case.¡± He weighed the rock the size of a fist in his hand, looked down, and said, ¡°Ever heard of the Qiao family from Imperial City?¡± Officials in Imperial City, countless among them bore the surname Qiao. That Qiao family? Bald, sweating profusely with fear, stammered, ¡°Heard of it.¡± His liver trembled, ¡°I don¡¯t want the one hundred thousand¡ª¡± Qiao Nanchu was not very patient and didn¡¯t wait for him to finish. He walked over with the rock in hand, ¡°Remember this well, I¡¯m the fourth child of the Qiao family, Qiao Nanchu.¡± He squatted down, patted the bald head with gloved hands ¡ª his handsome face carrying a mischievous smile ¡ª and said, ¡°If you want revenge, come find me.¡± With that, he swung the rock down. ¡°Ah ah ah ah ah¡ª¡± This world is too horrible, sometimes, violence must be met with violence, evil with evil. In the afternoon, Jiang Zhi only had one scene, which also marked the final scene of ¡°Wilderness.¡± After this last scene, the film would wrap up, even Zhou Xufang made a cameo. A group of Republic-era bosses discussed their next reform plan. Zhou Xufang, as an extra without a frontal shot, poured a cup of tea for these bosses. Vice Director Zhao was also exhausted. This film was essentially a major showcase for the three male leads, with minimal parts for female roles. Even Yu Ran, the female lead, had few scenes. But as an extra, Zhou Xufang almost had to appear daily, and the impromptu addition of extra scenes was quite draining. After wrapping up, the producer invited everyone for afternoon tea, but Jiang Zhi, claiming to feel unwell, passed and instead lured Zhou Xufang to the resting room with two ice cream cones. ¡°Are you accompanying me to the wrap-up party tonight?¡± Zhou Xufang, licking the strawberry-flavored cone, holding Jiang Zhi¡¯s cotton candy box, discovered a new way to eat it, dipping the cotton candy into the ice cream ¡ª the taste was simply amazing. She enjoyed it immensely, her eyes contentedly half-closed, ¡°It¡¯s all crew members, it wouldn¡¯t be appropriate for me to go.¡± Other people¡¯s girlfriends always follow them around, his, not so much. ¡°Why wouldn¡¯t it be appropriate? You¡¯re part of the crew.¡± He spoke earnestly, ¡°You¡¯re an outstanding representative of the extras.¡± The outstanding extra representative, Zhou Xufang took another lick of her cone and declined the director¡¯s invitation, ¡°I won¡¯t go, I have work.¡± Another task? Jiang Zhi immediately asked, ¡°What time, where?¡± ¡°Nine o¡¯clock, Jingming Road.¡± Zhou Xufang briefly summarized the task, ¡°Deliver a package.¡± He wanted to ask her not to go, feeling it would seem unreasonable and unappreciative on his part, so Jiang Zhi asked, ¡°Can¡¯t I come with you? I won¡¯t be in your way.¡± Zhou Xufang shook her head, ¡°You would distract me.¡± Her ability to protect herself was sufficient. If Jiang Zhi came along, she would worry about him. Jiang Zhi confiscated the ice cream cone from her hand, ¡°Why take on so much work?¡± He indeed wanted to pamper her a bit, to have her only accompany him and not allow her to do anything else. But that was just a thought¡ªhe dared not treat her with brute force. Zhou Xufang answered, ¡°To make money.¡± Jiang Zhi wasn¡¯t satisfied with that answer, ¡°I have money.¡± She knew he was wealthy, ¡°Your money should be used for your business; my money can be used to support you.¡± Holding a piece of candy, she guided Jiang Zhi¡¯s hand to dip it into his ice cream cone and while eating it, she earnestly explained, ¡°I¡¯ve seen on TV that it¡¯s easy for entrepreneurs to make money but also easy to go bankrupt. If I have money, there¡¯s nothing to fear. Even if you fail in your business ventures, I can still allow you to live a life of great wealth.¡± She spoke with utmost seriousness, clearly having given it much thought. Jiang Zhi was charmed by the words ¡®great wealth,¡¯ stars twinkling in his beautiful eyes. He returned the ice cream cone to her, dipping the candy and feeding it to her, ¡°I won¡¯t go bankrupt, you don¡¯t need to support me.¡± Zhou Xufang disagreed, ¡°Even if you don¡¯t go bankrupt, you will still have to confront the Jiang Family in the future and will need a lot of capital. I can¡¯t give you much, only enough to ensure you have no worries about food and clothing.¡± The more he heard, the better it sounded, joy visibly escaping from his eyes. At that point, Zhou Xufang started concentrating on making plans: ¡°You are twenty-four now, if you live to a hundred, that¡¯s 76 more years. Since you¡¯re so delicate, requiring the best food and clothes, not to mention cars and houses; even if I don¡¯t buy you diamond watches every year, it will still cost tens of millions annually. Over seventy-six years¡­¡± she did a quick calculation, ¡°that¡¯s a lot of money, and I haven¡¯t saved enough yet.¡± Moreover, she wanted to buy Jiang Zhi diamond watches since all his friends had them. He couldn¡¯t be the only one without. So, yes, she needed to save more. He was so charmed by her that he couldn¡¯t consider whether this counted as being a kept man: ¡°I can do without the best food or clothes, and I don¡¯t need the cars, houses, or watches.¡± Like a big golden retriever being stroked, he hugged her and affectionately nuzzled her, ¡°Having you is enough.¡± ¡°How could that be okay?¡± Zhou Xufang felt it wasn¡¯t right and insisted, ¡°How can you be raised in poverty? You must be raised in luxury!¡± He laughed so hard his shoulders shook. Zhou Xufang was serious, ¡°Don¡¯t laugh, I¡¯m not joking.¡± ¡°Alright, I won¡¯t laugh.¡± His mouth was still smiling, his eyes still twinkling with amusement, as he kept kissing her on the couch, relentless like a dog¡­ At eight in the evening, the vibrant nightlife was just beginning. The wrap party was held at a bar where Jiang Zhi had booked an entire floor for them to make noise, though naturally, no one dared to get too rowdy in his presence as he disliked noise. He found a corner to sit in, bored, watching his watch count the time. ¡°Director Jiang.¡± Jiang Zhi lifted his eyelids. It was Fang Lixiang. Fang Lixiang¡¯s choice of casual wear was always indescribable. Coming to a bar, he wore a garishly patterned robe and within half an hour was hot like a dog, panting and asking, ¡°Why isn¡¯t Xu Fang here?¡± ¡°She went to make money and support the family.¡± ¡°¡­¡± So, Director Jiang, are you just responsible for being pretty? Fang Lixiang genuinely praised, ¡°Xu Fang is truly virtuous.¡± Jiang Zhi replied, ¡°Hmm.¡± He continued watching his watch. After a round of toasts, a few actors came over to offer drinks. Jiang Zhi, lacking any enthusiasm, brushed them off, ¡°I drove here; I¡¯m not drinking.¡± The producer next to him teasingly ventured, ¡°Does your partner keep a tight leash at home?¡± ¡°Not really.¡± He poured himself a glass of milk without looking up, sitting in the dimmest light, his face turned sideways, like a fine young nobleman walked out of a painting, ¡°I¡¯m self-disciplined.¡± Either holding a graceful partner or a stunningly beautiful one, the movie folks were left speechless¡­ At eight-thirty. S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. There was still half an hour left until the deadline. The intelligence department was on high alert; they had been tracking this drug trafficking gang for over six months, sending out four undercover agents, three of whom had already lost contact. ¡°What¡¯s the route?¡± ¡°Captain Xiao has already sent it over.¡± Lu Ning pulled up the route map. Qiao Nanchu confirmed once more, ¡°The surveillance can be cut now.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Lu Ning¡¯s fingers moved rapidly over the keyboard; in less than thirty seconds, all the surveillance of the routes was transferred to the intelligence department¡¯s computers. A wall full of monitors was dizzying to behold. Li Xiaodong was somewhat excited, ¡°From picking up the goods to delivery, our police are everywhere along the way. Captain Xiao has prepared several contingency plans just for the escape routes; even if this tumor grows wings, it won¡¯t be able to fly away this time.¡± No sooner had he finished speaking¡ª He was dumbstruck, ¡°What¡¯s going on?!¡± All the computer monitors suddenly went dark. Lu Ning connected to the computers, swiftly entering a string of codes, but still, there was no response: ¡°The surveillance has been intercepted.¡± Qiao Nanchu looked at the dark computer screens, pondered for a moment, then said, ¡°Check who is interfering.¡± Chapter 137: 137: Zhou Xufangs domineering counterattack from desperation! Chapter 137: 137: Zhou Xufang¡¯s domineering counterattack from desperation! ¡°Check who¡¯s breaching our system?¡± Lu Ning quickly typed on the keyboard, a full screen of codes scrolling continuously. After they stopped, she tapped the enter key, and got in! Holy shit! Lu Ning felt faint, ¡°It¡¯s a thousand-digit password.¡± She switched the entry point and started cracking it. The speed was so fast that she could barely keep up, ¡°This is a high-level hacker, Captain Qiao, I need assistance.¡± Qiao Nanchu called over a colleague from the tech team, ¡°Yao An, stop what you¡¯re doing and assist Lu Ning.¡± Yao An connected his computer and flexed his fingers, ¡°OK.¡± ... The entire office resounded with the sound of keyboard clattering, so fast it made one¡¯s heartbeat race. Qiao Nanchu stepped aside and connected with Captain Xiao of the Drug Enforcement Team: ¡°Our surveillance got hacked, it could be a trap, tell Zihao to return to the team immediately.¡± If it was a trap set by the drug trafficking gang, it meant that their undercover was probably blown. Captain Xiao understood, ¡°Thanks, I¡¯ll have Zihao return to the team right away.¡± Code name 0893, name: Jiao Zihao, thirty-eight years old, male. Apart from his direct superior, Captain Xiao, only Qiao Nanchu knew his real name and identity. ¡°Captain Qiao!¡± Lu Ning called out. Qiao Nanchu ended the call and returned to the office, casting a glance at Lu Ning¡¯s computer screen filled with SpongeBob¡­ This thing again. Li Xiaodong found it inconceivable, ¡°Could it be that we¡¯ve encountered our old nemesis again?¡± Who else could their old nemesis be? ¡ªThe errand runner hacker who visited their Criminal Intelligence Department every now and then. Lu Ning moved her sore and numb fingers, sticking to the facts, ¡°It¡¯s a bit difficult; even with Yao An¡¯s help, we can barely keep up, and we still can¡¯t crack her password. This style and speed, it does indeed resemble Shuangjiang.¡± Li Xiaodong stared at the screen full of SpongeBob and pondered, ¡°Isn¡¯t he just an errand runner? Since when did he join a drug trafficking gang?¡± Yao An interjected, ¡°He might be employed by them.¡± ¡°Tech team,¡± Qiao Nanchu started to speak. He knocked on the table and issued a direct order, ¡°Drop everything you¡¯re doing and catch this SpongeBob for me first.¡± ¡°Yes Sir.¡± At this moment, the neon lights began to illuminate the twilight zone of glamour. After cutting the wrapped-up cake, the heavy metal music in the bar started booming. An actor from the cast was DJing on stage, with strobe lights flickering, setting an exhilarating atmosphere. Fang Lixiang felt so hot she questioned her life choices. She removed her flowered jacket but was still overheated. How foolish she had been to wear a jacket to a bar, and even more so to wear a sweater underneath it. She poured herself a glass of ice beer and downed it in one gulp. At that moment, from a position above to her left, someone called her, ¡°Miss Fang.¡± Fang Lixiang turned her head and revealed a standard professional fake smile, ¡°President Lin.¡± Wasn¡¯t this the investor who had knocked on two actresses¡¯ doors in one night? Burly and complacent. What was his name¡­ oh, Lin Qianxun. Such a waste of a ¡®modest and gentlemanly¡¯ name. Lin Qianxun straightened his tie, putting forth the manner of a business elite, ¡°May I sit here?¡± Could she refuse? An investor was like a father, like a mother, like the rain and sunshine. She couldn¡¯t refuse, continuing with her professional fake smile, ¡°Sure¡ª¡± Someone interrupted from above to her right, ¡°You can¡¯t.¡± That voice¡­ Fang Lixiang turned her head, ¡°Boss.¡± This was also a father, also a mother, and also rain and sunshine. ¡°Wilderness¡± was Jiang Zhi¡¯s movie, naturally Xue Baoyi had invested in it, also being one of the investors, his presence at the wrap party was not surprising. Xue Baoyi was a hairstyle fanatic, sporting a new look again with some blue on top and a diamond stud on his right earlobe, wearing a biker-style jacket and effortlessly being the brightest star in the bar wherever he stood. He stretched out a hand and pointed next to Fang Lixiang, ¡°That¡¯s my spot.¡± Second Young Master Xue¡¯s nickname was well-known in the entertainment industry, after all, he was from the Xue Family and ¡®Prince¡¯ of Imperial City. Lin Qianxun naturally gave him respect, hastily raising his glass in apology, ¡°I didn¡¯t realize it was Second Young Master Xue¡¯s person, my apologies, my apologies.¡± Second Young Master Xue waved his hand dismissively. Lin Qianxun quickly retreated. Indeed, it was a world that spoke with money. Fang Lixiang felt quite touched by this. After her thoughts, she said to Xue Baoyi, ¡°Boss, I think President Lin misunderstood.¡± Xue Baoyi, straddling her leg as he sat down, moved aside her flowered jacket: ¡°What misunderstanding? I own the entirety of Baoguang, and thus all employees of Baoguang are mine,¡± he pointed a finger at Fang Lixiang, ¡°including you.¡± Fang Lixiang: ¡°Oh.¡± Xue Baoyi flicked his trendy fringe and called out, ¡°Employee Fang Lixiang.¡± ¡°¡­¡± That tone, imperial as an emperor¡¯s. Employee Fang Lixiang: ¡°Present, boss.¡± He leaned back on the sofa, crossed his legs, and looked at people from the corner of his eye, his gaze like a favored consort graced with the dragon¡¯s favor, ordering, ¡°Pour me a drink.¡± To Fang Lixiang, she felt like the eunuch waiting upon him in court, ¡°Yes, boss.¡± She quickly poured the fine wine. Xue Baoyi drank leisurely, occasionally ordering people around him for some fruit or whatever, clearly in no rush, lazily lifting his eyes, just in time to catch Jiang Zhi standing up from his seat. He asked, ¡°Brother Zhi, where are you going?¡± Jiang Zhi ignored him. He got up and walked over, then after a couple of steps, he called Fang Lixiang to follow: ¡°Come with me.¡± To prevent more shortsighted people from bothering her. ¡°Oh.¡± Eunuch Fang Lixiang followed closely. Xue Baoyi, walking with a purposeful stride, blocked Jiang Zhi¡¯s path, ¡°You¡¯re leaving?¡± The wrap party was centered around him, and he was the main attraction; it made no sense to just walk away. Jiang Zhi, seemingly indifferent, ¡°It¡¯s half-past eight.¡± ¡°It¡¯s only half-past eight.¡± His mind seemed elsewhere, his gaze foggy, not fully present, ¡°Zhou Xufang¡¯s shooting ends at nine, and I¡¯m going to pick her up.¡± Alright then. He truly couldn¡¯t spend a moment without Zhou Xufang. At that moment, his phone rang. Jiang Zhi answered; it was Qiao Nanchu. Whatever was said, he couldn¡¯t hear clearly; the DJ¡¯s music on the stage was too loud, and he felt irritated, ¡°It¡¯s too noisy, speak up.¡± He handed a card to Xue Baoyi, ¡°Settle the bill for me.¡± Without waiting for a reply, he headed out. On the phone, Qiao Nanchu was concise, ¡°Zhou Xufang¡¯s in trouble.¡± Jiang Zhi halted, ¡°What do you mean? Make it clear.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a case with the Drug Enforcement Team. Our undercover just sent a secret report, notifying that there¡¯s a drug deal tonight. We just found out that a third party has intervened, and it¡¯s very likely that Zhou Xufang¡¯s partner is involved.¡± Zhou Xufang never touched illegal transactions. It was a trap. Jiang Zhi quickly walked outside, his expression disturbed, asking, ¡°What time and where is the deal?¡± ¡°Nine o¡¯clock, Jingming Road.¡± Nine o¡¯clock, Jingming Road. Zhou Xufang really went there for a task. Jiang Zhi¡¯s hand holding the phone tightened, ¡°Nanchu, help me.¡± Even though he knew Qiao Nanchu also stood as a police officer, he still made the request, as he had no choice; Zhou Xufang was his lifeline. Qiao Nanchu did not hesitate and gave a grunt of affirmation, ¡°I can speak to the Drug Enforcement Team, but I suspect there are others in the shadows; it¡¯s best to stop Zhou Xufang from going to Jingming Road.¡± ¡°Contact me if anything happens.¡± After hanging up, Jiang Zhi tried to call Zhou Xufang, but couldn¡¯t get through¡ªher phone was off. She normally wouldn¡¯t have it on during a task. Jiang Zhi took a deep breath and walked into the wintry night. The car parked outside a bar, and Ah Wan got out of the vehicle, ¡°Boss, why did you come out?¡± Jiang Zhi pulled the car door open and sat inside, ¡°Go to Jingming Road.¡± Eight forty-five. The office of the Criminal Intelligence Department was quiet, save for the rapid clicking of keyboard keys. All of a sudden, Yao An shouted in surprise, ¡°Captain Qiao! Come look at this.¡± Qiao Nanchu tossed his half-smoked cigarette into the ashtray and stood up to approach. Yao An enlarged the red dot moving on the screen and charted a course, ¡°This tracker¡¯s moving straight towards Jingming Road.¡± It wasn¡¯t a police tracker. ¡°Who sent this?¡± ¡°An unknown IP.¡± Monitors had just been hijacked, and now they sent a location¡ªwhat¡¯s the meaning? Was this a provocation toward the police or someone using them as a cat¡¯s paw? Qiao Nanchu stroked his chin, pondering for a moment, ¡°First, send the location to Captain Xiao.¡± ¡°OK.¡± Eight forty-six. FOR headquarters, a glance reveals nothing but computers, digitally styled interior, three projectors, one surveillance wall, and touchscreens every few steps. FOR, established only half a year ago, had become the largest errand runner company in the country. ¡°Boss.¡± A man in his thirties, wearing a plaid shirt and glasses, sat in front of a computer, his fingers moving swiftly across the keyboard, ¡°The location has been sent to the police.¡± The man called boss, with a buzz cut, square face, thick eyebrows, and big eyes, tall and strong, was FOR¡¯s leader Ah Win. Tattooed sleeves and a coin-sized scar on his temple, he started by collecting debts, had eight priors, and was well-known in the circles for being ruthless. Ah Win walked over, leaned on the desk with his sleeves rolled up revealing his tattooed arms, ¡°Did you clean up any traces?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry about my work.¡± After double-checking, Ah Win moved toward the filing cabinet, shifted the only English book on top aside, and a door behind the cabinet revealed itself; he stepped through. ¡°President Zhang.¡± The woman was seated in an executive chair, back to him, with only her slender apricot heels visible, ¡°Is it done?¡± Ah Win nodded in confirmation, ¡°The location is right on the goods, and it¡¯s been sent to the authorities¡ªwe should get a hit this time.¡± The woman rested her hand on the armrest and tapped, ¡°Securing the evidence and the culprit is the police¡¯s job. Your task is to ensure that ¡®Z¡¯ doesn¡¯t come back.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry, the people are already sent out.¡± Eight fifty-nine, Jingming Road. Music from a square dance in the opposite park roared deafeningly; across the street, the alley remained deserted, save for the occasional passerby. Drug Enforcement Team¡¯s undercover agents blended with those passers-by, ¡°accidentally¡± passing by. Nine o¡¯clock sharp¡ª The man selling helium balloons by the roadside fiddled with his earpiece, whispering low, ¡°Number one position, target spotted!¡± Ten meters away. A couple sitting by the green belt stood up; the man adjusted his hat and lowered his head, ¡°Number two position, target spotted!¡± Another ten meters. ¡°Number three position, target spotted.¡± Number twenty-eight Jingming Road was at the end of the street, with only a closed-down kindergarten. There was the drop-off point. The target had appeared, about one meter seventy tall, very thin, wearing a black top, black pants, black hat, a black mask, and carrying a black handbag. At the neighboring barbecue stand, a man put down his beer bottle, fingered the gun at his waist, and opened his earpiece, ¡°Captain Xiao, target approaching.¡± The Drug Enforcement Team¡¯s commander Captain Xiao was standing opposite the kindergarten, in a small shop. He tossed away his cigarette and walked out of the shop, ¡°All units ready.¡± The target stopped at the kindergarten¡¯s door, waited for fifteen minutes with no one coming to receive the goods, seeming hesitant, pacing four times before dropping the bag and leaving. All undercover drug enforcement officers were in place, ready to act. Captain Xiao shouted, ¡°1¡ª¡± ¡°2¡ª¡± ¡°3!¡± ¡°Take him!¡± At the command, some twenty undercover drug enforcement officers, guns drawn, surrounded the target, who seemed petrified, standing in shock; he wore large glasses which nearly covered his entire face. S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Captain Xiao, gun in hand, closed in, eyes locked on the target¡¯s hands, not daring to be careless, yelled, ¡°Raise your hands!¡± The target didn¡¯t hesitate and immediately raised his hands. Captain Xiao moved closer, ¡°Put your hands on your head and squat down!¡± The target complied, putting his hands on his head and squatting down. Captain Xiao signaled. The deputy leader understood immediately and went to check the goods¡ªupon opening the black handbag, he froze. Captain Xiao asked, ¡°What¡¯s the situation?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not the goods.¡± ¡°Then what is it?¡± The deputy leader turned the bag upside down, emptying its contents: ¡°It¡¯s AD milk calcium.¡± The entire Drug Enforcement Team: ¡°¡­¡± What was going on?! A drug bust turned up a bunch of milk calcium? Li Xiao, who was closest to the suspect, kicked him down to the ground, ¡°Who are you?¡± The suspect sat down hard, his glasses and hat falling off. As he lifted his face, beads of sweat the size of beans were visible, trembling as he removed his mask, ¡°I, I, I¡¯m Wang Dahai.¡± Wang Dahai had wet his pants. Such a coward, clearly a decoy! Captain Xiao crouched down, grabbed the suspect, and slapped on the handcuffs, ¡°Who sent you?¡± Wang Dahai looked about to cry, feeling wronged, sad, and scared, ¡°It was, it was Lord Black Impermanence.¡± Chapter 138: 138: Decisive Strike, A Exploded (Second Update) Chapter 138: 138: Decisive Strike, A Exploded (Second Update) ¡°It¡¯s¡­ it¡¯s Lord Black Impermanence.¡± Lord Black Impermanence? Bullshit! Captain Xiao lost his temper and kicked out, ¡°Damn it, spout nonsense again and I¡¯ll beat you!¡± Scowling, he asked again, ¡°Say it again, who sent you?¡± Wang Dahai was still clutching his head, trembling all over, and began to cry, ¡°I¡­ I wasn¡¯t talking nonsense, it was Lord Black Impermanence.¡± Must be an idiot. ... Captain Xiao grabbed the bag and searched through it, indeed finding a tracking device on top of it. Which meant the operation had been blown, the contact had fled, leaving an idiot to bring a bag of AD Calcium Milk as a decoy. Damn it! S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Captain Xiao felt like punching someone. Wang Dahai immediately hugged his head and shrank back, very frightened, very shocked, but he resolutely decided to go for broke, his voice trembling as he began to speak, ¡°Lord Black¡­ Black¡­ Black Impermanence also had a message.¡± Every other word was Lord Black Impermanence; he really made it sound like some mysterious spirit calling. Captain Xiao actually wanted to see what kind of demon or ghost was playing tricks: ¡°What did he say?¡± Wang Dahai¡¯s face looked exactly like he was possessed, amidst the terror, there was a strange mixture of reverence, ¡°Lord Black Impermanence said, there are many little ghosts around here.¡± One Lord Black Impermanence wasn¡¯t enough, now there¡¯s a whole bunch of little ghosts. Damn it all! In the dead of the night, the Drug Enforcement Team was kept awake, each one turned into a confused mess, Li Xiao rubbed his forehead, ¡°What the hell is all this?¡± He kicked a stone in irritation, hitting a car just right. The last digits of the license plate, four threes, huh. That kind of license plate, there¡¯s only one in the entire police department¡ªit belonged to the boss of the intelligence unit, the Qiao family¡¯s fourth son. Although Li Xiao didn¡¯t care for the rich sons who drove with one hand, he still respected the head of the intelligence unit: ¡°Captain Qiao, what brings you here?¡± Qiao Nanchu got out of the car, didn¡¯t come over, but leaned against the door with his arms crossed: ¡°Don¡¯t mind me, go catch ghosts.¡± Li Xiao had a baffled look, ¡°Huh?¡± Qiao Nanchu stood beside his fancy car, looking carefree and like a playboy rather than a policeman, smiling but not quite smiling, he said, ¡°There are little ghosts around.¡± Li Xiao still didn¡¯t understand, ¡°What little ghosts?¡± Captain Xiao had already given the order, ¡°Search.¡± In the shadows. The lurking underlings were nervous, wiping the sweat from their heads: ¡°Boss, something¡¯s not right.¡± The man called boss touched the tattoo on his neck, thought for a moment, then walked out from the back alley of the kindergarten, activated his earpiece and said, ¡°Everyone retreat.¡± ¡°There!¡± The Drug Enforcement Team was closing in. The man didn¡¯t have time to plan, he only urged those hidden in the dark, ¡°Hurry up and retreat!¡± Retreat? The Drug Enforcement Team had seven apprehension plans in place for the planned escape routes for this drug sweep, wishing to retreat, but where to? ¡°Bang!¡± Captain Xiao fired a shot into the air, ¡°Arrest everyone, don¡¯t let a single one get away.¡± ¡°Yes Sir!¡± FOR headquarters. The man with long bangs rushed in from the outside in a hurry, screaming in panic, ¡°Boss, boss!¡± Ah Win frowned, the scar on his forehead twitched twice, ¡°What are you shrieking about?¡± ¡°Trouble, Brother Cheng called, said Z didn¡¯t go to Jingming Road, all the brothers we sent have been caught by the cops.¡± Upon hearing this, Ah Win clenched his fist, his tattooed forearm muscles bulged and tensed up: ¡°What rubbish! If Z didn¡¯t go to Jingming Road, then where did she go?¡± Where indeed? The girl¡¯s voice was low, ¡°I¡¯m right here.¡± The door was pushed open, and Zhou Xufang walked in dressed in black, carrying a baseball bat. A black cap covered her forehead, beneath which were a pair of special-function glasses, a black mask, a leather jacket over a hoodie, paired with black pencil pants, and Doc Martens. She moved with precision and cleanliness, her movements didn¡¯t carry a breeze but an aura of menace. The errand runner, Z. Her showing up at FOR¡¯s headquarters was completely unexpected. Ah Win was astounded, his eyes flashed with fleeting panic, his arm muscles completely tensed, ready to fight at any moment: ¡°How did you get here?¡± It was, of course, time to settle accounts. Zhou Xufang put down the black backpack, tossed it on the floor, dragged the baseball bat forward a couple of steps, stopped, then raised the bat and smashed it into the computer by the door. Clang! The computer screen shattered instantly. Ah Win stepped back, and all the computer technicians in the large office froze. That single loud noise had all of FOR¡¯s enforcers coming out, from upstairs and downstairs, at least thirty or forty people. No one expected Zhou Xufang to pick up a metal bar and tap it on the computer desk. Clearly a young girl, yet when she spoke, she exuded an intimidating presence: ¡°Where is that guy named Zhang? Call him out.¡± Forty minutes earlier. Zhou Xufang had taken the goods out from the storage locker on the third floor of Jingbai City and didn¡¯t take the roads, fearing being tracked, she took ¡®the air route¡¯¡ªrunning from building to building. Although tiring, it was safe. Not even a thousand meters out from Jingbai City, Shuangjiang called her to stop. ¡°Xu Fang, something¡¯s not right.¡± Zhou Xufang stopped on the rooftop of a building, looking down over the bustling street below: ¡°What is it?¡± The synthetic voice of Shuangjiang came through the earpiece: ¡°Besides me, a third party is tampering with the surveillance on this route.¡± An ambush? Zhou Xufang set the bag down, opened it, and tore through layer after layer of white wrapping paper, and when she reached the very last layer, her expression darkened, ¡°We¡¯ve been played, it¡¯s not counterfeit diamonds in the bag, it¡¯s narcotics.¡± She¡¯d been set up. ¡°Can you check for a tracking device?¡± Zhou Xufang flipped the bag over and saw it, ¡°Yes, there is one.¡± Shuangjiang said, ¡°Wait for me three minutes.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Zhou Xufang found a spot to sit and weighed the bag in her hold. The quantity inside was enough for a death penalty. They were out to kill her. Exactly three minutes passed. Shuangjiang pulled out the locator. ¡°The tracking server is at FOR¡¯s headquarters.¡± She speculated, ¡°Someone must have hired FOR, purposely leading us to Jingming Road. There might be an ambush there.¡± Not just FOR¡¯s people, but likely the police were also involved. Zhou Xufang looked up at the sky¡ªno stars at all¡ªher mood couldn¡¯t be any worse. ¡°If it¡¯s just to lure me over, there¡¯s no need to involve drugs and the police. There must be another motive.¡± It seemed like a trap, birds of a feather falling together. She was in the worst of moods. She was supposed to meet Jiang Zhi at nine, but now it looked like that would have to be postponed. She missed Jiang Zhi so much¡­ she didn¡¯t want to do this anymore¡­ Shuangjiang asked her opinion, ¡°What should we do?¡± ¡°We have to figure it out.¡± Zhou Xufang never liked being in the dark, nor did she enjoy trouble. But when someone messed with her, she had to mess back. Without establishing authority, how can one survive in the world of errand runners? Shuangjiang had concerns: ¡°You can¡¯t go to Jingming Road. If you do, things will get messy.¡± ¡°Yeah, I know.¡± Zhou Xufang stood up with her bag and walked to the edge of the rooftop. It wasn¡¯t very high. With a leap, she jumped down. Perfect¡ªrounding the corner, there was a small supermarket. Inside, there was just one cashier, a young guy with a strikingly square face¡ªvery square, like a perfect rectangle. Rectangle-face guy was engrossed in a video game. Zhou Xufang¡¯s attire didn¡¯t draw his notice; head down, he continued gaming, only saying, ¡°Get whatever you need.¡± Zhou Xufang went in and asked, ¡°Is there a black backpack here?¡± ¡°Top of the third shelf on the left.¡± Rectangle-face guy was busy playing a shooting game, shouting for his teammates to heal up. Having just healed them, a hand in a black glove placed a black backpack on the counter, followed by several cartons of AD calcium milk. He momentarily put down his phone, though his eyes reluctantly stayed glued to the screen as he scanned the items. ¡°That¡¯s one eighty-four. Cash or¡ª¡± He picked up his phone again, finally looking up at the customer. ¡°Duang!¡± The phone hit the ground. In the game, his character crashed and died. The guy was terrified: ¡°You¡ªyou¡¯re robbing the place?¡± This head-to-toe getup is typically a robber¡¯s, usually those big-time heist kind with knives and guns. Zhou Xu spoke with a low voice, ¡°I¡¯m not robbing.¡± She stuffed the calcium milk into the backpack, surprised, ¡°You can see me?¡± What else? He¡¯s not a ghost to be invisible, right? The ¡®robber¡¯ asked, ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± If he doesn¡¯t answer, will she pull out a gun and shoot him? Better to answer; better alive than dead: ¡°Wang Dahai.¡± At that moment, he wanted to scream for help, but he didn¡¯t dare. He feared being silenced. The ¡®robber¡¯ called out his name, then exclaimed with amazement, ¡°You have a unique bone structure, a destiny unlike others.¡± Wang Dahai: ¡°??¡± Do today¡¯s robbers act this wild? Moreover, a female robber? She was serious, like a somber preacher, ¡°Others can¡¯t see me because I am a ghost.¡± Wang Dahai: ¡°!!¡± Just rob and get it over with¡­ don¡¯t play the ghost card. Just hurry up and rob, and after that get out¡­ But she wasn¡¯t interested in robbing. She popped her hooded head out, just a mass of black, and said, ¡°I am a Hell Messenger, Lord Black Impermanence.¡± And then, a miracle happened. In the blink of an eye, she vanished. Another blink, and she reappeared. With the next blink, she leaped to the ceiling, shattering the hanging light. Instant darkness, then in the next second, she whipped out a flashlight and shone it forward, illuminating Wang Dahai. He sat down hard on the floor and began to screech, ¡°Ghost ah ah ah¡ª¡± The silent ghost ¡®floated¡¯ over, flashlight still on Wang Dahai¡¯s square face, ¡°Don¡¯t scream.¡± A living, breathing ghost¡­ Wang Dahai covered his mouth, too terrified to make a sound, nearly fainting as he scooted backward, tears and snot streaming, ¡°Don¡¯t¡ªdon¡¯t¡ªdon¡¯t come any closer¡­¡± But the ghost followed him. His eyes rolled back; he was about to pass out. ¡°Don¡¯t faint,¡± the female ghost said. ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid; I won¡¯t hurt you. I told you, you have a unique bone structure, capable of seeing Lord Ghost Messenger, a distinguished mortal messenger.¡± In immense fear, the distinguished mortal messenger plunged into a deep confusion. ¡°Lord Black Impermanence has a task for you,¡± she said, leaning closer, her black figure dominating. ¡°Mortal messenger, can you fulfill it?¡± Mortal messenger: ¡°??¡± The mortal messenger only wanted to soil himself. Rewind to nine sixteen, at FOR¡¯s headquarters. Bang. A computer screen shattered into pieces. Zhou Xufang, wielding a metal baseball bat, tapped on the desk with a deep, commanding voice, ¡°Bring out that guy named Zhang.¡± Ah Win raised his hand, and the technicians stepped back as muscular enforcers encircled them. With a vicious look and a twitching scar on his forehead, his gaze fixed on Zhou Xufang like a venomous snake, ¡°Do you know where you are? Are you daring to come here alone?¡± She didn¡¯t speak but lifted the bat again and smashed it down. Bang! Another computer went to pieces, and the adjacent glass door shattered in response. She crouched down, rested the bat on her shoulder, and retied her loose shoelaces. Lifting her head, her eyes fierce behind her glasses, she said, ¡°Do you know who I am? Is there anywhere I wouldn¡¯t dare go?¡± She put her hoodie over her cap and stood up, weighing the baseball bat in her hand. ¡°I don¡¯t pull all-nighters. I need to get back quickly, so let¡¯s speed this up. All of you, come at once.¡± Such audacity. Ah Win clapped his hands. His tattooed muscles bulged with eagerness. He loudly declared, ¡°Boys, let¡¯s give our honored guest a proper welcome.¡± As his words fell, a dozen robust men advanced toward Zhou Xufang. Her expression unchanging, she tossed the baseball bat high, leapt to catch it, and prepared to strike fiercely. Chapter 139: 139: Jiang Zhi makes a move, the sick youngster loses his vest (first update) Chapter 139: 139: Jiang Zhi makes a move, the sick youngster loses his vest (first update) 9:23. Shuangjiang received an email, which she thought was a hiring contract, but it wasn¡¯t. It contained only two sentences: ¡°Tell me Zhou Xufang¡¯s location.¡± ¡°I am Jiang Zhi.¡± After reading it, she was thinking when suddenly, the computer sounded an alert. ¡°Beep¡ªbeep¡ªbeep¡ª¡± ... Damn! She had been caught! With no time for wrapping things up, she promptly notified Zhou Xufang, ¡°Xu Fang, I¡¯ve been exposed. We need to move immediately.¡± Zhou Xufang quickly replied, ¡°I¡¯m alright here, you get out of there fast.¡± She was worried about Zhou Xufang and hesitated for a long time before finally sending the location to Jiang Zhi, ¡°Help her find backup, someone who can fight.¡± After leaving the message, she backed up the data in the computer. Once done, she started the destruction program, which would take at least half an hour. S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Near Jingming Road, a gray Bentley had been parked for a few minutes. Inside the car, Ah Wan still hadn¡¯t figured out what was happening, and the atmosphere was a bit weird. He didn¡¯t dare ask and just silently played the role of a competent driver. Jiang Zhi checked the coordinates on her phone, ¡°Get out of the car.¡± Ah Wan, puzzled, ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°Get out.¡± Jiang Zhi got out of the car without delay, opened the driver¡¯s door, and urged impatiently and aggressively, ¡°Hurry up!¡± Ah Wan got out of the car, bewildered, ¡°Where are you going alone?¡± Jiang Zhi pressed the gas pedal and left. Ah Wan, swallowing the exhaust, ¡°¡­ Something is very wrong here.¡± A few steps away, a police car stopped. Inside were six computers and three people. ¡°Captain Qiao, we¡¯ve located Shuangjiang.¡± Lu Ning highlighted the address, ¡°It¡¯s very close.¡± Thanks to FOR¡¯s interference, they had split Shuangjiang¡¯s attention, giving the Criminal Intelligence Department the chance to strike and capture her. Qiao Nanchu stood outside the car, glancing at the address. Jiajing Garden¡­ Lu Ning asked for instructions, ¡°Should we notify the Criminal Investigation Team?¡± ¡°No need.¡± Qiao Nanchu picked two who were somewhat capable, ¡°Yao An, Xiao Dong, you¡¯re coming with me.¡± 9:35. At FOR¡¯s headquarters, quite a few people were already lying on the ground. Zhou Xufang was stepping on a man¡¯s stomach, ¡°Do you want to keep fighting?¡± She looked up at the group three meters away, ¡°Everyone¡¯s injured, this place will have to close tomorrow.¡± The man under her foot struggled continuously, trying a side kick, but she struck his shin with a stick, causing him to howl a few times before staying still. Ah Win looked at the people lying on the ground, wiped his lips with his fingertip, and smiled, ¡°Only striking the legs, not taking lives, is that your rule?¡± This was also a weakness of the professional errand runner Z. In this line of work, caring about human lives, how could one let loose. Zhou Xufang kicked the man beneath her away, slung the baseball bat over her shoulder, and knocked down a dozen people in one breath, not even out of breath, ¡°Striking legs can also bring you down.¡± A girl is still a girl, not suited for this brutal scene. Ah Win suddenly felt an impulse, wanting to yank off her mask to see what kind of girl she was, who could get him so excited. ¡°There are over sixty people here. I want to see if we¡¯re knocked down first, or if you tire out first.¡± He walked to the table, picked up a golf club, rolled up his shirt sleeves, his eyes gleaming with anticipation, ¡°I never hit women, but you¡¯re the first.¡± Having said that, he raised his golf club and attacked Zhou Xufang, swinging fiercely towards her face. Just as it was about to connect, she shifted sideways with ease, dodging effortlessly. The club swung through the air and smashed into the wall, denting it. Zhou Xufang glanced at it and objectively commented, ¡°Good strength, but too slow.¡± Truly the best in the industry, no mere display. Ah Win, holding the golf club in one hand, leaped forward, swinging to the left targeting Zhou Xufang¡¯s right shoulder. She bent down, evaded swiftly, and moved behind him, the glass shattered by the golf club. Such quick speed! Ah Win moved his neck, exhaled a long breath, gripped the golf club with both hands, quickly rearranged his position to just within a club¡¯s length to her, and raised the club for an upward strike at her chin. This time, she didn¡¯t dodge. She stretched out one hand to catch the head of the golf club effortlessly. With full force behind his swing, it could have shattered her hand bones, yet she fearlessly intercepted it with her fingers. Snap. A soft sound, and she held the club head. Ah Win paused, then pulled hard, but found the club immobile in her grasp. She wore glasses, slightly turned her body, and could only see her thick eyelashes flicker, ¡°I won¡¯t tire out because I haven¡¯t even exerted any effort.¡± With that, she pinched the club head and snapped it easily. The cue stick suddenly snapped, causing Ah Win to lose balance and stagger backwards two steps, but he quickly stabilized himself and stretched out his left foot to attack her left calf. Zhou Xufang made a small turn, lifted her foot, and stepped on his leg; he tried to pull his foot back but couldn¡¯t budge it. Zhou Xufang found it boring and, with a kick of her toe, sent him flying into the wall; the impact numbed all the muscles in his back, and he sat on the ground, unable to get up for a while. From beginning to end, he hadn¡¯t even touched the hem of her clothes. ¡°Your boss has already been taken down,¡± she asked, calm and collected, ¡°who¡¯s next?¡± The room full of burly men looked at each other, none of them stepping forward. Cowards! Ah Win, leaning on the wall to stand up, shouted hoarsely, ¡°All of you, attack together!¡± No sooner had he spoken than dozens of men swarmed and surrounded Zhou Xufang. She was entangled and couldn¡¯t escape for the moment. The sound of iron bars hitting was drowned out by screams; computers and desks were smashed to pieces, leaving the office a complete mess. The number of men falling increased, and their moans were incessant. Ah Win stood at the door, watching for a long time, then drew a tranquilizer gun from his jacket pocket, aimed, and moved his finger to the trigger. Suddenly, a hand reached out from behind, fair and distinct, pinching the tip of the gun. ¡°I hate sneak attacks the most.¡± The hand moved up, grabbed Ah Win¡¯s wrist, twisted forcefully, and the sounds of a cry and a dislocated bone came almost simultaneously. An arm was dislocated. Ah Win¡¯s body was half numb with pain; he turned around and saw a man standing with his arms crossed, dressed in black, wearing a cap and a mask, his peach blossom eyes drunken yet pure, partly inhibited, partly desirous. He adjusted his cap and said, ¡°Lord Black Impermanence, I am here.¡± Zhou Xufang turned around when she heard the voice. Jiang Zhi. It was Jiang Zhi who had come. Her usually calm eyes suddenly turned stormy; she kicked away the man grappling with her and quickly moved to Jiang Zhi¡¯s side, instinctively pushing him behind her, ¡°What are you doing here!¡± Initially, she was just playing around, nonchalantly fighting, but the moment Jiang Zhi arrived, her entire nervous system tensed up; she scanned the area, ready for battle, keeping an eye on the approaching enemies, not looking back, she tugged at Jiang Zhi¡¯s clothes and said, ¡°Hurry up and leave.¡± She quickly turned her head and shouted, ¡°Hurry up!¡± She had never been so harsh to Jiang Zhi before. At that moment, she was like a fiercely attacking little leopardess. Her mouth was covered by the mask, yet a smile escaped from the corners of Jiang Zhi¡¯s eyes; he stood close behind her, leaning down, his chin on her shoulder, whispering, ¡°I came to protect you.¡± Zhou Xufang grew anxious, gripping her baseball bat tightly; as she guarded against the approaching enemies, she urged Jiang Zhi in a low voice, ¡°I don¡¯t need protection, just go.¡± The people behind didn¡¯t move. She reached out, poked his abdomen, trying to push him away, ¡°Can you please leave? Hmm?¡± Her palms were slightly sweaty from nervousness, one hand gripping the baseball bat, the other open in front of Jiang Zhi, as if shielding him. Like a mother leopard protecting her cub. Jiang Zhi raised his hand, took hold of her open hand, stood beside her, shoulder to shoulder; his voice was low, only audible to her. He said, ¡°Fang Bao, don¡¯t panic, your Lord White Impermanence is here.¡± Zhou Xufang turned around, ¡°Your body¡ª¡± Before she could finish, someone took advantage of her distraction and swung a bat at her. Jiang Zhi pulled her back, dodged the blow, then instantly pushed her behind him, picked up the broken golf club, leaped up, hooked his ankle around a man¡¯s leg, threw him to the ground, and as the man tried to get up, he reversed the club, knelt down, and thrust the sharp end into the man¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Ah!¡± Blood splattered, staining the white wall red. Jiang Zhi, holding the club, yanked it forcefully out from the flesh; his fair, slender fingers were now stained with blood. He stepped on the bleeding man¡¯s shoulder, casually wiping his hand on the man¡¯s clothes, lifted his eyelids, his peach blossom eyes no longer seductive but filled with menace, ¡°I¡¯m different, I won¡¯t just cripple your legs, I will take your lives.¡± Zhou Xufang wouldn¡¯t hurt anyone¡¯s life. He would. Nine forty-three. Jiajing Garden. All the streetlights were on; at this hour, there were few pedestrians, the neighborhood was serene, undisturbed. Qiao Nanchu left his two colleagues at the entrance, ¡°I¡¯ll go up, keep the exit covered, don¡¯t let anyone out.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± Qiao Nanchu didn¡¯t even put out his cigarette, just went upstairs with it in his mouth. Li Xiaodong was a bit worried, ¡°Can Captain Qiao handle it alone?¡± He was new to the Criminal Intelligence Department and didn¡¯t know the full story of Qiao Nanchu, but Yao An, an old hand at the department, certainly did, ¡°Captain Qiao was the sanda champion for four consecutive years back in police academy.¡± Damn! He had thought the gentlemen from influential families were just for show, but it turned out he had iron fists. ¡°He¡¯s got the goods,¡± Li Xiaodong was puzzled, ¡°why choose the Intelligence Department?¡± The Intelligence Department was essentially a clerical department of the police force; with such combat skills, it was a pity not to be on the frontline. Of course, there was a reason, and the reason was¡ª ¡°Captain Qiao, the senior himself said, he doesn¡¯t like all the fighting and killing, only barbarians resort to fists.¡± Chapter 140: 140: Did Ah Fang and Shuangjiang both fall off the horse? (Second update Chapter 140: 140: Did Ah Fang and Shuangjiang both fall off the horse? (Second update Jiajing Garden 403. That SpongeBob¡¯s lair. Qiao Nanchu stubbed out his cigarette, threw it in the trash can, the doorman handed him a key, which he inserted into the keyhole and gently twisted¡ª Ring ring ring ring ring! The fire alarm suddenly sounded. He stopped what he was doing and glanced in the corridor; the alarm continued to sound, and there was a growing commotion in the stairwell, but just at this moment¡­ ... He withdrew his hand, turned around, and ran towards the stairs. Jiajing Garden 303 lived Wen Baiyang. He ran to the third floor, saw her door was closed. He first sent a text message, but with no reply in half a minute, he could wait no longer. He grabbed a fire extinguisher, smashed at the door, and after a few hits, it opened. The door was flimsy; it was time for a replacement. He kicked the door open, and Wen Baiyang had just stepped out of the bathroom. Seeing him, her toothbrush fell to the floor. She wiped the toothpaste foam from her lips and called out with her lips, ¡°Brother Chu.¡± She was still in her pajamas, the bear-design kind. Qiao Nanchu awkwardly turned his gaze away, took the jacket from the couch, and wrapped it around her: ¡°Come with me first.¡± Using sign language, she asked, ¡°What¡¯s happening?¡± ¡°The alarm sounded.¡± She couldn¡¯t hear it. The fire alarm, she couldn¡¯t hear it. So, without confirming whether the situation was real, he instinctively smashed her door in and took her out. Then, Li Xiaodong saw his captain leading a girl downstairs. Such a dramatic scene, Li Xiaodong couldn¡¯t help but sneak a look at the girl: ¡°Captain Qiao, this¡­¡± What¡¯s the situation? Qiao Nanchu didn¡¯t explain and directly asked Yao An, ¡°What¡¯s going on with the alarm?¡± Yao An replied, ¡°The security has already checked it out.¡± ¡°What about downstairs?¡± ¡°Residents of the community are all here, nothing out of the ordinary.¡± Because of the fire alarm, people from the community had all come downstairs. Qiao Nanchu had instructed the doorman to lock the exit doors; the residents were all gathered on the open ground below, making a racket. Qiao Nanchu zipped up Wen Baiyang¡¯s jacket: ¡°Wait here for me, okay?¡± She nodded. He settled her in a safe place and went back upstairs. Li Xiaodong and Yao An each guarded an exit, security was watching on the outer perimeter. Li Xiaodong observed the scene but didn¡¯t forget to gossip, ¡°Young lady, what is your family name?¡± Wen Baiyang pointed at her throat, shaking her head. Can¡¯t speak? The girlfriend Vice Captain Xing talked about! Li Xiaodong felt he might have stumbled upon some incredible scandal. A quarter of an hour later, Qiao Nanchu came back down, and the alarm had stopped. Yao An approached, ¡°How is it, Captain Qiao?¡± He shrugged, ¡°The person ran away.¡± Li Xiaodong also moved closer to ask, ¡°Was it Shuangjiang¡¯s hideout?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°Is the computer data still there?¡± ¡°Too late, it¡¯s all been destroyed.¡± Wen Baiyang¡¯s clenched hands relaxed, she turned her back and took a deep breath of relief. ¡°The fire alarm was a false one, definitely a deliberate act by Shuangjiang to escape,¡± Li Xiaodong snorted with a touch of frustration, ¡°Too cunning, slipped through our fingers again.¡± Qiao Nanchu was much more composed, twirling a strawberry hairband meant for girls on his finger, ¡°Not a total loss, at least, we¡¯ve confirmed her gender.¡± The Criminal Intelligence Department¡¯s top target, the renowned hacker Shuangjiang, turned out to be a woman. Nine fifty-eight. FOR headquarters. People were strewn all over the ground in various states¡­ well, quite severely. Jiang Zhi held a golf club in his hand, now half covered with blood. He propped it on the ground, tapped it, blood dripped, ¡°Don¡¯t try to get up again, or I won¡¯t guarantee you can still be healed.¡± FOR¡¯s brothers, injured or not, handicapped or whole, standing or lying, all stood still, daring not move forward. Z doesn¡¯t hurt people, it¡¯s all petty fights. But this man was fierce, every move as if he intended to kill. Over sixty brothers were too cautious to proceed recklessly. With the situation looking grim, Ah Win shouted loudly, ¡°What are you waiting for! Name your price for anyone who can take these two down!¡± With a high reward, of course, there were those who were not afraid of death. Many began to stir, tentatively stepping forward, some with electric batons, others with daggers; they were really going for broke. Zhou Xufang was worried Jiang Zhi wouldn¡¯t last, pushing him, ¡°You go first.¡± Jiang Zhi was different, his body merely mortal and, no matter how skilled at fighting, his stamina had limits. Jiang Zhi kept his eyes forward, ¡°Don¡¯t get distracted.¡± She turned to look at him, her expression fierce, and yelled, ¡°You go first!¡± Jiang Zhi twisted her face back around, smearing her face mask with the blood on his hands, ¡°Don¡¯t look at me, watch the knife!¡± Zhou Xufang was, in fact, observing him, her eyes urgently reddening, ¡°How can I not watch when you¡¯re here!¡± While he was there, she simply couldn¡¯t concentrate on fighting the enemy wholeheartedly, scared someone would hit him, scared someone would ambush him, scared he would be caught off guard, scared he would become exhausted, scared someone would approach him from behind. She could not care less about herself. Just then, as she was distracted by glancing at Jiang Zhi, suddenly a dagger thrust towards her. Jiang Zhi could no longer focus on the people in front of him and reached out to pull her back. As his hand stretched out, a dagger came thrusting at him. He first pushed her away, then retracted his hand, a bit too late. The blade of the dagger grazed his arm, ripped through his clothes, and cut him. The wound was shallow, the blood seepage not severe, but it still wet his clothes. Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t care much, ¡°It¡¯s fine, just a scratch.¡± How could it be fine? He was bleeding. Zhou Xufang¡¯s eyes immediately reddened. She shoved Jiang Zhi aside and in the blink of an eye, she was upon the man with the knife, moving so fast it was dizzying. The man hadn¡¯t even seen how she got there. Caught off guard, he was disarmed, and when he looked up, he saw a pair of blood-red eyes. ¡°You¡ª¡± Zhou Xufang raised the knife in her hand and thrust it fiercely toward the man¡¯s heart. Jiang Zhi immediately caught her hand, nearly unable to grasp it, letting the dagger slide down several notches. It had already broken the skin of the man¡¯s chest, and he urgently shouted, ¡°You can¡¯t!¡± Zhou Xufang was pressing the man against a pillar with her left hand, while the dagger in her right hand slowly pierced deeper, ¡°He hurt you.¡± She wanted revenge. She wanted to kill this man. Jiang Zhi grabbed her hand too tightly, causing his wound to tear open a bit more, and blood dripped onto the back of her hand. His voice was resonant in her ear, ¡°You can¡¯t.¡± Her hands couldn¡¯t be stained with a life. Absolutely not. Zhou Xufang lifted her head to look at him, her glasses having fallen off at some point. Her eyes were a deep red, the color of blood. She was born with a beautiful pair of phoenix eyes, but when angry, they would turn red, making her look like a Monster. As a result, she never looked directly at others, never raised her head, always hiding her eyes. Jiang Zhi was frozen, staring straight into her eyes. Her eyelashes trembled, she panicked, her grip loosened, and she stepped back. Just after two steps, her hand was caught, and then her vision was blocked. It was Jiang Zhi. He suddenly reached out, pulled down her cap, covered her eyes, and then pulled her behind him. He ditched the iron bar in his hand, which conveniently struck the chandelier, plunging the room into darkness. He hugged her waist and hid her behind a pillar, whispering in her ear, ¡°Fang Bao, hide here, don¡¯t open your eyes.¡± Without any light, she couldn¡¯t see him, only hear his voice, and he still called her Fang Bao. She felt a heat in her eyes and closed them. To catch the bandits, you must catch their leader first. Using the faint moonlight from outside the window, Jiang Zhi snatched a dagger from the chaotic crowd, kicked away two men, and firmly grasped Ah Win, twisting his arm behind and pressing him down, ¡°Anyone who comes closer, I¡¯ll kill him.¡± Ah Win had a dislocated arm and couldn¡¯t move. In the shadows, everyone came to a stop. Jiang Zhi pinned down Ah Win, the tip of the dagger resting on his throat, and spoke with suppressed intensity, ¡°Hand over the one surnamed Zhang.¡± He knew what Zhou Xufang wanted to do, and he would do it for her. Ah Win, covered in sweat from multiple fractures and in immense pain, remained silent. He was a tough nut to crack. Jiang Zhi wasn¡¯t in a hurry, patting Ah Win¡¯s face with the flat of the blade and stating, ¡°I¡¯ll count to three, and if you don¡¯t speak, this dagger goes in.¡± Without waiting, he began counting, ¡°One.¡± Ah Win clenched his fist but made no sound. Jiang Zhi said, ¡°Two.¡± He gritted his teeth, still not making a peep. ¡°Three.¡± S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Almost simultaneously, Jiang Zhi lifted the dagger, plunging the tip forcefully into Ah Win¡¯s shoulder. That elicited a sound from him, ¡°Ah!¡± ¡°So you need a stab to make any noise, huh,¡± stated Jiang Zhi calmly, withdrawing the knife and hearing another agonized scream from Ah Win. His peach blossom eyes clouded with a misty hue, a thin layer of ice-cold determination formed, ¡°You think I¡¯m joking with you? If you don¡¯t speak, I¡¯ll really kill you.¡± Ah Win¡¯s face turned completely pale, the scar on his forehead twitching, and big beads of sweat rolled down his cheeks. He had never seen someone so fierce before. Jiang Zhi tapped Ah Win¡¯s face with the bloodied knife, dragging it out languidly, ¡°Counting to three again, this time aiming for the heart.¡± He started counting, ¡°One.¡± Ah Win¡¯s eyelids twitched. ¡°Two.¡± Jiang Zhi grew impatient, not pausing as he counted, ¡°Three.¡± As soon as he said ¡°three,¡± his hand raised the dagger high, aiming straight for the heart¡ª Ah Win shouted, ¡°The cabinet!¡± The knife-wielding hand paused, and he gasped for air, drenched in sweat, ¡°Behind the cabinet!¡± The man was a lunatic. ¡°That¡¯s better,¡± Jiang Zhi curved the corners of his eyes, grabbed Ah Win by the collar, pulling him to his feet, then letting go, he kicked his legs, ¡°Go open it.¡± Ah Win, clutching the wound on his shoulder, complied and opened the secret door in the cabinet. As soon as the door opened, a woman walked out. Light flooded from inside. She wore apricot-colored high heels and a white women¡¯s suit, with almond-shaped eyes and cherry lips, her long hair reaching her waist. Jiang Zhi gave her one look, ¡°It¡¯s you causing trouble?¡± Chapter 141: 141: Three Kills All Victorious, Ah Fang Confesses Superpower (First Update Chapter 141: 141: Three Kills All Victorious, Ah Fang Confesses Superpower (First Update Jiang Zhi shot her a glance, ¡°Is it you causing trouble?¡± It was a face he had never seen before. At that moment, the police sirens sounded from below. Zhou Xufang made a quick decision, kicking Ah Win out of the door and shutting it. The room inside wasn¡¯t big, but it had a window through which she shattered the glass with a baseball bat, then she took a rope out of her backpack and tied up the silent woman. This woman appeared to be seasoned; she didn¡¯t speak from start to finish, her expression unchanged. ... Zhou Xufang tied her up and threw her onto the rooftop of the adjacent building, securing one end of the rope in her hand. After setting everything up, she pulled Jiang Zhi towards the window. ¡°I¡¯m taking you flying, are you scared?¡± Jiang Zhi shook his head, ¡°Not scared. If I die, I¡¯ll just be ghost lovebirds with you.¡± ¡°I won¡¯t let you become a ghost.¡± She reached out, her arm encircling Jiang Zhi¡¯s waist. ¡°Hold on tight.¡± He held on tight to her. They both leapt out of the window. Source: , updated on ?0¦Í?0.§ã¦Ï Jiajing Garden. It was already 10 p.m. After the fire alarm was canceled, the residents of the community dispersed, and Li Xiaodong had emptied his archrival¡¯s den, not even sparing a data cable. Yao An was taking statements from the landlord of that apartment. The landlord was a local with four flats in the community, living off the rents; his background was all checked and there was nothing suspicious. ¡°I negotiated the rental contract online, and after finalizing it, they asked me to leave the keys under the doormat at the entrance. We never met face to face,¡± said the landlord. ¡°I didn¡¯t even know who was living in there.¡± The signature and ID number on the rental contract were fake; easy feats for an expert hacker. Yao An asked, ¡°How long was the lease?¡± ¡°This is the eighth month.¡± ¡°And you haven¡¯t seen them once in eight months?¡± The landlord shook his head, explaining, ¡°That was the tenant¡¯s request; no one was allowed randomly in. I found it odd initially, but the rent was quite high so I¡­¡± He was blinded by money. ¡°Did you communicate over the phone?¡± ¡°No, we only ever texted.¡± ¡°Give me the number.¡± The landlord provided Yao An with the number. Yao An turned and inquired to the security personnel of the community, ¡°Is there surveillance in the community?¡± The security replied, ¡°The surveillance system breaks down every few days; the property management tried fixing it several times to no avail, and eventually they just stopped trying.¡± That figures, the surveillance could never be fixed; Shuangjiang¡¯s hands, give her a computer, she could cripple an entire city¡¯s internet. After concluding the statement, Yao An was about to report to his captain when Li Xiaodong pulled him aside, ¡°Why the rush? Captain Qiao is wooing his girl; why bring up work now?¡± The ¡®wooing his girl¡¯ Qiao Nanchu called the girl aside, ¡°Has the locksmith arrived?¡± Wen Baiyang shook his head, signalling with her hands, ¡°It¡¯s too late, they¡¯ll only come tomorrow.¡± He was responsible for breaking that lock. So, he was responsible. ¡°Go upstairs and pack, you¡¯re staying at my place tonight.¡± Without thinking, she refused, ¡°I can stay at a hotel.¡± Qiao Nanchu frowned, ¡°Hotels aren¡¯t safe.¡± She had just come of age, and her staying in a hotel, what would people think? She was still explaining, ¡°It¡¯s safe.¡± Qiao Nanchu really wanted to just drag her away forcefully, but seeing her youthful appearance, he didn¡¯t want to scare her, so he was as patient as possible, ¡°Can¡¯t you stay at my place?¡± His hands in his pockets, he looked down at the girl who had grown up to his shoulder height, ¡°Haven¡¯t you stayed at my place plenty of times before?¡± When she first came to Imperial City at fourteen, he didn¡¯t feel secure about her staying alone. Whenever her nanny wasn¡¯t there, he¡¯d have her stay with him. And he couldn¡¯t remember from when, but she hadn¡¯t been to his place anymore. Occasionally she would bring him little dishes of chicken and eggs; forget staying over, she wouldn¡¯t even step inside the door anymore. And also¡­ How long had it been since she¡¯d allowed him to attend a parent-teacher meeting for her?! She indicated with her hands, ¡°I¡¯m of age now.¡± Her hands were beautiful, small and very fair, always slow and gentle when she used sign language. Qiao Nanchu prodded his cheekbone, watching her, smiling, ¡°Yes, you¡¯re of age now, and not listening anymore.¡± He was a bit angry. It was ridiculous, he, debating with a young girl. Seeing him annoyed, she immediately stood up straight, ¡°I¡¯ll listen.¡± A girl not easily intimidated, yet claiming she was of age, he put the hood of her jacket on her, ¡°Go upstairs and pack.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Wen Baiyang obediently went up to pack. Qiao Nanchu smirked, amused. Li Xiaodong found his captain¡¯s smile quite cheeky, winking playfully, ¡°Captain, your little girlfriend, huh?¡± Qiao Nanchu, ¡°Scram.¡± Li Xiaodong chuckled as he scampered off. Treasuring her so much, if she wasn¡¯t his girlfriend he¡¯d write his name backwards! The phone rang; it was Captain Xiao from the Drug Enforcement Team. Qiao Nanchu stood under the streetlamp in the complex, his shadow trailing behind, lazy and casual, his eyes on the staircase as he picked up the call nonchalantly, ¡°Hello?¡± ¡°Just now, don¡¯t know who it was, but someone dumped a body at the entrance of the Drug Enforcement Team.¡± Captain Xiao sounded quite excited. Qiao Nanchu continued watching his staircase, ¡°And then?¡± And Captain Xiao got even more excited, ¡°That package we¡¯ve been sweeping all night also came with it.¡± So, that was both the person and the goods, delivered straight to the Drug Enforcement Team. Qiao Nanchu laughed, ¡°Isn¡¯t that perfect, a big help to you.¡± ¡°It did help, just didn¡¯t leave a name.¡± Captain Xiao roped him in as an advisor for this police ¡®wisdom tree¡¯, ¡°Who do you think it was?¡± He deadpanned, ¡°Could it be the justice-promoting Powerpuff Girls?¡± Captain Xiao, ¡°¡­¡± He continued with the nonsense, ¡°Or perhaps the upright and righteous Lord Ghost.¡± Captain Xiao, ¡°¡­¡± ¡°And let¡¯s talk about the ¡®punish evil and promote good,¡¯ Lord Ghost, the Powerpuff Girls.¡± She had interrogated the woman surnamed Zhang, but she couldn¡¯t get anything out of her. Even when the dagger reached her throat, the woman kept quiet, not even blinking. After sending the woman to the police station, she bought a bunch of medicine from a store and sat Jiang Zhi down on a chair by the riverbank, skillfully tending to his wound. ¡°Does it hurt?¡± The cotton swab was a bit rough as she squeezed ointment onto her hand and applied it with her fingertips. The wound wasn¡¯t deep and had already formed a scab. Jiang Zhi shook his head, saying it didn¡¯t hurt. ¡°How can it not hurt with such a long cut?¡± She looked up, and he was watching her. ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± ¡°Mm.¡± He suddenly reached out to touch her eyes. She instinctively pulled back, her gaze darting away, ¡°You saw it, didn¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Mm, red.¡± Jiang Zhi was staring into her eyes. She stopped dodging, locking eyes with him; her lovely phoenix eyes trembled with unease, ¡°Then, are you afraid of me?¡± Jiang Zhi asked, ¡°Do you eat people?¡± She shook her head. She didn¡¯t eat people; she even ate her steak well-done. ¡°If you ate people, I could let you bite me,¡± Jiang Zhi pulled out gauze from the bag and handed it to her, extending his arm for her to wrap, ¡°I¡¯m even prepared for that, do you think I would be afraid?¡± Her eyes were sore, and she said nothing, solemnly wrapping his arm. ¡°Zhou Xufang,¡± Jiang Zhi removed the cap from her head, lifting her face, ¡°Tell me everything, okay?¡± She hesitated for a long while, then agreed. ¡°Do you still remember the first time we met?¡± Jiang Zhi nodded, ¡°You jumped into the sea.¡± At that time, he thought she was ready to die. Zhou Xufang finished wrapping the bandage and tied a bow, ¡°I can breathe in water. In the water, my eyes turn red, and when I¡¯m angry, they change color too.¡± She was a dual human, the only one among humans. Even though Jiang Zhi had mentally prepared for this, he was still shocked, reaching out again to touch her eye, ¡°Like just now?¡± ¡°Mm, like just now.¡± Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t dodge; her eyelids fluttered twice under his touch, ¡°I¡¯m also not afraid of the cold; my body temperature is only about twenty degrees.¡± That¡¯s why her body was always cold. ¡°I can¡¯t eat eggs; eating eggs makes me react like you normal people do when you drink alcohol.¡± Jiang Zhi remembered, ¡°So that time at the porridge place, you got drunk from eating eggs?¡± Zhou Xufang nodded, continuing, ¡°I can jump very high, run very fast, and am much stronger than an average person, probably by more than thirty times. My vision and hearing are also particularly good.¡± What else? She took a dagger from her pocket and extended her other hand. ¡°What are you doing?¡± Jiang Zhi reached out to grab her hand. He missed, and she lightly slashed the back of her hand with a dagger; blood immediately surfaced. ¡°Have you seen vampire TV dramas?¡± Then she extended her hand in front of Jiang Zhi¡¯s eyes, ¡°My body¡¯s self-healing and regeneration speed is eighty-four times that of a normal human, a recovery speed visible to the naked eye.¡± Jiang Zhi watched the back of her hand as the wound quickly stopped bleeding and then began to scab over. It healed so rapidly he could even see the dynamic changes. ¡°It won¡¯t even take a day for this wound to leave no trace.¡± ¡°And the pain?¡± Jiang Zhi reached out, not touching the wound, but gently rubbing the skin around it. ¡°Does it hurt?¡± Zhou Xufang nodded, ¡°The faster it heals, the more it hurts.¡± Jiang Zhi frowned, took some disinfectant, and used a cotton swab to clean her wound. ¡°Then why do you cut yourself?¡± He squeezed some ointment left over from earlier onto his hand and smeared it over the wound on her hand. ¡°Is it congenital?¡± He was very calm, more calm than she had expected. A Dual Human, a creature in human skin but with bizarre self-healing abilities like a Red-eyed Monster, isn¡¯t that scary? Biology could no longer define her; perhaps, she wasn¡¯t human at all? She wiped the cold sweat from her palm onto her clothes. ¡°I don¡¯t know. My earliest memory is from a genetic laboratory when I was fourteen.¡± No, she shook her head, correcting herself, ¡°Maybe not, I can¡¯t be sure.¡± The gloom in Jiang Zhi¡¯s eyes seemed to deepen, ¡°What happened then?¡± She relayed it very lightly, in a single sentence, ¡°Then those experts made me very strong, and I beat them all down.¡± Jiang Zhi knew without asking how those experts had made her strong. Such human experimentation was common in foreign countries, using drugs, radiation, electric currents, or inducing cancer¡ªvarious innovative methods to treat people like lab rats. How many experiments had she endured to become as indestructible as she was today? Jiang Zhi wanted to ask but couldn¡¯t bring himself to do so. ¡°Jiang Zhi, I don¡¯t know if I was abnormal from the start or if I¡¯ll become even more abnormal later. I¡¯m not a little fairy, I¡¯m an anomaly, and perhaps, my offspring will be like me, anomalies as well, or maybe I won¡¯t be able to have offspring at all,¡± her eyes reddened, and her voice choked up as she looked at him, resisting tears, ¡°would you still want me?¡± S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. She had intended to wait until he loved her so much he couldn¡¯t live without her before telling him. She was afraid he wouldn¡¯t want her anymore. She knew that having her meant a future that wouldn¡¯t be tranquil or stable. The genes in her body, the ones that would astonish the entire field of genetic biology, were like a ticking time-bomb. She could never forget the moment her superpower emerged, the greed and ambition in that biologist¡¯s eyes. ¡°Of course, I do,¡± he said. He said it so casually, without a hint of hesitation, ¡°Even if you were a demon or ghost, aren¡¯t you still Zhou Xufang?¡± Her eyes blinked, tears she couldn¡¯t hold back fell. She didn¡¯t want to involve him, didn¡¯t want to drag him into trouble, but she couldn¡¯t bear it; she desperately wanted him, would exchange all she owned for him. ¡°Fang Bao.¡± Jiang Zhi reached out, touching her head: ¡°What do I need to do so you won¡¯t feel so insecure? Can¡¯t you see, I can¡¯t live without you, it doesn¡¯t matter if you¡¯re an anomaly or whatever, I accept it all.¡± He moved closer to her, cupped her face with both hands, and gently pecked the tears on her face. They tasted salty. Her tears were cold. She cried pitifully, and he didn¡¯t know how to console her, just held her and gently patted her back, patiently spoke to her: ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter if we can¡¯t have offspring; am I not infertile too, and you still want me, don¡¯t you?¡± He then said, ¡°If we do have a little anomaly, we¡¯ll just secretly raise them, not letting anyone know.¡± He asked, ¡°Sound good?¡± Zhou Xufang, her eyes red, nodded vigorously. ¡°I would love a little anomaly. As long as it¡¯s yours, I¡¯ll love it.¡± Even an egg, she¡¯d love it! Jiang Zhi was amused by her goofy words. ¡°And that laboratory?¡± Sniffling, she said, ¡°It was blown up.¡± Chapter 142: 142: Jiang Zhis Secret, Timely Period (Second Update Chapter 142: 142: Jiang Zhi¡¯s Secret, Timely Period (Second Update She sniffled, ¡°It was blown up.¡± He didn¡¯t ask further, afraid she might cry, and added, ¡°Besides me, who else knows about this?¡± ¡°Only Shuangjiang knows.¡± That Shuangjiang, whom Qiao Nanchu had mentioned, had an unclear identity. His nationality, background, and age were all unknown, and he was elusive and skillful, practically untraceable. ¡°Can she be trusted?¡± Zhou Xufang nodded, ¡°Mhm.¡± ... There was another crucial question Jiang Zhi posed to her, ¡°What about your weaknesses? Do you have any?¡± Exposing her genetic superpower would inevitably bring calamity. This seemingly peaceful world was, in reality, not tranquil at all. Greed and ambition could overpower thousands of forces, driven only to fight to the death without stopping. ¡°I do, I cannot¡ª¡± He covered her mouth, ¡°Don¡¯t tell me.¡± His tone was extremely serious as he cautioned her, ¡°Don¡¯t tell anyone, understand?¡± Zhou Xufang nodded, acknowledging she understood, with tears still glistening at the corners of her eyes. Jiang Zhi gently kissed her eyes, ¡°There, no more crying.¡± Mhm, she stopped crying, for she had a question to ask. ¡°What is going on with you?¡± Jiang Zhi was still pitying her, not yet recovered, ¡°Hmm?¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you supposed to be sickly?¡± She placed her hand on his waist and pinched, ¡°You have abs; you must be a martial artist.¡± ¡°¡­¡± He couldn¡¯t hide it anymore. Jiang Zhi confessed, ¡°Qiao Nanchu and I were taught by the same master. We both learned a bit.¡± S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Zhou Xufang, knowledgeable in the field, directly exposed him, ¡°It¡¯s not just a bit. You¡¯ve practiced for at least five years.¡± She grew serious, ¡°Jiang Zhi, are you also hiding something from me?¡± Jiang Zhi hesitated whether to tell her or not. Forget it, she was considerate and cherished him deeply, ¡°I won¡¯t ask anymore. Speak only if you wish.¡± She was so obedient. Jiang Zhi couldn¡¯t bear to deceive her anymore and confessed, ¡°Actually, my health has been good for a few years now.¡± Zhou Xufang was shocked, ¡°So you were pretending?¡± He was too convincing! Oh, Jiang Zhi could win an Oscar! ¡°Not entirely,¡± Jiang Zhi explained, amused by her flabbergasted expression, cute and naive, ¡°Before I met you, I kept taking medicine. Long-term use could create the illusion of organ failure. I only stopped taking it recently.¡± So, was he sick because of the medicine? Was he sick or not? More importantly, ¡°Did you stop taking the medication because of me?¡± Jiang Zhi nodded in affirmation, ¡°Mhm, the side effects of that medicine were too severe. Aren¡¯t we supposed to grow old together? I can¡¯t keep taking it haphazardly.¡± Zhou Xufang patted his head, praising his great work. She hesitated for a moment, ¡°May I ask why?¡± Why keep up the pretense of being ill? ¡°If I were well, those who wish me ill would find ways to bring me down,¡± he said calmly, as if discussing someone else¡¯s issues, ¡°When my illness was severe, I wasn¡¯t of age yet and lacked the means to fight back, so I had to take a less direct approach.¡± He simply lay down, refusing to get up. And once he started playing the role of a sickly person, it went on for many years. Zhou Xufang was a bit puzzled, ¡°What about your grandmother? Doesn¡¯t she care about you?¡± The Jiang Family had many unscrupulous members, but regardless, Old Lady Jiang was still the family matriarch. How could she allow others to harm Jiang Zhi? Rumors said that Jiang Zhi was Old Madam¡¯s heart and liver, yet both were left to suffer organ failure. Didn¡¯t she care? Jiang Zhi¡¯s eyes were cool, without much fluctuation as he said, ¡°I used to think so too. Doesn¡¯t she care about me? Doesn¡¯t she see the peculiarity of my illness? Isn¡¯t she going to save me? Or perhaps, she can¡¯t save me.¡± Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t quite understand. What was Old Madam¡¯s stance, exactly? ¡°My illness wasn¡¯t solely congenital. It was also caused by others, year after year.¡± Jiang Zhi laughed, finding it amusing, ¡°I was practically trained by the old lady herself. If I could reach this level of deception, wouldn¡¯t she be capable of the same? She¡¯s been in control of the Jiang Family for nearly fifty years. Couldn¡¯t she protect her most beloved grandson?¡± Out of everyone in the Jiang Family, the one he couldn¡¯t see through the most was this elder lady. She indeed loved him genuinely, but she didn¡¯t manage to protect him. ¡°So, I no longer trust her.¡± At least, he had to take his life into his own hands now. Zhou Xufang, who initially quite liked that pampering old lady, now felt differently. She nodded in agreement, ¡°Yeah, no longer trust her.¡± She assured, ¡°If she can¡¯t protect you, I will.¡± In this world, no one would care for Jiang Zhi more than Zhou Xufang. No one could. He embraced her in his arms. ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± ¡°Mhm.¡± Zhou Xufang leaned on his shoulder, playing with his hair, ¡°Were you pretending to be sick all along?¡± ¡°¡­¡± Jiang Zhi¡¯s survival instinct was strong. He immediately coughed twice, ¡°My health is still poor. I just happen to be more resilient. The chaotic medications I¡¯ve taken before don¡¯t just recover quickly.¡± He coughed again, ¡°I¡¯m still very frail.¡± All right then. She believed him, he was very frail, ¡°What about being infertile? Is that also false?¡± Why did the conversation suddenly move to infertility? Jiang Zhi was silent for a few seconds, ¡°¡­That part is true.¡± Zhou Xufang roughly understood and patted his shoulder, speaking earnestly, ¡°Then you shouldn¡¯t feel inferior.¡± Jiang Zhi, who had never felt inferior before, was speechless. Just then, the phone rang. Infertile Jiang Zhi¡¯s tone couldn¡¯t possibly be any good, ¡°What is it?¡± It was Xue Baoyi on the line, ¡°I¡¯m coming over to sleep at your place tonight.¡± Jiang Zhi coldly refused, ¡°No.¡± In a voice of utter despair, Xue Baoyi changed tactics, ¡°I took four girls swimming, and now my dad found out and is chasing me to kill me.¡± He was 25, yet his father could still whip him so hard he¡¯d howl. It wasn¡¯t play-fighting; it was a beating to death¡¯s door. Xue Baoyi sometimes wondered if he was someone else¡¯s child given away at birth, just looking similar by coincidence. Jiang Zhi remained cold, ¡°Go to a hotel.¡± Xue Baoyi tried to play the sympathy card again, ¡°My credit with my dad is too low; if I go to a hotel, he¡¯ll think I¡¯m not going to sleep but to mess around.¡± Jiang Zhi replied, ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to mess around?¡± Xue Baoyi was silent. Scoundrel! Jiang Zhi was too lazy to waste words, ¡°Zhou Xufang is with me; it¡¯s not convenient for you to come.¡± Xue Baoyi huffed, bitter and resentful, ¡°Brother Zhi, ever since you got a girlfriend, you don¡¯t care about your buddies anymore. Have you forgotten we still have a lot of CP fans?¡± Jiang Zhi just hung up the phone. Xue Baoyi was speechless. This isn¡¯t human! He called someone else, ¡°Nanchu, I need to sleep over at your place.¡± Qiao Nanchu firmly refused, ¡°No.¡± Xue Baoyi felt a chill, ¡°Why?¡± ¡°No reason.¡± Lying to ghosts. After all, Mr. Xue had been around on the romantic fields, ¡°Hiding a woman, right?¡± Let Mr. Xue guess, ¡°Is it your foster child bride or an ex-girlfriend?¡± Qiao Nanchu, lazily annoyed, responded, ¡°What foster child bride? Watch your words.¡± He was too lazy to mention the ex-girlfriend. The foster child bride¡ªhis buddies weren¡¯t allowed to talk about her. If nothing was going on, Mr. Xue would eat his mahjong set! Let him analyze, ¡°A man keeping a girl only has three possibilities.¡± One, ¡°Rich and kind-hearted.¡± Two, ¡°Raising a daughter.¡± Three, ¡°Keeping a wife.¡± The more Xue Baoyi analyzed, the more he felt there was a big issue, ¡°What kind of person are you? I should know better! You don¡¯t have a shred of kindness. Kindness? Ha, how many of them have that? Also, ¡°When you were dating Zhang Zixi, you had her do the laundry and cook for that girl, acting as a nanny. Back then, I really believed your crap, thought you genuinely wanted to be a dad, huh, I think you¡¯ve always had ulterior motives.¡± Ever since he brought that girl out of Da Mai Mountain five years ago, he had arranged everything from housing to school, and always attended parent-teacher meetings himself. Publicly, he said she was his sister. But have you ever seen anyone buying intimate apparel for his sister? Qiao Nanchu asked, ¡°Are you done?¡± Xue Baoyi humphed. ¡°Hanging up.¡± Qiao Nanchu hung up directly. Xue Baoyi was speechless. Just like Jiang Zhi, not a person! He felt abandoned, alone in the world, and he called Xue Bingxue to complain, ¡°Uncle, Brother Zhi and Nanchu, those two ungrateful bastards left me¡ª¡± Xue Bingxue didn¡¯t listen to it all, ¡°Wei¡¯er went camping, I¡¯m going with him, no more talking.¡± Xue Baoyi was speechless. This damn person! Just as he was agitated and wanting to raise hell, a WeChat message pinged. I¡¯m Your Ancestor, ¡°Son, game of ¡®Chicken¡¯?¡± A lifetime of handsomeness, ¡°Take me along.¡± I¡¯m Your Ancestor, ¡°Alright, hide behind me, I¡¯ll lead you to rule the battlefield.¡± In that moment, Xue Baoyi actually felt warmth. Meanwhile, Qiao Nanchu hung up Xue Baoyi¡¯s call, checked the time, it was nearly eleven o¡¯clock, and he sent a message, ¡°Why aren¡¯t you out yet?¡± She had been in the bathroom for over an hour now. She didn¡¯t respond, so he sent another, ¡°Did you pass out?¡± Still no response. Qiao Nanchu, ¡°Answer me.¡± Qiao Nanchu, ¡°If you don¡¯t answer, I¡¯m breaking the door down.¡± He was just getting up when a message finally came. Wen Baiyang, ¡°My clothes got dirty.¡± Was she planning to spend the night in there if he didn¡¯t ask? Being a lady, one can¡¯t be blunt, Qiao Nanchu took his car keys, left her a message, and headed out, ¡°Stay in the room with the air conditioner on; I¡¯ll go buy you what you need.¡± When she hit puberty at fourteen, he was the one who bought her sanitary pads. He really did raise a daughter, and a single parent at that, playing both mom and dad. Chapter 143: 143: Sweet Memories, Behind the Scenes Emergence (First Update Chapter 143: 143: Sweet Memories, Behind the Scenes Emergence (First Update Qiao Nanchu¡¯s place had a special room for her, but ever since she became aware of the proprieties between men and women, she never stayed over again. The room still looked the same, with an old-fashioned phonograph on the balcony table and neatly stacked records beside it. He had once given her a portable music player. It seemed like he never minded whether she could hear it or not. He didn¡¯t deliberately avoid the subject, and he even learned sign language only to tell her after he had mastered it. He said he learned it casually. His phone vibrated in his pocket. Qiao Nanchu: ¡°I¡¯m outside the door.¡± She couldn¡¯t hear the knocking, so he always texted her. ... She replied, ¡°You can come in.¡± The door was unlocked, and Qiao Nanchu entered with a bag, ¡°Why are you standing?¡± She had been standing all this time, next to the sofa, her gaze shy and embarrassed, and she signed, ¡°Afraid I¡¯ll dirty the sofa.¡± Silly! ¡°If it gets dirty, we¡¯ll wash it.¡± He carried the black plastic bag over, tossed it on the sofa, ¡°Go freshen up first.¡± After setting things down, he went out again. Wen Baiyang looked at the contents of the bag, her face burning hot. He had bought quite a big bagful¡­ After she freshened up and came out, he was no longer in the living room; only the kitchen light was on. She went to turn off the light and saw a glass of milk on the dining table. It was warm. The first time she got her period, he seemed embarrassed too, awkwardly placed a sanitary pad down, slammed the door, and left. Then in the evening, he brought over a book on female physiology; he put the book down and didn¡¯t stay for a minute before leaving. She thought he had returned home, but when she got up in the middle of the night, she discovered he was still in the living room. He was playing ¡°Animal World¡± on the computer. Seeing her come out, he asked, ¡°Need something?¡± Back then, she didn¡¯t know lip reading, and he didn¡¯t know sign language. He closed ¡°Animal World¡± and wrote on the computer: ¡°Go lie down.¡± Another line read: ¡°Need anything?¡± She went to get a pen and paper: ¡°I want to drink water.¡± He got up to pour her some. ¡°Pain?¡± he pointed to her belly. She held her abdomen and nodded. He turned on the light to see her face clearly, which was deathly pale. Clueless about girl stuff, he bluntly said, ¡°Change your clothes, I¡¯ll take you to the hospital.¡± She shook her head. ¡°Then go back to your room, I¡¯ll go buy you medicine.¡± She still shook her head. He was young then, impatient and restless, he scribbled a few emotionally charged big characters: ¡°Then what do you want me to do?¡± Taking the pen, she wrote beside his flamboyant characters, a few small, neat, and elegant words: ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± Fine, scaring whom with that pale face? He grabbed an A4 paper and filled a whole page with two characters: ¡°Lie down.¡± So, she lied down, on the sofa. He hesitated for a long time but still went over, squatted beside her, stretched out his hand, and placed it on her lower abdomen, rubbing without much gentleness. She stiffened, about to sit up. He held her down: ¡°Don¡¯t move.¡± He continued to rub, still roughly, his face full of impatience. Gradually, his movements became gentler. Wen Baiyang had known since then that he was a man with a tough exterior but a tender heart. The next morning, just seven o¡¯clock, Qiao Nanchu had just gotten up and didn¡¯t see her anywhere; she had left, leaving behind a table full of breakfast. After breakfast, he went directly to the Drug Enforcement Team. The ones arrested last night were still being interrogated. ¡°Our FOR is a legitimate company,¡± Ah Win said with a straight face, clearly experienced, ¡°just running errands, nothing illegal, officer.¡± Xiao Zhao scoffed, ¡°Nothing illegal? You guys are drug trafficking.¡± His arm was dislocated, just fixed, still swollen, ¡°You wrong us, we are just errand runners for the employers, whatever the employers do, we don¡¯t know. We just sent a location for the employer, nothing else.¡± He leaned forward on the table, lifting his bruised face, ¡°Look at this injury on my face; it was caused by that guy.¡± And on his shoulder. It was that lunatic who stabbed him. ¡°All employees of FOR are injured,¡± he touched the scar at his forehead, ¡°we are also victims.¡± They couldn¡¯t get much out of the interrogation, there was no direct criminal evidence, and this gang wouldn¡¯t be detained for long. And there was that little errand runner for Black Impermanence¡­ Xiao He was nearly driven mad by the interrogation, ¡°I¡¯m asking you one more time, who sent you to Jingming Road?¡± Wang Dahai still didn¡¯t change his statement, maintaining it consistently, ¡°It was Lord Black Impermanence.¡± Xiao He slammed his cup down hard, ¡°You think this is a joke?¡± Wang Dahai immediately shook his head, his expression earnest, desperately trying to explain, his face turning red, ¡°Officer Sir, I¡¯m not lying. It really was Lord Black Impermanence.¡± Was he brainwashed? ¡°So, tell me, how did Lord Black Impermanence find you? And how did he assign you tasks?¡± Wang Dahai recounted every detail truthfully, ¡°Lord Black Impermanence came directly to my shop, appearing and disappearing mysteriously.¡± Xiao He asked, ¡°Is there surveillance in the shop?¡± ¡°The camera was not working.¡± Wang Dahai recalled carefully, very sure, ¡°It broke as soon as Lord Black Impermanence arrived, definitely her doing some kind of sorcery.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Was this guy cursed? Talking like some charlatan. Xiao He slammed the table, ¡°Don¡¯t spout nonsense, keep talking.¡± Wang Dahai felt wronged; he wasn¡¯t spouting nonsense, he was telling the truth, ¡°She came to my shop, bought a bag, and some AD calcium milk, then she told me, I had a special bone structure, able to see Lord Ghost Messenger.¡± Xiao He couldn¡¯t help but want to laugh, ¡°You believed that?¡± Surely, this was a fool. ¡°At first, I didn¡¯t believe either, but Lord Black Impermanence has magic.¡± ¡°One Lord Black Impermanence after another.¡± Xiao He really wanted to know what kind of deity this was, ¡°What magic does she possess?¡± At this point, Wang Dahai showed a fearful expression, ¡°She can fly, just swoosh and she appears right in front of me.¡± The officer across him tried not to laugh, clearly disbelieving his words. He insisted even more adamantly, ¡°And I have evidence. The chandelier in our shop was spoiled by her magic. She might have three heads and six arms, but I didn¡¯t dare to look.¡± He even said she had three heads and six arms. Fool! ¡°What does this Lord Black Impermanence look like?¡± ¡°Looks,¡± Wang Dahai thought about his words, ¡°dark and slippery.¡± Xiao He: ¡°¡­¡± In the next interrogation room, Vice Captain Yan from the Drug Enforcement Team was also interrogating someone. The suspect¡¯s personal information had just been retrieved that morning, and she was a white-collar worker at a foreign trade company. Gender: Female. Age: 30. Place of Origin¡­ Her details were typical, nothing unusual. Vice Captain Yan set aside the information, ¡°Zhang Tong?¡± The woman across him lifted her head. She wore a white women¡¯s suit with apricot high heels, long hair, and cherry lips, very beautiful. She seemed like a strong woman. Vice Captain Yan removed his pen cap, ¡°Go ahead.¡± ¡°Speak about what?¡± She was expressionless, calm and composed. Vice Captain Yan, who had been a narcotics officer for many years, was somewhat accurate in judging people. This woman was a tough character. He wasn¡¯t in a hurry and slowly continued the interrogation, ¡°Everything, including the evidence, has been captured. Now tell me what?¡± She responded with an ¡®Oh,¡¯ admitting, ¡°I did it.¡± She spoke evenly from start to finish, ¡°The drugs were trafficked by me, and I hired the professional errand runner.¡± She had an injury on her head. Yesterday, when Zhou Xufang was interrogating, Jiang Zhi had smashed it directly. Useless, this woman was tough to crack. Vice Captain Yan asked, ¡°Why did you hire Z?¡± ¡°What else but to help me deliver the goods?¡± Nonsense! Vice Captain Yan stared into her eyes, ¡°She helps you deliver the goods, yet you have someone send her location to the police station. What, do you want to have a gang infight, or is your life too tough for you?¡± Zhang Tong stayed silent, not opening her mouth. Vice Captain Yan tossed his pen, ¡°Not talking?¡± She continued her silence, not moving her eyes at all, totally emotionless. ¡°Do you know the amount you trafficked could lead to the death penalty?¡± When the hard approach didn¡¯t work, Vice Captain Yan softened, ¡°If you can disclose your intentions and your contact above you, sentencing could be adjusted.¡± Zhang Tong still wore that same expression, looking up, ¡°Go ahead, just give me the death penalty.¡± Vice Captain Yan: ¡°¡­¡± Next door in the surveillance room. Captain Xiao shook his head, ¡°This woman, we probably can¡¯t pry her mouth open.¡± Qiao Nanchu murmured, ¡°A desperado, not afraid to die.¡± Originally, they had hoped to follow the trail and expose the gang, but it seemed like a long road lay ahead. Captain Xiao touched his balding head, ¡°I thought about it all last night,¡± he figured out, ¡°The one who delivered this Ms. Zhang to us was the professional errand runner Z, right?¡± Qiao Nanchu nonchalantly, ¡°On what basis?¡± ¡°Dark and slippery, mysterious, and capable of anything.¡± Captain Xiao laughed, his face full of wrinkles, ¡°Doesn¡¯t that describe professional errand runner Z?¡± Qiao Nanchu made no comment. Captain Xiao grew more curious about this professional errand runner, ¡°Haven¡¯t your Criminal Intelligence Department been investigating her for a long time? What kind of person is she? She doesn¡¯t seem like someone who¡¯s exceptionally evil.¡± If she were truly wicked, just delivering Ms. Zhang would have been enough. That cargo would have been worth quite a lot of money. Qiao Nanchu answered somewhat off-topic, airily conveying another matter, ¡°The Criminal Investigation Team solved a gold shop robbery last month.¡± Why bring this up? ¡°I know about that. They said a tipper provided crucial information that cracked the case.¡± Qiao Nanchu, ¡°It was her who reported it.¡± Captain Xiao: ¡°¡­¡± That case had seen three deaths and five perpetrators. After committing the crime, the criminals didn¡¯t rush to sell off the loot but hid it for a while before returning to their hometowns. As gold is too conspicuous, they didn¡¯t carry it on their person. They hired the professional errand runner to transport the gold. This, after moving the gold, she tipped off the authorities? ¡°If you must categorize her,¡± Qiao Nanchu reflected, ¡°she¡¯s someone who wouldn¡¯t complicate things for the police.¡± Upon hearing this, Captain Xiao became even more curious, ¡°So she is both righteous and wicked.¡± There was something he didn¡¯t understand, ¡°How did she get targeted by that venomous gang? This incident feels like it was intended to set her up.¡± ¡°If it was just to mess with her, they wouldn¡¯t necessarily need to involve the Drug Enforcement Team.¡± sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Captain Xiao felt a foreboding sense in his twitching eyelid, ¡°What does that mean?¡± Qiao Nanchu inquired, ¡°Has Zihao returned to the team?¡± 0893, Jiao Zihao, their colleague. Captain Xiao¡¯s expression suddenly grew serious, ¡°Not yet.¡± ¡°Then, it¡¯s probably more likely to be bad than good.¡± Messing with the professional errand runner Z was just one of their goals. They also aimed to target the police¡¯s undercover agents. Captain Xiao clenched his teeth, his eyes reddening, ¡°This gang of venomous rats!¡± Outside, the music of the orchestra was melodious. Among the pleasure-seeking spots in the Imperial City, Fusheng Inn was the most elegant. The private room was decorated in an antique style, with a screen made of nanmu, painted with falling plums. Luo Qinghe sat cross-legged on a silk cushion, brewing a pot of fine tea. She sniffed lightly, ¡°Zhang Tong.¡± Without lifting her head, she added fire to the brew, ¡°Her name¡¯s Zhang Tong, right?¡± ¡°Uh-huh.¡± Across the table, the woman lay lazily, her hair casually spread out, set against the embroidered fabric of the soft cushion. Chapter 144: 144: Ah Fangs Paternity Test (Second Update) Chapter 144: 144: Ah Fang¡¯s Paternity Test (Second Update) Luo Qinghe poured a cup of tea, seven-tenths full, and handed it to the woman opposite him, ¡°Is her mouth tight?¡± The woman propped herself up and sat up, laughing, ¡°Rest assured, it is.¡± S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Luo Qinghe poured another cup, took a small sip, and asked casually, ¡°What about your thorn in the side, did you get rid of it?¡± ¡°Fights of cornered beasts always involve some struggle.¡± She took a bronze hairpin and casually pinned her hair up at the back of her head, ¡°Let¡¯s not talk about that.¡± She looked at Luo Qinghe, smiling faintly. With her hair up, her forehead was exposed, her features tidy and clean, ¡°Are you interested in my goods?¡± Luo Qinghe shook his head, adding some water to the teapot, ¡°We Luo family don¡¯t touch that stuff.¡± The woman smiled cryptically, ¡°Is there anything you don¡¯t touch?¡± ... It¡¯s not about not touching, but not handling it himself. Luo Qinghe smiled without saying a word. The woman opposite him was dressed simply, with only lipstick and her eyebrows done, resembling a girl fresh out of school, ¡°That professional errand runner, do you have a grudge against her?¡± Luo Qinghe didn¡¯t go into detail but said simply, ¡°Too troublesome.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s cooperate for once, and I¡¯ll give you a piece of advice.¡± The woman finished the tea in her cup, stood up, and her tight black jeans outlined her slender figure. She got dressed in her jacket and scarf, ¡°To be a top runner in the industry, she must not be easy to handle. Even FOR¡¯s lot can¡¯t hold her down; you definitely can¡¯t beat her with brute force. You might as well start by finding her weaknesses.¡± Having said that, she left the private room, passed through the corridor, and bumped into an acquaintance at the corner. Her scarf fell to the ground, and as she lifted her head, she was astonished, ¡°Bai Yang, it¡¯s you.¡± Wen Baiyang picked up the scarf from the ground and returned it to her, then took out paper and a pen from his bag, writing, ¡°Long time no see, Sister Zixi.¡± Zhang Zixi looked at her for a while before searching for a pen. Wen Baiyang wrote another sentence in the notebook and showed it to her, ¡°I can read lips.¡± ¡°I see.¡± She stopped searching for a pen and handed Wen Baiyang a business card, ¡°Call me when you¡¯re free.¡± Wen Baiyang took the business card without saying anything. She said she had another matter to attend to and had to leave first, ¡°Oh, by the way.¡± She turned around, her eyes always carrying a faint smile, ¡°Are you together with Nanchu?¡± Wen Baiyang¡¯s eyes were puzzled, not understanding why she would ask such a question. Zhang Zixi smiled playfully, ¡°Not together, huh.¡± She waved her hand and left first. Not together, then. What was that about back then? Back then, when she and Qiao Nanchu were still studying at the police academy, Qiao Nanchu was very famous in the school, not only because of his family background but also because he was outstanding. She was also very famous, but purely because of her beauty. At a fighting competition, she fell in love with him at first sight. In the beginning, she also shyly hesitated but couldn¡¯t help it; she liked him, and since he didn¡¯t like her, she had to take the initiative. She couldn¡¯t remember how long she pursued him; he was always lukewarm to her. Then one day, all of a sudden. He asked casually, ¡°Do you want to date me?¡± She was dumbfounded for a long time before nodding, ¡°Yes.¡± He asked again, ¡°Can you cook?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± They were standing under the shade of a tree; he was looking distractedly at a basketball court in the distance, asking absent-mindedly, ¡°And laundry?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± He thought for quite some time before turning his distant gaze back to her, ¡°Can you stay out?¡± A girl with a first love, asked like this, would naturally be shy. She had a strict upbringing, and staying out wasn¡¯t allowed, but thinking it was him, she still nodded, ¡°¡­Yes.¡± ¡°That¡¯s settled then, let¡¯s date.¡± He wrote down an address for her, ¡°Move in here tomorrow.¡± At that time, she thought he wanted to live with her. After going there, she met a girl who couldn¡¯t speak or hear. Back then, Wen Baiyang was only fourteen, having just arrived in the Imperial City from Da Mai Mountain, the redness of the high plateau still clear on her face. In the most eastern part of Fusheng Bamboo Garden was the VIP room, with its doors tightly shut. A waiter came to deliver tea but was stopped by the secretary guarding the door. The secretary brought the tea inside and then came out, continuing to stand guard at the door. ¡°What¡¯s the result?¡± Inside were Tang Xiang and her guest. The man wore boxy glasses, was in his fifties with half-white hair. He pushed the envelope towards her, saying, ¡°No parental relationship.¡± Both expected and unexpected, Tang Xiang pondered for a moment then reaffirmed with him, ¡°Non of those people are related?¡± The man nodded, ¡°And, this person has an abnormal chromosome.¡± An abnormal chromosome¡­ Tang Xiang immediately asked, ¡°Which one?¡± ¡°The abnormality is on chromosome 6.¡± Just happen to be chromosome 6. The adopted son of the Luo family also had an abnormality on chromosome 6. ¡°The gene loci are also odd, but for more precise details, we need to conduct a more intricate genetic test.¡± Outside. Luo Qinghe walked down the corridor and noticed a familiar figure opposite him; then he suddenly stopped and asked, ¡°Is that Tang Xiang¡¯s secretary?¡± Shen Yue replied, ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Go see what she¡¯s doing.¡± Shen Yue understood the task and walked over. Tang Xiang¡¯s secretary stopped him, saying that an important matter was being discussed inside. Luo Qinghe gave a suggestive look, and Shen Yue didn¡¯t care about the obstruction and directly pushed open the door. ¡°The project budget I¡ª¡± The conversation inside was cut off halfway when Tang Xiang looked up angrily and lost his temper, ¡°Don¡¯t you know how to knock? Have all manners gone to the dogs?¡± Luo Qinghe had already come over. With the door wide open, she peeked inside and said, ¡°Isn¡¯t this meant to be a surprise? Just a family joke, why blow up over it?¡± A smile played at the corner of Luo Qinghe¡¯s eyes as she noticed the other person in the room, ¡°President Wang is here too.¡± That was President Wang from Zhang Lin Building Materials. Portly President Wang got up from his chair, with a very round face and mung bean eyes, and greeted her warmly, ¡°We were just discussing a project with your Luo Family. Would Younger Luo like to listen in?¡± Luo Qinghe smiled, ¡°No thanks, I won¡¯t interfere with Tang Xiang¡¯s projects.¡± She flicked her hair and moved towards the door, ¡°Please, continue.¡± Tang Xiang called out to her, ¡°Wait a moment.¡± Luo Qinghe leaned against the doorframe, calmly waiting for her to continue. Tang Xiang was seated, still holding a teacup. She raised her eyelids slightly, her gaze serene and unwavering as she looked at Luo Qinghe, ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to apologize before leaving?¡± Ever since Luo Qinghe took over the household, she was regarded with the utmost respect by the Luo Family and its business. The only exception was Tang Xiang. The old master trusted Tang Xiang, willing to let her manage half of his empire. Even so, as an outsider, she never once considered this Younger Luo a figure of importance. Luo Qinghe, with her arms crossed, dropped her smile and said, ¡°Sorry for the disturbance.¡± ¡°Remember your manners in the future.¡± With that, Tang Xiang closed the door. After there was no more noise outside, Tang Xiang sat back down and personally poured a cup of tea for him, ¡°Thank you, President Wang.¡± President Wang waved his hand, ¡°What¡¯s there to thank for? It was no trouble at all.¡± After President Wang left, the person hiding in the bathroom finally came out. Tang Xiang then continued the conversation that was interrupted, ¡°Dr. Qiu, please keep this a secret.¡± ¡°I understand.¡± The weather was nice today; the sun was warm. Zhou Xufang had set up her stall and was not installing screen protectors today; she was selling hot water bottles instead. Around nine, Jiang Zhi gave her a call. She happily picked up, ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± ¡°Are you packing up yet?¡± ¡°Yep.¡± Jiang Zhi said, ¡°I¡¯ll come to pick you up.¡± She declined, not wanting to hold him up, ¡°Don¡¯t you have a premiere?¡± Jiang Zhi was supposed to join her at the stall, but he had a premiere at eight. A director cannot be absent. Director Jiang said, ¡°I can leave early.¡± Leaving early didn¡¯t mean being absent. Zhou Xufang thought it was acceptable, ¡°Then I¡¯ll wait for you.¡± Jiang Zhi spoke with her for a while before hanging up. At this time, under the big bridge, there were many night snack stalls, and the park across the street was filled with people doing square dancing. The music was loud enough to hear from a street away, creating a lively atmosphere. Zhou Xufang had good hearing and heard crying from a distance; it was coming from an alley, a child crying. She went over, ¡°Why are you crying?¡± The three or four-year-old child was plump, fair-skinned, and tender, looking like a custard bun, and the little custard bun cried, ¡°I dropped my candy.¡± The little custard bun was adorable. Zhou Xufang gave him a pack of cotton candy. The little custard bun immediately grinned, ¡°Thank you, sister.¡± Zhou Xufang wanted to pinch his chubby cheeks, ¡°Where¡¯s your mom?¡± In a milky voice, he said, ¡°Mommy is dancing.¡± I see¡­ Zhou Xufang poked his soft little face, ¡°Go to mommy, don¡¯t wander off alone, or the bad people will take you away.¡± The little custard bun agreed and hopped away joyfully. So cute. She thought she would like to have a little chubby kid like that with Jiang Zhi¡­ She shook her head, what was she thinking! Shameless! She was a bit hungry and wanted to eat a custard bun¡­ Just then, someone abruptly ran into her at the corner. She didn¡¯t budge, while the person who bumped her was bounced off, fell to the ground, and gasped for air. ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± Zhou Xufang apologized and approached to ask, ¡°Did I hurt you?¡± It was a man. He suddenly lifted his head and grabbed Zhou Xufang¡¯s arm, his voice desperate, ¡°Help me!¡± It was then that Zhou Xufang saw his face, with an injury on his forehead and sweat pouring down. ¡°Help with what?¡± He held his abdomen with one hand and frequently looked back. The sweat on his head kept rolling down, and his breaths grew more labored. After a frantic glance around, he pulled out a sheet of paper from his pocket and shoved it into her hand. He said, ¡°My name is 0893.¡± After saying that, he got up and ran off without looking back, desperate to escape. Chapter 145: 145: Ah Fang gets into a fight, Jiang Zhi covers for him (first update) Chapter 145: 145: Ah Fang gets into a fight, Jiang Zhi covers for him (first update) Having said that, he got up and ran desperately forward without looking back. Zhou Xufang spread her hands and looked at the piece of paper; there was blood on it and also on her sleeve. 0893 was injured. ¡°They¡¯re ahead.¡± ¡°Hurry up!¡± Zhou Xufang cocked her ear and listened; the messy footsteps were getting closer. ... Were these people chasing after 0893? She stood in the middle of the alley. About a dozen people came running in a swarm, completely disregarding her standing in the middle of the road, and charged over, bumping her against the wall. They bumped into her. Zhou Xufang patted her shoulder, ¡°Hey.¡± The man running at the front turned his head, his face gaunt and menacing. Zhou Xufang stepped in front to block the way, her expression downcast like a cold and detached vagrant, and she said, ¡°You bumped into me.¡± The leader, in a leather jacket with pierced ears and dyed yellow hair, tattoos from his neck to his ears, was very impatient, ¡°Move or die!¡± Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t move, her pretty little face under the oversized hoodie serious and stiff as she repeated, ¡°You bumped into me.¡± The man, looking fierce, pushed her, ¡°Get lost!¡± But she didn¡¯t budge. She stood firm, her expression even more serious, ¡°Not only did you bump me, but you pushed me too.¡± The man rubbed his hands in frustration, sneered, and pointed to a few of his men, ¡°You guys.¡± He made a gesture with his eyes, signaling them to chase after the person first, then turned back to Zhou Xufang and whistled, his face mean and sleazy, ¡°So, little girl, what do you want?¡± Zhou Xufang glanced at the men running off to chase and said, ¡°I¡¯m going to hit you now.¡± She said it earnestly, her small face serious, not joking at all. Yet the man laughed loudly, looking at her as if she were a joke. After he finished laughing, he picked up a discarded table leg from the alley and weighed it in his hand. ¡°Just don¡¯t cry.¡± With that, his expression suddenly turned violent as he raised the wooden stick and chopped towards Zhou Xufang¡¯s face. He thought he could scare the girl into crying¡­ But she stood there motionless, easily catching the table leg with her hand. The man¡¯s eyes bulged in shock, and he immediately tried to yank it away. But he couldn¡¯t. ¡°You¡ª¡± Zhou Xufang kicked the man in the calf, and he howled, jumping up with his leg in his arms, his face red with pain. Just as he was about to swear at her, he saw the slim and seemingly weak girl casually throw the table leg, accurately hitting and knocking down one of the men who were off chasing someone. She said, ¡°You all owe me an apology before you can leave.¡± The men who had gone off chasing looked at each other and then turned back, surrounding Zhou Xufang. When Jiang Zhi arrived, the stall was there, but not the person. He looked around and couldn¡¯t find Zhou Xufang, his calls going through only after the third attempt. ¡°Xu Fang, where are you?¡± Zhou Xufang said, ¡°I¡¯m at the police station.¡± When Jiang Zhi heard ¡®police station,¡¯ he got anxious, ¡°What happened?¡± Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. She whispered into the phone, ¡°I hit someone.¡± Hit someone? As long as she wasn¡¯t the one being hit, it was fine. Jiang Zhi asked, ¡°Was it caught on the surveillance camera?¡± Zhou Xufang thought for a moment, ¡°No.¡± That made things easier. ¡°Don¡¯t admit to it.¡± He collected her stall, put it in the trunk, got into the driver¡¯s seat, and floored the accelerator, speeding off, ¡°Wait for me, I¡¯ll be right there.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Zhou Xufang hung up the phone and obediently waited. That man¡ªthe one with yellow hair and ear piercings, the gaunt and fierce-looking one, called Hua Jun, the leader of the group¡ªwas still cursing, ¡°How many times do I have to say it, she hit first!¡± Zhou Xufang turned her head, ¡°It wasn¡¯t me.¡± Hua Jun spat in disgust, kicked over a chair in anger, and stood up to confront Zhou Xufang, pointing at his own face, ¡°Then who hit this?¡± Zhou Xufang looked straight at the police officer, ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± Hua Jun and his group of bruised underlings were furious, rolling up their sleeves and rushing forward, ¡°You motherf¡ª¡± Zhang Wen banged his baton on the table, shouting, ¡°What do you think this place is? Keep yelling and see what happens!¡± He nodded at Zhou Xufang, ¡°Go on, you tell us.¡± Zhou Xufang stated it clearly, with a proper demeanor. ¡°They bumped into me.¡± Then, ¡°They didn¡¯t apologize, and they pushed me.¡± She went on seriously, ¡°I asked them to apologize, and they tried to hit me.¡± She wasn¡¯t lying; all of this was true. Then she hit them. She didn¡¯t go hard, just a casual hit. The rest is omitted. ¡°` In the end, ¡°Someone who saw something wrong reported it to the police.¡± Zhou Xufang said with a serious expression, like a good student sitting in the first row of the class, ¡°That¡¯s how things happened.¡± Hua Jun and his crew rolled their eyes so hard upon hearing this that you¡¯d think their eyes would pop out, all the while they were wincing in pain and cursing loudly, ¡°Bullshit!¡± Zhou Xufang leaned toward the police officer. Look how scared they got! Zhang Wen knocked his baton again, ¡°Be quiet!¡± After shouting, he asked the young lady in a softer tone, ¡°Did you hit them?¡± Zhou Xufang lowered her head, ¡°I did not.¡± She wasn¡¯t very good at lying, and her eyelashes would flutter whenever she did. Hua Jun couldn¡¯t hold back his laughter, rolled up his sleeve, and showed his arm bruised with violet spots, ¡°If you didn¡¯t hit us, then where did these injuries come from?¡± She looked up, first bewildered, then delighted, ¡°Jiang Zhi!¡± Jiang Zhi pushed the door open, and behind him was a sky full of stars and neon lights. He had arrived in a hurry, with his hair tousled by the wind, having just come from a premiere, still dressed in formal attire, with a black tie and suit, and an overcoat of the same color. The very picture of an elegant nobleman, with his misty blue short hair, which gave him an extra touch of unruliness and flamboyance on top of his already exquisitely beautiful features, making him look like he had stepped out of a painting. Tsk tsk tsk, the beauty of Imperial City truly lived up to his name. Zhang Wen had seen Jiang Zhi a few times at the Criminal Investigation Team and was aware of his relationship with Zhou Xufang, so he teased, ¡°Mr. Jiang, why have you come?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve come to pick up my girlfriend.¡± He walked over to Zhou Xufang, touched her head, ¡°Are you hurt?¡± Zhou Xufang nodded, ¡°Mhm.¡± She extended her right index finger, which had a pink band-aid on it. It was from when she was hitting people, and a splinter of wood had poked her. Jiang Zhi bent down, blew on her finger, coaxed her with a few words, then pulled up a chair to sit down, his peach blossom eyes lifting slightly, ¡°So it was you guys who hit my girlfriend?¡± Hua Jun and his battered brothers, ¡°¡­¡± Been a hoodlum for so many years, it was the first time they¡¯d been framed. One of the guys with a broken arm got so angry his face turned red, ¡°We didn¡¯t even touch her clothes, it was she who hit us!¡± Across from them, the blue-haired, handsome young man lifted his eyelids slightly, and the myriad of inky light in those peach blossom eyes suddenly darkened. He looked up, ¡°Are you still thinking of touching her clothes?¡± ¡°¡­¡± When did they ever want to touch her clothes?! Just as they were about to curse loudly¡ª The handsome young man lifted his chin, and under the light overhead, all the dim glow gathered in his eyes, ¡°You say my girlfriend hit you, do you have any proof?¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°A little girl hitting more than ten grown men, and you expect people to believe that?¡± The beautiful gentleman raised an eyebrow, smiled, and his eyes contained a serpentine allure mixed with a fierce coldness that sent shivers down the spine, ¡°Do you believe it?¡± ¡°¡­¡± Damn, a man¡¯s looks can be too damn enticing, yet he seems not to be someone you should mess with¡­ ¡°Also,¡± he continued, narrowing his gaze at the table full of ¡®items¡¯ found during the body search, ¡°Carring sticks and knives around, were you planning to do something illegal and disorderly?¡± ¡°¡­¡± Appearances can be deceiving; this is a wolf in an exquisite skin. ¡°I think these people need to be thoroughly checked out,¡± Jiang Zhi turned, looking at Zhang Wen, ¡°What do you think?¡± Zhang Wen smiled, ¡°I also think a thorough investigation is needed.¡± He called over a colleague, ¡°Lock them all up.¡± Hua Jun and his beaten up brothers, ¡°¡­¡± Five minutes later, Jiang Zhi took Zhou Xufang out of the police station. He held her hand as they walked to the car, ¡°Was it you who hit them?¡± Zhou Xufang admitted, ¡°Yes.¡± He asked again, ¡°Did anyone see you?¡± She shook her head, ¡°No, the alley was a blind spot.¡± Jiang Zhi opened the car door and let her get in first, then bent down to buckle her seat belt, his movements and voice were gentle, ¡°Then why did you hit them?¡± ¡°They seemed to be chasing someone. I deliberately stopped them to let that person get away.¡± She took out a piece of paper from her pocket and showed it to Jiang Zhi, ¡°This is what that person gave me, asking for my help.¡± The note was bloodstained and messily written with a string of numbers. ¡°He said his name was 0893.¡± 0893? That¡¯s a code name. Jiang Zhi got into the driver¡¯s seat and closed the car door, ¡°I¡¯ll look into this 0893 first.¡± Zhou Xufang agreed. Less than half an hour after they left, Zhang Wen received an emergency call, ¡°Deputy team leader, there¡¯s been a report, a body was found under Ba Yi Bridge.¡± Around nine o¡¯clock. Qiao Nanchu also received a call, from Captain Xiao of the Drug Enforcement Team, with a single sentence, ¡°0893 is dead.¡± 0893¡¯s wife had just given birth to twins last month. Qiao Nanchu hung up the phone, went to the balcony, and lit up a cigarette, taking a deep drag, stood there for a while, and then dialed a number on his phone. ¡°It¡¯s me.¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter if you can¡¯t hear me, don¡¯t hang up.¡± He stood under the balcony light, finished one cigarette, and then lit another. ¡°` Chapter 146: 146: Who are Xu Fangs parents? (Second update) Chapter 146: 146: Who are Xu Fang¡¯s parents? (Second update) Jiang Zhi dropped Zhou Xufang off at Yuquan Bay; it was almost half past nine. Just as they entered the complex, Zhou Xufang heard someone excitedly calling her. ¡°Xufang.¡± ¡°Xufang.¡± It was Mr. Fang, the security guard. Zhou Xufang approached and greeted him cheerfully, ¡°Hello, Uncle Fang.¡± ... Mr. Fang poked his head out of the window, his face crinkling with a smile like a blooming daisy, ¡°You¡¯re just getting back now? It¡¯s not safe for a young girl to be out so late¡ª¡± He paused upon noticing another person beside the young lady. Mr. Fang squinted, ¡°And who might this be?¡± Zhou Xufang introduced them straightforwardly, ¡°This is my boyfriend.¡± Jiang Zhi nodded, neither warm nor dismissive. Mr. Fang looked at Jiang Zhi, revealing a kindly smile, ¡°You¡¯re Jiang Zhi, aren¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Do you know me?¡± ¡°Of course, the great director, right?¡± Mr. Fang looked back and forth between Jiang Zhi and Zhou Xufang as if he were a madam of a brothel who had just sold off a girl, ¡°Ah, you two really are a match made in heaven.¡± Jiang Zhi liked the sound of that, ¡°Thank you.¡± Mr. Fang fished out two fruit jellies and handed them to Zhou Xufang, ¡°Here, take these and enjoy.¡± She accepted them, politely thanked him, and then headed upstairs with Jiang Zhi. Mr. Fang watched their compatible silhouettes from afar and sighed sentimentally, ¡°How wonderful.¡± The fire that year burned down the Luo Family¡¯s flower shed completely. Everyone said that child was gone, but not a single member of the Luo family showed even a hint of sorrow. Everyone turned a blind eye or simply watched from the sidelines. Only that young man, that frail young man, he took an urn, went in and came out with a box full of ashes. Only that young man, it was he alone who cried. Holding that orange cat and the urn, he sat in the charred remains of the flower shed for a long time, weeping. ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± ¡°I¡¯m too late¡­¡± Out of so many people, only he was the one who grieved. Thinking back, Mr. Fang heaved a heavy sigh, lost in thought when someone behind him called out, ¡°Mr. Fang Dashun.¡± Mr. Fang turned around, ¡°I¡¯m not Fang Dashun.¡± He had changed his name so many years ago! ¡°Then you must be Mr. Fang Xiaoxi, correct?¡± She emerged from the dim light, ¡°I am Tang Xiang, daughter of Tang Guangji¡± Tang Guangji¡­ At the mention of that name, Mr. Fang¡¯s expression turned cautious, ¡°What do you want with me?¡± Tang Xiang stepped forward, ¡°I wanted to ask about the fire at the Luo family back then.¡± He waved his hand dismissively, his face a mask of ¡®I don¡¯t know anything! How would I know? You could ask me a thousand times and I still wouldn¡¯t know!¡¯ ¡°I was just a firefighter, what could I possibly know about it?¡± Tang Xiang wasn¡¯t in a hurry, continuing calmly, ¡°As it happens, the thing I¡¯m asking about is something only you, a firefighter, would know.¡± This girl came prepared. Mr. Fang crossed his arms behind his back, ¡°What do you want to ask?¡± ¡°When you rescued Luo San from the fire, was she still alive?¡± Without a second thought, he replied, ¡°She was dead.¡± He was lying. That night, an ambulance clearly arrived. Tang Xiang walked into the guardhouse, bowed slightly, ¡°Mr. Fang, my father was a victim of that fire. I¡¯m not here in any capacity related to the Luo Family; I¡¯m here as a victim¡¯s family member.¡± She placed a business card on the table, ¡°If you remember anything, please contact me.¡± That night, the moon shone bright amidst a sparse constellation of stars. Zhou Xufang dreamed of a little bald boy, squatting behind iron bars, his hands clutching a bunch of foxtails. He had been there a long time, from the break of dawn till sunset¡¯s glow. Above him, the cicadas¡¯ noise would cease and then surge, surging and then ceasing. Below, the little bald boy holding the foxtails fought off sleep. In the distance, someone called, ¡°Luo San.¡± The drowsy boy instantly opened his eyes, looked up to see vast swaths of sunset clouds, and beneath them, a young man. The young man wore white clothes, including white shoes, emerging from the orange glow of the setting sun, ¡°What are you doing squatting here?¡± The little bald boy didn¡¯t speak, instead offering his foxtails. While the young man seemed a bit disdainful, he still accepted them, the sunset reflecting in his eyes, bringing forth a faint smile, ¡°Waiting for me, huh?¡± The little bald boy nodded. He was waiting for him, not knowing when he would come, so he waited three days, each day gathering a large bunch of foxtails, waiting here, wishing he could pick flowers for him, but the owner of the flower shed would beat him. All he could do was pick foxtails to give to him. The young man was handsome, holding the foxtails so beautifully that it was almost unreal. He said, ¡°Hold out your hand.¡± The little bald boy extended his dirty hand. He handed him a can of milk, ¡°This is for you.¡± The little bald boy grinned. Outside the fence, three cars stopped, with people shouting, ¡°Brother Zhi.¡± ¡°Brother Zhi.¡± ¡°Jiang Zhi!¡± ¡°What are you doing? Hurry up!¡± Those were the young man¡¯s friends, urging him on. He turned back reluctantly, replying, ¡°Xue Baoyi, stop rushing me.¡± Then he stood up and said to the little bald boy, ¡°I was just passing by, gotta go.¡± Holding the foxtails, he waved and left. The little bald boy clutched the fence, desperately pressing his head through. The young man got into a car and was out of sight, so the boy climbed up on the fence. After the car had gone far, he clutched the milk and grinned foolishly. Looking around, seeing no one else, he opened his mouth to whisper the young man¡¯s name. ¡°Jiang, Zhi.¡± ¡°Jiang, Zhi.¡± The voice was very hoarse, from unskilled to practiced. ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± Zhou Xufang suddenly woke from her dream and realized her pillow was wet with tears. She got up from the bed, sat stunned for a long time, took a can of milk from the refrigerator, opened it, and took a sip. Back in bed, she could no longer sleep. Eyes open, she stared at the chandelier above her bed, muttering Jiang Zhi¡¯s name intermittently. At eight in the morning, Shuangjiang came to her: ¡°Tang Xiang has met with the forensic doctor.¡± Zhou Xufang had barely slept all night, her eyelids were heavy, her voice nasal: ¡°Did they find anything?¡± ¡°She tested many people, but there were no parental relationships,¡± Shuangjiang was still trying to make sense of it. ¡°But why did she use your DNA for testing? Does she suspect you¡¯re related to He Xiangxiu?¡± Tang Xiang had compared Zhou Xufang¡¯s DNA with all of He Xiangxiu¡¯s relatives in her hometown. Zhou Xufang was silent for a long time: ¡°The Luo Family claimed publically that Luo San was a child of He Xiangxiu¡¯s relatives. Tang Xiang suspects that I am Luo San.¡± Shuangjiang sent two exclamation points. Zhou Xufang¡¯s eyes gradually grew darker: ¡°If Tang Xiang¡¯s speculation is correct, it would confirm one thing: the statement by the Luo Family is a lie. Luo San is not a child from He Xiangxiu¡¯s hometown, she is very likely from the Luo Family itself.¡± Her shoulders slumped, she suddenly sighed, ¡°Shuangjiang.¡± Shuangjiang: ¡°Hmm?¡± Zhou Xufang¡¯s voice was muffled, despondently: ¡°I¡¯m beginning to suspect it now too, that I might be Luo San.¡± She had already dreamt many times of the little bald boy. Last night, besides the bald boy, Jiang Zhi was also in her dream. Maybe it wasn¡¯t a dream. She had memories of the Luo Family¡¯s attic; she was either the person involved or a bystander, and now Tang Xiang was also investigating her. All clues were pointing in this one direction. Zhou Xufang continued to sigh, her mood very low: ¡°But I¡¯m still not certain, and I don¡¯t want to be part of the Luo Family.¡± At nine o¡¯clock, the sun was nowhere to be seen, and large clouds covered the sky, dark and oppressive, like a heavy rain was imminent. Tang Xiang parked her car outside the sanatorium and took a box to the ward. Xiao Qu was inside changing the bedsheets: ¡°Miss Tang is here.¡± ¡°My mom?¡± ¡°Xiao Hui took her to the park.¡± Tang Xiang left a box of small cakes on the table for Xiao Qu before leaving the ward. At the back of the sanatorium was a small park. Ms. He, formerly seated in a wheelchair, ran down to her upon seeing her. ¡°Xiangxiang!¡± ¡°Xiangxiang!¡± Ms. He was very happy, running toward her. Tang Xiang helped her sit back in the wheelchair: ¡°I brought your favorite walnut pastries.¡± ¡°You¡¯re spending money recklessly again.¡± Though she complained, she clutched the box of walnut pastries tightly. Tang Xiang told Xiao Hui to busy herself elsewhere while she took Ms. He for a stroll in the park. Along the way, Ms. He chattered non-stop, grasping the box of walnut pastries and laughing foolishly. Tang Xiang asked her, ¡°Why aren¡¯t you eating?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll wait for your dad to come back before eating.¡± Ms. He¡¯s mental state fluctuated, and right then, she wasn¡¯t very lucid. She stopped the wheelchair and walked ahead, squatting down, casually asking: ¡°Mom, where¡¯s Luo San?¡± Ms. He frowned: ¡°Where did she run off to again?¡± She looked around, ¡°Did she go to steal the braised pork again?¡± ¡°That silly girl isn¡¯t afraid of getting beaten, still daring to steal meat to eat.¡± After scolding the silly child, Ms. He stood up from the wheelchair, clamoring that she would go look for Luo San. Tang Xiang didn¡¯t stop her, following behind: ¡°Mom, where are Luo San¡¯s parents?¡± ¡°Her mother,¡± Ms. He suddenly stopped, whispering, ¡°Her mother was locked up.¡± ¡°Locked up where?¡± Ms. He suddenly became panicked, pacing back and forth, mumbling incessantly: ¡°Dead, she died.¡± ¡°Then her father¡ª¡± ¡°Shh!¡± Ms. He ran over, covering her mouth, looking around anxiously, ¡°They will kill you, you mustn¡¯t talk, mustn¡¯t speak¡­¡± Thunder roared, and then rain fell, the chill of winter rain piercing to the bone. Xue Baoyi had just arrived at the tea restaurant when she received a phone call from Zhou Xufang. ¡°Mr. Xue, it¡¯s me, Zhou Xufang.¡± ¡°Are you looking for Brother Zhi?¡± Zhou Xufang said: ¡°No, I want to meet with you.¡± S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Xue Baoyi was surprised: ¡°Just me and you?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± What could be the matter? Could the young couple have had a quarrel? After much thought, Xue Baoyi inquired: ¡°Should I inform Brother Zhi beforehand?¡± ¡°No need.¡± So, this was a secret meet-up without Jiang Zhi knowing? Xue Baoyi had a bad premonition. Half an hour later, Zhou Xufang arrived at the tea restaurant. Xue Baoyi, ever the gentleman, stood up to pull out her chair: ¡°Please, sit.¡± He turned back and called out to the waiter, ¡°I¡¯ve ordered milk for you.¡± Jiang Zhi treated his girlfriend like his darling baby, so Xue Baoyi only dared to give her milk. Zhou Xufang sat down: ¡°Thank you.¡± Xue Baoyi took his seat across from her: ¡°Did you need something?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± He guessed, ¡°Is it about Brother Zhi?¡± Zhou Xufang nodded. The waiter brought the milk, and after taking a sip, licking her lips, she said: ¡°Luo Qing mentioned that Luo San was someone dear to Jiang Zhi¡¯s heart,¡± she wanted to ask, ¡°were they in a relationship at a young age?¡± ¡°¡­¡± Indeed, it was a loaded question. Xue Baoyi decided his safety was the priority: ¡°You could just ask Jiang Zhi directly.¡± Zhou Xufang had figured she wouldn¡¯t get answers over a phone call, which is why she had arranged to meet him in person. She honestly admitted, ¡°Jiang Zhi gets very upset whenever he hears Luo San¡¯s name.¡± Chapter 147: 147: Zhou Xufang Makes Headlines Because of a Romance (First Update) Chapter 147: 147: Zhou Xufang Makes Headlines Because of a Romance (First Update) ¡°Jiang Zhi feels very upset whenever he hears Luo San¡¯s name.¡± Xue Baoyi thought it over and finally relaxed her stance, ¡°It¡¯s not exactly puppy love, but Jiang Zhi came out because of him.¡± ¡°Oh!¡± Zhou Xufang suddenly realized, ¡°So it was a first love.¡± She should have thought of it earlier; Jiang Zhi¡¯s love that perished in flames was, in fact, Luo San. Xue Baoyi: ¡°¡­¡± This topic was like a death sentence. Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t ask any more questions. She finished her milk, thanked Mr. Xue Baoyi, said goodbye, and left first. ... After exiting the tea restaurant, she sent an email to Shuangjiang. ¡°Shuangjiang, are you free tonight?¡± Shuangjiang replied: ¡°Yes.¡± Zhou Xufang put on her hat and mask, squatted by the roadside, holding her phone and typing slowly, letter by letter, ¡°Assist me, please. I¡¯m going to the Luo Family again tonight.¡± She needed to confirm as soon as possible whether she was Luo San. Shuangjiang: ¡°Okay.¡± That night, there was a film festival. Xue Baoyi, as an award presenter, attended, and Jiang Zhi was there too, nominated for Best Director; Xue Baoyi spotted him as soon as she entered. That prime spot with the best view had belonged to Jiang Zhi for three consecutive years. Xue Baoyi, wearing a jewel-blue suit and sporting curly hair, swayed over with a languid arrogance, dragging out her greeting, ¡°Brother Zhi~¡± Apart from the Jiang Family, only this rascal would call out ¡°Brother Zhi¡± without regard for the occasion, no wonder the rumors of the two had always been rampant in the circle. The female artists all covered their mouths in laughter, thinking: The sly top and the delicate bottom, what an affectionate pair. The sly top swaggered over and sat next to the delicate bottom, smiling elegantly, ¡°Brother Zhi, are we good buddies?¡± Jiang Zhi was slouched in his seat, not even lifting his eyelids, ¡°Speak human language.¡± Fine, Xue Baoyi was candid, ¡°Zhou Xufang sought me out today.¡± He tilted his head, leaning towards Jiang Zhi, speaking in a volume only the two of them could hear, ¡°She asked about Luo San.¡± S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Jiang Zhi kicked his shin lightly, ¡°What did you say?¡± Xue Baoyi scratched his head, feeling a bit guilty, ¡°Just mentioned a bit in passing.¡± Jiang Zhi kicked him again, ¡°Be specific.¡± Artists all around: Hey, they¡¯re flirting with each other. Seeing the situation, Director Jiang must be the one in charge at home; look at Second Young Master Xue, acting like a little wife. The little wife avoided his gaze, ¡°I talked about you coming out.¡± Jiang Zhi looked at him coldly. The little wife felt a chill at the back of his neck, touching his neck, ¡°It¡¯s not my fault, she¡¯s your wife, how could I not answer her?¡± Just as he finished, Ah Wan came running back with a phone, panting, ¡°Mr., you¡¯ve caused trouble.¡± Xue Baoyi: ¡°Ah?¡± Ah Wan, standing at one meter ninety, squeezed through the aisle with difficulty to his boss¡¯s side, presenting the phone, ¡°Boss, Miss Zhou and Mr. have both hit the trending searches.¡± Xue Baoyi, feeling like a stampede of grass mud horses had trampled over his mind: ¡°¡­¡± Jiang Zhi put down his crossed leg, his eyes lifting slightly, in the dim lighting, his gaze colder than the winter moon, ¡°Did they get the face?¡± Ah Wan pulled up the image and handed over the phone, ¡°Only the side face was captured, and not very clearly.¡± It was a stroke of luck amongst misfortune. Jiang Zhi¡¯s brows furrowed tightly, and he dialed Zhou Xufang¡¯s phone. She didn¡¯t answer. After calling three times with no response, Jiang Zhi kicked Xue Baoyi¡¯s trouser leg, ¡°Get it off the trending searches.¡± Xue Baoyi: ¡°Okay.¡± He pulled out his phone¡ª Ah Wan stopped him, ¡°You can¡¯t retract it.¡± Xue Baoyi: ¡°Ah?¡± His mind was straightforward, unable to grasp the twist. Ah Wan, having watched his fill of dramas and novels, hadn¡¯t ever seen a pig be butchered, but he¡¯d seen plenty of pigs run, and so he began to analyze, ¡°It isn¡¯t the first time Mr. has taken a girl to the headlines, and there¡¯ve been much more sensational stories before that weren¡¯t retracted. Retracting it now would just look more guilty, wouldn¡¯t it?¡± Makes sense. Xue Baoyi scratched his head, ¡°Then should I clarify?¡± To be honest, he¡¯d been on the headlines plenty, but he¡¯d never dealt with public relations; as a playboy, he never needed to follow rules, living a carefree life was his image. But involving Zhou Xufang now wasn¡¯t simple. Ah Wan racked her brain thinking back on the entertainment-related texts she had read and weighed her options, ¡°Making clarifications won¡¯t work, it¡¯ll just make things worse.¡± Second Young Master Xue from Baoguang had a reputation among women, he never made clarifications for a woman before, the more you clarify, the muddier it gets. Xue Baoyi was troubled and looked to Jiang Zhi, ¡°So what should we do?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll talk to Zhou Xufang first.¡± Zhou Xufang¡¯s phone was still unreachable, making Jiang Zhi restless. He took the car keys from Ah Wan, stood up, and left. Xue Baoyi called after him, ¡°If you leave now, what about the award ceremony?¡± Who¡¯s going to accept the Best Director award? Jiang Zhi kicked aside his obstructing foot, ¡°You figure it out.¡± The day had been rainy, with the dark clouds still lingering. The moon was concealed behind clouds, casting an ominous gloom. Such weather was simply irritating. In the background, Mom¡¯s constant nagging, ¡°You need to prune the leaves first.¡± Luo Yinghe was irritated beyond tolerance and threw the scissors down, ¡°I¡¯m not doing this.¡± Ever since she took a break from work, she had been confined at home, doing nothing but flower arranging or tea tasting all day long. She didn¡¯t have the patience for it and was so annoyed, she just wanted to lash out. Xu Yunci picked up the scissors, speaking softly and delicately, ¡°Be patient, the doctor said¡ª¡± Luo Yinghe grabbed a handful of flowers and threw them to the ground, ¡°Don¡¯t talk to me about doctors, so annoying!¡± Xu Yunci, scared she would have an episode, quickly pacified her, ¡°Okay, okay, I won¡¯t mention it anymore.¡± She stood up and walked to the back of the flower pavilion, feeling suffocated and unable to vent her anger. She kicked around here and there, ¡°Day in, day out, arranging flowers, it¡¯s utterly dull.¡± ¡°Just wait a bit longer, okay?¡± Xu Yunci coaxed gently, ¡°After the hype dies down, we¡¯ll have the company arrange some charity events to reestablish your image, and then we¡¯ll make a comeback.¡± She was dissatisfied, ¡°How long would that take?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll talk to your sister after the New Year.¡± She snorted at the mention of Luo Qinghe, feeling agitated just thinking about it, and kicked over a potted plant. Xu Yunci knew she was upset and dared not bring it up again, so she changed the subject, ¡°We¡¯ll go to the hospital to see your uncle tomorrow.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not going, he has so many illegitimate daughters out there, why should we show kindness?¡± She spoke with disdain, clearly disgusted by Luo Changde. Xu Yunci was soft-hearted and pleaded, ¡°Don¡¯t say that, we¡¯re all family, it¡¯s not good to be estranged.¡± ¡°Family?¡± Luo Yinghe scoffed coldly, ¡°Who wants to be family with that beast.¡± Xu Yunci¡¯s face grew cold, ¡°Yinghe!¡± Luo Yinghe, far from being contrite, became even more irate, glaring at Xu Yunci without hiding her contempt and disgust, ¡°Stop defending him in front of me, don¡¯t think I don¡¯t know what¡¯s going on between you two.¡± She sneered, ¡°I¡¯m amazed, his¡ªhis manhood has been snipped by Zhou Qingmeng¡ª¡± ¡°Enough!¡± Xu Yunci scolded, rarely so fierce and stern, ¡°Who¡¯s been spouting such nonsense to you? Such talk can¡¯t be spread around carelessly, if your grandfather heard this, he would sew your mouth shut.¡± Luo Yinghe was defiant, pouting back, ¡°I¡¯m not spouting nonsense, it¡¯s what Luo Qinghe¡¯s mother said when she went mad.¡± Luo Qinghe¡¯s mother had died eight years ago, having gone mad for several years prior. Everyone in the Luo Family knew deep down that she was driven mad by Luo Changde, but no one dared to mention it. ¡°Regardless of what others say, remember,¡± Xu Yunci glanced outside the flower pavilion, her face stern and serious, ¡°in this family, those three people should never be mentioned.¡± Luo Yinghe impatiently replied, ¡°I know.¡± Those three people. Which three people? Zhou Xu squatted in a corner of the flower pavilion, counting the roses on the ground. Xu Yunci really liked roses; the flower pavilion was full of them, in all different varieties. Zhou Xu listened a while longer at the corner, then stealthily made her way to the bottom of the flower rack, and poured an entire bottle of paraquat on the roses. The smell of the chemical¡­ was a bit strong. She slipped out of the flower pavilion quietly and then climbed onto the roof of the villa, heading for the Luo Family¡¯s attic. Inside, it was the same old scene: cobwebs covered the whole room. She didn¡¯t dare to turn on the light, but instead used a flashlight to look around. The table and the wooden bed were covered in dust, and apart from the crude painting by the bedside, there were no signs of anything else. The attic was built quite low; Zhou Xu could reach the ceiling with her hand, making her feel quite claustrophobic. She heaved a deep sigh. In her earpiece, Shuangjiang asked, ¡°Did you remember anything?¡± ¡°Nothing.¡± She walked around inside for a while and eventually sat on the wooden bed, reaching out to touch the painting by the bed, ¡°But it feels very familiar.¡± Is that painting of Jiang Zhi? The hair was drawn too sparsely, just three strokes. She leaned in closer, peering carefully, but still couldn¡¯t make out Jiang Zhi¡¯s figure in the drawing. Instead, she saw a hole behind the wooden bed. She stood up, moved the bed away, and reached into the hole to search. She pulled out a decayed milk can, a faded candy wrapper, and a tattered notebook. They were too old; the milk can and the candy wrapper were no longer recognizable. Zhou Xu dusted off the notebook, opened it, and the handwriting inside was all crooked and misshapen, filling the entire book with one name. All ¡®Jiang Zhi¡¯. That child must have really, really liked that young man. Chapter 154: 154: Textile powerhouses join forces, unstoppable (second update Chapter 154: 154: Textile powerhouses join forces, unstoppable (second update ¡°I haven¡¯t had my meal yet¡­¡± Jiang Zhi was angry, ¡°They didn¡¯t give you any food?¡± Hostage Zhou Xufang pouted, ¡°Yes.¡± Kidnappers: ¡°¡­¡± On the phone, the family of the hostage took a deep breath to calm down, lowered their voice, and comforted the hostage, ¡°Xu Fang, don¡¯t be afraid, just¡ª¡± The call had already lasted one minute and thirty seconds. Hong San immediately picked up the phone, turned off the speakerphone, as he had neither the time nor the patience to listen to the lovebirds croon¡ªmoreover, the young master of the Jiang Family was not a simple one, and he didn¡¯t want to waste any more time. He was concise, ¡°Your girlfriend is fine, prepare the ransom.¡± Jiang Zhi got straight to the point, ¡°How much do you want?¡± Hong San said, ¡°Five million, all in US Dollars.¡± There was a moment of hesitation on the other end, ¡°The time and place for the exchange.¡± Hong San glanced at the call timer again and sped up his speech, ¡°I will have someone send the time and place later.¡± His tone shifted to a threat, ¡°But, don¡¯t call the police. If I find out there are police, I will send your girlfriend on her way immediately.¡± Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t hesitate, showing his stance, ¡°I won¡¯t call the police, but don¡¯t harm my people either. If you dare to treat me like a cash cow, you should know who I am. Money is no issue for me, and I don¡¯t need to call the police over five million. I¡¯ll give you whatever, consider it charity, but if my people get hurt, you won¡¯t end well. I don¡¯t care who you are, if you harm my people, I will make sure you¡¯re dead.¡± The young master of the Jiang family was truly not to be trifled with. Hong San, his face stern and eyes aflutter with panic, his hand sweaty as he clenched it by his side. Jiang Zhi continued in a commanding tone, ¡°She hasn¡¯t eaten yet, go buy her some food.¡± The call was approaching three minutes. Jiang Zhi was still speaking, ¡°And another thing¡ª¡± Hong San interrupted harshly, ¡°Stop stalling for time, just quietly wait for my instructions.¡± He snorted coldly, ¡°If you try any tricks, I¡¯m not afraid to die; your girlfriend can suffer for it.¡± After finishing his piece, Hong San hung up the phone, then immediately turned it off and threw it into a blazing fire barrel. ¡°That,¡± The hostage in the cage clung to the bars, anxiously said, ¡°I still haven¡¯t had my meal¡­¡± Hong San approached and kicked the cage, ¡°Be quiet, or I will shut your mouth!¡± The hostage immediately clamped her mouth shut, curling up in fear. S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Seeing her comply, Hong San turned back and instructed Ah Wan, ¡°You go buy some food.¡± Zhou Xufang, with her head buried, showed a satisfied expression. 10:34. Jiang Zhi had just hung up the phone, asked, ¡°Did you find anything?¡± He was still in the opera house¡¯s security room, a notebook on the table displaying SpongeBob, his phone connected to it by a data cable. Shuangjiang¡¯s voice was computer synthesized, sounding like a car navigation system, ¡°The time was too short, I couldn¡¯t track the specific address, only a general area.¡± The kidnapper was smart, knowing they would track him, and he timed it well. Shuangjiang was much faster than a typical hacker, barely managing to get a rough area. Jiang Zhi said, ¡°Send it to me.¡± Shuangjiang sent over the tracking area. Xue Baoyi came in from the outside, ¡°I checked all the vehicles; the plates are fake. The kidnappers¡¯ route ended at Three-mile Bridge, there are several intersections there, and it¡¯s remote with no surveillance, or it¡¯s a blind spot.¡± Three-mile Bridge. Jiang Zhi pulled up the map, circled the area Shuangjiang sent over, and silently studied it for a while: ¡°If I were the kidnapper, I would go here, here,¡± he marked several points on the map, ¡°and here.¡± The spots he pointed to were all places that would divert attention, with few eyewitnesses and little surveillance. This was counter-surveillance in criminology. Xue Baoyi roughly got his drift, ¡°A dragnet search?¡± Covering such a large area with a dragnet search would consume a lot of manpower, besides, it¡¯s just speculation. Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t explain further, only said, ¡°Don¡¯t miss any spot.¡± Xue Baoyi agreed, ¡°You promised you¡¯d pay the ransom, right? Once the ransom is paid, everything will be fine, so why go the extra mile?¡± ¡°Must have a backup plan.¡± Fine. This was like guarding one¡¯s lifeline. Xue Baoyi assured him, ¡°Don¡¯t worry.¡± Jiang Zhi wasn¡¯t worried at all; he still couldn¡¯t see Zhou Xufang, couldn¡¯t touch or hold her, his mind in constant unrest and panic. He pulled out a piece of paper, wiped the sweat from his palm, ¡°They only asked for five million.¡± Xue Baoyi inquired, ¡°What about five million?¡± ¡°If you were the kidnapper, you¡¯ve already made your move, someone like me,¡± Jiang Zhi hypothesized, then asked, ¡°would you only ask for five million?¡± Xue Baoyi, being a big-picture thinker, would obviously not settle for just five million. He spoke frankly, ¡°I would want five hundred million.¡± That made sense. Jiang Zhi¡¯s worth was far beyond five million, and the fact that the kidnapper dared to target him showed he had the nerve, yet he only asked for five million. Something was off, Xue Baoyi speculated, ¡°Maybe it¡¯s not about the money?¡± Jiang Zhi was certain, ¡°It¡¯s not.¡± Zhou Xufang¡¯s strength and speed were over thirty times that of a normal human. Under the assumption that her weakness was unknown, the likelihood of her being kidnapped quickly was slim. He suspected, Zhou Xufang had intentionally gotten herself kidnapped. Two in the morning. Jiang Zhi received an email from Shuangjiang. Shuangjiang: ¡°I received a message from an unknown number.¡± Jiang Zhi was still at the opera house and had not yet received the kidnappers¡¯ transaction time and location. He decided not to move, having not slept all night, his eyes slightly gritty and reddened. He said, ¡°The content.¡± ¡°One number, and one sentence.¡± Shuangjiang sent over the message exactly as it was, ¡°Jiang Zhi, don¡¯t worry, I am Lord Black Impermanence.¡± She is Lord Black Impermanence, her mana boundless, and she wouldn¡¯t suffer any loss. It was her way of informing him she was safe. Jiang Zhi¡¯s tense nerves relaxed slightly, ¡°What¡¯s the number?¡± Shuangjiang replied, ¡°0893.¡± As expected. She had been kidnapped intentionally and had her own plan. Jiang Zhi breathed a sigh of relief. Once he found her, he definitely needed to teach her a lesson for being so reckless. Meanwhile, at the pigsty. After sending the message to Shuangjiang, Zhou Xufang gently placed her phone back on the table. The man sleeping with his head on the table suddenly moved. Zhou Xufang raised her hand, but before she could strike, the man shifted his position and went back to sleep. Alright, she wouldn¡¯t hit him if he was still asleep. Silently, she crawled back into her cage, bent the iron bars she had twisted by hand back into place, and straightened them out. Unable to sleep in the pigsty, she lay awake, staring at the not-so-round moon outside, sighing in frustration. It was so annoying! The pigsty smelled terrible. The next day at seven in the morning, Jiang Zhi still hadn¡¯t received a call from the kidnappers. ¡°Boss,¡± Ah Wan, who had not slept all night, had two large dark circles under his eyes, his short hair standing on end in several strands, ¡°the people have been brought here.¡± Jiang Zhi emerged from the security area, leaning against the door, and scanned the crowd, ¡°Are they all here?¡± Ah Wan nodded, ¡°Everyone from Hall 4 on the third floor is here.¡± These people, having also stayed up all night, were detained in the opera house by Jiang Zhi. They all looked haggard and terrified, afraid of getting implicated. Jiang Zhi¡¯s face was pale, his voice raspy and hoarse from lack of sleep, the corners of his eyes tinged with red, perfectly complementing his peach-blossom eyes that radiated a trace of exotic allure. He slightly lifted his eyelashes, ¡°Are you the director?¡± Director Lao Qi of Hall 4 stepped forward, trembling, ¡°Yes.¡± Jiang Zhi, with his hands crossed, had his long legs lazily crossed, and cleared his slightly sore throat. His skin was pale, his Adam¡¯s apples reddened, he appeared drained, and asked in a weary tone, ¡°Do you know who was kidnapped?¡± This indifferent tone somehow sent chills down one¡¯s spine. Lao Qi was very nervous, ¡°I know.¡± Jiang Zhi nodded his chin, gesturing, ¡°Speak.¡± Lao Qi started to tremble and stutter, ¡°It¡¯s Mr. Jiang, your girlfriend.¡± Jiang Zhi coughed, his peach-blossom eyes brewing a foggy glow, he corrected, ¡°Fianc¨¦e.¡± His tone was languid and unhurried, ¡°You can go out and ask around to see what kind of person Jiang Zhi is.¡± There was no need for inquiries. Imperial City wasn¡¯t so large, and everyone who had a bit of business sense knew what kind of family the Jiang Family was. Especially since this was the Qiao Family¡¯s opera house. Although Jiang Zhi wasn¡¯t a regular visitor, he was a distinguished guest. Various rumors about him had never ceased, mostly discussing his appearance, his sexual orientation, his talent in directing plays, and his temper and handiwork. In addition, he was the beloved grandson of Jiang Family¡¯s Elder Madam who was fiercely protective; it was rumored before that someone had whispered slander about Jiang Zhi being sickly, and the Elder Madam, unwilling to tolerate such talk, had dealt with that person in private. In summary, among Imperial City¡¯s young masters, Jiang Zhi was the most untouchable. His tone was nonchalant as he spoke somewhat intermittently, ¡°As for me, I have a strong inclination for revenge, sinister and ruthless, and my methods aren¡¯t exactly clean.¡± His sickly pallor and weak voice, lips parting revealing white teeth, his peach blossom eyes finely shaped, portraying a proud and privileged young master. Though his words sounded playful, each word was harsher than the last. ¡°If there¡¯s anything wrong with my fianc¨¦e related to this matter, I¡¯ll retaliate against everyone associated.¡± He added leisurely, ¡°In secret, quietly, one by one, dealing with all of them.¡± People from Hall 4 on the third floor became silent as a chill crept up their spines. After speaking, Jiang Zhi asked, ¡°Do you understand my meaning?¡± Lao Qi wiped his sweat, nodding, ¡°Understood.¡± Jiang Zhi glanced over the people, ¡°And you?¡± Other actors all nodded, each trembling with fear. ¡°Since you understand, be smart about it. Confess, and I might find my fianc¨¦e sooner, which would reduce the chances of her getting hurt, and your days would be a bit more comfortable.¡± Jiang Zhi took off his watch, glanced at the time, and then held it in hand, ¡°My patience is short. I¡¯ll give you ten minutes to think it over. Will you confess yourselves or wait for me to investigate?¡± As soon as he finished speaking, in less than half a minute, a female actor in costume stepped forward, her arm injured and wrapped in a bandage slung around her neck. ¡°Mr. Jiang.¡± Jiang Zhi glanced at her, ¡°Speak.¡± The female actor hesitated for a moment, her back breaking into a cold sweat, nervously began, ¡°Just before the power outage, someone approached me, gave me fifty thousand in cash, asking me to pretend to fall.¡± It was because someone on the third floor really got injured that they managed to get past security. ¡°Go on, more details.¡± The female actor, not daring to withhold anything, confessed everything, ¡°After I fell, because there were no lights and I couldn¡¯t see anyone, someone carried me to a room and instructed me to hide there and not come out.¡± Jiang Zhi¡¯s brows furrowed with a hint of gloom, ¡°Do you remember his appearance?¡± She shook her head, ¡°Both were wearing masks and hats.¡± After a moment of thought, ¡°One had a crew cut, and the other was very tall and robust.¡± Oh, she remembered something else, ¡°He had a tattoo on his arm.¡± Jiang Zhi asked, ¡°What was tattooed?¡± The female actor paused for a long time, sounding uncertain, ¡°It was black, seemed like a dragon.¡± Jiang Zhi asked if there was more. She shook her head, tremblingly said there was nothing more. ¡°And you,¡± Jiang Zhi addressed the others, his gaze deep, ¡°Nothing to say?¡± Two more men stood forward. One of them began speaking, flustered and frightened, ¡°We just helped carry the stretcher, didn¡¯t think much of it, saw the person on the stretcher was bleeding a lot, so we followed to help.¡± Jiang Zhi remained silent. These two men felt even more unsettled, truly afraid of this wealthy and powerful young master. After exchanging glances a few times, the same man continued speaking, ¡°Those two men, one had a tattoo on his arm, the other on his neck, both tattoos were black dragons, the dragon¡¯s eyes were strange, they were, they were red.¡± Chapter 156: 156: Fang Bao, who fell into a cesspit, needs artificial respiration (second update Chapter 156: 156: Fang Bao, who fell into a cesspit, needs artificial respiration (second update Jiang Zhi personally experienced Zhou Xufang¡¯s speed for the first time. It was just a thought: could his family¡¯s member actually be a fairy? If that were the case, he had to find a way to keep her trapped in the mortal world. Zhou Xufang took him outside the surveillance area before stopping. Jiang Zhi¡¯s feet hit the ground, and for a moment, he couldn¡¯t keep his balance. Zhou Xufang quickly steadied his frail noble frame, ¡°Why did you come?¡± He steadied himself and took off his mask, ¡°To save you.¡± Zhou Xufang, fearing that the kidnappers would wake up, listened intently for a while. It seemed that this was their first time being kidnappers¡ªthey were really bold to still be able to sleep, probably thinking that the pig cage locked with three padlocks and wrapped with two iron chains was secure enough. Indeed, besides her, who could get out? But this wasn¡¯t the point. The point was, ¡°Didn¡¯t we agree to wait and see?¡± Jiang Zhi brushed off the straw from her hair, his tone annoyed: ¡°Who agreed with you? Did I agree?¡± Zhou Xufang: ¡°Jiang Zhi¡ª¡± He interrupted, refusing to listen, ¡°I don¡¯t agree.¡± He wanted to drag her back and hide her away, so no one would think of getting their hands on her! ¡°Jiang Zhi,¡± Zhou Xufang expressed with a rare solemn look, ¡°The death of 0893 is connected to them. The tattoo on that Hong San¡¯s hand is exactly the same as the one on Hua Jun¡¯s neck; they are part of the same group. I want to figure out why they wanted to kill 0893.¡± When Hong San covered her with the sedative-soaked cloth, she saw the Black Dragon tattoo with the light from a mobile phone flashlight nearby. Hua Jun had the same tattoo, and if she wasn¡¯t mistaken, Hua Jun and Hong San belonged to the same organization and must be related to the death of 0893. Otherwise, they wouldn¡¯t have kidnapped her. So she didn¡¯t resist, deciding to use their plan against them. She expected Jiang Zhi might guess her intentions, and he simply stated, ¡°0893 was a narcotics officer.¡± Who would kill a narcotics officer and how dangerous it would be to get involved didn¡¯t need further explanation from him. ¡°He was a narcotics officer?¡± Shocked at first, her expression turned to one of sorrowful resolve without hesitation, ¡°Then I need to find out even more.¡± Jiang Zhi tightened his grip on her hand, ¡°Xufang, narcotics enforcement is a matter for the police.¡± He leaned in, gazing straight at her, ¡°I don¡¯t want you to take risks.¡± He, Jiang Zhi, was not a great hero, nor did he have grand ambitions. He was a treacherous and venomous layabout with no compassionate heart, uninterested in the suffering of the world. He only cared about her. Born into this world, into one of the Four Great Families, surrounded by villains, plagued by chronic illness from others¡¯ schemes, one misstep would mean no redemption. In such a brutal environment, not doing evil was already a concession; he couldn¡¯t be a good person. Zhou Xufang was different; she still had a heart of pure innocence. She was adamant: ¡°Jiang Zhi, we can turn a blind eye to other things, but not to drug trafficking.¡± She said, ¡°Absolutely not. If I hadn¡¯t seen it, that would be one thing, but having seen it, I can¡¯t ignore it.¡± 0893 couldn¡¯t have died in vain. All those narcotics officers still struggling on the front lines couldn¡¯t fight alone. Jiang Zhi steadied her shoulders, ¡°Do you have to get involved?¡± Zhou Xufang nodded firmly, ¡°Yes.¡± If she were just an ordinary person, it would be different. But she wasn¡¯t. She had been endowed with abilities beyond those of ordinary people. She might not have ambitions to save the world, but she¡¯d help a little, just a little. ¡°Fine, as you wish.¡± Jiang Zhi compromised. He took a necklace out of his pocket and put it on her, ¡°There¡¯s a tracker in it, I will support you,¡± he had only one condition, ¡°but you must promise me one thing.¡± Zhou Xufang looked up, ¡°What?¡± Jiang Zhi tucked the necklace into her collar, ¡°Your safety comes first.¡± Zhou Xufang nodded, the wrinkles in her brow smoothing out. Her eyes sparkled like stars as she said, ¡°I am a fairy, those mere mortals are no match for me.¡± She was a fairy. Indeed, to someone like him lacking in compassionate heart, she truly was. And he was selfish, seeking her sympathy, ¡°Xufang, I too am but a mere mortal, and quite vulnerable. So, you have to shower me with extra care and not let me be too worried.¡± He reached out to touch her blood-stained clothes, now dry, and shivered, ¡°I was nearly scared to death by the sight of all this blood.¡± Zhou Xufang felt guilty, ¡°I¡¯m sorry for making you worry.¡± Jiang Zhi pulled her into his arms and embraced her, sighing, ¡°I accept it. Who asked me to like you so desperately?¡± He wasn¡¯t kind-hearted; he couldn¡¯t be a good person. He would be her slave, let her dictate his actions. Ah, to put it in a way he preferred, a case of ¡®the wife sings and the husband follows.¡¯ In his arms, she lifted her head, ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± She suddenly asked, ¡°Do I smell?¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± She really knew how to ruin the mood. She persisted, ¡°Do I smell? Is there a pig stench?¡± He didn¡¯t originally have a problem with cleanliness concerning her, but now that she mentioned it, he started to feel it, ¡°¡­Yes.¡± Of course. She had spent the entire day in a pigpen. Zhou Xufang poked his shoulder with a finger, ¡°Stop holding me, you¡¯ll get smelly too.¡± Jiang Zhi held his breath, refusing to let go, ¡°I don¡¯t care.¡± The Zhou Xufang who was embraced felt a bit of small happiness, ¡°Aren¡¯t you disgusted by my smell?¡± Jiang Zhi replied, ¡°Not disgusted.¡± He was really nice. Zhou Xufang reached out to grab his clothes and lifted his face, ¡°Then will you kiss me?¡± The moonlight wasn¡¯t very bright, and Jiang Zhi, using the light, took a good look at her dark face, hesitating for nearly three seconds. ¡°¡­¡± He hesitated! A man¡¯s mouth, deceiving as a ghost. Hmph! Big pig¡¯s trotter! Zhou Xufang pushed him away, discontent, ¡°Then I¡¯m going back.¡± Just as she turned to leave, Jiang Zhi pulled her back, ¡°I¡¯ll kiss you.¡± Only then did Zhou Xufang¡¯s lips curve upwards, ¡°Mhm, mhm.¡± Jiang Zhi cradled her face, kissed her once, and hmm, it wasn¡¯t enough, he kissed her several times before letting go. Zhou Xufang suddenly remembered a novel she had read a few days ago where the heroine asked the hero a question, ¡°Jiang Zhi, if I fell into a cesspit and needed mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, would you give it to me?¡± Jiang Zhi, ¡°¡­¡± He, with his germaphobia, couldn¡¯t even bear to think of the image. He countered, ¡°What if I fell in? Would you give me mouth-to-mouth?¡± Zhou Xufang, ¡°¡­¡± Oh, unbearable to even think about. She felt, ¡°We¡¯d better be careful not to fall into a cesspit.¡± Jiang Zhi agreed. In fact, no answer was necessary because it was clear as day ¨C there was nothing he wouldn¡¯t do for Zhou Xufang, and Zhou Xufang felt the same about him. ¡°Well, I¡¯m leaving.¡± The wind was rather strong, and the barking of dogs was noisy; her hearing was obstructed, and she only caught the faint sound of stirring¡ªright, the kidnappers had woken up. Jiang Zhi also noticed and refused to leave. Zhou Xufang waved him off, then picked up a rock to place the surveillance back where it belonged, and gestured to Jiang Zhi with her lips before returning to her spot. The kidnappers were awake, with Hong San absent, Ah Wang had taken charge. ¡°You guys,¡± Zhou Xufang climbed over the low wall and consciously crawled into the pigpen, ¡°are all awake, huh?¡± S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Ah Wang seemed to find it unbelievable, staring at her intently, ¡°You actually managed to escape.¡± Crouched against the wall, Zhou Xufang was as docile as could be. She explained earnestly, ¡°The iron chain broke on its own, I didn¡¯t run, I just needed to relieve myself, I¡¯m really obedient, I came right back after.¡± Thankfully, she had been afraid of bending the steel bar, so she simply tore the chain apart. Ah Wang lifted the chain to examine it. It was indeed broken. Zhou Xufang hurried back into her cage, closing the door herself, ¡°I¡¯m really obedient.¡± Her tone was fearful, nasal, as if on the verge of tears, ¡°My boyfriend is getting the money ready, I¡¯m very obedient, I won¡¯t run away.¡± Ah Wang glanced at her, then outside the pigpen, and said, ¡°We¡¯re moving immediately.¡± After that, the chains on the cage increased from two to three, and the locks from three to five. And outside the small pig cage, which she couldn¡¯t stretch her legs in, a larger pig cage was added, making her a hostage within a cage inside another cage. Ah Wang moved her overnight. How was she moved? In a large truck, loaded with pigs, and she was one of them. ¡°Oink oink!¡± ¡°Oink oink!¡± ¡°Oink oink!¡± All she could hear were the sounds of pigs oinking. Zhou Xufang was in the center position of the truck, surrounded by pigs on all sides, in the absolute middle, with pigs encircling her like the moon, that overwhelming smell¡­ She shouldn¡¯t have been so obedient. These criminals really treated her like a pig. The next day, eight o¡¯clock. Two kilometers away from the opera house, at a small fork in the main road, an off-road vehicle was parked. Qiao Nanchu opened the car door and got in, looking at the person in the driver¡¯s seat, ¡°Meeting like we¡¯re making some underground drop.¡± Jiang Zhi was wearing sunglasses, his noticeable misty blue hair tucked inside the hood of his black sweater, ¡°These drug traffickers are watching me to guard against you police.¡± One didn¡¯t know how many eyes were lurking in the shadows. With Zhou Xufang still with the enemy, Jiang Zhi had to be prudent. He didn¡¯t even make phone calls now, summoning people out of sight and earshot. Qiao Nanchu took some documents out of the folder and handed them over, ¡°This is a list of the Black Dragon Society. You¡¯ve met their boss before, his name is Hua Jun. The one who kidnapped Zhou Xufang is called Hong San, who¡¯s the second in command. These guys overtly deal with seafood business but smuggle drugs and run high-interest loans in secret, involved in all sorts of crimes. They¡¯re just errand runners, though; the real boss is still hidden.¡± Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t remove his sunglasses, briefly scanning a few pages. ¡°0893 is our comrade, the third in command within the Black Dragon Society. The batch Zhou Xufang confiscated last month was based on intelligence he provided,¡± Qiao Nanchu paused, ¡°But it was a trap, he was exposed, and the last person he saw before his sacrifice was Zhou Xufang.¡± Jiang Zhi remained silent, closing the documents, took a pen from the car, and wrote down a string of numbers on a piece of paper, ¡°He gave these to Zhou Xufang.¡± Chapter 157: 157: Strong alliance to capture drug traffickers Chapter 157: 157: Strong alliance to capture drug traffickers Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t say anything, closed the file, took a pen from the car, and wrote a string of numbers on the paper: ¡°The numbers he gave to Zhou Xufang.¡± Qiao Nanchu looked at the numbers. Jiang Zhi asked, ¡°What do they mean?¡± He pondered, ¡°If they¡¯re not transaction information, they should be identity codes.¡± To understand what they specifically meant, he needed to investigate. Jiang Zhi took a document from the back seat: ¡°This is the invitation list for the premiere and the internal staff for the event; there should be someone from that gang among them.¡± Qiao Nanchu glanced through it but before he finished looking, his mobile phone rang. It was a call from the station. He listened for half a minute, hung up, and then asked Jiang Zhi, ¡°When is Zhou Xufang going to pay the ransom?¡± Jiang Zhi said, ¡°Tomorrow, at seven o¡¯clock in the evening.¡± Qiao Nanchu took a cigarette from the pack and held it between his fingers, ¡°I know why they¡¯re waiting for tomorrow.¡± Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t speak, waiting for him to continue. ¡°Because they think that 0893 leaked the transaction information,¡± he shared with Jiang Zhi the content of the call he had just taken, ¡°The intelligence section received a message that a shipment from the Golden Triangle is coming to Imperial City.¡± The goods from the Golden Triangle were about to arrive, and a trade would soon take place. Just at this time, 0893 was exposed, and those people would naturally suspect that it was the information about this trade that had been leaked. So, they were holding Zhou Xufang hostage, waiting for the trade to be completed, before releasing her, so as to not blow things up or risk her spilling any secrets. Jiang Zhi half-closed her eyes, and beneath her sunglasses, her eyelashes hung quietly: ¡°Which is to say, their transaction is scheduled before I go to pay the ransom.¡± Qiao Nanchu snapped his fingers: ¡°Bingo.¡± Now onto the so-called ¡®C position pig¡¯ who was ¡®worshipped by a crowd¡¯ ¡ª Zhou Xufang. She was brought to a slaughterhouse, a large one, with an overly keen sense of smell, she caught the blood scent of the poultry and meat from afar. When she arrived, the butcher was slaughtering pigs; a particularly sturdy one was resisting death, breaking free from the butcher, and running amok. The butcher and his wife, one with a knife and the other with a pole, chased after the pig. Of course, they couldn¡¯t overpower a strong, fat pig. The butcher grew angry and roared at his wife, ¡°What¡¯s going on? Didn¡¯t you drug this beast?¡± His wife, red-faced from the chase, said, ¡°I was so busy I forgot.¡± The butcher cursed, ¡®useless woman,¡¯ then shouted for his apprentices, ¡°Come over here and help me hold it down.¡± Then, several strong men surrounded the pig, which struggled, of course. The men beat it with sticks until it fell down, and the butcher injected the pig with a syringe. In the end, the pig was immobilized, ready to be butchered. Throughout the whole process, Zhou Xufang watched intently, thinking, Are they going to slaughter me the same way? After that, four men lifted each corner of the cage, carrying Zhou Xufang down just like they would with a pig. Hong San kicked the iron chain on her cage, ¡°Haven¡¯t you seen a pig being killed before?¡± She hadn¡¯t. So pigs are to be drugged before being slaughtered. Zhou Xufang decided that from that moment on, she wouldn¡¯t eat a single morsel. Hong San was pleased with the panicked and frightened expression she showed, but it wasn¡¯t enough. He squatted down and threatened her inside the cage, ¡°If you dare play any tricks, I¡¯ll butcher you just like that.¡± Zhou Xufang blinked rapidly, trying to cry, but no tears would come; she could only dryly pretend, ¡°I daren¡¯t¡­¡± Hong San stood up and ordered his minions, ¡°Carry her in.¡± Then, they confined Zhou Xufang and seven pigs in a pen; she was in a cage, but the seven pigs were not. They seemed curious about her cage, surrounding it and grunting at her. A slaughterhouse was different from a pig farm; besides pig pens, there were enclosures for chickens, ducks, and geese, all encircling Zhou Xufang¡¯s ¡®territory.¡¯ Zhou Xufang: ¡°¡­¡± Ah, it stinks! Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Hong San watched Zhou Xufang from outside the pig pen with a disdainful glance usually reserved for pigs, then his phone rang, and he walked away to answer it. Zhou Xufang held her breath and strained to listen. ¡°Brother Hua.¡± Hua Jun? On the other end of the phone was a man who said, ¡°Prepare two boxes of pieces for me.¡± In the underworld, firearms were referred to as ¡°pieces.¡± Zhou Xufang recognized the voice; it was indeed Hua Jun. Hong San asked, ¡°When should I pick up the goods?¡± ¡°Wrap things up by seven o¡¯clock tomorrow evening. Have everything ready half an hour before.¡± ¡°Rest assured.¡± After hanging up the phone, Hong San called over Ah Wang and a few brothers, ¡°I¡¯m stepping out for a bit; you guys keep a good watch.¡± ¡°Got it, Brother San.¡± Hong San left. By midnight, he had not returned. Among the guards, Ah Wan was the most cautious. He never took his eyes off the hostages in the pigpen. Midway, he took a phone call, leaving the others to chat for a bit and start dozing off. Before long, the hacker with thick glasses and thinning hair sitting in front of the computer monitoring the system lay down as well. The opportunity had arrived. Zhou Xufang twisted open the cage, carefully avoided the chains, and squeezed out, stepping over two pigs to exit the pigpen. She moved quietly to the computer and entered a link. She typed slowly and lightly, ¡°Shuangjiang, it¡¯s me.¡± Shuangjiang replied, ¡°I¡¯m here.¡± ¡°Tomorrow night at seven, those guys have a deal. I don¡¯t know the location yet.¡± There was no time to waste, so Zhou Xufang got straight to the point, ¡°Pass the message to Jiang Zhi. Tell him to inform the Drug Enforcement Team.¡± Shuangjiang responded affirmatively, ¡°I¡¯ve sent the link. Click into it, and I¡¯ll take control of this computer.¡± He needed to erase Zhou Xufang¡¯s operational records. ¡°Okay.¡± Zhou Xufang clicked on the link, and immediately codes began to scroll on the computer screen. Shuangjiang asked, ¡°Can you get Hong San¡¯s mobile?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll try.¡± In the small window at the bottom-right, the font changed, and three words came through: ¡°Zhou Xufang.¡± Shuangjiang never addressed her by her full name. Zhou Xufang stared at those three words for a few seconds, ¡°Jiang Zhi?¡± ¡°It¡¯s me.¡± He wanted her to back off, to get out. The words were on the tip of his tongue, but all that came out were two words, ¡°Be careful.¡± Zhou Xufang replied, ¡°Okay.¡± Afterward, Shuangjiang remotely controlled the computer, leaving nothing for Zhou Xufang to do. She crept back to the pigpen, fearing that the guards might wake up. Just as she squeezed back into the cage, she saw a cup on the table. It belonged to Hong San; old habits die hard, soaking goji berries. She crouched in the cage for a while, then slipped back out. That afternoon, the butcher¡¯s wife had put some drug in the pig feed. By morning, they were set to slaughter these seven pigs. Zhou Xufang squatted by the trough, rummaging through the feed, and indeed, found a half-dissolved pill. She crushed the pill and tossed it into the cup with the soaking goji berries. Late into the night, Hong San returned. Thanks to that half pill, he slept soundly, oblivious to his phone being taken from his pocket. The next day, early evening at six. Jiang Zhi sat waiting for a call, asking Ah Wan, ¡°Is the money ready?¡± ¡°It¡¯s all set.¡± Ah Wan showed a face full of concern for the people, ¡°Boss, are you really going alone?¡± ¡°Yep.¡± Going alone, he was too precious a target, too dangerous. Ah Wan was very anxious. On the table, finally, there was some activity on the mobile phone Hong San had sent over. Jiang Zhi immediately answered, ¡°You can send over the actual deal location now.¡± The address given previously was fake; they wouldn¡¯t be foolish enough to reveal the exchange location from the get-go. On the phone, Hong San¡¯s voice was rough, ¡°Seven o¡¯clock, North Coast Pier. Come alone.¡± Chapter 158: 158: Textile Couple Jointly Abuse Dog (First Update) Chapter 158: 158: Textile Couple Jointly Abuse Dog (First Update) ¡°Seven o¡¯clock, North Coast Pier, come by yourself.¡± Jiang Zhi rose from his seat, opened the black briefcase, and glanced at the neatly arranged US dollars inside: ¡°Pick up my girlfriend.¡± Hong San activated the speakerphone. Zhou Xufang shouted, ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± After Jiang Zhi responded, he didn¡¯t speak and waited for a while: ¡°Xu Fang.¡± ¡°Uh-huh.¡± He said, ¡°Wait for me.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± This girl seemed compliant, but in reality, she had her principles and her own things she wanted to do. Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t want to influence her; thus, the only option was for him to step back and let her take control. ¡°If you dare bring the police,¡± Hong San deliberately banged loudly on the cage, his murderous intent palpable, ¡°I¡¯ll throw her into the sea to feed the fishes.¡± Feed the fishes? Zhou Xufang could swim in both water and on land, so it was uncertain whether she would feed the fishes or the fishes would feed her. Let¡¯s see. Jiang Zhi said, ¡°No police, don¡¯t harm her.¡± Hong San hung up the phone. ¡°Lin Wanwan,¡± Jiang Zhi tossed the phone on the table, ¡°you go out first.¡± Ah Wan: ¡°Oh.¡± Why is he sending me out?! After Ah Wan left and closed the door, Jiang Zhi then asked Xue Baoyi, ¡°Where¡¯s the stuff?¡± Xue Baoyi hesitated for quite some time, but still took out a gun from his pocket, wrapped it in a handkerchief, placed it on the table, and spoke with unusual seriousness, ¡°Brother Zhi, you can¡¯t mess with this casually.¡± He pushed the gun towards Jiang Zhi, not in his usual frivolous or joking manner; he was very serious, ¡°Don¡¯t take it out unless it is absolutely necessary.¡± Jiang Zhi took the gun and simply said, ¡°I understand.¡± You understand? I don¡¯t! Xue Baoyi was very uneasy. Half past six. Jiang Zhi received a call from Hong San, just one sentence: ¡°Turn around.¡± Hong San said, ¡°Go to South Coast Pier.¡± Then, the call was cut. North and South Coast Piers were separated by half the city; it would take half an hour to drive there even without traffic. Jiang Zhi put on his Bluetooth headset and contacted Shuangjiang with a different phone: ¡°Is Zhou Xufang moving towards South Coast Pier?¡± Shuangjiang replied, ¡°Yes.¡± After thinking for a few seconds, Jiang Zhi said, ¡°Send her location to Qiao Nanchu.¡± sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Okay.¡± He knew what Zhou Xufang planned to do, and was worried sick; but what could he do? He had to listen to her, right? He turned the steering wheel, making a U-turn. Seven o¡¯clock. The car arrived at South Coast Pier, where the wind was strong, whistling through the sails on the ferry, creating a howling sound. There was no moon tonight, nor a single star, only dim lights that painted the entire pier with a veil of obscurity. Jiang Zhi stopped the car, barely opened the door, when his phone rang. He got out, his gaze sweeping over the docked boats, and answered the call. Hong San said, ¡°Put the money on the chair to your left.¡± Jiang Zhi looked around and walked to the left, setting down the bag. Hong San then ordered, ¡°Step back.¡± He stepped back. The largest cruise ship at the center of the ferry terminal had a person descend, wearing a hood that only showed his eyes. He went forward to check the money in the bag, nodded to Hong San after confirming, and then walked back onto the ship with the bag. The ship¡¯s lights were off, its silhouette indistinct. Jiang Zhi, phone in hand, approached: ¡°Where is my girlfriend?¡± Suddenly, lights flashed at the bow of the ship. Hong San stood atop, wearing a mask over his face. He turned and instructed, ¡°Bring the person up.¡± Two men then dragged someone onto the deck. Jiang Zhi recognized the clothes as Zhou Xufang¡¯s. Her hands were bound, she struggled, and her head was covered with a black cloth, likely her mouth sealed with duct tape. Hong San pulled out a dagger from his pocket and grabbed the hostage¡¯s hood, ¡°Go to the outer side of the pier and wait. We¡¯ll release her after fifteen minutes.¡± Jiang Zhi hesitated very briefly before turning around and just as he took a step¡ª Suddenly, the sound of a police siren. Hong San was shocked, his face turned red in an instant, and he bellowed, ¡°You fucking called the cops!¡± He immediately turned and yelled to the people inside the cruise, ¡°Start the ship!¡± Start the ship? The entire low-voltage switchgear had been destroyed by someone; how could they start? But it was too late, as boats that had been stationary around the cruise started moving slowly, closing in, their lights blazing bright, and the decks teeming with armed police. Hong San was furious, screaming, ¡°Start the ship! Start it now!¡± Let¡¯s rewind half an hour back. After calling Jiang Zhi, Hong San took a dozen of his men, got into the slaughterhouse truck, and headed for the trading location, North Coast Pier, via the expressway. En route, he received a text from Hua Jun. After that, he made four calls, but none went through. Hong San hesitated for a while, ¡°Stop the car.¡± Everyone sat in the covered truck, surrounding a pig cage in the middle. Ah Wang asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Brother San?¡± Hong San kept dialing in a punchy and irritable manner. ¡°There¡¯s trouble at Brother Hua¡¯s side; he¡¯s asking for our backup.¡± Now? Ah Wang pointed at the person in the cage, ¡°What about her?¡± Hong San glanced at Zhou Xufang and then at the hacker who was furiously typing on the keyboard, ¡°Has Jiang Zhi called the cops?¡± He adjusted his glasses on the bridge of his nose, ¡°No, it¡¯s just him alone.¡± ¡°Are you sure?¡± ¡°I¡¯m sure.¡± Despite being cautious, Hong San was still uneasy. He tried another number; it was like all the calls were cursed, none went through, and messages sent received no replies. At that moment, he received another text from Hua Jun, only then did he put his doubts aside, directed the driver to turn around, and said, ¡°Brother Hua wants us to take her along too.¡± He sent a reply and instructed Ah Wang, ¡°Notify Jiang Zhi to redeem the person at South Coast Pier.¡± Oh, so it¡¯s South Coast Pier. Inside the pig cage, Zhou Xufang touched the tracking necklace on her neck, revealing a triumphant and delightfully self-satisfied smile. Six forty. The Criminal Intelligence Department received an intrusion alert. Yes, an intrusion; their defense systems were breached, and their computers were violently remotely controlled. With such a strong-arm approach, who else could it be! Yao An was the first to notice and shouted, ¡°Captain Qiao, take a look at this!¡± Qiao Nanchu swiveled his chair halfway and glanced at the screen with a smile, ¡°Send the location to the Criminal Investigation Team and the Drug Enforcement Team.¡± Those two guys were really quick in their actions. Li Xiaodong hesitated and asked for instructions, ¡°Shouldn¡¯t we confirm it first?¡± What if it¡¯s fake? Qiao Nanchu checked his watch, ¡°There¡¯s no time left, notify them now.¡± It seemed as though Captain Qiao knew something; regardless, Li Xiaodong was utterly confused but decided not to worry about it. He would follow his boss¡¯s orders, ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll notify them now.¡± Three minutes later, the intel department received a response. ¡°The Drug Enforcement Team has moved out.¡± ¡°The Criminal Investigation Team has also moved out.¡± Qiao Nanchu took a sip of water to moisten his throat, then set the cup down and opened the lowest drawer of his desk, took a gun, and put it in his pocket. The Criminal Intelligence Department is usually an administrative division that doesn¡¯t go to the front line of missions and typically doesn¡¯t carry guns. Qiao Nanchu was the only exception, as he had been involved with many cases from the Drug Enforcement Team, the Anti-Smuggling Bureau, and the Criminal Investigation Team. Li Xiaodong felt that a major case was unfolding, ¡°Captain Qiao, are you also going to the scene?¡± ¡°Yep.¡± Qiao Nanchu grabbed his car keys and, striding with his long legs, left. Li Xiaodong murmured, ¡°Why do I feel so uneasy?¡± ¡°I feel the same,¡± Yao An said while gazing at SpongeBob on the screen and the location, frowning tightly, ¡°After all, they¡¯re our archenemies. Can we trust the intel she provided?¡± In addition to the location, the screen displayed a sentence: Seven o¡¯clock, South Coast Pier delivery. Six-fifty. On the second floor of the cruise ship, every meter or two, there was someone on guard, all wearing black suits and fully prepared for action. Hua Jun paced in the room and asked his subordinate for the third time, ¡°Have they arrived?¡± The subordinate checked the time and replied, ¡°Ten minutes until they reach the ferry dock.¡± ¡°Brother Hua,¡± someone entered the room to report, ¡°Hong San and the others have arrived.¡± Upon hearing this, Hua Jun strode out of the room and saw Hong San in the second-floor corridor, his face immediately turning sour, ¡°Who told you to come?!¡± Hong San was stunned, ¡°Didn¡¯t you call me over?¡± Hua Jun¡¯s eyes nearly bulged out of their sockets, his expression taut as the tattoo of a black dragon on his neck was grotesquely distorted by the bulging veins, ¡°When did I ever call you?¡± Hong San panicked briefly, immediately took out his phone, and showed it to Hua Jun. After Hua Jun read the two messages, his face became utterly grim, ¡°I didn¡¯t send these.¡± Enraged, he shouted at Hong San, ¡°Couldn¡¯t you have confirmed with me first?¡± Hong San was also frantic, his face flushed, ¡°I made phone calls, but you didn¡¯t answer.¡± Didn¡¯t answer? Hua Jun never heard any incoming calls, ¡°Give me your phone.¡± Hong San handed over his phone used specifically for contacting the higher-ups, and pulled up his call history; he had made eight calls in total, six to Hua Jun and two to someone labeled ¡®Zhang¡¯. Hua Jun dialed his own number from Hong San¡¯s phone, his phone did not ring for a long time, while Hong San¡¯s phone kept saying it was unanswered. Hong San was at a loss, ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Hua Jun turned and gave him a kick in frustration, his lips trembling with anger, ¡°You idiot, someone tampered with your phone and you didn¡¯t even notice? Is this your first day on the job?¡± Hong San collapsed to the ground, sweating coldly and biting his teeth without uttering a sound. At that moment, a subordinate came to report from downstairs, ¡°Brother Hua, the goods have arrived.¡± The people from the Golden Triangle had already arrived, but trouble had arisen at this critical moment. Hua Jun hesitated, then ordered, ¡°Bring them aboard first,¡± and immediately made a phone call, ¡°President Zhang.¡± The person on the other end asked, ¡°Did you get the goods?¡± Hua Jun, somewhat panicky, said not yet, ¡°Our position might have been exposed.¡± He briefly and quickly relayed the sequence of events. The woman listened silently. Hua Jun, feeling uncertain, asked for instructions, ¡°President Zhang, what should we do next?¡± ¡°Once you get the goods, leave immediately.¡± Once the goods had literally arrived at the doorstep, there was no reason not to offload them. Hua Jun¡¯s palms were sweaty, his mind was in turmoil, ¡°Understood.¡± ¡°If the police show up, use the hostage if you can. If not,¡± the gentle, soft voice of the woman articulated slowly, pausing briefly before continuing, ¡°kill.¡± At least they still held a hostage in their hands. Hua Jun understood, hung up the phone, and asked Hong San, ¡°Where¡¯s the girl?¡± ¡°In the cage outside.¡± Hong San got up from the ground and called for Ah Wang to bring the person up. The person was still inside the cage without being let out, hooded, with their mouth sealed and all limbs bound with thick rope; they curled up quietly in the cage without struggling. Hua Jun squatted down, knocked on the iron cage with his phone, and spoke with a sinister tone, ¡°Whether you get off the ship alive depends on how well your boyfriend behaves.¡± The person inside the cage shivered. Good thing they still had this bargaining chip; Hua Jun¡¯s nerves slightly relaxed, ¡°Ah Wang, keep a close eye on her.¡± ¡°Yes, Brother Hua.¡± Hua Jun glared coldly at Hong San, ¡°You come with me to get the goods.¡± Hong San kicked the cage and followed out. Ah Wang ordered the men to move the cage inside the room, checked the locks carefully, and kept a constant vigil. Throughout it all, Zhou Xufang remained very ¡®honest¡¯ as a hostage inside the cage, while at the same time, she kept her ears pricked up for any noise outside. Hua Jun was receiving the goods, and the other party was speaking a foreign language. The sound of waves and wind was loud, and the noises from outside the cruise ship were hard to hear clearly amidst the clamor. ¡°Xufang.¡± It was Jiang Zhi¡¯s voice, faint and indistinct. ¡°Xufang.¡± Zhou Xufang quietly let out a soft ¡®hmm.¡¯ It was a strange sensation; amidst the cacophony, she tried desperately to catch a trace of his voice, and even the slight details brought her joy. She took several deep breaths, held her breath in concentration, and listened carefully. The voice was not clear, intermittent, ¡°If you can safely retreat¡­ hang the necklace on the sail¡­¡± Hmm, Jiang Zhi¡¯s voice was really nice, more pleasant than the sound of the wind. How did she come to think about this? Zhou Xufang pulled her wandering spirit back and moved her arms slightly. With a bang, the rope binding her burst into several pieces. Ah Wang heard the noise and glanced at the cage, ¡°You¡ª¡± He stared, dumbfounded. Zhou Xufang tugged at the chain with one hand and bent the steel bars with the other, easily creating an opening in the cage, and squeezed out from within. Ah Wang¡¯s legs went weak, and he sank down, his hand shaking as he reached for the door handle, ¡°Hong San!¡± ¡°San¡ª¡± The shout stopped abruptly. Ah Wang didn¡¯t even see how she got close, but her hand was already around his neck, the slender wrist choking off his airway. ¡°If you survive this, try to be a good person next time, okay?¡± Chapter 159: 159: Has Jiang Zhi recognized Luo San? (Second Release) Chapter 159: 159: Has Jiang Zhi recognized Luo San? (Second Release) ¡°If I survive this, I¡¯ll be a good person from now on, understand?¡± After Zhou Xufang finished speaking, she slapped Ah Wang on the neck. Ah Wang¡¯s leg twitched, and he passed out. Just as Zhou Xufang kicked him away, the door was pushed open. It was two men who, hearing the noise, rushed over. Zhou Xufang, worried that the loud noise would alert the people on the ship, decided to act quickly. She grabbed one with each hand, then clapped her hands together forcefully, slamming their heads together. One of them fainted. Zhou Xufang let go, and as the other one was just hitting the ground, she hooked her foot around his neck and gave a twist, knocking him out too. Then, she closed the door and cleaned up the scene. Moments later, she went out, grabbed a woman of similar build to herself, exchanged clothes, covered her up, and threw her into a pig cage. At seven o¡¯clock sharp, Zhou Xufang hung the necklace that Jiang Zhi gave her on the ship¡¯s sail, punched the switch to break it, then dove headfirst into the sea. On the shore, Jiang Zhi glanced at the flashing red dot on the sail and dialed Qiao Nanchu¡¯s number. ¡°Nanchu, we can start now.¡± On the third floor of the cruise, the corridor was packed with people standing on both sides, with four boxes placed on the ground. Hua Jun said, ¡°Go check the goods.¡± His subordinate nodded, stepped forward to open the boxes, each filled with neatly stacked ¡®white paper bricks.¡¯ He took a dagger, cut open the paper, dipped his hand in, and tasted it, checking each of the four boxes in turn before closing them up and returning to stand behind Hua Jun, whispering, ¡°The goods are fine.¡± Only then did Hua Jun raise his hand, signaling with a gesture. Two of his men, understanding, stepped forward with the boxes, opened them, and revealed they were full of US dollars. The opposing leader was a tall black man with a scar running from his mouth to the left ear, which was partially missing. He reached out his hand. Hua Jun stepped forward to shake it, ¡°Pleasure doing business.¡± The man spoke in English, ¡°We can¡¯t stay long. We need to leave immediately.¡± ¡°Of course, the ship is ready.¡± Hua Jun had just finished speaking when police sirens sounded outside. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± the black leader asked angrily, confronting Hua Jun, ¡°Why are there police here?¡± Hua Jun had no answer and shouted at his men, ¡°Where¡¯s the hostage?¡± As the sirens blared, everyone panicked; his subordinate replied, ¡°With Hong San.¡± Three minutes earlier, Hong San had taken the hostages to trade with Jiang Zhi. At that moment, on the deck of the cruise ship, Hong San looked around in panic, then glared at Jiang Zhi, ¡°You fucking called the cops!¡± He turned and shouted, ¡°Set sail! Set sail now!¡± But the cruise ship didn¡¯t move, surrounded by other ships. From a distance, the headlights of several police cars moved closer, entering the ferry terminal and completely blocking any escape route. Then the siren stopped, and Captain Xiao of the Drug Enforcement Team got out of a car with a megaphone, ¡°Everyone on the ship, listen up, you are surrounded.¡± After a brief pause, Captain Xiao raised his voice, stating deeply, ¡°If you resist, bullets won¡¯t be biased.¡± Afterward, dozens of people, men and women, Asian and black, came out from the cabins and went up to the deck. Hong San turned his head, ¡°Brother Hua.¡± Hua Jun stepped forward, kicked him aside, pulled out a gun, and pressed it against the back of a hostage, shouting to the ship below, ¡°Anyone moves, I¡¯ll blow the hostage¡¯s head off first.¡± Captain Xiao raised his hand, signaling to keep calm. Hua Jun grabbed the rope binding the hostage and pulled her towards the bow. He scanned the shore, fixing his gaze on Jiang Zhi, ¡°Mr. Jiang, you better convince these cops to back off soon, or your delicate girlfriend will be buried with us rough men.¡± Jiang Zhi stood in front of a police car, hands in his pockets, utterly calm, ¡°Who said she¡¯s my girlfriend?¡± Hua Jun was momentarily speechless, his hostage still struggling. The shore was crowded, but Jiang Zhi¡¯s messily windblown, haze-blue short hair stood out, lacking the typical composure of a wealthy young master. He smirked, appearing as worldly as a deep-reaching fairy, ¡°Ask her if she¡¯s my girlfriend.¡± Hua Jun paused, then ripped off the hostage¡¯s hood. By the light, he stared in shock, ¡°Where is that woman?¡± The ¡®hostage,¡¯ her mouth sealed with tape, struggled to shake her head. Just then, the ship suddenly tilted. Someone shouted, ¡°There¡¯s someone below!¡± Everyone on the deck looked down, spotting a wet head raising up, followed by a fair-skinned hand waving, ¡°I¡¯m here!¡± The light was too dim to see the outlines clearly, but Hua Jun recognized the voice. Astounded, he exclaimed, ¡°You¡ª¡± Zhou Xufang raised her other hand clutching a piece of rebar, lifted it high, and stabbed forcefully. The rebar pierced into the ship¡¯s hull; she pulled it out and stabbed again. After several repetitions, the ship began to rock intensely. Suddenly, someone screamed, ¡°The ship is leaking!¡± Immediately afterward, a gunshot rang out. ¡°Bang!¡± On the shore, Captain Xiao ordered, ¡°Snipers get ready, engage if they resist.¡± Hua Jun grabbed the fake hostage, using her as a shield, and loudly commanded his men, ¡°Kill that woman in the water!¡± The ship was filled with desperados not afraid of death, only seeking to drag others down with them. Upon Hua Jun¡¯s order, a dozen men aimed into the water, stirring up splashes all at once. It was too dark to see the person in the water clearly. Onshore, Jiang Zhi¡¯s hand, tucked into his pocket, just reached for the handle but was stopped. ¡°You can¡¯t touch this.¡± It was Qiao Nanchu. Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t turn around, his eyes fixed on Hua Jun on the deck, ¡°Zhou Xufang is still in the water.¡± Qiao Nanchu hummed noncommittally, ¡°I¡¯ll handle it.¡± He squinted one eye, leisurely aimed, and rotated the muzzle. ¡°Bang.¡± Hua Jun¡¯s knee was shot, and he fell on one knee. Qiao Nanchu moved his neck, dissatisfied, ¡°I haven¡¯t practiced for too long. I¡¯m a bit rusty.¡± Beside him, behind the police car, Captain Xiao was so excited his double chin squished out, ¡°Who just shot? That was damn accurate!¡± Someone answered, ¡°It was Captain Qiao!¡± Holy shit! That¡¯s top-tier sniper level! Captain Xiao thought, imagining how nice it would be if he were one of his Drug Enforcement Team members. Qiao Nanchu had taken down a few people and turned around to see Jiang Zhi walking further away. He yelled, ¡°Where are you going?¡± Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t look back, ¡°Going to get Zhou Xufang.¡± This crazy fool. Qiao Nanchu caught up, ¡°Bullets don¡¯t have eyes. Find somewhere to hide first.¡± Jiang Zhi turned, cool and composed, ¡°Yeah, bullets don¡¯t have eyes,¡± he said. ¡°So, I¡¯m leaving my back to you.¡± With that, he quickened his steps towards the seaside. This guy, did he trust him too much? Qiao Nanchu clicked his tongue, Dammit, what a lunatic! But what could he do? They had grown up together; how could he not protect him? The night was windy, and the waves rushed one after another, crashing against the shore, the sea water icy cold, soaking his shoes. But Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t care and stepped right into it. He called out, ¡°Zhou Xufang.¡± After the third shout, the water rippled, and a head emerged, followed by eyes and then an anxious face, ¡°How did you get here? Hide quickly!¡± Zhou Xufang¡¯s eyes were already red, the color of blood. Jiang Zhi wasn¡¯t afraid. He stared at her, took two steps forward, water reaching above his calves. He bent down and reached out his hand, ¡°I need to be with you.¡± No matter the danger, he had to be by Zhou Xufang¡¯s side. Zhou Xufang shook her head, telling him not to come, urging him to hide. sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Not far away, the cruise ship was half-sunk, the deck littered with bodies. Hua Jun lay at the bow, scanning the surface of the sea. Spotting his target, he aimed at Jiang Zhi¡¯s back, finger moving to the trigger, pressing down¡ª Zhou Xufang pulled Jiang Zhi into the sea. ¡°Bang!¡± Hua Jun fell to the ground. Qiao Nanchu blew on the gun¡¯s muzzle: Was Jiang Zhi¡¯s back something to aim at casually? Did they think he was dead? The distant streetlight shone on the water, creating sparkling ripples as the wind swept through, lifting layers of waves. That year, the young master of the Jiang Family fell into the water at the Luo Family¡¯s home, became seriously ill, and fell into a coma for a night. Due to his frail constitution, he was unfit to be moved and stayed at the Luo Family¡¯s home to recuperate. A black goose down comforter spread on the bed with the young man lying on his side, his pillow damp with sweat. ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Someone, tirelessly calling out with a rough, hoarse voice. The young man was annoyed awake, opened his eyes, and only saw his family¡¯s butler by the bedside. He sat up, weak, ¡°Who just came in?¡± His voice sounded harsh and smoky after the fever. Jiang Chuan shook his head and replied, ¡°I went to the kitchen to get some medicine and didn¡¯t notice.¡± He came forward with a tray, ¡°Young master, please drink your medicine first.¡± The medicine¡¯s scent was pungent and bitter. As the youngster grabbed the medicine bowl, intending to gulp it down, his sickly pale lips just touching the bowl, the room door burst open. It was the bald foster son of the Luo Family, clumsily rushing over, snatching the young master¡¯s medicine bowl, and throwing it to the floor, splashing the contents everywhere. Butler Jiang Chuan was about to erupt but was stopped by the young master who asked the little bald, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± The little bald boy couldn¡¯t speak. Usually, he would awkwardly gesture to him, but this time he didn¡¯t gesture and instead used his dirty hands to drag him, unknowingly brave, and pulled him outside. Jiang Chuan hurried after them: ¡°Young master.¡± The young master looked back, dismissing Jiang Chuan with a glance, allowing the little bald to tug and drag him to the attic. Bang! The door slammed shut, the little bald finally let go, seeing the young master gasping badly, his face pale. He quickly helped him breathe steady. Once the young master was breathing easier, he stood on his toes and whispered secretly, ¡°You need to hide. They gave you poison. They are bad people.¡± The foster son of the Luo Family was said to be mute, having never spoken before. His voice was rough and hoarse, exactly like the one the young master had heard in his sleep, ¡°You can talk?¡± The little bald did not respond, went to the bed, grabbed a pillow¡ªthe pillow shabby and torn. He reached into the pillow core, rummaged for quite a while, and finally found a pill, then held it out to the young master with both hands, ¡°Eat this, it¡¯s not poisoned.¡± His voice sounded strange, neither male nor female, both rough and gravelly. The young man stared intently at him. ¡°Eat it,¡± he urged. The young man was somewhat dazed but still opened his mouth, letting the dirty hand touch his lips, dropping a pill into his mouth. Before he could swallow, he was shoved into a cupboard. The little bald immediately closed the cupboard door and then leaned against it with his back. He kept talking, ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid. I¡¯m here.¡± ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Jiang Zhi suddenly opened his eyes to meet a pair of red eyes. It was Zhou Xufang. She cautiously wiped seawater from his face, saying, ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid. I¡¯m here.¡± After that incident in the water, Jiang Zhi had developed a fear of water. He paused for a moment, then hugged her tightly. Chapter 160: 160: Jiang Zhis beauty trap, Fang Bao takes the bait (first update) Chapter 160: 160: Jiang Zhi¡¯s beauty trap, Fang Bao takes the bait (first update) He was startled for a moment, then hugged her tightly. Zhou Xufang lifted her wet face from his shoulder and tilted her head to look at him, ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± He was holding her so tight that she was having trouble breathing. By her ear, Jiang Zhi was panting lightly. Water droplets from his bangs followed the contour of his face, dripping onto her neck. ¡°Fang Bao.¡± He tilted his head sideways, kissing her face. Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t move, ¡°Hmm?¡± He called her name and then fell silent again. Zhou Xufang clumsily patted his back, trying to console him, ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you?¡± He buried his face in her shoulder, his emotions suppressed and sinking deep within his eyes, his voice hoarse and barely more than a breath, trembling with sincere fear, he said, ¡°Don¡¯t be like him, don¡¯t die before me.¡± She was too much like Luo San. Her eyes, her way of speaking, her obedience, and her disobedience too. She was the spitting image of that foolish boy, her heart and eyes full of him as her entire world, willing to give her all, offering him every precious thing she had. Too much alike, it gave him the illusion as if he were going in circles, making the same mistakes over again. Oh, there was just one difference. Luo San was gone, and he was still alive. If Zhou Xufang were gone, he could not live. ¡°I will live to be a hundred years old.¡± Zhou Xufang was making a promise, her voice wrapping around him, lingering by his ear. She said she would live to be a hundred years old. She said, ¡°I will always be with you.¡± She had to live to be a hundred years old. Jiang Zhi wouldn¡¯t outlive her. ¡°Cough.¡± Such an ill-timed ¡®cough¡¯. Jiang Zhi released Zhou Xufang, ¡°Close your eyes first.¡± Her eyes were still red, but she obediently closed them. Qiao Nanchu, that third wheel out back, was waiting for the inseparable couple to part before he approached, ¡°It¡¯s all taken care of, let¡¯s withdraw.¡± Jiang Zhi shielded Zhou Xufang behind him and said, ¡°Thanks.¡± The sea breeze carried his voice, making it faint and elusive. Qiao Nanchu asked, ¡°Thanks for what?¡± ¡°For the backup.¡± Among their childhood friends, each more toxic in speech than the last, they seldom thanked each other so earnestly. Qiao Nanchu felt this guy had been tamed by his girlfriend, making it quite unfamiliar, ¡°Less cheesy.¡± He turned to leave but just as he had taken a step, he stopped, turned back, and also said, ¡°Thanks.¡± Indeed. Hearing it did sound cheesy. Jiang Zhi asked him, ¡°What are you thanking for?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not you.¡± The wind was fierce and bone-chilling. Qiao Nanchu took off his coat and tossed it to Jiang Zhi, ¡°0893, my colleague.¡± He looked at the young girl behind Jiang Zhi, ¡°Thanks, Zhou Xufang.¡± Zhou Xufang poked her head out, still with her eyes closed, ¡°No need for thanks, I was just doing what I should.¡± What she should? How many people in the world would risk their lives to do what they should? It¡¯s easy to lend a hand, but to give one¡¯s life for a righteous cause, who would do that? Qiao Nanchu didn¡¯t say more, it was too cold, he went to the car to warm up. Behind him, the insensible Jiang Zhi was still complaining about him, ¡°Smoke less, your clothes reek of cigarette smoke.¡± After his grumbling, he draped the coat over Zhou Xufang. Zhou Xufang wasn¡¯t actually cold. She asked Jiang Zhi, ¡°Aren¡¯t you cold?¡± Jiang Zhi, pale as paper, replied, ¡°Not cold.¡± If he wasn¡¯t cold, why was his voice trembling? She hugged Jiang Zhi, ¡°Let¡¯s get to the car quickly.¡± The dock was closer to Zhou Xufang¡¯s place. She was worried Jiang Zhi would catch a cold, so they went directly to hers. As both of them were soaked from the sea and in poor condition, Captain Cheng from the Criminal Investigation Team sent a police officer to drive them. The two sat in the back wrapped in a blanket. Zhou Xufang suddenly asked, ¡°Jiang Zhi, why are you afraid of water?¡± Jiang Zhi said, ¡°A sequela of nearly drowning.¡± He didn¡¯t elaborate on how he had almost drowned. Zhou Xufang felt melancholic, ¡°Then I can¡¯t take you to Moon Bay anymore.¡± It was a regret that she wouldn¡¯t be able to dive with Jiang Zhi at Moon Bay. It was the first time Jiang Zhi heard her mention this place, ¡°Where¡¯s Moon Bay? What do you do there?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a small island abroad.¡± Zhou Xufang, not wanting to distract the police officer driving in front, lowered her voice and moved close to Jiang Zhi to whisper, ¡°I used to want to buy it as a place to live.¡± The car¡¯s heater was blasting high. Having been dipped in water, and with the transition from cold to hot, it turned the moisture in Jiang Zhi¡¯s eyes into a layer of fog, veiling the glow in his peach blossom eyes. Zhou Xufang thought he looked like a delicate flower emerging from water, both tender and bright. The little flower asked, ¡°You want to live on the island?¡± Zhou Xufang nodded, telling her family¡¯s little flower, ¡°Living alone is safe. If people come, I can hide in the water and not let anyone find me.¡± She liked living alone. Jiang Zhi was aware that if she weren¡¯t dating him, she might not live in the city for long and would sooner or later become a ¡®worldly master¡¯ deep in the ¡®forests¡¯. Retreating to solitude was fine, but he had one condition, ¡°Going to the island is okay, but take me with you.¡± Zhou Xufang seriously considered it, then refused, ¡°I won¡¯t take you.¡± ¡°Cough cough cough cough!¡± He was already feeling an itch in his throat when her words made him choke, setting his stomach ablaze. Zhou Xufang, upon hearing his cough, immediately patted his back to ease his breath, thinking to herself that although Jiang Zhi feigned illness, his body was genuinely frail. His face was already red, and after a couple of coughs, his Adam¡¯s apple had reddened too. Illness tinged his features. He was dissatisfied, ¡°Why not take me?¡± Zhou Xufang explained, ¡°Moon Bay is very cold, you¡¯re so delicate, you can¡¯t live there.¡± Jiang Zhi was a pampered young master, unsuited for harsh environments. So, what she meant was, ¡°If you buy the island in the future, will you go alone and leave me behind?¡± Annoyed, his eyes reddened with a thin layer, like the early autumn sun casting its first meter of light onto the clear water, half the color submerged, half reflected. Zhou Xufang thought the little pampered flower looked even more beautiful soaked, and couldn¡¯t help but reach out to touch his face, touching here and there. She said to the little pampered flower, ¡°My money isn¡¯t enough to buy an island, I have to support you.¡± She was honest, not concealing her thoughts, ¡°I¡¯ll buy it when I¡¯ve saved enough.¡± The first half of her words were sweet, and Jiang Zhi felt a bit pacified. But then Zhou Xufang went on, ¡°Shuangjiang told me to buy it first, and if you make me angry in the future, I¡¯ll go to the island, and won¡¯t live with you.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Jiang Zhi unhesitatingly pushed away her wandering hands, tossed his head, and his expression conveyed a message¡ªgo live alone on your island, don¡¯t touch me! Oh, and another message¡ªHurry up! Pacify me! Then, Zhou Xufang spent the entire trip pacifying him, and the police officer driving the car struggled to hold back his laughter. He had never expected that Mr. Jiang, who always radiated an air of nobility even in his hair, could be so tender in front of his girlfriend. When they arrived at Yuquan Bay, it was just past half past eight. Zhou Xufang let Jiang Zhi take a shower first; she had plenty of his clothes here, some bought by her, and some brought by Jiang Zhi himself. When she came out after freshening up, Jiang Zhi had taken over her nest, occupying her bed, with one hand holding her cup and the other using her tablet. Zhou Xufang tiptoed to the bed in her slippers, climbed up, and asked, ¡°What are you looking at?¡± Jiang Zhi handed her the tablet, ¡°Watches.¡± Oh. She leaned in to take a closer look too. Jiang Zhi put down the cup and pulled her into the covers. He was wearing the same pajamas as hers, pink, with a large bunny printed on the back. ¡°Xu Fang,¡± he said with one arm around her and the other holding the tablet, ¡°buy me a watch.¡± This was the first time he had actively asked her for something. Zhou Xufang felt great and immediately agreed, ¡°Sure, which one do you like?¡± ¡°This one.¡± Jiang Zhi picked out the most expensive one. Zhou Xufang happily saved the link to the diamond watch, her actions exhibiting the grandeur of someone who could drop a fortune without a second thought. Jiang Zhi smiled. At his smile, Zhou Xufang felt lightheaded. ¡°Xu Fang.¡± He entwined her like a little demon. Zhou Xufang, feverishly distracted, simply muttered, ¡°Hmm?¡± The little demon smiled, seductive charm brimming from his peach blossom eyes, lips causing mischief at her neck, enticing in a gentle manner, ¡°Can you buy me a car too?¡± My lord, may I take a bite? Just like a little fox spirit that comes down the mountain to seduce scholars. In the end, the scholars in the plays are always drained dry by the little demons. Zhou Shusheng: ¡°I¡¯ll buy.¡± Buy, buy, buy! Buy it all! He wants stars? I¡¯ll buy him stars! I¡¯m willing even if it drains me dry! Jiang Zhi was pleased, revealing a little smirk with his small tiger teeth. Hmph, buy an island? She¡¯ll never be able to afford it in this lifetime. The little demon was up to mischief again, ¡°Is this building all yours?¡± The scholar said, ¡°It¡¯s all mine.¡± I¡¯m full of yang energy, come suck it up! Quick, come! She boasted proudly, ¡°I also have a villa.¡± Her two fingers traced a large circle in the air, Zhou Xufang laughed like a scholar whose senses had been ensnared by a fox spirit, ¡°I have lots of money.¡± Just in case she sells this building to buy the island¡­ Jiang Zhi pressed her down to lie back, himself sprawling on top of her: ¡°Isn¡¯t the property title in your name?¡± He had checked up on her; she didn¡¯t own any real estate, completely impoverished. Zhou Xufang blinked rapidly, her face flushed, her eyes darting around, occasionally glancing at Jiang Zhi¡¯s neck, ¡°I was afraid of investigations, so Shuangjiang arranged it under someone else¡¯s name for me.¡± He suddenly leaned in close, his pajama neckline slipping, ¡°Zhou Xufang, do you love me?¡± Ah, the collarbones. How lovely. Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Zhou Xufang immediately closed her eyes guiltily, nodded her head furiously, her cheeks turned as red as a cooked lobster. The little demon tempted her again, ¡°The property title doesn¡¯t have my name, yet you say you love me.¡± Zhou Shusheng opened her eyes, glanced for a second, shyly turned away her head, revealing her feverishly hot ears, and then she declared firmly, ¡°I¡¯ll transfer it to your name tomorrow!¡± Transfer everything! In the end, the scholar was truly devoured by the fox spirit. Jiang Zhi nodded in satisfaction: Now you don¡¯t have the money to buy an island, do you? Chapter 161: 161: The nights Jiang Zhi was pampered (second update Chapter 161: 161: The nights Jiang Zhi was pampered (second update Jiang Zhi nodded in satisfaction, ¡°Now you don¡¯t have money to buy the island, huh?¡± But he couldn¡¯t let his little ancestor turn into a pauper, he had to secretly save money for her without letting her know, lest she spend it on buying an island. Of course, he didn¡¯t think they would ever argue, and the possibility of her leaving him to live on the island was minuscule, but¡­ if he didn¡¯t deal with this island, he estimated that he would lose sleep tonight. ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± ¡°Mmm.¡± Zhou Xufang adjusted his pajama collar, her eyes proper, not wandering, she said, ¡°You and Chu Manman are quite alike.¡± ¡°Who is Chu Manman?¡± Jiang Zhi lay down, squeezing onto the same pillow, tugged on the blanket, and covered her snugly. Zhou Xufang¡¯s sleeping posture was very honest; she lay straight as a log, her head tilted, looking at Jiang Zhi, a bit tired, her voice soft and tender, ¡°She¡¯s a female protagonist in a manga.¡± She briefly explained the manga¡¯s content, ¡°She¡¯s the little pampered wife kept by President Gu.¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± He really couldn¡¯t refute that. Just now, he had indeed asked for a car, a house, and a watch; in serious terms, it was keeping. Well, if it¡¯s keeping let it be, if it¡¯s Zhou Xufang, he could accept it, but¡ª ¡°Did Lin Wanwan get you into manga again?¡± Zhou Xufang wouldn¡¯t let Ah Wan take the blame, she told the truth, ¡°No, I found it myself. This manga is adapted from a novel; it¡¯s very famous.¡± Talking about her favorite novel, her eyes sparkled, and her tone carried a vicarious pride, ¡°It¡¯s been turned into a TV series too. A friend in the bullet chat told me about the manga and said it was great, so I went to look for it.¡± Jiang Zhi asked, ¡°Which novel?¡± ¡°¡±President Gu, Your Little Pampered Wife Has Fled Again¡±.¡± ¡°¡­¡± His household member was really poisoned by this novel. At midnight, Ah Wan hadn¡¯t slept, staying up waiting for the manga update, then she received a text from her boss, immediately feeling disillusioned! Ah Wan had saved Jiang Zhi¡¯s contact as: Gorgeous Lunatic. Gorgeous Lunatic: ¡°There¡¯s an island called Moon Bay, go and contact them, buy it.¡± Ah Wan had saved her own contact as: Invincible Man Lin. Invincible Man Lin: ¡°Boss, why are you buying an island?¡± In the middle of the night, fussing about buying an island, utterly nonsensical. Then, no reply came. This beautiful lunatic was always like this, replied when he wanted, ignored when he didn¡¯t, completely whimsical, it made Ah Wan want to punch him. Forget it, she continued reading the manga. At exactly twelve o¡¯clock, the manga updated on time, and the newest chapter went as follows: The female protagonist, Chu Manman, and the male protagonist, Gu Yingjun, were accompanying a customer hiking, unexpectedly, Chu Manman got lost, Gu Yingjun, frantic, searched half the mountain before he found her. Then, as it was getting dark, alone with a man, under suspicious circumstances, inflammatory like a blush of fire¡­ that¡¯s impossible. The two sat back-to-back under a tree, watching the stars and the moon, they discussed everything from poetry to philosophy of life. ¡°President Gu, look, a shooting star!¡± exclaimed Chu Manman with delight, her charming smile visible under the moonlight. Male protagonist Gu Yingjun, looking at her enchanting smile, doted, ¡°Silly girl, that¡¯s an airplane.¡± ¡°Oh, it¡¯s an airplane,¡± Chu Manman said, her embarrassed expression still revealed a trace of innocent naivety, cute and adorable, ¡°It¡¯s pretty too.¡± Male protagonist Gu Yingjun was utterly captivated by this innocent naivety. After female protagonist, Chu Manman, fell asleep on Gu Yingjun¡¯s shoulder, he watched her sleeping beauty for a while, then made a call to his secretary. Gu Yingjun, in his cool, domineering CEO style, said, ¡°Get me ten airplanes, all ready to fly.¡± Secretary: ¡°¡­¡± Lunatic! This masterpiece entitled ¡°Goodnight, President Gu,¡± was a manga adapted from the novel ¡°President Gu, Your Little Pampered Wife Has Fled Again.¡± Upon reading this part of the manga, Ah Wan felt that Jiang Zhi, who wanted to buy an island, and Gu Yingjun, who wanted airplanes, were curiously similar, both having a strong chuunibyou aura. Ah Wan was deeply embarrassed. The day after Hua Jun and Hong San were arrested, Jiao Zihao¡¯s wife came to the police station to claim his body. The funeral was held three days later, that day, it was overcast. Being an undercover narcotics officer, for fear of involving his family, the funeral was conducted secretly, not even relatives were notified. The memorial service was set up in the funeral home. Qiao Nanchu parked his car on the side of the road, just as he got out, he saw an acquaintance. It was Captain Xiao from the Drug Enforcement Team, dressed in black formal attire, ¡°Why are you here?¡± He had brought his uniform with him, in the car, not worn. Qiao Nanchu walked ahead, and the two entered the funeral home one after the other; he looked back at Captain Xiao, ¡°Aren¡¯t you here too?¡± It¡¯s not known whether today was especially busy with funerals, as just upon entering, cries were incessant; Captain Xiao sighed, ¡°It looks like it¡¯s just us two.¡± Only the two of them knew, the gangster Ah Hao was an honorable narcotics officer, badge number: 110893. As they walked further inside, the light dimmed. Before entering the ancestral hall, Qiao Nanchu paused at the doorway and asked, ¡°Have you summoned them yet?¡± S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Captain Xiao shook his head, ¡°Their lips are sealed.¡± Qiao Nanchu took his hands out of his pockets and entered the hall. No mourners were present, except Jiao Zihao¡¯s wife, Qiu Family, sitting alone on the floor with disheveled hair and swollen, reddened eyes, ¡°Who are you?¡± Qiao Nanchu didn¡¯t respond; he placed a white chrysanthemum in front of the memorial tablet, then stood straight and saluted. Captain Xiao did the same; a white chrysanthemum and a salute. Qiu propped herself up and wobbled over to the memorial, covering her mouth as she sobbed. ¡°Zihao, your comrades¡­ your comrades are here¡­¡± Captain Xiao looked away, his eyes reddening. ¡°Condolences.¡± In the end, that was all they could offer, those pale four words; anything else felt too light, too stuck in the throat. Before leaving, Qiu chased after them, asking only one question, ¡°Did Zihao suffer when he passed?¡± Captain Xiao bowed his head, silent. It was Qiao Nanchu who spoke, ¡°No, he didn¡¯t suffer.¡± ¡°That¡¯s good¡­ that¡¯s good¡­¡± Qiu murmured a couple of times, sat down, and wept bitterly. ¡°Uncle.¡± An eight-year-old boy stood at the doorway, clutching Qiao Nanchu¡¯s sleeve. He was tall and stout, resembling his father, ¡°Are you my dad¡¯s friend?¡± Qiao Nanchu squatted down, ¡°Yes.¡± The little boy looked stubborn, clearly heartbroken, yet clearly trying not to cry, ¡°Then was my dad a bad person?¡± Qiao Nanchu shook his head. He sniffled but still refused to cry, ¡°They say my dad was a big villain, and that¡¯s why he was killed. They¡¯re just talking nonsense, right?¡± ¡°Right, they¡¯re talking nonsense.¡± Qiao Nanchu, crouching, nearly eye-level with the child, lifted his hand to pat the boy¡¯s head but ended up resting his hand on his shoulder instead. He told the little boy, ¡°Your dad wasn¡¯t a villain.¡± His eyes slightly reddened, ¡°He was a hero.¡± He lied¡ªhis comrade had suffered terribly when he died, cut by many knives, none fatal, almost bled dry. But he was just a child and he ended up crying. Crying, he said earnestly, like children do, ¡°When I grow up, I want to be a hero too.¡± He wiped away his tears again, gritting his teeth. His twin sisters were only a month old; now, he would be the head of the family and couldn¡¯t cry anymore; if he did, it would only make his mom sadder. ¡°Mom.¡± The little boy walked into the hall and knelt beside his mother, gently patting her back. Captain Xiao, covering his eyes, went outside, his fingers damp. Qiao Nanchu stood outside the hall, not in a hurry to leave, leaning against the wall, lighting a cigarette. At nine in the evening, Wen Baiyang had just finished showering when a message arrived on her phone. Qiao Nanchu: ¡°I¡¯m at your door.¡± He rarely visited her place unless it was something important. Wen Baiyang, pulling on a coat over her pajamas, opened the door, ¡°Why are you here?¡± she asked in sign language. He stood before her door, his eyes heavy and slightly drunken, ¡°I¡¯m here for tea.¡± She moved closer to sniff, ¡°Have you been drinking?¡± He laughed, ¡°A little.¡± Not just a little¡ªhis breath was heavy with alcohol, his eyes dull and listless. Wen Baiyang stepped aside, ¡°You sit, I¡¯ll make tea.¡± She hesitated whether to support him. Qiao Nanchu walked in on his own, his steps¡­ alright, just slightly unsteady. He picked the long couch, lying down straight away, closing his eyes and pinching his brow. Wen Baiyang returned with the tea only to find him already asleep, the couch slightly too small, fitting awkwardly. ¡°Brother Chu.¡± She couldn¡¯t make any sound, so she set down the teapot and leaned over to nudge Qiao Nanchu¡¯s hand. He opened his eyes, slightly intoxicated, and his gaze somewhat blurry. She moved closer, worried he couldn¡¯t see her signing, ¡°Don¡¯t sleep here, you¡¯ll catch a cold.¡± He turned over, not getting up, his eyes holding a faint smile that was lazy, watching her, ¡°Worried I¡¯ll catch a cold?¡± She nodded. He placed his hand under his neck, as casual as ever, but his smile faintly joyless, ¡°Then why don¡¯t you get me a blanket?¡± Chapter 162: 162: Raise the Daughter-in-law like a Daughter (First Update) Chapter 162: 162: Raise the Daughter-in-law like a Daughter (First Update) ¡°Why didn¡¯t you get me a blanket?¡± Oh, the blanket. Wen Baiyang went to the bedroom, brought out the blanket from her bed, and placed it on the sofa. He lay there, motionless, with drunkenness glinting three or four points in his eyes, an ambivalent emotion seemed to swell within, yet he spoke not a word, just watched her. For a long time. Then he finally said, ¡°Help me cover up.¡± He was so different today, like a small child in need of care. Wen Baiyang squatted down, fluffed the blanket, spread it evenly, covering him entirely except for his head peeking out, and she detected a strong scent of alcohol, ¡°Are you feeling upset?¡± ¡°Uh-huh.¡± She could tell, he was in a low mood. She didn¡¯t know how to comfort him, ¡°Do you want to drink more?¡± Qiao Nanchu laughed. Thinking he wanted to drink, she stood up to get the alcohol, but as soon as she stood, he grasped her, ¡°You can¡¯t offer alcohol to men, and certainly not at home.¡± She was still young, inexperienced. After drinking, most men are no good, and those who drink at a girl¡¯s home, taking advantage of the inebriation to act like beasts, are even more common. He released her, sat up slightly, asked patiently, ¡°Do you understand?¡± He truly resembled a competent and old-fashioned elder, no wonder Xue Baoyi said he raised a daughter. Indeed like raising a daughter. She nodded, not fully comprehending. He didn¡¯t dwell on this adult topic further; to continue would spoil the mood. He picked up his cup, sipped tea. This barley tea was her own concoction, slightly different from what¡¯s outside; he had some at home, all gifted by her, yet he particularly came here to ask for a drink. On the coffee table, besides the teapot, there was an ashtray. The last time he came over, he asked if she had one to use for smoking, but she said no. This was a new addition. Next to the ashtray, there was an old photograph. ¡°When was this taken?¡± In the photo, he was in police uniform, with a little girl only reaching his chest, making a silly scissor hand gesture. Wen Baiyang used sign language, ¡°The year I came to Imperial City.¡± Back then, her face still bore the distinct highland redness, and she seldom smiled. At the time, he was still studying at the police academy. Qiao Nanchu picked up the photo, looked at it, and asked her with a smile, ¡°When you first came, were you one point five meters tall?¡± ¡°¡­¡± Wen Baiyang, ¡°Yes.¡± She always respected her benefactor and never contradicted him, but this time, she wanted to correct him seriously, ¡°I was one point five one meters tall then.¡± Now she was one meter sixty-three. Qiao Nanchu laughed again. She had been raised quite well, having grown quite a bit taller. He put the photo down, his movement halted as he touched the cup, fixating his gaze on the police badge number in the photo. 14Z083, it was his police number while he was at the academy. Six characters, a mix of digits and letters; the first two were the year of entry, and the same numbering format was used for all students at Imperial City Police Academy. After contemplating for a moment, Qiao Nanchu dialed Jiang Zhi¡¯s number. It rang for a long time before finally connecting, Jiang Zhi was woken up, answered reluctantly, ¡°What is it? It¡¯s so late.¡± ¡°Is the note with 0893 for Zhou Xufang still there?¡± Jiang Zhi sounded very sleepy, his voice bubbly with slurring, ¡°It¡¯s here.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t sleep; I¡¯m coming over.¡± He was extremely tired, yawned, ¡°I¡¯ll leave the key under the doormat, let yourself in.¡± He was going to sleep first. Qiao Nanchu hung up the phone, stood up, ¡°I have to go.¡± Wen Baiyang nodded, ¡°Wait for me.¡± She ran to the kitchen, packed the small dishes from the refrigerator into a large bag and brought it out, ¡°Take this to eat.¡± Handing over the bag, she instructed, ¡°If you don¡¯t finish it, put it in the refrigerator.¡± Qiao Nanchu took the bag, ¡°Lock the door well, don¡¯t let anyone in at night, except for me.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Qiao Nanchu called a substitute driver and went to Qingshan Mansion. Jiang Zhi had placed the key under the doormat at the entrance; he went straight in. The lights were off inside; he turned them on, headed to the bedroom, and pulled away the blanket. ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± No reaction. ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± The lump lying down shifted, ¡°Mmh¡­¡± Qiao Nanchu grabbed a pillow, tossed it on his head, ¡°Get up.¡± Jiang Zhi, annoyed, ran a hand through his hair and sat up, hair tousled in a chaotic haze of smog blue, ¡°Couldn¡¯t you wait until morning?¡± Qiao Nanchu, ¡°No.¡± Jiang Zhi kicked off the pillow, clambered out of bed, yawned, and staggered sleepily to the study. The note left by 0893 had blood on it, just a string of numbers. Jiang Zhi nestled on the sofa, too lazy to move, ¡°Is there a problem?¡± Qiao Nanchu pointed it out to him, ¡°Could this ¡®2¡¯ possibly be the letter ¡®Z¡¯?¡± He glanced at it twice, ¡°Doesn¡¯t really look like it.¡± However, ¡°It could also be that ¡®0893¡¯ mistook ¡®Z¡¯ for a ¡®2¡¯.¡± That possibility couldn¡¯t be ruled out. Qiao Nanchu took out a pen and wrote a series of characters on a piece of paper, asking Jiang Zhi, ¡°If it¡¯s ¡®Z¡¯, do these two formats look similar?¡± 14Z083. 14Z096. Jiang Zhi hummed, ¡°What are they?¡± Holding the pen in his hand, Qiao Nanchu twirled it twice before the pen tip steadied and fell onto the paper, ¡°14Z083 was my police number at the police academy.¡± And 14Z096, was a clue left by an undercover. If ¡®2¡¯ was indeed ¡®Z¡¯¡­ Outside the window, the night was deep, with a few stars and a full moon. In the detached villa, there were cat cries echoing through the empty, serene house, one after another. ¡°Meow.¡± ¡°Meow.¡± The lights on the staircase came on, and the homeowner came downstairs in slippers, dressed in a white silk nightgown that clung to her body, outlining her slender curves. She turned on the light downstairs and picked up the Scottish Fold cat that was meowing incessantly in the corner, ¡°What¡¯s all this noise, aren¡¯t you sleeping?¡± ¡°Meow.¡± The Scottish Fold cat meowed again, struggled for a bit, and then fell to the ground. At that moment, the mobile phone on the coffee table rang. The homeowner picked up the cat, placing it on her lap with one hand, and answered the phone with the other, absentmindedly stroking the cat¡¯s back. ¡°President Zhang.¡± She asked, ¡°Is it all taken care of?¡± The man on the phone replied, ¡°Hua Jun and Hong San¡¯s wife and child have been taken away.¡± ¡°Watch the people closely before the execution.¡± ¡°I understand.¡± S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After hanging up, she dialed another number. ¡°Mr. Smith,¡± she spoke in fluent English, ¡°do you still have goods on hand?¡± Outside the house, the moonlight was hazy, and a faint white glow streamed in through the French windows that were left slightly ajar, letting a fine breeze in that lifted the fringe of the curtains, tangling them on the cabinet against the living room wall. On top of the cabinet was a photo of a young man and woman, both dressed in police uniforms. The girl¡¯s badge on the uniform was somewhat blurred, and the number on it wasn¡¯t very clear. You had to look closely to make out the characters: 14Z096. Half a month earlier. ¡°Have you caught the mole?¡± The laptop on the table had a video call in progress; the person on the other side didn¡¯t show their face. Only a pair of slender legs was visible, along with white cotton slippers beneath. Oh, and a picture frame on the cabinet in the background made it into the frame, but it wasn¡¯t very clear due to the distance. ¡°Not yet.¡± Hua Jun sat in front of the desk, hesitating a bit, ¡°There¡¯s a suspect.¡± The woman¡¯s voice was soft and slow, speaking three words in a matter-of-fact tone, ¡°Take care of it.¡± ¡°But it¡¯s just a guess; we cannot be sure.¡± She laughed lightly, as if she found the other party naive, and countered, ¡°Do we really need to be sure before taking action?¡± It¡¯s better to kill a thousand by mistake than to let go of one, that was the code of the street. At that moment, the door was suddenly pushed open. Ah Hao barged in clumsily, ¡°Brother Hua¡ª¡± Hua Jun turned around, and then with a snap, he shut the laptop, immediately becoming cold-faced and swearing, ¡°Don¡¯t you fucking know how to knock?¡± Ah Hao, seemingly unconcerned, scratched his head and laughed apologetically, ¡°Sorry about that, Brother Hua.¡± 14Z096. He had seen the number on the photo in the video. As the end of the year approached, the weather grew colder. Last week, the premiere at the opera house was abruptly halted, and Director Feng lodged a request with the event planning company to redo it within half a month, the sooner, the better. ¡°President Zhang.¡± After knocking, the secretary came in and placed the documents on the desk, ¡°This is the premiere planning proposal.¡± Zhang Zixi flipped through a couple of pages casually, not looking closely, ¡°I¡¯ll give you a response tonight.¡± She put down the documents and stood up, grabbing her bag. The secretary asked with a smile, ¡°Heading out?¡± ¡°Yes, I have a class reunion.¡± The reunion was set at a Luo Family hotel, not far from Zhang Zixi¡¯s company. A fifteen-minute drive would do, but parking was difficult to find during the rush hour peak. She had to circle around before finding a spot. As soon as she parked, there was a loud bang, and she was rear-ended. It was a hard hit; her forehead knocked against the steering wheel. It took her a moment to get out of the car and walk to the rear. The other car was an SUV. Looking at the driver on the other side, Zhang Zixi couldn¡¯t help but laugh, ¡°It¡¯s you.¡± Qiao Nanchu got out of his car, his gaze casually sweeping over her forehead, which was reddish, ¡°Are you hurt?¡± Zhang Zixi had just come from the office, her face still wearing light makeup, smiling with elegance and grace, ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡± She joked, ¡°Last time I rear-ended you, this time it¡¯s you, we¡¯re even now.¡± Qiao Nanchu walked to the back of the car, examined it for a moment, ¡°The damage is pretty bad, I¡¯ll call someone to tow the car, and I¡¯ll take you after we finish up here.¡± Chapter 163: 163: The weaver lady is angry again, coax her! (Second update) Chapter 163: 163: The weaver lady is angry again, coax her! (Second update) Qiao Nanchu walked to the rear of the car, looked around a few times, ¡°It¡¯s quite badly damaged, I¡¯ll call someone to tow the car, and after that, I¡¯ll take you.¡± Zhang Zixi shook her head and declined, ¡°No need to trouble yourself.¡± ¡°It¡¯s entirely my fault,¡± he said with a breeziness in his eyes but a firm tone, ¡°I have to take responsibility.¡± He hadn¡¯t changed at all, spontaneous in nature but not so compliant, with no understanding of sentiments in his words or looks. Zhang Zixi gave up arguing, ¡°Then I¡¯ll trouble you.¡± ¡°Contact me after you get the repair cost,¡± he parked the car and walked towards the hotel. She stood there, watching his back for a while, dazed, then followed him, ¡°Okay.¡± The next day, at the Criminal Intelligence Department. Qiao Nanchu had gone out for a while and upon his return, he handed Li Xiaodong a bloody piece of paper. ¡°Check this number.¡± Li Xiaodong spread it out and looked it over several times, front and back, ¡°What is this?¡± ¡°Information about a drug trafficker.¡± Li Xiaodong didn¡¯t understand, ¡°Just a string of numbers?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Is it Z or 2, needs to be confirmed. ¡°It doesn¡¯t look like transaction information, probably some sort of identity code,¡± Li Xiaodong muttered to himself. Qiao Nanchu didn¡¯t speak, took a seat on the swivel chair, and glanced vaguely in the direction of the door. The desk by the office door was empty; it was usually unoccupied and piled with many documents and two computers, one of which had a black object the size of a fingernail stuck behind it. It was a bugging device. ¡°What is this?¡± ¡°Information about a drug trafficker.¡± ¡°Just a string of numbers?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t look like transaction information, probably some sort of identity code.¡± The woman on the sofa removed her headphones, put the cat curled up on her legs on the floor, took her mobile phone, and walked to the French windows. She made a call in English, ¡°Mr. Smith, that shipment might be delayed.¡± The orange afterglow through the window fell on her side face, innocently beautiful as she explained, ¡°There¡¯s been a complication on my side.¡± After a few more words, she hung up the phone, and the fold cat at her feet meowed incessantly. She dialed another number, ¡°Book me a flight to T country.¡± ¡°Okay, President Zhang.¡± As the year neared its end, Jiang Zhi¡¯s new movie was scheduled to start filming after the New Year; he was free during this period. Of course, there were many promotional events for movies, but he was too lazy to attend, only wanting to accompany Zhou Xufang to set up a stall. Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Zhou Xufang hadn¡¯t taken him to set up a stall for two days now, which was fine, but he couldn¡¯t even see her, nor would she return his calls or send many messages! This woman didn¡¯t care about him anymore! This woman had changed! This woman didn¡¯t love him anymore! Bang! An empty milk can flew in an arc, smashing hard into the trash bin. Jiang Zhi sat up from the sofa, grabbed his phone, and pulled up Zhou Xufang¡¯s WeChat, nickname¡ªFangbao. Just a few days ago, he had changed it and even used couple profile pictures, the Q-version; his was a dark, nondescript little figure, Zhou Xufang¡¯s was this extremely beautiful character with blue hair, joined together by a pink heart. Fangbao¡¯s Boyfriend: ¡°Xu Fang.¡± Along with an emoticon behind it¡ª [Your little master is online] Just waited for three seconds. Fangbao¡¯s Boyfriend: ¡°Zhou Xufang!¡± It took about ten seconds for Zhou Xufang to reply. Fangbao: ¡°Hmm.¡± Fangbao¡¯s Boyfriend: ¡°How long have we not seen each other?¡± Fangbao: ¡°Two days.¡± Indeed, she didn¡¯t care about him anymore! Had changed! Didn¡¯t love him anymore! Jiang Zhi¡¯s heart, left out for two days, had cooled. Fangbao¡¯s Boyfriend: ¡°It¡¯s been fifty-six hours.¡± Another ten seconds without a reply. Jiang Zhi threw an emoticon over: [Pin you down on the ground and kiss you until you cry] Zhou Xufang replied. Fangbao: [Remember not to use periods, have to resist] Fangbao¡¯s Boyfriend: ¡°Didn¡¯t you say you could come back before noon?¡± Here¡¯s what happened: two days ago, Zhou Xufang had taken a delivery job to Lin City to send an important parcel. Naturally, Jiang Zhi wanted to accompany her but was firmly rejected by Zhou Xufang since there was a blizzard in Lin City and Jiang Zhi wouldn¡¯t give in, worrying about her going alone. In the end, Zhou Xufang sneaked out in the evening, and that way, Jiang Zhi was left behind. At that time, Zhou Xufang said she could come back in two days; she even sent a WeChat message last night updating her schedule, saying she could arrive by this noon; now it was already past one, Jiang Zhi had Zhou Xufang¡¯s house keys and had been waiting since eleven; it had been over two hours, she still hadn¡¯t come back, nor let him pick her up, and she hadn¡¯t called. How could he not be angry?! Fangbao: ¡°I¡¯m already back in the city.¡± Fangbao¡¯s Boyfriend: ¡°Then why haven¡¯t you come home?¡± Fangbao: ¡°I was at the train station when I saw someone hiring for unloading work, so I went to unload.¡± Fangbao: ¡°Fifty cents a box.¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡­ Not going home, not contacting him, not answering his calls, she was busy working! Is working more important than him?! Then just work away! And, of all things to do, she chose to unload goods, doesn¡¯t she know to take care of herself a little? How exhausting a job that is! Are they really that short on cash?! He was about to explode with anger! Fangbao¡¯s boyfriend, ¡°How much have you unloaded?¡± Little Ancestor Fangbao, ¡°Over three hundred boxes already.¡± Over three hundred¡­ He couldn¡¯t get angry anymore, he started to feel sorry for her. Fangbao¡¯s boyfriend, ¡°Stop unloading, come back.¡± Little Ancestor Fangbao, ¡°It¡¯s not hard, very light.¡± Zhou Xufang also sent a picture of her carrying five boxes with one hand. Did she also work as hard when she carried bricks on a construction site before? Jiang Zhi felt a pain in his chest. Fangbao¡¯s boyfriend, ¡°Come back!¡± Little Ancestor Fangbao, ¡°No, I need to work.¡± She had always been obsessed with working, almost to the point of not being able to help herself, otherwise Jiang Zhi wouldn¡¯t suspect that working was more important than him. However, he felt that Zhou Xufang was working to support him. Jiang Zhi remembered the incident a few days ago when he asked for a car, a house, and a watch, and he felt even more pained. Fangbao¡¯s boyfriend, ¡°I don¡¯t want the watch anymore, and I don¡¯t want the car either. I¡¯ll stop wasting money, and I have a lot of money to give you. So, please stop taking odd jobs, can you come back?¡± Little Ancestor Fangbao, ¡°I promised the boss, I¡¯d help him finish unloading.¡± Also, ¡°You didn¡¯t waste money, I wanted to buy those things for you.¡± Fangbao¡¯s boyfriend, ¡°Stay there, I¡¯m coming over now.¡± Little Ancestor Fangbao, ¡°Don¡¯t come, I don¡¯t want you to carry.¡± Fangbao¡¯s boyfriend, ¡°Wait for me.¡± Little Ancestor Fangbao, ¡°.¡± Fangbao¡¯s boyfriend, [Another period and I¡¯ll cry kisses on you] Little Ancestor Fangbao, [Can¡¯t send periods, must resist] Fangbao¡¯s boyfriend, ¡°I¡¯m going to drive now, don¡¯t send any more.¡± Little Ancestor Fangbao, [Can¡¯t send periods, must resist] After sending the last message, her boss called her just in time, ¡°Xiao Zhou.¡± Xiao Zhou pocketed her phone, ¡°Coming!¡± Jiang Zhi was on his way to the train station when he received a call from Qiao Nanchu. ¡°Peng Xianzhi¡¯s son has returned to the country.¡± Peng Xianzhi was the arsonist behind the Luo Family¡¯s big fire, and he had gone to the police station to turn himself in less than a day after the fire, serving eight years in prison already. Jiang Zhi held the steering wheel with one hand and had a Bluetooth headset on the other, ¡°When?¡± Qiao Nanchu, ¡°Last week.¡± The car sped fast, the window was open, and the wind blew Jiang Zhi¡¯s bangs into disarray, ¡°Has he contacted anyone from the Luo Family?¡± ¡°He contacted Luo Changde.¡± Qiao Nanchu said lazily, ¡°I agree with your previous speculation, Peng Xianzhi was probably a scapegoat. That big fire at the Luo Family, odds are it was set by someone surnamed Luo.¡± Just didn¡¯t know which Luo it was. Qiao Nanchu speculated, ¡°Peng Xianzhi¡¯s son might have something in his hands.¡± Jiang Zhi turned a corner, hit the national highway, and accelerated, ¡°Whatever it is, we¡¯ll snatch it first and talk later.¡± Qiao Nanchu could hear the wind on the other side, ¡°You¡¯re driving?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± This guy drove like he was drifting. Qiao Nanchu cautioned him, ¡°In a rush to reincarnate, huh? Slow down, damn it.¡± Jiang Zhi rolled up the window, ¡°Enough talk, I¡¯m going to help Zhou Xufang unload goods.¡± ¡°What goods?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t need to know.¡± With that, Jiang Zhi hung up the call. Just then, Qiao Nanchu¡¯s phone rang again, the contact saved as just two characters¡ªZhang 2. He had a colleague also surnamed Zhang, saved as Zhang 1. He casually saved Zhang Zixi¡¯s number as Zhang 2. She was the first to speak, her voice soft, ¡°It¡¯s me.¡± Qiao Nanchu was still in the Criminal Intelligence Department, the computer was on, and the screen displayed a photo of a young girl in a police uniform, wearing a police badge. ¡°The repair cost is out?¡± he asked nonchalantly. Zhang Zixi answered, ¡°Yes, can we meet?¡± ¡°Anything else?¡± He tapped his pen on the table, making a tapping sound, his gaze faint as he looked at the photo on the computer. ¡°I have a flight tomorrow, I¡¯m going back to the head office. I want to say goodbye before I leave.¡± Maybe, I might not come back. She admitted without being asked. Now it was certain. The third character wasn¡¯t 2, it was Z. Qiao Nanchu closed the files on the screen, stood up, ¡°Set the time and place.¡± Chapter 164: 164: He also has a genetic superpower (one more update) Chapter 164: 164: He also has a genetic superpower (one more update) At two in the afternoon, Jiang Zhi drove to Imperial East Station. Finding someone in the crowded railway station was not easy, and he had to look around before finally finding Zhou Xufang among a group of rough workers unloading goods. She was carrying three boxes, and when she saw him, she freed one hand to wave at him: ¡°Jiang Zhi! Jiang Zhi!¡± She used to not smile, nor did she know how. Now, seeing him made her smile, her eyes shining with silly and confused happiness behind her mask. Jiang Zhi put on his mask and walked over, ¡°Give it to me.¡± She clung to the boxes, shaking her head firmly, ¡°How can you do heavy work? You can¡¯t!¡± The boxes were wooden, filled with light fixtures. She gently placed one on the ground, patted it, and gestured for Jiang Zhi to sit on it, ¡°You sit here and wait for me.¡± She looked up, noticing the sun, and wondered if she should buy some sunscreen. She couldn¡¯t let the sun spoil Jiang Zhi¡¯s delicate skin. ¡°Zhou Xufang.¡± He didn¡¯t sit; instead, he got a bit upset, ¡°Not listening to me again, huh?¡± Zhou Xufang shook her head, her expression obedient and sensible, ¡°I am listening.¡± He took off his watch, ¡°Then give me the boxes.¡± Zhou Xufang was effortlessly holding two boxes, both wider than her by more than twice, without breaking a sweat, ¡°But I¡¯m not tired at all.¡± Really, they felt so light to her. Jiang Zhi¡¯s brow furrowed a bit fiercely, ¡°If you don¡¯t give them to me now, I¡¯ll kiss you right here.¡± Out in public, without shame¡­ Zhou Xufang had no choice but to give him the boxes, placing them down especially gently, afraid of nicking or bumping him. Of course, Jiang Zhi wasn¡¯t as fragile as Zhou Xufang imagined. He lifted them easily, only she, who had seen him fight and break ribs, still insisted on treating him like a delicate flower. Jiang Zhi freed one hand, pressing her to sit, ¡°Sit here and wait for me.¡± Zhou Xufang was worried about her ¡®delicate flower¡¯, frowning with concern, ¡°If you get tired, let¡¯s just stop moving them.¡± Jiang Zhi put a cap on her head, then went to unload the boxes. The client was a man in his fifties with naturally curly, thick hair, who hadn¡¯t had his lunch yet, holding a bowl of sauerkraut beef noodles. The man, appreciating Zhou Xufang¡¯s hard-working and tolerant nature, started chatting while holding his noodles, ¡°Xiao Zhou, that¡¯s your boyfriend, right?¡± Xiao Zhou nodded shyly, ¡°Mhm.¡± The man glanced at Xiao Zhou¡¯s boyfriend, who was wearing a mask, but still looked refined and unacquainted with manual labor, negatively impacting his impression. He couldn¡¯t help but feel indignant for Xiao Zhou, a rare, resilient girl, ¡°Letting a girl do such work isn¡¯t right.¡± Her boyfriend must be living off her, judging by his clothing, brand-name wear, dyed hair¡ªdyed blue hair at that! Clearly a young man relying on his looks without ambition! Xiao Zhou, feeling annoyed upon hearing this, said, ¡°I wanted to work; my boyfriend didn¡¯t make me.¡± She defended him fiercely! sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Ah, smitten by a young man. The old man felt he had to help this ¡®misled girl.¡¯ He spoke earnestly, ¡°I¡¯m speaking from experience, dear, a man who needs you to support him isn¡¯t worth it, no matter how handsome he looks.¡± Xiao Zhou grew even more upset, maintaining her politeness with effort, without glaring at him, ¡°Uncle, that¡¯s really mean.¡± The old man: ¡°¡­¡± Harsh but true! ¡°Xiao Zhou¡ª¡± Xiao Zhou resolutely ignored him, ¡°Don¡¯t talk to me anymore.¡± The old man: ¡°¡­¡± How capable was this young man, completely enchanting the girl. The misled Xiao Zhou, infatuated with a young man in brand-name, blue-dyed hair, relying on his looks with no ambition, insisted: ¡°My boyfriend earns a lot, it¡¯s me who insists on supporting him.¡± Her face was serious, willingly, ¡®criticize my boyfriend again, and I¡¯ll bite you.¡¯ The old man: ¡°¡­¡± So upset he couldn¡¯t eat his noodles. Such a good girl, deeply stuck. Despite holding a grudge against the old man¡¯s heartfelt words, Xiao Zhou didn¡¯t want to insult anyone. Staying angry but holding back, she couldn¡¯t help but say, ¡°You¡¯re really mean.¡± After speaking, she turned her head away, refusing to deal with the man any longer. The ignored old man: ¡°¡­¡± Meanwhile, Xiao Zhou¡¯s boyfriend, the young man in brand-name, blue-dyed hair, relying on his looks with no ambition, had already unloaded forty boxes, and Xiao Zhou rushed over to check on him. ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± She followed behind Jiang Zhi, ¡°Are you tired?¡± Carrying two boxes, Jiang Zhi walked leisurely, ¡°Not tired.¡± Then she asked, ¡°Are you thirsty?¡± ¡°Not thirsty,¡± Jiang Zhi stopped and said, ¡°Stop following me, there are too many people here, you might get bumped.¡± Zhou Xufang couldn¡¯t help but stare at Jiang Zhi¡¯s hands. They were well-proportioned, slender, fair, and clean. They didn¡¯t look like the hands of someone who labored or fought, but rather of someone who held a pen to draw or paint. Now, his fingertips were a bit red. Zhou Xufang looked on reluctantly, ¡°Shall we stop moving them?¡± Jiang Zhi freed one hand, gently touched her head, his eyes reflecting delicate fragments of sunlight, ¡°You¡¯ve already promised your boss. You can¡¯t go back on your word.¡± He turned to the side, ¡°Take my wallet out of my pocket.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Zhou Xufang reached into the pocket of his overcoat to get the wallet. ¡°Take the outermost card.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± There were many cards but little cash in Jiang Zhi¡¯s wallet. The card Zhou Xufang picked was black, and she had a black card too, but not one with gold edges like Jiang Zhi¡¯s. He bent down and kissed her forehead. ¡°Go buy some ice cream,¡± he said, ¡°It¡¯s too cold, so only one.¡± After saying that, he went back to unloading. Zhou Xufang, holding a wallet in one hand and the card in the other, stood there dumbfounded. Ah! He kissed in public again! She covered her heated forehead, then went back and sat down. The owner of the goods had witnessed everything and clicked his tongue twice, slapping another label on Xiao Zhou¡¯s freeloading boyfriend¡ªdebauchery! Xiao Zhou was perceptive and noticed the owner¡¯s misunderstanding towards Jiang Zhi, so she stuck the Black Card that Jiang Zhi had given her on her forehead, held it up with a finger to keep it from falling, and then she brought her forehead close to the man, ¡°See this?¡± The owner had a 360-degree baffled expression: ¡°?¡± ¡°That¡¯s my boyfriend¡¯s Black Card,¡± Xiao Zhou said as she moved closer, showcasing the Black Card on her forehead from all angles. ¡°You know what a Black Card is?¡± Not a clue! Xiao Zhou wore a smug little expression, especially proud, ¡°It¡¯s that kind of card that¡¯s really, really awesome.¡± So, ¡°Why are you still working part-time?¡± Xiao Zhou replied earnestly and seriously, ¡°Because I have to support my boyfriend.¡± The owner: ¡°¡­¡± Are the young people nowadays all this wild? Across from the train station was an intersection, and due to the high foot traffic in the area, the intersection with the traffic lights was congested. A gray nanny van was barely moving, advancing at a snail¡¯s pace with three people inside. The driver focused on driving; in the back, one person was resting with eyes closed, the other was prattling away. The one who was prattling was an agent, in his thirties, male. ¡°The demo for the album has already been sent over. Have a listen.¡± The one resting, his hat covering his face, unseen, seemed not to want to be disturbed, and plugged in his headphones, turning to look out the window. The hat fell off, revealing his face. He looked under twenty, very young. He cocked his head, his facial features soft, his skin excessively pale, giving him a somewhat sickly fragile appearance. He was a man of few words, watching the traffic outside the window, his eyelashes quietly drooping. Across the street by the fence, a girl sat on a wooden crate, holding a huge bucket of ice cream, squinting her eyes in contentment. She took down her mask and scooped a large spoonful of ice cream. ¡°Yun Sheng.¡± ¡°Yun Sheng.¡± Agent Yang Xi called out twice, but Xiao Yusheng didn¡¯t respond, only blankly sitting up, blankly looking out the window, blankly stepping on his own hat, his usually listless eyes suddenly stirring up a storm. Yang Xi picked up the hat, ¡°What are you looking at?¡± ¡°Stop the car.¡± His voice was off, too tense. Yang Xi felt it was strange and also peered out the window while the driving assistant said, ¡°It¡¯s green now, can¡¯t stop.¡± Xiao Yusheng turned around, ¡°Stop the car quickly.¡± How did netizens describe Xiao Yusheng? Delicate, fragile, like a piece of jade with preexisting cracks¡ªbeautiful and expensive, but not to be touched lightly, lest it shatter. His songs were the same, not to be listened to alone, or tears would flow. He was a man with stories of sorrow filling his eyes, only sixteen when he debuted, an age brimming with youthful arrogance, yet it was unclear what he had experienced. His eyes lacked the brightness and innocence typical of his age, replaced by a world-weariness and solitude. Such a person, in that moment when he turned his head, Yang Xi saw an overwhelming surge of joy in his eyes. Yang Xi told the assistant, ¡°After the traffic light, pull over to the side.¡± The assistant nodded, crossed the street, and pulled over by the curb. Xiao Yusheng flung open the car door and got out. Yang Xi handed him the hat, ¡°Put on your hat first¡ª¡± He had already dashed off, not wearing a mask or hat, dodging through the traffic like a headless fly, frantic and rushed. The assistant in the car was terrified, ¡°What¡¯s gotten into him?¡± Yang Xi shook his head, ¡°I¡¯ve never seen him like this before.¡± He got out of the car and chased after him. He ran all the way to the plaza across from the train station. Xiao Yusheng, drenched in sweat, found the wooden crate empty; the person was already gone. He panted heavily, grabbing someone nearby and asking, ¡°Where¡¯s the person who was sitting here?¡± The owner of the goods: ¡°Ah?¡± This person looks familiar. ¡°Where did that girl who was sitting here go?¡± His voice fluctuated with too much emotion, veins on his neck visible, eyes reddening. The girl? The owner hesitated, ¡°You mean Xiao Zhou?¡± He almost shouted, ¡°Where is she?¡± The owner pointed down a road, ¡°She just left.¡± The face on the advertisement at the bus stop across the street, why does it look so much like this one? Xiao Yusheng turned and ran down that road, colliding with a worker carrying boxes. The sharp edge of the wood scratched a bloody line on the back of his hand. The wound was as long as a finger; the blood had just appeared before it immediately stopped. The worker dropped the box, dumbstruck, ¡°You¡ª¡± The wound was healing, visible to the naked eye. Xiao Yusheng quickly covered the back of his hand, glanced at the worker, then ran into the crowd, only to be surrounded by pedestrians within a few steps. ¡°Yun Sheng!¡± ¡°Xiao Yusheng!!¡± ¡°Ah ah ah! Yun Sheng, Yun Sheng! I love you so much!¡± ¡°¡­¡± Xiao Yusheng had reached fifty million Weibo followers at eighteen, his fans¡¯ craziness well-known throughout the entertainment industry. A few screams later, a large group of female fans gathered. He was trapped in the middle, barely able to move. Yang Xi squeezed through the crowd, pulled him out, and with the assistant¡¯s help, they barely managed to get him into the car. He was still reluctant to get in, his gaze searching, his face rarely showing such urgency. Just as the fans were about to catch up, Yang Xi forcefully pulled him in and immediately shut the car door, ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you? Who did you see?¡± So abnormal! This was the first time anyone had seen Xiao Yusheng so distracted. He sat dazed, still not recovering from his shock, murmuring as if to himself, ¡°It was someone very, very important.¡± His right hand hung by his side, the wound on the back of it already scabbed over. He turned his head to look out the window, his gaze returning to calm, like a sea of stillness. Across the street, Jiang Zhi and Zhou Xufang sat on chairs in front of a pharmacy, their ice cream set aside, beginning to melt. The goods were not yet fully unloaded, the bill unsettled, but Zhou Xufang had pulled Jiang Zhi over to buy a pile of medicine because Jiang Zhi had a water blister on her hand. Just a small one. Zhou Xufang felt terribly heartbroken, ¡°It¡¯s blistered.¡± Chapter 165: 165: Zhang Zixi Arrested, Tormented in Another Wave (Second Update) Chapter 165: 165: Zhang Zixi Arrested, Tormented in Another Wave (Second Update) Zhou Xufang felt terribly sorry for him, ¡°You¡¯ve got blisters.¡± Jiang Zhi let her grasp his hand, ¡°Do you pity me?¡± ¡°Uh-huh.¡± She dabbed a cotton swab with a bit of ointment and gently applied it to his hand, but it hardly adhered, as she was afraid of hurting him. Jiang Zhi couldn¡¯t stand her half-hearted efforts, which felt ticklish, so he simply took her hand and, with the swab, smeared it all over. The blisters instantly burst. Zhou Xufang: ¡°¡­¡± Didn¡¯t that hurt him? Watching it made her feel the pain. Jiang Zhi took the disinfectant and poured it over the area, cleaned it off, then squeezed some ointment on it before fetching a band-aid from the medicine bag for Zhou Xufang to apply. Her expression was¡­ utterly mournful! Jiang Zhi chuckled, ¡°Now can you understand me?¡± He ruffled her hair, ¡°When you work hard, I feel sorry for you too.¡± Zhou Xufang placed the band-aid on his hand and looked up with remorse, ¡°I won¡¯t take on tough jobs anymore.¡± She might not feel tired, but she was afraid Jiang Zhi would help her with the work. ¡°That¡¯s more like it.¡± Jiang Zhi was pleased with the girl¡¯s epiphany, ¡°We¡¯ll only take on jobs that pay well, aren¡¯t hard, and are not dangerous.¡± Lots of money, no hard work, no danger. Zhou Xufang was puzzled, ¡°Is there such a thing?¡± Jiang Zhi had a plan in mind, his peach blossom eyes lit up with delight, gently expressing his lazy contentment around three or four o¡¯clock, ¡°How about my family¡¯s grandmother employs you long-term, and you simply stay by my side?¡± So they intended to collude, wallow in the mire, and swindle money together¡­ from the old lady? Ah! That¡¯s so wicked. Zhou Xufang candidly exclaimed, ¡°Jiang Zhi, you¡¯re so cunning.¡± Cunning, clearly a pejorative word. It had been a long while since Zhou Xufang had praised him as a good person; did she no longer care about him? Did she no longer love him? Did she no longer want to pamper him? Did she no longer think he was the best person in the world? Jiang Zhi felt a strong sense of crisis; his expression fell, he furrowed his brow, moisture gathered in his peach blossom eyes, ¡°Fang Bao, my hand hurts.¡± Oh my! His hand hurts! Zhou Xufang immediately cradled his hand and pouted, blowing on it. Jiang Zhi was a bit more at ease now; Zhou Xufang still doted on him. ¡°Xu Fang.¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± Jiang Zhi focused on her small, exhaling mouth, and said unabashedly, ¡°I want to kiss.¡± Zhou Xufang: ¡°¡­¡± She looked left and right, like a meerkat, already nervous before committing the theft, scanning the area. After surveying the terrain, she whispered to Jiang Zhi, ¡°Let¡¯s hide in the park; there¡¯s no one there.¡± Adorable to the max! Jiang Zhi took his little darling, and off they went to the park. At three in the afternoon, the sun was hidden by clouds. Qiao Nanchu had an appointment with Zhang Zixi at a coffee shop; when he arrived, Zhang Zixi was already there, with her coffee half-drunk. As soon as he sat down, a cup of coffee was brought over by the waiter. Zhang Zixi had her hair pinned up with a few strands naturally falling by her temples, her earrings simple, which complemented her simple and clean elegance, ¡°I didn¡¯t know your preference has changed, so I ordered you an Americano.¡± ¡°It¡¯s all fine.¡± Qiao Nanchu sat casually and glanced at his watch, ¡°I have to be at the station, so I can only stay for twenty minutes.¡± Zhang Zixi put down her coffee cup and made idle chatter, ¡°Is the work at the Criminal Intelligence Department interesting?¡± His gaze was indifferent, leaning back on the chair, his posture relaxed and indolent, ¡°It¡¯s alright.¡± Actually, inviting him out wasn¡¯t for anything important, there wasn¡¯t even a topic of conversation; it was just that leaving like this, there was still reluctance. Five years had passed, and she thought even a red mole would have worn away, but seeing him, the scar of that mole still ached faintly. Perhaps, the less one obtains, the more one holds on; the more one holds on, the more it preoccupies the mind. There was loss in her eyes, ¡°If I hadn¡¯t transferred schools back then, maybe now we¡¯d be colleagues.¡± She only attended the police academy for two years before she transferred abroad. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you continue at the police academy?¡± he asked casually. She laughed, ¡°You actually don¡¯t know.¡± Such irony and heartache, her laugh growing more bitter, ¡°Zhang Guomin is my father.¡± The name Zhang Guomin was familiar to Qiao Nanchu, a name that had caused a stir in Imperial City five years ago, a party secretary who had embezzled a billion. However, he paid attention to politics, not personal affairs; he truly didn¡¯t know this party secretary also had a daughter who had been in the police academy. As time passed, the things that once pained her are now just laughed off when mentioned, ¡°With a direct relative with a criminal record, even passing the political examination wouldn¡¯t get me far.¡± Qiao Nanchu offered no comment. He picked up his coffee and took a small sip, ¡°Then do you know my father is Qiao Shenxing?¡± ¡°A light touch was all it took. He was incredibly meticulous in his thinking. Zhang Zixi nodded, conceding, ¡°I know, and I also know that the case with my father was handled by your father.¡± Zhang Guomin¡¯s case had been personally overseen by his father, who had significant life-and-death authority. His expression remained indifferent, neither angry nor concerned, he simply commented, ¡°No wonder you could cook for Bai Yang for two months, I thought at most one week.¡± She was an intelligent person, and naturally understood that his dating wasn¡¯t genuine. Being a proud person, she must have endured the degradation for two months for her father¡¯s sake. S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Indeed, even being his girlfriend in name, she had become somewhat entangled with the Qiao Family. Zhang Zixi swept her hair behind her ear, her expression calm as if speaking of someone else¡¯s affairs: ¡°I also thought your father would show some mercy for your sake.¡± After all, as the ¡®girlfriend,¡¯ she hoped to spare her father some agony. But things didn¡¯t go as hoped. ¡°You don¡¯t understand enough,¡± Qiao Nanchu said, casually, ¡°I don¡¯t have much relationship with my father.¡± Besides, in the political arena, what mattered more was weighing pros and cons. Now that they had opened up, she felt a sense of relief, yet there was still something she didn¡¯t understand: ¡°Why choose me? Why not just hire a caregiver?¡± Could it be, she was somewhat different in his eyes? She fled in haste five years ago, without the chance to ask, and she had always wanted to know how much she meant to him. Qiao Nanchu leaned back in his chair, hands clasped, his gaze undisturbed, ¡°I did hire one, but she laid hands on Bai Yang and I fired her.¡± Back then, he hadn¡¯t found anyone reliable, and fearing the caregiver might abuse the little girl, he dared not hire just anyone. Just then, Zhang Zixi¡¯s reputation and popularity were quite favorable. He thought of letting her care for the child for a few days, so she could see that he was not a good person, hoping she would give up on him for the best. He hadn¡¯t expected her to cook for two months, and in the end, she even ¡°gifted¡± him a ¡®green hat.¡¯ That ¡®green hat,¡¯ reportedly the result of drunken debauchery, was none of his concern. It seemed she was only here for old time¡¯s sake, nothing more. Qiao Nanchu finished most of the coffee in his cup and stood up: ¡°I have a meeting to attend, I must go.¡± He pulled back his chair. The answer she had always wanted to know was evident, without words. She was no different to him, meant nothing. She stood up, ¡°Nanchu.¡± He looked up. Her eyes slightly reddened, ¡°It was because of my father¡¯s case that I approached you, however,¡± she paused for a long while, ¡°I really did like you.¡± He didn¡¯t say anything and turned to leave. This man, carefree and heartless, like the clouds outside that can¡¯t be grasped. Zhang Zixi sat down, gulping down the rest of the coffee in her cup, the cold brew bitter. How unwilling she was, she really liked him. The next day, 10:30 AM, clear skies, not a cloud in sight. Imperial Airport was bustling with people coming and going, rushing footsteps and the unceasing sound of luggage being pulled along. Qiao Nanchu leaned against an advertising board, finishing a phone call. ¡°Where are you, Captain Qiao?¡± It was Captain Xiao from the Drug Enforcement Team. His gaze lingered on a spot, the cigarette in his hand unlit, as he replied, ¡°At the airport.¡± Captain Xiao understood immediately, cutting straight to the result, ¡°We just got the stuff; we can make an arrest now.¡± Arrests required evidence, so they had been waiting. Qiao Nanchu drew back his casually stretched legs, tossing his cigarette into the trash, and joked as he began to walk, ¡°If we didn¡¯t get it, I¡¯d have to make the arrest anyway.¡± After speaking, he hung up the phone. At that moment, the airport¡¯s announcement system went off, the gentle and calm voice of a woman read out: ¡°Passengers traveling from Imperial City to T country, please note: Your flight ca1345 will be departing shortly. Passengers who have not yet boarded please proceed to gate 4 immediately for boarding. Thank you! Ladies and gentlemen¡ª¡± Zhang Zixi stood up from her seat in the waiting area, her bag hanging from her suitcase. As she pushed it, items from inside the bag spilled out. It was a photograph of a young man and woman both in police uniforms. It was the only photo of her and Qiao Nanchu together, taken in her sophomore year; she had never had the heart to throw it away. She crouched down to pick up the photo, but a distinctively boned hand beat her to it. Zhang Zixi looked up and smiled, ¡°Are you here to see me off?¡± Qiao Nanchu gazed at the photo, reciting the police number on the girl¡¯s uniform, ¡°14Z096.¡± He lifted his gaze to Zhang Zixi, saying, ¡°I¡¯m here to arrest you.¡± 14Z096 was Zhang Zixi¡¯s number when she was at the police academy. Her expression showed surprise for a moment, then returned to normal, ¡°Arrest me?¡± Qiao Nanchu pulled out handcuffs from his pocket, giving them a shake, ¡°Mhm, to arrest you.¡± She was calm and composed, ¡°On what charges?¡± He too remained stoic, ¡°Trafficking narcotics.¡± ¡°Do you have evidence?¡± The handcuffs in Qiao Nanchu¡¯s hand clinked and rattled but even at this confrontational encounter, his eyes revealed no turmoil as he said plainly, ¡°That car of yours I rear-ended is now at the police station.¡± He paced his words, ¡°The dashcam recorded your meeting with Hua Jun.¡± If not for the dashcam footage, he would have arrested her sooner. Zhang Zixi¡¯s countenance finally shifted, ¡°Did you do it on purpose?¡± To rear-end her on purpose, to have her tow the car, to send her off, and yes, to have her eavesdrop. Qiao Nanchu quirked an eyebrow, ¡°Otherwise? You think my driving is that bad?¡± She laughed, finding it absurd. He stood up straight, his tone becoming serious, ¡°Zhang Zixi, you are suspected of being involved in a gang smuggling, trafficking, transporting, and manufacturing narcotics. I am arresting you now. You can resist, and if you do, I¡¯ll add obstructing official duty to your charges.¡± He let go, and one end of the handcuffs fell from his palm, he asked, ¡°Planning to run?¡± Chapter 166: 166: Come on, apply the body lotion~ (First update) Chapter 166: 166: Come on, apply the body lotion~ (First update) He let go, and one end of the handcuffs dropped from his palm. He asked, ¡°Planning to run?¡± Run? He was prepared; could she really escape? She stepped forward and extended her hand. Click¡ª The metal latch clicked, and she was handcuffed. Qiao Nanchu did not personally escort her; he only visited the Drug Enforcement Team in the afternoon, and Captain Xiao had just come out of the interrogation room when he asked, ¡°Did she confess?¡± He was referring to Zhang Zixi. Captain Xiao shook his head with a headache, ¡°She only said one sentence, asking for Qiao Nanchu to come.¡± He had heard that both of them were classmates at the police academy. Those who graduated from the police academy and then trafficked drugs, knowing the law and breaking the law, were even more contemptible! Qiao Nanchu poured a glass of water, ¡°Let me handle the interrogation.¡± Captain Xiao agreed. Without asking for assistance, Qiao Nanchu entered the interrogation room alone. Zhang Zixi looked up, ¡°You¡¯ve arrived.¡± Her demeanor was still okay, quite calm, and aside from the handcuffs on her hands, she looked as composed as usual. Qiao Nanchu pulled up a chair and sat down; without any small talk, he began right away. He turned on the computer and pulled up the video, ¡°This is from a dash cam.¡± He pushed forward two more pieces of evidence. ¡°This is a witness testimony. On the day of the blackout at the opera house, someone saw you meeting with Hong San.¡± His eyes were calm, devoid of any notable emotion, flat and professional, ¡°This is evidence left by our colleague before he died.¡± Zhang Zixi just glanced faintly, without saying a word. It turned out that her badge number had been exposed. Why hadn¡¯t she thrown away that photo? Was it fate that she had to fall into his hands? ¡°Hua Jun and Hong San¡¯s family have been found, and they will confess sooner or later.¡± He looked at her, his eyes indifferent, and asked, ¡°Are you still going to argue?¡± A bit unfamiliar. This side of him, unlike usual, truly seemed like a policeman. She was lost in thought for a moment, then shook her head, ¡°No arguments.¡± Though she had been mentally prepared, actually sitting in front of him and confessing was still hard to articulate. She spoke very slowly, enunciating heavily, word by word, ¡°Smuggling, drug trafficking, transporting, manufacturing drugs¡ªI did it all. There¡¯s no need to ask who my boss is. The very ability to have my position is predicated on knowing I won¡¯t, can¡¯t, and don¡¯t dare to speak out of line.¡± Won¡¯t, can¡¯t, and don¡¯t dare. Qiao Nanchu looked down, catching a glimpse of the photo of them in police uniforms, ¡°Two years at the police academy,¡± his tone neither light nor heavy, his gaze intense, ¡°Did you decide to forget everything you learned?¡± He was rarely truly angry. His cold, icy gaze left her nowhere to hide, as if the last veil of privacy was lifted, exposing her most ugly, most vulnerable side entirely. She instinctively avoided his gaze. ¡°There¡¯s something I don¡¯t understand.¡± ¡°Ask.¡± ¡°The night Hua Jun went to pick up the goods, I didn¡¯t hear any movement through the surveillance.¡± Qiao Nanchu laughed, ¡°What do you think the Criminal Intelligence Department is?¡± He leaned back in his chair, his eyes dark and deep, underneath his composed and elegant demeanor, there was an inherent confidence and boldness, ¡°What you heard on the bug was all that I let you hear.¡± ¡°Did you intentionally let me know I was exposed?¡± He did not deny it, ¡°At that time, we hadn¡¯t gotten the dash cam footage yet, and weren¡¯t sure it was you.¡± He paused, then casually added, ¡°But you ran, which was as good as confessing.¡± Prepare for all eventualities; lure the snake from its hole. Such careful scheming. ¡°Back at school, my investigative studies were never as good as yours,¡± she mocked herself, smiling, ¡°I can¡¯t complain about falling into your hands.¡± Qiao Nanchu sat upright, resting his hands on the table, leaning forward, ¡°Why engage in drug trafficking?¡± Why engage in drug trafficking? She had never considered this question. After thinking, she answered, ¡°No particular reason, just wanted to be superior to others.¡± Only those who have been stuck in the muck know the allure of standing above the rest. ¡°There are many ways to excel in life, but by choosing crime,¡± Qiao Nanchu glanced at the handcuffs on her wrists, ¡°you only became a prisoner.¡± He stood up. Zhang Zixi suddenly stood up, the handcuffs hitting the table with a loud clang, ¡°Nanchu.¡± Qiao Nanchu turned back. Her face no longer calm, her eyes clouded with a heavy gloom, ¡°Do you really despise me?¡± This question was hard to swallow. His gaze on her was faint, devoid of love, hatred, joy, or anger, as if he were looking at someone insignificant. ¡°I¡¯ve dealt with criminals, not a thousand, then eight hundred. Looking down on each one would be exhausting. If I really had to make distinctions, I¡¯d categorize them like this, life imprisonment offenders, restricted pardon offenders, death penalty offenders, life sentence offenders, fixed term sentence offenders.¡± He spoke with a detached ease, ¡°And you, you belong to the death penalty offenders.¡± After that, he turned and left the interrogation room. Has Zhang Zixi gone mad, still debasing herself at this time? She sat down, laughed, and as she laughed, tears streamed down her face. That evening, there was a charity auction hosted by entrepreneurs, with figures from the business and political circles invited. The old lady was too lazy to move, so she sent Jiang Zhi to make an appearance. The auction invited quite a few media outlets, and Zhou Xufang disliked being on camera, so he let Jiang Zhi go alone. Qiao Nanchu was also alone, without a female companion. Inside it was noisy, Jiang Zhi had just stepped out when Qiao Nanchu followed right behind, picking a spot where they could talk. Jiang Zhi asked him, ¡°Is the drug case going smoothly?¡± The evening event was held at a private residence with a large outdoor garden, where looking up, you¡¯d see stars scattered across the sky, neighboring the moonlight, and a galaxy¡¯s light had fallen. Qiao Nanchu wore a dark blue suit, his buttons undone, and nodded, ¡°Hmm, dug up some clues from Zhang Zixi¡¯s computer.¡± Her higher-ups and the main force of the group were overseas, so the case would be transferred there. Jiang Zhi, lacking enthusiasm, asked no further. The evening was a bit windy, and when the wind blew towards them, it carried a hint of the garden¡¯s floral fragrance and something else. Qiao Nanchu smiled at Jiang Zhi, ¡°Did you spray some perfume?¡± He furrowed his brows, ¡°No.¡± It was the scent of Gardenias. Qiao Nanchu¡¯s smile deepened, making his features even more charming, teasing Jiang Zhi, ¡°Then why do you smell like a woman?¡± Jiang Zhi, annoyed by the mockery, kept a straight face, ¡°It¡¯s not perfume.¡± He didn¡¯t want to engage, but afraid of being misunderstood, he reluctantly and awkwardly explained, ¡°It¡¯s body lotion.¡± Body lotion¡­ Qiao Nanchu laughed so hard his shoulders shook, unable to hold back, ¡°You, a big man, are using that stuff?¡± Damn it, Jiang Zhi thought about punching this bastard, ¡°Zhou Xufang gave it to me, what choice do I have?¡± Who knows what other guys¡¯ girlfriends usually give their boyfriends, probably no one¡¯s like Zhou Xufang, giving chicken, hand warmers, body lotion. Is it because he¡¯s been involved with men before? Even the gifts are so feminine. But it was from Zhou Xufang, what could he do? Even if she gave him sunscreen tomorrow, he¡¯d have to apply it before leaving the house. ¡°Did your girlfriend raise a son?¡± After the teasing, Qiao Nanchu added fuel to the fire, ¡°Stay away from me, don¡¯t get that scent on me.¡± Jiang Zhi with a cold face, ¡°Get lost.¡± He didn¡¯t leave, but complimented, ¡°This fragrance isn¡¯t bad, quite maidenly.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Xue Baoyi was also at the auction today. The items auctioned were pretty good, antiques and paintings included, but he was a coarse man, not into elegance, so he just handed his card to his secretary Xiao Zhuang, letting him bid on anything. He himself had important business to attend to ¡ª A handsome phrase throughout his life, ¡°I¡¯m out of bullets.¡± On the game screen, the woman with two colored braids and wearing a nurse¡¯s cap was him, his teammate wore a camouflage vest and helmet, walking in front of him. I¡¯m Your Ancestor, ¡°Don¡¯t panic.¡± Let her check the supplies, oh, bad news, ¡°I¡¯m out too.¡± A handsome phrase throughout his life, ¡°What should we do?¡± He was a bit panicked, quickly sticking close to his teammate¡¯s broad back, moving step by step with his teammate, looking around timidly, indeed¡­ a bit sleazy. In the game, the man in the camouflage vest had a woman with colored braids sticking to his back like a piece of chewing gum, making it difficult for him to move his hands and feet. He strained to observe the terrain, listening for footfall. I¡¯m Your Ancestor, ¡°Lie down, hide behind the rock.¡± The woman with two colored braids immediately lay behind the rock, playing dead. I¡¯m Your Ancestor, ¡°Here comes the car.¡± The man in the camouflage vest also lay down, playing dead. A handsome phrase throughout his life, ¡°You can¡¯t block it from there, come over, lie next to me.¡± The man in the camouflage vest wriggled over, from the game interface you could see, a man and a woman, body against body¡­ This feeling, quite subtle. Fang Lixiang was lost in thought, when suddenly gunshots burst through his headphones, the two bodies on the screen had now turned into two boxes. A handsome phrase throughout his life, ¡°We died again.¡± A handsome phrase throughout his life, ¡°That villain was really ruthless, we were already dead, and he came to finish us off.¡± Xue Baoyi, who had died many times, quickly quit the game and incidentally reported that scoundrel. A handsome phrase throughout his life, ¡°Where shall we fly next round?¡± S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The other party sent a WeChat message. I¡¯m Your Ancestor, ¡°I¡¯m not playing anymore, going to sleep.¡± A handsome phrase throughout his life, ¡°Sleeping so early?¡± Usually, this guy wouldn¡¯t settle down before midnight, always talking about how killing spree at night had a feel. The other party no longer responded to him. Chapter 167: 167: Qiao Nanchu Gets Jealous (Second Update) Chapter 167: 167: Qiao Nanchu Gets Jealous (Second Update) Fang Lixiang logged out of her gaming account, went to the balcony, opened the window, and gazed up at the stars at a 45-degree angle, sighing, ¡°Ah!¡± She was so melancholic, so sleepless, that after brooding for a while, she picked up her phone, logged out of her secondary WeChat account, and logged onto her main one. These days, who doesn¡¯t have a few alternate accounts? Ullala Li Xiang: ¡°Xu Fang.¡± She had saved Zhou Xufang¡¯s contact as Fairy Fang, and Fairy Fang replied to her within a few seconds. Fairy Fang: ¡°Hmm.¡± Fang Lixiang thought it over and over but still couldn¡¯t hide that little bit of curiosity. Ullala Li Xiang: ¡°What do you think about online romance?¡± Fairy Fang replied quickly: ¡°It¡¯s not good.¡± Ullala Li Xiang: ¡°Why not?¡± She¡¯d been feeling rather strange lately, actually finding that noob adorable¡ªshe just couldn¡¯t tell if it was his dying poses that were cute, or his screams as he died? Oh, what a twisted sense of aesthetics she had! It must be the excessive work pressure, her boss being so demanding, that she got addicted to gaming, to being repeatedly and creatively killed by that noob. If she didn¡¯t get tricked by him a few times a day, she felt like something was missing from her life. This was a disease, Stockholm syndrome! Zhou Xufang, having read novels, had gotten ahead with the trends, even understanding online romance. Fairy Fang: ¡°I joined a big readers¡¯ group and met a book friend there who also had an online romance. She eventually decided to meet up with him and discovered that the guy from the internet wasn¡¯t a young man at all, but a foot-scratching hulk.¡± Fang Lixiang: ¡°¡­¡± That noob couldn¡¯t possibly be a foot-scratching hulk, right? His voice does sound quite like her boss¡¯s. Fairy Fang: ¡°Moreover, that book friend also told me that this foot-scratching hulk was married and wanted her to be his mistress.¡± Fang Lixiang: ¡°¡­¡± Wow, the world is so complicated. Fairy Fang: ¡°Lixiang, have you fallen for an online guy?¡± Fallen for him? Forget about dating; she hadn¡¯t even landed a kissing scene yet. Ullala Li Xiang: ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± Ullala Li Xiang: ¡°Last week, while we were gaming, he took a bullet for me. I¡¯ve been playing chicken for so many years, and he¡¯s the first one to block a bullet for me.¡± At that moment, she and an enemy raised their guns at the same time. Honestly, if he hadn¡¯t blocked it, with her quick hands, she could have shot that scoundrel on the other side. But that noob, surprisingly stupid, just stepped in front of her. He blocked the bullet indeed but also saved that scoundrel. Normally, she would have cussed out the noob relentlessly, but she didn¡¯t. Not only that, she actually found the noob cute¡­ Anyway, since then, she felt weird, like, for example, if she teamed up with someone else instead of him, she felt like she was having an affair, guilt-ridden as hell. To give another example, when they teamed up and if he died first, she would feel like a widow! Fairy Fang: ¡°Then you should first ask him if he¡¯s single.¡± Ullala Li Xiang: ¡°Better not, it¡¯s too weird.¡± Now, back to the auction. All sixteen auction items had been sold, and it was time for the dinner banquet. At this kind of soir¨¦e, the banquet wasn¡¯t for eating, it was for networking. S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Qiao Nanchu was utterly bored and about to leave when Xue Baoyi¡¯s call came through: ¡°Table fourteen, hurry over.¡± ¡°It¡¯s too noisy inside.¡± He wasn¡¯t interested and continued to leave. But Xue Baoyi baited him with news like watching a drama unfold: ¡°That girl from Da Mai Mountain, your child bride, is also here.¡± He had barely finished speaking when the call was cut off. Panicked, aren¡¯t you? Xue Bao Yi poured herself a glass of red wine, waiting to see the show unfold. At the adjacent table number fourteen, Qiao Nanchu¡¯s stepmother Wen Ya came over with her daughter, who sat reservedly, shy and introverted. The wealthy wives at the same table, seeing a new face, couldn¡¯t help but take a few more glances, ¡°This is my first time seeing Mrs. Qiao¡¯s daughter; she¡¯s really beautiful.¡± The wealthy wife teased with a smile, ¡°Mrs. Qiao, with such a beautiful daughter, why have you been hiding her?¡± Wen Ya, who was still young, wore a light green dress that made her even more charming. Having been nurtured by the Qiao Family over the years, she had developed an air of nobility. Her features delicate and graceful, she spoke softly as she added food to Wen Bai Yang¡¯s dish, explaining, ¡°She can¡¯t speak and usually doesn¡¯t like going out much.¡± The wealthy wife was surprised, ¡°Can¡¯t speak?¡± Wen Ya¡¯s face showed a hint of embarrassment as she nodded. Realizing her own faux pas, the wealthy wife quickly apologized, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I was presumptuous.¡± Usually, one would only hear of Qiao City securing a young and beautiful wife; nobody knew that this wife came with an extra burden. Wen Ya showed no sign of displeasure on her face, ¡°No problem.¡± ¡°Can she hear?¡± a man suddenly asked from across. The man, in his forties, somewhat overweight, with an average look and small, round eyes behind silver-framed glasses that resembled mung beans, hadn¡¯t taken his gaze off her since Wen Bai Yang sat down. This was Miao HuaRen, the second master of the Miao Family, a widower for many years, and a few years older than Wen Ya. The Miao Family dealt in the seafood business and were considered wealthy and respectable in Imperial City. Wen Ya, having married into the Qiao Family for several years, had become more adept at social maneuvering and smiled, ¡°She can read lips.¡± So, she can¡¯t hear. ¡°What a pity.¡± Miao HuaRen didn¡¯t take his eyes off the still youthful face opposite him, thinking that if she grew up a bit more, she would definitely be even more beautiful than her mother, especially with those innocent and clear eyes that were irresistibly appealing, ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± Wen Bai Yang looked down, unresponsive. She felt extremely uncomfortable, clutching a handbag until her palm sweated. Seeing her ignore the man, Wen Ya scolded lightly, ¡°Bai Yang, Mr. Miao is speaking to you.¡± Then she raised her head and apologized with a smile, ¡°Sorry, my daughter is quite shy.¡± Miao HuaRen said, ¡®never mind,¡¯ his gaze moving from her face to her slender and smooth collarbone, his eyes growing increasingly fervent, ¡°Miss Bai Yang, may I invite you for a dance?¡± No sooner had he asked than a slow and measured voice came from behind, ¡°No, you may not.¡± Everyone at the table turned to look. It was the fourth young master of the Qiao Family. He was dressed in a suit, with his tie hanging loosely and the top button undone, his casual appearance lacking the prim and proper demeanor of a rich heir, though his facial features resembled his father¡¯s, including a naturally roguish charm. He walked over leisurely, took off his suit jacket, and draped it over the young girl¡¯s shoulders, his lazy eyes looking at the opposite side, ¡°Uncle Miao, you are an elder; she¡¯s too young to dance with you. It wouldn¡¯t be proper.¡± Miao HuaRen¡¯s plump face turned a shade of blue. He was implicitly being called old! Qiao Nanchu couldn¡¯t be bothered with pleasantries and pulled her over to his side, his hand resting naturally on her shoulder, ¡°She has classes tomorrow; I¡¯ll take her home now.¡± Having said that, he led her away. The atmosphere turned a bit unpleasant, especially for Miao HuaRen, who felt his dignity was compromised and his face showed it. Trying to smooth things over, one of the wealthy wives commented unwittingly, ¡°Nanchu is quite protective of his sister, isn¡¯t he?¡± Wen Ya didn¡¯t respond, just smiled awkwardly. Once they were out of the villa, Qiao Nanchu let go of her hand, his expression cooling, ¡°That old guy¡¯s eyes were glued to you; didn¡¯t you notice?¡± His tone was a bit harsher, revealing the anger inside him. She was still naive, wearing nothing but his suit jacket over her dress, which was a short strapless sundress, her slender legs bare. Qiao Nanchu glanced at them and got even more frustrated, ¡°Who made you wear this dress?¡± Chapter 168: 168: Three Flavors of Dog Food Chapter 168: 168: Three Flavors of Dog Food Qiao Nanchu took one glance and grew even more furious, ¡°Who made you wear this dress?¡± Is this what a nineteen-year-old girl should wear? His face stern, ¡°Button it up!¡± His severe and speech-heavy manner was just like a strict elder catching his own child misbehaving. Wen Baiyang blankly stared for a moment before buttoning up all the buttons on her blazer. Being tall, the jacket covered her skirt but her slim, straight legs were still exposed. Whenever the wind blew, she shivered from the cold. He was still afraid she¡¯d catch a cold after all. ¡°Come in with me first.¡± Oh. She followed him inside, and the warmth immediately turned her face bright red. Qiao Nanchu picked a quiet corner, the anger in his eyes not yet dissipated, and interrogated her, ¡°Who brought you here?¡± Wen Baiyang answered in sign language, ¡°She told me to come here.¡± ¡®She¡¯ referred to Wen Ya, a distant and unfamiliar way to address her. Not long after Wen Baiyang was born, Wen Ya abandoned her at Da Mai Mountain and hadn¡¯t inquired about her for fourteen years. If it hadn¡¯t been for Qiao Nanchu bringing her to the Imperial City five years ago, she probably would have never interacted with Wen Ya. Wen Ya never raised her, never taught her anything. However, just to play the role of a gentle and charitable mother in front of Qiao Shenxing, she provided some financial and material ¡®motherly love¡¯ along with some verbal ¡®care,¡¯ which was all there was to it. In Qiao Nanchu¡¯s view, Wen Ya wasn¡¯t much of a mother, and Wen Baiyang didn¡¯t need to listen or obey her. This girl was raised by him, she only needed to listen to him. ¡°You came just because she told you to?¡± Wen Baiyang wasn¡¯t angered by his scolding; she had a good temperament, gentle like a small animal that hadn¡¯t yet grown claws. She answered his question, ¡°She said you were here.¡± After signifying, she handed him the bag she carried, ¡°The doorman at your place has changed, they wouldn¡¯t hold things for me.¡± She was here to deliver things to him. Because she was gesturing, the bag had been hanging on her wrist for too long, and there was already a red ring around it. She did not complain, just worried, ¡°If I don¡¯t give it to you soon, it will spoil.¡± Wouldn¡¯t she contact him then? Qiao Nanchu took the bag from her, not caring what was inside, and grabbed her hand to look at the red mark on her wrist. She flinched, ¡°It¡¯s mushroom chicken soup.¡± She added, ¡°The chicken was sent by my grandmother, it¡¯s a free-range chicken she raised herself, very nutritious.¡± She really treated him as a benefactor, constantly bringing him food. Even if he was still angry, he couldn¡¯t let it out on her, ¡°Didn¡¯t I give you the keys?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t get the one for the main gate.¡± Because the previous doorman knew her, she didn¡¯t get one. Qiao Nanchu took down the magnetic card key for the main gate and approached her. She froze for a moment and stepped back. ¡°What are you dodging?¡± He reached around to her back, loosely holding her waist, not letting her move away, slightly bending over to remove the pocket square from her blazer and then slipped the card into it, ¡°I¡¯ll take you back.¡± He stepped back. Only then did she breathe deeply, her eyelashes still trembling. Holding the mushroom chicken soup bag, he smiled. Those few seconds, it felt just like love¡­ From a distance, Xue Baoyi saw everything clearly, ¡°If this is sibling love, I¡¯ll gouge out my eyes.¡± Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t respond. By then, Qiao Nanchu had already left with his ¡®foster bride.¡¯ Xue Baoyi craned her neck for a better look, ¡°That girl isn¡¯t even twenty yet, Nanchu¡¯s really cradling from the cradle, huh.¡± Oh right, ¡°Why do you smell so good?¡± This was the last question Jiang Zhi wanted to discuss. Xue Baoyi, curious, leaned in closer, sniffing like a hound dog, ¡°Brother Zhi, looking like you do is already enough, why fancy yourself up? Who are you trying to seduce?¡± Annoyed by his remarks, Jiang Zhi said, ¡°Zhou Xufang gave them.¡± ¡°Perfume?¡± He really didn¡¯t want to explain, but had to, ¡°Body lotion.¡± Xue Baoyi first laughed heartily, then stroking his chin, he adopted a roguish look and said flirtatiously, ¡°Man, you¡¯re sinfully sweet.¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡°Get lost.¡± Xue Baoyi left. Ding¡ª It was a message on his secondary WeChat account, where he had only one friend. I¡¯m Your Ancestor: ¡°Kid, give me the address.¡± A Handsome Character Throughout Life: ¡°What for?¡± After sending that, Xue Baoyi immediately regretted it and hurriedly corrected, ¡°Stop calling nonsense, who¡¯s your son!¡± The other party didn¡¯t care, she had already called. S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. I¡¯m Your Ancestor: ¡°Sending you some good stuff.¡± A Handsome Character Throughout Life: ¡°First tell me what it is.¡± Surely not sending him veggies, right? Just yesterday she cursed him in the game, calling him the king of scrubs. I¡¯m Your Ancestor: ¡°Body lotion.¡± Body lotion again? Is that the trend lately? Xue Baoyi recollected the fragrance from Jiang Zhi¡­despite feeling resistant inside. At last, an attractive man his whole life: ¡°I¡¯m a full-grown man, I don¡¯t need that.¡± I¡¯m Your Ancestor: ¡°You could give it to your mom, or your girlfriend could use it.¡± From a woman¡¯s way of thinking, the reply should be ¡ª girlfriend! Girlfriend! Key words: Girl! Friend! Sadly, Xue Baoyi was a typical straight guy. He just assumed that the body lotion from Jiang Zhi was a gift from a girlfriend, and now this guy was also sending him one, he was thrilled. He immediately sent his address over. Even, in his haste, he typed up: ¡°Recipient: Xue Baoyi.¡± Excited, he sent it out, and then¡ª A notification popped up on the screen: I¡¯m Your Ancestor has activated friend verification, you are not his/her friend yet, please send a friend verification request first, and you can chat after the recipient verifies it. Xue Baoyi: ¡°¡­¡± Damn it! Meanwhile, just after personally proving the ¡°tested and true¡± law, Fang Lixiang¡¯s mood plummeted, she had agreed not to ask, why was she so curious? Why! Oh why! She suddenly felt a bit cold, a chilling feeling inside, needing comfort and love. Ullala Li Xiang: ¡°Xu Fang.¡± Zhou Xufang might have been sitting at her computer or holding her phone all night, she responded very quickly. Fairy Fang: ¡°Yeah.¡± Fang Lixiang looked out the window, suddenly wanted to imitate Lin Daiyu and bury flowers, but decided against it, it was too cold outside. Ullala Li Xiang: ¡°He has a girlfriend.¡± She had told him to give the body lotion to his girlfriend, and he didn¡¯t deny having one. Fairy Fang: ¡°Then you shouldn¡¯t fool around with him, can¡¯t be the other woman.¡± Zhou Xufang had strong moral principles, every time she saw the other woman in novels, she disliked her, and even left comments for the author, hoping the other woman would exit early. So, she definitely wouldn¡¯t support Fang Lixiang fooling around with some guy online. Of course, Fang Lixiang also had strong moral values, now that the guy already had ¡°a dog at home,¡± she needed to straighten up, no more evil thoughts. She had to nip this evil seed in the bud, thankfully it was just sprouting, not yet a towering tree. Ullala Li Xiang: ¡°Just think of him as a dad.¡± Ullala Li Xiang: ¡°Playing games with him is actually quite fun.¡± This would surely be a touching father-son relationship. Let her be sad for a moment. After a while¡­ Ullala Li Xiang: ¡°Did you use the body lotion I mailed you? Is it good?¡± That body lotion was her first endorsement, and it was a high-end brand. The brand was very generous, giving her several boxes after the advertisement was shot. Fairy Fang: ¡°Yeah.¡± Zhou Xufang was typing too slowly, she started sending voice messages. Fairy Fang: ¡°It¡¯s very good.¡± Fairy Fang: ¡°Silky smooth, smells great.¡± Fairy Fang: ¡°I also bought some for Jiang Zhi.¡± She sent four messages in a row, it seems Zhou Xufang was very satisfied with this product, otherwise, she wouldn¡¯t have bought it for Jiang Zhi; she always carefully selected items for him. However¡ª Ullala Li Xiang: ¡°¡­This is specifically for women.¡± Also, the developers wanted this skincare product to be a substitute for perfume. Therefore, the scent, compared to ordinary body lotions, lingers much longer and the target audience is almost entirely women. Zhou Xufang said she was aware. Fairy Fang: ¡°Jiang Zhi¡¯s skin is as delicate as a girl¡¯s.¡± Right after that message, Zhou Xufang sent another one as a clarification. Fairy Fang: ¡°Jiang Zhi¡¯s skin is even more delicate than a girl¡¯s.¡± So, it must be cared for meticulously. Ullala Li Xiang: ¡°Very delicate?¡± Fairy Fang: ¡°Yeah!¡± Ullala Li Xiang: ¡°Have you touched it?¡± and added a mischievous laughing emoji. Suddenly becoming mischievous, Zhou Xufang took a while to reply. Fairy Fang: ¡°No.¡± Fairy Fang: ¡°Lixiang, you¡¯re so naughty.¡± Naughty Ullala Li Xiang: ¡°¡­¡± Fairy Fang: ¡°.¡± Naughty, huh. Fang Lixiang sent a streak of images. Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t want to look at those images, but hospitalized by her OCD, she needed to be the last to end the conversation, so each image from Fang Lixiang was met with a period from her, resulting in her viewing many, many naughty images. Chapter 169: 169: Jiang Zhi: What should I do if my girlfriend loves me too much? (second update) Chapter 169: 169: Jiang Zhi: What should I do if my girlfriend loves me too much? (second update) She looked at a lot of lewd pictures. After the chat ended, she deleted the images sent by Fang Lixiang one by one. She couldn¡¯t let Jiang Zhi see them. Once finished, she gave Jiang Zhi a call. ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± ¡°Mhm.¡± Zhou Xufang asked him, ¡°Did you use the body lotion I gave you?¡± Is this really the first thing she asks when she calls? He thought she missed him! Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Jiang Zhi said, ¡°I did.¡± ¡°Is it nice to use?¡± Whether it¡¯s nice to use, he didn¡¯t know. He was a big, burly guy; how would he know about that stuff? So, he said, ¡°It¡¯s too fragrant, others can smell it.¡± He meant to complain just a little, afraid of making Zhou Xufang unhappy. Zhou Xufang wasn¡¯t angry. With her straightforward thinking, she said, ¡°Then let them smell it.¡± But for a guy to smell fragrant as all hell was just ridiculous. Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t want to upset his girlfriend, beating around the bush, he said, ¡°That¡¯s something girls use. Guys don¡¯t bother with that stuff.¡± Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t agree, ¡°You can¡¯t compare yourself to them.¡± She was serious, ¡°You¡¯re delicate.¡± Delicate Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± He still had to use the body lotion. Also, Zhou Xufang switched to speakerphone and set the phone down, then she sent Jiang Zhi a link on WeChat from her computer: ¡°I also picked out two sunscreens for you, choose one.¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± Could he choose none? Zhou Xufang sent him a kiss emoji on WeChat and asked, ¡°Don¡¯t you like them?¡± She had sent a kiss. He should have the sense to be obedient. So, he didn¡¯t fuss any longer. Whatever Zhou Xufang said, went, ¡°There¡¯s nothing I don¡¯t like.¡± ¡°Then pick one.¡± Jiang Zhi clicked the link, he looked though he didn¡¯t understand, ¡°Which one is unscented?¡± Zhou Xufang said, ¡°The purple one.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go with that one then.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Zhou Xufang added the sunscreen to the shopping cart, two of them¡ªone for her, one for Jiang Zhi. She planned to test it herself first; if it was good, then she would use it on Jiang Zhi. Uh-huh, Zhou Xufang had recently fallen in love with online shopping. The online shopping app was installed by Jiang Zhi and after she made one purchase, she was unstoppable. These past few days, there were packages for Jiang Zhi every day, all bought by Zhou Xufang¡ªbrush cups, pillows, clothing, shoes, bedding sets¡­ everything, even facial masks. ¡°Zhou Xufang, stop buying me gifts.¡± After facial masks, body lotion, and sunscreen, he couldn¡¯t guess what else Zhou Xufang would buy for him. Zhou Xufang asked, ¡°Why?¡± He couldn¡¯t dampen her enthusiasm, so Jiang Zhi thought of a reason that sounded pretty good, ¡°We need to save up for baby formula.¡± Zhou Xufang stopped responding and replied on WeChat with just a period. Fangbao¡¯s Boyfriend: [Send one more period and I¡¯ll cry] It took a while, but unable to contain her curiosity, she quietly and sneakily asked Jiang Zhi, ¡°Have you cured your infertility?¡± Jiang Zhi laughed, ¡°Why don¡¯t you try it out?¡± Fangbao: ¡°.¡± So Jiang Zhi had a dirty mind too¡­ The next day, Xiao Xue, in Imperial City, it was icy and snowy again, coldness everywhere. It had been eighteen hours since Xue Baoyi was deleted by Fang Lixiang as a friend, and he had resent the friend request over twenty times by now, without a single response. Why should he care? He didn¡¯t care at all! Xue Baoyi carried a gun and went on a shooting spree in the game! The secretary Xiao Zhuang noticed too that his boss was in a foul mood today, ¡°Mr. Second.¡± Xue Baoyi ignored him and kept wildly tapping on his phone. Xiao Zhuang, a plump guy with great skin, leaned closer, his chubby and joyful face beamed even more, ¡°It¡¯s three o¡¯clock, Mr. Second.¡± His body more ample, ¡°Mr. Second.¡± Xue Baoyi grew impatient, ¡°Don¡¯t you see I¡¯m gaming?¡± Xiao Zhuang¡¯s face was serious, but it didn¡¯t affect his naturally festive appearance, he looked joyful even without a smile, ¡°I saw it, but you¡¯d died before I called you.¡± From starting work at two o¡¯clock until now, in the span of an hour, he had started over a dozen games, unsure if he¡¯d survived more than ten minutes in any. With his lack of skills, Xiao Zhuang wondered who had given him the confidence and audacity to play competitive games, even daring to mock a player who had maxed out their skills in Miracle Nuan Nuan. Xue Baoyi was still stubborn, ¡°I didn¡¯t die, I was mixing a potion.¡± Mixing a potion, psh, Xiao Zhuang saw that the enemy had already come over to finish him, but he couldn¡¯t be bothered to reveal the truth, ¡°You need to go to a meeting now.¡± There was a company-wide meeting at three o¡¯clock, and it was already time. Knock¡ªknock¡ªknock! Someone was at the door, Xue Baoyi glanced at WeChat, then started another game, ¡°The door¡¯s unlocked.¡± ¡°Boss.¡± With such a respectful and polite demeanor, who else could it be? Xue Baoyi immediately looked up from her phone screen, ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± Fang Lixiang took small steps forward, pulled out a bottle of body lotion from her pocket, and placed it on the desk, her face adorned with a professional fake smile, ¡°For you.¡± Xue Baoyi glanced at the bright red bottle, withdrew her leg that was resting on the table, raised an eyebrow like a carefree hooligan, ¡°Fang Lixiang, you¡¯re not hitting on me, are you?¡± Fang Lixiang replied without hesitation, ¡°Not at all!¡± with resolute certainty, ¡°Absolutely not!¡± ¡°¡­¡± In the game interface, the player with the colorful braids just happened to fall on a slope and died upon impact¡ªcrash-landed into a box! Xue Baoyi got slightly irked, tossed her phone aside, and grabbed a handful of Fang Lixiang¡¯s freshly-made scumbag perm, ¡°Then why the hell are you gifting me this crap?¡± Fang Lixiang was thinking of how to explain without offending the boss. Xiao Zhuang couldn¡¯t stand it any longer, stood up to help Fang Lixiang out of the bind, ¡°Mr. Second, Lixiang is the spokesperson for this product, the merchants gave her several boxes, she can¡¯t use them all, she¡¯s given them to many colleagues in the company, I got one too.¡± Don¡¯t flatter yourself too much. Fang Lixiang nodded frantically, shooting a grateful look toward Xiao Zhuang. Xue Baoyi got even more miffed after hearing the explanation, like a rough-and-tumble tough guy, ¡°Did I ask you anything?¡± Xiao Zhuang chose silence, today¡¯s Mr. Second had eaten dynamite, no need to fan the flames. Ding¡ª It was Fang Lixiang¡¯s phone, it chimed once, the alert tone of WeChat, she didn¡¯t even glance sideways, ignoring it. Xue Baoyi leaned back in the boss chair, leg draped over the desk, his sweater choice for today hadn¡¯t been the best, it was forgiveness green, ¡°Not checking your phone?¡± What he meant was¡ªyou haven¡¯t accepted my friend request yet! Guessing the boss¡¯s thoughts is the hardest thing in the world. After pondering, Fang Lixiang replied, ¡°I don¡¯t really check my phone during work hours.¡± She wanted to cultivate the image of someone obsessed with work, indifferent to food and drink, after all, what boss doesn¡¯t love hardworking and earnest employees, ¡°Boss, you hold me in such high regard, I¡¯ll treasure every second of work, toiling away to repay you.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t make it sound like I¡¯m exploiting you,¡± he looked at people from the corner of his eye like a big shot in society, ¡°You can check your phone.¡± Check it already! Hurry up and accept my request! Fang Lixiang felt the boss seemed a bit fiery, at times like this, employees should be proactive, ¡°Work is of utmost importance, work comes first!¡± What an actor! Dumb as a doorknob! ¡°What if someone has something important to contact you about?¡± Hurry up and accept it! With a professional fake smile, Fang Lixiang replied, ¡°If it¡¯s important, they should call me, I suppose.¡± Xue Baoyi was out of words. The work-loving Fang Lixiang, ¡°Can I get back to work now?¡± The other person ignored you, shooting you a look¡ªscram. Fang Lixiang ¡°scrammed,¡± just getting to the door, then twisted her head back, ¡°Boss,¡± she stammered hesitantly, ¡°Does our company have any special policies?¡± The big boss with legs crossed, looking supremely pissed off, ¡°Like what.¡± ¡°Like prohibiting up-and-coming artists from dating or something.¡± Damn it! Xue Baoyi straightened up, ¡°You want to date?!¡± With which little bastard! Fang Lixiang felt the waves of hostility hitting her, and she quickly waved her hands to deny, ¡°No, no, I was just asking.¡± She then made a swift escape, ¡°Well, I¡¯m off to work.¡± Xue Baoyi humphed. No wonder she deleted him as a friend, turns out she¡¯s got a hound on the outside! ¡°Add an item to the meeting agenda.¡± Xiao Zhuang pulled out his notebook to take notes, ¡°Add what?¡± ¡°No dating in secret for up-and-coming artists,¡± Xue Baoyi grinned wildly, ¡°unless I approve it.¡± Two hours later, the Baoguang weekly meeting concluded, and Lin Shang called the up-and-coming artists under him as soon as he exited the meeting room. The first call was to Fang Lixiang. ¡°The big boss spoke, CP hype is okay, but dating must be reported to the company.¡± The boss had particularly emphasized¡ªfemale artists in their prime! Among all of Baoguang, Fang Lixiang was the fastest rising in fame. Fang Lixiang snorted, Officials set fires and don¡¯t let the commoners light lamps, he goes swimming and plays mahjong with his ladies and no one says a word. After her grumbling, she took out her phone, pondered forever, and accepted the friend request from ¡®A Lifetime of Being Handsome.¡¯ Just accepted, and a message already came from the other side. A Lifetime of Being Handsome, ¡°Why did you delete me?!¡± I¡¯m Your Ancestor, ¡°Slip of the hand.¡± This excuse, entertainers loved it the most, liked something they shouldn¡¯t have, blame it on ¡®Comrade Slip of the Hand.¡¯ A Lifetime of Being Handsome, ¡°And you took so long to accept my friend request.¡± The resentment and anger seemed to be bursting through the screen. I¡¯m Your Ancestor, ¡°My boy,¡± she suddenly turned solemn, ¡°Let¡¯s be a father and son with deep affection from now on.¡± A Lifetime of Being Handsome, ¡°Father and son my ass!¡± I¡¯m Your Ancestor, ¡°Come on, let¡¯s play a game, daddy will take you flying.¡± A Lifetime of Being Handsome, ¡°I want to try quad queue.¡± I¡¯m Your Ancestor, ¡°Sure? It¡¯s not just anyone that can put up with you being unskilled.¡± A Lifetime of Being Handsome, ¡°Where am I unskilled? I¡¯m skilled now!¡± Some noobs always think they¡¯re going to improve, sigh! Fine, let him witness how cruel the world can be. Fang Lixiang enters the game, forms a team, and heads for G Port. Chapter 170: 170: Torture a Dog with Personal Skill (First Update) Chapter 170: 170: Torture a Dog with Personal Skill (First Update) Fang Lixiang logged into the game, formed a team, and headed for G Harbor. Besides Fang Lixiang and Xue Baoyi, the other two teammates they matched with were both dudes, with IDs that read ¡®Gouzi pays a visit to Aunt¡¯ and ¡®I Can¡¯t Box with My Strength¡¯. Their luck wasn¡¯t too shabby, they found guns and a first-aid kit shortly after landing, and there were exceptionally many people at G Harbor this round, which made Fang Lixiang a bit excited, scoring two kills right off the bat. Xue Baoyi realized that this guy might actually be a former pro player who had been coaxed into retirement. The four of them moved, two in the front, two in the back. I Can¡¯t Box with My Strength: ¡°There¡¯s someone in the house ahead.¡± The voice sounded like a young guy. In the game, a woman with two colorful braids was walking at the back of the group, clad in a bulletproof vest and carrying a backpack, closely following the man in the camo tank top. ¡®I¡¯m Your Ancestor¡¯: ¡°I see him.¡± I Can¡¯t Box with My Strength: ¡°He seems unarmed, let¡¯s hit him.¡± ¡®I¡¯m Your Ancestor¡¯: ¡°Okay.¡± Xue Baoyi took a few glances, then opened fire furiously. They weren¡¯t too far apart, but the result¡­ I Can¡¯t Box with My Strength: ¡°Damn, didn¡¯t hit him once.¡± Seeing nothing strange, Fang Lixiang thought missing every shot was nothing. This noob was doing great just not to team kill. I Can¡¯t Box with My Strength: ¡°Are you a newbie?¡± There was a very clear disdain in his tone. Xue Baoyi couldn¡¯t be bothered, picked up her weapon, ready to fight again. ¡°Bang!¡± That shot was fired by Fang Lixiang, one shot to kill, very clean and crisp. Gouzi pays a visit to Aunt: ¡°Triple kill, not bad, teammate.¡± This little brother didn¡¯t have such a strong vibe of rancor. Urala Li Xiang: ¡°Just average, ranking third in the entire server.¡± The pride sounded as if he was first in the whole server. Gouzi pays a visit to Aunt: ¡°Oh, it¡¯s a sister.¡± Urala Li Xiang: ¡°Yep¡«¡± Damn it! They duo queued for two months, and she never used such a girly voice with him, just yelled and cursed at him! Xue Baoyi snorted. ¡®I¡¯m Your Ancestor¡¯: ¡°Stop flirting, get back to business.¡± On the screen, the man with the two colorful braids leaped onto a shipping container, immediately followed by Xue Baoyi exclaiming, ¡°Damn!¡± ¡®I¡¯m Your Ancestor¡¯: ¡°I found an M24!¡± Urala Li Xiang: ¡°Lucky you, kid.¡± Xue Baoyi hurriedly jumped down, looking around nervously. With an M24 in hand, he felt like the entire server was coveting his gun. So scared, it was the first time he picked up this gun. What a coward! Fang Lixiang asked, ¡°Do you want a Level 3 Head?¡± The teammate closest to her¡ª¡¯I Can¡¯t Box with My Strength¡¯ immediately answered: ¡°Yes.¡± Urala Li Xiang: ¡°Not for you.¡± Urala Li Xiang: ¡°Noob, here¡¯s a Level 3 Head for you.¡± The woman with colorful braids immediately scampered over, accepting her teammate¡¯s offer with peace of mind as if it were the norm. With a Level 3 Head and an M24, he felt like the whole battlefield was his. Xue Baoyi¡¯s palms started sweating with excitement. ¡°Heh.¡± I Can¡¯t Box with My Strength, ¡°Such a noob indeed.¡± A naked mockery. From a teammate who had neither a Level 3 Head nor an M24. Tension suddenly thickened in the air. Fang Lixiang forgot to disguise his voice and retorted, ¡°Noob is a pet name; only I get to use it.¡± S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The other side snorted derisively. Gouzi pays a visit to Aunt: ¡°Are you two boyfriend and girlfriend?¡± This teammate was skilled, silent but deadly, and Fang Lixiang had a good impression of him, so he responded. Urala Li Xiang: ¡°We are father and son.¡± Urala Li Xiang: ¡°There are footsteps.¡± All four of them were on a lawn, with nothing but rocks for cover. I Can¡¯t Box with My Strength: ¡°Lie down first.¡± I Can¡¯t Box with My Strength: ¡°Give me the M24.¡± He said it as if it were the most natural thing in the world. Who does he think he, Second Young Master Xue, is? A single character of ¡°handsome¡± lasted a lifetime: ¡°Why should I give it to you?¡± I Can¡¯t Box with My Strength: ¡°You can¡¯t even hit the target with it; it¡¯s a waste.¡± Calling him a noob. Leaning back in the executive chair with his legs crossed, Second Young Master Xue touched his cheek. Talk is cheap, prove it with strength. In the game, the woman with the colorful braids laying behind a rock suddenly stood up, took out her M24, aimed at the enemy team, and fired straight away. Then¡ª The enemy in a vehicle started heading their way. The four huddled behind the rocks, shuffling around and returning fire. ¡®I Can¡¯t Box with My Strength¡¯ threw a grenade, missed, and cursed over the mic: ¡°What are you shooting at? You missed, and you¡¯ve just exposed us, are you crazy?¡± A single character of ¡°handsome¡± lasted a lifetime: ¡°Who are you calling crazy?¡± Dammit, he hated these kinds of dogs who blame their teammates when they can¡¯t win themselves! I Can¡¯t Box with My Strength: ¡°You¡¯re so bad there¡¯s no saving you! Even primary school kids play better than you, you freaking noob!¡± Xue Baoyi: ¡°¡­¡± No good, he had to think of how to curse effectively, to use his full potential. It was okay to lose in the game, but he absolutely couldn¡¯t lose in a swearing match¡ª Someone had beaten him to it. I¡¯m Your Ancestor: ¡°So what if he¡¯s bad?¡± I¡¯m Your Ancestor: ¡°Can¡¯t bad players play the game?¡± I¡¯m Your Ancestor: ¡°If you get matched with weak teammates, it¡¯s your bad luck, whose fault is that?!¡± I¡¯m Your Ancestor: ¡°And speaking of which, do you have the nerve to criticize him? If it wasn¡¯t for me headshotting that guy behind you just now, you¡¯d be dead and turned into a box already, did I call you bad? You freaking noob.¡± You freaking noob: ¡°¡­¡± Xue Baoyi: ¡°¡­¡± Dang, he¡¯s having a heart attack! ¡°Bang! Bang!¡± A single character of ¡°handsome¡± lasted a lifetime got shot and fell to the ground, dead. I Can¡¯t Box with My Strength: ¡°Good riddance, less of a burden for the team.¡± Everything about this game was good except one thing¡ªit had too many players of all sorts, and just her luck, Ullala Li Xiang had a bit of a temper. I¡¯m Your Ancestor: ¡°Curse one more time, I dare you?¡± She¡¯d cursed plenty before, but she could curse, could others? Did they think her father was dead? I Can¡¯t Box with My Strength: ¡°Not allowing us to state the truth about a noob.¡± The opponent was furious, and he was starting to lose his confidence. Gouzi pays a visit to Aunt: ¡°Enough, kill more and talk less.¡± Fang Lixiang took a deep breath, found a good spot to hide, and started using a first-aid kit. At that moment, the vehicle of the opposing team drove over, and four players jumped out and started shooting wildly. ¡®I Can¡¯t Box with My Strength¡¯ was hit and fell to the ground, calling for help immediately: ¡°I¡¯m down, come and get me up.¡± Gouzi pays a visit to Aunt was too far away. He could only call for Fang Lixiang: ¡°Come on, help me up!¡± Help him? Ha. Fang Lixiang, carrying a gun and wearing a Level 3 helmet, looked over coldly: ¡°Just die.¡± I Can¡¯t Box with My Strength: ¡°F*ck your mother¡ª¡± This player ¡®I Can¡¯t Box with My Strength¡¯ was now dead, turned into a box. Afterwards, the only sounds in the headset were cursing and swearing. Fang Lixiang pulled out one earbud, switched weapons, hit an enemy in the neck, and then quickly ducked behind the rock, healing himself, and added, ¡°Sorry teammates, that guy was just too loud earlier.¡± Gouzi pays a visit to Aunt: ¡°I think so too.¡± I¡¯m Your Ancestor: ¡°Don¡¯t worry, the two of us can make it to the final circle.¡± After that, Fang Lixiang emerged from behind the rock, raised his gun, and in thirty seconds, took down two more players. In the end, seven kills and a victory. Watching the game, Xue Baoyi felt his blood boiling: This guy, just try not to be too handsome! The next day, eight o¡¯clock at night. The Zou Family had added a great-grandchild and booked the entire Tingyu Building, inviting families from Imperial City for a banquet, with thirty-six tables set from the first to the third floor. At 8:10 pm, as the banquet commenced, Jiang Chuan hurried down from upstairs, waiting at the entrance of Tingyu Building, peering outside repeatedly. Soon, the sound of coughing was heard before the person appeared. ¡°Cough, cough, cough¡­¡± It was drizzling outside, and Jiang Zhi, under a black umbrella, walked from the dense mist of the rain. As he approached, he tilted the umbrella back to reveal his face, with red lips, white teeth, and a face as beautiful as a lotus flower, with a hint of sickness yet brimming with nobility¡ªa perfect ten points of attractiveness, exquisitely crafted in every aspect. Standing there with an umbrella, he resembled a painting of the Jiangnan Water Town. Jiang Chuan stepped forward to greet him: ¡°Young Master.¡± He reached out to take the umbrella, ¡°Old Madam asked me to guide you.¡± Jiang Zhi wrapped his coat tighter around himself, rested by the doorway for a moment to catch his breath, then walked inside. Old Lady Jiang was also present today; in her youth, she was a close friend of the late Old Madam Zou, so of course, she had to come and offer her congratulations. As a senior in the family, she was seated at the VIP table on the third floor of Tingyu Building. Chapter 171: 171: Qiao Nanchu Attacks Little Baiyang (Second Update) Chapter 171: 171: Qiao Nanchu Attacks Little Baiyang (Second Update) Before the banquet began, many guests approached Old Madam Jiang to inquire about her wellbeing. She patiently responded to each of them, not least bit diminishing the grace of the number one family in the Imperial City. At the neighboring table, Luo Changde had just taken his seat. Old Lady Jiang offered her sympathies, ¡°When were you discharged from the hospital, Changde?¡± Luo Changde had grown thinner, his face pallid: ¡°Last week.¡± Old Lady Jiang, with a kind and gentle gaze, asked, ¡°I hope there are no serious issues with your health?¡± ¡°There¡¯s nothing to worry about now,¡± he replied, keeping his eyes downcast, his cheekbones high, and his brow ridge protruding, carrying a sullen rage between his brows. Old Lady Jiang¡¯s expression remained unchanged, and she continued, ¡°Have they caught the culprit who hit your head?¡± Asking what she already knew! Luo Changde¡¯s face darkened: ¡°No.¡± A look of pity crossed Old Lady Jiang¡¯s face as she advised, ¡°Then you should avoid walking alone at night from now on.¡± She took a small sip from her teacup, a smile emerging from the corners of her eyes, ¡°Brother Zhi has arrived.¡± Luo Changde turned around, his hand clenched into a fist, growing tighter and tighter; wasn¡¯t this the very assailant who hit his head, walking towards him coughing every three steps, in a sickly and twisted manner? As the beauty passed by, Ming Yanghua caught a scent wafting through the air; he sniffed with his nose, nudging the young master next to him with his elbow: ¡°Do you smell that?¡± Distracted by the nudge, the young master¡¯s peanuts were knocked loose: ¡°What?¡± ¡°Jiang Zhi smells so good,¡± Ming Yanghua took another sniff, it was genuinely fragrant. The young master gave him a sly grin, dragging his words shamelessly and flirtatiously like a debauched scoundrel teasing someone: ¡°Xiao Hua, you¡¯re quite the temptress.¡± Ming Yanghua: ¡°¡­¡± Go to hell! He was fuming, his expression becoming stern, ¡°It¡¯s Jiang Zhi who¡¯s the temptress, alright! Which normal man would douse themselves with perfume so much that it reeks? Pathetic!¡± Just as he finished ranting, the hand of his own sister struck his head like a mother hen protecting her chick: ¡°Mortal messenger, who are you calling pathetic?!¡± Mortal messenger Ming Yanghua: ¡°¡­¡± This title was an utter disgrace to him. He gritted his teeth in anger, as menacing as a snarling Shiba Inu: ¡°Don¡¯t talk to me about those four words!¡± Yet some people just had to stomp around in his minefield. ¡°Isn¡¯t this Lord Black Impermanence¡¯s mortal messenger?¡± Who else could it be but Xue Baoyi, that sluggish scoundrel, patting Ming Yanghua¡¯s shoulder like a bully, ¡°Haven¡¯t seen you in quite a while, why are you out today? Didn¡¯t Lord Black Impermanence assign you a task?¡± The room erupted in boisterous laughter. Ming Yanghua truly wanted to bite him to death. Alongside, his own sister joined the loud laughter, kicking him while he was down, ¡°Young Master, don¡¯t pick on him. This kid was locked up by my dad for half a month, with priests performing rituals every day, and it was quite an ordeal to chase away his Lord Black Impermanence.¡± Ming Saiying tilted her head, ¡°Right, mortal messenger?¡± Mortal messenger: ¡°¡­¡± Indeed, ever since the incident at the Jiang Family, where he was revealed as the mortal messenger, his old man kept inviting people to perform rituals, even going as far as to brew exorcism charms in his drink, claiming it was to rid him of evil spirits. What was even more outrageous, he constantly slapped exorcism charms on his body; he was currently wearing two on his back. He didn¡¯t want to deal with these vulgar folks any longer. After having his fill of teasing at this table, Xue Baoyi left: ¡°Brother Zhi, save me a seat.¡± He headed over to Jiang Zhi¡¯s table. Once more, Ming Yanghua caught a whiff of the intense gardenia scent, even stronger than before and slightly intoxicating, nudging the young master beside him: ¡°You smell that now, don¡¯t you?¡± The young master sniffed: ¡°There really is a scent of gardenias.¡± Certainly, the same scent! Ming Yanghua knew then, ¡°It¡¯s the scent of an affair.¡± Two vigorous young men, each carrying a fragrance, who¡¯d believe there wasn¡¯t something unspeakable going on? He figured, Jiang Zhi wasn¡¯t anything decent either; he had made his girlfriend public not long ago, yet here he was, reigniting the old flame with Xue Baoyi, and as he was considering this¡ª ¡°Nanchu, over here.¡± Qiao Nanchu had also arrived, with Xue Baoyi calling him over from the inside table. Ming Yanghua smelled the scent of Gardenia for the third time and was astonished, ¡°Momma mia, another one, can¡¯t you smell it, it¡¯s a love triangle!¡± Ming Saiying smacked him on the back of the head, ¡°Shut up, mortal messenger.¡± Mortal messenger Ming Yanghua: ¡°¡­¡± Speaking of that ¡®love triangle¡¯, Jiang Zhi sat in the middle, Qiao Nanchu to his left, Xue Baoyi to his right. Jiang Zhi was leaning back against the chair, Qiao Nanchu leaning to the right, and Xue Baoyi to the left. From this angle, it truly had the feeling of the fabled m¨¦nage ¨¤ trois scenario. Jiang Zhi turned his head to the left, ¡°You¡¯ve applied it.¡± Then turned to the right, ¡°You, too.¡± He took a slight sniff¡ªall Gardenia scent, a fragrance he was all too familiar with. Xue Baoyi, on the right, remained unflustered, ¡°I think that product isn¡¯t half bad.¡± Qiao Nanchu, on the left, ¡°Yeah, not bad.¡± Jiang Zhi, holding a handkerchief to his mouth, lightly coughing, his eyes slightly reddening, weakly cursed, ¡°You two dogs, laughing at me earlier.¡± Xue dog asked Qiao dog, ¡°Did I?¡± Qiao dog took a sip from the wine glass in front of him, ¡°This wine is good.¡± ¡°Is it?¡± Xue dog picked up the wine glass, ¡°Cheers.¡± Qiao dog clinked his glass lazily against the other¡¯s, ¡°Bang!¡± Let¡¯s rewind to today at two in the afternoon. Qiao Nanchu left the case files at home and had to return once during the day. Upon opening the door, he saw a young girl busying herself in the kitchen. She was wearing an apron, unaware of his presence due to her headphones, still concentrating on transferring the contents of the large box into smaller containers. Qiao Nanchu didn¡¯t rush in, standing in the entryway watching her. Wen Baiyang finished transferring the food and only when she looked up did she see him, surprised for a moment, ¡°Why have you come back at this time?¡± At this time, he should be at the intelligence office. ¡°Came to get something.¡± Qiao Nanchu entered the house, first going to the couch to pick up the document bag, then headed to the kitchen, glancing at the meal boxes on the table, ¡°Don¡¯t make so much next time, I can¡¯t finish it all by myself.¡± Her cooking skills were learned from the nanny who had taken care of her before, and over the years, she had constantly been concocting myriad dishes for him, her culinary skills continually improving to the point where she even got certified. She laughed it off nonchalantly, ¡°You can invite friends over to eat.¡± She turned around, intending to store the prepared food into the fridge, but he pressed down on the fridge door. ¡°Wen Baiyang.¡± She looked up at him. His handsome and suave eyes were pitch-black as they observed her. He asked, ¡°What am I to you?¡± He had to bend down to look her in the eye, ¡°A brother? Or an elder?¡± She paused, puzzled for a moment, and then answered, ¡°You are my savior.¡± Savior was used. Qiao Nanchu withdrew his hand from the fridge and leaned back against the waist-high kitchen cabinet, his gaze seemingly indifferent yet paradoxically filled with a dark intensity, ¡°Back in the day, one would repay a life-saving debt with a marriage proposal.¡± His legs stretched out lazily, his arms folded as he watched the girl¡¯s dumbfounded expression, joking, ¡°Interested?¡± While she was still pondering the meaning behind his words, he had already leaned in closer, ¡°Don¡¯t think of me as your savior in the future, nor am I your brother.¡± Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He reached out, holding her chin, ¡°I¡¯m unmarried. Single. And an adult male.¡± Chapter 172: 172: Progress in Joanne cp, Ah Fang drunk again (see beyond the question Chapter 172: 172: Progress in Joanne cp, Ah Fang drunk again (see beyond the question He reached out, his hand cradling her chin, ¡°I¡¯m unmarried, single, an adult male.¡± She was completely baffled. ¡°Do you understand what I¡¯m saying?¡± Her face started to heat up, her neck as well, and her ears¡ªall of them turned red. She instinctively wanted to dodge but couldn¡¯t escape because he was holding her chin, forcing her to look into his eyes. Fiery, urgent, and an unmistakable desire, things she had never seen in his eyes before, seemed to be drawing her in. She understood but had never thought of it that way before. Staring at him for a long time, she finally retreated until her back hit the refrigerator. It was so sudden, she hadn¡¯t had time to think it over and felt a bit dizzy, her sign language slow and sluggish. Blushing, she responded, ¡°I have a lot of respect for you.¡± After a pause, she added, ¡°Always.¡± ¡­ Respect. Meaning there was no romantic feeling. He was too hasty; this girl had just grown up and still saw him as an elder. Qiao Nanchu chuckled, ¡°I¡¯m only six years older than you. Stop respecting me that way.¡± His tone was negotiating, almost coaxing, ¡°Just think of me as a man, okay?¡± Her eyelashes fluttered for a long time before she lowered her head and made a gesture with her hand, ¡°Okay.¡± Such a good girl. He had always loved her obedience, her quietness, her easy nature, but he didn¡¯t know when he had started to love her as a person. Was it when she cut her hair short at eighteen? When she wore a dress at seventeen? Or when she was sixteen, bullied outside, crying on his back? He wasn¡¯t sure anymore, maybe even earlier. Then he waited for her to grow up, to understand the boundaries between men and women, to know about the joy of love between them. He had intended to wait a bit longer, but just now, after seeing her bustling about, the idea of marriage suddenly came to him, and the words slipped out in the heat of the moment. Luckily, the girl he¡¯d raised was well-behaved; even if startled, she wouldn¡¯t run away. Qiao Nanchu felt a bit thirsty, licked his lips, ¡°Colleagues at the bureau are waiting for me, I have to go back for a meeting and can¡¯t take you home. Don¡¯t go by yourself, wait here, I¡¯ll have the driver come to pick you up.¡± Wen Baiyang nodded, still blushing, not daring to look into his eyes like before. Qiao Nanchu hesitated for a moment, then placed his hand on her head, caressing the obedient girl, then smiled and drew his hand back as he observed her awkward stiffness. She stood dumbly in front of the refrigerator. He grabbed the documents and keys, and just as he was leaving through the entryway, she followed with a small paper bag. ¡°Is there something else you want to say?¡± She handed him the small paper bag. Qiao Nanchu accepted it. She explained in sign language, ¡°My friend said this is very useful,¡±, perhaps moved by his earlier words, her eyes timid, ¡°and it can also be used as a hand cream.¡± S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He looked inside the bag; how ironic, he had previously mocked Jiang Zhi for using this stuff. Remembering this, Qiao Nanchu chuckled to himself, Jiang Zhi asking him, ¡°What¡¯s so funny?¡± Looking at his own hands covered in lotion, he asked Jiang Zhi out of the blue, ¡°How did you manage to win Zhou Xufang over?¡± Jiang Zhi understood; this guy couldn¡¯t wait any longer. In July, the girl had her coming-of-age ceremony; the very next day, this guy bought a ring fitted for a ring finger, and he happened to see it, just one thought in his mind, this guy was a beast; she was still so young. Yet, after he himself met Zhou Xufang, he understood; a man becomes a beast in front of a girl he likes. Jiang Beast, ¡°You can¡¯t learn it.¡± Beast Qiao raised an eyebrow, ¡°Do tell.¡± Jiang Beast with an arrogant look, ¡°By the face.¡± Beast Qiao ¡°¡­¡± At 8:20 PM, as the banquet was about to begin, tea and wine were first served at the tables, and shortly after, the music started, and a famous actor from Tingyu Building came on stage, singing a lively opera piece. At that moment, Luo Changde stood up from his seat; the entire Tingyu Building had been rented out by the Zou Family. Besides the packed main hall on the third floor, the other private rooms were empty; he picked one and entered. After taking a call, he spoke in a hushed, tense voice, ¡°The money has been transferred to you.¡± The room was dark, only lit by the dim light from the mobile phone screen, which cast his gaunt face in half-shadow. ¡°Once you arrive in Imperial City, find a place to stay first, and we¡¯ll handle the rest of the money when we meet.¡± Not clear what the person on the other end said, Luo Changde coldly chuckled, his tone menacing, ¡°Don¡¯t get any funny ideas, or else you won¡¯t even know how you died.¡± ¡°Just remember one thing, I only want the item, not your life; her fate, however, might be different.¡± Outside, footsteps passed by; Luo Changde lowered his voice even further, and finally, ¡°You don¡¯t need me to teach you how to cover up a murder, do you?¡± Then he hung up, glanced outside the room to make sure no one was around, and left. Outside, the opera had reached its midpoint. The mobile phone on the table lit up, Luo Qinghe glanced at the caller ID and answered the phone. ¡°Younger Luo,¡± it was his secretary Shen Yue; because there was singing nearby, his voice was a bit louder, ¡°Peng Xianzhi¡¯s son has contacted Chairman Luo.¡± Luo Qinghe looked at the wine glass in his hand, silent for a long while, ¡°First keep an eye on them, don¡¯t scare the snake.¡± ¡°I understand.¡± After she hung up the phone, Luo Changde just returned to the table and sat down beside her. At the climax of the Kunqu opera performance on stage, the guests applauded warmly. Luo Qinghe poured a glass of wine and placed it in front of Luo Changde, who glanced at it but did not pick it up. She smiled, with a mix of genuine and feigned tone, ¡°Why aren¡¯t you drinking? Afraid I poisoned it?¡± Luo Changde remained silent, his eyebrows furrowed and his expression cold. ¡°Father,¡± she herself picked up the glass she had poured and took a small sip, ¡°If I really didn¡¯t wish you well, you wouldn¡¯t have been discharged from the hospital so quickly.¡± Luo Changde scoffed, ¡°It was just a small cut, and I ended up in the ICU twice. If I hadn¡¯t been discharged quickly, I might have ended up dying there.¡± Luo Qinghe¡¯s expression changed slightly, her brows and eyes cooling, she did not continue the conversation. He still suspected her; the errand runner Z had just casually instigated, and he began to guard against her, to catch her weaknesses. How frustrating. In the middle of the venue sat two tables occupied by the Four Great Families, one for the elders and one for the younger generation. Qiao Nanchu was seated to the left, looking up in the direction of the Luo father and daughter. He nudged Jiang Zhi with his knee, indicating for him to look their way, ¡°Look.¡± He nodded toward the Luo father and daughter, ¡°They¡¯re panicking.¡± Jiang Zhi leaned back in his chair, with everyone else having tea or wine in front of them, while he had only a bowl of soup. He lazily glanced over then withdrew his gaze, commenting, ¡°It¡¯s only fun when dogs bite each other.¡± Xue Baoyi was playing a game beside them, not paying attention to their conversation. Qiao Nanchu chatted casually, asking nonchalantly, ¡°Did you do this?¡± Jiang Zhi replied just as casually, ¡°Just framed them arbitrarily.¡± After Luo Changde had been in the ICU twice, he gave a slight hint, and he pointed it to Luo Qinghe. Last time, Zhou Xufang also casually incited, and that father and daughter duo harbored suspicions against each other. The family ties of the Luo family were indeed fragile, each one a self-serving atomist; they were the easiest to drive a wedge between. At that moment, Xue Baoyi chuckled, laughing quite freely. Don¡¯t misunderstand; it wasn¡¯t because he won in some shooter game. Winning a game? Unless his ¡°dad¡± helped him, he could never manage that in this life; instead, he had just been shot in the neck by a bandit in the game and had died. His laughter was due to an incoming call, the contact named¡ªFang Xijing. This scoundrel clearly had the number saved but still had to play Qiao, feigning nonchalance, and asked, ¡°Who is it?¡± ¡°¡­ ¡± He always asked this way. Fang Lixiang silently cursed a few times but spoke very respectfully on the phone, ¡°It¡¯s me, Lixiang, Boss.¡± Xue Baoyi dragged his words out like a lord, his voice tone wildly playful, yet portraying an air of ¡®the busy lord has no time for you¡¯. What a bureaucrat! Fang Lixiang, a minor employee, could only bear it, and she quickly got to the main point, ¡°Boss, are you with Director Jiang?¡± Xue Baoyi sat up straight, ¡°You¡¯re not looking for me?¡± His eyes flicked to the left, full of emotion. Jiang Zhi sitting on his left didn¡¯t respond to him. On the phone, Fang Lixiang continued with the main point, ¡°I¡¯m looking for Director Jiang.¡± ¡°What do you want with him?¡± Xue Baoyi was clearly dissatisfied and deliberately harsh, his tone so fierce that those around him couldn¡¯t ignore it, ¡°Why are you calling me if you want to talk to him!¡± His tone was as if he were owed a huge debt. Fang Lixiang didn¡¯t know what was displeasing this rich man, and she dared not ask. She adopted the tone she used when acting as an eunuch, ¡°It¡¯s like this, Boss, Director Jiang might not have saved my number, I just called him but was rejected.¡± The eunuch cautiously asked, ¡°Could you pass the phone to Director Jiang for a moment?¡± The response was cold, ¡°No.¡± Really wanted to snipe him in the head! Fang Lixiang smiled, ¡°Oh, then I¡¯m sorry for the disturbance, I¡¯ll try calling a few more times.¡± She was about to hang up. Xue Baoyi spitefully said, ¡°Wait.¡± Fang Lixiang: ¡°Thank you, Boss.¡± He turned his head, no longer even using Brother Zhi, directly, ¡°Jiang Zhi!¡± Throwing the phone as if Jiang Zhi owed him 8 million, ¡°It¡¯s for you.¡± Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t move, looking absolutely miserable, ¡°Who?¡± Xue Baoyi tossed a peanut into his mouth, then another, the second one missing and hitting Qiao Nanchu in the face. Qiao Nanchu sent him a look. He grunted, ¡°An ungrateful D-list actress.¡± Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t bother listening to his nonsense and took the call. The ungrateful D-list actress spoke first, ¡°Hello, Director Jiang.¡± Afraid the well-known director wouldn¡¯t recognize her voice, she quickly announced her name, ¡°I¡¯m Fang Lixiang.¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡°What is it?¡± Fang Lixiang asked, ¡°Can you come to pick up Zhou Xufang?¡± Upon hearing the name Zhou Xufang, the lackluster look in Jiang Zhi¡¯s eyes suddenly sparked to life, ¡°What happened to her?¡± Before Fang Lixiang could respond, a cheerful song burst through the phone, ¡°Our motherland is a garden, a garden where flowers bloom so bright. Warm sunlight shines upon us, smiles on everyone¡¯s faces, haha, ha, smiles on everyone¡¯s faces¡­¡± It was Zhou Xufang singing, and she seemed quite happy. Fang Lixiang explained the situation, ¡°She is singing to a traffic cop on the road, and no matter how I pull her, she won¡¯t leave.¡± Chapter 173: 173: Jiang Zhi goes to pick up the drunk cutie (second update) Chapter 173: 173: Jiang Zhi goes to pick up the drunk cutie (second update) ¡°She¡¯s singing to the traffic police on the road, and no matter how much I pull her, she won¡¯t leave.¡± Singing? Singing to the traffic cop?! ¡°Is she drunk?¡± Fang Lixiang hazarded a guess, ¡°She looks like she drank too much.¡± But then she got confused, ¡°But we didn¡¯t drink any alcohol.¡± They just went out for a meal. It must be some dish that had eggs in it. Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t explain, ¡°Just keep her there, don¡¯t let her move, and send me the address.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t let her go near any trees.¡± Last time Zhou Xufang ate eggs, she uprooted a tree. When he was there it was fine, but he was afraid someone might notice something odd about her when he wasn¡¯t. The bewildered Fang Lixiang: ¡°?¡± Why can¡¯t she go near trees? ¡°Oh.¡± She didn¡¯t ask. Jiang Zhi placed his phone on the table and got up from his seat. Qiao Nanchu asked, ¡°The banquet is about to start, where are you going?¡± ¡°I¡¯m going to pick up Zhou Xufang, she drank too much.¡± Jiang Zhi first went to Old Lady Jiang to say hello and mentioned feeling unwell. The old lady asked him a few concerned questions, which he answered before leaving. Speaking of Xue Baoyi, when Jiang Zhi returned the phone to him, the call wasn¡¯t disconnected yet. He let the phone sit on the table for a while before picking it up and putting it to his ear: ¡°Fang Lixiang, you¡ª¡± On the other end: ¡°Beep, beep, beep, beep¡­¡± The call had been disconnected. Xue Baoyi: ¡°¡­¡± Aside from Jiang Zhi and his father, it was the first time someone had hung up on his Young Master. Did they think he had no temper? He dialed directly back: ¡°Try hanging up my call again.¡± On the other end, the employee Fang startled by the boss¡¯s personal call quickly explained, ¡°I was just too quick, it wasn¡¯t intentional.¡± It really wasn¡¯t. Xue Baoyi didn¡¯t believe it: ¡°That¡¯s quite the coincidence then.¡± Whatever you say. She just stayed silent. But she stayed silent for quite a while, and the boss didn¡¯t speak either. It felt like when she was playing chicken games and heard a noise, not knowing where the enemy was hiding, which made her a bit uneasy. After waiting a bit longer: ¡°Boss, if there¡¯s nothing else, I¡¯m going to hang up¡ª¡± ¡°Who said there¡¯s nothing else?¡± He spoke nonchalantly, with a tone that teased. This deserving-of-a-beating attitude, he sounded exactly like a gang leader who collected protection money at the street corner. Fang Lixiang was just like a street vendor: ¡°Then, what would you like me to do?¡± Gangster Xue: ¡°Sing a song for me.¡± ¡°¡­¡± S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Who spoiled this guy?! Fang Lixiang suppressed the urge to hit someone, ¡°Are you lonely or something?¡± She suspected he was trying to seduce her. He kept up his nonchalant demeanor, clearly not behaving, ¡°Who¡¯s lonely?¡± He sat there with his leg propped up, not acting properly, touched his chin, and then found a sound reason, ¡°Sing a song, let me hear your voice. If it¡¯s good, the company might consider letting you work in film, TV, and music.¡± Boss. That attitude, totally like a golden daddy! Suddenly, Fang Lixiang felt his figure seemed tall and majestic: ¡°What would you like to hear? I¡¯ll sing anything I know.¡± Xue Baoyi, with legs crossed, tossed peanuts into his mouth, leisurely said, ¡°As you wish.¡± Just then, Zhou Xufang squatted in front of the young police officer, singing joyfully, ¡°Everyone¡¯s face breaks into a smile, ha ha ha ha, everyone¡¯s face breaks into a smile¡­¡± This song, got to say, was quite catchy. Fang Lixiang hadn¡¯t even realized what was happening and found herself singing along, ¡°Big sister, come quickly, little brother, don¡¯t hide away. Hand in hand, let¡¯s sing together, our lives are so joyful, ha ha ha ha, our lives are so joyful¡­¡± A peanut hit Xue Baoyi¡¯s face: ¡°¡­¡± The tune meandered back and forth, sounding like a husky. For some reason, it was vivid, quite husky-like, a flurry of goofy charm that hit him hard. Xue Baoyi moved the phone slightly away: ¡°That¡¯s enough.¡± The cursed tune kept looping in his head. Fang Lixiang wasn¡¯t done singing yet, as Zhou Xufang was starting the next verse, and she also wanted to continue with ¡®ha ha ha ha¡¯: ¡°There¡¯s another part, though.¡± Xue Baoyi took a sip of tea to moisten his throat, ¡°That¡¯s enough.¡± Fang Lixiang felt that the previous part hadn¡¯t showcased her full vocal abilities, and she was very eager. ¡°How was that? Should I sing another one for you?¡± After finishing the peanuts and moving on to a plate of fried broad beans, which he crunched noisily, Xue Baoyi suggested, ¡°You better stick to acting.¡± Fang Lixiang, who really wanted to be a singer, said, ¡°¡­¡± It hurts. She immediately lost her energy, ¡°Then I¡¯m hanging up.¡± Xue Baoyi¡¯s tone was a bit punch-worthy, ¡°Don¡¯t be too sad. No one is perfect. Although I am handsome and dashing, I suck at playing games and mahjong.¡± Hearing this, Fang Lixiang sincerely replied, ¡°Then don¡¯t be too down, even losers have their spring.¡± Xue Loser: ¡°¡­¡± He angrily threw a broad bean¡ª It hit Qiao Nanchu right on the nose, making a sound. Qiao Nanchu calmly took a tissue and wiped his nose, ¡°If you¡¯re itching for a fight, just say so.¡± Xue Baoyi hung up the phone, ¡°So losers don¡¯t deserve to eat broad beans?¡± Qiao Nanchu: ¡°¡­¡± He wanted to hit him, but suddenly he just couldn¡¯t. At nine o¡¯clock, neon lights were everywhere on the streets. On the top of a building at the left of the intersection, there was a massive LED screen displaying ads. Beneath it sat a man, gazing up at the screen, his head swaying. ¡°Are you 017?¡± Zhou Xufang was heavily drunk, her eyes foggy. She tilted her head, focusing on the person on the screen, ¡°Your face has gotten so much bigger.¡± Fang Lixiang squatted beside her and also glanced at it. That¡¯s the national heartthrob Xiao Yusheng. Zhou Xufang continued to mutter, ¡°Are you 017? Are you, are you?¡± She waved at the screen, ¡°I¡¯m 011.¡± 017? 011? Fang Lixiang thought Zhou Xufang might have been reading some spy novel lately. Drunken and bleary-eyed, 011 batted her eyes, ¡°017, don¡¯t run away. If you don¡¯t listen, they will hit you.¡± She spoke to the 017 on the screen, ¡°Let¡¯s not run. We¡¯ll just take our medicine, lots and lots of it, and once we¡¯re powerful, we¡¯ll run away together.¡± As she spoke, 011¡¯s eyes reddened, on the verge of tears. She looked up at the stars for a while before forcing back her tears and then continued to watch the screen, tilting her head, ¡°Hmm?¡± The electronic display had switched from a phone advertisement to Xiehe Hospital, where a handsome young man turned into a balding middle-aged man, reciting, ¡°For infertility, come to Xiehe.¡± Zhou Xufang stood up, wobbling, ¡°017, where did you go?¡± ¡°017.¡± 017 was gone, no one heard her. Zhou Xufang was disappointed; she felt like jumping up and smashing the bald man¡¯s head. But that won¡¯t do; Jiang Zhi had said not to run, jump, or get angry outside. Fang Lixiang, worried she might fall, went to support her, but she pushed him away and staggered over to the traffic booth, squatting down, ¡°Traffic cop, young man.¡± The young traffic cop had just swapped shifts. It was now his break, and he was young and shy, blushing as he uttered, ¡°Hmm.¡± Zhou Xufang squatted on the ground, lining up with the boulder block used to stop cars, gazing up, shaking her head as she admired the traffic cop¡¯s uniform, ¡°Your outfit is really nice.¡± She was tipsy and slightly slurred her words. The traffic cop blushed even more from the compliment. Her mask was long gone; her face was flushed, her eyes watery, and as she sweetly praised the traffic cop¡¯s uniform, she said, ¡°It¡¯s yellow and shiny, very pretty.¡± The young traffic cop adjusted his duty uniform. Zhou Xufang¡¯s expression was so sincere, ¡°Young man, can you sell me that outfit?¡± The young cop felt awkward. Her face in the hoodie looked clean; when she wasn¡¯t smiling, she looked heroic, and when she did, her bright eyes and white teeth were especially attractive. She said, ¡°I want to buy it for my boyfriend to wear.¡± Mentioning her boyfriend made her happy and proud, ¡°He¡¯s handsome, and wearing this yellow outfit, he would look even better.¡± He has a girlfriend. The young traffic cop felt a bit disappointed, ¡°This outfit isn¡¯t for sale.¡± Zhou Xufang¡¯s confused expression, ¡°Even if I offer a lot of money, you can¡¯t sell it?¡± The young cop shook his head, ¡°This is a uniform.¡± He couldn¡¯t sell it, and even if he did, ordinary people couldn¡¯t wear it. But Zhou Xufang, groggy from the eggs, mumbled, ¡°Can I work for you then sell it?¡± The young cop: ¡°¡­¡± Whose darling is this, come claim her soon. Otherwise, he¡¯d steal! Zhou Xiaoke¡¯ai felt regretful, ¡°Can¡¯t, huh?¡± She sighed deeply, ¡°My boyfriend is so unfortunate, can¡¯t even wear pretty clothes.¡± Having failed to buy the ¡®pretty¡¯ clothes, she sulked for a while, then resumed singing, ¡°On day twenty-nine, not lifting a hand to beckon, day twenty-seven of the third ninth, a cold gust past the hedge, day thirty-six of the fourth ninth, sleeping in the night as if drenched in dew, day forty-five of the fifth ninth, the poor dancing in the streets, day fifty-four of the sixth ninth, tender spikes poke through the fence¡­¡± The wind behind her carried a voice, ¡°Zhou Xufang.¡± Zhou Xufang squatted on the ground, blankly turned her head, then flashed a huge smile, ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± Chapter 174: 174: If you insult my boyfriend, Ill smash your head oh (one more update Chapter 174: 174: If you insult my boyfriend, I¡¯ll smash your head oh (one more update Zhou Xufang crouched on the ground, dazedly turned back, and then grinned a big smile: ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± ¡°Jiang Zhi, Jiang Zhi!¡± She waved at him vigorously, her shoulders shaking as she laughed like a happy fool. After a while, she pushed herself up by her knees and staggered toward Jiang Zhi. Jiang Zhi opened his arms to catch her and enveloped her in a hug. She was tipsy, unsteady on her feet, and slumped softly in his embrace. Looking up with a grin, her eyes narrowed into crescent moons as she asked happily, ¡°Jiang Zhi, are you going to carry me home?¡± Her blurry eyes somehow reflected his figure clearly. Jiang Zhi supported her waist: ¡°Hmm.¡± Then she decided to go with Jiang Zhi, turned her head, and waved to Fang Lixiang: ¡°Lixiang, I¡¯m going home now, goodbye.¡± Fang Lixiang was still sitting on the stone stool, her face well-covered. She stood up, waved her hand, and greeted Jiang Zhi as well: ¡°Then I¡¯m leaving too.¡± Jiang Zhi said, ¡°Thank you.¡± Cordial and polite. Actually, Jiang Zhi wasn¡¯t an easy person to get along with. On the contrary, being born into a prominent family exposed him to a lot of falsehood and flattery, which made him distant. As an aristocrat¡¯s son, he was somewhat spoiled. Apart from Xue Baoyi and a few others, he only had the patience for Zhou Xufang and Zhou Xufang¡¯s friends. The big director was formally expressing his gratitude in person, and Fang Lixiang was somewhat unaccustomed to it: ¡°Director Jiang is too polite.¡± With a wave of her hand, she left. Behind them, Zhou Xufang, in a coquettish manner, kept calling out ¡®Jiang Zhi, Jiang Zhi¡¯¡ªeach word brimming with joy. This girl really liked Jiang Zhi a lot. Fang Lixiang couldn¡¯t help herself, and under the street lamp, she turned back and smiled, ¡°It¡¯s good she met you. Before she met you, I had never seen her smile.¡± Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t say anything, but the corners of his lips were raised. Fang Lixiang adjusted her baseball cap and left first. Tonight, the night was beautiful, and the person Zhou Xufang deeply liked was equally happy. The wind was just right, the lights were just right, and the bustling city was filled with lively humanity. Jiang Zhi helped Zhou Xufang to crouch down, and then moved in front of her: ¡°Xu Fang, climb onto my back.¡± Zhou Xufang grabbed his clothes, clambered up, and then wrapped her arms around his neck, her legs on either side, rocking. She pressed her face against his shoulder and said, ¡°I¡¯m all settled.¡± Jiang Zhi then carried her on his back. Zhou Xufang lay still, not fidgeting. As they passed a traffic booth, she pointed it out to Jiang Zhi: ¡°I wanted to buy that traffic policeman¡¯s uniform for you to wear, but he wouldn¡¯t sell it to me.¡± Next to the booth, the young traffic policeman felt a bit embarrassed, discreetly glanced at Jiang Zhi. It was a bit dark, and even with the help of the streetlight, visibility wasn¡¯t great. Nevertheless, his clothes and demeanor were top-notch. Despite sporting a somewhat non-serious dyed hairstyle, it was unclear whether he was a respectable person. Just as he was about to take another look, their eyes accidentally met. He caught just a glimpse of the profile, but could tell the features were handsome. The young traffic policeman¡¯s heart skipped, and he quickly looked away. Jiang Zhi finished looking at the uniform, then said to Zhou Xufang: ¡°I can¡¯t wear that uniform.¡± She tilted her head, puzzled: ¡°Why not?¡± Jiang Zhi patiently explained: ¡°That uniform can only be worn by traffic police.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± She placed her hand on his head and patted it three times, ¡°Don¡¯t be sad, I¡¯ll buy you some other nice clothes.¡± S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The street was not very crowded, with rows of camphor trees planted along the side, and streetlights interspersed in between. The light filtered through the gaps in the trees, casting a dappled world around them. The wind blew, the trees swayed, and under the light, their shadows stretched out long. ¡°Xu Fang.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± Jiang Zhi walked very slowly. The streetlights receded behind them, their shadows leading the way, the girl on his back nodding and shaking her head. He looked at her shadow on the ground: ¡°You sang for others, but not for me.¡± Zhou Xufang immediately responded: ¡°Then I¡¯ll sing for you.¡± She happily boasted to him: ¡°I can sing the songs from your movies.¡± She was proud as she pretended to take credit, releasing her hands from around his neck, making a big circle with her arms, ¡°All of them, every single one.¡± Jiang Zhi chuckled softly. She began to sing: ¡°Wind¡¯s coming, rain¡¯s coming, the monk¡¯s coming with a drum, where to hide? Hide in the temple, hidden away is a young boy¡­¡± She switched from one song to another, all from his movies, and eventually, she fell asleep while singing. Jiang Zhi called a ride-sharing service and headed to his place. Zhou Xufang slept the whole way, the car entered Qingshan Mansion and parked on the side. She turned over but did not wake up. ¡°Xu Fang.¡± She nestled against Jiang Zhi¡¯s legs, her head nudging slightly, and she mumbled sleepily, ¡°Hmm¡­¡± Jiang Zhi brushed her hair from her face to behind her ear: ¡°We¡¯re home.¡± She half-slept for a while, her drunkenness half-dissipated but still half-present, utterly sleepy, absolutely refusing to open her eyes. She stretched out her arms and clung tightly to Jiang Zhi¡¯s waist: ¡°Not leaving.¡± Her head kept rubbing against him, ¡°I want you to carry me up.¡± Jiang Zhi, amused, ¡°Would a hug be okay?¡± She opened her eyes, which were still groggy and slow to react, and after a moment, she nodded: ¡°Yes.¡± Jiang Zhi got out of the car first and then picked her up. She was half-asleep, peaceful and quiet. ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± Jiang Zhi stopped in the middle of the road, ¡°Hmm?¡± She randomly tugged at her clothes, ¡°I¡¯m so hot.¡± She was strong and careless; jeoparding her neckline as she pulled, it stretched wide open. Jiang Zhi, worried about tearing the clothes, coaxed her, ¡°There are people outside,¡± lowering his stance, he whispered in her ear, ¡°We can only take it off at home.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Though still drowsy, she obediently listened to Jiang Zhi. Jiang Zhi¡¯s house was a detached one, tucked further inside, and required a few minutes to walk. Midway, he suddenly stopped and turned. The man following behind also halted, puzzled for a moment, then casually continued walking past. ¡°Delete it.¡± Hearing that, the man stopped again. Pocketing one hand, he held a smartphone with the other. In his twenties, with dyed hair and an earring, it seemed he had consumed some alcohol; his steps wobbled slightly. Unperturbed, he denied, ¡°I didn¡¯t film anything.¡± Jiang Zhi repeated, ¡°Delete it.¡± A few steps apart, he stood holding her against the backlight, the moonlight hazy, casting a winter chill in his eyes. The residents of Qingshan Mansion were all wealthy, not easily bullied; few were pushovers. The man, chin up, looked down his nose at him, intentionally belittling, ¡°Why act high and mighty? If you¡¯re afraid of being filmed, be more aware, and stay low in public¡ª¡± Suddenly, the person in Jiang Zhi¡¯s arms opened her eyes, still somewhat groggy, ¡°Are you talking about my boyfriend?¡± ¡°Who knows who I¡¯m talking about.¡± Tricky. Zhou Xufang blinked, oh, he was talking about Jiang Zhi. This displeased her. ¡°Say that again, and I will hit you.¡± The man clearly recognized Jiang Zhi and was unafraid. He scoffed, giving Zhou Xufang a once-over, his gaze teasing, ¡°Really a sickly one, needing a woman to defend him.¡± He also called Jiang Zhi a sickly guy. Zhou Xufang was furious! ¡°I want to get down.¡± Jiang Zhi let her down, far from angry; instead, he was excitedly watching his lady stand up for him. Zhou Xufang, still not fully sober, staggered as she walked, her face fierce, pouting and glaring like an agitated little fox. She looked ready to pounce. The man crossed his arms, ¡°What, you want to hit someone?¡± Neither a frail woman nor a sickly man frightened him. Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t walk straight, meandering off the path to the lawn, where she crouched, picked up the largest rock, then weaved back to the path. The rock was bigger than her head. Now the man flinched, instinctively stepping back, one hand guarding himself, ¡°Wh-what, don¡¯t come any closer, or I¡¯ll call the police!¡± ¡°Bang!¡± That rock, handled by the woman whose head was smaller than the stone, was broken into two pieces by her bare hands. ¡°!¡± The man was completely stunned. This must be a fake rock¡­ Here she came, carrying the stone, one in each hand, raised over her head¡­ ¡°Ah¡ª¡± Zhou Xufang: ¡°I haven¡¯t hit you yet.¡± His scream abruptly stopped, the man frozen in shock. Zhou Xufang: ¡°You¡¯re such a coward.¡± The man: ¡°¡­¡± He bowed like a criminal, head in arms, bending deeply at ninety degrees, his apology as earnest as a convict reflecting before the world, ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± Chapter 175: 175: Dog Food after Getting Drunk Chapter 175: 175: Dog Food after Getting Drunk He squatted like a criminal, his hands clutching his head, and he bent over ninety degrees, ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± Zhou Xufang saw his submissive demeanor and wasn¡¯t so fierce anymore. Picking up a stone with one hand, she also squatted down, ¡°You also have to swear to the heavens that you won¡¯t secretly curse him.¡± To survive in this world, one must learn to bow to the ¡°Evil forces.¡± ¡°I swear,¡± the man raised his finger to the sky, ¡°I won¡¯t secretly curse your boyfriend.¡± Zhou Xufang, with a serious and solemn expression on her bright red face, said, ¡°If you can¡¯t do it, you¡¯ll turn into a pig.¡± The other party, also serious and solemn, replied, ¡°If I can¡¯t do it, I¡¯ll turn into a pig.¡± Alright then. Zhou Xufang put down the stone, dragged her bag from one side, rummaged through it for a while, and pulled out a can of milk, placing it on the ground, ¡°Goodbye.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Having finished scolding, Zhou Xufang staggered back to Jiang Zhi. ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± He was smiling, ¡°Hmm.¡± She extended her hand, handing it over, ¡°My hand hurts.¡± It turned red from prying the stones. Jiang Zhi held her hand, brought it to his lips, and gently pecked at the red spot in her palm. Zhou Xufang laughed, said it didn¡¯t hurt anymore, but it tickled. Jiang Zhi pecked at it again before leading her to the man who was still squatting with his head down, ¡°My girlfriend is magnanimous and won¡¯t fuss over this with you.¡± His voice, neither light nor heavy, mingled with the cold wind, ¡°I¡¯m different, I¡¯m a spiteful person.¡± Then, the spiteful person walked away with his magnanimous girlfriend. Then, the man in the cold wind shivered and made a phone call, ¡°Hello, hello, hello, is this the moving company¡­¡± They reached the front door of the house. Zhou Xufang yawned, with only a hint of drunkenness left in her eyes, and stumbled toward Jiang Zhi. Jiang Zhi supported her; she lifted her head, her expression playfully innocent, ¡°Are you going to send someone to beat him up?¡± ¡°Just to scare him.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Jiang Zhi opened the door. Zhou Xufang entered the house and began to take off her shoes first, stepping onto the carpet to start undressing. Jiang Zhi went to get her slippers, and when he turned around, the floor was covered with her clothes ¡ª coat, trousers, sweater, she had taken them all off, wearing only a set of elderly-style thermal underwear. She was still hot and lifted the thermal shirt up to her belly, intending to take it off. Jiang Zhi paused for a moment, distracted by the glimpse of her pale midriff, then caught her hand, ¡°That¡¯s enough.¡± She was still drunk, completely off guard. Zhou Xufang ¡°Oh¡¯d¡± a response, pulled her thermal shirt down, and without putting on slippers, staggered into the room and flopped onto the sofa, ¡°Then I¡¯m going to sleep.¡± Zhou Xufang, ¡°Good night.¡± As soon as her head hit the pillow, she closed her eyes and collapsed. Jiang Zhi, unable to help but laugh, placed her slippers down, squatted beside her, ¡°Xu Fang,¡± observing her clad in tight elderly thermals, he didn¡¯t know where to look. He hadn¡¯t drunk, but she had made him feel somewhat hot. He grabbed a blanket from nearby and covered her, ¡°Go to bed, okay?¡± Zhou Xufang remained motionless, lying straight. ¡°Fang Bao.¡± She still didn¡¯t move. Jiang Zhi bent down, picked her up, and walked towards the bedroom. She just touched the bed when she opened her eyes, ¡°I haven¡¯t brushed my teeth or washed my face yet.¡± Jiang Zhi turned on the bedside lamp, ¡°Not sleepy anymore?¡± She was sleepy enough for her eyelids to fight, but insisted, ¡°I need to brush my teeth and wash my face.¡± She got up herself, stood on the floor unsteadily, swaying. Jiang Zhi supported her, took off his own slippers for her, ¡°Put these on.¡± She put on his slippers, which were much too big. Jiang Zhi extended his hand, ¡°I¡¯ll take you.¡± She grabbed Jiang Zhi¡¯s hand, letting him lead her to the bathroom, not even looking where she was going, her eyes half-closed. Jiang Zhi filled a cup with water, prepared the toothpaste, and handed her the electric toothbrush; she still didn¡¯t open her eyes, and without even turning it on, began poking it towards her mouth ¡ª ¡°Zhou Xufang.¡± She opened her eyes, slightly tipsy and mostly sleepy, ¡°Hmm?¡± ¡°Give me the toothbrush.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Jiang Zhi held the glass to her lips, ¡°Drink some water first.¡± Zhou Xufang took a big gulp. ¡°Spit it out.¡± She swallowed with a gulp, ¡°Swallowed it.¡± She opened her mouth to show him. Jiang Zhi, ¡°¡­¡± He poked her flushed face, ¡°That water isn¡¯t drinkable.¡± She was groggy and bleary-eyed, her eyelashes fluttering, a beat too slow, ¡°But you told me to take a sip first.¡± Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t want to argue with this tipsy mess, and brought the glass to her lips again, ¡°Don¡¯t swallow now, just swish it around and spit it out.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± She took a sip of water and spat it out. Jiang Zhi held her chin, making her tilt her head back, ¡°Ah, open up.¡± And she followed, ¡°Ah¡ª¡± ¡°¡­¡± Silly and adorable. Jiang Zhi turned the electric toothbrush to its lowest setting and began brushing her teeth. She continued, ¡°Ah¡ªAh¡ªAh¡ª¡± Electric toothbrush, ¡°Buzz¡ªBuzz¡ªBuzz¡ª¡± In the mirror, Jiang Zhi¡¯s shoulders were shaking with laughter. This silly girl. The toothbrush buzzed for two minutes, she kept going ¡°Ah¡± for two minutes, Jiang Zhi turned off the toothbrush, filled the glass with water, and handed it to her, ¡°Rinse.¡± he instructed, ¡°Don¡¯t swallow.¡± ¡°Mhm.¡± She obediently rinsed a few times and handed the glass back to Jiang Zhi. Jiang Zhi asked her to sit on the closed toilet lid and wait, so she just obediently sat there, slowly nodding off. He fetched half a basin of hot water, wet a towel, and began to wipe her face, her already flushed cheeks became even redder at the touch of the hot towel. He wasn¡¯t used to caring for someone, clumsily wiping her face, then her neck, and finally her hands, all while she enjoyed it, humming with her eyes closed, eyelashes laden with a layer of undried mist. Jiang Zhi¡¯s hand, holding the towel, paused; he leaned in, wanting to kiss her. She suddenly opened her eyes, a look of realization on her face, ¡°I just remembered,¡± she kicked off her slippers below, ¡°Jiang Zhi, I haven¡¯t washed my feet yet.¡± Jiang Zhi bit her chin, ¡°You really are my ancestor.¡± His ancestor still grinned foolishly. ¡°Sit properly.¡± Jiang Zhi fetched another basin of hot water, took off the young girl¡¯s pink socks, first tested the water temperature, then touched her little feet to the water¡¯s surface, ¡°Is it hot?¡± Zhou Xufang shook her head, ¡°No.¡± Only then did he let her immerse her feet in the water. The warm water woke Zhou Xufang up a bit; she tilted her head and watched Jiang Zhi as he washed her feet, his head bowed, eyelashes quietly drooping. The light from the upper left fell on his face, casting a gentle shadow in the gentle light. ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± Jiang Zhi looked up, ¡°Hmm?¡± She kissed his face and said with a smile, ¡°You are so good.¡± The bathroom was steaming, making her feel faint, ¡°When you get so old you can¡¯t walk, I¡¯ll brush your teeth and wash your face for you.¡± sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Oh, and, ¡°I¡¯ll wash your feet too.¡± Jiang Zhi, looking up, his eyes misty as if a frost flower bloomed in them through the steam, blurred and glowing, laughed and called her silly, ¡°When I¡¯m too old to walk, you¡¯ll be too old to walk too.¡± That¡¯s true. ¡°What then?¡± Jiang Zhi dried her feet with a dry towel, moved the basin away, and let her toes rest on his knee. Supporting her waist with his hands, he smiled, ¡°We¡¯ll have more children, let them take care of us.¡± Zhou Xufang¡¯s head heated up, ¡°Okay.¡± She wasn¡¯t fully sober, her courage bolstered, she hugged Jiang Zhi¡¯s neck, ¡°Let¡¯s go now.¡± Chapter 176: 176: Disliked by wife for bad sleeping posture (first update) Chapter 176: 176: Disliked by wife for bad sleeping posture (first update) Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± That sudden heart-wrenching grip¡­ His ears turned red, ¡°Do you know what you¡¯re talking about?¡± She hummed in agreement, her head fell onto his shoulder, rubbing against it. ¡°Stop moving around.¡± Jiang Zhi picked her up and walked towards the bedroom, just a few steps away. She yawned several times, teary-eyed from sleepiness, and could barely keep her eyes open. Jiang Zhi chuckled, placed her on the bed, and pulled the covers over her. ¡°Don¡¯t kick off the covers.¡± After tucking in the corners of the blanket, he stood up. Zhou Xufang grabbed him, ¡°Where are you going?¡± ¡°I¡¯m going to take a shower.¡± She let go of him and put her hand back under the blanket, ¡°Oh.¡± Jiang Zhi dimmed the bedside lamp a bit before leaving the bedroom. When he returned, Zhou Xufang was already asleep. He carefully climbed into bed. ¡°Xu Fang.¡± She lay there properly, her cheeks still rosy under the light, sleeping soundly, breathing heavier than usual. After a whole night of trouble while drunk, she seemed genuinely tired. ¡°Good night.¡± Jiang Zhi kissed her cheek and turned off the bedside lamp. The next day. Zhou Xufang woke up at six in the morning when it was still dim outside. She blankly stared at the ceiling, then at the handsome face next to her on the pillow, and sighed silently. Why wake up so early? Because of Jiang Zhi. She lay still, waiting for the daylight to fully break. She then moved the half of her body that was against the wall and nudged the person whose arm was on her left side, ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± The lump under the blanket shifted, only the top of his head peeked out. Zhou Xufang: ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± The top of his head nudged and emerged from under the blanket, his short, misty blue hair messy¡­ resembling a bird¡¯s nest, he wasn¡¯t fully awake, his eyes still closed, just quivering his eyelashes and murmuring coquettishly, ¡°Mmm¡­¡± Jiang Zhi was like a pampered child when he just woke up, complete with severe morning grumpiness. Zhou Xufang gently soothed him, stroking his head like petting a cat, her expression very maternal, ¡°Good boy Jiang Zhi, move a bit.¡± Unfortunately, the sleep-deprived Jiang Zhi was anything but well-behaved! He pecked randomly at her hand and then burrowed his head back under the blanket, ¡°I¡¯ll sleep a bit more.¡± Zhou Xufang sighed silently again, then pulled his covers off, ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± His peach blossom eyes opened a slit, ¡°Hmm.¡± His voice was very drowsy, clearly not having enough sleep. Zhou Xufang lay on her side, back against the wall, facing Jiang Zhi. She was sandwiched in the middle, like the piece of meat in a hamburger, and Jiang Zhi¡¯s arm was thrown across her chest, his long legs firmly pressing down on her knees. She probably occupied about¡­ one-tenth of the entire bed, ¡°You¡¯re pressing on my leg.¡± The drowsy Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± Zhou Xufang, who had been awake for an hour: ¡°You¡¯ve numbed my leg.¡± The half-awake Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± Zhou Xufang, who hadn¡¯t moved once within that hour: ¡°You also pushed me to the edge.¡± During the hour she lay there awake, Jiang Zhi turned over eight times, kicked her twelve times, and lost count of how many times his chin knocked against her. S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. And about last night, she probably woke up four or five times in between, sometimes because of being kicked, sometimes because of being squashed. Jiang Zhi was now fully awake, ruffled his hair a couple of times, stretched his arms and legs, and out of newfound conscience, shifted back, giving half of the bed he had occupied all night to Zhou Xufang. Zhou Xufang rolled over, stretched her arms and legs which were still quite numb, sat up, pounded her legs and shoulders, ¡°You really have a bad sleeping posture.¡± Jiang Zhi also sat up, with two tufts of silly hair sticking up, the right side of his face still had the imprint of Zhou Xufang¡¯s shoulder, his sleep posture was too bad, and his pajamas were all wrinkled, one pant leg up, one down, the collar hanging askew on his neck, exposing his left collarbone. He finally understood, his girlfriend was complaining! He felt a bit irritated, ¡°Are you despising me?¡± The just-awakened Jiang Zhi was most irritable, and if not cajoled well, would be grumpy all day, Zhou Xufang immediately shook her head, ¡°Not at all.¡± That¡¯s more like it. If she dared to despise him, he would just cling to her bed every day. Jiang Zhi fixed his pajamas and moved next to her, just as he intended to hold her and catch some extra sleep, she suddenly asked, ¡°Is there only one bed in your house?¡± Yes. Jiang Zhi¡¯s house wasn¡¯t short of rooms, but there was just one bed, he wasn¡¯t hospitable at all, why would he prepare a guest room, even if Xue Baoyi and Qiao Nanchu came over, they were not allowed into the bedroom, because he had a cleanliness obsession, apart from Zhou Xufang, no one else could touch his bed. Look at him, how much he adores her! The beloved Zhou Xufang: ¡°Jiang Zhi, do you want to buy another one?¡± She didn¡¯t want to sleep with Jiang Zhi anymore, he always kicked her, pressed her. Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± His morning grumpiness had been triggered by her. He grabbed all the blankets, leaving none for Zhou Xufang, his face cold and imprinted from sleep, his eyes red with anger, ¡°Zhou Xufang, get out!¡± He stretched out his leg, kicked her calf, ¡°Don¡¯t sleep in my bed ever again!¡± Zhou Xufang: ¡°Oh.¡± Dressed in a tight, elderly-style, dark purple thermal underwear, she clumsily clambered over Jiang Zhi¡¯s legs, ¡°Then I¡¯m off to brush my teeth.¡± ¡°¡­¡± He was angry, and instead of coaxing him, she was going to brush her teeth! Jiang Zhi snorted sarcastically, ¡°I brushed your teeth for you last night.¡± Zhou Xufang had one foot on the ground and was just stepping out with the other when she stopped. Leaning against the headboard, arms crossed, Jiang Zhi said, ¡°I washed your face.¡± She brought one foot back. Jiang Zhi: ¡°And I washed your feet.¡± She brought the other foot back too, sitting up straight with her hands stacked on her stomach, the tight elderly-style thermals giving her an air of a seasoned cadre. Jiang Zhi: ¡°And you still despise me.¡± His tone was of immense grievance, full of resentment, his eyes like icy daggers stabbing into Zhou Xufang. As if she were an ungrateful, heartless cad who had abandoned his wife and children. Zhou ¡¤ Heartless ¡¤ Xufang¡¯s head drooped in sincere repentance, ¡°I was wrong.¡± She propped herself up on the bed, moving towards Jiang Zhi, ¡°Jiang Zhi, I won¡¯t buy the bed.¡± Jiang Zhi kicked away the blankets, walked around her, and got off the bed: ¡°Don¡¯t talk to me.¡± He stopped paying attention to her and went straight to the bathroom. Zhou Xufang: ¡°¡­¡± Indeed, Jiang Zhi was hardest to appease in the morning. She climbed out of bed, went to the living room to find clothes to wear, pulled her phone out of her bag, logged into QQ, and entered ¡®Authentic Little Wife Group¡¯ to ask¡ª ¡°How do you handle it when your boyfriend is mad?¡± Book Friend A: ¡°Beat him up once, and if once isn¡¯t enough, do it twice.¡± Jiang Zhi was delicate and tender, not suitable for beating. Zhou Xufang couldn¡¯t bear to. Book Friend B: ¡°Just a lovers¡¯ quarrel, nothing that can¡¯t be solved in bed.¡± This book friend was lecherous. Zhou Xufang remembered her name. Book Friend C: ¡°Let him be angry. You can¡¯t pamper him, or he¡¯ll become arrogantly untouchable.¡± No, she still wanted to spoil Jiang Zhi. Book Friend Ding: ¡°Don¡¯t talk, just kiss him!¡± This¡­ Zhou Xufang went to the bathroom, turned on the water to brush her teeth, stood next to Jiang Zhi who was still ignoring her, but after brushing didn¡¯t leave, just stood there, pretending to mess with his hair in the mirror. Zhou Xufang, after brushing her teeth, said, ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± He didn¡¯t respond. Zhou Xufang faced him, ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± He still ignored her, turning his handsome face away in the mirror. Zhou Xufang: ¡°Can I kiss you?¡± He held out for five seconds, then turned his face toward her: ¡°¡­okay.¡± Zhou Xufang went to lock the bathroom door. Jiang Zhi was in an excellent mood all day. However, Xue Baoyi felt his smile was too flirtatious, it dazzled her, she pushed the laptop towards him: ¡°Take a look at the casting for your movie.¡± Jiang Zhi sat up from the sofa, flipped through a few pages, his fingers pausing on the keyboard: ¡°This one,¡± he turned the screen, ¡°is she from your company?¡± Xue Baoyi glanced, shaking her head: ¡°After Jin Song was arrested, Huayu went downhill, Su Chan terminated her contract and set up her own studio.¡± He sat in an executive chair, swinging his leg, ¡°Not satisfied with her?¡± Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t comment. Xue Baoyi continued: ¡°Rong Heng is movie material, but he¡¯s had too few works in recent years, and Lixiang is still new; both lack topic and popularity.¡± Speaking about the person on the screen, ¡°Su Chan was Huayu¡¯s youngest film queen, top in both acting and popularity, her image matches the character in your movie perfectly, plus she started as a stunt double, excellent in action scenes, currently, there¡¯s no one more suitable than her.¡± Su Chan became famous for a difficult action scene where, as a double, she had jumped from the height of five floors with a rope and rose to prominence overnight; being from an ethnic minority, she had an exotic appeal and entered the top ranks within two years of her debut. She and Jiang Zhi had never worked together, but there was a connection. Initially, Su Chan had been slated for the female lead in Jiang Zhi¡¯s movie, but due to Jin Song, the collaboration fell through, and then Lixiang replaced her. In theory, with Su Chan¡¯s stature, there was no need to settle for less. ¡°Did you approach her, or did she come to you?¡± ¡°It was her side¡¯s initiative, expressing a desire to try out an antagonist role.¡± Jiang Zhi pondered for a moment: ¡°Arrange for an audition first.¡± Xue Baoyi was surprised: ¡°An audition?¡± Even as a buddy, he thought this guy was hard to please, ¡°She is, after all, a film queen.¡± And initially the first choice for the female lead. Jiang Zhi leaned back on the sofa: ¡°My rules, is that a problem?¡± Chapter 177: 177: The Secret of Genetic Experiments (Second Update Chapter 177: 177: The Secret of Genetic Experiments (Second Update Jiang Zhi leaned back on the sofa, ¡°My rules, not okay?¡± ¡°Okay, okay, okay, you¡¯re the ancestor; whatever you say goes¡ª¡± The cellphone on the table vibrated. Jiang Zhi pressed his finger to his lips, signaling Xue Baoyi to be quiet as he answered the call with a ¡®hmm.¡¯ It was Qiao Nanchu, ¡°Peng Zhongming has arrived in Imperial City.¡± Peng Zhongming was the only son of Peng Xianzhi and had settled abroad with his mother. Ever since the great fire at the Luo Family, Peng Xianzhi had been imprisoned, and it had been eight years since Peng Zhongming had shown his face. Jiang Zhi asked, ¡°Where is he hiding?¡± ¡°Still haven¡¯t found him,¡± however, ¡°just keep an eye on Luo Changde, he will definitely come knocking.¡± ¡°We need to get ready.¡± ¡°Ready for what?¡± Jiang Zhi lazily replied, ¡°Stealing things.¡± S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Qiao Nanchu understood his plan, switching the topic, ¡°I found out a little bit about Zhou Xufang.¡± He had been lounging carelessly, but now he sat up straight. Qiao Nanchu inquired, ¡°There¡¯s a medical laboratory called TANK, have you heard of it?¡± The Jiang Family¡¯s primary business was healthcare, and they were somewhat aware of any movement within the industry, whether domestic or international. TANK was a Genetic Laboratory, exposed only five years ago, and by the time it came to light, the laboratory had already been destroyed. Who was behind it, how it operated, and the research direction and purpose were still unclear. The reason it caused such a stir was that the police found a research journal in the ruined laboratory. It clearly recorded a series of genetic research data. As for what the final product was, related experts still couldn¡¯t conclude, only that the research process violated the ethics of biomedical research. It was certain that the laboratory had used humans as the research medium. Jiang Zhi was silent for a long time, ¡°I¡¯ve heard of it.¡± ¡°Zhou Xufang came from there,¡± Qiao Nanchu paused before continuing, ¡°Five years ago, when the laboratory exploded, of the twenty-four test subjects being researched upon, three went missing, and Zhou Xufang was presumably one of them.¡± Moreover, beyond any doubt, those three were surely the extraordinary among the twenty-four. With lowered eyes and a slight flutter of his eyelashes, Jiang Zhi¡¯s emotions slipped through, ¡°Can¡¯t the identities of those three be traced?¡± ¡°They¡¯ve been wiped clean, where they came from, their identities, ages, genders, all that¡¯s left are number codes, namely 011, 014, 017.¡± At six in the evening, the sky had already darkened. Zhou Xufang used to run a night stall, but after Jiang Zhi forbade her from going out at night, she switched to afternoons. She had to return home once it got dark, and while she was busy applying a screen protector for a phone, she looked up to see Jiang Zhi¡¯s car, parked under the Ba Yi Bridge. She still held a phone in her hand, waving and calling out, ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± The phone¡¯s owner also glanced back instinctively. Fuck, that license plate! Phone owner, ¡°How much?¡± Seeing Jiang Zhi put Zhou Xufang in a good mood; normally, she would charge twenty yuan for the screen protector, but she gave a discount of five yuan, ¡°Fifteen,¡± and handed over the phone. The phone¡¯s owner took it, scanned the payment code, ¡°Thanks.¡± Zhou Xufang, ¡°No need to thank me.¡± After the customer had left, she got up from the small stool and ran over to Jiang Zhi, wearing a face mask with a smile in her eyes, ¡°Are you here to pick me up?¡± ¡°Mhmm.¡± Jiang Zhi unbuckled his seatbelt, about to get out of the car. Zhou Xufang held the car door; there were many people coming and going under Ba Yi Bridge, and Jiang Zhi was without a face mask. She worried he might be recognized, ¡°Wait for me in the car; I¡¯ll go pack up my stall.¡± She had just turned around when Jiang Zhi stopped her. ¡°Xu Fang.¡± She turned her head, her eyes bright, like the stars tonight: ¡°Hmm?¡± Jiang Zhi got out of the car, spread his arms around to her back, and enveloped her in a hug. Lowering his head, his chin rested on her shoulder. Zhou Xufang was slightly taken aback: ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± She raised her hand to pat his back. ¡°Are you unhappy?¡± His voice was muffled as he nuzzled into the nape of her neck: ¡°I missed you.¡± The laboratory exploded, and with no one to seek revenge from, he felt blocked and uncomfortable inside. The sight of her tugged at his heartstrings, making him feel even worse! ¡°If you miss me later, tell me earlier,¡± she said obediently, letting him hold her, tilting her head up. She wore a woolen hat with a fluffy pom-pom that brushed against his neck. ¡°I can come to see you.¡± Jiang Zhi let go and, through the hat, touched her head: ¡°Okay.¡± He led her to the place where she was selling, ¡°How was business today?¡± Zhou Xufang nodded: ¡°Mm-hm.¡± She smiled contentedly, ¡°After deducting the costs, I made over ninety yuan¡ªI can buy a super-large tub of ice cream.¡± A tub of ice cream was enough to light up her eyes with stars; she was so ungreedy, still like a child. Such a pure and kind soul she was, why should she suffer, why should she¡­ Jiang Zhi¡¯s eyes drooped, a shadow overlaying them that could not be driven away. Across the street in the park, it was lively, with music echoing and more people joining the dance. Caught in the noise across the road were the shouts of vendors under the bridge. Amidst the commotion, an old voice, full of the vicissitudes of life, called out: ¡°Anyone want winter bamboo shoots?¡± It was an elderly granny, her only possession a carrying basket, tucked away in the most secluded corner under the bridge. She spread out a newspaper, sitting on one end of it with two unpeeled bamboo shoots on the other, and beside them, one peeled shoot that had slightly spoiled from the cold. A woman passing by glanced at them. The elderly lady turned the bottom of the bamboo shoot around to show the fresh cutting: ¡°Three yuan per kilo, very fresh.¡± The woman shook her head and walked away. People passed by in dribs and drabs, but the shoots on the newspaper remained unclaimed. The elderly lady stood up, started to pack the shoots back into her basket with slow, trembling movements due to her age, and struggled to lift it. Squatting down, she attempted to hoist it with her hunched back. ¡°Grandma, I would like to buy the bamboo shoots.¡± It was the voice of a young girl, clear and pure. Quickly, the elderly lady set her basket down again: ¡°Okay, okay.¡± She turned around, smiling, and asked, ¡°Young miss, how many would you like?¡± Zhou Xufang asked: ¡°How many kilos are there in total?¡± The granny had set up her stall even earlier than hers, yet her bamboo shoots seemed untouched. ¡°All of them?¡± She nodded: ¡°Mmhmm.¡± The granny used an old-fashioned steelyard to weigh. It took five measures to weigh the whole basket of shoots, the scales tipping substantially. The elderly weighed slowly due to her age and computed: ¡°That¡¯s 36 kilos in total.¡± Zhou Xufang pulled out a one-hundred-yuan bill from her bag and added another ten yuan one, handing them over. The granny only accepted the hundred, then holding Zhou Xufang¡¯s hand, she pushed the ten yuan back: ¡°Thank you, young lady.¡± She smiled: ¡°You¡¯re welcome.¡± Since there wasn¡¯t a large enough bag, the granny found four sturdy plastic bags to pack them for her. Zhou Xufang squatted down to help transfer the shoots into the bags, then began carrying them with both hands. ¡°Give them to me.¡± She passed the bags to Jiang Zhi, said ¡®goodbye¡¯ to the granny, and then followed Jiang Zhi away. The elderly watched the two young people leave with a smile and then bent down to pick up the empty carrying basket from the ground, only then noticing that there was another ten yuan inside. Chapter 178: 178: The Daily Loving Life of a Textile Couple (One More Update Chapter 178: 178: The Daily Loving Life of a Textile Couple (One More Update Back at the stall location, Zhou Xufang had Jiang Zhi place the winter bamboo shoots on her tricycle. ¡°Jiang Zhi, are you in a hurry to get home?¡± ¡°No rush.¡± Zhou Xufang looked at the four bags of bamboo shoots and was a bit at a loss. Neither she nor Jiang Zhi knew how to cook; taking the shoots home would be pointless. ¡°So, can we sell the bamboo shoots before we head home?¡± she wondered. ¡°Two yuan per catty should attract some buyers.¡± If they couldn¡¯t sell them, then one yuan would do, or even fifty cents. Jiang Zhi said they didn¡¯t need to set up a stall; he had a plan: ¡°Bao Yi¡¯s uncle is in the catering business, we can sell to him.¡± He also mentioned, ¡°We can sell for four yuan per catty.¡± Hmm, Jiang Zhi was quite the cunning merchant. Zhou Xufang nodded emphatically like she was pounding garlic: ¡°Sounds good.¡± She thought, Mr. Xue is a wealthy man, and his uncle must be wealthy too; she liked making money off wealthy people. Suddenly¡ª Someone shouted loudly, ¡°City management is coming!¡± Zhou Xufang turned around and saw¡ªoh no! City management was arriving in a vehicle, blowing their whistles fiercely. Zhou Xufang quickly placed her small tables and stools onto the tricycle. Jiang Zhi was still not moving, so she pulled him, ¡°Jiang Zhi, run!¡± Jiang Zhi, arms folded, calm and collected: ¡°Why should I run?¡± Oh, right. Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t set up a stall; he didn¡¯t need to run. Zhou Xufang let go of him and sat on the tricycle: ¡°Then you better move, I¡¯m going to drive away.¡± Move away?! What was this about? He sensed a hint of being disliked, felt annoyed, and grabbed the back of the tricycle: ¡°If you run, what about me?¡± Zhou Xufang looked around, not at all tense: ¡°City management won¡¯t catch you.¡± He didn¡¯t care: ¡°So you¡¯re just going to leave me behind?¡± She took the stools and chairs, but not him? He was really angry! City management was almost upon them, and Zhou Xufang was really anxious. She quickly said, ¡°I¡¯m not leaving you, I¡¯m not leaving you, just jump on quickly.¡± Jiang Zhi stuffed his hands into his pockets: ¡°No.¡± It was too silly to sit in the vehicle. Seeing other vendors had already run off, Zhou Xufang became even more frantic, urging Jiang Zhi: ¡°Hurry up, or I¡¯ll get caught!¡± Jiang Zhi looked back and scoffed, ¡°I want to see¡ªwho dares to catch my girlfriend¡ª¡± She didn¡¯t have time to listen to him ramble, she pedaled hard and sped off! Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± So, had he been left behind? Jiang Zhi: ¡°Xufang.¡± If she stopped now, he could still forgive her. Jiang Zhi: ¡°Xufang!¡± If she stopped now and soothed him a bit, he could still forgive her. Jiang Zhi: ¡°Zhou Xufang!¡± If she stopped now and soothed him a bit longer, he could still forgive her. Jiang Zhi¡¯s face was already turning blue, and his throat was hurting from shouting: ¡°Zhou¡ªXu¡ªfang¡ª¡± Even if she stopped now, even if she coaxed him in every possible way, he wouldn¡¯t forgive her anymore. However¡ª Zhou Xufang had already sped off, disappearing from sight. Left behind, Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± In less than a minute, the vendors under the bridge scattered in all directions, leaving only a few utterly confused customers, and Jiang Zhi, on the verge of exploding. The city management drove around three times before moving on to another location. Probably about twenty minutes later, vendors gradually returned, including Zhou Xufang. When she came back, Jiang Zhi was still standing there, completely still, hands in his pockets, hair all tousled by the wind, just staring at Zhou Xufang¡ªdeath glare. Zhou Xufang parked the tricycle on the side: ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Jiang Zhi continued his death glare. Zhou Xufang tip-toed over, grabbed his sleeve, and shook it: ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± Jiang Zhi shook her off, turned his face away: ¡°Move away, I don¡¯t want to talk, don¡¯t talk to me.¡± Zhou Xufang scratched her head: ¡°Oh.¡± Okay then, Jiang Zhi needed some quiet, she wouldn¡¯t bother him. Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± She had one more minute to coax him, or he wouldn¡¯t forgive her. Zhou Xufang looked up at the sky, watching the stars. A minute passed¡­ Jiang Zhi glanced at her from the corner of his eye, gave her one more minute, the last minute! Zhou Xufang looked down at the ground, occasionally kicking at stones. Another minute passed¡­ Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± This absolute iron lady with zero awareness! ¡°Zhou Xufang,¡± he couldn¡¯t wait any longer, his peach blossom eyes reddened by the wind, looking quite fierce, ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to admit your mistake? Won¡¯t you coax me?¡± Oh, so he was waiting for her to admit fault. At last, the iron lady Zhou Xufang realized why Jiang Zhi wanted to ¡°calm down,¡± but: ¡°I wasn¡¯t wrong this time.¡± ¡°You left me behind.¡± Jiang Zhi stressed the words with great emphasis, highlighting ¡°left behind.¡± But Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t think it was ¡°leaving behind¡±, and she had a very good reason, so her expression was very serious: ¡°If I hadn¡¯t run, I would¡¯ve been caught by the city management and fined.¡± ¡°So, money is more important than me?¡± Jiang Zhi coldly huffed. Was that what she meant? She didn¡¯t though: ¡°I tried to make you run, but you wouldn¡¯t.¡± Jiang Zhi blew the fringe from his forehead that half-covered his eyes. As his forehead was revealed, the delicate peach blossom eyes set below his brows gathered a few drops of moisture and a bit of annoyance: ¡°So, not only do you refuse to admit fault, but you also think I¡¯m making a fuss over nothing, right?¡± Zhou Xufang immediately shook her head: ¡°No.¡± Jiang Zhi retorted: ¡°Yes, you do!¡± All right then. Zhou Xufang admitted defeat: ¡°If you want to think that way, I can¡¯t help it.¡± Isn¡¯t that a playboy¡¯s kind of line? Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± Surely, Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t want to coax him anymore, she didn¡¯t care about him anymore, she didn¡¯t love him anymore! ¡°Zhou Xufang, you¡ª¡± Zhou Xufang grabbed his collar, pulling it down, got on her tiptoes, and kissed him on the lips, then asked with a smiling face, ¡°Still angry?¡± Jiang Zhi was easily angered but also easily appeased. In fact, even if she didn¡¯t appease him, he wouldn¡¯t stay angry for long. But Zhou Xufang knew Jiang Zhi liked to be coaxed, so she kissed him again: ¡°Not angry anymore, hmm?¡± Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t respond but caught her and kissed her. Once Jiang Zhi was appeased, Zhou Xufang noticed something terrible: ¡°Jiang Zhi, your car is gone.¡± She had good eyesight and could see far off, the spot where Jiang Zhi had originally parked was now empty. ¡°Can¡¯t park here?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± That means it was towed. He took out his phone: ¡°I¡¯ll have Lin Wanwan come pick us up.¡± It was getting late, and Zhou Xufang felt bad to bother Ah Wan any further: ¡°Let¡¯s not call Ah Wan, we still have another vehicle.¡± What she referred to was her electric trike. Since the weather was good today, no rain, she had removed the rain shelter from the trike, making the cargo bed open-air. This vehicle also had a refined name: ¡ªThe Convertible Trike. Jiang Zhi internally refused: ¡°I¡¯m not taking it.¡± It felt beneath him. Zhou Xufang was thinking about how to convince him when a whistle suddenly sounded: ¡°Over there!¡± The city management officer had returned¡­ This time, Jiang Zhi reacted faster than Zhou Xufang, quickly jumping onto the cargo bed, sitting on Zhou Xufang¡¯s small stool, hands gripping the handrail tightly, as he peered back at the approaching officer and urged Zhou Xufang, ¡°What are you dazed for? Drive!¡± Zhou Xufang: ¡°¡­Oh.¡± She drove her convertible trike, taking Jiang Zhi along with thirty-six pounds of bamboo shoots and forty-eight phone cases, weaving through the city¡¯s neon lights. The cold night wind slapped against their faces, each strand of their hair fluttering. Their coolness level could rival any of Jiang Zhi¡¯s previous red carpet appearances. In the end, the bamboo shoots sold for one hundred and forty-four yuan. Xue Baoyi¡¯s uncle gave them two hundred yuan. Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t give change but ended up using the two hundred yuan to buy Zhou Xufang two huge tubs of ice cream. When Zhou Xufang got home with the ice cream, it was already half-past nine at night. Jiang Zhi said it was too late for ice cream and suggested eating it the next day. Zhou Xufang thought a few bites wouldn¡¯t hurt, and besides, she wouldn¡¯t tell Jiang Zhi that she sneakily ate some. She tore open a packet of marshmallows, added them to the ice cream, then sat on the couch to eat. Her computer ¡®dinged¡¯, and the screen lit up revealing a giant SpongeBob on display. She retrieved a can of milk from the fridge, then sat in front of the computer, one hand holding the milk, the other hugging the ice cream. SpongeBob wiggled off the screen, revealing boldly colored letters. Shuangjiang: ¡°Here¡¯s a mission.¡± Shuangjiang: ¡°The client¡¯s last name is Peng, a student, foreign national, no criminal record.¡± Zhou Xufang scooped a large spoon of ice cream, along with two marshmallows, stuffed them into her mouth, sweetly asking, ¡°What¡¯s the mission?¡± Shuangjiang: ¡°Escort him to a location. Important document handover.¡± Shuangjiang: ¡°Fee one million.¡± Zhou Xufang pulled open the tab on the milk can: ¡°Did they specify what the document is?¡± Shuangjiang: ¡°That part is confidential.¡± If it¡¯s confidential, it likely has a high risk factor and difficulty, possibly even involving ¡®gray area deals¡¯. Shuangjiang: ¡°Taking it?¡± After a thought, Zhou Xufang refused: ¡°Not taking it.¡± She scooped another large spoonful of ice cream and ate joyfully, ¡°My boyfriend says from now on, only take jobs that are well-paid, relaxed, and safe.¡± What the boyfriend says, one must heed. Shuangjiang: ¡°Like?¡± Zhou Xufang, being totally serious, gave an example: ¡°Protecting my boyfriend.¡± Shuangjiang: ¡°¡­¡± Chapter 179: 179: Jiang Zhi discovered the secret from that year (second update) Chapter 179: 179: Jiang Zhi discovered the secret from that year (second update) The next morning, Jiang Zhi returned to the Jiang Mansion, and Zhou Xufang stayed at home reading novels. Recently, she had become addicted to danmei and was neglecting sleep and meals. She read slowly, and a short novel of a couple hundred thousand words took her all morning to get through only about half. By the time she stopped, it was almost one o¡¯clock. Oh, she hadn¡¯t had lunch yet. She ordered a takeaway, and while waiting for the delivery, she left a comment for the author. Lord Black Impermanence 011: Author, the mother of the little gong is so annoying. Can you make her get married off and stop hindering the lifetime happiness of the little gong and little shou? Soon, a fellow reader replied to her. My Name Is Not Girly replied to Lord Black Impermanence 011: I think so too! Zhou Xufang couldn¡¯t help but post another comment. Lord Black Impermanence 011: Author, when can we start the group and have some ¡®meat¡¯? The author replied: Soon, soon~ Lord Black Impermanence 011: Happy, sending flowers. Then she sent 520 flowers. So happy, the group would start soon. Zhou Xufang tore open a packet of cotton candy and was halfway through eating it when the takeaway arrived. She had ordered spaghetti and pizza. The delivery guy smiled kindly, and Zhou Xufang gave a good review and tipped the delivery rider. While eating, Fang Lixiang got in touch with her. Ullala Li Xiang: ¡°Xu Fang, Xu Fang.¡± Fairy Fang: ¡°Hmm.¡± Ullala Li Xiang: ¡°Do you do part-time work? Our crew is looking for a foot double.¡± Zhou Xufang stuffed the remaining half of the pizza slice into her mouth, her cheeks puffing out. Fairy Fang: ¡°You need a double for feet too?¡± Ullala Li Xiang: ¡°Yeah, the lead actress has a size 39 foot, and the director thinks it¡¯s too big and doesn¡¯t look good.¡± Ullala Li Xiang: ¡°Yours look good.¡± Show my feet¡­ It shouldn¡¯t be a big deal, she occasionally went out in slippers to throw out the trash. Zhou Xufang asked, ¡°When¡¯s the shoot?¡± Ullala Li Xiang: ¡°Around four in the afternoon.¡± S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At four in the afternoon, Jiang Zhi and Qiao Nanchu had business to discuss, so she would be by herself anyway. Fairy Fang: ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll go.¡± Ullala Li Xiang: [Hmmhmm] GIF Ullala Li Xiang: ¡°Waiting for you.¡± Fairy Fang: ¡°.¡± After finishing her lunch, Zhou Xufang read comics for another half-hour, then set out. Since the film and television city Fang Lixiang mentioned was a bit far, she decided to drive her somewhat expensive car. When she arrived at East City Film and Television City, it was three thirty. Fang Lixiang was waiting for her outside the set, waving from afar: ¡°Xu Fang, over here.¡± Zhou Xufang ran over. Today was yet another day cloaked in black attire. Fang Lixiang handed over some snacks and canned milk tea she had kept for her: ¡°This is your afternoon tea, take it and eat.¡± Zhou Xufang: ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll take you to meet the director first.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± The production was another big-budget one, Lixiang was playing the second female lead, and while Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t recognize the lead actress, Lixiang said she was famous. But Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t know many famous people; she liked watching web dramas, especially those adapted from novel IPs, like ¡°President Gu, Your Little Delicate Wife Has Run Away with the Ball¡± kind of series. It seemed famed actors didn¡¯t like to act in those. Fang Lixiang took her straight to the director. ¡°Director Chen.¡± Director Chen didn¡¯t lift his head, busy writing and drawing on the script, he responded with a ¡°Hmm.¡± Fang Lixiang pulled Zhou Xufang forward: ¡°This is the double I mentioned to you.¡± Zhou Xufang felt it was impolite to meet the director with a mask on, so she took it off. In the midst of his busyness, Director Chen lifted his eyelids and glanced over: ¡°Take off your shoes and socks.¡± Oh. A foot double needed to be seen, Zhou Xufang squatted down and took off her shoes. At this time, the set designer standing behind Director Chen leaned in: ¡°Director.¡± He whispered, ¡°I saw this girl in Director Jiang¡¯s crew last time.¡± His peripheral vision caught the ¡®dark as pitch¡¯ lump, the set designer told Director Chen, ¡°I think she¡¯s Director Jiang¡¯s girlfriend.¡± It was the same last time, dressed in ¡®dark as pitch¡¯ clothing. And, Director Jiang was very indulgent with this lump! He would cling to her wherever she went, and where she went, he followed! Setting aside Jiang Zhi¡¯s background, just considering his connections and influence in the film industry, Director Chen would have to give him some face, not to offend: ¡°No need to take them off.¡± Zhou Xufang put her shoes back on, a bit bewildered. Director Chen¡¯s tone became much more courteous: ¡°Let¡¯s talk about your pay first.¡± Considering she¡¯s Jiang Zhi¡¯s girlfriend, she surely wouldn¡¯t lack money, and low pay would be embarrassing, so Director Chen asked, ¡°How much do you think is appropriate?¡± Zhou Xufang considered and held up five fingers. Director Chen: ¡°Five thousand?¡± Zhou Xufang shook her head, five hundred, she thought. When she used to be an extra she would make a couple hundred a day, but a double would be paid more, and a foot double should be the cheapest, so she felt five hundred was appropriate. Director Chen, looking at those five fingers, felt a bit of pain: ¡°Fifty thousand?¡± There was no choice, they had inadvertently invited a major figure, and the cost had to be borne, ¡°Alright, fifty thousand.¡± Zhou Xufang and Fang Lixiang: ¡°¡­¡± The two sneaked off to the side, and Zhou Xufang whispered: ¡°Your crew is really rich.¡± Fang Lixiang touching her chin: ¡°I just realized it too.¡± Come almost four o¡¯clock, a stagehand returned to the set from outside and saw a familiar figure on the outskirts of the crowd. The stagehand approached: ¡°Mr. Tang,¡± he quickly cleared a way through the crowd and led the visitor inside, ¡°You¡¯re here.¡± This drama was funded by Tianxing, and the person directly in charge was Tang Xiang. She didn¡¯t often come to the set, just occasionally to visit. She pointed at the girl sitting on a small stool not far away and asked, ¡°Is that girl also an actor in our crew?¡± The staff glanced over and replied, ¡°No, she¡¯s a temporary body double we hired for today.¡± Tang Xiang didn¡¯t ask further, ¡°You go ahead with your work, I¡¯ll look around some more.¡± ¡°Okay, call me if you need anything.¡± Zhou Xufang. It was her. Tang Xiang stood there, scrutinizing her for a long time, then made a phone call to her secretary to postpone the afternoon¡¯s other plans. Meanwhile, Fang Lixiang went to change clothes, and Zhou Xufang sat alone in an inconspicuous corner. For some reason, she suddenly felt a bit melancholic. She used to run around different crews, but after Jiang Zhi let her in through the back door, she stuck to Jiang Zhi¡¯s sets. Now that she was with a different crew, she felt unaccustomed, missing the chair in front of the camera that Jiang Zhi would usually occupy. Just as she was thinking about Jiang Zhi, he called her. Zhou Xufang¡¯s melancholy vanished instantly, and she picked up the phone cheerfully, ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± Jiang Zhi could hear the noise on her end, ¡°Why is it so noisy? Are you outside?¡± ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m at East City Film and Television City.¡± ¡°Are you playing an extra?¡± Zhou Xufang answered honestly, ¡°A body double.¡± Jiang Zhi immediately asked, ¡°For what?¡± ¡°Feet.¡± He seemed to ponder something, then asked after a moment, ¡°Have they started shooting?¡± Zhou Xufang, ¡°Not yet.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t do it.¡± Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t understand, ¡°Why?¡± ¡°No reason.¡± With no explanation, Zhou Xufang wouldn¡¯t accept it and pointed out Jiang Zhi¡¯s fault honestly, ¡°Jiang Zhi, you¡¯re being unreasonable.¡± It was then that Jiang Zhi awkwardly explained, ¡°I don¡¯t want others to see your feet.¡± Zhou Xufang, ¡°¡­¡± He was so petty and jealous, just like the submissive character in the novel she read that morning. Zhou Xufang negotiated sweetly with him, ¡°I¡¯ve already promised the director, and if I back out now, it will delay the crew¡¯s shooting.¡± She spoiled her boyfriend just like the dominant character in that novel, ¡°I won¡¯t be a foot double after this, just this once.¡± She remembered the coquettish tricks she learned at the amusement park and practiced a bit before repeating, ¡°Please?¡± ¡°Please?¡± ¡°Please~~¡± This one had to be drawn out. ¡°Please~~¡± This one, too, had to be drawn out. ¡°Please~~~~~~~~¡± The last one stretched even longer. Jiang Zhi, ¡°¡­¡± Such a stiff attempt at acting spoiled and yet he found it adorable, there was no saving him, ¡°Wait for me there.¡± ¡°Are you coming over?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± Just then, Fang Lixiang called out, ¡°Xu Fang,¡± she didn¡¯t come over, just shouted across half of the set, ¡°Your turn.¡± Zhou Xufang said, ¡°I have to hang up first.¡± She hung up the phone, ¡°I¡¯m coming.¡± The pool was temporarily dug and covered with a green cloth. Later, special effects would be added to create an ethereal fog on the water. Since an initial decision was made not to use a body double, there was no extra skirt prepared on set, so since Zhou Xufang was only needed for her feet on camera, the lead actress gave Zhou Xufang her underpants from inside the skirt. The scene being filmed was the Heavenly Consort¡¯s first bath in the Fengwu Palace, and after the bath, the Heavenly Consort would consummate her marriage with the Emperor of Heaven; hence, both skirt and underpants were red. Zhou Xufang followed the director¡¯s instructions, positioned herself correctly, stood with one leg, and dipped the other into the pool, brushing the surface of the water with the arch of her foot¡­ The camera zoomed in, changing from a long shot to a close-up. Director Chen concentrated on the effect in the camera, and someone from behind said, ¡°The shadow on the water is revealing the ruse.¡± Director Chen turned around, ¡°Mr. Tang.¡± ¡°The shadow has given it away,¡± Tang Xiang suggested, ¡°Maybe the stand-in should change tops as well.¡± Director Chen checked the playback. And indeed, it had given it away. The body double was wearing a poofy down jacket, which cast a shadow on the water. Director Chen called a halt, ¡°Pei Ning, give her your top.¡± Pei Ning was the lead actress. Zhou Xufang went with her to change, but since Pei Ning¡¯s dressing room was private, Zhou Xufang had to go to the public changing room. Fang Lixiang pointed the way, ¡°Go in there, it¡¯s the third one on the left.¡± Fang Lixiang couldn¡¯t take her there as her assistant had come to hurry her along, ¡°I need to touch up my makeup for the next shot, if you can¡¯t find the place, ask the staff to take you there. I¡¯ll look for you after I¡¯m done.¡± Zhou Xufang agreed, didn¡¯t bother the staff, and went on her own. Less than five minutes after she left, Jiang Zhi arrived. ¡°Director Jiang,¡± Director Chen was surprised, ¡°how did you come by? We¡¯re not that familiar, only acquainted a few times.¡± Tsk, tsk, tsk, with that face of his, he¡¯d be perfect for roles like a male fox spirit. Jiang Zhi spoke as if it were the most natural thing in the world, ¡°I¡¯m visiting my girlfriend.¡± He looked around, but couldn¡¯t find Zhou Xufang, ¡°Where is she?¡± Rumors were true after all; Director Jiang doted on his ¡®gloomy and unremarkable¡¯ girlfriend. Director Chen said, ¡°She¡¯s gone to change, she¡¯ll be here soon.¡± Jiang Zhi wanted to see her now, ¡°Where is the dressing room?¡± ¡°Xiao Chuan,¡± Director Chen called the staff over, ¡°please take Director Jiang there.¡± Staff Xiao Chuan started leading Jiang Zhi toward the dressing room, but just reaching the corridor, Jiang Zhi signaled him to stop. Ahead, Tang Xiang was calling out to Fang Lixiang. ¡°Miss Fang,¡± she approached, ¡°may I talk to you?¡± Chapter 180: 180: The Revelation of Luo San’s Identity (First Update) Chapter 180: 180: The Revelation of Luo San¡¯s Identity (First Update) ¡°Miss Fang,¡± she approached, ¡°may I have a word with you?¡± Fang Lixiang smiled. ¡°Of course.¡± She continued to smile, now playing the role of a cultured and busy CEO, ¡°you¡¯ll need to make an appointment through my agent. I¡¯m very busy.¡± The implication was clear¡ªnow was not the time, Mr. Fang was too busy. Tang Xiang looked at her with a half-smile, ¡°You¡¯re avoiding me so much, you must know what I¡¯m trying to find out.¡± Fox! This was an old fox! The opponent was too crafty; Fang Lixiang knew she was outmatched and adopted a resigned attitude, along with a feigned dumb expression. ¡°Miss Tang, you¡¯ve really got the wrong person. My dad is just a firefighter, he has nothing to do with it after putting out fires. You should ask the Luo family about their issues.¡± Who knows if you are in cahoots with the Luo family. ¡°Ask the Luo family,¡± Tang Xiang said with a smile, ¡°are you sure?¡± Fang Lixiang was stunned by that smile, and a bad feeling hit her hard. Tang Xiang wasn¡¯t rushing, still keeping a calm tone, ¡°If the Luo family also finds out something, do you think you and your daughter could still live peacefully?¡± Fang Lixiang realized, feeling a chill, ¡°Are you threatening me?¡± Tang Xiang shook her head, correcting her leisurely, ¡°No, I¡¯m making an offer of friendship.¡± She folded her arms and stepped forward, ¡°I know you don¡¯t trust me yet. I¡¯ll just ask you one question.¡± Fang Lixiang didn¡¯t trust her, unsure if she was a human or a ghost, but one thing was certain¡ªeveryone from the Luo family was definitely a demon or ghost. She weighed her options. ¡°Ask.¡± Tang Xiang cut to the chase, ¡°Is Luo San a girl?¡± Damn! This person must know a lot. Fang Lixiang hesitated between telling the truth and lying for several seconds before finally nodding, ¡°Yes.¡± Tang Xiang was a bit safer than dealing with the Luo family. In the dressing room, Zhou Xufang was sitting, waiting; soon, Pei Ning brought the clothes and cautioned her, ¡°Be careful, don¡¯t tear the clothes.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Zhou Xufang held the clothes gently to change, as if she were cradling the precious Jiang Zhi. Pei Ning had just sat down when her phone rang. She answered, ¡°Sister Qing.¡± She got up and walked outside the dressing room, ¡°I¡¯m at the film set now.¡± It was her agent on the phone pushing her about a commercial endorsement. As Pei Ning walked, she briefed her agent, ¡°I had Xiao Jin send over the contract first¡ª¡± She hadn¡¯t finished speaking when she nearly bumped into someone at the corner, looking up, ¡°Mr. Tang.¡± Tang Xiang nodded slightly and continued walking. Pei Ning looked back, warning, ¡°Mr. Tang, that¡¯s the dressing room.¡± ¡°Just having a look.¡± Her pace didn¡¯t falter. What¡¯s there to see in a public dressing room? Pei Ning dismissed her doubt and resumed discussing the contract with her agent, ¡°Check if there are any other issues with the contract, and I¡¯ll come see you later.¡± Creak¡ª The dressing room was temporarily set up and shared with the makeup room; it was quite rudimentary, and the door made a noise when opening and closing. A quick glance showed no one inside; Tang Xiang entered and walked further. There were curtains pulled to either side as makeshift changing areas. The left curtain was drawn back, Tang Xiang walked towards the right, noticed two black sneakers on the floor, raised her hand, and reached for the curtain, just as her wrist was grabbed by a hand reaching out from behind the curtain. Her skin was so pale it looked like it rarely saw the sun. Behind the curtain, Zhou Xufang asked, ¡°What are you doing?¡± Tang Xiang was slightly startled, apologized, ¡°Sorry, I thought it was empty.¡± Zhou Xufang then let go of her hand. Tang Xiang looked down at her wrist, which was red where it had been grasped; she was quite strong. She sat down on a sofa waiting for Zhou Xufang to finish changing and come out before starting, ¡°Do you remember me, Miss Zhou?¡± she reminded, ¡°We¡¯ve met in the porridge shop.¡± Zhou Xufang nodded, dressed in the lead actress¡¯s bright red costume, a stark contrast to her usual black attire, making her look radiant and flamboyant. Tang Xiang seemed to make casual conversation, ¡°Are you also from Imperial City, Miss Zhou?¡± Zhou Xufang was expressionless, ¡°No.¡± Tang Xiang pondered for a moment before asking again, ¡°Then, could you tell me where your hometown is?¡± she explained, ¡°You resemble a long-lost friend of mine.¡± She was fishing for information. Zhou Xufang also considered seriously and answered, ¡°It¡¯s inconvenient.¡± sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Tang Xiang merely smiled, not taking offense. Zhou Xufang put on her shoes, packed her own clothes in a bag. ¡°I need to go film now.¡± After saying this, she left first. After she left, Tang Xiang rose from the sofa, her gaze casually lifted and landed on the right corner of the dressing room, where the curtains were rolled up; on the floor was a necklace threaded with a black thin line. She walked over and picked up the necklace. Zhou Xufang came out of the dressing room and had only walked a few steps when she saw Jiang Zhi leaning against the wall in the corridor, his head down as if he were daydreaming. She ran over, ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± He seemed not to hear her. She reached out to tug at his sleeve, a bit louder, ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± Jiang Zhi then came to his senses and looked up, ¡°Hmm?¡± ¡°What are you thinking about?¡± He shook his head, said nothing, and started walking her out. Zhou Xufang felt he seemed to be troubled but didn¡¯t want to talk about it, so she didn¡¯t ask further, ¡°When did you get here?¡± Jiang Zhi said, ¡°Just arrived.¡± At that moment, someone outside the set called for a stand-in actor, and Zhou Xufang responded, telling Jiang Zhi, ¡°I need to go over there first.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Zhou Xufang took another long look at Jiang Zhi before running off. He was acting so strangely, she thought. She had dressed up so beautifully, and he hadn¡¯t even complimented her. She really looked pretty. It was only after the shooting had started outside that Jiang Zhi took out his phone and dialed a number, speaking in hushed tones, ¡°Help me look someone up.¡± ¡°Who?¡± He said, ¡°Fang Lixiang.¡± Zhou Xufang¡¯s stand-in scene was finished in less than twenty minutes, Fang Lixiang complimented her on her beautiful feet and even took a selfie with them. To commemorate Zhou Xufang dressing so beautifully, Fang Lixiang took many photos of her. At four-thirty, Jiang Zhi drove her home, then left first because he had things to do. Luckily, Zhou Xufang also had matters to attend to, so once Jiang Zhi left, she changed her outfit and rode off on a motorcycle. At eight in the evening, Tang Xiang¡¯s car stopped outside the sanatorium. She usually came only during the day on weekends, so the nurse, Xiao Qu, asked her, ¡°Why have you come so late today?¡± Tang Xiang lingered at the nurse station for a while, ¡°Something came up. Is Mom asleep?¡± Xiao Qu handed her the key to Ms. He¡¯s room, ¡°Not yet, she even had two walnut pastries just now.¡± Because Ms. He¡¯s mental state fluctuated, Tang Xiang worried she might wander off when she was not lucid. Normally, she had the nurse lock the door while she slept. Tang Xiang took the key and went to the room. Ms. He wasn¡¯t asleep, just sitting on the bed, daydreaming. ¡°Mom.¡± Ms. He was surprised to see her, ¡°Why have you come back? Aren¡¯t there classes?¡± Ms. He was lucid occasionally, her mind still stuck eight years ago when the Luo Family hadn¡¯t yet become famous and Tang Xiang was still at university. Tang Xiang closed the door behind her, ¡°Tomorrow is the weekend.¡± Ms. He nodded, got up, and said she would cook for her. Tang Xiang held her back, sat beside her on the bed, and took out a necklace from her pocket, spreading it on her palm for Ms. He to see, ¡°Mom, I found this necklace on the road just now. Do you know whose it is?¡± Ms. He immediately recognized it, ¡°This is Luo San¡¯s necklace.¡± Her expression suddenly turned tense, she looked around, muttering, ¡°So careless, losing such an important thing.¡± It really was Luo San¡¯s. Ms. He snatched the necklace and hid it under the pillow, anxiously instructing Tang Xiang, ¡°Xiangxiang, don¡¯t talk about the necklace to anyone.¡± Tang Xiang glanced at the black thread peeking from under the pillow, ¡°Understood.¡± After coaxing Ms. He to sleep, Tang Xiang finally left the room. Xiao Qu asked, ¡°Are you going back now?¡± Distracted, she replied absently and left the room key behind. Stars filled the night sky, the night of a full moon according to the lunar calendar. The night was windy, carrying the chill of winter. There were only three buildings in the sanatorium, two for patient rooms and one for medical treatments. Zhou Xufang was on the rooftop of the medical treatment building, clad in a sleek black outfit that blended into the night. She crouched there, pondering the conversation she had just overheard. Through her earpiece, Shuangjiang informed her in a synthesized voice, ¡°Surveillance has been cut.¡± OK! Zhou Xufang leapt down from the building. She didn¡¯t take the stairs but climbed directly to Ms. He¡¯s window on the first floor. The room door was locked. She looked left and right, listening for footsteps nearby, then quietly twisted the doorknob with force. The lock gave way. Fortunately, the occupant was still asleep. Zhou Xufang blocked the door with a chair and tiptoed to the bedside. After searching, she saw the black thread under the pillow and reached for it¡ª Ms. He suddenly opened her eyes and called out, ¡°Luo San.¡± Chapter 182: 182: Luo Family Fire Flashback (Three More Updates Chapter 182: 182: Luo Family Fire Flashback (Three More Updates ¡°Girl or boy?¡± Mr. Fang looked up, his gaze unflinching, ¡°It¡¯s a girl.¡± The fire at the Luo Family was fierce. At the time, Mr. Fang was the captain of the second firefighting team, and the entire team had been deployed for the massive fire at the Luo Family. When he found the child in the greenhouse, she was already gasping for life, blood everywhere on the trellis and the ground. Despite the raging fire, the child¡¯s body was ice-cold, devoid of any warmth. He had injured a hand then and could only manage to carry her on his back. It didn¡¯t take long before his entire back was soaked with blood. It was said that she was the adopted child of the Luo Family, already fourteen years old. But how could a child from such a prominent family be so frail and tiny, so light that he felt almost no weight on his back? Her breath was as thin as silk, muttering under her breath as she spoke. Mr. Fang couldn¡¯t make it out, ¡°What are you saying?¡± ¡°Jiang Zhi¡­¡± Her voice was coarse and hoarse, her throat smoked from the fire, barely able to make a sound, but she kept repeating that name over and over. Whose name was it that this dying child couldn¡¯t forget? Mr. Fang couldn¡¯t bear it, ¡°Do you have something to say to Jiang Zhi?¡± She nodded, still calling out that name. Mr. Fang, who wore his firefighting helmet, spoke loudly, ¡°Listen to uncle, don¡¯t talk now. Wait till you get better, then you can talk to him slowly.¡± The child shook her head, insisting these were her last words, ¡°Won¡¯t get better.¡± Each word she spoke required a long pause; she was weak and her words intermittent, ¡°He said¡­ he said girls must die.¡± It was a girl. Mr. Fang had thought all girls in the world were like the one at his home, who would laugh wildly, act spoiled, make a fuss when scared, and cry when hurt. This one on his back was different; she neither cried nor made noise, just quietly letting her blood run dry. ¡°Who says girls must die? Who said it?¡± She might have already been delirious, clutching at Mr. Fang¡¯s clothes, shouting, ¡°Jiang Zhi,¡± her voice growing weaker and weaker, as if she was about to fall asleep, ¡°Don¡¯t be sad, I¡¯m just going to heaven.¡± Mr. Fang¡¯s eyes turned red as he carried her outside. Blood dripped onto the ground, the child had a hole in her body, and it was unclear what had been used to make it. She said, ¡°There are no bad people in heaven, heaven is nice, don¡¯t be sad¡­¡± Those were her last words, spoken to someone named ¡®Jiang Zhi.¡¯ ¡°What happened after that?¡± Jiang Zhi asked. After that¡­ Mr. Fang¡¯s eyes grew sore; he sniffled. Suddenly, Gui Fei barked, ¡°Woof!¡± ¡°There was no after,¡± Mr. Fang wiped his eyes, looked down at the ground, and said, ¡°By the time I found her, she had already stopped breathing.¡± Gui Fei barked again, ¡°Woof!¡± It was Fang Lixiang who came running. She glanced at Mr. Fang and asked Jiang Zhi, ¡°You already have Zhou Xufang, why are you still inquiring about Luo San?¡± She didn¡¯t want Zhou Xufang to be involved with the Luo family again. ¡°Because murder deserves retribution,¡± Jiang Zhi spoke slowly, his tone light, ¡°Because besides me, no one will seek justice for that child.¡± That child, unloved, her parentage unknown. Only he cared. Fang Lixiang¡¯s eyes reddened, words bursting out, ¡°She didn¡¯t stop breathing.¡± Mr. Fang immediately stopped her, ¡°Fang Lixiang!¡± But she couldn¡¯t control herself, ¡°She¡¯s still alive.¡± The dark ink in Jiang Zhi¡¯s eyes intensified, his voice trembling, ¡°Where is she?¡± Is she still alive? As long as she is alive, that¡¯s all that matters. ¡°She has a necklace with her name engraved on it.¡± This part, Mr. Fang had drunkenly told her countless times, each time with tears streaming down, tearing his heart apart, yet when he actually spoke, it was unexpectedly calm, ¡°Her name is Zhou Xufang.¡± Jiang Zhi¡¯s eyes instantly reddened, ¡°What did you say her name was?¡± Fang Lixiang repeated, ¡°Her name is Zhou Xufang.¡± Zhou Xufang¡­ He staggered two steps, nearly unable to stand. A thought of heaven, a thought of Hell, it was as if he had died once, sweat drenching him; he gasped in cold air, choking and coughing as if he was about to cough out his lungs. Why was it Zhou Xufang? Why was it her? She was born to undergo trials, enduring all the suffering possible. Jiang Zhi stood for a long time before he moved his feet towards Zhou Xufang¡¯s home, his steps uneven and shaky. He stood downstairs, head tilted back, tears in his eyes reflecting light, ¡°Zhou Xufang.¡± ¡°Zhou Xufang.¡± No one answered him. She probably wasn¡¯t home, and he kept mumbling ¡®Zhou Xufang¡¯ like a fool, for a long time, until the wind dried his eyes. Then he finally made a call. ¡°Hello.¡± Jiang Zhi said, ¡°I¡¯m waiting for you at the porridge shop.¡± It was Tang Xiang. She asked, ¡°Is something the matter?¡± Jiang Zhi had no patience for games, ¡°Don¡¯t pretend you don¡¯t know.¡± Having said that, Tang Xiang was forthright, ¡°You figured it out?¡± she admitted, ¡°I did indeed intend for you to overhear.¡± S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t want to waste words, succinctly, ¡°In forty minutes, meet me at the porridge shop.¡± ¡°It seems you¡¯ve already met Fang Dashun,¡± she surmised correctly; the Fang family, father and daughter, didn¡¯t trust her, but they trusted Jiang Zhi, and so did she. His capabilities and resourcefulness were unmatched in the Imperial City, she thought, and in just half a day, he had uncovered everything. Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t deny it, and hung up the phone. At 10:40, the clouds obscured the moonlight. When Tang Xiang arrived, Jiang Zhi was already there. The porridge shop was empty, and she sat down directly opposite him, ¡°Last time it was also in this porridge shop, my mom recognized Zhou Xufang, and kept calling her Luo San.¡± In front of Jiang Zhi was a cup of plain water, already cold, ¡°Since then, you suspected her?¡± Tang Xiang shook her head, ¡°After my mom went insane, she forgot many things. Sometimes she doesn¡¯t even recognize me, but she remembers everything about Luo San.¡± Tang Xiang had only discovered then that Luo San had another name. Indeed, Luo San was raised single-handedly by Ms. He ¨C fed by her, her hair cut by her, clothed by her, taught to read by her, and taught how to barely survive in the Luo Family. Ms. He understood Luo San better than her own daughter. ¡°I saw Zhou Xufang at an outdoor filming location. She seemed to have a phobia of roses just like Luo San. At first, it was just a suspicion, but today I am certain.¡± Tang Xiang took out the necklace and placed it on the table, ¡°Zhou Xufang left it in the dressing room, it¡¯s Luo San¡¯s necklace.¡± Chapter 183: 183: Jiang Zhi and Luo San Recognize Each Other in the Attic (First Update) Chapter 183: 183: Jiang Zhi and Luo San Recognize Each Other in the Attic (First Update) ¡°Zhou Xufang left it in the changing room, it¡¯s Luo San¡¯s necklace.¡± Jiang Zhi picked up the necklace, examining it closely in his palm. The metal disc was polished smooth, coin-sized, probably because the owner often touched it. The engraved script ¡®Zhou Xufang¡¯ had become shallow from frequent handling. This necklace looked quite old. Jiang Zhi carefully pocketed the necklace and looked up at Tang Xiang, ¡°Just say it, what¡¯s your purpose?¡± Tang Xiang didn¡¯t beat around the bush; she got straight to the point, ¡°There weren¡¯t many who knew about the Luo Family¡¯s great fire that year, Fang Dashun is one, but he doesn¡¯t trust me.¡± That¡¯s why she pulled Jiang Zhi into this. What she couldn¡¯t find, with Jiang Zhi¡¯s means, if he was willing, he could certainly pull it out. Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t confirm nor deny, counter-asking, ¡°Do you think I would trust you?¡± ¡°Since you know Luo San was a girl, you should also guess who hid her gender.¡± It was Tang Xiang¡¯s parents. Luo San¡¯s background was known only to the Luo Family and them. Tang Xiang revealed her purpose, ¡°I suspect my father¡¯s death in the fire wasn¡¯t an accident, it was the Luo Family wanting to silence him, and I, want to clarify this matter.¡± She and the Luo Family were never on the same side; she always remembered how hurriedly the Luo Family had dealt with her father¡¯s body and hastily closed the case when he perished in the fire. In the great fire of the Luo Family, two died, one was injured, yet the perpetrator wasn¡¯t sentenced to death; she didn¡¯t believe it was all unintentional. Jiang Zhi tentatively believed her, then asked, ¡°And what makes you trust me?¡± With a voice as if it was most natural, Tang Xiang had never doubted Jiang Zhi¡¯s goodwill towards Luo San, ¡°Aren¡¯t you always investigating the incident from eight years ago? Apart from me, the only other person who cried outside after the fire was you.¡± She didn¡¯t trust any of the Luo Family members, seeing them all as cruel-hearted. Even though Luo San was adopted, after so many years, not a single one from the Luo Family wished her well. Tang Xiang made her position clear without any concealment, ¡°Jiang Zhi, we are in a cooperative relationship, not a hostile one.¡± After Jiang Zhi left, Tang Xiang sat for a while in the porridge shop. The shop¡¯s Boss Lady was her second aunt, who specially cooked a bowl of porridge for her; she didn¡¯t leave until she had finished eating. She didn¡¯t come by car, so she chose a bus stop with fewer people, sat down, and lit a cigarette, watching the bustling traffic as she took intermittent puffs. A black business car stopped in front of her, the window rolled down, and a ruggedly handsome face stormed into her view, ¡°You still smoke?¡± Dressed in a suit and leather shoes, looking stable and scholarly. Just looking stable and scholarly was all, Tang Xiang was in no mood to deal with this old classmate who always disagreed with her, her tone more perfunctory, ¡°Is that a problem?¡± Jiang Xiaolin leaned on the car window, all relaxed, looking as if he was watching a fascinating show, ¡°What, did you confess to Jiang Zhi and get rejected?¡± he said mockingly, ¡°Smoking away your sorrow?¡± How long had he been here?! Tang Xiang held the cigarette between two fingers, blowing a smoke ring towards the car window, ¡°It¡¯s none of your damn business!¡± Back in her school days, she was a ¡®face-control¡¯ fanatic, had praised Jiang Zhi several times in front of this guy, and he always thought she ¡®coveted¡¯ Jiang Zhi¡¯s beauty. He straightened his tie, altogether suave and scholarly, ¡°As a lady, can¡¯t you speak politely?¡± Tang Xiang smiled sweetly, ¡°That depends on whom I¡¯m speaking with.¡± She flicked some ash off, leisurely smoking, ¡°I speak human words to humans, ghost words to ghosts, and naturally, I speak rogue words to rogues.¡± Calling him a rogue. Jiang Xiaolin didn¡¯t get angry, stepped out of the car, and walked over to her, ¡°Didn¡¯t you say I was a pervert? Then let¡¯s talk something more intense.¡± The great son of the Jiang Family, Lin, admired by so many. See, this is his true nature. Tang Xiang couldn¡¯t stand it anymore, ¡°Jiang Xiaolin!¡± He smiled like a scoundrel, ¡°You really know how to scream.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Really fucking intense. Tang Xiang lost the mood to smoke, stood up, and kicked towards him, ¡°Filthy rogue!¡± He didn¡¯t dodge, and took a solid kick, leaving a footprint on his impeccable suit pants. He bent down and calmly brushed off the dust, ¡°Feeling better now?¡± Tang Xiang was stunned for a moment. As he stood up, he also took the cigarette that was between her fingertips, looked at the lipstick stain on the cigarette butt, ¡°This isn¡¯t anything good, stop smoking it.¡± He extinguished the cigarette and threw it in the trash can, then turned back to his car, stepped on the accelerator, and left. Tang Xiang was left standing under the light with a complex expression. It was eleven twenty in the evening. The clouds dispersed, the moon was round again, surrounded by stars, casting myriad photons like a celestial diadem. ¡°Snap¡ª¡± Zhou Xufang casually twisted off the lock on Luo Yinghe¡¯s room; she felt the quality of the lock definitely needed improvement. At this hour, Luo Yinghe was actually asleep, with no lights on in the room, pitch black. Zhou Xufang, feeling her way in the dark, entered the bathroom and took out a flashlight from her bag. She searched the sink and the floor, gathered some hair strands, and also picked up a few from the brush and towel, which she put in a bag, and took the toothbrush too. Suddenly, there was a ¡®click¡¯ sound! Then, the sound of footsteps came from the bedroom; Luo Yinghe awoke. Zhou Xufang turned off the flashlight, left the bathroom door slightly ajar, and stood directly behind it, holding her breath, like an imperceptible piece of wood. Luo Yinghe, yawning, pushed the door and entered the bathroom, casually closing it, and groggily switched on the light without even noticing the lock was broken. Her steps wobbly, she walked to the toilet, squinted her eyes to undo her trousers, then sat down, her head swaying drowsily. Then came the sound of urination. Zhou Xufang: ¡°¡­¡± She was standing right in front of Luo Yinghe. Just a lift of Luo Yinghe¡¯s head would reveal her presence, so she decided to make the first move¡ªholding her breath, she moved forward, reached out, and turned off the light. The bathroom was plunged into darkness. Luo Yinghe let out a ¡®huh¡¯, looked up, and saw a vague silhouette. She was about to scream when suddenly her vision blurred, her neck felt numb, her eyes rolled back, and she collapsed behind the toilet. To be extra cautious, Zhou Xufang pulled a few more strands of hair from her head before feeling her way out. She only left for a little while, then came back in the dark, flashlight in her mouth, hands assisting to pull up Luo Yinghe¡¯s trousers. Following that, she made her way to Luo Qinghe¡¯s room. Luo Qinghe¡¯s room was empty, likely he hadn¡¯t come back yet; this made her task much easier. She found the hair and toothbrush and left the room in less than five minutes. Just as she left Luo Qinghe¡¯s room, her mobile phone in her pocket vibrated. At this hour, it had to be Jiang Zhi calling her; she casually opened another guest room, hid inside, and picked up the call. Her voice was very soft, whispery, ¡°Hello.¡± Jiang Zhi asked, ¡°Where are you?¡± His voice was strange, tense, and heavy. Zhou Xufang couldn¡¯t explain her current situation in a few words, so she just said, ¡°I am on a mission.¡± He stubbornly pressed, ¡°Where?¡± The more she listened, the more Zhou Xufang felt that something was off, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± She sensed that Jiang Zhi¡¯s voice was suppressed, as if he was in a heavy mood. He didn¡¯t explain, only said, ¡°Want to see you, tell me where.¡± Zhou Xufang hesitated for quite some time but couldn¡¯t refuse him, ¡°I¡¯m at the Luo Family.¡± He paused for a long time, as if mulling over something, and the sound of the wind came through the phone for a long while before he finally spoke, ¡°Wait for me in the attic.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Zhou Xufang hung up the phone. Jiang Zhi was so strange, something sad must have happened; she¡¯d have to comfort him well when he arrived. Thinking this, she made her way to Luo Changde¡¯s room. Luo Changde had drunk a lot, sleeping soundly with snores echoing, the room filled with the stench of alcohol. Zhou Xufang, seeing him sleep like a pig, simply plucked some of his hair. She needed to collect DNA from all Luo Family members, ending with Mr. Luo. He lived on the first floor, and as Zhou Xufang approached, she could hear coughing sounds from inside. ¡°Cough, cough, cough.¡± The light was on in the room, and people were still awake. Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t want to startle the snake by hitting the grass, so she crouched under the staircase, listening to the movements inside and outside the room, and quietly observed the changes. About three or four minutes later, Luo Huaiyu received a phone call. ¡°Chairman,¡± a man¡¯s voice on the phone, probably a young adult, said, ¡°Peng Zhongming has arrived in Imperial City.¡± Luo Huaiyu pondered for a moment, ¡°Has he seen his father yet?¡± The man on the phone answered, ¡°No, Peng Xianzhi is still unaware. It was only after Peng Zhongming got involved with drugs abroad and had financial issues that he turned his sights to Mr. Luo.¡± Mr. Luo referred to the elder Mr. Luo, Luo Changde. Luo Qinghe was usually called Younger Luo. Luo Huaiyu thought it over for a moment and instructed the man on the phone, ¡°Have people watch Changde and Qinghe¡¯s side, and try to get ahold of what Peng Zhongming has in his hands.¡± ¡°Yes, Chairman.¡± Peng Zhongming, Peng Xianzhi. Zhou Xufang remembered these two names and planned to have Shuangjiang investigate them as soon as she got back. Suddenly, a hurried footsteps ran down from upstairs to the front of Luo Huaiyu¡¯s room door. It was a servant of the Luo Family, seeing that the light was still on in the room, knocked on the door and called out, ¡°Chairman.¡± Luo Huaiyu asked from inside, ¡°What is it?¡± The servant reported, ¡°The second young miss has fainted in her room.¡± Zhou Xufang, ¡°¡­¡± Thank goodness she had helped someone get dressed. She really was too kind. Afterward, Luo Huaiyu left the room with his cane. A golden opportunity! As soon as he departed, Zhou Xufang entered Luo Huaiyu¡¯s room. She rummaged around the pillow, but before she could find even a strand of hair, the sound of a cane tapping on the floor reached her ears again. Tap! Tap! Tap! The sound grew closer, and Zhou Xufang hadn¡¯t gotten the hair yet. She didn¡¯t plan to run; Luo Huaiyu pushed open the door, and they came face to face, ¡°You¡¯ve got some nerve.¡± With the incandescent lamp glowing in the room, Zhou Xufang looked up and saw Luo Huaiyu¡¯s stern and rigid face. Her mind flashed with sporadic fragments of memory. Back then she was a little Bald, in the attic, where she found a pill in a tattered pillow. She held it in both hands and stammered to a pale-faced, sickly boy, ¡°Eat this; it¡¯s not poisoned.¡± Her voice, not often used, was androgynous. The boy looked at her but didn¡¯t open his mouth. She urged, ¡°Eat it.¡± He blankly opened his mouth, and she directly threw the pill in, then pushed him into the closet, bracing the closet door with her back. Fearing the boy was scared, she comforted him, ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid, I¡¯m here.¡± The attic had only one small window, which was open. The sun was dim that day, and as she leaned against the closet door, she looked up to see a pair of eyes outside the window. It was the person she feared the most. He gestured for her to come out. She hesitated for a long time, then slow-footedly followed him out. Inside the closet, the boy called out, ¡°Luo San.¡± No response came, he knocked on the door, ¡°Luo San, are you still out there?¡± Still no reply, the boy pushed open the closet door and came out. In the attic, Bald was nowhere to be seen, and her whereabouts were unknown. Luo Huaiyu took her to the study and closed the door. The old man, his face full of wrinkles, a dark purple tint to his lips, crouched down very close to her, ¡°So, you can speak.¡± His eyes were cloudy as he gazed at her timidly, like coaxing her, yet also commanding, ¡°Say ¡®Grandpa,¡¯ let me hear it.¡± She was terrified and instinctively moved back, her back pressing against the room door. He held on to a cane, the handle of which was carved into a dragon¡¯s head with eyes made of jade, embedded in vibrant green. His hand was covered in age spots, and his fingers inconsistently rubbed the dragon¡¯s eyes while his other hand reached out towards her: ¡°Call out.¡± He placed his hand on her shoulder. She shivered, and her voice faltered as she stammered: ¡°Gr-grandpa.¡± The old man before her suddenly laughed. ¡°You¡¯ve got quite the nerve.¡± Zhou Xufang stared intensely at the person before her, the old face blurring into the memory of another elderly face. She hadn¡¯t recalled everything, yet even with the incomplete memories, fear remained like an instinctual reaction. Luo Huaiyu stood at the doorway, leaning on the jade-embedded dragon-headed cane. His piercing gaze fixated on her: ¡°Who are you?¡± Who was she? Luo San had died in the fire eight years ago; she was Zhou Xufang. She said, ¡°I am a vengeful ghost.¡± Wearing special glasses that glowed in the night, she stared straight at Luo Huaiyu, deliberately lowering her voice, eerily saying, ¡°Ever heard of ¡®Vengeful Ghost Soul Lock¡¯?¡± sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Luo Huaiyu snorted, ¡°Playing ghost and god tricks!¡± Well then, she¡¯d play ghost for a bit. She moved swiftly, stirring up a breeze, and in the blink of an eye, circled behind Luo Huaiyu. Catching him off guard, she pulled out several strands of his hair. Luo Huaiyu staggered and crashed into the door, shivering, whether from fright or anger, it was unclear. With the spoils in hand, Zhou Xufang had no interest in playing hide and seek with someone surnamed Luo. Expecting Jiang Zhi to arrive soon, she leapt onto the Luo family¡¯s rooftop, taking the ¡®air route¡¯ to the attic above the servants¡¯ quarters. She scoped out the area first. The villa side was in chaos, but no one seemed to come searching, so she then pushed open the attic door. It was dim inside, the lights off. Zhou Xufang tiptoed and whispered, creeping and cowering like a thief, ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± Very quietly, ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± The attic had wooden windows that were closed; the moonlight couldn¡¯t seep through, and she couldn¡¯t see clearly. She closed the door and fumbled in: ¡°I¡¯m here, Jiang Zhi.¡± She took out her flashlight from her bag, turned it on, and the beam shot straight forward, illuminating a face perfectly. Jiang Zhi was sitting on a dusty little wooden bed in the attic, his pale face made ghostly white by the flashlight. The atmosphere felt like a horror movie. Zhou Xufang jumped when she first saw him: ¡°Pointing that flashlight like that, you look like a ghost¡ª¡± Before she could finish, that ¡°ghost¡± rushed over and hugged her. Thud¡ª The flashlight fell to the floor, rolling under the wooden bed. Zhou Xufang paused for a moment: ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± He hugged her very tightly, his hands trembling. Zhou Xufang raised her hand, grasping the clothing at his waist: ¡°Jiang Zhi, what¡¯s wrong?¡± He buried his face in her shoulder, his voice tight, as if choking: ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± His voice choked, ¡°I promised to pick you up to go to the Jiang family,¡± he tightened his embrace, holding her closely, ¡°but I was late.¡± Oh. He knew too. Zhou Xufang was unclear how he had found out: ¡°I was just thinking about how to tell you that I am Luo San.¡± She lifted her hands, held Jiang Zhi¡¯s face, and stepped back a little to look into his eyes, ¡°How to tell you so that you won¡¯t feel sad for me.¡± The flashlight under the wooden bed cast a layer of light on the floor, and in the dim light, she saw tears in his eyes. Jiang Zhi was crying. This was the first time Zhou Xufang had seen him cry, he who was so proud, a man who would bleed but not shed tears. Chapter 184: 184: The Romance of the Young Textile Couple (Second Update) Chapter 184: 184: The Romance of the Young Textile Couple (Second Update) That year¡¯s blazing summer was filled with the incessant noise of cicadas. Luo Yinghe was not fond of studying. Whenever she took out her books and homework, she would start dozing off, and sure enough, within ten minutes, she had fallen asleep. When she awoke, the sun had already set. While gathering her books, she found that someone had written an answer to the question she couldn¡¯t solve. Instantly, she flew into a rage and marched over to the flower trellis, pushing Luo San: ¡°Who gave you permission to touch my homework?¡± In that flower pavilion, it was just the two of them, so besides Little Mute, it couldn¡¯t have been anyone else. There was a loud clang. The watering can Luo San was holding fell to the ground; the lid rolled away, and water splashed onto Luo Yinghe¡¯s skirt. This completely set off Luo Yinghe¡¯s temper. She grabbed the ill-fitting old dress on her, dragged her over to the table. ¡°You imbecile, can you even understand this?¡± The girl was two years younger than Luo Yinghe, and due to chronic malnutrition, she was both thin and short. Luo Yinghe was much taller, easily pinning her down on the table. ¡°Did you write this?¡± Pointing to the math problem, Luo Yinghe threw a tantrum: ¡°Who taught you to write?¡± The sixteen-year-old girl was all claws and teeth, not holding back at all, ¡°Speak up, who taught you how to write?¡± Pinned to the table, she did not struggle, nor did she show any expression. Her gaze was numb and empty. Seeing this dull expression on her face infuriated Luo Yinghe. She grabbed a book, deliberately hitting her with the hard part, all the while cursing: ¡°I¡¯m talking to you!¡± ¡°Now not only are you mute, but you¡¯ve also gone deaf, haven¡¯t you!¡± S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°I told you to mess with my things! You don¡¯t know what¡¯s good for you!¡± Luo Yinghe, still fuming, threw down the book and pushed her to the ground. At that time, Luo San had not yet turned fourteen, frail and skinny. She was pushed quite a distance away, shoulder slamming against the flower trellis. Her hand went numb for a moment, and a piece of candy dropped out. The pink candy wrapper was pretty and eye-catching. Luo Yinghe immediately recognized it, walked over swiftly, and grabbed her hand. ¡°You even stole my candy! Being foolish is one thing, but now you are also a thief.¡± Her grip was tight. There¡¯s still more in her hand. Luo Yinghe pried open her fingers: ¡°Let go!¡± Now she had strength, surprisingly unable to pry her hand open. Luo Yinghe kicked her: ¡°Let go!¡± She wouldn¡¯t let go, showing no signs of pain, not even frowning when beaten. The more obstinate she was, the more Luo Yinghe disliked her: ¡°Humph, I would rather give it to a dog than you!¡± Unable to wrestle it from her, Luo Yinghe went to the trellis behind them, snapping off several roses, wrapping them in paper, then raising her hand to whip them across the person¡¯s back. Before the flower stems had fallen, Luo Yinghe¡¯s hand was caught. She irritably looked up, then paused for a second: ¡°Jiang, Jiang Zhi.¡± At that time, Jiang Zhi was a sixteen-year-old boy, tall and handsome. Every time Luo Yinghe saw him, she blushed. Jiang Zhi usually never looked straight at her, but this time, his usually laid-back eyes were intently fixed on her, arrogance and defiance in his gaze, not attempting to hide his hostility. He snatched away the roses and slapped them across her face. Luo Yinghe screamed, covering her face, the thorns cutting her skin, pain making her gasp for air. ¡°If I catch you hitting her again, I will beat you half to death,¡± the boy said coldly, throwing the flowers to the ground. ¡°I, Jiang Zhi, keep my word. You can try me.¡± Luo Yinghe often heard her mother mention what kind of temper the young master of the Jiang Family had, with the most repeated advice being to keep her distance and not to provoke him. The Luo Family was affluent, but it could not compare to the Jiang Family, which was at the pinnacle of the Imperial City¡¯s hierarchy, with Jiang Zhi being the most pampered young master of the Jiang Family. Everyone wanted to get on good terms with Jiang Zhi, but he only ever cared for the Luo Family¡¯s mute. Luo Yinghe kept her head down without talking back, her hands clenched tightly at her sides. ¡°Come with me.¡± Oh. Luo San obediently followed the young man out. Once out of the pavilion, he turned and scolded her: ¡°Are you an idiot?¡± She nodded blankly. Yes, everyone said she was a little fool. She was still nodding, and it was driving him insane, scolding her in frustration: ¡°Who said you¡¯re an idiot!¡± He snorted as if he couldn¡¯t vent his anger, grumbling irritably, ¡°Right, you¡¯re an idiot, not knowing how to fight back when hit. You¡¯re a boy, can¡¯t you even beat a girl?¡± She wanted to tell him that she had fought back before, and then was beaten much harder. She remained silent, only gazing at him with bright eyes. The boy was still in a temper, frowning handsomely: ¡°You¡¯re like a fool, just standing there taking hits.¡± His scolding grew fiercer: ¡°Can¡¯t you even run away? Are you even¡ª¡± She stretched out her hand, palm open, holding a piece of candy. It wasn¡¯t stolen; she had picked it up from the ground. It was clean; she had wiped it off, wanting to give it to him. She thought he would be pleased, but he seemed even angrier, glaring at her with beautiful eyes: ¡°You¡¯re really a fucking idiot!¡± After scolding her, he walked away. She stood there, foolishly, not understanding what had made him angry. Then, not long after, he ran back, breathing hard after only a few steps because of his poor health, and he took the candy from her hand. During the sunset, the afterglow was a deep red color. The handsome boy¡¯s forehead was sweaty, his face and the area around his eyes red. He said, ¡°Luo San, come to the Jiang Family with me.¡± He said, ¡°Come to my house, and I¡¯ll support you with my pocket money.¡± At that time, he too was a child, not yet grown up, but he earnestly promised her: ¡°This type of candy, I can buy you a whole room¡¯s worth.¡± Luo San smiled, foolishly joyful, eyes reddening, nodding vigorously. Good. She wanted to go to the Jiang Family, not because the Jiang Family had candy, but because the Jiang Family had Jiang Zhi. That evening, Jiang Zhi spoke with Old Lady Jiang: ¡°I want to bring Luo San to stay with the Jiang Family.¡± Old Lady Jiang was enjoying the cool in the courtyard, fanning herself with a palm-leaf fan: ¡°To stay for a few days?¡± The young boy stood under the tree, surrounded by fireflies, and said, ¡°To keep for good.¡± Still too young and capricious. Old Lady Jiang dismissed the idea decisively, ¡°No.¡± His beautiful eyes immediately darkened, and his face fell, ¡°Why not?¡± ¡°We, the Jiang Family, do not need to adopt a child.¡± He was annoyed, ¡°Who said anything about adoption?¡± Old Lady Jiang laughed, ¡°Then what do you want to bring him here for?¡± He did think about it, but couldn¡¯t come up with a good excuse, so he simply said, ¡°Can¡¯t I just take care of him? Luo San was born so frail; he surely won¡¯t eat much. He¡¯s not picky about food, easy to care for.¡± Old Lady Jiang rose from her rocking chair, speaking with a weighted seriousness, ¡°Brother Zhi, you¡¯re already sixteen years old. Keeping a boy in the house, people will gossip.¡± He didn¡¯t care about others, ¡°I¡¯ll use my own money to take care of Luo San. What¡¯s it to them? I¡¯d like to see who dares to wag their tongues.¡± Hearing his stubbornness, Old Madam¡¯s face tightened, and her tone became heavier, ¡°They might not dare in your presence, but who knows what they¡¯ll say behind your back?¡± His tone was firm, unyielding, ¡°Let them talk. I¡¯ll take care of my own.¡± Old Lady Jiang was furious, ¡°Brother Zhi!¡± ¡°Grandma,¡± the youth softened his voice, usually spoiled and never having to beg so humbly before, ¡°I¡¯m asking you, please, let Luo San come to the Jiang Family, alright?¡± It was the first time he had ever pleaded. Old Madam was in a difficult position, ¡°Even if I agree, the Luo Family won¡¯t.¡± His handsome face darkened, and despite his youth, his eyes betrayed a sternness and decisiveness beyond his years, ¡°If they don¡¯t agree, I¡¯ll snatch him.¡± What nonsense! Is this something a sixteen-year-old child should do?! Old Lady Jiang couldn¡¯t allow him to act so recklessly, ¡°Easier said than done. With his household register at the Luo Family, how will you snatch him without their consent?¡± The youth remained unflappable, ¡°I¡¯ll just take him by force.¡± ¡°Ridiculous!¡± Moonlight filtered through the silver pine tree, and the youth, who had been standing tall, suddenly knelt down. He had grown to sixteen without ever kneeling to anyone, not even his ancestors, and now for the sake of a stranger, he bent his knees, ¡°If you won¡¯t let me act rashly, then I¡¯m set on doing so. If you don¡¯t help me bring Luo San over, I¡¯ll just kneel here and not get up.¡± He was doing it on purpose. Old Madam always babied him, especially about his health, so he resorted to a hunger strike. If this tactic didn¡¯t work, he would be in trouble¡ªhe¡¯d have to resort to disgraceful schemes, which he hoped to avoid for a peaceful resolution, not to mention it would spare that child from making enemies. He was Old Lady Jiang¡¯s grandson, raised by her hand, and she knew his mind well, letting go indifferently, ¡°Then kneel if you must.¡± He knelt for two hours. Late into the night, Old Lady Jiang hadn¡¯t gone to bed yet, planning to check on the boy when Jiang Chuan rushed in with an urgent message, ¡°Old Madam, Young Master¡­ he¡­¡± Jiang Chuan was drenched in sweat, ¡°Young Master is vomiting blood.¡± Old Lady Jiang panicked at the news, ¡°What¡¯s happening? Is Dr. Qin here? Has Dr. Qin arrived?¡± It was during Jiang Zhi¡¯s weakest period, he needed daily medication, and even the physician said to prepare for the worst. He might not live to twenty-five, let alone become an adult. The diagnosis was the same eight words: Inborn deficiency, both the heart and lungs weak. He was unconscious for a whole day with this illness. When he awoke, it was dark, and Old Lady Jiang was by his bedside, ¡°Brother Zhi.¡± Old Madam let out a sigh of relief, ¡°It¡¯s good that you¡¯ve woken up, it¡¯s good.¡± The youth on the bed was languid, weak, still in a fever, cheeks flushed red, struggling to sit up, ¡°I need to go pick up Luo San.¡± Old Lady Jiang soothed him, ¡°You need to recover first.¡± He wouldn¡¯t agree, trying to rise, ¡°I need to get Luo San first.¡± Old Madam, now with no option left, softened her heart and conceded, ¡°Alright, alright, I¡¯ll talk to the Luo Family.¡± The frail youth finally relaxed, smiling. Old Lady Jiang was at a loss, whether to laugh or cry, getting up, intending to make the trip to the Luo Family. At the door, Jiang Chuan came running in, ¡°Madam, Young Master,¡± he hesitated, glancing at the person on the bed, fumbling for words until finally, he said, ¡°There¡¯s been a tragedy at the Luo Family. A fire broke out in the flower shed, claiming two lives.¡± The youth immediately asked, ¡°Who¡¯s gone?¡± Jiang Chuan fell silent. He shouted, ¡°Who¡¯s gone!¡± ¡°The adopted son of the Luo Family¡ª¡± Before he could finish, the person on the bed coughed, vomiting a mouthful of blood onto the covers, staining a large swath scarlet. ¡°Brother Zhi!¡± Seeing the blood, Old Lady Jiang cried out in alarm, ¡°Quickly call for Dr. Qin!¡± Jiang Chuan immediately ran to fetch the doctor. ¡°Cough, cough, cough¡­¡± He continued to cough, covering his mouth, a few drops of blood seeping through his fingers, the other hand braced against the bed, veins pulsing subtly on the back of his hand. Old Madam held him down, ¡°Don¡¯t move, lie down, the doctor will be here any moment.¡± He wiped away the blood with the back of his hand, his pale lips stained red with blood, eyes red too, the hand bracing himself on the bed trembling, his facial expression terrifyingly calm, he spoke deliberately, ¡°Let me go to the Luo Family.¡± ¡°It¡¯s too late for that now.¡± He didn¡¯t care, staggering out of bed, his thin body wavering. ¡°Brother Zhi!¡± The youth turned back, his eyes blending with the lamplight, and said, ¡°If I don¡¯t go, no one will collect Luo San¡¯s body.¡± In the attic. Zhou Xufang looked up at Jiang Zhi, helpless, ¡°Jiang Zhi, don¡¯t cry, please.¡± She couldn¡¯t bear to see him cry, couldn¡¯t bear the tears misting his beautiful peach blossom eyes. She reached out, gently wiping his eyes, anxious and not knowing how to console him, she blurted out, ¡°You don¡¯t look good crying.¡± In reality, he did look good¡ªa beautiful person in tears is always sightly, but she couldn¡¯t bear it. Jiang Zhi¡¯s eyes were so lovely, they weren¡¯t meant to hold tears. Yet he looked at her, saying nothing, his eyes reddening, and with a blink, tears clung to his lashes. Zhou Xufang felt such heartache, she said, ¡°If you¡¯re not good-looking I won¡¯t like you anymore.¡± Her expression was stern, as she playfully threatened him, ¡°I only like you because you¡¯re handsome.¡± His lashes quivered but held steady, ¡°Do you only like my face?¡± Zhou Xufang replied, ¡°Yes.¡± Jiang Zhi, suddenly unable to continue crying, ¡°¡­¡± Chapter 185: 185: First Kiss in Youth (Third Update) Chapter 185: 185: First Kiss in Youth (Third Update) ¡°Yes,¡± Suddenly Jiang Zhi, unable to cry any longer, ¡°¡­¡± Zhou Xufang, however, laughed, stood on tiptoe, and kissed the corner of his left eye, then the right one, ¡°There, all better.¡± She had soothed him. Idiot! She was just like before, still his little fool. Even at a time like this, she only worried about him. Jiang Zhi opened his arms and embraced her, ¡°Do you remember this place?¡± Zhou Xufang shook her head, ¡°I only remember a little bit, there¡¯s so much I can¡¯t recall.¡± Oh, and she didn¡¯t forget to add, ¡°So I¡¯m not too upset about it, and you shouldn¡¯t be either.¡± Maybe it¡¯s better she doesn¡¯t remember. ¡°Then don¡¯t think about it.¡± She didn¡¯t have many good memories to dwell on either. Zhou Xufang thought for a moment, ¡°But I want to remember. I want to know what you were like before.¡± The young Jiang Zhi must have been everything she liked. She wanted to know everything about him. Jiang Zhi took off her hat, smoothing her disheveled hair, his eyes clearing after a storm, the most beautiful and purest ink color, ¡°You just need to know that I¡¯ve been good looking since I was little.¡± Zhou Xufang nodded with a smile, agreeing with him; she also thought that Jiang Zhi must have been a pretty child since youth. ¡°I¡¯ll tell you about myself, everything else, let¡¯s not try to remember.¡± Zhou Xufang, ¡°Okay.¡± Jiang Zhi suddenly remembered something very important, ¡°You kissed me here before.¡± Zhou Xufang was surprised, ¡°Then why did I kiss you?¡± Jiang Zhi¡¯s eyes curved with pride, ¡°Because you liked me.¡± Zhou Xufang blushed, ¡°Oh.¡± That was on the birthday of the second young mistress of the Luo Family. The Luo Family had held a grand birthday banquet, with a cake that was a meter tall. The young master of the Jiang Family was there too, along with his friends; it was exceptionally lively at the Luo residence. Normally, Luo San wasn¡¯t allowed to go over to the villa section, because the Luo Family felt she was an embarrassment. She had sneaked over, hiding behind the door to steal glances at Jiang Zhi. But before she had her fill of watching, she was caught by Luo Yinghe, who shouted in anger, ¡°Luo San!¡± In the room, the young man turned around. That fool, just standing there, taking the scolding. S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Why are you here? Get lost now! You¡¯re dirty and ugly, and if you frighten the guests, see how I¡¯ll deal with you!¡± The sixteen-year-old girl commanded imperiously, spoiled and arrogant. Luo San left, feeling downhearted. She thought she¡¯d wait until the party was almost over, and then she¡¯d go back to the gate to wait for him. She had made a hat out of foxtail grass to give to Jiang Zhi. In the room, the young man put down his glass, ready to leave. ¡°Where are you going, Brother Zhi?¡± It was seventeen-year-old Xue Baoyi, with bangs covering her eyes and cross earrings, very non-mainstream and Ed Hardy, standing out as the most eye-catching one in the Funeral of Love group. ¡°Don¡¯t follow me.¡± Jiang Zhi took a big piece of cake on a plate and left. Xue San, a core member of the Funeral of Love group, asked a companion, ¡°What¡¯s he doing? He¡¯s not going to find that little mute again, is he?¡± Qiao Nanchu, a seventeen-year-old who looked much more presentable in a white shirt and black trousers, dapper and young, said, ¡°She has a name; don¡¯t just call her ¡®little mute.¡¯ Be careful, or Jiang Zhi will get upset with you.¡± ¡°Why does he protect that little mu¡ª¡± Xue San quickly corrected himself, ¡°¡ªprotect that Luo San so much?¡± Qiao Nanchu simply said, ¡°He¡¯s taken a liking to her.¡± Xue San, not understanding, grabbed his edgy hair, still with a bit of baby fat and innocence, pondered, ¡°What do you mean? Is he thinking of becoming sworn brothers with Luo San?¡± Qiao Nanchu looked at him as if looking at an idiot, ¡°Moron.¡± The moron Xue San, ¡°¡­¡± Back to Jiang Zhi, he took a plate of cake and went looking for that little fool in the attic. ¡°Luo San.¡± He called from outside, no answer, so he pushed the door open, ¡°Luo San.¡± He looked around the room, no one in sight, then turned and saw her at the door, just arrived, panting like a little dog. He handed her the plate, ¡°Here, eat.¡± She received it with a goofy smile, then scooped up a big spoonful to feed him first. The youth turned his head away, ¡°I¡¯ve already eaten.¡± Oh. Then she would eat by herself. She was a messy eater, gobbling up her food so that her mouth was smeared all over with cream, which was brilliantly white. Her little face was dark, and in contrast, it looked quite comical. He wanted to laugh at her, turned his head away, and chuckled at the corner of his mouth. After laughing, he said, ¡°Eat slower.¡± He pulled out a handkerchief and stuffed it into her hand, his tone filled with disgust, ¡°You¡¯re filthy.¡± She was indeed dirty because she had to work in the flower shed. Jiang Zhi¡¯s handkerchief was very clean, moon-white, with bamboo leaves embroidered on the corners. She held it in her hands, not using it to wipe her mouth, planning to hide it inside her pillow. As soon as he left, she would stash it away. ¡°You¡¯re really not hungry?¡± The youth watched her eat the cake, somewhat doubtful. She nodded. ¡°Yet you still love eating so much,¡± he commented with a tone of disdain, but his eyes were filled with warm, bright light. She scooped up a big spoonful of cake into her mouth, eating with great satisfaction, her eyes squinting happily. He asked again, ¡°Doesn¡¯t it hurt either?¡± Others would hit her, and she never dodged or cried. She thought for a moment, nodded, then shook her head, as if it didn¡¯t hurt but also as if it hurt a lot. The youth snorted and scolded her again, ¡°Idiot.¡± She was an idiot, indeed. Clutching a piece of cake, she munched joyfully. He had given her a piece too big¡ªbigger than her face. She ate eagerly, starting with a spoon but then using her hands, making a mess everywhere. There was a ring of cream around her mouth, even some on her face. ¡°You got it on your face.¡± Huh? She stared blankly at the backlit youth standing in the doorway. The youth pointed at his own face, ¡°On the face,¡± and then pointed again, ¡°Here.¡± He wanted to say that the cake on her face was disgustingly messy. She pondered blankly for a moment, then took a step towards him, tiptoed, and bumped her mouth against his face, smearing his face with cake. ¡°¡­¡± The pallor of the youth¡¯s face instantly turned crimson. He jumped back violently, touching his greasy face, ears reddening, and pointing at the little bald girl in front of him, he scowled, infuriated and embarrassed, ¡°You¡­ you¡¯re shameless!¡± He was clearly angry, but his words stuttered as they reached his lips. In a fit of rage, he glared at her once more before turning around and walking away. She sat on the little wooden bed, holding half a cake, with a mouthful of cream, looking bewildered¡­ Outside the attic, suddenly there was the sound of a police siren. It was the Luo family who had called the police. Zhou Xufang grabbed Jiang Zhi and jumped down from Ping Building, leaping over the wall in one bound, and another leap put him on the rooftop of the villa across the street. Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± His hair was all disheveled. Zhou Xufang¡¯s motorbike was parked about a kilometer away from the Luo family. She looked around, noticing no one was there, and asked Jiang Zhi, ¡°Did you drive here?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± Jiang Zhi fiddled with his hair, pressing down the unruly strands that got tousled while they were ¡®climbing walls.¡¯ ¡°Where¡¯s your car?¡± ¡°Parked on the road across,¡± said Jiang Zhi, ¡°I¡¯ll have Lin Wanwan come and fetch it tomorrow.¡± Zhou Xufang then asked: ¡°Do you want a ride back on my motorbike?¡± Her motorbike was super cool! Jet black and incredibly sleek! Jiang Zhi nodded, ¡°Yeah.¡± Of course, he would go home with her. Zhou Xufang brought over a pink helmet from her super cool, super sleek motorbike, ¡°Duck down.¡± This pink and tender helmet¡­ Jiang Zhi felt a bit resistant inwardly but ducked his head nevertheless. Zhou Xufang put it on him, pulled down the windshield as well, then with a smile, patted his helmet, ¡°Today, you¡¯re also President Fang¡¯s spoiled little wife.¡± Jiang Zhi directly picked her up and set her on the back seat, then put another helmet of the same style on her. He sat in front, holding both her hands on his waist, ¡°Hold on tight, President Fang.¡± Chapter 186: 186: The fairy Zhi is very clingy tonight (first update) Chapter 186: 186: The fairy Zhi is very clingy tonight (first update) He sat in front, grabbing her hands and placing them on his waist, ¡°Hold on tight, President Fang.¡± Jiang Zhi was skilled at riding, good with any vehicle, and rode the motorcycle so smoothly that President Fang was amazed, thinking his delicate wife was super cool and awesome! Tonight, President Fang¡¯s delicate wife was especially clingy, following him wherever he went. When Zhou Xufang went to pour a glass of water to drink, Jiang Zhi stayed close behind, and when she headed to the changing room, he followed there too. ¡°Why are you following me all the time?¡± The beautiful light in Jiang Zhi¡¯s eyes was captivating, ¡°Because I like you.¡± Zhou Xufang: ¡°¡­¡± Critical hit! Jiang Zhi was a little demon, so enticing. Zhou Xufang felt a bit feverish, but she needed to stay composed, not to be seduced, and said very seriously, ¡°But I need to take a bath.¡± The little demon gazed at her intently, ripples of allure in his eyes, ¡°Can¡¯t we do it together?¡± Then she would certainly be seduced by him. Zhou Xufang firmly stated, ¡°No.¡± They both had to be upright and serious individuals. Since it was a no¡­ Jiang Zhi went and brought a stool, placing it right outside the bathroom door and sat down, ¡°Go ahead and bathe.¡± Zhou Xufang was stunned, ¡°Jiang Zhi, are you a little pervert?¡± Jiang?Little Pervert?Zhi stretched his long legs forward, arms folded, adopting a debauched expression, looking at the young lady, ¡°If you don¡¯t go in, I¡¯ll turn into a big pervert.¡± Zhou Xufang: ¡°¡­¡± She hurried to the cloakroom to grab her clothes, then quickly slipped into the bathroom. The bathroom had one-way glass, so Zhou Xufang could see Jiang Zhi from the inside; he was sitting at the door, and she felt so uncomfortable. She barely dared to move, washing up quietly, as if she were a thief. Just as she started to undress, Jiang Zhi began calling out to her from outside. ¡°Zhou Xufang.¡± She responded, ¡°Mhm.¡± Jiang Zhi called again, ¡°Zhou Xufang.¡± She continued to respond, ¡°Mhm.¡± Jiang Zhi still called, ¡°Zhou Xufang.¡± She glanced towards the door, glaring at Jiang Zhi¡¯s beautiful skull and the back of his head, ¡°Why do you keep calling me?¡± He leaned against the door, head tilted back, legs lazily extended, his voice light and floating, ¡°Just felt like calling.¡± Then he carried on calling, ¡°Zhou Xufang.¡± ¡°Mhm.¡± Persistently, one call after another. ¡°Zhou Xufang.¡± ¡°Mhm.¡± Zhou Xufang couldn¡¯t concentrate on washing her hair anymore, ¡°Stop calling me.¡± He didn¡¯t listen, and called again, ¡°Zhou Xufang.¡± Zhou Xufang whipped her head around, staring toward the door, ¡°I¡¯m ignoring you.¡± If he called again, she¡¯d refuse to respond! Jiang Zhi called out with a laugh, ¡°Zhou Xufang.¡± Zhou Xufang was so irritated by him, she thought he was so clingy tonight, like a little fox spirit wrapped around her, ¡°Aren¡¯t you annoying?¡± He wasn¡¯t bothered, ¡°Zhou Xufang.¡± Zhou Xufang looked down, her hair covering her face, ¡°Zhou Xufang needs hot water now, can¡¯t hear you talking.¡± After saying that, Zhou Xufang turned on the water, letting it cascade down on her, drenching her like a female water ghost. Jiang Zhi: ¡°Zhou Xufang.¡± She couldn¡¯t hear. Jiang Zhi: ¡°Zhou Xufang.¡± She couldn¡¯t hear! Jiang Zhi suddenly twisted the doorknob, not in a playful tone, ¡°Zhou Xufang, you didn¡¯t close your door properly.¡± Zhou Xufang shuddered in fright and hugged herself, ¡°No coming in!¡± Jiang Zhi, that little pervert, laughed triumphantly, ¡°I thought you couldn¡¯t hear me?¡± Zhou Xufang: ¡°¡­¡± This fairy is too bad! She won¡¯t pay attention to him anymore! ¡°Zhou Xufang,¡± the fairy was saying sweet nothings, endearing little sweet nothings, ¡°I¡¯m really fond of you, fond to death.¡± Just now, having decided not to mind the little demon anymore, Zhou Xufang bashfully responded, ¡°I¡¯m fond of you too~¡± The little demon laughed outside. Afterward, when Zhou Xufang had finished bathing, Jiang Zhi insisted she also sit at the bathroom door to reciprocate by ¡®listening¡¯ to him. She wasn¡¯t sure what feelings Jiang Zhi got from it, but Zhou Xufang felt a bit hot, almost feverish. Jiang Zhi bathed quickly. Zhou Xufang asked him why he was so fast, and he said he needed to hurry out to dry her hair. Zhou Xufang thought he was so considerate. Considerate Jiang Zhi dried Zhou Xufang¡¯s hair, carried her to bed, then lay down himself, covering them with the blanket, ¡°What were you doing at the Luo Family¡¯s?¡± Zhou Xufang was sleeping inside, lying on her side, ¡°To get the Luo Family¡¯s DNA.¡± The pajamas on Jiang Zhi¡¯s body matched hers, a pink checkered pattern that made his skin look particularly white. His buttons were not properly fastened, revealing a glimpse of his collarbone. ¡°Did you get it?¡± Zhou Xufang: ¡°Mhm.¡± Jiang Zhi could guess what she wanted to do, and he was equally suspicious of her identity. The Luo Family didn¡¯t need a foster son nor was there a need to adopt a handicapped child. They had no choice because it was the only ¡®lineage.¡¯ ¡°Leave the rest to me.¡± For revenge and such, he could handle it; he wasn¡¯t afraid to dirty his hands. Zhou Xufang lay on the pillow, getting sleepy, ¡°Okay.¡± Jiang Zhi moved closer, his hand around her neck, and he put on the necklace he had gotten from Tang Xiang. Her eyes blinked, and she rubbed his hand with her face, ¡°You¡¯ve seen Tang Xiang?¡± It must have been Tang Xiang who managed to let him know the ins and outs. He nodded, ¡°Fang Bao.¡± ¡°Mhm.¡± ¡°I won¡¯t let any member of the Luo Family go,¡± his eyes suppressed with emotion, his voice deep, ¡°and don¡¯t stop me when the time comes.¡± When it came to Zhou Xufang, he wasn¡¯t broad-minded; he was very petty, intent on reclaiming what was owed to her. A life for a life, grievances must be avenged. ¡°Don¡¯t stop.¡± She had only one request, ¡°But could you not break the law, please?¡± She didn¡¯t want Jiang Zhi to do something bad because of bad people. ¡°I¡¯ll try my best.¡± Just trying his best. He couldn¡¯t promise. If the legitimate approach proved useless, he would still use illegitimate means to get revenge. Then she could only do her best to hold him back, to prevent him from becoming a lawbreaker; if she couldn¡¯t hold him back¡­ she would have to destroy the evidence. Zhou Xufang yawned, very sleepy, ¡°Jiang Zhi, aren¡¯t you going to sleep hugging me?¡± They each slept with their own pillow, and the distance between them could fit another person. Jiang Zhi was lying on his pillow, holding back from moving closer, ¡°Didn¡¯t you say I have a bad sleeping posture?¡± In his tone was a hint of grievance, which gave Zhou Xufang the illusion that she had been incredibly unfair, as if she had committed an unforgivable sin. Reflecting on it, she felt that she was a bit unreasonable, so she admitted her fault, ¡°If you want to hug, I¡¯ll let you hug me.¡± Jiang Zhi immediately moved closer, hugged her, and shared a pillow with her, promising earnestly, ¡°I won¡¯t kick you tonight.¡± The flag was raised too early. In the middle of the night, there was suddenly a loud thump. Jiang Zhi turned over, stretched out his hand, and not feeling anyone, he immediately woke up, sat up, and called out, ¡°Fang Bao?¡± Sleepy and a bit whiny. The lights in the room were off, and the lights in the bathroom were off too. He hadn¡¯t slept enough, the corners of his eyes red, as if he could wring water out of his pupils, his hair pressed into a messy state, and his fair face had two pillow marks on it. He rubbed his bleary eyes, turned on the bedside lamp, and took a look around the room, but saw no one. ¡°Fang Bao?¡± There was no answer, and Jiang Zhi was puzzled, ¡°Where have you gone?¡± He lifted the blanket, planning to get out of bed when suddenly a hand reached up from the floor to the bed, and then a head popped up: ¡°I¡¯m on the floor.¡± Jiang Zhi was fully awake now: ¡°What are you doing on the floor?¡± Zhou Xufang climbed up from the floor, dusting herself off: ¡°You kicked me off.¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± He tried to defend himself, ¡°I kicked you off?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Forget it; he might as well not argue, quietly and honestly moved to the farthest side of the bed. But what good did it do? The moment he fell asleep, he was back to his restless self. Thanks to Jiang Zhi, Zhou Xufang woke up with a sore back and an unrefreshing feeling. After breakfast, she climbed back into bed, intending to catch some more sleep. She ended up sleeping until noon. With the approach of the New Year, Jiang Zhi¡¯s work had basically come to a halt, and he didn¡¯t go out, just cooped up here with Zhou Xufang, flipping through scripts and watching her; time flew by. The cell phone on the coffee table rang. Zhou Xufang answered the call: ¡°Hello.¡± It was the delivery guy: ¡°Miss Zhou, your delivery.¡± It was a meal she had ordered for noon, and now it was already one o¡¯clock. It was raining outside, probably because of the bad weather. ¡°Please wait a moment.¡± Jiang Zhi was warming milk in the kitchen, and Zhou Xufang told him, ¡°I¡¯ll go down to get the delivery.¡± ¡°Put your clothes on properly.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± She put on a coat and went out. Once downstairs, the door was opened just a crack, and she poked her head out. The delivery man was a middle-aged man in a yellow uniform who hadn¡¯t bothered with an umbrella, and he was soaked through: ¡°Are you Miss Zhou?¡± In the bitter cold of Dibao¡¯s winter, where speaking makes one¡¯s breath visible like ¡®white smoke¡¯, Zhou Xufang answered: ¡°Yes, that¡¯s me.¡± The man handed over a bag with both hands, rain dripping from his hair down his face and onto the bag: ¡°I¡¯m sorry; I¡¯m late.¡± Zhou Xufang extended one hand to take the delivery: ¡°It¡¯s okay,¡± she said, ¡°Thank you.¡± The man didn¡¯t immediately leave. He stood outside in the cold, shivering, and explained, ¡°I fell on the way here and spilled the soup. Can I just charge you separately for the soup?¡± Zhou Xufang glanced at the bag; it was stained with blood, washed out by the rain. ¡°The soup was just to make up the order; no need for reimbursement.¡± The delivery probably didn¡¯t earn him much, yet she had ordered a very expensive soup for Jiang Zhi, likely worth a whole day¡¯s wages for the delivery man. He apologized profusely. Zhou Xufang said it was fine, looking outside at the continuing rain: ¡°Could you wait here for a moment?¡± The man hesitated for a bit but then nodded. Zhou Xufang went back upstairs and came down again shortly, holding another bag which she handed over, saying, ¡°It¡¯s raining.¡± Inside the bag was an umbrella. The man took the bag, peering inside to see some medicine as well: ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°No need.¡± Zhou Xufang closed the door. Downstairs, the man stood still, lost in thought for a moment, then took out the umbrella, opened it, and held the handle, whose palm was cut in several places, the wounds turning inside out, swollen and seeping beads of blood. The phone in his pocket rang. Checking the caller, he smiled as he answered: ¡°What¡¯s up, Lixiang?¡± The voice on the phone was childlike and milky: ¡°Dad, have you had lunch yet?¡± ¡°I have.¡± He hadn¡¯t eaten yet, and there were still two deliveries to make. The child was four or five years old, very sensible and well-behaved: ¡°Mom said it¡¯s raining, and she told you to buy an umbrella, not to be stingy with your money.¡± ¡°Mm, got it.¡± The man¡¯s eyes stung as he held a black umbrella, his steps a bit unsteady, walking farther and farther into the misty rain¡­ After closing the door, Zhou Xufang turned around to see Jiang Zhi. He had come down wearing only a black sweater, leaning on the stair railing, looking at her. Zhou Xufang approached: ¡°Why did you come down, too?¡± He didn¡¯t answer but shot back with his own question: ¡°Aren¡¯t you resentful?¡± ¡°Hm?¡± It came out of the blue and Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t understand what he was referring to. The staircase was fitted with a voice-activated light that dimmed then brightened again. Jiang Zhi walked up to her: ¡°The world has treated you like this, don¡¯t you harbor any resentment?¡± This girl¡¯s heart was too kind. He felt it was even more unfair; the world owed her so much. Why should she be kind to others when so few were kind to her? Why should she be good to people? He also knew his thoughts were perverted and twisted because he was filled with indignation. Zhou Xufang understood what he meant and countered: ¡°How has it treated me?¡± Jiang Zhi clenched his back teeth with a dark look in his eyes: ¡°Not well at all, you¡¯ve had to endure all kinds of suffering.¡± She wasn¡¯t resentful. He was. He resented the Luo Family, the Jiang Family, those relevant and irrelevant people, and even the rotten world and the blind heavens. He burned with rage, whereas she still smiled: ¡°No, there is some good.¡± She reached out to hold his hand, ¡°Aren¡¯t you very nice?¡± She actually felt that the world hadn¡¯t been too bad to her. To her, one Jiang Zhi was worth the whole world. Jiang Zhi grabbed her hand and poked her face, then bent down to kiss the spot, yet he was still not quite mollified: ¡°You¡¯re too kind, too content. If I were you and were treated like this, I would do everything in my power to destroy this world in mutual destruction.¡± Only if you can win should you fight. If you can¡¯t win, then it was time for a relentless struggle. He was that petty¡ªif anyone disrupted his life, he would dig three feet into their territory. Accept fate? He¡¯d never accept it in this lifetime. If he were Zhou Xufang, he figured he¡¯d become twisted mentally, maybe even antisocial. Although such a hypothesis would never be true, Zhou Xufang still pondered it seriously and then replied: ¡°Then I would definitely stop you.¡± She led Jiang Zhi upstairs, his hands were cold because he was lightly dressed, ¡°Don¡¯t you think this world is bad? Then it¡¯s not worth destroying yourself over it.¡± She held on to his hand, warming it against her neck: ¡°And then, I¡¯d try even harder to make the world a little better, so you wouldn¡¯t want to destroy yourself along with it.¡± Her heart was truly kind. In this world, how many people could go through such hardships and still keep a pure heart? Jiang Zhi rubbed her head: ¡°So silly.¡± His girl was a little fool. Zhou Xufang shook her head: ¡°I¡¯m not silly.¡± Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t argue with her and led his little fool back home. After lunch and a brief rest, Zhou Xufang received a call from Fang Lixiang. ¡°Xu Fang.¡± ¡°Mm.¡± The conversations were not like before; even without saying much, they felt very heavy. S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Fang Lixiang hesitated: ¡°Can we meet later?¡± ¡°Okay,¡± Zhou Xufang answered, ¡°Can I bring Jiang Zhi with me?¡± Jiang Zhi had told her about her identity; aside from Tang Xiang, Fang Lixiang and her father were also aware of it. Fang Lixiang said: ¡°Yes.¡± She added, ¡°I¡¯ll also bring someone with me.¡± Chapter 187: 187: The Truth About the Great Fire, Xu Fangs Mother (Second Update) Chapter 187: 187: The Truth About the Great Fire, Xu Fang¡¯s Mother (Second Update) Fang Lixiang said, ¡°Okay.¡± She added, ¡°I¡¯ll also bring someone with me.¡± The person Fang Lixiang brought was her father, Mr. Fang. At three o¡¯clock in the afternoon, they agreed to meet at a caf¨¦. When Zhou Xufang arrived, she greeted them first, ¡°Hello, Uncle Fang.¡± Jiang Zhi¡¯s expression was not very friendly; with a scowl on her face, she sat next to Zhou Xufang. Mr. Fang was so emotional he was about to cry. ¡°This is my dad.¡± Fang Lixiang felt it necessary to formally introduce him. Zhou Xufang nodded. Jiang Zhi had already told her. After the greetings, they fell into silence. Fang Lixiang was the first to call the server over and order some drinks. ¡°Lixiang,¡± Zhou Xu Fang initiated the conversation. ¡°Hmm?¡± Today¡¯s Fang Lixiang didn¡¯t seem as energetic as usual; she couldn¡¯t even manage a smile. Her gaze at Zhou Xufang was¡­very mournful. Zhou Xufang was calm, as usual, ¡°When did you recognize me?¡± She hoped it wasn¡¯t from the very beginning. Fang Lixiang stirred her coffee repeatedly: ¡°It was at the dressing room in the film studio when I saw your necklace; that¡¯s when I recognized you.¡± She explained, ¡°Every time Mr. Fang got drunk, he would talk about you. I could recite it all by heart.¡± Zhou Xufang nodded. It was good it wasn¡¯t from the start; by the time she found out, they were already friends. That was enough. After Fang Lixiang finished speaking, she nudged her father with her elbow: ¡°Mr. Fang, just spill it.¡± Mr. Fang wasn¡¯t quite ready and seemed a bit flustered. He took a sip from his iced drink in front of him to calm his nerves before speaking. ¡°There were three people trapped in the fire then, the house¡¯s butler had already stopped breathing, and the gardener had injured his left eye.¡± The third person was Zhou Xufang. Mr. Fang took a deep breath and continued: ¡°You were seriously injured when I carried you out; you were already unconscious.¡± Back then, the Luo Family¡¯s fire was publicly reported as two deaths, one injury. In fact, it wasn¡¯t so; Zhou Xufang still had a breath when she was taken out of the fire. Mr. Fang said, ¡°The ambulance was waiting outside, and nobody from the Luo Family accompanied me, so I went along.¡± Mr. Fang was lost in his memories for a long time and came back with a heavy expression, ¡°There were two nurses in the vehicle and a male doctor. On the way to the hospital, that male doctor declared the time of death.¡± There was a pause, and Mr. Fang looked at Zhou Xufang: ¡°But at that time, you were still alive.¡± Jiang Zhi asked, ¡°Do you have any memory of that doctor?¡± Mr. Fang shook his head: ¡°He was wearing a mask, about 1.7 meters tall, and his voice suggested he was middle-aged.¡± ¡°Which hospital?¡± ¡°Changling Hospital.¡± Changling Hospital. Luo Qinghe¡¯s uncle, Xiao Yi. Jiang Zhi¡¯s brows and eyes grew colder as she asked further, ¡°What did he offer you?¡± Mr. Fang¡¯s eyes reddened with intense self-reproach, making it hard for him to look up: ¡°At that time, Lixiang was hospitalized, waiting to undergo heart surgery, and we were dragging it because of the expenses.¡± Zhou Xufang glanced at Fang Lixiang. She had her head down, her nose red. As Mr. Fang spoke, he began to sob: ¡°I let that doctor take you away, and then I told the Luo Family¡­ said you were beyond rescue.¡± Mr. Fang wiped his eyes, tears streaking down his face: ¡°I¡¯m not human, I¡ª¡± Zhou Xufang interrupted him: ¡°You¡¯re the one who carried me out.¡± She spoke serenely, ¡°If it weren¡¯t for you, I would have died in the fire.¡± There was not a trace of resentment in her tone. ¡°That¡¯s different, I was a firefighter; it was my duty to save you.¡± Even though he was the one who had carried her out, he had no right to trade that life. The truth was that for the sake of his own daughter, he had sold the life of a child. ¡°It was my sin.¡± The father and daughter sitting opposite were both about to cry, each with reddened eyes. Zhou Xufang felt a bit of heartache, for herself and for this father and daughter; she guessed that for the past eight years, they must have been tormenting themselves too. So, when Fang Lixiang recognized her, Mr. Fang started working as a security guard in her residential community; probably trying to make amends to her. Actually, when it came down to it, she was both the victim and the beneficiary: ¡°You saved me twice.¡± She stated the fact, ¡°If I had been resuscitated that night, I probably wouldn¡¯t have lived until today. Those people wanted me dead.¡± It was a strange twist of fate. What Mr. Fang had given to the Luo Family was the news of her death. Zhou Xufang¡¯s eyes were calm and quiet as she said slowly, ¡°Uncle Fang, you don¡¯t have to blame yourself, intentional or not, you saved me twice.¡± Mr. Fang couldn¡¯t stop his tears from falling. So did Lixiang. Father and daughter cried like babies. Mr. Fang sobbed, ¡°There¡¯s one more thing; the wounds on your body, they don¡¯t look like they were caused by the fire.¡± He pointed to a spot above his chest, ¡°You had a large cut here, but I didn¡¯t see any sharp object at the scene, I suspect,¡± here, Mr. Fang felt immense pain, ¡°I suspect it was murder.¡± The child was only fourteen then; what kind of deep hatred could there be to do such a thing to her? Murder¡­ Someone so desperately wanted her dead. After Mr. Fang and Lixiang left, Zhou Xufang sat there in a daze. Jiang Zhi asked beside her ear, ¡°What are you thinking about?¡± Her thoughts were adrift, her gaze empty, ¡°After I escaped from the Genetic Laboratory, because of my self-healing and regeneration abilities, I never had scars left on my body again.¡± She pressed her hand to the spot above her chest where there was a scar the size of a thumb, talking as if to herself, ¡°The scar here must have been from the injury I sustained in the fire, from steel reinforcement.¡± She lifted her eyes to look at Jiang Zhi, ¡°It was made with steel reinforcement.¡± From steel reinforcement and a hammer, a chiseled wound. ¡°I just don¡¯t understand, I was already in the fire, did they still need to kill me? Were they afraid the fire wouldn¡¯t kill me?¡± She thought that if she didn¡¯t remember, she wouldn¡¯t be too upset. It seems that wasn¡¯t the case. Apparently, there were people in this world so eager for her to die, and that person was likely her own kin. Jiang Zhi placed his hand over hers, gently pressing the scar, ¡°Does it still hurt now?¡± She shook her head: ¡°It healed a long time ago, it doesn¡¯t hurt.¡± Jiang Zhi held her hand, pressing it to his lips. ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± She asked him, ¡°Could it be that I committed a very big mistake?¡± She was only a child back then; how big of a mistake could she make. Jiang Zhi shook his head and told her, ¡°It¡¯s their crime, they are unforgivable.¡± Bad people who do bad things are at fault for their actions. Jiang Zhi said, ¡°A criminal is a criminal. Don¡¯t try to rationalize their cruelty with any justification; no matter what the excuse, it cannot be a reason to commit a crime.¡± Zhou Xufang nodded. ¡°The doctor in the ambulance, do you know who he was?¡± S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Still just a guess,¡± Jiang Zhi said, ¡°It might be Luo Qinghe¡¯s uncle, a doctor of biomedical science. He probably took you to the Genetic Laboratory. As for his purpose, it¡¯s still unclear.¡± Outside, the rain continued to fall. The winter rain was bone-chillingly cold. Fang Lixiang¡¯s office was on the eighth floor of Luo Group. The internal line rang, and she picked up the phone. ¡°Mr. Tang,¡± the secretary from the general management office said, ¡°there¡¯s a gentleman who would like to see you.¡± The secretary added, ¡°This gentleman doesn¡¯t have an appointment.¡± Fang Lixiang put the signed documents aside: ¡°What is his last name?¡± The secretary replied: ¡°He says his last name is Zhou.¡± Suddenly, Fang Lixiang remembered that Zhou Xufang also happened to have the last name Zhou; she knew who this Mr. Zhou was: ¡°Reserve a spot for me in the nearby cafe.¡± ¡°Of course, Mr. Tang.¡± The cafe was close to Luo Group, and Fang Lixiang arrived there in ten minutes. The other party was already waiting, sitting in a wheelchair. Fang Lixiang approached: ¡°Hello, Mr. Zhou.¡± Zhou Qingrang lifted his head, his eyes clear and sharp, with not a hint of worldliness nor murkiness within them. He said: ¡°Hello.¡± Like someone from a painting, beautiful yet lacking the vivacity of life, as if he didn¡¯t quite fit into this world. He was so different from the person in her fuzzy memory. Fang Lixiang pulled out a chair to sit down: ¡°It¡¯s busy in the office and many eyes are watching, so I asked to meet you here. Please forgive me.¡± Zhou Qingrang spoke in a light tone: ¡°It¡¯s alright.¡± Fang Lixiang ordered a cup of warm water while looking at the man across from her, so clean and refined: ¡°You wanted to see me, is there something you need?¡± He was sitting in a wheelchair, slightly higher than the cafe¡¯s chairs, and from Fang Lixiang¡¯s angle, she could perfectly see his face, his skin very pale, probably due to prolonged illness. Having been bedridden in the hospital for fifteen years, his health was poor. On such a rainy day, his legs must be in pain. Fang Lixiang¡¯s gaze inadvertently fell on his legs, where it seemed he was not wearing prosthetics, with one end of the blanket hanging limply. He placed the hospital¡¯s payment certification on the table and said: ¡°During my hospital stay, it was your father who helped me with the hospitalization fees.¡± For fifteen years, it had always been him. Fang Lixiang¡¯s eyes turned red as she took a sip of water, her voice low: ¡°He¡¯s no longer with us.¡± Her father was an honest man, albeit a little timid, and treated the Luo Family with the utmost respect. Zhou Qingrang took out a card, pushing it toward her: ¡°Thank you,¡± he said formally, ¡°Thank you.¡± He had been hospitalized when he was just fourteen years old, alone in the world. If it had not been for her father, he surely would not have been alive today. The ¡®thank you¡¯ was late, but it still had to be said, and it had to be said to the family. A simple thanks brought tears to Fang Lixiang¡¯s eyes. She looked up, smiled wiping away the tears, and looked at Zhou Qingrang: ¡°Uncle Zhou, do you still remember me? When you were at the Luo Family,¡± she gestured with her hands, ¡°I was this tall.¡± Zhou Qingrang had sought refuge with the Luo Family that year, he was fourteen, and Fang Lixiang was only five. The Luo Family kids were just a little older, and they would call him names, only Fang Lixiang would chase after him, calling him Uncle Zhou. Zhou Qingrang nodded slightly, a faint smile on his lips: ¡°I remember, you were bad at math.¡± Fang Lixiang had started school early, and at that time, being young, she struggled, particularly with math. She knew one plus two was three, but two plus one, she couldn¡¯t tell what it equaled. She would take her book, larger than her face, to find Uncle Zhou on the second floor, her voice soft and sweet: ¡°Uncle Zhou, Uncle Zhou.¡± The little girl, marching on her short legs, climbed onto the bed in the room, placed her book on top and asked with her milky voice, ¡°How do I do this problem?¡± The boy, then, with his rosy lips and white teeth and a love for laughter, eyes turning to crescents: ¡°We covered this problem yesterday.¡± The little girl, frustrated, would hit her head: ¡°I forgot again.¡± She felt so stupid, not knowing what two plus one equaled. The boy, patient as ever, took her hand, teaching her to count on her fingers. Downstairs, a girl¡¯s voice called out: ¡°Qing Rang, Qing Rang.¡± The soft and tender voice belonged to a girl from the Jiangnan Water Town. The little girl no longer wanted to count, she clambered down from the bed, tugging at the boy¡¯s school uniform: ¡°Aunt Qing Meng is calling you.¡± The gentle girl called out again downstairs: ¡°Dinner¡¯s ready.¡± Upstairs, the boy replied: ¡°Coming.¡± That year, Zhou Qingmeng had just come to the Luo Family, not even seventeen yet, at the prime of girlhood. She came with her brother to seek refuge, and the Luo Family arranged for them to stay in a small flat where the servants lived: The first floor was occupied by Fang Lixiang¡¯s family of three, and the second floor by Zhou siblings. Fang Lixiang stood up: ¡°Uncle Zhou.¡± Zhou Qingrang¡¯s hand, which was pushing the wheelchair, paused, and he looked back. Fang Lixiang, with tears in her eyes, said: ¡°The accident.¡± Her voice choked up, ¡°My father said, it was no accident.¡± That once vibrant and spirited young man had lost a leg, living his life fragile and alone. He didn¡¯t say anything and pushed his wheelchair, leaving, his slender back straight and tall. The day his sister had the accident, the weather was just like today, bitterly cold, with rain. It was a Monday, and he was staying on campus. At ten o¡¯clock at night, he received a phone call from his sister. ¡°Sis.¡± In the call, there was hurried breathing, but no one spoke. He called out again: ¡°Sis?¡± His sister cried out on the phone: ¡°Qing Rang.¡± He was terrified, rising from his bed in the dormitory, grabbing a coat, and running outside: ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°Qing Rang,¡± she continued to cry out calling for him, ¡°Qing Rang, save me¡­¡± Her voice trembled, filled with fear, helplessness, and despair. He panicked, didn¡¯t bother with an umbrella as he ran into the rain: ¡°Where are you?¡± His sister didn¡¯t respond, her voice growing fainter. ¡°Sis!¡± ¡°Sis!¡± There was no more sound from the other end. He ran crazily towards the Luo Family, but before he could see his sister, he fell, collapsed at the doorstep of the Luo House, a car rolling over his legs¡­ He lay there for fifteen years, a vegetative state for fifteen years before waking up to a world where everything had changed, his sister gone. He sat in the wheelchair, clutching his chest where his heart was spasming. He gasped for air like a fish out of water, his neck outstretched, his breaths heavy and deep. His pale face slowly turned red, veins in his neck bulging. He couldn¡¯t breathe¡­ He gripped the armrests of the wheelchair tightly, his nails scraping marks into it. ¡°Sir!¡± ¡°Sir!¡± The young girl bent down, holding his hand: ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you?¡± Zhou Qingrang clutched tightly to that hand, his throat as if obstructed: ¡°Medicine.¡± His body shook uncontrollably, his face turning blue; he was holding onto the hand before him as if it was his last lifeline, ¡°Medicine¡­¡± Chapter 188: 188: Uncle and Aunt of Ah Fang, as well as... Brother-in-law (Third Watch) Chapter 188: 188: Uncle and Aunt of Ah Fang, as well as¡­ Brother-in-law (Third Watch) He grabbed the person¡¯s hand in front of him as if it were the last lifeline, ¡°Medicine¡­¡± She had seen this person before. Zhou Qingrang, sharing her surname. Zhou Xufang bent down, leaning in closely to listen, ¡°Where is the medicine?¡± He could no longer speak, collapsing in the wheelchair, his breathing going from rapid to faint. Jiang Zhi found the medicine in the storage box on the armrest of his wheelchair and asked him, ¡°How many?¡± He opened his mouth but made no sound, his lips moving, ¡°Two¡­ pills.¡± Jiang Zhi poured two pills out and placed them in his mouth. He took a while to swallow them after keeping them in his mouth. Zhou Xufang was about to get water when she heard an urgent voice. ¡°Zhou Qingrang!¡± ¡°Zhou Qingrang!¡± A girl rushed over, she grabbed Zhou Qingrang¡¯s hand in panic, her brows creased. Her eyes were red with urgency. She was wearing an A-line skirt and didn¡¯t care that her knees hit the ground, ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you? Zhou Qingrang!¡± The person in the wheelchair hung his head weakly without speaking. The girl looked back and yelled at the accompanying person, ¡°What are you dazing for? Call an ambulance quick!¡± Oh. The man behind dialed 120. S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Thank you.¡± After the girl said thanks, she began to push the wheelchair. Zhou Xufang took a step forward, blocking her, ¡°Do you know him?¡± She said assertively, ¡°I¡¯m his girlfriend.¡± After speaking, she quickly glanced at Zhou Qingrang before immediately bowing her head and running to the back of the wheelchair. Girlfriend, huh¡­ Zhou Xufang stepped aside to let her through. The girl pushed the wheelchair out. ¡°That¡¯s the second Miss from the Lu Family,¡± Jiang Zhi commented casually. The Lu Family from the Four Great Families, Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t know much about them, only that the Lu Family was discreet and that Old Lady Lu and Old Lady Jiang were at odds. Moreover, the Lu Family had a ¡®Sleeping Beauty¡¯ who suffered from a severe sleep disorder. When Zhou Qingrang was brought to the hospital, his consciousness had already returned. He was wheeled into the emergency room, and his attending physician, who seemed to be a ¡®regular¡¯ at the hospital, brought him straight to a specialized consultation room. Lu Sheng only heard bits and pieces of medical terminology. He fell asleep after taking the medication, and when he woke up, three hours had passed. The previously slouched Lu Sheng immediately stood up, ¡°You¡¯re awake.¡± ¡°Uh-huh.¡± His voice still sounded weak. Lu Sheng looked over at his face, which was unreasonably pale. She frantically asked, ¡°Are you feeling any discomfort anywhere else? Does your chest still hurt? Can you breathe properly?¡± She asked a barrage of questions without waiting for an answer before turning her head to shout, ¡°Doctor! Doctor!¡± Her hand was caught. His hand was so cold. He said, ¡°I¡¯m fine now,¡± his voice very low. She was completely frozen, staring blankly at her hand. His hand was not only cold but also pale and extremely thin. ¡°I¡¯ve offended you,¡± he released her hand and sat up before thanking her again, ¡°Thank you.¡± People on the street are like jade. There really are such people. Zhou Qingrang was one¡ªlike a piece of raw jade, clean, exquisite, beautiful, warm, and yet cold. His eyes held immense sadness. Every time Lu Sheng saw him, she felt this, and she even wondered if he ever truly laughed. Shaking her head, she said, ¡°Don¡¯t mention it.¡± This was their third encounter. The first time, she had lent him an umbrella. The second time, she got his number, promising she would return the umbrella. This was the third time. Zhou Qingrang said, ¡°You haven¡¯t come to get the umbrella you lent me.¡± She stood by the bed, looking a bit awkward, her toes unconsciously fidgeting back and forth as she said, ¡°I¡¯ll come over in a few days.¡± In reality, she had gone several times already, but she never retrieved the umbrella, fearing that without it, she¡¯d have no reason to go back. She had dialed his number several times, but each time, as soon as it connected, she hung up, not knowing what to say. Zhou Qingrang thought to address her but realized he didn¡¯t know her name and asked politely, ¡°May I know your name, please?¡± She immediately said, ¡°Sure!¡± Ah! Like an idiot! She had only been a voice-over fan, now she had turned into a brainless fan. Calm down, Lu Sheng! She repeated to herself before saying, ¡°My name is Lu Sheng, ¡®sheng¡¯ as in ¡®sound.''¡± If only he would call her name with that soul-hooking voice of his¡­ ¡°Thank you,¡± he said courteously, his tone distant as he addressed her, ¡°Miss Lu.¡± Lu Sheng: ¡°¡­¡± It seemed it would be a long time before he called her Lu Sheng. Lu Sheng left the hospital room dejected. Behind her, someone called out, ¡°Lu Sheng.¡± That voice, lazy, listless, as if he hadn¡¯t slept enough. Lu Sheng turned around with a premonition and smiled, ¡°Brother.¡± Her brother, Lu Xinglan, was a contradictory presence. How to describe him? That face, in two words: striking and wild. It was offensively attractive. Yet, paradoxically, he was dressed in a suit with every button fastened that could possibly be fastened. He looked restrained and rigid. He always had a half-asleep expression, ¡°What are you doing here?¡± She answered vaguely, wanting to gloss over it, ¡°One of my friends is in the hospital,¡± she said while looking like a domineering CEO outside but smiling innocently and brightly in front of her brother. Lu Xinglan had one hand in his pocket and lifted the other to check his watch, ¡°Which friend?¡± She continued to deflect, ¡°You wouldn¡¯t know even if I told you.¡± No need to say then. Lu Xinglan walked straight towards the room she came from. Lu Sheng surrendered, grabbing the hem of his suit jacket, pleading, ¡°Bro, brother, don¡¯t go in there, brother!¡± She worried he would scare the others. Lu Xinglan shook off her hand, straightened his suit, ¡°Who?¡± She whispered, ¡°Zhou Qingrang.¡± That person again. His sister was a serious voice enthusiast, smitten with a news anchor. ¡°Lu Sheng, are you prepared to be a widow?¡± he said, pondering his words but ultimately speaking bluntly, ¡°That Zhou Qingrang,¡± he pointed out, ¡°doesn¡¯t have long to live.¡± He was riddled with illness, had bad legs, and was too old. Lu Sheng was irritated by her brother¡¯s words, ¡°Did you investigate him?¡± He suddenly yawned, ¡°So sleepy.¡± After speaking, he pinched the bridge of his nose, chose an empty row of seats in the hospital corridor, and lay down to sleep. Lu Sheng: ¡°¡­¡± She wondered if there was any hope for her brother¡¯s sleep disorder. Chapter 189: 189: Oh, Jiang Zhi is not good at this~ (first update) Chapter 189: 189: Oh, Jiang Zhi is not good at this~ (first update) Monday, torrential rain. The weather was awful, so Zhou Xufang took the day off and stayed home, and Jiang Zhi was at her place too. He had been living there for several days now, with no indication of any intention to leave. S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Zhou Xufang felt that maybe¡­ she and Jiang Zhi were¡­ cohabitating. Since she discovered the internet, Zhou Xufang¡¯s free time had been very fulfilling. She had many novels, comics, and web dramas yet to finish. Oh, and there were games to play. So first thing in the morning, Zhou Xufang started her pleasant leisure time by grabbing her phone. Jiang Zhi was quite annoyed because he was being ignored. He couldn¡¯t concentrate on the script at all, tossing it onto the couch, ¡°Zhou Xufang.¡± Zhou Xufang was seated alone in the adjacent beanbag, not looking up, ¡°Hmm?¡± She was still concentrating on her phone. Jiang Zhi felt she was way too addicted to the internet, ¡°What are you doing?¡± Zhou Xufang, dressed entirely in pink and even sporting a pink headband, with her phone case also pink, answered, ¡°Playing games.¡± Wasn¡¯t she obsessed with online shopping just the other day? When did she get hooked on games? Better than online shopping anyway. Jiang Zhi asked, ¡°Did Lin Wanwan get you into this?¡± ¡°Nope,¡± Zhou Xufang honestly replied, ¡°A friend from the book community recommended it to me.¡± During her reply, she never took her eyes off her game screen, not once. Lin Wanwan might be avoidable, but not the web of book friends Zhou Xufang had all over the literary world. Jiang Zhi walked over and squatted beside her, ¡°What game?¡± ¡°QQ Dancer.¡± Zhou Xufang was playing a high-difficulty song. The rhythm was so fast, she was busy hitting the beats to score and had no time to spare for Jiang Zhi. In any case, Jiang Zhi was thoroughly neglected. Jiang Zhi tugged at the rabbit ears on her pink headband, trying to get her attention and make her recognize his presence, ¡°Isn¡¯t that a game from years ago?¡± ¡°It used to be a PC game, now it¡¯s a mobile game.¡± Ah, the pace was so fast, she was struggling to keep up. She leaned back to prevent Jiang Zhi from pulling her rabbit ears, ¡°Stop talking to me, you¡¯re distracting me from my game.¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± He went back to his seat and angrily tore open a bag of marshmallows, creating quite a commotion. Zhou Xufang paid him no mind; she had just finished a song and then looked for the friend who recommended QQ Dancer to her, ¡°Are you online?¡± Her friend quickly sent a voice message, ¡°I am.¡± Zhou Xufang also sent a voice message, ¡°Wanna go on an in-game trip with me? Completing that task yields an outfit.¡± Her friend replied, ¡°Sure.¡± And off went Zhou Xufang with her friend, joyfully completing quests together. Jiang Zhi felt uneasy all over as he lounged on the sofa. He sat up and opened a can of milk, ¡°Zhou Xufang.¡± Zhou Xufang, still not looking up, ¡°Hmm?¡± ¡°Ahem, ahem,¡± he coughed twice before saying, ¡°The tab of the milk can cut my hand.¡± When Zhou Xufang heard that he got hurt, she became anxious, ¡°Where?¡± She put down her phone and went over, ¡°Let me see.¡± Jiang Zhi extended a finger. After a careful inspection, Zhou Xufang asked, ¡°Where¡¯s the wound?¡± He showed the pad of his index finger to Zhou Xufang, right in front of her eyes, ¡°Here, it¡¯s red.¡± Didn¡¯t it look like how a neglected girlfriend would act petulant and coquettish to get attention while her boyfriend was gaming? Zhou Xufang: ¡°¡­¡± She got up to fetch the medicine, applied it to the fussy patient, and although there was hardly a wound to speak of, she stuck a band-aid on that finger, ¡°There, all done.¡± Then she put the medicine box away and went to grab her phone. Jiang Zhi caught hold of the hood of her pink hoodie, ¡°Are you still going to play the game?¡± Of course, she was. Zhou Xufang said, ¡°I still have one level I haven¡¯t passed.¡± Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t let go, ¡°Can¡¯t you play tomorrow?¡± What he meant was¡ªcan¡¯t you play with me instead? Zhou Xufang shook her head, pulling her hood back from Jiang Zhi¡¯s hand, ¡°Today is the last day of the event; it ends at midnight. That level is hard to pass, I need to hurry.¡± If she didn¡¯t clear the level, she wouldn¡¯t get the outfit. ¡°Let me see.¡± Zhou Xufang thought Jiang Zhi was very smart. Zhou Xufang thought Jiang Zhi was good at everything. Zhou Xufang thought Jiang Zhi could certainly pass the level. Zhou Xufang instantly handed her phone to Jiang Zhi. ¡°What are the rules?¡± She explained the rules of QQ Dancer¡¯s Star Move mode, ¡°You need to get an S rank on all the songs in this album, and then you can claim the clothes.¡± That outfit was really beautiful, all pink. Zhou Xufang had already earned five S ranks; only the skirt was left to claim. Jiang Zhi took a look at the outfit, ¡°Can¡¯t you just buy it directly?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a collectible outfit, you can¡¯t buy it.¡± Zhou Xufang was so frustrated, saying, ¡°I have been playing this song for so long without passing it.¡± Tap the circles and hold the lines, the game¡¯s rules were simple. Jiang Zhi declared, ¡°I¡¯ll clear it for you.¡± Zhou Xufang replied, ¡°Great.¡± She thought Jiang Zhi in his non-mainstream days had played Audition, she thought Jiang Zhi could do anything, she thought Jiang Zhi was unmatched under the heavens¡­ After a round of the game, Zhou Xufang began to doubt her life. ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± Zhou Xufang glanced at the score on the game interface and hesitated, ¡°Did you miss every beat?¡± Or did she see it wrong? ¡°You saw it wrong,¡± he said, with a beautiful yet frustrated and annoyed expression on his face that was ready to flare up yet couldn¡¯t, ¡°I hit several of those dots.¡± Zhou Xufang: ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Cough.¡± She gave a fake cough, trying to hide her current embarrassment. Jiang Zhi¡¯s ears turned red: ¡°Are you laughing at me?¡± Zhou Xufang shook her head like a rattle drum: ¡°No!¡± Her lips sealed tight, she definitely wouldn¡¯t laugh. Jiang Zhi stared at her: ¡°You are.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not.¡± She felt the need to comfort him a bit, gently patting his head, ¡°Don¡¯t be discouraged, no one¡¯s perfect.¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± This was his girlfriend ¨C you couldn¡¯t scold, hit, or get mad at her. ¡°Zhou Xufang, don¡¯t talk to me for three minutes.¡± He turned away, took out his phone, and downloaded QQ Dance. Zhou Xufang thought he needed some time to cool down and didn¡¯t bother him. She sat back on the lazy couch and sent a WeChat message to Ah Wan. Zhou Xufang: ¡°Ah Wan.¡± Ah Wan: [Here comes bro]GIF Zhou Xufang: ¡°Have you ever heard Jiang Zhi sing?¡± Ah Wan: ¡°No.¡± Ah Wan: ¡°Not even once.¡± Ah Wan: ¡°I guess he¡¯s tone-deaf.¡± Ah Wan: [Leg shaking]GIF Zhou Xufang: ¡°I think so too.¡± Zhou Xufang: ¡°His sense of rhythm is so bad.¡± The rhythm-impaired Jiang Zhi: ¡°Zhou Xufang.¡± Zhou Xufang immediately closed WeChat: ¡°Hmm?¡± He squatted down in front of her with his phone in hand, ¡°Why is this outfit so ugly? Where can I change it?¡± Jiang Zhi was still using a new account, and the clothes on the player were given by the system. Thinking of Jiang Zhi¡¯s performance just now, Zhou Xufang felt she had to offer some tips to the newbie: ¡°You get them from signing in and doing tasks, and you can also buy them in the store.¡± Jiang Zhi went to the store, made a mess of purchases, and then frowned, ¡°Why can¡¯t I join a dance crew?¡± ¡°Your level is too low. Dance a few more times and you¡¯ll level up.¡± He looked up at her. Zhou Xufang saw, for the first time, a look of confusion in those eyes of Jiang Zhi that could usually captivate anyone. Paired with his misty blue hair, he looked like an emoticon. Zhou Xufang taught this human emoticon hand by hand: ¡°Click here.¡± She helped him click, ¡°The first few levels are easy. You¡¯ll level up after completing them.¡± Jiang Zhi sat back down and started to progress through the levels. Probably after about thirty or forty minutes. ¡°Zhou Xufang.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± Jiang Zhi said somewhat awkwardly: ¡°Help me pass this level.¡± Zhou Xufang glanced at it, Star Motion Mode, chapter three, fifth song. In this case, one could say it was pretty lame. Of course, she wouldn¡¯t want to hurt her boyfriend¡¯s pride: ¡°Ah, this level is hard, you know. I played it many times before when I first started.¡± Jiang Zhi grunted. Zhou Xufang deliberately played below her ability, losing three rounds before finally helping him pass. Her palms were sweaty with the effort. It turned out, hiding one¡¯s prowess wasn¡¯t easy either. Ah! In the future, she better not take Jiang Zhi to play games that require hand speed and rhythm. In the end, after spending two hours during which Zhou Xufang helped him through several rounds, Jiang Zhi finally got the permissions to join dance crews, but not a single one wanted this newbie account. Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± Damn it! Zhou Xufang, the expert, remained quietly unspoken. Time spent gaming always flies by quickly. Since it was still raining heavily outside, they didn¡¯t go out for dinner, instead ordering takeout to eat at home. Zhou Xufang had downplayed her skills in the morning so as not to hurt Jiang Zhi¡¯s pride, and now, thinking back, it really wasn¡¯t easy, so she didn¡¯t play games in the afternoon. She watched a web series. Jiang Zhi started by dealing with official business, but later joined her in watching. There was no TV at Zhou Xufang¡¯s place, and she used a projector, a rather expensive one at that, to play ¡ª President Gu, your pampered wife has eloped again. She watched it for the third time and still found it thoroughly entertaining. Jiang Zhi had one arm around his girlfriend¡¯s shoulder and the other holding her cotton candy ice cream as he asked, ¡°Why does she want to run?¡± He was referring to the female protagonist. Zhou Xufang explained, ¡°Because she¡¯s pregnant.¡± Chapter 190: 190: Textile Couple Jointly Schemes Against Luo Family Father and Daughter (Part 2) Chapter 190: 190: Textile Couple Jointly Schemes Against Luo Family Father and Daughter (Part 2) Zhou Xufang explained, ¡°Because she¡¯s pregnant.¡± ¡°Pregnant so she has to run away?¡± What kind of logic is that? Zhou Xufang continued to explain, ¡°She¡¯s afraid that Gu Yingjun won¡¯t want the baby.¡± ¡°¡®President Gu, Your Delicate Wife Ran Away with the Ball Again¡¯ is a story where in the first half, the male protagonist thinks he doesn¡¯t love the female protagonist and desperately torments her; in the second half, he realizes he has fallen in love with her, and she starts tormenting him.¡± ¡°Who is Gu Yingjun?¡± Such a stupid name, it sounds idiotic just by hearing it. Zhou Xufang: ¡°The male lead.¡± So: ¡°Why doesn¡¯t he want the baby?¡± Zhou Xufang, watching, eating, and explaining the ins and outs to Jiang Zhi, said, ¡°He thought he didn¡¯t love Chu Manman.¡± The projector was showing the scene where Chu Manman tearfully left the country while pregnant. Zhou Xufang was deeply moved by it and felt that Chu Manman had it tough, hoping the author would sooner torment Gu Yingjun. Jiang Zhi¡¯s focus was still on the logic of the plot, ¡°He doesn¡¯t love her but gets her pregnant?¡± He commented, ¡°Scumbag.¡± Zhou Xufang: ¡°¡­¡± She felt she needed to speak on Gu Yingjun¡¯s behalf, ¡°They¡¯re husband and wife.¡± Jiang Zhi firmly grasped the logic, ¡°Isn¡¯t that the one he doesn¡¯t love? How can they be husband and wife?¡± ¡°Gu Yingjun married Chu Manman to get revenge on his first love.¡± ¡°To marry one woman because of another woman,¡± Jiang Zhi persisted with his assessment, ¡°Scumbag.¡± Zhou Xufang: ¡°¡­¡± Alright. He is kind of scummy. She decided not to discuss the scumbag issue with Jiang Zhi anymore and asked him, ¡°If I were to run away with the ball, would you search the whole world for me like Gu Yingjun?¡± sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. She felt all Jiang Zhi had to do was nod. But Jiang Zhi¡¯s focus was always different from hers, ¡°First, we¡¯d need to get a ball to find out.¡± He put down his ice cream and suddenly licked his lips, ¡°Shall we make one?¡± Zhou Xufang: ¡°¡­¡± Ah! He¡¯s seducing her again! Zhou Xufang, hugging her ice cream, moved close to the couch. It was broad daylight, and they needed to be proper. The rain had stopped outside, and the clouds hadn¡¯t dispersed. It was only three or four in the afternoon, but it looked like evening. Jiang Zhi stood up to grab the car keys, ¡°Xu Fang.¡± She was still watching the TV, ¡°Mm.¡± ¡°Stop watching, let¡¯s go out.¡± He walked over and stretched out his hand to her. Zhou Xufang obediently took it, ¡°Where to?¡± Jiang Zhi led her out the door, ¡°To the supermarket.¡± ¡°What for?¡± ¡°To buy you snacks.¡± Zhou Xufang was overjoyed, ¡°Okay.¡± At this time, and on a Monday no less, the supermarket was not crowded. Jiang Zhi pushed the cart with one hand and held Zhou Xufang¡¯s with the other, asking the store clerk in front of the freezer, ¡°Which one doesn¡¯t contain eggs?¡± Because Zhou Xufang couldn¡¯t have eggs, they had to buy the kind of ice cream without them. The clerk was a man who seemed quite interested in Jiang Zhi¡¯s hair, looking over and over again, ¡°Those over there don¡¯t have any.¡± Jiang Zhi picked up two tubs of ice cream and put them in the cart, then went next door to grab some AD Calcium Milk. Zhou Xufang glanced at the cart which was already overflowing, ¡°You¡¯re buying too much; we won¡¯t be able to carry it all back.¡± He picked up four packs of AD Calcium Milk, ¡°The supermarket delivers.¡± Zhou Xufang thought he was acting strangely, ¡°Don¡¯t you normally say not to eat too many snacks? Why are you suddenly buying so much?¡± Because you¡¯ve never eaten them before. Because you didn¡¯t even have candy in your childhood. Jiang Zhi, through the mask, pecked her forehead, ¡°Because I spoil you.¡± Just then, another customer walked by. Zhou Xufang immediately pushed Jiang Zhi away, moving her hands behind her back like an old lady, her face wearing an expression that read ¡®I¡¯m a decent person, I didn¡¯t do anything.¡¯ Jiang Zhi laughed, earning a glare from her. When it was time to pay, a middle-aged couple in front of them, likely people who had seen ¡®big storms¡¯, were naturally checking out with family planning products. The square boxes caught Zhou Xufang¡¯s eye. She felt shy and quickly turned away, but then seemed to remember something and sneakily shifted her gaze back, pretending to be casual, stealing a glance once, twice, three times¡­ Jiang Zhi caught her, ¡°Don¡¯t you know what that is?¡± He whispered in her ear. Zhou Xu¡¯s ears felt hot, ¡°¡­I know.¡± Jiang Zhi chuckled, ¡°If you know, why do you keep staring?¡± She was curious. It was because Gu Yingjun had burst that thing, which led to Chu Manman running with the ball for the second time; Zhou Xu found it fascinating and sneaked another glance. Jiang Zhi simply grabbed two boxes and tossed them into the cart, ¡°Don¡¯t look anymore, you can have your fill at home.¡± Zhou Xu: ¡°¡­¡± After paying, they had to wait for the supermarket staff responsible for packing to come over. Jiang Zhi was signing the papers, while Zhou Xu stood against the wall, took out her phone, and was about to play a game. She had just opened the game when someone bumped into her from behind. Her phone slipped out of her hand, but she quickly bent down and caught it. On the other hand, the person who had bumped into her dropped a big bag of things. He squatted down, picked everything up in a hurry without lifting his head, and quickly walked away after gathering his items. ¡°Wait a minute,¡± Jiang Zhi approached. The man looked up, revealing a red bean-sized mole at the corner of his mouth. Jiang Zhi pulled Zhou Xu to her side. The man was wearing a mask that covered his face, his voice concealing a hint of amusement, and it was hard to discern his feelings, ¡°Not going to apologize?¡± Peach blossom eyes full of wild vigor. Not apologizing and still wanting to leave? That was the message. The man adjusted the duckbill cap on his head and bowed, ¡°Sorry.¡± After apologizing, he hastily left. Jiang Zhi chided, ¡°I tell you not to wander off and you don¡¯t listen, stop playing games.¡± She decisively pulled Zhou Xu into her arms, fearful she might get bumped again, and kept her close wherever they went. On the way back, Jiang Zhi received a call from Qiao Nanchu. ¡°The meeting time between Luo Changde and Peng Zhongming has been set.¡± Zhou Xu was playing games in the passenger seat. Jiang Zhi inquired, ¡°What time? Where?¡± Qiao Nanchu replied, ¡°Nine o¡¯clock tonight, at Hongjiang Bridge Cave.¡± After hanging up, Jiang Zhi took another call at the traffic light intersection. It was a man: ¡°Mr. Jiang.¡± Jiang Zhi glanced at the passenger seat, freed one hand and propped Zhou Xu¡¯s head, pushing her back, ¡°Don¡¯t stay too close, it¡¯s bad for your eyes.¡± ¡°Oh,¡± Zhou Xu moved a bit further from the screen. Jiang Zhi asked the person on the phone, ¡°Any movement?¡± The man answered respectfully, ¡°Luo Qinghe has changed the meeting time under the name of Luo Changde.¡± ¡°What time?¡± ¡°Eight o¡¯clock, the location hasn¡¯t changed.¡± This father and daughter, both as cunning as foxes. Jiang Zhi¡¯s lips curved slightly, ¡°Time it right, let Luo Changde know he¡¯s being played.¡± ¡°I understand.¡± After hanging up, Jiang Zhi glanced at the time and lifted Zhou Xu¡¯s drooping head a bit higher, ¡°I can¡¯t join you for dinner.¡± Zhou Xu had just finished a game round, ¡°Are you busy tonight?¡± A slight smile played on his lips, ¡°Going to watch a show.¡± ¡°What kind of show?¡± ¡°A dog-eat-dog show.¡± Zhou Xu had overheard some of the phone conversation and guessed, ¡°Aren¡¯t you taking me with you?¡± He wasn¡¯t particularly keen on taking her; the affairs of the Luo family were all dirty, and he didn¡¯t really want her to get involved, ¡°Do you want to go?¡± Zhou Xu nodded. At another set of traffic lights, as the car stopped, Jiang Zhi turned to look at her. The dim winter evening was heavy, the streetlight on the left was on, casting its light into his eyes and reflecting Zhou Xu¡¯s image in his pupils, ¡°Then I¡¯ll take you.¡± No sooner had he finished speaking than Zhou Xu¡¯s phone chimed. An email had arrived, only Shuangjiang would send her emails. After reading it, Zhou Xu told Jiang Zhi, ¡°I¡¯m not going to watch the show.¡± ¡°What¡¯s happened?¡± She showed him the photo on her phone, ¡°I¡¯m going to intercept someone.¡± The email from Shuangjiang contained information about Peng Xianzhi; the person in the photo was the very man Zhou Xu had just seen at the supermarket, with a mole at the corner of his mouth. Chapter 191: 191: Send Luo Family father and daughter to jail (first update Chapter 191: 191: Send Luo Family father and daughter to jail (first update Nine o¡¯clock in the evening, the wind ceased and the rain stopped. The duty officer, Zhang Wen, was dozing when the desk extension rang. He shook his head to clear the sleep and answered the phone, ¡°Hello, ** Precinct, Criminal Investigation Team.¡± The caller was in a panic, ¡°There¡¯s, there¡¯s been a death here.¡± Zhang Wen was fully awake in an instant and immediately asked, ¡°Where?¡± The other party said, ¡°Hongjiang Bridge Cave.¡± After giving some instructions, Zhang Wen hung up the phone and knocked on the door of the small office next door, ¡°Vice Captain, there¡¯s been a homicide.¡± Vice Captain Xing immediately got in touch with the forensic and trace evidence departments. By nine thirty, Captain Cheng of the Criminal Investigation Team had arrived at the murder scene. ¡°Captain Cheng.¡± ¡°Has the identity of the deceased been confirmed?¡± Vice Captain Xing passed over a pair of gloves, ¡°The victim¡¯s surname is Peng, a foreign national, twenty-three years old. There¡¯s a student ID in the backpack, so they¡¯re probably still a student.¡± Captain Cheng put on the gloves and walked into the bridge cave, ¡°Have you contacted the family?¡± ¡°Not yet.¡± Captain Cheng walked up to the corpse, squatted down to inspect it. The body was lying on its back, there was not much blood on the ground, nor any signs of a struggle, ¡°Time of death?¡± ¡°About an hour and a half ago.¡± Vice Captain Xing pointed to the head of the corpse, ¡°The cause of death will have to wait for the coroner¡¯s report, but the initial estimate is traumatic intracranial hemorrhage. The murder weapon is still uncertain.¡± Captain Cheng inspected the area surrounding the body, ¡°Is there any surveillance nearby?¡± Vice Captain Xing shook his head, ¡°This area has been deserted for a long time, there¡¯s a camera about ten meters away, but it¡¯s a blind spot.¡± Before the bridge cave was deserted, it was an intersection between the highway and city roads. Later the highway was reconstructed, and this area was no longer in use. One end of the bridge cave had been bricked up, with a depth of five or six meters. Even if there were cameras outside, they wouldn¡¯t capture what happened inside. The location of the body was in a visual blind spot. Moreover, the scene was too clean. captain Cheng was feeling a headache when a call from the Criminal Intelligence Department came in. ¡°Why are you calling me in the middle of the night?¡± The person on the other end greeted first, his voice tinged with laziness, ¡°Does your Criminal Investigation Team have another case?¡± This guy! Captain Cheng, squatting next to the body, chatted with him, ¡°How did you know?¡± ¡°The crime scene is at Hongjiang Bridge Cave?¡± He even knew this! Captain Cheng felt that this guy must have ¡®insiders¡¯, smiling, he said, ¡°Captain Qiao, you¡¯re very well-informed.¡± Qiao Nanchu was noncommittal, casually mentioning, ¡°There should be no surveillance there, as for eye witnesses,¡± he paused, took a drag of his cigarette, ¡°you should be able to find some, right?¡± There was a hidden message in his words. After hanging up, Captain Cheng called over Officer Zhang Wen, ¡°Put up a banner offering a reward for eye witnesses.¡± That banner turned out to be quite effective. By ten o¡¯clock the next morning, an eye witness had come forward to the police station. The eye witness was in his forties, a taxi driver. The driver was excited about something, very excited. He looked left and right, then held up two fingers, ¡°There were two perpetrators.¡± Zhang Wen stopped writing and asked the witness, ¡°Did you see it?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t,¡± the driver immediately emphasized, ¡°but my car¡¯s dash cam captured it, it was definitely two people.¡± He spoke as if he had witnessed it with his own eyes. ¡°About what time?¡± ¡°Around eight o¡¯clock.¡± Afraid the policeman wouldn¡¯t believe him, he explained in great detail, ¡°I have a habit of listening to the radio, and I was just listening to the eight o¡¯clock slot at that time.¡± Zhang Wen followed up with a question, ¡°What were you doing at Hongjiang Bridge Cave at that time?¡± His pen tapped on the table, ¡°That road is very deserted, and usually no one goes there.¡± ¡°Comrade, you¡¯re not suspecting me, are you?¡± The driver felt this comrade was inadequate, to even doubt a proactive and upright citizen like him; he hurried to explain, ¡°I had dropped off a client nearby and just then I picked up two more under the bridge cave.¡± Zhang Wen continued to inquire, ¡°You picked up clients but didn¡¯t leave? Were you waiting there to capture the perpetrators?¡± The suspicions of the police these days! ¡°The clients were waiting for someone there, it looked like it was about to rain, so they hailed my cab and waited inside.¡± The driver glanced at the officer opposite him, worried he would still be suspected, he raised his voice significantly and continued, ¡°They waited for about fifteen minutes, and my dash cam was on the whole time, capturing two people going in and out of the bridge cave.¡± ¡°What about the dash cam?¡± ¡°It¡¯s been handed to your colleagues already.¡± ¡°Do you remember anything about those two clients?¡± The driver thought for a moment, ¡°One had dyed blue hair.¡± He slapped his thigh, ¡°Looked like a fairy, and the other was a big, hulking guy, skittish.¡± Three o¡¯clock in the afternoon. A call came from the Criminal Identification Department, confirming that the video had not been tampered with. Zhang Wen hung up, ¡°Captain Cheng, the dash cam is fine.¡± Captain Cheng¡¯s computer screen was showing the video captured by the dash cam. He tapped the space bar and the frame froze, with a man and a woman on the screen, two individuals. ¡°Go invite the two suspects over.¡± Three thirty, Luo Family. Without knocking, Luo Changde pushed open Luo Qinghe¡¯s room door, his eyes swollen and his expression panic-stricken, ¡°The body has been found by the police.¡± sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Luo Qinghe sat in front of the vanity, putting on earrings, and looked up through the mirror, ¡°What¡¯s the panic.¡± Luo Changde was panicked, and also furious, ¡°Why didn¡¯t you let me dispose of the body?¡± She smiled and asked back, ¡°Why would you dispose of it?¡± Luo Changde hadn¡¯t slept all night, his eyes were red-rimmed, his cheekbones were too high, making his eyeballs seem slightly protruding, ¡°Aren¡¯t you afraid the police will suspect us?¡± Luo Qinghe stood up from the chair in front of the dressing mirror and turned around, ¡°I haven¡¯t killed anyone, what should I fear?¡± ¡°I haven¡¯t killed anyone either.¡± She smiled, ¡°Is that so?¡± Luo Changde glared angrily. She was still smiling, with thin lips and a monolid, a very dispassionate face, unlike Luo Changde, as she resembled her mother from the Xiao Family. ¡°I was thinking all of yesterday, if it was just to gain leverage over me, would you go to such elaborate lengths?¡± Her eyelids lifted as she looked at Luo Changde, speaking in an unhurried tone and a confident air, ¡°Is there also a possibility that what Peng Xianzhi had in his hands wasn¡¯t only against me, but perhaps there was also something unfavorable to you?¡± On hearing this, Luo Changde¡¯s expression turned frantic, ¡°Do you have the things?¡± This reaction¡­ She guessed correctly. ¡°Dad,¡± she said with a smirk, ¡°why play dumb with me, don¡¯t you clearly know where the things are?¡± Luo Changde snorted coldly, ¡°Don¡¯t turn things around on me.¡± The conversation paused there, as a servant outside knocked on the door, ¡°Sir, Miss, the police are here.¡± Luo Changde¡¯s face changed dramatically. Before the father and daughter inside could speak, Captain Cheng from the Criminal Investigation Team pushed the door open and smiled upon entering, ¡°Good, both of you are here, saves us the trouble of looking for you one by one.¡± Luo Qinghe responded calmly, ¡°Is there a matter?¡± Of course, the Criminal Investigation Team weren¡¯t there to waste time. Captain Cheng showed his badge without delay, ¡°Around eight last night, both of you went to the Hongjiang Bridge Cave, didn¡¯t you?¡± Both of their faces now looked unpleasant. Captain Cheng got straight to the point and took out handcuffs, ¡°You are suspected of being involved in a premeditated murder case, we are going to arrest you immediately. Anything you want to say? Our colleagues will record it for you.¡± The father and daughter exchanged glances, neither spoke. Captain Cheng directly instructed his subordinates to take them away and to conduct a search on site. After the Criminal Investigation Team left, the servants went to the study, ¡°Chairman.¡± There was no answer inside. The servant didn¡¯t dare enter and spoke from the doorway, ¡°Sir and the young miss have been taken by the police.¡± Inside the room, Luo Huaiyu opened the bottom drawer, took out a file folder, glanced at it, and then threw it forcefully to the floor. At the police station. Vice Captain Xing and Zhang Wen both came out from the interrogation room. Captain Cheng asked, ¡°Finished with the interrogation?¡± Zhang Wen answered, ¡°Yes, it¡¯s done.¡± ¡°What did they say?¡± Vice Captain Xing went to pour a glass of water, while Zhang Wen chose a spot on the desk to sit down, ¡°They deny everything. The father and daughter seem to have rehearsed it; their testimonies align perfectly. They claim that by the time they arrived there, the victim was already dead.¡± Without the coroner¡¯s report, it wasn¡¯t easy to judge the credibility of their alibis. Captain Cheng asked again, ¡°Did they say why they went there?¡± Zhang Wen shrugged, ¡°They wouldn¡¯t say.¡± He accepted a glass of water passed to him by the Vice Captain and took a sip to moisten his throat, ¡°These two are seasoned, not the least bit frightened. They were even bold enough to claim¡ª¡± Zhang Wen imitated Luo Qinghe¡¯s tone, reciting verbatim, ¡°It is the police¡¯s responsibility to find evidence of my guilt, not mine to prove my innocence.¡± Vice Captain Xing added, ¡°This woman, so arrogant and clever, not just anyone can handle her.¡± The desk phone rang. Captain Cheng answered it, giving an affirmative hum, listened to the message, and replied with a thanks before hanging up, ¡°The coroner says there was no one¡¯s blood at the scene other than Peng Zhongming¡¯s.¡± Meaning, up until now, there was no direct evidence linking the Luo Family father and daughter to the murder. Zhang Wen sighed deeply, ¡°This complicates things. If we didn¡¯t collect evidence on scene, it¡¯s going to be difficult to prove their guilt based solely on the dashcam footage.¡± He pondered hypothetically, ¡°The two of them went in and out at the same time, who could be the killer? Luo Qinghe seems calmer; could it have been Luo Changde?¡± Zhang Wen stroked his chin, ¡°Or, it could be an act, could they have conspired together?¡± Captain Cheng playfully aimed a kick at him, ¡°Stop guessing wildly, go and find the evidence.¡± Zhang Wen set down his glass and gave a salute, ¡°Yes, Sir!¡± Across the street from the Criminal Investigation Team, an SUV was parked with the license plate ending in four threes. Wasn¡¯t it the car of the Qiao Family¡¯s fourth son? He leaned back in his seat, head cocked, looking at the passenger seat, ¡°Who¡¯s the murderer?¡± A hand rested on the steering wheel, tapping leisurely, ¡°Luo Changde or Luo Qinghe?¡± Jiang Zhi seemed to have not slept well the night before, looking only moderately awake, ¡°Does it matter?¡± Qiao Nanchu laughed and countered, ¡°Doesn¡¯t it?¡± Inside Jiang Zhi¡¯s khaki coat was a pink sweater, obviously styled by someone known for ostentation. Such a flamboyant combination, yet he wore it with a noble elegance. His hair recently dyed, the matte blue still quite pronounced, made him look particularly enticing as he sat there. His tone was languid, ¡°Who the murderer is doesn¡¯t matter for now, as long as Peng Xianzhi in prison knows there are these two suspects.¡± Qiao Nanchu couldn¡¯t help but chuckle, ¡°Jiang Zhi, who are you scheming against?¡± His gaze fell on the rearview mirror as he tousled the hair on his forehead, ¡°What if Peng Xianzhi found out that his son was killed by the Luo Family? Would he still remain tight-lipped?¡± Qiao Nanchu teased him for being a fox spirit. He had the guise of a beauty, but was cunning to the core. That fox spirit was quite pleased with his hair color, a hint of a smile at the corner of his lips, ¡°Arrange it for me; I want to meet with him.¡± Chapter 193: 193: Luo Qinghes Leverage, The Secret Revealed (Undivided Chapter) Chapter 193: 193: Luo Qinghe¡¯s Leverage, The Secret Revealed (Undivided Chapter) The timeline rewound to the evening following the day the murder occurred. Inside the study, an old-fashioned desk lamp was lit. The man¡¯s voice on the phone was deep, ¡°Sir, Jiang Zhi went to meet with Peng Xianzhi.¡± The cellphone was placed on the desk, and Luo Huaiyu¡¯s hands were resting on his cane while the person standing beside him was holding their breath in rapt attention. Luo Huaiyu asked, ¡°Was the conversation recorded?¡± Meetings in prison usually involved landlines, especially for major felons, and the content of their conversations was often monitored. However, the person on the other end said nothing had been heard and explained, ¡°The fourth young master of the Qiao Family was there too, I couldn¡¯t intervene.¡± Jiang Zhi was seeking Peng Xianzhi for reasons Luo Huaiyu could guess, but what he was unclear about was Peng Xianzhi¡¯s attitude. He ordered the person on the phone, ¡°Keep a close eye on it.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± After hanging up, Luo Huaiyu smashed the cellphone down with force. It made two sounds, the first as it hit someone¡¯s head and the second as it fell to the ground, shattering the screen instantly. Luo Huaiyu was seething with anger, cursing, ¡°Good for nothing, good at messing things up.¡± The man beside him staggered from the impact of the cellphone, immediately stood firm again, with his hands clasped in front of him and his head bowed, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Chairman, it was my mistake.¡± The man, named Chen Li, was in his thirties with a criminal record and worked as a security guard at the Luo Family headquarters. Luo Huaiyu¡¯s anger had not abated as he asked sternly, ¡°I only asked you to retrieve something, who told you to kill someone?¡± With Peng Zhongming dead, Peng Xianzhi had become an unpredictable ticking time bomb. Chen Li defended, ¡°I didn¡¯t kill him, I only knocked him out.¡± ¡°You didn¡¯t kill him,¡± Luo Huaiyu shouted, ¡°then who did?¡± Chen Li couldn¡¯t answer, his head bowed and his palms sweating profusely. Luo Huaiyu¡¯s face darkened, and after a moment of silence, he asked, ¡°The item, have you found it?¡± ¡°We¡¯ve searched the place where Peng Zhongming lived.¡± Chen Li shook his head, his expression filled with dread, ¡°Nothing there, it must have been intercepted by someone.¡± With the man dead and the item still not in hand, this was the worst possible outcome. Luo Huaiyu stroked the dragon head on his cane, pondered for a long while, then tossed a file bag from the drawer onto the desk and commanded in a deep voice, ¡°Investigate.¡± The file bag lay open, its contents spilled onto the desk¡ªa book titled ¡°Everyone Should Be a Good Person.¡± When Jiang Zhi left Western Prison, it was almost dark. As soon as he stepped out the prison gate, he saw someone squatting by the side of the road, very obediently squatting with legs together, beside several car-blocking bollards. Like a pink mushroom that had sprouted from the ground. Jiang Zhi walked over and tapped her head with his finger, ¡°What are you doing squatting here?¡± She lifted her head, wearing a large mask, ¡°Waiting for you.¡± On the ground were many small stones, neatly arranged into two words¡ªJiang Zhi. What a cutie. Jiang Zhi reached out his hand toward her, she took it, and stood up to let him lead her away. The car was parked on the opposite side of the road. Very few vehicles and pedestrians passed by the prison gate on that road, with no pedestrian crossings or traffic lights. Jiang Zhi led her across the street, looking both ways for cars. The girl beside him followed obediently and quietly, like a primary school student being led by a parent. ¡°Did you buy the tape recorder?¡± Zhou Xufang said, ¡°I got it.¡± It was in the bag. ¡°Have you listened to it?¡± ¡°No,¡± she said, ¡°waiting to listen with you.¡± The item in Peng Zhongming¡¯s possession was a cassette tape, which Zhou Xufang had intercepted. Upon leaving the supermarket yesterday, she received the information sent by Shuangjiang and quickly recognized Peng Zhongming. Focusing on that supermarket, it only took Shuangjiang half an hour to find Peng Zhongming¡¯s address. Zhou Xufang had swapped the items in the file bag and placed a book inside before Peng Zhongming left his home. Once in the car, she couldn¡¯t wait any longer and took out the cassette and an old-fashioned tape recorder, which she had found after searching half of Imperial City, loaded it, and pressed play. ¡°Distance.¡± The first voice that came out was that of a girl practicing her English pronunciation, recording herself as she practiced. ¡°Expression.¡± ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Flashcard.¡± ¡°Vocabulary.¡± After reading several names in succession, the girl became impatient. She slammed down the book and began to unleash her emotions. Perhaps she herself had forgotten that the tape recorder was still running when she burst out cursing loudly, ¡°Luo Qinghe, you big idiot!¡± Zhou Xufang was sure now that this was the younger Luo Yinghe. She was arrogant and unbridled, ¡°Your mom is a lunatic!¡± ¡°Your dad is a big beast!¡± ¡°You¡¯re a psychological freak!¡± Even after hurling insults, she was not relieved and kicked over a stool. The recorder made a loud clanging noise. At that moment, a voice in the distance was calling out, ¡°Yinghe.¡± ¡°Yinghe.¡± Luo Yinghe spoke with impatience, ¡°What is it?¡± It was her mother calling her, ¡°Come here for a moment.¡± She got up, cursing and grumbling, and went out without turning off the tape recorder, which was still recording. After about seven or eight minutes, footsteps could be heard. One after the other, two people came in. ¡°Miss, you were looking for me.¡± Jiang Zhi recognized the voice, ¡°It¡¯s Peng Xianzhi.¡± Luo Qinghe, who had only recently come of age, sounded confident and composed in a way that did not match her youth, ¡°Just now outside the door, I ran into some people looking for Master Peng. They seemed to be debt collectors. I¡¯ve had them chased away.¡± Peng Xianzhi was a horticulturist and had worked in the Luo Family¡¯s greenhouse for several years. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Miss, for causing you trouble,¡± he said with utmost respect. ¡°It¡¯s no trouble.¡± She paused for a moment, ¡°As for you, Master Peng, I¡¯m afraid you might have some trouble.¡± The young girl spoke leisurely, as if making small talk, ¡°I hear those debt collectors from the casino will do anything. If they can¡¯t get their money, chopping off hands and feet is considered letting you off easy.¡± There was a thud. Peng Xianzhi went down on his knees, ¡°Miss, I¡¯m begging you to help me.¡± ¡°Help you? Sure.¡± The tape whirred, as the girl tapped on the trellis, ¡°Then, would Master Peng also help me with something?¡± ¡°Miss, just tell me.¡± This tape was old, and despite being carefully preserved, it had some gaps. Footsteps were sporadic as the girl roamed around the greenhouse. She said, ¡°My mother liked this greenhouse the most before she died. How about burning it for her?¡± The mother of Luo Qinghe had died that year from depression, a suicide. Peng Xianzhi asked, ¡°Just burn the greenhouse?¡± The girl laughed, ¡°And take the opportunity to burn some other dirty things as well.¡± ¡°What are you referring to?¡± She countered, ¡°What else could be unclean in the Luo Family?¡± Peng Xianzhi fell silent. Before she left, the girl left a message, ¡°When you¡¯ve decided, come find me.¡± Then, Peng Xianzhi also left the greenhouse. No other sounds followed, only the tape¡¯s static. Zhou Xufang turned off the tape recorder. Jiang Zhi was still holding her hand and did not let go, fiddling with it, ¡°Did you expect this?¡± She shook her head, ¡°I thought it was Luo Changde.¡± She couldn¡¯t understand, ¡°Why does she hate me so much?¡± She was even willing to commit a crime. Jiang Zhi pinched her fingers and leaned in for a peck, saying, ¡°She¡¯s got a screw loose.¡± Luo Yinghe had insulted her too, calling her psychologically disturbed. Zhou Xufang laughed, the furrow in her brow smoothing out as she nodded, ¡°I think so too.¡± Then she asked Jiang Zhi, ¡°With this tape, can she be convicted?¡± Jiang Zhi packed away the items and leaned over to fasten her seatbelt, ¡°Her conversation with Peng Xianzhi doesn¡¯t mention you, so this alone isn¡¯t enough. But if Peng Xianzhi is willing to testify against her, she could probably be convicted.¡± Now, they just needed Peng Xianzhi to crack. ¡°Incitement to murder,¡± said Jiang Zhi, ¡°could land her behind bars for a very long time.¡± There was another thing that puzzled Zhou Xufang, who thought for a moment and did not understand, ¡°Why would Luo Huaiyu also want to snatch this tape?¡± She couldn¡¯t believe the old man had intervened just to protect his family. Jiang Zhi plugged in the car key and turned the steering wheel, ¡°Perhaps, he¡¯s an accomplice too.¡± The car made a U-turn and headed for Cangjiang Road. It had been drizzly for the past few days, and by evening, it was already dark, with the neon lights along the road turning on, one by one. Zhou Xufang looked out the car window, ¡°Aren¡¯t we going back to Yuquan Bay?¡± This wasn¡¯t the way back to her home. Jiang Zhi said without looking back, ¡°Let¡¯s go to my place.¡± ¡°But you don¡¯t have a kitchen.¡± Zhou Xufang normally lived alone, but since Jiang Zhi often visited, the place already had a fair number of new pieces of furniture and decor, just no kitchenware. ¡°Do we need to cook?¡± Jiang Zhi hummed in response, ¡°Aren¡¯t you tired of takeout?¡± She had casually complained yesterday, saying she didn¡¯t want it anymore, that she was fed up with it, but, ¡°I can¡¯t cook.¡± Her past attempts had resulted in food that was too appalling to stomach, and she hadn¡¯t considered cooking since. Jiang Zhi said, ¡°I¡¯ll cook.¡± ¡°You know how?¡± ¡°No,¡± he glanced over at her, then back to the road, ¡°I¡¯ll have to learn.¡± He was driving with one hand and reached for her hand with the other, which she heartlessly shook off, ¡°Focus on driving properly.¡± After the reminder, she continued the conversation about cooking, ¡°We could eat out instead.¡± Jiang Zhi had his compelling reasons, ¡°One of us should learn, otherwise who¡¯ll cook for you when you go to Moon Bay?¡± He was still hung up on Moon Bay, worried about being left behind. So, the conclusion was, ¡°You must take me with you.¡± The tone was a strong one of seeking affection! ¡°We,¡± Zhou Xufang really loved that word, it sounded so pleasant and uplifting, ¡°You make a good point.¡± She didn¡¯t disagree, so Jiang Zhi took it as her consent that she would take him with her to Moon Bay in the future, his mouth turning up at the corners, ¡°Of course, Zhou Xufang¡¯s boyfriend is the best.¡± Zhou Xufang nodded vigorously, in full agreement, ¡°Mhm~¡± Her boyfriend was indeed the best in the world! After a trip to the supermarket, having purchased all the necessary cooking ingredients, they got home at six thirty, right on time to start cooking. Jiang Zhi¡¯s place had all the kitchenware, all chosen by Xue Baoyi, maybe not the most practical, but definitely the most expensive. The world¡¯s best boyfriend, Jiang Zhi, handed Zhou Xufang a bunch of sweet potato leaves, ¡°Just sit here and peel the vines.¡± He supported her waist, lifted her up, and placed her on a chair next to the dining table. He didn¡¯t plan to let her into the kitchen, her hands were more precious than his. Zhou Xufang looked at the vegetables in the basket, ¡°Is this all I¡¯m doing?¡± Jiang Zhi bent forward, tapping her forehead with his finger, smiling with soft light filling his eyes, ¡°Once you¡¯re done with that, I¡¯ll give you more tasks.¡± Zhou Xufang was all too happy to listen, and since they were at home, enclosed by four walls and a ceiling, she took the initiative to kiss Jiang Zhi on the lips, ¡°Okay.¡± Then, Jiang Zhi kissed her thoroughly before he left. Zhou Xufang, her face flushed and heart racing, picked through the vegetables, feeling as sweet inside as if she¡¯d eaten cotton candy. After a while, she went to get the cassette, to listen to it once more in the player. Jiang Zhi headed to the kitchen, taking his laptop with him, opening it up, and sending a video call invitation to Shuangxi¡¯s mother, Ms. Song. Ms. Song accepted. A chicken¡¯s head popped up on the screen first, ¡°Cluck cluck cluck!¡± Jiang Zhi, ¡°¡­¡± That chicken had gained so much weight; he could hardly recognize it as the very one Zhou Xufang had given him¡ªMs. Song¡¯s beloved pet, Shuangxi. Jiang Zhi called out, ¡°Auntie.¡± Ms. Song answered with a beaming smile, clasping her pet in her arms, ¡°Where¡¯s Shuangxi¡¯s mom?¡± Ms. Song had a young girl¡¯s heart, treating Shuangxi like her granddaughter, knitting it countless little sweaters and booties. Right now, Shuangxi was adorned in a checkered sweater dress, complete with a matching wool beret. Jiang Zhi found it somewhat hard to look at, trying his best not to stare at the chicken, ¡°She¡¯s picking vegetables.¡± Ms. Song then asked, ¡°Are you cooking?¡± sounding a bit skeptical. ¡°Mhm.¡± Shuangxi clucked again. Ms. Song slapped its rump, ¡°Shuangxi, stop fidgeting, your dad is learning to cook.¡± Jiang Zhi, ¡°¡­¡± It almost made it sound like he¡¯d sired it. Ms. Song asked again, ¡°Did you buy everything?¡± ¡°Everything on the list,¡± he replied. The list was what Ms. Song had compiled for him the night before. Ms. Song thought it was Shuangxi¡¯s mother who was going to cook, not the pampered Shuangxi¡¯s father, who¡¯d never laid fingers in spring water. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s make two simple dishes today,¡± said Ms. Song, ¡°Your wife likes sweets, doesn¡¯t she?¡± She knew quite a bit about Shuangxi¡¯s mother, aware that both Shuangxi¡¯s mom and dad liked milk and cotton candy. Over there, Jiang Zhi was delighted by the term ¡®wife,¡¯ his lips curling into a smile, ¡°Hmm, my family does like sweets,¡± his voice laced with a hint of boasting. Ms. Song said, ¡°Then let¡¯s make sweet and sour pork ribs.¡± Jiang Zhi replied, ¡°Okay.¡± He adjusted the angle of his laptop. Ms. Song looked around the kitchen and began to give remote instructions, ¡°First, blanch the ribs.¡± Blanch? Jiang Zhi looked puzzled. It was obvious that it was his first time in the kitchen. The Jiang Family was a prominent clan, and Old Lady Jiang was born into a scholarly family. The household still maintained old customs and traditions, where boys were not allowed in the kitchen. Gentlemen should focus on their inner development and cherish their well-being. Moreover, Jiang Zhi, who had been frail and frequently ill since childhood, was someone who had people to dress and serve him drinks. Such a pampered young master was now about to taste the toils of worldly life for his beloved girl. Ms. Song felt quite emotional¡ªthere was a sense of relief akin to marrying off a daughter, you know? There¡¯s the fear that one¡¯s daughter, once married off, won¡¯t know how to do anything and will be scorned by her in-laws. A mother wants to impart all she knows to her daughter before she gets married. That¡¯s exactly how Ms. Song felt now. With such feelings, Ms. Song started giving instructions, ¡°Use the pot on your left, fill it halfway with water, and heat it up.¡± Jiang Zhi took a pot, filled it halfway with water, placed it on the stove, then turned on the burner. After trying the switch three times, there was no flame. He turned back to the computer, ¡°The fire won¡¯t start.¡± Ms. Song, examining the screen, asked, ¡°Did you turn on the gas?¡± Ripples of confusion appeared in Jiang Zhi¡¯s peach blossom eyes, ¡°Do I have to?¡± Ms. Song replied, ¡°Of course.¡± Jiang Zhi inquired, ¡°Where do I turn it on?¡± Ms. Song was at a loss for words¡­ She felt that making these sweet and sour pork ribs was going to be a grueling process. Twenty minutes later. Zhou Xufang called out from the living room, ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± She was holding two sweet potato leaves, shaking them as she said, ¡°I¡¯ve picked them all.¡± Jiang Zhi emerged from the kitchen, wearing a pink apron with the sleeves of his home outfit rolled up, his arms wet, ¡°Do you know how to peel potatoes?¡± Zhou Xufang was full of enthusiasm, ¡°I do.¡± Given how cleanly she had peeled the sweet potato vines, not a trace of skin was left. Jiang Zhi went to the kitchen, got two potatoes and a peeler, and handed them to Zhou Xufang, ¡°Be gentle and don¡¯t hurt your hands.¡± He had to find something for her to do, or else she would definitely want to help in the kitchen. He didn¡¯t want her in there, just didn¡¯t want her there¡ªhe wanted to pamper her. Zhou Xufang replied, ¡°Hmm.¡± As soon as she took the potatoes, there was a sudden loud bang! Jiang Zhi asked, ¡°What was that sound?¡± Zhou Xufang reacted, pointing at the tape recorder, ¡°The cassette.¡± She explained, ¡°I forgot to turn it off, it kept playing.¡± After Luo Qinghe and Peng Xianzhi left the greenhouse, there were no other sounds on tape, and she thought there was nothing else recorded. Jiang Zhi walked over and turned the volume up to maximum. The noise they heard was the sound of a flowerpot hitting the ground, followed by footsteps and the clattering of someone bumping into a flower rack. ¡°Are you so afraid of me?¡± It was a man¡¯s voice. There was also the sound of panicked, frightened gasping, coming from someone else. ¡°What are you hiding from?¡± ¡°It was you outside the door that day, wasn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°Did you see it? Did you see everything?¡± The man¡¯s voice trailed off, followed by a thud, and then silence. S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. A few minutes later, the tape ran to its end and stopped. Jiang Zhi rewound the tape and listened again, confirming, ¡°It¡¯s Luo Changde.¡± Zhou Xufang also recognized the voice. Only Luo Changde¡¯s voice could be heard; the other person had not spoken throughout the entire recording. She said, ¡°The other person is me.¡± Jiang Zhi shared her suspicion, ¡°You might have seen something you weren¡¯t supposed to see.¡± No wonder Luo Changde went to such lengths to obtain this tape. The waters of the Luo Family ran deep indeed. Chapter 194: 194: Jiang Zhi has a way to tame a wife, Fang Bao can only follow Chapter 194: 194: Jiang Zhi has a way to tame a wife, Fang Bao can only follow The waters of the Luo Family run deep. Zhou Xufang pondered with furrowed brows. Jiang Zhi reached out, and the tip of his index finger landed on her forehead, smoothing out her furrowed brows as he asked, ¡°The ribs are ready, do you want to try them?¡± Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t want to think about the matters of the Luo Family anymore and nodded, ¡°Yes.¡± Jiang Zhi led her to the kitchen, where the computer was still on. Ms. Song, seeing Zhou Xufang come in, enthusiastically called out, ¡°Shuangxi¡¯s mother!¡± Shuangxi: ¡°Giggle giggle giggle!¡± Shuangxi¡¯s mother: ¡°¡­¡± Shuangxi was even wearing handmade ¡®diapers¡¯¡­ Ah Wan¡¯s mother was really amazing. Zhou Xufang greeted her: ¡°Auntie, hello.¡± Ms. Song smiled warmly and affectionately, ¡°Hello to you too.¡± Zhou Xufang stood upright, clearly looking like a good student. Jiang Zhi picked up a piece of rib and fed it to her lips. She felt it was inappropriate to be so affectionate in front of an elder, so she turned away and took a small bite. Jiang Zhi immediately asked, ¡°Is it good?¡± A bit sweet, a bit sour. Zhou Xufang nodded, ¡°Mhm, it¡¯s good.¡± She leaned in to take another bite, ¡°Really good.¡± Jiang Zhi, afraid she was just flattering him, also bit where she had bitten. The taste¡­ was average at best, at least not bad. Zhou Xufang was very supportive, giving two big thumbs-up, genuinely and earnestly praising him, ¡°Jiang Zhi, you¡¯re really amazing!¡± There was, to some extent, the exaggeration of seeing beauty in the eyes of the lover in her words, but Jiang Zhi took it well. He glanced at the plate of sweet and sour ribs, ignoring the few burnt pieces and the pasty sauce, ¡°Cooking isn¡¯t that hard.¡± He was close to bursting with pride. Just ignore the pile of ruined ribs in the trash, and the mess that was visible all over the kitchen! At that moment, Ms. Song asked, ¡°Jiang Zhi, is the rice ready?¡± Jiang Zhi went to open the pot, glanced inside, and his previously upturned mouth corners drooped, ¡°The pot¡¯s broken.¡± Ms. Song craned her neck to see, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Isn¡¯t it a new pot? How could it be broken already? Jiang Zhi slammed the pot lid down, ¡°It¡¯s not cooked.¡± Ms. Song felt something wasn¡¯t right, ¡°Did you not set it to cook rice?¡± ¡°I did,¡± Jiang Zhi was certain, ¡°It¡¯s the pot that¡¯s broken.¡± He wanted to throw away this piece of junk that Xue Baoyi had bought. Zhou Xufang walked over, touched the edge of the pot ¨C it was cold. She turned the body of the pot half a circle, looked, oh, she understood now, ¡°Jiang Zhi, you didn¡¯t plug it in.¡± He looked towards the computer, ¡°You didn¡¯t tell me.¡± ¡°Ahem.¡± Ms. Song coughed pretentiously, ¡°Isn¡¯t this¡­ common sense?¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± Zhou Xufang plugged it in, worried that Jiang Zhi would feel downhearted, she comforted, ¡°We just need to wait a bit longer.¡± Ms. Song also consoled, ¡°It¡¯s okay, just a small mistake, you¡¯ll get the hang of it after a few more tries.¡± Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t speak, his gaze coolly fixed on the pot, determined to throw this piece of junk away. Zhou Xufang suddenly became very perceptive, ¡°It¡¯s all this pot¡¯s fault!¡± After belittling the pot, she began to praise Jiang Zhi, ¡°You did really well.¡± Her expression was sincere, ¡°You get it right after one try, that¡¯s the most amazing!¡± She put up her thumbs again, ¡°Besides QQ Dancer, you know everything else, you¡¯re incredibly awesome!¡± ¡°The most amazing in the entire universe!!¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± Why bring up QQ Dancer? Ms. Song: ¡°¡­¡± Such flattery! Shuangxi: ¡°Giggle!¡± Although the meal had some mishaps, Zhou Xufang ended up eating the ribs that Jiang Zhi had made. Afterward, she insisted on washing the dishes but was sent away with a tub of ice cream by Jiang Zhi. The next afternoon. At the police station. ¡°Mr. Cheng.¡± It was Liu Jieyang from the Forensic Department. Captain Cheng stubbed out his cigarette, ¡°Is the autopsy report out?¡± ¡°It¡¯s out.¡± ¡°What does it say?¡± ¡°There are two wounds on the victim¡¯s body, both on the back of the head¡ªone is a minor injury, and the other is fatal. The murder weapon appears to be a brick or something similar; the minor injury was likely caused by the assailant striking from behind. The real fatal blow was dealt straight down to the back of the head, causing intracranial bleeding. From the angle and the force, it could have been manslaughter.¡± Captain Cheng was surprised, ¡°Manslaughter?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± the medical examiner explained, ¡°to put it simply, the assailant struck the victim once, and when the victim fell backward, their head hit a rock. I asked the trace evidence team, and there indeed was a rock at the location corresponding with the back of the victim¡¯s head. There¡¯s no sign that the body was moved, and the placement of the rock is consistent with the fatal injury, making manslaughter a very likely scenario.¡± This result was completely unexpected. ¡°Can you deduce the identity of the assailant?¡± ¡°About 1.8 meters tall, and judging by the force, likely male. Oh right,¡± the medical examiner added, ¡°the rock used to strike the victim wasn¡¯t found at the scene; it must have been taken by the assailant.¡± Captain Cheng hung up the phone. ¡°According to Liu¡¯s speculation,¡± Zhang Wen was skeptical, ¡°the murderer isn¡¯t Luo Changde or Luo Qinghe?¡± These two suspects were both not 1.8 meters tall. ¡°It¡¯s not necessarily a direct murder,¡± Captain Cheng said, ¡°Peng Zhongming has been living abroad for a long time, and besides the Luo father and daughter, he hasn¡¯t had contact with anyone else.¡± At the moment, these two seemed to have the highest suspicion. At 10 p.m., the weather was oppressive; the sky threatened rain but held back. Lao Wu, the property surveillance officer for Jinfeng Garden, had just gone out for a late-night snack and came back to find a person in the control room¡ªa tall, burly, dark man. He wore a mask, and the brim of his baseball cap was pulled down low. Lao Wu took a couple of glances but couldn¡¯t make out which resident it was. He put his hands behind his back and approached, ¡°Who are you?¡± The man didn¡¯t say who he was, nor did he remove his mask, instead commanding, ¡°Pull up the surveillance from seven to eight o¡¯clock the night before last.¡± This person was strange. Lao Wu suspected ill intent, ¡°Just pull it up because you say so?¡± He waved his hand to shoo the man away, ¡°Get out, get out, you can¡¯t come in here.¡± The man¡¯s feet didn¡¯t budge, and his hand reached into his coat pocket. Lao Wu saw¡ª A dagger! Lao Wu was stunned. The man¡¯s grip on the knife handle was inside the pocket, not pulled out, and he repeated the same words again: ¡°Pull up the surveillance from seven to eight o¡¯clock the night before last.¡± These days, how many people wouldn¡¯t flinch at the sight of a knife? Lao Wu stuttered, ¡°I-I-I¡¯ll pull it up right now.¡± He sat at the surveillance desk, trembling as he pulled up the files. He was so tense that his brain couldn¡¯t keep up, ¡°What time?¡± The man stood behind, his hand and the knife unmoved, ¡°Seven to eight o¡¯clock.¡± Seven to eight o¡¯clock? Oh, right. Lao Wu turned back weakly. The man¡¯s impatience grew, ¡°Hurry up!¡± ¡°There¡¯s no video.¡± With a despondent expression and a trembling voice, Lao Wu said, ¡°Last night at seven, the surveillance system just happened to break.¡± At this, the man grew angry, ¡°You trying to fool me?¡± ¡°No!¡± Lao Wu stole a glance at the knife¡¯s handle, indeed, a bit more had been revealed, and he was scared half to death, his back breaking out in a cold sweat, ¡°I have the repair records too.¡± He immediately produced them, offering them up with both hands, meekly saying, ¡°Last night the surveillance really was broken¡­¡± The man snatched the logbook, glanced at it, threw it down, and turned to leave. Lao Wu collapsed in his chair, took a deep breath to calm his nerves, and when his heart dropped back into his stomach, he looked up at the screen. In the surveillance footage, the man was on the second floor, just as he reached the stairwell, something dark and inconspicuous blocked the doorway, then the screen flickered¡­ the surveillance failed again. That dark and inconspicuous figure was none other than Zhou Xufang. The man was Chen Li, carrying out an order from Luo Huaiyu to find something Peng Zhongming had brought and the person who intercepted it midway. Zhou Xufang had one foot planted on the door, blocking the way. She deliberately lowered her voice, ¡°Are you looking for me?¡± To make sure the man knew, she repeated the name of the book, ¡°Be a Budhist or Live a Fulfilling Life.¡± She had indeed been to this residential area the night before Peng Zhongming died. It was her! S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chen Li reached out to grab her. She dodged adroitly, circling behind him, and then, turning back, kicked at Chen Li¡¯s shin, ¡°Big brother, remember to be a good person.¡± Chen Li slammed against the door and immediately his shin throbbed painfully. Annoyed and ashamed, he snapped, ¡°Who the hell are you!¡± Zhou Xufang replied smoothly, ¡°I am Lord Black Impermanence.¡± Her hat bore the symbol of a professional errand runner, Z. Chen Li had heard of her, but apart from her gender and professional skills, he knew very little about her. ¡°Is the item in your possession?¡± Zhou Xufang admitted, ¡°Yes.¡± Chen Li¡¯s eyes lit up instantly, ¡°Hand it over, or else¡ª¡± She cut him off, speaking in a negotiating tone, ¡°Don¡¯t you want to worry about your own problems first?¡± Stretching her hand behind her, she pulled a bag out from the outermost part of her backpack, ¡°Recognize this rock?¡± Inside the transparent, sealed bag was a rock the size of a fist, stained with blood that had turned dark red as it dried. Chen Li¡¯s complexion changed drastically. This was the rock he had thrown away! Correct, Zhou Xufang had picked it up from the trash can. That night, after intercepting Peng Zhongming¡¯s belongings, she followed him and, finding no cover in the underpass, she stayed outside and didn¡¯t enter, hiding instead. She hadn¡¯t witnessed Peng Zhongming¡¯s murder but had seen Chen Li come out with the blood-stained rock and toss it away after circling several streets. Zhou Xufang dangled the sealed bag and shook it slightly, ¡°Next time, find a place without surveillance to throw it away.¡± No, that¡¯s not right. She corrected herself, speaking coldly, ¡°Next time don¡¯t do bad things, read more books, do more good.¡± Without another word, Chen Li lunged forward, reaching out to grab it. Zhou Xufang bent backward, easily dodging, and circled behind Chen Li before continuing, ¡°The autopsy report says that Peng Zhongming was knocked unconscious with a rock and then suffered a head injury, leading to cerebral hemorrhage and death. It was manslaughter and this rock is the murder weapon.¡± Chen Li missed and stumbled forward a few steps before immediately spinning around and launching another attack at her. Zhou Xufang only defended, retreating three steps before raising her foot and sidestepping, kicking Chen Li¡¯s reaching hand away. Her cap from the hoodie fell off, and she calmly put it back on, ¡°You have a previous record, right? That¡¯s probably going to mean a long sentence.¡± Chen Li tried to strike multiple times, but couldn¡¯t touch her. His hand reached into his pocket, pulling out a dagger¡ªa military dagger, two palms long, with a sharp tip. Brandishing the knife, he advanced toward her. Zhou Xufang stopped retreating, put the rock back into her bag, and then took out a pair of black gloves from her pocket. She donned them, secured the special glasses on her nose, and spoke in a deliberately suppressed voice, gravely and icily, ¡°You¡¯re also attempting murder to silence a witness, which elevates your crime.¡± Chen Li raised his hand, thrusting the dagger at her. Zhou Xufang leapt up, dodging the military dagger with her ankle, hooked his head, and in a mid-air flip, slammed him to the ground. It was a clean and efficient chokehold slam. Half of Chen Li¡¯s body numbed, and he clenched his teeth in pain, his grip tightening on the knife as he raised his hand again. Zhou Xufang pressed her knee against his belly with force. ¡°Ah!¡± He yelled as the knife he thrust forward was caught between her fingers, which, without seeming to exert much effort, gently pulled. The knife in his hand was now in hers. He reached out to grab it. Zhou Xufang intercepted his wrist and twisted it backward. ¡°Ah!¡± Another cry of pain. His wrist was dislocated, and his face turned pale with agony. With one hand pinning him down and the other holding the knife, Zhou Xufang patted his face, not using brute force anymore, reasoning with him, ¡°You can¡¯t beat me, not even ten of you could. If you still aren¡¯t convinced, I won¡¯t fight you. I¡¯ll just hand this rock and the surveillance footage of you throwing it over to the police.¡± Chen Li tried to struggle but found he couldn¡¯t move. Zhou Xufang continued to reason with him, ¡°Now that you¡¯re my defeated opponent, you have to listen to me.¡± She asked him, ¡°Do you listen or not?¡± Chen Li stayed silent for a long time. The knee pressing on his belly gave another push¡ª ¡°Cough cough cough¡­¡± His lungs felt like they were going to burst as he forced out, ¡°What do you want me to do?¡± That¡¯s being obedient. She was easy to talk to. She let go of him and stood up, playing with the military knife in her hand, ¡°I want you to be a minion for Lord Black Impermanence.¡± When Zhou Xufang returned to Qingshan Mansion, it was almost eleven o¡¯clock. The lights were off in the house, and she crept in, quiet and stealthy. ¡°Zhou Xufang.¡± Zhou Xufang: ¡°!¡± Oh! Caught! She put down the two shoes she was carrying, turned on the light. Jiang Zhi was sitting on the sofa in the living room, wearing pajamas, with not a hint of sleepiness in his eyes. Zhou Xufang touched his nose, ¡°You¡¯re awake.¡± Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t engage in her tangential talk, with a thick, dark ink gathering in his peach blossom eyes, ¡°Did you go find him?¡± Her voice weakly responded, ¡°Yeah.¡± Jiang Zhi humphed at her, ¡°We agreed to go together.¡± He was genuinely annoyed, and there wasn¡¯t a hint of approval in his eyes, ¡°But you coaxed me to sleep.¡± He knew everything about Chen Li, about Peng Zhongming¡¯s cause of death, holding Chen Li in his hands as a pawn was also his calculation. They had agreed on it. Yet, she coaxed him to sleep and acted alone. How could he not be angry? Zhou Xufang tried to explain, ¡°I fell asleep too, it was you who kicked me awake.¡± Then the email from Shuangjiang arrived saying Chen Li was on the move. Jiang Zhi was silent¡­ He didn¡¯t want to discuss his sleeping habits with her at all. He was feeling hot just wearing pajamas, and out of irritation with her, he unbuttoned a button, ¡°Don¡¯t make excuses.¡± Zhou Xufang, ¡°Oh.¡± He unbuttoned another, ¡°Come here.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± She shuffled toward him. Jiang Zhi pulled her to sit beside him, ¡°Did it go smoothly?¡± She nodded, not to boast, but simply stated the fact, ¡°I was amazing, knocked them down.¡± Jiang Zhi took the mask off her face, then the hat, lifting her face reddened by the night breeze, his gaze deep as he looked at her, ¡°Is it because you¡¯re so capable, that you don¡¯t need me?¡± That feeling made him feel powerless. Zhou Xufang grabbed his hand, holding it tightly, ¡°That¡¯s not it.¡± She explained to him, ¡°It¡¯s not because I¡¯m capable that I didn¡¯t bring you, it¡¯s that it¡¯s very cold outside, I didn¡¯t want you to go through the trouble and fatigue.¡± At this moment, saying such things¡­ How could he stay angry? Jiang Zhi couldn¡¯t be annoyed with her anymore, but with himself, feeling sulky, he asked, ¡°Who taught you to speak such sweet nothings?¡± She looked at him eagerly, ¡°It¡¯s the truth.¡± Damn it, she¡¯s his nemesis! Jiang Zhi pulled her onto his lap, his tone softened, ¡°Then let me ask you, would you rather I go through trouble and fatigue, or would you rather I live in fear and anxiety?¡± She wanted neither. She didn¡¯t answer, so he changed the question, ¡°Are all the people from that Genetic Laboratory dead?¡± Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t know what he was getting at and replied that they were not. Jiang Zhi frowned, the hand around her waist tightening, ¡°So you¡¯re saying, there might be people as capable as you, who also know your weaknesses.¡± Zhou Xufang thought for a moment and nodded. Jiang Zhi wasn¡¯t rushing, leading her on sentence by sentence, ¡°Before you are invulnerable to swords and guns, and you have a partner who shares life and death with you, going it alone is the worst strategy.¡± He asked her, ¡°Do you agree with this statement?¡± Zhou Xufang, ¡°I agree.¡± So, his conclusion was, ¡°Next time, don¡¯t act alone, bring me.¡± He was so clever. If it really came down to reasoning, to logic, she couldn¡¯t beat him, she could only obediently agree, ¡°Got it.¡± Convincing her was simple for him, a little sweet-talking, a little strategizing was all it took. Jiang Zhi caressed her face, ¡°If you can¡¯t bear to part with me,¡± he looped his arm around her neck, pulling her close, whispering in her ear, ¡°then spoil me more in bed from now on.¡± Zhou Xufang was speechless¡­ He was so improper. She pushed him gently, without much force, but she cursed vehemently, ¡°Little hooligan!¡± The little hooligan even laughed as he chased her for a kiss. She didn¡¯t want to fuss with the little hooligan anymore. She had serious matters to discuss, ¡°Should we hand over that tape to Tang Xiang?¡± Jiang Zhi carried her toward the bedroom, ¡°Tang Xiang still needs to stay with the Luo family, it would be inconvenient for her to come forward.¡± Her hands wrapped properly around his neck, ¡°Then just give it directly to the police?¡± Jiang Zhi said not to, as he placed her on the bedroom bed and pecked her lips, his eyes gleaming with mirth, ¡°Fang Bao, how about I teach you how to use others to do the dirty work?¡± Chapter 195: 195: There is a kind of menstrual pain that makes boyfriends feel the pain. Chapter 195: 195: There is a kind of menstrual pain that makes boyfriends feel the pain. His eyes gleamed with mirth, ¡°Fang Bao, shall I teach you how to ¡®kill someone with a borrowed knife,¡¯ sound good?¡± Lying obediently, Zhou Xufang asked, ¡°Whose knife?¡± ¡°Hands.¡± She spread her hands, allowing Jiang Zhi to help her off with her coat. Jiang Zhi said, ¡°Borrow the knives from both parties, and let them hack at each other.¡± After tossing her coat aside, he lay down next to her, ¡°By the way, I¡¯ll also get you some pocket money.¡± A triple win? Zhou Xufang turned over, rolling into Jiang Zhi¡¯s arms, ¡°Jiang Zhi, you¡¯re so awesome!¡± ¡°Who¡¯s got a boyfriend this badass?¡± He lay on his side, one hand propping up his chin, pride and satisfaction lifting his face, and his eyes spelling out a line in large letters¡ªCome on, praise me! Zhou Xufang hugged his neck, exuberantly gushed, ¡°My boyfriend, the most badass!¡± The next afternoon, at three-thirty. The forensic department¡¯s autopsy results officially came out, temporarily excluding the possibility of the Luo Family father and daughter committing the murder. Even if they remained suspects, the forty-eight-hour detention had expired without new evidence surfacing, so the Criminal Investigation Team had no choice but to release them. The father and daughter duo, one following the other, were led by their lawyer to complete the formalities. Luo Changde had a sour expression from start to finish, muttering something bitter about ¡®bad luck¡¯ before leaving. ¡°Thank you for your hard work.¡± That was Luo Qinghe¡¯s remark. She walked to the door, stopped, turned back, and looked at the group of detectives in the large office. Smiling, she said, ¡°A word of advice for the future: be more careful when working cases, so you don¡¯t wrongly accuse good people.¡± This woman¡­ Damn she¡¯s arrogant! Captain Cheng also smiled back at her, ¡°I¡¯ll give you a piece of advice too: be more careful with your actions. The net of justice is wide, and while it¡¯s easy to enter the door of our Criminal Investigation Team, it¡¯s not so easy to leave.¡± The net of justice is wide; you can play for a little while, just wait, though the mesh may seem wide, nothing slips through. Shen Yue¡¯s car was parked at the entrance to the police station. Luo Qinghe came out and got directly into the car. She was still wearing the clothes from the day before yesterday, tiredness enveloping her. She sat in the back seat, silent, her face looking quite grim. Shen Yue didn¡¯t start the car immediately but took out a tablet, ¡°Younger Luo, you¡¯ve got mail.¡± She closed her eyes, gathering her strength, ¡°First, let¡¯s go back to the Luo Family.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not company mail.¡± Shen Yue glanced in the rearview mirror, waiting for her to open her eyes before continuing, ¡°It¡¯s from the professional errand runner Z.¡± ¡°Contents.¡± She was very interested in this Z, enough to spark her competitive nature. Shen Yue replied, ¡°She says she has something you want.¡± The thing she wanted, huh. This email came at just the right moment, timely like it was premeditated. Luo Qinghe asked, ¡°What are the terms?¡± ¡°Thirty million.¡± Simple and brutal, asking directly for money. Moreover, audacious to the extreme, opening with a lion¡¯s demand. Luo Qinghe lowered the leg that had been resting on her left thigh, leaning forward with an outstretched hand. Shen Yue handed over the tablet. Taking the tablet, she switched to her private account and personally replied to the email. ¡°Inspect the goods first.¡± Qingshan Mansion. On the computer screen, a message from Shuangjiang popped up: ¡°She wants to inspect the goods.¡± Zhou Xufang, cradling a box of Jiang Zhi¡¯s cotton candy, sat on the couch and snacked, ¡°Send her a small snippet.¡± In the kitchen, Jiang Zhi was fiddling with something, clanging and banging about. Zhou Xufang peeked in, then got up and headed to the kitchen. ¡°Did you break a bowl?¡± In the kitchen, Jiang Zhi calmly tossed broken ceramic pieces into the trash: ¡°Nope.¡± The car had already taken to the elevated highway. Shen Yue looked up, glancing at the rearview mirror. Luo Qinghe put on headphones; her brows locked in a deep frown, her eyes dark and cold. ¡°Miss, please help me.¡± ¡°Help you? Sure, but could Master Peng also do me a favor?¡± ¡°Miss, please just tell me.¡± ¡°My mother used to love coming to this flower pavilion. How about you burn it for her?¡± ¡°Just burn the flower pavilion?¡± ¡°And perhaps clean out some of the other unsavory things along with it.¡± ¡°What exactly are you referring to?¡± ¡°¡± ¡°Luo Family¡¯s dirty secrets, anything else?¡± The recording ended there, lasting less than two minutes. Luo Qinghe removed her earphones, slamming them and the tablet onto the car seat in frustration. She sat in silence, her face stern, not speaking for a long time before she finally picked up the tablet. ¡°How do we make the exchange?¡± The email reply came quickly, ¡°Pay a deposit first, ten million.¡± Luo Qinghe asked, ¡°When will I get the stuff?¡± The reply came, ¡°Eight o¡¯clock tonight, at Jiangjin Garden.¡± Ten seconds later, the inbox of the professional errand runner Z received another email. It was just one sentence, written in red bold font, ¡°If you don¡¯t want to go to prison, you¡¯d better be honest.¡± Ten minutes later. Shuangjiang sent Zhou Xufang a message: ¡°The money has been transferred.¡± She added, ¡°A deposit, ten million.¡± Zhou Xufang turned to Jiang Zhi with the good news, ¡°Jiang Zhi, we¡¯ve made a lot of money.¡± She was so delighted she hugged Jiang Zhi¡¯s neck, ¡°Whatever you want, I¡¯ll buy it for you!¡± The computer was still on. The webcam on Zhou Xufang¡¯s side was also active. The audio capturing program on Shuangjiang¡¯s side was engaged as well and could transcribe speech. Then, in a mechanical, emotionless voice, it repeated, ¡°I¡¯m still here, I¡¯m still here, I¡¯m still here,¡± followed by beeping sounds, ¡°Beep¡ªbeep¡ªbeep¡ª¡± Jiang Zhi got up to turn off the computer, hand steadying around Zhou Xufang¡¯s waist: ¡°My Fifth Aunt is back, I have to return to Jiang Mansion tomorrow night, the matriarch asked me to take you.¡± He inquired about her preference, ¡°Do you want to go?¡± Zhou Xufang let go of him, tilting her head, ¡°Can I?¡± ¡°All of Jiang Family know I have a girlfriend; it¡¯s not proper to keep you hidden forever. Just show up and make an appearance.¡± Jiang Zhi paused, ¡°But¡ª¡± Zhou Xufang settled down, ¡°What?¡± ¡°We need to put on an act.¡± He picked up a bowl that had been cooling on the coffee table for a good while, scooped up a spoonful, checked the temperature, and when it was no longer hot, he handed it to her. It was ginger and jujube soup with goji berries. Zhou Xufang was on her period, yet she felt nothing at all, no pain, no discomfort, but Jiang Zhi seemed to think she must be suffering. He had asked Ms. Song all morning for advice, embarrassing Zhou Xufang. Throughout the afternoon, he had accidentally shattered a bowl due to the heat, used up two bags of sugar, and after several attempts, he finally made a bowl of brown sugar water. Zhou Xufang, who could punch a cow to death, downed the brown sugar water in one gulp, ¡°Which act are we playing?¡± It was too sweet. Ah, sweet enough to cause a toothache. Jiang Zhi took the bowl from her hands and placed it on the coffee table, then pulled her into his embrace, rubbing her lower abdomen, ¡°We mustn¡¯t let them see that you are my life.¡± She was his weakness, a fact he could not expose. Zhou Xufang understood and responded with a smile, ¡°Got it.¡± His rubbing tickled her so much. Jiang Zhi looked at her, ¡°Can you act?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Zhou Xufang was quite confident, ¡°I¡¯ve watched a lot of TV dramas, my acting skills have improved greatly.¡± Improved greatly. She used a bold term. ¡°Then let me test you.¡± Zhou Xufang was slightly excited, ¡°Mhm.¡± Jiang Zhi pondered for a moment, threw out an idiom, ¡°Drooling with envy.¡± The corner of his mouth curled into a smile, ¡°Look at me and act it out.¡± Drooling with envy, huh¡­ Zhou Xufang thought for a moment, and then began her performance. She leaned forward, eagerly staring at him with widened eyes and sparkling pupils. As she got closer, she licked her lips, swallowed audibly, and finally, unable to resist, she took a bite at his face. It was a progressive performance, quite layered. Jiang Zhi patted her head, ¡°Not bad.¡± Emboldened by the praise from the ¡°big director,¡± Zhou Xufang felt very accomplished, ¡°Lixiang taught me.¡± Lixiang¡¯s method, ¡°When she can¡¯t cry in a sorrowful scene, she thinks about her hard times in the past, and then the tears come.¡± Fang Lixiang was indeed a spirited actor. Jiang Zhi then asked Zhou Xufang, ¡°So what were you thinking just now?¡± To act out drooling with envy, she surely had to think of him, like when he just finished showering, or when he wakes up, or when he¡¯s lying next to her pillow, or¡ª Zhou Xufang said, ¡°I was thinking of strawberry-flavored ice cream topped with a layer of marshmallow.¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± Half an hour later, Luo Changde also received an email from the professional errand runner Z, with an edited recording attached¡ªa short clip. He listened to it over and over again. ¡°Are you that afraid of me?¡± ¡°What are you hiding?¡± ¡°You were the one outside that day, weren¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Did you see it? Did you see everything?¡± It was his voice from eight years ago in Luo Family¡¯s greenhouse. Just those four sentences might mean nothing to an outsider, but the person who kept this recording, the person who sent this to him¡ªmust have realized something. ¡°Clang!¡± The cup on the table was knocked over. Luo Changde didn¡¯t care about the tea spilling everywhere and quickly replied to an email, ¡°How much money do you want?¡± Eight o¡¯clock in the evening, at Jiangjin Garden. The weather was not good, looking like it would rain soon. No one was in the garden; on the pebble-paved path, only a few street lamps lit the way, casting more shadows of trees than people. Tap, tap, tap¡­ The sound of high heels hitting the ground, from far to near. A figure emerged from beneath the tree shadows: ¡°Come out.¡± The surroundings were very quiet, with faint echoes. Then the tree shadows swayed, and she emerged, jumping down from above. Luo Qinghe turned her head and saw her: ¡°Where¡¯s the stuff?¡± She was dressed in black, with a cap, an additional hood over it, and glasses, a mask, and gloves on¡ªevery possible area covered. Aside from her figure, nothing else could be seen. She approached, pulled a document bag out of her backpack, her voice deliberately low and unrecognizable, ¡°Cash in hand, goods in hand.¡± Luo Qinghe glanced at her cap, embroidered with the letter Z. Appearing and disappearing like a ghost, all-powerful¡ªsuch was the reputation of Z in the circle of errand runners. Luo Qinghe made a phone call, only saying two words: ¡°Wire transfer.¡± Then she hung up. Immediately, Zhou Xufang¡¯s earpiece crackled with three words: ¡°Funds received.¡± Thirty million, in the bag. Underneath the mask, the corners of her mouth involuntarily curled up. Zhou Xufang tossed the document bag over. Luo Qinghe caught it, didn¡¯t open it, shook it twice, ¡°The contents are alright?¡± Zhou Xufang replied with grave seriousness and a cold calm, ¡°You don¡¯t need to question the credibility of the top professional errand runner in the industry.¡± Luo Qinghe still didn¡¯t open it, not afraid of her, standing two meters away, her gaze locked on her, ¡°Can I ask a question?¡± This woman was the boldest Zhou Xufang had ever seen; she had seen her with blood-red eyes, yet still unafraid. No tears until seeing the coffin. ¡°You may,¡± Zhou Xufang said, ¡°It¡¯ll cost you extra.¡± She was not so straight-laced either; faced with a big spender with bad intentions, she was ready to fleece them. She considered for a moment: ¡°One million.¡± The other party was quick, made another phone call, stated the transfer amount, then asked, ¡°Where did you get this item? Who hired you?¡± Zhou Xufang was solemn: ¡°That¡¯s two questions.¡± She held up two fingers, no room for negotiation, very serious, ¡°That¡¯ll be two million.¡± Luo Qinghe: ¡°¡­¡± Taking advantage of a crisis. Just a thief, after all. She called Shen Yue again: ¡°Transfer another million.¡± A million in the bag! Zhou Xufang, suppressing her little excitement, answered in a feigned voice, ¡°Peng Zhongming hired me, got it from him.¡± Of course, she couldn¡¯t tell the truth. She rarely lied, but she could be dishonest with the bad guys. Luo Qinghe was indeed furious: ¡°Are you messing with me?¡± Zhou Xufang looked at her through the glasses, tilting her head, ¡°Did you ask me?¡± Oh, she said, ¡°That will cost extra.¡± Luo Qinghe: ¡°¡­¡± And she didn¡¯t ask any further. Zhou Xufang was a bit disappointed; she wanted to earn more: ¡°Any more questions? If not, I¡¯m leaving.¡± She turned, deliberately walking away slowly. The others didn¡¯t stop her. Alright, it was just like ¡®acting as if walking away when the price won¡¯t go down while shopping,¡¯ so be it; she stopped, turned around, ¡°Since you¡¯re so tight on funds, I¡¯ll give you a piece of intel for free.¡± She emphasized free, ¡°This is a replica, the original has already been sold by me.¡± That free intel completely enraged Luo Qinghe: ¡°You¡¯re fucking playing with me!¡± Indeed. Zhou Xufang wouldn¡¯t admit she was in it for the money; no money-grabbing businessman would admit to their money-grubbing, lest they could not continue to grab more in the future, so, one must pretend to have professional integrity: ¡°Did I say what I was selling was the original? Did I say I was only selling to you?¡± She shook her head, ¡°I did not.¡± Luo Qinghe, caught red-handed and teeth knocked out, still swallowed blood: ¡°How many copies have you made?¡± ¡°Are you asking me?¡± Zhou Xufang once again made her terms clear, ¡°One million.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Red blood vessels in Luo Qinghe¡¯s eyes seemed to have crawled to the surface. Indeed, her archenemy was making her feel uncomfortable on purpose, yet what could she do? She was at a disadvantage now and had to endure it. Even if it was hard to tell the true from the false, she needed to gather as much information as possible. She gritted her teeth and dialed a number, pronouncing each word distinctly, ¡°Wire, the, money.¡± Then Zhou Xufang just waited, waited for the transaction to be completed. Ten seconds later. ¡°Received.¡± Zhou Xufang happily caressed her earpiece, answering the million-dollar question, ¡°One copy.¡± If Luo Qinghe were to ask her if this was the truth. She would certainly tell her it was a lie, and then demand another million before revealing the truth. S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. However, Luo Qinghe¡¯s follow-up question was, ¡°Who did you sell the original to?¡± Asking in this way was fine, it was all the same. She held up a finger, ¡°One million.¡± Luo Qinghe: ¡°¡­¡± She clenched her teeth, ¡°Wire another million.¡± Oh yeah! Zhou Xufang squinted her eyes and made a ¡®V¡¯ sign behind her back. After the money was wired, Luo Qinghe asked, ¡°Who did you sell it to?¡± Zhou Xufang replied, ¡°Confidential.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Luo Qinghe could no longer suppress the fire in her eyes, her clenched fists threatening to burst her palms open. Before she could finish, Zhou Xufang generously offered another piece of information for free, ¡°Don¡¯t doubt the reliability and confidentiality of the top errand runner in the industry.¡± ¡°¡­¡± If looks could kill, Luo Qinghe would have certainly chopped her into pieces by now. The reputable and tight-lipped number one errand runner in the industry continued to promote her services, ¡°Do you want the post-sale confidentiality service?¡± She earnestly explained the importance of this service, ¡°If you don¡¯t buy it, when others ask me who I sold the replica to, I¡¯ll say your name.¡± Luo Qinghe glared furiously. She wished she could tear her to shreds! The top professional errand runner kept promoting her services without exaggeration. She spoke logically, ¡°You don¡¯t need to doubt me. Although we have a grudge and I really dislike you, my professional integrity is the best in the industry. You can ask around; I have a great reputation. As long as you purchase the after-sales service, I will definitely keep it a secret for you.¡± Luo Qinghe stared at her, her eyes brimming with murderous intent. This person had defeated her so thoroughly in their past encounters, leaving her with hefty losses. This time she didn¡¯t have any leverage at all and was completely at her mercy, forced to retreat time and again, sliced up by her adversary. She made a call, ¡°Wire another million.¡± Before she could hang up, Zhou Xufang quickly said, ¡°One million is the price for asking questions, after-sales service costs three million.¡± Luo Qinghe: ¡°¡­¡± Utter nonsense! Apparently, she was caught in a tight spot. Swallowing her anger, she conceded, ¡°Wire three million.¡± Oh yeah! Zhou Xufang squinted and secretly snickered like a little fox. The transaction was concluded, and Zhou Xufang made her swift exit. She took a path without surveillance cameras, leaped onto a high building, and didn¡¯t come down until she had her fill of excitement. She had arranged to meet Jiang Zhi at the Ba Yi Bridge not far from the park. Hopping along, she spotted Jiang Zhi¡¯s car from a distance. ¡°Jiang Zhi, Jiang Zhi.¡± She called out twice, waving and running up, gleefully saying, ¡°Jiang Zhi, I swindled so much money.¡± Jiang Zhi opened the car door and pulled her inside, ¡°So happy?¡± She nodded vigorously, ¡°Yeah!¡± It made her very happy to swindle money from the bad guys. She took off her glasses and asked Jiang Zhi, ¡°Did everything go smoothly on your end?¡± ¡°Smoothly.¡± She and Jiang Zhi had a plan: one would deal with Luo Qinghe, the other with Luo Changde, tricking both at once. She was excited and looking forward to it, her eyes sparkling, ¡°What¡¯s next, then?¡± Jiang Zhi buckled her seatbelt, ¡°That father-daughter pair will probably start turning on each other soon. We¡¯ll watch the show for now.¡± At the right time, they¡¯d fan the flames, add some fuel to the fire. Zhou Xufang: ¡°Good.¡± Both Luo family members had received the replica recording and would likely suspect the original was in the other¡¯s possession. If Jiang Zhi¡¯s guess was correct, and Luo Changde was also implicated in that big fire, he would have to protect himself by tossing Luo Qinghe to the wolves. Just perfect, as Luo Qinghe also needed a scapegoat. So¡­ let the dog-eat-dog fight commence¡ªlet¡¯s see who bites harder. Chapter 196 - 196 196 Textile promoting dog food Qiao Wen makes ?Chapter 196: 196: Textile promoting dog food, Qiao Wen makes progress Chapter 196: 196: Textile promoting dog food, Qiao Wen makes progress On the way back, Xue Baoyi¡¯s call came through. He asked Jiang Zhi, ¡°We¡¯re all at Fusheng Inn, are you coming?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll ask Zhou Xufang.¡± You have to ask your girlfriend? Xue Baoyi despised! While driving, Jiang Zhi asked Zhou Xufang, ¡°Baoyi is throwing a welcome party for Bingxue, are you going?¡± Zhou Xufang glanced at the time, 8:20, and replied, ¡°If you¡¯re going, I¡¯ll go too.¡± If it were any later, she wouldn¡¯t go, since Jiang Zhi was not strong physically and couldn¡¯t stay up late. ¡°We¡¯ll be there in forty minutes,¡± he said, and then hung up the phone. Zhou Xufang leaned against the car window, looking outside, ¡°Isn¡¯t this place really close to Fusheng Inn?¡± Jiang Zhi said, ¡°Let¡¯s go home and change clothes first.¡± Right. Meeting Jiang Zhi¡¯s friends, she couldn¡¯t dress like Black Impermanence; she had to wear pretty pink. At the other end, Xue Baoyi placed his phone on the mahjong table, ¡°Brother Zhi will take a while to come over.¡± He sat like a boss, threw a tile out, ¡°Three bamboos.¡± His next player picked up a tile, pushed the mahjong tiles in front of him, and declared, ¡°I win.¡± Xue Baoyi grabbed his hair. Damn, to keep losing three games in a row, could his luck get any worse? The next player was Jiang Wei¡¯er, ¡°Pure suit, triple score.¡± She smiled, revealing a dimple, and extended her hand, ¡°Pay up, pay up.¡± She was a bit tanned, with very short hair, no longer than her ears, wearing two earrings on her left ear, and one on the right, dressed in a black punk-style top, with pencil pants and boots, looking sharp and handsome. This was how Jiang Wei¡¯er used to look, the only difference being that her smile now was missing some of the reckless pride and flamboyance of her unawakened youth. ¡°Pay up,¡± she urged Xue Baoyi. Xue Baoyi opened the small box on the mahjong table, finding it empty, not a single note inside: ¡°No cash.¡± He fished through his pockets, handed over his car keys reluctantly, and said, ¡°Take this!¡± His customized SUV! Jiang Wei¡¯er actually looked down on his vehicle, slapping his hand away, ¡°Who wants your flashy car? Pay up.¡± It was even better that she didn¡¯t want it ¨C Xue Baoyi wasn¡¯t willing to part with it anyway. He pocketed the car keys and gave up, ¡°I¡¯m out of cash.¡± He always lost when playing cards. This must be some bad karma! Jiang Wei¡¯er flashed him a radiant smile, ¡°No money? Well, alright, start stripping.¡± Xue Baoyi: ¡°¡­¡± He looked at the other two players. Qiao Nanchu was fiddling with his tiles, Xue Bingxue staring at the floor, both pretending not to see and showing no intention of lending him money. These damned bastards! He had no choice but to beg for mercy, putting on a cheesy smile, ¡°Fifth Aunt, leave me some dignity for future encounters, let me put it on my tab.¡± Jiang Wei¡¯er pushed all the tiles into the mahjong machine, pressed the shuffle button, and glanced at Xue Baoyi, ¡°Enough talk.¡± The rule had been set before starting the game, cash only, and if you lose all your cash, you start stripping off your belongings, two items a game. Xue Baoyi took off his watch and jacket, looking at his upper player Xue Bingxue with eyes of betrayal and asked coldly, ¡°Uncle, are you deliberately losing to Wei¡¯er?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not,¡± Xue Bingxue¡¯s skin, despite having been in the sun for over a month, was still as white as a freshly peeled egg. He glanced at Jiang Wei¡¯er, shy but straightforwardly admiring, ¡°Wei¡¯er is really good.¡± Xue Baoyi: ¡°¡­¡± The guy¡¯s a total nutcase! Around thirty minutes later, Jiang Zhi and Zhou Xufang arrived. Zhou Xufang was wearing a pink sweater, pink coat, pink shoes, and a pink knitted hat, with a bag that was white and pink, only her pants were black. She stopped in front of the private room door and told Jiang Zhi, ¡°You go in first, I need to use the restroom.¡± Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t let go, leading her to the restroom, ¡°I¡¯ll wait for you outside.¡± Zhou Xufang felt it was like a dad taking his daughter to the bathroom¡­ Zhou Xufang¡¯s daughter went inside. Jiang Zhi¡¯s dad waited outside, leaning against the wall with his hands in his pockets, looking down. Each time someone came out of the ladies¡¯ room, he looked up. His appearance was quite eye-catching, ladies going in and out took notice of him, those who recognized him quickly lowered their heads and walked away quickly, while those who didn¡¯t recognize him blushed and fluttered their hearts secretly. Of course, there were also those who took the initiative. ¡°Mr. Jiang.¡± It was a young lady from some wealthy family in Imperial City, last name Liu, Jiang Zhi couldn¡¯t remember her first name and didn¡¯t acknowledge her. The woman¡¯s name was Liu Yun, her family moderately wealthy. She had seen Jiang Zhi several times, which is why she greeted him, but feeling snubbed like that, she wasn¡¯t content to let it go. As she passed by Jiang Zhi, she stumbled, her entire body falling towards him. Jiang Zhi instantly dodged. She staggered fiercely, her shoulder slamming against the wall. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°¡­¡± This person really doesn¡¯t know what¡¯s good for them! Liu Yun said, ¡°My apologies,¡± before straightening her skirt and stepping into the women¡¯s restroom in her high heels. Her companion followed her in, and only when they reached the sink did she ask, ¡°Did you do that on purpose?¡± There was a teasing tone in her words. The woman named Zhang Lingqi, too, was a rich heiress. Having just lost face, and now being called out, Liu Yun was very embarrassed and naturally wouldn¡¯t admit it: ¡°Am I sick? Why would I deliberately fall?¡± Zhang Lingqi was touching up her powder in the mirror, saying half-jokingly, half-mockingly: ¡°Going for a hug-and-fall ploy, huh?¡± Liu Yun snorted disdainfully: ¡°Him?¡± She scoffed, ¡°A sickly wretch. Who knows if he¡¯ll even survive until next year¡ªI certainly don¡¯t want to be a widow.¡± Zhang Lingqi had finished touching up her makeup and was fussing with her hair: ¡°Anyway, he¡¯s still a young master of the Jiang Family. Even if he doesn¡¯t live long, he¡¯ll still inherit a hefty sum.¡± She smiled, her eyes lighting up at the thought of the man outside, ¡°And with a face like that, it wouldn¡¯t be too bad to have something going on with him.¡± The young masters from wealthy families, how many of them could be like him, untainted by vulgar interests, exuding an air of innate nobility? Having just been humiliated, Liu Yun was upset and unwilling to admit she was intrigued, so she deliberately spoke ill of him: ¡°It¡¯s just good luck, born into it. That temper of his ancestors¡ªwhoever wants to put up with that, can go ahead.¡± She flipped her hair and took out her lipstick, ¡°I think it¡¯s not only his body that¡¯s sick, his mind must be too.¡± This talk was getting more and more excessive! Zhou Xufang was about to kick the door open and teach them a lesson when the stall next to him suddenly made a loud bang. Jiang Wei¡¯er had kicked open the door, her eyes blazing with anger, though her lips wore a smile: ¡°Who¡¯s got the sickness now?¡± The two women by the sink jumped in shock, their expressions far from pleasant. Jiang Wei¡¯er walked over, her short hair and long neck complementing her tall stature; she commanded the space with a presence that was hard to ignore: ¡°You were talking so happily just now, why so quiet all of a sudden?¡± The two most famous people in the Jiang Family were Jiang Zhi and Jiang Wei¡¯er¡ªthe former for his appearance, the latter for her temperament. In social circles, everyone called Jiang Wei¡¯er ¡°Little Witch.¡± Over the years, no one knew why, but she had become less active, yet her notoriety remained intact. Zhang Lingqi, of course, recognized the Little Witch and immediately apologized: ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Miss Jiang, we misspoke.¡± At least she knew what was good for her. Jiang Wei¡¯er turned to the other one: ¡°What about you?¡± Liu Yun, spoiled as the only daughter in her family, did not realize how highly she ought to regard the Jiang Family of the Imperial City: ignorant of their reach, she responded flippantly, ¡°I didn¡¯t make it up; that¡¯s what everyone says.¡± This one was really clueless. Needed teaching. Jiang Wei¡¯er crossed her arms and approached; even in flats, she was a bit taller than Liu Yun, who wore high heels, and her aura was fully unleashed: ¡°Why don¡¯t you ask others and see if they dare let me hear them say it?¡± She stepped closer, ¡°Who are you to judge anyone from my Jiang family?¡± Liu Yun huffed. Zhang Lingqi stepped forward to pull her back, gesturing for her to back down, but Liu Yun shook off her hand: ¡°What did I say wrong? He¡¯s just a sickly¡ª¡± She couldn¡¯t finish her sentence. She cried out as her hair was grabbed. Jiang Wei¡¯er shoved her head into the sink, grasping her struggling hand and twisting it behind her: ¡°Say it again.¡± Liu Yun screamed in pain, cursing breathlessly: ¡°Sickly¡ª¡± Jiang Wei¡¯er cranked the faucet to full blast. With a whoosh, the water poured down. The bone-chilling cold water soaked Liu Yun¡¯s head, and she was completely stunned. Passersby came and went, none daring to approach. The Jiang Family¡¯s Fifth Miss was disciplining someone, and no one dared interrupt. Once the basin was half full, Jiang Wei¡¯er slapped the back of Liu Yun¡¯s sopping wet head: ¡°Still need to curse?¡± ¡°No¡­ cough cough cough¡­¡± She tried to speak but cold water gushed into her throat; Liu Yun couldn¡¯t open her mouth and shook her head frantically. Only then did Jiang Wei¡¯er let go. ¡°Cough cough cough¡­ cough cough cough¡­¡± She leaned on the sink, gasping for air with wide-open mouth, her face and body dripping, her makeup run, looking utterly disheveled. Jiang Wei¡¯er had only a few water splashes on her, which she flicked away with her hand, then pulled out a couple of tissues to dry her hands: ¡°If I ever hear it again,¡± she crumpled the tissue into a ball, tossed it effortlessly into the trash can with a perfect arc of her arm, and raised an eyebrow lightly, ¡°I¡¯ll kill you.¡± Having said this, she dusted off her hands and left. Outside the women¡¯s restroom, just a bit further on, Jiang Zhi was leaning against a window, bored to death, staring at a potted plant. ¡°What are you doing standing there?¡± He replied, ¡°Waiting for Zhou Xu.¡± Jiang Wei¡¯er gave him a sidelong glance: ¡°Pathetic!¡± Having dropped her remark, she walked ahead. Shortly after, Zhou Xu exited, rushing up to Jiang Zhi: ¡°Jiang Zhi, Jiang Zhi.¡± She looked around with a curiosity as if she had stumbled upon something shocking, and with excitement said, ¡°Your Fifth Aunt is so fierce!¡± Jiang Zhi, standing far enough away to be oblivious to the commotion in the restroom, asked, ¡°What happened?¡± ¡°Just now, some nasty woman was bad-mouthing you, and your Fifth Aunt put her in her place.¡± She was a bit angry but also excited, as she told Jiang Zhi, ¡°The way she pinned her down was so cool.¡± Jiang Zhi probably knew what was happening inside. ¡°She practices Taekwondo and spent a few years on the national team.¡± The national team, huh. Impressively badass! Zhou Xufang was quite surprised. ¡°I thought she was a little lady.¡± Jiang Zhi corrected, ¡°She¡¯s a Little Witch.¡± Jiang Wei¡¯er had always been like this; it was only because of Xiao Linsu that she had retracted her claws for a few years. Inside the private room, the mahjong machine was still spinning. Xue Baoyi had lost miserably, with few clothes left on him. He removed his tie and tossed it onto the chair next to him, ¡°You three are ganging up on me, only winning off my tiles. I¡¯m not playing anymore!¡± Just then, Jiang Zhi walked in with Zhou Xufang. Xue Baoyi turned his head and sought help. ¡°Brother Zhi, come here, help me deal with them!¡± Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t bother with him and asked Zhou Xufang, ¡°Wanna play?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know how.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll teach you.¡± Jiang Zhi led her over and asked Xue Baoyi to get up. Zhou Xufang hesitated for a moment, glanced at the mahjong table, and quietly asked Jiang Zhi, ¡°What if I lose?¡± ¡°If you lose, I¡¯ll cover it for you.¡± She blinked, feeling that this logic didn¡¯t quite make sense, and looked at Jiang Zhi in confusion. ¡°Isn¡¯t yours mine already?¡± Jiang Zhi smiled. ¡°It is.¡± These two! Qiao Nanchu knocked on the mahjong tiles. ¡°Alright, I¡¯m not here to listen to you two being lovey-dovey. Hurry up and start.¡± Zhou Xufang felt awkward, quickly sat down properly. Jiang Zhi pulled over a chair for her, wiped it twice with a tissue, and then sat down. He only taught the rules and didn¡¯t make decisions for her. In the first four rounds, Qiao Nanchu won by self-drawn once, Zhou Xufang caused others to win three times, once by Xue Bingxue, twice by Jiang Wei¡¯er. Jiang Zhi had to fork out a total of thirteen bills. On the sixth round, Zhou Xufang caused another win. Her head drooped, quite discouraged. ¡°Lost again.¡± She had lost a lot of tubs of ice cream¡­ Jiang Zhi patted her head. ¡°No worries, we¡¯ll win it back later.¡± He took out all the cash from his wallet and gave it to her. ¡°Got the rules down now?¡± Zhou Xufang. ¡°Got it.¡± She picked things up quickly, and after losing a few times, she started to get the hang of it. In the following several rounds, she occasionally caused another win. On the tenth hand, Zhou Xufang drew a 1-ting and uncertainly tugged on Jiang Zhi¡¯s clothes. ¡°Jiang Zhi, is this a win?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± She pushed her tiles over, grinning like a little money-grubber. ¡°Pay up, pay up.¡± After this round, she no longer caused anyone to win. If it wasn¡¯t her own win, it was someone else¡¯s self-drawn win, or someone else causing the win. The money she had put out mostly came back to her. In the round being played, she had drawn something big, warranting a three times multiplier. After she pushed her tiles down, Jiang Wei¡¯er took a look. ¡°Daughter-in-law, why didn¡¯t you play the three dots?¡± Zhou Xufang had a pair waiting for a single tile; playing the three dots would¡¯ve resulted in Jiang Wei¡¯er winning, so she didn¡¯t play it, opting to keep it and self-drawn. ¡°I was afraid you would win.¡± Jiang Wei¡¯er pushed his tiles down. ¡°I really would have won with the three dots.¡± It was curious, ¡°How did you know?¡± ¡°I guessed.¡± Zhou Xufang happily collected the money while honestly explaining, ¡°You mentioned you were waiting to win earlier, and after that, you were throwing away all your tiles instantly, only switching once when you discarded a 2-dot, and before you said you were waiting, you had also dropped a 1-dot, 7-dot, and 8-dot. You probably had a 2 and a 4 on hand, drew a 5, traded the 2, and then you could win with a 3 or 6.¡± She had guessed everything correctly. Jiang Wei¡¯er found it unfathomable. ¡°You remember all the tiles I played?¡± Zhou Xufang. ¡°Mhm.¡± The one who could remember the cards, besides Zhou Xufang, was Jiang Zhi. Therefore, Jiang Zhi rarely lost at mahjong. The one who mostly lost was Xue Baoyi. Jiang Wei¡¯er turned to him. ¡°Baoyi, do you know why you lose every time you play?¡± Xue Baoyi. ¡°?¡± Jiang Wei¡¯er tapped his head. ¡°You¡¯re not sharp enough up here.¡± Xue Baoyi. ¡°¡­¡± Damn, it¡¯s his fault for not being smart? A new game began, and Zhou Xufang was the dealer. Jiang Zhi asked her, ¡°I¡¯ll get you a drink, what would you like?¡± Zhou Xufang was busy picking up tiles and didn¡¯t look up as she said, ¡°I want the same as Mr. Xiao Xue.¡± Calling Xue Bingxue and Xue Baoyi by their full names felt too intimate, and using ¡®Mr. Second¡¯ and ¡®Mr. Third¡¯ was too distant and not quite right. Thus, Xue Bingxue was Mr. Xue, and Xue Baoyi was Mr. Xiao Xue. This was how Zhou Xufang differentiated between them. Jiang Zhi glanced at the drink in Mr. Xiao Xue¡¯s hand and then bent down to whisper into Zhou Xufang¡¯s ear, ¡°That¡¯s a cold drink, and you can¡¯t have that during your period.¡± Worried about being overheard, Zhou Xufang glanced around and said, ¡°¡­Oh.¡± ¡°Would milk be okay?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Jiang Zhi got up to get Zhou Xufang some hot milk. Xue Baoyi leaned in, mischief on his lips, ¡°Brother Zhi, your wife seems dumb but is actually quite clever.¡± Jiang Zhi gave him a cold look, ¡°Who are you calling dumb?¡± Xue Baoyi was taken aback. Jiang Zhi, ¡°Is your IQ even above a hundred to call my girlfriend dumb?¡± Jiang Zhi, ¡°You¡¯re the dumb one.¡± Jiang Zhi, ¡°You¡¯re the dumbest here.¡± Jiang Zhi, ¡°Idiot.¡± Xue Baoyi, ¡°¡­¡± Next to a girlfriend, brotherly love meant nothing at all. Plus, Zhou Xufang¡¯s former habit of lurking in corners did seem very silly¡­ When Jiang Zhi returned with a cup of hot milk, he heard upon pushing the door open, ¡°I¡¯ve won.¡± Zhou Xufang had won again. Jiang Zhi handed her the milk and ruffled her messy hair, as she had taken off her hat, ¡°How are you so good at this?¡± He shot a sidelong glance at Xue Baoyi, with his peach blossom eyes conveying one message¡ªIdiot, look how smart my girlfriend is! Xue Baoyi was hit by ten thousand points of damage. Zhou Xufang, because she had won money, was grinning ear to ear. At the start of the next game, Qiao Nanchu¡¯s phone chimed with a text. After reading it, he set down his tiles, ¡°I need to leave first.¡± Jiang Zhi asked, ¡°Do you have a case?¡± He replied, ¡°A personal matter.¡± Xue Baoyi drew out his words in a teasing tone, eyes full of mischief, ¡°Whose matter is it?¡± Who else could it be, but his betrothed. Qiao Nanchu cursed with a smile, ¡°Always the nosy one.¡± He grabbed his coat and stood up, ¡°I¡¯m off.¡± After he left the table, they were one player short. Zhou Xufang hadn¡¯t had enough, ¡°Aren¡¯t we playing anymore?¡± Jiang Zhi kicked Xue Baoyi¡¯s chair, ¡°Your turn.¡± He didn¡¯t move, just shrugged, ¡°I¡¯m out of money.¡± Jiang Zhi took out a wad of bills from the small box in front of Zhou Xufang, ¡°I¡¯ll lend you some.¡± Taking the money, Xue Baoyi joined the game. Ah, how nice. She could play Mahjong again. Today, Zhou Xufang had realized for the first time just how fun playing Mahjong could be, even more so than QQ Dazzling Dance. Tingyu Building, the best room under heaven. After a trip to the restroom, Miao HuaRen came back to find the girl still in the same position as when he left, with her backpack still on her back, sitting stiff and proper. He walked over and pulled out the chair next to the young lady to sit, ¡°Why haven¡¯t you ordered anything?¡± His bulky body was too close, his arm already touching her. Wen Baiyang shifted slightly to the side. She hadn¡¯t taken off her cotton jacket and was feeling very warm, her face flushed. She took out pen and paper from her bag and wrote, ¡°Sorry, I have to go.¡± Miao HuaRen adjusted his glasses, his mung bean eyes locking onto the young girl, ¡°Do you have an emergency?¡± She didn¡¯t respond. Miao HuaRen took out a piece of paper and wiped his hands, ¡°Didn¡¯t Mrs. Qiao tell you?¡± She nodded. Ms. Wen said it was about her residence registration, that¡¯s why she called her out. Miao HuaRen folded his napkin neatly over his lap, ¡°Since you¡¯re already here, why not have a meal before leaving?¡± ¡°Sorry,¡± she said in sign language, and stood up to leave. Miao HuaRen swiftly grabbed her wrist, ¡°What¡¯s so degrading about having a meal with me?¡± Chapter 197 - 197 197 Talking about Marriage and Wedding ?Chapter 197: 197: Talking about Marriage and Wedding Chapter 197: 197: Talking about Marriage and Wedding Miao HuaRen promptly grabbed her wrist, ¡°Joining me for a meal, and you feel aggrieved?¡± He pulled her to sit down. She immediately withdrew her hand and frowned. A nineteen-year-old girl, indeed, tender and soft. Miao HuaRen glanced at his own hand, stroking his fingers, ¡°Mrs. Qiao didn¡¯t mention it to you, so let me tell you.¡± He called over a server and handed over the menu that he had ordered, his arm nearly touching the back of the girl beside him. His gaze unintentionally swept over her fair nape, as he said, ¡°The matchmaking was my idea, I thought you were quite good the first time I saw you.¡± Wen Baiyang immediately moved her chair farther away. Miao HuaRen didn¡¯t feel embarrassed, instead, he smiled, his look becoming warmer, his eyes filled with eagerness and determination. A deaf-mute person only, destined to be chosen by others. Miao HuaRen picked up a glass of water in front of him and drank elegantly, ¡°If we get along well, I will talk to the Miao Family. My father is quite old-fashioned, but if I insist, he probably won¡¯t mind your condition too much.¡± He spoke as if it were a given, and made it very clear. It was her problem. Unable to speak or hear, she was disabled. Therefore, he felt she was reaching above her station, and naturally, she should just be grateful. Miao HuaRen continued, his tone unchanged, still determined, ¡°I am older than you. If we were together, I could take care of you more.¡± Wen Baiyang tightened her grip on the pen she held. At this point, Miao HuaRen asked, ¡°Is it because you can¡¯t hear that you don¡¯t speak?¡± She didn¡¯t want to answer him at all. ¡°If the cochlear implant is fitted, could you speak then?¡± Miao HuaRen looked at the young, delicate girl in front of him, quite regretfully, ¡°Though I don¡¯t mind, if it can be cured¡ª¡± Wen Baiyang pushed her notebook toward him. It had a sentence written: ¡°I have a boyfriend.¡± Her resistant expression piqued his interest even more, his gaze light and scornful, smile on his lips as he asked, ¡°Is your boyfriend also deaf-mute like you?¡± Wen Baiyang was annoyed, her lips pressed tightly, about to write on the paper, when suddenly the door behind her opened, the breeze came in, stirring her hair. She turned around and saw him. He walked over, first gave her a glance then looked at Miao HuaRen. Speaking slowly so she could read his lips, he said, ¡°Her boyfriend is healthy, can speak, can hear, more handsome than you, richer than you, younger than you,¡± he paused, then added, ¡°and also hasn¡¯t lost a wife.¡± Miao HuaRen¡¯s face immediately turned ugly. Considering the other¡¯s status, he restrained himself from losing his temper, and lightened his tone trying to ease it, ¡°Why are you here? Afraid I¡¯ll bully your girlfriend?¡± Girlfriend. Yes, girlfriend also counts as a girlfriend. Qiao Nanchu didn¡¯t lose his temper but smiled and retorted, ¡°I am her boyfriend, what do you think brought me here?¡± This time Miao HuaRen couldn¡¯t even force a smile, his face turning shades of pale and green, ¡°Nanchu, don¡¯t talk recklessly. If this gets out, it could harm the Qiao Family¡¯s reputation.¡± Qiao Nanchu casually replied, ¡°Go ahead and try to spread it.¡± You dare? That was what he meant. Miao HuaRen¡¯s grip on the water glass turned pale. Qiao Nanchu¡¯s gaze moved past him, looking at Wen Baiyang, taking something out of his pocket and waving it toward her, ¡°Baiyang, come here.¡± Wen Baiyang stood up and walked over to him. He naturally took her hand, pulling her to his side, very clearly claiming his territory, ¡°Uncle Miao, best give up on that idea soon. I¡¯m not very patient, and I wouldn¡¯t want you, at your age, to strangle yourself trying.¡± Miao HuaRen: ¡°¡­¡± Always bringing up age! Little bastard! Insulting him! Having said that, Qiao Nanchu led her out. Once they left Tingyu Building, he released her hand and stopped under a streetlamp by the roadside, their shadows long and overlapping on the ground. ¡°Did that old man bully you?¡± The moment he spoke, Wen Baiyang could see his anger. He was angry. She shook her head, signaling ¡°no¡± with her hands. Qiao Nanchu was not reassured and, with a cold face, asked again, ¡°Did he touch you?¡± She hesitated for a moment and then told him truthfully, ¡°He grabbed my hand.¡± Qiao Nanchu¡¯s brow furrowed, his anger intensifying, ¡°Where?¡± She raised her wrist. Over the years, he had pampered her so much that her skin had become pale and tender. Her wrist had been touched, probably with some force, and the watch had bumped against her skin, leaving a slightly red mark that was still visible. Qiao Nanchu shifted her watch slightly and bent his head down to gently peck on the red mark. Wen Baiyang was stunned. He was much taller than her, so he bent down to look at her, the streetlight blurring in his eyes, creating halos. He asked her, ¡°Do you still remember what I told you last time?¡± She was a bit slow to react, nodding after a few seconds, her gaze firm and unwavering as she allowed him to look into her eyes. He asked again, ¡°Do you know I like you?¡± His tone still seemed casual, but one could hear the carefulness in each word, his lips and teeth moving slowly. He was generally an impatient person, quick in actions and speech, but whenever he talked to her, he would slow down, waiting for her to read his lips. Despite usually being so decisive and fast, his patience with her was exceptionally good. S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Wen Baiyang nodded and answered his question, then feeling it wasn¡¯t solemn enough, used sign language to reply again, ¡°I know.¡± Qiao Nanchu licked his teeth, couldn¡¯t hold back, and blurted out, ¡°What about you?¡± She looked bewildered, pondered for a long time, nodded, then shook her head. She had regarded him as a benefactor for too long, blurring the lines of her feelings. But there was one thing she was sure of, ¡°I can do anything for you.¡± Including sacrificing her life. It was he who had rescued her from Da Mai Mountain¡¯s cage, brought her to Imperial City, sent her to school to study, raised her from a teenager to an adult. She belonged to him, whether as a possession or whatever, everything she had, as long as he wanted it, she was willing to give it to him, without hesitation. ¡°You¡¯re an adult now, you can be taught.¡± He suddenly said this, then leaned in, his lips landing on her forehead. Now that she was an adult, he could teach her about love. She stood obediently, tilting her head back slightly, her eyelashes quivering gently. He was smiling, ¡°You didn¡¯t dodge.¡± Yes, she hadn¡¯t dodged. She had never even thought about dodging; it seemed right as if everything was natural and justified. Qiao Nanchu raised his hand and patted her head, ¡°At least, you don¡¯t dislike it.¡± She blinked. How could she dislike it? She wouldn¡¯t dislike anything he did. That¡¯s what she wanted to say, but she was too flustered; she didn¡¯t even know where to place her hands. He naturally took her hand and walked towards where the car was parked, not looking at the road but wanting to talk to her, ¡°Can I speak to Ms. Wen?¡± She asked, ¡°Say what?¡± ¡°Tell her that I fancy you, and want you to be my Mrs. Xiao Qiao.¡± Mrs. Daqiao is Wen Ya. She would be Mrs. Xiao Qiao, prefixed by his, his Mrs. Xiao Qiao. Wen Baiyang blushed, nodding without saying anything, her head down, watching the two shadows close together on the ground, her ears also secretly turning red. There was no need to say anything more. The true words of this world are rare, and a woman¡¯s blush speaks volumes more than a lengthy dialogue. Qiao Nanchu didn¡¯t take her home but returned to the villa area in the north of the city, where Qiao Shenxing and Wen Ya lived. He parked the car at the front, first unfastened her seatbelt, ¡°I¡¯ll park the car, wait for me to go in together.¡± She nodded, got out of the car, and stood waiting in the yard. ¡°Bai Yang?¡± She couldn¡¯t hear and didn¡¯t respond. Just then, Wen Ya came out, saw her standing in the courtyard, and went up to pat her shoulder, ¡°What are you standing around for? Come inside with me.¡± Wen Baiyang glanced toward the garage before entering the house. The house was elegantly decorated, everything was exquisite. Wen Ya was a woman who knew how to live well. Having been an official¡¯s wife for a few years, her demeanor and speech had become very refined. Even at this time, at home, she was dressed appropriately and luxuriously. She led her to the living room, then went to the kitchen to make a pot of tea and brought it over, ¡°Mr. Miao just called me and said he was very satisfied with you.¡± Her voice was very gentle. Qiao Shenxing liked women who were delicate and petitely pretty, and Wen Ya never spoke loudly. She said, ¡°I¡¯ve discussed it with your uncle as well, we¡¯ll transfer your residency to the Qiao Family, so if you end up marrying into the Miao Family, your social status won¡¯t be too low.¡± Her tone was soft and gentle, like a loving mother. However, Wen Baiyang, even unable to hear, still found it grating. She took out a pen and paper, writing, ¡°Why don¡¯t you ask if I am satisfied?¡± Wen Ya only knew simple sign language, and except for the most basic conversations, Wen Baiyang often had to write to communicate with her. After reading what she wrote, Wen Ya glanced toward the stairway, no one else was in the room, her voice grew a bit colder, ¡°You have dissatisfactions?¡± To this daughter, Wen Ya really couldn¡¯t feel affection; seeing her always reminded her of her own foolish and absurd youth. She had this daughter when she was just under twenty, the prime age for a girl. ¡°Can¡¯t I be dissatisfied?¡± Wen Baiyang wrote again. Wen Ya put down her teacup, ¡°Bai Yang, you are different.¡± ¡°How am I different?¡± Wen Baiyang rarely pressed this hard; she even rarely communicated with Wen Ya. The few exchanges they had were mostly because Qiao Shenxing was present. If it weren¡¯t for Qiao Nanchu bringing her to Imperial City, Wen Ya probably wouldn¡¯t remember she had a daughter. ¡°You can neither hear nor speak, be thankful that you can marry a normal person,¡± Wen Ya¡¯s tone was like she was advising, ¡°let alone someone with Mr. Miao¡¯s conditions.¡± Be thankful? She had used the term ¡°be thankful.¡± The hand holding the pen suddenly lost all strength, unable to continue writing. Someone else took over the conversation for her, ¡°He¡¯s nearly fifty, older than you, a widower with a son; he lacks ambition, still relying on his family after all these years.¡± It was Qiao Nanchu. Wen Ya immediately stood up from the sofa, ¡°Nanchu¡¯s here, there¡¯s something in the kitchen¡ª¡± Qiao Nanchu interrupted her, not as indifferent as usual, his tone somewhat imposing, ¡°Continue, how about his conditions?¡± Wen Ya couldn¡¯t smile anymore, she said awkwardly, ¡°He¡¯s physically healthy, without disabilities, and he won¡¯t loathe Bai Yang. For Bai Yang, that¡¯s the best condition.¡± Disabilities, loathe. No matter how gentle the tone, these words couldn¡¯t deceive anyone. Luckily, her back was turned, and Wen Baiyang couldn¡¯t read lips, she could only see him. That was good, just watch him speak, He asked, ¡°Then Ms. Wen, what do you think of me?¡± Clatter. The pen in Wen Baiyang¡¯s hand dropped to the floor. Wen Ya was taken aback, thinking she had misheard, ¡°What did you say?¡± Qiao Nanchu walked over, stood next to Wen Baiyang, and raised his hand to rest it on her shoulder, ¡°No need to look far, I am just right for her.¡± Wen Ya spilled the tea in her cup, in disbelief. ¡°Nanchu.¡± It was Qiao Nanchu¡¯s father, Qiao Shenxing, standing at the stairway entrance. It was unclear how much he had heard. He glanced at Wen Baiyang, ¡°Come with me.¡± He was calling Qiao Nanchu. Probably heard it all, which was good, resolve it in one go. ¡°Wait for me in my room.¡± Wen Baiyang nodded. Qiao Nanchu then went to the study. His room was on the second floor, and just as Wen Baiyang had taken a step, Wen Ya grabbed her, ¡°What¡¯s going on between you and Nanchu?¡± She didn¡¯t answer. Wen Ya lost her composure, forgetting to maintain her image of a kind and gentle mother, and her usually delicate and soft demeanor disappeared, her tone turning sharp, ¡°Are you with him?¡± She was somewhat out of control, visibly agitated, repeatedly questioning, ¡°How can you be together? He¡¯s your brother, how will I face others if you are with him? I¡¯m already not well-regarded by the elders in the Qiao Family. If you and Nanchu keep this ambiguous relationship, how will the Qiao Family view me?¡± Wen Baiyang pulled her hand away, ¡°Didn¡¯t you also get together with your own brother? And you had me.¡± Wen Ya understood this sign language. She raised her hand, ¡°You¡ª¡± Her hand trembled, but ultimately she did not slap. This was her scar, known by very few. After marrying into the Qiao Family, no one brought it up again. The biological father of Wen Baiyang was Wen Ya¡¯s cousin, within four degrees of kinship. Back then, Wen Ya was still young and recklessly pursued love, breaking moral boundaries only to be abandoned. Back then, she was in poor health with a thin uterine wall, unable to have an abortion, so she gave birth to a girl. This was her shame, a past she wished to erase completely. Wen Ya lowered her hand and clenched it tightly, ¡°He is the fourth young master of the Qiao Family, the grandfather¡¯s favorite grandson. Even if he¡¯s willing to accept you, Mr. Qiao won¡¯t let you through the door, nor will Uncle Qiao.¡± Wen Baiyang didn¡¯t respond. After a long pause, Wen Ya looked at her and said, ¡°Bai Yang, you don¡¯t deserve him.¡± Wen Baiyang¡¯s eyes reddened, her hands moving quickly and frantically in sign language, ¡°Others may say I don¡¯t deserve him, others may despise me for my disability, but you can¡¯t, you have no right.¡± Her sign language was too fast, and Wen Ya only understood the last sentence. The study. Qiao Shenxing was sitting, having been in a video conference, still in his formal clothes; he pulled off his tie and tossed it on the table, asking, ¡°When did this happen?¡± Qiao Shenxing was not yet fifty, mature and handsome. Qiao Nanchu resembled him, with a naturally charming appearance, anyone who saw him would find him to be a romantic figure. Qiao Shenxing and Nanchu¡¯s mother were in a political marriage, lacking affection. Qiao Shenxing seemed passionate but was actually indifferent. The father and son were not very close to begin with, and after Qiao Shenxing married Wen Ya, their relationship became even more strained, barely seeing each other throughout the year. Qiao Nanchu pulled up a chair and sat down, ¡°This is my business.¡± Qiao Shenxing removed his glasses, looking less scholarly but more mature and composed, ¡°Who you date is your business, but who you marry concerns the Qiao Family.¡± He asked, ¡°Do you intend to marry her?¡± Not just appearance. Qiao Nanchu¡¯s disposition also somewhat resembled his father¡¯s, equally capricious and autocratic. He answered, ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°That makes it a matter for the Qiao Family, and I must intervene.¡± Qiao Shenxing shifted his position, removing the cufflinks from his shirt and tossing them aside, saying, ¡°I don¡¯t agree.¡± Qiao Nanchu appeared nonchalant, his tone light, ¡°Whether you agree doesn¡¯t concern me, as long as she agrees.¡± Unruly. This son of his had always been unruly. Qiao Shenxing, uninterested in a lengthy debate, succinctly stated, ¡°Without your grandfather¡¯s and my approval, she cannot enter the Qiao Family.¡± Qiao Nanchu calmly replied, ¡°If you and grandfather don¡¯t mind, I can marry into her family.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Qiao Shenxing threw a book at him, ¡°You good-for-nothing!¡± Marry into her family? He had only this one son! Qiao Nanchu caught the book steadily and placed it back on the table, unmoved, he retorted, ¡°I learned it from you.¡± Accusing his father of being irresponsible. When Qiao Shenxing married Wen Ya, Mr. Qiao had disagreed. Qiao Shenxing didn¡¯t even try to negotiate and went ahead with the marriage¡ªbecause of that, Mr. Qiao still disdained him. It wasn¡¯t that Qiao Shenxing particularly liked Wen Ya, it was more about defying others, marrying whoever he wanted. Mr. Qiao¡¯s exact words were: ¡°Shenxing that damn boy gets everything right except for his taste in women, whether someone from our house or outside, he treats them all like playthings, always chooses those who are obedient and easy to control, his taste is truly perverse.¡± Indeed, Qiao Shenxing¡¯s private life in Qiao City could be described in four words¡ªutterly messed up. ¡°Are you taking revenge on me because I married Wen Ya?¡± Qiao Nanchu laughed lightly, ¡°Qiao City, you think too highly of yourself.¡± Chapter 198 - 198 198 Show off relationships then trash the scumbags ?Chapter 198: 198: Show off relationships, then trash the scumbags (see additional information Chapter 198: 198: Show off relationships, then trash the scumbags (see additional information Qiao Nanchu laughed, ¡°Qiao City, you think too highly of yourself.¡± Qiao Shenxing, ¡°¡­¡± Whose brat is this, so asking for a beating? Qiao Nanchu stood up, ¡°Anything else to say? If not, I¡¯m leaving.¡± Qiao Shenxing told him to wait and said, ¡°In a few days, I will transfer Bai Yang¡¯s household registration to our family.¡± This was Wen Ya¡¯s idea. ¡°I have no objections,¡± Qiao Nanchu said indifferently, crossing his arms and looking at his father with an expression that said even the lord of heaven couldn¡¯t control him, ¡°If you bring her in here, I¡¯ll move out.¡± Qiao Shenxing glanced at him. He walked to the door, then stopped and added fuel to the fire, ¡°Oh, and tell your wife to stop arranging blind dates for me. I¡¯m not really keen on getting on the train first and buying the ticket later, so don¡¯t push me.¡± With that, he turned and left. Qiao Shenxing unbuttoned the top button of his shirt and cursed with a laugh, ¡°Son of a bitch.¡± Qiao ¡®Son of a bitch¡¯ Nanchu went upstairs. Without knocking, he stood at the door and sent a text message. After waiting for a while, Wen Baiyang came to open the door. Her expression was very anxious, and she signed quickly, asking him, ¡°Did your father hit you?¡± Qiao Nanchu shook his head with a smile, pulled her into the room, and closed the door, saying, ¡°Qiao City doesn¡¯t like to get physical.¡± That¡¯s good then. She continued signing, asking, ¡°Did he scold you then?¡± Qiao Nanchu seemed in a good mood, his eyes always smiling, ¡°Worried about me?¡± Wen Baiyang nodded, very concerned about him. ¡°No,¡± he said lightly and casually, ¡°Those literate folks neither hit nor curse. They can¡¯t beat someone rough like me.¡± Wen Baiyang corrected, ¡°You¡¯re not rough.¡± He laughed again. She couldn¡¯t smile, feeling guilty, ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± ¡°For what are you apologizing?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve dragged you down.¡± She had just finished signing when he grabbed her hands and didn¡¯t let go, playing with her fingers, ¡°It wasn¡¯t for nothing.¡± Wen Baiyang didn¡¯t understand what he meant. ¡°I have a purpose,¡± his eyes full of lights, all focused on her, he said, ¡°Aren¡¯t I pursuing you?¡± A nineteen-year-old girl, inexperienced in love, flushed and became flustered with just a few heartfelt words. It was eleven o¡¯clock at night. The cold was severe outside, a thin layer of frost formed on the window. The room was quiet, playing a recording with a lot of static. ¡°That was you outside the door that day, wasn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°Did you see everything? Did you?¡± It was Luo Changde¡¯s voice. There was a thud, and then no more sound. Luo Qinghe rewound the recording and listened again, ¡°Hmm, there was another person, Luo San. What exactly did he see that made Luo Changde so guilty?¡± Luo Qinghe turned off the recording, and at that moment, there was a noise from downstairs. She stood up, left the room, and following the footsteps, she saw Luo Changde who had just come upstairs in the stairwell. ¡°Dad.¡± Luo Changde looked up, his expression startled for a moment. She asked, like any ordinary daughter, ¡°Where have you been, coming back so late?¡± Luo Changde casually replied, ¡°Went for a few drinks.¡± He was testing her. ¡°I thought you had gone to discuss some urgent matter.¡± ¡°What urgent matter could I have?¡± Luo Changde directly passed her and headed to the upstairs room. Avoiding discussion, acting guilty. Luo Qinghe stood briefly, then returned to her room. Right then, her secretary, Shen Yue, called, ¡°Younger Luo,¡± he said, ¡°Mr. Luo has contacted people in the prison to arrange for a meeting with Peng Xianzhi as soon as possible.¡± Another recording was indeed in his hands. He was still guarding against her. He feared that any disturbance would suffice for him to push her out. Her fingernails tapped on the table as she pondered for a moment before instructing Shen Yue over the phone, ¡°Go check where the gardener who escaped from the fire back then is now.¡± Luo Changde¡¯s room doors and windows were tightly locked. He walked into the bathroom, made a call, and asked, ¡°What did Peng Xianzhi say?¡± On the other end of the phone was someone from Western Prison. He said, ¡°Peng Xianzhi refused the meeting, he won¡¯t see anyone.¡± Luo Changde immediately asked, ¡°Can¡¯t it be enforced?¡± He needed to meet Peng Xianzhi as soon as possible. The man on the phone indicated it was difficult and explained, ¡°It must be Qiao Family¡¯s Fourth Young Master who has alerted the higher-ups, we have to follow the rules.¡± Qiao Nanchu had worked in the Criminal Intelligence Department for a few years, and his words carried weight with the police. Lacking an immediate solution, Luo Changde said, ¡°Think of another way.¡± He hung up and then dialed another number, ¡°Shen Yue.¡± ¡°Mr. Luo.¡± Isn¡¯t Shen Yue Luo Qinghe¡¯s secretary? Yes. However, in this day and age, absolute loyalty had become exceedingly rare. Most people were loyal to¡ªinterests. Luo Changde asked him, ¡°Where did Qinghe go tonight?¡± ¡°He went to meet someone.¡± ¡°Who?¡± Shen Yue replied, ¡°Professional errand runner Z.¡± Luo Changde understood. Indeed, she had obtained it too. Downstairs, the light in the study was still on. Chen Li placed a document bag on the table: ¡°I¡¯ve already had someone verify it, it¡¯s the original.¡± Luo Huaiyu glanced briefly inside the document bag, then made a phone call: ¡°Transfer the final payment.¡± After saying just that, he hung up and looked up to instruct, ¡°You can leave now.¡± Chen Li left the study. As he reached the doorway, he closed the door, looked around, saw no one, then stood in place, slightly leaning forward, his ear close to the crack of the door. Inside the study, Luo Huaiyu was speaking on the phone. ¡°We can¡¯t keep him.¡± he said, ¡°Find a way to get rid of him.¡± Thereafter, there was no further sound. Chen Li stood there for a while longer before leaving Luo Mansion, stepping out of the villa, into his car, and dialed a number saved as¡ªBig Ghost. Chen Li: ¡°It¡¯s me.¡± Oh, it¡¯s Black Impermanence¡¯s little ghost. Lord Black Impermanence asked him, ¡°Did you deliver the item to Luo Huaiyu?¡± ¡°I did.¡± Lord Black Impermanence then asked, ¡°Any suspicions?¡± Chen Li: ¡°None.¡± The original? In this lifetime, it¡¯s impossible to give the original. Everything is reproduced from a copy; whether deceiving two people or three, each deceit is still deceit. And considering Luo Huaiyu¡¯s background and calculations were still unknown, Zhou Xufang simply decided to use his plan against him, giving him the recording and waiting for him to reveal his true colors. Thinking too far ahead. Another crucial matter, Zhou Xufang seriously asked, ¡°Has the final payment been transferred?¡± sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Luo Huaiyu was a big shot. Thus, Zhou Xufang had demanded an even higher price. Chen Li said, ¡°It¡¯s been transferred.¡± His tone anxious, he asked, ¡°I¡¯ve done everything as you said, when will you give me the item?¡± The item he referred to was the stone that hit Peng Zhongming, the evidence of his manslaughter. Of course, Zhou Xufang wouldn¡¯t give it to him, feigning mystery with a raspy voice: ¡°Wait until Lord Black Impermanence no longer needs a little ghost.¡± For now, she needed him to continue as an inside man. Chen Li, being blackmailed by her, couldn¡¯t resist and had to cooperate: ¡°Luo Huaiyu just found someone, seems like he wants to eliminate someone.¡± ¡°Anything else?¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t hear anything else.¡± Zhou ¡¤ Lord Black Impermanence ¡¤ Xufang was very pleased: ¡°Good, keep up the good work. As long as you do well, Lord Black Impermanence will surely not shortchange you.¡± Lord Black Impermanence was in a good mood because he had tricked three bad people tonight and had won quite a bit at Mahjong. With more money in his pocket, he was very happy. Chen¡¤Little Ghost of Lord Black Impermanence¡¤Li: ¡°¡­¡± This feeling of being stuck on a thief¡¯s ship with no way off! Meanwhile, after hanging up the phone with the little ghost, Lord Black Impermanence went to tell Jiang Zhi, ¡°Luo Huaiyu seems to be up to no good again.¡± Jiang Zhi had just come out after washing his hair and threw the towel to Zhou Xufang to dry his hair, his eyes still damp from the bathroom moisture, ¡°He must be planning a murder to silence someone.¡± Zhou Xufang tiptoed to dry his hair, ¡°Silence who?¡± Jiang Zhi guessed, ¡°Maybe Peng Xianzhi.¡± ¡°Is he silencing someone for Luo Qinghe?¡± Jiang Zhi, seeing her on tiptoes and fearing she might tire, bent down, brought his head closer, and his hands mischievously landed on her waist, causing her to giggle. He said, ¡°Not necessarily.¡± He supported her waist and lifted her higher so she could stand on the back of his feet, ¡°Maybe he¡¯s also done something shameful.¡± At midnight, clouds covered the moon, making it the darkest hour outside. The person in bed slept restlessly, furrowing her brow and clenching her fists outside the blanket, her fingertips curling slightly as she struggled faintly. She was trapped in a nightmare, unable to wake up. In the dream, an old and deep voice called out. ¡°Luo San.¡± ¡°Luo San.¡± With a bang, the attic door was pushed open, and all the light outside flooded in, shining on the shivering small bundle on the wooden bed. Tap, tap, tap, tap¡­ The sound was getting closer; she raised her eyes and first saw a walking stick, and then, higher up, a pair of hands covered in age spots. ¡°Come here,¡± he beckoned. She was terribly frightened and shrank into the corner of the bed. He walked closer with the support of his walking stick, ¡°Aren¡¯t you supposed to talk? Why don¡¯t you call out?¡± She dared not look up again, hugging her knees, her voice trembling, ¡°Grand¡­ grandfather.¡± The old man bent down to look at her, his eyes cloudy. He stretched out his hand, saying, ¡°Don¡¯t hide.¡± She shrank back, ¡°No, I can¡¯t.¡± Her voice was rough and hoarse, stumbling over her words. ¡°Be good, Luo San.¡± The hands covered in age spots reached toward her¡­ Zhou Xufang suddenly opened her eyes and screamed, ¡°Jiang Zhi!¡± Jiang Zhi woke up instantly, getting up and going to her side, ¡°I¡¯m here, I¡¯m here, what¡¯s wrong?¡± He turned on the light and saw her head drenched in sweat, her hands clutching at the blanket still trembling; he bent down and hugged her, ¡°Were you having a nightmare?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± She leaned on his shoulder, gasping deeply, her back sweat-soaked and chillingly cold. He held her tight, kissing her brow, eyes, and face repeatedly, soothing her, ¡°What did you dream about?¡± She shook her head as if she had been crying, her eyes rimmed with red, her hands tightly clinging to his clothes, ¡°I don¡¯t know, I forgot as soon as I opened my eyes.¡± Her face was pale, still not recovered. Jiang Zhi wiped the sweat from her forehead with his pajama sleeve, ¡°Then let¡¯s not think about it.¡± She stopped thinking about it, but her heart still trembled, thumping like drums, ringing in her ears; she felt uneasy and held tightly onto Jiang Zhi¡¯s waist, burying herself into his embrace. ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± Jiang Zhi stroked her head, ¡°Hmm?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t sleep on the floor tonight, sleep holding me.¡± Since his sleeping habits were so bad, always kicking, she had him sleep in the guest room, but he refused to sleep separately, saying he would move to the floor once she was sound asleep. It was only his first night on the floor, and she already had a nightmare. He held her as they lay down, ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll sleep holding you.¡± She leaned on him, clinging tightly. ¡°Fang Bao.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± He called again, ¡°Fang Bao.¡± She looked up, ¡°Hmm.¡± The dim yellow light from the bedside lamp shone in her damp eyes. ¡°Fang Bao.¡± She asked, ¡°Why do you keep calling me?¡± Jiang Zhi gently stroked her hair that rested on his shoulder, ¡°Call out a few more times, and you will be able to dream of me.¡± He lowered his head and kissed her eyes, ¡°When I enter your dreams, you won¡¯t be afraid anymore.¡± She closed her eyes, with only Jiang Zhi¡¯s voice left in her ears. ¡°Fang Bao.¡± ¡°Fang Bao.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Indeed, Jiang Zhi was in her dream. In the dream, he was still the slender and handsome young man. The young man had a bad temper, shouting outside her door, ¡°Luo San!¡± ¡°Luo San!¡± Luo San opened the door. Back then, Luo San was not good-looking, skinny and dark, with no hair, just a little bald boy. The young man was angry with her, talking loudly, ¡°Did you steal the braised pork again?!¡± He had just arrived at the Luo Family and heard the servants saying that Luo San had been beaten again. They said that Luo San had sticky fingers, always stealing from the kitchen. She still couldn¡¯t read social cues well, not realizing how angry he was, still naively rummaging through cupboards, and from one she pulled out a wrapped parcel, layers of paper around a piece of braised pork. She held it in both hands, offering it to him. The young man already frail, got so exasperated he could barely breathe and said gruffly, ¡°I don¡¯t like meat!¡± And to her, braised pork was the finest thing, for in her past fourteen years, her biggest concern had been basic sustenance; she had never seen better and thought braised pork was the best there was. So he didn¡¯t like it, after all. She then asked, ¡°What do you like?¡± Her voice even rougher than many boys going through puberty. The young man, still angry, turned his head away, and after a long while awkwardly muttered, ¡°Foxtail grass, I like foxtail grass.¡± Of course, he didn¡¯t really like foxtail grass, but with such a big villa like the Luo Mansion, only that grass was available which wouldn¡¯t get her hit if she moved it. His tone turned serious, he earnestly told her, ¡°Next time I come, just pick foxtail grass for me, and don¡¯t steal any meat.¡± She assumed he really liked foxtail grass, immediately nodding her head, ¡°Okay.¡± She would pick a huge bunch of foxtail grass for him. The young man scolded her, ¡°Idiot.¡± She still grinned, a silly smile that even made him laugh; he squinted his eyes and told her, ¡°Only I can call you idiot, others can¡¯t, got it?¡± She nodded. She understood; when he called her an idiot, it was his way of being kind, he just didn¡¯t use sweet words. He was the kindest and best person to her in this world. ¡°If someone else calls you an idiot, just place some foxtail grass on top of the fence. I¡¯ll see it and come to find you, then you tell me who called you an idiot.¡± She looked at him, her eyes clear and simple, filled only with his image. The young man poked her head, ¡°Got it?¡± Her face darkened, a smile, her teeth especially white, ¡°Yeah, got it.¡± Her voice wasn¡¯t pleasant-sounding; when alone, she would still speak to him with her gruff voice. The young man asked her, ¡°You can speak, so why play mute?¡± ¡°Aunt Xiu said I can¡¯t talk.¡± The young man scolded her again, ¡°Yet you still talk to me.¡± She laughed foolishly, ¡°Because it¡¯s you.¡± The young man hummed, but his eyes curved into a smile, ¡°I¡¯m going home now.¡± He turned to leave, then turned back, ¡°Aren¡¯t you giving me that meat?¡± ¡°Oh.¡± She wrapped up the meat, ¡°Here.¡± The grease had seeped into the paper, no telling whether the paper was clean or not. The young man, a bit of a clean freak, deplored it, furrowing his brow as he pinched a corner of the paper bundle. ¡°I¡¯m leaving.¡± He walked away. She ran after him, following as he walked, stopping when he did, unstoppable, right up to the gate. The young man looked back, waving her off, ¡°Don¡¯t send me off anymore, go back.¡± She continued to follow. He scolded her, ¡°Idiot.¡± Yet that ¡®idiot¡¯ still clung to the iron fence, waving energetically at him. Chapter 243: 243: Jiang Zhi Craves Affection, Sweet Critical Hit (Second Release) Chapter 243: 243: Jiang Zhi Craves Affection, Sweet Critical Hit (Second Release) ¡°So I¡¯m not planning on catching up,¡± she decisively denied, ¡°You¡¯ve got the wrong person.¡± That trendy guy: ¡°You are Fang Lixiang.¡± Fang Lixiang coldly replied, ¡°I¡¯m not, I¡¯m Fang Lixiang¡¯s cousin.¡± The guy laughed, ¡°It¡¯s me.¡± Fang Lixiang: ¡°?¡± Who? ¡°It¡¯s me!¡± ¡°?¡± Who are you! Alright, the guy removed his mask and black-rimmed glasses, revealing a handsome and delicate face, ¡°We¡¯ve worked together twice, and you still don¡¯t recognize me.¡± He was a young idol. Fang Lixiang remembered him, he was a member of a recently popular boy band; she had been on a variety show with them and had dinner afterwards. She didn¡¯t remember the details, but Fang Lixiang recalled drinking three of the young idols under the table, one of whom was this guy right here. Fang Lixiang greeted him warmly, ¡°Oh, it¡¯s you, Xiao Zimo.¡± ¡°¡­¡± The air froze for a few seconds. The pretty boy said, ¡°My name is Xia Hansong.¡± Fang Lixiang gave an awkward laugh and scratched her head. So embarrassing. Backstage at the concert. Yang Xi had finished thanking all the light, stage, and sound engineers and returned to the dressing room, ¡°What just happened?¡± Xiao Yusheng had removed his makeup but not changed his clothes and was staring at the door without responding. Yang Xi grabbed his already thinning hair, ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell me beforehand if you were going to invite her up?¡± He was still staring at the door, seemingly not listening. Yang Xi felt his blood pressure rising, ¡°And why did you hug her?¡± A nineteen-year-old artist casually hugging female fans? Yang Xi recalled his unusual behavior before going on stage and became more suspicious, ¡°You did it on purpose, didn¡¯t you, because you know her?¡± He didn¡¯t respond. His usually gloomy eyes were now brightly vigilant, looking anxious and restless. Yang Xi had never seen him like this before, ¡°I¡¯m talking to you, did you hear me?¡± He suddenly stood up. ¡°You¡¯re here.¡± A smile played around his eyes. Yang Xi was astonished; he had been managing Xiao Yusheng for years and knew just how rarely he smiled or showed any warmth. Despite being only nineteen, he always appeared prematurely solemn and weathered. Who was it that could melt the ice in his eyes? Yang Xi looked towards the door and saw a young man and woman. The girl was bundled up too tightly to make out her face, but the features of the person beside her were unmistakable. Misty blue hair, enticing yet aggressive peach blossom eyes, and an air of nobility and grace that you couldn¡¯t find a second of in the entire Imperial City. Yang Xi hesitated, ¡°Director Jiang?¡± Jiang Zhi nodded and removed his mask. With skin white as jade and lips red as cherries, his face was as beautiful as a peach blossom and his eyes as captivating as hooks. His charm was not unfounded; truly, he was first among Imperial City¡¯s beauties. It was Yang Xi¡¯s first time seeing Jiang Zhi up close, and he was momentarily stunned. Xiao Yusheng was also observing Jiang Zhi. With a lazy and indolent look in his peach blossom eyes, he said, ¡°Her boyfriend, came with her.¡± A ripple flickered in Xiao Yusheng¡¯s eyes, then calmed again. He stepped forward, ¡°Hello, I¡¯m Xiao Yusheng.¡± Nineteen, still too young. He had the appearance of a youth, yet his face bore a wearied look. Jiang Zhi responded with two words, ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± Xiao Yusheng didn¡¯t continue the conversation, remaining silent and observing the person behind Jiang Zhi. Yang Xi called out to him, ¡°Yun Sheng.¡± His eyes, always void of life, were filled with Zhou Xufang, like a desolate field blooming with colorful flowers. ¡°Yun Sheng.¡± Yang Xi coughed, ¡°Cough, Yun Sheng.¡± It¡¯s someone else¡¯s girlfriend, why keep staring! Xiao Yusheng remained silent, still watching, a slight joy in his brows, no longer lifeless. Jiang Zhi licked her teeth, her eyes brimming with emotion, but she didn¡¯t snap. It was Zhou Xufang who spoke first, ¡°Do you have something to say to me?¡± as she took off her mask. Xiao Yusheng nodded, like friends who hadn¡¯t seen each other in a long time, casually asking, ¡°How have you been all these years?¡± ¡°Very well.¡± Actually, they didn¡¯t have much to talk about. Back in the lab, they either got blood drawn together, received infusions together, or were electro-shocked together¡­ None of it was a pleasant memory. ¡°I¡¯ve been well too,¡± he added quietly, looking at her for a while, ¡°How is your health? Is your body okay?¡± ¡°Also good.¡± He was like before, not very talkative, appearing obedient. But Zhou Xufang knew, he was not obedient. Among so many people in the lab, he tried to escape the most and was punished the most. Those doctors in white coats, they didn¡¯t hit or yell, but they had many, many ways to make life unbearable. The first time Zhou Xufang met Xiao Yusheng, she was fourteen, he was eleven, she was bald, he was too, her number was 011, his was 017. She was the most well-behaved, he the least, and on their first night in the laboratory, he smashed a window, trying to escape. Zhou Xufang watched from the hospital room window as he climbed over the wall, fell, and couldn¡¯t get up, watched as two tall, strong guards dragged him back to the isolation room. Maybe those doctors wanted to make an example of him, so they ordered the nurses not to give 017 any food or water. Number 011, Zhou Xufang, secretly slid a cookie through the gap under the door of the isolation room. Later when they were grouped together, 017 didn¡¯t talk to anyone but 011, even secretly told 011 that during electric shocks, just pretend it wasn¡¯t painful, and they would stop increasing the voltage. Nineteen-year-old 017 was much taller than at eleven, ¡°Did those people ever come looking for you again?¡± Twenty-two-year-old 011 wasn¡¯t as dark and skinny anymore, she had grown a lot too, ¡°No.¡± That¡¯s good. He didn¡¯t speak further, just kept staring at her. Yang Xi was really worried something might happen, as he was staring at someone else¡¯s girlfriend again, ¡°Yun Sheng, you need to go change clothes, there¡¯s a press appointment later.¡± Jiang Zhi licked her teeth again. Those who knew him knew that he had a habit of licking his teeth when holding back his temper. Xiao Yusheng seemed not to hear Yang Xi¡¯s words, still watching Zhou Xufang, ¡°I¡¯m very glad you could come to my concert.¡± It was evident. His promotional photos almost never showed him smiling, unlike now, joy reaching his brows. Zhou Xufang was also very happy, her favorite celebrity was her former ¡®sick buddy,¡¯ though he had changed a lot since then, she still felt a deep familiarity. ¡°I¡¯m your fan,¡± Zhou Xufang, a dedicated fan, asked, ¡°Could you give me an autograph?¡± Xiao Yusheng asked Yang Xi, ¡°Are there any autographed photos left?¡± Yang Xi, clueless about their relationship, replied, ¡°Still have two boxes.¡± Xiao Yusheng turned to Zhou Xufang, ¡°Is that enough?¡± Two boxes. Zhou Xufang suddenly felt a sense of pride, typical of insiders, ¡°Enough!¡± She didn¡¯t take all two boxes, just twenty pictures, ten for her and Fang Lixiang each, the rest she planned to give to her book friends and online friends. Handing the sign to Jiang Zhi, Zhou Xufang said, ¡°I need to go back.¡± Xiao Yusheng immediately said, ¡°I¡¯ll walk you out.¡± Zhou Xufang declined, ¡°There are many fans outside.¡± ¡°Just to the door.¡± Everyone found it incredible, Xiao Yusheng¡¯s face actually showing a stubborn expression, normally devoid of any emotions. Xiao Yusheng walked Zhou Xufang to the door, as if he had more to say, hesitated for a long time, but only managed a farewell, ¡°See you next time.¡± Zhou Xufang agreed, put on her mask, and was led away by Jiang Zhi. As the figure disappeared into the distance, Xiao Yusheng still stood at the door. Yang Xi stood by, watching the light in his eyes fade, returning to his usual self, calm and unruffled, a pair of beautiful eyes turned bleak and desolate, like a still, dead sea. Zhou Xufang left, and his emotions before and after were like heaven and earth. Yang Xi remembered that such a situation had occurred once before, when Xiao Yusheng had told him that it was a very important person. That was the first time Yang Xi had seen a surge of ecstasy in his lifeless eyes. Just now, when Zhou Xufang appeared at the door, that expression had appeared on his face for the second time. Yang Xi couldn¡¯t suppress his curiosity, ¡°What¡¯s going on between you and Director Jiang¡¯s girlfriend?¡± He replied, ¡°We are old acquaintances.¡± ¡°Just old acquaintances?¡± Yang Xi felt there was more, at least on Xiao Yusheng¡¯s side. He bowed his head, sitting quietly, his pale side profile enveloped in light, looking somewhat fragile and did not speak, only murmuring softly. Guessing he wouldn¡¯t get more out of him, Yang Xi didn¡¯t press further, ¡°Why not keep a contact number? Aren¡¯t you old acquaintances?¡± Or ¡®very important¡¯ old acquaintances. He dropped his eyes, his eyelashes casting a shadow, ¡°No contact.¡± He spoke as if talking to himself, ¡°It¡¯s better not to contact.¡± His mood suddenly fell, and a thick shade covered his brow. Yang Xi was confused, ¡°I don¡¯t understand?¡± Xiao Yusheng didn¡¯t say more, usually uninterested in everything, he asked a very strange question, ¡°What kind of person is Jiang Zhi?¡± A beauty. A beauty that many men and women in Imperial City desire but dare not rashly make a move on. A beauty whose family background, means, and schemes are unfathomable, yet many men and women still wish to possess. Yang Xi summed up precisely, ¡°Someone many people want to provoke, but most people can¡¯t afford to.¡± Xiao Yusheng then asked, ¡°What about the extraordinary people?¡± Yang Xi was certain, ¡°They can¡¯t afford to either.¡± The young master of Jiang Family was definitely not a pushover. On the way home, Jiang Zhi was exceptionally silent. The snow had already stopped, not thick on the ground and nearly melted, leaving only a layer of ¡°frost white.¡± Zhou Xufang was led by Jiang Zhi, allowing her not to watch her step. She tilted her head looking at him, ¡°Why aren¡¯t you talking? Are you unhappy? Are you jealous?¡± If he was jealous, she could explain that Xiao Yusheng was a fellow patient she was on good terms with. During times of hardship, one often especially remembers those who offered consolation. To Xiao Yusheng, she was probably that kind of person. Jiang Zhi said, ¡°No.¡± In fact, he was angry and jealous, but more than that, he was worried, ¡°Thinking about things.¡± ¡°Thinking about what?¡± The car stopped across from the square on the pedestrian street and they still had a bit to walk. Jiang Zhi led her on the inside, ¡°Do you know who Xiao Yusheng¡¯s foster father is?¡± Zhou Xufang saw on Xiao Yusheng¡¯s Baidu Encyclopedia, ¡°I only know he¡¯s a doctor.¡± ¡°He¡¯s Luo Qinghe¡¯s uncle, Xiao Yi.¡± And Xiao Yi specialized in genetic medicine. ¡°When you were carried out by Fang Dashun, the one who took over was Xiao Yi; if I¡¯m not wrong, he was the one who sent you to the Genetic Laboratory.¡± Whether Xiao Yi was on the list of doctors in that laboratory was still unknown. ¡°Then, his adopting Yun Sheng, is it also with malicious intent?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know yet.¡± Jiang Zhi sighed, pulling Zhou Xufang into his arms, ¡°I can¡¯t control Xiao Yusheng, I can only look after you.¡± He was truly afraid that someone would covet the genes carrying superpowers in his young lady¡¯s body, as greed, capable of devouring one¡¯s humanity, is indeed terrifying. Zhou Xufang patted his back, telling him not to worry, saying she would be very careful. ¡°Xu Fang.¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± Jiang Zhi slowed his pace even further, ¡°Do you like Xiao Yusheng a lot?¡± Considering they had also suffered together in their youth, although he himself was also her childhood friend, she did not remember things from before, only what happened after the laboratory. This fact made Jiang Zhi feel somewhat threatened. Zhou Xufang said honestly, ¡°When we were in the laboratory, we actually met very rarely, even fewer were the times we could really talk. We were sick friends, I don¡¯t know if we could be considered good friends.¡± But, Zhou Xufang mentioned, ¡°I like his singing.¡± Jiang Zhi added a statement, ¡°I don¡¯t sing well.¡± His tone was defeated, ¡°I am off-key.¡± In a tone that was unwilling but resigned, he admitted, ¡°I can¡¯t sing.¡± He had never been good at arts from a young age, be it singing, painting, or playing musical instruments; he could even be described as a complete mess. Zhou Xufang stopped in his tracks, his tone turning serious, ¡°Why would you compare yourself with him? How could it be the same? You¡¯re my boyfriend, and whether you can sing or not doesn¡¯t matter. My favorite singer, my favorite writer, my favorite artist, all combined, don¡¯t measure up to how much I like you. Moreover, it¡¯s not even the same.¡± They couldn¡¯t be compared at all. No one could be compared with Jiang Zhi. Jiang Zhi¡¯s arms were around her waist, standing by the roadside. There were hardly any people on the street at night, and under the streetlight, only their shadows were visible. He followed her gaze and asked her, ¡°How is it different?¡± She answered earnestly, ¡°I merely admire them, but you are different.¡± Jiang Zhi pressed further, ¡°How am I different?¡± Her face grew hot, and burying her head, she avoided his gaze, ¡°Don¡¯t ask when you already know the answer.¡± Yet, Jiang Zhi was relentless, cradling her face, ¡°I have to ask.¡± Zhou Xufang was too shy to say it out loud. When she didn¡¯t speak, he asked, ¡°Fang Bao, do you love me?¡± Still asking knowingly! Her ears burning, she didn¡¯t want to talk to him and just kept walking ahead. Jiang Zhi followed her, grabbed her hand, and wouldn¡¯t let her go, ¡°You¡¯ve never said it before.¡± He clung to her, pestering her, needing to know, ¡°Do you really love me?¡± Zhou Xufang blushed and, looking around to make sure no one else was there, tiptoed up to Jiang Zhi¡¯s ear, confessed her deep love for him, and after speaking, she felt embarrassed and stared at her toes. ¡°Fang Bao.¡± She looked up, her eyes bright, ¡°Hmm?¡± ¡°Will you marry me in the future?¡± Without a second thought, she said, ¡°Yes, I will.¡± He cautiously asked again, ¡°Are you sure?¡± Without hesitation, she affirmed, ¡°Sure.¡± Jiang Zhi smiled, his eyes bright as stars, seeming utterly content and proud, ¡°Then I won¡¯t hold back anymore.¡± Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t understand, ¡°Hold back what?¡± He leaned down and whispered something to her. Instantly, her face turned beet red. ¡°Don¡¯t say that anymore.¡± Jiang Zhi kissed her palm, smiling, ¡°Okay, I won¡¯t say it.¡± S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The two of them teased each other all the way; a short distance took them over ten minutes. Once in the car, Zhou Xufang asked, ¡°New Year¡¯s Eve is coming up, are you going back to the Jiang Family?¡± The festive atmosphere in the city was lackluster as New Year¡¯s Eve approached. Jiang Zhi replied, ¡°I have to go there for the New Year¡¯s Eve dinner.¡± It was a tradition established by the old lady, not only for holidays but even on the first and fifteenth of each month, everyone must return to the old house. Zhou Xufang hesitated, then asked Jiang Zhi, ¡°Will you take me with you?¡± He answered, ¡°No.¡± Her head drooped instantly, like a solitary quail. Jiang Zhi laughed and added the latter half of his statement, ¡°I¡¯ll sneak out to see you.¡± The quail found its flock again, bouncing joyously, ¡°Then you¡¯ll have to give me a New Year¡¯s gift.¡± Jiang Zhi moved closer, ¡°What if I give myself to you?¡± She pushed him away, ¡°No, I want money.¡± He ruffled her hair, messing it up, ¡°Okay okay okay, anything for you, my little ancestor.¡± The little ancestor hummed a song, beaming. At 11:30 p.m., Qiao Nanchu received a call from Jiang Zhi. ¡°Still not asleep?¡± Usually a person who slept around eight or nine, he thought about Jiang Zhi¡¯s health and felt obliged to give some unpleasant advice, ¡°Don¡¯t stay up too late.¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± ¡°What¡¯s all this fuss about, cut the nonsense.¡± Damn it, he had serious matters to discuss, ¡°I got into a fight tonight. Someone might have recorded it; please handle it for me.¡± Chapter 244: 244: Bao Yi confesses, Lixiang lays his cards on the table (3 updates) Chapter 244: 244: Bao Yi confesses, Lixiang lays his cards on the table (3 updates) ¡°I hit someone tonight, might have been photographed, help me handle it.¡± Qiao Nanchu¡¯s uncle is a big shot in the media industry. He said no problem and before hanging up, he also advised, ¡°Go to sleep early, need to keep the kidney healthy.¡± Jiang Zhi: Damn it! The next day, Xiao Yusheng dominated Weibo¡¯s hot search with all sorts of accurate predictions from Yang Xi about concert accidents and ignoring guests; a pile of negative news. Luckily, Xiao Yusheng¡¯s fans have high loyalty; they will never unfollow him, not in this lifetime. Oh, it¡¯s worth mentioning that beside Xiao Yusheng, there was another name that burst forth from the cracks. Fang Lixiang was sound asleep when her phone rang. She turned over, not wanting to deal, not knowing which annoying person kept calling. She stretched out a hand from under the covers, grabbed her phone, then retreated back, still half asleep, ¡°Hello¡­¡± ¡°Still sleeping?¡± It was her agent. Fang Lixiang yawned, crawling out from under the covers, ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± ¡°What¡¯s going on with you and Xia Hansong?¡± She scratched her hair, still groggy and confused, ¡°Xia Hansong? Who?¡± Lin Shang was speechless for a while, ¡°You went together to a concert, and you¡¯re asking me who?¡± A concert? Oh, right, she remembered. ¡°That Xiao Zimo?¡± Forgive her face blindness. In that idol boy group with a dozen boys, seven or eight of them looked so similar to her, with strikingly handsome features; she couldn¡¯t tell them apart in such a short time. ¡°What kind of mess is that?¡± Lin Shang got serious, ¡°I¡¯m asking you, how did you end up going to a concert with Xia Hansong?¡± What a misunderstanding! Fang Lixiang immediately clarified, ¡°Didn¡¯t go together, just ran into him on the way.¡± ¡°You got snapped by the paparazzi,¡± Lin Shang directed her to check Weibo, ¡°Just as the abortion scandal had died down, you got a new rumored boyfriend.¡± Fang Lixiang really couldn¡¯t understand, ¡°I was all covered up, how could I still get photographed? Have I become that famous?¡± Lin Shang brutally pointed out, ¡°The paparazzi weren¡¯t there for you, they were waiting for Xia Hansong.¡± Xia Hansong was a hot rising star. So, she was caught in the crossfire? Fang Lixiang scratched her head. ¡°What do I do now?¡± ¡°Get to the company quickly. Xia Hansong¡¯s agent is here, talking with the boss.¡± Xia Hansong¡¯s agent, Sun Yaoguang, was notoriously sly in the industry. Barely forty and already balding significantly, he had simply decided to shave his head, earning him the nickname¡ªSun Huatou. Sun Yaoguang had made many artists famous, especially adept at creating buzz. ¡°They¡¯re around the same age, have been on a couple of shows together, and the fans quite ship them, so with the rumors out now, there¡¯s no negative talk online. Might as well ride this momentum and stir things up,¡± Sun Yaoguang had everything planned, ¡°No need for real dating, just occasional interactions will do, even better if they really get together, but if not, we need to control the extent, over-hyping it can backfire.¡± He finished speaking. On the sofa across, Xue Baoyi was lounging comfortably, one leg stretched out and the other on the coffee table, not yet giving her opinion. Sun Yaoguang took a sip of tea, ¡°Young Master, what do you think?¡± He lazily responded, ¡°Not much.¡± Sun Yaoguang smiled, ¡°Young Master, what specifically do you find unsuitable?¡± ¡°Everything is unsuitable.¡± Young Master¡¯s tone indicated dissatisfaction and displeasure with everything. Sun Yaoguang was all ears. ¡°Fang Lixiang is an acting talent, she has a high profile destined for the big screen. If you want to stir up a CP with her, sure,¡± Xue Baoyi raised an eyebrow, ¡°Let your artist win a Best Actor first, doesn¡¯t even have a notable work and already wants to tie up with a movie star?¡± Aren¡¯t your artists a match for ours? That was the implied message. So, Xia Hansong might be a top influencer, but in Young Master¡¯s mouth, he amounted to nothing? Sun Yaoguang guessed that his artist must have unintentionally offended the gentleman. He awkwardly tried to persuade, ¡°Young Master, would you reconsider? The Xue Family now oversees Huayu, we are all family here, this mutually beneficial tactic¡ª¡± Xue Baoyi: ¡°Mutually beneficial my ass.¡± Sun Yaoguang: ¡°¡­¡± Even he couldn¡¯t be slick when dealing with this bandit. With disdain, Xue the Bandit said, ¡°Who is your family, do you have the surname Xue?¡± He snorted, ¡°Or does Xia Hansong have the surname Xue?¡± This tyrant! Sun Yaoguang tried to placate him with a smile, ¡°Third Young Master is surnamed Xue.¡± Back when Jin Song and Jin Lei were feuding, Mr. Xue had stepped in and gained control over the Jin Family, and since then he had been managing the business. Huayu was just one of their talent agencies. Mr. Xue, being a busy man of high status, naturally didn¡¯t manage things in great detail. But this tyrant was his nephew, about which Sun Yaoguang thought invoking Mr. Xue would do some good, but the tyrant simply didn¡¯t bite. He was impervious to persuasion and simply stated, ¡°Let Xue Bingxue talk to me about it.¡± Dare not, Third Young Master didn¡¯t bother with these matters at all. Xue Baoyi, losing her patience, waved him away like shooing a fly: ¡°Get out, get out, you¡¯re just annoying.¡± Sun Yaoguang: ¡°¡­¡± What had he done to deserve this? Aside from the office, Sun Yaoguang pulled Xiao Zhuang aside: ¡°Assistant Chen, has Young Master had any issues lately? Why is he so irritable?¡± Talking about this fake couple ordeal, it was clearly a win-win. One lacked popularity, the other lacked resources, wasn¡¯t it a perfect match? Disagreeing is one thing, but why get angry? Xiao Zhuang himself was also at a loss: ¡°I guess so, he¡¯s been really irritable these past few days.¡± Sun Yaoguang was puzzled: ¡°There aren¡¯t many in the capital who dare to offend him, who would have the guts?¡± Xiao Zhuang, with his plump, rosy-cheeked face glowing, said: ¡°Don¡¯t know who it is, but I respect the man.¡± ¡°And also,¡± Sun Yaoguang inquired further, ¡°what¡¯s the deal with Fang Lixiang? It¡¯s just creating a fake couple, does Young Master really need to personally intervene?¡± Baoguang had no less than dozens of female artists, was Young Master just bored out of his mind, not busy investing in films but fussing over a minor artist? Xiao Zhuang thought to himself: ¡°It¡¯s because she¡¯s a Weaver. Young Master has a good relationship with Director Jiang, of course, he would take care of her.¡± Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Sun Yaoguang rubbed his bald head: ¡°Just don¡¯t end up taking care of her in bed.¡± Right behind them, Fang Lixiang: ¡°¡­¡± Who said anything about taking it to the bed?! It blatantly took place in the bathtub! Lin Shang heard this too and reassured her with a line: ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it, Old Sun just has a loose mouth, he¡¯s not a bad person.¡± The two returned to Lin Shang¡¯s office. Fang Lixiang was down with a severe cold these days; she hadn¡¯t visited the hospital and was just bearing with it, somewhat lacking in spirit: ¡°How did it go?¡± While Sun Yaoguang and Xue Baoyi were inside talking, Lin Shang was outside and knew exactly what was going on, but as her agent, she had no say. ¡°The boss disagrees with creating a fake couple, both sides will clarify the rumors.¡± Fang Lixiang was satisfied with the outcome: ¡°So I¡¯m done here, can I go back?¡± She had been particularly sleepy lately because of her cold. Lin Shang asked her, ¡°When do you start work?¡± She, looking listless, said, ¡°It¡¯s almost New Year, I¡¯ll take the new year break first.¡± Lin Shang, noticing her poor condition and slightly thinner frame, asked, ¡°Feeling any better? What did the doctor say?¡± Xue Baoyi barged in without knocking: ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you?¡± Fang Lixiang, curled up on the sofa, glanced at him but didn¡¯t respond. Lin Shang, sharp-eyed, pretended to take a call: ¡°I¡¯ve got some things to handle, I¡¯ll be off then.¡± She left first, closing the door behind her. Now only the two of them were left in the room, Fang Lixiang felt somewhat uncomfortable. Xue Baoyi also didn¡¯t quite know what to say. He could clearly sense this ¡¯employee¡¯ had been quite temperamental lately, and inexplicably felt a bit intimidated by her, not knowing why he felt guilty, but he just felt very guilty. It was like inadvertently blowing her up in a game, leaving him disoriented and subordinate-like. Alright, why bother competing with a woman, he asked, ¡°The place where the dog bit you, has it healed?¡± Fang Lixiang responded with a non-committal grunt. Seeing that she was ill, Xue Baoyi didn¡¯t take it to heart and showed care for his employee, ¡°Where did it bite you, let me see.¡± He had just taken a step forward. Fang Lixiang immediately backed away: ¡°Boss, men and women should not touch hands.¡± Making him seem like some lothario, Xue Baoyi was annoyed: ¡°Am I going to eat you up? If you don¡¯t want to show, then don¡¯t, who cares to see!¡± ¡°That Xia Hansong, did you really go to the concert with him?¡± This sentence came out accusatory, as if interrogating her. Fang Lixiang defiantly said, ¡°Can¡¯t I?¡± Xue Baoyi immediately said, ¡°No way.¡± She then found a reason, and spoke with righteous indignation, ¡°The company has a rule that female artists in their rising period cannot date.¡± Using the rules to make your point, huh? Baoguang owns it, so what he says goes. Fang Lixiang was already feeling frustrated, but this blatant obstruction made her even more annoyed, and she couldn¡¯t help arguing back, ¡°Your exact words were that secret dating is not allowed, we need to report it to you.¡± Xue Baoyi¡¯s expression became dangerous, ¡°Are you reporting to me now?¡± She didn¡¯t deny it, ¡°Do you approve?¡± ¡°I do not approve.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Is that it? Not approved, then what? Surely you aren¡¯t going to date in secret, are you? Xue Baoyi felt extremely uncomfortable just thinking about that possibility, ¡°You don¡¯t really like that pretty boy, do you?¡± A pretty boy is better than a jerk who forgets you right after rolling in the sheets! She no longer wanted to talk to the jerk, ¡°This is my personal matter.¡± Xue Baoyi felt she was defending the pretty boy, and it made him quite uncomfortable, feeling like ¡®the cabbage he planted was about to get eaten by someone else¡¯s pig.¡¯ That pig, Han Song! Xue Baoyi couldn¡¯t hold it back any longer, ¡°What¡¯s so great about that pretty boy anyway? Whiny, his singing sucks, his dancing is mediocre, and let¡¯s not even talk about his acting, it¡¯s total dog shit.¡± Fang Lixiang: ¡°¡­¡± Dog shit is a bit much, although it is pretty cringe. ¡°He¡¯s got a handsome face.¡± Xue Baoyi scoffed, ¡°Brother Zhi¡¯s face could leave him in the dust by thousands of miles!¡± Fang Lixiang felt he was being unreasonable, ¡°If that¡¯s all, I¡¯ll be leaving now.¡± She said and left, out of sight, out of mind. With a slam, she also shut the door behind her. Is she revolting or what?! Xue Baoyi felt this employee had grown too bold recently, just like she had equipped a Level 3 Head and Level 3 Armor in the game and dared to roam anywhere in the battleground. He opened the Weibo group chat. The handsomest man in the capital: ¡°Got a question for you guys.¡± Qiao Nanchu: ¡°Speak.¡± It would be too embarrassing to say he was rendered helpless by a woman, so Xue Baoyi changed how he said it. The handsomest man in the capital: ¡°We¡¯ve got a cat at home, used to be very well-behaved and obedient, but recently it keeps baring its teeth at me, what¡¯s going on?¡± Qiao Nanchu: ¡°It disdains you.¡± The handsomest man in the capital: ¡°That¡¯s not it!¡± He¡¯s so handsome and stylish! The handsomest man in the capital: ¡°We used to have a good relationship.¡± Xue Bingxue chimed in. I¡¯m a little snowflake: ¡°Doesn¡¯t your mom have a cat allergy? Since when did you have a cat?¡± Oh, he had forgotten that detail in his story. The handsomest man in the capital: ¡°A relative¡¯s.¡± He hurriedly fumbled his way through in case his uncle asked which relative. The handsomest man in the capital: ¡°Let¡¯s not get sidetracked, just teach me how to train that cat to be nice and obedient again.¡± Qiao Nanchu: ¡°Never had a cat, don¡¯t know.¡± Jiang Zhi joined in. My girlfriend Fangbao: ¡°Hit it.¡± How crude! The handsomest man in the capital: ¡°My relative cherishes that cat, can¡¯t hit it.¡± You can¡¯t hit or scold a girl who won¡¯t listen. I¡¯m a little snowflake: ¡°Then lure it with treats.¡± The handsomest man in the capital: ¡°She¡¯s ignoring me.¡± I am a Little Snowflake: ¡°Her?¡± The handsomest man in the capital: ¡°Typo.¡± The handsomest man in the capital: ¡°It won¡¯t listen to me.¡± Almost gave it away. My girlfriend Fangbao: ¡°You should beat up your relative.¡± My girlfriend Fangbao: ¡°One beating isn¡¯t enough, beat them again.¡± Look at this person! Has a beautiful face, but why such a venomous heart? The handsomest man in the capital: ¡°Let¡¯s not always talk about beatings and killings. We are all civilized people.¡± Jiang Zhi sent a picture of a Gouzi. The handsomest man in the capital: ¡°Let me put it this way, if it were your girlfriend who wasn¡¯t listening, how would you handle it?¡± Comparing to a cat doesn¡¯t seem right, comparing to a girlfriend is more fitting, they¡¯re both people after all. My girlfriend Fangbao: ¡°Ours is very well-behaved.¡± Qiao Nanchu: ¡°Ours is well-behaved too.¡± I am a Little Snowflake: [I am a Jealous Spirit] GIF. Didn¡¯t find out anything useful, even got fed dog food twice, Xue Baoyi felt very uncomfortable, sitting on the sofa pondering, she didn¡¯t really fall for that pretty boy, did she? It¡¯s not his business, doesn¡¯t matter. Damn it! Angrily, he kicked the table and ran outside. Fang Lixiang¡¯s car had just pulled out of the parking spot, when suddenly, someone dashed across the road in front of her; she immediately hit the brakes, her heart skipped a beat. Xue Baoyi, running hard, steadied herself on the car gasping: ¡°Almost got killed by you.¡± Fang Lixiang got furious: ¡°Then why did you run into it?¡± Normally messing around was one thing, but this was life-threatening! Xue Baoyi even felt justified: ¡°Would you have stopped if I hadn¡¯t hit you?¡± Of course not! He walked up to the car window, sweating from the run, forehead still damp, ¡°Give me a straight answer, do you really like that surnamed Xia, pretty boy?¡± His tone was serious. Fang Lixiang wound down the car window, good, she wanted a straightforward answer too: ¡°Xue Baoyi, are you trying to seduce me?¡± Xue Baoyi, one hand propped on her car roof, rebutted quickly and decisively: ¡°No.¡± ¡°What do you really want then?¡± He suddenly leaned in, looking at her through the window, and blurted out: ¡°I want to chase you.¡± He surprised himself with his own words. It was over, he really had lost his wits, didn¡¯t even know when it started. Fang Lixiang was taken aback by his gaze. He still leaned over, eyes level with hers, his tone not as rough as usual: ¡°Not logging into the game, blocked on WeChat, and unwilling to talk to me. Do you know?¡± Otherwise, he couldn¡¯t explain why her attitude had suddenly changed. She said: ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°When did you find out?¡± He hadn¡¯t slipped up in the game, had kept his voice controlled. Fang Lixiang didn¡¯t want to beat around the bush and spoke directly: ¡°The night you were set up by Bai Li, I saw your memo.¡± Xue Baoyi understood. It was since that night that, like growing claws, she started scratching at him. ¡°What about you?¡± Fang Lixiang countered him, ¡°When did you find out?¡± Xue Baoyi felt a bit unsure: ¡°I knew from the start.¡± He saw her expression, even faltered, his voice grew softer, ¡°I saw your game interface on the set.¡± He had been pretending for three months. Thinking of how she had indirectly asked him if he had a girlfriend, even considering an online relationship with him, she felt like a fool: ¡°Is it fun playing me? Is it fun seeing me split between the game and reality?¡± Xue Baoyi had never seen her so fiercely spoken, got a bit flustered, and immediately explained: ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to deceive you. At first, I thought if I told you, you wouldn¡¯t game with me. Later, as we grew closer, it became hard to bring it up; I was afraid you¡¯d be angry if I did.¡± How could she not be angry? She was furious! She didn¡¯t want to talk to him anymore. Seeing her like this, Xue Baoyi couldn¡¯t muster any boldness, his voice soft and lacking confidence: ¡°Are you angry with me these past few days because of this?¡± She thought for a few seconds: ¡°No.¡± Chapter 245: 245: New Years Eve Dog Food - The Pinnacle of Jiang Zhis Life (4 updates) Chapter 245: 245: New Year¡¯s Eve Dog Food ¨C The Pinnacle of Jiang Zhi¡¯s Life (4 updates) She thought for a few seconds, ¡°No.¡± Although she was angry that he deceived her, what made her even more furious was that he had completely forgotten what happened in the bathtub. Xue Baoyi was still clueless, ¡°Then why?¡± The nerve to even ask. She was too ashamed to say it, ¡°Wait until you know what I¡¯m angry about, then come talk to me.¡± Where was he supposed to find out? ¡°Xue Baoyi.¡± ¡°Mm.¡± Feeling his full name being called out felt pretty good, he probably, like his Uncle Xue Bingxue, was a bit of a masochist. Fang Lixiang hesitated to ask, looking away at something else, ¡°When you said you wanted to pursue me, were you serious?¡± It wasn¡¯t that she was overly suspicious, but this guy had too many priors! Every other day, he was either bringing a girl to a hotel to play mahjong or taking a girl to the beach for a swim. In the rake¡¯s ledger of Imperial City, if he was second, no one dared claim the first spot. Xue Baoyi suddenly became earnest, ¡°Do you think I¡¯m joking?¡± She didn¡¯t know if he was joking, but she never played with emotions, ¡°I don¡¯t like toying with feelings. If you provoke me, get ready to take responsibility. If you can¡¯t settle down, then don¡¯t come and shake my resolve.¡± Having made her stance clear, she rolled up the car window and drove away. On New Year¡¯s Eve, the snow that had been falling for several days stopped, and the morning even saw a bit of sunshine, melting half of the snow. In the morning, Jiang Zhi accompanied Zhou Xufang to buy some New Year¡¯s goods, mostly food, as well as some festive items. Zhou Xufang also picked out a potted tangerine tree, symbolizing good fortune and attracting wealth. The tree was laden with bright oranges, which looked appetizing to Zhou Xufang, but the seller said the fruits weren¡¯t edible. She placed the potted tree outside in the hallway, hanging red envelopes on it with auspicious numbers written on bills inside each one. It was Zhou Xufang¡¯s first time doing this, and she found it quite novel. Just after lunch, Zhou Xufang urged Jiang Zhi to hang up the couplets. His arms and legs were long, and he could reach the top of the door just by stepping on a stool. He compared the placement against the doorframe and then asked Zhou Xufang, ¡°Is it crooked?¡± Zhou Xufang was squatting on the ground, steadying the stool, looking up at the crosspiece on the door, ¡°The left side is a little higher.¡± So Jiang Zhi lowered the left side a bit, ¡°How about now?¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine now.¡± Jiang Zhi affixed the red couplets with black characters and turned around to see Zhou Xufang reaching out her hands to him. ¡°What are you doing?¡± Her expression was serious, her movements proper, ¡°I¡¯m scared you¡¯ll fall.¡± Jiang Zhi, standing on the stool, looked at the girl doing her best to catch him, amused, ¡°This stool is only twenty centimeters tall.¡± With his height over one meter eighty, would he really fall from a twenty-centimeter-tall stool? ¡°I¡¯m still worried you¡¯ll fall.¡± Zhou Xufang was unrelenting, stretching her arms out in readiness to catch him. Jiang Zhi stepped down with one foot, embracing the silly girl who had come to support his waist, ¡°Did you rub honey on your lips? You always say what I want to hear.¡± He kissed her on the lips. ¡°Jiang Zhi,¡± she placed her hands on his shoulders, ¡°today is New Year¡¯s.¡± Behind her was the tangerine tree, with the bright oranges growing right behind her head. Because it was New Year¡¯s, she wore a bright red sweatshirt, standing on her tiptoes, the shirt hiked up, revealing the red sweater underneath. She said it was festive to wear that way. ¡°I¡¯m very happy.¡± You could tell, she had been smiling since the morning. Jiang Zhi straightened her clothes, ¡°Why are you so happy?¡± She hugged his neck, planting kisses on his face, ¡°I used to spend it alone, without hanging couplets, without having a New Year¡¯s Eve dinner, with no one to accompany me.¡± But this year was different; this year she had Jiang Zhi. He led her into the house. The house had many more pieces of furniture now, and many of his belongings, not as cold and empty as before. After his arrival, her room came alive with the warmth of human life. ¡°At three, I¡¯ve got plans with Baoyi,¡± There was still an hour to go. She didn¡¯t speak, her chin resting on his shoulder. Jiang Zhi whispered in her ear, his voice low, ¡°Shall we go to the bathroom?¡± She obediently replied, ¡°Sure.¡± At three o¡¯clock, Jiang Zhi pushed aside Xue Baoyi¡¯s game, and the cellphone on the sink began to ring, a call from Qiao Nanchu. Jiang Zhi freed one hand to answer. ¡°What are you doing?¡± The sound of running water echoed in the bathroom. ¡°If it¡¯s important, just say it.¡± Qiao Nanchu teased, ¡°Am I interrupting something?¡± The water was still running, and Jiang Zhi, lacking patience for idle chat, curtly said, ¡°If you have nothing to say, I¡¯m hanging up.¡± Qiao Nanchu got down to business, ¡°Are you going to the Jiang family¡¯s tonight?¡± ¡°Mmhmm.¡± His answer was distracted. Guessing that Zhou Xufang was probably next to him, Qiao Nanchu cut to the chase, ¡°I also need to go back to the old man¡¯s place for New Year¡¯s Eve dinner. Send Zhou Xufang over to my girlfriend¡¯s place so they can have some company.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll ask her.¡± Jiang Zhi covered the phone¡¯s mouthpiece and asked Zhou Xufang, ¡°Do you want to go?¡± She leaned against the sink and nodded. Jiang Zhi put the phone to his ear and told Qiao Nanchu, ¡°I¡¯ll bring her over at five.¡± After he hung up, he turned off the tap and handed Zhou Xufang a dry towel to wipe her hands, which were small, with very slender fingers. Her palms were red. Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Zhou Xufang looked down, too shy to meet his gaze. He smiled and kissed her hand. Because Jiang Zhi hadn¡¯t attended Xue Baoyi¡¯s invitation, he was nagged at length for forgetting his brothers now that he had a wife. Feeling amiable, Jiang Zhi took it all and offered no rebuttals. At five in the afternoon, he dropped Zhou Xufang off at Wen Baiyang¡¯s residential complex. Upon reaching Wen Baiyang¡¯s floor, Jiang Zhi decided not to go any further, ¡°I won¡¯t come in.¡± He handed her the gift box he was holding, ¡°This is a gift for Qiao Nanchu¡¯s girlfriend.¡± Zhou Xufang nodded, ¡°Are you heading back to the Jiang family now?¡± She was reluctant to see him go. Jiang Zhi touched her wind-chilled, reddened cheek, ¡°Yes, the old lady is already urging me.¡± Zhou Xufang let go of her embrace, her eyes brimming with reluctance, ¡°The roads are snowy, please be careful when driving.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Jiang Zhi instructed her, ¡°Don¡¯t go home by yourself after dinner; I¡¯ll come to pick you up once I¡¯m finished over there.¡± Zhou Xufang agreed, then added, ¡°If your grandma won¡¯t let you leave, don¡¯t argue with her. If you can¡¯t come out, I¡¯ll come find you at the Jiang¡¯s.¡± ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll do as you say.¡± Jiang Zhi stood in the corridor, ¡°Go inside.¡± He wanted to wait until she entered before leaving. Wen Baiyang¡¯s door was just four or five meters ahead, and Zhou Xufang walked toward it hesitantly, constantly looking back. Jiang Zhi chuckled, then pulled her back to his side, ¡°You¡¯ll miss me that much?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± She would miss him terribly. Jiang Zhi bent down to kiss her. At that moment, a mother and son emerged from a neighboring home, walking right into the scene. The little boy, only three or four, at that curious yet oblivious age, stared wide-eyed, ¡°Mommy, what are those two people doing?¡± The young mother shielded her child¡¯s eyes with her hand, ¡°Baby, close your eyes, you shouldn¡¯t look.¡± The little boy sounded scared, on the verge of tears, ¡°I just saw it, mommy, am I going to get a sty?¡±) Zhou Xufang was mortified, burying her face in Jiang Zhi¡¯s embrace, unable to lift her head as he laughed. After loitering for a while longer, Jiang Zhi left. Zhou Xufang knocked on Wen Baiyang¡¯s door and, remembering she couldn¡¯t hear, sent a text message; soon after, Wen Baiyang came to open the door. Wen Baiyang¡¯s home was warmly decorated, filled with many handcrafted doodads she¡¯d made. Because it was New Year¡¯s, most of them were festive red. She was the most dexterous and spiritually gifted girl Zhou Xufang had ever seen. ¡°Happy New Year,¡± Zhou Xufang greeted. Wen Baiyang replied in sign language, ¡°Happy New Year.¡± Zhou Xufang remembered this sign. She had a good memory; she could recall most of the signs that Wen Baiyang showed her one or two times and understand simple everyday conversations. Only more complicated matters required Wen Baiyang to write by hand. ¡°I¡¯ve made some tea, would you like some?¡± Zhou Xufang said, ¡°Yes.¡± Wen Baiyang, wrapped in a scarf, went to the dining table to bring over the teapot and a few boxes of snacks, all of which she had made herself, arranged exquisitely on the plates. Zhou Xufang took a sip of the warm tea, ¡°It¡¯s very tasty.¡± Wen Baiyang typed on her phone, ¡°I made it myself, and there¡¯s plenty more. Would you like to take some home to drink?¡± Zhou Xufang nodded, ¡°Thank you.¡± She tasted a piece of the snack, and it too was particularly good. Her good friend was not only gifted and dexterous with her hands but also particularly good at cooking. Whoever married such a girl must have amassed a fortune of good karma over many lifetimes. The dexterous and culinarily skilled Wen Baiyang pointed towards the kitchen. Zhou Xufang stood up from the sofa, ¡°I¡¯ll help you.¡± ¡°Then help me pick the vegetables.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± By seven o¡¯clock in the evening, the whole Jiang family had arrived, and people from a few side branches had also come. Two tables were set up in the main hall, covered with various nuts and snacks. Old Lady Jiang had someone brew two pots of Da Hong Pao and chatted leisurely with a few of the elders from the side branches. The younger generation sat properly, either listening quietly or chiming in with the conversation. Only Jiang Zhi was the least concerned about manners, slouching carelessly, head bowed, not looking up for a long time. Old Lady Jiang called out to him, ¡°Brother Zhi.¡± ¡°Um.¡± He didn¡¯t look up but responded verbally. If it were someone else, Old Madam would have been angry by now, but she couldn¡¯t bring herself to scold this grandson, ¡°What are you doing? Why are you always looking at your phone?¡± Jiang Zhi replied, ¡°I¡¯m busy with something.¡± Zhou Xufang said she was making dumplings at Wen Baiyang¡¯s place and asked him what kind of filling he liked to eat. Not mentioning what he was busy with, Old Madam assumed it was business affairs, ¡°It¡¯s the New Year; put the work aside.¡± Jiang Zhi responded to Zhou Xufang with, ¡°Whatever you make is fine.¡± Only then did he put his phone down. After more idle chatter, Old Lady Jiang instructed the servants to clear the tables and set up for the meal. During this interlude, she addressed the Jiang family, ¡°I have something to tell you.¡± Jiang Weikai, sitting to Old Madam¡¯s right, said, ¡°Mother, please speak.¡± The younger members also listened attentively. Old Madam took her seat, dressed in a bright red embroidered robe, her hair done up in a bun secured with a jade pin, holding a hand warmer. The elderly lady exuded vitality and keenness, her eyes sharp, ¡°After the spring, when Brother Zhi is feeling better, I plan to transfer all the company shares under his father¡¯s name back to him.¡± Before the Old Sir of Jiang Family passed away, the Jiang family¡¯s shares were divided into six parts, one for the wife and one for each of the five children. Jiang Zhi¡¯s father passed away early, and the shares for their third branch had always been managed by Old Lady Jiang. After Jiang Zhi came of age, Old Madam had mentioned letting Jiang Zhi take over, but since he had gone off to become a director, the matter had been on hold for so long. Luo Changfang from the second branch chimed in with Old Madam, ¡°That¡¯s good, Xiaolin will have someone to help him and lighten his load.¡± A veiled reference to the main branch holding too much power. With one comment, the focus shifted to the main branch, but neither father nor son from the main branch said anything. Jiang Weikai had entered officialdom and did not get involved in business affairs, while Jiang Xiaolin was someone who could keep his composure; his emotions never showed on the surface, keeping everything under wraps. Old Madam didn¡¯t criticize the main branch, just said, ¡°Whether he takes a position in the company, we will see. However,¡± her gaze swept over everyone present, and then she stated decisively, ¡°even if he doesn¡¯t join the company, any company movements that should be reported to him still need to be reported. Don¡¯t forget that.¡± Jiang Xiaolin and Jiang Fuli, who held authority, both nodded in acknowledgment. ¡°Lin,¡± Old Madam suddenly turned to the eldest grandson, ¡°I heard from your father that you haven¡¯t been to any matchmaking meetings?¡± Jiang Xiaolin paused in his tea-drinking, frowning. The Jiang family had deep roots and still held many old values and practices. As the eldest son of the main family, Jiang Xiaolin¡¯s marriage had always been pushed urgently. The older generation of the Jiang Family did not advocate for marrying late. One should marry at a proper age and then establish a career. The eldest son beside Old Madam spoke up, clearly annoyed, ¡°It irks me to speak of this.¡± Jiang Weikai glared at his disobedient son, ¡°The boy stood the girl up, and I still can¡¯t face President Zhang to this day.¡± The girl in question was the daughter of a banking family, whose looks and demeanor Old Madam had seen and approved of; both her appearance and conduct were impeccable. She asked her eldest grandson, ¡°You weren¡¯t satisfied with Miss Zhang from the Zhang family?¡± Jiang Xiaolin didn¡¯t let on, ¡°There¡¯s no rush on this matter.¡± Dressed in formal attire, he looked cultured and confident as he casually tossed the conversation to the person across from him, ¡°Fifth Aunt isn¡¯t even married yet, so it¡¯s early days for me to be setting up a household.¡± Jiang Wei¡¯er: ¡°¡­¡± She crushed a peanut in her hand, just like Jiang Zhi, she was also the bluntest little ancestor in the family, ¡°What¡¯s it got to do with me!¡± She cast a cool glance at Jiang Xiaolin, ¡°Lin, that¡¯s not very nice of you, dragging me into this.¡± Jiang Xiaolin just smiled without replying. At that moment, the second oldest Jiang Weili chimed in, half teasing yet serious, ¡°Lin¡¯s not wrong, Wei¡¯er, I think the third of the Xue Family is quite good, why not give it a try?¡± The elders all understood the implications regarding the third son of the Xue Family towards Jiang Wei¡¯er, their thoughts as clear as a mirror. Jiang Wei¡¯er wasn¡¯t happy with her private matters being discussed so openly and got a bit angry, ¡°What¡¯s the meaning of this, on New Year¡¯s Day of all days? Can¡¯t we just have a peaceful meal?¡± Old Lady Jiang cut off the topic and ordered the servants to start serving the meal. Before a few bites were eaten, Jiang Zhi started coughing, weakened and drained by the bout, he leaned listlessly against the chair. Old Lady Jiang saw his flushed cheeks and became very concerned, ¡°Are you feeling unwell?¡± His eyes were slightly moist, his coughing had made his ears turn red, and his face had flushed, but his lips were pale, he replied weakly to the Old Madam, ¡°It¡¯s cold, feeling a bit sleepy.¡± The old lady quickly said, ¡°Then you should go rest first, I¡¯ll have someone bring dinner to your room.¡± ¡°No need to bring it, I can¡¯t eat.¡± He pushed himself up, wrapped tightly in his thick coat, ¡°I¡¯m going to sleep. Keep the firecrackers further away later, don¡¯t disturb me.¡± Old Lady Jiang agreed and had someone escort him back to his room. ¡°Cough, cough, cough, cough, cough¡­¡± As he walked, he kept coughing, his hanging hands slightly curled, the tips of his fingers reddened, the pale skin beneath showing barely visible blue veins. A relative from a side branch hesitated to speak, ¡°Brother Zhi¡¯s health¡ª¡± His words were left unfinished, stilled by Old Lady Jiang¡¯s stern gaze. ¡®Unwell¡¯ Jiang Zhi returned to his room, locked the door, and messaged Zhou Xufang on WeChat. Fangbao¡¯s Boyfriend: ¡°Have you finished eating?¡± Zhou Xufang replied quickly. Fangbao: ¡°Not yet.¡± Fangbao: ¡°Bai Yang made a lot of dishes.¡± Fangbao: ¡°What about you, have you eaten?¡± Fangbao¡¯s Boyfriend: ¡°I¡¯m not hungry, want to see you.¡± He couldn¡¯t stomach a meal with the Jiang Family around, their minds buzzing like a hornet¡¯s nest. Fangbao: ¡°Can you make it out?¡± Jiang Zhi walked to the door, listening for a moment, then replied to Zhou Xufang, ¡°I¡¯m coming to find you now.¡± Knowing he was coming made Zhou Xufang very happy, who sent a grinning emoji. Fangbao: ¡°Bai Yang made a lot of dumplings, shall I cook some for you when I get home?¡± Fangbao¡¯s Boyfriend: ¡°Okay.¡± Before Jiang Zhi left, he made sure to lock his room securely, instructing the servants that no one was to disturb him, and then left through the back door. Just as he stepped across the threshold, someone called out to him. ¡°Brother Zhi.¡± It was Jiang Fuxi, holding an umbrella. She walked over, ¡°It¡¯s going to snow, take the umbrella with you.¡± Jiang Zhi¡¯s tone was neither warm nor cold, ¡°No need, I have one in the car.¡± Her hand holding the umbrella gripped tighter. On this overcast day, Jiang Zhi stood under the bright red lanterns, his tall figure casting a long shadow. His skin was pale, the light casting a faint blush on his face while his eyes held an intense depth, radiating a distant coolness, ¡°Don¡¯t tell grandma you¡¯ve seen me here.¡± She said, ¡°I know.¡± Jiang Zhi then left. She called out to him, ¡°Are you going to see Zhou Xufang?¡± He replied, displeased, ¡°Mind your own business.¡± He had never been warm to her. Jiang Fuxi didn¡¯t ask any further, only saying, ¡°Be careful on your way.¡± He turned and walked away, growing more distant with each step. Chapter 248: 248: Textile Completion, Chasing Wife in Ice and Snow (7 updates) Chapter 248: 248: Textile Completion, Chasing Wife in Ice and Snow (7 updates) Jiang Zhi was always good at acting charming, especially when she wanted to be coddled and cared for: ¡°Shall we go home? You can apply medicine for me then.¡± He was doing it on purpose, using both the suffering strategy and the beauty strategy. Zhou Xufang sighed and suppressed her anger, ¡°Alright.¡± The blood in her eyes slowly faded. The child¡¯s parents were setting off fireworks in an empty part of the square. Zhou Xufang looked around, no one noticed her, she took a coin from her pocket, aimed at the ongoing fireworks, found the right angle, avoided the crowd, and ensured it wouldn¡¯t harm the innocent before she threw the coin. Bang! The fireworks fell over, but the base was made heavy, not shooting randomly, and accurately shot onto an unoccupied car. The family of three who were setting the fireworks didn¡¯t dare to approach, hurriedly hiding, could only watch as the fireworks continually hit the car windows. Sure enough, not long after, the owner of the car came shouting over. Zhou Xufang took out her phone and made a call: ¡°I want to report.¡± Her tone was serious and strict, ¡°This is People¡¯s Square, there are people illegally setting off fireworks.¡± Right across from her, there was a banner, the banner with red background and black letters read two sentences: ¡°Imperial City is my home, community compliance is up to us all!¡± The report number was 011100********. Note: In public areas, it is strictly forbidden to set off fireworks. You¡¯re asking if it¡¯s okay in private areas? Of course, it¡¯s not! Below is an example of significant damage caused by fireworks within a private residence to show you. Jiang Family had a tradition of staying up on New Year¡¯s Eve, and it was almost midnight, with lights brightly lit all around the house. Jiang Wei¡¯er hadn¡¯t slept, on such lively nights, she always found it easy to think of people from the past lying in bed, staring at the light, her eyes soon became sore. Outside the door, a servant called her, ¡°Fifth Miss.¡± Jiang Wei¡¯er closed her eyes, feeling a burning sensation: ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± ¡°Third Young Master from the Xue Family is here.¡± She glanced at the old wall clock, fifteen minutes to the New Year, ¡°Tell him I¡¯ve gone to sleep.¡± ¡°Wei¡¯er, I heard it all,¡± came the voice of Xue Bingxue, low and weak, carrying a hint of grievance. Jiang Wei¡¯er: ¡°¡­¡± Ever since that guy daringly kissed her, he¡¯s been getting bolder, not sure where he learned it from, acting like he¡¯s in his rebellious phase, rebellious to the bone. Jiang Wei¡¯er felt a bit annoyed, she grabbed her hair and went to open the door, not sounding very pleasant: ¡°It¡¯s so late, why aren¡¯t you at home celebrating the New Year, why come to my place?¡± Xue Bingxue¡¯s skin was delicate, reddened by the wind, appeared somewhat foolish: ¡°Came to set off fireworks for you.¡± He said, ¡°Your older brother said you like them.¡± Jiang Wei¡¯er was speechless with her straight brother: ¡°That was when I was eight, I¡¯m twenty-eight now.¡± Hearing this, Xue Bingxue seemed particularly defeated, his youthful baby-face looking harmlessly pitiful. Jiang Wei¡¯er felt a bit sorry: ¡°Did you bring it?¡± He immediately looked up, eyes shining: ¡°Mmm.¡± So annoying! Jiang Wei¡¯er went in to get a coat: ¡°Since you brought them, let¡¯s just set them off.¡± The Jiang Mansion was large, the old lady had not yet gone to sleep, worried about disturbing others, Jiang Wei¡¯er led Xue Bingxue to the spacious backyard. He carried the fireworks with both hands and stopped, then said to Jiang Wei¡¯er: ¡°Wei¡¯er, wait here, I¡¯ll go light them.¡± Jiang Wei¡¯er acknowledged with ¡°Mmm.¡± Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Xue Bingxue, cautious of harming people, specially moved to a distant place in the backyard to set them off, far away and lacking street lamps, Jiang Wei¡¯er couldn¡¯t see what was happening and after a long while, she heard no noise. She asked, ¡°Did you light it?¡± Xue Bingxue replied, ¡°Not yet.¡± After a while, still no noise. Jiang Wei¡¯er didn¡¯t know what he was up to, it was just lighting a firework, so slow: ¡°Did you light it?¡± Xue Bingxue: ¡°No.¡± Another moment passed. ¡°Did you light it or not?¡± His voice was very soft: ¡°Almost there.¡± Oh right, Xue Bingxue had been timid since he was small, like a delicate white flower, frightened by countless things, when she threw a worm into his backpack at the age of eight, it made him cry. No wonder Xue Baoyi always said he was foolishly sweet. ¡°Are you scared? Let me do it.¡± ¡°¡­Not scared,¡± his voice grew louder, ¡°Don¡¯t come here.¡± Fine, she didn¡¯t care anymore, let¡¯s see how long he could fuss, she crossed her arms and waited. Half a minute passed, suddenly, there was the sound of fireworks exploding, one after another. ¡°Bang, bang, bang¡­¡± Jiang Wei¡¯er heard dozens of noises, but didn¡¯t see a single firework in the sky, and when the noise stopped, Xue Bingxue finally came back, looking defeated, head hung low like an ostrich that had done something wrong. ¡°Finished?¡± Xue Bingxue: ¡°Mmm.¡± Jiang Wei¡¯er was puzzled: ¡°Where did you put them? I didn¡¯t see them.¡± She only heard the sounds, didn¡¯t see any sparks. Xue Bingxue raised her head for a glance, then lowered it again, explaining with little confidence, ¡°I tripped over the rope that was tying the fireworks together. It fell over.¡± Jiang Wei¡¯er: ¡°And then?¡± He was extremely embarrassed, ¡°They all shot up into the tree.¡± ¡°¡­¡± It was hard to say what to think of him. Jiang Wei¡¯er held back a laugh and asked seriously, ¡°Which tree?¡± Xue Bingxue looked flustered and a bit panicked, ¡°The arhat pine.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Of all the trees, it had to be that one¡ªthe one the old lady planted by hand over a decade ago. There was no escaping a scolding now. Jiang Wei¡¯er couldn¡¯t laugh anymore, ¡°That¡¯s pretty accurate, hitting my grandmother¡¯s prized possession in one go.¡± Xue Bingxue: ¡°¡­¡± He apologized, ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± If apologies worked, there would be no need for scolding. Seeing him hang his head in guilt, it was hard to chastise him, ¡°It didn¡¯t get damaged, did it?¡± Xue Bingxue, feeling cared for, was a bit happy, ¡°No.¡± ¡°Well,¡± Jiang Wei¡¯er suggested, ¡°let¡¯s not set off fireworks in the future, they can be quite destructive.¡± Xue Bingxue: ¡°Oh.¡± Finally, let¡¯s shout together, ¡°Imperial City is our home, banning firecrackers depends on us all!¡± When Zhou Xufang and Jiang Zhi got home from the square, it was almost midnight. Jiang Zhi refused to go to the hospital, so Zhou Xufang had to treat his wound with a first-aid kit at home. What was originally a blister the size of a fingernail now looked even worse. Burns are the most painful, and Zhou Xufang, heart aching and barely daring to press, couldn¡¯t manage to apply the medicine on the Q-tip to the wound, ¡°Does it hurt a lot?¡± The person who was acting spoiled and crying in pain at the square was now acting tough, holding Zhou Xufang¡¯s hand and applying the medicine himself, ¡°Not much.¡± Liar. Zhou Xufang held his hand and blew on it, admonishing him, ¡°Why did you go and pull me? It¡¯s not a big deal if I get hurt.¡± ¡°Why wouldn¡¯t it be a big deal?¡± She pouted her lips and blew on the wound, ¡°I heal quickly.¡± It does heal fast, but the pain is intense. ¡°So just because you heal quickly means you can get hurt?¡± Jiang Zhi rubbed her head, ¡°What flawed logic.¡± At that moment, the sound of the New Year¡¯s bells rang out from the distance at the square. After the stroke of midnight, there were burst after burst of firecracker sounds outside. ¡°Zhou Xufang,¡± Jiang Zhi looked at her, his eyes full of her reflection. He said, ¡°Happy New Year.¡± Zhou Xufang¡¯s brow, which had been furrowed, relaxed and she smiled back, ¡°Happy New Year.¡± He pulled her from the couch opposite him to his side, ¡°Got any New Year¡¯s resolutions?¡± ¡°I have one.¡± ¡°I would pluck the stars from the sky for you.¡± His eyes twinkled with stars and peach blossoms as he smiled, bright and beautiful. ¡°I don¡¯t want the stars.¡± She said, ¡°I just wish for your life to be smoother, without injuries or illnesses.¡± That had always been her only wish, hoping her Jiang Zhi would be healthy and live a long life. Jiang Zhi held her face and kissed her. ¡°Fang Bao.¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± The light above was shining in his eyes, making them brilliantly bright. His voice was low, with a hint of laughter, ¡°Did you throw away those two boxes we bought last time at the supermarket for fun?¡± Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t remember, ¡°What boxes?¡± Jiang Zhi whispered in her ear. ¡°¡­No.¡± ¡°Where did you put them?¡± His voice was mesmerizing, as if casting a spell, full of hooks that ensnared her. Zhou Xufang, like a turtle retracting into its shell, buried her neck into her collar and slowly said, ¡°Under the cabinet beneath the sink.¡± He lifted her face, ¡°I don¡¯t want you to become a mother yet. How about we wait a bit longer to have kids?¡± Zhou Xufang nodded, agreeing. Jiang Zhi carried her towards the bathroom. On the morning of the first day of the new year, it started to snow lightly. Jiang Zhi woke up very early, and as soon as his feet touched the floor, Zhou Xufang woke up as well, reaching out groggily for his pajamas: ¡°Jiang Zhi¡­¡± Jiang Zhi returned her hand to the blanket and tucked it in tight, ¡°It¡¯s still early, go back to sleep for a bit longer.¡± Chapter 249: 249: Xu Fang pregnant? Lixiang pregnant? (8 more updates) Chapter 249: 249: Xu Fang pregnant? Lixiang pregnant? (8 more updates) Brother Zhi tucked her hand back under the quilt and tightened the corner of the cover, ¡°It¡¯s still early, sleep a bit more.¡± She was still sleepy and couldn¡¯t open her eyes, ¡°What time is it?¡± Brother Zhi said, ¡°Half past six.¡± If it was half past six, it wouldn¡¯t be very light outside yet. Zhou Xufang lay on her side looking at him, blinking with sleepy eyes, just woken up, and her voice was soft, ¡°Why did you get up so early?¡± Brother Zhi was in black pajamas, with a few strands of hair sticking up, no sign of sleepiness in his eyes, only a faint happiness, ¡°Old Mrs. Jiang is going to the ancestral hall for a ceremony, I need to go back to the Jiang Family. You sleep a bit more, when you wake up, I should almost be back.¡± She hummed softly like a mosquito, her eyes almost closed. ¡°I¡¯ve set an alarm for you, and I¡¯ve arranged for someone to call you for breakfast, you need to get up and eat,¡± Brother Zhi touched her face, ¡°Okay?¡± Zhou Xufang rubbed her pillow, almost asleep, ¡°Mmm¡­¡± Brother Zhi kissed her cheek and tiptoed to the bathroom. At seven, Old Lady Jiang was already up, and her grandchildren even earlier, all waiting in the main hall. The Jiang Family¡¯s ancestral hall was quite far, nearly an hour away by car. But Brother Zhi hadn¡¯t arrived yet. Old Mrs. Jiang asked the housekeeper, ¡°Why hasn¡¯t Brother Zhi come yet?¡± Jiang Chuan couldn¡¯t answer. It was Xiao Tian, who often attended to Brother Zhi, who replied, ¡°The young master isn¡¯t feeling well, he said he would come over in ten minutes.¡± As soon as Old Mrs. Jiang heard that Brother Zhi wasn¡¯t feeling well, she immediately ordered, ¡°Jiang Chuan, go and fetch Vice President Sun.¡± Xiao Tian added, ¡°No need for a doctor, the young master said it¡¯s just an old ailment, some hot medicinal broth will do.¡± He hadn¡¯t seen him in person; he relayed what was said on the phone. ¡°Ah Gui,¡± Old Mrs. Jiang instructed the maid beside her, ¡°tell the kitchen to warm some medicinal broth and send it over.¡± Mrs. Gui replied, ¡°As you wish, Old Madam.¡± Old Mrs. Jiang sat down, ¡°Let¡¯s wait a bit more for Brother Zhi.¡± Jiang Weikai, usually strict with himself, was unhappy with his nephew¡¯s tardiness, ¡°Even on New Year¡¯s Day, he needs to be requested, totally lacking any discipline.¡± Jiang Wei Li, smiling and joking, said, ¡°Exactly, just like a young lady, making people wait left and right when he goes out.¡± ¡°Enough,¡± Old Lady Jiang spoke up, ¡°Brother Zhi is unwell, be accommodating.¡± More than ten minutes later, Brother Zhi arrived. His face was pale, and he walked slowly, both cheeks looked sickly, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Grandma, I¡¯m late.¡± Old Lady Jiang stood up, concerned, ¡°It¡¯s alright, how are you feeling?¡± He lacked strength, leaning on a chair, ¡°Better, cough cough cough¡­¡± Before leaving, he had caught some cold water, broke a sweat, and he walked fast on the way, hence his pale face and lips, sweaty forehead, and short of breath as he spoke. ¡°Your complexion really isn¡¯t good,¡± Old Lady Jiang asked, ¡°Did you not sleep well last night?¡± Last night, to avoid disturbing his sleep, they hadn¡¯t set off many firecrackers. Brother Zhi replied, ¡°I didn¡¯t sleep much.¡± That was the truth; he and Zhou Xufang had been up late arguing, and then he lacked the desire to sleep, hugging her and watching her for half the night, staying awake until dawn. His eyes were tinged with red blood vessels, ¡°It was chilly last night, I caught a bit of cold, didn¡¯t sleep well at night.¡± Old Mrs. Jiang said, ¡°Have the doctor check on you again later.¡± Brother Zhi agreed, and then covered his mouth, coughing, ¡°Cough cough cough¡­¡± He coughed quite violently, his neck turning red. Old Mrs. Jiang watched, full of concern, ¡°Why didn¡¯t you wear more?¡± She called over the maid beside her, ¡°Sister Xi, go and bring Brother Zhi a coat.¡± Jiang Fuxi glanced at Brother Zhi and went to fetch clothes from inside. At ten past ten, the cellphone on the bedside table rang. Zhou Xufang reached out one hand to touch the cellphone, eyes closed, placing it to her ear, ¡°Hello?¡± Brother Zhi was calling from outside, without an umbrella, standing amidst a vast expanse of snow, surrounded by a frozen landscape, but his eyes held the warmth of springtime, ¡°Still sleeping?¡± Zhou Xufang turned over in bed, ¡°Mmm¡­¡± The sleep-deprived young girl, cute and fluffy like a kitten, her paws tugging at one¡¯s heartstrings. ¡°I¡¯ve ordered food for you, it¡¯ll arrive in half an hour,¡± he cajoled his ¡®cat¡¯, ¡°Is it okay to sleep after eating?¡± Zhou Xufang climbed out of the blanket, rubbing his eyes, ¡°I¡¯m up.¡± ¡°Still sleepy?¡± ¡°A bit.¡± She asked Jiang Zhi, her voice very soft, ¡°Aren¡¯t you sleepy? You barely slept last night.¡± Jiang Zhi chuckled on the other end. Zhou Xufang climbed out of bed, his hair tousled, and headed to the bathroom, ¡°What are you laughing at?¡± Jiang Zhi teased her on purpose, ¡°Not shy anymore?¡± ¡°¡­¡± She went silent, shrinking like a turtle. In the bathroom mirror, the girl¡¯s face was peachy, her eyes watery like spring, resembling a freshly bloomed lotus. Jiang Zhi instructed her over the phone, ¡°Drink more water, you had a fever for a long time yesterday.¡± She had a fever all night, from the New Year¡¯s bells at midnight until the early morning, half asleep and half awake, always complaining of thirst. Jiang Zhi got up a few times to give her water. Zhou Xufang picked at the bathroom tiles, glancing at the rubbish bin nearby, showing signs of a fever again, ¡°Oh¡­¡± ¡°The old lady is calling me, I¡¯m hanging up.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± On the second day of the New Year, the Jiang Family hosted relatives and friends at the old house, and Young Master Jiang Zhi, feeling unwell, went to the ¡®hospital¡¯. On the third day of the New Year, relatives from the Jiang family¡¯s side came to visit Old Lady Jiang, and Young Master Jiang Zhi, still unwell, was still at the ¡®hospital¡¯. On the fourth day of the New Year, Old Lady Jiang visited Jiang Zhi in the hospital. Vice President Sun handed over the medical results with a grave expression, saying with heartfelt concern that the young master was weakened and his liver and kidneys were mildly failing. He needed to rest in bed. Old Lady Jiang was so anxious she couldn¡¯t eat. From the fifth to the ninth day of the New Year, Young Master Jiang continued to stay in the hospital. S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Of course, that wasn¡¯t actually the case. On the second day of the New Year, Jiang Zhi and Zhou Xufang stayed home all day, not going out. On the third day, they continued to nest, note, nesting in bed. On the fourth day, Jiang Zhi laid in the hospital for a morning. Old Lady Jiang came for a visit, warmly checking on him, and he cooperated by coughing a few times and spitting a few drops of blood, then returned to Zhou Xufang¡¯s place in the afternoon. On the fifth day, Jiang Zhi went out to the supermarket, buying some groceries and¡­ several boxes of contraceptives. From the sixth to the ninth day of the New Year, they didn¡¯t go out. On the tenth day of the New Year, the Xu Family sent out invitations, hosting Old Lady Jiang and the young members of the Jiang family. At ten in the morning, several cars stopped at the gate of the Xu family¡¯s villa, and the whole Xu family came out to welcome them. Old Madam Jiang was the eldest sister, followed by three younger brothers and a younger sister. The third youngest had passed away years ago, and the youngest sister had married off to Zhangzhou, and together with their children and grandchildren, there were over a dozen people. ¡°Brother Zhi has also arrived.¡± The speaker was Mr. Xu from the Xu Family, Xu Yajun. Old Lady Jiang smiled and replied, ¡°Indeed, he just got out of the hospital today.¡± It was well-known that Young Master Jiang¡¯s health was poor. He spent the coldest days at the end of each year in the hospital. It was said that he was better this year, but he still spent the New Year in the hospital. Such fragile beauty. Xu Yajun called out, ¡°Then don¡¯t catch a cold, come inside quickly.¡± ¡°Cough, cough, cough, cough¡­¡± Accompanied by a bout of coughing, Jiang Zhi entered the house. He had been ¡®sick¡¯ for several days and his face was pale. He was still gasping for breath as he spoke, ¡°Where¡¯s the guest room? I need to rest for a bit.¡± Xu Yajun called his wife over to lead Jiang Zhi to rest. Xu Pozhi stepped forward, offering to host the guests, ¡°Let me take Brother Zhi.¡± Mrs. Tao, Xu Yajun¡¯s wife, agreed. Xu Pozhi led the way, taking Jiang Zhi to the third floor. Once the bustling noise from downstairs was no longer audible, he spoke as they walked, ¡°Luo Huaiyu came looking for me yesterday.¡± Jiang Zhi stopped and leaned weakly against the wall, ¡°What did you say?¡± Xu Pozhi¡¯s eyes shifted, his other glass eye lifeless and dull, ¡°They want me to testify.¡± Jiang Zhi pondered for a moment, then said lazily, ¡°Testifying is fine, but on certain conditions.¡± ¡°What conditions?¡± He whispered two words, ¡°Shares.¡± Xu Pozhi¡¯s smile was ambiguous, his eye studying Jiang Zhi with a probing air, ¡°Why do you want shares from the Luo Family? Isn¡¯t the Jiang Family¡¯s share enough for you?¡± A chill settled in his eyes, a thin layer of cold light enveloping them, ¡°Don¡¯t meddle in my business. Knowing too much won¡¯t be good for you.¡± Xu Pozhi eyed him meaningfully, ¡°We¡¯ve been in this together a long time, and I still don¡¯t know what exactly you¡¯re up to.¡± Jiang Zhi coughed lightly and started walking upstairs, ¡°As long as I know what you want, that¡¯s enough.¡± Xu Pozhi stood there, deep in thought. It was Jiang Zhi who had approached him, promising to help him achieve his desires as long as he complied. At first, he didn¡¯t trust Jiang Zhi, but as each member of the Luo Family fell into the traps Jiang Zhi had set, he realized that Jiang Zhi had orchestrated a grand plan and he himself was a part of it. After the Lantern Festival, Jiang Zhi became busy. His new movie, which had been in preparation for half a year, was finally set to start filming on the first day of the lunar month of February. Before filming started, the lead actress¡¯s father¡ªMr. Fang¡ªheld a banquet at home for the director and his wife, intending to express their gratitude for the special care the Jiangs had extended to his daughter. It was just an excuse; after all, Zhou Xu hadn¡¯t come over for a meal during the New Year holidays. Mr. Fang wanted to make up for it. Jiang Zhi and Zhou Xu sat in the living room while Fang Lixiang joined them. Mr. Fang was busy in the kitchen. Being a widower who raised his daughter alone, his cooking skills were undeniable. Unfortunately, he had raised a daughter who was lazy and indifferent to practicalities. Fang Lixiang, who couldn¡¯t distinguish wheat from rice, called from the living room, ¡°Mr. Fang, is it ready yet?¡± Mr. Fang turned off the burner, ¡°Just the last dish.¡± He plated the dish and brought it to the table, announcing, ¡°Chicken stewed with mushrooms.¡± This was Mr. Fang¡¯s specialty. Fang Lixiang sniffed and a smell rushed down her throat, stirring her stomach. She immediately covered her mouth, fighting the urge to throw up, and rushed to the bathroom, opened the toilet lid, and vomited until she was dizzy. Mr. Fang followed her, ¡°What¡¯s wrong now?¡± Zhou Xu and Jiang Zhi also came over, but Mr. Fang gestured for them to sit. After throwing up what felt like everything, Fang Lixiang¡¯s mouth was terribly sour. She complained bitterly to her father, ¡°Your cooking is too greasy. I haven¡¯t recovered from my cold.¡± Her cold had lingered for a month, never fully healing, leaving her constantly tired, sleepy, and without an appetite. Mr. Fang patted her back with concern while scolding, ¡°Then why don¡¯t you go to the hospital?¡± Fang Lixiang asked her father to stay away because she could smell the chicken and felt nauseous, ¡°Mr. Fang, your daughter is a somewhat famous actress. Can she casually visit the hospital? Last time I went for a checkup, the paparazzi claimed I was getting an abortion. How dare I go to the hospital now?¡± Mr. Fang got up to pour a glass of water and grabbed a towel for her, ¡°Who asked you to be an actress?¡± Fang Lixiang rinsed her mouth and shrugged, ¡°Blame me for having great acting skills.¡± The father and daughter continued their banter in the bathroom. Zhou Xu sat on the living room sofa, frowning as she sipped some water. Jiang Zhi clinked her glass which had cooled, took it from her, and gave her his warm water, ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± Zhou Xu sipped the water and hesitated, then touching her stomach, she whispered to Jiang Zhi, ¡°Could I be pregnant?¡± Jiang Zhi was speechless, staring blankly, unable to move. Zhou Xu tugged at his sleeve. He snapped out of it like waking from a dream, his eyes storming with emotions¡ªshock, joy, then worry¡ªit was a total mess. He was going to be a father?! Wait, stay calm, it¡¯s not confirmed yet. Jiang Zhi took a deep breath, licked his lips and calmed down, ¡°If it happened this fast, then I must be really potent.¡± Let¡¯s see who dares to call him sterile. Zhou Xu, feeling embarrassed and not wanting Fang Lixiang and her father to hear, whispered to Jiang Zhi, ¡°Buy a pregnancy test.¡± Jiang Zhi was still staring at her flat belly, unable to resist, he reached out and touched it softly, ¡°I¡¯m afraid this might not be accurate, I¡¯ll take you to the hospital tomorrow.¡± His action was like that of a fool. Zhou Xufang was very happy, she couldn¡¯t help but touch her belly too, ¡°Okay.¡± Jiang Zhi¡¯s hand on her waist was extra careful, ¡°Let¡¯s eat first.¡± The thought of Zhou Xufang¡¯s slim waist bearing his child made his heart thump rapidly. He had mixed feelings, his heart was complicated. He wanted his beloved girl to bear a child sharing their blood, but he had not planned for it to be so soon. As soon as the topic of eating came up, Zhou Xufang felt uncomfortable in her stomach, ¡°I can¡¯t eat.¡± ¡°You have to eat even if you can¡¯t.¡± Jiang Zhi looked at the table full of rich dishes, then turned to Zhou Xufang to negotiate, ¡°Fang Bao, how about some porridge?¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Zhou Xufang and Fang Lixiang barely ate their lunch, Mr. Fang saw that both girls had no appetite, so he stir-fried two more plates of vegetarian dishes, Zhou Xufang drank a bowl of porridge and ate some greens. On the way back, Zhou Xufang was particularly silent. Jiang Zhi drove very slowly, ¡°Are you unhappy?¡± Zhou Xufang shook her head, how could she be unhappy, ¡°I¡¯m afraid of having an unhealthy baby.¡± After all, she was not normal. Jiang Zhi pulled over, grabbed her hand, gently poked her palm, and then placed her hand on her lower abdomen, ¡°Don¡¯t think nonsense. Even if you gave birth to an egg, I would still like it.¡± Zhou Xufang hung her head low, feeling down, ¡°I don¡¯t mind if it¡¯s just like me, but if it¡¯s¡ª¡± Jiang Zhi interrupted, ¡°Zhou Xufang.¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± She looked at him. He brought his handsome face close to hers, giving her a sly wink, ¡°Is your boyfriend amazing or not?¡± Zhou Xufang did not hesitate and gave a thumbs up, ¡°Amazing.¡± Jiang Zhi patted her head with a smile, ¡°Then you can rest assured, your boyfriend¡¯s genes are amazing too.¡± Zhou Xufang was amused by him. Yes. Her Jiang Zhi was a particularly, particularly amazing person. Jiang Zhi became serious, telling her, ¡°There¡¯s nothing to worry about, at most it will be a bit more like you, like a little superman.¡± It was possible that there might be a mutation in the original genes, Zhou Xufang thought. Jiang Zhi glanced at her, knowing what she was worried about. He had been carefully considering this issue since he had made up his mind to make her Mrs. Jiang. ¡°Let¡¯s say, even if there really is some other problem, there¡¯s no need to fear, if you want to have the baby, have it, if you don¡¯t want to, then don¡¯t. I can protect you, and I¡¯m willing to let go too.¡± He said, ¡°I agree with whatever decision you make, but if you¡¯re undecided, you can leave it to me.¡± He spoke very seriously, emphasizing, ¡°However, you need to know one thing, if I make the decision, I¡¯ll prioritize you first, and then the child.¡± His stance was very clear, in this matter, he gave her absolute decision-making power, with only one principle: no one was more important than her, including his offspring. Jiang Zhi cupped her face, ¡°Do you understand what I¡¯m saying?¡± Zhou Xufang, ¡°Mm.¡± He asked, ¡°Are you still scared?¡± She shook her head. She was scared, but her Jiang Zhi was invincible; she could hide behind him. Oh, there was another problem, ¡°Jiang Zhi, am I really going to lay an egg?¡± ¡°¡­¡± This girl, what kind of nonsense novels had she been reading? Jiang Zhi decisively said, ¡°No.¡± Zhou Xufang hypothesized, ¡°What if I do lay an egg?¡± After all, like a fish, she could breathe underwater, and like a monkey, she could leap ten meters high. Laying an egg wouldn¡¯t be so strange. If an egg was laid, it wouldn¡¯t be abandoned, His seed. Jiang Zhi resignedly concluded, ¡°I¡¯ll incubate it.¡± Chapter 250: 250: Jiang Zhis house, cute treasure Jiang Erdan, Lixiang is pregnant (9 updates Chapter 250: 250: Jiang Zhi¡¯s house, cute treasure Jiang Erdan, Lixiang is pregnant (9 updates Jiang Zhi resigned, ¡°I¡¯ll take care of it.¡± Zhou Xufang: ¡°¡­¡± Sitting on top of the egg, using her legs to warm it? Oh, she now had a mental image, so beautiful she couldn¡¯t bear to continue thinking about it because she would involuntarily imagine Jiang Zhi as a chicken¡­ Jiang Zhi was still organizing his egg, very systematically: ¡°If it¡¯s a seed of Jiang Zhi, even if it¡¯s only an egg, it¡¯s the most precious egg in the world. You just give birth, and I will make a golden nest for our egg, brooding it with damask silk, making it the happiest Fu Erdan in the world.¡± Fu Erdan¡¯s mom, Zhou Xufang: ¡°¡­¡± whispered to Fu Erdan¡¯s dad, ¡°It¡¯s also possible that there¡¯s no pregnancy.¡± Even softer, like a mosquito¡¯s buzz Zhou Xufang: ¡°¡­¡± This little pervert, always misusing words! The next morning, Jiang Zhi took Zhou Xufang to the hospital. Both were bundled up tightly. Vice President Sun had been waiting for a long time: ¡°Mr. Jiang.¡± Jiang Zhi, with one hand around his girlfriend¡¯s waist and the other holding her hand, looked over at his girlfriend every few steps. His liver and heart weren¡¯t protected as much as this. S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In order to avoid prying eyes, they directly took a special passage. Vice President Sun led the couple to a specially prepared hospital room: ¡°Everything has been arranged.¡± Jiang Zhi let Zhou Xufang sit and rest for a while, then poured her a cup of hot tea, gently warning her it was hot and to drink slowly. He then took the scarf wrapped around his girlfriend¡¯s face in his hand, turned around with the drinking girlfriend shielded behind him: ¡°I don¡¯t want anyone knowing about my girlfriend coming to the hospital, especially the Jiang Family.¡± Oh my! Know the face, not the heart! Normally like a princely ancestor, but in front of his girlfriend, submissive like a grandson! Vice President Sun suppressed his inner turmoil, his face composed: ¡°Rest assured.¡± God! The young master must surely be henpecked! Zhou Xufang and Jiang Zhi waited in the hospital room for a few minutes, then a nurse came to lead them to an examination room. After they entered, the nurse closed the door. The clinician was a female doctor, over fifty, wearing full-framed glasses, her hair slightly graying, with a gentle demeanor. She smiled at Zhou Xufang, introducing herself: ¡°My surname is Chen.¡± Zhou Xufang nodded, greeted her: ¡°Dr. Chen, hello.¡± ¡°Please, take a seat.¡± Zhou Xufang sat on the chair in front of the desk, Jiang Zhi stood beside her. Dr. Chen¡¯s posture was relaxed, hands clasped together on the desk, as if just chatting: ¡°When was your last period?¡± Zhou Xufang, shy because Jiang Zhi was beside her, softly replied to the doctor¡¯s question: ¡°The middle of last month.¡± Beside her, Jiang Zhi added a date: ¡°The seventeenth.¡± Zhou Xufang felt even more bashful. Dr. Chen smiled, accustomed to seeing couples and lovers coming in for pregnancy checks, and treated it all very normally, asking further: ¡°How has your appetite been recently? Sleeping well?¡± Zhou Xufang was about to say her appetite wasn¡¯t good but she slept well when Jiang Zhi answered for her, giving a very detailed and specific response: ¡°She sleeps quite a lot, about nine hours a day, tends to feel sleepy at noon and in the evening, appetite isn¡¯t good, can¡¯t eat much rice, eats more flour-based food.¡± He added, ¡°But she really likes eating snacks.¡± Jiang Zhi wasn¡¯t a patient or detailed person, instead pampered and spoiled, but when it came to matters concerning Zhou Xufang, he was meticulous, knowing more than she did herself, always remembered her monthly cycles, and was strict about her diet if it wasn¡¯t timely. Dr. Chen understood, and wrote an order: ¡°Let¡¯s do a blood test first.¡± Jiang Zhi thanked her, took Zhou Xufang to the hematology department for a blood test, and instructed Vice President Sun that no samples should be kept; after the check, they must all be destroyed. Jiang Zhi was extremely cautious about Zhou Xufang¡¯s hospital visit, fearing any leak of information. The blood test results would only be available at eleven, and there was still some time to wait. Considering Zhou Xufang hadn¡¯t eaten much that morning, Jiang Zhi took her to a well-reputed porridge shop; she ate a little. On the way back to the hospital, Zhou Xufang sat lost in thought. ¡°Xufang.¡± ¡°Xufang.¡± Jiang Zhi called her twice, but she didn¡¯t respond. What was she thinking about, with her boyfriend right beside her and still distracted, Jiang Zhi called her full name: ¡°Zhou Xufang.¡± Zhou Xufang turned her head: ¡°Hmm?¡± He couldn¡¯t bear to speak loudly to her, softly asking with a soothing tone, ¡°Close the car window, you shouldn¡¯t catch a draft.¡± Zhou Xufang: ¡°Oh.¡± She closed the car window and continued to ponder. Jiang Zhi looked at the vehicles ahead, driving slowly, ¡°What are you thinking about?¡± Zhou Xufang¡¯s serious expression, ¡°Thinking about names.¡± Already starting to think about baby names? Yes, she was thinking about the baby¡¯s name, had considered many options, and finally couldn¡¯t decide. She asked the baby¡¯s father, ¡°Does Jiang Tang sound nice, or does Jiang Mian? What about Jiang Ling, is it good?¡± Jiang Zhi¡¯s emotions became complicated again. The thought of a child like Zhou Xufang calling him dad made his heart bloom with joy, but then thinking about how the child would take up a big portion of Zhou Xufang¡¯s energy and time, even sharing the affection she had for him, made him feel threatened. Jiang Zhi¡¯s eyebrows furrowed and then relaxed, ¡°Which Tang? Which Mian? Which Ling?¡± Zhou Xufang seriously naming, ¡°The Tang from cotton candy, the Mian from cotton candy, the Ling from ice cream.¡± Jiang Zhi, ¡°¡­¡± She wouldn¡¯t be using food for all the names, would she? Jiang Zhi comforted himself that, at least, it wasn¡¯t Jiang Milk, Jiang Cotton, Jiang AD, Jiang Calcium Milk, Jiang Ice Cream or anything like that. Not wanting to dampen his girlfriend¡¯s enthusiasm, Jiang Zhi chose one, ¡°Let¡¯s go with Jiang Tang.¡± The name Jiang Ling might remind people of Jiangling Motors. Jiang Mian felt a bit too soft. Actually, Jiang Tang wasn¡¯t great either, just like brown sugar, ice sugar, and white sugar, not to mention, dad¡¯s name is ¡®ginger juice,¡¯ and the kid¡¯s name is ¡®ginger soup¡¯¡­ The more he thought about it, the stranger it seemed. Jiang Zhi kind of wanted to ask his girlfriend if they could name the baby Jiang Lake. Lake is the Chinese transliteration of Zhou Xufang¡¯s favorite milk, Jiang Muke would also be fine, just means Jiang milk, Jiang cow milk. Zhou Xufang seemed very happy, because she shared the ¡®same¡¯ preference with Jiang Zhi, ¡°I like that one too.¡± Jiang Zhi licked his lips and gave up on Jiang Lake or Jiang Muke, letting her decide. Zhou Xufang was happy for a while, then worried again, ¡°But if it¡¯s a boy, wouldn¡¯t Jiang Tang be too feminine?¡± Naming a boy Tang did seem a bit girly. Jiang Zhi blatantly lied, ¡°No, it¡¯s fine if you like it.¡± Zhou Xufang agreed and got very excited. That settled the official name, then came the nickname. Zhou Xufang, touching her belly and looking at Jiang Zhi, ¡°Jiang Zhi, you pick the nickname.¡± Zhou Xufang actually wanted to name the nickname Calcium Milk, but she thought since she chose the official name, she should leave the nickname to Jiang Zhi, since the baby was also half his. Jiang Zhi blurted out, ¡°Call him Fu Erdan.¡± Zhou Xufang, ¡°¡­¡± She regretted it, she should have chosen it herself. She coldly scolded Jiang Zhi, ¡°You¡¯re not thinking seriously!¡± Jiang Zhi chuckled, his eyes twinkling playfully, ¡°Aren¡¯t you worried about hatching eggs? The name fits well.¡± He made up an excuse, ¡°Erdan is good, a more down-to-earth name is easier to live by.¡± Zhou Xufang was instantly persuaded, ¡°Okay, call him Erdan.¡± The future Jiang Erdan, ¡°¡­¡± Is it really that casual? Shouldn¡¯t you reconsider? Lake Muke and Calcium Milk are fine too¡­ After settling the name, they arrived at the hospital. Zhou Xufang unbuckled her seatbelt and was about to open the door when Jiang Zhi held her hand. ¡°Xu Fang,¡± he said with a complex expression. Zhou Xufang looked at him, ¡°Hmm.¡± Jiang Zhi helped her put on her mask, ¡°I didn¡¯t sleep all last night.¡± Zhou Xufang said, ¡°I know, you didn¡¯t kick me when asleep, you kick me when you¡¯re awake.¡± Jiang Zhi, ¡± ¡­¡± He was trying to talk about serious matters, who brought up sleeping habits! He gathered his emotions again and spoke seriously, ¡°If you¡¯re really pregnant, shall we get the certificate first?¡± He had thought about it all night, and his final decision was that he wanted to marry Zhou Xufang even more now, wanting her to become Mrs. Xiao Jiang soon. Zhou Xufang did not hesitate, ¡°Okay.¡± Jiang Zhi kissed her and then led her into the hospital. Dr. Chen had already gotten the blood test results, and upon hearing the knock, said, ¡°Come in.¡± ¡°Dr. Chen.¡± Zhou Xufang came in and took off both her mask and hat. ¡°Please have a seat.¡± After she sat down, Dr. Chen put on his glasses, still holding the report in his hand, and asked Zhou Xufang, ¡°Miss Zhou, have you experienced any abdominal pain recently?¡± Zhou Xufang nodded. ¡°Could it be that the results are bad?¡± She had a stomachache yesterday and wondered if it was because she had ice cream that somehow affected Erdan¡­ As Zhou Xufang¡¯s thoughts wandered, Dr. Chen brought her back with one sentence, ¡°It¡¯s not pregnancy, it might be gastritis.¡± Zhou Xufang¡¯s feelings were indescribable. Jiang Zhi felt like he had been tied up and thrown from a high place. The ropes broke, first relaxing and then plummeting. He had even planned where to register the child¡¯s residence and which elementary school to attend. He had thought about it all last night¡­ and then¡ªgastritis. Dr. Chen looked at the young couple¡¯s changing expressions and couldn¡¯t help but laugh. ¡°You are still young. Don¡¯t worry, you will have plenty of opportunities in the future.¡± Zhou Xufang bowed her head, extremely embarrassed. Dr. Chen took off his glasses and said, ¡°I¡¯ve already contacted gastroenterology. It would be best for you to come in for a gastroscopy tomorrow morning. Starting after nine tonight you¡¯ll need to fast.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± After saying thank you, Jiang Zhi led the drooping girl out. Zhou Xufang sulked all the way, her head down, listless. ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± ¡°Hm.¡± There was no one else in the passage, but Jiang Zhi still put a hat and a mask on her. She called out to him, then exhaled a heavy sigh, sounding older than her age. Jiang Zhi was amused. She went on grumpily, ¡°And you¡¯re laughing!¡± Like a kitten just learning to use its claws. Watching her downcast demeanor, Jiang Zhi laughed so hard his shoulders shook. Zhou Xufang ignored him and walked ahead on her own. Jiang Zhi followed her. ¡°Very disappointed?¡± She nodded. So disappointed. She had even picked out a name, regardless of boy or girl¡ªall to be called Jiang Tang, nickname Erdan. Seeing her reaction, Jiang Zhi wanted to tease her a bit. ¡°You really want to have a child for me?¡± Zhou Xufang stopped walking and buried her head in his chest, unable to look up, feeling embarrassed, ashamed, and both lost and disheartened. Jiang Zhi, half-serious, said, ¡°When we get home, I¡¯ll throw out all the condoms¡ª¡± But he was serious. Zhou Xufang quickly covered his mouth and looked around nervously. ¡°Don¡¯t talk nonsense outside, others might hear.¡± Inside the house, it was okay. Jiang Zhi realized that at home, she was much braver. If he turned off the lights and coaxed her a little, she would say anything he wanted. Both obedient and pure. A smile filled Jiang Zhi¡¯s eyes. Zhou Xufang still seemed not quite happy. She looked up at Jiang Zhi. ¡°Aren¡¯t you disappointed?¡± Jiang Zhi replied, ¡°There¡¯s both disappointment and relief.¡± Zhou Xufang was only in her early twenties, they hadn¡¯t even gotten their marriage certificate, and he hadn¡¯t even seriously proposed yet. Having a baby at this time wouldn¡¯t be appropriate. Besides, she was still his baby, how could she have a little baby? Of course, he was also disappointed. He adored her, naturally, he would look forward to conceiving a child with her. Jiang Zhi grew serious and told her, ¡°I really want you to have a child for me, but I don¡¯t want you to become a mother so soon.¡± He stroked her head. ¡°Let¡¯s wait, or let it happen naturally, but if you want to have a child, just throw out everything in the bedside drawer.¡± Zhou Xufang felt this topic was both serious and embarrassing, and it made her blush, so she just nodded, without speaking. For Jiang Zhi, it was different. He could say anything to her. ¡°There¡¯s another thing,¡± Jiang Zhi said as he pulled her towards the exit. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell me about your abdominal pain?¡± ¡°It was just a slight pain.¡± Really, it was just a little. Jiang Zhi was always sensitive to pain, certainly much more than the average person. The faster she recovered, the more intense the pain became. Having experienced amplified pain many times, she might have become a bit numb or perhaps just gotten used to it and could endure it better. Jiang Zhi began to feel sorry for her again, ¡°From now on, you have to tell me even if it¡¯s just a little.¡± After returning, Jiang Zhi only allowed her to eat light food. The next morning, Jiang Zhi took her for a gastroscopy. The results came out quickly, and the gastroenterologist diagnosed her with gastritis, which was mild and not severe, caused by dietary issues. Zhou Xufang felt depleted after the gastroscopy. It wasn¡¯t pain but just a feeling of great discomfort. Jiang Zhi felt bad too and took her to a prepared room to rest, asking the accompanying nurse, ¡°My girlfriend is feeling quite unwell, please help me get some medicine.¡± The nurse nodded and asked them to wait for a moment. ¡°Feeling very uncomfortable, right?¡± Jiang Zhi held her, massaged her stomach, and patted her back, a bit clumsy and unsure how to make her feel better, ¡°Does it hurt?¡± Zhou Xufang, pale-faced and lacking in energy, lay in Jiang Zhi¡¯s arms, ¡°Not painful, just a bit nauseous.¡± Jiang Zhi was heartbroken, knowing he couldn¡¯t give her water to drink just yet, ¡°Don¡¯t eat anything cold for the next few days, and no snacks either.¡± She obediently nodded, ¡°I have strong recovery abilities, I should be better very soon.¡± In fact, Zhou Xufang wasn¡¯t completely sure either. Her wounds healed fast, but she wasn¡¯t too sure about her internal organs; however, if she got sick, she usually recovered very quickly. Jiang Zhi said, ¡°Even after you¡¯ve recovered, you can¡¯t eat recklessly.¡± He definitely wouldn¡¯t go soft on her again. It turned out that Zhou Xufang¡¯s internal recovery was much better than an average person¡¯s, too. She had taken more medicine than the normal dose and in less than a day, she was back to normal, lively and energetic, and even capable of climbing up the roof and moving along the walls. However, Jiang Zhi still didn¡¯t allow her to eat anything cold, and the snacks were completely controlled, harshly regulated every day. Zhou Xufang wasn¡¯t pregnant, but unfortunately¡ªFang Lixiang was. When she saw the two bars on the pregnancy test, she was completely stunned, unable to collect her thoughts for a long time. She sat on the toilet for more than twenty minutes, contemplating life and the future. Mr. Fang, seeing her taking so long to come out, knocked on the door: ¡°Girl.¡± ¡°Girl.¡± She hid the pregnancy test in her sweater, her legs numb, and walked out with a resolve despite her disabilities, her expression resembling that of a baffled ghost who had just died. Mr. Fang gave her a light pat, ¡°What¡¯s wrong, why are you so distracted?¡± Fang Lixiang shuffled in her slippers, her hair disheveled and clothes wrinkled, a pimple on her forehead from recent sleeplessness, and she forced out a constipated expression for her father, ¡°Nothing, just constipated.¡± Mr. Fang: ¡°¡­¡± His own daughter probably forgot she was still a celebrity. Mr. Fang suggested she take some laxatives, handed her a coat to wear, and then instructed, ¡°I¡¯m taking Gui Fei for a walk, there¡¯s still soup simmering in the kitchen, turn off the stove after fifteen minutes.¡± Wandering soul Fang Lixiang: ¡°Oh.¡± Fifteen minutes later, the wandering ghost left home, bundled up tightly, and went to the same pharmacy where she had bought contraception before¡ªthe clerk was still the same old man with poor hearing. Fang Lixiang was there to settle accounts, striding in with determination, ¡°Is there something wrong with the medication at your pharmacy?¡± She had been afraid it wouldn¡¯t work after taking it, so she had increased the dose. The old man, hard of hearing as usual, couldn¡¯t hear her and spoke loudly, ¡°What did you say?¡± Fang Lixiang, covering her face with a scarf, wearing sunglasses, snapped at him, ¡°I said your medication has problems!¡± She was on the verge of breaking down! She was a celebrity, about to shoot a movie with a famous director, and the person with her in the bathtub had passed out¡ªwhat about her? She was pregnant! Whimper, whimper¡­ She was pregnant with an accidental child¡­ Fang Lixiang was almost in tears, and the old man continued with his slow response, ¡°What has problems?¡± ¡°The medicine!¡± ¡°What¡¯s wrong with the medicine?¡± Fang Lixiang: ¡°¡­¡± They couldn¡¯t communicate. She went straight to the shelf, took a box of pills, and opened it to examine it carefully. After she had finished, everything went dark before her eyes. She had been too frantic and furious at the time to check the expiration date. Oh god, she had run into the ridiculous situation of being unmarried and pregnant, and she hadn¡¯t even been in a relationship. How could she not be furious? She stormed up to the old man, incensed, ¡°Your medicine is expired!¡± The old man, as always hard of hearing, asked again, ¡°What?¡± Fang Lixiang yelled out, ¡°Damn it!¡± Chapter 251: 251: Scums biting each other, another truth of that year (10 more updates Chapter 251: 251: Scums biting each other, another truth of that year (10 more updates Fang Lixiang shouted, ¡°Damn it!¡± Just those two words¡ªgrandpa heard them loud and clear, and rolled his eyes at her. ¡°How can you curse like that, girl? You¡¯re so rude for someone so young.¡± Young and rude, Fang Lixiang: ¡°¡­¡± Not only did she curse, but she also wanted to report to the police! She stormed out of the pharmacy, squatted down by the roadside, and dialed the emergency number. A guy answered, ¡°This is the Criminal Investigation Team.¡± Fang Lixiang tried to remain calm, ¡°I want to report a crime.¡± The guy asked, ¡°What kind of case?¡± Her tone was grave, sorrowful, angry, and a little bit aggrieved, ¡°Murder!¡± Upon hearing it was a murder, the guy immediately became serious, ¡°Can you be more specific?¡± Fang Lixiang then described the ¡®murder¡¯ in great detail, with righteous indignation, ¡°At the intersection of Chaoyang Road and Mingli Road, there¡¯s a pharmacy called Bai Fule. They illegally sold expired contraception, leading to several innocent women falling victim to ¡®murder.''¡± And she, was one such innocent victim. The guy: ¡°¡­¡± The air was quiet for a dozen seconds. Fang Lixiang thought the call had been dropped, ¡°Officer? Officer?¡± The police officer, seemingly holding back laughter and with a voice that sounded a bit off, said, ¡°Young lady, reporting a crime isn¡¯t something to joke about.¡± His words were as fluent and amusing as if he were telling a comedy sketch. ¡°I¡¯m not joking around, I¡¯m very serious.¡± She was indeed very serious, extremely serious, nearly swearing by heaven, she said, ¡°Heaven above, earth below, everything I¡¯ve just said is true, not a word of lies!¡± The guy, holding in his laughter: ¡°¡­¡± This sister, she could make her debut on the stage of a comedy club. The air was quiet again for a dozen seconds. The guy was still trying to hold in his laughter, trying to be serious, ¡°Tell me again, what¡¯s the problem?¡± Even though it was indeed a ¡®life-threatening situation¡¯, it was really funny. Fang Lixiang summarized straightforwardly, ¡°The pharmacy sold expired contraceptive pills and hired a pharmacist who¡¯s hard of hearing. This is extremely dangerous for patients who come to buy medicine.¡± She once again informed the officer of the pharmacy¡¯s address, stating she had photos as evidence, and sincerely expressed the seriousness and urgency of the matter, hoping that such unscrupulous businesses would be immediately penalized! The police officer understood, ¡°I¡¯ll transfer you to the Drug Administration. You can report to them.¡± Oh, right, the Drug Administration was in charge of this, she was so angry she got confused. Squeezing her voice, she asked, ¡°Can I report anonymously?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The police officer was Zhang Wen from the Criminal Investigation Team. After transferring the case to the Drug Administration, he hung up the phone and let out a chuckle, ¡°This sister is really hilarious.¡± Xiao Zhong inquired, ¡°What happened?¡± Now that he thought about it, Zhang Wen realized that the voice of the sister just now sounded familiar. He chatted casually, ¡°She probably bought expired contraceptive pills, got pregnant after using them, and then came to report a ¡®murder¡¯.¡± Xiao Zhong clicked his tongue, ¡°This girl is a real talent.¡± At that time, Vice Captain Xing returned to the station in a hurry, ¡°Captain Cheng,¡± he had just come back from Changling Hospital, he said, ¡°Luo Qinghe has applied for medical bail again.¡± Before her arrest, Luo Qinghe had sustained injuries and used them as an excuse to apply for medical bail numerous times. That woman was ruthless enough to do anything to get herself admitted to the hospital if the jail doctors didn¡¯t approve her leave for not being injured seriously¡ªin any case, she always found a way to get out to the hospital. Captain Cheng asked, ¡°What¡¯s the reason this time?¡± Vice Captain Xing replied, ¡°She¡¯s pregnant.¡± Zhang Wen and Xiao Zhong: ¡°¡­¡± Zhang Wen pondered, ¡°Could it also be because she took expired birth control pills?¡± That night, Jiang Zhi also received the news. Zhou Xufang sat at the dining table eating congee, ¡°Why does Luo Qinghe insist on getting pregnant?¡± On the table were dishes of green vegetables, stir-fried green beans with pork, and shredded potatoes¡ªmore accurately, potato strips since Jiang Zhi¡¯s knife skills were poor, resulting in thick cuts. She had just recovered from gastritis not long ago, so Jiang Zhi had been feeding her only light meals these past few days. Jiang Zhi added a chopstick-full of green vegetables that she didn¡¯t really like to her bowl, solving her puzzle, ¡°Pregnant women cannot be subjected to the death penalty, and if they are sentenced to detention or less than three years of fixed-term imprisonment, under certain conditions, they can even receive a suspended sentence.¡± Zhou Xufang pushed the green vegetables to the side, ¡°Is she trying to exploit a legal loophole?¡± Such a cunning woman, so evil! Jiang Zhi piled more green vegetables into her bowl, ¡°If that¡¯s what she wants, then let her have it.¡± He should have anticipated this and showed no surprise whatsoever. Zhou Xufang looked at her bowl, now half-filled with green vegetables. She picked up her bowl and moved away from Jiang Zhi, sitting opposite to continue the conversation, ¡°Are you going to let her get away with it?¡± The law wasn¡¯t the only way to punish evil and eliminate crime. His little niece was still too naive. Jiang Zhi moved his chair, insisting on sitting next to her, ¡°Sometimes, it¡¯s worse to be outside than in prison.¡± Zhou Xufang thought of Xu Pozhi and could probably guess Jiang Zhi¡¯s plan. She hugged her bowl and continued to move away. ¡°Zhou Xufang, if you move again, I¡¯ll make you sit on my lap to eat.¡± Zhou Xufang felt this remark was quite improper. Eat the green vegetables then, no more moving. Luo Qinghe was treated at Changling Hospital, and the detention center assigned two people to watch over her. Luo Huaiyu used some tricks to get into the specially controlled ward. The case from eight years ago was established, and the trial date was set. Since Luo Qinghe¡¯s arrest, it had been a month; she had grown thin all over, her face the only part that appeared swollen. Luo Huaiyu could not stay long and got straight to the point, ¡°I¡¯ve found the person, and you know him.¡± She looked up, with a plain, haggard face, ¡°Who?¡± ¡°Xu Pozhi.¡± The tape recorded by Peng Xianzhi contained words spoken by Luo Changde to Luo San, shortly before that fiery disaster. Luo Changde did his best to cover it up, obviously guilty, so he definitely couldn¡¯t escape involvement in that man-made tragedy. Of the three victims back then, only one gardener survived. After the incident, he vanished like steam, and Luo Qinghe had been searching for him for a while. It turned out to be Xu Pozhi. Such a coincidence, it felt strange to her, ¡°Are you sure you¡¯re not mistaken?¡± Luo Huaiyu detailed the facts, ¡°He¡¯s his father¡¯s illegitimate son. Seven years ago, after his father lost his son, he was brought back to the Xu family. Before that, he lived with his mother and even worked as a gardener in our Luo family. He injured his eyes and face in that fire and underwent facial corrective surgery and received prosthetic eyes.¡± No wonder she didn¡¯t recognize him, and no wonder no matter how hard she looked, she couldn¡¯t find him. He had transformed into Xu the Fifth of the Xu Family in Imperial City. Luo Huaiyu picked up his walking stick, stood up from the sofa, ¡°I¡¯ve arranged everything. You¡¯ll meet him tonight. If you have questions, ask him directly. The rest is up to your own abilities; I won¡¯t intervene anymore, nor will I involve the Luo Family.¡± With that, he left. ¡°Grandfather,¡± Luo Qinghe called out to him. He turned back, asking what the matter was. ¡°There¡¯s something I don¡¯t understand,¡± she was doubtful and questioned the old man with white hair at the door, ¡°Why did you choose me over my father and me?¡± At least for now, she seemed to be at a disadvantage, yet the old man continued to help her from the shadows. She didn¡¯t believe in the deep family affection narrative; after all, Luo Changde was his son. ¡°Because you are more useful to the Luo Family, and now there¡¯s another reason.¡± Luo Huaiyu¡¯s face remained impassive, ¡°It would be best if you gave birth to a boy.¡± Luo Qinghe was quite pleased with that answer; forget about familial affection, let¡¯s talk about interests. She placed her hand on her belly, gently stroking it, a profound smile appearing on her pale and swollen face, ¡°I also hope it¡¯s a boy.¡± It would be best, like Jiang Zhi. ¡°Who is the child¡¯s father?¡± Luo Huaiyu asked before leaving. She smirked, ¡°You don¡¯t need to know that.¡± Xu Pozhi came late at night, dressed very formally, with his suit and tie impeccably worn. He also brought a bouquet of roses, so fresh that there were still droplets of water on them. Luo Qinghe watched as he arranged the flowers in a vase, ¡°Did you anticipate that today would come?¡± His technique was professional as he properly set the flowers, then took a pair of medical scissors from the table to trim away the leaves that had not been cleanly removed, saying, ¡°I didn¡¯t.¡± Luo Qinghe didn¡¯t believe him and looked at him with cold eyes, ¡°Your approaching me was intentional, wasn¡¯t it?¡± To this question, he was forthright, ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°For what purpose?¡± He put down the scissors, took a piece of tissue to wipe his hands, and walked to the bedside, ¡°Haven¡¯t I told you? I like you, I want to marry you.¡± He laughed, his facial muscles somewhat rigid, twitching subtly with the corners of his mouth, ¡°You think I¡¯m joking.¡± Luo Qinghe was full of suspicion towards him, ¡°So you think I¡¯m stupid?¡± She folded her hands over her stomach, fixing Xu Pozhi with an intense gaze, ¡°You must know very well who started that fire. Now you come to me saying you like me, you want to marry me¡ªdo you think I would believe that?¡± Since he had appeared with intent, he must have found something out. The fire from eight years ago was at her instigation, which meant that his injury was caused by her¡ªit was she who blinded one of his eyes. With this grudge between them, how could he possibly mean well? Xu Pozhi didn¡¯t try to defend himself, as if everything was under control, ¡°Whether you believe it or not doesn¡¯t matter. You don¡¯t have a choice anymore. I¡¯m the only one who can help you now.¡± Indeed, she was now a prisoner at the bar, with no choice. If there wasn¡¯t a new angle, two lives¡ªgetting a commuted sentence would be difficult for her. After a long contemplation, Luo Qinghe could only ask, ¡°How can you help me?¡± He leaned forward, getting close to her, his glass eye unmoving as it bore into her, ¡°It wasn¡¯t you who killed them, it was your father.¡± Luo Qinghe was shocked, ¡°What are you saying?¡± The light in the hospital room was dim. He was so close, and his surgically adjusted face was stiff. The light shining on it gave a chilling effect as he said, ¡°I am the eyewitness. Tang Guangji and that child were not burnt to death.¡± Thud¡ª A cup was knocked over on the table, water spilled out. Zhou Xufang heard the noise and instantly opened her eyes. She was a light sleeper at night, a habit developed over time¡ªalert even in her sleep, waking at the slightest disturbance. Later, with Jiang Zhi¡¯s company, it had improved somewhat. She¡¯d been sleeping more and more soundly. She reached under the covers; it was cold¡ªJiang Zhi was not by her side. She climbed out of bed, wearing her pajamas, turned on the light while calling out, ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± Jiang Zhi¡¯s room was large; Zhou Xufang called out but got no response. Rubbing her eyes, fully awake, she pushed open the bedroom door and saw Jiang Zhi by the dining table in the living room, ¡°Why are you up?¡± Jiang Zhi turned around suddenly, looking somewhat flustered. No lights were on in the living room, just the computer on the table, its screen glowing. Zhou Xufang glanced at it¡ªit seemed like a video was playing, with two people in profile. She approached. The man in the video was speaking, ¡°They were killed by Luo Changde.¡± It was Xu Pozhi¡¯s voice. Jiang Zhi moved to shut the computer immediately, but Zhou Xufang grabbed her hand. He panicked, ¡°Xufang.¡± Zhou Xufang was silent, watching the people on the screen. The setting was a hospital room, dimly lit and not very clear. Xu Pozhi¡¯s voice was rough, speaking slowly, ¡°I saw it with my own eyes. Luo Changde smashed Tang Guangji¡¯s head with a steel rebar, and when that child clung to his legs, begging him to stop, he drove that piece of rebar into the child¡¯s body.¡± Luo Changde smashed Tang Guangji¡¯s head with a steel rebar¡­ A flash of an image surged through Zhou Xufang¡¯s mind: a man holding a steel rebar, eyes red with fury, and a child clasping his legs, crying out, ¡°Don¡¯t hit him, don¡¯t hit him.¡± He found a hammer and started pounding the rebar, saying, ¡°Stop crying, you¡¯ll be free soon.¡± The floor was covered in blood¡­ Zhou Xufang¡¯s body wavered for a moment before she began to fall backward. Jiang Zhi caught her, and she was trembling. ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± She seemed somewhat dazed, not knowing where to look. ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m here,¡± Jiang Zhi said as he picked her up and placed her on the sofa. She clung to his clothes, gripping them tightly. Her eyes rimmed slightly red, devoid of tears, dry, her gaze burning as she asked him, ¡°Could the DNA results be wrong?¡± She felt cold and leaned into Jiang Zhi¡¯s embrace, murmuring, ¡°Am I not his child? How could he drive the rebar in?¡± She wouldn¡¯t have felt pain then, but she could¡¯ve died. Jiang Zhi held her silently, hugging her tightly. The computer was still on. The two people in the video continued their conversation, four eyes locked, both harboring their own schemes. ¡°All this is just your side of the story.¡± Luo Qinghe quickly collected her shock, a flicker of eagerness in her eyes, ¡°Where¡¯s the evidence? Do you have any?¡± Xu Pozhi stood with his arms crossed, ¡°The murder weapon, I know where it is.¡± ¡°Where?¡± She asked immediately. Xu Pozhi smiled and did not continue the topic. Instead, he said slowly, ¡°It¡¯s time to talk about my terms.¡± He was casting bait, luring someone step by step into the trap he had set. Luo Qinghe knew he had an agenda, but given the circumstances, she had to step into the trap, ¡°What do you want?¡± He leaned over, one hand on the hospital bed, ¡°You.¡± Luo Qinghe laughed as if she¡¯d heard the biggest joke, ¡°I¡¯m pregnant.¡± His gaze fell on her stomach, his look intense, ¡°Doesn¡¯t matter, I can raise another man¡¯s child.¡± Luo Qinghe protected her stomach and moved backward, looking at him with cold laughter, ¡°Xu Pozhi, you really are a complete lunatic.¡± He didn¡¯t get angry but laughed instead, ¡°So are you,¡± he leaned in closer, one eye burning intensely while the other, dead and white, was chilling, ¡°You¡¯re a perfect match for me.¡± He reached out to touch her face. Luo Qinghe pushed his hand away, ¡°Do you think you¡¯re worthy of me?¡± She laughed, her eyes full of disdain and disgust, ¡°Ah Bin, you¡¯re still as delusional as ever, aren¡¯t you?¡± Xu Pozhi¡¯s smiling face suddenly stiffened, the muscles around his mouth twitching, as he grabbed her chin, ¡°My Miss Luo, you can either sleep in a jail cell, or in my bed. Make your choice.¡± Delusional. Indeed, he had once been delusional. He, a gardener covered in filth, had been obsessing day and night over that high-and-mighty girl dressed in her expensive skirts. He was pathetic, useless, as lowly as a worm, even struggling to speak in her presence. ¡°Miss,¡± he approached meekly yet hopefully, offering her something he treasured immensely, ¡°For, for you.¡± The noble Miss didn¡¯t even glance at it, ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± He unwrapped it himself, ¡°I made, made this bookmark.¡± He had used her favorite roses for the dried flowers on it, and he had carved every line and letter into the wood himself. She briefly looked at it, her eyes scornful, ¡°What use do I have for this trash?¡± She tossed it onto the floor, stood up, and called to Master Peng outside, ¡°Where¡¯s Luo San? Go fetch him for me.¡± The wooden bookmark hit the ground, the dried roses scattering all over. He crouched to pick them up. The girl grew impatient, ¡°Why are you still standing there? Leave.¡± He held the bookmark tightly in his sweaty palm, not daring to look at her, ¡°Miss, I have, have something to say, I, I,¡± he stammered for a long time, mustering courage to say, ¡°I like you¡­¡± ¡°Ha.¡± The girl laughed out loud, wearing a deep blue dress, chin held high, scornfully replying with a question: ¡°And you think you¡¯re worthy?¡± Chapter 252: 252: Brother Zhis Happy Life Ah~ (First Update) Chapter 252: 252: Brother Zhi¡¯s Happy Life Ah~ (First Update) That night, there was neither wind nor rain, the moon was crescent and the stars were few. Zhou Xufang was in a dream, unable to wake up. ¡°Jiang Zhi¡­¡± She muttered in her dreams, uttering just those two words. It was very strange, for the restless sleeper Jiang Zhi sometimes kicked Zhou Xufang out of bed without waking up at all, but sometimes when she was half-asleep, just two words were enough to rouse him. After she called out to him, he opened his eyes almost immediately, feeling for the person beside his pillow, who was slightly struggling. ¡°Xu Fang.¡± ¡°Xu Fang.¡± Jiang Zhi turned on the light and softly called her name. ¡°Xu Fang.¡± Only then did Zhou Xufang open her eyes, her pupils moist and slightly red. The pillowcase where she had been sleeping was wet. Jiang Zhi gently touched the corner of her eye, which was damp, ¡°Why are you crying again?¡± She had dreamt that someone was chiseling her with a steel rod, she had dreamt of people shouting, ¡°Luo San, run fast¡­¡± ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± ¡°Mhm.¡± She grabbed his hand and placed it an inch below her collarbone, ¡°It hurts a bit here.¡± The wound from eight years ago had long scarred over, so how could it still hurt? Jiang Zhi leaned down and kissed the scar, ¡°Zhou Xufang, don¡¯t be sad, those people aren¡¯t worth a single tear from you.¡± She didn¡¯t speak, just kissed his face, his eyes. She was very anxious, holding him very tightly. Jiang Zhi reached out from under the covers, aiming for the drawer beneath the bedside table. She huddled in his arms, ¡°Turn off the light.¡± ¡°Is it okay if we don¡¯t turn it off?¡± She hesitated for three seconds, ¡°Okay, leave it on.¡± Outside, the clouds dispersed, revealing a slice of the moon that shone a bright white light. The room was very quiet, and when Jiang Zhi spoke, there was a smile in his voice: ¡°You have a high fever again, Zhou Xufang.¡± She whispered very softly, ¡°Because I like you very much.¡± Damn¡­ Jiang Zhi would have given her his life. In the latter half of the night, Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t dream again, as the person beside her pillow whispered sweet nothings she loved to hear. She slept dreamlessly until morning light. The next day, the sky was clear with a gentle breeze. There was no sun and no snow, but spring had arrived, warming things up slightly and making it less cold. In the morning, Jiang Zhi made a call on the balcony, and Zhou Xufang heard him say, ¡°Send last night¡¯s video to Luo Changde.¡± She asked from inside the room, ¡°Should we tell Tang Xiang?¡± Jiang Zhi thought for a moment and said yes. Tang Guangji was Tang Xiang¡¯s father, and she had the right to know the whole truth. At nine-thirty in the morning, Tang Xiang made a trip to Fenghe Real Estate to discuss an employment offer. Since her resignation from Luo Family¡¯s company, many companies had shut their doors to her, but the intentions of Fenghe Real Estate¡¯s president were unclear, as no definitive answer had been given. The female secretary from the president¡¯s office came over to welcome her, politely saying, ¡°I¡¯m sorry Miss Tang, our President Shen is not in.¡± Tang Xiang glanced at her watch: ¡°Wasn¡¯t our appointment at ten?¡± She had only arrived a bit early. The secretary replied, ¡°President Shen had an emergency and just left.¡± It was the second time being stood up. ¡°When will he be back?¡± ¡°President Shen didn¡¯t say.¡± Tang Xiang sat down in the guest waiting area, smoothing out her A-line skirt, ¡°Call your President Shen and tell him I¡¯m waiting here.¡± The secretary brought her a cup of coffee, ¡°Alright, Miss Tang.¡± After sitting for a short while, Tang Xiang¡¯s phone rang once. She checked it, and it was a short video sent by Jiang Zhi ¨C a conversation between Xu Pozhi and Luo Qinghe. Right next to the president¡¯s office was the meeting room, where Vice President Yu of Fenghe Real Estate was entertaining guests. He noticed that the guests had cast several glances outside the meeting room. There were rumors within the business community that Mr. Jiang of the Jiang Family and Miss Tang from the Luo Family were at odds, constantly clashing fiercely. Thinking to please the client, Vice President Yu made a comment, ¡°How can this woman be so clueless? Can¡¯t she see that President Shen is deliberately avoiding her?¡± Sure enough, Mr. Jiang seemed interested. ¡°Why isn¡¯t he seeing her?¡± Vice President Yu set the project contract aside, ¡°When she was with the Luo Family, she was very arrogant and stole countless deals from our company. Now that she¡¯s been kicked out by Luo Huaiyu, the Luo Family has spread the word that this woman is a traitor. Who in this industry would employ her now? She still doesn¡¯t get it and frequently comes looking for our President Shen. If it wasn¡¯t for her good looks, President Shen¡ª¡± Jiang Xiaolin slightly lifted his gaze. Vice President Yu paused, that look in his eyes¡­ He quickly stopped himself, smiling apologetically, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Young Master Lin, I¡¯ve said too much.¡± Dressed in a suit and wearing gold-framed glasses, Jiang Xiaolin sat properly, ¡°You have, indeed.¡± Mr. Jiang had a good reputation in the circle: cultured, elegant, steady, and polite. Vice President Yu thought he was joking and wasn¡¯t embarrassed. He pushed the contract forward to continue the matter at hand, ¡°If there are no issues, you can sign here.¡± Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Jiang Xiaolin¡¯s hand rested on the armrest of his chair, motionless, ¡°There is an issue.¡± Vice President Yu was surprised, ¡°Is there a problem with the contract?¡± The content had been agreed upon by both parties; there shouldn¡¯t be any issues. With brevity, he said, ¡°No need to sign.¡± Vice President Yu was now unsettled and slightly panicked, ¡°If there¡¯s something about the contract that you find unsatisfactory, our company can revise it. Please consider¡ª¡± ¡°I have no issues with the contract; it¡¯s with your President Shen that I¡¯m not quite satisfied,¡± he paused, then added, ¡°Nor with you.¡± A business deal that had been progressing smoothly was suddenly collapsing. Vice President Yu wanted to salvage the situation, but the other party had already stood up and straightened his tie, ¡°Tell President Shen for me, losing to a woman in business is nothing, but he should have the requisite grace.¡± With that, Jiang Xiaolin walked out of the meeting room. Vice President Yu was dumbfounded. This collaboration with the Jiang Family was Fenghe Real Estate¡¯s biggest investment project of the year. If it fell through, he would have to pack his bags and leave. Leaving the office, the secretary following Jiang Xiaolin couldn¡¯t help but speak up, ¡°Young Master Lin.¡± Secretary Eden was very young, a mixed-race individual, and was recruited by Jiang Xiaolin from Chinese Street. His Chinese was somewhat awkward, ¡°The project is ready to start production. If we stop now, the losses will be significant.¡± ¡°Send me a quote, and I¡¯ll cover the losses,¡± Jiang Xiaolin answered absentmindedly. As he walked, he suddenly stopped, ¡°Give me the car keys; you can go back first.¡± Following his gaze, Eden saw a woman. Without asking further, he left the car keys and went ahead. The president¡¯s office had an open-plan layout with several desks and a reception area in the back, where Miss Tang sat alone, her head lowered, phone in hand, the coffee on the table beside her long since cold. Jiang Xiaolin approached her, his tone tinged with annoyance, ¡°Why are you still sitting here? Can¡¯t you see they¡¯re deliberately making a fool of you¡ª¡± Thud. Tears landed unexpectedly on the phone screen. Jiang Xiaolin stalled for a moment, uncertain, moving closer, ¡°Are you crying?¡± Her head remained lowered as tears dropped steadily down. Jiang Xiaolin had never seen her cry before. He had always considered her tougher than steel. During their study abroad, to save money, she lived in a remote place. Once, she nearly got her clothes ripped off by a drunkard that she encountered. Far from crying, when he arrived, he saw her wielding her high heels ferociously against two men. Why was she crying now? Jiang Xiaolin was at a loss, his voice an awkward mix of harsh and soft, ¡°What¡¯s there to cry about? It¡¯s not that big of a deal.¡± He tugged at his tie, feeling somewhat breathless and not adept at consoling, so he got down to business, ¡°Stop crying. If you can¡¯t find a job, you can come to me.¡± She looked up, face drenched in tears, ¡°Jiang Xiaolin.¡± Her call tugged at his heart, ¡°Hmm.¡± She called his name, then said nothing more, covering her eyes with her hands, and suddenly burst into loud sobs. Jiang Xiaolin was flustered by her crying, ¡°Don¡¯t cry, please.¡± He reached out a hand but then retracted it, ¡°Did someone bully you?¡± Tears streamed through her fingers, the tips of her fingers reddened from the force of her weeping. He knelt down, one knee hitting the ground, and finally reached out his hands to embrace her, ¡°Don¡¯t cry too much, my suit is very expensive.¡± She leaned on his shoulder, her tears wetting his suit. The employees in the president¡¯s office could no longer focus on their work, turning their attention to the commotion. A girl from the neighboring office came over with some items and immediately recognized Jiang Xiaolin, ¡°Isn¡¯t that Young Master Lin? Who¡¯s that woman?¡± An assistant from the president¡¯s office joined in, ¡°That¡¯s Mr. Tang from the Luo Family.¡± ¡°Are they that kind of couple?¡± Wasn¡¯t it said that they didn¡¯t get along? They had been at odds since college, and when Miss Tang went abroad for her studies, Jiang Xiaolin followed, enrolling at a nearby university just to keep the rivalry going. How did it turn into a romance? The assistant spoke in a knowing tone, ¡°It¡¯s not that sort of relationship. Why would a man kneel in front of a woman in the presence of others?¡± Chapter 253: 253: Pregnancy revealed, should the child be kept? (Second update) Chapter 253: 253: Pregnancy revealed, should the child be kept? (Second update) Tang Xiang cried for over ten minutes, her makeup smeared, her eyes swollen, but she didn¡¯t feel embarrassed in front of Jiang Xiaolin. He had seen her at her worst before; when she was studying abroad and worked in a bar, getting drunk by customers to the point of vomiting her guts out. She sat in the passenger seat, having calmed down: ¡°Do you mind if I smoke?¡± Jiang Xiaolin, in the driver¡¯s seat: ¡°If I minded, would you not smoke?¡± She shook her head: ¡°I¡¯d step out to smoke.¡± Today he didn¡¯t snap at her and rolled down the car window, in a particularly good mood: ¡°Smoke in the car.¡± Tang Xiang took out a cigarette and lighter from her bag. She preferred using a flint lighter, finding it satisfying to use, and lit a cigarette with practiced ease, taking a drag: ¡°How much for the suit?¡± Jiang Xiaolin returned to his usual banter with her: ¡°It¡¯s custom-made, you can¡¯t buy it.¡± His tone was a bit annoying. Around her, he was always like this, none of the restraint and politeness of the Jiang Family¡¯s eldest son that he displayed outside. Tang Xiang held the cigarette between her fingers, resting her arm on the car window, looking at him with red, swollen eyes: ¡°Then how should I compensate?¡± His lips curled into a smile: ¡°Come work at my company.¡± Tang Xiang could hear what he meant: ¡°Seeing me unemployed, you want to take me in?¡± He hummed: ¡°Consider it poverty alleviation.¡± She laughed. His eyebrows relaxed, and he finally laughed. ¡°I¡¯m not joking, come to my company.¡± His tone grew more serious, but still teasing, ¡°The top student of the whole school working for the second-best, I think that¡¯s not bad.¡± Back in school, she was the top of the grade, he was second. On the school¡¯s honor roll, he was always firmly pressed below her. He only beat her once in exams, and she then reported him for stealing underwear, costing him five morality points, which put him back to second place again. This woman was meant to trump him. Tang Xiang shook a piece of paper to dust off the ash, holding it in her hand: ¡°I¡¯m a traitor, aren¡¯t you afraid I¡¯ll steal your company secrets?¡± ¡°If you manage to steal them, it¡¯s my failing as a boss,¡± he said, ¡°I¡¯ll take the blame.¡± She smoked her cigarette, neither agreeing nor declining, drawing hard on the slim lady¡¯s cigarette until it was quickly spent. She wrapped the butt in two pieces of paper and pinched it out with practiced movements, holding the trash in her hand and then pulling out another cigarette from the pack. ¡°That¡¯s enough,¡± he said in a relatively mild tone, ¡°a woman like you with such a heavy addiction to smoking.¡± With a flick, she lit the lighter and ignited the cigarette: ¡°Mind your own business.¡± Mind? He couldn¡¯t control her, she was too tough and too wild. ¡°Just now,¡± he turned and leaned against the car door, looking at her, ¡°what happened?¡± She didn¡¯t answer, grabbed her bag, pushed open the car door and got out, taking the trash with her: ¡°I will compensate you for the suit.¡± She left him with those words and walked away. When he first met her, she was eighteen, wearing canvas shoes. Now she was twenty-eight, in high heels. A full ten years. The first lunar month had passed, and Jiang Zhi¡¯s movie was about to start shooting. The start-of-shooting ceremony was held two days ago; all actors were present except for Su Chan, who couldn¡¯t make it from abroad. Today, it was Fang Lixiang¡¯s first scene, which required extras, and Zhou Xufang had taken on this job. The movie was a palace intrigue theme, and most of the shooting locations were in the Imperial Palace of the film studio. Jiang Zhi parked her car quite far from the set, as requested by Zhou Xufang, who also requested, ¡°Don¡¯t come with me; it wouldn¡¯t look good to be seen together.¡± Jiang Zhi begrudgingly replied, ¡°What¡¯s wrong with that? We are in a normal relationship, not having an affair.¡± Zhou Xufang had her reasons: ¡°If others find out my boyfriend is the director, they will say I got into the group through connections.¡± Jiang Zhi teased her on purpose: ¡°Aren¡¯t you?¡± ¡°¡­¡± So annoying. Zhou Xufang corrected him seriously and earnestly: ¡°I rely on my acting skills.¡± She was now confident in her abilities, feeling she could not only bring the dead back to life but also make the living play dead. Jiang Zhi revealed a smile with her small canine teeth, no longer teasing her: ¡°Alright, you go ahead.¡± How could he refuse his girlfriend who wanted to keep their love under wraps? Just play along with her. Zhou Xufang adjusted her cap, covered it with a hoodie, and before putting on her mask, she obediently leaned in and kissed Jiang Zhi, then said, ¡°Once we¡¯re on set, you can¡¯t kiss me. We have to act like we don¡¯t know each other.¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡°I¡¯ll do my best.¡± Not kissing her was out of the question; the most he¡¯d concede was to find a secluded place for it. Zhou Xufang: ¡°I¡¯m going in.¡± Jiang Zhi took off her mask and lavished her with kisses before letting her go. After Zhou Xufang left, the window of a car parked nearby rolled down, revealing a square face: ¡°Hehe,¡± Vice Director Zhao laughed slyly, ¡°Your girlfriend is really cute.¡± Who knows how long this guy had been parked there. Although the new drama¡¯s cast had changed, and there was some turnover in production and financing, the executive director¡¯s team remained the same. Jiang Zhi had worked with Vice Director Zhao multiple times and was quite familiar with him. Jiang Zhi instructed him: ¡°Tell those in the know that my girlfriend doesn¡¯t like making a fuss.¡± Meaning, don¡¯t talk about what you shouldn¡¯t talk about, don¡¯t spread what you shouldn¡¯t spread, don¡¯t gossip about what shouldn¡¯t be gossiped. Vice Director Zhao made a cheeky gesture: ¡°I get it.¡± Role-playing secret romance, huh? Naughty fun. After Zhou Xufang entered the set, she went to find her good friend Fang Lixiang. Fang Lixiang sat on a bench, dressed in the attire of a palace guard, and was set to play alongside the male lead, a very capable film actor. Fang Lixiang would play his guard. Maybe because the lead actor was too famous and his acting too stiff, Fang Lixiang¡¯s face was full of worry. Zhou Xufang walked over, ¡°Lixiang.¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± Not only was her face clouded with worry, her complexion wasn¡¯t great either, like an eggplant damaged by frost. Zhou Xufang sat on the other end of the long bench, and because she had come to the film set, she had wrapped herself up like ¡°a lump of coal¡±: ¡°Aren¡¯t you happy?¡± Fang Lixiang shook her head, ¡°Not at all.¡± She was listless, ¡°I¡¯ve been constipated recently.¡± Assistant Xiao Liu: ¡°¡­¡± This female star is so down-to-earth. The previous assistant had resigned, Xiao Liu hadn¡¯t been around for long, and was still not accustomed to Fang Lixiang, a star without the airs of a female celebrity. Xiao Liu came over with a bag of breakfast: ¡°I bought you some steamed buns.¡± Fang Lixiang asked, ¡°What filling?¡± Xiao Liu took the bag of steamed buns out of the bigger bag: ¡°Mixed.¡± Fang Lixiang smelled it, and instantly her stomach reacted, she pinched her nose, ¡°Take it away, take it away.¡± ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Xiao Liu held the steamed buns a bit farther away. ¡°My stomach has been upset recently, I feel sick when I smell meat.¡± The little brat in her belly was really restless, only so big and already troubling her. She couldn¡¯t eat, couldn¡¯t sleep, and couldn¡¯t stand the smell of anything oily. ¡°Then try some tea eggs.¡± Xiao Liu gave all three tea eggs to Fang Lixiang, she only ate a few bites before feeling too nauseated to eat more. Zhou Xufang took a can of milk out of her backpack, opened it, and handed it to her. ¡°Xufang, I need to tell you something.¡± Zhou Xufang listened seriously, ¡°What is it?¡± Fang Lixiang glanced around, no one was paying attention to them here, so she whispered to Zhou Xufang: ¡°Doesn¡¯t your boyfriend¡¯s family run a hospital?¡± Zhou Xufang: ¡°They run a hospital.¡± Fang Lixiang stuttered with hesitation, ¡°Can you get me in through the back door?¡± Zhou Xufang asked, ¡°What kind of back door?¡± S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Again, she stuttered with hesitation, ¡°I need to have a minor surgery.¡± Zhou Xufang was very concerned about her good friend: ¡°Are you feeling unwell somewhere?¡± ¡°Just a minor ailment,¡± Fang Lixiang said, ¡°Hemorrhoids.¡± She had to lie; Zhou Xufang¡¯s boyfriend and that scoundrel Xue Baoyi were childhood friends, and she feared the word would get out. With an expression that spelled dilemma on her face, Zhou Xufang: ¡°¡­¡± Fang Lixiang scooted closer to her: ¡°I¡¯m a female star, you know. If people find out I¡¯m having hemorrhoids removed, I¡¯ll lose fans. Get it?¡± Zhou Xufang, feeling a bit cold, a bit confused, and a bit dazed: ¡°I get it.¡± Actually, she didn¡¯t entirely get it. If her idol also had hemorrhoids removed¡­ she couldn¡¯t imagine what Xiao Yusheng would look like having hemorrhoids surgery¡­ She digressed far; Fang Lixiang went back to the point: ¡°Can you get me in? The kind where no one will notice.¡± Zhou Xufang said, ¡°I¡¯ll get Jiang Zhi to help you out.¡± Fang Lixiang clasped her fists, ¡°Thanks, Hero Zhou.¡± Hero Zhou said it was a trifling effort, not worth mentioning. Fang Lixiang took a sip of milk. As soon as she swallowed, her stomach turned tumultuously, and she quickly ran to the side, throwing it all up. Zhou Xufang fell into deep thought. ¡°Lixiang.¡± She brought over a bottle of mineral water, unscrewed the cap, and handed it to Fang Lixiang, ¡°Could it be that you are pregnant?¡± It shouldn¡¯t be hemorroids; it should be an obstetrics and gynecology visit. ¡°Phew¡ª¡± Fang Lixiang sprayed out a mouthful of water, looking at Zhou Xufang incredulously. Zhou Xufang, always appearing cold, cute, and silly, was actually very astute. ¡°Ah!¡± Fang Lixiang sighed heavily, ¡°It looks like Jiang Zhi has already taken you on that ride.¡± The Zhou Xufang who had been on that ¡°little train¡±: ¡°¡­¡± One lie leads to a hundred just to cover it up; it couldn¡¯t be hidden anymore, Fang Lixiang confessed: ¡°I am pregnant.¡± Zhou Xufang showed a shocked expression, hesitant to speak. ¡°You want to know whose it is?¡± Zhou Xufang nodded. Fang Lixiang and she squatted in the ¡°Imperial Palace¡± corner, looking conspicuous from afar, murmuring and acting sneakily as if conspiring: ¡°You know him, otherwise I wouldn¡¯t have kept it from you.¡± Zhou Xufang knew only a few men. Mr. Xue fancied Fifth Aunt from the Jiang family, Mr. Qiao had Wen Baiyang already, Ah Wan was still obsessed with novels and Korean dramas, leaving only one person. ¡°Is it Mr. Xiao Xue?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Fang Lixiang patted her own belly, ¡°The little mongrel inside is from his dog.¡± Zhou Xufang was very surprised: ¡°When did you two get together?¡± She had no idea; not long ago, Mr. Xiao Xue was still making headlines with another female star. Chapter 254: 254: Jiang Zhi, you little thug! She has a high fever again~ Chapter 254: 254: Jiang Zhi, you little thug! She has a high fever again~ Zhou Xufang was very surprised, ¡°When did you two get together?¡± She had no idea, and Mr. Xiao Xue was just in the headlines with a female celebrity a few days ago. The female celebrity wore a dress with very little fabric, a particularly low neckline, and her hand resting on Mr. Xiao Xue¡¯s shoulder. ¡°We never got together, it was an accident.¡± Fang Lixiang picked up a pebble from the ground in frustration and threw it back down, ¡°Xue Baoyi¡¯s dog has already forgotten about it.¡± Zhou Xufang thought ¡®that dog¡¯ was too much. Fang Lixiang heaved a heavy sigh, ¡°I¡¯m just plagued with bad luck, ended up buying expired birth control.¡± Indeed, very unlucky. Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t know how to comfort her, but thought about it, ¡°Do you want me to go beat him up for you?¡± ¡°How would you do that?¡± ¡°Put a sack over his head.¡± She wasn¡¯t joking, she was serious. Fang Lixiang laughed at her suggestion, ¡°Beating him wouldn¡¯t do any good.¡± She waved her hand to dismiss the idea, ¡°Let¡¯s not stoop to the level of a dog.¡± It was not about being reluctant to stoop to the level of that dog. Zhou Xufang understood. In this accident, there must have been a hint of willingness; otherwise, Lixiang would have already gone out with a sack herself. ¡°Are you thinking of terminating the pregnancy?¡± If she was willing, it would be hard to let go. Fang Lixiang hesitated for a long time, ¡°I had a cold during that time and took medicine; it might have an effect.¡± She placed her hand on her still-flat belly, unable to feel anything, ¡°Plus, I¡¯m not planning on being an unmarried mother, at least not right now.¡± She was a public figure, unmarried, and if she had a child, she knew without thinking about all the trouble that would follow¡ªlike a series of troublesome baskets, not to mention Mr. Fang¡¯s disapproval would be an insurmountable barrier. Zhou Xufang couldn¡¯t offer advice, ¡°When are you going to the hospital?¡± ¡°This weekend, I guess.¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to tell Xue Baoyi?¡± Zhou Xufang no longer called him Mr. Xiao Xue, she thought he was a scumbag, she thought he was ¡®Gouzi¡¯. But, a girl shouldn¡¯t have to go to the gynecology and obstetrics department alone; it¡¯s too desolate. Even having a dog to accompany her would be better. Fang Lixiang smiled wryly, ¡°After telling him, what then? Use the child to tie him down?¡± She sighed again, showing her distress, ¡°I don¡¯t know what to do, I¡¯ll ask the doctor first, not even sure how much the medicine will affect things.¡± During the lunch break, Zhou Xufang sneaked into Jiang Zhi¡¯s resting room, crouching down and constantly looking back, afraid of being seen. Seeing her sneaky demeanor, Jiang Zhi was somewhat amused, ¡°Are you playing 007 or something?¡± She went in, closed the door, ¡°Jiang Zhi, could you give me Vice President Sun¡¯s contact information?¡± The last time she visited the gynecology and obstetrics department, it was Vice President Sun who helped her, presumably someone Jiang Zhi trusted. Jiang Zhi pulled her to sit beside him, ¡°What do you need his contact information for?¡± Zhou Xufang sat erect, giving an honest impression, ¡°A friend of mine is sick.¡± ¡°Wen Baiyang or Fang Lixiang?¡± ¡°¡­¡± How did he guess right away? Zhou Xufang looked elsewhere, ¡°Neither.¡± She could not admit it, Jiang Zhi and Xue ¡®Gouzi¡¯ were close. Jiang Zhi looked at her with a half-smile, as if seeing through her lies, ¡°You have other friends?¡± No. Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t discuss it further, just asked, ¡°Will you give it to me?¡± This was so weird. ¡°Tell me the situation, and I¡¯ll make arrangements for you.¡± ¡°No, don¡¯t interfere.¡± She had an expression which said, ¡®if you interfere, I¡¯m not dealing with you anymore,¡¯ ¡°And don¡¯t ask.¡± Her curiosity piqued, Jiang Zhi pulled her into an embrace, ¡°What¡¯s this about? Can¡¯t I even know?¡± Zhou Xufang, ¡°It¡¯s a secret.¡± All secretive, refusing to tell him, Jiang Zhi felt provoked, ¡°You used to hide nothing from me, and now you have secrets I can¡¯t know.¡± His beautiful eyes held a hint of complaint, looking at her as if she were a faithless lover, ¡°Zhou Xufang, do you not love me as much as before?¡± Zhou Xufang, ¡°¡­¡± She was afraid his next words would be¡ªthen tell me you love me, a hundred times. Because Jiang Zhi had done that before. Zhou Xufang told him half-truth, ¡°It¡¯s about a girl¡¯s illness; it¡¯s inconvenient to let you know.¡± He didn¡¯t ask further, handed her his phone, ¡°You set the password.¡± Oh. Six zeros. Zhou Xufang opened the contacts list, scrolling through, ¡°Did you save it as ¡®Vice President Sun¡¯?¡± ¡°That¡¯s his official number, dial his personal number.¡± Jiang Zhi said, ¡°Tingyu Building takeout.¡± Zhou Xufang, ¡°¡­¡± It sounded like an underground meeting signal. She found the ¡®Tingyu Building takeout¡¯ number and went to the bathroom to call, telling Jiang Zhi, ¡°Don¡¯t eavesdrop.¡± Jiang Zhi held her back, ¡°Wait and call later.¡± She looked puzzled, ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°I need to confirm something first.¡± She looked even more puzzled, ¡°Confirm what?¡± Jiang Zhi pulled her into the bathroom and closed the door. Zhou Xufang only got a fever when he became emotional. He had to confirm, wasn¡¯t it that she hadn¡¯t answered whether she loved him, how much she loved him, whether she loved him more now, or more in the past? He had to ¡°figure¡± out a result. A one and a half hour rest, work starts at two in the afternoon. Zhou Xufang had just changed into the extras¡¯ clothes when Fang Lixiang came up with a comment, ¡°Is Jiang Zhi a dog?¡± Zhou Xufang, with an honest face, replied, ¡°No, he¡¯s a person.¡± ¡°Then why does he bite people?¡± Zhou Xufang couldn¡¯t understand, ¡°But he doesn¡¯t.¡± How could Jiang Zhi bite people? He was certainly not Gouzi, Xue Baoyi was Gouzi. Fang Lixiang handed her a mirror, ¡°Take a look at yourself.¡± After looking in the mirror, Zhou Xufang said, ¡°¡­¡± She was about to play a palace maid, and the collar of the palace maid¡¯s clothing wasn¡¯t high enough to cover her neck. Zhou Xufang pulled on her down jacket and squatted in the corner to send a WeChat message to Jiang Zhi. Fangbao: ¡°You are a dog.¡± Jiang¡¤Dog¡¤Zhi replied quickly. Fangbao¡¯s Boyfriend: ¡°How am I a dog?¡± Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Hmph! Zhou Xufang glared at Jiang Zhi from afar. Fangbao: ¡°Lixiang saw it.¡± Fangbao: ¡°Neck.¡± Zhou Xufang also sent an emoticon of a dog to Jiang Zhi. Fangbao¡¯s Boyfriend: ¡°So she saw, she¡¯s not underage.¡± Shameless! Little pervert! Fangbao: ¡°You can¡¯t do it again in the future.¡± But the little pervert had no shame at all. Fangbao¡¯s Boyfriend: ¡°Can¡¯t do what?¡± The word ¡°do,¡± Zhou Xufang felt, had a hooligan vibe to it. Fangbao: ¡°Neck.¡± Fangbao¡¯s Boyfriend: ¡°Is it okay in other places?¡± Zhou Xufang squeezed into a corner of the Imperial Palace walls, covered her face, and took a long time to respond. Fangbao: ¡°Okay.¡± Ah, she seemed to have been led astray by a little hooligan. Fangbao¡¯s Boyfriend: [Lie down and kiss Jiang Zhi] GIF Fangbao: ¡°.¡± Fangbao¡¯s Boyfriend: [Cry if you send another period] GIF Fangbao: [You can¡¯t send a period, must resist] GIF ¡°Director Jiang,¡± Vice Director Zhao asked, ¡°What¡¯s the good news?¡± Look at that smile, his damn face is practically bending. This guy must not know how seductively he smiles when he does. Jiang Zhi ignored him and picked up a phone call. ¡°The video has been sent to Luo Changde.¡± He lay there lazily, ¡°Tell the police.¡± After six o¡¯clock, it got dark. After the start of spring, the temperature had risen quite a bit, but it was still chillingly cold at night. The lights were off in the room, the computer was on, and the screen emitted a cold white glow. ¡°I saw with my own eyes, Luo Changde using a rebar to smash Tang Guangji¡¯s head. The child on the ground clung to his leg, begging him to stop, but he then drove that piece of rebar into the child¡¯s body.¡± ¡°All of this is just your side of the story. Do you have any evidence?¡± ¡°The murder weapon, I know where it is.¡± ¡°Where?¡± ¡°It¡¯s time to talk about my conditions.¡± Click! The person in front of the computer pressed the space bar, and the conversation in the video stopped there. He pressed the cigarette butt in his hand into the ashtray, sat silently for a moment, then suddenly grabbed the ashtray and smashed it onto the floor, shattering glass everywhere. The light from the computer screen reflected in his eyes, somber and dark. He shut down the computer, got up, and left the room. Xu Yunci happened to be coming upstairs to call someone, ¡°Where are you going? It¡¯s almost time for dinner.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t follow me.¡± Luo Changde went downstairs. The outside of the villa was shrouded in darkness. He headed towards the greenhouse in the back, while a dark figure jumped down from Ping Building nearby, following him at a not too close yet not too far distance. No one was in the greenhouse. Luo Changde used his mobile phone as a light, walked up to a flower rack, glanced behind him a few times, then moved all the flower racks and pots nearby aside. That spot on the ground wasn¡¯t covered with tiles, a few sparse weeds growing. He grabbed a shovel and began to dig into that patch of soil. Without any lights on in the greenhouse, a shadow snuck in and hid behind the flower rack by the door. Chapter 255: 255: Xu Fang regains memory, all the truths (one more update) Chapter 255: 255: Xu Fang regains memory, all the truths (one more update) The flower room was dark when a shadow sneaked in and hid behind the door¡¯s flower rack. That shadow could only be Lord Black Impermanence. Luo Changde dug with a shovel a few times before squatting down to dig with his hands. From Zhou Xufang¡¯s perspective, she could only see his back and his frantic digging. Without warning, a burst of flame suddenly appeared before her eyes, and a fierce fire started all around. Outside the flower room, someone broke in with a bang, kicking open the door. ¡°Housekeeper Tang.¡± Eight years ago, Luo Changde wasn¡¯t so thin and was quite robust. Tang Guangji, seeing it was him, was shocked, ¡°Young master, with such a big fire, why have you come in too?¡± He said, eyes reflecting the towering flames, ¡°Give me the person.¡± The person on his back was barely conscious, and Tang Guangji, careful to avoid the still-burning wooden flower rack, said, ¡°I¡¯ll carry her, you get out quickly, the fire is getting bigger.¡± ¡°Give me the person.¡± The smoke filled the area, and Luo Changde¡¯s voice was hoarse, he threw away the towel covering his nose and mouth and picked up a steel rebar from the ground. The rebar dragged on the ground, making a grating sound. Tang Guangji was immediately on guard, ¡°You¡¯re not here to save her.¡± As he backed away, still carrying the person, he looked wary, ¡°What are you trying to do?¡± He had no patience left, irritable and gloomy, ¡°I told you to give me the person.¡± He was not here to save but to harm¡­ Tang Guangji set Luo San down and shook her forcefully to rouse her from near unconsciousness: ¡°Luo San! Luo San!¡± She struggled to open her eyes. Tang Guangji gripped her shoulder, trying to get her to come to, ¡°Hide behind the flower rack, quickly go.¡± She was dazed, nodded, and staggered backwards. Bang! Luo Changde shut the wooden door of the flower house, and in the semi-glass flower room spanning over a hundred square meters, thick smoke billowed. Hiss¡ª Hiss¡ª Hiss¡ª The sound of the rebar dragging grew closer, more piercing to the ears. Tang Guangji glanced back at the girl behind him, turned, and lunged at Luo Changde, but being too long in the fire himself, his steps were unsteady, and Luo Changde shoved him aside. The flower rack was right in front of them. Luo San stumbled, fell to the ground, completely out of strength, she tried to get up several times but couldn¡¯t, slowly crawling forward. Just as she was near the flower rack, a hand reached from behind, grabbing her ankle tightly. It was Luo Changde. He squatted on the ground, gripping her foot, dragging her back. She was terrified, kicking wildly, whimpering. Luo Changde said, ¡°Stop screaming.¡± He raised the rebar in his hand, and just then, Tang Guangji, on the ground, got up and picked up a chair, smashing it down from behind. Luo Changde was struck hard on the back and stumbled forward. Tang Guangji quickly pulled Luo San up and pushed her toward the door, ¡°Run!¡± She shook her head, open her mouth but made no sound, she was saying: let¡¯s go together. Tang Guangji shouted at her, ¡°Run!¡± Unsteady, she leaned against the scorching glass of the flower house and pointed behind Tang Guangji, ¡°Tang, Uncle, go, now.¡± Her words seemed torn from her throat, dry and hoarse. Tang Guangji turned and saw Luo Changde behind him, the steel rebar already raised in his hand, his eyes scorched red by the fire: ¡°You can still talk?¡± That meant she needed to die. Tang Guangji grabbed his waist, rushing him backward into the flower rack behind, holding him tightly and looking back to shout at Luo San, ¡°Run!¡± ¡°Go!¡± She wouldn¡¯t run, but stumbled forward, and as Luo Changde¡¯s rebar fell, she grabbed his hand, ¡°Don¡¯t hit Uncle Tang.¡± Tang Guangji, with red eyes, still yelling, told her to go. Luo Changde swung forcefully, throwing her to the ground, raised the steel rebar, and smashed it down on Tang Guangji¡¯s back. Tang Guangji fell to the ground, unable to get up, still shouting, ¡°Luo San, run¡­¡± The rebar, heated by high temperatures, burned to the touch. Luo Changde put on gloves from the flower rack and walked over, holding the half-meter-long rebar, and said, ¡®This is all your fault,¡¯ his eyes red, he forcefully smashed Tang Guangji¡¯s head. Luo Changde was prone to outbursts, and Luo Yinghe was just like him. On the second strike, his leg was grabbed by someone. ¡°Stop.¡± A fourteen-year-old girl, very small, short, and thin, used all her strength to pull at his leg, ¡°Don¡¯t hit him.¡± Her voice was rough, sobbing, ¡°Don¡¯t hit him, don¡¯t hit him¡­¡± Luo Changde squatted down, eyes red and completely irrational, pinched her shoulder. ¡°This is all your fault.¡± She desperately shook her head, ¡°I won¡¯t tell, I won¡¯t speak out.¡± S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Initially thought you were mute, but it turns out you can talk, you won¡¯t speak out?¡± He couldn¡¯t believe her, ¡°Only the dead truly keep secrets.¡± He grabbed her clothes, his hand moving from the thin shoulder of the girl to her neck. Tang Guangji, lying on the ground, struggled to his feet, all bloodied at the back of his neck, forcefully pushed Luo San away and seized the steel bar from Luo Changde¡¯s hand. ¡°Luo Changde,¡± Tang Guangji cursed, ¡°Beast!¡± Tigers don¡¯t eat their cubs, let alone humans. Luo Changde kicked him away. Tang Guangji crashed into the flower rack, all the flowerpots above fell, hitting Tang Guangji on the head and body, the flower rack teetered twice, then crashed down on him. ¡°Uncle Tang!¡± The real wood flower rack, tall as a wall, could crush bones to bits. Tang Guangji lay on the ground, face covered in blood. Luo San crawled over, undeterred by the heat, barehanded she tried to pull the flower rack, but it was too heavy, she couldn¡¯t move it. ¡°Someone, is there anyone?¡± ¡°Save him, please save him¡­¡± Her hands blistered from the heat, she didn¡¯t feel the pain, numbly she kept pushing the burning flower rack, crying out for Uncle Tang, but Tang Guangji no longer responded. Luo Changde grabbed her by the nape, dragging her away. She kicked and hit him, struggling to get up, but he pressed her down with the searing rebar on her shoulder. She was terrified of him, shivering as she cried out, ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± ¡°Jiang¡ª¡± Luo Changde pressed his knee against her flailing legs, ¡°Stop yelling.¡± She kept yelling for Jiang Zhi, calling out to him continuously. Jiang Zhi had once said, ¡°If someone bullies you, call for me, and I¡¯ll come to help you.¡± ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± ¡°Jiang Zhi¡­¡± Luo Changde, driven to even greater fury by her cries, groped on the ground for a hammer, ¡°I told you not to yell!¡± He picked up the hammer and forcefully drove the rebar down. Just once, and blood surged out. Her legs stopped moving, she took a deep breath that stuck in her throat, reaching out, ¡°Save, save,¡± pointing at the flower rack, ¡°Tang, Tang¡­¡± In Luo Changde¡¯s eyes, there was no reflection, only a gleam of blood, only shades of red. His head was covered in sweat, blood coursing rapidly over his bulging veins, ¡°It¡¯ll be over soon.¡± ¡°Soon you¡¯ll be freed.¡± Bang! Bang! Bang! With each strike, the hammer hit the rebar. Gradually, the girl on the ground stopped struggling, her hand drooping down, motionless. The fire grew stronger, reflecting a figure in the glass of the greenhouse, covering his mouth and nose, hiding behind the flower rack, it was Ah Bin¡­ Countless fragments collided in Zhou Xufang¡¯s brain, those memories buried deep resurfacing, she felt a splitting headache, lost her balance slightly, and bumped into a flowerpot behind her. Clang¡ª Luo Changde suddenly turned around, ¡°Who¡¯s there!¡± In his hand, he held the section of rebar that had once been nailed into her body, now covered with rust. In the dim light, Zhou Xufang saw those eyes filled with panic, grimness, agitation, and in an instant, a flicker of murderous intent. Such a gaze, she had seen it before outside Luo Changde¡¯s bedroom. The door wasn¡¯t closed tightly, leaving a crack. Inside the room, Luo Changde had his wife of the Xiao Family pressed against the sofa, his mood violently erratic and furious, ¡°Speak, why aren¡¯t you speaking?¡± His hand moved from her shoulder to her neck. ¡°Go tell others, it was I who violated Zhou Qingmeng.¡± He choked the Xiao Family¡¯s wife, bellowing, ¡°Go on! Go ahead!¡± The Xiao Family¡¯s wife struggled, whimpering. Luo Changde pried open her mouth with one hand while grabbing a jar of sleeping pills from the coffee table with the other, biting it open and shoving the entire jar into her mouth, ¡°I told you to speak, I told you!¡± Sleeping pills the size of beans scattered all over the ground. The Xiao Family¡¯s wife coughed a few times, then stopped struggling. Only then did Luo Changde regain his senses, and suddenly there was a clang from outside. He turned around, ¡°Who¡¯s there!¡± It was that same look, filled with panic, grimness, agitation, and a flicker of murderous intent in an instant. He pushed the door open, seeing no one, only a clump of foxtail grass on the floor. ¡°Who¡¯s out there?¡± Luo Changde raised the flashlight on his phone, lighting up the entrance of the flower rack. Again, there was silence behind the flower rack. He gripped the rusty section of rebar, stepping forward. Suddenly, a dark shadow emerged from the dimness, supporting herself on the flower rack, her steps wobbly. The greenhouse lights were off, making it too dark to clearly see the person; Luo Changde eyed her warily, ¡°Who are you?¡± Zhou Xufang lifted her head, her eyes bloodshot in the darkness, she said, ¡°I am Luo San.¡± The Luo San you nailed here with a rebar. Dead people don¡¯t come back to life, naturally Luo Changde didn¡¯t believe, ¡°Who are you really?¡± Zhou Xufang stepped out, approaching step by step, ¡°The wronged spirit you killed.¡± He abruptly raised the rusty section of rebar. Clang! The door to the greenhouse was kicked open, Jiang Zhi stormed in, knocking Luo Changde to the ground with a kick, his face masked, pulling Zhou Xufang behind the flower rack. ¡°Don¡¯t come, you never listen.¡± Jiang Zhi held back his voice, both angry and anxious, ¡°You¡¯re not obedient at all.¡± ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± She called out to him once, then suddenly her legs gave, sinking to the ground. Jiang Zhi immediately supported her, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Worried she might be hurt, he became frantic, ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Fang Bao?¡± Outside, police sirens sounded. Luo Changde tried to rise, but Jiang Zhi went over and gave a hard kick to his stomach, Luo Changde cried out in pain, doubling over, unable to rise. Only then did Jiang Zhi scoop up Zhou Xufang, exiting the Luo Family greenhouse, taking a shortcut through the back of the yard, leading her up to the loft where she had once lived. The loft door was unlocked, the light broken, the wooden bed covered in dust; Jiang Zhi laid Zhou Xufang on the bed. ¡°Xu Fang.¡± She appeared lost and dazed, her eyes dull. Jiang Zhi held her shoulders, ¡°Tell me, what¡¯s wrong?¡± He called her ¡°Fang Bao¡± twice before she came to her senses, the blood in her eyes fading somewhat, slightly flushed, ¡°Jiang Zhi, I remember everything.¡± Jiang Zhi knelt before her, removing her mask, tilting his head up touching her face, ¡°Remembered what?¡± The moonlight streamed in, her complexion pale, her lips trembling slightly, ¡°He killed someone, I saw it.¡± She grasped Jiang Zhi¡¯s hands, ¡°He killed his wife.¡± Chapter 256: 256: Revealing the past, Luo Sans identity (second update Chapter 256: 256: Revealing the past, Luo San¡¯s identity (second update ¡°He killed someone, and I saw it,¡± she clutched Jiang Zhi¡¯s hand, ¡°He killed his wife.¡± She remembered, remembered everything. At seven, she asked He Xiangxiu, ¡°Aunt Xiu, why do the Luo Family hate me so much? My last name is Luo too.¡± She taught herself to speak; she barely ever opened her mouth, her voice was strange, and her pronunciation odd. That time, He Xiangxiu scolded her and even hit her, then forbade her from speaking again. After scolding her, she found a pair of scissors and cut off all the hair that reached her ears. ¡°You¡¯re not Luo San.¡± He Xiangxiu said, ¡°You have a name too.¡± Luo San stammered, ¡°What is my name?¡± With reddened eyes, He Xiangxiu took a broom and began sweeping up the hair from the floor. ¡°There¡¯s a small town in Xiangnan called Xufang Town,¡± she said in a choked voice, looking down. ¡°Your mom and your uncle came from there.¡± She paused for a very long time. She said, ¡°Your last name is Zhou, after your mom, and your name is Zhou Xufang, Xu Fang from Xufang Town.¡± The seven-year-old child, confused, asked, ¡°Aunt Xiu, where are my mom and uncle then?¡± He Xiangxiu did not respond. Little Luo San reached out to pull her sleeve, ¡°Where did they go? Why haven¡¯t they come to pick me up?¡± She turned her head away, wiping her eyes, ¡°They¡¯re gone.¡± Luo San didn¡¯t understand and persisted, ¡°What does ¡®gone¡¯ mean?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t ask anymore.¡± He Xiangxiu shook off her hand and rummaged through a cabinet, pulling out a necklace¡ªor rather, just a string with a piece of metal on it, which had some words engraved and signs of polishing. He Xiangxiu hung the metal piece around her neck, ¡°This was left by your mother. Keep it with you. If anyone asks who your mother is, pretend you know nothing. You have no name, no home, and no mother or uncle, understand?¡± The seven-year-old Luo San didn¡¯t understand, but she excitedly thought that one day her mom and uncle would come for her, and take her back to her own home. ¡°Remember, you mustn¡¯t let anyone know you can talk, nor can they know you¡¯re a girl.¡± He Xiangxiu had repeated this warning to her many, many times, but she always failed to remember. Tang Guangji worked for the Luo Family, and back then, Mr. Luo was still hale and hearty. Tang Guangji stayed by the old man¡¯s side and seldom returned to Ping Building. In fact, Luo San didn¡¯t spend much time with him, but she liked him a lot. Even though he always seemed to dislike her in front of others and would hit and yell at her, she still really liked him. Back then, she envied Tang Xiang so much because she had such a good father. Whenever Tang Guangji came back, he would visit Tang Xiang first, and then come to the attic. She would see him and be so happy, calling out with her rough voice, ¡°Uncle Tang.¡± Tang Guangji¡¯s response was cold, ¡°You¡¯re talking again. If your Aunt Xiu hears this, she¡¯ll hit you again.¡± She smiled stupidly. ¡°Did the Second Miss hit you just now?¡± Yes, she was hit with a rose. She shook her head. Tang Guangji took out a bottle from the back of his coat¡¯s hood, ¡°Use this medicine.¡± She wanted to say she wasn¡¯t in pain. She was a child with issues¡ªwhile not being able to talk was a lie, not feeling pain was true. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter if it doesn¡¯t hurt, you still have to apply it.¡± Tang Guangji pushed the bottle into her hands and left. Holding the medicine bottle, she silently mouthed a thank you. She was still young back then, but she understood that Tang Guangji was a good person, but his whole family was also under the Luo¡¯s thumb, even his closest relatives worked for the Luo Family, dependent on them. He would always say, ¡°Luo San, Uncle Tang can¡¯t take care of you, you have to learn to survive on your own.¡± She knew if Tang Guangji¡¯s family was too nice to her, the Luo Family would be displeased, and if they were displeased, they would find ways to torment her. But Tang Guangji was just too kind-hearted, always unable to help but secretly treat her with kindness. He Xiangxiu was the total opposite; she would often hit and scold her, but she would choose to hit where the flesh was thick, places that didn¡¯t matter. When Luo San was in her thirties, Tang Xiang was already at university, staying at school and seldom coming home. The last time she came back, she taught her arithmetic, and this time, she taught her how to write. ¡°Luo San.¡± By then, Tang Xiang had grown very tall, unlike Luo San, who was skinny like a bean sprout. Tang Xiang gestured to her, ¡°Come here.¡± Luo San ran over with a bounce in her step. Tang Xiang wrote two characters in a notebook and showed her, ¡°This is your name, can you write it?¡± She shook her head. She could only grasp the most basic numbers, taught by He Xiangxiu during her leisure time. ¡°What a blockhead,¡± Tang Xiang scolded while holding her hand and teaching her to write on the paper, ¡°Start with the character ¡®three,¡¯ look carefully, just three strokes.¡± Tang Xiang drew three strokes with her hand and asked, ¡°Got it?¡± Luo San immediately nodded her head. The orange cat lying under the table woke up and meowed lazily. Luo San had found this cat at the Luo Family¡¯s doorstep. He Xiangxiu disagreed with keeping it and threw it out several times, but the cat kept coming back. Since she couldn¡¯t deal with it, she just let it be. When Luo San found it, it was just a scrawny little kitten, and now it had grown plump from eating well because Aunt Liu from the kitchen liked it and often fed it. But Aunt Liu didn¡¯t like Luo San and never gave her any treats. Luo San also named the orange cat Luo Si. She pointed at the cat and drew four strokes on the paper. Tang Xiang poked her forehead and called her a little idiot: ¡°¡®The character ¡®four¡¯ isn¡¯t written like this.¡± She wrote the character ¡®four¡¯ beside the four strokes and said, ¡°You copy it.¡± She couldn¡¯t write it well; it was crooked and twisted. ¡°You¡¯re hopelessly stupid!¡± Tang Xiang scolded her for being dumb while resignedly teaching her hand by hand. After that, Tang Guangji would find some old books and secretly slip them under Luo San¡¯s bed. She could now recognize many characters, but she wrote only a few, her hand disobedient, making writing a strenuous effort. He Xiangxiu threw all the Luo Family¡¯s unwanted newspapers, along with Tang Xiang¡¯s old books, old notebooks, and old pens to her. When Luo San wasn¡¯t working, she would write and draw by herself. One time, Luo Yinghe saw her. ¡°Pfft! Still trying to write.¡± Luo Yinghe threw her newspapers and pen on the ground and stepped on them, ¡°You¡¯re a retard; do you think you can even learn?¡± Luo Yinghe and Luo San were born in the same year, but Luo Yinghe was more than a head taller. She particularly despised Luo San, thinking her lowly and shabby. Her voice filled with malice, she said, ¡°Later, when my classmate comes, you¡¯d better stay in the attic; don¡¯t come out. If you disgust my guest, I¡¯ll never forgive you.¡± Luo San nodded and went to pick up the pen off the ground. Luo Yinghe grabbed a watering can used for plants and threw it at her: ¡°Stay away from me; you¡¯re filthy!¡± She was indeed filthy because she had to work in the greenhouse every day and also in the kitchen. The watering can was full of water, and when it hit her on the head, it soaked her bald scalp. Fortunately, it was plastic and didn¡¯t damage her skull. She picked up her things and stood farther away, out of Luo Yinghe¡¯s sight. ¡°No wonder that crazy old lady says you and your uncle are just stinking beggars.¡± The ¡°crazy old lady¡± was Luo Qinghe¡¯s mother. Luo San looked up because she heard the words ¡°uncle.¡± Luo Yinghe kept cursing, ¡°Your mom was a fox spirit.¡± She spat out the words maliciously, venting her anger, ¡°You¡¯re just a little fox spirit!¡± Luo San just listened. She wanted to hear more about her mom and uncle. ¡°Yinghe!¡± Xu Yunci ran in, interrupting, ¡°Don¡¯t talk nonsense!¡± Luo Yinghe snorted, ¡°I¡¯m not talking nonsense; Luo Qinghe¡¯s mom said it when she was sick.¡± Xu Yunci scolded her in a low voice and then said to Luo San, ¡°Don¡¯t just stand there, go outside.¡± Luo San clutched her belongings and left. That year, Luo Qinghe¡¯s mother from the Xiao Family was very sick, suffering from severe depression and schizophrenia, with tendencies toward violence and even suicide. For some reason, whenever Xiao Family saw Luo San, she would lose control of her emotions and become ill. Perhaps because of this, Luo Qinghe was particularly hostile toward Luo San, troubling her in every way she could whenever she was free. At that time, the Luo Family¡¯s perennial greenhouse was filled with blooming roses. Ah Bin came in and said, ¡°Miss, I have called Luo San for you.¡± Luo San approached timidly. Luo Qinghe had Ah Bin leave and called Luo San closer, ¡°See the flowers on the table?¡± Scattered on the table were freshly cut roses. Luo Qinghe instructed, ¡°Pull all the thorns off for me.¡± Luo San reached for scissors. ¡°With your hands.¡± Luo Qinghe commanded, ¡°Use your hands to pluck them.¡± Luo San never fought back because resistance was futile and only led to more trouble. She bowed her head and went over, taking a rose in her hands and tearing off its thorns. S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Rose thorns were hard to pluck, and after several pricks, her fingertips started to bleed. Luo Qinghe, holding a book with her tea nearby, dressed in an expensive and pretty dress said, ¡°You¡¯re so slow, didn¡¯t you eat?¡± Indeed, she hadn¡¯t eaten yet. Aunt Xiu was out, and Aunt Liu from the kitchen had thrown out all the leftovers. She was just drinking water and was now very hungry. She glanced at Luo Qinghe cautiously and continued pulling thorns. ¡°What are you looking at? Cursing me in your heart?¡± Luo Qinghe set down her cup. She was the lofty young miss, flamboyant and proud, ¡°To others, you claim to be the adopted child, but you really think of yourself as part of the Luo Family. You¡¯re nothing but a bastard, just lucky you were born the right sex.¡± Chapter 257: 257: The Sweetness of Young First Love (Part 1) Chapter 257: 257: The Sweetness of Young First Love (Part 1) ¡°You call yourself a Luo Family member just because you were said to be adopted; you¡¯re nothing but a bastard child who just happened to be born the right gender.¡± Luo San kept his head down, letting her curse. Luo Qinghe finished his tea in the cup, got up, and as he passed by her, he left a word, ¡°Don¡¯t let my mom see you again in the future, otherwise,¡± He laughed, but did not continue. After he left, Luo San took a deep breath. In fact, the adults in the Luo Family did not always bully her; they just harbored disgust in their eyes and turned a blind eye to all she endured and encountered. She feared Luo Qinghe and Luo Yinghe more, but Luo Qinghe, she feared the most. Luo Qinghe looked like her mother; Luo San was very afraid of this Madam of the Luo Family. Xiao Family had been sick for many years, sometimes better, sometimes worse. When her condition was good, she would lock herself up, hardly ever leaving her room. When her condition was bad, she would always cause trouble, make noise, and berate others, even harming herself, especially couldn¡¯t bear to see Luo San; every time she saw her, she would have an episode. One night, Luo San was asleep when suddenly someone choked her neck, she opened her eyes to see Xiao Family¡¯s eyes wishing to tear her apart. ¡°You bastard child.¡± Xiao Family strangled her throat, cursing her, ¡°Zhou Qingmeng¡¯s bastard!¡± Zhou Qingmeng¡­ This was the first time Luo San heard this name. She wanted to ask who Zhou Qingmeng was, whether she was her mother, but Xiao Family was strangling her neck so tightly that her fingernails almost broke into her flesh. ¡°All you Zhous deserve to die, and you¡¯re an incest bastard who deserves death even more!¡± Xiao Family¡¯s eyes were bloodshot, she cursed wildly, ¡°Die, just die!¡± Luo San with eyes open, stared at the ceiling, her vision getting blurrier and blurrier¡­ Bang¡ª He Xiangxiu rushed in: ¡°Madam.¡± She stepped forward to pull Xiao Family¡¯s hand away, ¡°Madam, please stop!¡± Afterward, Luo San thought, if Aunt Xiu had arrived a minute later, she probably would have gone to heaven, wondering if they would fill her belly with food there, and if they would serve braised pork. Xiao Family was severely ill that time, having swallowed a handful of sleeping pills. Thankfully, she was found early and rescued. After the dust settled, Luo Qinghe sought to settle the score, pinning all the blame on Luo San. Luo San remembered that day, Aunt Liu in the kitchen had gotten up early to prepare lunch. Aunt Liu said that the Luo Family had an important guest coming, He Xiangxiu asked her who was coming, and Aunt Liu said, ¡°The Young Master Jiang is here.¡± The Young Master Jiang. Luo San had heard of him through the lips of Luo Qinghe, seemingly the Young Master from the Luo Family¡¯s relative¡¯s side, who, due to poor health, had not visited much. In the morning, Luo Qinghe came to the flower room, dismissed Ah Bin and Master Peng, leaving only Luo San inside. Luo San knew that she was there to settle her mother Xiao Family¡¯s account. ¡°Didn¡¯t I tell you not to provoke my mom? Now you¡¯re not just mute, you¡¯re deaf too?¡± Luo San was ¡®mute¡¯ and wouldn¡¯t talk back no matter how much she was scolded. The flower room was warm all year round, and the roses were blooming beautifully. Luo Qinghe picked one and held it in her hand: ¡°Luo San, oh Luo San, why are you so detestable, just like your mother.¡± As she spoke, the rose also fell, landing on Luo San¡¯s body. Since she was working, she was wearing thin clothing, and the thorns pierced through, right into her flesh. Luo Qinghe asked, ¡°Does it hurt?¡± It didn¡¯t hurt. Since birth, she¡¯d had difficulty feeling pain, but that didn¡¯t mean she wasn¡¯t afraid of being beaten, just like not feeling hunger didn¡¯t mean she didn¡¯t need to eat or that she didn¡¯t love meat. She was a freak, but not invulnerable, only speechless. ¡°Why don¡¯t you scream? How come you¡¯re not screaming?¡± The ground was covered with roses; the reckless young girl laughed provocatively, ¡°Oh, I forgot, you¡¯re a mute.¡± The ¡®mute¡¯ on the ground said nothing, just hugging her arms and curling into a ball. ¡°Why are you still alive?¡± Luo Qinghe discarding the wilted rose in hand, picked two more branches, ¡°If I were you, I¡¯d have killed myself.¡± She wouldn¡¯t kill herself; she was going to wait for her mother and uncle to come for her. ¡°For a retard like you, being alive is just a waste of my Luo Family¡¯s food.¡± Luo Qinghe flung the rose stems onto her face, ¡°Oops, there¡¯s blood now.¡± She buried her head, using her sleeve to wipe the blood on her face. ¡°Does it still not hurt?¡± It hurt. But she didn¡¯t know where it hurt. ¡°Truly a bastard child, destined to suffer from the moment of birth.¡± Luo Qinghe held two thorny roses and lashed them against Luo San¡¯s body. Rose petals scattered all over the floor, as red as blood. ¡°Hey.¡± It was a young man¡¯s voice, accompanied by several coughs. Hearing this, Luo Qinghe turned around to see a handsome and pale face. Recognizing such good looks, she smiled gently, ¡°You must be Jiang Zhi.¡± At the time, Jiang Zhi was sixteen and in poor health. ¡°Come here.¡± He pointed to Luo San, ¡°Come and lead the way for me.¡± Luo Qinghe dropped the flowers, cleaning her hands with a handkerchief, ¡°I¡¯ll lead the way for you.¡± ¡°I want him to lead.¡± He didn¡¯t even glance at Luo Qinghe, ¡°Can you hear me? Come over.¡± That was the first time Luo San met Jiang Zhi. Ah, so there are people in the world who are so good-looking. That was her only thought at the time. The handsome boy asked her name, and the mute girl wrote her name on the ground, along with her cat¡¯s name. She was Luo San, and her cat was Luo Si. The characters were crooked and twisted, and she deeply regretted at the time¡ªwhy hadn¡¯t she practiced her writing more? That way, she could have shown him beautiful characters. When the Young Master from Jiang Family made a visit, he brought presents for everyone, one for each member of the Luo Family, except for Luo San, despite her also bearing the surname Luo. After lunch, Jiang Zhi came looking for her in the attic. She was startled and hurriedly hid behind the door. Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t enter but said from the doorway, ¡°I didn¡¯t know there was someone like you in the Luo Family, so I didn¡¯t prepare a gift for you.¡± He coughed twice, ¡°I¡¯ll make it up to you next time.¡± ¡°Cough cough cough cough cough¡­¡± He kept coughing. She, hiding inside, pressed her ear against the wall and listened intently. After a while, the sounds ceased, and she poked her head out, only to find he was gone, but there was a jar of milk left at the door. Sweet and delicious. When the weekend came, Tang Xiang returned, and she dragged Tang Xiang up to the attic. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Tang Xiang asked, not even setting down her bag. Luo San closed the door, picked up a piece of charcoal from the ground, and clumsily drew a boy with only three strands of hair on his head. Tang Xiang crouched down to see: ¡°Who did you draw here?¡± Since she couldn¡¯t speak, she drew a flower next to the boy. The young man was so good-looking, just like a flower. ¡°What¡¯s this supposed to be?¡± Tang Xiang still didn¡¯t understand. Luo San then wrote an ugly character on the ground. ¡°Jiang?¡± Tang Xiang guessed, ¡°Young Master Jiang?¡± She nodded vigorously. Young Master Jiang had visited the Luo Family a few days ago, and Tang Xiang knew about it: ¡°What did you ask him?¡± She pointed to herself, wrote ¡°Luo San¡± in two characters, and then pointed to the boy with three strands of hair. ¡°Did you ask his name?¡± She nodded as if pounding garlic. Tang Xiang said, ¡°His name is Jiang Zhi.¡± Know. Luo San wrote this character on the ground. Tang Xiang shook her head, ¡°Not that one.¡± Taking a small piece of charcoal, she wrote another character next to ¡®Öª¡¯, ¡°This one, the Zhi in weaving.¡± The Zhi in weaving. Jiang Zhi, Jiang Zhi, Jiang Zhi¡­ She finally knew his name, and she was so slow; it took many lessons from Tang Xiang before she could write her own name, yet she learned how to write Jiang Zhi¡¯s name after just one glance. The good-looking young man was called Jiang Zhi. When Jiang Zhi came to the Luo Family again, it was half a month later. This time he didn¡¯t bring gifts for the others but carried a delicate bag up to the attic. ¡°For you.¡± He didn¡¯t come in but handed the bag over, ¡°A gift, for everyone in the Luo Family.¡± His meaning was, everyone in the Luo Family was accounted for last time, this was to make up to her. Luo San hid behind the door, timidly reaching out to take it, her hand small, dry, very thin, and very dark. The gift was a box of pink candies, packed in a pretty glass container; Jiang Zhi hadn¡¯t chosen it himself¡ªhe wouldn¡¯t know how to pick gifts. It was chosen by his ¡°fair-weather friends.¡± ¡°Fair-weather friends¡± were calling from below: ¡°Brother Zhi.¡± Young men, in their flippant manner. ¡°I¡¯m coming.¡± Jiang Zhi responded and went downstairs. Luo San, hiding behind the door, peeked out furtively, watching him. ¡°Did you deliver the gift?¡± It was the seventeen-year-old Xue Baoyi. The gift was his idea, thinking it was for a young lady; he picked something pink and tender, sweet and delightful. Jiang Zhi glanced back at the attic absent-mindedly and grunted in acknowledgment. ¡°Is it for Luo Qinghe or for Luo Yinghe?¡± Xue Baoyi could whistle at girls since he was just a teen, sly and naughty, never thinking about anything serious. Jiang Zhi just gave him a cold look, ignoring him. That only egged him on, and he exclaimed in an old man¡¯s tone, ¡°Ah, our Brother Zhi is finally of the age to have spring dreams, knowing to give gifts to young ladies.¡± Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Jiang Zhi: ¡°Get lost.¡± The girl secretly watching from the attic giggled to herself. Yes, she was a young girl, fourteen years old¡ªsupposedly the age of blossoming, yet she seemed more like a blade of grass. From that day on, Luo San grew fond of pink, of sweets, of the beautiful glass box, and of a handsome young man. Chapter 258: 258: First Love, Heart Flutter, Embrace, Promise a Lifetime (Second Update) Chapter 258: 258: First Love, Heart Flutter, Embrace, Promise a Lifetime (Second Update) She wanted to give the most beautiful things in the world to that handsome young boy. From the greenhouse, she picked the most beautiful, most noble orchid. To give it to him, she secretly stood outside the Luo Mansion¡¯s window for a very, very long time. He saw her. ¡°What are you skulking around here for?¡± She handed him the orchid and bolted away. Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± This little fool, why give him a flower? ¡°What are you standing there for?¡± Qiao Nanchu came out too. Behind him followed Xue Baoyi. Once he saw the orchid in Jiang Zhi¡¯s hand, he began to tease, ¡°Oh, received flowers, did you?¡± He squinted and made faces, all not very serious, ¡°Brother Zhi, which lady is it?¡± He hadn¡¯t seen who it was from inside. A lady? It was a little bald kid. Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t like flowers; he held it and looked for a while but didn¡¯t discard it: ¡°Stop talking nonsense.¡± Xue Baoyi, at the age of having springtime fantasies, had taken a girl out a few times on his motorcycle for mahjong games, fancied himself a ¡®casanova¡¯, and assumed an experienced air: ¡°How am I talking nonsense? If she gave you flowers, she must have a crush on you.¡± ¡°Can¡¯t you keep your mouth shut?¡± Jiang Zhi, holding the orchid, went inside. S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Xue Baoyi, behind him, teased Qiao Nanchu: ¡°Look at him, his face is all red.¡± Qiao Nanchu glanced at him, and sure enough, it was red. Jiang Zhi took the flower back to the Jiang Family. It was the most precious one from the Luo Family¡¯s greenhouse, naturally, Mr. Luo San got a beating. At night, Tang Guangji came home, bringing meat with him. He called over the limping Luo San and handed her the takeout meat: ¡°Go eat upstairs.¡± She was beaten that day and limped a little, but she was very happy, joyfully hugging the meat as she went up to the attic. Tang Guangji muttered behind her: ¡°She¡¯s too thin, need to get her more meat to eat.¡± He Xiangxiu scoffed, ¡°Having rice to eat is already good enough.¡± Where was there meat to eat? The Luo Family wanted to punish her. Eating too much could also become a reason for a beating. Luo San heard Tang Guangji¡¯s words. She felt that since Jiang Zhi was so thin, he needed to eat meat to fatten up. Later, when Tang Guangji wasn¡¯t at home and when He Xiangxiu wasn¡¯t watching her, she would sneak into the kitchen, steal meat for Jiang Zhi to eat, and even save the medicine she was supposed to take when she was sick, hiding it in her pillow, waiting for Jiang Zhi to come, then give it all to him, because his health was poor and he always needed to take medicine. Later, winter came, and Jiang Zhi, being cold-sensitive, rarely visited the Luo Family. Later, whenever Luo San had free time, she would squat at the entrance of the Luo Family mansion, aimlessly waiting and waiting, for the person at the sight of whom her heart leapt with joy. She recognized the Jiangs¡¯ car from a distance. ¡°Young Master Jiang.¡± Jiang Zhi stopped in his tracks: ¡°You go ahead first.¡± Jiang Chuan hesitated for a moment but obeyed the command. ¡°Come out.¡± Jiang Zhi stood at the entrance of the Luo Mansion, not walking in, The entrance was flanked by a four- to five-meter-tall cedar tree on each side. Luo San shuffled out from behind a tree, tiptoeing and cowering. Jiang Zhi looked at her, ¡°What are you hiding here for?¡± Waiting for you. Her dark little face was too thin, making her eyes look oversized. Winter had set in, and the Imperial City¡¯s winter was very cold, very cold. It rained in the morning, and the wet grounds quickly turned into a layer of thin ice. In this weather, she was just wearing a single-layer outfit with a work jacket over it. The jacket had five large characters printed on it¡ªJiajiale Furniture. Jiang Zhi frowned, ¡°The Luo Family doesn¡¯t even buy you clothes?¡± He had asked the old lady at his house about Luo San, who the Luo Family outwardly claimed was an adopted child, yet it seemed that even the servants got better treatment than this adopted child. He glanced at her hands, which had been frozen terribly. He took off his down jacket and gave it to her: ¡°Put it on.¡± She didn¡¯t take it, just gazed at him with shining eyes. He was also cold, shivering, and chided her harshly: ¡°When I tell you to put it on, put it on. Don¡¯t dawdle.¡± The down jacket was a short model, black in color, and he wore a white sweater inside, as white as snow. The down jacket looked nice, and so did he. She took it from him, hugged and touched it for a while, and then put it on. Little fool. Leaving the clothes behind, Jiang Zhi turned his head and left. She ran after him, just a meter or two behind, firmly following. The boy ahead turned and said to her, ¡°Don¡¯t follow me.¡± She tiptoed, as quietly, gently, and sneakily as possible¡­ followed behind. Still following! The boy in front deliberately walked faster, and the little bald kid behind also sped up. It had rained in the morning, and there was thin ice on the ground. He walked too fast, his feet slipped, and he started to fall backward, but she immediately shortened her steps and went to embrace him, also taking a stance behind him, firmly supporting his waist. Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± Damn this posture! He cursed the wretched weather in his heart, but his face remained composed as he straightened up and glanced at the hand still resting on his waist, ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to let go?¡± Two boys, supporting each other like this, what did it look like! Luo San quickly let go; her hand was dirty, and it happened that he was wearing a white sweater, which now bore several black handprints where she had grabbed him. Filthy! Jiang Zhi dusted off his sweater but failed to remove the marks, and with a huff, he moved forward. Luo San followed behind, afraid he might fall again. With arms outstretched and legs wide like a horse stance, she walked behind him like a crab. The boy ahead turned back to look and chided with a laugh, ¡°Idiot.¡± That idiot smiled happily. After escorting Jiang Zhi back inside, Luo San went to sweep. The drizzly rain was intermittent, and fearing that the path might ice over and he might fall, she spread a layer of coarse sand on the road. The road was no longer slippery, but it dirtied the shoes. In the afternoon, Luo San was summoned by the second young miss. ¡°Did you spread the sand on the road?¡± Luo Yinghe, who disdained Luo San for being dirty, had never allowed her a step inside the mansion; they stood outside in the yard, where the cold was intense. The outdoor pool had developed a thin layer of ice, due to neglect. Luo San nodded. Luo Yinghe tossed her used sports shoes at her, ¡°Clean these.¡± Oh. She squatted down and picked up the shoes. Luo Yinghe was about to enter the house when she noticed Luo San¡¯s clothes, ¡°Where did you get that outfit?¡± It was given by Jiang Zhi. It was far too big for her, like a child wearing adult clothes. Luo Yinghe eyed the down jacket on her, ¡°You stole it, didn¡¯t you?¡± Luo San immediately shook her head. How could it not be stolen, such an expensive brand. Luo Yinghe was convinced that her hands were unclean, ¡°You were stealing food before, and now you¡¯re stealing clothes.¡± She stepped forward, grabbing Luo San by the sleeve, ¡°How can you afford such expensive clothing?¡± She ordered, ¡°Take it off.¡± The usually passive and silent Luo San resisted for the first time. She held onto her clothing with one hand while shoving Luo Yinghe with the other. Luo Yinghe stumbled backward, furious, ¡°I told you to take it off!¡± Luo San turned to run. Luo Yinghe grabbed the hat of her down jacket and yanked it with force. Using the momentum of her backward fall, she pushed her into the swimming pool. With a splash, water flew everywhere. Servants came running over at the noise and saw the second young miss standing by the pool, raging, ¡°You¡¯ve dirtied my pool. Don¡¯t come out until it¡¯s clean!¡± In the pool struggled Luo San. ¡°Second young miss,¡± a servant said, ¡°he doesn¡¯t seem to know how to swim.¡± Luo Yinghe scoffed, ¡°As if he could drown.¡± She just stood there watching. Not far away, the Luo Family¡¯s other servants were out watching the entertainment, buzzing with gossip. ¡°Isn¡¯t that Luo San?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°He offended the second young miss and got punished to clean the pool.¡± ¡°Idiots will be idiots, didn¡¯t even think to drain the water.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Jiang Chuan was leading the way in front, telling Jiang Zhi about the old lady¡¯s summons when someone suddenly ran past them. ¡°Young master!¡± Jiang Chuan was a step too slow, watching helplessly as the boy who gasped from just walking leaped into the pool. This was bad; he might lose half his life¡­ It was so abrupt; Luo Yinghe couldn¡¯t even see who it was, ¡°Who jumped in?¡± The servants saw the frantic Jiang Chuan: ¡°It looks like, it¡¯s Young Master Jiang.¡± Luo Yinghe panicked now, ¡°Well, don¡¯t just stand there, go rescue him!¡± When they pulled up the person, it indeed was Jiang Zhi! Jiang Zhi couldn¡¯t swim; the water was chillingly cold, and he, frail and with poor health, swallowed plenty of water, the icy liquid filling his lungs, and fell gravely ill, nearly losing his life. For the whole afternoon, Jiang Zhi suffered from an untreatable high fever and unconsciousness. In his stupor, he heard a hoarse voice calling him. ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± His eyelashes fluttered, unable to open his eyes, in a daze. At the bedside, a little Bald knelt. ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± She wiped her hand on herself before gripping his, ¡°From now on, I¡¯ll treat you well.¡± She said, with eyes reddened, ¡°I¡¯ll treat you very, very well.¡± Chapter 259: 259: Jiang Zhis illness is peculiar, Fang Bao comes to the rescue (first update) Chapter 259: 259: Jiang Zhi¡¯s illness is peculiar, Fang Bao comes to the rescue (first update) She said with reddened eyes, ¡°I will treat you very well, very well.¡± At that moment, there were people talking outside; she wiped her tear-streaked eyes and reluctantly climbed out of the window. It was Old Madam Jiang who had arrived, accompanied by the Jiang Family¡¯s household doctor, Dr. Qin, and the father-daughter pair of Luo Huaiyu. As soon as she entered the room, Old Madam Jiang urged Dr. Qin, ¡°Dr. Qin, please check on Brother Zhi quickly.¡± Dr. Qin stepped forward to take the pulse. Old Lady Jiang called out ¡®father-in-law¡¯ with an unfriendly tone, ¡°My Brother Zhi came here as a guest, and this is how the Luo Family treats him?¡± sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Luo Huaiyu remained silent, while Luo Changfang beside him started to explain, ¡°Mother, you¡¯ve misunderstood; Brother Zhi jumped in by himself.¡± Old Lady Jiang didn¡¯t believe a half of it, ¡°In such cold weather, who would be silly enough to jump into the water themselves?¡± Luo Changfang: ¡°¡­¡± Your precious grandson¡¯s head got caught by the door! ¡°Enough,¡± Old Madam Jiang dismissed the Luo father and daughter, ¡°Go attend to your affairs; let Brother Zhi rest quietly for now. After he wakes up, I will ask him myself.¡± Like a Lord Buddha! Although the Jiang and Luo families were related by marriage, the Jiang Family was larger and wealthier, the head of the four major families. In contrast, the Luo Family, with insufficient foundation, didn¡¯t rank highly in the Imperial City and was considerably lower than the Jiang Family. When Old Madam Jiang spoke, even in the Luo Family, Luo Huaiyu had to show her full respect. After the Luo father and daughter had left, Old Madam Jiang called over Jiang Chuan, ¡°Go and prepare Brother Zhi¡¯s medicine.¡± ¡°Yes, Old Madam.¡± After Jiang Chuan had gone out, Old Madam Jiang called outside, ¡°Fuxi.¡± A gentle girl came in slowly. She was a lady from the fourth house of the Jiang Family, Jiang Fuxi, a sixteen-year-old girl who was slender and handsome, with an elegant demeanor and a dignified air about her. Old Madam Jiang instructed her, ¡°I will return to the Jiang Family for a while; you stay here and take good care of Brother Zhi.¡± Jiang Fuxi agreed. After the Old Madam had left, she took off her overcoat carefully and hung it up, lifted her skirts, and approached the bedside, calling out, ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± The young man on the bed was in a deep sleep. She sat down, smoothing her skirt, leaned over, and touched the boy¡¯s face, softly calling his name. ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Her voice was obsessed, her eyes entranced. Jiang Zhi was awakened by the noise. When he opened his eyes, only the butler Jiang Chuan was beside the bed, and the sun outside was dim. He asked, ¡°Who was just here?¡± His voice was hoarse after a long fever. Jiang Chuan replied, ¡°I went to the kitchen to get medicine and wasn¡¯t paying attention.¡± He added, ¡°It must have been Miss Fuxi; she just left a while ago.¡± He approached with a tray, ¡°Young Master, you should drink the medicine first.¡± The traditional Chinese medicine was foul and bitter; Jiang Zhi frowned as he took the medicine bowl. Suddenly, the room door was smashed open. Luo San ran over, grabbed the bowl out of his hands, and flung it to the ground, spilling all the liquid medicine. ¡°What happened?¡± Jiang Zhi asked. She dragged him out and ran upstairs. Just like a thief, she closed the door behind them, tiptoed over, and whispered in his ear, ¡°You have to hide; they¡¯re poisoning you with the medicine, they¡¯re all bad people.¡± It was the first time Jiang Zhi had heard her speak. ¡°You can talk?¡± She didn¡¯t answer, rummaging through a tattered pillow to pull out a pill and wanted to feed it to him. He had his reservations, but still opened his mouth and swallowed an ¡®unknown origin¡¯ pill. Afterward, she stowed him away in a cabinet, leaning against the cabinet door, guarding it without leaving, until she looked up and saw someone outside the window. It was Luo Huaiyu, gesturing for her to come out. That was when Luo Huaiyu discovered that she could speak. She went to meet Luo Huaiyu; he started to undress her, but Tang Guangji intervened. By the time she returned to the attic, it was already completely dark outside. The sickly young man hadn¡¯t left, sitting on her little wooden bed and waiting, not minding the dirtiness, covered with her patched-up blanket. Because he had waited too long, he was unhappy, ¡°Where did you go just now?¡± She was preoccupied, thinking about something, and did not respond. He grew even more dissatisfied, staring at her angrily, ¡°Can¡¯t you speak? Why are you ignoring me?¡± She said, ¡°I went to work.¡± Her voice was rough and hoarse, uglier than many boys¡¯ voices during puberty. ¡°Why pretend to be mute?¡± He asked this as if he were no longer a boy, but someone old and mature, which was somehow reassuring. Luo San looked at him but didn¡¯t answer. ¡°Can¡¯t you tell me?¡± She nodded. The usually temperamental and impatient young man was very easy to talk to at the moment, ¡°Okay, I won¡¯t ask anymore, and you shouldn¡¯t tell anyone else.¡± She wouldn¡¯t tell anyone else, not even Tang Xiang. She only told him. ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± Her speech was usually not very fluent, but she didn¡¯t stumble when she said his name. She spoke very slowly, almost letter by letter, ¡°Don¡¯t drink the medicine Jiang Chuan serves you, he is a bad person.¡± The normally silent girl said many words to him, ¡°Luo Changfang is too.¡± She said, ¡°I was hiding in the kitchen when I heard it, Luo Changfang said to Jiang Chuan, ¡®reduce the Du Zhong by one qian, increase the Poria by one qian.''¡± She hid in the kitchen to steal some meat for him to eat. The young man¡¯s eyes suddenly reddened. ¡°Okay, I understand,¡± he said. Outsiders always said that his grandmother loved him the most, wishing to pluck stars from the sky for him. He was too young at the time and actually believed it was true. She loved him but didn¡¯t protect him, unlike the foolish girl before him who, despite being unarmed, vulnerable, and barely able to feed herself, seemed ready to give him her heart. She tiptoed, touched his head, and clumsily patted, ¡°Don¡¯t be sad.¡± So foolish. ¡°Luo San,¡± he didn¡¯t dodge, letting her touch his head, ¡°I want the stars in the sky, will you pluck them for me?¡± Luo San said with disappointment, ¡°Stars can¡¯t be plucked.¡± If they could be, she would climb the heavens on her feet and reach for the stars with her hands. Jiang Zhi smiled, ¡°You¡¯re too short, once you grow a bit taller, you can pick them for me.¡± He was lying, but Luo San still nodded, agreeing that once she grew taller, she would pluck the stars for him. After that fall into the water, Jiang Zhi stayed in the hospital for half a month. The day after he was discharged, he paid a visit to the Luo Family. ¡°Second Miss,¡± Jiang Chuan went upstairs to fetch someone, ¡°Our young master asks for you to come over.¡± Luo Yinghe was surprised and flattered, ¡°What does he want with me?¡± Jiang Zhi had been a frequent visitor to the Luo Family over the past few months but had barely spoken to her, let alone had any private dealings. Unlike with Luo Qinghe, he was quite close to the foolish Luo San. Jiang Chuan replied from outside the room, ¡°The young master didn¡¯t say, and I¡¯m not very clear either.¡± ¡°Please wait a moment.¡± She changed into a beautiful dress, filled with secret joy, and went to the villa¡¯s back garden. Jiang Zhi had a handsome appearance and was considered one of the finest young masters in the Imperial City. Luo Yinghe, being in her early teens and of a romantically susceptible age, naturally had a favorable impression of the beautiful and noble young man. She went to meet him cheerfully, ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± The frail and exquisite young man stood by the poolside, behind him was the warm winter sun, which paled in comparison to the dazzling brilliance of his peach blossom eyes. He was absurdly beautiful. ¡°Was it you who pushed Luo San into the water?¡± he asked, immediately accusing. Luo Yinghe¡¯s heart, which had been fluttering with excitement, suddenly grew cold and anxious. She defensively said, ¡°I only asked him to clean the pool; he slipped and fell in by himself.¡± Jiang Zhi replied nonchalantly, ¡°Is that so?¡± Anxious, she avoided his gaze, ¡°Yes.¡± He didn¡¯t say anything more. He walked behind her and suddenly pushed her with his hand ¡ª splash ¡ª a large splash of water erupted. Jiang Zhi took a handkerchief from his coat pocket and wiped his hands, ¡°Sorry, I slipped.¡± The pool was almost two meters deep, and Luo Yinghe couldn¡¯t swim. Flailing wildly in the water, ¡°Help¡­ help¡­¡± As she opened her mouth to cry for help, she swallowed water and began to sink. The servants, hearing the commotion, rushed over and were about to jump in to save her when Young Master Jiang leisurely said, ¡°Your second miss is cleaning the pool. Don¡¯t go down and disturb her before she¡¯s finished.¡± With that, the servants didn¡¯t dare to move forward. ¡°Jiang Chuan.¡± ¡°Yes, young master.¡± Jiang Zhi tossed the handkerchief he used for wiping his hands to him, ¡°Stand here and watch. As long as she doesn¡¯t die, it¡¯s fine.¡± The implication was to let her drink some water and suffer a bit. Jiang Chuan glanced at the struggling girl in the water, ¡°Young master, this is not quite appropriate. What if¡ª¡± ¡°What have I done? How is it inappropriate?¡± Jiang Zhi¡¯s gaze half-closed, his peach blossom eyes surveyed the scene lazily, ¡°Did you see anything?¡± The servants were initially stunned and then shook their heads. Jiang Zhi twisted the facts without a change in expression, ¡°She slipped and fell by herself.¡± After he was finished, he left, leaving Jiang Chuan to watch. When the girl had drunk enough water, he finally allowed for her rescue. Naturally, she wouldn¡¯t drown; there was a limit to his actions. It was just to make Luo Yinghe swallow some cold water and suffer pneumonia. Chapter 260: 260: Xu Fang: Look, Ive finally grown up! (second update) Chapter 260: 260: Xu Fang: Look, I¡¯ve finally grown up! (second update) Certainly, it won¡¯t drown anyone, there¡¯s a limit to everything, it just made Luo Yinghe swallow some cold water and come down with pneumonia. S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Ever since then, Luo Yinghe had completely put Jiang Zhi out of her mind, not to mention pining after him, she was deathly afraid of him, and avoided him whenever she saw him. Naturally, this matter also reached Old Lady Jiang¡¯s ears. She summoned Jiang Zhi and lashed out angrily, ¡°If anything had happened to her, how would you have explained it to the Luo family?¡± Jiang Zhi, being young and insubordinate, retorted, ¡°Well, nothing happened, did it?¡± He didn¡¯t have a shred of remorse in him. Old Lady Jiang was extremely annoyed, seldom so sharp-tongued, ¡°You still don¡¯t think you¡¯re in the wrong?¡± He didn¡¯t think he was wrong, he even felt justified, ¡°You taught me to give as good as I get. My fall was her doing, now we¡¯re even.¡± The sixteen-year-old boy was recklessly arrogant. Old Lady Jiang sat and watched him, ¡°Just a few days ago you claimed you fell on your own, and now you say she caused it?¡± The young man spun his lies effortlessly, ¡°She ordered people to clean the pool, and I slipped because the water made the floor wet. If it¡¯s not her fault, whose is it?¡± Being obstinate was one thing, but he couldn¡¯t drag Luo San into it. This kind of unreasonable behavior further infuriated Old Lady Jiang, ¡°You still have the nerve to argue?¡± Unable to reason with him, she decreed, ¡°This afternoon, you¡¯re coming with me to the Luo family to apologize.¡± Jiang Zhi, ¡°I¡¯m not apologizing.¡± ¡°You¡ª¡± Old Lady Jiang, choked with rage, scolded, ¡°You hoodlum!¡± She was so angry she slammed the table, stood up, and stormed out. Jiang Zhi, who had been lounging on the chair, sat up, ¡°Don¡¯t go, I still have something to ask you.¡± He called out urgently, short of breath, and coughed several times. Old Lady Jiang¡¯s heart softened, and she turned back around to indulge this little ancestor, ¡°Now what do you want?¡± He caught his breath, and due to the coughing, a faint flush appeared on his pale skin, ¡°Do you know where Luo San was adopted from?¡± ¡°What does it matter to you?¡± ¡°It matters because I can¡¯t understand why the Luo family, wanting a son to carry on the family line, didn¡¯t adopt a normal one. Instead, they chose someone who can¡¯t speak.¡± He also couldn¡¯t figure out why Luo San pretended to be mute. ¡°That¡¯s the Luo family¡¯s private business; how would outsiders know?¡± Old Lady Jiang spoke with him briefly, ¡°Mr. Luo said that child was already three years old when they found out there was a problem, and they couldn¡¯t bear to abandon him so they continued to raise him.¡± Such excuses would only fool those who are unaware. ¡°The child is neither here nor there, often berated and beaten,¡± the young man said mockingly, ¡°I think he must be the child of his enemy.¡± Others, who usually can¡¯t be bothered with their own affairs, are particularly concerned about the Luo family¡¯s adopted son. Old Lady Jiang disapproved, ¡°Worry about your business, and especially that mute from the Luo family¡ªkeep your distance.¡± He hmphed, and said nothing. Keeping his distance was out of the question; Young Master Jiang sought out the Little Mute whenever he went to the Luo family. Because of this, a lot of idle gossip started to spread, claiming that Young Master Jiang had a taste for youthful love, especially for those who had not yet blossomed. Each time Luo San heard such talk, she felt extremely disheartened, sneaking away to the restroom, undoing the white cloth binding her chest, holding a little broken mirror and looking at herself from all angles, growing more dejected with each glance. Ah! She really was an undeveloped sprout. It wasn¡¯t until summer that she began to grow a bit taller, and her chest developed somewhat, afraid of being noticed, she always slouched and hunched over. Because of this, Jiang Zhi picked on her a few times for cowering like a mouse. ¡°Luo San.¡± She had just finished picking foxtails when Luo Yinghe stopped her, ¡°What are you holding in your hand?¡± It was Jiang Zhi¡¯s favorite thing. Jiang Zhi had said he would come to see her today, so she went to the back yard to pick a handful of the most lush foxtails, each one carefully selected. Luo Yinghe glanced at the bunch of grass, ¡°You always bring trash into the house, like a beggar.¡± After her scolding, she pointed to an orchid at the doorway, ¡°Take that orchid to your great-aunt.¡± Luo San stood still. Luo Qinghe had said, she was not to show herself in front of the Xiao family. Seeing her unresponsive, Luo Yinghe grew angry and scolded, ¡°Are you deaf? Get moving!¡± Once finished scolding, she added, ¡°Just place it at the door when you go down. If Luo Qinghe asks, tell him I told you to bring it.¡± Luo San hesitated for a moment but eventually carried the pot of orchids upstairs. ¡°Idiot!¡± Luo Yinghe was triumphant, laughing with glee. As the Xiao Family quarreled with Luo Changde upstairs, this little idiot was heading up now, just wait until the Xiao Family bumps into her, then there¡¯ll be a good show to watch. Luo Changde and his wife had been separated for many years, with the Xiao Family residing on the third floor. Before Luo San even approached the gate, she could hear the sound of arguing, faint and indistinct. It was the Xiao Family cursing. ¡°Luo Changde, you¡¯re nothing but a beast!¡± ¡°You wouldn¡¯t even spare your own cousin.¡± She sounded mad, cursing and laughing at the same time: ¡°Even the heavens can¡¯t stand you, hahaha¡­ Serves you right to have your manhood cut off by Zhou Qingmeng, serves you right to have no heirs.¡± Luo Changde wasn¡¯t any better, completely losing control of his emotions. Inside the room, porcelain was being smashed with loud crashes. ¡°Shut your damn mouth!¡± The Xiao Family didn¡¯t restrain herself, instead escalating her insults: ¡°After you¡¯re done with the cousin, you¡¯ve set your sights on your sister-in-law, you¡¯re truly disgusting! I¡¯m going to expose you, I¡¯m going to let everyone know you¡¯re lower than pigs and dogs!¡± ¡°I¡¯m warning you one more time, shut your mouth!¡± ¡°You shameless beast¡ª¡± Before she could finish cursing, thud¡ªa sound interrupted as Luo Changde pressed the Xiao Family against the sofa, his hands around her neck. ¡°Speak up, why aren¡¯t you speaking now?¡± ¡°Go tell others, it was me who violated Zhou Qingmeng.¡± ¡°Go on! Go ahead!¡± He pried her mouth open with one hand while with the other, he grabbed a bottle of sleeping pills and began to force them into her mouth: ¡°I told you to speak, I told you to!¡± Sleeping pills scattered all over the floor, and after struggling a few times, the Xiao Family stopped moving. The door was unlocked. Behind it, Luo San, covering her mouth, turned to run, but the flowerpot in her hand collided with the wall, making a noise. Luo Changde abruptly turned: ¡°Who!¡± In a panic, she dropped the foxtail grass from her hands, not bothering to pick it up, and ran down the stairs clutching the flowerpot. Luo Changde watched the gap in the door for a long while before turning his gaze back inside. He let go of his grip and checked the Xiao Family¡¯s carotid artery¡ª Thud! The half-bottle of sleeping pills he held fell to the ground. He sat on the sofa for a while, then pushed the door open and went outside. At the door, he saw a pile of foxtail grass, glanced back at the Xiao Family on the sofa who hadn¡¯t closed her eyes yet, locked the room door, and went downstairs. In the downstairs hall, only Luo Yinghe was there. ¡°Did you just go upstairs?¡± Luo Yinghe looked up to see Luo Changde¡¯s bloodshot pupils and involuntarily moved back: ¡°It wasn¡¯t me, it was Luo San.¡± She dared not meet Luo Changde¡¯s eyes, ¡°L-Luo San went up to deliver flowers, I told him not to, but he wouldn¡¯t listen.¡± Luo Changde said nothing and went back upstairs. That evening, the head lady of the Luo Family, the Xiao Family, died from an overdose of sleeping pills. No investigation was launched; Luo Changde told outsiders it was suicide because the Xiao Family suffered from depression and schizophrenia, prone to self-harm and suicidal tendencies¡ªno one suspected a thing. That night there was thunder, and Luo San slept in a daze as someone pushed open the attic door. Thinking it was He Xiangxiu, she sat up and turned on the light. It was Luo Qinghe, her eyes bloodshot as she walked to the side of the bed. ¡°My mom¡¯s dead.¡± She moved closer. Luo San moved back. Her gaze was lifeless, filled with flames fueled by hatred: ¡°You can go to hell too.¡± She picked up a stool and smashed it towards Luo San¡¯s head. Chapter 261: 261: Luo San, do you want to date me? (first update Chapter 261: 261: Luo San, do you want to date me? (first update She picked up a stool and smashed it on Luo San¡¯s head. The head was broken, but the person didn¡¯t die, just like He Xiangxiu said, Luo San¡¯s life was exceptionally tough. During the Xiao Family¡¯s first seven days of mourning, Luo Qinghe tormented her even more ruthlessly, and Luo Yinghe also added fuel to the fire. It wasn¡¯t long after her head had just healed that Luo Yinghe beat her with a bunch of flower branches, all because she picked up a piece of candy from the ground. The candy was for Jiang Zhi. Jiang Zhi called her a fool. When they met, it was at sunset, with a crimson glow. The beautiful young man had sweat on his forehead; his face and eye sockets were flushed red. He said, ¡°Luo San, come with me to the Jiang Family.¡± Jiang Zhi, only sixteen and still not grown up, was standing in a field of foxtail grass, his slender back blocking the light, ¡°Come to my house, I¡¯ll support you with my allowance.¡± He put the piece of candy she had picked up back in her hand, ¡°I can buy you a whole houseful of such candy.¡± Luo San¡¯s eyes were red as she nodded vigorously. That afternoon. Jiang Zhi came to bring her a box of cotton candy. It was exquisitely packed in a glass box, much prettier than Luo Yinghe¡¯s candy. He pushed the box into her hands, ¡°It wasn¡¯t me who bought it.¡± He awkwardly explained, ¡°It was from Xue Baoyi.¡± All lies! It was him who bought it; he couldn¡¯t bear to see her picking up other people¡¯s candy from the ground, so he ran through several streets to buy the most expensive one for her, even the candy box was inlaid with diamonds. He went on spinning his lies, ¡°You know Xue Baoyi, the one with the motorcycle last time at the door, who dyed his hair yellow.¡± He was young and naive, saying one thing but meaning another. Such a lame lie, but Luo San believed it; she believed whatever he said, ¡°I know.¡± That yellow-haired one who called him Brother Zhi, the one who wore a cross earring. Luo San thought that person was very stylish. The young man continued with his nonsense, talking lie after lie just to give her a box of candy, ¡°A girl gave it to him, we both don¡¯t like it.¡± She hummed in response, sitting on the steps next to the little pond, picking a pink one to eat first, taking a bite, and her eyes narrowed with satisfaction, ¡°This candy is so soft.¡± What a silly look. ¡°Have you never had it before?¡± She stuffed her mouth full of cotton candy, her cheeks puffed out, and nodded like a pecking chicken. Jiang Zhi frowned, ¡°What about the candy I gave you last time?¡± She replied with a thick voice, ¡°I haven¡¯t eaten it yet.¡± ¡°Why not eat it?¡± She couldn¡¯t bear to. Because the candy had a wrapper, which was colorful and pretty, she couldn¡¯t bear to open it. She said naively, ¡°I¡¯ll save it to eat during the New Year.¡± Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t know what to say to her. ¡°Meow.¡± ¡°Meow.¡± An orange cat lay at her feet, rubbing its head against her hand. She tore off a little bit of candy to feed it, it sniffed and shook its head. She just ate it herself, placing one piece after another into her mouth, chewing the candy, her two thin, black legs swinging back and forth, full of joy. Jiang Zhi watched and also felt happy inside, ¡°Is it tasty?¡± Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. She nodded and picked out a pink one, feeding it to his mouth, ¡°You eat too.¡± The cotton candy was soft and tender pink, while the little baldy¡¯s hand was grimy. Jiang Zhi looked at the candy, then at her hand, somewhat disgusted by the dirt, but still opened his mouth and ate it. Sickeningly sweet. But she liked it, she really liked candy. ¡°Then wait for me here tomorrow, I¡¯ll bring you cotton candy.¡± She flashed him a grin, ¡°Okay.¡± Quite obedient. Jiang Zhi picked up the lazy, sprawled fat cat, tossed it aside, and after placing a cushion down, he sat next to Luo San. Fat Cat Luo Si: ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Meow!¡± After a couple of swipes of its claws, it obediently lay down on the other side. ¡°Jiang Zhi,¡± it was the name she called most naturally. He leaned back, supporting himself with his hands on the ground: ¡°Hmm?¡± She picked up the orange cat by her feet, kneading its chubby face that could barely show its eyes, forcing it into a delightful expression: ¡°Can Luo Si come with me to the Jiang Family?¡± She cautiously solicited a living for the fat cat in her arms. ¡°It doesn¡¯t eat much, and it can sleep outside.¡± Luo Si, who clearly ate more than Luo San: ¡°Meow.¡± Jiang Zhi picked up the cat again and tossed it farther away: ¡°Okay.¡± Ignoring the teeth-baring cat by his feet, he asked, ¡°Anything else you need to bring?¡± She thought for a moment: ¡°A pillow.¡± She was so happy, smiling timidly, ¡°I want to bring my pillow.¡± The pillow contained many treasures she wanted to take to his house. Jiang Zhi had seen that tattered pillow: ¡°Bring whatever you want.¡± She was even happier, her legs kicking more joyfully as she smiled shyly, revealing a row of white teeth: ¡°I won¡¯t eat for free, I can do chores for your family.¡± He asked, ¡°What chores?¡± After thinking seriously, she said: ¡°I can wash your clothes.¡± His tone was somewhat scolding; he didn¡¯t really reprimand her, just wasn¡¯t happy about her washing clothes: ¡°Who asked you to wash them? You¡¯re a boy; why wash clothes?¡± He turned his face away, not knowing whether it was the heat or something else, but his ears and neck were slightly red, ¡°When we get to my house, I¡¯ll find you a school to attend, and you can study.¡± Luo San nodded furiously, his voice more unpleasant than a drake¡¯s: ¡°You¡¯re so nice.¡± His mouth twitched upward, but he didn¡¯t look at her, staring at the distant setting sun instead: ¡°What¡¯s so nice about me?¡± ¡°Everything¡¯s nice.¡± Hmph, always picking the pleasant things to say. The weather was hot that day; the sun must have addled his brain as he turned to look at her, letting her clear and distinct eyes bewitch him. As if possessed, he asked: ¡°Do you like me, then?¡± She was dumbfounded, mouth agape, drool dripping down, the cotton candy she was eating fell onto his hand. Disgusting! Even with the mess, he still found her adorable, not put off by her at all, and used the back of his hand to wipe the saliva from the corner of her mouth: ¡°Luo San, do you want to be in a relationship with me?¡± She sucked back a mouthful of saliva, swallowed hard. The sixteen-year-old boy, flustered by first-time affection: ¡°I¡¯m not a pervert, nor do I like boys; it¡¯s just that¡ª¡± Smack! She planted a loud kiss on his face, leaving saliva all over, and timidly said: ¡°Jiang Zhi, I really like you.¡± ¡°You¡¯re so dirty!¡± After chiding her, the young boy blushed and laughed: ¡°I guess I sort of like you too.¡± The sun was almost down before Luo San returned to the greenhouse, and upon entering, she bumped into Master Peng of the greenhouse. Master Peng was carrying a bucket, blue plastic, its contents obscured, but Luo San, with her keen nose, sniffed out the smell of gasoline. ¡°Luo San.¡± Master Peng called out to her, then shook his head: ¡°Never mind.¡± Luo San touched her bald head and went off to water the flowers in the greenhouse. That evening, the Luo Family suffered a terrible fire; two died, one was injured, and on the same day, the young master of the Jiang Family fell severely ill and was left unconscious. Eight years later, Luo Changde was arrested for the greenhouse murder case. ¡°Chairman.¡± There was no sound inside; the servant at the door announced: ¡°The eldest young master has been taken away by the police.¡± Still no response, and after a while, a coughing sound came from within. Chapter 262: 262: Fang Bao Shows Love - Uncle Notices the Clue Chapter 262: 262: Fang Bao Shows Love ¨C Uncle Notices the Clue No one answered, and after a while, coughing noises came from inside. The servant, unsure of the old master¡¯s intentions, dared not barge in and disturb; he waited outside for a long time before leaving. Xu Yunci was in the living room, frantically searching for a lawyer. Luo Yinghe must have just been called back, still wearing her outdoor clothes and heavy makeup, when she suddenly commented, ¡°Retribution.¡± Xu Yunci glared at her, ¡°Go upstairs, stop causing trouble here.¡± She snorted and clattered up the stairs. At ten o¡¯clock, Jiang Zhi brought Zhou Xufang home. She had been crying in the attic of the Luo Family¡¯s house. Perhaps tired, she slept all the way in the car. Jiang Zhi carefully carried her out of the car; she didn¡¯t wake up until they reached the bedroom, and as soon as he laid her on the bed, she opened her eyes. ¡°Awake?¡± ¡°Mm.¡± Her voice was nasal from crying. Jiang Zhi took off her shoes and covered her with a blanket. Her hand stretched out from under the blanket and wrapped around his neck, ¡°I just fell asleep, had a dream.¡± It wasn¡¯t a dream, but her past. Jiang Zhi sat on the bed, propped his hand on the pillow, and leaned over to look at her, ¡°Did you dream about me?¡± Zhou Xufang nodded, ¡°I dreamed I kissed you.¡± Jiang Zhi kicked off his shoes, lay down, and pulled her into his arms, starting to remove her outer jacket under the blanket, ¡°Who taught you to kiss boys at such a young age?¡± She hugged him, laughing. Jiang Zhi said, ¡°Lift your hand.¡± She lifted her hand. Jiang Zhi tossed her jacket off the bed, then his own, and half propped himself up, looking at her red eyes, ¡°You cried while you were asleep just now, no more crying.¡± She agreed. ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± ¡°Mm.¡± The window in the room was open, the outside wind blowing in, causing the chandelier¡¯s crystals to flicker, shattering the light into slices that fell into her eyes, filled with countless reflections of Jiang Zhi. She hugged his neck, pulled him in, and kissed his cheek, ¡°I think I like you even more now.¡± Jiang Zhi smiled, asking how much she liked him. How much indeed? She thought for a moment, ¡°I want to cook meat for you, pick foxtails for you, go to the sky to catch stars for you.¡± She wanted to give him all the most beautiful things in the world, her life, herself, her longevity, her whole future. Jiang Zhi propped his chin with one hand, the other on her waist, ¡°What else?¡± And there was more. She said, ¡°I want to marry you, bear your children.¡± Jiang Zhi slid his hand under the blanket, wrapping his arms around her as they both crawled inside, ¡°Zhou Xufang.¡± ¡°Mm.¡± He went silent, switched off the light, and tossed his clothes onto the floor. Zhou Qingrang and Tang Xiang had an appointment to meet at the nursing home at ten in the morning. S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Before leaving, he received a phone call. ¡°The year Miss Zhou gave birth to a boy, Tang Guangji and his wife adopted a child from the countryside into the Luo Family, and that child had a chromosomal anomaly.¡± ¡°If they are close relatives, it¡¯s very likely to give birth to children with chromosomal anomalies.¡± ¡°Mr. Zhou, if I am not mistaken, Luo San, the adopted son of the Luo Family, must be the child your sister bore.¡± ¡°Eight years ago, a fire broke Luo San perished in the blaze.¡± Zhou Qingrang sat in the passenger seat, lost in thought. ¡°Senior.¡± ¡°Senior.¡± Tang Ying called him twice. Only then did Zhou Qingrang look up, ¡°Yes?¡± She pulled over to the side of the road, ¡°We¡¯ve arrived at the nursing home.¡± He glanced outside the car window, picked up his cane, ¡°Thank you.¡± After expressing his thanks, he opened the door and got out of the car with the aid of his cane. Very polite. Although they had known each other for so many years, had he not been in a hurry to come here, had she not been ¡°on the way,¡± he probably wouldn¡¯t have even ridden in her car. Tang Ying was still sitting in the driver¡¯s seat, ¡°I¡¯ll wait here for you.¡± He shook his head, ¡°No need, you can go back. Be careful on the road.¡± Tang Ying had no choice but to leave first. ¡°Uncle.¡± It was Tang Xiang, coming out to meet people, just catching a glimpse of the rear of the red private car, clearly a woman¡¯s car, ¡°Girlfriend?¡± Zhou Qingrang shook his head, ¡°A colleague.¡± He walked slowly with his cane, ¡°How¡¯s your mother?¡± Tang Xiang replied, ¡°Her condition has stabilized.¡± Ms. He had previously been kidnapped by Luo Qinghe, which had greatly shocked her, leaving her in a very poor mental state for a while. Zhou Qingrang had intended to visit earlier but delayed his visit worrying it might further upset her. Zhou Qingrang, concerned about Ms. He¡¯s illness, ¡°May I see her?¡± Tang Xiang led him towards the interior of the nursing home, slowing her pace but not making it obvious, ¡°It should be fine, I¡¯ve casually mentioned you a few days ago, and my mother didn¡¯t have much reaction.¡± At that moment, Ms. He was in the nursing home¡¯s garden, sunbathing. She sat in a wheelchair, with a nurse pushing her around, and she saw Tang Xiang from a distance. ¡°Xiangxiang.¡± Ms. He waved at Tang Xiang. Tang Xiang led Zhou Qingrang over. Ms. He noticed the man with her, ¡°Who is this?¡± Ms. He¡¯s memory was muddled, sometimes in the past eight years, sometimes over twenty years ago. Tang Xiang let the nurse go back to the ward while she pushed the wheelchair, ¡°Mom, don¡¯t you recognize him?¡± Ms. He didn¡¯t recognize him, sizing up Zhou Qingrang, ¡°You are?¡± She had aged a lot, compared to before. Zhou Qingrang stepped up to her, slightly bowing, ¡°I am Qing Rang.¡± Ms. He, surprised, replied, ¡°You¡¯re also called Qing Rang? I have a younger brother named Qing Rang, but he¡¯s only a teenager, still studying, and doing very well in school.¡± Chapter 263: 263: Fang Bao Seeks Revenge, Sets Fire to the Luo Family (See Beyond the Title) Chapter 263: 263: Fang Bao Seeks Revenge, Sets Fire to the Luo Family (See Beyond the Title) ¡°You¡¯re called Qing Rang too? I have a younger brother also named Qing Rang, but he¡¯s only in his teens, still studying, and his grades are excellent.¡± That was Zhou Qingrang at fourteen, still a dashing young man. Now, he struggled to walk, his eyes reflecting a deep sense of time and hardship. He bent over, ¡°Sister Xiu,¡± his voice hoarse as he looked at an old acquaintance, choking up, ¡°I am Qing Rang.¡± When he first came to the Luo Family, he was young, hiding behind his sister, feeling uneasy because it was all new to him. The person who came out to greet them at the Luo Family¡¯s doorstep was a slightly plump woman, holding a little girl with her hair tied in pigtails. ¡°Are you Qing Meng and Qing Rang?¡± His sister said they were. The woman lifted the little girl into her arms, ¡°Haven¡¯t you eaten yet? Come in, I¡¯ll make noodles for you.¡± The girl in her arms cheerfully called out, ¡°Little Aunt, Little Uncle.¡± Time had passed, things had changed, and the people were no longer the same. Ms. He could not recognize him anymore, ¡°Xiangxiang, what¡¯s wrong with this person?¡± Tang Xiang patiently explained to Ms. He, ¡°Mom, he¡¯s your Little Uncle.¡± ¡°Nonsense, how old is your Little Uncle supposed to be?¡± At that time, Zhou Qingrang was fourteen and still in high school, living in the school dormitory. Ms. He¡¯s memory was in disarray, still caught up in events from twenty-three years ago, ¡°Xiangxiang, help me make a call to ask why he hasn¡¯t come back after so long.¡± Tang Xiang pretended to make a phone call, and asked when the person would return. ¡°Let me speak.¡± As soon as Ms. He finished speaking, Tang Xiang promptly put away her phone, ¡°It¡¯s already hung up.¡± Ms. He nagged for a while, complaining about how the child never returned home, then asked Tang Xiang, ¡°Did he say when he will come back?¡± Tang Xiang fabricated, ¡°He¡¯ll be back next weekend.¡± Ms. He was dissatisfied and rambled for a while, then suddenly asked, ¡°What about Luo San?¡± From Zhou Qingrang, the conversation had now switched to Luo San. This was a hysteria attack. Tang Xiang replied to Ms. He, ¡°She¡¯s gone out.¡± ¡°Did she go picking foxtail grass again?¡± Tang Xiang affirmed. ¡°Always focusing on useless things, she never learns even after being beaten.¡± Ms. He scowled as if she was about to scold someone, ¡°Go and call her for me.¡± ¡°Alright, alright, I¡¯ll call her.¡± Tang Xiang pretended to go look for someone but had only taken a few steps when Ms. He shouted from behind, ¡°Xiangxiang!¡± Tang Xiang couldn¡¯t help but laugh and cry, ¡°What¡¯s the matter now, Ms. He?¡± Ms. He grabbed her, panicked, ¡°Quick, put out the fire, your father and Luo San are still inside, they haven¡¯t come out yet!¡± ¡°Guangji, Guangji!¡± She called her husband¡¯s name loudly, standing up from the wheelchair, looking around, ¡°Where¡¯s the bucket, where¡¯s the bucket?¡± Not seeing a bucket, Ms. He pushed Tang Xiang aside and rushed forward, muttering about putting out the fire. ¡°Mom!¡± Tang Xiang could not stop Ms. He and signaled to Zhou Qingrang, ¡°I need to go take care of my mom.¡± Zhou Qingrang nodded. Tang Xiang chased after Ms. He. He did not have the chance to ask about Luo San, still holding onto a sliver of hope that perhaps it was not Luo San, perhaps that child was still alive in this world. His phone rang, showing it was a call from Mr. Hu. Mr. Hu was a private detective, hired by him to investigate the matter of his sister. ¡°Mr. Zhou, Luo Changde has been arrested.¡± ¡°Why was he arrested?¡± Mr. Hu explained, ¡°The police suspect that the Luo Family fire eight years ago was arson and murder, with both Luo Changde and his daughter as suspects, one for arson, the other for murder.¡± Arson, murder. These were acts the Luo Family was capable of. Ms. Tang had suffered another episode, and the psychiatrist recommended a short period of quiet recuperation at home to avoid stimulation. The TV station called, urging Zhou Qingrang to return quickly; as soon as he left, Zhou Xufang arrived, bumping into Tang Xiang outside the ward, without seeing Ms. He. ¡°How is Aunt Xiu¡¯s condition?¡± Tang Xiang shook her head, ¡°The doctor injected her with a sedative, and she just fell asleep.¡± The two went to a nearby coffee shop. Tang Xiang ordered two drinks, ¡°Why didn¡¯t Jiang Zhi come with you?¡± She pushed the sugar toward Zhou Xufang, knowing he liked it sweet. Zhou Xufang added five spoons of sugar, ¡°He has to film today.¡± The filming schedule was set in advance and couldn¡¯t be delayed, Jiang Zhi would come to pick her up later. ¡°I heard from Jiang Zhi that you¡¯ve remembered everything.¡± Zhou Xufang nodded, ¡°I have a question for you.¡± Tang Xiang put down the stirring spoon, ¡°What?¡± ¡°Why did Aunt Xiu make me pretend to be a boy?¡± He Xiangxiu never talked about these things with her and didn¡¯t allow her to ask. Other than her name, He Xiangxiu completely refrained from mentioning anything about her origins. Even Zhou Qingmeng¡¯s name, she had heard from the mouths of the Xiao Family and Luo Yinghe. Tang Xiang also shook her head, ¡°I¡¯m not too clear on the specifics. My parents kept even me in the dark; if it weren¡¯t for your appearance, I probably still wouldn¡¯t know that Luo San is a girl.¡± She recalled for a moment, ¡°When Ms. He fell ill, I did hear her ramble on about something; it was all muddled, and I didn¡¯t quite understand. It was roughly about the Luo Family needing a male to carry on the family line, and if Luo San were a girl, the old man wouldn¡¯t keep her around.¡± It was nearly what Zhou Xufang had figured. Tang Xiang pondered for a long while, her frown deepening, ¡°Luo Changde has many illegitimate daughters, but because they¡¯re all girls, the old man did not acknowledge any of them. Xufang,¡± she paused for quite a while, ¡°I guess, you might be a child of the Luo Family.¡± Otherwise, there was no need to adopt a child with ¡®imperfections.¡¯ Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t say anything but nodded. Tang Xiang hesitated to speak further. Zhou Xufang knew what she wanted to inquire about and answered, ¡°It¡¯s Luo Changde.¡± Tang Xiang suddenly felt the coffee had lost its flavor, unable to swallow it, ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay.¡± Zhou Xufang was still very calm, ¡°Tang Xiang, do you know Zhou Qingmeng?¡± The Xiao Family once clutched her throat and said that she was Zhou Qingmeng¡¯s curse. Tang Xiang was startled for a moment, replied, ¡°I know.¡± She had a very unpleasant guess. She lowered her hand from the table, her palm sweaty, ¡°Twenty-three years ago, Zhou Qingmeng came to the Imperial City to visit relatives, staying with our family, all in the Luo Family¡¯s Ping Building.¡± Visit relatives? Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Zhou Xufang asked, ¡°Is she a relative of Aunt Xiu?¡± ¡°Not,¡± Tang Xiang paused for a long time, said, ¡°Zhou Qingmeng and Luo Changde are cousins.¡± Clang¡ª¡ª The spoon in Zhou Xufang¡¯s hand dropped to the floor. Half an hour later, Jiang Zhi came to pick up Zhou Xufang; the film shoot wasn¡¯t finished yet, but he couldn¡¯t rest easy about Zhou Xufang, so he ended early. When he arrived, Zhou Xufang was squatting at the coffee shop¡¯s entrance, tucked into the small corner to the left, hugging her knees, motionless. Jiang Zhi walked over and crouched down, ¡°Why are you squatting here?¡± Zhou Xufang looked up, her eyes somewhat vacant, ¡°I¡¯m thinking about things.¡± The wind blew outside, whooshing chaotically. Jiang Zhi tidied the hair on her forehead, ¡°What are you thinking about?¡± Her expression was somewhat dazed, ¡°I¡¯m thinking, does karma exist in this world?¡± Jiang Zhi removed her mask, touching her cold little face, ¡°So, have you figured it out?¡± She said, ¡°I have.¡± ¡°Does it?¡± She shook her head, ¡°There¡¯s no karma in this world.¡± If there were karma, then twenty-three years ago, Luo Changde should have received his retribution, not lived up until eight years ago, not allowed to continue his wrongdoings. If there was karma, that would be good. ¡°My mom¡ª¡ª¡± Jiang Zhi interrupted her, ¡°Tang Xiang told me everything.¡± He leaned over and opened his arms to hug her. Zhou Xufang buried her head in his shoulder, muttering to herself, ¡°I also have an uncle. The day my mom met with misfortune, he had a car accident and became a vegetable, lying in the hospital for fifteen years.¡± Jiang Zhi remained silent, gently patting her back. Without crying or making a fuss, she quietly said, ¡°From the ages of fourteen to twenty-nine, the best years of his life, all spent lying in a hospital bed.¡± ¡°His left leg was amputated, his right leg wasn¡¯t good either, and it contained steel pins.¡± ¡°He contracted many illnesses, no one knows how much longer he can live.¡± Her voice grew increasingly hollow, colder, ¡°Tang Xiang said, the car accident wasn¡¯t an accident.¡± Her uncle, Zhou Qingrang, had been harmed to end up like that. ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± She clenched her hands into fists, holding them tight, her fingertips turning blue, ¡°I really hate those with the surname Luo.¡± She couldn¡¯t hold back, her voice trembling, choking up, ¡°I want to burn them to death.¡± Jiang Zhi tilted his head, kissing her ear, ¡°Shall I help you burn them, would that be okay?¡± She shook her head, ¡°No.¡± She loosened her fist, embracing Jiang Zhi, ¡°I don¡¯t want you to commit a crime.¡± Six o¡¯clock in the evening. The auto repair shop was about to close, and a customer walked in, dressed in black, with a hat on her head and a mask over her face. Judging by the figure, it was a girl. Well, truth be told, the quirky outfit was pretty cool; she probably was into cars. ¡°Welcome,¡± the staff greeted enthusiastically, ¡°Car wash or repair?¡± The cool girl, wearing opaque glasses, asked in a low voice, ¡°Do you have gasoline?¡± Chapter 264: 264: Avenging Uncle, Luo Huaiyu Trapped in a Sea of Fire (First Update) Chapter 264: 264: Avenging Uncle, Luo Huaiyu Trapped in a Sea of Fire (First Update) The very cool girl wore opaque glasses and asked in a low voice, ¡°Do you have any gasoline?¡± So cool! If she were wearing a motorcycle helmet, it would have been perfect. The clerk couldn¡¯t help but take a few more glances, ¡°Yes, we have it.¡± He looked outside, didn¡¯t see a car, and assumed it was parked far away, ¡°Would you like me to fill it up for you?¡± ¡°No need,¡± she said, ¡°Just sell it to me.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Isn¡¯t she planning to start a fire? Alarmed by his own speculation, the clerk retreated towards the mop at the back. If this criminal dared to hurt him, he would fight back with the mop, ¡°Our store doesn¡¯t sell it directly.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t sell it?¡± The ¡®criminal¡¯ thought for a moment, with a very serious tone, ¡°If you don¡¯t sell it to me, I¡¯ll burn down your shop.¡± She definitely is a criminal! Even at the level of a terrorist! The clerk instantly caved, ¡°Sell, sell, sell.¡± He shakily asked the ¡®terrorist¡¯, ¡°How much do you want?¡± The ¡®terrorist¡¯: ¡°Enough to burn down a three-story villa.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Oh my god! Around eight o¡¯clock, a strong wind suddenly picked up. Tang Ying knocked on the door, and the person inside said to come in. She pushed the door and entered, didn¡¯t see Zhou Qingrang, only the assistant Xiao Yuan was inside, and she asked, ¡°Did senior brother leave?¡± Xiao Yuan said, ¡°He left right after the broadcast.¡± He was still holding Zhou Qingrang¡¯s phone, ¡°He left his phone behind, and I don¡¯t know who¡¯s been trying to reach him; the phone keeps ringing.¡± While talking, the ringtone sounded again. S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Xiao Yuan glanced at the caller ID, it was the same number as before, ¡°It¡¯s ringing again, it must be something urgent.¡± ¡°You should answer it.¡± Xiao Yuan took the call. The person on the other end was a girl, calling Zhou Qingrang, ¡°Little uncle.¡± Little uncle? Isn¡¯t Mr. Zhou without family? ¡°Hello, I am Mr. Zhou¡¯s assistant.¡± ¡°Hello, I am Tang Xiang.¡± Xiao Yuan politely explained, ¡°Mr. Zhou has already left, and he left his phone at the radio station. Do you have some kind of urgent matter to discuss with him?¡± No wonder nobody was answering. Tang Xiang had just learned about the relationship between Zhou Xu and Zhou Qingmeng, and the first person she thought of was Zhou Qingrang. She felt sorry for Zhou Xu but also happy for Zhou Qingrang. He¡¯s been all alone, having a relative would be good for him. ¡°If you see him, could you ask him to return my call?¡± Xiao Yuan said, ¡°Of course.¡± Tang Xiang: ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°You¡¯re welcome.¡± Outside, the wind was booming, and it was unclear whether it was going to rain. Jiang Zhi¡¯s phone rang; the delivery had arrived. He ended the video conference and came out of the study but didn¡¯t see Zhou Xu in the living room. The bedroom light was on. ¡°Xu Fang.¡± ¡°Xu Fang.¡± No one answered, and he searched the room but didn¡¯t find her. She was not at home, and just fifteen minutes ago, she had been curled up on the sofa watching a show. Now, there was no sign of her. Normally, she would always tell him when she was leaving the house, even if she had errands to run at the last minute, she would report to him in advance. Jiang Zhi dialed her number; it was switched off, and even the number she usually used for assignments wasn¡¯t reachable. He called Fang Lixiang. ¡°Director Jiang,¡± Fang Lixiang was quite surprised when the big director himself made a call. Could it be that he wanted to offer her more scenes? ¡°Is my girlfriend with you?¡± ¡°¡­¡± So he was looking for his girlfriend. They really can¡¯t be apart for even a moment, Fang Lixiang said, ¡°No, she isn¡¯t.¡± Jiang Zhi said a brief ¡®sorry to bother you¡¯ and then hung up. He called Qiao Nanchu next. ¡°Is your girlfriend there?¡± Looking for Wen Baiyang. Qiao Nanchu: ¡°We don¡¯t live together.¡± Jiang Zhi was uninterested in whether they lived together or not, ¡°Is she there or not?¡± Qiao Nanchu licked his teeth, ¡°¡­ She¡¯s here.¡± He had just happened to come over, they weren¡¯t living together! Jiang Zhi sounded a bit anxious, ¡°Ask her if Zhou Xu has been in touch with her.¡± ¡°Look at you, searching for your girlfriend all the way over here with me.¡± Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t have free time to chatter with him and immediately hung up the phone. A while later, Wen Baiyang sent an email over, using Shuangjiang¡¯s email: ¡°Twenty minutes ago, Xu Fang asked me to hack the surveillance on Xiangming Road.¡± Xiangming Road was the main thoroughfare to the Luo Family¡¯s residence. Luo Family. At the study door, a servant came to relay a message: ¡°Chairman, Mr. Zhou has arrived.¡± Luo Huaiyu put aside his work: ¡°Let him in.¡± The door was pushed open from the outside; Zhou Qingrang moved slowly, leaning on his cane. Luo Huaiyu looked up at him and instructed the servant: ¡°Go brew a pot of tea.¡± ¡°No need.¡± His voice lacked the smoothness of his usual newscasting; it was cold and clear, directed at the servant of the Luo Family: ¡°Please step out for a moment.¡± The servant glanced at Luo Huaiyu before leaving and closed the door behind them. Luo Huaiyu sat on the solid wood chair, his cane with the dragon head beside him, the back of his hand spotted with age: ¡°You¡¯re here because of your sister again, aren¡¯t you?¡± If not for Zhou Qingmeng, he wouldn¡¯t have entered the Luo Family¡¯s doors again. He moved forward, his right leg suffering from an old injury, his left fitted with a prosthetic, his steps uneven: ¡°Is Luo San my sister¡¯s child?¡± Luo Huaiyu¡¯s expression changed instantly: ¡°Who told you that?¡± He didn¡¯t answer but kept his piercing gaze on Luo Huaiyu and asked again: ¡°Is it?¡± Only the Luo Family members and one other person knew this secret. ¡°Did you see He Xiangxiu?¡± Zhou Qingrang answered: ¡°Yes.¡± Unable to argue, Luo Huaiyu admitted: ¡°Indeed, she was born of Qing Meng.¡± He remained calm, without a hint of panic. ¡°Because she was Qing Meng¡¯s child, I kept her within the Luo Family. Otherwise, I wouldn¡¯t have adopted a disabled son.¡± He spoke as if he had performed some grand act of charity. Zhou Qingrang moved forward with a limp. His usually vacant and indifferent eyes shone like the blade of a knife: ¡°Eight years ago, your granddaughter committed arson, your son committed murder, did you know or not?¡± He was also investigating this matter. Luo Huaiyu didn¡¯t directly answer, his composure unchanged: ¡°The case is still under review. It¡¯s too early to draw any conclusions about the truth.¡± Still trying to dodge the responsibility. Zhou Qingrang sneered: ¡°Every movement in the Luo Family is under your watch; how could you possibly be unaware?¡± That Luo San would be burned to death was with his tacit approval, and perhaps there was even more to it. ¡°Qing Rang¡ª¡± Zhou Qingrang cut him off: ¡°Aren¡¯t you afraid of retribution?¡± No sooner than the words hit the ground, a loud bang came from outside the room. Then someone shouted: ¡°Fire, there¡¯s a fire!¡± And there was Xu Yunci¡¯s voice, frantically calling out: ¡°Yinghe!¡± ¡°Mom!¡± ¡°Mom!¡± ¡°The fire started, Yinghe, come down quickly!¡± Another bang sounded, likely something in the kitchen exploding. Outside was chaos; the masters and servants of the Luo Family were scrambling to escape, rushing outside with great urgency. Thick smoke quickly wafted into the study through cracks under the door; all the wires on the wall caught fire, crackling loudly. There was no light in the room except for the flames, which illuminated everything bright as day. Zhou Qingrang watched the flames rise higher outside the window and laughed: ¡°Luo Huaiyu, your retribution has arrived.¡± Luo Huaiyu immediately rose to his feet, leaning on his cane. But Zhou Qingrang was faster, locking the door from the inside. Luo Huaiyu¡¯s color drained: ¡°What are you doing?¡± His gaze blazed fiercely, reflecting the vast swathes of flames: ¡°Twenty-three years, I¡¯ve lived on just this breath for twenty-three years, waiting for the Luo Family¡¯s retribution. Luo Changde is finished, Luo Qinghe, too.¡± He looked at Luo Huaiyu, ¡°Only you remain.¡± He wanted to perish together¡­ Luo Huaiyu, leaning on his cane, hurried towards the door and bellowed: ¡°Move aside!¡± He didn¡¯t budge an inch, resolute, using his back to block the door: ¡°My sister is gone, Luo San is also dead, and with my body like this, I won¡¯t last long either. So, you might as well die with me.¡± He didn¡¯t want to live; he hadn¡¯t wanted to, not since eight years ago. Better to die, to go beneath and find his sister. His sister was timid, afraid of many things, and she would be scared without someone to accompany her. ¡°You¡¯re mad!¡± Luo Huaiyu was completely off balance. ¡°Yes, mad.¡± His hand clutching the doorknob was burned red, thin and knobby from the prominent bones. ¡°Eight years ago, I should have gone mad, should have carried a knife to kill all of the Luo Family. That way, at least Luo San could have lived.¡± This man had no intent to live. Luo Huaiyu shouted toward the outside: ¡°Lao Qi!¡± ¡°Open the door!¡± ¡°Lao Qi!¡± Fire raged outside the glass window, smoke billowed, the room sealed shut, the temperature rising higher and higher. Zhou Qingrang hobbled forward, the cane in his hand pointing at Luo Huaiyu. ¡°Zhou Qingrang!¡± His eyes were empty, filled only with a desperate decisiveness: ¡°Go down there and apologize to my sister.¡± Chapter 265: 265: Jiang Zhi protects his wife, Xu Fang rescues uncle from fire (Second Update) Chapter 265: 265: Jiang Zhi protects his wife, Xu Fang rescues uncle from fire (Second Update) Luo Mansion only had three floors. As soon as the fire started, people began running outside one after another. Everyone was now in the courtyard, visibly shaken. Xu Yunci was still trembling with fear and asked her daughter, ¡°Are you hurt?¡± Luo Yinghe, covered in soot, was annoyed, ¡°No.¡± She questioned one of the Luo Family¡¯s servants, ¡°What happened? Why did it catch fire?¡± Between the butlers, the drivers, and the gardener, there were about seven or eight of them, all shaking their heads, clueless about what happened. Xu Yunci questioned the oldest, Lao Qi, ¡°Is everyone out?¡± Lao Qi scanned the area briefly, ¡°Oh no!¡± He immediately became frantic. ¡°The chairman hasn¡¯t come out yet. He¡¯s in the study with Mr. Zhou.¡± In the face of the raging fire, everyone was only thinking about escaping, neglecting everything else. Xu Yunci quickly gathered the people, ¡°You, go inside and rescue them.¡± None of them moved. Xu Yunci became desperate, ¡°I will reward you.¡± Still, no one moved; nobody wanted to trade their life for money. Luo Yinghe made a cold remark from the side, ¡°With such a big fire, who would go in?¡± She glared at the servants and reprimanded harshly, ¡°Don¡¯t just stand there, call the police!¡± Lao Qi urgently dialed the fire department. Meanwhile, Aunt Liu from the kitchen noticed someone lying on the ground. ¡°Xiao Hui!¡± It was the Luo Family¡¯s new servant, lying motionless on the lawn. Aunt Liu went to wake her, ¡°Xiao Hui, wake up!¡± The girl opened her eyes, still dazed. ¡°Why are you lying here?¡± She held her head and asked, ¡°Why am I lying here?¡± Aunt Liu slapped her face, ¡°Scared silly?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know. I fell and hit my head while running downstairs. I must have fainted. Why would I be lying here?¡± Aunt Liu guessed, ¡°Someone must have carried you out.¡± It was Zhou Xufang who had carried her out. She only wanted to burn the Luo Family, not harm the innocent. Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The wind was exceptionally strong that night. The fire grew fiercer with the wind. She squatted on the roof of the adjoining attic, surrounded by the wind. She couldn¡¯t hear any noises from inside. ¡°Are they dead? They must be,¡± she murmured dreamily. ¡°Zhou Xufang.¡± Someone called her from behind. Zhou Xufang turned around, seeing the person, she suddenly panicked: ¡°Jiang, Jiang Zhi.¡± Like a child caught misbehaving, she was at a loss. Jiang Zhi had rushed over in a hurry, wearing only a black sweater and no coat. He glanced at the oil drum she still clutched in her hand. ¡°Did you start the fire?¡± he asked. Zhou Xufang jumped down from the attic roof, went up to him and nodded in admission, ¡°Yes.¡± It was she who had started the fire, splashed the gasoline, and even lit the microwave in the kitchen. Jiang Zhi questioned, ¡°Where did you get the gasoline?¡± ¡°From an auto repair shop.¡± He continued, ¡°Did anyone see your face, were you recorded?¡± His tone was stern. Zhou Xufang shook her head. ¡°What about on the way here? Did anyone see you?¡± She shook her head again. Jiang Zhi took the two empty gasoline containers from her hand, checked her gloves, still not reassured, he wiped off the areas she touched with the sleeve of his sweater, and solemnly instructed her, ¡°Today, you were at home, you didn¡¯t leave, and you certainly weren¡¯t here at Luo Mansion, understand?¡± He was covering for her. ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± Jiang Zhi couldn¡¯t fuss about the particulars, his eyes deep and serene like a bottomless sea, ¡°Listen, go home quickly.¡± She stood before him, unmoving, ¡°What about you?¡± He replied, ¡°I¡¯ll stay and handle the aftermath.¡± He would take the blame if someone found out, allowing her to walk away scot-free. Zhou Xufang knew his intentions well. ¡°I¡¯m not leaving.¡± Jiang Zhi, flustered by her, exclaimed¨C¨C¡±Zhou Xufang¨C¨C¡± She tugged at his sleeve, ¡°I started the fire, I intended to kill.¡± She wasn¡¯t afraid initially, but after his arrival, fear crept in. For the first time, she was acting recklessly without regard for the consequences, only realizing the trouble she caused afterwards¡­ ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter whether you started the fire or I did.¡± He set down the objects, hugged her, ¡°Zhou Xufang, I won¡¯t wait for you if you go to jail. I¡¯ll break you out, and in the end, I will still be committing a crime.¡± If she committed arson and murder, he would definitely be her accomplice. That was undeniable. The wind scattered his voice, echoing in her ear, ¡°Fang Bao, behave, go home.¡± The study was in complete disarray. Although Luo Huaiyu was old, Zhou Qingrang was seriously ill and immobile. Luo Huaiyu snatched his walking stick, pushed him to the ground, and had just touched the doorknob when his leg was grabbed. Luo Huaiyu covered his mouth and nose, his eyes reddened by the smoke, furious, he roared, ¡°Zhou Qingrang!¡± Zhou Qingrang clung to his leg, dragging him backward. Luo Huaiyu staggered and kicked Zhou Qingrang hard on the shoulder, ¡°Let go!¡± He looked up, his eyes barren and lifeless, breathing rapidly, his pale face almost translucent, he said, ¡°Only if I die.¡± Luo Huaiyu kicked hard, ¡°Let go! Let go!¡± Blood seeped from the corner of his mouth, his legs numbed, unable to straighten his back, but he kept his head raised, refusing to bow. Luo Huaiyu, exhausted from the effort, his pupils red, teeth clenched, said, ¡°Even if I die, I will haunt you as a ghost.¡± ¡°Then you be the ghost first.¡± Zhou Qingrang was smiling, looking out at the flames engulfing the heavens, tears melting the frost in his eyes, sparkling as he muttered to himself, ¡°Sister, Qing Rang kept you waiting.¡± Twenty-three years. He left his sister in the underworld, surviving miserably for twenty-three years. Luo Huaiyu picked up a vase from the cabinet, aiming at Zhou Qingrang¡¯s head, and swung down hard¡ª ¡°Bang!¡± The door was suddenly kicked open, and the vase stopped mid-air. A person dressed in black, face covered with a mask, entered, ¡°Were you about to hit him?¡± The room filled with thick smoke, Luo Huaiyu couldn¡¯t see clearly, he immediately cried for help, ¡°Who are you? Get me out of here!¡± Save him? Zhou Xufang grabbed the vase and swung it directly at Luo Huaiyu¡¯s head. Chapter 266: 266: Xu Fang Recognizes His Uncle (Part 1) Chapter 266: 266: Xu Fang Recognizes His Uncle (Part 1) Zhou Xufang snatched the vase and smashed it right over Luo Huaiyu¡¯s head. His vision blurred as he fell to the ground, blood instantly streaming from his head to his neck, fear filling his eyes as he looked at Zhou Xufang, ¡°You, you¡ª¡± Zhou Xufang threw the vase away, shattering it into pieces, ¡°If you don¡¯t crawl out now, I won¡¯t be able to stop myself from killing you.¡± She wasn¡¯t joking; she never joked. Luo Huaiyu, terrified to the extreme, pressed his hand against his head, felt the blood, and started crawling out frantically, rolling and stumbling like a wriggling worm, completely undignified. Zhou Xufang ignored him and crouched down to look at Zhou Qingrang, ¡°Mr. Zhou.¡± Zhou Qingrang, a broadcaster by profession, had a keen sensitivity to sound. The room was filled with thick smoke, stinging his eyes, he reached out, and in the thick white smoke, he touched a hand, ¡°Is that you, Zhou Xufang?¡± Zhou Xufang nodded, her voice unconsciously choked up, ¡°Mr. Zhou, could you tell me where your hometown is?¡± ¡°Xiangnan,¡± he said, ¡°Xufang Town.¡± Xufang Town in Xiangnan, a place with flowers and bridges, looked beautiful in the pictures Zhou Xufang had checked. She gripped Zhou Qingrang¡¯s hand. Perhaps due to years of pushing a wheelchair or using a crutch, his palm had thin calluses. ¡°My name is Zhou Xufang,¡± he knew her name but not how to write it; Zhou Xufang told him again, ¡°It¡¯s Xufang from Xufang Town.¡± Under the enveloping white smoke, a pair of clear, handsome eyes slightly reddened, ¡°Is it Luo San?¡± His voice trembled a bit from uncertainty and exhilaration. ¡°It¡¯s me,¡± her voice nasal, she quietly called out, ¡°Uncle.¡± Zhou Qingrang smiled at her, tears in his eyes. His hand, pale and thin, felt cool against her face as he removed her mask and looked at her face through the hazy smoke, scrutinizing carefully. He said, ¡°You don¡¯t look like your mom, you resemble your grandmother.¡± Zhou Xufang wiped away a tear, turned around, ¡°I¡¯ll carry you out.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll do it.¡± It was Jiang Zhi. He too had entered the burning building, crouched down, and said to Zhou Xufang, ¡°You go first, don¡¯t let people see you. I¡¯ve called an ambulance; go wait at the hospital.¡± Her identity was special, and getting involved with the police could complicate matters. Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t move; she looked at Zhou Qingrang. ¡°Go first.¡± Zhou Xufang listened to her uncle, ¡°Okay.¡± Jiang Zhi, ¡°¡­¡±, she had just recognized her uncle and now wasn¡¯t listening to her boyfriend. Zhou Xufang left through the rooftop. Jiang Zhi carried Zhou Qingrang out, with a good reason to give¡ªhe had received a call to come and rescue. The ambulance arrived quickly; the hospital wasn¡¯t far, and within forty minutes, he met Zhou Xufang there. Zhou Qingrang had inhaled too much smoke, undergoing a laryngoscopy in the emergency room. It was already late, and Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t want Zhou Xufang waiting outside the emergency room: ¡°I¡¯ll have Vice President Sun clear a room for you. Go rest, and I¡¯ll stay here.¡± She shook her head, unwilling to leave. ¡°Just now, why did you go in too? It was so dangerous.¡± Jiang Zhi held her hand, squeezing her little finger, ¡°You thought of me at last?¡± Little ungrateful one, forgot her boyfriend because of her uncle! ¡°I went in looking for you, knowing you wouldn¡¯t just head home.¡± Back at the attic rooftop, he had asked her to go home. She had turned around, and in the blink of an eye, she vanished. He wasn¡¯t a good person; he hadn¡¯t gone into the fire to rescue others but to find Zhou Xufang. ¡°Good thing I went back.¡± Zhou Xufang was relieved, or her uncle would have been in danger. Jiang Zhi wasn¡¯t surprised at all, ¡°I knew you¡¯d come back.¡± He knew her well; ¡°Even if you were impulsive, you wouldn¡¯t really commit arson and murder.¡± Of course, it wouldn¡¯t matter if she didn¡¯t come back; he had already thought of all her possible exits. At nine thirty PM. Lu Sheng was at home when his secretary called. ¡°Miss Two.¡± She was sitting at the dining table, having a late-night snack, ¡°What is it?¡± The secretary said, ¡°I¡¯ve just received news that a big fire broke out at the Luo Family.¡± Is that so? Lu Sheng felt good, ¡°Heaven has eyes.¡± She took a sip of bird¡¯s nest, ¡°Did those disasters from the Luo Family get burned?¡± Secretary, ¡°No.¡± Lu Sheng corrected herself, ¡°Heaven is blind.¡± The secretary added, ¡°Mr. Zhou was also at the Luo Family.¡± Duang! The spoon fell into the bowl. ¡°Who did you say?¡± Secretary, ¡°Mr. Zhou Qingrang.¡± Lu Sheng abruptly stood up, knocking her knee against the table, hissing in pain, as she winced. Her mother Yao Bixi was watching TV in the living room, her eyes covered with two eye masks. Hearing the noise, she asked, ¡°What are you doing, crashing around like that? Did you hurt yourself?¡± Yao Bixi was slightly overweight, with fair skin and a kind face, making her appear quite young. ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± She hadn¡¯t hung up the phone yet and hadn¡¯t changed her clothes. She grabbed a coat and hurried outside. ¡°I¡¯m stepping out for a bit.¡± Yao Bixi followed her with a question. ¡°It¡¯s so late, where are you going?¡± Lu Sheng brushed her off with, ¡°On official business.¡± She rushed out in a hurry. Yao Bixi muttered discontentedly and lifted her eye masks. ¡°It¡¯s not that you¡¯ve started dating, is it?¡± Her husband, Lu Jingsong, was sitting nearby. Upon hearing this, his expression hardened. ¡°Shengsheng is over twenty now,¡± Mrs. Lu had just come downstairs, dressed like a typical elderly woman with floral cardigans and wide pants, wearing reading glasses, ¡°it¡¯s time for her to date.¡± Lu Jingsong disagreed, ¡°Just over twenty, how can she be dating? Today¡¯s boys are so cunning, all they do is deceive young girls. What if our Shengsheng gets her feelings hurt¡ª¡± His wife chuckled from the side, ¡°Don¡¯t you know your own daughter¡¯s weight? Who could deceive her? It would be something if she doesn¡¯t deceive someone else.¡± Lu Jingsong, a robust and tall figure in the military, who could send tremors with a stomp, was a man of integrity and seriousness, a highly influential figure. ¡ªBut he was afraid of his wife and also, he doted on his daughter. Lu Jingsong turned his head. ¡°Xinglan, is your sister dating someone?¡± Lu Xinglan was lying on the dining table, half-way through her bird¡¯s nest soup. Yao Bixi applied another face mask, ¡°Xinglan is asleep, don¡¯t disturb him.¡± Lu Jingsong: ¡°¡­¡± He felt his lack of authority in the family. Around ten o¡¯clock, Lu Sheng arrived at the hospital. She was in such a hurry that she was still wearing her home sweatshirt and without makeup, looking fresh-faced and like a girl-next-door, except that when she spoke, it was with the commanding presence of a CEO. ¡°Can you check for me, which room is Zhou Qingrang in?¡± The nurse at the hospital ward lifted her head, ¡°In the VIP ward.¡± She knew without checking; Zhou Qingrang was a public figure. Lu Sheng was anxious, ¡°What¡¯s the room number?¡± The nurse, being new and still unfamiliar with procedures, and because Zhou Qingrang was a public figure, needed to be cautious, ¡°I¡¯m sorry miss, I can¡¯t disclose VIP patient information to anyone outside of family without permission.¡± Lu Sheng, unflinchingly, ¡°I am family.¡± She had been battling in the business world for years and had a formidable presence, she added for clarification, ¡°I¡¯m his girlfriend.¡± Mr. Zhou is single! Does she not watch the news at all? Who is she fooling? The nurse remained composed, ¡°Could you provide proof?¡± ¡°How so?¡± ¡°Like a photo.¡± Lu Sheng, slightly frustrated, still pulled out her phone, opened the gallery, ¡°This okay?¡± She actually had a photo together. The nurse looked, ¡°This picture¡­¡± her lips twitched, ¡°you edited this, right?¡± Lu Sheng: ¡°¡­¡± Yes, it was photoshopped. She had downloaded the picture from a computer, a photo of Zhou Qingrang with a female anchor, couldn¡¯t resist, and edited the female anchor out and photoshopped herself in. Was there a problem with that? The nurse suddenly stretched her neck and yelled, ¡°Miss Zhou, there¡¯s someone here with a photoshopped picture, trying to sneak into Mr. Zhou¡¯s room.¡± Lu Sheng: ¡°¡­¡± President Lu really doesn¡¯t care about face, huh! Zhou Xufang approached without a mask, polite, ¡°Hello.¡± Lu Sheng, a bit embarrassed, ¡°Hello.¡± She had met Zhou Xufang before and at that time, had claimed to be Zhou Qingrang¡¯s girlfriend. Zhou Xufang was straightforward, ¡°Are you my uncle¡¯s girlfriend?¡± Lu Sheng was shocked, ¡°Zhou Qingrang is your uncle?¡± She nodded. Lu Sheng was even more embarrassed, her domineering CEO aura all but gone, awkwardly, ¡°Not girlfriend, just friends.¡± The nurse chimed in, ¡°I told you it was a photoshopped picture.¡± Can you shut up! ¡°He¡¯s not awake yet,¡± Zhou Xufang asked, ¡°do you want to see him now?¡± Lu Sheng nodded eagerly. Zhou Xufang led the way, ¡°I¡¯ll take you there.¡± Lu Sheng followed. As the two came out of the third floor elevator, they saw Jiang Zhi hurrying over, ¡°Where did you run off to?¡± he addressed Zhou Xufang, ¡°The moment you¡¯re out of sight, you start wandering.¡± sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Such a shrewish tone. Lu Sheng doubted this was the Jiang Zhi she knew. Chapter 267: 267: Going for a prenatal checkup, Lu Sheng protects his wife (second update) Chapter 267: 267: Going for a prenatal checkup, Lu Sheng protects his wife (second update) Lu Sheng suspected this wasn¡¯t the Jiang Zhi she knew. Zhou Xufang said, ¡°I¡¯m going to handle the hospital admission procedures.¡± It was only then that Jiang Zhi noticed Lu Sheng. ¡°Why has she come?¡± Her tone was not very welcoming. Lu Sheng and Jiang Zhi had a feud, all business-related. ¡°She came to visit the sick,¡± Zhou Xufang said. Jiang Zhi was pale, looking somewhat sickly: ¡°You¡¯re quite well-informed, Second Miss Lu.¡± Her tone was like that of a noble young master who was difficult to deal with. It was not just like that; Jiang Zhi was difficult to deal with. Lu Sheng, equally of noble birth, was calm, ¡°It¡¯s alright.¡± She thought, this is awkward now, the Lu Family and the Jiang Family are enemies, what if they have to become relatives in the future¡­ Enemies meant nothing, as long as she could pursue Zhou Qingrang, she wouldn¡¯t need to bear the Lu surname; she would take the Zhou surname. Besides, Jiang Zhi was an in-law, and she wouldn¡¯t lose out in terms of family relations. Zhou Qingrang didn¡¯t have any major issues; he was just physically weak and needed to be observed and rest in the hospital for a few days, currently asleep. Zhou Xufang and Lu Sheng both stood guard outside the hospital room, while Jiang Zhi sat next to his girlfriend. It was already past ten o¡¯clock. ¡°Go sleep in the room downstairs,¡± Jiang Zhi whispered to Zhou Xufang. Zhou Xufang shook his head, refusing to sleep, ¡°You go sleep.¡± Jiang Zhi stayed seated, his hand on Zhou Xufang¡¯s shoulder, ¡°I can¡¯t sleep without holding you.¡± Zhou Xufang: ¡°¡­¡± Lu Sheng was still nearby. Lu Sheng pretended not to hear. She really hadn¡¯t pictured Jiang Zhi this way in front of his girlfriend. After Zhou Xufang fell asleep, Jiang Zhi gently lifted her, ¡°You want to pursue Zhou Qingrang?¡± he asked softly. Lu Sheng didn¡¯t deny it, ¡°Is there a problem?¡± ¡°No.¡± People of the Four Great Families all knew that the Lu Family was very protective, unlike other noble and wealthy families where blood relatives fought viciously over power and profit. The Lu Family was an exception; they were protective and only hostile externally, not internally. Jiang Zhi thought it would be nice for Zhou Qingrang to get involved with the Lu Family. ¡°My girlfriend and I are downstairs, call us if there¡¯s anything.¡± Lu Sheng: ¡°Alright.¡± Ah, Jiang Zhi carried the person, turning his head back lightly and added quietly, not wanting to disturb the person in his arms, ¡°The injury on Zhou Qingrang¡¯s shoulder was caused by Luo Huaiyu.¡± The Lu Family, always protective. Lu Sheng stood up from her seat, walked to the stairway, and made a phone call. ¡°Second Miss.¡± It was apparent that President Lu was furious: ¡°From now on, if it¡¯s Luo Family¡¯s business, seize it for me.¡± Secretary: ¡°¡­¡± He could almost see the warfare. That same night, Luo Huaiyu was also brought to the Fifth Hospital with a head wound, which was serious for an elderly person. He developed a high fever overnight, and although not life-threatening, he still hadn¡¯t regained consciousness by the next morning. Luo Yinghe came in the morning and sat in the hospital for a while before becoming restless, ¡°I¡¯m going back.¡± Xu Yunci stopped her, ¡°Your grandfather hasn¡¯t woken up yet, wait for him to wake up before you go.¡± Luo Yinghe was impatient, ¡°If you want to wait, wait, but I don¡¯t have the time to waste here.¡± She turned her head and walked away; hardly a few steps out of the room, someone bumped into her shoulder, knocking off her sunglasses. She was irritated, ¡°Are you blind?¡± The person who bumped her slowly looked up, with messy short hair and casual clothes, but when she spoke, it was commanding, ¡°Who are you talking about?¡± It was Lu Sheng, the Second Miss Lu. In Imperial City, the unassailable Imperial Princess. The Luo Family was nowhere near the Lu Family in status, and Luo Yinghe dared not openly offend her. Her voice automatically quieted down, ¡°You bumped into me first.¡± Small fish eat shrimp, big fish eat small fish. This is the rule. Lu Sheng, rushed out yesterday, dressed like a harmless student. Of course, she was no pushover, ¡°Which eye saw me bump into you? Tell me, so I can gouge it out for you.¡± Luo Yinghe: ¡°¡­¡± Being a Lu, does she get to be so arrogant? She held back her anger, not uttering a word. Silence didn¡¯t matter; Lu Sheng spoke unhurriedly, ¡°Since neither eye saw me bumping you, shouldn¡¯t you apologize?¡± Luo Yinghe, pampered and impatient, couldn¡¯t restrain herself any longer, disregarding the Lu Family¡¯s influence, angrily said, ¡°Lu Sheng, are you deliberately troubling me?¡± Lu Sheng shoved her hands into the pockets of her sweatpants, ¡°You¡¯re just noticing now?¡± She glanced at Luo Yinghe, ¡°You¡¯re pretty stupid.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Where had she offended this demanding little girl? Making a fuss over nothing! She was fuming, took off her mask, and snapped, ¡°Are you sick or something? How did I offend you? Picking a fight for no reason!¡± Just as Lu Sheng was about to speak, someone beat her to it, ¡°Who are you calling sick?¡± Lu Sheng turned around, ¡°Granny.¡± Mrs. Lu approached, followed by a secretary. The old lady was dressed simply in an old jacket, her makeup and hair neatly done, giving her a spirited and slightly more imposing appearance with her half-white hair. Lu Sheng asked her grandmother, ¡°What are you doing here?¡± Mrs. Lu was always economical with words, ¡°Health check.¡± She looked at Luo Yinghe, recognizing her as someone¡¯s daughter but not recalling her name, ¡°Luo family, who are you calling sick?¡± The Lu family members protected their own, especially the old lady, the champion of favoritism. Calling a member of the Lu family sick was like begging for trouble. Luo Yinghe, having only seen the old lady a few times, was naturally frightened and quickly changed her tone, trembling, ¡°Mrs. Lu.¡± The old lady¡¯s tone wasn¡¯t too harsh, but it was oppressive enough to make one feel breathless, ¡°I don¡¯t know what conflict you¡¯ve had with our Shengsheng, but it¡¯s never right to insult others.¡± Pretending to be oblivious. In all of Imperial City, the only person who could match this old lady was the Jiang family¡¯s old madam. Regardless of how reluctant Luo Yinghe was, she had to behave properly, ¡°I was rude.¡± ¡°Then apologize.¡± She gritted her teeth and apologized quietly, ¡°Sorry.¡± ¡°Be more careful with your words in the future.¡± ¡°I understand.¡± Old hag! Luo Yinghe internally fumed but respectfully took her leave on the surface. Lu Sheng blocked her way, leaned in, and whispered in her ear, ¡°Pass a message to your grandfather, Zhou Qingrang belongs to my Lu family, and he¡¯s untouchable.¡± It was all because of that cripple. With clenched fists, Luo Yinghe stormed off, fuming. Lu Sheng felt relieved and cheerfully called out, ¡°Granny.¡± Mrs. Lu chided, ¡°Stop grinning at me.¡± She glanced into the hospital room and asked, ¡°Is that Zhou Qingrang inside?¡± Having lived for seventy or eighty years, what hadn¡¯t she seen? How could she not know what her granddaughter was up to? Lu Sheng nodded. Mrs. Lu didn¡¯t inquire about the entanglements between Zhou Qingrang and the Luo family, merely asking, ¡°How is his health now?¡± Lu Sheng looked into the hospital room, her face filled with concern, ¡°Not very good.¡± Zhou Qingrang¡¯s health was poor, not just his legs, but his heart had problems and post-traumatic symptoms as well; in short, everything was problematic, surviving the car accident was a miracle. Mrs. Lu was also worried, her granddaughter could have liked anyone better, but she had to fall for him, ¡°If you end up with him, visiting the hospital will become routine. Prepare yourself mentally, and if you¡¯re not patient enough, better clear things up with him early.¡± The young girl earnestly responded, ¡°I know.¡± The old lady didn¡¯t nag any further, ¡°Don¡¯t go to the office today, let your secretary contact me if anything comes up.¡± She immediately beamed with joy, ¡°Thank you, Granny.¡± When Zhou Xufang woke up, Jiang Zhi had already left the hospital; he had left a note that he had gone to the police station to give a statement. There was a big fire last night, the Luo family reported it, and since Jiang Zhi mysteriously appeared at the Luo Family, the police naturally wanted to question him. She went out to buy breakfast, and by the time she returned to the hospital room, Lu Sheng was already inside, and Zhou Qingrang was awake too, and they seemed to be talking. She waited outside, not wanting to interrupt. Fang Lixiang called, ¡°Xu Fang.¡± She said on the phone, ¡°I¡¯m setting off now, will be there in half an hour.¡± They had arranged to meet this Saturday, today, to sneak in and visit the obstetrics and gynecology department. Zhou Xufang instructed her, ¡°Drive to Parking Lot 3, I¡¯ll meet you there.¡± That parking lot was for internal use only and wouldn¡¯t be frequented by paparazzi. ¡°Okay.¡± ¡°Lixiang.¡± She couldn¡¯t help but share the good news with her friend, ¡°I found my uncle.¡± Uncle? Wasn¡¯t Zhou Xufang an orphan? Fang Lixiang was surprised, ¡°Your real uncle? Who is he?¡± Zhou Xufang pronounced his name clearly, a hint of pride in her voice, ¡°His name is Zhou Qingrang.¡± My goodness, big news! ¡°The Zhou Qingrang from the national news broadcast?¡± S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Zhou Xufang nodded, ¡°Mhm.¡± Fang Lixiang could tell Zhou Xufang was very happy and she was genuinely happy for her, she always thought Zhou Xufang was so alone with no loving relatives, now she finally had family on her maternal side. ¡°That¡¯s wonderful! Should we celebrate? I know a great hot pot restaurant.¡± Zhou Xufang replied, ¡°You are pregnant now, you can¡¯t eat too much hot pot.¡± Chapter 268: 268: Xu Fang, the Doting Uncle Madman, Lu Shengs Confession (First Update) Chapter 268: 268: Xu Fang, the Doting Uncle Madman, Lu Sheng¡¯s Confession (First Update) Zhou Xufang: ¡°You¡¯re pregnant now, you can¡¯t eat too much hotpot.¡± Fang Lixiang deflated in a second: ¡°Maybe in a few days, I won¡¯t be.¡± Zhou Xufang felt like she was really attached to the ¡®Little Dog¡¯ in her stomach, she felt like she liked the ¡®Little Dog¡¯s dad, ¡®Big Doggy¡¯. After hanging up the phone, Zhou Xufang felt dejected for her good friend for a while, but soon she got happy again because she had an uncle now, and she was overjoyed, she wanted to share. She messaged Wen Baiyang on WeChat, ¡°Bai Yang, I have an uncle now.¡± She messaged Ah Wan on WeChat, ¡°Ah Wan, I have an uncle now.¡± She messaged Xue Bingxue on WeChat, ¡°Mr. Xue, I have an uncle now.¡± She messaged Qiao Nanchu on WeChat, ¡°Mr. Qiao, I have an uncle now.¡± She messaged Jiang Wei¡¯er on WeChat, ¡°Wei¡¯er, I have an uncle now.¡± There was no copy and paste; she typed each word with a heart full of excitement and joy. She even sent happy WeChat messages to the boss lady of the restaurant that often delivered takeout and the group leader of the crowd actors. The only person left in her friends list now was ¡®Little Dog¡¯s dad, ¡®Big Doggy¡¯¡ªthe one in Fang Lixiang¡¯s stomach. Well, Mr. Xiao Xue might be a bit of a jerk towards Lixiang, but she still wanted to share her happiness with him, so she sent him a message, ¡°Mr. Xiao Xue, I have an uncle now.¡± Everyone: ¡°¡­¡± Girl, you could have just posted a Moment. A minute later, Zhou Xufang, who almost never posted Moments, did post one. ¡°I have an uncle now. ¡± Fangbao¡¯s Boyfriend: ¡°When you had a boyfriend, you never posted in Moments.¡± It was only after he kept pressing her that she posted one. Oh, how sour! Fangbao replied to Fangbao¡¯s Boyfriend, ¡°¡± Fangbao¡¯s Boyfriend replied to Fangbao, ¡°¨s^¨t¡± This damn sourness. Zhou Xufang¡¯s friends all commented below the post, with congratulations and dog food consumers alike, she read all the comments and politely replied with thanks and smileys. At that moment, Jiang Zhi sent her a message. Fangbao¡¯s Boyfriend: ¡°Zhou Xufang.¡± Zhou Xufang replied instantly. Fangbao: ¡°Here.¡± Fangbao¡¯s Boyfriend: ¡°Now that you have an uncle, do you not love me anymore?¡± Fangbao: ¡°No.¡± Fangbao¡¯s Boyfriend: ¡°Then do you love me?¡± Zhou Xufang felt embarrassed and after looking around, she sent a little heart. Jiang Zhi replied with a voice message to her. Fangbao¡¯s Boyfriend: ¡°I love you too.¡± He was the least shy of all. Zhou Xufang blushed secretly. Fangbao: ¡°Have you arrived at the police station yet?¡± Fangbao¡¯s Boyfriend: ¡°Almost there.¡± Fangbao: ¡°.¡± Fangbao¡¯s Boyfriend: ¡°Don¡¯t send me just a period. If you have nothing to say and still want to end the conversation last, just send me ¡®I love you¡¯.¡± Of course, one thing had to be emphasized. Fangbao¡¯s Boyfriend: ¡°You can only send it to me, send others off any way you want.¡± Fangbao: ¡°.¡± Jiang Zhi felt like he was given the brush-off. Zhou Xufang put away her phone and continued to wait outside the ward. She could hear the voices inside, Lu Sheng was asking, ¡°Are you feeling better?¡± Zhou Qingrang nodded. He was not very talkative while Lu Sheng had a lot more to say, ¡°What do you want to eat? I¡¯ll go buy it for you.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not necessary.¡± Because he had inhaled a lot of smoke last night, his voice hadn¡¯t recovered yet and was somewhat hoarse. ¡°It¡¯s no trouble.¡± She was just about to go out to buy something when he called her back, ¡°Lu Sheng.¡± Lu Sheng turned around. The hospital gown was white with blue checks; he was thin and it hung loosely on his frame, she could even see the faint bluish veins under his neck. ¡°Go back, I¡¯m fine here, I don¡¯t want to delay you.¡± The attitude was distant, somewhat rejecting people thousands of miles away. Lu Sheng felt a loss in her heart and couldn¡¯t hold back, she blurted out what was on her mind, ¡°If I go back, I will still keep thinking of you and won¡¯t be able to do anything either.¡± For a girl to say she misses you is equivalent to saying she likes you. He just looked at her, said nothing, his eyes deep and fluctuating, light and shadow chaotically dancing. Lu Sheng stood by the bed, not like a young girl in her early twenties, her eyes devoid of frivolity, serious and stubborn but also open and honest. She asked, ¡°Zhou Qingrang, can¡¯t you see it?¡± She liked him so much; it was so obvious that she liked him. Zhou Qingrang restrained his gaze, his tone flat and indifferent, he said: ¡°You can go back now.¡± ¡°You should go back.¡± This sentence was equivalent to a rejection. No leeway was given, not even a moment¡¯s consideration. Usually gentle, he was uncompromising on this matter. As soon as she made it clear, he immediately took a stance. Lu Sheng had actually guessed this outcome, but no matter how mentally prepared he was, it was still tough to take. He wanted her to leave¡­ She walked to the door, turned around, and looked at him with eager eyes: ¡°I haven¡¯t had my dinner yet.¡± It sounded pitiable. Zhou Xufang felt it was her cue to step in. She walked to the door and knocked: ¡°I¡¯ve bought some porridge.¡± Lu Sheng opened the door and looked at her as if seeing a family member. ¡°Eat before you leave.¡± Zhou Qingrang was still soft-hearted. Lu Sheng nodded eagerly, looking both miserable and content: ¡°Okay.¡± After she had eaten, she left. Zhou Qingrang made no effort to keep her there, and she didn¡¯t dare linger, afraid of annoying him. Her departing figure looked so pitiable¡­ ¡°Auntie,¡± Zhou Xufang felt it was magical that, for someone as slow to warm up as her, calling him uncle didn¡¯t feel strange but very familiar and natural, ¡°do you not like Lu Sheng?¡± He didn¡¯t answer directly: ¡°How old is she?¡± ¡°Not young anymore.¡± Lu Sheng was twenty-three. She herself had gotten involved with Jiang Zhi at twenty-two. Zhou Xufang had a particularly good impression of Lu Sheng. It¡¯d be great if Lu Sheng could become her aunt. She guessed that her uncle must have his concerns. So Zhou Xufang comforted him: ¡°Uncle, don¡¯t worry, Jiang Zhi¡¯s family is in the healthcare industry. You¡¯ll definitely live to a ripe old age.¡± Live to a ripe old age. Eight years ago, his primary doctor had told him, live one day, earn one day¡ªhow could he dare to hope for a century? Zhou Qingrang did not continue this topic: ¡°Enough about me. What about you? Is Jiang Zhi good to you?¡± Zhou Xufang honestly replied: ¡°Very good.¡± Whenever she mentioned Jiang Zhi, her eyes sparkled differently; she couldn¡¯t lie about it. ¡°After the Luo Family fire, where did you go? Did you live alone?¡± He wanted to know more about her, to understand what she had been through, to learn how she, destitute and alone, had grown up by herself. Zhou Xufang pulled up a stool and sat in front of the hospital bed: ¡°I was sent overseas by Luo Qinghe¡¯s uncle, where I met a benefactor. Five years ago, he sent me back to the country.¡± She only mentioned the positives, cutting out the negatives. She didn¡¯t want to tell her uncle about the things in the lab, so she skirted around it. But she didn¡¯t lie¡ªshe truly had come across a benefactor, otherwise, she couldn¡¯t have escaped the lab. She went on to say only the good things: ¡°I¡¯ve had a good life. I¡¯ve made a lot of money and even bought a house.¡± After that, she asked Zhou Qingrang, ¡°And you, uncle?¡± His mouth curved into a faint smile, softening the handsomeness of his face, making him seem less ethereal: ¡°One of my high school teachers supported me. After the adult college entrance examination, I studied broadcasting. After graduating, I went to work at a TV station. The director was very kind and took good care of me. Everything went smoothly.¡± Zhou Qingrang did the same, mentioning only the positive things. But how could everything go smoothly? He had been bedridden in the hospital for so long. To reintegrate into the world, he would have had to endure so much, not to mention his ill health and difficulty walking. Zhou Xufang had seen him walking with a limp, proud yet lonely. ¡°Xufang,¡± his gaze was tender, with a hint of light twinkling within, ¡°it¡¯s all uncle¡¯s fault for not going to find you at the Luo Family earlier.¡± Eight years ago, when he first woke up, he underwent three major surgeries in succession and received more than a dozen critical condition notices. He couldn¡¯t stand up and stayed in the hospital for a long time. Just rehab took over a year¡ªZhou Xufang knew all this. Her uncle had suffered far more than she had. She said: ¡°I haven¡¯t suffered much. When I was at the Luo Family, Aunt Xiu and her family took good care of me. And once I went overseas, I didn¡¯t worry about food and clothing.¡± She wasn¡¯t lying. Eating medicine and wearing hospital gowns every day, she indeed did not worry about food and clothing. What was most important was: ¡°My boyfriend is also a good person.¡± She couldn¡¯t stop mentioning Jiang Zhi. Zhou Qingrang smiled without reply. Whether Jiang Zhi was a good person, he knew some about that. But it didn¡¯t matter if someone was good or not, as long as they were good to her. ¡°Little uncle.¡± It was Tang Xiang who arrived, carrying a basket of fruit. Just then, Zhou Xufang received a message from Fang Lixiang: ¡°Tang Xiang, can you look after my uncle for me? My friend is coming for a consult, and I need to pick her up.¡± ¡°Go ahead, leave him to me, the jobless wanderer.¡± So Zhou Xufang went ahead to meet Fang Lixiang. She knew that her uncle would definitely ask about her affairs. She had already told Tang Xiang in advance to keep it light, to report only the good and spare the sorrows. Fang Lixiang parked the car in the hospital¡¯s private lot, which was off-limits to outsiders. It was an arrangement Zhou Xufang had made with Vice President Sun. ¡°Xufang, Xufang.¡± S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. As soon as Zhou Xufang reached the parking garage, she spotted Fang Lixiang sneakily hiding behind a pillar. She donned a hat that covered everything from her head to her neck, revealing only her eyes: ¡°With this getup, no one should recognize me, right?¡± She looked around nervously like a thief. Zhou Xufang thought she could use such a hat on her next mission, but wearing it in broad daylight seemed odd: ¡°You seem more conspicuous like that.¡± As if she was there to rob a bank. ¡°Really?¡± It did seem so! Fang Lixiang took off her heist-appropriate scarf and hat, exhaling deeply, ¡°I¡¯m dying of heat.¡± Without the hat, Zhou Xufang noticed: ¡°Lixiang, you¡¯ve lost a lot of weight.¡± Fang Lixiang touched her stomach, also feeling helpless: ¡°The little monster inside is tormenting me; it won¡¯t let me eat a bite of meat. If I eat a bite, it makes me throw up ten.¡± Chapter 270: 270: Jiang Zhi crushes scum, Bao Yi confesses (one more update Chapter 270: 270: Jiang Zhi crushes scum, Bao Yi confesses (one more update City Police Station. Zhang Wen took a phone call and said to Vice Captain Xing beside him, ¡°Forensics just came back with the results, they found gasoline.¡± That meant someone had deliberately set the fire. Vice Captain Xing, standing in front of the one-way glass, nodded towards the interrogation room and said, ¡°It couldn¡¯t be that young master who set the fire, could it?¡± Zhang Wen thought it unlikely, ¡°Money talks. If he really wanted to target someone, he could just throw his bank card around. There would be a basketful of people willing to set the fire for him. Why would he need to do it himself if there was some deep hatred?¡± True. Jiang Zhi was the type of person who seemed skilled in cunning schemes. Vice Captain Xing, stroking his chin, speculated, ¡°Not setting the fire, maybe he was there to save someone?¡± Zhang Wen was even more doubtful, ¡°Is Jiang Zhi that kind-hearted?¡± Vice Captain Xing immediately shook his head, ¡°No.¡± The word ¡®kind-hearted¡¯ didn¡¯t fit Jiang Zhi. Inside the interrogation room, Captain Cheng was taking Jiang Zhi¡¯s statement. ¡°What were you doing at the Luo Family¡¯s house last night?¡± Jiang Zhi sat there lazily, occasionally coughing, his face pale and delicate, he calmly answered, ¡°Passing by.¡± Delicate, my foot! He looked delicate, but his aggressiveness and destructiveness were off the charts. Passing by? Really? Full from a meal, so he decided to pass by someone¡¯s house. Jiang Zhi ¡®thoughtfully¡¯ added, ¡°Had too much to eat, went out for a drive, just happened to walk past the Luo Family¡¯s front door.¡± That was quite the detour. Captain Cheng couldn¡¯t think of a proper response to refute him and followed along with his story, ¡°So you just happened to see the fire? Just happened to go in and save someone?¡± Jiang Zhi was noncommittal, ¡°Is there a problem?¡± There was, just no evidence. Captain Cheng laughed, ¡°No problem.¡± The sickly man opposite coughed a few times, pinched the bridge of his nose, looking very tired, ¡°If there¡¯s no problem, can I leave?¡± Captain Cheng always had a feeling this man was trouble, why couldn¡¯t he just behave like a sick person? Smiling, Captain Cheng said, ¡°If you have a moment, would you mind waiting a few more minutes?¡± The sick man lethargically lifted his eyelids. Captain Cheng smiled, ¡°You see, to honor Mr. Jiang for your heroic deed, I¡¯ve had a ¡®Model Citizen¡¯ award banner made for you.¡± A backhanded compliment if ever there was one. Model Citizen Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± While waiting for the Model Citizen banner, Model Citizen Jiang Zhi asked the award giver, ¡°May I see Luo Changde?¡± ¡°Model Citizen¡± up to something again. Captain Cheng, all business, said, ¡°There¡¯s a policy against it.¡± Jiang Zhi¡¯s tone slow and dragging, ¡°What if we don¡¯t follow the policies?¡± If he wanted to meet, he¡¯d find some underhanded way to do it. Since he couldn¡¯t be stopped, Captain Cheng was more open-minded, ¡°Then it will depend on whether it helps the case or not.¡± Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Jiang Zhi was not a law-abiding citizen, but, in Captain Cheng¡¯s view, let a scoundrel deal with another scoundrel. Luo Changde had not confessed, claiming he had accidentally unearthed the murder weapon and wasn¡¯t aware of its significance. There was also no direct evidence proving his guilt, making conviction difficult. Detective colleagues brought Luo Changde into the visiting room; the moment he saw Jiang Zhi, his expression turned wary, ¡°What are you doing here?¡± Jiang Zhi, sitting with his legs stretched out lazily, said, ¡°Here to help you.¡± Luo Changde sat down, his handcuffs clanking against the table. He glanced at Jiang Zhi in his prison clothes and scoffed, ¡°The weasel pays a New Year¡¯s visit to the chicken.¡± Jiang Zhi was not annoyed; his right hand rested on the table, occasionally tapping lightly, ¡°You are the chicken, but I¡¯m no weasel.¡± Luo Changde sneered and cursed, ¡°You¡¯re a wolf!¡± He had reviewed the recent events during his days in jail. All the suspicions pointed to Jiang Zhi; it was obvious who had arranged his arrest. Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t deny it, ¡°You remember Ah Bin?¡± Upon hearing this, Luo Changde widened his eyes, ¡°What exactly are you saying?¡± He leaned forward, hands pressing on the table, ¡°Just giving you a heads-up, your daughter has already found a witness.¡± His tone was indifferent, like a mere onlooker. Luo Changde¡¯s emotions were completely manipulated by him, ¡°What witness?¡± ¡°The one who witnessed you committing murder.¡± Jiang Zhi was prepared. He had a motive, but what it was, Luo Changde couldn¡¯t figure out. Given the circumstances, he had no choice but to negotiate, ¡°How will you help me?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll take care of Peng Xianzhi; he will testify in court that Luo Qing hired someone to set the fire.¡± Jiang Zhi paused to catch his breath, then continued, ¡°I¡¯ll also get you the evidence that she arranged someone to hit you.¡± He actually had evidence! After thinking for a while, Luo Changde took a gamble, ¡°What are your terms?¡± Jiang Zhi spoke deliberately, ¡°Transfer all your shares in the Luo Family to me.¡± Not just a wolf, but a lion, a lion asking for a huge share. After leaving the police station, Jiang Zhi received a call from Xue Baoyi. ¡°Brother Zhi, come and have a drink with me.¡± The way he talked sounded like a local rascal. Jiang Zhi got into his car, put down his phone, and as he drove, he put on his Bluetooth headset and made up an excuse to get rid of him, ¡°I¡¯m not feeling well, I won¡¯t drink.¡± Xue Baoyi was furiously shouting on the other end, ¡°Don¡¯t you feel sorry for me at all? I¡¯ve been cuckolded!¡± Jiang Zhi¡¯s ears hurt from his shouting, so he took off his Bluetooth headset. This drunkard was plastered. In Fusheng Inn, that drunkard was making a scene. He held an empty wine bottle, walking unsteadily, twisting and turning as he surged forward, his face fierce, ¡°Don¡¯t stop me, I¡¯m going to kill that pretty boy!¡± Xue Bingxue pulled him back, cajoling him like he was an idiot, ¡°The pretty boy has gone filming, he¡¯s not home today.¡± He¡¯s not home today, huh. Xue Baoyi turned to look at his uncle, ¡°Then we go tomorrow?¡± Xue Bingxue immediately nodded, ¡°Tomorrow, your uncle will take you.¡± When Xue Baoyi settled that, he pulled Qiao Nanchu to join him for drinks again. Three rounds later, Jiang Zhi finally arrived. Seeing him, Xue Baoyi whined like a resentful woman, ¡°Brother Zhi, why are you so late?¡± He jumped onto the couch, waving the wine bottle in his hand, ¡°Penalty drink, make him drink!¡± This guy acted like an idiot whenever he drank too much. Jiang Zhi took a seat far from him, asking Qiao Nanchu, ¡°What¡¯s his deal?¡± Qiao Nanchu had been listening to Xue Baoyi¡¯s disjointed ramblings for over an hour, ¡°The girl he likes is carrying someone else¡¯s child.¡± Jiang Zhi was taken aback, ¡°Which girl?¡± This rake, drowning his sorrows over a girl. Qiao Nanchu had been trying to quit smoking recently, not that he wanted to, but the girl at home didn¡¯t allow him to smoke. With a piece of nicotine gum in his mouth, which was losing its taste the more he chewed, he replied to Jiang Zhi, ¡°The Weaver you¡¯ve been promoting recently.¡± Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t respond. Xue Baoyi staggered up to Jiang Zhi, his eyes blurry from drunkenness, his face flushed, his eyes red, ¡°Brother Zhi, why am I so unlucky? The one time I really want to chase someone, someone else gets there first.¡± Jiang Zhi lounged on the sofa, feigning illness, ¡°If you like her, go fight for her.¡± Huh, a bandit! Xue Baoyi snorted, ¡°Easier said than done, she¡¯s already pregnant.¡± Jiang Tufei, slightly drunk, retorted, ¡°Steal both the big and the small.¡± Xue Baoyi, ¡°¡­¡± He actually thought it made sense! In this room, only Xue Bingxue had a moral compass, ¡°Don¡¯t listen to him. Being the homewrecker is unethical.¡± Jiang Zhi looked at him, ¡°You¡¯ve never done it?¡± ¡°¡­¡± Xue Bingxue kept his mouth shut. ¡°Brother Zhi,¡± Xue Baoyi drunkenly leaned on Jiang Zhi, ¡°What would you do if Zhou Xufang cuckolded you?¡± Jiang Zhi coldly pushed him away, ¡°Zhou Xufang wouldn¡¯t cuckold me.¡± Zhou Xufang loved him! Zhou Xufang would love him forever! Xue Baoyi toppled onto the couch, just sprawling there. He looked up at Jiang Zhi, that annoyingly pretty man, ¡°I said, what if.¡± Jiang Zhi¡¯s face was cold, ¡°There won¡¯t be a ¡®what if.''¡± Every woman in the world might cheat, but Zhou Xufang wouldn¡¯t! Zhou Xufang loved him so much! Xue Baoyi huffed and stopped bothering Jiang Zhi, grabbing his phone to call Fang Lixiang. Fang Lixiang didn¡¯t answer, so he called again. She still didn¡¯t pick up, so he sat up, shaking his head and typing a message, ¡°If you don¡¯t answer the phone, I¡¯m coming over to smash your door.¡± That trick always worked. Soon, Fang Lixiang called back. She roared from the other end, ¡°If you dare come to my house, I¡¯ll make sure we both perish!¡± Xue Baoyi smirked, shamelessly rogue, ¡°Alright, let¡¯s be a pair of ghostly lovers then.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Who wanted to be ghostly lovers with him! Fang Lixiang¡¯s temper had gotten worse since her pregnancy, losing patience with his nonsense, ¡°Stop being unreasonable.¡± Xue Baoyi sneered maliciously, ¡°I can be even more unreasonable. Wait for it, I¡¯ll kill your pretty boy first, then your cursed child.¡± Crazy! Fang Lixiang, furious, leaped out of bed, ¡°You¡¯re the cursed one, your whole family within eight hundred miles are cursed ones!¡± Damn, so infuriating, she continued her tirade, ¡°You¡¯re a dog, a pig, a damn turtle¡ª¡± ¡°Fang Lixiang,¡± he interrupted her in a pitiful tone, ¡°I like you.¡± Fang Lixiang, ¡°¡­¡± Her wrath was stuck in her throat. ¡°I really like you.¡± Chapter 272: 272: Miscarriage? Impossible, Turning Point or Crisis (One More Update Chapter 272: 272: Miscarriage? Impossible, Turning Point or Crisis (One More Update Zhou Xufang finished his call with Fang Lixiang, and Jiang Zhi had also finished talking with Luo Yinghe. ¡°Will Luo Yinghe come out to testify against Luo Changde?¡± Zhou Xufang asked Jiang Zhi. He led her to Zhou Qingrang¡¯s hospital room, ¡°Did you hear everything?¡± ¡°Mm.¡± Normally, without the interference of rain, wind, or human voices, she could hear any conversation within two hundred meters when she focused. If she zoned out, she would block it automatically. However, sometimes at home, she would also use noise-canceling headphones. ¡°She will,¡± Jiang Zhi commented offhand. ¡°She¡¯s too na?ve and too stupid.¡± Not as cunning and clever as Luo Qinghe, Luo Yinghe was much easier to control. Zhou Xufang hummed in agreement, not saying much. She knew what Jiang Zhi intended to do and agreed entirely; the Luo Family, that den of beasts, indeed needed to be dealt with. On the day Luo Changde murdered the Xiao Family member, not only she but also Luo Yinghe were outside. After Luo Yinghe had sent her upstairs, she followed on a whim, intending to see her get a harsh lesson from the Xiao Family, only to witness Luo Changde murdering his wife. A distinguished guest had arrived at Huayu Media. As Huayu¡¯s top agent, Sun Yaoguang personally welcomed him, ¡°Second Young Master Xue, how come you have the time to visit?¡± Xue Baoyi was mostly sober, but the drunken courage and recklessness still clung on. Regardless of how many staff members were present, he confronted directly, ¡°Bring Xia Hansong to me.¡± Sun Yaoguang¡¯s face lit up, ¡°Are you here to talk about the CP hype? Have you agreed?¡± Second Young Master Xue hadn¡¯t dealt with Xia Hansong before, except for the matter of hyping up a CP with Fang Lixiang, and Sun Yaoguang couldn¡¯t think of anything else. Upon hearing this, Xue Baoyi exploded like he was set on fire, ¡°CP my ass!¡± He acted like a local rascal, ready to pick a fight at any slight, ¡°He¡¯s an eighteenth-tier celebrity; how dare he hype a CP with Fang Lixiang, who gave him the right!¡± Sun Yaoguang: ¡°¡­¡± Calling him eighteenth-tier was an overkill. Xia Hansong¡¯s Weibo fans numbered over thirty million; he was definitely a popular idol. Why was President Xue so against him? It seemed talking about the CP hype was off the table, so Sun Yaoguang asked, ¡°Then what did you come here for?¡± Xue Baoyi had the look of someone who just wanted to punch people and nothing else, ¡°Just call him out to me.¡± This guy must be drunk! Better to avoid creating a scene from drunk rants, Sun Yaoguang improvised a white lie, ¡°Here¡¯s the thing, Second Young Master Xue, Hansong isn¡¯t in the company. He¡¯s out of town filming a show and won¡¯t be back for a few days.¡± The white lie was barely out when reality slapped him in the face¡ª ¡°Brother Sun,¡± Xia Hansong came out from the adjacent studio, ¡°Has the sample from Tianxing been delivered yet?¡± Sun Yaoguang, his face metaphorically swollen: ¡°¡­¡± In life, there are times when you have nowhere to put your face, and in such times, you need to depend on your wits. Sun Huatou, nicknamed for his slickness within the circle, smacked his head as if just realizing, ¡°Oh, I remembered wrong; it¡¯s Xiao Zimo who went out of town.¡± Seeing this, Xiao Zimo who was about to leave the studio quietly went back inside. Sun Huatou continued his far-fetched explanations, chuckling, ¡°These young, handsome idols, they all look similar; I can¡¯t tell who¡¯s who.¡± Having wrapped up his lies, he smilingly beckoned to Xia Hansong like a mother, ¡°Hansong, come here; Second Young Master Xue wants a word.¡± Xia Hansong came over, confused, ¡°President Xue, what do you need from me?¡± Xue Baoyi¡¯s gaze was like he wanted to rip him apart, ¡°Did you lie to her?¡± sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Xia Hansong: ¡°Huh?¡± He was dumbfounded. Xue Baoyi spoke in a confrontational, sarcastic tone, ¡°If it wasn¡¯t for your sweet talk fooling her, why would she mess around with you, an eighteenth-tier, during her rising career?¡± Xia Hansong: ¡°¡­¡± What the hell?! Sun Yaoguang couldn¡¯t listen anymore. He had nurtured this artist, and he was protective, ¡°Second Young Master, saying eighteenth-tier is a bit too much¡ª¡± Xue Baoyi treated Sun Yaoguang like he was air, ¡°What do you plan to do now?¡± Xia Hansong was thoroughly confused, ¡°What do you mean?¡± He loosened his tie, ¡°Damn it.¡± Cursing, he didn¡¯t say another word and swung his fist straight at Xia Hansong¡¯s face. Xia Hansong was caught off guard, stumbled backward, and fell. Still not satisfied, he pulled off his tie, wound it around his fist. Xiao Zhuang saw this and immediately went to intervene, ¡°Mr.!¡± Not daring to grab anyone, he just stood in front, pleading, ¡°Mr., let¡¯s not resort to fighting when so many are watching. Let¡¯s talk this over, please.¡± Huayu¡¯s employees were all present, staring dumbfounded. Although Second Young Master Xue was somewhat of a thug, he rarely resorted to violence. What had gotten into him today? ¡°Right, right, right.¡± Sun Yaoguang was also sweating from his forehead in anxiety, ¡°Let¡¯s talk this out. Whatever Han Song did wrong, Mr. Second, just say it, and I will definitely teach him a lesson.¡± Don¡¯t hit him, Han Song still needs his face to make a living! Xue Baoyi wasn¡¯t listening to anyone, radiating a bandit¡¯s fierce aura, ¡°Everyone get lost!¡± He had had a bit to drink and was feeling it, ¡°Today, if I don¡¯t kill him, my last name isn¡¯t Xue! It¡¯s Sun! The ¡®Sun¡¯ in grandson!¡± Sun Yaoguang: ¡°¡­¡± Did our family with the last name Sun offend anyone? Han Song normally had a good temper, but he couldn¡¯t take it anymore and sat on the ground, yelling in a fit of angry shame, ¡°Go on! Kill me then you can go to jail!¡± Xue Baoyi smirked, looking nothing like a gentleman but a complete street thug, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Even if I kill you, I won¡¯t end up in jail.¡± As he said this, he lifted his foot to kick. ¡°Xue Baoyi!¡± He abruptly stopped his foot. His savior had arrived. Just as Xiao Zhuang breathed a sigh of relief, he felt a chill on his back as Xue Baoyi¡¯s icy gaze shot towards him: ¡°Did you call her over?¡± No, he had just been complaining to Lin Shang. Xiao Zhuang automatically stepped back. Xue Baoyi¡¯s act of hitting someone was interrupted, and he looked annoyed, ¡°What are you doing here?¡± Fang Lixiang went over to help Han Song up and then shielded him behind her, glaring at Xue Baoyi, ¡°Came to see you lose your mind.¡± ¡°Me, lose my mind?¡± Xue Baoyi was so angry his head was practically smoking, glaring at the hand she used to help Han Song, half wanting to chop it off! He grinded his teeth, ¡°Who am I doing this for, for a dog?¡± He was calling her a dog. Fang Lixiang defiantly retorted, ¡°You¡¯re the dog, you and your son both!¡± Xue Baoyi: ¡°¡­¡± Where did he get a dog son from? He wouldn¡¯t argue with a pregnant woman. His gaze moved past Fang Lixiang¡¯s head, ¡°Come out, don¡¯t hide behind a woman.¡± Han Song was also tough. Wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth, he told Fang Lixiang to step aside. Left with no choice, Fang Lixiang went over and grabbed Xue Baoyi, ¡°Come with me.¡± ¡°I won¡¯t!¡± Xue Baoyi yanked his hand away, refusing to be pulled. Like a terminally ill adolescent, he fiercely said, ¡°The more you care, the more I want to beat him!¡± Fang Lixiang¡¯s expression turned cold, ¡°Stop being unreasonable.¡± ¡°Me, being unreasonable?¡± He flexed his wrists and licked his teeth, ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll show you unreasonable.¡± Then he charged over, grabbing Han Song by the collar and raising his fist to hit him. Fang Lixiang caught his arm from behind. She was still protecting this pretty boy! Xue Baoyi¡¯s eyes were red with anger, ¡°Let go.¡± ¡°No.¡± He forcibly shook her off. Fang Lixiang had rushed over wearing slippers, and when she staggered backward, her left foot stepped on the right slipper, losing her balance, and her lower back hit the table. Xiao Zhuang shouted, ¡°Lixiang!¡± Xue Baoyi was momentarily stunned, immediately letting go of Han Song. All the anger in his eyes had evaporated, replaced by remorse. He squatted down in front of her, ¡°Where did you hit?¡± The pain brought tears to Fang Lixiang¡¯s eyes, and she cursed him with reddened eyes, ¡°Xue Baoyi, you bastard!¡± ¡°I¡¯m a bastard, I¡¯m a bastard.¡± Whatever she called him was fine, even hitting him, as he carefully tried to help her up, ¡°Don¡¯t talk; let me take you to the hospital first.¡± Fang Lixiang swatted his hand away, ¡°Get lost, don¡¯t let your damn paws touch me.¡± She stood up herself and just as she straightened, she doubled over again. Xue Baoyi was frantic, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± She clutched her belly, her face turning pale, ¡°It hurts.¡± His outstretched hand trembled, ¡°Where does it hurt?¡± She curled up on the floor, ¡°My stomach.¡± Xue Baoyi was stunned. Xiao Zhuang urged from the side, ¡°Hurry to the hospital!¡± He immediately scooped her up. ¡°Xue Baoyi.¡± Sweat formed on his forehead, his steps unsteady, ¡°Don¡¯t talk.¡± Her eyes were red, filled with grievance, and she was on the verge of tears, ¡°If I lose my child, I¡¯ll never forgive you again.¡± Chapter 274: 274: Discussing Marriage and Engagement to Everyones Delight (One More Update) Chapter 274: 274: Discussing Marriage and Engagement to Everyone¡¯s Delight (One More Update) S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Mr. Fang¡¯s shoe sole smacked right onto Xue Baoyi¡¯s face, and he was stunned silly, with two streams of nosebleed trickling down. Fang Lixiang panicked at the sight of blood and roared at Mr. Fang, ¡°Mr. Fang! Look at what you¡¯re doing!¡± She was extremely anxious and hurriedly cried out, ¡°Doctor, doctor!¡± Mr. Fang rolled his eyes so far back he almost couldn¡¯t roll them forward again, ¡°You¡¯re still protecting this damn mutt.¡± He was furious, lifting the sole of his shoe, ready to beat the living daylights out of that mutt. But the damn mutt was quite sensible and didn¡¯t dodge, just letting his father-in-law vent his anger. Seeing that things were getting dangerous, Fang Lixiang immediately lay on the bed and clasped her stomach, ¡°Oh my gosh, my stomach.¡± Mr. Fang: ¡°¡­¡± He knew she was faking, but Mr. Fang just couldn¡¯t bring himself to continue hitting, knowing if he killed this damn man, his daughter would fight him to the death. So sentimental. This felt like he had carefully tended a pot of delicate flowers, seeding, watering, fertilizing, and just as the flower blossomed, blooming and dripping with beauty, and before he had the chance to take a picture and show it off on social media, some damn thief took away the pot along with the flower. Damn that thief! After the smoke cleared, Mr. Fang and the thief stood face to face, communicating with their eyes, ¡°What should I call you?¡± Xue Baoyi stood upright and respectful, ¡°My name is Xue Baoyi.¡± His face bore the imprint of a shoe, and the corner of his mouth was bleeding, looking as if he¡¯d take any beating with a stoic fidelity, ¡°You can just call me Xiao Xue, Uncle.¡± Mr. Fang sat down, ¡°What do you do?¡± ¡°I run a small company.¡± A small company? With nearly a hundred artists under its name, not only in film but also producing digital albums, online shows¡­ Xiao Xue is quite modest. Fang Lixiang added from behind, ¡°Dad, he¡¯s my boss.¡± Baoguang¡¯s CEO is so young? Mr. Fang thought, this must be a rich kid with some money at home, these kinds of spoiled brats are excellent at squandering money, probably running an entertainment company just for kicks. Mr. Fang wasn¡¯t very impressed, he hoped his son-in-law would be a down-to-earth and diligent man, not this guy in front of him with a tuft of red-dyed hair, evidently not a serious person. Mr. Fang glared disapprovingly at Xiao Fang, ¡°Who said you could talk?¡± He asked the frivolous rich kid, ¡°How long have you known Lixiang?¡± Xue Baoyi stood straight, hands hanging down against his trousers, ¡°Almost five months.¡± He was sweating from his forehead, never in his life had he felt so spineless. Mr. Fang asked again, ¡°How long have you two been dating?¡± They hadn¡¯t even started dating before the pregnancy. Xue Baoyi was at a loss for words. Fang Lixiang immediately jumped in for him, ¡°Two months.¡± For the sake of the mutt in her belly, she had to conjure up two months. Hearing this, Mr. Fang felt a rush of blood to his head, ¡°Just two months of dating and you¡¯ve got my daughter¡ª¡± His face flushed red with anger, ready to throw his shoes again. Fang Lixiang saw the signs and hastily corrected herself, ¡°No no, I got it wrong, it¡¯s been four months.¡± ¡°Known each other for only five months, and you¡¯ve been dating for four? Even a rocket isn¡¯t as fast as you two!¡± Mr. Fang glanced at his daughter, ¡°Shameless thing!¡± Mr. Fang and Fang Lixiang¡¯s mother got married within a month of knowing each other, and got pregnant in two. Fang Lixiang didn¡¯t dare talk back, now was the time to play it meek. ¡°What are your plans going forward?¡± Fang Lixiang rushed to answer, ¡°We¡¯ll first¡ª¡± Mr. Fang turned and glared, ¡°I told you to shut up,¡± his expression very stern, ¡°Xiao Xue, you say it.¡± Xiao Xue squeezed out a cold sweat, ¡°If you don¡¯t object, I would like to get the marriage certificate with Lixiang first.¡± ¡°Wishful thinking!¡± Just knew it wouldn¡¯t be easy. Mr. Fang¡¯s expression now was akin to a homeroom teacher who caught students dating too young, ¡°Call your parents over.¡± Xue Baoyi made a phone call home. His mother, Feng Zhanling, answered. ¡°Mom.¡± ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Bao¡¯er?¡± Bao¡¯er was Xue Baoyi¡¯s childhood nickname, ever since he learned to fight, he wouldn¡¯t let anyone call him that, but his mother just couldn¡¯t break the habit, still calling him Bao¡¯er at his age. ¡°Is dad at home?¡± Feng Zhanling¡¯s voice was delicate, ¡°Yes, he just came back at noon.¡± ¡°Bring dad to the hospital.¡± ¡°Are you sick? What¡¯s wrong?¡± Xue Baoyi touched the shoe print on his face and chuckled, ¡°Not me, your daughter-in-law is at the hospital.¡± ¡°My daughter-in-law,¡± Feng Zhanling asked in a whisper, ¡°is it a male or female?¡± ¡°¡­¡± Because Xue Baoyi hung around Jiang Zhi a lot, and netizens had forcefully shipped them as a couple, plus Jiang Zhi came out of the closet, Feng Zhanling was always worried about her son¡¯s sexual orientation. Xue Baoyi hummed, ¡°Your daughter-in-law is pregnant, what do you think, male or female?¡± There was silence on the phone for five seconds, then Xue Baoyi heard his mother¡¯s shrill scream: ¡°Bao¡¯er¡¯s dad!¡± Xue Baoyi cleared his ears, hung up the phone, and sent over the hospital room number, then he went back to the room. As soon as he entered, he heard the sound of a cup being smashed. Within the span of one phone call, Mr. Fang had looked up the CEO of Baoguang online, and all that scandalous news almost blinded him. Mr. Fang thought about removing his shoe again. ¡°All rumors on the internet,¡± Fang Lixiang tried to defend, reluctant as she was, stuck in it together, ¡°Last time reporters even said I was pregnant, and that was false too.¡± Mr. Fang snorted, ¡°No smoke without fire, flies don¡¯t bite seamless eggs.¡± Fang Lixiang: ¡°¡­¡± Xue Baoyi sweated profusely, timidly moved over to the seat, and just as his butt touched the stool¡ª ¡°Did I say you could sit?¡± He immediately stood straight, his palms sweating and his scalp tingling. He had never been so nervous before. He stood for half an hour. ¡°Knock knock knock!¡± Someone knocked on the door. Xue Baoyi guessed it was his parents arriving. After glancing at his father-in-law for approval, he dared to go and open the door. Upon opening the door¡ª ¡°Ah,¡± Feng Zhanling exclaimed, ¡°What happened to your face?¡± Xue Baoyi touched his slightly swollen right cheek: ¡°I fell.¡± The shoeprint hadn¡¯t been wiped off yet. Feng Zhanling covered her mouth, hiding behind her husband, chuckling. Xue Zhonggen grunted and pushed Xue Baoyi aside, entering with a few bags. Approaching Old Fang, he extended his hand politely, ¡°Hello, I am Xue Baoyi¡¯s parent.¡± Xue Baoyi¡¯s appearance resembled Xue Zhonggen¡¯s slightly more, both with sharp and striking features. Mr. Fang stood up: ¡°I am Fang Lixiang¡¯s parent.¡± The two shook hands. Dressed in a formal suit, Xue Zhonggen¡¯s demeanor was upright and righteous. After greeting Mr. Fang, he turned to Xiao Fang on the sickbed: ¡°This must be Lixiang.¡± Fang Lixiang had seen this face on TV before. Goodness, the father and son are so different! Xue Baoyi was a staple of the gossip columns, while his father delivered speeches at diplomatic conferences. If not for the 70% to 80% resemblance between their faces, one might suspect a mix-up at birth. ¡°Uncle,¡± the straightforward Fang Lixiang instantly transformed into a ladylike persona, calling out in a pinched, delicate voice, ¡°Auntie.¡± She was so nervous. Upon seeing her, Feng Zhanling¡¯s eyes brightened: ¡°Ah, it¡¯s Princess Su!¡± Fang Lixiang: ¡°¡­¡± Princess Su was a role Fang Lixiang had recently played in a popular palace drama on TV. Almost fifty, Feng Zhanling still looked very youthful, dressed in a watermelon red cape and white boots, petite beside the tall Xue Zhonggen like a ¡®little Lolita.¡¯ She was a person who loved to smile, her eyes narrowing into slits as she laughed: ¡°Princess Su, was it you who caused Lady Xiangsong to lose her child?¡± Princess Su: ¡°¡­¡± Is this little cutie really Xue Baoyi¡¯s mother? Xue Zhonggen coughed behind his hand: ¡°Cough, cough.¡± Oh, that¡¯s right, her husband had told her to maintain her dignity. Feng Zhanling immediately stood properly, setting her curiosity aside for the moment. She¡¯d wait until after the serious matters were discussed, and then she¡¯d ask her future daughter-in-law for some spoilers. Xue Zhonggen introduced his wife to Old Fang: ¡°This is my wife.¡± ¡°Mrs. Xue.¡± Feng Zhanling smiled, her eyes once again squinting into tiny slits: ¡°Good to see you, father-in-law.¡± The Xue Family father and son: ¡°¡­¡± ¡°Mom,¡± Xue Baoyi tugged on her watermelon red cape, ¡°you¡¯re better off not speaking.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± She didn¡¯t speak again and quietly played the part of the dignified lady. Xue Zhonggen, as the head of the family, summoned: ¡°You, come here.¡± Xue Baoyi approached. If Fang Lixiang and her father hadn¡¯t been present, Xue Zhonggen would have already kicked him: ¡°Kneel.¡± Xue Baoyi didn¡¯t hesitate and knelt. Xue Zhonggen was somewhat surprised; his son had never been so obedient his whole life, stubborn to the core, never even willing to lower his head, let alone kneel. ¡°Mr. Fang,¡± Xue Zhonggen didn¡¯t sit down but stood and bowed deeply, ¡°It¡¯s all my fault for not teaching my son properly, causing your daughter distress.¡± Goodness, the top diplomat was bowing to him! Mr. Fang managed to remain steady: ¡°You¡¯re exaggerating.¡± Xue Zhonggen¡¯s attitude was very sincere, his stance humble: ¡°My father isn¡¯t in Imperial City right now. Once the old man returns, we¡¯ll make sure this rascal comes over to apologize.¡± A family of their standing does have impeccable upbringing. But how on earth did they raise such a little ruffian? ¡°An apology is unnecessary; it takes two to tango, and it wasn¡¯t entirely his fault.¡± Mr. Fang invited them to sit down, ¡°We invited you over this time to inquire about your opinion. Do you intend to keep the child or not?¡± The moment they say they don¡¯t want to keep it, he would immediately take his daughter home to nurture the pregnancy. From then on, the child would belong to Old Fang¡¯s family, with no relation to the Xue surname. Xue Zhonggen immediately clarified his position in a very serious tone: ¡°What are you saying? Of course we want to keep it. If you¡¯re willing, I would like to arrange for the two children to get married as soon as possible.¡± Old Fang picked up his thermos and took a sip. He had gotten the attitude he wanted. Dating was one thing, but marriage and having children involved both families, and it was not solely the young couple¡¯s decision¡ªapproval from the parents was needed. The Xue family¡¯s values seemed quite proper. Old Fang was quite satisfied. The conversation then moved from marriage to the topic of prenatal care. Chapter 276: 276: Jiang Zhi double kill, Bao Yis dog life at its peak (one more update Chapter 276: 276: Jiang Zhi double kill, Bao Yi¡¯s dog life at its peak (one more update Luo Yinghe went to find Jiang Zhi, and Jiang Zhi was kissing Zhou Xufang. Luo Yinghe: ¡°¡­¡± She was stunned, thinking that this Jiang Zhi must be an imposter. Interrupted, Jiang Zhi was very displeased, a thin layer of coldness brewing in his eyes, ¡°Have you never seen people kiss?¡± But she had never seen Jiang Zhi kissing! In a hurry, Luo Yinghe gathered her gaze, ¡°I, I have something to tell you.¡± He put Zhou Xufang¡¯s mask on for her, ¡°Speak.¡± Luo Yinghe looked up, glanced at Zhou Xufang, clearly wanting the outsider to leave. Jiang Zhi quickly hid the person behind him, ¡°What are you looking at?¡± ¡°¡­¡± Fiend! Luo Yinghe could only curse inwardly, ¡°The question you asked me before, I have thought it through.¡± Zhou Xufang hid behind Jiang Zhi, sneakily reached out, and took an earpiece from her pocket, pressing a button, the light on it blinking. Jiang Zhi just had a passionate flush in his eyes, but now it was cold and indifferent. His lips were still red, but his skin was very pale, ¡°If you¡¯ve thought it through, answer it again.¡± He was asking how the Xiao Family member had died? After a short moment of hesitation and struggle, Luo Yinghe, still entranced by the temptation Jiang Zhi had thrown out, spilled the secret she had kept for several years, ¡°The Xiao Family member didn¡¯t commit suicide; she was forcibly fed sleeping pills by Luo Changde.¡± ¡°Cough cough cough,¡± he said. ¡°Be more specific.¡± Becoming somewhat nervous and sweating in her palms, Luo Yinghe looked back to make sure no one else was around before speaking, ¡°That day, the Xiao Family member had an argument with Luo Changde. She said she was going to expose his affair with Zhou Qingmeng, and Luo Changde ended up strangling her neck and feeding her half a bottle of sleeping pills. I was outside the door at the time.¡± Fearing Jiang Zhi wouldn¡¯t believe her, she added, ¡°Not just me, Luo San also saw it.¡± She went up there to make fun of Luo San, heard arguing from the room, and stood behind Luo San to peek through the door crack. She personally witnessed Luo Changde stuffing the sleeping pills into the Xiao Family member¡¯s mouth. Scared of being discovered, she ran before Luo San did and threatened Luo San, saying if she dared to give her up, she would never forgive her. ¡°If you dare to lie,¡± Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t finish his sentence. Luo Yinghe immediately followed up, swearing solemnly, ¡°If I¡¯m lying, I deserve to die miserably.¡± Good, stupid enough. Jiang Zhi was satisfied, waved his hand indicating she could leave. After Luo Yinghe left, Zhou Xufang said to Jiang Zhi, ¡°I¡¯ve recorded the audio.¡± The earpiece she used for the mission was capable of recording and also taking videos. Jiang Zhi gently touched her forehead in praise, ¡°Our Fang Bao is really awesome.¡± The praised Zhou Xufang smiled modestly, ¡°What should we do next? Tell Luo Qinghe about the truth behind the Xiao Family member¡¯s murder?¡± Zhou Xufang had seen just how ruthless Luo Qinghe could be. She could predict that if Luo Qinghe knew the truth, she would stop at nothing to make Luo Changde pay with blood for blood. Jiang Zhi nodded, ¡°The case is about to go to trial, and Luo Qinghe hasn¡¯t budged. If she doesn¡¯t budge, Xu Pozhi won¡¯t testify in court against Luo Changde.¡± It was time to give her a push. ¡°What did Xu Pozhi demand?¡± ¡°He wants a person.¡± Jiang Zhi had asked Xu Pozhi what he wanted with Luo Qinghe; he had even implied that even if Luo Qinghe applied for parole or was under outside execution, she¡¯d eventually return to jail. Xu Pozhi had then replied, ¡°There¡¯s always a way to keep her from going back, like,¡± he said, ¡°mental illness.¡± Jiang Zhi felt, that compared to fabricating, Xu Pozhi, this psychopath, might actually turn her into a mental patient. The detention center. At eight in the morning, the duty officer took her out of the cell, up to the fourth floor of the building next door, all the way down the corridor. She stopped, ¡°Where are you taking me?¡± The duty officer glanced at her, ¡°Don¡¯t ask so many questions, just follow.¡± She was still handcuffed, but she didn¡¯t move, ¡°How do I know you won¡¯t harm me.¡± The officer chuckled, ¡°You¡¯re already a prisoner; if we wanted to harm you, would we need to go through all this trouble?¡± He brought her into a room. ¡°Captain Qiao, I¡¯ve brought the person.¡± Inside, Qiao Nanchu was sitting and waiting. On the table, there were a few breakfast items, and he picked up a crystal bun, looking up, ¡°Thanks.¡± ¡°Why be polite.¡± After bringing the person over, the duty officer closed the door and stood guard outside. Qiao Nanchu continued with his breakfast, ¡°Sit down.¡± Luo Qinghe sat down, ¡°Did Jiang Zhi send you here?¡± He hummed in affirmation, putting down his chopsticks, ¡°He has a big present for you.¡± Ten minutes later, Luo Qinghe came out of the room with a gloomy face, telling the duty officer, ¡°I want to see my lawyer.¡± At nine in the morning, Luo Qinghe¡¯s lawyer, Jiang Chundong, made a visit to the detention center. In the afternoon, Jiang Chundong went to see Xu Pozhi. Xu Pozhi had undergone surgery a few days ago to have a prosthetic eye fitted, the bandages had not yet been removed, and half of his face was wrapped up, ¡°Did Luo Qinghe send you here?¡± S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Yes,¡± Jiang Chundong said as he entered, ¡°Mr. Xu, my client has asked me to pass on a message to you.¡± ¡°What message?¡± ¡°As long as you are willing to testify in court, my client is willing to agree to any of your requests.¡± Xu Pozhi laughed, and the light gleamed in his good eye. The court case involving Luo Changde and his daughter was scheduled for mid-March. Fang Lixiang¡¯s engagement party with Xue Baoyi was set for the end of March. As for registering their marriage, both sets of parents left the decision entirely in the hands of the bride¡¯s family. The Xue Family even left their family register and Xue Baoyi¡¯s ID card with Mr. Fang; whenever Fang Lixiang wanted to register, he could. Without his ID card, Xue Baoyi naturally pushed back all his business trips that involved long travel. Not only that, he was incredibly smug, lying in bed, calling one person after another to boast. Jiang Zhi had done the same thing before. Why was he lying in bed? He had been disciplined by family law at the hands of his father, that¡¯s why. It didn¡¯t matter; receiving these few hits was nothing. He was so happy he could fly, and he first called the most beautiful Jiang Zhi, ¡°Brother Zhi.¡± ¡°Speak.¡± He lay there, prone like a dead fish, bubbling with joy, ¡°I¡¯m going to be a dad.¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡°Mmm.¡± He was so proud he could touch the sky, ¡°Impressive, right?¡± Praise me! Come on! Praise! Me! Jiang Zhi snorted dismissively, throwing cold water on him, ¡°You¡¯ve gone and forgotten the girl just after sleeping with her, have some shame.¡± Having said that, he hung up. Xue Baoyi was in a good mood and didn¡¯t argue, ¡°Hmph, just jealous of me!¡± He continued to call Qiao Nanchu, ¡°Nanchu, I¡¯m going to be a dad.¡± Qiao Nanchu was always calm, ¡°Your mom told me.¡± In just one evening, Ms. Feng Zhanling had spread the news of her future daughter-in-law¡¯s pregnancy throughout the circle of high-society ladies, boasting to everyone that her daughter-in-law was Princess Su. Xue Baoyi was even more proud than Ms. Feng, ¡°Don¡¯t be too envious.¡± ¡°Who¡¯s envious?¡± ¡°You are.¡± He was about to become a dad and could now laugh at others, ¡°Look at you, it took five years to find a wife, I reckon you¡¯ll need another five years before you can drag one home to have kids.¡± After all, his girl was still too young. Those words were too rough for polite ears. Qiao Nanchu chuckled and cursed, ¡°None of your damn business.¡± After cursing, he hung up. Xue Baoyi listened to the dial tone and snorted smugly through his nostrils, complete with his air of arrogance, ¡°Hmph, just jealous of me!¡± He felt like the whole world was envious of him! He kept dialing, going down the contact list one by one. ¡°Uncle, I¡¯m going to be a dad.¡± Xue Bingxue: ¡°I know.¡± ¡°Envious, right?¡± Xue Bingxue sighed, rather melancholic, ¡°When will Wei¡¯er ever like me?¡± His nephew was about to become a father, and Wei¡¯er wouldn¡¯t even hold his hand. Ah, such sorrow. Xue Baoyi took advantage of his good fortune and said shamelessly, ¡°Uncle, learn from me, get into the car first¡ª¡± Xue Bingxue, still a fledgling, couldn¡¯t stand to listen, blushing with embarrassment, ¡°You¡¯re a rogue!¡± Such an innocent! ¡°So what if I¡¯m a rogue?¡± He was proud of being a rogue, ¡°Rogues are always the first to get a wife.¡± Xue Bingxue: ¡°Shameless!¡± Xue Baoyi hummed. If he had a tail, it would wag to outer space, ¡°I know, you¡¯re just jealous of me.¡± He pretended to be serious in a dashing manner, ¡°Don¡¯t be jealous, be mature. You¡¯re going to be a grandpa now.¡± Grandpa-to-be Xue Bingxue hung up the phone. Humph! Jealous of him! Xue Baoyi kept calling: ¡°Jiang Wei¡¯er.¡± ¡°Mm.¡± He grinned like a little bandit returning from a raid, ¡°Congratulations to you.¡± Jiang Wei¡¯er, ¡°Speak human.¡± Xue Baoyi smiled like an overjoyed simpleton, ¡°You¡¯re going to be a grandma.¡± Was this man¡¯s brain squished by a door? ¡°What are you talking about?¡± The man began to boast as if there was no tomorrow: ¡°I¡¯m going to be a dad, my uncle¡¯s going to be a grandpa, and since you¡¯re in the same generation as my uncle, doesn¡¯t that mean you¡¯re going to be a grandma?¡± Jiang Wei¡¯er: ¡°¡­¡± Heaven help her, she was only twenty-eight. Suddenly feeling old, Jiang Wei¡¯er exclaimed, ¡°Grandma your sister!¡± and hung up! Chapter 278: 278: Does she also have a superpower? (One more update Chapter 278: 278: Does she also have a superpower? (One more update Fang Lixiang glanced over, ¡°Su Chan ah, the second female lead in this movie.¡± Zhou Xufang stared at her, ¡°She¡¯s really pretty.¡± Su Chan is from a minority ethnic group, with deep-set eyes and a high nose bridge, making her beauty very distinctive. She is indeed beautiful, but to be fair, ¡°She¡¯s not as pretty as your Jiang Zhi.¡± Of course. On this point, Zhou Xufang completely agreed. Just then, Jiang Zhi¡¯s phone call came through. ¡°Xu Fang.¡± Zhou Xufang¡¯s mouth was still full of beef jerky, ¡°Hmm.¡± Jiang Zhi said, ¡°Come over here.¡± She hadn¡¯t finished her beef jerky yet, and hadn¡¯t touched her yogurt, she struggled for a moment and told a small lie, ¡°I¡¯m in the bathroom.¡± ¡°You¡¯re sneaking snacks.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Caught red-handed! Zhou Xufang took the yogurt from her hat, finished it, and then went to find Jiang Zhi. At the door, she ran into Ah Wan and gave him the half-eaten beef jerky. Ah Wan looked around sneakily and whispered to Zhou Xufang, ¡°Want some perks?¡± Zhou Xufang¡¯s eyes sparkled, ¡°Mhm!¡± ¡°Access code 2356.¡± Zhou Xufang was recently following a book by a prominent BL author, who was very consistent in his updates. She used to be in the perks group but then Jiang Zhi caught her¡­ You get it? Suddenly the door opened, ¡°What are you doing?¡± Zhou Xufang touched her nose, feeling guilty. Ah Wan was steady, brushed Zhou Xufang¡¯s hat, and with an unchanging expression said, ¡°There¡¯s a hair on Miss Zhou¡¯s clothes.¡± Continuing with the same calm expression, ¡°The quality of these clothes isn¡¯t good, they shed.¡± Zhou Xufang, ¡°You¡¯re absolutely right!¡± Jiang Zhi, ¡°¡­¡± He took Zhou Xufang inside, closed the door, and kissed her, ¡°You smell like yogurt.¡± Zhou Xufang opened her mouth, her tongue tinged red, ¡°Blueberry flavor.¡± The rest area was a temporary setup, quite rudimentary, though Jiang Zhi¡¯s spot was cleaner, with a carpet laid out, a sofa, and even a nap bed and a recliner. Jiang Zhi had her sit on the sofa and unpacked the takeout box, ¡°You barely ate your breakfast, so I ordered you some congee.¡± Zhou Xufang looked at the congee, touched her stomach, ¡°I can¡¯t eat anymore, I¡¯m full.¡± She had just drunk a large box of yogurt. Jiang Zhi handed her the spoon, ¡°Just ten bites.¡± She agreed. Ten bites and then another ten bites, Jiang Zhi¡¯s mouth, deceitful devil. The rest area was a container house, and next to Jiang Zhi¡¯s was Su Chan¡¯s, who was standing in the doorway, looking at the door next door. ¡°What are you looking at?¡± It was her agent, Zheng Durong. Su Chan shook her head and entered the rest area. The rest area was hastily built, the wiring wasn¡¯t finished yet, and the logistics staff were installing light bulbs inside. Su Chan asked a few kindly questions, then sat aside to read her script. Zheng Durong, in her thirties and slightly plump, ¡°Today¡¯s first scene involves action, how are you feeling?¡± Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°I¡¯m OK.¡± Su Chan was wearing a red toggle coat which highlighted her complexion and aura. She bowed her head, her side profile distinct, quickly flipping through the script. ¡°You read so fast, remember everything?¡± Her demeanor was somewhat icy, but when she smiled, it added a touch of enchanting allure, ¡°I have a photographic memory.¡± Zheng Durong took it as a joke, ¡°I¡¯ll ask if Emperor Liang is free, you practice the scene with him to get used to it.¡± Su Chan hummed in agreement, eyes lowered, continuing to study her script. Just as Zheng Durong was about to leave, she tripped over a wire on the floor. She staggered a few steps, pulling the nearby ladder with the wire. The ladder wobbled and toppled backward. Then with a clang, it hit the chair. Zheng Durong¡¯s heart lurched, she quickly looked back. The logistics staff apologized, ¡°Sorry Miss Su.¡± She stood by the wall, calm and composed, ¡°It¡¯s alright, just be careful.¡± They apologized a few more times and moved the ladder away. Zheng Durong¡¯s heart, which had leaped to her throat, hadn¡¯t settled back down yet. She glanced at the script on the chair and then at where Su Chan stood. Was she seeing things? How did the person change spots in the blink of an eye? Chapter 279: 279: Bullying the Directors Wife - Courting Death (Second Update) Chapter 279: 279: Bullying the Director¡¯s Wife ¨C Courting Death (Second Update) The afternoon shoot was not going well because the stand-in actor just wasn¡¯t getting it right, and after several takes, Jiang Zhi was still not satisfied. The stand-in, fraught with anxiety and sweating profusely, apologized, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Director Jiang, something came up at home.¡± Jiang Zhi picked up a milk carton that had been pressing down the script, drained it, tossed it back, and threw it into the trash can, ¡°Then you should go home.¡± ¡°I¡ª¡± He didn¡¯t have the patience to listen to the rest; turning to Vice Director Zhao, he said, ¡°Pay her and find someone else.¡± The stand-in¡¯s eyes reddened, she wanted to plead but was stopped by a look from Vice Director Zhao. There was no use begging; this man had no heart, impervious to all persuasion. ¡°Take a ten-minute break,¡± Jiang Zhi stood up, coughing as he said, ¡°We¡¯ll shoot Su Chan first, go find another stand-in.¡± Vice Director Zhao was troubled, ¡°It¡¯s too rushed; we might not find someone in time.¡± Jiang Zhi licked his teeth, lips red and teeth white, eyes filled with 3,000 peach blossoms, yet even such beauty could not hide the frost in his eyes, ¡°We don¡¯t even have a proper backup, and now you¡¯re telling me we¡¯re too rushed? Was the shooting schedule made just for fun?¡± Vice Director Zhao had no comeback, touching his nose, ¡°That was my oversight.¡± ¡°We need to wrap before it gets dark; we have at most three more hours.¡± With those words, he gathered his coat and walked away, coughing every three steps. Vice Director Zhao hurriedly called the crew member over, ¡°Nevermind this for now, go find a martial arts stand-in.¡± The crew member also had a headache. Fang Lixiang felt bad, ¡°Vice Director, I¡¯ll do it myself.¡± Vice Director Zhao wished she could, but Director Jiang had made it clear, her action scenes were to be done by a stand-in, ¡°Aren¡¯t you feeling unwell?¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing, just one scene.¡± Zhou Xufang was pulling at her clothes from behind, ¡°You can¡¯t film action scenes.¡± She whispered to Fang Lixiang, ¡°I¡¯ll do it for you.¡± ¡°That won¡¯t do; it¡¯s too dangerous if you¡¯re not professional.¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay; I used to be a martial arts stand-in.¡± She reassured Fang Lixiang and then went to talk to Jiang Zhi. Jiang Zhi, just like Fang Lixiang, also said no. ¡°Why not?¡± ¡°Martial arts stand-ins entail certain risks.¡± Zhou Xufang thought maybe Jiang Zhi had forgotten; she was as strong as an ox, jumping like a monkey shot from a catapult: ¡°That city wall is only six or seven meters¡ªI can jump sixty or seventy. I¡¯ve done this before; I have experience.¡± She had been a martial arts stand-in, moved bricks, cleaned toilets, wiped windows¡ªa crowd actor. You can¡¯t be considered fully developed if you¡¯re not an outstanding professional errand runner. Jiang Zhi still disagreed, ¡°You, a director¡¯s wife, what are you doing as a martial arts stand-in?¡± The excellent Zhou Xufang, ¡°I need to make money to take care of you.¡± ¡°¡­¡± Sweet nothings, one after another. Jiang Zhi¡¯s heart bloomed with delight, utterly unprincipled: ¡°You only know how to say what I like to hear.¡± And yet, he fell for it every time, ¡°Don¡¯t force yourself; safety comes first.¡± Zhou Xufang, ¡°Ok.¡± Alright then, she was to leave, but stopping at the doorway she turned back, ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± ¡°Mm.¡± She had something to say, ¡°When you¡¯re directing, don¡¯t be too harsh, everyone is scared of you.¡± Right then, Jiang Zhi wasn¡¯t harsh at all, gently placing the hat on her head and tying a bow, ¡°Good if they¡¯re scared; it makes them more efficient.¡± Zhou Xufang¡¯s face was squished by the hat into a round shape, ¡°They¡¯ll also sneakily curse you behind your back, calling you King Yanluo, Little Ancestor.¡± Jiang¡¤Yama¡¤Little Ancestor¡¤Zhi, ¡°No need to care.¡± It was all true. Only Zhou Xufang felt they were unfairly blaming her boyfriend, feeling a bit angry, ¡°I don¡¯t like them talking about you like that; you¡¯re definitely not King Yanluo.¡± ¡°Then what am I?¡± Zhou Xufang answered earnestly, ¡°You are Black Impermanence¡¯s boyfriend, White Impermanence.¡± So cute. Wanna kiss. After the kiss¡ª ¡°Zhou Xufang, what did you eat?¡± Zhou Xufang quietly, and with guilt, said, ¡°Stinky tofu.¡± Jiang Zhi dragged her back, pushed her to sit on the sofa, ¡°Who gave it to you?¡± She touched her nose, ¡°The sister who plays Nanny Chen.¡± S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. That sister¡¯s husband sells stinky tofu, and he brought a bag to the set, from which Zhou Xufang ate a small box, ¡°Does it smell very bad?¡± Jiang Zhi licked her lips, ¡°Like stinky socks.¡± Having said that, she continued to kiss. Zhou Xufang, who tasted of stinky socks, ¡°¡­¡± Since the issue with the body double was resolved, filming continued as normal, Zhou Xufang changed into the same clothes as Fang Lixiang, and after changing, a crew member took her to the makeup room. ¡°Lisa, help her with her hair first.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Lisa let Zhou Xufang sit in front of the makeup mirror, ¡°Do you want me to do your makeup too?¡± Zhou Xufang was playing a black-clothed man wearing a veil, only her profile was being filmed, her face didn¡¯t need to be shown, ¡°No need, thank you.¡± Lisa was a makeup artist following the crew and had a very good temper, ¡°Why so polite.¡± While Zhou Xufang was having her hair done, two people entered one after another. The first girl was dressed very brightly, and when she pulled out a chair to sit down, she made quite a commotion. Zhou Xufang glanced at her from the mirror, she recognized this girl, who had acted in the same TV drama as Lixiang; Lixiang played Princess Su, and this girl played Lady Xiangsong. Just a few days ago, Princess Su from the TV caused Lady Xiangsong to lose her child. Then another girl came in, short and chubby, with her hair in a bun, ¡°Sister Jiang Chun, here¡¯s your coffee.¡± Lady Xiangsong¡¯s real name was Jiang Chun, she wasn¡¯t very famous but had a big temper, ¡°Did you add sugar?¡± She flung the paper cup with coffee onto the table, spilling it everywhere. The girl was her assistant, and she immediately grabbed some tissue to wipe, ¡°I said no sugar.¡± It must have been the coffee shop that didn¡¯t hear her. Jiang Chun didn¡¯t listen to the explanation, ¡°Are you trying to make me fat to death?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll go buy another one.¡± She was impatient, rolled her eyes, ¡°Forget it, I won¡¯t drink it, what¡¯s the point of hiring you if you can¡¯t even buy coffee properly.¡± The assistant¡¯s eyes turned red from being scolded, her head was down and she said nothing, just wiped the table. ¡°Hey!¡± Lisa: Are you calling me? Jiang Chun was sitting on the chair with her arms folded, turning around, ¡°Yes, I¡¯m calling you.¡± Lisa turned around, ¡°Me?¡± ¡°Who else would I be calling, a ghost?¡± she said, ¡°Come and touch up my makeup.¡± Lisa didn¡¯t move, still doing Zhou Xufang¡¯s hair, ¡°I¡¯ll be done here soon, please wait for five minutes.¡± Jiang Chun glanced at Zhou Xufang through the mirror, her chin lifted high, ¡°The next scene is mine, if it¡¯s delayed and Director Jiang blames us, can you two afford it?¡± This line was what Lady Xiangsong said haughtily in the harem after sleeping with the emperor, and Zhou Xufang felt that Jiang Chun¡¯s tone just now was exactly like Lady Xiangsong herself. In that drama, Zhou Xufang¡¯s least favorite character was Lady Xiangsong; she hoped she would be written off quickly. Zhou Xufang said to Lisa, ¡°I¡¯m in the next scene too.¡± Jiang Chun glanced at her out of the corner of her eye, ¡°Are you arguing with me?¡± Zhou Xufang, ¡°No.¡± Jiang Chun lifted her chin, ¡°You¡¯re still arguing?¡± Chapter 280: 280: Director, your wife has knocked someone out (first update Chapter 280: 280: Director, your wife has knocked someone out (first update ¡°Are you talking back?¡± Zhou Xufang: ¡°?¡± Was she talking back? Seeing the tense atmosphere, Lisa tried to speak up for her: ¡°Miss Jiang¡ª¡± Jiang Chun wouldn¡¯t listen and retorted to Lisa: ¡°Are stand-in actors all so entitled these days?¡± She was already impatient and commanded with a cold face, ¡°Come here and touch up my makeup first.¡± Zhou Xufang was the first to arrive and, moreover, her scene was coming up next because she was a last-minute substitute for the stunts, so she was in a rush. Instead, Jiang Chun had just arrived at this time, throwing a temper tantrum despite being late herself. Lisa didn¡¯t want to offend anyone and was in a difficult position. Zhou Xufang conceded: ¡°You can touch her up first.¡± ¡°Then wait for me a moment.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± It was then Lisa went over to Jiang Chun¡¯s side. Miss Jiang¡¯s anger had not subsided, hard to please; as if to kill the chicken to scare the monkeys, she glared at Zhou Xufang, but rebuked Lisa: ¡°It hurts so much, can¡¯t you be a bit gentler?¡± Jiang Chun came from a wealthy second-generation family and had a bit of a background. Lisa didn¡¯t want to lose her job and didn¡¯t talk back, quickly apologizing: ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Miss Jiang.¡± Over ten minutes later, a crew member came to hurry them along, Jiang Chun finally cooled off, stopped making things difficult for Lisa, got changed, and went out; Lisa then apologized to Zhou Xufang and quickly did her hair, mindful of the time. Zhou Xufang was a little late, but the assistant director who was responsible for coordinating the actors wasn¡¯t working with Jiang Zhi for the first time. He had seen Zhou Xufang in the previous film crew and knew she wasn¡¯t an ordinary stand-in actor, so naturally, he didn¡¯t dare to scold her; he even spoke to her softly and carefully explained the scene. sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Start from the marked spot on the wall, run to here, then jump down, and draw your sword,¡± said the assistant director, looking at Zhou Xufang, ¡°OK?¡± Zhou Xufang nodded. The camera and actors were ready, the crew clapped the board: ¡°Action!¡± Zhou Xufang stood in her place, starting from the marked spot. She ran with swift steps, her garments fluttering elegantly; after a stretch of ¡®climbing walls,¡¯ she leaped from the city wall, just about to sneak into Yuxiu Palace¡ª A scream rang out: ¡°Ah!¡± Zhou Xufang¡¯s head tilted: Was that too early? Then, a languid voice called out: ¡°Cut.¡± It was too early; Zhou Xufang hadn¡¯t even entered Yuxiu Palace. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Director Jiang,¡± Jiang Chun was bowing and apologizing, her voice sweet with a princess¡¯s tone, ¡°I misjudged the timing.¡± Jiang Zhi wasn¡¯t looking at the actors, but at the camera: ¡°Let¡¯s do it again.¡± The crew clapped the board again. Zhou Xufang climbed the wall, sprinted¡ªevery step counted, landed precisely after the jump, scanned the area, pressured the patrolling guards, and sneaked into Yuxiu Palace, looking around cautiously as she headed toward the palace interior. At the entrance to the main hall, the lavishly dressed woman saw a shadow flash by, the hand-warmer she was holding dropped to the ground, and she screamed, ¡°Ah!¡± pointing at the black-clothed man who suddenly appeared, ¡°You, you¡ª¡± Who are you? Zhou Xufang knew the line, but Jiang Chun stalled. Jiang Zhi called cut, raising his eyelids for the first time, his face showing traces of sickness and displeasure: ¡°What¡¯s going on with you?¡± Jiang Chun picked up the hand-warmer from the ground, her voice so tender it could squeeze out water: ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Director Jiang, it¡¯s my first time filming with you and I¡¯m too nervous.¡± Nervous? That look didn¡¯t show any nervousness. Jiang Zhi glanced subtly at his own girl: ¡°Last chance, make another elementary mistake, and you won¡¯t need to film anymore.¡± Jiang Chun immediately agreed. The board clapped for the third time. Zhou Xufang smoothly snuck into Yuxiu Palace. Jiang Zhi sat in front of the monitor, resting his hand on the desk, tapping with the script in hand: ¡°Who sneaked her in?¡± Was it that obvious? Vice Director Zhao touched his nose, feeling a bit guilty: ¡°Producer Jiang.¡± This girl is the niece of the head producer. Jiang Zhi¡¯s finger tapping the desk paused; his fingers were long and well-manicured, pale with five small crescents, he said slowly and leisurely, ¡°Pretty bold.¡± Vice Director Zhao asked: ¡°You mean Producer Jiang?¡± Jiang Zhi didn¡¯t reply. Pretty bold, daring to trip up his girlfriend. Perhaps because the director had spoken, and this was the last take, Jiang Chun didn¡¯t make another mistake, and her effort was there: ¡°Who are you?¡± The black-clothed man stepped forward, delivering a karate chop to the back of her neck. Then, the patrolling secret guards came over, the black-clothed man turned, and the wind lifted her veil. After that, it was Fang Lixiang¡¯s turn to show her face. Vice Director Zhao glanced at Jiang Zhi and called out: ¡°OK, good.¡± Yay! Zhou Xufang felt she had performed fantastically and wondered how much pay she would get, whether it would be enough to buy Jiang Zhi a piece of clothing. Jiang Chun¡¯s assistant went over to help her: ¡°Sister Jiang Chun.¡± The person was still on the ground, unresponsive. ¡°Sister Jiang Chun.¡± Jiang Chun was lying on the ground, motionless. Now her assistant panicked, pushed her a couple of times, but she still didn¡¯t wake up: ¡°Sister Jiang Chun seems to have fainted.¡± Zhou Xufang instantly deflated, unsure if her pay would be enough to cover the damages¡­ Vice Director Zhao hurried over to check on the situation; damn, she had really fainted, not even waking up when he pinched her; he asked Zhou Xufang, ¡°How did you knock her out?¡± Zhou Xufang was very embarrassed: ¡°The script says,¡± she recited the specified line from the script, ¡°Xiao Heng steps forward, delivers a chop with the hand, and knocks Princess Ming Rong out.¡± So she hit her. Vice Director Zhao embarrassed: ¡°We didn¡¯t want you actually to knock her out.¡± Pretend to knock out? ¡°Oh.¡± Zhou Xufang had never picked up this kind of hitting role and was very sorry, ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± Chapter 282: 282: The second male lead appears, laboratory superpower personnel gather together Chapter 282: 282: The second male lead appears, laboratory superpower personnel gather together Zhou Xufang didn¡¯t extend her hand; her body temperature was low, and she never shook hands with others. ¡°Sorry, my hands are dirty.¡± Su Chan said it was okay, and then she didn¡¯t try to make further conversation, maintaining a polite distance. Outside the film set, after parking the car, Yang Xi saw Xiao Yusheng still lingering at the entrance. ¡°Yun Sheng.¡± He was lost in thought. Yang Xi walked over and patted his shoulder from behind: ¡°Yun Sheng.¡± He hummed in acknowledgment and shifted his gaze. ¡°What are you looking at?¡± Yang Xi also glanced inside and spotted Zhou Xufang. He understood, ¡°Now I see why you insisted on coming over in person.¡± It was just a sample tape delivery; there was no need for him to cancel his appointments for that. Xiao Yusheng walked ahead, head down, the brim of his baseball cap casting a shadow over the half of his face covered by a mask: ¡°There are strangers around, don¡¯t greet her.¡± Yang Xi had his hand out ready to say hi, but he abruptly changed course, reaching back to scratch his head, ¡°What do you mean? Pretend we don¡¯t know each other?¡± ¡°Yep.¡± He walked onward, head lowered, his tall, slender back very straight. That back¡­ Fang Lixiang ran over, bouncing with energy: ¡°Xiao Yusheng?¡± Xiao Yusheng looked up. His eyes were clear, sharply defined in black and white, like stars, bright and cool, refracting light. A true fan would recognize even the strands of hair on their idol; how could Fang Lixiang not recognize him? She jumped on the spot, her heart pounding, hands trembling, eyes sparkling: ¡°Xiao Yusheng!!¡± With that shout, the entire crew knew Xiao Yusheng had arrived, and even Su Chan, who was sparring with Zhou Xufang, got distracted. ¡°Can I take a break?¡± Zhou Xufang nodded. Su Chan put her wooden sword away properly and walked up to Xiao Yusheng: ¡°What are you doing here?¡± Her tone sounded quite familiar. Xiao Yusheng was a man of few words and only replied with two: ¡°Got business.¡± He walked past her, heading straight for Jiang Zhi. Fang Lixiang, as a dedicated fan, was always paying attention to her idol¡¯s every move. The moment Su Chan approached the idol, for some reason, she felt agitated: ¡°They actually know each other!¡± ¡°Yep.¡± Zhou Xufang pricked up her ears to listen; Xiao Yusheng was talking to Jiang Zhi about the movie theme song¡¯s sample. Fang Lixiang couldn¡¯t contain her restless heart: ¡°Yun Sheng isn¡¯t involved with Su Chan in that way, is he?¡± Zhou Xufang: ¡°!¡± ¡°Xufang,¡± Fang Lixiang turned to her, ¡°aren¡¯t you and Yun Sheng old acquaintances?¡± She nodded her head: ¡°Old acquaintances.¡± Fang Lixiang found it strange: ¡°Why didn¡¯t he greet you? He¡¯s acting as if he doesn¡¯t recognize you.¡± They had just met privately last time. Zhou Xufang was also puzzled: ¡°I don¡¯t know either.¡± Fang Lixiang speculated: ¡°Our brother isn¡¯t the type to act haughty; there must be some difficulty.¡± ¡°Right.¡± Fang Lixiang was a considerate fan: ¡°We should be understanding, not cause trouble for our idol.¡± Zhou Xufang was also a considerate fan: ¡°Right.¡± S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Xiao Yusheng stayed on the film set for less than five minutes before leaving. Five minutes later, a young girl extra ran in, yelling, ¡°Sister.¡± Fang Lixiang looked back, and so did Zhou Xufang; they were dressed identically, both as ¡®Black-clothed Man¡¯. Fang Lixiang asked, ¡°Are you talking to me?¡± The little girl ran up to Zhou Xufang and handed her a sticky note: ¡°A brother asked me to give this to you.¡± Once the note was delivered, the little girl ran off again. Zhou Xufang unfolded it, and on the paper were four hastily scrawled characters, as if left in a rush. ¡°Be careful of Su Chan.¡± It was written by Xiao Yusheng. The rest area was quite simple, a temporary container structure, not fully wired, devoid of hot water. Su Chan poured two white pills into her hand and swallowed them with cold water. Zheng Durong glanced at the pill bottle in her hand: ¡°What¡¯s this medicine? There isn¡¯t even a name on it.¡± She tightened the cap and put the bottle away in her bag: ¡°Liver protection tablets, sent by a friend from abroad.¡± Just then, her phone rang in the bag, ¡°I¡¯ll take a call.¡± She stood up and walked to the side to answer: ¡°Hello, I am Su Chan.¡± A man¡¯s voice came through the phone: ¡°Come pick me up,¡± a command. She was slightly taken aback for a moment: ¡°Where are you?¡± The man¡¯s voice was deep and languid, with a clear undercurrent of anger: ¡°Imperial City,¡± he said, ¡°just landed.¡± The wind was particularly strong in Imperial City these days; the call was filled with the sound of wind. Even through the phone, the dark and heavy atmosphere was palpable: ¡°Those fools, they can¡¯t even pick someone up properly.¡± Clearly, the man was not patient, ¡°Hurry over.¡± Su Chan asked him, ¡°Are you at the airport?¡± Unlike her usual glamorous and icy demeanor, her voice was much softer this time, her brows and eyes submissive, with a hint of tender warmth and seven parts respectful obedience. ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± the man¡¯s tone was rebellious and full of belligerence, ¡°Hurry up and come pick me up.¡± Su Chan still didn¡¯t know his exact location: ¡°Are there any landmark buildings around?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll turn on my location. Come here by yourself.¡± The other side hung up the phone. Su Chan glanced at the number, her eyes subtly curving as she reached for her clothes and walked behind the curtain: ¡°I have something urgent to deal with, so I have to go first. Please ask Director Jiang for a leave on my behalf.¡± Zheng Durong was in a difficult position: ¡°Director Jiang¡¯s crew doesn¡¯t allow leaves unless there¡¯s a force majeure.¡± She changed out of her costume, and while walking and taking down her hair she said, ¡°It¡¯s a force majeure. If I don¡¯t go, you won¡¯t see me tomorrow.¡± Zheng Durong thought she was joking. ¡°Please take care of this for me.¡± She removed the hairpin from her head, grabbed her bag, and left. It was already past four o¡¯clock, with only two more scenes until wrap-up. ¡°Director Jiang,¡± Vice Director Zhao came over to say, ¡°Su Chan took leave and left.¡± Jiang Zhi sat at the take, his hair a messy swirl from the wind, looking unwell, and his face pale: ¡°The reason for the leave.¡± ¡°She didn¡¯t say.¡± Su Chan was bold, abandoning the director¡¯s project without even giving an explanation. Jiang Zhi said nothing, pinched the bridge of his nose: ¡°Have finance calculate the cost of work interruption, deduct it from Su Chan¡¯s pay.¡± He stood up, ¡°That¡¯s a wrap.¡± Vice Director Zhao understood and directed the camera crew to pack up the equipment. ¡°Zhou Xufang.¡± Jiang Zhi, with his hands tucked in the pockets of his horn-buttoned coat, called to her, ¡°Come here, we¡¯re going home.¡± Zhou Xufang: ¡°Oh.¡± Many people glanced in her direction. Not used to being the center of attention, she put on her hat: ¡°Lixiang, see you later.¡± She kept her head down as she made her way toward Jiang Zhi. Standing 300 meters outside of Imperial Airport, a man in a suit covered by a black coat was looking down with a cigarette in his hand. Two other formally dressed men approached him and respectfully greeted, ¡°Young Master Zhi.¡± The man looked up. A mischievously captivating face, mixed heritage, deep-set features, with eyes that were not entirely black but hinted at a profound blue. His features leaned more towards an Eastern person¡¯s, very refined. ¡°Miss Su asked for you to come over.¡± He put out the cigarette, tossed it into a trash can: ¡°Lead the way.¡± Su Chan¡¯s car was parked nearby, and seeing someone coming over, she opened the car door and got out: ¡°Qing Hou.¡± On Chinese Street of Pullman, everyone addressed him with Young Master Zhi. Why Young Master Zhi? His original name was Su Zhi, his father named Su Dingzhi, their names sharing a similar sound; thus Chinese Street had a Master Zhi and a Young Master Zhi. He was dissatisfied and changed his name to Su Qinghou. But everyone was still used to calling him Young Master Zhi, no big deal, once Old Master Zhi passed away, there would only be Young Master Zhi. Su Qinghou got into the car. Su Chan followed, removing her mask and hat. He fished a box out of his coat pocket and tossed it to her: ¡°For you.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± He smiled, and even that smile, as entrancing as an alluring poppy, did not diminish his natural aggressiveness, he said: ¡°A gift.¡± Su Chan opened it. Inside was a necklace, platinum, with a pure black diamond pendant. ¡°Do you like it?¡± He took off his coat, flinging it onto the seat, and loosened his tie. Su Chan nodded, a faint joy in her eyes, but she didn¡¯t show it, her face remained respectful: ¡°I like it.¡± ¡°Good if you do.¡± He held the delicate chain, put it around her neck, his hand encircling her nape, pushing her long hair aside to reveal her slender neck. ¡°I¡¯ve been waiting for you for over forty minutes.¡± Su Chan sat upright, motionless, her hands on her knees, clasping tightly: ¡°There was a traffic jam on the way here.¡± He laughed again: ¡°I didn¡¯t ask for an explanation.¡± His hand moved from the back of her neck to her throat, his fingers tightening, his voice light, languidly casual, ¡°I¡¯m just telling you, I¡¯m angry.¡± Su Chan¡¯s palms began to sweat: ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Qing Hou.¡± Su Qinghou gently stroked her head: ¡°It¡¯s alright.¡± Her tightly held hands loosened. He leaned back, reclined in the seat, and closed his eyes: ¡°Did you spray perfume?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°It¡¯s too strong.¡± He said, ¡°Get off.¡± What kind of person was Su Qinghou? An eight-character summary would suffice: capricious, rebellious, and fierce. When he smiled, it wasn¡¯t necessarily with happiness; when he was angry, he might still smile. Chapter 283: 283: Jiang Zhi, this clingy little demon~ (One more update Chapter 283: 283: Jiang Zhi, this clingy little demon~ (One more update The car drove to Changling Hospital. Xiao Yi had been waiting at the entrance. When the car stopped, he walked up and opened the rear door. Legs clad in suit trousers looked long, his black leather shoes had just touched the ground when Xiao Yi looked down. ¡°Young Master Zhi.¡± Su Qinghou got out of the car and walked ahead, his steps lazy. ¡°Where am I sleeping?¡± Xiao Yi replied courteously, ¡°I¡¯ll take you there.¡± ¡°No need.¡± The place was so small, he couldn¡¯t possibly get lost. Xiao Yi replied, ¡°It¡¯s in building three, seventh floor, first room on the left.¡± Su Qinghou headed directly towards building three. Less than ten minutes later, Xiao Yi received his phone call. ¡°Come and pick me up.¡± ¡°Where are you?¡± There was a strong hostility in his tone¡ªhe had gone from a lazy, charming cat to a man-eating tiger. ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± Knowing his unpredictable mood, Xiao Yi didn¡¯t dare ask further. ¡°I¡¯m coming right away.¡± He commanded, ¡°Hurry up!¡± Young Master Zhi was terrible with directions, utterly incapable of telling left from right. The first time he met 011, it had not been pleasant. ¡°Hello!¡± At that time, Young Master Zhi was eighteen and had gotten lost in a maze-like lab. After coming out of one hospital room, he couldn¡¯t tell his left from his right and had violently kicked a door. Behind the door, a head popped out. It was a bald person, very skinny, neither distinctly male nor female. Young Master Zhi asked Bald, ¡°Which side is left?¡± He was speaking in English. Bald stared blankly at him. Thinking she didn¡¯t understand English, he asked again in Chinese, ¡°Which side is left?¡± Her hands were chained, and she extended one through the window of the door, pointing in a direction. ¡ªShe pointed to the right. Because of this, she had almost been killed by him. There was a saying in Pullman¡¯s Chinese Street, harm Old Master Zhi, and you¡¯ll beg for life; offend Young Master Zhi, and you¡¯ll beg for death. This father-and-son duo was each more ruthless and unpredictable than the other. The next day was windy. Jiang Zhi prepared breakfast, which included white rice porridge, side dishes, along with bacon and ham. Jiang Zhi¡¯s culinary skills had remained at a basic level where he could only cook things thoroughly, yet oddly, he thoroughly enjoyed the process of cooking soup for Xu Fang. Xu Fang chewed on a slightly tough piece of bacon, not swallowing for a long time, her eyes glued to her mobile phone, completely engrossed. Jiang Zhi called out to her, ¡°Xu Fang.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± She didn¡¯t lift her head, her eyes reluctant to move away from her phone. She was engrossed in a Boys¡¯ Love novel that had just been updated with a hundred thousand words, and she was on the verge of neglecting sleep and food to give likes and send flowers to the author. Jiang Zhi said, ¡°Don¡¯t play with your phone while eating.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± She verbally agreed but couldn¡¯t bring herself to put the phone down. Jiang Zhi took her phone away. ¡°Eat first.¡± Xu Fang was just at the part where the misunderstanding between the uke and seme was resolved, potentially leading to deeper emotional engagement. She was super eager to continue. ¡°I¡¯ve finished eating.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve barely eaten a few bites.¡± Jiang Zhi placed the spoon in her hand, ignoring her eager look, pocketed the phone, and insisted. ¡°You can¡¯t leave any, you need to finish what¡¯s in the bowl.¡± Her dislike for staples was a habit Jiang Zhi had long been unable to rectify. She ate little during meals but constantly snacked on milk cotton candy. He was quite strict about it. Xu Fang obediently ate her porridge. ¡°Are you not heading to the film set today?¡± Jiang Zhi cleared his own bowl. ¡°I¡¯ll drop you at the hospital first, then head there at nine.¡± That would be quite a hassle. Xu Fang said, ¡°I don¡¯t need dropping off.¡± ¡°I want to drop you off.¡± Direct Fang spoke her mind, ¡°Jiang Zhi, you¡¯re so clingy.¡± Jiang Zhi: ¡°¡­¡± He didn¡¯t want to deal with this heartless comment. He stopped talking to her and sat beside her, watching her finish eating. Xu Fang didn¡¯t leave a single grain of rice. ¡°I¡¯m finished,¡± she said as she got up to wash the dishes. ¡°Give it to me.¡± Jiang Zhi, who didn¡¯t want to deal with her, took her bowl. ¡°You go change.¡± He went to wash the dishes. Xu Fang was still in her pink home sportswear. When she came out after changing, Jiang Zhi had already finished washing the dishes and was waiting for her on the couch. ¡°I¡¯m ready.¡± She wore a pink sweatshirt paired with black capri pants, and her coat was the kind that wrapped from head to toe like a black down jacket, shaped like a piece of charcoal. Jiang Zhi glanced at her exposed ankles. ¡°Go change into longer pants.¡± ¡°But this looks good.¡± Plus, it was convenient, easy to jump around in. All her pants were like this, some full-length, some capri. Recently, having watched many dramas, her sense of aesthetics had significantly advanced; she felt the full-length trousers weren¡¯t as fashionable as the capris. ¡°It¡¯s so cold, you can¡¯t expose your ankles,¡± Jiang Zhi stared at her ankles intently, ¡°You¡¯ll get arthritis when you¡¯re old.¡± Zhou Xufang felt she wouldn¡¯t get arthritis; her constitution was like a bull¡¯s, and bulls don¡¯t get arthritis. She didn¡¯t want to change; she wanted to be fashionable because Jiang Zhi was also very fashionable, ¡°Other girls dress like this.¡± ¡°Other girls aren¡¯t my girlfriend, I don¡¯t care if they get arthritis, I only care about you,¡± Jiang Zhi patted her head, ¡°Go change your pants.¡± Unfashionable Zhou Xufang, ¡°¡­Oh,¡± she hung her head and went to change her pants. Jiang Zhi also said, ¡°Put on your long underwear too.¡± No sweets, he said they would cause hyperglycemia; no capri pants, he said they would cause arthritis; no watching certain shows, he said they teach bad behavior¡­ Zhou Xufang couldn¡¯t help it and muttered, ¡°Jiang Zhi is an old fuddy-duddy.¡± Jiang Zhi heard it loud and clear, ¡°¡­¡± Just a moment ago she¡¯d said he was clingy, now she was calling him an old fuddy-duddy. When Zhou Xufang changed her pants and came out, she saw Jiang Zhi sitting gloomily, not talking to her. He grabbed his car keys and walked out. Straight-forward Fang, of course, didn¡¯t realize he was angry, nor did she coax him, just followed him, not even thinking of holding his hand. With a slam! Jiang Zhi shut the door, Zhou Xufang was about to leave when he held her back. She looked at him puzzled, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Building 17 was all Zhou Xufang¡¯s, no one else there, just Zhou Xufang¡¯s gray kitten meowing lazily, and Jiang Zhi¡¯s sullen voice, ¡°Zhou Xufang, have you started to despise me?¡± He felt insecure, had felt so at the beginning of their relationship, and still felt so now, even though he had planned where their future kids would go to school, he still felt insecure. He was afraid that one day Zhou Xufang would tire of him, stop loving him, because even if he looked good, he too would grow old one day¡­ Zhou Xufang shook her head like a bobble-head, ¡°No.¡± Yet, Jiang Zhi still felt uncherished, his voice both querying and a bit wistful, ¡°You rarely kiss me first, rarely show affection first, Zhou Xufang, do you not cherish me now that you¡¯ve got me?¡± Zhou Xufang, ¡°¡­¡± She had seen similar phrases in novels where the female protagonist after being wronged by a scumbag asked this. But she was no scumbag. ¡°I don¡¯t,¡± she said very seriously and earnestly, ¡°I cherish.¡± She raised her hand, awkwardly formal, ¡°I can swear.¡± Fearing he wouldn¡¯t believe her, she even kissed him on her own initiative. Jiang Zhi felt a bit pacified by her actions, snorted, and turned his head away smiling. Zhou Xufang went over to hold his hand, saying shyly, ¡°I¡¯m just embarrassed.¡± Not like Jiang Zhi, who could say anything cheesy¡­ ¡°What¡¯s there to be embarrassed about, I¡¯m your boyfriend, at home you can do whatever you want with me.¡± His ears were a bit red, unembarrassed in his speech, ¡°Outside too.¡± Zhou Xufang, ¡°¡­¡± He used the word ¡®do¡¯, direct and eager, utterly unabashed. She was thin-skinned. ¡°Meow.¡± ¡°Meow.¡± The little gray cat softened its meows, the outside sun leaking through the corridor windows, spreading on the floor, casting two embracing shadows. Her back was against the wall, held in his arms. ¡°You ate my lip balm.¡± S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Her voice small and timid, shy. Jiang Zhi¡¯s voice slightly unstable, ¡°I¡¯ll apply it for you later.¡± ¡°Jiang Zhi.¡± He distracted, ¡°Hm.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll be late.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t care.¡± Click¡ª The door opened; he pulled her back inside. ¡°Meow.¡± ¡°Meow.¡± The little gray cat started calling again, persistently mewling. At nine-thirty, Jiang Zhi finally took Zhou Xufang to the hospital. She sat in the passenger seat, not talking to him. Jiang Zhi parked the car, unbuckled her seatbelt, ¡°Are you mad at me?¡± She ignored him. Jiang Zhi leaned in to kiss her cheek, like a clingy cat, rubbing his face against her neck, softly pleading, ¡°Fang Bao.¡± She didn¡¯t respond, turning her head away, refusing to look at him. Jiang Zhi¡¯s words breathed hotly by her ear, ¡°I love you.¡± Why suddenly say that. Zhou Xufang blushed, burying her face like an ostrich. Jiang Zhi annoyingly kept saying, ¡°I love you.¡± ¡°I love¡ª¡± She covered his mouth, ¡°Stop saying that.¡± His face was also very hot, just like hers. Jiang Zhi held her hand, pecking each finger, his eyes full of laughter, ¡°You don¡¯t like to say it, so one of us has to.¡± Chapter 286: 286: Court Session to Hear the Case, Luo Familys Retribution (Second Update) Chapter 286: 286: Court Session to Hear the Case, Luo Family¡¯s Retribution (Second Update) In the car, Lu Xinglan commented, ¡°This motherfucker is an idiot.¡± When people delivered themselves right to his doorstep, and he still didn¡¯t take them, what else could he be if not an idiot? It was already two in the morning, and Xiao Bei was sleepy, with tears streaming from her tired eyes, but she dared not doze off. Pinching her thigh to stay awake, she said, ¡°Master, the Second Miss has been taken away; let¡¯s go back too.¡± Thump. Lu Xinglan¡¯s head bumped against the car window. ¡°Master.¡± ¡°Master?¡± He had fallen asleep. Xiao Bei: ¡°¡­¡± On March 15th, the Luo Family¡¯s case went to court for trial. The day before the trial, Luo Qinghe, citing health reasons, once again applied for leave to seek medical treatment. Still following the old routine, Xu Pozhi came to see her with a bouquet of roses. After arranging the flowers, he said, ¡°The trial is tomorrow.¡± Sitting on the hospital bed and looking utterly exhausted from trying to secure her leave, Luo Qinghe was a shadow of herself, ¡°Did you get the pregnancy certificate?¡± ¡°It¡¯s done.¡± Xu Pozhi sat next to her and extended his hand to touch her face. She turned her head slightly, dodging his hand. Xu Pozhi didn¡¯t mind, withdrew his hand, and the dim light reflected in his eerily shining eyes that were sincere yet insincere, with asymmetrical pupils that gave an odd sense of discomfort, ¡°Someone wants to see you.¡± ¡°Who?¡± ¡°You¡¯ll know when you see them.¡± Xu Pozhi tucked in the corner of her blanket and stood up. He nodded to the police officer guarding outside, and then the officer stepped aside. A moment later, someone came in, pushing the door open. ¡°Cousin.¡± It was Luo Yinghe who had come. Luo Qinghe looked at her coldly, ¡°What are you here for?¡± She took off her mask and approached the hospital bed, ¡°Tomorrow, you¡¯ll be facing uncle in court. You accuse him of murder, and he accuses you of the same.¡± She let out a laugh. This father and daughter were truly a joke. ¡°Do you think you have a chance of winning?¡± She could barely hide the joy in her disaster, eager anticipation filling her eyes, ¡°Do you need me to add another chip in your favor?¡± Luo Qinghe discerned her purpose now, ¡°Are you a beggar? You already begged from Jiang Zhi, and now you come begging from me again.¡± Luo Yinghe wasn¡¯t offended, rather confident, ¡°Uncle has evidence of your hiring an assassin. Even if your lawyer is eloquent and persuasive,¡± her gaze swept across and landed on Luo Qinghe¡¯s abdomen, ¡°even if you have a piece of flesh in your belly, you¡¯re not getting released without charges. The things you have are useless to you now, why not give them to me? After all, we¡¯re sisters.¡± Once tasting the sweetness of success, she became greedy and full of pride, no wonder she couldn¡¯t achieve much. Luo Qinghe looked at her indifferently, ¡°What do you want? Let¡¯s hear it.¡± Luo Yinghe leaned in, her greed plain to see, ¡°The shares you hold, give them all to me.¡± With those and what Jiang Zhi had given her, the Luo Family would be hers. ¡°Heh,¡± Luo Qinghe laughed out loud, ¡°Why are you just as shameless as your mother?¡± Luo Yinghe¡¯s smiling face turned cold, with a resigned tone, ¡°You don¡¯t have to give them to me, I just won¡¯t go to court tomorrow.¡± She placed the prepared documents down, ¡°Think it over and sign here if you decide.¡± Luo Qinghe, such a proud person, actually demeaning herself to Xu Pozhi, this one-eyed man, showed how much she wanted to avenge her mother. Even with taking advantage like this, Luo Yinghe wasn¡¯t afraid she wouldn¡¯t sign. Outside the sickroom. The police officer stood a few meters away from the door, looked around to see no one else, and then made a phone call, ¡°Mr. Jiang.¡± His voice was quiet as he said, ¡°Luo Yinghe has come to see Luo Qinghe.¡± At nine in the evening, Luo Yinghe only then returned home, humming along the way in great spirits. Xu Yunci was waiting for her in the living room. When she saw her arrive, she got up to ask, ¡°Where have you been so late?¡± She brushed her off, ¡°I went to do something important.¡± Xu Yunci, because of Luo Changde¡¯s matters, had been too busy to think straight these past few days, her mental state not great, ¡°What important matters could you possibly have?¡± Luo Yinghe walked upstairs, ¡°None of your business.¡± Xu Yunci asked from behind, ¡°I saved you some dinner, will you eat?¡± Luo Yinghe entered her room and closed the door, ¡°No need.¡± Elated, she flopped onto the bed and called her close friend, ¡°Shen Lin, let¡¯s go out this weekend, my treat.¡± ¡°Do you have some good news? You seem so happy.¡± Of course, there was good news. Luo Yinghe spoke with animated excitement, ¡°Those from my uncle¡¯s family are both finished, and after that, the Luo Family will be mine.¡± Shen Lin was an artist signed with Tianxing, and with the Luo Family as her patron, she was naturally eager to curry favor with Luo Yinghe, the Second Miss, ¡°Really? Congratulations.¡± Luo Yinghe was full of pride, ¡°Is there any doubt? Tomorrow, I¡¯ll go to court; as long as I testify, Luo Changde is done for.¡± With a thud, the door was pushed open by Xu Yunci. ¡°Testify about what?¡± Luo Yinghe was startled and turned around with a glare, ¡°Mom, why don¡¯t you knock!¡± Xu Yunci¡¯s tone was urgent; usually, she was a slow and timid person, but now her gaze was piercing. ¡°I¡¯m asking you, what testimony are you giving?¡± Luo Yinghe dismissed the call from Shen Lin on the other end, ¡°I¡¯ll talk to you later.¡± She hung up the phone, and since things were already set in stone, she no longer hid the truth, ¡°Luo Changde killed his wife, I saw it with my own eyes.¡± Xu Yunci was only stunned for a moment before she vehemently denied it, her attitude firm and her tone brooking no argument, ¡°You saw it wrong. You are not going.¡± ¡°Why can¡¯t I go?¡± retorted Luo Yinghe. Xu Yunci didn¡¯t bother to explain; she just ordered peremptorily, ¡°When I say you can¡¯t, that means you can¡¯t.¡± People who were usually weak and ineffectual became harsh and strident when it came to the affairs of Luo Changde. Hmph, no wonder Luo Qinghe said she was shameless. Luo Yinghe¡¯s face turned sour too, ¡°Mom, don¡¯t be unreasonable.¡± Xu Yunci blurted out a roar, ¡°I¡¯m not being unreasonable! If you dare to testify, I¡¯ll disown you as my daughter.¡± How could she let those father and daughter¡­ Xu Yunci softened her tone, pleading, ¡°Yinghe, listen to your mother¡¯s advice; don¡¯t go against your uncle.¡± Luo Yinghe snorted, ¡°Then disown me if you like.¡± She grabbed her bag and stood up to leave. Xu Yunci called her twice to no avail, and rushing over, she grabbed her. With a thunderous roar, a torrential rain began to pour outside the window. Zhou Xufang turned over in bed. Jiang Zhi, whose hand rested on her waist, tightened his grip, ¡°Why aren¡¯t you sleeping?¡± ¡°I can¡¯t sleep,¡± she said, ¡°Will everything go smoothly tomorrow?¡± There were no lights on in the room, and outside, lightning was striking, sending streaks of bright light. Jiang Zhi held her close, patting her back reassuringly, ¡°It will.¡± Zhou Xufang buried her face in his chest, nuzzling against him. ¡°Fang Bao.¡± ¡°Mm.¡± Jiang Zhi asked her, ¡°Do you want the Luo Family¡¯s assets?¡± If she wanted them, he would take them for her. She thought for a moment, then shook her head, ¡°I don¡¯t want them.¡± She said, ¡°The Luo Family¡¯s money is dirty.¡± It was indeed dirty; all of the Luo Family¡¯s hands were soiled. ¡°Then should we destroy it?¡± Most of the shares of Luo¡¯s were now in Luo Yinghe¡¯s hands. She was foolish, much easier to manipulate than Luo Qinghe; dealing with her would be a piece of cake. Jiang Zhi was entirely guided by Zhou Xufang¡¯s desires; whatever she said, he would do. ¡°Destroying it would be a pity,¡± Zhou Xufang mused, ¡°It could be used for good deeds.¡± Jiang Zhi laughed, ¡°How kind you are,¡± he kissed her forehead tenderly, ¡°Our Fang Bao.¡± Zhou Xufang buried her head and laughed, feeling much less uneasy. The next day, the rain poured down heavily. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The Luo Family¡¯s case was being heard in the First People¡¯s Court, not open to the public, and the trial was starting at nine o¡¯clock. Luo Huaiyu also arrived, having inhaled smoke during the last Luo Family¡¯s fire, his old age and frail health had slowed his recovery, and he still hadn¡¯t fully recuperated, leaning on Xu Yunci for support. Outside the courtroom, he ran into Zhou Qingrang, immediately glaring fiercely, ¡°You still have the nerve to come.¡± Zhou Qingrang sat in a wheelchair, meeting his gaze head-on, not flinching an inch, ¡°Why shouldn¡¯t I come?¡± Luo Huaiyu scoffed coldly, ¡°Indeed, you have the audacity to set fire and murder in my Luo Family¡¯s home, there¡¯s nothing you wouldn¡¯t dare to do.¡± He was convinced that Zhou Qingrang had set the fire, aiming to perish with him. Zhou Qingrang didn¡¯t deny, ¡°Since I dared set the fire, there really isn¡¯t anything I wouldn¡¯t dare to do.¡± He paused for a beat, then met Luo Huaiyu¡¯s inflamed eyes, ¡°So, you better not sleep too peacefully. Who knows, I might sneak into your house one day and finish you off with a single knife.¡± Luo Huaiyu was furious, ¡°You¡ª¡± Zhou Xufang appeared from behind Zhou Qingrang, she stood in front of him, her face full of wariness as she stared at Luo Huaiyu, her eyes grim and chilling. Luo Huaiyu found her strangely familiar, ¡°Who are you?¡± Zhou Xufang replied, ¡°Zhou Qingrang¡¯s bodyguard.¡± This girl, he was sure he had seen her somewhere, her eyes reminded him of someone. ¡°Luo Family patriarch,¡± A lazy voice came from behind; it was Jiang Zhi¡¯s arrival. He stepped beside Zhou Xufang, his gaze deep as he looked at the old man opposite him, ¡°At your age, why are you staring at someone else¡¯s girlfriend?¡± She belonged to Jiang Zhi. Luo Huaiyu pondered. Jiang Zhi, holding Zhou Xufang¡¯s hand, said, ¡°Let¡¯s go inside.¡± The three of them entered the courtroom. Qiao Nanchu was already in the audience, waiting. He waved them over. Jiang Zhi had just settled down. Then he noted, ¡°Luo Yinghe hasn¡¯t arrived yet.¡± Jiang Zhi¡¯s brows briefly furrowed, ¡°Where is she now?¡± ¡°She¡¯s unreachable.¡±