“What…..what did you say?” Stunned, Song Xingmu looked at Liu Zhenqing in complete disbelief.

“I said, you don’t have to come take care of my body, but do you intend to fulfill your other promises?”

It was the first time Liu Zhenqing had taken the initiative to admit his identity to someone. He was really embarrassed and uncomfortable beyond words.

Liu Zhenqing believed that Song Xingmu should remember this, just as Liu Zhenqing remembered it, but what if he didn’t believe him? After all, he was cautious by nature, and rebirth was too bizarre.

“I….” Liu Zhenqing was a bit powerless. Just as he was thinking about what to add, Song Xingmu’s eyes seemed to gleam with moisture as he looked at him. 

But he said: “Who is this young master, ah? Why are you talking nonsense to me? When did I make such a promise to you?”

The corners of Liu Zhenqing’s mouth twitched. He suddenly pointed at Yi Chuan beside him and said: “Then what is the reason for keeping him by your side? You remember, right? Do you need me to remind you? You said that his waist…..”

The expression on Song Xingmu’s face was confused for a moment, but the instant Liu Zhenqing opened his mouth, he immediately rushed forward to cover it.

Liu Zhenqing glanced at him sideways: Don’t force me to reveal your old ways.

Song Xingmu looked back with wide eyes: Do you intend to expose the truth now and let me die?

However, when the two exchanged glances, their deep friendship surfaced. They stared at each other speechlessly, but the other two couldn’t bear it anymore.

“Hey!” Yi Chuan shouted in confusion. “What’s going on? Do you know each other?”

Huo Fenglie naturally understood that they had recognized each other, but the way the two of them were so close right now was really an eyesore.

Song Xingmu withdrew his gaze and said anxiously: “Release him. Both of you go out and stay there. Me and this…..little friend have something to talk about.” When Song Xingmu finished speaking, he looked at Liu Zhenqing, who was clearly ten years younger, and suddenly felt awkward.

Although Yi Chuan was puzzled as he put down his swords and wanted to say something, he was pushed out by Song Xingmu.

Liu Zhenqing nodded toward Huo Fenglie, who had no choice but to go out and close the door for them.

When the room became quiet, Song Xingmu found it difficult to look back at Liu Zhenqing.

It was Liu Zhenqing who stepped forward and patted Song Xingmu on the shoulder. The force and feel were the same as before.

Song Xingmu choked and said with difficulty: “Would you like to give me some more evidence to prove it? I really can’t recognize you.”

Liu Zhenqing smiled and said: “Okay, ah. Let’s talk about Yi Chuan. He was once a young pirate captain, but we used a marriage “honey trap” to get onto the ship. At that time, he was very young, and was encouraged by his companions to make us become ship wives. We had to go to the worship hall to be married on the spot. At that time, he liked you more in women’s clothing than he liked me in mine. He said he wanted you to be his legal wife, and even kissed you. When he found out you were a man, he immediately retched in disgust and was captured by Huo Feihan’s troops before he could even hold his sword properly.”

Although Song Xingmu did not look back, his entire body began to tremble slightly. There were many details back then that only the two of them on the pirate ship knew.

“As I just said, I asked why you wanted to keep Yi Chuan to train him personally.” Liu Zhenqing slowly recalled, “You didn’t praise him for being good on the water and suitable for learning naval warfare, or that his character was not bad. Instead, you said: The waist is thin, the legs are long, and the butt is upturned, a feast for the eyes. If I keep him next to me, I can touch him from time to time.”

“Enough…..enough. What the hell is this…..” Song Xingmu rubbed his head in vexation, obviously finding it difficult to accept. “I used to think you were different from others. How could something like this happen to you? This….can you look at the sun? Do you need to replenish your yang energy through intercourse?”

Liu Zhenqing smacked Song Xingmu on the back of the head. “You’re sick, go see a doctor!”

Song Xingmu then turned around and looked at Liu Zhenqing without words. Upon closer inspection, he looked a bit similar. Especially the look in his eyes, which was almost exactly the same as Liu Zhenqing’s.

“Your body is…..”

“Liu Xiaozhu, a member of the same clan. He was kidnapped and died accidentally a few months ago, and I just woke up after nine years.” Liu Zhenqing shrugged and sat down to pour tea.

Song Xingmu also sat down quickly. He still couldn’t help but reach out and poke Liu Zhenqing’s cheek, then feel for a pulse.

“This is truly mysterious.” Song Xingmu sighed and said: “Sure enough, the gods also cried out against injustice and gave you a chance to be reborn, so that you could come back to clear your name and take revenge.”

When Song Xingmu finished speaking, Liu Zhenqing had frozen and looked unresponsive.

Song Xingmu could only reach out and flick Liu Zhenqing’s forehead. “You…..were really reborn in vain. Are you worthy of the gods?”

“I feel that it is not what the gods let me be reborn for.”

“Then for what?”

“To…..” Liu Zhenqing couldn’t help but glance at the door. “To let me live a simpler and happier life.”

When Song Xingmu saw Liu Zhenqing looking toward the door, he said curiously: “Then why are you with that kid Huo Fenglie…..”

“Er-gou is very good, extremely good. Don’t misunderstand him,” Liu Zhenqing said seriously.

“Since you yourself approve of him, what can I say? I remember hearing news before that he came south to investigate the Imperial Examination case. It seems that your Liu family was also involved in it, and there were two more major cases. But isn’t the case over? Why did you come here to me?” Song Xingmu asked.

Speaking of the key point, Liu Zhenqing said directly: “Then let’s ask the others to come in and discuss it together.”

Song Xingmu nodded, opened the door, and called the two of them in. Yi Chuan could be seen playing with his blades in boredom at the door, while a silent Huo Fenglie held his sword at the side. The two stood quietly in the corridor, and people who were nervous about the previous arrests were even more afraid to approach.

When they were called in to sit down, Yi Chuan couldn’t help but pull Song Xingmu aside and say: “What the hell is going on?”

Song Xingmu returned to his relaxed and insouciant appearance. “Aiya, I am old and have a bad memory. I forgot, they are both friends, friends. Let me introduce you: this is Liu Xiaozhu.”

Yi Chuan was surprised. “His surname is Liu?”

Liu Zhenqing hadn’t expected that Yi Chuan would react so much to his surname. Except for when he was captured in the first place, Liu Zhenqing was not familiar with Yi Chuan. Even when he went south to deploy troops for the second time, Yi Chuan was still learning martial arts from Song Xingmu’s master in the mountains and did not come down.

“Cough, cough. Yes, he is my good brother’s distant cousin, so he is one of our own. The misunderstanding with General Huo just now has been cleared up. Sit down.” Song Xingmu took a seat next to Yi Chuan.

Although Yi Chuan appeared puzzled, he cooperated.

Sitting next to Liu Zhenqing, Huo Fenglie looked over at him. Liu Zhenqing smiled at him and then said: “Not long ago, although we handled and concluded the disaster relief funds and tax fraud cases, the money vanished. We followed it all the way and found that the money was used for ore, the ore was turned into weapons, and the weapons were transported to the port here via the Liu River transport to go to sea.”

“What!” Song Xingmu was shocked. “Making weapons privately and transporting them out, isn’t this an attempt to rebel against the country? Who is it?”

Yi Chuan also looked over with a frown.

“We don’t know.” Liu Zhenqing shook his head. “We went all the way south to investigate privately, and encountered assassins on the way. We have two companions following them secretly, but there has been no news yet.”

Song Xingmu soon came to a realization. “So you are following Wang Qi. Wait, there are…..pirates among them. Could it be…..”

Liu Zhenqing did not fully disclose Huo Fenglie’s mission and Imperial edict. After all, it was Huo Fenglie’s. He only gave the information currently available, but Song Xingmu knew close to eighty percent of the truth.

“We don’t know everything yet. Why did you arrest them?” Liu Zhenqing asked.

Song Xingmu said with a frown: “There are three reasons. First, we have found that the pirates attack ships in a regular pattern. Commonly, this sort of situation proves that there are local profiteers colluding with the pirates, which is strictly prohibited by law. Secondly, the few times I went to sea to meet the enemy were very strange. It seemed like the pirates had a purpose, but they would not target my uncle’s ships. Thirdly, there is a problem with the port entry and exit records. That military official is also my uncle’s subordinate, and is specifically responsible for this matter. I initially thought that they were colluding with the pirates for profit, not that they were transporting weapons by ship. Could it be that my uncle…..”

When Song Xingmu said this, his expression became extremely ugly.

“Let’s go back and interrogate those three people,” Song Xingmu said.

“I’m afraid interrogation won’t work,” Liu Zhenqing said. “The two of us came in earlier and eavesdropped, and it seems they only took money to perform services. We don’t dare question them in detail.”

Liu Zhenqing repeated what they had overheard, and Song Xingmu couldn’t help becoming agitated.

Just as he was about to say something, he suddenly heard the silent Huo Fenglie tap the table, interrupting the conversation. He looked toward the door.

Yi Chuan, who was closest to the door, instantly slapped it with wind from his palm.

It opened at once, and a figure stood outside the door. Before he could react, he was rolled up by the bead curtain Yi Chuan casually threw out and reeled in.

Everyone stared blankly when they saw that it was a petite woman.

Yi Chuan, the first to react, quickly let her go and said: “Madam Xi Ran’s servant. What are you doing here?”

“This slave is here to deliver a message. The Madam says, if the Captain is done with his work, why doesn’t he go back and listen to the music? Don’t continue to stay in this room, it will scare the guests.”

This was meant to drive them out, but Song Xingmu said with a smile: “We can’t leave yet, my uncle will be anxious, ah. But it is really no longer suitable to stay here. Let’s go back and listen to the Madam play the pipa.”

When Song Xingmu finished speaking, he called for everyone to follow.

The young girl was quite surprised to see this, and wanted to stop them, but Song Xingmu frivolously embraced her and hooked her chin, saying: “Don’t worry, if your family’s Madam doesn’t agree, I promise to take the guests away and not embarrass Meimei.”

The young girl was dazzled by Song Xingmu’s charming eyes. She could only nod blankly and step forward to escort the guests.

Song Xingmu turned around to look at them. Yi Chuan was already happily following the young girl, but the other two had stopped.

“Come on.”

Huo Fenglie frowned slightly, and Liu Zhenqing looked hesitant. “How about…..”

Song Xingmu suddenly smiled and stepped forward to put an arm around Liu Zhenqing, saying: “You can’t neglect Xi Ran, your old lover, ah. In any case, she won’t recognize you now.”

Although it was a whisper, Huo Fenglie heard it clearly, especially the words “old lover.”

The corners of Liu Zhenqing’s mouth twitched. “What old lover, don’t talk nonsense.” He and Xi Ran had only met each other a few times.

Song Xingmu didn’t see anything wrong at all, and said directly: “Still shy? Sure enough, even if you are flooded with peach blossoms, there is still a place for her in your heart. After all, she was your first taste of love.”

Liu Zhenqing’s face was full of black lines. As expected, this Song Xingmu didn’t believe what he had said at the outset.

As soon as Song Xingmu finished speaking, he heard a crack, and turned around to see that there was a fissure in the table top by Huo Fenglie’s hand.

“This table was also broken just now. How much more money will I have to pay because of that prodigal Yi Chuan?” Song Xingmu clicked his tongue.

Liu Zhenqing raised his eyebrows and looked at Huo Fenglie. He thought, Er-gou heard the rumors from back then and got jealous just now? Since this was the case, Liu Zhenqing suddenly became interested and said: “Let’s go and see Madam Xi Ran.”

The three of them hastened after Yi Chuan and followed the maid to the chamber in the center of the painted boat. 

The shutter opened, and the maid went in to announce them.

“Captain Song is embarrassing this one. But since General Song is a guest, I have no reason not to entertain him. Please come in and listen to me play a song.”

She was far away before and difficult to hear, but now that they were at the door, Xi Ran’s voice sounded better than a pipa, as if it was reluctant to leave her lips.

Stepping in, they saw a beauty who was still hiding half her face behind the pipa in her arms, but this could not conceal her stunning beauty. Liu Zhenqing had to sigh, her beauty had never languished.

She was like a fresh and delicate flower back then, but now she was like a rose in full bloom. Each had its own beauty.

As Liu Zhenqing gazed at the beauty, the beauty naturally looked at the two strangers. Although among them, Huo Fenglie was the one whom a woman would never forget regardless of appearance and temperament, Xi Ran’s eyes could not help but linger on Liu Zhenqing.

Xi Ran put down her pipa and stepped forward to greet them. “The two guests are strangers to me, ah. I wonder who…..”

“There is no need to inquire about their identities. It is not convenient to reveal them,” Song Xingmu said at once with a smile. “We’ll stay here with you for a while and then leave.”

“Captain Song actually regards my Fragrance Pavilion, which everyone wishes to enter, as a tea house,” Xi Ran said with a faint smile.

“I am here to see Madam Xi Ran,” Yi Chuan said as he stepped forward proactively.

Xi Ran gave a charming smile.

Song Xingmu’s mouth twitched and he pulled this person to sit down.

Xi Ran seemed to be accustomed to this, and asked the attendant to step aside as she took the initiative to pour tea for the four of them.

“I thought Captain Song would leave right away after finishing his work.”

“Xi Ran wishes to drive me away?”

“This one is only worried that outsiders will say I colluded with Captain Song, and it is not safe to come to my place and spend money.”

“Xi Ran, don’t worry. I will deal with the aftermath well.” Song Xingmu smiled and said promptly: “I haven’t thanked Madam Xi Ran for the information.”

Xi Ran’s expression changed, and she instantly looked toward the two strangers, Liu Zhenqing and Huo Fenglie.

“They are our own,” Song Xingmu whispered.

At once, Xi Ran did not conceal her displeasure: “Song Xingmu, you paid me to provide information. The money was paid and the goods delivered, so do not cause trouble for me.”

Song Xingmu did not answer, but looked at Yi Chuan and said: “Do you see? This is her true face.”

Yi Chuan rolled his eyes and ignored him. Then he said flatteringly: “Madam Xi Ran, don’t be angry.”

Xi Ran’s expression looked a little better, and her eyes turned again to those two people.

She was obviously still cautious. Even if Song Xingmu said they were their own people, she was still a little anxious. “Captain Song, don’t cause me harm. I can’t afford it.”

If ordinary people saw her changes in mood before and after, they would not believe it.

“Then let me tell you…..they are friends of Liu Zhenqing.”

Upon hearing this, Xi Ran instantly widened her eyes. Ordinary people were forbidden to speak of Liu Zhenqing, so for Song Xingmu to say this, it proved that the two people before her were indeed…..Xi Ran’s eyes shimmered slightly. “You are truly…..fortunate. Young Master Liu had very few friends in this world. What was your relationship with him?”

Liu Zhenqing was a little taken aback to see that Xi Ran really missed him, and said promptly: “To be honest, Madam Xi Ran, we were still young at the time. We treated him as an older brother and cannot say that we had too many interactions with him.”

“Is that so? He liked to play with little children. He had the same mentality as a child, always causing mischief.” Xi Ran’s eyes revealed nostalgia, and the corners of her mouth rose uncontrollably as she sat down slowly. A pair of clear dimples could be seen, and she couldn’t help but raise her hands to touch them, recalling the time when Liu Zhenqing praised her for having fine wine in her dimples, which made him drunk. But in fact, she was drunk and he was not.

So she pretended she was not drunk on him. In any case, such a person could never belong to her, and could only be a friend and confidant. Now that she saw someone related to Liu Zhenqing, she felt it was hard to control herself. Her hand instinctively touched her neck.

There was no beaded necklace around the beauty’s neck, only a simple red string. What hung on the red string was hidden under the neckline of her clothes, but a slight protrusion of green jade could be seen.

Liu Zhenqing scanned over it by chance and was startled. That was his gift from back then…..a jade willow leaf pendant?

How could Xi Ran…..

Huo Fenglie naturally noticed Xi Ran’s movements, and his face darkened at once.

And Song Xingmu, who was very familiar with Xi Ran, looked back and forth between her and Liu Zhenqing as if watching a good show.

Yi Chuan had seen the courtesan side of Xi Ran, as well as her irritable side, but he had never witnessed such genuine feelings. Because Song Xingmu usually met Xi Ran alone and didn’t take him along, he had never learned that Xi Ran had known Liu Zhenqing.

At this moment, he couldn’t help but ask curiously: “Xi Ran, you actually knew Liu Zhenqing?”

Xi Ran nodded gently. “We were both young when we met. Time flies.”

Song Xingmu smiled and said: “Yes, ah, but I have a question. Did I really lose to Liu Zhenqing like that back then? In those days, Xi Ran took the initiative to select someone to join her in Fragrance Pavilion. Why did she choose Liu Zhenqing and not me?”

Smiling, Xi Ran said: “Because I liked his appearance better.”

Song Xingmu raised his eyebrows in dissatisfaction. Then he glanced at the obviously embarrassed Liu Zhenqing and said: “What good are looks? Good health is everything. Back then, Liu Zhenqing stayed in your Fragrance Pavilion for three days and three nights before coming out. I remember that when Huo Feihan picked him up, his steps were sloppy and he had a pair of dark circles under his eyes. Tsk, tsk, tsk.”

Having said this, he gave Liu Zhenqing a teasingly disgusted look.

And Liu Zhenqing was about to choke to death on his tea. He didn’t know Xi Ran’s thoughts before, so he didn’t think there was a problem, but now he seemed to see something. In this situation, Liu Zhenqing had no wish to use Xi Ran to stimulate Er-gou, and felt extremely bad.

But Song Xingmu spared no effort and would make fun of anything. He waited for Xi Ran to explain.

But in the next second, Xi Ran covered her smiling lips and said: “It is my fault for being greedy. That was my most glorious time, so how could I be willing to waste time letting him rest? Naturally, every moment must be cherished.”

Liu Zhenqing took a sharp breath, and suddenly, Huo Fenglie stood up sharply next to him and startled everybody.

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Chapter Seventy-Eight << Table of Contents >> Chapter Eighty

He doesn’t come home and doesn’t sent me a message, which is rare.

Although Mingcheng loves to work, he never works overtime, and does not support employees working overtime either.

What’s more, even if he had to work overtime, he would have told me.

I wait until seven o’clock. The candles on the table have burned out, white wax flowing down softly, and the dinner on the plate is cold. I’m worried about him, so I give him a call.

The call goes through, but no one answers.

“Hello, the user you dialed is currently unavailable.”

The voice prompt sounds. I hang up and call again.

Nobody answers, and the call automatically hangs up.

I look at the dark mobile phone screen, and my upper eyelid suddenly begins to twitch.

As the eldest son of the Wen family, he has a lot to do every day as the president of the company. I shouldn’t bother him, but perhaps I’m sensitive, because after my eyelid twitches, a strange and ominous feeling arises in my heart.

So after enduring it for a while, I finally send a message to Mingcheng’s secretary.

“Ms. Li, is your boss off work?”

The secretary quickly replies to me: “Mr. Wen has not left work yet and is currently holding a board meeting.”

I feel relieved.

When I see the message, my dangling heart finally returns to my chest.

I am in no mood to eat all night, but now I have finally lost my worries. I go to the bar to get myself a glass of hot water, which warms my stomach and dissipates the strange discomfort I had felt tonight. When I return to the sofa, I find that Ms. Li has sent me a message.

“Since Mr. Wen went out for something during the day and will get off work late, please let me know if you need anything.”

She is always very considerate in her work. I reply to her: “Thank you for your hard work. It’s just that it’s late and I got worried.”

Knowing that Mingcheng will be home late tonight, I stop waiting for him and heat up my dinner to eat, and take his portion to heat it and keep it warm.

After eating, I drift off to sleep. This nap is short, but I sleep extremely well. I haven’t slept deeply and peacefully like I did before for several days. Even though Mingcheng and I slept together the day before, I felt a bit of unreasonable panic, but now I sleep very comfortably alone on the sofa.

However, late at night when I’m deep in my dreams, I suddenly hear an almost broken cry.

“A-Zhen—”

This shout is deafening, like it is exploding in my ears, and instantly wakes me from my deep sleep.

I abruptly open my eyes and get up from the sofa, knocking the water glass on the coffee table to the floor. I gasp wildly with my mouth half open. “…..Mingcheng?”

But Mingcheng is not here, and my response disperses feebly in the room. I look around in disbelief and call for him again, “Mingcheng, is that you?”

There is still no response.

At this time, the wall clock shows that the time is 22:00, which is around ten at night.

Mingcheng hasn’t come home yet, but I actually heard him calling me.

I don’t think I heard wrong. This shout was really loud, and contained urgent emotions. I even heard fear, and it was so forceful that it was almost hoarse.

At this point, my ears are still ringing.

I cover my ears, and my heart continues to palpitate after waking up from my dream.

But there is really nobody inside.

Auditory hallucinations?

I have never had auditory hallucination symptoms before, and have never tried to learn about them. Would auditory hallucinations cause me to wake up? Would they make my ears ring?

Could they still be heard even when I was sleeping well?

I get off the ground and walk over to the floor-to-ceiling windows. Opening the huge curtains, I look into the small courtyard.

The beautiful flowers in the courtyard are sleeping quietly under the moonlight. Although there is nothing there but them, I still turn on the courtyard lights and check every corner. After ensuring that nobody is there, I look through the peephole to the front yard.

Perhaps because it is dark at night, the peephole is black and I can’t see outside.

So I turn on the front yard light and look out again.

I don’t know why, but the peephole is still blurry and I can’t see anything clearly. I can only see that there is light outside.

Having confirmed that I am the only one at home, I can only classify the shout as an auditory hallucination.

It seems that my recent condition is indeed not good. I should go see Dr. Zhao for a follow-up consultation tomorrow.

“It seems that due to the influence of Professor Wei, the topic chosen by the Beihua Academy of Fine Arts last summer was ‘Midsummer.’ This topic sounds very beautiful, ah. Yes, yes…..this kind of theme not only examines artistic conception, but also examines students’ color coordination…..”

On the TV, the host is talking with an education expert about last year’s university entrance examination for art students. My eyes watch the TV, but my mind is somewhere else.

Because of the different nature of my work, I spend most of the time waiting for Mingcheng to come home. This is the first time he’s come back so late.

I really want to call him again, but fear that he will be driving on the road.

At eleven o’clock in the evening, my eyelids begin to flutter. In a daze, I hear the sound of men’s leather shoes on the floor, followed by the sound of a key being inserted into the door.

Yes…..Mingcheng is back home!

I stand up from the sofa, run to the door, and lean toward the peephole to take a look. Unfortunately, the peephole is still blurry, and I can only vaguely see shadows swaying. “Mingcheng, is that you? You came back?”

I wait for him to push the door open, so I can hug him and ask him why he didn’t call me back and made me worry all night.

But after he turns the key in the lock, he doesn’t come in.

“Mingcheng?”

“A-Zhen.” The person outside speaks in a tired tone, “Today was beyond my expectations. I encountered some trouble on the way back.”

He lets out a long sigh, seemingly exhausted. “With me coming back so late, will you blame me? Will you still let me in?”

I had already forgiven him when I heard the word “trouble” from his mouth. I feel sorry for being angry that he was so late, so I open the door from the inside before he can open it himself. “What are you talking about? Come in quickly, what trouble did you run into?”

The man outside the door is dressed as usual, but I notice that the shoulders of his black suit are a little dirty and that a few strands of hair on his temples have fallen in front of his ears. He still smiles softly at me when he sees me, his skin emitting a soft, pearl-like light in the dim illumination under the eaves.

The corners of his naturally raised lips curve elegantly: “Are you sure you want me to come in?”

“Of course.” I comb the hair on his temples neatly with my fingers and take his hand through the door.

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Chapter 4 << Table of Contents >> Chapter 6

Before leaving for the TV station, Talia suddenly thought of something and waved Lu Qi over.

She was wearing a dark green dress today with her hair tied up, looking noble and beautiful, like a goddess in ancient Greek mythology. Mu Chuanbai was also dressed very formally, but he would not accompany his wife to the recording. He was wearing such formal clothes for a work meeting.

Lu Qi walked over obediently and couldn’t help but say with eyes full of tiny stars: “You are so beautiful today.”

Talia had multi-faceted and exquisite facial features, and when she was not smiling, there was a sculpture-like coldness and distance. Mu Nanqiao was very similar to her in this way, but once she smiled, there was a gentleness like the spring breeze blowing away the ice and snow. This was a softness unique to women.

“Thank you, dear. Even though I know I’m very beautiful today, your compliment still makes me extra happy.” She lifted her hands and hugged Lu Qi. “Come, let’s take a family picture. I’m going back to Russia in a few days, and I want to take my family with me.”

My family…..

Lu Qi was a little embarrassed, and turned to give Mu Nanqiao an uncertain look.

Mu Naqiao entwined their fingers and lowered his head to ask him: “Do you think this is somewhat offensive since I haven’t proposed to you yet?”

“No…..” Lu Qi’s ears warmed. “I just feel flattered.”

Thus, Mu Chuanbai and Talia sat on the sofa and Mu Nanqiao and Lu Qi stood behind, as well as Xiao Sanhua and the little black pig, who had come to eat tuna. One obediently rubbed against Mu Chuanbai’s trouser leg while the other rested her head on Talia’s lap.

Click—

The scene froze. The chef, who had taken the photo, happily showed it to Talia on his SLR camera and said casually: “Madam, your family is so eye-catching…..”

After taking photos, Mu Nanqiao and Lu Qi sent Talia to record the show. Talia asked when they got in the car: “Xiao Lu, I heard that you can ride motorcycles. Why don’t you ride a motorcycle to see me off?”

Mu Nanqiao was speechless for a moment, and then said: “Mom, you got your hair done today. Are you sure you can wear a helmet?”

Lu Qi gave him an approving look.

“Okay.” Talia appeared regretful. “Let’s talk about it next time.”

When they arrived at the TV station, Mu Nanqiao and Lu Qi were placed in the reception room while Talia went to the recording hall alone with the staff.

The ratings of the Art Star program were already very low. After all, young people no longer watched TV, with most of them watching movies or variety shows, so its general audience was middle-aged to elderly people.

The people in charge of the program never dared to think of being able to invite Talia, but this excellent ballet artist actually took the initiative to work with them, and also drew in investment from Mu Group.

Talia had already seen the flow of the show. She changed into ballet shoes and danced the solo part in the second act of the ballet “Giselle” after taking the stage. The ghost queen danced in a cold, silent forest, her skirt spread out like pedals. Her leaps were light and graceful, and if you didn’t look at her toes, it really seemed as if she was walking on air.

After a short dance, there was applause from the audience. The female host began to introduce Talia as she went backstage to change her shoes.

When the interview officially started, the host began to ask questions according to the previous process. First, she respectfully shook Talia’s hand. Once the two sat down, she smiled and said: “Teacher Talia looks very ‘slender,’ like a graceful swan. Is this rare in your hometown?”

Talia elegantly smoothed back the hair at her temples and showed off her excellent biceps to the host, saying in standard Chinese: “I can even carry my husband. As we all know, swans are birds of prey.”

There was friendly laughter from the audience, and the atmosphere became relaxed.

The interview lasted an hour, from her opportunity to enter the ballet industry, to mentioning the honors Talia had received over the years, and then talking about her recently announced retirement from the ballet stage. Then she finally started talking about her family.

Lu Qi also learned that Talia was an orphan, and was able to reach this point without any help from relatives. She was truly a determined woman.

The host said: “Your husband is also a legendary person. How did you meet him?”

Talia inconspicuously glanced at the time on her watch, then raised her head and said with a proper smile: “How do you know that I have two sons?”

The host: “…..I don’t, the information says…..”

Talia: “Do you want me to talk about my two sons?”

Host: “…..Then talk about them.”

Talia smiled sheepishly: “Sorry, did I hear the question wrong? My Chinese is not very good.”

The host: ……

I can see that you are not good at Chinese when it comes to topics that you don’t want to talk about, but you are good at Chinese when it comes to topics that you want to talk about.

The staff at the back cooperated very well, and a photo was displayed on the big screen. It was the one of the four of them on the sofa, except that Lu Qi’s face was blurred out.

Talia said: “My other child is not a public figure, and I don’t want his life to be disturbed.”

The host said: “I understand, but don’t you and your husband only have one son?”

In order to prevent the show from being canceled, Talia explained it like this: “Yes, ah, one is biological and one is a very good friend of my son. I like him very much, so I treat him as my own child.”

The host had “this is okay” all over her face, and the hand holding the cue card visibly trembled.

Fortunately, this beauty from the fighting nation followed the process step by step, which made the host sigh in relief.

“One last question.” The host gave an easy laugh. “Do you have anything to say to your family?”

Talia looked toward where the camera was, her eyes gentle and encouraging: “I want to tell my children, don’t pay attention to those who don’t love you. Your life has nothing to do with them.”

Crash—

A plate fell to the floor and broke into several pieces.

Lin Chunhe heard the noise and ran out, exclaiming: “It’s alright, ah, Fangfang. Did you cut your hand?”

But Lu Fanshu stared blankly at the screen, the words still echoing in her ears: Your life has nothing to do with them.

Even though Lu Qi’s face was blurred out, how could she be unable to recognize her own child?

She had thought that Lu Qi’s sexual orientation would cause him to be regarded as a freak, that he would be hurt and discriminated against, but it turned out that this was not the case. He was accepted by others and received a lot of love, but it was his mother who had truly hurt Lu Qi.

Some mothers went beyond faith to accept their children’s differences, but she insisted on hurting Lu Qi because of other people’s prejudiced eyes.

Lu Fangshu abruptly crouched down, covered her face, and cried.

Lin Chunhe was taken by surprise and looked at the TV, at a loss. He could only crouch down awkwardly with his chubby frame and pat Lu Fangshu’s shoulder, saying cautiously: “Wife, what’s wrong?”

“I’m fine…..” Lu Fangshu choked out: “Lao Lin, I…..before, you said we should see a psychiatrist…..when are we going?”

. . . . . . .

A week had passed since the recording of the program. Lu Qi never thought that his mom would watch that show. After all, his mom was not very interested in foreign artists. However, he was unaware that the Mu family father and son had activated their superpowers and had been replaying Talia’s interview this week and also bought a push for Yuncheng.

When Mu Nanqiao was about to leave in the morning, Lu Qi greeted him and said: “I’m going back to the Garden Community for a while.”

Mu Nanqiao raised his eyes and looked at him: “What’s up? I’ll drive you there.”

Following Lu Qi’s suggestion, he wore a light gray waffle-patterned sweatshirt, and there was even the outline of a deer on the chest where his heart was. His untended hair hung naturally between his eyebrows.

Lu Qi especially liked it when he was dressed like this. At the thought that this was his boyfriend, he couldn’t help but lean forward and kiss Mu Nanqiao on the face. “No need, la. It’s not convenient. I’ll just go back by myself.”

“Come here…..” Mu Nanqiao caught this person who ran away after a kiss. He held him on his lap and fed him a bun as he said: “What are you going back to do? Is there something you didn’t take? Did you drop the Holy Sword of Physics?”

“The holy sword belongs to the landlord, okay…..” Lu Qi bit into the bun and said, “The little sister I sponsored got into university. She sent me a picture of the admission notice and a handwritten thank you letter, which were mailed to the Garden Community. The landlord called me to pick them up.”

Mu Nanqiao knew that Lu Qi had sponsored a child, but he never suspected that it would be such a big “child.” He frowned in puzzlement and asked: “Baby, how did you sponsor this child before you were financially independent?”

Lu Qi swallowed the bun and explained: “My grandpa was sponsoring her before, and I continued to support her after he passed away. At first it was the New Year’s money I saved, and then I got some income from part-time work…..”

He smiled with satisfaction: “Good, la. Now it’s been successfully accomplished.”

When he smiled, his eyes were clear and curved, looking sweet and good. Mu Nanqiao kissed his small pear dimple and rocked him back and forth like a child holding a doll. He asked half-seriously and half-teasingly: “Baby, are you a small god who came to earth to accumulate merit?”

It was indeed easy for such a good Lu Qi to attract others. No one disliked beautiful things. But fortunately, his little boyfriend only had eyes for him.

“Ride your motorcycle to pick me up tonight…..” He nuzzled Lu Qi’s neck, acting coquettishly.

Lu Qi said: “It’s going to snow soon. You’re really not afraid of the cold.”

“This is the last time,” Mu Nanqiao said. “Don’t ride when it snows, it’s cold and unsafe.”

Lu Qi gave a hum. He wanted to find time to practice driving a car so that he could go pick up the coquettish boss!

The two separated after breakfast, and Mu Nanqiao went to the company. Mu Chuanbai had been very interested in “abdicating” recently, and did not covet the position of Chairman. He wanted to go to Russia to be a househusband, but Mu Nanqiao didn’t want to spend too much time on work, and ruthlessly rejected Mu Chuanbai’s proposal.

During lunch, he went to the cafeteria with the employees. The company’s food was far superior to the standards in the same industry. For lunch, he had Lu Qi’s favorite steamed chicken with chopped peppers, and for dessert, he had coconut milk cake. He took a picture and sent it to Lu Qi.

[ (picture) ]

[ Детка, next time, I’ll take you to experience our company’s canteen ]

He gave the dessert to Assistant Zhang when he finished taking the picture. After the meal, Assistant Zhang gained three pounds with tears in his eyes.

Lu Qi didn’t reply. Mu Nanqiao thought that he might be taking a nap, so he led some others to another conference room in the afternoon.

It was already two o’clock in the afternoon when the meeting ended. He leaned back in the chair and tilted his head up to loosen his tie, then picked up his phone to take a look.

Lu Qi still had not replied.

Mu Nanqiao frowned and called directly this time.

The female voice said: “I’m sorry, the user you have dialed has shut off their phone.”

---

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Chapter Forty-Six << Table of Contents >> Chapter Forty-Eight

I don’t know why she said that. We were clearly getting along very well until just now.

But I also know that since we both came of age, my relationship with Mingyi has gotten increasingly distant. I don’t know the reason. Perhaps she is deeply homophobic, because she is disgusted with my relationship with Mingcheng.

This resistance reached its peak in the first half of the year when Mingcheng and I got married. I saw the brother and sister quarrel very fiercely several times. Mingcheng rushed out the door with a cold expression, and she smashed things in anger.

And every time I tried to break up a fight, it just caused the situation to get more and more out of control.

In the next six months, Mingyi would occasionally meet with me, but she rarely had contact with her brother.

In fact, every time I made an appointment with her, it was with the attitude of trying to draw her back, but it obviously ended in failure every time.

I smile faintly in frustration: “If you don’t want to, forget it.”

Adults should know how to touch on a topic lightly. I plan to go home. Mingcheng should be getting off work in a few hours, and if Mingyi is truly resistant, I don’t want to embarrass her. She is Mingcheng’s sister, the sister I watched grow up, even though she may hate me now.

I’m about to leave, but Mingyi suddenly reaches out of the car window and grabs my wrist, saying urgently: “Wait!”

I stop. My eyes light up when she tells me to stay, and I turn back to give her a meaningful look: “How about it? If you’re willing, me and Mingcheng will personally cook for our Mingyi.”

Her brow is furrowed. She is noncommittal about my words and looks at me in a way that I can’t parse. After retracting her hand, she takes a few deep puffs of smoke, crushes the remaining half of the cigarette, and actually opens the door to walk out.

It is a warm summer afternoon. I see her standing tall and slender beside her car, and after I hear her take a few deep breaths, she calls to me in a tone similar to her brother’s: “A-Zhen…..”

Every time I see her, I marvel at how powerful her genes are. Although she is a woman, she looks very similar to her brother Mingcheng in many aspects, and sometimes even her tone of voice is similar.

I motion for her to continue.

But then a phone call interrupts the chat that my sister-in-law and I are about to have.

Mingyi also seems annoyed. She hangs up the phone angrily without even looking at it.

But this caller is very persistent, and calls back in less than two seconds.

The woman frowns and looks down at the phone screen. Her expression changes slightly, and she raises her head to take a quick glance at me, saying: “Wait a minute.” Then she answers the phone and walks a few steps away to avoid me.

Women of this age have secrets of their own, and I’m too embarrassed to listen to them. Fortunately, she took a few steps away to conceal it.

The phone call is not short, around ten minutes. I’m a little awkward while waiting, and just when I can’t help but want to watch a short video, Mingyi finally comes back.

I breathe a sigh of relief and wait for her to come into the house with me, but see her walking in a straight line to her dark blue car.

“Huh?” I stop her and weakly ask, “…..Mingyi, don’t you have something to tell me?”

“I have nothing to say.” She closes the car door and neatly fastens her seatbelt. She doesn’t look at me the entire time, and perhaps because she had smoked, her usually cold voice is slightly hoarse. “…..I parted ways with my brother when you got married. I…..don’t want to come in. If you have time, go back to the Wen family house often to see our parents.”

I pause. I might have said I was disappointed, but I’m used to it. Her softened attitude is already good progress. Seeing that she is about to leave, I can’t help but tell her: “Be careful on the road.”

She still refuses to look at me, taking another cigarette out of its case. After some thought, she tosses it onto the passenger seat and says dully: “En.”

I smile softly: “Stop smoking. Your voice sounded so sweet when you were a kid. Even your brother quit smoking during these years.”

She has already started the vehicle, but after hearing this, she finally looks at me. The eyes of the brother and sister are also similar, but Mingcheng’s eyes are upturned and his gaze always contains a smile, whereas Mingyi’s eyes are direct and clear, sometimes filled with boredom.

Hearing what I said, she suddenly smiles with unknown meaning. The smile is very brief, and passes in an instant. “You really love my brother, ah.”

I am a married adult, and not shy about my feelings, so I nod calmly: “Of course, I love him very much.”

Mingyi leaves.

I watch her leave the residential area, then I turn around and go home.

But then I hear the rumbling vehicle coming back again. I’m confused about her behavior today, and Mingyi’s car stops directly in front of me.

She lowers her car window, purses her lips as if recalling something, and then takes a sachet out of her handbag and hands it to me.

I think it is a small gift from her, but when I take it, I find that the sachet is actually sealed with cinnabar, and there is a faint burnt scent lingering in the palm of my hand. “This is…..”

Mingyi says: “This is the protective jade your mother bought for you. She personally went to the Baichen Monastery and made offerings for two months, and she wants you to wear it day and night.”

“You went out of your way to see my mother before coming here?” I keenly grasp the hidden information.

Mingyi ignores my words and speaks of something else: “Auntie said that the trip you and my…..brother took to Southeast Asia was very ominous, so she wants you to pay more attention…..”

Mingcheng and I got married six months ago. According to the plan, we would go to Turkey and Paris for our honeymoon, but not long before leaving, Mingcheng changed his mind and insisted on going to a small country in Southeast Asia. Most of the time, he was at my whim and rarely insisted on what to do. I didn’t want to disappoint him, so I agreed.

This trip was not as difficult as I had imagined. Although that country was small, it was not very backward. It still had the things that should be there, but it was very religious. People believed in all sorts of supernatural beings, and bizarre sacrificial dances could be seen everywhere on the streets. The atmosphere there was indescribably weird.

In particular, when worshiping a statue with Mingcheng, I truly saw the strangeness of that place.

The statue turned out to be double-sided. The front looked like an ordinary god statue with colorful, benevolent gilded features, but the back side had a dark black torso and fangs on its face. The two torsos with completely different identities and temperaments were merged together. When I knelt down, there was a crawling sensation along my back. 

But Mingcheng was very interested, and even chatted with the divine attendant for the afternoon. I didn’t know what they talked about, but in the end, he brought back a black doll.  

Unlike the terrifying statue of the god, although this doll was black, it was exquisitely carved, with strong, exotic cultural colors. It seemed to be very old. The top of the doll’s head was inlaid with Eastern pearls, which had disappeared in the Qing Dynasty hundreds of years ago, and the back was engraved with ancient characters. The whole thing was colored black under the light, a thick ink that could not be melted away.

I praised Mingcheng’s insight, then forced him to put it into a cabinet and not take it out.

I suddenly remember this when Mingyi mentions it.

People always like to look for some kind of supernatural reason when things go wrong. I feel that my abnormal illness these past two days probably has something to do with this little black doll. 

It is really a bit unlucky.

After bidding farewell to Mingyi, I plan to deal with this little black doll.

It’s a little funny that the man who sold it to Mingcheng was an old Chinese national. When we bought it, the old man even stopped me to add his mobile phone number. “Please keep in touch, young sir.”

The old man’s contact information is still in my address book. 

In the end, it is something the divine attendant brought, so when dealing with this, I ask him what to do.

In fact, I never thought there would be after-sale service for this kind of transaction that looked like a money trap at first glance, but to my surprise, the call actually goes through.

After listening to my words, the old divine attendant mutters for a while in a hoarse, heavy voice and says to me: “You do as I say. First place it underground…..”

Underground? Why underground?

Wouldn’t it be bad to dig a hole and bury it??

After much deliberation, I decide to put it in a cabinet in the basement. I am really too kind.

After closing the cabinet, I recite three times according to the divine attendant’s repeated instructions: “Please do not come into my house.”

Although it is troublesome, I do everything that I need to do.

After doing this, I take a comfortable bath and then put the protective jade my mother had bought me around my neck. This is a Hetian Pixiu pendant with a milky white color. The pixiu is innocent and cute, with bright, round eyes. At first glance, my mother had chosen it due to her aesthetic tastes.

The quality of the jade is also very good, its surface smooth and oily, generating warmth.

I can’t put it down, and play with it for a while. I find that today is a good day. Not only did I go out and get a gift, but it is also a day without work. I’m in a happy mood, and decide to cook.

I am busy until 5:10 making dinner. I make a call for candlesticks and white roses, preparing the props for a candlelit dinner.

At 5:25, I light the scented candlesticks. In order to add to the atmosphere, I prepare music in advance, hoping to satisfy Mingcheng’s desire to dance after the meal.

At 5:30, I sit at the table. But Mingcheng doesn’t come home.

At 5:40, Mingcheng is not home.

The sky is dark, and Mingcheng isn’t home……

---

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Chapter 3 << Table of Contents >> Chapter 5

In the evening, he pushes the door open and enters.

The afterglow of the setting sun spills in through the floor-to-ceiling windows and falls on his face so beautifully that it seems unreal.

I can’t control myself, and take a few steps back. My eyes are fixed on him, and the hand holding my phone grips it so hard that my fingertips turn white.

“A-Zhen, did you miss me?” He removes his suit jacket skillfully and takes off his leather shoes to replace them with soft house shoes, which gives his whole person a somewhat languid atmosphere. “It’s more comfortable at home.”

I see him raise his hand to slightly mess up his hair, then loosely unbutton the cuffs and collar of his shirt.

The warm sunlight outlines his tall figure, and the white shirt tucked into his trousers depicts the slender and muscular contours of his body. He walks toward me on long legs, handsome and full of spirit, and I can even see a bit of relaxation and joy in his eyes.

Just like most men when coming home after leaving work.

But I can’t forget the obscure darkness outside the peephole.

I really try to convince myself that it was all a misunderstanding. Maybe the peephole was actually broken, and Mingcheng just so happened to get off work at this time. But when he hugs me and rubs the side of his face against my neck, I don’t hug him back. I say instead: “Is the fingerprint lock broken?”

He doesn’t pause in his affectionate movements. He kisses the side of my face tenderly and gives a slight frown, saying in an uncertain tone: “It’s probably broken.”

I don’t speak.

He seems to notice that something is strange about me, and sets his handbag behind the sofa. He pulls me out the door and closes it, then asks me to try to open it. “I think it’s strange too that it suddenly can’t be opened. You try it, I don’t know if the problem is just with me.”

His attitude is really calm. I hesitate, then press my hand on it.

“Warning, fingerprint unlock is disabled.”

He shakes his head as if he has a headache. “It seems the safety of this thing still needs some consideration. Let’s use keys for the time being.”

It is impossible to check who the problem is.

My heart sinks again.

He reopens the door and turns on the indoor lights. The crystal chandelier was chosen by Mingcheng when we got married, and it has a warm-colored light. At this moment, he stands indoors with a layer of radiance on his broad shoulders. Slender arms reach out toward me, palms spread upward in an elegant gesture of invitation, but I find myself feeling resistant.

It seems that every person has a sixth sense.

Mingcheng and I have known each other since we were very young. We grew up together and fell in love. I have never had negative emotions toward him since then. We’ve had our share of quarrels, but I just found it funny to see his sulking expression, and never had this sense of resistance against him. 

I don’t know why, but although his attitude and personality haven’t changed, I feel like he is a different person today.

I suddenly remember a saying: people are most sensitive to those closest to them.

“A-Zhen.” He calls to me with his eyes curved, “I’m very happy today. Let’s dance together after dinner.”

I have said before that Mingcheng is a very romantic person, and he also attaches great importance to rituals in life.

“Okay, ah.” I breathe a sigh of relief, put my hand in his palm, and raise my eyebrows at him with a smile. “Let’s eat Sichuan food tonight. You order it first, and I’ll prepare it.”

He is very happy when he hears this. With a pair of slightly narrowed eyes, he kisses my forehead and goes to order the food.

Once he leaves, I secretly look back at the peephole.

The lights in the courtyard have turned on in advance, and the setting sun is like blood. My white bird sits tiredly in its cage, and the neighbor’s dog is stretching on the balcony.

The peephole is intact.

And the food is wrong.

In fact, we rarely cook for ourselves at night. I have VIP status at many restaurants in the city, and Mingcheng knows which ones I like to eat at.

But by the time the food delivery person comes in, my heart is completely cold.

“Sir, it is our honor to serve you this food. It is your first time ordering from us, and our manager specifically asked for us to take care of you throughout the meal.” The delivery person’s eyes gleam when he looks at me.

Our wedding villa is in the most exclusive residential area in the city, so most of the restaurants that deliver food want me to apply as a super VIP. I don’t like dealing with overenthusiastic strangers, which is why I don’t like trying new stores.

After sending away the delivery person, I sit under the warm light, feeling chilled all over.

It is also at this time that I begin to have an ominous feeling in my heart.

The food on the table is hot and fragrant. The person opposite selects from the wine cabinet, running his fingers over the dark wine bottles. His skin is so smooth that it seems like it has no texture at all, and such perfection smacks of falsehood.

I look at him from head to toe and ask with some difficulty: “Mingcheng, what time did you get off work today?”

He tilts his head slightly, but his eyes remain on the wine bottles: “Five o’clock. What’s wrong?”

The corners of my mouth twitch. I rub the skin on the back of my left hand with my right one, and my nails make red marks on the skin. My voice is very heavy: “Is that so…..has work been going well at the company recently?”

At this moment, I have a little hope in my heart that it’s just because there is something wrong with the company. Mingcheng didn’t go to work, but didn’t want to burden me, so he stayed outside the door.

But he says: “It is going very smoothly. A-Zhen can rest his heart.”

I fall into silence, and he doesn’t speak anymore after saying this. He seems to have noticed that something is off about me, and the room is quiet for a long time.

Eventually, I give up.

It is truly torturous to feel that something is wrong with your lover.

Perhaps it is the scene of spurting blood during the day that had a serious impact on me. I really can’t forget what happened that day, the blood, the darkness outside the peephole, and the abnormal fingerprint lock.

I can’t take it anymore. Whether something is really wrong with him or I’m crazy, I feel like I need an answer.

I stand up, walk to him in a few steps, and put my hands on his shoulders under his doubtful gaze. I make him look directly at me and say in a serious tone: “Mingcheng, tell me, where did you go this afternoon? Why were you standing in the living room this morning instead of going to work?”

The more I think about it, the more I feel that something is wrong. At ten o’clock in the morning, he was standing in the center of the living room, neatly dressed. Had he just gotten ready, or had he been standing there since early in the morning? How long had he been standing there? And why?

Mingcheng sees my serious expression and stops smiling. “This morning…..I wanted to be at home with you. I did go to work in the afternoon.” He lowers his eyes to look at me. There is some hurt in his eyes, and his tone is certain. “A-Zhen, you doubt me.”

I admit frankly: “I think something is wrong with you.”

He asks: “What do you think is wrong with me?”

My reasoning tells me that I should hide some things for future observation, but when confronted with Mingcheng’s face that I’m around day and night, I really can’t help it. He seems to have some magical power that makes me pour out all of my feelings and confusion.

He looks at me silently and says nothing for a long time.

And when confronting the person closest to me, every moment of silence is piercing.

His silence abruptly undermines my confidence. 

“Tomorrow…..” he says. “No, right now. I will change the peephole right now. If you…..still don’t believe me, you can come to work with me tomorrow.”

He holds my face, not angry at being suspected. His voice is firm: “Or else you can do whatever you want to test me. It was my negligence when ordering food. I just wanted you to try new flavors today. I’m sorry, A-Zhen, I made you uncomfortable.”

He says he is sorry, but I’m the one who is uncomfortable at this time.

I can’t figure it out. I don’t know if there is something wrong with him or if I’m crazy, but now I think that it is most likely the latter.

This makes me very sad.

Mingcheng doesn’t speak empty words. When he’s done talking, he goes to the basement to find the new peephole and comes back. In front of me, he removes the old peephole and replaces it with a new one.

After he’s done, he turns on the yard lights and lets me try out the new peephole.

I lean down, and although the new peephole is a little unclear, I see that the yard outside is brightly lit.

He shows me the old peephole. “It’s dusty on the outside, and it’s really hard to see outside without turning the lights on during the day.”

Having said that, he smiles at me again: “A-Zhen remembered what I said. He remembered to check the outside environment before going out. I’m very glad.”

He is tolerant and generous. Even though he was wronged and questioned for no reason, he doesn’t say anything about it and comforts me.

I cry.

In fact, I rarely cry. All of the tears in my life have fallen in front of Mingcheng.

I cover my face, tears streaming between my fingers. My nose is blocked and my words are a little slurred, but I try my best to say clearly: “I’m sorry.”

I realize that being married to someone like me with a history of mental illness is difficult.

I used to think that my illness would not affect my life. After all, I am optimistic most of the time. I stay up late every day playing with my mobile phone, sleep until I wake up naturally in the morning, and have no cares in the world. I put off my work as much as I can and always go with the flow. Even Dr. Zhao says that my symptoms have been very mild in the past two years, and I should be fine soon as long as I keep taking my medicine.

Mingcheng takes away the hands covering my face, wipes all my tears away, then lowers his head and kisses me.

He pries open my teeth. There is no distance between us, entangled and intimate as we are.

After a long while, his voice comes between our entangled breaths, low and magnetic, as warm as water. “I understand. You care about me so much that it’s difficult for you to ignore anything about me.”

He lowers himself and puts his arms around my thighs, then picks me up and walks toward the bedroom.

I indulge myself in his arms and sniff the cologne on his body. The scent of fringe flowers is elegant and light, relaxing my mind.

I chose a large bed for my bedroom. Laying on it feels like falling into the clouds. 

I lay on the clouds with his arms braced on both sides of my head, his beautiful eyes looking down at me…..

We have a beautiful night.

Later in the night, when I’m sleepy, I hear him say in my ear as he covers me up: “Go out and relax tomorrow.”

Before I fall asleep, I have the vague thought that this is a good idea.

. . . . . . .

I wake up around nine o’clock the next day.

As usual, the sun is shining brightly, there is breakfast in the kitchen, the medication for my mental illness is on a plate, and Mingcheng’s persistent instructions are on the phone.

I feel much better today, so I actively heat up my breakfast and honestly take my medicine after eating. Then, for the first time in a long time, I take out the clothes I like from my closet and feel very comfortable after getting dressed.

Comfortable in both body and mind.

When I go out, I deliberately choose a high-collared shirt and pour a lot of food for my little white bird.

“That bird of yours is just an ungrateful thing and was born to peck people. It was transferred from several homes before it belonged to you, but you’re still keeping it.”

A cold female voice sounds. An extremely tall woman stands outside the courtyard door.

The woman is about the same height as me, a man, with broad shoulders and soft yet strong facial features. She wears a long dress with a mid-length waist and sleeves, and the arms hanging on either side of her look very powerful.

I smile at her: “Mingyi.”

Mingcheng’s sister, Wen Mingyi, is one of my only friends.

I open the courtyard door for her, but she doesn’t come in. Instead, she halfway leans against the wall and raises her chin at me. “I’m very busy at work. What do you want from me?”

Although she has had a bad attitude toward me since she grew up, I still like to tease her. No matter if she is a little girl or has grown up to be a mature 180 cm woman, in my heart, she is still the little sister who couldn’t tie her shoes.

I raise my eyebrows at her: “I want to hang out with you.”

She stares at me and seems stunned for a moment, then gives me a look of disbelief. Although I’m teasing, her attitude softens quite a bit. “I-I really am busy at work…..”

I wave my hand and say sincerely: “It is still difficult to become a world famous female boxer. You should take a two-day break every now and then to relax your body…..”

Mingyi looks at me with a frown: “What?”

I’m very good at reading faces, and shut my mouth.

The summer in Yuhua is beautiful. This city loves flowers very much, and peonies are planted in the green belts. Driving around from the main road, one can see pink and blue clouds of them, very beautiful. We go to the city’s largest Liuli Sunshine Flower Hall to drink rose wine, go to the theater, and eat unhealthy KFC for lunch.

When Wen Mingyi bites into her chicken burger while wearing a dress worth thousands of yuan, many people look at her in surprise. But she sits in her seat, unfazed.

Time is truly a magician, turning a soft and immature little girl into a calm and mature adult.

She drives me back home in the afternoon and I pat her shoulder, reluctant to leave. “We haven’t gotten together like this for a long time. I’ll try to call Mingcheng next time. We can have a meal together, all right?”

Mingyi had her head lowered, smoking a slender lady’s cigarette. When she hears what I said, she suddenly stops smoking. After a moment, she slowly raises her head and gives me a strange look.

There is surprise among the many emotions in that look, which I don’t understand for the moment.

She frowns at me and says with some hesitation: “…..Are you crazy?”

---

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Chapter 2 << Table of Contents >> Chapter 4

“This brother…..looks familiar.”

Song Xingmu spoke up first with a smile, but the person he spoke to was not the body related to Liu Zhenqing by blood, but to Huo Fenglie.

Liu Zhenqing’s heart moved. They were acquainted? That would make this easy to handle. Just as he was about to speak, he heard Yi Chuan say: “That person is very good at martial arts. You just think he looks good, so you’re pretending to be familiar? Be careful you don’t get beaten! Do you know him or not? If you don’t, then he’s dangerous!”

Liu Zhenqing nearly laughed out loud. Had this Yi Chuan grown older but not wiser? How come ten years had passed and nothing had changed? He was still a reckless young man who demolished even his own people on the spot.

The corners of Song Xingmu’s mouth twitched. He looked at Yi Chuan speechlessly and then said in a helpless manner: “Since the two people eavesdropping here are not in the same party as those three people, they should not be our enemies. His martial arts skills are too high, I don’t want to be his enemy, ah.” When Song Xingmu finished speaking, he looked at Huo Fenglie. Although it had looked like a tie just now, the opponent had not shown his weapon from beginning to end. 

Liu Zhenqing said with a smile: “We feel the same. Apologies, we were hired by the vice president of the Liu Family Chamber of Commerce to investigate Wang Qi. There has recently been a problem with the river transport under Wang Qi’s control.”

Liu Zhenqing tossed out a little bait. As far as the current situation was concerned, Song Xingmu had arrested those people in a reasonable and fair manner. The rebels would at most find it troublesome and not suspect that they had alerted the enemy. By cooperating with Song Xingmu, they would be able to investigate the situation more thoroughly. 

As expected, Song Xingmu looked interested. “Why don’t we sit down and discuss in detail?”

Liu Zhenqing glanced at Huo Fenglie, and he nodded, raising his hand to help Liu Zhenqing walk out.

During this time, Song Xingmu continued to watch Huo Fenglie curiously, still feeling that this kid looked familiar.

Suddenly, his gaze froze. The whole atmosphere condensed at once, and murderous intent shot out unexpectedly. Yi Chuan on the side was the first to sense the change in Song Xingmu. It had been many years since he had seen Song Xingmu truly angry.

At this moment, even Yi Chuan couldn’t help but take a step back with internal misgivings. Just as he was feeling strange, he suddenly heard Song Xingmu scoff coldly.

The approaching murderous intent quickly alerted Huo Fenglie as he was passing by him, and he shielded Liu Zhenqing behind his back. 

“Why…..” Before Liu Zhenqing could finish speaking, Song Xingmu spoke coldly.

“General Huo, why are you visiting in secret?”

Huo Fenglie’s expression remained unchanged, but Liu Zhenqing and Yi Chuan were completely surprised.

Yi Chuan said in astonishment: “Is he really Huo Fenglie? Didn’t you just…..”

Without waiting for Yi Chuan’s question, Song Xingmu immediately attacked Huo Fenglie. Huo Fenglie pushed Liu Zhenqing back and raised his hand to meet Song Xingmu’s black-gloved palm.

Yi Chuan disregarded everything else and rushed forward to catch Song Xingmu and pull him away.

But Song Xinmu said in a cold voice full of murderous intent: “Don’t move!”

When Yi Chuan heard this tone, the look in his eyes instantly changed. He ignored Song Xingmu and pounced directly on Huo Fenglie.

Huo Fenglie judged that the situation would be difficult to resolve, so he drew his Chunjun sword at last to confront Yi Chuan.

Huo Fenglie was actually using his weapon, so if he didn’t need to protect Liu Zhenqing, nobody here would be his opponent.

The shell bracelet could be heard ringing softly with Huo Fenglie’s movements. The battle situation was constantly changing.

Song Xingmu knew at a glance that if he got involved, he would likely be defeated. With this thought, he planned to outwit him, and sent a sharp glance toward Liu Zhenqing.

Taking advantage of the moment Yi Chuan entangled Huo Fenglie, Song Xingmu ducked past him.

Liu Zhenqing had not figured out the situation yet. After all, he, Huo Feihan, and Song Xingmu were sworn brothers. Why would Song Xingmu suddenly try to kill Huo Fenglie? 

As a result, in the next second, a figure flashed in front of him and a black-gloved hand stretched toward his neck. Liu Zhenqing instinctively retreated, but it was already too late.

Huo Fenglie, who was always paying attention to Liu Zhenqing, switched his sword hand and veered toward Song Xingmu. He leaned back to avoid Yi Chuan’s attacking blade, and his free hand on the other side directly grabbed Yi Chuan’s wrist. There was a tug, and the moment Yi Chuan lost his balance, the arm holding his blade was kicked and turned away by Huo Fenglie.

In an instant, everyone’s movements stopped.

Song Xingmu grasped Liu Zhenqing’s neck, and Huo Fenglie’s Chunjun sword was pressed to Song Xingmu’s throat. At the same time, the arm he had kicked forced Yi Chuan’s blade to aim at his throat. Everyone was at a stalemate.

“Don’t touch him!” Yi Chuan shouted.

Huo Fenglie glared at Song Xingmu and said coldly: “Let go!”

Song Xingmu scoffed, unafraid: “You can’t manage both of us at the same time. Even if you kill me, I can take him down with me at the same time and Yi Chuan can still move. I’m not at a loss.”

“But…..you probably don’t want to die,” Liu Zhenqing said, the only one being held hostage. “Let’s calm down and talk about this. Although it was wrong of us to lie before, we had no choice but to do so. Unless your allegiance is not to the current Great Zhou Yuan clan, two military leaders should not fight each other upon meeting, ah.”

Liu Zhenqing’s heart was very disturbed as he said this. He couldn’t understand his brother’s current attitude at all.

Back then, he and Huo Feihan had agreed to guard the territory of Great Zhou together. Why was he suddenly facing Huo Fenglie, who was also guarding the country, with swords?

With a scoff, Song Xingmu just looked at Huo Fenglie and said: “This young master is correct. I truly don’t want to die, and I do not want to kill General Huo, but there must be vengeance. General Huo, why don’t you break an arm and a leg, and then we can sit down and drink tea.”

Huo Fenglie gave Song Xingmu a frigid look and did not answer.

Liu Zhenqing’s head was filled with questions. There was a grudge? They should have only met once or twice. Huo Fenglie was still a young child at that time, and they hadn’t spent time with each other at all. He didn’t even recognize him just now. One had gone to the west while the other went south, and there was no contact at all, so how could there be any enmity, ah?

“Both of you are military leaders serving the country and the people. How can there be personal enmity? There must be a misunderstanding. Is there a troublemaker sowing discord?” Liu Zhenqing spoke calmly.

Song Xingmu finally glanced at Liu Zhenqing. “You are rather intelligent, but a smarter person would do well to beseech his general now. Otherwise, I will not hesitate to kill you.”

“I am faster than you,” Huo Fenglie said calmly. Then his eyes darkened, and in the next moment, he kicked Yi Chuan away. The tip of the sword crossed Song Xingmu’s neck, and he directly used the broad blade of the sword to slap Song Xingmu’s gloved hand down hard. Song Xingmu’s hand strangely lost his strength just then, causing Liu Zhenqing to inexplicably feel that something was wrong.

Without dwelling further, Huo Fenglie turned around and fought Song Xingmu back. Liu Zhenqing was embraced by Huo Fenglie, who pressed the Chunjun sword against Song Xingmu’s neck once more. Yi Chuan was about to attack, but Song Xingmu reached out to stop him.

Song Xingmu’s originally beautiful fox-like eyes were now filled with a chill. “Good boy, your martial arts skills are truly better than your brother’s.”

“I am not familiar with you.” Huo Fenglie bluntly stated that he had no conflict with him.

Liu Zhenqing nodded in agreement.

Ignoring the danger at his throat, Song Xingmu tilted his head and curled his red-tipped hair with his fingers as if relaxed. He said with a chuckle: “Do you know how I recognized you?”

The sudden change in topic threw Huo Fenglie and Liu Zhenqing off for a moment. 

Song Xinmu said: “It is because of the sword in your hand.”

Huo Fenglie frowned, then seemed to have thought of something. However, Liu Zhenqing was still confused.

“Who gave you this sword? Or who forged it for you? I thought at first that you looked familiar, but when I saw this sword, it suddenly occurred to me. Aren’t you that simple-minded, unsociable little brat?”

Faced with Song Xingmu’s insult, Huo Fenglie did not reply. Instead, he slowly lowered the sword in his hand. Liu Zhenqing’s head was buzzing, as if some memory was about to emerge.

Song Xingmu raised his eyebrows and said: “Back then, in order to forge peerless swords for you two brothers, that person specially asked me to collect rare black ore from the outer seas. The amount collected was just enough to forge two swords. The first one was forged in time and given to Huo Fenglie as a coming of age gift. The second one was forged intermittently for several years due to the turmoil at that time, and was finally sent to the capital. It was intended for your coming of age, but that person had no chance to give it over.”

Liu Zhenqing’s eyes widened. He seemed to have just remembered the origin of this sword.

The coming of age gift he gave to Huo Feihan back then was a sword, which he asked the most capable swordsmith in the country to make. At that time, Er-gou was very envious when he saw his brother’s powerful sword, and Liu Zhenqing promised to give him one when he came of age. In the end, when the sword was finished and sent to the manor, he was already a treacherous minister and had no time to care about such unimportant things. Huo Fenglie was not in the capital, so he kept it in the warehouse instead of sending it out. Later on…..

Liu Zhenqing looked at Huo Fenglie, who explained in a low voice: “It was confiscated when the property was searched. The emperor gave it to me.” When he received it back then, he knew that Qing-ge had fulfilled his promise. From then on, he never parted from it.

Liu Zhenqing nodded. Song Xingmu smiled, and his laughter was rather mocking.

“You know its origin and are shameless enough to use the sword. Are you worthy of it?!” When Song Xingmu spoke, he no longer played with the ends of his hair, but folded his hands with one hand stroking the gloved one.

As Liu Zhenqing looked at Song Xingmu, all the contradictions seemed to suddenly become clear. As expected, he heard Song Xingmu say with a cold smile: “You dug up the grave, crushed the bones, and scattered the ashes. You didn’t believe in the person your brother trusted, and only listened to the rumors. Whoever praises you as a god of war is a fool. I didn’t expect that after your ge left, you didn’t protect him, but treated him like this. You deserve to die. If your ge’s spirit in the afterlife saw you treating his brother like this, he would definitely not let you get away with it!”

Liu Zhenqing looked at Song Xingmu, unable to bear it. It turned out to be so simple. Song Xingmu was his good brother. Knowing the rumors, although he couldn’t run thousands of li to beat him, now that person was in front of him. How could Song Xingmu, who placed great importance in friendship and ties of affection, not avenge his brother?

His master had no objection to Huo Fenglie, likely because he knew the inside story from his junior sister, so his attitude was normal. This caused Liu Zhenqing to ignore the matter of worrying about what other people who cared about him would think of Huo Fenglie’s actions.

Liu Zhenqing started to explain.

Suddenly, Song Xingmu’s eyes shifted and a secret signal was issued. He and Yi Chuan attacked at the same time.

But this time, Huo Fenglie seemed to react half a beat too slowly.

At lightning speed, the long and short blades were placed in a crossed position at Huo Fenglie’s neck. Song Xingmu planned to guard against Huo Fenlgie’s reaction, but the other party didn’t respond, so his posture was half-prepared.

Liu Zhenqing looked at Huo Fenglie in astonishment, and saw that he was a in a low mood. His face filled with puzzlement. Hadn’t they cleared things up between them? Why did he still look so guilty?

Liu Zhenqing had a headache, and was about to hold his forehead when he heard Song Xingmu say: “You’re not resisting? Did you discover a conscience? Then don’t blame me. It’s just a broken arm and leg, they can be restored. Your suffering is nothing compared to that of the dead!”

Seeing that Song Xingmu was about to take action, Liu Zhenqing truly feared that Huo Fenglie would be stubborn, so he said quickly: “It was a misunderstanding. He dug up the grave because he refused to believe that person was dead. It was due to excessive grief. His sister-in-law Li Xingruo can prove all of this. And the so-called breaking the bones and spreading the ashes was only because that person said before his death that he did not want to be buried in the ground, but wanted to leave in the form of cremation. He did everything according to that person’s wishes. There was nothing wrong with it at all.”

After speaking, he stepped forward at once and gave Huo Fenglie a fierce glare. “Who told you not to resist? Are you trying to scare me to death?”

But Huo Fenglie just looked deeply at Liu Zhenqing and said nothing.

“You think I will believe that?”

“Then you think General Huo still has reason to lie?”

“I originally thought he was someone who would never dig up graves. In any case, I am not familiar with him, so it is difficult to tell truth from lies. Unless Liu Zhenqing’s ashes are brought to me, my brother has no descendents and can only trouble me to bury him. I don’t need anyone else to help me. So do you have them?”

Liu Zhenqing was stunned. Looking at this person who was a carefree prodigal among the flowers in the past, his eyes were like lightning now, and even his naturally smiling lips were overshadowed by the grim look on his face.

It was rare for Song Xingmu to be like this. He last came here to the south to deploy troops after becoming a treacherous minister and carrying a lifetime of infamy, and met him while exterminating pirates. At that time, he scolded Liu Zhenqing with a face that was totally out of tune with his usual self.

During the final farewell, although Song Xingmu came to send him off, he still had a bad look on his face.

“Liu Zhenqing, our friendship of drinking, eating meat, and visiting the entertainment houses together ends here. Take good care of your body, you have to wear so much clothing even in the summer. When you die, you will have no descendents, so who will collect your body? Shall I do it for you? The capital is too far away, and I’m too lazy to run there! You’re on your own!”

Liu Zhenqing said with a smile: “That sullen face really doesn’t look good on you at all. Pay attention to your image, ah. But don’t worry, I won’t ask you to collect my body if I die. Song Xingmu, defend the seas for Great Zhou. This is the biggest help to me.”

“Get out of here, you,” Song Xingmu sneered. Seeing Liu Zhenqing put down the carriage curtain, he couldn’t help but say something through the curtain, “Spring is warm and the flowers are blooming. It is more appropriate to go south and cultivate yourself. Your favorite wine and fish are waiting for you.”

“En….waiting.”

The muffled voice sounded from behind the curtain. It was their last conversation.

He didn’t expect that someone as free and easy as Song Xingmu could be so obsessed.

After his master, Liu Zhenqing was no longer so resistant to revealing his identity, but Song Xingmu was a court official, and he really didn’t want his existence to become a knot in Song Xingmu’s heart when dealing with the Great Zhou Dynasty.

But in the next moment, Liu Zhenqing changed his mind.

Song Xingmu regarded Huo Fenglie with contempt: “Huo Fenglie, the last thing you should believe is that he would harm your ge. Your ge wrote to me before the last battle, telling me that if anything unexpected happened, I must protect Liu Zhenqing. He mentioned in the letter that he also told you this. So, are you worthy of your ge and Liu Zhenqing?”

Liu Zhenqing was astonished. He hadn’t known that Huo Fenglie had said such a thing back then. Just as he was in shock, Huo Fenglie said in a heavy voice: “You’re right.”

Liu Zhenqing took a deep breath. This foolish Er-gou!

He saw that Song Xingmu was about to move, and quickly shouted: “Er-gou, if you dare to let yourself get hurt over such a stupid thing, don’t expect me to forgive you.”

The sound of “Er-gou” caused Song Xingyu to pause for a moment. When he turned to look, he saw Liu Zhenqing looking at him with burning eyes.

“Song Xingmu, the spring is warm and the flowers are blooming. Although I am not here to cultivate, the time is just right. Have you prepared my favorite wine and fish?”

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Chapter Seventy-Seven << Table of Contents >> Chapter Seventy-Nine

Yuncheng. The weather was sunny today and the autumn sky was high and clear, like an upside down blue crystal above everyone’s heads.

Lu Fangshu packed up and went to the vegetable market. When purchasing vegetables, she almost subconsciously picked out a few of Lu Qi’s favorite foods. She put them in the cart and dragged them to the market entrance. A wheel of the cart caught on a brick and the bump overturned it, making baby cabbage and pumpkins spill out to be soiled by dirt.

She stared at the vegetables blankly, and all at once thought it was meaningless. Even if the meal was prepared, her child would not come back to eat it.

“Fangshu?”

Someone called her name, and Lu Fangshu looked up in a daze. It was Aunt Su, who had introduced Lu Qi to a girlfriend last time. The last blind date had ended in such a way, and she really didn’t have the face to see her old colleague, whom she had not contacted for several months.

She subconsciously tried to avoid her, but Aunt Su had already come over. She helped pick up the vegetables on the ground and asked worriedly: “Are you okay? You haven’t been answering calls these days or responding to WeChat messages. Why are you still out of contact?”

“I…..” Lu Fangshu said, “I didn’t have the face to see you.”

“What is this, ah? Blind dates are just a matter of luck. What do the issues of children have with us sisters?” Aunt Su held her arm affectionately. “Though, did you have a quarrel with Xiao Qi? I’m not blaming you, marriage can’t be rushed. If you push, the child will have a rebellious mentality…..”

Lu Fangshu didn’t quite hear what she said next, only thinking of what Lin Chunhe said to her the night before.

“Think about it, Xiao Qi is a boy, and you are holding and protecting him, but if he was a girl, the whole family would treat her as the apple of their eye. Whose daughter is not pampered? Would you be willing to let your precious one become the wife of someone who could never fall in love with her? Put yourself in their shoes, Fangfang…..”

She had thought about it all night, and her heart ached.

When she heard Aunt Su say that she would introduce another girl to Lu Qi next time, she suddenly let out a long breath.

As if she had exhaled something else out of her body with this breath, Lu Fangchu said: “There’s no need to introduce Lu Qi to any more.”

“Ah?” Aunt Su was stunned. “Why are you suddenly saying this?”

Lu Fangshu seemed to have walked a long distance. Exhausted, she looked up at her friend. “Lu Qi…..he likes men.”

Aunt Su: “…..Ah?”

She processed for a good while, then opened her eyes wide in shock: “This…..how can a man like a man? This…..isn’t this perverted?”

Perverted, mentally ill, abnormal…..

Lu Fangshu was afraid that these words would be directed toward her Xiao Qi, but at this moment, she found that it was not as embarrassing as she had imagined. She even couldn’t help but think: Couldn’t Lu Qi have heard such unpleasant words outside?

When her child was wronged, would she stand with those who accused him?

Her body seemed to have a surge of strength, and the words of defense seemed to have been rehearsed thousands of times in her heart so that when she blurted them out, there was no hesitation.

“My son is not a pervert,” Lu Fangshu said. “Those who sexually assault children, kill people and dismember bodies, and retaliate against society are perverts. My son is an upright person, and it is no harm to anybody if he likes men.”

Aunt Su looked at her blankly, then returned to her senses and said sheepishly: “I…..who are you directing this at? I used the wrong word just now, I didn’t mean to say that Xiao Qi is…..is something like that.”

Lu Fangshu turned and left. Aunt Su stood there for a while, patting her thigh regretfully.

“Aiyo, what did I just say…..”

Something had gone wrong with shopping in the vegetable market today, so Lin Chunhe went to deal with it and didn’t come back for lunch. Lu Fangshu sat alone on the sofa and turned on her phone to take a look.

The pinned message was a photo, but she had never looked at it. When she opened it, she found a field of camellias in full bloom. Lu Qi said that they had moved.

Lu Qi’s avatar had changed, and when she zoomed in, she found that it was a white cartoon deer. It had a brilliant, exaggerated smile, and red scarf tied around its neck with a fox doll hanging under it.

She could see that her son was in a good mood recently. Lu Fangshu’s furrowed eyebrows subconsciously relaxed, but when she noticed the gesture of the cartoon deer, her smile froze again.

It was holding up its paw in half a heart, and the other half of the heart was a brown-red paw.

. . . . . . .

Mu Chuanbai discovered that Mu Nanqiao had changed his avatar, and clicked on the picture to see a big red cartoon fox. It had a wicked, arrogant smile, with a white scarf died around its neck and a small deer doll hanging under it.

The brown-red paw and a white paw made a heart.

Mu Chuanbai felt that his teeth were sore, and turned to Talia, who was sitting beside him. He said: “Honey, I also want to use a couples’ avatar with you.”

This was a small request and nothing that couldn’t be fulfilled, so Talia nodded. No problem.

Lu Qi and Mu Nanqiao were upstairs. Talia said that when the interview came to the family part, she wanted some photos of Mu Nanqiao as a child for material, so he took Lu Qi upstairs to look for some.

At this moment, Lu Qi was lying in Mu Nanqiao’s lap. The two of them were sitting on the bed, looking one by one at photos of Mu Nanqiao when he was a child.

The little baby slept in a cradle, wrapped in a blue floral blanket. Such a tiny baby had a long nose bridge, a pouty mouth, and thick, shiny black hair on his head.

“So cute…..” Lu Qi took a photo on his mobile phone and turned back again.

The little baby grew up into a handsome little boy and was carried around the zoo on Mu Chuanbai’s shoulders. He was smiling so hard that there was only a sliver left of his eyes, and his eyelashes were long and curled, like an exquisite doll.

Lu Qi squealed at the cuteness and took another photo.

Mu Nanqiao rubbed his head in amusement: “Lu Baby, you’ve seen my pictures, so show me yours in the future.”

“There’s no problem with looking at the pictures…..” Thinking of his mom’s opposing manner, Lu Qi sighed. “But we’ll have to wait. Or you can wait for me to go home in two days and steal a couple for you!”

“Steal them?” Mu Nanqiao raised his eyebrows. “Then this is a huge loss of property, ah. What should be done if Auntie calls the police?”

“If she calls the police, I’ll just have to hand the steering wheel to my dad, la.” Lu Qi kicked his feet and turned another page.

In the images, the little boy gradually lost his baby fat, and the contours of his facial features became more and more deep and handsome. His figure also grew from a short and squat little dumpling to a tall, slender figure like a sprout.

Lu Qi’s smile faded little by little, and his fingertips lightly brushed over the last photo in the album.

That was probably taken before Mu Nanqiao went to the Mu residence. The boy was wearing a backwards baseball cap, short sleeves, and shorts. He had a water hose in his hands, and it was unknown who he was having a water fight with. His clothes were half-wet from the water, his smile bright and dazzling.

At that time, his facial features were almost the same as now, but their outlines were softer and less mature. The upturned fox eyes were not gloomy and indifferent, but like a little fox cub having fun in the grass.

Lu Qi couldn’t connect this boy with the gaunt teenager in the warehouse for a moment, and his heart felt heavy.

A mobile phone suddenly appeared in his sight. The fingers holding it were strong and slender, clean and beautiful. On the screen of the phone was a photo with white doves flying over a church spire in the background. Holding the phone and smiling at the camera, Mu Nanqiao had his head lowered, kissing the side of his face.

The capture was very good, and the gentle and contented smile on his features was clearly visible. “What’s so interesting about a silly boy playing in water?” Mu Nanqiao shook the phone screen. “You see? This is the charm of a mature man.”

Lu Qi: ……

This man was so sour that he even drank his own vinegar.

Mu Nanqiao casually took two photos. Closing the album, he gently tossed it to the foot of the bed and took Lu Qi by the collar, pulling him into his arms.

“Were you feeling sorry for me just now?” He kissed Lu Qi’s earlobe softly. “If you feel sorry, don’t you have to take action to show it?”

As he spoke, he tapped his lips suggestively. His long, narrow fox eyes were filled with a smile, and the small red mole at the tip of his eye was only the size of a grain of rice, but it had a strong, burning sense of presence.

He had originally just intended to make Lu Qi smile, and didn’t expect Lu Qi to actually lean in, grab his collar with his fingers and raise his head. Cool lips fell on his eyes.

“I especially like the way you smile.” Lu Qi said earnestly: “Mu Nanqiao, I will love you from now on, so you have to smile more, ah.”

“Okay, ah.” Mu Nanqiao kissed him on the lips with a mwah, then lowered his eyelashes and tried to kiss more.

Lu Qi covered his mouth, adding: “I actually quite like you wearing casual clothes. After Auntie finishes recording, shall we go clothes shopping?”

Mu Nanqiao’s eyebrows rose slightly. He smiled knowingly and said: “It’s up to you.”

Lu Qi blushed at his look and whispered: “What is that look you’re giving me…..I just think you look good in some casual clothes. Do you remember that time when you didn’t even give me an explanation, and just turned around and ran away? Then you came to confess. I was willing to forgive you then, and the clothes you were wearing played a major role!”

Mu Nanqiao considered it for a moment. He had come out of the boxing gym that day. The skin on his hands was scratched, and the clothes on his body had not been changed for several days. He looked like a stray dog.

He couldn’t see Lu Qi like this, so he took a shower in the boxing gym’s locker room, cleaned himself up, and then picked out a nearby luxury brand sports store that mainly served teenagers.

That set of clothes was still hanging in the cloakroom, but Mu Nanqiao basically never wore it again.

“It turns out Lu Baby likes this style…..” Mu Nanqiao faked a sigh. “You like me young. What will happen if my beauty fades with age?”

It was a pity that Xiao Lu had seen him act too many times and could no longer be fooled. Not only did he not comfort him, but he even scoffed self-righteously and said very cockily: “What’s wrong with liking young people? I’m just making a mistake that all men in the world make!”

Mu Nanqiao laughed out loud. “It seems having thick skin is contagious. You’re really following in my footsteps now.”

He drew closer and rubbed the side of Lu Qi’s face with the tip of his nose: “Let me take a bite and see how thick-skinned you are.”

“No way!” Lu Qi tried to crawl out of his arms. “How embarrassing would it be to have Auntie and Uncle see a mark……”

He was pulled back by his waist, but because he was wearing casual trousers, such a tug nearly pulled them off. He quickly grabbed them with one hand.

The two of them fussed around like children for a while. Lu Qi finally gave in due to being ticklish, and was pushed onto the pillow by Mu Nanqiao and kissed again and again.

In fact, the reason he wanted to buy clothes was very simple.

Lu Qi blinked his eyes.

He wanted to see Mu Nanqiao dressed like a young person, because like this, he could hug that brilliantly smiling young man.

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Chapter Forty-Five << Table of Contents >> Chapter Forty-Seven

Mingcheng is a very romantic person. He likes flowers and fireworks, and collects various styles of fireworks to store at home. Every time he celebrates my birthday, he dresses beautifully in advance and then pesters me to go to the countryside to set off fireworks with him.

I actually don’t like them very much. No matter how beautifully they bloom in the sky, in my eyes, they are just fleeting things. I like long-term things rather than short-term.

But when these gorgeous things bloom, the dazzling lights flow across Wen Mingcheng’s face like water. His eyelashes are as dark and haloed as the starry night, his eyes sparkling, and I…..can’t help but be distracted.

But now, as blood explodes from his broken neck like fireworks, it seems as if my own soul has been blown away.

Are my nails that sharp? Can they actually cut the throat of an adult man?!

“Mingcheng! Help — I’m sorry, I’m sorry, sorry, sorry…..”

The scene in front of me stimulates me. I collapse and hold my head, crying and apologizing repeatedly. My sensitive, fragile nerves are tense, and I begin to act out of control again…..

“A-Zhen!”

My heart beats like a drum, thrumming in my own ears. I feel my hands grasping something so hard that my wrists shake. My body is covered in cold sweat, and I continue to cry.

“A-Zhen, calm down. A-Zhen…..”

Wen Mingcheng’s voice is gentle, but he is unable to hide his anxiety as he calls me urgently. 

I feel his warm hands caressing my face, his thumbs wiping away the tears that flow from the corners of my eyes, and his lips kissing my forehead over and over again.

Gradually, I indeed calm down.

My chest heaves violently, and my hands are cramped from the exertion.

Half a bowl of chicken soup has fallen to the floor in the chaos. Because of the carpet, the bowl isn’t broken, but the soup got everywhere and my body is wet.

Mingcheng holds me tightly to him with one arm, and the great strength in that arm stops me from struggling in a panic while the other hand grabs my wrist.

I look over and realize why my wrists are shaking from exertion. 

I’ve actually taken off my shirt and pressed it on Mingcheng’s neck in an attempt to stop the bleeding.

But where is there any blood on him?

The suit jacket has become a mess because of me, and the collar of his shirt is wide open. Although Wen Mingcheng is in disarray, his whole body is fresh and clean. There is not even a speck of dust, and he still has the faint scent of men’s cologne.

Stunned on the spot, I am speechless for a long time, staring at his neck in disbelief.

The scene just now was so real. I couldn’t have seen it wrong. The sticky feeling of blood still lingers on my palms. How could it have happened in the blink of an eye…..

Mingcheng seems to want me to see more clearly. He releases his grip on my wrist, pulls off his tie, and tugs down his shirt to reveal his long, snow-white neck.

There is a scrape on that flawless skin, but it is very small and light, a skin injury that could be caused by just one fingernail. It would probably heal on the way to the hospital.

If I take him to the hospital, I might get scolded by Dr. Zhao: “I hate these acts of public affection between you two.”

The man in front of me comforts me with a distressed expression: “It’s okay, A-Zhen. This small injury doesn’t hurt at all.”

Then…..am I crazy?

Impossible, ah. Although I’m sick, I don’t have hallucinations!

My illness does not affect my life.

I swear, I am absolutely sure of this!

“I…..I…..you?”

I repeat myself for a long time, not knowing what to say. The aftereffects of my violent heartbeat make it difficult for me to breathe.

Mingcheng raises his hand to wipe away the messy liquid on my face and whispers in my ear: “You’re so nervous, A-Zhen. Have you taken your medicine today?”

His voice seems to have magical powers, entering my ear softly and hoarsely. It’s as if a switch has been pressed, and my heart calms down a lot just between breaths.

I am bare. Half-naked, I sit sluggishly on the ground, unable to distinguish between reality and fantasy. I let him pick me up.

The indoor scenery changes before my eyes, from the dining room to the living room. The small courtyard outside is lush with foliage, the pink and purple hydrangea bushes blooming continuously. Spring has not faded away yet. The tender dwarf willows spread their leaves, the sun shining brightly on the flowing greenery.

The floor-to-ceiling windows let gilded sunlight pour into the room, falling half on me. My naked body feels warm and comfortable.

This was all designed by Mingcheng. He hoped that I could see the flowers he planted in the warm sunshine while I was at home.

Mingcheng…..

I close my sore eyes and recite his name silently.

He holds me the same way as before, and I lean the side of my face against his chest familiarly.

I have performed this action countless times, but this time I feel an indescribable palpitation.

A pair of pure white eyes suddenly crash into my mind.

There was no black in those eyes. I could feel them staring straight at me.

I instantly open my eyes and find Mingcheng looking down at me from above, with something in his eyes that I don’t understand.

I almost can’t keep myself from screaming again, but in the next second, I discover that his pupils are black. Those eyes are as dark as ink, with a strong sense of presence, like an unending night.

He smiles at me with his eyes curved. The ends of his eyes and mouth turn up, gentle, affectionate, and beautiful.

He has pupils. I can rest assured.

Mingcheng finally carries me to the bathroom, lathers me up, and scrubs me. I don’t like bathing in the middle of the day, and want to crawl out of the tub several times, but he says I smell like chicken soup. I love cleanliness and scented things, so I can only let him scrub me with foam. He also thoughtfully lights the scent diffuser in the bathroom.

I’ve had a lot of emotional ups and downs, and after taking a warm bath that relaxed my mind, I feel a little drowsy.

It is already one o’clock in the afternoon after my bath, and I almost fall asleep, but Mingcheng wakes me up and tells me to take my medicine.

“Be good, I’ll sleep with you after you take it. I won’t go to work in the afternoon.”

Mingcheng is a workaholic, and I suspect that the love of his life is work. There are three hundred and sixty-five days in a year, and the only times he doesn’t go to work are on New Year’s and my birthday.

I am overjoyed when he promises me this, but I still pretend to be reserved and obedient. I take the medicine and fall asleep.

But when I wake up, I find that he lied to me.

I am the only one in the room.

The blackout curtains are drawn tightly and the room is dimly lit. I get up from bed and look at my phone. It is about three o’clock in the afternoon, and Mingcheng had left me a message an hour ago.

“A-Zhen, I went to work. I’ll come home early today. There is food on the table, warm it up if you’re hungry. Don’t go out to eat.”

I’m angry to death. Hadn’t he promised not to go to work?

Will the company go bankrupt after one day without the boss?!

I’m so angry that I roll on the bed, my stomach making sounds of protest.

This person doesn’t keep his word, ah.

Since he didn’t keep his word, then neither will I. I will go out to eat.

I don’t have many friends. My best friends are the Wen brother and sister, but the older brother is a man who doesn’t keep his word. He left me alone at home. The younger sister…..she used to be snow-white and cute, delicate and soft, but now she only likes boxing, and her biceps are her friends.

I could cry.

Neither of my two friends want to play with me, so I have to go out by myself.

I have already planned my route. First, I will go to the busy commercial street in the university district opposite to buy a cup of milk tea, and then go to the Western restaurant I often frequent and order a steak.

I like milk tea served with steak. After eating, I’ll pretend to be a university student and go to the school to buy the most famous local cheese triangle cake.

Perfect!

After getting dressed, I pick out the most comfortable pair of shoes from the shoe cabinet, bring a hat to protect me from the sun, and take out my house keys, planning to go out.

Mingcheng locks the door every time he goes out. He worries about me endlessly, as if he’s afraid that I will open the door for a stranger, and told me to check the peephole before going out in order to make sure it is safe outside.

I scoffed at his tone of voice, which was like he was educating a child, but he was very serious about this matter and showed a rare solemnity. After forcing me to follow the process he taught me several times, I was momentarily angry, but it later became a habit and I gradually felt that this was reasonable.

People say that after being together for a long time, one party will be brainwashed by the other party. I’ve probably been brainwashed by him.

So I lean on the door and look through the peephole as usual, preparing to press my fingerprint to the door and unlock it.

But today is different from usual. I don’t see the small courtyard outside the villa, the bird I raise, or the neighbor’s dog. It is quiet outside, and everything in my sight is all black.

Wait…..all black?

I tilt my head and glance at the sky outside the window. The wind is gentle, and the sun is shining brightly.

I slowly put down the hand that was about to press the fingerprint lock, and look through the peephole again.

It is indeed dark, darker than what I could see at night. I can’t see any light through the small hole, as if there is a people-eating black hole outside the door.

Oh my god, is there someone pressed against my house’s peephole?

No way? This is a high-end villa complex, and people who hand out flyers and small advertisements can’t get in, ah. And the neighbor’s child has received a gentleman’s education and acts better than adults. Does he look like someone who could do such a thing?

I stare at the peephole in confusion, hoping to see an answer, but fail. So I think about just going out, but Mingcheng’s solemn expression comes to mind and makes me feel a little timid.

It’s all his fault. According to my childhood temperament, I shouldn’t care if the peephole is black or white, and even if it is colorful, I should just sigh about how colorful the world is.

But now I’m actually scared.

It’s all Wen Mingcheng’s fault.

Suddenly, I’m not in the mood to go out. I throw away the house key in frustration and go to the kitchen to heat up the lunch Mingcheng left for me.

The chicken soup from noon is sweet. I feel calm now, and drink two bowls in a row along with a piece of toast.

Burp – much more comfortable.

After eating and drinking, I no longer want to go out.

So will I spend the next period of time playing on my phone or painting?

I looke up at the time. 4:10 in the afternoon.

My plan for the day began in the morning. Now that the day is about to end, why continue to work?

I’ll just play on my phone.

I scroll through videos with bleary eyes.

“I was reborn. Not long after my death in my previous life, my husband and my sister connected seamlessly…..”

I brush over it expressionlessly.

“Brother, do you want to buy a car? It’s the latest model, look at this big cabin…..”

This introduction is interesting, and I watch several in a row. After I get tired of it, Big Data keenly recommends something else to me.

“Is a fingerprint lock safe? Is it true that a piece of tape with a fingerprint can be used to unlock it?”

No, I’ve tried this. I’ve also tried this with my own artificial fingerprints, but they all failed. My house door’s living person recognition function is very powerful. It must be unlocked by a fingerprint, not by tape.

So I pick something else.

“In modern society, the number of people living alone is increasing. It is best for everyone to check their peephole when getting takeout and express delivery. If you can’t see out the peephole, you need to be especially careful, and it’s even scarier if the peephole is black…..”

I hold my breath and wait for the anchor to finish, but he says: “Please watch the next video on my homepage for details.”

I curse and get angry, but click to find the next video.

“If the peephole is dark, it is very likely that the person outside is leaning against the door and looking at you…..It’s not easy making videos, like and subscribe to your favorite anchor so they don’t lose their way…..”

I stare blankly. After a few seconds, the video finishes and automatically begins to replay.

“…..It is very likely that the person outside is leaning against the door and looking at you…..”

“…..Like and subscribe to your favorite anchor so they don’t lose their way…..”

After the video loops twice, I throw my phone onto the bed and walk back to the door in the living room.

I look at the time. It is 5:20. Summer days are long, and it is still bright outside.

I hesitate for a moment, lightly tap my foot, and then slowly raise my eye to the peephole.

It is still dark outside.

Many people say that those with mental disorders are very stubborn. This is indeed the case with me.

I stare at it for a long time. There is no movement from outside, nor from me.

I want to see what it is.

Time passes by minute, by second, and my eyeballs are practically dry. The thing outside still doesn’t move. In the end, I’m not sure how many minutes have passed when I come to a conclusion: someone is blocking my house’s peephole.

How can a person not blink their eyes?

After persisting for a long time, I rub my sore eyes, return to the sofa in boredom, and write a message to Mingcheng: Clean the peephole when you come back.

But before I can send the message, my ears twitch as I suddenly hear the sound of the door being unlocked.

“Fingerprint verification in progress. No human fingerprint detected. Unlock failed.”

I’m in shock. Someone is trying to unlock my door!

There is…..really a person outside?!

In the next second, the door makes a sound again.

“Fingerprint verification in progress. Fingerprint verification passed. Unlock failed.”

Oh my god, the fingerprint passed?

I know this sentence, as I heard it once while using an artificial fingerprint to test the security of the door lock. Because it was not a living body, even though the fingerprint verification passed, it would ultimately fail.

“Warning. Unlock failed three times. The mechanical lock has been activated to block the door. It is recommended that the homeowner quickly call the police.”

“Warning. Unlock failed three times…..It is recommended that the homeowner quickly call the police.”

“Warning…..”

The door continues to give warnings. I’m shocked, but my mind is still clear. Mingcheng gets off work right now at 5:25. He may already be on his way. It will be faster for me to call him first and then call the police.

I pick up the phone and find the first person in the address book. Just as I’m about to press it, I hear the sound of a key being inserted into the door.

The door was mechanically locked after the fingerprint unlock failed, and can only be unlocked with a key. Otherwise, even a bear couldn’t open my house’s door. This modern-day locking method is actually the safest.

But someone outside is using a key to force the door open.

As I look over in alarm, the door is pushed open. A pair of black leather shoes step into the room, followed by black suit pants and a men’s watch on a cold white wrist.

The person who enters curves his eyes at me. They are as dark as the background in a nightmare. “A-Zhen, I’m home. I worked very hard today. I missed you so much.”

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Chapter 1<< Table of Contents >> Chapter 3

With profiteers, port guards, rebels, and pirates, things were really getting more complicated.

The two hid behind the stone sculpture and listened silently to the conversation between the three.

It was clear that the three of them had worked together many times, so they were familiar with one another. There were no scruples as they conversed.

“Management has been too strict lately. Can there be fewer ships? No matter how many there are, we can’t keep hiding,” the military official said.

“I also can’t do anything. If you don’t want the money, then don’t take it. Something happened to the Liu family in the capital, and I risked my life during this chaotic time to smuggle the goods,” Wang Qi said.

“What is in the transport?” The pirate asked.

“Don’t worry about this. After receiving the money, just take care of your subordinates and don’t make any plans for the Chamber of Commerce’s ships. If you violate this, we will suffer numerous casualties and attract the attention of others. Now that the Sea King is back, we must be more cautious.”

“Brother, it’s not that we won’t tell you. To be honest, we don’t know what is inside the ship either. We just provide the ships and waterways, and then falsify the records. We don’t even know where the ships end up going or who takes them over,” Wang Qi said with a smile.

The two people eavesdropping exchanged glances. It seemed that they had eavesdropped in vain. More useless information.

The pirate seemed to be disdainful, and said: “You Great Zhou people are really interesting. You don’t know anything and still dare to take random jobs?”

The two fell silent under his ridicule, and the military officer seemed a little unhappy. “To be honest, isn’t it good to have a safe and steady way of making money now? Brother, I heard that your men harassed a nearby island a few days ago. We have a good partnership, but we must not break our promises. With all of your ruckus, if I am transferred, we will no longer be able to cooperate in the future.”

Liu Zhenqing was a little surprised. The excuse given by this military officer was too far-fetched. The pirate didn’t understand, but he did. Even if pirates attacked the island, what did that have to do with him and the navy that managed the port? There was no interference in their cooperation at all. They were clearly deceiving the pirates. Could it be that while the military officer was making money, he also had somewhat of a conscience and wanted to bring peace to the people of the islands?

The fact that the islands in the outer sea had been spared from attacks in recent years was not entirely the result of Zhao Haicheng, but also this batch of transactions. Did Zhao Haicheng know about it? 

Just as he was pondering, Huo Fenglie standing beside him suddenly raised his arms and embraced him directly, bringing them close together. Having been hugged tightly, Liu Zhenqing was stunned for a moment. Although he was somewhat secretly delighted, he also understood rationally that Er-gou, that blockhead, would not use such little tricks.

Sure enough, he looked up and saw Huo Fenglie intricate the direction of the roof with his eyes.

So, they were not the only ones eavesdropping. There was someone lurking on the roof to listen in?

The pirate continued to say: “You are too cautious. Those who fight us have little to do with you, right? And we are here to help you, ah. The Sea King is back. If we don’t do something to stir things up, it won’t be good if they discover our partnership.”

“Are you trying to threaten me?”

“Of course not, we have worked together for many years. Aren’t we good brothers? We don’t want the Sea King to take over, so we must naturally think of more ways to take care of him. The last few times he went to sea, we unfortunately didn’t capture him. We attacked the island because we want him to go out to sea and attack us, so that we can catch him.”

“Ha, he’s the Sea King. You’re going to catch him?”

“Why can’t we catch him? When we catch him, he’ll just be a Sea Bastard!”

“Peace brings wealth, peace brings wealth,” Wang Qi quickly persuaded.

At this moment, there was a sudden boom from the roof, and a person descended through it, kicking away the screen in the middle. The three people shouted in surprise.

“Who is it?”

Instantly, there was the sound of fighting.

Liu Zhenqing also wanted to scream, because the screen that the man kicked away hit the stone sculpture directly, making it tilt and fall toward them. Although there was a wall blocking it, so it would not completely crush them, they were still slightly squashed. 

Liu Zhenqing was not injured, but he saw that Huo Fenglie’s back was pressing against the stone sculpture, and he must have suffered some of the force. Perhaps Huo Fenglie didn’t care, but Liu Zhenqing was still distressed. He raised his hands past Huo Fenglie’s waist, trying to push and help remove some of the pressure from Huo Fenglie. 

Huo Fenglie looked up and shook his head, indicating that it was unnecessary.

But Liu Zhenqing still insisted. Only, he was unaware that the pressure from behind was nothing to Huo Fenglie, and it was the pressure from the front that was the greatest. Initially, he was embracing Liu Zhenqing, but now Liu Zhenqing was also embracing his waist. Their bodies were extremely close, and the aroma of wine just now made him feel a little unfocused. If it wasn’t for the chaos outside, Huo Fenglie would certainly be in a different mood.

Two hissing sounds should be the sounds of swords being drawn, but Liu Zhenqing and Huo Fenglie were blocked too tightly by the stone sculpture. Unless they pushed it away and looked out, they wouldn’t be able to see what was happening. Even the movement of stabilizing the stone sculpture would attract attention.

Liu Zhenqing was speechless. Given the current situation, he had already scolded the idiot who broke in dozens of times in his heart.

Wasn’t that person here to eavesdrop? Why was he so impatient even if he didn’t want to listen anymore, ah. And he came down right away. Why kick over the screen and make such noise? Was he not afraid that the people outside would hear his intrusion?

Where had this reckless man come from? Don’t involve these two in your recklessness, ah.

Suddenly, Huo Fenglie’s forehead bumped Liu Zhenqing’s. He looked at Huo Fenglie for a moment, and saw him indicating toward a certain part of the stone carving with his eyes. Liu Zhenqing took the opportunity to look over. It turned out that the stone sculpture had been cracked, and if the two of them tilted their heads, they could see through it. However, there was a fallen screen outside blocking it. If they wanted to see, they would have to poke through it.

Liu Zhenqing had a clear understanding and withdrew one hand, reaching for the dagger at his waist. He could use the dagger to silently cut through the embroidered cloth.

However, the two of them were too close to each other at the moment, making it very difficult for Liu Zhenqing to reach down. They couldn’t act rashly.

Liu Zhenqing could only feel around and try his best to grope for the place where the dagger was pressed. In the chaos, he felt as if he had touched the dagger. But it had a strange shape and felt different? The place his hand went was so crowded, so he didn’t think much about it. However, Huo Fengle’s body instantly tensed, and his breath became hot as it blew against Liu Zhenqing’s ear. His eyes widened, and he lowered his head in disbelief, staring at Liu Zhenqing.

Liu Zhenqing wasn’t paying attention and thought he had found the right thing, so he grabbed it with difficulty, only to hear Huo Fenglie take a sudden breath. A low, hoarse sound came from his throat.

Of his two hands, one was braced against the wall and the other was holding up part of the stone sculpture to prevent it from hitting Liu Zheqning, so he couldn’t free his hands at all. He could just barely move his body.

But Liu Zhenqing was startled by this. If they moved randomly, the stone sculpture and screen pressing on them would fall down and expose them.

Liu Zhenqing couldn’t get a good grip, and looked up at Huo Fenglie in confusion, only to see that Huo Fenglie was very strange at this time. His face was red, and his eyes seemed deep and liquid, seemingly clear but…..murky. Huo Fenglie stared straight at him, and his heart suddenly pounded.

He inexplicably felt that the way Huo Fenglie was looking at him was particularly dangerous at this moment.

Suddenly, the knot of Huo Fenglie’s throat rolled, his brow furrowed, and his eyes narrowed slightly, as if he was suppressing something.

Right then, Liu Zhenqing’s clever little head finally realized that something wasn’t right. Because the thing in his hand seemed to have changed…..

Liu Zhenqing couldn’t react. His face went red and his heart went still as he touched it. It seemed that it was still gradually changing. Huo Fenglie’s entire body trembled due to his actions, and his head suddenly dropped onto Liu Zhenqing’s neck. 

Naturally, Liu Zhenqing would not mess around at a critical moment, and let go of poor “little” Er-gou. He had turned to touch his side, but happened to touch in the wrong direction. Now, he successfully took out the dagger.

Liu Zhenqing appeared to be completely indifferent. He grabbed the dagger, bit the scabbard, and pulled the blade out with one hand. Then he looked at Huo Fenglie and raised his chin.

Huo Fenglie was still in a state of chaos. Before his bodily reaction could subside, he watched as Liu Zhenqing gave him a wink. 

At that moment, Huo Fenglie thought he understood wrong, but when he saw Liu Zhenqing biting the dagger sheath and leaning one end toward him, he still instinctively opened his mouth.

In an instant, the two of them exchanged the dagger scabbard. Huo Fenglie bit it, and the strange ambiguity flowed into the exchange of eyes between the two. Only then did Liu Zhenqing turn his head to cut open the screen. Only the slightly raised corners of his lips betrayed his good mood.

It was silent now. The fight was clearly over.

And Huo Fenglie already had flawless hearing. He could only embrace this person with a heated body, using his internal strength to suppress his impulses, his mind in a state of mush. The delicate dagger sheath in his mouth, inlaid with jade, was nearly broken by him. Every nerve in his head seemed to have been severed at that moment, and he didn’t have time to react when he was pulled back again.

The light from outside came out. Liu Zhenqing was already looking outside, and Huo Fenglie had to get closer for their own safety.

Out there was a man with two blades, one long and one short, with one of them against the pirate’s throat. The one in his backhand was across the military official’s throat, and one long, straight leg directly headlocked Wang Qi, who was kneeling on the floor.

One person and two blades had completely suppressed three people.

The two of them could only see the man’s back. He was very tall and short-haired, with braids underneath, a very rare hairstyle that looked a bit unruly.

He was unfamiliar to Huo Fenglie, but somewhat surprisingly familiar to Liu Zhenqing. After all, this hairstyle was uncommon. Coupled with the long and short blades in his hands, Liu Zhenqing seemed to be able to determine his identity.

“Good man, spare my life, I have something to say,” Wang Qi wailed.

“Hmph, don’t tell it to me, tell it to the Sea King!”

“The Sea Bastard? Sea King? You’re Song Xingmu’s subordinate!” The pirate immediately looked toward the military official.

The officials’ expression was already extremely ugly. It was obvious that he knew this person.

“Yi Chuan, what are you trying to do? Does Captain Song know you are here? Why don’t we…..sit down and talk.”

“Cut the shit, I told you to talk to the Sea King.” Yi Chuan was obstinate, and said without mercy: “Don’t move! Or my swords won’t discriminate, and no one will be left alive.”

“You want to capture us to meet Captain Song?” The military official’s face instantly paled, and he said directly to the two people in front of Yi Chuan: “You weigh for yourselves what should and shouldn’t be said.”

Yi Chuan promptly pressed the handle of his blade, and the military official’s neck flowed with red.

“It seems that Song Xingmu has been targeting me for a long while?” The military official said coldly and without fear. “We are just friends getting together. What do you mean by this? Aren’t you afraid I will inform the elder Commander Song?”

Yi Chuan scoffed coldly and couldn’t be bothered to speak.

The military official couldn’t help but say: “Yi Chuan, you are a fine man. You have been following Song Xingmu all this time and haven’t seen him promote you to an official position. Why not…..”

“Laozi doesn’t want to be an official, so stop talking nonsense and shut up.”

The military official skewed his eyes. He couldn’t help but think of some rumors, and said: “Could it be that you are actually attracted to Song Xingmu? If you like handsome men, I can help you find one…..”

If Yi Chuan was hot-tempered before, now he was directly enraged.

“You disgust me, you little fuck. Who likes men? Disgusting, disgusting!” Yi Chuan seemed to have been stimulated, and he flew into a rage, raising a hand to knock the military official unconscious.

Suddenly, the door opened and a group of people rushed in, one person walking slowly along with them.

The man didn’t walk with the energy of a martial artist. Instead, he swayed as if he had drunk too much. His hair was tied up casually, but the tips had a natural curl, with a reddish color at the end of the hair tail. A bead-like glass earring hung from one ear.

“Why are you here so late!” Yi Chuan said unhappily when he saw the visitor.

“Aiya, sorry, sorry. I finally bid and got Xi Ran, so I naturally couldn’t bear to part with a warm and fragrant body and wanted to stay for a while longer.”

“You! You Sea Bastard! You made me do that work, but you just…..I also want to see Lady Xi Ran!”

“This is what you’re focusing on? Wait, what is that new insult?”

“Captain Song!” The kidnapped military official couldn’t help but interrupt the conversation and argue for himself.

Song Xingmu smiled and finally looked at the military official, saying: “Xiao Li, you want to see the king of hell sooner rather than later?”

The words contained a smile, but instantly made the room feel cold. Speechless, the military official felt as if he had fallen into an ice cellar.

Song Xingmu did not waste any time, and said frankly: “Arrest the three of them for colluding with the pirate leader. I am not mistaken.”

He was not mistaken, but he didn’t tell the whole story. The expressions of the three criminals varied, and they didn’t know which crime was more likely to spare their lives.

Then they heard the military official shout: “Captain Song is arresting people randomly. How mighty. Commander Song will prove our innocence.”

As soon as these words came out, the other two immediately knew which direction to take.

“What leader of the pirates? I am just a foreign merchant.”

“General Song, we are dutiful merchants, there has been a misunderstanding.”

“Really? Then I will wait for my uncle to come to the door and explain for you.” Having said this, Song Xingmu raised his black-gloved hand and waved it, and the team members swiftly tied the three of them up and took them away.

Just as Yi Chuan was about to go out, he saw Song Xingmu close the door and look at him with his arms folded.

Yi Chuan’s expression changed slightly. “What are you doing?”

“What do you think?” Song Xingmu smiled.

Yi Chuan immediately turned hostile. “Despicable, you just don’t want me to go to Lady Xi Ran. You’ve already spent the money, can’t I go and talk to her? I hardly ever get to see her.”

The corners of Song Xingmu’s mouth twitched, and he walked forward slowly to approach Yi Chuan.

Every time Yi Chuan was approached like this by Song Xingmu, he felt an inexplicable sense of oppression. It was likely because he was beaten too hard when he was young and could no longer prop himself up. Even though Song Xingmu was no longer his opponent, he still felt suppressed.

“What are you doing? You, you don’t want to take her. You don’t want to marry her, so why are you delaying my marriage?”

“You’re not marrying Xi Ran. If there is someone in a person’s heart, they will never marry.”

It wasn’t until he forced this person into the qin room that Song Xingmu smiled slightly and suddenly looked over. It was obvious that the two of them had known each other for ages and had a tacit understanding.

Yi Chuan’s eyes went cold at once, and he instantly pulled out his two swords, turning to face the stone sculpture behind them, which was also the direction Song Xingmu had looked just now.

“Who’s there? Come out!”

In the next second, Yi Chuan rushed over impatiently. The moment his blade was about to impact the screen, the screen and stone sculpture exploded and shattered in all directions.

Yi Chuan shielded himself with one blade and moved the other to shield Song Xingmu, otherwise they would have been hit by the debris.

A black shadow flashed, and Yi Chuan flew to intercept it.

After a quick aerial fight, it was obvious that of the two people embracing, only one of them knew martial arts.

Yi Chuan felt that this person was a master martial artist, but with the burden he was carrying, he could still be fought.

But he heard Song Xingmu call out: “Yi Chuan, don’t kill them. Perhaps these visitors are guests?”

And Liu Zhenqing didn’t want Huo Fenglie to fight. After all, the old injury had not fully healed yet, so it wasn’t suitable for him to fight against a master.

What’s more, there were two masters here.

So when he heard what Song Xingmu said, Liu Zhenqing changed his decision to not have contact with Song Xingmu for the time being.

“Then stop, these visitors are indeed guests.” 

Liu Zhenqing spoke out.

Huo Fenglie immediately stopped what he was doing, and fell to the side while carrying him. Yi Chuan also landed in front of Song Xingmu, constantly vigilant.

This scene was a little strange to Liu Zhenqing. Song Xingmu’s martial arts should be better than Yi Chuan’s, and he had beaten Yi Chuan to tears many times before. Why was it that Yi Chuan was the one taking action everywhere now? Moreover…..the long and short swords were Song Xingmu’s weapons.

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Chapter Seventy-Six << Table of Contents >> Chapter Seventy-Eight

The next morning, Mu Nanqiao seemed to have something to do and left very early. He wasn’t at home when Lu Qi got up, but breakfast was ready and packed in an insulated lunch box. There was a sticky note on the metal box, with three words in strong, flowing strokes: Please forgive me.

He also drew a crying fox.

Lu Qi thought to himself that the fox was still as ugly as ever, but he carefully took the note off and folded it up.

Mu Nanqiao had cooked pumpkin and millet porridge for him, along with egg pancakes and two side dishes. After Lu Qi finished eating, he cleaned the bowl. There was no need to use the dishwasher for so few things.

He wasn’t actually angry, just too embarrassed, like a child who had been caught misbehaving.

As he was washing the dishes, there was the electronic sound of the living room door opening. It opened and closed, and then someone was changing their shoes.

Lu Qi looked over and caught sight of Mu Nanqiao, who was wearing sportswear.

Ah! Facing this person, Lu Qi couldn’t help but scratch the ground with his toes and tap the phone with wet hands. Huh? It was already past nine in the morning, so why had Mu Nanqiao just finished running?

He raised his head and asked: “Why are you still at home?”

Mu Nanqiao felt wronged. Such a big man had a pitiful look on his face as he asked dejectedly: “Baby, don’t you want to see me at home?”

Lu Qi seemed to smell the fragrance of tea in the air. He wavered for a moment, then firmed up again and gave a weak scoff, “You…..stop selling misery. Clearly it was you last night who…..who went too far!”

“En, en, it’s my fault.” Mu Nanqiao nodded sincerely, but the words he said almost made Lu Qi jump up. “I really shouldn’t have made Wife Xiao Lu stain his painting…..”

Lu Qi rushed over and covered his mouth, the foam of the dish soap rubbing against Mu Nanqiao’s face. “You shut up…..”

Mu Nanqiao immediately hugged him with a triumphant smile in his fox-like eyes. His mouth got a taste of lemon flavor.

Pulling down Lu Qi’s hand, he carried him to the dining table in his arms. He casually took out a paper towel and carefully wiped each finger and the spaces between them, then kissed it again after wiping them dry.

Lu Qi retracted his hand and turned his head: “No kissing, I haven’t cooled off yet.”

So much like a little friend. Mu Nanqiao’s heart melted, and he nuzzled Lu Qi’s cheek with the tip of his nose since he refused to kiss him. “Lu Baby, tell me why you’re angry? You secretly drew me, and even without clothes. I’m not even angry, so why are you striking back unfairly? Huh?”

In this case, Lu Qi was indeed unreasonable. He hesitated for a moment, then whispered: “Really, I’m just…..so embarrassed, ah…..”

He was caught lusting over someone, and was so embarrassed that he wanted to dig through the floor and run away overnight.

Mu Nanqiao smiled and poked the small dimple on his cheek with his finger. “Baby, I’m your boyfriend, it’s perfectly normal for you to have such thoughts about me. Why are you so shy?”

“Because…..” Lu Qi spoke quietly, “Because…..when I made this painting…..you were not my boyfriend, ah.”

His voice gradually became smaller and smaller, like the buzz of a mosquito. “I…..you suddenly saw it last night, and I felt guilty, ah…..”

It turned out to be anger due to embarrassment.

Mu Nanqiao didn’t know whether to laugh or cry, and took him off the dining table. “As long as you didn’t tell me the date, I wouldn’t have known when you painted it. Wouldn’t that be just fine?”

Lu Qi murmured: “But I would know it myself, ah……”

“So when did you start painting it?” Mu Nanqiao asked curiously.

In any case, he had already told him this much. Lu Qi abandoned himself to despair and said: “It was you who showed me your stomach muscles…..that time…..and then I had a dream about you…..”

Upon hearing this answer, Mu Nanqiao smiled even more happily. “It turns out to be that time. That’s really great, ah.”

Lu Qi looked at him doubtfully.

“Because at that time, I also wanted you.” Mu Nanqiao winked, his cunning fox-like eyes full of tenderness. “Doesn’t this count as running toward each other with open arms?”

Lu Qi: ……

It appeared so? Something seemed strange again…..

But Mu Nanqiao didn’t dwell on this anymore. Seeing that this person had been coaxed, he immediately changed the subject in a sensible manner.

“Didn’t you just ask me why I’m not at work?” Mu Nanqiao pulled him to the window and pointed downstairs. “Look, the gift for you has just arrived. I was going down to pick it up.”

Their home was on the top floor. Lu Qi was not afraid of heights, but he still couldn’t see anything when pressing against the glass. He looked around inquisitively: “What is it?”

Mu Nanqiao smiled and tugged him over for a kiss: “Go change clothes, and we’ll go down for a look.”

In the open space outside, a van was parked beside the square. It was the time for work and school, and nobody had stopped to watch, so Lu Qi easily saw the extremely cool motorcycle.

This vehicle had obviously been modified based on the original. The all-carbon body reflected no light, and it was decorated with bright golden medal strips on the streamlined part of the body, making the expensive vehicle look very futuristic.

It was like a futuristic machine driving out of a black hole, full of the forceful aesthetics of cold, hard metal.

No young man could resist being drawn to it. Lu Qi was not an exception. He felt like there was a little rabbit jumping around in his heart, and his bright eyes couldn’t look away.

Mu Nanqiao began to get jealous of this iron lump, and said sourly: “Baby, when will you look at me like this?”

Before he finished speaking, Lu Qi kissed him on the cheek with a mwah and asked uncertainly: “This…..is mine?”

“If I said no, then your kiss would be in vain.” Mu Nanqiao smiled and rubbed his head. “Go try it out.”

Lu Qi cheered, and the little deer ran toward the motorcycle with joy.

By the time all the procedures were completed, half a month had passed before Lu Qi could ride his motorcycle on the road. When they were completed that afternoon, Lu Qi went to the racetrack to train again with his new bike.

Meng Li walked around the vehicle with raised eyebrows: “Not bad, it’s top-notch in every aspect. There would be no problem taking it to a competition. How much did it cost you?”

Lu Qi: …..

He only knew that the price of the base model was 400,000. He checked this himself, as Mu Nanqiao never said. Lu Qi had never thought of buying a motorcycle before, and he couldn’t help but think that his dad’s two big gold bracelets might not be enough to redeem him.

Seeing that Lu Qi was at a loss, Meng Li clicked his tongue and asked pensively: “A gift from your boyfriend?”

“En.” Lu Qi nodded. He became obviously happy when his boyfriend was mentioned, with relaxed features and a smile.

Meng Li suddenly felt a sense of frustration.

He had shaved recently and specially matched his clothes. He was still very confident in his appearance, and used to be the one on his team who had the most female fans.

But Lu Qi didn’t seem to pay him any attention at all. When they spent time together, he only talked to him about motorcycle-related things and didn’t contact him privately at all.

During these days, he had gradually realized that Lu Qi was not a young master from a wealthy family, but that his boyfriend was probably the rich one and doted on him. Meng Li once suspected that Lu Qi was “kept” by a rich young master.

Now, seeing that Lu Qi was smiling so happily after being given a motorcycle, he couldn’t help but inform him, “I’m telling you, the base model of this bike costs 400,000, but after being modified to what it is now, it’s at least a million.”

Lu Qi: “Wow! So expensive!”

Meng Li paused for a moment and looked back at Lu Qi. Without waiting for Lu Qi to react further, he said a bit impatiently: “If he gave you such an expensive thing, he will inevitably try to get something more valuable from your body. If he gets tired of you one day, how will you pay him back for this?”

Lu Qi: ……

The smile on the perpetually gentle young man’s face gradually faded, and he frowned at him.

“Mr. Meng, you have crossed the line.” Lu Qi’s tone was harsh. He was obviously angry, and said very seriously, “Even if I dismantled it and sold it, I may not be able to get a million. What could he be after, my looks?”

He said softly: “My boyfriend is better-looking than me.”

Meng Li: ……

Really? He didn’t believe it.

Lu Qi didn’t intend to explain it to him anymore, so he waved his hand and said: “It ends here. Thank you for your instruction over the past month and a half. Starting tomorrow, I won’t be here. You can contact Assistant Zhang to be paid your balance.”

Meng Li hadn’t expected Lu Qi’s reaction to be so big, and asked in confusion: “What did I say wrong? When you accepted such an expensive gift from him, didn’t you think about the consequences?”

Lu Qi got on the motorcycle and braced his long legs on the ground. He was wearing a professional racing suit today, which made his waist more slender, his legs longer, and his gentle features sharper.

“If you insist on making it clear to me, I’ll tell you something else.” With a calm expression, Lu Qi said unhurriedly: “He gives me gifts. Whether it is a bowl with free shipping for 9 yuan or a million-yuan motorcycle, I like them all. I also like the handwritten cards and sticky notes he sends. They make me happy, and I want to smile when I see them. Is this because there is gold on the cards?”

Seeing that Meng Li could say nothing, Lu Qi continued: “You said he has a motive for giving me the bike. Then all he needed to do was deliver it. I would be incredibly happy, and I might agree to anything when I’m happy. Then wouldn’t his goal be achieved?”

“But he also gave me you as a gift.” Lu Qi curled his lips, showing his dislike for him as a coach for the first time. “Because he knows motorcycles are dangerous, and wants me to know how to avoid danger. He didn’t do it just to make me giddy with happiness, but really did it for my own good.”

Finally, Lu Qi asked: “Mr. Meng, do you think I am a fool?”

Meng Li shook his head, lost. 

Lu Qi blinked: “But I think you’re one.”

Meng Li: ……

For Lu Qi, this was a very harsh criticism. He felt a little embarrassed after saying it, but had no regrets. 

“As for what you said will happen after we break up……” Lu Qi said very firmly, “We will not break up. I like him, and I want to be with him for the rest of my life.”

This innocent confession was like a child playing house. When they grew up, many people no longer believed in “forever.” Meng Li wanted to laugh at his naivete, but when he saw those clean, clear eyes, he suddenly couldn’t say anything.

To be able to receive such warm love, a lifetime didn’t seem that long anymore.

The atmosphere was awkward between the two.

Lu Qi came to his senses and gave Meng Li a suspicious look. After a moment, he said warily: “Why do you keep driving a wedge between me and my boyfriend? You don’t like him, do you?!”

If Lin Yuan were here, he would definitely sigh and say that it felt like deja vu.

In any case, in the eyes of this little deer, the trees and flowers in the forest were also treasures, and he just didn’t know how good he was.

Meng Li couldn’t endure it anymore: “I’ve never met your boyfriend, okay? I’m…..”

A low, cold male voice floated with the wind, cutting off what Meng Li didn’t finish. That man said a word that Meng Li hadn’t heard before. It sounded like Russian. 

But the gloom on Lu Qi’s face instantly vanished. He raised a hand and said: “Why are you here?”

Expecting him to be Lu Qi’s boyfriend, Meng Li turned around to give him a hostile look, but didn’t foresee that he would have to raise his head slightly to look at him. His imposing manner suddenly dropped down a notch.

And the other party didn’t even look at him. He walked two steps over on long legs, and the flapping corners of his dark windbreaker didn’t even touch him. 

But even just passing by, the other party’s face was as good as any star’s. That leisurely yet threatening aura made a person want to automatically retreat.

Meng Li just wanted to find a crack in the ground and burrow into it. His employment contract and work handover were all handled through Assistant Zhang, and he never met with the boss behind him.

He had thought that Lu Qi’s boyfriend was a rich second-generation fool, but was slapped in the face by his own assumptions.

Mu Nanqiao held a bouquet of lilies in his arms. Lu Qi suddenly thought of something, and his eyes lit up. He asked quickly: “Is Auntie back?”

Pink perfume lilies were Aunt Talia’s favorite kind of flower, and it was this type that Mu Chuanbai had given her last time.

“You guessed right,” Mu Nanqiao said with a smile. “My mom will arrive in Shanghai in about an hour. Do you want to pick her up together?”

Needless to day, Lu Qi would definitely go. Only, although riding a motorcycle was cool, the flowers may be damaged by the strong breeze. So he lifted his long legs and dismounted again to stand beside Mu Nanqiao and take the bouquet.

He smiled slyly, like a kitten that had stolen a fish. With a little self-satisfaction at taking advantage, he said with a smile: “I’ll give them to Auntie for you.”

The flowers had originally been prepared for Lu Qi, so Mu Nanqiao naturally had no objections. He just patted Lu Qi on the back and said warmly: “I’ll take them first, you go change clothes.”

Lu Qi agreed and walked away briskly.

Only Meng Li was left in the venue, embarrassed and at a loss. He wanted to quietly walk away, but Mu Nanqiao made the first move.

When he passed by him again, Mu Nanqiao stopped. His voice was as frigid as the cold wind. “Although I feel that your poaching behavior is unprofessional, for the sake of you getting him to say ‘for the rest of my life,’ I’ll save you some face and pay the balance of the tuition fee. Don’t appear in front of him in the future.”

. . . . . . .

Even up until this potential love rival was eliminated by Mu Nanqiao, Lu Qi didn’t understand his intentions. Sitting in Mu Nanqiao’s passenger seat, he continued to ask: “Why did Auntie suddenly come back? Is her work in Russia finished?”

Mu Nanqiao tapped the steering wheel with his fingers. A hint of deep meaning flashed through his fox-like eyes, but his expression didn’t change.

“My mom is going to compete in a domestic talk show.” He said: “She came back this time mainly to prepare for it.”

“Wow…..” Lu Qi sighed at Talia’s greatness and casually asked: “Which show is it?”

Mu Nanqiao: “Art Stars: International Edition.”

Lu Qi nodded. When he thought about it, he felt that the name of this program was familiar. After some consideration, he sighed.

“This…..it seems that my mom loves watching this show…..”

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Chapter Forty-Four << Table of Contents >> Chapter Forty-Six