Never Regret (fast-paced novel)

Script:
Zhong Wei’s fast-paced mission: to save people who regretted their actions in their previous life. Zhong Wei’s philosophy: if you can’t save someone, just bury them. Zhong Wei travels between different worlds, saving people like cutting melons. However, he has discovered that there is someone who is like a sand sculpture in a hurricane, with a presence everywhere – is there a bug in the system? Recipient: Buddhist-style saving, save those you can, bury those you can’t. The attacker: can be domineering or soft, can be the president or a wolf cub, flammable and explosive.
☆, Primitive Tribe [1

[Opening]
Time flies.
It crosses the vast forest.
Zhong Wei opens his eyes. He is at a fork in the road, and an old man is standing at the intersection.
The old man lifts his straw hat and greets him, ‘Kid, you’re already dead.’
Sure enough.
It’s clearly like reality but not real. The grass and trees are lush, taller than a person’s head. In the distance are mountains and the rising sun. Many roads stretch off in different directions.
The old man pointed to each of the roads and said, ‘Over there are werewolves and vampires.’ ‘Over there are robots and the Power Rangers.’ ‘Due west is the most popular live-streaming internet celebrity world right now, where everything can be live-streamed.’
Zhong Wei: Is it that exciting after death?
The old man said with a smile, ‘Even though you’re dead, your spiritual energy can continue to roam the virtual world.’
Zhong Wei: Does it feel like you’ve gained something by dying?
The old man held out his hand: ‘You haven’t paid for the fare yet.’
Zhong Wei: ‘= =|| I didn’t say a word.’
The old man looked as if he wouldn’t give up until he got what he wanted. Zhong Wei looked at the white suit, which had no pockets, and ran her fingers through her hair, which made it look frosty and wispy. It was all instinctive, and she felt that it was very valuable. The old man was satisfied and took the wispy hair into his hands: ‘I see. Then you have no choice.’
Zhong Wei: So all that hype just now was just a sales pitch? Once you place an order, you’re left with only one option?
The old man laughed: ‘Everything else is full.’
Zhong Wei spoke for the first time: ‘Where can I go?’
The old man pondered for a moment: ‘The judicial system is ignored by everyone, which is actually pretty good.’
As soon as I heard that no one cares,
I knew it was a trap.
The wicked go straight to hell and don’t need to be saved. Those who long to be saved are only those who have made mistakes through ignorance, impulse, or deception and have suffered from them for their whole lives. Regret has turned into a sharp blade in their hearts, repeatedly piercing their hearts, so that until the end they still pray and hope that they never made those mistakes.
The ‘Judgment System’ has collected the experiences and wishes of many people who regret their mistakes.
It sends out saviours to rescue them.
The ‘Judgment System’ simulates the real world.
Zhong Wei needs to shuttle between the real world, the ancient world, the future world, the strange world, and the fantasy world, and be arranged by the system to be the family members, friends, lovers, enemies, etc. of the repenters. He needs to save the lost souls one after the other, but he must be measured, otherwise the butterfly effect will be triggered, and the more he saves, the worse it gets, and the meaning of being a saviour will be lost.
The old man laughed and said, ‘It’s like living your life over again in another world. You won’t have travelled in vain.’
‘I hope so.‘
’The rescuer saves himself. Good luck!”
Clatter!
The waves of the “Judgment System” are surging once again!
Every time he wakes up, he is in the boundless ocean, with the waves gently caressing the back of his hand. Zhong Wei can’t remember how many times he has stared at the “Judgment System”. He puts away his initial memories and lets out a breath:
Next world.
※※※※※※※※※
Jussa was a primitive tribe that had long since perished.
The name Jussa has long since been lost. After reading through ancient texts, there are only a few lines: ‘Jussa, its king, Mu Jiu, helped the emperor conquer Jussa.’ This incomplete record is considered to be a historical novel. After all, which king would help others to conquer his own country? And the ‘emperor’ in it is Manti, the leader of the Haxi tribe, who formed a tribal alliance, unified the world, and created civilization.
Zhong Wei switched off his personal smart brain and looked around at the world he had arrived in: the Jiusa tribe.
His rescuer: Mujiu.
The ‘Judgment System’ recorded Mujiu’s bitter memories: Mujiu, 19 years old, fell in love with the leader of the Haxi tribe, the future Mandi. Back then, Mujiu succeeded to the throne. Knowing that Mandi was the enemy, he still surrendered the Jiusa tribe’s defence secrets, causing the Jiusa tribe to be destroyed three years later. The Mu clan perished in the bloody battle, and Mu Jiu lived in remorse and pain for the rest of his life.
To be fair, even without Mu Jiu, the Jiusa tribe would have been taken over by Manti. Mu Jiu’s mistake was betraying the Jiusa tribe in the face of unanimous opposition, turning his back on his brothers and clan members in exchange for Manti’s love, which was far more shameful than surrendering due to defeat – not to mention that Manti only used him.
Zhong Wei has saved countless pitiful and hateful people, and this Mu Jiu is the most hateful of them all. I hate this kind of traitor who betrays his country for love, and I wish I could immediately give him dozens of lashes to wake him up!
Are you sure you want to save him? Since this is a mission, it should have some meaning to complete it.
Maybe Mu Jiu is pure at heart.
Zhong Wei has no intention of changing history, nor can he change history, otherwise the world will collapse. Zhong Wei could extract a few building blocks, for example, to prevent the encounter between Mujiu and Mandi. Even if the wheel of history cannot be stopped, if he is defeated in the future, Mujiu will at most be the leader of a defeated tribe, not a shameful national sinner.
Under the setting sun, the autumn colours are dazzling.
The men of the Jusa tribe go up the mountain in groups of two or three to cut kudzu vines, while the women wash kudzu cloth in groups in the river.
One man left the group and walked up the gentle slope towards a tall rock. He was dressed in a beautiful sunset glow and had a handsome appearance. His kudzu clothes were simple, with a strangely slanted neckline, and a long belt tied around his waist, making his waist look thin and straight. It had to be said that his kudzu clothes were much more spirited than the others’ straightforward ones, and the women of the tribe had abandoned their original crude methods and learned to cut them into this style.
He was Zhong Wei.
He was the cousin of Mujiu, but this cousin had been mentally retarded since childhood and spoke with difficulty, as if he were biting on a stone. In the late spring of this year, he suddenly disappeared without a trace. The whole clan searched everywhere, and suddenly heard a few strange wolf howls. Following the sound, they went over and not far away, a golden light split the sky and a tall wolf ran away. The crowd held up their sticks and went over, only to see him covering his neck, which was bleeding profusely, and speaking clearly: ‘Where is this?’
Zhong Wei, who had attached himself to him.
Not only did he survive the jaws of the wolf, but he also miraculously became smarter. The Jiusa people, who worshipped wolves, did not find this strange, but instead believed it was a gift from the wolf god. The priest performed a great ritual to thank the wolf god, and pasted a piece of black soil on his neck to stop the bleeding, calling it ‘sacred soil’. Zhong Wei was speechless. That night, he covered his neck and struggled to collect herbs, cleaned the wound, applied a dressing, and then protected it with a thick leaf and tied it tightly with twine.
The next day, he approached the gentle-looking Mujiu: ‘Brother, my original name is not nice-sounding. I want to change it to Mu Zhong Wei.’ Zhong Wei’s name sounds the same as Zhong Wei, which means ‘Wolf God’s Sage’ in Jusa.
“Good, you’ve now opened your eyes. You’re different from before,’ Muku smiled.
‘Thank you, brother.’
‘You lost the priest’s sacred soil? Hurry up and beg for another piece, or you’ll die! The wolf god enlightened you, and then deliberately left a mark of the god on your neck for what? Could it be that the mighty wolf god did something to you?’ Muku couldn’t help but laugh, Zhong Wei’s appearance was so comical, it looked like a leaf was supporting his head, with a few drops of green juice dripping down.
‘How could that be…’ Zhong Wei supported his neck, feeling weak.
After half a month, Zhong Wei’s neck healed, and not even a half-way scar remained. The women of the tribe came to ask him what kind of medicinal herbs he used, and Zhong Wei could not resist their persistence, and taught them to identify various medicinal herbs that nourish the face. Soon, the women were one after another to excel. Zhong Wei got rid of that foolishness, and he looked handsome. The men also loved to be close to him. When they went hunting together, someone was always by his side, afraid that he would be taken by a beast. Zhong Wei, however, was extraordinarily agile, and with just a long, sharpened stick, he hunted down more than ten animals, which made everyone admire him even more.
Soon, someone wanted to form a marriage alliance, but Zhong Wei flatly refused, saying that the wolf god had appeared to him in a dream, telling him that he could only marry after the age of 25. When he mentioned the wolf god, everyone was speechless.
Six months had passed without him realising.
Zhong Wei looked up and saw that on the tall stone, Mujiu was gazing into the distance. At this moment, if he hadn’t met Mandi, he would still be innocent, a little clever but not harmful, and not annoying. How had he become like that? In his previous life, he and Mandi would meet on this stone next spring. The beginning of their ill-fated relationship made him vigilant.
“Big brother, stand further away, the stone is unstable, if you fall, it’s a thousand-foot abyss.’
‘Legend has it that the wolf god shed his wolf’s body here and became a god. How could anything possibly happen?’ Mu Jiu stepped on the stone, smiling, his eyes full of love. He had long noticed that Zhong Wei often gazed at him, and he was not surprised, because Mu Jiu was confident that he was both intelligent and outstanding, and it was only natural to be looked at differently.
In primitive tribes, there were no strict hierarchies between people, and there were not so many complicated rules and rituals. Even apart from the king and the priests, everyone called each other by their first names. As for sexual relationships, they were also very casual. If you liked someone, you slept with them; if you had a child, you just gave birth to it and the tribe raised it together. Only to avoid disputes, there was already the concept of marriage at this time, but it was not strict.
“Zhong Wei, why don’t you want to get married? Is it really the will of the wolf god?’
‘Why don’t you want to marry?‘ Zhong Wei asked in return.
’I’m the son of the king, so I’ll marry the daughter of the tribal leader. I haven’t met anyone I like yet,’ Mu Jiu said, suddenly smiling mysteriously. He pointed ahead, where the setting sun was surrounded by a haze. ’Do you know that the Man clan of the Haxi tribe has three daughters, each as beautiful as a fairy? I’m just waiting for Mu Geyang to plunder them!’
The Man clan also has a handsome son. Shall I destroy your clan? Zhong Wei’s words carry a deep meaning: ‘In any case, nineteen is not an age to act recklessly. Your brother shoulders the fate of thousands of people in the Jiusa nation.’
Mukyu was astonished: ‘What do you mean?’
Zhong Wei stopped talking without saying what she meant, as it would give too much of the plot away.
In this era, tribes were numerous and the weak were prey to the strong. After annexing several small tribes, the leader of the Jiusa tribe became arrogant and felt that ‘tribe’ did not have enough majesty. He therefore shamelessly changed it to Jiusa Kingdom and called himself the king. The neighbouring Huaxi tribe was comparable in strength to Jiusa and was unwilling to be outdone, so it also called itself a kingdom.
At that time, some tribes were still dominated by the strong, while others began to be hereditary, and Jussa was one of the latter. If nothing unexpected happened, after the death of the old king, Mujiu would succeed to the throne. On the one hand, because he was the eldest son, he was exceptionally intelligent; on the other hand, his younger brother, Mujiang, was very strong.
Mujiang had been fighting wars outside, and he had conquered all those tribes. He could be called the war god of Jussa. Mugeyang had no intention of competing for the throne. Apart from the fact that he loved his brother very much, at this time, the people were all wearing ragged clothes, eating bland food, and their development was limited. The king of a country was not treated very well, and the throne was not as coveted as it would later become.
It seems that everything is in Zhong Wei’s hands.
Except for these times:
Zhong Wei took a bite of the venison, chewed a few times, and found it bland and tasteless. Without salt, the meat was really hard to eat.
Zhong Wei rarely changes the natural technology that travels across the world. According to past experiences, either he will be treated as a monster, or the technology will be inexplicably forgotten and buried, and the world will continue to move forward according to its own cycle. But he really couldn’t stand the meat without salt, so Zhong Wei activated his smart brain to search. He kept heading west, and at the junction of Huaxi and Jiusa, there was a barren mountain that was rich in crystalline sandstone salt.
Mountain sandstone salt is also salt, so it’s good to have some.
The next day, Zhong Wei put a water bag on his back, took a long stick, and told Mu Jiu that he was going hunting and would be back in a dozen days. He cut through the undergrowth all the way, trekking through the wilderness. This was the most backward world Zhong Wei had ever travelled through. Transportation basically relied on walking, and the direction depended entirely on the sun. The smart brain constantly reminded him of how far there were bears to the left, porcupines to the right, tigers, leopards and jackals ahead… He was in the gates of hell, spinning ten times a minute.
The effect of the magic is amazing.
After a strenuous journey, Zhong Wei picked and chose, and picked up half a bag of crystal salt stones.
In addition to being rich in salt stones, this mountain has a natural hot spring. Zhong Wei soaked in the hot spring, stretching her legs comfortably: she had suffered greatly after arriving in this broken world. Not only had she been bitten in the neck, leaving a big bloody hole, but the priest had also used mud to cover the wound, which had caused her to dream for several days and made her neck feel exposed. And I’ve never felt so relaxed and my blood circulating so well.
After a while, Zhong Wei got up and put on the dry hemp clothes. The autumn wind made her shiver. She had to hurry back, otherwise she would fail the mission because she froze to death.
Zhong Wei was just tying her belt when there was a whoosh behind her.
A blackout followed, and Zhong Wei was thrown to the ground. Before he could react, a figure came crashing down on top of him. With lightning speed, the belt was pulled and the hemp clothing was torn apart with a loud crack. The movement was so swift that by the time Zhong Wei reacted, half of his body was already naked. Zhong Wei struggled a couple of times, but the man was incredibly strong, and Zhong Wei’s legs were pinned immobile by a single knee.
Unable to move, Zhong Wei cursed, ‘You animal! Can’t you tell if I’m a man or a woman?’
The man froze for a moment, and then ran his hand downwards.
Zhong Wei thought he was going to let go.
But instead, the man gritted his teeth, pressed one hand against Zhong Wei’s chest, and went straight to undoing his trousers. Zhong Wei was furious, struggling and screaming at the same time. The man was unafraid, and let him shout. At that moment, a voice suddenly came from afar: ‘Mugeyang? Is there something wrong?’
Without looking up, the man shouted back, ‘Nothing! I’ve caught someone, so don’t come over!’
Mugeyang?
Zhong Wei gave a hard kick: ‘You animal! I’m your cousin!’
…

☆、Primitive Tribe [2

Chapter 2
At this time, there were few rules and even fewer formalities. Most people called each other by their first names, with the exception of the king and the priests. It was a blessing that the man had shouted ‘Mugeyang’ and not ‘General Muge’ or ‘Chief Muge’.
They walked in silence back to the camp. A soldier asked Zhong Wei excitedly how he had found them. Zhong Wei said, ‘A hunter is lost…where can he sleep?’
‘Sleep in my bed,’ the man said happily.
Mugeyang, who had been resting his hand on his forehead and covering half his face, looked up, his smile barely concealing his sarcasm. ‘Where are you going? Sleep with me.’
He really was the leader, and he was still treated quite well. There was a small thatched hut, with boards spread with hay on the floor. On top of the hay was a wild boar skin serving as a mat. Zhong Wei slept on top of it, recalling this absurd encounter. Although she had kicked Mu Geyang hard while he was unconscious, she still felt aggrieved. This was truly an animal, just letting any person have sex with him, so hungry and horny?
Beast!
In his previous life, Mu Geyang vowed never to surrender and died in battle by the river – and from then on, he would shed rivers of blood, and Zhong Wei would never lift a finger to help!
Mugeyang strode in with a brisk gait. He was so tall that he almost touched the ceiling. Zhong Wei sat up abruptly and stared at him alertly. Mugeyang scratched his brow awkwardly with his hand and said, ‘Abonuriha, you’re very different from before. I didn’t recognise you just now.’ Abonuriha was the name of the original body.
Zhong Wei snapped, ‘You think just anyone will do?’
Mugeyang is righteous: ‘This is the territory of the Huaxi Kingdom. Since I’m a Huaxi person, of course I’m not polite.’
‘Huaxi also has pigs, dogs, cows and sheep, go ahead!’
‘Can it be the same? This is the rule, the captive has to be at our disposal.’ Mugeyang whispered, squatting down, his young face quite embarrassed, ‘You’ve kicked and kicked, and you’re still not angry? I heard from a few people who came here recently that you’ve come to your senses and even changed your name?‘
’…‘
’What did you change it to? What kind of Zu? Mu Zu?‘ Mu Geyang gave a bright smile.
You can’t hit someone who’s smiling. At Mu Geyang’s urging, Zhong Wei said wordlessly, “Mu Zhongwei, just call me Zhong Wei.”
’That sounds good! How do you write it?’
Mu Geyang took out a stone and asked Zhong Wei to write her name in the fresh rabbit blood. Zhong Wei thought to herself that the characters had not yet been invented, but she could not refuse the hospitality, so she wrote the two upright characters with great difficulty: Zhong Wei. Later, by chance, Zhong Wei learned from the priest that writing the blood on the stone gave it a spiritual essence that could protect the owner of the name. When she saw the stone again, the two characters were a deep red colour from the mixture of animal and human blood.
Muge Yang looked at it for a long time, ‘It’s got such straight characters!’ The characters the priest taught him all looked like earthworms.
Zhong Wei couldn’t explain what was meant by straight characters.
Fortunately, Muge Yang didn’t pursue the matter, collected the stone, and revealed a bright smile, saying ingratiatingly, ‘Are you still angry? I’ve just won a battle and captured a lot of spoils. What do you want? We’ll pick it out for you, okay?’
’…No need,’
Mugeyang held a piece of rabbit meat up to Zhong Wei’s lips: ‘It tastes strange with the salt you said, do you want to eat it?’
The meat was close to his lips, so Zhong Wei had to take it.
Mugeyang watched him eat without blinking, and at the end, he smiled happily and wanted to lie down next to him. Zhong Wei couldn’t stand it anymore and got up to leave. Mugeyang held him back and said angrily, ‘Are you still guarding against me? Haven’t I recognised you? Now that I know you’re my brother, how could I lay a hand on you! Alright, alright, can’t I just bring in some hay and make another bed?’
Will a bedspread protect against the long-legged wolf?
These are dangerous times, and Zhong Wei decides to make a knife and carry it with him, so that he can chop anyone who comes near. He is angry, but there is nothing he can do. These are the times when anyone who catches your eye can be taken home with a club on the head, so what kind of quality can you expect from Mu Geyang? Fortunately, although they are not very strict about blood ties and the like, and they are not strict about sexual orientation, brothers still cannot fool around.
Mugeyang also seems open and honest, not like a villain. It’s just the way things were in those days. o(&gt_&lt)o
The next day, Zhong Wei was going to go back, but Mugeyang wouldn’t let him go. He said that it was winter and there would be no more fighting, and that it would be safer to go back to the tribe with him in a few days. Zhong Wei didn’t even want to say it, because all the tigers, leopards, wolves, and insects along the way had not done anything to him, and suddenly there was a Mugeyang who was fiercer than any beast.
The spoils of war were piled high, and Mu Geyang divided them methodically.
He was dignified and majestic, and did not look like a seventeen-year-old, but more like twenty. In primitive times, people matured early, and some had children at this age. I haven’t heard that Mu Geyang has any children, probably because he has been fighting all the time and hasn’t had time to take care of them—no way! A guy who pounces on everyone he sees, how many children did he have in the field? The more Zhong Wei thought about it, the more he frowned!
Zhong Wei was not interested in trophies, so Mugeyang gave him a brown bear skin coat, which he could use in the winter when it was cold.
Zhong Wei pulled the corners of his mouth hard, ‘Who did you win?’
‘The Huaxi tribe.’
Zhong Wei was stunned for a moment. The ‘Judgment System’ recorded the perspective and memories of Mugeyang, and there was no record of Mandi’s defeat in the middle: ‘Was the Huaxi king’s name Manbei? You took the Huaxi tribe?’
‘It wasn’t a conquest. We just looted and ran. Winter is coming soon, and there isn’t enough food. It’s not the right time for war. I’ll come back next year!‘
’Oh, a bandit. So have you met Manbei?‘
’No.”
Zhong Wei let out a sigh of relief. This fits the story. In his previous life, Manbei stayed in Jiusa for a year before being discovered.
Seeing Zhong Wei’s interest, Mu Geyang enthusiastically talked about his battle record: the day before, he led several hundred people and plundered heavily, causing Huaxi to be in a state of disarray. Next spring, he plans to head all the way west, capture the main Huaxi tribe, and take over the other smaller tribes.
He is worthy of the title of God of War, and he speaks of fighting with great enthusiasm. Later, he would die with a sense of grievance in battle by a river, also at the hands of his brother.
Zhong Wei felt sympathy.
A few days later, Mugeyang led more than a hundred soldiers back to the tribe and received an extraordinary welcome. Everyone praised him for being young and capable, and for being a reincarnation of the wolf warrior, overshadowing Muju. Muju hugged his younger brother, raising his eyebrows and smiling with slender ripples. Mugeyang gave him a big hug in return, saying cheerfully, ‘Brother is still so thin, you need to eat more meat, eat meat and grow meat! Man mustn’t run away too fast, I haven’t caught any of his sisters, hahaha, I’ll grab one for my brother next year!‘
’Why don’t you grab one for yourself?‘ Mu Jiu asked with a smile.
’I did grab one…haha, let’s not talk about it, look what I brought for my brother?’ Mu Geyang rummaged through his bag and pulled out his trophy, happily showing it to his brother. The two brothers were very close.
Zhong Wei thought to herself, no wonder Mujiu can sit firmly on the throne, this closeness, Mujieyang simply would not compete with him.
To thwart Mujiu’s love for Manbei, a lot of preparation is needed.
After all, chance is unpredictable. Even if you surrounded the area within a hundred miles, you might not be able to stop the powerful hormones that attract the two of them. That said, Mujiu’s ability to sell Jusa so completely has to do with his status. Manbei saw that he was the heir to the throne and poured in the charm, until Mujiu became the king and opened the country for him. If Manbei couldn’t become the king, he wouldn’t have gone to such lengths.
Therefore, it is best to prevent Muqiu from becoming the king.
Zhong Wei secretly made up her mind.
The next day, the priest performed a ritual in public to thank the wolf god for granting them victory in battle. The priest was the soul of the tribe. He was over 40 years old, slightly overweight, and had a worldly face. He squinted his eyes, looking like a fox. He danced with a heavy body, his whole body trembling with fat, black and brown, panting heavily. It wasn’t weird at all, but rather comical, as if he were dancing with a deity.
As the priest danced, suddenly it started to rain. The marble in front of Mujiu turned black when it came into contact with the water, while the stone in front of Mujuanyang suddenly caught fire.
Everyone was shocked.
The priest immediately saw an opportunity to act. He said that the fire was a lucky sign, and that conquering the Huaxi tribe was just around the corner. Zhong Wei, who had been watching him talk nonsense, secretly laughed. This was the limestone he had been looking for a long time, and it finally came in handy. Later, the news of the stone catching fire spread, making Mu Geyang’s reputation even louder, and in comparison, Mujiu lost its luster.
After the crowd dispersed, Zhong Wei deliberately asked the priest why, if Mugeyang was the will of the gods and so brave, he could not be the tribal leader. The priest explained that it was the rule that the eldest son succeeded to the throne, otherwise it would lead to disputes.
‘Are there no exceptions?’
‘Of course there are. Most tribes elect the strongest person as their leader. If Mugeyang is not capable, he will abdicate, just like your father.’ The priest was very tactful and didn’t say anything.
Zhong Wei’s deceased father was the elder brother of the king, not as brave or as clever as his younger brother, and abdicated early. At this stage of history, everyone was quite self-aware and let the capable go up. Zhong Wei suddenly wondered why Mujiu became the king even though he knew his younger brother, Mugeyang, was very capable. Was it because he was greedy?
Zhong Wei went to Mujiu’s house under the pretext that she had to borrow something. In the Jusa tribe, only the king and Mujiu lived in wooden houses, while everyone else lived in straw huts. Mujie Yang was comforting Mujiu: ‘In the future, my brother will be the king and I will be the general. Who cares whose stone started the fire?’
‘Since it is the will of the gods, the tribe will talk.’
‘Whoever dares to speak ill of my brother will know what I am capable of!’
Zhong Wei was speechless. Mujie Yang was too kind-hearted. When one plan failed, he tried another. That night, Zhong Wei used bamboo and kudzu to make several kites, wrote Mu Geyang’s name in ink, and released them into the wind. Soon after, there was a rumour in the tribe that a ‘flying bamboo bird’ had crashed in the middle of the night. Some people even brought it to the priest for advice. The priest was greatly surprised and said it was Mu Geyang’s name.
Such petty tricks followed one another, stirring up rumours in Jiusa.
At this time, it was a transitional period between ‘the strong rule’ and ‘hereditary rule’, which would switch depending on the situation. Everyone was talking about it: Mu Geyang had performed miracles time and time again, so did that mean he was the wolf god? If that was the case, Mu Jiu should follow the example of the previous leader and give up the right to succeed to the throne. The old king was also shaken, and asked the priest what to do. The priest said to wait and see.
It was already early winter.
Zhong Wei shrank back, hiding her legs under the quilt made of pigskin. She couldn’t bear the cold, the wind blowing in from all sides, and her bones aching. Suddenly there was a noise, and Mugeyang came in with a thick bear skin, threw it over Zhong Wei, and said discontentedly, ‘This bear skin is what I gave you, why don’t you want it?’
‘It doesn’t fit.’ Such a good bear skin is only affordable for the king.
‘Is it suitable just to hang it on the wall? Is it just for decoration?‘ Mu Geyang didn’t give Zhong Wei a chance to argue, and sat down next to him while pressing the bear skin against him.
’What are you doing?’ Zhong Wei immediately became angry.
Mu Geyang looked at him innocently, ’It rained the other day, and my thatched hut got flooded, so I can’t live there anymore. Your house is the driest, so you don’t mind lending me a place to sleep, do you?’
Mind! Mind!
Just as she was about to say that, Mu Jiu lifted the straw curtain and came in: ‘Mu Geyang insists on sleeping here with you. Ha, no wonder, your place gets plenty of sunlight during the day and is airtight at night, so it’s the most comfortable place in the tribe. How did you choose such a great place? And this bamboo bed, propped up in the air, is also moisture-proof and bug-proof. I want to come and sleep on it.’
At that time, people did not have the concept of privacy, and they believed that as long as the relationship was good, everything could be shared, even lovers and spouses.
Zhong Wei gritted her teeth and said, ‘My bed cannot support two people.’
Just then, someone carrying the bamboo bed came walking quickly, but stopped in the doorway: ‘Oh no, the bed is too big to get in.’
Zhong Wei was speechless: ‘Can’t you just put it up?’
Mugeyang and Mujiu laughed heartily, and the two men also rubbed their heads and laughed. They set up the bed and spread hay, and in a few minutes the house was full. Zhong Wei’s feeble protests disappeared into the discussion of how to make it more spacious.
☆、Primitive Tribe [3

Chapter 3
After everyone had gone, Mu Geyang lay down humming a little tune, very pleased with himself and very informal: ‘Zhong Wei, this bamboo bed is really comfortable to sleep on. Bamboo is easy to split and weave. How did you come up with the idea? Were you inspired by the wolf god?’
‘I figured it out myself.‘
’…Are you still angry? That was more than ten days ago, you’re being petty. I’ve apologised and made amends, what more do you want? I didn’t really do anything to you! Are you going to break our friendship?’ Mu Geyang suddenly exploded.
‘Don’t talk, go to sleep!‘ Zhong Wei rolled over and faced the wall. If he was still angry, he wouldn’t secretly support him as the king. However, he didn’t know that Mu Geyang kept blocking him from apologising, which made him think about the incident from time to time.
’No way! Don’t go to sleep until you explain!‘
’Stop it! You can stay here as long as you like! Don’t mention that incident again! And don’t apologise again!’
‘Okay!’ Mugeyang smiled.
Because of the incident of being attacked by Mugeyang, Zhong Wei had been thinking about getting a knife. Technically, it was not difficult to achieve, as the mountain where the tribe was located had a high iron content. However, Zhong Wei could not dig for ironstone alone. He wanted to find a few people to go with him, but the young and strong laborers all had to go hunting, so who would want to play with him digging for stones for nothing. Zhong Wei was just worrying about it when Mugeyang suddenly assigned a dozen people to him, and told him to use them as he pleased.
With so many people, the iron was smelted and forged quickly.
Zhong Wei felt embarrassed taking all the credit when he had so many people helping him. A dozen knives were forged and finally came out of the furnace. Although they were not sharp, they were impressive for the times. Everyone liked the big knives, saying that they were handy, useful and powerful. Zhong Wei forged a short dagger instead. Some people laughed, saying that a knife that small could not do much.
When Mu Geyang saw it, he naturally wanted one too. He didn’t contribute any effort but he made a big impression, and he deserves the most credit. Zhong Wei made one for him according to the appearance of the descendants’ knives, and also made a sheath for it. As soon as the knife was finished, and when Mu Geyang swung it again, it sparkled with a cold light, and everyone exclaimed that the reincarnation of the war wolf had appeared.
Mu Geyang knew that this thing was powerful, so he stopped hunting and called on everyone to enthusiastically smelt iron and make weapons.
Zhong Wei was so full of praise from everyone that he couldn’t help but build arrows as well. Since arrows needed a bow, he also built one.
Mugeyang was the most resourceful, and he kept pestering Zhong Wei to teach him how to shoot arrows. He was invincible in hand-to-hand combat, but he was terrible at archery. No matter how hard he tried, he just couldn’t get it right. He would shoot and miss by miles. Zhong Wei taught him hand-to-hand how to aim and shoot, but he just wouldn’t get it. It was fine if he didn’t get it, but he just had to keep trying. When Zhong Wei got impatient, he would scold him, and Mugeyang would just smile innocently.
One day, night fell.
Zhong Wei returned from outside and accidentally discovered that Mu Geyang had raised his bow and shot with ease, and the arrow raced off, hitting a red maple leaf a hundred paces away. Zhong Wei went over without saying a word and asked how the practice was going. Mu Geyang immediately made a sad face and said, ‘I still can’t get it right. While pulling the bow, the arrow landed weakly in front of him: ’Zhong Wei, is my finger position right? Come correct it?’
Zhong Wei stepped forward and snapped his fingers, and Mu Geyang let out a scream of agony.
…
In addition to teaching people how to make iron, Zhong Wei also collected herbs. In a previous life, he was a doctor and learned a good medical skill. If he was born in a slightly better era, as the nephew of the monarch, he would have been made a prince anyway. It’s just that in these barbaric times, status doesn’t count for much, so there’s nothing for the monarch of this era to fight for. If Mu Jiu knows what’s good for him, he’ll give up and save himself the trouble.
Just as he was thinking that, there were a few howls.
Zhong Wei looked around and saw two wolves not far away, with black tails, green eyes, but running in the other direction. He was curious, drew his long, sharpened stick from behind his back, and followed them.
Over the gentle slope, he saw a man running in a desperate manner.
This guy will sooner or later be eaten by a wolf. Zhong Wei quickly ran over and waved his long stick to drive the wolf away. His physical fitness was at its best, his combat skills were proficient, and with the long stick as a weapon, he fought with great vigour. The two wolves were unwilling to be outdone and surrounded Zhong Wei. Zhong Wei was about to make up his mind when he heard a loud voice: ‘Zhong Wei, get away quickly!’
Mugeyang had arrived.
As expected, he was an expert hunter. In no time at all, Mugeyang swung his machete and killed the wolves in no time at all. The man who was limping was so scared that he fell to the ground as if he had seen a ghost. The Jiusa tribe worshipped wolves, but they also ate wolf meat and used wolf skins. The explanation was that this was a gift from the wolf god – so as long as you defend yourself, you are always right.
‘Thanks to the fact that I kept following you, how did you end up in such a remote place?’ Mugeyang said discontentedly.
‘Some herbs only grow here,‘ Zhong Wei explained.
’Starting tomorrow, you must stay with me! From now on, you can’t go anywhere without my permission!’ Mugeyang said firmly.
The poor man, who had been chased by wolves, got up, covered in dust, with a swollen and bruised face that made it hard to tell what he looked like. He thanked the two for saving his life, his lips trembling. When he heard that it was Muganyang who had saved him, the man was so excited that he could hardly speak – in the new tribes that had been conquered, Muganyang’s reputation was greater than that of the king.
This man was called Yannu, a member of a remote tribe under Jiusadi. He got lost while hunting, and got further and further away. First he was chased by wild boars, and then by wolves. He never expected to meet the people who saved his life.
Mugeyang took Yannu back to the tribe.
Zhongwei applied homemade herbal medicine to Yannu’s wound for a few days. Yannu was full of gratitude: ‘What kind of medicine is this? The wound healed so quickly. If I had met you earlier, my injury wouldn’t have been so serious.’ He lifted up his hemp shirt to reveal two long scars on his chest.
“Even if you had met me earlier, you still wouldn’t have met me,’
Yannu was always dirty and didn’t know how to wash. Once, when he leaned over, a rancid smell came over, and Zhong Wei pinched her nose and threw a piece of linen over to him, telling him to go down to the river and wash before coming back. Yannu awkwardly grabbed the linen and ran.
Back then, people lived a hard life and couldn’t care about how clean they were, so they all smelled. Except for Mugeyang, because Zhong Wei would force him to take cold showers every other day. As the saying goes, ‘if you hang around with bad company, you’ll end up smelling like them.’ Zhong Wei suspected that he smelled, too, so he washed even more frequently. When he didn’t have any soap, he rubbed himself with a herb. As a result, Mu Geyang always liked to lean over and sniff Zhong Wei’s nape like a large dog, saying, ‘It smells so good.’ Although this behaviour smacked of lechery, it was accompanied by a bright, open face, so Zhong Wei later just ignored it and pushed him away.
Yan Nu’s face had been stung by a poisonous bee, and it was still swollen, giving him a somewhat pig-headed appearance. He was curious about iron, knives, bows and arrows, and liked to ask questions. When he saw the wheelbarrow, he was so startled that he almost bit off his tongue. He was also hardworking. When he was forging a knife, he ran the fastest and didn’t feel tired at all. It was rare to meet such a studious person, so Zhong Wei taught him how to make tools.
Everyone likes a hard worker.
Yannu is quick on his feet and works hard, and Kiku notices this too.
However, Yannu prefers to follow Zhong Wei around. One day, while they are making bows and arrows, they hear Kiku shouting. Yannu frowns, puts down the bow and arrow and reluctantly goes over. Unfortunately, Kiku has grown used to having people do what he tells them to do, and he is not satisfied with just being told once a day. So he simply makes Yannu follow him around all day.
A few days later, Zhong Wei went into the forest to look for suitable willow trees for the bow when he heard a cheerful laugh. Curious, he went over and saw Mujiu sitting on the neck of Yan’nu, picking fruit. Mujiu was laughing so hard that his body was shaking. Strangely, Yan’nu was also laughing happily, moving his feet to lead Mujiu into the tangle of dead vines. Mujiu pretended to be angry and kicked him, but Yan’nu held his toes and tickled him, and Mujiu’s laughter became even more joyful.
Zhong Wei realised: these two are a match made in heaven!
This is wonderful news! This divine twist couldn’t have worked out better. There’s no need to try to break up Mujiu and Mandi – wait! Is it really no effort at all? Zhong Wei chopped the herbs that day and applied them to Yan Nu’s face for three days. Even though the swelling had obviously gone down, he deliberately said that it hadn’t gone down despite all the medicine, and on the fourth day, he told Yan Nu to wash his face clean.
At that time, there was no mirror or anything, and Yanu was careless, so he washed his face clean, with a handsome profile and deep gaze.
Zhong Wei’s heart darkened.
This Yanu, is he not Manbai?
The trial record is from Mu Jiu’s perspective. In that life, Mu Jiu saved Manbai from drowning. Manbai was a talented person with a normal face, and he fell in love with Mu Jiu at first sight. Manbai’s alias was not called Yanu, and Zhong Wei had always been on guard for the appearance of that person under the alias – she never imagined it was Yanu. What’s more, she never imagined that the plot would change so much, and Manbai was so badly injured that her face was bruised and swollen, and her true appearance was hidden.
Looking back, there was one time when Yanu lifted up his shirt to reveal two long scars, which were exactly Manbai’s physical characteristics.
No matter how much you guard against it, you can’t prevent misfortune from knocking at your door.
It explains why Yan Nu is so concerned about the defence of the bows and arrows and Jiusa, why he is so fond of Mujiu, and why Mujiu sticks to Yan Nu – it’s a fateful relationship!
Zhong Wei rested her hand on her forehead and let out a long sigh. Mujiang’s voice came from behind her: ‘Zhong Wei, can’t sleep? Turn over, I’ll tell you about the battle.’
Zhong Wei rolled over and met Mujiang’s burning gaze.
In the era of cold weapons, Mu Geyang was outstanding. He did not simply and rudely attack the other tribe, but also used strategies. Otherwise, he would not have been able to successfully attack Huaxi. After hearing this for a long time, Zhong Wei could not help but suggest, ‘You should not focus all your efforts on attacking Huaxi. The Jiusa wilderness is easily attacked by outsiders. You’d better attack the tribe in the north and let the dangerous mountain become a natural barrier for Jiusa.’ Relying on the omnipotent smart brain, Zhong Wei knows the terrain of the world without leaving home, just touching on the main points.
Mugeyang pondered for a moment and said, ‘That’s true. I need to change my plans for next year.’
Zhong Wei had just been speaking off the cuff, and he didn’t expect Mugeyang to say a few days later that he had someone build a wall at the pass and send someone to destroy the dyke built by the Huaxi people. Because Huaxi is high up, and with the dyke in place, if it breaks, it could flood the Jussa tribes.
That’s right, the god of war understands at once, how much trouble that saves.
Zhong Wei’s feelings are mixed. She knows that the wheel of history is rolling on, but it is difficult to try to stop it. Zhong Wei tries to persuade him: ‘I hear that Mambai is a very talented person, and he became a leader at the age of twelve. Mugeyang, would you consider forming an alliance with him? There are no permanent enemies, only permanent interests.’
‘That’s not going to work. Our tribe is much stronger than Jussabi’s!‘ Mugyang said firmly.
’Well, they’re not that much stronger. They’re about equal. If Mambai forms a tribal alliance and unites with other tribes and small countries to surround Jussabi, their combined strength will be much stronger than Jussabi’s.‘ Mambai will soon form a tribal alliance. He’s got the ability to do anything.
’Why are you defending him!‘ Mugyang was angry.
’I’m doing it for your own good!’
The more familiar I become with the Mu clan, the more pity I feel for their future. Although Mu Geyang’s appearance was dishonourable, he took good care of Zhong Wei afterwards, and he treated him like a brother, so Zhong Wei was no longer angry. It’s a pity to think that in three years, Mu Geyang will die in battle with a grudge. If Jiu Sa would take a step back, join Man Bei’s alliance, and help him unify the world, they could avoid the fate of extinction.
☆、Primitive Tribe [4]

[Chapter 4]
Unfortunately, the proud Mugeyang would not agree.
That guy, because he said that Manbei was good, got angry and upset. Should I say something else to comfort him?
Zhong Wei was pondering, when Mugeyang’s voice rose again, ‘You’re right, one punch is no match for ten kicks. If the tribes form an alliance, they will be stronger than individual countries. I can take the lead!’
Zhong Wei: ‘…’
Should he go with the flow of history, or fight a futile battle and resign himself to fate?
Just as Zhong Wei was agonising, news suddenly broke: the king was dying!
Zhong Wei wondered, the king had not been seriously ill for a year, so why was he suddenly dying? But there was no time to think, it was time to decide on the next king: would it be Mu Jiu or Mu Geyang?
The priest said, ‘It depends on the will of the gods!’
Zhong Wei went to the priest’s house to see what he was preparing for the ritual. The priest did not reject Zhong Wei, and what’s more, Zhong Wei had a good relationship with Mu Geyang. The priest, who was quick to adapt to the situation, answered all Zhong Wei’s questions: ‘Mu Jiu is the eldest son, so as long as the divination does not reveal any unusual signs, the king will be him.’
A vision is like this: One day is fine, and suddenly there is a storm, a dragon appears in the sky; or, a blizzard suddenly falls on a hot day; or, all the 100 wooden tablets thrown by the priest are either face up or face down; it is more or less like this. No one can change the sky, so how can it be so coincidental that the weather suddenly changes that day? And divination is inherently a matter of probability. With 100 or so wooden tablets, even a magician cannot make all of them face up or face down without using props.
Isn’t this the meaning of supporting Mujiu as the ruler of the country?
At this moment, a crisp voice suddenly said, ‘Priest, are you here?’
Looking through the window, it was Mujiu, smiling, with a magnificent black wolf skin in his hands behind him.
Zhong Wei was stunned. After scanning the room, she saw that the priest’s house was hung with several strings of bacon, a beautiful stone knife, neat silk clothes, and a warm and spacious bear skin quilt, all of which matched the treatment of the king—these were not things that an elderly priest could get. Then she looked at the priest’s fox eyes, which were shining with greed. Zhong Wei suddenly understood. No wonder the priest was ambiguous about the choice of the king, it turned out that he had accepted Mu Jiu’s benefits.
Seeing Zhong Wei there, Mujiu leaned against Iannu and gave a refined smile: ‘My fourth younger brother is here too. I was just about to ask the priest to tell my fortune. What do you think of this black wolf skin that Iannu hunted?’ Manbei (Iannu) on the side was very calm, as if the wolf skin was really hunted by him. The worldly-wise priest also had an acting skill that was not inferior to a movie star. He picked up the wolf skin and placed it in the sunlight, stroking it carefully.
Mukyu gave up the throne he had worked so hard to get to Mandi, and he really is a romantic.
Sure enough, if you want to save him, don’t let him be king.
Zhongwei made an excuse and left.
He walked under a birch tree and weighed up his next plan. Mukeyang ran over and, without warning, put his arms around his shoulders. ‘Why are you here? I’ve been looking for you for ages.’
‘Is there something wrong?‘ Zhong Wei couldn’t push him away.
’Nothing much, just that I get panicky and feel bad when I can’t see you,‘ Mu Geyang laughed heartily.
Mu Geyang had no desire to fight for the throne, and it was even less likely that anyone else would succeed him. Should he risk the collapse of the world and force a change? Mu Geyang was the key figure, and Zhong Wei had to ask his opinion: “If you had to choose between the country and your family, what would you do?”
’Fight to the death for the country.’
‘What if, in the future, there is a strange phenomenon at the sacrifice, and you become the king, but your brother refuses to step down?
Mu Geyang is taken aback: ‘That’s impossible.’
‘Why?’
‘Since I was little, I have watched countless sacrifices and divinations, and there have never been any strange phenomena.’ Mu Geyang smiles broadly, ‘My brother has a kind heart and will be a very good king.’
Which eye of yours tells you that he is a good king?
If you could predict the future, you would have already taken a broom and swept him out of the house! Mu Geyang didn’t want to turn against his brother, and Zhong Wei couldn’t force him to do something against his will. But he decided to take a risk anyway.
In the blink of an eye, it was the day of the sacrifice.
The clan members knelt reverently, while the old king lay on a wooden chair, half-closing his eyes, his last breaths remaining.
On the neat bamboo platform, the priest wearing a green hat danced a crazy dance, and the bamboo platform creaked under his feet. Zhong Wei slightly raised his eyelids and saw that the priest was dancing like crazy, high as a kite – this one was really high, the hallucinogenic mushrooms Zhong Wei had searched for a long time to find. As the priest danced, he grabbed a handful of wooden signs and scattered them outside the bamboo platform. The crowd opened their eyes wide, about to read the signs.
But then they heard a loud crash, and the priest disappeared along with his green hat.
The crowd was stunned.
The old king was so scared that he fainted right there and then. Mu Geyang let out a cry of alarm and ran over to see his father, while Mu Jiu fell to the ground. Many clan members who had recovered from their shock quickly helped to pull the priest out of the hole. The poor priest was covered in green leaves, his face had turned green, he was foaming at the mouth and his eyes were rolling in their sockets.
Another clan member screamed, ‘Why are there ants all over the divination block? Is this an omen? Priest? Priest!’
Honey attracts ants, which is not uncommon nowadays, but it was not common at the time. Zhong Wei stood still, his gaze quickly scanning the crowd, trying to see who would react strongly to these signs. Mugeyang was calmly observing the king; Mujiu was shocked and flustered; and Manbei, as the future ruler of the world, was very calm and also observing the behaviour of the crowd. The two men locked eyes, and Zhong Wei’s eyes suddenly sharpened. Manbei lowered his eyelashes and ran over to help Mujiu.
‘The king has passed away…”
Someone shouted these words. Zhong Wei’s world suddenly spun, and her ears felt like a flock of sparrows flying past, buzzing away at a rapid speed. The old king was supposed to die a year later, but he was scared to death because of Zhong Wei’s actions, and his life was cut short by two years. How could this be the outcome? Zhong Wei was in a daze, and she saw large patches of snow falling, covering or melting the world…
‘Zhong Wei, wake up,‘ said a voice that grew fainter and fainter.
It seemed that this collapse had been unusually long. Zhong Wei sighed with regret: the task had failed because he had overdone it, and the world would be covered in snow the next moment…
’Zhong Wei, are you awake?’
There was no azure sea, just the hard face of Mu Ge Yang Lang. Zhong Wei grabbed his hand, half sat up, and looked around anxiously. There were still mud walls and thatched cottages all around, and he let out a huge sigh of relief, slamming back down onto the bed. Thank goodness, what a miracle. As long as the world still exists, there is still a chance to save it.
Mugeyang took Zhongwei’s hand, buried his head in Zhongwei’s chest, and squeezed his hand tighter and tighter. Soon, Zhongwei felt his chest getting hotter and hotter, as if it was getting wet.
‘Zhongwei, you’re awake?’ Mugeyang stepped into the room, with white grass tied in mourning on his head.
‘Big brother…’
‘Big brother has become the king, you have to change your address and respectfully address him as King Jiu,’ Mugeyang corrected with a hoarse voice as he looked up, his eyes red.
During the seven days Zhong Wei was unconscious, Mu Jiu inherited the throne and Mu Geyang was appointed as the country’s general. The priests had many visions that day, but they were all attributed to ominous signs of the old king’s passing. Although the clan members were full of discussion, Mu Geyang supported Mu Jiu, so what else could the others say?
After a whole day of turmoil, Mu Jiu had finally become the king, and Zhong Wei had mixed feelings.
“Zhong Wei, you shouldn’t have taken those strange herbs, otherwise you wouldn’t have been poisoned. But thanks to the strange herbs you picked, the poison was counteracted and you were saved.‘ Mujiu’s smile was bright.
’Poisoned?”
I’ve never picked poisonous herbs before, so where did the poison come from? Zhong Wei suddenly had a revelation.
He was intent on messing up the sacrificial ceremony, but he didn’t realise that someone was waiting in the wings to strike. Who? A face popped into his mind: Manbei. In the chaotic scene, Zhong Wei was in a remote location, but Manbei looked at Zhong Wei first, which meant that he knew what would happen next – Zhong Wei would faint, and Manbei was making sure of the result.
Zhong Wei immediately struggled to his feet: ‘I want to see the old king.’
‘He’s already been buried.’
“Let me go to his house to pay my respects, otherwise, I won’t be at peace.’
Moved by Zhong Wei’s filial piety, Mujiu agreed to let him go to the house covered in white bundles of straw. Zhong Wei carefully examined every corner, and a fallen piece or two of hay looked suspicious. He also collected the remains of the last herb the old king had eaten, which had not rotted thanks to the cold. After examining it, he suddenly realised: the old king was not scared to death, he was poisoned to death.
He was not directly harmed by Zhong Wei, so the world did not collapse.
Zhong Wei calmly boiled the medicine residue into a soup and released the chicken in the cage. Mu Geyang curiously asked, ‘Why are you giving this chicken Dad’s herbal residue? It’s not sick.’ The innocent chicken was extremely thirsty and couldn’t wait to peck at the water when it finally saw it. As it drank, it suddenly fainted.
Mu Geyang was dumbfounded.
Zhong Wei then revealed her suspicions: the old king had been poisoned, and the medicine residue was the proof. A few days before the sacrifice, he had been feeling groggy, because he had drunk a small amount of it. Mugeyang was furious and clenched his fists, saying, ‘Whoever did this, I will make them pay with their blood!’
Zhong Wei could not just say who did it: ‘Who gave the medicine? Who cooked it? Who approached the old king before he died?’
The medicine was prepared by the priest.
The servant cooked it.
Mukyu, Mugeong and several of the blood relatives had approached the old king before his death.
Mugeong was a clever man and quickly ruled out the possibilities: ‘The priest was greedy, but he would never do such a thing; the servant didn’t have the guts; and only a few of us were close to the king before he died, so how could we have done it… Anyway, it definitely wasn’t a relative, so it’s best to pay attention to strangers.’ Very good, he had noticed Manbye.
‘Really?‘ Zhong Wei pretended not to understand.
’The poisoning incident is also very suspicious. You know more about herbs than the priest and have never been poisoned before.’ Mu Geyang looked very uncomfortable and said with a gritted teeth, “Before the sacrifice, I saw my eldest brother sprinkle herbs on your meat.” Zhong Wei loved to crush all kinds of herbs and sprinkle them on the meat as seasoning, and Mu Geyang didn’t care.
‘Big brother?!‘ Zhong Wei’s heart was in a mess: he had been so intent on saving him, but he kept digging himself a deeper hole. What’s the point of saving him? The judgment system is in disarray!
’I asked him after your accident, and he swore that those herbs were the ones you normally put in, and that you had eaten other herbs. No, I have to ask him again!’ Mu Geyang turned around and left the room.
Zhong Wei ran his hand through his hair:
The old king died a year early; Mujiu succeeded to the throne a year early; and Manbei appeared two months early and hastily carried out the assassination, rather than calmly waiting for an opportunity.
Why?
In the previous life, Mu Jiu’s succession was very stable; in this life, with Zhong Wei stirring things up, Mu Jiu’s position has been shaken. Man Bei was afraid that if he waited any longer, there would be more trouble, so he simply took the initiative and killed the old king, and took advantage of Mu Jiu’s popularity to help him ascend the throne. Otherwise, if he waited until Mu Geyang ascended the throne, he would be in trouble. No wonder Man Bei is so good at improvising and adapting to changing circumstances, and no one can match him. Unfortunately, in this life, he met Zhong Wei.
How should he reveal his identity and true colours? Should he do it through Mu Geyang’s mouth, let Mu Jiu discover it himself, or simply let the clan members bear witness together? No matter which one, it’s enough to make Manbei suffer! Just as Zhong Wei was pondering a countermeasure, he looked up and noticed a few clan members wandering outside the house. He was a bit puzzled.
Suddenly, the old priest, whose lips were oozing oil, walked in and said, trembling with goosebumps, ‘Zhong Wei, the old king treated you like a son, how could you bear to do this to him?’
Zhong Wei was shocked.
Several strong young men surrounded him and, without further ado, they restrained Zhong Wei with his hands tied behind his back. Zhong Wei let out a cry of pain, half kneeling on the ground, gritted his teeth, knowing that Man Bei had once again beaten him to the punch!
In front of the king’s throne,
Muge was high above them all, cold and aloof.
The priest bitterly denounced Zhong Wei’s evil deeds: poisoning the old king, causing his sudden death; deliberately corrupting the sacrificial altar and attempting to murder the priest; deliberately tampering with the divination signs to distort the results… The more Zhong Wei listened, the more shocked he became. Apart from the murder of the old king, everything else was true. Manbie had been following him the whole time!
☆, Primitive Tribe [5]

[Chapter 5]
Zhong Wei was about to defend herself when suddenly, Mu Geyang rushed in, ‘Nonsense! Zhong Wei never even approached my father, so how could she be the murderer?’
The crowd was in an uproar.
Mu Jiuzi couldn’t sit still anymore, ‘Mu Geyang, it’s not your turn yet.’
Sure enough, the old priest, who was a man of few convictions, turned on Mu Geyang and denounced him for his crimes: Zhong Wei’s actions were all designed to distract people’s attention and clear the way for Mu Geyang to succeed to the throne. Mu Geyang was furious when he heard this: ‘Nonsense! I have no interest in the throne at all! Zhong Wei didn’t poison anyone either, he’s just looking for the murderer!’
‘Then who is the murderer?’ Mu Jiu said coldly.
‘I’m not sure yet, I’ll go and find out! How can you casually frame an innocent brother!‘
’You’ll only protect Zhong Wei!‘
Unexpectedly, my brother turned his face so quickly, he was not the gentle brother from before. Mu Geyang was shocked and disappointed: “Big brother, why do you suspect your own brother? Shouldn’t you suspect that person instead?” His hand pointed straight at Yan Nu (Man Bei).
’What did you say?’ Mu Jiu was furious.
‘Zhong Wei is our brother, but you could arrest him without blinking an eye; Iannu is just an outsider, but you are determined to defend him, to the point of turning against your own brother! Brother, tell me why?‘ Mugeyang roared, his forehead veins exposed, the killing intent of a sixteen-year-old bursting forth like a warrior on the battlefield.
There was a moment of silence.
’You, come here! Tell us, who touched father’s medicine!’ Mugeyang’s fierce eyes swept across the crowd.
The servant pointed at by him trembled, his teeth chattering, unable to speak, and pointed at the priest, Mu Jiu, Yan Nu and several other servants in turn. Mu Geyang looked around coldly, and when everyone was too intimidated to speak, he said disdainfully, ‘Brother, among these people, who is the most suspicious? You don’t ask these people, but frame Zhong Wei, who has never approached my father, what is your intention!’
Zhong Wei never approached the old king, and if he got infected, it would be trouble. Once he was forcibly dragged away, Zhong Wei was about to flip out, so everyone knew that he was very ‘reverent’ of the old king and never offended him by staying away.
‘Let’s not talk about what happened to my father, but Zhong Wei made the priest fall and hurt himself, and Yan Nu saw it,’ Mujiu still wouldn’t let Zhong Wei off the hook.
“Are your eyes covered in paste? How can you believe what outsiders say!’
‘I have proof!”
Unfortunately, when Zhong Wei was cutting the bamboo with a crude bone knife, Yan Nu was “leading” a few tribal children past, one of whom was only six years old and could not lie at first glance. He pointed at Zhong Wei and said with certainty: This is the person! I swear to the wolf god!
Muge Yang was so angry that he turned to Zhong Wei and said, “Why don’t you defend yourself?”
Zhong Wei shook his head and said, ’There’s nothing to say.’
What to say?
The system is blind, so he let him save a blind and selfish Mujiu? As a result, he got himself into trouble?
Fortunately, Muji Yang insisted on not giving in, and repeatedly mentioned Yanwu. Mujiu was guilty and immediately went along with the flow: ‘Defiling the sacrifice is a capital crime. I will not punish Zhong Wei for now because we are brothers. Muji Yang, I will give you time to find evidence. If you don’t, you will have to follow the rules!’
The situation changed like the weather in June. Zhong Wei stood on the hay, full of emotions. He never expected that the person he wanted to save had kicked him into prison. This feeling was powerful enough to make him want to give Mu Jiu a dozen lashes.
Through the wooden prison cage, Mu Geyang said firmly, ‘Zhong Wei, don’t worry, I will definitely find evidence.’
“Who do you think the murderer is? Yan Nu?’
‘I don’t know. I was just pointing at Iamnu to make my brother panic and give us time to find evidence.”
I’m afraid that the more you look for evidence, the more it will prove that I did everything, except for the murder of the old king. Zhong Wei wanted to tell Iamnu directly who he was, but this was their history, not his own time. Or in a fit of anger, just leave Mujiu alone and let him perish? No! He won’t perish, he will just cause the downfall of an entire clan.
Zhong Wei thought about a solution in silence.
With a click, accompanied by a familiar cough, Mu Bing entered. Mu Bing was Mu Jiu’s half-brother, a month younger than Mu Jiu, and chronically ill. After Zhong Wei arrived, she replaced some of the herbs with him. Mu Bing knew as soon as he took the medicine that it had changed, and his condition improved. He was quite grateful to Zhong Wei.
Mu Bing came straight to the point: ‘I know it wasn’t you, you wouldn’t poison Dad, Mu Jiu is deliberately trying to harm you.’
’…’
‘Mu Jiu may seem kind, but he is a despicable person. When the mothers were competing for Mu’s affection, he pushed me off a glacier, which planted the seeds of my illness.’ Mu Bing was filled with hatred, his pale face turning red with anger. “Everyone said I was just a child, and that I should let it go, but how could I let it go!”
There was so much old hatred to talk about, but fortunately Mu Bing didn’t go into detail.
‘After you arrived, you made bows, and then you made carts, and you became more and more popular. Mu Jiu was jealous, and he was afraid that his position would be threatened, so he wanted to frame you. I can testify for you. I saw him go into Ata’s house and tamper with Ata’s medicine! I’ll make sure he doesn’t become the king!‘
’Did you really see it, or were you just letting off steam?’
‘Cough cough, he is obsessed with becoming the king. Normally, he flatters Mu Geyang and talks about the love between brothers, just in case Mu Geyang steals his throne. Who can’t see through his petty thoughts? Don’t look at his cleverness, he is especially confused when it comes to major issues of right and wrong!’ Mu Bing is full of disgust.
It really is mostly out of anger. Zhong Wei doesn’t want Mu Bing to get involved in this matter: ’Without real evidence, don’t say anything.’
Mu Bing left with the words ‘I will have evidence sooner or later.’
Zhong Wei activated the system and searched the records to find the ending of Mu Bing’s previous life: After Mandi detained the Mu family, Mu Bing coughed all day, which triggered the guards’ fear of the disease, and Mandi ordered Mu Bing to be executed. Mu Bing angrily rebuked Mandi for his shamelessness and also scolded Mu Ji for disregarding the lives of his people and inviting the wolf into the house. Mukyu was deeply ashamed and begged Manti to change the execution order. Manti said, ‘Unless you can persuade Mugeyang to surrender.’
Unsurprisingly, Mugeyang flatly refused the request to surrender. Mukyu even devised a plan to get Mugeyang to lead his troops to rescue his people, hoping to convince him face-to-face. However, Manti had already laid an ambush at the Mulberry River and hung Mu’s body in the tree, luring him to come and steal the corpse. Mu Geyang fell into the trap, his troops were defeated, and he eventually fled to the river and died in battle.
‘Don’t look at his cleverness, when it comes to right and wrong, he is especially confused’—Mu Bing’s assessment of Mu Jiu was really accurate.
In his previous life, he betrayed all his brothers and clansmen, and in this life, he also betrayed Zhong Wei, who had saved him, and sent her to prison.
How could the judgment system be so blind as to let him save this person?
Even though it was called a prison, it was just a stone cave with a wooden door.
It was early November, and the cold air in the stone cave made Zhong Wei freeze. With only a bundle of dry grass to keep him warm, Zhong Wei was unable to bear the cold and quickly got up to warm himself up by moving around. The more he warmed up, the angrier he became. He had originally thought that if he cooked the goose before he roasted it, he could use his persuasive skills to convince Kuju. Now it seemed that Kuju would never repent until he had completely destroyed the entire clan.
In a previous life, Zhong Wei possessed a killer and learned a lot of his skills. He pulled out a sharp dagger, cut the rope holding the door shut, and used a wooden stick as a lever to pry open the stone blocking the hole.
He stepped over the sleeping guard and
Escaping from his prison, Zhong Wei crept to Mu Jiu’s house. It was late at night, and there was a fire in the house. Mu Jiu’s rebuke was clear and loud: ‘You are the one who refuses to repent! Mu Geyang, the evidence you have found is more and more obvious. Zhong Wei is the one who harmed the High Priest and my father.’
‘He only attacked the altar and the divining wooden tablets, not my father!’
“That is also a capital crime.’
‘Even if Zhong Wei really did something to the sacrificial altar… it’s not a capital crime. The high priest is fine, the sacrifices haven’t been ruined, and your brother has become the king… what are you really worried about! If you let Zhong Wei go, I’ll take him to war as soon as spring starts, okay?‘ Mu Geyang paused for a moment, “There are no clothes in the stone cave, and it’s so cold, he’ll catch a cold!”
’…’ Mu Jiu hesitated.
‘Brother, I am the country’s general. I have opened up new territory for Jiusa, but I don’t even have the right to protect the people I love?‘ Mu Geyang was on the verge of exploding, his voice trembling as he forcibly suppressed his anger.
’Why are you talking like that? I give you my permission, he is free.‘ Mu Jiu was quite quick to take advantage of the situation.
’Thank you, brother.’
Mugeyang came out after lifting the curtain and whispered to his subordinate to find out what Yan Nu had been doing these days and to be careful. Then, alone, he hurriedly walked towards the stone prison. Zhong Wei followed him into the black forest leading to the stone prison before whistling.
Mugeyang stopped and asked sternly, ‘Who?’
Zhong Wei had just turned around when Mu Geyang let out a startled cry and embraced him tightly. The grip was so strong that it almost broke his bones. Zhong Wei winced and tapped his arm, whispering, ‘Keep your voice down, you want to attract the attention of the big brother?’
‘Why are you out?’
‘I can’t be caught anywhere.’
“Huh? I worked hard to get the king’s order to set you free.’
The two of them found a place to sit down. Mu Geyang said in a depressed voice that he had found a lot of evidence that proved Zhong Wei’s guilt: ‘Zhong Wei, do you want me to become the king? I already said that I don’t care about the throne. But I know who poisoned my father: it was Yan Nu. I just need the evidence.’
Zhong Wei let out a sigh of relief and said deliberately, ‘Why would he want to harm the old king? Isn’t he a Jiusa?’
Muge Yang even nodded: ‘Yes, yesterday I played a trick, and Yan Nu blurted out about the Huaxi tribe. I guess he is a spy sent by Huaxi. I have already asked someone to bring in a few Huaxi prisoners to see his reaction. If he is a spy, he must also be the one who framed you.’
It seems that Man Bei is about to show his true colours.
“Big Brother is also defending Yan Nu, I don’t know if he is possessed or what.’
‘Possessed? Haha!‘
’Why are you laughing so strangely? I know, it’s not possession. It’s that my brother has a crush on Yan Nu, and anyone with eyes can see it. By the way, Mu Bing has come to me, and he has provided irrefutable evidence that you are not the murderer, because he has been following you.‘
’…’
‘I’m not saying that Mu Bing has any evil intentions, and he can’t beat you in terms of physical strength. I’m just saying that you should be more careful. They all like to stick to you, and I don’t know what they have in mind.‘ Mu Geyang’s tone was as sour as a jar of vinegar, and it spread halfway across the sky.
’Mu Bing only said that because he wants to oppose Big Brother,‘ Zhong Wei laughed helplessly.
’What about Yan Nu? If he wasn’t taken by Big Brother, and if he had the heart but not the strength, wouldn’t he also stick to you? But if he is a spy, then everything is explained. He is spying on our Jiu Sa weapons and strength. It seems that the military secrets of each tribe need to be strengthened. Even Big Brother cannot reveal them lightly. He is now blinded by lust, so it is hard to say what behaviour he will display. Mu Geyang is very vigilant.
‘That’s good,’ Zhong Wei was relieved.
‘I’ve always been worried about you.’
Mu Geyang put his arms around Zhong Wei’s head and forced him to press against his chest. Pounding, pounding, the strong heartbeat was reassuring. Zhong Wei’s anger and depression towards Mu Jiu instantly disappeared. Although the person he was trying to save was a jerk, he had unexpectedly met some nice people, which was somewhat comforting.
Following Mu Jiu’s orders, Mu Geyang bailed Zhong Wei out. For three days, Mu Geyang didn’t see any movement. In the evening, he suddenly said excitedly, ‘Zhong Wei, I’ve found some important information about Yan Nu’s identity…you’ll find out tomorrow!’
The next day, Zhong Wei was teaching with great boredom, and a group of women were learning to weave next to him – it was really helpless, everyone seemed to think that he knew everything, and they came to bother him for no reason. Suddenly there was a commotion, and a few rough shouts were heard: ‘Hold him down, hold him tight, tie him up!’
Zhong Wei went out to see what was going on and saw Manbei tied up in five different ways and tied to a tree. Next to him sat the priest and a group of respected elderly people, all waiting.
Mugeyang gave Zhong Wei a wink and said, ‘Hurry!’
Soon, Mujiumen rushed over upon hearing the sound and, upon seeing the situation, was shocked. ‘Mugeyang, why did you tie up Yanu?’
‘Big brother, guess who this person is?’
’…’
‘He is the leader of the Haxi tribe, Manbei!’ Mugeyang’s words resounded, and everyone was stunned. The old men whispered among themselves, and the old priest was also very uncomfortable, as if he had been pricked by a needle. He never imagined that his own king was with Manbei, otherwise, why would he turn a blind eye.
Just as he was talking, a few Haxi captives were pushed out.
Mugeyang looked directly at Manbei: ’Manbei, what else do you have to say?’
Manbei knew he had been exposed, and with an arrogant tilt of his chin, he said, ‘Yes, I am Manbei!’
Muju was instantly struck by lightning, unable to believe it. His affectionate eyes almost shed tears: ‘How could you…how could you use me?’
Manbei was cold and silent.

☆、Primitive Tribe [6

Chapter 6
There was no need to present any evidence. Manbie was the one who had caused the death of the old king and framed Zhong Wei. Mu Jiu swept away, leaving behind a group of old people discussing what to do with the big spy. The old priest was very tactful and kept quiet, nodding at whatever the others said.
This farce ended with Manbie being locked in a stone prison.
Mugeyang was particularly happy, and after drinking half a jar of coarse fruit wine, he collapsed on his bamboo bed. With drunken eyes, he looked at Zhong Wei, a smile on the corner of his mouth, but he restrained himself from saying anything.
Zhong Wei was bored, and it was too early to go to sleep, so he picked up a piece of amber and rubbed it on the bear skin. This piece of amber was a trophy given to him by Mugeyang. It was a rough semi-finished product that gave off a dull green light, which Zhong Wei didn’t like. He couldn’t resist when Mu Geyang insisted on giving it to him, so he took it. Before going to bed, he grinded it on the gabbro, and when it was almost polished, he put it on the cowhide wolfskin to polish it some more. The green amber was polished to a crystal clear shine.
Zhong Wei shone it in the setting sun, and the green amber gave off a bright green light and a hint of purple.
‘What’s that in your hand?’ Mu Geyang asked from behind.
‘The green amber you gave me.’
“Is it that beautiful?’
‘Pretty? I’m giving it back to you!’ Zhong Wei casually threw it to Mu Geyang. In the morning, several women saw it and liked it very much, and each one hinted that Zhong Wei should give it to her. Zhong Wei was still distressed, so it was just as well that she returned it to its owner, silencing those women.
Mu Geyang was both surprised and delighted. Holding the amber close to his nose, he inhaled deeply the pleasant resinous fragrance, intoxicated.
Zhong Wei patted his shoulder: ’Get up, I’ll change the straw mat for you.’
The women of the tribe were skilled at handicrafts and could learn quickly. They were also grateful and worked together to weave Zhong Wei a large straw mat that matched the large bamboo bed perfectly. Zhong Wei bent down and spread the mat over the hay. Mu Geyang embraced him from behind and the two of them rolled over. Zhong Wei pushed, but Mu Geyang pressed him down on the mat with all his strength and said seriously, ‘You’re always so cold and distant, and I don’t know what you’re really thinking. If you are willing, why don’t you just say so?‘
What do you mean willing? Zhong Wei was speechless when she realised that gifts could only be exchanged between lovers. She held out her hand frankly: “I didn’t know. I’ll take it back, okay?”
’Are you worried about blood ties? We’re not even blood brothers. My father was picked up by my grandfather while hunting. Besides, next year I’ll take you out to fight in the war. No one will dare say anything as long as we like each other!‘
’But…‘
’Do you like me?’
‘No…’ Not completely.
Mugeyang’s face instantly paled, and he pressed Zhongwei’s waist even harder, squeezing the green amber tightly: “You lied to me!”
This scene.
Zhongwei’s face changed: ’You animal!’
This son of a bitch is trying to do it again! He has to use force. Doesn’t he know that the thing men can’t tolerate the most is being suppressed? Where’s the knife? Where’s the dagger? Zhong Wei felt for it, but found that it had already been secretly taken away by the cunning Mu Geyang. Zhong Wei was about to faint, and she saw Mu Geyang’s face getting closer and closer, a handsome face with clear contours…
“Mu Geyang! Man, don’t run! The king is gone too!’
A shrill voice came from the distance.
The two of them froze. Mu Geyang cursed, got up angrily, and stormed out of the room with heavy footsteps. His voice was loud and irritated: ‘You idiot! You can’t even keep an eye on one person, and you have the nerve to report back to me! Go find him now! Where are you looking? Come with me to the stone prison!’
Zhong Wei suddenly smiled as she heard all the footsteps fade away.
She couldn’t stop Mu Geyang from leaving the clan.
In his previous life, he had betrayed his clan, and in this life, he had easily forgiven the man who killed his father. This is not called a karmic connection; it is called a pitiful person who must have something to be hated about. Zhong Wei gritted his teeth, supporting his forehead. The marks on his arm, which had been reddened by Mu Geyang’s grip, slowly disappeared. He let out a long sigh, got up irritably, and walked alone through the dark forest. As if to match the treacherous atmosphere, the howling of wolves sounded far away and then close by, all the way until he arrived at the tall stone.
Sure enough, the two ‘unfortunate people’ were bidding each other tearful farewells, with Mu Jiu’s voice sounding miserable and resentful: ‘Man Bei, was it you who poisoned my father?’
‘It was me who poisoned him, but I wanted to poison Mu Ge Yang instead,’ Man Bei’s voice was unusually gentle.
‘Why?‘
’I want you to be the king. You are smart and good at planning, so the position of king is yours. Mugyang is only good at fighting, so what ability does he have to be the king? However, the Jussa people have their eyes covered, saying that the will of heaven belongs to him.’ The voice of Manbai, who was sowing discord, was painful, deep and sincere. ’I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to do anything to your father.’
Mu Jiu actually believed him, and whispered, ‘You shouldn’t have done anything to Mu Geyang either, and you made me frame Zhong Wei.’
‘Zhong Wei just wants Mu Geyang to be the king, don’t let the two of them fool you.’
Zhong Wei couldn’t stand it anymore: ‘Who’s being fooled?’
The two of them were shocked.
Mu Jiu stopped in front of Man Bei and said, ‘Zhong Wei, I order you to step back!’
‘He is the leader of the Huaxi Kingdom and our sworn enemy. I am duty-bound to take him back to the stone prison! Brother, don’t let him deceive you! He just wants to drive a wedge between us!’ Zhong Wei spoke with righteous indignation and took a step forward.
A cold flash of light appeared in Mu Jiu’s hand, and a long sword appeared, which Zhong Wei had given him. He turned his hand and handed the sword to Manbie, his face showing anger: ’Manbie, go quickly!’
Manbei knew that Zhong Wei was formidable, could make all kinds of weapons, and could even temper iron. With him at the Jiu Sa tribe, they would become stronger and stronger – so he had to get rid of Zhong Wei. Manbei swung his long sword and charged at Zhong Wei. He was highly talented and had used this sword before. He had taught himself how to use it and had become very skilled at it.
One inch longer, one inch stronger. Zhong Wei’s dagger was no match for the long sword, so he could only dodge backwards. The long sword frequently swept past his long hair, but thanks to his agility, he managed to avoid danger several times.
Mok Jiu picked up the long stick and swung it over as well.
‘Die for me! What the hell did I save?’ Zhong Wei was furious, and angrily threw the dagger, which pierced straight into Mok Jiu’s right leg. Mok Jiu let out a cry and covered his right leg, but the blood just kept spurting out.
Manbe, however, became more and more aggressive with each blow, his eyes glowing with excitement. He forced Zhong Wei, who had lost her weapon, to the edge of a cliff, where there was nowhere to hide. Mu Jiu also swung his sword with pain, his face full of hatred, unwilling to let Zhong Wei live.
Just then, a loud angry shout rang out: ‘Big brother, get out of the way!’
Mu Geyang came.
Zhong Wei’s heart suddenly brightened. He saw Mu Geyang raise his bow and arrow, and with a bang, an arrow shot over, hitting Man Bei in the back. Man Bei was shocked, and gritted his teeth to pull out the long arrow in one go. This arrow had no hook or poison, so it caused little damage, but it had a great deterrent effect.
Zhong Wei took the opportunity to escape from the main battlefield, and in three quick steps he reached Mu Geyang’s side.
Two against two.
Mukyu and Manbei had no chance of winning. Suddenly there was a clatter and several people emerged from the grass, all of them Mukyu’s men. Mukyu pointed at Manbei and said, ‘Take him away!’ These men decisively stood behind Manbei to protect him as he left.
Mugeyang shot two arrows in quick succession, hitting two people dead centre. Unfortunately, he had no more arrows. He wanted to pursue them, but Mukyu suddenly wrapped his arms around his waist and said, ‘Mugeyang, please spare him.’
Mugeyang was furious: ‘Brother, you’re confused! He killed our father!’
‘Please, let him go.’
Mugeyang pushed Mujiu hard, and Mujiu fell to the ground, bleeding from one leg. There was his mortal enemy getting further and further away, and here was his brother, gasping for breath and bleeding profusely. Mugeyang stamped his foot and roared, ‘Brother, sooner or later, Jussa will be destroyed by you!’
Zhong Wei injured the king.
The king let Manbai go.
Manbai escaped so easily because he had Mu Jiu’s fortress pass card.
The news spread like wildfire, and not only did the clan members discuss it, but Mu Geyang was also filled with anger. He was a man of great loyalty and righteousness, and he would never let go of anyone who had hurt his father, brothers, or family. He could not believe that his brother had let go of the enemy who had killed their father. This was an enemy who had killed their father, not just any enemy!
A rift had thus formed.
In the previous life, the brothers had turned against each other because of Man Bei, but in this life, the timing had been advanced.
Zhong Wei was in a terrible mood. Mujiu was far more infatuated with Manbei than he had imagined, and also far more ruthless towards others. That was true. In the previous life, he had been ruthless enough to turn his back on everyone and betray his country. It was clear that his moral character was absolutely not high, and he only had a gentle face to deceive the world. This broken system, is there something wrong with it? This is the first time I’ve had such a hard time saving someone.
‘You’ve been standing here all day,‘ Mugeyang said, helping Zhong Wei put on a rabbit-fur coat.
’I’ve been thinking about what’s going on in people’s hearts. Do they have to hit a wall before they turn back? Do they have to let their people bleed before they regret what they’ve done?’ Zhong Wei gave a lonely smile. “I’ve saved a lot of people, and even if I tell them their future fate, they’ll still go ahead and fulfil it.”
Mugeyang didn’t understand, and stroked his face. ’What’s wrong with you?’
Zhong Wei gazed at him, ‘Don’t you want to be the king yet?’
‘…’
“You know better than anyone what kind of person your brother is. He may be kind-hearted, but he is petty; he may be clever, but he is not broad-minded; his emotions overwhelm his reason, which is fatal for the ruler of a country. Today, he opened the prison door for his father’s murderer, and tomorrow, he will fight for his enemy to take over the country of Jiusa. Do you believe it?’
A cold wind swept between the two men, blowing through the withered vines and making a rustling sound.
Mugeyang leaned in, as if to kiss but didn’t, and said, ‘I believe.’
Later, Mujiu tried to pin the blame on Zhong Wei, but Mujie Yang stood up firmly and faced him coldly. Mujie Yang had been at war for many years, and his imposing manner and numerous military achievements had given him the same level of authority as the old king. Although Mujiu was the new king, under the pressure, he was scolded by his younger brother and became red in the face, speechless.
The old priest came out to smooth things over: ‘The king shouldn’t have let the enemy go. He really should punish himself…’
Muge Yang said angrily, ‘The old priest is wrong. It’s not just any enemy, it’s the enemy who killed my father! The enemy who killed the king of a country is released! For a son, this is great unfilial piety; for the Jiusa tribe, this is great disloyalty, betrayal, how can this be right to the father who is dead, and how can one face the people of the tribe who died in battle in a foreign land?!’
In the face of righteousness, Muge Yang ultimately chose to turn against him. Just as in his previous life, he raised an army and left Mujiu. However, in the previous life, when the Jiusa was destroyed, his military power was cut by more than half, but this time he was not harmed at all.
For a moment, everyone was silent.
Mubing took a step forward and spoke: ‘Ahem, I have something to say: The day my father passed away, I witnessed the new king poison Zhongwei’s food, causing Zhongwei to, ahem, fall into a coma for several days. If Zhong Wei hadn’t survived the ordeal, and if he hadn’t woken up and discovered that my father’s medicine was poisoned, then, cough, cough, cough, I’m afraid everyone would have been deceived by Man Bei. If he could plot against his own brother, how could he just punish himself?’ He didn’t say it explicitly, but he hinted that Mujiu and Man Bei had been in cahoots with each other from the start regarding the poisoning.
Once he said this, everyone was left speechless.
An elderly man stood up and said, ‘The old king is absolutely right. Punishment is the only way to appease the anger.’
How should the punishment be? Deliberately letting the man who killed his father go is the same as personally killing his father with a sword. After much discussion, an elderly man of high moral standing said, ‘Well, the throne must still be abdicated, otherwise, if Jiusa does this…what do you all think?’
The priest was unwilling to accept this, ‘Why not perform a ritual? If there is a vision…’
After a burst of laughter, an old man glanced at the cold-looking Mugeyang and said, ‘Before the old king passed away, he summoned a few of us to discuss whether to replace the successor. Priest, you kept talking about visions, visions, and as a result, the old king passed away, becoming the biggest vision. Do you still want to summon a second disaster? This time, let’s follow the old rules and let everyone vote. The capable person will be in power.’
Muge sat on the high seat, looking defeated.
A few days later, the country of Jiusa changed hands, and Mugeyang became the ruler.

☆、Primitive Tribe [7

Chapter 7
A few days later, the Jiusa kingdom changed hands and Mugeyang became the king.
Mugeyang’s success was not only due to Mu Jiu’s own misdeeds, but also because Mugeyang was powerful and had the backing of a strong army. After all, this was an era where the strong ruled.
Mu Jiu locked himself in his room and ignored everyone. Mugeyang was always distressed by this. He hated his brother for being so confused, but he didn’t want them to turn against each other.
The standoff continued until December.
Then suddenly, Mu Jiu miraculously accepted a few fox skins that Mu Geyang had sent him. Mu Geyang was very happy and told Zhong Wei, ‘My eldest brother has forgiven me.’
‘You’ve forgiven him too?’
“We are brothers after all. He was confused for a moment, and that’s understandable. I can’t hold a grudge forever, can I? I know you don’t hold a grudge against your eldest brother either. You’ve secretly visited him a few times.’
You’re right. Zhong Wei had to pay attention to the mental state of the person he had rescued from time to time, so as not to go crazy from rescuing. Mu Jiu had already regained his composure, and a few days ago he had been with his clanmates breaking the ice and catching fish. Primitive tribes have this advantage: shallow moral concepts, not holding grudges. Besides, he was the king’s brother, so no one could possibly throw stones at him when he fell into a pit. Gradually, everyone treated him as usual.
Zhong Wei frowned. This rescue target was really bad enough.
This melancholy temperament has added to its charm. Muge was stunned for a moment: ‘You are now much more upright than before, and you look more and more like that tree outside.’ That tree was a birch, with a white bark like hoarfrost, tall and straight. The bark was covered in snow, making it look even more desolate. It was still full of leaves in the middle of winter.
Zhong Wei wondered, ‘This birch doesn’t lose its leaves in winter?’
‘This is the first time this year.”
Zhong Wei immediately understood. Every time there is a symbol that signifies the progress of the task: a spring that suddenly springs forth, a clock that slows down as you walk, an iron tree that blooms in all seasons… Their responses represent the degree of success in completing the task. This time, it should be this birch tree.
Since the last time the two of them had a fight, Mu Geyang had miraculously come to his senses and chosen a softer approach to intimacy: for example, suddenly hugging Zhong Wei; poking Zhong Wei in the ribs; and when nothing was going on, coming over to smell Zhong Wei’s neck and hair and so on, while trying hard to act magnanimous. For example, at the moment, Mu Geyang reached out and touched Zhong Wei’s lips, pretending to wipe away an oil stain, and Zhong Wei had no choice but to let him wipe it away.
Zhong Wei has seen countless people, so how could she not know what he was thinking?
To be fair, Mu Geyang had a bright, hard face, was tall and had well-proportioned muscles, giving him a sense of power. He was quite the catch, in Zhong Wei’s opinion. Her initial impression of him had been terrible, but after being saved by him a few times and spending a lot of time together, she had come to appreciate his easygoing personality. Apart from his inexplicable rutting style—he had to force himself on her like a savage, and couldn’t they just be happy together?
When she thinks about it, she feels very sad. It’s like playing a game: when you get to know the NPCs, you can’t help feeling sad about their fate. In three years, Mu Geyang may be killed in battle. Even if he survives, Mandi will wipe out his entire clan, so he will be depressed and unfulfilled for the rest of his life.
Why did I save Mu Jiu and not Mu Geyang? Obviously, Mu Geyang deserves to be saved more, doesn’t he? Zhong Wei’s heart leapt. This is the motivation to continue the mission. He can definitely be saved!
‘Zhong Wei, what do you think of my strategic plan for next year? Can we defeat Mambai in one fell swoop?‘ Mu Geyang curled his fingers and tapped Zhong Wei’s forehead.
’I don’t really know, whatever you say,‘ Zhong Wei smiled, not getting involved in the battle.
’How about lobbying for candidates for the alliance?‘
’Whatever you say,’
In terms of victory or defeat, apart from the right time, the right place and the right people, there is also the factor of fate. Especially when the situation is evenly matched, it really depends on who has the luck. Zhong Wei didn’t want to, and couldn’t, force his way into such disputes. The best option was to remain on the sidelines and wait for an opportunity to change the key points.
Someone shouted from atop the waterwheel, ‘My lord, this waterwheel saves effort again, and the water is strong and very useful!’…
It wasn’t as if he wasn’t involved at all.
Although he is the king, Mugongyang is still hanging around Zhongwei, and his intentions are obvious. Zhongwei doesn’t point it out to him, but just waits to see when he can’t hold it in anymore. The two beds are packed with little houses, and you can’t turn around. After washing his feet, Mugongyang carried the basin, and when he wasn’t paying attention, he spilled half the basin of water on the bed. After removing the hay and wiping the mat dry, Mugongyang slept down with a big smile. In December, the cold wind howled outside, and Mu Geyang let out a loud gasp, tossing and turning so loudly it was almost like a drum roll.
Zhong Wei pretended not to hear, but Mu Geyang couldn’t help it anymore: ‘Zhong Wei, I’m going to sleep in your bed. Look at how cold I am.’ After saying that, he thrust his hand into the quilt, nearly making Zhong Wei jump out of cold.
‘…’
“Heh heh, it’s cold, isn’t it? I’m going in.’
Mu Geyang jumped out of bed and unceremoniously climbed into Zhong Wei’s covers, instantly wrapping his arms around his waist. Zhong Wei gave a sharp backward thrust, and Mu Geyang let out a yelp, shrinking back: ‘This quilt is too small, if I don’t hug you, my back will be exposed.’
‘I’ll give you the quilt!’
‘Haha, I was just joking.’ Mu Geyang lay down flat, a smile curling up the corners of his mouth.
The two men were too big for the quilt, so they had to make do with squeezing together. Soon, Zhong Wei felt a burning sensation on his back, and he felt a pair of hands embrace his waist.
Zhong Wei let out a soft cry, ‘Don’t regret this.’
Mu Geyang said happily, ‘I won’t regret it, even if you kill me now.’
After saying that, Mu Geyang even slipped the dagger into Zhong Wei’s hands. This attitude made Zhong Wei unable to harden his heart.
How long will I be in this world? Two years? Three years? Once the relationship between the rescuer and the rescued ends, Zhong Wei’s relationship with this world will also end. What will happen to the man behind her? Will he follow the fate of his previous life and die in a bloody battle, or will he escape by chance? Zhong Wei has not failed to try to save everyone, but the result is the downfall of even more people. In the end, the world still collapses, leaving behind infinite regrets.
No! I can definitely save everyone!
A pair of hands interrupted his thoughts. Zhong Wei grabbed the hand that was being presumptuous… After a while, Zhong Wei turned around, cursing a beast.
Mugeyang let out a cry of joy.
That night was unusually turbulent and unusually warm. The next morning, when the warmth left, a cold wind brushed against Zhong Wei’s back. Feeling empty, lonely and cold, he lazily rolled over, half-opened his eyes and met Mu Geyang’s gentle gaze: ‘Good morning, Zhong Wei.’
Zhong Wei washed the laundry and then dried the bear skin.
A man passing by praised, ‘Zhong Wei is so diligent, washing clothes in this cold weather, your clothes are cleaner than the women’s!’ Mu Geyang laughed heartily. Zhong Wei grabbed a ball of snow and threw it, and he quickly dodged.
Mu Geyang was resolute and swift, giving orders that everyone should have a knife by next spring. No one dared to slack off, and they worked around the fire day and night to smelt iron. Of course, everyone was also aware of the power of iron weapons, and they picked their favourite broad or long knives. Bows were difficult to make, so only a few dozen arrows were made specifically for Mugeyang.
Usually everyone would chat and laugh, but as soon as Zhong Wei entered, they all fell silent. Whoever he approached slightly had to leave half a zhang away, embarrassed.
A young man whispered to him, ‘The king said you are his man, so everyone stays away from you.’
Bastard!
Just as Zhong Wei was about to go find Mu Guyang to settle the score, a servant hurried over, out of breath: ‘Zhong Wei, something terrible has happened!’
‘…’
‘Mu Guyang has disappeared again!’
Along with him disappeared two warm fox fur coats, Mu Guyang’s sword, and the dry food stored in the kitchen. It is estimated that he left three days ago—in this snowy weather that sealed the mountains, Mu Guyang actually ran off to find his sweetheart! Zhong Wei was so angry that she could burst. She knew that he was crazy about love, but she never imagined that he would go so crazy.
Muge Yang first sent a team of people to look for him, and then prepared to go in person.
Zhong Wei stopped him: ‘He went to the Huaxi tribe.’
‘I know.’
‘My brother is not an impulsive person. Since he dared to go alone, he must have made proper arrangements. You going in person recklessly will not be very useful, and you will only waste manpower and resources.’ Zhong Wei calmly analysed the situation.
‘But Big Brother…‘
’Trust me, he is very tough and will be fine. You should consider what you will do when Big Brother takes Manbe as a hostage and holds us hostage instead.”
Muge Yang pondered for a moment and tacitly agreed with what Zhong Wei said was possible. Instead of searching the mountains and plains, it would be better to take the opportunity to attack the Huaxi Kingdom with elite troops and force Manbe to hand over Mijiu according to the established plan.
Once Mu Geyang leaves, what about the daily internal affairs of the country? He wants Zhong Wei to stay in the tribe to handle them. Zhong Wei is unwilling and wants to go to the Huaxi Kingdom with him. Mu Geyang is suddenly moved and his eyes shine. Zhong Wei quickly interrupts his thoughts: ‘I’m worried about my brother. Don’t worry about the internal affairs, I’ve found someone for you.’
This person is called Le Feng, a good friend of Mujiu.
Zhong Wei would like Le Feng because in the system records, Mu Jiu was imprisoned in Mandi’s harem. One day, Mandi held a feast and summoned him out. The feast was full of tribal leaders from the alliance. More or less, everyone was forced to surrender because of Mandi’s power, and no one was nobler than anyone else. Mu Jiu was different. It was him who betrayed his country and caused the Mu clan to be destroyed, so he was mocked a lot.
Mandi watched from the sidelines.
At this moment, someone stood up and proposed a toast to Mujiu, and it was his good friend Lefeng. After the destruction of Jiusa, he defected to a tribe in the alliance and, with his outstanding talents, became the leader’s assistant. In just a few years, he made the tribe rich and strong. Even Mandi was very respectful and wanted to recruit him as a state assistant, but Lefeng firmly refused.
After a cup of wine, Le Feng whispered to Mu Jiu, ‘Do you know that Jiusa and Huaxi were once equal in strength? Now, even if the alliance is formed, the other tribes can still preserve the name of their tribe, but we Jiusa have been obliterated, and we are not even allowed to exist. Why?’
He lightly shook Mu Jiu’s hand, which contained a bottle of poison. That night, Mu Jiu took his own life out of guilt.
Regardless of whether or not Lefeng’s actions were correct, at least he loved his tribe, was talented, and was good at managing internal affairs, so he could be a strong support for the battles ahead. With Zhong Wei’s strong recommendation, Mu Geyang, after talking with Lefeng, made a quick decision and appointed him as the country’s assistant. To prevent the priests and old officials from causing trouble, Mu Geyang adjusted the system a little, weakening the power of the priests and strengthening that of the assistant.
Zhong Wei smiled and said, ‘If even the Daishen can’t defeat him, then Le Feng is not a talent for governing.’
Mu Geyang led his troops away with confidence.
Zhong Wei took a special look at the birch tree that symbolised the progress of the mission, which was luxuriantly leafy.
The spring breeze blew across the land, and overnight the ice on the river broke free and rushed merrily on. Zhong Wei was enchanted by this natural beauty. During a break, he carried his clothes and stepped into the river barefoot to feel the cold, light water of early spring. When asked by Mu Geyang, Zhong Wei replied, ‘How many springs can one person experience in a lifetime? One should cherish them.’

☆、Primitive Tribe [8

[Chapter 8]
This scene reminded Mu Geyang of that time, by the hot springs, when he saw a man standing in the water, his body slender, his skin glowing with a golden sheen in the sunlight. Mu Geyang was overcome with desire, not thinking whether it was a man or a woman, just wanting to possess him immediately. So, without hesitation, he pounced.
The most instinctive kind of love, the most instinctive kind of release.
Unfortunately, Zhong Wei didn’t seem to like this approach very much, and several times glared at him angrily. This made Mugeyang very puzzled, and he could only restrain himself and try to be gentle, knowing how much torment it was to stare at his back every night. Mugeyang repeatedly comforted himself, how can a moment of pleasure compare to a lifetime of pleasure together? It was with this kind of mood that he had been holding back, for fear of scaring away the person in front of him.
Mugeyang gazed deeply at Zhong Wei, ‘Yes, a lifetime is too short, I want to see every spring day with you.’
Zhong Wei was moved: ‘Every one?’
Someone ran over to report the road conditions and interrupted the two, and Mu Geyang led the group on their way again.
Zhong Wei followed behind, thinking about what Mu Geyang had said. In a primitive world where people can die at any moment from disease, hunger, war, disasters, animal attacks and other misfortunes, being able to fall in love and stay together, and watch more than 30 springs together is also a luxury.
The more fleeting it is, the more we should cherish it.
It was like the spring breeze blowing through, cracking the ice in her heart with a loud crack, turning it into a clear, rushing spring.
They arrived at their destination, Mulberry River, in a few days.
Mulberry River, the river where Mugeyang was killed in a previous life, made Zhong Weixin’s heart throb.
Mulberry River meanders, separating the Mulberry and Mulberryberry tribes. The mulberry and mulberry trees have natural barriers, making them strategic locations. The mulberry tribe belongs to Haxi and the mulberry tribe belongs to Jiusa, each acting as a barrier to defend against the other’s invasion. If Haxi loses the mulberry, it can barely resist for a while; if Jiusa loses the mulberry, it is like opening the city gates to welcome the enemy army’s invasion.
Last year, the two sides fought non-stop in this area, and the nearby Yanshan Mountain is where Zhong Wei and Mu Geyang first met.
This year, it has once again become a battlefield.
Mu Geyang still adopted the strategy of sneak attacks, attacking and then running away. Manbe was on guard, but it was still very annoying. In the end, the wooden sticks could not withstand the iron weapons of the Jusa, and every blow was like cutting through blood. Everyone in Haxi was terrified. Three days later, the two sides confronted each other by the river. Suddenly, Haxi pushed forward a person who was tightly bound. The Jusa were shocked when they saw him: it was the former king, Mu Jiu.
Having a hostage in his hands, Manbe was confident of victory and set out his conditions: first, Mugyang must withdraw his troops; second, Kusa must cede the Mul tribe, which was adjacent to the Sang tribe. If these conditions were not met, Mugyang’s head would roll.
Mugyang let out a sigh of relief. At least he had seen his brother again, and he was fine.
The two sides were at an impasse.
Zhong Wei, who had been observing the situation carefully, could not help but smile wryly. Mu Jiu’s cheeks were flushed with peach blossom, and he looked full of springtime joy. He didn’t look like he had been wronged in the slightest. He must have been enchanted by Man Bei’s sweet words, and volunteered to be taken hostage. He used a ruse to trick the Jiusa army into withdrawing, buying Man Bei some time. This person… what can be used to save you?
Zhong Wei was certain: even if the tribe were sacrificed to save Mu Jiu, he would still run back to Man Bei’s side.
Muge Yang had long since regarded Zhong Wei as a military strategist, and asked what to do. Zhong Wei said, ‘Would you be willing to let your own brother suffer? Just let him be exposed to the wind and sun for a few days!’ His plan was to say that he would go back and seek the consent of the country’s ministers, priests, and elders to buy time.
“Will my brother be in danger?’
‘Have you ever seen a hostage with such sleek hair and such clean clothes? He seems to have gained a little weight! Don’t worry, Manbe will never give up this perfect pawn!’ Zhong Wei deliberately wanted to torment Mu Jiu. If this man doesn’t suffer a little, he won’t know who caused him harm.
Mu Ge replied to Manbe accordingly.
Manbe gave a sinister smile and said, ’Then please trouble your brother to suffer a little.’
That night, when the scout returned, Manbei did as he had said and left Mu Jiu outside to suffer the cold wind all night. The next day, Mu Jiu looked a little more haggard. Three days passed in this way, and Mu Jiu was no longer recognizable. His face was pale, his lips were cracked from the cold, and he could hardly speak.
Mu Geyang said angrily, ‘If Manbei truly loved his brother, how could he bear to see him like this? I would never let my loved ones suffer even a little!’
Zhong Wei teased, ‘That’s why you’re not quite there yet.’
‘Why are you defending him again? Where did I go wrong?’
‘You have countless weak points: family, friends, brothers, lovers, all of them are enemies who hold you back.’ Zhong Wei poked him in the ribs, but in his heart he thought, ‘Is being ruthless really that good? Compared to Man Bei, who even used his lover until there was nothing left, he prefers the flesh-and-blood Mu Geyang.
Mugeyang held his fingers together and said with conviction, ‘Since we are human, how can we be despicable? Even if you win for a while, you will never win for long!’
Just when Mugeyang couldn’t stand it anymore, Manbei finally spoke first, ‘If you don’t make a decision soon, Muju will die on the battlefield.’
Mugeyang replied, ‘If anything happens to Muju, he will immediately lead his troops into battle.’
The next day.
Manbei changed his strategy: Mujiu wanted to talk to Mujiuyang.
Oh no, Manbei was using Mujiu’s ‘family ties’ again. In the previous life, it was under Manbei’s intimidation that Mujiu used family ties to lure Mujiuyang to save his people, only to fall into a trap and ultimately die in battle. Zhong Wei’s unease was amplified. Had all the plot been advanced? Absolutely not!
Mu Geyang naturally had no idea, and instead thought that things had taken a turn for the better. He kept saying that Mu Jiu must have come up with some kind of plan, as he was full of crazy ideas.
Zhong Wei didn’t say anything.
That night, in the hot water of the wooden tub, Zhong Wei let go of Mu Geyang’s feet: ‘The point massage therapy I just taught you, if you press it every time you wash your feet, it can strengthen your body and prolong your life. Remember? If you can survive, I hope he will be free of illness and pain and die a peaceful death. In primitive society, you either don’t get sick or you just have to resign yourself to fate if you do.
’It’s still more comfortable when you do it,’
Muge Yang narrowed her eyes, leaned over, grabbed Zhong Wei’s foot, put it in the hot water, and jokingly pressed the soles of her feet. Zhong Wei laughed with laughter and kicked while laughing. Muge Yang became more and more pleased, grabbed Zhong Wei’s foot, and placed it in front of his eyes to look at it: slender, smooth, with few calluses, slippery to hold, and just right for one hand.
Zhong Wei had to lift his leg with him: ‘Put it down!’
‘If you can, you can escape from my clutches!‘
’Pah! Let go!‘
Mu Geyang pressed down on an acupuncture point and rubbed it twice. Zhong Wei let out a cry, feeling a tingling and numbness that made her waist go limp and unable to speak. Mu Geyang smiled as he pressed and rubbed, lowering his voice and exuding an air of intimacy: “Where did you say this acupuncture point is connected to? Liver? Heart? Kidney? It really is the kidney! Feels good, doesn’t it?”
’…… Bastard!’
‘Why am I an asshole? A man is nothing without strength in his loins!‘ Mu Geyang slowed down his movements and kneaded the muscles carefully.
Zhong Wei not only felt comfortable in his feet, but also felt an indescribable sense of well-being all over his body. In this world, when you’re tired and worn out, it’s impossible to find someone to give you a massage. He let out a long sigh and simply laid on his back on the wooden board, enjoying the foot massage in comfort.
’Zhong Wei, have you never had sex?‘
’…’
Mu Geyang’s hands traced the soles of her feet to her ankles, and then irregularly up her calves. The pads of his fingers were covered in thin calluses, and wherever they touched, it was tingling and numb, from the soles of her feet to the roots of her legs. Zhong Wei gave a little kick, but didn’t use much force. Mu Geyang had excellent eyesight, and could see that Zhong Wei was indulging herself even more than before. He was overjoyed, and pounced on her with a thud.
Zhong Wei let out a sound and scolded lightly, ‘You are an animal?’
‘You scolded me as an animal as soon as we met.’
‘…’
“If I don’t act like an animal, I’ve wasted the name.’
Zhong Wei laughed out loud, unable to hold back her cool demeanour any longer. Mu Geyang’s breathing suddenly became rapid, and he kissed her deeply. This kiss almost sucked Zhong Wei’s tongue off, and Mu Geyang greedily sucked the sweet nectar. Zhong Wei reached out and embraced him back. Encouraged, Mu Geyang quickly removed Zhong Wei’s belt, stripped off her clothes in three quick movements, and charged forward, driving straight in.
Zhong Wei let out a cry of pain and clutched Mu Geyang’s back with her fingers.
…
The purple marks of temptation were all over her body, each one a deep mark of love, a testament to their desire to merge into each other’s bodies. Mu Geyang fondled her lovingly, unable to let go. He was so crazy with lust that if they weren’t sleeping on a wooden plank on the floor but on a bamboo bed, he was afraid that the bed would have been broken long ago. However, the waist, which had been folded into countless lustful positions, was miraculously still beautiful. The sweat beads were wet and dripping, as if tempting to boil again.
Mu Geyang let out a sound and kissed the supple neck again.
Zhong Wei opened her eyes, her eyes still unfocused, her breathing still erratic: ‘Mugeyang, let me go and talk for you. I have no use value, so Man Bei won’t do anything to me, don’t worry!’
‘What?’
‘You have to get the king to defeat the enemy, and you can make a comeback after a defeat. Man Bei would rather lose this battle than let you live, and I will never let you fall into any trap.’
Mugeyang of course didn’t want that.
Zhong Wei suddenly looked up, kissed him, and the sweet kiss flowed quietly between their lips, but her eyes were firm. Mu Geyang was caught off guard, his eyes red, and he buried his face in Zhong Wei’s chest: ‘You’re despicable, you know I’ll agree to whatever you say.’
Zhong Wei laughed, hugging him: ‘It’s just a conversation with my brother, it’s the same whether you go with me or not.’
I would rather let the world collapse than watch you die while I live alone.
Zhong Wei suddenly wondered if the person he was tasked to save was really Mujiu.
Two battles ago.
Muge Yang stared intently, afraid of any accidents. Zhong Wei took a few steps and turned back to say, ‘I just gave the deputy general a message, he will tell you. And no matter what happens, you must not surrender the Mang tribe. Muge Yang, you have to trust me.’
On the other side, when he saw that it was Zhong Wei who had come over, Man Bei’s eyes lit up, and he couldn’t help but take a step forward: ‘Why is it you?’
“How can the ruler of a country take risks so easily? I will go negotiate for the ruler.’
‘No!‘ Manbai said resolutely.
’Why not? It was Mu Jiu who asked for the negotiations, not you! Or are you setting a trap, waiting for our king to come?’ Zhong Wei looked at Manbai slowly. After a winter, Manbai had become even more handsome, no wonder Mu Jiu fell in love at first sight. However, Mu Geyang was not bad either. Zhong Wei looked back and met Mu Geyang’s gaze, smiling slightly.
Manbai frowned, beckoned his subordinate, and whispered something to him. After a moment’s pause, he motioned for Zhong Wei to approach.
In front of the wooden pillar, Mujiu slowly opened his eyes. He had really suffered, and was emaciated, but his eyes were filled with hope. I wonder what kind of mind control Manbai has fed him.
‘Why are you here, and why isn’t Mu Geyang coming?’ Mujiu was very unhappy.
‘There are traps everywhere. If he comes here, he’ll die. Is that what you want, for your brother to die?‘ Zhong Wei paused. “Everyone has the right to pursue their lover, to give birth to children for them, to die for them, to go crazy for them. No one has the right to interfere. But if you trade your country for a selfish love affair, will you feel at peace?”
’I won’t!’ Mujiu was extremely agitated.
‘You don’t think like that, but Mambai has taken advantage of you. He has left you here to trade you for the Jumu tribe of Jussa. Do you know the significance of the Jumu tribe? If you lose it, Jussa will be wide open, and even hundreds of Jussans may not be able to defend it.‘
’…’ Mujiu’s eyes were tearful. How could he not know?
‘You are nineteen years old, halfway through life, and you want to become a sinner and a joke in the Jussa Kingdom? You let Manbe go, and you were crazy about him once, and he owes you. But he didn’t repay your kindness, and he made you suffer like this. How can such a lover be a good lover?’
‘Now, what should we do?‘ Mu Jiu raised tearful eyes.
’We’ll switch. I’ll be tied to this pillar, and you’ll go back to Jiusa and stop persuading Mu Geyang to surrender.”
Mu Jiu suddenly shouted fiercely, “Who are you to switch with me! I’m the eldest son of the Mu clan, the elder brother of Mu Geyang, the former ruler of Jiusa, and the most advantageous bargaining chip for Manbei! What are you…”

☆、Primitive Tribe [9

[Chapter 9]
Pop!
Mujiu was slapped hard, half his face twisted and immediately turned red.
Zhong Wei angrily scolded, ‘Just because you have no dignity and even betray your brother country, Manbei will not even look at you! Who wants such selfish love! No dog will eat it! Think about it, why did you come to this world, just to live for love? !’
Miku raised his face, but still smiled, ‘He likes me, he won’t change.’
Zhong Wei clenched her fists, but slowly opened them, raised her chin, and said contemptuously, ‘Likes you? Maybe Manbai likes me.’
‘What!’
‘Don’t believe it? He is willing to trade this useless pawn of mine for your most useful chip, and that will be the proof.’ Zhong Wei delivered the killing blow.
Of course, Manbai was just talking nonsense if he said he liked her. All you need to do to drive a couple apart is to introduce a third party. Whether it’s true or not, it will definitely make the two of them suspicious and their relationship will deteriorate. Sure enough, Mujiu shot out with anger.
Zhong Wei didn’t look back and walked up to Manbai and proposed an exchange: she would stay and let Mujiu go back to the Jiusa formation.
‘What did you say?’ Manbai was stunned.
‘Are you saying you can’t make iron? Can’t make knives? Can’t make bows and arrows? I know all about that. I’m much more valuable than Mujiu. As for the two brothers, well, you can see for yourself how deep their love is. They’re both fighting for the throne, so how deep can their love be?’ Zhong Wei deliberately played down the two men’s relationship, almost to the point of saying, ’Just hurry up and get Mujiu killed, because Muji wants to get rid of you.’
If you leave something unsaid, can’t Manbai guess what it is?
‘But if you harm Mujiu, it will affect the reputation of the Jiusa tribe, and Mugeyang will definitely vow to kill you.’ Zhong Wei smiled calmly, ‘Besides, I’m not that worthless. You can use me to threaten Mugeyang to withdraw his troops, and he will agree, but don’t expect him to surrender the Rong tribe.’
‘What if I keep both of them?’
“Do you think Mugeyang is stupid?’
Manbe pondered for a moment and then said, ‘Yes!’
He had always been keen to recognise talent, and this had helped him to unify the world. He had learned a lot from the Jiusa tribe, but he had only been there for a short time and had been distracted by Mujiu. He had not learned the most important techniques, and the iron he forged broke when struck, let alone when forged into a blade. Manbe had always resented this, so he was overjoyed when Zhong Wei came to him of her own accord.
It would be a pity to let Mu Jiu go, but Mu Jiu had been left hanging for several days, and Mu Geyang had not made a move. Could it be that he was really using Mu Jiu to get rid of Man Bei?
After pondering this, Man Bei said yes.
It was a chilly spring day.
Mu Geyang waited with impatience. The wind was cold, and his heart was burning with anxiety. After a nerve-wracking wait, a soldier came forward and untied Mu Jiu. Mugeyang was overjoyed, and curious about what Zhong Wei had said to make Manbei release his brother. Muju was helped to walk back step by step. Mugeyang ran forward, but suddenly realised that Zhong Wei was standing quietly in the other camp, not moving at all and not showing any intention of returning.
‘Mugeyang, just do as you said. I agree to the exchange!’ Manbei shouted.
‘What did you say?’ Mugeyang shouted in disbelief.
The deputy general hurried up and grabbed the restless Mugeyang: ‘My lord, Zhong Wei said that he told me to tell you…’
‘What did he say!’
‘He said that he will exchange Mujiu for Muwei and asked you not to worry. And he also said that you must not hand over the Rong tribe, and that Manbei must not say anything!’
‘Why didn’t you say so earlier!’ Mugeyang’s voice was about to tear.
‘He said he could only tell you when Mu Ju returned.”
Mu Geyang suddenly understood. No wonder Zhong Wei’s behaviour had suddenly become unusual. But why did Zhong Wei do that? Was she worried that she would have to trade the tribe for Mu Ju? What a fool!
Mu Ju, who had been sent back, was surprised and angry. He lost all sense of reason. Running up to Mu Geyang, he angrily shouted, “Why did you trade me back?” He had actually believed Zhong Wei’s words.
The soldiers were stunned.
Muge Yang was already suffering, and when he heard this, he couldn’t believe it: ‘Brother, what nonsense are you talking about? You still want to stay in Huaxi? You still want to be with that bastard Manbei? You’ve got sand in your head!’
‘I can go wherever I want. Why did you send Zhong Wei there?’
‘You’re crazy! Zhong Wei sacrificed herself to get you back!’
“Liar! He’s having an affair with Manbei!’
Mugeyang suddenly grabbed Muju’s clothes, his eyes about to burst from anger, his fists clenched, ready to smash something. In the end, he restrained himself and threw his knife with all his strength, which made a loud cracking sound as the board it hit split in half. ‘Brother, have you gone mad? Good, I’ll send you back to exchange for Zhongwei right now! Guards! Tie him up!’
The deputy general held back the furious Mu Guyang.
Mu Jiu was crying bitterly. Everyone felt even more disgusted with Mu Jiu. Not only had he let go of his father’s killer, but now that the beloved Zhong Wei had been returned to him, he wanted to go back to the enemy camp and treat the enemy as his father. It was fortunate that he was still the former king, but he was so confused and not only that, he was also ungrateful!
Mugeyang ordered the deputy general to keep Mujiu under close guard and not let him go anywhere. He had seen clearly that Mujiu was simply willing to betray his country to elope with Manbei.
Mugeyang clenched his knife in his hand and gritted his teeth as he swore: he must take Zhongwei back! Not by force, but by dealing Manbei a fatal blow that would prevent him from ever rising again!
Manbei was sensible and told Mu Jiu to withdraw his troops. He did not surrender the tribe or hang Zhong Wei up, for fear that he would catch a cold.
Mu Jiu really withdrew his troops.
He no longer made surprise attacks, but stationed heavy troops in the Sang tribe, watching them warily. This became a heartstone that Manbei could not let go, and he was on tenterhooks every day, on constant guard.
Two blossoming flowers each represent a branch.
Although Mugeyang retreated his troops and stationed them at the Mang tribe, he no longer launched attacks. Manbei did not dare to relax at all, and still kept a heavy military presence on the Sang tribe, facing off against each other. Although Mugeyang did not use Mugeyang to win the Mang tribe, with Zhongwei, he could win countless tribes, and the Mang tribe was only a matter of time.
Manbei cut off a leg of roast lamb, sprinkled it with crystal rock salt and some crushed spices, handed it to Zhong Wei, and said in a leisurely manner, ‘It tastes exactly the same as the one you made. I remember everything you taught me.’ The tone was the same as if he were talking to a lover. Zhong Wei had goosebumps, and it was no wonder that Mujiu was so infatuated that he couldn’t find his own door.
Zhong Wei didn’t resist, and she ate and drank as she pleased.
After she had eaten and drunk her fill, Man didn’t beat around the bush: ‘Tell me why iron is so brittle. We’re all sensible people here, so don’t try to fool me.’
Next to them, the fire, the ore, and the iron smelter were on full alert. Zhong Wei picked up a stone and examined it for a moment: ‘Not all stones can be used to make iron. This kind of stone contains very little iron, so it’s a waste of effort to smelt it — you’d have to use a lot of stones to make a small piece of iron, am I right?’
“Where can I find more ironstone?’
‘I’m not clairvoyant, I can’t just go up to the mountains and find it.‘
’We’ll find iron ore later. Tell me, how can we make the iron less brittle so that we can make a knife?”
The soldier next to him was holding a long stick, his face full of ferocious expression, glaring at Zhong Wei, as if he was going to hit him with the stick if he didn’t hurry up. Zhong Wei slowly explained the key to the problem. Pig iron is inherently brittle. After purification, it is refined into wrought iron, and then carburised, and only after that can it be made into a knife. Man was confused and asked how to do it.
‘I’ve finished talking. It’s just about constantly forging and tempering.’
‘You have three days to make a knife.’
Zhong Wei laughed helplessly, ‘Unless you can make a season’s corn mature in three days. No technique can be achieved overnight. What you see is just when we make the knife, but you don’t see the hard work before that.’
“One month. Otherwise, you won’t survive!’
Manbei made the best use of everyone’s abilities. He let Zhong Wei teach everyone how to forge knives, and then he had him build spinning wheels. In short, he had Zhong Wei make everything new and interesting he saw in the Jiusa tribe. Zhong Wei worked slowly. Compared to making weapons, he would rather teach people to weave cloth and weave straw mats, and dry rattan to make rattan chairs. This way, ordinary people could enjoy it more, and it wouldn’t affect the course of history anyway.
Zhong Wei was neither overbearing nor humble, and his calm demeanor attracted people’s secret praise.
Once the spinning wheel was finished, Manbei did not hide it, and even had his wives learn to use it from Zhong Wei. It was strange to say, but these wives all respected and loved Manbei, and none of them said anything bad about him. One had to say that he really knew how to deal with lovers.
Just this day, a large group of women sat in a circle, weaving cloth one after the other, each one more excited than the next.
In February, spring grass grows.
A woman was washing her hands in the gutter between the grass. Zhong Wei suddenly saw something shining. He was quick-eyed and quick-handed, and in a few steps he ran over and pushed her away, seizing with lightning speed a brightly coloured venomous snake that was spitting out its tongue.
The woman was grateful and spoke highly of Zhong Wei. Seeing that Zhong Wei wanted to hear news from both armies, she even became an intelligence officer: for example, both armies were holding their troops back; for example, Manbai had recruited thousands of troops; for example, this place was a fortress, and Manbai was making various deployments, luring the enemy in as soon as the time was ripe. Zhong Wei also asked about news from Jusa, and the woman shrugged: ‘I heard that the Mu brothers have turned against each other and there has been no movement.’
Zhong Wei was worried that Mu Geyang would take extreme action, but she didn’t expect to see any movement at all—like a stone dropped into the sea. Or was he just biding his time for a big move?
Zhong Wei asked Manbai and Mujiu again, and the woman looked down her nose at them. ‘Manjun is a strong and open man, and he dislikes weak people the most. Not to mention betraying someone. How could he be with someone like Mujiu? He’s just using him.’ The onlooker sees clearly, but the confused one is only Mujiu.
Zhong Wei thought, fortunately, he saved more than just Mu Jiu.
The first knife was finally forged.
It was a real knife, and Zhong Wei didn’t pull any tricks. He just tried to buy as much time as possible. The knife had a huge impact on Hua Xiren, and for several days, people were pointing and laughing behind his back. Man Bei was very happy: ‘Zhong Wei, be my assistant. I can give you what Mu Geyang can give, and I can give you more!’
‘Can I go back?”
Manbei’s face turned cold.
At that moment, a fidgety soldier ran over, ’My lord, the priest is asking for you, saying he wants to see that person…’
The priest of Huaxi lived away from the crowd in an old stone cave. The stone path was covered in fallen leaves, with thick shrubs on both sides, leading to the stone cave covered in green vines. The dense shade prevented even a ray of sunlight from entering. In front of the cave, on the stone wall, hung strange pieces of split wood, strange white bones, and oddly-shaped bloody stones…all of which separated them from mortals and made one shiver.
The cave is large, more than enough to accommodate three people.
The priest Shen Yun, in his twenties, has high cheekbones, a hooked nose, and an unhealthy pale complexion. An old scar runs across his left cheek, and his gaze is sinister when he looks at people. This person, like this stone cave, has a gloomy and treacherous temperament. Priests are people who act in the name of God’s will and are used to controlling people’s hearts through fear.
As the spokesperson of God, the priest usually exudes an imposing air and looks down on the world. Shen Yun is a typical priest, scolding Man Bei for daring to move the troops without consulting the oracle, which nearly angered the gods. Man Bei tried to defend himself several times, but Shen Yun cut him off, saying, ‘Do you want to go against the will of God? Do you want to make Haxi suffer God’s punishment?’
Man Bei immediately fell silent and stopped talking.
As a talented and ambitious emperor, how would Mandi let a priest suppress him? Zhong Wei discovered that the two of them actually represented the process of the struggle between divine power and royal power. In the primitive era, when people knew nothing, they revered the gods and the priests held the supreme position. However, as society developed and centralised power increased, royal power would eventually override divine power, and the priests would eventually be reduced to the rulers’ tools of domination.
This game of competition is just like the current struggle between Mambai and Shen Yun.
In contrast, the old priest Jusa, who is covered in flabby flesh, is worldly-wise, greedy, and opportunistic. He perfunctorily performs the sacrifices, not at all like a priest – he probably has fought his share of battles, too. Now that he is old, he has seen it all and can’t be relied upon.
This game of competition can perhaps be exploited.

☆、Primitive Tribe [10

The author has something to say: Is anyone reading this article?
Is anyone reading this article?
Is anyone reading this article?
Is anyone reading this article?
Is anyone reading this article?
Is anyone reading this article?
If so, make a sound…
Chapter 10
Zhong Wei had not had time to think about it before she was pushed onto a stone bench by Man Bei. In the dark, damp atmosphere, the dry firewood was burning, making a crackling sound and exuding a confusing smell that was a mixture of sandalwood and locust wood. The air became thinner and thinner, and Zhong Wei was ordered to close her eyes, but the fire imprinted itself on her eyelids and would not go away. She felt increasingly short of breath, and the crackling sound of the fire in her ears became louder and louder.
After an unknown period of time, amidst the noise, he heard a voice: ‘You can’t possibly know.’ How could it be his own voice? Has he been hypnotised?
Zhong Wei suddenly opened his eyes.
With a crack, the dry wood split. Man Bei also suddenly opened his eyes and stared at Shen Yun, waiting for him to explain. Shen Yun was unable to hide his surprise and tried hard to maintain the calm and cunning of a priest: ‘Manjun, this person does not belong here. He has no past and no future. He is a strange demon.’
How could Shen Yun see through his own origins? Zhong Wei quickly calmed down and stared into Shen Yun’s pupils: ‘The priest cannot see through my origins, but I can see where the priest is going.’ In the system, Shen Yun’s death was very strange, but Mujiu saw it with his own eyes.
‘Oh? Really?‘
’The fate of the priest will end in: the golden, dead thing.‘ Zhong Wei’s tone was full of superstition.
’Pop,’ the dry firewood went out, and the cave suddenly darkened.
No one made a sound, and it was so quiet that there was only breathing. Shen Yun suddenly laughed, a series of suppressed laughter from his throat: ’We’ll see.’
The days that followed were a complete mess.
Zhong Wei would provoke Shen Yun from time to time, and from time to time, he would display miraculous abilities in front of everyone, making Man Bei even more appreciative of his talents. This had to be done with great care, and the skills had to be helpful to people. They could not be too difficult for the people of the primitive tribe to accept, otherwise they would really become monsters and should be burned.
Shen Yun wanted to kill Zhong Wei. He said that Zhong Wei was a monster of unknown origin.
Man must not try to protect Zhong Wei. He knows that the things this person creates will change everything.
Shen Yun is worthy of being a priest, pretending to be a god and causing trouble for Man all day long. After half a month of open and secret struggles, Man has not been able to find peace, and even the war has been delayed to the point where he cannot attend to it. It is also thanks to Man Di that Shen Yun was finally suppressed by his clever words and tough tactics.
Half a month later, when Shen Yun calmed down a little, Man Bei was in the mood to ask how the war was going, and why there had been no movement for so long. The scout said that Mugeyang had done nothing, running around all day long, nothing unusual, and he had not reported it because he saw that Man Bei was busy.
Man Bei felt something was wrong, but before he could investigate, he encountered good news.
That day, several leaders said with beaming faces: Because Jussa had not moved, they had raided the Hum tribe yesterday. Mugeyang was arguing with Mujiu, so he ran away in a panic. They looted everything and even brought back a few jars of fruit wine. Manbei was very happy and thought to himself, it’s great that brothers Mujiu and Mugeyang are at odds with each other.
A celebration feast was held that day, and the generals drank all the wine. In the evening, everyone was lying in the wilderness in all sorts of positions. A general sighed and said, ‘The only thing that Jussa is good at is fruit wine. It’s a bit spicy when you drink it, but it makes you feel really good. I’m going to sleep well.’
Zhong Wei’s heart stirred. Ordinary fruit wine has a low alcohol content and doesn’t make you drunk easily. He had taught the Jussa people how to make mellow wine, so could this be high-proof wine?
Then could the defeat of Mu Geyang have been a trap?
Just as he was thinking, Shen Yun, who had not been seen for two days, suddenly appeared by the campfire. He took a few steps, swung his long stick, and spread out a pile of embers that were about to go out. Smoke and sparks surrounded him, and the embers glowed brightly. He threw off his shoes and walked barefoot across the fire. Shen Yun lifted his foot and it was unharmed. ‘Manjun! Do you see? Heaven has decreed that I kill this man!”
Everyone fell silent, and Manbai also fell silent, not knowing whether to believe him or not.
Zhong Wei sneered, “Does walking barefoot over fire represent the will of God? If I were to do the same as you, would that mean I am innocent?”
Shen Yun said angrily, ’Exactly!’
Zhong Wei also had a temper. He had been called a demon every day, and he was tired of it. He suddenly got up, took off his shoes, picked up his hemp clothes and quickly walked across the fire path. After the gasps of surprise, he lifted his foot and was unharmed – stepping on fire barefoot without being burned was a skill, not a divine favour.
Everyone’s faces changed. How could he be like the priests?
Shen Yun suddenly laughed, ‘Manjun, do you see? He is a demon!’
This time, Shen Yun had more followers than ever before. They were all scared after witnessing what happened. Zhong Wei had done what no one else could. A person with too much knowledge is like a demon. Zhong Wei was finally labelled a demon and tied up, pushed to the edge of the sacrificial altar far away from the celebration feast.
It is indeed difficult to know how to act.
If you are too incompetent, you will be abandoned by Huimeng; if you are too outstanding, you will be destroyed by the priests and the crowd. In front of them is a pit with fresh soil in front of it. More than a dozen believers are waiting with wooden shovels – is this a live burial?
Manbei and Shen Yun faced off. Manbei, the man who might become emperor in the future, felt his own powerlessness for the first time, as well as a murderous intent towards divine power: ‘If he is there, Hua Xi will soon dominate the tribe. Priest, why can’t you let him stay? Even if it’s just for another year or six months!’
Shen Yun’s throat made a harsh sound as if it had split open: ‘You can’t do it now, but you will regret it even more in the future! He is an omen!’
Manbei said angrily, ‘Priest, how many more people are you going to kill in the name of misfortune? For your own selfish desires, for priests stained with blood, for your so-called pure world! What do you mean by misfortune? Losing an eye is misfortune! Giving birth to my mother is misfortune! Anyone who rebels against you priests is all misfortune! I won’t tolerate it anymore!’
‘Manjun! You’re still so stubborn!’
“Shen Yun, go back to your priest cave!’
‘Manjun!”
While the two were arguing, they suddenly heard the sound of hasty footsteps. A leader covered in blood burst in, struggling for his last breath: “Manjun, Priest, hurry up and go. Mu’gyang is here. All of our people have been bewitched. The leaders are sleeping and can’t be woken up, and there’s no one to lead us, so it’s a complete mess.”
Manbai was shocked: ’Mu’gyang was able to come so quickly? Isn’t the Sang tribe still fine?’
The leader said, ‘He bypassed the Sang tribe! He’s colluded with the people of the Anhou tribe!’
Impossible. The Anhou tribe has always depended on Huaxi for survival, offering tributes every year in exchange for Huaxi’s protection. How could they suddenly switch sides and join Mu Geyang? No! The most important thing is, why didn’t they notice that they were colluding? How could Mu Geyang break through all the obstacles without making a sound? Did something happen when I was fighting Shen Yun?
It’s all a conspiracy! Something is about to happen!
‘Manjun, hurry up and go! If you don’t go now, you won’t be able to go!’ The leader couldn’t hold on any longer, and fell to his knees. The long knife wound on his ribs was as neat and terrifying as Shen Yun had never seen before.
‘This is the soul of death I divined!’ Shen Yun exclaimed.
‘It’s the god of death… the death that Mu Geyang is chasing…’ The leader coughed up a mouthful of blood and fell to the ground, dead.
Manbai watched helplessly as his subordinate died. The sound of metal was getting louder and louder, and it was a sharp weapon that the wooden stick and bone knife could not withstand. Unfortunately, he had just found the iron and stone. In any case, if he didn’t leave now, he would never be able to leave.
Manbai suddenly turned around and pushed over, and Zhong Wei fell into the pit with a splash, his bones cracking and he unable to move.
Manbai ordered coldly, ‘Bury him, quickly!’
Shen Yun was shocked.
‘Dig! This person! Mu Geyang must never get him!’ Man Bei ordered. Just moments ago, Man Bei had been courteous and polite, occasionally chatting with him. Now, without a trace of emotion, he was truly a ruthless and cold-hearted emperor.
Black soil fell in flakes, landing on Zhong Wei’s back, body, feet, face, and lips. Zhong Wei couldn’t move, and the world grew darker and darker before his eyes, his body grew heavier and heavier, and the air grew thinner and thinner, until he entered the darkness and silence of night. He couldn’t breathe, and his thoughts drifted away… Would the world collapse? That person didn’t come, how could he bear to leave?
He traversed the long night’s road.
A glimmer of light pierced the heavy black curtain, and the heavy rain washed away the heavy body. Zhong Wei suddenly felt a sharp pain, and slowly opened his eyes: the person holding up the world was crying like a child, ‘Zhong Wei, I’m sorry…’ Secret tears fell like raindrops on Zhong Wei’s forehead, cheeks and lips. The breath was hot, domineering and yet familiar.
Back at the camp, Mu Geyang didn’t care about anything else, and first he pinned Zhong Wei to the ground and made love to her, rubbing all the longing of the past month into each other’s bodies until they couldn’t hold it in anymore and it overflowed, the white liquid and the pinched red skin decadent and unrestrained. Zhong Wei sighed contentedly, half-consciously thinking, being desired and aching, spurting out a passionate hot current again and again, and yet it was so blissful.
…
‘I dreamed that you died,‘ Mu Geyang suddenly choked, the soft touch of the graceful curve of her waist was so unreal.
’How could that be?‘
’Zhong Wei, don’t ever leave me again,’ she said, worried like a child.
‘Don’t think so much about things you shouldn’t. Isn’t this how things are now just fine?’ People who are invincible don’t die easily, but there’s no guarantee they’ll never leave. Zhong Wei stroked Mu Geyang’s forehead, reassuring him over and over again until the bright, hard face once again revealed a cheerful smile.
This surprise attack was beautiful.
Mu Geyang used a heavy troop presence to attract Man Ben’s attention, while secretly preparing an attack to find a loophole in the perimeter of the Huaxi Kingdom, and finally targeted the small tribe of Anhou. Using the alliance as a pretext and offering inducements, Anhou not only agreed to let them pass, but also sent a large army – because Mugeyang promised that those who participated would be able to share in the territory.
Strategically, Mugeyang used yesterday’s defeat to blind Huaxi’s vigilance, leaving behind the high-purity spirits brewed with Jing Zhongwei’s guidance, which made the leaders who were ‘blessed to enjoy’ them drunk one after the other. The foot soldiers were at a loss as to what to do, and the Jiusa people advanced unchecked. He not only rescued Zhong Wei, but also kidnapped Manbie’s father and two brothers, but unfortunately let Manbie escape.
Muge Yang asked Zhong Wei if he should chop off Manbie’s father or chop off his brothers.
Zhong Wei smiled and said, ‘Exchange!’
Zhong Wei found several people from the system who are now very common, but will become the left and right assistants of Mandi in the future, and used them as the conditions for exchanging hostages. This move allowed Manbie to cut off his left arm and right arm in advance. Mubai was unsure of the future, and was both surprised and delighted. He immediately surrendered the hostages in exchange for his father and brother, although he was also puzzled as to why these people had been chosen. These people were scared and afraid, not knowing what fate awaited them. Unexpectedly, they received preferential treatment from the king of Jiusa. After being suppressed at first, they were then lifted up, and were all ecstatic. Later, when Huaxi returned to Jiusa, they were won over without much difficulty.
This is all a later story.
This time, Zhong Wei noticed that the situation was very different.
Mugeyang made the alliance his top priority, rather than focusing on fighting Huaxi. Jiusa was very aggressive, and Mugeyang also had great ambitions. He recruited talented people and was unstoppable. He also had smart and capable subordinates to advise him. Mugeyang sent an offer of alliance to various tribes. Some tribes refused, while others were considering it.
Regardless of talent and luck, Mugeyang spent three years initially building the alliance, and during that time helped several tribes defend against powerful enemies to gain their trust. However, Mugeyang had only been at it for half a year, and it was only natural that most tribal leaders were still undecided and waiting to see what would happen.
Mugeyang was very distressed.
He walked with Zhong Wei to the edge of the white lake, looking at the lake to calm his mood. Mu Geyang suddenly embraced Zhong Wei and sucked his tongue fiercely, so fiercely that he hated not being able to eat him.
‘You beast!’ Zhong Wei finally broke free, his eyes blazing with anger.
‘You know it!’ Mu Geyang simply embraced him and wanted to do it right there.
☆, Primitive Tribe [11]

[Chapter 11]
Did someone just walk past us? Zhong Wei was most angry with him for ignoring the occasion. After breaking free a few times, he used his excellent combat skills to fend off Mu Geyang’s attacks. Mu Geyang deliberately led Zhong Wei towards the lake, splashing water everywhere. Mu Geyang was, after all, a primitive person, and suddenly exerted his strength, knocking Zhong Wei down into the lake in one fell swoop. Zhong Wei choked a few times, his hands weakened, and he was pushed under the water by Mu Geyang. He struggled desperately, tilting his upper body to keep water from entering his nose and ears.
Mu Geyang took the opportunity to strip naked in one go and tossed around wildly in the water. The cold lake water squeezed into the supple secret passageway, making a patting, patting sound. Under the fierce collision of ice and fire, the hot liquid could not stop gushing out. . The liquid hot flow could not help but gush out.
Zhong Wei’s waist instantly crumbled.
Baihu, the quiet deep green, rippled slightly.
Zhong Wei lay on Mu Geyang’s lap, and Mu Geyang stroked Zhong Wei’s hair and said sweetly, ‘I just love it when you’re all mouth and no trousers. You really like it when I push you really hard, don’t you?’
‘Get away from me!’ Zhong Wei covered her ears, her face flushed.
Looking at the ripples on the lake from the side, her vision took a while to focus. Zhong Wei suddenly remembered something. In Mu Jiu’s memories in the system records, there was a grand ‘omen’ in the depths of autumn this year: the White Lake turned red overnight, red like the sunset and red like blood. The Jussa people were in a panic. At that time, Man Bei stayed in the Jussa tribe and his identity had not yet been discovered. The rumour that ‘the Jussa will have great misfortune’ spread like wildfire.
The old priest, who was fickle, held a divination ceremony and said that it was indeed an ominous sign and that no troops could be moved for two years. This incident forced Mu Geyang to be unable to raise an army, and the result was predictable. Not only was the opportunity missed, but Manbei took the opportunity to initiate a tribal alliance. In just two years, the situation was reversed, and Jiusa became the object of the hunt.
Zhong Wei took a boat for a tour and gathered data on Baihu Lake: the bottom of Baihu Lake, which had formed over the eons, contained many red mineral elements, and a large number of red algae and microorganisms grew there. Normally, you couldn’t see it, but once an earthquake occurred and the ground shook, the red turbidity and red algae would rise to the surface. When the sun shone on it, it would form a vast expanse of red.
Although in her previous life in Mubei, there had been no memory of an earthquake,
It seems that the tremor was too weak.
How should we make good use of this ‘sign from heaven’? After Zhong Wei had fixed the date of the ‘White Lake turning red’, she discussed it with Muge Yang, who was really surprised and said, ‘The White Lake will suddenly turn red? What if it doesn’t?’
‘Trust my arrangements, it will definitely happen!’ Zhong Wei said confidently.
After the autumn harvest, the weather turned cold. Mu Geyang sent dozens of sheep to each tribe, saying that a feast would be held and inviting the leaders or assistants of each tribe to come to Jiusa together to discuss tribal alliances. Most of the leaders came as a favour to Mu Geyang, who had given such a generous gift.
They gathered together by the shore of White Lake.
As expected, apart from a few small and weak tribes, everyone else was hesitant.
At first there was only silence, but then one person raised an objection, and others followed suit, saying this wouldn’t work and that wouldn’t work, and this was bad and that was bad. The objections grew louder and louder. Mugeyang and his assistants refuted each one, but they couldn’t hold back the hesitant leaders. Seeing that the situation was getting out of control, some even mocked Mugeyang, saying that he only had Jusa’s best interests at heart.
Mugeyang slammed his hand on the table and said with emotion, ‘Only a tribal alliance can prevent internal fighting and face external aggression together. Otherwise, individual tribes, weak and powerless, will perish sooner or later! Since we are allies, we will face the same enemy and live or die together! No matter who is attacked, the alliance will send troops to help, and together we will drive the foreign enemy thousands of miles away! I, Mugeyang, will do what I say and will absolutely not be selfish!’
‘How can you guarantee that?‘
’My sincerity is as red as blood, as God can see! If God is watching and hears my oath today, agreeing to our tribal alliance, let this White Lake turn red!’ Mugeyang spoke with emotion. He was young and impetuous, and his heroic words overwhelmed the crowd, who were suddenly silenced.
But this oath is too presumptuous. This is a vast lake, not a pot, how can it turn red just like that?
The leaders of the tribe laughed and changed the subject.
Mugeyang did not continue, and treated everyone to fine wine and meat. The chiefs ate and drank well, and slept on the ground that night, which was also quite enjoyable. In the middle of the night, Zhong Wei heard a crack, and the small wooden stick he had set up to sense earthquakes fell – it was indeed a small earthquake, very slight, and it was the middle of the night, so the people who worked during the day were fast asleep and no one felt it.
However, the bottom of the lake had already been quietly changing.
Mugeyang, who usually slept very deeply, was surprisingly awake, lazily resting his shoulders. ‘Why are you awake? Are you worried that the white lake won’t turn red? It doesn’t matter if it turns red or not, I will continue to persuade everyone that a tribal alliance is a great thing, and that everyone will not fight for no reason and the people will be at peace.’
Zhong Wei leaned against the broad chest and her mood became calm.
As the morning sun shone, everyone woke up from their sleep. Some stretched, while others went to the lake to wash their faces. Suddenly, they were surprised to find that the lake water was red. The optimists exclaimed, and everyone rushed to the lake. Some people were stubborn: it was just that the morning sun was particularly red today.
The little wooden stick fell again.
Is this an aftershock? Zhong Wei smiled as she heard the cheers of the crowd getting louder and louder: Look, the white lake has turned red, a real red lake, not the red of the sunrise! Heaven heard Mugeyang’s oath, and this is proof! The chiefs didn’t believe in the oath, so how could they not believe what they were seeing?
Mugeyang took the opportunity to once again explain in detail the benefits of tribal alliances, and took out the rules of the alliance for everyone to discuss. Finally, one hesitant agreement, two, three…
It is said that, in order to save Zhong Wei, Mugeyang captured part of the Huaxi main tribe, but instead of pursuing the fight, he gave this part of the territory to the Anhou small tribe. The Anhou tribe was ecstatic and praised him for his word.
A month later, Manbei recovered and raised an army to attack the Anhou tribe to regain the occupied territory. Anhou could not withstand it and hurriedly asked the alliance for help. Mugeyang was reinvigorated by this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. He immediately rallied the two closest tribes in the alliance and attacked the Huaxi tribe together. Not only did he save Anhou, but Mugeyang’s momentum was unstoppable, and he once again broke through Huaxi’s eastern border territory.
Mugeyang immediately fulfilled his promise and divided the eastern border into three parts, with all participants getting a share. The two tribes were ecstatic and even more invincible.
Surrounded by wolves, Huaxi was unable to divide its forces.
As soon as the other tribes in the alliance saw that there was profit to be made, they scrambled to send troops. The alliance leader was, deservedly, Mugeyang. Mugeyang was a good fighter, and with such a large army, he pounced on Huaxi almost overwhelmingly, with such momentum that he was invincible.
In the previous life, Haxi had three years of respite, the alliance was a strong backing, and the ruler, Mujiu, opened the country’s doors, so Manbei’s capture of Jiusa was like taking something from a bag. In this life, Haxi has been facing heavy Jiusa forces, and has not been given a chance to catch its breath. It has been besieged by the alliance and has no information. Manbei watched helplessly as Haxi fell. Apart from grief, there was also desolation.
Three months later, the Haxi kingdom was destroyed.
Muge Yang raised his eyebrows in triumph, and the position of leader of the alliance was as solid as gold, and he was finally respected as Emperor Yang.
A few years later, the flags of the tribal alliance were everywhere, but Zhong Wei still did not let his guard down. He told Muge Yang to keep chasing Manbei and attacking. Zhong Wei also could not kill him, otherwise if even the people who started the civilization died, the world might collapse – Zhong Wei was already wondering if Manbei could also become the world-unifying Emperor Man.
One day, the weather was fine. Mu Geyang took Zhong Wei to the salt mountain where they first met, acting mysteriously. Zhong Wei looked around warily. Although there was no one around, it really felt bad to be on the ground. Every time, she got covered in sand and dry grass. She wondered why this beast didn’t just love being in bed.
‘The first time I saw you, you were soaking in the hot springs. I watched for a long time,’ Mu Geyang said, his face full of admiration, surprisingly not feeling sinister.
‘…‘ So it wasn’t love at first sight?
’For some reason, I had a strong feeling that you were here for me, and that I had to overwhelm you and carry you back to Jiusa and make you mine! I never thought you’d be so fierce, kicking me hard several times, and still, it was my crotch that got hurt, and I almost lost it, you know?‘ Mu Geyang took Zhong Wei’s hand and pressed it there, clearly brimming with fighting spirit.
’Is that all you can think about?’
‘Apart from this kind of thing, is there any other way for us to be together forever?‘
’Brothers don’t…‘ Zhong Wei drew the corners of his mouth.
’It’s not enough! I can’t put my finger on it, but it’s just not enough! I have to hold you down every day, make you hug my waist tightly and shout my name, so happy you can’t speak, before I can feel at ease!’ With that, Mu Geyang firmly dragged Zhong Wei into the hot spring.
Compared to the war, Zhong Wei was more concerned about the birch tree, which symbolised the progress of the mission. He was only relieved when the leaves were flourishing to the extreme.
Mukyu, on the other hand, was in a terrible state.
After being scolded by his younger brother and clan members, and after suffering and suffering, Mujiu finally realised that he had been deceived and used by Manbei. Mujiu became depressed, sometimes depressed, sometimes normal, sometimes in a daze, sometimes hysterical and neurotic, like a time bomb that will explode at any time, leaving everyone confused. Zhong Wei couldn’t help but worry that he might go crazy. In this life, he hadn’t committed any major mistakes, the biggest mistake being believing the wrong person and letting his father’s murderer go free.
Zhong Wei thought, ‘Why not let him watch the outlaw Man Bei and see if it will extinguish his previous thoughts and rekindle his hope for life?’
Muge Yang was furious: ‘Manbei is the one who killed my father. I hate him so much that I could kill him a hundred times!’
No one can be magnanimous about killing one’s father. Just then, the soldier hurriedly reported, ‘Muge, he ran into the lake again. Fortunately, he was found in time…’ After falling into the fire for no reason and wandering around with a knife in the middle of the night, Muge had taken to drowning himself.
Needless to say, the day was a complete mess. When he returned that night, Mu Geyang and Zhong Wei were entwined for quite some time. Suddenly, Mu Geyang felt something was wrong and looked up, almost falling over in shock: ‘Brother, how did you get in here! When did you get in here!’
Mu Jiuyou, who had watched the whole thing, said dreamily, ‘From the moment you stripped Zhong Wei’s clothes… It’s so good… It’s so good to be together…’
After saying this, he went straight out, leaving the two of them awkwardly wrapped in a quilt.
Zhong Wei suddenly burst out laughing.
After that day, Mujiu found a new way to seek excitement: he followed the two whenever he was free, popping up when they were making out, scaring Mujieyang to the point of wilting every time. Finally, Mujieyang was forced to stop playing field hockey, but he couldn’t stop Mujiu from suddenly crawling out from under the bed, walking away quietly, occasionally muttering, ‘How can you be so happy?’
Mukyu was not mad, but Mugeyang was going crazy. He sighed to the sky, ‘Where did that son of a bitch Manbei escape to?’
Manbei did not give up.
He fled with his remaining troops to one tribe after another, trying to fight against the alliance. However, he was already at the end of his strength. No, he had not yet become a strong bow before Zhong Wei cut him off. Now, he could only be considered a hasty escape. Everywhere he went, he was destroyed by the Alliance, and in the end, he became known as the nemesis of all tribes.
Finally, one day, Manbei led his people to take refuge in a small tribe. Soon, thousands of pursuers came from outside the small tribe. The leader of the affected tribe hesitated whether to expel this group of ‘guests’ or not. Manbei gave a sad smile and prepared to go into exile again. Unexpectedly, the chief received an invitation from Mugong: he invited his tribe to join the alliance, and he could bring Mambai along to discuss it.
Is this a trap?
Mambai was already disheartened and decided to meet his archenemy for the last time, to die with dignity. He went to the base of the tribal alliance: the Jiusa tribe. It was no longer the same as before, with neatly arranged houses, which made people feel sad.
He slowly walked towards Yangdi’s house. In front of the house, someone was staring at him intently: ‘Manbei?’
‘Mujiu?’
‘It really is you. I thought Zhongwei was lying to me.’ Mujiu’s beautiful eyes filled with tears, which fell one by one onto the back of Manbei’s hand. They were tears of joy at their reunion.
That night, Mujiu went to find Zhongwei.
“You lied to me. Manbei doesn’t like you. He likes me.’
‘So what? He gave up on you. His so-called liking is nothing more than exploitation. You’ve been cheated so many times, can’t you wake up? Manbai is your disaster. Meeting him is the beginning of your regret! You should find someone else to like and live a normal life!‘ Zhong Wei probably already guessed that Manbai wanted to take advantage of Mujiu again.
’What is a disaster?’ Mujiu asked in return.
A calamity is a hurdle that will make you bleed, even kill you, scatter your soul. Everyone avoids calamities, but you rush headlong into them shamelessly in the name of love.
‘He is my calamity, why shouldn’t I be his? This is unfair!’ Mu Jiu gave a sad and sinister smile.

☆、The primitive tribe [12

[Chapter 12]
Mugeyang extended an olive branch.
Manbe had no choice but to accept: he was given a small, remote tribe by Mugeyang as its leader, and was required to pay tribute to the alliance every year. Manbe was well versed in the art of patience, and he endured.
Mukyu once again flew towards Manbei like a moth to a flame, and Manbei also grasped this straw. The two of them, as if they had never met before in their lives, immediately became entangled upon meeting. Mukyu repeatedly demanded, and after Manbei had satisfied him, he produced a poisoned chalice and told him to kill Mugeyang.
Mukyu kissed his lover’s face fervently, smiling and saying, ‘Isn’t this good? We’re happy together.’
‘Not enough. I want you to be king of the world.‘
’I have you, and that’s enough.”
But Manbai kept encouraging him again and again. Finally, Mujiu took the poison, his eyes glowing with contentment. ’Good, but I’m worried I won’t be able to do it well. How about you be by my side at the banquet tomorrow? If I really don’t stand a chance, wouldn’t it be perfect if you could find an excuse to make him drink it?’
‘An excuse?‘ Mugeyang was on guard against Mambai.
’Form an alliance with me.‘
’What!‘
’Mugeyang can’t wait to banish me from Jiusa, so he won’t refuse this happy occasion.’ Mujiu narrowed his long eyes and gave a rare cunning smile.
The next day, at the banquet, the leaders gathered together. Although it did not have the fine wine, delicious food and singing and dancing of later generations, it was better than wine in that everyone’s ambitions were stirring and it made the blood boil. Mujiu got up several times to pour fruit wine for Mugeyang, but Zhong Wei had already filled the cup. In the end, Mujiu simply handed the wine jar back and gave it to Manbei.
Manbei straightened his clothes, paid a formal greeting to Mu Geyang, slowly poured the wine into Mu Geyang’s cup, raised the cup and handed it to Mu Geyang. He smiled and said, ‘My lord, I have a favour to ask: Manbei and Mujiu have been in love for a long time, and Manbei wants to choose a good day to marry him into my family.’
In a stunned silence, Mu Geyang took the wine cup and suddenly dropped it, with a clang, the cup breaking and the poisoned wine spilling. He was furious: ‘Manbie, don’t even think about it…’
Mu Jiu suddenly stepped forward: ‘Whether you want to or not, I can do whatever I like, and I don’t need your consent!’
Mu Geyang was furious: ‘Brother…’
Zhong Wei grabbed Mu Geyang’s hand tightly and tugged, while Mu Jiu was resolute, determined to fight to the death. Mu Geyang took a deep breath and suddenly smiled bitterly, ‘Brother, how can you control what your brother thinks? You don’t need my consent.’ Otherwise, he would not have agreed, for he was the helpless younger brother, not the all-powerful emperor.
The leaders were sensible and raised their glasses in celebration, and Mu Jiu raised a happy smile.
Amidst the teasing congratulations, Manbai’s face turned pale.
The two held a grand celebration, witnessed by all the chiefs. Because of the Emperor’s ‘generosity,’ Manbai had a legitimate husband in Mujiu. Manbai was a person with a weak marriage, and in his previous life, his wives had all died young. The same was true in this life, except that after marrying Mujiu, he could no longer be tempted by others.
Countless times, Manbai woke up in a cold sweat, wondering why there was suddenly another person by his side: Kiku, with his pretty face and neurotic personality. He was jealous, hysterical, and if he was ever left out, he would go crazy and try to take Manbai down with him. Kiku was like a summer vine, wrapping itself around Manbai. Manbai’s mood was covered by the vine, with no light or hope.
Manbei could not kill him, otherwise Mugeyang would not let him go.
Manbei could only control Mugeyang with sweet words, just as he did at the beginning. Only then would Mugeyang calm down, and with a pair of affectionate eyes, embrace him with tears in his eyes. After a long time, Manbei got used to this way of getting along, pretending to be really affectionate, pretending to be really moved as when they first met, waiting for the green vines to bloom with joy, and the crystal sunlight to shine through.
The whole world fell silent.
Zhong Wei no longer had to worry about waking up and someone shouting that Mujiu had gone crazy again, because Mujiu had moved in with Manbai in the small tribe. Every time they met later, Mujiu was full of happy smiles. Zhong Wei had mixed feelings. One day, he couldn’t hold back any longer and asked Mujiu, ‘Manbai has caused you so much pain. If there were a pill for regret, would you take it and never meet this person again?’
Miku shook his head resolutely: ‘I don’t want to! Even if he doesn’t like me, what does it matter? He can never leave me again, I’m the one he holds at night! I can’t imagine not seeing his figure, not hearing his voice, not feeling his touch – you never know how magical his hands are, I go crazy with happiness every time he touches me, I’d die for him in an instant! He likes me too, he always says so when we first meet! Don’t make me lose him!’ His expression was as if possessed.
‘…‘
’Zhong Wei, you’re right, even if I offer everything, he won’t care. But if he keeps being held back by Mu Ge Yang, he’ll have to like me and be nice to me! So don’t worry, I’ll make sure he stays in that tribe! Zhong Wei, you don’t know how amazing he is. That chaotic and terrible tribe of his has become so much better in just two years.’ Mu Jiu’s eyes shone with adoration.
After a long while, Zhong Wei said, ‘If you’re happy, he owed you in his previous life.’
The world seemed to gradually become balanced.
Was this kind of rescue mission considered a success? Zhong Wei kept an eye on the birch tree in front of the house, which symbolised the progress of the mission. It was still neat and straight, and when the wind blew, the leaves rustled. Mu Geyang would always notice, and would turn his head resentfully, glaring at Zhong Wei. ‘Look at me, I’m not as good as that tree!’
Zhong Wei just smiled: how do you know I wasn’t looking at you?
Because of Mu Jiu, Man Bei had to return to Jiusa several times a year, trying to avoid Mu Geyang, who still held a grudge. He also saw Zhong Wei often, always dressed in simple clothes made of ramie, with long hair blowing in the wind. Until one early winter, Man Bei suddenly called Zhong Wei into the forest.
The fog lingered in the forest and would not disperse.
Manbei said, ‘The priest Shen Yun is dead.’
At a dinner, a dozen people gathered around the table. Suddenly someone shouted, ‘Look out, a snake!’ A golden snake suddenly appeared on the table. Someone calmly grabbed the snake’s seven inches and chopped it down with a knife, cutting it in half. The body of the snake fell to the ground, and the head shot straight to the other end of the table. It was obviously dead, but it instinctively bit the spot where it fell – Shenyun’s arm.
The golden snake was highly venomous, and Shenyun immediately fell to the ground. Without fear, he said in a daze, ‘A golden dead thing…so that’s how it is.’
Zhong Wei’s prediction was accurate to the last detail, and Man Bei shuddered. Zhong Wei, however, thought to herself that it was the habit of the system for most people to have the same fate in both lives.
In the forest, the fog was heavy, and Man Bei sighed, ‘This reminds me of the stone cave. Shen Yun said that he could not see your past, that you are a demon. Zhong Wei, you really are a demon, aren’t you?’
Zhong Wei did not say anything, ‘Do you want me to see your future?’
‘…‘
Zhong Wei closed her eyes, her face looming indistinctly in the mist, as if it would disappear the next moment. Her voice became ethereal for no apparent reason: “Your whole life could have been very good, as long as you didn’t go against that person. That person’s fortune is stronger than yours, you should go with the flow to have a good end.”
’You are his person, so naturally you speak for him.‘
’You still have evil intentions, and heaven will take away your most beloved offspring as punishment.’ In the system, in the previous life, Mu Jiu witnessed that after Man Bei’s young son died, Man Bei was so grief-stricken that he wailed uncontrollably for the first time. Zhong Wei spoke slowly, ‘After that, there will be more people, your loved ones, your clan members, who will be destroyed because of you. There is only one way to lift the curse: never oppose him again, revere him, and stay away from him.’
Looking at Man Bei’s back, Zhong Wei wondered if such a shock would be enough.
The fog was getting heavier. Zhong Wei could just make out the path. Suddenly, a figure appeared. Mu Geyang’s cheeks were flushed. ‘Zhong Wei, was Man Bei here just now? I heard Mu Jiu arguing with him, saying that you two… My brother is being jealous again, isn’t he?’
‘I did speak to him for a while.’
‘What? Speak? Why did you have to come here? I didn’t believe it at first, but I never thought you two would still have feelings for each other!’ Mu Geyang was furious.
‘How insecure are you?‘
’You bet I am! He came to you to beg for mercy, didn’t he? He attacked another tribe and I caught him red-handed. I won’t let him off this time, even if you say so, even if my brother says so! I’m going to kill him now!’ Mugeyang finished angrily and turned around and ran away.
Zhong Wei was at a loss for words. Mugeyang was the emperor’s brother, and no one had the guts to mess with Zhong Wei. Nothing was going on, but Mu Geyang just had to stir up trouble and find someone to fight. As she thought this, Zhong Wei felt inexplicably happy, because it was quite interesting to have someone who cared about her so much.
The fog was getting thicker and thicker, and an indescribable feeling welled up in her heart. Zhong Wei walked out of the forest and saw the birch tree.
The birch tree had a bare trunk.
Only one leaf remained.
Zhong Wei was so shocked that she could not speak. This evergreen birch, which never lost its leaves, was a symbol of the task of this life. It had suddenly lost all its leaves, indicating that the world was about to collapse? Mu Geyang really killed Man Bei? Mu Geyang, how could you be so impulsive? In order to be with you for a long time, I deliberately prolonged the fate of my opponent. How could you destroy the foundation of the world’s existence on impulse! Zhong Wei felt dizzy and slowly sat on the ground, her eyes blurred.
‘Zhong Wei…‘ Mu Geyang hurriedly came running.
’How could you kill him?’ Zhong Wei was almost choking with emotion.
Looking at the soul like a lost lover, Mu Geyang’s heart felt as if a big hole had been dug out of it: ’I lied to you, I didn’t touch him, I was always watching you from the side! I know you care about him, and I know you don’t like him, I was just a little jealous. How could you care about him! But I didn’t kill him!’
‘Really?‘
’I really didn’t kill him. I’ve been following you. Whenever you’re out of my sight, I feel miserable. I’ve been watching you every day, and you never looked back. Otherwise, how could you not see him?’ Mu Geyang sadly embraced Zhong Wei
Zhong Wei gradually became clear: it wasn’t Man Bei who had died, but the mission had ended.
No matter how long they linger, they still have to leave.
Zhong Wei smiles and kisses Mu Geyang, ‘I care about Man Bei because I want to be with you. I relish every day with you and will do whatever it takes to find balance. Mu Geyang, even if I leave, you have to believe that I will always be by your side, just like this fog.’
“Zhong Wei…’
Mugeyang didn’t understand what he was saying, and had to be embraced passionately to dispel the trace of unease. Mugeyang embraced Zhongwei and kissed her back. Zhongwei hugged the person in front of her, welcoming it, rejoicing in the joy of the collision that made her soul explode, throbbing, and entwining again in the mist.
…
All sounds ceased. Zhong Wei slowly opened his eyes. On the boundless blue sea, golden light rippled. The iris reading system recorded that all the original texts recording the Huaxi civilization had, at some point, all become about the Jiusa civilization. The Jiusa Emperor, unifying the world, creating civilization, his achievements immortal, forever praised by future generations.
For the first time, the foundation of the world was shaken.
The afterglow of the embrace seemed to linger in his chest. The heart that had been alone for so long suddenly feared the loneliness that lay ahead. Zhong Wei paused longer than ever before. When he had no choice but to set off, he activated his wisdom brain and sealed the memories of this life. Only in this way did he have the courage to move on.
[Note: 1V1, the quick-wear romance between the young receiver and the young attacker has just begun. Please bookmark and leave a comment~\(≧▽≦)/~]

☆, Experimental Base Chapter [1

[Experiment Base Chapter 1]
The No. 9 subway in Gerda City is painted in a dull black, with an awkward shape that looks like an uninteresting giant insect. There are very few passengers, and the train whizzes away from the platform, exhaling a huge sigh as if it were sailing towards the end of the world.
The terminus is Gerda Island.
Experts always have all kinds of strange experiments: the Gerda Island experiment is one of them. In view of the increasingly diverse crimes in Country X, and the related punitive measures have not achieved good results. Therefore, criminal experts specially convened nearly 100 people who have had criminal experience, and opened a base on Gerda Island, where a two-year experiment was held, which was actually a disguised prison.
The experiment was very simple. The experimenters were locked up in the base and were forbidden to communicate with the outside world.
The experts used this to observe the extent to which bad people interact with each other.
Of course, in order to better control these people,
the base also arranged for special guards.
In layman’s terms, the experimenters were somewhat like prisoners, and the guards were somewhat like prison guards. This was the main body of the Gerda Island experiment.
The reflection in the car window shows Zhong Wei’s appearance: a dark red security guard uniform, smart and neat, without a single superfluous cut. At hand, a kraft paper bag containing a few cotton and linen clothes. After a day of running around, the feeling of fatigue radiates from every bone and muscle, and he stretches out his long legs. It has been more than a week since he arrived here, and today, he finally has a little motivation.
Zhong Wei turns on the smart brain system, and the life of the person he has been rescuing appears on his retina:
Xiao Wen.
Xiao Wen’s younger brother was called to the island of Gelada after injuring someone in a drunken brawl. There were rumours of cruel experiments being carried out on the island, and Xiao Wen was worried about his brother’s safety, so he went in his place. After two years of being bullied, he walked out of Gelada, only to learn by accident that his brother had been killed.
In a state of shock, Xiao Wen killed his brother’s murderer.
The daughter of his enemy tried to stop him.
Xiao Wen was so enraged that he slashed her face with a knife, spilling blood everywhere, and he managed to escape successfully, taking refuge with friends he had made on the island.
A few years later, Xiao Wen encountered a girl:
The girl had become an image of death.
It turned out that the girl’s parents had died, and she had been disfigured by Xiao Wen, so she had a very miserable life for the rest of her life; she married someone, but he was a scoundrel; she endured three miserable years of domestic violence, and her two-year-old son died prematurely; her only hope was shattered, and she no longer wanted to live, so she hanged herself.
Xiao Wen knew that he had ruined her.
After killing the girl’s husband, he completely fell into depravity, drinking and taking drugs, hiding from the police like a rat in the dark, and eventually dying while shopping. At the moment of his death, Xiao Wen prayed that his miserable life could be saved.
The trial system accepted Xiao Wen’s prayer.
Zhong Wei blinked, and on her retina, the memory of Xiao Wen’s previous life disappeared into a line. According to the time track, there were several key turning blocks in Xiao Wen’s life: 1. his career on Gerda Island; 2. Xiao Wen’s network of relationships: his younger brother, his younger brother’s murderer, the girl; 3. the friends on the island he fled to.
Zhong Wei needed to lay out the plan at key points.
Change Xiao Wen’s fate.
After travelling through the seabed, the end station arrived. Zhong Wei got off the subway and an indescribable emptiness hit him. Drizzle fell, landing in puddles and spreading out in circles. He was about to leave when a child carrying a small school bag approached him, timidly asking, ‘Uncle, can you lend me some money to take the subway home?’
The experimental base was located in the south of the island.
Ordinary residents also lived on the island.
The child had run away from home after a fight with his parents. He had run out of money and looked a bit like a policeman, so he dared to come up to him. Zhong Wei smiled: ‘I’m not a policeman, I’m just an ordinary security guard. That was the last subway, you’ll never make it, so why don’t you stay with me for the night?’
The child’s eyes lit up and he nodded desperately: ‘There are three of my classmates over there taking shelter from the rain, can we stay together…’
Is running away from home also popular in groups?
Zhong Wei held a brown paper bag over her child’s head to keep the rain off.
A tarred road led straight for a kilometre to the experimental base, flanked by dark, neat fields. A hundred metres away was a small house, where the farmers worked and rested. Late at night, it was dark and eerie. A big and a small person walked along the ridge to the house. The door was closed, and a dark red light shone inside.
Zhong Wei sensed something was wrong: ‘Are they in there?’
The child was about to cry, so he went up and knocked on the door: ‘Open the door quickly, I’ve brought your uncle here.’
With a clang, the door opened. There were three burly men standing together, like three towers, their muscles on their arms tangled into balls. Zhong Wei, on the contrary, let out a cold laugh, composed and at ease: ‘Do you need me for something?’ He hadn’t bothered anyone else, but someone actually dared to mess with him?
‘Our boss wants to have a chat with you,’ said one of the men, picking up a bag and placing it over Zhong Wei’s head.
Zhong Wei suddenly let fly, sweeping a powerful leg out, and the man was knocked to the ground before he could see his move. The other two men saw what had happened and rushed forward to surround Zhong Wei, but he used his boxing skills to knock them to the ground. Before they could get up, they were knocked down again by Zhong Wei’s fast and fierce punches. They were all scared.
‘Don’t move! Let us go!‘ One of the men, acting on impulse, grabbed the child by the neck.
’Whoa!‘ The child cried out in fear.
’Get out of the way, or I’ll strangle him!‘ The man was emboldened by his success and became even more unrestrained.
’…’ Zhong Wei clenched her fists and watched as the three men fled in a panic.
The child cried hoarsely, saying that the three men had threatened him and had not intended to deceive Zhong Wei. The child also said that in addition to these three men, he had also seen a tall man with a buzz cut and wearing a base experiment suit, who seemed to be the eldest of the three.
Experiment suit? Today was Zhong Wei’s first time leaving the base, and he had no enemies, so these three men just happened to be watching him.
So, who was the eldest of the three men?
That night, Zhong Wei returned with the child and called the parents again. Both sides of the phone were in tears, and the parents came to pick up the child that night.
The next day, Zhong Wei went to work with a radiant expression.
By the system’s arrangement, this time Zhong Wei did not possess anyone, but appeared in his original form. Under the system’s brainwashing control, the people around him naturally accepted him as if Zhong Wei had always worked here, saving the trouble of making up an identity.
He immediately asked the team leader Zhang Yiyong if there had been any incidents of experimenters escaping.
‘No, everything is fine,’ said the team leader Zhang Yiyong, as usual.
‘Team Leader Zhang, has this ever happened before: an experimenter sneaking out of the base and then sneaking back in again, pretending that he never went out?’
“Don’t be ridiculous! You think the base is a public toilet!’
‘Why are you laughing?”
Zhang Yiyong grinned, flared his nostrils, and lowered his voice: “Some experimenters have a good relationship with the guards, and it’s not impossible to slip some money and go out for a night. It happened six months ago, and when it was discovered, the colleague involved was dismissed the next day. This matter was not reported to the higher-ups and was suppressed by the base director.” Usually, the experimenters come for the money, and the experiments are not long, so they don’t run away unless something happens.
However, the management of the base was extremely chaotic.
There were frequent fights, rebellions, violent incidents, and even deaths caused by abuse. It was hard to say why the experts didn’t intervene. They did it in the name of experimentation, and most of the experimenters had committed crimes. The base director, Sun Mao, was a big villain who colluded with others inside and outside the base and committed countless evil deeds. The base was divided into several districts, each with a district chief, who were also arrogant and tyrannical. The guards preferred to mind their own business and just go through the motions every day.
Two days ago, Zhong Wei submitted a ‘Proposal on the Reform of Base Supervision’, which encapsulated the essence of base management in the quan system.
But as expected, it fell on deaf ears.
Zhong Wei knew that he couldn’t rush things.
Among the crowd, he saw Xiao Wen at a glance.
Xiao Wen, tall and thin, had a pair of rabbit teeth, and his eyes turned red when he got angry. Later, if he dared to kill with a knife, I’m afraid it would also be because the rabbit was pushed to the wall. In the base, each of the two experimenters has a single room. Xiao Wen has been in the base for three months, and is always beaten up by his roommate and sent to the hospital. Last night, Zhong Wei hacked into the single room and switched the system, transferring Xiao Wen to the room of Tang Xifei, one of the overlords of the base.
Tang Xifei has a good physique.
His personality is that he doesn’t offend others, and others don’t offend him. He is respected as an overlord purely because he beat up the previous overlord of the base, and others stay away from him with respect.
Tang Xifei was chosen for a purpose.
‘Judgment System’ record: Six months after Xiao Wen entered the base, there was a riot at the base, resulting in the deaths of 27 guards and experimenters. The most suspicious culprit was Tang Xifei. Surveillance showed that he had communicated with the main troublemaking experimenter. The police did not find conclusive evidence, but it did not prevent them from putting the blame on Tang Xifei, who refused to admit his guilt, and sentencing him directly to prison.
A few years later, Xiao Wen saw Tang Xifei: driving a black sports car with black bodyguards, which was exactly what the saying went: before entering the base, there was only one specialty, but after entering, he became a swindler.
For the sake of these 27 lives, it is imperative to stop the riot in time.
Although it has nothing to do with Xiao Wen,
Therefore, Zhong Wei assigned Xiao Wen and Tang Xifei to work together, monitoring them both so that neither would be neglected. Xiao Wen was quite perceptive, and quickly clung to Tang Xifei’s big thigh, hoping to curry favour with the boss. No one else dared to bully him so much. Tang Xifei didn’t mind, as Xiao Wen was clean and neat, and he was like an extra male nanny.
On this day, during the routine inspection of the single room, all the experimenters had to do was put their hands on the wall and wait until the guards had finished their inspection.
Xiao Wen was very obedient.
Tang Xifei, however, was not. Like a child with ADHD, he kept turning his head, shrugging his shoulders, kicking his legs, and squinting at Zhong Wei. He was tall and muscular, a blend of beauty and strength. With one punch, he had exploded the former tyrant’s skull. Such dangerous people must be more vigilant. Zhong Wei picked up the quilt and other objects one by one for inspection.
‘Zhong Wei, hurry up,‘ Captain Zhang Yiyong urged.
’No, Captain Zhong, go into more detail, and give me a thorough search from head to toe, inside and out,‘ Tang Xifei said with a smile, tapping his fingers happily against the wall.
’Dong’ – Zhang Yiyong tapped him with a light stick.
There was nothing unusual in the room, and Zhong Wei noticed the narrow window. He reached out and felt it, and felt a piece of stiff paper. He pulled it out and looked at it. He couldn’t help twitching at the corners of his mouth. It was a candid photo: in the photo, Zhong Wei was lazily looking up at the clear sky, with a golden sheen around his chin. Instantly, Zhong Wei remembered the stalking and snapping yesterday, and angrily balled up the photo.
Zhang Yiyong didn’t see who was in the photo: ‘It’s not illegal, which guy doesn’t have a few hidden photos of jerking off in the middle of the night?’
Tang Xifei laughed heartily: ‘It’s more exciting to watch someone jerk off.’
Unable to bear it any longer, Zhong Wei silently stepped forward and gave him a hard kick. With a plop, Tang Xifei fell to his knees, his hands still clinging to the wall. He turned around, his eyes arrogant, provoking Zhong Wei. Zhang Yiyong had seen enough, picked up a stick and jabbed it into the small of Tang Xifei’s back: ‘Don’t stir up trouble. You only have three months left. Go out and see what you like.’ He said this and turned his head, walking towards the next room.
Tang Xifei smiled at the wall: ‘Yes, it’s not worth it.’
Zhong Wei was not blind and could tell that Zhang Yiyong was defending Tang Xifei. The relationship between the experimenters and the guards was delicate. It could be hostile, restrictive, or dependent. To facilitate management, the guards would curry favour with influential experimenters to keep them in line. Tang Xifei was one of the leaders of District 3, but he didn’t provoke trouble, which made Zhang Yiyong feel at ease.
☆, The Experimental Base Chapter 2

[The Experimental Base Chapter 2]
Zhong Wei clutched the photo, walked past Tang Xifei, and noticed that his fingers were curled up: ‘Turn around! Spread your hands!’
Tang Xifei leisurely turned around: ‘Does that mean you get anything I confiscate?’
“Cut the crap.’
‘Okay, you can keep it for me.‘ Tang Xifei opened his palm cheerfully: a diamond ring, sparkling.
Tang Xifei looked at him with a smile, as if he was giving it to him. Zhong Wei was speechless.
’When I get out, can I be friends with Team Zhong?‘ Tang Xifei’s bright face was sincere.
’Er…’
The base is not only a testing ground, but also a place where the experimenter can start over. If the experimenter shows a desire for a new life, such as the longing to go out and the desire to make normal friends, they should be encouraged rather than discouraged. Zhong Wei couldn’t give him another hard kick.
Later, Zhang Yiwu confiscated the diamond ring and said, ‘You really went all out!’
Tang Xifei never hid his affection for Zhong Wei and expressed it at any time, saying things like, ‘Team Zhong, can I take you out to dinner after I leave the base?’ ‘Can I find you after I leave the base?’ ‘Why don’t we set a good date now?’ It was clear that he was full of hope for his new life after leaving the base.
How could someone like this have the brainpower to plan a riot?
Zhong Wei suspected that in his previous life, Tang Xifei had been made a scapegoat.
The riot is getting closer and closer.
In view of the chaos at the base, some suggestions were not accepted, so Zhong Wei simply hacked into the computer of the base’s head, Sun Mao: he found several financial reports from the finance department, which were full of loopholes. He then hacked into the computers of the finance department, and was delighted to find a lot of evidence. As he hacked his way through the system, he realised that the Gerda Base was truly a big, rotten black hole. The more he looked, the angrier he became, and he saved all the information.
Zhong Wei tried to expose the darkness of the Gerda Base to the internet and mainstream media, but he didn’t belong in this world, and the news would always disappear for some reason. Zhong Wei called the newspaper, but before he could say anything, they yelled over the phone that the coffee had spilled on the phone. Zhong Wei ended the call speechlessly.
He had to rely on someone else’s hands to succeed, and all he needed was a strong lever to pry open this big black hole.
But looking around, no one could be trusted.
On Friday, after taking a shower, Zhong Wei heard a slight sound. He didn’t pay attention and went out of the bathroom barefoot with a towel. Suddenly, he felt something was wrong and his keen sense of smell detected a strange smell. He quickly covered his nose with the towel, but it was too late. He fainted instantly and lost consciousness after hearing the voice of ‘Boss, it’s done.’
…
In the base bathhouse.
After Tang Xifei entered, everyone kept their distance from him. He tilted his head back and let the water wash over his face and neck. The image of Zhong Wei came to mind: her upright posture and abstemious expression were unbearable to think about. Tang Xifei looked down and saw that he was in trouble. He was afraid that he would not be able to survive the next three months.
At that moment, someone stopped in front of him and said, ‘Got a date tonight?’
‘No interest.‘
’You’ll be interested. You’ll regret it if you don’t come.‘ The man smiled with his fox eyes upturned.
’…‘
’The entrance fee is one million.”
Tang Xifei sized him up to make sure he wasn’t joking: ’One million? Are you sure you’re my type? I’m very picky these days!’
At midnight, the prison was quiet, and Xiao Wen was fast asleep. Tang Xifei got up, effortlessly pulled open the door, and couldn’t help but feel that one million was indeed a thoughtful enough expense. At the end of the corridor, Fox Eyes waved at him and handed him a black robe and a Bauta mask.
The mask was cool.
Tang Xifei followed Fox Eyes on a winding path.
Tang Xifei wondered to himself, ‘Is this still the base? It feels like we’ve reached the edge of the island.’ Finally, they arrived at a place. They walked down the steps, passed through a long corridor, and arrived at a place that looked like a lavishly decorated concert hall. The hall was huge, with gorgeous but eerie lighting, and the floor was covered in thick carpeting. The soundproofing was so good that you couldn’t hear the outside even if there was a concert.
In the centre of the room was a ring.
Around the square ring are eight elaborately carved seats, two next to each other, with fruit and pastries next to them. Seven people have arrived, wearing different masks: wolf masks, tiger masks, clown masks, and a pure white faceless mask… Everyone is wearing loose-fitting clothes to conceal their figures. Tang Xifei’s neighbour is wearing a devil mask and is on the thin side.
When the music stopped, the fox-eyed host slowly walked onto the stage. His voice was not loud, but his enunciation was clear: ‘Honourable guests, the once-a-season gambling tournament has begun. As you gentlemen are not here for the first time, I will not waste any time with nonsense. The opening match will be a pair fight. As usual, the winner will split the stakes; the loser will take the defeated player away and do whatever he wants with him.’
Clap! Clap! Clap!
A sparse applause sounded.
‘The first contestant to enter the arena is the last champion, Wolf; the other is a promising young man who defeated three strong men with his bare hands.’
‘Is this a one-on-three fight?’ someone sneered.
Fox Eyes smiled: ‘Two of the three strong men have won before, and I dare not boast of his strength. I, like everyone else, will wait and see.’ With that, he clapped his hands, and a contestant walked from the backstage: Wolf. Wolf had an heroic face, smooth muscles, and an endless flow of strength throughout his body.
Someone whispered to their neighbour, ‘This Wolf is good, he’s won three matches in a row for me, I’m betting on him again today.’
The neighbour agreed, ‘I’d like to see the other one.’
The other contestant was also pushed forward. His young face was caught in the spotlight, and he closed his eyes unaccustomed to the light. He had an unmatched handsome face, wearing a security guard uniform that was already torn—it was Zhong Wei. Tang Xifei’s heart stopped, and he felt both anger and panic. Fox Eye stepped forward and lifted up Zhong Wei’s shirt. With a flash, Zhong Wei revealed a gorgeous body, with a beautiful arc from her neck to her collarbone that was simply breathtaking.
Someone gasped, and one person said, ‘I’ll bet on him. If I win, I make money; if I lose, I make him do it. No matter what, I don’t lose. Hahahaha.’
Another teased, ‘Just because you guys don’t care about winning or losing, I will win every time.’
The three of them bet on Xiong Lang to win, and all four of them bet on Zhong Wei, and everyone’s dirty thoughts were obvious. Fox Eye held up a tray to indicate that Tang Xifei should place his bet, and Tang Xifei threw all his chips to the side of Zhong Wei.
A bell rang, and the ring began.
Xiao Lang was the first to attack, using a grappling hold to aim for Zhong Wei’s heart. He had fought three matches before and knew how to please the audience. They were most excited by ferocity, bloodshed and cruelty. Zhong Wei had not yet adapted to the dim lighting and was looking around the unfamiliar surroundings while dodging and retreating. His physical strength was at its maximum, and with his skills as a former assassin and former imperial bodyguard, he had no problem dealing with Xiao Lang. He just wanted to see…
Xiao Lang threw a leg, landing squarely on Zhong Wei’s calf.
Zhong Wei nearly fell over.
Fortunately, Zhong Wei quickly stabilised, shifting his feet quickly, and his agile posture prevented Xiao Lang from getting close. He only defended and did not attack, buying time. His graceful body contained unimaginable power, and his half-naked light honey-coloured muscles were attractively streamlined.
‘For the first time, I’m looking forward to losing,’ said one spectator, causing Zhong Wei to look over.
Bang! Zhong Wei was kicked again.
Tang Xifei blurted out, “Can’t you fight back?”
The gamblers in the seats let out a delighted laugh. Zhong Wei frowned, and after recognising the man wearing the white mask as Sun Mao, the dean, he heard a second voice: Tang Xifei, the son of a bitch is here too!
There was more than one ring, so he had to fight quickly.
Zhong Wei suddenly unleashed a flurry of kicks, which sent the Wolf King reeling and crashing to the ground.
Zhong Wei didn’t let him catch his breath, continuing to attack with such speed that it was like he had pressed the fast forward button, and all anyone could see was a blur of blows. Finally, Zhong Wei delivered a beautiful leg kick that sent the Wolf King flying into the railing, where he fell with a thud.
Pop!
The applause started a moment later, as the victory was so clean and convincing that it was hard to believe.
Fox Eyes snapped his fingers, and two men came in and dragged Wolf Wolf out, who suddenly let out a wailing cry of pain. The three gamblers who had bet on him to win got up and left, one of them cracking his knuckles and saying, ‘That was great, I haven’t felt that for a long time. Is there anything new to play today?’
Tang Xifei, on the other hand, let out a sigh of relief. His clothes were soaked, and he was more nervous than when he had entered the arena himself.
The five remaining gamblers who had bet on the winner sat back and enjoyed the pleasure of seeing their chips increase. The arena suddenly shook, and then slowly descended as if by remote control. In its place, an iron cage rose up, and Zhong Wei was pushed inside.
The second round began.
Fox Eyes clapped his hands: ‘Leon, come out!’
With a low growl, a young lion came out, with amber pupils and a light walk. It shook its mane, raised its head and let out a loud roar, showing its fierce fangs.
Tang Xifei’s heart suddenly tightened: how could Zhong Wei fight a lion?
Zhong Wei, however, relaxed. He had once entered the world of humans and beasts and was familiar with the habits of lion beasts: Leon looked contented, obviously having been fed and no longer bloodthirsty. Why had he been released? Leon walked up to him, tilted his head curiously, sniffed around Zhong Wei, and his amber pupils gradually contracted, shooting out like the prey of a hunt. Could it be that
Those beasts have smeared Zhong Wei with something that attracts lions’ attention!
Zhong Wei was furious.
A normal person would definitely struggle, fight the lion, and be covered in blood from the claws. The lion, unable to get what it wanted, went wild, pouncing and biting to tear its prey to shreds – so to speak, those beasts found bloodshed too monotonous and came up with new tricks, wanting to see their plaything torn apart until it was half dead.
Leon extended his tongue several times to lick Zhong Wei, who dodged and dodged. When Leon became impatient, he pounced directly. Zhong Wei pinched her lower lip and whistled, as gentle as the wind on the grasslands, a kind sign of affection. Leon was taken aback, and even shook his mane. He leaned down and lay at Zhong Wei’s feet in a submissive manner.
There was surprised laughter from the audience, and Tang Xifei let out a sigh of relief.
Zhong Wei walked up and boldly stroked the mane. The large cat shook its big head and stuck out its tongue, giving a quick lick to the erect nipple on the half-naked Zhong Wei’s chest. The tongue was warm and had fine hooks, and Zhong Wei felt a tingling sensation that made her brain feel like it had been hit by lightning. She steadied her steps and leaned her body to the side.
There was a lewd laugh from the audience.
Zhong Wei half-kneeled down, moved closer to Lei Ang, and recalled the method of hypnosis. But if he got too close, Lei Ang would stick out his tongue again and lick the lieutenant’s a little. The laziness and expectation of the big cat was clear at a glance.
☆, Experimental Base Chapter [3

[Experiment Base Chapter 3]
Tang Xifei got up: ‘It’s far away, I can’t see clearly.’
The fox-eyed man smiled and reminded him: ‘Beasts are fierce, take responsibility for your own bites.’
Tang Xifei was standing next to the lion in the iron cage. When he saw Tang Xifei approaching, Leon snorted twice and shook his tail. Zhong Wei frowned, trying to calm Leon down. She didn’t know what Tang Xifei wanted. Zhong Wei leaned close to the iron cage, her upper body bare. Her supple skin was vibrant with life, like a flower bud about to bloom in spring.
Tang Xifei’s hand reached inside and quickly pinched Zhong Wei.
Zhong Wei suddenly stepped back, glaring angrily at Tang Xifei. Her chest felt like it was on fire, as if she had been coated in chili. This bastard, I should really let Leon tear him apart!
Leon was not willing to give up either, and he also extended his tongue and licked Zhong Wei a bit, as if they were competing.
Zhong Wei was furious, and lifted her leg to kick Leon, who rolled on the ground and then wrapped himself around her like a spoiled child.
Tang Xifei scolded, ‘pervert!’
As he said this, he reached out again and tried to touch Zhong Wei. Zhong Wei struck out quickly, pinching his wrist with two fingers. Tang Xifei let out a cry and fell to his knees. Zhong Wei then let go and turned to leave. Tang Xifei rubbed his wrist and a smile appeared at the corner of his mouth: the medicine that suppresses oestrogen doesn’t necessarily have to be applied to that area, but the hand simply doesn’t listen to the brain.
The host walked over leisurely, ‘Is a million worth it?’
Tang Xifei smiled and said, ‘If I give you another million, how about I take the lion’s place?’
At first, Leon harassed Zhong Wei from time to time, rolling around and acting cute, but soon he stopped being lecherous and just meekly laid down, squinting his eyes and letting Zhong Wei pet him. Zhong Wei, like a king who had tamed the beast, sat leisurely nearby, but in her heart she wondered, what did Tang Xifei put on it? Hormone suppression? Is this person helping me?
The audience yawned: ‘What’s going on? Is that it?’
The host snapped his fingers and released another lioness. As soon as she entered, she stared with round eyes and growled at Zhong Wei – was this a fight with a rival? Everyone was thrilled. Unexpectedly, Leon rolled over, got up happily, ran to the lioness, and mounted her in an instant. The two lions then…
The audience burst into laughter: ‘Fox, we didn’t come here to watch a lion porn.’
Not to mention the mess on the field, no one could interrupt the two lions’ mating. After a long wait for their halftime break, the animal trainer quickly drove them off the field. The fox clapped his hands and said, ’The lion’s rage is not enough, so I’ll make it up to you.’
The supplementary round: it’s a massacre.
By the cage, a man with a sharp face throws a dagger. This person on the field is not trying to kill Zhong Wei, but just to stab him all over his body, so that everyone can see the beauty of bloodshed. This is the meaning of the supplementary round.
Tang Xifei thought, Zhong Wei must have been drugged and brought here, and having already experienced a fight, it would be difficult for him to survive the third round.
He could no longer bear it and walked up to the host: ‘How can I get him?’
The fox narrowed its eyes: ‘Just take the lion’s place.’
‘And do it here?’
‘Why, no?’
‘And then what?’
“Do you want me to help you? Then you’d better put on a good show, the longer the better, the more varied the better. When time is running out, there’s only one last game left: a game of chance. Everyone will be satisfied, and if you win, they will naturally let him go.’ Fox Eyes leaned close to his ear. He was the banker, and the more money there was, the happier he was. “Actually, there are two people here who came for you. They would be happy to see you play the lion.”
This fox is extremely cunning.
Fox Eyes said with pleasure, ’The prerequisite is that you have to defeat Zhong Wei on the field, otherwise, if you lose, you will fall into the hands of those two people, and you will either be dead or crippled.’
‘After the bet is over, will Zhong Wei be returned?‘
’Of course, who will take care of him if you keep him?”
Fox Eyes clapped his hands and told the news that Tang Xifei was going to enter the arena. The crowd looked at him with mixed feelings and placed bets. Two people bet that Zhong Wei would lose, and two people bet that Tang Xifei would lose. Tang Xifei frowned: who dared to have an interest in her? Hadn’t she already won them over when she first entered? Or was he her sworn enemy?
Tang Xifei took the man’s dagger and entered the cage.
Zhong Wei snorted, ‘Can you stop meddling?’
‘I’m trying to save you!’
‘You can’t even save yourself, let alone save me?’ Zhong Wei moved her wrist a little and found that she inexplicably had more strength than before. Had she been injected with a stimulant?
The bell rang and the two fought for a while.
Tang Xifei swung his dagger and cut off a few strands of Zhong Wei’s hair, ‘Let me win!’
“You’re sick!’
‘If you win, I’ll take you away!‘
’Even if you win, you won’t be able to take me away. Can’t you see that someone is plotting to kill us?‘ Zhong Wei threw a backhand elbow, knocking Tang Xifei’s dagger off and kicking it away. The two of them once again engaged in close combat. “Where are we? Are we still in the base?”
’Let me win!”
Zhong Wei threw a shoulder throw, knocking him down, but Tang Xifei was able to get up again.
The rules had changed: if Zhong Wei lost, he was at Tang Xifei’s mercy; if Zhong Wei won, Tang Xifei was at the mercy of whoever had bet on him to win. What would the beasts do to him? Compared to that, it was better to be at Tang Xifei’s mercy – why should he think about Tang Xifei, when Tang Xifei had solved the lion problem for him? Zhong Wei was in a dilemma.
Someone yawned, ‘What a bore, how long are you going to take?’
Tang Xifei suddenly exerted himself, dragging Zhong Wei to the ground, and the two of them rolled around on the ground. Tang Xifei even pulled off his mask and kissed him directly. Zhong Wei was shocked, dodging and avoiding, but he was still kissed several times mouth-to-mouth. At this, the people in the audience finally erupted, and someone blew a whistle, ‘That’s more like it, do it again!’
Zhong Wei was furious, and delivered a series of blows. The next moment, he suddenly felt weak all over. Tang Xifei took advantage of the situation to pin him down and whispered in his ear, ‘Don’t worry, I’ll give you the best.’
Zhong Wei lost consciousness.
Pain, pain like being ripped apart, his body was being slammed and squeezed.
His instinct was to fight back, but he was suppressed again and again, like being stuck in a quagmire. The noise was deafening, like the sound of a bursting eardrum. After an unknown period of time, Zhong Wei slowly opened his eyes. The uniform on his body was neat and tidy, and the pain from being run over reminded him that this was not a dream.
The onlookers were very happy.
Tang Xifei was sitting upright at the bottom of the stage.
Fox Eyes gave a timely high five in celebration: ‘You’re worthy of having won the game. You’ve become even stronger than before in just one year. This is truly wonderful. There are ten minutes left in the game. Next, it’s the best part: betting on lives!’ He held out a gun.
The man wearing the wolf mask said excitedly, ‘So soon there are only ten minutes left? Betting on lives, such a pretty face can be blown up at any time, just thinking about it is beautiful!’
Gambling with your life:
It’s like Russian roulette. You put a bullet in the chamber of the gun.
You spin it around as much as you like, then close the cylinder. Then the player takes five shots at his own forehead. If he’s lucky, he wins; if he’s unlucky, he loses his life.
Foxeye said to Zhong Wei, ‘You can choose to give up and let everyone do with you as they please.’
The contestant can choose to give up and not have to bear the pain of having his head blown to pieces. In this game of life or death, the spectators are there to watch the excitement of the shots, the contestant’s struggles and cries of pain as he nears the breaking point, and the moment when the contestant finally gives up and can do whatever he wants.
And that body is so tempting, they have all just seen it.
The people in the audience are salivating.
Zhong Wei tried hard to ignore the aching pain in her body. Gambling with their lives, these people are just joking with their lives and dignity, aren’t they? Zhong Wei picked up the heavy gun, weighed it in her hands, and pointed it at the host’s temple. The host laughed dumbly, ‘This is for gambling, not for killing, it’s useless to shoot.’
Zhong Wei calmly flicked it, and the wheel spun rapidly, and everyone in the audience held their breath.
Click.
The wheel closed, and Zhong Wei raised the gun and aimed it at her own forehead.
Tang Xifei suddenly spoke up, ‘Wait, I’ll buy this round!’ This meant that he would pay back everyone who had placed bets at multiple times the price, so that everyone would win and double their winnings.
A man wearing a black mask shook his head and said, ‘No, that’s no fun. I just want to hear the sound of a gunshot.’
Tang Xifei walked up to him and said, ‘Boss Wu, there are plenty of opportunities to hear the sound of a gunshot.’
The man let out a light grunt when he saw that he had been discovered. The other three people seemed to have been attracted by the price Tang Xifei had offered: they had gambled today, had their fill of the excitement, and were even taking away multiple times the stakes when they left. Why not? And the one on the stage, what a pity if he stubbornly blew himself up. After all, he was a pretty security guard, no matter what you said.
Fox Eyes gave a satisfied smile: ‘This round, a draw.’
However, Zhong Wei did not lower his gun, did not even blink, and suddenly pulled the trigger, firing five shots in quick succession. His face remained unchanged, calm as ever. No one reacted, and there was complete silence. It was only after a long time that someone clapped their hands, saying, ‘You’ve paid for the game, but you’ve lost.’
What they didn’t know was that Tang Xifei had been scared out of his wits.
Zhong Wei, however, slowly pointed the gun at the host, hoarsely saying, ‘Let me go! You know whether the bullets in this gun are real or not!’ Only real bullets make sense, and they also make the game more exciting. What everyone wants is bloodshed on the spot.
‘You know I’m not the boss,’ the host said, raising his hands.
Zhong Wei, holding the gun, swept the crowd one by one, and everyone involuntarily took a step back. Beneath their masks, their faces did not look good. Zhong Wei finally pointed the gun at the devil mask next to Tang Xifei: ‘Let me go!’
‘I’m not the boss either, don’t waste your life-saving bullet,’ the devil mask laughed in a low voice.
‘Then let’s bet, three, two…’
‘Wait!’ the host said.
At the host’s signal, the others left the place of conflict. Tang Xifei, however, hesitated and didn’t leave. Zhong Wei’s face turned pale, and she said angrily, ‘Get out!’
Only the devil’s mask and fox’s eyes were left. Zhong Wei walked up to the devil’s mask and lifted it, only to find a painted face underneath, making it impossible to tell what it originally looked like. The man laughed lightly: ‘You’d better go quickly, or else we’ll all die. Someone’s watching.’ The man casually lifted the curtain, and there was a camera. It turned out that this was not just a gambling game, but also a live broadcast, being sent to some unknown small station to gain clicks from sadistic lovers.
Zhong Wei suppressed her nausea and the urge to pull the trigger.
Step by step, she exited the gambling room.
…
Zhong Wei returned to the house that night, burning with fever. He was cold and hot at the same time, but he forced himself to turn on the computer. With his excellent intelligence system, he finally located a small website, which was broadcasting live. The soaring video showed him being manhandled by Tang Xifei. The gasping sounds were exceptionally clear, and although his face was cleverly covered by Tang Xifei, his body was fully exposed… Zhong Wei angrily hacked into the administrator’s account and removed the video.
There were more than just this one video in the account.
Almost all the ugliest and bloodiest scenes in human nature were collected in the past videos. In the latest one, the wolf that was just alive and kicking was being tortured beyond recognition by the two masked men. One of them, like a madman, was torturing him with all kinds of torture instruments, and the number of clicks was still rising.
Zhong Wei broke through the firewall and tracked down the original ID, which had preserved all the past videos, before going to bed.
His nerves were taut, and his dream continued the physical torture, as someone rode roughshod over his body.
In addition to anger, there seemed to be something indescribable…

☆, Experimental Base Chapter 4

[Experimental Base Chapter 4]
Kill everyone in this group!
It doesn’t matter if the world will be destroyed!
This anger was about to explode at first. Zhong Wei couldn’t move, her whole body aching and half-paralysed. She lay like a corpse for two days, and as her anger subsided a little, it turned into a sinister plan: getting a gun and killing Sun Mao directly would be the quickest and most direct way, but it would alert the others and let them escape – no, if they were going to do it, they should take everyone down, sooner or later they would take off their masks and send them all to a place even worse than the base!
And Tang Xifei, who took advantage of the situation, is the biggest jerk. He is insidious, doing whatever he wants in my dreams, and even closing my eyes has become a frightening thing.
Just starting her new job with discomfort, Zhong Wei was called to the office of Vice President Fan Cong.
Fan Cong was making tea, and a fifty-year-old face smiled with wrinkles all over it: ‘Zhong Wei, come, I’ll introduce you to someone.’
Sitting on the sofa with a big smile was Tang Xifei?
Does he need an introduction?
Zhong Wei clenched her baton, but Fan Cong quickly pressed his hand: ‘It’s okay, he’s handcuffed. Sit down, everyone. Tang Xifei has a high level of ideological awareness and has revealed some of the bad incidents in the base to me. They are all about your Third District. You should listen as well… You guys chat first, I’ll take a call.’ With that, he even went out with his mobile phone, and closed the door behind him.
Zhong Wei could see through this base, from top to bottom, everyone is in on the scam. When colleagues talk about Fan Cong, they mostly look down on him: ‘Hey, Lao Fan is just a watered-down version of himself all year round. He just took a million or so from Tang Xifei. It’s a bargain, right? Not as good as Lao Sun, who can just touch something and get millions. I heard that there are tens of millions hidden in his ceiling.’
Zhong Wei had looked into Tang Xifei’s past. In just two years, the company he founded had made a profit of 200 million. After entering the base, the company continued to grow at a rapid pace, because he was manipulating it from behind the scenes, and the one giving him this convenience was Fan Cong. It’s said to be education, but it’s not just that the office can be connected to the internet, the phone, video, and communication are all at Tang Xifei’s fingertips.
This base, if it doesn’t reform, it will have to be burned to the ground.
‘Are you okay?’ Tang Xifei leaned over with a smile on the corner of his mouth.
Zhong Wei whipped out the stick and smashed it down.
Tang Xifei let out a cry of pain, fell to the ground, and curled up into a ball, writhing in pain. Large beads of sweat rolled down his face, and he gnashed his teeth and said, “Is this how you treat your rescuer? I broke ten million for you!” Zhong Wei’s expressionless, and he was about to hit again.
‘Ah, don’t hit me. Listen to me finish: that kind of gambling is meant to be fun for everyone.‘ Tang Xifei sat up with great difficulty, “You think winning one level is enough? No, they will exhaust you, drug you, and keep tossing and turning you until you have no strength left and are torn to pieces—you are different from the others, the dealer is going to deal with you, there is no way they will let you go easily.”
’…’
‘I’ve also sacrificed a lot, not only money, but also satisfying other people’s voyeuristic desires… Can you put down the stick?‘ Tang Xifei’s arm blocked his head, and the handcuffs rattled. “Those seven masked people: one is unknown, two are sadists, two are here to win, and the other two may be my sworn enemies trying to get to me.”
’…’
‘Don’t you disbelieve it. Fox Eyes is so cunning, he pinpoints the vital needs of each person. Otherwise, with this kind of amateurish gambling, where people enter with millions, who would be a sucker? I don’t do drama, but they won’t let up. Sooner or later, you’ll die. If you’re not satisfied, take advantage of the fact that no one is forcing me to do it now, and I’ll repay you in kind, okay?‘
’Pervert!’
Tang Xifeng stood up and said, ‘You’re the one who didn’t go up!’
‘…’
‘Why are Fox Eyes and the others targeting you? Have you infringed on their interests? You were sent by the higher-ups to investigate the Gerda base, weren’t you? You’re different from the others, I could tell at a glance.’ Tang Xifeng suddenly changed the subject and digressed.
’…’
‘You can tell that the one wearing the white mask is Sun Mao, right? If you want to bring him down, you need more than just evidence. A little guard reported him before, but it was useless. Sun Mao’s influence is very strong, beyond your imagination. I guess you’ve gathered a lot of evidence.‘
’…”
Yes, all the evidence is in place, just waiting for the right opportunity to set the whole thing in motion.
Tang Xifei put away his mischievous smile and said, ‘Let me introduce you to someone: Fan Cong.’
‘Why?’
“If you don’t trust me, who else would you trust? Fan Cong is my brother-in-law, my father’s half-brother, whose surname is his mother’s. No one else knows. Our Tang family has some power, and if we bring down the dean, the one who will be happiest is Fan Cong. How could he not do his best to help you?’
Zhong Wei stepped forward, took out her baton and swung it. Tang Xifei fell to the ground, her handcuffs clanking, her lips trembling. For a moment, Zhong Wei regretted hitting too hard.
Tang Xifei, however, smiled: ‘I’m glad you’re satisfied.’
Fan Cong, in his fifties, had been in his current position for more than ten years, but in reality had no real power. Fan Cong had wanted to climb the ranks, but the base manager Sun Mao was a strong and greedy person who simply would not give him the chance.
After Tang Xifei left, Fan Cong said cautiously, ‘You were sent here from above? Discipline inspection? How do you know Tang Xifei?’
Zhong Wei deliberately asked in return, ‘He didn’t say?’
This tone is just like someone sent from above. Fan Cong’s heart skipped a beat, and he remembered what Tang Xifei had just told him: ‘Little brother, you’re already 50 years old. When Sun leaves, you should retire too. What are you waiting for? This might be the last chance in your career.
Zhong Wei turned on the computer.
She showed Fan Cong the evidence she had collected.
From the financial department’s statements to the hospital’s recorded data, there is darkness, corruption, bribery, prisoner abuse, fights, shady dealings… The darkness of the base is vividly revealed in this information. There are also underground gambling dens, four times a year, involving hundreds of millions of dollars in bets, and there are deaths at every event, as well as videos as ironclad evidence. Fan Cong is not unaware of this, he just never knew it was so comprehensive. He was sweating profusely, thinking that if he reported it, Sun Mao had deep connections and if he got hurt, he would be the scapegoat for the minor incident.
This was definitely a great opportunity to turn the tables.
Fan Cong clenched his fists with excitement, but he was afraid to take the risk: ‘The base is deep, if you want to pull it out, you have to uproot it, but Sun Mao has a lot of connections and a deep background. If I can’t get him, I’m in trouble.’
Zhong Wei finally understood why Fan Cong couldn’t climb up. The evidence was right in front of him, but he was still hesitant and needed someone to guide him.
‘You just said that one of Sun Mao’s connections has been targeted by the disciplinary committee. If you use the reason of “being implicated” to blow the whistle on Sun Mao, no one will dare to get into trouble.’
“Do you have any evidence?’
Zhong Wei wanted to slap the notebook in his face: ‘What are you afraid of with all this evidence? No matter how powerful Sun Mao is, he can’t cover up the truth by himself. If you’re really afraid, then use the power of your Tang family!’
‘But…’
‘Tang Xifei often comes to your place to give you advice, right?’ Among all the evidence Zhong Wei has collected, there is not a shred of evidence related to Fan Cong. I thought he was playing it safe, but now that he’s acting so stupidly, I’m sure Tang Xifei is giving him advice and getting rid of the evidence.
‘How do you know?’ Fan Cong was indeed surprised.
‘Then go get his help!’ Let’s get him involved. Zhong Wei couldn’t stand by and watch Tang Xifei sit there like Jiang Ziya, unperturbed. Tang Xifei often helped Fan Cong with his work, so he must be familiar with the relationships at the base. They were both thousand-year-old foxes, so let him have a go.
A few days later, during a routine inspection of the single room, Zhang Yiyong took Xiao Wen out into the corridor and lectured him, saying that he had not done this well or that well. Poor Xiao Wen stared with wide, frightened eyes, looking aggrieved but not daring to argue back. The two of them were left alone in the single room, with Tang Xifei’s hand just leaving the wall.
Zhong Wei said expressionlessly, ‘Keep your hands still!’
‘Team Leader Zhong, the idea you gave Fan Cong? That’s great, you’ve got me involved too.’
“Hmph.’
‘I’ll be out in two months. I’m even giving up a bright future for you.‘ Tang Xifei saw that Zhong Wei was about to lose his temper, so he quickly made a sad face and said, “Don’t hit me again. I was in the hospital that day because you broke a bone.
”Serves you right!’
“I’ve made all the arrangements. Just wait and see. And you must be careful. You can always topple it again if it doesn’t fall over. Don’t get yourself thrown in. When I get out, you can come work for me. It’s much safer than being a security guard.’ Tang Xifei let out a long sigh, ‘When you were arrested and taken to the arena, I hated that I couldn’t take your place, and I didn’t care if I died.’
It wasn’t really sweet or romantic, but Zhong Wei’s ears burned.
That day, he was in a semi-coma and didn’t know what Tang Xifei had done to him. He only glanced at the video clip once and immediately deleted it without leaving a trace. But strangely, for several days in a row, he had the same dream: rolling in the grass with someone, someone very strong, who pinned him down, and kissed him overpoweringly, as if he wanted to suck the root of his tongue off. Zhong Wei, however, did not resist at all, warmly welcoming him… The dream became more and more realistic every day, and this morning the face of this person suddenly became clear: Tang Xifei.
The moment he woke up, Zhong Wei instinctively rolled over, lazily wanting to embrace the person next to him, but there was nothing:
There was no one around.
Zhong Wei didn’t know how to explain this inexplicable feeling.
The next few days were uneventful. On this day, Zhong Wei stayed in the office to rest. It was rare that she didn’t have to deal with the trouble-makers in the experiment, and she could even open the newspaper to see what the big news was. Suddenly, the wailing sound of police sirens came from far away. Zhong Wei looked down the window and saw a dozen police officers jump off the police car and rush into the office at lightning speed. They took photos, carried computers, searched for information, and put on handcuffs…
Sun Mao and a few others were taken away in handcuffs.
In the office, it was like a storm had passed through, leaving only a mess for people to reminisce about this thrilling scene.
Things happened much more quickly than Zhong Wei had expected, and the investigation was unstoppable. It was said that there was so much evidence against Sun Mao at the base that it took a week just to sort through it all. Not to mention that his figure had suddenly appeared in the video on that bloody website. Tracing the source, the website’s final IP address was at the base. However, before he could reveal the address of the gambling den, Sun Mao committed suicide to avoid punishment.
Committing suicide to avoid punishment?
People speculated: Sun Mao had too many skeletons in the closet, and knowing that he could never make a comeback, he simply committed suicide. It is also possible that Sun Mao was implicated in too many things and was probably secretly killed by someone. One person committed suicide, saving all the grasshoppers on the same string.
There was a radical change in the management of the Gerda Base.
Fan Cong became the acting base commander.
Unfortunately, he didn’t enjoy it for long, as a young and capable new director, He Ziqiang, was transferred in. Fan Cong returned to the quiet and uneventful position of deputy director, resigned to his fate, and did not make any achievements. He accumulated hard work until his retirement. After that, several police superintendents came one after the other to take over the work of the people who had been arrested, and the base gradually returned to peace.
…

☆, Experimental Base Chapter 5

[Experiment Base Chapter 5]
Zhong Wei once again submitted ‘Proposals on Reforming the Supervision of the Base’. He Ziqiang was very happy and approved the purchase of surveillance equipment. The system was also improved accordingly. After all, it could not be done overnight. The new official took charge with three fires, and everyone was afraid to be ambiguous.
It’s just that the underground gambling ring ended in nothing.
Sun Mao died, and all the blame was put on him. The investigation team could not find the address of the gambling den, and the website was hosted on a foreign server, which was shut down the day after, cutting off all clues. The video evidence that Zhong Wei handed in was thrown into the evidence room and soon forgotten.
Zhong Wei knew that the boss behind the scenes was not Sun Mao. Of all the people she had met, Fox Eyes was the organiser, and Devil Mask was the person in charge behind the scenes. Fox Eyes was an experimenter who had gone out a year ago. After Sun Mao’s suicide, he had lost contact with him, and perhaps he had been silenced as well. As for Devil Mask, he was calculating and manipulative, and loved to be mysterious, but he had a sharp-looking buzz cut, which meant that he was probably an experimenter who was in prison.
Zhong Wei’s body had long since returned to normal, and the resentment in his heart had also faded somewhat. He found an excuse to distract Xiao Wen. When he was alone in a room with Tang Xifei, Tang Xifei leaned lazily against the window and said he didn’t know anything when asked.
Zhong Wei was furious: ‘You sat with the devil in the mask. Didn’t you hear his voice? Didn’t you find it familiar?’
“I was so bored that I spent ten million just to watch you. Who cared about anyone else?’
‘…‘
’Really, forget about that night, at least I got some benefits out of it,‘ Tang Xifei said indignantly. “I used all my connections, risking the Tang family being dragged down with me, to get rid of that old guy Sun Mao, and you didn’t give me any reward. You even snubbed me when you saw me, and you even hit me, almost breaking my backbone. Why should I tell you?”
’Do you want to break another one?’
Tang Xifei immediately said with a smile, ‘Ha, don’t, you’re really not funny. Your heart is harder than your fists. I’m about to go out soon, and it would be ugly to break a few ribs. I really don’t know who the devil in the mask is. I don’t feel any sense of familiarity. He’s hidden too deeply.’ Not long after he had dominated, he was invited to participate in one, and it was too bloody, so he declined after that.
The gambling incident was still being investigated, and another urgent matter was coming soon:
Riots.
In the previous life, the riots occurred half a month later. In this life, under the supervision of the new director, the newly purchased surveillance equipment was quickly installed, and the base’s weather was renewed. Zhong Wei was still not at ease, and disregarding the weekend break, she took a baton and looked over to make sure that there was nothing overlooked along the riot route. After all, there were 27 lives at stake.
Zhong Wei asked Tang Xifei, ‘Do you know that someone in the base is instigating riots?’
Tang Xifei smirked, ‘This kind of thing happens every week.’
‘…’
‘You’ve never worked the Wednesday night shift, have you? What’s the difference between that and a riot? !’ On Wednesdays there is an experimenter boxing match, and the atmosphere is just as heated as the underground boxing matches in the movies. Everyone secretly bets on the match, and the guard in charge collects the rake-off. This kind of thing can only happen at the Gerda Base.
Zhong Wei knew that asking was useless. In her previous life, Tang Xifei had been the scapegoat for the riots.
The base had several income-generating projects: experimenters with good physical strength went to work on municipal construction projects, those with manual dexterity worked on handicrafts, and those with quick minds were assigned to a certain online game where they could fight for equipment to sell for money. Thanks to the times, this project required little investment, had little risk, generated high income, and the experimenters were highly motivated. It had always been very popular with the guards. No one had to work on weekends, but there were still people coming to play games.
Today, Zhang Yiyong is on duty in the game room.
As soon as he sees Zhong Wei, he is delighted: ‘Oh, I was just looking for a poker partner!’
One of the poker players is actually an experimenter, who is playing for a colleague with a headache. It seems that the new dean still needs to strengthen management! Zhong Wei shakes her head and refuses. When she enters the game room, she finds Tang Xifei there as well. Tang Xifei’s daily reform work is to play games and sell equipment, which he is already tired of. On weekends, he usually goes to play basketball.
‘Why are you here?‘ Zhong Wei poked him with a baton warily.
’It’s the weekend, I’m bored,’ Tang Xifei said innocently.
The experimenters all looked at Zhong Wei. Zhong Wei sensed something was wrong and took a leisurely lap, asking one of the experimenters to get up and check. The experimenter raised his hands and slowly lifted up his shirt. At that moment, a gust of wind suddenly hit Zhong Wei’s waist from behind. Zhong Wei turned swiftly and, with her excellent combat skills, threw the attacker behind her to the ground with a loud bang.
Tang Xifei, meanwhile, was operating the quick key duel and, upon seeing this sudden change, quickly dropped the mouse and ran over.
Zhang Yiwu heard the noise and yelled, ‘What are you doing! Get down!’
There was a loud noise like a frying pan exploding, and all the experimenters stood up.
The riot had started early!
Zhong Wei fired two shots into the ceiling, but the experimenters were not afraid of death and rushed over to her, like wolves. The warning shots did not help at all. The guards were surrounded. In the chaos, one guard’s gun was snatched away, and the snatcher fired at Zhong Wei.
Tang Xifei was quick-witted and quick-handed, and threw himself on top of Zhong Wei.
Zhong Wei almost lost control and pushed Tang Xifei away. Tang Xifei fell to the ground with a thud, having been shot in the back. Zhong Wei was furious and shot the experimenter with the gun, who fell to the ground. However, suddenly dozens of experimenters poured in through the door. The guards had never seen such a scene and panicked, firing their guns indiscriminately.
‘Get down on the ground, all of you!’ A furious yell came from the sky.
A group of heavily armed guards appeared, and the one who yelled was He Ziqiang, the new dean, who was standing in the front row. Some experimenters still wanted to resist, but He Ziqiang decisively fired a shot, and an aggressive experimenter fell to the ground, bleeding all over the place.
…
The riot ended with more than 20 people injured, which was far better than the previous life when 27 people died. Zhong Wei wondered why He Ziqiang had come. He Ziqiang smiled and said, ‘I’m Tang Xifei’s senior. He reminds me every day that I must protect you. He didn’t even rest over the weekend—it was a hunch, too. You kept emphasising the riot the other day, so how could I take it lightly?’
However, the culprit was not found, just as in the previous life.
The base carried out a rigorous investigation, and everyone experienced the riots first-hand, so they were not at all negligent. As a result of the disaster, the atmosphere in the entire base was much more orderly than before, and it was not as time-consuming to manage as before. That day, Xiao Wen leaned over and said hesitantly, ‘Zhong Wei, do you know that Tang Xifei was shot? Is it dangerous?’
‘I don’t know.’
“He saved you, how can you not know?’
‘How do you know? You weren’t in the game room that day,’ Zhong Wei retorted.
The rabbit Xiao Wen stuttered and couldn’t say anything, and he became even more nervous when he looked into Zhong Wei’s eyes: ’It was…Tang Xifei who said…he almost died, and he was very sad that you didn’t go see him. Team Leader Zhong, even though we’ve committed a crime, this is just like reform through labor, so we can slowly learn to do better. Tang Xifei isn’t completely bad.’
Zhong Wei said, ‘If you have time to look after Tang Xifei, you might as well give your younger brother a lecture. I wonder how bad he’s become.’
Xiao Wen was dumbfounded.
Tang Xifei was wrapped in bandages, and because of his injuries, he did not have to do hard labour. He returned to his cell, looking unhappy. The pain in his back was secondary. Zhong Wei had never looked at him before, as if he had got the injuries himself. Zhong Wei was too heartless. Suddenly, there was a loud bang on the door, and he looked over in surprise. He was disappointed: ‘Team Leader Zhang…’
‘I applied to the higher-ups for a reduction of your sentence. Happy?’ Zhang Yiwu laughed.
‘I want to see that heartless guy!‘ Tang Xifei said angrily.
’Hahaha, I’ll send him over, but you behave yourself, don’t be a pervert, Zhong Wei has a thin skin. I’m warning you, this is the last time, I can’t betray my own people every day!’ Zhang Yiyong has supervised tens of thousands of experimenters, and he is at least 80% accurate in judging people. Tang Xifei is straightforward and doesn’t hide any bad intentions, and he should be helped out for saving Zhong Wei’s life.
Tang Xifei had been lying on his stomach for a long time, and his heart started pounding when the familiar sound of military boots came in the air. Zhong Wei unlocked the door and came in. After the usual inspection, she turned to leave without saying a word.
‘I’m not asking for gratitude, but I saved your life and you didn’t even say thank you. That’s really upsetting,’ Tang Xifei sat up, angry.
‘Yes, you saved me, but I also saved you, and you never said thank you,‘ Zhong Wei retorted.
’When?‘
’Because of my persistence, all the surveillance equipment has been updated. From this single room, it extends all the way out, from this prison block to the game room, with surveillance, video, voice recorders, automatic alarms, etc. The equipment is complete and ready to use at any time.‘
’So what?’ Tang Xifei wondered.
‘So, people can always see heroes saving lives, but they can’t see the hard work of the people behind them,‘ Zhong Wei said slowly. “Among the suspects in the riot, you are the most suspicious: because you never go to play games on weekends, you were there that day; on the video, you talked to several of the most violent people; you also seemed very distracted…”
’Coincidence! I’ll be out in a minute, I’m sick and I’m causing trouble!’
‘Go and ask He Ziqiang who is the most suspicious. If it wasn’t for me specifically arranging for equipment to record your whereabouts every day, you would be hard-pressed to explain yourself and would be sentenced to another three or two years. Shouldn’t you thank me?’ Zhong Wei suddenly smiled. He was handsome to begin with, and this smile was very seductive. Everyone who saw it couldn’t take their eyes off it. His sharp, dark red uniform made him look elegant and abstinent.
‘I…‘ Tang Xifei opened his mouth wide, unable to speak, his heart beating rapidly.
’You don’t need to thank me. Tell me who the Devil’s Mask is.‘
’I don’t know.‘
’Come on, who’s behind this? You don’t need to take the blame for someone else. I know it’s not you. Don’t think it’s a coincidence that someone is planning a riot — maybe it’s the Devil’s Mask, because you and I have blown the bet wide open, and he must resent you and want to pin the blame on you.’
‘I don’t know.‘
’Heh, then you can keep the secret and raise the egg!‘ Zhong Wei turned around, leaving her most vulnerable back to Tang Xifei.
’Okay, Zhong, I really need to thank you!’
With a whoosh, the next moment, Zhong Wei was pounced on, and he suddenly blushed: ‘I’ll shout assault on a police officer! Let go of me!’ Zhang Yiyong was just calling across a few single rooms. As long as he shouted, he would come over. However, Zhang Yiyong’s voice was getting farther and farther away, and Zhong Wei couldn’t shout either, because of the unspeakable complex emotions—it must have been loneliness for too long.
‘At most, let me serve a few more years in prison, and consider it as punishment for what I did to you.’ Tang Xifei was not afraid at all.
’…’
‘I’ll tell you who the devil in the mask is!”
Zhong Wei froze for a moment, and his strength suddenly disappeared. Tang Xifei immediately gained the upper hand, pinning him down on the quilt, unbuttoning his shirt with one hand, and covering the erection in Zhong Wei’s chest with his palm without hesitation. It was as hot as fire, just like that day, supple and seductive. He simply pressed his whole body down on it, rubbing it hard like a beast.
As if reliving a dream, Zhong Wei’s face turned red as she kicked a few times, soft and weak, as if she wanted to resist but welcome, which aroused Tang Xifei’s even more unrestrained lust. The lust instantly rushed like a raging flood, storming the gates and capturing the city.
…
‘Who is the devil in the mask?’ Zhong Wei buttoned up her blouse and her face returned to a calm expression.
‘Red Buddha head.’
“What?’
‘He has a red Buddha’s head tattooed on his back. He’s someone from outside the base.”
Zhong Wei calmly walked out of the single room. Seeing him so at ease, Tang Xifei suddenly felt frustrated. Just now, it was clear that both of them had gotten high. Zhong Wei even let out a shout out of control, and the two of them were covered in white liquid, which was so exaggerated that one could say that the bed sheet was soaked through. However, after they got up, Zhong Wei became the calm security guard again, and he was just a massage stick that would reveal information?
Tang Xifei gritted her teeth.
Later, Zhong Wei learned that Hong Futou was a gang leader who ruled over most of the city of Gerda with an iron fist. When the city government wanted to relocate to a new site, it happened to be his territory, and the government was unable to start construction. It was only after paying a lot of money that the matter was settled—which shows how powerful Hong Futou was. But this person is very mysterious, and his real name and face have not been discovered to this day. And as a small security guard who goes to work every day, Zhong Wei has no way to start investigating.
This clue was cut off again.
There were just too many things going on, and Zhong Wei decided to temporarily suspend her investigation into the Red Buddha/Devil’s Mask. Once the riots were over and the base was back on track, Zhong Wei would next have to deal with Xiao Wen’s network of connections, because Xiao Wen would be going out in less than half a year.

☆, Experimental Base Chapter [6

[Experimental Base Chapter 6]
Xiao Wen, who is as gentle as a rabbit, will later be covered in blood. Tracing the source of the blood, it was his younger brother Xiao Xiaoguang who caused the bloodshed. In his previous life, Xiao Xiaoguang got drunk and hurt someone, causing Xiao Wen to go to the base to take the blame. Xiao Guang did not repent, and spent all day hanging out with the wrong crowd. Later, when he ran out of money, he learned to extort people, and ended up extorting the former gangster Huang Dawei and his wife, who were stabbed to death, which directly led to Xiao Wen going out and turning black.
Xiao Guang is the key building block.
Zhong Wei had long ago hired someone to monitor Xiao Guang’s movements. In the previous life, a year and a half after Xiao Wen entered the base, Xiao Guang had spent all his savings. Zhong Wei arranged for someone to goad him into spending money every day, and within a few months, Xiao Xiaoguang had entered the stage of extreme poverty. Zhong Wei did not wait for him to worry, and borrowed a large amount of high-interest loans in a pseudonym, just to encourage him to spend. Those friends of Xiao Xiaoguang were happy to have money, and coaxed him to spend it. Yesterday, Xiao Xiaoguang also spent all the money he borrowed.
Wuhe District is the most chaotic district in Gerda City, where all the underworld elements expelled by Hongfutou have gathered.
The back alleys of the bustling commercial streets are narrow and chaotic.
A 1.9-metre-tall young man came running over quickly, with a crew cut and a fierce appearance, complaining enthusiastically, ‘Brother Zhong, it’s really hard to see you. Every time I invite you to dinner, you don’t have time, so why are you free today?’
His name is Zhou Lixing. He is quick-witted and a man of honour. He was originally the leader of a declining gang, but when he couldn’t get by any more, Zhong Weiheng came along and taught him a lot of methods. Not only did his gang grow rapidly, but he also suddenly had many ways to make money. Now, the money from protection fees and extortion is just a drop in the bucket. As soon as Zhou Lixing saw that Zhong Weiheng was a real character, he immediately started calling him brother, regardless of how inappropriate his 1.9-metre height and mature face were.
‘Brother Zhong, I’ve booked a private room at Howard Johnson, but you insisted on meeting here. Look, this is no place for you,‘ Zhou Lixing went on and on.
’Have you finished everything I asked you to do?‘
’It’s all been taken care of! Xiao Xiaoguang is a pushover. I scared him so much that he nearly crapped himself and almost gave me his pinky. I showed him what the real underworld is like, and I guarantee he won’t dare get involved again.’
‘What about Huang Dawei?‘
’Brother Zhong, let me tell you, Huang Dawei and his wife are both scum. They run a shady business and are particularly domineering, bullying their neighbours every day and beating up their daughter Huang Yu. That girl is really pitiful, sooner or later these two bastards will sell her. Yesterday, I couldn’t stand it anymore and beat them both up, making them challenge me.”
In a previous life, Huang Dawei and his wife stabbed Xiao Xiaoguang to death, and were then stabbed to death by Xiao Wen.
Huang Yu was the girl who made Xiao Wen feel guilty for the rest of his life.
Zhong Wei soon met Huang Yu. She was only fifteen years old, in her second year of high school. She had been beaten and scolded since she was a child, and she was particularly timid. She was so thin that her shoulders were sticking out, and she was wearing a faded school uniform. She shivered when Zhou Lixing stood in front of her, and she trembled with fear.
Zhou Lixing handed her some red banknotes: ‘It’s still from Xiao Wen. Don’t let your parents know. You can spend the money on new clothes and delicious food.’
Huang Yu clung to the wall, afraid to move.
Zhou Lixing simply shoved the money into her school bag. Huang Yu turned around and ran. Zhou Lixing said helplessly, ‘Zhong Ge, you saw that, didn’t you? It’s the same every time. He takes the money and runs, without even asking who Xiao Wen is… Who is Xiao Wen?’
After all this was done and the people he wanted to see were met, Zhong Wei wanted to leave.
Zhou Lixing had finally met him and would not let him go, so he continued to chat with him, talking eloquently about his former glory: ‘Brother Zhong, I’ll follow you around from now on. What we do is risky. Everyone I’ve dealt with has gone to jail. I’ve had bad luck, but I’ve also been lucky, and I’ve never been caught!’
Zhong Wei’s heart stirred, and he showed Zhou Lixing a selected video of the gambling den: ‘Can you recognise the people in it?’
Zhou Lixing laughed: ‘They’re all wearing masks, how can I tell? Hey, this person in the devil’s mask looks a bit familiar… I must have seen him before. Let me think… Yu Qing! Yes, he looks exactly like him, but Yu Qing is in prison, so it’s not him!’ He didn’t know where this video came from.
Yu Qing, the devil mask?
‘I went to high school with Yu Qing. His family is well-off, the powerful kind. We’re not in the same league.’ Zhou Lixing laughed, ‘Are you going to ask why I can recognise… Don’t laugh, Yu Qing is not handsome or special, but he is very determined. I’ve noticed him before. Of course, he hasn’t done anything big, and somehow he ended up in the base.’
Zhong Wei’s heart leapt with joy.
After meeting Yu Qing, her resolve wavered. Yu Qing, 26 years old. He has an ordinary appearance, wears a pair of black-rimmed glasses, and is mild-mannered. He entered the base two years ago and has one and a half years left on his sentence. Although he is under the protection of a certain overlord of the base, he is occasionally bullied. His life is barely peaceful. But his voice doesn’t sound like it, but the way he walks slowly kind of does, so it’s no wonder Zhou Lixing thought it was him.
Yu Qing also doesn’t have a Buddha’s head tattoo on his back.
Maybe Yu Qing is the Devil’s Mask, but he is definitely not the Red Buddha’s Head who rules over half of the underworld.
Xiao Wen was making the bed when he saw Zhong Wei arrive and immediately ran off to the toilet. Tang Xifei’s dark eyes were fixed on him, and his tone was ambiguous: ‘Long time no see, Zhong Team, have you missed me?’
‘Do you know Yu Qing?’
‘…’
‘Yu Qing is the Devil’s Mask, right?’
’…’
‘What do you mean by the Red Buddha’s head? You deliberately gave me the wrong direction so that I couldn’t find him, didn’t you?‘
’I didn’t tell you because I wanted to protect you. Don’t provoke him. Yu Qing is a poisonous snake. If he bites you, you’ll die. When I get out, I’ll take you away from here. Don’t investigate any further.‘ Tang Xifei sighed.
’Impossible.’
The real identity of the devil’s mask is Yu Qing. He was able to set up a gambling den underground at the base, and the dean Sun Mao committed suicide without giving him up, which shows that he is really not simple. Yu Qing has hidden so deeply that it is probably difficult to find evidence. Maybe the rescue mission will be over before Zhong Wei can expose Yu Qing.
It so happened that in his previous life, Xiao Wen did not know Yu Qing and did not know what Yu Qing’s final fate was.
Zhong Wei decided to take another approach.
He investigated everyone connected to Yu Qing one by one and discovered that his younger brother, Yu Minglang, visited the prison frequently, once every half month. Yu Minglang, what a familiar name. Zhong Wei looked back at the memories in the system: Yu Minglang was a prosecutor who, thanks to his evidence, ultimately destroyed Xiao Wen’s gang. However, there was always something more to it, an indescribable sense of incongruity.
Yu Minglang came to visit in prison again.
The two brothers were three years apart in age and looked similar, with Yu Minglang being a little thinner and a bit introverted. Yu Minglang talked about the latest developments, saying that he was preparing to take the civil service exam next year. Yu Qing said that he had taken the exam before, but had been delayed by his imprisonment. After a brief exchange, Yu Minglang fell silent. He was not good at socialising and was more of a bookworm.
Recalling his previous life, Prosecutor Yu Minglang had acted with ease. Zhong Wei pondered, and another thought came to her.
Zhong Wei had ‘met’ Yu Minglang.
Yu Minglang was not in good health and was afraid of strangers. The Yu family hired a tutor to teach him all the way to university. When he was in the law department of university, Yu Minglang often skipped classes and almost failed to graduate. However, he had no worries about food and clothing, had no hobbies, and devoted himself to studying. He had no clear goals in life. Yu Minglang envied others who had classmates and friends. Unfortunately, his parents left him with the tutor and nanny, and he couldn’t even see his older brother very often.
‘My brother finds it boring in prison and asked me to visit him more often. Our relationship is just so-so,’ Yu Minglang confessed.
Yu Minglang is lonely and simple in appearance, and is unprotected. He quickly became friends with Zhong Wei. Zhong Wei took him to experience all kinds of entertainment and let him take selfies and post them on social networking platforms. Yu Minglang didn’t even have an account before, so Zhong Wei helped him set up several. However, his circle of friends is too small and his influence is small.
‘I never understood the point of all this before. Now I realise how useful it is. I browse it all the time. Zhong Wei, you’re so handsome, no matter what. You’re a security guard, right?‘ Yu Minglang smiles a little sheepishly.
’How did you know?‘
’My brother told me. I showed him your picture. He’s very interested in my life, wants to know everything. He’s very clever, he can guess without being told.‘
’…’ Yu Qing really has been spying on Yu Minglang, hasn’t he?
‘If I become a prosecutor in the future, we’ll be in the same system.‘
’Your dream is to become a prosecutor?‘
’I studied law, but I don’t really like it. I just don’t know what I can do, so I’ll just take the exam and see what happens. What I really like is studying spiders. I keep a lot of poisonous spiders that ordinary people can’t see.’ Yu Minglang was afraid that Zhong Wei would dislike it, so he quickly said, ’Ordinary people don’t like it, so I didn’t dare to tell you. We’re friends now, so you don’t mind, do you?’
At first, Zhong Wei didn’t pay much attention to it, thinking that there were only a few dozen spiders. But when she saw the magnificent house full of spiders, a dark mass of crawling creatures with slow-moving chelicerae and chelipeds, fluffy fine hairs, hook-like eyes, and stuck to thin silk… Zhong Wei’s goose bumps rose up one after the other.
Yu Ming was happily introducing these varieties of spiders, many of which were rare. A spider that glows a deep blue and can weave a spherical, symmetrical web is worth the same as a house.
Zhong Wei endured the discomfort and carefully kept her distance: ‘Why don’t you hold a personal spider exhibition in your own name? You can make more like-minded friends.’
‘Spider exhibition?’
“I’ll organise it all, you don’t have to worry about anything!’
Although Yu Minglang was not particularly interested, Zhong Wei organised it for him without further ado. Half a month later, an unconventional private spider exhibition opened, which caused a sensation in the city. People who were curious about the exhibition were in an uproar, and the media, both large and small, were attracted to it, with Yu Minglang’s name frequently appearing in interviews. This somewhat introverted boy was particularly talkative when it came to spiders, and he spoke eloquently about their origins and habits. Three days later, the animal protection association extended an olive branch to him, inviting him to become a member.
The light of his life became clear at this moment, and he gave up the civil service exam.
‘My brother is angry with me, blaming me for making a big deal out of it and ruining the reputation of our Yu family—is it not okay to like spiders? Fortunately, you never disliked me!’ Yu Minglang adjusted his sun hat. Because he often went out, his complexion was much darker than before, and he was much healthier, no longer getting sick.
‘I’m afraid I’ve ruined his plans,’ Zhong Wei smiled slightly.
A few years later, one summer day.
Yu Minglang enthusiastically wanted to give Zhong Wei a very rare poisonous spider. Zhong Wei waved her hands, saying that it made her itch just to look at it. Yu Minglang sighed, ‘Zhong Wei, if you hadn’t suddenly appeared, I might have become a clerk, or a judge’s assistant, or a prosecutor. In short, I wouldn’t have become the president of the animal protection association. You changed my life.’
‘Not change, but save,’ Zhong Wei smiled.
All the sense of incongruity comes from habit: in his previous life, Yu Minglang, who became a prosecutor, walked with a light step, trampling others underfoot, with a composed smile on his face. In just a few years, has he changed too drastically? The time Yu Qing went out happened to be the time Yu Minglang became a civil servant.
Zhong Wei guessed the reason: Yu Qing replaced his younger brother and entered the judicial system, and has since risen rapidly through the ranks. The real Yu Minglang may have been killed by Yu Qing, or imprisoned for life, in any case it would not have ended well.
Fortunately, in this life, thanks to Zhong Wei’s intervention, Yu Minglang’s sense of presence has become very strong, and a unique life has been opened up directly with a spectacular spider exhibition. Yu Minglang is irreplaceable, and Yu Qing can no longer cheat. Of course, the naive Yu Minglang doesn’t know any of this; he just knows that his best friend has changed his life.
That’s enough. Salvation is never done with a big splash, but quietly, before the changes come.
These are all things for the future.
☆, Experiment Base Chapter 7

[Experiment Base Chapter 7]
At this time, Zhong Wei was pondering how to make the ‘Spider Exhibition’ a huge success.
No matter if Yu Qing was the Devil’s Mask or not, he would first block the path to his conspiracy. That night, he didn’t go back, and stayed in the hotel. In the morning, before he opened his eyes, his phone suddenly rang. He picked it up dazedly and heard Tang Xifei’s familiar voice: ‘Have you slept? I can’t wait to get out!‘
Zhong Wei almost jumped out of her skin: “You escaped?”
’…‘
’Are you stupid? There’s still a month left, what are you running away for!‘ Zhong Wei was so angry she wanted to punch him.
’I’m so sad, today is the big day I get out, where were you, you weren’t home all night! Where are you now?’ Tang Xifei asked angrily. Because of his special contribution of “sacrificing himself to save the police”, he got out early.
Zhong Wei had forgotten: side quests unrelated to the rescue mission were automatically cleared as soon as they were completed, so as not to take up brain capacity.
He had just finished washing up when there was a knock on the door: ‘Room service!’
As soon as he opened the door, a whoosh of air swept in like the wind.
The next moment, Zhong Wei was being hugged.
‘Eh…’
‘Don’t move!’ Tang Xifei hugged him greedily, as if he could rub Zhong Wei into his heart.
Zhong Wei was in a daze for a moment. In an instant, he didn’t know what day it was, and it felt like déjà vu. His mind went blank, and his lips suddenly became hot, and the sweet taste instantly filled his tongue. Zhong Wei suddenly came back to his senses, and surprisingly, he didn’t break free. Instead, Tang Xifei took the initiative to loosen his arms, and his lips formed a line: ‘I’ve missed you.’
This sentence was also like a long-lost reunion.
What had been lost in the cracks of memory? Zhong Wei wondered. She had crossed paths with Tang Xifei so many times that her memories had become intertwined. Fortunately, Tang Xifei’s mood quickly brightened, and he took Zhong Wei to the amusement park to ride the roller coaster that Zhong Wei and Yu Minglang had once ridden.
Tang Xifei attentively checked Zhong Wei’s safety belt: ‘I didn’t know you liked roller coasters.’
‘You had someone spy on me?‘
’I was worried about you, that’s why I told you not to investigate Yu Qing, but you went to his home. If you’re going to investigate, you should at least be discreet. You’re so close to Yu Minglang. What’s so good about him? He’s as skinny as a monkey. But he won’t have that chance again.’ Tang Xifei grabbed Zhong Wei’s hand and smiled brightly, and Zhong Wei didn’t resist.
Tang Xifei returned to his normal life, but that didn’t stop him from harassing Zhong Wei after work. Once he got into the habit, Zhong Wei didn’t bother to stop him. He came and went as he pleased, and even when he was busy turning the entire room into a five-star security system, Zhong Wei let him do whatever he wanted.
Sunlight poured in through the windowsill, flooding the room with morning light. Beneath the plain thin quilt, Tang Xifei’s naked, supple upper body had evenly muscled arms, like the brushwork in a landscape painting, just right without a hint of excess. The strength when he pushed in to the deepest was also very strong and long-lasting, giving Zhong Wei’s body the greatest comfort and satisfaction, and Zhong Wei was very satisfied with it.
Every day when she opened her eyes, she felt like she was being tightly embraced, which was very fulfilling. Throughout her life, she had always been lonely being alone, so it was good to have a companion – Zhong Wei comforted herself in this way, and sat up in the quilt.
Tang Xifei lazily opened his eyes, reached out and put his arms around Zhong Wei’s waist, and forcibly dragged him along, complaining, ‘Are you a workaholic? It’s the weekend, so let those people toss and turn!’
Zhong Wei was busy improving the base.
He had been promoted from a normal guard to the head of the ward, and his plan was to push through reforms of the entire base system – a lengthy process of innovation, so that even after he left, the world would slowly return to the way it was before, and at least now someone would benefit.
He put forward feasible suggestions for base reform to He Ziqiang. He Ziqiang was enterprising and adopted most of them. As a result, the Gerda base had greatly improved. Not only did the experimenters behave, but so did the guards. Incidents of group fighting and bullying had been greatly reduced, and the treatment of the experimenters had been greatly improved. In just one year, the Gerda Base had become a model and received many awards.
Tang Xifei found this incredible.
‘It seems that you are detached from the world, but what you have done is completely different from your appearance. It requires a very persistent and tough perseverance to complete. Zhong Wei, you are both strange and perfectly unified, and I like you even more. Everyone at the base treated me like a tyrant, and I felt very uncomfortable.’
“It doesn’t matter.’
‘How can you not care? This is a matter of life and death! Even if you don’t care, you should consider my feelings! I like you!‘
’Like me?‘ Zhong Wei was in a daze.
’I liked you from the first moment I saw you, I fell in love with you. I know, you’re a bit awkward, you don’t reject me, and you like me very much. If someone else kissed you, you would definitely kill him!‘
’…… So confident.’
‘You mustn’t toy with my feelings. Whether it’s Yu Minglang or Zhou Lixing, just because I haven’t asked doesn’t mean I don’t care!’ Tang Xifei was very jealous.
Zhong Wei smiled without saying a word. She wouldn’t toy with other people’s feelings, but she couldn’t take it too seriously either, otherwise, when the rescue mission was complete and she left, she would be too sad. So, she just thought it was because she was too lonely, and she turned her gaze to the distance.
After Tang Xifei left, Xiao Wen was bullied again. Looking at the red, puffy eyes, Zhong Wei felt sorry for him, but was even more angry that he didn’t fight back. This base was turning into a school, and Xiao Wen was still being bullied. Was he a pushover or a push-over? There was nothing he could do.
‘Xiao Wen, if your little sister was being bullied, what would you do?’
‘I don’t have a little sister,’ said Xiao Wen timidly.
“Think of one!’
Zhong Wei clicked on the photo of Huang Yu. Xiao Wen swallowed hard. It had been so long since he had seen a woman that he would find a sow pretty.
“She’s really pretty. Is she Zhong’s girlfriend?’
‘Pretty, isn’t she?’ Zhong Wei clicked on the video of Huang Yu being isolated and scolded by her parents, and Xiao Wen immediately became angry, more annoyed than if he himself had been bullied. Zhong Wei said with satisfaction, ’See this girl, she’s just like you, bullied everywhere. Think of yourself as her, when you’re bullied it’s her being bullied. If you can’t even protect yourself, who else are you going to protect? You have to stop being bullied so she can stop being bullied!’
After that, Xiao Wen stopped being so weak, and when things happened, he dared to fight back. He also knew how to fight back even when he was beaten. Xiao Wen was still a male chauvinist at heart, otherwise, he would not have killed Huang Yu’s husband to avenge her. He needed to be motivated, just as in his previous life, he was forced into a desperate situation, and the viciousness of his outburst was unbelievable.
This method is good.
Later, Zhong Wei often showed Xiao Wen how Huang Yu looked when she went to school, full of youthful vigour. Thanks to Zhong Wei’s secret financial support, she was able to live on campus and live independently without the financial support of her parents. She lost her timidity, became confident, and blossomed as a young woman, looking better and better. Even when Zhou Lixing gave her money, she boldly asked who Xiao Wen was, the person supporting her. Zhou Lixing ran his hands over his bald head: ‘Never mind, just focus on your studies!’
‘She can only get better if she doesn’t get bullied,‘ Zhong Wei said.
’She was born to be protected, Zhong. Is she really not your girlfriend?‘ Xiao Wen asked curiously.
’You can think of her as a sister.‘
’Hm!”
Every night, when she couldn’t sleep, Xiao Wen would think of the simple girl: she was clearly just a stranger, but she was like a ray of light shining down in her life, giving her the courage and perseverance to move forward.
Zhong Wei is the ace chess player who coordinates the overall situation, paying attention to the movements and trajectories of each piece, and comprehensively observing the key nodes that affect Xiao Wen:
1. The base is about to end.
2. Xiao Wen’s network of relationships is being closed in.
3. The underworld. Regarding the underworld, which has influenced the second half of Xiao Wen’s life, Zhong Wei has laid a hidden trap. He gradually took over the various criminal forces in the northern district of Geerda City through Zhou Lixing, and then slowly laundered his money. He did it very covertly, calling himself KING. KING was the self-proclaimed name of Tang Xifei after he became the head of a gang in his previous life, and Zhong Wei used it without thinking. However, his subordinates, who mispronounced the name, called him Brother King, and he instantly became domineering and vulgar. Even Zhou Lixing didn’t know that Brother King was Zhong Wei.
The first two were steadily advancing, and the third node made rapid progress.
After all, he had once controlled an entire country, so it was easy for him to set up a gang. One day, Brother Jin’s territory had even swallowed up most of Gerda City and reached into Hongfutou’s territory. Even if Xiao Wen really had no other choice but to join the underworld, he would never escape from Zhong Wei’s grasp.
Zhong Wei suddenly laughed and leaned over Tang Xifei’s chest: ‘Let me tell you an old joke. Xiaoming worked as an undercover in the underworld, working diligently. One day, he called his superior: ‘Hurry up and transfer me back, I’ve been an undercover for so long that I’m second in command. I’m afraid that one day the boss will die and I’ll be the boss!’ He laughed heartily after he finished speaking.
Tang Xifei drew back the corners of his mouth: ‘Your sense of humour is really strange, I’ve never seen you laugh like that when I told you jokes before.’
“Reality is funnier than all the jokes,’
‘Speaking of the underworld, recently, several gangs have been cracked down in Ge’erda City. The old ones haven’t been eradicated yet, and the new ones are here. In the past two years, a new character has emerged from nowhere, called Brother Jin. He is unpredictable and very mysterious, and he is about to overtake the Red Buddha…’ At present, Brother Jin is listed as the police’s number one person of interest. He is such a powerful person that he has to be arrested and put in jail no matter what.
‘Guilt by possession? Those policemen might as well spend their time catching petty thieves.‘ Zhong Wei was uninterested.
’Aren’t you curious?‘
’I’ll be curious when I’ve put him in jail.’ Zhong Wei looked Tang Xifei in the eye, leaned in, and kissed him. The kiss was wet and sweet, and the two of them were once again caught up in the heat of passion. Zhong Wei vaguely thought, I don’t know when, I’ve become addicted to this relationship.
There were still a few months before Yu Qing could get out.
Yu Qing went to his daily labour reform leisurely, and became more and more different from the devil’s mask. Zhong Wei considered that the further it got, the fewer clues there were, and the more troublesome the problem became. He had to make Yu Qing move in order to reveal his footprints. He decided to take a risky move: secretly manipulate the situation to get Yu Qing released early!
Yu Qing got out.
The first thing he did after getting out was to find Yu Minglang. Seeing a very different younger brother, confident and independent, Yu Qing was both shocked and disappointed that the conspiracy had been so thoroughly broken, leaving no room for redemption. But he just smiled: ‘Animal society, not bad, although I don’t approve of you being with spiders.’
After Yu Qing got out, however, he was still very honest. In short, every move he made was under Zhong Wei’s control.
At this time, Xiao Wen also got out.
Once outside the base, Xiao Wen exuded a surly air, no longer as weak as a rabbit. Xiao Xiaoguang was no good, with his terrible self-control. After squandering the money he borrowed from Zhong Wei, he was scared out of his wits by Zhou Lixing. After behaving himself for three months, he got into trouble again and was taken to the police station for a few days. Zhong Wei simply got rid of his gangster friends, and things calmed down. He found a proper job delivering goods.
Everything was calm, but it didn’t last long.
Zhou Lixing’s phone suddenly rang: ‘Brother Zhong, didn’t you tell us to keep an eye on Xiao Xiaoguang? He’s caused trouble again! It’s a coincidence that Xiao Xiaoguang was delivering to Mr. and Mrs. Huang Dawei. Huang Dawei accused him of being high and refused to pay. Then Xiao Xiaoguang called his brother, and the four of them got into a fight!’
“Stop it immediately! Don’t let them fight!’
It’s not that enemies don’t get together, they find each other and kill together.

☆, Experimental Base Chapter [8

[Chapter 8 of the Experimental Base Chapter]
It’s not that enemies don’t get together, they just find each other and kill each other.
Zhong Wei left her work behind and rushed to the scene. The matter was as simple as one: Xiao Xiaoguang had broken a bit of the goods, so he just had to pay for it. However, he was a bit of a thug and wanted to muddle through. Who is Huang Dawei? He’s an old scoundrel. He’s only used to blaming others, not having others blame him. So he made a threat and refused to pay. Xiao Xiaoguang was furious and called his brother, who had just gone out, to try to calm Huang Dawei and his wife. What a mess! Four people got into a fight.
Seeing Zhong Wei, Xiao Wen felt like he had found a support: ‘Team Leader Zhong, it’s his fault. He’s trying to renege on the money.’
Zhong Wei put a hand on his forehead: ‘It’s just a minor matter.’
He had laid a trap for two whole years, fearing that it might cause an uncontrollable butterfly effect. But when the enemies met, they fought over a few hundred yuan. It would be ridiculous if someone died. Zhong Wei told Xiao Wen to pay compensation according to the price of the goods, and told Huang Dawei to pay the delivery fee, and the matter was settled.
But Huang Dawei suddenly yelled that the police had beaten him, as if he had been possessed.
The security guard was also a policeman, and when people heard the commotion, they all gathered around. Some onlookers joined in the shouting, and dozens of people gathered. Zhong Wei was caught off guard by this scene and was at a loss for words. He tried to escape, but Huang Dawei wouldn’t let him go. He grabbed Zhong Wei’s uniform and shouted and waved his fists at the same time. Zhong Wei dodged, and Huang Dawei crashed into the fruit stand next door.
This set off a huge commotion.
Huang Dawei’s wife screamed heartrendingly, and she grabbed a stick and smashed it over Zhong Wei’s head. Xiao Wen saw this and became anxious. He saw a fruit knife on the ground and grabbed it and slashed it over. Zhong Wei resisted while seeing Xiao Wen wield the knife, so he quickly kicked it over, and the knife clattered and fell far away.
With a bang, Xiao Wen took a stick for Zhong Wei.
Xiao Xiaoguang was also furious when he saw this, picked up the knife and stabbed Huang Dawei’s wife. Zhong Wei was too far away and shouted at him to put down the knife, but it was too late. Huang Dawei’s wife saw the knife coming and surprisingly pulled out the nearest person to block the knife—the skinny Huang Yu—and the fruit knife cut across Huang Yu’s chin, leaving a long gash that was bleeding profusely. Huang Yu fell to the ground.
Xiao Wen was stunned and only then realised that it was the familiar girl.
Xiao Xiaoguang was momentarily overwhelmed by the blood rushing to his head. Now that he saw the injury he had caused, he was shocked. His hand weakened, and the knife fell to the ground again. Huang Dawei was also a desperate criminal. His anger rose, and he picked up the knife and stabbed it, right into Xiao Xiaoguang’s abdomen.
Zhong Weifei rushed forward and kicked Huang Dawei over with a single kick.
110! 120!
They arrived within minutes, and those who needed to go to the hospital were taken there, while those who needed to go to the police station were taken there. Zhong Wei asked Zhou Lixing to follow Huang Yu and the others, and he went with the police to the police station to make a statement. It was evening before the matter was explained. Tang Xifei came to pick him up, and Zhou Lixing was at a loss for words, saying that he had gone to work as usual, so how did he end up here?
It’s fate! You can’t stop the lightning of your evil karma!
After finishing his work, Zhou Lixing came to report. Zhong Wei asked right away, ‘Has Xiao Xiaoguang died?’
‘He’s hanging on.”
Xiao Xiaoguang thought he was going to die, clutching his brother with one hand and sniffling with tears in his eyes: he had only ever played with the knife before, just to scare them… When Huang Dawei’s wife stabbed him, the knife went in white and came out red, and he was so scared that he swore he would never cause trouble again in his life.
‘Where’s Huang Yu?‘
’The bleeding has stopped. The nurse said there might be a scar, so Xiao Wen paid the medical expenses for her.‘
’Where are Huang Dawei and his wife?”
Zhou Lixing slapped his thigh in anger and said, ’I was just about to tell you! This couple is the ultimate! Huang Yu is sure they picked it up!’
It turned out that Zhou Lixing had followed the couple to the hospital and, seeing that the Xiao brothers had no money, had paid the bill himself. Huang Dawei was unhappy about this and grabbed Zhou Lixing, preventing him from leaving, and insisted that he pay Huang Yu’s money as well. Zhou Lixing was furious. What did he mean, that an onlooker like him was responsible for everyone? You’re the real father, you should be looking after your daughter, what’s the problem with grabbing a stranger? Zhou Lixing didn’t need the money, but he couldn’t stand the anger and resolutely refused to pay.
The doctor told Huang Dawei to pay the money quickly, as saving his daughter was the most important thing. Huang Dawei turned around and scolded the emergency doctor, saying that they were money-grubbing and only wanted money, not to save lives. He also threatened, ‘Don’t save her! If anything happens to my daughter, I’ll burn down your hospital!’ The doctor’s head hurt from his yelling, and even if he didn’t pay, he had to save her first and ask for peace.
However, in the end, Huang Dawei never paid the hospital a single cent. The nurses tried to collect the money, but they never saw him. After scolding the doctor, Huang Dawei never returned to the hospital. His wife immediately scolded Huang Yu, saying that she was blind and shouldn’t have been so close. Hospitals are places where people eat people, and thousands of dollars are gone in an instant.
Huang Yu was so angry that the gaping wound on her face split open again. She could no longer hold back her anger: ‘Even if people do eat people, you guys are worse! Have you ever given a single penny?’
Huang Dawei’s wife was furious: ‘I have supported you, a good-for-nothing, until now, and you still dare to yell at me! Let me tell you, don’t be stupid. Whoever scratched your face, you just blame him and never let go, until you blackmail him into bankruptcy. Then don’t ever come back!’ With a bang, Huang Dawei’s wife slammed the door and left, never to be seen again.
The nurse said that if she didn’t pay, she couldn’t be treated anymore, and that the delay to her face would be a lifetime thing.
Huang Yu usually relied on Zhong Wei for relief, where would she find the money? Xiao Xiaoguang was also lying there, waiting for someone to save him, so who could she blackmail? Huang Yu lay in bed silently, crying. At this time, Xiao Wen, who had been following her, got some money from somewhere and gave it to Huang Yu as a down payment.
After hearing this, Zhong Weixin was furious: ‘Zhou Lixing, you find a way to get Huang Dawei and his wife into jail. They used to be in the underworld and now they’re loan sharks, so they’ve committed plenty of crimes. Gather evidence and I’m sure we can get them in. And Xiao Xiaoguang, if it weren’t for the fact that his intestines are hanging out, I’d beat him until he cries for his mother.’ It was unfortunate, but also a great blessing, at least they were both still alive. In a rescue mission, the last thing you want is this kind of accident. You never know what might happen!
‘Leave it to me, Zhong Ge, don’t be angry,’ Zhou Li Xing said, quickly trying to comfort him, as he saw him so angry for the first time.
Xiao Wen rushed over from the hospital to see Zhong Wei. His eyes were red from crying, and he took Zhong Wei’s hand, remorseful and blaming himself, saying that he shouldn’t have picked up the fruit knife, almost killing the two people he cared about most. Tang Xifei was unhappy with what he saw and slapped his hand away.
Considering that Xiao Wen and Huang Yu had met without knowing it, Zhong Wei said that he would sponsor Huang Yu in Xiao Wen’s name, and asked him not to reveal it, as if he had paid for it himself.
‘But I haven’t done it,’ Xiao Wen said, not deserving the reward.
“You also saw the moral character of Mr. and Mrs. Huang Dawei, it is impossible to support Huang Yu in college. In the future, I don’t plan to continue to support her either, if you are willing…’
‘I’m willing!‘ Xiao Wen blurted out.
’That’s it, don’t say it’s me,’ Zhong Wei thought, letting Xiao Wen’s care in this life make up for the shortcomings in the previous life.
Later, when Huang Yu learned that the person in front of her was Xiao Wen, she was surprised and grateful, her eyes brimming with tears, and her resentment towards Xiao Xiaoguang lessened. Xiao Wen followed Zhong Wei’s advice: ’The college entrance exam is in half a month. After you finish the exam, I’ll take you for plastic surgery, and you won’t have any scars left. Don’t worry.’
After all the trouble caused by the Xiao brothers and the Huang couple, Zhong Wei’s head had been buzzing for half a month. Later, the Huang couple were sent to prison, much to everyone’s satisfaction. Seeing Xiao Xiaoguang half dead, holding his intestines, and vowing every day not to mess around anymore, Zhong Wei felt a little better.
However, once she calmed down, Zhong Wei noticed something was wrong. Huang Dawei’s behaviour was really sudden. It was understandable that he would get involved with the Xiao family, but why would he stab her?
She immediately asked Zhou Lixing to investigate.
Soon, Zhou Lixing brought back shocking news: Huang Dawei was instructed by an unknown person. The other party paid a lot of money and taught him to cause trouble and seriously injure Zhong Wei. However, Zhong Wei was an excellent fighter, and Huang Dawei didn’t have the ability to do that, so he turned to stab Xiao Xiaoguang instead. He thought they were in the same gang anyway.
Who was the person behind the scenes?
No matter who he was, he knew exactly what Zhong Wei was paying attention to, so he was able to bring together the Xiaos and the Huang family, which Zhong Wei cared about. If Zhong Wei was just a small guard, the other party wouldn’t have bothered to go to such lengths; therefore, the other party might know Zhong Wei’s other identity: Brother Jin.
Zhong Wei thought about this and the situation became serious.
At this moment, Zhong Wei’s blackboard suddenly vibrated: the Red Buddha head had struck back, with a fierce momentum, and Zhong Wei’s men were beaten to pieces. There had been previous struggles, but never anything this intense. Zhong Wei had to spend a little more time dealing with these matters, and as opportunities arose, he inevitably left traces. He carefully erased his presence – after all, both the black and white worlds were looking for the true identity of Brother Jin.
After a half-month stalemate, Red Buddha Head issued an invitation to Brother Kim to meet at an address: a private gambling club.
Gambling club → private → club.
As if struck by lightning, Zhong Wei suddenly understood: appearances can be easily disguised, but habits and preferences cannot.
That was it. That night, when Tang Xifei returned home, he saw Zhong Wei standing in front of the window, two glasses of red wine in her hands, smiling at the people coming in. Tang Xifei walked over and put his arms around his beloved: ‘What’s the occasion?’
‘I always thought you were lying to me.’
‘Oh?’
‘You told me the truth from the beginning. Why didn’t you just tell me: the devil’s mask is the Red Buddha, the Red Buddha is Yu Qing, and the three are the same person.’ And the tattoo on the back of the Red Buddha was just a rumour that Yu Qing deliberately spread to hide his true identity.
Tang Xifei sighed, ‘I don’t want to lie to you, but I don’t want you to investigate either. It’s better not to know some things. I’m just as curious as you are. Because I saw it once, I got attached to it, and followed it step by step. I discovered that these three people were actually one person. As a result, I was targeted by Yu Qing.’
Zhong Wei smiled, ‘Then I understand who planned the riot: Yu Qing!’
‘Why?’
“He wanted to frame you. You went to the game room, weren’t you led there by hints?’
Tang Xifei vaguely remembered that it seemed to be the case. It had been a year ago, and he really couldn’t remember the details. In short, the gambling and the riots were both major events that promoted a major breakthrough in his relationship with Zhong Wei.
“Yu Qing is really bad to the core. He didn’t escape from the base, and he planned a major riot just for fun? The gambling was just gambling, but he had to get people killed? By the way, he must have been the one who attacked me outside the subway station! I want to show him what it means to be frustrated! I want him to know what it’s like to lose everything!‘ Zhong Wei was confident of victory. This righteous undercover agent, who had become the boss, could finally fight his last battle.
’Are you sure you weren’t sent by the higher-ups?’
Tang Xifei still doubted from time to time that Zhong Wei was just an ordinary guard. After all, what ordinary person would be so persistent in fighting against all kinds of rocks? Zhong Wei was not wearing a uniform, but he exuded an indescribable sense of righteousness, perseverance and upward mobility. Tang Xifei flashed a thought: Zhong Wei was completely different from the circles he had been in for many years. His peers were not lacking in wisdom, cunning, situational awareness or strong measures, but none of them had such a dignified and righteous temperament.
The closer I get to her, the more attracted I am.
Tang Xifei loves this kind of character. He lowered his head and kissed her pliable lips. ‘Since you already know everything, there’s no point in me avoiding you anymore. You won’t stop until you bring Yu Qing down—so I might as well come clean. In fact, I also recognised the three big gamblers in the gambling den, and I can use them.’

☆、Experimental Base Chapter [9

[Experimental Base Chapter 9]
Tang Xifei loved this personality. He lowered his head and embraced the supple lips. ‘Since you know everything, there is no need for me to avoid it anymore. You won’t stop until you bring Yu Qing down—I won’t hide it anymore. In fact, I also recognise the three big gamblers in the gambling game, and I can use them.’
‘Oh? Who is the most important person?‘
’Sui Xingye!‘
’Ha, really a combination of official and criminal.”
Sui Xingye is a very important person in the city of Ge’erda and even the whole province. He controls the public security work of the government and appears in major political news all the time. No wonder Yu Qing was so calm, and no wonder Sun Mao tried to protect him even after committing suicide. This is a very important person.
Sui Xingye was one of the people who bet on “Wolf” to win in the first round. Later, when Wolf Wolf lost, Sui Xingye punished him thoroughly. In the video, you can see Sui Xingye flogging him, using very cruel methods, as if he wanted to vent all the anti-humanity in his bones. Later, he used all kinds of torture instruments to abuse Wolf Wolf until he was covered in wounds. Even though he was wearing a mask, you can imagine the ferocity of the person underneath.
On TV, Sui Xingye looked righteous, not at all like the person in the video.
‘That’s him, no problem. I can remember people after just one meeting. He even spoke to me, in the same tone of voice as on TV.‘
’No exceptions?‘
’There was one, and that was you. When I first met you, I asked someone else, and they said you’d been here a long time, just not in this cell block. I was puzzled, why was I the only one to meet you for the first time? If I’d noticed you earlier, we might have been together already!’ Tang Xifei still feels aggrieved.
You are a loophole in the system, it hasn’t clouded your consciousness, Zhong Wei muddles through.
You can’t be convicted based on mere speculation, and if you fight head-on, you will definitely lose.
However, a dog can’t change its habit of eating shit. Sui Xingye has been used to abusing people, so he will definitely get the itch and won’t have to worry about finding the fox’s tail. As for Yu Qing, he is too cautious. The tighter Zhong Wei keeps an eye on him, the less likely he is to move. Zhong Wei wants to make him move.
It was the beginning of autumn, and the weather was chilly. The wind blew into the sleeves, bringing a chill. The guard’s dormitory building was pitch black. Zhong Wei stamped her feet several times, but the sensor light didn’t turn on. After finally arriving at her own house, she touched the light, but it didn’t respond. There was a power outage.
With a bang, the door behind him slammed shut.
It was all so sudden. Zhong Wei stood in the middle of the room, motionless, listening with his acute hearing: someone was approaching on tiptoe, and a gust of wind blew past. Zhong Wei suddenly swung out with an iron fist, slamming it down with full force. There was a thud right in the middle of the person’s chest, and a muffled grunt.
Zhong Wei had bet correctly, the other person was not trying to kill him.
In the dark house, Zhong Wei kicked in a series of kicks, forcing his opponent to retreat step by step with his skilled legwork and boxing. Just then, there were several thuds, accompanied by Tang Xifei’s voice: ‘Zhong Wei! Zhong Wei! Are you in there?’
Zhong Wei wanted to shout, ‘Don’t come in!’ But he didn’t expect Tang Xifei to give a fierce kick, and with a bang, the door fell, and he rushed in.
Click, click, a series of mechanical trigger sounds.
Swish! The lights came on!
In the interrogation room, Tang Xifei said angrily, ‘Are you kidding me? How could Zhong Wei be Brother Jin? All he ever thinks about is the base, as if it were his own home. He even keeps time when making out with me! He has time to hang out with the mob? You’ve got to be kidding me!’
The cop drew in his mouth corners, ‘We received a report…’
Tang Xifei slapped the table and said, ‘You need to be selective when reporting! Who can do extortion and collect protection fees? Can you turn the world upside down with a triad? !’
Next door:
Zhong Wei, with his arms folded and a stern expression on his face, exudes a sense of detachment from the very core of his being. Moreover, his dedication to the base is obvious to all, and he has successfully made everyone doubt that they have arrested the wrong person. Most importantly, there is simply no evidence to prove that Zhong Wei is Brother Jin. The team leader on the mission complained, ‘Why does the higher-ups insist that we arrest this person when there is not even a shred of evidence?’
No evidence was needed because Sui Xingye was the biggest boss.
Even with He Ziqiang’s protection, Zhong Wei was not spared and had to be investigated for a while. Tang Xifei was innocent and was quickly released. He was allowed to spend five minutes with Zhong Wei. Tang Xifei had never imagined that the most upright and incorruptible person in the world would be suspected of being the head of a criminal organisation.
“Zhong Wei, don’t worry, I’ll get you out soon!’ Tang Xifei embraced Zhong Wei in his arms and kissed her. Overly nervous, his adrenaline was pumping, and the confined space only made him more and more excited with each kiss. He lost his mind and completely lost control, pinning Zhong Wei down on the stool, almost breaking her ribs. Zhong Wei lifted her knee and pushed against Tang Xifei’s leg. Tang Xifei let out a groan, but didn’t let go, and his hand slipped into Zhong Wei’s clothes…
The criminal police officers who were monitoring the two through the coated single-lens glass looked at each other, each awkwardly averting their eyes.
‘The Red Buddha has finally made a move on me,’ Zhong Wei whispered between kisses.
‘I’ve tracked down the address of the gambling den.’
‘What?’
‘I got Sui Wangba’s dashcam. I’m going to make sure he never gets ahead in life.’ The older one becomes, the more fixed his footsteps become, as if he has used the years to create a prison. By studying a person’s footprints, you can control their life. Unfortunately, a dashcam is the best evidence for showing someone’s footprints to others.
‘That’s good, you don’t have to worry about me. I’ll come in because I want to.’ Zhong Wei smiled, composed and cunning.
Sui Xingye was highly placed and powerful.
There was only one thing that Sui Xingye didn’t like: there was always an inexplicable fierce energy in his bones, and he had to let it out to feel comfortable.
But the outlet for this has been closed for a long time, and the occasional opportunities are just petty and unsatisfying. Sui Xingye misses more and more the days a year ago, when he felt like he was in control of people’s lives. It was so exciting that just thinking about it makes him tremble. He urged Yu Qing several times, but Yu Qing said that he was being watched and it was not convenient, and that they should wait until the storm calmed down. This wait has been more than a year. The pent-up anger is growing, and there is nowhere to vent it. Sui Xingye is about to lose control.
Until last week, Yu Qing suddenly said that he had caught many signs that Zhong Wei was Brother Jin. Sui Xingye of course knew that Zhong Wei was a small guard. Although he was very capable, he was obviously the type who didn’t care about the world, so how could he be the troublesome Brother Jin? But Yu Qing insisted that if he didn’t get rid of him, it might affect Sui Xingye. So, without any evidence, Sui Xingye had Zhong Wei arrested.
Yu Qing let out a sigh of relief: ‘The gambling game can be reopened soon.’
Hearing this, Sui Xingye felt that it was worth it.
In the past few days, Sui Xingye’s computer has been popping up web pages all the time, with scenes of abuse, humiliation, and bloodshed continuously stimulating adrenaline. After turning it off, the stimulation still follows at the eyelids and refuses to leave. The more you forbid it, the more your heart is hungry and the more you want to cross that forbidden land. Subconsciously, he is always able to notice stimulating scenes. For example, the waiter rolls up his sleeves to set the table, and there is a scar on his wrist, like the mark of a wrist cut. His gaze follows the blood trail.
At this moment, the music from his phone breaks his thoughts. A text message from Yu Qing: ‘Old place. Old game.’
Sui Xingye’s blood boiled.
A handsome boy came over, his cap pulled low, and handed over a beautiful box: ‘Hello, this is from Brother Yu. He told me to give it to you. See you tonight, at the usual place.’ Inside the box was a mask, with a striking red colour that looked like blood. It was now 9pm, and the blood was screaming to be released. Sui Xingye couldn’t wait, and drove to the usual place.
Under the lights, someone was waiting.
It was an unfamiliar face, not a fox’s eye, but a strange, kashmati look. No wonder, Yu Qing has always been careful and cautious, and it is unlikely that he would use the same person after an incident. Sui Xingye undressed, put on the mask, followed this person, and walked down the familiar dark passage. Soon, he entered the long-lost room, where the long-lost atmosphere hit him, mixed with extravagance, darkness, and the ubiquitous bloody smell.
As far as the eye could see, there were a few familiar figures wearing familiar masks. In the innermost chair, Yu Qing was wearing the familiar devil’s mask and sitting there calmly, as usual.
Sui Xingye’s heart completely settled.
The host of the Kill Mate show was wearing strange makeup, started the show with a witty opening, and spoke long-lost words. Then, with a slap of his palm, two people came up. Sui Xingye pondered which one would lose. Yes, he didn’t care about winning. He wanted to take the lost plaything and vent his bloodthirsty instincts. As usual, the first fight was fierce and fiery, and his prey fell as expected.
Sui Xingye’s pent-up emotions finally exploded.
He had been very patient, for example, first using a less painful whip, and then a spiked flexible whip. This time, he had been pent up for too long and could no longer hold back. As soon as he entered the punishment room, he grabbed the whip and lashed out. The bound man let out a painful cry, which only made Sui Xingye more excited, and he lashed out even harder. Unexpectedly, the next moment, the bound man suddenly struggled with all his might and punched him hard. Sui Xingye was instantly knocked to the ground, and his bloodthirsty heart turned to fear.
The man tore Sui Xingye’s mask off.
Sui Xingye screamed, quickly covering his face. The next moment, an iron fist was about to… As if dead, there was complete silence. Trembling, he opened his eyes: suddenly, there were four or five special police officers in the room, their eyes full of anger and hatred. One of them said coldly, ‘Director Sui, why are you here?’
Thanks to the revelations and help of a reliable informant, the Major Crimes Unit had set up this trap, and it was gratifying to see that it had really led to the exposure of a big rat. Sui Xingye had been exposed. Not by the media but by the faithful monitoring equipment, the news was instantly passed on to one department after another, and the scandalous details were transmitted at internet speed to the computers of his superiors, colleagues, political opponents and rivals, who all avoided him like the plague. No matter how hard he tried to cover it up, his stench was impossible to hide.
☆, The Experimental Base Chapter [10]

The Experimental Base Chapter [10]
Yu Qing again.
Since Sun Mao’s downfall, Yu Qing has been having a rough time. No matter what he does, he is always blocked in advance.
He didn’t know who was causing the problems, except that there was always someone there at the most critical moments: Zhong Wei. An ordinary guard, the only thing special about him was that he was exceptionally good-looking. In the boring base, most people became bisexual due to hunger and thirst. The first time Yu Qing noticed Zhong Wei, he had evil thoughts and wanted to abduct him to a house outside the subway and do him. He just didn’t expect Zhong Wei to knock out the three strong men.
Yu Qing became even more interested. Why not play the game of cat and mouse? He loved to watch his prey get cornered. But this was also the game he regretted the most, as it allowed Zhong Wei to get his hands on a gun, and he never had the chance to get it back.
From then on, everything went wrong.
Suddenly there were waves on the surface of the calm water. The dean, Sun Mao, was sued, and Yu Qing lost half of his support. The rebellion was stopped halfway, even though it had been well planned. Yu Qing had controlled his younger brother’s life, but he never expected that in just half a month, everything would change completely. After finally getting out, a man named Jin appeared out of nowhere, suppressing him like a red Buddha head, and he had to hide like a rat in the dark.
Zhong Wei, on the other hand, always stood in front of the stumbling block, her eyes full of amusement, just like the calmness and condescension she exuded when taming a lion in a cage.
Why was a small security guard so intent on watching him, and what did he want?
Yu Qing suddenly realised last week.
Zhong Wei was actually Brother Jin.
This 100% reliable piece of information came from Zhou Liying, Jin Ge’s right-hand man. Due to being drunk, he accidentally let slip this shocking secret. All the unsolvable locks were instantly unlocked. Zhong Wei was fighting for territory, so it was no wonder that he had the strength and guts to suppress Yu Qing. Yu Qing immediately had Sui Xingye arrest Zhong Wei, and sure enough, there was no more news of Jin Ge. Yu Qing was elated.
He just needed to give the evidence a little nudge.
Yu Qing wanted to completely expose Zhong Wei’s dark identity and send him to the evil prison! What a wonderful life it would be. Yu Qing raised his glass and took a sip of tea. Outside the window, a cloud drifted by, obscuring the bright moon. The butler carefully entered with a box in his hands: ‘Young Master Yu, someone just sent a box here. I checked it and it’s not dangerous. Do you want to take a look?’
Yu Qing opened the box.
A devil mask.
Yu Qing shuddered, as if he had seen a ghost. He suppressed the trembling and slowly picked up the mask. Beneath it was a mobile phone-like device. With a gentle touch, the screen lit up and the familiar ring appeared: the familiar masked men entered one by one, and one wearing a face mask suddenly took it off: Tang Xifei.
In the corner, a slender figure sat quietly, half in the dark, away from the game, but more like the boss behind the scenes manipulating the game.
Tang Xifei walked over and embraced him affectionately.
The two of them suddenly smiled at the screen.
Yu Qing was shocked and hurriedly called Sui Xingye. However, he couldn’t get through. He anxiously watched the screen as the hands jumped to eleven o’clock. A man in a wide robe entered, wearing a familiar devil’s mask, and his figure looked just like his own. Soon, Sui Xingye, wearing a familiar blood-red mask, entered.
Yu Qing’s hand let go, and the mask fell to the ground and shattered into four pieces. His ears were ringing, and in a daze, he saw the prison door open its blood-red mouth once again, and he was the next prey.
Devour! Devour! The darkness from which there is no escape!
A few years later, Zhong Wei became the dean – this was due to his ‘lack of ambition’, as he turned down countless opportunities to advance. As long as the task was successful, Zhong Wei preferred to stay in the background. His base management system and system were gradually popularised in major bases, which was unexpected. And he didn’t really care how many people benefited from it.
The warm autumn sun was thin and comfortable.
Tang Xifei beamed: ‘Xiao Wen, I really didn’t expect you to be with Huang Yu. You’re quite something, Huang Yu is so young and pretty.’
Xiao Wen couldn’t hide his happy smile: ‘Thanks to Zhong Wei and Brother Tang.’
It wasn’t surprising that these two were together. After all, Xiao Wen was no longer the rabbit but remained kind. And Huang Yu’s previous life’s villainous husband was never even let into Huang Yu’s life before Zhong Wei sent him to prison.
Amidst the laughter, Zhong Wei walked out into the café corridor under the pretext of going to the bathroom, feeling a little uneasy. In his experience, an ending like this also meant the end of the mission, and he would soon be leaving this world. However, he did not feel a sense of relief at having completed his mission. He wanted to stay in this world a little longer, and he had been extending his connection with this world.
It was because he was attached.
After spending a long time together, he has become increasingly attached to Tang Xifei. Even if he doesn’t want to describe it as ‘love’, ‘like, very much, more and more, inseparable’ is the most honest feeling in Zhong Wei’s heart. After ten years in this world, he has not found anything that represents the progress of his mission, such as the birch trees in the previous world that did not drop leaves.
In short, Zhong Wei didn’t know how long he would stay in this world, and this unease made him even more nostalgic for his time with Tang Xifei.
‘Team Leader Zhong, why are you here?’ Huang Yu’s voice woke him up.
‘The sun is shining here.’
Huang Yu bowed deeply, his eyes shining: ‘Thank you, Team Leader Zhong. If it weren’t for you, Xiao Wen and I wouldn’t be together. I would have followed my parents and given up on life, not knowing what happiness is.’
‘You know everything?‘
’Brother Xiao Wen confessed to me long ago. Team Leader Zhong, do you know that you completely match the dream rescuer and dream lover from my high school days?’ Huang Yu smiled brightly. Yes, Zhong Wei was exactly as she had imagined as a young girl: handsome, calm, and capable of anything—there are always people who are enough to look up to. What made her truly happy was Xiao Wen, who took meticulous care of her.
At this moment, Tang Xifei suddenly appeared.
Huang Yu wisely left, returned to her seat, took Xiao Wen’s hand, and gazed deeply into his eyes. It was as if they had been bound together for a lifetime, and now they were together without any danger in this life. This feeling was like the warm autumn sun, bright and beautiful, without any burning.
‘What dream lover? How are you still involved with Huang Yu?’ Tang Xifei’s face was gloomy.
“No.’
‘You’d better explain yourself. Are you planning to abduct the bride at the wedding?‘ Tang Xifei said, jealous, and without further ado, pulled Zhong Wei into his arms so that Huang Yu, who was on the other side of the glass, could see clearly.
’Do you think everyone wants to live a life like a TV drama?”
Zhong Wei leaned on his shoulder and laughed lightly, her beautiful lips glowing with seduction. Tang Xifei’s heart brightened, and he took Zhong Wei’s hand.
‘I’ve been meaning to ask you for a long time, where is the diamond ring? Zhang Yiyong said he gave it to you after confiscating it.‘ Although Zhang Yiyong had all kinds of minor faults, he wouldn’t dare be greedy like this.
’I threw it in the water.‘
’What?‘
’A small stone with a surveillance camera in it, what’s the point of keeping it? It’s strange, why do you always like to give these little stones?’ Zhong Wei said unconsciously, and then she was startled herself. What had coincided?
‘What do you mean ‘always’? I only gave it to you that one time,‘ Tang Xifei was displeased that the large diamond ring had been described as a small stone.
’Here you go!‘
Zhong Wei took it out of the inside pocket of her uniform, and the diamond sparkled.
’So you kept it on your person the whole time, huh? And you pretended you didn’t care at all, you hypocrite,’ Tang Xifei was overjoyed, and without hesitation took the ring and placed it on Zhong Wei’s ring finger, ’Ring, ring, guard against others getting their hands on it, you’ll always be mine!’
Zhong Wei raised her finger and gazed at the sunlight, suddenly the diamond spun and radiated a circle of light.
This diamond spins and radiates light by itself?
Tang Xifei came closer: ‘Where’s the spinning? Are you praising my good taste in a different way?’
It turned out that the diamond represented the progress of the mission. This diamond, formed hundreds of millions of years ago, with the infinite light of time, indicated the length of time Zhong Wei would stay in this world. Zhong Wei let out a sigh of relief, probably she can still stay for a long time, otherwise, how could the light be so dazzling.
Life is so sweet that it almost causes tooth decay.
Zhong Wei’s identity can be switched freely: as an excellent dean, the order at the base is almost as good as at a school, and the prisoners also integrate into society with excellent skills after going out, and the rate of recidivism is extremely low. KING (Brother King) leads his men from the dark side to the light. The process is incredible, and everyone is happy with the result. At least half of the cases at the police station have been reduced, and the task force is also investigating who KING really is, but it never comes to anything.
Tang Xifei occasionally mentioned KING, with an intriguing look on her face and a sly smile.
Zhong Wei knew that Tang Xifei must have guessed.
One day more than ten years later, Xiao Wen’s first child was about to have his second birthday. Early in the morning, before even getting out of bed, he called to invite Zhong Wei and Tang Xifei to attend. Tang Xifei hung up the phone and grumbled, ‘It’s not a full moon or a hundredth birthday, what’s with Xiao Wen’s free time?’
‘Maybe he just wants to see us.”
Zhong Wei habitually looked at her ring, and the light from the diamond seemed to be radiating and flowing endlessly… Zhong Wei suddenly understood: In her previous life, Huang Yu’s child had died of suffocation due to lack of care when he was about to turn two, causing Huang Yu to despair and take her own life. In this life, the child had successfully turned two, living a happy and uneventful life that had unwittingly gone on the right track and would continue to do so, and Zhong Wei’s mission had also been successfully completed.
Sentiments of longing, reluctance, and obsession all welled up, and Zhong Wei embraced Tang Xifei.
Tang Xifei was taken aback, and put his arms around Zhong Wei’s waist and rolled over on top of him. ‘You haven’t made love to me for two days, and you’re unsatisfied?’
Zhong Wei looked up at him and said, ‘If I suddenly left today, don’t be sad.’
“No way! Don’t go!’
‘Today…”
Looking into Zhong Wei’s misty eyes, Tang Xifei’s heart softened. The lover in front of him, no matter how many times you look at him, you will love him endlessly. You said you would be together forever, but it’s only been a dozen years, how can this be okay? Not even a joke: ’I won’t let you go, and I’ll make sure you can’t get out of bed all day!’
Hot kisses fell one after the other. In the midst of the fiery, passionate rubbing and thrusting, confusion and sadness were blown away. Zhong Wei kept panting, unable to suppress her moans. Her mind and body melted together into a pool of spring water, as she let her partner pound her deeper and deeper. Her body finally reached the peak of ecstasy…
The deep blue sea water, surging high and falling back, was restless for a long time. Zhong Wei gazed at the system: Tang Xifei had taken over the identity of KING and carried on the work Zhong Wei had left unfinished, ultimately turning black into white and allowing everyone to live in peace, far from bloodshed. However, after Zhong Wei, he had always been alone.
Sadness welled up in her chest, like a tidal wave crashing in.
Zhong Wei had never said she loved him, but had she ever not been in love? And a new mission will come again, urging Zhong Wei to set off. Zhong Wei will be swallowed up by this tide of sadness. Zhong Wei activates the intelligent brain, closes the memory of this life, and hides all the intense emotions. All the memories related to Tang Xifei surged one after another, as hot as the scorching sun and as sweet as sugar, drowning Zhong Wei in happiness…
[Preview: The young attacker and the young receiver are not over yet. Tomorrow’s story is about racing… Hmm!

☆, Racing [1]

‘Fast-forwarding Never Regrets: Racing Chapter 1, Chapter 1’
‘Get out of the way, or I’ll turn this wedding into a funeral!’
‘You’re the one here to provoke.’
‘You’re the one who provoked first. What’s the point of sending an invitation when you’ve already broken face!’ Zhong Wei angrily dropped the invitation, clanging, and the cup that had been hit by the invitation fell to the ground and shattered.
‘Why don’t we compete like we did before: if I lose, I’ll give her up; if you lose, you’ll retire!‘ the groom suddenly sneered.
’Fine!”
…
After accepting the designated task of the “Judgment System”, without any transition, a strong sense of grief and indignation welled up, stirring up a severe pain that went to the core of her being—why did the original owner’s emotions remain so strong? Zhong Wei reluctantly walked to the mirror, and the face of the original owner was that of a racing driver—Xiazhao.
The System records that the previous owner, Xazor, did not die for several years.
This means:
Zhong Wei has travelled to the body of a living person.
The emotions of the previous owner still dominate the body and willpower, and the reason for this grief: the bride got married, and the groom was his brother. The two shameless people sent an invitation to invite him to the lawn wedding.
Next to the invitation was a dazzling diamond ring.
Yes, Xazor was going to rob the wedding.
– You idiot, they’re already married. What’s the point of you going? You’ll just make a fool of yourself.
– My girlfriend of three years…
– You let someone steal your girlfriend of three years after just three months? Wake up.
– No, I have to give it to her…
– You idiot, you’d be better off giving it to a beggar than to her.
– I have to go, even if I have to die! I love her more than my own life. She must have been taken in by his sweet talk. I’m willing to wait for her to come back! Today is my last chance to prove that I love her! I love her more than anyone else, and I would trade my life for her return…
Desperate love surges in my chest.
Despite the double betrayal of lover and brother, the original owner still strongly wants to give the ring away and ask the other person if they still want it… In fact, it’s not really going to help, as Chazot died single in his previous life.
Steal the bride?
Zhong Wei looked at the person in the mirror: with that appearance, the bride would never agree to marry him.
The 23-year-old Xiazhao had a gloomy personality, long hair that reached his shoulders, the left half of his face hidden under his hair, and a beard that was always unkempt. Today, he chose a larger-than-usual suit with a pattern because he was not used to close-fitting clothes. As you can imagine, the clothes were loose, the colour scheme of the whole body was chaotic, and the whole person looked even more unkempt and decadent.
Zhong Wei quickly transformed the original owner’s image.
The beard was shaved clean, revealing light honey-coloured skin; there was no time to cut the hair, so he tied it up, tousled the sides a little, making it slightly messy, so that it didn’t look too silly; he chose a simple outfit of light colours; and finally, he put on a well-constructed mechanical watch.
From top to bottom, he looked brighter.
The closer it got to the time to leave, the stronger the original owner’s willpower became. Zhong Wei could barely control it, smoking cigarette after cigarette. As the sun set in the west and he couldn’t stand the original owner’s anxiety anymore, he subconsciously started the lover’s favourite white racing car.
The orange-red sunset was in the sky, the wedding was nearing its end, and the guests had already left. On the lawn, the groom happened to be absent, and only his teammates were left drinking and laughing. As Zhong Wei approached, the atmosphere immediately turned cold. The teammates tactfully stepped aside and watched him walk step by step towards the bride in a white wedding dress.
The bride was in a daze for a moment before recognising Xia Zuo.
Their eyes met, and their hearts raced. Zhong Wei took out the ring and said involuntarily, ‘This is the ring that you and I handpicked. I want to put it on for you. Can’t our three years of love be more than…’ She desperately suppressed herself from saying even more humiliating things.
‘Xia Zuo, I’m sorry. I hope we can always be friends,’ the bride said, tears streaming down her face.
“Please come with me,’
‘Sorry.‘
The other person had already refused in a dry and decisive manner, so why was he still not leaving? However, the original owner’s heart had already run out of control—Zhong Wei blurted out, “Please leave him and come with me, I will give you happiness!”
’Xiazhuo!‘
The groom, Zhu Yicheng, rushed over quickly and stood between the two of them. After seeing the ring, his face turned ashen: “Xiazhuo, what do you mean!”
’What else is there to mean, to take back from you the person who belongs to me!’ Zhong Wei squeezed the ring.
‘You’re crazy, we’ve already had a competition.”
Zhong Wei pressed his hands against his chest. He didn’t want to say anything to humbly plead for his hand to be returned. How could he, with such pride, just give in so easily? However, in the game, the original owner had the initiative: “Zhù Yīchéng, you cheated! Why should I admit to that competition?”
Zhong Wei tried to take the bride’s hand, but Zhù Yīchéng fought him off and swept the bride behind him. Zhong Wei’s anger rose.
‘Get out of the way, or I’ll turn this wedding into a funeral!‘
’You’re just here to provoke.‘
’You’re the one who provoked first. What’s the point of sending the invitations when you’ve already broken up?‘ Zhong Wei angrily dropped the invitations, and with a clang, the glass that had been hit by the invitations fell to the ground and broke.
’Why don’t we race like we did in the beginning: if I lose, I’ll give her up; if you lose, you’ll retire!’ the groom suddenly sneered.
‘Okay!”
…
Let’s race again.
In the beginning, when Xia Zuo caught Zhu Yicheng in the act, Zhu Yicheng proposed a race to decide the outcome, and he rigged it a bit. As a result, Xia Zuo lost his girlfriend. Now, Zhu Yicheng has proposed a race again. In front of his dignity and his lover, the original owner did not hesitate to “accept the challenge”—Zhong Wei simply could not control herself. This is the drawback of crossing over into a living person.
While waiting for Zhu Yicheng to inspect the car, Zhong Wei pondered: the system records that Xazuo was retired very early, could it be because of this one race?
‘Xazuo, I’m sorry,’ the bride interrupted Zhong Wei’s musings, her wedding dress as white as a racing car.
‘It’s okay…’ Zhong Wei’s heart faltered once again.
“I couldn’t stop Yicheng, and I couldn’t stop you either. I don’t want this to be the end for us. I remember all the good things you did for me. This glass of wine is my apology.’ The bride’s tears fell like rain, and in her hand was a glass of red wine.
The original owner’s heartbreak was in the bride’s tears, and old feelings surged up. He took the wine and gulped it down—at the moment it entered his mouth, Zhong Wei regained control of her body and magically poured the wine out, watching as the unaware bride left lightly.
One of the teammates came over and put his arm on the car window: ‘Today is a good day for Yicheng. You have had competitions before, and you have to honour your bets. Just forget about it.’
‘He has taken away my happiness. Why should I forget?’ Zhong Wei said coldly.
‘Don’t you understand? The bride loves him.’
“It’s enough to make things difficult for them.’
His teammate was taken aback, and he rubbed his nose and laughed, ‘You’re so direct, it’s not like you today. Your arm has just been injured, and the performance of your car is also average. We all know the strength of Kazumasa…’
‘This is my accomplishment.’
It should be said that it is Xaozuo’s unique accomplishment.
The racing car flew past, kicking up a cloud of dust, and from the perspective of passers-by, it looked like a streak of white lightning. However, no one knew that Zhong Wei was only driving with the remnants of the original owner’s consciousness, and he couldn’t even press the brake.
The will of the two men was also racing against each other…
It was this death-like speed! It didn’t matter if they hit a rock!
You’re crazy.
Closer! Closer! Crash into pieces!
You have to stop.
No! Crash! Hate! Turn to ashes!
The battle between heaven and earth was as turbulent as ever, and Zhong Wei’s willpower was about to lose control. Suddenly, she slammed on the accelerator, shouted, ‘You want to die, right? I’ll let you die a painful death! If you want to crash into a rock, you might as well crash into that bastard!’
The car let out a mournful roar and drew a magnificent arc, flying at high speed with its owner’s anger.
Die! It’s as painful as committing suicide!
—Out of control! The knives are stabbing each other!
The two cars were chasing each other, and Zhong Wei was slightly behind. Ahead was a dangerous curve, an excellent opportunity to overtake. Zhong Wei stepped on the accelerator and closed in, then suddenly swerved, maliciously crashing into Zhu Yicheng. There was a loud bang, and the harsh sound of friction resounded through the curve. Zhong Wei’s front wing caught Zhu Yicheng’s left rear wheel.
—Let’s die together!
—A complete death!
Zhu Yicheng was knocked back a step by the collision, and Zhong Wei launched another attack, again and again, crashing like he was playing for his life. Faced with the desperate Xia Zuo, Zhu Yicheng panicked, but he couldn’t fight back. This was halfway up a mountain, and a rushing river was at the foot of the mountain. Just as he was dodging, Zhong Wei’s steering wheel turned sharply.
There was a loud bang.
The two cars collided.
Zhong Wei felt something hit his chest, but he gritted his teeth and flew several hundred metres to the finish line. He breathed hard, waited until he felt better, slowly unbuckled his seat belt, and walked back to the railing. Zhu Yicheng’s car had been deformed, one wheel was hanging in the air, and the person inside was covered in blood and unable to move.
Zhong Wei stood next to the car, leisurely lit a cigarette, and exhaled a white ring: ‘I won.’
Fear appeared in Zhu Yicheng’s eyes: ‘Xaozuo, is that you?’
Zhong Wei smiled: ‘What do you think?’
Xaozuo, with good professional ethics, would only desperately pursue, and would never maliciously crash into his opponent. Of course, Zhong Wei also had no emotions at all when faced with her bleeding former brother. In fact, there was even a trace of pleasure, mixed with the emotions of the original owner.
Zhu Yicheng weakly said, ‘She, she is yours.’
Zhong Wei exhaled the suffocation in her chest with each puff of white smoke, feeling an immense sense of relief. ‘This kind of stupid competition and stupid bet ends here. I don’t need a heartless lover and an ungrateful brother.’
‘…’
‘Dare you compete with me again? I am not someone who will step on the brakes!’ Zhong Wei looked down at the defeated man, the corners of her eyes raised sharply, cold and ruthless.
Zhu Yicheng’s face turned even paler from loss of blood.
His teammates and the bride rushed over. When they saw the groom like this, the bride’s makeup ran, and she was so panicked that she didn’t know what to do. She rushed over to Zhong Wei and cried, ‘What have you done? You almost killed Yicheng. Why are you so despicable? Why won’t you admit defeat?’
Zhong Wei held back her anger in her chest. ‘He’s the one who lost.’
“Why…’
‘Because you gave me a cup of poisoned wine.‘
’When did I…’ The bride suddenly lost her voice.
Zhong Wei took out the ring and gave a sad smile: “What’s the point of saying forever and ever, when you slept with him the day after buying the diamond ring? You, get out of my sight forever!” He threw it hard, and the ring made an arc, falling into the rolling river.
…

☆, Racing [2

[Racing Chapter 2]
Zhong Wei shifted her focus to the rescue mission as soon as the original owner’s willpower slackened.
System record:
The Confessor died when the car he was driving went off the track, and his memory was shattered. Among the few remaining fragments was a past event that he could not let go of, even though it was broken: when he was a teenager, he was selected by a privately-sponsored racing team called ‘Alton Star’ and became an outstanding racer. A few years later, for some unknown reason, he relentlessly pursued a retired racer named Chazo. In the end, he won, and Chazo died from the heavy blow.
However, the confessor later learned that Charlez was the one who founded Alton Stars.
He had killed his benefactor.
The confessor did not even know his name. However, it was a simple task. All the confessor had to do was realise that Charlez was his benefactor. The confessor was one of the six young men at Alton Stars – and at that time, there were still years before he caused Charlez’s death.
…
Coach Linkson was very disturbed.
He had never seen such a Chazuo before: short hair, clean face, and a face shape that could be considered handsome. Unfortunately, this beauty was disrupted by the shape of his eyes, which were set far too high, giving him a mocking look when he looked at people, giving his whole face a mean and cold appearance.
Three years ago, Chazuo founded Altona Star on a whim and selected six young people to train. However, Xiazhuo is a hands-off boss who has never shown his face or interfered in matters. Zhu Yicheng is in charge of management and is only responsible for writing off huge sums of money. Linkson knows full well that most of this money ends up in Zhu Yicheng’s pocket. What can you do? As long as it’s enough to support the boys as racecar drivers. You have to understand that the kids come from average families and simply can’t afford to race cars without Xiazhuo’s funding.
‘These are all good prospects, and they work hard. They are the favourites to win the Nichols Junior Race next season. It would be a pity to lose the opportunity to train them further,‘ coach Linkerson tactfully reminded. If the “Alton Star” were to disintegrate due to the breakdown of the relationship between the founders, it would undoubtedly be a disaster for the teenagers.
’Why didn’t anyone say hello to me just now?‘ Zhong Wei had another point in mind.
’They have never seen you before.’
‘You’ve never met me in person, but you’ve seen my photos. I’ve been sponsoring them for three years. Or is it that Zhu Yi-cheng wants me to disappear from Altona Star?‘ Zhong Wei raised her eyebrows and questioned him as if she were on trial.
’It’s my fault. I’ve only been focusing on racing,’ Linkerson wiped the sweat from his forehead.
The six young racing drivers lined up, all only fifteen or sixteen years old, giggling and not paying attention to what they were doing. They only stopped grinning after their coach gave them a low warning.
‘Which one is the white-eyed wolf?”
A strong sense of revulsion welled up, and Xia Zuo’s willpower could no longer be restrained. Zhong Wei forced herself to calm down and calmly examined these children. Who was the confessor? Following the fragments of her memory, Zhong Wei tried to discern the character and preferences of the confessor: eliminate the girls, eliminate the eccentric ones, eliminate the ones with tattoos on their wrists.
In the end, two teenagers were left:
Corey and Ningguting.
Kerri rolled his eyes twice, and whispered in Ningting’s ear, ‘Is he the second best thing to Brother Yicheng? He’s much more handsome than on TV. Is the coach lying to us? Brother Yicheng never mentioned his name.’
‘Shh,’ Ningeting shushed.
The same age, simple, and inexperienced, Zhong Wei couldn’t see anything remarkable in them. She opened her eyebrows and said, ’You two, one with me and one with Zhu Yicheng, go back and think about who you want to be with.’
If there is no forceful intervention, the system will not change its main course. Zhong Wei took advantage of this habit to make the confessor make the same choice as in the previous life. There was no doubt that the confessor would take the opposing side, just as in the previous life. In the previous life, the confessor had relentlessly pursued Xaozuo, mostly at the behest of someone else. Looking at the current situation, it was not hard to imagine Zhu Yicheng’s role in it.
The two teenagers froze.
When he had left, Ke Li slammed the table in anger. He had worshipped Zhu Yicheng for a long time, and it was unthinkable for him to be on the same team as Xia Zuo: ‘I hate these kinds of guys, they’re so arrogant. No wonder they’re always ranked behind Yicheng, they’ve never won a single championship!’
‘It’s not that bad.’
“Hmph, I definitely, definitely, definitely won’t be on the same team as him!’
Coach Lin couldn’t be bothered with the two whispering teenagers and was busy making phone calls: ‘Mr. Zhu, you’re still in the hospital… You agree? This is ridiculous… Ah, there’s no choice, it’s better than the team breaking up.’ As long as the ‘Alton Stars’ don’t break up, it doesn’t matter.
It was a March morning.
It was a lazy, sweet morning, so sweet that it made it hard to open your eyes. Zhong Wei let out a long sigh, rolled over, and his arm touched a soft mass. He was startled, and his eyes snapped open: a face with heavy makeup, almost touching his nose, and smooth skin down to his neck… ‘You look tired, come in and rest for a bit’… the seductive voice echoed in his memory, and the red of her back was enchanting.
Zhong Wei pulled out his money and threw it on the bed, then fled in a panic.
He hurried back to the villa, his heart blocked, and didn’t even hear the butler say, ‘Coach Lin is waiting in the living room with a teenager.’ Lin Kesen hurriedly got up when he saw someone come in, but he was speechless: not only was Zhong Wei’s appearance messy, but there was even half a scarlet lipstick mark on his cheek. It was not hard to imagine how much depravity he had experienced last night. Lin Kesen’s mouth twitched as he watched Zhong Wei rush into the bathroom.
Zhong Wei let the hot water wash over him.
He was shocked to see a woman when he opened his eyes in the morning. In this situation, it is not a double personality, nor two people coexisting. Xaozuo is dead, and the remaining willpower is only driven by habit and mood. However, Xaozuo had a strong tendency to self-destruct, and all his actions were dark, extreme, and destructive. During the day, Zhong Wei is awake and can control himself as long as he is not emotional. At night, it’s not good, just like last night, when he found the depraved red light district like a ghost and indulged in joy, and this is not the first time. district, indulging in joy, and this is not the first time.
Ling’s messy thoughts were almost washed away, and Zhong Wei regained her composure. She walked out as if nothing had happened, and saw that the young man next to Coach Lin was Ningguting.
It seems that the one who chose the opposite,
Cory, is the penitent.
That’s good news. From now on, just keep an eye on Ke Li.
In a bright blue racing suit, Ning Geting sat obediently. Although he was already fifteen, he had not yet fully developed. He was not tall, with baby fat on his cheeks, but his eyes were quite clear and bright. He treaded carefully on the Persian carpet, his movements awkward, and he did not dare to look Zhong Wei in the eye.
‘Do you know the arrangements for the future?’ Zhong Wei asked him.
‘The coach said that I should train as usual, but I should report my progress to Mr Xia from time to time. Right now, I’m ranked… sixth in the team. I’ll work hard, next time…‘
’Just do your best, there’s no need to mention it.‘
’Yes.‘
’Even if you choose Mr Zhu like Ke Li, I will honour my contract and support you until you turn 18. Do you understand what I’m saying?‘
’No, not really.’
As expected, she is still too young to understand what is being said unless it is said directly. Zhong Wei took a long sip of milk, a ring of foam around the mouth, ‘I don’t care about your ranking, nor do I care about the small amount of funding. But there is one thing I will not tolerate: betrayal.’
There was a moment of silence, and then Ning Geting said in a small voice, ‘I will never betray Mr. Xia.’
‘Anything else you want to ask?’
‘Can I stay at Alton Star forever?’
“Yes.’
‘Can I continue to be friends with Corey?‘
’Yes.‘
’It’ll be just like before, right?‘ Ningeting was both surprised and happy. His fists were clenched and his eyes shone.
’Well, you can go now.”
Ningeting cheered and left quickly.
Zhong Wei’s mouth curled up into a smile. At fifteen years old, his personality was taking shape, and with a little support, he could become a straight tree.
‘Mr Xia, I wonder if it’s appropriate to place Ningtin in the small bedroom on the third floor?‘ the old butler asked politely. He had been the Xia family’s butler for more than ten years. Xia Zuo’s privileged lifestyle was made possible by the huge fortune left to him by his father. Compared to his father, Xia Zuo was gloomy but much easier to please.
’He’s moving in?‘
’Coach Lin said it was your arrangement, to make it convenient for you to guide Ningtin at any time.’
‘He misunderstood…‘ Zhong Wei thought for a moment, and realised that it was the competitive Zhu Yicheng who had suggested it. “He’s already here, and it’s empty anyway. Remember, tell him not to make too much noise, I don’t like hearing noise after dark.”
’Yes.’
The morning sun shone on the newspaper, and the headline on the sports page made a big deal of the unscrupulous behaviour of Xazor on Zhu Yicheng’s wedding day, but it didn’t say a word about who was the first to be despicable. Apart from Zhu Yicheng’s public opinion advantage as the champion, there was also the impact on his image. Xazor naturally suffered because of his gloomy image.
Zhu Yicheng becoming a racing driver was directly related to the Xia family.
When he was young, Xia Zuo needed friends to train with, and Xia’s father selected three from among the many young people, and Zhu Yicheng was the most outstanding one, so outstanding that he eventually became an insurmountable obstacle for Xia Zuo to win the championship. Xia Zuo was incredibly talented, but he lacked luck, and he was always second to Zhu Yicheng, which was probably something that Xia’s father, who had passed away many years ago, did not expect.
Zhong Wei combed through her memories.
Xia Zuo was not always the perennial second place finisher. Last year, he was in great form and almost had a chance to win. However, after the start, his teammate, who was ‘panicking because the race was so important,’ forced him into several collisions. In order to avoid a crash, Xia Zuo backed off. After falling behind, the eventual winner, Zhu Yicheng, benefited from the chaos. Zhong Wei knew immediately that her teammate had done it on purpose, but the introverted and reserved Xia Zuo had never realised.
In the garage, a dozen racing cars were lined up.
The one on the outside, the ‘Dark Night Meteor’, was mainly black in colour, with a lightning-fast streamlined pattern, and had the momentum of chasing a meteor across the sky. As soon as she touched the cool metal, Zhong Wei felt a passionate emotion well up in her heart, as if she were touching an old lover – was Xaozu’s life only about racing?
Clatter, clatter, clatter. Nging-ting came panting up, and climbed up against the car window. ‘Mr. Xia, can I come with you? I want to learn to race cars from you!’
“Hop in,’
Nin’guoting cheered and got in.
‘Mr Xia, your racing cars are really beautiful. I’ve never seen such handsome cars before. Ah, that silver racing car is also very domineering… You have so many cars, I’m so envious of you. I’m so glad to be able to follow you. Where are we going?’
‘Look more, talk less,’ Zhong Wei started the car.
Nin’guoting immediately shut up, puffed up his cheeks, and couldn’t stop the corners of his mouth from curling up, his gaze admiring and respectful.
After spending so much time together, Ngingting’s cheerful personality has become apparent, and he is also very good at reading people’s expressions. Knowing that Zhong Wei loves cleanliness, every time she comes back, she cleans up immediately, puts on the clean shirt and well-fitting pants prepared by the butler, and sits at the table waiting for Zhong Wei to have dinner together. Ngingting originally didn’t know much about rules and etiquette, but he learned quickly and looked the part under the guidance of the old butler.
Recently, Ngingting has become increasingly attached to Zhong Wei.
Zhong Wei taught him how to exercise, that he needed a strong body to be able to handle the racing car’s driving style, and that Ningergtin was too small. In contrast, Corey was almost 1.8 metres tall, and was getting closer and closer to the powerful confessor.
‘Mr Xia, I’ve been exercising as you said, and I don’t picky eat, I eat as much as Corey, I should be able to grow another 30 cm, right?’
‘…’ Enough.
‘In the previous quarter of the Saxton tournament, it was raining, and you turned so beautifully that you flew past with a swoosh.‘
’…‘
’Just like you are now.”
Zhong Wei gave him a sideways glance, and Ningtin immediately became a little flustered. He hurriedly turned his head away, tugging at his seat belt and speaking in a low voice, “Ah, I know, I won’t say anything. Thank God, let me be with Mr Xia.”
The next day, during training,
Ngingtin excitedly recounted what had happened the previous day, talking non-stop about how handsome Zhong Wei looked driving, his skilled movements drawing whistling arcs in the wind.
‘Yesterday, Brother Yicheng taught me too, and he was also very handsome,’ Ke Li was a little jealous.
‘Definitely not as handsome as Mr Xia.’
“Hmph,’
After finishing lunch in a hurry, Ke Li asked, as if remembering something, ‘Nin’gting, does Mr Xia have any strange hobbies, for example, does he like touching your face or arms…’
‘Mr Xia is not like that!’ Nin’gting said angrily. She understood the definition of obscenity at that age.
“If it’s not, it’s not. I was just asking.’
Curly was clumsy and often said things without thinking. Ningeting didn’t take it to heart and lowered his voice and said, ‘If you must say it, at night, Mr. Xia will go out, looking very strange, wearing a hat and grey clothes, which doesn’t look like him at all.’
‘Really?’
☆、Racing Cars [3

[Racing Chapter 3]
Compared to competing with her lover, there was something that bothered Zhong Wei even more.
She had been handcuffed for several days.
At first, Xia Zuo’s willpower woke up in the middle of the night, and he shouted for the butler to unlock the handcuffs. Zhong Wei learned her lesson and told the butler not to unlock the handcuffs no matter what happened. Unexpectedly, Xiazhao used Zhong Wei’s technique to unlock the handcuffs with the skill of opening locks with a piece of thin paper. The more he was suppressed, the more Xiazhao’s self-destructive tendencies became worse. In just a few days, he tried everything, including eating, drinking, whoring, and gambling. When he woke up yesterday, he was surprised to find that there was even marijuana around.
Zhong Wei was speechless. He used the system to purify his body and mind, and the drug addiction was completely removed, but he was unable to quit smoking.
Zhong Wei bought a set of bondage tools and installed heavy mechanisms in the bedroom so that he would not wander around in the middle of the night. Struggling at night and practicing driving during the day exhausted his energy, and Zhong Wei’s physical strength plummeted. That evening, while doing neck training, he fell asleep. Since it was possessed by a living person, once he fell asleep, Xiazhuo’s willpower quickly recovered.
It was chaotic.
The noise pierced his eardrums.
Zhong Wei opened his eyes and suddenly froze. There was a circle of people around him, all with fierce expressions, all staring at him menacingly. To the side, the glass reflected the image of Zhong Wei: a grey hat with the brim pressed very low. This was clearly Xaozuo – he liked to hide his face with his hair because of a shallow scar above his brow, but now that his hair had been cut short, he was desperately trying to hide his face with his hat.
Opposite him, his opponent in a suit and tie is smiling mockingly: ‘This is the last game. If you lose, I’m afraid a villa won’t be enough.’
What’s going on? Where is this?
It turned out that the wandering soul, Xia Zuo, had been lured by sweet words to this underground gambling den. The dealer said, ‘Since you are a famous racer, it doesn’t matter if you don’t have any gambling money on hand, we can lend you chips first.’ A normal Xia Zuo would not have fallen for the trap, but now he only had the remnants of his willpower, had lost most of his judgment, and was bent on degenerating and seeking death. So, in the blink of an eye, he had made several more gambling deals, and a dozen racing cars had already fallen into someone else’s pocket.
The opponent won so easily that he didn’t even bother cheating.
Zhong Wei regained her composure.
After crossing over so many times, she could say with confidence that her skill points for gambling had long since reached the maximum, not to mention a trivial game of cards. After all, she had gambled in her previous life as well, she just couldn’t remember. Zhong Wei brushed away her extraneous thoughts, let out a cold smile, and unleashed her long-lost gambling skills, winning big.
Her opponent only thought that Zhong Wei was occasionally showing off.
Unexpectedly, Zhong Wei won more and more each time, and her opponent hurriedly tried to find help, but it was too late. Zhong Wei had already turned the tables and was holding the majority of the chips in her hands. The opponent was bluffing and wanted to continue gambling. Zhong Wei raised her eyebrows and said, ‘You’d better think carefully. I’m not the kind of person who will hit the brakes, and I’m definitely not the one who will lose everything.’
Just at this tense moment, the opponent inexplicably received a phone call: ‘…not good…hmm…’
Zhong Wei suddenly realised: Could it be Zhu Yicheng behind the scenes?
That was just what she needed: to get rid of the cannon fodder and go straight for the target. Zhong Wei waited until her opponent had hung up the phone: ‘Do you want to bet big?’
‘Huh?’
‘You can’t beat me at cards! I’ll win the Salou Gold Car Race in two months. Do you dare to bet against me?’ Zhong Wei’s eyes shot up dramatically, full of contempt and a sense of oppression.
‘I…’ The opponent clenched his teeth and looked behind Zhong Wei.
Pop!
Clapping sounds rang out, and a man with a seductive appearance appeared behind him, wearing a pink shirt and white trousers, looking as fresh as if he had just come out of the sea. The opponent said in a respectful tone, “Mr. Raphael, you’re here.”
Zhong Wei habitually lit a cigarette, exhaling a circle of white smoke that enveloped Raphael’s face.
Raphael gave a crooked smile: ‘Are you trying to seduce me?’
‘No, you’re not my type.’
‘Playing hard to get?’
Xiazhao’s remaining habit was to spit out smoke. Zhong Wei stubbed out the cigarette, her eyes upturned, and without beating around the bush, she said, ‘A racer should bet his life on the track. I’m not interested in anything here. So you tell Zhu Yicheng to face me on the track!’
The Salo Gold Racing Competition is a perfect gamble. Under the eyes of the referee and thousands of spectators, it is not easy to cheat, and no one will be allowed to tamper with the results.
Raphael laughed, ‘I will try my best to make this gamble happen.’
Zhong Wei turned around and left.
The bodyguard tried to stop her, but Raphael stopped him, ‘Let him go, he seems more suited to being a gambler than a racer.’
At that moment, there was suddenly a commotion at the door. Raphael frowned. Could it be that Chazot had caused trouble? The shop manager wiped the sweat from his forehead and came running over half-jogging to explain, ‘Mr Raphael, it’s nothing important. One of Chazot’s trainees came looking for him and got into a fight with the security guards before he had even grown any hair.
’How was it settled?‘
’…’ The shop manager drew back his lips.
The long street at night was filled with lazy shadows and the warm breeze.
Even though he had been warned not to speak, Ningtin couldn’t help but say, stroking the gash on the corner of his mouth, ‘Mr Xia, you were so cool just now, casually kicking the two security guards to the ground. Thank goodness you came out, otherwise, I would have…’
‘A real man doesn’t need to be rescued by others,’ Zhong Wei said, glancing in the rearview mirror.
‘I’m sorry.’
“A strong fist doesn’t necessarily make someone a strong person. But if you’re reduced to being picked up and beaten up at will, then you’re finished for life.’
‘I, I won’t do it again,‘ Ninggeting swore softly.
’Why did you go to the casino?‘
’I noticed that Mr Xia would wear a hat when he went out for a stroll in the middle of the night. I just saw you looking for your hat after you woke up, so I followed you.”
That was really attentive.
However, why would Zhu Yicheng get involved? The butler was tight-lipped, so that left Ninggeting in front of him. The young man with clear eyes could fool a lot of people if he wanted to lie.
‘You haven’t told anyone else, have you?’
‘No.’ Ninggeting thought, It’s like not telling if you don’t say it explicitly.
Zhong Wei caught that hint of hesitation and became even more suspicious. The young men of the Altona Star were close to Zhu Yicheng, and these little white-eyed brats would not be ungrateful—Zhong Wei suppressed the disgust in her heart that belonged to Xia Zuo.
‘Have you followed me at night?’
‘Once.’
’…’
‘I threw the stone when you drove to the cliff,’ said Ningeting in a small voice.
Thanks to the stone he threw, which made the glass rattle, Zhong Wei suddenly woke up, regained control of her body, and quickly stepped on the brakes. Otherwise, they would only meet at the bottom of the cliff. Never mind, I won’t pursue this matter. Since Ningeting could notice the wandering Xia Zuo, so could others. It is hard to say who talked too much and spread it out.
The proposal to hold the ‘Salou Gold Tournament in two months’ at the casino to settle the score was partly influenced by Xaio’s willpower, and Zhong Wei was rarely aggressive. This kind of possession really made Zhong Wei distressed.
Time flew.
In the blink of an eye, two months had passed.
Before the Salou Gold Tournament, Zhong Wei received a bet: the stakes were huge, and if she won, it went without saying; if she lost, 20% of the Xia family’s inheritance would change hands. Zhong Wei sneered, ‘I thought it would be more. Does Zhu Yicheng not have 100% confidence?’
Raphael said with a smile, ‘Yes, but the stakes are not enough.’
Compared to the Xia family, which has accumulated wealth for half a century, Zhu Yicheng, who started from scratch, is of course no match. Zhong Wei signed her name without hesitation, threw down the pen, and turned away.
Raphael thoughtfully walked slowly towards Zhu Yicheng, ‘How confident are you?’
Zhu Yicheng was full of confidence, ‘He has never beaten me since I was sixteen.’
“You should be more careful.’
In front of the red racing car sprayed with the sponsor’s logo, his teammates were whispering. Zhong Wei frowned and walked over, and his teammates immediately fell silent. It’s not good to be on the same team. Even though the relationship has clearly broken down, they are forced to meet.
Zhong Wei swept his gaze over them: ‘I don’t want to say much about the past, but if anyone gets in my way, I won’t hold back.’
‘What do you mean?’ one teammate yelled.
“That’s what I mean.’
‘Xiazhuo…‘
’You are the one who deliberately blocked my way last time, so I didn’t deal with you severely out of consideration for the friendship between teammates. Even earlier, someone tampered with my car… These good things will never happen again. If anyone doesn’t believe it, just look at what happened to Zhu Yicheng,’ Zhong Wei said coldly.
The teammates whispered among themselves.
Someone sighed, ‘Xiazhuo is serious.’ ‘That incident with the two of them had nothing to do with us.’ ‘Zhu Yicheng also went too far…’ ‘Even though Xiazhuo’s father is dead, the Xias are still a force to be reckoned with.’ ‘Ah, let’s just go, let’s make final preparations…’
However, Zhong Wei still saw an uncomfortable scene.
Zhu Yicheng was talking to Ke Li.
Was he brainwashing him?
Hmph, a vermin who wants to make money from the Alton Star, deceiving the young men’s admiration.
Zhong Wei gathered all six young men from the Alton Star and said lightly about the original intention of selecting them: ‘…the contract stipulates that we will support you until you are 18 years old. However, the prerequisite is that you must be absolutely loyal to the club and its founder. If anyone cannot even be grateful for this, leave now.’
The young men were all too scared to speak after hearing these harsh words.
Curly bit his lip.
Shock did indeed have an effect, and Curly didn’t make a move afterwards. However, Zhong Wei saw Ningtin standing in front of his racing car again, his eyes shining. An important competition allowed for no negligence. Zhong Wei frowned, and immediately had another racing car with outstanding performance brought over.
Ningtin asked doubtfully, ‘Mr. Xia, why are you changing cars now? That car hasn’t been checked in advance.’
‘I said I want absolute loyalty.‘
’Mr Xia…‘
’I led you to the path of racing, not to be betrayed!”
Nigetine was pale, and after a long time, he said, “Mr Xia, I will not betray you, I will always follow you, wherever you go, I will go, I will do whatever you tell me to do.”
One racing car after another is like a dragon about to take off.
Zhong Wei lit a cigarette, raised an eyebrow, and waited for Zhu Yicheng to approach step by step. The old friend, today’s rival and enemy, looked even more radiant after being discharged from the hospital: ‘Xa Zou, you shouldn’t have signed such a stupid bet. The Xa family will end in your hands.’
‘It’s you who are stupid. My father built the path to championship for you, but you were greedy and insatiable. Today, everything you have will crumble,’ Zhong Wei said calmly.
‘Hmph, you’ve never won,’ Zhu Yicheng said contemptuously.
‘What matters is today.”
Because, in the past, it was Xaozuo; today, it is Zhong Wei. In the moment the car speeds by, Xaozuo’s willpower becomes incredibly strong. He needs victory, and he needs to rush towards a blazing victory like death itself. Zhong Wei indulges in this willpower, but turns to his competitor with a hundred times the alertness: he wants absolute victory, no mercy, and he will never back down even if he pushes the boundaries of the laws of impact.
His momentum reached its peak.
He was like a sharp blade spinning at high speed, and no one dared to confront him.
Because that black lightning-fast blade was no longer something that could be stopped by human beings. The speeding black shadow left everyone in awe, and it was a back that could not be caught up with. On this day, everyone was shocked, because he finished one and a half laps ahead of the second-place finisher, Zhu Yicheng.
An unstoppable momentum.
Zhong Wei kissed the trophy, looked at the world with disdain from the corner of his eyes, said thank you and left, without giving any reporters the chance to interview him. That day, with his sharp and dashing riding posture, he made headlines and shocked everyone. From then on, he refreshed the miracle that belonged to Xia Zuo.
A few days later, he received a huge sum of money.
Raphael was the banker, and the money was paid by Zhu Yicheng. Zhong Wei felt an uncontrollable rush of joy.

☆、Racing [4

[Fast-forwarding Never Regret: Racing Chapter 4]
No matter how much money there is, if it’s not spent, it will become worthless. Zhong Wei decided to establish the ‘Alton’ racing club, manage it, and make it strong. This excited him even more than just racing. The butler was surprised when he heard: ‘You always hated managing clubs, didn’t you?’ Xia’s father had also established a club, which he had passed on before he died.
“I really like it now.’
‘Mr Raphael said he wants to place another bet on the next Lagala race.‘
’Is this not over yet? Isn’t Zhu Yicheng about to lose everything?‘
’He has bet his freedom for life to Raphael.‘
’I knew it. All gamblers end up betting their lives. Let’s put the bet on hold for now. My ambition is not in racing, but if someone provokes you, you should take it on, to be considered a man.’ Zhong Wei leisurely forked the cheese roll.
Ningeting, who was sitting opposite, suddenly looked up.
‘Mr Xia…’
‘Yes?’
‘Why did you kick me out? Is it because I’m so far down the rankings? I’ll work hard.’ Ningeting’s eyes were shining, and she was desperately trying to hold back the tears. After the race, the ‘Alton Star’ was under Zhong Wei’s sole management, and it had nothing to do with Zhu Yicheng anymore. Ningeting and Ke Li no longer belonged to anyone either. He was told that he didn’t need to report to the Xia family anymore.
‘You’ll be better off with your friends,”
Zhong Wei said coldly. In fact, the car that had been prepared had indeed been tampered with, and the only one who could get close to it was Ning Geting — this was just a guess, but it was close to the truth. Zhong Wei desperately suppressed the emotions of “one is like this and the other is still like this” towards the ungrateful white-eyed brat, knowing that he would be killed by the people he had trained. Anyone would go berserk. Xia Zuo hated all the teenagers on the Alton Star.
‘Mr Xia…‘
’Alright, once you’ve finished eating, go and train,’ Zhong Wei said sternly. He couldn’t guarantee that Xia Zuo wouldn’t suddenly lose control.
Ningeting bit her lip and stood in the doorway.
The suitcase was pushed out, and the old butler also said a few polite words. Ningeting knew that she had been abandoned. She had worked so hard to please him, but for some inexplicable reason, she had been thrown out. If she hadn’t entered here in the first place, she wouldn’t feel so unwilling.
Kerri is not fussy and also noticed that Ningeting was very unhappy after returning to the dormitory: ‘In the past, Hazza and Brother Yicheng did not get along well and had to compete over everything. That’s why we were each allowed to choose one. Don’t mind it.’
“No, Mr. Xia hates me.’
‘How could that be? You’re thinking too much. We just need to practice hard now, and when we become the world’s number one, he’ll be happy.‘ Cory rested his hand on the back of his head and said with longing, “The coach said that all six of us will become contracted members of the Alton Club. If we win the championship, Xaozuo will treat us differently!”
’Really?‘
’Of course! Look at any champion, they’re all popular! Of course, if you’re a loser, he definitely won’t give you a second glance.’
Ninguting gripped the steering wheel.
Gambling is addictive.
Because the loser always thinks that he will turn the tables in the next game, Zhu Yicheng placed his bet on Lagala.
The night before the Lagala competition.
Zhong Wei went to bed early.
Given the remaining strength of his will, Xaozuo still handcuffed himself with the cowhide-wrapped handcuffs. However, after an unknown period of time, he suddenly woke up when an inexplicable cool breeze blew, and he suddenly found himself standing in the middle of the road, with a car speeding towards him. At the last minute, Zhong Wei rolled backwards and deftly dodged. With a bang, the car swerved onto the sidewalk and sped away.
Fortunately, Xaozuo’s willpower was weaker than before, so he was able to wake up in the nick of time when danger loomed.
Zhong Wei was still in a state of shock.
The newly purchased restraint equipment was very advanced, and even a conscious Zhong Wei could not have easily escaped. Was someone helping her to untie the ropes? At that moment, a figure flashed past: Ningguting. Ningguting was very fast, and Zhong Wei’s ability to perceive speed was even faster.
There was no doubt about it, it was Ningguting.
Was he following her out of kindness, or was he being driven by malice? It was possible that the wolf cub had stolen the key from the old butler and deliberately let himself out? Zhong Wei was overcome by the disgust that belonged to Xia Zuo, and she was also unable to restrain her irritability. Xia Zuo called the butler and asked about Ning Jingtin’s movements. He was told that Ning Jingtin had been approached by Zhu Yicheng two days ago, or rather, all the teenagers had been approached by Zhu Yicheng for a chat.
After the competition, Zhong Wei was determined to teach these brats a lesson.
The Lagala event was unprecedented.
Coach Lin brought the six teenagers to watch the competition, and they were all excited beyond words. After all, they were being sponsored, and they were still very respectful towards Xaozuo.
Zhong Wei removed all obstacles to ensure that nothing could go wrong. You have to understand that Zhu Yicheng’s shamelessness goes beyond just stealing someone else’s girlfriend. In the blink of an eye, Zhong Wei was negligent for a moment, and when she turned around, she saw Ningteting lying on the ground, with his hand under the chassis of her racing car.
Zhong Wei suddenly appeared: ‘Ningteting, what are you doing?’
Nigel was startled, and fell to the ground with a thud. He had an extra part in his hand: ‘Mr Xia, I found something wrong with this, so I replaced it for you…’
Zhong Wei looked at him coldly: ‘I said I would never tolerate betrayal.’
‘I didn’t…’
‘Starting today, you are expelled from the Alton Star!’
Zhong Wei, wrapped in anger, could not hear anything. All that came from her heart was the world-weariness and dislike of people that belonged to Xia Zuo. He pushed angrily, and Niggerting fell to the ground with a crash. Zhong Wei shouted for an assistant to come over and inspect the entire car. Apart from that one part, it was in perfect condition. However, for a racing car, one part is enough to be fatal. Looking at Niggerting, whose lips were trembling, Zhong Wei really wanted to slap him. Weak children are not the object of venting.
Not far away, Zhu Yiyin watched suspiciously.
Zhong Wei strode over and threw the broken part in front of him.
“Zhù Yīchéng, you still have a one percent chance of playing fair in a proper competition. Let me tell you, you won’t be able to outsmart me even if you try a hundred times! Don’t think that I’m not settling scores with you because I’m afraid of you, it’s just that I don’t care about ruining you! Think about it, why were you chosen? Do you think it was just a whim of my father? Do you think he could find any talent in a broken kid who knows nothing? It was me! I saw how pitiful you were lying there and asked my father to make an exception and recruit you!‘
’So what!‘ Zhu Yicheng’s face turned pale.
’Use your head and think about it. What do you have that I don’t have! Talent? Once you fail, your talent will be gone! Wealth? All the wealth you have worked so hard to accumulate will not stand up to a single bet! And yet you are so arrogant. Why? Are you stupid?‘
’I hate you! Your cheap pity, your hypocritical charity! You got everything without lifting a finger. Why? Just because I was born poor, I should become your appendage! I am a better person than you! Even if your father dies, I will show him how a man with nothing can defeat his son!‘ Zhu Yicheng exploded.
’He is the one who rescued you from the clutches of the devil! No matter how cheap and hypocritical it is, all your glory is built on his cheap charity!’
‘I want to see the Xia family destroyed!”
Even though he was used to the evil of human nature, Zhong Wei still felt cold. He raised the bet and said with clenched teeth, ’You are so stupid as to cooperate with those gamblers. Open your eyes wide and take a good look, this is what will send you back to hell. Once the competition is over, you will have nothing. No, more than twenty years ago you at least had your freedom, but after today, everything you have will belong to someone else!’
He signed his name furiously and angrily threw it to the bodyguard who had been waiting.
This gamble was betting on the future.
Anger not only burned Chazot’s willpower, but also Zhong Wei’s fighting spirit. If Zhong Wei was determined, she was not afraid of the world collapsing. Her ruthlessness far surpassed the weak Zhu Yicheng. The dangerous car race let out all of her ruthlessness.
That race was a tragic one, with three cars forced off the track and two cars flying out of the curve due to the collision. All the conspiracies against Xazor were smashed by Zhong Wei one by one: precise calculations in his head, every acceleration pushing his opponents into a desperate situation. He was fast and ruthless enough, and had the aura of a champion. Chazal never lacked strength, but he loved racing too much to play with the rules. The step away from the championship was always blocked by despicable people.
If the good are always restrained by the malicious, this time it is a magnificent reversal, crowning the deceased.
When he reached the finish line, Zhong Wei sat in the car for a long time.
“Chazal, you won!’
‘Xaozuo, you’re the champion!”
His long-cherished wish had finally come true, and a sigh of relief welled up from the bottom of his heart. Zhong Wei lit a cigarette in silence, and the white smoke curled away with the wind. All the hatred, unwillingness, and self-destructive emotions seeped into the cracks in the ground along with the lingering sound of the sigh, and the original owner, Xaozuo, relaxed his will in the glory of satisfaction.
Raphael’s check arrived home before Zhong Wei.
Zhu Yicheng’s wife followed, not looking as dignified and noble as she did at the wedding banquet, but with a sad face. She gazed at Zhong Wei for a long time, trying to find the old emotions in those dark eyes, but unfortunately, there was nothing familiar.
‘Xa-Zuo, you have ruined us,’ she said.
‘You brought this on yourselves. If I had lost, would you have even looked at me?’ Zhong Wei said gently.
“Was your love for me all fake?’
‘Love ceased to exist the moment you handed me that cup of poisoned wine, and so did indulgence.‘ Zhong Wei sighed, wondering why the warmth of the past still lingered in her heart. “There was not an ounce of falseness in the love of the past. Tell me, what do you want me to do?”
’Let’s compete again.‘
’He still hasn’t given up? It’ll be the same result a hundred times.‘
’Let Keri compete against Ning’erting.‘
’What about your wager?’
The beautiful eyes of the old lover sparkled: ‘I will always belong to you.’
This was the stupidest thing ever, to use a past relationship as a bet for the present, thinking that the other person would still cherish it and treasure it like a treasure, but they didn’t know… However, her chest felt as if it had been cut by the ring, with aching pain. It was the love of Xiazhuo, still lingering.
Zhong Wei took the cigarette from the corner of her mouth: ‘Give me the contract.’
The contract was full of loopholes.
It was like a shark with its mouth wide open, waiting for a willing victim.
Zhong Wei felt sharp pain in her chest, as if being cut by a sharp knife. ‘My old lover, why do you have to do this every time? Don’t you have any feelings at all? We were clearly so in love.’ Zhong Wei finished reading it with trembling anger, but only amended one line, and then signed her name on the bet. This was not Zhong Wei’s mercy, but Xavier’s kindness.
There will be no more fools like Chazot in the world.
The seductive Raphael took the bet, a seductive smile on his lips, and walked lightly towards Zhong Wei: ‘Cory will win, right? Ningt’s strength is last in the team. To be honest, this bet is despicable, I’ve never seen such shamelessness, I can’t watch it anymore. The bet you amended, you still can’t let go of your old lover, right?’
‘If Cori wins, all the stakes will go to the old lovers, not Zhu Yicheng.‘
’Why ask me if you already know?‘
’I always feel that there’s definitely more to it than that.’ Raphael flicked his hair playfully, “Never mind, let’s witness the final winner together.”
☆、Racing [5

[Fast-forwarding Never Regret: Racing Chapter 5]
Corey won, even if it was the old flame who won. If Ningguting won, it would be Zhong Wei who won.
As Raphael said, it was a race with a predetermined outcome.
Ningguting was about to cry, and Zhong Wei said coldly, ‘I said that even if you didn’t join me, I would still support you until you were eighteen. However, I will never allow any betrayal. And yet, you betrayed me. You betrayed me many times.’
‘I didn’t!‘
’Don’t argue anymore. After this competition, you will go back to where you belong. You no longer belong to Alton’s Star.’ I’m really fed up. The betrayal of an old lover, the betrayal of a benefactor and brother by Zhu Yicheng, the betrayal of Xaozuo by the penitent, and even the seemingly harmless Ningeting is also doing this behind his back. That’s it, expulsion is the least severe punishment.
The butler led the sobbing Ningeting out and sighed, ‘My child, you’ve broken his heart.’
‘I was just checking the car for him.’
‘Don’t say anything. Later, in your race against Ke Li, it doesn’t matter if you win or lose.’
‘I will definitely win,’ Ningeting clenched his fists.
‘There’s no need.’ The butler had already seen it all. After all, Xa Zhou had a soft heart, and all the gloom was left to himself.
Knowing the outcome made watching the competition extremely boring. Zhong Wei was careless, not even watching the live screen tracking the competition. It didn’t matter anymore, since both Cori and Ningeting were people who wished Yicheng well, so it didn’t matter what happened, unless they could rub out a third place.
The butler said softly, ‘It seems that Ningeting’s potential has exploded now, and he’s following very closely…’
‘There’s no need to tell me.’
“But…’
‘Give him a three million card, racing cars or whatever, it’s enough for him to live until he’s eighteen. I’m just fulfilling the contract. I don’t think there’s any benefit in indulging someone with a low moral character.‘ Zhong Wei suppressed the emotions in her chest. The original owner, Xia Zuo, was fighting for willpower again because of grief and was on the verge of a breakdown. Zhong Wei didn’t want anything uncertain to happen again. It was considered very merciful to break the contract and pay three million.
’Yes!’ The butler left.
The sound of the helicopter tracking the race was loud. As the end approached, Zhong Wei glanced at the live broadcast screen. As expected, Ngingtin had unleashed his potential and had been closing in, even threatening to overtake. Moreover, he was pushing the boundaries of the rules.
Was he unscrupulous?
Raphael smiled meaningfully, ‘If Ngingtin breaks the rules, it’s you who will lose. But, oh dear, he has been pushing the boundaries without ever breaking through. He is a very clever person.’
Corey was also puzzled. Chazot had said that regardless of the outcome, Ningtin would have to leave the Alton Star. Was his little friend crazy?
The last stretch of the road was flat.
The finish line was in sight.
The two cars raced side by side, and, oh, Nergal was in the lead. Suddenly, Nergal’s car swerved sharply, and he was about to change lanes. Curly was shocked and quickly avoided it, but because he moved too quickly, he tumbled through the air several times before his car slid sideways for dozens of metres – with a bang, the high-speed car was instantly unrecognisable, and the gearbox was ripped out!
Debris was flying everywhere! ‘Oh my God!’ People kept their distance.
Curie – the confessor – the cornerstone of this world.
Zhong Wei threw down her cigarette and ran over, shouting, ‘Curie, Curie!’
Nin-Ghting, who had crossed the finish line first, got out of the car. His heart felt like it had been ripped out, just like Curie’s battered car. Mingming, even if he hadn’t cheated, there was a 90% chance that he would have won. But in order to reach 100%, he still, used despicable tricks. He did not expect such a consequence, and his desperate desire to win was shattered at that moment.
Cory was taken to the hospital.
‘You win,’ Raphael said with a broad smile.
‘No, Ningeting broke the racing rules, and I’m willing to accept the consequences,’ Zhong Wei wrote the cheque quickly, and saw two burning tears from her old lover slip away. Zhong Wei turned around without hesitation and left this battlefield that destroyed everything.
The October rain was very cold.
Ningeting crouched in a rain puddle, his emaciated body huddled up. Happiness is like a bubble, which bursts in the blink of an eye. Recalling the last relevant moment, the butler sent him to school and handed him a card: ‘Here is a little money, enough for you to spend for a while. Don’t come to the Xia family or Alton Star again. Mr Xia does not tolerate any betrayal.’
The money in the card was not much…
His biological parents had passed away half a year ago…
His schoolmates were so unfamiliar to him, as if they were all laughing at him…
He wanted to beg Chaso, but was told by the butler that Chaso told him never to bother him again…
He begged Chu Yicheng to prove his innocence, but Chu Yicheng, who was fighting for the last big gambling winnings with his wife and was in a divorce lawsuit, refused to let him in…
The cold rain hit him.
Despair! I want to die!
Why did it suddenly change? The person I admire has become a cold-hearted devil!
No! That person has abandoned me! I have been discarded like this! Even pleading and crying are useless! It’s as merciless as a toy they no longer like! Just as Zhu Yicheng said, ‘To them, we are just like dogs, for their amusement. Dogs chase plush balls, we, in racing cars.‘ “Don’t expect them to treat us as friends, no, we are just objects of charity to satisfy their vanity.” “They, on a whim, pick us up, then play with us at will, and discard us at will.”
I feel hot and cold, sad and angry, wanting to go back and become a devil like him!
Oh, God, why is it dark?
’You’re awake?‘
’Mr. Raphael…’
‘I know what you’re going to say, and you don’t have to thank me. I didn’t save you out of the kindness of my heart; I want something in return. My Death Race is missing a great driver, and you’re just the man for the job. I don’t think you have a choice.’ Raphael tossed a four-year contract in his face.
Death Race is like underground boxing, with no rules to bind it. The goal is to win at all costs, and the mortality rate is extremely high, which is why it is called Death Race. It is also like horse racing, where people place bets, and the winner can bring huge financial benefits. It is a death-defying race that is popular with profit-seeking outlaws.
In exchange for death, you get asylum?
…
The Xia family.
Zhong Wei looked at the old grandfather clock.
It was an old Venetian-style grandfather clock with ornate carvings, and the clock case and base were inlaid with amethysts and sapphires. The gold dial has white gold hands. However, the hour and minute hands do not move, only the second hand, because it does not represent time – it represents the degree of completion of the task.
The system predicts the remaining time based on the current progress. After the race between Cori and Ningtin, the clock began to move for real, and the minute hand stopped at the quarter hour. After one lap, Zhong Wei should have left. One lap is 12 hours, and she had only gone 15 minutes.
Is the future really that long?
Last year, after the bet, Chazot’s willpower returned, and he was particularly exhausted. Zhong Wei didn’t even dare to touch the racing car, for fear that a careless move would trigger the body’s memory. After repeated setbacks, not only at night, but also during the day, Zhong Wei was mentally exhausted and unable to go out for several months.
The old butler also resigned, and the new butler recommended a psychologist and made an appointment for regular treatment. The dissociative symptoms that had continued for nearly half a year finally improved.
Zhong Wei regained control of the Alton Star.
With divine protection, Ke Li survived the race and was discharged from the hospital. He had worried that he would be expelled from the Alton Star. He never imagined that Zhong Wei would forgive him. Ke Li was moved and gradually turned his gratitude to the real benefactor.
The grudges of the Penitent and Chazo were slowly reversed.
Zhong Wei had it all under control.
Autumn was approaching.
Zhong Wei returned from the 50th anniversary celebration of a racing club in a neighbouring city. The highway was closed for an hour due to an accident, and the long line of cars stretched for more than a thousand metres. Waiting was the best option, because the other road was remote and dangerous, and it would take too long to get there. However, Zhong Wei inexplicably wanted to take that road.
Halfway there,
but was stopped by a scarred-faced traffic police officer, ‘Maintenance ahead, please take the other road, any road is better than this one.’
Zhong Wei laughed lightly, pointing at the badge on the traffic police officer’s chest: ‘It’s fine if the hand signal is wrong. Every system has a unique badge, you’re wearing the wrong one, Mr. Fake Traffic Police Officer.’
The fake traffic police officer laughed loudly, ‘There’s a death race going on ahead, it’ll only take two cigarettes.’
The air in the wilderness is fresh and cold. Inhaling it into her lungs, her bloodstream became clear and her heart became clear. The scar-faced fake traffic cop described the death race at length, a game that outlaws like, a ruthless rich man uses money to build a bloody race track.
Scarface said that every year there are deaths and every race has injuries. People tempted by money only wake up when death is imminent, but it’s too late to regret.
Zhong Wei deeply understood this.
At that moment, Scarface received a phone call, his expression suddenly solemn, and he made a gesture to let them go: ‘Please, the road is clear.’
‘Something happened?’ Zhong Wei keenly sensed.
‘Yes, a 16-year-old kid, his car flipped over and he was injured here…’ Scarface gestured at the neck and sighed, ’I heard it’s pretty serious, probably hopeless. I’ve seen this kind of thing a lot. You be careful too, Mr. Hazza, ha, I recognised you right away, you’re handsome, and you’re even more handsome racing!’
‘Thank you, I value my life.”
Hearing such news, Zhong Wei felt very depressed. When she drove around a corner, she saw several people busy around a burning car. Someone was cursing, saying that the damned racecar driver had caused them to lose everything, and they might as well just die. Zhong Wei felt a pang in her heart, and slowly pulled over to the side of the road, feeling indescribably suffocated.
At that moment, her phone rang.
‘Mr Xia, Coach Lin called to say there’s been an accident with the exercise equipment. Ke Li was injured and has just been taken to hospital.‘
’I see.‘
’And you told me to pay attention to the clock, it suddenly sped up.’ The butler’s voice became panicked, ’The second hand is about to fly out, taking the minute and hour hands with it. It’s only been a few minutes, but it’s already 5 o’clock, 5:30! And it hasn’t stopped yet! Listen to the sound!’ Tic-tac-tac-tac-tac-tac-tac-tac-tac-tac-tac-tac-tac-tac-tac-tac-tac-tac-tac-tac-tac-tac-tac-tac-tac-tac-tac-tac-tac-tac-tac-tac-tac-tac-tac-tac-tac-tac-tac-tac-tac-tac-tac-tac-tac-tac-tac-tac-tac-tac-tac-tac-tac-tac-tac-tac-tac-tac-tac-tac-tac-tac-tac-tac-tac-tac-tac-tac-tac-tac-tac-t
Zhong Wei gripped the phone, her heart surging, her hands trembling uncontrollably.
‘They’ve stopped!’ the butler suddenly exclaimed.
Stopped? The clock had returned to normal? Would this task continue? Zhong Wei’s voice became weak: ‘Have they really stopped?’
‘Both the minute and hour hands have stopped.’
Zhong Wei let out a long sigh of relief, lowering her arms, her palms covered in sweat. He looked ahead, and the flames of the car were gradually dying down, and the onlookers were dispersing sparsely. The racer had already been sent to the hospital. At 16 years old, what a young life, no matter what, he must survive with strength. After reciting it many times in silence, Zhong Wei left.
The next day, Zhong Wei asked his assistant to find out the whereabouts of the racer. He was relieved to hear that he had been rescued, and sent another anonymous sum of money, as a way of helping out.

☆、Racing [6

[Racing chapter 6]
It is necessary to consider one’s ‘afterlife’. Otherwise, there may be another situation like ‘the hour hand racing’. Zhong Wei called a lawyer to arrange a will. As the only remaining heir of the Xia family, he cannot take Xia Zuo’s body and then leave behind a mess. After all, the world will continue to turn even after he is gone, just like the Jussa tribe before him.
Racing cars is one of the triggers that can cause indirect personality disorders. Once his blood pressure soared, Xia Zuo, who loved racing cars, became restless. Therefore, he had to say goodbye to the competition.
Soon after, Zhong Wei announced his retirement, which shocked the racing world and prompted a barrage of questions and regrets.
According to the system records, Xaozu also retired at a young age. The reasons were different, but the results were the same in both lives. He has since withdrawn from public life and runs the newly established Alton Club behind the scenes. Occasionally, he dips his toe into racing design due to his passion for it.
He doesn’t know that in a hospital bed,
The young Ningtin stared at the screen: ‘Why did you retire? I haven’t even got my revenge on you yet. I’m stronger than you, you just wait, I’ll definitely find you!’ He hated the man on the screen, who had so easily abandoned him. However, he couldn’t help but imitate everything he did: driving, lighting cigarettes, and living like a gentleman, all deeply ingrained in his mind.
The four-year contract was so long, it must have been heaven’s punishment for almost killing his companion.
Nin-Gung-Ting had secretly gone back to spy on them. His friends had all become members of the Alton Club. Ke-Li was especially close to Zhong-Wei, and Zhong-Wei seemed to be taking good care of Ke-Li. Nin-Gung-Ting was jealous, but he couldn’t question them, so he could only watch and follow them from afar, until he followed them to a psychiatric clinic.
Could it be that his illness has not yet healed?
Once before, he had occasionally heard Zhong Wei tell the housekeeper, ‘Never enter my house at night.’ Unable to contain his curiosity, he stole the key and snuck in. He saw Zhong Wei chained up, his body bowed like a shrimp, his arms hanging down, the silver chain on his wrist dragging on the ground. After following him a few times, Ningguting suspected that Xia Zuo had a double personality and would lose control at night. Unfortunately, he never saw him go out in the middle of the night again.
No wonder, he is paler than before.
Nigglestein put his hands on his head. He wanted to hate him, but why did it hurt so much? Never mind, let’s go back, the next round of Death Race is about to start. If it weren’t for the racing accident and his stay in the hospital, he would never have had the chance to squat in front of Xa’s house like this, glaring at him with resentment.
Tap, tap, tap!
A pair of leather shoes stopped in front of him. Ning Geting tilted his head up, and there was the person he had longed to see: cold, wanting to get close to, and even after being treated like that, inexplicably still lingering.
‘Why are you following me?’ Zhong Wei looked down on him condescendingly.
“I…’
‘Go back and tell Zhu Yicheng that if he does anything like this again, I won’t hold back! When the day comes when no club will take him in, he’ll be crying then! This is my last warning!’ Zhong Wei turned and left, his straight back cold and ruthless.
What? He didn’t recognise him? This was a real blow, and Ning Geting pressed the pieces of gauze on his face, dejected.
Time flew, and in the blink of an eye, more than a year had passed.
Eighteen-year-old Cory won his first championship, and he thanked Zhong Wei, who had supported him for six years, with tears in his eyes. Zhong Wei gladly accepted. He was not like Xiazhao. He had less hostility towards the ‘wolf cub’, and on the contrary, he always had a compassionate attitude towards the saved/penitent. As long as there was a happy ending, he could let go of the process.
Moreover, Zhong Wei really liked Cory’s straightforward and innocent personality.
They had lunch together.
During the conversation, Currie talked about his past in the slums. He had learned to fix cars since he was a child, and if he hadn’t been selected by ‘Alton Star’, he would never have known what it was like to be a racing champion. As he talked, the 18-year-old boy suddenly lost his voice and burst into tears. Zhong Wei was embarrassed and moved at the same time, and comfortingly patted Currie on the shoulder. Currie suddenly hugged him, unable to hold back his tears.
A puppy that has been well-raised: enthusiastic, cute and loyal.
Zhong Wei was very pleased.
The two of them left the restaurant, and suddenly the car alarm sounded. The window had been smashed. Angrily, Corey asked for the surveillance video. He saw a tall, thin man running away after smashing the window. The image was not very clear, and it didn’t look like an acquaintance. ‘Asshole! Don’t let me catch you! If I do, I’ll beat the crap out of you!’
What they didn’t know was that the man had run to an unoccupied corner in one go, and angrily punched the wall several times, regardless of the bleeding fingers.
A car pulled up on the roadside, with the voluptuous Raphael in the passenger seat: ‘Hey, Ningtin, get in.’
Ningtin’s face was expressionless.
Raphael smiles and says, ‘I was worried that the annual champion of the Death Race would get drunk from the excitement, but I never expected him to smash his car. Haha, that’s unexpected. Did you have fun smashing it? I think pouring petrol on it would have been more satisfying!’
‘I’ll buy you doing it!’
‘Hmph, I’m not going to do something that’s a losing bet. You obviously hate Xazot, so why did you smash his car instead of your childhood friend’s?’
“Shut up!’
‘If you don’t want to talk, fine, you little brat.‘ Raphael suddenly whistled. “Isn’t that Xaozuo in the car behind us? Hey, slow down a bit, let him catch up. Ningeting, turn your face to the outside so that he in the driver’s seat can see clearly that you are the champion he should cherish!”
’Shut up!”
However, Ningeting couldn’t help but turn to the right: the other person must be shocked to see his own face.
It was a red light, and the two cars stopped side by side.
Zhong Wei noticed the scorching gaze. He looked back, towards the source of the heat: a young man with unkempt hair, angular features, a high nose, clenching his lips and staring at him fixedly. Strange, but also indescribably familiar. After a brief exchange of glances, Zhong Wei withdrew his gaze and looked at the traffic lights.
Nigeting was instantly furious: so indifferent, and she didn’t recognise him at all? This time there was clearly no gauze covering his face!
‘Hey, isn’t this Xiazhuo?’ Raphael greeted enthusiastically.
‘Long time no see,’ Zhong Wei was polite.
‘You’ve retired? That’s a shame. I made a fortune betting on you those two years. See this car? Thanks to you. Raphael snapped his fingers. ‘As a thank you, how about coming to Raphael’s private party tonight? It’s a feast for the whole city!’
‘Thanks, but unfortunately I’m busy tonight.’ Zhong Wei slammed the accelerator and sped off.
He was so ruthless that he left a trail of dust behind him.
Raphael threw his hands up at the person in the back seat: ‘He is simply the most boring person I have ever met. It is said that he never goes out at night. Could it be that, as the rumours say, he has S.M tendencies and is handcuffed up like a crab every night? Should I raid his villa at night?’
Ningeting suddenly retorted, ‘No, he just doesn’t like going out at night.’
“Oh? Really?’
‘Of course. I stayed at the Xia family’s for a few months, and there was nothing abnormal about him. Your raid would be useless, and you would definitely be caught by the villa’s countless mechanisms. Don’t go!‘ Ningeting tensed his face.
’You’re afraid I’ll raid, aren’t you?‘ Raphael laughed heartily.
’…‘
’Well, why do you look like you’ve just tasted citric acid?‘
’He didn’t recognise me.’
‘Three years ago, the skinny little white chicken grew so tall and gained a bit of weight, and his appearance completely changed. If it were up to me, I would only think you had plastic surgery.”
Three years can change a lot. The newcomer in the Death Race: K.D/Ace Reaper, whose real name no one knows, has won countless bloody chips for Raphael at the cost of blood and lives, creating huge profits and an edge that no one can match.
Raphael sighed, ‘But one thing hasn’t changed. You still can’t bear to look him in the eye. Where’s the courage of the young man gone? If you show half the killer instinct you showed in the race, Chazot will take notice.’
‘Killer instinct?’
‘With Chazot, if you submit, he’ll never take you seriously. Provoke him once, and you’ll find him very interesting.’
Provoke him? I’ll wait for the right opportunity!
Like two stars shining brightly together.
More than a year passed, and at the age of 19, Ke Li’s domineering champion demeanour was in full display. Everyone praised Xa Zuo for having such good judgement in finding such an outstanding person. Zhong Wei was very gratified, and her feelings for Ke Li were like a carefully nurtured seedling. In his previous life, he had mistakenly killed his benefactor, being used by someone else rather than acting out of his own heart – compassion was the foundation of a saviour. If he didn’t have compassion in his heart, how could he repeatedly save repenters who had done despicable things?
Zhong Wei no longer participates in the competition, but she is still very busy. Occasionally, she stares at the task progress, but the 6 o’clock table clock never advances significantly again.
However, from experience, there is very little time left.
Because Cori was completely on the right track, with the idea that he would soon leave, Zhong Wei refused all interview invitations. Gradually, the few friends also lost contact, and Raphael occasionally came to visit. The other day, Raphael asked him to watch the death race again, but Zhong Wei still firmly refused.
Raphael was helpless: ‘I was entrusted to invite you. For him, it was the last race. You are too ruthless.’
“It’s the people watching that kind of race who are ruthless,’
That night, Zhong Wei’s eyelids were twitching furiously.
They were completely out of control, jumping faster and faster like a rabbit. A strong feeling came over her, and Zhong Wei called Ke Li, but there was no answer. Suddenly, the large clock started to chime loudly, and the second hand started spinning rapidly, almost spinning at a speed that would make it fly. It spun rapidly in circles, driving the minutes and hours to race along with it.
This was a frightening race against time.
No, the task is complete.
Zhong Wei sits in her chair, staring at the clock as it races by, her heart beating so hard it feels like it’s going to jump out of her chest. The task is complete, she should be happy. But why does she feel so dissatisfied? A strong sense of emptiness sweeps over her like a hurricane, and her chest suddenly hurts, like it’s being strangled.
The second hand races by.
The minute hand races.
The hour hand, ding, ding, ding, ding… In the blink of an eye, it has passed 11, and the minute hand has one lap, half a lap, a quarter of a lap, 10 minutes left… The hour hand is about to jump to 12.
No.
There’s still something unfinished.
Emptiness and loneliness, like the feeling of having been waiting a long time for someone to arrive but they never do! Stop, stop, something’s wrong! I want to stay in this world a little longer, I want to find out what the real problem is! Stop! Stop! I still want to stay in this world!
Drip! Click! Two crisp sounds, and the minute hand suddenly stopped.
There was only one minute left until 12 o’clock.
One minute.
Exhausted, Zhong Wei slumped over the table, gasping for breath. The butler, who was beside himself with fear, took out his calming pills and said, trembling, ‘Would you like to take a pill to calm down?’
At that moment, the phone rang, and a young voice belonging to Ke Li said, ‘Boss, I’m sorry, I’ve got into a bit of trouble, a small accident…’
Did this accident set the clock racing?
It was a serious accident.
Corey spent many days recovering in the best hospital, and was flattered to see Zhong Wei visit with flowers. Before Zhong Wei left, Corey took a red carnation from the bouquet and carefully inserted it into Zhong Wei’s pocket: ‘Boss, you look so good in red, I’ve always wanted to do this. I’m so lucky to have met you.’
In the corridor ahead, a man in a patient’s gown leaned against the wall, wearing a mask, his legs stretched out very long, taking up half the walkway. When he saw Zhong Wei, he didn’t shrink his legs back, as if he were deliberately blocking the way.
Just as Zhong Wei was about to step past, the man spoke, his voice low and hoarse: ‘I was injured too, very seriously.’
‘I’m sorry,’ Zhong Wei stopped, puzzled.
‘At that moment I thought I was going to die.’
“Life is not that fragile.’
‘I was one step away from freedom, but now I have nothing.‘
’As long as you are alive, you are not nothing. All you have to do is walk out of here, face reality, and change it. You will succeed, and I wish you a speedy recovery.’ Zhong Wei smiled and handed him the carnation from her pocket. Although she didn’t know what the man was frustrated about, she could never go wrong with encouragement.
The man’s eyes suddenly sparkled, and he extended his scarred hand to accept the red carnation from Dettol.
Everything should be sunny.
‘Xaozuo, I will defeat you,’ the man said as he turned and left.

☆、Racing [7

[Fast-forwarding Never Regret: Racing Chapter 7]
‘Xaozuo, I will defeat you,’ the man said as he turned and left.
The sun set, and Zhong Wei couldn’t help but laugh and cry. Was the purpose of this life’s journey to commit betrayal? He had clearly sent a carnation and words of encouragement with the best of intentions, so why did he get such a response? Could it be that Xaozuo had a predisposition to betrayal?
In the hospital room.
The man makes a phone call: ‘Raphael, please arrange a last race for me…within the deadline, winning the last race is better than continuing to be bound by the contract…I haven’t fully recovered…don’t worry, I’m the ace of death, I have confidence in victory.’ He strokes the bright petals of the flower, his mood softening.
After experiencing life and death, it is as if he has exchanged his life and death record with death.
Nigthting’s momentum was even more unstoppable. The racing car made a shrill sound in the dark night, reminding Raphael of the black rainbow drawn by Chazal’s black racing car in broad daylight a few years ago, which was equally imposing.
A life-and-death struggle.
Nin-Gung-Din was free.
The invisible shackles fell off in an instant.
Raphael put a hand on Nin-Gung-Din’s shoulder, curled his lips up in a seductive smile, and said, ‘I bet everything I had on you to turn the tables. I’ve been training you for four years, three and a half more than Chao, so how about a night with me?’
‘You’ve already received your monetary reward,’ Nin-Gung-Din brushed his hand away.
‘You want to go to Chazot? Save him, he has long since shut the door on guests and won’t see anyone, like an old man half in the grave. But, it seems, I’ve found the reason.’ Raphael pushed the headphones into Ngingtin’s ears. “I also understand why you love wandering around Chazot’s house at night, hahaha.”
The environment in the headphones was quiet.
The sound of chairs and tables moving, drawers opening, a pen being dropped and picked up, a knock on the door, a greeting from a stranger, indistinct small talk. The visitor shifts his chair and sits close to the bug. Suddenly the voice is clear: ‘Doctor, I’ve been feeling much worse lately. I haven’t slept well for days.’
Is that Xazes?
Is Xazor consulting a psychologist?
Nigglin pushed the headphones into his ears to hear more clearly.
Xazor: ‘Think of it as paranoia: that remaining minute is like a sword hanging over my head. I look at it every day, hoping it will plunge down. However, it doesn’t. I’m not afraid of death, but I hate being just one step away from it. It’s hard, to just let it happen.’
Doctor: ‘So you have to forget that one minute exists.’
Chazot: ‘I’ve tried, but it’s hard.’
Doctor: ‘Even indulging in pleasure doesn’t help?’
Chazot: ‘The anticipation of death consumes all enthusiasm. Even when I’m enjoying myself, I can’t let go of this feeling.’
The coffee cup made a dull sound as it rested on the table. After saying thank you, Chazot drank his coffee, and a small sigh escaped his lips as their lips met. In Ningtin’s mind, he imagined him sipping coffee, his eyebrows slightly furrowed, which was extremely charming.
Doctor: ‘I still suggest you find a lover, time will pass more quickly.’
Chazot: ‘Impossible.’
Doctor: ‘Why?’
Chazot: ‘There is no such person. He likes me, and I like him. Even if there were, I couldn’t bear to see him get hurt in the end.’
His voice was full of sadness, like the sky covered in snow on the coldest winter day.
Doctor: ‘Do you sleep with the chains on?’
Chazot: ‘Never taken them off.’
Doctor: ‘Try going out in the middle of the night. You’ll see that the dark is not scary at all.’
Chazot: ‘Maybe.’
After a few idle words, Chazot got up to say goodbye, and the chair squeaked as he pushed it out.
The doctor suddenly said, ‘What if it was me?’
Chazot: ‘…’
Doctor: ‘Try spending that remaining minute with me, it will be different. Psychiatrists and patients are not supposed to develop feelings. I’m sorry, I’ve overstepped my bounds, but I hope you’ll give it a try.’
Don’t say yes!
Don’t say yes! Don’t say yes!
Nin-Gting’s heart was beating wildly, holding his breath in a suffocating pause.
After about half a minute, he heard the person he had been longing to hear say, ‘Sorry, it’s not my style to just find someone to fill in. By the way, it’s worth reminding you that this room is bugged.’
Doctor: ‘…’
The sky suddenly cleared.
Nin-Gwen listened to the conversation inside over and over again, not even missing a breath. She had long known that the man had a slight mental illness, ‘a slight case of paranoia, a slight case of split personality, a dark tendency to wait for destruction.’ Those eyes that looked down on the world concealed an inner fragility.
She clearly hated him.
Why did she want to protect him?
Lying on the bed, Negretin rolled around, hugging the quilt, full of resentment. At that moment, Raphael’s message came through, saying that Chazot was annoyed by the harassment and agreed to come face-to-face to talk about the Death Race tomorrow—as Raphael had suggested, Negretin baited him with provocation.
Negretin was suddenly excited, and the imagined scenario came rushing at him.
The long-awaited race!
Defeat that man!
The resentment of being abandoned, the obsession in my heart can be let go from now on! Even if I am schizophrenic, that man’s strength will always be there! Just one victory, the past, and goodbye!
Curly has won another tournament, and people are talking enthusiastically about this new star and the ever-more-successful Alton Club, which has won consistently well in its five years of existence. The buzz reaches the far corners of the pub. Raphael is as seductive as ever, and stretches out his leg to touch the tall Niggerting: ‘You could have replaced Curly as world champion. Hey, Chazzo let a gold mine get away.’
‘He doesn’t care.‘
Whether it was a motivational technique, the “ace of death”, or the death champion for three consecutive years, that person simply ignored it.
’Haha, can you understand that you still care? In fact, Xazor was in a bad way at the time: betrayed by his fiancée and brother, how could he allow his pet dog to bite back?‘
’I never betrayed him.‘
’Maybe,’ Raphael shrugged.
‘He took his hatred of Zhu Yicheng and indiscriminately transferred it to me, not allowing me to explain. I thought that if I won against him, he would be happy, but now I understand: he was still in love with his lover, and used this method to break them up.’ That person, knowing the power of money to consume like a black hole, gave the money he won from Zhu Yicheng back, and a huge sum of money completely broke up the two of them, which was very clever.
‘Look at it from a positive perspective. He just used money to make them see each other clearly.‘
’I hate him!‘
’…‘
’It’s hate that has kept me alive in this death race time and time again. The closer I get to this moment, the more alive I feel.’ It’s like gulping down a mouthful of beer, choking in your throat, unable to swallow, and in that instant, you deeply feel their presence.
Raphael smiled: ’Hypocrites.’
Before long, a man wearing a grey hat walked in. He looked around, walked precisely to the table where the two were sitting, and his eyes widened dramatically: ‘Long time no see, Raphael.’
‘Chazot, you’re even more attractive than six months ago, although this bar really doesn’t suit your status…’ Raphael glanced at Ningtin.
Ningtin held out his hand: ‘Mr. Chazot.’
Zhong Wei instinctively shook his hand, his palm feeling very hot. This young man, with his sculpted, cool face, deep, handsome features, and dark blue shirt, was completely out of place in the frivolous, happy atmosphere of the bar. It was as if they had met before, but she couldn’t quite remember where. Without waiting for an introduction, Zhong Wei turned to Raphael and got straight to the point: ‘As I said, I have no interest in so-called death races, and I definitely won’t take part. If you send me another invitation like this, I’ll cross your name off my guest list forever.’
Raphael raised his arm and smiled, ‘You’ve got it all wrong. It’s him I want to race against, our ace racer: K.D.’
‘I’m not interested in anyone,’
Zhong Wei was about to leave when his arm was suddenly grabbed with a strong force. A determined voice said, ‘Mr. Xia, I’m Ningteting, it’s time to settle our score!’
‘What account?‘
He had even forgotten his own name. Ningtin’s anger surged: “When I was twelve, I was selected by the Alton Star, and I gave up the path of an ordinary person, dedicating my life to racing. However, four years ago, you expelled me from the club and made me homeless. I will prove with my strength that you were so wrong.”
’…It was you?’
A powerful sense of hatred washed over him, and Zhong Wei felt a familiar vibe for the first time.
The confessor!
Nin’gting is the confessor!
This one is the true white-eyed wolf cub. After all this time, the confessor still hates his benefactor? But you betrayed me first, and you have the nerve to accuse me? You talk about being displaced and expelled, but you clearly paid a large sum of money as an extra performance bond in good faith. As long as you don’t squander it, it will be more than enough for you until you’re thirty. You’re repaying a favour with a grudge. Is human nature really that greedy? Zhong Wei felt dizzy and tingling.
‘Mr Xia, you once said: if someone provokes you, you should take it on, and only then can you be considered a man.’ Ningguting raised an unamused smile.
‘Raphael, you arrange it.’ Zhong Wei put on her hat and turned to leave.
Ningguting sat down in a daze. He had anticipated this moment countless times, considered countless possibilities, and anticipated thousands of conversations. However, in the end, he only managed to say one useful thing – no, what hurt even more was the other person’s forgetfulness and indifference, making the persistent self seem so foolish.
Raphael shrugged his shoulders: ‘I told you, provocation worked on him, and using the name Ningeting was a surefire way to get a reaction. He really hates being betrayed.’
‘I hate him.’
‘What needs to be emphasised over and over again is all false. Hmph, the lovestruck fool, is he still lingering outside the Xia family’s door tonight? His treatment clearly states that he should be locked up every day, I don’t know what you’re expecting.’
‘Maybe he can’t sleep tonight?’
12 o’clock at night.
Zhong Wei was in a terrible mood. Even if human nature is fundamentally evil, there should be a bottom line, right? What do they all want, with their deep hatred? The more she thought about it, the more annoyed she became. She changed into some clothes and went out for a walk. She had never enjoyed the night before, for fear that Xia Zuo’s spirit would suddenly come out and scare people. Today was really annoying, and she didn’t feel Xia Zuo’s willpower at all, it was all Zhong Wei’s own anger.
In the noisy night, people reveal another side of themselves: the strong reveal depression, the optimistic reveal despondency, and the timid become unrestrained.
Leaning against the exterior wall of the tavern,
Zhong Wei lights a cigarette and exhales a white mist with a sigh. Revenge, always revenge, entangled with hatred for lifetimes, can’t you do something more useful besides revenge? Suddenly, a person stops in front of her: it’s actually Ninggeting.
Ningeting stared at Zhong Wei, getting closer and closer.
What did this wolf cub want, a sneak attack? A frontal sneak attack? Zhong Wei exhaled smoke rings without changing his expression. The dark colour made him look extremely disoriented, as if his soul had been lost.
Ningeting suddenly said, ‘Where do you want to go?’
“Nowhere.’
‘Why don’t we go in for a drink? You like it here best.‘ Ningtin pointed inside the bistro.
’I don’t want a drink.‘
’Does your body want to let loose?‘
’No.”
Ningtin was still probing Zhong Wei’s expression: ’Do you want to take a chance? I know a really interesting place.’
Zhong Wei had heard this question before. Not long after the soul transfer, Xiazhuo left the soul without permission and was led to a casino by someone who used exactly the same words to lure him. Not only did Ninggutin follow him, he also remembered everything—he thought he was the soul-left Xiazhuo? Zhong Wei was in a daze until Ninggutin removed the cigarette from her finger.

☆、Racing [8

[Racing Chapter 8]
‘Going?’
‘No. I don’t like it.’
Nigeting pressed up, almost knocking him against the wall. ‘Mr Xia, where exactly are you going?’
Zhong Wei asked in return, ‘Where do you want to take me?’
Ningtin was taken aback for a moment, and a smile crept onto the corner of his mouth. ‘There is the most beautiful road in the world called the Road of Death. Every car that crashes will shine as brightly as a star. Do you want to go?’ It is said that this kind of thing is an attraction for people with dark moods, hoping to hook them.
The Road of Death?
Zhong Wei almost suspected she had heard it wrong. Could it be that the Ningeting also had a tendency to self-destruct? Among the remaining fragments of the system, the last words of the confessor’s heart were ‘It’s just right to die this way, better than regretting your whole life.’ However, right now he is still in the ‘wanting revenge’ stage, not the ‘regret’ stage.
In order to complete the mission, she needs to get close to and understand the confessor.
Zhong Wei nodded slowly.
Zhong Wei got out of the car at the top of the high mountain. The long wind blew past her body, blowing away her depressed mood. It was truly a rare opportunity to look down on the city’s luminous nightscape like a starry sky in the wind. Each time she crossed, it was a short period of a few months, and it was not more than a few years, and there were only a handful of decades. Walking through the entanglements of people’s grievances and grudges, it was inevitable to become tired.
Zhong Wei walked slowly towards the cliff, wanting to see more clearly.
“Don’t go over there,’
Ngingtin grabbed Zhong Wei’s wrist, and Zhong Wei winced in pain. Recently, her emotions have been unstable, and she has dropped the leather covering her handcuffs, which has resulted in injury to her wrist. Ngingtin noticed, let go of her hand, turned around, rummaged on the seat, and came back with a small bottle of medicine, holding her wrist and trying to apply it. Zhong Wei shook it off, and Ngingtin shook the bottle: ‘It’s new, I wouldn’t use this trick if I wanted to harm you.’
The wound hissed with pain.
After applying the medicine, Ngingtin blew gently on it, and it felt cool.
Being treated like this, Zhong Wei felt a strange feeling, a distant yet familiar memory. It had rained yesterday, and the ground was damp. Ngingtin spread out the moisture-proof air mattress and they sat together, watching the stars twinkle. Zhong Wei’s nerves were not only not on alert, but inexplicably relaxed. His willpower was fading, like a shooting star melting into the azure night sky.
His rational mind told him to leave.
But his body remained motionless, as if in love. Had Chazot’s willpower returned?
Finding an excuse to get some rest, Zhong Wei closed his eyes, rested his head on his bent knees, and let the fatigue take over. He fell into a sweet dream, not knowing when his sitting posture had turned into a comfortable lying position, his body stretched out, and his hand, which had been grasped, felt very warm.
The warmth
It slowly spread across his face, as the sun shone in through the sides of the tent that had been pulled up. Zhong Wei lazily lifted the back of his hand to cover his eyes – he had no recollection of how he had ended up in the tent last night. Not far away, Ningguting stared at him fixedly. Zhong Wei rubbed his face hard, straightened his clothes, took a deep breath, and returned to normal. He quickly gathered up the tent and threw it into the car: ‘Let’s go.’
Along the way, there was only music.
‘Chazot, don’t you remember me at all?‘ The Xia family home was soon in sight, and Ngingtin spoke. They had met a few times before, most recently at the hospital, and although he had deliberately worn a mask because his face was so swollen and ugly, his voice should have left an impression.
’…‘
’Or have you never remembered?”
After getting out of the car, Zhong Wei only said, ’Tell Raphael that the competition can be held any day in a month.’
Ngingtin gazed at his back. If it had been daytime, this person would never have followed him to the top of the mountain without any precautions. Now that he’s awake, he doesn’t even ask what happened, and he doesn’t even say thank you. He’s really open-minded when it comes to other people’s help. Last night, I carried him into the tent, lay down next to him, and watched his sweet sleeping face. I was so happy that I didn’t even think to hate him until the morning.
A competition a month from now? When she got home, Ngingtin fell asleep.
Win!
…win the victory that I have been dreaming of for five years!
…prove to him with my strength that he is wrong, utterly wrong!
…I can stop hating with all my might, and look at him with contempt!
It was drizzling, and the road was slippery and blurry. It was the terrible road conditions that terrified all the racers, and for the Death Race track, it was like hell had opened its bloody mouth. However, the person he hated and loved at the same time remained expressionless, with a hanged corner of the eye, never looking at him directly – Ningtin was so angry, so sad, so wanted to run over to him and yell.
A rare two-person duel in a death race.
Ningtin drove the car, flying through the corners like flying, leaving the other person far behind. However, he was very depressed, ‘Why is he running so slowly? If he is so slow, does it even matter if I win?’
Suddenly, the other man accelerated.
In the rain, he sped along like an arrow. ‘So fast, that’s the way that person drives. This kind of victory gives meaning to five years of hatred.’ Ningguting’s heart also soared, and everything followed. A big red bird swooped down and dove backwards.
Suddenly, bang!
The deafening sound resounded across the track. Ngingtin slammed on the brakes, turned around, and there was a red blaze, with flying debris. ‘Is he dead? No, how could he die? How could he die so easily?’ Ngingtin suddenly lost his senses and just desperately shouted, trying hard to push aside all obstacles to pick him up.
This person, his eyes were closed.
The man he hated and yet loved even more, his neck was bleeding profusely, and the blood ran down his fingers like water. Ningeting opened his mouth, but the wind prevented him from making a sound. How many times had this happened? How many times had he died in his arms? No, this was not fate! Ningeting finally managed to cry out in grief, ‘Zhong Wei, Zhong Wei, Zhong Wei…’
Ah!
Phew!
Nin-Gting suddenly woke up, grabbed the blanket and breathed desperately. The dream was still vivid in his mind, full of blood on his hands, and a vague name. Why wasn’t it Xiazhuo, what was the name… why couldn’t he remember? An uncontrollable dizziness made his head buzz.
He just wanted to win once.
He didn’t want him to die.
Why did he feel the urge to cry, when it was obviously just a dream and he was clearly no longer a fifteen-year-old child… Nin-Gting’s eyes brimmed with tears.
Friday.
As scheduled, Niggerting met with the psychiatrist, but didn’t know what to say when he entered the room. Such things cannot be said with fanfare. The doctor noticed his hesitation: ‘Please forgive me for being presumptuous, but it seems that you have been repressing your emotions. Your body has never been able to release itself properly, and I mean that kind of release!’ He glanced at the crotch.
Not expecting such a sharp and direct response, Niggerting awkwardly changed his position by crossing his legs. ‘For my age and my profession, well, it’s not possible for me to be too indulgent.’
‘It’s still a physical problem, isn’t it?‘
’…‘
’Why can’t you get an erection?‘
Ah! The secret he was trying so hard to hide had been easily uncovered! The other person was a monster who could read people’s minds! Well, it was good that he no longer had to make an effort to hide it. Ngingtin felt relieved despite his embarrassment: “Because of dreams.”
’Can you tell me more?‘
’…’
‘The most important thing in psychotherapy is honesty. If you don’t open up, I won’t be able to find a radical solution.‘
’When I was fifteen, I had my first wet dream. The first 90% was very beautiful, the kind where you’re just happy to be embracing someone, doing whatever position you want. But at the most happy moment, the other person suddenly died very calmly, in my arms. It was like I had… You know, after repeating the dream a few times, I never got hard again.‘
’A real person?’
‘No, I couldn’t see his face clearly.‘
’Have you tried medication?‘
’I tried it, but it didn’t work. Then I got too busy to worry about it. Cough.‘ Niggerting tried to cover up his tracks.
’It’s because you haven’t met the person you want to do it with.‘
’…‘
’You were fifteen, that was four years ago. Why are you only consulting a doctor now?‘
’Last night, I dreamt about him again.‘
’Hm?‘
’This time I saw his face clearly.’
In previous dreams, there was no bloodshed, but it was the same person, and the image of those eyes closed forever was repeated many times. It was heart-rending, frightening, and painful, as if he had abandoned her forever. No matter how hard she tried, life just slipped away in her arms.
The doctor was silent for a while, and then said, ‘Did he die in your arms again? I’m sorry, is he someone who actually exists?’
‘Yes.’
‘Four years ago, was it also him who inspired you to have this dream for the first time?’
“Yes.’
‘Then don’t do anything to hurt him. There are many ways to love someone, don’t let yourself regret it. This may not be responsible, but I suggest you go see that person again and talk to him. It would be much better,’ the doctor suggested.
It was supposed to be a relaxing Friday as the weekend approached.
But uninvited guests kept coming.
‘Doctor, I’m very sick. I can’t eat or sleep, and I don’t even have the energy to smile. I’ve loved two people, but the second one fell in love with the first one. What should I do?‘ Raphael leaned against the doorframe, looking listless.
’There’s a medicine called ‘love transfer’. One dose and you’ll be cured for life,’ the doctor said, rolling her eyes.
Death racing, a desperate game in search of thrills. The Death Raceway is not a standard racetrack, and is famous for its dangers. Potholes appear from time to time, and if you’re not careful, the entire car will be airborne. Parts of the track face the mountains and the sea, with a large altitude difference, and there are many narrow curves, which often cause the car to lose control and crash through the thin guardrail. Here, technique is much more important than speed.
Zhong Wei drove alone to the Death Raceway.
It had rained, and the air was fresh and lovely.
But it’s terrible for high-speed racing cars, as it makes them prone to skidding and makes it impossible to control speed and direction. The slightest error can be fatal. Fortunately, Zhong Wei was just familiar with the road conditions and wasn’t driving very fast. There were very few cars on this stretch of road, and the occasional car that did speed by had to turn back to stare at the eye-catching racing car.
Just then, a black racing car sped up from behind and easily overtook Zhong Wei.
It’s Ngingting again!
This wolf cub, that day I met him, he looked full of hatred, but the night he took me up the mountain, he was harmless, it really made people suspicious. Zhong Wei kept driving at the same speed, but Nging Ting slowed down and deliberately provoked Zhong Wei by driving in an enchanting ‘S’ shape in front of him. Zhong Wei laughed. Is this guy still a child? Does he think that if he drives in an ‘S’ shape or gives the middle finger, he will lose his head and chase after him for a moment of pleasure?
But, it really annoyed her.
It had been a straight road, so Zhong Wei couldn’t help but increase her speed.
In the midst of the white mist, after chasing for a while, suddenly, Ninggeting’s turn signal flashed several times in a row. Zhong Wei was startled, and quickly turned the steering wheel. It turned out to be a dangerous turn. There was a squeaking sound, and the skidding tires finally returned to normal after the sharp turn.
That was close!
Zhong Wei was shocked and broke out in a cold sweat.
A sharp turn after a long straight road is the most likely place for an accident, not to mention the slippery road conditions. Ahead, the speed of the Ningting slowed down. It could handle this death road well even in the fog and rain, worthy of being the ace reaper, a formidable opponent.
After reaching the top, it started to circle back and drive downhill.
At this time, it started to rain.
The car in front of Ningting was always close, and Zhong Wei was a little annoyed. Seeing a small three-storey hotel by the roadside, she stopped the car. Hearing the sound of knocking on the table, the man at the front desk looked up sleepily with a scar on his face – it was actually the fake traffic police officer, Mo Sen, who had stopped Zhong Wei a few years ago.
What a coincidence.
Moson still had a five-o’clock shadow and a cigarette hanging from his lips. ‘Who the hell would be bored enough to eat and sleep in this godforsaken place and at this time of year? The previous owner found it boring and left, leaving a bunch of stuff behind that there was nowhere to throw away. I’m not doing anything, so I might as well take it over. Chazaux, grilling is a bit more convenient. What do you fancy?’
‘…’
Moson opened the fridge. ‘I said, come and give me a hand. Don’t be shy. Make yourself at home.’
‘Oh, I’ll just sit down then.‘
’You’re such a pain, this isn’t the Alton Club.”
There wasn’t much food, just air-dried beef, sausages, salad and various desserts, nothing like the simplicity of a small hotel. The sizzling sound of the barbecue reached her stomach before the smell did, but Mosen had grossly overestimated the two of them, and there was still a third of it left after they’d finished. Sitting on the half-worn sofa, Zhong Wei was extremely happy. On a day like this, it was just fine to laze around.
‘Do you want to stay the night? It’ll be dangerous to go down the mountain in this weather. It seems like the street lamps are out too. Of course, if you insist, that’s fine.’ Mo Sen took out a cigarette.
‘Sure.’
‘I thought you’d say no.’
“Why?’
‘Because you have a thousand-mile-away aura about you.‘ Moson leaned over with a cigarette in his mouth, his eyes close, “Light it up.”
Knock, knock.
The two turned around at the same time, and there at the door stood Nergin, with dripping hair.
☆、Racing Cars [9]

[Fast-Forward: Never Regret · Racing Cars · Chapter 9]
’K.D, what are you doing here?’ Moseng skillfully greeted him. K.D., the ace of death, was Ningguting’s nickname, and only Raphael knew his real name. Moseng brought out the remaining barbecue and desserts, and Ningguting cut up the meat and ate as if nothing had happened. Outside, the rain was getting heavier and heavier, with an alarming momentum that seemed to flood the entire mountain.
The atmosphere was getting more and more tense.
‘Moseng, which room can I rest in?’ Zhong Wei got up.
The small hotel was not big, and it didn’t take more than a few minutes to walk to any corner. It was clean everywhere, and Mosen said proudly, ‘Auntie Delin loves cleanliness. If she wasn’t going downhill to treat her toothache, she definitely wouldn’t let you come in with your shoes dripping wet. The K.D I just mentioned is the reigning champion of death racing. I bet on him every time, and that’s how I won the money for the hotel. Xiazhuo, you know him, right? Haha, if you don’t, you’re just being deliberately blind.’
‘Yes. Not really.‘
’But K.D. really admires you.‘ Mosen leaned casually against the door and switched back to chatter mode. “He follows your races with great interest, of course, when you weren’t retired a few years ago. He has a picture of you in his car, you’re his only idol.”
’I’m the idol of many people.’
‘Hahaha, you’re breaking the hearts of the little car fans when you say that. The tap on the left is hot water, of course it’s not too hot, just enough for a shower. If you’re a germaphobe, there’s a whole new set of bed linen in the cupboard, extra charge, not cheap, of course it’s up to you what you can afford, I’ve got to go downstairs and have a chat with my money god.’ Mosen left in style.
Zhong Wei had a shower.
While changing into the new bed linen, she heard the ticking of a clock. It was a small frog alarm clock on the table. Zhong Wei leaned against the window and smoked. Outside the window was a dark forest. Her thoughts were in a whirl: When Ningguting was expelled, Zhong Wei was struggling with Xiazhao for willpower. Her split nerves were like broken strings, which would snap if pulled.
Da! Da!
Zhong Wei turned to the door.
The door was pushed open and Ninge Ting walked in: ‘Sorry, I’ve come to the wrong room.’ He said he’d made a mistake, but then closed the door and walked towards Zhong Wei.
‘What is it?’ Zhong Wei changed position.
‘A piece of debris has pierced a hole in your left rear wheel. You can ask your assistant to bring up a spare tyre.’ Ninge Ting casually picked up a cigarette on the table, took one out and held it at the corner of his mouth.
“Didn’t you break it?’
Ningting was taken aback, his teeth clenching around the cigarette: ‘…the road was already full of potholes and broken glass… Has anyone ever told you that I was innocent five years ago?’
‘Are you recanting your confession?’
‘Five years ago, I was young and couldn’t corner you like this and make you listen to me.’ Ningting’s left hand was propped against the window frame, ‘I would approach your car, not because I was told to by anyone, but because I wanted to. I was more afraid of you having an accident than you were.’
‘Is that so?‘
’All six of us have been threatened by Zhu Yicheng, saying that we must never help you, and that we will be expelled immediately if we are found out. At that time, I was young, and I admit that I was scared, so I only dared to secretly check your car. When I discovered the problem with your car, you happened to be talking to Raphael about something, so I thought, ‘Let’s secretly replace the parts, as long as no one finds out. “” Ningguting raised an amused eyebrow, ’Pretty silly, isn’t it? I never thought you would find out.’
Zhong Wei leaned to one side, side out of Ningtin’s bonds, stubbed out her cigarette, and looked back at Ningtin, her eyes wide: ‘It’s been five years, there are no witnesses, no eye-witnesses, no clues, you are both the plaintiff and the judge, do you think I will admit to this crime?’
‘Isn’t that so?‘
’My fiancée accuses me of not sparing her husband at the last minute; Zhu Yicheng rebukes me for having amassed a great deal of wealth without doing anything; they both have good reasons, and now you are not far behind.‘ Zhong Wei’s mouth curled up in a mocking arc.
’I’m not accusing you.‘
’Then get out of my sight!’
Ningguting suddenly grabbed his hand and said loudly, ‘You take out your hatred for Zhu Yicheng on me. I admire you so much, but you kicked me out like I was a dog!’
“Let go of me!’
‘You haven’t changed at all! Why, if you can forgive them, can’t you even look at me?’ Ningguting’s young face was both angry and sad.
Zhong Wei was momentarily lost in thought, as if she were seeing the old boy again, following behind her, cheerfully calling out “Mr Xia”. In an instant, she had left, weeping because of betrayal. She could forgive so many people, so why not him? Because those people betrayed Xia Zuo, and Ningguting betrayed himself, that’s why he was so angry.
As he watched, Zhong Wei’s eyes went from anger to sadness.
Nin-Gerting’s heart softened instantly. Yes, he hated this person, but again and again, his body defied his desire to hate and he couldn’t help but approach him. Because he didn’t want to hate. Even though he had been treated so badly, his heart couldn’t help but want to defend him. No, he hadn’t come here to hate, but to be close to him. As long as they could be like they used to be, what did the pain of the past four years matter?
‘I’m not here to accuse you, I just want you to accept me again,’ said Ngingtin softly.
His face was as gentle as that of a large dog, innocent but without further explanation.
Was it a wrong judgment back then?
Zhong Wei unconsciously reached out and stroked the aggrieved face.
Suddenly, nothing mattered. Zhong Wei thought, if there really was some kind of betrayal, just consider him young. Ngingtin thought, even if he had been abandoned, so what, being stroked like this was enough.
Knock, knock, knock.
Zhong Wei suddenly let go of her hand, and Ngingtin reluctantly let go as well.
Moser, who had pushed the door open, coughed. ‘I never thought this door was really broken. Oh dear, no one has been here for so long that these things feel worthless and break on their own? I’m telling you, K.D., there are only two bathrooms in the hotel, and the communal bathroom is downstairs.’
‘I know.’
‘Well, I thought you didn’t know. And, Schazzo, it’s rained, it’s cold at night, you must cover up well, arms, legs…’ Moser touched his nose.
‘Why can’t you wait until tomorrow to tell me? You’re so annoying!’ said Ngingtin, blushing.
After being drenched by the rain, the forest exuded a damp, resinous fragrance. The cool air soothed her body and calmed her nerves. The assistant arrived early to change the tyres. Zhong Wei said goodbye to Mosen, who said that K.D. had gone to buy cheese. ’Neither K.D. nor I like cheese, but he went all the way down the mountain for you. My idol, take care of the emotions of the little car fan, haha, it won’t take long.’ Without permission, he dragged Zhong Wei back, and the assistant also went into the hotel to wait.
Ningguting soon returned.
He brought back a rich and varied breakfast, more than enough for ten people. Mosen unceremoniously started eating: ’You finally changed your ways, kid. In the past, you never thought about buying breakfast after living here for three months and eating and staying for free. Hey, this pizza…’
Nigglin grabbed it and put it on Zhong Wei’s plate.
Mosen punched him in the face: ‘You think this is rare? So what if I eat it! You never buy an extra one!’
Zhong Wei smiled happily, took a bite, and the delicious flavours of the beef, tomatoes and peppers all came together on the tip of his tongue. He remembered when he first moved here, he was obsessed with this dish, and it was served every morning. Thinking about it, he really missed it.
He really likes it. Ngingtin takes his eyes off the food and turns to his bespectacled assistant. Suddenly, he is taken aback. Isn’t this the person who sent the anonymous donation cheque four years ago? At the time, he went to a lot of trouble to find the figure on the security camera and has never forgotten it. Ngingtin is both surprised and delighted, and asks him immediately. The assistant pushes his glasses up and suddenly understands: ‘You’re the racing driver who was injured when your car caught fire!’
“That’s right. Thanks to your sponsorship, I was able to receive good treatment!’
‘No, it was Mr Xia who arranged it,‘ the assistant quickly said, waving his hands.
’Huh?”
It was Xia Zuo’s unintentional action that saved Ning Geting. When they thought about it, everyone remembered the incident. It was really a terrible coincidence that the people involved were all here. You have to understand that at that time, Ning Geting’s potential had not yet been fully discovered and was not valued by Raphael. With such a serious injury, without that sum of money, it would have been impossible to receive such good treatment.
Nin-Gting was overcome with emotion: ‘The last time I was seriously injured, I was depressed, and it was Mr Xia who sent me the carnations to heal me.’
Zhong Wei was puzzled: ‘So it was you that time too?’
Everything fell into place like a rope in water. Every major leap forward in the watch was a time when Nin-Gting’s life was at stake. It happened to overlap with Ke Li’s injury, which made Zhong Wei negligent. Was it fate? Or was it man-made, or was it a systematic arrangement? Did the system dig a big hole for itself?
As she watched Zhong Wei’s car speeding away, Mo Sen nudged Ningtin’s arm: ‘What are you pretending? If it were me, I would have caught up with her a long time ago.’
‘You know nothing,’ Ningtin said, glaring at him.
“I don’t? Who went over there in the middle of the night and broke down the door? Ha, I’ve been eavesdropping for a long time, and I don’t know what you’re dawdling about. At a time like that, you should just say one word: go! Don’t hold back, just go, and go so hard that he won’t have the energy to walk out of here today! And, just now, it was so fated, so why didn’t you take the opportunity to hold onto his big… thigh? ‘ Mosen was heartbroken.
’…”
The sun thinned the fog.
Nothing can withstand investigation, and once you investigate, you’ll see the whole picture.
Zhu Yicheng’s attitude towards Zhong Wei was still bad, but he was very open and said that he had never taken advantage of children. Ke Li and the other little friends also said that Zhu Yicheng had asked them to remain neutral and not help Xiazhao. Ke Li was quite apologetic: ‘At the beginning, Brother Yicheng asked me to find out some things. Ninggeting said that you would go out in the middle of the night, so I told him. But after that, there was nothing more.’
Ninggeting was indeed being wronged.
As for him being on the streets,
Zhong Wei couldn’t help but doubt the former butler’s role, and soon found the former butler who had moved the house. When questioned, the old butler told the whole truth: because he owed a large amount of external debt, he had become greedy and embezzled the 3 million, giving Ningguting only 10,000. Zhong Wei suddenly understood, and said that’s why the little wolf cub was so angry. If Raphael hadn’t come to the rescue, who knows, Ningguting might really have ended up on the streets.
Zhong Wei felt very guilty.
At the car show, there were beautiful women and great cars everywhere. Ningeting studied the functions of the various racing cars when a white-haired old man suddenly came up to him, his eyes darting. Ningeting suddenly remembered that he was the former butler of the Xia family: ‘You’re looking for me?’
The butler fumbled and pulled out a card: ‘This belongs to you…’
The truth came to light, and Ning Jinting’s face turned pale instantly. The anger and grievances that had built up over the past four years exploded at that moment. He swung his fist and knocked the old butler to the ground. The people nearby saw what happened and quickly pulled him back, but Ning Jinting broke free and kicked him hard. At that moment, someone grabbed his hand, and Ning Jinting was about to struggle to shake it off, but it was Zhong Wei.
“Enough, it’s not going to do you any good if he dies.’
‘How can you say that? What kind of life have I had for the past four years? Now do you believe me? I have never betrayed you.’ Ngingtin turned around and embraced Zhong Wei, his voice choking with emotion.
The days of living on the edge, the days of despairing at being abandoned, the days of desperately repressing love and turning it into hatred.
‘I’m sorry, it’s all my fault. I took all my suspicions and hatred out on you.‘ Zhong Wei lowered her eyes. Although there was also the factor of being too split, he didn’t want to shirk any responsibility.
’Is saying you’re sorry enough?‘ Ninggeting’s resentment was more like a petulance.
’So what do you want?‘
’Just like before.‘
’Huh?’ Zhong Wei raised an eyebrow in confusion.
‘Just like when you said I belonged to you, eating together, training together, treating me like the closest person…well, making me a member of the Alton Club…and, don’t be biased, don’t treat Curly differently just because he’s the champion…let me think, don’t suspect me for no reason! You’ll never find someone more loyal than me!’ Ngingting bit his teeth, then suddenly smiled. All the pent-up anger vanished, because Zhong Wei was not cold-blooded. This was much more important than the money. He took Zhong Wei’s hand and placed it by his mouth, kissing it slowly. ‘Don’t say sorry again in the future. I’m very happy to be back by your side, Mr Xia.’
Infected by the tenderness, Zhong Wei’s heart instantly fell to the ground.

☆、Racing [10

[Fast-forwarding Never Regret: Racing Chapter 10]
Over Ningeting’s shoulder, she saw a new black car shining with the radiance of obsidian. The streamlined design resembled the arc of a panther pouncing on its prey. Zhong Wei thought, ‘Money is vulgar, but I can’t think of a better way. I’ll make up for it with this car that he’s been eyeing for a long time.’
The car was also given to him.
The club contract was also signed.
He also tacitly allowed Ningtin to come and go as he pleased at the Xia family home.
Before they knew it, rumours were spreading that Zhong Wei was the mistress of Jin. Ningtin never denied it, and he even liked his position as a kept man very much. He could freely prevent anyone from getting close to Zhong Wei. Even Ke Li was furious: ‘You’re getting out of hand, kid. We still haven’t settled the score from four years ago!’
“If it weren’t for my guilt, I would have kicked you out of the Xia family long ago!’
‘Huh? Since when did the Xia family become yours?‘
’It became mine the day I came in. Everything about Xia Zuo is mine! If you dare to bother him again, I’ll kick you out of the club!‘ Ning Geting swore ownership with his head held high.
’Go to hell!’ Ke Li threw the car keys away, ’Damn it, I’m kind enough to check the broken car for some asshole!’
Although it was a bit excessive to take advantage of Zhong Wei’s guilt, otherwise, Ningting had no better excuse to get close to him. Seeing that Zhong Wei practiced every day, as if he took the death race seriously, Ningting felt guilty. He tried to let it go several times, but Zhong Wei refused, saying that since he had promised, he must keep his word.
Ningting had no choice but to ask Raphael to delay for various reasons. That day, Zhong Wei was not there. Ning Geting saw the butler come out of a wall. That place usually had a painting hanging there, but it turned out that there was actually a hidden secret room behind it.
Because they got along well, the butler didn’t hide it: ‘How could there be any jewellery? There’s only a broken clock inside.’
‘An antique?’
‘No, it’s just valuable. I really want to destroy this clock, it makes Mr Xia very uneasy,’ the butler said bluntly.
A clock? One minute?
Knowing that Niggerting was someone the owner took special care of, the butler quietly moved aside the painting, unlocked the door, and led him in. The dark room was very beautiful, with magnificent Rococo-style furniture and carvings of scroll patterns. The table clock was placed in a prominent position: there was only one minute left until 12 o’clock – and this minute was not imaginary, but real.
‘Mr. Xia commanded that it not be moved!’ The butler stopped Niggerting’s hand.
Nin-Gting was not a person who listened to others. On the third day, he snuck into the dark room. It was a strange clock, as only the second hand moved. According to the butler, before, when the hour hand stopped at 6, Zhongwei had not been so anxious. Nin-Gting reached out his hand and decisively turned the hour hand back, ticking, ticking, ticking, until it reached the 6 o’clock position. However, as he turned around, the hour and minute hands quietly moved forward again, returning to a position close to 12 o’clock. Nin’guoting was astonished. He turned the hands several times, but each time he took his eyes off them, they went back to where they were.
Nin’guoting suddenly thought: What that person cares about is not a minute, but time, something that is approaching!
Has time imprisoned that person?
It was so quiet that she was not used to it. She was sure that this guy, Ning Jiting, had not come today, and her heart felt empty. However, it was also just the right time to quietly stay in the dark room. For the first time, Zhong Wei quietly pondered:
“Because of his distracted state of mind, he personally pushed the penitent to the side of hatred. Fortunately, Ning Jiting did not hate deeply enough to let everything be irreparable.’
‘Strange coincidences misled me into ignoring the abnormalities.‘
’The two accidents involving Ke Li, one involving a machine falling on him and the other a completely avoidable traffic accident, coincided with the time of the accident in Ningting, as if, in the end, something had arranged for Zhong Wei to approach Ningting.‘
’At that time, the last minute was clearly meant to be skipped, as if a hand had grabbed it.‘
’Was it Ningting’s strong luck?’
There was only this explanation left. Zhong Wei had inadvertently pushed him into a desperate situation, but Ningguting resisted his fate with great willpower and good fortune. Was it hatred that sustained him? No, it was more like a tenacious fighting spirit that hoped to be cleared of the charges, and an indistinct love – yes, attachment – that even the dullest person could sense in Ningguting.
Suddenly, a warm breath came close.
Zhong Wei suddenly opened his eyes and pushed away the person in front of him: ‘You, Ninggeting, you…how did you get in? Get out…’ He was having difficulty breathing and could not speak. He pressed his hands on his chest, his heartbeat suddenly becoming rapid, as if about to lose control. No, not about to, but already out of control, he collapsed softly.
Chaos suddenly struck.
Chaos lasted a long time, until the numb body woke up.
He was in a warm, soft environment, as if he was being stroked repeatedly by hands. It was a comfortable feeling without any constraints. For the first time, he felt so at ease in the chaos. Zhong Wei opened his eyes and saw the deep eyes of Ningguting on his side face.
Ningguting immediately smiled, ‘Are you that tired? You slept the whole day.’
Has Xazuo come again? Zhong Wei half-supported his body and said, ‘I didn’t do anything strange after I fainted, did I?’
‘Yes.’
“What?’
‘You held me back and kissed me – you’re responsible for me.”
Hey? Does Xazot react to men too? Zhong Wei was embarrassed, but then he caught Ningting’s suppressed laughter. Was the wolf cub lying? He muttered an expletive and gave him a light kick. He had fallen asleep for a whole day, from 5pm to 5am. The thoughtful butler had anticipated everything and had breakfast ready in advance.
After finishing his milk cereal, Ngingtin licked his lips and said, ‘Chazuo, I’m sleepy. I want to sleep in your bed.’
‘Go to hell.’
‘I’ve looked after you all day, and you won’t even let me sleep in your bed. That’s so mean.’ Ngingtin nudged his way over to Zhong Wei and, without any hesitation, transferred half of a fried egg to his plate and began to eat. ‘What’s the deal with the clock in the darkroom?’
“None of your business.’
‘I just threw away that broken clock.‘
’What?‘
’Is that minute so important? I hate seeing you unable to live because of it.‘ Ngingtin grabbed Zhong Wei’s hand.
’Let go.’
‘I won’t let go. With me by your side, you don’t have to be afraid of anything!’ Ningguting’s knuckles turned blue and white from the force of his grip, pinning Zhongwei in the middle. His anxiety made his speech slurred. ’With me by your side, you can relax and live life as you did last night, without any constraints. You’ll sleep peacefully. Just ignore that annoying clock, okay? Don’t worry about time. Time is meant to be wasted. With me, you’ll always have time! You can have as much as you want!‘
’You don’t understand anything, get out of the way!‘ Zhong Wei snapped.
A cold sensation fell on his face, and Zhong Wei looked up in surprise. It was Ningeting’s tears. Ningeting was also surprised, unable to believe that she had actually shed tears. She quickly wiped them away, “Ah, what’s going on? I’m not sad, I just… I hope you don’t care.”
’You…’
‘I lied to you. The broken clock is still there. It means so much to you, how could I just abandon it?’ Ningeting said in despair.
Zhong Wei suddenly spoke up, “I’ve been deceiving myself.”
Since the time of the journey, she had guessed that Xaozu was not dead: the beating heart had never stopped, the repeated awakenings at night were not just habit, the desire to touch the racing car was not just muscle memory—the original owner, Xaozu, had always wanted to come back to life with a strong belief. However, Zhong Wei could not revive him, and suppressed the original owner’s willpower again and again. Only by believing that the original owner was dead could she ease her guilt and complete her task. Zhong Wei longed for that minute to come quickly, and to return the body as soon as possible, even if in the end it would just be a corpse; but in an intangible way, he hoped to wait a little longer. What was he waiting for?
As a result, he waited for Negretin.
However, Zhong Wei could not explain it. He rested his forehead on his hands and said, ‘I don’t want to leave anymore and I want Raphael to arrange the race as soon as possible.’
It was winter, and the weather was clear and cold.
As far as the eye could see, the earth was wider than in previous seasons.
Raphael arranged the race, but at the request of Ning Jingtin, it was not publicised, so there were no spectators or gamblers.
Zhong Wei gave the car one last check. He had a feeling that today, this minute, would be the end. Would he win or lose? Technically, Ningguting and Zhong Wei were evenly matched; in terms of experience, Ningguting, the three-time champion of the dead, was far superior to Zhong Wei; in terms of fighting spirit…Zhong Wei glanced to the right, and Ningguting had been distracted, which was really worrying.
A force came from behind, and Zhong Wei, who wasn’t on guard, suddenly sat on the ground. Ning Geting pressed down in this position: ‘I said that competitions and the like were just meant to get your attention. I was always worried about actually competing with you. But now, that’s gone.’
‘Why?’
“The night you fainted, you became a different person. He said he wanted to compete with me for real once, so that he would have no regrets in this life. After the competition, he will leave you. He has left, and you are now whole. So, this is a competition that must be fought. ‘Ningguting half-kneeled on the ground, smiling, with not a cloud on his face.
So that’s it, Chazuo is still coming out.
’Thinking about getting a complete you, I’m so happy my heart is going to jump out. Chazuo, I like you.’ Ningguting leaned in and kissed, gentle as a blooming flower petal.
When the kiss was over, Zhong Wei said, ‘Remember, his name is Xaozu, and mine is Zhong Wei.’
All the past was lost in the raging waves of the system, but the name ‘Zhong Wei’ could not be extinguished, and it was the only proof of the existence of ‘self.’ In a short life, one should not invest emotions, but alas, one will always be lonely, and when lonely, one clings to the slightest source of warmth. Zhong Wei grasped the hand of Ning Geting.
Zhong Wei. Zhong Wei. Ningguting thought back to this name, and something came to mind: ‘I always feel like we’ve known each other for a long time, but I just can’t remember where.’
‘Can you tell if it’s me?’ Zhong Wei smiled.
‘Of course. You’re the one I spent the night looking at the stars with. I remember you, so please don’t forget me easily.’
‘…I won’t.’
“After the competition, tell me all the stories, and what happened in that minute?’
Nin-Gwen smiled, as gentle as the spring breeze, blowing away all of Zhong Wei’s concerns. Even if the mission failed, so what? The feeling of being liked overwhelmed everything. Zhong Wei rose slightly and kissed him. Nin-Gwen was slightly startled and responded even more intensely.
The moment the car started, Zhong Wei guessed the ending.
Chasing death, tracing a butterfly-like arc, the speed reached its apex. Zhong Wei’s will gradually detached in the strong wind, and his five senses were stripped away one by one: the wind, the speed, his heartbeat, and the sweat dripping from his palms. His strong desire for control also grew further and further away. Everything no longer belonged to him. He was like a wandering soul, overlooking the wind-whipped Xaozuo and the racing car.
His mood suddenly relaxed.
For the first time, Zhong Wei saw Xaozuo control the racing car with all his might, racing all the way with the force of the wind, destroying everything in his path. After reaching the finish line, the car continued to speed towards the front, ‘unable to take control of his body, Xaozuo would rather destroy it.’ ‘Maybe I should stop it.’ ‘No, this is Xaozuo’s body.’ ‘I have no right to take the life of a living being.’ ‘Xaozuo only has one life, but I can have many.’ This thought flashed through her mind, and Zhong Wei completely lost control.
The car continued forward, without any turns, flying at a speed beyond limits into the high, dark sea.
…
Zhong Wei opened her eyes. Her heart was pounding so fast it felt unreal. The dark blue waves of the ‘Judgment System’ roared back, receding. Zhong Wei calmed her nerves and gathered her courage to read the ending of Xaozuo’s story: after the car and its driver were recovered, Xaozuo survived but lost his memory. He could only remember the events before Zhu Yicheng’s wedding. He then announced his comeback, driving his beloved car back to the track. His life thereafter was full of excitement and legend, just like a drag race.
No one knows why Xaozuo plunged into the sea. At first, he was the only one racing, and at the end, he was the only one flying into the sea.
And what about Ningguting?
He disappeared! It was as if Ningguting and his car had never existed, as if they had vanished into thin air! Zhong Wei couldn’t believe it. This time, not only had she split into two personalities, but she had also hallucinated? Otherwise, where had the real Ningguting gone? No, it must have been an intentional arrangement by the system!
“I like you.’
‘There is always time.‘
’I remember you, please don’t forget me.”
Disturbing words flooded back into her mind, setting off a tidal wave. “I like you,” “don’t forget,” sincere words kissed her ears over and over, stirring her heartstrings. The racing mission had failed, and the system would punish her accordingly, so the next mission would be difficult.
Let’s take these memories and doubts to the next world.
Urged on by the system’s furious waves, Zhong Wei closed her eyes.
[Spoiler: Where did Ning’erting go? The next romance of the young attacker and the young receiver will be: together! Leave a comment and give a round of applause!

☆, Abuse and Cry the S Scum [1

[Fast-forward: Never Regret, Crying Out the Scum, Chapter 1]
The young master is hanging upside down again.
His belt is caught on a branch, his feet are facing upwards, his head is facing downwards, and half of his clothes are torn open. The wind blows, revealing the slender white waist, and tears are streaming in the wind.
Protector Zhang wipes his nose and says, with arms open, ‘Dare to jump, young master, I’ll catch you.’
Damn it, if I could jump, I would have already done it.
Unable to see that the acupuncture points had been fixed, Zhong Wei gritted her teeth and said, ‘Call the deputy headmaster.’
After a cup of tea, the deputy headmaster of the Mingxin Sect, Gongzibo, arrived late. He waved his white whisk and said, ‘This move is really amazing. It’s the first time the young master has practiced it so accurately. Well, it would be better to practice for another half hour. It’s fine, everyone can go now.’
‘Hey? What kind of kung fu is this?‘ Zhang, the Dharma Protector, widened his wooden fish eyes.
’The Fox Hanging Upside Down,‘ Gongzibo made up.
’Why didn’t you say so? Let’s go, it’s going to rain, we’d better hurry home and gather the grain.’ Zhang, the Dharma Protector, spread his feet and sprinted after the people who had scattered like birds and beasts.
Zhong Wei spat out a mouthful of blood, ’Gongzibo, put me down!’
‘It looks good hanging there.”
Seeing that he was about to leave, Zhong Wei gritted her teeth: “Believe it or not, tomorrow I will let everyone on Mingxin Mountain know that the noble Vice-Abbot Gongzibo likes to go to strange places in the middle of the night to whip himself!”
Gongzibo raised his hand and flicked the whisk away.
Sizzle!
The whip tore Zhong Wei’s shirt, and a red mark appeared on his body. Zhong Wei let out a groan, and the area where he was whipped began to tingle. He bit his lips, feeling like vomiting blood.
‘Now everyone will know that the young master likes to be whipped,’ Gongzibo said leisurely.
…
This task is a disaster.
This is the world of the martial arts. Apart from ordinary people, there is a small group of people who like to abuse others, and another small group of people who like to be abused. Usually, you can tell the difference when they are twelve or thirteen years old. If you train according to your unique constitution, you will get twice the result with half the effort.
The young master grew up to be 18 years old, confused, and his attributes suddenly switched. He actually liked to be abused. So, naturally curious, he made a lifelong regretful attempt: he tied his body up, bound his feet, and hung upside down from a cliff. As a result, a gust of wind blew by, and with a snap, the rope broke, and he fell off the cliff.
He had never accomplished anything in his life.
The young master, full of remorse, shouted, ‘My life is over before it has even begun! It’s better to be killed than to die in such a useless way! I haven’t even seen the despicable Gongzibo being ravaged until he’s colourless…!’
A young white M was the young master’s last wish before he died:
“To see Gongzibo being ravaged!’
Who is Gongzibo? The young master’s childhood playmate, the deputy leader, pillar and only martial arts master of the Mingxin Sect. A perfectly normal person, he went away to learn the arts for several years, and when he returned, he became a real Aesop’s fable. In his hands, he either had a whisk or a whip, and whenever he wasn’t happy, he would whip it out and bully the young master to death.
Why would the young master, who was the leader, be bullied?
Because the Mingxin Sect is a gang that takes over a mountain, and only a few mountain villagers serve as disciples, and the sect leader is not a very important role. The young sect leader has no martial arts, but he likes to provoke Gongzibo for no reason. He is big-eyed and small-stomached, and he is always beaten up. One is used to provoking, and the other is used to beating up, so this has become the current pattern of getting along.
Therefore, the young sect leader never forgot his sworn enemy, Gongzibo, until the day he died.
—He’s still talking nonsense even after falling off a cliff. This is a slow death. What does this have to do with confession? It’s really a punishment for failure, isn’t it? What a weird wish for a young white guy! Zhong Wei doesn’t want to fulfil it at all!
Looking back at the sky, Zhong Wei wants to cry but has no tears.
Fighting, she definitely can’t beat him; practising martial arts, she can only learn it at the last minute. In fact, among the thousands of classics in the system, there is one that is most suitable for the body type of the young master: ‘The Spectrum of the Remnant’. To practice the remnant, one must be abused. The higher the level of practice, the more severe the abuse. Zhong Wei is proud, and no matter what, she will not let others abuse her body. However, without abuse, there will be no progress, and even physical fitness cannot be improved.
The situation has thus come to a standstill.
That night, Gongzi Bo went out again, wearing a straw hat and walking quickly like the wind under the moonlight. For a very strong Aise, the mountain people could not withstand his abuse, and the young master could not withstand it even less. Only certain people in a certain place could: Qingyu Building. Qingyu Building provides abusers, as well as abused, and even provides opportunities for matchmaking. Not only can the two of them compete in Qingyu Building,
Zhong Wei’s internal strength was not good enough, but Ling Bo had practised his light skills and breathing techniques to perfection, and he followed him quietly.
They arrived at the Yulin Pavilion, the easternmost part of the Qingyu Building.
The young master opened the door skillfully and then left it open so that the person behind him could come in directly. Zhong Wei held her breath and crept in. The attic was not large, but it was divided into an outer hall and an inner room. There were screens, chairs, stools and a bed. With the elegant potted plants and flowers, he easily found a place to hide.
Click, click, click.
A man wearing clogs and a mask with a curved eagle beak stepped in. Neither of them was for sale, but rather ‘like-minded people’ brought together by the owner of the Qingyu Building, and they still had some reservations.
‘You’ve grown pale since I last saw you,’ said the man with a strong nasal voice and a hoarse, cold-like throat.
“Thank you for your concern, Dong. I’m fine. I won’t waste time with pleasantries. Let’s get to the point: I’m tired of you. This is the last time. Don’t pester me anymore.’
‘You’re really heartless.‘
The young master took off his straw hat and brushed his long, flowing hair. “Dong, you’re so boring. You haven’t improved your martial arts at all. You’re also very boring in bed. You don’t cry very nicely, your muscles are too stiff, and they don’t feel good to squeeze. I like a more lively body.”
’Is this how you treat my brother, young master Bo?’ The eagle-faced man took off his mask.
Nigeting!
It was indeed Nigeting, still with a handsome face and high spirits—Zhong Wei bit her clothes to keep from exclaiming. No wonder there was no information about him in the system. Could it really be happening here? An old friend had been reunited in a different world, or was it just a similar voice and appearance?
Gongzibo’s chin tilted slightly, as if he wasn’t surprised. ‘So you’re Dong Chunchou’s junior brother. Why, did he lie down obediently today and admit defeat?’
Ningtin said, ‘You didn’t read the battle note the host left carefully, and today the person you’re meeting with is me.’
‘No matter who it is, if you lose, just lie down obediently!’
“Hmph! Dream on!’
The two men fought in the small attic, each move more magnificent than the last. Ning Geting’s moves were capable, Gong Zibo’s were gorgeous. Ning Geting favoured close-range attacks, while Gong Zibo favoured long-range attacks. It was surprising that Ning Geting, who had been transported to this world, was so strong. The swordplay was dazzling, and the fight was hard to tell who was winning.
Zhong Wei quickly sorted out the relationships.
Ningtin’s senior brother Dong Chunchou is an old friend of Gongzibo, and the two often meet here. Dong Chunchou can’t beat Gongzibo and has been abused many times. Gongzibo is tired of it and wants to abandon him, so Ningtin has come to avenge his senior brother.
What should I do?
Who should I help? No one wants to help! No matter who wins or loses, Zhong Wei doesn’t want the two of them to get involved.
It seems that Gong Zibo is better, and the weapon in his hand, a thousand-layer silk, crackles as he whips Ning’er Ting several times. Zhong Wei immediately used the ventriloquism technique of the young master: imitating the squeaking of a cat scratching at the door… Sure enough, Gong Zibo, who hates this sound the most, frowned and slowed down a beat in his hand.
Ning Ge Ting’s long sword suddenly came into action, swishing through the air, and a few wisps of black hair fell with the shadow of the sword. ‘So this is what the vice-master is like, just lie down!’
Just then, a person flew across the sky, shouting, ‘Ning, stop!’
Ning Ge Ting hurriedly stopped, ‘Brother, get out of the way.’
This uninvited guest was Dong Chunchou, the person who would be ‘abandoned at the end of the relationship’. Dong Chunchou angrily stopped Ning Geting: ‘Younger brother, you only know one side of the story, you don’t know the other. The vice-master didn’t do anything to me, we were just sparring.’
‘Sparring can result in injuries?’
‘Anyway, it has nothing to do with the vice-master, come back with me!’ Dong Chunchou dragged Ning Geting out without further explanation.
Ning Geting suddenly shook his hand off, curled his lips, and gave a wicked smile: ‘Brother, you are really honest. I wrote two people on the battle note. If we take him down together, he will be at your mercy, won’t he?’
How despicable!
Zhong Wei’s cold sweat was dripping. Ning Geting had become corrupted in this world. How could he bully the weak? Dong Chuzhou looked like a man of good looks, open-minded, and upright…
‘The junior brother is right!’…
bastard!

☆, abuse and cry that S scum [2]

[Abuse and cry that S scum Chapter 2]
Ning Ge Ting suddenly shook his hand off, curled his lips, and drew a sneering smile: ’Senior brother, you are really honest. I wrote two people on the battle note. If we take him down together, he is not at your mercy?’
How despicable!
Zhong Wei’s cold sweat was dripping. Ning Ge Ting had become corrupted in this world. How could he bully the weak? Dong Chunchou looked like a decent man with a broad mind and good character…
‘My junior brother is right!’
…an asshole!
Suddenly, Gongzibo leapt out of Yulin Pavilion. The courtyard outside was wide open, and the three of them started fighting. Ninggeting had sharp eyesight, and after a few moves, he saw Gongzibo’s weakness. He used close combat to contain Gongzibo, allowing Dong Chenzhou to take advantage of the situation. Sure enough, Gongzibo was at a disadvantage, and after a few lashes, he couldn’t get close to the two of them.
What kind of hero fights two against one?
Gongzibo was certainly hateful, but it wasn’t fair to be bullied like this.
Thanks to his many journeys through different worlds and the Shao Snake Technique, Zhong Wei’s voice had a slight, delicate tone. Unbeknownst to them, the snakes gathered from all directions. Ning Geting, disgusted with the snakes, flew up a tree and unleashed a powerful move to destroy them. But the more he destroyed, the more there were. Distracted, Gong Zibo seized the upper hand again and struck Dong Chunchou to the ground with a wave of his hand.
Zhong Wei thought that Gong Zibo was going to show off his power. But Gong Zibo flew over at a diagonal, picked up Zhong Wei, who was hiding in the dense grass and concentrating on summoning the snake, and flew out of the Yulin Pavilion with lightning speed, stopping only after flying several miles away, and threw Zhong Wei to the ground.
‘You’re looking for death, what are you doing following me?’
“Huh? If it weren’t for me, you would have been stripped naked by those two and serving them with the whip!’
‘If you hadn’t interfered, I would have taken care of them. Really, aren’t you afraid of snakes? How dare you summon one, you’ve got some nerve.‘ Gongzibo stroked his whisk and summoned a snake, which he threw next to Zhong Wei. Zhong Wei was so startled that he quickly stepped aside, tripping over his right foot with his left and almost falling to the ground.
’Where are you going?’ Zhong Wei hurriedly asked, seeing Gongzibo about to leave.
‘I’m going to get that bastard Dong Chunchou. That son of a bitch dared to set a trap for me. He definitely doesn’t want to live anymore!‘ Gongzibo’s eyes narrowed slightly. “You, stay here. Don’t go anywhere!”
’…’
Zhong Wei didn’t know what happened next. She only knew that Gong Zibo returned in the early morning, his face rosy and radiant, his back straighter and his eyes higher and more defiant. It seemed that he had a good time last night. There was probably only one truth: Ning Geting had left first, and Dong Chunchou had stayed behind to wait for Gong Zibo to come and fight (abuse).
We have to find Ning Geting as soon as possible.
Zhong Wei was going to go and investigate the school where the two men belonged, the School of Ruthlessness.
‘Young master, I advise you to think twice. Have you forgotten what happened the year before last? You insisted on seeing the world, and what happened? You ended up a beggar, and had to return home by begging. This is really, really embarrassing for our sect.‘ Zhang, the guardian, who was ploughing the fields, chased after her and advised her tirelessly.
’This will never happen again!”
But it did.
Half an hour later, Zhong Weiguo was, as expected, lost, which was a great shame. Zhong Weiguo looked into the distance, and the expanse was endless: hey, don’t look at the Mingxin Sect as a ragtag outfit, and even build a Dragon-Devouring Array. As soon as you enter, it’s like a maze, no wonder no one has bothered the Mingxin Sect for years.
And there was even another person in this maze.
Zhong Wei Lingbo took a few imaginary steps to fly over and see who this unlucky guy was. Hey, he was flying too fast, and her five senses were a little bit unable to keep up. Control it! Zhong Wei’s mind was dizzy, and ah, there was a tree in front of her… Bang!
‘Young man, are you okay?‘ The leaves were pushed aside, and in the sparse sunlight, it turned out to be Ninggeting.
’…‘ Zhong Wei’s forehead blood slid down like three black lines.
’Ha, you can even bump into the only tree in such an open place, you really have a sharp eye!‘ Ninggeting couldn’t help but laugh happily.
’It’s better than you circling the lone tree three times!‘
’Hey, is it crying in pain?’
Crying? Zhong Wei touched her face in surprise, and tears were running down her face like a spring. Xiaobai Shou is prone to emotional outbursts, crying when he is angry, when he is excited, and when he reunites with someone from another world. It’s completely uncontrollable, so he had to put his hands on his face to stop the tears.
Ningguting crossed his arms: ‘From the look of you, you must be a disciple of the Mingxin Sect. Go, take me to meet your young sect leader!’
‘Hey?‘
’Your young master is called Zhong Wei? What does he look like? Is he very handsome? Does he have beautiful eyes?‘ Ninggeting suddenly broke out into a silly grin like a crazy man, his eyes fixed in space, his pupils dilated.
’What do you want with him?’ Zhong Wei suddenly became alert. Shouldn’t he be looking for Gongzibo?
After travelling through so many places, it was easy to get disoriented. He would try to change back to the name “Zhong Wei” as much as possible, and this time was no exception. His subordinates and disciples didn’t care, they had to call him the young master anyway, only Gongzibo sneered, ‘Zhong Wei, you are a little tougher than Zhong Xiaobai.’
Just as Ninggeting was about to answer, a person came running from afar, shouting in a loud voice, ‘Hahaha, young master, have you lost your way? Can’t find your way anymore? Have you hit a tree? Let me show you the way!’
Pig-like Zhang Hufa!
When he realised that the person in front of him was Zhong Wei, Ning Geting was shocked.
Three years ago, when he was rescued from the sea, he completely lost his memory. The only thing he remembered was the passionate and entangled dream, the handsome face of the person in the dream, and the name Zhong Wei. He was talented, and after becoming a disciple of the Jueqing Sect, he miraculously progressed in martial arts and easily reached the level of a master. However, after travelling to many places and provoking many people, he never encountered Zhong Wei.
It wasn’t until he discovered that Dong Chunchou’s ‘enemy’ was Mingxin Sect’s son, Bo, and found out the name of the sect’s young sect leader that Ning Geting’s eyes lit up. However, the person in front of him… was the young sect leader? Had he disguised himself?
Ning Geting went straight for the jugular, and the person in front of him had a real round face. He was instantly disappointed, and in his anger at that disappointment, he said, ‘It’s a real face, and you can still call yourself Zhong Wei!’
‘Hey?’ This kid really needs to be slapped.
‘Where is Gongzipo? I thought Mingxin Sect was big, but really, just anyone can call themselves a sect and casually set up a pigsty.‘ Ninggeting regained his arrogance and didn’t take Zhong Wei, who was a head shorter than him, seriously at all.
’Go ahead! I’ll be waiting to collect your corpse!‘ Zhong Wei was furious.
’Ha, threats don’t suit you, you’re more effective when you cry.’
Bastard! Who cried in front of me in their last life? You’ve forgotten it all! Zhong Wei had always been proud of his face, but now this possessed person could knock him down with one finger. He was still a masochist, instantly becoming a weak person, while Ninggeting was already above him—unbearable! Never wanted to explain the previous relationship! Never wanted Ninggeting to know the whole story!
Zhang Hufa took Ninggeting to see Gongzibo.
Zhong Wei sat at the fork in the road, torn between two options. The battle between two Ais mainly depends on strength, and secondarily on aura. When two Ais meet, one will definitely emerge victorious. Gong Zibo is a very strong Ais attacker. If Ninggeting wins, that’s fine; if Gong Zibo wins, he likes to strip people naked, whip them until they are covered in blood, and then…
‘Young man, may I ask…’ Someone interrupted his thoughts.
‘Ah?‘ Zhong Wei was taken aback.
The person asking for directions turned out to be Dong Chunchou. He was wearing a crisp, clean green brocade robe, and the collar was raised high enough to almost cover his chin. His face was fine, but the fingers that were exposed had thin purplish red marks, the signs of having been bound. However, Dong Chunchou was beaming with springtime joy, and there was no trace of pain on his face.
’What is your business?’
‘Ah, you are the young master, right?’ Dong Chunchou actually guessed Zhong Wei’s identity, and very handsomely bowed and said loudly, ’I am Dong Chunchou, the top disciple of the School of Indifference. I have long admired the reputation of the vice-leader of your school, and I have come to visit today.’
If I hadn’t seen them fighting yesterday, I would have thought that cats and dogs were family. Zhong Wei returned the bow, ‘I’ve heard a lot about you, too. How did you recognise me?’
“The vice-leader said that if you meet someone with a clean face and dull eyes on Mingxin Mountain, it will definitely be you.’
‘…’ The young master Bo is going to die!
Zhong Wei didn’t know the way, so it wasn’t good to act too idiotic. Miraculously, Dong Chunchou was very familiar with the way. Zhong Wei slightly sidetracked him, and he told him everything: he had studied the terrain of the Mingxin Sect for a long time, and had explored it several times before, but he just never had the time (or guts) to pay a visit (and be abused). Today, Ning Geting suddenly came over, so he chased after him.
Zhong Wei was even more curious.
In his words, this Dong Chunchou seemed to have no hatred for Gongzibo. If he did, he wouldn’t have repeatedly sought out abuse! And looking at the spring in this handsome face, it’s as if it’s been nourished. Could it be that one person wants to fight and the other person wants to be beaten, with one person taking the blame?
Zhong Wei said nonchalantly, ‘From what you’re saying, you and our vice-leader Gongzibo are still close friends?’
‘Not really close friends, just admirers,‘ Dong Chunzhou said, speaking politely.
’You can’t match his strength?‘
Dong Chunzhou blushed and admitted honestly that he had lost to Gongzibo several times. However, he still said confidently, “I am currently studying the third volume of our sect’s ultimate book, the ”Jueqingyan Zhi’, and I will be able to compete with the vice sect leader in no time. I make progress quickly!’
Zhong Wei’s pupil showed the details of ‘The Absolute Love Flame Axis’ on the retina: one must reach a certain level of martial arts skill before one can practice it. The third volume requires even more profound skill. It seems that Dong Chunchou is not weak. He has repeatedly lost to Gongzibo, but it is because he is weak in the heart.
‘Unfortunately, the Vice-Headmaster doesn’t go out much, so it’s hard to find a chance to spar,’ Dong Chunchou said with a face of regret.
So that’s why you only meet at the Qingyu Building?
Zhong Weixin had an idea: ‘My Mingxin Sect is surrounded by beautiful mountains and water, which is perfect for practising martial arts. Why don’t you stay here and you can spar with the vice-leader whenever you like? By the way, I know Gongzibo’s weaknesses best. Do you want to know? If you stay, I’ll tell you slowly.’
“Ah, why are you helping me?’
‘My school has few disciples and is usually quiet. I can see that Brother Dong is a fine young man, and I’m sure that you would be happy to stay and exchange martial arts techniques with each other,‘ Zhong Wei said with a smile.
’Really? Is it suitable for me to stay?’ Dong Chunchou’s eyes lit up.
It’s suitable!
The Mingxin Sect lacks everything, except guest rooms. Back in the day, the ancestors were full of ambition and built two enclosed courtyards, with more than ten large and small rooms, just waiting for their descendants to fill them. Little did they know that the succession would be weak, with only one generation of descendants, and the older generation passed away early, leaving only the Sect Master and Gongzibo.
To deal with the fox, you need a loyal dog. Just you wait, Gongzibo!
☆, abuse and cry that S scum [3]

[Abuse and cry that S scum · Chapter 3]
Gong Zibo was very unhappy.
It had been half a year since he had returned to the Mingxin Sect after the death of the old sect leader, and there had been one thing after another: the young sect leader had jumped off a cliff, the young sect leader had come back to life, the young sect leader’s personality had changed drastically, he was thinking about practicing martial arts every day, the young sect leader was injured by a sword, the young master fell and became half-paralysed, the young master hung from a tree… These things can be tolerated, but the most annoying thing is that two bastards from the Mingxin Sect have come: one wants to abuse him, and the other is looking for him to abuse him. He doesn’t want to see either of them!
He became involved with Dong Chunchou six months ago.
At that time, Gongzibo was still training on Zixiao Island and had a bad reputation because he liked to completely defeat others only after torturing them, and after winning, he liked to step on his opponents’ heads or fingers. At first, it wasn’t like that. It was only after severely torturing a senior who bullied him that he suddenly found pleasure in this highly insulting action.
That day, after receiving a letter from the old sect leader saying that he was critically ill, he went to discuss the matter of returning to the sect with his master. It so happened that Dong Chunchou and the head of the Merciless Sect were guests, and the head kept bragging about how Dong Chunchou was exceptionally talented. Gongzibo’s master was not happy, and casually said, ‘Since they are both proud disciples, why don’t they have a match?’
In a bad mood, Gongzibo vented his anger throughout the match, beating Dong Chunchou soundly and almost stepping on his fingers.
The next day, he returned to the Mingxin Sect.
Since the sect was unknown and located in the rolling mountains, no one came to provoke it. After a while, Gongzibo’s hand itched, but the disciples were mountain people, the protectors were the leaders of the mountain people, and the young sect leader was an innocent little white who was naive and romantic. No one under his nose could withstand abuse. So he found Qingyu Building and opened up a new world from then on.
The young master bound himself and taught him how to abuse his body.
The young master is someone who gets stronger when he meets a challenge, and he feels that the young man is too weak, so he doesn’t feel good about abusing him. So, the landlord of the building acts as a go-between, looking for strong people to abuse. Little did he know that the more abuse you get, the more famous you become, even anonymously, and many people look for him through the landlord to fight. One day, he pushed open the door of Yulin Pavilion and was shocked to see a familiar face:
Dong Chunchou!
Dong Chunchou was full of excitement, his eyes shining, and he grabbed Gongzibo’s sleeve and wouldn’t let go: ‘It really is you! I’ve been looking for you for months, and no one knows where the Mingxin Sect is.’
‘What do you want with me?’
‘…’
‘Heh, you want to avenge the time I stepped on your finger, don’t you?’ Anyone who has been stepped on will come for revenge.
“I…’
‘Let me warn you, this is the Green Feather Building, and the rules are: if you fail, it won’t be just a stubbed finger, you’ll have to strip naked and let me do whatever I want. Haha, let’s get started!’ Gongzibo threw out a thousand strands of silk, a weapon shaped like a whisk that whipped straight and then like a whip, and swished it past.
Pop!
Dong Chunchou was knocked over by a whip!
Gongzibo enjoyed a delicious session of sadism. They met a few more times after that, and Dong was beaten beyond his ability to defend himself every time. It was said that the supposedly ‘genius’ top disciple of the Cruel Gate was a false reputation. After each defeat, he obediently accepted his punishment, whether it was being tied up, whipped, having his legs squeezed, or something even more extreme – he just endured it all, because it was just so boring! Gongzibo wanted to see people cry, hear them beg, and hear them make shivering, trembling sounds!
‘You can’t beat me, and you’re not a masochist. Don’t contact me again!’ Gongzibo was covered in bruises from the abuse, and after saying this, he left, leaving Dong Chunchou, who was shocked, behind.
He thought it would all die down, but he didn’t expect to still receive a battle note a few days later, and Gongzibo irritably accepted the challenge.
However, it was a trap set by Ninggeting.
Let’s talk about Ninggeting.
He was rescued by Dong Chunchou in the past and taught him martial arts, so they have a deep relationship. He also knows that his senior brother’s hobbies seem to be quite peculiar, as he likes to find the owner of the Qingyu Building to contact a martial arts master under the alias of ‘Bo’. This day, when he saw his senior brother return with bloodstains all over his body and a sad face, Ning Geting was immediately furious. Not understanding anything, he found the owner of the Qingyu Building and issued a battle note in his senior brother’s name, looking for Gongzibo to take revenge.
However, he is not stupid.
After discovering the strange relationship between the two men that night, he didn’t want to get involved; and after learning that the young master’s name was ‘Zhong Wei’, he hoped to rekindle it and found the Mingxin Sect; but as soon as he saw the face of the young white master, he was immediately disappointed. Looking for Gongzibo to ‘take revenge’ was also an excuse that came up when he was disappointed. However, there was an inexplicable bond as soon as he stepped in, and he didn’t want to leave immediately.
The journey of the heart was full of twists and turns.
Dong Chunchou was overjoyed at the prospect of staying, and Ning Geting went along with the plan.
…
Gongzibo didn’t like to involve personal grudges (or hobbies) in the Mingxin Sect, and even less did he want to start a big fight in the sect. He looked at Zhong Wei suspiciously and said, ‘What do you mean, those two want to stay? Does the Mingxin Sect have nothing better to do than to keep idle people around? I disagree! It’s enough to have you and me in the sect. No, you’re all superfluous!’
‘I am the leader of the cult!‘
’I can get rid of you right now!‘
’You…every time you go out, you cause trouble. Dong Chunchou is interesting. He is kind and patient. He keeps coming back even after being tortured like that. There aren’t many people who can take beatings and kicks like that. If he stays in the cult, he can be tortured as much as he wants. Don’t you think that having someone like that around to relieve the boredom from time to time makes life more interesting?’ Zhong Wei reasoned persuasively.
‘He’s silly and not funny.‘
’It’s your own fault if you can’t come up with any tricks. He’s in your hands, and it’s up to you whether he runs or jumps. You have to use your imagination when torturing people. Gongzibo, I’ve found a wonderful book, heh, it’s full of terrifying tricks!’ Zhong Wei threw out a book of sadomasochism. Sadomasochism is not just about torturing the body. The words and drawings were hand-copied by Zhong Wei from the system. After a day and night, her hands were tired and broken, but somewhere else, she was erect and could not calm down for a long time.
When Gongzibo casually flipped through it, he showed a complex expression: ‘Where did you get this?’
‘And, you are not allowed to move Ningguting.’
‘Oh?’
“Trust me, you will find pleasure in Dong Chunchou!’ With Dong Chunyu and Gong Zibo easily dealt with, Zhong Wei was just waiting for the right moment to lend a hand.
The Mingxin Sect was really boring.
Apart from practising, there was absolutely no entertainment whatsoever. The only pleasure in Ningguting’s life was probably teasing the young sect master, but the problem was that the young sect master, with his watery eyes, avoided him every day and was nowhere to be seen. After just a few days, Ningguting was sure that intuition was just an illusion and that there was no way miracles happened in this place.
That night, the full moon was unusually bright, casting a gentle glow over the towering ancient trees. On a whim, he wanted to see what Gongzibo was doing.
This peek was not a big deal.
He saw that Gongzibo and Dong Chunchou were sparring. The two were about the same strength, but Dong Chunchou was hesitant and seemed reluctant to make a move. It was as if he was reluctant to make a move. It was hard for him to make a move, and when he did, he hesitated. Ninggeting was anxious as he watched: ‘Senior brother, when have you ever been so slow?’ Go! Go!
As he watched, he noticed something else: Dong Chunchou was always trying to hug Gongzibo.
Yes! He wanted to hug!
And, true enough, after persevering, he landed a move that knocked Gongzibo’s Thousand Silk Threads out of the air, and he took the opportunity to pounce, managing to hug Gongzibo. Gongzibo kicked away his restraints, said disdainfully, ‘If you don’t fight properly, I’ll use a fierce move!’
Dong Chunchou got up and said with distress, ‘Forget it today, I’ve got no strength in my hands.’
Gong Zibo said impatiently, ‘Fine.’
They stopped fighting, and Gong Zibo’s nerves relaxed. He raised his step and walked towards Qian Chongsi. In that split second, Dong Chunchou suddenly pounced at him, and with a thud, the two fell onto the grass.
Dong Chunchou half-crouched down.
Gong Zibo lay on his back, instinctively spreading his legs apart and bending his knees. Dong Chunzhou suddenly knelt in the middle and instantly fell, just pressing on that spot. Gongzibo let out a cry of pain and tried to kick, but how could he use any strength in that position. Dong Chunzhou took the opportunity to thrust twice, and it was all hot and throbbing there. Gongzibo was completely enraged, and he pushed up with one knee.
Dong Chunzhou let out a cry and went down.
Gongzibo turned over and pinned Dong Chunzhou down, and in three seconds he had stripped . He wanted to tie it up in a crab-like position, but it didn’t satisfy him. He thought about just now being pressed on his private parts, and it still hurt. Gongzibo easily captured the area on Dong Chunchou’s body and said angrily, ‘If you can’t do it in the open, you’ll do it in the dark, right? You still want to sneak up on me? I’ll teach you a lesson so you’ll know better!’ He pulled three strands of silk from the thousand layers of silk, about a foot long, and wrapped them around the fire.
Poor Dong Chunchou stopped struggling the moment he was grabbed, and let himself be wrapped up completely. His face was red, and he bit his sleeve desperately.
Unexpectedly interesting?
The Treasure Book is really a treasure book. After finishing wrapping him up, Gongzipo was still not satisfied, and actually took the initiative to point Dong Chunchou’s acupoints. He casually plucked a piece of dogtail grass and rubbed it against the manhood, moving it around and tickling it.
The tip of the dog’s tail was fluffy, and it was tickled so much that it was unbearable. Dong Chunchou instantly couldn’t hold back anymore, and although he tried his best to hold back, his voice still trembled in a wavy pattern: ‘Umm~ Gongzibo, don’t do this~’
Gongzibo snorted: ‘The one who blinks first loses. I want to see how long you can hold back.’
Ninggeting was dumbfounded.
He had thought that if Gongzibo dared to whip Dong Chunchou, he would definitely come to his rescue. He never imagined that things would take such a turn for the worse. Is there even anything left to rescue? It’s not even worth looking at! Ning Geting was about to leave when he suddenly felt something wrong with the mud wall. As soon as his eyesight moved over, he heard a loud crash and the black mud wall collapsed.
The two people who were doing whatever suddenly turned their heads.
There was complete silence.
There was not a sound.
The building was about to collapse.
From the collapsed earth, a bag gradually formed, and an arm poked out. Zhong Wei’s weak voice came: ‘Help…save…life…’
…
Cao Dan’s deep well ice-breaking!
What a shame!
It was just an accident, wasn’t it? He didn’t mean to look, and he ended up spraining his ankle and bruising his back from the falling dirt. Zhong Wei couldn’t stop the tears from flowing. Don’t ask what happened to Gongzibo and Dong Chunchou later. The two of them sprang up at the same time and made a move at the same time, almost killing him. Fortunately, Ninggeting acted quickly and saved his life.
“Hey, you have to be gentle,’ Zhong Wei was slowly kneaded by Ning Geting, with the injured area as the centre and slowly kneaded to other places. It was painful, but it was sore and sore, like thousands of little ants biting through it. The pain became itchy.
‘You really fear pain.’
‘Are you Ace?’
‘No, I’m an ordinary person.’ Ning Geting suddenly increased the force, and was satisfied to hear a cry of pain. ‘But I have mastered a thousand ways to abuse people.’
It really is a world where morals have fallen.
We must increase our strength as soon as possible, otherwise, we won’t be able to avoid even collapsing walls. How can we survive in this world? ‘Spectrum of the Remnant’ is the shortest way. Instead of being abused by others, it is better to abuse yourself first, otherwise you will be abused by all kinds of natural and man-made disasters sooner or later. Anyway, Nergin Ting no longer has any morals, and he doesn’t need them.
‘A thousand ways to torture someone? Someone is willing to throw themselves into the net, do you want it?‘ Zhong Wei kicked Ning Geting’s leg with her good foot.
’Who?‘
’It’s far away in the distance, but close at hand, it’s me!’ Zhong Wei said in a self-deprecating manner. The other day, she had been hesitant about whether to lose face and beg Gong Zi Bo to come and help her. It would be even better to have Ning Geting. After all, in a previous life, the two had even kissed.
However, Ningtin resolutely refused: ‘No!’
‘Why?’
‘I have only loved one person in my life. Hmph, I don’t even look at other people!’

☆, Crying out of abuse of that S scum [4

[Abusing and Crying Over That Scumbag·Chapter 4]
Ningeting resolutely refused: ‘No way!’
‘Why?’
‘I will only love one person in my life, and I don’t care about anyone else.’
You’re sick, just set up a chastity arch! You’re looking at me right now, so don’t open your eyes! Zhong Wei gritted her teeth and threw out the book ‘Spectrum of the Remnant Thunder’: ‘What are you thinking? Practising according to it has nothing to do with who you love!’
Ning Geting flipped through it and said with relish, ‘I see, this is quite interesting. Okay, I’ll help you for now, hmph, young master…’ She had always called him ‘young master’ and was unwilling to share the name ‘Zhong Wei’ with anyone other than the man of her dreams.
A thin rope was wrapped around Zhong Wei’s hands. The place where it was tightly wrapped did not hurt, but instead it was numb and tickled. It didn’t matter if it was wrapped a little tighter. Alas, if in the last life, she had just taken Xia Zuo’s body with a ruthless heart, she would not have ended up in this situation. This is the way the judgment system works: if you succeed, your next life will be better; if you fail, your next life will be miserable, and you will instantly fall from the pedestal. Once, after three consecutive failures, Zhong Wei was reduced to a cat with no power of action. That was the life that made her truly want to cry but have no tears.
Ningergetinghan soaked a towel in herbs and placed it on Zhong Wei’s skin, which was red and swollen from the tight hoop. He said regretfully, ‘You have the same name as the person in my dreams, but you look completely different. He would never cry; he would only make others cry.’
So you are a masochistic Ai Mu, aren’t you? Zhong Wei said, ‘Don’t say the word “cry”!’
A tear fell.
Ningtin snorted, then laughed, laughing so hard that he fell over backwards, and then he laughed until he was doubled up, and then he said, ‘You look like this, just speak softly, don’t give orders, it’s not at all powerful. Does it hurt? You really like to cry.’
‘No!”
Zhong Wei would never shed tears, and that was why she had this little white body that shed tears when she was excited, anxious, happy, sad, or in pain. It was like a tap, and she had “tearful eyes” ten times a day.
Although the young master is physically predisposed to being abused, his pain sensitivity is extremely high, and he can’t stand being abused even a little. However, it is precisely this sensitive constitution that allows his potential to be quickly stimulated. Zhong Wei found that slender spiritual power in his confinement. The marks of the restraints began to turn darker, the blood vessels became blocked, the blood rushed around wildly, and the cells became restless… The pain was very painful, a swollen pain that lasted a long time.
This was it. The whole body finally recovered, becoming more sensitive and precise. The spiritual energy gradually flowed to the fingertips, condensing into a force… With a light sound, the rope at the fingertips broke.
Ning Geting woke up from his dream and muttered, ‘It seems that only golden silk will do. Take a break, there will be plenty of time later.’
“No, now is just right.’
The morning star shone brightly outside the window, and unbeknownst to him, most of the night had passed. The oil lamp was dim, and Zhong Wei, with her long hair hanging halfway down her back, slumped in her chair from exhaustion. Zhong Wei’s heart inexplicably softened, and she always felt like she had seen this before.
‘I’ve been tying you up for half the night, let me untie you.’
‘No!’
“Why are you trying so hard?’
‘…’ Enduring for a while can be exchanged for strength in the future, so it’s worth it to try your best. If you knew that “seeking abuse” had such a good effect, you would have long since pulled your face down and abused yourself.
The young master had only practiced light skills and breathing techniques, so his foundation was particularly pure, like a blank piece of paper that could be painted on, saving a lot of effort. It wasn’t until dawn that Zhong Wei removed all the restraints on his body. He took a bath with a medicinal bath, and the red marks on his body disappeared as soon as he soaked them. His skin quickly regained its elasticity, and he could squeeze it and make it release water. It’s just that his muscles are a little swollen and bulging, and the edges of his clothes are uncomfortable to wear. Zhong Wei put on a loose robe with the collar open, showing off his two pretty collar bones.
Zhang Hufa looked at him and burst into nosebleeds again. Covering his nose, he said, ‘Young Master, can you get dressed in the morning?’
Zhong Wei snapped, ‘What are you howling about so early in the morning? Where are the others?’
As soon as the words fell, Dong Chunchou strode in with a brisk step, and as soon as he met someone’s gaze, his face immediately turned red. The dashing man in his twenties was as red as a prawn, which was also quite funny. That said, last night was too far away, and Zhong Wei actually didn’t see the details clearly, but her imagination gave reality wings…
Ningtin quickly changed the subject: ‘Senior, what does “the wonder of no desire” mean in “The Cruel Flame Axis”? Also, when I channel the eight extraordinary meridians, my breath never seems to be quite right, and it feels like someone’s punched me in the chest.’
Dong Chunchou was astonished: ‘You’ve already reached the fifth volume, junior? You really are incredibly talented. It took me so long to reach the third volume.’
Ningtin: ‘Senior has practised solidly.’
At this moment, Gongzibo arrived lightly. Sitting on a tall cane chair, his long, straight hair fluttering around him, he still had an arrogant expression, just waiting to step on a slave at his feet, as if nothing had happened yesterday. The two disciples put an end to the conversation and finished their breakfast in silence.
At noon, in the forest.
Dong Chunchou was carrying several large logs, which he had purely used his Yuan Li to carve. The logs were round and smooth, like works of art. Under Zhong Wei’s guidance, Gong Zibo had taken Dong Chunchou’s abuse to a new level. Every day they forced themselves to spar, and if they lost, they were punished. The big punishments were things like splitting the mountain in half or making the river flow backwards. The small punishments were things like carrying bricks, laying tiles, digging pits, and carving wood. If this went on, the Mingxin Sect would be able to build the main hall in just a few days.
Dong Chunchou threw a flying kick, and a few pieces of wood were stacked neatly into a pyramid. One of them was slightly longer, so he used his fingers to slice off a neat section. These pieces of wood were surprisingly the same size and length. I don’t know if it was because Gongzibo gave good orders, or if Dong Chunchou was naturally serious.
Zhong Wei had long since noticed that Gong Zibo’s abuse was more of a physical nature and did not go deep. Flinging out that book of abuse and love was to let his hobby slip directly into another world. Last night, sure enough, Gong Zibo became interested in certain fields.
This is to be celebrated!
‘Dong Brother, take a break for a while. You are too honest, that’s why you get bullied.’ Zhong Wei nudged Bai Jinyi and made way.
’…’
‘Let me tell you…‘
’Forget it, none of your ideas work. I’d better just practise the Jueqingmen’s unique skills.’ Dong Chunchou politely declined Zhong Wei’s bad advice. The 99 sneak attack methods he had previously suggested had all been seen through and neutralised by the cunning Gongzibo, and each time they had resulted in a beating.
A few days ago, Zhong Wei said again that there was a fatal flaw in the unique techniques of the Mingxin Sect: if both armpits and jaw were restrained at the same time, one would inevitably be weak and scattered, with no power to fight back at all. ‘It’s a bit difficult to restrain Gongzibo in these three places at the same time, so, hold him tightly while sealing his lips with yours.’ This idea sounded bad as soon as it was heard, but Dong Chunyu believed it. Therefore, in the last few competitions, Dong Chunchou has been trying to hug Gongzibo.
‘However, you at least knocked Gongzibo down, so how can you say it’s useless? With a little more effort, you can kiss him and take his breath away in no time.’ Zhong Wei threw a secret manual at him. There was an abundance of unique knowledge in the system, and this manual suited Dong Chunchou’s characteristics and could restrain Gongzibo. ‘Take a look, this book is much more useful than your ’Absolute Flame Axis.’
Dong Chunchou was indeed attracted again: ‘Isn’t this the long-lost “Book of Eagle Domination”? Where did you get it!’
Zhong Wei smiled: ‘Otherwise, why do you think I am the leader?’
‘Seeing Gongzibo being ravaged and bullied,’ this wish can only be entrusted to this serious kind man, and Zhong Wei is full of expectations for the future. Meanwhile, Gongzibo suddenly felt a chill run through his body. He opened his eyes doubtfully. Dark clouds were gathering, and there was a storm coming.
However, Gongzibo was also troubled.
Although he loved to strip people naked and tie them up in dozens of ways, he wasn’t really interested in that area. To be honest, the young courtesan had also talked about the abuse of that place at the beginning, and Gongzibo felt that it was very dirty and had little interest. In the past, no matter how Dong Chunchao was whipped and trampled, he would grit his teeth and endure it, it was not fun at all. However, last night, after just a little teasing, he immediately let out an urgent sound like a virgin, and his hot breath sprayed into Gongzibo’s ear lobes, which also directly stimulated his nerves.
Although it was interrupted due to the interruption, the feeling was lingering.
It is inappropriate to fool around in the middle of a lesson. Perhaps the landlord of the Qingyu Building can arrange a skilled courtesan. Gongzibo let go of his hand, and the carrier pigeon flapped away. What he didn’t know was that the carrier pigeon didn’t fly far before it was knocked down by a small stone, and the silk letter in its talons was also removed.
Ning Geting threw the silk to Dong Chunchou: ‘This guy Gong Zibo is very unfaithful. Brother, find someone else.’
Dong Chunchou read it and, after squeezing it hard, the silk burned to ashes. He frowned for a long time, and finally forced himself to relax. ‘I like unfaithful people too. It doesn’t matter. After all, he can’t leave the Mingxin Sect, and the future is still long.’
‘Why can’t he leave?‘
’I don’t know. It seems there’s a reason why he must stay, and even his master doesn’t know the details.‘ Dong Chunchou suddenly smiled, his brows clear. “I should be grateful that the young master is a masochist, and that Gongzibo is not interested in him, otherwise, it wouldn’t be my turn.”
’Senior brother, why do you like pain?‘ Ning Geting felt very uncomfortable, seeing the young master in so much pain.
’I don’t like it.’
‘Then why do you?‘
’Because he likes it.‘ Dong Chunchou opened the “Book of the Eagle Tyrant” and said, “Younger brother, people can endure many things that ordinary people cannot for their own purposes. Compared to that day, when I learned that he had left Zixiao Island and was like a drop of water merging into the sea and nowhere to be found, the pain in my heart was excruciating. The physical pain was really something to rejoice in.”
’…’ Has he reached a certain level of masochism?
Under the stimulation of physical abuse, Zhong Wei’s combat effectiveness soared. From the beginning, she couldn’t even stand on a tree branch, but by the end, her precise strength was enough to break rocks with a twist of her wrist, leaving people dumbfounded. The process of learning martial arts was truly miserable, and Zhong Wei would writhe on the ground in pain, sweating profusely.
Ningtain thought, this is also ‘enduring the intolerable for the sake of the goal,’ right? Although at first he looked down on the young master, the longer he watched, the less idiot he seemed. The way he bit his teeth together and didn’t say a word occasionally overlapped with the person in his dreams—if you covered his face—no, he still just wanted to find the person in his dreams.
Ningtain occasionally got so tangled up.
☆, abuse and cry that S scum [5]

[Fast wear never regret abuse and cry that S scum Chapter 5]
The more real the perceived pain, the stronger the potential triggered by the physique.
Zhong Wei was half-naked and unashamed.
Although there were thousands of methods, Zhong Wei didn’t want to turn herself into a masochist and only accepted bondage. The method of bondage was often changed to ensure that every nerve was stimulated. This day, Zhong Wei sat on the bed, allowing Ning Geting to straddle her face-to-face, the rope skillfully looped from her neck to her back in a flower-like pattern. The neck is fragile, so care must be taken, and Ning Geting’s movements were exceptionally meticulous. Slightly raising her head, she passed over the naked shoulders and threaded the rope around her back. As they got closer, Ning Geting’s breath occasionally brushed against Zhong Wei’s skin, and her hands occasionally stroked her back. Her hands were cool, while the palms of her hands were very hot.
Zhong Wei was tied up tightly, and she was already excited from the abuse, so this closeness made her feel restless and her mind wander.
In her previous life, the two of them had kissed.
She remembered that Ningteting liked to get close to her, often making excuses to get intimate. If it weren’t for the failed mission and time constraints, the two of them would definitely have gone straight to third base. In this life, Ningteting was thinking about ‘Zhong Wei in his dreams’ and had no interest at all in the real young master—it was really annoying.
With a swish, the rope slipped down her back.
Sliding like a snake, Zhong Wei flinched and moved, and the rope fell into the clothes that surrounded the bottom. Ning Geting reached out to fish it out, but the clothes were very loose and opened up immediately. As soon as he touched it, he felt the smooth curve of her buttocks. Ngingtin retracted his hand in a flash, startled, and said apologetically, ‘Ah, that, let me hold it for a moment.’ He carefully moved the rope over with his fingernails and let out a sigh of relief.
Zhong Wei was speechless. He wasn’t embarrassed, so what was he embarrassed about?
Everything is like a scale.
When you are unsatisfied, Ningerging becomes ascetic. Zhong Wei sat upright, expressionless, and depressed. Unaware of this, Ningerging looked at him and thought: This young master looks like a little white guy, always doing funny things and crying. However, once he practices, he becomes extraordinarily upright, with a sternness that is completely different from his daytime self.
The man of my dreams also seems ascetic and stern.
But when he did that kind of thing, it was fierce and fiery, unrestrained, especially when he sat on top of me… Ningguting’s blood rushed to his head, and the rope holding the flowers slipped down again. His hand trembled, hooked up, passed under the armpit, and hastily and sloppily tied a weaving knot on Zhong Wei’s chest.
Zhong Wei let out a silent sigh of relief.
Ning Geting couldn’t wait to get out of bed, straightened his face, avoided looking at her, and spoke incoherently: ‘Hehe, your skills have improved rapidly, and you can enter the school even if you put it in the gate of absolute indifference. “The Spectrum of the Remnant is really an amazing book, where did you get it from? Well, I’ll go out for a while, you take your time practicing…” and he dashed out.
Zhong Wei’s rapid progress was also in Gong Zibo’s eyes.
‘Why bother asking outsiders when you can ask me?‘ Gongzibo said disdainfully.
’How could I bear to disturb your elegance? With Dong Chunchou here, you’re already busy enough. He’s so honest, and it’s not like you to have been unable to tame him,‘ Zhong Wei said with a smile.
’Why haven’t you tamed him? You haven’t seen how obedient he is.’
‘Taming is more than that. He should be happy when you abuse him, and if you don’t abuse him, he should be miserable and willing to live and die for you. That’s what true taming is. In my opinion, he just can’t beat you and is afraid of you.‘
’…”
Gongzibo knew very well that Zhong Wei was provoking him.
He also knew very well that Zhong Wei was the one who had caused him to go astray.
This won’t do. If we’re going to go under, we’ll all go under together. So Gongzibo approached Ningeting, who was researching methods of torture, and said, ‘The “Spectrum of the Debris Thunder” is a classic text in my school? If we practice step by step, we’ll be there forever. When you know what’s going to happen, whether you’re happy or scared, it’ll be a lot less intense. So if you give him an unknown situation, the explosion of his potential will absolutely exceed your imagination!’
People are annoying, but they make sense.
That night, Ningeting pointed at the dark night sky and said, ‘Master, absorbing the essence of the sun and the moon to cultivate will be twice the result with half the effort. Let’s go over to the woods and have a look.’
‘Where’s the moon?’
It was pitch black, but that didn’t stop Ningeting from going to the woods to cultivate.
When they were blocked by the towering ancient trees, Zhong Wei couldn’t even find the path, stumbling and tripping every now and then. Ning Geting, on the other hand, was stronger, had sharper senses, and the ability to see in the dark, so he was able to walk quickly. Zhong Wei was furious and simply stopped. After Ning Geting had flown far away, he ran back, took his hand, and teased him, saying, ‘I forgot about you, this big trouble. Come here, follow Brother Ning.’
‘Brother Ning? How dare you say that.‘ Zhong Wei’s mouth twitched.
’Aren’t you eighteen years old? I’m older than you no matter how you look at it. If only I could remember the past, I could chat with you about it now.‘ Ning Geting squeezed his hand, and they both felt the heat, their palms sweating. “I wonder, when I was your age, did I meet someone I liked?”
’You did,‘ Zhong Wei answered without thinking.
’Huh?’
‘I’m sure you did.”
Zhong Wei was about to trip several times, but was embraced by Ning Geting. The forest got further and further away, the path got darker and darker, and the heart got more and more anxious. They walked until they reached a place where it was almost impossible to see with their hands outstretched. Ning Geting pointed his finger and fixed Zhong Wei’s acupoints and mute points. Zhong Wei was dumbfounded and could not speak.
Ning Geting picked Zhong Wei up in his arms and carried him to a place.
Zhong Wei didn’t know where it was or what would happen, but he could feel that he was bound all over, and a bandage had been placed over his eyes.
Only his senses remained.
The smell of fresh damp wood was overpowering. Was it new wood that Dong Chunchou had chopped? The smell was so strong, and breathing was so difficult, that it was a new wooden box. At that moment, there was a heavy clang, and the lid was closed. The lid was very close to his nose, and he felt oppressed instantly.
A coffin?
Then, Ngingtin actually walked away, and the sound of his footsteps went on mercilessly! Bastard! What does this Ngingtin want!
Zhong Wei couldn’t move.
He couldn’t move, and the black pressure was crushing him. The black was as deep as the universe, as if he had sunk forever into darkness. The confined space made it impossible to breathe or think. There was no light, just blackness and his own breath. His exhaled breath sprayed onto the new wooden lid and bounced back, suffocating the space.
Pain, suffocation, the suffocating feeling of a confined space came over her. Zhong Wei wanted to scream, but she couldn’t make a sound. She couldn’t move, and she was sweating. She felt cold, with every hair on her body standing on end. Every nerve in her body was tingling with fear.
There wasn’t enough oxygen, and her breathing became more and more rapid.
Roar – roar – roar – a few bear roars broke the silence. A bloodthirsty bear? How could there be a bear? Did Ningtang capture it? The bear smelled the scent of a stranger, and it patted the box twice. Fortunately, the ‘coffin’ was sturdy and didn’t break. Zhong Wei’s heart instantly felt as if it had been scratched by a rake, unable to resist or be of any help. Zhong Wei felt a strong personal fear.
She was afraid, but she had to remain calm.
Forcing herself to calm down, all her nerves were stretched to the extreme. Zhong Wei concentrated her attention, gathered her energy in her lower abdomen, and concentrated all her mental power at her fingertips. Her five senses vanished, leaving only acute perception. With a crack, the box was opened by a palm strike from the bear. Zhong Wei instantly jumped up, directing her Qi at her fingertips, and sent a thousand pounds of force straight at the bear’s chest.
With a bang, the bear collapsed.
Zhong Wei tore off the bandage over his eye and it lit up. It was bright around him, even though there was no moonlight. He bent down and breathed heavily, breathing, breathing… The fresh air tasted harsh in his throat. When he had recovered, he saw that next to the black bear, Ningguting was standing with his arms folded, saying, ‘Not bad! Not bad!’
‘Bastard…’ Zhong Wei’s eyes were very sore, his eye muscles twitching, and he wanted to cry, but he held back desperately.
Nin-Gting approached leisurely and pinched his face: ‘Sure enough, you can only realise your potential in a desperate situation. I did it for your own good. Ha, don’t be afraid, I’ve always been by your side.’
‘Go to hell!’
Despite this scolding, Zhong Wei stumbled forward and fell into Nin-Gting’s arms, clenching his arm tightly and trembling with fear.
Still in a state of fear? Ngingtin held out his hand stiffly, and finally gave a gentle hug, the two of them pressed together.
It was hot, standing.
Ngingtin pushed away immediately, incredulous: ‘How could you…’
‘Brute!’ Zhong Wei was furious and ran away.
‘Who’s the brute? Why are you scolding me?’ Ngingtin took a long time to find his tongue, and muttered as he watched the fleeing figure: ‘Doesn’t everyone shrink in fear? Is this a natural masochistic constitution? Hey, you’re running pretty fast, and your strength is improving so quickly?
Yes, in the midst of extreme fear and oppression, Zhong Wei stood up.
Zhong Wei just wanted to dig a pit, bury herself deep, rot and never see the light again, never see Ninggeting again. With this constitution, she is both perverted and abnormal. Why did she come to this world of cheating? She has lost face for generations.
I never want to see anyone again.
When Zhong Wei was forcibly dug out of the quilt by Gong Zi Bo, she gave up: this mission is a scam! This scam world, this mission is also a bust! Forget it, I’d rather become a cat or a dog than endure this body type any longer! Anyway, there’s no grudges or hatred, there’s no need to scam Gong Zi Bo.
‘Ningtiting bullied you!’ Gong Zi Bo laughed strangely.
“No!’
‘You’re dying to save face, but you’re suffering. I’ll help you beat him up!‘
’No!‘
’Heh, you’re not short on ideas, are you? You can handle Ningeting, can’t you? You know every part of the sect, and any one of them would be enough to teach him a lesson.’ Gongzibo leisurely sipped his tea, long hair sliding down the back of his hand. ’Have you fallen for that kid? Haha, actually, it’s better to abuse the heart than the body.’
‘Don’t try any tricks!‘ Zhong Wei glared at him, “Does this pervert never get tired of picking on people?”
’Never mind, take off your clothes and I’ll show you the injuries.‘
’I don’t have any injuries.’
Without further ado, Gongzibo lifted the quilt and pulled off Zhong Wei’s pajamas – if it had been anyone else, Zhong Wei would have refused outright. The pit was that he still had the memories and habits of the young master, and the way the young master and Gongzibo got along was so close and intimate, and they bullied each other.
Zhong Wei lay on the bed, furious: ‘Have you touched enough? I said there are no injuries if there are no injuries! Ah! You pervert, where did you touch me!’
Gongzibo muttered, ‘It’s amazing that there are no scars after such abuse.’
Gongzibo glanced at the open window, and sure enough, he saw Ningeting fly away, his figure as fast as lightning. Heh, the young master wants to fight with me, but he’s still green. Gongzibo curled his lips up.
Ningeting kicked open the guest room with one foot, his forehead showing exposed blue veins, looking as if he wanted to kill someone.
Dong Chunchou was surprised: ‘Junior brother, what’s wrong with you?’
Ning Geting: ‘I’m going back to the Cold-Heart Gate!’
In the morning, just after he got up, Gongzibo came running to say that he and Zhong Weiben were originally soulmates, but they didn’t make their feelings clear because they had grown up together and were too familiar to bring up the subject. Last night, Zhong Weiben came to him seeking love, and the two opened their hearts to each other, so they were both happy – in other words, the unnecessary people who had assisted, like Ning Geting, could withdraw.
Ning Geting was doubtful, and Gong Zibo said, ‘Don’t believe me? Watch how I get him to wake up. I’ll convince you.’
So there was the scene that followed. Ning Geting saw from the window Gong Zibo’s long, slender hands lingering and stroking the young master’s back, and the young master, incredibly, let out a suspiciously pleasant sound. Unbearable!
Go down the mountain! Go home!
In a fit of rage, Ninggeting ran away, but got lost halfway. The Mingxin Sect’s Dragon-Devouring Bewitchment Array was no joke. Ninggeting angrily sat on the big tree, angry enough to knock the leaves off: those two were jerks! Wait, why was he angry? What did it matter to him who the young master was intimate with?
Because the young master’s name was Zhong Wei?
There are many people with the same name.
Right, Dong Chunchou likes Gongzibo so much, so Gongzibo can’t be unfaithful, that’s it! Ningtin held his head in his hands in distress, his emotions in a complete mess.
☆, Crying abuse of that S scum [6]

The author has something to say: …
Recommend a new article by a friend:
Address copy: http://www.jjwxc.net/onebook.php?novelid=2591113
Recommend a new completed article by a friend:
Copy the address: http://www.jjwxc.net/onebook.php?novelid=2458708
[Fast-Paced Never Regret, Abuse and Cry That S Scum, Chapter 6]
Zhong Wei finally plucked up the courage to come out, but she couldn’t find Ning Geting.
The young master Bo acted as if nothing had happened: ‘He’s returned to the Emotionless Gate.’
‘What?’ It was a bolt from the blue.
‘It seems that he is looking for someone from his dreams. Oh, your name is exactly the same as that person’s. You have never been out of the Mingxin Sect, so how could you possibly be in someone’s dreams?‘ Gongzibo laughed. Previously, he had heard from Dong Chunchou that Ninggeting was looking for a beauty called Zhong Wei, and he was able to sow discord with ease. “The Mingxin Sect’s food reserves are dwindling day by day, so it’s just as well to let one person go.”
’You have a big appetite, and you’re just missing that one grain of food? !’
Of course, the words of the young master Bo cannot be trusted. However, yesterday’s embarrassing appearance, could it be that Ninggeting felt that he had come too close and betrayed ‘Zhong Wei in his dreams’—it is possible, that kid has always been stubborn.
Zhong Wei went to Dong Chenzhou to confirm, and Dong Chenzhou looked indifferent: ‘My younger brother must return to the Emotionless Gate, and there is nothing I can do to stop him.’
“Bastard, the Mingxin Sect can come and go as they please!’
Zhong Wei dashed away.
His lightness and speed were so great that Dong Chunchou, who was practising kung fu with his back turned, did not notice at all: ‘My junior brother cannot get out. This maze cannot be solved casually. Young master, you don’t have to worry… Huh? Where is everyone?’
The mere Dragon-Eating Formation could not stump Zhong Wei. But he suddenly realised that the tree was the soul of the Dragon-Eating Formation: anyone entering or leaving would stop there. Zhong Wei flew directly to the soul of the formation, and sure enough, Ninggeting was sitting in the tree, facing east, his eyes fixedly staring at the sun.
Is this guy really that troubled?
Zhong Wei flew up a branch and landed with a light step, standing very steadily. ‘What are you doing here!’
‘Shouldn’t I keep watch over the Mingxin Sect’s territory?‘
Ningtin is not one to hold back: “Haha, two people of the Mingxin Sect, guarding a territory of thousands of miles… Since you are so close to Gongzibo, one likes to abuse others, the other likes to be abused, isn’t that perfect? Why do you need to provoke others by asking me to help you cultivate?”
’What does Gongzibo have to do with this?’
‘Don’t hide it, I saw it this morning!‘
Zhong Wei immediately knew what was unusual about Gongzibo this morning when she thought about it. She suddenly understood and couldn’t help but laugh: “If you look around Mingxin Mountain, you’ll see nothing but uncles and aunts, either sixty-year-old ancient elders or three- or four-year-old little kids. Even if I like Gongzibo, it’s not surprising, is it?”
’Then just be with him! Why do you want me to help you cultivate!’ Ninggeting gave up on himself.
‘It’s just cultivation, do you have other thoughts?‘
’…‘ Ninggeting couldn’t speak.
’I and Gongzibo are just good friends who have been dependent on each other since childhood. Other than that, there is nothing else. You can believe it or not!‘ Zhong Wei stepped on the tree branch, and the leaves fell down stylishly.
’I believe it,‘ Ninggeting blurted out.
’…’ It was rare to have someone care about oneself, but she couldn’t say it, and Zhong Wei felt a mixture of emotions.
From experience, the longer the period of time, the more Zhong Wei’s appearance he will take on. For example, the idiot son of the Mu clan who had been transported to a primitive tribe was only three years old, but his face and body shape were already very similar to the original. Of course, for someone like Xaozu, whose skeleton had already set, it could only be a close resemblance. Therefore, after a few more years of cultivation, he will grow back into Zhong Wei’s appearance. Even if Ninggeting remembers Xaozu, whose eyebrows are hanging down, at least, the expression can be similar.
Zhong Wei’s gaze looked at the gentle red sun: ‘Give me some time, three or four years, when I have cultivated myself into a strong person, you will be able to find your beloved. You must be patient and not fall in love with someone else.’
‘Do you know where he is?’
‘…’
“How do you know you can see him in three or four years? I want to see him now!’
‘Just a little calculation! Okay! If you’re not busy, come back to the Mingxin Sect with me!‘ Zhong Wei flapped his sleeve in annoyance and flew off the branch. His physical fitness had improved significantly due to practising martial arts, and unlike before, he was no longer naïve and ignorant, but had a more composed temperament.
Ningtin was momentarily distracted and flew after him, “Hey, what exactly is your relationship with Gongzibo?”
’Archenemy!’
You evil boy Gongzibo!
It’s no wonder that the young master still wanted to ravish him even on his deathbed.
Zhong Wei had set his sights on Dong Chunchou during the day, watching him practice kung fu, watching for hours on end, offering advice whenever he could. His kung fu was of course inferior to Dong Chunchou’s, but he knew a lot more and was able to hit the nail on the head. ‘After all, he is the young master, so there must be something special about him.’ Dong Chunchou readily accepted advice, and with his unique skills, his combat strength was soaring.
That day, Zhong Wei said, ‘Your combat strength is definitely not inferior to Gongzibo’s, so why do you always lose when you compare your strength?’
Dong Chunchou was embarrassed, ‘I panic whenever I see him.’
This was a typical case of having the heart of a thief but not the courage, which was a weakness but also a weakness that could be exploited. Zhong Wei laughed and said, ‘I’ll tell you what, tomorrow, you go find Gongzibo…’
It was the twilight of autumn.
Dong Chunzhou changed into a simple and flowing long skirt and polished his long sword until it gleamed. In the gleam, it seemed to reflect the arrogant face of Gongzibo. ‘This is the rule: if you lose, you will be tortured at my whim; if I lose, you can do whatever you want with me.’ In the end, how many people has he said this to? He released the carrier pigeon the other day, does he still want to have anything to do with Qingyu Tower? Dong Chunzhou closed his eyes and lightly kissed the sword with his lips.
“Vice-leader, do you have time to spar today?’
‘Huh?‘ Gongzipo had been busy all day, with fires in the east and disasters in the west. Things had all come together, and just as he sat down to rest and take a sip of tea, he saw Dong Chunchou arrive. After all was said and done, the two had tacitly agreed not to spar again.
’Why not? The vice-master looks like he’s running low on energy.‘
’Heh, even if I can’t, I’m still better than you!’
The two of them always competed at night, and after a good fight, they would go their separate ways. This was the first time they had competed in the daytime. Gongzibo surveyed Dong Chunchou. He had a commanding figure, with bright eyes and a brocade robe that made him look bright and clear. He was unusually powerful today, as if he already had the upper hand.
Gongzibo snorted, ‘It’s rare to see you be so bold!’
The autumn wind whistled, and the autumn leaves swept across the ground.
After ten or so moves, Gongzibo sneered disappointedly, ‘I thought today would be different, but there’s no difference from before. Hehe, the moves are even slower than before.’
Dong Chunchou swept out a long shadow, and Gongzibo whipped out a thousand silk threads in quick succession.
He couldn’t dodge in time, and Dong Chunchou fell to the ground.
The young master’s eyebrows knitted as he casually flicked a gust of wind between his fingers. Dong Chunzhou rolled on the ground to avoid the attack, and coughed several times while half-lying on the ground, as if he had conceded. The young master was speechless, holding the Thousand Silk Threads in his hand and stepping on Dong Chunzhou’s chest with one foot: ‘Go back to your Heartless Gate! You’re not worthy to fight me!’
Dong Chunchou drew his sword in an instant and swung it in a sky-eagle slash, sending several strands of silk flying with the wind. Gong Zibo tried to strike back, but it was too late. The distance was too close, and the Thousand-Layers Silk could not strike Dong Chunchou in the chest. Dong Chunchou suddenly dropped his sword and pounced on Gong Zibo like a hungry tiger. With a thud, Gong Zibo was once again thrown to the ground.
Gongzibo was shocked.
An empty hand could not defeat Dong Chunchou’s ‘premeditated’ plan. This time was different from the last time, as Dong Chunchou had clearly decided to fight up close…Pop! His lips were soft, then heavy, and sealed…Gongzibo’s eyes widened, and in front of him were deep dark eyes. When he reacted, he threw away the Thousand Weight Silk and tried to pull Dong Chunchou away, ‘Are you crazy…’
His lips were sealed again.
He was pinned to the ground, breathing hotly and confusedly, and kissing in a disorganised manner. Gongzibo’s mind went blank, and his hands stopped in shock. It wasn’t until he felt a pain on his tongue that he realised Dong Chunchou was actually sucking on his lips. Gongzibo was furious, and with a sudden burst of strength, he pushed Dong away.
There was a loud thud.
Dong Chunchou fell to the ground. Gong Zibo was furious and kicked him hard. He casually picked up the sword on the ground and hacked it without thinking about the consequences. Dong Chunchou rolled over like a hawk and quickly avoided it. He didn’t say anything and flew straight out of the courtyard. He fled in a panic, his feet moving as fast as lightning.
Gongzibo chased into the forest, but he couldn’t see his shadow anymore. He was furious, and he randomly chopped down a few trees, shouting, ‘You son of a bitch! Don’t let me see you again! If I do, I’ll chop you into eight pieces!’
A flurry of rustling.
A flock of birds took flight in alarm.
Gongzibo leaned against a tree, waiting for his pounding heart to stop before he felt the pain in the corner of his mouth. He touched his lips, and was shocked to see blood—was Dong Chunchou a dog? He gasped, which caused his tongue to ache. He raised his hand to wipe the bloodstains, but then felt a sharp pain in his armpit – right, during the fight, he had been embraced so tightly that his armpits had been pinched. Gongzibo’s whole body ached, and his head in particular: what kind of stupid move was that?
Did he have no martial arts skills at all?
…
Dong Chunchou ran away.
After that day, he was never seen again and never returned to the Cold-Heart Gate.
It was as if a puppy that had been petted had suddenly bitten him. Gongzibo was so angry that he could not even think of revenge. In his rage, he chopped up all the rounded wood that Dong Chenzhou had made into wood chips. The whole of Mingshan Mountain knew that the Vice-Abbot had recently gone mad and was destroying everything in his path. Stay away from him, as far away as possible.
It was the hardest to hang in there.
He couldn’t see anyone, couldn’t let off steam, and even in his dreams he was chopping people up.
After a fortnight, Gongzibo calmed down and sent a pigeon messenger to the owner of Qingyu Tower again. He received a reply soon after, and the owner arranged for a very strong swordsman, and they still met at Yulin Pavilion. Gongzibo pondered over the reply for half a day, and finally packed up the thousand-layer silk and changed into a white brocade robe, floating over there.
In the Yulin Pavilion.
With his back to the door, Gongzibo sat quietly in the armchair, waiting.
After a while, there was a creaking sound, and someone entered lightly, stopping behind him without saying a word. Gongzibo remained calm, gripping the Thousand-Weight Silk. Half an hour later, suddenly, the person behind him turned around and left.
The young master turned around and gave a hard slap.
Pop!
The screen broke.
‘You have the guts to come, but don’t you have the guts to fight me again?’ The young master said coldly.
‘I want to try a different kind of torture,’ Dong Chunchou said.
‘…’
‘Like the way you did to me that night, I really like it,’ Dong Chunchou took out a thin cotton rope and placed it on the table. His mouth curved up, his mood was pleasant.
For a moment, Gongzibo thought he was dreaming. Did he actually like being treated like that? ‘I look forward to it, I really like being abused.’ ‘That’s true taming.’ Is that all? Gongzibo picked up the cotton rope, wound it around his fingertips, and felt the anger in his chest disappear. Unconsciously, the corner of his mouth also turned up: ‘The eldest disciple of the Merciless Sect, has it come to this? Come here!’
“Whatever you say, and you’ll forgive me?’
‘Hmph! It depends on my mood.‘
Dong Chunchou made a move in an instant.
Eagle God Seal –
concentrating the essence of two peerless skills, a deadly move! Gongzibo was sealed in his chair, his whole body, as if sealed by a wire mesh. He watched in a daze as the meek puppy once again took advantage of his negligence to pounce.
’You lost!’ Dong Chunchou smiled.
‘Hmph!‘
Dong Chunchou reached out and lovingly stroked Gongzibo’s face.
’You have to accept the consequences of your actions. You can hit me, you can abuse me, it’s up to you, but I’ve never treated you like this!‘ Gongzibo said angrily.
’Why would I?‘
’…‘
’If I win, I get to do whatever I want with you, and that’s what I want to do to you.’
There was silence. His hand, from her lips, travelled down her neck, smooth and soft. His fingers stroked her inch by inch. His infatuation, his longing, and his caresses were like treasures. He could not bear to use force, and just this caress was already enough. Dong Chunchou leaned in and kissed her, just as he had done in his dreams a thousand times before. It was soft, warm, sweet, and he could not bear to let go.
The kiss had gone on for a long time.
Suddenly, a cold drop fell. Dong Chenzhou was startled. It was Gongzibo’s tear. He slowly pulled away, leaving a silver thread between his lips: ‘Are you afraid? Beg me, and I’ll let you go!’
‘…’ Gongzibo closed his eyes.
‘Since you’re not saying anything, I’ll take that as your tacit consent. I’ve wanted to do this since the first time I saw you,’ Dong Chenzhou slowly undid Gongzibo’s belt.
’…’
Never before had he been so angry and yet had to suppress his anger. Gongzibo was on the verge of a breakdown. After a long while, the anger gradually numbed, and he heard a slight sound of sucking. Each time his skin was sucked, it left a red mark. His keen senses returned, tingling and numb. He had never been caressed so gently and cared for so lovingly before.
‘I keep my word. You can untie my pressure points,’ Gongzibo said.
“Huh?’
Suddenly, Gongzibo raised the corners of his mouth, as proud as ever: ‘I know what you want, and I won’t refuse, but I don’t like being bound, so release the pressure points.’
With eyes that were like magic, Dong Chunchou hesitantly opened the pressure points: pop, pop!
Gongzibo flew up.
The two men faced each other. Dong Chunchou regretted it, his body tensing as he nervously waited for his attack. Gong Zibo bit his teeth and suddenly pulled out his belt, throwing it onto the ground with a fierce throw. With a swish, his clothes fell off, and he threw himself onto the bed.
☆, Abuse and Cry That S Scum [7

[Fast Wear Never Regret · Abuse and Cry That S Scum · Chapter 7]
The two men faced each other. Dong Chunchou was full of remorse, his body tensed as he nervously waited for his attack. Gongzibo gritted his teeth, then suddenly pulled out the belt and threw it hard onto the ground. With a swish, the clothes fell off, and he threw himself onto the bed.
‘What are you waiting for! Get into bed!’ Gongzibo stood upside down with angry eyes.
‘…’ Dong Chunchou woke up from his dream, climbed onto the bed with a groan, and watched with wide eyes.
‘Do I have to help you take it off?!‘
’…‘ No need. It came off easily.
’Lie down!‘
Faster than a reflex, Dong Chunzhou did as he was told. Gong Zibo gritted his teeth and sat down, but he wasn’t very accurate, and Dong Chunzhou let out a scream.
’I didn’t even scream, so why are you screaming?’ Gong Zibo glared.
Dong Chunzhou trembled with excitement, half-rising and moving slightly, afraid to exert himself. Gong Zibo gritted his teeth and moved suddenly downward, feeling the pain. He embraced Dong Chunzhou and bit his shoulder. Dong Chunzhou’s whole body instantly burned, blazing like fire, and his reason instantly burned away…
Gong Zibo tied his belt and looked back at the person on the bed, still in a state of ecstasy and in a daze: ‘Hmph! Ten strikes, and you dare to brandish a big sword in front of me!’
Dong Chunchou crashed from the clouds to the ground.
‘Practice hard, heh, if you can’t do martial arts, you can’t do anything.’ Gongzibo turned around and left.
Dong Chunchou suddenly sprang up, pounced on him and threw him to the ground. Without saying a word, he pulled off his clothes, pulled open his long legs, supported his still dripping member and pushed it straight in.
…
Both Gongzibo and Dong Chuzhou converted to Islam.
The atmosphere was eerie.
The two got along in the same way as before: Gongzibo still gave orders and Dong Chuzhou still did not resist, but it felt completely different. It was indescribable, like the spring breeze caressing your face, and you were willing.
Dong Chuzhou came to see Zhong Wei, beaming: ‘Just as you predicted, he wasn’t too angry, and all those days of suffering were not in vain.’
‘You won him over in one fell swoop?‘
’Yes!‘
’Don’t say I taught you!‘
’…‘
’You won’t say it, will you?”
Dong Chunchou smiled awkwardly, “When he asked me that, I just…” Who could bear the sight of the blushing young master lying in their arms, asking in a hoarse voice, “Who taught you?” “Suddenly I got it, who am I fooling?” “Huh, Zhong Wei, right?”
Zhong Wei put a hand to his forehead.
Ngingtin did not know what had happened between the two, and repeatedly asked why the senior apprentice had to come back and be tortured. That day, there was a light snowfall, and Ngingtin looked worriedly, ‘Where is the young master taking my senior apprentice?’
Zhongwei was straightforward: ‘Let’s go, I’ll show you.’
By the lake, in a small boat, the boat rocked violently, slapping the lake hard and breaking the thin ice. One rebuke after another came: ‘Use some strength!’ ‘Up!’ ‘In!’ ‘Ah! That’s too hard!’ ‘Faster! That’s it! Ugh! Ah!’ The rebukes gradually gave way to sharp gasps of breath, one high, one low, unrestrained, like the lake surging repeatedly.
Ningguting was dumbfounded.
During the meal that day, he never looked up and just kept eating bowls of plain rice.
That night, Ning Geting still wrapped Zhong Wei in golden silk. However, after the shock, at first glance at her half-naked upper body with smooth skin, his mind immediately filled with beautiful images, and his hands trembled uncontrollably, so he could no longer tie it as meticulously as before.
There were often traces of bondage in the form of light red, purple red, and dark red stripes, and some of the skin had even been broken. However, Zhong Wei has super healing powers, and she can recover almost as good as new in less than three days.
Zhong Wei always says that it doesn’t hurt.
Is it really not painful? Or is she just being brave? Ning Geting wonders. These days, Zhong Wei’s constitution has improved significantly, and she can effectively control her facial expressions. She no longer cries at the slightest thing. She has also grown taller, and her arms and legs have developed a thin layer of muscle. The whole person has a completely different temperament—Ning Geting suddenly has no idea what she was like when they first met.
‘You’re swollen.‘
’It’s not so bad.‘
’But you’re congested, red like this.‘
’It’s not so bad.‘
’I think we should give up, your skin is broken, I think something is going to come out.‘
’Just try harder! I told you it’s not a problem! And I definitely won’t cry, no matter how painful it is!’ Zhong Wei’s eyebrows were standing on end, her cheeks flushed, ’If you don’t use some strength, there’s no way to progress in martial arts if it doesn’t hurt!’
‘If it’s this painful, I might as well never learn martial arts and just read books all my life,‘ Ning Geting muttered.
’Impossible.‘
’Why is it impossible? With you here, and me here, you’ll be safe for the rest of your life! Besides, you can practice gradually, and you don’t need to worry about an extra year or two. Why are you trying so hard? I don’t want to see you suffer like this!‘ Ning Geting threw the golden silk thread aside and sat heavily on the bed.
’Who do you think wants to do this?’
Zhong Wei was annoyed, and she brushed away the remaining golden silk thread in one go, wrapped it in her clothes, and sat there in a daze. Why try so hard? Because, I want to stay, I want to extend my connection with this world as much as possible, like a tree, with its roots spreading out and deeply rooted in this world, not like a duckweed that drifts away as soon as its task is done—for example, in my previous life, I didn’t take the trouble to root myself in the world of racing, and when I wanted to stay later, it was already too late.
While there’s still time.
Zhong Wei turned around and suddenly embraced Ningteting, head butting on his shoulder, ‘I want to stay in a world with you, even if it’s only for a lifetime.’
‘What?’ Ningteting was stunned.
‘You’ll remember the days you spent with me.’
Ningteting was shocked, pushed him away, and looked him straight in the eyes, ‘What are you talking about? Did I have anything with you before?’
Zhong Wei’s clothes slid down smoothly, revealing smooth shoulders with residual marks of abuse. In the dying light, there was a sadness that he had never seen before. This was not the young master, this was a completely different person, although half of him was in the shadows, it was inexplicably beautiful. Ningergding looked at him fixedly, in a daze, as if he had seen him before.
Zhong Wei helped her dress: ‘You’ll remember.’
Nin’guoting hurriedly looked away, but his mind was a whirlwind of thoughts, recalling the beautiful scene he had heard at noon. His heart was beating like a drum, completely out of control. He pressed his chest hard and said with difficulty, ‘Really? If I remember you, I will definitely remember him!’ Where was his beloved in his dream? He was very confused and couldn’t think clearly about anything.
‘I don’t care, I can wait a few years.’ Zhong Wei walked briskly out of the room.
…
Snow was falling, covering the mountains in white.
Spring turned to autumn and then winter again. Gong Zibo and Zhong Wei had sparred for hundreds of moves. The long sword had carved an image of the country on the frozen lake. The two men put away their weapons and stood tall. Gong Zibo raised an eyebrow: ’Not bad. I never thought that in just three years you could have trained to such a level. You are also incredibly talented.’
‘Thank you for the praise,‘ Zhong Wei said with a slight smile.
’They’ve been gone for six months. Why don’t you go to the Cold-Heart Sect and look for them?‘ Six months ago, the head of the Cold-Heart Sect suddenly became seriously ill. Dong Chunchou and Ning Geting returned after receiving the urgent news, but they haven’t been heard from since.
’What about you?’ Zhong Wei asked in return.
A bird in the sky flapped and circled, and when Gongzibo raised his hand, the bird flew down and landed on the back of his hand, with silk on its claws. He untied it, glanced at it, and then casually crushed it into pieces: ‘It’s rare to have a free day, with no one pestering me, so why wouldn’t I enjoy it?’
‘Going to Qingyu Building again? Don’t you get the itch to abuse people?’ Zhong Wei asked leisurely.
“It’s the same as you getting the itch to be abused.’
‘I’m not.‘
’Heh.‘
’Solid people like Dong Chunzhou are hard to come by, so don’t regret it if you lose him.’ Despite what he said, Zhong Wei wasn’t worried at all. Dong Chunzhou was a solid person who wouldn’t be stupid enough to lose the way to Gongzibo through Qingyufu. Besides, the bird today didn’t seem quite like the ones she had seen before.
The young master chuckled, and with a flick of his thousand strands of silk, he swept a clean path through the snow. At the end of the path was a cliff, the same place where the young master had been blown off by the wind. The young master stopped, his eyes narrowed slightly, and he stared at Zhong Wei. Zhong Wei stopped in confusion, and the two of them stood in the snow, facing each other.
‘Do you remember the first time I beat you up and made you cry?’
‘Huh?’
“Do you remember when I taught you how to do light work?’
‘What?‘
’What, you don’t remember? You weren’t always like this. You knew all about those things and said you’d never forget. Did jumping off a cliff make you forget so much and change your personality?”
Zhong Wei had forgotten.
When she first came through, her memory was very clear and she remembered every little thing. As time passed, those memories became blurry and then disappeared. But why did Gongzibo suddenly say those things?
‘It’s been more than three years and seven months since the day I woke up after falling off the cliff,’ Gongzibo said.
Zhong Wei was taken aback. ’You remember clearly,’
‘Because I’m impatient.‘
’What?‘
’It’s said in ancient texts that after two years of soul-searching, memories will fully recover. It’s not difficult for others to find Mount Mingxin in another year and seven months, but it’s a bit more difficult for that person.’ Gongzibo suddenly laughed, a very happy laugh, ’I guess it took quite a while to break through the dragon formation, you idiot!’
What was he talking about? Zhong Wei was at a loss.
At that moment, Zhong Wei heard a clear shout of ‘Gongzibo’ and a person came running from the end of the snowy road. He was running so fast that his hair was flying about and his face was not visible. He was very tall and was desperately waving his sleeves. Gongzibo stood still, his smile gradually growing, his eyes shining, as he watched the person pounce on him.
‘Young Master Bo…’ The man shouted, and with excitement, he hugged Young Master Bo and spun around. Then, tears flowed down his face like a faucet.
A man in his twenties, crying and laughing, jumping up and down with excitement.
Just like a little child.
Zhong Wei, who was stunned by this scene, suddenly had a thought: This is the young master! The soul in this body is the young master! There was no doubt about it. This young man, who was as white as snow and could easily shed a litre of tears, could only be the young master!
Zhong Wei was right.
The Mingxin Sect had guarded a secret for generations: Cangya Bewitchment and the ‘Soul-Chasing Extraordinary Scripture’. Cangya had a unique spiritual nature. Placing a recently deceased person in a certain place on Cangya and using the ‘Soul-Chasing Extraordinary Scripture’ could allow that person to swap bodies with a living person in the world. Two years later, the two people who have switched bodies will each remember the past and their original identities.
On the day of the fall, Gongzibo held the body of the young master and placed it in that place.
He performed the soul-chasing technique.
‘So you are me and I am you, and our bodies have switched!’ The young master said indistinctly while chewing on a chicken leg, ‘Xie Qing, you have ruined me!’
“But I am not Xie Qing.’
Soul Chaser had an accident.
Zhong Wei took over the young master’s body, and the young master took over Xie Qing’s body. Xie Qing was a young villain who committed adultery, rape, and plundered and did all kinds of evil deeds. He had enemies all over the world, but he made the young master suffer terribly. While trying to find his way home, he had to fight back the enemies who came to take revenge with tears in his eyes.
So, where did Xie Qing go?
Zhong Wei laughed: that kind of villain is gone, wherever he went, and judging by the system’s virtue, he has probably become an animal. At that moment, thousands of miles away, a wild boar banged its head against a tree with all its might: ‘Ouch! It hurts!’ However, everything remained the same. Looking down, all you could see was the pig’s black hooves… It was in tears.
‘Boy Po, make me the softest bed! The best quilt! The most comfortable feet washing!‘ The young master’s feet pounded the wooden basin.
’If you can sleep, you can’t roll!’ Boy Po smashed a quilt.
‘You treat me like this after I’ve come back with so much trouble! You bully me like this! You’ve been able to bully me since I was little!‘ The young master of the household roared, his eyes glowing, a tear slowly spinning in his eye, before it fell with a pop, “Ugh! You don’t know how much suffering I’ve endured! I’ve had my hands broken, my legs broken, and I’ve begged my way back here without food or drink!”
’You’ve even gained experience from begging!’
This was the way the young master and the young mistress got along. The dying wish of ‘being ravaged before death’ was actually a deep consideration that ‘the young master will be alone for the rest of his life’ — Zhong Wei felt a strange and pleasant sensation, and walked briskly out of the house that had been in such a mess.
The wind blew and the snow swirled.
Zhong Wei stood on the cliff top and saw a person holding a long sword fly up the cliff at great speed. It was the familiar figure in royal blue, and the familiar shadow of a person flying through the air. Zhong Wei watched him get closer and closer, and then, with a flash, he leapt onto the cliff.
The distance was just one zhang.
Ningguting suddenly froze, staring intently, and muttered, ‘Is that you?’
Zhong Wei smiled, ‘It’s me.’
Ningguting pounced over, embraced him tightly, and refused to let go for a long time. Moist eyes, a moist kiss, and a long-lasting infatuation melted away in the snow like spring.
The ice melted and the snow melted away.
Ninggeting completely broke down barriers and returned to his old ways. He said sweet things in piles, enough to make a bee sick, and even fell into a kiss with Zhong Wei in public, causing Dong Chenzhou to try to imitate him and get a good beating from Gongzibo – the young master of Xiaobai rubbed his eyes hard: hey, am I blind, Gongzibo’s lips were bitten and he didn’t even strangle Dong Chenzhou? !
Zhong Wei was very unhappy, though.
After the passionate kiss, there was no more to come. Ning Geting had stopped just like Liu Xiaohui! Even during the passionate kiss, with their lips and tongues entwined, Zhong Wei could no longer hold herself back. Ning Geting was even more passionate, but little Ning Geting was still half-awake, not at all like the passion in her tongue!
Ninggeting can’t do it?
Zhong Wei reached in and rubbed it gently. Ninggeting let out a sound, released his tongue, and suddenly lowered his eyes: ‘Zhong Wei, I…’
“What’s going on?’
Nging-Ting coughed and coughed, and told her everything, including the recurring dream of Zhong Wei dying in his arms after climaxing.
From the vivid description, Zhong Wei realised that in one dream she had long flowing hair and a linen shirt, while in the other she had short hair, short clothes and slim-fitting trousers, and was wearing a stiff hat.
Zhong Wei suddenly woke up, and realised that this was not the self from the two worlds before the car race?
Could it be that those two sealed memories were both related to Ningeting? Could it be? Could it be that they had met in so many lives? In shock, Zhong Wei once again opened his system memory, and after much struggle, finally unsealed it: a surging tide of searing emotions came at him, and he was engulfed in an instant…
So many past events…
The same person…
So it turns out…
Zhong Wei instantly hugged Ning Geting, squeezed his hand, and his eyes shone with a fierce light: ‘Get up right now! Otherwise, I’ll make sure you never get up again!’
There was a loud popping sound from underneath, and Ning Geting’s hand immediately began to swell up.
Ning Geting o(&gt_&lt)o: ‘Your words are more effective than medicine.’
The next day, Zhong Wei and Ning Geting left together. The martial arts world gained a pair of peerless martial artists and the envy of everyone, a ‘magical couple’. They travelled the world, doing good deeds and living carefree, following the river to watch the sunset. They chased the moon for thousands of miles, and the mountain scenery was always with them. A hundred years later, they both passed away on a snowy mountain. It really makes people sigh and envy the mandarin ducks more than immortals.
…
The azure waves surged.
Zhong Wei opened her eyes, a smile on her lips. The strange mission had been accomplished beautifully; it had been a wonderful life, and she had not paid any attention to anything related to time, immersing herself in the freedom of being a ranger. It had been so wonderful to be carefree and to spend an easy and carefree life with her beloved lover.
Will he be by my side in every life? With the warmth of her lover still on her cheek, Zhong Wei couldn’t wait to start her next task.
In the next life, please let me find you as soon as possible!

☆, Merchant’s Son [1]

[Fast-Forward Never Regret · Merchant’s Son · Chapter 1]
June 15th.
Outside the capital, the lotuses in the lake dazzle in the sun, their fragrance wafting for thousands of miles. On the lake, elegantly dressed ladies bend down to pick lotuses, laughing and playing. A double-decker boat slowly rows over, with flying eaves and painted corners, surrounded by auspicious clouds. A band on the boat is playing, the sound of the music and instruments melodious, and the boat is indescribably magnificent and extravagant.
‘The Liu family is so ostentatious. During the Lantern Festival at the beginning of the year, their lanterns lit up the whole capital, and fireworks were set off all night long. The wealthy families were covered in gold and silver, and this boat is nothing compared to them,‘ said one lady.
’You’re right. The current emperor was able to take the throne thanks to the support of the Liu family,‘ agreed someone else.
’Wealth and power always attract trouble. Hehe, I’d rather see next year’s top scholar,’
‘Is the man at the bow the young Liu?”
…
Early July.
Zhong Wei puts down the lotus medicine cup and tells the maids gathered around the bed to go about their business. On the windowsill, a red-billed green parrot coughs mockingly, ’Go away, all of you. This young master is going to sleep. Go away, all of you. This young master is going to sleep…’
‘Get rid of that noisy guy too.’ Zhong Wei gathered her black hair behind her head and began a new round of tasks.
The “trial system” recorded the remorse of the tycoon Liu Qing.
Liu Qing started from scratch and became one of the richest men in the world. At his peak, he spent an immeasurable amount of wealth to help the Seven Kings seize the throne. However, his wealth eventually attracted the envy of others, and even the King was dissatisfied with him. Liú Qìng, confident in his own achievements, was unaware of the approaching disaster.
The year after the seven kings became emperors.
Liu Qing’s young son Liu Ci drowned while admiring lotuses on the lake. In his rage, Liu Qing flogged all his attendants, and two of the servants, who were weak, actually died as a result. After this incident, the emperor took the opportunity to severely reprimand Liu Qing, who was beaten dozens of times, his buttocks beaten to a pulp, and he has since been bedridden.
Later, the second son of the eldest son was implicated in an important case, and even though he scattered most of the family fortune, he was not exempted and was beheaded one after another; Liu Qing’s favourite concubine ran away with a servant and buried him in the mountains. All the gold and silver were dug up; relatives caused trouble and took away a little more… Disasters followed one after another, and wealth was cleaned up again and again. In the end, Liu Qing was left with only a humble room to shelter in.
Before he died, Liu Qing realised that everything had been premeditated, including the deaths of his young son and the servant. He was filled with remorse. If he could do it all over again, he would definitely recognise the true face of the treacherous people. He would not seek luxury and wealth, but only wish to enjoy the happiness of family life.
It’s been three days since Zhong Wei was rescued from the lake.
He had been reincarnated as Liu Qi’s youngest son, Liu Ci, and had just extinguished the first fuse – but of course, the Liu family was in the midst of a huge web of intrigue, and there was always a potential flashpoint.
Liu Qi, Liu’s eldest brother, Liu’s second eldest brother, and Liu Ci sat at the main table. The servant brought in bird’s nests, which Liu’s eldest brother and Liu’s second eldest brother both rejected: ‘Bird’s nests again?
Liu Qing twisted his moustache: ‘Liu San, bird’s nest is the most nourishing, eat it all.’
If it were Liu Ci, he would definitely push it away listlessly. Zhong Wei was not that pretentious. Without saying a word, he scooped up a spoonful. The texture was soft and smooth, really good. It was really good. It was really good. It was really good. It was really good. It was really good. It was really good. It was really good. It was really good. It was really good. It was really good. It was really good. It was really good. It was really good. It was really good. It was really good. It was really good. It was really good. It was really good. It was really good. It was really good. It was really good. It was really good. It was really good. It was really good. It was really good. It was really good. It was really good. It was really good. It was really good. It was really good. It was really good. It was really
‘Liu San, the fortune-teller said that your year is inauspicious, and that the word ‘liu’ in your name is inauspicious. I have asked for a new name for you: Liu Zhongwei, which best suits your birth data and can turn every misfortune into good fortune.’ Liu Qing unfolded a piece of red paper, on which were neatly written three characters: Liu Zhongwei. ’This fortune-teller and I have been friends for more than 20 years, and I consult him on important matters, and he is always right.’
‘I understand, my child,‘ Zhongwei slipped the red paper into his sleeve. Yesterday, I hypnotised that fortune teller a little, and it had a good effect.
’Why are you so reserved?‘
’To be honest with you, father, I was a little shocked by the drowning. I keep dreaming about the water ghost haunting me, and it makes me feel suffocated and headache. I’ve reflected on a lot of old things, and I feel that what is right now is right, and what was wrong yesterday is wrong. I’m not being reserved, but I’ve made you worry.’ Zhongwei’s voice was as subtle as possible.
‘After the drowning, you’ve become more refined than before.’ Liu Qing stroked his three strands of beard with satisfaction, “When the time is right, I’ll get you a position in the Hanlin Academy, where you can compile ancient texts and so on.” He had never thought of his son “taking the imperial examinations” for an official title.
The eldest and second sons travelled with Liu Qing to various places, accumulating a large fortune. Liu Ci was young when he was left at home. Liu Qing hated his humble origins and being made fun of, so he hired a private tutor to teach Liu Ci poetry, books and etiquette to improve the family’s appearance. Liu Ci didn’t have much talent, but after hanging out with the idle rich for a long time, he was quite capable of putting on an act and his etiquette was quite good.
Six months ago, the family moved to the capital, where they were reunited.
Liu Qing turned to his second son, his tone becoming formal: ‘This year is an inauspicious year for the Liu family, so you must all behave yourselves and not give anyone a reason to find fault with you. Although the emperor has been very generous to our family, it is hard to say that no one will be jealous and try to find fault with us, and that would be trouble.’
The second son disagreed: ‘Not to mention the mountains of gold and silver in our family, my brother and I are both officials, so what is there for father to fear?’
The eldest son chimed in: ‘We know what we’re doing, and you’re being overcautious, Father.’
Zhong Wei looked at his two elder brothers silently: one was a useless Tongzhilang, and the other was a Xiaqiwei who loved to get people drunk. They were usually praised by their colleagues for leading a life of luxury and being easy targets, but when something really happened, they were pushed out as scapegoats. You know what you’re doing? You’re the ones who caused all the trouble in the future.
Liu Qing also said, ‘Fortunately, I switched to the support of the Seventh Prince at the right time, and that’s why I have a patron today!’
A few years ago, the crown prince died suddenly, and the previous emperor died without naming a new heir. The imperial family was in chaos, and the brothers tore each other’s faces off as they fought for the throne. Since Liu Qing was incredibly wealthy, many princes came to him to curry favour, and he finally chose to support the Seventh Prince. A year ago, the Seventh Prince successfully seized the throne.
Zhong Wei said to herself, ‘The culprit is this big backer, who can turn on you faster than you can blink.
…No matter how rich you are, you can’t compete with the emperor.
…The emperor has already decided to kill, and there is zero chance of reversing his decision.
…The killing net around you has already been cast, and it is impossible to defend against it. Hidden arrows can shoot at any time, and the seeming wealth and power of a person cooking in his own oil is very fragile. Because it’s not just the emperor who is doing the killing, there are also all kinds of jealous people.
After dinner, Liu Qing spent some tender moments with his favourite concubine before attending to business. Land, pawnshops, cloth shops, jade shops…he was a natural-born tycoon and kept everything in order without even trying. No one could match him in terms of foresight or tactics in the business world. Zhong Wei could see that there was no need to worry about business matters.
In the evening, Liu Qing went to a banquet, and Zhong Wei took the opportunity to go along to see what it was like.
After a few drinks, Zhong Wei had a good grasp of Liu Qing’s network: despite all the toasting and calling each other brother, they would all be backstabbing each other in the future. As they chatted, some people started to complain: the new emperor was eager to consolidate his position, and was ruthless in his methods. He would punish severely for the slightest transgression. This morning, a general who had followed him for many years was beaten 10 times for just retorting a little.
Someone changed the subject and talked about the new emperor’s penchant for beauty, and how he had fallen for the daughter of the late emperor’s former prime minister. But the daughter was already promised to someone else, and the old prime minister kept refusing, while the new emperor pressed him harder and harder.
He wanted to get rid of the old and replace it with the new, as is usually the case with the change of dynasties.
At this point, Zhong Wei knew what was going on. The most urgent task was to find a patron or someone to rely on as soon as possible to get through this period. These people in front of her could not be counted on, and she had to stay as far away from them as possible.
Zhong Wei walked up to the lounge and stood by the railing.
A man with a shaved face in a fancy suit brushed past her, suddenly turned back, took a look at him, and raised a faint smile: ‘Enjoying the moon from a high platform, you really have a refined mood, my friend?’
This kind of smile is full of ill intent, but Zhong Wei remains calm: ‘You are also dressed in fine clothes and walking at night, so you are not wasting a good night.’
‘I am Zhou Da, the butler of the prime minister’s family. I had a few too many drinks and got confused and went to the wrong building. Fortunately, I met you. Since we are destined to meet, may I invite you up for a chat?’
Prime minister?
Is this a chance? Or is it a disaster?
As soon as he pushed the door open, the three people in the room looked at him together, each with a grave expression on their face. They hadn’t touched their food or drink at the table, but as soon as they saw Zhong Wei, they all looked a little happier. Zhou Da spoke up first, saying, ‘Young Master, I met this gentleman by chance in the attic downstairs, and since we were destined to meet, I invited him up here.’
After they had exchanged names, Zhou Wei, the fourth son of the prime minister, frowned and said, ‘What’s your relationship with Liu Qing?’
Zhong Wei: ‘He is my father.’
Zhou Wei suddenly understood: ‘No wonder he looks familiar. You three brothers look so similar, but you are much more handsome than your two brothers.’
After a few moments of small talk, Zhou Wei said cheerfully, ‘It’s late today, so we don’t have time to talk in detail. Tomorrow, my family will host a banquet, so you and Liu Qing should come too.’
Liu Qing was overjoyed to learn that Zhong Wei had become related to the Zhou family. Zhong Wei had to remind him that Chancellor Zhou was a senior minister of the previous dynasty and a thorn in the side of the current emperor. He should just socialise with him, but not get too close, otherwise if the Zhou family fell, he would definitely be implicated. Unfortunately, Liu Qing was so rich and arrogant that he didn’t take it seriously at all.
The next day, Zhong Wei made a little extra effort to clean up. Wearing a light green fine brocade robe with cloud and goose patterns and a white jade pendant around his waist, he looked handsome and charming, as befitted a former master’s disciple. From past experience, he might meet Ninggeting (or Tang Xifei, Mugeyang, or whoever it was). And every time that person reincarnated, they seemed to have no memory (except for that dream), so it was important to make a good first impression.
At the thought of their reunion in a different world, Zhong Wei’s heart raced.
As soon as she stepped into the Zhou residence, she felt a cold, foreboding atmosphere, and she shivered in the middle of July.
Liu Qing said doubtfully, ‘The Zhou residence is really shabby. The servants’ clothes are all old, while our maid cooks are all dressed in brocade. There isn’t a single guest, so are we the only ones being entertained?’
Despite the lack of guests, the banquet was very grand, held in the best pavilion in the Zhou residence with a view. There was music and entertainment, and all kinds of fruit and vegetables were neatly arranged. Before long, the old prime minister even came out to personally entertain them. At that time, merchants were of low status, and Liu Qing was suddenly overwhelmed with pride. Zhong Wei, however, thought, ‘This is too grand, there must be something fishy.’
Sure enough, in a short while, the old prime minister bowed: ‘The emperor is going to come today, so you two will go with me to greet him outside the palace.’
A feast just for the emperor?
No matter how you look at it, Prime Minister Zhou shouldn’t have invited outsiders. The emperor has his eye on the old prime minister’s daughter → → the old prime minister doesn’t want it → → the emperor comes in person → → forced marriage? →→Why did he call me here? →→Next to him, Prime Minister Zhou, the eldest son, the second son, the third son… the fifth son, all with pretty faces but worried expressions!
Zhong Wei suddenly understood: the so-called daughters and the like were just a cover-up, the emperor was after the fifth son. The Zhou family was desperate and wanted to find someone else to offer to the emperor – they were clueless, the emperor wasn’t just after beauty, but also an opportunity to find former court officials.
Zhong Wei guessed correctly.
However, he did not expect that the emperor was really lustful. From the moment he entered the room, the emperor’s eyes never left Zhong Wei, who was the fifth son of the Zhou family. The emperor was in his thirties, with a sinister gaze and a menacing hooked nose. The whole person exuded a high-pressure and domineering aura. Whenever he showed any sign of lust, he looked cold and wretched.
As soon as the Zhou family saw that there was a chance, they did their best to get Zhong Wei close to the emperor.
After a meal, Zhong Wei was groped more than ten times.
Zhong Wei was wondering if the emperor was the one, but as the actions became more and more lewd, he became furious and secretly smeared poison on the emperor’s clothes. Soon, the emperor developed a rash all over his body and hurried back to the palace, and Zhong Wei was saved.
After leaving the house, Liu Qing knew something was wrong, and he cursed the Zhou family for their evil intentions. He hurriedly arranged for Zhong Wei to return to his hometown.
Unexpectedly, the imperial edict arrived soon after: ‘Zhong Wei is summoned to the palace tomorrow.’
Liu Qing had been successful in the business world and everyone admired and flattered him, so naturally he had a bit of a temper. He had thought that he had spent his fortune, worked hard to help the seventh king rise to power, but had not gained any real benefits. Now, when he arrived in the capital, he was suppressed and looked down upon everywhere. Now, it turned out that the seventh king did not remember his hard work, but instead remembered his son.
If he entered the palace, his son would be eaten like a lamb by the emperor. Liu Qingyi was confused and angry. He was used to being respected and had a hot temper. Third, he thought that the seven kings had lowered their stance and asked for his help, so Liu Qingyi did not fear the emperor. He immediately came up with a bad idea: to let Zhong Wei pretend to be sick.
Zhong Wei was speechless. Disobeying the emperor’s order was like handing the emperor the hilt of a knife. It was better to meet the emperor and see what happened, and maybe the situation could be resolved. He only argued for a few words, and Liu Qing, who was angry, locked him up without saying a word.
‘Dad, let me out quickly, don’t be stupid, I’ll be fine if I go! Dad!’ Zhong Wei was so angry that he laughed, grabbed the prison door and shouted, thinking that the food was going to spoil.
‘I just don’t believe that with all this wealth, I can’t save a son!’ Liu Qing walked away without looking back.
‘…’ It can’t be saved.
Liu’s third son was destined to become the crumbling foundation of the Liu family. Liu Qing had just reported Zhong Wei’s ‘illness’ and the imperial physician arrived shortly after. The lie was quickly exposed, and the emperor was furious. He directly accused Liu Qing of ‘treason’ and imprisoned him.
This was good. The Liu family fell into trouble even faster than in the previous life.

☆、The Merchant’s Son [2

[Chapter 2]
Zhong Wei mused: Compared to getting aroused by seeing a pretty woman, the emperor seemed to be more interested in stirring up trouble. The emperor had wanted to get rid of Zhou Xiang, but Zhou Xiang had deep roots, and it was a bit difficult to force him. Fortunately, he had walked right into the emperor’s trap. This show of strength not only overturned Liu Qing, who the emperor had long disliked, but also warned Zhou Xiang: this is what will happen if you don’t listen, so don’t make things difficult for yourself.
The Liu family panicked, and no one had a clue what to do. Liu Da and Liu Er, like headless flies, went to various colleagues for help. The colleagues were on their guard and pretended not to know them. That day, Liu Da came back and scolded Zhong Wei for provoking the emperor for no reason. He said that if Zhong Wei had just ignored the emperor, it would have been fine, and what happened when she entered the palace would not have made a difference.
The implication was that Zhong Wei would be fine if she just obeyed the emperor.
Zhong Wei laughed, ‘You’re right, brother. Let’s quickly prepare a generous gift and ask Prime Minister Zhou to intercede. I’m willing to meet the emperor in person and take all the punishment for my father.’ The Zhou family was finally able to find a scapegoat, so of course they were eager to help.
The emperor relished this feeling.
He pushed people to the brink, watching them cower in fear at his feet. Zhong Wei did not disappoint him. The fear in his heart and the fear in his face, all of it pleased the emperor’s eye. The emperor took a satisfied sip of tea, raised his foot, and with a crack, his dragon boots fell off. Zhong Wei picked them up smartly and knelt down to put them on for him.
‘Liu Qing is lucky to have given birth to such a good son. If he had brought him up earlier, he wouldn’t have ended up in prison. You know what to do, don’t you?’ The emperor pinched Zhong Wei’s hand and pressed it against a certain place on his body, and then he froze, surprised that the area had suddenly gone limp.
It had been quite useful to have travelled the world in the last life, and he was very skilled at making drugs. Zhong Wei remained expressionless: ’Your Majesty is very diligent in your work, and I am quite proficient in massage, so I can help you relieve your fatigue.’
‘No, help me take off my dragon robe and suck it!”
I thought the emperor would give up because his mood had dropped significantly, but I never expected that I would instead be cornered. Zhong Wei had no choice but to get up and slowly undo the belt. It was clear to see that the emperor’s tear ducts were thin and black, his eyes yellow and white, and his lips colourless. It was obvious that he had indulged too much. It was true, the emperor had touched someone in the imperial study, so how could he be in good health?
Zhong Wei helped the emperor take off his clothes and put them away, and then flicked his sleeve.
Pop! The brush fell!
Zhong Wei picked it up ‘with trepidation and awe’, but it was covered in ink: ‘Your Majesty, please forgive me, I will go and wash it now…’
‘No need to wash your hands. Kneel down!‘
’…‘
’Isn’t there someone to report to the emperor?’ “With an arrow at the string, should I hypnotise him to get past this?” However, the emperor was very alert and his emotions were very tense, so it was not a good time to do anything. Zhong Wei was hesitating when the emperor grabbed the back of his head and pushed it there.
Snap! If you want to die, just say so!
A loud sound.
Zhong Wei instinctively broke free, leaped up, and clenched his fingers: there was already a hidden weapon at the fingertips. In the imperial study, an assassin in grey clothes appeared, with a fierce expression on his face, and the yin-yang stab wheel in his hand flew towards the emperor again. Zhong Wei threw himself in, threw the brush at the assassin, and started fighting.
‘Help, help, help!’ the emperor finally shouted, his open dragon robe not knowing whether to bunch up or not, and the dangling thing swinging around energetically.
The imperial guards with swords rushed in, and the assassin fled.
Zhong Wei let out a sigh of relief. She deftly slipped the assassin’s concealed weapon into her sleeve and waited quietly for the farce to end. The emperor, on the other hand, was so scared that his legs had gone weak, so Zhong Wei went over to help him to a chair. At that moment, the head of the imperial guards returned and said, ‘Your Majesty, the assassin has killed himself.’
‘Who is so bold as to come to my territory and act recklessly? Go and investigate! If you find out who did it, destroy their entire family!’ The emperor had finally regained his strength and was furious.
‘Yes!”
The assassin, of course, was not arranged by Zhong Wei.
For his meritorious service in protecting the emperor, Zhong Wei returned home safely. Without mentioning that after returning, he was scolded by Liu Qing’s concubine and brother-in-law, saying things like what a disgrace to the Liu family. Zhong Wei pretended not to hear it. Alas, it was his own fault for saving this lecherous emperor, and there would definitely be no end to it in the future.
Zhong Wei guessed correctly. The next day, he was summoned to the palace again. The emperor resumed his aloof manner and was not so lecherous. Zhong Wei performed a sword dance and accompanied him to a dinner with elaborate etiquette, and then he was released. A few days later, he and his brother were finally allowed to see Liu Qing.
Liu Qing had aged a lot, his eyes were sad, and when he heard his two sons angrily complain that ‘human relationships are as thin as paper’, he wondered how much money he had spent these days and it had all gone to waste. Liu Qing was both angry and helpless. The emperor was killing the donkey after it had pulled the cart – a bit too eager, wasn’t he?
When the prison warden reminded them that the time was up, the brothers remembered their business: ‘The emperor just wants Liu San to go over there. We’re just ordinary people, we can’t fight the emperor, so why don’t we…’
‘Nonsense! How can you say such a thing!’ Liu Qing was furious. “The emperor suddenly became angry, so someone must have told him something. My father has some connections with the Lord Marshal and the Chancellor, and also with the Grand Tutor. It was the Grand Tutor who helped me meet the Seventh Prince in the first place. If you go to him, he will definitely help.”
Zhong Wei spoke up: ’No. The Grand Tutor is greedy and doesn’t know it. Asking him will only make the Liu family sink deeper and deeper.’
There was a moment of silence.
Zhong Wei continued, ‘First, we should stay put. The Liu family should spread some wealth around, so that others will take advantage of the situation and not push so hard. We should discuss this at length.’
There was no other way. Liu Daliu’er left first.
Zhong Wei said to Liu Qing, ‘My father was imprisoned for “disobeying the emperor”, but now that the emperor has had his way, he will be dealt with leniently sooner or later.’
When she thought about the emperor ‘fulfilling his wish’, could there be any other kind of wish besides that? Liu Qing’s heart felt like it was being stabbed with a sharp object. ‘Liu San, father has hidden gold and silver on a certain mountain outside the capital. If something happens to father, you take the silver and go far away, never to return to the capital. If you live a peaceful life, it doesn’t matter if you become rich or not.’
‘Father is worrying too much.‘ Zhong Wei inexplicably felt her nose tingle.
’How could father bear to watch his child fall…‘ Liu Qing squeezed his thick palms together, his heart aching, and said, “Father thought that after giving away so much gold and silver, the powerful officials he befriended would always be there for him. Who would have thought that in this time of trouble, they would not come to his aid, but rather take advantage of the situation and rob him. How can father be willing to accept this!”
’It may not be hopeless. Father just stay calm for a few days, and there will be plenty of time later to deal with those bastards.’
Looking at his young son, who remained calm and collected despite the crisis, Liu Qing suddenly remembered the words of the fortune teller the other day: ‘This year, the Liu family will face many misfortunes, but one person will emerge to turn the tide.’ He had always regretted that his three sons had mediocre personalities and only knew how to squander money. He never imagined that his youngest son would be reborn in an instant after drowning. Could this be the grace of God?
Liu Da and Liu Er were impatient and said, ‘Liu San, hurry up, we still need to go find the Fourth Prince and see if he can help us.’
Zhong Wei didn’t even want to scold these two brainless brothers. The Fourth Prince had fought with the emperor for the throne and still dared to fawn on him. It was strange that the emperor didn’t suspect the Liu family of plotting a rebellion. In the previous life, these two idiots lost their lives because they were implicated in the incident of the ‘enormously corrupt imperial tutor having his family property confiscated’. They avoided the enormously corrupt imperial tutor, only to run into the plotting fourth prince. These two idiots were looking for death.
‘Eldest brother, second brother, don’t go. Sooner or later, the emperor will settle the score. You must stay away from the fourth prince!’
‘You’re wrong. The two brothers did fight, but then they worked together, didn’t they?’
“There are no brothers in the imperial family!’
‘If you don’t go, we will, and it’s all your fault anyway!”
The pig-headed man can’t stop himself from seeking death. You guys go ahead. Zhong Wei sat in the carriage, pondering: The system recorded Liu Qing’s perspective. After being bedridden for three years, every day was worse than death, and everyone looked like an enemy. The emperor could not possibly have dug the pit himself, so he had to find the person behind the scenes, the ones who threw stones at him while he was down. Putting aside those people who were fickle and jumped from one side to the other.
The road became increasingly bumpy. Zhong Wei suddenly felt something was wrong and lifted the curtain: ‘Fu Lai, where are you rushing to?’
Fu Lai turned his head and cried, ‘Third Young Master, we’ve been hijacked.’
Shadows passed by like the wind.
Zhong Wei casually threw out a sleeve pin, and there were a few light sounds. Two men in the shape of bodyguards flew down, one of them raised his hand up, pointing to an octagonal pavilion halfway up the mountain and said, ‘Mr. Liu San, my young master would like to invite you, please walk a little further up the mountain.’
Zhong Wei was not afraid of this kind of invitation with all the unknowns.
In the pavilion, there was a young master and a bodyguard.
The young master is clearly a smart man, and he explains his intentions in a few words. He is the head of the Ahan Pavilion, an underground organisation that collects intelligence. The young master is clearly a smart man, and he explains his intentions in a few words. He is the head of the Ahan Pavilion, an underground organisation that collects intelligence. The young master is clearly a smart man, and he explains his intentions in a few words. He is the head of the Ahan Pavilion, an underground organisation that collects intelligence. The young master is clearly a smart man, and he explains his intentions in a few words. He is the head of the Ahan Pavilion, an underground organisation that collects intelligence. The young master is clearly a smart man, and he explains his intentions in a few words. He is the head of the Ahan Pavilion, an underground organisation that collects intelligence. The young master is clearly a smart man, and he explains his intentions in a few words. He is the head of the Ahan Pavilion, an underground organisation that collects
‘Yes,’ Zhong Wei was also very decisive.
The young master was a little confused and didn’t believe it could be that easy: “Third Master Liu, you understand that this is no trivial matter. We need the emperor’s routine and habits, as well as…”
Zhong Wei took out the assassin’s hidden weapon and placed it on the stone table: “I don’t believe a word you say. I just want my father to return home safely.”
The young master woke up: ’How did you recognise it?’
Zhong Wei pointed at the two guards who had hijacked the carriage: ‘They are from the First Division. The one who assassinated the imperial librarian was the weakest. You should never let your guard down in front of anyone. If there is nothing else, I will wait for my father at the Liu residence.’
Zhong Wei descended the mountain lightly, like a willow leaf.
The young master watched her go for a long time before turning to the guard at his side, who had been silent the whole time: ‘Your Highness, it really breaks my heart to think that someone like this would undress in front of the dog emperor and flatter him to his face.’
‘She is indeed beautiful,‘ said the man dressed as a guard.
’Your Highness, that’s not the point! The point is, with such skills, such looks, and such insight, how can she be someone else’s plaything?’ The young master was heartbroken. ’Who says that Liu Qing’s three sons are good for nothing? I think everyone who gathers intelligence should be punished by eating a bucket of bran!’
Now everyone knows that the emperor favours Zhong Wei. Zhong Wei didn’t want to correct the rumours, and no one would believe him if he did. It was better to take advantage of the situation – you can’t clear your name by arguing, you have to commit suicide by touching a pole to prove your innocence.
On the third day, Liu Qing was pardoned by the emperor.
Zhong Wei thought to himself: I wonder what that young master is up to, he’s so manipulative.
The Liu family was overjoyed to welcome back their frightened family head, and they didn’t go into detail. They just said that as soon as the Liu family had some peace, someone took a dislike to Zhong Wei. This person was Liu Qing’s favourite concubine, Miao Yuer—the one who had eloped with the servant Sun Wu in a previous life, taken Liu Qing’s gold hidden in a certain mountain, and completely infuriated Liu Qing.
Miao Yuer was originally the concubine of the seventh king, and was given to Liu Qing, so she regarded the favoured Zhong Wei as a thorn in her side, and whenever they met, she would say things like, ‘She flirts with men with her looks,’ and ‘A real man doesn’t lose face.’ At first, Zhong Wei ignored her, but after a while, she got annoyed when she kept saying things like that, and she just threw a gold hairpin on the ground and said, ‘This is from Ding Sunwu, take a good look at it, don’t make me punish you!’
Miao Yuer was both angry and scared, and hurriedly sought Sun Wu’s advice on how to deal with the situation.
The two of them had just come up with a few ideas for framing her when, with a loud bang, the door was kicked open. It was Zhong Wei, leading several men with him. With swords and axes in plain view, the two of them were instantly paralyzed with fear. Sun Wu fell to his knees, shouting that he and Miao Yuer were cousins.
‘Cousins! It’s only right to meet! It’s just that meeting in a place like this is a bit shabby, isn’t it?‘ Zhong Wei leaned over and stared at Miao Yuer, who was sitting there speechless. “The Liu family has a family precept, and this kind of place is not a place that Auntie Miao can come to.”
’…‘
’Go back early, it’s not good if Dad finds out,’ Zhong Wei laughed lightly.
Zhong Wei did not tell Liu Qing about this. However, Miao Yuer was like a thunderbolt hanging over her head, making her uneasy. If Liu Qing found out, he would break both their legs. Since she couldn’t do anything about it, she decided to go through with it: elope!
Miao Yuer and Sun Wu ran to Liu Qing’s treasure trove at night and started digging with a hoe. After a while, there was a clang and the hoe hit a hard object. They were overjoyed when suddenly there was a burst of laughter. In the tree, Zhong Wei sneered, ‘My father asked me to take a look, and I never thought that someone would be so bold as to break into the Liu family prison. It hasn’t been used for a long time.’
The two of them fell to the ground and begged for mercy.
‘Get lost!’ Zhong Wei threw down a few gold leaves, “Get as far away as possible.”
The servant and the master’s wife and concubines were having an affair. According to the law, both of them had to go to jail. Miao Yuer had many ideas in her head. She knew that Zhong Wei let her go because he didn’t want to cause trouble for the already chaotic Liu family. This kind of opportunity doesn’t come often, and she wasn’t ashamed of it, so she quickly picked up all the gold leaves and fled with Sun Wu.
Zhong Wei whistled, and several people ran out of the forest and started digging furiously.
Liu Qing was almost driven to his grave when he learned that Miao Yuer had eloped with Sun Wu. He immediately wanted someone to go after them. Without saying a word, Zhong Wei placed a gold ingot on the table. Liu Qing looked at it: there was a triangle drawn on it. Wasn’t this the gold ingot he had hidden on the mountain?
‘She had long since been thinking of running away, but at least the gold mountain is still there,‘ Zhong Wei said.
’Why? The family has everything it needs. What is she not satisfied with? No, I want these two bitches to die without a burial!‘ Liu Qing said angrily.
’If you go after them, you’ll fall into the emperor’s trap.‘
’Emperor?’
‘Miao Yuer was bestowed by the emperor and is his own person. She dared to elope, who is backing her up? If father kills the servant in a rage, it is also a major crime in the law, and the emperor is just looking for an excuse to punish our Liu family.’ Zhong Wei made up an excuse.
Zhong Wei didn’t like Miao Yuer, but he couldn’t bear to see a beautiful 19-year-old trapped next to Liu Qing, who was approaching his sixties. Besides, what if she was caught and beaten to death? This was a sinful relationship, the sooner they parted, the better. A bitch and a dog would be together forever, but with Sun Wu’s irresponsible attitude and Miao Yuer’s frivolous nature, who knows who would be taking advantage of the other in the future.
☆, The Merchant’s Son [3]

The Merchant’s Son · Chapter 3
‘I can’t stand it!’ Liu Qing sat down in a chair and gnashed his teeth.
‘Father, you should take a look at this.’ Zhong Wei placed the research results on the table. These people, this matter, are all behind the scenes to frame the Liu family.
The more Liu Qing looked, the more shocked he became: these people had all been bribed with gold and silver by the Liu family, and many of the people at the banquet that night had also taken part, truly ungrateful people. The mastermind behind it all was Fan Hou, the emperor’s brother-in-law, whose sister was a favourite concubine. In the business world, the two families were considered rivals, and the Fan family had always been suppressed by the Liu family. If the Liu family collapsed, the Fan family would be the ones to benefit the most.
Seeing Liu Qing’s disbelief, Zhong Wei said, ‘I have read the memorial in the imperial study, there is no problem.’
Liu Qing gritted his teeth and said, ‘Liu San, you have suffered injustice.’
Zhong Wei didn’t want to talk about the topic of ‘injustice’: ‘In the western part of the capital, didn’t father build a small city? It’s too conspicuous, and there are so many people watching. We have to get rid of this hot potato immediately! Use this as an excuse to turn misfortune into good fortune, and build a temple or Daoist temple in the city, and open all the houses in the city to accommodate the idle and homeless. Doing good deeds and accumulating virtue, no one can say anything.’
‘It cost nearly half of our family fortune to build it, and once it is prosperous, it will be comparable to a small capital.‘
’Small capital? Only the emperor can have a capital.”
Liu Qing suddenly realized, and remembered that among those who urged him to build a small capital was Fan Hou. Isn’t that a laughing stock? Once the emperor is angry: what makes you a commoner build a small capital? And you want to covet the capital? That would be a big sin.
‘Don’t worry, Dad, I’ll take care of it.‘
’Can you do it?”
Zhong Wei smiled, “Of course. I won’t let anyone take advantage of me.”
As for why Liu Qing agreed, it was because he had lost interest in the gold and silver after being locked in the dungeon, and because he believed in the fortune teller’s words. Most importantly, Zhong Wei’s confidence and thoroughness made him willing to take a risk. Zhong Wei acted decisively and efficiently, and everything was settled in a few days.
Liu Qing had lost a fortune this time, and the happiest people were the petty official and the displaced refugees, who were just waiting for the drums and gongs to start.
Fan Hou heard the news and sneered: ‘Liu Qing really treasures his life! He has always coveted that city. He had thought that once the Liu family fell, his family could take over at a bargain price. But the people got all the bargains. He was unhappy and submitted a report to the emperor, saying that Liu Qing had wasted money recklessly and should be severely punished.
A prefect was struggling to find a way to settle the refugees displaced by the drought. Fortunately, Liu Qing had helped out, and when he heard Fan Hou’s report, he was furious: Liu Qing had consciously vowed to spend his family’s fortune, so why punish him? Your family is wealthy, so you should donate it!
Fan Hou’s supporters also accused Fan Hou of selfishness.
Fan Hou got into trouble and was furious. He could only ask Fan Fei to whisper in the emperor’s ear. The emperor was given one strong medicine after another and lost all interest in sex. Fan Fei, however, thought that the emperor was lusting after Zhong Wei and was furious.
Zhong Wei had long been prepared for this.
As the palace fights got more and more intense, he found a candidate: Liu Fei.
Concubine Liu is the distant younger sister of Liu Qing, who was presented to the seventh prince when he sought refuge. She has been out of favour for three or four years. To be fair, she is no ordinary person. She has no children, no power or influence, and the emperor doesn’t pay much attention to her. She is only still a concubine because she is supported by the wealth of the Liu family. However, she is well aware that if she doesn’t hurry up and give birth to an heir, she will sooner or later be sent to the cold palace.
Knowing that the emperor had recently fallen for Zhong Wei, Concubine Liu, who was quick-witted, asked for special permission to go home to visit her relatives. Not to mention the trouble the Liu family went through, just the fact that the two of them were finally alone was hard to come by. It was awkward for them to be in the same room together, but Concubine Liu was not like other people. She got straight to the point and asked Zhong Wei to say a few kind words to the emperor for her, so that she could have the chance to be his consort.
Zhong Wei was relieved that Concubine Liu was so decisive: ‘When would you like it to happen, Your Highness?’
‘Six days from now.‘
’Your Majesty, remember to strengthen the Emperor’s body before the imperial bed.’ Zhong Wei took out a few pills from a drawer, “These are the fertility pills I specially asked for. Dissolve them in water, they are colourless and tasteless. One pill at a time, guaranteed to work. Your Majesty will soon get what you want. The Fan family is on the rise, and the Liu family still relies on Your Majesty.”
They are all in the same boat, so let’s not be on our guard against each other.
On the sixth day, Concubine Liu was summoned to the Emperor’s bedchamber. She was both surprised and overjoyed. But that night, the Emperor excused himself, saying that he was tired and didn’t want to move. Concubine Liu was anxious, and since she had nothing to lose, she secretly added the fertility pill to the tea and flirted with the Emperor to arouse his desire. A moment later, the Emperor felt a stirring in his lower abdomen. The weakness that had lasted nearly a month disappeared in an instant. Seeing Concubine Liu’s snow-white skin, his lust flared up, and he pounced on her.
They had a night of unbridled passion.
The emperor thought that it was the skills of Concubine Liu that had restored his virility, so he summoned her to his bed for several days in a row, showering her with favours. Concubine Liu was overjoyed. After being deprived of sex for so long, she finally got to taste the sweetness of it, and she was even more grateful to Zhong Wei, who did everything she said. She was also very competitive, and since she had finally won the emperor’s favour, she naturally had to make sure that Concubine Fan could not interfere. With Concubine Liu dealing with Concubine Fan, Zhong Wei felt a little more at ease.
He was not summoned to the palace for several days, and he thought that the emperor had finally tired of him.
However, in mid-September, the imperial decree came again. In Liu Qing’s grief, Zhong Wei went with a bad mood. It turned out to be an imperial family banquet, at which there were also several princes and several underage princes and princes. Zhong Wei performed a sword dance to entertain the guests, as ordered. The princes all knew that he was the new favourite, and they all understood tacitly.
The princes were all young, and they were amazed by the swordplay, which looked like a dragon dancing and a phoenix soaring. They all gathered around to watch. Zhong Wei was annoyed by the commotion and wanted to leave quickly, saying that the swordplay was dangerous. But then he heard a childish voice say, ‘Your Majesty, I have recently been practising martial arts. I wonder if you could let me be your disciple?’
Zhong Wei looked over at the sound. The child looked about nine years old, with a tiger’s head and sharp eyes. He was not the emperor’s son, but judging from the seating order, he was the most honoured among his peers—it seemed that he must be the only son of the deceased crown prince, whose nickname was Shun’er.
The emperor laughed heartily, ‘His swordsmanship is all showy and useless. Someday I’ll let the person with the highest martial arts skills in the imperial army teach your nephew.’
Shun’er said loudly, ‘As long as it looks good, I don’t need to be good.’
As soon as he spoke, the other princes clamoured to be taught martial arts by Zhong Wei. The emperor waved his hand and said, ‘Zhong Wei, starting tomorrow, you will go to the young master’s place to receive your orders.’
Zhong Wei wanted to throw the brat into the pool at the time. It was time-consuming and laborious enough for the emperor to teach him how to swordfight, and he had to teach a bunch of brats martial arts every day. Zhong Wei bowed and declined, saying that he was just a commoner and would not dare to act rashly. He could only take on this great responsibility if he passed the martial arts examination next year.
The emperor nodded and said that learning to save the world through the arts of government was the right way.
Shun’er’s face showed signs of distress: ‘My nephew hates studying. It gives him a headache just to hear about it. Even my nanny says that if he doesn’t want to study, that’s fine. But the junior tutor says that if you sleep too much, your brain will get worms. Wouldn’t it be good for my nephew to move around a bit and practise sword-fighting?’
When he said this, there was a loud laugh, and the one who laughed the loudest was the emperor.
Since he didn’t have his own son, the stupider the better, and one more good-for-nothing drunkard was better than one more thorn in the side of the world’s greatest strategist.
Why did the emperor think this way? Because Shun’er’s real father, the former crown prince, was young and capable, and when he was alive, his brothers never had any chance of coveting the throne. However, he died young, and the emperor was able to take advantage of the situation. Like father, like son. The emperor had once seriously worried that Shun’er would be as capable as his eldest brother, but now it seemed that it would be better to indulge him and let him lose his ambition.
The next day, Zhong Wei was summoned to the Changyan Hall, where the former crown prince Yu Chong had lived.
After the crown princess died in childbirth, Yu Chong never took a new wife or concubine, and the hall had become a bit deserted. As soon as he passed away, the weeds in the courtyard grew rapidly, taller than a person’s head. The emperor never failed to treat Shun’er well in public, but in private, he absolutely suppressed him. Only a nanny and a few palace maids and guards stayed in the Changyan Hall.
On the martial arts training ground, there were eighteen weapons, each with rust marks. The old guard was dozing with his arms folded when he heard a noise and opened his dazed eyes: ‘Master Liu is here, this way please.’
‘Brother Liu, you’re here!’ Shun’er dashed over, his rosy face covered in mud. He was about to throw himself into Zhong Wei’s arms, but Zhong Wei picked him up, and Shun’er, with his feet off the ground, flailed about, laughing happily.
The forty-something maid gasped, ’Your Highness, slow down, don’t fall.’
Shun’er kept on pouncing.
Zhong Wei didn’t like children, and found Shun’er’s chatter annoying. He told him to stand in the same position for half an hour, and Shun’er’s face was about to cry from the strain. Zhong Wei took a look around: the maid was a loyal old servant, the five palace maids were all listless, and the three guards also did odd jobs. At first glance, they were harmless. Only one palace maid looked clever, but that was someone the emperor had put there.
The emperor asked through a messenger how things were going, and Zhong Wei added, ‘His Highness is still young and lacks focus. Perhaps I was too harsh with the commoner, as he cried and rested several times after assuming the horse stance.’
The emperor was satisfied and told him to stay until Shun’er got tired of it.
Spending the whole day in the Hall of Eternal Youth was exhausting, both mentally and physically. Zhong Wei was annoyed, so she simply became even more severe, using every harsh method she could think of. She trained Shun’er so hard that she was in tears, and then she fell down, splashing into the mud. The palace maid on watch went to fetch her clothes.
Zhong Wei picked Shun’er up: ‘Do you still want to be taught by a commoner? If not, hurry up and tell the emperor.’
Shun’er wiped away her tears and smiled: ‘Yes!’
‘…’
‘Brother Liu, I’ll tell you, that sister was a bad person. I’ll take you somewhere quiet, where no one will find us.’ Shun’er jumped down, her eyes shining, and her foolishness instantly disappeared.
Shun’er pulled Zhong Wei and ran quickly to an old room. She pushed open a door, but it was a revolving door.
Zhong Wei was sharp-eyed and noticed that the door was a yin-yang door: it had a mechanism, so that if someone pushed it open, they would go into the inner room. But if someone who knew the secret pushed it open, they would go to another place. Sure enough, the door clicked and there was a narrow passage in front of them.
After walking for a while, they suddenly saw a bright and open space.
At the end of the passage was the courtyard of an ordinary family, a high-walled compound with a very tall cedar tree. Next to the tree was a wooden table, and by the table stood a man: the owner of the Ahanko teahouse, a young and elegant nobleman.
‘If you want to find me, you don’t have to use such a difficult method,‘ Zhong Wei sneered.
’Aren’t you surprised?”
Zhong Wei flicked the fallen leaves off her body and said casually, “Don’t be too pretentious, it’s easy to be seen. If you want to see me, it’s more convenient to go directly to the Liu family—or do you want me to know this secret.”
The young master laughed, ’It’s not tiring to talk to you. Our lord has been waiting for a long time.’
An old servant wheeled a wooden wheelchair out, in which sat a man. In his early thirties, he had a hooked nose and slanted eyes, and his face was extremely handsome, with a similar outline to the emperor’s. However, while the emperor’s face was cold and sinister, this man’s face was open and honest.
Shun’er let out a cheer and pounced over.
The young master smiled, ‘Mr. Liu, this is His Royal Highness the Crown Prince.’
The deceased Crown Prince Yu Chong? Disabled? Was his death a blind or a conspiracy? However, the face and the affectionate manner of Shun’er could not be faked. Zhong Wei swept her sleeve and bowed. Yu Chong raised his hand: ‘Why be polite? We have met before.’
Zhong Wei thought back a little. When they first met, there was an expressionless guard standing next to the young master. Could it be that Yu Chong had disguised himself? In other words, Yu Chong had arranged the assassination of the emperor.
After the young master had led Shun away, Zhong Wei came right to the point: ‘Your Highness, I don’t like this way of meeting. It’s too dangerous.’
‘Don’t worry, I’ve made all the arrangements,’ Yu Chong said, looking at Zhong Wei with bright eyes.
‘Mistakes are inevitable, and children are the most defenceless,’
‘I thought you hated Shun, but it turns out you’re just as soft-hearted. I’ve never seen anyone here before, and you’re the first outsider,’ Yu Chong said, curling the corners of his mouth and patting his leg.
‘There’s nothing to be proud of being number one.‘
’Oh?‘
’The resurrection of the dead is either a great blessing or a great misfortune. Judging from the current situation, I’m afraid it will only bring trouble to my Liu family.”
Yu Chong laughed heartily, “You’re wrong. I’ve never died.”

☆、The Merchant’s Son [4

[The Merchant’s Son, Chapter 4]
It turned out that three years ago,
Crown Prince Yu Chong had faked his death after being poisoned by his younger brother. The imperial doctor was bribed to hastily declare him dead and bury him. Yu Chong’s good friend and subordinate, the young master A Han, sensed something was amiss and smuggled him out, replacing him with another body of a similar build. Since he had died of poisoning, his face was blackened, so he managed to get away with it. Sure enough, Yu Chong’s younger brother was still not at ease, and a few days later, he opened the coffin again to see if his brother was dead, and he also chopped off an arm.
Although Yu Chong was not dead, he was crippled in both legs.
After several years of acupuncture therapy, he can stand up for a short time, but he is still unable to move freely.
“Your Highness is a lucky person, but I have no intention of getting involved in palace battles. This is what you want. From now on, I hope we will have no more dealings.’ Zhong Wei took out a silk scroll from his sleeve, which was full of information about the emperor’s daily routine and the loopholes in the palace, and handed it over.
‘I have met with several people, some of whom were so scared that they kept screaming for help, while others were so grateful that they were in tears. You are most disdainful of me, because of these useless legs?’ Yu Chong frowned in distress.
Zhong Wei shook his head: ‘I hope that the Liu family will be safe and sound.’
Yu Chong laughed: ‘Then you should stay away from the Fourth Prince.’
’…’
‘Your two brothers are really not very smart, and Liu Qing is also getting old and deaf and blind. I’ll let you in on a secret: soon, the Four Kings will cause a great calamity. In return, I want you to do something for me.‘
’…‘
’I need a lot of silver, and for the Liu family, which spends ten thousand pieces of silver a day, this is not difficult at all.’ Yu Chong’s raised smile was very bright.
In autumn, you need to replenish your energy.
The Liu family held another autumn banquet, with a long table laden with fine wine and delicacies, the extravagance of which was on a par with the emperor’s banquets. Father and son Liu Qing and Liu Da sat together in a circle, and Liu Da told with a smug smile that he had recently become close friends with the fourth prince, and that there was finally some hope for him in his official career. At the beginning, the seventh prince had bestowed a favour, and Liu Qing, out of the long-term consideration that ‘business is lowly, but officialdom is stable’, had donated a sixth-rank Tongzhilang to Liu Da. Liu Da often complained: since becoming an official, he could no longer wear flashy clothes and ride a horse, indulge in pleasure, and was occasionally mocked by his poor colleagues for being ignorant. You can’t enjoy yourself with a mountain of gold and silver at home. It’s better to be a poor official than to be as free as before when you were in business.
‘Among all the princes, only the fourth prince still has power, and sooner or later the emperor will use him as an excuse to get to him. My brother, you’d better stay away,’ Zhong Wei reminded him again.
Zhong Wei thought that Liu Da would argue again, but he let out a deep sigh and said, ‘I want to leave too. Who wants to be this useless official? My father disagrees, saying that it will bring glory to the family and be stable. I think being an official is the most unstable thing there is. When the rabbit dies, the dog is cooked. The emperor is ruthless. If you get involved in even the slightest thing, you’ll be in trouble.’ After all, Liu Da had experienced the vicissitudes of life and was not ignorant.
Seeing that the time was ripe, Zhong Wei suggested that Liu Da resign from his official post and continue to manage the maritime business. After all, the Liu family’s maritime business had come to a standstill because of a lack of manpower. ‘Father, being a Tongzilang is useless and can easily be used as a pretext. The eldest brother is too close to the fourth prince, and sooner or later it will be a disaster.’
Liu Qing naturally did not want to part with it: ‘Won’t the foundation of our Liu family be even weaker?’
Zhong Wei smiled: ‘I will take the imperial examinations next year and obtain an official title, so father need not worry. The most important thing is to have multiple plans, and we must pick up the maritime business. I am afraid that we will not be able to stay in the capital for long.’ Zhong Wei had been instilling the idea of ‘leaving the capital’ in order to fulfil Liu Qing’s dying wish to ‘enjoy life with his grandchildren’.
Liu Qing still hesitated.
If she continued to persuade him, it would take time and energy. Zhong Wei simply paid a few people to get Liu Da drunk and take him to a brothel. Liu Da got so drunk that he started dancing in the hall of the brothel. The people took advantage of his drunkenness and smashed the tables and chairs. The madam was furious and immediately reported the matter to the authorities – the incident had completely blown up.
According to the law, Liu Da was immediately dismissed.
Liu Qing no longer had to worry about anything, and he simply sent his eldest son to make a living at sea. So it was that Liu Da, accompanied by a number of servants, cheerfully went to Leizhou in the southeast, and inherited his father’s talent for business, which flourished. A few years later, the Liu family had nearly 100 large ships, and the fishing village by the sea became prosperous as well. This was much more useful than him being a useless official.
With Liu Da gone, the possibility of being implicated in officialdom was greatly reduced. Liu Er was a cavalry officer, not good at climbing the ladder of power, and he was much more at peace on his own.
Liu Qing lost his left arm and right arm, and Zhong Wei took the opportunity to take over everything.
He was a master strategist and his methods were beyond those of ordinary people. Liu Qing was overjoyed and placed even more trust in Zhong Wei. With real power, Zhong Wei could easily allocate gold and silver to the crown prince. However, he did not want to get too close to the crown prince. Zhong Wei was not alone; behind him was the Liu family with its vast network of connections. If anything happened, the entire family would be executed, which would affect hundreds of people.
For several days, the emperor did not summon Zhong Wei.
It was quiet, but unfortunately, he could not see the memorial and could not grasp the first-hand information, which was also a headache. However, Fan Hou did not stop, and was determined to find trouble for the Liu family. The Liu family had originally built a street, but before it opened, the authorities came to seal it off, saying that it was extravagant and wasteful.
The emperor had said that the capital was too quiet, and had asked Liu Qing to build an exact replica of Yunxi Street in Lei Zhou, the most prosperous city. It had just been completed, so why was it being shut down? So much money had been wasted.
Liu Qing naturally argued his case, but Zhong Wei pulled him back: ‘Businessmen don’t fight with officials. Dad, don’t worry, I have a way to get the emperor to reopen Yunxi Street.’
After hearing Zhong Wei’s plan, Liu Qing suddenly felt enlightened and kept praising it.
The new emperor ascended the throne.
The Yuanxi Kingdom was a great country, and the surrounding countries, upon hearing the news, sent envoys to congratulate him. The envoys were bound to be active in the capital, and from an unknown time, rumours spread that ‘the envoys even found the capital not prosperous enough’. The emperor was displeased when he heard this, and it so happened that there was an envoy from a country called Noto leading a group of envoys to pay homage.
The foreign envoy in charge, with a high nose and deep eyes, recounted in a strange accent the strange and wonderful things he had heard about the country overseas. It was interesting, and it amused the emperor greatly. As they travelled to the capital, the foreign envoy looked strange and stopped talking.
The emperor couldn’t help but ask, ‘What do you think of the capital?’
The foreign envoy said with a laugh, ‘I have heard that Yuanxi is prosperous, and the capital is not bad. It’s just that I have read in ancient books that there is a grand event in Yuanxi, with beautiful women in beautiful clothes, crowds of people, and lanterns like dancing dragons floating along the streets. Why can’t I see this?’
The emperor was unhappy: ‘That’s only on the Lantern Festival.’
The ambassador blinked, gave a long, meaningful ‘oh’, and the emperor was even more unhappy. When he arrived at his chambers, he looked as if he was about to lose his temper. When Concubine Liu saw this, she asked gently what was wrong, and the emperor told her.
Concubine Liu was relieved, saying that the barbarians were ignorant and that temporary prosperity was not as important as peace for the people.
The emperor was still a big lump.
While brewing tea, the concubine said casually, ‘Speaking of which, in my hometown of Leizhou Shicheng, there is a street called Yunxi Street, which never gets caught up in the lantern festival. In the summer, when there are stars in the sky, fireflies in the air, and lanterns on the ground, it really makes me nostalgic.’
The emperor suddenly had a flash of inspiration. There is also Yunxi Street in the capital. A few days ago, Fan Hou and several courtiers submitted a petition, and he had been unhappy with Liu Qing for a long time, so he simply sealed it. Nowadays, the capital is indeed a bit shabby. To show those ignorant barbarians what it is like, it might as well be opened. After all, it is Liu Qing who is causing the trouble, and he can be crushed after enough trouble. The next day, he immediately ordered the Minister of Rites to take charge of the matter and ensure that it is prosperous. Of course, no money will be allocated.
Liu Qing received the order to open the shopping street.
In three days, there was a complete turnaround. Liu Qing asked Taichang Qing what was going on, but Taichang Qing gave him a nonchalant reply: ‘Just do what the higher-ups want.’ Liu Qing was not excited, but rather even more depressed. Everything was decided by the higher-ups. If the emperor was unhappy one day, one’s head would have to roll – at this point, Liu Qing already had the intention to leave.
For three days, the Liu family moved slowly.
The Minister of the Imperial Household finally grew impatient and urged them to get started. Zhong Wei, who was now in charge of the matter, replied with a distressed expression on her face: ‘Minister, you know that the Liu family only recently donated a newly built town to house the refugees, right?’
‘Yes…’ Not only did he know, he also agreed with Fan Hou’s bad words.
‘No matter how wealthy the Liu family is, the power of one family is limited. It is hard enough to build a street, but to make it prosperous and well-known throughout the city requires a lot of money. The Liu family does not have a mountain of gold and silver, so it is really difficult.’
‘How dare you, you want to ask for money from the government?‘
’I wouldn’t dare.‘
’What do you really mean?‘
’Furthermore, whenever the Liu family does something, they get criticized. They can’t even afford to give away money these past few months.’ Seeing that the Minister of Rites was getting more and more embarrassed, Zhong Wei pretended not to notice and continued complaining, ’The Fan family in the east of the city is even more prosperous than the Liu family, why don’t they contribute as well?’
‘The Fan family?”
Zhong Wei pretended to be careless and said, “Yes, in the beginning, the Fan family even fought with our Liu family for land. It was the Yuxiangfang area, by the river, with the best scenery. If I had known it would come to this, I would have sold Yuxiangfang to the Fan family in the beginning.” Her regret was obvious.
Two days later, the Fan family came strutting in, wanting to buy Yuxiangfang.
It turned out that in the imperial court, the emperor once again emphasised that not a single silver coin would be allocated, but prosperity was imperative, and the Minister of Rites was put on the spot. The Minister of Rites then proposed that wealthy families donate some of their wealth and work together to build faster.
Fan Hou, who wanted to see Liu Qing get embarrassed, of course objected.
The Minister of Rites was unhappy. If he failed to deliver, the Emperor would punish him. So the Minister of Rites argued his case, even bringing up the ‘great righteousness of the country’. He mocked Fan Hou for always hiding behind the wealthy Fan family, and said that Liu Qing was more generous than he was. Fan Hou’s hostile colleagues also joined in the argument, and everyone worked together to put Fan Hou on the spot.
After the meeting, Fan Hou complained about the bad idea of the Minister of Rites.
People only care about themselves, and the Minister of Rites said something hypocritical about being aggrieved. Then he said that the Liu family could not afford to maintain the Fish and Bird Market, and if Fan Hou wanted to take advantage of the situation, now was the best time. Fan Hou heard this and thought, this is a great opportunity, and instead of donating money for nothing, it would be better to buy it.
Zhong Wei of course knew why the Fan family had come.
When she heard that the manager of the Fan family was saying that this was not good and that was not good, the Fan family reluctantly bought it—the price was so low that it was almost enough to make someone vomit blood. Zhong Wei smiled and calmly proposed three points: first, the Fish and Chicken Court does not just sell, if you want to buy, you have to buy all five courts; second, the price of a single court is five times higher, and even if you pay three times the price, the Fan family will not lose money.
‘Three times? Have you gone mad with money?‘
’If I wasn’t so short of cash, I wouldn’t want to sell this gold-rimmed, silver-edged treasure.‘
’Dream on!”
Zhong Wei said leisurely, ’I heard the Minister of Rites say that in order to make the capital look good, the wealthy families are all competing to pay. The Liu family doesn’t have to rush. Whether you donate it or buy it, Manager Fan, you can take your time.’
The manager of the Fan family swept away, and at the door, he passed by the money manager, who ranked third in the capital. The two men bowed, and they understood each other without saying a word. Not long after, news spread that the money manager wanted to buy Yuxiangfang, and the Liu family insisted on not selling—it seemed that the Liu family was really at the end of its road, clearly waiting for the imperial court to allocate funds and wealthy people to donate money.
The Fan family pondered.
The Minister of Rites has been talking about getting rich families to donate money every day these past few days – he really is desperate. If the emperor gives his approval, the Fan family will be the first to suffer. After thinking it over, it is better to agree to Zhong Wei’s request, while the price is low, before it rises and becomes difficult to deal with in the future.
Fan’s steward came again in a few days, and this time his attitude was much more conciliatory. Zhong Wei did not make things difficult for him, took out the contract, and both parties exchanged money and the shop, and the deal was done. Zhong Wei then set about decorating the shop with a bang, bringing in a cloth shop, a cosmetics shop, a tea shop, and a shop selling the four treasures of the study… All the water carriers, scenery, fake mountains, and paving were brought in.
It has to be said that Liu Qing spent his silver so cheerfully, as if it were inexhaustible, and Zhong Wei didn’t feel a bit bad about it.
That day, during dinner,
Liu Qing was very dissatisfied: ‘The Fan family, whom my father hates the most, sold to them, of all people. Not to mention that the shopkeeper Qian offered such a high price, I really hate the idea of being neighbours with the Fan family in the future, I could give away all the neighbouring shops.’
Zhong Wei laughed and said, ‘Only if the Fan family moves in will they not make the same mistake again. They will petition the emperor to close Yunxi Street.’
‘That’s true. The Fan and Liu families are tied together by the same string.‘
’Besides, he will have to suffer in the future.”
Liu Qing was curious to see how his son would handle the situation. Sure enough, things soon came to a head. The Fish and Dragon Arch, located by the river, was originally planned to be an exquisite fish-shaped arch bridge. Zhong Wei stopped construction after only one-third of it was built. The Fan family was unhappy, saying that you have to finish it all, otherwise it will look ugly.
Zhong Wei put down her pen and said leisurely, ‘That’s not true. The bridge was built for the business of the Fish Pavilion. Now that you own the shops, why should the Liu family pay for it? If you don’t like it, just leave it.’
‘…’ Fan Guanshi opened his mouth and a calculus formed.
“But the bridge is the facade, and you Fan family can’t leave it in such a state, can you?’
The Fan family could not let the broken bridge be left alone. Firstly, it was unsightly, and secondly, if the emperor came here, what if he raised his head and saw the Yuxiangfang; and then raised his foot and saw the broken bridge, and it was half way across and impassable, what if the emperor was furious? So the Fan family had to hurry and finish repairing the entire bridge, which was convenient for the people.
Liu Qing felt slightly relieved. Although he didn’t care about the silver for a bridge at all, it was still a bit gratifying in his heart that he could make the Fan family spend money.
Zhong Wei laughed and said, ‘This is just the beginning.’

☆、The Merchant’s Son [5]

【The Merchant’s Son · Chapter 5】
During the day, everything is brand new, and the night view is unmistakable. Zhong Wei had the lanterns and streamers put up. It looks good, but it really costs a lot of money. Not to mention the Liu family, even outsiders feel sad when they see it.
It happened to be a day off, so Fan Hou didn’t need to go to the palace. He looked on with glee as the Liu family busied themselves, his smile narrowing, his jowls rippling as he said, ‘Liu Qing, Liu Xianjie, come have a cup of tea. You’ve gone to a lot of trouble.’
Liu Qing bowed: ‘Not as much as Lord Fan, who does everything himself.’
Fan Hou also started out in business, and in terms of personality, he also tends to be straightforward and worldly like a businessman. What sets him apart from Liu Qing is: one, his deep roots in the capital and his deep connections in the officialdom; two, the powerful backing of Fan’s concubine and the prince; and three, his long history of ingratiating himself with the emperor and being valued by him.
Liu Qing and Fan Hou sat facing each other, exchanging false and insincere pleasantries.
On the side, Zhong Wei listened for a long time and pointed at the red sun in the east and said, ‘Lord Fan, the palace is also on the east side of the river, and Yuxiangfang really has the best location.’
Fan Hou was smug: ‘Where, where, it’s all the same.’
“How can it be the same? When the emperor goes out of the palace to watch the lanterns at night, the first thing he sees is Yuxiangfang, and there’s also this river. It takes a lap to get to our Liu family’s land, so Lord Fan has a discerning eye!’ Zhong Wei smiled narrowly.
Fan Hou finally woke up. This can’t be sloppy. The emperor’s first glance must be met with even more luxurious decorations inside and out of Yuxiangfang. Otherwise, if the punishment comes down, the Liu family will blame it on the Fan family, and the Fan family will be in trouble too, right?
Zhong Wei added, ‘Originally, Father planned to wrap the entire Yu Xiangfang along the river in lanterns, so that it would resemble the Milky Way in the sky and the Yunxi Street on the ground. Unfortunately, the Liu family does not have the resources to do so, so we can only give up now.’
Liu Qing frowned.
After they left, Liu Qing blamed Zhong Wei for undermining his own family’s prestige by saying, ‘We do not have the resources,’ when at no time had the Liu family been unable to wrap a river in lanterns?
Zhong Wei smiled and said, ‘Do you know, Dad, that Yunxi Street is a big trap this time? If it’s not prosperous enough, the emperor will take the opportunity to find fault with it; if it is prosperous, the charges will be even more serious: extravagance, building large-scale projects, and ignoring the people’s suffering… The Liu family can’t get into trouble again because they’re rich.’
“That’s right,’
‘Let the Fan family decorate the entire Yuxiangfang and the riverside, so that if the emperor finds fault, the Liu family can blame it on the Fan family. If someone complains, Fan Hou will be the first to jump out and suppress it, so we’ll be spared the trouble.‘ This is the advantage of tying a boat together: if the boat leaks, even sworn enemies have to stop to patch the hole.
’That’s true. Fan Hou is not stupid.‘
’The Fan family’s wealth is far less than the Liu family’s, isn’t it?’
‘That’s for sure. Fan Hou would have to be reborn ten times to match the Liu family.‘ Liu Qing finally felt proud and his back straightened. If it came to wealth, there were not many families in the world that could match the Liu family.
’It will cost a lot of money to decorate the entire riverbank. Only the Liu family would dare spend such money. This is a pit with no bottom, and the Fan family will soon taste the bitter consequences.’ Zhong Wei’s lips curled into a smile, ‘Sooner or later, I will make the Fan family obediently return the Yuxiangfang. Father, tell me, how low should we drive the price?’
In other words, whether it’s repairing the bridge, decorating the Yuxiangfang, or decorating the night view along the river, the Fan family is doing all this work for someone else.
Liu Qing suddenly felt gratified.
This son of his, whom he had left behind in their hometown for more than ten years and who had only arrived in the capital three months ago, had completely inherited his true legacy. As expected, the fortune-teller was right.
In front of him, a new Liu’s shop was arranging fans inside. It was already getting cool, so displaying the fans was just for show. There were shadow-flower fans, paper fans, and silk fans, all with various patterns. Zhong Wei opened one, and it happened to be a fan with a thousand clouds chasing the moon. He leisurely fanned himself, ‘Father, is the 15th of the eighth lunar month a lucky day?’
August 15th.
Yunxi Street was open, and it was truly a blaze of fireworks and silver flowers, with countless luxuries. The bright moon in the sky was no match for Yunxi Street on the ground. At night, the emperor led foreign envoys from various countries to admire the night view. For a while, there were exclamations of wonder, and the accompanying courtiers also said that this was the sight of a prosperous era, much more prosperous than when the previous emperor was alive.
The emperor, who was ambitious and eager to achieve great things, was content and vaguely thought that Liu Qing was quite useful.
Zhong Wei was sitting on the Mingxin Tower.
He looked down at the beautiful scenery, sipped a cup of wine alone, and felt carefree. Sitting on the third floor of his own restaurant, looking down, the view of the river was unobstructed: the lights were brilliant, and the Fan family had really gone all out, which saved Zhong Wei a lot of trouble. But it was lonely to have this beautiful view all to oneself. Where was that person?
Clatter, clatter, clatter…
A strange sound came from the stairs, getting louder and clearer as it came from the bottom to the top. It didn’t sound like clogs or boots, but rather like something made of wood rubbing against the stairs. He turned around and looked at the stairs. After a while, two people appeared:
Lord Ahan pushing Yu Chong up the stairs.
The sound of the wheels specially designed for better climbing finally stopped after they came up. Lord Ahan brushed his sleeve, looked around, and sighed with heartfelt emotion: ‘To be able to see such a beautiful sight, there is no regret in life. Your Highness, you two chat at your leisure, and I will go down to the river to admire the lanterns.’
Zhong Wei sighed, and ordered his subordinates to set out molasses cakes, kumquats, and bean cakes. The two of them faced the tea table, and in the alcove, there was only a pale yellow muslin gardenia lamp.
Zhong Wei came right to the point: ‘I’ve given you what you wanted, what else do you want?’
Yu Chong said, ‘Look at this great country, it will ultimately be mine.’
Are you crazy?
‘For ordinary people like us, it doesn’t matter whose country it is. I’ve said that I will never put the Liu family in a precarious position.’ Zhong Wei rubbed his brow and said, ‘Also, you shouldn’t have come here, it’s hard to guarantee that no one will recognise you, and I’ll be in big trouble.’
‘Don’t worry, I’ll only show my true face in front of you.‘
’And in front of me too.‘
’That won’t do, my true face is most praised by people, no disguise is as handsome as the real thing,‘ Yu Chong said softly.
’…‘ There’s no way to have a pleasant chat, so it’s not too much to ask for an order to leave now.
’I will take back the throne early next year,‘ Yu Chong suddenly said.
’You don’t need to tell me.’
‘Alas, if you want the Liu family to live peacefully, how can you not know such an important matter?‘ Yu Chong smiled wryly, taking advantage of the dim light to make his gaze ambiguous and obvious. “My seventh brother is a narrow-minded person. If I become the emperor, I will never treat the Liu family badly.”
You are related by blood, so how can you be any better?
’I won’t force you to go to the imperial study, although I really like you.‘
’…’
Zhong Wei couldn’t help but twitch at the corner of her mouth. The crown prince was being too blunt. What did he think he had done in the imperial study? It was true that no one would believe the honest truth that he had found a way to avoid all the emperor’s harassment and had only read the memorial tablets in the imperial study.
‘Your Highness, I am completely uninterested in fame and fortune. It is getting late, please go home!’ Zhong Wei got up and pushed open the door.
Suddenly, she heard the sound of hasty footsteps.
Zhong Wei went out and asked, ‘Who is it?’
‘Young master, the emperor is here!’ came a breathless voice from the stairs.
‘What?’
‘He specifically asked to see you! He knows you’re here! He’ll be here any minute! The master is showing him the way!’ The subordinate panted like a bull.
Oh no! The young master has disappeared!
What about Yu Chong?
Suddenly, Yu Chong stood up and quickly disassembled his wheelchair into eight pieces, setting it aside: ‘Ah Han won’t be back for a while. He’s stuck me under this wooden table… Don’t be surprised, I can only stand for a short time and I can’t move flexibly… Quickly carry me over.’
The wooden table was low, just right.
Zhong Wei held Yu Chong and squeezed her way in, smoothing the fabric of her clothes with some difficulty, before rushing downstairs to greet the emperor. The emissaries and courtiers had disappeared, only the imperial guards remained. The emperor leisurely walked up to the third floor and precisely to the room where Yu Chong was, because the view was the best here, with an unobstructed view of the river.
His subordinates wanted to light the lanterns again.
‘With this bright moon, one lamp is enough. You can all go.‘ The emperor waved his hand, his cold gaze fixed on Zhong Wei, as familiar and wretched as ever.
’Your Majesty…’ Liu Qing, trembling, stood in Zhong Wei’s way.
‘You go down too,‘ the emperor said impatiently.
’Your Majesty…‘
’Pat!’ The emperor slammed his hand down on the table, and the guards stood in front of Liu Qing in unison—was this going to be a case of the emperor forcing his way through? Zhong Wei leaned over and whispered in Liu Qing’s ear, ’Father, think of the hundreds of people in the Liu family. It’ll be fine. Wait for me downstairs.’
Liu Qing bit his bottom and left. In the room, there were only Zhong Wei and the emperor. Zhong Wei smelled a strong smell of alcohol. Had the emperor drunk too much?
The emperor said sinisterly, ‘Come here and kneel down.’
Zhong Wei obeyed and knelt in front of the dragon boots. The emperor suddenly stepped on his hand and squeezed hard. Zhong Wei cried out in pain, ‘Your Majesty…’
“Did you drug me?’
Has Consort Liu been exposed? No, last time Consort Liu said that all the pills had been used up. What on earth is going on? Zhong Wei lifted his head in pain: ‘Your Majesty, I don’t understand what you mean.’
‘Since the first day I saw you, I have been ill,’ the emperor said with gritted teeth, ‘I just realised that you know about medicine, hahaha.’
The emperor suddenly drew his sword and stabbed Zhong Wei’s hand, spilling blood.
The pain was unbearable.
Zhong Wei’s mind was exceptionally clear: according to the emperor’s character, if he had known earlier, he would have been furious and would not have tolerated it until now. Could it be that he had just passed by Liu’s large pharmacy, and Liu Qing had occasionally mentioned that his young son understood pharmacology, and then the emperor had become suspicious.
‘I do understand some medicinal theories for maintaining health. I don’t know what Your Majesty is referring to?’ Zhong Wei said with pain.
‘You don’t want to devote yourself to me!’
“It is the commoner’s honour to receive your grace.’
‘Nonsense!‘
The emperor gave the table a hard kick, and with a clang, it looked as if Yu Chong under the table was about to be exposed. Zhong Wei quickly threw himself onto the emperor’s lap, raised his face and said anxiously, “I never meant to say that I was unwilling.” At the same time, his leg swiftly swept the tablecloth, covering the boots that had revealed Yu Chong.
’Really?‘ the emperor said in a sinister voice.
’Of course,’
The emperor pinched Zhong Wei’s chin, and suddenly gave Zhong Wei a hard kick in the chest. Zhong Wei fell to the ground. The emperor stepped on his bleeding hand and said condescendingly, ‘What I hate most is your Liu family. Sooner or later, I will make sure that you die without a burial.’
‘Why?
’Your father, that idiot, did a good job!’
What did Liu Qing do to make you hate him so much? Although Liu Qing lived a life of luxury, he was still quite upright and was very scrupulous in his business dealings…No matter how blind he was, he could not have offended the former Prince Seven and now the emperor.
Zhong Wei endured the pain and said, ‘Your Majesty, I beg you to spare my life! I, a humble subject, would like to know why?’
The emperor had also drunk too much and, in his excitement, could no longer stop himself: ‘A mere lowly merchant, he puts on airs that are greater than my own! Bah, the Ningshou disaster needs no saving from him, relying on the grace of my imperial dragon aura is enough!‘
’…”
This is really unfair to Liu Qing. He was exceptionally talented and eventually earned a brilliant family business that spanned several states such as Ningshou and Leizhou. One year, Ningshou was hit by a flood, and Liu Qing saved countless people by distributing rice porridge for two months and building houses. The people of Ningshou called him a living Buddha. When this story reached the emperor, he severely reprimanded the seven kings of the fiefdoms, blaming them for not focusing on water conservancy, not properly providing disaster relief when disaster struck, and generally mismanaging the rich Ningzhou.
In theory, the seventh king should be grateful to Liu Qing.
It’s just that he was narrow-minded. After receiving such a scolding from the late emperor, he became resentful and wanted revenge. However, Liu Qing’s family business was mostly in the Leizhou and Yuanzhou area, and Ningzhou was only a small part of it, so he was unable to find Liu Qing’s trouble.
A few years later, he had almost forgotten about it. The crown prince and the late emperor died one after the other, and the brothers began to fight for the throne. Naturally, the seventh king was not willing to lose out, and he rallied support from all sides. Liu Qing, who was wealthy beyond compare, came into his sights. It was also Liu Qing’s bad luck that several kings passed him the olive branch. As a businessman, Liu Qing was apprehensive, fearing that he would attract calamity if he chose the wrong one, and so he was slow to respond. The seventh king thought he had been snubbed and became even more irritable.
Even after Liu Qing chose him and showed him various signs of goodwill and strong support, the nagging feeling in his heart never went away. As soon as he was slightly provoked, he would remember how detestable Liu Qing was and immediately fly into a rage. Now that he was the emperor, he could finally do whatever he wanted.
Zhong Wei suddenly understood.

☆、The Merchant’s Son [6

The Merchant’s Son [6]
With the emperor’s unforgiving personality, it is impossible for the Liu family to live in peace in the future.
Zhong Wei was not unable to fight back when the emperor stepped on his bleeding hand, but he could only restrain himself desperately when he thought about the possible consequence of exterminating his entire clan. Zhong Wei always wanted to stay away from that table, but the emperor was amazing, as he could always drag him over.
‘How can I make Your Majesty calm down? Do you want a lowly person like me to serve you in bed?‘ Give him a massage to make him drowsy.
’Haha, Liu Qing.‘
’…‘
’Liu Qing, you old bastard, I will destroy your entire family!’ The wine took effect, and the emperor was completely drunk. He could no longer tell who was under his feet, and suddenly kicked him. Zhong Wei took the opportunity to roll away from the table.
The emperor chased after him and started punching and kicking, swearing and kicking. Zhong Wei did not resist, but deftly avoided the attacks. Despite knocking over the screen with a crash, the emperor did not actually hurt Zhong Wei. In order to prevent the imperial guards outside from suspecting anything, Zhong Wei pretended to cry out in pain, ‘Your Majesty, spare my life! Ah!’
As if venting all the pent-up frustration of the past few years, the emperor kicked harder and harder, and cursed more and more terrifyingly, calling him all sorts of names: ‘old fool,’ ‘have his family disinherited,’ ‘exile him,’ ‘exterminate his entire clan’—words that would make ordinary people tremble with fear if they heard them.
Zhong Wei grew colder and colder as he listened. He had originally thought that it would be good to just stay away from the capital, but now it seemed that the emperor really hated Liu Qing.
Outside, Liu Qing was already listening with a broken soul.
Just then.
The emperor kicked again. Zhong Wei was distracted and accidentally kicked in the chest, unable to help but let out a cry of pain. Suddenly, there was a loud clang and the table overturned. Zhong Wei looked behind the emperor and saw Yu Chong standing up, holding a wooden stick-like object in his hand and swinging it violently.
Bang, the end of the stick landed squarely on the emperor’s shoulder, who was turning around.
The emperor let out a cry and fell to the ground.
Yu Chong took a difficult step forward and swung again. The emperor suddenly woke up, flinched, and tried to shout. Zhong Wei sprang up, quickly covered the emperor’s mouth. The guards outside heard a strange noise and were about to move. Zhong Wei quickly made a sound effect, making a loud kissing sound and an exaggerated gasping sound.
The guards stopped.
Zhong Wei made a sound effect with her mouth and gave the emperor a hard chop on the back of the neck. The emperor fell over limp and passed out. Yu Chong was about to collapse from exertion, and Zhong Wei caught him.
Unexpectedly, Yu Chong suddenly embraced Zhong Wei and kissed her unexpectedly.
It all happened so fast.
Zhong Wei almost slammed her hand down, pushed Yu Chong away in annoyance, and stuffed him under the table in two moves, before giving him a hard kick. Only then did she return to the emperor, whispering, ‘Your Majesty, Your Majesty, are you asleep? Let’s go to the inn.’ Next to the restaurant was the Liu Inn. Of course it was incomparable to an ordinary inn, being extremely luxurious.
The head guard saw that Zhong Wei’s clothes were in disarray and gave his tacit approval.
He was afraid that the emperor would not be too drunk to remember everything the next day, and that if he pinched him too hard, something might go wrong. As for hypnotism, well, it wasn’t foolproof, and if there was even a one percent chance of failure, it would be the end. Behind him was the entire Liu family.
It was either good fortune or misfortune, and misfortune could not be avoided. Zhong Wei suddenly had an idea.
The emperor woke up, rubbed his hangover headache and was shocked when he saw Zhong Wei in front of him. ‘What’s wrong with you?’
Zhong Wei pretended to be puzzled and said, ‘What’s wrong with me?’
‘Your forehead?’
Zhong Wei touched his forehead and the word ‘hand’ written in special potion became darker and darker. He walked over to the mirror and asked doubtfully, ‘Your Majesty, there is nothing on my forehead…’
The emperor suddenly remembered what had happened last night. In the shadows, he saw his deceased brother. He let out a cry and went pale.
‘Your Majesty, what’s wrong?’
‘What happened last night!’ the emperor asked, his voice trembling with anger.
‘Last night?’
‘No, that’s impossible, he’s clearly dead!’ the emperor shook his head, as if to deny it. ‘Last night, the person behind me, you conspired with him?
‘What person?‘ Zhong Wei pretended to be confused: “Last night, after Your Majesty suddenly yelled, you felled the commoner…”
’…”
There was no need for Zhong Wei to explain, the emperor was already scared stiff. At this moment, the word “hand” that had just brushed past slowly faded from the emperor’s eyes, eventually leaving no trace, as if to tell something strange. The emperor’s pupils grew wider and wider, his face grew paler and paler, his hands grasping the quilt, shaking like bran.
Zhong Wei knew that he had passed.
The emperor had more important things to do than to figure out how to get rid of the Liu family: he had to verify the death of his brother, the crown prince. He trembled with fear as he went to see the fourth prince, who had poisoned the crown prince and bribed the imperial doctor to put the crown prince in the coffin while he was still alive.
The fourth prince had only one reaction: ‘Brother, you’ve had too much to drink. He can’t be more dead than he is!’
“How can you be sure?’
‘Everyone saw it!‘
’What if someone digs him up?”
The fourth prince laughed: “Brother, this is absolutely impossible. Because on the third day, I took advantage of the fact that the late emperor had a sudden illness and everyone was busy running around to open the coffin and inspect it once. Just to be sure, I chopped off one of his hands.” The poison was really powerful. Although the person was dead, his whole body was black.
The emperor almost jumped up: ’You, you, what did you say? One hand?’
‘Yes.‘
’Why?‘
’I was afraid that my brother might come back to life, so I opened the coffin to check. But even though he was dead, I still wasn’t sure, so I chopped off a hand as proof.‘ The fourth prince pointed outside, “It’s still buried under the tree. Do you want to go and have a look, brother?”
The emperor shook his head vigorously, “Who knows about the hand?”
’Just me.‘
’…’
‘Chopping off a hand is just a momentary whim. The fewer people know about this kind of thing, the better,’ said the fourth prince. “Brother, I think you’re really tired. Get some rest. If you really can’t manage it, hire someone to drive away the evil spirits.”
Yes! Drive away the evil spirits!
There’s no need to talk about what happened after that. The emperor was very much tossed about for a while.
Zhong Wei finally let out a sigh of relief. The problem had not been solved, but the waters had been thoroughly muddied. It was not surprising that Zhong Wei had played the trickster. It was really the sudden appearance of Yu Chong, who had died and then come back to life, that no one could bear – it would have been a shame not to take advantage of the situation.
After seeing the emperor off, he went home and washed up.
He heard a subordinate report that a young nobleman was waiting in the hall. Zhong Wei’s eyelids twitched. It was indeed young nobleman Han, and it was no surprise to see Yu Chong again. Now that they were in the same boat, Zhong Wei told him everything about carving the character for ‘hand’ on her forehead.
‘That was a good idea. I’ve been wanting to scare them for a long time,’ Yu Chong said with a smile.
“But you’ve been exposed.’
‘There’s nothing I can do about it.‘
’I know you hate the emperor, but you’re too impatient.‘
Yu Chong’s fingers brushed his lips: “I don’t regret it at all. It was especially hard for me to hear what he did to you. I’m glad that I was able to stand up for myself. To be honest, what I regret is agreeing to Prime Minister Zhou’s plan to replace his son with you.”
’…’
‘At that time, I had not yet seen you, and I thought, ‘Just a stranger. How can I agree to that? “Yu Chong sighed, ”I regret it to death, even though I know you don’t have much to do with the emperor.’
‘…’
‘From the first time I saw you, I liked you.’ Yu Chong tilted his head up, looking at Zhong Wei with a certain joy.
Her heart suddenly began to race, as if she had been electrocuted.
Zhong Wei looked at the person in front of her in a daze. ‘I liked you from the first moment I saw you’—the same words had been said by Mu Geyang, Tang Xifei, and Ning Geting, and although their personalities had been shaped by their experiences, they were all tough and positive.
This was the person.
Although their appearances are different, it is this person. Before reason could take over, her heart became uncontrollably happy. Zhong Wei slowly crouched down and placed her hands on Yu Chong’s knees. ‘So, it was you.’
‘Huh?’
‘You’ve suffered a lot, haven’t you?’ Zhong Wei grabbed his hands.
Yu Chong was surprised by her reaction. He blinked his eyes and suddenly said slyly, ‘If you’re willing to kiss me, I’ll be able to forget all that suffering.’
Zhong Wei kissed him without hesitation.
The tip of his tongue overflowed with memories.
The soft, warm lips told of the hunger of a long-lost reunion…Zhong Wei reached into Yu Chong’s clothes and pulled them off with a swish. Yu Chong smiled, a little embarrassed: ‘I’m very happy with you, but the transition was a bit too fast…’
“You don’t like it?’
‘Yesterday you didn’t want to be pulled together by me… now…’ It really was too fast. In the blink of an eye, there were kisses, tongue kisses, deep throat kisses, and even intimate contact in certain places as they exchanged the liquid of their thoughts. However, Yu Chong quickly abandoned his distracting thoughts, and only joy remained. All the cells in his body were awakened by this indescribable joy.
Yu Chong reached out and took off Zhong Wei’s clothes in one go.
…
It was still morning when they visited, but now it was night. ‘Even though my legs don’t work, one of them is still very powerful,’ Zhong Wei muttered to herself, picking up the oil lamp, lighting it, preparing ink, and taking out some paper.
‘What are you doing?’ Yu Chong asked curiously, sitting up.
‘Tell me your plan to take the throne.’
‘…’
“Let me help you see if there are any omissions. Just the two of you and A Han, I’m really not at ease.’
Yu Chong’s hand embraced Zhong Wei: ‘It’s not just the two of us, there’s also Jiudi’s army, several important officials in the court, and the powerful prefects in charge of multiple states — I’m definitely not going it alone. It’s just that I wanted to see you alone, and if my legs weren’t weak, I wouldn’t even want to bring Ah Han.’ Outside, Ah Han sneezed hard.
“I guess you wouldn’t do anything you weren’t sure about.’
‘You don’t need to worry.‘
’If you won’t tell me, does that mean you don’t trust me?‘ Zhong Wei put down her pen.
’If I didn’t trust you, would I have revealed my identity the first time? You’ve been busy with the Liu family’s affairs.’
Yu Chong enumerated Zhong Wei’s achievements as if they were family treasures: the Liu family’s internal affairs were managed smoothly; the connections between the Four Kings, the Grand Tutor, the Grand Preceptor, and a certain general, who were all external threats, were severed; the Fan family was in turmoil and could not find any peace, so they had no time to stir up trouble; the reputation of Yunxi Street was spread; and his hand even reached the harem…
‘If this continues, sooner or later you will have the capital in the palm of your hand.‘ Yu Chong kissed Zhong Wei’s forehead. “I’m curious, why didn’t Liu Qing let you out before? He wouldn’t have ended up in such a mess.”
’…’ The outsider sees clearly. Fortunately, Yu Chong is one of us. Zhong Wei no longer asked about Yu Chong’s affairs. Right now, all he was doing was desperately pulling the Liu family out of the capital’s network of connections.
Liu Qing grew old overnight.
Rich as a nation, what good is it? He was unable to save his son. The emperor’s drunken tirades broke through the walls again and again, each one enough to kill Liu Qing—if they were not drunken rants, but imperial edicts, his head would have already rolled by now.
‘Father, what do you think?”
Liu Qing looked up from his thoughts and saw his young son, Jun, with his handsome appearance. His heart ached again: “Liu San, you have suffered. The capital is indeed a place you cannot stay in for long. I will return to Beizhou every few days. You will come with me.”
Zhong Wei had long since spread rumours that “Liu Qing is seriously ill and the Liu family is declining”, so as to make the enemy let its guard down and make Liu Qing’s departure seem natural.
‘Liu San, yesterday, the money managers, Shi, Bai, and Kong, all came here, wanting to buy a few shops. They want to spread the word while Yunxi Street is still hot, so they can get as much as they can.‘
The emperor’s nightly patrols, the courtiers’ visits, and the rare spectacle that shocked the world have caused the value of Yunxi Street shops to skyrocket. Like before, when it was closed down by the authorities, no one wanted to take over even if you begged them.
‘Father, go back first, I’ll stay behind to tidy up the aftermath. As long as we cross the Mingjiang River, the emperor’s jurisdiction will be loose.’ The emperor is far away in the mountains, so there’s no need to be so cautious. Zhong Wei took out the planned route.
Liu Qing mused, ‘Father would like to go to the northwest frontier.’
‘…’
‘Father, you’re rich, which is a curse. You should spread your wealth around. The frontier of the Silicon State is vast and sparsely populated. There is an endless supply of ores, medicinal herbs, horses, camels and other livestock, but a shortage of everyday necessities such as cloth, tea and wine. The Liu family has great potential. If we can open up the region, these places can also become prosperous.’ Indeed, he is a natural magnate, spreading wealth to gather wealth.
The Xichou area is also the fief of the Prince’s trusted Ninth Prince. Zhong Wei smiled and said, ‘It’s good that my eldest brother is going to the southeast coast and my father is going the northwest ancient road. Starting today, I will clear out the family business in the capital, leaving only Yunxi Street.’
‘I’ll go first, and you come as soon as you can.’
Liu Qing added, ‘Someone mentioned the other day that the youngest daughter of the Marquis of Wen is still single and about your age. Alas, if we weren’t a merchant family, you could marry her.”
The Minister of State was a powerful official in the previous emperor’s court. In those times, no declining scholar-bureaucrats would marry merchants, let alone someone of the Minister of State’s status. The Liu family, however wealthy, would never be able to marry into such a family. Liu Qing had always wanted his two sons to become officials, so that they could escape their status as commoners.
Zhong Wei smiled, ‘It’s important for father to leave the capital as soon as possible.’
To say why Liu Qing was able to slip away so quickly, it was because the emperor was so scared by the prince’s ‘ghost’ that he was busy with sacrifices and exorcisms, causing chaos in the palace and leaving him with no mood for anything else; and the ministers, old and new, were fighting for power and influence, so they had no time to trip up the Liu family.
It was hard to find such an opportunity even with a lantern.
Liu Qing took some of his family members and went to the northwest, leaving the Liu family largely empty, with only Liu Er and Zhong Wei left.

☆、Son of a merchant [7]

[Fast-forward to Never Regret · Son of a Merchant · Chapter 7]
Liu Er donated the rank of Xiu Qiwei. He loves to drink with people when he is not busy. Apart from his problem of spending money, he has no ambition or bad intentions. Liu Er’s brother-in-law, Tu Li, is ambitious. Tu Li, relying on the fact that his sister is Liu Er’s wife, has been raking in the profits at the Liu household. As soon as Liu Qing left, he paid a visit to the Liu household, persuading Liu Er to take all the family assets in the capital.
Liu Er is a straightforward person, and after Zhong Wei asked him a few questions, he revealed all his secrets.
‘How do you want to divide it?’
“I’ll take Yunxi Street, and you can do whatever you like with the rest.’
Most of the Liu family’s business in the capital was based on Yunxi Street. Zhong Wei propped up his chin and said, ‘Father has just left, and now we are splitting up the family business. It doesn’t make sense. How about this: the cosmetics shop and the cloth shop have the most complete range of goods and the busiest business. Why doesn’t my brother take over and give it a try?’
‘Brother is a cavalry officer, and you will be punished for doing business. Let’s just put the two shops in the name of Gu Tulip,’ Liu Er said unsuspectingly.
It was a shame that Tu Li dared to speak, and it was a shame that Liu Er dared to believe. In the previous life, after Liu Qing’s downfall, Tu Li and the rest of his relatives flocked to him, each one of them jumping on the bandwagon, completely draining the Liu family of their wealth.
Zhong Wei smiled: ‘That’s only natural. My brother is destined to become a general, and must never get involved in business.’
Liu Er remembered something: ‘Liu San, today we’ll eat a whole lamb, steamed, it’s very nourishing.’
Liu Er’s mouth watered. He was in charge of the family’s meals and had the final say on the recipes. Speaking of which, Liu Er hated steaming food whole. These past few days, the sun had come up in the west, and every day, the kitchen was full of big meals and tonic soups – and when it came to eating, Liu Er himself said that he found such meals disgusting. He would put down his chopsticks after just a few bites. I don’t know what he was thinking.
‘Every day is greasy, and it turns my stomach,’ Zhong Wei said, getting tired of it all.
‘What are you talking about? You have to eat it no matter how greasy it is. These medicinal dishes were arranged by the herbalist. You’ll gain weight and get fat!‘
’Why do you want to get so fat?‘
’Once you get fat, gain 20 or 30 catties, your figure will change, just like Er, and the emperor’s dog… won’t care about you.’ Liu Er patted his fat belly, which made a loud sound.
The idea is not reliable, but there is some brotherly love. Zhong Wei smiled, ‘I’m fine. The emperor’s energy has decreased.’
‘When father went to prison, the older brother and I had no choice but to let you go to the palace. I also spent thousands of taels of silver to buy a pair of disfiguring drugs from a peerless doctor, but I was afraid that if you ate them, something would go wrong,’ said Liu Er, scratching his head irritably and speaking in a rough voice.
‘Ha, forget about disfiguring yourself,’ Zhong Wei laughed.
Not to mention the two brothers chatting.
Let’s just say, Tu Li happily took over the two shops.
Zhong Wei sent the plaques “Tu’s Cosmetics Shop” and “Tu’s Cloth Shop” the next day, which happened to be adjacent to the Fan family’s shops, and the two families sold exactly the same things. Tu Li saw that Zhong Wei was a quick learner and took advantage of the situation by asking for the contract. In this way, the shops would officially belong to the Tu family.
Zhong Wei took out the contract that she had prepared long ago and said with a smile, ‘I dare not be vague about what you, my second brother, have commanded. I’m just waiting for you to put your thumbprint on it. You must take good care of these two shops.’
Having the shops is one thing, but without the goods, it’s a problem.
Zhong Wei was very generous: ‘I’ll leave the cloth and rouge exactly as they are. You sell them, and I’ll get the profit, but you get to keep the capital. Of course, I can’t lose out too much, so I’ll charge you interest every day. Look at this business, it’s packed with people, how can you say you can’t afford interest? By the way, I’ll charge interest every day, little by little. What do you think?’
“Interest every day?’
‘Daily payments make it easier to pay. I don’t mean to be suspicious, but if the interest builds up, it will be hard to collect.”
Tu Li did some calculations: it’s really cheap, really cost-effective, and a free lunch!
It’s just a little interest every day, right? Even if no money comes in every day, the Tu family will be able to pay for several years, and Tu Li has calculated it accurately.
The Fan family is annoyed.
Yunxi Street was opened, and the Fan family decorated the banks along the river with lanterns, which almost matched the Liu family’s spending on the street. However, when people talked about it, they all said that the Liu family had done a good job, with its prosperity and style. In other words, the Fan family spent a lot of money, but the reputation went to the Liu family.
Moreover, the Fan family’s Yuxiangfang, which is located by the river, has a superb view and an excellent location. The problem is that, out of consideration for the prosperity of the entire street, Liu Qing shifted the focus of the plan to the west – as a result, the previously unappealing west side became the main focus, and the Yuxiangfang on the east side became less attractive. Of course, in the summer, when pleasure boats and tourists come down the river, it is also extremely prosperous.
But it is early winter now, and there are few tourists.
These problems only emerged after the shop opened. Fan Hou scolded the Fan family managers, saying that if they had been more careful, they would have realised that that old fox, Liu Qing, was just waiting to dig a trap for them.
Well, since we’ve fallen into this trap, we have to climb out with a stiff upper lip. It so happened that the Liu family’s business was better than the Fan family’s in the neighbouring shop, and they couldn’t compete no matter how hard they tried. Steward Fan was so depressed that he was planning his next move when he heard the sound of firecrackers outside. He went outside to see what was going on, and the Liu family shop had become the Butcher’s?
“Butcher Boss, congratulations!’
‘Fan Da Zongguan, congratulations!’ Tu Li was overjoyed, and he urged his brother-in-law to split the family business. He just wanted to pick up a few small advantages. Who would have thought that Zhong Wei was so generous, and she casually gave up two large shops. That feeling was even more refreshing than drinking ice water in the summer.
Fan Zongguan’s shifty eyes twinkled: Ha, Liu Qing has made a good move, a wonderful move. Sooner or later, the Liu family will fall.
This is a great opportunity to turn things around.
Steward Fan immediately set about attacking the Tu family’s shops. He used every possible means, including price-cutting, poaching customers in front of the shop, maliciously attacking them, and even setting them up. He had used these same tactics against Zhong Wei, but Zhong Wei fought back quickly and fiercely, and the Fan family suffered as a result.
Tu Li had no way of competing with Zhong Wei’s tactics, and watched helplessly as his business declined from booming to dead.
One day, he heard that the Fan family had falsely accused the Tu family’s shop, and his anger rose. He even went directly to the Fan family’s shop to cause trouble. He was unable to cause any trouble, but his anger got the better of him and he started to smash things. The Fan family was delighted when they saw this: they filed a complaint with the authorities!
Crackling, Tu Li was beaten with dozens of wooden boards and wailed on the spot. He had to pay for the shop that was smashed, and with tears in his eyes, he went to Liu Er and said, ‘Your brother-in-law was beaten, what should we do? This is intolerable!’
Liu Er was furious: ‘You smashed someone’s shop and you still have the face to say that! If Liu San hadn’t produced the property deed to distance himself from the incident, the authorities would have come after me. I’m a distinguished cavalry officer, and getting involved in this kind of thing is a serious crime.’ At first, he was also angry with the Fan family, but after listening to Zhong Wei’s reasoning, he was instantly grateful.
Tu Li looked sad and said, ’These two shops have no business, and I can’t even pay the interest. Your brother is so ruthless, and he’s already demanding interest after just a few days.’
Liu Er said, ‘I’ll talk to him.’
Zhong Wei smiled after hearing this: ‘Since Boss Tu has spoken, I won’t press for payment for the next half month. You can pay me whenever you have the money.’ The sooner you pay, the less interest you have to pay; the later you pay, the more interest you have to pay. The interest is calculated on a daily basis, and once it starts to roll up, it can be terrifying. Tu Li just needs to wait and see the blood he spits.
The Fan family is pressing hard on Tu Li, and Tu Li is so angry that he argues with Fan Guanshi every day.
In short, the two families were in a daily state of chaos, which also affected their business. Tu Li was a small-minded person who never wanted to let things rest, and he hated Fan Guan Shi. After this day’s shouting match, Tu Li was so angry that he ordered someone to beat Fan Guan Shi up. Fan Guan Shi had been angry for a long time, and when he exploded, he took advantage of the Fan family’s big .legs and went back to find a bunch of people to go to the Tu family and smash things up…
One month later.
Tu Li was bruised and battered, his leg bone broken. He found his brother-in-law with difficulty and could hardly speak: ‘What’s going on? The interest is so high, are you trying to kill me?’
Liu Er was delighted to see him: ‘How dare you lend such an interest?’ It’s fine if you repay the interest every day, but if you don’t, it keeps accumulating every day, it’s terrifying!
Tu Li wanted Liu Er to give him some advice, but Liu Er had encountered a major problem: he had to lead a group of people to welcome the Ninth Prince back to the capital. Although he verbally agreed to do so, the next day he and his men left for Lianzhou, and it would take at least ten days for them to return.
Tu Li then went to Zhong Wei to argue.
Zhong Wei called the accountant and had him count every penny, and there was not a single error. Tu Li was dumbfounded. The accountant took Tu Li aside and said, ‘Mr. Tu, don’t go to the authorities, because if you do, you’ll have to pay. Pay up quickly before the interest mounts, and your family won’t be in debt for this small amount.’
’…’
Why not? You’ve paid for the shop’s opening ceremony, the Fan family’s damaged goods, the hired thugs’ assault, the family’s medical bills, and all the household goods – the Tu family’s meagre savings simply aren’t enough. You’ve asked your sister for money several times, and a few days ago, she got so angry she slammed the door.
The accountant is astonished: ’You’ve got two shops, but you’ve lost all your family savings?’
‘That’s right!‘ Tu Li complained.
’…‘
’That rascal Liu San has made things worse, and he’s trying to extort interest from me!‘
The accountant was a crafty fellow, and he laughed as soon as he thought of it: “Young Master Liu doesn’t care about this little interest. Fighting against the Fan family, the Liu family has to swallow their anger and hate, and they can’t wait to get as far away as possible. That’s why they hurriedly gave you the neighbouring shop, and he’s using a borrowed knife to kill.”
’What!’
‘I’ve read the lease. If you can’t pay the interest or can’t keep the shop going, you can’t rent or sell it, and the shop has to be returned to the Liu family. Take my advice and quickly return this hot potato before you go bankrupt. Beg your sister’s husband to waive the interest. You have to know that the Fan family is ruthless in getting people to do their bidding.’
‘I didn’t provoke the Fan family, it was that bastard Fan Guanshi who did it.‘
’You have to consider the master when you hit the dog. Shopkeeper Tu, get rid of the two shops quickly. Otherwise, if things go on like this, you won’t even get any scraps left.’
The accountant patted Tu Li on the shoulder, and couldn’t help but praise Zhong Wei in his heart for a job well done: he set up a trap that completely trapped Tu Li, and then the shop was returned intact. Tu Li’s troubles had also caused the Fan family’s business to decline. Meanwhile, Zhong Wei had sat back and watched the two fight (and probably played a little trick to stir up trouble), and had also helped the other shops on Yunxi Street to flourish.
The next day, Tu Li obediently handed over the lease, with a complex look in his eyes. After that, whenever the subject of his sister’s husband’s third brother came up, Tu Li would grimace and say, ‘Liu San is so clever,’ and ‘I never go to the east wing of the Liu family courtyard – why? That’s Liu San’s territory.’ ‘Afraid of him? I’m not afraid of anyone!’ ‘Staying away is always the right thing to do!
Zhong Wei laughed. Let Tu Li learn a lesson for once, and take advantage of his sister-in-law. If you want to take the Liu family’s place, you will not get anything back.
Zhong Wei looked down at Yuxiangfang from the restaurant and heard the sound of a wooden wheelchair clicking up the stairs.
Learning about Zhong Wei’s busy work, Yu Chong smiled and said, ‘When I become the emperor, the Fan family will hand over Yuxiangfang to you, so why bother?’
‘I’d rather enjoy the pleasure of taking it over myself.‘
’I love your nasty disposition.‘
’I just…like your kind of…ambition to hand over the country to me happily,’ Zhong Wei teased. Every time he saw Yu Chong come alone, he couldn’t help but doubt the strength of this person. However, more than that, he believed in the strength of this person.
The clothes were quickly taken off and thrown aside.
Zhong Wei’s legs were spread apart and his hole was gaping. Yu Chong’s huge peak was hard and strong, pushing up again and again. With each violent jolt, he sat down again, and Zhong Wei’s two flesh sacks pounded wildly. He was about to fly with pleasure, his insides burning like a fire, instinctively tightening around it as he hungrily sucked on the exposed veiny peak.
Warm sticky liquid splattered everywhere.
Yu Chong suddenly bit Zhong Wei’s jujube hard. Zhong Wei let out a cry of surprise, and hot liquid splashed out from under her belly and sprayed Yu Chong’s abdomen…
The sky, the sunrise, the rosy glow gradually intensified. Yu Chong stroked Zhong Wei’s wet hair and embraced her from behind: ‘As long as I can remember, I have had one belief: that I will meet someone, someone I love especially much, someone I love to the bone.’
“Where did Shun’er come from?’
‘You’re actually bothered by this!‘ Yu Chong smiled, “It was not my intention to be the imperial heir born from a one-night stand with the crown prince’s wife after the previous emperor used a trick to get her drunk. If you don’t believe me, just ask any of my brothers.”
’Hmph! Don’t think I won’t verify it!’
‘The more you care, the happier I am. Ah, this is my dream: to hold the one I love, to enjoy every morning, noon, afternoon and night without restraint, to watch him convulse from my thrusts and spray his semen all over the bedsheets…‘
Knock, knock, knock.
’Your Highness, we should go,‘ Gongzi Ahan’s voice sounded.
’…’ Yu Chong was dumbfounded.
‘Ha, you just go on being reckless, will you?’ Zhong Wei rolled over and kissed Yu Chong’s eyes fiercely. “We’ll have plenty of time, provided that you take care of yourself.”

☆、The Merchant’s Son [End]

Chapter 8
In November, there was a light snowfall.
It seemed that because of the ‘prince’s ghost’ incident, the emperor no longer summoned Zhong Wei, who had been ‘tainted by bad luck’. Liu Qing left the capital, and there were fewer jobs to be found. One day, someone came to the door: the chief steward of the Duke of Wen wanted to buy some cosmetics and jewellery for the young lady, and asked Zhong Wei to help choose some expensive ones.
Zhong Wei put down what she was doing and picked some.
The butler liked this string and that string, and found it difficult to choose. He simply said that Zhong Wei should deliver them all to the mansion of the Duke of Wen and let Miss Ren choose. As soon as Zhong Wei heard this, she understood that the butler was interested in something other than the jewellery.
When Liu Qing left, he mentioned that the daughter of the Marquis of Wen was still single. At the time, she wondered what Liu Qing was thinking of when he wanted to get married again. He could only think of the declining gentry, but it was impossible to marry into a noble family like the Marquis of Wen. Now, what did the steward of the Marquis of Wen want with her?
The courtyard of the Marquis of Wen’s mansion was deep.
In the courtyard, three or five young women were picking out hairpins, jade pendants and jewellery. Zhong Wei occasionally talked about the wonders of jade. The women also secretly looked at Zhong Wei’s face, mostly with expressions of regret. After all, the gentry and the commoners did not marry. The young ladies picked and chose, comparing and contrasting, and before they knew it, it was already dusk.
A man in his forties came out of the back room, and the head steward said, ‘Lord Commander, this is Liu Zhongwei, the manager of the Liu family.’
Zhongwei gave a bow.
The Duke of Wenguo had several sons, one of whom had risen to the rank of First-Class Prefect, and this was the one: burly, with deep-set eyes, he looked like a man of action. The First-Class Prefect gave him a cursory glance and frowned: ‘Is that you? Come in.’
The head steward hurriedly ushered Zhongwei in. Since things had come to this, Zhongwei could not refuse and had no choice but to follow.
The governor was very pompous and said something slippery, to the effect that the Liu family was very rich, rich enough to easily afford an entire street, but they weren’t using their wealth wisely. He also said that Zhong Wei was no ordinary person who had been able to fight the Fan family for so long.
Zhong Wei pretended not to understand and deliberately made a joke, saying ‘with trepidation’ that his father was old and the Liu family was only strong on the outside.
They were talking past each other, so the general at last spoke plainly: ‘My father, the Duke of Wen, has always loved talent. Over the years, he has recruited many people of ambition. Not to mention the courtiers, even the current emperor relies on my father. Although the Liu family is wealthy, it cannot withstand the slightest storm. If you want to seek safety in the capital, you might as well come and join me.’
Zhong Wei laughed: ‘I am humbled by your offer.’
The governor waved his hand: ‘I knew it. You don’t want to defy the emperor. You’re a wise man who knows how to adapt to circumstances. If you Liu family give a little money, you can buy peace and there will be countless benefits in the future.’ The new emperor had ascended the throne, the situation was turbulent, and the Minister of Culture had also won over people from all sides. However, after the emperor had stripped him of some of his power, the silver in the national treasury could not be used casually, and they were short of money – in short, Zhong Wei was asked to side with the Minister of Culture.
In fact, Liu Qing’s downfall had a lot to do with which side he chose to stand on. Despite his influence in the business world, Liu Qing could not see the situation clearly when it came to politics. The people he was siding with were either fickle or incapable, or even on the decline, and they could only be dragged down by their involvement.
Zhong Wei vaguely agreed.
If he had just crossed over and was helpless, unable to get help from anyone, he would have seized this olive branch from the Minister of State. Unfortunately, things are different now, and the Liu family is saying goodbye to the capital – it would be strange if they were to be picked up. Even if Zhong Wei did not know Yu Chong, he did not want to be associated with the Minister of State.
Because the Minister of State is the same as the Seventh Prince.
It’s not just a matter of a little money, it’s a matter of the bottom falling out. The Duke of Wen is not even bothering to come out and meet with us. The Commander-in-Chief is also acting haughty. If the Duke of Wen once again becomes the most powerful man in the court, the Liu family will not necessarily benefit; but if he falls, the Liu family will definitely be the first to be implicated. This is a hot potato!
They probably all think that they can’t wait to throw themselves at his feet.
Zhong Wei sneered.
On the third day, the military governor summoned Zhong Wei again, and Zhong Wei calmly described the current situation of the Liu family: ‘My brother went to the southeast, and the sea is full of treacherous waves, so I don’t know what happened. My father went to see a doctor to strengthen his body, and a few days ago he said that his chest was stuffy and painful, so I’m afraid… The family has some assets in the capital, which are on Yunxi Street.’
The military governor said, ‘Yunxi Street is full of gold and silver, and it won’t cost much to sell it.’
If it really isn’t your family business, and you don’t care about it, Zhong Wei laughed and said, ‘But the more you sell it cheap, the less people will dare to buy it; the more you hold back, the more people will scramble for it. So you can’t just go around shouting about it. Besides, if you keep Yunxi Street, it will become the cornucopia of the Wenguogong, with an endless stream of gold, silver and jewels.’ ‘The cornucopia of the Wenguogong,’ the words already implied a concession.
The generalissimo laughed, ‘What are you talking about? According to you, how can we make money and keep Yunxi Street?‘ Naturally, you have to keep the hen that lays golden eggs.
’We have to stir it up first, but unfortunately Yunxi Street is suppressed by the Fan family.‘
’Why?‘
’Yunxi Street was originally built by my father alone, but unfortunately the Fan family interfered and it could not be opened. Later, with great difficulty, the emperor gave the go-ahead, and it was able to open. But then the Fan family took away the five best shops in Yunxi Street, such as the Fish Market.’ Zhong Wei spoke with a mixture of truth and fiction, but on the surface, it was all more or less the same.
The prefect nodded: ‘Fan Hou really can’t stand the Liu family. But so what? You do your business, he does his business, and it’s all fine.’
Zhong Wei shook her head: ‘No. Whenever the Liu family’s business is good, the Fan family causes trouble. Recently, there have been far fewer customers, and they don’t come to Yunxi Street anymore.’
The prefect: ‘Is that so? In that case, his family doesn’t have any customers either.’
‘His five shops drag the entire Liu family down, and he’s happy to throw money around for fun,’ Zhong Wei said with a sad face. “I’ve long wanted to drive Fan Hou out of Yunxi Street, but unfortunately the people can’t fight the government, so we can only swallow our anger. As long as the Fan family is around, Yunxi Street will fall sooner or later.”
Fan Hou has also invited his colleagues to banquets, and the general has seen it too: ’The Yuxiangfang is quiet, but I think other places are better.’
Zhong Wei gradually got to the point: ‘It’s just a passing fad. Everyone in business is smart and knows that as long as the Fan family is around, no one will dare take over our shop. Now, I can’t even rent it out, let alone sell it for a good price. I just want to do something for the Wenguogong, but I can’t do anything about it, and I’m still in debt up to my ass.’
‘In the end, you want to get rid of the Fan family?’ The Taishuhu has been through a lot, so he can hear the unspoken meaning.
Zhong Wei was shocked and kept shaking his head, ‘No, no, no. As long as they are willing to give up Yunxi Street, I will have to send them off like a god. If they don’t leave, my Liu family will be dragged down too. If you don’t believe me, you can go to the Liu family and take a look. The accounts room is in the red.’ I want to give money, but I can’t.
The rumour of the Liu family’s downfall spread, and the governor could not help but believe it. ‘It’s no big deal, the Fan family, just a bunch of clowns.’
Zhong Wei returned satisfied.
The people do not fight with the officials, only the officials can fight with the officials. Let the Duke of Wen strangle the Fan family. As for the thick leg of the Duke of Wen, Zhong Wei did not want to hug it, but at the moment, he could not kick it away either. Early next year, Yu Chong, you must not let me down.
Yunxi Street was certainly not as desolate as Zhong Wei had described.
On the contrary, Yunxi Street was booming with shops, and many wealthy merchants came to Zhong Wei, saying that they would buy or rent, as long as they could have a place on Yunxi Street. Zhong Wei did not reply, and the appetites of the wealthy merchants grew higher and higher, saying that they were willing to pay any price.
Zhong Wei finally relented: they can rent or buy, but only on one condition: no one can take over the five shops on the Fan family side if they are ever sold!
The shopkeepers laughed: how would the Fan family ever sell? Totally agree!
Yunxi Street is not deserted, only the Fan family’s side is deserted, because the Fan family’s side is on the east side. Zhong Wei deliberately left several shops adjacent to the Fan family’s side vacant, or hung a sign saying they were closed. As a result, the reaction of customers walking past these shops is: Oh, this street is gone, go back.
The Fish and Chicken Square could also rely on the pleasure boats by the river to attract customers, but now in the winter, it will have to last until at least the end of next spring.
The Fan family was furious.
They had to admit that they were stuck with a bad investment. The longer they waited, the more they lost. After calculating the situation, they saw that they were only investing money, but not seeing any return. The Fan family was furious and went to find Zhong Wei to force him to open up those empty shops. Zhong Wei sighed, ‘No family has a mountain of gold and silver. If you have the financial resources, you might as well rent all of these shops.’
Fan Guanshi reported this to Fan Hou, who almost scolded him to death: ‘What? Rent those shops? You’re throwing away so much money and you want to keep throwing it away? You must be out of your mind!’
Fan Guanshi: ‘…’
After the court meeting, the military governor, for the first time, greeted Fan Hou and said he wanted to go to Yuxiangfang for a small banquet. Since the military governor was honouring them with his presence, they had to treat him well. After all, Fan Hou was only a little better than a nouveau riche, and they all had to curry favour with the powerful.
The governor spoke of the pomp and circumstance of the opening of Yunxi Street, and praised it as having given the capital a long face. Fan Hou smiled awkwardly. His face was long, and it was all the way to the Liu family. No one even remembered the person who paid the silver. The governor added that the following year would be the Lantern Festival, and at that time, the grand spectacle could be seen again.
Fan Hou winced: again? I can’t handle it! He couldn’t help complaining. The governor of the capital heard him out and said, ‘In that case, even if the business at the Fish and Fowl Restaurant is good, it won’t be able to fill this hole. But if the emperor wants to watch, we can’t spoil the show, can we?’
This was a wake-up call for Fan Hou: this was a bottomless pit—an old thief named Liu Qing had dug a hole that could never be filled!
The governor of the capital said, ‘Unlike the late emperor, the current emperor likes to watch this kind of spectacle.’
Fan Hou: ‘…’
The manager of the Fan family began to have the idea of selling the Fish and Bird Garden. Unfortunately, the major managers all hesitated, saying that they could not afford it, that it was not quite appropriate, that they did not have enough financial resources, and that Liu San would not let them buy it if he did not steam buns. The manager of the Fan family was furious: ‘You buy it now, I don’t believe Zhong Wei can do anything about it!’
The major managers hurriedly waved their hands: ‘No, no, I was just making an excuse. You Fan family are afraid of lighting so many lanterns, we are even more suffocated. Think about it: after the Lantern Festival comes the Dragon Boat Festival, after that the Mid-Autumn Festival, and after that the Lantern Festival again. Three times a year, who would be stupid enough to take over five shops – and they are still quiet shops at that.
A businessman knows exactly what he is doing when the abacus beads jingle: if Zhong Wei can do this to the Fan family, she can do it to anyone else. Everyone is in business to make money, and buying something that doesn’t make money is like waiting for bugs to hatch or raising them – it’s expensive and you can’t afford it.
It was also the Fan family’s misfortune.
In the harem, she was being pushed aside by concubines like Concubine Liu, and there were signs that Fan was losing favour. The imperial court was in turmoil. Rumours were spreading that the fourth prince was planning a rebellion, and a certain general seemed to be getting restless. The emperor was furious, and the way he looked at these two people was not right.
Fan Hou was also in a panic, trying to protect himself in the midst of the turmoil.
At this time, the chief steward of the Wenguogong Mansion approached Fan Hou and wanted to buy Yuxiangfang. ‘I heard that Lord Fan wants to sell Yuxiangfang and no one wants to take over.’ ‘Wenguogong just wants to take a look.’ ‘Don’t worry, Wenguogong is not a miser, we will pay whatever the other shopkeeper paid.’ ‘No way, if it’s lower than the price you paid, doesn’t that mean that Wenguogong is bullying people?’
You are bullying people! —You keep calling him ‘Minister Wen’, so how could we not sell? ! If you said no one would take over, would I dare to sell it to you at a high price? ! If you say you won’t sell it for less than you bought it, then I might as well not make any profit and just give it to you for free! Fan Hou held his breath and didn’t say a word, politely sending the big steward away.
Fan the steward came again to ask for silver. Officials have been coming to the Fish and Fly Shop to entertain on credit, all of them friends you have brought here, there is really no way.
Fan Hou slammed the table: sell it to the Minister of State at a fair price!
Fan Hou has been in the officialdom for a long time and is more or less considerate, knowing that he cannot afford to offend. He is not like Liu Qing, who is foolish enough to dare to disobey orders.
Fan Hou, on the contrary, let out a sigh of relief and comforted, ‘Lord Fan, it’s good to resell it. This is a bottomless pit. Just think about the Lantern Festival next year. The consumption is so great that my subordinate’s scalp is numb.’ Our family is not as wealthy as the Liu family, and he did not dare to say this out loud.
In December, there was a heavy snowfall.
In the mansion of the Wenguogong, the military governor slammed the deed on the table: ‘The Yuxiangfang is all mine now. Zhong Wei, you can do whatever you want with it. When will the Liu family’s silver arrive? I need it now!’
‘This is a bit too hasty, isn’t it?’ Zhong Wei was surprised.
‘There’s been a heavy snowfall, and we need to buy some cotton-padded clothes and quilts… Anyway, give me all the silver you have!’ The military governor was afraid of saying the wrong thing, so he mumbled an excuse and let it pass.
‘I really can’t spare any silver, but my father once built a temple in the west of the city, and he provided relief for the refugees.‘
’What do you mean?‘
’My father left a large sum of money there, hidden 300 metres east of the temple. Only the abbot and I know about it, and we can only move it together by mutual consent,’ Zhong Wei said mysteriously. ’If I tell the governor, the abbot will definitely not agree. This will cause a big fuss, and the refugees will not agree to give up the food in their mouths.’
‘You mean, I should go and rob it?‘
’No, you should ask the military governor to go and get it. The military governor can send someone to investigate,’ Zhong Wei said, giving a detailed address.
The next day, Zhong Wei sent someone to investigate the place, and the silver was already gone. The military governor was really a hypocrite, saying that he didn’t care about robbing it, but he was quicker than anyone else at robbing it. Is it really that urgent? Anyway, Yu Chong will investigate the reason why the Wenguogong urgently needs silver.
Zhong Wei and the abbot quickly reported to the authorities that a large sum of silver had been lost – what happened to the silver in the future had nothing to do with the Liu family, who were the victims.
This method was a bit of a detour.
Zhong Wei was forced to pay the money, and he could not directly resist, as the Minister of State was much more powerful than Fan Hou. However, he could not pay the money either, as the Minister of State was definitely against the emperor. If the matter was revealed in the future, it would be difficult to clear their names. In this way, the Liu family had nothing to do with the Minister of State.
As for the Yuxiangfang,
Zhong Wei said regretfully to the major shopkeepers, ‘Hey, I originally thought that no one would take over the Fan family, and I could pick up a bargain, but I didn’t expect the Marquis of Wen to buy it—neighbours with two shops, and I still have to help the Marquis of Wen look after the shop, it’s a big loss.’
In short, it was all for nothing, and the audience was satisfied: ‘See, the Liu family overestimated.’
Only then did Zhong Wei properly manage Yunxi Street.
Nowadays, Yunxi Street is mostly occupied by the Liu family’s own shops. If they want to stay in business for a long time, they must work together. Zhong Wei gradually let go of the leasing of the shops. At this time, there were also many problems, as there were not so many people renting the shops. Zhong Wei then told his subordinates to go to the stalls in the old market and say, ‘The Liu family is giving away money again, and Yunxi Street is offering free shop rentals.’
This attracted a lot of people.
The manager of the Liu family then said in an orderly manner: as long as you want to, you can settle down here. If business is not good, you don’t have to pay rent for one year and can just leave; but if you think business is good and are willing to rent for a long time, you have to pay rent every month or every six months.
Someone asked: what if there is a vendor who rents for one year and deliberately says that business is not good and leaves?
Someone answered on his behalf: if your business is good, are you willing to pay rent to make a profit year-round, or are you willing to leave in order to save a sum of rent?
The manager of the Liu family spoke again: ‘You guys figure it out if it’s such a good deal. Don’t blame me if you can’t grab it in time! This is a small business, and if you don’t have enough capital, you can borrow from the Liu family. And if you’re desperate to turn a profit, the Liu family is willing to invest, as long as you pay us a monthly dividend… Usury? Loan sharking? Go ahead and ask around, where can you find such low-interest loans! It’s like getting something for nothing! It’s all in black and white, and everyone can see it clearly. The Liu family doesn’t want to get sued either!
There was no major movement at the Fish Market.
Someone asked Zhong Wei for news, and Zhong Wei smiled and said, ‘The land was bought by the Marquis of Wen’s family, so how dare I ask questions? Just run the business as the Fan family did. Business is slow? Haha, millet porridge, take your time, no one can rush it.’
Yunxi Street was originally a place that Liu Qing had considered carefully and built with great effort; with Zhong Wei’s management skills, it soon flourished.
That was all in the future.
Fan Hou, however, was looking for a way to trip up the Liu family. It was the end of the year, and he persuaded the emperor to go on a night patrol on the Lantern Festival. The emperor was furious: ‘What’s the point of a night patrol at a time like this! There shouldn’t be any evening or night markets! The city gates should be closed at night, and gatherings of people are strictly forbidden.’
Fan Hou was dumbfounded: ‘Why?’
His colleagues quickly pulled him back and whispered, ‘Are you stupid? The situation is unstable nowadays, the fewer people there are, the better. On the Lantern Festival, with the hanging of lanterns and silver trees, aren’t you attracting thieves? If you still want the emperor to go on night patrols, aren’t you afraid of meeting an assassin or something… Ah, the emperor would rather close the city gates and keep outsiders out.
Fan Hou: ’Since when has the capital been so dangerous?’
A colleague whispered, ‘You really are out of the loop. The Fourth Prince, the Grand Tutor, and that General are all claiming to be ill and staying at home. Who knows if they are really sick or not? Sooner or later, the emperor will have to get rid of them. They can’t just sit there and do nothing.’
Of course, Zhong Wei didn’t hear this conversation.
But he knew the undercurrents of the capital like the back of his hand. The emperor had already taken action to get rid of the General What’s-his-name; the corrupt Grand Tutor had been stripped of his family and property almost the entire previous life. As for the Four Kings, they were not eliminated by the emperor until several years into the previous life, but this life, due to the Yu Chong incident, the Four Kings’ ties with the emperor had suddenly become much closer.
Yu Chong was aware of this and had already begun to drive a wedge between the two. Zhong Wei was not sure whether Yu Chong would succeed or not – in the previous life, when Liu Qing died, there had been no news of the prince. At least this meant that Yu Chong had not been caught by the emperor.
Zhong Wei did not intervene in Yu Chong’s plans. Back in the primitive tribe, he had helped Mugeyang seize the throne, and later Mugeyang himself created the civilization of Jiusa. There was no doubt about this man’s abilities.
Zhong Wei’s task was to extend his connection with the outside world as much as possible.
After repeated reorganisations, the Liu family was left with Yunxi Street in the capital. Given time, Yunxi Street would become a street for everyone, and the Liu family would just collect rent regularly every year. In this way, the Liu family would make less money, but the entire capital would become prosperous, and the merchants and people would become rich.
The Liu family’s business was scattered, which was much safer than in the previous life. After experiencing all kinds of things in the capital, Liu Qing has come to terms with it and no longer craves the emperor’s favour. Instead, he is single-mindedly developing the trade routes in the northwest. He never forgets to send Zhong Wei a letter every now and then, saying that wherever he goes, he benefits the people and lives a rather carefree life. Of course, there have been many dangerous things, but they are nothing compared to the dangers in the capital – the system will accept his remorse, and it is also compassionate that he did not begrudge his family’s wealth and helped countless people in his life.
Zhong Wei placed the letter in a drawer and watched the snowflakes dance.
Tomorrow was New Year’s Eve.
The Liu family was very quiet, as most of the family members had either left with Liu Da or Liu Qing. Liu Er was stranded in Lianzhou, and there had been a mishap when he was picking up the Ninth Prince; the escort team had not returned. The servants knew that Zhong Wei did not like luxury, so everything was kept simple this year.
Zhong Wei wrapped up in a white fur coat, stepped on the snowy road, and went straight to Guangming Temple halfway up the mountain.
There were no pilgrims in the temple. Zhong Wei walked to a small pond in the temple and saw a white lotus in the pond, blooming beautifully in the snow. The accompanying abbot praised, ‘The jade lotus sent by Master Liu is not afraid of the harsh winter and is still blooming in the snow. It is truly a spectacle. Could it be that it is bathed in the fragrance of the Buddha?’
Zhong Wei just smiled.
This lovely white lotus is a symbol of the task in this life. It seems to be worried that Zhong Wei won’t be able to find it, and it appeared on the first day of his journey. In the past, Zhong Wei would always pay special attention to the progress of the task, and would be worried when he couldn’t find the task object.
Now it’s different. Zhong Wei doesn’t want to see them. He just wants to live today like an ordinary person, no matter what tomorrow brings.
Zhong Wei wants to stay in a world where he is.
The road up the mountain was covered in snow. Seeing this, Zhong Wei and his servant stayed at Guangming Temple. The snow continued to fall without let-up, and so it was, after the first day of the lunar year, after the fifth day of the lunar year, after the seventh day of the lunar year, until the Lantern Festival. The snow did not let up on the Lantern Festival either. Every day, Zhong Wei stood on the flat ground in front of the temple, leaning over the railing and looking down, as the snow spread out for thousands of li.
On the 16th day of the first lunar month, there was not a breath of wind, and the sun was shining brightly.
Basking in the warm sunshine, Zhong Wei fell asleep without realising it. She lay on her side in a rattan chair, her hands covering her forehead, and her wide sleeves covering her eyes. She felt so warm, almost as if the snow was melting from the heat.
It was so warm that she was sweating.
Half asleep, Zhong Wei suddenly felt a coolness on her lips. She opened her eyes: dark eyes, black eyelashes, a smile, very close. Zhong Wei suddenly felt breathless, then curved the corners of her mouth, and without hesitation, slightly lifted her lips.
Sweet, warm, infatuated, a kiss that wouldn’t stop.
‘Why did you come?’
‘Do you know how worried I was?’ Yu Chong tried hard to put on a stern face, but his eyes were shining.
‘…‘
’I’ve done everything I said I would, but unfortunately you weren’t here, and my dragon throne was half empty… I know you’re here, but I’m still very worried, very worried, as if you’ll suddenly leave.’ Yu Chong dragged Zhong Wei into his arms, and their ears and cheeks rubbed together, and he even sounded a little bit like he was crying.
Zhong Wei pulled Yu Chong’s face over with one hand.
Yu Chong refused to let him see, and rubbed his face against the nape of Zhong Wei’s neck. Zhong Wei laughed and kissed the cool ear lobe: ‘Are you that worried? Sorry, let me tell you a story. A long time ago, there was a tribe called Jiusa…’
…
This dynasty lasted for a long time, and the most prosperous time was when Yu Chong was in power. The sky was open to the nine heavens, and all countries came to pay homage. In particular, the prosperity of trade in those days left future generations speechless with admiration. The Liu family was a representative of the prosperity of this era and has become a byword for future generations of wealthy people.
Liu Wei, the third son of Liu, inherited his father’s talent and opened up trade in all directions for the Yu Chong dynasty. What is even more praiseworthy is that he repeatedly squandered his family’s wealth, but he could not stop the influx of wealth. Countless official and unofficial histories record his extraordinary talent.
Zhong Wei opened his eyes.
This life has been so full of sweetness. For the first time, Zhong Wei’s name appeared in the virtual world. Where had that person gone again? No matter where, they would reunite, and Zhong Wei’s heart was full of anticipation. The boundless, azure system shimmered in the sunlight, and for the first time, it felt warm.
The next life is even more exciting.
☆、Big Brother’s Lover [1]

[Chapter 48]
‘Mr. Zhong, if you don’t come out, the guys outside are going to come barging in!’
‘Just a moment!’
Zhong Wei quickly picked out some clothes that were sturdy and tear-resistant.
Because it might go into a yellow|violent plot.
He didn’t really want to comment on this kind of thing, ‘the male protagonist who travels back in time and becomes a little yellow text.’
A few minutes ago, as soon as he opened his eyes, he was lying in bed, his hand resting somewhere. For a split second, he felt a sense of emptiness in his heart, as if the world had come to an end. Outside, there was a lot of noise, and he didn’t know what they were doing. Zhong Wei quickly got up, went into the bathroom to take a shower, and skillfully read the task.
This time, what appeared on the iris was not a small movie, but a book:
‘Big Brother’s Underground Lover.”
The title of the book already gives off an ominous vibe. Sure enough, after three lines, the supposedly abstinent protagonist is pounced on, followed by a series of unintelligible moans and groans and an indescribable plot.
There’s no doubt about it, it’s a little yellow article.
Zhong Wei read it with relish.
The boss was imprisoned for some reason and entrusted his company and lover to four former subordinates.
—Well, they had to weave their own green hats.
The lover is young, beautiful, and outwardly abstinent, and the opening scene is of her engaging in self-indulgence in her room.
—That’s right, it just happened.
The four subordinates met up and were shocked when they opened the door.
—And then it was all indescribable.
In short, it was the normal operation of various little yellow texts. The four younger brothers basically had no lines, they just came and did it. There were 36 positions in all, and the older brother’s lover’s line throughout was a reluctant ‘no’. Zhong Wei flipped through dozens of pages quickly, her adrenaline soaring. She was wondering what other tricks there were to use when suddenly a line popped up:
“The older brother was released after serving his sentence.’
Oh yes, I forgot about Big Brother, the cuckold, who only appeared once at the beginning.
‘…Big Brother froze for a moment, then angrily picked up the knife and hacked at the naked bodies. In no time, there was a pool of blood. After venting his anger, Big Brother gasped for breath, threw down the knife, and resolutely walked towards the prison again!’
What the hell? Shouldn’t Big Brother have joined in with a gnashing of teeth and then had a good laugh?
No, no, you can’t have a plot in a good little erotic story!
Zhong Wei was dumbfounded.
Knock, knock, knock –
‘Mr Zhong, the guests are waiting in the living room!’
‘…Tell them to wait a moment.’
Hearing the butler’s urging, Zhong Wei remembered his business. As an enforcer of the ‘judgment system’, of course he had to save people who had made mistakes. In this little yellow article, everyone was ecstatic with lust and desire, and no one was seen as wanting to be saved. Zhong Wei noticed that when the protagonist learned that his brother was coming back, he had a few lines of psychological activity: ‘…I deeply regret indulging in carnal desires and forgetting that there are still ideals in life that I have not experienced, and there are still people I should love that I have not loved.’
No, what you should most regret is being born in a light novel.
It has nothing to do with life’s ideals.
Zhong Wei glanced at the person in the mirror.
What ‘ascetic and vaguely dissatisfied face’? This is clearly his original face.
The second dimension has become the third.
You can’t be too picky.
Zhong Wei opened the wardrobe and picked out a beige checked shirt and a pair of trousers. She pulled them on and made sure they were of good quality before making sure that the quality was good—why did she care so much about clothes? Because in the article, the protagonist always inexplicably burst into flames.
She drank some water, her clothes got wet, and she was pounced on.
Walking, the clothes tear, and she is tackled.
Talking to someone, the wind blows, the clothes open, and without a doubt, she is tackled again.
Although there is no logic to the little yellow text, clothes are meant to be taken off, and standing is meant to be tackled, Zhong Wei still inexplicably cares a lot. There are no tools in the bedroom, just a mobile phone.
The protagonist, who is being coerced, never seems to have thought about ‘calling the police.’
The noise in the living room is louder.
Zhong Wei listened intently.
From the voices, tone of voice and personalities of these men, and the descriptions in the novella, she could vaguely tell that they were Lao San and Lao Si.
‘Why aren’t they coming out yet?’
‘Big Brother’s people told you to wait a little longer, so what?’
‘Big Brother never said anything about this.’
‘They’re new.’
“Who are you trying to fool? Big Brother clearly trusts him by handing over the company to him.’
Zhong Wei Xin said: Big Brother is just looking for an excuse to let you guys meet him. The whole thing is empty talk. The book has never been mentioned a second time. Zhong Wei decided not to go out. There were two wolves outside. The book described them as ‘young and strong,’ with sperm in their brains, able to fuck the sky and the earth. She didn’t know what reality was like.
Before she figured out her strength, she didn’t want to face it head-on.
Yes, she could escape.
Zhong Wei pushed open the window. He was delighted to see that the four-storey house was about as difficult as 0. Zhong Wei slid down the bed sheet to the third floor, when suddenly he felt a chill in his chest – his button had opened. As expected, the more you worry about something, the more likely it is to happen. Zhong Wei continued sliding down, when suddenly he came to a stop.
His shirt had become caught on a hook sticking out from the second floor.
Zhong Wei tugged.
Ssshh –
her shirt was completely open.
Zhong Wei couldn’t care less, so she jumped down with a thud. Her ankle felt a sharp pain as if it had been cut by something, and it turned out to be a rose thorn. Zhong Wei huddled uncomfortably in the flowers and half-squatted to fix her shirt, when she suddenly heard a clear voice.
‘Are you Big Brother’s lover?’
‘Huh?’
Zhong Wei turned around and saw a man leaning against the outer wall, watching her with interest. He was in his 20s, wearing a navy blue shirt and blue jeans, with a graduated mohawk hairstyle and a black stud in his right ear. He was young, handsome and carefree.
He was the fifth brother, Mu Wuhao.
He was pretty much as described in the book.
Zhong Wei’s mind reflexively conjured up scenarios of Mu Wuhao and the protagonist: hot spring play, bathroom play, upside-down hook play… Stop it!
Mu Wuhao provokes a laugh: ‘You’re very good-looking, no wonder you charmed the eldest brother.’
Zhong Wei is speechless: ‘Stop!’
Mu Wuhao stops, but his eyes are unashamedly surveying Zhong Wei, unobstructed, from top to bottom, his eyes ablaze.
‘What’s your name, sister-in-law?’
‘Zhong Wei.’
‘I’m Mu Wuhao, fifth in line. I’ll call you Brother Wei.’
“Suit yourself.’
‘Standing here is no good. Let’s go upstairs and talk about business. We’re all busy.”
Business? Reality is so good!
Everyone can remember why they came.
In the book, there is a mention at the beginning that “the eldest brother handed over the company to his lover and asked his brothers to take care of him during the day.” In the middle, due to the needs of the plot, they went to the office once, but apart from that, there was no more business in the company. In fact, these people came here to discuss company affairs.
The book doesn’t go into detail about what happened in the company.
It only mentioned that the protagonist was the deputy general manager.
At this time, a doubtful voice came from the fourth floor: ‘Sister-in-law, why are you running? We’re not going to eat you.’ Within two minutes, Zhong Wei was surrounded by three people: the third was a demon, the fourth was sickly, and the fifth was uninhibited… These types of characters are really simple and easy to distinguish. Fortunately, they didn’t pounce on her as soon as they met.
It was broad daylight.
If they dared to pounce, Zhong Wei would have to call the police.
Zhong Wei felt slightly relieved: ‘Your eldest brother should have already told you everything. You are all shareholders, so how do you want to handle the company?’ The men had played together since childhood, and when they grew up, they pooled their resources to set up the company. The eldest and second eldest managed the company, while the others just received their dividends. Zhong Wei threw the problem out there and let them solve it themselves.
The three men discussed it for a while.
Mu Wuhao said, ‘The three of us only care about the dividends and don’t care about running the company. It’s always been the eldest brother and the second eldest brother who have been in charge. How about this…where is the second eldest brother? Hasn’t he arrived yet?’
While they were talking, one of them came out.
He was the second eldest brother, An Feng.
An Feng had a gloomy personality, with a pair of deep, penetrating hawk-like eyes that looked at people with a hook. He was responsible for all the painful and bloody scenes in the book.
As soon as Zhong Wei saw him, her bones felt as if they were being pierced by the wind, and they ached faintly.
☆, Big Brother’s Lover [2]

[Chapter 49]
An Feng: ‘In the past, Big Brother was a hands-off boss who rarely got involved in things. It was my wife and I who took care of everything. I think that’s pretty good. Don’t worry about it. If there’s anything big in the future, just call the brothers over to help.’
He was the second oldest, and had the bearing of an older brother. The three of them nodded in agreement.
That was surprisingly easygoing.
There’s no sibling rivalry over shares or anything like that?
Seeing that the three were almost done with their discussion, Zhong Wei took the opportunity to say that if there was nothing else, he would go to the company, as there was an important meeting waiting for him to preside over. An Feng glanced at him and said, ‘Okay, let’s go together.’ Zhong Wei thought to himself, if the four of them go together, he would be afraid, but if it’s just An Feng, what’s there to be afraid of?
Once they were gone,
The remaining three brothers immediately started gossiping.
The youngest brother had the best information: ‘Guess why An Feng followed them? Because they used to be a couple. When the eldest brother saw him, he liked him a lot, so An Feng gave him to the eldest brother. Gee, do you think the eldest brother is in now, will An Feng have any thoughts, like a revival of old feelings or something!’
Mu Wuhao was shocked: ‘Is there such a thing?’
Just take Zhong Wei as an example.
He was sitting in An Feng’s car, and he took a few calls from the company on the side.
The company’s nonsense that was never written in the book: contracts, approvals, and surprise inspections by the tax bureau, all had to be handled by Zhong Wei. After finally finishing up, and hanging up the phone, Zhong Wei leaned back in his seat and felt that something was wrong.
He turned his head and locked eyes with An Feng, and saw a pair of eagle eyes looking gloomy.
Zhong Wei felt that something was wrong.
In the rush just now, he had skimmed through the book and memorised a number of strange positions, but hadn’t studied the details carefully. Now that he had some time, he didn’t want to read it in front of An Feng – after all, it was a little yellow book, and he had a sense of shame, and reading it would make him react.
An Feng spoke up, ‘What are your plans?’
‘What?’
“Big Brother was sentenced to 20 years, and he definitely won’t be able to get out. What I mean is that let’s make up.’
Zhong Wei suddenly remembered that it was mentioned in the book that An Feng was the protagonist’s ex-boyfriend, and that he had no choice but to deliver the book to the protagonist himself. However, he resented the protagonist for not resisting, and so he was full of hatred in his love for her, and was especially cruel to her in the matter of X.
Zhong Wei laughed lightly and got into character in a second: ‘When you sent me away, did you ever think about how I felt?’
‘You know how ruthless my brother is. I had no choice.‘
’I only know that what’s done is done.‘
’You don’t want to?”
Zhong Wei said lightly, “How stupid was I to believe someone who would easily give me away? It’s a pit, and one fall is enough.”
Squeak-squeak-
The harsh sound of brakes made Zhong Wei almost crash into the windshield.
An Feng jumped out of the car, opened the passenger door, and pulled Zhong Wei off the car like a quilt. Zhong Wei was furious and fought back angrily, but she found that her fists were not strong enough and was thrown into the bushes by An Feng in a few seconds.
The protagonist in the book is soft and can be bullied.
The difference in strength is like heaven and earth between him and those wolves.
Zhong Wei had just arrived in a new world, and before she had time to adjust, the plot began to unfold. This was great, and she was immediately pinned to the ground. With a hiss, her shirt was torn in half, and her legs felt a cool sensation, just like a lamb about to be slaughtered – I remember, there was this part in the book, where they played in the bushes, and at the end the protagonist was covered in blood and had injuries all over his back.
Zhong Wei had never felt so suffocated.
He kicked with all his might.
An Feng simply sat on him, panting, ‘You cried when we broke up, but now you’re crying for someone else!’
Zhong Wei couldn’t move, furious, ‘Are you a man! Sending your lover away is cowardly and incompetent. Now that my brother has gone in, you want to take her back, what kind of integrity do you have!’
An Feng was furious: ‘I’ll teach you to be stubborn!’
An Feng tore off his belt and whipped Zhong Wei with it.
Instinctively, Zhong Wei closed his eyes.
But the belt did not land on Zhong Wei’s body.
Zhong Wei opened his eyes and saw an additional person in front of him: Mu Wu Hao. In theory, Zhong Wei should be grateful, but he immediately remembered that in the original book, in the second half of the bushes, Mu Wuhao also participated and together with An Feng, he made the protagonist suffer enough—these two people are birds of a feather.
They are not saviors at all.
Zhong Wei was really about to despair when Mu Wuhao grabbed An Feng’s belt with his hand and said, ‘Brother, this is our sister-in-law, you can’t do this as a big brother.’
‘You don’t know, he was originally my man!‘ An Feng retorted.
’But he is still Big Brother’s man.‘
’Big Brother is going in!‘
Mu Wu Hao paused, and picked up his smile: “That’s reasonable, Big Brother is going in, and Brother Wei will be free.”
Zhong Wei: What does this bastard want?
An Feng’s mind was turning quickly: “You fancy him too, you want…”
Mu Wu Hao simply admitted: “Yes!”
’Together?’
‘Hahahaha,’ Mu Wuhao suddenly burst out laughing.
Just as Zhong Wei’s heartstrings were reaching the back of his throat, Mu Wuhao stopped laughing and said, “Who Brother Wei belongs to is for Brother Wei to decide.”
Zhong Wei had already risen to his feet and said coldly, “I’m your big brother’s man!”
Mu Wuhao shrugged his shoulders and said, “You heard it, he’s still our big sister-in-law.”
An Feng was furious and said, ’Get out of the way!’
The two men started fighting as soon as they disagreed. Mu Wuhao dodged left and right, cleverly blocking An Feng. Zhong Wei took the opportunity to escape, ran up to a taxi, and drove off. Mu Wuhao stopped fighting, and An Feng, without further ado, angrily came to the car and kicked the wheel hard to vent his anger.
An Feng looked a bit pitiful like this.
Mu Wuhao couldn’t help but feel sympathy for him: ‘I can see that you really like him, so why did you give him away in the first place?’
An Feng glared at him fiercely: ‘Do you think I wanted to? It was Big Brother who forced me to.’
‘I think you’re immoral.’
‘Why?’
‘If you like someone, you shouldn’t give them away, and once you’ve given them away, you shouldn’t force them. You were being unkind to him, and you were being immoral to Big Brother.’ Mu Wuhao raised his hands, ‘Fine, I won’t say anything else, I’m leaving!’
Just like Zhong Wei.
The first thing he did was buy a dagger and order a batch of clothes that were guaranteed to be of the highest quality. In the afternoon, he replaced all the locks with smart locks, armoured the doors with anti-theft doors, hired a security company to hire a group of bodyguards, and incidentally asked the butler to keep a few large dogs. All in all, he was armed to the teeth.
He was tired at the end of the day.
He didn’t rest even when he lay on the bed, and he started reading ‘My Big Brother’s Underground Lover.’
It was really a painful, shameful, and happy thing. Zhong Wei really wanted to simply study the storyline and details, but the result was that the more detailed he studied it, the more he indulged in the pleasure. What could he do? He was a man himself—Zhong Wei comforted himself, opened the closet, and found all kinds of unopened tools.
The abstinent but unsatisfied protagonist has only failed to abstain.
‘Zhong Wei, are you asleep?’ On the other end, Mu Wuhao’s voice was lazy.
‘Is there something the matter?’

☆、Big Brother’s Lover [3

[Chapter 50]
Zhong Wei thought, if Mu Wuhao dares to ask to go out to dinner or something, he will immediately record it and let his brother manage it. If his brother can’t manage it, he will let the police manage it. If the police can’t manage it, he will expose it on the internet and let public opinion manage it. He just doesn’t believe that he can’t control these brats.
Unexpectedly, Mu Wuhao suddenly asked very formally, ‘Are you afraid of retaliation now that your brother is in jail?’
“Retaliation?’
‘Big Brother offended a lot of people a few years ago, so there may be enemies who will take advantage of the situation to throw stones at him.‘
’Enemies?”
Zhong Wei took the opportunity to find out a little about Big Brother’s background. It turned out that in his early years, Big Brother was the boss of the street, and whenever he went out, he was accompanied by a group of underlings. After the anti-triad campaign, he stopped being bossy and opened this construction company. Big Brother has a fearless style of his own. In the face of competition, he always causes trouble, making many people hate him and he has a lot of enemies.
‘If you run into trouble, just let me know, I’ll take care of it!‘ Mu Wuhao said confidently.
’Thanks!‘
’Well, I’ll stop by the company tomorrow.‘
’You’re coming to the company?‘
’Why are you so surprised? I want to enjoy the satisfaction of having recognised talent.”
In the original book, Mu Wuhao was the second generation of a genius. Reality has filled out this setting, making him the son of a venture capitalist. When he was 15, he identified the company that was then teetering due to a lack of money, and immediately made an equity investment. Sure enough, the company soared, and he made a fortune.
‘What is your purpose?’ Zhong Wei asked bluntly.
‘Of course it’s to find a way to increase the value of the company, and ideally get it listed. What other purpose could I have?’ Mu Wuhao was very aggrieved.
—Liar!
—The people in the little yellow book can’t be so serious!
The next day, the weather was clear. Zhong Wei started purifying his body early in the morning to increase his strength, so that he wouldn’t be knocked unconscious at the slightest provocation. After a few tens of minutes, he was exhausted and sweaty, and felt even more weak. He couldn’t understand why. In the past, after purification, his strength would increase significantly, after all, he had a cheat.
With work hours approaching, he chose a black shirt to wear, which was absolutely sturdy and could not be torn even with the greatest of effort.
The buttons were fastened more tightly than the last.
As he entered the office, his female assistant came up to him.
‘Mr Zhong, the general manager of the venture capital firm, Mr Mu, is here and is in the office.’
‘I know.’
‘There’s something on your shirt, I’ll get it off for you,’ the assistant said without thinking, and she flicked Zhong Wei’s collar.
With a pop, the top button popped open.
The curve of his slender neck was revealed.
Zhong Wei was momentarily stunned, reached up and buttoned it up again, covering it up tightly once more. He stood straight and his attire was extremely formal, giving off a solemn air that could only be admired from afar. However, there was a hint of inexplicable beauty in the moment just now.
The assistant was embarrassed: ‘I’m sorry, I was so careless.’
Zhong Wei: ‘Never mind, you can go with me.’
The assistant was overjoyed and quickly followed a few steps behind, not knowing that Zhong Wei had taken him as a bodyguard. Zhong Wei had a plan. He was good at fighting in any world, but he was out of his league here, because it was so strange. A button could be undone, and it was hard to guarantee that clothes would not burst open while chatting. With an honest assistant, there would always be fewer strange things.
With this feeling, Zhong Wei pushed open the door to the meeting room.
An Feng and Mu Wuhao were both looking at the report.
An Feng glanced at the assistant and said, ‘There’s nothing here, you can go.’
Zhong Wei said, ‘We need her to take notes.’
An Feng said, ‘There’s nothing to take notes on.’
But there was. According to the plot development of the original book, there was a long section of office play here. Zhong Wei silently insisted, telling the assistant to pour water and coffee at the same time, so that she would never be left alone.
At this point, Mu Wuhao spoke up: ‘Brother Wei, you’ve come at the right time, I don’t really understand these figures.’
The report was an analysis of the first half-year’s performance.
There had been a slight decline.
Mu Wuhao poked at a few data analyses and said, ‘There are obvious inconsistencies here, contradictions, you should verify it again.’
Zhong Wei looked at it again and again, and it really wasn’t right.
Was Mu Wuhao really here to look at the data?
Zhong Wei has travelled many worlds and is very comfortable handling these kinds of things. He concentrated on sorting through the data and called the CFO. The CFO was dumbfounded by the questions and was sweating profusely. He kept saying that he would verify it right away. Just as Zhong Wei let the person go, he turned his head and saw Mu Wuhao sitting next to him.
They were very close together, and Mu Wuhao’s eyes were burning.
Zhong Wei was startled, and the pen in her hand fell to the floor, bouncing a few times before rolling under the table.
‘What are you thinking about, Wei?’ Mu Wuhao leaned over to pick it up, and his hand went inside, accidentally brushing against Zhong Wei’s ankle. At that moment, Zhong Wei’s foot suddenly went numb, and she couldn’t move it.
What kind of strange reaction is this?
—After cleansing the body, why does it still feel numb and weak like the protagonist?
Zhong Wei moved a little further away without changing her expression. Mu Wuhao saw this and deliberately moved closer, asking questions and breathing so hotly that he could feel it on Zhong Wei’s face. Zhong Wei could no longer bear it and took the succulent cactus on the table and placed it between the two of them.
‘What’s this for?’
“This is a smart cactus with a strange function.’
‘What function?‘
’You can investigate it.‘
Mu Wuhao curiously moved over to take a look. The fleshy cactus, with its long spines, made a dent with each pinch, but there was nothing special about it. After half a day of fiddling with it, he gave up.
’Brother Wei, what exactly is the strange function?‘
’It makes people quiet.‘
’……puff.’
By this time, Zhong Wei had already found the loophole in the report and knew that it was most likely falsified. He wanted to go and question the person in charge. As soon as he left the office, An Feng followed him and dragged him into the tea room. Zhong Wei was caught off guard and was pushed into a corner. In his anger, he found that his hands had no strength.
Zhong Wei was angry and impatient: ‘What do you want!’
An Feng: ‘Are you stupid?’
An Feng put his hands on the sides to hold him in the middle. His face was dark: ‘Of course I know there’s something wrong with this report. He’s the investor, doing nothing but collecting dividends. If I don’t do something, he’ll take all the money.’
‘Get out of the way!‘ Zhong Wei was furious.
’You’re still so naive,’ An Feng reached out to touch his face.
Zhong Wei used all his strength to fiercely kick him in the groin. An Feng let out a cry, covered something, and stumbled back. With a creak, the door opened, and Mu Wuhao said with a “naive” smile, ’Second brother, I want to drink the coffee you had last time!’
An Feng gritted his teeth: ‘…you just wait!’
As soon as he had left, Mu Wuhao came over leisurely with his hands in his pockets, a smile curving the corner of his mouth.
‘Brother Wei, your shirt is open!’
‘…’
—Both collar bones cleanly exposed.
—Can this problem with his shirt ever be fixed?
‘Brother Wei, are you afraid of me? Why do you start shaking when I get close?’
‘…’”I’m young Parkinson’s!’
‘You need to get treatment early.‘ Mu Wuhao suddenly burst out laughing, “Brother Wei, I know what you’re thinking, are you afraid I’ll do something to you? Haha, you’re over-conscious. You’re not bad looking, but I’m a man of integrity!”
No, you’re not.
If I get my books out, I can embarrass you to death.
’Brother Wei, if you don’t want to see An Feng, I have a solution.‘
’What solution?’
☆、Big Brother’s Lover [4]

[Chapter 51]
‘What’s the solution?’
‘Stay with me!’
‘You can’t expect me to believe that coming from a dog’s mouth.’ Zhong Wei sneered, turned around, and slammed his hand on the table. The glass of water fell, and Zhong Wei was unable to move quickly enough to avoid getting his pants wet. He was speechless for a long time.
Mu Wuhao laughed: ‘Brother Wei, you look so scared. Could I be such a beast?’
‘You’d better not!’
‘But don’t blame me for thinking crazy thoughts. You look so righteous, why do you always seduce me?’ After saying that, Mu Wuhao pointed at Zhong Wei’s clothes.
“……The quality of this clothes is really bad.’
Zhong Wei calmly buttoned up his shirt and decided in a second: from now on, he would wear T-shirts! Without buttons, he would see what other problems there were! If pushed, he would become a diver or a swimming coach, where everyone would be naked and unashamed, and he would never have to worry about this stupid shirt again!
‘Let me wipe it off for you!’ Mu Wuhao casually pulled a square of tissue paper and walked over.
Zhong Wei hurriedly shook his hand off: ‘No!’
Mu Wuhao laughed, ‘Brother Wei, I was just joking with you. You’re Big Brother’s man, and I always remember that. I’m serious about what I said about Second Brother. I just read the report, and your company plans to open a branch office in the neighbouring city. At that time, if you apply to be transferred there to take charge, won’t that get rid of the problem?’
This is a good method.
It doesn’t harm anyone, it’s beneficial to breaking them up one by one, and it’s easier than dealing with all four at once.
An Feng returned with a cup of coffee in his hand. As soon as he heard about the branch office, he understood what was meant. He said with a smile, ‘A branch office? Just send a vice president there. We’ll talk about this later.’
They were both old foxes.
Zhong Wei left the place of conflict under the pretext of settling company affairs.
It took time to sort out the various trivial matters as she moved from the second dimension to the third. Mu Wuhao came over to take a look after a while, without saying much, and just watched him busy with a pair of eyes. At first Zhong Wei was on her guard, but then she noticed that the guy kept his distance at about a metre, so he didn’t seem to be a threat. So she let it go and just chased him away like a fly.
When Mu Wuhao left, he leaned against the doorframe and said plaintively, ‘I always feel like I’ve come here with some kind of mission, I shouldn’t just leave like this!’
Zhong Wei: Don’t even think about it!
As soon as Mu Wuhao left,
An Feng came in.
‘Ning, what are you busy with?’
“Division of labour.’
Zhong Wei was going through things and didn’t pay attention. When she reacted to the nature of the world and her own identity, the office door had already closed. Zhong Wei’s heart immediately rose, looking at the tools at hand: laptop, mouse, water glass—none of them could be used to fight!
An Feng supported himself on the desk with both hands and pressed down with all his might: ‘Ning, did you forget something?’
‘Ning’ is the name of the original protagonist. Zhong Wei: ‘What do you mean?’
“Our goal!’
‘Purpose?‘
’It was wrong of me to give you to my brother. But I promised you: just one year, and then I’d take you back!’ An Feng tried to grab Zhong Wei’s hand, but she shook it off. “Now I’ve done it, what more do you want?”
Can you just give someone away?
Zhong Wei realised something: “Did you put my brother in jail?”
An Feng sneered: ’He deserved it, sooner or later he would go in.’
It’s a dog-eat-dog world, and I don’t want to comment. However, Zhong Wei thought about it and had always been confused about the purpose of coming to this world, who to save, and why. In his opinion, the people in the books were all very happy and didn’t need to be saved at all—maybe this was a breakthrough.
An Feng realised that he had let slip something and said firmly, ‘No matter what, you’re free, and you’re mine!’
Zhong Wei sneered, ‘Why? Did my parents put their seals on it or did the household register?’
‘Don’t be ungrateful!‘
’Ha, laughable, you still want to take by force?‘
An Feng ignored and took a step forward.
Zhong Wei drew a dagger and said coldly, “An Feng, I’m warning you for the last time, don’t come near me casually. Otherwise, if something happens, it won’t look good for anyone!”
’You’ve got some nerve, daring to threaten even me? Believe it or not, I’ll sue you for attempted murder!’
‘Look carefully, this is a video!‘
Yes, the dagger is a recording device, not for killing, but for recording the process of Zhong Wei being threatened. Zhong Wei is calm, methodical, and her eyes show no trace of emotion, so An Feng does not dare to be too presumptuous.
’Ah Wei, you’ve changed.‘
’Huh.”
An Feng suddenly laughed as he left: ’Ah Wei, do I need to remind you Those things were done by me with you. Now you want to be clean and be an innocent lover. I’m telling you, no way!”
With a bang, the person left and the door closed.
Zhong Wei was sweating profusely.
It was only after a while that she felt the air become clearer. What did An Feng mean? What had the protagonist done? There was nothing in her memory. Zhong Wei immediately read the original book and searched through a bunch of uh-uhs and ah-ahs for a possible plot. Perhaps it was because she had read it twice, but she felt a little numb. After slightly stiffening up slightly to show a little respect – and wasting a few sheets of toilet paper – she still couldn’t find a clue.
Zhong Wei had no choice but to investigate on her own.
Fortunately, she was well-versed after having been through N worlds.
She found a private detective agency and investigated the inside story of her brother going to jail and what An Feng had done before and after her brother went to jail. The private detective was very helpful and showed him dozens of pages the next day.
My brother liked to gamble and frequented dubious places. That day, he was in an arcade and, after losing a lot of money, he became agitated. Somehow he got into an argument with a young man, and in a fit of rage, he picked up a weapon and seriously injured the other man. Coincidentally, there was a crackdown on crime, and he was taken away and sentenced.
Before my brother’s accident, An Feng was with the protagonist Ning.
The two of them left the company together, got into the car, and went straight to the game arcade. They were inside for about three minutes when the older brother started arguing with the young man, which triggered the events that followed. After the older brother was taken away, the two of them also came out of the crowd.
Zhong Wei was shocked:
Did these two witness everything? Maybe they even set this up?
This is too complicated for a little yellow article.
At noon, Zhong Wei went to the game centre to have a look around. There were quite a few games that were actually gambling under the guise of entertainment. Zhong Wei bought 1,000 game coins and had a look around. He immediately fell in love with the VR racing game. As soon as he got in, he felt a gust of wind pass by, and he felt very comfortable and carefree.
‘After I get out, I’ll buy a racing car and have some fun,’ Zhong Wei thought.
After driving for ten minutes, he lost and the game coins disappeared in the blink of an eye.
Zhong Wei took off her glasses and prepared to buy some more, when someone reached over and threw a dozen coins at him, clinking noisily: ‘Join me!’ It was Mu Wuhao. Wearing a bright yellow tracksuit, Mu Wuhao showed off his long, slender legs, and his handsome face looked so young it could burst into flames.
‘Racing’ hit the accelerator and flew out.
The wind whips by, and the hair of both men flies up.
A sense of long-lost familiarity, as if they have unexpectedly met, as if they have reunited after a long separation, the steering wheel feels particularly solid in his hands. The road gets steeper and steeper, the sharp turns get bigger and bigger, Zhong Wei drives faster and faster, his adrenaline soaring – it’s so familiar, even the bright yellow next to him is very familiar.
‘Bang!”
The car flew up, spun, landed, and came to a sudden stop, raising countless flying dust. Zhong Wei took off his VR glasses, his chest rising and falling violently, not knowing what day it was. Suddenly, the person next to him leaned over, put his arms around his waist, and kissed him.
The touch of his lips sent a tingling sensation through his body.

 

☆、Big Brother’s Lover [5

[Chapter 52]
Reacting, Zhong Wei desperately broke free and slapped him without warning. Mu Wuhao dodged quickly, blocking his face first, and the palm wind brushed past without hitting him, revealing a cunning smile between his fingers. Zhong Wei was so angry that his eyes were burning and his face was white.
‘That, I didn’t mean it,’ Mu Wuhao quickly apologized.
“How do you still want to mean it!’
‘I couldn’t help it! I really didn’t mean to do anything to you! Somehow it just happened!’ Mu Wuhao was explaining his side of the story while guarding against him punching him again.
There is a game play here in the original book, and the car X wearing VR glasses is still shaking. However, the original book is An Feng, and the reality has become Mu Wuhao. So, is this sudden reaction of Mu Wuhao’s because of the plot and he had no choice? Zhong Wei got off the “racing car” with doubts.
Mu Wuhao caught up with her and said softly, ‘Wei, don’t be angry, I really didn’t mean it, I swear to God.’
‘Tell me what happened just now?’
Mu Wuhao stammered and told her what had happened. He was just wandering around doing nothing, and he happened to meet An Feng at the entrance to the game centre. The two had a quarrel and parted on bad terms. He didn’t know what had made him snap, but suddenly he really wanted to come in and have some fun. As a result, he ran into Zhong Wei. During the car race, the adrenaline was pumping, and he suddenly felt that Zhong Wei, who was blushing, was extremely sexy and attractive.
He kissed her on the spot. Mu Wuhao looked cool on the outside, but when he was obedient, he was like a little puppy, with very clear peach blossom eyes. Although Zhong Wei always felt that something was wrong, she decided to trust him for now.
Zhong Wei pressed her temple and walked out of the entertainment city: ‘Don’t do that again!’
Mu Wuhao obediently said, ‘Yes.’
‘Why are you following me?’
‘I want to tell you that something is not right with my brother. I have specially studied your company’s financial statements and found that something has been wrong for about half a year.’ Mu Wuhao thought for a while and said, ‘My brother said that he hasn’t been in charge for the past six months, and that you and An Feng have been in charge.’
Judging from the company’s business, the profit situation is better than ever. However, the statements show that the company’s performance has declined significantly. Mu Wuhao’s venture capital company members studied the data overnight and finally concluded that someone had tampered with the data and embezzled the profits. My brother said that he has been in seclusion for a long time, and in the past six months, he has been going in and out of mahjong parlors and casinos in slippers, without meddling in the company.
The only people who can do something so covertly are An Feng and the vice president.
Mu Wuhao had just confronted An Feng, which had caused the two of them to have a big fight.
Zhong Wei remained expressionless: ‘You suspect me?’
Mu Wuhao said sincerely, ‘I don’t want to suspect anyone, I’m just stating the facts. I’m one of the investors, I have the right to find out where all the money has gone. By the way, I’ve already told Lao San and Lao Si, they’ll go to the company tomorrow to take a look too, so you should be prepared.’
Mu Wuhao looked like he could clearly distinguish between public and private matters.
Zhong Wei, on the contrary, was not angry.
He also knew that An Feng had a problem with the original protagonist, but he didn’t understand what the problem was. It might be a good thing to have Mu Wuhao to help stir things up. After returning home, he used the system to sort out the company’s affairs, and sure enough, there were major loopholes, just as Mu Wuhao had said.
In the middle of the night, Zhong Wei had a dream.
He dreamed of a racing car rolling over, and he and someone else rolled into the azure sea water.
Ring ring ring—
he was struggling in the icy-hot seawater when his phone vibrated. Zhong Wei reached for his phone: ‘Hello? Who is this?’
‘Is this Mr Zhong? This is the Fifth Hospital.’
‘What’s the matter?’
“Mr Mu Wuhao was attacked and has just been rescued. Could you please come and pay the relevant fees?’
Without even bothering to pick out sturdy clothes, Zhong Wei rushed to the hospital. Why was he in such a hurry? According to his previous experience of time travel, the thing he feared most was unpredictable emergencies. When he arrived in a hurry, Mu Wuhao was lying on the most advanced white hospital bed, looking like he was dying.
‘Did you do it?’ Mu Wuhao’s pair of innocent eyes stared at Zhong Wei.
“Of course not!’
Mu Wuhao let out a sigh of relief and muttered, ‘Luckily it wasn’t you, otherwise I would never believe in love again—no, never believe in morality again!’
‘…’
‘Brother Wei, I don’t want to stay at the hotel anymore, let me stay at your place.’
Why was Mu Wuhao staying at the hotel? Because his father had married a stepmother and there had been a lot of unpleasantness, so he had moved out of the house and stayed at the hotel. Early in the morning, he was suddenly shot in the head, and he was shocked and still had the fear in his heart. Zhong Wei looked at Mu Wuhao and thought, is he playing a fool? Can you let a wolf in the door? Just as he was examining him, their gazes met, and Mu Wuhao suddenly blushed and quickly pulled the quilt up to cover his face.
Zhong Wei was speechless: ‘…’
Mu Wuhao quickly pulled the quilt down again: ‘I don’t want to go home and see that pair of adulterers. Brother Wei, you’re the only one I know.’
Zhong Wei sneered, ‘Are the third and fourth sons not human?’
‘The third son is a demon. His life is completely unregulated. The fourth son is sickly and has a strange temper. He talks about death all the time. I can’t stand it.’ Mu Wuhao felt even more pitiful. ‘I don’t want to go to the hospital either. I feel like I might be attacked again. The murderer didn’t kill me the first time, so he’ll definitely come back for a second try!’
That makes sense.
Mu Wuhao can’t just die, as it would have an irreversible impact on the worldline.
At that moment, someone knocked on the door: ‘Hey, did something really happen?’
This person is Xuan San.
In the book, he has the attribute of a demon, but in reality, Xuan San’s face is also a very attractive androgynous beauty, feminine and charming. Xuan San is a fashion designer, shaking his prayer beads as he saunters over, feigning surprise: ‘Sister-in-law, why are you here?’
Mu Wuhao said, ‘It’s because you guys couldn’t get through on the phone!’
Xuan San said, ‘Pfft, have you tried?’
Xuan San, who could see through everything at a glance, gave Zhong Wei a sidelong glance, a smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes, and a perfume smell that kept filling Zhong Wei’s nose. Zhong Wei couldn’t help but sneeze, as he never liked men who wore too strong perfume.
Xuan San explained, ‘The perfume bottle broke.’
Zhong Wei: ‘Oh.’
The two were close enough to touch, and Zhong Wei had nowhere to retreat, but suddenly he realised that even though they were so close together, he had not lost any of his strength—in other words, he had some immunity to Xuan San? To test this, Zhong Wei took another step closer without making a sound. The perfume was too strong, but his strength was indeed unaffected—he had felt a distinct loss of strength when he had been close to Mu Wuhao.
Xuan San sensed it keenly: ‘Big sister, do you want the perfume brand? I mixed it myself.’
Zhong Wei smiled: ‘This type of fragrance doesn’t suit you very well. I can mix perfume too.’
Xuan San was surprised: ‘Really?’
Zhong Wei said confidently: ‘I’ll give it to you after I’ve mixed it.’ He had a unique perfume formula that had won an award in a certain world line.
Zhong Wei mentioned this because in the book, Xuan San was particularly concerned about fragrance, and he was the one who came up with the names Tulip Play and Rose Bubble Bath Play. Zhong Wei knew that he couldn’t just avoid these wolves, and that they might even become more interested. He had to strike first.
Later, he personally gave him the perfume.
Xuan San really liked it and used it for a long time, but he didn’t realise that after spraying the perfume, he abstained from sex.
That’s a story for another time.
Just as these two were chatting about perfume, the patient Mu Wuhao became unhappy and said, slapping the edge of the bed, ‘Hey! Who are you here to see? I need to take my medicine!’
Xuan San laughed, ‘I can see that you’re glowing with health and have nothing wrong with you.’
Zhong Wei lifted his foot to leave.
His hand got caught.
A numbness spread through her palm, as if an electric current had passed through it. Zhong Wei suddenly turned around and saw Mu Wu Hao withdrawing his hand, looking aggrieved and saying, ‘Brother Wei…’
Zhong Wei: ‘…’
Mu Wu Hao: ‘The murderer doesn’t know what he wants. Will I die?’
Zhong Wei: ‘…’

☆、Big Brother’s Lover [6

[Chapter 52]
Although he was looked at with expectation by a pair of eyes that looked familiar, could Zhong Wei let a wolf in?
Don’t even think about it!
Zhong Wei was about to refuse when An Feng came in: ‘Wu Hao, I heard you got hurt? What happened?’
Mu Wu Hao sulked, ‘If I wanted to know, I wouldn’t be here.’
With the three wolves present, the pressure suddenly increased.
Zhong Wei found an excuse and quickly excused himself.
Halfway to the company, he received a call from a private detective, who said he had some important information and wanted to meet. The two met at a small cafe, and the private detective said nothing, first giving him a white headset.
Private detective: ‘Mr. Zhong, you’ve lost your memory, haven’t you? You have to be prepared mentally.’
Zhong Wei wearily put it on.
He heard Mu Wuhao and An Feng arguing.
‘An Feng, don’t mention any ex-boyfriends. You have something on Wei Ge, don’t think I don’t know!’ Mu Wuhao’s voice was unusually calm, unlike his cheerful appearance.
‘What’s it got to do with you?’
‘Why not? I’m the one the boss entrusted with this.’
‘Why didn’t you show such respect for the boss before?’ An Feng sneered, ‘Yes, I know what he’s got on him, but I haven’t done anything.’
‘You’ve been blackmailing him, so he does whatever you say!”
The protagonist has a hold over An Feng?
What is it?
As Zhong Wei was puzzled, the private detective immediately displayed a large picture, a huge hospital bill, and the patient was the protagonist’s younger brother. It turned out that in order to treat his younger brother, the protagonist used his private power to take bribes, etc., which An Feng learned about and used to blackmail him, telling his older brother if he didn’t obey.
The protagonist was in a difficult situation, getting deeper and deeper, and the two of them hid the truth from the world and embezzled most of the company’s profits.
Zhong Weilai understood.
He guessed that An Feng and the protagonist had teamed up to rip off the company.
In the headphones, after a few words of arguing between the two men, An Feng said disdainfully, ‘So what? This is between Ning and me. One wants to fight, the other wants to take the beating. What does it have to do with you?’
‘You have ripped off the company and damaged the interests of our investors. Do you think it has anything to do with you?’
‘Do you have any evidence?’
“If I didn’t have any evidence, do you think I would be standing here? Spit out everything you’ve eaten before it’s too late, or this isn’t over!‘ Mu Wuhao was calm and intimidating, not at all like the soft and innocent person he had appeared to be. “And don’t ever blackmail Zhong Wei again, and don’t ever go near him!”
’He was always my man!‘
’Don’t be so conceited!”
After a few words of arguing, Mu Wuhao swept away. An Feng immediately made a phone call: ’You’ve seen it for yourself, teach him a lesson! Yes, just don’t beat him to death!’
It turned out that it was An Feng who did it.
Now that he is visiting him hypocritically, he should not do anything to harm Mu Wuhao, right?
Zhong Wei thought about it for a while and decided to stay put.
He went to the company as usual and worked hard all day.
Of course, this work was very targeted. He focused on investigating the things that the protagonist had done with An Feng, verifying them one by one, and quickly found out where the loopholes were. In the future, when they confront each other, they will have reasons and evidence.
In the evening, Zhong Wei received a call from Mu Wuhao, his voice soft and miserable: ‘Brother Wei, can I go to your place and stay for a few days? Just a few days! I don’t want to stay in the hospital, it’s so gloomy, I always feel like there are eyes behind me!’
‘…’
In the evening, the doorbell rang. The butler came up to the door and, upon seeing the person with bandages all over his head behind Zhong Wei, said in surprise:
‘Is this Mr. Mu?‘
’You’re so happy to see me like this?‘
’Not at all! What happened to you?‘
’I was beaten up by a few people on the street,’ Mu Wuhao said with a bitter laugh. ’I’m safe here with you. Your home is like a fortress, with three layers of security. I don’t think it’s just bulletproof, it can even defend against missiles!’
As he spoke, Mu Wuhao handed over two gifts, one large and one small. The small gift was for the butler, a particularly high-grade pillow. The butler, who was suffering from a stiff neck, was overjoyed, and his face crinkled with a smile as he immediately ushered Mu Wuhao into the living room. Zhong Wei was speechless. This guy is quite resourceful.
‘Arrange a bedroom for him. He’ll be staying for a few days,’ Zhong Wei instructed.
‘Okay, the second bedroom has been empty for a long time. I’ll go clean it up.’ The butler’s eyes narrowed with joy at the thought of the gifts that would probably come his way every day from now on.
Before entering the room, Mu Wuhao suddenly closed his eyes and assumed a praying position.
Zhong Wei was suspicious: ‘What are you doing?’
Mu Wuhao: ‘Evil spirits retreat!’
Evil spirits are you, Zhong Wei thought, and first made an agreement with him. Unexpectedly, after entering the room, Mu Wuhao said that he would rest first, and then he entered the bedroom with his forehead supported weakly – was he really that obedient? Zhong Wei was directly choked, thinking that if he were to remain so weak, it would be fine.
Zhong Wei also had the aftereffects of wearing the book, and her body automatically felt numb whenever she got close to Mu Wuhao.
When Mu Wuhao’s aura weakened, he became stronger.
This was also a very strange feeling.
Zhong Wei stayed in the bedroom and began to flip through the plot of the original book, hoping to find some clues. After reading it many times, he was already bored and his heart rate did not even accelerate. There was very little information in the book, but one thing stood out: the protagonist had never played with his older brother. Zhong Wei thought about it: the protagonist and his older brother lived separately, the protagonist on the third floor and his older brother on the top floor. Zhong Wei learned from the butler that the two got along well and didn’t have any conflicts, and that the protagonist formally called his older brother ‘X Dong’ at home.
Zhong Wei was thinking about this when suddenly his limbs went numb.
He was taken aback.
He listened carefully, and heard a slight sound of footsteps at the door. After a few moments of hesitation, the footsteps eventually left, and the tingling sensation disappeared. Zhong Wei laughed to herself, thinking that although Mu Wuhao had evil intentions, he seemed to be quite obedient. Zhong Wei continued to flip through the book, noticing that after the hospital play, there was a cliff play, and now it was night in the big city. What kind of accident would happen before she could go to Qing Mountain?
Zhong Wei was puzzled when she suddenly received a call from her younger brother.
The younger brother, the one who urgently needed money because of an illness and caused the protagonist to take desperate measures. The younger brother is also a university student, naive in character, and calls his brother over and over again. Zhong Wei feels great, thinking that no matter how many times he travels back in time, he is still unable to resist the beauty of family love.
‘How was your re-examination result?’ Zhong Wei asked.
‘The doctor said there is no big problem.’
‘Pay more attention.’
“You should also pay more attention to your health, don’t always work overtime.’
Silly brother, if you don’t work hard, you’ll die.
Zhong Wei heard the sound of the wind whistling on the other end of the phone, and an ominous feeling came over her. ‘Aren’t you at school? Where are you now?’
‘Brother, guess!’
‘…’
‘Brother An Feng is taking me for a drive in Qing Mountain, and I’ll see you tomorrow!’
Something’s gone wrong!
Did An Feng strike first?
Zhong Wei could only hear a muffled laugh from over there, and then An Feng’s voice suddenly rang out: ‘Ning, aren’t you coming over to take a look at the night view with us?’

☆、Big Brother’s Lover [7

Chapter 53
Along the way, Zhong Wei thought a lot: If she reported it to the police, without sufficient evidence, it would not be enough to send An Feng to prison for good. Furthermore, the protagonist was not innocent either. If she brought up these matters now, he would be the first one to be called in for interrogation. She would take things one step at a time and see what An Feng was up to.
Aqing Mountain was dotted with fireflies.
Zhong Wei suddenly remembered something from a book or a video game where the two characters caught fireflies for fun. It was suddenly very funny.
A little erotic novel, what kind of vicious plot could there be? Zhong Wei felt relieved when she thought about it, and arrived at the small pavilion on the mountainside as agreed. Her younger brother waved at her from afar, looking quite happy; next to him, An Feng looked confident, knowing that Zhong Wei would obediently come, just as she had many times before.
Zhong Wei called An Feng over alone and asked him what he meant.
‘Do you think that since your brother is in prison, you are the boss?‘ An Feng raised an unamused smile.
’I don’t think that.‘
’You are anxious to distance yourself from me, don’t you want to take everything for yourself?‘
’Ridiculous, I don’t think anyone is like you!’
‘It doesn’t matter. I just want you to know that you can’t get away with it. Don’t look at your brother, he’s alive and kicking right now, but once the life-prolonging medicine runs out, he’ll be dead in a month!’ An Feng threw away the cigarette butt and stamped it out. “Ning, there’s no turning back now. You’ve come this far, what’s stopping you?”
Zhong Wei was silent for a long time, and then said with authority, ’An Feng, what’s done is done. What happened in the past is what happened, and I can’t pursue it. I naturally will repay what I owe my brother! I’ll pay him back 20 million for the 10 million I took from him before! But that’s the end of it between you and me, I won’t be working with you again! My brother won’t die, he’ll live to be a hundred!‘
An Feng was taken aback.
It was as if he was meeting Zhong Wei for the first time.
’You’re capable of this? Then why did you beg me to keep your secret?‘ An Feng laughed mockingly.
’We’ll see if I’m capable or not!’ Zhong Wei turned and left.
Whoosh –
a gust of wind flashed past.
Zhong Wei was knocked to the ground, clutching at the grass with his hands. Blood was all over his mouth – oh no, he had forgotten, he was no match for An Feng at all, and they shouldn’t have confronted each other head-on. The next second, An Feng leapt on top of him, grabbed his collar, and laughed coldly, ‘Ah Ning, who gave you the nerve! Ah? Is it Mu Wuhao? Have you thrown your weight around with another person again!’
Zhong Wei pulled himself free with all his strength, ‘Get out!’
An Feng then rode him: ‘I heard he’s even living with you now. Did he give you a good time? Haha, if you’ve forgotten about me, that’s fine, but you’ve forgotten about Big Brother so soon?’
Zhong Wei grew increasingly weak as she struggled, her heart burning with anger: ‘An Feng, get out of my sight!’
Bang!
An Feng suddenly collapsed.
Zhong Wei was stunned, thinking she had suddenly developed supernatural powers, and only then did she see that the person who had appeared from the sky was Mu Wu Hao.
Mu Wuhao was wearing a white bandage and looked very dishevelled. He looked very heroic, his fists clenched as he said, ‘An Feng, do you have any shame? I’m telling you, if you dare to touch him again, I won’t hold back!’
An Feng jumped up in anger and said, ‘Who do you think you are? Try being impolite to me!’
Mu Wuhao leaned close to his ear and said, ‘Don’t forget the 280,000 yuan!’
An Feng’s face changed, ‘What did you say?’
Mu Wuhao chuckled, ‘Do you want me to continue? If you want to keep a secret, then get out of here right now!’
Just as Zhong Weixuan hung her heart and thought that a fight was about to break out, An Feng said with a white face, ‘I have walked more roads than you have eaten salt, so don’t pretend to be a god! I tell you, today, for the sake of my brother, I don’t want to make a big deal out of this, so you all just wait!’ After saying these harsh words, An Feng walked away in big strides.
He actually left?
Did Mu Wuhao find his weak point?
‘Brother Wei, are you okay?’ Mu Wuhao’s smile was bright, and he reached out to pull Zhong Wei up.
‘…I’m okay.’ He wasn’t doing much better.
At that moment, his younger brother followed the sound and came looking for him: ‘Why did Brother Anfeng leave? Hey, who are you?’
“My name is Mu Wuhao.’
Seeing Mu Wuhao quickly make friends with his younger brother, Zhong Wei was at a loss for words. This guy was probably not a social butterfly, as he could chat with anyone – in the book, the fifth brother only occasionally popped up to help out or join in the fun, and his role was nowhere near as important as the others.
When they said goodbye, Zhong Wei warned his younger brother to watch out for An Feng in the future, as he was not a good person.
His brother nodded in confusion.
Mu Wuhao waved his hand to say goodbye to his brother, and finally the two of them were alone. He smiled and said, ‘Brother Wei, this place is really beautiful. Look at all these fireflies.’ Looking down the mountain, in the night, the green fireflies looked like they were floating in the sea, flickering and sparkling, giving a sense of vastness.
Zhong Wei had been on his guard.
However, Mu Wuhao was just intently admiring the fireflies, with a satisfied smile on his face.
Zhong Wei asked Mu Wuhao what leverage he had over An Feng.
Mu Wuhao said cunningly that it was confidential.
Overall, Mu Wuhao is not a person to dislike, except for the time of the car race. He is usually quite polite. It seems that he knows Zhong Wei is wary of him, and usually speaks from a distance, without any transgression. Moreover, this guy is particularly sociable, and in less than two days, he has become friends with the neighbours.
Zhong Wei pondered the 280,000 yuan.
Although the voice was soft, he heard it: 280,000 yuan.
Judging by the number, these 280,000 yuan must not be the amount of money An Feng embezzled. He must have embezzled far more than that. But what was it? Zhong Wei couldn’t find it in the original book or in the private investigator’s investigation. At breakfast that day, Zhong Wei asked Mu Wu Hao, who was spreading jam on his bread, ‘What exactly is 280,000 yuan?’
Mu Wu Hao raised one eyebrow and said, ‘Kiss me and I’ll tell you!’
Zhong Wei stared at him,
‘Ha, I’m just joking, don’t be angry… Wei… ah!”
Mu Wuhao pressed his left cheek, dumbfounded, unable to believe that he had just been kissed. He looked at Zhong Wei and was lost in thought. Zhong Wei sat up straight and said nonchalantly, “Go ahead!” In fact, his hands and feet had gone numb, and he couldn’t explain what had just happened. It was as if his mind had made a move, and he had kissed her.
Mu Wuhao bit his lip and said quickly, ‘He cheated a woman a lot older than him before and got 280,000 yuan. It was his first pot of gold.’
‘That’s it?’
‘That woman later had a hard time and had a child. We all know her.’
‘Who?’
‘Unless you kiss me again!’
Dream on!
Zhong Wei followed this clue on his own to investigate, but found nothing wrong. An Feng’s past was very normal: he had been in several relationships and broken up with several people, but there was no girlfriend much older than him. Zhong Wei doubted that Mu Wuhao was lying to himself.
That day, Mu Wuhao asked, ‘Brother Wei, when are you going to give Xuan San the perfume? I’ll help you set a time and place.’
‘Then let’s do it today.”
Zhong Wei noticed that the location Mu Wuhao had chosen was a catwalk show, and he became alert. He would not forget that in the original book, a beast had a catwalk show. Don’t ask how the security guards at the catwalk show allowed this to happen. There is no logic in this kind of pornographic book.
Xuan San was the lead designer for this catwalk show.
The lights and shadows of the beautiful clothes were dazzling.
After the show, Zhong Wei gave Xuan San a perfume as a gift. Xuan San sprayed it in the air and took a whiff, suddenly surprised.
‘What a special smell, like a summer forest.’
‘Summertime enchantment.’
The perfume was refreshing, with a trace of unfathomable sweetness, like an angel whispering in your ear. It was perfect for Xuan San’s somewhat fiendish, somewhat delicate personality.
‘It’s surprising that you know my preferences so well,’ Xuan San said, batting her eyes.
‘Let’s go eat!‘ Mu Wuhao interjected.
Leaving the show, Zhong Wei also felt relieved.
Mu Wuhao had made a reservation at a restaurant on the top floor of a nearby skyscraper. Xuan San looked at the top floor and frowned: “I don’t really like tall buildings.”
’Why?‘
’One year, my mom almost threw me off a building.’
It turned out that Xuan San came from a single-parent family and life was very difficult. His mother’s mental state was very poor. That summer, because of a trivial matter, he had a fight with his mother. In a fit of anger, she suddenly pushed him towards the window, shouting, ‘Why were you born?’ It was ten stories high, with nothing underneath. Xuan San desperately grabbed the window frame and kicked it open, just saving his life.
Since then, he has suffered from a fear of heights.
Zhong Weixin thought: ‘Auntie, have I always been bad to you?’
Xuan San smiled bitterly: ‘I delayed her from falling in love. At that time, she was in an online relationship and had a little boyfriend, and her money was all drained. When I asked for money again, she went crazy.’
The elevator opened, and the waiter said, with a smile, welcome.
Xuan San didn’t say anything more.
Zhong Wei looked at Mu Wuhao, who looked back at her, raising an eyebrow helplessly. Zhong Wei understood, and after returning home, she quickly looked up Xuan San’s background, and it turned out to match An Feng’s quietly.
It turned out that An Feng’s character had always been problematic, giving his lover to his older brother and digging into his brother’s company with his lover. He had been a jerk at the age of 18, relying on sweet talk to trick a 30-something woman of the world on the Internet into supporting him. The woman’s name was Xuan Yonglan, and she had a teenage child living with her at school. Over the course of a year, Xuan Yonglan had spent more than 200,000 yuan on An Feng, proposing to marry him and start a family.
An Feng was just playing around, and kept asking for more money.
Xuan Yonglan gave him the last 10,000 yuan, pleading, ‘This is the prize money for my son’s competition. Let’s meet tomorrow!’
Knowing that his lover had been bled dry, An Feng simply cancelled the appointment. Fine, he thought, but he was mean enough to drop an excuse: ‘I still mind that you have a child. Let’s break up!’ Xuan Yonglan was furious and heartbroken after a frantic search. Knowing that she had been cheated and that the money was gone, she took out her anger on her child, scolding him lightly and beating him severely. She stopped sending him to school.
This is the story of An Feng.
It is also the story of Xuan San.
Behind every glamorous adult is a swamp. Xuan San grew up in a dirty environment during his childhood and adolescence. Because he was often dressed up as a girl by his mother when he was young, he was teased by others. As a result, he grew up with a very neutral appearance and personality. Xuan San rarely looks back and rarely complains. The past is meaningless.
Xuan San did not know that the person who cheated his mother was An Feng.
I think An Feng was also very surprised.
In the end, the five of them were brought together by the eldest brother. The eldest brother helped Xuan San at that time, and got him out of that environment, so Xuan San has always been very grateful. Zhong Wei pondered the relationship and how to break through these past events while taking a shower.
Zhong Wei opened the bathroom door, wrapped a long towel around his waist, and came out rubbing his wet hair.
He looked up: Mu Wuhao was staring at him in awe.
An invisible flame ignited.
Instinctively, Zhong Wei grabbed the towel and glared at the stunned Mu Wuhao warily. Mu Wuhao came back to his senses, laughed, turned his head, and went into the kitchen: ‘Brother Wei, would you like something to drink? Do you want some yogurt?’
‘…No!’ The other person being so gentlemanly was unexpected.
An Feng knew Xuan Yonglan.
But Xuan Yonglan had never met An Feng, and even if they had met, she would not have recognised him.
Zhong Wei had plenty of ways to send a photo to Xuan Yonglan anonymously: ‘The person you are looking for is here.’ Xuan Yonglan had no power or influence, and using subtle methods would not achieve the desired result. Instead, this direct method had a miraculous effect. Sure enough, Xuan Yonglan came directly to the door.
An Feng had a guilty conscience, and her face changed as soon as she saw her.
Xuan Yonglan understood, and made a scene right away.
She was a woman of the world, and she didn’t care about face. She grabbed An Feng and loudly questioned what had happened back then. An Feng scolded her while shaking her off, but dared not say that she would call the police. The two argued for a few minutes, and An Feng forcibly dragged Xuan Yonglan into the office to chat. Although it was only a few minutes, there were a lot of people in the company, and the gossip was spreading.
Zhong Wei knew that An Feng was finished.
The next day, Xuan San came looking for him and barged straight into An Feng’s office for a confrontation. Although they could not hear anything through the closed door, the imaginative employees could all imagine that there was definitely an angry rebuke and scolding going on inside. This quickly spread, and the news that An Feng had cheated a poor woman of her hard-earned money spread like wildfire. An Feng’s reputation was in tatters, and not only that, everyone who had originally been optimistic about him changed their minds one after the other.
In short, An Feng was in a very embarrassing situation.
His future was also dark.
Zhong Wei took advantage of his disarray to make the necessary adjustments to the company and fix the loopholes, putting it back on the right track. One day, while Zhong Wei was arranging matters at the branch office, An Feng knocked on the door and said, ‘I’ve discussed it with my brother and applied for resignation. I’ll hand over all the work to you.’
Zhong Wei looked at the resignation letter and said, ‘Have you found a new job?’
‘There will always be one.’
“Do you regret your actions? If it wasn’t for you, the mother and son wouldn’t be having such a hard time.’
‘Are you judging me?”
Zhong Wei looked at him, his mouth curling up without saying anything else.
Just take Xuan San, for example. Because of An Feng’s incident, he frequented the company and inevitably had to vent his long-standing grievances to Zhong Wei: “An Feng is so ruthless. He knows what money can be cheated and what money can’t be cheated, and he doesn’t even have the most basic humanity!” Zhong Wei sympathised with his situation.
Xuan San is a designer with impressive works, but unfortunately he has not received much recognition. Zhong Wei introduced him to several famous designers, and one of them really appreciated Xuan San and offered him a job. People develop a fondness for each other through contact. Xuan San and Zhong Wei went out for dinner twice, and over time they became familiar with each other.
They went out for dinner that day.
They came back after having a little red wine.
As soon as they entered the door, Mu Wuhao looked at him with his arms folded and said, ‘You were drinking with Lao San again!’
‘It’s the first time.‘
’Yesterday was the first time you ate dinner, and today is the first time you drank alcohol! One begets two, two begets three, three begets all things under heaven. Are you going to have sex for the first time tomorrow!‘
Zhong Wei laughed out loud, “What nonsense!”
Mu Wuhao leaned in, his eyelashes almost touching, his voice suddenly lowering, “Whatever wine you’re drinking, I want some too.”
’…red wine.”

☆、Big Brother’s Lover【8】

Chapter 55
Mu Wuhao leaned in, his eyelashes almost touching, and his voice suddenly dropped: ‘What wine are you drinking? I want to drink it too.’
“Red wine.’
In a huff, Mu Wuhao took a bottle of red wine from the cellar and insisted that Zhong Wei drink a glass with him. Zhong Wei thought to himself, ‘Fine, I’ll drink. I can drink a thousand cups without getting drunk.’ As the red, transparent liquid poured out of the glass with a loud clinking sound, Zhong Wei regretted it. He had forgotten that he was in the setting of a romance novel.
Zhong Wei lifted the glass: ‘Just one glass!’
Mu Wuhao nodded vigorously, staring at him as he finished the drink, and then gulped it down himself.
Zhong Wei wiped the remnants of the liquid from the corner of his mouth and wondered a little. According to the normal course of events, Mu Wuhao should have leaned over and flirted a little, but why had he just finished drinking? Mu Wuhao noticed and turned his head with a smile, his handsome face very bright.
‘Okay, Brother Wei, you go to bed!’
’…’
Zhong Wei was a little uncomfortable being let off so easily – so you don’t want the red wine play you ordered? He went back to the bedroom and thought about it: in the past, the plot generally didn’t deviate from the general direction, and he would just slightly correct the direction of the world. This time, he didn’t interfere much with Mu Wuhao, so why did Mu Wuhao deviate so much?
It was fine, so he flipped through the little yellow book again.
He flipped to the red wine section in particular.
I discovered that the characters in this section were originally Xuan San and the protagonist. Xuan San didn’t show up, Mu Wu Hao didn’t move, and the wine was just glossed over. What should happen next? Zhong Wei flipped over a page: Trophy props PLAY – Xuan San won a design award and invited the protagonist to a victory celebration, where they had sex on the side. The sword-shaped trophy became a prop to spice things up, and the fourth brother was also there.
The next second the phone rang: ‘Brother Wei, I’m throwing a party on Saturday, will you come?’
‘……Yes.’
Anyway, the plot is just a formality, and it’ll be over soon.
At the end of October, it was cool.
Zhong Wei put on a double-breasted grey trench coat.
Mu Wuhao suddenly poked his head out: ‘Brother Wei, wait for me, I’m going too!’ Mu Wuhao was dressed very youthfully, in a mix-and-match style, and it was obvious that he was going out to have fun. The two walked together, keeping a certain distance, and Mu Wuhao looked at Zhong Wei several times, looking him straight in the eye.
‘What’s wrong?’
‘I always feel like I know you,’ Mu Wuhao mused, ‘I felt very familiar with you from the first moment I saw you.’
The feeling of familiarity came from both of them, and they didn’t know where it came from.
Zhong Wei once asked the system, and the trial system replied, ‘You’re wearing too many worlds, so you’re getting confused.’ Zhong Wei then wondered if it was because she had blocked out a lot of memories, and the trial system replied even more evasively, ‘Bug. Recently, the system has been upgraded with a lot of bugs, so don’t worry about these details.’ In the past, the trial system always gave robotic replies, but now it seems to have changed. ‘Yes, it’s a more humanised setting, don’t you think it’s great?’ The trial system said something witty in a robotic voice, which was a bit awkward.
‘Brother Wei, this month’s sales have tripled compared to before,‘ Mu Wuhao picked up the conversation.
’I promised Big Brother that I would get the company back on track.‘
’You’re working so hard for Big Brother, every day it’s just work, work, work, it’s not easy for you to come out for a trip,‘ Mu Wuhao was a little dissatisfied, “suppose, I mean suppose Big Brother can’t get out, what are you going to do?”
’What do you mean what am I going to do?‘
’Are you just going to keep waiting for him? Have you never considered falling in love again?’
No, your brother has only been in for two months, and you’re already thinking that he’ll be in there forever? What kind of little brother are you? Zhong Wei couldn’t help but laugh.
‘No way!’
‘Oh.’
Mu Wuhao lowered his head in disappointment, staring at his white sneakers as he stepped on the path littered with autumn leaves, which creaked.
The party was being held in an art factory, and the decadent style matched the winning work. When the two arrived, it was getting dark, and the lights that had been turned on along the way looked a bit eerie. Some of the art sculptures also looked creepy at night. Mu Wuhao put his arm around Zhong Wei’s shoulders and said exaggeratedly, ‘I hate this kind of tone.’
Zhong Wei twitched, but she couldn’t pull away: ‘You, let go of my arm!’
Mu Wuhao obediently let go: ‘You really have no compassion.’
When the two of them went in, the party was halfway through. There were a lot of friends. When they entered, they didn’t find Xuan San, but they did see Lao Si, who was lying on the railing on the fourth floor, looking down at the crowd partying. Lao Si, whose name was Luo Zhu, was described in the books as being sickly, sometimes shy, sometimes crazy, and dying every time they played—it wasn’t strange that Zhong Wei’s mind conjured up these things. After all, this was the second time they had met, and there was not much more to remember.
Luo Zhu was particularly thin, particularly unfriendly, and particularly fond of coldly watching everyone.
He is only on good terms with Xuan San.
Zhong Wei went straight to the fourth floor and finally met Xuan San. After drinking a lot of wine, his face was flushed, and his eyes were bright when looking at people, like water and glowing. Zhong Wei had already planned to leave after giving a gift and saying a few words of congratulations. Xuan San stopped him and said with a nasal tone, ‘Brother Wei, don’t go, let me talk to you for a while.’
Saying this, Xuan San dragged him into the small room next to them.
isolated from the noise.
Xuan San closed the door behind him, and Zhong Wei realised it was too late when he noticed. He was shocked. He knew last night that they were going to have dinner and play, but they had got along so well these past few days, and Xuan San had not shown any reaction, so he had not been on his guard. He never thought he would still fall for it.
‘What are you doing!’ Zhong Wei asked sternly.
‘Brother Wei, you’re so serious. What are you afraid of? Are you afraid I’ll force you?‘ Xuan San giggled, deliberately coming closer to smell the hollow of Zhong Wei’s neck.
’Don’t move!‘
’I want to!”
Xuan San was also half drunk, and his personality was quite open-minded. With one embrace, he wrapped his arms around Zhong Wei’s waist. Zhong Wei’s alarm bells went off, and she quickly shook him off. Xuan San, who had been drinking, couldn’t stand steadily, and after taking a step back, he bumped into something and instinctively fell forward, landing right on top of Zhong Wei. Zhong Wei panicked, reached out, took out a pill, and shoved it into Xuan San’s mouth. The pill would cause certain hallucinations, and he usually carried it with him.
Xuan San was caught off guard and swallowed it.
There was a gulping sound.
Bang
clang—
Xuan San’s vision went white, and he floated in the air. When he stopped, he realised that Mu Wu Hao was holding his collar. ‘What are you doing!’
Mu Wu Hao was so angry that his face turned white. ‘What are you doing!’
He said, grabbed Zhong Wei, and turned back to continue scolding Xuan San. ‘Xuan San, do you know how many things Brother Wei has settled for you? If it wasn’t for him, you wouldn’t even know about An Feng! If it wasn’t for him, where would you get this medal!’
Xuan San had just swallowed his medicine, and he coughed and smiled bitterly, ‘Of course I know!’
‘Then what are you still thinking about?’
‘I’m not, I just want to give him the medal!’ Xuan San solemnly pinned the sword-shaped medal on Lu Zhou’s trench coat, which sparkled brightly. He turned his head and said depressedly, ‘So, what do you think I’m doing, being violent with Brother Wei? You think I’m you!’
Mu Wuhao was dumbfounded.
Zhong Weiguang smiled, and stroked the medal on his chest. ‘It’s very beautiful.’
Xuan San: ‘Thank you!’
At this moment, another person appeared carrying a glass of champagne. It was Luo Zhu, the fourth oldest brother. Luo Zhu frowned as he shook the glass. ‘What are you doing? It’s noisy downstairs, and it’s noisy here too.’ Mu Wuhao resolutely took Zhong Weiguang’s hand, said goodbye angrily, and dashed out.
After being led out, Zhong Wei felt vaguely that something was wrong.
Mu Wuhao opened the car door and urged him to get in.
Ah! I remember!
I just gave Xuan San a pill. Although the pill is harmless, it can cause hallucinations.
Zhong Wei hurried back, climbed up the stairs, and heard an unusual noise coming from the room. He quickly pushed open the door and saw Xuan San holding Luo Zhu down, but her clothes were still in order. Luo Zhu’s face was red and white, and her hands were pushing, not hugging, not struggling, not struggling. When she saw Zhong Wei come in, she was exasperated: ‘What are you doing here!’
Zhong Wei was embarrassed: ‘Xuan San took the medicine I gave him. It’s harmless, it’ll take five minutes to wear off!’ She counted on her fingers and said it would be fine in another two minutes.
Luo Zhu: ‘Get out!’
Zhong Wei: ‘Xuan San, are you okay?’
Xuan San turns his head, his face flushed, his eyes dripping with tears: ‘…get out!’
These two have an unbeatable relationship. In the book, they are particularly fond of the scene where the two dragons play with the pearl, and they always get the protagonist on the verge of collapse. With a hint of the satisfaction of revenge, Zhong Wei says, ‘Okay, you two have fun.’ As long as you two are happy, there’s one minute left.
One minute.
That’s not enough time for anything to happen.
Zhong Wei closed the door behind her and left.
Mu Wuhao was on the stairs: ‘Is it okay now? Can we go back?’
The two of them left the house one after the other and walked along the gloomy path. Mu Wuhao was no longer afraid, but was furious, his face long and drawn.
‘Why are you angry?‘
’Why didn’t you hit Xuan San just now!‘
’Why would I hit him?‘
’You hit me last time!‘ Mu Wuhao pointed at his own face in indignation.
Realising that he was talking about the time they raced, when Zhong Wei was so angry that she slapped him, but missed.
’I only kissed him last time, and he fell all over you today!‘
’Ridiculous!’
‘What’s so funny about it? You’re so cold to me. You usually avoid me like the plague!’ Mu Wuhao became more and more angry as he spoke, and with a determined look, he grabbed Zhong Wei’s hand and dragged her into the dark.
Zhong Wei’s hand felt numb. “You!”
She didn’t even have the strength to shake him off. Mu Wuhao dragged her under a tree. She was anxious and angry, and she had never been treated so recklessly before.
‘Mu Wuhao, let go of me!‘
’No!”
Zhong Wei was furious. Despite being limp, she kicked Mu Wuhao in the leg. Mu Wuhao was in pain and refused to let go, clamping Zhong Wei’s wrist tightly. Zhong Wei was so angry that she punched a few times, but she couldn’t find a tool, so she simply pulled out the medal and stabbed it into Mu Wuhao’s hand. Although it was sword-shaped and had some hardness, it couldn’t exert much strength.
Unexpectedly, Mu Wuhao was stabbed and it hurt. ‘How could you do that!’
‘…’
‘I’ve been so good to you, but you ignore me. What did Xuan San do that you’re biased towards him! It’s about eating, drinking, and coming to a place like this!’ Mu Wuhao was so jealous that he didn’t know which way was up, and completely forgot that he had come to a place like this himself.
’…’
‘Since you’re so devoted to Big Brother, why bother with Xuan San!‘ Mu Wuhao’s nasal tone grew heavier and heavier, as if he were crying.
Zhong Wei was dumbfounded, so she just let him drag her along, her hands tingling like they had been electrocuted.
’It’s fine, Xuan San didn’t mean it.‘
’Are you sure?‘
’He just drank too much and fell on top of me,’ Zhong Wei explained helplessly. ’I’m not a piece of cake that everyone wants a bite of.’
He is not, the original protagonist really is.
Mu Wuhao suddenly embraced Zhong Wei. Zhong Wei’s heart skipped a beat, and she stumbled towards a tree, causing the two to sway and hold each other even tighter. Zhong Wei felt that this scorching embrace was very familiar, suffocating and longing for something more. She felt weak all over, and could hear the crackling sound of electricity in her blood vessels.
‘Let go of me,’ Zhong Wei said weakly, turning her face away.
’…Wei.’
The name that was entwined between her lips and teeth was shaken by the call of this low voice. For a moment, Zhong Wei felt that this was reality, a reality that existed outside the world line. If he wasn’t playing the leading role, but Zhong Wei, would he be moved by this call?
☆、Big Brother’s Lover [9

[Chapter 56
“Let go.’
‘Mm.”
Mu Wuhao reluctantly let go, his eyes fixed on him. In the dim light, it was hard to make out any more detailed expressions. Zhong Wei resolutely turned around and left, slightly unsteadily. Mu Wuhao caught up with him and walked side by side with him. The weather in October was a little cool, a comfortable coolness. Every now and then, Zhong Wei glanced over and could see Mu Wuhao staring at him persistently.
In the following few days, Mu Wuhao did not return.
It was said that he was doing an experiment at school.
The old butler was the most lonely, as no one was left to chat with him anymore. Occasionally, he would complain about why he was not back yet, and that the house was so quiet. Zhong Wei got even more annoyed when she heard this, and thought to herself, ‘Do you think I like it when it’s empty? This house is so big, and there’s no laughter or joy, I feel bored too. If anyone’s to blame, it’s Mu Wuhao for not coming back.’
When you’re annoyed by someone’s presence, you don’t miss them.
Zhong Wei actually missed Mu Wuhao a little when she thought about it. She remembered that he had never really gotten to know Mu Wuhao. She only knew that he had a talent for investment, but she had never asked him what he studied at university or what experiments he did – it was all about the pornographic novels, and he had never treated Mu Wuhao like a student.
That evening, she passed by the university where Mu Wuhao was.
For some reason, he walked in.
The university was full of lively young people. Zhong Wei remembered Mu Wuhao saying, ‘…likes playing ball, comes back every afternoon after playing ball,’ so she often saw him returning in a sweaty mess and rushing into the bathroom. Zhong Wei strolled around the large open-air playground, looking at everything: no basketball court, no football field, no tennis court, no badminton court…
‘Zhong Wei!’
Zhong Wei turned around abruptly.
Mu Wuhao was wearing red and white sportswear, with a towel in one hand to wipe away the sweat. He was full of surprise and exuded the youthful energy.
‘You came to see me!’
‘Just passing by.’
Mu Wuhao couldn’t hide his smile, ‘Want to go to our dormitory?’
‘You have a dormitory?’
Why would you want to stay in your own place if you have a dormitory?
Mu Wuhao hurriedly explained, ‘Everyone is assigned one, but I don’t usually live there. These past two days, I’ve been…doing experiments.’ In the end, he spoke in a small voice, as if he were lying.
Zhong Wei smiled: ‘Why didn’t you come back?’
‘I’ll come back today!’
Along the way, Mu Wuhao chattered incessantly, especially noisy and especially interesting. He told the class’s gags in vivid detail. Zhong Wei glanced at him in the corner of her eye and felt a sigh of relief. Only then did she realise that he was actually afraid that Mu Wuhao would never come back.
So people are social animals.
After the excitement, they can no longer bear loneliness.
Mu Wuhao rushed into the bathroom the first time and ran out again, grinning, saying, ‘Brother Wei, I want to use your shower gel.’
“You can use whatever you like.’
‘There’s none in there, but I feel that yours smells sweeter.’ Mu Wuhao gave Zhong Wei’s neck a deep sniff.
An electric current shot from the back of his head to his spine, and Zhong Wei felt another tingle. He couldn’t decide whether to laugh or cry: “It’s all the same, I might as well be hoarding a bottle of shower gel, right?”
Life is full of little things.
Mu Wuhao cautiously tested the waters, and Zhong Wei’s tacit approval encouraged him to go deeper and deeper.
One day, Mu Wuhao went to school while Zhong Wei went to work. As they parted, Mu Wuhao suddenly kissed Zhong Wei on the forehead, and explained in a flustered voice, ‘Ah, I just… I just got dizzy for a moment.’
Zhong Wei glanced at him and didn’t say anything.
Zhong Wei felt inexplicably good.
Everything became clear to the assistant.
“What are you so happy about, Mr. Zhong?’
‘With the weather being so nice, what’s not to be happy about?”
The assistant was also infected with happiness and smiled: “Mr Xuan is here in the office and says he needs to see you.”
Xuan San looked distressed, fiddling with the chlorophytum on the balcony.
Zhong Wei knocked on the table: “Yes?”
It had been over a month since the party, and any embarrassment had faded. Xuan San pulled his fingernails painfully: ’Brother Wei, why did you give me that pill!
Zhong Wei said awkwardly, ‘I used it for self-defence. It only has a 5-minute effect with no after-effects!’
‘No way!’
‘What?’
Xuan San looked at a loss for words, but in the end told the truth: ‘At the time, we…well, you know…’
‘You know what?’
Confirmed that the two had had sex, Zhong Wei blushed: ‘Only 1 minute left…’
Xuan San: ‘The effect is gone, but the feeling is still there.’
In fact, the effect had already worn off by then, and Xuan San knew very well that the person in front of him was Luo Zhu. However, in a daze, in a daze, and on a whim, he crossed the line. It was a bit embarrassing afterwards, and the long-time friends had just soured. But when Xuan San thought about it, he didn’t entirely blame himself. After all, he was half drunk and had taken the medicine—automatically ignoring the fact that the effect only lasted five minutes.
Zhong Wei was confused: ‘So what’s the problem?’
Xuan San: ‘Luo Zhu is too clingy!’
After that day, Luo Zhu took special care of him, and the two had sex again. Anyway, every day for different reasons, their relationship became more complicated. Luo Zhu had few friends and was a bit clingy before. After that day, Luo Zhu simply moved in and stuck by his side every day. He likes to be jealous, and for some reason yesterday he chased away all the models.
Xuan San angrily scolded him, and Luo Zhu angrily ran away.
Zhong Wei was silent for a long time, ‘Who is on top of whom?’
Xuan San: ‘…’
Zhong Wei understood. It was really hard to tell, but that day it was Xuan San who was on top. It was unexpected that it was the seemingly weak Luo Zhu who was in control. However, it was not surprising. Luo Zhu was just lonely, but there was a fierce look in his eyes. Perhaps it was that fierce look that suppressed Xuan San. These two are pure attackers in the book, and Zhong Wei couldn’t help but smile as she thought about it.
‘You’re gloating?‘ Xuan San was depressed.
’No, I’m trying to find a way.”
What else could she do? She could start by chatting with him and find out what Luo Zhu was like and what his temperament was like. In the book, Luo Zhu was a bit paranoid, and after taking over the protagonist, he got jealous several times, and even almost caused someone’s death. Zhong Wei thought to herself, it’s better to be on your guard, so she carefully brought all kinds of stuff just in case.
The internet cafe under the office building.
Luo Zhu arrived on time, looking depressed. ‘Do you need me for something?’
Zhong Wei: ‘You and Xuan San…’
Luo Zhu immediately stood on his head, looking at him warily. Zhong Wei couldn’t help but laugh, thinking that there was no need to be on guard, as Luo Zhu was only thinking about Xuan San at the moment. Thinking about this made her feel relieved. She remembered that in the book, Luo Zhu often lacked a sense of security.
‘Why do you lack a sense of security?’ Zhong Wei asked patiently.
“He’s not wholehearted,’
Luo Zhu blushed slightly, but said quite firmly: that day, after Zhong Wei left, the two of them still couldn’t bear to part, even though they didn’t know who made the first move. Anyway, Luo Zhu later had Xuan San. This kind of thing is so comfortable that you can’t help doing it again and again, and once you get addicted, you can’t get out of it. However, Luo Zhu soon discovered that Xuan San was only keen on the ‘doing’ part of it, and once it was done, he would simply leave and get on with what he needed to do.
This made Luo Zhu very unhappy.
So he deliberately looked for trouble.
However, even though he had obviously chased away the model because he was being too much, Xuan San still just scolded him. Sure enough, Xuan San valued his work far more than he valued him. Luo Zhu was furious and ran home.
‘Xuan San just feels comfortable!’ Luo Zhu said angrily.
‘Comfort is the foundation!’ Zhong Wei corrected him.
“This is not fair!’
Luo Zhu was emotional and expected to receive Xuan San’s wholehearted attention. Xuan San, on the other hand, was a bit of a playboy and took relationships lightly, showing an attitude of ‘as long as it’s comfortable, it doesn’t matter who the other person is’ – which angered Luo Zhu.
Luo Zhu said with resentment, ‘It’s all your fault, that pill of yours! Do you have feelings for him!’
‘I explained that it was a pure accident.’
“It’s your fault anyway.’
Zhong Wei blew on the tea leaves: ‘Why blame me? By the time you had sex, the medicine would have worn off, so don’t use it as an excuse.’
Compared to the other people, Luo Zhu looked weak and frail, with pale skin. When she was angry, her cheeks would puff up, which was very funny. She was weak, but had a strong explosive force. She looked indifferent, but she was actually quite childish and competitive. Zhong Wei found that quite interesting.
‘I have a suggestion. Tell Xuan San to be friends again. He won’t get involved.‘
’What a stupid idea.‘
’If you still want to be together, don’t interfere with his work. Can a fashion designer not touch the body of a model?‘ Zhong Wei took a sip of tea and was in a very good mood.
’I’ll do it reluctantly,‘ Luo Zhu said sulkily.
’When he comes down later, you apologize and make up.’
Luo Zhu blushed, and she was actually a little coy: ‘Was he particularly angry? Last time he smashed his water glass.’
“Even if he’s angry, it will pass. Here, he’s coming down the stairs.’
Outside the transparent glass, Xuan San looked up at the sign and searched for the internet café. Luo Zhu quickly went out, and when the two met eyes, Luo Zhu suddenly threw herself at Xuan San and embraced him. Xuan San held his milk tea cup high in one hand and was at a loss with the other, and his slender waist was suddenly pressed against the glass window.
These two are also enemies.
Zhong Wei smiled.
However, everything always comes full circle, especially for those who are in a new relationship.
Two days later, it was already past 8 o’clock in the evening, and Mu Wuhao had not yet returned home. Xuan San came, smelling of overpowering perfume, and naturally came to complain: Luo Zhu had given up looking for a model, but had started picking on Xuan San’s friends, always preventing him from socialising. In the morning, he had mentioned Zhong Wei, which had made him jealous. It was cute the first or second time, but it was a headache when it happened more often.
Zhong Wei pressed her nose and said, ‘Never mind anything else, you’ve used far too much perfume.’
‘He likes to smell it, so he sprays it all over me. Is that extreme?‘ Xuan San was helpless.
’Do you like Luo Zhu?‘
’There are some boundaries that once crossed cannot be returned to. I have been friends with him for several years, and I don’t want to break this relationship.’ Xuan San Wang looked around and changed the subject.
Friendship can turn into love, but love cannot return to friendship. Xuan San cared about this person, so he wanted to continue this connection. To say that this is a love that cuts to the bone is an exaggeration, but there is indeed an attachment that cannot be severed. The personalities of these two people are that in the book, Xuan San is more sex than love, only concerned with comfort; Luo Zhu is paranoid and crazy, and if he is uncomfortable, no one else should be comfortable. It is inevitable that these two people will need to work out their differences when they get together.
Zhong Wei pointed at the bathroom and said, ‘You go take a shower first, the smell is really unbearable.’
Xuan San shrugged.
Xuan San went in for less than two minutes, and the door alarm went off, and Luo Zhu came to the door.
Through the video, Luo Zhu looked very angry with a face full of sweat.
‘Is Xuan San here?’
‘Yes.’
‘Why does he always love to find you! My brother has only been in for a few days, and you just randomly hooked up with him, why did you have to touch my guy!’
That’s not a nice thing to say.

☆、Big Brother’s Lover [10]

[Chapter 57
Zhong Wei questioned, ‘Didn’t you force him? If you keep this up, he’ll definitely run away.’
Luo Zhu was angry, ‘Why would he run away to your place when there are so many other places?’
‘You’re being ridiculous.’
‘You’re feeling guilty, aren’t you?’
Zhong Wei was annoyed and didn’t open the door. ‘Go reflect on your actions outside. No one can stand your temper!’ With a wave of her hand, the door lock was activated, and the highest level of security was immediately activated.
‘Hey…‘ Luo Zhu’s voice trailed off.
Zhong Wei walked to the window and watched Luo Zhu hammering on the big iron gate outside the wall angrily, kicking and punching. He felt a sense of relief. His elaborate security measures had worked a little. After two minutes of furious anger, Luo Zhu turned around and left. Zhong Wei was surprised. Did this guy give up so easily?
Ten minutes later, Zhong Wei suddenly heard a knock on the door:
’Open the door!’
Zhong Wei knew that the security was a sham and that it could not stop these wolves at all. Since they were already here, she could not let them go, so Zhong Wei opened the door. Luo Zhu rushed in, his face exploding with anger, and swung his fist directly at Zhong Wei. It was so fast that Zhong Wei was caught off guard – it really showed how weak Zhong Wei looked despite her delicate appearance. Luo Zhu was weak and explosive. Zhong Wei dodged a few times in a flustered manner, and was knocked down onto the sofa.
Luo Zhu’s eyes were bloodshot, and he mounted him directly.
He was about to start beating him up.
Bang –
it was Mu Wuhao who had arrived, and he punched Luo Zhu away with a single fist: ‘What are you doing!’ Luo Zhu turned around and started fighting with Mu Wuhao. Physically, Mu Wuhao was superior to Luo Zhu, but Luo Zhu was so full of rage that he had no sense of reason and smashed everything in his way. Mu Wuhao was hesitant, unable to display his full prowess, and while dodging, he was also fending off, taking a few crackling punches and suddenly turning a bloody mess.
Zhong Wei was distressed.
She was also furious.
She directly drew the prepared electric baton from the house and swung it at Luo Zhu, who let out a scream and rolled on the ground.
Creak – the bathroom door opened.
Xuan San came out with his upper body naked and a white towel around his lower body.
At this sight, he ran over to his lover, embraced him and anxiously asked, ‘Luo Zhu, what’s wrong with you?’ Then he looked up and shouted angrily, ‘What’s wrong with you two! Are you ganging up on someone! Two against one is fine, but with an electric baton? How much hatred do you have!’
Zhong Wei threw the electric baton and dragged out the toolbox, saying, ‘Accidental injury!’
Luo Zhu was in excruciating pain, but he turned around and held Xuan San tightly, saying, ‘Yujia, I’m fine!’
‘Nothing? You’ll be fine when you’re dead!’ Xuan San roared.
Without mentioning the four people flustered, Xuan San took care of Luo Zhu, and Luo Zhu began to act cocky. It hurt here and there, and if you didn’t know, you’d think he’d been hit with dozens of sticks. Xuan San fell for it too, and after taking care of him for a while, he kissed him. Zhong Wei was speechless: ’Do you want to go downstairs to the guest room to rest for a while?’
Once the two ‘demons’ had left,
Zhong Wei rolled her eyes as she cleaned the wound on Mu Wuhao.
‘You can’t even beat Luo Zhu?’ Zhong Wei laughed.
‘Who said that? I was afraid I would kill him!’ Mu Wuhao looked very aggrieved. He smiled faintly as Zhong Wei bent down to apply the ointment, then quickly made a sad face, ‘Ouch, it hurts.’
Zhong Wei let go of his hand: ‘You’re still as fragile as Luo Zhu, bear with it!’
‘It hurts!‘
Zhong Wei felt that he was faking the pain because there wasn’t even a drop of sweat, but it was so ridiculous that he didn’t want to burst his bubble. After applying the medicine, Zhong Wei got up and picked up the stuffed animals that had been thrown all over the floor. Suddenly, he felt a warmth behind him, and a bracelet was placed around his waist and covered his back.
’Let go.‘ Zhong Wei didn’t turn around.
’Sorry,’ Mu Wuhao didn’t let go.
Although Zhong Wei had come from the future, she didn’t need to feel guilty. But she shouldn’t start a new relationship while her old one was still going on. Although she had heard from the butler that the original protagonist and her eldest brother didn’t seem to have much of a relationship. Zhong Wei’s mind was in a mess, and she couldn’t refuse the embrace that made her feel so warm and tingly.
Zhong Wei made up her mind and pushed him away, ‘Stop it, it’s time to eat.’
At the table, there was a wide array of delicious food.
The chef also used all his skills, after all, it is rare to have guests.
Luo Zhuxuan and San naturally reconciled, Luo Zhu looked as if he was sorry for everyone. San was a little helpless and a little spoiled, and he put a piece of dragon fruit in Luo Zhu’s mouth. Luo Zhu’s mouth turned purple and red, and he gave a triumphant smile.
When a few men are eating, they have to talk about something.
So they talked about the eldest brother.
His name is Yuan Jiawen, 38 years old, with a fierce face that looks older than his years. He is crippled in his left leg. Yuan Jiawen has a gloomy personality and is ruthless in his methods. His history of getting rich is also very strange. When Yuan Jiawen was young, he was particularly down and out, so down and out that he had to live off a woman and was even kicked out. Later, he got a large sum of money from somewhere and gathered a group of brothers to start this company.
Miraculously, he caught the eye of Mu Wuhao, who was only 15 at the time, and invested a large sum of money.
This is how the company took off.
Xuan San couldn’t stop praising Mu Wuhao’s good judgement.
Mu Wuhao laughed and said, ‘Actually, it wasn’t me.’
Xuan San said, ‘What do you mean?’
Mu Wuhao let out a long sigh and spread his hands, saying, ‘I don’t have that kind of ability. My father is the real investor. He liked several companies and asked me to draw lots. I just happened to pick my brother’s company. All in all, it was my father’s good judgment, and I can only be considered lucky.’
Luck always goes hand in hand with money.
There’s nothing you can do about it.
The white-haired butler, who was serving nearby, smiled and said, ‘Anyway, the fortune is in Mr. Mu’s hands.’ After saying that, he tidied up the plates full of fruit peels on the table, inadvertently bumping Luo Zhu.
Luo Zhu’s face changed, and he patted his clothes hard.
The butler quickly apologized.
Zhong Wei felt very strange and asked Xuan San quietly what was going on.
It turned out that Luo Zhu hated old people, which stemmed from his hatred of his father. His parents had a very bad relationship, and there were rumours that his father had found a mistress. When Luo Zhu was eight years old, his father left after a fight with his mother without saying goodbye and never returned. The police came to investigate and once listed his mother as a suspect, but later there was no evidence and the case was closed. His mother was also strong-willed and left Luo Zhu to find happiness elsewhere.
Fortunately, the family was wealthy, and he was raised by his uncle, so he had no worries about food and clothing.
But he suffered from psychological damage.
Luo Zhu was particularly insecure, always worrying that his lovers would leave without saying goodbye. He was paranoid and could only feel at ease when he was in someone’s arms, which was why he was so strict with Xuan San—it was all a childhood shadow, a psychological trauma. His father had died young, and Luo Zhu hated the house and everything in it, and he hated all people with white hair, and by extension, he hated the elderly.
Luo Zhu was very dissatisfied: ‘Hey! What are you talking about? Everyone has psychological trauma!’
Xuan San glanced at Mu Wu Hao: ‘I don’t think Lao Wu has any.’
Mu Wu Hao suddenly looked miserable: ‘Yes!’
Zhong Wei was attracted: ‘Where?’
As soon as Mu Wu Hao saw that Zhong Wei was so concerned about him, he immediately beamed and talked about his trauma:
His dream was to become a pilot. In his third year of high school, an aerospace university came to recruit pilots. He passed the initial test with flying colours, and in other respects he was also very good, so it was a done deal. A few days later, while he was playing rollerblades, the road was as usual, with no people, no cars, and no roadblocks, except for a piece of cloth on the upper deck. He flew over it, and with a bang, he plunged directly into a deep pit.
He was rescued, but a long scar remained on his back.
For a pilot, this is fatal.
Now that it has healed, there is still a possibility of tearing if he is subjected to natural air pressure below the internal pressure of the human body in the future. Therefore, the re-examination was passed, and he was told that he would never be able to work in high-altitude occupations in the future.
Mu Wuhao was more desperate than death when he learned about it.
It was a dark period, confused and confused, causing trouble and fighting everywhere. Once he provoked someone from a black bar and almost got killed. Fortunately, he was saved by his elder brother by chance.
After Mu Wuhao finished speaking, he leaned against Zhong Wei and said, ‘I’m so miserable, aren’t you going to offer me any comfort?’
Zhong Wei: ‘…’
Zhong Wei thought to himself.
Everyone looks at the scenery, but behind the scenes, everyone is miserable.
Xuan Sansheng grew up in a family of prostitutes. His mother was cheated, he dropped out of school, and he almost also ended up in prostitution.
Luo Zhu grew up without his parents and suffered from psychological defects.
Mu Wuhao is better off, but he can no longer pursue his ideal career.
The protagonist, Ning, is also miserable, with his younger brother falling ill and himself being passed on to his older brother by his lover.
So it’s a little yellow book.
So miserable?
Xuan San raised his juice glass: ‘When the eldest brother was here, none of us ever got together. After he went in, we got to know each other instead. Isn’t that strange? This is fate. Let’s drink a toast! Cheers!’
These five younger brothers were all single-mindedly devoted to their older brother, but they weren’t drawn in a circle.
They didn’t know each other well, except for Xuan San and Luo Zhu.
Xuan San started chatting about this topic. After their older brother had gone in, they were only informed that they had a lover to take care of. He thought it was a lie and suspiciously rushed over, only to find out that it was true. In the past, their older brother had also had a few lovers, all of whom were uninhibited and never hid it.
Luo Zhuxin spoke bluntly: ‘Yes, I thought it was a lie too. Big Brother never showed affection.’
Xuan Sanxiao said, ‘Brother Wei, are you really lovers?’
Mu Wuhao said, ‘If only it were a contractual lover.’
Zhong Wei: ‘Nonsense!’
Zhong Wei has no memories of the past, and has searched for bits and pieces of information from the butler and others: if they are said to be close, they sleep in separate rooms; if they are said to have a bad relationship, the eldest brother has asked his brothers to take care of him. Zhong Wei really doesn’t know what the eldest brother is thinking.
Zhong Wei looked at the several people chatting happily, and a strange feeling welled up.
A strange feeling enveloped him.
That night, Mu Wuhao was slightly drunk and kept trying to lean on Zhong Wei. When he was rejected, he looked at Zhong Wei with a pair of aggrieved eyes. Zhong Wei eventually fled in a panic and ran into the bedroom. Mu Wuhao stood at the door of the bedroom for ten minutes or so, without knocking or saying a word. Zhong Wei held her breath, allowing the tingling sensation to spread throughout her body.
Zhong Wei decided:
I’ll go and meet my big brother Yuan Jiawen tomorrow.
Even if it’s a time slip, he can’t just fall asleep. He owns my brother’s house, runs my brother’s company, and cuckolds my brother. That’s not fair. Tomorrow, I’ll talk to my brother and settle things.
In December, it was snowing.
Zhong Wei had just arrived at the prison when she was taken to the interrogation room.
‘Has Yuan Jiawen contacted you?’ the man in charge asked.
‘No, why?’
“He escaped from prison!’
☆, Big Brother’s Lover [11]

[Chapter 58]
Big Brother Yuan Jiawan escaped from prison, which coincided with the end of the book, and Zhong Wei felt a chill rise. After rushing to the prison, he went straight home. Unfortunately, halfway there, he heard a sudden clunking noise. He quickly pulled over to the side of the road, but when he tried to start the car again, it wouldn’t start. After a while of fiddling with it, he gave up and had to call a maintenance company to come.
After waiting for half an hour, there was nothing to do.
Zhong Wei took out her laptop and took the opportunity to organise the information left by the original owner. The original owner, Ning, was also a workaholic and very organised. All his work was neatly arranged by project and time, so that everything was clear at a glance.
Zhong Wei browsed through it while tidying it up.
When sorting through Aning’s work at his previous company, she suddenly noticed something wrong. She looked at the file name, which said ‘Hetai Road Section 109’. A flash of inspiration hit her, and when she opened it, she was shocked.
‘Hetai Road’?
She quickly called Mu Wuhao: ‘Wuhao, what road did you fall on when you got that injury on your back?’
Mu Wuhao: ‘Let me check. Ah, Hetai Road.’
So, was it the ‘Hetai 109 Road Section’ project, which Ning was in charge of, that caused Mu Wuhao to get injured?
After this project, Ning was recruited by his older brother to work in his own company.
What a coincidence!
Mu Wuhao sensed something was wrong: ‘Brother Wei, what’s wrong? Where are you now?’
‘Yuxi Road. My car broke down.’
“I’ll come and get you!’
Zhong Wei sent his location: ‘Come over.’ Zhong Wei was not being pushy, he just felt an uncontrollable sense of the world—he couldn’t even control his own body, let alone the world. Zhong Wei sat in the car and looked around. It was quiet and empty, a little creepy. He played a song, and the soothing music drifted out. He calmed down and pondered it all, every detail.
—The An Feng incident.
—The Xuan San incident.
—The Luo Zhu incident.
—The matter of Mu Wuhao.
—The matter of the protagonist Ning.
They were clearly independent individuals, but it was as if there were many invisible strings connecting them.
A flash of inspiration came to Zhong Wei, and she picked up her phone and found the familiar name: An Feng. After An Feng left the company, he disappeared without a trace, and they lost contact. It rang for nearly half a minute before An Feng answered the phone.
‘What’s up?’ An Feng was impatient.
‘How did you and Xuan Yonglan meet?‘ Zhong Wei came straight to the point.
’Are you sick?‘
’You two didn’t meet by chance on the internet, did you? I think you may have been set up.‘
Zhong Wei dropped this bombshell straight away, and An Feng was shocked.
’It wasn’t a chance meeting.‘
’I want to know the whole story,’ Zhong Wei asked firmly.
When An Feng was 20 years old, he was particularly short of money and had no formal job. For a few months, he worked as a matchmaker, which was half a relationship fraud. One day, he finally received a text message for an interview, so he went there fully dressed. The place had a sex salon downstairs, and Xuan Yonglan was alone, waving at him, ‘Handsome guy, come and play!’
’…’
‘I’m busy right now, but let’s be friends and keep in touch!”
Xuan Yonglan stopped him, throwing him a seductive glance while saying her well-rehearsed lines, in a manner that suggested she would never add him as a friend. In the flesh trade, you have to add the contact details first? An Feng was so annoyed that he added her as a friend half-heartedly. After going upstairs, he realised that there was no company at the address on the text message, and he had been tricked. He returned with nothing, and when he saw Xuan Yonglan’s indiscriminate messages again, he suddenly had a wicked thought, and silently added Xuan Yonglan on WeChat.
In this way, he hooked up with Xuan Yonglan.
And there was what happened later.
Zhong Wei also lost her reserve: ‘Does Big Brother know that the two of us are teaming up to screw the company?’
An Feng scoffed, ‘What’s wrong with you today?’
‘I’ve lost my memory. I don’t remember anything from before.‘
’That’s strange.‘
’Does Big Brother know or not?‘
’Of course he knows. I gave you to him as a show of loyalty, didn’t I?’ An Feng exhaled a puff of smoke. “You agreed to be his mistress because you were blackmailed, weren’t you? Ning, at this point, what’s the point of asking these questions?”
So that’s how it is.
Ah Ning will be Big Brother’s lover, and she is being blackmailed.
Clang –
a branch hit the car.
Zhong Wei gave a start, a chill ran through her heart, and she seized the moment to ask, ‘You sent Big Brother to the police station, didn’t you? I’ve checked, that young man was paid to provoke him on purpose!’
‘What are you trying to say?’
“You’re still afraid of Big Brother’s revenge, so you’re taking the first move?’
An Feng suddenly laughed, sinisterly, with a hint of gritted teeth: ‘Big Brother is too unpredictable. His kindness may be fake!’
Clang!
Zhong Wei was startled.
Zhong Wei put away her phone, pushed open the car door, and the cold wind whistled. Looking around, the tall trees along the road were eerie.
‘Ah Ning, long time no see!’
A voice came out.
Zhong Wei was shocked and looked at a person walking out from behind the car: Yuan Jiawen. Like those images and photos, he looked gloomy, with little flesh on his cheeks, prominent cheekbones, and a face that had undergone suffering. Zhong Wei calmed down and said calmly:
‘Big brother, it’s you.’
‘Haha, I thought you would be scared shitless,’ Big brother laughed gloomily, ‘You used to be afraid of me, what, have you grown more courageous with Mu Wuhao?’
You’re worthy of the name Big Brother.
You’ve got everything under control even in prison.
Zhong Wei laughed, ‘Big Brother is joking. I’m not afraid. I heard that you escaped from prison. What are your plans?’
Yuan Jiawen looked at him and said, ‘You’ve really changed a lot.’
Of course, Zhong Wei wasn’t afraid at all, because he noticed that his hands and feet were normal and not a bit weak. As long as he could control his body, Zhong Wei was fearless. Big Brother is a person, and so is he. He is confident that he will not be outdone.
Yuan Jiawan took a step closer: ‘Ning, you really let me down! Before you went to prison, I told you to get the five of them to fight, but I never thought you’d all be having a peaceful meal together!’
‘…’
So my big brother was trying to use a woman to seduce them?
Was the whole thing with the erotic novel just a plot?
Zhong Wei suddenly realised. She never expected that the protagonist Ning would have such a mission to fulfil. What can you say? An erotic novel is carrying too much.
Yuan Jiawen: ‘It’s not convenient to talk here, let’s walk and talk.’
‘The car broke down.’
‘It’s been fixed.’
Presumably the car breaking down was also Yuan Jiawen’s doing. Zhong Wei shook her head: ‘Big brother, you drive away.’
‘Let’s go together.’
“It’s easy to be exposed, big brother, you’d better run away with my driver’s license.’
Zhong Wei refused to give in, which made Yuan Jiawan angry. His face darkened, and suddenly he shouted, ‘Come out!’ A dozen people came out of the forest, each of them hostile, staring at Zhong Wei. Zhong Wei was sweating profusely, but remained calm.
‘Big brother, what does this mean?’
“The consequence of disobedience!’
Zhong Wei watched these people approach, her palms sweating as she thought about what she could do to escape. Suddenly, a racing car flew from far to near, and a harsh brake noise stopped in front of it. A man jumped out of the car: Mu Wuhao!
Mu Wuhao suddenly raised a gun and pointed it at Yuan Jiawen: ‘Get out of the way!’
Yuan Jiawen pretended to be surprised: ‘I’m the eldest brother!’
‘No one is useful! Zhong Wei, come here!”
Although the gun is small, it can kill someone. No one dares to joke with their lives. Zhong Wei took another look and realised that Mu Wuhao was actually holding a toy gun. He suppressed his laughter, jumped quickly into the car, and Mu Wuhao flew out as soon as he stepped on the accelerator. A dozen people then wanted to chase after them, but Yuan Jiawen sneered, “Don’t worry, they won’t get far.”
Mu Wuhao was racing for a few minutes.
Suddenly, he saw a roadblock ahead, so he slammed on the brakes. The car skidded across the road and almost hit the railing before coming to a stop.
Mu Wuhao was about to curse when he saw that there were about twenty people surrounding him, all wearing green overalls for road construction.
‘They’re Yuan Jiawan’s men,’ Zhong Wei said.
‘Don’t be afraid.’
The toy gun was no longer a bluff, so Mu Wuhao jumped out of the car and shouted, ‘What do you guys want!
The men said, ‘Someone has bought your lives.’
Soon, Yuan Jiawan arrived with his men. The situation was tense, with more than 30 people surrounding them, making it impossible to escape. Zhong Wei felt a chill in her heart, not expecting to be in such trouble. However, Mu Wuhao gave a faint smile and took Zhong Wei’s hand. He felt a tingling in the palm of his hand and gently squeezed it.
Yuan Jiawan said with disgust, ‘How disgusting!’
Mu Wuhao laughed: ‘Aren’t you even more disgusting? Hitting your father, cursing your mother, and being thrown out is what you deserve!’
These words ignited Yuan Jiawan’s anger. He glared angrily and said, ‘Tie up these two dogs!’
With a crash, a dozen of his men tried to surround them.
They were blocked by more than twenty men in green overalls.
Yuan Jiawan was furious: ‘What are you doing? Look carefully, I’m paying!’
Mu Wuhao said: ‘I’m paying even more!’
Zhong Wei looked on in amazement as the twenty or so men in green overalls took off their clothes, their muscles quivering. They were clearly trained fighters. They waved their tools together, and the ten or so smaller men involuntarily backed away.
Mu Wuhao said: ‘Don’t worry, there are three more on their way!’
As he spoke, two cars sped up.
Three people got out of the cars: An Feng, Xuan San, and Luo Zhu. The three were in a hurry, clearly having been called in at the last minute.
Xuan San was shocked: ‘Big brother, why are you here?’
Yuan Jiawen: ‘Why are you here?’
Xuan San: ‘Wu Hao called and said there was a billion-dollar inheritance to be divided up, so we were told to hurry over!’
Yuan Jiawen: ‘…’
In the cold wind, the five brothers fell silent.
Zhong Wei started, ‘An Feng, you may never remember this, but you dug a big hole and caused a man to lose his leg.’
An Feng was shocked and looked at Yuan Jiawen sharply.
Zhong Wei continued, ‘An Feng will meet Xuan Yonglan, and it was Big Brother’s plan to make you harm Xuan Yonglan.’
Xuan San’s eyes widened, ‘What’s going on?’
Zhong Wei continued, ‘Luo Zhu, your father did die, and your brother was the murderer.’
Luo Zhu was shocked. ‘Do you have any evidence?’
All eyes were fixed on Yuan Jiawan, who of course would not admit it. He gave a cold smile and said, ‘Ning, what game are you playing? You can say whatever you like, but you can’t just say things like that! How could I be the murderer? I didn’t even know Luo Zhu’s father! And I don’t know any Xuan Yonglan!’
Mu Wuhao laughed, ‘Don’t know? You were first lovers!’
At this moment, someone walked out of the crowd.
She looked at Yuan Jiaman in surprise, and after a long while, she said, ‘Awen, is it really you?’
The lie was shattered in an instant.
Yuan Jiaman suddenly became furious, his eyes wide with anger, and he pointed at An Feng and Xuan Yonglan and said, ‘Yes! It’s you! If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t be like this, I just want to take revenge on you!’
☆, Big Brother’s Lover [12]

[Chapter 59]
All past events have causes and effects.
These people were the source of Yuan Jiamen’s suffering, and also the object of his revenge.
Those were Yuan Jiamen’s most difficult days, and everyone made his situation worse.
An Feng was only ten or so at the time, but he already had a wicked heart. He loved to tease people, and he dug a big hole and watched people fall in. That day, the unfortunate person who fell was Yuan Jiawan, and what was even more unfortunate was that he had already sprained his ankle, and this fall made him lame. Yuan Jiawan asked the An family for medical expenses, but the An family denied it and kicked Yuan Jiawan out.
The best time to treat Yuan Jiawan’s leg was missed.
Unable to work, he was fired as a result. Yuan Jiaming was so angry that he went to the boss to demand damages, but the boss’s attitude was particularly bad, and he scolded him out of the door. This boss was precisely Luo Zhu’s father.
He returned to the side of his lover Xuan Yonglan.
However, he discovered that his lover had become a person of the world. Xuan Yonglan informed him that she was already pregnant with someone else’s child, and that was the end of it!
It was a few years before Yuan Jiaming recovered.
He vowed to take revenge on everyone!
He knows the weaknesses of these people and takes advantage of An Feng’s shamelessness to make him meet Xuan Yonglan. Sure enough, Xuan Yonglan was cheated of everything by An Feng, which greatly irritated her and her mental health is not very good. She is leading a hard life with her son Xuan Sandu. He also took advantage of the fact that Luo’s father and mother arguing, he tricked Luo’s father into going to a deserted place to settle things. As a result, the stubborn Luo’s mother was interrogated as a suspect for months, and no one knew about Yuan Jiawan at all. He coldly watched Luo Zhu, Luo’s only son, suffer the pain of losing his father and mother.
An Feng is the culprit.
Of course, Yuan Jiawan will not let him go.
Over the years, Yuan Jiaman has used An Feng to do a lot of bad things, and has also obtained all the evidence of An Feng’s crimes in the company. He even deliberately walked into An Feng’s trap and went to prison. Yuan Jiaman just waited for An Feng to get carried away, and then suddenly appeared again, dropping all the evidence and sending An Feng straight to prison.
However, Yuan Jiaman did not expect that
his lover would appear out of nowhere.
Zhong Wei picked out An Feng’s affair with Xuan Yonglan, letting the lid on these unknown matters be broken. After Zhong Wei had driven An Feng out, she worked hard to get the company back on track and desperately tried to make up for the previous loopholes – the evidence that Yuan Jiameng had painstakingly dug up would sooner or later be filled in a proper way by Zhong Wei.
Moreover, the relationship between these subordinates suddenly became close.
There is no wall that does not let in the wind and the rain. The longer the exchanges, the more these subordinates will discover these coincidences.
Yuan Jiameng could no longer hold back.
He finally took action.
…
The truth is cruel.
It’s also very boring.
Just as Yuan Jiameng was about to be beaten to death by Luo Zhu, the police arrived and took away a group of people. Zhong Wei looked at the people in front of her, either petrified, outraged, or sad, and thought to herself: It’s still easier in Xiaohuangwen. Everyone is armed and ready to fight, and it’s physically enjoyable and refreshing. No wonder such a realistic story wasn’t written in Xiaohuangwen.
Zhong Wei got into the racing car.
The wind whistled, and her hair flew about.
This feeling was very familiar, as was the person next to her, Mu Wuhao. It was as if the two of them were constantly speeding through the wind. It was only a few months since they had travelled through time, and yet it felt like they had never stopped.
Mu Wuhao said, ‘Are you going to ask why Yuan Jiawan would do this to me?’
Zhong Wei: ‘Huh?’
In fact, I was wondering why I felt like an old friend when we first met, but it’s good to know the truth, so Zhong Wei is all ears.
Mu Wuhao said, ‘I just found out recently that Yuan Jiawan is my brother.’
‘Huh?’
“He has a bit of a sociopathic personality. He was rebellious from a young age, hitting my dad and cursing my mom, making the family a mess. After my father kicked him out, he went away to reform himself and had me, his little son.’ Mu Wuhao smiled helplessly, “He has never returned home, and my father and the others have never looked for him. But how should I put it, my father has actually been keeping an eye on him.”
On his 15th birthday, his father called Mu Wuhao and said he would give him a birthday present, and let him draw lots.
He would invest in whichever one he drew, and it would be named after Mu Wuhao.
The result was Yuan Jiawan’s company.
After drawing the lots, Mu Wuhao saw a ball of paper fall to the ground. He picked it up and saw that it was still the name of Yuan Jiawen’s company. Now that I think about it, maybe all the lots had the name of Yuan Jiawen’s company. This is the unspeakable love of parents.
Mu’s parents never went to the company, but Mu Wuhao, as an investor, occasionally went to the company for meetings. He usually didn’t care about anything, just waiting for the year-end dividends. Mu Wuhao didn’t know that Yuan Jiawen was his older brother, and he called him ‘big brother’ all the time. Yuan Jiawan thought that he had changed his name and his appearance had changed drastically, so he guessed that his parents didn’t know. He simply pretended to be deaf and dumb and adopted Mu Wuhao as his fifth younger brother.
‘He hates me and thinks that I have received all the love from my parents, so he dug a pit for me to fall into—the one that made him lame was also a pit. In his subconscious, he probably hopes that I will do the same,’ Mu Wuhao smiled helplessly, ‘When I fell, he probably also gave me a few hard kicks, alas.’
‘Do you forgive him?‘
’I don’t care. I don’t have any feelings for pilots anymore. It depends on whether Xuan Sanluo Zhu will let him go. These two have suffered enough, as has An Feng. I suspect that An Feng’s failure to find a job when he was young was also Yuan Jiameng’s doing.”
The past is intertwined, and it’s hard to say who owes whom.
The two are silent.
In the beginning, everyone is born naked. As they grow up through various experiences, they add layer after layer of colour to society, and eventually become different people.
Who is the person that Zhong Wei has saved through the judicial system?
Is it someone who knows nothing about the truth?
The end of December.
It is snowing heavily.
Zhong Wei puts away his umbrella. On the fourth floor of the art factory, someone waves at him, ‘Brother Wei, over here!’
Yuan Jiawan went to prison for murder and probably won’t be getting out anytime soon; An Feng was sentenced to a prison term for attempted rape; Zhong Wei left Yuan Jiawan’s company and set up on his own; Luo Zhu and Xuan San got together, but of course there were still all kinds of conflicts, which Zhong Wei had to mediate from time to time…
These things have subsided, and it’s now the present.
Xuan San said they would have hot pot together.
Zhong Wei braved the wind and snow to come, and Xuan San teased, ‘Why didn’t you come with Lao Wu?’
Zhong Wei: ‘Why should I come with him?’
It makes her angry just talking about it. When he was the older brother’s lover, Mu Wu Hao never came on to her, but now that he’s single, Mu Wu Hao doesn’t seek him out – so, does Mu Wu Hao have some strange hidden attribute, like liking to cuckold people? Zhong Wei thinks to herself.
Xuan San: ‘I could tell a long time ago that he had a thing for you. The first time I saw him, after you left, he was staring at your back for a long time.’
Zhong Wei: ‘Really?’
Mu Wuhao initially showed enthusiasm, but as the relationship grew deeper, he became more and more able to control himself, which really made people feel that he was like the wind.
Zhong Wei picked up a piece of beef and thought about a question: ‘Xuan San, what did you think when you first saw me?’
‘You’re so good-looking, such a good-looking lover, how come Yuan Jiawan never shows you off?‘ Now I understand. Yuan Jiawan likes women, and letting Ning be his lover is purely disgusting.
’You’re not even a little bit moved by seeing me?’ Zhong Wei teased deliberately.
Xuansan laughed, ’A bit too conscious, I guess. It’s true that I’m good-looking, but not to the point that everyone falls in love at first sight, right? Luo Zhu, what do you think?’
Luo Zhu glanced at him and said, ‘Not bad, he is quite handsome.’
Zhong Wei said, ‘No heart-throb?’
Luo Zhu gave him a strange look and said, ‘Why does it have to be heart-throb?’
It was strange. Mu Wuhao had clearly said several times that he was heart-throb at first sight, inexplicably moved, and couldn’t help but want to kiss, so why did Xuan San and Luo Zhu not have much of a reaction? According to the logic of the original book, everyone who met A Ning was aroused and erected.
Could it be that only Mu Wuhao is following the plot, and the others are just there to fill out the numbers?
Zhong Wei laughed at this thought.
He was shovelling the spicy hotpot when he suddenly remembered why there was no ‘progress chart’ for this story line.
Phew—
the door was pushed open, and a flurry of snow was blown in.
Mu Wuhao took off his hat, shivered, and stamped his feet in the snow: ‘So cold, so cold, so cold.’
Xuan San pointed to the seat next to Zhong Wei: ‘Sit down, what have you been busy with these days?’
Mu Wuhao: ‘The exams started this month.’
The two leaned against each other, but they were even more awkward than before. Mu Wuhao and Xuan San talked animatedly, as if they were avoiding talking to Zhong Wei. Zhong Wei was a little angry, and his mouth kept getting sourer and sourer. After they finished eating, a fire was already in his heart.
The two said goodbye and left.
It was still the dark factory area, and the tall trees were still dark.
Zhong Wei walked quickly, and Mu Wuhao caught up to him, ‘Brother Wei, wait for me!’
“Are you lying to me?’
‘What?‘
Zhong Wei couldn’t ask if it was the over-consciousness of love at first sight: “Fine, go home early!”
’I’ll give you a ride.‘
’No need. Zhong Wei got into the car quickly.
Mu Wuhao put his hand against the car door to stop him from closing it. Zhong Wei was angry and confused, looking up at him, wondering what the hell was going on.
“I’m not lying to you. I liked you very much the first time I saw you.’
‘…‘
’I feel very familiar, as if I have had a lot of memories. Every memory is very deep but I can’t recall them. I must have always liked you!’ Mu Wuhao smiled, his mouth trembling slightly, as if he were about to cry, “Now, can I chase after you?”
He suddenly confessed his love?
Zhong Wei’s anger instantly dissipated.
Familiar memories.
Maybe she really had amnesia.
Mu Wuhao leaned over and kissed Zhong Wei’s cheek lightly: ‘I’ll take that as a yes. Shall we start again?’
From the kiss on her cheek, she felt tingling spread throughout her body. Although it was the first time, it felt like she had been through this many times before. Zhong Wei turned her face to the side and kissed him without hesitation. After a long time, the kiss ended: ‘I’ll recommend a novel to you…’
…
Later, Zhong Wei looked for the ‘progress bar’ that symbolised the progress of the task.
However, he couldn’t find it.
Zhong Wei sorted through the anomalies in this world: in addition to not being able to find the progress bar as expected, the purpose of the task was also very ambiguous. He could not control his body freely, would lose control of Mu Wu Hao, and he was not as omnipotent as before. In short, it could not be explained by just the bug of going from the second dimension to the third.
One day, he confided his doubts to Mu Wu Hao again.
Mu Wuhao already knew that he had travelled back in time, and said nonchalantly, ‘Have you ever thought about it the other way around? You might be returning to normal.’
Zhong Wei was surprised. ‘Normal?’
In the normal world, there is no progress bar; the body cannot be purified at will like a robot; occasionally, it will lose control…
Zhong Wei was pondering this when Mu Wuhao kissed his eyelashes: ‘For you, this may just be a world line, and I’m just someone who appears in your dreams; for me, you are the lover I have been looking for a long time, and if I miss you, I may never find you again. Zhong Wei, don’t worry about the time, don’t care about the progress, just spend every minute and second with me now, okay? Don’t wake up, let’s just live like this, drunk and in a dream, okay?’
A passionate embrace burns away all thoughts, and Zhong Wei laughs as she clings to her lover.
One world, one life, one pair of people.

☆, Rival in Love [1]

[Chapter 60]
The clock ticks.
The door to the auction house opens suddenly, and professionals carrying briefcases file in.
Zhong Wei stopped in his tracks.
Zhong Wei, who had rushed into this worldline, felt empty and always felt like something had been forgotten or suppressed. The further back in time he remembered, the clearer it became, and the closer it got, the more it became a blur. He just couldn’t remember what had happened on the last worldline.
‘Did I fail my mission?’ Zhong Wei asked the system.
‘Very successful.’
“Then why can’t I remember?’
‘There was a major explosion when you left that affected the memory nerves.‘ The system was very laid-back, as if it was still drinking milk tea.
In fact, Zhong Wei could even smell the faint smell of milk tea. The system was supposed to be virtual, but at the moment it seemed like an invisible living person – which made Zhong Wei doubt that her own nervous system was disordered.
’Are you drinking milk tea?‘
’You can smell it?‘ The system was suddenly very surprised.
’Well, does the system exist in a physical form?’
‘Virtual. Programmers occasionally add some cute programs to us – am I cute?‘
’…‘
’By the way, do you have a love rival?”
This 360° turn of events left Zhong Wei confused for a long time. Wandering in the system’s world line for too long, she was filled with other people’s memories – Zhong Wei could only remember her name and appearance, and could not recall anything from her past life.
The system said thoughtfully, ’Never mind, here’s a story about rivals killing each other.’
Zhong Wei muttered, ‘Isn’t there a story about the quiet passage of time?’
‘Haven’t you had enough sweetness in the last world?’
‘What?’
This is the task, about a love rival.
Zhong Wei glanced at it: ‘The protagonist even has the same name as me?’
System: ‘I changed it automatically. Is there a problem?’
Zhong Wei: ‘No, you’re the ancestor of cheats.’ The system cheats by directly modifying everyone’s memories, and there is no reason to talk about it.
That’s good, he doesn’t have to change his name.
Zhong Wei scanned the story like a flash in the pan.
Zhong Wei and Jiang Yihong were childhood sweethearts, but they fell out because of Bai Junyu, the white lotus flower that fell from the sky, and they had not been in touch for many years. After graduating from university, Zhong Wei took over the company that her father had run into debt, and it was difficult to run, and she was in a very difficult situation.
When she was disheartened, Zhong Wei met Jiang Yihong.
After a period of mutual dislike, the two gradually repaired their old friendship.
However, the good times did not last long. A few months later, Bai Junyu, their first love, reappeared. After several twists and turns, Zhong Wei believed that Jiang Yihong was still deeply in love with Bai Junyu, so he wanted to make things clear with Bai Junyu. However, he happened to be stuck in the car during a typhoon, and in the last scene, he saw Jiang Yihong anxiously shouting at him, as a gust of wind and waves hit…
This was Zhong Wei’s regret.
Until the end, he had not received either love or friendship. If he had the chance again, he would definitely make the lovers and friends happy.
‘Mr. Zhong, go in,’
the capable voice of his assistant reminded Zhong Wei that he had arrived in the world of the original owner.
The world was very refreshing, with a blue sky and floating white clouds. There were tall buildings everywhere, and the blue glass curtain walls reflected a beautiful light in the morning sun.
It was a little bit familiar, like waking up on a distant summer evening, with cicadas chirping outside the window.
But in an instant, it was a hazy familiarity that made him forget what day it was.
‘Mr Zhong, time is almost up,’ his assistant urged.
‘Hm,’ Zhong Wei said, waiting.
Behind him, as expected, an elegant voice sounded: ‘Is that Zhong Wei?’
Zhong Wei smiled and turned around: ‘Bai Junyu?’
Bai Junyu, with his slender figure, excellent temperament, and face like the white moonlight: delicate, pure, and with peach blossom eyes containing a tenderness that is about to be spoken. Zhong Wei remembered that Bai Junyu caused a sensation throughout the school when he first transferred to the third year of high school.
Because it was an all-boys school with closed management, it was full of rough and tumble older boys.
Everyone had no resistance to this type of handsome boy.
Bai Junyu liked playing badminton. Whenever he came with his badminton racket, the empty court would immediately fill up. If someone had nothing to do, they would rather sit next to him and watch him play. Bai Junyu was really good-looking, and even the way he lifted his shirt to wipe away the sweat was incredibly good-looking. It was only natural that Zhong Wei and Jiang Yihong both fell in love with Bai Junyu at the same time.
Time does not rush beauty.
As the years passed, Bai Junyu became even more outstanding.
Even after travelling through many worlds, Zhong Wei still felt her heart throb violently, a lingering heartbeat from her youth.
‘So you’re Zhong Lao’s son, how is Zhong Lao’s health?’ Bai Junyu said with a smile.
“It’s okay, retirement is fine.’
Zhong Wei’s father, who runs a small real estate company, has been struggling to keep it afloat for all these years. With weak financial strength and insufficient capital, the company has not been able to obtain a suitable plot of land for two consecutive years. With idle employees and only expenses but no income, Zhong Wei has just graduated and has little business experience. He knows only that if the company cannot obtain a plot of land, it can be dissolved.
He came to the land auction today, hoping to acquire a small plot of land, K-325.
He wants to revitalise and revive the company.
Of course, land acquisition depends on connections, capital and many other factors. Zhong’s company is also fighting for its life, and has been tracking plot K-325 for more than two months, putting in a lot of effort. Their main competitor is company B, and the CEO of company B is Bai Junyu.
Bai Junyu smiles slightly playfully: ‘Plot K-325? Our company also values this plot very highly. Although it is small, it is in a good location, the plot is clean, and if we get it, we can develop it.’
Zhong Wei smiled politely, ‘We’ll see what luck brings!’
It had nothing to do with luck, just strength.
Company B was determined to win, and in the last life, no matter how many bids Zhong Wei made, Company B would continue to bid, and in the end, the K-325 plot of land fell into the hands of Company B beyond everyone’s imagination—from the results, it seems that because the land price was too high, the cost was also high, and Company B was also in distress. However, this matter completely dashed Zhong Wei’s revival plan in the last life, and she fell into depression.
They meet up with old friends.
Naturally, they exchange pleasantries.
Bai Junyu is in high spirits: ‘Are you still as close as ever with Jiang Yihong?’
Zhong Wei asks in return, ‘He’s not with you?’
In her previous life, Zhong Wei thought Bai Junyu and Jiang Yihong were together, but she later learned that the two had broken up eight hundred years ago. Now Zhong Wei is on a leash and knows everything, but of course she has to pretend to know nothing at the moment.
Bai Junyu was surprised: ‘We haven’t been in touch since high school.’
‘Me neither.’
None of the three had been in touch since high school. At this point, the assistant reminded Zhong, ‘Mr. Zhong, it’s time to enter the room.’ In his previous life, Zhong Wei had frequently raised his bidding card and had not competed against the powerful Company B. In this life, he chose to sit in the corner and eat melons, quietly observing the surging waves in the auction room. What puzzled him was that Bai Junyu occasionally glanced back, as if he were surprised.
‘The final winner of plot K-325 is Company F!‘
Company F?
Zhong Wei came back to her senses and realised that Company B had not aggressively bid a shocking price as in the previous life, but instead let an unknown Company F get it at a fair price, reaping the benefits.
’Why didn’t you raise your bid?‘ Bai Junyu asked Zhong Wei in puzzlement.
’I changed my mind.’
‘It’s a pity. I thought that the Zhong Group was determined to win, so I kept refraining from bidding for fear of driving up the price too high.”
However, in the previous life, Company B was ambitious and Bai Junyu had signalled his own manager several times to raise his bid, always outbidding Zhong Wei and ultimately driving up the price of the land to a level unattainable by the Zhong Group.
This development of the plot was too different from the previous life—Zhong Wei was puzzled.
☆, Rival in Love [2]

[Chapter 61]
‘Don’t you want to take this land, Company B?’
‘Of course we do. But I thought you, the Zhong family, wanted to take this land to revive the company, so you didn’t raise the price, and you pitied my sincerity. You gave up so easily.’ Bai Junyu was very unhappy.
Zhong Wei remembered,
it wasn’t like this in the last life.
Bai Junyu apologised to him, saying that it was the order of the majority shareholder that they must take that plot of land, so they repeatedly raised their bids to make the bidding price so high, and it was not intentional to go against Zhongshi Company. The original owner Zhong Wei smiled bitterly, thinking to himself that even if there was Company B, there were still CDE and other companies to get in the way, and Zhong’s company was doomed. After all, Company B was rich and powerful, and the cost was high, so at most there would be no profit; but for Zhong’s company, this was the line between life and death. If they couldn’t get the land, the company could not continue to sit around and would have to disband.
So, in this life, did the major shareholder not order that the land must be obtained?
Zhong Wei was puzzled.
But he was soon attracted by Bai Junyu’s clear smile, perhaps the remnants of the original owner’s youthful emotions. So when the other party suggested going to a cafe for a chat, he readily agreed, completely free of the frustration of a loser and the despair of being at a dead end.
‘You have a great attitude. You’re not at all anxious about the state of Zhong’s company.’
‘Everything rises and falls. Besides, it wasn’t me who got it into this state.’
“But you’re facing bankruptcy.’
‘The company has accumulated too many problems. If we continue to struggle, we will all be dragged down. Bankruptcy is not a bad way to stop the bleeding in time. Instead of spending the same amount of time and energy trying to eliminate the company’s various problems, it is enough for me to start a new business.‘
’Bankruptcy? Are you going to give up on this company?‘
’Yes.‘
’But your father still has a lot of confidence.’
‘Because that was his youth—I don’t want to waste my youth on a mess.’ Zhong Wei had thought it through thoroughly. There were too many problems with Zhong’s company, and he didn’t want to take over. He was still young, and there was no need for him to get caught up in Zhong’s father’s attachment. In the previous life, the original owner had been unable to shoulder the burden, and in the end, he had been dragged down into the quagmire.
While Zhong Wei was talking, he subconsciously ordered the other person’s favorite drink, a latte.
Bai Junyu beamed.
‘You still remember my preferences?‘
’I always do.‘
’You shouldn’t give up on the Zhong Group. After all, it was your father’s lifelong endeavour. Maybe a breakthrough is just around the corner. Why don’t you hang in there a little longer?‘ Bai Junyu said with righteous indignation.
’It’s better to break free sooner rather than later than to remain stuck in the quagmire.‘
’You give up too easily!’ Bai Junyu accused a little angrily.
Zhong Wei was taken aback. He thought Bai Junyu would support his actions. Because anyone with a little foresight would advise dissolving the company despite the pain—the cost is too high, so it’s better to let go and start again with a clean slate. As CEO, Bai Junyu should know this as well, so why is he advising Zhong Wei to stubbornly keep it going?
This wasn’t the case in the previous life either.
Zhong Wei imagined the scene in the café from the previous life.
‘I didn’t realise that the Zhong Group had fallen so low. You were very prosperous in the past,’ Bai Junyu said with emotion.
‘Everything has its ups and downs.‘
’It must be hard for you now, right?‘
’…‘ The original owner, Zhong Wei, was so embarrassed that he could not find the words to reply.
’In a predicament like your company’s, even if you manage to win the bid for the land, the follow-up funding and management will be a major problem.’ Bai Junyu, although the same age as Zhong Wei, had been groomed by his father since childhood as the heir, and was far more familiar with the company’s operations than Zhong Wei. ’Perhaps dissolution is a better option.’
‘How can I give up so easily without fighting to the end!’ Zhong Wei stubbornly insisted.
In his previous life, Zhong Wei was too young and had no experience at all. When he thought about the once-glorious Zhong Group, the fruit of his father’s labour, Zhong Wei felt that he was carrying too heavy a burden and was determined to live or die with the Zhong Group. That was why he wouldn’t listen to what anyone else had to say.
Bai Junyu smiled and passed him a business card: ’I’ll introduce you to an investor. You can ask him if he’s interested in your company!’
Zhong Wei recognised the name at first glance: ‘This person has a certain fetish. You should not get too close to him!’
Bai Junyu was curious: ‘What fetish?’
It’s probably something like S.M., where people are often taken to the hospital. Zhong Wei often went out with his father when he was young and had heard of this ‘celebrity’. After all these years, this old fox is still doing well — of course, this fetish does not hurt anyone, and this person does not force others, so it cannot be considered a crime.
After listening to Bai Junyu, Zhong Wei was shocked and said repeatedly that it was a close call, and she was lucky that they had not become deeply involved.
Previous life:
Bai Junyu had a clear understanding of the Zhong Group’s predicament.
This life:
On the contrary, didn’t she understand it? This really didn’t match Bai Junyu’s abilities and insight.
Zhong Wei asked after a moment of silence, ‘If I insist, what do you suggest?’
‘Let me introduce you to an investor.’
“Oh.’
‘Your company just has a weak capital chain. As long as there is capital injection, any company can come back from the dead.‘ Bai Junyu passed over the electronic business card of that notorious investor.
’Thank you. Do you know him well?‘
’He is very famous in the industry.’
Bai Junyu didn’t say whether he knew him well or not, but used this kind of ambiguous wording. Did he really not know the habits of that person? Zhong Wei tapped her finger against the name on the electronic business card and said thank you. Later, when they had coffee, Zhong Wei didn’t say much, just carefully observing Bai Junyu’s every word and action. He seemed innocent, but he was shrewd and experienced in dealing with people — in his previous life, the original owner had been so depressed and dispirited that he couldn’t even hold his head up in front of his first love, so naturally he hadn’t been able to see it.
Next, it was time to meet Jiang Yihong.
Zhong Wei walked into the bar.
Soon, some bar tenders surrounded him, trying to sell him alcohol in the name of conversation. Zhong Wei left the greenest one and ordered a few bottles of wine. While chatting with him, he watched the bar tender drink, and occasionally took a sip himself. Before he knew it, he had a few drinks in him, and Zhong Wei felt a wave of melancholy.
He didn’t want to doubt Bai Junyu’s good intentions.
But how could he not doubt.
‘Handsome guy, you drink too,’ the wine waiter urged him to drink.
‘Go get some more bottles,’ Zhong Wei boredly fiddled with the mechanical watch on his wrist. It was already half an hour past, why hadn’t Jiang Yihong shown up yet? He was slumped over the table, looking listless.
The wine waiter cheerfully went to get the wine.
As soon as he left, a shadow loomed up.
“Weizi, is that you?’
It was so familiar, with the noise of cicadas, the slight coolness of the bamboo mat, and a young man lying next to the bed, smiling and asking, ‘Wei Zi, are you awake?’ Zhong Wei slowly raised her head and, in a daze, saw a familiar but strange man with a stern expression, bushy eyebrows and starry eyes, and deep eyes—it was hard for the young man to look back, but even if he did, he would still be a young man—and suddenly, countless cicadas began to chirp loudly by her ear.
‘Really, getting drunk in a place like this, you’re not afraid of getting abducted,‘ Jiang Yihong reached out and patted Zhong Wei’s shoulder.
’No.‘
’You’re so drunk you don’t even have a shadow. Let’s go, I’ll take you back.‘
’Back where?‘
’Where else, of course I’ll take you back to my place.’
Zhong Wei was slow to react, and some memories came to mind: Jiang Yihong, her childhood friend, they grew up together, went to school together, and spent countless summer and winter vacations laughing and joking together. At first it was hazy, but gradually it became clearer, like a painting fading out and deepening layer by layer, combining to form the deepest memory in her mind.
In her previous life, Zhong Wei drank alone and got drunk and passed out.
In this life, her mind is clear, but she is dizzy.
The Zhong and Jiang families were originally neighbours, with their yards next to each other, and the two often climbed over walls to visit each other. In their third year of high school, the two fell out because of Bai Junyu, and it so happened that the Zhong company was declining, so Zhong’s father sold this mansion to realise capital to support the company, and the Zhong residence changed hands. However, it is still the same as the home in memory, with neatly trimmed roses and climbing bougainvillea on the walls.
‘We’re here, come down,‘ Jiang Yihong’s right hand pressed a remote control, and the Zhong residence’s door opened.
’Where is this…‘
’Your home.‘
I thought you sold it, how can I still go in.
’I was afraid the new neighbours would be difficult to get along with, so I bought the house. Are you drunk?’ Jiang Yihong pinched Zhong Wei’s cheek with his index finger and thumb, and shook it twice unceremoniously.
‘Get out of the way.’ Zhong Wei softly knocked his hand away.
Zhong Wei was not drunk, but drunk with the past. As a teenager, Zhong Wei loved to sleep in, and Jiang Yihong woke him up every time.

☆、Rival in Love [3

[Chapter 62]
Everything was very familiar: the low brick wall, the barred gate, the front yard half-vegetable and half-flower, the three-and-a-half-storey small and neat building, and a few pieces of laundry hanging on the balcony of the living room on the third floor. His mother, who had already passed away, leaned on the railing and looked down at them, speaking softly, ‘Xiao Hong, come in for dinner.’
Zhong Wei’s eyes suddenly welled up.
It was clearly the original owner’s memory, but why did it touch his heartstrings?
A mongrel dog dashed out of the courtyard and barked at Zhong Wei, the same yellow fur and slender figure, but it was not the old Huang of their home. Jiang Yihong drove it into the cage: ‘Your Huang died the following year. This is the new Huang. It looks fierce, but it doesn’t bite. Just look at it a few more times and it won’t bark.’
Zhong Wei stumbled.
Jiang Yihong grabbed him and said disapprovingly, ‘You can’t drink, but you insist on drinking. You’re asking for trouble!’
‘None of your business!’
“If I don’t care, you’ll get sold! It’s just that you didn’t get the land, but it’s not worth dying over! Your father’s company is in such a mess, it’s a good thing it’s gone bankrupt. Get out of it as soon as possible, don’t get to the point where you can’t even get rid of it.’ Jiang Yihong is furious.
He has been saying this for two lifetimes.
In the previous lifetime, Zhong Wei didn’t listen; in this lifetime, Zhong Wei doesn’t need to be persuaded.
Jiang Yihong gently carries Zhong Wei to his old bedroom, throws her onto the bed, and then pulls off his tie and sits down on the bed.
“You’ve lost weight since I last saw you. No, it’s just that I’ve gotten stronger.’
‘…”
The layout of the bedroom is the same as before. The bookshelves are piled with books, there are trophies and footballs, and above the windowsill hang wind chimes that tinkle when the wind blows. The windows face east, and outside the window is a luxuriant paulownia tree. On the other side of the tree is Jiang Yihong’s bedroom. Since childhood, Zhong Wei has pushed open the wooden window countless times and shouted, ’Xiao Hong, are you there!’ Either Jiang Yihong would push open the window and shout, ‘Weizi, come over to my house and play!’
Zhong Wei listened to the familiar sound of the bell and felt like he was still a teenager.
‘Are you drunk?’ Jiang Yihong sensed his sobriety.
‘No.’
‘Hmph.’
‘Why aren’t you with Bai Junyu?’ Zhong Wei asked bluntly.
Today he learned that Jiang Yihong and Bai Junyu had also broken off contact. Obviously, at that time, Jiang Yihong had chased Bai Junyu very seriously and they had already been together. In his previous life, the original owner was caught up in his own troubles and never asked this question.
Senior high school year.
Suddenly, there was a new student in the class: Bai Junyu.
Bai Junyu was handsome and soft-spoken. He sat at the front desk between Zhong Wei and Jiang Yihong, and during breaks he would turn around and lean over the desk to chat with them. His eyes were long and bright, and when he turned them, there was a starry sky in his eyes, and Zhong Wei quickly fell in love. As it turned out, before he could say anything, Jiang Yihong stammered one afternoon that he quite liked Bai Junyu.
Zhong Wei was very depressed: ‘Why do you have to compete with me for everything? I like him too!’
Jiang Yihong was thunderstruck: ‘You? Like him?’
‘Yes, he’s so good-looking.’
‘You only look at faces!’
‘Don’t you look at faces? If you don’t look at faces, why would you like him!’ Zhong Wei retorted defiantly.
The two started arguing. Although they had argued countless times since childhood, that time, unprecedentedly, they did not make up until the next day. On Monday, when Jiang Yihong was walking past the entrance on his way to school, Zhong’s mother called out to him in puzzlement, ‘Xiao Hong, aren’t you waiting for my Weizi? He’ll be done in a minute.’ This was how they reluctantly made up.
However, neither of them was happy.
They secretly competed to be good to Bai Junyu.
Bai Junyu was innocent and naive, and could not sense the thoughts of the two at all. He still went to and from school, played badminton and went to the showers with the two. He had a soft and pliable personality, and occasionally acted like a spoiled child. Whenever he did, Zhong Wei could not stand it and agreed to everything. No matter what Zhong Wei gave Bai Junyu, Jiang Yihong would immediately give twice as much in return, which made Bai Junyu very happy.
Once, Bai Junyu, in a moment of excitement, even playfully kissed Jiang Yihong on the cheek, and Jiang Yihong immediately blushed.
At that time, Zhong Wei felt lost, as Jiang Yihong was even more popular.
But he refused to admit defeat.
The two of them stumbled and stumbled, and their relationship with Jiang Yihong grew distant. They were obviously in the same class, but they didn’t talk much. That day, as the college entrance exam approached, Jiang Yihong ridiculed Zhong Wei for being too attentive to Bai Junyu, but unfortunately Bai Junyu knew nothing about it. Zhong Wei was furious and had a fight with him, and this time it was really a fight, with both sides saying very hurtful things.
‘If we’re going to compete, let’s compete completely. After the college entrance exam, the two of us will confess to him, and whoever he agrees with will be the one, okay?‘ Zhong Wei blurted out.
’Okay! Who’s afraid of who!’ Jiang Yihong stuck out his neck.
As soon as the college entrance examination was over, Zhong Wei immediately went to put her words into practice. She ran slightly apprehensively to find Bai Junyu, but Bai’s mother said with a smile, ‘He went to the street house with Jiang Yihong.’ Zhong Wei’s heart sank. She ran to the street house, which was a street of snack shops with pale blue walls, selling coffee, milk tea, buns, dumplings, etc. Zhong Wei walked all the way over and suddenly saw two people.
Bai Junyu and Jiang Yihong were each holding a cup of milk tea.
They were talking about something.
Suddenly, Bai Junyu playfully leaned over and took a sip of Jiang Yihong’s milk tea.
Jiang Yihong struck first.
Bai Junyu agreed to him.
Zhong Weixin’s heart sank. She no longer wanted to fight, and she didn’t have the courage to confront him. She simply stuffed the gift in the trash can and turned to leave. When it came time to apply for college, he deliberately applied to a faraway city, and then went on a trip. Strangely enough, Jiang Yihong, in a fit of pique, never contacted him again. They went to different universities and occasionally got together for parties, but Zhong Weixin never participated. He and Jiang Yihong were like complete strangers with no ties.
Zhong Wei put away her memories: ‘Why did you two break up? I wanted it so badly, but you gave up so easily?’
‘We never even held hands.’
‘Liar.’
‘I’m not lying!’ Jiang Yihong’s voice also rose. ‘I want to ask you too, you two went on a graduation trip together, and you didn’t even tell me! Even if we were rivals, we’ve been friends for more than ten years, you’ve gone too far!’
There was no such thing as a graduation trip.
That summer, Zhong Wei stayed in Tibet alone, feeling very depressed, and got a deep tan.
‘He went to Tibet, and you went to Tibet too. There are two Tibetans in our country?’ Jiang Yihong said unceremoniously, ‘Don’t hide it, I saw it all. You were hiding under a tree with him, kissing! Hmph! That’s disgusting!’
‘You’re such a feudalist. He even kissed you in front of me,’ Zhong Wei was angry and amused.
‘It’s different!”
Under the tree? Kissing?
Did that really happen?
Zhong Wei thought about it carefully and finally remembered: the day she received her diploma, Bai Junyu caught up with her and asked softly where she planned to go for fun. Zhong Wei remembered that he and Jiang Yihong had shared a tube of milk tea together, and she was in a bad mood. She said she wanted to go to Tibet for some fresh air, and Bai Junyu immediately said he wanted to go with her.
Zhong Wei thought to herself, ‘Three of us going? I’ll be the third wheel. Wouldn’t that be gross?’ For the first time, he refused Bai Junyu.
Bai Junyu was very disappointed. ‘Fine, I’ll go with Jiang Yihong.’
Zhong Wei was sullen. ‘Hm.’
The two walked all the way together, and when they parted, Bai Junyu suddenly said, ‘Zhong Wei, you like me, don’t you?’
‘Ah, I don’t!’ Zhong Wei was caught off guard and blushed.
‘I misunderstood.‘
Bai Junyu stuck out his tongue. He looked especially cute like that, with his red lips, white cheeks, and clear eyes. In the past, when he turned around, Zhong Wei, who was going through puberty, had wondered what it would be like to kiss him—anyway, since he was going to give up his chance with the other guy, it wouldn’t be too much to ask for a reward, Zhong Wei thought, getting hot. “Junyu, can I kiss you?”
’Why?’
‘For a souvenir.”
Although this souvenir was a bit excessive, unexpectedly Bai Junyu gave a shy smile, offered his left cheek, and smiled and closed his eyes: “You can kiss.” What a surprise! Zhong Wei carefully kissed him, gently, like porcelain. From then on, whenever Zhong Wei saw that kind of white translucent porcelain, her heart would soften, because it was his first love.
Is this what Jiang Yihong was talking about?
Sure enough, Jiang Yihong said irritably, ’It was the day I got my diploma! I only needed to take a quick look, but I had to stay and watch you guys!‘
’That was the farewell kiss.‘
’Hmph!‘
’I was just trying to help you two,‘ Zhong Wei said, explaining the reason.
’Really?’ Jiang Yihong fell back on the bed with a thud, dumbfounded and laughing as if he had been relieved of a heavy burden. ’I convinced myself for so long that I was trying to help you two, but it turns out you weren’t with him either! I thought he couldn’t stand your young master temper and broke up with you early!’
Boyish feelings are all about poetry. No matter how confused you are, you can hold back and not ask. After a while, you just don’t bother asking anymore, and all you remember is that you will never see each other again. The two people you were courting both stopped, and they both deliberately avoided each other. I’m sure Bai Junyu was also puzzled beyond words. Zhong Wei laughed silently. The familiar cool bed, the familiar cicadas, and the familiar wind chimes jingling in the wind.
What was meant to come would always come.
For example, the day of bankruptcy.
Zhong Wei’s father announced bankruptcy with a trembling voice, and there was a burst of sighs and emotions from the crowd below.
I had already guessed this result, it’s just that the period has been delayed again and again. The crowd was not as sad as expected, but several people were relieved, and the chief financial officer who had followed Zhong’s father for his whole life was full of emotion: ‘Lao Zhong, this ending is really good, don’t let your children get stuck in the old company and be unable to extricate themselves.’
‘I’m a little reluctant,’ Zhong’s father said sadly.
‘My old friend, you can’t help but miss the glory of the past. Our company has no core technology, just a bunch of debts and old issues that can’t be sorted out. No matter how much you miss it, you have to let go. Children have their own lives, and there’s really no need to rescue our company.’ The chief financial officer saw through it all.
People gradually left, except for the bankruptcy liquidation staff who came and went.
Zhong Wei took down the sign.
A hand reached out, accompanied by the familiar voice of Jiang Yihong: ’You want to take such a big thing home?’
‘My father misses it.‘
’Okay, I’ll take it back for you.‘
’I can’t go back. The house has been foreclosed.‘
’Then just leave it in my yard. It’s just sitting there.’
In his previous life, after many twists and turns, Zhong’s company declared bankruptcy. Zhong Wei had nowhere to go, so Jiang Yihong let him stay in the old Zhong residence. At first, Zhong Wei felt quite awkward, always feeling a lump in his throat, for fear that Jiang Yihong would take the opportunity to ridicule him. But after living there for a while, he discovered that Jiang Yihong only occasionally took advantage of the situation verbally, and in fact, quite looked after the mood of the down-and-out young master.
In this life, Zhong Wei is no longer awkward.
He took the initiative and said:
‘I have nowhere to live.‘
’You can stay at my place. You’ll take up less space than that big signboard. I can’t believe you’re asking for help. In the past, you were so stubborn that you suffered for it.‘ Jiang Yihong snorted.
’What about you? If you’re willing to ask for help, Bai Junyu will be yours now.‘
Jiang Yihong choked: “Hmph, why do I need him?”
’Don’t you like him anymore?’
‘…‘
’I tried the other day, he doesn’t have a lover right now, you can go after him.’ In the last life, I wanted to help but I couldn’t, in this life, if you say it sooner, you won’t be unable to say it again when a natural disaster strikes.

☆、Rival in Love [4

[Chapter 63]
It was a strange coincidence that Bai Junyu called at that moment to ask about the bankruptcy. Zhong Wei didn’t want to dwell on the issue and replied that she had already discussed it with her father and there was no need to worry about it anymore.
Bai Junyu said with regret, ‘I think the Zhong family still has some hope. By the way, have you contacted that investor yet?’
“No.’
‘He’s at our company today, do you want to meet?‘
If Bai Junyu just wanted to take the opportunity to meet with him, Zhong Wei would be quite happy: “I don’t plan to invest in anything for the time being, but it would be nice to chat. By the way, Jiang Yihong is right next to me, I’ll go over there with him.”
’Jiang Yihong?’ Bai Junyu froze.
The rooftop teahouse in the office plaza.
Bai Junyu was sitting alone, dressed like an elite, but the investor was nowhere to be seen.
‘Where’s the investor?’ Zhong Wei asked.
‘He had to leave, just in time not to delay our reunion,’ Bai Junyu was as cheerful as ever, surprisedly hugging Jiang Yihong and saying, ‘Yihong, long time no see.’ Jiang Yihong was a little stiff, patting his back.
Zhong Wei noticed that something must have happened between the two men.
Bai Junyu acted as if nothing had happened, while Jiang Yihong, who was not acting, was stiff.
Zhong Wei wanted to play matchmaker, so after a while, he found an opportunity to answer the phone and got up to leave for a little while, leaving the two men alone.
He stood on the rooftop, looking down, taking in the panoramic view of the city. There were countless roads and alleys, rising and falling, winding and twisting. Looking down, there was a long, steep slope on Yangliu Road in the distance. When he was a teenager, he and Jiang Yihong rode their bicycles down the slope many times, the wind blowing their loose blue school uniforms.
Now when I think about it, the wind was blowing so hard, and we were such good friends, I can’t understand why we fought like that.
We fought for years.
Just then, Jiang Yihong arrived, leaning on the railing.
‘Why aren’t you sitting over there chatting?’ Zhong Wei looked back, and saw Bai Junyu sitting alone, playing with his phone.
‘There’s nothing to chat about.’
“Oh, you were so in love back then.’
‘You know it was back then, not now.’ Jiang Yihong reached forward and pointed to the long slope in the distance. “That road is Yangliu Road, right? Back then, we had a race every day to see who could get to the top first. You lost seven times out of ten, and I let you win the other three times, so you’d keep competing.”
What a schemer.
No wonder Jiang Yihong’s performance was always so inconsistent.
Zhong Wei was unconvinced: ‘You’re just better at physical activities, and you’ve never been my match in terms of skill.’
Jiang Yihong shrugged: ‘That’s right, you’re better at Rubik’s Cube.’
Zhong Wei glanced back at Bai Junyu: ‘This is a rare opportunity, aren’t you going to catch up with your old friend? Are you scared? Yes, who wouldn’t be scared of their first love?’
‘Come on, can you stop bringing up this old stuff?’
“Did I hit a nerve?’
Jiang Yihong rolled his eyes and didn’t respond.
Zhong Wei couldn’t let his first love be alone, so he went over and had a few words with him, and in passing, exposed the investor’s hypocritical and beastly behaviour. Bai Junyu was as shocked as he had been in the previous life, and it took him a long time to say that he didn’t know, and that he only knew that the investor had a very discerning eye.
When they parted,
It was already evening.
The city had been renovated a lot in the past few years. Zhong Wei was looking for differences as he walked along, and suddenly he saw a familiar little barbecue restaurant. They used to eat here a lot, and as usual, the restaurant was a bit run-down, dirty, and greasy. The refreshments they had just eaten were too sweet and greasy, and they hadn’t gone down well. As soon as they smelled the barbecue, they were hungry.
‘Do you want to eat barbecue?’
‘Yes!’ Jiang Yihong said, smacking his lips. ‘First, 100 yuan’s worth of grilled beef tendon.’
‘That’s generous,’ Zhong Wei laughed.
There was nothing he could do about it. Prices had risen sharply. In the past, 30 yuan would have been enough to fill you up, but now 100 yuan would barely cover the bill. The skewers were fresh and spicy, and the more he ate, the more his appetite grew. The spiciness made him sweat, and the sweat made him even more energetic. Zhong Wei unbuttoned his shirt and let himself go, feeling like a teenager again.
Jiang Yihong burst out laughing: ‘I thought you’d changed, you look so refined, but it turns out you’re just the same as before.’
Zhong Wei retorted: ‘And you? You’ve been eating beef tendon for twenty years.’
‘Whatever, I like it!’
‘Try something else.’
“I’ll keep ordering it as long as I like it, I’m a loyal person.’
‘If you’re so loyal, you should go after Bai Junyu. I think he’s quite interested in you.‘ Zhong Wei has seen countless people, and she can tell that Bai Junyu is very relaxed around her, while Jiang Yihong sometimes seems a little confused and at a loss. Only someone who cares would behave like that.
’That’s enough. If you mention him again, I’ll get angry.‘
’Whatever.‘
’Do you still like him?”
Zhong Wei speaks her mind: ’I’m also a person who is loyal.’
Jiang Yihong took a sip of the ice-cold beer and said, ‘Hmph, if you were faithful, would you have argued with me so fiercely back then? At that time, we had been friends for more than ten years, playing around naked since we were young. Did you ever consider that? You’ve only known him for a few days, and you’ve already forgotten our friendship, giving me the cold shoulder every day. Back then, I did like him, but I didn’t have to like him. I just couldn’t stand your attitude.’
‘Childish or not,’
she said, eating the barbecue.
arguing with a small mouth.
Zhong Wei was very happy. It was obviously someone else’s story and someone else’s memory, but she was happy for him. Jiang Yihong also smiled, showing his white teeth as he bit into the greasy kebab and ate it in big bites. Time cannot be turned back to the past, but the stomach can. The stomach never changes. You like it or you don’t like it.
Back in the courtyard.
First, they saw the huge Zhongshi Company sign.
‘I’m really afraid that you’ll be stubborn and continue to mess with this broken company. To be honest, your Zhong’s company really doesn’t have a good reputation. The quality of the houses built in the early years was not very good, and the owners were upset, causing trouble every year. The reputation is bad, and no matter how hard you try, you can’t fill such a big hole. But damn it, the housing prices have been driven up by you.‘
’Our family can drive up housing prices?‘
’When the snow mountain collapsed, no snowflake thought it was their fault.’ Jiang Yihong scratches his head, ‘Okay, the past is the past, the future is the future, what are you going to do in the future?’
‘I’ll see.’
This mission is to help Jiang Yihong and Bai Junyu, and Zhong Wei only needs to find an ordinary task to live a carefree life. He has fought palace intrigues, family feuds, corporate battles, and cultivation chaos, but has never lived such a trivial and carefree life.
Jiang Yihong is a police officer in the Serious Crime Unit.
He deals with cases every day.
On a hot day, as soon as he returns home, he is covered in sweat. After taking a shower, he tells Zhong Wei about all kinds of cases that have gone haywire. Zhong Wei has nothing to do, so she asks a lot of questions and occasionally gives an idea. Within three days, their relationship is repaired. In the last life, the original owner was so depressed, and Jiang Yihong didn’t say much either, so the two of them were so depressed that they couldn’t suppress it.
One day, as soon as Jiang Yihong returned home, he rushed into the bathroom.
When he came out of the shower, his face looked terrible.
‘What’s wrong?’
‘Do you remember that investor Bai Junyu introduced?’
“Yes.’
‘Do you know a little celebrity called X? The official story was that she committed suicide by depression, but it was discovered two days ago that she actually suffocated while playing with that investor.’ Jiang Yihong felt sick just thinking about that smarmy investor. ’That little celebrity was very vain and owed a lot of debts. The investor used this to blackmail her, and that’s what happened—although the investor emphasized that it was an accident, we are investigating and he may be involved in other cases as well.’
In my previous life, I was too busy being disappointed and desperate to hear about it. We have different interests, so I can’t comment, but if it was a hostage situation, it’s criminal.
Jiang Yihong glanced at Zhong Wei: ‘Do you think Bai Junyu knows the investor’s character?’
‘I don’t know.’
‘Thank goodness you went bankrupt in time, otherwise if you had approached that guy, it would have been you who got into trouble.’
“Me? Hmph! I can make him get into trouble!’
‘Just you?”
Jiang Yihong snorted, then quickly and skillfully pulled Zhong Wei’s hands behind her back. He then casually pulled the long towel from his waist, wrapped it around her, and tied it. “See, he tied you up so tightly that you can’t even move.” Zhong Wei tugged, but it didn’t loosen, so she tried harder.
Jiang Yihong then took an ice-cold beer can and pressed it against Zhong Wei’s face.
Zhong Wei flinched.
‘Get it off!‘
’Go ahead and get it off!’ Jiang Yihong said smugly.

☆、Rival in Love [5

Chapter 64
Was all the training he had received as a special forces soldier for nothing? Zhong Wei used a clever technique to untie himself and, waving his now-free hands, he said, ‘What do you think? Are you convinced?’ Jiang Yihong could not let him get the better of him, so he rolled over onto the sofa, picked up a long towel and tied Zhong Wei’s hands again. Zhong Wei was quick to respond and was free again in no time.
Jiang Yihong, enraged, leaned over and pinned him down.
‘Move! Let me see you move!’
“Get out of the way!’
Jiang Yihong had the advantage of physical strength and skill. The more Zhong Wei struggled on the sofa, the more disadvantaged he became. He couldn’t break free, but he couldn’t admit defeat either. He had a brainstorm and started to pull Jiang Yihong’s shorts. Jiang Yihong hurriedly protected his only covering. Zhong Wei laughed, even more excited by the teasing. His hands kept sliding on Jiang Yihong’s bare body. Jiang Yihong suddenly jumped up and said, ‘I’ll go put on some long pants and see how you can still pull them off!’ Then he rushed into the bathroom.
‘Pfft! You call that a move?’ Zhong Wei laughed and opened a cold beer, taking a sip. It went down the back of his throat and warmed his belly. Too bad there was a bug in the system and he couldn’t purify his body. Otherwise, with his special forces training, he would have no problem dominating Jiang Yihong!
It took a long time for Jiang Yihong to come out. Zhong Wei glanced at him and said, “I thought you wanted to wear long pants?”
Jiang Yihong: ’Go to sleep!’
The Jiang family lives next door. Jiang’s mother passed away early, so the family hired a capable aunt to do the housework. More than ten years have passed, and the aunt has become an old lady, but the food she cooks is still delicious beyond belief. Zhong Wei goes to her every day for a free meal.
This day, for lunch, there was stir-fried dried radish and preserved pork.
It was crispy and sweet, salty and fragrant, and the slices of meat were full of preserved flavour. The rice was delicious even when it was still dripping with sauce. Zhong Wei ate another big bowl of rice.
‘I’m going to university.‘
’You and Hong had a falling out, didn’t you? Every time I asked about you during those years at university, he’d get angry, so I stopped asking.‘ His aunt smiled and ladled some tomato soup into his bowl. The tomatoes were also grown in the courtyard, small and sour, with a very authentic flavour.
’Mmm.‘
’Eat as much as you like. Hong asked me to make it yesterday. He never eats tomatoes.‘ The tomatoes in the courtyard were all ornamental plants.
’He’s not lucky in that department,’
Zhong Wei ate his fill, and after the meal, to help his digestion, as he had done as a teenager, he strolled to the east corner of the yard, where there was a well for pumping water. The yard had running water, but Jiang’s father was a fastidious man who disliked the taste of tap water and insisted on drinking deep well water. When he was a child, he would often get a lecture from his mother for playing in the summer and sweating all over, and then taking a shower with this well water.
Zhong Wei shook the well-rope up and down, and drew up a large bucket of well water.
The well water was cool, so he ladled out a spoonful and poured it over his feet.
At that moment, the door bell rang.
‘Hello, auntie, is Zhong Wei here?’
“Isn’t this Junyu? Come in!’
Zhong Wei turned around and saw Bai Junyu being warmly welcomed in. After not seeing each other for half a month, Bai Junyu still had an elegant bearing and a radiant appearance. The way he idly put his hands in his pockets looked just like he did when he was a teenager. Zhong Wei’s mood soared as soon as she saw him. The so-called first love is that even if you no longer have butterflies in your stomach, you are still happy when you see each other.
Bai Junyu said with emotion, ‘In my senior year, I often came here. I would stand here, call out to you, and you would come running over every two minutes or so, carrying a bowl of ice cream balls. I woke up from a dream and it’s now the present. Where did all the time go?’
‘You said you woke up from a dream, so of course you were sleeping,’ Zhong Wei laughed.
‘I often have insomnia.’
“What’s wrong?’
Bai Junyu said with distress, ‘I already sleep lightly, and I’m always thinking about work. I haven’t slept well for over a month.’
Indeed, under his beautiful peach-shaped eyes, there were faint dark circles. Zhong Wei moved two old rattan chairs over, one for each of them, and lay down in the shade. The rattan chairs swayed back and forth, the breeze blew through, and the trouser legs were blown by the wind, which carried the scent of nature. Bai Junyu closed his eyes, and in a moment, he fell into a sweet sleep, with long, curled eyelashes. No matter how many times you look, there is an unworldly beauty.
Zhong Wei recalled his middle school days.
One day, he ran over to the Jiang family to play and found Jiang Yihong and Bai Junyu sleeping in the same bed, their clothes neatly folded, a few tens of centimetres apart. Even though he knew that Jiang Yihong liked Bai Junyu, he still felt betrayed by the person he had a secret crush on and his best friend, both of whom had betrayed him. Zhong Wei was so angry that he turned his head and ran away. From then on, he looked at Jiang Yihong in an unfavorable light and made trouble for him in every way. At that time, he was really naive.
Bai Junyu murmured something.
Zhong Wei leaned over to listen, but there was no sound.
Zhong Wei looked at her book for a while, then at Bai Junyu, leisurely. Suddenly, she heard the voice of her aunt Gao Yang outside the wall: ‘Yihong, what are you doing standing here? Go inside, Zhong Wei and Bai Junyu are both in the courtyard.’
A few minutes later,
Jiang Yihong came slowly.
Bai Junyu slowly opened his eyes with a flicker of his eyelashes: ‘Yihong, you’re back?’
Jiang Yihong: ‘Yes.’
The main characters were all here. Zhong Wei said, ‘I’ll go get some fruit,’ and left, leaving the two alone—her heart was sour, not at ease, the feeling of being betrayed once again—not the original owner, but clearly duplicating the original owner’s complex emotions. Zhong Wei was distracted, holding a sharp knife in her hand, cutting the small tomatoes, half, half, half again… When she reacted, the tomatoes were cut into shreds, and the red juice flowed all over the counter.
‘What are you doing!‘ A voice came out of nowhere.
’Huh?‘
Jiang Yihong anxiously grabbed his hand, and when he saw it was tomato juice, he let out a big sigh of relief. He grabbed his hand and washed it under the tap: “I thought you were harming yourself!”
’Why would I harm myself?‘
’You’re from a wealthy family that’s fallen on hard times and can’t stand the disparity in life.‘
’I’ve been through it before.’
‘You’re lying again.‘
The water was warm and slippery. Zhong Wei looked up and saw Bai Junyu sitting half-reclined in a wicker chair outside the window, his face serious, not knowing what he was worrying about. At that moment, Zhong Wei’s hand was yanked hard, his knuckles tightening. He twisted his head and wrested his hand back: “What are you doing!”
’You like him that much!‘ Jiang Yihong was particularly unhappy.
’Don’t you like him the same way?‘
’Of course not. I was just in a momentary… Forget it, I’m not going to argue with you.’
Jiang Yihong said sullenly, tidied up the mess, and took out a watermelon from the refrigerator. As soon as the knife hit the skin, it cracked with a loud sound, the watermelon was ripe. He broke it in two, the thin skin and the red flesh were rustling. He handed the watermelon heart to Zhong Wei. Zhong Wei took a bite of the watermelon, it was obviously sweet, but it was sour in her heart.
‘Give it to him,‘ Zhong Wei said, pointing to Bai Junyu outside the window.
’Why?‘
’It’s a rare occasion, so can you be more positive!’ Zhong Wei was a little disappointed. “If you don’t seize the moment now, you’ll wake up and ten years will have passed, and it’ll be too late to regret it.”
Jiang Yihong was stunned: “Exactly, if you don’t do anything, you’ll wake up and years will have been wasted.”
Zhong Wei: ’Aren’t you going over there?’
☆, Rival in Love [6]

[Chapter 65]
‘I’m not going over there,’ Jiang Yihong said awkwardly.
‘Why are you embarrassed?’ Zhong Wei dried her hands and prepared to go out.
Jiang Yihong held him back and blocked the doorway, ‘You’re not allowed to go either!’
You’re too embarrassed to go yourself, and you don’t want anyone else to go, are you afraid that I’ll steal Bai Junyu away from you? The sour feelings began to ferment again, and Zhong Wei got angry: ‘If you like him, go after him. If you don’t, get out of my way and let me go. Don’t be so awkward.’
‘I don’t like him!’
You don’t like him? Who was the one who chased after him like a dog back then? Zhong Wei rolled her eyes, and in the corner of her eye she saw a rectangular lotus bamboo charm hanging on the door of the bedroom across the hall. She suddenly remembered the past: ‘You don’t like him? You’ve still got the charm he begged you for, and you say you don’t like him!’
‘Didn’t you ask for it for me?‘ Jiang Yihong was taken aback.
’It was Junyu who asked for it!”
Jiang Yihong’s face turned white. He walked up to the door, removed the bamboo slip, puffed up his cheeks, and looked particularly childish and playful as he glowered in anger, unable to speak. Zhong Wei laughed silently, glancing at the bamboo slip: “Sixth sign, medium-to-low luck.”
Zhong Wei had sharp eyes: ’Medium-to-low luck? Let me see!’
Jiang Yihong said angrily, ‘If I hadn’t thought you were praying for it, I would have thrown it away!’ Otherwise, who would hang an unlucky sign on the door?
Zhong Wei stroked the fortune on the bamboo slip: ‘Unique and double mountains, lonely love turns and turns, the Yangtze River has no faithful carp, the beautiful woman goes and does not return.’
She recalled what had happened at the time.
Before the college entrance exam, a new temple was built halfway up the mountain not far away. Zhong Wei’s mother asked Zhong Wei to go and ask for a good fortune charm to ensure that he would do well in the college entrance exam. At that time, Zhong Wei and Jiang Yihong were on bad terms, and Jiang Yihong had sprained his ankle, so he only invited Bai Junyu to go.
The new temple catered to the preferences of young people by putting out a lot of cute and interesting things around the temple. You could even take the fortune charm you got as a lucky charm.
Zhong Wei drew a good fortune charm and didn’t feel anything.
Bai Junyu’s face was pious, and he closed his eyes and prayed for a moment, shaking the stick and throwing it out: ‘Sixth sign: Wang Zhaojun and the barbarians: medium-to-low sign.’ Although he didn’t understand what it meant, the words ‘medium-to-low sign’ were very irritating. Bai Junyu’s face turned white, and he looked at Zhong Wei pitifully. Zhong Wei took it away, threw it back into the stick tube, and said with great aplomb, ‘Destiny is in your own hands, let’s start again!’
The next one was a very good sign.
Bai Junyu’s worries turned to joy.
Zhong Wei pondered that she should ask for a fortune for Jiang Yihong. Despite their conflicts, she decided to let bygones be bygones when it came to the college entrance exam. But Zhong Wei didn’t want to give in, so she egged Bai Junyu on, ‘Do you want to ask for a fortune for Yihong?’
‘Is that okay?’
“Sincerity is the key. It’s no problem. He wants to go to the police academy, so you should draw him a good fortune.’
‘What if you don’t get it?‘
’Then keep on drawing until you get the best fortune!’ Zhong Wei said firmly.
This sixth fortune was clearly Bai Junyu’s.
Could it be that Bai Junyu also drew the sixth fortune for Jiang Yihong? But at the time, it was clear that he had to draw the best fortune.
Zhong Wei was wondering what was going on when Jiang Yihong suddenly said, ’You’ve always liked him, haven’t you?’
‘You know the answer to that.‘
’I don’t want you to get together with him, but if it makes you happy, I’ll put up with it.’ After saying that, Jiang Yihong turned his head and went into his old bedroom. He lay on the bed with a loud thud – just like when he was a child and was sulking. He always did that, flopping onto the bed and waiting for Zhong Wei to tease him.
Zhong Wei was speechless, and carrying a watermelon, she walked out into the courtyard.
Bai Junyu looked inside: ‘Where’s Yihong? Why isn’t he coming out?’
“He’s having a fight.’
‘Is he mad at me for breaking our date the other day? I’ve been really busy these past few days. The company has meetings every day until after 10pm, so I really don’t have time to hang out.‘
’I see.”
Jiang Yihong had a date with Bai Junyu?
Then what was Jiang Yihong doing just now?
While they were talking, the assistant called again, and Bai Junyu said a few words in a particularly bad mood. Zhong Wei couldn’t help but ask him what was going on, and Bai Junyu told him everything.
It turned out that as the company grew, so did the conflicts, especially when it came to matters of interest. In Company B, the largest shareholder was Wu Lin, and the second largest shareholder was Bai Junyu’s father. The two had very poor relations, and the situation had reached a boiling point. The two could only survive one another. If Bai’s father lost, Bai Junyu would also be unable to stay.
‘So passive?’ Zhong Wei suddenly realised what Bai Junyu was going to say next.
“In fact, I have a solution!’
The group company speaks with the language of equity, and Wu Lin holds the shares very tightly, leaving the Bai family with no recourse. In the past few days, Bai Junyu has unexpectedly found a breakthrough point, a way to force Wu Lin to give up his shares: divorce.
As long as Wu Lin divorces and cuts a portion of the shares of Company B to his wife, the Bai family will be able to successfully become the largest shareholder and gain absolute control of the discourse!
Wu Lin’s marriage happens to have problems.
Wu Lin, when he was young, relied on his wife’s influence to get started and earn a family business that was the envy of others. However, as his power and wealth grew, Wu Lin cheated on his wife – although she knew about it, she kept quiet for the sake of appearances. Wu Lin also couldn’t propose a divorce because his wife’s family was still influential and they would inevitably face the issue of dividing their assets if they divorced. The two had therefore been living together with different dreams.
Zhong Wei remained calm: ‘But they just won’t divorce, what are you going to do?’
Bai Junyu: ‘Just force them to divorce!’
Wu Lin’s wife is stoic, but she still cares about her reputation. If Wu Lin’s affair becomes a big deal, it will force her to make the decision to divorce. So Bai Junyu asked, ‘How can this affair become a big deal that everyone knows about?’ After investigating, Bai Junyu discovered that Wu Lin has a mistress, a well-known host. The host is a celebrity in his own right, so this kind of scandal will definitely be trending on the search engines.
Zhong Wei was silent, and he remembered his previous life.
In his previous life, after the auction.
Bai Junyu said that Wu Lin had ordered that the plot of land must be obtained, which was why they had driven the bidding price so high.
Zhong Wei had no good feelings towards Wu Lin.
On hearing this, he was even more indignant that the person he had a secret crush on had also been driven to a dead end by Wu Lin.
Under Bai Junyu’s guidance, he attended a private dinner, secretly filmed Wu Lin’s cheating behaviour, and broke the news to a paparazzi team. The result was, of course, sensational. The search quickly shot to the top, and Wu Lin was quickly unmasked.
In this way, the host’s reputation was ruined, and Wu Lin’s wife divorced him in the midst of a landslide of public opinion.
Wu Lin was also forced to give up part of his stake.
However, this is not the end of the story.
Half a month later, the story took a turn.
The host attempted suicide, and his suicide note defended his innocence, saying that the video was taken out of context, and accusing netizens of generalising and killing with words. The effect of being on the weaker side of the issue created another trend online: sympathy for the host and accusations of the immorality of clandestine filming.
As a result, Zhong Wei was exposed, and for a time he was pointed at by everyone, accused of unfair business competition.
Zhong’s company was already in a precarious situation, and now it was completely declared bankrupt.
Under the heavy pressure, Zhong Wei almost committed suicide.
Later, he was rescued by Jiang Yihong.
In this life, how should this matter be resolved?

☆, Rival in Love [7

[Chapter 66]
A new life.
What should I do? Zhong Wei pondered.
Bai Junyu looked sad: ‘Some people are glamorous on the outside, but in reality they are in dire straits. My father and brother have devoted all their energy to the company over the years, and my brother has even ruined his health because of it. I really can’t believe that now the Bai family is going to be driven out by Wu Lin. I was going to find that investor to see if there was any way out, but unfortunately, he’s been arrested and won’t be released for a few days.’
“He’s a bad person, why are you still thinking about him?’
‘I have to fight to the end.”
Bai Junyu suddenly let out a long sigh, suddenly feeling vulnerable, and rested his head on Zhong Wei’s shoulder. Zhong Wei felt a flutter, and looked sideways at Bai Junyu’s face, top to bottom. His nose was straight and his eyelashes were long and long. It was impossible not to be moved. After all, it was someone he had a secret crush on—this was probably the feeling of having a secret crush—even though he knew that the other person was not as virtuous as he appeared, he was still the man of his dreams, someone he was willing to go to any length to please and make smile.
Zhong Wei reassured him, ‘Don’t worry, I’ll help you.’
‘How are you going to help me?’
“Take some candid photos and blow up the affair he’s having, forcing him to divorce and split the shares.’
Bai Junyu’s eyes lit up, and he gave him an electronic invitation: ‘Saturday is my father’s birthday, and we will invite Wu Lin and that person to attend. It’s a chance.’
‘Okay, I’ll see what opportunities there are.’
‘This matter must be kept secret.’
‘I’ll only tell Yihong.’
‘Yihong, it’s best if he doesn’t know too much either, but he’s a criminal investigator, and he should have a lot of secret filming equipment,’ Bai Junyu teased and pointed out.
‘Hm!’ Zhong Wei agreed readily.
‘Why are you helping me?”
In the previous life, Zhong Wei hated Wu Lin, but in this life, Wu Lin has nothing to do with it. It is time to find an excuse for all her actions. Zhong Wei said lightly, ’I have nothing better to do. I can’t bear to see you sad. You know, I…’
Bai Junyu’s eyes suddenly sparkled, his nose turned red, and he suddenly hugged Zhong Wei, burying his head in Zhong Wei’s shoulder. At this time, Jiang Yihong came out, his footsteps were particularly loud, as if he had deliberately stepped on them heavily. Bai Junyu slowly let go, a little flustered, he said, ‘I’ll go first.’
Zhong Wei: ‘I’ll walk you!’
As they reached the front door, Dahuang started barking furiously. Jiang Yihong didn’t stop the dog, but stopped Zhong Wei: ‘Stay here, or he’ll bite you!’ Zhong Wei stopped in the courtyard, with mixed emotions, watching Bai Junyu leave. After he left, the air became restless.
Jiang Yihong stabbed him, ‘If you’re so reluctant to let go, why don’t you just take him to the Bai’s?’
“What about you? You say you don’t care, but you’re secretly watching from the window!’
Zhong Wei was right. Jiang Yihong lingered by the window and left just as Bai Junyu was about to embrace him. It was clear that he was still unable to let go. When Zhong Wei first arrived, he had tried to bring Jiang Yihong and Bai Junyu together, and he had tried again just now. But every time they interacted, he would re-evaluate Bai Junyu. The young man who had made his heart race still had his full attention – every move Bai Junyu made, Zhong Wei’s heart would fill with a single thought: why was he doing that? What is his purpose?
This feeling is more like vigilance than that of a secret admirer.
He is a little lost.
Realising that he is actually very lost, Zhong Wei suddenly becomes alert: he is the saviour, he must remain calm, how can he empathise with the original host?
He remembered when he first entered the trial system. The system asked him what he could remember, and he could only remember his name and face. The system specifically reminded him that each time he travelled, he would have a different identity and play a different role. He must remember that he is the saviour, and must detach himself from the feelings of the body he is in. He must not become too emotionally involved, or else his mind will become disordered.
So every time, Zhong Wei would change his name back to his own.
He was also worried that he would forget.
He would not get too involved in the role, and would constantly remind himself that it was a virtual life. But this time, he could clearly feel, be touched, and be moved. His rational mind could clearly analyse Bai Junyu’s ulterior motives, but his heart was always defending the person he secretly loved. Why was he so torn? He could not get too involved in the role, and could not forget his mission.
Zhong Wei set aside his extraneous thoughts and pondered his next move.
In his previous life, Bai Junyu said that Wu Lin had an affair with the host Gu Yuqing, and the original owner Zhong Wei saw that Wu Lin and Gu Yuqing were very intimate at the banquet, and he didn’t suspect it either. After following them, he quickly took a video of the two kissing. In this life, as soon as Zhong Wei arrived, he immediately found out about these key people.
What surprised him was that the private detective had not found out about Wu Lin’s relationship with Gu Yuqing.
Did Bai Junyu lie? Or were these two hiding it well?
The host, Gu Yuqing.
In her early thirties, she is intelligent and beautiful, with a pair of almond-shaped eyes that are full of vitality.
Gu Yuqing hosts an emotional programme that is not very popular, but she is the spokesperson for a very famous milk brand, and her pretty face is well-known thanks to the advertising blitz on all the major TV stations. Gu Yuqing is not very famous, but because of her outstanding temperament, her dignified and elegant demeanour, and her frequent appearances in high society circles, she has always been single and has no steady boyfriend.
Wu Lin, on the other hand, is quite promiscuous and has three lovers.
Zhong Wei pondered another possibility: the two of them might be the kind of people who have a one-night stand, and if they don’t meet again, they don’t make plans?
Pop!
A hand covered the screen!
‘Do you like milk or do you like milk? You’ve repeated this ad ten times! Is she that pretty?’ Jiang Yihong said mockingly.
‘I like both! Are you free tonight?’ Zhong Wei closed the computer.
‘What for?”
Zhong Wei wanted to investigate Wu Lin and Gu Yuqing herself, so as to prepare for the next Saturday dinner. Gu Yuqing was the host, and was also invited to host some commercial events in her spare time. For example, tonight, a company was holding a business conference to celebrate its listing.
Jiang Yihong looked down upon this idea.
Zhong Wei didn’t press him, and changed into a suit herself. But when she saw Jiang Yihong, who had just been wearing his underwear, dressed formally too, with his sleeves rolled up his white shirt, she couldn’t help but say, ‘You look quite manly, don’t you?
’Nothing much, just going to blow off some steam,’ Jiang Yihong said, trying to cover up the fact that he hadn’t eaten dinner yet.
‘Hmph,’ Zhong Wei laughed.
This was Gu Yuqing, the host, with her correct pronunciation and elegant temperament, which was very much in keeping with the atmosphere. After the press conference, there was a dinner with glasses and cutlery exchanged. Most of the guests came with the aim of socialising, chatting and laughing. After Gu Yuqing finished hosting, she came down with a glass of red wine in her hand and was surrounded by several guests.
Jiang Yihong: ’Aren’t you going to go and get to know them?’
Zhong Wei: ‘No.’
Gu Yuqing looked charming as she greeted people, but she was not frivolous. She quickly got away from the entanglement, and after chatting with the chairman of the host organisation for a while, she left. Overall, the process was uneventful.
Zhong Wei followed her to this luxurious residential area, which was very beautiful. There was a large lake in the middle of the residential area. Zhong Wei gazed at the lake surface and suddenly thought of a question:
‘A villa this beautiful must be very expensive.‘
’It’s hard for most people to afford to maintain a villa.‘
’So…‘
’So she must have a secret lover.’ Jiang Yihong said what Zhong Wei wanted to say. “I noticed at the banquet just now that she didn’t linger for long at such a good networking opportunity, and hurried back. There must be something waiting for her at home.”
However, according to Zhong Wei’s intelligence,
she lives alone.
Secret lover – is it Wu Lin? Thinking of Gu Yuqing’s intellectual and dignified face, and her attitude towards the men at the banquet, Zhong Wei really didn’t think that she would be with Wu Lin for money.
‘Do you want to know?’ Jiang Yihong suddenly asked.
‘Of course.’
‘If you promise me one thing, I’ll tell you absolutely accurate information!’ Jiang Yihong suddenly said confidently.
“Promise what?’
‘Don’t go near Bai Junyu for half a month!‘
Zhong Wei laughed, listening intently to find out who Gu Yuqing’s lover was. She thought to herself, “How wary of me you really are.”
’Gu Yuqing does have a lover, and he is Bai Junyu’s brother, Bai Xian!‘
’Bai Xian? How do you know?‘
’I’ve seen him.’
It turned out that in his third year of high school, Jiang Yihong often visited the Bai family and got to know Bai Xian, Bai Junyu’s brother. At that time, Bai Xian had an ambiguous relationship with Gu Yuqing, and Jiang Yihong had seen them together. Of course, he had remembered this pretty young lady at once.
Jiang Yihong described it in vivid detail: ‘Gu Yuqing has always been a secret lover, even after Bai Xian was destroyed.’
Zhong Wei was suspicious: ‘What do you mean, destroyed?’
It turned out that several years ago, someone had escaped detection and brought in a human virus from Eastern Europe. Bai Xian happened to have come into contact with this person and had no immunity to this virus. He was instantly destroyed and it took a lot of effort to save him, but his heart, lungs and liver were severely damaged. There were rumours that even his reproductive system was destroyed and he is still weak. Bai Xian originally had a fiancée from a very powerful family, so the engagement was also suspended.
Bai Xian is very capable.
So some people speculate that it was done by a competitor.
Zhong Wei laughed silently, ‘No matter how stupid someone is, they would never resort to such a tactic in competition! You have to understand that once this human virus spreads, it will affect an entire city, not just one person. If they are caught, they will be executed immediately, right?’
‘In theory, yes.’
‘Rumor has it that it was Wu Lin who did it, right?’
‘No.’ Jiang Yihong looked at Zhong Wei and paused for a moment, ‘Rumor has it that it was your family, the Zhong family, who did it.’
Did the melon-eating incident involve his own family? Zhong Wei was embarrassed for a long time, and figured out the reason. In the early years, the Zhong company was one of the best in the industry, but it declined when Zhong Wei was in high school. At that time, Company B stood out, and Bai Xian, the main manager of Company B. Therefore, as soon as something happened to Bai Xian, all the blame was directed at the Zhong family, and Zhong Wei’s father’s reputation was not good.
Bai Xian.
A man who had never appeared in the previous life.
Zhong Wei immediately searched for information on Bai Xian and was shocked the moment she saw his face: Wow, he’s so handsome! With those eyebrows, that body, and that temperament, even if he were a waste, he’d still be a dragon among men! Jiang Yihong snatched the phone away from her and flipped to the information page: ‘Zhong Wei, I just realised what a shallow person you are. Can you stop looking at faces all the time!?’
‘Can I look past the screen and peer into his heart?’ Zhong Wei laughed.
☆, Rival in Love [8]

[Chapter 67]
Bai Xian lived in a beautiful place, secluded and unassuming.
It was not far from the temple.
In the private investigator’s report, there was also a record that Gu Yuqing would regularly go to the temple to pray, and everything made sense.
The next day, the weather was fine.
Jiang Yihong sat on the sofa in casual clothes, watching the news.
Zhong Wei was puzzled: ‘You’re not going to work?’
‘We haven’t had a day off in two months, and our boss gave me a few days off. Are you going to Duguang Temple?’ Jiang Yihong puts on his sun hat for him. ’Hmph, just thinking about it makes me angry. That time you two deliberately went to get an oracle without telling me, and ever since then I’ve avoided Duguang Temple.’
‘Because you hurt your leg, okay?‘
’Never mind! You two went behind my back!‘
’You’re a child. By the way, I’m not there for fun today.”
Jiang Yihong looked like he knew everything: “I know, you’re looking for Bai Xian. Bai Xian usually doesn’t see outsiders, let alone you being a Zhong family member. Without me, you won’t be able to see him.”
The mountain was originally nameless.
It was only after the Duguang Temple was built that the mountain got a name.
The mountain is neither strange nor dangerous nor beautiful, but it is quiet, with lush vegetation, many bamboos, and pristine mountains and water. Bai Xian lived in a large and secluded mansion with lush trees. The security guard dozed off from boredom. Jiang Yihong reported his name as a visitor to Bai Xian. The security guard reported this and let the two wait for ten minutes before ushering them into the courtyard.
They walked through the snow-white woody trellis.
and arrived at an open courtyard.
In the middle of the courtyard, a refined man sat in a wheelchair, his face stern: ‘Yihong and Zhongshao, you should have told me you were coming, I would have sent someone to pick you up.’
Bai Xian was 10 years older, and inherited Bai Junyu’s beauty, only slimmer and more composed, his brows slightly furrowed, his expression solemn. His face was slightly raised, and a fine radiance shone in the sunlight.
Zhong Wei was looking around when he felt a tug on his hand.
Jiang Yihong rolled his eyes.
‘Xian Ge, Zhong Wei has come to Du Guang Temple to pray for blessings. I haven’t seen you for a long time, so I came to see how you are doing,’ Jiang Yihong said naturally as he exchanged pleasantries.
‘I’m much better than before. The doctor said that I can return to work in three to five years after some more recuperation.’
There were tables and chairs in the courtyard, and the tea set had already been laid out.
A few people sat down.
Bai Xian came straight to the point: ‘I heard that Zhong’s company went bankrupt?’
Zhong Wei: ‘That’s right, my father wants to rest.’
Bai Xian poured tea for the two men with a light touch: ‘What a pity. I got a leg up in the industry thanks to Chairman Zhong. What are your plans for the future?’
On the way here, Jiang Yihong had reminded him that Bai Xian used to be a workaholic, and that if you engaged him in idle chatter about nothing but work and career, he would be shown the door in less than three minutes.
Zhong Wei dropped the bait straight away: ‘I want to try my hand at the herbal medicine industry.’
Bai Xian was interested: ‘Tell me more.’
Zhong Wei described the prospects of the industry. It might not be extremely profitable, and there were no shortcuts, but in the long term it was very promising and would also benefit people’s livelihoods. Bai Xian was intrigued and asked how the Zhong family could get started when they had no money at the moment. Zhong Wei had not been fooling around by travelling through so many worlds. He spoke eloquently about various ways.
The more Bai Xian listened, the more surprised he became, and finally a little more colour appeared on his cold face.
‘That sounds very interesting. I can consider investing.‘
’Thank you.‘
’Submit a plan as soon as possible, and I’ll make you my top investment target. Our company’s investment plan is more than halfway through the year, and we haven’t found a suitable project yet.’ Bai Xian casually swiped his phone to show it.
Zhong Wei came closer, listening to him talk about the projects while he commented.
The two suddenly grew close.
Bai Xian’s expression changed from serious at first to lively, with light in his eyes. He is a direct and sharp person, speaking with pinpoint accuracy and unique insights. Although he lives in the mountains, his vision is of the big world, and you can tell at once that this person is highly placed. Zhong Wei couldn’t help but refresh her perception: Bai Xian is definitely ten times more capable than Bai Junyu.
Only Jiang Yihong was unhappy.
As he watched the two men chatting animatedly, Jiang Yihong’s brows furrowed tighter and tighter, his face full of anxiety.
At that moment, the assistant came over and reminded him, ‘Mr. Bai, it’s time for you to rest.’
Bai Xian had a trickle of sweat on his forehead: ‘Yes, I’ve been outside for too long.’
Jiang Yihong: ‘You rest, we’ll go to Duguang Temple.’
Bai Xian: ‘I’ll take you two to the study.’
Jiang Yihong: ‘This…’
Bai Xian turned the wheelchair around. He was weak and pale, with the vulnerability of a sick beauty – clearly a strong personality, but so weak, a pity. Zhong Wei walked into the house with a sense of regret. Jiang Yihong was unhappy, so he reluctantly followed at the end, his footsteps heavy.
The room was bright, with an ideal temperature and humidity, a minimalist layout and a high-tech feel. One whole wall of the study was LED, which was switched on and directly connected to the data. Bai Xian explained some key points, and once the conversation started, he couldn’t stop talking. Jiang Yihong, who was standing nearby, was really bored. He looked here and there, unhappy, occasionally locking eyes with Zhong Wei, and immediately making a pouting face.
Zhong Wei was tempted to laugh, and clenched her lips hard.
She didn’t really feel like chatting anymore.
The assistant came again to urge them to take a break. Bai Xian was very clever. After giving the two a quick glance and looking at the clock on the wall, she didn’t insist on staying and told Zhong Wei to send the investment proposal as soon as possible. As soon as Jiang Yihong heard that they could go, he immediately dragged Zhong Wei away like the wind. As soon as they left the Bai family, Zhong Wei burst out laughing.
“Yihong, did you forget why we came?’
‘Who do you think I am?’ Jiang Yihong handed him the phone in a bad mood, “A secret photo album, a group photo.” The era was early, and the two were very young. Gu Yuqing looked at Bai Xian with affectionate eyes.
They used to be lovers.
Now they may not be.
Jiang Yihong, however, changed the subject and accused him discontentedly, ’Are you immune to people with the surname Bai? You fall for them at first sight. I’ve never seen you talk so much before!’
‘If I’ve fallen, you should be happy. You’re the kind of person who only feels alive when you’re competing with someone for someone else.
‘…Anyway, you’re too fickle!’
“Do I have to die for someone to be considered faithful?’
Zhong Wei was at a loss for words, and Jiang Yihong stopped talking. The two of them arrived at Duguang Temple without saying a word, and when they were about to burn incense, they noticed a familiar woman: Gu Yuqing. Gu Yuqing was dressed in plain colours, with very light makeup, and she closed her eyes in prayer for a long time, asking for a health charm. After she came out, she went in the direction of the Bai family.
It’s confirmed!
Just now, when Bai Xian looked at the watch, he must have also thought that Gu Yuqing would come.
If these two are lovers, why would Bai Junyu expose Gu Yuqing and Wu Lin? In his previous life, when the scandal broke out, it drove Gu Yuqing to commit suicide, and Bai Xian knew about it but didn’t blow his brother’s head off? Could it be that Gu Yuqing cheated on Wu Lin? So Bai Xian took his revenge on these two after he recovered—but Gu Yuqing’s pious appearance really didn’t look like he was cheating.
No matter which speculation is correct,
——Bai Junyu is using Zhong Wei.
Realising this, Zhong Wei put his hands on the trunk of the pine tree to cover his heart, and Jiang Yihong asked anxiously, ‘What’s wrong?’
‘I thought it would hurt a lot.’
‘Where does it hurt?’
‘Actually, it’s not bad, I can bear it.’
Jiang Yihong didn’t know what he meant, and without hesitation, he helped him up and walked towards the back of the temple. Zhong Wei hurriedly broke away and smiled, ‘It’s fine, just tell me more about Bai Xian.’
‘…‘
Jiang Yihong was annoyed and turned his head and walked away. Zhong Wei chased after him and said, “Yihong, why are you so moody? You can’t even mention Bai Junyu, and you can’t mention Bai Xian either. How about we talk about the origin of Buddhism!”
’…”
In the end, they talked about Bai Xian.
As the data said, Bai Xian was the real founder of Company B. At that time, he was underage, so he used his father’s name for various considerations. Unfortunately, the virus incident that year required a large amount of capital, forcing the Bai family to transfer a certain number of shares to Wu Lin, reversing the two major shareholders.
After Bai Xian fell ill, Wu Lin took charge.
The lack of ability of Bai’s father allowed the gap to grow wider and wider. It wasn’t until two years ago, when Bai Xian’s health improved, that he began to inquire about the company. Company B has been full of momentum in the past two years, and its style has changed a lot, precisely because of Bai Xian’s re-involvement.
Bai Xian is really weak.
He is also really impressive.
Jiang Yihong, however, disagrees: ‘Xian is good at everything, except for lacking a human touch. He is full of thoughts about the company and business, and it seems like he doesn’t know the meaning of emotion. There are some things that you can’t lie about. Did you see how Gu Yuqing looked at him just now? She must really like Bai Xian.’
The true delicacy is in the details that no one can see at the bottom of a drawer.
The expression behind her face is the true emotion.
No matter who Gu Yuqing is the lover of, and whether she is having an affair with Wu Lin, she must really like Bai Xian. Because she was kneeling so devoutly, praying for her lover’s safety, her brows were filled with the humility of begging for mercy.
But what has Bai Xian done? Bai Xian married into a powerful family in order to expand his influence, and the marriage was set and preparations were made for the wedding. Unfortunately, he later contracted a virus, and the marriage contract was therefore dissolved.
Gu Yuqing did not make a scene when Bai Xian got engaged.
Now, Bai Xian’s reproductive system has also been affected due to the virus, but Gu Yuqing still loves him as before.
No matter what has happened between them, Gu Yuqing’s love for Bai Xian is absolutely both patient, humble, and persistent to the point of making onlookers angry.
Zhong Wei wonders what the previous owner did.
He ruined a woman.
Zhong Wei also had a preliminary impression of what kind of person Bai Xian was – Bai Xian was capable and surprisingly direct, going straight for the heart of the matter. Bai Xian didn’t have a good impression of the Zhong family and had preconceptions about Zhong Wei, but as soon as he heard Zhong Wei’s train of thought, he immediately put aside his initial impression, which showed that he was very tolerant.
However, Bai Xian is indeed unsentimental.
He can only be a partner.
Zhong Wei was moved: ‘Yihong, what kind of person do you like? Someone mature, or someone pure and innocent?’
‘You’re just fine as you are.’
‘Are you teasing me?’
‘Of course! Are you serious?’ Jiang Yihong quickly turned his face away, ‘The person I like can be anything.’
That was as good as saying nothing.
The next day, Zhong Wei recovered the information: Gu Yuqing in plain clothes spent the night at the Bai family and left the next day, confirming the theory of secret lover. Zhong Wei then compared the information on Wu Lin: Wu Lin is the second founder of Company B. At first, he obeyed Bai Xian’s every command. During Bai Xian’s years of treatment after being infected with the virus, he took charge for several years. He couldn’t stand Bai Xian’s re-involvement, and the two had some conflicts, which have recently become intense.
Wu Lin’s character is OK, but his relationships are extremely shoddy.
He has had several lovers.
He and his wife have been living apart in name only for several years. The couple is maintaining their marriage purely because it is too troublesome and costly to divide their assets after a divorce. Zhong Wei leafed through some old information and suddenly discovered that Gu Yuqing also appeared in Wu Lin’s history.
☆, Rival in Love [9

The author has something to say: Forget yesterday, it’s the unblocking period! 5,000 long words are dedicated to you!
[Chapter 68
In the video of the establishment of Company B, among the few main members, everyone raised their glasses to celebrate. At that time, Wu Lin was in his thirties, raising his wine glass in one hand while naturally wrapping his other arm around Gu Yuqing, who was only sixteen or seventeen years old. Bai Xian, on the other hand, stood slightly further away.
Although young,
he had already formed a face that could not be mistaken.
However, in later images, Gu Yuqing also hosted events for Company B, and her demeanour was dignified, with no more intimate gestures with Wu Lin.
Zhong Wei investigated Wu Lin further.
Gradually, she began to form an idea.
On Friday morning, as soon as Zhong Wei opened her eyes, she saw Jiang Yihong sitting on the windowsill, enveloped in the morning light. The soft light looked like an overexposed photograph. Zhong Wei’s heart suddenly skipped a beat. Then she thought, ‘This isn’t my teenage years anymore, and those weren’t my memories.’
‘You’re awake?’ Jiang Yihong looked back at him with clear eyebrows and an unreal tenderness.
“When did you come in?’
‘Just now.‘
’So quietly, what do you want?‘
’What can you want me to do? What do you want me to do? The window on the east side is so comfortable. Back then, you always liked to push open the window and call me to go to school.’ Jiang Yihong smiled, her long eyelashes covering her eyes, faintly nostalgic for the old days.
‘I really envy you.‘
’What do you envy?‘
’I envy you for having me as your childhood sweetheart.”
Jiang Yihong laughed: ’Who should envy whom! You should be extremely grateful to have met me. With your former little master temperament, no child could stand it. And I was the only neighbour forced to play with you.’
The original owner was a bit spoiled when she was young and loved to boss people around. Jiang Yihong’s temper wasn’t much better. Whenever the two children met, they either argued or fought. They didn’t get along, and the more they fought, the closer they became—until they met Bai Junyu. Why was the original owner’s memory so stubborn and flashed back from time to time? It was obviously just a memory of a time slip. Zhong Wei jumped out of bed in distress.
Jiang Yihong looked away.
Breakfast was steamed dumplings. Jiang Yihong picked up one, dipped it in sauce, and put it on Zhong Wei’s plate. Zhong Wei took a bite. A mouthful of rich soup overflowed in her mouth. It was super delicious. As teenagers, the two wind-like teenagers often rushed to school while eating breakfast—no, this was the original host’s memory. Zhong Wei reminded herself bitterly once again that she did not have these attachments.
Today.
The two of them went to Company B together.
Jiang Yihong was reluctant to go, but Zhong Wei insisted. As soon as they were led in by the secretary, they saw Wu Lin rushing out of Bai Junyu’s office, his face full of anger, shouting, ‘Fine, close it! Bai Xian wants to close it, so close it! I want to see how you explain this to the shareholders!’
In the office,
Bai Junyu’s headache was unbearable.
‘I’m like a sandwich, stuck in the middle and no one likes me,’ Bai Junyu complained as soon as he saw her.
It turned out that in addition to real estate, Company B was involved in several other business sectors, with the chemical industry being another mainstay of the company, with several subsidiaries. Half a month ago, when chatting, Bai Junyu mentioned the subsidiary “Donglan Chemical Factory”, Bai Xian suddenly said in surprise: Donglan, how come I don’t know about it?
Donglan Chemical Factory.
Its official name is Mingtian Chemical Plant, and it is located in Donglan Village.
At meetings, the person in charge will use the name of the location to distinguish between the various branches. For example, this chemical plant in Donglan is referred to as Donglan. Bai Junyu has heard this many times, so he just said it. However, reports generally use the official name, and it was established after Bai Xian fell ill, so it is no wonder that Bai Xian, who has been bedridden, would not know.
Unexpectedly, Bai Xian took it to heart.
He immediately asked for all the information on Donglan Chemical Factory.
A week later, Bai Xian threw out a lot of data to prove that Donglan Chemical Factory’s pollution was too great, seriously affecting the surrounding environment and not in line with his philosophy. Therefore, this branch must be closed as soon as possible.
Bai Junyu was dumbfounded.
Because the Donglan Chemical Plant had very good performance, with red figures year after year, it was a benchmark for Company B, a major taxpayer in the region, and the only problem was that it was held accountable by the environmental protection department every year for pollution. However, this type of enterprise is more or less polluting, and other chemical plants also have it, and even the government turns a blind eye.
All the management did not understand Bai Xian’s order, and Wu Lin was even less willing.
Bai Xian ordered Bai Junyu to convince Wu Lin.
Wu Lin didn’t listen to Bai Junyu and shot back with a glowing performance report. Bai Junyu reported back to Bai Xian, who was furious and said directly, ‘If you can’t even handle a broken chemical plant, I don’t think you need to stay here anymore.’ Bai Xian’s anger was much more terrifying than Wu Lin’s, so there was no choice but for Bai Junyu to brazenly persuade Wu Lin again.
Wu Lin snorted.
He simply ignored him.
‘Yesterday, I arranged for them to meet so that they could sort it out themselves. But Wu Lin is just as stubborn as ever. What can I do?’ Bai Junyu’s brows were knitted in frustration.
‘Actually, Wu Lin did agree,’ Zhong Wei noticed.
‘Huh?’
“Think about what he said.’
Just now, Wu Lin said, ‘Okay, close it. Bai Xian wants to close it, so close it! I’ll see how you explain this to the shareholders.’ That was a concession. Previously, his attitude had been very firm, and he was unwilling to give in immediately.
Bai Junyu was overjoyed: ‘My brother is still amazing. Wu Lin was especially stubborn yesterday.’
Zhong Wei laughed: ‘What you should be most worried about is how to deal with the shareholders’ criticism and the placement of the employees of Donglan Chemical Factory.’ A company with red-hot performance suddenly shutting down will cause unrest, with more than a thousand people instantly losing their jobs.
Bai Junyu was particularly pleased and immediately arranged a meeting.
The two men saw this and tactfully left.
Clouds drifted by.
Zhong Wei drank an ice-cold soda.
‘Yihong, why does Bai Xian have to shut down Donglan Chemical Factory?’ Zhong Wei mused.
‘Because of the severe pollution!’ Jiang Yihong knew.
Six years ago, when the project was first set up, the villagers of Donglan Village protested against the factory, which would obviously pollute the area, and took the case to court. Company B’s formidable team of lawyers won the case and the chemical plant was built against all odds. Later, the chemical plant hired workers to alleviate the local employment problem and it also became a major taxpayer, so the opposition gradually died down.
Four years ago, there was a major explosion at the chemical plant, killing three employees, and a huge sum of money was paid out to settle the matter.
A year ago, someone did some research and found that the rate of birth defects in Donglan Village was surprisingly high. But Company B produced a lot of evidence to show that they operate according to standard procedures and that there are no similar situations around other branch chemical plants, so this data cannot be attributed to the chemical plant. This incident also did not cause a big reaction: Donglan has moved everything it can, and those who remain are the old, the weak, the sick and the disabled, who have long since become indifferent.
‘If Bai Xian is disgusted by pollution, why doesn’t he just close down the other chemical plants?‘ Zhong Wei asked suspiciously.
’He wants to stir up trouble?‘
’He wants to take advantage of the situation to suppress Wu Lin? No way! Shutting down profitable companies is like castrating yourself, and you have to face criticism from all sides. They pollute, but they support the local industry. The employees and the government won’t agree to it easily.’
What is Bai Xian up to?
He has a sudden idea and is very eager to act on it?
Company B has many industries and branches. In the past six years, Bai Xian has never had any doubts, but just hearing about Donglan made him want to find out more – which in turn shows that he must know something.
Jiang Yihong stretches his body: ‘I think it’s just a power struggle between the Bai and Wu families, but it’s also fine to go to Donglan and take a look.’
Zhong Wei laughs: ‘Let’s go.’
Donglan Village is located in a remote area, and the two of them were so shaken that they felt like vomiting.
It is a miracle that the chemical plant was built so far away.
However, thanks to the careful management of the operators, the chemical plant is still quite modern, with tidy factory buildings, safety slogans painted everywhere, machines roaring, and a distinctive smell of a chemical plant in the air. The employees wear masks and overalls and are busy and methodical. There is vitality everywhere, and it is hard to imagine that this company is about to be shut down.
Compared to the chemical plant,
Donglan Village is much more desolate. The air also smells of chemicals. There are few trees, and they are withered. Most of the village houses are scattered and dilapidated, and it is obvious that no one has lived here for a long time. Occasionally, a few old people can be seen chatting while swinging fans or watering vegetables.
The remnants of the past.
You can imagine that this village used to be very lively.
Zhong Wei and her companion wandered around the village. It was hot, and Zhong Wei saw a pond. She was about to go wash her hands when she suddenly heard a shout: ‘No!’ Zhong Wei was startled. It turned out to be a seven or eight year old child, but he was stupidly biting his finger.
‘Ghost, drag him away,’ the child said indistinctly.
“What?’
At that moment, an old man came over and rudely dragged the child away. After Zhong Wei had washed her hands, she noticed that there were many wooden stakes of different lengths around the pond, most of which were old and rotten. The two walked all the way to the east end of the village and saw an old ancestral hall.
Upon entering, they saw that the old ancestral hall was covered with all kinds of talismans, with the most being a kind of talisman with a circle in the centre and radiating lines around it, some new and some old and in a state of disrepair. Among them, one talisman was pasted under an old almanac, which was already more than ten years old, so it could be seen that the talisman was also more than ten years old.
Coincidentally, an old man came in to clean the ancestral hall and replace the fresh offerings. Zhong Wei took the opportunity to strike up a conversation and asked what the talisman on the wall meant, pointing to it.
‘Don’t point at it recklessly, this is a talisman to worship the gods,’ the old man said with a solemn and mysterious expression.
“What do you want the gods to bless?’
‘Pray for children and good health.”
So it was praying for prosperity and success for many generations? Zhong Wei suddenly remembered that these talismans were usually put up by people who had been married for a long time without having children, or who had inherited a genetic disease in the family, praying for healthy offspring. But this was usually done privately, and she had never seen them put up on such a large scale. Obviously, only a year ago, experts had concluded that pollution was harmful to health and caused birth defects.
Zhong Wei asked the old man why he had posted so many of them. The old man immediately set a stern face on and said warily, ‘Who are you?’
Zhong Wei laughed and said, ‘We’re just tourists.’
After the old man left,
Zhong Wei asked Jiang Yihong if something had happened in Donglan Village.
‘How did you know?’ Jiang Yihong was curious.
‘These talismans are not only for praying for children, but also for expelling evil spirits. If a shrine is covered in them, something must have happened.’ Zhong Wei pointed to the oldest and most obvious one, “It should be between 15 and 20 years ago, when they were most regularly posted.”
Jiang Yihong didn’t remember anything, so he asked in the group chat of their major crimes unit.
However, no one knew.
Just as the two were heading home, an old team member, Jiang, who was about to retire, called and said he knew something. Jiang Yihong’s expression changed after he got off the phone. Sure enough, something was going on.
Seventeen years ago, a few days after the New Year, Jiang, who was on duty, received a police report.
Someone had died in Donglan Village.
He and his colleague rode their bicycles over the mountains and across the rivers to the pond at the edge of the village. The deceased was a woman, drowned, and very pretty. Old Jiang investigated as usual and the information he gathered was surprisingly consistent: ‘This woman came here as a vagrant, had mental problems, and fell into the water by accident.’ The evidence at the scene ruled out murder, so Old Jiang figured that all that was left was to post a notice of missing person and close the case. Then a mute old woman pointed and gestured, and it took her a long time to get her meaning across:
“The baby is missing!’
It turned out that the woman had just given birth three days ago and her child had disappeared. It hadn’t been found in the pond.
Old Jiang asked, ‘Who’s the father?’
Everyone fell silent.
It turned out that the deceased had a brain problem. Last year, she wandered to Donglan Village and boarded with the mute old woman who lived far away from the villagers. She knew nothing about anything, so everyone called her ‘crazy woman’ behind her back. When ‘crazy woman’ first arrived, she was dirty and messy, with sores all over her body and a stench that was extremely disgusting. No one expected that after washing, she would be a beautiful woman with fair skin.
The young men in Donglan Village went crazy instantly and almost razed the old woman’s house. Some almost got into a fight.
The village chief had to step in and order everyone not to go near the woman.
The crazy woman was very quiet, never left the house, and stayed at home helping the mute old woman weave bamboo ware. A year passed quickly, and it was close to the New Year. When she occasionally went out, the villagers were shocked to see that her belly was huge, obviously about to give birth.
They did some calculations.
She must have conceived in the village.
The villagers were once again in an uproar, speculating about who the father was. The village was small, and nothing could be hidden. The mute old woman was deaf and confused, and said she didn’t know. The neighbours said that at night, men often climbed over the wall into the old woman’s yard, especially the two young men who were always fighting. The poor madwoman had gotten pregnant like that.
The villagers’ idle gossip could not push her to her death.
So she just waited quietly for the baby to be born.
During the New Year, the mute old woman went to the market and picked up a pair of blank couplets to put on the table. The crazy woman found a pen somewhere and wrote two lines of words on them, but they were ‘As the days increase, so does the years; as the spring fills the world, so does the courtyard fill with blessings.’ The font was beautiful, no different from what was written on TV. Everyone guessed that her background must have been good, and it was a waste.
Guessing is guessing.
Everyone waited for the baby to be born.
The day before yesterday, there was a loud cry, and the baby was born. It was wrinkled and you couldn’t tell who it looked like. This morning, the owner of the pond was preparing to net the fish for sale. As he was doing so, suddenly someone came up on the net. The owner of the pond looked and saw that it was the crazy woman – he was so scared that he sat down with a start.
The crazy woman was salvaged.
But the child was gone.
When asked, the old man Jiang angrily asked why no one had called the police sooner, so that they could help with the missing person’s notice. Everyone looked at each other, not saying a word. The old man Jiang understood: the men in the village were all despicable, and there were probably not many innocent ones.
Later, after investigating, the old man Jiang found traces of animals in the yard.
It so happened that there had been a wolf attack in the village.
Everyone guessed that the child had probably been taken by the wolf, and the madwoman had chased it to the edge of the pond and fallen in after spotting it. The case was closed. Old Jiang spread the word about the madwoman, and within two days someone came to claim the body.
It was the father, who was quite well-dressed.
He burst into tears as soon as he arrived.
It turned out that the crazy woman was his daughter, who had always been mentally stable, but had gone missing last year. The father reported the case to the police and also posted a missing person’s notice. However, Donglan Village is remote and isolated, and they never saw each other again. This father took back his daughter’s body. Old Jiang still remembers the face of the man who, despite his grief, finally broke down and wept.
The case was closed.
But the story didn’t end there.
After that, there were several strange incidents in Donglan Village. There were always strange children by the pond, dressed in white with dark eyes, who would suddenly appear, run away when questioned, and then disappear again. The villagers spread the news, and they performed rituals by the pond several times. That year, three more children were born, and strangely, they were all missing limbs.
The mothers of the children all broke down.
They questioned their husbands one after the other, and they all admitted to having climbed over the wall.
The people of Donglan Village were scared, and they said it was the revenge of the mad woman. At this time, the village chief secretly investigated and found that not many of the men in Donglan Village were innocent. He couldn’t just destroy the village like this, so he invited a Taoist priest to perform a ritual and posted many talismans, one for each household.
This calmed things down a bit.
However, occasionally, strange things still happened.
Several years later, when a new bridge was being built in Wu Village, it suddenly collapsed, killing several people on the scene. Among them were the two young men, who were crushed into meat patties. It was confirmed that it was definitely the revenge of the crazy woman. The villagers‘ first thought was not to call the police but to perform a ritual.
Zhong Wei leafed through the records: “Yihong, do you think there are ghosts in the world?”
Jiang Yihong asked in return, “Do you know about sleepwalking?”
’……Yes.’
‘Do you know why you shouldn’t wake someone who is sleepwalking?”
People who sleepwalk are in a state of dissociation between their actions and thoughts, and are unable to control themselves. Only the nerve cells responsible for movement are in control, and their cognitive abilities are basically zero. Therefore, even if you are an acquaintance, they will not have any information about you at that time, and they will subconsciously attack you. People who sleepwalk are many times stronger than when they are awake. For the protection of both parties, we cannot easily wake someone who is sleepwalking.
‘So, a sleepwalker never knows they are sleepwalking?‘ Jiang Yihong looked at Zhong Wei with a smile.
’Surveillance is a great invention.‘
’Surveillance is after the fact. How do you wake someone who is sleepwalking?‘
’I haven’t dealt with anything like this before. It is said that the best way is to gently guide the sleepwalker back to the bedroom.’ Zhong Wei thought with confusion, wondering how the conversation had gone from ghosts to sleepwalking.
Jiang Yihong looked at Zhong Wei and smiled at the corner of his mouth.
‘Do I sleepwalk?‘ Zhong Wei caught the hint of an unintelligible smile.
’No.‘
’Then what did you mean by smiling just now?‘
’I was thinking about how difficult it is for a person to break through their own perceptions, because you can never look at yourself from the perspective of an outsider, let alone wake yourself up.”

☆、Rival in Love [10

Chapter 69
That makes a lot of sense.
But what does it have to do with the case of the crazy woman?
Jiang Yihong looked at Zhong Wei and smiled again: ‘So you asked me if there was a ghost, and I can’t answer. Just because I haven’t seen it doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist, but I don’t have the ability to see ghosts, so how am I supposed to answer you?’
Zhong Wei gave him a blank stare: ‘It would be better if you just answered that you don’t know.’
Jiang Yihong just laughed.
When he laughed, he looked into Zhong Wei’s eyes.
Zhong Wei’s cheeks burned inexplicably, and the atmosphere was a little strange, as if they had encountered something they shouldn’t have. He lowered his head and continued to read the notebook on the bridge accident that the old man Jiang had sent him—because of the seriousness of the situation, the old man Jiang went to Donglan to investigate, and the results confirmed that it was a construction accident.
Jiang Yihong suddenly said, ‘I’ve discovered a problem. There is a pattern to these ghostly incidents.’
Zhong Wei: ‘Where?’
The number of ghostly incidents was highest at the beginning, and the number decreased as time went on. Putting aside those things that were just hearsay, most of the strange incidents with a slight hint of truth were concentrated around July, August, and the year before and after the Chinese New Year – summer and winter vacations? The two men arrived at the local police station after discussing it.
In the police station:
The old air conditioner was a bit hot.
The deputy director was Da Cong, the apprentice of the old Jiang head. Da Cong, with a full face of stubble, held out a pile of information and chatted away.
‘What’s so strange about the Donglan Village case? It’s just that it attracts handsome guys.‘
’Who else has been here?‘
’A boy who was ridiculously handsome. He was like ice, so good-looking and crunchy. I took special leave to go with him to Donglan Village, just in case he got tangled up with some crazy woman. Female ghosts like handsome guys too.‘ Dachong laughed.
’When was that?’
‘It’s been many years. I’ve never seen such a handsome teenager again.”
Judging from the time, it was before Company B was established.
Did Bai Xian come then?
Why did he come? What did he do? Bai Xian is 26 years old this year, so he shouldn’t have anything to do with this case, right? After all, the incident with the crazy woman happened 17 years ago, when he was only 11 or 12 years old.
[Chapter 69]
Saturday.
The dinner party came as scheduled.
Jiang Yihong pulled his tie off, ‘It’s strangling me.’
Zhong Wei helped him untie it, and then tied it for him with his hands in a circle. The two of them were very close to each other, and when Zhong Wei looked up after finishing, he saw Jiang Yihong looking at him deeply, and for no reason, his cheeks flushed. At this time, Bai Junyu walked over leisurely, threw a sly glance at Zhong Wei, and reminded him not to forget to take photos of Wu Lin and Gu Yuqing.
Zhong Wei returned a smile.
to indicate that it was fine.
Jiang Yihong couldn’t stand it anymore: ‘You two are making eyes at me, is that appropriate?’
‘It’s appropriate, isn’t Bai Junyu adorable like this?’
‘What do you like about him?’
‘His face.’
’…’
At this moment, there was a small commotion as Wu Lin arrived. Wu Lin was in his thirties and came from a wealthy family. He had inherited his father’s entire estate, which was why he had the capital to establish Company B with Bai Xian – a company that was well-known to everyone, because Wu Lin had mentioned his kind-hearted father on numerous occasions.
Zhong Wei went up to say hello.
The two had met before.
After all, being the boss of a large company, Wu Lin was arrogant and left after a few words. At this time, Gu Yuqing also arrived and flirtatiously greeted Wu Lin. Wu Lin’s eyes lit up and he immediately started chatting with Gu Yuqing. The two walked to the balcony while chatting.
Zhong Wei followed them very responsibly and secretly took pictures.
These two were indeed amorous.
However, in this life, Zhong Wei observed more carefully. He noticed that Wu Lin kissed Gu Yuqing’s forehead, but his hands did not move, and they were placed neatly at the waist of her skirt. The two were intimate, but there was a lack of desire – the desire of an adulterer that would burst out upon seeing each other.
After Zhong Wei finished filming,
Bai Junyu quietly asked how it was going, and Zhong Wei whispered that he would have to go back and watch it to find out.
Jiang Yihong forced his way in, holding a wine glass and talking about all sorts of things, so that Zhong Wei and Bai Junyu couldn’t whisper to each other. He even deliberately put his arm around Zhong Wei’s shoulders. Bai Junyu looked at the two of them with mixed feelings and said, ‘I noticed it before, that I’m superfluous among the three of us.’
Zhong Wei and Jiang Yihong: ‘…’
Zhong Wei firmly pushed Jiang Yihong’s arm away, and Jiang Yihong looked at him with a face of grievance. Bai Junyu smiled, pointed at the suddenly quiet doorway and said, ‘My brother is here, I want to go and see.’ The banquet that followed was grand but uneventful. Zhong Wei held a glass of wine and observed the people crowding around Bai Xian.
Bai Xian’s health was weak.
He said a few polite words and left.
In just a moment, Bai Xian was sweating with cold sweat. After being pushed into a separate VIP room, he told his assistant to go out as well: ‘I’m a bit tired, I want to be alone for a while.’ The assistant set out a first aid kit on the table, reminded him of the time to take his medicine, and left immediately. Bai Xian closed his eyes to rest for a few minutes.
Click, it was pitch black.
The power went out, and Bai Xian sat quietly in the blackness. In a moment, it lit up again.
At this time, there was a knock on the door.
Knock, knock.
‘Bai Xian, it’s me.’ Wu Lin’s voice was very calm.
‘Come in.’
Bai Xian took off the damp white towel from her forehead, and Wu Lin took it and skillfully took out a dry towel from the medicine chest.
‘Have you seen Zhong Laoren’s son? He is quite close to your family Junyu,’ Wu Lin changed the subject.
‘They were classmates.’
“Zhong’s Group has gone bankrupt.’
‘If I had recovered sooner, they would have gone bankrupt long ago.‘ Bai Xian was expressionless as usual.
’Old Zhong is getting senile. Even if you die and Company B collapses, will Zhong’s company come back to life? Old Zhong has never reflected on this. It was his greed and short-sightedness that brought Zhong’s company to its end.’ Wu Lin waved the dry towel and placed it on Bai Xian’s forehead.
‘In fact, I’ve never been able to figure it out. Once the deadly virus spreads, everyone will be finished. Why is he so crazy?‘ Bai Xian couldn’t believe it.
’Old man Zhong is reckless.‘
’He’s been in the underworld, and there are 100 ways to get rid of me.‘
’You’ve already ruined Zhong’s company, so why do you still care? To be honest, if he made you like this, I would fight him to the death!’ Wu Lin was very direct.
Drip, drip, drip.
The toolbox beeped, which meant that Bai Xian was due to take his medicine.
Wu Lin pressed a button on the toolbox, and a box popped up. There were several packets of medicine inside, and it was clearly written on each packet when to take it. Wu Lin carefully sorted them out.
‘Bai Xian, how many years have we known each other?’
“Fifteen years.’
‘Time really flies. Back then, when you wanted to partner up with me, I was thinking what could this little kid do, and I never imagined that this little kid would be so amazing. If you hadn’t caught that virus, Company B would still be under your control, and I, Wu Lin, would just sit back and collect the money.‘
’Fortune and misfortune come and go in an instant. Who could have imagined it?”
Wu Lin found the medicine packet, opened it, and placed it in Bai Xian’s hands.
Bai Xian held the pills in his hands and suddenly smiled.
‘Just say what you want to say, because if you don’t, you won’t get another chance.’
‘What do you mean?’
‘I’m not going to get out of here today, right? You’re afraid that I’ll reveal your secret, so you’ve come to silence me, haven’t you?’ Bai Xian in the wheelchair looked up at Wu Lin, his face still expressionless. ‘When the power went out just now, all the surveillance cameras disappeared, didn’t they?’
Wu Lin paused. ‘Yes.’
Bai Xian gave a strange smile, which was rare: ‘Why are you as stupid as old Zhong? Even if I die, will what happened disappear? Will no one ever know your secret?’
‘Of course not!’
Wu Lin grabbed Bai Xian’s hand and slowly lifted it upwards.
Bai Xian had no strength and could only watch as the pill got closer and closer to his lips. He closed his eyes.
Just as the pill was about to touch his lips,
Bang!
Bai Xian was thrown down with the chair, the pill scattered on the floor. Bai Xian lay on the ground, turning his head back with difficulty and saw an unexpected person: Zhong Wei. Zhong Wei stood between Bai Xian and Wu Lin, holding her phone up to Wu Lin’s face and saying, ‘Wu Dong, you’d better leave right now, or I won’t be polite!’
Wu Lin said sternly, ‘Zhong Wei, what do you want?’
Zhong Wei sneered, ‘Call the police.’
‘Don’t you dare!’
‘I dare if you don’t leave!’
Wu Lin said a harsh sentence and hurriedly left. Zhong Wei helped Bai Xian sit back in the wheelchair. Bai Xian was cold all over and leaned against the wheelchair in a state of exhaustion. At this time, the door opened with a bang. Jiang Yihong rushed in. He saw Zhong Wei and let out a sigh of relief. Then he saw Zhong Wei holding Bai Xian’s hand and became irritated again.
‘What are you two doing?‘ Jiang Yihong blurted out.
’He’s not feeling well.‘
’He has an assistant. Mind your own business.‘
’Bought off and useless,‘ Zhong Wei replied curtly.
Bai Xian suddenly smiled, very faintly, like ripples passing by: “I thought you on the balcony were also Wu Lin’s people, and I thought, don’t struggle.”
’Did you discover me early?‘
’I have a good sense of hearing.’
Zhong Wei was helpless. She didn’t know which world line it was from that she was no longer omnipotent. Obviously, in the past, she could hold her breath and not hear a thing. ‘You’re safe now, so let’s chat about Wu Lin!’
After a long time, Bai Xian said, ‘You should know by now, right?’
‘I want confirmation.’
That night, at an airport.
The flight to Country X was about to take off.
All the passengers waited, but to their surprise, the announcement came over the loudspeaker: ‘Flight XX has been delayed…’ Everyone let out a sigh of relief, thinking that the weather was fine and nothing unexpected had happened.
At that moment, the cabin door opened and several policemen walked in.
The policemen went straight to the first class cabin and came to a man with his cap pulled low: ‘Mr. Wu Lin, please come with us!’
…
Zhong Wei opened an old file and found a yellowed photo of a family of five: the stern father and loving mother. The three children in the front, the eldest daughter sitting by the piano, looking 17 years old, pretty and gentle; the second son, 12 years old, stubborn and arrogant, clinging to his sister; the youngest child hiding behind the second son, half his face showing.
Jiang Yihong said, ‘That’s so sad.’
Zhong Wei said, ‘Yes.’
Jiang Yihong: ‘Wu Lin must really love his sister.’
Zhong Wei: ‘Yes, he said he had to kill those people to feel at peace.’
Jiang Yihong: ‘I can understand. If you were treated that way, I would definitely want to kill everyone too.’
Zhong Wei: ‘…’
Zhong Wei gazed at the girl next to the piano, who was as beautiful as a flower. Who would have thought that a few days after the photo shoot, she would meet a man, be forced to have sex with him, and then be dragged into the forest and buried alive. Although she struggled to survive, she went crazy from the shock and was forced to live a miserable life in a strange village. After giving birth to a child, she ended her life in a cold winter night in a pond.
When her father brought back his daughter’s body, he was overcome with grief and blamed himself for not fulfilling his duty of care.
He began to drink heavily and numb his nerves to speak out his pain.

☆、Love Rival [11

Chapter 70
Wu Lin, the second son, never imagined that his beloved sister would turn into a corpse. Hearing the story, he became even more grief-stricken and angry. He immediately brought his sister to Donglan Village. At first, he just wanted to remember those hateful faces, so that when he grew up, he could take revenge. He never imagined that it would turn into a ghost story.
He was young.
But he was very paranoid.
He felt that this threat was not enough to let those people get their revenge, so he stole some potions from his father’s laboratory and put them in the water of pregnant women. He just wanted revenge, but he never expected that the children born to these pregnant women would have broken limbs – after all, there was no proper examination in such a remote village.
This behaviour caused a wave of panic.
Wu Lin felt twisted joy.
However, revenge only made him happy, but his family fell apart because of his sister’s death.
Wu Lin’s father, blaming himself for not being able to take care of his daughter, drowned that summer after drinking too much and hallucinating. He reportedly saw his daughter standing in the water. His mother had to take the child and remarry, and the new husband made one request: only one child was acceptable. His mother chose to take Wu Lin and gave up the youngest child.
Life was carefree.
Even the name was changed to that of the stepfather.
But Wu Lin’s heart was still full of hatred, so every summer and winter holiday he would definitely go to Donglan. No one knew how he had fooled everyone, always pretending to be a god and causing chaos in Donglan Village. Even so, his heart was still manic. The more he looked at these people, the more his blood boiled. He had to make these people suffer the consequences of their own actions.
Finally, an opportunity arose.
He and Bai Xian discussed setting up a chemical plant, and he immediately suggested that it be located in Donglan.
Bai Xian disagreed.
He thought Donglan was too remote and that all kinds of costs would be high.
But Wu Lin was very persistent in recommending Donglan, and when Bai Xian found that he could not be convinced, he went there himself to investigate. As a result, he discovered an old story from a few years ago, and the crazy woman turned out to be Wu Lin’s sister. Bai Xian didn’t know what Wu Lin wanted to do, but he just knew that it could never be located in Donglan. Therefore, Bai Xian rejected Wu Lin’s proposal based on various factors such as personnel costs, and strongly established it at the current headquarters.
‘Why didn’t you call the police?‘ Zhong Wei asked.
’In my opinion, Wu Lin only has the motive, but not the action. Besides, hatred is something that usually fades away.’ Bai Xian remained indifferent.
However, after Bai Xian’s illness,
Company B’s strength was far greater than when it was first established, and Wu Lin couldn’t wait to build a chemical plant in Donglan.
Playing God and making things up can only scare people, but it cannot cause any real harm.
Only then did he begin to truly harm Donglan Village.
The chemical plants of Company B all operate according to standardised procedures, but this was not the case in Donglan Village. Wu Lin had tampered with them. He had planted pollution deep underground, making the land unsuitable for living, weakening anyone who came into prolonged contact with it, and causing deformities in newborn children. Wu Lin was very patient. For five, ten, or fifteen years, he wanted to make the people of Donglan Village miserable for the rest of their lives.
Therefore, when Bai Xian, who had just recovered from an illness, regained control of the business of Company B, he knew that things were definitely not good when he heard the word Donglan.
He understood as soon as he looked it up.
In the past six years, the Donglan Bridge had collapsed, the chemical plant had exploded, and there were various statistics on the villagers of Donglan…no one would believe that it had nothing to do with Wu Lin. Bai Xian immediately asked Bai Junyu to negotiate with Wu Lin to shut down the Donglan Chemical Plant. Of course, he didn’t say why, and naturally Wu Lin was unwilling. Until that day, the sandwich cookie Bai Junyu could no longer bear it and arranged for them to meet.
Bai Xian laid out all the evidence.
Wu Lin admitted it and agreed to shut down the Donglan Chemical Factory as soon as possible.
Unexpectedly, at this banquet, Wu Lin decided to silence Bai Xian. When that didn’t work, Wu Lin immediately got on a plane to escape, but he was unexpectedly arrested.
This incident became the headline.
The scandal that had angered Donglan Village years ago was all dug up.
Justice and condemnation came too late, but at least they came, and those involved will be morally condemned for the rest of their lives. As for Wu Lin, all that can be said is that when someone hates to the extreme, it is already abnormal. He is hateful and pitiful. Some people scold him for having no morals, while others praise him for being vindictive and uninhibited.
‘Wu Lin deserves either the death penalty or life imprisonment,’ Zhong Wei felt mixed emotions.
“He may have been prepared for this a long time ago.’
Bai Xian lowered his head and continued to go through the medical project proposal that Zhong Wei had handed him. Bai Xian looked extremely quiet and indifferent. For someone in the centre of business, he was as indifferent as an academic and as nihilistic as a Daoist, which was truly unbelievable. After a long time, Bai Xian suddenly glanced at the photo of the business start-up on the wall, revealing a hint of melancholy.
A flash of lightning passed, and Zhong Wei understood.
Even without Donglan Chemical, if Bai Xian wanted, he could have sent Wu Lin to prison.
But Bai Xian didn’t. Bai Xian just followed the rules of business and earned back the shares that originally belonged to the Bai family. Perhaps, in Bai Xian’s heart, this kind of victory is the happiest—something like uncovering the past and sending a partner to prison, Bai Xian probably never thought about it. It can be said that his moral values are indifferent, but it can also be said that he is a pure person.
‘Bai Xian, do you have a lover?‘ Zhong Wei asked.
’No.‘
’Do you want one? What kind do you like?‘
’Huh?’ Bai Xian rarely looked up, squinting slightly as he gazed at Zhong Wei.
Zhong Wei smiled and leaned forward, about to ask again when she suddenly heard a loud thud from the table. Jiang Yihong had slammed the table with his hammer, his expression annoyed, his mouth pursed in silence. Zhong Wei exchanged puzzled glances with him, asking what was going on. Bai Xian glanced at the two of them and continued going through the hundreds of pages of the plan.
Jiang Yihong dragged Zhong Wei into the courtyard: ‘What does it matter to you what kind of person Bai Xian likes?’
“Maybe I’m his type.’
‘You’re not the type to like…‘
’I don’t like Bai Junyu anymore, I like the type of Bai Xian, is that not okay?’ Zhong Wei said with justification. “From today onwards, Bai Junyu is yours, are you happy?!”
Jiang Yihong was so angry that he couldn’t speak, his veins were bulging: “How can you be so fickle!”
Zhong Wei was furious: “Do I have to hang myself on just one tree?”
The atmosphere froze.
‘Hey, that’s too much! Am I an object? Can I be given away so easily? I’m clearly a bridge ladder, and you two just came and went over and over and then threw me away.’ A plaintive voice interrupted their conversation.
The two were embarrassed and only then did they see Bai Junyu arrive.
Next to him was Gu Yuqing.
After exchanging pleasantries with everyone, Gu Yuqing skillfully went into the house to find Bai Xian.
She had just left, and Zhong Wei rudely pulled Bai Junyu aside and questioned him as to why he had asked him to secretly film Wu Lin and Gu Yuqing, knowing full well that Gu Yuqing and Bai Xian were a couple. Wasn’t this putting him in an unjust and immoral position?
Bai Junyu was particularly embarrassed and defended himself, saying, ‘I rarely come to my brother’s place, I don’t know their relationship.’
“Even Jiang Yihong knows, how can you not know?’
‘I really don’t know!‘
’Okay, even if you don’t know, is it appropriate to pit Gu Yuqing like this?”
Bai Junyu said indistinctly with his hand propped against half his face: ’I just often saw Gu Yuqing with Wu Lin together and felt that the two had an unusual relationship, so I asked you to take a closer look. I’m not trying to catch Gu Yuqing out.’
Zhong Wei clearly remembered that in the previous life, Gu Yuqing and Wu Lin did have an ambiguous manner, and the original owner was definitely not making it up. Although the original owner was reckless, he was not blind. He saw the intimacy between the two with his own eyes before spreading it on the Internet, triggering a series of events that followed.
Zhong Wei thought for a moment and suddenly smiled, ‘Bai Junyu, was it your brother’s idea?’
Bai Junyu’s face changed: ‘It has nothing to do with my brother!’
“Then whose idea was it?’
‘…‘
In the study.
Bai Xian leaned back in his chair and read the company report.
Gu Yuqing poured him a cup of hot water, which Bai Xian indicated to be placed on the table. Gu Yuqing offered to massage his shoulders, but Bai Xian shook his head and refused. So Gu Yuqing sat quietly next to him and watched him.
Bai Xian looked up: “Have you found a boyfriend?”
’You know who I like.‘
’But it’s impossible for us now.‘
’I still like you.’
‘Sorry, I can’t respond to you! At that time, I was too young and thought that having a crush was love, so I rashly decided to pursue you. But I have never cheated on you. After I discovered my true feelings, I confessed to you, and I don’t think I owe you anything.‘
’I have never blamed you,‘ Gu Yuqing smiled.
’Really?‘
’Really.”
Bai Xian wanted to say something but stopped.
Gu Yuqing smiled and gazed at him.
‘Why did you make Bai Junyu come and frame me!‘ Zhong Wei’s voice came from nowhere. For a moment, the study was quiet, and Gu Yuqing’s face changed, before quickly returning to normal. Bai Xian, on the other hand, looked at the two of them with confusion.
’What did you say?’ Gu Yuqing smiled.
‘You, why did you let Bai Junyu set me up and ask me to take compromising photos of you and Wu Lin?’ Zhong Wei looked unhappy and asked, “You deliberately let me fall into your trap and expose the two of you, what was your purpose!”
It turned out that
everything was at Gu Yuqing’s behest.
Seeing that she had been exposed, Gu Yuqing did not argue, but said lightly, ’Of course it was for Bai Xian, to get Wu Lin out of the way!’
Zhong Wei sneered, ‘You’re his sister, and you’re going to get him out?’
Bai Xian’s eyes widened.
Gu Yuqing’s face turned white, ‘What did you say?’
Zhong Wei flicked through the messages on her phone and pulled out the photos, ‘Back then, Wu Lin had an older sister and a younger sister. You’re his younger sister! You can deny it, but there’s always evidence to prove it!’
The ghost in Donglan Village.
It was the young Gu Yuqing.
That’s why Wu Lin and Gu Yuqing seemed extremely close. And Gu Yuqing set up the scheme, and was able to convince Wu Lin to act along. In the previous life, Gu Yuqing said that she had absolute proof of her innocence, but unfortunately the original owner died young and didn’t know about it — it seems that this proof was naturally the sibling relationship.
Zhong Wei spoke with authority: ‘You set up this scheme not to get rid of Wu Lin at all, but to frame me! Why? I have no grudges against you, just because I am a Zhong? Or because you are guilty in your heart!‘
’What am I guilty of?‘ Gu Yuqing sneered.
’Bai Xian’s illness!‘
’Nonsense!”
Zhong Wei laughed, with no trace of a smile in her eyes: ’You schemed and schemed, and poured all the dirty water on my father, just to cover up what you did yourself!’
☆, Rival in Love [12]

[Chapter 71]
Bai Xian was shocked.
Back then, someone had entered the country while sick, and the virus was extremely deadly and contagious. Unfortunately, Bai Xian had contracted the virus, causing her body to be completely destroyed. There were rumours that Zhong Wei’s father had done it, and Bai Xian had not spared the Zhong Group over the past few years.
Gu Yuqing glared at Zhong Wei fiercely and raised her eyebrows in question:
“What does this have to do with me!’
‘You have travelled to that country, you know very well the danger of that virus!‘
’Just because I have been there doesn’t mean I did it!‘
’Do you want proof?”
Zhong Wei opened a video. The patient who entered the country with the disease was a foreigner who died that year. Zhong Wei asked someone to investigate his friends and family. ’…He was addicted to gambling and owed a lot of money. He was forced into a corner several times and wanted to commit suicide.’ ‘…Before he returned to his home country, he received a large remittance from an unknown source.’ ’Suspicious? Once, a few of my colleagues and I were working overtime and we happened to catch him on a date with a beautiful woman. He said she was a friend, but he was usually scared of women and rarely interacted with them…An Oriental woman. I can’t describe her appearance. If I had a photo, I might be able to recognise her.’
Zhong Wei cut off the video: ‘You can deny it, but his colleagues have all seen you and are impressed!’
Gu Yuqing’s face turned completely pale.
Bai Xian couldn’t believe it: ‘Yuqing, is that you?’
Gu Yuqing pursed her lips.
The silence confirmed everything.
Bai Xian trembled, as her emotions fluctuated wildly, big beads of sweat rolling down her face: ‘Is it because I’m engaged to someone else?’
Gu Yuqing looked up: ‘What if I said yes!’
Bai Xian suddenly stood up, only to fall straight back to the ground. Zhong Wei caught him, but Bai Xian was in pain all over. At that moment, the bodyguard came quickly and restrained Gu Yuqing. Gu Yuqing did not struggle or argue, but just watched as Bai Xian struggled in pain.
A light flashed in Gu Yuqing’s eyes, and tears rolled down his face: ‘I like you so much, but you’re engaged to someone else.’
Bai Xian raised her face in shock: ‘We had already broken up for several years by then.’
‘I’ve always liked you.’
‘So you want me to die?’
Gu Yuqing’s face was full of sadness: ‘You won’t die, I won’t let you die, and you won’t die even if I do!’
At this point, the bodyguard became furious and kicked Gu Yuqing hard. Bai Xian coughed suddenly, bleeding. The nurse heard the sound and ran over, quickly asking him to go back to the bed. Bai Xian, however, still struggled and said, ‘Don’t move her, let her go!’
The bodyguard was surprised, ‘Let her go?’
…
Love is forgivable, but the law is not. That afternoon, Gu Yuqing was taken away and charged with ‘threatening public safety.’ At this time, a huge uproar ensued, and the ‘virus infection case’ from a few years ago finally had a real culprit, not to mention the uproar that followed. Of course, Zhong Wei, the father of the Zhong family, who had been wronged by the public for many years, finally got his revenge, and tweeted, ‘I’ve said it before, it’s got nothing to do with me. Who let no one believe it? No way, I’m going to confront Bai Xian.’ Zhong Wei replied quietly, ‘Who let you be so arrogant all those years and get such a bad reputation?’
Zhong Wei stared at Gu Yuqing, who was being tried on TV: ‘Is this how you like someone? You’d rather let him die than see him with someone else?’
Jiang Yihong handed him a lemon tea: ‘So you don’t really like Bai Junyu.’
‘What does that have to do with it?’
“If you like him, why did you let me have him?’
What does that have to do with anything? Zhong Wei was about to argue when the doorbell rang and Bai Xian arrived. Zhong Wei welcomed him in. At this point, the live broadcast of the trial was coming to an end. Gu Yuqing, dressed in a prison uniform, looked expressionless.
Bai Xian looked sad. ‘Yuqing introduced me to Wu Lin. She was always very nice to me. Do I owe her anything?’
Zhong Wei was relieved. ‘Not really. You guys had already broken up by then.’
Maybe that’s just how life is.
The person you like doesn’t like you back, and the person you don’t like can’t be tangled up with in an ambiguous way. Bai Xian at least frankly confessed his feelings to Gu Yuqing, but Gu Yuqing couldn’t accept this reality.
Bai Xian sighed, ‘If only we hadn’t gotten engaged at the time.’
Zhong Wei said, ‘But you will always meet someone you like.’
If they weren’t engaged, there would definitely be something else. As long as there was someone they liked, it would definitely anger Gu Yuqing.
At this point, Jiang Yihong spoke up: ‘Xian, what are you doing here? Are you here to discuss the project plan again?’
Bai Xian smiled and said, ‘I want to have dinner with Zhong Wei.’
‘No way!’
‘Huh?’
Jiang Yihong glared at Zhong Wei and said, ‘Zhong Wei agreed to go fishing with me. She’s not free today, nor tomorrow, nor this week.’
Zhong Wei was speechless.
She was clearly bored out of her mind every day.
No matter what Bai Xian said, Jiang Yihong would retort, and Bai Xian finally realised that something was wrong: ‘Yihong, do I have a grudge against you? Back then, when you came to my house to look for Junyu, I didn’t slam the door in your face!’
Jiang Yihong was at a loss for words: ‘That’s not true! I didn’t go looking for him that many times either!’
Zhong Wei felt unhappy.
It was true that Jiang Yihong liked Bai Junyu very much.
No, it was something I’ve known for a long time, so why does my heart feel a little heavy? Zhong Wei pushed Bai Xian’s wheelchair out of the door and said, ‘I’ll take you for a stroll in the back mountains. The air is quite nice here.’ Jiang Yihong stopped him, saying, ‘Xian needs peace and quiet, so just stay at home.’
Zhong Wei was furious, ‘Jiang Yihong, why are you against me at every turn!’
‘Where did I do anything right!‘
’I liked it at first… um… um…‘ Zhong Wei struggled to get her hand away from her mouth. “Jiang Yihong, what’s wrong with you!”
Jiang Yihong also lost his temper: “Can’t you just look at someone outside the Bai family!”
’Who?‘
’Me!‘
’…’
Bai Xian, who had been watching the whole time, burst out laughing: ‘Fine, you guys chat, I’ll go out and take a stroll!’ With that, he leisurely wheeled himself out of the room. Jiang Yihong simply put his arms around his chest, took a long stride, and half-blocked Zhong Wei, looking like he owed him 8 million: ‘Zhong Wei, am I worse than the two of them?’
‘What about Junyu!’ He came here to matchmake Jiang Yihong with Bai Junyu, right?
“He can walk, climb, and run, so what’s the problem?’
Seeing that Zhong Wei was still confused, Jiang Yihong put his arms around Zhong Wei’s waist. Zhong Wei was startled. A familiar warmth spread from his waist to his whole body. He couldn’t move, couldn’t respond, and was in a daze, as if Jiang Yihong had always been this intimate since their teenage years. Obviously, he had come from the future and was taking the place of a crow, so why did it feel so familiar?
Zhong Wei slowly pushed Jiang Yihong away, and Jiang Yihong looked dejected.
‘Zhong Wei, do you still like Bai Junyu?‘
’I’m not the person in your heart, I’ve come through time.‘
Zhong Wei told him everything about the trial system, his identity and his past life. He thought Jiang Yihong wouldn’t believe him, but Jiang Yihong listened quietly, his gaze complex.
’I see, you’ve travelled through so many worlds, have you ever had a lover?‘ Jiang Yihong asked.
’I can’t remember.‘
’Try to remember.’
‘It’s not like giving birth, is this hard work?‘ Zhong Wei laughed, “Sorry, I’m not your childhood friend, but we can try to be friends, I think I’m not bad.”
’Is a lover okay?‘
’I’m not him.”
Saying this was a bit sad, and his heart even hurt a little. Zhong Wei pressed his heart, familiar with the throbbing. Jiang Yihong reached out his hand and once again gently embraced him, as if the embrace from his teenage years had travelled through time and reached the present.
Before they knew it, the calendar had turned to this page.
The day of their death in the previous life.
At breakfast, as usual, the two had soy milk, fried dough sticks and buns. Jiang Yihong was preoccupied with something, and ate later than usual. Zhong Wei occasionally looked back, and they would meet each other’s gaze.
‘I’m going to the temple for the day,’ Zhong Wei said.
‘Don’t look for Bai Xian.’
“No, pick me up after work.’
‘Okay.”
The road from Jiang Yihong’s workplace to the temple perfectly avoided the tragedy of the previous life. Although Gu Yuqing and Wu Lin’s affairs had a perfect ending, Zhong Wei still had a vague feeling that she could not avoid this flood.
A strange feeling.
Once in this world, everything is familiar, and Zhong Wei feels that something is out of control.
If she was destined to die on this day, Zhong Wei hoped that Jiang Yihong would survive. Whether it was reality or fantasy, she hoped that Jiang Yihong would be safe – it seemed that his heart was softening as well – Zhong Wei felt a little sad.
After Jiang Yihong finished eating, he suddenly asked, ‘Zhong Wei, after crossing so many worlds, have you never had a lover? People are not made of stone, they will always be moved by emotions. Are you sure that you leave without any worries after completing each mission?’
‘The system has a bug, and a lot of memories have disappeared.‘
’Try to remember again. The potential of memory is infinite. In fact…’ Jiang Yihong paused, then suddenly smiled, “In fact, it doesn’t matter. We’re fine just the way we are.”

☆、Rival in Love [13]

[Chapter 73]
In the previous life, the original owner drowned at Xilin Beach.
Zhong Wei will avoid this route today. However, given her experience crossing over many times, no matter how hard she tries to avoid it, what is meant to be will always happen, and it is difficult to avoid it. Zhong Wei deliberately hired a dozen people to be along the route where the accident happened, so that they can come at any time in case something happens to her. At the head of them is a private detective with very strong business acumen.
It was around ten o’clock when Zhong Wei packed up and prepared to go to the temple. The weather had turned cloudy.
There were faint signs of rain.
She didn’t find an umbrella.
Zhong Wei took a chance and pushed open Jiang Yihong’s bedroom, which she had never entered before. She looked around and her eyes rested on the desk. There were a few books on the desk, and on top was a sketchbook. As if attracted by a magnet, Zhong Wei opened the sketchbook. On the first page was Jiang Yihong’s name.
On the second page were simple sketches of Zhong Wei’s courtyard.
The next few pages were flowers and plants.
A few simple strokes.
Lifelike.
Growing up, Zhong Wei had never known that Jiang Yihong could draw. He leafed through the pages with interest, skimming over the city sketches on the first few pages. On the ninth page, two figures appeared, standing next to a straight white birch tree, both wearing simple ancient clothes. One looked like Zhong Wei, while the other held a spear-like weapon and looked at Zhong Wei intently, leaning forward.
In the bottom right corner it said: Zhong Wei × Mu Ge Yang.
I don’t remember, but it feels like I’ve experienced it.
Zhong Wei’s head ached inexplicably.
On the next page, within high walls, on top of short grass, a prison guard turned his back and looked back, with a leisurely smiling prisoner behind him. The prison guard looked a lot like Zhong Wei, and the prisoner was sketched in a sloppy manner, with a blurred face. In the bottom right corner of this page it said: Zhong Wei × Tang Xifei.
Something is about to come out.
Still can’t think of it.
Zhong Wei continued to flip through the pages suspiciously. Two speeding racing cars flying towards the sea read: Xia Zuo × Ning Ge Ting; two peerless masters engaged in a duel hanging upside down from a cliff read Zhong Wei × Ning Ge Ting; a leisurely boat floating on the rippling green water read Zhong Wei × Yu Chong; in front of the VR machine in the amusement park read Zhong Wei × Mu Wu Hao… Different scenes, different costumes, the same Zhong Wei, while the appearance of the other man kept changing, as did his name.
Are these Jiang Yihong’s fantasies?
Zhong Wei’s heart skipped a beat.
Ding ding ding…
The phone rang.
On the other end of the line, accompanied by the sound of the crackling rain, the private detective’s hoarse voice said, ‘Boss, according to your request, I have arranged people along the Xilin Beach Line, but there’s something…’ The rest of the words were drowned out in the storm.
‘What’s wrong?’ Zhong Wei had a bad feeling.
‘…You specifically requested that I send a few more people to the intersection on that west road section, so I stayed here by myself, and then I found someone: Jiang Yihong…”
Why was Jiang Yihong there?
What was he doing there?
Zhong Wei was full of questions, and while pondering, she continued to flip through the picture book without realising it. The latest page was a map of the area around Xilin Beach, with a circle drawn around the place where the previous owner had died, and the date written next to it – Zhong Wei had never talked to Jiang Yihong about how he had died in his previous life. Could it be that Jiang Yihong had overheard her plans?
On the other end of the phone, the detective continued shouting into the wind: ‘Boss, there’s something… You previously commissioned me to investigate a number of people, such as Bai Junyu, Bai Xian, Wu Lin, Gu Yuqing, etc. You all come from the same circle, so I took the liberty of looking into Jiang Yihong as well—he claims to be from the Serious Crimes Unit, but according to my investigation, he left several months ago.’
‘Really?’
“Not only that, I noticed that Jiang Yihong has been spying on and following you.’
Zhong Wei immediately dialed Jiang Yihong’s phone number, but it was not connected. Countless speculations flashed through his mind, incredibly messy. He wanted to immediately ask Jiang Yihong what the hell was going on. He also did not care about going to the temple anymore, and he sped directly to the Xilin coastline—what was meant to be could not be avoided, and he was destined to suffer this disaster.
The rain turned heavy in an instant.
The wind and rain were fierce along the way, and the closer he got to the Xilin coastline, the more ferocious it became.
Zhong Wei was driving while thinking about the painting: the page with Chazaux and Ningtin, the two people with black hair rushing into the ocean. It was strange, yet also very familiar. At that moment, the detective called again, and the signal was intermittent in the rain and wind: ‘…boss…it’s raining really hard…be careful…I just saw Jiang Yihong damaging the road surface…’
Zhong Wei knew that he should calm down and think clearly.
Instead of running towards death.
But at the moment, without reason, he just wants to find Jiang Yihong. For a long time, he has been moving through systems, experiencing stories that don’t belong to him, looking down on other people’s destinies, and feeling pity for all kinds of emotions. He is here to save people who regret what they have done, but since when did everything start to spiral out of control? He has been confused for a long time by an illusory sense of reality.
The phone rings again.
Jiang Yihong’s voice intermittently cuts in and out: ‘Zhong Wei…can you hear me? Where are you?‘
Zhong Wei: “…going to Xilin Coast.”
’…come over.”
The signal was interrupted several times, the network was also not working, and the car was swaying in the wind and rain, like a dogtail grass in the field. In this kind of weather, Jiang Yihong still told him to come over. Could it be that Jiang Yihong was also not trustworthy? He truly regarded Jiang Yihong as a friend, and those memories were as real as growing in his own mind. A wave of sadness came over Zhong Wei, and he felt a little sad.
In an instant of vulnerability, Zhong Wei quickly reacted.
He could not resign himself to fate.
The pouring rain flooded the road, and Zhong Wei decisively decided to turn back. Suddenly, with a plop, his car sank instantly—oh no, it had driven into a pothole—it was clearly not yet to Xilin Coast. Zhong Wei looked around and realised it was too late; the water around him rushed over and flooded the car. Zhong Wei anxiously dialed the phone, but there was no signal at all.
Although they weren’t in the same place,
they had the same ending.
Why not abandon the car and swim to safety? As Zhong Wei was thinking, a strong light suddenly illuminated him – as if it were the last memory of his previous life, he saw Jiang Yihong. In his previous life, Jiang Yihong had waved at him anxiously, but in this life, Jiang Yihong was much calmer, and instead of waving, he just came running towards him.
By the time Jiang Yihong reached the car,
The rain had reached his waist.
Zhong Wei didn’t have time to ask anything else, wiped the rain from her face and shouted, ‘Yihong, why didn’t you bring any tools?’
‘Is today the day you left in your previous life?’
‘Yes.’
‘I’ve always wanted to tell you…’ Jiang Yihong’s words were drowned out by the rain.
“What?’
Zhong Wei stood on the roof of the car, the water surging up like the tide. If he didn’t swim out now, he might never be able to get out. Jiang Yihong, who was facing him from afar, didn’t make a move, but looked up at Zhong Wei: ‘Zhong Wei, I want to be with you here for the rest of my life.’
‘What are you talking about?’ There’s a time and place for confessions.
‘I want to be with you for the rest of my life, just like I was in previous lives.’
A flash of lightning streaked across the sky.
The two men’s faces were pale.
‘Jiang Yihong, did you set me up to come here? Is this pit a trap you set long ago?‘ Zhong Wei felt a pang in his heart. Had he been betrayed?
’Yes.‘
’Why?‘
’If you don’t wake up, you’ll never wake up.‘
A bell sounded from afar.
’Who are you?‘ Zhong Wei muttered.
’I am…’ The name was scattered by the wind and rain.

☆、The End

[Chapter 73]
A huge wave of water suddenly hit.
Zhong Wei was knocked to the ground.
Was she betrayed?
Sadness, confusion, and bewilderment instantly pierced her heart.
At the same moment, the simple drawings in the picture book also came flooding in, accompanied by the voice ‘If you don’t wake up, you’ll never wake up,’ which pierced deep into her mind. ‘People who sleepwalk probably never know they’re sleepwalking,’ ‘I want to be with you for the rest of my life, just like I was in previous lives,’ ‘Maybe losing control is the beginning of normality’… The azure waves came crashing in, and countless memories for no reason at all came flooding in, engulfing everything.
…
Zhong Wei opened her eyes.
It was white.
‘You’ve finally woken up?’ A pleasant voice broke the silence.
Her vision gradually focused, and she saw a white-clad doctor. He looked a bit like Bai Xian, and there was warmth in his eyes. Zhong Wei’s first reaction was, ‘What kind of mission is this?’ But why was there no information on her iris, and why did her stiff body feel so real?
“Zhong Wei, welcome back to life.’
‘……Bai Xian?‘
In front of her was Bai Xian in a white coat – one who was paralysed in a wheelchair, and one who was a doctor. Who was this person? What kind of mission was this? Zhong Wei wanted to get up, but his body was not responding.
’Don’t worry, you just woke up,‘ Bai Xian said, pressing on his shoulder.
’What happened?‘
’You’ve been unconscious for a long time.’
‘…‘
’Do you remember? The Star Force? You and your team were swallowed up by an interstellar storm, remember?‘
’…”
Bai Xian could see his confusion. “You are not in the Judgement System, nor in the mission world line. This is the real world, the world before you fell into a coma.”
A sharp pain shot through his head.
With Bai Xian’s detailed explanation, his memory returned.
This is the real world. He was instinctively a battleship warrior, but was caught in an interstellar storm during a war and has been in a coma ever since. The doctors tried every means to stimulate his consciousness, but the brain’s activity continued to weaken. Once thinking stops, it is brain death. The doctors finally implanted the ‘Judgment System’ and finally captured Zhong Wei’s consciousness.
It is not that Zhong Wei is expected to save anyone.
Rather, it is to keep his brain active through the system experience.
The ‘trial system’ tells him that all the stories are virtual, but they are also real in a virtual way, and they are more or less related to Zhong Wei in some way. For example, the establishment of royal power in primitive society was a documentary Zhong Wei watched before he fell into a coma; racing cars is Zhong Wei’s favourite sport; the prison guard naturally comes from his identity as a war police officer, etc. Of course, the characters in it are also people he once knew.
Bai Xian drew a picture of the Star Wars team, and there were familiar faces one after the other: Mu Jiu, Xiao Wen, Gong Zi Bo…
Zhong Wei was in a daze: ‘Is that so?’
‘Surprised?’
‘Who is Jiang Yihong?’
‘…’
There were too many memories, and Zhong Wei instinctively wanted to summon the system, but of course there was no response.
‘Are you seeking help from the system to save you?’ Bai Xian sensed his confusion.
’…Yes.’
‘This is the real world, there is no system, no superpowers, and you cannot quickly repair your injured body. You may need a little time to get used to it,’ Bai Xian smiled.
The real world?
He survived?
Zhuang Zhou dreamed of a butterfly, not knowing if it was a dream or a butterfly, in a world of illusions. It was hard to believe, but it was real.
Zhong Wei took a few days to adjust. During these days, his friends and superiors came to congratulate him in turn. The familiar faces that had appeared in the system one after the other overlapped with the experiences of the battle team, and Zhong Wei gradually recalled his past memories. The virtual memories in the system melted like ice, but there was still one person who occupied his memories – Jiang Yihong, or Mu Ge Yang, or Mu Wu Hao, all the same person.
A few days later, he had just recovered from a serious illness.
The battle team held a celebration banquet.
Zhong Wei held a glass of red wine and looked out of the window of the battleship, her fingers tracing the flowing stars as she ran through the names in her head: that person, the one who had accompanied him in the virtual world and completely awakened him from his coma – it was his old friend Jiang Yihong. No wonder the last mission felt so real.
But among those celebrating, there was no Jiang Yihong.
‘Jiang Yihong, he has been reprimanded and may not be able to come out for a month or two,’ Bai Xian said with some embarrassment.
“Why?’
‘We’re not sure how effective the trial system is, and we need someone to enter your mind and observe. This job is very dangerous, because the observer also has to go into a coma. Jiang Yihong volunteered to be your observer.”
An observer is a dangerous job.
Because the observer can also lose their own consciousness. They can fall into a state of Zhuangzi dreaming of a butterfly, unable to tell the difference between reality and illusion, and even think that they are the person in the virtual world. Before, there was a failed experiment, and the observer never woke up after going into a coma.
Bai Xian explained in great detail: ‘The tasks are often forced to increase in difficulty. The more difficult they are, the more you will think about how to complete them, and the more active your thinking will become.’
That’s it.
At first Zhong Wei was stuck with all kinds of headache tasks, and inexplicably hung up.
“At first the effect was very good, but every time we thought you were about to wake up, your thinking would always become calm after violent activity—this calm would last for several days. Of course this is not acceptable, if your thinking does not fluctuate, you will remain asleep. We racked our brains for a solution, and finally realised: it’s Jiang Yihong’s problem.‘
’What’s wrong with him?‘
Bai Xian gave a complex expression that said “why do you want me to say it?” “The observer can greatly affect the operation of the system. Jiang Yihong has changed the operation of the system. After you complete each task, he doesn’t terminate it immediately, but forces you to continue living in that world.”
’After each task.
The world line doesn’t terminate, but instead, you live a wonderful life.
Jiang Yihong knew this, but Bai Xian did not. Bai Xian observed through Zhong Wei’s fluctuation data: at the beginning of the task, the fluctuations were very intense, but they would inexplicably calm down, and the terrifying calm would continue for several days or even half a month. This is very dangerous, and it could lead to brain death.
Bai Xian decided to take the risk and enter Zhong Wei’s mind to observe.
‘That time it was the racing world line.’
“You are, Ke Li?’
In the racing world, Zhong Wei thought that Ke Li was the one who needed to be rescued. After observing, Bai Xian quickly noticed that Jiang Yihong was in love with Zhong Wei. He understood why Jiang Yihong’s data fluctuations were strikingly consistent with Zhong Wei’s, because they had fallen in love and lived in the world line. Once he realised this, he immediately ordered Jiang Yihong to stop this behaviour.
So that world line ended quickly and tragically.
The more intense it is, the more conducive it is to waking up.
‘But then, it was just like that again,’ Bai Xian sighed. “For the last time, I showed Jiang Yihong your physical data to make him realise how terrible his behaviour was. You have to wake up as soon as possible, otherwise you’ll never wake up. He was very remorseful and promised me that this time he would do his best to create a real world.”
A real world.
Yes, in the last world, all memories were real, and that was Jiang Yihong’s world.
Those memories of his teenage years had been so completely preserved by Jiang Yihong. Every time, the summer night breeze, brushing past his face, was so real, awakening Zhong Wei’s memories. The difficult task had made his thoughts fluctuate, but these memories engraved in his heart could make Zhong Wei’s heart ache.
“Of course, it is also his credit that you can wake up. So the higher-ups have decided to let him reflect on his actions for a few days.’
‘How long will he be locked up for?‘
’At least half a month. Zhong Wei, I’m warning you, this is reality.‘
’Huh?‘
’Jiang Yihong told me that he’s in love with you. Isn’t that strange? You two have been childhood sweethearts for all these years, and he never felt anything, but instead he fell in love during the year of treatment. Is it because the rescue system is so lonely?’ Bai Xian said, laughing at herself.
Is it because of loneliness?
A few days later.
A man emerged from the high wall: it was Jiang Yihong. Unlike the refreshed appearance of the Worldline, he looked a little dispirited, with a few stubble, but as carefree as ever. For a moment, Zhong Wei’s heartbeat quickened and her memories overlapped: every lover from the Worldline had a different personality, but they all had a similar temperament to Jiang Yihong.
Zhong Wei emerged from behind a tree and said, ‘Jiang Yihong.’
Jiang Yihong was taken aback: ‘Ah.’
In an instant, Jiang Yihong felt a little flustered, embarrassed, and uneasy. He looked at Zhong Wei several times secretly, not at all as domineering as when he had competed with him for Bai Junyu in his youth. Zhong Wei saw it all in her eyes and couldn’t help smiling. She deliberately said,
‘I heard Bai Xian say that you were my observer and rescued me. Thank you.’
‘You don’t remember?’ Jiang Yihong was very surprised.
‘Yes.‘
This virtual system stimulates consciousness, so it’s normal not to remember. Jiang Yihong had originally thought that since they had met, he would simply confess his love, but he didn’t expect Zhong Wei to not remember. Jiang Yihong was a little dazed and a little subtly lost.
Zhong Wei put on a stern face and said, “I need to take a break for a while. Bai Junyu invited me to go hiking.”
’Why go with him!‘
’Huh?’
‘With his puny body, he’ll be lucky to get to the foot of the mountain. I’m fine with resting too. Which mountain do you want to climb? I’ll go with you!’ Jiang Yihong looked unwilling.
Zhong Wei couldn’t help but burst out laughing. Jiang Yihong saw this and realised that he had been tricked. He was furious and kicked her. Then, the two of them laughed together. The summer breeze blew past, and they were vaguely reminded of their youth, playing around and being carefree.
‘Yihong, I never thought that in your memory, Bai Junyu would be so bright and pure. He really deserves to be your first love.‘
’Huh?‘
’Do you need me to be the matchmaker?‘
’Stop annoying me! I’m not really that serious about him!‘ Jiang Yihong was embarrassed. “It’s all your fault for fighting with me. I’m just frustrated.”
’I’ll let you have him this time.‘
’I don’t want him!’
Restless heart.
It is becoming more and more restless in the midst of the fun.
Jiang Yihong speaks: ‘Zhong Wei.’
‘Hm?’
‘Do you still take those words seriously?’
‘Which ones?’
‘Every word you have ever said, your oaths to me, I remember them all.’
The wind passes through the fingers.
Is this the real world? Or is it just another illusion like Zhuang Zhou dreaming of a butterfly?
Zhong Wei was in a daze.
Jiang Yihong stood still, their eyes locked, and he took Zhong Wei’s hand and said seriously, ‘I like you. I have always liked you, regardless of the system or reality. Zhong Wei, let’s be together.’
The world may be virtual.
But the feeling is real.
Zhong Wei turned her hand and squeezed Jiang Yihong’s hand.
After countless crossings, Zhong Wei felt an indescribable emptiness, which only became meaningful after the appearance of this person. He did not need to ascertain the reality of the world, only to be happy every day, every minute, every second. Like the gentle summer breeze, it fills a gradually settling heart. Together, it is the present, and every moment of the future.