Chapter 73: Seven-Digit Afternoon Tea

Steward Wen's appearance didn't surprise him. "Grandfather sent you?"

"Yes... Old Master specifically invited a top pastry chef from France to prepare afternoon tea for Miss Ou."

At this, the housekeeper quickly took the items off the car, apologetically saying, "It's just... there's nothing for you."

"No problem."

Si Yechen glanced in the direction of the company. As long as his Yan Yan enjoyed the tea, he was happy.

"Young Master, are you here to deliver afternoon tea to Miss too?"

"Yes."

"Did I come too late?"

The housekeeper was a bit regretful. This afternoon tea was personally made by the pastry chef, using the best ingredients, a special gesture from Old Master.

If Miss had already eaten Young Master's portion and was full, she might not have the appetite for Grandpa's portion...

That would disappoint Grandpa.

At that moment, the housekeeper suddenly saw a familiar figure coming out of the company. He immediately approached, respectfully handing over the items. "Miss, Old Master asked me to deliver these to you."

Ou Yan took them, offering a polite smile. "Thank Grandpa for me."

"Old Master told you to visit him when you have time, not to overwork, and to take care of yourself."

"Okay."

"Also, Old Master mentioned that the high school exam results will be out in a few days. If Miss has a preferred school, whether in the country or abroad, feel free to speak up."

"Got it."

"Furthermore, if there are any troubles at work or any dissatisfaction in life, you can seek Old Master's help."

Si Yechen smirked on the side.

He had managed the group for three years and never received an afternoon tea from Grandpa Si, let alone a caring word. Back when he was in school, Grandpa wouldn't even arrange a school for him, based on his exam scores.

Now, he was quite generous with his granddaughter-in-law.

"Thank Grandpa for me."

Ou Yan stood straight, a blend of coldness and obedience in her demeanor, pleasing to the eye.

"I will convey your thanks. I won't disturb your work any longer, Miss."

The housekeeper said this, glancing at Si Yechen beside him respectfully. "Young Master, I'll take my leave."

"Okay." Si Yechen knew he was leaving them alone intentionally.

Quite considerate.

"Why are you still here?" Ou Yan's gaze fell on Si Yechen, seeming a bit surprised.

Si Yechen reached out to touch her face, lifting a indulgent smile. "It's fate. The heavens have brought us together again."

"..."

"I'll have my afternoon tea first. As for Grandpa's portion, you don't need to force yourself."

"..."

"Go upstairs."

"Okay."

After Ou Yan left, Si Yechen reluctantly stood there for a while before leaving.

Inside the car, Li Yusha didn't expect Grandpa Si to send the housekeeper to deliver afternoon tea to Ou Yan!

At this moment, she was so angry that smoke was almost coming out of her seven orifices, nearly going crazy with jealousy!

That logo on the meal box belonged to August, the top French pastry chef's exclusive symbol!

Only the pastries he made could be placed in such a box.

Don't be fooled by the small quantity; with his reputation, a single batch would cost at least seven figures.

Grandpa Si actually invited August to make afternoon tea for an uncultivated girl?! He valued her too much, didn't he?

The senior housekeeper, seeing Li Yusha's distorted face, couldn't help but say, "Miss Yusha, don't mind it. All relationships start like this, slowly the fondness will decrease, and conflicts will arise..."

Li Yusha clenched her fists. No, she couldn't wait idly. Right now, Si Yechen wasn't interested in her, and Grandpa Si kept his distance...

Back in the office, Ou Yan, looking at over a dozen bags of afternoon tea on the coffee table, felt a bit overwhelmed.

Even if she had these for dinner, she couldn't finish them all.

He Ning came in to report on work, seeing the snacks, he almost drooled...

"President Ou, you're too extravagant. For just an afternoon tea, you ordered so much... Can you finish all of this?"

"Help yourself." Ou Yan wasn't used to eating afternoon tea. Instead of wasting it, she preferred to share.

"President Ou, are you serious? Afternoon tea made by August and Benson... You're letting me take some casually?" He Ning was almost shocked.

Ou Yan raised her eyebrows, as if asking, who are August and Benson?

"President Ou, you really don't know who they are?"

He Ning widened his eyes, swallowing saliva. "August is a top French pastry chef, and Benson is a big shot in the British pastry world."

"..." Ou Yan hadn't heard of them, raising her brows. "Are they expensive?"

"General Ou, these afternoon teas aren't ordered by you? That means the person who ordered them for you really values and likes you..."

"Oh?"

"August has retired. Asking him to make afternoon tea is not just about money."

"..."

"And Benson, the last time an international superstar wanted to eat his afternoon tea, it took three whole months of planning and using countless connections for Benson to agree."

"..."

"Your afternoon teas, combined, must be at least seven figures."

Ou Yan: ??? Seven figures??? Robbery???

"President Ou, don't doubt it. Their reputation alone is worth that price."

Looking at the quantity, it was quite a lot, and the workmanship was exquisite.

"Choose." Ou Yan lazily leaned on the sofa, indifferent in tone, as if this was just an ordinary afternoon tea with no difference to her.

"Well, can I take a few?" He Ning selected some, but they were all relatively ordinary or repeated pastries. He didn't dare touch the expensive ones.

After a while, Yin Panpan came to ask about the drawing, and Ou Yan let her take some too.

The remaining ones were being picked up. Ou Yan was just about to take a bite when she heard He Ning's voice outside.

"Vice President Hu, you really can't go in..."

"Let me consult with President Ou!."

 "Your anger towards me won't help... Even if you break in, you'll have to leave obediently in the end... Why bother?"

"Let him in." Ou Yan said lazily.

Hu Linquan burst in, seeing Ou Yan sitting on the sofa, enjoying her afternoon tea. He smiled apologetically, "President Ou, there might be a misunderstanding between us. I don't know if you have time. Can we talk?"

"Sorry." Ou Yan casually took a bite of dessert. "I'm busy."

"If you have any opinions about me, just let me know. I'll definitely make changes." Hu Linquan smiled, "About my relatives... Can we turn the page?"

Ou Yan stopped eating the dessert, raising her eyebrows. "He fed my employees with all sorts of additives for a whole year... If that happened to you, would you easily let him go?"

Chapter 137: Taking Intimate Photos She quickly gave up on this idea; she didn't want to ruin what Sheng Mingsi gave her. If possible, she could use something else, like the towels in the hotel bathroom. But... "Why do I need to tie your hands and feet?" She didn't quite understand the meaning behind this statement. Lu Su was let down on the bed by her, and as she leaned in to ask, her breath became chaotic. He reached out, grabbing her wrist, "Because... I can't resist the urge to get close to you like this." Then, after getting close, Jiang Chenchen wouldn't be able to resist breaking his wrist. Explaining this, she understood. So, she went to get a towel from the bathroom to tie his hands. "The phone is in my right pocket." Face recognition unlocked the phone, and Jiang Chenchen called the assistant as he instructed. The assistant had been waiting outside the hotel door, but there was no answer. Assistant Xiaochen was originally waiting outside the hotel but was summoned by a few people to a dark alley. "What's going on? You come to such a luxurious hotel and can't afford to pay?" "No..." The person in front of him patted his face, "Stop talking nonsense. Either we break one of your hands here today, or you give back the money." "Brother, please... I really don't have any money!" "I heard you're the assistant of the big star Lu Su. This star makes several billion, and you're not making some extra money with him? Saying you have no money, is that a joke we don't understand?" After saying that, a kick came! Xiaochen screamed, squatting down, and was quickly muffled. "If we don't give you a lesson, you won't understand the seriousness of the matter!" The leader released his hand, roughly lifting his chin, "Today, there must be an explanation here. Smart people should know what to do, or else, don't blame us for being impolite." Xiaochen was scared, and this dark place warned him with ferocious eyes. He was at a loss. But he did owe money, and if he didn't pay, they would really resort to violence! What to do!? "I really have no money. Brother Wang, what do you want to do to let me go today? Give me a day, and I will definitely repay the money tomorrow!" "It seems you still don't understand, huh?" Brother Wang sneered, stood up, and signaled to the others. Then, five or six rounds of punches and kicks came down. Xiaochen kept begging, "Brother Wang, please, give me a way out. I really have no other way!" At this moment, his phone rang. Brother Wang signaled the others to stop. Squatting down, he took the phone from Xiaochen's pocket. Seeing that it was Lu Su's call, Brother Wang raised his eyebrows, looking at Xiaochen holding the phone. "Look, isn't this your money tree? A big star's exclusive scoop is worth a lot. Use your brain. Do you really need to be short of an arm or hand?" ... When Jiang Chenchen made the second call, Xiaochen finally answered. Although he sounded a bit strange, she didn't think much about it and asked him to come over. Xiaochen hurriedly came over, enduring the pain. Those people were ruthless; they beat him where it couldn't be seen on the body. There was no external injury on his face, but his body was extremely painful, and he had no choice but to take risks! Otherwise, those people could do anything! In the room, seeing Lu Su in this situation, her mind was already working. "He might have a fever; you need to take him to the hospital quickly." Xiaochen saw Lu Su tied up and rushed over, looking surprised, "Teacher Lu, why tie up your hands when you have a fever? Are you okay?" Lu Su felt hot and uncomfortable all over. Shaking his head at the words, he said, "Just drank the wine that Bai Jia's sister handed over like this. Don't ask, come and untie me." Xiaochen quickly went over to help him, preparing to untie his hands. Thinking of those black-handed people outside the door, he knew he couldn't miss this opportunity. So, he paused and said anxiously, "You can't endure being burned like this; we need to cool your forehead first, or you might not make it on the way." He quickly looked at Jiang Chenchen, "Miss Jiang, I beg you." Hearing him say this, Jiang Chenchen went to the bathroom, soaked a towel, and came back to apply it to Lu Su's forehead. Xiaochen stepped back and took out his phone, taking several photos and recording a video. From his shooting angle, it looked as if the two were very close on the bed doing something intimate. Jiang Chenchen turned around to see him holding the phone as he applied the towel to Lu Su's forehead. Xiaochen reacted quickly and hastily said, "I'll quickly contact the hospital." At the same time, he sent one of the taken photos to Zhang Ge. "I wonder how much this is worth?" Soon, Zhang Ge replied, "Compared to your gambling debt, it's far from enough. Only the drops are valuable." Xiaochen looked at his phone and secretly cursed. Damn, how do I complete this?! "I can't do it!" "You can think about yourself, and then you'll be able to do it." He was so angry that he wanted to smash his phone, but at the moment, he could only go down one path. He put the phone down, seeing Jiang Chenchen still cooling Lu Su's forehead, so he calmly picked up a flower vase in the hotel room, approached her from behind, and aimed to strike her head! He didn't strike! The flower vase was held by Jiang Chenchen, and her expressionless look made Xiaochen panic. How could her reaction be so fast! Wanting to take the vase back from her, but she had a strong grip! "What are you..." Is she not a normal woman?!?! "What do you want to do?" Jiang Chenchen looked at him, "If you don't explain, I'll smash this vase on your head." Her tone was very calm, as if she was about to smash something other than a vase. Xiaochen looked at her in panic. Subconsciously stepping back, he couldn't help but think of the time on the island when he saw the male actor Jiao Weiyun come out of her room covered in blood! She really can do it!! "I... I'm just..." Xiaochen wanted to bluff his way through, but he couldn't find a suitable lie. At this moment, his phone in his pocket made a sound, receiving a text message. This kind of movement made him feel like he was electrocuted. He lowered his head to glance at it, and then lifted his gaze. Sure enough, Jiang Chenchen noticed something unusual. She took a step forward, "Bring the phone over." With a calm tone and a rebellious look in her eyes. Xiaochen, seeing her eyes, was startled. Pressing the phone, he quickly explained, "It's not what you think!" "Xiaochen, what are you doing?" Lu Su sensed that something was wrong and tried to get up from the bed, but his bound hands and weak body prevented him from doing so. Jiang Chenchen completely took the vase from his hand, walked toward Xiaochen while holding the vase, and said, "Bring the phone out." Xiaochen stepped back. It's not that he was scared. This girl in front of him was not an ordinary girl. She looked terrifying, and he had injuries on him. He was afraid he wouldn't be able to fight back. If he couldn't fight back, he would turn around and run. However, when he reached the door, he reached out to open it. Before he could turn the doorknob, she swiftly came over and kicked the door, stomping on the door panel. The gust of wind from that foot swept past his face like a knife, and the vase was right above his head. Under multiple shocks, he was almost scared enough to lose control of his bladder. Meanwhile, there was a sound of the door opening.

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 Chapter 138: Xie Yu

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 Chapter 137: Chu Liushi's Prove

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Chapter 593: Brother Hao, why did you also hide it from me?

While Qin Ruan was lost in thought, there was a slight movement not far away.

She raised her profound and icy-cold eyes and looked toward the source of the sound.

It was Xiao Guang and the female ghost.

Qin Ruan's eyes were cold and fierce as she stared at the two ghosts, her expression bloodthirsty and terrifying.

She pointed at them in the air and said, "Do you remember what I said to you before?"

The female ghost knew she was about to settle the score, so she immediately stood in front of Xiao Guang and said, "We had our reasons for doing what we did!"

Her face was pale, filled with despair, and a deep sense of sorrow enveloped her soul.

Qin Ruan was even more upset, unable to empathize anymore.

A sinister smile appeared on her lips, and a cold aura spread out from her body.

"I don't want to hear your reasons. All I know is that you deceived me." Her voice was devoid of any emotions.

Xiao Guang supported the female ghost and pleaded with Qin Ruan, "Miss Qin, could you spare us?"

Qin Ruan's eyes narrowed coldly, "Why should I?"

These two ghosts played her, evoking her sympathy. Why should she let them go?

She manifested a faint golden light in her palm, which gradually grew bigger.

Xiao Guang and the female ghost looked pale and fearful.

They were afraid of this power.

Qin Ruan's lips curved with a sinister arc, and a chill emanated from her, "I am a person who repays kindness and enmity in kind. Regardless of whether it was your goodwill or malice towards me, I will repay it multiple times over."

With the golden light sphere in her hand, Qin Ruan launched it toward Xiao Guang and the female ghost at the speed of light.

As soon as the powerful dark energy ball collided with their souls, they were instantly reduced to ashes.

"I'm pregnant!"

The female ghost tightly clung to Xiao Guang's neck.

At this moment, she still protected him in front of Qin Ruan.

Qin Ruan's eyes showed a trace of surprise and displeasure as she furrowed her brows.

Nevertheless, she didn't stop her attack.

She was waiting—

Just as the golden light sphere was about to touch Xiao Guang and the female ghost, Xiao Guang hugged the ghost and quickly evaded.

In the end, he also released a strong black mist from the ghost's body, confronting the golden light sphere released by Qin Ruan.

The immensely powerful dark energy instantly engulfed the golden light sphere.

Qin Ruan's lips curled with a mocking smile, and her face showed a knowing expression.

She lifted her finger slightly, and the golden light sphere, which was surrounded by the black mist, broke free.

With her other hand, she gently reached out and absorbed the dense black mist in the air.

Qin Ruan's gaze fell on Xiao Guang and the female ghost, examining them up and down. Then, she smiled lightly.

"Not bad, such a great supplement should naturally belong to me."

Her gaze locked onto Xiao Guang like she was targeting prey.

The ghost emitted a dense aura that she craved.

She had been struggling to find such aura, and now it was delivered to her doorstep. How could she let it go?

Xiao Guang felt his heart racing as he bit his teeth and said, "I know who you are. The Extradition Envoy has not appeared in the human world for hundreds of years. You are the first one in a century. Xiao Qiao and I cannot reincarnate due to certain circumstances after our death, so we want to use your ability to go to the underworld."

"In the end, apart from deceiving you, we have never harmed you. Why go to such lengths to exterminate us?"

Qin Ruan's expression turned cold, and she said in a menacing tone, "But you deceived me!"

Her cold eyes were sharp like those of an eagle, making Xiao Guang and the ghost named Xiao Qiao somewhat afraid.

Xiao Guang's expression tensed, and he unconsciously swallowed saliva like a human.

Suddenly, he pulled Xiao Qiao behind him and knelt before Qin Ruan.

"If you want to kill me, then go ahead, but please spare Xiao Qiao. She's pregnant and carrying a ghost's fetus. Please show mercy and send her to the underworld to recover and give birth."

"It has nothing to do with me!"

Qin Ruan's eyes flickered slightly, her expression indifferent as she sternly refused.

Although Xiao Guang was enraged, he had his own hardships.

Qin Ruan reached out through the air and grabbed the kneeling Xiao Guang, pulling him close with her dark energy.

She stared at his angry, unwilling, desperate, and sorrowful eyes without any emotion in her voice. "I have always kept my promises. You deceived me first, and now I must take back what is rightfully mine."

Before Xiao Guang could speak, Qin Ruan's hand moved toward his face.

A loud buzzing sound echoed through the large hall.

Xiao Guang froze in place.

His soul was gradually dissipating, and the dense dark energy rushed out from his body.

Qin Ruan absorbed the dark energy expressionlessly.

Nearby, Xiao Qiao, who witnessed everything, was infuriated and cried blood tears.

"Xiao Guang!!"

"I will kill you!"

Xiao Qiao rushed toward Qin Ruan like a madwoman.

Qin Ruan's expression was disdainful as she coldly snorted, "You don't know any better!"

She continued to absorb Xiao Guang's dark energy. The intense black aura couldn't be absorbed in a short time.

When Xiao Qiao rushed at her, Qin Ruan merely extended a finger and immobilized her.

She released threads of dark energy from her fingertips, imprisoning Xiao Qiao's body and making her lose her ability to move.

By the time Qin Ruan finished absorbing the dark energy, Xiao Qiao's face was covered in tears and blood.

Her once beautiful face became twisted and deformed, with cracked and decaying skin, oozing black blood from the wounds.

The air was filled with an indescribable rotten smell.

"I will kill you, kill you!!!"

Xiao Qiao glared at Qin Ruan, her soul trembling and her puppet power gradually diminishing.

She hated Qin Ruan's eyes, wishing she could chew her up and swallow her.

"Want to kill me? Let's see if you have the ability."

Qin Ruan pointed her palm at Xiao Qiao and slowly closed her fingers.

Xiao Qiao's soul slowly shrank until it formed a small black ball.

The black ball floated slowly into Qin Ruan's hand.

Lin Hao, who had been watching everything, saw Qin Ruan retract her hand and walked over to her.

He asked with concern, "Madam, are you alright?"

Qin Ruan put away Xiao Qiao's ghost body and raised her head to seriously appraise the man before her.

Her voice was calm, "Lin Hao, do you know about Third Young Master's condition?"

Lin Hao's cold and resolute expression showed a trace of discomfort.

After a while, he nodded, "...Yes."

Lin Hao did indeed know about it. He received orders from Third Young Master and Hou Qiang not to inform Qin Ruan.

Qin Ruan's condition was becoming more critical day by day, and she couldn't be subjected to too much stress.

Third Young Master didn't want her to bear too much burden.

Qin Ruan sneered, "Great, all of you are good at hiding things from me! Each and every one of you!"

She felt her temples throbbing, and her head was starting to hurt.

Lin Hao said hesitantly, "Qin Ruan..."

"Don't call me that!"

Qin Ruan was furious. She didn't expect Lin Hao to keep things from her too.

Their bond was different from Hou Qiang, Hou Chuan, and the others.

She kicked the table in front of her.

"Duang!"

The marble table shook, and the tea set on it fell to the ground with a clang.

Lin Hao's expression changed slightly as he clenched his lips.

He knew that Qin Ruan would be angry about this, but he didn't expect her to be so furious.

"Qin Ruan, you can be angry, but take care of your health."

He knew how much Qin Ruan valued the child in her belly.

The force she used just now wasn't light.

Lin Hao looked anxiously at Qin Ruan's face, afraid that she might feel uncomfortable in the next moment.

Qin Ruan rushed over, grabbed his collar, and brought him close to her.

Her gaze was cold, and her voice exuded a hint of chill, "Brother Hao, why did you also hide it from me? If something really happens to Third Young Master, and I don't know about it, how am I supposed to handle the child in my belly without a father?!"

As Hou Qiang and Hou Chuan were sending the medical team downstairs, they happened to witness the scene.

Qin Ruan's questioning voice wasn't loud, nor was it intimidating, but they could feel the hidden sorrow in her words.

Hou Qiang instructed Hou Chuan in a low voice, "I'll go with the medical team. You figure out what's going on here."

"Alright."

Hou Chuan quickly went downstairs and approached Qin Ruan and Lin Hao.

Chapter 592: Qin Ruan, Take Care of Yourself

Qin Ruan couldn't blame Third Young Master and the entire Hou family for deceiving her.

Hou Yirong's cryptic reminder last night urged her not to miss Third Master's return.

Hou Qiang and Hou Chuan learned that Third Master had spat blood, and their expressions changed.

Everyone made it clear to Qin Ruan that Hou Yunjiao was sick, and she was the only one who didn't know.

"Ruan Ruan, don't be angry."

Hou Yunjiao saw Qin Ruan's footsteps accelerating and had to catch up with her.

At this point, he still thought that Qin Ruan was angry with him.

"Third Young Master!"

"Third Young Master!!"

Planning to go upstairs to adjust his emotions and find a way to treat Hou Yunjiao, Qin Ruan suddenly heard cries from behind.

She turned around and saw the King of the Underworld standing next to Hou Yunjiao wearing a black robe, and his face was unclear, but a red mole on the tip of his nose was especially distinct.

Hou Yunjiao's aura fluctuated wildly when he was by the King of the Underworld's side.

His eyes were closed, and his body fell straight down.

The scene of Hou Yunjiao slowly falling down was clearly reflected in Qin Ruan's eyes.

In her mind, something seemed to explode.

"Third Young Master!!!"

Qin Ruan couldn't care about self-blame anymore. Her eyes were bloodshot, and she protected her belly as she ran over.

"Lady, slow down!"

Lin Hao saw Qin Ruan running back desperately and hurriedly rushed over to stop her.

When Third Young Master's body was about to hit the ground, Hou Qiang and Hou Chuan rushed over.

Their speed was like a blur, and they both caught Third Young Master.

Seeing that Third Young Master was not in danger, Qin Ruan's tense heart slowly calmed down.

Lin Hao supported Qin Ruan's arm, and the two of them walked quickly over.

"Third Young Master, Third Young Master?"

Hou Qiang called out anxiously.

Hou Chuan made a phone call to summon the Huo family's medical team.

Qin Ruan's eyes were fixed on the pale man lying on the sofa.

The purple aura and the black mist unique to Third Young Master were once again entangled.

They were tearing at each other, and although the purple aura was weak, it refused to back down and struggled with the black mist.

The faint purple aura was no match for the thick black mist. It was quickly suppressed.

Hou Yunjiao, lying on the sofa, frowned, his face showing signs of pain, no longer as calm as before.

Qin Ruan could imagine the pain he was going through.

She approached with Lin Hao's support.

Due to the inconvenience of her belly, she couldn't bend over and could only kneel on the ground.

"Madam!"

Hou Qiang exclaimed when he saw this.

Qin Ruan ignored him and reached out to hold Hou Yunjiao's hand, which was colder than a normal person's and exuded a chill.

The power of the Underworld was transmitted through their intertwined hands and into Hou Yunjiao body.

With the help of this power, the purple aura quickly suppressed the black mist's attempt to engulf him.

Hou Yunjiao furrowed brows eased, and his expression was no longer filled with pain.

Qin Ruan's lips were tightly pressed together. She felt the heat coming from the inside of her arm as she continuously infused her power.

"Enough! If you continue like this, something bad will happen!"

The King of the Underworld waved his black robe, interrupting the connection between her and Hou Yunjiao.

Qin Ruan turned her head and stared coldly at the King of the Underworld.

Her eyes looked ferocious, as if she wanted to devour him.

The King of the Underworld also knew what impact his sudden appearance had caused.

He met Qin Ruan's angry gaze and whispered, "I didn't know he was here. Don't look at me like that. This is not my fault."

The Hou family's medical team arrived, and Hou Chuan stepped forward to help Qin Ruan up from the ground.

"Madam, don't worry. Master will be fine."

Qin Ruan knew that Hou Yunjiao would be fine, but he was suffering greatly.

After she stood up, the doctors surrounded Hou Yunjiao.

Dr. Chen, the leader, quickly conducted a professional examination and sighed with relief.

Facing Qin Ruan, Hou Qiang, and others, he said, "Everything is normal. Third Young Master has been overworked recently and lacks rest. Send him back to his room to rest."

Hou Qiang immediately summoned two subordinates to take Third Young Master back to his room.

Dr. Chen followed with the other doctors.

Qin Ruan remained silent throughout the process.

In the spacious hall, only she and Lin Hao, as well as the other servants, remained.

And not far away, the King of the Underworld, invisible to anyone's eyes.

Qin Ruan glanced at Lin Hao, who had a serious face, not knowing what he was thinking.

If he could see the King of the Underworld, he wouldn't look like this.

Qin Ruan raised her foot and walked towards the King of the Underworld.

The latter extended his hand and slowly opened his palm. Two black light circles flew out from his hand.

The light circles gradually transformed into human forms—it was Xiao Guang and the female ghost, who had recently departed. They appeared before Qin Ruan, trembling.

Qin Ruan didn't even spare them a glance. Her gaze was fixed on the King of the Underworld.

The King of the Underworld avoided her gaze and spoke quickly, "I brought these two little puppets for you. Whether they live or die is up to you. I'll leave now, and don't summon me, no matter what happens!"

Saying that, he turned to leave.

Qin Ruan's face turned dark, and a hint of satisfaction curved her lips.

Qin Ruan got the answer she wanted.

In this life, she asked for little, only wanting to make up for the regrets of her previous life.

The company of her family, the return of her child, and the gratitude of Hou Yunjiao in her previous life.

She wanted to have all of this forever, and the only way was to continuously collect the Underworld's power.

As long as she got an answer, she wouldn't have to be anxious every day.

They said that Hou Yunjiao had less than ten years to live.

But she wanted him to accompany her for ten years, twenty years, thirty years, until a hundred years.

Chapter 124: Making a Wish for Her

Bai Lu finished a large bowl of meat without shedding a tear, as the cake arrived, forcing her to clear the table of the unfinished dishes.

Steadily holding the cake, Xiao Wei navigated around the scattered bottles, attracting magical, bewildered, and incomprehensible gazes as he approached the table.

Carefully placing the cake on the table, he returned to his seat, ready to start eating.

"Don't move!"

Tipsy, Luo Shiliu took a wobbly stroll around the table, eyes following the cake as he circled. As he spun, he said, "Let me guess what this is. Me and Cheng Ge have seen the world."

"I know!" Xiao Da Zhuang raised his hand, but Wang Hao covered his mouth, speaking first, "This is a cake!"

"No one in the town has it, nor in Ping Cheng, only in Nan Shi. We went with Cheng Ge last year to collect debts, and I saw someone buying a cake on the street. It's especially expensive!"

Three grown men encircled the round table.

They had been with Xiao Cheng to collect debts, been outside the city, seen the world, seen cakes, but had never eaten one.

They wished to peer into the cake with their eyes.

Luckily, the table was of good quality, just able to withstand their wobbly steps as they leaned on it while walking.

If the quality were lower, they might have toppled over along with the table.

"Is this bought by Sister-in-law?" Xiao Da Zhuang asked Bai Lu, "Did Sister-in-law know that Big Brother is taking us out of town for a big business tomorrow, so she specially made a cake for Big Brother as a farewell gift?"

Just as he finished speaking, his head received a wallop.

"Farewell? Today is Cheng Ge's birthday. Sister-in-law made this birthday cake for Cheng Ge!"

Luo Shiliu gave the honest man a wallop and then stopped, grinning at Bai Lu, "Am I right?"

In an instant, all eyes at the table were on her.

Especially the gazes of the men beside her were particularly intense, burning so hot that Bai Lu's face felt flushed.

"Yes, it's a birthday cake. Xiao Wei also helped a bit." This explanation seemed less convincing.

All eyes still remained focused on Bai Lu alone.

Even Xiao Wei was staring at her, nodding earnestly, "I only helped a little. The birthday cake was made by Sister-in-law specifically for Big Brother's birthday."

Bai Lu: "..."

How did things turn out this way?

Clearly, it was a birthday cake made to express gratitude to the benefactor for his care. It was intended as a gift for the benefactor's birthday.

Not the other way around.

Absolutely no other meaning.

Three grown men, with slightly loosened screws, reacted so intensely to the vague notion of making a wish. They refused to let go and kept staring at her. It was as if they thought she would transform into a wish-granting fairy if they kept staring.

Bai Lu had no choice but to find a way to crawl into the ground.

They say three women on stage are a play. Looking at the scene now, three men could easily win the Best Actor award!

Plus, there was an occasionally clueless Xiao Wei: "Big Sister said you can make a wish with the birthday cake. No matter what wish Big Brother makes, Big Sister can make it come true."

Bai Lu: "!!!"

I never said that!

Where did he get that idea?

I'm not a magic lamp!

What if I can't make it come true? Are they going to kill me?

Xiao Wei grasped the precise answer and quickly explained, "Big Sister said when making a wish, you have to hold your hands together, place them in front of your chin."

Under the flickering candlelight, Xiao Cheng held his hands together, slightly lost in his deep, mysterious eyes, not looking at the candle at all.

He didn't understand what to do next.

He could only continue looking at Bai Lu.

Bai Lu, with her eye corners twitching, pulled a ready fruit knife from the nearby small table and handed it to the big guy, saying, "Cut the cake and share it with everyone."

Just as Xiao Cheng took the knife, Xiao Wei reminded, "Big Sister said husband and wife should cut it together."

Bai Lu was close to spitting blood.

She meant that for weddings, the couple should cut the cake together, not for a birthday cake!

Xiao Wei's Chinese teacher must be identified!

"Cut together! Cut together!"

"Big Brother and Big Sister cutting the cake together!"

All three grown men were now sloshed, but they still managed to chant and cheer around the table.

Bai Lu hadn't even found a place to hide yet when Xiao Cheng grabbed her wrist, lifting her into his arms from behind, putting the handle of the fruit knife in her hand and covering it with his big hand.

His chin lightly knocked against her shoulder.

Under the warm light of the swaying candle, with a breath carrying a hint of alcohol that gently brushed past her cheek, White Dew's frozen breath was disrupted.

"You cut it."

He spoke softly.

A slightly tipsy and resonant tone, low and magnetic, brushed against her ear like a warm brush, disturbing her already stiff breath.

"You cut it."

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Next Chapter▶▶

  Chapter 10: Carriage

After flattering Xu Yuan and offering some money, Chen Yuan was initially refused, but eventually persuaded by Xu Yuan. After all, it was rare to encounter a bailiff who was easy to talk to, so they had to establish a good relationship with him.

After Xu Yuan left, the group gathered around the large bundle he had brought. Upon opening it, they found a variety of items, including pots, bowls, rice, and flour.

Of course, there were also plenty of dry rations like pancakes and biscuits.

In fact, the bailiffs wouldn't bother about prisoners cooking their own food on the road of exile. They could take advantage of the situation and freeload off the prisoners' cooking.

Moreover, by allowing prisoners to cook for themselves, the bailiffs could save a considerable amount of food. After all, the government provided food for the exiles to prevent starvation during the journey, although it was only coarse bread and pancakes.

Chen Yuan inspected the bundle and found, in addition to the basic supplies, several bundles of buns, pancakes, and even dried fruits.

Most importantly, there were dried meats.

Although they were all pancakes, these were made of fine flour, with different flavors and various fillings.

Without Chen Yuan's orders, the servants had already started cooking, as the buns and pancakes had cooled and needed to be served with hot soup.

Of course, because there were many people, the food wouldn't be enough for everyone for several meals, so they had to be frugal, considering the long journey ahead.

The masters could eat until they were full with buns, but the servants had to make do with drinking more soup to fill their stomachs.

Fortunately, Chen Yuan wasn't strict. He allowed the servants to cook some porridge to supplement their meals and prevent them from starving.

While the servants were cooking, Chen Xue didn't interfere. Instead, she quietly enjoyed pastries with Xiao Die and Madam Chen.

Since the buns and pancakes were too hard for them to eat, Chen Xue decided to retrieve some items from her space to enjoy.

As they were in a circle with everyone else, and since everyone had seen the bailiffs bring them food, they didn't have to worry about being exposed while eating.

"Miss, you go ahead and eat first!"

Seeing the pastries wrapped in a handkerchief, Xiao Die didn't reach for them immediately. Instead, she waited for Chen Xue to eat first to ensure that she wouldn't go hungry.

"Don't worry, there's plenty."

Chen Xue was touched by Xiao Die's consideration and affectionately patted her on the head.

Then, she magically produced more pastries from her space, along with grapes and other fruits.

If they had a barbecue grill, it would have been like a picnic.

By the time the servants finished cooking and invited them to eat, the three of them had already eaten their fill.

However, they didn't mention this and continued to pretend they hadn't eaten anything, each taking only one bun for the meal.

Chen Yuan was puzzled by how synchronized the three of them were in eating just one bun each. Just as he was about to ask, his daughter gave him a meaningful look, reminding him of her mysterious abilities, so he refrained from asking further.

After he finished eating, Chen Yuan instructed the servants to finish the remaining porridge and buns.

"Dang! Dang! Dang!"

At this moment, the bailiffs signaled the resumption of the journey. Everyone quickly packed up and prepared to continue on their way.

"No way!"

Chen Yuan suddenly frowned. "We can't go on like this. We won't make it thousands of miles without collapsing."

While he could endure the hardship, he couldn't let his wife and daughters suffer. Therefore, he needed to find a carriage. No, a carriage wouldn't do. A mule cart would suffice.

Thinking this, he discussed with his wife and daughters. Chen Xue nodded in agreement; she had already had this idea.

"Dad, you keep this money. You'll need it for handling matters."

Chen Yuan took the money, then found the bailiff Xu Tian and had a brief conversation with him. Xu Tian suddenly slapped his forehead.

"My mistake! How could I forget? Don't worry, Minister Chen, leave it to me!"

They hadn't left the capital yet, and there were people around everywhere. Conveniently, there was a village nearby, so Xu Tian spent some money to buy an old carriage.

The Chen family didn't expect Xu Tian to be so efficient and actually bring a carriage for them. They were overjoyed that they wouldn't have to walk anymore.

Although they had only been on the road for less than two hours, it felt like an eternity.

Seeing Xu Tian bring a carriage for the Chen family, Zhao Guang became anxious. He had planned for the Chen family to suffer and possibly die from exhaustion, but with the carriage, his plans would be thwarted.

"What are you doing, Xu Tian!"

"Don't you know these people are criminals? Who said they could ride in a carriage!"

Xu Tian, burdened with the responsibilities entrusted to him by several important figures and greatly admiring Chen Yuan, retorted without hesitation when he heard Zhao Guang's words.

"So what if they're criminals? Who said criminals couldn't ride in a carriage? Who made that rule?"

"Didn't you arrange carriages for criminals before? How come you can do it, but I can't?"

"You..."

Zhao Guang's face turned extremely ugly. He had indeed done so before, as it was ordered from above, and mainly because too much money had been given.

"What are you arguing about? What's the commotion!"

At this moment, the captain of the bailiffs walked over, and Zhao Guang hurriedly ran over to lodge a complaint.

The captain glanced at Xu Tian, then at Chen Yuan, before turning away. "Continue the journey. If you delay any longer, you'll see how many lives will be chopped off."

Apparently, he didn't express any opinion on the matter of the Chen family riding in the carriage.

After all, they hadn't committed any crimes, and there were no regulations against it.

Moreover, while there were orders from above to trip up Chen Yuan, several important figures had also sent letters asking him to take care of Chen Yuan.

One side wanted him to cause trouble for Chen Yuan, while the other wanted him to take care of him.

What could he do?

He couldn't afford to offend either side, so he just accepted the money, turned a blind eye, and didn't interfere with anything that happened on the road of exile. After all, outsiders couldn't possibly know what happened during the journey of exile.

Seeing that the captain didn't care, Zhao Guang's face turned dark as the bottom of a pot. He left angrily, and then a look of determination flashed in his eyes. "It seems I have to take matters into my own hands."

...

Chen Xue and the others ignored Zhao Guang's departure and came to thank Xu Tian one by one.

Being praised by Minister Chen and called "little brother" by his daughter made Xu Tian feel like he was floating on air.

Seeing this, other prisoners also approached Xu Tian, asking him to help them find a carriage. Money was not an issue for them.

Heh heh!

Xu Tian smirked and said,

 "Sorry, I don't lack money either."

Seeing Xu Tian leave with a flick of his sleeve, the others looked at each other in confusion. They couldn't understand why Xu Tian helped Chen Yuan but refused to help them even though they offered money.

Could it be because they offered money?

Helpless, they could only turn to other bailiffs for help.

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Chapter 123: Spoil Her

After three rounds of drinks,

each person became a bit tipsy.

Initially, when toasting, they would say some congratulatory words, but as the night progressed, their true selves were revealed.

Lifting his cup, Xiao Da Zhuang toasted from a distance, "Cheng Ge! Cheers! May you have good fortune like the Eastern Sea and a long life like the Southern Mountain!"

Wang Hao, with half a cup swaying, earnestly toasted, "Cheng Ge, may you have noble children and a household full of descendants!"

"Cheng Ge, no need for many words. You know what I want to say, and I know you know. This toast is our sincere wish. Good words are just that; we say them every year. You understand, I understand. Cheers! All the words are in this cup!"

Saying goodbye to his playful and mischievous smile, Luo Shiliu, looking silly, raised his cup to toast to Xiao Cheng. Left hand supporting the table, right hand holding the cup, toasting with wishes everyone understood.

Seeing that Xiao Cheng was about to pick up another full cup, Bai Lu quickly and gently held his hand.

Giving him a cool and gentle standard smile, "If you get drunk again... you'll sleep in the utility room tonight."

Xiao Cheng's eyes were a bit blurred from the alcohol, only seeing the girl smiling tenderly, full of care.

His big hand clasped her small hand.

Softly speaking, "Don't worry, I won't get drunk."

In a state resembling a three-year-old child, he even claimed not to get drunk. Bai Lu found it hard to believe, "The utility room's roof is fixed, no drafts. If you vomit, you can immediately go shower since it's close to the kitchen."

"I won't vomit." Xiao Cheng was serious.

"Yes, yes, you won't vomit, and definitely not get drunk." Covered in alcohol, Bai Lu pursed her lips, wiped her face, and placed a piece of braised pig's trotter into his bowl.

"A three-year-old child would vomit; you're so impressive, of course, you won't. Have a piece of big pig's trotter to wake up!" Mentioning a three-year-old, Xiao Cheng glanced at Xiao Wei.

Bai Lu was speechless, "Xiao Wei is already seven, not three."

The little guy was focused on picking snails, using a toothpick to extract snail meat and putting the fingers in his mouth.

Hearing his name, he instinctively looked up, finding himself stared at by the two most important pairs of eyes. His face turned red, and the fingers that had snail meat forgot to chew.

Obediently lowering his head, he ate with small mouthfuls.

Bai Lu smiled, scooped a spoonful of snails, and put it into the little guy's bowl, which had only a thin layer of rice left, "If you like it, eat more. There's plenty, and if you can't finish, it'll be a waste tomorrow."

Xiao Wei looked up, realizing Big Brother was looking at Bai Lu, not at him. Disappointed, he lowered his head, picked up a big snail from his bowl, and put it to his mouth, trying to extract snail meat. If unsuccessful, he used a toothpick.

When Bai Lu turned her head, Xiao Cheng was already looking at the braised pig's trotter in his bowl. After a moment, he picked up the chopsticks.

Picking up the big pig's trotter, he put it into his mouth.

"Is it delicious?"

Bai Lu's eyes sparkled, watching him swallow the pork trotter... waiting for the answer.

Xiao Cheng nodded, indicating approval.

"What does 'hmm' mean?" Bai Lu looked puzzled, "Is it delicious or not?"

Probing was her forte.

Xiao Cheng picked up a sweet and sour spare rib, "Delicious."

"What is delicious?" Bai Lu snatched the spare rib he had just picked up and put it into Xiao Wei's bowl.

Xiao Wei was stunned, pleasantly surprised, secretly happy.

The trio on the opposite side, inebriated and supporting their chins, all stared at the big brother, anticipating a show.

Xiao Cheng felt he must be drunk to go along with her request and say, "The braised pig's trotter is delicious."

Bai Lu immediately blossomed a sweet smile, and she served him another piece, big and red.

"If it's delicious, have some more."

Xiao Cheng: "..."

Xiao Wei sneakily lifted the corners of his mouth, feeling for the first time that the red-braised spare ribs in his mouth were so delicious that he wanted to dance.

"I want some too! We want red-braised pig's trotter!"

"Sister-in-law, we also want red-braised pig's trotter!"

The trio, watching the show, protested against the couple having a feast on their own and extended their bowls across the table.

However, they were mercilessly pushed away by Xiao Cheng, "Serve yourselves."

Luo Shiliu decisively shifted the target of his bowl and said to Xiao Wei, "Xiao Wei, quickly serve a piece of pig's trotter for your brother."

Xiao Da Zhuang and Wang Hao also pushed their bowls forward, "Xiao Wei, give us a piece of pig's trotter too. It should be bigger and more delicious than your brother's!"

Staring at the three bowls filled with alcohol and swaying left and right, Xiao Wei fell into silent contemplation.

After waiting for a while without his big brother helping to resolve the situation, he reluctantly had to serve a piece of big pig's trotter. Pig's trotters soaked in alcohol should be the favorite of the three drunk brothers.

Just as he finished serving the pig's trotter, a soft and secretive voice came from above, "Go to the kitchen and bring the cake."

Xiao Wei's eyes instantly lit up like light bulbs. He quickly put down his chopsticks and rushed to the kitchen.

The moon was shining brightly, and the round table was set in the front yard. The moon illuminated a table full of delicious dishes, picked up by pairs of chopsticks and praised with drunken hiccups.

The bowl was piled up like a small mountain, and Bai Lu helplessly turned to Xiao Cheng, "Why did you serve me so much food?"

Xiao Cheng nodded seriously and picked up another piece of braised pig's trotter, a piece of garlic-roasted spare rib, a piece of sweet and sour spare rib, a boneless boiled fish fillet, a piece of braised pork, a big chicken leg, and a big duck leg.

It wasn't until her bowl was piled so high that it couldn't hold any more that he looked at her earnestly, using a seemingly calm and indifferent tone, "Eat meat; the doctor said it's good for your health."

Indeed, only a drunk child could do such a thing.

Bai Lu looked at the mountain of meat in her bowl, defeated. Xiao Cheng before getting drunk, aloof and arrogant, silent and reserved, would never do such a childish thing as forcefully feeding her.

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