Outside the airport.
San Yue Bu Xia Xue got out of the driver’s seat and opened the right rear door. Chen Xiaoyan reached out to open the left rear door as well, but Mu Qingxue stopped her.
She pressed down on Chen Xiaoyan’s hand and smiled. “Yan-bao, you don’t need to see me off.”
“Alright.” Chen Xiaoyan didn’t act pretentious and nodded. “Xue-bao, get some rest when you get back. Don’t stay up late.”
The corner of Mu Qingxue’s mouth quirked up. She reached out to tap her lips and blinked, seemingly reminding her of something. “You too, my treasure.”
A blush instantly appeared on Chen Xiaoyan’s face, and she swatted away that improper hand. “Go, go quickly.”
“Giggle.” Watching her cute reaction, Mu Qingxue let out a tender laugh before her expression suddenly became serious. “Yan-bao, would you say we are in a romantic relationship?”
“No,” Chen Xiaoyan replied decisively.
“Sigh, Yan-bao, that answer really makes me sad.” Mu Qingxue sighed and sat back down, acting as if she wouldn’t leave. “So, I don’t want to go anymore.”
Chen Xiaoyan’s face was full of black lines. She gave her a roll of the eyes and a gentle push. “Yes, fine.”
“You’re so perfunctory.”
“( .~’ . )”
“Alright, alright, don’t glare at me like that. I’m going. Goodnight, treasure.” Mu Qingxue leaned over to leave a kiss on Chen Xiaoyan’s forehead and then got out of the car.
Without looking back, she entered the airport with San Yue Bu Xia Xue. Qian Renxue got out to close the door and then sat in the driver’s seat to drive back to the community.
On the way, Chen Xiaoyan touched her forehead and stared out the window in a daze.
Upon arriving home, she took a bath and went to bed early. She opened her phone and found Penguin Message notifications. Checking them, she saw messages from Old Dream, Chong Chong, Liu Yue, Xianyun, and others. Among them, Chong Chong had the most messages—more than ten.
This girl had never changed.
Chong Chong (one hour ago): Xiaoyan-jie, where were you this afternoon? Chong Chong: Did something happen again? Why didn’t you tell me? Chong Chong (fifty minutes ago): What are you doing? Why aren’t you replying? Chong Chong: Xiaoyan-jie, I must not be important to you at all. You don’t tell me anything. Chong Chong (thirty minutes ago): If you don’t reply, I’m coming to Qingzhou to find you. Chong Chong: [Image] Chong Chong: See? I’ve already bought the ticket.
Seeing these chat logs made Chen Xiaoyan break into a cold sweat. She quickly made a Penguin Voice call to Chong Chong. No one answered.
Chen Xiaoyan was stunned. ‘Did this girl really get on a plane and come here?’
‘No, try one more time.’
This time, Chong Chong answered.
“Hello, Xiaoyan-jie. I was just taking a bath, sorry about that.”
“Cough, it’s fine. Did you buy a plane ticket?”
“No, that was photoshopped. Hehe, I just wanted to trick you. I didn’t expect it to work so well.”
“Ugh, you brat. I’m hanging up.”
“Wait, wait, don’t! Xiaoyan-jie, where did you go this afternoon? Why weren’t you online?”
“My mom came.”
“Ah!!!”
A marmot-like scream immediately came from the other end of the phone. Chen Xiaoyan curled her lip and dug at her ear. This girl’s voice was unusually powerful; her ear was almost deafened.
“You brat, what are you screaming for?”
“No, Xiaoyan-jie, Auntie came? Why didn’t you tell me?” Her tone was strangely resentful.
“I didn’t think of it at the time. Besides, that’s my mom. Why tell you?”
“Isn’t she my future one?” Chong Chong whispered softly.
“What are you mumbling?”
“Nothing. Xiaoyan-jie, next time Auntie comes, be sure to let me know, okay?”
“No.”
“Xiaoyan-jie~”
Hearing that high-pitched, cutesy voice on the other side, Chen Xiaoyan was speechless. “Speak properly.”
“No, no! Xiaoyan-jie, I want to see Auntie.”
“What? You want to call her ‘Mom’ too?”
“Hehe, it’s not like I can’t. I’m very willing.”
“Keep dreaming. I’m hanging up.”
Chen Xiaoyan didn’t wait for Chong Chong to speak and cut off the Penguin Voice call.
Chong Chong: Ahhh!!! Xiaoyan-jie, you don’t love me anymore. You’ve changed. You aren’t like you were before. Chen Xiaoyan: You’ve said that already. Chong Chong: Eh? I have? Oh, then I’ll change it. Chen Xiaoyan: (Fist warning) Chong Chong: Humph. By the way, Xiaoyan-jie, that woman Mu Qingxue wasn’t online this afternoon either, and you weren’t online. Were the two of you together? Otherwise, it wouldn’t be such a coincidence. Chen Xiaoyan: Yes, she came to say hello to my mom. Chong Chong: Heartbroken. Chong Chong: Xiaoyan-jie, you’re too much. Why did you only notify her and not me? Chen Xiaoyan: I didn’t notify her. I didn’t even want her to come. Someone tipped her off; I couldn’t help it. Chong Chong: Who? Who is so hateful? I want to cut them into a thousand pieces. Chen Xiaoyan: Qian Renxue. Go ahead. Chong Chong: Uh, this… it seems I can’t beat her. Chen Xiaoyan: (Disdain) Chong Chong: Although I can’t beat her, I’ve decided. From now on, I’ll stop healing her. Not just me—I’ll call on other Heavenly Fragrance players to stop healing her. Chen Xiaoyan: Stop. Don’t start any trouble. The guild war is tomorrow. Chong Chong: Then I’ll target her after the guild war. Chen Xiaoyan: Fine, as long as you’re happy. Chong Chong: Hehe, Xiaoyan-jie, I have one more question. Chen Xiaoyan: ? Chong Chong: Are there any houses near you? I’ll buy one. Chen Xiaoyan: ??? You brat, what are you trying to do? Chong Chong: Nothing. Are there any? Chen Xiaoyan: No.
One look at this girl and you could tell she had bad intentions. One Mu Qingxue was already enough to deal with. Now another Chong Chong? ‘Just kill me.’
Chong Chong: I don’t believe it. Money makes the world go ’round. I don’t believe no one will sell if I throw down several million.
Chen Xiaoyan felt a headache coming on. It seemed Chong Chong was determined to come.
Chen Xiaoyan: Didn’t you know Qingxue bought the whole community? Chong Chong: I know. I meant nearby—not far from you. Chen Xiaoyan: You’re really coming? Chong Chong: More real than pearls. Chen Xiaoyan: Fine, I’ll look for you when I have time. Chong Chong: Mua~ Thanks, Xiaoyan-jie.
In Tianfu City.
Chong Chong, wearing her Hello Kitty pink pajamas, was lying on the bed with her two small feet swaying. She held her phone with an extremely—no, a ten-thousand-fold—serious expression.
“That insidious woman.” She hammered the pillow a few times in regret. She hadn’t expected her to send a subordinate to monitor Xiaoyan-jie. It was truly annoying. And she had successfully met Xiaoyan-jie’s mother and taken the lead. Thinking of this, Chong Chong felt both uncomfortable and flustered.
No, things couldn’t go on like this. If she didn’t act soon, she wouldn’t have any chance at all. Chong Chong gritted her teeth and made a phone call. She had to resume her old business as soon as possible so she could have a source of income. She couldn’t just live off her savings forever.
Six in the morning.
Because she had gone to sleep so early last night, Chen Xiaoyan woke up early. After washing up and eating breakfast around seven, she put on her helmet and entered the game. Not long after she went online, a private chat window popped up. It was Liu Yue.
Liu Yue: You’re online so early today? Chen Xiaoyan: Xiaoyue, good morning. Liu Yue: Good morning, Xiaoyan. Chen Xiaoyan: I went to sleep too early last night, so I woke up early. Liu Yue: Mm. Xiaoyan, did something happen again yesterday afternoon? Chen Xiaoyan: No. My mom came, and I was accompanying her. Liu Yue was very surprised: Auntie came? Chen Xiaoyan: Yes, but she went back last night. Liu Yue sighed: Alright then. Xiaoyan, when are you coming to Kyoto? Chen Xiaoyan: I don’t have time right now. I’ll see if I have any after the guild war is over. If I do, I’ll come over for a visit.
Unlike before, she no longer felt any resistance toward going to Kyoto. ‘Sigh, I don’t know whether I should laugh or cry.’
Liu Yue: Good, I’ll wait for you. By the way, at nine o’clock, I’ll bring the Heavenly Fragrance players from Jian Ge over and leave them for you to arrange. Chen Xiaoyan: Received.
Today was the day of the war with Wushuang Lou. She couldn’t drop the ball, or she would lose face. Besides, if she didn’t work hard, how could she be worthy of that two-hundred-fifty-thousand-dollar salary?
‘Keep it up, office worker.’
Chen Xiaoyan stood in the small courtyard, took a deep breath, patted her cheeks, and cheered herself up. As per the old rules, the first thing to do after going online was to pay her respects to her “Golden Thigh.” She used the Yueying Step to quickly rush toward Tianxin Pavilion. Entering Tianxin Pavilion now was as convenient as going home.
“Shen Elder Sister!” As soon as she entered the backyard, Chen Xiaoyan shouted at the top of her lungs. At that instant, her voice echoed around, and ripples appeared on the surface of the pond. The breeze blew past the bare peach tree, making the scene appear incomparably desolate.