Although they were heading to the museum, neither Ye Shuang's "Bull Demon King" (a nickname for his car) nor Chen Qin's 911 could comfortably fit five people. Fortunately, the garage had plenty of vehicles, so Ye Shuang and Chen Qin ended up riding in Zhou's Father's car.
"Ye Shuang... the car roof looks strange," Bai Yuyou murmured after sitting down, her beautiful eyes blinking at the dense clusters of light dots above.
"Don’t like it?" Ye Shuang reached for the control button and dimmed the starry roof lights slightly.
The girl shook her head faintly—she was just curious. Truthfully, she preferred riding in Ye Shuang’s car. The cozy space, just the two of them, gave her an indescribable sense of security.
"Sweetie, scoot closer."
Meanwhile, Zhou's Mother, sitting in the passenger seat, pulled out her phone to take pictures of Bai Yuyou. The resemblance between mother and daughter was undeniable, though Bai Yuyou’s features were more refined, carrying a uniquely serene and cool elegance.
The five-kilometer drive wasn’t long. Sensing their daughter’s reluctance, Zhou's Father and Mother avoided bringing up their return to Hong Kong during the ride. Instead, following Chen's Father’s suggestion, they shared stories about their past as a couple. Zhou's Mother even played some of her own songs for Bai Yuyou.
Bai Yuyou listened quietly. Though she didn’t understand the lyrics, the music was pleasant.
At the very least, Zhou's Mother was on the right track—this approach made it easier for Bai Yuyou to warm up to them.
"Yuyou, interested in music?" Ye Shuang seized the moment to explore her hobbies and smiled as he asked.
The girl hesitated before whispering, "Earlier... the video."
A few words were enough for Ye Shuang to understand. She seemed intrigued by the video Chen's Father had shown earlier. "Do you like Chen Qin’s violin?" he probed.
"Violin?" Chen Qin turned around with a playful grin. "I can arrange a good teacher for you."
But Bai Yuyou shook her head. "Ye Shuang’s..."
"Piano?"
"Sounds nice..."
Noticing her budding interest in piano, Ye Shuang mentally scanned their small apartment for a spot to fit one. Maybe by the floor-to-ceiling window?
Yi Wan might have to sacrifice some space for her cat bed.
Oh well. If the cat doesn’t complain, it means she approves.
"Piano’s a great choice. Ye Shuang can teach you," Chen Qin chimed in, resting her cheek on her hand with a lazy smile. "You haven’t gotten rusty, have you?"
Her other hand poked Ye Shuang’s cheek teasingly.
The Chen Qin of today was no longer the girl who feigned distance while secretly pining for him. Her affection for Ye Shuang now overflowed openly.
"A little rust is inevitable," Ye Shuang admitted, catching her mischievous hand.
Whether it was intellect or physical prowess, Ye Shuang believed his peak was back in high school—when he sported thick bangs and mumbled cheesy confessions like "I luv u."
Soon, they arrived at the museum.
Despite it being the weekend, the crowd was sparse—unlike the packed beaches where parking spots were scarce and fees exorbitant.
"I’ll get the tickets," Ye Shuang said, heading to the counter.
After a short wait, he requested, "Five adult tickets, please."
"100. Scan here." A bored voice drifted from the window. Ye Shuang looked up, puzzled.
Inside sat a familiar girl with a bob cut, her head tilted as she watched a drama on her tablet.
"An Shiyu?"
"Oh, Uncle. Stalking me again?" She deadpanned, barely glancing at him before resuming her show.
"I should be the one saying that! Why are you always doing random jobs?" Ye Shuang’s expression mirrored the infamous "confused old man" meme.
"I was delivering takeout yesterday," she shrugged. "Hurry up and pay, Uncle. Don’t hold up the line."
After scanning the payment, An Shiyu shoved five tickets at him.
"Spending your weekend staring at old junk in a museum? How boring."
Ye Shuang: "..."
"Your jobs are way more pointless?!"
"Eh, true." She blinked blankly, not even denying it.
"But whether something’s boring or not, you gotta try it yourself. Other people’s opinions are useless."
With that, she packed up her tablet and stepped out of the booth. "Alright, I’m clocking out. Entertain me, Uncle."
"You’re just leaving?" Ye Shuang gaped, gesturing to the queue behind him.
An Shiyu stuffed her hands in her pockets, her blunt bangs swaying as she gave him a flat look. "Who cares? You can buy e-tickets or use the machines. This job’s just for lazy parasites anyway."
"Finish what you start! And apologize to ticket sellers worldwide!"
Ye Shuang grabbed her and stuffed her back inside.
"Ye Shuang, what’s taking so long?" Chen Qin called from a distance.
"Coming!"
Tickets in hand, he hurried back.
Inside the booth, An Shiyu propped her chin on her palm, watching him leave. Then she turned to the next customer.
"What?"
"Uh... two tickets, please."
"We’re closed. Go home."
"Huh? ↗"
......
"What were you doing at the counter?" Chen Qin asked, having seen him lingering earlier.
"Ran into an acquaintance selling tickets. Chatted for a bit." Ye Shuang waved the tickets. "Let’s head in."
After scanning their tickets, Ye Shuang guided Bai Yuyou through the exhibits. The city’s museum didn’t house any extraordinary artifacts—just common porcelain, calligraphy, and local history displays.
"Artifacts..." Bai Yuyou stood before a glass case, studying the pristine white porcelain and its age. "So old..."
"Yeah." Ye Shuang stared at it too, his system window popping up involuntarily.
[Item: White Porcelain
A piece of porcelain.]
If only the system had an appraisal feature—he’d make a killing as an antique expert.
After a few more rounds, Ye Shuang noticed Bai Yuyou’s quiet focus. Historical relics carried a weight that pulled you into their era, the more you knew.
Suddenly, she tugged his sleeve. "Ye Shuang..."
"What’s up?"
"Why does it say ancient men had multiple wives... but not anymore?" She pointed at a description panel.
saw a female celebrity tied up and stuffed in the trunk! Little did he know, countless cameras were aimed at him at this moment - this was a new type of reality show. The first randomly selected passerby was caught in less than an hour. But when Xu Moru was selected, things started to take an unexpected turn. "Damn, this isn't how the script goes. This Xu Moru is too bold, he's not following the rules at all." "Crap, is this guy taking it seriously?" "The female celebrity has been scared to tears!"
young master of the Shen family—a figure of immense power and wealth beyond measure—and awakened the "Destined Ultimate Villain System"! His starting scenario? Running into his icy fiancée who shows up with a mountain-descending divine doctor to break off their engagement. The divine doctor arrogantly taunts: "What does your Shen family have besides a bit of stinking money? You're not even worthy of tying Qingxue's shoelaces!" Shen Fei just smiled. He completely defied the usual script: "Fine, I agree to break off the engagement. Also, notify the finance department to withdraw all investments from the Su family." Minutes later, with its capital chain severed, the Su Group teetered on the brink of bankruptcy! The once aloof and proud ice queen CEO was thrown into utter panic. That very night, she went to Shen Fei's villa, casting aside all dignity to beg and plead desperately... From then on, in this world teeming with Sons of Destiny, Shen Fei embarked on a path of extreme dimensional suppression! A mountain-descending divine doctor? Peerless medical skills? Shen Fei: "Reporting you for practicing medicine without a license! I'll gladly take your ancient medicinal cauldron and twin sister assassins." The Crooked-Smiling Dragon King? Commanding a hundred thousand soldiers with a single order? Shen Fei: "Illegal assembly and suspected treason! Let a fleet of attack helicopters sanitize the area and teach you what the state apparatus really means!" A reborn tycoon? Knows all the golden opportunities of the next decade? Shen Fei: "A trillion in capital to reverse and pump the stock market, making you blow your margin and jump on the very first day of your rebirth!" What Chosen Ones? What bearers of Heavenly Fortune? In Shen Fei's eyes, they're all just chives (i.e., suckers/marks) waiting to be harvested! Shen Fei: "Sorry, but as the Destined Ultimate Villain, I don't play by the rules of honor. I only play the game of dimensional suppression."
e bizarre and supernatural had descended. The previous emperor was a thoroughgoing tyrant; no longer satisfied with human women, he had set his sights on a stunningly beautiful supernatural entity. He met his end in his bedchamber, drained of all his vital essence. As the legitimate eldest son and crown prince, Wang Hao was thus hastily enthroned, becoming the young emperor of the Great Zhou Dynasty. No sooner had he awakened the "Imperial Sign-In Intelligence System" than he was assassinated by a Son of Destiny—a classic villain's opening. The Great Zhou, ravaged by the former emperor's excesses, was in national decline. The great families within its borders harbored their own treacherous schemes, martial sects began to defy the imperial court's decrees, and border armies, their pay and provisions in arrears, grumbled incessantly against the central government. Fortunately, the central capital was still held secure by the half-million Imperial Guards and fifty thousand Imperial Forest Army who obeyed the court's orders, along with the royal family's hidden reserves of power, barely managing to suppress the realm. As the Great Zhou's finances worsened and supernatural activities grew ever more frequent, the court sat atop a volcano. Ambitious plotters everywhere dreamed of overthrowing the dynasty, and even some reclusive ancient powers emerged, attempting to sway the tides of the world. At the first grand court assembly, the civil and military officials nearly came to blows, fighting tooth and nail over the allocation of fifty million taels of silver from the summer tax revenues. The spectacle opened Wang Hao's eyes—the Great Zhou's bureaucracy was not only corrupt but also martially proficient, a cabinet of all-rounders. Some officials even had the audacity to suggest the emperor release funds from the imperial privy purse to address the emergency. Wang Hao suddenly felt weary. Let it all burn.
rowess are unmatched, commanding a million-strong army! Yet, the Emperor wants to depose him for the sake of a false prince? Hold on, are you throwing me into some female-oriented romance plot? How can I tolerate this? With a grand wave of his hand—the Nine Clan Extraction Technique! Slander the Emperor? Very well, all of you shall die! ... The False Prince: "Although I am not the biological son, Father and Mother love me more. The throne should be mine!" The Female Lead: "Qin Xiao, you are the Emperor, and I am a commoner. If you wish to marry me, you must abdicate. Otherwise, you will never have me!" The Empress: "After we divorce, you must give me half the empire!" The Transmigrator Consort: "You worthless Emperor, why should I kneel to you? All men are equal—I advise you to be kind!" The Great General: "The enemy general is my childhood sweetheart. For her sake, I willingly abandon the frontier defenses!" The Retired Emperor: "Although Yu'er was adopted, I prefer him. Qin Xiao, you should abdicate and let him become Emperor!" ... Very well! So this is how you want to play? Facing this twisted world of female-oriented tropes, Qin Xiao grins and raises his hand to unleash—the Nine Clan Extraction Technique! I am the Emperor. Why would I bother reasoning with you? Seal the gates! Leave none alive!
