The car moved forward.
Driving along the highway, the scenery on both sides rapidly receded into the distance—
"Yu You, what are you thinking about?" Ye Shuang gripped the steering wheel, his peripheral gaze catching the girl fiddling with the hem of her clothes, her head lowered as if lost in thought. He couldn't help but ask,
"Are you thinking about Aunt Xian and the others?"
She shook her head lightly.
"Is that so?" Seeing Bai Yuyou didn’t answer, Ye Shuang mused that the girl was starting to have her own secrets. But then again, it wasn’t surprising—she was an adult now, after all. Everyone had things they didn’t want to share. He considered this a sign of growth.
The car’s air conditioning was set a little too low, making his skin prickle with cold. As he reached to adjust the temperature, a small, icy hand suddenly slipped over his own, resting on the back of his hand.
Ye Shuang froze for a moment before realizing Bai Yuyou had shifted slightly closer, wrapping herself around his arm.
The warmth of her body contrasted sharply with the chill of her fingers. Just as he was about to speak, he noticed her eyes beneath her bangs—fixed on the distance, unmoving, lost in some unknown thought.
He chose not to say anything, instead slowing the car down and letting her cling to his arm.
"If something’s bothering you, you can tell me," Ye Shuang said gently.
Bai Yuyou nuzzled her cheek against his arm before murmuring softly, "Don’t like… monogamy…"
Ye Shuang: "…"
A bewildered expression crossed his face.
Huh?
What the—?
Are you still thinking about what happened at the museum this morning?
He couldn’t quite follow the girl’s train of thought—it was always so unpredictable. Still, he chuckled. "Why don’t you like it?"
"Just don’t…"
"Is that so?" Keeping his eyes on the road, he added, "Well, like I said earlier… even now, wealthy people might have mistresses. It all comes down to status in the end."
"Status?"
"Yeah. A woman can’t just marry into a family without any standing. Back in ancient times, concubines didn’t have that, but things are different now. Women care about status."
Ye Shuang patiently explained, though he wasn’t sure if Bai Yuyou truly grasped the significance of status for a woman. Given how her mind worked, understanding such concepts wasn’t exactly easy.
Whether his words had resolved some confusion or not, Bai Yuyou suddenly seemed more spirited. "Ye Shuang…"
"Yeah?"
"I only need Ye Shuang… the rest… doesn’t matter…"
"What kind of nonsense is that?" He wasn’t sure how their conversation had veered from societal norms to this, but something about it felt… off.
When they returned to the apartment, Ye Shuang had barely opened the door before Yi Wan came darting over. "Meow!"
The cat rolled onto its back at their feet, belly exposed, demanding attention.
"Did you miss us after just one night away?" Ye Shuang laughed, nudging Yi Wan’s belly with his socked foot—only to earn a retaliatory nip.
"Stingy."
Exposing belly ≠ permission to touch.
After setting down his things, Ye Shuang walked straight to the floor-to-ceiling window, studying the space as he considered where to place the piano.
"Meow!" Yi Wan trotted over again, about to rub against his leg—when suddenly, Ye Shuang’s foot shot out, sending the cat’s bed skidding across the floor. The corrugated cardboard circle, flat as a pancake, spun wildly before crashing into the wall and flipping upside down with a clatter.
Yi Wan stared blankly at its displaced bed: …So?
"Ye Shuang… what are you doing?" Bai Yuyou stood nearby, clearly puzzled.
"Yu You, pass me the digital measuring tape. I need to check the dimensions here." He pointed to a nearby cabinet, and the girl obediently retrieved the tool.
She had seen him use it during their move, so she knew what it was for.
"Hmm, a grand piano should fit just fine," Ye Shuang nodded.
Then he turned to Yi Wan. "You good with that, Yi Wan?"
Yi Wan: "…Meow."
"Great. Silence means consent."
Noticing Bai Yuyou’s confusion, he explained, "With pianos, it’s best to go all-in from the start and stick with it. A grand piano has a larger soundboard, longer strings, better key action, and richer tone compared to an upright—just takes up more space. But if you’re serious about learning, a grand piano is the way to go."
He didn’t want to half-heartedly teach her. If she had an interest, he’d give it his all—then hire a proper instructor once she got the basics down.
"Oh." Bai Yuyou didn’t fully understand, but she nodded obediently anyway.
Once the measurements were done, it was time to go piano shopping. For something like this, testing it in person was a must—pianos ranged from a few hundred bucks for an electric keyboard online to millions for high-end models. Ye Shuang wanted an acoustic one; the pure sound would be better for her learning.
Driving Bai Yuyou to a nearby music store district—a hub for instrument shops, including high-end boutiques—Ye Shuang led the way.
"No rush, let’s browse first."
But Bai Yuyou immediately latched onto his arm. Though she no longer felt uncomfortable in crowds, she still preferred sticking close to him while out.
"That’s a guitar shop," Ye Shuang remarked, spotting a specialty store. "Guitars are easier to pick up than pianos, but they’re still a popular choice."
"Like Chen Qin-jie’s…"
"Chen Qin plays the violin. They might look similar, but they’re completely different instruments."
Bai Yuyou whispered, "Want to try…"
Seeing her curiosity piqued, Ye Shuang smiled and guided her inside.
"Hello, how can I help you?" A saleswoman approached them with a friendly smile.
"Could we try one of the guitars?"
"Of course."
Handed a guitar, Ye Shuang took a seat and began explaining the basics to Bai Yuyou.
She watched him hold the instrument, intrigued. "Ye Shuang… can play?"
"A little." He ran his fingers over the strings, a touch nostalgic. He’d dabbled in guitar years ago—partly to impress someone. Compared to piano, it was much easier to pick up, so even without extensive practice, he could still play a few tunes.
"Want to hear…"
"You do?" Clearing his throat, he grinned. "I’m a bit rusty, but I’ll play you something."
Cheng's father told him he was getting remarried—to a wealthy woman. Cao Cheng realized his time had finally come: he was about to become a second-generation rich kid. Sure, it might be a watered-down version, but hey, at least he'd have status now, right? The wealthy woman also had four daughters!! Which meant, starting today, Cao Cheng gained four stunning older sisters?? But that wasn't even the whole story... "My name is Cao Cheng—'Cheng' as in 'honest, smooth-talking gentleman'!"
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!
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."
