Ye Shuang slowly exhaled, then reached out to restrain the other’s restless, snake-like waist. "Stop fooling around."
"She’s not like you."
"So what do you plan to do? Keep taking care of that girl forever?" Chen Qin’s tone was faintly melancholic as she leaned forward, slipping her fingers between Ye Shuang’s and gently interlacing them. "I want your care too."
Seeing Ye Shuang remain silent, Chen Qin realized she had overstepped. She released his hand and slid off him, letting out a soft huff.
"Maybe I shouldn’t say this, but I really can’t let go of that kid," Ye Shuang admitted.
"What’s your next move, then? And why didn’t you reach out to us when something that big happened?"
"I’m lost," Ye Shuang shook his head. "I used to think I could handle anything, but reality showed me… I’m just an ordinary person."
"I don’t know how to keep living in this city—no goals, just drifting through each day, repeating the same motions. I used to believe work was everything, so losing it felt like losing my whole life."
He chuckled. "But these past few days made me realize something different."
"Turns out, life isn’t just about grinding for success. I’ve been shackled by that idea for too long. Living simply, peacefully… it’s not so bad."
"Back then, even a full night’s sleep was a luxury. Now, waking up naturally every day feels like a blessing."
"Until that girl grows up, I don’t have any other plans."
Chen Qin fell quiet for a moment before suddenly remarking,
"First time I’ve heard someone describe mooching off someone else so poetically."
"Right? Even I’m surprised," Ye Shuang laughed.
Chen Qin sighed, patting her ample chest before shooting Ye Shuang a reproachful glance.
Still, she knew him well—despite his calm exterior, he needed time to heal.
"You’re not falling for that girl, are you?" Chen Qin wrinkled her nose, her tone laced with playful suspicion.
"What do you think?"
Chen Qin propped her chin on one hand, her dark brown hair framing her strikingly alluring face. A teasing smile curled her crimson lips.
"You couldn’t even appreciate someone as gorgeous as me. Who knows if you’d actually go for a younger girl?"
"Am I that old?"
"Who can say? Your birthday’s next week," Chen Qin pointed out.
Birthday?
Ye Shuang froze, then instinctively checked his phone. Sure enough, the date was approaching.
"Can’t even remember your own birthday, but you never forgot hers," Chen Qin muttered under her breath.
"That’s all in the past," Ye Shuang mused. Was he really turning 27?
How had time flown so fast?
"I’ve got a business trip abroad tomorrow," Chen Qin said, retrieving a small box from the nearby table. "This is your birthday gift—early, since I won’t be back in time."
Ye Shuang took the box, surprised by how light it was.
It had been years since he’d last received a birthday gift from Chen Qin. Ever since he’d started dating that other woman, Chen Qin had kept her distance.
"What’s inside?"
"Open it and find out."
Ye Shuang unwrapped it to find a car key.
"I only covered the down payment. You’ll need to handle the monthly installments—eight thousand," Chen Qin said.
"Isn’t that a bit much?"
"Just kidding. I heard you borrowed Chen Hai’s precious motorcycle. If you scratch it, he’d lose his mind," Chen Qin smirked.
"Relax, it’s just a basic Toyota for getting around. Take it."
Ye Shuang examined the key. "Who gives a car as a birthday gift? Next year, are you gonna hand me a house?"
Chen Qin’s cheeks flushed pink. "Sure. The house, the company—even myself. All yours."
Ye Shuang grimaced. "A car’s already too much. I can’t accept it."
"Ugh, it’s just a cheap car! Since when did you become so fussy?" Chen Qin glared. "Fine, consider it borrowed! I just don’t want you wrecking that fatso Chen Hai’s ride!"
"Now that sounds more like you," Ye Shuang said, relieved to see her usual fiery temper return. The shy, blushing act had been unsettling.
"Hmph."
"Since when do you care about Chen Hai’s bike?"
"Who cares about him?!"
"Uh…"
——
"Achoo!" Upstairs, Chen Hai—who’d been sitting with Bai Yuyou—suddenly sneezed. Rubbing his nose, he grumbled, "Damn, are those two downstairs bad-mouthing me?"
Or maybe his wife was mentally cursing him from home.
His gaze then drifted to Bai Yuyou, who sat quietly across from him. After sizing her up, he wondered—no way Ye Shuang would go for someone this young, right?
Still, she was undeniably pretty. In a couple of years, she’d be downright stunning.
"Hey, why’d you say you and Ye Shuang are married?"
Bai Yuyou replied flatly, "Ye Shuang said married people can sleep together."
"Holy—?!" Chen Hai’s expression twisted. "S-So… you two… did it?"
Bai Yuyou tilted her head, confused by his hand gestures.
"You know… what married couples do. Did you?"
Assuming he meant eating and sleeping together, Bai Yuyou nodded. "Yes, we did."
Chen Hai suddenly felt sorry for his sister, though he respected Ye Shuang’s choices.
Chen Qin had practically drooled over Ye Shuang since childhood but never had the guts to make a move. Meanwhile, this little girl swooped in and got him.
"Poor kid," Chen Hai sighed inwardly.
Not like him—married early and living the good life.
Just then, his phone buzzed with a message from Ye Shuang.
"Let’s head down."
"Okay."
Chen Hai led Bai Yuyou downstairs to find Ye Shuang and Chen Qin composed on the sofa, chatting idly.
"Damn, you’re a legend. Chen Qin usually cries for three days straight, but you tamed the she-devil," Chen Hai grinned, giving a thumbs-up.
"Fatty, what did you just say?!" Chen Qin snapped.
Ye Shuang shrugged. "Just a misunderstanding. Cleared it up."
The group settled into conversation, each carefully avoiding their real concerns. By eleven, it was time for Ye Shuang and Bai Yuyou to leave.
After returning the motorcycle keys to Chen Hai, Ye Shuang led Bai Yuyou to the parking lot.
Scanning the area, he couldn’t spot the supposed Toyota. A Corolla should’ve been easy to find.
Puzzled, he pressed the unlock button on the key—and headlights flashed in the distance.
"Where is it?"
Ye Shuang led Bai Yuyou over, but when she saw the pristine white body of the car, she fell silent.
Ye Shuang wordlessly pulled out her phone and called Chen Qin directly.
"What's up? Made up your mind?" Chen Qin's cheerful voice came through the phone.
"You call this a commuter car?" Ye Shuang stared at the Toyota Supra in front of her and continued,
"Isn't this a sports car?!"
"Yep, a commuter sports car."
Ye Shuang: "..."
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!
u Chenyuan transmigrated into a female-oriented novel about a real and fake heiress, becoming the CEO elder brother of both. Unfortunately, the entire Lu family—including himself, the CEO—were mere cannon fodder in the story. Determined to save himself, Lu Chenyuan took action. The spoiled, attention-seeking fake heiress? Thrown into the harsh realities of the working class to learn humility. The love-struck real heiress? Pushed toward academic excellence, so lofty goals would blind her to trivial romances. As for the betrayed, vengeful arranged marriage wife… the plot hadn’t even begun yet. There was still time—if he couldn’t handle her, he could at least avoid her. "CEO Lu, are you avoiding me?" Mo Qingli fixed her gaze on Lu Chenyuan. For the first time, the shrewd and calculating Lu Chenyuan felt a flicker of unease.
for mindless slaughter, this isn't for you.] My name is Ye Shu, and I'm a transmigrator. It seems I'm supposed to be the protagonist, but that feels pretty unlikely. This world has been invaded by a system. The antagonists on the other side have suddenly become pure, flawless saints. The female leads have been force-fed the so-called "original plot," making them think they've been reborn. Now, everyone thinks I'm scum. Including the old lady in my ring. And here I am, in the Monster Beast Mountain Range, braising pork. To put my situation in perspective— It's as if, the moment Xiao Yan stepped into the Monster Beast Mountain Range, the Soul Emperor already knew he would become the Flame Emperor, and Yao Lao had been turned to the enemy's side. I have nothing right now. Oh wait, that's not true. I do have a white-haired loli child-bride who's the Heavenly Dao, and her only skill is acting cute. So, tell me guys... what are my chances of making it to the end?
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."
