Monday, December 31, 2012, morning.
Chu Miaomiao had stayed overnight at Xie Yuling’s house the previous night.
This made it easier for them to head out together.
Chu Lintian didn’t mind at all—she actually hoped Chu Miaomiao could have more of her own life. Besides, Lin Mo was there too, so safety wasn’t a concern.
Since a group chat had been created, everyone gathered at the back street near the school.
Jiang Yunlu’s family’s tour bus was also parked there.
By the time Lin Mo arrived with the others, quite a few people were already present.
Everyone carried a backpack, stuffed to the brim—clearly filled with more than just spare clothes, but also plenty of snacks.
They all looked as excited as if they were going on an autumn outing.
Even Xie Yuling couldn’t stop yawning.
“What, were you up stealing again last night?” Lin Mo teased her.
Xie Yuling responded with a light elbow jab.
“Don’t talk nonsense. It’s all Miaomiao’s fault—she’s such a restless sleeper.”
Chu Miaomiao immediately blushed and lowered her head.
“Oh, I get it. Did she cling to you like an octopus?”
Xie Yuling shot Lin Mo a glare, her expression resembling the infamous Husky pointing meme.
Lin Mo raised his hands in mock surrender—a classic “French military salute.”
“That’s how she was last time at Miaomiao’s place.”
As the three chatted, Jiang Yunlu, who had already boarded the bus, bit her lip lightly.
This round wasn’t going well for her.
Meanwhile, Fang Jun, the organizer of the trip, was busy taking a headcount.
“Alright, everyone who’s here, get on the bus first.”
Lin Mo and the others quickly boarded as well.
The tour bus had seats arranged in pairs.
Xie Yuling pulled Chu Miaomiao along and found a spot to sit.
With plenty of empty seats—a 50-seater bus carrying just over 20 people—there was no issue at all.
So Lin Mo simply chose a window seat right behind them.
He liked sitting by the window, even if he wasn’t admiring the view—he just preferred having some light.
Leaning into the corner, Lin Mo began humming softly.
“How to plan a first date is such a headache, at first rejecting me twice to dampen my spirits is normal...”
A figure suddenly plopped down beside him.
“What are you singing?” Jiang Yunlu blinked, her curious gaze fixed on Lin Mo.
She had put on makeup before leaving—with her aunt’s help, no less.
“Nothing, just humming. Weren’t you sitting up front earlier?”
Lin Mo wasn’t about to admit it was a song from ten years in the future.
Jiang Yunlu didn’t mind him dodging the question.
“I don’t like sitting in front. I just wanted to see when you’d arrive.”
Lin Mo remembered that Wang Qin had been sitting next to Jiang Yunlu earlier.
So now, wasn’t Wang Qin left alone up front?
Wang Qin: How noble of you. How impressive.
But Lin Mo kept that thought to himself, instead pulling out a box of teddy bear cookies from his backpack.
“Did you have breakfast?”
The girl’s eyes curved into crescents at the sight of the cookies.
“I did, but I can always eat snacks.”
“Fair enough.” Lin Mo opened the box, handed her a small packet, then tossed another toward the front.
The cookies landed perfectly in Xie Yuling’s lap.
Of course, Xie Yuling knew who had thrown them.
Without hesitation, she tore open the packet and fed the first cookie to Chu Miaomiao.
To everyone’s surprise, Chu Miaomiao suddenly spoke in a perfect imitation of Shin-chan’s voice:
“Big sis, these cookies are so yummy!”
Xie Yuling froze, almost reaching out to pinch Chu Miaomiao—as if to exorcise whatever weirdness had possessed her.
But she quickly caught on.
“Miaomiao, that’s amazing! You can do voice impressions? Do more!”
Flushed from the praise, Chu Miaomiao puffed her cheeks and continued in the same voice:
“Big sis, you’re so pretty! Wanna see an elephant?”
Xie Yuling immediately clapped a hand over her mouth.
“Are you crazy? That’s not a line you should repeat!”
Chu Miaomiao pouted. “But that’s how Shin-chan talks…”
While the front was busy with antics, the back was quietly being infiltrated.
Jiang Yunlu opened her packet of cookies, picked one up, and held it to Lin Mo’s lips.
Just as he reached to take it, she let out a soft “Ah,” signaling him to open his mouth.
So Lin Mo obliged.
The girl delivered the cookie—but with a sneaky trick. Her finger lingered, so that if he closed his mouth, he’d end up sucking on it.
But Lin Mo moved slowly, leaning back just enough to avoid the trap.
Jiang Yunlu couldn’t keep her finger suspended forever.
Darn it! Auntie’s tactics failed—clearly just theoretical.
After one failed attempt, the girl didn’t dare try again.
Even she had her pride, so she lowered her head and nibbled on the cookies quietly.
Fang Jun began roll call once everyone was aboard, glancing around to confirm no one was missing.
Soon, the last passenger boarded, and the hot spring farmhouse trip officially began.
The farmhouse was located on the outskirts of Goat City.
The tour bus hit the highway—likely because the passengers included young ladies from well-off families, so the driver was a seasoned pro with a smooth, steady hand.
The ride took just over an hour before they arrived at Conghua Hot Springs Resort.
The area wasn’t exactly remote, but it bordered several national forest parks.
Nan Kun Mountain, which Lin Mo had visited before, was nearby.
The bus pulled up in front of a farmhouse—though “farmhouse” undersold it.
It looked more like a hotel, with lavish decor that was anything but rustic.
Several people exclaimed, “Not bad, Fang Jun! Your uncle must be doing well.”
Fang Jun shook his head modestly.
“Nah, it’s just the countryside. Land’s cheap here.”
“Alright, let’s get off!”
Everyone disembarked, and Fang Jun’s uncle, He Guoan, was already waiting at the entrance.
As soon as they stepped off, Fang Jun greeted him warmly: “Hey, Uncle!”
The group chimed in unison: “Hello, Uncle!”
He Guoan beamed like a benevolent Buddha, nodding repeatedly.
“Such good kids. Let Fang Jun show you around first while I get your rooms ready. Once you’re settled, we’ll have lunch.”
Fang Jun, having visited many times, naturally took on the role of guide.
The farmhouse was sprawling—complete with ponds, livestock pens, a reservoir, and of course, hot springs.
The location was perfect.
Lin Mo and his friends naturally stuck together.
Aside from their class, there were students from other classes and even other schools—after all, Fang Jun had said they could bring friends.
Plenty of unfamiliar faces lingered around.
Many were surprised to see Lin Mo flanked by three beauties.
But what really baffled them was how their friends didn’t seem fazed at all.
The Class 8 students, however, were utterly desensitized.
Damn harem protagonist! Just you wait—karma’s coming for you!
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.
shall grant"] ["Inscribing the glory of our race upon tombstones"] ["All that is threatened, I shall protect"] How his younger sister sees her brother: A brother who only makes eye contact once a day, mostly fading into the background as he tinkers with who-knows-what in his room all day. Their life paths should have remained largely separate. Until one day. Su Qi created an equipment card for his never-met "online girlfriend." His sister fell into silent contemplation upon receiving the "white stockings." [Card can be upgraded] [Upgrade by fulfilling any of the following conditions] [Condition ①: Consume one hundred higher-tier cards] [Condition ②: Complete one 'Heart-Pounding Adventure'] What constitutes a Heart-Pounding Adventure? [Heart-Pounding Adventure (Beginner Level): Equip the card and invite 'Su Qi' to admire it.] [Heart-Pounding Adventure (Easy Level): Equip the card, invite 'Su Qi' to touch it, and analyze the equipment's texture.] [Heart-Pounding Adventure (Entry Level): Equip the card and invite 'Su Qi' to...] [Heart-Pounding Adventure (Challenge Level): Freely combine the words 'Brother' 'Out' 'Brother' 'Me' 'Please' into a complete sentence...] "Please help me analyze both teams' mistakes in this match, brother..." His sister exhaled in relief—surely... surely there couldn't be anything more difficult? [Heart-Pounding Adventure (Suicide Mission Level): Sneak a peek at the names of the galgames in 'Su Qi's' hidden E-drive folder]
ions, keeping it grounded and realistic】 After quitting his job, office worker Su Yang accidentally binds with the "Enjoy Life System." As the name suggests, simply by indulging in life's pleasures, he can earn random rewards from the system—no need to spend money on beautiful women or grovel before anyone. Just enjoy, and the money follows, making it all about effortless fun. The system comes with a scanning feature, allowing him to establish a favorability bond with women rated 85 points or above. Every 20-point increase in favorability unlocks additional rewards. After suffering through over twenty years of hardship, Su Yang trembles with excitement, his dull eyes suddenly gleaming with newfound hope. "Enjoy life? How hard could that be?"
uld barely embark on the path to immortality. Just as he was on the verge of death, his golden finger awakened. No matter whether it was poison, drained blood and vital energy, diminished lifespan, or any other physical debuff caused by paying a price—once midnight passed, everything would be refreshed. From then on, whenever someone asked what kind of person Chu Ran was, the answer was simple: Forbidden arts that other cultivators dared not learn? Chu Ran would learn them. Prices that even demonic cultivators dared not pay? Chu Ran would pay them. Lifespan that even righteous cultivators dared not burn? Chu Ran would burn it. All the blood essence in his body? Take it. Want both his hands and feet? He would cut them off and send them to you. You say he’s finished? He wasn’t built to sit idle. You think he’s gone mad? No—he was simply waiting for midnight. From that day onward, Chu Ran would respect neither Heaven nor Earth, bow to neither gods nor ghosts. He had only one wish: For midnight to arrive a little sooner.
