August 3rd, Yangcheng.
Knock, knock!
"Auntie Zheng, I'm back," a voice rang out in the hallway.
Lin Mo's voice wasn't loud, but it managed to penetrate the double doors.
The room was quiet for a moment, followed by the rustling sound of pots and pans being set down gently, and then the hurried footsteps of slippers sliding across the floor.
Through Lin Mo's divine sense, he saw Zheng Yuan walking out of the kitchen.
"Oh, I thought I heard Xiao Mo's voice." She walked toward the door while wiping her wet hands on her apron.
The wooden door creaked open, revealing the iron grille door outside.
When she saw the tall, straight figure standing outside, carrying bags big and small with a familiar smile on his face, Zheng Yuan's eyes instantly lit up.
"Oh my! It really is you. I thought I was hearing things. Hurry, come in."
She cried out in pleasant surprise, hurriedly unlocking and opening the iron door.
Lin Mo carried his things and walked inside.
"It's been a while, Auntie Zheng. I missed you so much," Lin Mo said with a smile.
These words came from the bottom of his heart. Although he had only left Yangcheng for a little over a month, the people and things here had long occupied a significant place in his heart.
"We missed you too! You child, coming back without even calling ahead," Zheng Yuan playfully slapped his arm, though her eyes were filled with unconcealable joy. "I thought you were going to wait until school was about to start before coming back."
As she spoke, she familiarly took out a cup with a cartoon pattern from the cabinet. This was Lin Mo's exclusive water cup here.
She went into the kitchen, rinsed the cup clean, and then poured Lin Mo a full cup of warm water.
"I just wanted to give everyone a surprise." Lin Mo took the cup, the warmth spreading from his palms to his heart. "Coming back early means I can spend more time with everyone."
"That makes perfect sense!"
Zheng Yuan nodded in satisfaction. Then, changing the subject, she curled her lips toward her daughter's room. "It's good to go out more. Unlike that brat, who just locks herself in her room all day long. I don't even know what she's up to. Look at the time; she's probably still playing dead in bed."
Speaking of Xie Yuling, she wasn't actually sleeping right now.
Having already learned the Yellow Court Spirit Nourishing Sutra, Xie Yuling was currently in a state of deep meditation. Traces of worldly spiritual energy were drawn in, nourishing her newly formed divine sense.
The corners of Lin Mo's mouth lifted, a hint of a smile flashing in his eyes.
"Alright, then let this 'surprise' go wake her up first!"
"Go on, go on," Zheng Yuan waved her hand cheerfully, not minding in the slightest that he was casually entering her daughter's room.
After all, hehe.
Lin Mo placed his things on the sofa and walked straight to Xie Yuling's door. Without knocking, he turned the doorknob.
A comfortable blast of cold air blew against his face.
The room was dim, the curtains drawn tightly. Only the indicator light on the air conditioner emitted a faint glow.
At this moment, Xie Yuling was lying on her bed.
She wasn't sprawled out, but lying flat and properly, with the blanket covering her stomach.
People from eastern Guangdong have a very strong obsession with making sure the blanket covers the stomach.
Lin Mo's gaze fell on her peaceful sleeping face. He could clearly sense the faint but pure fluctuations of spiritual energy around her body.
This girl has made quite a bit of progress.
Lin Mo closed the door to prevent the cold air from escaping.
Then he pulled over the chair from the desk and sat down leisurely.
"The sun is shining on your butt."
His voice wasn't loud, but it was like a pebble tossed into a calm lake.
The young girl heard the sound, but muttered in her heart, "I must be hallucinating from my cultivation. Why would I hear Lin Mo's voice?"
She steadied her mind, attempting to re-enter meditation.
Seeing this, Lin Mo couldn't help but chuckle and decided to increase the dosage.
"If you don't get up soon, you won't get a share of the gifts I brought back."
Was it really his voice?
The girl suddenly opened her eyes!
Then, she saw a handsome face close at hand. Lin Mo was sitting on the chair, resting his chin on one hand, staring at her with great interest.
"Ah!"
A short gasp of surprise.
"You! You, you, you... when did you get back?!"
The girl's cheeks immediately burned up. She hurriedly pulled the blanket over her head, covering herself completely, leaving only a head of long black hair scattered on the pillow.
What was going on!
She could already project her divine sense to cover the entire room and even a little bit of the living room! Why didn't she feel a thing when this guy sneaked into her room?
This wasn't scientific at all!
"Just arrived," Lin Mo's voice, laced with a smile, came from outside the blanket. "Auntie Zheng said there was a lazy little pig at home who hadn't gotten out of bed yet, so she told me to come take a look."
The girl felt utterly mortified. She threw off the blanket, about to retort, when out of the corner of her eye she caught sight of the bedroom door being secretly cracked open.
Behind the crack in the door was Zheng Yuan's smiling face, clearly enjoying the show.
"Mom!"
Xie Yuling's cry carried a hint of a wail.
The girl, who had just pulled down the blanket, pulled it right back over her head.
"Why didn't you even tell me you were coming back." The girl's voice sounded somewhat displeased.
"If I told you, how would it be a surprise? Oh, you don't want to see me? Then I'll go find Miaomiao and Jiang Yunlu."
Hearing this, the previously shy Xie Yuling fiercely pulled the blanket down.
"Hmph! You jerk!"
"I came to find you the very first moment I got back, and you call me a jerk?" Lin Mo shook his head and sighed.
Hearing these words, the girl actually felt sweet inside. After all, he came back and looked for me first.
But she still put on an unhappy expression.
"Hmph! I don't care, I'm unhappy right now. You need to hurry up and coax me with a gift."
Lin Mo sat directly on Xie Yuling's bed.
"What? A gift? I don't want to give it anymore, unless someone... is willing to..."
Before Lin Mo could finish, someone kissed him on the cheek.
A sneak attack!
Did she really think a Golden Core stage cultivator like me couldn't dodge it?
Lin Mo turned his head to look at the girl, who had once again pulled the thin blanket over her head.
As if the person who had just launched the sneak attack wasn't her.
Because she now had divine sense, Xie Yuling had also become much bolder.
However, Lin Mo pressed his hands down on Xie Yuling's hands that were gripping the blanket.
"Hmm? Mmh!"
Xie Yuling was attacked from the front.
Throwing off the blanket, the girl, whose face was as red as a monkey's butt, glared fiercely at Lin Mo.
"My mom is still home!"
"Auntie is in the kitchen, what are you afraid of? Come on out and see what gifts I brought for you guys."
"No!"
Xie Yuling suddenly grabbed Lin Mo's arm.
"I didn't get a good taste through the blanket just now. I want another bite."
Saying that, the girl took the initiative and went in for the attack.
Of course, it was just a brief taste, but the girl's face was still flushed red.
Lin Mo couldn't help but lick his lips.
"Did you eat candy before going to sleep? So sweet?"
"Hmph, you! Smooth talker!"
Xie Yuling rolled her eyes and ignored Lin Mo.
Happy birthday to me! Reporting in! I want to eat beef hotpot today!
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.
] [Lone Wolf, No Male Gaze] [Protagonist is pursued early on; extreme protagonist-stans, stay away!] The "Carnival Paradise" descends and slowly devours the real world in the form of a game. By chance, Zhu Yan awakens the talent [Roleplay], becoming one of the first beta players. He thought he could develop safely, but after clearing the first instance, he is branded by humanity as the chief culprit behind the game's spread—a traitorous villain. A villain? Who would ever... become one! He'll be the villain! From then on, Zhu Yan is not only a player but also a lackey for the Carnival Paradise. Between the straight path and the crooked path, he chooses the con. With his left hand, he dons the villain's mantle, staging scenes within instances, infuriating players who decry him as a despicable traitor, all while the game happily promotes him. With his right hand, he joins the non-human organization "Fangcun Mountain," which opposes the Carnival Paradise, transforming into a mysterious player who slaughters game bosses, earning cheers of "Long live the expert!" from fellow players. Gradually, Zhu Yan rises to become an S-rank human player in Fangcun Mountain's archives, while also being the Carnival Paradise's certified top game Boss. But when the final war erupts and both major factions place their hopes in him— Players tag his various aliases: "Experts, this offensive depends on you." The Carnival Paradise's supreme Boss throws an arm around his neck: "Bro, you're the iron, I'm the steel; you can't let me down again!"
lanned to earn money steadily and take life at a slower pace. But he never expected... his father's remarriage, and the stepmother bringing along a dependent, would completely disrupt his life's plans...
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?"
