Top floor of the Lin Group headquarters.
This was where Lin Baizhi both worked and lived. With countless matters demanding her attention, she had simply converted an entire floor of the building into her residence. Spanning approximately 3,000 square meters, no ordinary description of luxury could do justice to this space.
This was opulence in its most extreme form—not someplace where your average rich heir or spoiled socialite could dwell. Only the true "helmsman," the one controlling the corporation's lifeline and direction, belonged here.
Officially, Lin Tianxiong remained the Lin Group's figurehead. But most knew the truth: real power had shifted to Lin Baizhi many years ago, ever since she returned as the "legitimate eldest daughter" rather than an illegitimate child. The outcome had been inevitable.
Over the years, authority gradually transferred hands. The only thing missing was a formal declaration. And throughout this period, Lin Baizhi never disappointed, her extraordinary talent leaving every other Lin Group shareholder stunned.
Though Lin Tianxiong held the majority stake, with other shareholders owning less than 40% combined, decisions were essentially his to make unilaterally. The shareholders—mostly old-timers who had stood by Lin Tianxiong through thick and thin—merely went through the motions, nodding along before collecting their dividends each year.
None had ever sold their shares, not when the Lin Group kept soaring to new heights. In a way, this was Lin Tianxiong's method of repaying those who had once supported and followed him.
Lin Tianxiong was undeniably a business prodigy, ruthless enough to claw his way to the top. Yet when it came to those who had aided him in the past, he struggled to sever ties completely. But where he hesitated, Lin Baizhi had no such qualms—her heart was harder than reinforced steel.
In the years apart from Ye Cheng, Lin Baizhi had sealed her emotions behind concrete. The few remaining spaces in her heart were reserved solely for family. Everyone else? No different from pebbles on the roadside.
Irrelevant.
And though those reserved spaces were few, one person always occupied the foremost position. If her heart had a hierarchy, this individual reigned supreme—even her father, Lin Tianxiong, ranked second.
Not that Lin Tianxiong was unimportant. But for Lin Baizhi, he had simply arrived too late in her life to surpass him.
Only Ye Cheng. Only he was special.
This conviction had taken root in the young woman’s heart countless years ago, remaining unshaken and unchallenged ever since. No one could ever replace him.
A sliver of sunlight slipped through the curtains, and the ceaseless scratching of her pen against paper finally ceased.
"Is it morning already?"
Lin Baizhi blinked, confusion flickering in her eyes.
Time had been stolen away. She remembered sitting down just moments ago, agonizing over which set of "worn" lingerie to gift Ye Cheng. Overwhelmed by indecision, she had drowned herself in work to numb her thoughts.
And now… she had numbed herself straight through till dawn without a wink of sleep.
Lin Baizhi’s constitution had never been strong, and these relentless all-nighters should have wrecked her health long ago—if not for the elite medical team monitoring her around the clock.
Even with the finest medicines and tonics, she remained sickly in appearance, her skin carrying a pallid, almost ghostly hue. Even the natural flush of her lips required rouge; otherwise, she looked utterly drained.
During her recent "chance encounter" with Ye Cheng at Great Sea City Noble Academy, she had meticulously prepared, choosing a "decisive battle" outfit to ensure he would notice every physical change in her over the years.
If I put in the effort, Brother will definitely notice!
Then Ye Cheng had to go and ruin it with a blunt, "What’s poking me?" leaving Lin Baizhi utterly speechless. Truly, her brother—after all this time, his bachelor skills remained impeccable.
It was precisely because Ye Cheng’s thought process defied all norms that Lin Baizhi hadn’t spiraled into obsessive surveillance, tracking every female (regardless of species) around him.
Even Da Huang hadn’t escaped her scrutiny. Thankfully, the dog was male—otherwise, his peaceful canine life might have been abruptly upended. Why? Simply because Lin Baizhi’s investigations revealed that Ye Cheng and Da Huang shared an alarmingly close bond.
The sheer intimacy had left her sleepless. The next day, she lured Da Huang away with chicken legs to confirm his gender in private before releasing him.
But what if Da Huang had been female?
Well… let’s just say Lin Baizhi might have introduced some male company into the equation.
Not that she was cruel. She simply refused to tolerate any female—human or otherwise—getting too familiar with her brother. As for males? Unless they swung that way, she couldn’t care less. But if any suspiciously oriented individuals dared approach Ye Cheng…
Well. Lin Baizhi might get creative.
Like importing some bearded "sweethearts" from a certain famous city to reward anyone who dared lay inappropriate hands on Ye Cheng.
Setting down her pen, Lin Baizhi decided to rest before her body gave out.
"Long illness makes the patient a doctor" wasn’t just a saying. Years as a "sickly weakling" had given her intimate knowledge of her own fragile constitution—frail to the point of rivaling the ailing Miss Lin from Dream of the Red Chamber.
Funny coincidence, really. They shared a surname, the same delicate health, the same perpetually ill demeanor, even the same infatuation with an older brother surrounded by women.
But unlike that delicate noble lady who wept at every slight, Lin Baizhi wasn’t about to cry when wronged. She struck back—hard.
As for those women buzzing around her brother like pesky flies? She had her methods, one after another. Gentle or ruthless, she’d try them all.
Hardship had forged her into someone who stopped at nothing to achieve her goals. The more precious something was, the tighter she clung. She was possessive—unwilling to share, unwilling to let others even look.
These past two days, she’d regretted endlessly not inhaling more of Ye Cheng’s scent when she had the chance. Then at least she could have…
"Knock, knock, knock!"
"President Lin, we’ve obtained new information about Young Master Ye."
A woman's voice suddenly came from outside the door—it was Lin Baizhi’s secretary, responsible for handling company affairs and keeping Lin Baizhi on schedule, especially since the latter often lost track of time when engrossed in work.
Hearing the secretary’s words, Lin Baizhi’s drowsiness instantly vanished. Her eyes widened, her breathing grew slightly rapid, and her entire demeanor seemed to "come alive."
"Come in!"
The young woman’s ethereal voice echoed through the room, carrying a rare trace of anticipation and excitement compared to her usual tone.
Though Lin Baizhi hadn’t been to school these past few days, she had been keeping close tabs on Ye Cheng’s every move. Unfortunately, Great Sea City Noble Academy was a highly exclusive institution, making it difficult to plant too many informants without risking offense. As a result, she had to settle for slower, more discreet methods of gathering information.
Otherwise, she would’ve known the moment Ye Cheng stepped out of his house—down to how many times he smacked his lips while eating breakfast or how many sips it took him to finish his soy milk.
Lin Baizhi had given strict orders: any news about Ye Cheng must be reported to her immediately, even if it meant knocking on her door while she slept. Normally, she despised interruptions during work, but Ye Cheng was the sole exception.
In her otherwise monotonous days, the most thrilling moments came from these "updates" about Ye Cheng—like opening a mystery box, the excitement second only to her own private amusements.
Click!
At Lin Baizhi’s command, the secretary waiting outside promptly opened the door.
In her hands were two items: a stack of documents requiring Lin Baizhi’s signature and a tablet containing the latest intel on Ye Cheng. The secretary placed the files in front of Lin Baizhi first.
"President Lin, these documents need your signature."
"You said there was news. Where is it?" Lin Baizhi’s face turned icy, feeling deceived as she pushed aside the important paperwork.
Beside her lay another pile of "urgent documents," stacked high like a small mountain.
Seeing Lin Baizhi’s sudden frosty expression, the secretary paled, trembling as she hurriedly apologized and handed over the tablet with Ye Cheng’s information.
"My apologies, President Lin! Young Master Ye’s update is here!"
At this, Lin Baizhi’s cold demeanor softened slightly. Her slender, porcelain-like fingers grasped the tablet with visible effort as she began scrolling through the latest reports on Ye Cheng.
The moment the tablet screen lit up, a sensationalized "gossip post" appeared—flashy fonts, garish colors, and an eye-catching cover photo designed to lure clicks.
This was the work of Dragon Country’s infamous "shocking news" department—a shameless bunch who would sensationalize anything for clicks. Headlines like "Shocking! A 30-year-old father does THIS to his daughter late at night…" would turn out to be about checking homework.
Such tactics were beyond despicable. As Ye Cheng once put it, "These emotional-scamming bastards deserve to be dragged out and shot. Damn it, I thought it was about disciplining a rebellious daughter, but it was literally just homework! What the hell!"
It was no different from stumbling onto an adult site, only to endure an hour-long advanced math lecture. "Who the hell casts ‘Purify’ here? Damn it! I threw my pants aside for this?!"
Faced with such lowbrow tactics, Lin Baizhi could only sneer. After all these years, the news department’s methods remained as crude as ever. But as her eyes landed on the cover photo, her mocking smile faltered, replaced by confusion. The person looked familiar… Could it be… him?
Hmm?
She took a closer look.
Hmm… maybe…
Lin Baizhi: "(๑°⌓°๑)"
Her gaze instantly sharpened, her mind freezing for a solid thirty seconds before she snapped back to reality. She zoomed in on the photo, scrutinizing every "detail" with intense focus—so much so that she forgot her secretary was still standing there.
The secretary stood with her head bowed, trembling in fearful anticipation of a scolding.
Though Lin Baizhi appeared delicate, her words cut sharper than steel. She never cursed outright, but her elegantly phrased reprimands struck deeper than any vulgar insult, leaving psychological scars.
Many in the company carried this fear, dreading confrontations with her. The secretary, at least, understood that Lin Baizhi meant no real harm—she was just brutally honest. Sniff… So scary…
After a prolonged silence, the secretary grew puzzled. Why isn’t she yelling at me today?
She cautiously peeked up, only to find Lin Baizhi frozen like a statue—except for her unnervingly bright eyes, pupils dilating rapidly as her fingers swiped feverishly through the images, as if searching for hidden "clues."
But the secretary was certain there were only a few photos—just the usual clickbait trash with no real substance. Did I miss something deeper?
Gulp.
Her fear spiked. I’m so stupid! How could I overlook something important? I’m gonna get chewed out again…
What she failed to notice was Lin Baizhi’s current state—her breathing uneven, skin flushed pink, heart pounding wildly, hands refusing to stop moving.
It’s really him! It’s really big brother!
Gulp.
Lin Baizhi swallowed hard, her throat suddenly dry as the last remnants of sleep evaporated.
"President Lin? President Lin?"
The secretary’s voice finally snapped Lin Baizhi out of her daze.
"I see. You may leave. I’ll rest for a while—don’t disturb me unless necessary."
The moment she regained her senses, her first order was to dismiss the secretary.
The secretary hesitated, glancing at the documents she had just brought in. "President Lin, these files are urgent..."
Lin Baizhi took a deep breath, instantly clearing any extraneous emotions from her eyes. She opened the files the secretary had delivered and began reading carefully. After confirming there were no issues, she picked up the pen beside her, the sound of scratching filling the room...
"Alright, everything here looks fine. I'm a bit tired now—even if there are more documents, they can wait until I wake up."
"Yes, President Lin!"
The secretary hurriedly left the office with the signed documents.
Bang!
The sound of the door closing echoed, leaving Lin Baizhi alone in the vast office. Once the secretary was gone, her calm, ethereal gaze gradually shifted, growing hazy as an unprecedented greed flickered in her eyes.
She turned her tablet back on, enlarging a photo of Ye Cheng to "admire" it. Something still felt missing. Lin Baizhi leaned closer, her delicate nose sniffing at the screen...
"Damn it, why can't I smell anything?!"
Her small hands clenched into fists, her voice laced with frustration. Technology still had a long way to go—how could she not even catch a whiff of her brother's scent through the screen?
After several failed attempts, Lin Baizhi stood up from her office chair and headed toward her room, still clutching the tablet...
Bang!
The door shut. Lin Baizhi was going to sleep now, but here's the question—why did she bring the tablet with her? Hmm, so hard to guess... Maybe she needed to review some important documents before bed...
"Brother~~~"
ut it can buy an entire year of absolutely perfect training results! Su Yu stared at his empty wallet and decisively opened up various online loan platforms. “Borrow a thousand bucks! Recharge my vitality!” Boom! His vitality broke a hundred points, shattering the limits of the human body! “Borrow ten thousand bucks! Recharge my combat skills!” Boom! A basic punching technique so common it was everywhere instantly maxed out, revealing the ultimate assassination technique of Five Elements Unity—Inner Force! When a rich kid hired assassins for a midnight ambush, aiming to break both of his legs, they instead ran headfirst into a monster—a human-shaped tyrannosaur, brimming with dragon-like vitality. With just two fingers, Su Yu snapped a steel staff reinforced with alloy. Staring at the killer’s stash of stolen cash—a staggering quarter-million dollars—he showed a corporate-sincere smile: “Thanks for the pre-exam gift pack, Mr. Zhao! I’m gonna go re-invest this!” Three days later, at the National Martial Arts College Entrance Exam, while everyone else struggled just to reach the passing line, Su Yu threw a single punch—and more than a thousand vitality points literally detonated the entire arena!
ive and Ruthless] Before his transmigration, Ye Xuan was playing a game called "Severing Emotions to Attain the Dao." The game's core wasn't about leveling up by fighting monsters, but about conquering various "bad women" with wicked personalities and cold, fickle natures. There was only one method to conquer them: stay unwaveringly by their side, then die at a critical moment, driving them to madness after losing the protagonist. The higher their level of regret, the higher the player's score. To dominate the server, Ye Xuan conquered all the bad women. In the early stages, he showered them with boundless tenderness, only to choose to sacrifice himself for them later, making them weep bitterly and drown in regret. Among them were: Xia Lengyue, the unfaithful immortal wife who chased after powerful men and discarded her husband like trash. Ye Qingcheng, the Demonic Venerable of the Joyous Union Sect, who appeared pure and innocent but was, in reality, promiscuous. Wu Lingxiao, the Empress of the Great Xia Dynasty, who lusted after men and loved maintaining a harem. Bai Qiangu of the Endless Demonic Sect: a bloodthirsty mass murderer. However, when the protagonist transmigrated into the game world, he made a horrifying discovery. Eight hundred years had already passed. The bad women he had conquered had now each become deities and revered ancestors. Faced with the endless stream of toxic women coming for him, Ye Xuan could only rely on his god-tier acting skills to carve a path of survival through this world of treacherous women.
lity and could only live as an ordinary mortal. He only wished to live a peaceful life. Yet he didn't know— The dog he adopted, because it ate his food, became a legendary demon king. The kitchen knife he casually forged became a peerless divine weapon, causing numerous experts to fight desperately for it. The young disciple he took in became an immortal lord that led an era, due to cultivating the techniques Ye Feng taught him. Even the skeletons he looked down on the most were ominous demon kings that suppressed countless worlds. Many years later, looking at the void shattered with a punch, Ye Feng murmured to himself: It turns out the peerless kings were myself all along...
pression Bureau] Transported to a fantasy world overrun by demons and monsters, Gu Qingfeng becomes a jailer in the Demon Suppression Prison of the Great Yan Dynasty's Demon Suppression Bureau. From this point on, bizarre cases frequently occur in the Demon Suppression Prison, once known as hell on earth and infamous for its gloomy, terrifying atmosphere! Why do the demons and monsters in the prison wail miserably every night? Why has the corpse demon, capable of transforming into various beauties, donned black stockings and switched careers to become a foot massage therapist? Why has the eye demon, expert in soul-snatching and illusions, turned into a VR headset? Why is the fox spirit performing otaku dances? Are all these occurrences a twisted expression of demonic nature, or a descent into moral depravity? After peeling away layer upon layer of mystery, all clues ultimately point to a jailer named Gu Qingfeng. Gu Qingfeng: "Hehehe... My dear demons and monsters, whose card shall we flip today?"
