At ten o'clock, the muddy puddles on the road had almost dried up.
Sure enough, he still preferred bright sunny days.
Shen Nian pulled up a chair to read and bask in the sun on the balcony. The sun was relatively mild, so he didn't have to worry about getting tanned at all.
Besides, he was a guy. With his current skin tone, getting a little darker wouldn't make him look ugly, but getting any paler definitely would.
If he got any paler, he would be as pale as Xia Yanchun.
A cool, pale skin tone looked great on girls, but on guys, it felt a bit unhealthy. A bloodless complexion made one look rather frail.
Shen Nian was reading a biology textbook. People always said biology was the liberal arts subject of the sciences, and there really was a lot to memorize. He originally wanted to check for gaps and see if he had forgotten anything, but after reading for half an hour, he hadn't forgotten a single thing he was supposed to memorize, and even the things he didn't need to memorize were stuck in his head.
Clatter—
The window of the adjacent balcony was opened, and a well-behaved young girl walked out from the warm indoors into the even warmer sunlight.
The warm late-morning sun flooded the balcony. The girl's hair cascaded down her shoulders, the golden rays illuminating the tips of her hair. As the wind blew gently, fragmented light danced along with her swaying hair.
Wait, who put a filter on my Chunbao? Why does she come with her own hazy, ethereal vibe?
"Um... what time did you go back this morning?" Xia Yanchun hadn't expected Shen Nian to be on the balcony as well. She shifted her steps and rested her small hands on the railing closest to him.
"Seven o'clock," Shen Nian told a harmless little lie.
"You got up so early. Are you studying?"
"Just reading for a bit. If I don't study, it'll be hard to surpass you. I underestimated you, Xia Yanchun, but I'll definitely score higher than you in the second mock exam."
"Then we'll talk about it after the second mock exam. Work hard, and push hard when you poop."
"Could you not be so vulgar, Xia Yanchun? Always talking about poop, pee, and farts."
"Mind your own business. You're the Shit-eating King. You probably don't know this, but Shi Yan often draws you eating poop in her draft book."
"..."
This humorous little loli was clearly asking for it.
Shen Nian had already decided that when the little loli came over for a picnic, he would eat all the skewers she painstakingly grilled and claim he grilled them himself.
Xia Yanchun let out a physiological yawn, but she wasn't actually sleepy. She usually had to go back to sleep for a bit, but every time she slept with Shen Nian, she would be full of energy the next day.
Sleeping next to Shen Nian really gave her super high-quality sleep.
"Did Uncle and Auntie go to work?"
"Yeah."
"Hehe."
Xia Yanchun's eyes curved into crescents. She clumsily climbed onto the railing. Not daring to jump directly, she carefully turned around and only let go with a sigh of relief when her feet touched the ground.
After climbing over to Shen Nian's balcony, Xia Yanchun immediately patted Shen Nian lightly on the head. "It's been a long time since I hung out in your room. I'm coming over to play."
The system task didn't show as completed, so it seemed his own home wasn't the so-called starting point either.
Shen Nian smiled faintly. "I asked you to come over yesterday and you wouldn't, but now you run over here on your own."
"I didn't want to come yesterday. I'm in a good mood today, so I'll reluctantly come over and take a look."
Only then did he notice the girl's face was clean and fresh. It turned out she had already washed her face and brushed her teeth. Shen Nian had thought Xia Yanchun just woke up.
"Have you eaten breakfast?"
"Not yet."
"Just eat over here."
"What dishes do you have?"
"Green vegetables."
"Pfft, I'm not eating that."
They hadn't even finished last night's leftovers at home; big oysters were much better than green vegetables or whatever.
It was rare for Shen Nian to come back, yet Uncle and Auntie didn't even prepare a big meal for him. It seemed the heavy rain over the past few days had really kept them terribly busy.
Fortunately, the weather had cleared up.
Xia Yanchun slipped into Shen Nian's room. Uncle and Auntie weren't around, and her mom and dad weren't home either. With only the two of them in the two houses, she grew bolder.
Kicking off her shoes, Xia Yanchun threw herself directly onto Shen Nian's bed. She hugged his blanket and dangled her feet. Surprisingly, the blanket didn't have Shen Nian's scent at all.
Oh right, Shen Nian had slept in her room yesterday.
Xia Yanchun blinked, and her mind inexplicably recalled what happened yesterday. An unprovoked wave of heat welled up from within her.
How foolish, Xia Yanchun! How could you indulge Shen Nian like that?!
"Shen Nian, come here!" She was about to start throwing a little tantrum.
"What's wrong now?" Shen Nian glanced into the room, thoroughly confused.
"Come here."
"...Idiot." Shen Nian clicked his tongue, stood up, and walked over to the bed, tilting his head. "Spit it out if you have something to say. Can you afford to compensate me for interrupting my studies?"
"As if you're actually studying." Xia Yanchun, half-lying down, kicked Shen Nian in the leg. She used a bit of force, causing him to stumble back a step.
"Oho, are we going to have the fairest duel between true warriors? I've been waiting for this for a long time, Haki-chun!"
The loser triggers a defeat CG, you know.
"Get lost."
"Damn, you want me to come over and then you want me to get lost? Haven't you heard that it's easier to invite a god in than to send one away?"
Shen Nian pounced onto Xia Yanchun, using both his arms and legs to pin her beneath him. He firmly gripped her wrists, and no matter how hard she struggled, he simply wouldn't let go.
Catching a fleeting moment of panic in Xia Yanchun's eyes made him even happier.
"Y-you, get off!" Xia Yanchun squeezed her legs together, feeling a bit nervous. Being looked down upon from such a dominant position always made her a little flustered.
"Still want me to get lost?"
"Ah, hurry up and get off, you're crushing me and it hurts."
"Who are you trying to fool, girl?"
Xia Yanchun's dark, almond-shaped eyes darted around. Being stared at by Shen Nian made her feel hot all over, and for a moment, she didn't know what excuse to come up with.
The difference in strength was too great; she was absolutely no match for him.
Shh, can we call a truce?
Shen Nian wouldn't give her a chance to call a truce. He leaned down, buried his face in the crook of her neck, and rubbed against it. He took a deep breath, an epic, lung-filling inhale, and then straightened up to look at her little tomato-red face, flashing a triumphant smile.
"..." Xia Yanchun pouted. "I hate you to death."
"That means you like me."
"Ugh, you, let go already. I yield."
Shen Nian let go, and Xia Yanchun immediately threw off the blanket and hid under it, glaring at him angrily.
The little brother had grown up and she couldn't beat him anymore, damn it.
Xia Yanchun stuck her foot out and kicked Shen Nian again.
"So what exactly did you want?" Shen Nian threw his hundred-and-fifty-or-sixty-pound body down, making the whole bed shake.
"I'm angry."
"That means you're not angry."
"!!"
Xia Yanchun launched a rocket headbutt right into Shen Nian's chest. She rubbed against him mischievously, nibbling on his collarbone one moment and touching his lower abdomen the next.
She had a special attack skill specifically meant for Shen Nian. She hadn't wanted to use it at first, but Shen Nian was being too detestable and had to be severely punished.
"Chunbao..." Shen Nian winced, feeling that things were taking a bad turn.
An eighteen-year-old boy really couldn't handle being teased... yet Xia Yanchun loved to tease him for no reason, just to see him make a fool of himself.
Xia Yanchun caught her breath, looked up with a smile, and sat up half a bed away from him. Wrapped in the blanket, her little fist poked out, and she slowly raised her index finger right in front of Shen Nian's face.
Girl, could you restrain yourself a bit? Don't think you can completely disregard your image just because it's only the two of us!
Shen Nian was shaking with anger and cold, so angry that his stick... uh, no, that's not right.
Anyway, he was just shaking with anger and cold.
Suddenly, Shen Nian thought of something.
He pointed at Xia Yanchun, then raised a hand like a paw, squeezed the empty air, and flashed a cheeky grin.
Fighting magic with magic!
Xia Yanchun froze for a moment, two invisible question marks popping up over her head. She blinked, and as the realization belatedly washed over her, she pressed her lips into a tight line.
!!
How vulgar!!
Shen Nian had encountered a hooligan in bed, and despite fighting with all his might, he simply could not win.
As for who started acting like a hooligan first, well, that is none of your business.
·
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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.
or! A blessing for those who struggle with love, a guidebook for dating novices. Quickly match with your dream goddess! Complete walkthroughs earn rewards, and perfect walkthroughs unlock limited achievements!】 Shen Yi, an ordinary office worker, accidentally downloads a mini-game called Dating Simulator. The mini-game is simple: randomly search for dating targets, simulate dates, and receive rewards upon successful confession. Rewards include but are not limited to money, attributes, and skills. The higher the evaluation, the better the rewards, with perfect ratings unlocking mysterious achievements. Shen Yi plans to use this mysterious mini-game to continuously pursue targets and improve himself, making his life better and better. ...... However, after several successful walkthroughs, Shen Yi suddenly notices something strange - the targets he previously simulated dating seem to be searching for him in real life?
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."
