Little Jia took out her phone and opened the WeChat interface. She initially wanted to send a message to Zhou Yi, but her pride got in the way—she couldn’t bring herself to swallow her dignity and reach out first.
"How petty can he be? It was just one wrong sentence..."
Little Jia was frustrated. Years of being high and mighty had made it impossible for her to apologize to Zhou Yi. In the end, she turned off her screen without sending him a message.
"What a jerk. Expecting me, of all people, to apologize? Not happening."
Muttering to herself, she stormed back to her room and slammed the door shut.
Meanwhile, Zhou Yi had gone to the hospital, where he and Qu Hongzhuo kept vigil over Qu Yin all night.
Keeping watch was tedious, and Zhou Yi figured since he’d arrived in City A, it was time to send Xie Tingwan a message—after all, she was still one of his targets to win over.
At this hour, Xie Tingwan was still studying, poring over her books. She never missed an opportunity to improve herself. This international competition was coming up, and she was determined to bring home a prize.
When her phone lit up, she only glanced at it with a slight frown—until she saw Zhou Yi’s name on the screen. Her eyes immediately brightened.
Xie Tingwan set down her book and picked up her phone.
They had occasionally exchanged messages on WeChat before, but both were busy people, so their conversations were infrequent. Compared to texting, Xie Tingwan much preferred talking to Zhou Yi face-to-face.
When she read that Zhou Yi had arrived in City A, a smile tugged at her lips.
Perfect. She’d get to see him again.
[Xie Tingwan: Does President Zhou have time to grab a meal with me? I still haven’t thanked you for last time.]
Zhou Yi had previously invested ten million in the Xie Family. While the amount wasn’t staggering for the Xies, the fact that she—still a student—had secured funding for her family had shifted her father’s opinion somewhat.
Her two useless brothers hadn’t managed to bring in a single cent.
[Zhou Yi: How could I refuse an invitation from Miss Xie? Name the time, and I’ll be there.]
[Xie Tingwan: How about tomorrow?]
[Zhou Yi: Sounds good.]
[Xie Tingwan: Where are you staying? I have a car—I can pick you up tomorrow evening.]
[Zhou Yi: Sure. I’m at XX Hospital.]
Seeing that Zhou Yi was at the hospital, Xie Tingwan couldn’t help but worry—until he clarified that he was visiting someone, not sick himself.
Relieved, they settled on dinner the next day.
Zhou Yi stayed up keeping watch until the early hours before finally getting some sleep. Qu Hongzhuo had urged him to rest, but Zhou Yi insisted on remaining by Qu Yin’s side.
The next morning, when Zhou Yi woke up, Qu Yin was already sitting up in bed, reading.
Noticing Zhou Yi stirring awake, Qu Yin smiled warmly. "You’re up, Xiao Zhou?"
Rubbing the sleep from his eyes, Zhou Yi asked with concern, "Grandpa Qu, how are you feeling? Any better?"
"Thanks to you, Xiao Zhou, I woke up feeling much more energetic today—no more of that weak, sluggish feeling. That medicine of yours really works!"
Qu Yin gave him a thumbs-up, his grin unstoppable. He could clearly feel his health improving.
Zhou Yi noted the healthy flush in Qu Yin’s complexion—proof that the medicine had taken effect.
Just then, Qu Hongzhuo returned with breakfast.
"Here, eat something. You worked hard last night, kid."
He set out steamed buns, fried dough sticks, and congee on the table.
Qu Yin was now well enough to get out of bed, so Qu Hongzhuo helped him to the table.
"Xiao Zhou, your Grandpa Qu woke up this morning and told me he felt so much better. I don’t even know how to thank you."
Qu Hongzhuo clasped Zhou Yi’s hand, his gratitude genuine. If things continued like this, Zhou Yi would be a true benefactor to the Qu family.
He considered what to give Zhou Yi in return, but after Zhou Yi had refused even an academic opportunity yesterday, he doubted the young man would accept anything else.
It left Qu Hongzhuo feeling deeply indebted.
"I studied medicine to heal people. Seeing Grandpa Qu recover is all the thanks I need."
"You’re a good kid."
Qu Hongzhuo began to entertain a different idea.
He had already looked into Zhou Yi’s background—an orphan who had only recently found his parents. If he could take Zhou Yi in as a foster son, he could offer support when Zhou Yi expanded his ventures in City A.
At the very least, with the Qu name behind him, Zhou Yi would command respect wherever he went.
Qu Yin was the first to voice it. "Xiao Zhou, I heard you grew up in an orphanage and only recently reunited with your parents?"
"Yes, Grandpa Qu."
"Then would you mind letting Hongzhuo here take you in as a foster son?"
Zhou Yi looked at Qu Hongzhuo in surprise, but the man was already nodding with a smile.
"Xiao Zhou, you know I never had children of my own. If my child had lived, they’d be about your age now."
"Your Aunt Ma and I both adore you. If you’re willing, I’d like to make you my foster son. No need to answer right away—take your time to think it over. Or discuss it with your parents first."
Qu Hongzhuo spoke gently. Most people would jump at such an opportunity, but Zhou Yi was principled—who knew if he’d even consider it?
The "principled" Zhou Yi was inwardly thrilled, though outwardly, he feigned humble hesitation.
"This... I couldn’t possibly... Let me think about it, Uncle Qu."
Qu Yin patted his head with a chuckle. "Xiao Zhou, let me be blunt. As part of our family, you’d have instant clout. You could move your business to City A—your connections would be beyond what most people could dream of."
"Put simply, you’d gain backing. Climbing higher only gets harder without status or influence. The road is tough without those things."
"I don’t know who your parents are, but having us as family wouldn’t change anything—except you’d have more people who care about you. What do you say?"
Qu Yin laid it out plainly. There was no downside for Zhou Yi.
Finally, Zhou Yi nodded, and Qu Hongzhuo beamed.
He promised that once Zhou Yi returned, he’d introduce him to his inner circle, ensuring everyone knew Zhou Yi was Qu Hongzhuo’s foster son.
"You’re heading to the U.S. for a competition in a few days, right?"
"Yes, Uncle—"
"Still calling me ‘Uncle’? How about ‘Dad’?"
"Dad... Then from now on, you can call me A-Yi."
"Good, good! When you get back, I’ll throw a small banquet to welcome you home!"
Qu Hongzhuo intended to use the occasion to announce Zhou Yi’s new status.
Truthfully, the Qu family stood to gain as well. With Zhou Yi as a foster son, they’d never have to beg for medical help again—a mutually beneficial arrangement.
Qu Yin was also delighted. Without hesitation, he waved his hand grandly and declared, "I'll gift that courtyard house under my name to Zhou Yi as a token of recognition for our family bond."
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.
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!
ing gift was a patch of barren land, and disciples were all picked up along the way. He spent fifty years diligently building three "ramshackle little sects," thinking he could finally live a carefree life relying on his disciples. But right at the fifty-year mark, he was suddenly swept away by a spatial rift and exiled to the Chaos Desolation, the Disorderly Ruins. There was no spiritual energy there, only slaughter. Relying on the cultivation feedback from his disciples, Gu Changyuan hacked his way through a sea of blood for eleven hundred years. When the system finally fished him back out, he discovered the ramshackle little sects he'd built back then had developed a rather... unusual style. Hold on... I vanished for a thousand years, so how did my ramshackle little sects become holy lands?!
ine. During your journey, you save an abandoned baby girl and become her elder brother】 【You rely on each other, becoming each other's support】 【At the end of the simulation, you shield the now-grown girl with your life, sacrificing yourself to block numerous demonic cultivators. You die, and the light in the girl's eyes fades】 …… 【Second Simulation: You are transported to a world where steam and magic coexist】 【You immerse yourself in the study of magic, obsessed with its research. One day, while out, you encounter a half-blooded demon girl wandering the streets. You take her in as your student】 【You teach the demoness what it means to be human, show her the beauty of the world, and nurture her into a miracle that surpasses even the gods】 【At the end of the simulation, you die of old age in front of the nearly immortal demoness due to your mortal lifespan】 …… One simulation after another, one encounter after another. Xu Xi suddenly felt something was off: "Wait, you said you're coming to the real world to find me?"
