Dai Xingluo knew all too well that it was her father’s wife who had made her despise hidden aristocratic families.
She understood women, especially after they had children.
Every woman would become selfish and ruthless for the sake of her own child.
Women from hidden aristocratic families could never truly be united.
For example, the two formally wedded wives of her father had treated her mother like an enemy, bullying her relentlessly.
Even though her mother had such a gentle nature.
Dai Xingluo hated all of this.
From a very young age, she had made up her mind.
If she ever found a man in the future and he dared to betray her, she would kill him without hesitation.
If she liked him too much to kill him, then she would kill every woman who dared to flirt with him.
This mindset had stayed with her until now.
Back then, in the mountains outside the city, when she saw Xu Mu with Xia Sihan, the steel nails she threw weren’t just meant as a warning—she genuinely wanted the other woman dead.
But today, after meeting Ye Tong, something in her thoughts began to shift.
Perhaps… she really could coexist peacefully with her.
"From now on, let’s sleep together. When your belly grows bigger, I can help take care of you," Ye Tong said warmly, holding Dai Xingluo’s hand.
Dai Xingluo was deeply moved. For some reason, she suddenly saw traces of her mother in Ye Tong.
"Sister… I lied to you," Dai Xingluo clenched her fists, lowering her head in shame.
"What?"
"I… I don’t have Xu Mu’s child. I just… like him. What I did earlier was to drive you away."
Dai Xingluo bowed deeply to Ye Tong. "I’m sorry."
Ye Tong’s eyes widened in realization, then she smiled and asked, "Since you like him, do you mind my presence?"
"I… don’t mind."
Dai Xingluo shook her head.
If it were any other woman, she would never agree. But this woman in front of her… seemed different.
"Great! Then from now on, we’ll sleep together."
Ye Tong’s face lit up with excitement—finally, someone to share the burden.
"Huh? Sister, what’s going on?"
Dai Xingluo was baffled. She had already admitted she had no real ties to Xu Mu, so why were they still sharing a bed?
And judging by Ye Tong’s expression, she seemed eager for it.
Ye Tong hesitated to explain directly, simply saying, "Ah, you’ll understand when the time comes."
……
Xu Mu had now reached the level of an intermediate alchemist. After extracting all the necessary medicinal ingredients, he had rolled them into three blue pills and placed them inside a piece of Fire Sun Wood.
In a corner of the courtyard, he lit a fire and set the Fire Sun Wood atop the flames.
After burning for over ten minutes, the wood had turned completely red, glowing like molten iron—yet it remained intact.
"Good."
Xu Mu inhaled the scent. The energy of the Fire Sun Wood had been fully released, merging with the pills.
Just then, he heard the familiar roar of an engine and turned to see a Porsche 911 pulling in.
Once the car was parked in the garage, Xu Mu greeted with a smile, "Welcome back, wif—Dai Xingluo?!"
"Brother."
Dai Xingluo lifted the hem of her hanfu slightly, nodding at him with a sweet smile.
Xu Mu’s expression darkened. He strode forward, grabbed Ye Tong’s hand, and pulled her protectively into his arms.
"Dai Xingluo, did you think I was joking with you?"
"Ah, so Brother really does despise me now, treating me like this."
Dai Xingluo pouted, her expression full of grievance.
"Husband, why are you speaking to her like that?"
Ye Tong quickly stepped in, taking Dai Xingluo’s hand.
From behind Ye Tong, Dai Xingluo stuck her tongue out at Xu Mu.
"You little—"
Xu Mu rolled up his sleeves, ready to teach Dai Xingluo a lesson, but Ye Tong blocked his path.
"Husband, let’s talk this out calmly."
"Dai Xingluo, I’ll say it again—if even a single hair on my wife’s head is harmed, I won’t forgive you."
Xu Mu pointed at her, his voice icy.
His worst fear had come true.
Ye Tong was so kind and naive—she could easily be bullied by a scheming woman like Dai Xingluo.
"Husband, Sister Xingluo is so sweet. Why would she ever do that to me?"
Ye Tong studied Xu Mu’s expression and had already pieced together some of the truth.
From the moment Dai Xingluo first met her and lied about being pregnant, it was clear she wasn’t like Meng Wanyue.
But her goal had been to drive Ye Tong away from Xu Mu—proof that she had feelings for him.
And since she had later confessed her deception, it showed she wasn’t beyond redemption.
Besides, Dai Xingluo still didn’t know just how powerful Xu Mu truly was.
If she really wanted to be alone with him, Ye Tong was happy to oblige.
She doubted Dai Xingluo could handle him—she’d probably end up begging Ye Tong to come back.
Xu Mu had already issued his warning. Logically, Dai Xingluo wouldn’t be so reckless as to harm Ye Tong right in front of him.
He returned to the fire, tossing in a few more logs.
Dai Xingluo approached him curiously. "Brother, what are you doing?"
"Alchemy."
Xu Mu said with a calm expression.
Just as Xu Mu was speaking, Ye Yu arrived in the courtyard, riding an electric scooter with her backpack slung over her shoulder.
"Brother-in-law! Playing with fire makes you wet the bed!"
The moment Ye Yu saw Xu Mu lighting a flame, she blurted out the remark.
Dai Xingluo glanced at Ye Yu—this woman was also quite beautiful, with shoulder-length short hair and a slightly chubby face that made her look utterly adorable.
However, since she called Xu Mu "brother-in-law," she was clearly Ye Tong’s younger sister.
"Who are you?"
After parking her scooter, Ye Yu turned to Dai Xingluo and asked.
"Xiao Yu, this is your sister Xingluo," Ye Tong stepped forward to explain. "She’s… a good friend of your brother-in-law."
She hesitated slightly, as in her eyes, Ye Yu was still just a kid, and some things couldn’t be shared with her.
"Hello, I’m Dai Xingluo."
Dai Xingluo greeted her with a smile. It seemed she hadn’t misjudged the situation.
From the way Ye Tong and Ye Yu treated Xu Mu, she could already tell what kind of person he was.
Ye Yu eyed Dai Xingluo warily. She wasn’t here for a photoshoot, yet she was wearing a hanfu.
Did she smell like a fox spirit or something?
"Xingluo, why don’t you stay for dinner today?" Ye Tong invited with a smile.
"Sure," Dai Xingluo replied, turning back to Ye Tong with a grin.
"Then I’ll go prepare the meal."
Ye Tong nodded cheerfully and headed toward the villa.
Xu Mu sniffed the air, deciding the timing was about right, and stopped feeding the fire, letting it die down naturally.
Even after the flames had faded, the Fire Sun Wood remained a glowing red.
He waited patiently until the wood finally reverted to its original state before picking it up.
Tipping it over, he poured out three refined pills—deep blue in color with a glossy surface.
Seemed like a success.
...
"Dinner’s ready!"
Ye Tong’s voice rang out.
Xu Mu first stored his items in his spatial storage, then went to wash his hands.
Seated at the dining table, he rubbed his hands together eagerly. "Five dishes today? What a feast!"
"Well, we have a guest, don’t we?" Ye Yu shot a glance at Dai Xingluo, emphasizing the word "guest."
Then she proactively picked up food for Xu Mu. "Brother-in-law, have some."
Dai Xingluo narrowed her eyes slightly at the scene.
This little girl was clearly targeting her!
Ye Tong: Rumor has it that readers who support this book with likes are even stronger than Xu Mu. Wonder if it’s true.
Dai Xingluo: It is!

and couldn't return to the real world. Finally, I gave up and decided to go with the flow, only to discover that writing a diary could make me stronger. Since no one could read it, Su Luo wrote freely, daring to pen anything and everything. Female Lead #1: "Not bad. This diary helped me steal all the protagonist's opportunities. I just want to get stronger." Female Lead #2: "I don’t care about reaching the peak of the cultivation world. Right now, I just want to enjoy the chaos." Female Lead #3: "What? Everyone around me is a spy? I’m the Joker Demon Lord?" ... It’s so strange. Why is the plot completely off track, yet the ending remains the same? Are you all just messing with me?!

th】 【No prior gaming knowledge required】【The First Cultivation + Game Design Novel on the Platform】 In a world where the righteous path dominates and crushes the demonic sects, Lu Ze unlocks the "Son of the Demon Path" system. Killing righteous cultivators now grants him power-ups. Wait—deaths in illusions count too? As a former game designer, Lu Ze decides to give the cultivators of this world a little—no, a massive—shock... Sect Elders: "What is this 'Escape from the Demon Sect' game? Why have all our disciples abandoned cultivation to play it??" Elite Disciples: "You're saying... mastering 'Demon Slayer' can help us counter demonic schemes?" Reclusive Masters: "Why did I leave seclusion? Ask that backstabbing rat who ambushed me in 'Eternal Strife' yesterday!" Rogue Cultivators & Civilians: "'Immortal Abyss Action' is addictive! You can even earn spirit stones by loot-running..." Sect Prodigy: "My Dao heart is unshakable... except for that cursed black hammer." Royal Scions: "Can skins have stat boosts? I’ll pay 10,000 spirit stones for one!!" Sect Leader: "WHO IS CORRUPTING MY DISCIPLES?!!!"

Cheng's father told him he was getting remarried—to a wealthy woman. Cao Cheng realized his time had finally come: he was about to become a second-generation rich kid. Sure, it might be a watered-down version, but hey, at least he'd have status now, right? The wealthy woman also had four daughters!! Which meant, starting today, Cao Cheng gained four stunning older sisters?? But that wasn't even the whole story... "My name is Cao Cheng—'Cheng' as in 'honest, smooth-talking gentleman'!"

reezy rom-com) Good news: Jiang Liu is quite the ladies' man. Bad news: He’s lost his memory. Lying in a hospital bed, Jiang Liu listens to a parade of goddesses spouting "absurd claims," feeling like the world is one giant game of Werewolf. "Jiang Liu, I’m your first love." "Jiang Liu, you’re my boyfriend—she’s your ex." "Jiang Liu, we’re close friends who’ve shared a bed, remember?" "Jiang Liu, I want to have your baby." The now-lucid Jiang Liu is convinced this must be some elaborate scam... until someone drops the bombshell: "The day before you lost your memory, you confessed your feelings—and got into a relationship." Jiang Liu is utterly baffled. So... who the hell is his actual girlfriend?! ... Before recovering his memories, Jiang Liu must navigate this minefield of lies and sincerity, fighting to protect himself from these women’s schemes. But things spiral even further out of control as more people show up at his doorstep—each with increasingly unhinged antics. On the bright side, the memories he lost due to overwhelming trauma seem to be resurfacing. Great news, right? So why are they all panicking now?