Ji Wushuang drove the car, taking Lu Qianqian to the Spring Breeze Community.
This was the place where Lu Qianqian had been forced to begin her "rehabilitation through labor."
It was also where her transformation had begun.
Lu Qianqian lifted several large, pre-prepared bags from the car.
Inside were some fruits and nutritional supplements she had asked Uncle Yu to help purchase.
"Wushuang, you can wait in the car," Lu Qianqian said.
"My duty is to provide 24-hour close protection," Ji Wushuang replied, also getting out of the car.
Lu Qianqian didn't insist further.
She walked into the cafeteria.
Inside, the familiar aroma of cooked food still hung in the air.
Sister Li, who was working, saw her and cried out in pleasant surprise.
"Qianqian? You girl, what brings you here?"
"Sister Li, I came to see you all," Lu Qianqian said with a smile, putting the things down.
"Oh my, you didn't need to bring anything just for a visit," Sister Li chided verbally, but her face blossomed into a wide smile.
Soon, other cafeteria staff and some elderly residents who had come to eat gathered around.
"Girl Qianqian, you finally came!"
"Child, have you lost weight? Your face looks thinner."
"Grandma Zhang, how have you been feeling lately?"
Lu Qianqian greeted everyone with familiar ease.
Her face wore a brilliant, heartfelt smile.
That smile was completely different from the polite or aggrieved ones she had worn at the Lu Family Manor.
It was a pure, unadulterated joy.
She held Grandma Zhang's hand, listening to her talk about daily life.
She crouched down to play marbles with a shy little boy.
She helped Sister Li put the freshly washed dishes and utensils into the sterilizing cabinet.
Ji Wushuang stood by the entrance.
Like a transparent, non-existent person.
She watched Lu Qianqian, radiant and smiling gracefully among the crowd.
Watched her patiently listening to the rambling stories of the elderly.
Watched her naturally ladle a bowl of hot soup for an elderly person with mobility difficulties.
Her gaze grew somewhat complex.
She had originally thought Lu Qianqian's visit here was just another whim of a wealthy young lady.
A life experience, a show.
But now, she realized she was wrong.
The ease and sincerity that radiated from within Lu Qianqian when she was with these ordinary people...
It couldn't be faked.
Her concern for these people came from the heart.
Ji Wushuang suddenly understood.
Why this porcelain doll wanted to go to those poor and dangerous places.
Because her heart contained something incongruous with her status.
That something was "kindness."
Or perhaps, it should be called "compassion."
This was the source of her seemingly delicate yet incredibly resilient spirit.
An hour later.
Lu Qianqian bid farewell to everyone.
She got into the car returning to the manor.
The car was quiet.
Lu Qianqian's mood seemed very good.
The corners of her mouth held a faint smile.
"Wushuang," she suddenly spoke.
"Hmm?"
"Thank you for accompanying me today."
Ji Wushuang looked at her through the rearview mirror.
"You're welcome."
"That place... is the reason why I want to do those things," Lu Qianqian said softly, looking out the window. "In this world, there are many people we don't see, living lives we can't imagine."
"I just want to go and see them."
"See what I can do for them."
Ji Wushuang didn't speak.
She just silently tightened her grip on the steering wheel.
She suddenly understood.
Why Lu Chenyuan had said,
"My sister, she isn't bad at heart."
And understood why this girl wanted to give up her privileged life to go to those poor and dangerous places.
At this moment, she felt that what she was protecting wasn't just a delicate young lady.
But a pure and precious ideal.
...
The two weeks of intensive training officially ended.
The time for Lu Qianqian's departure had arrived.
She stood before the full-length mirror in the living room.
In the mirror was a girl she herself found unfamiliar.
The girl's skin was no longer milky white.
It was tanned a healthy wheat color.
The girl's figure was no longer simply slender and delicate.
It now had some smooth, powerful-looking muscle definition.
The girl's face seemed a bit more gaunt.
But her eyes were brighter, more spirited than ever before.
It was a kind of resolute light, born only after being tempered.
"Not bad," Lu Chenyuan's voice sounded from behind.
He had been standing there for who knows how long.
His gaze held approval.
"You're starting to look the part."
Lu Qianqian smiled somewhat shyly, then called out,
"Big Brother."
The girl's voice no longer carried a coquettish tone.
"Are you ready?" Lu Chenyuan asked.
"Your flight is early tomorrow morning."
"First stop, Africa, Country K."
Lu Qianqian took a deep breath, then nodded firmly.
"I'm ready."
Ji Wushuang also walked over.
She handed Lu Qianqian a black tactical backpack.
"These are your supplies," she said, her voice still devoid of inflection.
"It contains a first-aid kit, water purification tablets, high-energy compressed biscuits, a multi-tool knife, and a satellite phone."
"From now on, it is your second life."
"You must carry it with you at all times."
Lu Qianqian solemnly accepted the backpack.
It was heavy, but it made her feel secure inside.
She slung it on her back, then turned to look at Ji Wushuang.
"Wushuang."
For the first time, she didn't use a tone of discussion or request.
Instead, she used an equal, partner-like tone to speak to her.
"Please guide me from now on."
Ji Wushuang looked at her.
Looked at the flame in her eyes that had already been ignited and was burning brighter and stronger.
For the first time, she actively extended her hand to her.
"Please guide me as well, Qianqian."
Late at night.
Ji Wushuang sat by the window, polishing a military-grade dagger she had used for a long time.
The cold blade reflected her equally cold face.
Her mind replayed everything that had happened over the past two weeks.
Replayed the entire process of Lu Qianqian transforming from a weeping young lady into a resolute-eyed "fighter."
It also replayed the image of the brightly smiling girl she had seen at the Spring Breeze Community.
She took out her phone and pulled up a photo.
It was a photo of Chen Lei.
In the photo, Chen Lei wore a white shirt, looking clean and shy.
Compared to Lu Qianqian, he seemed to live in two completely different worlds.
But for some reason, Ji Wushuang felt they shared something similar.
A kind of cleanness and purity belonging to the sunlight.
While she herself was someone accustomed to moving in the shadows.
Could she really protect this sunlight?
Ji Wushuang sheathed the dagger.
end. Thus one must continue to cultivate, and become a saint or great emperor, in order to prolong one's life. Chen Xia, however, completely reversed this. Since his transmigration, he has gained immortality, and also a system that awards him with attribute points for every year he lives. Thus between the myriad worlds, the legend of an unparalleled senior appeared. "A gentleman takes revenge; it is never too late even after ten thousand years." "When you were at your peak I yielded, now in your old age I shall trample on you." - Chen Xia
esick Sect? Well, at least it's considered a respectable orthodox sect. Wait a minute— What kind of vibe are you all giving off? Shouldn’t this be a love-struck, romance-obsessed sect? Why does everyone here sound more like demonic cultivators? "Master, today he’s getting married. This disciple wishes to descend the mountain and crash the wedding, then toy with him to death right in front of his wife..." "Elder, I only got into your sect through connections, so why won’t you teach me anything?" "Because I also became an elder through connections." Thankfully, Su Ji was just an outer sect labor disciple. Surely, nothing too crazy would— "Junior Brother, you’ve broken through to Qi Refining. Once you sever your useless spiritual root, you can officially become an outer sect disciple." "The Great Dao is merciless. Don’t let a worthless spiritual root waste your essence and spirit, hindering your cultivation." Is this really the Lovesick Sect? ... Three years later, Su Ji sat in the seat of the Lovesick Sect’s sect master, sighing with emotion. His rise to this position all started when his junior sister adamantly insisted on preserving his "spiritual root." "Mmm... Senior Brother, what’s our relationship now?" "Stop talking. Keep going." "By the way, that newly promoted top-tier sect—didn’t they come to buy our Love Beans?" "One top-grade spirit stone per Love Bean—is that really so expensive?" "I suspect they’ve eaten too many Love Beans." "Now they’re lovesick." Well, this really is the Lovesick Sect after all.
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?
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'!"
