In the heart of Jingzhou City stood the luxurious high-rise apartment complex, "Cloud Peak One." Each floor housed only one residence, with security as tight as a fortress.
Since moving out of the Lu family estate, Lu Chenyuan had lived here.
Lin Yuan escorted him home and ensured everything was in order.
"President Lu, regarding Li Xiujian's situation—"
"Let him jump around for a couple more days," Lu Chenyuan replied, sitting on the living room sofa as he massaged his temples. "I need rest."
"Understood." Lin Yuan nodded. "Get some proper rest. Call me if you need anything."
Once Lin Yuan left, the sprawling apartment fell into silence.
Only Lu Chenyuan remained.
He maneuvered his electric wheelchair toward the floor-to-ceiling windows.
Outside, the city lights of Jingzhou shimmered like a river of stars.
Yet tonight, he had no heart to admire the view.
His mind replayed Mo Qingli’s resolute figure at the airport—her back turned to him, her voice light as she uttered that simple "Goodbye."
What was she playing at?
For the first time, Lu Chenyuan found himself at a loss when it came to deciphering a woman’s intentions.
Distractedly, he picked up the glass beside him and took a sip.
The cold water slid down his throat, doing nothing to quell the restless agitation in his chest.
Then—ding dong—the doorbell rang abruptly.
Lu Chenyuan frowned.
Only Lin Yuan and Zhang Qi knew he lived here. If they needed to visit, they would call ahead.
Who could it be?
He guided his wheelchair to the foyer and checked the screen displaying the visitor.
The next second, his entire body stiffened.
Standing outside was a woman with a bright smile.
She wore a cozy beige cashmere dress, her hair loosely tied up. In her hand, she carried an exquisitely packaged cake box.
It was none other than Mo Qingli.
For a moment, Lu Chenyuan’s mind blanked.
He took a deep breath and opened the door.
"Hi," Mo Qingli greeted, her smile widening when she saw him. She lifted the cake slightly.
"Hello, neighbor."
"I just moved in today—right below you."
"According to Xia Country tradition, it’s customary to bring treats for new neighbors. Hope I’m not disturbing you?"
She blinked, a hint of mischief in her eyes.
Lu Chenyuan studied her.
Her outfit—a stark contrast to the high-end suit she’d worn at the airport—was soft and casual.
And that unapologetic, triumphant smile on her face.
Suddenly, everything clicked.
The cold detachment at the airport, the perfunctory "Goodbye"—it had all been an act!
This woman!
A mix of exasperation and amusement surged within him.
All his earlier frustration, disappointment, and gloom dissolved into helpless laughter.
He shifted slightly, making way.
"President Mo—no, new neighbor," he said, watching her. "Care to come in?"
"Gladly." Without hesitation, Mo Qingli stepped inside.
She set the cake on the dining table and began surveying his home with curiosity.
"Nice decor. Minimalist—very much your style," she remarked, strolling around like she owned the place.
Lu Chenyuan remained seated in his wheelchair, observing her ease in his space.
The sensation was strange.
This once-empty, cold apartment suddenly felt alive—warmed by her presence.
"Why… did you move here?" he finally asked.
"Because the apartments here are excellent," she replied matter-of-factly. "Top-tier security, great views, and—"
She turned, walked back to him, and bent slightly to meet his gaze at eye level.
"It’s close to a certain… friend of mine who’s currently wheelchair-bound."
"Convenient for me to drop by anytime and make sure he’s resting properly."
Her breath brushed lightly against his cheek.
Lu Chenyuan’s heartbeat stuttered.
"Mo Qing—" he began, exasperated.
"Call me Qingli," she corrected.
Straightening, she moved to the table and opened the cake box.
A Black Forest cake.
"Here, try it. I handpicked it myself," she said, slicing a piece and handing it to him.
Handpicked? What kind of description was that?
Lu Chenyuan glanced at Mo Qingli before finally eyeing the cake.
He never ate sweets.
Yet he took it anyway and quietly took a bite.
Rich chocolate melded with tart cherry filling, dissolving on his tongue.
Sweet but not cloying—surprisingly good.
"Well?" She watched him expectantly.
"Not bad," he conceded.
Mo Qingli grinned in satisfaction.
She cut a slice for herself and ate it delicately.
Neither spoke, yet the atmosphere was effortlessly harmonious—as if they’d shared moments like this for years.
Once the cake was finished, Mo Qingli wiped her lips and abruptly shifted tones.
"Alright, personal time’s over."
"Now, let’s discuss business."
From her bag, she retrieved a tablet and slid it toward Lu Chenyuan.
On the screen was an intricate diagram of an international money trail—all leading back to Li Xiujian.
"This is what you asked me to investigate—all of Li Xiujian's offshore accounts and shell companies overseas." Mo Qingli's gaze instantly sharpened, reclaiming the piercing intensity of a business magnate.
"The incident with Sorn Mining might seem like an accident on the surface, but my people found out that the playboy's company recently received an angel investment from one of Li Xiujian's affiliated funds."
"The trail is faint, not enough to build a case. But he’s definitely involved."
"Exactly." Lu Chenyuan's eyes turned icy as well.
He pulled up the evidence he had gathered on Wang Chen and "Ocean Data," displaying it alongside Mo Qingli’s findings.
With the two sets of intelligence laid out together, a meticulously woven net to ensnare Li Xiujian was finally complete.
"Domestic protection, overseas money trails," Lu Chenyuan said slowly. "These are his last cards."
"What’s your plan?" Mo Qingli asked.
"Strike both ends at once—a fatal blow."
Lu Chenyuan’s fingers glided across the screen.
"You’ll handle the overseas side."
Mo Qingli met his gaze and nodded.
"Consider it done. Within three days, I’ll freeze every last penny he has offshore."
Her tone brimmed with confidence.
"And then?" she pressed. "How will you deal with Wang Chen domestically?"
A cold smirk curled at the corner of Lu Chenyuan’s lips.
He transferred an encrypted file to his phone.
"When a beast’s den overseas goes up in flames, it’ll desperately turn to its domestic allies for help."
"And when that happens…"
He pressed send.
"I’ll deliver this file—ironclad proof of their collusion, along with the full evidence chain of their attempted theft in the 'Future City' project—"
"straight into the hands of those who should see it most."
Cut off the head, and the body will fall.
First, sever his wings. Then, uproot his foundation.
Mo Qingli recognized the ruthless determination in Lu Chenyuan’s eyes. The months-long war was finally reaching its endgame.
"I understand," she said.
"Qingli." Lu Chenyuan suddenly called her name.
"Hmm?"
"This is risky." His voice was grave. "It means dragging the Mo Group into open confrontation with Li Xiujian."
Mo Qingli smiled, unfazed.
"Lu Chenyuan, have you forgotten?"
"From the moment I decided to help you, from the second you appeared at the Mo family banquet, we’ve been on the same side."
"Your enemies are mine."
"I am your ally."
She paused, locking eyes with him as she added deliberately:
"Now, and always."
Lu Chenyuan’s heart clenched once more.
"Thank you." This time, his words carried genuine weight.
"Helping you is helping myself," she said softly.
"I trust my judgment, and I stand by my choices."
The night deepened.
In the apartment, the lights burned bright.
For Lu Chenyuan, something new was taking root within him.
ions, keeping it grounded and realistic】 After quitting his job, office worker Su Yang accidentally binds with the "Enjoy Life System." As the name suggests, simply by indulging in life's pleasures, he can earn random rewards from the system—no need to spend money on beautiful women or grovel before anyone. Just enjoy, and the money follows, making it all about effortless fun. The system comes with a scanning feature, allowing him to establish a favorability bond with women rated 85 points or above. Every 20-point increase in favorability unlocks additional rewards. After suffering through over twenty years of hardship, Su Yang trembles with excitement, his dull eyes suddenly gleaming with newfound hope. "Enjoy life? How hard could that be?"
] [Lone Wolf, No Male Gaze] [Protagonist is pursued early on; extreme protagonist-stans, stay away!] The "Carnival Paradise" descends and slowly devours the real world in the form of a game. By chance, Zhu Yan awakens the talent [Roleplay], becoming one of the first beta players. He thought he could develop safely, but after clearing the first instance, he is branded by humanity as the chief culprit behind the game's spread—a traitorous villain. A villain? Who would ever... become one! He'll be the villain! From then on, Zhu Yan is not only a player but also a lackey for the Carnival Paradise. Between the straight path and the crooked path, he chooses the con. With his left hand, he dons the villain's mantle, staging scenes within instances, infuriating players who decry him as a despicable traitor, all while the game happily promotes him. With his right hand, he joins the non-human organization "Fangcun Mountain," which opposes the Carnival Paradise, transforming into a mysterious player who slaughters game bosses, earning cheers of "Long live the expert!" from fellow players. Gradually, Zhu Yan rises to become an S-rank human player in Fangcun Mountain's archives, while also being the Carnival Paradise's certified top game Boss. But when the final war erupts and both major factions place their hopes in him— Players tag his various aliases: "Experts, this offensive depends on you." The Carnival Paradise's supreme Boss throws an arm around his neck: "Bro, you're the iron, I'm the steel; you can't let me down again!"
uld barely embark on the path to immortality. Just as he was on the verge of death, his golden finger awakened. No matter whether it was poison, drained blood and vital energy, diminished lifespan, or any other physical debuff caused by paying a price—once midnight passed, everything would be refreshed. From then on, whenever someone asked what kind of person Chu Ran was, the answer was simple: Forbidden arts that other cultivators dared not learn? Chu Ran would learn them. Prices that even demonic cultivators dared not pay? Chu Ran would pay them. Lifespan that even righteous cultivators dared not burn? Chu Ran would burn it. All the blood essence in his body? Take it. Want both his hands and feet? He would cut them off and send them to you. You say he’s finished? He wasn’t built to sit idle. You think he’s gone mad? No—he was simply waiting for midnight. From that day onward, Chu Ran would respect neither Heaven nor Earth, bow to neither gods nor ghosts. He had only one wish: For midnight to arrive a little sooner.
d intelligence to keep the plot moving, and sometimes even the protagonists are forced into absurdly dumb decisions. Why does the A-list celebrity heroine in urban romance novels ditch the top-tier movie star and become a lovestruck fool for a pockmarked male lead? Why do the leads in historical tragedy novels keep dancing between love and death, only for the blind healer to end up suffering the most? And Gu Wei never expected that after finally landing a villain role to stir up trouble, she’d pick the wrong gender! No choice now—she’ll just have to crush the protagonists as a girl!
