Although it was already late at night, Caiqing Garden remained bustling with voices.

Helian Kong stood beside Ling Long, the corner of his eye twitching as he complained, “Miss Yin Yin just went missing, and you’ve already come looking for another woman.”

Ling Long shot him a cold, dagger-like glance, instantly shutting Helian Kong up.

“Well, well, Young Master Ling Long, what wind has blown you here tonight?” The heavily made-up brothel owner greeted him with a beaming smile.

“Where’s Haitang?” Ling Long’s voice wasn’t loud, but it struck the brothel owner’s heart like thunder, leaving her inexplicably uneasy.

She composed herself and forced a smile. “Haitang isn’t seeing guests right now.”

Ling Long cast her a sidelong glance with his amber eyes, then headed straight upstairs.

The brothel owner stood there frozen, goosebumps crawling up her skin. What’s with Young Master Ling Long tonight? Did he eat gunpowder?

When he reached Haitang’s door, Ling Long didn’t even knock. He simply pushed it open.

Haitang, who was preparing for bed, frowned in displeasure at the sound of the door creaking open. “Who’s here so late……?”

Her voice trailed off the moment she saw who it was.

Panic flickered in her heart, but she forced herself to smile calmly. “Young Master Ling Long, what brings you to me so late?”

“Where’s Yinyin?”

Haitang clenched her fist tightly under the covers. “Yin Yin? I don’t know who that is.”

Ling Long narrowed his eyes and suddenly grabbed her by the neck. “Don’t think I don’t know who you are. I’ll ask one last time— where is she?”

Haitang opened her mouth with difficulty. “I…… really…… don’t know……”

Ling Long’s grip tightened. Haitang’s face turned paler and paler. Just as Helian Kong began to worry she might be strangled to death, Haitang finally gave in.

“Wild…… Fox…… Ridge……”

Ling Long’s pupils contracted, and instead of loosening his grip, he tightened it further. “You threw her at Wild Fox Ridge?”

Haitang weakly gripped his wrist, trying to pry his hand away, but it was futile.

Helian Kong stepped forward and pulled at Ling Long. “We should hurry and rescue Miss Yin Yin now.”

Ling Long’s gaze darkened, but he finally let go. He looked at Haitang, who was gasping for air, and said coldly, “If anything happens to Yinyin, I won’t spare you. This Caiqing Garden will be buried with you.”

With that, Ling Long turned and walked out. Helian Kong glanced at Haitang, who was still coughing, then followed.

Haitang clutched her throat, coughing violently. At this point, she was just glad she hadn’t killed Yin Yin outright. Otherwise…… she didn’t dare imagine further.

────ρя


At that moment, Wild Fox Ridge was teeming with nocturnal predators on the prowl.

Yin Yin curled up in a tree, listening in fear to the rising chorus of wolves howling nearby.

Is this some kind of forest park?! First a bunch of foxes, and now a pack of wolves!

That damn Haitang! You’d better hope I never see you again!

Yin Yin was incredibly frustrated. When she had regained consciousness for the second time, she’d already been dumped there. There was no need to guess who had done it. Other than Haitang, she couldn’t think of anyone else.

“Awoo……”

A sharp howl made her shudder. She really didn’t want to become these wolves’ midnight snack.

Looking at the wolves circling and howling beneath the tree, Yin Yin wanted to shout at them, ‘We came from the same root. Why must you rush to devour me?’

But clearly, the wolves didn’t receive her message. Their eyes glowed red as they began leaping at the tree.

One wolf backed up, scraped its sharp claws against the ground, and sprang over two meters into the air. Yin Yin was so terrified she nearly burst into tears. She had lived more than twenty years and had barely visited a zoo. At most, she’d seen chickens, ducks, and fish. Now she was being hunted by a pack of wild beasts? She couldn’t handle it.

Sensing her fear, the wolves grew more excited and started ramming the tree.

One after another, the wolves slammed their bodies into the relatively slim tree, determined to knock her down.

Yin Yin gripped a branch tightly, desperately trying to keep her balance. Tears welled up in her eyes. She had never been so scared in her life.

If she’d known, she would’ve trained in martial arts properly— at least learned better qingqong. She started remembering many things. When she was young, her family had been poor. While others wore pretty clothes, she could only wear hand-me-downs. Her grades were bad. Though she always claimed grades didn’t matter, she had secretly envied the girl who always came first. When her adoptive parents abandoned her, she didn’t hold a grudge, but she still cried alone. Then she began deceiving people, always feeling guilty, always afraid someone would find out. But she had no choice. No one would help her.

And after that……

She came to this world, finally living a life where someone cared for her. Although the female protagonist occasionally picked on her, Yin Yin treated it as just another spice of life.

And then…… there was Ling Long.

Her male protagonist.

He was always cold and aloof, yet just seeing him made her feel safe. Occasionally, he smiled— and every time he did, her heart would flutter. Recently, he had been smiling more often. That was a good sign. Ever since she arrived in this world, Ling Long had never left her side. Now that she thought about it…… she hadn’t seen him for a whole day. She missed him suddenly.

……

Stop! Why am I thinking about this?! Was this the legendary life-flashing-before-your-eyes thing? Didn’t that only happen before death?

I don’t want to die!!!

Suddenly, a strong impact from a wolf below jolted the tree. Lost in thought, Yin Yin slipped and her grip loosened. She fell from the tree. As she watched the pack of wolves eagerly awaiting her below, she screamed and covered her face.

She felt herself falling fast, wind roaring past her ears. She wished the tree were taller, just a little taller.

But just as she closed her eyes in despair, she landed in a warm embrace. A strong arm wrapped firmly around her waist, holding her tightly. The familiar scent made her open her eyes instinctively.

“Ling Long! You finally came, Ling Long!” Yin Yin burst into tears. She threw her arms around him and sobbed uncontrollably.

The murderous aura surrounding Ling Long scattered the wolves below. With a light tap of his foot, he leaped three zhang^[1]measure of length equal to 3.3 meters away, carrying Yin Yin through the woods and vanishing into the distance while the disappointed wolves howled behind them.

“Wuuwuuu, Ling Long, I was so scared, I thought I was done for this time!” Yin Yin cried in his arms.

Ling Long kissed her forehead and murmured softly, “Don’t be afraid. It’s over.”

Yin Yin wiped her tears and buried her face in his chest. The steady beat of his heart echoed through her like a drum on her soul.

“Ling Long, your heart’s beating so fast.” She said with a sniffle, tilting her head up to look at his perfect jawline. Mm, Ling Long really is handsome from every angle.

His eyelashes trembled. After a long pause, he whispered as if sighing, “You almost scared me to death……”

Yin Yin froze, then hugged him even tighter. He smelled so nice, and hugging him felt so good.

Ling Long set her down in a clearing and fired a signal flare into the sky. The violet light lit up half the night.

“What’s that?” Yin Yin asked curiously, watching the glow fade.

“Letting them know I found you.” Ling Long pulled her into his arms and began examining her carefully. “Are you hurt anywhere?”

Yin Yin shook her head. “Just some scrapes on my hand.”

“Let me see.” Ling Long opened her hand and saw a few scratches of varying depth. “Does it hurt?”

Yes!  But Yin Yin still shook her head.

Looking at the tears still clinging to her lashes, Ling Long couldn’t resist reaching out to ruffle her hair.

“Hey! You’ll mess up my hairstyle!” She protested.

Ling Long couldn’t help but laugh. His amber eyes sparkled under the moonlight.

Yin Yin stared blankly at his smile. Forget the hairstyle. Who cares anymore?

……

By the time Ling Long carried her back to Zhuwang, several figures arrived from all directions. They were the ones he had sent to Wild Fox Ridge. After saluting him, they quietly dispersed.

Then Yin Yin saw Helian Kong waiting awkwardly at the door. “Are you okay?”

She glanced at him and gave a cold smile. “You actually ran off and left your teammate behind. We can’t play together anymore.”

Helian Kong: “……”

As Ling Long passed him, he added mildly, “Starting tomorrow, your lunch will be plain rice and pickled vegetables.”

Helian Kong: “……”

Just kill me already.

……

Back in her room, Ling Long had someone deliver ointment. He gently held Yin Yin’s hand and carefully cleaned her wound before sprinkling a fine white powder over it.

“It should heal after one night. Just don’t get it wet.”

“Okay.” Yin Yin nodded. “How did you find me?”

At that, Ling Long’s brow furrowed again. “I went to Haitang.”

“You knew she’s Yidi Hua?” Yin Yin asked in surprise.

But the moment she asked, she realized it was a silly question. Of course he knew.

Ling Long nodded and said no more. He simply looked deeply at her. “Alright, get some rest.”

“Mm.”

It wasn’t until Ling Long had been gone for quite a while and she was half asleep in bed that Yin Yin suddenly remembered……

Back in the forest……

Did Ling Long kiss her?!!!

It was just her forehead, but it had definitely happened!

She now regretted being so scared that she hadn’t even savored that kiss……

Damn it, how could it end like that?!

Yin Yin touched her forehead with regret, wondering when she’d get kissed again.

With that lingering regret, she drifted off. Her head felt heavy— a familiar sensation.

She knew she was about to start dreaming again.