Moonlit: Thank you to pendragon for the ko-fi~
He Fang quietly leaned against the door, secretly monitoring the movements outside. He checked the delivery app and saw that the delivery person’s location was nearby.
This time, he had taken precautions in advance—he put his phone on silent. He was waiting here because he wanted to catch a glimpse of the delivery person.
Although he was truly afraid of interacting with someone that attractive and felt embarrassed about casually ordering around someone so good-looking, when he thought about it carefully, they were all just working. One more order meant one more bit of income, so why not?
Besides, everyone appreciates beauty. He Fang didn’t know why, but it was as if he were under a spell—he just wanted to see this delivery person. Though he wasn’t used to the delivery worker’s enthusiasm, he found it impossible to resist that face.
He was really, really good-looking.
The kind of good-looking that lingers in one’s thoughts.
Even though He Fang had seen countless stunning beauties in games, the impact of seeing one in real life was completely different.
Ever since he first became aware of the delivery worker’s beauty, He Fang would check who was assigned to deliver his order whenever he placed one. Fortunately, every time, the system always assigned it to that same person—as if the entire delivery zone for his apartment complex had been exclusively given to him.
He Fang heard the sound of the elevator. His eyes widened slightly as he focused intently on the peephole, holding his breath, not daring to make a sound.
That light-colored delivery uniform appeared before his eyes. Though it was a uniform, the person wearing it somehow gave off a casual, effortless charm. The cute delivery cap hung loosely around his neck, allowing golden hair to spill out in a slightly messy yet beautiful way.
As the delivery worker operated his phone while walking toward the door, He Fang could see the graceful lines of his neck and collarbones from his vantage point. But today, his attention was drawn to something else—his ears. A delicate, intricate earring dangled from his earlobe, shimmering faintly.
The earring sparkled like a star plucked straight from the sky. As the delivery worker lowered his head to type a message, it swayed gently, accentuating his already flawless features. That kind of long, dangling earring would usually seem excessive in everyday life, but on him, it felt perfectly natural.
It seemed like he had sent a message. At that moment, he lifted his gaze slightly, looking toward the peephole. That uniquely colored pair of eyes—no matter how many times He Fang saw them, they never failed to take his breath away. He also realized that the delivery worker was quite tall, tall enough to be imposing. And as he stared into the peephole, He Fang felt an intense sense of being looked down upon—literally and figuratively. It made him incredibly nervous.
But despite the height difference, that gaze never felt oppressive. It was always warm, always kind. He seemed to be waiting for a response. Yet, after several seconds of silence, he sighed softly, his shoulders falling slightly, an unmistakable trace of disappointment appearing between his brows.
Throughout his life, He Fang had been on the receiving end of many different gazes. But never had one felt so warm, so gentle, and directed at him. He didn’t know what words could possibly describe it—all he knew was that, under that gaze, he felt like someone who was truly cherished.
Although He Fang knew that this was probably just how the delivery worker looked—that it didn’t actually mean he had any special feelings for him—he still couldn’t help but feel a little self-indulgent. After all, they hadn’t even properly met face-to-face yet, so why was he feeling this way?
The delivery worker placed the order at his door, straightened up, and turned to leave.
Even though he had entered the elevator long ago and had surely already left, He Fang still waited for a long time.
At last, he quietly opened the door and retrieved his food. He had only ordered because, after logging off his game for a bit, he suddenly craved milk tea—nothing more.
Still, He Fang couldn’t deny feeling a little down. Watching someone secretly from behind a door… he wasn’t sure how to describe it, but…
But that gaze—how could he not want to see more of it? It was kind, equal, even gentle. He rarely encountered such looks in his real life. Even if it was just through the peephole, he wanted to hold onto it a little longer.
As he carried the takeout inside, something shiny caught the corner of his eye. Puzzled, he turned back and saw a small, twinkling star lying quietly on the ground. Bending down, he picked it up. The tiny star rested in his palm, dazzlingly beautiful—like a little sparkling diamond.
He Fang was momentarily stunned. As he gazed at the delicate little ornament, an image suddenly flashed through his mind—the takeaway deliveryman he had seen through the peephole, wearing a star-shaped earring on his ear.
The earring had a uniquely intricate design. It was long and not entirely connected as a single piece but linked together by tiny, delicate hooks. This design made the entire earring appear both lightweight and charming, though it seemed more suited for a banquet rather than an accessory for someone engaged in physically demanding work like food delivery.
Holding the small star-shaped earring in his palm, He Fang felt a bit at a loss. He placed it on the table alongside his milk tea and examined it carefully.
He glanced at his phone. As usual, the deliveryman had sent a message notifying him that the food had been left at the door. The message was cheerful, almost as if he were trying extra hard to secure a five-star rating. But He Fang couldn’t help recalling the faint, natural smile that always seemed to linger on the deliveryman’s face. Was he truly happy doing this job, or was he simply born with a face that always looked like it was smiling?
He Fang had never been the type to take the initiative to contact others, and now he had no idea what to do. The earring must have fallen off unintentionally when the deliveryman bent down to place the food on the ground.
Should he return it?
He Fang hesitated. He wasn’t good at reaching out to people—every time he paid his rent, it felt like walking to his own execution.
Moreover, it was just a single earring. If it really belonged to the deliveryman, he probably wouldn’t wear something too expensive to work, right? Maybe it wasn’t worth much at all. Even if he lost it, he wouldn’t really mind?
He Fang used his shopping app to scan the earring, but no matching results appeared. Was this beautifully intricate earring, twinkling like a starry sky, some kind of rare handmade piece?
Looking at the small, inconspicuous earring, He Fang got up and searched his room for a tiny transparent bag to place it in. Even though it seemed insignificant, losing something—no matter what it was—would surely make its owner feel upset. He Fang decided to leave part of the earring at the door the next time he ordered takeout, allowing the deliveryman to retrieve it.
As he glanced at the event progress displayed on his computer screen, he absentmindedly bit on the straw of his milk tea—until he suddenly noticed a new message.
“Police Chief Qi Jingwei has gathered the team. Finance Minister Lu Hu has dispatched the designated personnel. The squad is assembled and awaiting the City Lord.”
He Fang immediately flipped over in bed and sat up swiftly. He took a few big gulps of milk tea before diving back into his sensory simulation pod.
The vast world unfolded before his eyes once again. Before logging out, he had left his character near the outskirts of Hope City, and now, as soon as he opened his eyes, he saw several armored figures standing before him.
“Whoa…” He Fang couldn’t help but exclaim as he looked at the group clad in full armor. “This totally looks like a superhero team assembling.”
“Hmm?” At that moment, Qi Jingwei lifted his visor, revealing his face. He lowered his gaze and scrutinized He Fang’s armor. “City Lord, is it just me, or does your armor look… different from mine?”
Each person had to have a suit of armor to ensure that they looked more like mercenaries. The day allotted to them was also meant for a trip to the research institute to have their armor custom-made.
“No, it’s just your imagination.” He couldn’t exactly say that, back then, he had actually drawn a female armor model without emphasizing the chest area. As a result, the researchers assumed that all his armor designs were unisex, which ultimately led to the rather embarrassing outcome of him being assigned a suit of women’s armor—simply because he was too thin and frail.
“Min Zhizhou, how’s your hand?” He Fang turned to the “injured” member of their team, Min Zhizhou, wondering how he had been faring in the hospital these past few days.
“It’s not a big deal.” Of course, Min Zhizhou wouldn’t say that he didn’t care about his hand at all. Such a minor injury didn’t hinder his movements in the slightest. Back when he first put on the armor, it was so heavy that moving in it was incredibly difficult. For a long time, all the joints in his limbs had been swollen.
As he spoke, He Fang opened the file sent over by Lu Hu. She had chosen to send a man—not particularly thin, with a certain level of combat ability and well-balanced attributes. As the Minister of Finance, Lu Hu had clearly put a great deal of effort into selecting someone suitable for He Fang to have by his side.
Finally, He Fang clicked on the file for the team member chosen by Qi Jingwei. However, upon seeing the person’s attributes, he froze for a moment.
This person…
Their attributes were highly skewed, but given their profession, that was quite normal. What truly surprised He Fang was the tags associated with this individual.
“Mechanical Genius”, “Fraudster”, “Spy.”
What kind of strange tags were these? Why would an NPC in his city have such labels?
The “Mechanical Genius” tag wasn’t too surprising—Chong Ying had the “Shooting Genius” tag, which had gradually evolved into “Weapons Master”, clearly as a result of development.
But in his peaceful city, there shouldn’t be tags like “Fraudster” and “Spy” appearing. What kind of experiences would lead to such labels emerging?
He Fang felt that while his city shouldn’t have spies, if one had managed to infiltrate it through the city’s open passage while he was away, then this could be a major security threat that had only now been exposed by chance.
As for “Fraudster”, it strongly suggested criminal activity. Where there was a police force, there would inevitably be crime. This realization made He Fang suddenly wary of this person.
But…
He Fang narrowed his eyes at the man’s loyalty rating. It was higher than the average—somewhere around six or seven thousand. With such a high score, he didn’t seem like someone who would betray the city.
According to many games and certain unique story settings, characters with “Fraud” traits often had the ability to deceive even themselves. So was it possible that the attributes displayed before him were actually the result of the man deceiving his own system?
But on second thought, that didn’t seem possible. “Ruins Without Restart” was a city-building game, and NPC settings shouldn’t be that complex. And if he really had deceived himself, why would he leave behind a tag like Fraudster? Why would it be so blatantly displayed right in front of him?
He Fang’s mind was a mess, filled with scattered thoughts, yet he couldn’t piece together a clear answer.
“You’ve been watching me for quite a while, little city lord in women’s armor.”
A deep, rich voice—smooth like a cello—suddenly broke his train of thought. He Fang froze. The man’s voice was incredibly pleasant, naturally husky, like a divine whisper hidden within the swirling sands of a vast desert.
A chill ran down He Fang’s spine. What the hell? Did this guy realize that his armor was designed for women?
“Take off your helmet. Let me have a look at you.”
He Fang’s face instantly turned red. He quickly changed the subject, trying his best to appear more masculine. Squaring his shoulders, he locked eyes with the man clad in black armor.
The man let out a soft chuckle and reached up to remove his mask.
The first thing that caught He Fang’s eyes was a mature face—about the same age as Qi Jingwei, placing him in the “uncle” category. But unlike Qi Jingwei’s wild and untamed aura, this man was more like a sleek black panther, lying in wait. His hair was slightly longer than average, dark silver-gray with hints of blue, casually tied back. It wasn’t a deliberately styled look—on the contrary, it was clear he hardly bothered with his hair at all. Stray strands stuck out messily, making him appear somewhat unkempt.
In He Fang’s city, there were no ugly NPCs. Everyone seemed to have cranked their appearance stats up as much as possible. This man was no exception—but instead of opting for a youthful and energetic look, he had chosen a more distinct, unconventional aesthetic. And oddly enough, he bore a certain resemblance to Qi Jingwei.
“Is there something about my face that displeases you, young city lord?”
The man was very tall. When speaking with He Fang, he always lowered his head. This was in stark contrast to Qi Jingwei, who would instinctively bend down when addressing He Fang. Seeing that He Fang didn’t respond, the man let out a soft chuckle with his pleasant voice.
“My apologies. Perhaps I should put on some makeup before coming out.”
He Fang ignored the man’s teasing and instead asked, “What’s your name?”
The man maintained a faint smile. When he lowered his gaze, his eyes curved into an especially beautiful arc. He slowly stated his name: “Sai Gu.”
“Why are you part of this mission?” He Fang had kept Sai Gu’s status panel open the entire time, observing his condition.
“Probably because I’m very good at deceiving people.”
Sai Gu accepted what was clearly a negative evaluation with an almost brazen confidence.
“Why are you so good at deceiving people? In my city, deception shouldn’t even exist, should it?” He Fang simply asked outright.
Sai Gu looked down at the young city lord before him. That unrestrained self-assurance—it was quite adorable.
“City Lord,” Qi Jingwei keenly noticed He Fang’s faint hostility toward Sai Gu and took the initiative to speak. “Do you still remember some of the games you once taught us?”
“Hm?” He Fang was momentarily stunned. “What games?”
“Werewolf, Script Murder, Live-Action Dungeons, Escape Room Puzzles…”
Qi Jingwei listed the names one by one, instantly jogging He Fang’s memory.
“Ah…” He Fang suddenly recalled.
He Fang was socially anxious—he would never participate in these multiplayer, team-based games. But just because he wouldn’t play them didn’t mean he didn’t want to.
As long as it was a ‘game’, He Fang would always feel a strong sense of anticipation. Though he leaned more toward single-player games, that didn’t mean he ignored famous and interesting multiplayer ones. Naturally, these games entered his field of view.
He wanted to play them, but he lacked the courage. He was the kind of person who would feel anxious even speaking through a screen.
Since he couldn’t play them himself, he consumed them in other ways—watching related videos, live streams, or even sneaking into other people’s game rooms, hiding in the background, silently observing their gameplay while pretending he was part of it.
Just like how He Fang had scanned all his cringeworthy middle school and high school creations into “Ruins Without Restart”, he had, for some inexplicable reason, stuffed all these games into it as well.
“So… when you said you’re good at deceiving people, you meant…” He Fang’s eyes widened in disbelief as he pointed at Sai Gu.
“Ah, yes.” Sai Gu’s eyes were filled with laughter at He Fang’s shocked expression. “I’ve never lost a single round of those games.”
He Fang’s mind buzzed.
Ahhh, what nonsense had he just been thinking?!
In the end, the guy was simply ridiculously skilled at games, which led him to learn a bunch of things he probably shouldn’t have, earning him these two particular labels.
It was just a case of natural talent aligning with acquired skills, leading to those tags.
“Have you two known each other for a long time?” He Fang, feeling a bit embarrassed, turned to Qi Jingwei.
“You could say we grew up together. I’m older than him, so technically, Sai Gu should be calling me ‘big brother’,” Qi Jingwei said with a chuckle. He glanced at Sai Gu before continuing, “Sai Gu has always been very perceptive when it comes to reading people’s expressions. He’s also incredibly convincing when he wants to be. He’s been learning from me all this time and has shown great adaptability. I believe he’s a solid candidate for this mission.”
He Fang suddenly felt reassured. Wasn’t this just the classic childhood friend dynamic? And here he was, worrying over nothing.
Talent was truly something else—even playing games could land someone two defining traits.
That being said, if used well, He Fang felt Sai Gu could make for an excellent NPC.
Sai Gu’s gaze remained fixed on He Fang, unexpectedly softening. Now that He Fang had removed his initial bias, Sai Gu suddenly seemed much more approachable.
“Alright, let’s go, let’s go!” He Fang strode straight toward the driver’s seat. But just as he opened the car door, he was abruptly lifted off the ground—Sai Gu had grabbed hold of his armor and hoisted him up like it was nothing. He Fang dangled midair, utterly baffled. “?”
“Kids shouldn’t be driving.” Sai Gu’s voice rang out. The next moment, He Fang was directly tossed into the back seat.
He Fang: “?”
As he landed in the back seat, He Fang was momentarily dazed. Had he just experienced something bizarre? Was it an illusion?
He Fang wanted to drive because he had excellent driving skills. Plus, he had a map, which would allow him to navigate more efficiently and anticipate the terrain in advance. Struggling, he attempted to climb out of the back seat.
“I’m a great driver. Let me drive. I’ll do it.” However, just as He Fang poked his head out from the back seat, a large hand suddenly pressed down on his head, forcibly shoving him back into place.
He Fang: “?!”
“Sit properly.” Qi Jingwei took a seat beside He Fang and even fastened his seatbelt for him. He Fang stared blankly, utterly bewildered. Meanwhile, another member of the finance department sat on He Fang’s other side, effectively wedging him into the middle of the back seat.
Qi Jingwei said, “Everyone knows the City Lord has excellent driving skills. You don’t need to remind us. The reason we’re not letting you drive is that the journey will be long. You need to conserve your energy. If we run into real danger, we’ll be counting on you.”
He Fang: “…” Why did it feel like he was being coaxed and tricked? Was that just his imagination?
As the vehicle slowly started moving, He Fang finally resigned himself to the fact that he was stuck in the back seat. After a moment, he muttered, “If possible, I think sitting in the front passenger seat would be better.”
But why was Min Zhizhou sitting in the front passenger seat?
“I’m here to observe the situation, just in case,” Min Zhizhou said. He didn’t seem to have any objections to the seating arrangement.
“When you were a captain before, did you also sit in the back seat?” He Fang asked.
“…Mm.” Min Zhizhou seemed to recall something from the past. His response was noticeably slower. He Fang suddenly felt that he might have asked something he shouldn’t have. For a moment, the atmosphere became a little awkward.
“Sorry,” He Fang said apologetically.
“No need to apologize. It was a long time ago,” Min Zhizhou replied.
However, at that moment, Sai Gu, who was driving, spoke slowly: “It’s normal for kids to make mistakes or say the wrong things. No one will blame you.”
He Fang shot Sai Gu a strange look. There was something about this man that gave him an odd feeling.
But as the car fell into silence, He Fang gradually sensed that something was off.
The vehicle they were currently in had been transported out of Hope City via aircraft. However, all the cars in Hope City had been written into the system using vehicle data shared by other players. He Fang had played racing games before, but not a single car in those games had an engine sound that could compare to this one.
The sound of this car was incredibly pleasant—soft and smooth, like a gentle girl humming a tune. The vehicle’s high chassis made it well-suited for this kind of terrain. Yet, despite the many bumps and depressions along the way, the ride remained astonishingly stable, with barely any noticeable jolts.
“Whose car is this?” He Fang asked. He had played countless games, but this was the first time he had encountered a vehicle like this.
“City Lord, do you like it?” Sai Gu clearly caught the implication behind He Fang’s question. “I heard you really enjoy driving.”
“This car is yours?” He Fang asked.
“Mm.” Sai Gu’s voice always carried a lazy, drawn-out tone, making him sound slow and unhurried, yet strangely captivating. “I modified it.”
He Fang was surprised. Then, suddenly, he remembered the “mechanical genius” tag attached to Sai Gu.
“You know a lot about cars?” He Fang’s eyes lit up.
“I love cars,” Sai Gu said slowly. “I love everything mechanical.”
He Fang’s eyes instantly brightened. He was the same—he thought machines were just way too cool!
Meanwhile, Min Zhizhou felt somewhat out of place in this confined space. When he was around other strong personalities before, he could at least feel a sense of ease. But Sai Gu and Qi Jingwei gave off a completely different kind of presence.
Min Zhizhou knew that he was already quite old. Many people his age had begun to lose their ability to work, but he had always maintained rigorous training and struggled to survive to reach his current achievements.
Yet, Qi Jingwei and Sai Gu were clearly even older than him. However, what Min Zhizhou saw in them was not the limitations of age but rather the way their strength and abilities had only grown more formidable over time.
They both had impressive height and build. If this vehicle weren’t noticeably more spacious than a typical car, sitting in the back seat would have been uncomfortable for the City Lord. But clearly, it wasn’t.
Min Zhizhou could sense that the man beside him, Sai Gu, wasn’t particularly talkative, yet he had a way of effortlessly drawing the City Lord into conversation. It was as if Sai Gu instinctively knew exactly what to say to make the City Lord happy. He was knowledgeable—whatever the City Lord talked about, he could keep up. He knew when to offer his opinions and when to simply listen.
Leaning back against his seat in a completely relaxed posture, Sai Gu kept his gaze fixed forward. However, Min Zhizhou keenly noticed that Sai Gu was constantly observing He Fang’s expressions through the rearview mirror, likely assessing something.
The City Lord was pleased—he seemed genuinely happy to have found someone who shared his interests.
But Min Zhizhou wasn’t sure if this happiness was something Sai Gu had intentionally created.
If it was, then this man named Sai Gu clearly possessed a very unique ability.
As Min Zhizhou was deep in thought, he suddenly sensed something. A shiver ran through his body—Sai Gu’s hand was reaching in his direction. For a brief moment, Min Zhizhou’s mind went blank. Had Sai Gu noticed him secretly observing?
However, Sai Gu merely took something out of his pocket and handed it to He Fang.
When Sai Gu withdrew his hand, his gaze briefly met Min Zhizhou’s. In that instant, Min Zhizhou broke out in a cold sweat. There was a hint of teasing in Sai Gu’s eyes, a silent message telling him that Sai Gu had already seen through his entire thought process.
“What is this?” He Fang’s voice came from behind.
“It’s the blueprint for this car. Take it and have fun, Little City Lord,” Sai Gu said with a low chuckle. It was just an ordinary laugh, yet it evoked different feelings in different people.
He Fang immediately pulled out his tablet and opened the small file. As he looked at the blueprints, his eyes lit up. He only knew how to drive—he didn’t understand design—but that didn’t mean he couldn’t read a car’s structural diagrams. Sai Gu’s design was stunning, far more optimized than any blueprint He Fang had ever seen. If this design could be realized in real life, it would be terrifying.
Since it appeared in the game, it likely meant it couldn’t be built in reality. Otherwise, why would someone put such a design into a game?
“Your way of thinking is incredible. How do you even come up with ideas like this?” He Fang couldn’t help but praise Sai Gu. Even though Sai Gu’s responses were always simple and to the point, every word he said seemed to be exactly what He Fang wanted to hear.
“By seeing more, learning more, and doing more.” Sai Gu’s voice always carried a hint of laughter, making people want to talk to him more, to keep the conversation going.
“Aren’t we all the same? The fact that you can do all this proves that you’ve put in more effort than others,” He Fang said, momentarily forgetting that he was speaking to an NPC.
Sai Gu glanced at the rearview mirror and spoke slowly, “Maybe it’s because I have memories of a past life?”
He Fang was stunned for a moment, suddenly intrigued. “What kind of past life?”
“In my past life, I lived in a highly advanced world, a place with technology far beyond what we have now. We relentlessly exploited the earth, developing at an incredible speed, using every possible resource to build a city of supreme technology. We even abandoned our flesh and became machines.”
Sai Gu’s voice painted a vivid picture of an unfamiliar world in He Fang’s mind.
“As someone at the very bottom of that society, I dreamed of obtaining a mechanical body. I scavenged through heaps of discarded junk, searching for any abandoned parts that I could use. I longed to be like the elites, those I could never reach, to achieve spiritual immortality. My skills were honed in that environment—through sheer necessity and survival.”
He Fang was momentarily speechless. “Did you succeed?”
“I did,” Sai Gu said with a smile. “Not just me—we did. All of us broke free from the limitations of flesh and achieved eternal life.”
“That’s amazing…” He Fang didn’t sense any exaggerated tone in Sai Gu’s voice, like an adult coaxing a child. Instead, it felt real. “Then why were you reborn?”
“Hmm… because we did not treat the world well, so the world abandoned us.” Sai Gu’s voice became ethereal and distant. “That’s why we must protect the environment—everyone has a responsibility.”
“…?” He Fang froze. How did the conversation suddenly shift to this?
“Hahahaha!” A sudden burst of laughter interrupted them. Qi Jingwei laughed loudly, breaking the flow of their exchange. He Fang looked up in confusion, unsure why Qi Jingwei was laughing. Then, Qi Jingwei turned to him and said, “Don’t believe a word this guy says. He’s a liar.”
He Fang blinked, then asked uncertainly, “Sai Gu, are you lying to me?”
“Of course not, Little City Lord.” Sai Gu tilted his head slightly. His silver-gray hair, which he had previously found too restrictive, had long since been let down, making him look somewhat unkempt. “I was merely telling a story that would keep you entertained on this dull journey.”
Surprisingly, He Fang wasn’t upset by the possibility of being deceived. For some reason, he didn’t feel angry at all.
“Then maybe you could tell me more about this made-up world of yours.” He Fang tilted his head, intrigued.
“That might not be very interesting.” Sai Gu tilted his head slightly—an unexpectedly cute gesture for a tall, grown man. “Instead, I could tell you some fascinating love stories.”
Min Zhizhou sat in the front passenger seat, gazing out the window. This man named Sai Gu seemed to have an exceptional grasp of how to converse with the City Lord. Even when they had traveled with many others on the plane before, Min Zhizhou had never seen the City Lord this engaged and cheerful in conversation.
At the same time, Min Zhizhou dared not speak. He had a strange feeling—if he opened his mouth, the entire rhythm of the exchange would inevitably be led by Sai Gu. He would find himself developing a favorable impression of Sai Gu, yet he couldn’t be certain that the other man viewed him with the same mindset.
This man was…
Too dangerous.
Since their journey was set to last a week, everyone rested when night fell. By now, He Fang was already quite familiar with Sai Gu. With several grown men traveling together, it was clear that none of them were particularly skilled in cooking. Sai Gu, however, took the initiative to handle this responsibility.
He Fang stuck close to Sai Gu the entire time. Tonight’s meal was barbecue, and the rich aroma of grilled food filled the air.
Min Zhizhou sat at a distance, watching. Sai Gu maintained steady eye contact with the City Lord as they spoke. Each time he finished grilling a portion of food, he would first hand a serving directly to the City Lord, while the rest was simply placed on a plate nearby for the others to take as needed.
This approach naturally brought He Fang closer to Sai Gu.
Very close.
So close that it felt almost unnatural.
He knew the City Lord’s personality well—he rarely showed such keen interest in someone. Not even at the beginning, when the City Lord had stayed by his side persistently to obtain the information he was willing to share, had he ever displayed this level of enthusiasm.
“What a terrifying person.” Min Zhizhou couldn’t help but mutter under his breath as he ate his barbecue.
“Trying to put on a show in front of someone you care about isn’t something to be condemned,” Qi Jingwei remarked casually. He sat on the ground, his gaze fixed on Sai Gu. At that moment, Sai Gu reached out and ruffled He Fang’s hair, the affectionate gesture unmistakable. “I thought he’d be too frivolous with the City Lord, but now it seems I was overthinking it.”
“Is Sai Gu a frivolous person?” Min Zhizhou asked curiously.
“Yes.” Qi Jingwei took a bite of his skewer, then suddenly chuckled as if recalling something amusing. “This guy has a criminal record with the police department. I personally arrested him and locked him up for a few days.”
Min Zhizhou hadn’t expected that and was visibly surprised. “A police chief and a criminal being friends—how can you trust him so much?”
Qi Jingwei laughed heartily, casting a sidelong glance at Min Zhizhou. “Why do you think he got arrested?”
Min Zhizhou, still unfamiliar with the laws of He Fang’s city, frowned as he tried to come up with an answer. “Unauthorized modifications?”
“No. Why would modifications be illegal?” In the City Lord’s world, anyone was free to utilize their skills and potential. “He was sent in by a lover.”
“…?” Min Zhizhou’s eyes filled with confusion.
“Seven lovers sent him to jail together.” Qi Jingwei burst into laughter at the thought. “Men and women both. They reported him for two-timing all of them at once. He voluntarily went to prison to atone, but in reality, he was just hiding from his romantic debts.”
Min Zhizhou: “…So all those outrageous love stories he kept telling on the road…”
“Yes, they were all true.” Qi Jingwei’s tone was full of disdain for his old friend. “He’s just a shameless bastard.”
Sai Gu reached out and teasingly lifted He Fang’s chin. “It’s late. Good kids should go to sleep. Uncle is willing to sleep with the Little City Lord.”
Suddenly, a firm hand landed on Sai Gu’s shoulder. A chilling voice came from behind him—Qi Jingwei’s. “Sai Gu, you need to learn when to stop.”
“Hahaha, it’s fine, Uncle Gu. Sleeping together is fine too. We’re outdoors, after all—just gotta make do.” He Fang didn’t seem to mind at all.
Qi Jingwei: “……”
Min Zhizhou: “……”
Even the finance officer nearby was starting to look visibly displeased.
“Hahaha.” Sai Gu let out a soft chuckle, but the undertone in his voice made everyone feel a little uneasy. “Uncle has a high body temperature. If the Little City Lord gets cold, he can cuddle up for warmth.”
“Thank you!” He Fang thanked him cheerfully.
Qi Jingwei knew that Sai Gu’s words were his way of reassuring him—he wouldn’t make a move on the City Lord.
But the fact that the City Lord actually thanked him?
Qi Jingwei understood everything instantly.
Sai Gu might not make a move, but what if the City Lord leaned in on his own?
His grip on Sai Gu’s shoulder armor was so tight, he was about to crush it.
Bro is a smooth criminal 🧈🕺
Thanks for the chapter and your hard work translating! I love this novel so much, it’s such a fun read!