Zhong Liyu felt that this dark history might follow him for the rest of his life.
Not only would the two long-haired beasts, Horror and Infinity, pull it out to mock him at any time, but he also couldn’t trust that unscrupulous thing, the Horror Game, to keep his secret.
If the two of them ever got into an argument during an admin meeting, it was certain that his dark nickname “Green Hat Char Siu” would be replaced with another variant.
But these weren’t the most serious issues. After all, they were admins. Even if they mocked each other with dark nicknames, it was all kept within the inner circle, and by convention, it wouldn’t spread to the lower ranks.
After all, if admins lacked decorum, it would benefit no one.
However, the photos in Lu Qingjia’s hands were truly headache-inducing.
In the future, don’t use the threat of castration every time something happens, right? He couldn’t let a temporary expedient become a lifelong shackle.
Zhong Liyu felt he couldn’t just resign himself to fate. He had to resist, to save himself.
So he clung to Lu Qingjia and said, “Wasn’t that just a diversion? Why are you taking it so seriously? Everything I did, enduring the shame of being mocked by those two idiots, what was it all for? You can’t keep using this to tease me.”
Lu Qingjia raised an eyebrow, “Oh? Just a diversion? I thought it was too much of a coincidence that the sneak attack came just as the knife was about to strike.”
“You’re really something.”
Zhong Liyu quickly waved his hands, “No, no, no matter how desperate I was, I wouldn’t create danger for you to solve my crisis. What kind of person do you think I am? It was just a coincidence.”
Zhong Liyu thought this explanation would suffice, but then Lu Qingjia produced a photo and said with some regret, “So it was fake? How boring.”
He hurriedly snatched the photo. It was the black cat looking sullen and lifeless after the neutering.
Zhong Liyu breathed a sigh of relief. Thankfully, it wasn’t the neutering process, or else he wouldn’t be human anymore.
Then he heard Lu Qingjia’s seemingly genuine lament, “So it’s that easy for you to deceive me.”
“Tsk tsk, I’ve been carrying such a big reputation at your place, but compared to you, it’s really nothing.”
Zhong Liyu fawned, “No, no, just this once, alright, twice, but you saw through it both times. I won’t dare to do it again in the future. Anyway, no matter what I do, you’ll recognize me, so I might as well be straightforward?”
“So you’re like a dead pig not afraid of boiling water in front of me?” Lu Qingjia looked at him with a half-smile.
Zhong Liyu knew there was no way he could win an argument with Lu Qingjia.
So he changed the subject, “Weren’t we talking about digesting spiritual energy? Why bring this up?”
As he spoke, he collected all the photos from Lu Qingjia’s hands. Just as he was about to destroy them, he thought they might serve as memories and fun in the future, so he kept them.
Zhong Liyu pulled Lu Qingjia to sit down, “I’m not lying to you. When I was in the cultivation world, although I practiced swordsmanship, I also dabbled in the classics and techniques of various schools. Let me tell you, those from the Joyous Sect—”
Before he could finish, he saw Lu Qingjia looking at him with a terrifying gaze, and Zhong Li immediately didn’t dare to continue with his smooth talk.
With a serious expression, he said righteously, “I think the biggest lesson from the cultivation world is not to be prejudiced against any technique.”
“Really, since you’ve arranged your schedule so tightly now, you have to make the most of your time. Wasting time on digestion, I think this logic is seriously flawed.”
“Anyway, we’ve already made up.” As he spoke, he leaned close to Lu Qingjia’s neck, their hair and breath mingling, “Jiajia, I’ve missed you so much. Have you thought of me these years?”
To be honest, Lu Qingjia wasn’t a vegetarian either. When the two of them were together, it was like thunder striking fire.
Zhong Liyu’s appearance and physique were particularly attractive to him. Although his initial motive for approaching Lu Qingjia was to gather clues about the Horror Game, becoming lovers was indeed a natural progression driven by attraction.
In the years after their breakup, Lu Qingjia hadn’t left his hometown much, but he still received quite a few pursuits, both men and women, some even coming regularly to check on him, including some with excellent appearances.
But Lu Qingjia had always been unenthusiastic until Zhong Liyu appeared in the game and pursued him in reality.
After all the twists and turns, he realized that only this guy really suited his taste.
However, if it were just a simple reconciliation, taking advantage of the good atmosphere to do something fun would be one thing.
But what kind of guy Zhong Liyu was, someone who would take an inch if given a mile, Lu Qingjia knew all too well.
If he gave in to him now, he would definitely get carried away, making a big fuss and causing chaos.
Lu Qingjia was busy preparing to enter the next instance and didn’t have time to deal with real-life issues.
So he pushed Zhong Liyu’s head away and said, “What are you doing? My place is a legitimate business, with a clean and healthy atmosphere. As long as you work hard, you don’t need to curry favor with the boss like this to avoid being fired.”
Zhong Liyu was stunned, reflecting on whether his extreme actions to avoid breaking up had given Jiajia a shadow over such things?
He immediately regretted it, wishing he could go back a few years and slap himself. Wasn’t this harming others?
So he quickly said, “Boss Lu, I know it’s difficult for you to keep me here, and I’m really uneasy. I genuinely want to integrate here and become part of the family. Can you accommodate me a bit?”
As he spoke, he began unbuttoning his shirt one by one, like a widow forced by life to do anything to earn money.
Lu Qingjia saw that this fool was still playing around and glanced at his distinct collarbone and solid, powerful chest.
He sighed, “It’s not that I’m unwilling to accommodate you. Here, work ability is paramount. Everyone competes fairly, and positions and benefits are earned through skill. You can’t just take a shortcut with your looks as soon as you arrive, right?”
“If I gave in to you, wouldn’t that be the first step to ruining the family business?”
Zhong Liyu was even more delighted, his eyes deep and full of suggestive meaning, “So, faced with such beauty, Boss Lu, aren’t you really tempted?”
Lu Qingjia—was indeed a bit tempted.
This guy had also learned to be smart, knowing to use soft tactics. By now, his shirt was undone, revealing a body kissed by the creator, with a perfect blend of strength and beauty, and exquisite muscle contours.
Perhaps due to the excitement of his body or the changes in the admin’s body, his skin now had a faint luster, like the alluring smoothness of a pearl’s surface.
Lu Qingjia’s mouth felt a bit dry. Zhong Liyu continued to lure him, “Boss Lu, I really don’t want much. Just give me a name, a bit of security.”
Lu Qingjia’s voice was a bit faint, “That’s so embarrassing. If our relationship isn’t pure, how would I explain it if you suddenly wanted a raise?”
“Give it to you? Your qualifications are insufficient, and other employees would definitely be dissatisfied. Don’t give it to you? Then what kind of scumbag would I be?”
Zhong Liyu gritted his teeth, “I don’t want a raise.”
“Then you’re after my family fortune? Your ambitions are not small.”
“Do you really not understand or are you pretending not to?”
“Getting impatient? I thought you had improved, but you’re still more adorable as a cat. After neutering, you were calm, obedient, easy to manage, and pleasant to touch.” He glanced at Zhong Liyu, “Tsk tsk, humans are much more troublesome.”
Zhong Liyu nodded resentfully, then revealed a wicked smile, “You prefer cats, right?”
As soon as he finished speaking, a cloud of smoke dispersed, revealing a faint outline.
Lu Qingjia had a bad feeling, and the next second, he was pressed onto the bed.
What was pressing him was a pair of huge cat paws, about the size of an adult’s arm. When the smoke cleared, a familiar pure black cat with emerald green eyes appeared on top of Lu Qingjia.
In Lu Qingjia’s astonished gaze, the cat buried its head and licked his face.
Then Zhong Liyu’s voice came from the cat’s mouth, “I found this form is actually quite useful. It seems the main issue is the size.”
The black cat’s appearance was the same as when it was disguised in the instance, but its size was several times larger, bigger than a leopard.
The entire cat was no longer the small, cute, and agile type. It gave off a feeling of being vigorous, mysterious, and dangerous. Objectively speaking, it was a very beautiful animal.
But Lu Qingjia’s first reaction was to look at its crotch—
Zhong Liyu was furious, “The angle there isn’t good. Do you want to get closer for a better look?”
As the man and the cat were locked in a stalemate on the bed, a person suddenly appeared in the room.
The person had barely steadied himself when the first thing he saw was this unsightly scene.
He immediately shouted, “Zhong Liyu, have you lost all sense of shame to coerce someone into yielding to you?”
Hearing this voice, Zhong Liyu was startled and immediately transformed back into human form, though he was still disheveled.
Seeing this, Ouyang Bai was even more disdainful, looking at him with the eyes of someone looking at garbage.
“From now on, I don’t recognize you as an admin. Being colleagues with you, let alone being compared to you, is simply an insult.”
He quickly pulled Lu Qingjia up, “Are you okay? This guy not only used violence to coerce you but also wanted to play some bestiality game. Thankfully, I arrived just in time, or else you would have—”
He glanced at Lu Qingjia’s body, confirming that he hadn’t suffered any severe damage, and then breathed a sigh of relief.
He hurriedly said, “I think you shouldn’t stay here anymore. Being in the same space as this beast is dangerous. Why don’t you stay at my place for a while?”
As he spoke, a large hand covered his head and pushed him away.
Zhong Liyu crossed his arms and looked at him gloomily, “Who let you come here? Who let you barge into our bedroom without permission? Are you brain-dead? Did your mom forget to give you a brain when she gave birth to you? Do you know why you’re ostracized? Who would want to hang out with a clueless idiot like you?”
“Personal attack!” Ouyang Bai pointed at him, “You dare to personally attack me when you’re not even human?”
“If I had arrived a step later, Jiajia might have fallen victim to you.” Remembering the scene, he spat at Zhong Liyu, “How dare you stand here? Anyone with a shred of shame would have hanged themselves by now.”
“What do you want? Have you watched too many perverted and heavy movies? Do you think normal people are into that stuff?”
“I’m telling you, even if Jiajia did something wrong in the past, you can’t take revenge on him like this.” He turned to Lu Qingjia, “This guy has gone insane. Although you’re quite the scumbag, you still need to be careful not to provoke a lunatic.”
Zhong Liyu was so angry he was reaching for a knife, but Lu Qingjia stopped him.
He instructed, “Go water the vegetable patch. It’s a bit sunny today.”
Zhong Liyu looked at him in disbelief, “Why? This idiot hasn’t even explained how he can come and go in your room freely.”
“Besides, are you just going to let him spout nonsense?”
Lu Qingjia clicked his tongue, pulled Zhong Liyu’s head towards him, and kissed him.
For a moment, Zhong Liyu was overwhelmed with sweetness and excitement, forgetting about the person next to him. Just as he was about to respond, Lu Qingjia let go.
Zhong Liyu was left wanting more, his eyes filled with intense affection and dissatisfaction. He pouted, “Then send this idiot away first.”
Seeing Ouyang Bai looking at Lu Qingjia in shock, with an expression that said, ‘So you’re willingly playing along? After knowing you for so many years, I never knew you were into such heavy stuff?’
Zhong Liyu suddenly felt that letting this idiot misunderstand wasn’t such a bad thing, so he smugly left the room.
Lu Qingjia then took Ouyang Bai out of the room, poured him a cup of coffee, and prepared some pastries, saying, “Sorry for calling you over.”
Before entering the game, Lu Qingjia had sent Ouyang Bai a message, asking him to come over when it was convenient.
Ouyang Bai glanced at Lu Qingjia and, with his ability, immediately saw, “You’ve already found the clues? That was quick. I had calculated that what you sought wasn’t far off, but I didn’t expect it to be this fast.”
Lu Qingjia smiled, “Thanks to your good fortune. Maybe I just caught some of your luck?”
It was indeed quite eerie. Before meeting Ouyang Bai, Lu Qingjia had searched for so long without any leads, but after reuniting with him, it was like he found the solution in one step.
Lu Qingjia laughed, “It seems that in the future, when I’m unsure about an instance, I can seek your blessing in advance, and things will definitely go smoothly.”
Ouyang Bai smiled, “That’s right. Not to brag, but my mom always touches me before drawing a prize. No matter the size of the prize, she never misses.”
“If it were in the game, I’m not bragging, but my blessings are pretty powerful.”
Lu Qingjia hadn’t expected this guy to actually have this function. Although it might be limited at higher levels, it was still quite impressive.
He then asked, “Originally, I sent you a message to come over for another matter, but now that’s irrelevant.”
“There’s something I want to ask your opinion on.” Lu Qingjia looked at Ouyang Bai seriously, “I’ve obtained the coordinates of the instance where my uncle died.”
“But there’s obviously a trap. That instance should be an exchange student examination site and also an opportunity instance to break into the Advanced Zone. Do you think I should go now?”
Actually, Lu Qingjia wasn’t really indecisive about this and didn’t need someone else to make the choice for him.
But he had a premonition that once he entered that instance, it wouldn’t just be about clearing it.
The Trickster was so eager for him to enter early, so it was clear that once he went in, he would face not just the difficulty of the instance itself but also the malice of an admin.
With his current strength, Lu Qingjia felt it wasn’t enough, although he was burning with a desperate desire to enter that instance.
Ouyang Bai looked at him and then smiled, “You’ve already made up your mind, haven’t you? Just follow your own thoughts.”
Lu Qingjia nodded, “Thanks.”
Ouyang Bai said, “Well, since I’m here, I might as well give you a blessing—”
“No need.” Lu Qingjia smiled, “If I knew the result from the start, it wouldn’t be interesting.”
“I really enjoy the thrill of success.”
Ouyang Bai was surprised, feeling that this statement was quite contradictory. But then he thought about it; wasn’t he the same in school?
Outwardly gentle and kind, but at heart, he was quite arrogant.
To be honest, it was rare for a Player to have two admins around, one almost completely at his disposal and the other largely willing to help, yet still forge ahead alone, unswayed by shortcuts or external distractions.
Ouyang Bai smiled, “Then I’ll give you a blessing. It’s nothing extraordinary.”
“Just a wish that in the next instance you enter, you’ll encounter more exciting challenges and quickly achieve your goals.”
For others, this wouldn’t be a blessing, as its essence was to increase the difficulty of the instance Lu Qingjia was about to enter.
But Lu Qingjia gladly accepted it and chatted with Ouyang Bai for a while, inviting him to stay for dinner before he left.
Sure enough, Lu Qingjia, who knew Zhong Liyu best, had already noticed that this guy was starting to get cocky.
Although he didn’t say anything, Xiao Wei and the others couldn’t help but whisper among themselves, “Why does Brother Zhong seem like a dishwasher who’s risen to become the boss’s wife?”
“Yeah, that smile is way too smug.”
“Didn’t Mr. Ouyang come over again in the afternoon and leave after? At that time, the boss was having tea with Mr. Ouyang, and Brother Zhong was sent off to do chores. Clearly, he was the neglected wife being sent to do hard labor, so why is he in such a good mood?”
“Who knows? Maybe after the mistress left, he’s comforting himself that the family is still intact?”
“Eww, Brother Zhong is so good at this.”
Zhong Liyu: “…”
He gave Lu Qingjia a dissatisfied look, but Lu Qingjia simply said, “Who told you to get cocky? I can’t just silence the staff, can I? They’ve been with me for a long time, diligent and efficient. I can’t criticize them over such trivial matters.”
Zhong Liyu: “So I’m still at the bottom of the hierarchy here?”
“Of course. Your monthly salary is 2000.”
Zhong Liyu wasn’t having it, “Then I’m moving into your room. My dorm is too small, and the bed is narrow. I can’t even stretch my legs.”
He added meaningfully, “You know how long my legs are.”
Lu Qingjia smirked, “Pushing your luck, aren’t you? I’ve managed this place for so many years. Why should you, earning 2000 a month and having only worked here for a few days, think about moving up?”
“Can’t I invest then?” Zhong Liyu asked.
Lu Qingjia replied, “No, it’s a small business. No need for that.”
Zhong Liyu was unhappy, “Then what’s the point of us getting back together?”
“You can see me every morning when you wake up, have breakfast together, work together, watch a movie or play games before bed, and then wish each other goodnight before sleeping soundly. Don’t you think that’s blissful?”
Zhong Liyu couldn’t hold back his smile, the corners of his mouth uncontrollably turning upwards. He lightly bumped Lu Qingjia’s shoulder, looking as happy as could be.
Although the content was a bit bland, wasn’t this the married life he had always dreamed of?
After dinner, Lu Qingjia returned to his room. Zhong Liyu lingered for a while, getting a goodnight kiss before contentedly heading back to his own room.
He was quite open-minded about it. It wasn’t just Jiajia’s body he was after; now, the most important thing was to strengthen their relationship so that Jiaja would remember all his good qualities. With Jiaja’s initiative, wouldn’t it be a piece of cake when the time came?
But today’s events were too exciting, and Zhong Liyu couldn’t sleep after returning to his room.
The girls at the shop were so clueless. Clearly, it was a sweet romantic relationship, but what were they all imagining?
But keeping such good news to himself was like wearing beautiful clothes at night.
So Zhong Liyu had an idea, his figure disappeared, and he returned to his manor in Southeast Asia.
Although there was only an hour’s time difference with China, the actual time difference was significant. It was already past 10 PM there, but here the sun hadn’t completely set.
Madam An was watching TV and clicked her tongue in annoyance when she saw Zhong Liyu, “Why are you back without notice again?”
“Did you get kicked out again? Didn’t I teach you to keep your head down and be shameless at times like this? As long as you know how to fawn, what can Jiaja do to such a soft-hearted child?”
“Tsk tsk! Your dad and I are quite sensible people, how did we end up with such a slow-witted son like you?”
Zhong Liyu didn’t mind his stepmother’s scolding this time. Instead, he lifted his chin proudly.
“Madam An, please watch your words. What you just said deeply hurt your son’s heart, who rushed back eagerly only to be greeted with a bucket of cold water, making him lose faith in this family.”
Madam An paused the TV, glanced at her foolish son, and then called out to Uncle Zheng, “Old Zheng, bring a basin of ice water.”
“It seems harsh words aren’t enough to drive him away. Real cold water is more effective.”
Uncle Zheng quickly tried to intervene, “Hey, hey! Sister-in-law, favoring that side isn’t the way to go, is it?”
“What’s wrong with our young master? He’s been sent over there to do cheap labor, getting scolded and humiliated. Hasn’t he done enough? That scam—I mean, Mr. Lu, if he wants to act high and mighty, fine, but can we just stop serving him? Can you please let him come back?”
Before Madam An could speak, Zhong Liyu couldn’t hold back anymore: “Come back? Why should I come back? I’m living just fine here. This is my home now.”
“Jiajia and I have made up.” As soon as he said this, he watched his stepmother’s expression change. Her usual critical look disappeared, replaced by a proud and affectionate smile.
Zhong Liyu became even more smug, feeling as refreshed as if he had gulped down a glass of cold water on a scorching summer day. He declared, “Just wait, within two months, I’ll personally deliver our wedding invitations to you.”
“And it’ll be handwritten by Jiajia himself. Of course, I wouldn’t want him to overwork himself, but Madam An, you’re different. After all, your harshness has given me a lot of courage.”
Madam An quickly stood up, ignoring Uncle Zheng’s look of utter despair, and happily kissed her son on the cheek. “Ah, as expected of my son, so capable!”
“Come on, tell me, how did you manage to win Jiajia back? I remember you were just kicked out two days ago.”
Zhong Liyu waved his hand arrogantly. “Don’t bring up two days ago. The current me, whether it’s experience or tactics, is nothing like that fool I used to be.”
He then proceeded to narrate the whole story, omitting the parts about the Game, turning into a cat, and getting neutered, and slightly embellishing the details for his now supportive mother.
However, as he spoke, the smile on Madam An’s face gradually faded, until he reached the last part—
“Jiajia said that from now on, our daily routine will be waking up together, having breakfast, working side by side, and before bed, we’ll watch a movie or play some games together, then wish each other goodnight before falling asleep with sweet dreams.”
“Mom, did you hear that? This is—”
Before he could finish, he felt a sharp slap on the back of his head.
Zhong Liyu turned around to see Madam An’s expression had reverted to its usual disappointment, and she was back in full stepmother mode.
She pointed at her foolish son and said, “With this kind of progress, you’re still bragging to me? Dreaming about getting married within two months? Are you out of peaches at home? What’s the difference between the life you just described and the life you’re living now? Or the lives of every employee in our store?”
Zhong Liyu was stunned. He thought about it carefully for a moment.
Then he completely froze.
Madam An, still not satisfied, proceeded to chase him out of the house, kicking and shoving him without a care for her dignity.
Standing on the steps, she looked down at him coldly. “Listening to you, I’m starting to doubt whether this so-called reconciliation is really Jiajia’s idea or just something you’ve cooked up in your own head.”
“You’re still far from where you need to be, and yet you’re rushing back here to show off? What’s wrong with you?”
“Get out of here. Seeing you just annoys me.”
Zhong Liyu had come home excited and proud, but he left with his tail between his legs. As soon as he returned to the hotel, he stormed into Lu Qingjia’s room, ready to have it out with him.
But when he entered, he found Jiajia already asleep.
He was wearing dark gray cotton pajamas, the top button undone, revealing a glimpse of his collarbone. His breathing was soft and steady.
The white, fluffy pillow accentuated his dark hair and handsome face, making him look pure and healing.
Lu Qingjia’s appearance wasn’t particularly aggressive, but when he showed his sharp side, his aura could change dramatically.
Now, with his eyes gently closed and his expression relaxed, he looked pure and beautiful, like an angel.
Zhong Liyu had come in feeling frustrated, but in that moment, his heart was filled with warmth and contentment.
With a wave of his hand, he made Lu Qingjia fall into a deeper, more restful sleep. Then, with a thought, his regular clothes transformed into pajamas.
These pajamas had been prepared for him by Lu Qingjia.
Normally, in the real world, Zhong Liyu wouldn’t use his Ability unless necessary, preferring to live like an ordinary person and do things manually.
But this time, he directly used a cleaning spell, instantly refreshing himself as if he’d undergone a deep cleanse.
After finishing these tasks, he pulled back a corner of the blanket, lay down beside Lu Qingjia, and wrapped an arm around him as they drifted off to sleep.
