Chapter 42: Smash

Xu Yancheng abruptly awoke at that moment. He reached for his phone to check the time; the screen still lingered on the video image, displaying one o’clock in the morning. Irritated, he turned off the phone, intending to go back to sleep. Yet he tossed and turned, unable to drift off, haunted by Xu Mingchuan’s words echoing in his ears.

He picked up his phone again and called Lin Lu. No one answered on the other end...

If only her father could be his, how wonderful that would be. Thinking of his own father, whose cruelty surpassed even that of beasts, Xu Mu felt even less inclined to return to those places where his father existed.

Surrounded by reporters, Qi Zheng appeared perfectly calm, his gaze burning as he scrutinized Lin Ke.

“This—how can this be?” The young man realized his words were incoherent, panic rising within him, wishing desperately to undo his slip by offering himself as a servant to anyone willing to erase his mistake.

An Nianchu lowered her head. Though it was only a dream, unease began to stir within her. Ever since Qin Mosi appeared, she’d become more superstitious, as if her thoughts by day summoned her fears by night. Was her nightmare an omen of what she dreaded?

“You’re coming back; what about her?” Qin Muchen slightly turned his body and pulled her into his arms.

Li Luohan, dressed in wedding attire with immaculate makeup, sat expressionless in the bridal sedan chair: I once thought you might love me enough to steal me away, but it seems I was wrong—you don’t love me that much.

Before the words were finished, she suddenly sneezed, and mucus sprayed out, stretching in a long thread across her upper lip.

Just as in this moment, she looked at Qi Yanmo—not moved by him, yet beneath the sunlight, his warmth touched her. For the first time, she asked to take a photo together; it was their first photo after six months and thirteen days of knowing each other.

At last, the ordeal ended. Once the others left, he hurried over to He Xian’s side.

These three had stronger defenses overall than them, and those two boasted impressive offensive power. But if the trio tried to seize their position, they wouldn’t be afraid; they had five people, outnumbering them, or so they thought. Of course, their thinking was entirely different from Tiezhu’s.

Yi Shu misunderstood me; she harbored resentment toward me at first, but I never expected Wei Fengchu would also hate me so much because of Helan Mingyue’s mishap, making me suffer all these years.

Lin Wanbai had just climbed out of bed when her phone beeped. Sure enough, it was Yu Sheng.

I stared at her face for a long time; her vacant gaze was nothing like before. What on earth had happened to her?

Both attacks struck too suddenly—he couldn’t react at all and was powerless to help in such circumstances.

“Really?” Yue’s lips parted from his, her eyes lifting to find his gaze still bright and clear, not a trace of drowsiness. She didn’t bother arguing further, only glanced at the IV drip still hanging from his hand; this bottle would last through the night.

But it wasn’t over yet. As his body was flung uncontrollably backwards, another loud crash erupted behind him. Qin Yi’s expression changed instantly upon hearing the noise; something was attacking him from behind, and he could feel it.

Wei Fengchu’s face remained taut, as if deep in thought, words hovering unsaid.

Huo Shaocheng’s expression was stormy; his weakness had always been his preference for beauty over power, but now circumstances forced his hand.

“A Lai, it’s been a while, but your words are still as sweet as ever,” Yang Ruo said with a smile.

Xiao Tingshen knew he hadn’t been late; just as agreed, everything was clear now. The emperor had issued different edicts for different people.