Upon hearing this, the garlic clove flew out of Jian Xi’s hand.

She eyed He Ran suspiciously. “Your relationship with Lu Hanxiao is quite special.”

“Forget it.” He Ran was extremely disdainful. “He’s crazy.”

“Why did you only treat him to a boxed meal at noon?” Jian Xi asked.

“Because I need to support a family.” He Ran sliced a few pieces of ginger and wiped the pot with them. “It’s already good of me not to take him for spicy hotpot.”

Jian Xi curiously leaned over. “Why do you use ginger to wipe the pot?”

“When pan-frying fish, the skin won’t stick to the pot.” He Ran placed the crucian carp into the pot with a sizzle. “Xixi, pass me two cloves of garlic.”

“Here, these two look the best.” After watching for a while, Jian Xi realized that He Ran was really skilled at cooking.

Tao Xinglai came running over. “What smell is that? It smells like the fish from Dongting Lake.”

Jian Xi laughed at him. “You must have a dog’s nose.”

“It’s a beautiful nose.” Tao Xinglai took one look and was delighted. “So fragrant! Sister, later give me a bucket full of rice!”

“Only the foot-washing bucket.” Jian Xi instructed, “Remember to wash it clean after eating; I’ll need it tonight.”

Tao Xinglai snorted. “For a girl, that’s so disgusting. You probably have some hidden illness.”

Ignoring him, Jian Xi directly hugged He Ran’s waist from behind, poking her head out from the side. “Brother Ran, tell me, do I have any hidden illness?”

He Ran laughed as he flipped the fish. “Your sister’s skin is as white as snow. I’ve seen through and through; there’s no hidden illness.”

Jian Xi: “...”

Tao Xinglai felt like he had swallowed shards of glass, his mood turning sour. “I’m so stupid. I forgot you two are a united front against outsiders. Tch.”

Three dishes and a soup were on the table half an hour later.

Tao Xinglai was particularly dramatic. “Brother-in-law, let’s have a couple of drinks.”

Jian Xi tapped him on the head with a spoon. “What kind of wedding toast is this?”

He Ran readily agreed. “If you want to drink, I’ll keep you company.”

“Brother-in-law, how much can you drink?” Tao Xinglai boasted, “I can handle two liang.”

“Five times your amount,” He Ran said. “But we can’t drink Wuliangye. This brand gives me a headache.”

“Brand discrimination,” Tao Xinglai grumbled as he put away the glass. “Forget it, I’ll just satisfy my craving verbally.”

Jian Xi handed each of them a box of milk. “Alright, alright, we don’t need that among ourselves. It’s harmful to the body.”

Tao Xinglai sucked on the straw, then winked mischievously. “Big Brother He, you better watch out. The liver and kidney nurturing project needs to be taken seriously.”

Annoyed by his nonsense, Jian Xi stuffed a lotus root ball into his mouth. “For heaven’s sake, please shut up.”

Tao Xinglai rolled his tongue and gulped down the lotus root ball with two chews. “I’ve hit another sore spot in your post-marriage life again.”

He Ran smiled silently throughout, finding their sibling banter hilariously entertaining, like a live joke session.

Tao Xinglai drank two bottles of Want Want milk and ate three bowls of rice, praising endlessly. “Brother-in-law, I’m falling for you. Men who can cook are like opium; they’re so delicious they make me addicted.”

Jian Xi: “Are you done yet? When are you leaving?”

“It’s night now. Where am I supposed to go? You should be worried about me.” Tao Xinglai turned around and called out, “Big Brother He, could you pass me another bottle of milk? Make it strawberry-flavored.”

He Ran, who was near the fridge, picked out a six-nut beverage. “Here, nourish yourself.”

“God.” Tao Xinglai blinked. “You’re cursing me indirectly. This is for visiting neurology patients. Walnuts nourish the brain, but I don’t need that.”

Jian Xi sat on the sofa massaging her neck, eyes closed and too lazy to respond.

Suddenly, Tao Xinglai whipped out a card and fanned it vigorously in front of Jian Xi’s face. “Kneel down and call me Emperor of Shadows!”

Jian Xi’s eyes snapped open, ready to explode, but upon seeing the item, her anger immediately subsided.

“Why are you giving me a credit card? I don’t have money to pay off your debts.”

Tao Xinglai said, “Take it. This is your wedding red envelope.”

Jian Xi glanced at it teasingly. “What’s going on? Are people using cards for wedding gifts now? How much is inside? If it’s too little, I won’t accept it.”

“Just the ten-yuan card fee.” Tao Xinglai retorted irritably. “I specially picked out a red-colored card for you.”

Jian Xi didn’t feel anything. “Take it back.”

“Don’t belittle it. There’s sixty-six thousand inside. Enough to buy you a golden luxury model.” Tao Xinglai shoved it into her hand. “When I become the Emperor of Shadows, I’ll give you more.”

Jian Xi laughed. “I really don’t want it. We’re not hosting a banquet. You earn money hard enough. You wear down jackets in summer and jump into rivers in winter.”

“I’m not suffering. That’s my job, and I’m willing to get wet.” Tao Xinglai suddenly leaned close and whispered softly, “Sister, take it. It’s your secret stash. Even if you run away from home, you can still stay in a three-star hotel.”

“I really want to hit you.” Jian Xi stopped refusing. “Alright, alright, I’ll take it.”

Tao Xinglai sighed in relief. “The password is my birthday.”

Jian Xi was a bit confused. “What’s your birthday?”

Tao Xinglai: “???!!!”

Before leaving before eight o’clock, Tao Xinglai emphasized his birth date ten times, making sure Jian Xi memorized it before he left.

He Ran almost died laughing. “Performing comedy sketches?”

“He’s always been like this since he was young.” Jian Xi pinched the bridge of her nose, feeling Tao Xinglai’s roar still echoing in her ears. “Good looks and sweet talk. From home to school, every ten meters along the five hundred meters, different people voluntarily greet him. He drinks water with a super-sized kettle daily.”

Too talkative, he desperately needed hydration due to dry mouth.

He Ran: “Does your brother earn money from acting?”

“Yes, but not much.” Jian Xi held the card and shook it. “With this gift handed over, I estimate he won’t have money to buy new clothes for a month.”

He Ran: “Tomorrow I’ll return it. Your brother acts like a child, treating every day like New Year’s Day, changing outfits without repeating.”

Jian Xi sat next to He Ran, leaning against him. She embraced his neck and looked up, mumbling, “You never compliment me. I dress well too.”

He Ran’s expression settled, his smile slowly widening as his gaze lingered over her nose and eyes, finally resting faintly on her chest.

Without saying a word, Jian Xi began imagining things automatically, scolding softly, “Pervert.”

He Ran kept smiling, gazing at her. His prominent nose and deep-set eyes cast subtle shadows under the lights, exuding an indescribable allure.

Jian Xi felt itchy, pulling his neck down slightly and whispering in his ear, “I look even better when I’m not wearing clothes, right?”

He Ran suppressed a laugh, replying nonchalantly, “Mm.”

This single syllable tickled Jian Xi, sending shivers down her spine. Her hand sneaked under his shirt, touching his tailbone.

“Do you want to see?”

He Ran tilted his chin slightly, “Hmm? See what?”

“Something even better…”

Passion unfolded naturally. He Ran noticed today’s Jian Xi was especially proactive, like a hungry little kitten. Even at the end, with a shred of reason left, He Ran suggested, “Wait, let’s grab a condom.”

Jian Xi silenced him with a kiss, cutting off all unnecessary talk.

“He Ran… I want to be a mother.”

These words ignited the air like gunpowder. He Ran nearly climaxed instantly.

“Shit, darling, don’t drop such potent medicine.”

He Ran mostly assumed Jian Xi was just sweet-talking. In the end, even though he didn’t use protection, he didn’t fulfill Jian Xi’s wish.

________________________________________

On the third morning, Lu Hanxiao had gathered all the industry data He Ran requested.

He Ran’s request was comprehensive, covering many aspects from logistics and transportation to leading industries and even flea markets.

Lu Hanxiao didn’t understand what his friend was planning to do. When asked, He Ran vaguely brushed it off: “No plans yet, just gathering information.”

“Are you thinking of starting something on your own?”

“I have some ideas.” He Ran nodded.

“Fuck! Count me in! Let’s partner up!” Lu Hanxiao was ecstatic. “Finally, you’ve come to your senses! You should have realized this long ago!”

He Ran smiled faintly, calmly stating, “It couldn’t happen sooner. I fell too hard a few years ago; my mindset was terrible. I’m not a saint. To quickly transcend worldly affairs isn’t called rejuvenation—it’s called becoming a monk.”

Lu Hanxiao nodded. “True, true.”

He Ran skimmed through the documents, sealed them again, and said, “Thanks, buddy.”

“No need to thank me yet. I’m still waiting to hitch a ride on your success.” Lu Hanxiao, feeling parched, called for the waiter. “Do you have pickled radishes here?”

He Ran: “You’re sick. This is a teahouse, not a restaurant.”

Realizing he was right, Lu Hanxiao dismissed the waiter. “I don’t know why, but lately, I’ve been feeling down.”

He Ran: “Easy fix. Go see Jian Xi, let her check your blood. Probably twins.”

Lu Hanxiao grinned. “Then I’ll give you one.”

“Fuck off,” He Ran rebuked. “I’m raising a soccer team.”

“Fuck yeah! No wonder you’re determined to start over. Turns out it’s for baby formula money!”

He Ran tacitly agreed. “Whatever other kids have, my kid will have too.”

This was a man’s simplest and most fundamental instinct: bloodline and fate, ensuring the carefully chosen father wasn’t a coward or failure.

Jian Xi gave him a future, and he couldn’t let her lose.

He Ran took a sip of tea. “By the way, do you know Li Xin from Xin Yang Group?”

“Yes, the guy who married a mistress thirty years younger a couple of years ago. He’s almost seventy. The company name is his, but real power is in his wife’s hands. Why?”

He Ran: “Are you familiar with him?”

“We’ve had a few transactions. Small accounts, not a regular customer.” Lu Hanxiao asked, “Thinking of working at Xin Yang?”

“No.” He Ran lowered his head. “Inquiring about an old acquaintance.”

Lu Hanxiao beamed. “Ex-girlfriend?”

“You bastard.” He Ran spoke lightly, “Idiot.”

“If you have the guts, come fuck me.” Lu Hanxiao snorted. “Dare to fuck me, and I’ll dare to be an idiot.”

He Ran stood up, not looking back. “I’ll treat you to chrysanthemum tea.”

“So generous.” Lu Hanxiao immediately softened. “Ran Ran, shall I send you?”

From afar, He Ran raised his right hand and waved it twice, cleanly rejecting the offer.

As Lu Hanxiao left, he casually asked the waiter, “How much did our table cost?”

The waiter respectfully replied, “Sir, the two cups of chrysanthemum tea are free during the promotion. Just the seat fee of thirty yuan.”

Lu Hanxiao cursed. “Such a miser, breaking the rules!”

Though torn between love and hate for He Ran, he didn’t dare neglect the task entrusted to him.

Lu Hanxiao obtained the schedule of the young and beautiful manager at Xin Yang Group.

“At eight o’clock tomorrow evening, she has a dinner appointment at Wan Xiang.”

Lu Hanxiao called He Ran. “Also, let me warn you. This lady isn’t faithful either. She likes playing with young boys outside. Though you’re neither fresh nor young, desperate times call for desperate measures. Don’t… Hello? Hello?”

Not wanting to hear nonsense, He Ran hung up the phone directly.