After returning to his room, Ning Fan lay on his bed and took out the Nine Souls Jade.
The lustrous and perfectly round Nine Souls Jade appeared to have liquid flowing inside it; this was the second piece of the Nine Souls Jade.
The previous piece had changed his body, granting him the abilities of invisibility and x-ray vision.
"What kind of surprises will this second piece of Nine Souls Jade bring?" Ning Fan murmured, holding the second piece in his hand, his eyes filled with anticipation.
Each piece of the Nine Souls Jade was brimming with limitless abilities, limitless benefits, like how the first piece had changed his body and given him special abilities like x-ray vision and invisibility.
If he could gather all the Nine Souls Jade and fully unleash their power, that should enable a person to unlock all their potential, right?
Ning Fan's thoughts then turned to another use of the Nine Souls Jade—if all the pieces were collected, one could have their wishes realized and regain their lost memory.
At that time, he would be able to recover his lost identity, his once-lost kinship, and friends he had lost.
As long as he collected all the Nine Souls Jade, regaining his lost memory... The road was long, but pressing on was the right thing to do.
Early the next day, Ning Fan went to the park for a morning run and encountered an acquaintance.
Xu Rongfei was wearing a casual T-shirt and colorful sports pants, which highlighted her slender figure, making her look exceptionally attractive and beautiful.
Xu Rongfei seemed to be practicing aerobics, at times lifting her long legs onto the railing, at other times twisting her slim waist, her mature and delicate face blushing slightly, under the morning sun's rays, she shone with additional dazzling brilliance.
Ning Fan watched the beautiful figure for a while before turning back, yet he wondered to himself how it could be such a coincidence to encounter Xu Rongfei?
Since he had arrived at the Xu family villa, he had been coming to the park for morning exercises and had not seen Xu Rongfei until today, by chance.
"Mr. Ning, good morning."
Following the light steps from behind, Xu Rongfei's voice, like that of a magpie, reached him.
Ning Fan frowned slightly but then turned around and smiled, "Sister Xu, good morning, quite the coincidence."
Xu Rongfei came up to Ning Fan and said with a smile, "Mr. Ning, were you trying to avoid me just now?"
Ning Fan shook his head, looking somewhat helpless.
Xu Rongfei chuckled and said to Ning Fan, "Am I that scary? Are you afraid I'm going to gobble you up like some old and ugly woman?"
"Sister Xu, I really am a bit afraid you'll eat me, you know, the White Bone Demon likes to eat people."
Xu Rongfei scolded with a laugh, "What a crappy analogy. Am I the White Bone Demon? You're not Tang Seng either. Besides, you still haven't given my chest a look."
Speaking, Xu Rongfei touched her chest, inadvertently revealing her towering peaks.
"I had something urgent last time, sorry Sister Xu, I'll take a good look for you next time."
Ning Fan laughed, remembering how last time in the private room Xu Rongfei seemed to intentionally flirt with him, surely she was just joking around.
Xu Rongfei's eyes flickered, and she quickly said, "It was my fault last time, I had too much to drink and made things awkward for you. To make amends, how about we have a meal together when you're free?"
Damn, another meal? Last time it almost turned into something PG-13, who knows what could happen this time.
No, he had to refuse decisively!
Ning Fan smiled and said, "There's no need for a meal."
Xu Rongfei looked into Ning Fan's eyes and said with a knowing smile,
"Well, that's settled then. Next time come straight to my place for a meal, I'll cook for you myself until you're fully satisfied."
Ning Fan looked at Xu Rongfei in astonishment. When had he agreed? Hadn't he just refused?
Xu Rongfei pretended not to hear his refusal and invited him over for a meal at her place?
Ning Fan forced a smile and asked, "Can I refuse?"
Ning Fan said goodbye to Xu Rongfei and jogged all the way home.
Xu Ruolan glanced at Ning Fan.
When Ning Fan noticed Xu Ruolan's gaze, he immediately became alert and said, "Miss Xu, what are you going to do? I'm not some sort of breakfast, so don't look at me like that. You're not planning to eat me, are you?"
Xu Ruolan's pretty face turned cold as she said indifferently, "Eating you is for later; today is the birthday of Zhonghai City's Queen, Huo Qiuran, who has invited us, and... you."
Xu Ruolan found it strange; Huo Qiuran's status and identity in Zhonghai City were extremely prominent. How could she have taken notice of someone like Ning Fan? And even formally invited him to attend her birthday party?
This was a bit unbelievable.
Xu Ruolan sized up Ning Fan from head to toe several times and said lightly, "Are you going to Huo Qiuran's banquet?"
Upon hearing this name, Ning Fan shuddered all over, as if he had been electrocuted, and his gaze became vacant.
Huo Qiuran was the last name he wanted to mention, and even more so, the woman he didn't want to face.
Huo Qiuran had managed to find her way to the Xu Family somehow, intentionally to invite him.
Ning Fan frowned and then waved his hand, smiling awkwardly, "Forget it; it's her birthday, why would I go? Plus, I don't even know her."
Standing with her hands on her hips, Xu Xiaoqing said, "No way! You must go. We'll only feel safe if you do. What if we encounter danger?"
Ning Fan looked at Xu Xiaoqing and teased, "You little girl, only now do you realize the worth of your brother Ning Fan, but it's too late."
Xu Xiaoqing's face turned red, and she snapped at Ning Fan, "Are you going or not, Ning Fan?"
With no shame, Ning Fan said, "Kiss me, and I'll go."
Xu Xiaoqing scolded Ning Fan furiously, stomping her feet with anger.
Ning Fan shook his head helplessly and then looked at Xu Ruolan, making his case reasonably, "I'm not your family's bodyguard; I'm not responsible for ensuring your safety.
"I'm here to treat your illness, and once I've cured you, I'll leave."
Xu Xiaoqing's eyes darted around and then she said suddenly with a sly smile, "You fool, I'll give you money, twenty thousand!"
Trying to tempt me with money? Am I that easily swayed? To me, money is just a heap of dung!
"I won't sell my pure soul for money!"
Xu Xiaoqing looked at Ning Fan curiously and then gritted her teeth, "Fifty thousand!"
"No amount of money can corrupt my heart; my soul is priceless. I won't go, and that's final."
Ning Fan struggled, as if a demon within him was trying to devour him, his expression frozen; in the end, he still did not agree.
He definitely did not want to meet this Huo Qiuran, no matter how much money was involved; he had to hold back.
Xu Xiaoqing finally realized Ning Fan's unusual behavior; why had this guy changed? Even money couldn't lure him?
Xu Ruolan didn't insist, simply stating, "If you won't go, forget about it."
Seeing Ning Fan's composed demeanor, Xu Xiaoqing became anxious and said, "Ning Fan, you jerk, what if my sister suddenly falls ill? If there's nobody to help on the road, do you want to be responsible for her death?"
Ning Fan looked at Xu Xiaoqing helplessly and then glanced at the icy Xu Ruolan, "I concede to you. It seems I have to go; otherwise, I'm afraid you'll report me to the police and kick me out of the Xu family villa."
Xu Xiaoqing raised her hand in a victorious gesture.
Ning Fan said, "What about the fifty thousand?"
Xu Ruolan and Xu Xiaoqing: "..."
(Brothers and sisters, please vote for recommendation, haha. Can you guess what happened between the protagonist and Huo Qiuran in the past?)