"It was Su Qingyu’s mother, Bai Wufeng, speaking indeed. As the mother of two beauties, Su Qingyu and Su Ziqing, she deserved the title, for though nearing fifty, her face was devoid of any wrinkles. After Su Qingyu was injured and fell into a coma, rather than rebuking, she and Su Pengzhan encouraged her instead.
"Go on the honeymoon, just be safe." Su Pengzhan did not object either. Compared to typical domestic parents, the couple was much more liberal, granting their daughters plenty of freedom, which was one of the reasons behind Su Qingyu’s independent personality.
"Um, go early and come back early, An at the company is enough." Bai Wufeng agreed again, "Since it’s a trip, stop worrying about work."
"You’ve both been quite tired lately, go and relax."
These words warmed Ye Shikai’s heart greatly, finding encouragement more empowering than criticism. Su Ziqing blushed, her face showing an "I’m unhappy" expression, making it unclear whether the little girl had gotten over her mood yet.
"Qingqing, what’s with that expression?" Su Pengzhan, who was dining nearby, couldn’t help but laugh curiously.
Upon hearing this, Ye Shikai nearly spit out his food with laughter, realizing that the little girl was upset because she wanted to go to France; he thought it was about something else.
"No, you still have classes." Before Su Qingyu could refuse, Bai Wufeng had already spoken up first. Su Ziqing tried to object but was intimidated by Bai Wufeng’s look. Ye Shikai didn’t know, but compared to Su Pengzhan, the sisters actually "feared" their mother-in-law more.
"Qingqing, just focus on your studies at school; we can go during the holidays." Su Qingyu also advised. Su Ziqing grew even more frustrated, not daring to throw a tantrum, and just sullenly poked at her rice with her chopsticks.
"This girl is really..." Bai Wufeng laughed and shook her head helplessly.
Ye Shikai returned to his room alone, taking out a wooden box given by the Great Elder of the Primordial Soul, he opened it to find Great Rejuvenation Pills, awakening fruits, herbs for refining Shennong Pills, Bone Strengthening Herbs, and a host of other unnamed precious herbs; the Elf clan truly is a "Dan medicine family", just this box of quality herbs could fetch at least ten billion in the Underworld. It’s said that elves grow by consuming plants, no wonder even a newborn elf possesses Inner Strength.
"Cough cough." Suddenly, Ye Shikai coughed violently, instinctively covering his mouth. When he opened his hand again, he was frightened by the sight before him — a palm full of fresh blood.
"You’re here." At this moment, Su Qingyu walked in from outside, and Ye Shikai quickly closed his hand, holding it by his side.
"Ah... Qingyu... what’s up?"
"Just now, Qingqing didn’t seem very happy," Su Qingyu said with a light smile.
"Young people like to have fun, but she still needs to focus on her university studies," Ye Shikai said quickly, subconsciously hiding his hand behind him.
"Cough cough, I’ve already gotten Ghost to prepare everything. As for the itinerary, let’s decide on that," Ye Shikai said immediately, with a bit of nervousness inside, fearing that if Su Qingyu saw the bloodstain on his palm, she would start worrying again.
"So you’ve already handled everything," Su Qingyu walked to the bed. When her gaze fell on the bed, her expression suddenly changed. Following her gaze, Ye Shikai saw a coquettishly small red flower blooming on the pristine bedsheets. A sudden flush spread from Su Qingyu’s forehead to her ears; the previous night had been too intense, and when both woke up dazed today, they hadn’t noticed the anomaly on the bedsheets.
"Cough cough, Qingyu, about this sheet, maybe we should..."
"Let me handle it." Su Qingyu quickly said, her face blushed terribly as she went straight to strip off the bedsheet.
"Alright." While Su Qingyu was busy removing the bedsheet, Ye Shikai went to the bathroom and rinsed off the bloodstains from his hand.
Was it during the fight with the beastman warlord that his internal injuries hadn’t healed? After so many days, his sword spirit also gave no response, and this made Ye Shikai feel a vague unease. Demon Addiction, the second persona too powerful, each episode was bone-shattering. If it wasn’t for the exhaustion of energy, the outcome would have been hard to say.
"It really is quite troublesome." When Ye Shikai returned to the room, the bedsheet had already been removed by Su Qingyu and hidden securely.
.....................
Yanjing, Dark Night Bar.
Driving a Lexus, Ye Shikai came here. As usual, the bar was packed, young people came here to release energy, middle-aged people to vent their stress, while Ye Shikai belonged to another category between the two.
"You’ve been to South America these days." Luo Shiqi was still in a glamorous red dress, pouring a glass of whiskey. "Did you bring me a souvenir?"
"Shiqi, you know why I went there; stop joking around." Ye Shikai shook his head and pushed the strong liquor away.
"So what are you looking for me today for?" Luo Shiqi sat opposite Ye Shikai, teasingly said.
"Tomorrow I am going on a honeymoon with Qingyu, and I wanted to clarify with you..."
"Stop." Before Ye Shikai could finish, Luo Shiqi interrupted him. "I’ve already seen through your heart, if you’re here to talk about this, then you needn’t continue; if this is why you came today, you can leave now."
"I knew you would say that." Ye Shikai smiled helplessly.
"Shiqi, you still..."
"Even if you get married, I still have the right to pursue you, don’t I?" Luo Shiqi smiled charmingly.
"You really can read minds, huh?" Ye Shikai was first stunned. The formidable aspect of Luo Shiqi was that she understood Ye Shikai more than anyone else, even seeing things clearer in some aspects than he did...
Ye Shikai bitterly smiled in his heart; to save Su Qingyu, he’d sacrifice even his own life. Luo Shiqi’s pursuit was destined to be impossible...
This infatuated woman, Ye Shikai could not bear to hurt her, yet he had no choice but to do so.
"So, no need to persuade me anymore, some things, even if done, might not yield results, but not doing them would definitely lead to regret."
"Why bother." Ye Shikai muttered.
"Perhaps, this is my destiny, to have met you."
Ye Shikai looked at the stunning woman in front of him. She was domineering, so much that she became the Underground Queen of Yanjing, wielding great influence. She was content, content enough that even if she had to endure countless heartaches, as long as she could taste that insignificant sweetness, she was completely satisfied.
"Going to France for honeymoon, don’t forget to bring me a souvenir." Luo Shiqi’s eyes reddened, she held back her tears and turned to leave the room.