My Supernatural Exes Are Desperate to Win Me Back - Chapter 23 - Shura Field

wolf robbed of its food in heavy snow, filled with a dangerously icy aura, “Give her to me.”

Invisible to the naked eye, all tendrils were poised like a group of arching snakes, ready to strike.

The blonde girl suddenly spoke up.

She had previously been engrossed in braiding Teacher Wen’s hair and now had finished a perfect upright braid!

Xu Xining turned her head casually and said, “Xingye, you go back on your own. I’ll have Teacher Wen take me home.”

The moment the girl spoke, Zhan Xingye seemed to shed all his hostility, becoming helpless and lost, like a child who had done something wrong.

He also wanted to kill the person in front of him and take the girl away… but she had to be willing to go with him.

Seven years ago, on the anniversary of Zhan’s Father and Zhan’s Mother’s death, Xu Xining would always spend the day with him, whether it was visiting their graves, eating out, or even watching a movie. She was like a chatty little bird constantly by Zhan Xingye’s side, making him feel like he wasn’t alone.

That year, even though Zhan Xingye had been deliberately ignoring her for a long time, Xu Xining still messaged him: [Xingye, do you want to have dinner together tonight?]

Zhan Xingye read Xu Xining’s brief message over and over again but didn’t reply.

After he joined the Aberration Management Bureau, he accidentally saw his foster parents’ names in the Bureau’s records.

The records stated that the cause of Zhan’s Father and Zhan’s Mother’s deaths was not a home invasion. The crime scene was fabricated by the Secret Department, and the real killers were Exotic Species.

It was Zhan Xingye’s aura in his childhood that attracted other Exotic Species, indirectly causing the death of his foster parents.

What right did he have to commemorate them?

Even though he never wanted to harm anyone, his very existence was a source of misfortune.

Would being close to Xu Xining also inadvertently lead to her death?

That evening, as the first snow of winter fell, Zhan Xingye huddled in a dark, icy corner of the street, blankly watching the lights in Xu Xining’s home.

A white sedan slowly pulled up at the building.

Dressed in a wool coat, Professor Wen got out of the car in the falling snow, holding an umbrella and smiling in anticipation, while the girl, wearing a bright red scarf, ran out of the building like a gust of wind and threw herself into his arms.

Only then did Zhan Xingye belatedly realize that Xu Xining, who didn’t need to accompany him, would be with someone else.

But what fault did she have? She hadn’t forgotten him; she placed him in a more prominent position in her heart; she took the initiative to come to him.

It was he who was in a sorry state, running away in disarray.

That year, the blond, blue-eyed man holding the umbrella stood in the light, his green eyes deep and gentle. He was scholarly, wealthy, mature, and considerate; even Zhan Xingye thought he was impeccably perfect.

He hated Wen Nansen yet felt he was more deserving to stand in front of Xu Xining than himself.

But what was Wen Nansen now?

He was just another Exotic Species, who had deceived Xu Xining and only made her suffer.

…

Once again, Zhan Xingye watched as Wen Nansen took her away. Xu Xining even leaned out to wave and told him to head home early.

He wanted to rush forward and grab Xu Xining’s waving hand.

But as he raised his hand, he only covered the wound on his neck.

As if that would be effective, using his impeccable appearance to hide the enduring decay within.

Meanwhile, not far away, Xu Xining broke free from Wen Nansen’s embrace and plunged into the brightly lit pedestrian street.

Wen Nansen knew her temperament and wanted to send her home quickly.

But Xu Xining had a trait: when sober, she only troubled herself; when drunk, she specifically tormented others, adhering to a principle of leniency towards herself and strictness towards others, causing endless disaster and death.

She ran ahead like a mad golden chick, with Teacher Wen forced to follow closely behind, like a farmer chasing chickens across a field.

By the time Teacher Wen finally caught up with Xu Xining in front of a claw machine, she was struggling while uttering the universal drunkard’s phrase: “Teacher Wen, I’m really not drunk, I’ve only had… a little!”

She pinched two delicate white fingers tightly together.

Teacher Wen said helplessly, “Stop it, I’m taking you home.”

Xu Xining bolted away, full of high spirits: “Come chase me! Come chase me! If you catch me, I’ll let you hee hee hee!”

The innocent Teacher Wen asked, “What’s hee hee hee?”

Xu Xining replied, “It’s pap pap pap!”

Teacher Wen asked, “What’s pap pap pap?”

Xu Xining giggled, “It’s hee hee hee!”

Teacher Wen: “…”

He should not have asked.

Driven by alcohol, Xu Xining began acting wildly, at one moment clamoring for a SpongeBob toy from the claw machine-Teacher Wen reluctantly tried to win it for her, struggling for a long time without success. Xu Xining then turned her attention to a frog balloon being sold nearby, and Teacher Wen had to go and buy her one.

Moments later, she was engrossed in a ring toss game at a street stall, declaring boldly that if she didn’t win the grand prize-a giant white goose-she wouldn’t go home that day.

Wen Nansen asked if she planned to eat the goose once she won it. Xu Xining mysteriously replied, “Big mistake! That giant white goose is our comrade working undercover. He’s been lurking here for a long time, just waiting for me to bring him home!”

Wen Nansen wondered aloud why the goose seemed to duck whenever she threw a ring at it.

Xu Xining explained, “Ah, Nansen, that’s what you don’t understand! It’s all a disguise to confuse the enemy!!”

Xu Xining persisted in her ring toss for half an hour, until even the stall owner couldn’t bear to watch any longer and came over with the goose in hand, saying, “Alright, young lady, you’ve spent quite a bit of money; I’ll give you this goose.”

Thus, Wen Nansen walked down the street not only carrying a Peppa Pig backpack but also holding a frog in one hand and a goose stretching its neck and honking in his arms, attracting an extraordinary amount of attention.

If he truly wanted to bring Xu Xining back, there were thousands of spirit spells at his disposal.

But how could Wen Nansen bear to do so?

He followed her step by step, watching the girl hop and skip through the bustling crowd like a rabbit, her bright little face illuminated by the colorful neon lights, occasionally calling out, “Teacher Wen, Teacher Wen, look at that!”

It had been a long time since she had smiled at him.

Xu Xining turned her head again, attracted by something new, and pressed against a brightly lit shop window, exclaiming, “Wow, Teacher Wen, come and look!”

Wen Nansen obediently came over, holding the goose, and saw in the window display a daringly spicy low-rise crop top skirt. He gently asked, “Do you like it? If you want it, we’ll buy it.”

Usually, Xu Xining wouldn’t accept his expensive gifts, but the drunken Xu Xining only knew to peck like a chicken: “Want, want, want! The bigger, the better!”

Xu Xining didn’t just buy a large size skirt; she also bought large size high heels and an oversized bow hair accessory-she wanted everything in the largest size!

Wen Nansen knew her size and didn’t understand why she insisted on the largest size, but since she wanted it, he went along with it, figuring they could always come back to exchange it once she sobered up.

In Wen Nansen’s life, when he first met Xu Xining, she was still a child, so he always unconsciously pampered her as if she were a child, fulfilling her every wish and desire.

In fact, even the oldest humans, in his eyes, were no more mature than Xu Xining.

Xu Xining intended to continue shopping back and forth hundreds of times, but the weather was not cooperating, and suddenly thunder boomed.

Xu Xining shivered and finally reluctantly dragged herself back, clutching the sleeve of Wen Nansen’s coat.

Wen Nansen bent down and spoke softly, “It’s about to rain; shall I take you home?”

Xu Xining instead hugged his arm: “Then I want to go to your house!”

In her third year of junior high, before she had met Wen Nansen, there was a thunderstorm one day, and the school lost power. The thunder was fierce, and the terrifying lightning seemed to strike right above the school.

It wasn’t clear who screamed first, but panic spread, and one person ran first, followed by others, until the entire school was black and pressing towards the stairwell.

Xu Xining was pushed by the crowd and fell down the stairs. At that moment, the students lost control, and a stampede occurred. It was pitch black around her, filled with heavy breathing and shrieks of terror.

She tried to get up multiple times only to be trampled down again and again, as if hundreds, thousands of people were stepping on her.

Miraculously, she wasn’t injured, but since then, she had been afraid of thunder, though she stubbornly refused to admit it.

Wen Nansen noticed but didn’t point it out; instead, he soundproofed a room in his house, telling Xu Xining that she could come to his house on rainy days.

Afterward, whenever there was thunder, Xu Xining would run to his house, and if it was too late, she would simply stay over.

Old Xu didn’t say much, because Wen Nansen was indeed too much of a gentleman, and Old Xu trusted his judgment of people.

He was more worried about his reckless and bold daughter potentially throwing herself at the disciplined Teacher Wen…

As the thunder grew fiercer, Wen Nansen still took her back to his house.

The so-called soundproof room was just a pretense; the Wen Family’s house was enveloped in a layer of tightly sealed soundproofing spells. Not just thunder, but even an atomic bomb explosion might not disturb the people sleeping inside.

The Wen Family’s residence was a large garden villa covered with dense vegetation, like a sandy green oasis in a city of steel and concrete.

Squirrels lived in the tall redwoods behind the house, and the man-made lake shimmered under the small pumpkin lamps, staying clear all year round. A winding pebble path extended toward the villa’s main entrance, with a goldfinch peeking out from the eaves.

Xu Xining entered the Wen Family home as if it were her own, strutting around in her exclusive slippers, slapping on the lights throughout the entire garden villa, running up and down, shouting, “Teacher Wen-!! Teacher Wen, where are you!!”

Teacher Wen let the goose play in the yard on its own and hung the messy items on a coat rack, pulling at his collar helplessly: “… I’m right behind you, little drunkard.”

Xu Xining ran down the stairs again, holding up her shopping bag high: “Teacher Wen, I brought you a gift!”

Giving him the things he bought for her, truly befitting of Xu Xining.

Wen Nansen politely accepted them and even said thank you. When he took them out and saw they were large size dresses, large size high heels, and a large size bow, he wondered…

…why were they large size?

Oh, they were bought for him?!

Even the worldly Wen Nansen didn’t know how to react.

Xu Xining came closer, her eyes sparkling: “Try them on, try them on!!”

Wen Nansen: “Now?”

Xu Xining: “If not now, when?”

Seeing that Wen Nansen wasn’t moving, she pounced on him, pushing him down on the sofa, stripping off his clothes and pants, yet her eyes still carried a righteous air, her face clearly saying, “You don’t even know how to change clothes; I have to do it for you.”

In some ways, Old Xu’s concerns had become reality.

Wen Nansen: “……”

What was he supposed to do? He could only clutch his clothes and pants tightly like a violated maiden…

Xu Xining was straddling him, helpless and weaker in strength, so she resorted to fake crying: “Boo hoo hoo, you don’t like the gift I painstakingly chose for you, you won’t even try it, boo hoo hoo, if you won’t try it, I’m going to throw a tantrum!”

Wen Nansen thought to himself, so you know you’re being unreasonable.

He propped himself up halfway, his usually neat collar now crumpled by the girl’s tugging, but he didn’t mind. The bright chandelier above cast its light down, shining into his deep green eyes like emeralds.

He smiled indulgently, “How are you going to throw a tantrum?”

Xu Xining got off him and started rolling around on the floor…

Teacher Wen watched as she rolled back and forth, and then suddenly curled up, clutching her stomach, “Ugh, I feel like throwing up.”

Rolling around drunk, it would be odd if she didn’t feel nauseous.

The man quickly scooped her up and laid her on the sofa, brushing away her sweaty hair with a slightly stern voice, “Stop moving around, I’ll make you some hangover remedy.”

The honey lemon water was brought, but the girl clamped her lips shut like a steadfast party member, her eyes flickering with a resolute light.

Wen Nansen put down the water glass, unsure what to do next: “You don’t like lemon water anymore?”

Xu Xining protested loudly: “If you won’t try on the clothes, I won’t drink the water! I’ll die of thirst!”

Obviously, it was a futile threat, but it somehow threatened the right person.

Wen Nansen looked at her for a moment and asked, “Will you be happy if I try them on?”

“Of course, of course!” Xu Xining scrambled up enthusiastically, “This is the trendiest style right now! Look at the large chains on the hem! Look at the open back design! Sexy! Too sexy!”

Wen Nansen suddenly remembered Xie Yi’s words-“Nowadays, girls like surprises, excitement, and romance. You have to know how to play along.”

Wasn’t it just indulging her whims?

Rarely did she wish for it.

Wen Nansen seriously took the clothes and went into the room.

A few minutes later…

Xu Xining’s eyes widened.

Xu Xining whistled.

Xu Xining couldn’t help but stand up and applaud: “So cool, Teacher Wen!!! You’ve never been this handsome!!!”

The black short shirt was tightly tucked in, revealing his firm and smooth abs, and the cool short skirt in black and red bore icy silver chains, with red diamond-studded stilettos and a butterfly knot on his head completing the look.

Teacher Wen could hardly move a step.

Xu Xining downed the lemon water and rushed over, showering him with flattery from top to bottom.

“So handsome, this will absolutely dazzle them!”

“Beauty kills without a knife-it’s like the curved blade of San Lang!”

“Sexy creature, Wen Nansen! Debut as center position, Wen Nansen! Both salty and sweet, Wen Nansen!!”

Wen Nansen: “…Really?”

Teacher Wen gradually lost himself amidst his beloved’s continuous praises…

Heaven knows, after Eileen’s death, Wen Nansen had secluded himself in the forest, away from the world for over a century. Only in recent years had he come out and never paid attention to fashion. High heels were originally a 16th-century European male nobility fashion item, and Scottish kilts are still chosen by English men today. Fashion always comes full circle, who knows when it might circle back.

Indeed, it hasn’t circled back yet.

Indeed, Wen Nansen did not know this.

Xu Xining pulled out her phone and brought up a video right under his eyes: “Dance!”

Teacher Wen could only utter: “Huh?”

Xu Xining had already expertly connected to the living room’s Bluetooth speaker, blasting deafening K-pop music. Amidst the intense drum beats, she whispered loudly next to his ear, “Your outfit is made for dancing! Girl group dance!”

What’s a girl group?

Wen Nansen, dizzy from being dragged around, danced many types-from Western jazz, Latin, and ballroom dancing to Eastern classical dance, but he did not know how to dance wildly.

After dragging him into it, Xu Xining started filming him, and Wen Nansen suggested they stop filming, but Xu Xining, while passionately operating the camera with 360-degree ground spins, argued that not capturing such a treasure of a moment would be a loss to the world!

By the time she finally got tired, it was well into the late night.

Xu Xining lay gasping on the sofa, feeling sorry for herself: “I’m so tired, my stomach hurts again, I’ve been holding it in just to film you!”

Wen Nansen wondered why she had to endure pain for such a thing.

He bent down and carried Xu Xining to her bed, preparing to let go when the girl sneakily tried to steal a kiss, which Wen Nansen dodged.

Xu Xining felt even more aggrieved: “I’ve done so much for you! And you won’t even give me a kiss! How cruel, Wen Nansen!”

Teacher Wen could only gently kiss her forehead and ruffle her hair, his voice very low: “I don’t want you to do something you might regret when you wake up.”

Xu Xining, of course, had her own room in the Wen Family home, with the interior decor unchanged from the last time she left years ago. Her bed was covered with her favorite stuffed toys, each meticulously cleaned by Wen Nansen.

Wen Nansen adjusted the room’s temperature and humidity to the right levels, turned off the ceiling light, and left only a dim table lamp on.

Outside, lightning flashed and thunder roared, but the room was so quiet you could hear breathing sounds.

Wen Nansen sat by the bed, accompanying her, Xu Xining holding both his hands-one on her forehead and the other on her stomach, because she had a headache and a stomachache.

She had long ago discovered that being close to Wen Nansen could relieve her pain.

Once, after she had fallen and broken her leg climbing over a wall, she lay on the hospital bed sweating from the pain, and painkillers couldn’t help. Only holding his hand seemed to lessen the pain, and she was too embarrassed to say to the man who had saved her life just six months earlier, “I find you quite useful, maybe you should stay the whole night.”

It was Wen Nansen who first offered, saying he wouldn’t leave, and she should sleep, promising that when she woke up, the pain would be gone.

Wen Nansen kept his promise on everything, and indeed, when she woke up the next day, the pain was gone, her recovery astonishingly fast, which even the doctors remarked was rare for someone so young.

Xu Xining thought it might be the power of love.

…Though it wasn’t the power of love, but the healing magic of a Spirit.

At this moment, Wen Nansen’s large hand gently pressed on the girl’s slender waist, a faint green glow emanating from his palm, making the previously crumpled girl comfortably lie flat, unconsciously playing with the man’s hand resting on her.

-This habit of hers, just like in her previous life.

In the quiet warm light, the blond, blue-eyed man, wearing a gray long-sleeved pajama top, leaned against the headboard, gently removing his gold-rimmed glasses, his long, pale lashes casting down like curtains, his gaze as light as moonlight on water.

The girl fell asleep under his gaze.

Many years ago, it was the same, under the shade of trees on a summer afternoon, by a lake fluttering with white butterflies, she lazily slept on Wen Nansen’s lap, like a languid kitten.

She always unconsciously played with his fingers, as if they were some interesting toy.

Wen Nansen was reading when he suddenly heard her laugh, so he closed his book and asked what funny thing she had dreamt about?

She sat up and said she dreamt she had aged, but he was still as young and handsome. Her face wrinkled, holding his hand, people asked her if this was her grandson, isn’t he handsome, maybe introduce him to my daughter?

Wen Nansen helplessly asked how was that dream funny?

She seriously asked, when I become an old grandma, will you still love me like this?

If it were the seasoned lover Xie Yi, he would have responded with sweet nothings about undying love, but at that moment, Wen Nansen, despite his extensive knowledge, failed to realize the subtle worries in his young lover’s heart. Even the most learned can be clumsy when first falling in love.

Wen Nansen thought for a moment, honestly saying he had never loved anyone, so he did not know.

She coolly flicked her hair, saying that’s fine, you go love pretty young girls, and I’ll go love handsome old men.

Later, Eileen asked him several times what if she aged, and Wen Nansen always gave the same answer, he did not know.

Perhaps he harbored the same worries as her.

Then later, still one summer afternoon by the lakeside with butterflies fluttering, it seemed only a moment had passed, and his young lover had aged.

She became thin, frail, lying on the bed with white hair, yet still smiling at him like a young girl, playing with his fingers until she breathed no more, as if just like countless times before, she had fallen asleep in his arms.

Wen Nansen held her hand, in the immense sorrow suddenly realizing he had always answered wrong.

He had used her entire lifetime to understand how he loved her, from her youthful beauty to her aged appearance, until her death, his love had not diminished by a bit.

He loved not her appearance, but her passionate and fervent soul.

…

He would never fall in love with anyone else again.

The next day, when Xu Xining woke from her hangover at noon, she lay peacefully in bed, feeling like she had had a fantastic dream, in which she had forgotten she had broken up with her first love, and had run to his house to create a huge scene, passionately dancing.

She opened her eyes and saw the ceiling of Wen Nansen’s house.

Damn! It wasn’t a dream!!

Xu Xining suddenly sobered up, scrambled up, and thankfully, Wen Nansen was not in the room, otherwise she really wouldn’t know how to face him.

The phone by the bed was constantly lighting up, countless messages bubbling up like air bubbles.

Xu Xining grabbed the phone, realizing it was the one she had bought for Wen Nansen two years ago, which at the time was the cutting-edge model, but now was somewhat outdated.

The popping messages were all from the corporate group, but why were these messages so strange?

Xu Xining instinctively clicked, and Wen Nansen’s phone had no lock screen password, immediately jumping to the WeChat interface, with dense group messages filling her vision.

【Editor Wen’s spicy pants!!!】

【Editor Wen so trendy! And knows kpop!!】

【So good-looking! I watched it ten times by myself!!】

Xu Xining was struck by lightning.

Last night, her phone had run out of battery, so she used Wen Nansen’s phone to record him, and after recording, she found her chat thread and sent it out.

Clearly, she sent it wrong, because she sent it to the Pianyu Media corporate group.

A group with one thousand one hundred members.

Everyone had seen the video of Editor Wen dancing passionately in high heels and a low-rise short skirt, including professional level close-ups of his chest and abs!

Late last night, the chairman Rong Kaifu saw the video in the group, thinking he had drunk fake alcohol, otherwise how could he see the hundred-billion-worth President Wen dancing a girl group dance in the group?!

No one dared to respond!

After all, this was a corporate work group, usually only a few top executives arranged work, others just received.

What madness had possessed the editor to throw such a video in there?! How was this different from turning the table when the boss served dishes or making a scene during a meeting?!

Rong Kaifu felt he couldn’t ignore this situation. After all, this was a major shareholder, and perhaps cross-dressing was President Wen’s unknown personal quirk. Offending him might bring Pianyu Media to its knees.

Thus, Director Rong carefully crafted his response: “Great! Editor Wen is at the forefront of trends, a role model for all of us! Everyone should learn from Editor Wen! This is the spirit our company needs!!”

With the chairman setting the tone, other employees felt free to speak up, and soon the group chat was flooded with messages, all in praise mode!

News Department: “Learn from Director Rong! Learn from Editor Wen!”

Art Department: “What a great dance! Our department will start learning it today!”

Finance Department: “Editor Wen truly is an overseas scholar! Master of all trades / thumbs up”

Xu Xining: …

Oh no! Oh no! It’s all over!

Teacher Wen has indeed… debuted as the center!

Xu Xining ran around looking for Wen Nansen, peeking into each room with guilt: “Teacher Wen? Are you here?”

Wen Nansen wasn’t there. Following his usual habit, he had left her a note on the fridge.

Tuna sandwiches, yogurt, and washed strawberries were neatly placed in glass bowls in the fridge, and there was freshly made juice on the table.

As for Wen Nansen himself… he had gone to work on time.

No wonder Teacher Wen! He bravely faced the storm and went! He left so valiantly!

Xu Xining munched on the sandwich with guilt, expertly reaching for ice cubes from the fridge, only to find that Wen Nansen had emptied the ice tray before leaving, leaving a note suggesting she drink more warm water.

Darn it! He anticipated her move.

Xu Xining didn’t need to be at work today, but she still dutifully grabbed her bag and headed to the office.

She had always been someone who dealt with things as they came. Calling her boss while drunk to accompany her craziness wasn’t a big deal, especially since the boss was her ex. But forcing him to cross-dress and dance publicly… that was crossing the line. Even if Wen Nansen scolded her, she would accept it.

Meanwhile, Pianyu Media was buzzing with excitement, like a festive celebration, with a certain reckless beauty.

As soon as Xu Xining entered, she heard someone playing the song Teacher Wen danced to on repeat, and countless colleagues asked, “Xu Xining, did you hear the news?”

Xu Xining: …

Don’t ask, just know I was there, and I’m the culprit.

“Who would’ve thought Editor Wen was in such great shape,” a colleague caught up with her, raising an eyebrow mischievously, “You couldn’t tell, huh? Slim in clothes, muscular without.”

Xu Xining, with a righteous face, sternly criticized, “We should protect our colleagues’ privacy. How can you point fingers at someone else’s abs? You young people have such impure thoughts!”

The colleague felt wronged: “Can you honestly say you didn’t look?!”

Xu Xining, feeling guilty, put on a cat-like face: …

I looked, I climbed up to look, and I even touched.

Maintaining her facade of righteousness, Xu Xining pushed open Editor Wen’s door, secretly peeking in with half her golden head, observing.

The afternoon sunlight filtered through the blinds onto the broad mahogany desk. Wen Nansen, in a light blue business shirt, looked refined and gentle with his gold-rimmed glasses, the mother-of-pearl buttons on his neatly pressed cuffs reflecting golden light.

He was still the same Teacher Wen, appearing calm and composed.

Wen Nansen had heard her footsteps from outside the door. Now, his gaze shifted from the computer screen to her face, and he smiled warmly, “Come in.”

The girl spoke sincerely and quickly, “I’m sorry, Teacher Wen. I drank too much yesterday and accidentally sent your dance video to the company group. I guess you’ve noticed by now. I’m really sorry for causing you such embarrassment!”

Xu Xining finished with a deep, 180-degree bow, her golden hair cascading like a waterfall.

She didn’t hear Wen Nansen speak for a while, so she tilted her head to look at him, only to find him smiling, “It’s okay, a hundred years will pass quickly.”

“Oh wow!” Xu Xining clapped like a sea lion, very supportive, “You used that joke perfectly!!”

Wen Nansen: ?

He meant it literally. Humans pass away quickly… sometimes too quickly.

Wen Nansen didn’t quite understand what she was saying, but he was used to it: “By the way, you can take this with you.”

He pulled out a Patrick Star from under the desk.

Xu Xining and Patrick Star stared at each other, and she remembered how last night she clung to the claw machine, insisting on getting the Patrick Star inside. Before Wen Nansen could grab it, she had already moved on to chasing a frog.

Unexpectedly, Wen Nansen remembered.

Xu Xining was surprised, “Weren’t you working today? When did you have time to catch toys?”

“I went early in the morning,” Wen Nansen said calmly, “In fact…”

He hesitated for a moment, then pulled out a whole bag of over a dozen Patrick Stars from under the desk, revealing an adorably cute smile behind the army of Patrick Stars, “I caught them all.”

Xu Xining: …

Oh my, the ancestors of the Patrick Star clan are all here.

Wen Nansen didn’t understand what was so cute about pink stars, but when he failed to grab a toy, Xu Xining seemed quite disappointed…

Life is so short, Wen Nansen couldn’t bear to see her disappointed.

He was an old-fashioned gentleman at heart, and strictly adhered to rules, so he couldn’t bring himself to cheat with Spirit magic. So, at four in the morning, he took a large bucket of game coins to the deserted street to catch toys… and since he had started, he decided to catch them all.

Xu Xining looked at the smiling Patrick Stars, unusually silent.

She pulled out her phone from her pocket and pushed it over, “You didn’t take your phone this morning, and I accidentally opened it… I told you, you should set a lock screen password.”

Wen Nansen wasn’t concerned about the phone. He was a bit worried, “Are you okay?”

Xu Xining lifted her eyelashes, her clear pupils reflecting his face, and asked straightforwardly, “Teacher Wen, do you still like me?”

When she opened Wen Nansen’s phone, she discovered something strange.

Wen Nansen’s phone was as clean as it was when it was first set up, with no photos, no chat records, and only her as a contact in the address book. On WeChat, she was his only friend… even the company group was something he joined recently after asking a colleague to teach him.

For two years, Wen Nansen had insisted on charging the phone every day, taking it abroad, to work, and when Xu Xining called him drunk in the middle of the night… it only rang once before he picked up.

This wasn’t a normal phone.

-This was a phone that existed solely to contact her.

Wen Nansen didn’t expect her to ask so suddenly, and he replied firmly and gently, “Yes, I’ve never stopped liking you.”

Xu Xining made a sound of acknowledgment.

She thought it was like that. Otherwise, Wen Nansen taking care of Old Xu’s injury, waiting two years for a call, going out at four in the morning to catch toys, couldn’t just be attributed to his high moral standards, making him a rare gem who would take care of his ex and her entire family in their old age, right?

Xu Xining pressed a hand on the desk, leaning over to reach for the pocket on his chest, pulling out the pocket watch he always carried.

Xu Xining opened the pocket watch and saw the old photo of Wen Nansen and Eileen. Surprisingly, she felt unexpectedly calm.

It’s quite subtle. If Wen Nansen had replaced Eileen’s photo with hers, or simply thrown away the pocket watch, Xu Xining would have looked down on him.

If his love for Eileen could change because Xu Xining threw a tantrum, it would mean his love wasn’t worth much to begin with.

Not changing it was exactly what Wen Nansen would do.

At the time, Xu Xining was furious when she saw the photo, thinking Wen Nansen’s love for her was fake. But now, looking at it, it didn’t seem fake. The knot in her heart suddenly disappeared.

… There wasn’t much to be angry about.

They had a relationship. She genuinely liked Wen Nansen, and Wen Nansen genuinely liked her. Although his affection stemmed from another woman, that woman was dead, so it couldn’t be considered cheating.

She couldn’t compete with a dead person, could she?

Xu Xining suddenly felt relieved, smiling as she tossed the pocket watch back, “Here, take it.”

The girl was radiant again. She swung her legs and patted Wen Nansen’s shoulder amicably, “About Eileen, I forgive you. Even though, counting these two years, I’ve liked you longer than you’ve liked me, I’m super magnanimous, so I won’t hold it against you!”

Hearing “I’ve liked you longer than you’ve liked me,” Wen Nansen smiled slightly, not refuting.

Xu Xining asked again, “By the way, what happened to your hand?”

Wen Nansen always wore a silver glove on his left hand, a habit he didn’t have two years ago.

Last night, she thought the glove didn’t match the outfit she had carefully chosen, so she pulled it off.

What she saw was a hand charred and blackened, as if repeatedly burned and healed, leaving a painful, horrifying shape.

Wen Nansen’s hands were originally beautiful, with distinct joints like jade, perfect for playing the violin.

But now, his left hand was covered in hideous scars… no wonder he wore a glove to hide it.

“It’s nothing serious,” Wen Nansen reassured gently, “Did it scare you?”

Xu Xining pulled out a tube of ointment from her pocket, “I’ve used this since I was little whenever I got hurt. It’s really effective. I happened to pass by a pharmacy on the way… do you want to try it?”

Knowing it wouldn’t help, Wen Nansen still accepted it, “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome. Teacher Wen is a good person!” Xu Xining handed out a “good person card” with practiced ease, her eyes smiling, “But don’t like me anymore. We can end it here. You’ll still be my good boss and Old Xu’s good friend.”

Xu Xining jumped off the desk, struggling to carry the mountain of Patrick Stars, “Thanks for the Patrick Stars! I’m leaving!”

Wen Nansen looked up at her, feeling a sudden skip in his heart.

Before, Xu Xining’s love for him was special, and her hatred was special too. But now, she was very friendly to him… yet Xu Xining’s friendliness was indiscriminately extended to all of humanity. Her friendliness, no matter how good, meant that from now on, Wen Nansen would be just like anyone else to her.

At that moment, the girl’s back, wobbling with the Patrick Stars, felt like water slipping through his fingers, joyfully flowing forward, only briefly passing by his side.

He suddenly had a premonition that if he didn’t hold onto her now, he would never be able to.

Wen Nansen suddenly spoke, “… Are you free next Saturday evening?”

“Yes, yes,” Xu Xining, remembering she came to apologize, stopped and turned around with difficulty.

Though turning around, she couldn’t see Wen Nansen’s face… she was buried under a sea of pink stars, like a headless monster with two slender legs.

Wen Nansen said, “I have a place I want to take you. It’s something very important.”

Wen Nansen had a reassuring composure, including but not limited to “The sky is falling? No worries, I’ll handle it” and “Social death? No worries, a lifetime passes quickly.”

Xu Xining had never heard Wen Nansen say something was very important before, so she was curious. “Is it difficult? Is it work-related? What kind of thing is it? Do I need to bring anything?” she asked, gritting her teeth as she struggled to hold the plush toys. “Do you have to talk to me while I’m holding all these Starfish?”

“As long as you’re there, that’s all that matters,” Wen Nansen replied, hesitating slightly. “If they’re too heavy, just put them down… I mean, just take a look, I’ll deliver them to your place tonight.”

Xu Xining: “…”

That evening, Xu Xining returned home with the Starfish in tow, only to find the Good Man lying listlessly on the bed. A fox, looking so downcast, with its once shiny fur now tangled and dull.

She dropped everything and rushed over in a panic. “Good Man! What’s wrong with you?”

Xie Yi cast her a forlorn glance.

Last night, Xu Xining hadn’t come home, and Xie Yi was puzzled until he saw Zhan Xingye return. He asked where Xu Xining had gone, why she hadn’t come back with him, but Zhan Xingye was filled with such resentment, it was like dealing with a ghost. The two of them ended up fighting without exchanging many words.

With Xu Xining not around, they fought fiercely through the night!

The fight lasted until dawn, ending only when Xie Yi used a trick to escape…

Zhan Xingye was truly a monster. He seemed neither to tire nor feel pain. Although Xie Yi didn’t know about the effects of alcohol on him, he could tell Zhan Xingye was not in good shape either, sure that his injuries were no less severe than his own.

But Zhan Xingye seemed intent on self-harm through his injuries, with a reckless abandon as if he didn’t care if they both went down together.

Xie Yi had no doubt he’d walked right into a trap.

Unlike Zhan Xingye, Xie Yi cherished his own skin. After all, a man’s face is his first life! Without it, how could he charm Xu Xining?!

So he decided not to engage further.

However, he’d been in too many fights lately, with new injuries piling on top of old ones, and it was all catching up to him.

Xie Yi tried to act like nothing was wrong, but he stumbled like he was drunk, eventually collapsing into Xu Xining’s arms, looking as if he was about to depart this world with a tragic dignity.

Xu Xining was terrified, holding onto the Good Man as she knocked on Zhan Xingye’s door. “Xingye! Xingye! Something’s wrong! The Good Man seems sick!!!!”

Zhan Xingye, wearing a black hoodie, opened the door and stepped out.

He glanced at the fox in Xu Xining’s arms. Xie Yi seemed so fragile, letting out pitiful whimpers as if Zhan Xingye’s mere gaze was too much to bear, burrowing further into Xu Xining’s embrace.

It was the first time Xu Xining had seen the Good Man look so pitiful, and she was heartbroken, cradling him and comforting him for a long time.

Zhan Xingye stood at the door, his eyes darkly fixed on Xie Yi. If Xu Xining looked his way, he’d lower his lashes, hiding his murderous gaze.

Xu Xining held up the fox. “Xingye, take a look. Should I take him to the vet?”

Zhan Xingye reached out to touch Xie Yi’s back, and Xie Yi’s fur immediately bristled.

In the next moment, a sharp tendril emerged from Zhan Xingye’s palm, effectively stabbing Xie Yi!

Xie Yi thought, “You dare attack in front of Xu Xining? Fine, let’s see who’s afraid of whom!”

He retaliated by biting Zhan Xingye’s hand!

Xu Xining was stunned. She couldn’t fathom Zhan Xingye attacking barehanded and thought the Good Man had suddenly gone mad and bitten someone. She quickly held the fox tightly, panicking. “Xingye, are you okay?!”

Now it was Zhan Xingye’s turn to lean against the doorframe, showing his hand, bleeding profusely from the bite.

Xu Xining, now more concerned about Zhan Xingye, took the Good Man back inside, closed the door, and returned with a first aid kit to bandage Zhan Xingye’s wound, worriedly saying, “How did this happen! The Good Man is usually so well-behaved! …Do you need a rabies shot?”

In her panic, she wrapped Zhan Xingye’s hand haphazardly, turning it into a doughy mass. Fortunately, he wasn’t human, or her bandaging might have made things worse.

Zhan Xingye spoke calmly, “His back is injured. Did you notice?”

Xu Xining: “Huh?”

Zhan Xingye continued, “Do you know how he got injured?” I just stabbed him.

Xu Xining: “No idea, he’s been at home the whole time. How could he get hurt?”

“Restless behavior, attacking others, excited barking when alone, self-harming tendencies… it indicates he’s in heat.” Zhan Xingye stated this nonsense with a straight face, his expressionless demeanor lending an air of authority.

Xu Xining suddenly understood. That’s what they say on nature shows-spring is the season for animals to mate… So the Good Man was looking for love!

Xu Xining asked, “Where am I supposed to find a vixen for him?”

“Simple,” Zhan Xingye replied, holding up his doughy hand, expressionless.

“Neuter him.”