My Supernatural Exes Are Desperate to Win Me Back

Xu Xining invited Zhan Xingye into the room and went to wash her face. Feeling her eyes were too swollen to be seen, she rummaged through her things to find a black mud mask to cover her face.

Zhan Xingye brewed some red tea and found a vase, placing a bouquet of crystal-like “no money to spend” flowers into it.

Ever since he moved across from Xu Xining, the flowers seemed to bloom more frequently.

Turning around, he saw the girl with her face covered in black mud, squinting as she emerged from the bathroom.

Zhan Xingye said sincerely, “Looks good.”

“Good my foot!” Xu Xining laughed with a hiccup, “It’s a mask, not makeup. It’s supposed to be washed off!”

Zhan Xingye obediently shut his mouth, “…Oh.”

They sat side by side, eating lemon cake, while Xu Xining shared the story of eating cake with Lin Wei and Old Xu years ago.

She had never told anyone this story before, always feeling it was a bit childish. But with Zhan Xingye, it felt so natural because no matter what she said, he would listen intently.

Xu Xining picked at the lemon bits with her fork, muttering, “Do you think I ask for too much? Maybe I do. In this world, no one is indispensable; everyone eventually leaves.”

She was indeed an optimist, believing in all things beautiful… she just didn’t believe they would stay forever.

Even her mother wouldn’t stay for her, so how could she demand it from others?

She was fair-minded; as long as you love me when I love you, that’s enough. As for the future, who cares? Eventually, everyone turns into little boxes of ashes…

Xu Xining opened her mouth wide and stuffed the cake in, only to hear Zhan Xingye say, “I won’t.”

Xu Xining, cheeks puffed, turned to look at him.

The fresh scent of lemon candy floated in the air, sunlight streaming through the crystal-like flowers, casting ice-like beams that illuminated half of Zhan Xingye’s face.

His messy hair cast a neat shadow, giving him a youthful, handsome look.

He calmly looked into her eyes and said, “I will never leave you.”

Xu Xining’s fork fell to the ground.

Oh my, does this kid know what he’s saying? This sounds like a confession!

To say “forever” to an unrelated opposite sex, either he wants to be her dad or he has other intentions, right?

Zhan Xingye’s lashes were thick but not curled, making him seem overly quiet when he lowered his gaze. He rarely made eye contact with Xu Xining, only quietly watching her when she spoke to others.

But on rare occasions, like now, when he lifted his lashes and fixed his gaze on someone, the focus and unknown emotions in his eyes seemed to engulf like a tidal wave.

Zhan Xingye slowly leaned closer to her.

That face came nearer and nearer.

Sharp brows, dark eyes, thin lips, and a straight nose; his restrained handsomeness seemed to hit every note of her aesthetic.

Xu Xining’s body stiffened, her heart racing.

Closer? What the heck are you doing? What about our twenty years of pure friendship? For some reason, a forbidden feeling pressed down on her, making it hard to breathe…

This is Xingye!! Kissing is illegal, right?!

Xu Xining’s mind was a whirl of thoughts.

Zhan Xingye lowered his lashes, bent down, calmly picked up the fork Xu Xining had dropped, and went to wash it for her.

Xu Xining: “…”

…Without a doubt, he wants to be her dad.

Neither noticed the crystal-like flowers in the vase beside them, sensing something, trembled slightly and sprouted transparent new buds.

In the afternoon, Xie Jing, the psychologist, sent her a message saying he needed her help tonight and that Xie Yi would come to pick her up.

Xu Xining readily agreed.

In the evening, Xu Xining went downstairs and saw the familiar Ferrari parked stylishly at the entrance of the neighborhood.

The man had a burgundy velvet blazer draped over his shoulder, with the collar slightly open, revealing a healthy, smooth chest. On his wrist, resting on the steering wheel, was a large, masculine mechanical watch.

Xie Yi pushed his sunglasses up to his forehead and whistled, “Matching with me today?”

The girl was wearing a silky slip dress as dazzling as wine. Seeing her dressed like this, Xie Yi had deliberately chosen an outfit that complemented her perfectly.

Xu Xining had already opened the car door but closed it upon hearing his comment and turned to leave, “Fine! I’ll go change!”

Xie Yi: “…” Hey, hey.

“Come back, my lady,” he said, helplessly, “I won’t say anything else, okay?”

Xu Xining chuckled and got into his car.

Xie Yi drove her to the most bustling commercial center by the Huai River and entered a shopping mall. He seemed familiar with the place, leading Xu Xining through twists and turns, swiping cards through several doors via the employee passage, and finally stopping at an elevator in a lavishly decorated corridor.

Xu Xining was puzzled, “Where are we going?”

Xie Yi gestured for her to enter, playing with the card in his hand, “Underground.”

Xu Xining had been to this shopping mall before, which only had three basement parking levels, yet the elevator descended for a long time, as if it was taking her straight to hell.

With a crisp “ding,” the elevator stopped.

As the elevator doors slowly opened, a flood of dazzling lights and noisy chatter poured in. Before her was a row of heavy slot machines, piles of colorful chips, and poker tables stretching endlessly into the distance. Beautiful women in revealing outfits, balancing trays, swayed their hips as they moved between the tables in high heels.

Every so often, an elevator led directly to the underground, and from the elevator doors emerged various elegantly dressed men and women. They seemed familiar with the environment, casually picking up glasses from the trays of waiters and nonchalantly pushing forward stacks of chips.

Xu Xining was taken aback, “An underground casino?”

Xie Yi snapped his fingers, “Bingo~”

Not only was it a casino, but it was a Demon casino. The casino was owned by the Red Fox clan of Mount Tu, with the actual casino located within the Demon Realm, accessible through elevators scattered around the world.

In this place, a mix of humans and Exotic Species disguised as humans mingled together. These hidden beings would target wealthy individuals, luring them into the casino and then winning their money away.

No matter how skilled a gambler was, they couldn’t outmatch a Demon.

Using this method, the Dongfang Clan siphoned off vast amounts of wealth from the human world each year, making it one of their key sources of funds.

However, Xie Yi didn’t need to share these details with Xu Xining. The girl seemed quite upset yesterday, and asking her for help was just an excuse; Xie Yi simply wanted to take her out for some fun.

Usually, it was hard to arrange a meeting with her, as Xu Xining would come up with all sorts of bizarre excuses to brush him off, like “Today my duodenum suddenly hurts so much I can only crawl in the shadows” or “Too bad, I’m allergic to males lately.”

“Today, I brought you here for an evaluation. Just play around, and then fill out a survey afterward,” Xie Yi said, tapping the counter and ordering a bag of chips to be brought over, tossing them to Xu Xining. “Your funds-if you lose, it’s on me; if you win, it’s yours.”

Xu Xining weighed the chips in her hand. “How much?”

Xie Yi casually replied, “Not much, five thousand.”

Xu Xining had never been to a casino before, but she didn’t show any signs of intimidation. She casually picked a table and began to play.

Having grown up in the midst of glamorous social settings, she had a confidence nurtured by her upbringing. Though unfamiliar with the games, she wasn’t afraid of being looked down upon.

She sat at the table, poised like a diligent student, and smiled at the dealer. “What are the rules here?”

Xie Yi circled back with a drink in hand, noticing the girl was already confidently tossing chips into the center of the table. “What’s there to fear? It’s too early to talk with just a pair of Aces-I’ll match you with five hundred.”

“Wow, picking it up quickly, aren’t you?” Xie Yi stood behind her, hands resting on the table, his broad chest almost enveloping the girl.

He reached out with interest to flip Xu Xining’s hidden cards. “Let me see what good cards you’ve got.”

Xu Xining slapped his hand away with a “snap.” “No peeking.”

The other players at the table exchanged surprised glances.

They were all Demons, gambling out of boredom, and of course, they knew Xie Yi. There wasn’t a Demon here who didn’t know him.

They admired him, but more so, they respected his power and influence.

It seemed the girl didn’t regard him highly at all…

It seemed His Majesty the Demon King appeared rather humble…

In the final round, Xu Xining lost by a narrow margin, but she merely shrugged and smiled, sipping her chilled lemonade.

A man nearby chuckled and praised, “Miss Xu, you have good sportsmanship. It seems eight million is just a drop in the bucket for you.”

Xu Xining nearly spat out her drink with a “pfft.”

Hello? Who lost eight million? Didn’t I lose eight hundred?

Oh my gosh!!! No one told me five thousand chips were fifty million?!

She played for a short while… and lost a whopping twenty-eight million?! That’s like ten houses in Huai River!

Gambling affects the whole family; when everyone gambles, prosperity is hard to achieve!

Xu Xining: I’m completely numb.

Xie Yi chuckled deeply, his chest shaking with laughter.

Xie Yi sat down next to Xu Xining, casually flicking her cheek with his finger. “What’s there to worry about? If you lose, it’s on me,” he said lazily.

From the moment Xie Yi sat beside her, it was as if Xu Xining had activated some hidden power, turning the tables on everyone. When others revealed three Aces, she’d draw a flush in spades. When someone played a Full House, she’d counter with a straight flush.

Xie Yi watched with a lazy interest, never touching the cards himself, only occasionally chuckling as if he found her gameplay amusing.

The Demons around them were getting restless.

The casino had a restriction in place preventing them from using demon spells to cheat, but Xie Yi’s abilities were beyond such constraints. He didn’t need to touch the cards to manipulate the entire table at will.

They felt like mice trapped at the table, endlessly handing over money to the girl.

Who could stand that?

Two men stood up with forced smiles. “Miss Xu, your luck is just too good for us. We can’t handle it, so we’ll take our leave…”

Xie Yi lazily reached out, firmly grasping one man’s wrist. His eyes, with a hint of mischief, locked onto the man’s. “Leaving already?”

Cold sweat poured down the man’s back like rain. Xie Yi’s fingers had deftly caught the thread and hidden cards in his sleeve. A slight pull would reveal the cheating cards to everyone.

The man had been winning by cheating from the start, but Xie Yi had seen through his tricks long ago.

Cheating in a Dongfang Clan casino was risky; getting caught meant not seeing the next sunrise.

The demon clan wasn’t bound by human laws. Xie Yi might seem easygoing, joking with everyone, but countless Demons had met their end at his hands.

The man laughed awkwardly. “On second thought, it’s a rare chance to play with Miss Xu. I’ll stay, haha, hahaha…”

Xu Xining, however, pulled out a small notebook, jotting down a couple of lines without looking up. “Sorry, I’m done playing for now. I want to try something else.”

“Your luck’s hot, why leave the table?” Xie Yi stretched out his long arm, snatching her notebook. It read:

Evaluation Notes:

Ease of Play: Two Stars

Luck Factor: Five Stars

Pros: Simple gameplay, highly engaging

Cons: Stakes too high, can lead to financial ruin, unfriendly to both newcomers and veterans

Xie Yi: “???”

She really was doing an evaluation?!

Xu Xining reached over, annoyed, trying to grab the notebook back. “What are you doing! I’m working seriously!”

“You actually took it seriously?” Xie Yi burst out laughing.

A casino that’s been running for over a thousand years doesn’t need a young person’s evaluation. It was just an excuse to bring her out for fun. Who’d have thought the usually carefree girl would be so earnest when it came to work?

Xu Xining remained expressionless. “I don’t care if it’s real or not. I promised Xie Jing I’d do it.”

Xie Yi tucked the notebook into his pocket, raising an eyebrow. “You listen to him that much? Whatever he asks, you do… Who’s more important, me or him?”

“Obviously!” Xu Xining lunged at him, clawing for the notebook. “Xie Jing is more important!”

Xie Yi’s eyes darkened.

The blonde girl was fully engrossed in her work, pushing Xie Yi down and ripping at his clothes in an attempt to snatch his notebook. She nearly ended up in his arms without finding it…

Once something fell into the Magician’s hands, it could disappear just like magic.

Xu Xining crawled out, glaring at him, “What’s the matter with you? Don’t you care about your brother’s business either?”

Pushed by her, Xie Yi was almost lying back on the poker table, one long leg grounded, the other bent, a flippant smile on his lips, though his eyes were dark and devoid of mirth.

The man’s arm tightened threateningly around her slender waist, pressing her soft body against his own.

His muscles were like tightly drawn bowstrings, firm and burning hot. His curled fingers traced from the side of the girl’s face down to her jawline, slowly saying, “He is my brother, that’s true.”

He pressed his hand against the back of her head, leaned in close, and with a smile in his voice that was ticklish and soothing, murmured into her ear, “…but he can’t take away the person I like.”

Splash! A colorful cocktail poured down from above Xie Yi’s head.

The maid behind Xu Xining, holding the glass, said coldly, “Sorry, my hand slipped.”

Xie Yi, “…”

He released Xu Xining, somewhat awkwardly wiping the alcohol drenched through his hair, revealing his prominent forehead and brow ridge, “…no problem.” He never held grudges against women.

Little did he know, the maid wasn’t even looking at him, but was speaking to Xu Xining, “Come with me if you want a notebook. I have plenty over here.”

Xu Xining, “Oh, thank you, sis!”

Xie Yi, “?!” Stealing his girl right in front of him?

Xie Yi, half amused and half irritated, “Wait, you’re taking her away just like that without my consent?”

The maid, tall with ear-length black hair and dressed in a sleek black uniform with silver trim, looked striking and authoritative.

She turned back, her gaze cold and indifferent, “She wants to go with me, what does your consent matter?”

Xie Yi, “…”

Who are you, exactly?

Why isn’t she affected by my Charmed Bone?

Xu Xining turned her head, her face serious, “Don’t bother me tonight. I’m helping Xie Jing because he helped Old Xu. It’s nothing but pure friendship between us, only you,” she pointed her delicate white finger at Xie Yi from a distance, critiquing, “are filthy.”

Xie Yi, “…”

Overwhelmed with the scent of alcohol and provoked into laughter by the girl, he shook his head helplessly.

Wet-faced, he pulled out a cigarette, clamped it between his lips, and lit it. The flame flickered, reflecting in his amber, beguiling eyes.

With a sigh, the glow of the cigarette brightened, and a thin stream of smoke slipped from between his lips, gradually obscuring his eyes.

Suddenly, Xie Yi froze.

He had always thought he cared about Xu Xining because she was immune to the Charmed Bone’s allure, because she was special, unique, so he refused to let go.

Yet now, another woman immune to his charm appeared, and he didn’t care at all.

Was he really after Xu Xining just because she didn’t like him?

…

What if not?

Xie Yi’s heart began to beat faster than ever before.

Touching his chest in wonder, he furrowed his brow, belatedly realizing:

-I might be done for.

Winning over Xu Xining was like gambling; he could lose or win, and he could walk away anytime.

But liking Xu Xining was different.

It was an endless, willing, one-sided surrender.

Xu Xining followed the maid through the labyrinthine casino, occasionally sneaking glances at her cold profile.

Xu Xining clung to her arm, bouncing along, “Sis, you look amazing!”

The maid’s body noticeably stiffened, her gaze fixed straight ahead as if she dared not look at Xu Xining. “Mm.”

Xu Xining was puzzled, “You seem familiar… Ah! You look just like a character I adored when I was little… Diana, the heroine from Interstellar Policeman! Have you seen that animation?”

Maid: “Mm.”

Xu Xining: “Do you work here? Can I add you as a friend? Maybe I could interview you someday?”

Maid: “Mm.”

Xu Xining: “…”

Why does she only say “Mm”?

This dialogue style feels oddly familiar???

Indeed, the maid’s true identity was none other than her childhood friend, Zhan Xingye.

Zhan Xingye was undercover here.

The underground casino was a crucial part of Xie Yi’s illicit financial network. To retaliate against Xie Yi for exposing his Exotic Species identity to the Administration Bureau, Zhan Xingye planned to bring the entire casino down.

His appearance was inspired by the interstellar policewoman Diana. Although he could assume any form while undercover, he instinctively molded himself into the image Xu Xining adored.

He didn’t need to act directly to topple the casino. He merely gathered evidence, sowed discord, and opened channels from within, inviting the Silver Moon Wolf Clan, the age-old enemies of the Red Foxes from Mount Tu, to cause trouble.

Once the two groups clashed in the casino, Zhan Xingye could swiftly intervene, using the pretext of “exposing non-human identities in front of humans” and “threatening human life” to eliminate them… or rather, capture them all.

Today was the day to close the net.

But he never expected Xie Yi would bring Xu Xining to such a place.

Passing by the bar, Xu Xining wanted a cocktail… She was a bit excited, having unexpectedly encountered the real-life version of her childhood idol, making it hard for her to contain herself.

It’s like a man seeing a live Ultraman descend from the sky, striking a signature pose amid swirling dust, “At that moment, he became light,” who could resist that?!

Zhan Xingye reached out and took her cocktail, replacing it with a chilled lemon soda, pausing briefly, “Drink this instead.”

Xu Xining nodded eagerly, “Alright, alright, Sis is right, Sis, don’t be upset.”

Zhan Xingye hesitated, “I’m not upset.”

“You are,” Xu Xining gently touched the corner of his lips, “You looked fierce just now.”

Behind her, a few tall, drunken men stumbled towards her, about to collide. Zhan Xingye deftly lifted her, placing her safely by his side.

He glanced down and was surprised to find Xu Xining covering her face, her ears turning red.

Inside Xu Xining’s mind: Ahhhh, she’s so handsome, so cool, and so gentle. She looks like she could pin me down and kiss me…

She was used to handsome guys, but beautiful women… especially those with a cold exterior and a soft heart, who could resist their charm?

Zhan Xingye looked a bit worried. “Are you alright? Your heart is racing.”

Xu Xining shyly inched closer. “Can I hug you, sister? You really look like a character I adore…” She edged closer like a demure kitten and then, with a soft “plop,” nestled into Zhan Xingye’s embrace, even rubbing her cheek contentedly.

Zhan Xingye froze completely, caught off guard, and a flower seemed to bloom on top of his head with a “pop.”

After a moment, he lowered his head, discreetly plucked the flower, and tucked it into his pocket, saying slowly, “…Alright.”

Xu Xining, inheriting Old Xu’s natural friendliness, quickly began calling the maid “sister” this and “sister” that.

Though she was usually sweet-talking and playful, the maid was surprisingly easy to please.

When Xu Xining asked for her name, he said, if you like, you can call me Diana.

When Xu Xining mentioned she was there for a review, he said, whatever you want to do, I’ll accompany you.

When Xu Xining worried she might be annoying, he said, I could never dislike you.

…His tone was straightforward, with a natural and open attitude.

Under lashes like raven feathers, his dark, cool eyes looked straight into hers, as if every word was self-evident and naturally meant to be.

This wasn’t an Interstellar Policeman; this was clearly a personal knight.

Xu Xining couldn’t help but feel moved, thinking, this sister is too good at flirting. If she were a man, I’d be head over heels…

As Xu Xining moved through the casino, trying out each game, she couldn’t help but chat with him.

She wasn’t usually one to open up to someone she’d just met, but the maid exuded a subtle aura that made her feel unusually at ease.

While repeating the motions of inserting coins and pulling the slot machine lever, Xu Xining gossiped, “Sister, do you have someone you like?”

Zhan Xingye replied without hesitation, “Yes.”

Xu Xining was curious, “What kind of person are they?”

Zhan Xingye looked at her, her reflection clear in his eyes.

He thought seriously for a moment, “Someone who is loved by many.”

Xu Xining pressed on, “Is he very rich?”

“No.”

“Then does he love you a lot?”

“No.”

“Is it an unrequited love?”

“For many years.”

“Then why don’t you confess?”

“I’m afraid she would dislike me,” Zhan Xingye said slowly. “Once, I hugged her, and she was mad at me for a long time.”

Xu Xining: ???

She was indignant, standing up for him, “What kind of heartless jerk strings you along and doesn’t take responsibility for your feelings?!”

Zhan Xingye sternly replied, “You can’t speak ill of her.”

Xu Xining quickly apologized, “I’m sorry, sister. I just think you deserve better… at least someone who loves you.”

Zhan Xingye calmly stated, “She is the only one I like.”

Xu Xining fell silent.

Oh, sister, so beautiful and grand. It’s a pity she has a die-hard romantic brain.

Xu Xining took out her phone and messaged Shi Yixin, urging her to quickly recommend some novels with devoted male protagonists.

Shi Yixin responded swiftly, sending a bunch of green links:

“Highly recommend ‘Empty Gun’. A princess in distress x a cold-blooded killer who wades through fire and blood for her. Her family falls into ruin, and he takes on various jobs to support her. Eventually, her enemies come to kill them, and amidst thunderous gunshots, he, bloodied, leans against a wall, urging the heroine to run and never look back. Oh, how deeply he loves her, it makes me weep.”

Upon reading this, Xu Xining thought: a love-struck male protagonist, perfect.

She leaned over and suggested, “Sister, why don’t you take a look at the romance in this novel? It might give you some insights.”

Zhan Xingye glanced at the novel on her screen. “Do you like this book’s male lead?”

Xu Xining replied vaguely, “Sort of, but the important part is that this male protagonist loves only the female lead. That’s crucial.”

Zhan Xingye nodded, “I’ll study it seriously.”

Xu Xining put away her phone with satisfaction, missing the new message from Shi Yixin:

“Later, the heroine plans to marry someone else, but the male lead, armed, crashes the wedding alone, kills the groom, and imprisons the bride, clad in her wedding dress, at his home. When she bites his lip, he kisses her with lips bloodied.”

“He chains the heroine to the bed, placing a gun at the headboard, warning her that if she tries to escape, he will shoot.”

“One night, when he unchains her, she grabs the gun and points it at his face while crying hoarsely, ‘I’m going to kill you.’ In the dark, he breathes heavily, staring at her, slowly bowing his head to press his forehead against the gun.”

“She fires, but the gun is empty.”

“The heroine ends up crying all night, you know, heavy content.”

“Although he’s like a loyal dog, he’s an uncontrollable mad dog when not in human form. You can handle that, right? Haha 🙂

At this moment, Xu Xining was unaware of the big hole she had dug herself into, speaking somewhat troubledly to the maid, “Actually, I’m not one to talk either. I’ve been quite troubled lately.”

Zhan Xingye asked, “What’s troubling you?”

Xu Xining said, “I have a childhood friend, Xingye. I’ve been feeling that there’s something off about our relationship recently.”

The maid, who had been expressionless all this while, suddenly showed a ripple of emotion, slowly articulating, “He has made you dislike him.”

Xu Xining corrected, “Actually, it’s quite the opposite. I feel like I’ve been the one doing things that are… dislikeable…”

A thunderous explosion resounded, screams erupted, the entire casino shook as if the earth itself was quaking, and the high-hanging crystal chandeliers swayed violently, casting dazzling lights throughout the casino.

Several elevator doors exploded simultaneously, showering glass shards like torrential rain, as numerous burly figures leaped from the elevators, crashing to the ground amid clouds of dust illuminated by bright red laser dots and dark gun barrels.

These people had actually brought real guns!

Before Xu Xining could react, the maid beside her scooped her up and ran.

Gunshots rang out loudly!!

Machine gun fire raked across the casino, brass casings clattering to the floor, shattering the opulent crystal decorations and gambling tables alike. The thick scent of gunpowder filled the air like a sandstorm.

Everything happened so fast that Xu Xining was still in a daze. The maid held her with one arm, shielding her head with the other, as they navigated through the hail of bullets.

Xu Xining looked up to see the maid’s icy expression…

…Wait, what’s with that look?

Her dark eyes were filled with extreme indifference, tinged with a hint of displeasure and impatience, as if saying, “Of all times to start shooting, why now?” and “I wish I could just take them all down.”

Zhan Xingye pulled open a storage cabinet and placed Xu Xining inside, then squeezed in after her.

The cramped cabinet suddenly held two full-grown people, limbs awkwardly bent, the tight space making it hard to breathe.

In the darkness, only a sliver of light from the cabinet’s seams illuminated Xu Xining’s frightened eyes. She groped around blindly, “Sister, are you okay? You didn’t get shot, did you?”

“No.”

“That’s good, that’s good.” Xu Xining belatedly realized she was pressed up against him and tried to move back.

But the cabinet was too small; as soon as she leaned back, her head hit the side wall.

With a “thud,” Xu Xining bounced back like a rubber ball, crashing into Zhan Xingye.

Xu Xining: “Ouch-”

In the darkness, Zhan Xingye’s face flushed as if it were about to ripen.

That collision had landed Xu Xining’s lips squarely on his, a moment too brief for human reaction but seemingly endless in his perception.

Long enough for him to taste the lingering sweetness of lemon soda on her lips.

Zhan Xingye paused for a moment, then suddenly opened the cabinet door and stepped out.

Xu Xining: ???

Xu Xining was shocked, “Sister!!! Sister, why did you go out, sister!!!!”

Facing the barrage of bullets, Zhan Xingye relaxed, “I… need to cool off outside.”