My Supernatural Exes Are Desperate to Win Me Back - Chapter 32 - The Shura Field of Four Men

Xu Xining forcefully pushed the man away, wiping her mouth in anger. “Are you crazy?”

Huo Ting leaned against the wall, gripping her chin, staring intently into her eyes. Memories resurfaced through the pounding headache, and he rasped, “You’re not dead.”

“Who’s dead?!” Xu Xining bristled, “You’re the one who’s dead! Who are you cursing?!”

Huo Ting grasped her arm, pressing down to kiss her again. Xu Xining struggled but couldn’t break free, turning her head away.

In the next moment, a gust of wind swept by. A young man grabbed Huo Ting by the neck, slamming him against the pavilion’s pillar.

The immense force shook the entire structure, and the pillar cracked like a spider’s web behind Huo Ting.

Zhan Xingye coldly lifted his gaze.

He never spoke when dealing with Exotic Species in the past, as he was more of a doer than a talker. Fortunately, the novel “Empty Gun” provided him with the perfect line, which happened to express his own thoughts.

“Touch her again, and I’ll cut off your hand,” Zhan Xingye said icily.

Xu Xining couldn’t help but interject, “Thanks, but what’s with your recent obsession with cutting off hands?”

Rubbing her sore wrist, Xu Xining looked up to find Wen Nansen on her left and Xie Yi on her right, flanking her like protective guardians.

Startled, Xu Xining exclaimed, “Weren’t you upstairs? When did you get down here?!”

…They had all jumped down in exasperation.

Wen Nansen took a handkerchief from his chest pocket, bent down, and gently wiped her lips. “I was looking for you and followed. Are you okay?”

Xu Xining replied, “Uh… yeah.”

The handkerchief carried a familiar light fragrance. Wen Nansen’s fingertips brushed her lips through the soft fabric, his lashes lowered, brow slightly furrowed, hinting at displeasure.

Xie Yi, with a hint of annoyance, pulled Xu Xining into his arms. “Enough with the wiping. I think covering it would be better…”

He leaned in with a mischievous smile, knowing full well he’d be rejected, but teasing her anyway.

Xu Xining playfully swatted him away. “Get lost.”

Meanwhile, Huo Ting grabbed Zhan Xingye’s arm, the one holding his neck, and twisted it with force.

The twist was enough to shatter a normal man’s arm, but Zhan Xingye remained unfazed.

His tentacles had no bones, so twisting them into knots was inconsequential.

Huo Ting’s hand crackled with electricity as he raised his eyes threateningly. “Who are you?”

“Xingye…” Xu Xining ran over, “Xingye, let him go.”

Zhan Xingye glanced at Xu Xining and released his grip.

Huo Ting landed, his face still pale and coldly handsome, adjusting his tie with one hand…

Choking a vampire was pointless; they didn’t need to breathe. Both had countless ways to fight, but with Xu Xining present, they were forced into a stalemate.

Xu Xining glanced at the nearly broken pillar, marveling internally.

Xingye truly lived up to his reputation as a butcher! Such strength!

Xu Xining stepped forward, but Zhan Xingye stopped her. “Don’t get too close.”

He rarely used such a firm tone with Xu Xining, but with a vampire so close to her, the next step after a kiss could very well be snapping her throat.

He was uncontrollably entering an extremely agitated state of vigilance, with the killing impulse engraved in his genes surging wildly.

Xu Xining hesitated, “I have something to say to Huo Ting. Could you step back a bit?”

Zhan Xingye paused, “You know him?”

Xu Xining replied openly, “Yeah… You weren’t at Huai River, so you don’t know. I’ve actually talked with him.”

Zhan Xingye instinctively asked, “Him too?”

A spirit was one thing, a demon was another, but now a vampire? Did she have a special preference for exotic species? Was she collecting non-human experiences?

Wen Nansen also questioned, “Who is he?”

Xie Yi patted Nansen’s shoulder and explained, “Simply put, the first one she dated was you, the second was him, and the third was me.”

Wen Nansen was speechless, “I thought after me it was you.”

Xie Yi replied, “No, you’ve missed quite a lot.”

Four men on the scene, three exes, and all three she had dated were gathered here at this moment!

What kind of karma was this? A reunion of exes?!

And none of them were fully human.

Zhan Xingye’s attitude was unusually firm, “I can’t let you be alone with him.”

Xu Xining conceded, “That’s fine, there’s nothing that can’t be heard.”

The girl looked up at Huo Ting, pained, “Comrade, I’m giving you a chance for self-reflection. What kind of madness are you on tonight? You’ve made a fundamental mistake!”

“No.” Huo Ting, under the moonlight, appeared like a statue with chiseled features, his suit pants wrapping around his long, straight legs, his high nose bridge and tightly pressed thin lips giving his facial lines a sharp, almost arrogant pressure.

He stepped forward half a step, gazing into her eyes, “You’re my girlfriend.”

Xu Xining retorted, “We broke up ages ago, okay!!!”

Huo Ting replied, “I didn’t agree, so to me, you still are.”

Xu Xining was speechless.

That’s why she had Xie Yi pretend to be her boyfriend, because! Someone! He! Doesn’t! Understand! Human speech!!!

Xu Xining, frustrated, stomped her foot, “I’ll say it one last time, Huo Ting, we are over! If you keep coming after me, I’ll start to dislike you!”

She turned around, waved her hand, and declared fiercely, “Let’s go!”

Only then did she realize there were others present, yes, exes witnessing her ditching an ex.

Xu Xining added, “Xingye, come with me. You two,” she glanced at Xie Yi and Wen Nansen, “disperse here.”

Xu Xining pulled Zhan Xingye away, but Huo Ting suddenly called out, “Xu Xining.”

She turned back to look at him.

The man stood against the light in the moonlit rose garden, slowly turning his head, his usually cold eyes unusually brightened by the moonlight, “You have no idea how happy I am to see you today.”

Xu Xining wanted to say something, but Zhan Xingye intervened, blocking their gaze, scooped up Xu Xining, and ran!

The girl was whisked away like a kitten.

Xu Xining’s voice shattered in the gusty night wind, “…Ah~~~ Hey.”

Zhan Xingye ran all the way to the school gate before finally setting her down. Xu Xining was amused, “Why did you run? It’s not like he’s going to eat me.”

Xu Xining was quite nonchalant about it. It was just a kiss, and it wasn’t like it hadn’t happened before. She just hated being forced.

“It’s possible,” Zhan Xingye muttered, “You might actually get eaten by him.”

Xu Xining burst into laughter.

Zhan Xingye was serious, but to Xu Xining, his words sounded adorably silly.

Suddenly, a thunderstorm rumbled out of nowhere.

Xu Xining shrank her head. Just moments ago, the sky was clear and the moon was bright. How did it start thundering just like that?

They had already missed the last bus. Zhan Xingye fetched a tall black bicycle from the bike shed, propping it up with one leg in front of her. “Hop on.”

Xu Xining skillfully tossed her bag to him. Zhan Xingye caught it and slung it over his shoulder. The girl nimbly jumped onto the back seat of the bicycle, exclaiming, “Wow! It’s been ages since you last gave me a ride.”

Zhan Xingye replied, “The last time was six years, three months, and seven days ago. I took you to Li Hua Lane to have dinner with Uncle Xu.”

Xu Xining laughed heartily, “Your sense of humor is finally showing, Xingye!”

Zhan Xingye pedaled out of the school gate. The night breeze lifted the girl’s golden hair and billowed the boy’s white shirt. The tree canopies along the avenue rustled like ocean waves, casting dappled shadows on the ground.

Zhan Xingye thought it was strange. Every time he said something seriously, Xu Xining would laugh happily.

The streetlights flashed by quickly. Xu Xining remembered there was a steep slope ahead and eagerly pressed down on Zhan Xingye’s shoulders.

Without turning his head, Zhan Xingye knew what she wanted to do. “Don’t stand up.”

Xu Xining giggled, “I’m going to stand! Just keep steady!”

Zhan Xingye reluctantly agreed. After all, even if she fell, he would catch her.

The girl stood up on the pedals, holding onto his shoulders, raising her hands against the wind, and let out a “Whee-” sound.

After all these years, she was still like a child.

Zhan Xingye spoke softly, “Please don’t meet Huo Ting in private, okay? He makes me feel uneasy.”

Xu Xining tousled his short black hair, making it a mess. “I was going to ask you the same thing! Why have you been acting so weird lately? One moment you want to chop off your own hand, the next you want to chop off someone else’s! When you grabbed Huo Ting by the neck, I thought you two were going to fight!”

Zhan Xingye thought they probably would fight eventually.

Xu Xining was worried, “You haven’t been led astray by your colleagues, have you?”

Those burly colleagues of his, with tattoos and fierce looks, seemed like they were from the underworld!

Zhan Xingye felt even more dejected after hearing that. His efforts to improve through novels had failed miserably.

He used to be a good guy in Xu Xining’s eyes, but now he was on the path to becoming a bad influence.

In a calm, low voice, he said, “I won’t do that anymore…”

He sighed softly, “I only said those things because I thought you liked that kind of person.”

The streetlights flickered across the girl’s eyes, and her heart seemed to skip a beat.

The bicycle plunged down the steep slope, tilting straight downward, the wheels spinning wildly, as if out of control, faster and faster.

Xu Xining stood on the back seat, instinctively gripping Zhan Xingye’s shoulders tightly.

Her heart pounded in her chest, the rushing night wind whipped against her face, lifting her bangs and skirt, as the warm glow of the streetlights flickered incessantly.

The bicycle returned to flat ground with a jolt, causing Xu Xining’s foot to slip, nearly sending her tumbling. Without turning his head, Zhan Xingye reached back, steadying her against his back.

With a screech, the bicycle came to a halt. Zhan Xingye balanced on one leg, slightly tilting his head, his dark eyes quietly watching her. “Didn’t fall, did you?”

At such close proximity, the night breeze tousled his hair, his breath warm, and his long black lashes cast shadows on his eyelids.

Her heart drummed like a beat.

Xu Xining remained silent, her forehead thumping against his back.

Darn it! What was he saying again?!

What did he mean by “I only said those things because I thought you liked that kind of person”? If it were a joke, it would be fine, but Zhan Xingye had this unknowing sincerity.

He must have unconsciously spoken his mind!!!

The girl took a deep breath, leaning closer, her pupils clear and bright like glass.

Her slightly parted lips were soft, and she spoke each word deliberately, “Xingye, let me ask you, do you like…”

Zhan Xingye’s body tensed slightly.

Xu Xining continued, “…Diana?”

Zhan Xingye: ?

Xu Xining grabbed his shoulders, shaking him vigorously, “Diana’s a good person! Since you gave her flowers, you have to take responsibility! Try to become the person she likes! Otherwise, I won’t let you off!!!!”

Meanwhile, lightning and thunder raged, the fierce wind snapping the roses in the garden.

Red talismans to ward off idle onlookers were plastered all over the walls, rustling loudly in the gale, countless bolts of lightning like writhing serpents darting through the rose garden, pursuing the fiery figure relentlessly like silver arrows with long tails.

A torrent of fury poured down, as if vowing not to rest until he was dead.

“Xie Yi! You’re courting death!!!”

Xie Yi ran around the rose garden, laughing mischievously, “Oh dear, the Caveman has quite the temper. But it was Xie Jing who hypnotized you, what does it have to do with me, Xie Yi?”

Huo Ting pressed forward, his palm clutching a twisting current like a fierce silver whip, lashing Xie Yi and sending him flying. Striding forward, he said, “I want to see how long you can keep laughing.”

As he raised his hand, a deluge of lightning descended from the sky, as if to engulf the entire building!

Xie Yi scrambled to his feet, his crimson sleeves billowing in the wind.

With a wave of his hand, countless blade-like petals flew from his sleeves, spiraling up with the lightning!

With a thunderous crash, the ground shook.

The lightning extinguished, the petals fell to the ground, yet both men and the surrounding flora remained unscathed.

A graceful figure stood between the two men, blocking each side with his hands, his palms releasing a green barrier that blossomed like butterfly wings, absorbing the blasts from both sides.

“Calm down,” Wen Nansen said soothingly. “I believe there must be some misunderstanding here.”

“He brainwashed me into thinking Xu Xining was dead, for two whole years,” Huo Ting lifted his dark lashes, his words cold. “Block my way again, and I’ll kill you too.”

Wen Nansen turned, confusion in his green eyes as if to say, “Dongfang, how could you do such a despicable thing?”

Xie Yi protested, “Hey, hey, we’ve known each other for three hundred years, you can’t just turn your back on me now!”

“Enough talk!” Huo Ting roared, a surge of electricity exploding behind him, whipping up a storm that flapped the open flaps of his black coat, lighting up the entire rose garden like daylight.

Xie Yi was thrown back, crashing into a bed of roses, coughing up blood.

The remaining electricity was caught by crisscrossing green chains, linked to slender fingers.

Wen Nansen, pulling on the chains, advised, “There are humans nearby, let’s not harm the innocent.”

Huo Ting turned, his cold laugh echoing, “Wen Nansen, always meddling, I’ve long admired your reputation.”

Wen Nansen frowned slightly, “You know me?”

Xie Yi was the Demon King, and Huo Ting was the only Pure-blood Duke of the Blood Clan today, both renowned in the Exotic Species world. However, Spirits were different; they lived freely and equally, without hierarchy.

It was normal for Wen Nansen to know Huo Ting, but not the other way around.

Huo Ting sneered, “Of course, who doesn’t know you?”

He stepped forward, stopping right before Wen Nansen, with a dark undertow of blood swirling in his eyes:

“I’ve always wanted to know, the ‘Teacher Wen’ she cries out for in her nightmares… what kind of a despicable beast you are.”

Those few words inexplicably conjured an image.

In the darkness of a spacious room, a girl curled up in bed crying, calling out a name subconsciously, receiving no response.

Wen Nansen’s pupils contracted as if stung.

The next moment, blinding electricity exploded before his eyes, and for some reason, he couldn’t dodge.

Wen Nansen staggered back, kneeling on one knee. Xie Yi sprang from the roses like a fluttering butterfly, rushing over to support him: “Nansen, are you alright?”

Wen Nansen shook his head, helped up by Xie Yi, his left hand slowly seeping blood, saturating the thin white glove to a crimson hue.

He had taken a branch from the World Tree during a fierce battle with the Spirits guarding it, and the Spirit circuit within him was damaged, his magical power far less than before, his wounds forever unhealed.

Only a branch from the World Tree could cure him.

And yet, he refused to use it.

Xie Yi laughed bitterly in anger: “Ning hasn’t even said anything, and you’re already crying out. What are you to her? Oh, I forgot, you’re the person she said she never wants to see again.”

“Do you really think I won’t kill you?” Huo Ting’s words were icy, his silhouette cut into black and white by the flickering electricity.

“Well, I might as well tell you. The reason she dated me was to get rid of you because you were so annoyingly persistent that it drove her nuts. You know, I’ve seen this kind of thing a lot. Do you know what they call it?”

Xie Yi sneered harshly, “It’s called being pathetic.”

For a moment, the fury in Huo Ting’s eyes seemed like it could kill them both right there.

But the storm clouds gradually subsided, and in the darkness, Huo Ting’s gaze turned murky: “Dare to touch what’s mine, and you’ll pay the price.”

He lifted his cloak and in a flash, turned into a bat, blending into the night: “I want you to watch as she becomes mine, and then I’ll reclaim the price one by one.”

Xie Yi looked up at the leaden clouds, heavy as if they could crush the heavens, and couldn’t help but click his tongue.

“I know what you’re thinking.” Wen Nansen took off his gloves, his left hand scorched and a deep gash from a bolt of lightning continuously dripping blood.

The blood, shimmering with a golden hue, dripped into the soil, imbuing it with the purest life force. The seeds in the ground began to germinate rapidly, sprouting delicate roses.

“His origins are a mystery. Two hundred years ago, the Torhorde, a family supposed to be extinct for a millennium, suddenly claimed to have a purebred descendant. Huo Ting emerged, rising to fame with his cruel methods and murderous rampage,” Wen Nansen said. “I don’t know why he’s so determined to have Xu Xining, but he’s likely to harm her.”

Xie Yi: “…No, what I’m wondering is, are all vampires as idiotic as him? His way of speaking is like a two-hundred-year-old who never graduated from being an edgelord.”

“What’s an edgelord?”

“…You should really get online more.”

That night, perhaps because of Huo Ting’s intrusion, Xu Xining dreamed of their first encounter.

She had just broken up with Wen Nansen; her mood was as gloomy as the weather. Awakened by thunder in the night, gasping for air, she instinctively wanted to call Teacher Wen but realized she couldn’t keep reaching out to him.

In the dead of night, she ran to Bailu Bridge, gasping for air in the wind as she looked out over the wide river, trying to escape the suffocating pressure.

Suddenly, as if sensing something, she turned around and saw a tall man standing on the opposite side of the bridge.

A thin, pitch-black cloak draped over his shoulders, its collar stood up, the edges fluttering wildly in the fierce wind, with lightning breaking the sky behind him, illuminating his pale, handsome face.

He stepped onto the bridge and strode toward her, suddenly embracing her.

Xu Xining didn’t know what madness this stranger was undergoing, especially since she resisted embraces amidst the thunder.

But the moment the man held her, the world fell silent; the thunder stopped, the heavens dimmed, with only the river flowing and the wind quietly whispering.

Xu Xining felt pressed firmly into his embrace, yet she couldn’t hear his heartbeat.

He was a quiet harbor, solid, strong, safe, silent-everything Xu Xining needed at that moment.

That man was Huo Ting.

He said that to Xu Xining, it was love at first sight.

Huo Ting had the face of a celibate male model, as if he had stepped right out of a novel about a domineering CEO. But unlike a CEO who exudes the scent of wealth, he carried an aura of power and control.

In a subtle way, Xu Xining could vaguely sense that others’ obedience to Huo Ting wasn’t about flattering a wealthy benefactor. It stemmed from an instinctive reverence and submission, born of bloodline, class, and sheer force.

Yet, this man who seemed to command submission at first glance, for some reason, turned into a clingy lover when in a relationship.

Ever since their first encounter, Huo Ting often showed up during thunderstorms in the dead of night to see her.

Once, at three in the morning, he knocked on Xu Xining’s door. When she opened it, she found him drenched by the pouring rain, water soaking his jet-black hair and streaming down his pale cheeks and the contours of his chest.

His brows were furrowed, and he looked almost unable to stand, stumbling as he embraced her, nearly crushing her under his weight. Cold droplets trickled into her collar, sliding down her spine.

Xu Xining propped him up with effort, wrapping her arms around his back, concerned. “Are you okay? Huo Ting, I think you need to see a doctor.”

But he just held her tightly, too tightly, almost leaving marks on her waist.

The man buried his head in her neck, his furrowed brow gradually relaxing, his tense body slowly unwinding in her arms.

His voice was low, almost hoarse, his damp lips brushing her ear. “No need…”

He said, “I just need you.”

“Stay with me, Xu Xining.” Huo Ting closed his eyes, speaking with difficulty, almost pleading, “Stay by my side, be with me.”

Xu Xining admitted that she had her own motives for being with Huo Ting. Although he always sought her out during stormy nights, that was precisely what she wanted!

What she was reluctant to admit was how desperately she wanted to forget Wen Nansen, even if it meant rashly accepting Huo Ting’s advances.

Every time she was with Huo Ting, it seemed like the thunder would quiet down.

They were like two people huddling together for warmth in a storm. Sometimes, Xu Xining was so tired that she would fall asleep in Huo Ting’s arms, only to wake up and find him still holding her, his long legs stretched out, lounging lazily against the headboard.

He never closed his eyes, just lowered his eyelids, as if lost in thought in the darkness, his straight nose making his eye sockets appear particularly deep.

Xu Xining couldn’t tell who needed whom more, as they always seemed to need each other at the same time.

Perhaps that was a kind of fate?

…But later, Xu Xining realized their personalities didn’t match and took the initiative to break up.

She always wanted to remain friends even after a breakup. Huo Ting had accompanied her through a dark period, and she was genuinely grateful to him in her heart.

Unfortunately, Huo Ting couldn’t understand what “breakup” meant.

It was as if he couldn’t comprehend that Xu Xining truly didn’t like him, much like an ancient emperor couldn’t understand why a beloved concubine would suddenly slap him and declare she wanted a divorce to travel the world.

Every time Xu Xining mentioned breaking up, he would transfer money to her, give her bank cards, property deeds, and all sorts of jewelry, bags, and luxury cars…

He would say, “Tell me what to do.”

Xu Xining had only one answer: Break-up-!!

It all ended with Xu Xining angrily snapping a bank card in half, throwing it in his face, and storming out.

Then it was Xie Yi’s turn to make an appearance.

At this point, Xu Xining’s dream started to drift away from reality. She dreamt that Huo Ting was trying to take her away, declaring, “Who dares to touch my woman?” Meanwhile, Xie Yi wrapped his arm around her waist, saying, “Give it up, my charm is irresistible.” Wen Nansen held her hand, lamenting, “How did I miss out when I’ve never loved anyone else?”

Xu Xining found herself in quite the dilemma.

In a fit of desperation, she shouted, “Stop arguing! I don’t like any of you! I’m going to marry a frog!”

With that, she shook off the men and went to find the frog, linking arms with it as they walked down the aisle.

The grand dome above was pure and majestic, with translucent drapes billowing in the wind. Her friends and family sat below, and a choir sang with ethereal purity.

When the officiant smiled and said, “You may unveil the groom,” she eagerly lifted the frog’s headpiece.

Beneath the dark green headpiece was Zhan Xingye’s serene and delicate face.

His deep black eyes gazed at her, filled with a gentle warmth, like sunlight refracting through a droplet of water.

For some reason, Xu Xining instinctively smiled.

She thought, “So it’s Xingye, how wonderful.”

…

When Xu Xining woke up, she felt tormented by the bizarre nightmare all night, scratching her head in frustration.

The window wasn’t fully closed, and the “no money to spend” flower in the vase by her bed swayed slightly.

Xu Xining propped herself up and noticed its petals closing, merging into a shape resembling a fruit.

She thought, “So this thing can bear fruit! I wonder what kind of fruit it will produce… Can it be eaten?”

She asked Zhan Xingye, but he was just as clueless.

He only knew instinctively that it was something good and wouldn’t harm her, but as for what it would produce, he had no idea.

[Don’t eat it.]

Zhan Xingye typed cautiously, his ears turning slightly red.

The “no money to spend” flower had bloomed from him, a part of his body, so theoretically, the fruit was also a part of him.

The thought of Xu Xining putting a part of him in her mouth, touching her moist lips and tongue, swallowing it, and having a part of him enter her body…

Zhan Xingye banged his forehead against the wall with a dull “thud.”

He couldn’t think about it too much.

-He felt like he was going to burn up again.

After receiving her diploma, Xu Xining smoothly transitioned to a full-time position at Pianyu Media, becoming a proud media professional.

Wen Nansen promoted her to be an on-camera reporter.

The video segment of Pianyu Media had a much larger audience than the text segment, with generous salaries but a shortage of staff. It was only natural for Wen Nansen to select candidates for the video segment.

The only issue was that Xu Xining was still a rookie. Being on camera required rich experience and the ability to adapt on the spot. Written articles could be revised multiple times, but mistakes in front of the camera would become an indelible part of her history…

In the meeting, Xu Xining was the only candidate without formal work experience.

She still had a bit of a student vibe, her youthful and pretty face serious, looking like a conspicuous little package.

New Media Director Liu Qingxia called for a pause and, without looking up, made a mark on the list: “Xu Xining is a new employee, right? Let’s hold off on putting her on camera for now.”

Her colleagues looked at Xu Xining with regret.

Under the Chairman and above Editor Wen, Director Liu had the authority. If she vetoed her, Xu Xining was out of luck. Who knew how long she would have to wait?

Wen Nansen spoke up with a pleasant demeanor: “Xu Xining was my choice, and I would like to know why she isn’t suitable.”

Director Liu, around thirty years old, exuded an air of sharp professionalism. She spoke in an official tone: “She’s too young, lacks experience. She needs more seasoning.”

Wen Nansen calmly pulled up Xu Xining’s file: “This is the work she produced independently during her internship. Length of service is not my criterion for selection; ability is.”

Director Liu sighed softly, looked up, and met his forest-green eyes: “So, you insist on having her?”

“Choosing her was my decision. If you think she’s not suitable, you’re questioning not just her but also me.”

Wen Nansen’s tone was respectful, yet it was the same respect he afforded everyone… which perhaps seemed too rigid, too dismissive of leadership.

Director Liu’s face turned a shade of green, her tone pointed: “It seems you personally appreciate Xu Xining quite a bit? Of all the employees, it has to be her.”

The people in the meeting room exchanged glances.

Previously, Xie Yi had openly confessed his feelings only to be rejected by Wen Nansen, leading some to speculate that Editor Wen favored the young intern. However, both Xu Xining and Wen Nansen ignored the rumors.

Xu Xining, because she had been the subject of countless rumors since childhood, and debunking each would exhaust her; Wen Nansen, because he genuinely did not care about others’ gossip.

“I will not accept your veto. If you have objections, we can discuss them further,” Wen Nansen said in an even tone that carried an explosive statement:

“Regarding your question, my answer is-yes, I highly appreciate her, and she is indispensable.”

After the meeting, gossip enthusiast Yu Yuanyuan sneaked over to Xu Xining: “Holy shit, Editor Wen actually blasted Director Liu in the meeting just for you!”

Xu Xining: “… You should at least follow some basic principles when you spread rumors!”

Yu Yuanyuan staunchly supported her friend: “I think you’re perfect as an on-camera reporter! With your looks, you’ll be an internet sensation within a month, and famous nationwide in half a year.”

Yu Yuanyuan spoke offhand, but she couldn’t have imagined that Xu Xining’s rise to internet fame would even outpace her wild predictions.

“Guess how I ‘died’ tonight?” Xu Xining pinched her cheek, “From being lifted too high and then crashing down.”

Yu Yuanyuan was indignant: “Director Liu didn’t speak up before, she had to publicly veto you, making it clear to everyone she dislikes you, though the clever me had already figured it out.”

Xu Xining was startled: “… I only met her today, why would she dislike me? And how did you figure it out?!”

Yu Yuanyuan sighed at her friend’s obliviousness: “Because it’s obvious she’s interested in Editor Wen! Didn’t you notice she wore a skirt for the first time today and even wore perfume? And her earrings were green, the same green as Editor Wen’s eyes! It’s not just her, even Supervisor Qiao from the finance department wants to pursue Editor Wen!”

“…So what you were crying over wasn’t the company, it was the company gossip!”

After Xu Xining finished her rant, a sense of unease crept in. She grabbed a random folder as a pretense and headed to Wen Nansen’s office.

The girl knocked gently on the door.

“Come in,” came the clear, porcelain-like voice.

Xu Xining slipped in like a sneaky little cat and immediately said, “Teacher Wen, I don’t think this is right.”

Wen Nansen smiled, “What’s not right?”

The girl was extremely tactful, “I’ve been thinking about what you said at the dance, and I feel that…”

Wen Nansen replied kindly, “If you want to reject me, there’s no need to find an excuse. I accept it.”

Xu Xining breathed a sigh of relief. Talking to Teacher Wen was indeed easy: “So, you shouldn’t clash with Director Liu because of your…” She carefully chose her words, “personal feelings for me.”

Wen Nansen couldn’t help but laugh, “Why do you think I chose you because of…” He emphasized those words slightly, “personal feelings?”

Xu Xining asked, “Isn’t it?”

“No,” Wen Nansen said, “I recognize you because you deserve it. I can’t think of anyone more suitable for this position than you. I do have a fondness for you, but I haven’t given you any special privileges. I’ve only given you fairness.”

The sunlight streaming through the white blinds fell on him, the chain of his gold-rimmed glasses reflecting like tiny flecks of gold, dazzling her unexpectedly.

Suddenly, the cicadas outside erupted in a chorus, heralding the height of summer.

Xu Xining was overjoyed and couldn’t help but pat Wen Nansen on the shoulder, “I knew it! You’re so selfless! Trusting you was the right choice!”

Though she was still joking, her ears turned red.

Wen Nansen’s recognition made her happier than his affection. Even now, his praise could make her as excited as a child.

Wen Nansen indulged her with a smile, “You’re welcome.”

Xu Xining rubbed her hands together in delight, “So we’ve settled everything, right? You don’t like me anymore?”

Wen Nansen paused, then shook his head with a wry smile, “You’ve misunderstood something. I can stay away from you and stop pursuing you, but there are some things I simply can’t do.”

Xu Xining instinctively asked, “What?”

Teacher Wen’s emerald eyes looked at her with a helpless sadness.

He said, “…I can’t stop loving you.”

When Xu Xining left the company, she felt a similar sadness.

She couldn’t quite remember what she had said to Wen Nansen, something along the lines of “keep trying, there’s nothing you can’t do,” which sounded like empty words a foreman would use to motivate workers.

Xu Xining returned to Sakura Street, her thoughts interrupted by the scene before her. All her worries and sadness vanished in an instant.

She rushed forward, exasperated, “Stop! Why are you moving my things?!”

Several trucks with “Ant Moving Company” emblazoned on them were lined up along the street. A group of burly movers was working together to load her desk into one of the trucks… and her photo was still taped to it!

Nearby, a man in a black suit, wearing pristine white gloves and with impeccably combed hair, gave a slight bow. “Miss Xu.”

Xu Xining recognized him immediately. “Secretary Wei?”

She knew Wei Lun as Mr. Huo’s personal secretary, but she didn’t know he was also bound to Huo Ting by a blood pact.

During their previous relationship, Huo Ting would summon Wei Lun at all hours. Once, in the middle of the night, Xu Xining had casually mentioned wanting lychees while lying in bed. Huo Ting immediately called Wei Lun to deliver them.

Xu Xining had kicked him in frustration, exclaiming, “What kind of capitalist monster are you?! Have you ever heard of the eight-hour workday? Do you even pay overtime? Let Secretary Wei get some sleep!”

Wei Lun bowed again. “Mr. Huo said Sakura Street is too crowded and rundown for living. We will transport all your belongings safely to your new home. Please move to the Huo Family estate.”

Xu Xining shouted, “No way!!!”

Wei Lun was accustomed to her rebellious nature and tried to soothe her gently. “The security on Sakura Street isn’t great. Mr. Huo only wishes for you to have better living conditions.”

Xu Xining retorted, “I’ll call Huo Ting!”

Wait, she had already deleted Huo Ting’s number.

“I’ll message Huo Ting!”

No, she had blocked him on WeChat.

“…Give me your phone! I need to talk to Huo Ting!”

Wei Lun remained calm and respectful. “Please, don’t make this difficult for me.”

Xu Xining watched helplessly as the movers, like ants, continued loading her belongings onto the trucks. “Put down my lamp! …That table belongs to the landlord, why are you taking it?! …And where’s my fox?!”

The Good Man darted down the stairs, leaping into her arms and licking her chin.

Xu Xining sighed in relief, hugging him tightly. “At least I still have you.” Her words sounded like those of a tragic heroine in a melodrama, clinging to her child as the villainous tycoon seized her home.

Someone gently tapped her shoulder. “What’s going on?”

Xu Xining turned to see Zhan Xingye, and immediately, like seeing a family member, she launched into a tirade against Huo Ting.

Zhan Xingye responded calmly, “It’s okay, I’ll get your stuff back.”

Xu Xining was puzzled. “?”

Zhan Xingye rolled up his sleeves, jumped onto the truck, and with a stoic expression, hefted Xu Xining’s desk with one hand and her bed with the other, like Popeye after a can of spinach, and took off running!

The other movers were dumbfounded!

What kind of superhuman mover was this?!

Zhan Xingye seemed to fly, his legs a blur. He didn’t even bother to use the elevator, choosing instead to carry the furniture up the stairs, sprinting up to the twenty-eighth floor!

The movers were in a state of panic. What on earth was happening here?

Fortunately, Mr. Huo paid them well, and only one person was causing trouble. If they sped up, they could still finish the job with just one more trip.

Little did they know, they were up against not just one man, but an entire battalion!

Zhan Xingye single-handedly faced off against twenty movers, and he was winning by a landslide!

In less than half an hour, everything the movers had painstakingly loaded onto the truck was back upstairs, thanks to Zhan Xingye!

Xu Xining was speechless, as was Xie Yi.

The movers were exhausted, collapsed on the ground, their careers shaken to the core.

This guy, with his stamina, was wasted not working for a moving company!

After finishing the last load, Zhan Xingye casually came downstairs, hands in his pockets.

He wore a white tracksuit and black pants, his face unflushed, his breath steady, not a speck of dust on him. In the fading light of the sunset, he looked impossibly clean and handsome.

He naturally extended his hand, just as he had thousands of times before when picking her up from school, took her bag, and held her hand. “Let’s go home.”

But Huo Ting’s antics were far from over.

As night fell, it was time for the vampire to make his move.

Huo Ting knocked on Xu Xining’s door.

Xu Xining peered through the peephole. The distorted image of the man outside, still in his suit, looked cold and imposing. “Open the door.”