Wu Tuisan only spoke half of what he intended, and no matter how much Bai Luoluo asked, he refused to answer the rest. In the end, Bai Luoluo, realizing he couldn’t get any more information, decided to stop asking.
The backyard of the Lin family was lively at this moment. Many people noticed Bai Luoluo and Wu Tuisan talking and came over to greet them. Evidently, they wanted to build good relationships with the future disciple of Lin Zhaomian.
Seeing too many people, Wu Tuisan felt a bit annoyed. He said, “Let’s go out and have some fun. I know a hot spring nearby.”
Bai Luoluo asked, “Is it okay for you to just go out like this?”
Wu Tuisan said, “No problem… It’s okay, they don’t need me here.” He was always straightforward in his actions. He announced his intention to take Bai Luoluo to the hot spring, and then they left.
As they left, someone at the door politely asked where they were going.
Wu Tuisan said, “Taking him to the hot spring on the nearby mountain.”
The gatekeeper made a phone call, apparently asking someone for permission, and after receiving approval, he nodded and said, “Mr. Wu, remember to come back early.”
Wu Tuisan said, “Let’s go, go, go.”
Wu Tuisan’s car was parked at the gate. After Bai Luoluo got into the passenger seat, he started the car.
Wu Tuisan said, “My car is pretty good, isn’t it?”
Bai Luoluo said, “It’s quite nice.” Wu Tuisan’s car seemed low-key, but it was indeed a good car. Based on Bai Luoluo’s understanding of luxury goods from Zhou Zhizhi’s memories, even if he worked hard for a lifetime, he probably wouldn’t be able to afford half of this car. It seemed that every Feng Shui family in this world was quite wealthy and influential.
Wu Tuisan patted the steering wheel and said somewhat proudly, “I bought it this year. I learned a lot from Mr. Lin and managed to take on some jobs myself. Finally, I can make money on my own.” He lit a cigarette and continued, “How’s life at Lin’s house? I heard something happened in Mr. Lin’s family.”
Bai Luoluo said, “Yeah, Mr. Lin is facing a revenge plot from an old enemy, the Yellow Weasel.” He briefly explained what he knew about the situation to Wu Tuisan. Wu Tuisan exhaled a puff of smoke and said, “Ah, nowhere is really peaceful.”
Bai Luoluo felt that Wu Tuisan seemed to know a lot of things. However, even if he knew, he might not necessarily tell Bai Luoluo.
After driving for about ten minutes, they arrived at a hot spring resort. They went inside and found a pool to soak in.
Wu Tuisan lay in the water, closing his eyes. “This place is close to Mr. Lin’s residence, and the Feng Shui is good here. Mr. Lin often comes to soak in the hot springs.”
Bai Luoluo could see a trace of auspicious energy in the pool. Although it was scarce, having even a bit was considered good.
The hot spring water beneath him was warm, surrounded by thick white snow. Bai Luoluo, soaking in the water, felt a bit sleepy and yawned softly.
Wu Tuisan noticed and asked, “Tired?”
Bai Luoluo replied with a soft “yes.”
Wu Tuisan said, “Want to take a nap?”
Bai Luoluo rubbed his eyes and said, “No need.”
It’s unclear whether it was Bai Luoluo’s illusion, but he always felt that Wu Tuisan’s expression was a bit strange, with a hint of anxiety.
However, before Bai Luoluo could speak, Wu Tuisan suddenly called Bai Luoluo’s name, “Zhou Zhizhi.”
Bai Luoluo asked, “What’s wrong?”
Wu Tuisan said, “You don’t want to stay here, do you? I can take you away.”
Bai Luoluo, hearing this, looked surprised. He had never expected that Wu Tuisan, who had behaved completely normal before, would suddenly say such a thing.
The impatience in Wu Tuisan’s expression became more apparent, and he said, “I know you want to ask why, but I can’t explain it to you. I’ve already bought you a ticket. It’s for tonight, and you can leave immediately.”
Bai Luoluo said, “…If Mr. Lin finds out about this…”
“I’m well aware of what I’m doing.” Wu Tuisan didn’t care about this. He continued, “In short, are you leaving or not?”
Bai Luoluo guessed the truth with just one sentence. He said, “Is this Mr. Lin’s decision?” Lin Zhaomian had mentioned this matter before, and Wu Tuisan, who respected Lin Zhaomian so much, didn’t seem like someone who would do such a thing behind Lin Zhaomian’s back.
After a moment of hesitation, Wu Tuisan nodded lightly, confirming Bai Luoluo’s guess.
Bai Luoluo said, “Okay.” Since this was what Lin Zhaomian wanted, he was fine with it.
With Bai Luoluo’s agreement, Wu Tuisan seemed to breathe a sigh of relief. He urged Bai Luoluo to put on clothes and then took him to the hot spring resort’s h0u’me:n.
There, whether it was Lin Zhaomian or Wu Tuisan who had arranged it, someone was ready to take Bai Luoluo directly to the station and leave immediately.
In the car, Wu Tuisan prepared clothes and money for Bai Luoluo. The documents that had been withheld earlier were also in the bag.
“Let’s go.” Wu Tuisan said, “Take care.”
Bai Luoluo said, “Thank you.”
“Polite, that… Can you tell me…” Wu Tuisan hesitated a bit but still asked the question in his mind, “Why did Mr. Lin ask you to leave?”
Bai Luoluo looked at Wu Tuisan and smiled slightly. He said, “I won’t tell you.”
Wu Tuisan: “…”
Bai Luoluo said, “Goodbye.”
Wu Tuisan looked helpless, but apparently, he wouldn’t get the answer he wanted from Bai Luoluo here. The car carrying Bai Luoluo slowly moved forward and eventually disappeared from Wu Tuisan’s sight.
The driver drove quietly in front, and Bai Luoluo sat in the back. He asked the system, “System, why does Lin Zhaomian want me to leave?”
The system said, “I don’t know.”
Bai Luoluo sighed, feeling somewhat confused.
The driver, who drove Bai Luoluo, didn’t speak throughout the journey. After about an hour, he drove Bai Luoluo to the station. Watching Bai Luoluo get off, he finally spoke, “Mr. Lin said for you to leave quickly.”
Bai Luoluo nodded. He hesitated for a moment, took out the jade pendant from his chest, and handed it to the driver, saying, “Return this to Mr. Lin. This thing is too precious… Also, thank you, Mr. Lin.”
The driver looked at Bai Luoluo, reached out to take the jade pendant, turned around, and left.
Bai Luoluo took a deep breath and turned around, entering the station.
The ticket Lin Zhaomian bought for him was for 4:00 PM, and at 3:45 PM, the station had already started ticket checks. Lin Zhaomian seemed to have calculated the time accurately.
With a bag on his back, Bai Luoluo, holding the ticket, was about to go through the ticket check. However, he vaguely felt that something was wrong. His heart jumped suddenly, and he rushed towards the ticket check. However, it was still too late. Several casually dressed people ran towards him, and with a fierce action, they firmly pressed him to the ground.
There were five or six of them, causing quite a commotion in the waiting room. Bai Luoluo’s head was directly covered with a black bag, emitting a strong fragrance, causing his body to involuntarily relax. His hands were handcuffed, and then he was lifted up by the people on both sides and directly taken away.
Bai Luoluo was not sure how this disturbance was finally resolved, but he only knew that he was stuffed into a car again.
Bai Luoluo’s consciousness was muddled, and he didn’t even know how long he had been in the car. In the end, when he regained consciousness, there was a dazzling light in front of him.
Lin Zhaomian, the head of the Lin family, stood in front of him, looking at him expressionlessly.
“Awake?” Lin Zhaomian said coldly.
Bai Luoluo’s eyes reluctantly focused, and he saw the scene in front of him. He opened his mouth slightly and groaned.
“Quite daring, aren’t you?” Lin Zhaomian said, “Dare to run?”
Bai Luoluo didn’t speak, he stuck out his tongue and licked his lips.
Lin Zhaomian’s eyes were full of disgust towards Bai Luoluo, as if he were looking at a disgusting insect. The system was indeed accurate in judging people; Lin Zhaomian did have issues. Everyone in the Lin family who knew Bai Luoluo’s identity had never shown him a good face, except for Lin Zhaomian, the noble head of the Lin family. Each time, he treated Bai Luoluo with a friendly demeanor, as if he didn’t care that he was once a detestable scammer. And now, this hypocritical facade had been unveiled.
Lin Zhaomian raised Bai Luoluo’s chin with his hand, looking up and down at Bai Luoluo’s face. He sneered and said, “With this appearance, you must be exceptionally skilled in bed, so my second uncle is so protective of you?”
Bai Luoluo shook off his hand, disgusted, and said, “Are you insane?”
Lin Zhaomian didn’t reply; he lifted his foot and kicked directly into Bai Luoluo’s stomach, causing him to fall heavily to the ground.
Bai Luoluo coughed heavily, and, unusually for him, cursed with a dirty word.
Lin Zhaomian stared coldly at Bai Luoluo, saying, “Do you think there’s someone here to protect you?”
Bai Luoluo, with gritted teeth, stared back at him without saying a word.
Lin Zhaomian sneered, a cold smile appearing at the corner of his mouth. He said, “I already knew that my second uncle wanted to send you away… Heh, fortunately, I stopped it; otherwise, you might have really escaped.”
Bai Luoluo asked, “What do you want to do?”
Lin Zhaomian, with an expressionless face, said, “Of course, I’m doing a good deed.”
For Bai Luoluo, Lin Zhaomian’s good deed was obviously not a good thing. He called someone in, and that person came in from outside with a bowl of medicine in hand.
Lin Zhaomian said, “Make him drink it.”
The medicine was dark and clearly not something good. Unfortunately, Bai Luoluo, who was tightly bound to the chair, had no choice. He was pressed to the ground, and the person approached, intending to pour the dubious potion into his mouth.
Perhaps afraid that Bai Luoluo wouldn’t cooperate, Lin Zhaomian slowly said, “If a single drop of this medicine spills, I’ll cut off one of your fingers.”
Bai Luoluo had no doubt about the truthfulness of Lin Zhaomian’s words. Helpless, Bai Luoluo could only cooperate and drink the potion, which had a color and odor that were both unpleasant. The medicine seemed to be intentionally chilled, making Bai Luoluo feel a chilling sensation throughout his body. He had no time to worry about this; he could only, under Lin Zhaomian’s threat, swallow the concoction reluctantly.
After finishing the entire bowl, Bai Luoluo felt like a massive block of ice had entered his stomach, emitting a continuous cold air. However, he couldn’t care about that, and he could only, under Lin Zhaomian’s threat, swallow the concoction reluctantly.
After finishing the entire bowl, Bai Luoluo felt like a massive block of ice had entered his stomach, emitting a continuous cold air. However, he couldn’t care about that; he could only, under Lin Zhaomian’s threat, swallow the concoction reluctantly.
With the medicine consumed, Bai Luoluo felt his whole body extremely cold, shivering for quite some time before he struggled to open his eyes.
He saw himself lying on a clean bed in a simple room. The facilities inside were basic, and there was a small window, but the gap in the window bars was so narrow that even a palm couldn’t be stretched out.
Bai Luoluo silently stared at the ceiling and said, “System, I understand now.”
The system said, “I also understand.”
Bai Luoluo’s arm was wrapped in gauze, and the tiny wound left by the needle had been carefully treated. Obviously, Lin Zhaomian didn’t intend to let him die easily. After all, if Bai Luoluo’s guess was correct, he should be the most crucial ingredient for treating Lin Zhaomian.
Those who wanted Bai Luoluo’s life didn’t really want him dead; they just wanted to indirectly cut off Lin Zhaomian’s most important lifesaving medicine and watch Lin Zhaomian die.
After contemplating for a while, Bai Luoluo said, “Did Lin Zhaomian ask me to leave because he doesn’t want to live anymore?”
The system said, “Possibly.”
The turn of events surprised Bai Luoluo, but it strangely eased his mind. He didn’t care much about his own life; after all, he would eventually log out of this world. If he could use his life to save Lin Zhaomian, it seemed like a decent thing to do.
With this thought, Bai Luoluo felt much better.
While being held captive, Lin Zhaomian didn’t mistreat Bai Luoluo in daily life. He was provided with the best food and drink, and even a computer was set up for him, although it couldn’t access the internet. Lin Zhaomian had downloaded many single-player games for him.
Every three days, Bai Luoluo could go out for some fresh air and see the surroundings. Lin Zhaomian’s place of confinement for him was quite remote, with no signs of human habitation in sight. Even if he managed to escape, it would require a long journey to return.
Initially, Lin Zhaomian thought Bai Luoluo would cry and plead for mercy, but to his surprise, after the first day, Bai Luoluo’s attitude shifted from resistance to indifference. Even during the blood draws, he cooperated willingly.
Lin Zhaomian thought Bai Luoluo was deliberately pretending to be harmless to gain his trust.
Bai Luoluo was imprisoned for over a month, during which he had his blood drawn three times. The first two times were manageable, but by the third time, he nearly fainted.
Lin Zhaomian didn’t show any mercy due to Bai Luoluo’s weakness. The prescription for Lin Zhaomian’s treatment had been established long ago and couldn’t be interrupted. Meanwhile, the blood injected into Zhou Zhizhi’s body couldn’t be replaced with others. This meant that Zhou Zhizhi, who had lost a significant amount of blood, couldn’t possibly survive.
Bai Luoluo initially thought he would be confined until his death. However, neither he nor Lin Zhaomian expected a sudden turn of events—Lin Zhaomian started to suspect the medicine he had been giving to Lin Zhizhi.
Bai Luoluo knew about Lin Zhaomian’s suspicion because of Lin Zhaomian’s frantic actions. Lin Zhaomian directly overturned tables and chairs in Bai Luoluo’s living space, cursed with foul language, and finally, with red eyes, grabbed Bai Luoluo by the collar, demanding to know what charm Bai Luoluo had that made Lin Zhaomian think and care so much about him.
Bai Luoluo, looking weak, said, “Does Master suspect it?”
“He’s such a smart person; how could he not figure it out?” Lin Zhaomian gritted his teeth. “But don’t be too happy yet. Even if he refuses, I’ll find other ways to make him accept it.”
Bai Luoluo’s face turned pale due to blood loss. His body strength had weakened significantly, and speaking was also weak. He slowly said, “I have a way.”
Lin Zhaomian looked at Bai Luoluo suspiciously, clearly not fully trusting his sincerity.
Bai Luoluo continued, “I’m willing to use my own Master’s blood to cure him. I’m also willing to let Master drop his suspicions and take the medicine peacefully.”
Lin Zhaomian didn’t expect Bai Luoluo to say such words. He looked at Bai Luoluo with suspicion, clearly not fully believing in his sincerity.
Bai Luoluo said, “Keeping me locked up like this is not a solution.” Though his voice was weak, his words were coherent. He continued, “If Master has doubts, he definitely won’t take the medicine you give him, and my blood will be wasted. Besides, if you say Master’s lifespan is short, do you even have the time to find me, someone like me?”
Bai Luoluo’s analysis hit the issue that worried Lin Zhaomian the most. Yes, what Lin Zhaomian feared most was that Lin Zhizhi would stop taking the medicine due to suspicions.
However, Lin Zhaomian didn’t give Bai Luoluo a reply, as he was obviously still weighing the situation.
Bai Luoluo continued, “You’re hesitating now, but if Master confirms this, it’s even more impossible for him to take the medicine. I should have died long ago. Living up to now, it’s just relying on Master’s mercy.” His tone and demeanor were very sincere, not like he was lying.
Lin Zhaomian squinted at him for a moment and said, “You speak well, but unfortunately, you were a liar before.”
Bai Luoluo looked helpless.
Lin Zhaomian said nothing more and turned away.
Bai Luoluo initially thought that his negotiation with Lin Zhaomian had broken down. However, to his surprise, just the next day, Lin Zhaomian appeared before him again. He said, “Zhou Zhizhi, I agree to your previous proposal.” As he spoke, he slammed a file onto the table in front of Bai Luoluo.
Bai Luoluo picked it up and realized it contained information about Zhou Zhizhi’s family. Lin Zhaomian had spent the last few days investigating all of Zhou Zhizhi’s relatives, compiling their information to use as leverage. Fortunately, Zhou Zhizhi had already been exposed by Bai Luoluo, or else, given Zhou Zhizhi’s original personality, abandoning his family and fleeing would have been a normal course of action.
“If you dare to run, I will harm them,” Lin Zhaomian threatened with a chilling tone.
Bai Luoluo looked at the information in his hands and nodded slowly, saying, “Okay.”
Thus, an agreement was reached between Lin Zhaomian and Bai Luoluo. Lin Zhaomian also promised to compensate Bai Luoluo’s family with a significant sum of money after Bai Luoluo’s death. Bai Luoluo accepted, thinking that taking this money might give Lin Zhaomian some peace of mind.
After the agreement was made, Lin Zhaomian arranged for a private jet to transport Bai Luoluo to the distant city of H. On the plane, Bai Luoluo couldn’t help but be curious and asked, “Why H city?”
Lin Zhaomian, with gritted teeth, replied, “My uncle found out you’re there.”
Bai Luoluo said, “Oh…”
Lin Zhaomian added, “He also booked a ticket and should be arriving the day after tomorrow. Be careful and don’t mess things up.”
Bai Luoluo nodded tiredly, then closed his eyes.
Lin Zhaomian looked at him, his expression somewhat complicated. He seemed to want to say something but ultimately remained silent.
Upon reaching their destination, Lin Zhaomian watched as Bai Luoluo entered the house and, in the end, reminded him not to play any tricks before leaving.
Bai Luoluo said, “Rest assured.” After that, he turned and walked into the house.
With a light click, the darkness returned to silence.
Bai Luoluo lay on the bed and drifted into a drowsy sleep. The bed was somewhat damp, and his sleep quality wasn’t great. He had some strange dreams during the intermittent moments between sleep and wakefulness. In this half-conscious state, Bai Luoluo welcomed the morning. He heard slight movements in the room, and he opened his eyes slightly.
Bai Luoluo saw Lin Zhaomian.
Sunlight streamed through the window, casting a perfect glow on Lin Zhaomian’s face. He still had that faint expression, and the sunlight painted his face with a gentle golden hue. Even his long eyelashes seemed to be tinted with a warm color. Bai Luoluo looked at his face and silently wondered why such a beautiful person would be allowed to leave this world.
“Master,” Bai Luoluo’s sleepy voice sounded.
“Awake?” Lin Zhaomian asked.
“Why are you here?” Bai Luoluo rubbed his eyes and sat up from the bed. He asked, “Is something wrong?”
“Nothing,” Lin Zhaomian’s expression visibly relaxed, as if confirming something. He said, “I was just a bit worried.”
Bai Luoluo asked, “Worried about what… How did you get in?”
“Pick the lock,” Lin Zhaomian replied.
Bai Luoluo said, “Breaking and entering is punishable by three years in prison.”
Lin Zhaomian, rarely showing a helpless expression, said, “Did you study criminal law before becoming a scammer?”
Bai Luoluo said, “(⊙v⊙).”
Lin Zhaomian said, “Get up; it’s already late, and you’re still sleeping.”
Bai Luoluo said, “Okay.” He thought it was still early, but when he checked his phone, it was already eleven in the morning. Lin Zhaomian probably waited outside for a long time, not seeing him open the door, so he had to pick the lock to enter.
Lin Zhaomian said, “Why did you come to H city?”
Bai Luoluo began to recite the lines he had agreed upon with Lin Zhaomian earlier. He said he heard that the flower seedlings in H city were good and wanted to get some stock to start a nursery business.
Lin Zhaomian asked, “Oh, you can also grow flowers?”
In fact, Bai Luoluo didn’t know how to grow flowers, and Zhou Zhizhi probably didn’t either. However, Zhou Zhizhi’s family was in this business, so it was a convenient excuse.
Moreover, Bai Luoluo had a system to help him, so he wasn’t afraid of Lin Zhaomian’s questioning.
Lin Zhaomian nodded and said, “Not bad.” It was good that a scammer could turn to a legitimate path.
Bai Luoluo initially wanted to continue asking Lin Zhaomian what had happened, but he heard Lin Zhaomian suggesting they all go downstairs since he and Wu Tuisan hadn’t had breakfast yet.
With a sigh, Bai Luoluo went to the kitchen. Fortunately, Lin Zhaomian had prepared plenty of fresh ingredients. Bai Luoluo quickly washed a few things and started cooking noodles.
Wu Tuisan also entered from outside and, upon seeing Bai Luoluo, exclaimed in surprise, “Why do you look so bad?”
Bai Luoluo made a hushing gesture, and Wu Tuisan widened his eyes in disbelief, lowering his voice, “Are you by any chance—”
Bai Luoluo said, “Stop guessing. I’m really fine, just didn’t sleep well.”
Wu Tuisan didn’t believe it. If that were the case, why didn’t Bai Luoluo let him ask?
Bai Luoluo said, “Really, I’m fine.” He lowered his head and scooped up the cooked noodles, adding sesame oil and various seasonings, then topped it with two fried eggs.
Wu Tuisan knew that Bai Luoluo’s noodles were delicious, and although he had many questions to ask, he couldn’t help but swallow his saliva.
Seeing his expression, Bai Luoluo said, “Let’s eat first, and we can talk after.”
Wu Tuisan, lacking restraint, said, “Okay!”
The three bowls of noodles were brought out, and the three of them slowly started eating. Bai Luoluo had a small appetite compared to the other two, and he was almost full after finishing one bowl. Lin Zhaomian’s expression didn’t reveal much, and Wu Tuisan looked dissatisfied, with a face that seemed to say there wasn’t enough food. He shamelessly looked at Bai Luoluo and asked if there was more to eat.
Bai Luoluo said, “There’s none left. Did you come here just to eat my noodles?”
Wu Tuisan awkwardly chuckled a few times, touching his nose without saying anything.
Lin Zhaomian, however, suddenly said, “Zhou Zhizhi, you should come back.”
Bai Luoluo was startled and asked, “Master?”
Lin Zhaomian, with closed eyes, continued, “Something has happened on my end. It might not be very safe for you alone outside.”
“I’m a grown man. What’s unsafe?” Bai Luoluo deliberately said with an indifferent tone, “Master, are you worried that I’ll do something bad again? Don’t worry… I have truly repented and know that I was wrong…”
Normally, hearing Bai Luoluo talk about repentance would be a happy occasion, but Lin Zhaomian didn’t show a trace of joy. He said indifferently, “Is that so?”
Bai Luoluo smiled and said, “Yes.”
After pondering for a moment, just when Bai Luoluo thought Lin Zhaomian was going to give up, he heard him say lightly, “I’m not seeking your opinion, but informing you.”
Bai Luoluo was speechless.
Lin Zhaomian said, “The plane ticket has been booked. You’ll come back with me today.”
Lin Zhaomian’s intuition was indeed terrifying. Although he had no evidence and found Bai Luoluo unharmed, he was convinced that his medicine was related to Bai Luoluo in some way.
Bai Luoluo asked, “Why—”
Lin Zhaomian said, “No why. Either I report to the police directly, or, since you’re familiar with criminal law, see how many years you can get sentenced?”
Bai Luoluo said, “…” According to Zhou Zhizhi’s character, if lucky, he might get a suspended death sentence. If unlucky, he might just be dragged out and buried.
Lin Zhaomian said, “Are you coming back or not?”
Bai Luoluo had no choice but to agree to Lin Zhaomian’s request.
Wu Tuisan shrugged his shoulders with an innocent expression, as if he wasn’t the one who followed Master’s orders to send Bai Luoluo away. Bai Luoluo glared at him, and he made a gesture, mouthing that he couldn’t help.
The next day, Bai Luoluo returned to Lin Zhaomian’s residence, the place he bid farewell to a month ago.
The enchantment in Lin Zhaomian’s residence had been repaired, and the Yin energy gathered around the area where he lived alone, while other places were surrounded by auspicious energy. As soon as one entered, the air felt refreshing.
Feeling unwell, Bai Luoluo went upstairs to sleep as soon as he arrived home.
Hearing Bai Luoluo going upstairs, Lin Zhaomian, now certain that Bai Luoluo wasn’t beside him, spoke lightly to Wu Tuisan, who was sitting next to him. He asked, “Tuisan, how does Zhou Zhizhi look?”
Wu Tuisan was busy paring an apple and, upon hearing Lin Zhaomian’s question, his hand trembled, almost cutting his finger. He licked his lips and, forcing a smile, said, “He’s fine. He even gained some weight. Probably eating well and living well these past few months… Ah, I really miss the roast chicken he used to make.”
Lin Zhaomian asked, “Gained weight?”
Wu Tuisan said, “Indeed.”
Lin Zhaomian nodded.
Wu Tuisan lowered his head, unable to look into Lin Zhaomian’s eyes. In fact, over the past few days, Lin Zhaomian had talked to the three of them, instructing them not to say anything unnecessary or do anything improper. Initially, Wu Tuisan didn’t understand the meaning of these words. However, today, when he saw Zhou Zhizhi’s pale face, he vaguely understood what Lin Zhaomian meant.
After asking, Lin Zhaomian seemed to have put his mind at ease, stood up, and left.
Wu Tuisan watched him leave and then went upstairs with a thud.
He knocked on Bai Luoluo’s door, saying, “Come out, come out, Zhou Zhizhi, hurry up and come out.”
Bai Luoluo, in his pajamas, opened the door, asking, “What’s going on?”
Wu Tuisan said, “Damn, what’s going on between you and Master? And that Lin Zhaomian…”
Bai Luoluo said, “Nothing.”
Wu Tuisan asked, “Are you sure? If you don’t tell me, how can I help you cover up?”
Bai Luoluo said, “It’s not that I don’t want to tell you, but if you really want to know, you can ask Lin Zhaomian.”
Wu Tuisan mumbled, “Where would I dare to ask him?” He had been called by Lin Zhaomian a few days ago and given some instructions. Although he didn’t understand why, it was clear that Lin Zhaomian wouldn’t tell him any answers.
Bai Luoluo said, “Then, I can’t tell you either.”
Wu Tuisan said, “Huh?”
Bai Luoluo didn’t continue the conversation with Wu Tuisan. He yawned, showing signs of fatigue, and said he was sleepy, suggesting Wu Tuisan go to bed as well.
Wu Tuisan still wanted to say something, but the words got stuck in his throat, so he could only watch Bai Luoluo close the door.
Back in his room, Bai Luoluo lay on the bed and said, “System, isn’t what I did considered a good deed?”
The system said, “Sigh.”
Bai Luoluo said, “I just haven’t figured out one thing…”
The system asked, “What haven’t you figured out?”
白罗罗 questioned, “So, if the original Zhou Zhizhi in this world also had an extremely Yin physique, why did Lin Zhaomian kill him so decisively instead of keeping him as a bait for the medicine?”
The system explained, “I’ve thought about it, and it’s probably because Zhou Zhizhi in this world doesn’t have an extremely Yin physique.”
Bai Luoluo was puzzled and asked, “What do you mean?”
The system said, “Do you remember what Fourth Sister mentioned about you being dead?”
Bai Luoluo did remember because it left a deep impression on him.
The system continued, “Your body was originally dead, and then you occupied it. Essentially, aren’t you like a dead person? Dead people don’t have Yin energy, so who else has Yin energy?”
It made sense when put that way. Bai Luoluo said, “Oh… I see.”
The system asked, “Feeling tired again?”
Bai Luoluo replied, “Yeah.”
Although the system could block Bai Luoluo’s sense of pain, it couldn’t forcibly change his physical condition, such as the exhaustion and weakness caused by excessive blood loss. There was nothing the system could do about it.
The system said, “Go to sleep.”
Bai Luoluo slowly closed his eyes and fell into slumber.
Bai Luoluo could tell that when he first returned, Lin Zhaomian was very worried that he might change his mind, but he didn’t dare to contact him directly. Revealing any clues could alert Lin Zhaomian, given his keen intuition.
Bai Luoluo didn’t try to explain deliberately; at this point, anything he said wouldn’t be believed by Lin Zhaomian. Instead, he preferred to prove it through his actions.
Lin Zhaomian’s suspicion was extinguished when Bai Luoluo sent the fourth batch of blood.
Initially, Lin Zhaomian didn’t believe Bai Luoluo, even going so far as to have the blood components tested to confirm Bai Luoluo wasn’t deceiving him. Once satisfied that Bai Luoluo hadn’t lied, Lin Zhaomian expressed his complicated gratitude.
“You’re welcome,” Bai Luoluo casually waved his hand. He said, “I’m leaving.”
“Wait.” Lin Zhaomian said, “Take this medicine back and brew it to drink.”
When Bai Luoluo heard about the medicine, he remembered the one Lin Zhaomian had forced him to drink before. He asked, “Is it a medicine that increases the body’s coldness?”
Lin Zhaomian replied, “No, it’s a life-extending medicine. It contains many precious herbs, and the brewing method is inside.”
Bai Luoluo said, “Oh, thank you.”
His attitude remained indifferent, just like before. Lin Zhaomian couldn’t even feel any resentment from him. It was strange, as if… Zhou Zhizhi didn’t care at all whether he lived or died.
“By the way, how much longer can I live?” Bai Luoluo suddenly remembered this and asked.
“About three months.” Lin Zhaomian answered confidently. He added, “Once his body recovers…”
“I understand,” Bai Luoluo nodded and left with the medicine.
Lin Zhaomian watched Bai Luoluo’s departing figure and couldn’t resist pulling out a cigarette from his pocket, lighting it slowly. Zhou Zhizhi… This person was indeed interesting, but unfortunately, he would die soon.
Wu Tuisan only spoke half of what he intended, and no matter how much Bai Luoluo asked, he refused to answer the rest. In the end, Bai Luoluo, realizing he couldn’t get any more information, decided to stop asking.
The backyard of the Lin family was lively at this moment. Many people noticed Bai Luoluo and Wu Tuisan talking and came over to greet them. Evidently, they wanted to build good relationships with the future disciple of Lin Zhaomian.
Seeing too many people, Wu Tuisan felt a bit annoyed. He said, “Let’s go out and have some fun. I know a hot spring nearby.”
Bai Luoluo asked, “Is it okay for you to just go out like this?”
Wu Tuisan said, “No problem… It’s okay, they don’t need me here.” He was always straightforward in his actions. He announced his intention to take Bai Luoluo to the hot spring, and then they left.
As they left, someone at the door politely asked where they were going.
Wu Tuisan said, “Taking him to the hot spring on the nearby mountain.”
The gatekeeper made a phone call, apparently asking someone for permission, and after receiving approval, he nodded and said, “Mr. Wu, remember to come back early.”
Wu Tuisan said, “Let’s go, go, go.”
Wu Tuisan’s car was parked at the gate. After Bai Luoluo got into the passenger seat, he started the car.
Wu Tuisan said, “My car is pretty good, isn’t it?”
Bai Luoluo said, “It’s quite nice.” Wu Tuisan’s car seemed low-key, but it was indeed a good car. Based on Bai Luoluo’s understanding of luxury goods from Zhou Zhizhi’s memories, even if he worked hard for a lifetime, he probably wouldn’t be able to afford half of this car. It seemed that every Feng Shui family in this world was quite wealthy and influential.
Wu Tuisan patted the steering wheel and said somewhat proudly, “I bought it this year. I learned a lot from Mr. Lin and managed to take on some jobs myself. Finally, I can make money on my own.” He lit a cigarette and continued, “How’s life at Lin’s house? I heard something happened in Mr. Lin’s family.”
Bai Luoluo said, “Yeah, Mr. Lin is facing a revenge plot from an old enemy, the Yellow Weasel.” He briefly explained what he knew about the situation to Wu Tuisan. Wu Tuisan exhaled a puff of smoke and said, “Ah, nowhere is really peaceful.”
Bai Luoluo felt that Wu Tuisan seemed to know a lot of things. However, even if he knew, he might not necessarily tell Bai Luoluo.
After driving for about ten minutes, they arrived at a hot spring resort. They went inside and found a pool to soak in.
Wu Tuisan lay in the water, closing his eyes. “This place is close to Mr. Lin’s residence, and the Feng Shui is good here. Mr. Lin often comes to soak in the hot springs.”
Bai Luoluo could see a trace of auspicious energy in the pool. Although it was scarce, having even a bit was considered good.
The hot spring water beneath him was warm, surrounded by thick white snow. Bai Luoluo, soaking in the water, felt a bit sleepy and yawned softly.
Wu Tuisan noticed and asked, “Tired?”
Bai Luoluo replied with a soft “yes.”
Wu Tuisan said, “Want to take a nap?”
Bai Luoluo rubbed his eyes and said, “No need.”
It’s unclear whether it was Bai Luoluo’s illusion, but he always felt that Wu Tuisan’s expression was a bit strange, with a hint of anxiety.
However, before Bai Luoluo could speak, Wu Tuisan suddenly called Bai Luoluo’s name, “Zhou Zhizhi.”
Bai Luoluo asked, “What’s wrong?”
Wu Tuisan said, “You don’t want to stay here, do you? I can take you away.”
Bai Luoluo, hearing this, looked surprised. He had never expected that Wu Tuisan, who had behaved completely normal before, would suddenly say such a thing.
The impatience in Wu Tuisan’s expression became more apparent, and he said, “I know you want to ask why, but I can’t explain it to you. I’ve already bought you a ticket. It’s for tonight, and you can leave immediately.”
Bai Luoluo said, “…If Mr. Lin finds out about this…”
“I’m well aware of what I’m doing.” Wu Tuisan didn’t care about this. He continued, “In short, are you leaving or not?”
Bai Luoluo guessed the truth with just one sentence. He said, “Is this Mr. Lin’s decision?” Lin Zhaomian had mentioned this matter before, and Wu Tuisan, who respected Lin Zhaomian so much, didn’t seem like someone who would do such a thing behind Lin Zhaomian’s back.
After a moment of hesitation, Wu Tuisan nodded lightly, confirming Bai Luoluo’s guess.
Bai Luoluo said, “Okay.” Since this was what Lin Zhaomian wanted, he was fine with it.
With Bai Luoluo’s agreement, Wu Tuisan seemed to breathe a sigh of relief. He urged Bai Luoluo to put on clothes and then took him to the hot spring resort’s h0u’me:n.
There, whether it was Lin Zhaomian or Wu Tuisan who had arranged it, someone was ready to take Bai Luoluo directly to the station and leave immediately.
In the car, Wu Tuisan prepared clothes and money for Bai Luoluo. The documents that had been withheld earlier were also in the bag.
“Let’s go.” Wu Tuisan said, “Take care.”
Bai Luoluo said, “Thank you.”
“Polite, that… Can you tell me…” Wu Tuisan hesitated a bit but still asked the question in his mind, “Why did Mr. Lin ask you to leave?”
Bai Luoluo looked at Wu Tuisan and smiled slightly. He said, “I won’t tell you.”
Wu Tuisan: “…”
Bai Luoluo said, “Goodbye.”
Wu Tuisan looked helpless, but apparently, he wouldn’t get the answer he wanted from Bai Luoluo here. The car carrying Bai Luoluo slowly moved forward and eventually disappeared from Wu Tuisan’s sight.
The driver drove quietly in front, and Bai Luoluo sat in the back. He asked the system, “System, why does Lin Zhaomian want me to leave?”
The system said, “I don’t know.”
Bai Luoluo sighed, feeling somewhat confused.
The driver, who drove Bai Luoluo, didn’t speak throughout the journey. After about an hour, he drove Bai Luoluo to the station. Watching Bai Luoluo get off, he finally spoke, “Mr. Lin said for you to leave quickly.”
Bai Luoluo nodded. He hesitated for a moment, took out the jade pendant from his chest, and handed it to the driver, saying, “Return this to Mr. Lin. This thing is too precious… Also, thank you, Mr. Lin.”
The driver looked at Bai Luoluo, reached out to take the jade pendant, turned around, and left.
Bai Luoluo took a deep breath and turned around, entering the station.
The ticket Lin Zhaomian bought for him was for 4:00 PM, and at 3:45 PM, the station had already started ticket checks. Lin Zhaomian seemed to have calculated the time accurately.
With a bag on his back, Bai Luoluo, holding the ticket, was about to go through the ticket check. However, he vaguely felt that something was wrong. His heart jumped suddenly, and he rushed towards the ticket check. However, it was still too late. Several casually dressed people ran towards him, and with a fierce action, they firmly pressed him to the ground.
There were five or six of them, causing quite a commotion in the waiting room. Bai Luoluo’s head was directly covered with a black bag, emitting a strong fragrance, causing his body to involuntarily relax. His hands were handcuffed, and then he was lifted up by the people on both sides and directly taken away.
Bai Luoluo was not sure how this disturbance was finally resolved, but he only knew that he was stuffed into a car again.
Bai Luoluo’s consciousness was muddled, and he didn’t even know how long he had been in the car. In the end, when he regained consciousness, there was a dazzling light in front of him.
Lin Zhaomian, the head of the Lin family, stood in front of him, looking at him expressionlessly.
“Awake?” Lin Zhaomian said coldly.
Bai Luoluo’s eyes reluctantly focused, and he saw the scene in front of him. He opened his mouth slightly and groaned.
“Quite daring, aren’t you?” Lin Zhaomian said, “Dare to run?”
Bai Luoluo didn’t speak, he stuck out his tongue and licked his lips.
Lin Zhaomian’s eyes were full of disgust towards Bai Luoluo, as if he were looking at a disgusting insect. The system was indeed accurate in judging people; Lin Zhaomian did have issues. Everyone in the Lin family who knew Bai Luoluo’s identity had never shown him a good face, except for Lin Zhaomian, the noble head of the Lin family. Each time, he treated Bai Luoluo with a friendly demeanor, as if he didn’t care that he was once a detestable scammer. And now, this hypocritical facade had been unveiled.
Lin Zhaomian raised Bai Luoluo’s chin with his hand, looking up and down at Bai Luoluo’s face. He sneered and said, “With this appearance, you must be exceptionally skilled in bed, so my second uncle is so protective of you?”
Bai Luoluo shook off his hand, disgusted, and said, “Are you insane?”
Lin Zhaomian didn’t reply; he lifted his foot and kicked directly into Bai Luoluo’s stomach, causing him to fall heavily to the ground.
Bai Luoluo coughed heavily, and, unusually for him, cursed with a dirty word.
Lin Zhaomian stared coldly at Bai Luoluo, saying, “Do you think there’s someone here to protect you?”
Bai Luoluo, with gritted teeth, stared back at him without saying a word.
Lin Zhaomian sneered, a cold smile appearing at the corner of his mouth. He said, “I already knew that my second uncle wanted to send you away… Heh, fortunately, I stopped it; otherwise, you might have really escaped.”
Bai Luoluo asked, “What do you want to do?”
Lin Zhaomian, with an expressionless face, said, “Of course, I’m doing a good deed.”
For Bai Luoluo, Lin Zhaomian’s good deed was obviously not a good thing. He called someone in, and that person came in from outside with a bowl of medicine in hand.
Lin Zhaomian said, “Make him drink it.”
The medicine was dark and clearly not something good. Unfortunately, Bai Luoluo, who was tightly bound to the chair, had no choice. He was pressed to the ground, and the person approached, intending to pour the dubious potion into his mouth.
Perhaps afraid that Bai Luoluo wouldn’t cooperate, Lin Zhaomian slowly said, “If a single drop of this medicine spills, I’ll cut off one of your fingers.”
Bai Luoluo had no doubt about the truthfulness of Lin Zhaomian’s words. Helpless, Bai Luoluo could only cooperate and drink the potion, which had a color and odor that were both unpleasant. The medicine seemed to be intentionally chilled, making Bai Luoluo feel a chilling sensation throughout his body. He had no time to worry about this; he could only, under Lin Zhaomian’s threat, swallow the concoction reluctantly.
After finishing the entire bowl, Bai Luoluo felt like a massive block of ice had entered his stomach, emitting a continuous cold air. However, he couldn’t care about that, and he could only, under Lin Zhaomian’s threat, swallow the concoction reluctantly.
After finishing the entire bowl, Bai Luoluo felt like a massive block of ice had entered his stomach, emitting a continuous cold air. However, he couldn’t care about that; he could only, under Lin Zhaomian’s threat, swallow the concoction reluctantly.
With the medicine consumed, Bai Luoluo felt his whole body extremely cold, shivering for quite some time before he struggled to open his eyes.
He saw himself lying on a clean bed in a simple room. The facilities inside were basic, and there was a small window, but the gap in the window bars was so narrow that even a palm couldn’t be stretched out.
Bai Luoluo silently stared at the ceiling and said, “System, I understand now.”
The system said, “I also understand.”
Bai Luoluo’s arm was wrapped in gauze, and the tiny wound left by the needle had been carefully treated. Obviously, Lin Zhaomian didn’t intend to let him die easily. After all, if Bai Luoluo’s guess was correct, he should be the most crucial ingredient for treating Lin Zhaomian.
Those who wanted Bai Luoluo’s life didn’t really want him dead; they just wanted to indirectly cut off Lin Zhaomian’s most important lifesaving medicine and watch Lin Zhaomian die.
After contemplating for a while, Bai Luoluo said, “Did Lin Zhaomian ask me to leave because he doesn’t want to live anymore?”
The system said, “Possibly.”
The turn of events surprised Bai Luoluo, but it strangely eased his mind. He didn’t care much about his own life; after all, he would eventually log out of this world. If he could use his life to save Lin Zhaomian, it seemed like a decent thing to do.
With this thought, Bai Luoluo felt much better.
While being held captive, Lin Zhaomian didn’t mistreat Bai Luoluo in daily life. He was provided with the best food and drink, and even a computer was set up for him, although it couldn’t access the internet. Lin Zhaomian had downloaded many single-player games for him.
Every three days, Bai Luoluo could go out for some fresh air and see the surroundings. Lin Zhaomian’s place of confinement for him was quite remote, with no signs of human habitation in sight. Even if he managed to escape, it would require a long journey to return.
Initially, Lin Zhaomian thought Bai Luoluo would cry and plead for mercy, but to his surprise, after the first day, Bai Luoluo’s attitude shifted from resistance to indifference. Even during the blood draws, he cooperated willingly.
Lin Zhaomian thought Bai Luoluo was deliberately pretending to be harmless to gain his trust.
Bai Luoluo was imprisoned for over a month, during which he had his blood drawn three times. The first two times were manageable, but by the third time, he nearly fainted.
Lin Zhaomian didn’t show any mercy due to Bai Luoluo’s weakness. The prescription for Lin Zhaomian’s treatment had been established long ago and couldn’t be interrupted. Meanwhile, the blood injected into Zhou Zhizhi’s body couldn’t be replaced with others. This meant that Zhou Zhizhi, who had lost a significant amount of blood, couldn’t possibly survive.
Bai Luoluo initially thought he would be confined until his death. However, neither he nor Lin Zhaomian expected a sudden turn of events—Lin Zhaomian started to suspect the medicine he had been giving to Lin Zhizhi.
Bai Luoluo knew about Lin Zhaomian’s suspicion because of Lin Zhaomian’s frantic actions. Lin Zhaomian directly overturned tables and chairs in Bai Luoluo’s living space, cursed with foul language, and finally, with red eyes, grabbed Bai Luoluo by the collar, demanding to know what charm Bai Luoluo had that made Lin Zhaomian think and care so much about him.
Bai Luoluo, looking weak, said, “Does Master suspect it?”
“He’s such a smart person; how could he not figure it out?” Lin Zhaomian gritted his teeth. “But don’t be too happy yet. Even if he refuses, I’ll find other ways to make him accept it.”
Bai Luoluo’s face turned pale due to blood loss. His body strength had weakened significantly, and speaking was also weak. He slowly said, “I have a way.”
Lin Zhaomian looked at Bai Luoluo suspiciously, clearly not fully trusting his sincerity.
Bai Luoluo continued, “I’m willing to use my own Master’s blood to cure him. I’m also willing to let Master drop his suspicions and take the medicine peacefully.”
Lin Zhaomian didn’t expect Bai Luoluo to say such words. He looked at Bai Luoluo with suspicion, clearly not fully believing in his sincerity.
Bai Luoluo said, “Keeping me locked up like this is not a solution.” Though his voice was weak, his words were coherent. He continued, “If Master has doubts, he definitely won’t take the medicine you give him, and my blood will be wasted. Besides, if you say Master’s lifespan is short, do you even have the time to find me, someone like me?”
Bai Luoluo’s analysis hit the issue that worried Lin Zhaomian the most. Yes, what Lin Zhaomian feared most was that Lin Zhizhi would stop taking the medicine due to suspicions.
However, Lin Zhaomian didn’t give Bai Luoluo a reply, as he was obviously still weighing the situation.
Bai Luoluo continued, “You’re hesitating now, but if Master confirms this, it’s even more impossible for him to take the medicine. I should have died long ago. Living up to now, it’s just relying on Master’s mercy.” His tone and demeanor were very sincere, not like he was lying.
Lin Zhaomian squinted at him for a moment and said, “You speak well, but unfortunately, you were a liar before.”
Bai Luoluo looked helpless.
Lin Zhaomian said nothing more and turned away.
Bai Luoluo initially thought that his negotiation with Lin Zhaomian had broken down. However, to his surprise, just the next day, Lin Zhaomian appeared before him again. He said, “Zhou Zhizhi, I agree to your previous proposal.” As he spoke, he slammed a file onto the table in front of Bai Luoluo.
Bai Luoluo picked it up and realized it contained information about Zhou Zhizhi’s family. Lin Zhaomian had spent the last few days investigating all of Zhou Zhizhi’s relatives, compiling their information to use as leverage. Fortunately, Zhou Zhizhi had already been exposed by Bai Luoluo, or else, given Zhou Zhizhi’s original personality, abandoning his family and fleeing would have been a normal course of action.
“If you dare to run, I will harm them,” Lin Zhaomian threatened with a chilling tone.
Bai Luoluo looked at the information in his hands and nodded slowly, saying, “Okay.”
Thus, an agreement was reached between Lin Zhaomian and Bai Luoluo. Lin Zhaomian also promised to compensate Bai Luoluo’s family with a significant sum of money after Bai Luoluo’s death. Bai Luoluo accepted, thinking that taking this money might give Lin Zhaomian some peace of mind.
After the agreement was made, Lin Zhaomian arranged for a private jet to transport Bai Luoluo to the distant city of H. On the plane, Bai Luoluo couldn’t help but be curious and asked, “Why H city?”
Lin Zhaomian, with gritted teeth, replied, “My uncle found out you’re there.”
Bai Luoluo said, “Oh…”
Lin Zhaomian added, “He also booked a ticket and should be arriving the day after tomorrow. Be careful and don’t mess things up.”
Bai Luoluo nodded tiredly, then closed his eyes.
Lin Zhaomian looked at him, his expression somewhat complicated. He seemed to want to say something but ultimately remained silent.
Upon reaching their destination, Lin Zhaomian watched as Bai Luoluo entered the house and, in the end, reminded him not to play any tricks before leaving.
Bai Luoluo said, “Rest assured.” After that, he turned and walked into the house.
With a light click, the darkness returned to silence.
Bai Luoluo lay on the bed and drifted into a drowsy sleep. The bed was somewhat damp, and his sleep quality wasn’t great. He had some strange dreams during the intermittent moments between sleep and wakefulness. In this half-conscious state, Bai Luoluo welcomed the morning. He heard slight movements in the room, and he opened his eyes slightly.
Bai Luoluo saw Lin Zhaomian.
Sunlight streamed through the window, casting a perfect glow on Lin Zhaomian’s face. He still had that faint expression, and the sunlight painted his face with a gentle golden hue. Even his long eyelashes seemed to be tinted with a warm color. Bai Luoluo looked at his face and silently wondered why such a beautiful person would be allowed to leave this world.
“Master,” Bai Luoluo’s sleepy voice sounded.
“Awake?” Lin Zhaomian asked.
“Why are you here?” Bai Luoluo rubbed his eyes and sat up from the bed. He asked, “Is something wrong?”
“Nothing,” Lin Zhaomian’s expression visibly relaxed, as if confirming something. He said, “I was just a bit worried.”
Bai Luoluo asked, “Worried about what… How did you get in?”
“Pick the lock,” Lin Zhaomian replied.
Bai Luoluo said, “Breaking and entering is punishable by three years in prison.”
Lin Zhaomian, rarely showing a helpless expression, said, “Did you study criminal law before becoming a scammer?”
Bai Luoluo said, “(⊙v⊙).”
Lin Zhaomian said, “Get up; it’s already late, and you’re still sleeping.”
Bai Luoluo said, “Okay.” He thought it was still early, but when he checked his phone, it was already eleven in the morning. Lin Zhaomian probably waited outside for a long time, not seeing him open the door, so he had to pick the lock to enter.
Lin Zhaomian said, “Why did you come to H city?”
Bai Luoluo began to recite the lines he had agreed upon with Lin Zhaomian earlier. He said he heard that the flower seedlings in H city were good and wanted to get some stock to start a nursery business.
Lin Zhaomian asked, “Oh, you can also grow flowers?”
In fact, Bai Luoluo didn’t know how to grow flowers, and Zhou Zhizhi probably didn’t either. However, Zhou Zhizhi’s family was in this business, so it was a convenient excuse.
Moreover, Bai Luoluo had a system to help him, so he wasn’t afraid of Lin Zhaomian’s questioning.
Lin Zhaomian nodded and said, “Not bad.” It was good that a scammer could turn to a legitimate path.
Bai Luoluo initially wanted to continue asking Lin Zhaomian what had happened, but he heard Lin Zhaomian suggesting they all go downstairs since he and Wu Tuisan hadn’t had breakfast yet.
With a sigh, Bai Luoluo went to the kitchen. Fortunately, Lin Zhaomian had prepared plenty of fresh ingredients. Bai Luoluo quickly washed a few things and started cooking noodles.
Wu Tuisan also entered from outside and, upon seeing Bai Luoluo, exclaimed in surprise, “Why do you look so bad?”
Bai Luoluo made a hushing gesture, and Wu Tuisan widened his eyes in disbelief, lowering his voice, “Are you by any chance—”
Bai Luoluo said, “Stop guessing. I’m really fine, just didn’t sleep well.”
Wu Tuisan didn’t believe it. If that were the case, why didn’t Bai Luoluo let him ask?
Bai Luoluo said, “Really, I’m fine.” He lowered his head and scooped up the cooked noodles, adding sesame oil and various seasonings, then topped it with two fried eggs.
Wu Tuisan knew that Bai Luoluo’s noodles were delicious, and although he had many questions to ask, he couldn’t help but swallow his saliva.
Seeing his expression, Bai Luoluo said, “Let’s eat first, and we can talk after.”
Wu Tuisan, lacking restraint, said, “Okay!”
The three bowls of noodles were brought out, and the three of them slowly started eating. Bai Luoluo had a small appetite compared to the other two, and he was almost full after finishing one bowl. Lin Zhaomian’s expression didn’t reveal much, and Wu Tuisan looked dissatisfied, with a face that seemed to say there wasn’t enough food. He shamelessly looked at Bai Luoluo and asked if there was more to eat.
Bai Luoluo said, “There’s none left. Did you come here just to eat my noodles?”
Wu Tuisan awkwardly chuckled a few times, touching his nose without saying anything.
Lin Zhaomian, however, suddenly said, “Zhou Zhizhi, you should come back.”
Bai Luoluo was startled and asked, “Master?”
Lin Zhaomian, with closed eyes, continued, “Something has happened on my end. It might not be very safe for you alone outside.”
“I’m a grown man. What’s unsafe?” Bai Luoluo deliberately said with an indifferent tone, “Master, are you worried that I’ll do something bad again? Don’t worry… I have truly repented and know that I was wrong…”
Normally, hearing Bai Luoluo talk about repentance would be a happy occasion, but Lin Zhaomian didn’t show a trace of joy. He said indifferently, “Is that so?”
Bai Luoluo smiled and said, “Yes.”
After pondering for a moment, just when Bai Luoluo thought Lin Zhaomian was going to give up, he heard him say lightly, “I’m not seeking your opinion, but informing you.”
Bai Luoluo was speechless.
Lin Zhaomian said, “The plane ticket has been booked. You’ll come back with me today.”
Lin Zhaomian’s intuition was indeed terrifying. Although he had no evidence and found Bai Luoluo unharmed, he was convinced that his medicine was related to Bai Luoluo in some way.
Bai Luoluo asked, “Why—”
Lin Zhaomian said, “No why. Either I report to the police directly, or, since you’re familiar with criminal law, see how many years you can get sentenced?”
Bai Luoluo said, “…” According to Zhou Zhizhi’s character, if lucky, he might get a suspended death sentence. If unlucky, he might just be dragged out and buried.
Lin Zhaomian said, “Are you coming back or not?”
Bai Luoluo had no choice but to agree to Lin Zhaomian’s request.
Wu Tuisan shrugged his shoulders with an innocent expression, as if he wasn’t the one who followed Master’s orders to send Bai Luoluo away. Bai Luoluo glared at him, and he made a gesture, mouthing that he couldn’t help.
The next day, Bai Luoluo returned to Lin Zhaomian’s residence, the place he bid farewell to a month ago.
The enchantment in Lin Zhaomian’s residence had been repaired, and the Yin energy gathered around the area where he lived alone, while other places were surrounded by auspicious energy. As soon as one entered, the air felt refreshing.
Feeling unwell, Bai Luoluo went upstairs to sleep as soon as he arrived home.
Hearing Bai Luoluo going upstairs, Lin Zhaomian, now certain that Bai Luoluo wasn’t beside him, spoke lightly to Wu Tuisan, who was sitting next to him. He asked, “Tuisan, how does Zhou Zhizhi look?”
Wu Tuisan was busy paring an apple and, upon hearing Lin Zhaomian’s question, his hand trembled, almost cutting his finger. He licked his lips and, forcing a smile, said, “He’s fine. He even gained some weight. Probably eating well and living well these past few months… Ah, I really miss the roast chicken he used to make.”
Lin Zhaomian asked, “Gained weight?”
Wu Tuisan said, “Indeed.”
Lin Zhaomian nodded.
Wu Tuisan lowered his head, unable to look into Lin Zhaomian’s eyes. In fact, over the past few days, Lin Zhaomian had talked to the three of them, instructing them not to say anything unnecessary or do anything improper. Initially, Wu Tuisan didn’t understand the meaning of these words. However, today, when he saw Zhou Zhizhi’s pale face, he vaguely understood what Lin Zhaomian meant.
After asking, Lin Zhaomian seemed to have put his mind at ease, stood up, and left.
Wu Tuisan watched him leave and then went upstairs with a thud.
He knocked on Bai Luoluo’s door, saying, “Come out, come out, Zhou Zhizhi, hurry up and come out.”
Bai Luoluo, in his pajamas, opened the door, asking, “What’s going on?”
Wu Tuisan said, “Damn, what’s going on between you and Master? And that Lin Zhaomian…”
Bai Luoluo said, “Nothing.”
Wu Tuisan asked, “Are you sure? If you don’t tell me, how can I help you cover up?”
Bai Luoluo said, “It’s not that I don’t want to tell you, but if you really want to know, you can ask Lin Zhaomian.”
Wu Tuisan mumbled, “Where would I dare to ask him?” He had been called by Lin Zhaomian a few days ago and given some instructions. Although he didn’t understand why, it was clear that Lin Zhaomian wouldn’t tell him any answers.
Bai Luoluo said, “Then, I can’t tell you either.”
Wu Tuisan said, “Huh?”
Bai Luoluo didn’t continue the conversation with Wu Tuisan. He yawned, showing signs of fatigue, and said he was sleepy, suggesting Wu Tuisan go to bed as well.
Wu Tuisan still wanted to say something, but the words got stuck in his throat, so he could only watch Bai Luoluo close the door.
Back in his room, Bai Luoluo lay on the bed and said, “System, isn’t what I did considered a good deed?”
The system said, “Sigh.”
Bai Luoluo said, “I just haven’t figured out one thing…”
The system asked, “What haven’t you figured out?”
白罗罗 questioned, “So, if the original Zhou Zhizhi in this world also had an extremely Yin physique, why did Lin Zhaomian kill him so decisively instead of keeping him as a bait for the medicine?”
The system explained, “I’ve thought about it, and it’s probably because Zhou Zhizhi in this world doesn’t have an extremely Yin physique.”
Bai Luoluo was puzzled and asked, “What do you mean?”
The system said, “Do you remember what Fourth Sister mentioned about you being dead?”
Bai Luoluo did remember because it left a deep impression on him.
The system continued, “Your body was originally dead, and then you occupied it. Essentially, aren’t you like a dead person? Dead people don’t have Yin energy, so who else has Yin energy?”
It made sense when put that way. Bai Luoluo said, “Oh… I see.”
The system asked, “Feeling tired again?”
Bai Luoluo replied, “Yeah.”
Although the system could block Bai Luoluo’s sense of pain, it couldn’t forcibly change his physical condition, such as the exhaustion and weakness caused by excessive blood loss. There was nothing the system could do about it.
The system said, “Go to sleep.”
Bai Luoluo slowly closed his eyes and fell into slumber.
Bai Luoluo could tell that when he first returned, Lin Zhaomian was very worried that he might change his mind, but he didn’t dare to contact him directly. Revealing any clues could alert Lin Zhaomian, given his keen intuition.
Bai Luoluo didn’t try to explain deliberately; at this point, anything he said wouldn’t be believed by Lin Zhaomian. Instead, he preferred to prove it through his actions.
Lin Zhaomian’s suspicion was extinguished when Bai Luoluo sent the fourth batch of blood.
Initially, Lin Zhaomian didn’t believe Bai Luoluo, even going so far as to have the blood components tested to confirm Bai Luoluo wasn’t deceiving him. Once satisfied that Bai Luoluo hadn’t lied, Lin Zhaomian expressed his complicated gratitude.
“You’re welcome,” Bai Luoluo casually waved his hand. He said, “I’m leaving.”
“Wait.” Lin Zhaomian said, “Take this medicine back and brew it to drink.”
When Bai Luoluo heard about the medicine, he remembered the one Lin Zhaomian had forced him to drink before. He asked, “Is it a medicine that increases the body’s coldness?”
Lin Zhaomian replied, “No, it’s a life-extending medicine. It contains many precious herbs, and the brewing method is inside.”
Bai Luoluo said, “Oh, thank you.”
His attitude remained indifferent, just like before. Lin Zhaomian couldn’t even feel any resentment from him. It was strange, as if… Zhou Zhizhi didn’t care at all whether he lived or died.
“By the way, how much longer can I live?” Bai Luoluo suddenly remembered this and asked.
“About three months.” Lin Zhaomian answered confidently. He added, “Once his body recovers…”
“I understand,” Bai Luoluo nodded and left with the medicine.
Lin Zhaomian watched Bai Luoluo’s departing figure and couldn’t resist pulling out a cigarette from his pocket, lighting it slowly. Zhou Zhizhi… This person was indeed interesting, but unfortunately, he would die soon.
