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E 28

Consciousness gradually awakened from the dark chaos. Luo Zixuan opened his eyes to see the familiar wooden ceiling of Lin Wan's space, finally letting go of the tension he had been holding.


Shaking his heavy head, Luo Zixuan could vaguely sense that there seemed to be a lot more inside him. But when he tried to think about it, he found he couldn't remember anything at all.


Tsk...


Unlike the obedient and gentle demeanor he had in front of Lin Wan, what Luo Zixuan displayed now was the image of indifference, stiffness, and fierce aggression that Lin Wan remembered.


He struggled to grasp those elusive memories in his mind. However, no matter how hard Luo Zixuan tried, those memories slipped away as if they didn't exist, refusing to let him touch even a single thread.


After working hard for a while, he still made no progress in recovering the memories that weighed on him. Luo Zixuan sighed and resigned himself to giving up.


Furrowing his brows, he began to look around for Lin Wan’s figure.


With a turn of his gaze, Luo Zixuan quickly found the person he was searching for—


Lin Wan was curled up on the small bed beside him, frowning and looking as if he was having an uneasy sleep.


The person he cherished was curled up tightly, sleeping awkwardly in a rather uncomfortable position.


The boy’s long, crow-black eyelashes fluttered continuously, resembling two butterflies poised to take flight, ready to vanish in an instant like their owner.


Those who liked to sleep while hugging someone didn’t seem to have a strong sense of security.


Suddenly, a fleeting phrase flashed through Luo Zixuan's mind.


Not having time to grasp that momentary feeling, Luo Zixuan’s heart ached as his gaze fell on Lin Wan’s pale cheek.


He couldn’t help but recall the scenes that unfolded before he lost consciousness, and a wave of sharp pain began to rise in his chest.


His partner, deep down, still had a soft heart, completely unlike the cold and sharp facade he tried to present.


What exactly had happened between them? Why was his partner so... guarded against him?


Lowering his eyelids gently, Luo Zixuan glanced around at the thin blanket that had fallen to the foot of Lin Wan's bed, then quietly got out of bed, planning to cover his partner with a blanket.


If his partner found him annoying, it must mean he hadn't done something right. Once Lin Wan woke up, he would have to apologize properly!


After reflecting on himself, Luo Zixuan's gaze returned to Lin Wan's face.


Someone still needed to keep an eye on him; it really was worrisome. At this age, he still kicked off the blanket while sleeping. What if he caught a cold in this frigid weather?


Forcing himself to ignore the room's constant spring-like warmth, Luo Zixuan picked up the thin blanket, holding a mix of three parts reproach and seven parts sweetness, joyfully preparing to cover Lin Wan.


Then, as he raised his head, he met Lin Wan's dark eyes.


Luo Zixuan: …!!!


Involuntarily startled, Luo Zixuan hurriedly draped the thin blanket over Lin Wan. He then sat upright at the bedside, tense and proper, glancing at Lin Wan like walking on thin ice, and immediately offered a powerful apology.


“Qingqing, I was wrong!”


Lin Wan: …


Lin Wan rubbed his forehead, feeling a headache from Luo Zixuan’s booming voice.


After a nap filled with jumbled dreams, Lin Wan was still in a terribly foul mood.


“You were wrong?”


Pushing himself up slowly, Lin Wan lightly waved away Luo Zixuan's hand that reached to help him.


He leaned against the bedside table, watching Luo Zixuan, who was gazing at him with shining eyes, a cold smile tugging at his lips.


“Well then, tell me, what did you do wrong?”


Luo Zixuan: “…”


“I... I made you angry.” Luo Zixuan cautiously replied, peering at Lin Wan.


At his answer, Lin Wan fell silent for a moment.


He looked quietly at Luo Zixuan, who was once his greatest rival, now staring back at him, handsome and obedient.


The once calm eyes now sparkled with light from their gaze. A warm and comforting presence nestled beside him, looking soft and exuding a healing aura like sunshine.


For someone like him, with an inner coldness, it seemed to have an extremely strong and fatal attraction.


But what of it? It wasn’t his, so he didn’t want it.


Recalling the long-buried truth revealed by the Wang family’s father during a meal; remembering the struggles and heartache he went through long ago to earn that false, hypocritical concern and love that never existed, Lin Wan felt a wave of nausea wash over him.


It wasn't his, so he didn’t want it anymore.


What was the point of being lost in this illusion of love? Wouldn’t he just be brutally punished by the cold reality once the dream ended?


He doesn't want to.


He can live very well on his own.


“Luo Zixuan, listen to me.”


Just as Lin Wan was about to adjust his sitting position, Luo Zixuan quickly placed a pillow behind his back.


The pillow was soft and comfortable, and leaning against it felt incredibly good.


Lin Wan comfortably squinted his eyes, then suddenly realized something was off.


He glared at Luo Zixuan fiercely, furrowing his brow as he reprimanded, “No touching! Sit properly!”


“Okay.”


Upon receiving Lin Wan's order, Luo Zixuan immediately placed his hands on his knees, sitting straight and upright, like a well-behaved child in kindergarten, blinking his eyes at Lin Wan in a compliant manner.


Lin Wan: …


Seeing Luo Zixuan like this, Lin Wan felt words of reprimand he had ready on his lips suddenly become stuck. Helpless, he swallowed his urge to nitpick and got straight to the point.


“From now on, don’t call me ‘Qingqing,’ understand?”


!!!


Luo Zixuan's hands, which had been resting on his knees, suddenly clenched into fists, and his gaze towards Lin Wan was filled with grievance.


“Why? Did I do something wrong? I can change it; Qingqing you…”


“Shut up.”


Lin Wan lost his temper the moment Luo Zixuan looked at him with those soft, pleading eyes. To keep his steadfast belief from wavering again, he directly interrupted Luo Zixuan and coldly said, “I don’t know what ‘Qingqing’ means in your place. But here, ‘Qingqing’ is a term only two very close people can use. You need to change it; it’s inappropriate.”


Yesterday afternoon, relying on his incredible memory, Lin Wan had managed to complete both the Chinese and English exams in just one afternoon, shocking everyone present, and realizing that Luo Zixuan had been taking advantage of him all along.


Thus, the first thing he did after regaining consciousness was to correct Luo Zixuan’s mistake of using a term that could easily lead to misunderstandings.


However, what surprised him was that Luo Zixuan, who had been obedient to him since his amnesia, was inexplicably stubborn on this matter.


“I won’t.”


Luo Zixuan quietly countered, lowering his head to avoid Lin Wan’s gaze, but still firmly rejected the request.


“I don’t want to.”


Seeing Luo Zixuan sulking like a little kid throwing a tantrum, Lin Wan felt a surge of anger rise within him.


“You don’t even understand this matter; there’s no negotiation! Do you know what ‘Qingqing’ means? You just shout it out randomly! It’s a term meant for someone you like, do you understand?!”


“I know,” Luo Zixuan replied quietly.


If you know, then why do you still shout it out?! Lin Wan’s anger flared, and he opened his mouth to retort, only to be struck speechless by what happened next.


He saw his rival lift his head, his eyes filled with a sparkle that Lin Wan couldn’t comprehend.


“But, but I really like you.”


Luo Zixuan looked at Lin Wan, his ears and neck flushed bright red.


Feeling the heat rising on his face, Luo Zixuan fixed his gaze on Lin Wan and softly expressed his feelings.


“I like you, Qingqing. I only like you, the most in the whole world.”


Hearing this overly childish confession, Lin Wan’s shocked brain slowly began to function again.


This silly kid with amnesia must have confused dependency with love.


Realizing this, Lin Wan coldly shot down Luo Zixuan’s confession.


“You’re currently amnesiac, so your mind isn’t functioning properly. You don’t actually like me; what you think is love is just dependence. Don’t say such things again.”


Luo Zixuan: ???


Why doesn’t his partner believe that he likes him, even after such an obvious confession?


“I like you!”


Luo Zixuan was a bit anxious. Why doesn’t his partner believe him, no matter how he confesses?


Looking at Lin Wan’s frowning face, which was beginning to show impatience, Luo Zixuan decisively cast aside his shyness and loudly declared,


“I like you! It’s not dependence; I really like you!”


Upon seeing this, Lin Wan frowned even more, his anger starting to boil. How can this person not understand human language?


“You don’t like me!”


“I do!”


“... Don’t argue with me. I’ll say it one more time: that’s not love!”


“It is love!”


“…”


“Love! It’s love! I like you the most in the whole world! I like you!”


Seeing that Lin Wan had fallen silent, Luo Zixuan quickly reiterated his feelings once more.


“... Like, like, what do you even like? You were not like this before!”


A surge of anger settled within Lin Wan, and he felt like he was about to go insane.


He glared at Luo Zixuan, wishing he could jump out of bed and smash this idiot's head, his tone filled with irritation.


“Like me? You idiot, how can you say you like me?! Back in the cultivation world, you chased after me every day, hitting me until everyone in the cultivation world knew we were rivals! You still have the nerve to say you like me? Don’t joke around!”


Hearing this, Luo Zixuan froze for a moment, stunned by his past actions.


Oh my God, why did I ever hit Qingqing?!


“Is this true? How could I be so idiot before?!” he asked in disbelief.


… So you know you were idiot


Seeing Luo Zixuan’s look of disbelief and outrage at his past self, Lin Wan found that he couldn’t stay angry any longer, only feeling a deep weariness.


Seeing that he was even scolding himself, Lin Wan understood that his memory loss had affected his brain. So despite feeling conflicted, after hesitating for a moment, Lin Wan still frowned and reminded him.


"Do you know what 'idiot' means? You just use it randomly. 'Idiot' here is an insult."


"Look, look! My Dao partner couldn't bear to scold me. My Dao partner really cares about me!!!"


After treating himself to a bunch of sweet thoughts, Luo Zixuan covered his face with his hands and excitedly shouted for a while. He then maintained an outward calmness and quickly changed his tone.


"Qingqing, don't worry. I was an absolute idiot before, but I promise I’m not an idiot at all now!"


"I will work hard to be a good Dao partner!"


"I will definitely be a good Dao partner!"


Lin Wan looked at Luo Zixuan expressionlessly, watching his excited and serious face, wishing he could write "Pick me, I’m super sweet!" on his face and shout it through a loudspeaker twenty-four hours a day. For a moment, Lin Wan was so annoyed that his head ached.


"I've told you so many times that you don't like me! You like your Dao partner! ...Wait, no. Who did you just say is your Dao partner??!"


Seeing Lin Wan's shocked and disbelieving expression, Luo Zixuan finally sensed something was wrong.


"Aren't you my Dao partner?"


"Of course not!!"


Lin Wan was about to explode. He finally understood why Luo Zixuan was acting so strangely after losing his memory; it turned out he had mistaken Lin Wan for his so-called Dao partner!


Thinking about how he had inexplicably played the role of a stand-in for a while, Lin Wan felt even worse.


"You have a Dao partner, you know? Stop shouting nonsense!"


"Do I have a Dao partner? If I do, it would only be you!"


Looking at Luo Zixuan’s stubborn face, Lin Wan felt as if he had returned to the cultivation world. Back then, Luo Zixuan had been just as stubborn, clinging to him, and then… giving him a beating.


Recalling the not-so-great memories from the cultivation world, Lin Wan felt extremely miserable.


He looked at Luo Zixuan, who was completely unconcerned, and his tone gradually turned cold.


"Your Dao partner is not me; I'm your nemesis. Your Dao partner is still in the cultivation world. The whole cultivation world is buzzing about it—you have a legendary Dao partner, not me! If you want to find a Dao partner, go look for one over there!"


"If you're not my Dao partner, then I have no Dao partner," Luo Zixuan stubbornly replied.


Seeing Lin Wan's cold gaze, Luo Zixuan’s mind twisted and turned until it landed on a strange thought.


"Qingqing, do you suspect that I cheated? I didn't cheat on you; I have no Dao partner contract! So—"


Luo Zixuan nodded and looked at Lin Wan with certainty.


"The legendary one you mentioned is definitely a rumor and not your Dao partner!"


"If I have a Dao partner, it can only be you!"


Lin Wan: ???


Who would have thought? After such a long time, he hadn't even formed a Dao partner contract with anyone, and Luo Zixuan is such a scumbag...


With a headache from Luo Zixuan's arguments, Lin Wan closed his eyes and decided to skip this topic.


"Alright, since that’s the case, will you listen to what I say?"


"I will!" Finally convincing his stubborn Dao partner, Luo Zixuan was all smiles.


"Then, from now on, you must not call me Qingqing."


"QAQ"


Seeing his Dao partner's brows furrowed and looking irritable, Luo Zixuan swallowed the urge to ask for a Dao partner contract and reluctantly accepted this "unreasonable" request.


"Okay."


"Alright, next thing."


Originally, changing how they addressed each other was just something he intended to mention casually, but he didn't expect Luo Zixuan to argue for so long.


Rubbing his temples, Lin Wan tiredly asked, "What happened last night? Why did you faint as soon as you left the space?"


Recalling what happened last night, Luo Zixuan was also a bit confused.


"I’m not too sure. The moment I left the space, I felt a strong tearing pain in my heart and soul, and then I couldn't hold on any longer and fell into a coma. When I woke up, I was in Qingqing's..."


Remembering that Lin Wan said not to call him Qingqing, Luo Zixuan felt wronged and corrected himself. "When I woke up, I was in your space, Wanwan."


"…You can't call me Qingqing, and you can't call me Wanwan either."


Huh? Why not!


Looking at Luo Zixuan's dissatisfied face, who was about to start whining again, Lin Wan sighed and compromised.


"Zezhi, you can call me by my name in the cultivation world."


"…Alright," Luo Zixuan said, feeling wronged.


"…"


Hurry and get better, then get out of here.


Suppressing his inner frustration, Lin Wan once again asked, "Think carefully about what happened before that tearing sensation occurred yesterday?"


"Um… let me think."


Luo Zixuan tilted his head to one side, presenting his handsome profile perfectly to Lin Wan. Then he extended his slender finger, seemingly absentmindedly sliding it over his thin lips.


After acting all pretentious for a while, Luo Zixuan saw Lin Wan's cold indifference and dejectedly retracted his little act.


He then switched tactics and tried to use his sincere feelings to touch Lin Wan's cold heart.


"When I was sent out yesterday, I didn't want to part with you and felt too reluctant, so I carefully recorded my feelings at that moment with my spiritual awareness..."


"Get to the point."


Since the emotional tactic didn't work, Luo Zixuan had no choice but to honestly begin recounting.


"I remember clearly that the moment I left, the tearing sensation began to appear and peaked when the space closed."


"In that split second when the space closed, I felt an extremely strong pulling and tearing sensation, so strong that if you hadn’t pulled me back, my soul might have been torn in two…"



Hearing this, Lin Wan furrowed his brows.


Tearing apart a soul was no small matter, especially since Luo Zixuan’s soul was already injured and hadn’t healed. If it were to suffer another heavy blow, the consequences could be extremely serious.


What was going on? Did Luo Zixuan bind himself to his space? Would he die if he left?


Lin Wan didn’t intend to keep Luo Zixuan but certainly didn’t want him to die either. If this problem wasn’t resolved, how could he possibly expel Luo Zixuan?


Lin Wan tried to recall the events from last night, attempting to find the cause of what had happened. However, he realized that due to his terrible mood last night, his memories were not as clear as Luo Zixuan's.


After pondering for a moment, Lin Wan tentatively asked Luo Zixuan, “If you don’t mind, shall we try again? This time, I’ll attach my consciousness to you to see what went wrong.”


“I don’t mind,” Luo Zixuan shook his head, his gaze at Lin Wan filled with seriousness. “You can do whatever you want with me.”


Caught off guard by Luo Zixuan's earnest look, Lin Wan paused briefly before quietly averting his gaze.


Those who indulge in the warmth of delusions will ultimately freeze to death in the winter.


Steadying his mind, Lin Wan carefully attached his consciousness to Luo Zixuan, then nodded at him and said, “Are you ready? I’m going to start.”


Immediately, a tingling sensation flashed through him like an electric current, causing Lin Wan to shudder slightly.


With a fierce glare, Lin Wan looked at Luo Zixuan, who had quietly reached out his consciousness and was trying to rub against Lin Wan’s. His tone was laced with obvious irritation. “If you move again, I’ll throw you out!”


Seeing Luo Zixuan quickly retract his consciousness and become obedient, Lin Wan rubbed his forehead and focused back on the task at hand.


He enveloped Luo Zixuan’s consciousness and gradually moved towards the outside world.


His space was located within his sea of consciousness, strictly speaking, it didn’t exist within the geographical dimensions of Earth.


Lin Wan cautiously moved Luo Zixuan outward, step by step… but the tearing effect Luo Zixuan mentioned never appeared.


Could this guy be lying to him?


Looking at Luo Zixuan, who seemed completely unharmed, Lin Wan frowned and silently quickened his pace.


Still, nothing happened.


However, just as Luo Zixuan lowered his head under Lin Wan’s accusing gaze, at the moment he completely left the space, his face suddenly turned pale, and he couldn’t help but let out a muffled groan.


At that instant, Lin Wan’s tightly attached consciousness felt a vast and ancient power.


This power exuded an air of antiquity and desolation, transforming into a thin chain that wrapped around both their souls, connecting Lin Wan and Luo Zixuan together.


The chain was short and had now been pulled taut.


Strangely, however, this chain operated on a peculiar principle.


Though both were linked by the chain, after it had tensed, it inflicted significant damage to Luo Zixuan’s godly soul, yet it did not harm Lin Wan in the slightest.


Seeing this, Lin Wan spread out his consciousness. He gazed at the tightly drawn chain, wanting to investigate its origin and purpose.


But noticing Luo Zixuan's already pale complexion, Lin Wan couldn’t bear it any longer and prepared to pull Luo Zixuan back into his space.


Just as he was about to act, an unexpected thought flashed through Lin Wan's mind.


Maintaining the open state of his space, Lin Wan chose not to pull Luo Zixuan back but instead stepped out of the space himself.


Sure enough, at the moment he left the space and entered the room, the taut chain between them loosened.


It gradually faded into a phantom, and the chain disappeared bit by bit from Lin Wan’s perception, ultimately vanishing as if it had never existed.


There was something wrong with that chain.


“Did you feel that chain…?”


Lin Wan lifted his gaze to discuss the chain with Luo Zixuan, but upon seeing Luo Zixuan at that moment, he was momentarily speechless.


Luo Zixuan’s face was flushed, and he looked somewhat shy. He was trying hard to turn his head, attempting to rub against Lin Wan’s consciousness.


He looked like a dog sneaking up to its owner to rub its head against their hand while the owner was distracted, with a silly grin on his face.


Lin Wan: …What a weirdo!


Seeing this, Lin Wan stepped back three steps with a cold expression.


The distance between them increased, and the chain dutifully reappeared.


The taut iron chain dutifully sprang into action, delivering a soul-stinging blow to the still dazed Luo Zixuan.


Luo Zixuan: !!!


Pleased to see Luo Zixuan’s silly smile freeze instantly, Lin Wan stepped forward three paces, returning to his original position.


This time, he was prepared. The moment the chain appeared, he swiftly acted, wrapping it tightly with his consciousness in an attempt to uncover its origin and destination.


But it was still useless. As he and Luo Zixuan drew closer, the chain instantly vanished into thin air.


It disappeared decisively as if it had never existed. Even with Lin Wan’s godly consciousness, he could not detect any trace of the chain.


This chain is suspicious…


Pushing aside Luo Zixuan’s head, which was trying to get closer to him, Lin Wan glanced at the clock on the wall of the hotel and suddenly became serious.


“It’s already six o'clock? I still have tutoring to attend!”



"Ah? What’s tutoring?"


Seeing Lin Wan look like he was about to leave, Luo Zixuan hurriedly grabbed his hand and asked curiously, "Ze Zhi, can I go to that tutoring session?"


"Of course not."


Lin Wan rubbed Luo Zixuan's confused head, raising his chin slightly with a tone full of superiority.


"Today's tutoring is meant for people like me who have a certain foundation and can make quick progress. Someone like you, who hasn’t even attended school, would take too long to catch up and isn’t suitable to tutor alongside me."


"Ze Zhi is so amazing!"


Although he still didn’t understand anything, that didn’t stop Luo Zixuan from showering Lin Wan with compliments.


After closing his eyes and mindlessly praising him, Luo Zixuan looked at Lin Wan, his dark eyes full of anticipation.


"Can Ze Zhi take me with him? I don’t want to be apart from you."


This guy’s words have become so sweet since he lost his memory…


Facing Luo Zixuan's earnest expression, Lin Wan was quite tempted, but then he firmly refused.


"No, you stay here and behave."


"But that chain..."


Before Luo Zixuan could finish his sentence, Lin Wan raised his hand and pulled him back into his space.


"There, that’s settled."


Clapping his hands, Lin Wan grabbed his backpack and walked towards the bus stop.


He had an appointment with the teachers at seven-thirty, so he couldn’t be late.


In the space, Luo Zixuan flipped through the high school textbooks Lin Wan had tossed him, looking doubtful.


Ze Zhi said that once he understood this book, he would take him to tutoring, but why did he feel like he was so familiar with it?


It seemed… quite simple?



---


By the time Lin Wan arrived at the Wang family home, it was just seven o’clock.


Mr. Wang warmly invited Lin Wan to have breakfast with them and, after they finished, handed him a cup of brewed tea.


"Um, Master Lin, may I ask what you plan to do about yesterday’s incident?"


Hearing this, Lin Wan paused for a moment before turning the topic back.


"What do you mean, Mr. Wang?"


As expected of a master, his ability to adjust psychologically is impressive. For a normal person, it would take at least several days to recover from such a situation, but the master managed to cope in just one night—truly remarkable!


Unbeknownst to Lin Wan, who was too preoccupied with Luo Zixuan to think deeply, Wang Youqian internally praised him.


After steadying his nerves by taking a sip of tea, Wang Youqian cautiously said, "If you have no objections, may I take care of this matter? I promise to handle it properly for you!"


Lin Wan hesitated for a moment. He looked at Wang Youqian, who wore a sincere expression, and ultimately voiced his doubts.


"Why is Mr. Wang so eager to help me?"


Facing Lin Wan’s confusion, Wang Youqian sighed and replied, "I know that, in the eyes of a Tianshi, money isn’t a very valuable bargaining chip. For local tycoons in a small city like ours, it’s quite difficult to establish a relationship with a Tianshi."


"You might not be familiar with the current state of the Tianshi world, Mr. Lin. Talented Tianshi like you are in high demand, and people like us are often trying to curry favor with you."


"Just like the two Tianshi before, especially the young prodigy, Miss Xu Shan; many people want to build a good relationship with her. After all, what might seem trivial to you could be a disaster for us ordinary people in certain situations."


After listening to Wang Youqian’s explanation, Lin Wan was momentarily stunned.


Are Tianshi on Earth now this well-off? Even money isn’t considered a high-value bargaining chip anymore?!


How powerful was that little girl? She was already regarded as a young prodigy?!


Lin Wan, who was clueless about the situation, was shocked by this favorable trend, while Wang Youqian continued to persuade him earnestly to gain favor.


"So, Mr. Lin, you can rest assured to hand this matter over to me. I will do my utmost to help you! In Lin’an, I, Wang, still have some influence!"


Wang Youqian's emphatic guarantee snapped Lin Wan back to reality. After considering it, he nodded in agreement with Wang Youqian's offer.


According to Wang Youqian's explanation, if that little girl could be considered a prodigy, then Lin Wan’s abilities must be quite formidable on Earth.


With that in mind, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to establish a mutually beneficial relationship with this Mr. Wang.


With this thought, Lin Wan took out two protective talismans from his space and handed them over to Wang Youqian.


"If that’s the case, then thank you, Mr. Wang."


"No need to thank me, it’s nothing!"


Wang Youqian reached out his little hand towards the two talismans, his face beaming with a smile that made his cheeks puff up and his eyes squint into tiny slits.


Mr. Lin is truly generous! He’s already giving a reward before the job is even done. Nowadays, a single talisman is incredibly expensive; it’s rare to find a kind and sincere Tianshi like Mr. Lin!


After silently praising Lin Wan again, Wang Youqian took the talismans.


However, the moment he received them, he was visibly stunned.


A warm current flowed from the talismans, spreading throughout his body and washing away all his fatigue and weariness.


An unprecedented sense of security enveloped Wang Youqian, and he vaguely felt he experienced the kind of comfort and safety a baby feels in the womb.


These talismans were a hundred times more effective than the ones Xu Shu had given him!


"Mr. Wang? What’s wrong?"


Seeing Wang Youqian frozen in place, Lin Wan’s heart sank slightly.


Wouldn’t Boss Wang discover that the talisman in his hand was drawn by himself when he was practicing in the cultivation world?


Although it wasn’t as effective as the pile of divine-level talismans in his hand, Lin Wan could guarantee that his talisman was definitely much better than the ones on Earth!


Moreover, those divine-level talismans he held were highly sought after in the cultivation world. The red cinnabar paper used was of the highest quality. If Boss Wang wanted something like that, he would definitely need to raise the price to sell them!


Just as Lin Wan hesitated about whether to explain the situation, Wang Youqian suddenly shivered, and his gaze towards him flickered with a hint of greed.


“Mr. Lin, don’t worry! I promise I’ll take care of this properly!!”


He vigorously shook Lin Wan's hand and, like he had been injected with adrenaline, grabbed his briefcase and rushed out.


“If you have any business in the future, just find me! It’s a sure thing!!!”


Although Wang Youqian had already left, his voice lingered behind.


That passionate, excited voice echoed in the ceiling of the Wang family's mansion, lingering for a long time before fading away.


“Has my dad… lost his mind?”


Wang Gaofei was jolted awake from his sweet dream by his father’s shout. Hugging his little pillow, he dazedly walked from the second-floor bedroom to the living room.


“What’s wrong with my dad?” he mumbled through a mouthful of a cold bun.


“I’m not quite sure either.”


Lin Wan hesitated and shook his head, uncertainly thinking. But it seemed that he was quite satisfied with the compensation?



---


After Lin Wan finished his breakfast and tried to swim through the sea of study materials, the Lin family was in complete silence.


For Lin's father and mother, yesterday was probably a day they would never forget in their lives.


First, they were called to the police station and informed that their son was suspected of intentional homicide, and they were urged to find a lawyer for a defense as soon as possible.


Then they were mercilessly scolded by the female side's parents, who arrived upon hearing the news, with the female parent, distraught, grabbing at them in despair.


Next, they received a phone call that solemnly informed them that Lin Wan had incurred a debt of five hundred thousand in usury. The other party had already filed a case, and if it wasn’t repaid quickly, they would take their son to court.


After hanging up the usury call, Lin Mother received another call from her company. The debt collectors had called the company, demanding payment from everyone even remotely associated with Lin Mother. She was officially fired, and the Lin family completely lost their source of income.


Upon returning home, the tense and on-edge Lin Father and Lin Mother erupted into a massive shouting match in the living room. They pushed and insulted each other, desperately blaming the other for their failures. By the end, they sat together, holding their heads and crying.


At this moment, the morning sunlight poured into the messy living room, illuminating the faces of Lin Father and Lin Mother, which were filled with numbness and exhaustion from a sleepless night.


“Let’s just repay the debt first. Don’t you still have over a million from Lin Wan? Pay off the usury, and then take the remaining money to negotiate with that girl’s family to see if we can get their understanding and lighten the punishment for Yaoyao.”


“What do you mean, Lin Wan? That’s the money for our Yaoyao to buy a house and marry a wife!”


Lin Father’s words struck a nerve in Lin Mother, who slammed the floor hard and shouted hoarsely,


“It’s all Lin Wan’s fault! He killed his own short-lived parents and came to harm our family! If it weren’t for him, how would our Yaoyao end up like this!”


“Stop yelling!”


Lin Father, with huge dark circles under his eyes, frowned and said through a headache from Lin Mother’s loud voice,


“What does it have to do with Lin Wan? I’ve wanted to say this for a long time. You took compensation from his parents; you should at least treat him a bit better. If Lin Wan hadn’t left, wouldn’t we have an extra laborer to work and earn money? What’s the point of this?”


“Did I take it? What do you mean I took it? Lin Li Qun, do you have any heart? I did it all for this family! Isn’t it your fault for being useless? At your age, you’re still just an ordinary employee. If it weren’t for that unlucky star’s parents’ compensation, could our family live so comfortably?”


Lin Mother roared, “Now it’s good. Every bad thing is my fault, huh? It serves you right that your family is unlucky. You’re all a bunch of heartless dogs!”


Seeing Lin Mother throwing a tantrum on the floor, crying and making a scene, Lin Father felt a deep annoyance wash over him.


He hesitated for a moment while sitting on the sofa but ultimately made a resolute decision.


He stood up, helped Lin Mother onto the sofa, sighed, and spoke gently and seriously,


“I’m sorry, it’s all my fault. Don’t be angry, okay? I know you’ve put in too much for this family. You should go get some sleep; I’ll hurry to pay off the usury. You know how these people are; they charge compound interest, and every day late means more debt.”


Looking at her rarely affectionate husband, Lin Mother felt a flicker of warmth in her eyes.


Even in the face of hardship, what did it matter? As long as their family worked together, they could weather any storm.


Resting her head on Lin Father’s warm chest, Lin Mother closed her eyes, her face filled with exhaustion.


“The bankbook is in the bottom compartment of the wardrobe. The password is Yaoyao’s birthday. Hurry up and pay it back.”


“Okay.”


Lin Father leaned down and kissed Lin Mother on the forehead, speaking softly.


“I’ll carry you to bed to sleep. When you wake up, everything will be better.”


“Mm.”


Tears welled up in Lin Mother’s eyes, filled with deep emotion.


At that moment, she knew she hadn’t married the wrong person.


After settling her heart, Lin Mother lay in bed and slept for a long time.


But when she finally woke up and took the bankbook to withdraw money, Lin Father never returned.


“Lin Li Qun, you beast! May you die a terrible death!”


Looking at the debt collectors at the door, Lin's mother’s eyes were filled with resentment and malice.


Inside the bus station, Lin's father, who deliberately dressed very simply, tightly gripped his sweaty hands, holding a large black cloth bag as he boarded a dilapidated bus heading to the countryside.


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