Phew, the duration of the Peach Blossom Scroll is longer than I expected... Zhang Yuancheng silently let go of his hand, which had been about to remove his plain trousers, and glanced toward the door, sighing, "I'm changing clothes. Could you knock before entering someone else's room?" "I—I—I called you, I really did!" Xiao Green Tea hadn't anticipated seeing such a scene and was momentarily caught off guard, speaking in a stammered manner, yet her gaze remained fixed steadily on Zhang Yuancheng's body, glowing with brightness. The strong, taut pectoral muscles, well-defined abdominal muscles, the sensual waistline, long and powerful legs, perfectly proportioned figure, and smooth muscle contours... Xie Lingxi nearly couldn't tear her eyes away. "Just go now, or I'll be all dramatic—no, I'll be clutching my chest, not to mention my crotch, and shrieking!" Zhang Yuancheng made a clear, impatient gesture to send her away. "Brother Yuanshi..." Xie Lingxi didn't move, instead asking a question seemingly unrelated: "Is Guan Ya your girlfriend?" "Yes!" Zhang Yuanqing gave a positive reply. "Cheating," Xie Lingxi wrinkled her nose, "Why didn't you two sleep together tonight? I never heard a sound from him at all." Ah, yes—this girl has a localized hearing advantage... Upon hearing this, Zhang Yuanqing's gaze settled on the pink wireless headset resting at the base of her neck. This device could pick up sounds in the immediate vicinity; when they had jointly delivered the message of "regret at being an inadequate father" to the Wuhen Hotel, she had used it to monitor the movements of Xiao Yuan after she entered the hotel. "Is it absolutely necessary for a couple to share a bed?" Zhang Yuanqing stated firmly. "Ideal, sincere, and most captivating love is the Platonic kind. Of course, I believe Guan Ya will eventually come around." Perhaps tonight... he silently added to himself. Xie Lingxi suddenly realized, a bright smile spreading across her face, clearly delighted. Then, as if making up her mind, she gathered her courage and spoke softly: "Actually, actually... Brother Yuanshi, I've always admired you. I don't particularly like people my age, because they're so childish. Even among men your age, you're quite the child, really. But you're different from them. You're more mature than your peers, you're so handsome and intelligent, and whenever I'm with you, I always feel happy and secure. I've observed you for so long, yet never managed to get close—until that pesky Guan Ya snatched me away..." Zhang Yuan thought to herself, "You must have thought these words over carefully. Coming right out like this, so direct, I'm completely at a loss on how to respond. This doesn't match your usual personality at all. Hmm, it does suit her nature to make a confession when no one's around—indeed, it fits her character—but absolutely influenced by the Peach Blossom Scroll." He was pondering how to "gently decline" She Lingxi when a young maid hurried up, approached him, lifted her toes to peck at his face, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment. "Yuanshi brother, today next year, I'll turn eighteen. I won't be as overly dramatic as Guan Ya sister." "YOU TWO?!" A voice of astonishment laced with anger echoed from the doorway. Shi Lingxi and Zhang Yuanqing were startled, turning to see the queen—wearing a short, off-shoulder dress and light pants—standing at the entrance in white slippers, her gaze wide with shock. The queen had felt an inexplicable flutter in her heart earlier, then, against her will, had gone upstairs, only to, again against her will, find herself drawn to see the team captain, and now faced a scene that deeply angered her. "Queen, please don't misunderstand..." Zhang Yuanqing's mind raced: How powerful is the Peach Blossom Scroll? Has it summoned one after another? At that moment, the queen quietly closed the door, her gaze moving back and forth between the two. "Captain, there's no need for you to explain—I know it's Xie Lingxi who's been trying to win you over." With that, a enigmatic smile played on her lips. "Captain, wouldn't you rather that what happened just now wasn't known by Guan Ya?" Queen, are you originally from Japan? Zhang Yuanqing sighed, "Do you want a salary raise, or are you applying for long-term use of a certain item?" The queen shook her head, her two silver earrings swaying gently, and fixed her gaze on Zhang Yuanqing with a warm, smiling expression. "Captain, there have been some things I've wanted to tell you for a while now." Zhang Yuanqing's lips twitched slightly. "Are you also implying that you've admired me for a long time?" The queen was momentarily taken aback. "How did you know? Well, yes—Captain, I've admired you for a long time. Give me a chance, then—I'd like to compete with Guan Ya on equal footing." With these words, she exhaled deeply, feeling a profound sense of relief As an outgoing, passionate woman who knows how to love and how to stand her ground, she wouldn't hesitate or act shy when she's fond of a boy—she'd simply pursue him. Zhang Yuanqing sighed, "I'm fine with giving you a chance. All I ask is that you two not feel so awkward that you crack under the pressure." "No way!" Xie Lingxi hugged Zhang Yuanqing's shoulders, puffing out her cheeks at the Queen, "Brother Yuanshi is mine. You can't take him away from me." The Queen glanced at her, "Wait until you're of age, little sister. Besides, the captain isn't yours—he's officially assigned to Guan Ya. If you want him, go talk to Guan Ya yourself." The young green tea girl spoke with a delicate tone, "Brother Yuanshi has never belonged to anyone. How can you treat him like a commodity?" At that moment, the bedroom door swung open with a loud "thud." Guan Ya stood there, smiling gracefully, "Everyone's here. Let's head to the combat room for training." ... Fu Family Village, Dining Hall. Fu Qingyang, dressed in a white robe and weary from his journey, returned to his residence. As he entered the dining room, he paused, startled. Ling Jun sat motionless at the table, his gaze vacant, his expression stunned, as though deeply shaken. A kitchen maid stood nearby, her bright eyes veiled with quiet disappointment. "...Good heavens, she's a force of nature!" In the chaos of the bedroom, Queen Zhang, nose and face bruised, hung from the edge of the bed, her upper body on the floor and lower body on the bed, moaning in pain. "My arms—my arms feel dislocated, Captain. Are you really going to be with Guan Ya? You're going to suffer domestic violence every day. Please reconsider—think of me!" Captain Zhang, equally bruised and lying flat on the floor, gritted his teeth. "Shut up! Do you still think you're getting enough hits? By the way, my knees seem to have suffered a粉碎性 fracture. I'll need at least an hour to recover." Beside them, Xie Lingxi, also bruised and dazed, silently wept. "Wooowww—how could she be so cruel? I told her I didn't want to go to the gym, and yet she attacked me here!" "Brother, your girlfriend is absolutely terrifying!" Could it be that the Peach Blossom Scroll not only attracts love, but also brings the curse of love's violence? Draw another one tomorrow and send it to Lingjun—use him as a test subject, like a white mouse... Zhang Yuanqing sighed, "Lingxi, when you make a mistake, you must acknowledge it. When you're hit, you must stand at attention."... Jiang Chen's apartment, balcony. Mr. Bill, wearing only briefs and a black tank top, leans on the railing with one hand while holding his phone in the other. "President, what would you like me to do?" "What's been happening with the madmen at the Wine God Club?" "Since their surprise attack on Ante Pharmaceuticals last time, they've been staying hidden. The Five Elements Alliance hasn't been able to trace their movements." "Hmph. Are the official people really just sitting on their hands? They're far more corrupt than anyone else—when it comes to handling real business, they completely fall short." The older man's complaints echo through the phone. "President, when it comes to finding needles in haystacks, official institutions around the world are equally helpless," said Mr. Bill, offering a fair remark. "Hmph. Your Chinese is improving steadily. Next Saturday, let's meet for dinner—I have something important to tell you." Oh, major matters are never best discussed over the phone—let me tell you, now that technology has advanced so much, you don’t even need to install eavesdropping devices to listen in on conversations. The old man seemed to be showcasing his impressive knowledge: "Now you understand why governments around the world are supporting their own mobile brands, don’t you? Our merchant association should also have its own dedicated communication tools. I’ll go check it out in the Lingjing sometime." How does this all make sense? Mr. Bill silently sighed and said, "Understood—I’ll meet him on Saturday." As he hung up, footsteps came from behind. A life assistant, dressed in a light silk robe, with golden hair, stepped out, holding a glass of whisky. "What’s the matter with the Chairman?" she asked, offering the drink. "The Chairman has invited me to meet him on Saturday—though he hasn’t specified the details yet." Mr. Bill took a sip of the wine, sighed, and remarked, "I've been thinking about going back home. Being watched over by the Wine God's Club isn't exactly pleasant. Fortunately, I purchased the Break-Sickness Talismans from Yuan Shi—they've given me sufficient resilience against unforeseen events." The female assistant, however, held a different view: "No matter how strong a consumable is, it's gone once it's used up. Props, on the other hand, can be reused. Dear, this deal isn't very worthwhile." "Indeed, it's very worthwhile!" Mr. Bill smiled warmly. "The Sliding-Shoe can only protect me five times, while the Break-Sickness Talismans offer protection for twenty. In my eyes, therefore, it's more valuable than any prop. The worth of an item isn't solely determined by its intrinsic qualities—it depends on the need. Moreover, it's a prop specific to the Void-based profession, aligning with my own attributes and thus not easily replaceable. Additionally, I've received another item from an ancient practitioner—one that may not be particularly powerful, but it possesses a rare and precious attribute: scarcity!" "When I return home, I'll auction it off. I'll notify the Chinese heritage practitioners among the Chinese diaspora—I have a piece of ancient Chinese cultivator's equipment in my hands, a truly historically significant antique symbolizing the splendor of the ancient civilization. It unfortunately ended up overseas. Believe me, they'll be eager to buy it back, ensuring that no more of our nation's treasures are lost abroad." The blonde woman was convinced, her eyes full of admiration. "Oh, dear, you're truly a shrewd businessman." ... The next day, Zhang Yuanqing stepped out of Guan Ya's room, yawning lazily. Last night hadn't been wasted—he had recovered his knee and quietly slipped into her room, citing the room's clutter as a reason to propose sharing the bed. Guan Ya, unusually, didn't refuse. Perhaps she sensed the growing urgency and felt it was wise to treat her young boyfriend with a little extra sweetness. Though he hadn't managed to seal her loopholes, the night spent cradled in the warm, graceful embrace of her mature and full-bodied form left Zhang Yuanqing feeling that the revolution had taken a significant stride forward. They’ve been sharing a bed—how far can it be from cozying up together? Once cozying up is achieved, how far can it be from visiting the children’s palace? He hums a cheerful tune and heads off to the bathroom to wash his underwear. Today at the dining table, there’s only him, Guan Ya, and Jiang Jingwei. The Queen and Xie Lingxi have declined to attend breakfast, citing physical discomfort and stomach issues. After the effect of the Peach Symbol wore off, they’ve been utterly quiet, embarrassed to the point of questioning their own existence—completely unresponsive all night long. “Are they skipping breakfast?” Jiang Jingwei is thrilled to hear this—what a pleasant surprise! “Then I’ll take their portion. My teacher always emphasized that no food should go to waste.” “Ring, ring~” The phone in Zhang Yuanqing’s pocket rings. Upon checking the caller ID, he immediately perks up and answers. “Li brother, have you figured it out?” He smiles. “I can join the patrol team, but I won’t fill out my personal information. I won’t join the official ranks—I’ll simply remain as a temporary staff member.” "Li Chunfeng said, 'Regarding work, I'll do everything in my power to assist you. But outside of work, you shouldn't expect anything from me or pry into my private life. If you agree, I can come to Songhai to report for duty today.' Truly a member of a secret organization. Yet you're making so many demands—effectively telling me you have concerns. Still, that's a sign of honesty. Indeed, you're a true friend who's shared hardships with me... Zhang Yuanqing smiled and said, 'No problem, but we need to draw up a formal agreement—nothing short of ensuring that you won't act in any way to harm me.' Li Chunfeng replied without hesitation, 'Agreed!' After ending the call, he immediately sent Li Chunfeng the address of Fu Family Village villa. After breakfast, his phone rang once again, this time from Fu Qingyang. 'Boss, there's something I wanted to tell you—today a new colleague is arriving in Songhai. I'm bringing him to complete his onboarding procedures. However, his situation is a bit complicated...' Zhang Yuanqing relayed Li Chunfeng's requirements. 'Good!' "Fu Qingyang has consistently met my expectations." "But that doesn't align with the process, doesn't it, boss? You really agree?" "Your own subordinates—you're responsible for guiding them. If anything goes wrong, it's your responsibility!" Fu Qingyang said calmly. That's Fu Qingyang's style—he can generously fulfill most of your requests, yet he never acts as a nanny or a teacher. "What's on your mind?" Zhang Yuanqing brought the conversation back on track. "There's a task that needs you to make a personal visit," Fu Qingyang said.