Chapter Twelve: Master Lu

Yaya? Which Yaya?

Feng... Yaya?

In that instant, Ye Yan felt as if a thunderbolt had struck him. His hand, clutching the phone, trembled uncontrollably.

No, what's going on? That girl always calls me Brother-in-law Ye Yan, doesn't she? Why... why did she suddenly change the way she addresses me, and without a hint or warning? Damn it!

His heart was in shambles.

His hands shook.

This... this was social death.

Ye Yan felt the whole world turn gray and dull. He hurriedly messaged Feng Shayan, desperately hoping to salvage his crumbling reputation.

But as soon as the message was sent, a huge red exclamation mark popped up.

[The recipient is not your friend. Please verify your identity before chatting.]

It's over.

Ye Yan sat frozen on the couch.

Just then, Xia He, fresh from her shower and toweling her damp hair, stepped out of the bathroom. She caught sight of Ye Yan in his social death throes and, curious, leaned in.

"What happened?"

"Nothing," Ye Yan quickly shifted his position, hiding his phone screen and putting on an expression of perfect innocence.

Xia He glanced at the phone, then at Ye Yan sitting cross-legged on the couch, her eyes filled with suspicion. She gave a dismissive snort and said,

"Tch, what's there to hide? Little thing, is there any part of you your big sister hasn't seen?"

Ye Yan: "..."

He suspected this woman was being suggestive, and he had proof—the metaphorical wheels were running all over his face.

Yes: exactly that kind of chaos.

Ye Yan had no energy to bicker with her. Just as he was about to put away his phone, a pair of slender, alabaster arms slipped around his neck, and Xia He pressed her whole body against him.

Her hair was still damp, misty with the lingering scent of osmanthus, an intoxicating sweetness, a damned allure.

"Hiss~"

With such softness in his arms, Ye Yan's mind wandered against his will, and he drifted off in thought. In that moment, his phone was whisked away.

"Oh no..."

Ye Yan came to his senses with a start, reaching out to snatch it back, but he saw those long, nimble fingers tapping rapidly on the screen, entering his passcode.

Then she froze.

A moment later, peals of laughter erupted, loud as barbells clanging.

"Goose, goose, goose, goose, goose—"

"Little man, who would have thought you had such… tastes? Clearly I've underestimated you."

"Are you the reincarnation of Cao Cao?"

Xia He was laughing so hard she couldn't straighten up, slapping the couch with both hands, tears streaming down her face.

Ye Yan, meanwhile, looked pale as a ghost.

Two rounds of social death within a single day. He just wanted to know—right now… if he booked a ticket for Mars, would it still be in time?

...

High-quality ingredients often require only the simplest preparation. After a long, exhausting day, Master Lu lay tossing and turning in bed, unable to sleep.

He, a dignified member of Quanxing, was actually reduced to washing dishes, mopping floors, taking out trash, and tidying up the house.

Thinking back on today’s ordeal, Master Lu’s anger surged.

Especially that despicable man—how dare he threaten me! Who does he think he is?

The more he thought, the angrier he became. And the angrier he got, the more he brooded.

Lost in such thoughts, Lu Liang sat up abruptly, clenched his fists, and pounded the mattress.

Damn Ye Yan.

Damn bastard.

Thirty years on the east bank, thirty on the west—the wheel of fortune turns. This grudge... I, Lu Liang, will remember.

Unable to sleep, unable to let go, Master Lu finally gave up on rest entirely. He grabbed his phone and opened the community app, hoping to find some explosive news or interesting events.

After all, their recent activities had caused quite a stir—even the authorities were involved. Surely, by now, many people must be paying attention.

This thought cheered him slightly.

As one of the participants, Lu Liang felt a strange sense of satisfaction, as if reviewing his own handiwork.

Suddenly, a notification popped up.

[Shocking! Quanxing’s top master, Dingjima An, caught doing this to a man at midnight…]

"Dingjima An?"

"Quanxing’s top master?"

The moment he saw the notification, Master Lu froze, feeling as though he’d heard the name before.

Suddenly, he remembered.

Dingjima An, the top master of Quanxing, ranked even higher within the faction than the acting leader, Gong Qing—on the same level as Xia Liuqing and Mei Jinfeng.

News about such a figure?

Shocked, Master Lu clicked the notification and quickly skimmed the article, eager to see what kind of commotion this titan had caused in the community.

A few glances gave Lu Liang the gist: it was a duel.

Against someone called the Night Watchman.

And… he lost.

Unbelievable.

Though astonished, Master Lu didn’t think too much of it. The world of the extraordinary ran deep—even someone as formidable as Dingjima An could stumble.

There were two photos attached beneath the article.

One showed Dingjima An seated cross-legged.

The other was a side profile, taken in the dark. The low resolution made it hard to discern the person’s features.

Yet, the more Lu Liang looked, the more familiar that figure seemed—especially that thick, black weapon.

It looked about seventy percent like the one from this afternoon.

"A coincidence, it has to be a coincidence."

How could that bastard possibly have defeated Dingjima An? That was… the top master of Quanxing! Absolutely—absolutely impossible.

Master Lu swallowed hard.

Unconvinced, he zoomed in on the photo.

But the more he looked, the more familiar it seemed.

In the end, he could only admit defeat.

They were the same person.

...

Dreamless through the night.

Ye Yan awoke in the morning to the sensation of someone clinging to him like a koala.

Clothes were strewn all over the bedroom floor.

Dark circles under his eyes, Ye Yan rubbed his temples in resignation and began pulling on his clothes, piece by piece.

He’d locked the door before turning in last night, but still, someone had snuck in during the night.

What a relentless juice-squeezer.

Ye Yan sighed helplessly.

But for people like them, a simple locked door was hardly a barrier.

Not even worth thinking about.

Ye Yan gently nudged Xia He aside, got up quietly, washed up, and headed for the kitchen to make breakfast.

But as soon as he opened the door, he was stunned by the scene before him.

The living room was spotless, gleaming as if brand new. Master Lu, up at dawn and sporting dark circles, was drenched in sweat as he mopped the floor again and again. The floor shone as if freshly waxed.

What was up with this kid?

Had he turned over a new leaf? Up early doing chores?

Ye Yan was utterly baffled.

Hearing footsteps, Lu Liang looked up and met Ye Yan’s yawning gaze. He forced an awkward smile and, with a stiff voice, asked,

“Big brother, you’re up?”

“Huh?”

Ye Yan was confused, not understanding the situation at all, when Lu Liang suddenly dropped to his knees in a tiger-pounce pose, bowed his head, and spoke sincerely,

“Big brother, yesterday’s conflict was my fault. Please, I beg your forgiveness for my rudeness.”

“Eh?”

Ye Yan was completely at a loss.

Master Lu continued, “Please, let me do the housework from now on. I beg you, big brother.”

“I will do my utmost, and never let you down. Please, I hope you can trust me.”