Ke Bu quickly grew accustomed to—and even came to enjoy—this busy way of life. The sea breeze blew comfortably through every corner, and everywhere around him were people’s smiles and laughter: groups of friends playing together, couples strolling arm in arm, chubby-bellied children gathering seashells, and families constantly taking photographs to preserve the memories. Unlike the suffocating pressure of the city, troubles were not forgotten here, but they could at least be set aside.
He sat beside Lan Yin and looked at her. “Lan Yin, after being divorced for so many years, would you be happy if you found someone else?” Lan Yin did not look at him. She merely flipped through the account book with casual disinterest. “Are you trying to hear the answer you want from me?”
Ke Bu froze, then hurriedly denied it. “I was just wondering whether a person gets lonely.”
“Lonely? What kind of thing is that? Besides, I occasionally go out and have a one-night stand, absorbing men’s energy to preserve my youth.”
Are you the Black Mountain Demoness? Ke Bu mocked her inwardly, though his face maintained a humbly inquisitive expression.
“Ke Bu.”
“What is it, Your Highness?”
“Put the money you stole back before tonight.”
“…”
The moment Chu Hao Yu pulled open the door, customers surged inside and eagerly took their seats. Before long, a girl walked up to the register holding her bill. She handed it to Ke Bu and stared at him while stammering, “Um, well, I wanted to ask… Does that boy standing over there have a girlfriend?”
Ke Bu raised his head and smiled brightly at her. “He does.”
The girl’s brows knitted in disappointment. “Is it one of the girls who works here?”
Ke Bu propped his chin on one hand and narrowed his eyes. “It’s me.”
The girl burst out laughing. “You’re so funny.”
Ke Bu was used to it. No matter whom he told the truth to, no matter how seriously he said it, they only treated it as a joke. Disappointment was inevitable. From the moment he decided to fall for Zhi Li, he had understood the consequences he would have to endure. He had spent a great deal of time making himself a little stronger, and then stronger still. He did not want to stand behind Zhi Li in the position of someone who needed protection. He wanted to stand beside him, in the position of someone who could share the burden.
Yet his strength still lost to disappointment. They did not even believe that person belonged to him, but how could he blame them? It had taken Ke Bu many years to believe it himself.
Who did not want to proclaim their happiness aloud? But this unusual love would receive no blessings, only curses. So who would still want to proclaim their happiness aloud?
From the corner of his eye, Zhi Li glanced toward the register, where the two of them were chatting enthusiastically, but said nothing. Suddenly, he did something exceptionally childish. Ke Bu saw it clearly: Zhi Li threw the pen he had been using to take orders at the girl. It struck her on the head, and she turned around in confusion, unable to understand what had happened. Thinking she had imagined it, she turned back and continued chatting nonsense with Ke Bu.
Zhi Li picked up a chair.
Ke Bu’s smile froze on his face, and cold sweat began pouring from him. Afraid the girl would notice, however, he could only force himself to keep smiling. Just as Zhi Li prepared to throw it, Su You Yan caught the chair. “You can’t use this.”
Ke Bu breathed a sigh of relief.
Zhi Li looked at Su You Yan in confusion. “Why?”
“It’ll kill her.”
“Will it?” What kind of conversation was this?!!
“Yes.”
Zhi Li threw the chair at Lan Yin, whose back was facing him. Lan Yin merely waved one hand and effortlessly knocked it aside. The chair struck a pillar with a violent crash. Every customer swallowed with difficulty. Zhi Li continued their previous discussion. “It won’t.”
“They’re two different types of women.”
“I see.” Zhi Li rubbed his chin.
The tiny person inside Ke Bu’s heart had already torn out several handfuls of hair. Su You Yan took the plate from a customer who was still eating and handed it to Zhi Li. “This one is fine, though. It’ll injure her, but it won’t kill her.”
Ke Bu hurriedly stood up. “Sorry, there are still customers waiting behind you. I think you should leave now.”
Only then did the girl realize it was inappropriate to remain standing at the register. She waved at Ke Bu, then casually cast Zhi Li another gaze brimming with infatuation. What kind of world was this? Cold toward the angel, passionate toward the devil. Ke Bu was clearly the one who had saved her.
“What were you two doing just now?!!” Once the girl had left, Ke Bu could finally restrain himself no longer.
“What?”
“Don’t give me that. Things like this aren’t permitted in a society governed by law.”
“Do you think you’re qualified to lecture me? By the way, I have some news for you. Because of your shameless behavior, your wages for this month have been deducted.”
“Is this a crooked shop?!! I’m reporting you to the labor bureau for withholding a migrant worker’s wages. Am I only allowed to have an affair with You Yan for the rest of my life?! Can’t I even talk to other girls?”
“There are men too.”
“Your possessiveness has become completely twisted!! Who would obey you?”
Zhi Li crooked his finger at Su You Yan. Su You Yan took out her notebook. “Time: military training in September. Incident: because Ke Bu shamelessly attempted to take a shortcut after losing a bet, he begged Zhi Li not to allow anyone else to touch him. Result: the shameless and despicable Ke Bu owes Zhi Li one condition in exchange.”
“Why are there so many baseless adjectives in front of my name?!!”
“In other words, as the exchange, you must comply with the demand Zhi Li just made,” Su You Yan continued as though she had not heard Ke Bu.
Ke Bu clenched his teeth. He could not refuse. Those were the rules. He bitterly regretted his youthful ignorance. Yet strangely, mixed into that regret was a faint trace of sweetness.
A commotion from the beach interrupted them. Ke Bu poked his head outside to see what was happening and saw a pitch-black sports car driving directly onto the sand. Its tires sent sand flying and left shallow tracks across the beach. The sports car headed straight toward them. Ke Bu distinctly heard Dora swallow. She hurriedly fastened her buttons and even tucked the hem of her shirt into her skirt.
The car stopped outside the shop with a sudden screech of brakes. The door opened, and a man stepped out. His clothing was simple, and the only accessory on his body was the black lacquered watch around his wrist. There was nothing superfluous about him, yet his exceptional taste was obvious.
The instant the man entered his sight and Ke Bu saw that face capable of slowing a person’s breathing, he guessed who it was. Their contours were the same. Although Zhi Li’s face also carried traces of Lan Yin, Ke Bu could still recognize the terrifying power of heredity at a glance. These were the two people who had each contributed one part, the two halves blending together to create Zhi Li.
Besides, did this family eat elixirs of immortality for breakfast every day? None of them looked their proper age. Ever since Ke Bu first met Lan Yin, he had wondered whether anyone other than Zhi Li could possibly be worthy of her peerless beauty. Now, he finally understood the true meaning of the words a match made in heaven.
The man lightly swung the car door shut and walked toward Lan Yin. He reached out, removed the cigarette from her mouth, and threw it onto the ground.
Lan Yin folded her arms. “What are you doing here? Have you come to steal my Zhi Li?”
“I don’t recall ever saying he belonged to you alone.”
“Then I’m saying it now. Right, Zhi Li? Explain it clearly to him. Between the two of us, whom are you willing to honor as a parent for longer?”
Zhi Li, meanwhile, looked as though none of this concerned him. Holding his sketchbook, he continued drawing and replied casually, “That depends on which one of you lives longer.”
!!!
What was wrong with this family? Ordinarily, when Ke Bu and Zhi Li were together, Ke Bu was the weaker party. He would compromise, and the matter would pass. But in this family, all three of them were forceful.
Lan Yin wrinkled her nose, took another cigarette from the pack, and placed it between her lips. “How rare. You actually had time to come here. Let me think about when I last saw you. It seems it was two months ago.”
“I’ll settle that matter with you later.”
“What? All I did was loot your house while you were asleep. We merely maintain our relationship occasionally. It’s perfectly reasonable for you to give me a few things.”
So the person she has one-night stands with is Zhi Li’s father?!! Ke Bu nearly blurted it aloud.
The man expressionlessly removed the unlit cigarette from Lan Yin’s lips. “That’s enough.”
Lan Yin glared. “Wasn’t I allowed ten a day?”
“It’s nine now.”
Ke Bu and the others stood nearby, dumbfounded, staring unblinkingly at this extraordinary man. An alluring presence continually radiated from his body, merging with the allure emanating from Lan Yin.
At last, he had appeared—Father!
Futile Devices Scans 
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