Night had fallen.
In the boundless darkness, several shadowy figures swiftly entered the manor grounds over the Lu family's outer wall.
At the base of the wall, black-clad bodyguards lay sprawled in disarray.
"Everyone here?" Fang Yuanyuan whispered from behind a rockery in the garden.
"Xiao is here. The rest of the team is outside the manor," replied Hoshino Kannon, clad in a black leather skirt.
Fang Yuanyuan nodded and pointed toward the main hall.
"Move out!"
...
Early the next morning.
Gu Chenan was roused from his slumber by a tickling sensation on the tip of his nose.
He opened his eyes to find Bai Yutian dangling a white knee-high sock in front of his face.
"Hehe, Young Master Gu, awake now?" she giggled.
"Hey hey hey, what are you doing?!"
Gu Chenan reached out and pulled Bai Yutian into the bed, embracing her.
"Don't you know not to tease me first thing in the morning, especially right after I wake up?"
Bai Yutian snuggled into Gu Chenan's arms, blinking innocently. "Why not?"
Without further ado, Gu Chenan's hands began to roam. "If you don't know, I'll have to show you."
...
An hour later.
Gu Chenan got up and began buttoning his shirt.
Bai Yutian sat on the bed with tousled hair and disheveled clothes, hugging her knees and glaring at Gu Chenan.
"What's wrong?" Gu Chenan asked, turning back to look at her.
Bai Yutian shot him a sidelong glance. "You left me alone in Suhang for so long. I thought you were eager to get me up for something important, not for this!"
Gu Chenan spread his hands. "Weren't you the one who seduced me first?"
"Who seduced you?! I was just trying to wake you up!" Bai Yutian pouted, clearly dissatisfied.
"That's how you wake someone up? I've never seen anyone wave a smelly sock they just took off in front of someone's nose to wake them."
"Smelly sock?!"
Bai Yutian jumped to her feet. "It's not smelly at all, it smells great!"
Gu Chenan froze, then pointed at the hem of Bai Yutian's shirt. "You're not wearing any..."
Hearing this, Bai Yutian looked down, quickly covered herself with her hands, and sat back on the bed with a sulky expression.
"Tell me honestly, does it smell or not?"
Gu Chenan walked over, grabbed Bai Yutian's stockinged foot, and took a deep breath.
"Not smelly at all. It's fragrant. One whiff cures all ailments!"
"Pfft!"
Bai Yutian stifled a laugh. "That's more like it. Telling the truth."
"Go take a shower. I'll wait for you outside."
Gu Chenan left the room and leaned on the railing, stretching lazily.
Yesterday, after telling Fang Yuanyuan about Tang Yunjin's parents, he thought it might not be appropriate to have Fang Yuanyuan fight on his behalf.
After all, Fang Yuanyuan certainly wouldn't know the Primordial Qi Technique.
So he'd have to handle this matter personally.
Actually, it was simple. After dealing with Cao Mang and Lin Yu, he just needed to go to Yanjing and have a match with the Lu family.
Just then, Tang Yunjin, dressed casually, hurried into the main hall.
"Little Sister Tang? Why is she here? Is she coming to urge me to save her parents?"
"Hey, Little Sister Tang!" Gu Chenan called out, raising his hand in greeting.
Without a word, Tang Yunjin rushed up the stairs and threw her arms around Gu Chenan's waist.
"Thank you, thank you so much."
Gu Chenan was stunned. He frowned, confused.
"Wait, what are you thanking me for?" Gu Chenan asked, gently pushing Tang Yunjin away.
Tang Yunjin's eyes were red-rimmed as she choked back sobs. "My parents called this morning. They said they're coming home soon."
"Huh?"
Gu Chenan was shocked.
"Little Tang, are you sure there's no mistake? I..."
"You don't need to say anything. I know everything!" Tang Yunjin shook her head. "You had someone wipe out the Lu family entirely. Don't worry, I won't tell anyone!"
"Wipe... wipe them out?"
A small head filled with big questions.
[When the hell did I have someone wipe out the Lu family? I just asked Fang Yuanyuan to rescue Little Tang's parents.]
At this thought, Gu Chenan froze completely.
[Damn it, Fang Yuanyuan, you...]
Hearing Gu Chenan's thoughts, Tang Yunjin sensed something was off.
But Gu Chenan's thoughts also revealed that he had indeed asked someone to help rescue her parents.
Even if his original intention wasn't to wipe out the Lu family, this was still thanks to him!
"Thank you so much. I really didn't know what to do without you."
Tang Yunjin buried herself in Gu Chenan's arms again, crying her heart out.
It took Gu Chenan quite a while to comfort her and calm her emotions. Once she was completely stable, Gu Chenan left the main hall and called Fang Yuanyuan.
The call connected quickly.
Fang Yuanyuan got straight to the point: "What's up? You found out everything?"
Gu Chenan nodded. "Although it's different from what I planned, you still helped me. Thank you."
Fang Yuanyuan scoffed, "Your plan was too complicated. It's just rescuing people from the Lu family, right? How could you not think of something as simple as eliminating the Lu family?"
Gu Chenan: "..."
[Sister, you're really taking advantage of your power to speak without considering the consequences!]
[The Lu family is in Yanjing, while the Gu family's influence is in Donghai and Suhang. How could I eliminate the Lu family?]
[But come to think of it, I originally thought rescuing Little Tang's parents through a martial arts match was simple. I never imagined there could be an even simpler plan...]
[It seems... I was too shallow in my thinking...]
"Anyway, thank you. I owe you one," Gu Chenan said.
Fang Yuanyuan pursed her lips. "Why... why are you being so formal with me?"
"Haha, right, after all, our relationship..."
Before he could finish, Fang Yuanyuan interrupted, "You, you, you... don't get any weird ideas! Even though you've left the organization, I'm still your boss. Of course I'd help with a request from a subordinate."
She quickly added, "It's not because of anything else, don't misunderstand!"
"Uh... okay."
Gu Chenan was speechless. Wasn't Fang Yuanyuan the textbook definition of tsundere...
As the call ended, Bai Yutian emerged from her shower.
"Yunjin?" She spotted Tang Yunjin and excitedly walked over.
Seeing Bai Yutian fresh out of the shower and coming from Gu Chenan's room, Tang Yunjin immediately frowned.
"Yutian, you're here too."
Bai Yutian nodded. "Come on, Yunjin, keep me company while I go buy some things."
"Huh?"
Tang Yunjin looked at Gu Chenan.
"What are you asking Little Sister Tang to help you buy?" Gu Chenan asked.
Bai Yutian smiled gently. "I learned how to make several kinds of chicken soup during my time in Suhang, so I've decided to make some for you!"
Gu Chenan smiled softly. "Sounds great."