The Flower Shop Owner and the Monster Child

A painting can be finished in just over an hour.

Many of the paints in the box had been opened, and some stains inevitably appeared on the small table. Yu Xing, however, paid no attention to them and only focused on her cuffs, making sure that not a single paint stain got on her clothes.

Finally, he put down his pen and said, "All done."

Xu Wan, who had been posing in that chair for over an hour, finally let out a soft sigh of relief and relaxed.

The longer she sat, the less she could maintain the various pitiful expressions on her face. Eventually, she could only keep her expression unchanged through sheer willpower, completely devoid of any soul.

"Let me see~" As soon as the drawing was announced to be finished, she stood up, stomped her foot, and then moved closer to Yu Xing.

Xu Wan was stunned at first glance, then she was amazed by the person in the painting.

San was able to make a name for himself with a relatively niche painting style, first and foremost because his painting skills are extremely beautiful.

The woman in the painting leans against a high-backed wooden chair. The dark brown chair and the woman's white short skirt create a striking contrast, and her long, crossed legs are clearly visible in the painting.

The lustrous color was indistinguishable from her real appearance. Her upper body was slightly tilted, leaning back, exuding a languid air. Yet, her sweet and lovely face also revealed a naive innocence that seemed untouched by the world. The pearl hair clip on her head was the finishing touch, complementing the matching necklace and bracelet.

It can be said that Yu Xing not only painted well, but also captured Xu Wan's most touching moment, making the charm of the woman in the painting difficult for even Xu Wan to replicate.

However, even in a portrait, Yu Xing did not erase the painter San's characteristics. Behind the beautiful, dreamlike portrait is a large expanse of deep blue and dark green, with a faint mist enveloping everything, adding an eerie and unsettling color to the portrait.

Even so, it cannot erase the beauty of the woman in the painting; on the contrary, it makes her appear even more mysterious and dangerous.

"This... this drawing is absolutely fantastic."

Looking at herself in the painting, Xu Wan felt a chill run down her spine. For a moment, she didn't even realize that she was already so beautiful, or that her good son had made a few changes while painting, elevating her beauty to a new level.

"It's still painting, after all. I won't tarnish my profession." Yu Xing pursed her lips and stepped aside to avoid Xu Wan's approach.

"Little Xing, tell me the truth, is the person in this painting really exactly like me?" Xu Wan's eyes were filled with eagerness, but it was clear that this eagerness was no longer directed at Xu Wan's body; the painting had captured her entire attention.

"That's a question," Yu Xing said, giving her a puzzled look. "If it's exactly the same, then what I drew probably isn't a painting, but a photograph."

It's actually quite easy to see that the overall style of the figures in the painting is influenced by Yu Xing's brushstrokes. It's not particularly realistic; he mainly paints the general image, the likeness, and the temperament.

Xu Wan listened and stared blankly at the screen for a moment.

At the same time, I felt a faint itch in my heart.

If she were even more beautiful in a painting, she would truly envy her reflection in the artwork. Why doesn't she actually look like that?

Yu Xing seemed to know what she was thinking about with her unfocused gaze, and said speechlessly, "You can't expect to look like an anime character just because they're prettier than you. My drawings are the same; they're just a style."

"I was just so captivated by it that I froze." Xu Wan's eyes sparkled, then she smiled. "Thank you so much, my Little Xing. With this painting Little Xing drew for me, ten men wouldn't matter."

Having achieved his goal, Yu Xing didn't want to stay with her any longer, so he took his leave.

Fortunately Xu Wan was focused on the painting and casually waved her hand, saying, "Go on, go on. Oh, by the way, you can always tell Mom if anything happens in the future. Mom is confident that she can make it up to you in terms of family affection!"

"..." Yu Xing's lips moved, as if she wanted to say it wasn't necessary, but she ultimately kept quiet, only reminding her, "The painting isn't dry yet, just leave it there to dry before picking it up. Then you can tidy up the table yourself, this box..."

"That's good."

"Huh?" Xu Wan looked up in surprise. "Didn't you say you accepted it? Why didn't you take it with you?"

"I'm planning to have Fang Xiao prepare a separate room for me first. After all, we're both so old now, it's not really appropriate for us to share a room. I'll come back for it once the room is ready." He glanced at the mess on the table, trying to suppress his annoyance, and coughed lightly. "Please pack up the things in the box as well."

"Of course, I can definitely take care of such a small thing for you." When she realized her son was asking her to do something, Xu Wan's happy expression was completely genuine.

This is just the beginning of acceptance. Only by being less polite or even distant to the point of not seeing each other can Little Xing quickly integrate into the Fang Mansion.

Yu Xing nodded to her and was about to leave. Watching Yu Xing's retreating figure, Xu Wan seemed to suddenly remember something. "Are you going to see your father?"

Yu Xing paused in her steps.

"Hmm... I know you hate him, but what I meant was... in the years you were gone, Fang Deming would occasionally mention you." Xu Wan's tone suddenly turned somber. "Now that you're home, he's become so seriously ill."

Yu Xing turned her head, giving her a profile view that revealed an ambiguous emotion.

Xu Wan laughed again, her innocent appearance unable to conceal the arrogant and fierce tone in her voice. "This is the perfect time to kick someone when they're down~ Or like your brother said, take a knife and stab him ten or so times to vent your anger?"

"Heh." Yu Xing let out a low chuckle.

Xu Wan knew that Yu Xing liked hearing these words.

It seems that even if he hadn't been exposed to bloodshed from a young age like Fang Xiao, he still wouldn't mind stabbing someone with his own hands.

Xu Wan already knew the Fang family, her husband, and her two children well. That kind of madness and ruthlessness was almost a trait carried in the family's genes. No matter how well they hid it, it would show when something happened.

Yu Xing finally closed the door and disappeared from Xu Wan's sight.

Xu Wan was overjoyed, after all, it was great to have Fang Deming as a target for hatred in the family, and Little Xing could vent all her anger on Fang Deming.

Stepping out of her room, Yu Xing looked at the empty courtyard. The Fang Mansion was of average size, but it seemed rather spacious compared to the people who lived there.

Apart from the Fang family and a local old gardener, there was no one else around.

They seem to have kept only the house; there are no servants left.

Such a residence would become very bad without servants to maintain it, and it would also be quite inconvenient. Yu Xing couldn't even find anyone to ask Fang Deming where he lived.

The renovations are so dilapidated; have the people who have lived in the Fang Mansion all these years really been living in ancient times? It's so far removed from the quality of modern life.

He had never seen a mansion so deserted. After all, it was an ancient building with a modern worldview, where the so-called owner had to do everything himself, fully demonstrating what it means to be self-reliant and have enough to eat.

Yu Xing even began to suspect that Fang Xiao had poured the bathwater for him earlier, but then he thought that the other party should have the ability to create "movie props" like wooden tubs out of thin air.

However, Xu Wan's words gave him a good opportunity— Xu Wan's reminder reminded him that there was a Fang Deming in the mansion who had abused him before. So he was suddenly furious and decided to go and cause some trouble. But because he didn't know the way, he wandered around the mansion for a while.

This reason is quite valid.

Even if Fang Xiao discovers this and questions him, he will have sufficient motive to do so.

Yu Xing immediately began his leisurely stroll. Even though he guessed that Fang Deming's room must be not far from Xu Wan's, he still walked out of Xu Wan's courtyard with firm steps.

Speaking of which, this huge mansion probably had all the family records from the previous two generations killed by Fang Deming. Now only a few people live there, and most of the rooms are empty. So what about the places that are essential in a normal mansion?

Kitchen, laundry room, outhouse, woodshed, etc...

After pondering for two seconds, Yu Xing walked towards the back courtyard of the mansion, seemingly unintentionally.

He was thinking of visiting the Fang Mansion.

Based on snippets of conversation from some townspeople, Yu Xing learned that when the young Fang family made a mistake as a child, he not only had a chance to receive a beating, but also a chance to win a day trip to the ancestral hall.

The young master has probably knelt in the ancestral hall more times than Fang Xiao has entered it. When Fang Xiao makes a mistake, Fang Deming will correct him severely, but Fang Xing makes a mistake, Fang Deming just wants him to disappear from his sight and go as far away as possible. The dark ancestral hall is a good place for him.

Yu Xing still remembered some information that Yan Li others had obtained when they entered the Fang Mansion —although it had no use in the plot, it could at least be considered half a map.

He walked and walked, lingering for a while at the door of each room that smelled slightly of medicine, then knocking on the door. If no one answered, he would move on to the next room.

Soon, he arrived at the location that appeared to be an ancestral hall.

Logically speaking, the Fang Mansion family had a general in their ancestor, and their initial prosperity and respect stemmed from Fang family illustrious ancestor. Therefore, no matter how simple other places were, the ancestral hall should at least be solemn and dignified.

However, Yu Xing did find the ancestral hall, but its dilapidated state far exceeded his expectations.

It's unclear how long it's been since anyone last visited. The ancestral hall is not only in a remote location, but it's also very dusty, with weeds and moss spreading across the ground and walls.

The surrounding pillars were gnawed by insects, pitted and uneven, with no good spot at all, and even spider webs everywhere, getting thicker the further in you went.

While other parts of the mansion show no signs of time, this place exudes a sense of desolation.

Yu Xing stood there dumbfounded for a while before hesitantly and quietly stepping into the ancestral hall.

Strangeness.

In simulations, the more unusual a place is, the more dangerous it is. Fang Mansion is the most unusual place in Nanshui Town, and the ancestral hall in front of us is the most unusual place in the Fang Mansion.

He had thought the atmosphere would become even more somber as he approached the ancestral hall, but to his surprise, he felt a sense of lightness as he stepped out.

A dry breeze blew gently through the air, and a Little spider brazenly walked across the ground in front of him. Yu Xing didn't bother to step on it, but instead carefully observed his surroundings.

That's so strange.

The air here doesn't feel damp or cold at all; the temperature is just right. Tiny plants grow freely, and all sorts of tiny insects, invisible to the naked eye, are active here.

This felt very close to reality, as if he had suddenly been pulled out of the simulation and arrived at a long-abandoned courtyard in reality.

That's precisely why it's strange. The Fang Mansion is now under Qianjie's control, and the people there... not one of them is normal. In other places, there's not even a spider web, let alone a small insect. I'm afraid most insects wouldn't survive in that eerie place.

Here, everything is as normal as in reality.

Playing normally is the biggest abnormality.

Yu Xing took a few more steps forward and became even more convinced that his perception was correct. The area around the ancestral hall seemed to be completely unaffected by any aura, as if it had been completely forgotten.

The ancestral hall's main gate was tightly closed, with a padlock hanging loosely in front of it, meaning the hall was not locked and anyone could enter at any time.

Ironically, this state of disrepair was telling him that apart from the young master of the Fang family, who often had to kneel in the ancestral hall when he was a child, no one else came, or even came at all.

His gaze was calm as he extended a finger and pushed open the unlocked door, sending a cloud of dust flying out as the heavy door opened.

Yu Xing quickly turned his head and stepped back, waiting for the dust to settle before entering the inner room.

In the past, during his weakest period, he would cough violently from being choked by dust, but now dust no longer affects him much, yet he still maintains the habit of avoiding it.

There's also a slight, subtle case of obsessive-compulsive disorder at play.

To be honest, he quite liked the outfit Fang Xiao had made for him and didn't want to get it dirty so soon.

Once inside the ancestral hall, apart from the faint sunlight, it was completely dark.

The air smelled of moldy wood, not strong. Yu Xing sniffed and then smelled a faint scent of wax.

He could actually see everything in the darkness, because the darkness here truly originated from the light and shadow, without any supernatural forces involved.

But he still walked to the place where the wax smell was strongest, pretended to reach out and feel around before finding the candlestick on the table, and then touched it again before successfully picking up the matchbox next to the candlestick.

I wonder how many years this box of matches has been here. The wood in the house is all moldy, so the matches must be unusable long ago.

--For normal people.

Yu Xing pulled a matchstick from the box and slid it to the side of the box with a "plop".

The pulsating, bright yellow light then gathered on the small piece of firewood in his hand.

He lit the candle on the candlestick with a match, and did the same thing. Soon, the dark room gradually became brighter.

Yu Xing suddenly felt that what he was doing was somewhat familiar, as if he had done the exact same thing before in the small ancestral hall outside Guan Village.

This was a habit he had developed; when entering a building like an ancestral hall, he always made sure the space was bright and airy, otherwise he felt enveloped by the eerie atmosphere emanating from the hall.

Perhaps because she had suddenly entered a normal space from a cold and gloomy one, her body relaxed unconsciously, and her brain felt a sense of security. As a result, Yu Xing's gaze fell on the candlelight in front of her, and she became distracted.

He remembered something from a very, very long time ago.

For a time, he was terrified of the feeling of sitting alone in the dark, as if many people were watching him.

That happened after he had experienced the Lingren's arson, the escape from the laboratory, and many other mishaps, before finally returning to his hometown a few years later.

Much of his own property was burned, and all the valuable items that remained were taken by the city's museums.

There was nothing that could be done about it. He was the only survivor in the family, and since he had disappeared, the entire house was essentially considered ownerless.

One of Master Yu's closest old friends collected the remains of the family members who had died tragically, and placed their ashes in a property under this friend's name, even erecting a memorial tablet for them.

Yu Xing didn't have the courage to visit the museum to see the old things in his home, but with indescribable feelings, he quietly went to see his family's ashes.

To avoid being discovered, he went late at night. His superhuman agility made his infiltration exceptionally easy, and he quickly stood in the room in the house reserved for the Yu family's ashes, memorial tablets, and incense burner.

That old friend was Master Yu's classmate in his youth, and later helped him a lot in business. The two were indeed a rare and true friend.

The room was decorated like a small ancestral hall, showing no neglect of the person in the urn.

At that time Yu Xing's night vision was not particularly outstanding. The effects of the transformation brought about by the Lingren were mainly on his brain, thinking and physical strength. Although his five senses were enhanced, night vision was not the direction of the mutation.

So Yu Xing stood in the room and could only see the general outlines of the urns and memorial tablets. Someone had come to pay their respects before, and the three incense sticks in the incense burner still had a few tiny tails left, their small lights flickering.

He stared blankly for a while, then sat down again. He wasn't sleepy, so he kept his eyes open, staring at the memorial tablet until the incense burned out and turned to ashes.

The last glimmer of light in the darkness has disappeared.

He hadn't seen his family members, who were now separated from him by death, for several years.

It's ridiculous. The Lingren were targeting him; his entire family is dead, yet he's still alive.

He was alive, but it wasn't him who collected his family's bodies; it was a stranger with no blood relation.

What use is he anyway?

In the darkness, Yu Xing began to feel the surroundings slowly growing colder. He also had to suppress the pain of his body slowly collapsing from within, lest he go mad and kill because of this pain.

The more this happens, the more he can feel the difference between himself and his former self.

There's no going back.

The most terrifying thing is that, only a few years later, he still vividly remembers the feeling of grief and despair when the Lingren grabbed his hair and watched the sky ablaze with fire, but he can no longer recall any of the joy he felt when spending time with his family.

The shadows of family members are slowly fading, but the hatred is becoming increasingly clear.

Yu Xing knew he would become a terrible monster.

It was all because of him that his family died so tragically, yet he shamelessly wants to forget their feelings for him.

Before him lay ashes and a memorial tablet, but behind him seemed to be several unseen figures, their resentful gazes fixed on his back and spine.

Those shadows would point at him, hurl insults at him, and even angrily tell him to get out and not defile this place.

It seemed as if countless eyes had appeared in the darkness, staring at him with all sorts of emotions: some angry, some calm, some disappointed, and some mocking.

Gradually, Yu Xing seemed to hear many whispers around him. He couldn't hear anything clearly, but he felt that the darkness was terrifying, more terrifying than any night he had spent alone curled up.

Yu Xing was startled awake by his own hallucination. He got up in a panic and fled the small ancestral hall, never to return.

After leaving, he didn't leave immediately, but wandered around the city.

Come to think of it, this was also when he first met Hua Subai —although now it seems that it was his one-sided first meeting.

Therefore, when he recalled the ancestral hall incident, he inevitably thought of Hua Subai.

Yu Xing still remembers that she was a very withdrawn and gloomy person back then, full of thorns, often falling into self-doubt and self-loathing, and had an instinctive resistance to humanity.

Because he couldn't suppress the violent thoughts in his mind, the monster's madness and human rationality were constantly tug at each other. He was not only fierce to others, but also fierce to himself.

Hua Subai was the only "passerby" who dared to approach him at that time. At first, he didn't take this person seriously, but who knew that the other party would always appear in front of him, and each time he could only get his cold face.

But Hua Subai seemed to have a lot of free time. No matter how many times he verbally attacked her, she would still smile gently the next time she came to see him, as if she had infinite tolerance.

Even if he was a loner and didn't care about the people and things around him, being bumped into by the same person every day still made Yu Xing remember Hua Subai. He was very vigilant and guessed that Hua Subai was doing it on purpose, and he didn't give him a friendly look.

In particular, he really hated guys who always had a smile on their face but were secretly plotting something. Such a person always reminded him of Lingren, and every time he thought of them, his hatred would grow stronger.

It was like this for a day or two, and for a week or two. By the third month, Yu Xing still didn't sense any malice from Hua Subai, whom he kept running into. Moreover, the other party seemed to have a lot of free time. Despite his extremely refined manners and speech, he was even more shameless than a street thug when it came to pestering him.

He remembered Hua Subai saying with a smile, "It's rare to meet someone as unique as you. It would be such a waste to let you go without making friends or getting to know you better."

"You want to understand me?" After all this time of persistence, it finally worked, and Yu Xing couldn't hold back any longer, responding to his words for the first time.

Hua Subai nodded gently, "Yes, in the vast sea of people, I noticed you at a glance. I felt that you were very much to my liking, and that strange aura about you... made me very curious."

Then he was scolded by Yu Xing.

Yu Xing's insults were quite vulgar, mainly calling him a good-for-nothing, a idiot, and someone who had nothing better to do than disturb his peace and quiet every day. He told him that if he was really bored, he should go kill someone himself.

Hua Subai wasn't angry at all. He looked at Yu Xing with the gaze of an older brother looking at an immature child and said gently, "But I feel that you don't like this kind of peace and quiet. Your eyes don't say that."

This one sentence made Yu Xing, who was still in a very unstable state, tacitly accept Hua Subai's chattering around her.

Who knows, this little monster, who no longer considers itself human and is used to being alone, yet occasionally stares blankly at people on the street, will actually abandon all its doubts and willingly accept the kindness of someone just because of a single sentence.

It's like someone who has been wronged and endured criticism and insults without crying, but suddenly gets comforted and can't stop the tears from flowing.

A hardened heart can withstand all the darkness in the world, but only a tiny, ordinary glimmer of light can penetrate the defenses.

For a while afterward, Yu Xing restrained his temper and the violent urges that made him dizzy. No matter how coldly he spoke, he didn't let himself really hurt Hua Subai.

During their time together, he learned that Hua Subai was the owner of a flower shop in the city, but due to the owner's casual management, the flower shop's opening hours were also very casual.

No wonder I had so much time to look for him.

However, after a while, Yu Xing still couldn't get Hua Subai to argue with him. He himself felt that sometimes his temper was so bad that it was unbearable for others, but Hua Subai just tolerated it all.

Yu Xing said, "What kind of Yugi are you playing to reform a dark person? Do you think that with your gentleness and patience, you can make me feel warmth and become a cheerful person?"

Every word he said was laced with barbs, "Or do you enjoy the feeling of being treated as an exception, daring to approach people others dare not, and being able to lay hands on people others are afraid of? This special treatment satisfies your vanity."

"Or perhaps you have a masochistic streak, and you feel good when I scold you?"

If it were anyone else, even someone who greatly admired his face, being insulted so blatantly would have stormed off in anger.

But Hua Subai was all smiles, still holding a bag of scallion pancakes he had just bought for Yu Xing... but which she had refused.

Yu Xing: "If it weren't for that, I really can't think of any reason why you would insist on being friends with me."

He was terrified, and the more terrified he was, the harsher his words became.

A monster like him, not even human, how could he dare to hope for "friends"?

He was afraid that once he truly got used to Hua Subai, and regarded Hua Subai as a lifeline he couldn't let go of, the other party would suddenly abandon him.

He was also afraid that Hua Subai was sincere to him, but he would hurt this person and cause him to lose his life. In the end, he was so heartless that he couldn't even remember Hua Subai's name.

Rather than that, it's better not to have any hope in the first place.

It was precisely because of Yu Xing's unease that he was reluctant to part with the only warmth Hua Subai had given him, while at the same time thinking about getting rid of him as soon as possible to avoid any further trouble.

Hua Subai laughed, "How do you know it isn't?"

Yu Xing was confused and looked at him with a stiff face.

"You've given me so many possibilities, but you didn't even give me a chance to respond before you dismissed them all. How do you know I'm not like that?"

"What if I'm the kind of saint who's delusional enough to try and reform you? Or a vain person who wants to get satisfaction from you? Or even... what if I'm a masochist? Ah, you look so good when you're cursing, it feels so good."

These were words that had come out of his own mouth, but Hua Subai repeated them. Yu Xing was the one who felt offended on Hua Subai's behalf. "Stop talking, shut up, don't let these words sully yourselves."

Hua Subai smiled deeply, giving Yu Xing a few seconds to react to what he had just said.

"You already know the answer in your heart, you know I'm not that kind of person, yet you still try to provoke me."

"What makes you so insecure? If you were to tell me now that you're a monster, flawed, that you'll hurt those around you, that being friends with you will end badly, that you don't deserve such friendship..."

These are all things Yu Xing had said in bits and pieces.

Hua Subai took out a scallion pancake and shoved it near Yu Xing's mouth. "Then I'll say the same thing to you—stop talking, don't let these words sully your reputation."

Yu Xing could have easily avoided the scallion pancakes he didn't like; they were oily, and one bite would leave his lips feeling uncomfortable for ages.

But this time he didn't avoid it. After taking a bite, he chewed up the unpleasant words along with it and swallowed them.

The more insecure a person is, the more likely they are to develop a dependence on another person at some point, and then they will be willing to give everything they have to that person without hesitation.

This was generally the case with loyal servants in ancient times.

Yu Xing had considered that he was a person without a future and didn't know what he should do, so he might as well stay by Hua Subai's side and protect Hua Subai with the power of the monster.

He wasn't stupid; he could naturally see that Hua Subai couldn't possibly be just a florist. In this turbulent world, there were many people hiding their identities, each with their own motives.

Perhaps Hua Subai is only being so kind to him to gain his help, but that doesn't matter. If all of this is a blatant scheme to win people over, then Yu Xing admits that Hua Subai has won. He has been won over, and he is willing to be a sword or a shield, to do everything Hua Subai needs to do, and to watch the other party live a glorious life.

Then he resumed his life of wandering alone, and thought about that vague yet unforgettable hatred again.

... If Hua Subai hadn't suddenly used that flower to control him, making him realize that Hua Subai wasn't an ordinary human being either.

He would really give everything.

But just when he gained all of Hua Su Bai's trust, Hua Subai, in his mischievousness and cruelty, shattered that trust into pieces.

Yu Xing could accept that Hua Subai approached him for some purpose, but Hua Subai insisted on choosing the most hurtful and heartbreaking answer.

The florist personally tore away the facade of gentleness, replacing it with a frivolous person who didn't value sincerity.

After being controlled because of a flower, Hua Subai's grinning face made Yu Xing's eyes turn dark again.

"Hey, little guy, don't look at me like that. I'm doing this for your own good."

"If this keeps up, I'll really sell you out and you'll be counting the money for me. I just find you interesting and genuinely wanted to be friends with you, but seeing the way you look at me, I feel a little sorry for you."

"Just because I'm nice to you, you expect to become a loyal dog? You can't be so easily tamed. You're still too inexperienced. Look at me, do you feel the wickedness of people now?"

As long as it's genuine, it doesn't matter if there's an ulterior motive.

Yu Xing listened coldly as Hua Subai spoke in his ear, his body unable to move due to the control of the Black Rose, only his eyes remained free.

But it turned out he was just playing him.

A reason worse than being a saint, vanity, or masochism.

It turns out they were just playing a trick on him.

Those words were just to fool him; they found it amusing, so the deception ended.

"Ugh, that's a fierce look. Let's be reasonable. I've already been very kind, which is why I shattered your beautiful illusions about me instead of deceiving you terribly before throwing you away. Believe me, the latter is definitely more painful," Hua Subai said. "I really, really, really want to be your friend."

The candlelight flickered in Yu Xing's eyes, and he chuckled softly.

I haven't thought about this past event in a long time, but now that I think about it, I haven't forgotten a single detail.

Hua Subai truly had the opportunity to tame him—when he was inexperienced in the ways of the world, hadn't yet grasped the mischievous tricks of the old monsters, and was at his most insecure and confused.

They will be more than just friends. He will lower his head and become a supporter of Hua Subai with an even more humble attitude, because no one understands better than him just how much power a forceful ray of light can squeeze in from the pitch black darkness.

But Hua Subai seemed to realize his mindset and gave up the opportunity, instead showing him her worst side without reservation.

This choice caused a huge shift in their relationship. Yu Xing reverted to being that cold, prickly hedgehog, with quills even harder than before, especially targeting Hua Subai.

But this time it wasn't due to the negative effects of the curse, but rather an emotion bordering on rage.

Because of the sincerity that was taken as a joke, Yu Xing never made the foolish mistake of easily entrusting her trust to others again.

But Hua Subai was still bouncing around him.

That ability that he couldn't figure out was too dangerous. Yu Xing didn't like being played with like prey. If he couldn't afford to offend someone, he would simply hide. But this leech was too shameless. Every time he went to a new place, Hua Subai would find him soon after.

Hua Subai once successfully used two flowers on him. One flower controlled him to go to the museum and confront his family's belongings, in order to help him overcome his inner demons.

Another flower controlled him to buy himself a cake on April 4th and forced him to sing a birthday song. Because he was controlled to sing, the tone was strange. Hua Subai laughed for half the night at his expressionless face that contained hidden anger.

Finally, she shamelessly piggybacked on his birthday, saying, "I don't remember when my birthday is, but I had a lot of fun on yours. So from now on, I'll celebrate my birthday on April 4th too. Remember to buy two cakes next year!"

Unable to discern which moment was feigned and which was genuine, Yu Xing, who at the time couldn't tell the difference, simply treated every word and expression of Hua Subai as a pretense, believing that this was the safest approach.

Hua Subai never harmed him; in fact, he was the one who truly pulled him out of the deepest Mud Swamp. Even when he tried to control him, it was because he made the right decisions for him when he was immature, or left him with some very precious birthday memories.

He was very grateful to the other party for this.

However, Yu Xing had his pride. He hated deception and betrayal. He had already learned from the example of the Lingren Hua Subai, who had disguised himself as Guang to deceive him, which had also touched a nerve with him.

What followed was a long and drawn-out struggle.

The curse raged within him repeatedly, keeping his mental state in a constant state of extreme turmoil.

Hua Subai was able to pull him back from the brink of hell and tell him that the world wasn't so bad after all.

But the other party was constantly setting traps for him, trying to deliver the black rose—which was both a disgrace and a help to him—into his hands once again.

Yu Xing acknowledged that Hua Su Bai was his friend, both emotionally and logically, as Hua Subai had helped him a great deal.

But they are also enemies.

They are enemies who have designs on him, waiting to see him make a fool of himself, and making him never trust them again.

Perhaps the initial purpose does not determine the purpose of the relationship later on.

At first, Hua Subai probably just found him interesting and amusing, so he found some amusement in him. Later, as time went by, he genuinely wanted to be friends with him—not with forced help, not with a "little guy" to be teased according to his mood, but with friends who could treat each other as equals.

Yu Xing is making progress every year.

His mind has matured completely through a century of trials and tribulations, and no one can see through him anymore.

On the contrary, he found that he seemed to be able to see through Hua Subai a little.

Hua Subai seems to regret her initial choice, subtly expressing her apology to him, hoping to gain his forgiveness and then become good friends with him without any resentment.

This kind of thing.

Don't even think about it.

Yu Xing never looks back to search for anything. He only gives everyone one chance. The choice is their own, and they must take responsibility for it.

Because he is cold-hearted.

He's essentially an irrational monster; he has no understanding of human relationships. It's already remarkable that he's managed to regain human emotions. To expect him to learn "forgiveness" and "tolerance" is simply asking the impossible.

Regardless of what Hua Subai thought, in his heart, Hua Subai was both a friend and an enemy. After learning who the president of Single Prism really was, the "friend" label would probably have to be completely removed.

The help he received suddenly felt like after-sales service after a product has been sold.

What he thought was kindness was actually shame.

With another laugh, Yu Xing finally managed to bring her scattered thoughts back to reality.

It was probably because this was the first time he had entered the same deduction scenario with Hua Subai, and the experience was quite novel, which is why he thought about things so far in the past.

After the candles were lit, the Fang Mansion's ancestral hall was brightly lit. Only then did Yu Xing turn around and look at the rows of memorial tablets that he had deliberately ignored earlier.

This is a very formal ancestral hall.

There were two or three prayer mats on the ground below the memorial tablet. Yu Xing thought that Fang family's youngest son had probably been forced to kneel on these prayer mats as punishment.

He walked over quietly, his gaze sweeping over the plaque on the memorial tablet.

Each plaque bore the name of a deceased member of the Fang family. The plaques were covered in dust, and even the engraved characters on them had become blurred and difficult to recognize.

At the very top, there was only one sign.

He didn't seem lonely.

Just having it there gives me a sense of peace.

The moment Yu Xing saw the memorial tablet, a strange feeling welled up from the bottom of her heart.

He seemed to see in it... a chilling killing intent and boundless heroic spirit.

That aura seemed powerful enough to withstand a thousand armies, ward off all evil spirits, and guard the region.