Bedtime Story? Damn, we're already sleeping together?

The future of Zaun was decided over such a small drinking party, but that's not surprising, considering that the people at the party were the three main figures of Zaun: the former, the middle, and the latter.

Vander in the Black Alley.

Silco in the Sump.

And, Li Ke from Zaun.

With the support of the people in the Black Alley and the resources of Silco, Li Ke officially consolidated Zaun. Unlike Vander, who had popular support but no resources, Silco, who had resources but no popular support, Li Ke took everything from his two predecessors and officially established Zaun's base.

After the drinking party ended, Li Ke took Vander back to the Lian Hua Gang. On the way, Vander walked unsteadily.

With his bestial instincts suppressed by the pearl bestowed upon him by Ahri, and his humanity taking precedence, Vander inevitably became dizzy after drinking too much.

He's happy, truly happy now.

A large paw wrapped around Li Ke's shoulder, Vander kept whispering in Li Ke's ear.

"Even though I've become like this, it's so good to be alive."

"You tell me, Silco, we've made Zaun into this mess. If we can't change things this time, how can we face her? She'll definitely slap each of us in the face. She will."

"Wei, get your tattoo removed. And also, find me a good man!"

"Hiccup, Jinx, you're so obedient, so can we not rush into dating? Let me observe that kid Li Ke a little longer."

"Jinx, I owe you all so much. Please let me stay with you a little longer."

The drunken Vander talked a lot, quite unlike the father that Li Ke remembered.

In reality, Vander wasn't as aloof as he appeared in the Black Alley. Nicknamed the Black Hound, he was actually very similar to Vi in personality. They were so alike—both appeared cold and hard on the surface, but were warm-hearted inside.

Jinx is somewhat similar to Silco; she doesn't appear tough on the outside, but she has a strong will inside. Could it be that they are truly children with different personalities raised by two different men?

With Vander on his back, Li Ke listened to his continuous muttering and smiled.

"Li Ke, what is that?"

"Air Purification Device, don't you notice the air here smells much better than elsewhere?"

By the time they arrived at the Lian Hua Gang, Vander had mostly sobered up. He had drunk the most, consuming over a dozen bottles of strong liquor, but his exceptionally high metabolism allowed him to regain his senses in about thirty minutes.

"No wonder. So, we're not living in Black Alley?"

"Didn't you just go to the Black Alley?" Li Ke was speechless, thinking the old man was a bit tipsy.

"Yes, that place belongs to Silco." Vander scratched his head.

Many members of the Lian Hua Gang were still resting at their stronghold. When they saw Li Ke, they all stood up to greet him. When they saw Vander, although they were a little scared, they all stood up straight and bowed to Vander.

This guy is the Boss. The Boss?

"Li Ke!"

Jinx's voice rang out, and Li Ke looked over to see her rushing out barefoot.

Her fair feet stepped on the muddy ground, her rounded toes spread wide apart, even her toenails, painted with royal blue nail polish, were covered in mud and dust. Her long hair was draped behind her head, and under the bright streetlights, she looked like a dreamlike Rapunzel from Disney, a blue-haired version!

With a "splat," Jinx clung to Li Ke like an octopus, her head tilted back, her hair falling to the ground. Looking up at Vander, she grinned broadly, "Welcome back, Dad!"

"Shouldn't you be giving me a hug?" Vander said meaningfully.

"It's okay, Vi will hug you." Jinx propped her head back up, rubbed her face against Li Ke's shoulder, and sniffed Li Ke's scent as she spoke in a muffled voice.

Then, she looked up at Li Ke, her face displeased. "Have you been drinking?"

"I had a little," Li Ke replied.

"You won't let me drink, but you're secretly drinking it yourself?" Jinx is about to unleash her power—I'm going to cause trouble!

She didn't actually drink before, but since Li Ke drank, she wanted to drink too, but Li Ke wouldn't let her. However, Jinx's personality is no different from a cat's; if you forbid her from doing something, she'll be itching to do it anyway.

And just then, Wei appeared, wearing a leather jacket and skinny jeans with an apron around her neck, holding a spatula, standing awkwardly in the doorway. "Vander, Li Ke, you've come back just in time."

"Well... I'm making dinner right now," she stammered.

"It tastes awful, sis. Would you even eat that stuff yourself?" Jinx said, clinging to Li Ke and looking back at Vi.

Li Ke, supporting her little bottom, also looked at Wei.

Vander found it amusing and asked, "So, Jinx, it really was Li Ke did all the cooking?"

"Yeah, Li Ke's cooking is amazing. Unlike some people who beat me up and then comforted me by saying they'd cook for me, claiming their cooking skills were one-to-one better, but they almost blew the kitchen up."

Jinx scoffed, "Seriously, what's the difference between her and that Big Sister Sevika? One can set the house on fire while cleaning, and the other can overturn the stove while cooking."

"Ha, hey you, why don't you just stop chasing after female cops and go after Big Sister instead!"

"Jinx!" Vi gritted her teeth, spitting out each word as she leaned forward.

"Run! Run!" Jinx patted Li Ke's head hard, urging Li Ke to run with her.

Li Ke also enjoyed playing with Jinx, carrying Jinx like a backpack in front of him before dashing off, but he also left behind a message:

"I'll cook dinner, Wei. Why don't you chat with Vander?"

When Wei reached Vander's side, she heard her father speak slowly.

Are they together?

"Hmm, Vander, you don't disagree, do you?" Vi nodded, then looked at Vander and continued:

"Vander, I fully support Li Ke because he truly loves Jin Jinx. He dotes on Jinx. If it weren't for him, the rift between Jinx and me would be irreparable."

"A lot has really happened over the years, me and Jinx. She's not the Jinx we used to know anymore; she's Jinx now," Vi said earnestly to Vander.

Vander looked at Wei with some surprise. He knew how much his daughter doted on her younger sister. The man she was willing to hand over Jinx to must love Jinx to the core.

"You should know best how strong Li Ke is. He's even become the Boss of the entire Zaun now. But even so, he has to make breakfast for Jinx during the day, cook for Jinx at night, and blow-dry Jinx's hair before bed. He doesn't like listening to adventure stories, but he will patiently listen to Jinx read him bedtime stories."

Vander listened with emotion, realizing how kind Li Ke truly was. Putting himself in Li Ke's shoes, he wondered if he would treat his wife the same way.

But immediately, his face darkened.

"Wait, what do you mean by Jinx's bedtime reading? Are they sleeping together now?"

"No, I won't allow it!" Vander's fangs bared, his eyes flashing with ferocity.

No, how old is Jinx?

She's not even an adult yet!

How can they sleep together?!

Although there are indeed many underage mothers in Zaun, this matter cannot be attributed to Jinx!

"Take it easy. Even if they sleep together, don't I sleep with them too?" Wei reached out to soothe Vander's emotions and said with a smile.

She wasn't making this up. When the Lian Hua Gang was at its poorest, Isha, Jinx, and Li Ke slept in the same place.

Vander was dumbfounded.

"You joined too? Aren't you... that... what's it called again?"

"Damn it, what are you thinking, Vander? I really can't reason with you!" Wei laughed angrily, then turned and left.

"Wait, Wei, explain yourself!"

What does "sleeping together" mean?

"Don't fill your head with nonsense the moment you come back to life! How come I never noticed you were like this before?" Wei said impatiently as she walked ahead.

Vander followed, determined to get to the bottom of it.

But what's the truth here?!

The members of the Lian Hua Gang were all around. Ekko, holding a wrench, was working with Heimerdinger on a new air Purification Device, but he couldn't resist joining in the fun to watch.

As Ekko watched Vi and Vander's retreating figures, he smiled.

This scene is wonderful!

But then, he shook his head, somewhat disappointed.

Everything is getting better, but some things cannot be changed.

"What's wrong, young man? You look so down." Heimerdinger noticed Ekko's mood and tiptoed to pat Ekko's leg.

Ekko looked at Heimerdinger, took a deep breath, and shook his head, saying, "No, Professor."

"I'm not disappointed, because there's no time for me to be disappointed."

"Come on, Professor, let's keep going and try to make the second air Purification Device by tomorrow."

Ekko smiled and said firmly to Heimerdinger.

He won't be disappointed, because, as he said, there's no time for him to be disappointed.

There are just too many things to do right now, so many that Ekko simply doesn't have time to think about his own affairs.

And he will carry on with Benzo's spirit, steadfastly moving forward.