Lin Ao, You Bastard!

Lin Ao took advantage of a free moment to open his phone.

He found dozens of unread messages.

They were from Gu Wanqing and Qin Yun.

The moment he opened them, his mind went completely blank.

"Did I drink fake liquor last night? What did I send? I went on a crazy messaging spree and completely forgot about it!"

Lin Ao was so startled his hands began to shake. What a rush.

To Gu Wanqing: "Gu Wanqing, if you've got the guts, stop sending me these things to tease me! When I get back, have the nerve to fight me for real! Let's settle this face-to-face!"

"Chest muscles.jpg"

Lin Ao's face began to twitch violently. You dared to provoke this woman? Where did you get the courage? What made you think you could provoke her?

You...

Then he looked at what he'd sent Qin Yun.

To Qin Yun: "Fierce One, when I get back, will you meet me?"

"I don't want to hide behind a screen and miss you anymore. I want to smell your scent, feel your warmth, and hold you tight, truly feel that you're here with me. Will you give me a chance, baby~"

"Chest muscles.jpg"

What the hell, Lin Ao? What kind of madness came over you? Why did you attach a chest-muscle picture to everything? Are you sick?

Hadn't you decided not to meet? So much for a platonic romance!

It took Lin Ao only a few seconds to go from riding high on last night's bliss to losing his soul.

He didn't even have the courage to look at Gu Wanqing and Qin Yun's replies.

Last night, he'd been so blissfully drunk that he'd completely put the messages he sent out of his mind.

"What's wrong with you? You look like a deflated balloon."

Xia Qiange had gone to see the director and the others off. The moment she came inside, she found Lin Ao frozen on the sofa.

"Nothing. Maybe I'm just tired from last night."

Lin Ao didn't dare tell Xia Qiange about the other two women, so he brushed her off.

"You're the one who's tired? It's not like I... You even wanted to keep going. I'm going back to catch up on sleep. Call me when it's time to eat~"

Xia Qiange gave Lin Ao a scolding look, her face flushed with embarrassment. Then she went straight back to her room to catch up on sleep. Today was not a day for strenuous activity.

After working himself up for a while, Lin Ao decided he'd better open their replies.

First, he opened Gu Wanqing's.

"Ooh~ You've been gone for a few days. Were you training your stamina? Afraid you'll be a five-second wonder when we meet? You've sure gotten bold, haven't you? Now you're daring to talk to me like that?"

"When we meet, if you dare waste even a word, I'll tie you up and drag you over. You've made me furious. If you don't take responsibility for putting out this fire, you can deal with the consequences!"

"Threat.jpg," "Blue pill.jpg," "Blue pill.jpg," "Blue pill.jpg," "Blue pill.jpg"

Lin Ao unconsciously reached for his waist, trembling a little.

With shaking fingers, he closed Gu Wanqing's chat and opened Qin Yun's.

"Kisses~ Actually, I've been waiting a long time for you to say that. I've prepared myself, too. I have a feeling you're the one I want to choose. I can't wait to meet you, darling. I hope you won't be scared when you see me~ Don't run away!"

"Qipao and black stockings.jpg," "Hanfu and jade-white legs.jpg," "Mariana Trench.jpg"

Lin Ao opened the photos and sighed to himself.

Qin Yun, Qin Yun, my damn mouth! Why did I have to ask why you never acted infatuated with me? Well, now you really have fallen for me.

And I've realized you're a hopeless romantic, too. You can get like this over an online relationship? You really dare to send anything. Things are getting wilder and wilder, aren't they?

You hope I won't be scared? I hope you won't be scared when we meet.

Time flew by. Xia Qiange stayed at Lin Ao's place for only three days.

"Remember to miss me~ You stinky man. Once you're back in Jianghai City, remember to make time to come see me."

Then she hurried back to Jianghai City to get back to work. If she stayed any longer, she was afraid someone might end up dead.

For the remaining time, Lin Ao stayed there alone to consolidate his cultivation.

Then he got a call from Uncle Zhang, who told him the Manor's renovations were complete.

Lin Ao sent Uncle Zhang an address and asked him to send someone to pick him up. No one had guessed Lin Ao had been staying there the whole time. When had he bought this villa, anyway? The property wasn't registered to anyone in the Lin Family. It seemed Lin Ao had planned this well in advance.

Lin Ao's car pulled up to the Manor's outer gate. A twenty-meter-high brick wall enclosed the entire Manor, with an inner wall made of tungsten steel.

Concealed cameras covered the surrounding area. If Uncle Zhang hadn't pointed them out, Lin Ao wouldn't have been able to tell where they were.

The Manor's heavy outer gate slowly swung open. After the car drove down a short road, the former Lin Family main residence came into view.

You might not have noticed what had changed just by looking at it, but it had indeed been completely demolished and rebuilt.

The main residence was surrounded by traps using modern technology. Only people who had been identified could move around safely.

The car pulled up in front of the house. Lin Ao opened the door and got out, only to feel a powerful presence lock onto him.

He sensed trouble.

"Uncle Zhang, let's hurry—"

Before Lin Ao could finish, a dark figure pounced on him and pinned him down in the back seat.

Uncle Zhang gestured to the others, and they quickly withdrew.

Before Lin Ao could even struggle, a familiar, sweet warmth slipped into his mouth.

She treated Lin Ao roughly, as if she meant to devour him. It went on for a long while.

"Ah!"

Lin Ao cried out in pain and touched the corner of his mouth, where she'd bitten him until it bled.

He was just about to say something to the crazy woman, but when he looked up, he swallowed every word.

Gu Wanqing's eyes were red, and she looked thinner than before. Tears silently streamed down her face as she bit her lip, trying her best not to sob aloud.

Gu Wanqing looked a little stubborn just then. She kept staring at Lin Ao, her eyes filled with all kinds of tangled emotions: resentment, worry, lingering fear, and relief. Her tears had already soaked Lin Ao's chest.

Lin Ao's heart ached. He opened his arms and pulled Gu Wanqing into an embrace.

Only after she was in Lin Ao's arms did Gu Wanqing finally burst into tears.

She gripped Lin Ao's clothes tightly, afraid he would disappear again the very next second.

"Lin Ao! You bastard! You're a complete bastard! Why did you disappear like that? Do you have any idea—any idea how worried I was? I was so afraid of losing you, do you understand? You..."

As she spoke, Gu Wanqing started crying again. This time, she was both hurt and furious.

All this time, she'd been worrying about Lin Ao, missing him every minute and every second. She'd demanded that he report to her constantly and tried every way she could to get him to reply. She needed to know he was safe at all times.

Lin Ao listened quietly as Gu Wanqing poured out her feelings, letting her release them in his arms.

Only now did Lin Ao dare believe that Gu Wanqing truly loved him.

At last, he'd let her into his world.

Lin Ao held Gu Wanqing tightly and gently stroked her hair.

He leaned close and softly whispered a few words in her ear.

"I'm sorry!"

"I promise it won't happen again."