Su Mian got into Duan Hongxu's car with Duan Xuanyu.
Su Mian closed the car door with one hand and held back Duan Xuanyu, who was leaning toward her, with the other, then asked Duan Hongxu in the driver's seat,
"Tell me, why did you two suddenly show up there? I don't believe it was a coincidence."
Duan Hongxu had no choice but to confess. "Fine. Ancestor said he invited you to dinner, but you wouldn't agree."
Su Mian said, "I was working overtime and didn't see it... How did you find me?"
Duan Hongxu said, "I'm a hacker! I coded a link for Ancestor and had him send it to you. That link was a virus. Once you clicked it, I could track you directly."
Su Mian hurriedly downloaded antivirus software. "Don't do that again. You two can't keep being lawless maniacs."
Duan Hongxu said, "Fine."
Before long, they arrived outside Su Mian's building.
Su Mian was getting out, intending to go home alone.
Duan Xuanyu suddenly followed her out and held her hand tightly. "Empress... where are you going...?"
Duan Hongxu hurriedly said, "Great Ancestress, just let Ancestor stay at your place tonight. He never sleeps at the Duan Family home. I'm scared he'll drop dead."
"...All right."
Whenever he was out of his senses, she really was the only one who could soothe her.
So Su Mian took him home.
Duan Hongxu waited until the two disappeared into the elevator, and the filial expression on his face immediately collapsed.
That damned, nation-ruining enchantress.
If not for her, how could his ancestor have borne a thousand years of infamy?
Duan Hongxu took out his phone and checked.
He discovered that Su Mian really had removed his tracking virus, leaving him temporarily unable to pinpoint her location.
No matter.
Duan Hongxu then anonymously visited her Moments, Douyin, Fast Legs, Little Red Sweet Potato, Qiuqiu Space...
He checked each one in turn.
He checked whether anything was unusual.
Hah. At least you behaved yourself today.
Back home.
Su Mian poured herself a glass of water and leaned against the table, watching Duan Xuanyu quietly.
"Sit."
Duan Xuanyu immediately sat up straight on the sofa.
"Shake."
Su Mian held out her hand to Duan Xuanyu.
He immediately placed his hand in her palm.
Su Mian shook his hand in satisfaction, then scratched his chin and rubbed his head. "So good, so good..."
She had discovered this enormous weakness of Duan Xuanyu's through a chance encounter back in ancient times.
Duan Xuanyu had an extremely severe alcohol allergy. A single drop could leave him out of his senses.
Once drunk, he would also obey others without question.
Later, after Su Mian's training and nurturing, he came to obey her alone, which kept him from making any disastrous mistakes.
Once Su Mian had finished playing with him, she pointed at the bathroom. "Go take a shower, then come out and sleep."
Duan Xuanyu suddenly wrapped his arms around her waist and tipped his head up to look at her, his gaze deep and intent.
"Su Mian, I'll always remember how you held my hand and walked down Crane Terrace with me."
Su Mian remembered it too.
Crane Terrace was an immortal altar used for sacrifices in an enemy nation, with ninety-nine steps.
When Duan Xuanyu had been a hostage prince in that country, he had been forced to climb Crane Terrace in heavy shackles.
He had struggled his way up, only to be kicked away and sent tumbling all the way down.
Later, Su Mian had found and rescued him.
On Crane Terrace, he had killed the person who had kicked him down.
Yet he had still been afraid, not daring to walk down the steps.
Su Mian had held his hand and accompanied him down, one step at a time.
He had said before that he would always remember making his way down Crane Terrace twice.
Once, he had tumbled down, utterly alone and helpless.
Once, he had walked down holding his beloved's hand.
"Su Mian, being abused, humiliated, exiled... none of that matters. I can endure all of it."
"But you can't abandon me. I won't be able to go on living..."
At that moment, he seemed sober.
Their eyes met.
Su Mian's heart ached a little.
Did she love him?
Yes.
He was her one and only too.
They had shared life and death for three years. Their love as a young married couple had been pure and sincere. How could she not love him?
But she also loved her family and friends in her original world, her dog and cat, and the modern world's advanced civilization and equality of personhood.
What was she supposed to give up this time?
"How about you stop being emperor and come home with me?"
He gave no answer for a long time.
Su Mian said, "Then I'll keep going on the dating show, because I really do have a task to complete. You... how about dropping out for now?"
This time, he answered. "No! I want to be with you. Su Mian, I won't interfere with you. I'll stay with you until you finish what you need to do."
"..." Su Mian really didn't know what to say.
The next day.
Episode two of "Heartbeat Radio Waves" went on air.
The host, Yin Xiaohong, faced the camera.
"In the blink of an eye, our guests haven't seen each other for two days. I wonder if you've grown distant?"
"Today's first activity will help everyone get to know one another better, deepen your relationships, and quickly get back into the swing of the last episode."
"Our show doesn't mess around. Dating is about working toward marriage! In a lasting marriage, both spouses need to know not only each other's strengths, but also each other's flaws."
"So for this game, you'll draw lots to select a guest, then name that guest's flaws!"
"The rules are the same as before! Make their heart race, and you'll earn living funds!"
[Wait, what? A bonding game where they point out flaws?]
[Case closed. This isn't a dating show. It's a singles-for-life show.]
[And they have to piss each other off until the bell rings... The production team is the craziest of them all...]
The game officially began.
Cheng Qin drew first and picked Lin Xi.
Cheng Qin gave it some serious thought. "Mr. Lin's flaw is that he's rather short-tempered and has particularly intense mood swings."
Lin Xi rubbed his nose. He admitted that, and he didn't think it was a particularly hard-hitting remark, so his heart rate didn't rise.
Next came Lin Xi's turn.
Lin Xi drew Fang Nuonuo.
During his wild boar phase in the previous episode, Fang Nuonuo had stabbed Lin Xi in the back, leaving him angry with her for a long time.
But after filming, Fang Nuonuo had privately messaged him to explain that it had all been arranged by the production team for entertainment.
Lin Xi no longer blamed her so much.
Lin Xi didn't mention that, instead saying, "I think Miss Fang is a little too meek."
Fang Nuonuo smiled and nodded. "Got it. I'll do my best to change."
[Waaah, our goddess is so emotionally stable! I want to date her!]
Fang Nuonuo drew Duan Xuanyu.
Fang Nuonuo glanced at Duan Xuanyu with a smile.
"Hmm... Mr. Duan's flaws? Maybe he's a little aloof. He speaks the least out of all of us."
As expected, Duan Xuanyu's heart rate remained utterly undisturbed.
[It'd be a miracle if such a smooth, toothless remark made the bell ring.]
[So what? Our Nuonuo is kindhearted and doesn't like pointing out people's flaws! Do you think everyone is as competitive as Su Mian?]
[Not a single guest has gotten angry enough to make their heart race yet. You're all being way too polite, aren't you?]
Duan Xuanyu suddenly pulled a coin from his pocket.
With an arrogant air, he tossed it in front of Fang Nuonuo.
"Those who criticize this sovereign to his face shall receive a lesser reward."
"..." Fang Nuonuo clenched her fists.
His flippant tone and that almsgiving gesture were as if he were addressing a beggar!
Fang Nuonuo, who had been placed on a pedestal as a goddess for a month, had never suffered such humiliation!
Her heart raced with anger, and the bell instantly rang!
[Great, it's the tyrant. You're all doomed.]
[Wait, this girl isn't exactly as unassuming as a chrysanthemum, is she? She gets angry pretty easily, hahaha.]
Next came Duan Xuanyu's turn to draw.
Duan Xuanyu drew Su Mian.