20
Among this group of underachievers, “okay” meant they did really well.
Ouyang Mengyao glared at her resentfully. “I don’t believe it. You must have been secretly studying behind our backs, you little traitor!”
With the exams out of the way, Ouyang Mengyao and the others made plans to go out together.
“Yun Li, are you coming?”
Yun Li naturally wanted to go, but she was afraid her “poop scooper” wouldn’t agree. “I have to ask Brother Fu first.”
She often mentioned Brother Fu, so everyone knew he was her guardian.
Yun Li went home as usual, but there was no one there.
After asking the servants, she learned that Yang Qing had gone out on business and wasn’t home. As for Fu Qingheng, they didn’t know when he would be back.
Yun Li took out her phone and slowly typed a message to Fu Qingheng. She had recently learned pinyin typing, and it was very difficult.
“Brother Fu, when are you coming home?”
“I have something very important to tell you.”
“I’ll wait for you at home!”
Fu Qingheng had gone early to Lu Zhen’s research institute.
He headed straight for Lu Zhen’s office but found a stranger there instead.
The man wore a white robe. Though clearly male, he was more glamorous and charming than any woman.
Fu Qingheng’s gaze swept over the man’s name badge – Yun Zhong.
“Who are you?”
Before the man could introduce himself, Fu Qingheng had already figured it out.
Lu Zhen had often praised this junior colleague of his, calling him a knowledgeable genius and so on.
Yun Zhong narrowed his eyes as he looked at Fu Qingheng, sizing him up in return. Was this the one who brought the luminous pearl? Did he know Yun Li?
For a moment, Yun Zhong’s gaze sharpened as he assessed Fu Qingheng’s character. Then, the next second, he smiled casually. “Are you Mr. Fu, Senior Lu’s friend?”
“My name is Yun Zhong. I’m Senior Lu’s classmate and colleague.”
That sharp gaze from a moment ago now seemed like mere imagination. Fu Qingheng gave his name. “Hello.”
“Senior Lu is in the middle of an experiment. It’ll probably be a while, Mr. Fu. Please, have a seat.”
Yun Zhong’s expression was gentle, polite, and courteous. “Mr. Fu, what kind of tea would you like?”
“No need.”
Fu Qingheng sat down. Thinking of the luminous pearl, he said, “Lu Zhen mentioned that the luminous pearl was with you for research?”
Yun Zhong had been wondering how to broach the subject, and the other man had brought it up first.
He took out the luminous pearl. “Is this the pearl you’re referring to, Mr. Fu?”
“Yes.”
“Is this your pearl?”
Yun Zhong casually played with the pearl in his hand.
For some unknown reason, Fu Qingheng suddenly felt tense. “Do you have the results?”
What exactly was the origin of this pearl?
If it truly was a luminous pearl, then what was Yun Li’s real identity?
This was almost shattering his understanding of the world.
“This pearl? It’s very ordinary, not worth much. You could easily buy one anywhere on the market.”
Yun Zhong spoke casually, as if it were just a common glass bead.
But Fu Qingheng didn’t believe him. “Can an ordinary bead emit that kind of light and be unbreakable?”
At the very least, he had never seen or heard of such a thing.
Yun Zhong seemed to find this amusing. “Unbreakable? This bead is just slightly harder than average. If you threw it hard enough, it would still break.”
“If you don’t believe me, Mr. Fu, shall I throw one to show you?”
Yun Zhong picked up the glass bead, surreptitiously infused a wisp of magic into his palm, and made a motion to throw it on the ground.
“Don’t bother!” Fu Qingheng stopped him. After all, this was something Yun Li had given him.
“Just give the pearl back to me.”
Seeing his tense expression, Yun Zhong could tell he cared deeply about this luminous pearl.
He secretly cast a tracking spell on the pearl before handing it back. He asked curiously, “Mr. Fu seems very concerned about this pearl. May I ask where you got it?”
Yun Li usually treasured this pearl dearly. It was almost impossible for her to give it to someone else.
Unless something had happened to Yun Li, and Fu Qingheng had obtained the pearl through illegitimate means.
But then again, Yun Li had been living peacefully in the demon realm all these years. Why would she suddenly come down the mountain?
Yun Zhong analyzed the situation calmly, his expression growing more serious. The man before him was his only breakthrough for now.
Fu Qingheng had always been perceptive. He could tell this Yun Zhong was very interested in his pearl.
If it was just an ordinary bead, why was he asking so many questions?
“I bought it from an ordinary shop. Are you interested in it too?”
Yun Zhong smiled and denied it. “I was just curious about its origin, since Mr. Fu seems so attached to such a common bead.”
Fu Qingheng felt there was something strange about this Yun Zhong and didn’t say anything more.
Not long after, Lu Zhen hurried over from the lab. “Sorry to keep you waiting. I couldn’t get away from that experiment just now.”
“What are you here for?”
As soon as Lu Zhen entered, he noticed the two people in the office and the strange, quiet atmosphere.
Yun Zhong was the first to explain. “I was just telling Mr. Fu about that glass bead. It’s not worth anything. I’ve already returned it to its owner.”
He glanced towards Fu Qingheng, his demeanor gentle as a modest gentleman. “I have some research to do, so I won’t disturb Senior Lu and Mr. Fu.”
Lu Zhen had spent the whole night in the lab, hadn’t even had a sip of water.
He poured himself a glass. “What did you come to see me about?”
Fu Qingheng had originally intended to have Lu Zhen study the blood pearl necklace, but he felt something was off about that junior colleague. “Nothing much. Just came to get my pearl back.”
From the institute, he went straight to the office.
The schedule that day was packed. Guo Ziyang listed a pile of things. Fu Qingheng acknowledged with a grunt, rubbing his temples.
After Guo Ziyang left, he took out the luminous pearl and examined it carefully for a while.
It looked exactly the same as before, no abnormalities.
But he was sure this bead was not that simple. Fu Qingheng put it in the safe.
Busy all day, it wasn’t until after ten at night that he was finally in the car on his way home.
He had drunk quite a bit at a business engagement, and now leaned back in his seat, resting his eyes.
Unable to wait for Fu Qingheng and unable to sleep, Yun Li curled up in her room watching TV.
Her hearing was acute, capable of picking up a much wider range of sounds than a normal human.
Before the car even entered the estate, Yun Li heard its approach.
She hurriedly ran downstairs to wait for Fu Qingheng to come home.
A few minutes later, a car indeed slowly pulled up and stopped at the gate.
The high beams illuminated the entire courtyard. Guo Ziyang saw Yun Li standing at the entrance and turned to alert Fu Qingheng.
“Mr. Fu, Miss Yun is at the gate.”
The man in the back seat opened his eyes and looked towards Yun Li standing by the iron gate.
It was already autumn, and the temperature dropped to around ten degrees Celsius at night, making it exceptionally cold.
Yun Li, wearing thin pajamas, stood at the door, seemingly having waited for a while.
This was the second time she had waited for him since the last incident, stirring a strange emotion in Fu Qingheng.
He couldn’t quite describe his current feelings – a bit happy, yet a bit annoyed.
It was so cold yet why was she dressed so lightly?
Fu Qingheng got out of the car, his face tense. “What are you doing here?”
“I was waiting especially for you!”
The man had been about to lose his temper, but upon hearing the girl’s sweet, soft voice, a hint of coolness extinguished the anger in his heart.
“Aren’t you cold?”
Yun Li shook her head, reached out her small hand, and actively offered it to Fu Qingheng.
Her little hand was indeed warm, soft and pleasant to the touch.
But the moment he touched it, it was like an electric shock. Fu Qingheng quickly pulled his hand back, his heart racing.
“You—!”
He started to scold her, but then realized she probably didn’t understand anything, so he simply shut his mouth.
He took off his jacket and draped it over Yun Li’s shoulders.
The man’s clothes looked incredibly mismatched on Yun Li’s small frame, like a child wearing an adult’s outfit. The jacket almost covered most of her body, and the sleeves were so long that Yun Li couldn’t even get her hands out.
Grabbing her wrist through the sleeve, Fu Qingheng led her back inside.
Yun Li followed closely behind him. “Brother Fu, you smell strongly of alcohol!”
Fu Qingheng didn’t speak. His pace quickened, and Yun Li had to trot to keep up.
Inside the house, Fu Qingheng suddenly stopped. Yun Li wasn’t paying attention and bumped hard into his back.
Fu Qingheng turned around, facing Yun Li who was rubbing her head. “You…”
It seemed like he had a thousand things to say, but when the words reached his lips, he didn’t know how to say them.
He paused. “Why aren’t you asleep yet?”
“Because I’ve been waiting for you to come home!” Yun Li looked utterly innocent.
Fu Qingheng realized he was still holding her wrist. Her wrist was as thin as her waist – slender to the point of being maddening. Where did all the meat she ate go?
He let go of her hand. “What were you waiting for me for?”
Yun Li remembered why she was there. She eagerly latched onto the man’s arm. “I want to go out and play!”
“Go out and play?”
Yun Li nodded eagerly. She had already promised Ouyang Mengyao and the others.
Fu Qingheng glanced at her. “With who? Where are you going?”
As soon as the words left his mouth, Fu Qingheng felt like an old fussbudget.
“With Ouyang Mengyao and them.”
Ouyang Mengyao? That pretty boy from last time?
“No!”
Yun Li’s face fell with disappointment. “Why not?”
“You can’t go out alone with boys.”
Fu Qingheng’s gaze fell on her face. Even though her body was that of a young woman, her personality was like a child’s, only thinking about eating, drinking, and having fun.
Did she even know that going out with a boy was called a date?
“But Ouyang Mengyao isn’t a boy!” Yun Li countered, confused.
Not a boy? After learning that Ouyang Mengyao’s full name was Ouyang Mengyao, Fu Qingheng breathed a sigh of relief. As long as she wasn’t going out with boys, it was fine.
Fu Qingheng nodded his agreement. Yun Li hugged him happily. “Brother Fu, you’re the best!”
Having achieved her goal, Yun Li ran off in a flash.
Fu Qingheng stood there, letting out a helpless sigh. After a long while, he walked towards his bedroom.
The next morning, Fu Qingheng was woken up by Yun Li next door.
It was Yun Li’s first time going out with human friends. She was so excited that she got up early, washed up, and changed her clothes.
After fussing for over an hour, she finally left the house.
This commotion made it impossible for Fu Qingheng to sleep any longer, so he got up as well.
He was slowly eating breakfast when Yang Qing came in from outside, carrying a huge cardboard box.
“Young Master, someone just delivered a package. It says it’s something you bought.”
Fu Qingheng was taken aback. He looked at the large box. “Open it. What is it?”
He didn’t remember buying anything.
Yang Qing was also curious. He got scissors and opened the box. The contents were very well packaged, clearly expensive items.
Inside the box was a white gift box with a ribbon tied in a beautiful bow and a card attached.
Fu Qingheng picked it up casually. The folded card read: “Mr. Fu, best wishes to you and your wife on your new marriage!”
Wait. He remembered what this package was.
A while ago, when he took Yun Li to buy a phone, the little woman had insisted on buying a wedding dress.
Because the dress’s size had been a bit off at the time, the saleswoman had taken Yun Li’s measurements for alterations, which was why it had taken so long to be delivered.
If Yang Qing saw the wedding dress, wouldn’t there be a huge misunderstanding?
“Don’t open it!”
But Fu Qingheng’s warning came too late. Yang Qing’s hands moved faster than his brain, and he easily opened the box.
A white wedding dress lay before their eyes.
Fu Qingheng: “…”
Yang Qing blinked. He was so excited he wondered if his old eyes were playing tricks on him.
It was a wedding dress!
He had thought the Young Master was always so fierce towards Ah Li, assuming they would dance around each other for a while. Who would have guessed he had already bought a wedding dress!
Fu Qingheng was incredibly annoyed. He shouldn’t have listed the home address for delivery.
“Uncle Yang, things aren’t the way you think.”
Yang Qing didn’t listen. He didn’t care. He asked excitedly, “Young Master, since you’ve already bought the wedding dress, when are you planning to marry Ah Li?”
Fu Qingheng’s expression was blank. “We’re not getting married…”
“That’s wonderful! The old master and the young mistress would be so happy if they knew you were getting married. The Fu family finally has an heir. Even if this old man closes his eyes for good, I can go down below and face them with a clear conscience!”
Fu Qingheng: … There was no explaining this anymore.
He should never have regretted the decision, shouldn’t have bought that wedding dress out of a moment of weakness.
Yang Qing was overjoyed, practically wanting to burn three incense sticks in worship.
Since the wedding dress couldn’t be kept a secret, Fu Qingheng simply had it placed in Yun Li’s room.
Yang Qing looked at the beautiful dress. “Ah Li will be over the moon when she sees this!”
To avoid Yang Qing’s nagging, Fu Qingheng quickly left the house.
Meanwhile, Yun Li was having a wonderful time hanging out with Ouyang Mengyao and the others.
They went shopping in the morning, ate KFC for lunch, and even went to an arcade to play games in the afternoon.
But halfway through gaming, Yun Li’s stomach started growling again. She wanted more KFC.
Ouyang Mengyao and the others were in the middle of a four-player PUBG match and couldn’t leave, so Yun Li had to go to the nearby KFC to buy food herself.
Yun Li had been to KFC several times by now and knew how to order.
After ordering a family bucket from the cashier, the server said, “Please scan here for mobile payment.”
Yun Li took out her phone and tapped the screen several times.
Suddenly, she forgot how mobile payment worked.
“Miss?” the server reminded her kindly.
Yun Li started to panic. “W-wait a moment!”
The server assumed her internet connection was slow and said, “Miss, would you mind stepping aside so the guests behind you can order?”
Yun Li obediently stepped to the side and continued looking down at her phone.
Just as she was struggling to find the payment interface, someone called her name.
Yun Li looked up, confused, and saw a vaguely familiar-looking boy waving at her.
“You are?”
“I’m Zhou Jing. Don’t you remember me?”
She really didn’t remember him very well.
Yun Li nodded honestly. Zhou Jing found it quite amusing. She had been drunk that night, so it was normal she didn’t remember him clearly.
“I’m Zhou Jing. We met at the chill bar last time?” Zhou Jing said, pulling a lollipop from his pocket. “Do you remember this lollipop?”
Ever since the first time he met Yun Li, he had desperately wanted to see her again.
Unfortunately, he went to the chill bar every day, staying from evening until late at night, but never ran into her again.
Meeting once in the vast sea of humanity was already a great fate. Meeting twice meant they were truly destined.
Like this chance encounter. Zhou Jing was indescribably happy. Thankfully, he always carried a lollipop on him.
Reminded by Zhou Jing, Yun Li immediately remembered. He was the lollipop guy.
Zhou Jing handed her the lollipop. “Are you eating at KFC alone? Where are your friends?”
“They’re playing games at an internet cafe. My stomach got hungry, so I wanted to get something to eat!”
Yun Li remembered something important. “Do you know how to use mobile payment? I suddenly can’t find it!”
“It’s easy. I’ll teach you.”
Yun Li handed him her phone. Zhou Jing tapped it a couple of times, and the payment code appeared.
A super family bucket cost over 130 yuan. Yun Li’s balance was less than 100.
Seeing that she couldn’t get the family bucket, Yun Li looked utterly disappointed. Zhou Jing said, “I’ll buy it for you!”
Zhou Jing told the cashier, “I’ll pay for her family bucket together.”
Yun Li’s eyes lit up. She looked at him admiringly. “You’re so nice!”
“It’s nothing.”
The cost of a family bucket was something he could afford.
They found a table and sat down. Zhou Jing watched as Yun Li opened the bucket and started eating.
He was a bit surprised. “Are you eating all that by yourself?”
That was a lot of food. Even he, a grown guy, might not be able to finish it all.
He had thought Yun Li was buying the bucket to share with her friends.
Yun Li looked at him questioningly. Did he want some of her bucket too?
Even though she was reluctant, since he had paid for it, Yun Li steeled herself and offered him a chicken leg. “Here, you can have this!”
Her expression clearly showed she was reluctant to part with it but felt she had to give it to him. Zhou Jing couldn’t help but laugh.
“It’s okay. You eat it!”
He didn’t really like this kind of food anyway. He was only here because Yun Jian loved KFC and had sent him to buy some.
Relieved, Yun Li’s expression softened. Afraid Zhou Jing might change his mind, she quickly snatched back the chicken leg and took a big bite.
The chicken leg was so fragrant.
Zhou Jing rested his chin on his hand. Just watching Yun Li eat was a pleasure.
Her cheeks puffed out when she chewed, it looked incredibly cute.
He thought Yun Li could become a mukbang streamer. Lots of people would love watching her.
Fu Qingheng came out of a jewelry store with the blood pearl necklace Yun Li had given him tucked in his pocket.
It had been authenticated as genuine natural blood pearls.
The jewelry store owner had been in the business for nearly fifty years and had seen all kinds of pearls, but never a blood-red pearl necklace as vibrant as this one.
After examining it for a while, he had exclaimed repeatedly, “In all my years, I’ve never seen blood pearls before.”
One pearl would have been remarkable enough, but this was a whole necklace, every pearl round, plump, and uniform.
The owner was so captivated he wanted to buy it at a high price for his collection. It was a rare, priceless treasure.
Fu Qingheng naturally refused to sell it.
This item had market value but no set price. Never mind where Yun Li had gotten it – did she even know its worth?
Probably not. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have given it away so easily.
Fu Qingheng asked the owner to keep it confidential and left the jewelry store with the blood pearl necklace.
It was still early. Not wanting to go home and listen to Yang Qing’s nagging, Fu Qingheng’s gaze unconsciously fell on a KFC across the street.
He thought about how that little girl Yun Li loved this stuff. She had mentioned it countless times. Maybe he should buy some to take home for her.
But as he reached the KFC entrance, he suddenly remembered Yun Li had gone out with her friends today. Who knew when she’d be back.
Was he losing his mind?
Why would he think of buying KFC for Yun Li voluntarily?
It must be because Yun Li was always going on about how delicious KFC was.
Fu Qingheng frowned slightly and was about to turn and leave.
His peripheral vision suddenly caught sight of two people sitting behind the glass window. One was Yun Li, the other was the pretty boy from the chill bar.
The pretty boy said something to Yun Li, and the little girl smiled especially brightly.
Hadn’t she said she was going out with her female classmates? How was she on a date with a pretty boy instead?
Fu Qingheng’s expression darkened. An indescribable surge of anger churned in his chest.
His fury burned even hotter when he saw the pretty boy reach out and wipe a crumb from the corner of Yun Li’s mouth.
Yun Li was gnawing on a chicken leg. When Zhou Jing suddenly reached out and touched her cheek, she looked at him blankly.
Zhou Jing, however, blushed with embarrassment. “I, um, I was just trying to wipe something off. I absolutely didn’t mean anything else by it.”
Yun Li was oblivious and didn’t notice anything strange about Zhou Jing’s behavior at all. She picked up a chicken wing and bit into it, her expression one of pure satisfaction.
The more Zhou Jing looked at her, the more he liked her. He started asking about her. “Are you still a student? Which school do you go to?”
Yun Li made an “mm” sound, chewing on the chicken wing as she answered vaguely, “I go to Pingcheng No. 1 High School.”
Still a high schooler?
Zhou Jing looked at her in surprise. “Then how old are you this year?”
“I’m two…” hundred years old…
Before she could finish the last two words, a figure suddenly appeared in front of their table.
“Yun Li!”
Fu Qingheng called her name angrily, his expression looking very much like someone who had just caught their partner cheating.
Yun Li looked up. Seeing Fu Qingheng standing there, she was both surprised and delighted. “Brother Fu, what are you doing here?”
But after the initial surprise, Yun Li noticed her “poop scooper’s” expression was quite fierce, as if he were very angry.
Yet, she hadn’t done anything to make him angry today.
She was puzzled and confused.
Fu Qingheng’s eyelids lowered, his icy gaze falling on Zhou Jing’s face. The little flame in his chest burned hotter and hotter.
Indescribably complex emotions surged within his chest.
Finally, he spoke, his voice cold as ice. “Is this your classmate?”
Yun Li shook her head without hesitation. “No, he’s Brother Zhou Jing.”
“Brother Fu, don’t you remember? You two met last time at the chill… you saw each other there!”
After coming back from the chill bar last time, Fu Qingheng had settled accounts with her. He not only punished her by making her do homework, but also warned her never to go to a chill bar again, saying it wasn’t a place for a little kid like her.
By demon realm standards, her age was indeed very young, but she was much older than these humans.
How could Fu Qingheng not remember? His point was, why was she sitting here laughing and chatting with this pretty boy?
They had met several times now, and she was even affectionately calling him “Brother Zhou Jing”?
He pulled out a chair and sat down, his gaze sweeping over Zhou Jing’s face as if interrogating him.
Zhou Jing was, after all, still a university student. He had never been scrutinized like this before and was feeling somewhat nervous.
Yun Li called him “Brother Fu,” so Zhou Jing instinctively addressed him as “Brother Fu” as well. “I’m a friend of Yun Li’s. My name is Zhou Jing.”
Fu Qingheng let out a cold snort. “Since when did I acquire a younger brother? How would I know?”
**