BOOM!

A deep motorcycle rumble.

A big red motorbike swiftly passed by the car, its speed causing Brother Nan to raise her eyebrows. She noticed the valuable racing replica had two side boxes and a tied-up bag, making it look rather out of place.

Aiming at the motorcycle's taillight, Brother Nan shaped her hand into a gun. Aim—

BIU! BIU!

She shifted her gaze back to Zhou Li's reflection in the glass.

Suddenly, the motorcycle's taillights brightened as it stopped at a traffic light.

Zhou Li leisurely pulled up beside it.

Only then did Brother Nan look at the rider. Instantly, a look of suspicion flashed across her face; she felt she recognized the person.

"Zhou Li, this guy..."

At the same time, the rider saw them and immediately lifted his visor and turned off his music.

His eyes, starry and piercing, somewhat resembled Hu Ge's. His riding suit perfectly outlined his tall figure and body proportions—enough to make many girls swoon even with his helmet on.

"Zhou Li!?"

"Yin Le?" Zhou Li was a bit surprised. He looked at Yin Le through the passenger window. "What a coincidence!"

"That really is a huge coincidence!" Yin Le said.

"Did you just ride back from home?" Zhou Li asked again.

"Exactly!"

"Does your school start in early June too?"

"It's the same in University Town, isn't it?"

"You rode your bike all the way back?"

"Yeah."

"That's impressive."

"The light's about to turn green, so let's not talk now. I'll find a hotel to stay at and contact you later. Free for a meal before school starts?" Yin Le pulled down his visor again but still turned his head towards the car.

"Sure."

"Alright!"

The rider nodded.

The green light came on.

He twisted the throttle, and the sports bike immediately zoomed off, leaving Zhou Li and Brother Nan with only a view of its taillight.

"That bike is really cool!" Brother Nan commented, nodding.

"Why don't you buy one?"

"I'll think about it after I get my D license next year," Brother Nan hesitated. "But I probably still won't buy it. I already have a bicycle and this car; it seems unnecessary to get a motorcycle."

"Makes sense."

"Are you going to be my mudguard?"

"Huh?"

"If you agree, I'll buy it!"

"What do you mean?"

"You agree."

"Fine."

"I'll remember that!"

"Oh..."

Zhou Li was still completely confused.

They arrived home and opened the door.

As expected, all the lights in the living room were on. A tall, graceful figure sat on the sofa with her legs crossed, eating fried chicken and drinking Coke while watching Soldier Assault.

"Yo! You're back?" She casually took a sip of Coke. The can was almost empty and made a GURGLE GURGLE sound.

"Why have you turned into a woman again?"

"Silly Huai Xu! Today, Lord Dumpling and Zhou Li's mom talked all afternoon!" Tuanzi boasted, jumping down to the floor.

"PSSH!"

Huai Xu rolled her eyes at Tuanzi but ignored Zhou Li.

Zhou Li sat down beside her, eyeing the food on the coffee table. "Remember to turn back into a man by tomorrow morning," he said. "My mom is coming over to check on my living situation, and I told her I'm renting with a good friend."

"What's wrong with that? Can't a good friend be a woman? How can you be so feudal?"

"I told her I gave my bed to Brother Nan, and I'm sleeping next to you."

"Aren't you sleeping on the sofa?" Huai Xu turned to him, a straw in her mouth. "Why didn't you tell the truth?"

"That's just what I said," Zhou Li replied.

"You, honestly..."

Huai Xu looked at him with a mix of annoyance and disdain. "Normally, you refuse to sleep next to me, but now, in front of your mom, you claim you do. Oh, so you *do* realize it's better for you to sleep next to me in this situation?"

Zhou Li was speechless.

Truly headache-inducing.

He thought for a moment, then chose to lower his head. "Sorry, I'll bring back some 'Hand-Staining Blue' mushrooms for you tomorrow."

"What are 'Hand-Staining Blue' mushrooms?"

"They're a type of fungus, poisonous yet exceptionally delicious. People of Caiyun all love them; they eat them even if they get poisoned," Zhou Li said. "It's said that you're not a true Caiyun local unless you've tried these poisonous mushrooms."

"What if I get poisoned?"

This Old Monster is really too much, Zhou Li thought, but he chose not to argue to avoid her saying something like, "Oh, so human lives are lives, but Demon lives aren't?"

"If they're prepared correctly, you won't get poisoned," he said.

"Deal!"

"I'm going to take a shower now."

Zhou Li sniffled, got up, and went to open the balcony windows, and then the kitchen window too, creating a cross-breeze.

Huai Xu squinted at him, clearly displeased.

A moment later, Zhou Li went to the bedroom to get a change of clothes and habitually opened the left side of the wardrobe—

HMMM...

SWOOSH!

He closed it again!

Zhou Li's heart was pounding. He really wanted to message Aunt Jiang to tell her he had finally made it—there were a girl's clothes in his closet now!

He walked out with a composed expression and used the bathroom outside.

After showering, he stood next to Tuanzi to brush his teeth, and also helped Tuanzi wash her face and little feet.

Perhaps because she saw Zhou Li and other humans doing this, the dignified Lord Dumpling felt she should too. Or maybe she found the minty taste in her mouth and the cool, wet sensation on her face and hands comforting. In any case, Tuanzi had developed the habit of washing up.

Zhou Li had also gotten used to seeing the Little Cat Girl every morning and evening.

When he came out, Huai Xu was tidying up the coffee table.

The Old Monster was quite dissatisfied, muttering as she cleaned, "Such a hassle. If it were me, I'd just leave it here. Imagine falling asleep with all these tasty smells around, I'd even dream about them..."

The bedroom door was open, and Brother Nan had just come out of the bathroom, trailing steam, wearing foam flip-flops. She quickly noticed Zhou Li sneakily peeking at her from the doorway.

"What are you looking at?"

"Nothing, nothing..."

"Play some games?"

"Let's not. We should sleep early."

"Then how about a chat?"

"Chat about what?"

"Come in."

So Zhou Li nervously stepped into the bedroom.

Seeing his expression, Brother Nan couldn't help but smile, her eyes twinkling before she turned and shut the door.

Zhou Li immediately felt even more embarrassed.

In contrast, Brother Nan's smile grew even brighter.

Then Zhou Li felt Brother Nan grab his wrist, pull him over to the bed, and push him hard on the chest... How could he possibly withstand the mighty Brother Nan's strength? Of course, he was immediately pushed down onto the bed.

Then, Brother Nan lay down as well.

They lay side by side, looking at the same spot on the ceiling, their hands still joined.

One heart pounded fiercely. The other was all smiles.

Outside, the night wind lifted the curtains, making them flutter noisily.

"Don't mess around," Zhou Li stuttered. "This wall is like a sheet of paper to Huai Xu, and it's semi-transparent..."

"Nonsense! I'm not interested at all in what you two do!" Huai Xu's indignant voice came from outside.

"What are you thinking! You, who usually seem so honest and straightforward... Weren't we going to talk?!" Brother Nan teased Zhou Li with a reproachful tone. She even hit him lightly as a punishment for his wild thoughts, then finally asked, "Did your mom have another child after that?"

"...Yes."

He felt somewhat melancholy and a bit stifled. It was as if there were two words on the tip of his tongue... it felt unbearable not to say them.

Brother Nan, however, seemed completely unaware of his mood and continued, "So, does that upset you?"

Hearing this, Zhou Li grew serious. He thought for a moment, then said, "They all love me... And she deserves to have her own life too."