Chapter 82: A Misstep

“Thank you, Mr. Man, for supporting our work so generously,” Fang Wenxuan said with a gentle smile in Man Yukui’s direction.

“We should get going. The captain is still waiting for us,” Lin Hui interjected, unable to hide his displeasure as he came to Fang Wenxuan’s side, wrapping an arm around his waist.

“Where’s Sister Qiao Shan?” Fang Wenxuan asked, giving Lin Hui a sharp look to signal him to let go. Lin Hui, cowed by the severity in his eyes, reluctantly released him. Usually, Fang Wenxuan tolerated a bit of playful teasing, but when at work, he would never allow anyone to cross the line.

“I’m here, I’m here! We can leave now,” came a hurried voice.

It had been five days. Aside from that single message saying he wouldn’t return, there had been no word from Jing Yuchen.

“Is that so? Are interns nowadays really so out of line?” the manager exhaled deeply and glanced in Lu Mengxiao’s direction.

So, even if there were mountains of blades or seas of fire ahead, she refused to retreat into the safe harbor he had arranged for her.

As Wu Xiaoxiao stared, furious and bewildered, Fang Meng wrapped a towel around her eyes.

Her black dress was pure silk, smooth to the touch, and her thighs were soft and resilient.

Fine! I still have several taxi receipts I haven’t submitted yet. For your sake, I’ll accompany the leader. But, sir, I’m really nervous about the drinking at those occasions. You handle the socializing—I’ll take care of the paperwork.

The closest lovers of the past had become strangers. Even running into each other by chance and exchanging a brief greeting had become a luxury.

The sound thundered between Qiu Wan and Qiu Cai, shaking Tang Yun so much that she could only obediently fall silent, forbidden from saying things she shouldn’t say.

It was as if they had vanished into thin air. The Lin family was simply gone, and even the hospital staff hadn’t noticed when they disappeared.

“Master, everything is inside,” Steward Qiao reported, bowing respectfully to Zhan Qinglan.

Hearing this, Marshal Tian Peng—Pigsy—hurried off to gather reeds and thorns, set them alight, and burned the Cloud Ladder Cave until it looked like a crumbling kiln. Only after finishing did he anxiously report to the Handsome Monkey King, Sun Wukong.

“Juezhi Yuan? Y-you… you didn’t go out?” Seeing Juezhi Yuan, Lan Xingxing was so startled she nearly dropped the fruit platter she was holding.

But before dawn, Emperor Qitai met with disaster. He had just returned to his chambers, was undressing to sleep, when his strength failed him and he collapsed. After years together, the Empress had never seen him like this. She panicked, feeling his forehead, which was burning with fever.

At that moment, a sudden commotion erupted at the banquet. All eyes turned to an arrogant young man with golden hair.

Tang Monk, upon seeing him, was so terrified he fell flat on his back, cowering behind a table and screaming nonstop.

“You have quite a temperament,” the man remarked indifferently, settling onto a stone bench and leisurely preparing tea.

They had stockpiled a month’s worth of grain. If their hands hadn’t been full, they would have taken more.

The Sixth Prince tilted his head in pride, feeling no shame in his actions—in fact, he seemed quite pleased with himself, as if having slept with just another common courtesan.

“Your Highness, do you wish to rest?” Fang Hua asked, clearing the dishes, her heart full of hope.

He was tall and slender, his collar loose, revealing an exquisite collarbone. His waist bore no ornament—just a simple belt.

Fortunately, most of the foreign paranormals had retreated to the Western Sichuan Plain, where, with the Fifth Mechanized Corps, they fought on stubbornly. The protracted war had left everyone exhausted.

Still, Tang Xuankun and Tang Xuanling were curious—who could be bold enough to provoke the Southern Duke’s daughter to such anger?

A shadow leapt after Chu Fan, hands reaching for his throat, its nails several inches long.

“What’s wrong? Still not working?” Chu Fan’s frustration only made Granny Miao more anxious, flickering uncertainly between red and white.