"Remember, you're going to congratulate Teacher Dong with us at the same time, got it?" Gu Yueyan was very uneasy, so she reminded Lin Xianyu again in the elevator.

Lin Xianyu patted her chest. "Don't worry, I remember. I'll definitely be in perfect sync with you all!"

Gu Yueyan still felt a bit apprehensive, but they had already arrived at Dong Chengling's door, so they had no choice but to ring the doorbell and go in.

It was Ren Suo who opened the door. After greeting him, the four of them entered the house and immediately bowed to Dong Chengling to offer their congratulations, "Congratulations, Teacher Dong!"

Gu Yueyan, Ren Xingmei, Lin Xianyu, and Qin Lian were all Dong Chengling's students and had received a lot of care from her. This time, Dong Chengling had invited them to a celebration banquet for her promotion to the fourth transformation. It was only right and proper for them to congratulate her sincerely—Dong Chengling probably wouldn't mind, but they hadn't even brought gifts (they couldn't get any on such short notice), so their attitude naturally had to be impeccable.

But Gu Yueyan immediately noticed Lin Xianyu hadn't moved. Turning her head, she saw Lin Xianyu staring at the dishes on the dining table, saliva shamelessly dripping from the corner of her mouth. Gu Yueyan smacked her hard on the bottom, and only then did Lin Xianyu bow and offer her congratulations.

Dong Chengling gracefully accepted their congratulations and said, "Thank you. Sit down, it's not our first meal together."

Lin Xianyu immediately sat down and picked up her chopsticks. "Teacher, your cooking is getting more and more fragrant! Whoever marries you will be truly blessed."

"Is that so?" Dong Chengling walked into the kitchen with a smile, seemingly more pleased by this compliment than by the congratulations on her promotion to the fourth transformation.

Gu Yueyan poked Lin Xianyu's hand. "Not everyone is here yet, don't be in such a hurry to eat!"

Lin Xianyu muttered, "I'm not eating. I'm just pretending to pick up food, using my chopsticks to bring the aroma closer... Little Jiu, no eating until everyone is here!"

As Little Jiu and Lin Xianyu faced off, the other guests began to arrive.

Zhao Huo and Bai Ji arrived together, apparently having just finished a class.

"I need to work harder on my cultivation too; I can't let you get too far ahead, Cheng Ling," Bai Ji chuckled. "I'm not sitting so comfortably in the top spot at Heavenly Lotus anymore."

Dong Chengling shook her head. "In terms of Combat Power, Teacher Bai, you still surpass me. In terms of talent, Teacher Bai, you are no less gifted than I. You just need to be a little more diligent, and you'll catch up to me soon."

Ren Suo chimed in from the side, "Exactly! Bai Ji, stop getting distracted by pretty faces, and you'll advance to the fourth transformation soon enough."

At that moment, Bai Ji and Dong Chengling both glanced at Ren Suo, their expressions somewhat odd.

Zhao Huo coughed twice. Before he could speak, Ren Suo said, "Alright, alright, I know you've reached the third turn. Let's eat chicken. Where's the poached chicken?"

DING DONG.

The doorbell rang, and Ren Suo went to answer it.

"Good evening! Been keeping well, Little Suo?"

Qiao Muyi greeted Ren Suo with her usual smile, dressed casually, just like always.

After entering, she also congratulated Dong Chengling. Once everyone was present, they officially picked up their chopsticks. The eager Lin Xianyu and Little Jiu ate like the wind. Qiao Muyi and Bai Ji began their usual subtle verbal sparring. Qin Lian and Gu Yueyan asked Dong Chengling about cultivation matters. Ren Xingmei occasionally put food on her big brother's plate, while Ren Suo and Zhao Huo chatted about all sorts of things as they ate.

Ren Suo was already very accustomed to these large gatherings—especially since, apart from Zhao Huo, everyone else at the table was a bonding partner, which made Ren Suo, who wasn't fond of socializing, feel very much at ease.

After a few rounds of dishes, Little Jiu, Ren Xingmei, and Lin Xianyu started teaming up for mobile games. The conversation gradually shifted to Fourth-Rank Cultivation, and Lin Xianyu and the other students eagerly asked Dong Chengling to demonstrate her Telekinesis and Pressure.

Having heard it all before, Ren Suo yawned and dutifully began clearing the table and washing the dishes.

While he was washing dishes in the kitchen, Qiao Muyi silently approached. Leaning against the kitchen counter, she looked up at Ren Suo with a smile and asked, "Do you still remember our promise from that day?"

"What promise?" Ren Suo was very wary.

"That day you advanced to the third turn, didn't I say I'd give you a gift?" Qiao Muyi gestured with her chin towards the living room. "Do you still want it now?"

Ren Suo was momentarily stunned, then remembered Qiao Muyi's 'gift': 'Let's trick Cheng Ling into bed after she comes out of her seclusion.' He frowned, beginning to ponder...

Did I even need to think about this?

"No!" Ren Suo said righteously. Qiao Muyi could never be so kind. It was definitely a trap; agreeing would mean falling into her scheme!

"Then let's forget it," Qiao Muyi said with an air of regret. "I was even planning to buy you a pair of 1000XM3 headphones... but your current ones still work, so it's not a big deal if you don't get new ones, right?"

Ren Suo's jaw dropped in shock. I actually still fell for it?!

Seeing Ren Suo's dumbfounded expression, Qiao Muyi couldn't help but laugh, feeling much of her inner turmoil dissipate.

She waved her hand and said, "I'm going to head out first. You need to take good care of Cheng Ling… Oh, I misspoke. You should listen obediently to Cheng Ling; after all, Cheng Ling is stronger than you."

As Qiao Muyi turned to leave, Ren Suo suddenly grabbed her hand. "Wait a second."

"Hm?"

"You..."

Ren Suo thought for a moment and said, "Wait here for a bit."

So Ren Suo shut a bewildered Qiao Muyi in the kitchen and returned to the living room. He tapped Dong Chengling on the shoulder. "Cheng Ling, I need to talk to you about something."

Dong Chengling, who was demonstrating her Telekinesis, nodded and followed Ren Suo to the balcony, leaving behind Zhao Huo, who looked as if he'd expected this, Gu Yueyan with a complicated expression, Qin Lian chuckling softly, and Bai Ji, who maintained his smile.

Ren Suo paid no mind to the others' expressions and said directly to Dong Chengling, "It seems Qiao Muyi is in some kind of trouble, but she won't tell me. Why don't you go talk to her?"

When Qiao Muyi had spoken of leaving earlier, Ren Suo had distinctly heard an echo from her words: "Maybe I won't see you again."

Although Dong Chengling didn't know why Ren Suo was so certain about Qiao Muyi's situation, she immediately nodded. "No problem, I'll go right now."

"The trouble she's in might be really serious. Perhaps she's thinking of fleeing the country to seek refuge," Ren Suo couldn't explain the content of the echo, 'Maybe I won't see you again,' so he fabricated a scenario to make Dong Chengling understand the gravity of the situation.

"Leave it to me."

Dong Chengling walked into the kitchen, closing the door behind her, making it impossible for Ren Suo to eavesdrop—the soundproofing in the teacher's dormitory was quite good, after all.

Ten minutes later, Dong Chengling and Qiao Muyi emerged arm in arm. Dong Chengling told Ren Suo, "Xiao Qiao will be staying at my place tonight."

Ren Suo nodded, thinking to himself that Dong Chengling was remarkably efficient; she had even managed to get her to stay overnight. This would give Qiao Muyi plenty of time to open up.

He asked, "So Qiao Muyi will stay in the guest room tonight? Is Little Jiu still sleeping at my place?"

Little Jiu clapped her hands and said, "Great! Little Jiu can sleep with Big Brother again!"

Feeling numerous disdainful gazes upon him, Ren Suo quickly clarified, "Little Jiu sleeps in one room, and I sleep in another!"

Little Jiu clutched her chest with both hands, shaking her head as she said, "Every night, Big Brother watches Little Jiu fall asleep from the bedside. But Big Brother is really annoying; he always uses his fingers."

As soon as Little Jiu finished speaking, Ren Suo immediately pointed at Zhao Huo and said, "What are you doing with your phone out?"

"I haven't chatted with Chairman Xie in a long time. I wanted to ask him about some legal matters..."

"Chairman Xie is busy at the Public Security office; don't go bothering him!"

After some commotion, everyone said their goodbyes and left.

Ren Suo held Little Jiu's small hand as they walked downstairs from his dormitory building to bid farewell to the others.

"Let's have another match at the combat training ground in a couple of days." Zhao Huo clapped Ren Suo heavily on the shoulder. "I've advanced to the third turn, and my strength has greatly increased. After two days of getting used to it, I definitely want to have another showdown with you!"

"Okay, okay, don't worry, you'll definitely be the 'female' one," Ren Suo gestured for Zhao Huo to scram. He thinks he can act all tough in front of my clone? He's more likely to just chicken out.

"Bro, I'm off then. I'll come over to stay for a few days this Friday," Ren Xingmei said with a smile.

With Little Jiu gone, the guest room was naturally free. Ren Suo didn't refuse his sister's request to stay. "Then I'll buy 'Wilderness and Horse 2' in the next couple of days," he said. "You can help me get the platinum trophy then."

Gu Yueyan crossed her arms, looked at Ren Suo, and huffed, "We'll finish the thesis the day after tomorrow. We'll send it to you then. Remember to complete the part you're responsible for."

"Many thanks to Classmate Gu and all our classmates for their tremendous support," Ren Suo said, making a fist-and-palm salute. "I, Ren Suo, will never forget this. The only way to repay you is to offer myself, body and soul... or perhaps be your ox and horse in the next life..."

Lin Xianyu waved her hand. "See you tomorrow, Big Brother Ren! I'll go get an appointment number for your clinic session!"

Looks like I'll have to send a clone for the clinic session again tomorrow, huh? Ren Suo thought. He managed a forced smile and said, "Well, I really appreciate that."

Qin Lian nodded politely. "Goodbye, Brother Ren."

Ren Suo also said politely, "Please give my regards to Yu Kuangtu. Remember to tell him that Dong Chengling has reached the fourth transformation... He surely knows this news already, but if you're the one to remind him, I think he'll definitely go ballistic and cultivate even harder..."

Bai Ji looked at Ren Suo, spread his arms, and said, "I've recently taken a liking to the Western way of saying goodbye."

Ren Suo blinked, then went over and gave him a hug. "Oh, goodbye."

After saying goodbye to everyone, Ren Suo took Little Jiu home.

Once Little Jiu had washed up, it was time for her favorite part of the day: going to sleep.

But since it was their last night together, Ren Suo decided not to play any games and asked directly, "What do you need to fall asleep?"

"A kiss from Big Brother!" Little Jiu said eagerly.

So Ren Suo leaned down and kissed Little Jiu on the forehead. Little Jiu was very satisfied, obediently pulled the blanket over herself, closed her eyes, and said with a smile, "See you tomorrow, Big Brother!"

Ren Suo turned off the guest room light, returned to his own bedroom, and turned on his computer, intending to check messages on the internal network.

If there was nothing important, he planned to go to sleep and continue his cultivation AFK.

Just then, his phone suddenly rang. Ren Suo picked it up, an involuntary smile spreading across his face as he answered, "Mom? Still up this late?"

"Yes, I was thinking about my son and couldn't sleep." Mom said it quite convincingly, but Ren Suo could clearly hear her chewing on something—probably an apple.

"Then I'll come back for a visit in a couple of days. Mom, remember to tidy up my room..."

"Your eldest paternal uncle died."

Ren Suo was slightly startled; his smile vanished. "How did he die?"

"It just happened today. He was living over in Shenhai, and it seems there was some kind of disaster there today. He was unlucky and died."

Ren Suo wasn't close to his eldest paternal uncle, but the apartment he had previously rented was leased to him by his uncle at an extremely favorable price. With a subway station downstairs and Jian Ji Noodle Shop nearby, such a prime location and excellent apartment would have been far beyond his means as a recent college graduate aspiring to be a subdistrict office civil servant, if not for the personal connection.

"Do I need to help with the funeral arrangements?"

"We don't know yet. Probably not, since your eldest paternal uncle had settled in Shenhai. However, his son will probably have to come back to take over the house in Lianjiang. If you're able to, help him out with the paperwork then."

"No problem."

Mom hummed in acknowledgment and then said, "When you have time, come back with Xing Mei for a visit. Your father and I miss you both a lot, especially you. If we don't see you soon, even I, your mother, might not recognize you anymore."

"How is that possible? I haven't changed at all," Ren Suo laughed.

"No... no change? Still the same foolish... Well, it's good that you haven't changed," Mom's voice was filled with concern.

"Alright, alright. Send me Cousin's WeChat ID later, and I'll contact him," Ren Suo said.

Mom said "Oh," then suddenly asked, "Suo Zi. Your job... it's not dangerous, is it?"

"It's not dangerous," Ren Suo replied. "I'm at the school all day. How could it be dangerous?"

"That's good, that's good..."

Mom said, "Fortunately, both you and Xing Mei don't cause me much worry... I never expected that you, my son, would occasionally make some correct choices."

Ren Suo suddenly thought of introducing Qiao Muyi to his mom; he felt they would certainly have common topics to discuss.

But then he reconsidered. If Qiao Muyi and Mom actually had a long talk, they'd both just end up honing their sharp-tongued skills. Wouldn't my life become even more unbearable then? He immediately dismissed the idea.

"Then come back in a few days. I've already changed your bedsheets to a new set."

"Got it, Mom. I'll hang up now."

After hanging up the phone, Ren Suo felt completely awake. He went online and started watching a movie.

It was a very commercial popcorn movie. A monster, originally set on destroying the world, was treated with love by humans and consequently abandoned its destructive plans, settling down to live peacefully with them... Only the combat scenes were somewhat watchable.

However, the movie was quite long. Ren Suo watched most of it, and time gradually ticked past midnight.

The Sky Capital time and date also changed from November 19th to November 20th.

Suddenly, a new message popped up on the computer screen.

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