After dinner, Xiao Feng grabbed Zhao Guo'an, who was trying to sneak away early.

"Old Xiao, what are you up to?" Zhao Guo'an asked with a fake smile, playing dumb.

Xiao Feng squinted his eyes: "I remember someone once patted their chest and assured me that mint candy had no side effects, right?"

"Absolutely not!" Zhao Guo'an said righteously: "Who told you that, you go find them, just don't find me."

"Do you think playing dumb still means anything now?"

"...No."

"Then just be straightforward and clarify things."

Zhao Guo'an sighed, pulling a long face: "Honestly, it's not that I'm not competent, but rather your expectations are simply impossible to meet.

Wanting to experience high-intensity stimulation without paying the price is like wanting a car to run without spending money on fuel; do you think that's possible?"

"It's possible." Xiao Feng nodded seriously: "For example, I take a cab to leave, and you reimburse my fare."

Zhao Guo'an retorted angrily: "Even if you don't have to pay, someone still has to foot the bill in the end."

"That I can't control, as long as I don't have to pay." Xiao Feng said expressionlessly, knowing full well his logic was somewhat unreasonable.

In a way, Zhao Guo'an wasn't wrong either. Like making a cut with a knife, pain is inevitable; avoiding this pain through external stimulation to prevent Illusion Techniques is clearly unfeasible.

"How about this, you improve the mint candy, make it dissolve instantly." Xiao Feng mused: "Since we can't take it, let the enemies have it."

Zhao Guo'an nodded: "That's simple, but how do you plan to deal with Uesugi Yumi's illusion techniques?"

Xiao Feng thought for a moment and replied: "I think everyone should carry a bottle of mustard oil or bring along a couple of chilies. If something feels off, give it a whiff, chew a few bites, and the intensity should be about right."

"..." Zhao Guo'an was dumbfounded.

It took a while for him to react, angrily saying: "Why didn't you say so earlier, making me waste effort researching this stuff?"

"To train your research skills." Xiao Feng said earnestly: "Your efficiency is lacking, strive for improvement in the future."

With that, he got up and left decisively.

"What the heck!" Zhao Guo'an was almost blown with anger, realizing Xiao Feng just wanted to keep him busy, finding stuff for him to do even if there was none.

At this moment, a little girl burped after eating, then patted her belly satisfiedly: "I'm full, I need to go and move around a bit. By the way, Jinghan sis, shall I help you pack later?"

"Pack stuff?" Zhen Jinghan asked puzzled: "Pack what stuff?"

"Your personal belongings, of course." The little girl answered matter-of-factly: "Living alone outside is so inconvenient, just move in, it'll be fun and lively together."

"This..." Zhen Jinghan blushed slightly, shyly glancing at Zhao Guo'an.

Zhao Guo'an pulled the little girl to the side, saying irritably: "What are you messing around for, we're going down the dungeon for treasure in a few days, why have her come over?"

The little girl was stunned for a moment, scratching her head, she said apologetically: "I forgot about that."

"Forget it, I'll stay at the inn, the environment is quite good there." Zhen Jinghan replied, seemingly a bit disappointed.

"Don't misunderstand, Jinghan sis, it's not that he doesn't want you to stay over, there's something else, but we all welcome you." The little girl explained.

Zhen Jinghan smiled: "I understand, being with you all makes me happy. I'll stay at the inn for now, moving in...let's discuss that in a few days."

After helping clean up the dishes, Zhen Jinghan bade farewell: "If there's nothing else, I'll head out first."

"No way!" The little girl stopped her: "It's late, you can't go back alone."

As she spoke, she promptly pushed Zhao Guo'an out: "Let him escort you."

"Is this suitable?"

"What's not to fit? Let him escort you. If it weren't for your help today, could he have made the strong mint candy so quickly? This little favor is nothing."

After a while, seeing Zhao Guo'an had yet to say anything, Zhen Jinghan awkwardly said: "If it's inconvenient for you, then never mind."

After saying this, she turned to walk towards the door.

Watching Zhen Jinghan's departing back, Zhao Guo'an found himself in a dilemma.

Thinking about how she served tea, handed tissues for him to wipe his sweat during the day, he gritted his teeth and said: "Wait, I'll walk you back."

Zhen Jinghan's eyes lit up, nodding shyly.

...

Under the night sky, Zhao Guo'an and Zhen Jinghan walked side by side, but with an arm's width between them, looking like a bickering couple.

Neither of them spoke, each lost in their own thoughts, having a myriad of words ready to spill out but not knowing which to choose as the opening line.

After a long while, Zhen Jinghan was the first to break the silence: "You know, my previous two marriages, they were quite unfortunate... although compared to those two, I seem rather lucky, at least I'm still alive."

"Mm." Zhao Guo'an responded faintly, indicating he was listening.

Zhen Jinghan sighed: "Honestly, I didn't have much affection for my two previous husbands, you might wonder, why marry without feelings?

But I want to say, for someone like me, seen as 'inauspicious' my whole life, having someone willing to marry me was satisfying enough.

But the final outcome, you've seen it too. I don't know why this happened, really don't, everyone says I'm a venomous woman, profiting by harming my husbands, but I did nothing."

"I'm not you, so I can't truly empathize with your experience, but after the storm, even if there's no rainbow, the sun will shine. I believe things will get better." Zhao Guo'an blurted out some comforting words he had read before.

Zhen Jinghan nodded: "I didn't believe it before, but after meeting you and your friends, I started to. You… are my rainbow after the storm."

"Boom!"

Zhao Guo'an felt as if struck by lightning; what on earth did he just say? He clearly wasn't trying to confess and wanted her not to come see him tomorrow?

How did the conversation take such a sudden turn?

"Why did you stop?" Zhen Jinghan asked curiously.

"Nothing." Zhao Guo'an shook his head, taking a deep breath: "I just wanted to tell you, if there's nothing else, tomorrow..."

Zhen Jinghan lowered her head, unable to hide a smile at the corner of her mouth. Has this obtuse guy finally learned to take the initiative?

Seeing her expression, Zhao Guo'an was at a loss for words, wanting to smack his own mouth to get out what he wanted to say.

After a while, when she still hadn't heard what she hoped for, Zhen Jinghan couldn't help but look up and, pretending to ask casually, said: "So, tomorrow?"

"Uh..." Zhao Guo'an coughed twice, closed his eyes, steeling himself to say "Don't come looking for me tomorrow" when suddenly, he was interrupted by a snide voice from behind: "Well, well, look what we have here, brothers, seize them for me!"

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