Lu Yao laughed and asked back: "Do you remember the question Brother Yanhuang just asked?"

"What?" Lin Jiaxuan was somewhat puzzled, even inexplicably nervous.

Lin Zhiyan came over, wrapped an arm around her sister's shoulder, and explained: "Xiao Feng didn't say anything wrong. The key to unlocking the mechanism is indeed whether you can piece together that painting, and more importantly, the mechanism itself."

"The mechanism itself?"

"That's right." Lin Zhiyan said: "The answer actually lies on the surface. Nine by nine squares, just because the painting can't be assembled straight, doesn't mean it can't be sideways or upside down."

Lin Jiaxuan was stupefied: "So..."

"So you fell for it." Lin Zhiyan gave a bitter smile: "Actually... it's not really falling for anything, it's just that you didn't realize the crux of the problem in time, can't blame others."

Lin Jiaxuan said stubbornly: "He hasn't tried, how can he be sure the issue is with direction? Even if it's really about direction, I don't believe he can assemble eighty pieces in an hour."

"Thinking like that isn't wrong either, it's just..." Lin Zhiyan paused, then shook her head with a smile: "Forget it, let's see the result."

An hour's time, twenty minutes have already passed.

Xiao Feng turned the painting to the right and tilted his head to the right, trying a different direction to continue unlocking.

In fact, he was taking a gamble doing this. After all, the mechanism wasn't designed by him; he couldn't guarantee one hundred percent whether changing direction would work.

In this sense, the odds of winning or losing between Xiao Feng and Lin Jiaxuan were actually equal, fifty-fifty.

If you must say who has the advantage, of course, it's Lin Jiaxuan who holds the upper hand.

Because with the time constraint, even if Xiao Feng exceeds the time limit by a second and unlocks the mechanism, he still loses.

"It's been half an hour." The Servant Girl watched Xiao Feng working nonstop, a touch of tension appearing in her eyes.

As soon as she spoke, Xiao Feng switched the painting upside down. This was the third time he changed direction, if it still didn't work, then he was undoubtedly done for.

And once he lost, the consequence would be serving as Lin Jiaxuan's laborer for a year, which he absolutely couldn't accept!

Thinking of this, Xiao Feng's speed increased even more, quick to the point of dazzling, making people suspect he was just taking a shot in the dark, hoping to get lucky.

Time ticked away second by second.

Zhao Guo'an couldn't help but gloat: "Old Xiao, oh old Xiao, you've met your match today, get ready to serve tea..."

Before he finished speaking, he saw the Servant Girl grip the long whip around her waist, seemingly ready to strike at any time.

Zhao Guo'an wisely kept quiet, glancing at the time; only ten minutes were left, and Xiao Feng's puzzle was just reaching the fifth row with half still unfinished.

This efficiency is undoubtedly astonishing; perhaps Xiao Feng had found the right direction initially and could have pieced it together, but now it's too late. Even a superhero would probably not finish the puzzle in the remaining ten minutes.

Lin Jiaxuan's smile deepened, as if victory was already beckoning to her.

Thinking about Xiao Feng serving her tea respectfully and then squatting to massage her legs made her feel entirely comfortable, a dream that could make her laugh awake.

"Don't celebrate too early, five minutes left." Xiao Feng turned back, his face dark as he spoke.

The Servant Girl and Lu Yao became anxious, knowing five minutes were left; yet Xiao Feng still had the mood to turn back and talk tough instead of focusing on the puzzle?

"Miss, he lost." Fujiwara Keiaki said expressionlessly, though he also felt secretly pleased inside.

Serves him right!

Always having a cold face towards our Miss, now wait to be a laborer!

Su Yuzhuo shook her head, chuckled: "Time's not up yet."

Fujiwara Keiaki shrugged, no matter how stubbornly you deny it, reality won't change because of your refusal to admit defeat.

Five minutes sounds brief.

Like a cigarette, or the time it takes to drink a cup of tea.

Yet, everyone present felt it stretch very long, each holding different emotions, awaiting the final outcome.

In the last ten seconds, Zhao Guo'an began to count down softly: "Ten... nine... eight... seven..."

The Servant Girl glared at him, wishing to whip him to death. But upon reconsidering, it seemed like he did nothing wrong, just that his face of schadenfreude was extremely punchable.

"Four... three... two..."

At this count, Zhao Guo'an's eyes gleamed with joy, while Lin Jiaxuan showed a delighted smile, already assuming the stance of a victor.

However, there's a saying, happiness leads to sorrow...

"One!"

"Ka-ka-ka..."

With the conclusion of the countdown, a mechanical sound echoed simultaneously, as if long-idle gears had started moving.

This sound was definitively familiar to everyone, be it Zhao Guo'an and others, or Meng Lang and other background characters.

This was the sound of the mechanism activating, meaning Xiao Feng... succeeded?

"How is this possible?" Lin Jiaxuan widened her eyes, incredulous.

"Why wouldn't it be?"

Xiao Feng loosened his neck, pressing a hand to his nape, producing crackling sounds as he rotated his head.

Lin Jiaxuan quickly rushed forward, observing the perfectly restored pattern, finding that when viewed upside down, the image surprisingly appeared completely different.

Originally, it was a pond on water, with koi, lotus leaves, willow trees, and pavilions on the banks.

But upside down, the scenery became a reflection in the water, giving an entirely refreshing impression!

Yet Lin Jiaxuan wasn't in the mood to appreciate any scenic beauty, just couldn't believe that Xiao Feng managed to complete half of the puzzle in ten minutes.

"Admit it, my Servant Girl!" Xiao Feng ruffled Lin Jiaxuan's hair, displaying an uncle-like smile: "Be good, listen in the future, or I'll let you sleep on cold mats and drink cold water, eat hard buns in winter."

"Old Xiao, you're like Zhou Bapi." Zhao Guo'an looked displeased: "Aren't you afraid she'll sue you for abusing a minor?"

Xiao Feng furrowed his brow, already upset by Zhao Guo'an's sneering earlier, but had no time to confront him then; now he dared speak recklessly again, as if his head was thickening.

"Now, here's your first directive." Xiao Feng pointed at Zhao Guo'an, commanding: "Hit him for me!"

Lin Jiaxuan was unmoved.

Xiao Feng smirked: "What, planning to cheat your way out?"

"Do you think I'm like you?" Lin Jiaxuan retorted.

With that, she turned and walked towards Zhao Guo'an.

Zhao Guo'an immediately panicked, hastily said: "I've always been on your side, you wouldn't touch me, right?"

"Bang bang bang bang bang!"

After a series of punches and kicks, Zhao Guo'an lay on the ground with a face full of grievance, resembling a young lady bullied by the landlord's evil minions.

Lin Jiaxuan's strikes only looked fierce; truthfully, they were more bark than bite, something Zhao Guo'an could tell.

Nonetheless, this did not lessen the gloominess in his heart.

Why am I always the one getting hurt???!

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