"How come you went out for a while and came back so preoccupied?"

Upon seeing Han Zhan return, Shang Siteng met him, acting like a dutiful wife, helping him hang his coat on the rack while she asked.

"Did you want to put on some lipstick?"

"No."

Even unwilling to drive, something must be troubling you. The Old Priestess immediately understood.

"There was just an alarm from the electronic barrier. Was it someone from Can Shang Company? Or someone from Shang Jianyue's side?"

"It was Shang Jianyue."

"Looks like he said something to you."

Shang Siteng knowingly nodded but did not continue to ask.

"Go and eat, Youwei has already returned from the training ground and is preparing dinner."

"Lingzhen is still updating her serialized novel; the plot is about to climax, and she needs to write well."

"That novel of hers, which chapter doesn't have a climax?" Han Zhan casually retorted.

Shang Siteng laughed out loud upon hearing this.

Just then, a delightful aroma wafted from the kitchen. Xia Youwei saw Han Zhan and waved happily, "Ah Zhan is back, come quickly to eat."

"You sit first, I'll go upstairs and call Lingzhen to come down to eat."

Looking at the warm scene in front of him, Han Zhan seemed to have found an answer to the previous question.

"Let me see what delicious dishes Youwei has cooked today!"

...

"Tomato scrambled eggs?"

Shang Jianyue was somewhat surprised to see the dish brought to the table.

"Why not serving me electronic junk as usual? You know eating is just a 'habit' for me."

"You said it yourself, machines and humans are different. Since you want to maintain those human habits, of course, you should eat what humans eat."

Judith stood by, stating it as a matter of course.

Shang Jianyue, hearing this, didn't say anything more on this subject.

"Why are you still standing there? Sit down and join us," he said when he saw Judith still standing there.

"No, I'm not hungry yet." Judith quickly shook her head.

"You didn't poison the food, did you? My monitoring system detected your heartbeat sped up just now."

Shang Jianyue looked at Judith suspiciously.

Embarrassment flashed across Judith's face.

"I trembled while cooking and accidentally put in three spoonfuls of salt. You can't taste it anyway, so it shouldn't matter, right?"

Shang Jianyue: "..."

After Shang Jianyue finished eating, he stood up and left without saying goodbye to Judith.

As Shang Jianyue's butler, cleaning up the dishes naturally fell to Judith.

When she approached the dining table, she suddenly noticed an extra photograph there.

The young man in the photo appeared handsome and dashing, but there was a hint of burden between his brows. Judith couldn't help but reach out and gently place her hand on his forehead in the picture.

"Ahem."

Hearing a cough behind her, Judith recoiled like she'd been electrocuted.

"Master Shang Jianyue, you've left something on the table."

"That's for you." Shang Jianyue gestured to the photo on the table, reminding her. "I forgot to mention it earlier."

Judith's face turned red instantly.

"Tsk." Shang Jianyue, seeing this, clicked his tongue and then turned to leave.

"When did you take this photo?" Judith couldn't help but ask.

"Not long ago."

"Why is he unhappy?"

"I just told him some truths about this world's harsh realities that he should know. This photograph is the price he needed to pay."

Speaking of this, Shang Jianyue's tone suddenly became a bit lighter.

"I look forward to seeing the moment when he makes his own choice."

"It will surely be spectacular."

...

"Jingxuan, it's time to eat."

"You go ahead; I'm not hungry yet."

A gentle and modest woman stood at the door. Upon hearing Lin Jingxuan's response, her delicate eyebrows slightly furrowed.

"You haven't eaten for a day and a night."

"I know the breakthrough is important to you, but so is your health."

"Suya." Lin Jingxuan looked up, the complex and profound look in his eyes dissipating at once. He rose in a sweep of white robes and headed toward the dining table without further ado, "I'll eat right away! Don't be angry."

Wen Suya, watching Lin Jingxuan obediently walk toward the table, quietly followed.

She had indeed felt a bit angry just now, but even she hadn't realized her tone shifted. Yet, Lin Jingxuan immediately picked up on it.

No one would have thought that the cold and detached Strategic Headquarters of Great Xia was actually someone who feared his wife at home.

There were no lavish foods.

Both Wen Suya and Lin Jingxuan had little appetite for culinary indulgence; simple food that ensured energy intake and filled them up was enough.

It was like their relationship, plain yet inseparable.

Wen Suya watched Lin Jingxuan eat and suddenly said in an apologetic tone, "Jingxuan, I'm sorry."

At her words, Lin Jingxuan paused slightly, putting down his chopsticks.

Wen Suya continued, "If it weren't for me, you wouldn't be so burdened. It's me who has held you back."

"I'm just someone who awakened a D-level White Feather Fan Contracted Spirit, and my talent ability is the weakest space fluctuation."

"With your abilities and talents, you're comparable to our teacher back in the day; you should have chosen a better Contracted Spirit to bond with..."

Lin Jingxuan pointed to Wen Suya's unfinished meal, suddenly reminded, "No speaking while eating or sleeping."

Wen Suya's voice broke off, she seemed conflicted, but finally, she quieted and continued her meal.

"I never felt you were holding me back. Quite the opposite; without you, I wouldn't enter into any Contracted Spirit bond."

Once Wen Suya quietly resumed eating, Lin Jingxuan spoke.

"Didn't you say no talking during meals?"

"But I've finished eating." Lin Jingxuan gestured to his empty bowl, his previously serene tone now harboring a hint of mischievous pride.

Wen Suya was at a loss for words.

Lin Jingxuan stood up, speaking each word clearly, "Wen Suya, I never considered you a burden."

"You, after all, are my childhood sweetheart and first love."

"A Contracted Spirit isn't a tool. She is the Spirit Contract Master's other half, a battle partner and a person to cherish and protect for a lifetime."

"Ahh...Did I come at a bad time?" Just as Lin Jingxuan was getting sentimental, the door opened, and Han Zhan stepped in.

As soon as he entered, he somewhat regretted it.

The situation was slightly awkward.

The Strategic Headquarters of Great Xia's face instantly returned to its cold, calm poker-faced state.

He adjusted his glasses and nonchalantly looked toward Han Zhan at the door.

"What's the matter, that you'd come to me even while I was in seclusion?" Lin Jingxuan paused, then added, "The study room."

Watching Lin Jingxuan and Han Zhan leave one after the other, and enter the study, closing the door behind them.

Wen Suya suddenly laughed.

"Eat!" she muttered to herself.

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