After nearly thirty minutes of cleaning, the apartment was spotless except for the lingering alcohol fumes and three drunken women.

"Holy crap! Instant noodles for dinner? You’re seriously this stingy?"

*Tch.* No fresh groceries at home. Besides, eating Xia Bing’s cooking every day had spoiled my stomach. Making my own meals now? Forget it. No time anyway. Instant noodles were already me being generous.

"Eat it or leave!"

"Who said I wouldn’t eat? But look—two grown men here. Three packs of noodles? That’s not enough. At least five!"

I’d grown used to Shen Yufeng’s shameless antics.

"These are emergency rations. Can’t you just grab some from the convenience store and cook at home?"

"But food tastes better when shared."

"*Ugh.* Stop being creepy. I’m starting to question your sexuality. You didn’t just come over for dinner, did you?"

Shen Yufeng’s expression turned serious. He set his chopsticks down.

"I came because it’s urgent. Couldn’t talk about it in class this morning. Now that we’re alone—where’s that thing from the painting?"

"A master intervened. Saved my life. The demon inside was probably captured."

"Then what the hell was I investigating?!"

...

"Listen, bro. I get that world seems fascinating to ordinary people. But as someone who’s been there—I’m telling you, it’s boring. Not as fun as you imagine. Even dangerous. Drop this painting thing."

Honestly, I hated trouble. But Shan Weihao’s situation nagged at me. If he’d acted unintentionally, someone must’ve targeted him. I barely knew him, but Mengze... we had history. If anything happened to Shan Weihao, Mengze would suffer too. Better to solve this now than have them begging me later. My life motto: *"Avoid what you can. Finish what you must. Never drag it out."*

"Another bowl!"

"Holy crap! I haven’t even finished mine, and this is your *third*? Are you possessed by a starving ghost or something?"

"Helping you clean the living room drained me. Consider extra noodles my payment."

I wasn’t petty over instant noodles. And honestly—how could I stay mad at Shen Yufeng’s shameless grin?

"By the way... since I walked in, I’ve been meaning to ask. Do you keep wild animals here?"

*Wild animals?* I stared at him, confused.

"Like foxes? I’ve smelled fox musk since I entered."

"N-no way! I’d never keep pets like that. You must be mistaken."

*Does Shen Yufeng have a dog’s nose?* I couldn’t smell anything—not as the Doom Dragon. Good thing I’d hidden Xia Bing in the bedroom.

"Really? Haha, guess I’m just sensitive. One more bowl?"

"No. Get out."

Shen Yufeng left at 8 PM. With piles of dishes to wash—and three unconscious beauties—I didn’t see him off.

I opened the bedroom door. Xia Bing was still fast asleep, hugging her fluffy fox tail...

*Vrrrr...*

Her pink phone vibrated beside her hand. Without thinking, I answered.

"Xia Bing? Why aren’t you home yet?"

It was her older brother, Nuoyan. How to explain *this*?

"Nuoyan-ge? It’s Qiuyuchen. Xia Bing... had too much to drink. Could you pick her up from my place?"

"*What?* Drunk?! Fine. I’ll be there soon. Wait for me."

I hung up, relieved one problem was solved. Yet... why did my chest feel hollow? *What if we’d shared a pillow tonight...* Wait—what was I *thinking*?

Moonlight spilled across Xia Bing’s face. Silver tear tracks streaked her porcelain-like cheeks. Her soft breaths made me hesitate to wipe them away. *What pain haunted her dreams?* Seeing her cry like this... it hurt.

I lay beside her, stroking her silver-white hair. The softest thing I’d ever touched—more textured than cotton, smoother than silk.

Maybe it was too soothing. I drifted off beside her.

When I woke, I was hog-tied and kneeling on the floor.

**Holy crap! What the hell happened?!**