Luo Xiu managed a faint smile. Although he felt a strange discomfort, he still reached out to shake hands with Ye Xingzhou.

"Hello."

As their hands clasped, the atmosphere in the hall grew even more bizarre. Those who recognized Luo Xiu turned to look elsewhere, while those who didn't know him sized him up with curiosity. Dressed in plain clothes, with a face full of stubble and a wan and sickly appearance, he did not inspire any fondness.

"Old Master Lin, is this a guest of yours?" a flamboyantly dressed middle-aged woman, bedecked with expensive jewelry, suddenly spoke up.

This woman was Zhu Zhen, Ye Xingzhou's mother. Her gaze settled on Luo Xiu's face, filled with disdain.

The Ye Family from the Capital City are true nobility!

She felt that a person of Luo Xiu's caliber was unworthy of being in the same hall as her; his presence would be demeaning. If it weren't for Ye Xingzhou's firm stance, the Ye Family would never have considered a marriage alliance with the Lin Family from Sea City.

Of course, the main reason was Lin Xiyue's current success. The Shen Luo Company she managed was already one of the top three pharmaceutical companies in the entire Henghai Province. It was precisely for this reason that the Ye Family had chosen the Lin Family.

"Mom, that's enough," Ye Xingzhou said, frowning slightly as he glanced back at Zhu Zhen.

Zhu Zhen huffed and turned to Lin Daqi. "Old Master Lin, I consulted a master yesterday. He said that Xing Zhou and Xi Yue's wedding should be set for March fourteenth of next year."

"During this time, let Xing Zhou stay in Sea City to help Xi Yue. It'll be a good chance for the young couple to cultivate their feelings for one another."

"If the Lin Family needs anything, our Ye Family will give our full support."

With that, she picked up her purse, stood, and walked away. Several bodyguards in suits followed neatly behind her. Her graceful stride and arrogant demeanor made her seem like the noblest queen on earth, disdaining to speak with anyone else present.

Ye Xingzhou smiled helplessly and turned to Lin Xiyue. "Xi Yue, I'm going to head back and rest. I'll pick you up for dinner later."

「A short while later.」

Only after the members of the Ye Family had departed did the strange, tense atmosphere in the hall finally dissipate.

Zhang Cui sighed. "Luo Xiu, what are you doing back here now?"

Lin Daqi looked at Luo Xiu with regret in his heart and said slowly, "As you just saw, Xi Yue is engaged to Xing Zhou."

Lin Youpeng stared at Luo Xiu, a wave of irritation rising in him. "It was you who insisted on divorcing Xi Yue," he said in a heavy tone. "You were the one who didn't want her, so you can't blame anyone else for this! You may not have wanted her, but there are plenty of people in this world who do!"

"Luo Xiu, I admit you're outstanding, but the Young Master of the Ye family from the Capital City is every bit your equal! Besides, he treats Xi Yue incredibly well, unlike you. You would disappear all day, doing nothing but fishing, never taking Xi Yue seriously!"

Nearby, Zhang Cui glared at Luo Xiu. A sudden memory caused her anger to flare.

"For months, you were gone without a trace. Your phone was unreachable, and you didn't answer any messages… Do you have any idea how many nights Xi Yue cried herself to sleep? Do you know how many times she called you?"

"Where were you when she was at her most vulnerable, when she needed you the most?!"

"Now she's decided to let everything go, to accept a new relationship and find someone to build a life with, and you suddenly show up looking this pathetic. What exactly are you trying to do?"

"It's too late!"

"I'm telling you, everything is too late!"

Luo Xiu calmly met the infuriated Zhang Cui's gaze. He wanted to retort but decided against it. He truly didn't have the energy to get entangled in such emotional affairs right now.

"Lin Xiyue, come with me."

Luo Xiu stated, then turned and left. Lin Xiyue pursed her lips, glanced at her family, and followed him.

...

「At the villa's entrance.」

Lin Xiyue opened the car door and slid into Luo Xiu's sports car, but he didn't start the engine.

"Where have you been all this time?" Lin Xiyue turned her head, her heart aching at the sight of Luo Xiu's haggard, feeble appearance.

Luo Xiu offered a faint smile. "Didn't I tell you I was going to perform alchemy?"

"Does alchemy take this long? It's been over three months…" Lin Xiyue lowered her head, her voice tinged with grievance. "You didn't answer my calls or reply to my messages… I thought you were avoiding me on purpose."

"There's no signal on the desolate island," Luo Xiu said.

Lin Xiyue froze. After a moment of silence, she said, "Xing Zhou and I are planning to get married next year."

"A marriage alliance?" Luo Xiu asked.

Lin Xiyue nodded. "Partly, I guess. But I've known him for a long time. We were classmates in high school… and he was my first love."

Luo Xiu laughed. "I didn't know you had a first love."

"I didn't really understand what it was back then," she said. "We just had this vague, month-long relationship. To be honest, it wasn't really dating; we just secretly held hands a few times on the school playground. Later, he returned to the Capital City, and we lost contact. I never expected him to suddenly find me now, and that's when I learned he was the young master of Capital City's Ye Corporation."

Luo Xiu stared straight ahead calmly. "And now? Are you starting to like him?"

Lin Xiyue gently shook her head. "I wouldn't say I like him, but I don't dislike him either. He's a good person—sincere, polite, and has a strong moral character. Not like some people, who are womanizers surrounded by women."

Luo Xiu rubbed his nose and gave a wry chuckle. "You might as well just say my name."

"Luo Xiu," Lin Xiyue said earnestly, "right now, I just want to find someone to settle down with."

"Luo Xiu, you..."

"Don't say any more." Luo Xiu cut her off with a laugh. "You don't need to feel guilty or feel like you owe me anything. As you said, I'm a womanizer with women all around me. I'm not the type of person you can settle down and have a peaceful life with. Besides, there's nothing between us anymore. And... I never liked you to begin with."

Her words sent a pang through Lin Xiyue's heart, but she managed a smile. "You're right. I'm in my late twenties, and I don't have many years of my youth left to wait for someone. Now, I've found someone who doesn't mind that I'm carrying another man's child, who is willing to accept all of me, to cherish me and take care of me. I have to treasure that."

His own heart ached at her words, but Luo Xiu put on a smile. "You should."

With that, he took a small wooden box containing the Holy Origin Golden Pill from his Jade Pendant and handed it to her.

"The elixir is ready, but since you're pregnant, you can't take it all at once. Take it home and divide it into ten portions. Dissolve one portion in water and drink it once a week. After ten weeks, your illness should be cured."

"This… can it really cure my terminal illness?" Lin Xiyue's gaze trembled as she reached out for the small wooden box.

Luo Xiu nodded with a smile.

This was the Holy Origin Golden Pill, a pill that contained all of his Essence Blood and the full medicinal power of his Qihuang Technique. Therefore, he was absolutely confident. Lu Nianjiao had once said that curing Luo Xiu and breaking his fated calamity required sacrificing Lin Xiyue. By the same logic, Luo Xiu could save Lin Xiyue by sacrificing himself. It was precisely this thought that led Luo Xiu to exhaust all of his Essence Blood and the power of his Qihuang Technique during the alchemy.

"By the way, I'll be staying in Sea City for a while, so I can keep an eye on you in case there are any side effects from the elixir."

Lin Xiyue smiled. "Just because it's convenient?"

Luo Xiu reached up and rubbed his nose. "That Villa Number One of yours… can I borrow it for a few days?"

Lin Xiyue fell silent. After a moment, she said, "That villa… Xing Zhou is staying there now."

Hearing this, Luo Xiu's expression darkened, and he clenched his fists. Though he put on a show of being nonchalant and magnanimous, the truth was that he had been seething inside from the moment he first saw Ye Xingzhou. He just didn't have any right to vent this frustration.

"Forget it. I'll find my own place to stay."

After giving Lin Xiyue a few more instructions, Luo Xiu drove away.

...

「At the same time, inside Villa Number One.」

Zhu Zhen looked at Ye Xingzhou. "When exactly do you plan to make your move?"

Ye Xingzhou shook his head gently. "There's no rush. Lin Xiyue isn't some naive simpleton. Getting the formulas for the Shen Luo Company from her will take time. I need her to let her guard down around me first."

"Not in a rush?" Zhu Zhen scoffed. In a grim voice, she said, "The Ye Family is on the verge of bankruptcy! Everything is riding on the Shen Luo Company's formulas!"

"Alright, alright, I get it!" Ye Xingzhou waved his hand impatiently.

Zhu Zhen sighed. "That boy from before… I don't think his relationship with Lin Xiyue is so simple. Didn't you notice? From the moment he walked in, Lin Xiyue couldn't take her eyes off him. I bet the child she's carrying is his."

Ye Xingzhou, however, just smiled indifferently. "It doesn't matter."

"Mom, did you really think I would like some secondhand goods pregnant with another man's child? Ever since I came to Sea City and met her, I wouldn't even deign to touch her hand. The very sight of her disgusts me! We are in Sea City for one reason only: the Shen Luo Company's formulas."

Zhu Zhen frowned. "Don't tell me… you still haven't forgotten that Miss Chu?"

At the mention of her name, Ye Xingzhou's face flushed, and he looked away. "The moment I saw Miss Chu, I fell for her. For the rest of my life, she's the only one I want!"

Zhu Zhen said, "That Miss Chu was missing for many years before the Chu Family found her recently. I also heard a rumor that before she returned to her family, she was also here in Sea City… and she had been married."

"Nonsense!" Ye Xingzhou's tone grew stern. "That's just jealous people making things up! Anyway, we need to handle the Shen Luo Company quickly and head back to the Capital City. Once the Ye Family is through this crisis, I can go to the Chu Family and propose marriage."

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