Days passed like flowing water.
Lang Junxian’s body had fully recovered, and his strength had advanced another level, leaping directly from Fan Jing Hua Qi to the Rebirth Realm.
Even Su Yao was surprised at how quickly he had improved.
It was well known that the first two realms were relatively easy to ascend with high talent and good comprehension, just like his journey with Bai Maomao—smooth and steady until reaching Fan Jing Hua Qi.
But crossing from Fan Jing Hua Qi to the Rebirth Realm was a different matter altogether.
Even Su Yao herself only barely reached the Rebirth Realm after turning a little over a hundred years old.
Worried that Lang Junxian’s foundation was insufficient due to his rapid advancement, Su Yao secluded herself in the Alchemist’s Room for a month and crafted plenty of Body-Nourishing Pills for him.
Bai Maomao stood beside them, visibly sulking.
Lang Junxian caught the jealous glint in his eyes and bent slightly to meet him at eye level.
“Why the long face?”
“Your cultivation is already higher than mine.”
Bai Maomao pursed his lips and clenched his fists.
“I’ll catch up to you soon!”
Lang Junxian was momentarily surprised but quickly understood.
Affectionately ruffling his hair, he teased, “Alright, then I’ll wait for you to protect me.”
Bai Maomao lifted his chin like a cat enjoying a good petting.
Lang Junxian felt a tickle in his heart, unable to resist leaning closer and whispering into his ear, “Now, it’s my turn to protect you…”
The word “you” was drawn out long and soft, swirling around Bai Maomao’s ear before landing squarely on his heart.
His eyelashes fluttered, and he gave a low, contented “Mm.”
Lang Junxian noticed his ears turning a faint pink and smiled with a hint of meaning.
After Lang Junxian’s recovery, Su Yao decided to take Rong Xiao out for a walk.
Before leaving, she specially called Lang Junxian into her room.
Looking at the boy who was now nearly two heads taller than herself—perhaps it was time to call him a man—she smiled with relief, brushing the stray hair behind his ear.
“In the blink of an eye, you’ve all grown up.”
“But Mother hasn’t grown old.”
Lang Junxian smiled.
Su Yao shook her head.
“I have, which is why I don’t feel safe leaving him in your care.”
“Wait—”
“Listen to me first,” Su Yao interrupted.
“You’ve noticed Rong Xiao too, haven’t you?”
Lang Junxian nodded hesitantly.
Su Yao gave a bitter smile but refused to deceive herself any longer.
“I’ve been taking care of him for so long, I should have seen it already. I just didn’t want to admit it.”
“I don’t know what he’s been through all these years, or what he’s plotting now, but the schemes behind him will not be small.”
She sighed deeply.
“He’s like a Fixed-Time Bomb. I can’t bear to let go, but I also don’t want to drag you all down with him.”
“You’ve all grown up. It’s time for me to leave.”
Lang Junxian was silent, his lips moving but no words coming out.
How could he comfort her?
After waiting two hundred years for her husband, all that was left was an empty shell without a Soul.
Where had Rong Xiao’s Soul gone?
Did he send his body to Su Yao out of longing for the departed, or was he plotting something else?
None of them knew.
Su Yao could not let go of Rong Xiao, yet she didn’t want to let them be caught in a conspiracy.
Her only choice was to leave.
Lang Junxian closed his eyes briefly.
“What about Maomao? He won’t agree to this.”
“He’s always like a child who never grows up,” Su Yao said softly, thinking of Bai Maomao.
Her expression softened further.
“Just tell him we’re going traveling.”
“From now on, Maomao is in your hands.”
Her gaze was full of meaning.
Lang Junxian’s heart skipped a beat.
Under Su Yao’s smiling gaze, he solemnly promised, “I’ll take good care of him.”
Not long after this conversation, Su Yao proposed taking Rong Xiao out for a walk.
Bai Maomao, though reluctant, understood that Mother wouldn’t be with him forever—especially now with a stepfather in the picture!
Reluctantly, he saw Su Yao off at the Airport, sulking and unhappy.
Lang Junxian took him out for a big meal, and only then did the sulky little goose cheer up again.
Bai Maomao waddled with a round belly, strolling the streets of Shangjing with Lang Junxian.
Shangjing was a place of both fast and slow rhythms.
On the tree-lined paths at dusk, leisurely pedestrians were everywhere.
Bai Maomao held Lang Junxian’s hand and walked slowly forward, unconsciously wandering into a more secluded corner.
From the woods came a sudden sound of scolding.
Bai Maomao paused, detouring around a hedge to see what was happening inside.
A delicate-faced young woman was kneeling on the ground, someone pressing her shoulders down.
The man held a whip, lightly tapping the woman’s palm.
“Dare to run away again?”
The girl stubbornly lifted her head, eyes fierce.
“I’d rather die than stay at the Lang Family and be humiliated by you!”
“Bastards are bastards! Ungrateful.”
The man struck her face with the whip without much emotion, as if looking at a snarling ant.
“Take her back.”
The bodyguard pressing her down immediately pulled her up and forced her toward a car parked by the roadside.
Bai Maomao frowned and stepped out to block their path.
Two bodyguards looked at him arrogantly.
“Move aside.”
Bai Maomao sneered and took each of them down with a kick.
Then, grabbing the still stunned girl, he placed her behind him.
Lang Junxian silently stood between Bai Maomao and the girl, shielding Bai Maomao under his shadow.
“Who are you to dare ruin the Lang Family…”
His words faltered as the girl stared at Lang Junxian in disbelief.
She had kept her back to them before, so Bai Maomao hadn’t seen her face clearly, but now looking at Lang Junxian’s face, his stomach twisted in pain.
No wonder—this person looked so much like Xiao Hei.
Only his aura was more complicated, his spirit wilted, clearly the wayward Young Master drained by lust and drink.
Lang Junxian’s eyes flickered but said nothing more.
“Let’s go.”
The man squinted.
“Who are you?”
Lang Junxian didn’t even bother to meet his gaze and pulled Bai Maomao away.
The rescued girl hesitated, then followed after them.
After walking a good distance, Bai Maomao bumped his arm.
“Lang Family?”
Lang Junxian lowered his eyelashes and gave a quiet “Mm.”
Bai Maomao wanted to ask more but stopped himself; some things weren’t convenient to talk about outside.
The girl caught up and said, “Thank you. My name is Lang Qing.”
Bai Maomao tilted his head.
“Lang? Are you part of the Lang Family?”
Lang Qing shook her head.
“Just a servant of the Lang Family.”
She glanced curiously at Lang Junxian and said, “You look a lot like the Lang Family’s Grand Elder.”
“Do I?”
Lang Junxian raised an eyebrow.
Lang Qing felt there was more to his words than met the eye.
The pressure from this man was no less than when facing the Family Head.
She bowed to Bai Maomao and quickly ran off.
Back home, Bai Maomao hung his head, unsure what to say to comfort Lang Junxian.
But Lang Junxian wasn’t as low as Bai Maomao imagined.
Seeing through Bai Maomao’s worry, he deliberately sighed deeply to make him care more.
Hearing the sigh, Bai Maomao’s concern deepened, and he silently shook Lang Junxian’s hand.
Lang Junxian’s eyes flickered.
He bent down and hugged him, burying his head in Bai Maomao’s neck.
Bai Maomao stiffened, instinctively wanting to push him away.
“Let me hold you, please.”
Lang Junxian’s voice was low and a little trembling.
Bai Maomao’s heart ached instantly. Instead of pushing, his hands landed on Lang Junxian’s back, gently patting him.
Lang Junxian secretly curled his lips, holding him as they walked into the room.
Bai Maomao hesitated but figured Xiao Hei must be thinking of his deceased mother—someone so fragile couldn’t bear to push him away.
So, half resisting, half willing, Bai Maomao let himself be carried back to the room.
Lang Junxian laid him down on the bed, pressing him down.
Bai Maomao was uncomfortable and tried to move, but Lang Junxian held him tighter, drawing in the scent from his neck.
“Don’t move.”
Bai Maomao wrapped his hands around Lang Junxian’s back, resigned to being held.
He wanted to ask about Lang Junxian’s past but feared opening old wounds, so he just sighed softly and closed his eyes.
Meanwhile, the downcast Xiao Hei was secretly feeling a little better.
Bai Maomao usually disliked exercise, and Lang Junxian had been fattening him up lately.
His soft flesh was especially pleasant to hold.
Lang Junxian rolled them over into a side-by-side position, facing each other with foreheads touching and noses almost meeting.
“Want to know about my childhood?”
“You tell me, and I’ll listen.”
The warm breath brushed Bai Maomao’s face, making his nose itch.
Lang Junxian chuckled softly.
The room was dark, so Bai Maomao couldn’t see his expression clearly, but from his voice, he was far from calm.
Of course, Lang Junxian wasn’t calm at all.
Being so close, smelling the fresh scent of youth, he was struggling hard not to react.
His voice even changed tone.
Thankfully, the lights were off, so Bai Maomao couldn’t see his reddened eyes.
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