Yangcheng had recently experienced turmoil, and many people harbored grievances against the Chu Family, even secretly speculating whether they had already claimed the legendary "Linglong Heart" for themselves.
Some coveted the treasure but hesitated to act, intimidated by the presence of the renowned Fang Songhe as a guest in the Chu household, as well as the terrifying Miaojiang man who had become their son-in-law.
With friends gathered around, Chu'he urged her father to hurry up with the wedding arrangements, fearing that delays might invite trouble.
Chu Sheng had initially wanted to postpone the ceremony for a few more months, but after recent events, he changed his mind.
Before sending out the wedding invitations, however, he pulled his daughter aside under the shade of a tree for a private conversation.
"Think carefully. Once I send these invitations, there’s no turning back," Chu Sheng said.
Chu'he replied with absolute certainty, "Don’t worry, Father. I’ve already made up my mind."
She had always believed that she and Ninth were already husband and wife since they had exchanged vows in Wutong Village. If not for her father’s insistence on a grand ceremony, she wouldn’t have bothered with such a lavish wedding.
Chu Sheng’s expression twisted with unease, his words stuck in his throat.
Chu'he asked softly, "Father, what is it you want to say?"
Gritting his teeth, Chu Sheng finally blurted out, "Are you sure… that if you and that brat have a child… it won’t be some… some kind of terrifying insect?"
Chu'he: "..."
Would it be a live birth or an egg? That was the real question!
Chu Sheng shuddered as he recalled the unspeakable horror he had witnessed that night. Every time the memory resurfaced, his hair stood on end, and he suffered nightmares, leaving him mentally drained.
Lowering his voice, he pressed, "Well? Say something! Don’t tell me you don’t even know!"
If Chu'he really gave birth to a monstrous grandchild, Chu Sheng was certain he’d drop dead on the spot and crawl into his coffin himself.
Chu'he’s gaze drifted away—she truly didn’t know the answer.
"That’s why I’m telling you to think carefully! If he were infertile, fine, but what if the child isn’t even human—"
"Child of what?"
A few leaves fluttered down as a figure suddenly dropped upside-down from the tree branches.
The young man, with one hand holding back his long hair to keep it from touching the ground and the other clutching a half-eaten candied hawthorn skewer, stared straight at his future father-in-law with eerie crimson eyes that gleamed like a ghost’s.
Chu Sheng stumbled back three steps, clutching his chest where his heart threatened to leap out of his throat. "What are you doing, appearing out of nowhere like that?!"
Chu'he cleared her throat and coughed twice.
Ninth, receiving the signal, obediently flipped down from the tree and landed beside her. Tilting his head, he asked innocently, "Father, do you think I can’t have children?"
Chu Sheng forced a strained smile. "That’s not what I meant."
"Oh." Ninth nodded, then extended a hand. "Father, Big-Eyes wants to play with you."
A small, fuzzy spider with enormous round eyes stared up at Chu Sheng, sparkling with excitement.
Chu Sheng shuddered and turned away. "I—I have to go write invitations. You youngsters can play by yourselves!"
Ninth withdrew his hand and exchanged glances with Big-Eyes. "You’re useless. Father doesn’t even want to play with you."
The little spider curled up, looking pitiful.
Chu'he poked Ninth’s cheek. "Enough already."
Ninth, feigning fragility, let his head wobble comically from her pokes, as if it were a fun game. His eyes curved into crescents as he giggled, utterly unbothered.
"Chu'he, have some candied hawthorn."
She pushed his hand away. "No, I don’t want any. I need to look beautiful in my wedding dress. If I keep eating all the sweet things you give me, I’ll get fat!"
Ninth leaned down and pinched the soft flesh of her cheek, his eyes crinkling with amusement. "Chubby is cute."
Chu'he scowled. "Not cute!"
Fang Songhe arrived just then, searching for someone. Seeing Chu'he and Ninth in the middle of their usual affectionate bickering, he hesitated, wondering if he should come back later. Fortunately, Chu'he noticed him.
She pushed Ninth’s mischievous hand away and walked over with a smile. "Brother Fang, is something the matter?"
Ninth followed leisurely, embodying the very definition of sticking to Chu'he like a shadow.
Fang Songhe said, "My junior brother is missing."
Chu'he was surprised. "You mean Song Chunming is gone?"
Fang Songhe nodded. "Chunming has been recovering from his injuries, but he’s seemed troubled lately. He’s been staying in his room, rarely coming out. When I went to bring him medicine, he wasn’t there. At first, I thought he had gone out for some air, but he hasn’t returned even after a long time."
His expression darkened. "I asked around the estate, but no one saw him leave."
Chu'he frowned. "Could he have slipped away unnoticed?"
Ninth chimed in, "Yeah, maybe he left secretly?"
Fang Songhe shook his head. "He’s lost his memories—forgotten everything. If he left on his own, where would he even go?"
"Could he have gone looking for Lan Yingying?"
"Yeah, could he have gone looking for Lan Yingying?"
Chu'he shot Ninth a look for parroting her words, but he blinked back innocently, completely unrepentant.
Fang Songhe’s suspicion deepened.
Song Chunming had forgotten his past, yet Lan Yingying’s name still lingered in his mind. Was it possible he had gone after her?
His voice grew heavy. "But Lan Yingying died in Wutong Village. Would he really return there?"
Chu'he reassured him, "Brother Fang, don’t panic yet. I’ll ask my father to send people to investigate. If there’s any news, we’ll let you know immediately."
Ninth smiled. "Yeah, immediately. If there’s news."
Fang Songhe sighed. "For now, that’s all we can do. Before my master passed, he entrusted me with Chunming’s care. If anything happens to him, I’ll never forgive myself, even in death."
"I still can’t rest easy. I’ll go ask around some more."
With hurried steps, Fang Songhe left. He and Song Chunming had been fellow disciples for over a decade—Chunming was like a younger brother to him. Fang Songhe couldn’t just stand by if he was in danger.
Ninth took another bite of his candied hawthorn. "Stubborn ox is so busy."
Suddenly, Chu'he stood on her tiptoes, cupping his sugar-sticky cheeks with a serious expression. "Ninth, does Song Chunming’s disappearance have anything to do with you?"
Ninth’s eyes were clear and guileless. "Nope," he mumbled around the treat.
Chu'he narrowed her eyes. "Really?"
His lips pressed together. "You’re questioning me… for him?"
She faltered. "That’s not what I—"
"Is he prettier than me? More likable? More important?" Ninth leaned down, crimson gaze locking onto hers, his questions strange and obsessive.
Chu'he opened her mouth. "Of course not—"
But he abruptly covered her lips with his hand, as if unwilling to hear any answer that might upset him, silencing her before she could speak.
"Ahe is my wife, now and forever." The young man's eyes churned with unfathomable darkness. To keep from hurting her, he strained to restrain himself, his knuckles whitening from the grip as if they might shatter his own bones at any moment.
"No other answer will do."
