There's a saying, isn't there?
The greater the hope, the greater the disappointment.
"How could this be?"
Li Qianfan stared blankly for a long time before murmuring the question.
"Qianfan, it's because your male factor 209 is constantly changing. The key is that it possesses a potent ability to counter all toxins. And蛊 (gu) insects are precisely a type of poison. So, after consuming your flesh and blood, all the Bifan birds were poisoned to death. Therefore, even if the Bifan birds could heal you, they couldn't be cultivated."
Su Nanyin's tone was low. "Originally, I wanted to discuss this with you in detail after returning to Longxu. But grandmother changed her mind and asked me to call you before the flight departs again."
Heh.
With his facial muscles stiff, Li Qianfan forced a smile. "Wife, I understand."
"Qianfan, my grandmother and your mother have done their best. Yet, they still couldn't curb your aging through the method of implanting蛊 (gu). Alas. Qianfan, but rest assured, I will definitely find a way to save you!"
Su Ziyu was right.
They had indeed done their best!
However, Li Qianfan's fate was too damned peculiar.
Just as they thought they could successfully cultivate the Bifan birds, Zhuang Wujian's deceitful words struck them like a heavy blow.
Li Qianfan nodded. "Mm. I know you've all tried your best. Wife, you've worked hard."
"Qianfan."
"I'm here."
"You must live."
Su Ziyu's voice was not loud but exceptionally resolute. "Live at all costs, by any means necessary!"
Li Qianfan understood and gave a bitter laugh. "Wife, are you telling Su Nanyin to wear the shackles for me?"
Su Ziyu replied, "Actually, there is another way."
Li Qianfan's eyes suddenly lit up. "Quick, tell me, what is it?"
Su Ziyu revealed the second method—
The result almost made Li Qianfan's nose twist with anger.
To cut himself? That was considered a method!?
Was Su Ziyu, his wife, out of her mind?
Otherwise, she wouldn't have "suggested" her husband castrate himself.
But to be fair.
If Li Qianfan didn't want the Empress to wear the shackles, nor did he want to die, then castration was the only way.
"Qianfan, if you don't want to abandon me and live alone in this world, then you must choose one from these methods."
Su Ziyu said, "Given the importance of this matter, the only people who knew about the failure of the Bifan bird plan were grandfather, grandmother, your mother, Zhuang Wujian, and me. Now that you know, there are six of us. But a seventh person must be informed. This secret can currently only be confined to us seven."
Who was the seventh person?
It was undoubtedly a certain Empress!
Li Qianfan instinctively looked back towards the bathroom.
The sound of trickling water came from the bathroom, and through the frosted glass, Li Qianfan could vaguely see a curvaceous figure.
Su Ziyu continued, "Qianfan, you tell this news to the seventh person. Grandmother and your mother won't call her separately to avoid unnecessary awkwardness. After all, previously, knowing that she only needed to wear the shackles for you to curb your aging, grandmother and your mother focused all their energy on cultivating the Bifan birds. Especially when Aunt Jiao went to the Su family to get your flesh and blood, she even scolded her."
She was not wrong.
Given Yang Xiao's pride, he would certainly do things like "use you when I need you, and discard you when I don't," but he wouldn't admit it.
"Qianfan, you and she must both live well. Love you."
Su Ziyu finished speaking and ended the call.
I love you too.
Li Qianfan thought, feeling a languid weakness all over his body.
He walked to the bed and lay down heavily on his back.
His head landed precisely on the pile of clothes.
Although the clothes carried a distinct scent of sweat, it was a mature, sweet fragrance.
There was even a hint of milky scent mixed with this sweetness.
It had a rather calming effect.
Making the disheartened Li Qianfan even more unwilling to move. He closed his eyes and, in a daze, was about to fall asleep.
Creak.
The sound of the bathroom door opening startled Li Qianfan, who was about to fall asleep.
He opened his eyes, turned over, and sat up, looking in that direction.
The Empress, wearing a white bathrobe, her hair casually tied up, walked out with a clatter in her plastic slippers.
Li Qianfan looked at her face.
Her face, which had been bruised purple after being slapped, had now completely returned to normal.
Li Qianfan knew.
Su Nanyin, with her porcelain-fragile skin, usually needed to apply cold compresses when she bumped or scraped herself.
Otherwise, the bruises wouldn't subside for ten days to half a month.
But even after applying cold compresses, it would still take two to three days to return to normal.
So now—
"Speaking of which, this is all thanks to you."
Su Nanyin knew what he was thinking. She walked over gracefully, sat on the edge of the bed, and wiped her hair with a towel. "Originally, I planned to take a hot bath and then apply cold compresses to my left cheek separately. But after I finished bathing, I discovered the bruises on my face had already faded. This is all thanks to you, for the thousand milliliters of blood you transfused to me that night."
Li Qianfan suddenly realized.
His blood possessed a powerful wound-healing function.
After Su Nanyin was assassinated that night, her wound was so deep, yet it healed completely the next morning, didn't it?
If wounds could heal, what about bruising from a slap?
It would be effortlessly resolved, making her face blushingly beautiful and unique.
Li Qianfan said nothing. After changing into slippers, he took a bathrobe and entered the bathroom.
Alas.
Only after he closed the door and the sound of water spraying came from the bathroom did Su Nanyin sigh softly.
She couldn't help but light another cigarette, just like Li Qianfan had done earlier, and stood by the window, staring blankly at the night view outside.
The phone buzzed—
Li Nanfang was calling!
"Something?"
Su Nanyin asked softly in a calm tone.
"Guanyin, there's something I need to tell you."
Li Nanfang got straight to the point. "About ten minutes ago, Yang Xiao had Ziyu call Qianfan. Originally, Yang Xiao intended for Qianfan to tell you. But after careful consideration, I've decided to personally inform you on behalf of the Li family."
Su Nanyin raised her eyebrows and nodded. "Speak."
Li Nanfang said in a low voice, "Zhuang Wujian's蛊 (gu) implanting plan has failed."
What?
Su Nanyin froze.
Li Nanfang, using the most concise words, explained the reason for the failure of Zhuang Wujian's蛊 (gu) implanting plan; Shen Yue's scheme with Old Du to shake off Su Nanyin, but that for her and Li Qianfan to live, the Empress had to wear the shackles; he recounted it all.
The brat's蛊 (gu) implanting plan failed?
Shen Yue got tired of me and kicked me aside?
How could that be!
But how dare Li Nanfang lie about such a matter!
My death is of no consequence, but the brat needs me to live.
Fine, fine, fine.
Ha, haha!!
After a moment of stunned silence, Su Nanyin burst into silent laughter. "So, I am your true savior! Ha, haha. You want me to wear the shackles to save you? Hah! Dream on, my dear! Either we die together, or you castrate yourself."
Li Nanfang spoke again. "Guanyin, all of us Li family members, including myself, sincerely regret your abandonment by Shen Yue (Shen Yue cursed, 'You despicable scoundrels!') and will absolutely not force you to make any choices. But I must tell you this personally. The specifics will still require you and Qianfan to decide. Alright, that's all."
Li Nanfang was efficient in his dealings.
After clearly conveying his intentions to Su Nanyin, he ended the call.
Su Nanyin's mood suddenly became exceptionally good.
So what if she was abandoned by Shen Yue?
Anyway, she basically didn't think about him anymore; past is past (Shen Yue's eyes were vacant, and he cursed the Li family again, but he also felt sorrow for Nanyin's unrequited love, and quickly went to find Xiao Zhuang and the others.)
So what if the brat called her a bitch?
So what if he slapped her?
Even if she aged several years in just a few days, so what?
None of it could change—
The undeniable reality that she was his only savior!!
"Brat, I'll see if you want to die or become a eunuch."
"Dare to call me a bitch, slap me, spit on me?"
"Heh, if I don't torment you to death, then I'm not a venomous woman!"
Su Nanyin gritted her teeth, wanting nothing more than to sing and dance.
So she tiptoed and began to dance gracefully by the window.
Only when the sound of the bathroom door opening was heard did she reluctantly cease her supreme divine powers.
When Li Qianfan emerged, she had already regained her previous composure.
"Didn't you want to settle things with me? Speak, how do you want to proceed?"
Li Qianfan walked to the bed, leaned against the headboard, and picked up a cigarette.
Su Nanyin also walked over, leaning against the headboard beside him, looking up at the ceiling. "Will you tell Chongchong and the others that I disguised myself as Ruhuā and flirted with you in various ways?"
"No."
Li Qianfan said without thinking, "Your self-indulgence has nothing to do with them. I can swear to the heavens that I will never let them know that their mother was actually a bitch. I only hope Chongchong and the others can be happy for the rest of their lives."
Su Nanyin's toes clenched, but she nodded. "That's good."
She was truly afraid that Li Qianfan, after seeing her true colors, would tell the story to the caterpillars to bite them.
Su Nanyin asked again, "If I say that online, besides you, I've never been intimate with another man like this, would you believe me?"
"I believe you."
At this moment, Li Qianfan was much calmer and more rational than he had been in the car.
He genuinely didn't believe Su Nanyin would have many "buddies" online.
"Thank you."
Su Nanyin sincerely thanked Li Qianfan for his answer.
"Go on," Li Qianfan looked at her. "Why did you disguise yourself as Ruhuā to help me hurt Chongchong?"
Su Nanyin replied, "Because I noticed something was wrong as early as when Chongchong broke off her engagement with Gao Lingwang. One day, while she was out, I secretly read her diary."
She paused.
Su Nanyin sighed inexplicably. "Alas, that child has a habit of writing in her diary."
Indeed.
Shen Chongchong had a habit of writing in her diary.
The two "yellow entries" with unbearable content found in Ruhuā's phone document were the best proof.