Having the genes of a demon king, I never intended to be a kept man.

Yu Li was taken aback by Ye Ge's sudden question. Her expression clearly showed a reaction, and she instinctively waved her hand, denying it softly, "No, no..."

Ye Ge asked twice more, but Yu Li still didn't admit it, only vaguely saying that she was fine.

Ye Ge knew that, given Yu Li's personality, she would probably keep anything on her mind, so he didn't press her further.

The small gathering ended quickly.

Yu Li said goodbye and went home before dark, and Ye Ge arranged for a butler to drive her home. Xia Xiyao, on the other hand, felt that she hadn't had enough fun and wanted to stay and play a little longer.

Gao Shenxue took a hot towel and carefully wiped away the paint marks on Ye Ge's face bit by bit, then carried the basin to the bathroom to wash it off.

Xia Xiyao stayed in Ye Ge's room, hugging Bai Xueling and kissing her repeatedly. Bai Xueling meowed in fright, finally breaking free from Xia Xiyao's embrace and hiding in Ye Ge's collar, too scared to come out.

"Xiaoye, I want to talk to you about something~"

After petting the cat, Xia Xiyao crawled on the carpet with her hands and feet on the ground to Ye Ge's side. She then sat down in front of him in a cat-like sitting position, looking at him with expectant eyes.

Ye Ge smiled and said, "What is it? Do you want me to go somewhere with you again?"

"No way! In your mind, I'm just a little girl who only knows how to play!" Xia Xiyao pouted and huffed.

"What is it?" Ye Ge asked.

"Um...it's just..." Xia Xiyao hesitated for a moment, then tentatively said, "I wanted to discuss with you whether you could...buy Yuli?"

Night Song: "???"

“What I mean is, Yu Li seems quite unhappy lately,” Xia Xiyao explained. “Yu Li used to be an assistant associate instructor at our War Academy, but she resigned from the academy a while ago. I heard she’s now working for some noble family in our Southern Territory…”

"I'm thinking, it must have been some wicked capitalist who took a liking to Yuli because she's obedient, honest, capable, and good at so many side jobs, and then tricked her into signing a contract..."

"I asked Yuli, and it turns out it's a lifetime contract! She has to work for them for the rest of her life, it's outrageous! Yuli is such a well-behaved and introverted girl, she must have been deceived!"

Xia Xiyao angrily waved her little fist and said, "That person is really awful! He even lied to a simple and kind girl like Yuli. He must be a big bad guy!"

Night Song: "..."

“Yu Li has clearly been in a bad mood these past few days. I think she must have been bullied by the new boss, that’s why she’s so depressed.” Xia Xiyao sighed, “So I was thinking, rather than letting Yu Li be exploited by those wicked capitalists, why don’t you, Ye Ge, be the one to exploit her? Hehe… And if you can buy her, we can hang out together more often. Yu Li is so introverted, she never had any friends back in the academy, and now that she’s left, she probably won’t even have anyone to talk to. It’s so pitiful…”

Xia Xiyao gazed expectantly at Ye Ge, gently shaking her small hands on his thighs: "How about it? Is it good? ~ Yu Li is skilled in so many secondary professions, she can definitely help you~"

Ye Ge raised a finger and scratched her cheek: "Well... um... okay, I can think about it."

"Haha, great! Ye Ge is the best!" Xia Xiyao clasped her hands together and laughed happily. "It would be best if you and Xue'er could accept her. Let her become part of our little group so that Yu Li won't be lonely in the future."

"..." Ye Ge thought to herself that not only had she already accepted it, but also...

However, Ye Ge really didn't expect Xia Xiyao to make such a request.

She's such a kind little angel...

Sigh, thinking about myself, I actually deceived such a little angel, secretly acquainted with another childhood sweetheart outside, and kept it a secret from her all along. I feel so ashamed...

Okay, I'll try to lie less next time.

Ye Ge thought to herself and nodded in agreement.

......

night.

It was already late, but Yu Li didn't go home today. Instead, she returned alone to the Ye family's prop shop and hid in the dimly lit underground alchemy laboratory, repeatedly conducting experiments and research.

Yu Li had long been accustomed to living a life of conducting experiments alone in her own secret corner.

It was the same when she was at the War Academy. As an assistant apprentice, she was not allowed to touch the equipment in the academy during the day. She could only use the academy's laboratory at night to learn various side professions.

Previously, she had no pressure. As an ordinary citizen, a non-superhuman apprentice, no one had ever had any expectations of her, and no one had ever recognized her.

Even if she had a fleeting fantasy in her mind, she only regarded it as a beautiful dream in the dead of night.

But later, someone actually helped her realize that dream.

I gave her my approval, and I have high hopes for her...

But do I really deserve such expectations?

'Failed again...'

Yu Li looked at the experimental results in front of her and showed a disappointed expression.

The laboratory was quiet. The girl stood silently in front of the lab bench for several minutes, then quietly began to pour out the discarded alchemical solutions one by one, and cleaned up the used conical flasks, crucibles, and weighing bottles...

There aren't many of the Heavenly Profound Beast Bones left from the last auction.

Yu Li has failed for the third time tonight.

'So, it seems I can't create original potions on my own...'

Yu Li stood quietly in front of the table, looking down at the research materials in her notebook.

This is a summary of her three failures.

The girl had many questions in her mind, but now she had no one to ask.

She couldn't consult the academy's alchemy instructors, since she was no longer at the academy.

She didn't dare to ask Ye Ge.

Yu Li had not told Ye Ge beforehand about conducting original experiments to refine magic potions.

She wondered... Would Ye Ge, like Professor Li, think she was overestimating herself?

Yu Li recalled Professor Li's indifference, criticism, and sarcasm at that time...

She was nervous and scared... Would Ye Ge also say those kinds of criticisms?

"Squeak..."

At that moment, the wooden door to the alchemy laboratory was suddenly pushed open.

Yu Li looked surprised; she hadn't expected anyone to come at this hour.

Ye Ge slowly walked down the steps, his signature smile on his face: "It's so late, why aren't you home? You're still studying hard here. My little childhood sweetheart is really diligent."

"Um..." Yu Li blushed slightly. "Young Master Ye Ge, what brings you here..."

"You've got the address wrong, haven't you?" Ye Ge laughed. "Have you forgotten what to call me when we're alone?"

"..." Yu Li's cheeks burned even hotter, and she lowered her head, her voice barely a whisper: "Brother...brother..."