Sludge suction system

Elisa Lam slowly woke up, feeling dizzy and still suffering from a hangover. She instinctively moved her body, only to find herself in an unfamiliar room.

Sunlight filtered through the heavy brocade curtains, casting dappled patterns onto the soft bed. She slowly opened her eyes, looking around at the antique furnishings and exquisite ornaments, all of which spoke of the room's owner's extraordinary status. When she saw Chu Li sleeping soundly beside her, she was slightly startled, then a blush quickly spread across her cheeks.

"This is... Chu Li's room?" Lan Ke'er murmured softly, as images from last night gradually surfaced in her mind. Chu Li's affectionate confession, his gentle embrace, and those intimate gestures that made her blush and her heart race all surged into her heart like a tide.

She carefully turned to her side, gazing quietly at Chu Li's sleeping face. His brows and eyes showed a hint of weariness, yet his handsome features remained undiminished. Lan Ke'er's lips unconsciously curved upwards, her eyes filled with tenderness and sweetness.

"So, he really does like me." Lan Ke'er thought to herself, her joy spreading like wildflowers in spring. She remembered what Chu Li had said last night: he would take her back to Fengyu Kingdom, marry her as his queen, and give her a bright future. These promises sounded so real and so touching to Lan Ke'er.

Lan Ke'er gently reached out, wanting to touch Chu Li's face, but stopped mid-air. She was a little shy, and a little afraid of waking him. But the sweetness and joy in her heart made her unable to suppress her emotions, and in the end, she gently placed her hand on Chu Li's face, her fingers lightly caressing it.

"Chu Li, I've finally waited for you." Lan Ke'er's voice was as soft as a breeze, yet filled with boundless affection. At this moment, she felt like the happiest person in the world. She firmly believed that Chu Li was the one she could entrust her life to, and that they would definitely have a bright future together.

Just then, Chu Li stirred and slowly opened his eyes. Seeing Lan Ke'er gazing at him tenderly, he was slightly taken aback, then gave her a gentle smile: "You're awake. Did you sleep well?"

Elisa Lam blushed even more, lowered her head, and said softly, "Yes, very good."

Chu Li gently held Lan Ke'er's hand and said, "Wouldn't it be wonderful to see you every time I wake up in the future?"

Elisa Lam looked up, her eyes sparkling with happiness, and nodded slightly: "I hope so too."

Elisa Lam was lost in blissful anticipation, a sweet smile on her face and her eyes sparkling with hope for the future. However, when she looked at Chu Li, she noticed that his expression had suddenly turned extremely sad.

Chu Li frowned, his eyes filled with pain and helplessness. He slowly released Lan Ke'er's hand and sighed deeply. This sigh seemed to carry endless sorrow, causing Lan Ke'er's heart to clench.

"What's wrong, Chu Li? Did something happen?" Lan Ke'er asked anxiously, her smile vanishing instantly, replaced by deep worry.

Chu Li raised his head, his gaze meeting Lan Ke'er's. The sadness in his eyes made Lan Ke'er's heart clench. "Ke'er, I didn't want you to get involved in this trouble, but now I really can't hide it anymore." His voice was low and hoarse, each word seemingly carrying a thousand pounds.

Lan Ke'er nervously swallowed, waiting for Chu Li to continue.

“Consort Wang… she’s forcing me to find a way to deal with Liu Yunniang.” Chu Li bit her lower lip, the pain on her face becoming more and more obvious. “If I don’t agree, she will do something to me. I have no power to resist in this Lincang Kingdom.”

Upon hearing this, Elisa Lam's face turned deathly pale. She never imagined that she, just immersed in happiness, would suddenly face such a dilemma. "Then...what do you plan to do?" Elisa Lam's voice trembled slightly, her heart filled with unease.

Chu Li shook his head helplessly, his eyes filled with struggle: "Ke'er, you know that Liu Yunniang is your good sister, how could I bear to hurt her? I don't want to put you in a difficult position, but I really have no other choice." As he spoke, his eyes reddened slightly, as if tears were welling up in them.

Lan Ke'er's heart was in turmoil. She recalled every moment she had spent with Liu Yunniang, and those beautiful memories were like sharp blades piercing her heart. Yet, she deeply loved Chu Li and didn't want to see him fall into trouble because of this.

"Chu Li, I... what should I do?" Lan Ke'er looked at Chu Li helplessly, tears welling up in her eyes. "I don't want to lose Yun Niang, my good sister, but I don't want you to get hurt either."

Chu Li gently pulled Lan Ke'er into his arms, patted her back, and said, "Ke'er, I don't know what to do either. I only know that no matter what, I will not let you get hurt. It's just that this matter is really putting me in a difficult position."

In Chu Li's arms, Lan Ke'er burst into tears. She had never imagined that she would be caught in such a dilemma, torn between friendship and love, and she didn't know how to choose.

Elisa Lam wept in Chu Li's arms, her heart filled with pain and turmoil, completely at a loss. At this moment, Chu Li gently cupped her face and tenderly wiped away her tears with his thumb, but a barely perceptible urgency and calculation flashed in his eyes.

"Ke'er, listen to me." Chu Li's voice trembled slightly, as if he had really been driven to the brink of despair. "Liu Yunniang does have the Empress protecting her. Even if Consort Wang is bold, she wouldn't dare to take her life so easily. This time, we just wanted to teach her a lesson and make her more restrained."

Upon hearing this, Lan Ke'er slightly raised her head, her eyes blurry with tears as she looked at Chu Li, and choked out, "Is it really... really like that? But to point the finger at Yun Niang, isn't that wronging her? I... I can't do it."

Chu Li held Lan Ke'er's hand tightly, their fingers intertwined, as if this would give her strength and make her believe his words more: "Ke'er, I know this is difficult for you, but it's the only way. Think about me. If you don't help me, Consort Wang will definitely not let me go. I am a hostage from a foreign country, weak and powerless in Lincang Kingdom, and I have no power to resist."

At this point, Chu Li's eyes reddened, and his voice trembled with a sob: "I don't want to die, Ke'er. I still want to go back to Fengyu Kingdom with you, and I still want to marry you and give you a happy life. If I am killed by Consort Wang, all of this will be gone."

Lan Ke'er's defenses began to crumble under Chu Li's words. She bit her lip, struggling with inner turmoil. On one hand, there was her best friend, Liu Yunniang, whom she couldn't bear to wrong; on the other hand, there was Chu Li, whom she deeply loved, whom she couldn't bear to watch fall into danger.

"Chu Li, please don't be like this..." Lan Ke'er's voice trembled, her heart filled with turmoil that almost made her collapse. "Let me think about it, give me some more time to think about it."

Chu Li didn't give her much time to think, and continued to whisper in her ear, "Ke'er, there's no time. Consort Wang is already pressuring me. If I can't give her an answer soon, she'll take action immediately. Just do it for our future, please help me this time, okay?"

Elisa Lam's tears welled up again. Under Chu Li's constant coaxing, her rationality was gradually overwhelmed by her emotions. Finally, she slowly nodded, her voice as soft as a mosquito's buzz: "Then... then okay, I'll help you this time."

Upon hearing Lan Ke'er's reply, a glint of triumph flashed in Chu Li's eyes, but it was quickly concealed by feigned affection. He held Lan Ke'er tightly, whispering sweet nothings in her ear, while secretly plotting his next move. Lan Ke'er, however, remained immersed in pain and helplessness, completely unaware of Chu Li's hidden thoughts.