A five-year-old goddess, raised to become an emperor for all time through a bronze mirror.

"joke?"

Ji Yichen's lips curled up slightly, revealing a disdainful sneer.

His deep, sharp eyes, like razor-sharp blades, coldly swept over the arrogant boys in front of him, as if trying to see through their very souls.

That single, chilling gaze was enough to silence the once arrogant and domineering boys, who dared not utter another word.

Under the oppressive aura of Ji Yichen, the boys trembled involuntarily, their faces turning deathly pale.

They looked at each other and saw fear and panic in each other's eyes.

Immediately afterwards, like a group of frightened rabbits, they scurried away to the side, fearing that if they lingered for even a second longer, they would be punished even more severely by Ji Yichen.

Niannian, who had been on edge the whole time, finally breathed a sigh of relief, and her heart, which had been hanging in suspense, settled back into her stomach.

At this moment, her beautiful eyes were filled with deep gratitude, shining brightly like twinkling stars.

Nian Nian gazed at Ji Yichen and whispered, "Thank you..."

The voice was as soft as a breeze brushing against the strings of a zither, yet it was full of sincerity and earnestness.

Upon hearing this, Ji Yichen turned to look at Nian Nian beside him, his gaze lingering on her for a moment;

His deep, magnetic voice rang out, tinged with a barely perceptible hint of unease: "You must be more careful in the future... Try not to walk on secluded, deserted paths like these; they're too dangerous."

After saying these words, he turned around decisively, as if unwilling to linger any longer.

With long, strong legs, he strode towards the school gate.

Niannian stared blankly at Ji Yichen's receding figure for a moment.

His steps were firm and swift, as if nothing could stop him from moving forward.

However, in that brief moment, a ripple involuntarily stirred in Niannian's heart, and an indescribable complex emotion surged into her heart like a tide.

After a moment's hesitation, Niannian lifted her foot and quickly followed Ji Yichen's steps.

The two walked quietly, one in front of the other, and the road beneath their feet seemed to stretch on endlessly.

Along the way, the world around them seemed to freeze, with only the soft sounds of their footsteps and breathing mingling together.

The setting sun, like a kind painter, gently cast its warm and soft rays upon the two of them.

The golden light outlined their clear silhouettes, casting two long shadows—one tall and imposing; the other petite and delicate.

From a distance, the two shadows presented a strange and inexplicable sense of harmony, as if they were a match made in heaven.

Before they knew it, they had walked up to a black car parked at the school gate.

The car windows reflected the sunlight so brightly that it was impossible to see inside.

Ji Yichen's steps finally came to a slow stop. He turned his head slightly but did not turn around. He simply said, "Get in the car."

Then it stood quietly in place like a sculpture, waiting for Niannian to take action.

Niannian gazed at Ji Yichen's profile, hesitated for a moment, and then softly said, "Thank you, Ji Yichen."

Then, she carefully opened the car door and got into the car.

As the car started and gradually drove away from the school, Niannian looked through the car window one last time at Ji Yichen, who was standing there watching her leave...

Ji Yichen did not respond, but simply nodded slightly. After watching her get into the car, he turned and left.

Niannian sat in the car, looking at his back through the window, and a warm feeling inexplicably welled up in her heart.

The car started slowly, and Nian Nian looked away, but her heart remained unsettled for a long time.

Niannian suddenly felt that Ji Yichen's back looked particularly tall and straight in the afterglow of the setting sun, yet it also carried a hint of loneliness.

His steps were steady, yet they carried a sense of detachment, as if he were out of place in the world around him.

Niannian couldn't help but recall his cold gaze and his casual "Be careful next time," and a complex mix of emotions welled up inside her.

The car started slowly. Niannian looked away, down at her hands, her fingertips trembling slightly.

She didn't know why Ji Yichen suddenly appeared, nor why he helped her out of that predicament.

They had no connection whatsoever, yet today, he seemed like a guardian descended from the heavens, standing in front of her and driving away those ill-intentioned people for her.

"Miss Niannian, are you alright?" Driver Liu glanced at her in the rearview mirror and asked with concern.

Niannian snapped out of her daze and forced a smile: "I'm fine, Uncle Liu, I'm just a little tired."

Driver Liu nodded and didn't say anything more, focusing on driving.

Niannian leaned back in her seat, closed her eyes, but Ji Yichen's face involuntarily appeared in her mind.

"What kind of person is he?" Niannian asked herself silently.

At the same time, Ji Yichen had already walked to the other side of the school gate.

He didn't turn around or stop, but walked straight to a black sedan parked on the side of the road.

The car door opened, and a middle-aged man in a suit stood respectfully beside the car, saying in a low voice:

"Young master, the master wants you to come home tonight."

Ji Yichen frowned, his tone indifferent: "I understand."

He got into the car, looking out the window into the distance with a deep and complex gaze.

The scene from just now was still lingering in his mind.

He didn't want to meddle, but when he saw Niannian surrounded by those boys, he involuntarily stopped in his tracks.

Her eyes were filled with panic and helplessness...

"Young master, you don't seem to be in a good mood," the middle-aged man asked cautiously.

Ji Yichen did not answer, but simply said, "Let's drive."

As the car slowly drove away from the school, Ji Yichen leaned back in his seat, closed his eyes, and the image of Nian Nian's flustered face appeared in his mind.

"Niannian..." He silently repeated her name in his heart, a faint smile playing on his lips.

Meanwhile, Niannian had already returned to the Poison Family.

As soon as she entered the living room, she saw Grandpa Fu sitting on the sofa waiting for her.

"Niannian, why are you back so late today?" Grandpa Fu asked with concern.

Niannian put down her schoolbag, walked over and sat down next to her grandfather, and said softly, "There was a bit of traffic on the way, so we were delayed for a while."

Grandpa Fu patted her head and said gently, "It's good that you're alright. Go wash your hands and have dinner."

Niannian nodded and got up to go to the bathroom. She looked at herself in the mirror, but her heart was still unsettled.

What happened today made her feel uneasy, especially the way those boys looked at her, which made her feel that things weren't as simple as they seemed.