Guilongchao: I played the domineering CEO to the bone.

"Wait, wait... Stop, stop! Let's stop for a moment... You're such a heartless person, a womanizer who started something and then abandoned it... We're not even on the same wavelength, are we? Why do I suddenly feel guilty about what you're saying...?"

Seeing that Zhu Sha seemed to be focusing on Xiao Guang again for some reason, Tong Jian quickly changed the subject to get Zhu Sha's attention back to her.

"From your words, it sounds like I've done something wrong to you?"

Zhu Sha cooperated by not pressing Xiao Guang for cover, but still gave him a warning look as he tried to escape.

"What? You don't remember? We've already gone through the wedding ceremony and gotten married..."

Zhu Sha's fox-like pointed ears drooped down, seemingly quite displeased that Tong had asked this question.

"What wedding ceremony? If we're talking about a wedding ceremony, then... I had a wedding ceremony with that guy, tsk... What's it to you? Didn't you have one with him too? Why don't you go find him?"

Tong frowned, reluctantly recalling the memory of that night in the Yellow Springs Mansion; it was all very blurry...

Since returning from that trip, the name Min Moyou has haunted her like a taboo curse.

So, Tong had no choice but to turn to Boss Shen for help—she asked him to perform some divination and sorcery. If he predicted that Min Moyou might try to kidnap her, she would leave a day early to perform a business trip for the Dragon Tide Pavilion…

Anyway, according to Xiaoguang, she successfully dodged it several times.

Min Moyou was a man of principle and did not resort to despicable means such as "If you don't come back immediately, I will raze Longchao Pavilion to the ground."

Perhaps he still had some consideration for Boss Shen?

Tong has little experience in dealing with relationships, and she herself is increasingly unable to understand Min Moyou's feelings and attitudes—so she still plans to avoid him, drag things out, and let nature take its course—what if she comes to her senses and makes up her mind one day?

"Oh dear, if my husband hadn't made it that day, it would have been our wedding ceremony!"

Zhu Sha pouted and muttered under her breath:

"My ideal marriage is to have separate wedding ceremonies with you and my husband... I still value my Golden-Eyed Lord very much~ It's just that my husband was so domineering back then..."

"Stop, stop. I have no interest in any of this... Didn't you follow Min Moyou after that day? So what's your purpose in bothering Xiaoguang today?"

Seeing Zhu Sha's increasingly obsessive, fanatical, and perverse reminiscences, Tong interrupted her from continuing.

“Who cares about her? We see her almost every day (whispering)... She came here specifically to see you! Several times when I was out with my husband, we passed by Longchao Pavilion and you weren’t there! She missed you! She just happened to run into this little one here.”

Zhu Sha lingered in Tong's arms, nuzzling her head, as if trying to absorb Tong's scent all over her body.

Tong was forced to enjoy Zhu Sha's embrace, wondering to herself—uh... how should I face her?

Suddenly my fingers felt numb.

"Well, now that you've seen me, how about... you go back first? Otherwise, your husband must be getting impatient..."

Considering the wild, untamed magical power surging within Zhu Sha, Tong decided to prioritize soothing her—once she leaves, they'll hide in the Dragon Tide Pavilion! Only the warm embrace of Boss Shen can make her feel at ease!

"No! I finally caught you on the street today, I can't let you go back so easily. I miss you so much, I talk about you every day with my husband, saying I want to see you, and I've annoyed him so much!"

"And today my husband kicked me out of the house... Now I'm homeless, and I'm an alien, and human society is so scary, don't you have to take responsibility... Waaah~"

Zhu Sha naturally understood the implication in Tong's words that she wanted to get rid of her—how could that be?!

I'll just have to tell a little lie~

My beloved Jin Tong is so kind, righteous, loyal, and wonderful. He would definitely take pity on this person and take them in, right?

Hehehe~

But she put on a tearful expression, which made Tong's heart clench.

It sounds a bit far-fetched, like it was made up...

But Tong felt that as long as anything was related to Min Moyou... it seemed like nothing was impossible?

Besides, given Min Moyou's terrible personality and temper, he really could do something like that, right?

Sigh... Hitomi still softened her heart.

"Why don't you stay with me for a few days? Although the conditions aren't great..."

"Okay, okay!"

"......"

Although, this whole thing seems like the director has been haunted by some evil spirit...

But then again—if I bring her back to Dragon Tide Pavilion, wouldn't I just have an extra free labor force and a powerful henchman?!

She looks so naive, she should be easy to fool, right?

This is a sure thing for us, right?

After thinking it through, Tong felt much better, and her gaze towards Zhu Sha became less wary and more enthusiastic.

One who stays near vermilion gets stained red, and one who stays near Master Du gets stained black.

Tong held Zhu Sha's small hand, like best friends, and walked towards Longchao Pavilion.

Some things, since they have already happened and cannot be changed, can only be accepted.

Xiao Guang, feeling guilty, quietly ran away... He had offended Sister Zhu Sha and Long Chao Ge this time. If he didn't run away, would he be turned into claypot rice?

According to Sister Tong, claypot rice is a terrible form of punishment, where disobedient children are cooked and eaten!

slip away.

. . . . . . . .

Upon reaching the entrance of Longchao Pavilion, Zhu Sha suddenly stopped, her expression unusually hesitant.

"What's wrong?"

Tong asked with concern, "Oh no! Has she found out that I, the director, am trying to trick her into working for free?!"

"Hmm... this place is really scary~ If something happens later, you have to protect me~?"

Zhu Sha frowned, but still gritted her teeth and walked into the Dragon Tide Pavilion.

Tong: I'll protect you? Really? Are you kidding me? What could be scary about this run-down little building, Dragon Tide Pavilion? Oh... it's old and dilapidated, and does look rather eerie—but isn't it even more eerie here?!

Sure enough, as soon as Zhu Sha stepped into the outer wall of Longchao Pavilion, she felt a strong and threatening pressure permeating the air.

Zhu Sha bristled for a moment, then immediately suppressed her raised fox tail—she trusted the golden-eyed official she had chosen—besides, with her own strength, escaping shouldn't be a problem, right?

Upon entering the inner room, the first person you see is Master Du.

When Mr. Du saw Director Tong return, only to bring back a strange woman who wasn't the "criminal" Xiao Guang, he frowned and asked in confusion:

"Director, who is this...?"

Having followed Boss Shen all over the country for many years, Master Du has an extremely keen eye. Even without pupil magic, he could tell at a glance that the cinnabar was extraordinary.

"Oh! My golden-eyed lord~ You actually have a talking cat here? Can it do backflips?"

Before Tong could reply, Zhu Sha preemptively started communicating with the strange talking cat—it looks just like a cat, and it's not some kind of "oddball," yet it can talk?

"My lord...?"

Master Du pondered Zhu Sha's words carefully, then gave Tong a strange look.

"Director, although I did say that it's a good thing that the Dragon Tide Pavilion is thriving... you can't be a con artist in love."

"Ah, no, that's not it! It's like this..."

Tong gave a vague and evasive introduction to the origin of cinnabar and its relationship with her—as for what was omitted? Those who know, know.

"Hmm... In that case, may Miss Zhu Sha stay in your room for now, Director?"

Tong and Master Du continued their conversation, seemingly oblivious to Zhu Sha's curious questions about whether she was interrupting, which slightly displeased Zhu Sha.

"Hey! Black cat! You can transform into human form too, right?"

"No, I am somewhat different from you."

Master Du was well-versed in hospitality and knew he had slightly lost his manners in front of outsiders, so he began to respond to Zhu Sha's words to appease her feelings.

"Then you, a talking black cat, must feel very uncomfortable living in the human world, right?"

"No, not at all. Although I often have headaches about things in the cabinet, I am still quite at ease."

"You're really strange..."

".....(You're the strange one)....."

Out of politeness, Du Maomao smiled and let it go.

"How about I take Miss Zhu Sha to the director's room now?"

"Okay, okay~ Let's go to the Golden-Eyed Lord's boudoir~"

Zhu Sha was very happy—Jin Tong Guan Ren's room must be filled with her scent, right?

"(Whispering) Director, Madam is back upstairs. Please report to her about Miss Zhu Sha's situation. I have never seen such a peculiar person before."

Taking advantage of Zhu Sha's joy, Master Du whispered a few quick instructions to Tong, thinking it was a secret, before putting on a formulaic smile and leading Zhu Sha around.

So, even Master Du didn't know?

Tong never let down her guard against cinnabar.

Originally, she planned to keep Zhu Sha calm first, and then take Zhu Sha to see Boss Shen.

或许？

"Zhu Sha, would you like me to introduce you to my boss?"

Tong called out to Zhu Sha, who hadn't taken more than a few steps.

What is a boss?

Zhu Sha turned around in confusion.

"Uh... it seems you don't quite understand the hierarchy of human sin. The boss is the one who's responsible for exploiting and ordering me around."

Oh~

Zhu Sha suddenly understood—so it was that boss who was releasing terrifying curse power!

"Is the Golden-Eyed Lord taking me to see that person to have me arrested?"

Zhu Sha smiled faintly, a hint of something terrifying flashing across his face.

"What are you talking about? I don't understand what you mean."

Tong's expression remained unchanged as she savored the fleeting expression she had just captured.

"I dont go."

Zhu Sha followed Master Du and headed towards Tong's room.

Tong had no choice but to go and ask Boss Shen by herself first.

Tong went up to the second floor and found that the door to Boss Shen's room was open—but as expected, a screen completely blocked out the depths of the room.

Before Tong could speak, Boss Shen said:

"I understand why you've come."

Furthermore, Zhu Sha's identity was defined as a beast born with the ability to use magical powers, which is recorded in ancient books, but rarely.

“She does have some magical powers, so it’s not good to let her wander around the streets. The Dragon Suppression Division can’t stand these kinds of things running around on the streets.”

From inside the room came the sound of Boss Shen tapping his opium pipe.

Tong thought to herself: Such a powerful fox demon, in Boss Shen's eyes it's just that it 'can use some magic'?

"Why don't you take her with you for now—she seems quite close to you."

"Could it be that she's just pretending to be close to me, and actually has some other plans?"

Tong had one more outrageous guess she didn't voice—could Zhu Sha be an undercover agent sent by Min Moyou to infiltrate her inner circle?!

"Young director—there are some things I haven't told you..."

The graceful figure reclining behind the screen spoke softly:

"To prevent uninvited guests such as low-level dragon remains from arriving, I have placed some 'slightly threatening' magical energy around here."

“Ordinary dragon offspring cannot be detected, but for a creature with such keen senses as her, it is probably similar to a death signal.”

"It's clear she trusts you enough—if she had ulterior motives, she wouldn't have gone to this extent."

"She can't possibly be so confident that she can resist with her rudimentary strength, can she?"

"That being said, it's still somewhat troublesome... You should try to get closer to her and minimize the danger she poses."

Tong was somewhat troubled after hearing this—she had thought Boss Shen would offer some good strategy.

"Mr. Mirage, you're making it sound so easy! How am I supposed to understand a creature that's not even recorded in biology...?"

She never mentioned the conspiracy theory about Min Moyou that she was most worried about.

"You brought this person back, do you really need me to 'take care' of him? This is a small matter, not difficult at all."

The owner of the Mirage Shop behind the screen spoke in a flat tone, but his words were ambiguous.

"Hehehe, well, I'll figure it out myself then..."

I can't even imagine how Boss Shen will deal with her.

I can't even imagine how terrifying it would be if Min Moyou went berserk and stormed into Longchao Pavilion...

.......................

(Oops, I've already stuffed too much rambling into the author's note and can't write anymore. I just realized it's International Women's Day today? Well then, I wish all of Fox's female readers a happy Women's Day! (If Fox still has any female readers left, haha...))