You said you hated men, why are your eyes now full of love?
Ch. 117 - "Oh, It's Fox Lady!" (Part 14)

[Beijing, the capital of this country, has the densest concentration of human vitality. With the aid of countless rare spiritual herbs and treasures, you'll be able to fully digest the Authority in just half a year.]

[Once you've adapted to the power of the Authority, you'll be able to rewind time at will—any moment, any day within a year.]

[And only then will you truly be able to obtain the little heartthrob you've been longing for.]

Is Ji Mu destined to leave this world?

It doesn't matter.

At worst, I'll just rewind time to a year ago.

Over and over again. Repeating. Looping.

Isn't that just another kind of 'forever'?

The girl remained silent.

Her hands, resting on her knees, were intertwined and clenched tightly, then loosened.

The turmoil in her chest mirrored this motion, a wavering struggle torn between choices.

Fan Ling added fuel to the fire, tipping the scales further.

[With loss comes gain.]

[So what if you stay by his side? You can't do anything. You have to constantly pretend and hide your true self so that Ji Mu doesn't notice anything strange.]

[The meat is dangling right in front of your mouth, but you can't take a bite. Doesn't that drive you crazy?]

[And what if you wait until the very end, only to lose him anyway?]

[You already know which choice makes more sense. I don't need to spell it out.]

Its voice was laced with temptation as it coaxed her gently.

[Endure the pain of half a year's separation, and afterward, you'll reap the rewards.]

[Ruan Qingqing, I think you understand this, too. After countless rewinds, there will come a day...]

[You'll find the perfect way to win him over completely.]

If I were a little fox lady, would you love me then?

Time leaves no trace. Seasons shift and pass.

The sweltering days of August sang like a melody, marking the end of summer break.

Countless days and nights had flown by in a blur. Everything had only just begun, yet it was already coming to an end.

A quiet afternoon slipped into an elegant café nestled in the heart of Tianhua City.

Soft jazz music swirled through the air. In a private booth adorned with vintage wall lamps and lush greenery sat an elderly man with a kindly face, across from Ji Mu. His voice was calm yet firm.

"The Han family has been dealt with. From now on, you won't have to worry about enemies showing up at your door seeking revenge."

In Beijing, that family no longer exists.

Ji Mu paused mid-pour as he filled his coffee cup.

The Han family had been considered a prestigious household in the capital, yet in just over a month, they were gone. Just like that?

"My granddaughter, Ruan Qingqing, is not someone those lowly pests can even dream of coveting."

The elder's tone remained calm, but the overwhelming authority and presence he exuded were impossible to ignore.

Anyone who dared reach out their filthy hands toward his cherished family, especially while he was in closed-door cultivation, would pay the price. Every single one of them.

There was a chilling undercurrent behind the elder's casual tone.

There was no doubt that Beijing had seen its fair share of bloodshed in recent days.

Ji Mu was quietly impressed.

As expected of someone who built his empire from scratch, he was swift, precise, and ruthless.

Eliminating a hidden threat was definitely a good thing. There would be no need to worry about an enemy popping up one day and pulling a foolish stunt.

"I wonder what business brought Old Master Ruan to invite me here today?"

Between men, there was no need for unnecessary pleasantries. Ji Mu's tone was direct yet respectful as he got straight to the point.

Ruan Chunyuan was also someone who appreciated directness.

Without beating around the bush, he took out a bank card and slid it across the table toward the young man. "There's ten million on this card. Consider it a small token of gratitude for taking care of Qingqing all this time."

Faced with what most would consider a windfall, Ji Mu remained calm.

He took a slow sip of his coffee, composed and unhurried.

"Old Master Ruan, I don't think you called me here just to give me money."

His gaze never once landed on the card lying on the table.

This calm composure earned a flicker of admiration from Old Master Ruan.

It's no wonder Yao Yao and her daughter are so invested in this young man.

"Little Mu, I won't beat around the bush."

With a kind expression, he extended a sincere invitation.

"The reason I asked to meet with you today is because I hope you'll return to Beijing with my granddaughter."

"...?"

Ji Mu's expression turned odd.

Had someone handed him the wrong script?

Wasn't this supposed to be the classic warning scene? Something like "stay away from her," "don't get involved," or "you're not worthy"?

Could he genuinely think that a complete nobody like him could truly receive a personal invitation from the head of a top-tier aristocratic family?

Yeah, this kind of thing only happens in novels.

"Little Mu,"

Ruan Chunyuan suddenly let out a sigh.

"Qingqing's lived here for a long time. Throwing her into a completely unfamiliar environment, she's bound to struggle."

"She's introverted and tends to bottle things up. If she's unhappy in Beijing, she definitely won't tell me or her mother."

"You're the only one she truly opens up to, Little Mu."

Ji Mu lowered his head, quietly sipping his coffee and choosing not to interrupt, remaining a silent listener.

"The root of all this was my own mistake. I misjudged someone and placed my trust in the wrong person, my adopted son. That mistake led to disaster."

"At the time, Yao Yao and her husband were in poor health and uninterested in managing the family business. Since I was nearing the end of my life, I hastily handed over the family affairs to him before entering closed-door cultivation."

After all, Ruan Chunyuan had raised the boy from a young age and kept him close for nearly two decades. Ruan Chunyuan treated him like a son, so naturally, his guard had lowered over time.

Who would have thought that the man harbored such malice? On the surface, he was respectful and dutiful, playing the perfect son and older brother. But the moment Ruan Chunyuan began closed-door cultivation, he shed his mask and ruthlessly turned on Yao Yao's family.

He drove the mother and daughter into exile, forcing them to live in hiding and suffer years of hardship.

"Little Mu, I owe those two far too much..."

As he spoke, the fine wrinkles at the corners of the old man's eyes deepened.

Material compensation was secondary; what he truly hoped for was their emotional well-being.

And so, Ruan Chunyuan thought of the young man.

"Every time Qingqing mentions you, she smiles. Yao Yao also speaks very highly of you."

"We haven't interacted much, but I can tell you're trustworthy. If you could stay by Qingqing's side in the days ahead, I believe she'll gradually become more open and cheerful."

[Challenge 3 (Ding~)

Description: Reach 7 reviews on NovelUpdate

Reward: An additional chapter.

Progress: 5/7]

...

Read up to 12 advance chapters by joining us on Patreon! Support us and read ahead

[Join Patreon]Enjoying the story? Help more readers discover it by leaving a rating and reviews on NovelUpdate!

Thanks for your support and happy reading!