216: Chapter 216 Because I'm rather scratchy

By the time the banquet ended, it was nearly midnight.

The most luxurious hotel in the Magic City was brightly lit.

The bustle of the victory banquet downstairs had not yet fully dissipated, with people from the media, the Education Bureau, the Martial Arts Association, and the Military District leaving one after another.

In the hallway, one could still hear snippets of conversation about "The Dragon Kingdom's top scorer with full marks," "Lu Cheng," and "the spots for the high seas ruins."

When Lu Cheng returned to the penthouse suite, Snow Spirit was so sleepy that she could barely keep her eyes open.

The little one was draped over his shoulder, her tail hanging down, the star pattern on her forehead flickering on and off.

"Ying…"

Lu Cheng looked down at her.

"You're this sleepy and still forcing yourself to stay awake?"

Snow Spirit struggled to lift her head.

"Daddy… the meat was delicious…"

After saying this, her little head tilted to the side, and she fell fast asleep.

Lu Cheng's mouth twitched.

This fox was becoming more and more like a little ancestor who just slept after eating her fill.

He placed Snow Spirit back into her little nest in the room and casually covered her with a small blanket.

Snow Spirit turned over, wrapped her two tails around the blanket, and slept very peacefully.

Lu Cheng watched for two seconds, confirmed she was fast asleep, and then turned to enter the bathroom.

Hot water poured down.

The exhaustion of the day was finally washed away a little.

The exchange tournament was over, the Pseudo-Takamagahara was over, and the victory banquet was over.

Logically speaking, he should finally be able to get a good night's sleep tonight.

Lu Cheng came out after showering, his hair still damp.

He had just put on his jacket and was preparing to turn off the lights to rest.

Knock, knock, knock.

A knock suddenly sounded at the door.

Lu Cheng paused in his movements.

"At this hour?"

He walked to the door and first checked the security camera feed.

Tang Zhiwei was standing outside the door.

She was dressed very warmly; a long coat wrapped her figure tightly, and a light-colored scarf was wrapped around her collar.

Lu Cheng opened the door.

"Something up?"

Tang Zhiwei looked up at him and curved her eyes.

"Can't I come over if there's nothing wrong?"

Lu Cheng leaned against the doorframe.

"You aren't going to play that game from a few days ago again, are you?"

Tang Zhiwei blinked, her expression actually looking a bit innocent.

"No."

She paused for a moment and gently pulled her coat together.

"Why don't you… let me come in and sit for a bit?"

"The hotel air conditioning is surprisingly cold."

Lu Cheng looked at her.

"The hotel AC is cold?"

"You're already in the Meridian Opening Realm; can this thing really freeze you?"

The smile on Tang Zhiwei's face didn't change.

"Then just pretend my heart is cold."

Lu Cheng: "…"

That phrasing… it was hard not to overthink it.

He didn't step aside immediately.

He activated his talent slightly, but Seeking Good Fortune and Avoiding Bad Luck didn't react at all.

Besides, this person had, at the very least, fought her way out of the Pseudo-Takamagahara with him. If there were any real danger, the System wouldn't be so quiet.

Lu Cheng was silent for two seconds, then stepped aside.

"Come in."

Tang Zhiwei walked into the room.

She carried a faint fragrance on her.

It wasn't as heavy as the expensive perfumes at the banquet; instead, it was like a flowering branch after the rain falling into one's palm—a gentle sway was enough to make one's heart itch.

Lu Cheng closed the door.

"Want some water?"

Tang Zhiwei sat by the sofa and nodded with a smile.

"Sure."

Lu Cheng turned to pour water.

As he poured, he spoke.

"Even if your family has massive difficulties, now that we've won the youth exchange tournament championship, that should solve quite a few, right?"

"The Education Bureau gave extra spots, and the circle of noble families can see which way the wind is blowing."

"As long as the Tang Family isn't brain-dead, if they stand firm, they might just be able to hold on."

He picked up the cup.

But suddenly, a soft rustling sound came from behind him.

Fabric rubbing.

A coat falling to the floor.

A scarf sliding down.

Lu Cheng paused.

A certain ominous premonition crept into his heart.

He turned around slowly.

The next second.

Lu Cheng's pupils shook.

Tang Zhiwei stood under the light.

The thick coat from just a moment ago had already fallen onto the carpet.

Along with it on the floor were the sweater she had worn at the banquet and a pale pink eye mask.

She was left wearing only a layer of extremely thin, light-colored gauze; it was as light as moonlight draped over her, and the contours of her skin were rendered hazy and soft by the light.

She wasn't forcing composure like last time.

This time, her eyes were clear.

And very dangerous.

Her long hair hung over her shoulders, and her fair fingertips lightly hooked the edge of the gauze, as if just one more inch downward would set the air in the entire room ablaze.

That hint of cherry red pressed beneath the thin gauze flickered vaguely in the light, like petals hidden in the mist.

Lu Cheng almost lost his grip on the cup in his hand.

F*ck.

F*ck.

F*ck.

What are you doing??

Lu Cheng took a deep breath.

"You said you wouldn't play this game."

Tang Zhiwei stepped barefoot on the carpet, walking toward him step by step.

"I didn't lie to you."

She stopped in front of him and tilted her head up slightly.

The distance between the two was close enough that Lu Cheng could smell the faint, virginal fragrance on her body.

She leaned close to Lu Cheng's ear, her voice lowered very softly.

Her breath fell against his ear, so warm it made his scalp tingle.

"It's different."

"This time, I'm prepared."

Lu Cheng's Adam's apple bobbed.

He admitted it.

In this moment, he had truly almost been led into the ditch by this woman.

But in the end, Lu Cheng wasn't overwhelmed.

He reached out and grabbed the quilt from the bed next to him.

Whoosh!

Before Tang Zhiwei could react, her entire body was wrapped in the quilt.

Three seconds later.

She had been wrapped into a beautiful zongzi by Lu Cheng and placed by the bed.

Tang Zhiwei: "…"

Lu Cheng let out a sigh of relief.

Safe.

Physically safe.

Tang Zhiwei sat on the bed, the quilt wrapped from her shoulders all the way to her feet, revealing only a face that was excessively beautiful.

She was silent for a few seconds.

"You really can bring yourself to do it."

Lu Cheng sat opposite her, his expression serious.

"Otherwise?"

"Standing before me like that, it's hard for me to maintain the reason a normal, outstanding young man should have."

Tang Zhiwei smiled softly.

"You were quite rational just now, though."

Lu Cheng looked at her.

"Tang Zhiwei."

"You've taken a fancy to me, nothing more than the fact that I've shown strength beyond the ordinary these past two days, and you want to use me for something."

The smile on Tang Zhiwei's face slowly faded.

Lu Cheng leaned forward, his gaze pressing down.

"And what can you offer?"

"A pretty shell?"

"You are indeed very beautiful."

"But you should also be clear that if I wanted one, I wouldn't be short of beautiful people around me."

Speaking of this, a few faces flashed uncontrollably through Lu Cheng's mind.

Qian Shuying.

Su Wan.

Xia Xi.

For some reason, Jinguji Ayane's face also flashed by inexplicably.

He rubbed his brow.

What kind of mess is this.

Tang Zhiwei looked at his expression and suddenly let out a laugh.

"Who were you thinking about just now?"

Lu Cheng was expressionless.

"Thinking about how to throw you out without appearing impolite."

Tang Zhiwei leaned against the headboard, the quilt wrapped around her, which instead made her lose some of that intentionally seductive sharpness and added a touch of indescribable exhaustion.

She was silent for a long time.

Finally, she spoke.

"I do need you."

Lu Cheng didn't interrupt her.

Tang Zhiwei lowered her head, her voice much softer.

"The Qin Family has been suppressing the Tang Family."

"The Tang Family looks okay these years, but in reality, many industrial lines have been stuck by the Qin Family… or groups with related interests."

"Medicinal materials, poisonous materials, hidden weapon source components, poison refining grounds, and even the further education spots for some of the Tang Family's younger generation have been secretly blocked by them."

"My father has held on for a long time."

"Just like you said before, the conditions given by the Qin Family are very simple."

She looked up at Lu Cheng.

"Let me get close to you."

"Preferably destroy your reputation."

The room went quiet.

Lu Cheng's eyes were slightly cold.

Tang Zhiwei continued.

"I don't know about the things between you two, but…"

"If you could be exposed for raping a noble family's daughter… or something similar, the light on you wouldn't be so dazzling, at least."

"And the Tang Family could get the Qin Family to let up."

Lu Cheng let out a laugh.

"Your Qin Family friends are really thoughtful."

Tang Zhiwei lowered her eyes.

"I did do it, but… I was scared that day, and you ignored me and even scolded me…"

"But… your performance these past few days has been too dazzling…"

She looked up, and finally, there was no more of that deliberate seductiveness in her eyes.

"Lu Cheng."

"I want to bet my future on you."

"And the Tang Family behind me."

Lu Cheng looked at her.

"So this performance tonight is a pledge of allegiance?"

Tang Zhiwei smiled.

"You could say that."

She scooted forward.

The quilt slid down a bit with her movement, only to be pressed back by Lu Cheng with quick reflexes.

A trace of mischief flashed in Tang Zhiwei's eyes.

"What are you nervous about?"

Lu Cheng said calmly:

"Maintaining a good negotiation environment."

Tang Zhiwei laughed until her shoulders shook slightly.

She leaned toward Lu Cheng, her voice as soft as a thin thread.

"Of course…"

"I know you have many women around you."

"Although I might not be as beautiful as them."

She raised the corners of her eyes slightly.

"But…"

"I'm more seductive than all of them~"

Lu Cheng looked at the woman in front of him… momentarily distracted…

F*ck.

So scary.

This woman's lethality is really a bit over the limit.

Just at this moment.

A soft noise came from the adjacent room.

"Ying…"

Lu Cheng's body stiffened.

Tang Zhiwei also paused.

The side door of the suite was gently pushed open.

Snow Spirit rubbed her eyes, hugging her little blanket, and poked her head out from inside, dazed.

"Daddy…"

"What are you two doing?"

Her nose twitched.

Then her icy blue eyes slowly widened.

"Ying!"

Lu Cheng's gaze instantly drifted.

It's over, I forgot this little ancestor has too good hearing.

Tang Zhiwei wasn't panicked at all when she saw Snow Spirit.

She sat on the bed, wrapped in the quilt, looking at the little fox with a smile.

"Awake?"

Snow Spirit tilted her head.

"Why are you wrapped in Daddy's quilt?"

Lu Cheng immediately spoke:

"She's cold."

Snow Spirit blinked.

"Do people in the Meridian Opening Realm get cold too?"

Lu Cheng: "…"

Why does everyone ask this question?

Tang Zhiwei laughed even more happily.

She looked at Snow Spirit and suddenly asked softly:

"Do you want me to be your mommy?"

Snow Spirit's pupils shook.

Lu Cheng's pupils also shook.

"Don't talk nonsense!"

Tang Zhiwei blinked innocently.

"I'm very good at taking care of foxes, you know."

Lu Cheng rubbed his forehead.

"This question doesn't need to be considered!"

Tang Zhiwei laughed out loud.

Lu Cheng stood up and opened the door directly.

"That's it."

"That's enough for tonight."

Tang Zhiwei looked at him.

"Then the Tang Family's affairs…"

Lu Cheng put away his smile.

"I need to see the Tang Family's sincerity."

"Resources, intelligence, the Qin Family's movements, and what you are willing to pay."

"Once I see these, I will naturally help you deal with the trouble."

Tang Zhiwei looked at him, her eyes becoming serious.

"Okay."

"I will let you see."

Lu Cheng threw her coat over to her.

"Now, put on your clothes and go back to rest."

Tang Zhiwei caught the coat and slowly emerged from the quilt.

This time, she didn't intentionally provoke him again.

She just tidied her clothes, and when she walked to the door, she suddenly turned back.

"Lu Cheng."

"Everything I said tonight is true."

"Go, go, go!" Lu Cheng waved his hand to shoo her away.

The door closed.

The room finally quieted down.

Lu Cheng stood in place, exhaling a long breath.

Snow Spirit walked to his feet, hugging the blanket, and looked up at him.

With an innocent face.

"Daddy."

"Were you two about to make a baby just now?"

Lu Cheng looked down at her.

Silence.

More silence.

Then he reached out and patted her little head.

"Go to sleep early."

Snow Spirit blinked.

"But…"

Lu Cheng picked her up and stuffed her back into the little nest.

"No buts."

"Go to sleep."